AN: Ah, things are starting to get fun. So very, very fun.

Day 12

Setsuna had to remind herself every other minute that Tsukuyomi was doing this on purpose. That was the only thing keeping her from unsheathing Yūnagi and teaching her roommate a lesson. Tsukuyomi was only acting like this to bother her.

Unlike yesterday, Tsukuyomi wasn't just acting out because she was irritated—she wanted Setsuna to get angry. She wanted a reaction.

But she wasn't going to get one.

Not when Setsuna knew she was being played with.

Yesterday, Tsukuyomi was upset and taking it out on pretty much anyone she spent time with. For the most part, that meant Setsuna, but Asuna also got thrown into the line of fire. Luckily, Konoka was spared, but as today went on, Setsuna was growing surer by the second that the only thing stopping her was a lack of desire to speak to Konoka.

As convenient as that was, Setsuna wasn't sure how she felt about Tsukuyomi actively disliking Konoka. No matter how powerful her magic was, Konoka was still a beginner, and Tsukuyomi had years of experience and a disregard for human life—any life—that couldn't be matched.

Setsuna's hands shook as she fit her key into her door. She was starting to wish Tsukuyomi would go back to silently moping like she had during the weekend. She didn't particularly like seeing Tsukuyomi that unhappy, but at least then they weren't fighting.

Not that they weren't fighting now. Setsuna was making sure of that. She wasn't going to let Tsukuyomi get to her again.

This was harder than she thought it would be.

Tsukuyomi rested her chin in her hands, watching Setsuna undress.

After yesterday, she'd figured that getting something out of her Senpai would be easy. Setsuna had come back from her time with her friends happier than Tsukuyomi liked, yes, but all of the irritation she felt during their argument couldn't just vanish, could it?

"You really seem to like taking your clothes off when I'm around. Should I take that as a compliment?"

She might have said a little much there. Making Setsuna stop unbuttoning her shirt wasn't a desired effect of the baiting, even if it did get her to turn around.

"We share a room," Setsuna bit out. "If I could avoid changing around you, I would." And she did. She usually managed to get her uniform on before Tsukuyomi woke up. Really, it was just getting ready for bed and changing into clothes more suited for training that was awkward. It wasn't anything like what she was suggesting.

"Why? You didn't seem to mind bathing with the princess. If anything—"

"You saw that?"

Tsukuyomi's smile was starting to look a little too content for Setsuna's tastes. She hadn't seen the other girl look that—dreamy since—

She really didn't think remembering that would help her control her temper. She could already feel her hands straining for Yūnagi, and it was taking every ounce of restraint she had to keep her ki in check. She'd fought with Tsukuyomi too many times to lose her temper around the girl without it turning into something more violent than she was comfortable with.

"And it's not like I haven't already seen… all of you."

Setsuna buttoned her shirt back up. She could change at the resort.

"Hey, is that why you did it?"

Tsukuyomi looked like what other people might if they discovered the meaning of life.

"Did what?" She should really leave now. She did that yesterday. The door was just a few feet away. She wasn't obligated to answer Tsukuyomi's questions. Or talk to her. Or do anything besides watch her.

Tsukuyomi bounced off the bed and walked over until she was only a couple feet away from Setsuna's face. Her eyes were bright and far, far too innocent.

"Kissed her."

Setsuna's blood went cold.

"That—that has nothing to do with you."

"No?" She was really starting to hate that smile. "I think it might. You only let her talk you into it after we had our fight, and I don't think that went quite the way you wanted it to. It makes sense that you'd want to get stronger after that."

Setsuna's breathing sped up. Her hands moved to grab Yūnagi. She needed her sword if she was leaving.

That wasn't why.

She wouldn't—she didn't kiss Konoka over something that trivial. They had already come close to making a pactio before they left for a Magical World. It would have happened eventually, and—Konoka was the one who started it, not her.

Tsukuyomi took another step forward.

"Be honest now, Setsuna-senpai. When you kissed her, were you thinking of me?"

Setsuna snapped.

For a thrilling fraction of a second, Tsukuyomi thought that Setsuna might actually kill her. Her blade was drawn, and she moved so fast that she might have been able to cause their teacher some trouble. People who moved like that didn't want anything less than the blood of the one in front of them spraying through the air.

