On the way to her school, Nayuta walked between Denji and Mari holding their hands just like every other day. Unlike every other day, they walked in silence staring at the sidewalk under their feet. There was no lively banter about what's for dinner, shopping for the slumber party on Friday night, or whether or not to take a trip to the ice cream shop after school.

There were no smiles or swinging her arms or lifting her into the air to make her squeal with glee. No gross flirting they thought went over her head, quite literally, when they would look at each other or whisper their silly nonsense to each other. Something was wrong, but she didn't know what since no one was talking.

"Uhm," Nayuta hesitantly began, tightening her grip on each of their hands. "Is there something you two want to tell me?"

"No," Denji quickly answered. His reply came a little too quickly, spoken a bit too harshly, for that to be true.

"Like what?" Mari inquired in an unusually calm manner.

Sweat from Mari's palm glazed Nayuta's . The furrow between her brows as she looked down at the concerned and perceptive child also gave her away that there was definitely something up.

"Are you two breaking up?" Nayuta asked, her belly somersaulting so violently she felt sick.

"NO!" they yelled unified, vehement denial, stopping in their tracks.

"Okay so what is going on?"

Mari glanced over her head at Denji causing Nayuta to swing her head in a wide arc to look from one of them to other then back while waiting for an explanation.

"Just tell her. It's not like it's a big secret since we talked about it in front of her," Denji said.

Mari exhaled noisily not bothering to attempt a smile she knew would be hopelessly artificial anyway.

"I'm quitting my job today."

"Today? Already? Is it because of that girl?"

"What girl?" Mari asked, squinting her eyes at Nayuta. Way too perceptive.

"The girl who tried to kill Denji...twice. The one who stood him up. The one who threatened you, Mari. The girl who - "

"Why did you tell her about that?" Mari interrupted Nayuta before she could list anymore of Reze's offences.

"I didn't," Denji said, glaring down at Nayuta who kept her eyes on Mari to avoid his angry eyes. "She probably used Meowy or the dogs or the rats in the walls to spy on our conversations."

"You don't have to quit. I can get rid of her for you. I can squash her like a bug," Nayuta told Mari, letting go of Denji's hand to hold both of Mari's. "I can do it right now. There's a shrine at the top of the hill over there." She turned and pointed up the road to the right, then proceeded to look around. "All I need is someone to be the sacrifice."

"Absolutely not, young lady," Denji snapped, grabbing her hand to pull them in the direction of the school. "There will be no human sacrifices today."

"Human...what?" Mari mumbled being dragged along behind Nayuta.

"Never mind, she was kidding," he said in a flurry of words and a dismissive wave of his hand.

"No, I wasn't. It's really simple and getting rid of her would solve more than one problem," Nayuta rejoined as nonchalantly as if she were talking about exterminating a run of the mill pest like a rat.

"Is she serious?" Mari asked Denji. When he did not answer, she squeezed Nayuta's hand. "Would you really kill Reze?"

"Yes," she answered matter of factly.

"Hey, do you want ice cream after school?" Denji asked Nayuta in order to distract her.

"Yes!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Mari starts training with Yoshida today. I'll take you for ice cream after I pick you up if you don't say another word about human sacrifices or killing someone."

Nayuta made a motion across her lips like pulling a zipper. Then she turned an invisible lock and threw away the nonexistent key.

Mari giggled at the girl's actions despite the nerves make her guts squirm as if something was trying to crawl out of her body.

I can squash her like a bug. Nayuta's words spoken so casually brought up an image of a giant hand slapping down on Reze to squish her like a mosquito complete with blood splattering everywhere.

"Ew!" Mari squeaked with a full body shiver. She shook her head violently to erase the image from her brain as if her imagination was an etch-a-sketch.

"Okay! Here we are!" Denji announced as they reached the corner across from the school.

The principal stood at the front gate greeting students along with the security guard who was usually there keeping watch over the students. When he saw the three of them across the street, he smiled and waved.

An opportunity had presented itself so who was Mari to ignore that?

"Hey, is it okay if I cross with you today?" Mari asked, holding tight to Nayuta's hand.

Nayuta smiled up at her. "I was hoping you would talk to him about being the new tutor. Let's go."

