Author's Note: Here's the next chapter of A Bodyguard's Duty. And remember people, it's an angst genre. Angst, people, angst! Daniel is alll mine, but one else is...sigh.

Hardships

Setsuna's alarm clock went off, but she hardly registered it. Eventually she crawled out of bed and got herself ready for the day. She felt lifeless, like a zombie. Maybe I'm better off a zombie.

After she got dressed she went to her usual training spot. She drew her blade and started off with the basics. Was that really what I saw? She thought remembering last night. Ojou-sama was trying to tell me something... She mentally slapped herself. What if it was a misunderstanding? Dammit! Why did I run off like that? She remembered the harsh wave of pain she had felt when she had made that discovery. Oh yeah...that was why...

Setsuna thought of every possible reason why her Kono-chan would kiss someone like him. I have been away. Maybe they grew closer... Or maybe Daniel-bozu forced himself on Kono-chan! This idea set her ablaze with rage. She took the anger out on a nearby tree.

"Geez, you're pissed." Setsuna turned and found Asuna grinning at her.

"Asuna-san, what are you doing here?"

Asuna pointed to her empty bag, "I just got done delivering papers."

Asuna's grin disappeared and was replaced into a frown, "Are you okay?"

Setsuna hacked away, "Never better."

"I heard what happened and I'm resisting the urge to say I told you so." Asuna grinned again. "You ran off before Konoka had the chance to explain herself."

"I know what I saw. You were right, Asuna-san, I should have done something before it was too late..."

"But it's not too late!" said a frustrated Asuna. "It may seem like it, but it's not. You need to talk to Konoka and get the truth from her otherwise it will be too late! Then you'll be sitting around feeling sorry for yourself!"

Setsuna glared at her friend, "I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself."

Asuna pointed to the tree, "Than what is that? You look like your taking your anger out on that poor tree!"

"It's called training, Asuna-san. And I wish you would leave me to do it."

Asuna sighed, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get snippy. I just don't want my two best friends to be torn by some dumb misunderstanding..."

Setsuna whirled on her, "How do you know it was a misunderstanding? From my point of view it looked pretty real!"

Asuna stood her ground, "Setsuna-san, I want you to go talk to Konoka about this and make up."

They glared at each other for a few seconds more when Setsuna gave in, "...fine... I'll let her explain herself..."

Asuna gave her a big hug. Setsuna blushed at the sudden gesture, but she hugged her friend back. Asuna broke the hug and patted her back, "You almost done terrorizing that tree?" Setsuna nodded. "Good, that's no way to treat trees. Let's go to class."

The two buddies walked side by side into Negi's classroom. Class was about to start. Their classmates were talking to each other and gossiping about stuff worth gossiping about. Setsuna saw Konoka sitting in her seat talking to Daniel. She felt a burning rage rise up from the pit of her stomach, but relaxed when she remembered her talk with Asuna.

Daniel bowed to Konoka and made his way to his seat. On the way there his eyes met Setsuna's. The look in his eyes surprised her. Usually his eyes twinkle with a boyish playfulness, but his eyes glowed with triumph. She felt the need to smack that look off his face. She felt another pair of eyes rest on her.

Konoka sat in her seat her eyes locked onto Setsuna's. Konoka blushed and looked away. Setsuna felt a blush of her own creep up. Asuna, who had taken her seat next to Konoka winked at Setsuna. Her face turned red and she quickly sat down and hid her face so that no one could see it.

The school day went by slowly. Setsuna sat in her last class, math, as bored as anyone could be. She thought about her training with Eva. I had no clue that I can use my chi for so many things. I wonder when I'll have to use them in really battle. Setsuna shook her head. I shouldn't use my demon form in battle unless it's necessary. I need to keep this a secret. She didn't want to think about her Kono-chan's reaction if she ever saw her other form. I don't want to scare her away...

The bell finally rang and she was one of the first to get out of that cell of endless boredom. Setsuna walked by the dorms on her way to Eva's house. She randomly saw Konoka walking towards the door. Maybe we can talk about this now! Setsuna almost called out her name when she saw Daniel open the door for her. The earlier rage bubbled back again and intensified when they hugged.

Daniel was the only one who saw Setsuna. The glow in his eyes returned and taunted her. She's mine, bitch, she read the expression on his face.

Setsuna almost transformed then and there. She struggled for control over her body. Strong emotions like anger or life or death situations can trigger a transformation, she remembered Eva's warning. So don't run around hating everyone!

Setsuna ran into the thick of the woods and sat under a tree, trying to calm herself down. Several minutes later the threat of transforming subsided, "That was close..." She said to herself.

