*sniffle* Hey, guys. *sniffle* One of my idols from Morning Musume is graduating really soon. Risa Niigaki, anyone? I was so looking forward to meeting her. :(

At least she and Ai can be together now... TAKAGAKI FTW!

And also KonoSetsu...but TakaGaki is like the living version of them. -.-

TAKAGAKI AND KONOSETSU SHALL PREVAIL! *poses as lighting flashes in the background*

Runaway Baby

Part 5

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Setsuna murmurs sternly, gently pressing an icepack to my temple, hiding the small patch of red skin.

I blush from the attention, and stare at the bottle of water we're sharing, suddenly thirsty. Noticing where my gaze is directed, she grabs it, twists the cap off and takes a sip before pressing it to my lips.

"Hold the ice." she instructs me, waiting until I have a grip on the plastic bag, as I guzzle down most of the liquid.

It's Wednesday. Things have been going down hill ever since Monday. What I mean by that is, Yami has been growing more aggressive and violent. Last night, he slapped me upside my head, which wasn't too bad except for a pounding headache earlier and a little bruising.

My other bruises are gone, and all I have is this little bruise on my temple. Setsuna taught me some defense techniques, which have saved me from any other bruises during the week.

I'm glad she came into my life.

"So, are you going to tell me?" Setsuna repeats, checking me for any other bruises.

I shrug my shoulders, studying the design on her sneakers, as she grunts in frustration.

"Konoka, why didn't you call me when this happened? I would've came right away and stopped him." she insists, grabbing my face so I have to look at her.

I mumble a response not meant for her to hear, but she makes me repeat it loud enough for her.

"I didn't want you to get hurt." I whisper, looking away from those pools of darkness.

Sighing, Setsuna tenderly traces her thumb over my jawline, and I unconsciously lean into her.

"Don't worry about me getting hurt. I value your life more than my own-" Setsuna breaks off into a something between a high pitched squeal and growl, as she flashes someone her middle finger.

"Sorry," Setsuna apologizes, turning back to me with an exasperated expression, "Kotaro has been staring me down. He thinks you're my eh...girlfriend."

I blink once.

Twice.

A blush erupts across my face, and the ice pack falls forgotten onto the bleachers, "I'm your what?"

Setsuna blushes the color of fresh strawberries, defensively waving her arms, screaming, "He said that! Not me! Y-Y-You aren't my girlfriend! I don't like you that way!"

I twitch a little, sending Setsuna into a frenzy.

"No! I mean, I like you! B-B-but not that way!" Setsuna explains, bowing her head, as she accepts defeat.

I giggle and pat her soft hair, tangling my fingers in a longer piece.

Setsuna sits up, sighing, and she picks up the ice pack and places it back on my head. "I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Kono-chan." she whispers, pressing a daring kiss to my forehead, as she dashes down to Asuna.

The ice pack slips from my grasp again, and I touch my forehead, still warm from her lips.

Key events of the day:

Setsuna kisses my forehead.

I go to class and we have a pop quiz. The teacher grades them and I got none of the questions right. The quiz has to be signed.

I ask Yami to sign it.

He rips up my paper and goes to punch me, but thanks to Setsuna's techniques, I get off with just a pounding ear.

Setsuna snores softly on the row of bleachers behind me. It's the end of the trimester and teachers are packing on the work like crazy. I know it isn't bothering her, but her parents are. I can see it on her face while she's asleep.

Her father must have started with her again, and I know from what she tells me that her mother is right along there with him. I know she's miserable here, and she wants to leave, but she doesn't want it to come to that.

I wish I could make her stress and sadness go away.

Setsuna twitches and kicks her jacket off, waking up, as she rolls over and presses herself against my back.

"I can smell the rain coming." she comments sleepily, closing her eyes, as I stare off into the horizon, looking for storm clouds.

"How do you know, Setsuna?" I ask, narrowing my eyes, as I scan all of the clouds floating above.

"Old samurai technique." she replies, yawning, as she sits up.

"Huh? Since when did you become a samurai?" I giggle, and she smiles.

"I never told you I was trained in the art of Kenjutsu ever since I could walk?" Setsuna chuckles, poking patterns into my sweatshirt.

I furrow my eyebrows. "No, you didn't. Such a discrete girl." I tsk, shaking my head in shame.

