Note: I am removing some of my S.A fics because they do not tie in with the story that is established in the manga and so do not work. I deeply apologize but I do intend to write more fitting stories. Also if I receive Pms asking me not to take down my work I may not but I will not be continuing them.

This is set after Ch. 81 and is a kinda angsty thing. Sorry -weak, apologetic smile-

Chapter One :: Her Pain

Hikari gazed down at her feet, her face was extremely pale and her hair was a mess, she looked weaker than usual, what was most obvious was the lack of happiness she had. Taking another step towards the greenhouse her eyes widened and she started to run away from it, it was as if something had happened to her that caused her to change this much. As she turned she felt her body crash into someone else's and she prayed that it wasn't him, she didn't want to see him right now. Noticing the S.A shirt she shook more before looking up and noticing black hair.

"Hikari?" Tadashi asked with a weak smile, "Hmm, you don't look okay," taking a step back he put his hand under his chin. "Did something happen, are you sick or something? Maybe it's your time..." as he said this he felt something very hard hit him in the back of the head and Hikari shivered. She attempted to turn her back on the couple. She had to run from this, they didn't deserve her sadness so until she was happy again she'd spend some time alone. Less trouble right?

Trying to get away from them she ran all the way to the entrance before finding someone to grab her and before she knew it she was crying into his chest. She hated herself for it but she couldn't help it. She just broke and it was him who had...

"Hanazono-san?" she heard that soft voice asked as those familiar fingers ran through her hair. She blinked trying hard to retain her tears and attempted to dry her eyes with her sleeve. Iori really didn't have to hear something this stupid, it wasn't fair to him. Instead of letting her cry on her own Iori pulled her to his chest and stroked her arms. "It's alright Hanazono-san, you can tell me anything that you'd like to. I'll be here to listen to you."

"Isn't that great?" a sarcastic voice rang behind them, "Step away from Hikari, if anyone is going to be the one to help her then it's going to be me and if I find that you're the one behind this.." the blonde spoke very coldly, shooting daggers into his opponent.

Hikari turned to him with a bowed head, she knew that she was going to hurt him with this but if he knew the truth it would hurt him more. "Ta—Takishima," she whispered not even looking at him, there were tears in her eyes already and she very weakly spoke..."Yo—You've won."

Kei blinked not sure what she was getting at before putting a hand on her shoulder, "Hi--" he began but she struggled away from him.

"Our challenge...you...you win." Taking a deep breath in she felt the tears gather again, "I...I've...lo—lost i..inte...tere...st...i-in you." Staring at the ground she inhaled and put her hands at her sides, she didn't want to look up and see whether his eyes showed any pain nor did she want to repeat what she had just said. It was a lie, a lie that she had been able to make seem honest but, but it definitely wasn't true. The truth would just hurt him so much more.

Feeling his shaking hand upon her cheek she backed away, closing her eyes she heard his voice cracking. He appeared so weak at this moment, this wasn't the Takishima she wanted, the one whose happy face was replaced with a sad face. "Hik-ari, can...can I do an—anything to have you forgive me for my insensitivity? Tell me what I did or...tell me when you're ready so that I can fix it, so that I can help you."

"There's nothing that you can do. I'm ti....I'm tired!" she yelled still shivering wanting this moment to be over. Feeling him hold her shoulders tightly she stepped back trying to get away from him before she yelled again, "I don't want you tou--" she looked up and as she did so she regretted it. That face hurt more than anything, it wasn't his smile, his anger, his jealousy but something much worse. Pain, she had caused that pain and yet he wouldn't leave her. "Please hate me!"

Feeling around in her pockets she pulled out the handphone he had given her with the charm attached to it, "I need to give this back to you," she told him slipping it into his weak hand, he held it before his eyes scanned over it, he had given her this to be able to have contact with her and that charm, her Christmas gift. "There's some more, I'll try to get it back to you tomorrow or would you prefer me to take it to your house?" Her breath felt rougher and she blinked at her ex-boyfriend, "Can you please apologize to Satoru-san and Midori-san for me, also Sui-kun...tell them that it was fun knowin..."

