Akari

The night stretches on. Kaede and I are still discussing on the details of the assassination plan. Everything has to be taken into account: due date, materials, ingredients, apparatus and also our target.

"We'll need everyone's help in this," I state. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall. It strikes 12 midnight. I yawn from the drowsiness.

However, Kaede shows no signs of resting. Her hype is over the roof. "We'll need to ask Karasuma-sensei to prepare everything for us. The ingredients, the materials... everything has to be in mass amount and large sizes to create a huge pudding." Her eyes gleam with excitement. "Pudding..." she echoes.

I snap her back into reality. "Stop daydreaming. We need to determine how much we need for each ingredients. Crap. I suck at Maths."

Kaede pats my shoulder reassuringly. "No worries. Leave that to me." She picks up a paper lying on the floor we are sitting on. "So we've decided to use flavours of matcha, orange, apple, blueberry, peaches, bananas, pineapples..." She stops and scribbles on the paper. "...and mango... and watermelon... and honey dews..."

"Whoa, whoa." I grab her pencil. "We are doing a fruit bonanza now? It's a weapon."

"But it's a pudding as well..." Kaede pouts like a little girl rejected of her toys.

I roll my eyes. Looks like I have to uphold the older sister role in this plan. "... Fine, as long as you can actually put that much into a pudding."

Kaede pumps her fists in the air. "No problem!"

"With the flavours finalized," I emphasize on 'finalized'. "Let's set the due date. One week from now? But will the eggs last?"

Kaede taps her chin as she contemplates. "Hmm... what about Friday? I think Karasuma-sensei's efficiency will get the apparatus done by Wednesday. Then we'll start mixing on Thursday. And we'll carry out the plan on Friday."

I nod while going through the plan in my mind. "Today's Monday... oops. Tuesday. It's already past mid—"

My phone vibrates loudly on the floor. Karma's face appearing on the phone screen causes a smile to creep upon my face.

"Oh. Your boyfriend," Kaede replies nonchalantly while trying to hold back her smug.

"Not," I retort while keeping my face impassive.

"Yeah right. I saw that small smile of happiness of yours. Besides, why would he even call in the middle of the night? No normal boy-friend would do so unless he's your boyfriend." She eyes me suspiciously, although I believe she already has the answer in her mind.

"Focus on Nagisa, girl."

She pouts. "Do not try to change the topic!"

I scurry to a corner. "Hello?" I answer Karma's call and ignore Kaede.

"Hey. How's your knee?" His soft voice makes warmth surging in my chest.

"Fine." I glance down at my knee. It still stings a little if I move around. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep now?"

"Aren't you?"

"Don't answer my question with a question."

He chuckles. "Ok. I was thinking about a certain girl so I stayed up."

"Oh. Who's that lucky girl?" I smirk.

"Hmm... not someone special actually. She's a klutz, an idiot, a silly girl. But I kinda' like her a lot."

"What's her name?"

"Aww... are you jealous?"

"As if I would be jealous of myself."

"As if I'm talking about you at all, Aka-chan."

I pout. "Brat."

"I love you too, Akari. Now go to bed."

"I did not... Do not interpret cursing as love."

"You'd call me a brat because you love me."

"Karma—"

Kaede's feigned cough interrupts our conversation. I turn around and see her rolling her eyes, pretending to be retching with disgust. I spit my tongue at her.

"Who's with you? Where are you?" Karma asks.

"Umm... well, I'm at Kaede's."

"Why are you there?"

"Well..."

"You were running around with your injury? You should be at home." He chides.

I timidly reply. "...well, we're discussing something important..."

Silence from the other end of the phone worries me. I imagine smoke fuming from Karma's nostrils because I disobeyed his direct order to stay home.

"K-Karma?"

"...I'm coming to get you."

"Wait what? No!"

"And let you walk home alone at a time like this with that injury? No."

"Kar—"

"I'm coming now."

"Karma!" I scream.

But only the beeping sounds answer me. Karma has ended the call before I can fight for my rights. I slap my forehead. Talk about overprotective boyfriend.

Somehow, my heart feels warm with his initiative. My face lights up with a small smile.

"Yeah right. Not dating huh?"

