A/N: The transition from last chapter to this one is hard that's why it's a bit short but I will not give up on this one. Please excuse any miss on grammar or spelling, I'm using notepad in doing this T.T

CodeAnime: Thank you once again for the support from my Karmanami to my other pairings.

I wanted to post an alternative ending for my AsaRio fic to relate it to the manga but I'm not sure if that will be necessary.

Chapter 17

The day wrap up with no more casualties with one point gained for the whole class and four points for the guardians. After almost all students went on their way home, Karma decided to check on his friend who is still staying on the infirmary. "Oi, how long will you be staying here?" He tossed a box of apple juice to the blonde.

Rio Nakamura groaned at the sight of the red haired god. "Ugh, who gave you permission to visit me?"

"I'm a god remember, I can do what I want." He said slouching on the chair besides the bed. He glanced at the table besides the bed and noticed some fruits and flowers. "Woah, never thought you'd entertain suitors."

"Idiot, that came from the guardian's leader, he came here earlier to apologize. Told me that what his team mate does really is uncalled for." Rio plucked the juice she was given and enjoyed the cool fruity beverage sliding down her throat.

"It really is uncalled for. How are you?"

"Jeez dude, I'm fine. Don't give me that look, it doesn't hurt as much. Looks like I've overreacted. She shrugged and dismiss the worried look being sent on her way. "What about you? Something's bothering you."

He shakes his head and ruffled her hair, "I'll tell you after you're discharged. Let's eat on the cafe that you are talking about, my treat."

"Ara, ara~ If I don't know you better I would say you are being nice and generous but I know you too well to know you're bribing me. You can't hide anything from me for too long you know." She grinned in response as she waive off his hand sneaking her hand behind him and pulled down a hair from his nape making him cry out in pain.

All too suddenly, the door to the infirmary opened again. "I-I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" A small squeak was heard.

The two all too quickly detached themselves from furtherly hurting each other and turn to the girl. "Nami-chaan~" Cried out Rio. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you today." She said pouting at the said girl.

"Ano, it's okay. I'm just here to make sure that you're alright." Answered Manami who is still standing awkwardly by the door.

Rio leaned back on the bed flexing her arms to show her visitors that she's in good condition. "I'm still at one piece but it wouldn't be much of a trouble, can you come near me please."

Manami walked slowly, purposely ignoring the red head near them. "I've heard that you will stay here over the weekend so I brought some stuffs that you might need." She offered the paper bag she's holding containing basic essentials and more food. The blonde thanked her with glee as soon as she saw snacks inside the bag. "Well, let me know if you will need anything during your stay here. You can call me anytime, I'll go ahead now." She bowed down while Rio pouted at her quick visit.

The bespectacled girl left as soon as she came in. "I've heard what happened between he two of you from Yukiko and Kaede." The blonde started as soon as the door closes. "Isn't it the best time to stop sulking and apologize?". She laughed as her companion muttered a quick good bye and sprinted outside by the window.

Manami took her time in walking down the mountain. She didn't have to rush going home as she finished all the reports she needed to do ahead of time so she decided to take a stroll. She let out a sigh as the guilt of what happened to her classmate attacked her full force.

She saw what will happen, she saw the spirit of death looming around but she let her suffer. She was never that open with mortal humans but divine creatures really do have a special place in her heart that's why seeing the elven girl's suffering made her heart clenched.

Holding a tight fist close to her heart then to her left shoulder, she decided to take a detour to the last place she saw her mother. She walked down going around from trees to trees like she's following an invisible path only she can remember.

She goes around another huge tree into a small clearing, traces of the once opened pathway still lingers. A crack on the area on the ground that no plant dared to touch still exists. She came near, fell down on her knees and at the moment at the last place she saw her mother, she broke down.

Large drops of rain suddenly fell down from the now darken sky as Karma tried to follow the traces of the girl. He tried following the same path the students are usually taking to go down the mountain but even the small interval of leaving the school, she cannot find the girl.

Feeling the presence of the girl still within the area, he leap from trees to trees to trace her. What he found is something he will never expect. Under some huge roots of one of the huge trees in an all too familiar surroundings, he saw the girl hugging her knees with her face covered by her wet hair. Her wet uniform clinging to her body like a second skin, her shoulders shaking.

Seeing her this vulnerable made him realize one thing, that the powerful girl from the earlier battle and the same girl he deceived to break out from his curse is still the same girl, very human and very fragile.

"Hey." Slowly, he knelt down in front of her slowly touching her by the shoulders. She looked up at him and started crying again, hugging the red haired all too suddenly made him stiffen. He never had someone leaned on him much as cry on him before but he decided to let her be for now.

Kayano sighed contentedly under her warm blanket with her hot chocolate in hand under the stormy weather when she suddenly received a phone call. She groaned as she saw Karma's name on her phone and is very tempted to ignore the call but decided against it as Nagisa might not appreciate it if it's an emergency.

She put her hot chocolate on her bedside table and prepared herself on possible assault of teasing and sarcasm, "What do you want?" She half shouted to her caller.

The line was quiet for few seconds until she hears some shuffling and something that suspiciously sounds like sniffling. "Yo washboard, I kinda need your help. Can you bring me some set of clothes and stuff... please?" Now that definitely shot one of her eyebrows ignoring the nickname, if anything, Karma never asked for favors much as say please. "Okuda is here." She almost dropped her phone at that.

tbc