"Nayuta!" Himari and Melanie called out, rushing to meet her like always.

"See you later!" Nayuta exclaimed, letting go of Mari's hand to take theirs. The three girls skipped away, chattering excitedly to each other without looking back.

"Hello," the principal greeted Mari as he approached her.

"Good morning, sir," Mari rejoined, bowing to him which he returned.

"Good morning, Miss..."

"Varriano," she replied to give him her surname. She extended her hand to him which he took and shook heartily. "Sir, Nayuta told me you will be in need of a study hall tutor soon."

"Well, yes, are you interested in the job? There's no salary I'm afraid," he added swiftly his smile turning down into a frown. "There's simply no money in the school budget."

"I would be happy to have the experience of teaching. I want to be a teacher."

"Oh, that's lovely, just lovely. I can't get into details right now but can you stop by tomorrow and we will talk more?"

"Of course! Thank you!"

"See you then!"

"Good bye, sir," she said, bowing before jogging back to Denji who was patiently on the corner with students flowing around him as if he were a stone in the middle of a stream.

"Well?" he asked holding out his hand for hers.

"He wants me to come back to talk tomorrow," she replied in an elated murmur, taking his hand. "But..."

"But what?" He turned to look at her when she remained standing still as if her feet had gotten stuck to the cement sidewalk.

"Are you sure this is okay? Me taking an unpaid position? I don't like the idea of you supporting me and helping me with money that was meant for you and Nayuta. I can go to the temp agency, get another paying job, and - "

"Hey," he cut off her words that were rising in speed and volume along with her anxiety. He dropped her hand to place his hands on her cheeks so she would have to look into his eyes. "We will be supporting each other. Not just financially but emotionally as well. Besides, I'll need you to foot the bill when I go to college to get that good paying job you were talking about."

"That's right," she agreed, smiling so hard it made her cheeks hurt. She peeled his hands from her face, holding one to begin walking before they were late to school. "Oooh, you know what? When you get a job you will be like a real super hero who has to hide his identity with some humdrum job."

"Humdrum job? What if I wanted to be a playboy millionaire?" he teased, smoothing back his hair which did not obey his hand and poked right back up.

"No, sorry, the whole playboy thing was out the moment I fell in love with you. That's your fault," she reminded him, poking him in the side with her elbow. "There's nothing wrong with being a salaryman. You wear a suit to the office everyday. Carry a briefcase. Mmm, I think you'd be so sexy with glasses."

"Sexy huh?" He pretended to take off an invisible pair of glasses. He gave her a wink when she glanced at him. "You think so?"

"Oh, very sexy. And just think what I can do your ties? They're good for more than just wearing with a suit."

"Oh really?"

"I'd buy you dozens of them. You would get one on Christmas. One on Valentine's day along with your chocolates. Oh, and definitely Father's day."

"Father's day?"

"Oh, my gosh! When is your birthday? I never asked even when you asked about mine. I'm so sorry," Mari apologized.

"Well, you were a little distracted at the time. We were talking about how you were almost murdered on your birthday," he reminded her, squeezing her hand.

"So when is your birthday?" She noted the blush darkening his cheeks and spreading over his entire face turning it a deep red.

"Uh..." He scratched his crimson tinted cheek. "I don't know."

Holy shit! Just when I thought Denji's parents could not be anymore heinous, her inner voice screamed indignantly. He doesn't even know his last name for God's sake! Why am I surprised they never celebrated a birthday with him?

"Hmm, well, I suppose we need to look at the calendar tonight and pick a date," she suggested, swinging their hands between them as they walked. "Any day you want. You could even pick tomorrow if you want. It would be short notice but I'd pull something together."

"That would be nice," he said, but could not stop feeling a profound sadness.

Denji had chosen a day to celebrate his birthday once - or rather Makima chose the day for him. He could not have been more thrilled when Makima invited him to her apartment. He was elated right up to the moment Power showed up. The disappointment he was not going to be alone with Makima disappeared after what she said next.

"Open the door, Denji," she ordered him, raising her hand and positioning her fingers as if they were a gun. "I'm going to kill Power."