Kaede's voice draws me back to her. She cocks her eyebrow suspiciously. A mischievous grin snakes its way onto her face.

"We're not dating," I lie determinedly.

She rolls her eyes. "No sane boy in this world would come all the way to pick a girl up unless he's interested in her or he is her boyfriend."

"Not dating," I repeat firmly.

She almost hammers her head to the wall out of frustration. "God! What do I need to do to get some validation from you two? Is this some kind of trick Karma put up to haze his classmates? You two pretending to be a couple while denying everything?"

I smirk. "Maybe."

She groans frustratingly. "Then why is he coming?"

I glare at the eavesdropper. "Because he... feels like pranking your house."

"Don't he dare." She clenches her fists together.

Suddenly, I feel the urge to go to the bathroom. "Where's the err... bathroom?"

"Don't change the subject!" She roars furiously.

"I'm serious! Do you want me to pee on your..." I glance down at my feet. "... On your obviously superbly expensive carpet?" I jump around to prove myself that I really need to go.

"The second room on your left!"

"Thanks!" I salute her and rush to the bathroom.

*****

Kaede has a tiny but a neat and clean bathroom. The smell of antiseptic wafting in the air means she cleans it every day without fail. I look around at her toiletries as I wash my hands. Bottles and bottles of countless facial products stand quietly on the basin. I know some of the brands. They are branded and costly. She must have some fortune to be able to obtain all these products. I envy her. Even though my uncle's rich, I don't use much of the money he gave me on facial and beauty purposes.

Well, because food is more important. Duh.

As I am about to leave the bathroom, something inconspicuous catches my eye. It looks like a harmless bottle, blending in well with its fellow neighbours. But I notice the label on it. It is a medication label, written boldly with words 'Painkillers'.

Painkillers seem normal for a girl to have as part of her toiletries. But it doesn't seem normal in Kaede's bathroom.

Because there is more than just one.

I count. One, two, three... Holy crap! Five?!

Why did Kaede need five types of painkillers? Did she have some weird hidden terminal illness that has been plaguing her with pain?

My imagination runs wild as I try to figure out the mystery. Maybe I should ask her. But that would be rude since I am prying into her secrets.

A knock on the toilet door makes me jump.

"Helloo? Akari? You okay in there?"

My heartbeat races. It is as if I am caught stealing. "I'm... I'm ok. Just took too long." I open the door and exit the bathroom. Kaede eyes me suspiciously. I hope she does not notice that my breathing has become heavy.

My mouth opens as I try to pick up the courage to ask her the question in mind. "Kaede, why did you have so many painkillers? I... I didn't mean to pry! I just... accidentally saw them."

I wish I was wrong when I saw the flash of anger in her eyes. It looks more like a fury, a bloodthirsty fury to kill.

Wait... what?

K-kill?!

Before she unleashes her fury on me, I am saved by the doorbell.

And the impatient loud voice of Karma's urging to see me.

"Ooi, Akari! Are you in there?"

Oh god Karma! I have never been so grateful for your great timing, your stubbornness, and your persistence.

As Kaede leaves to open the door, I silently release a breath that I didn't know I was holding.

"Karma! It's late! Stop shouting!" Kaede hisses.

"Where's Aka—" Karma's eyes fill with more anger—though nor as horrifying as Kaede's hidden fury—when he sees me.

"Oh hi, Karma," I greet him nonchalantly, worrying more of Kaede's fury than Karma's while silently wishing that it would dissipate with Karma's uninvited appearance.

Karma rolls his eyes. He turns to Kaede. Surprisingly, Kaede looks calmer now. Her unexplained fury disappeared so suddenly that I begin to doubt myself if I was just being paranoid.

"Why did you... what were you guys doing that had to stall her to such a late time?" Karma asks, seemingly unpleased.

"We're planning an assassination plan. It's about to end," Kaede replies calmly.

Karma glances at me and sighs. "She has an injury. She needs rest."

Kaede blinks. "What? She didn't tell me anything."

Karma slaps his forehead out of exasperation. "God, Akari!"

Kaede wouldn't have known of course, since I am wearing jeans to cover up my wound—though the stress of the fabric on my wound makes it ache. And I tried as much not to limp and walk normally—and yes, the pain has sort of numbed my senses.

