"Well Miss Chidori it would appear you are all healed up and ready to go," the doctor notified the pair, "Try to take it easy still. The stitches may be out but you still need rest. I want you to come back if you feel any abnormal pain or the wound rips open by some chance. That will be all."

The doctor left the two teens alone. Sousuke helped Chidori back into her clothes. He knew that she was still extremely sore. It had been a month and a half since she'd been stabbed. They made their way out of the hospital slowly. She inhaled deeply, trying not to wince while doing so. She didn't want a scar going across her stomach but it was all worth it if it meant Sousuke had stayed safe. The air outside was crisp, it was likely to snow within the next few days. She loved the cool winter air and the thought of asking Sousuke to go on a trip with her for winter break. She wanted to go back to the hot springs, keep warm while the cold bit at others.

"Say Sousuke," she began slowly, "Would you, want to go to the hot springs over Winter break?"

"I'll have to check with the Captain," he looked down at her, "but I'm sure that would be fine."

She let out a sigh. Lately he'd converted back to Super Soldier mode. She hadn't been kissed in weeks. It was beginning to depress her. It was like nothing had happened between them. He'd even started sleeping on the couch instead of in her bed. He'd also mentioned getting back to his apartment earlier that day. She was losing him to the war going on inside his mind. She knew what was going on in there, his past. She could feel it deep inside her heart but she couldn't think of any way to reach him. She was losing him at a pace more rapid then she would have liked.

"This is where I must leave you," he stood straight backed, stiff as a board, "Good-night Chidori, I look forward to seeing you in the morning."

She looked up at him, "Sousuke, what are you doing? Why are you acting like this?"

He looked away, "It's my job ma'am, to protect you. Nothing more, nothing less. I lost sight of that and now I must be getting back to it. That is all."

She grabbed his arm, "Sousuke, tell me that you love me."

"I cannot do that Chidori," he replied, "I am sorry, but I must go now. It's better if we stay apart unless needed."

She refused to let go, "Not until you tell me that you love me, tell me Sousuke."

He pulled away from her, "I can't tell you things that aren't true. I'm sorry, I must go."

He ran away from her, "WAIT," she cried, "NO, SOUSUKE!"

She fell to the ground in front of her apartment. He hadn't meant it, he didn't love her. She given herself away for nothing. She was nothing more then a mission to him. It was last year all over again. He was going to leave her. She tried to pick herself up but couldn't. Why? Why did it hurt so much? How could he hurt her so much by doing so little? She looked down towards the street. He was still running to his apartment.

"SOUSUKE," she screamed before completely breaking down.

He ignored her screams and kept running. He slammed his door shut, sliding down to the floor. He rested his elbow on he knee, pulling it against his chest as his other leg folded under. He gripped his forehead. He couldn't keep putting her in unneeded danger. She was everything to him. Everything. His fist slammed into the floor. He shouldn't have lied to her. She probably hated him now. He moved off the floor, going over to where he could watch her. She wasn't in her apartment. She was still sitting on the ground, her face pressed against the railing. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She looked so helpless.

He placed his hand to the window, "Chidori."

"Hey Tsubaki," Chidori greeted him, "Mind if I sit with you?"

He looked up at the girl of his dreams, "Oh, um, yeah sure."

She smiled at him, "Did you get contacts?"

"Yeah," he blushed, "Thanks for noticing."

She smiled then looked back, waving for Kyoko to join them. She smiled, snapping photos as she walked. Chidori snacked Tsubaki in the arm as he told a rather inappropriate joke. She took in a few deep breaths every now and then. She refused to be upset in front of everyone. She didn't need to have him be with her. Tsubaki noticed the look in her eyes. He placed his hand on her back, rubbing it in a relaxing motion. It soothed her, causing her to relax more. She looked outside, it was snowing. She thought about winter break. Maybe she could go to the hot springs with Kyoko, or Tsubaki. She smirked at the idea. They all turned as the door to the classroom opened.

"Am I late," Sousuke asked.

"No," someone answered.

He nodded then looked straight to Chidori. She looked away quickly. Tsubaki quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, trying his best to comfort her. She could feel his gaze stay on her as he took his seat. She ignored him as best as she could. The teacher walked in moments later. As per usual the lesson was, well, a lesson. Chidori stuck close to her friends while Sousuke stayed by himself, keeping his guard up as best as he could. Occasionally he'd look in her direction, only to see that she wasn't looking back. He approached her at lunch.

"Chidori," he said softly, "I still have your notebook," he held it out to her.

She took it without looking, "Thank you," she felt her throat tighter, "Excuse me, I, I have to use the bathroom."

She left the room in a hurry. He looked at the ground, deciding whether he should go after her or not. He walked back to his seat slowly. He watched her walk back into the room, her eyes red and puffy. It killed him inside to see her so upset. He went to stand but Tsubaki was already comforting her. He sat back down, trying not to think about the pain growing in his chest. He'd done this to himself after all. She hugged him back, placing her chin on his shoulder. Sousuke clenched his fists. She pulled away from Tsubaki a moment later. She left to get her usual rolls and due to the weather soup. Sousuke decided to follow her. He had to protect her after all.

"I know your following me," she hissed, "Go away Sousuke."

He stopped in his tracks, "Chidori, it's my job to protect you, all I'm doing is my job."

"Well do your job from a distance," she growled, "Just, p-please ge-et away f-fr-from me."

"Please don't cry," he whispered.

She sniffled, "Then go away. I-I love y-you So-Sousuke and y-y-you lied t-to m-me-e."

She ran away, heading for the food stands. He lowered his head to the ground. He'd messed up so much. She loved him more then anything and he crushed it. He killed it and by doing so, he'd killed the trust she'd put in him. He stalked back to the classroom, hating himself. But she would be safer and that's all that mattered to him. He didn't want to hurt though. He wanted to be with her, to hold her and love her the way he truly did. But they couldn't know. The enemy had to believe that he truly only saw her as an assignment.

She forgot about her lunch, turning and running back to the classroom. She burst through the classroom door, going and grabbing all her things. Kyoko's eyes widened, she'd never once seen her best friend crying. She nodded when Chidori told her to tell the teacher that she'd left early. She left the room as a whole new set of tears began to run down her cheeks. Her chest felt tight. She had never felt like this before. Her heart felt like it was stopping, her mind felt numb. She dropped her things as she entered her apartment. She ran to her bedroom, her legs giving out as she reached her bed. She buried her face in the pillow and began to shake as she cried. She felt so weak, so vulnerable.

A pair of hands gripped her, "Hello my sweet, where's your big, bad bodyguard?"

"Where is Chidori," he asked as he reentered the room.

Kyoko glared at him, "She went home early."

His eyes widened, "Alone! NO!"

Kyoko jerked back as he grabbed his things and left. She couldn't be alone. Leonard was still hunting her down, looking for her. She needed to be guarded, protected. When he got to the apartment it was a mess. He looked around, finding nothing. She was gone. He'd found her, Leonard. His jaw clenched. Damn it. He'd failed her again. He was always failing her. She wasn't his anymore but that didn't matter. When it came to her everything was personal. He pulled out his cell phone as he left. He was getting her back, no matter what it took he was getting her back.