He opened the damned door despite not wanting to. Because Makima had said so. What Makima wanted, Makima got. There was icing and blood splashed all over the wall along with what was left of Power scattered all about on the floor. She was bringing him a birthday cake.

Mari let go of his hand when the front gate of the high school came into view. Her smile disappeared. Her entire body felt as if she might shake apart, shattering into a thousand pieces when they entered through the wide gate along with the steady influx of students.

"It's okay. Everything will be fine," Denji assured her.

"Yeah," she returned, not sounding convinced at all by his encouragement. "I'll go talk to the principal first."

"I wish I could kiss you," he said, looking straight ahead at Yoshida who was walking toward them.

"Yeah, me too."

"Miss Varriano," Yoshida greeted her, tipping an invisible hat to her. "You ready for your first training session this evening?"

"I am," she confirmed without glancing at him. "I'll see you both in class this afternoon."

"See ya," Yoshida called after, raising a hand in a stationary wave despite her back being to him.

"What's wrong with her?" Yoshida asked Denji while both of them watched her walk away.

"She won't be working here much longer."

"Reze got to her huh? I didn't think Mari was a coward."

"She's not. But she's smart enough to know not to play with a snake so she doesn't get bit."

"Well, at least she's smarter than you."

"Shut up, asshole."

~\'/~

"But I thought things were going so well. Are you sure you won't change your mind?" the principal asked after she handed him the resignation letter.

Mari bowed deeply in apology and gratitude as well.

"I am so sorry, sir. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me," she said, standing up straight. She inhaled deeply to gather herself and as if to suck back in the tears that tried to leak from her eyes.

"May I ask what happened that has made you want to leave?"

Mari had already prepared a vague reason in case the question came up. She was glad she had considered this possibility because she would not have been able to come up with a good reason or even a bad excuse if she had been caught off guard.

"Something has come up which made me realize I need to explore other possibilities for my career. I truly am sorry for leaving so abruptly," she apologized again, bowing once more.

"Uh, well, that's okay. Unforeseeable circumstances and occurrences come up in all of our lives. If you should need a letter of recommendation for the agency or for another job, I will be happy to provide one," he offered, taking a step back when she popped up suddenly.

"You will?"

"Yes, of course. I've heard really good things about you from the students."

"Only good things?" she inquired, wary of exactly what he might have heard and from who.

"Yes, very good things," he confirmed, giving her a smile which wavered slightly with apprehension. "Why? Did something happen with one of the students?"

Oh, boy, if he only knew...

"I'm glad to hear the students had nice things to say about me. I sure have enjoyed being here and working with them."

The bells chimed signaling the beginning of the day.

"Have a good day, sir," Mari said, waving as she scurried away.

Once the reached the classroom, she paused in front of the door to take a moment to breathe and to gather her wits. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. Before she could exhale fully, the door slid open.

"Good morning, Miss Varianno," the boy standing there greeted her with a big grin on his face. He poked his head out and looked both ways down the hall then back at her. "What are you doing out here?"

"I have an announcement to make," she informed him, entering the room when he stepped to the side.

"This doesn't sound good."

She waited for him to close the door and take his seat. Her eyes moved around the classroom, avoiding Reze. Standing behind the podium, resting her forearms on the top surface for support, she cleared her throat which made the remaining hum of chatting cease instantly.

"Class, today is my last day as your substitute teacher."

"Did we do something wrong?"

"Why?"

"Are you taking another teaching job at another school?"

"This is your fault Adachi!"

"Calm down, calm down," Mari called out to quiet the rapid fire questions.

Her eyes skimmed over Reze as she looked around the room then returned to rest on her. The girl sat with her hands folded into one big fist on her desk as if trying her best to control her ecstatic joy. There was a trimphant smirk on her lips.

"Why are you leaving us, Miss Varriano?" asked the student who had opened the door.

"I have decided to explore other opportunities." Her vague and formal excuse was met with groans of annoyance at her evasion. "Oh, come on, guys. I was only a substitute anyway. This job would have ended in a couple of months when your real teacher comes back."

A girl slapped her hand on her desk and stood up. "But you are a real teacher."