Setsuna laughs, and suddenly all the humor fades from her voice.

"It's getting harder to stay here. I feel.. trapped, like my wings are being chained down, and I can't do anything to free myself. I've been thinking non-stop today. I even came up with a list of pros and cons for each choice. So far, leaving is winning the argument."

"So, let's leave it all behind Saturday night." I offer, not bothering to face her, as I continue my surveillance of the sky.

Setsuna remains silent for minutes at a time, and I can hear the wheels of her mind turning.

"Alright, Saturday then." she agrees, watching the exercises the team is doing with Asuna.

"Are you going to miss them?" I ask, genuinely curious as to what she'll say.

She struggles with her words for a moment, but after some careful picking and choosing, Setsuna manages a response.

"Of course I will. My teammates each have their own quirks and traits I've grown to love. Leaving them behind is going to be tough, but leaving you behind and taking them would be Hell." Setsuna says, breaking off into a yawn, as she slips her track jacket back on.

Oh, I could bust out into song right now if I could!

"I'm going to let Asuna know what we're doing. I'll see you tomorrow," Setsuna murmurs, wrapping me up into a hug, as she whispers, "And be packing throughout the week. Make sure you grab everything you need."

I nod and reassuringly stroke her back, "I will."

It's hard not to jump up and scream right now. I'm so excited for us to leave. Together.

But Setsuna lied. We aren't leaving Saturday like she said.

We leave earlier.

I don't see Setsuna at lunch since we're under a thunder storm watch and it's already pouring down.

I feel a little lost without our daily meeting and I skip 5th period. It's the only class I can afford to miss.

I sit on the bleachers, ignoring how loud the rain is, as I zip my jacket up to my neck.

I don't bother to look when I hear familiar footsteps pounding towards me.

Setsuna sits next to me, and I can tell something has pushed her over the edge. Feeling a surge of courage wash over me, I snuggle into her side, and I notice she isn't wearing a jacket.

"Here," I say, taking my jacket off, and place it over her heaving shoulders, "What's wrong?"

Taking too many deep breaths for me to count, Setsuna brushes some soaked hair from her cheek.

"Kotaro bumped into me. He said a few smart words, and in the end, swung on me. I let him catch my cheek before I knocked his lights out." she chuckles sadly, resting her head on my shoulder, as she watches the clouds turn darker and darker.

"Are you okay?" I ask immediately, fearing the worst, but when she shows me her cheek, I don't see anything.

She smiles bravely, touching her cheek, "I'm alright. Want to leave and come to my place? I'm exhausted."

I smile for the first time that day and shove her off of her butt.

"Move it before someone comes after us!" I giggle, and we dance through the rain like idiots, because that's what we are together.

"We'll stay in here tonight. It's heated and everything, so we won't have to worry about waking up in water. Stay in here, I'm going to go get my degree and everything so I don't forget it." Setsuna orders me, sliding out of the door, carefully shutting it behind her and locking it.

I yawn and search for something to lay on for the moment. I sleep great when I can hear rain, and here lately, I haven't slept much.

There's a couple of felt mats rolled up in the corner. I hope Setsuna doesn't mind me using them to take a quick nap on.

I toss them onto the floor beside her car, curling my arms around myself since I don't have a blanket. I sniffle a little, listening to the rain pounding outside, as I wonder what's taking Setsuna so long. A thousand possibilities are flooding my mind right now, but before I can stop it, I take the nap I was planning earlier.

But it isn't much of a nap because I sleep for a long time.

CRACK.

I jump out of my skin, searching for whatever made that slamming and cracking noise, but I'm still a little sleepy, so I can't see much.

I rub my hands over my eyes, and I lock onto an angrily wheezing, not to mention soaked, Setsuna.

I'm scared when I look over at the door and see a huge hole in the dry wall; plus, Setsuna's little high pitched screams while she's angrily kicking tires that weigh at least 90 pounds each isn't too comforting either.

I jump up, flinching as water dripping off of her hair slaps me in the face, but I lunge forward; I wrap my arms under her arms and embrace her in an awkward hug.

"Stop it," I tremble, feeling her go still, and start to breathe normally, "You scare me when I see you like that."

Setsuna bows her head, staring at our reflection in the overhead door's window, as she dutifully replies, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to. I-I'm just so..." she trails off from lack of words, as she pulls out a yellow envelope from under her shirt.

