"Rose-chan!" Tohru yelled after me. I turned looking behind me. I saw her running after me. Weaving in and out of people in the crowded hallway.
"I thought I told you that I didn't like it when you put chan after my name. Just Rose is fine." I sighed.
"Oh I'm sorry I keep forgetting." She laughed. Immediately she grabbed my hand. It startled me.
"Do you want to come to my house after school today?" She asked eagerly. "Yuki has a meeting after school today and Kyo is going to the Dojo. So it'll be just me and you!"
I then remembered the older man with dark hair I had met the last time I was there.
"What about the other man?"
"Oh. Shigure has a deadline. He's a novelist. So he will be working."
I smiled. "Sure I'll come over. I'll have to tell Devon though."
"Oh, did you two have plans today?" She asked sadly.
I had forgotten that they didn't know that we were living together. I guess Yuki never told her.
"Um. Actually Devon and I live together. So I'll tell him so he won't worry." I blushed.
Why was I getting so worked up about it. I mean, he is just a friend, right?
"Oh, okay. That's understandable." She smiled at me.
We continued to walk to class. This morning has been amazing. I felt energetic and happy. Happier than I have been in a long time. Despite all of this happiness, I was still trying to rebuild the wall of memories. It was painful to think about her but I think I could survive another day.
We came to the classroom and found Kyo, Hana, and Arisa. There was an eerie feeling coming from the group.
"Everything alright?" I asked sitting in my seat.
"We heard some disturbing things in the hall." Hana whispered. Her eyes were searching the room pausing on everyone's face.
"What kind of things?" Tohru asked quietly. Her face was full of concern.
"Where's Devon?" I chimed in after her. I felt uncomfortable with out him around.
"We heard something's about Brad and Devon's with Yuki. They're getting to the bottom of it." Arisa hissed.
"I still say that I could get the information faster." Kyo sat with his arms folded across his chest.
"We know that you would quickly lose your temper Kyo. Therefore we will not allow you on something this dangerous. Besides, Who else would help Tohru on her time of need." Hana whispered even quieter.
When I spoke I felt as if I were shouting. "I don't understand. What's going on? What did you hear?" All three of them looked at me with concern.
"You haven't heard?" Kyo asked surprised.
"No I haven't." I said, annoyed.
"Apparently Brad and the three witches are trying to come up with a plan to get the two of you out of our school. Even if it means in the hospital." Arisa's voice was dangerously low.
"What's their plan?" I asked matching their low voices.
"We think that they have followed you home Rose. At least once or twice to see if they could find a way to get you alone. After that we have no idea what they would plan to do but I over heard one of the fan girls saying that there were knives involved." Hana's voice was calm but her eyes held hate as she stared at the spots that the three girls normally sat.
"They wouldn't go that far," I whispered my stomach knotting. "Would they?"
"You would, wouldn't you Brad." Hana whipped her head towards me but her eyes focused behind me. "Eavesdropping is not a very good quality." She added darkly.
I suddenly felt stiff. Breathing deep I turned my head slowly. He was standing there leaning against the back wall staring at me.
"You caught me." He laughed and shrugged. I saw no sign of tension from him. I was surprised to see him so relaxed.
"So what's your plan then," Kyo asked," and don't play it off like we're stupid." His arms were still crossed and his hands were in fists.
"You'll just have to wait and see then wouldn't you." Brad gave me a smile that sent chills up my spine. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Don't give me that look, love." He whispered. "You don't look very attractive with that face." He pushed himself off the back wall and took two long strides up to me. Grabbed my chin and forced me to look into his cold eyes.
I slapped his hand away from my face. I felt sick to my stomach. "Don't touch me." I growled.
He gave me that chilling smile again and mumbled, "Until later then." Then he was gone.
Devon and Yuki didn't find anything out at school but when they came back to the classroom Arisa was happy to tell them what had happened when they were absent.
From then on Devon didn't take his eyes off of Brad.
I tried to explain to Arisa and Hana that I didn't need anyone to walk home with Devon and I but they wouldn't hear it.
"Come on Rose," Arisa sighed, "Don't be like this."
I pursed my lips and walked with my arms crossed. I would pout the entire way home if I had to; I wanted to make my point.
"Rose, Uo and Hana just want to make sure that we are all safe." Tohru mumbled to me. I looked at her concerned face and felt my determination falter.