"Yeah," her friend sitting behind her agreed. "We were actually learning a lot because you made it interesting."

"We wanted to learn," the boy sitting to her left added.

Tears sprang to Mari's eyes again. She wanted so badly to change her mind, to withdraw her notice. But when her eyes went back to Reze, she saw the girl toying with the pull ring under the black ribbon hiding it. No. There was a reason she had to go. Playing with fire only gets one burned. She had no desire to go up in flames literally - or be blown to bits. She certainly did not want any of the students to die needlessly either due to a fit of jealousy.

"I'm sorry. I really am. But this is something I have to do." She could almost hear Reze's grin growing, spreading from ear to ear.

God, I hate this. She thinks she's won. But won what? For the first time this morning, on the Monday-est of all Mondays, Mari was able to smile. Whatever battle Reze thought she had won, Mari still had Denji's heart.

Her eyes met Reze's. Maybe it was Mari's confident smile or the determination in her eyes that made the smug grin vanish from Reze's face. Or maybe the same realization struck Reze: she may be quitting her job, but Mari still had Denji and would be going home to him at night no matter where she worked.

~\'/~

By the time the last class period came around, Mari was exhausted and emotionally numb. She had expected a long, tiring day but not to be this weary. She regretted confirming her first training session with Yoshida but would not go back on her word.

"All right class as I'm sure you've heard by now since the rumor mill is working hard, today is my last day," she declared while walking into the classroom. After her first class, word had immediately started getting around the school she was quitting. The news spreading so quickly had made her announcement easier and more difficult all at the same time.

"So the rumor is true after all?" asked a girl with a crestfallen expression on her face.

"Yes, I am sorry, but the rumor is true," she confirmed with a sigh. Today had been the day of a thousand apologies but each one she gave was necessary. If she weren't so tired and had to go to training, she would just drop onto the floor here and shed the tears she had been holding back all day.

Mari glanced at Yoshida sitting behind Denji with his hands clasped behind his head with a cocky grin on his lips. He was ready and waiting for his moment. She recalled his ominous threat that he would enjoy hurting her. Oh, yeah, she was going to need every ounce of strength she could muster to get through the training session.

"Why?" another student asked. The question of the day.

Mari inhaled and fired off the same lame excuse she had been giving all day. After answering a few more questions she been asked many times, she put a halt the question and answer session to begin class.

"Are you serious? This is your last day, and we're going to have class?" shouted a student above the disappointed groans.

"Yep we're going to have class because it's the only way I can keep from crying. Okay?" she sniffled.

"Yes, Miss Varriano," mumbled a few of the students.

When the class was over, a few of the students stopped to offer a few last words to wish her well.

"Do you feel up to training?" Yoshida asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't want to put this off any longer. I need to start. I don't want to be helpless," she said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"You're not exactly helpless," Denji said, giving her a big smile.

Mari smiled back at him in return, reaching out to cup his cheek.

"You're not planning on training in that are you?" Yoshida looked her up and down. She was wearing a dress and high heels. "Not that I would mind but - "

"No, of course not," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "I have a change of clothes in my bag."

"Don't worry, Denji, I'll take real good care of her."

"Yeah, I bet," he scoffed in return. "You know I'll kill you if you lay a hand on her for any other reason than training, right?"

"Yes, I do," he replied smiling that strange little knowing smile of his which was always mysterious in a scary way to Mari. "So shall we?" He flung his book bag over his shoulder holding onto the straps with his fingertips bent back like hooks. "We've got a long walk."

"We do?" she hesitantly questioned feeling worn out already.

"This was your idea, lady, I'm just the person who has so generously donated his time and ability to help you," Yoshida reminded her.

"You're right," she said with feigned exuberance while straightening her spine to stand taller. "I can do this!"

"That's the spirit! Go get 'im, girl!" Denji exclaimed, slapping her on the behind so forcefully it pushed her forward and she let out a shriek of surprise - and pain.

"Ow, Denji!" she cried out, turning to face him with teary eyes while rubbing her injured behind.

"Awww, I'm sorry," he cooed, taking her into his arms. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know," she mumbled against his neck continuing to massage her stinging butt cheek.