Curious, I take it from her, slipping my arms from her, as I make my way back to my 'bed'. Without a word, Setsuna sits by my side, nervously tapping her fingernails together.

I open the envelope, pulling out a thick piece of paper and a map. I quirk an eyebrow, flipping over the papers in my hands.

"You managed to get these papers, but what took you so long?" I ask, tracing over the flowing manuscript of her name printed on the lines.

Setsuna stops moving, struggling to swallow, as she watches raindrops trickle down her cheek and onto her jeans. "My parents heard what happened at school today. They don't know that we left early, but they still aren't all too thrilled by the fact that I hit Kotaro. After all, they loved him," she grinds her teeth together, and I grimace at the sound, "In return for my actions, they're arranging a marriage to him with his parents, who are up for it by the way. It was coming anyways. They never knew we split up."

My heart stops. "You have to?"

"They're trying to make me, but they won't. Not if I can still fight it." Setsuna growls, and I can see her getting worked up again. I have to keep her calm.

I shush her before she can talk again, push her to the mat, and curl myself around her. "Relax right now. Does it really matter? Saturday night we'll be gone." I reassure her, pressing into her burning back side, as I snuggle my face into the top of her shoulder.

It's silent for a while.

I can tell she's thinking. She's a quiet person. Intelligent too, and let's not forget pretty, she's that also.

Eventually, her warmth is washing over me, beating me down until I almost to sleep, and I close my eyes.

"You're right. Pretty soon I'll be with you. Forever." Setsuna murmurs sleepily, and I can hear the smile in her voice.

I smile in a way that rivals the sun, because it makes me so happy when she says that to me, but I blush too. There are many ways that phrase could be taken. There's a friendship way. A romantic way, and if you think about it, a sexual way.

I sigh into her back side, falling asleep again.

A small taste of perfection.

When I wake up again, it's daylight. Setsuna isn't by my side anymore, and I know she has to be up moving around the garage; I can her humming, as she clinks tools together.

I stretch, propping myself up on my elbow to see what she's doing.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Setsuna grins, tossing something rubber in her hands with added flourish, as she pops the hood of her car open.

I giggle at her antics, deciding it's about time I got my lazy butt up and running, as I crawl off the floor. "Morning. What are you up to so early?"

Setsuna's jaw drops and the rubber belt in her hands falls to the floor, "You're kidding right? It's like three in the afternoon!"

Noon? No way. It can't be noon. That means last night, Yami didn't get his dinner.

Oh crap.

"What's wrong?" Setsuna asks worriedly, as the blood drains from my face when I tear my phone out of my pocket.

I have to hand it to Yami, he's a persistent little booger. 25 missed calls. That's a record.

Hahahaha. I'm laughing, see? If I'm laughing, then maybe the situation isn't so bad.

"Konoka?" Setsuna calls, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it." I say, shaking my head. I need to forget about him right now.

"So, what are you up to?" I ask sweetly, pointing at the pile of supplies behind her.

She shrugs her shoulders, scrapping some dirt off of the wrench in her hand, as she makes her way back to the hood of the car. "Just giving it a tune up. Replacing spark plugs, changing the oil, you know, stuff like that. I'm just preparing it for Saturday." Setsuna hums, smiling when she says "Saturday".

"Yay! Is there anything we need to go out and do?" I cheer, combing fingers through my hair.

"We'll go get the rest of the money out of my account later. Then, I'll take you back home." Setsuna replies, thoughtfully tapping an oil covered finger to her chin, leaving a big black dot in its place.

"You're silly." I giggle, but burst into wild laughter when she wipes her face, leaving a trail of black on her cheek.

"What?" Setsuna screams loudly, wildly waving her arms in huge circle, as she tries to figure out what has me rolling around on the floor.

I wouldn't tell her.

I still haven't.

"Well," Setsuna begins, carefully stacking the collection of bills in her hand, as she logs out of the ATM machine. "Tomorrow we leave."

I shiver in excitement at those words, nodding my head, because I don't trust my voice.

"I already have my stuff packed up in the trunk. I have a duffel bag for my clothes and one for food and supplies. All the spare parts and tools for the Camaro are in there too- and my sword, Yunagi." Setsuna adds, slipping the money into her secret compartment, as she steps on the gas pedal.