"Even if the jester is not needed. We can take care of ourselves." Kyo muttered. I sensed that we were releasing the same vibe.
"Too bad Prince isn't here. He would at least be reasonable and understand that we are concerned." Arisa sighed again rubbing her temples.
I pouted for a total of five minutes and I felt a victory coming on. Half way home Arisa and Hana turned to go on their separate ways. I smiled and waved when they left.
I knew that their intentions were good but when the time came I didn't want them to be in danger. It was better if they aren't involved. Kyo and Tohru were quiet as we walked but I didn't really mind. It wasn't as if Devon and I were talking or anything. I think he was still upset about this afternoon.
"Oh Rose. Did you ask Devon if it was okay to come over today?" Tohru asked bashfully.
I felt my face turn hot. "Um, no, I completely forgot." I turned my attention to Devon. "So do you think that it'll be okay?"
He smiled that crooked smile that I love and brushed a stray hair away from my face. "Of course it's okay."
"Sweet." I squealed raising my fists into the air.
"Oh look at this wonderful Kodak moment." I felt all my happiness leave in an instant. I turned slightly toward a dark corner in an alley. His arms were crossed and his head was down slightly giving him a serious yet seductive look.
"What the hell do you want now Brad?" Kyo hissed standing in front of Tohru. His eyes flickered to the faces around me then back to mine but he said nothing. My stomach was in my throat. He reminded me of my father in so many ways. The stance, the look in his eyes, and the small smile that was placed on his lips resembled my father. That was before he got violent and only verbal threats were made.
"Don't just stand there." Kyo yelled. "Say something!" His temper was getting out of control.
"What am I supposed to say?" His voice was harsh. He pushed himself of the wall and walked toward me. My pulse quickened and it thudded in my ears.
He chuckled. "I haven't even done anything and you are already trembling." He leaned his face down by my ear. "I can't wait to see you scream."
I threw daggers at him with my eyes and whispered in a low and deadly voice. "I'm not trembling because I'm afraid of you. I'm trembling because I'm pissed!" I stood my ground and stared him in the eyes.
"Do your worse. I'll come back with twice as much power. You don't know what you are getting yourself into." I said with confidence. "As a matter of fact why don't you just do it now? It'll save you the trouble of waiting."
"Get the hell away from her." Devon said from behind me. I must have been going mad because as all of this was happening I felt comfortable. I felt pride and confidence. I was no longer afraid of the boy standing in front of me at least not while I had my friends there.
Brad then began to laugh. I was slightly confused and I let it show. Was he going insane? Suddenly he grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me toward him raising his fist behind him. I shut my eyes tight and prepared to feel his fist make contact with my face.
What I felt was a pair of hands grabbing my sides and pushing me hard to the ground. My head began to spin as it smacked against the concrete and I instantly saw Tohru pull me out of the way of Brad's large falling body. Devon was on top of him holding his arm against Brad's throat, his fist raise in the air.
"Don't just stand there! Do it now!" He screamed his face getting red.
I was so close to Brad that his voice hurt my ears and I could smell his sweat. I painfully opened my eyes and saw that a group of eight people had joined us. Three were the fan girls from school and the others five were unknown. The four girls charged at Tohru and me as the males cornered Kyo and pulled Devon, who was still punching him hard in the face, off of Brad.
Tohru screamed out for Kyo as two of the girls grabbed her and two grabbed me right above the elbow. My head was still spinning when Brad staggered to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth and nose. On his face was a smile.
"Brad if you harm them I'll make sure that you breathe your very last breath." Devon threatened.
"Brad," One of the girls that held me hesitated, "she's bleeding." The panic in her voice brought adrenaline into my veins. I could feel the warm liquid run down the side of my neck and I became alert.
The girl on my right side was the leader of the fan girl's group, the blonde one, and on my left was a girl that I have never seen before. She was pale with black hair and dark brown eyes. I knew she was the one that had spoken.
"Good. She deserves it." Brad remarked walking towards Devon. I tried to yank free of their grasp but they had too good of hold.
"S-stop." I mumbled. I was afraid-no, terrified. The men that held Kyo and Devon had knives. One was holding their arms behind their backs while the other held the blade to their side. Brad's eyes held a new emotion. He looked excited yet hesitant. Raising his fist he punched Devon in the jaw. His head whipped to the side as a thin line of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Devon!" I shrieked trying to yank my body free. "Devon! Devon!" A sob escaped my chest. I didn't want him to hurt Devon. I never wanted to be a burden. I screamed for him again, screaming his name like a song.