"Here," he said, reaching around to slide his hand under hers to take over massaging away the pain. "The least I can do is help."

"Denji!" she exclaimed, pushing him away.

Mari and Denji were both laughing. The reluctant instructor was not quite so amused.

"Seriously?" he asked, raising an eyebrow when the giggling couple glanced at him with annoyed expressions from the interruption.

"You're just jealous," Mari retorted, sticking out her tongue at him.

"I am," he willingly admitted, reaching out to take her by the wrist to pull her away from Denji. "But that's not the point here. Let's go."

"See ya at home, Denji," she said, waving to him.

"Nayuta and I will have dinner ready for you!" he called after her, waving back as Yoshida pulled her out of the classroom.

"So where are we going?" Mari asked as they walked down the semi-deserted hallway with the occasional student staying after school for club activities or cram classes.

"You'll see," he answered cryptically letting go of her wrist.

They walked on opposite sides of the sidewalk, people passing between them. The strained silence made the seemingly interminable walk even more uncomfortable. Mari refused to give him the satisfaction of complaining about her aching feet or lower back or asking the dreaded "Are we there yet?" question.

Finally they stopped in front of a rusted gate covered in graffiti. Mari stepped back to the road in order to see over the tall brick wall. The two story building looked like an ancient, abandoned school. There was more spray paint decorating the brick walls of the cinder block building that might have once been white. Random windows were broken out on both floors. The decaying front double doors were covered in cracked and peeling paint that had browned through the years. A massive chain that was once threaded through the door handles to prevent entry hung from one handle, the lock long gone.

The yard of the school looked as haunted as the building. The wind picked up blowing the dry leaves from the skeletal trees and across the overgrown, mostly brown lawn. The leaves created a rustling, scratching sound when they scraped over the broken cement walkway.

The breeze ruffled her hair, blowing stray strands across her face which reminded her of what it felt like to walk through a spider's web. She visibly shuddered, glimpsing at Yoshida who was openly staring at her with that creepy smile she hated. Although his eyes gave no hint of emotion, she could tell he was thinking; there was always something going on in his head behind those dead eyes.

"You know, I've watched horror movies that begin this way," she said, surprised to hear a low chuckle come from him despite his lips not moving at all.

"Come on. The gym is around back," he said, walking ahead of her to push open the gate that moaned on it's rusted hinges like a ghost warning them of its presence.

"It's obvious you've been here before. Is there a place to change in there?" Her eyes scanned the reddish brown splotches of rust spreading all over the metal building like mold. "And not get tetanus."

"Yeah. There's two equipment rooms in the back. I'll drag out the mats from one while you get changed in the other." He turned his head to look over his shoulder at her. "I promise I won't peek."

"Hmph," she snorted, rolling her eyes.

The entrance to the gym was already open, one door completely gone and the other hanging only by the upper set of hinges. There was a stage at the opposite end of the building from where they stood. There were doors on each side of the platform under the stage.

"You can change in the one on the left. I'll get set up."

Mari looked around as she walked slowly across the cracked and dull wooden floor covered in years of dust, dirt, and decaying leaves. Her heels clicked on the bare spots, the sound echoing around the vacuous metal building as if amplifying its emptiness.

Light streamed in from the high windows that remained unbroken and the numerous large holes in the ceiling. Metal chairs lay haphazardly on the floor. Some chairs still neatly hung on the racks pushed against the left wall. About half a dozen were set up in a half circle. Probably sat in by kids who snuck in to tell ghost stories. Or other things. Cigarette butts and empty liquor bottles littered the floor around the chairs.

She opened the door of the storage area to see torn and dusty costumes as well as cheesy wooden cut outs of trees and bushes that were no doubt stage props. This space obviously belonged to the drama club.

A smile touched her lips as she walked further into the room, leaving the door open behind her. Some of the costumes lay in piles on the floor where they had been discarded after being tried on. Colorful plastic baubles that had probably once been parts of jewelry littered the floor. The make up table with a cracked mirror once had the big round light bulbs around it. A gold tube of lipstick had even been left behind. She pulled off the top to see the color was ruby red. After putting the lid back on, she carefully placed it back on the table.

