/Yamaguchi's p.o.v./

After a while Tsuki left, after a lot of convincing I made him promise not to tell anyone else about what happened. I really didn't need all the drama... besides it's not like it was difficult for me to hide the pain, and by morning the stinging had gone down quite a lot. So I went on like any normal day getting ready for school in the morning.

"Master Yamaguchi." Flora stopped me just as I was about to walk out the door.

"Yes?" I asked letting my grip freeze on the doorknob.

"Are you alright?" She asked and I turned around to see a genuinely worried frown on her face. "Yesterday you'd locked yourself in your room, and I know Master Tsuki said you were alright, but you've been quiet... I'm concerned."

I felt a painful twinge in my chest. This is exactly why I always hide my pain. It isn't because I'm afraid of appearing weak... everyone seems to already know that. I hide it because I hate this, this concern and pain everyone feels when they worry about me. I don't want to trouble others I don't want them to be hurt simply because I'm not happy... so I keep it masked. I forced a smile despite the difficulty and bad feelings it brought me. "Yeah, don't worry I'm perfectly fine!" I then turned around and hurried out of the house letting my feet carry me down the long driveway. When at the end I let out a deep breath looking down to my shoes I felt tears start to build but fought them back. I shook my head slightly. I can do this! I can make it through today.

"Yamaguchi." A voice spoke my name.

I quickly shot my head up. "Tsuki? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to walk to school with you." He replied simply with a flat expression.

"Oh... okay then, let's go." I replies as we started walking the normal rout.

-&-

We were now about to the school and had talked little to none the whole trip there. It was kind of awkward and started to make my head spin with confusing thoughts.

He hasn't made any romantic gestures, or even really flirted much since the party... I wonder... does he really like me? Or was I right all along? Was he messing with me, or was he just lusting after me? Is he finished with me now? Done, I have no use to him, no purpose, just a friend, a friend he has to marry...

"Yama." Tsuki's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Y-yes?!" I jumped squeaking a little louder than I wanted.

"You're friend is calling to you..?" He seemed confused, and slightly worried.

I looked around noticing we'd arrived at school and Hinata was dramatically waving me over. "Oh.."

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Mhm perfectly fine thanks Tsuki." I replied. "See you later." I then gave a small wave and quickly made my way over to Hinata who, to no ones surprise, was with Kageyama. "Hey guys."

"Finally, geez I called your name like ten times." Hinata breathed out a sigh.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you." I smiled rubbing the back of my neck nervously.

"I'm surprised I'm pretty sure everyone else in Japan could hear this loud mouth." Kageyama grumbled crossing his arms.

"Shut up Bakayama." Hinata said. "Anyway you ready to go?"

"Yeah sure." I replied and we started walking to class.

-&-

I couldn't stop thinking about Tsuki the rest of the day, and this time not in a good way... All I could do was doubt and contradict myself. It didn't help that practice was canceled, so I couldn't even distract myself with volleyball. I was leaving my last class when things only got worse and my bullies showed up...

"Hey Yama how's our artwork treating you?" One sneered, and the other laughed.

I shrunk back once again finding myself cornered.

"What are you talking about?" The main bully, who was missing from yesterday's incident asked.

"Ha didn't we tell you?" His right hand man laughed and then explained what happened.

"What... that's going a bit far isn't it?" He asked.

"Whatever, you say he's useless commoner trash all the time anyway right?" The other shrugged.

"I guess you're right." The leader chuckled. "And yet look he's still here. After all that he still hasn't learned his lesson." He grabbed me.

I didn't even make an effort to squirm away or plead... it never helped before so why try?

He shoved me onto the hard floor of the hallway.

"Maybe a good old fashioned beating will change that." He cracked his knuckles.

I looked to the floor readying myself for the pain, but just as they were surrounding me about to start they were pushed back. I felt someone grab my elbow and like that was pulled to my feet, and KISSED?! I widened my eyes... Tsuki?!

He pulled away quickly. I felt my face burn almost as suddenly. I looked around to see the three of them looking just as surprised.