"I'll pack the rest of my stuff too. Most of it's already in the bag, but I need to pack another pair of shorts and a few tank tops. If Yami doesn't knock my lights out when I get home." I joke, perhaps a little too sarcastically for Setsuna's tastes, and I flinch at her angry expression.

"I'm coming in with you tonight. It isn't a suggestion or an offer. It's an order." Setsuna says, leaving no room for arguing, as she pulls out of the parking lot and we head to my house.

"Be careful. I don't want you to do something and end up dead." I beg, giving her a puppy dog stare (which I've found works well on her).

"Alright, alright. I won't." Setsuna reluctantly promises, expertly rolling the steering wheel with her palm, as she pokes her head out of the window.

"What is it?" I ask, looking at the rear view mirror, trying to see what she's looking at.

"It's about to rain. The sky is dark on the horizon. It's moving fast too." Setsuna says choppily, swinging around the corner; she curses when she sees no parking spots close to my house.

"We'll have to walk all the way from back here." Setsuna tells me glumly, parking on the corner facing the opposite direction of my house. I shrug my shoulders and jump out, nervously eyeing the silver car in front of my house.

"You alright?" Setsuna asks, watching my body shudder carefully.

I don't respond, but dash up the steps and up to the door, pulling out my keys. I wait until Setsuna is behind me before I walk in.

I flinch when I see a long trail of smoke coming from Yami's living room.

"Shhhhh. Don't say a word." I mouth to her, and she purses her lips, but remains silent.

Giving her one last look, I walk past the corner and into the door of the living room. I stare at the floor, littered with beer cans, refusing to meet Yami's gaze.

"Hello." he says, lighting another cigarette after he finishes the one in his hand.

"H-Hi." I stutter out, gesturing behind my back for Setsuna to stay hidden when I see her move closer to me.

"What have you been up to these past two days, hmm? You didn't go to school today. You left early yesterday. What the hell have you been doing?" he snarls, and I'm surprised he's keeping that calm for so long. Usually, he would've been up by now, beating the lights out of me.

"I was with a friend." I reply bravely, watching Setsuna cross her arms.

She's waiting, I realize. We both know she'll have to step in. It's just a matter of when she loses control.

She looks like a warrior right now. Calm. Stoic. Ready to go to war in any given moment. There's a fire in her eyes, a fire I think is burning for me, a girl she met around a week ago.

I realize in that moment that Setsuna is out of her mind, ready to put herself in harm for someone like me. I could tell her that she needs to leave right now, to leave me, but I can see it in her body language.

She. Won't. Leave. Me.

I swallow my fear, standing up taller, and I look him in the eyes.

Oh God. Bad move.

Yami jumps up, his expression contorted with rage, and his hand reels back. He slaps me, and the force is enough to send me flying into the wall, and he starts calling me the usual names.

However, he didn't notice Setsuna.

Not until she pounced onto him, tearing him off of me, as she rolled their bodies into the living room.

"Konoka! Get your stuff NOW! Grab everything-"

Yami reaches up and grabs Setsuna by her throat, cutting her off, as he shakes her up and down.

I freeze right on the spot, tears threatening to fall from my face.

"Setsuna!" I wail, thinking of how many times I warned her. How I never called her because I was afraid of this very situation.

"So this is your friend?" he sneers, grinning when Setsuna starts to gasp and claw at her throat.

"You have no friends! You're just a useless little whore people take turns with, and once their done, they toss you away. She's no different!" Yami shouts, tossing Setsuna to the side, as he stands up; he angrily makes his way towards me.

He reaches out to grab me, and right before he does, Setsuna slams his head against the wall, leaving a huge hole in the wall.

She does it again and again, dodging his searching hands, as she angrily yells, "MOVE KONOKA! GET YOUR STUFF NOW!"

And I run into my bedroom, tears blurring my vision, as I shut the door.

I hear breaking furniture and shattering walls, but I ignore it.

Setsuna wants to get me out of here and I want to get out of here before she dies.

The storm begins.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN. Should have seen me writing this chapter! I was getting into it and acting the fight scene out...I was Setsuna. :D

This is a just a little of that exciting chapter I was telling you about. I think I'm in love with the next part. ^.^

What did you think about it? That was my first time writing a fight scene like that. Was it good, bad, ugly? I wanna know people!

Peace, brother~