She could hear Yoshida stomping around, the muted scrape of the exercise mats being dragged across the floor. There was a grunt of effort from him followed by a slapping sound when the mat hit the wood after he threw it. At least he was taking some measures to reduce the amount of injury she would undoubtedly incur.

Mari pushed a ripped pink princess dress off the metal chair to set her bag onto it. She kicked off her shoes being careful to stand on top of the discarded playbills of long forgotten school plays. After pulling on her leggings, she unbuttoned her dress down to her waist to put on her t-shirt before taking the dress completely off. That way Yoshida would not see much should he 'accidentally' walk past the door left half open out of necessity to allow in light.

"Are you doing okay in there?" he asked.

"Yep. Coming out!" she announced after pulling on her sneakers.

Yoshida stood in the middle of the blue mats with his arms hanging loosely by his sides waiting for her. He had removed his school jacket and white dress shirt to be wearing a short sleeved black t-shirt, his uniform pants, and shoes.

"Fighting is about more than winning. As you learned, sometimes it's important to just to stay alive until help arrives," he said, keeping his eyes on her as she walked toward him. "Part of being a good fighter isn't just learning how to attack your enemy."

He crossed the middle and index fingers of his left hand. A tentacle shot out from behind his back toward her in a whiplike fashion. Before she could react to defend herself, it lashed at her cheek like a snake striking its victim.

Mari was not sure what happened until she felt wet warmth trickling down her cheek seconds before a searing pain cut across her cheek. Pressing her fingers to her face, she pulled them back to see they were coated with blood.

"Oh, my God," she murmured, her eyes flickering to Hirofumi in wide open astonishment. "What did you do?"

"You need to learn how to take a hit," he said, crossing the middle and index fingers of his right hand to send another tentacle straight toward her face.

This time she put up her arms to shield her face but the tip of the tentacle hit her in the belly instead. It was like a boxer's fist punching her in the gut. She grunted, doubling over but not falling to her knees though they were weak. She felt like she might vomit from the powerful hit. But she could not show weakness after only the second strike.

Inhaling deeply, she slowly rolled her upper body upward to stand up straight and face him again. He smiled; one of his rare genuine smiles with a flash of teeth showing between his slightly parted lips.

"I'm impressed. You're not crying or asking to quit."

"I asked for this."

His smile broadened showing all of his upper front teeth. "Yes, you did."

"What else do I need to learn, Sensei?" she asked, hoping her voice did not sound as breathless to him as it did to her.

Before Mari knew was happening, her feet were swept out from under her and she went down flat on her back onto the dirty and stained mat. To add insult to literal injury, she was punched in the gut again by the tentacle. She groaned but did not roll onto her side to hold her aching abdomen. Staring up at the orange sunset light peeking through the hole in the ceiling, all she could think was "I hope to God these stains are just from mud and water damage."

Yoshida appeared over her, blocking out the view of the sunset bleeding through the hole in the ceiling. He gazed down at her with his dark unexpressive eyes while she wheezed for breath after having the air knocked out of her lungs.

"You also need to learn how to take a fall." He did not extend his hand to her to help her up but he continued to hover over her as a tentacle wriggled over his left shoulder and down toward her like a gigantic worm.

Too shocked to scream, her eyes widened in terror as the purplish black tentacle seemed to ooze through the air toward her. Another octopus tentacle appeared over his right shoulder. They felt squishy and slightly damp as they coiled around her wrists and forearms. The suckers made a soft squelching sound when they adhered themselves to her skin.

Yoshida stood up straight, slowly backing away as he brought her to a standing position in front of him. He did not release her from the tentacles. Instead, two more squirmed over her shoes to wrap around her ankles and calves. He lifted her into the air, gradually extending her arms and legs until she was splayed out in front of him like a starfish.

Mari started to shake uncontrollably, keeping her eyes on his which never wavered and barely blinked to break contact with hers. He could rip her limb from limb like some Medieval torture technique as easily as one rips a piece of paper if he wanted to.

"I see you understand the position you're in," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You are indeed a very smart woman."

"What are you going to do now?" she asked, her quivery voice almost a whisper.

