A/N: Big thank you to all of you who've followed and read the first chapter of my "Sparked" fanfic. This chapter took a little while for me to come up with because I'm not used to writing about fluff and all that mushy stuff, but I've done the best I could and tried to not make it as corny as possible. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2:

At the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Ichigaya, several military units and Tojis surrounded the area, keen and alert. The atmosphere was tense, replete with silence. Through the heavy stillness, three sets of footsteps echoed through the main foyer, making their way deeper into the building. One of the soldiers bowed as they came forward.

"Akane-sama, we have been expecting you," he said.

"Thank you for your efforts," she replied, bowing as well. "And the child?"

"She's already in the cell, Akane-sama, under full protection."

The soldier's gaze slightly turned, resting on the other two figures next to Akane. Just by looking at their uniforms and faces, he recognized them as the two Tojis who accompanied the Origami sister, during their previous visit.

He stared at the scowling Heijou girl in particular, thinking this was a queer situation. Not at all what he expected the so-called "evil-goddess's prostitute" to look like. When the Origami sisters alerted the Ministry of Defense about an aradama Toji coming in, he expected someone altogether more frightened. Someone mentally-scarred by the trauma of it all. He summed her up with a judgmental eye. She was a sulky one he could bet.

The other girl from-Minoseki, was it? She was a queer one. The soldier had once overheard that she outright challenged Takirihime to a duel just for fun. He frowned slightly. He had enough of her lot.

The soldier bowed once more, saying, "The chamber is ready for her."

Akane, Kanami, and Hiyori silently walked through the long, familiar hallway. A series of metal doors slid open and then closed, after they passed through them. Finally, the last set of doors were opened and they stepped into the white-washed prison cell that formerly held Takirihime.

Hiyori, hearing the tempestuous screams of a baby from inside the shrine-like enclosure, immediately raced up the wooden stairs. To say her daughter was upset was an understatement. However, the cries of the new-born gradually died down, once Hiyori took her in her arms once again.

"Is Kagari-chan doing okay?" Kanami asked, stepping into the shrine.

"Seems to be—for now," Hiyori replied.

Akane, who had also entered the shrine, surveyed the bare cell with a glum expression. She was slightly ashamed that she was agreeing to this.

"Hiyori-san, are you sure about doing this?" she asked.

Hiyori replied, without hesitation, "Yes. I've completed all of my middle-school education and President Gojou says that she'll send in my work for high-school later on. Right now, I need to do what's best for Kagari and protect her."

Kanami stared very hard at her friend. Despite being impulsive at times, Kanami had a very sharp instinct and didn't need to duel Hiyori to guess what she was truly thinking.

"Akane-sama, can I please talk to Hiyori-chan privately?" Kanami asked.

"Of course," she replied. "I'll wait outside for you."

There was an uncomfortable feeling hanging in the air, as the two Tojis stared at each other. Eventually, Kanami let her gaze fall to the floor.

"Hiyori-chan, are you really okay about this?" she whispered.

Hiyori sighed, gritting her teeth together, "Kanami, I've told you a dozen times already. I'm not backing out of this."

Kanami could feel tears poking out of the corners of her eyes. She didn't know what to think. Sadness surged through her, as a painful feeling tightly squeezed at her heart.

"You...you don't have to, Hiyori-chan," Kanami tried again, desperately hoping that Hiyori would change her mind. "I don't want you to..."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, releasing a gulp in the process. Eventually, her facade broke and Kanami tightly grasped Hiyori by the shoulders, hanging her head between her arms. Teardrops fell from her eyes, staining the wooden floor.

"Please don't lock yourself from the world, Hiyori-chan!" she pleaded. "I know it's selfish of me to say this, but I don't care about what happens—I just want you to stay with us! I want to eat mint-chocolate ice cream with you! I want us to fight aradama together! I want us to watch Kagari grow! I-I just want us to be together!"

Kanami's ragged sobs started to increase, after her venting. Without another word, she let her hands fall limply to her sides before curling up on the floor.

Hiyori, who had remained quiet the whole time, slowly put Kagari down and knelt down beside Kanami. She wrapped her arms around Kanami, embracing her, giving her the comfort and reassurance she needed.

"I want all of that too," Hiyori whispered. "But right now...Tagitsuhime is on the loose and I still can't control my powers."

She added, with a pained look on her face, "You're my best friend, Kanami, and...I don't want to hurt you. I'm dangerous."

Kanami thought over Hiyori's words carefully. She understood that Hiyori was only doing what was best for everyone, but a small selfish part of her just wanted her friend to forget about everything and return with her. Kanami took a deep breath, before turning and taking Hiyori's face in the palms of her hands. The burgundy orbs Hiyori had for eyes were slightly glazed over, but Kanami could see that Hiyori too had tears poking out of the corners of her eyes.

"Then we'll just have to find Tagitsuhime and stop her for good," Kanami said. "Hiyori-chan, no matter how dangerous people say you are, you'll always be my friend."

She paused before drawing out Chidori and kneeling down on one knee like a knight. She closed her eyes, a calm expression of servitude and loyalty crossing her facial features.

"Where you go, I'll go and where you die, I'll die. Even if the world is your enemy, I'll be a monster with you," Kanami vowed.

"Kanami..." Hiyori breathed. Her cheeks burned as a blush made its way across her face.

Kanami smiled, opening her eyes again to meet Hiyori's. She stood up, lifting up her friend with one hand.

"If this is truly what you want, I'll respect your decision," Kanami said. "On one condition."

"Which is?"

"You'll let me visit and still duel with you."

Hiyori raised an eyebrow, before letting out a soft chuckle. A profound mixture of warmth and sadness were in her eyes.

"That's just like you, Kanami," she smiled. "Alright, but you have to bring a bucket of mint-chocolate ice cream every time you do."

"He he, okay, Hiyori-chan!" Kanami said, before muttering under her breath, "I still think it tastes like toothpaste..."

"What was that?"

"N-Nothing!"