"We're going home." Karma glares at me. This time, with unleashed disastrous, Karma-level fury—wasabi anyone?

He reaches out and grabs my hand to drag me along. I comply, knowing that I shouldn't upset him anymore.

Kaede shakes her head and sighs. "You two are so dating."

Karma lets out an evil cackle. "As if I'll date an idiot like her. I'm just taking good care of my disciple."

Idiot? Ouch. It maybe just be a part of the act, but it still hurts. I can feel the daggers of his anger piercing through me right now.

Though what worries me more is not him but still Kaede.

*****

The thoughts linger in my mind like ghosts out on a haunting. I barely got some sleep throughout the night because of Kaede's unexplained fury.

Honestly, it sort of scares me.

I wonder if there is a side to Kaede that I—or in fact, anyone has ever seen. As far as I can remember, I've never seen Kaede mad before. She is always the jolly, cheerful, chirpy short girl whom we often associate Nagisa with. Getting angry? Bloodthirsty fury? Never part of her character.

Oh, by the way, Karma was so mad last night he refused to talk to me and slept on my couch. He is still sleeping right now, though I doubt his anger kept him sleeping soundly throughout the night. He didn't utter a word on the way home while I was still plagued by Kaede. I know his anger wouldn't be solved by just a good night's sleep. He's probably cursing me in his dreams because I sneezed a lot last night.

I kneel down beside the couch watch his chest rise and fall steadily. Gently my fingers trace his jawline and I mutter, "I'm sorry."

Karma stirs in his sleep. I immediately hold my breath in to make sure my breathing does not arouse the sleeping 'demon'.

Golden orbs open lazily and Karma yawns. His eyes catches mine as I fail to escape undetected.

"Oh. Morning," says Karma calmly.

The calm before a storm, eh?

I gulp.

"Err morning..." I reply sheepishly. "You err... want some breakfast?" I stay wary.

Karma blinks. "That would be great. Two sunny-side-ups please."

My most difficult task: sunny-side-ups.

I nod, though reluctantly. This is the least I can do to atone my sins.

"And some salad would be nice. Or maybe some bacon. And ice cream. Can you make some cookies as well? Do you have juice? Or just make some fresh juice." Karma's order never ceases to stop. "Hmm and some good ol' wasabi as side dish will do."

Wasabi. Great. He's still mad.

I pout to make myself look as pitiful as I can. "I'm sorry for err... last night. Please forgive me for my disobedience and my stupidity. Please don't feed me wasabi."

Karma raises an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry. I'll never ever ever ever disobey you again..."

He sighs and pinches the bridge of my nose. I yelp. "I'm not mad of you for disobeying me. I'm mad because you still don't know how to take good care of yourself. What if you fell again and broke your leg? What if your wound festers till you have to cut it off?"

I'd argue that both circumstances might not actually happen but I keep my mouth tightly shut.

"Just promise me you'll do a better job at taking care of yourself. Please. I can't always be there for you."

I take in a deep breath. "Fine."

He puts up a tiny warm smile on his face that soon twists into something sinister. "I suggest a proposal that since you can't take good care of yourself, might as well I'll move in and stay with you for the rest of your life so that I can take good care of you."

"In your dreams you perverted demon."

Karma breaks into laughter. "Aww too bad." His arms pull me closer and he pecks my lips. "What do you wanna eat for breakfast today, my love?"

"I thought I'm cooking?"

"Nah. Your cooking can never outmatch mine."

I spit my tongue at him. "I can cook!"

"And entrust the kitchen to you so you can blow it up? No way. Since I'm here, I'll take good care of you by cooking for you first. Then I'll—"

I roll my eyes at his repeated antics. "And you expect me to allow you to move in because you're a good cook, blah blah blah. Nice try. Never gonna happen."

He snickers as he moves to the kitchen. "Well... sooner or later you'll have to let me move in. Like umm... when we get married?"

My face blossoms in red. "What? I can't quite hear you. The reception here is so bad."

"I know you heard me, Aka-chan. Or should I call you, Aka-aka-chan?"

"Shut up and cook I'm hungry stop wasting your time we got school today I want food food food!" My words are all jumbled up thanks to his tactics to tease me.

