Judo: 2nd place

Tennis: 3rd place

I groan, annoyed by the result. I wish we could have been first all the time. I sigh. We only have to do better at the next one. We have only a few points in difference with the second one. The second group in place are really good at swimming so we better do our best.

"Hey Am-" Kenshi stops mid sentence and stares at me. His eyes drift down and I notice his cheeks reddening.

"My eyes aren't there Shorty," I say angrily and walk away. I hear him panic and he rushes to my side.

He clears his throat. "Sorry. Just my first time seeing you in a swimsuit... You look really pretty in it so I couldn't help but stare..."

"Just say you were looking at her breast it'll be faster," I glare at him and he jumps, his face now fully red.

He puts his hands in front of his face and shakes it violently. "I-it's not true!" he grabs Fujita's collar and yells at him. "Shut you month sometimes will ya!"

He laughs. "But I've got to admit, you've got a nice body there Suzu-chan! You're really lucky Ken- Aaarg!" He places his hands behind his head with a wince as her girlfriend hits him harshly. Then, she ignores him and we both walk away.

"They're so stupid," she pouts as she crosses her arms on her chest. "They never think with their head!" I tilt my head on the side. They never think with their head? Then, they think with what? Tomoe stares at me for a moment before sighing. "You're really intelligent and all but when it comes to this stuff, you're kind of clueless."

I stand there before realizing what she was talking about. I blush a little and look away. She just chuckles and pats my head gently, not to mess my tight ponytail. "Suzuki-san, Fujita-san," our sport teacher calls for us. "It's whenever you want."

"I gotta go Tomoe. See you later," I wave at her and she waves back, wishing me good luck.

We are the one of the first group to go first. It's like a relay course. One goes first and when they finish the back and forth, the second goes. As easy as it seems, the pool is still pretty big. They put the stronger together as a question of equality. Fujita readies himself to start the race, adjusting his diving mask. He gives me a thumbs up which I answer with a light nod. Once everyone is ready, the teacher gives the go-ahead and they all jump in the pool and start the race. I observe Fujita and, I have to admit, he's pretty impressive. Since yesterday, I notice how devoted he is for sports. His family is cheering him up from bleacher as well as Tomoe and Saito; they know they won't win so they don't mind cheering for others, well us mostly.

He gets nearer to me so I put myself in position to jump in the pool. He's second. I've got to do better. He touches the wall and I dive in the water. I swing my legs and swim as fast as I can. I feel so comfortable in the water, like it is my element, like I was born for it. I always love swimming. I forgot that feeling when I was in the water. I turn myself, put my feet on the wall and take a big impetus and continue to move my arms and legs in a continual movement. I notice I am shoulder to shoulder with the first and when they swim faster. We both see the end and swim as fast as we can. I have to, no, I need to win. I feel like, for me, it'll be an accomplishment, a reward. I never show anyone my real skill, I always hide myself. It's here and now that I need to show my best. Swim. I need to make them proud. Faster. If she watches me. Harder. I'm going to win it. Win for me. For her. I reach out my hand and touch the wall.

I get my head out of the water, taking a bug breath and look at my right to see the person from before there too. I turn my head to the teacher, waiting for a confirmation. Fujita stretches his hand for me, I take it and go out of the pool, still willing to hear who got first. I hurry to him and ask him with a slight panic, thinking I didn't make it. He smiles and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Your mother would be proud, Suzuki-san. You did it."

I can't believe my ears. It takes me a moment before I smile brightly and cheer out loudly without realizing. I turn to Fujita and hug him tightly. "We did it! Fujita, we did it! Thanks a lot!"

"S-Sure... I'm a little surprised though. I thought you didn't swim in a long time."

I release him and look up at him. "Well, it has been a while but I just felt so happy I gave my whole. To be honest, I don't feel my legs anymore."

"Wha- Are you okay?! Want me to help you sit down?"

"Amyyy!" scream two voices at the same time. Slowly, I turn my head and see my brother and boyfriend. "You were like, amazing! You're so good at swimming!"