So even though she did want a proper fight from the bottom of her heart, Tsukuyomi couldn't help feeling delighted at the emotion in Setsuna's eyes. After seeing something like that, even if she could never see it again, she thought she might die happy. Any punishment was worth this.

Then the rest of the second passed, and Tsukuyomi remembered—dimly, with the small part of her brain that wasn't fading into ecstasy—that all of the baiting in the world couldn't make Setsuna slaughter someone under her charge.

Heat exploded all over her body as Setsuna tackled her to the carpet, her sword to Tsukuyomi's neck.

And suddenly, that was all Tsukuyomi could feel.

That blazing, burning warmth.

Setsuna.

Every inch of her body was on fire.

I WANT her.

She reached out for her ki, wanting nothing more than to have their true battle—one without Konoka—and take Setsuna right this second. She needed her Senpai. The blood in her veins was burning and her breath was coming in short, exhilarated gasps and she needed to ride the wave of desire before it tore her apart. She wanted and needed and how had she gone without this for so long?

But her ki wasn't answering her call. Tsukuyomi was left clawing at the horrible, wretched Seal that was closed around all of her magical energy.

No, she whimpered. Why? WhywhywhywhywhywhyWHY

Let me. Just let me PLAY. Letushave our game.

Let me rip and tear and take every last inch of her. She is MINE and I want her NOW. Let me have her!

It wouldn't budge. Why wouldn't it budge? Why couldn't it let her have one small taste? Why?

Setsuna's grip on her shoulder tightened, and she had to bite her lip to keep from passing out from the thrill of heat the motion sparked. She looked up into the pitch black, golden eyes of her Senpai, shivering with joy.

"You think that baiting me puts you in control?" Setsuna was shaking too. Oh, Tsukuyomi knew that look. She knew it, she knew it, she knew it, and she hoped Setsuna's resolve would give out soon. "It doesn't. I'm guarding you. I'm the one in control. It doesn't go the other way, so don't you dare play with me!"

It was deliriously pleasurable, having Setsuna on top of her and saying things like that with her sword so eager for flesh.

She wants it. She wants it too. Now, Senpai. Release me from the Seal NOW and I can give you exactly what you want. It doesn't matter that I don't have a weapon—I don't need one. I will slice apart your flesh and spill your blood and make you cry out so prettily, and it won't stop until you've—

It stopped.

The warmth was still there, but—

No...

—something cold was flowing in to counteract the marvelous heat that Setsuna was giving off.

Images came, too.

Memories.

She'd seen it before. Setsuna dying.

Briefly, very briefly.

Kyoto.

And then...

That feeling. That relief. Because she's alive.

She wanted to fight Setsuna.

But Setsuna dead...

Her mind not even registering that Setsuna was off and running out of the room, slamming the door shut, Tsukuyomi let out a high-pitched wail and jerked herself into a ball, rolling over on the floor.

Nonononononononononono.

She could feel something in her starting to snap.

Senpai's blood is always so delicious to look at. Always.

I want to see it flowing it needs to be flowing always

She brought up her hands to her head and clawed at her skull, crying out when that did absolutely nothing to relieve the pressure building in her thoughts.

It hurt. That area in her chest was pounding relentlessly with each and every thought of her Setsuna dying.

But she still wanted. The thrill from earlier was still there, and the only way to relieve it was to shred Setsuna's body to pieces, sending that burning blood erupting all over the room, drenching her clothes in gore—

NO

Not Setsuna not Setsuna not Setsuna

ANYONE but her

Her ears rang with the echoes of the screams her past victims hadn't been able to stifle. It was harmonious, and Setsuna's were part of the symphony, but...

There was an odd stinging in her eyes that she couldn't identify. Tsukuyomi bowed her head and curled further into herself. Strange, alien noises were coming from her throat and her glasses were fogging up.

I want the satisfaction. Give me the satisfaction. Let me take her. Let me kill—

NOTSETSUNA

Tsukuyomi dragged her fingers across her scalp, digging them as far into her skin as she possibly could and rolling over so she could bash her head into the floor.

The pain was good. The pain that wasn't in her chest or head or stomach was good.

She thought she might be screaming. Her throat hurt now too. And every part of her was starting to feel cold and shaky.

I—I can't.

She wanted Setsuna back here.

But I can kill anyone—any body is just a vessel meant for me to dispose of; Setsuna is the sam—

She wanted her Senpai's warmth back.

But I can't.