Karma laughs heartily. "Anything you say my love."

*****

Kaede's plan of making a huge pudding was almost a success if she had not backed up the last minute and if Korosensei's nose had malfunctioned that day. Kaede could not watch her masterpiece blown up into pieces. Korosensei's sharp nose caught the scent of concrete and bomb within the pudding. Thus he deactivated the bomb and gave each of us a portion of the pudding. It was delicious.

Later that night, Kaede called me over to celebrate our success. I prep myself and press the doorbell. I have brought some cookies and cupcakes for her.

As she finally opens the door, I greet her with a smile. "Hi, Kaede. Sorry I was late."

Her head is lowered and I cannot read her face. She remains silent.

"Kaede?" I touch her shoulder.

She raises her head and look at me, with a weird look on her face. Her eyes are not warm; instead they are glinting with something that I did not expect to find in her.

I am horrified. Because it looks like... it looks like...

Bloodlu—

"I'm sorry," she mutters before my mind blackouts.

*****

Karma

Every night, before he goes to sleep, Karma would take some time—at least an hour perhaps—to talk with his love, Akari. Their means of communication is through phone or social networking apps. He realizes that this has become a force of habit. If he missed one night without talking to her, he'll be insomniac.

His fingers tap the desk impatiently as he waits for the tell-tale vibration of his phone. For every passing minute he glares at the clock after receiving no reply from Akari. The ticking second hand is nerve-wracking.

Maybe she slept?

Karma sighs. Then I should sleep as well. Reluctantly he crawls into his bed, trying to get her out of his mind.

...When I see her tomorrow, I'll just tease her.

He closes his eyes.

...Is she asleep?

He stirs in his sleep.

...Is she busy with something else again?

...Should I call her?

...She really need to take good care of herself. I should call her.

Restless, Karma rises from his bed. He reaches out for his phone.

Suddenly, it vibrates.

Akari?

But the caller ID indicates that it is not her. It's Nagisa.

Disappointed, Karma picks up the call. "Hello? Nagisa-kun? What's up?"

"Karma-kun!" Nagisa's panicked voice is audible.

Karma's gut tells him that something is bad.

"Karma-kun, Akari-chan... Akari-chan has been admitted into the hospital. Please come quick!"

"Aka... Akari?"

That moment, his heart leaps over a cliff. The air in the room becomes so suffocating he can barely breathe.

Akari.

His love.

In the hospital.

If he has a weak heart, his legs would have gave away right now.

"I need to... I need to get to the hospital. I... I need to hurry..."

Akari, please wait for me!

*****

The brunette lies on the bed in the cold hospital room, breathing steadily. Just watching her burdens Karma's heart.

"What happened?" Karma growls lowly at the others in the room—Nagisa, Kayano, Nakamura and Kataoka.

"We're not sure. We got a call from the hospital saying she collapsed on the way to Kayano-chan's house. They found our phone numbers from the recent dial section in Akari-chan's phone," Nagisa replies.

Karma's rage is boiling within him. He needs to know the cause that made Akari in such state. His fists clench and his teeth grit. The rage within him builds up along with his grievance.

"Karma-kun..." Nagisa touches Karma's shoulder. "She'll be fine. She's strong. Believe in her."

I want to do the same too. But...

He is scared. He is scared that he will lose her.

Please don't... Akari... Please...

Karma's grip on Akari's hand tightens.

He prays for a miracle to happen. He prays for her to wake up and reassure him that she is okay.

"Hmm..." Akari lets out a groan.

Is she...?!

"Akari?!" Karma shouts with panic. "Akari, can you hear me?" He grips even tighter to her hand.

Akari's eyelids flutter open.

Karma's face is revitalized with life. He lets out a sigh of relief. His heart jumps up and down from the entire situation.

But she looks at him with a weird stare.

"Who... who are you?"

At that moment, his entire world crashes and breaks down into pieces.

*****

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Whiteraven95 is back!!!

Sorry for the very long hiatus and delay. Finals are over and I got a 1 month break! Woohoo!!!!

Anyway, this chapter is short and a... heartbreaking cliffhanger?! (I know it's my bad but I just can't help it XD)

Please enjoy and continue your support!!! Reviews, comments, anything!