I Will admit to this chapter being rushed but I had to get someting out because if I didn't I would fall even further behind on my papers that I have to do. One was due last week and the other on friday. So this is here to serve as a place holder. I will be doing this one over-ish. Probably just to clarify some narratives and such but here it is. Chapter 2. Thanks to PolerBair again for reviewing.

I opened my eyes to the reflection of the sun distorted by ocean waves. I felt like I was sinking, but I could still breathe. My body was limply following the waters current, my eyes locked on the sun from underwater watching it wave and ripple then... darken. Like it was blocked, and by something huge. My eyes widened as a huge ship, like Hagino's space ship plunged into the water squealing loudly like a whale. The lights glowing purple and few yellow lights were beautifully terrifying. I wanted to move to avoid getting crushed but I couldn't, I just kept sinking. The ship gracefully dove downwards to my distant side, the lights dancing across my body and again my eyes drifted back to the sun which, again, was blocked. Although not entirely. This time it was something much smaller in front of it. Soon a mass of bubbles appeared around the darkness of that figure, like it plunged in too. As it cleared, all I could see were shining, bright, piercing blue eyes that grew closer and closer to me. I could later recognize the figure attached as someone swimming.

"Hagino?" I spoke. I felt my mouth move but no words came out. I could see her dark hair flowing through the water, her gentle smile. Her eyes grew less bright but still very vibrant as she got closer. I could see she was wearing her Arume uniform, the same one from that memory we shared in the abandoned restaurant. I managed to reach my hands out to her. She reached out to me as her Arume uniform faded to her school uniform. Her fingers interlocked with mine as she pulled me closer with a smile.

"I love you." she said. She briefly pressed her lips to mine before she released my hands and pulled away changing this time into her Commanders uniform.

"No! Hagino! Come back! Don't leave!" I screamed yet no sound again. I couldn't get my body to move to chase after her. Her ship flew quickly behind her, seemingly swallowing her up. They both emerged from the deep towards the sun. This time it got brighter, and brighter until they exploded; engulfing the sky and sea with a blinding yellow light.

My eyes jerked open and I flew to my feet. "Hagi-!" I screamed. This time I was completely audible and had full operation of my body. I suppose I hadn't completely fallen out of bed this morning but I did once I came crashing down on my face from jumping up from the edge of my bed. By this time completely startled, I quickly scanned around for Hagino and found myself in a small room. It looked something like the inside of a cabin. "It was... just a dream..." I breathed trying to catch my breath.

"What the hell, Mari?" came Akane's clearly irritated voice from above me. Apparently this was a bunk bed. "I thought you would sleep way later than this."

"Where are we?" I asked pushing myself back onto my knees. Looking up at the bed wondering how I managed to not hit my head.

"We're actually not far from Kaiho. This is an old campsite we used to use for field trips but we sopped coming so it became abandoned after a while." Akane explained, her arms folded against the wall and her head resting on them. She wore something like the green tank she wore on vacation over the summer. Guess she wore that under her costume.

"Why are we still here? Aren't they still attacking the island? We've gotta get out of-" I said jumping to my feet again. Before Akane's simple lowering of her brow silenced me. I felt like I was in trouble...

"You still don't get it do you?" she replied with a shake of her head. "I'm glad I'm in here and not Michiko."

"What are you talking about?" I asked angrily. Still a bit confused as to why I'm the only one to seem how urgent this is.

"Sad thing is, I don't think you'll understand until you can come to terms with Hagino's death. And who knows how long that'll take..." Akane said, rotating her arms from behind her head to across her chest.

"Well how can you expect me to?" I said softly. I felt tears welling up. I tightened my fist on the wooden floor.

"Listen, Mari. We're here because Miss Sugawara though it might be too dangerous to stay at the Academy. And since what Hagino did, sacrificing herself and all, stopped all the fighting over the island." Akane said looking me in the eye now. "She did that for all of us. But even more for you, Mari." I held her intense gaze with one of my own for a second, it was kinda like a silent submission match. I gave in knowing she wasn't going to.

"I know she did..." I said softly looking at my balled fist on the floor. "I just wish there was another way she could've done it." I felt a single tear run down the side of my face.

"She wouldn't want you to be sad about it, you know." Akane scolded.

"...Yeah," I sighed. "It just hurts so much."

"It does." Akane nodded. She pushed herself from her bed and dropped down to the floor and knelt next to me. Turns out she had on a pair of shorts with her tank top. "And I know it's taking a bigger toll on you than anyone else, Squeak. But you have to be strong and get through this like she would have wanted you to, alright?"

"I don't..." I started. I was trembling, because I know everything she said was true. And here I am acting like a baby. "I don't know if... if I..." I couldn't finish, Akane wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me towards her.

"Eh, this isn't really my thing but...," she started with a low voice that intended to be.. tender... maybe. "We are all here for you. Me, Michiko, Hiroko, and Miss Sugawara. Heck even Hagino's fan girls are behind you. We want to help you. So give us a chance to, okay?" I nodded out of stunned confusion. This was entirely too much emotion for one morning. She released me and gave me an awkward smile. "Don't tell anyone I did that."

"Yeah." I said slowly.

"Well I'm gonna go wash up and see if there's anything around we can eat. You try to get some more rest." Akane rose and headed out the door and down the hall. I crawled back into my bunk and threw the blankets over my head.

"That was weird..." I sighed as I laid my head back on my pillow. I let my eyes close and try to not think about Hagino. But I knew I wouldn't be able to yet. I'm not ready to. I curled up with my blankets clinched tightly against me. "Why'd you have to sacrifice yourself you big dummy?" I sniffed before more tears fell from my eyes. I let myself fall asleep, silently praying for no more dreams like before. I'm sure the next time I wouldn't be so lucky to miss hitting my head...

Short, awkwardly sweet. Need some going over but I probably won't post anything until about next week. Sorry...

By the way the whole 'outside of Kaiho' thing is mainly because all the fics I read they were still in the academy... it never made sense to me why they would stay there like nothing happened... just take in the refugees and keep school going it's all good, even though the planet is being invaded and all...