Mega: Well that was a long break.
Kirino: You think?! What kind of author are you?
Mega: The best kind because, you know, I'm perfect in every single way. Duh.
Kirino: I hate you…
Mega: Okay, then. I'll be back. I have another story that focuses on torturing Kirino to write.
Kirino: Wait, WHAT?! NOOOOO!
Mega: Yup, on to the reviews, then.
~Reviews!~
OTP's are all you need: Thank you! I do try! Why would anyone want to kill Kirino? Even I don't know, maybe he's a princess? *receives death glare from Kirino*, or maybe not. I do try to introduce new characters, but this story may have some of my OCs forced on it. I really don't think I'm as good at POVs as you say I am, but thank you! Currently, I'm working on writing in third person. -_-; How do so many people write in it so well? Here's the next chapter (Two months late, but still), enjoy!
2gatita8: I do consider you my friend, a very good one, actually. Now, onto your questions:
Someone evil, probably. I don't know, but I have seen a new room in the character dorm house.
I'm not sure, but if they really are that evil, I'd protect your fanfictions. They could be next!
The next step? Hmm… They probably will force Kirino to crossdress or something even more horrible!
Kirino will be forced into even more fanfiction, would be what I would suggest, but, like all villains, they never asked me. They have some nerve!
The counterpart is being written, but it still is incomplete. -_-; Sorry!
taku-mune: Hmm… These villains sure do seem evil… Maybe I should give Kirino some help… School has been getting to me, too, with all the projects right around winter break. It's not fair! :`( Stay tuned for the nonexistent plot to develop, or not. We'll see how this goes, and to see more of these horrible villains. Sorry for the late update!
SkywindAri: Thank you! I do my best. You have to keep quiet about the villains, though. They don't know that I included them in the last chapter, and we wouldn't want them to find out, would we?
Guest (#1): I'm glad to hear it, but or else what? Don't hurt me! I'm actually writing a chapter!
Fujoshi Girl 101: I'm so happy you like it! I AM continuing it, much to everyone's disbelief and Kirino's dismay.
Black Carmella: Good to know. Here's an update for you!
Guest (#2): I'm sorry! Please don't kill me. I've just been busy with the holidays and learning Japanese (it's really hard!). Thanks for sticking with me.
Mega: So many reviews!
Kirino: They to tend to pile up over the course of two months…
Mega: You're mean! I guess that I'll have to turn to the reviews for comfort.
Kirino: You do that.
Mega: There is so much love in the review section! Can you feel the love tonight?
Kirino: Mega, your singing is the last thing we need right now.
Mega: You're one to talk, but we do need to get to the story. Forward march, my lovely readers!
Chapter Nine: Risk
~Shindou's PoV~
Seeing Ranmaru break down like he did was one of the worst things I had seen in my entire life. He was so broken, so lifeless.
Why would he ever think that he was useless? He had saved us in games many times before, and he had even worked together with Kariya, or the devil, I liked to think. Did Kariya put those thoughts in Ranmaru's head? Was he the cause of everything? And if he wasn't, who was?
I sighed and resumed my rhythmic stroking of Ranmaru's hair. We had gone to bed hours ago, but he still refused to awaken. Was he sick again? I hoped not. It had been bad enough when he was sick before, but I didn't think his body could take it if he got sick again.
I had woken up an hour ago, still somewhat groggy. It was to be expected, though, seeing as I had gotten very little sleep last night. Currently, I was assuming that the lack of sleep from our late night comfort session was what kept the pink haired defender in the realm of dreams.
I glanced and the clock and groaned. It was time for our morning practice. Silently, I slid out of bed and changed into practice clothing. I took on last glance at the defender before moving soundlessly to my bed and tugging the covers farther over his still figure. I smiled, content with my efforts, before I left my room and headed to the field. Little did I know, I had made one of the worst choices of my life.
~?'s PoV~
I smirked with delight. The idiotic boy had played right into my hands. I carefully slid from my hiding place in the ventilation system and down to the pink haired brat's bedside. Ever so carefully, I pulled the brat out of the bed and into my arms. He stirred slightly, but I doubted that he was going to wake up after I had given him such a strong sedative. I had administered it after midnight, but its affects were still strong after many hours.
Gently, I returned to the air vent and pulled the boy in. He was light, so it wasn't hard. 'Malnutrition', I thought grimly as I tugged the boy farther into the duct system.
When I finally reached my destination, I wanted to collapse with relief. I was covered in grime, dust, and who knows what else, but I had succeeded. I crawled out of the vent, inhaling deeply to clear my lungs, and pulled out the brat, or the boy. I couldn't decide what to call him.
I had arrived at a dark room, a broom closet, probably, near the exit of this awful building. I gathered the small form into my arms and gingerly navigate the small space. When I arrived at the door, I warily opened the door and glanced around the hall. No one was there, just like I had planned.
I crept out of the room towards the door. I had almost made it when a sarcastic call of my name made me turn around.
"Hello, Kaen. How have you been?"
I glared angrily at the owner of the voice I hated so much. A girl with curly brown hair and a larger frame smirked at me from the door.
Anger bubbled up inside me at the sight of her. Her strangely colored eyes gazed at me calmly from behind her large teal glasses. I returned her gaze with a hate filled stare. She only laughed at me.
I growled softly at her. Who was she? She was the most annoying, sarcastic, and sadistic people to walk the Earth. What was the evil demon's name? It was Fallon. She lacked a last name because of certain reasons even I didn't know.
"Kidnapping again, are we? I thought that you outgrew that years ago," she hummed pleasantly.
"Shut up, Fallon. Since when do you care about me?" I hissed, livid at her calm attitude.