"I'm so happy to see you swimming again! Did you get better? I thought you had stopped," Kenni asks curiosity filling him.

I nod. "Haven't go into a pool since middle-school," the three of them exchange surprised look. "But I had to do it," I chuckle and smile at them.

"Did she always have a smile like that?" wonders one boy.

"She's surprisingly cute with a smile," says another.

I blush at their comments and look away. Kenshi grumbles and I see him from the corner of my eyes as he glares fiercely at the guys. I giggle a little which surprises him. "You shouldn't be worry like that, you know."

His blush becomes bigger and he crouches down while he hides his face with his hand. "Why are you so cute like that today?" he mumbles and I bite my lips, trying to fight back the blush.

"Amy! Your phone is ringing!" Tomoe calls for me.

I nod and try to walk but almost fall to the floor, Fujita catches me just in time. I thank him and Kenshi stands up offering me his back. "Climb on my back. It'll be easier for you."

"You can actually carry someone with those arms? Impressive," Fujita makes fun of him before releasing me so I can climb on his back.

"Shut your month! I'm not talking to you."

"Thanks Shor- Sai- I mean, Kenshi."

"Why have you such a hard time saying my name?! And I'm not short! I'm still growing!"

I chuckle and position myself on his back, I hold him tightly, but careful not to choke him, to not fall when he stands up. He easily goes back on his own two feet and walks to the girls changing room. He sets me on the floor once we reach the door, I thank him again and enter the room. I look around but see no one. I take a deep breath, knowing who it is. Suddenly, my phone rings again. I walk to my bad and take it.

"... What do you want?" I ask coldly, not wanting to waste time.

"Wow, how cold Amy-chan. I was just going to congratulate you for your first place. You always have been a good swimmer."

"Leave me alone."

He laugh loudly, sending chill down my spine. "No, can't do. I'm having too much fun. You're my favorite plaything you know that? I can't let you go that easily. But you chose a really bad path with that guy. Saito Kenshi, huh?"

I frown and feel the anger building inside of me. "Don't you dare touch him."

"Is that a threat?" his voice becomes menacing. I freeze when hearing it. My breathing is irregular and I can't say anything else to defend him or myself. "You know you can't do that right? I mean, you're just a weak girl. You can't hurt me," I try my best not to panic as I bite my bottom lip. "Anyway, can we see each other before the campfire? I need to talk to you. I won't take no as an answer. I better leave now. See you my lovely Amy-chan."

After that he hangs up. I stand there, the phone still against my ear. "Who was that?" I jump and quickly turn around. Kenshi is standing there, leaning against the wall with a frown.

"What... are you doing-"

"'Here'? I was wondering what was taking you that long. So, who was it?"

I hung my head low, looking at the ground. "I can't... tell you."

He clicks his tongue and stomps towards me. He grips my shoulders with both of his hands harshly. I silently wince in pain and shyly look up at him, he glares at me with a look I've never seen before. There's a mix of anger and worry as well as pain. "Why? I'm your boyfriend Amy! I can help you," he says in a soft voice. He is genuinely worried about me. I can see it with his eyes. They always speak more than him. I learn to read them through all this time.

"He... he will kill you."

"Who?!" he starts to feel impatient. "Who is threatening you?"

"I can't tell you! I don't want you to leave me!"

"I won't leave you," we stare into each others eyes. I feel tears building inside of mine. Since when did I become that soft around him? "Believe in me."

Hesitantly, I begin to tell him everything. "You know, when I was in Sapporo, I was bullied and all by other people as I'm half American, well there wasn't only that. One day, a girl came to me and told me she was being kidnapped by her best friend. I thought she was crazy, I mean, I was in elementary school, what could I do anyway. Then, just before my eyes, something went through her. Red substances fly everywhere. I stood there, not understanding the situation. That's when came out from behind her."