I can't. I can't kill her. I can't.

Her chest and head throbbed painfully.

...Why?

Setsuna went down two flights of stairs before she could bring herself to think about what just happened. The look in Tsukuyomi's eyes before she came to her senses…

She'd scared Tsukuyomi.

The girl who had ripped her clothes off and pinned her to a rooftop, promising to have fun with her—was scared.

Because of something she did.

Impressive, her thoughts whispered.

Setsuna felt her still-shaking legs give out.

She was disgusted with herself.

What had she been thinking? Letting Tsukuyomi get to her like that when she knew that was what the murderess wanted?

Killer, she hasn't murdered anyone in a long time.

Setsuna felt herself fish her phone out of her jacket and text Mana. She didn't think it was a good idea for Tsukuyomi to be in class right now. It wasn't a good idea for her either. Neither of them was going to manage being around people properly. Tsukuyomi had enough trouble with that normally, and Setsuna…

I'm not like her. I'm not.

Her whole body was still shaking.

What had she been thinking?

Mana was leaning against the door of their room when Setsuna finally remembered that she was only allowed to be away from Tsukuyomi for an hour a day, and if she spent any more time sitting in the stairwell her hour was going to be more than up.

"Do I want to know why my roommates are going to be missing their afternoon classes?"

"No." Probably. "I just—we sort of had a fight, and I don't think Tsukuyomi should really be around other students when she's—and, well, you know, I'm supposed to watch her at all times, so I have to stay with her."

"That certainly explains why you're almost half an hour late getting back to our room."

Setsuna shuffled her feet awkwardly. "Yes, well… You'll tell Negi-sensei, right?"

Mana eyed the straining grip Setsuna had on her sword. "I suppose. I'm adding the half-hour I spent watching our room to your tab though. Like you said, you're supposed to watch her at all times. It's not my job."

"I know." Though Setsuna was really starting to wish that the headmaster had chosen someone else—anyone else—for this job. No one else would have lost it with Tsukuyomi. Everyone except Asuna could brush the girl's comments off like they were nothing, but she couldn't—

"…Thanks, Tatsumiya." Setsuna got out her key and shoved it in the lock, mentally preparing herself for whatever state she would find Tsukuyomi in.

"A word of advice Setsuna?"

Setsuna looked up. She doubted that any sort of advice would help her with her roommate, but if anyone had an idea of how to deal with someone like Tsukuyomi, it would probably be Mana.

"Anything."

"Let it go."

"Wha—?"

Mana cut off Setsuna's confused response with a wave of her hand. "I don't know what happened between you two, and I'm sure I don't want to know, but between the way you act around her and Kagurazaka's ranting, it's obvious that there's more going on than a simple rivalry. But holding a grudge against a person like her doesn't work. She'll never understand that she did something wrong, so there's no point being upset about it. You'll only frustrate yourself into getting into situations like this. If you want to be an effective guard, get over it."

With that, Mana turned around and left.

Setsuna banged her head against the very worn-out door.

She should have just said no when the headmaster asked for her help.

She pushed open the door and walked in, bracing herself. She didn't think Tsukuyomi would want to start their fight up again, but if Tsukuyomi was going to be afraid of her… She didn't want that. She didn't like having Tsukuyomi scared.

But it looked like she'd have to wait until later to find out what her roommate thought of her.

Tsukuyomi was asleep on the floor, curled up in a very tight ball and shivering on top of Setsuna's bedding.

Setsuna barely contained a sigh of relief. She stepped forward cautiously, keeping her breathing light and steady. She walked around to get a good look at Tsukuyomi's face.

Are those… was she crying?

The little part of Setsuna that was still upset shriveled up and died. She bit her lip and kneeled down to take off Tsukuyomi's glasses. With Tsukuyomi's sleeping habits, the lenses would probably end up broken if they stayed on.

Setsuna carefully placed the glasses on the bed after pulling the sheets off and wrapping them over Tsukuyomi. The girl didn't look like she'd be waking up any time soon, thank goodness. If she was as exhausted as she looked, there was a chance that Setsuna could put off any confrontation they might have until tomorrow.

Setsuna went back to the doorway and collapsed on the floor.

Nicely done.

"Eishun-sama… there's a girl… a blonde girl with glasses… at the bottom of the tower… she needs healing… please help her. Please, Eishun-sama… Don't let her die."