"STOP IT!!" the blonde suddenly yelled trying to stop the girl from speaking, he felt like a spoiled child this way but maybe this was needed if it would get her to understand. "Hikari! Whatever it is, I'll help you! Is it my grandfather, did he tell you to say this!?"

"You..." Hikari whispered looking away, her stomach sinking in. Causing this pain wasn't fair to him at all and she couldn't face his expression, soon all this desperate emotion would leave and then what kind of emotion would he have? "Can't help me...K—Kei-san."

"THEN..." Kei whispered as he heard her say his name his stomach felt extremely damaged and his heart cracked again, "then Hikari, just...if I can't help you just let me be beside you. Tell me anything, tell me everything you need to. Do you really want me to leave you alone or are you just saying this to protect me?"

Hikari took a deep breath before turning away and felt Kei read her as he put his arms around her, "It's alright," he whispered to her, "I love you so whatever you need..."

"I need my space," Hikari whispered, "I can't be near you K—Takishima. I can't hurt you." Staring at Iori as well she looked down before saying very slowly, "Don't tell any of the others," she spoke gently as Kei held her close to him, refusing to let her go. "Please Takishima...if I tell you, please just hate me if you want to. I..."

As she spoke Iori's eyes widened as he gazed at the floor stuck there, he couldn't believe what she had just said and had to keep gazing up in order to check if it was correct. However, Kei held her tighter, stroking her hair back and kissing the top of her head occasionally in hopes of calming her down. As she finished she gazed up at Kei and felt her throat grow dryer.

"If...If you hate me..." Hikari struggled to say as Kei continued to hold her, he stroked her hair back and struggled to smile.

"Is that it?" he asked calmly, "Do you think that I'd hate you however if...if you still want to..." Hikari shook her head before gazing at the ground.

"Takishima, I can't be with you. I can't trouble you anymore with this, I..." she turned to go before finding that Kei was still holding her.

"Hikari, you're not trouble to me nor will you ever be," he smiled gently, "What I want to know is...you're not really tired of me are you?"

Hikari bowed her head before shaking it but looked up at him with a frown, "Still, you don't deserve this Takishima, you don't deserve me putting you through this. I'll be able to sort this out by myself."

"I'm going to be there," Kei promised her before they both turned to look at Iori who was staring at Hikari as if she was extremely sick. "What the hell are you looking at?" the blonde boy growled standing in front of Hikari in means of protecting her. "Listen you, if you dare tell anyone about Hikari's condition then," he laughed coldly as a dark shadow loomed behind him. He continued to laugh as Iori blinked.

"What makes you think I'll treat her any differently?" he asked, knowing inside that wasn't true, he was somewhat shocked by this confession and a little creeped out by this girl. The guy had even become angrier and more protective than ever before. How could he not be scared of this? "Isn't this something that the director should know about?"

"I..don't want to inform the direc—-" Hikari began softly as Kei cracked his knuckles.

"You don't want someone to tell the director about your little part time job do you? If you dare to get Hikari kicked out of here then believe me, your life will become a living hell!" The blonde put his arms around the female student in order to protect her. "I'll be able to help Hikari if she gets into trouble with this so don't worry about what is supposed to happen."

"Taki---Takishima," Hikari choked as she turned to cry on his shoulder, "I'm sorry about hurting you Takishima...I'm sorry and you don't have to forg---"

"Hikari, it's fine..." he whispered trying to help her the best he could, it was exceedingly hard for him but he loved her more than anyone in the world no matter what. "Let's just forget that it happened alright? No hard feelings...so Hikari, I'll ask you this, do you still want to be my girlfriend?"

Hikari bowed her head before nodding it simply as he held her again and she finally said the words he had been waiting seven years for, "Takishima, I'm in love with you." At that she turned red and buried her face into his shirt.

"I love you too," the blonde laughed smiling happily at hearing that. There was no way that he was ever going to leave her because of this problem she was facing. No way.

Hope you liked it and please review

~Myst

Special A is the work of Minami Maki