"Nothing." He withdrew the tentacles, unceremoniously dropping her the few inches she had been suspended in the air.

When her feet his the cushion, her already spongy knees buckled, dropping her to a kneeling position in front of him. To her dismay, he lowered himself in front of her, their knees touching. While she struggled to catch her breath, she kept her eyes lowered to the mat, studying the brown concentric rings of the water stain at the outside of her right knee.

Yoshida leaned forward to bring his mouth level to her ear in her slightly bent over position. Though so close she could feel his breath on her neck, he never touched her.

"You asked me why I hated you. Do you still want to know?" he inquired, his breath moving across her skin made her to wince away.

Mari nodded, drawing in a juddering, raspy inhale.

"I hated you because I thought you were just like all the others...all of those other deceitful bitches who pretended to love him but only wanted to kill him. I was appointed as his protector and guardian. He wanted to be a big super hero...get all the women and glory. You have no idea how difficult it was to reign him in, to protect him from himself. I was beginning to seriously question his taste in women because they always wanted to kill him. Except for you. You were different. You actually cared. You loved him. You were an unexpected inconvenience," he said, taking hold of her upper arms to pull her forward to brace her forehead against his shoulder.

"Were you..." She drew in a breath through her nose. "Were you in love with him?"

"Hmmm...interesting question. Of all people I know how woman crazy he is but...but honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe I was just a major Chainsaw Man fanboy. Merely obsessed. Or maybe I just took my job too seriously. I don't know. I viewed him as being mine...for whatever it was."

"Do you ever give a straightforward answer?"

"He was mine to take care of...to protect. I will never let anything bad happen to him," he went on as if she had never said a word.

"I want the same thing as you, Yoshida. I don't want him, or you for that matter, to be hurt or killed trying to save me."

"Well, well, you are sickeningly good, aren't you?" he rejoined derisively. "Your worries are unfounded. That would never happen. He's stronger than you could ever imagine. And so am I," he added, holding her by the arms to lift her to her feet while he stood up. He tilted her chin upward with his forefinger to see her face. "I suppose we do want the same thing...to take care of him and protect him. I finally believe you when you say that. So I guess we should become allies."

"Yeah," she agreed, issuing a sigh of relief but taking a step back from him regardless. She viewed this little heart-to-heart as a tentative truce. "I would like that."

"Should we keep going?"

"Yeah."

~\'/~

Denji and Nayuta you were putting the finishing touches on dinner when they heard the chime of the door being unlocked.

"Welcome home," they called out in unison, peeking around the corner from the kitchen into the entryway.

"What the hell, man?" Denji murmured when he saw her leaning heavily on Yoshida who had a supporting arm around her waist.

"She's fine. She's tougher than I thought," Yoshida said, passing her off to Denji.

Denji held her under her armpits like a child or a doll at arm's length to survey the damage done to her. She had a diagonal cut across her left cheek. The blood had been smeared all the way down to her neck before drying to a crusty brown patch. Half of her lower lip was a raw open wound. There were multiple abrasions and bruises on her neck and forearms. He could only imagine what injuries were hidden beneath her clothes.

"You asshole! I told you not to hurt her!" he yelled, unable to take a swing at Yoshida due to holding her.

"Denji," Mari said, placing her hands on his chest. "This is normal for training, right? I mean, how could you not expect me to get a few little scrapes and bruises? At least he's not actually killing me like Kishibe did you and Power."

"Of course not. You're only human. But you can barely walk."

"I'm just really tired. We had a really long walk home. He was letting me lean on him because of my sore feet. I asked him to train me, remember? He did not volunteer for this."

"I thought I was the only masochist among us."

"Oh, trust me. I am not enjoying this pain."

"Well, on that note, I'll be going," Yoshida announced, reaching for the doorknob.

"Stay for dinner," Denji insisted. "I'm taking her to the shower."

Denji picked her up into a Princess carry to take her to the bathroom. He sat her down on the closed toilet lid to undress while he turned on the shower faucet to heat the water.

"Denji, how will I ever become strong if you continue to see me as someone weak and pitiful who can't withstand a tiny wound during training?" Mari asked, tossing her t-shirt into the clothes basket followed by her bra.