"You're late!" Eva growled, "Do I have to hold your hand to make sure you get to class on time?"

"I had an emergency." Setsuna answered.

Eva didn't bother to ask. Setsuna transformed and resumed training. As she fought Eva she couldn't help but think about Daniel. That cocky little bastard, she thought as she blocked a blow with her arm, Kono-chan will NEVER be his! Setsuna unarmed Eva and with a cry she hit Eva and hit her hard.

Eva fell back, "Hey! We're practicing here! Don't try to kill your damn mentor!"

But Setsuna wasn't listening. But Kono-chan is MINE. She belongs to ME. Not that damn child, not ANYBODY! I'll destroy anyone who gets in my way! With a beastly growl Setsuna kicked Eva in the face.

Eva was thrown back a few feet and didn't have the time to recover before Setsuna was upon her again, "All right! That's enough!"

Eva grabbed Setsuna by the neck. Setsuna feebly moved her arms and legs, trying to break free of her grasp. Eva was too strong. She tightened her grip on Setsuna's neck. She pulled Setsuna's face closer to hers, "You don't treat your master that way. I'm the one in charge." Eva flung Setsuna across the clearing.

Setsuna skidded across the ground. Dust surrounded where she lay. She sat up, rubbing her head. Suddenly, an arm came out of her shadow and grabbed her ankle, "I'm not done disciplining you." Eva fully appeared from the shadow and paralyzed Setsuna in her place.

Setsuna struggled to break free from the shadow. Eva jumped high into the air and slammed the back of her foot against her skull. Setsuna's vision blurred momentarily and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Eva knelt down in front of Setsuna, "So, hanyou, obviously there's something on your mind. What's up? What's got you so angry that you think you can take it out on your master?"

"I don't want to talk about it..." Eva slapped her, "Okay! Okay! Geez..." Setsuna explained what had happened last night and on her way here.

"So, you're pissed 'cuz Daniel-bozu won over the princess?" Eva cruelly laughed, "I knew this would happen. You were so obsessed with gaining power that you lost your ojou-sama right from under your nose!"

Setsuna was about to argue, but she realized that Eva was right. If she hadn't so busy training all of the time she could devote that time to Konoka. Kono-chan was probably lonely and only had Daniel-bozu to talk to... Setsuna lowered her head in shame.

"You're doing great as a bodyguard. I don't think that the average bodyguard would go through hell in training to protect someone. But you suck as a friend!" Eva slapped her again, "You're obsessed with protecting this girl and you think that your lame ass excuse 'I'm only protecting you because it's my duty' is gonna pass off? Even a blind cat can see that you're in love with this bitch!"

Setsuna shook her head, "It still doesn't matter. Ojou-sama's happiness is important and if she's happier with him than I have to accept it."

Eva slapped her again, "I'm getting tired of slapping you. Did you even talk to this chick?" Setsuna shook her head and Eva rolled her eyes, "You know what? Go talk to her, now. I don't care how long it takes you. You're obviously distracted from your training. I won't teach you anything else until you haul your ass over there and talk to her!"

Eva released her and kicked her out of the resort. Setsuna walked through the woods surrounding Eva's house, "Great. Where am I gonna find her," Setsuna thought out loud.

"Set-chan?"

Setsuna looked up to see none other than Konoka in front of her, "Ojou-sama? What are you doing here?"

Konoka blushed, "I, um, kinda followed you. I saw you run off earlier and I was concerned."

Setsuna realized that she meant when Setsuna ran off because her inner demon had threatened to come out.

Konoka sat under a tree and beckoned Setsuna to sit next to her, "I need to talk to you..."

"About last night, right?" Setsuna shoved the pain away.

"Yeah...oh! Set-chan! You're hurt!" Konoka reached out and touched her cheek. The blood had dried, but it stung a little. "Hold still." Konoka focused her magic into her hand and healed the wound.

"Thank you, Ojou-sama." Setsuna gratefully said.

Konoka playfully smacked her arm, "When are you gonna start calling me Kono-chan?"

"I-I, um..." Setsuna stammered.

"It's okay. I guess I can tolerate 'Ojou-sama' for a little bit longer." Setsuna smiled and Konoka laughed.

They laughed together for a while, then Konoka's face grew serious, "Set-chan…about last night. I know it looked bad..." Setsuna looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "But it wasn't my fault. Daniel was walking me back to my dorm. Then he suddenly leans foreword and kisses me! I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I went along with it. It was bad timing that you showed up at the wrong time." Konoka looked at her straight in the eye. "Set-chan, this is the truth. I don't like Daniel-kun like that. Do you believe me?"