"Look at the mess you made. I told you to say nothing Mary-chan," his eyes were glued on the corpse lying on the ground. Then, he looked up to me. I never fear for my life more than at that instant. His eyes were so dangerous and he was only in middle school by the time. He was older than me but was still a kid. I started to cry thinking I was going to die. Even at this age, I knew he was dangerous and I shouldn't stay there but I couldn't move. So I stared at him, scared for my life. I still wonder what would have happened if I ran away. Would he have kill me? Would he have let me go? "Look who we have here. Are you by any change Suzuki Amy-chan? You're quite popular around this school," he smiled and walked closer to me until he was just a few centimeters away from me. "I don't know why people would bully such a cute girl like you. Do you want to become my assistant? The one before you was... well she kind of left," he looked from the corner of his eyes at the girl at his feet. "So what do you say?"

I couldn't say no otherwise I was going to die. So I nodded my head and smiled happily. He reached for my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'll see you later, Amy-chan."

He left after that but it was just the beginning of hell. He was sending me to do stuff for him. He even taught me hacking so I can help him. He tried several time to rape me but would stop saying he should wait until I'm in high school at least. I tried to kill myself many times but failed as I was always saved by either my mother or brother. I was still bullied at school and my situation weren't going any better. I was so desperate and one day, my mother came to my school. At that moment I was at the pool, trying to get rid of all those memories. I was surprised when I saw her, I wasn't expecting anyone. She had this severe look on her face and asked me what was really happening. I tried to restrain myself from saying it but, in the end, I let it go. I cried in her arms while telling her everything. But how I regretted doing so. I never knew he would place a bug on my phone. Soon after, the door slammed open and I saw him, a knife in hand with this grave face. I was shaking from head to toes, I didn't know what could happen. My mother put herself between him and I in an attempt to protect me. However, before I realized it, she was lying on the ground, cover in blood. The scene went way too fast for me to catch it. When I look down, I saw my mother with red substances all over her, motionless. I fall on my knees, still looking at her. She only had time to mutter her last wish before leaving this world. He let me leave saying he doesn't want me to die yet. And then he left.

Things got even worse than before. Everybody thought I killed my mom and my brother left the house. I was ready to give up on life until my dad told me we were moving to Tokyo. I was worried for my brother but in a way I was happy to leave this hell. I didn't tell that creepy bastard and we left before he realized it. I made sure to throw away any computing device saying to my father I might have forgot the box at Sapporo, so we bought new ones. It was the beginning of a new life. Even thought the beginning was a horror, I manage to get there and had a new life with everyone.

"I didn't choose the best option to hate men and close myself to anybody but in the end, it turned well," I smile happily while I remember all the present memories.

He stay silent for a while before hugging me tightly in his arms. I don't say anything and hug him back. "I didn't know you went through all that. I wish I were there back then so I could have helped you sooner."

I take a little moment before answering. "You had already done a lot for me Kenshi. I'm so thankful to have you by my side."

"silence feel the room when we hear the voice from behind. We both turn to the voice to see him. How does he know everything? Fear fill inside of me as well as distress. I can't never get away from him in any way!

"And who are you?" asks Kenshi, eyebrows frowned. He places himself in front of me while holding one of my hands to calm me.

"She didn't tell you my name? I thought she did while she talked about our past," he smiles mischievously. He took a step closer and stretch a hand. "Abe Mamoru, at your service, Saito-kun."

"What are you doing here?"

"How rude," he lets his arms fall back to his side, still grinning. "You should respect your upperclassman, my little kouhai(*)."

"Get out of here," his voice was sharp, he doesn't hesitate to threaten the man in front of him even thought he knows what he can do.

They glare at each other without saying at anything before the creeps open the door and let enter Aiko and his group. Shit. I totally forgot about them! The glasses guy did tell me to be careful. I bite my bottom lip anxiously. Before we could have a chance but now. Sweats start to form as I let my feelings take the best of me. I feel Kenshi's hand tightening the grip around mine. He's secretly telling me to stay sane. I nod and take my phone in one hand. I send our geographic coordinates to my contacts in hope they'll understand and come quick. Tomoe, Fujita and Kenni should have leave the building, I just hope they're not far.