"See that? He's my fiancé. Mine!" I'd never seen him so angry. "If you touch him again, so help me there won't even be anything left of you to even attempt to cry for mercy."

I barely had time to see the three shrink back in fear, before Tsuki was pulling me away. He brought me all the way to the front gate of the school, where he finally stopped.

"Those assholes!" He shouted. "I swear I could have killed them right then in there!"

"I'm fine Tsuki really." I tried to assure him.

"No you aren't that's the problem!" He didn't lower his voice which frightened me slightly.

I watched him with wide eyes not sure what to say.

He sighed to calm himself and his grip loosened on my arm, his hand gently ran down my arm before he intertwined our fingers. "Honestly I told you before... I can see it when you're hiding your pain... I know that what they say and do bothers you... you may smile and say everything is fine, but I can see through it. Don't you know how much it hurts me when you do that..?"

I've never heard him talk like this before... he must really be worried about me. I let my fingers grip his tightly. "I'm sorry Tsuki..."

"Don't apologize, I'm sorry for shouting at you." He replied. "I just don't  understand your need to hide your pain."

"I've always done it." I admitted. "I always thought it would hurt people of they knew how broken I was, so I never showed it. I never thought I'd be hurting someone by doing that... you're the only one who's ever really noticed actually..."

"Just... promise me you will at least try to stop doing that. At least around me. I want you to feel like you can tell me anything." He looked me in the eye as he spoke.

"I promise..." was all I could manage. I felt my heart beating uncontrollably a warmth started from where he was touching me and spread like fire throughout my body. It washed me over with a joyous feeling that I don't even think I could explain in words. I smiled...

"Good." He replied simply. "Now let's go." He started to walk, me in turn falling into step with him.

He didn't let go of my hand the whole way home...

-&-

We were at my house again, and Flora was out on her day off, so me and Tsuki were the only ones there for a while.

"How's your back?" He asked me as we sat on my bedroom floor.

I had just finished my homework and was putting it away when he'd asked. "Um... fine. Better at least."

"Let me see." He held out his hand gesturing for me to go over to him.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion.

"Let me check it. The bandages should be changed anyway." He repeated.

"Oh o-okay..." I replied and then quietly crawled over sitting in front of him.

He lifted my shirt, making me blush and started to carefully remove the bandages.

"Does it still hurt?" He asked as he began to clean and put fresh ones on. He had me remove my shirt completely to make the process easier.

"A little..." I admitted as the stinging began to become prominent again as the cuts were exposed to new air. "I just hope they heal fast, and don't scar..."

Once he finished I felt him gently place a kiss on a spot of my back, between two of the bandages.

I stiffened feeling my breath catch in my throat as my blush deepened. "W-wh-what are you doing?"

"Making them heal faster." He whispered as he continues to kiss the bare parts of my back.

I felt a shiver go down my spine as his warm breath tickled on my skin, and tried hard not to flinch. I couldn't bring myself to speak, and could feel my heart pounding in my chest almost unbearably.

He continued to trail the soft kisses all over my back before eventually reaching my shoulders. "Everything about your freckles is so beautiful... I hate how they tarnished them..." he said quietly. He then wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me towards him tightly.

"Ts-Tsuki?" I was confused by the way he held me. It was almost... desperate.

"I hate myself even more for not being there to stop it..." he rested his chin in the crook of my neck closing his eyes and breathing calmly. "I promise I won't ever let anyone hurt you again..."

I felt a few tears form in my eyes and slide down my face. He's never been like this before. Always so gentle but this is a whole new level. His words are sweet, his voice sincere, and his touch as loving as it always is. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it, but I felt a bittersweet smile stretch at my lips. Because...

Tsuki really cares about me...

Hey guys, I know I'm a freaking cheesy romantic who needs to get a life. XD second kiss I guess you can call it. Even though it was really short and to prove a point oh well. It counts. I hope you like the new part sorry for the month long wait, but school has got me busy. Vote and comment, bye!
           ~Hannah😋