But…

By: M14Mouse

Summary: It wasn't just Kou's job to worry. Sora worries too!

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

Sora noticed that Kou was pale when he came into the dojo.

First thing that popped into her head that he was overworking himself again. He was always so tired. It worried her sometimes on how hard her sempai worked. In the past, she tried to talk it over with him but he always waved it off like it was nothing. That made her worried even more!

But….

She frowned for a moment.

But…she thought that her sempai was trying to cutting back. He talked about it a few times since the club started and Eclipses have been coming more and more lately. Most of all, she has noticed that he has been hanging out with everyone more lately. She heard about Kou and Shio's motorcycle ride or Yuuki and his gaming adventure. He was practicing with her again which she never thought would happen. It made her so happy to see her sempai actually relaxing a little.

But…

Then she noticed the tension in his shoulders. She thought that he may have gotten hurt. Stubborn…Stubborn sempai. He would worry about her injuries but he never worried about his own. It drove her nuts.

But….

He didn't look hurt and Hiragi always checked for injuries after every Eclipse.

But…

There was tightness around his eyes. She could always mark that look as before and after the quake. Before, she remembered when his eyes were bright. A smile was quick to his face. The after…she always remembered the after. She remembered being glued to the tv for days. She remembered the constant calls to reach family.

She remembered see his face after the quake. The brightness in his eyes dimmed. His mouth and his eyes had a tightness that wasn't there before. His smile didn't touch his eyes. She could help but asked what happened….was he alright?

He always said that he was fine.

But…he wasn't fine.

"Are you okay, sempai?" She asked as she approached him.

Kou waved to her.

"I am fine," He said.

She bit her lower lip for a moment. Once, she would let it go but now…now…

"I don't think that you're fine, sempai."

He paused. She actually could see the wheels turning in his head.

"I had a nightmare about the earthquake."

Shiori did say something about him not sleeping well lately. She wondered how often that he has been having them and why she didn't notice before.

She nodded her head.

"It has been ten years and I still can't get it out of my head. I can remember like it was yesterday."

She knew what happened to Hiragi and Hokuto during the earthquake but Kou never told them what happened to him during the quake.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

If it was possible, Kou's face turned white. She saw his hands gripped his bag like a life line.

"Not really."

She reached over and grabbed her sempai's hand. She dragged him out of the dojo and to their tree. She knew something was wrong when he barely protested. She got him to sit down and then she took a seat next to him.

She watched as Kou relaxed against the tree.

"I am sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry."

"Everyone has said what happened to them and I…I can't…"

"This isn't a contest, sempai. You will tell us when you are ready."

"I'm not sure if I will ever be ready."

"Well…when you are ready, we will be here. That is what family is for."

He smiled softly.

"Thank you."

She watched as the color returned to his face and his body relaxed against the tree.

He looked so much better. Right now, she didn't think that he was ready to tell her or anybody.

But….

That is okay. When he is ready, they will be there.

End.