"What are you waiting? Get them. It's not like they're strong," he orders to his "subordinates" who follow his order without saying anything. They catch us without any real difficulties as Kenshi isn't that strong and I'm really tired from the swim.

"You shitty bastard! Let her go!" Kenshi barks at the older guy in the room. The latter only laugh loudly, his laughter filling the room. I want to cover my ears but they're holding my wrist. I hate everything about that guy. I feel like crying but I need to be strong, for Kenshi's sake.

"Never. She's my favorite toy. I can't let her go. I passed the past two years searching for her. I won't let her get away that easily."

"Toy?" whispers one of the guy who's holding me. "He only mentions he wanted to have revenge."

I hold back a laugh and turn my look to behind me. "You work for a guy you never met, and you don't even know his real motivation?"

"S-shut up you!" one yells and he hits me hard on the head. I wince in pain and close one eye. Oh, how I wish I punch him back.

"Oi," a threatening voice echoes to our direction. Footsteps can be heard as the person stand in front of me with a death glare. I know who it is, that's why I don't look up. "You better not touch her like that anymore. Only I can touch her."

The guy behind apologizes and I can feel him shaking while holding me. Even scaring proud guy like that, huh? The creeps crouches down in front of me. As I still refuse to make eye contact, he takes my chin and forces me look up harshly. Once I meet with his eyes, I can see his smiling inside and out. He enjoys this situation and I know, he turns him on, when I'm like that. I want to throw up because he's disgusting me so much.

"You know, Amy-chan, I still have that scar on my face ever since you did that to me last time we saw. I was so happy I could give you you're birthday present but you rejected me. Why's that? I know you wanted me too so, why?"

One of the guy gulps from behind. How much of a shitty did I live until now? I'm sure that's what he's wondering to himself. You don't even know half of my life. "Never I will want you. All I want is you disappearing from my life for ever."

His smile becomes bigger as his cheeks redden. "I love when you're like that. Should I put the scar on your face? Like that we'll be the same," he comes closer to my ear. "I love it more when you scream."

Fear builds inside me when I feel a cold metal make contact with my skin. "What the hell man?! What are you doing with that?!" yells Aoki from next to him. His gaze turns to him. It holds no emotion, nothing, just darkness and a will to kill anyone who disturbs him.

"Let her go you freak!" Kenshi bursts from behind with a baseball bat. He swings it at his head and he falls hard on the ground, bleeding. I stare at him, motionless, until Kenshi puts both hands on my shoulders. "Let's get out of here! Quick!" I nod and stand up.

We run for the door as fast as we can. Kenshi's hand graps the knob and turn it. Time seems to have slowed. I never see around me that clearly before. I feel free, free from my past, from him! A smile start to raise on my lips but I hear a loud bang from behind me. Kenshi's body fall flat on the ground so I stop moving. I don't look down immediately as I try to understand what is happening. I can't hear any noise, just the beats of my heart. "K-Kenshi?" My voice shivers as I say those words anxiously but I get no answer. I take my courage to look down but I regret the moment my eyes fall on the red substances on the ground.

It is Kenshi. He's laying on the ground without moving, red stain on his shirt. He's lying on his side with a blank expression. It takes me several minutes to understand the situation. Suddenly, time seems to have return to normal when I hear that evil laugh. Fear and sadness are instantly replace by anger. I turn around in a quick motion and my gaze falls on him. He's sitting on the ground, blood's still dropping down his face but he wears a smile; it's a smile of someone who accomplished something. I hurry to him and kick the gun away from his hand. He winces in pain but don't move. I run and take the gun, pointing it to his face. During the time I do that, Aoki and his friends run away careful in not walking on Kenshi. We glare at each other without no one doing nothing but it's not like he can do much.

"Are you going to shoot or what?"

"Don't tempt me. I don't want to become a murderer like you."

"So you're going to let him empties himself from his blood? He isn't going to last long you know?" I grind my teeth as I try to fight back the terrible reality. What should I do? Kenshi's going to die at this rate! "If you come with me, I'll help you with him."

"I don't believe you. I'm the one who's going to save him!"