Her eyes flashed sympathy for a brief moment. "Since when have I not?" She whispered silently before she regained her ever-so-lovely sarcastic attitude again. "Give him to me."
"No!" I snapped. I was going to do my job, and nothing the sarcastic devil could say was going to stop me.
She sighed, "Fine, then. Just remember that I gave you a choice."
It was quick, that feeling dread and regret. It quickly secured its hold on me as Fallon advanced on me. She didn't appear threatening, but I knew she was. She was gone a second later. I whirled around hastily only to find that I was too late. Her thick, heavy book made contact with my head. The hit was strong and firm. I was knocked to the ground as she pulled the brat into her arms.
She turned to me, "you should go."
I nodded and got up unsteadily. I wobbled over to the door slowly and turned around just in time to see Fallon walking down the opposite hall towards the boy's room. I growled at her quietly before tottering out of the cursed building towards the location of my contact.
~Shindou's PoV~
I nearly had a heart attack when I returned to my room. Kirino was gone, which I hadn't expected, but it also looked like he was taken forcefully, if the hastily removed sheets were anything to go by. I rushed out of the room and began searching the building. I sprinted around the building, looking everywhere I could think of. Panic surged through my veins. I was stupid, leaving Ranmaru alone when he was so weak. After around twenty minutes, I chose to return to my room in the vain hope that Ranmaru had escaped. When I got to my room, I nearly fainted for the second time that day.
Ranmaru was in my bed, resting. A note was on the nightstand.
He's been drugged. He's fine, but don't expect him to wake up soon.
The note was short, but it was to the point. 'Drugged? When did they drug him?' I thought curiously.
I quickly checked the defender for any obvious external injuries, but I was relieved to find none. He was, as the note had said, fine. I exhaled slowly. He was fine. I knew that, but I couldn't stop worrying about what had happened.
Had it been a hallucination? Was it a dream? I wasn't quite sure, but I knew that Ranmaru had vanished for a time. Maybe Wonderbot had just taken him for a check-up, or he had just left on his own and returned later.
Okay, the latter was unlikely, but it was still a possibility. The former, though, was still a realistic option. I had to acknowledge that.
Maybe I was just blow things out of proportion and getting carried away. That had to be it. Who would go through all the trouble of kidnapping Ranmaru, only to return him later?
On that note, who would want to kidnap Ranmaru, anyways? He was an orphan and wasn't exactly rich either, so who would even consider it?
Taking that into consideration, there was no reason to me to worry about it, but, for some reason, I still did. I could only stay by his side and make sure that whatever happened today would not happen again. Yes, that was what I would do.
I looked at the unconscious boy on the bed lovingly. I gently took his hand in my own, smiling. I would protect him, and I wouldn't let him get hurt again.
I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. As long as I was still alive, I would protect him.
I hummed softly as I pulled out a book of soccer plays and began to read. I would never leave him alone again. That was what I had promised to myself and Ranmaru, and I had no intention of breaking that promise. Ever.
~Ranmaru's PoV~
What was going on? It was so dark and disorienting that I had no idea what was happening or where I was. I wanted to wake up from whatever sick dream this was, but, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to do so.
I was stuck in this nightmare. Lovely.
Why couldn't I wake up? Was something wrong with me? Was I sick again?
I hoped that I wasn't sick yet again. Once had been enough for me. I wondered if I could handle being sick again, seeing as how bad the last time had been.
It was silent for a while, but that was quickly changed when something pulled me off of what I assumed was a bed.
I was then pulled into a small space and was tugged along by what I assumed was a person. From there, I was pulled into another small space. It was bigger than the previous space I was pulled through, but not by much.
I couldn't see what was happening, seeing as I was asleep or in a similar place, but I could still feel my surroundings, and even hear to some extent.
The person pulled me out of the place where we had been and into a bigger place. The person that I had yet to identify seemed pleased, but that changed abruptly.
A voice, heavy with sarcasm and superiority, even in sleep, I could tell, shattered that silence that had surrounded us until now. The stranger seemed to be aggravated by the voice and whoever owned it. They seemed to exchange many words. While the new arrival seemed to remain calm, the stranger only seemed to grow angrier.
Then, there seemed to bed some kind of fighting they engaged in. I was dropped to the cold floor by whoever was holding me. The ground was rather cold, hard, and just strait up uncomfortable.
My discomfort was ended, though, when I was picked up by another stranger, probably the one from earlier. The new stranger then began carrying me through the hall to a room.
The room was Takuto's. I didn't even need to see it to tell. Only his room smelled of the ink and paper his music was printed on. It also had the atmosphere only Takuto's room possessed.
The stranger had been silent the entire time. It unnerved me slightly, but I knew that the stranger had no intention of hurting me. I was placed on a soft, warm surface, Takuto's bed, most likely. I was then covered with soft blankets, and I snuggled into their warmth gratefully.
I was then left alone for a while. During that time, I realized exactly how tired I actually was. I was exhausted, and sleep seemed to beckon me. I was drowsy and tired. The combination would inevitably lead to sleep, but I fought it for a moment to ponder over what had happened.
The events were brief, but that only seemed to make them all the more strange. Who were those people? What did they want with me?
I racked my brain, but I couldn't seem to form an answer. Maybe it was all a mistake or coincidence? I hoped so.
Sleep's call now seemed undeniable. I allowed myself to submit to its promising call. Within seconds, I found myself in a true sleep, unlike the one before.
What I didn't know was that someone was watching me. Not to harm me, but rather watching over me. I also didn't know that I was part of something. Something that was bigger than I had ever thought I could be a part of.
~Fin.~
Mega: Well, here it is. I hope you enjoyed it.
Kirino: Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Mega: See you next chapter!
Kirino: Sayonara, everyone!
Mega: Bye, minna!