"I don't think you're weak or pitiful," he assured her, opening the cabinet doors to get a towel and washcloth from under the sink. He cast a glimpse at the gash on her cheek and her raw lip. "Some of those wounds aren't so tiny. I just can't stand to see you hurt. When you came so close to dying before I..." He turned to look her at her, keeping his eyes on her face despite her being completely naked. He gingerly touched the dried blood on her cheek. "I've only been genuinely afraid a few times in my life. That was one of those times. I was afraid of losing you."

"And that's why I want to do this. I never want to be without you either. I'm willing to get beat to a pulp to become strong, to be able to stay with you..." She pushed up on her tiptoes, kissing his cheek. "To stay by your side, to fight by your side." She pressed her lips to his. Her eyes locked onto his golden brown ones that warmed her heart. "You have to marry me some day, Denji. You promised. I am going to be the mother of your children like I promised. We can't break our promises can we?"

"No. A promise is a promise," he said, hooking his pinky around hers. He picked her up and placed her in the middle of the shower under the water. "I better go before I join you."

When she was alone at last, Mari collapsed against the wall, allowing the hot water to wash away the dried blood and soothe the aches all over her body. While Denji was with her she had made herself stand up straight, concentrating on keeping her balance to avoid falling over. She had gritted her teeth until her head hurt to hide the pain.

Yoshida had not let up on her, pulled absolutely no punches. He went after her as if she were a real, albeit weaker, opponent who he had no intention of losing to. But she needed a tough teacher who did not coddle her or treat her as if she were weak.

"Mari?"

Denji's voice sounded distant as if he were calling for her in a forest. Was she lost? No, but she had gone to sleep. Thank goodness she had stayed upright in the corner of the shower stall.

"Ugh, damn," she groaned, standing to her feet as fast as she could to turn off the cold water raining down on her.

"Mari? Do you need help?"

"I'm okay," she said while toweling herself off vigorously to warm up. "I'll be out in a minute." It was then she realized she had not brought clothes with her. "Uhm...will you bring me something to wear?"

Mari sat down on the closed toilet lid with the towel wrapped around her body to wait. Her throbbing head grew too heavy to hold up so she propped her elbow on the sink to hold it up with her hand. She nodded off to sleep again only to be frightened awake by Denji touching her. She almost fell off of her porcelain perch.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, catching her face in his hands before her forehead could smack into the side of the sink.

"Denji, I think I need to go to bed," she mumbled, slurring her words as if drunk. "Put me to bed please."

"All right. Lift up your arms."

Mari raised her hands straight into the air, fingers pointed at the ceiling, so he could slide her shirt down her arms. She closed her eyes for him to slip the tank top over her head. Standing up, placing her hands on his shoulders, her breasts swung forward and smacked him in the face when she lifted one foot then the other for him to put on her underwear. In her exhaustion, she slumped over his shoulder.

Without bothering to put on the sleep shorts that matched her tank top, Denji hoisted her further over his shoulder like sack of potatoes to carry her into her bedroom. Risking Yoshida seeing her in her underwear was a chance he was going to have to take because trying to dress her in this state was like trying to dress a human sized rag doll. And it wasn't easy. He flopped her onto the bed a little to vigorously, her head bouncing off the mattress.

"Oh, shit, sorry, sorry, sorry," he apologized profusely.

If she noticed her accidental rough treatment, he could not tell. She rolled up in the blanket she was lying on top of turning herself into a human caterpillar. If Denji planned to join her later he would have to bring his own blanket. He bent down to place a kiss on her forehead which was the only skin exposed besides her closed eyelids by her fabric cocoon.

"Sleep well. And in the morning I'll have a beautiful butterfly," he chuckled to himself while stroking her forehead.

"Denji," Mari sighed, raising her chin to poke her entire face out of the blanket. Her sleepy eyes opened but only halfway. "I love you, Den, Den, Denji."

He smiled not only with love for her but with the extra warmth imparted from a memory of one other woman saying his name like that.

"I love you too, Mari. Now go to sleep." He stroked her still wet hair. She was going to be an absolute mess in the morning.

"Mmm hmm. Okay. I'll dream about you."