Chapter 79
Lee's fist penetrated straight through the man's skull. Blood splattered everywhere, covering every blade of grass around them, Lee's suit was soiled red, even his face.
I started hyperventilating, I couldn't control my crying, my ribs were hurting. I fell to my knees and buried my face into my hands, finding it hard to breathe.
I heard a loud noise, some men groaning, then a snap. "They're finished.." Komaru's voice panted.
"S... Setsuki.." A hand touched my shoulder, I tensed up. The voice wasn't Lee's. And it was too gentle to be Komaru-sensei's voice.. "Setsuki.. its okay.. it's over.." I felt myself being pulled into a tight embrace. I found it even harder to breathe.
"Setsuki-chan!" Lee's voice ran over quickly, I felt myself being snatched. I sort of glanced up and saw it was Daisuke who had me. I looked up at Lee who now had me. "A-are you okay now?" He tucked my hair behind my ear, and I stared up at him helplessly.. somewhat pathetically. He planted a kiss on my forehead. Daisuke stood up frustrated.
"What's the big idea!?" He growled. I started to tremble, and buried my face in Lee's bloody chest. I was just trying to breathe, but I felt too scared.
"Please do not shout!" Lee snarled.
"I was trying to comfort Setsuki! You had no right to just snatch her like that!"
"Setsuki-chan is mine! It is my job to comfort her!"
"S-stop it.." I barely whispered, my breathing became harder, my chest was hurting. I couldn't stand them fighting.
"You can't speak as if Setsuki is your property! Let her go!"
"You do not understand!" Lee shouted. His grip on me became tighter, and I sobbed about it. He was scaring me. They both were. The smell of the blood upset me even more.
"No, you're the one who doesn't understand! Who do you think you are?!" Daisuke clenched a fist of fury.
"Stop it!" I screamed, pushing Lee away. They both flinched. I didn't know what else to do. I just ran away.
"Setsuki! Stop!" Komaru shouted, but hissed when I didn't listen. "You two need to grow up!" He scorned at Lee and Daisuke, before leaving to chase after me.
Daisuke glared at Lee. "This wouldn't have happened if you weren't such a dick! You know nothing about about Setsuki, or what she's been through! I was her first friend! You don't understand just how much I hate you! How dare you just snatch her from me like some sort of object!" Daisuke snapped, a tear escaped and ran down his cheek. He turned and vanished, leaving Lee there with an unconscious Choji.
Lee was frozen. What must've been going through his mind right now. Why did Setsuki push him away? Why did Daisuke become so aggressive? Isn't it his job to protect Setsuki? That was his promise right? The promise he made when he declared his love? That's all he was doing, right? Protecting Setsuki from harm, it was the right thing to do? Of course it was.. but then why.. just why did she push him away? What did he do wrong? He.. didn't understand.. he just... wanted to do the right thing...
I spent a few days inside my house, inside my room. Mostly hidden under my bed covers, except to use the bathroom. I felt really sad, and I don't know what it was. I still felt this little notion of fright about Lee and Daisuke. I was worried that they'd end up hurting each other.
Takashi, naturally, was worried, and kept offering his home-made medicine. I took some occasionally, and it made me drowsy. This is why I stayed in bed, resting, as I was currently doing. Laying on my side, facing the window outside, my eyes closed and my arm wrapped around my pillow, clinging to it.
Takashi knocked on my half open door, and told me I had a visitor. I didn't reply, I just pretended to be asleep. I didn't want to see anyone.
"Hnn... still asleep.." Takashi quietly muttered, before leaving.
I opened my eyes slightly, and heard voices coming from the living room. My head was still heavy, I still felt groggy. But something was telling my body to get up, and so I did.
I made an effort to leave my room, and to find Lee and Daisuke in my living room, kneeling on the floor with their heads bowed. Takashi was standing over them with his arms folded.
"This is all your fault. Both of you." Takashi accused. I hid behind the wall, not wanting to be seen.
"We are.. very sorry, Takashi-san.." Daisuke murmured.
Lee said nothing, which was unusual for him. I looked towards the kitchen. I can get there without being seen. So I did. And when I did, I searched for food. I hadn't eaten properly for a while, and it was all catching up. 'If I eat something, I might feel a little better.' I thought.
I found the cookie tin and opened it up. I took a good four or five of them, and left the kitchen with one hanging out of my mouth. I slowly headed back to my room when I heard Takashi pushing them out the door.
Daisuke was fighting back, pleading Takashi to see me, but Takashi didn't approve.
"Please! Takashi-san! I can help Setsuki! I can use my clan's powers, and search her mind for a cause!"
Takashi seemed hesitant. "How do I know you're not just going to hurt Setsuki again?"
"I-I would never hurt Setsuki! I.." Daisuke shook his head. "Please don't even think that. Setsuki is the reason why I'm still alive today. I owe my life to her!"
"That's enough, lad. I can see your concern, but for now, Setsuki just needs to rest. Surely you can give her that much, hm?"
Daisuke lowered his head in defeat. "... Y-Yeah, okay."
"Good. Now off you go." Takashi closed the door without another word.
I caught myself standing in the hall, listening to their conversation. It's true, yes I did save Daisuke's life many years ago. It was during our academy years, our sensei had taken us out into the forest to learn about different survival techniques, when suddenly Daisuke fell into the river and sunk. I was the only one to notice that he had wandered away. As soon as I saw the bubbles rising up from the water, I had a gut feeling. I abandoned the group, and dived in, only to find Daisuke drowning, his foot caught under a log. I managed to free him and bring him back up to the surface. That's how Daisuke and I became friends in the first place. Since then, he's been really overprotective of me too, and I never really noticed that until just now.
"Setsuki. You're up..?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I was hungry." I replied.
"A good sign." He nodded. "You know, your old teacher is back. Uchida Komaru."
"Oh, right. I forgot about that!" I quickly ate the remaining cookies, and grinned. "I wanna go see him!"
"Not in your pyjamas you're not. Go shower and freshen up first."
"Okay!"
[Authors Note: Sorry for the long wait guys! Just recently graduated from school, and bought Pokémon Y, so it's all been time consuming ~ I promise to try and release more chapters more frequently now! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! And remember, feedback motivates me to keep writing!]