Setsuna looked for any signs that her Kono-chan may have been lying to her, "I believe you."

Setsuna wasn't prepared for Konoka's reaction. She glomped her and knocked Setsuna onto the ground. Oww... Setsuna thought. Konoka was on top of her, arms still wrapped around her neck. Setsuna's face was on fire, "O-O-Ojou-sama..." She tried to push Konoka off of her, but Konoka was stronger that she estimated.

Konoka raised her head so that their faces were inches apart, "I'm so glad! I thought that things were gonna go back to when you never talked to me... You never really looked at me at all..."

That's not true, Setsuna thought, I couldn't stop looking at you...

"The thought of going through that all over again hurt," Konoka held her closer, "I didn't want to lose you..."

Setsuna reached up and stroked her hair, "You're never gonna lose me."

They lay there holding each other in their arms, neither saying a word. Setsuna shifted from under Konoka, "Set-chan, what's wrong?"

Setsuna gave her a warm smile, "Nothing's wrong." Setsuna felt a sudden burst of courage. She felt that she could do or say anything. "Ojou-sama…no, Kono-chan?"

This won a smile from Konoka, "Yes, Set-chan?"

"Back then when I wasn't around it wasn't because I hated you. I felt that it was best protect you from the shadows. But after the school field trip I knew that I could never be able to go back doing that. I had to be near you. I had to know that you were safe by my side. Your safety means everything to me. I even went to Eva-san and begged her to teach me."

"Wait, is that where you've been going all this time? You've returned to me beaten up and bruised because you were training?"

Setsuna nodded, "I wasn't over having Daniel-kun save you. I felt that I had to gain more power." Setsuna smirked, "I have that power now. Now I can efficiently protect you, Ojou-sama!"

Konoka got off of Setsuna, shaking, "Ojou-sama?"

Konoka's hands were clenched in her lap; her long bangs covered her face, "What happened to 'Kono-chan'? I thought you told me that you were over that."

Setsuna felt puzzled, "I am. I asked her to train me as soon as I got out of the hospital."

"So this is why you were always covered in injuries, why you seemed so exhausted during class, and why you haven't been able to spend time with me?"

"Yeah…" Setsuna reached out to touch her, "What's wrong?"

Konoka moved away from her touch, "There you go, talking about power and protecting me. You're hurting yourself! And you're hurting me!"

Brief anger struck Setsuna, "But I'm doing this for you!" She lowered her voice, "How am I hurting you?"

Konoka looked at Setsuna as she spoke, "You're always hurting yourself for me… Why didn't you tell me you were doing this earlier? I would have been there with you by your side. I would have healed you so you wouldn't be walking around half dead!" Tears welled up and overflowed freely, "What would happen if Eva went too hard and you were bleeding to death? I wouldn't be there to heal you! I can't bring the dead back to life, Set-chan! I would lose you forever!" Konoka hiccupped, "Do you have any clue how much pain I would go through if I ever lost you? Did you even think about that?"

Setsuna was about to say something when she realized Konoka was right. She had never factored this in. Setsuna wrapped her arms around her Kono-chan and pulled her close, "I-I never thought of that… I'm sorry…"

Konoka didn't drive her away, "I want to be by your side, too. I want to protect you and make sure you're safe, too…"

Setsuna didn't know why she felt this way, but she felt that now was the time, "Kono-chan?"

Konoka wiped her tears, "Yes?"

"There's another reason why I try so hard to protect you. Why I'm willing to go through hell and back with Eva-san's training. It's not because it's my job. It's because I-I-," Setsuna chocked on her words, "I love you."

Konoka had no time to respond. An earsplitting cracking sound split the air. She covered her ears and looked for the source, "Set-chan! What's happening?"

Setsuna crouched in a defensive position, "I don't know!" What should I do? Should I take her away or stay here?

Another cracking sound filled the air. Setsuna didn't know where it was coming from. It sounded like it was coming from above. Setsuna looked up and stared in horror at what she saw. The sky was cracking! Visible cracks can be seen in several parts of the sky.

"Is the sky falling or something?" Konoka asked.

"No…" Setsuna quickly realized that it wasn't the sky, "It's the protective barrier!" Setsuna scooped Konoka into her arms and took off. I have to get Ojou-sama to safety before all the demons break loose! Setsuna's thoughts were drowned out deafening sound of the entire barrier shattering at once.

END

Whoa…suspense! What's gonna happen next? I don't know… (I'm kidding! Of course I know!). The next, and maybe last, chapter coming soon.