Author's Note: This takes place a week or so after the previous chapter, when Yunoki snubbed Kahoko in the hallway. Let's just say, he hasn't been the nicest person in the meantime. He's either been flat out ignoring her or saying incredibly cruel things to her (text messages, whispers in the hallway, things like that).

Warning for the erm...well...let's just say that you're not going to feel very warm and fuzzy after this chapter.

Shoko Fuuyumi glanced around the rooftop, making sure that it was vacant. Sometimes Hihara or Hino practiced up here, but most of the students had gone home already. Satisfied that she was alone, Fuuyumi sat down and began assembling her clarinet. She froze when she heard the door open and slam closed.

She was about to open her mouth, to say hello or something so they wouldn't be startled if they walked around the corner and saw her, but then the door opened and closed again. Two people. Maybe she wouldn't interrupt after all. Fuuyumi didn't want to embarrass them if they thought they were having a special moment alone. She understood how one little interruption could completely kill your determination to do something bold.

Quickly and quietly, she disassembled her clarinet, closed the case, and sat with her back pressed to the wall, making herself as small and invisible as possible. She'd just wait for them to leave, or if they were coming around to the other side, then she could go around the other way and—

She recognized the voices. It was Yunoki and Hino.

Yunoki opened the door to the rooftop and stepped out into the light. The sun would be setting soon. He should make this quick unless he was planning on giving her a ride home afterward. It wasn't safe for a girl to—

He stopped the thought in its tracks.

He shouldn't care about any of that. The fact that he was even thinking about adjusting his plans for her convenience was ridiculous.

Kahoko turned to face him and, for a moment, his heart stopped beating. She looked completely distraught. She bit her lip and then asked him a question, her voice hardly above a whisper.

"Why?"

God, she looks like a mess.

Yunoki had a sudden desire to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. He shoved those feelings aside.

Don't be weak. Don't even think about letting her win.

He kept his face expressionless and raised an eyebrow. "Why what?"

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Have I hurt your feelings?" He put as much sneer into his voice as he could.

"You're such a pompous ass. If I had known you were like this I would have—ˮ

He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, trying to ignore the fact that she flinched at the pain. "You would have what? Stopped me?" She tried to shove him away, but he was much stronger. "You would have fought off my advances? Defended your honor?" He pulled her close and leaned down to place his lips at her ear. "You didn't even struggle against me the first time. You enjoyed it. You wanted it just as much as I did."

"Yunoki, please stop. Please."

He stepped back and wagged a finger at her. "Name, dear. You always seem to forget."

"Azuma. Please."

She's begging. This is just too good to be true.

"Please…just let me go."

"And then what?"

Rule her. Control her. Make her serve you.

"I—I just—ˮ

"On your knees." He shoved her roughly to the ground.

"Yu—Azuma. I don't want—ˮ

Take what you want.

He saw the tears in her eyes and tried to avoid looking directly at them. He focused on her mouth. Her lips were trembling. He watched her ask the next question.

"Do you hate me?"

Yunoki hesitated.

No. No, I don't hate you. That's exactly the problem. You make me weak. You make me vulnerable. I can't bear it.

His resolve was wavering. He closed his eyes for a moment, pushed his emotions out of reach. He couldn't let her win. He had to prove that he was stronger than this. But how?

Control her. Control her.

He unzipped his pants and grabbed hold of her hair. "Open your mouth. Don't fight me. Don't think of doing anything stupid."

Shoko Fuuyumi had her eyes squeezed shut and both hands covering her ears.

Yunoki, I can't believe it. He . . .

She brushed the tears off her cheeks with her sleeve and heard the sound of Kahoko coughing violently and the door opening and slamming closed.

Fuuyumi stood and peeked around the corner. Kahoko was hunched over on the ground, sobbing. Fuuyumi walked up quietly, not knowing whether or not she could or should help. "Hino, are . . . are you okay?"

Kahoko gasped and tried to cover her face.

Fuuyumi swallowed. "It—it's okay. You don't have to explain. I heard it. I was out here before he . . ." Slowly, she knelt down beside her. She pulled a handkerchief out of her jacket pocket and held it out. "I'm sorry."

Kahoko took the handkerchief, but still wouldn't look at her. Fuuyumi stood to give her some privacy while she cleaned herself up a bit. She walked toward the fence at the edge of the rooftop and watched the setting sun.

It's getting late. I should probably give my driver a call to come pick me up.

"Thank you."

Fuuyumi turned and saw Kahoko shakily getting to her feet. She stepped forward and offered her a hand. Kahoko accepted the help and smiled gratefully. "I'm sorry that—ˮ

Fuuyumi shook her head to interrupt her. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault. He's . . . he's . . . "

"A selfish bastard?"

Shoko shook her head. "Worse than that. I never would have guessed it, but much much worse."

"That's the beauty of the situation."

"How long have you two . . ."

Kahoko shrugged.

Fuuyumi blushed. "Sorry. It's not my place to ask."

Kahoko shook her head. "No, it's okay. If anything, you deserve an explanation. I just don't know if I can give one."

"Why can't you just leave him?"

Kahoko laughed bitterly. "Oh, I could try, but he'd find me. He's powerful. And if I tried to say anything to anyone . . ."

"Nobody would believe you."

Kahoko nodded, and Fuuyumi saw tears welling up in her eyes. Timidly, she stepped forward and laid her hand on the other girl's shoulder. "I would believe you."

Kahoko smiled. "Thank you, Fuuyumi."

"You can call me Shoko."

"Thank you, Shoko. You're probably the only one who would believe me."

Shoko decided to change the subject. "Do you want me to give you a ride home?"

Kahoko looked at the darkening sky. "I don't want to bother you."

Shoko shook her head. "It's the least I could do. Just a moment." Shoko darted off to get her clarinet case. When she returned, she reached out and took Kahoko's hand, giving it a friendly squeeze and smiling when the other girl squeezed back.