"Stop it!" I begged. "Please! Stop it!" I glanced at Tohru through my tears and she was sobbing also. My heart felt like it was crumbling as more tears fell from my eyes.
"Damn it!" I growled. "Let me go!" I struggled with the girls, yanking them back and forth. Nevertheless their hold on me didn't loosen. I was trembling and my legs would no longer support me. I fell hard onto the ground cringing every time I heard Brad's fists dig deeper into Devon's body and face.
"Brad that's enough," The blonde girl beside me mumbled, "You'll kill him."
"Don't interrupt me you bitch!" Brad bellowed. "I've waited forever to beat the shit out of him! Don't interrupt me!"
She flinched back at his words. She was trembling also.
"You're going to let him talk to you like that?" I asked. "Do you like him talking to you like that?"
She release one of her hands and smacked me across my face. My cheek burned as new tears rolled down my face.
"What the hell do you know?" She screamed, " You don't know him! He's an amazing guy that would never hurt me!"
I raised my head up at her with angry eyes. "Do you think that he wouldn't do this to you if he had the fucking chance?" I snapped. "Don't give me that bullshit! Look at him! Just fucking look at him!" I screamed at her all of my built up anger was thrown at her.
"Shut the hell up!" She screamed back at me striking me again and again. My head was swimming and I let my body go limp. The blonde girl drop the side of me that she was holding but the dark haired girl slowly set me down. I heard her sniffling. It broke the already broken pieces of my heart to know that there are people like her. The ones that won't say that it's wrong and stand up. The people like me.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered to me brushing my hair out of my bruised face.
A lump formed in my throat as I heard Kyo yelling at Brad then was silenced when one of the men ran the knife across his skin. Tohru was sobbing uncontrollably, the two girls were more like comforting her than holding her captive.
I wanted to run up to Brad and punch him in the face. I wanted to kick him and curse at him. I wanted to rip out his insides and show it to him. I absolutely hated him.
"Is that all you got?" Brad grunted wiping the sweat off his face. "Drop him." He ordered.
The two men let Devon fall onto the ground. I heard a sickening crack as his skull landed on the concrete. I raised my head to see but my eyes wouldn't open. I let out another sob then screamed as I was pulled from the ground by my hair. My hand shot up to the bloody knuckles that were tangled in my hair. I forced my eyes open and held my breath to prevent another scream from escaping.
Brad laughed hysterically. "So Rose, where is this power that you were telling me about earlier?" He swiftly punched me in my stomach and I doubled over gasping for breath.
"So have you decided to be mine yet?" He asked pulling me up again by my hair. "I'm still up for a girlfriend."
"Brad, I thought you said that I was your girlfriend." The blonde girl stammered. Tears forming in her eyes.
"Please I don't want a whore like you," He responded, nonchalant, " I just wanted the sex."
'"Bu-but Brad," She ran and grabbed his arm, "I lo-"
Brad instantly backhanded her. She screamed and collapsed onto the ground sobbing.
"Don't you dare touch me with those tainted hands!" He roared dropping me. I cried out when I hit the ground but jumped onto my knees and lunged at him. I wrapped my arms around his knees and caught him off guard. He tripped and fell onto his back.
"You bitch!" He screamed at me pounding his fists into my head and back. I saw someone's leg kick Brad in the face and he fell backward, passed out.
"Is everyone okay?" He asked frantically.
"Yuki, Kyo… Devon… and Rose th-they aren't moving." Tohru sobbed.
"What happened?" I mumbled. I felt myself slipping slowly into the nothingness. I was afraid that I wouldn't come back this time. "Where's Devon? Is he… all right? What about… Kyo and Tohru? I'll kill… them if they hurt her." I gasped.
"Don't worry they are okay. Just don't talk Rose; you're badly hurt. I just called Hatori, our doctor, everything will be fine."
I could barley stay awake but I had one more question. I needed to know what happened to him.
"What about Brad? Is the bastard dead?" I growled my muscles twitching. I had the urge to beat him senseless.
"He will be taken care of, believe me. He won't be bothering us anymore. As for right now he's unconscious." Yuki's voice was fading away slowly. I couldn't keep up this strength for much longer.
"That's good. I don't want to go through that again." I whispered falling father into the darkness that was slowly consuming me.