Sorin's Love Story

Sorin sighed as he sat on the stone bridge of the Mahou campus. He had left the school a while back, hanging out with Negi-kun, and the rest of class 2-A. He had helped train Negi for the festival tournament, and he left after his first fight with Takamichi. Sorin took another deep breath. Negi was having a date with Nodoka, or that was what he had heard from Konoka. He smiled as the sun was setting. The rest of 2-A was busy with some party. He shook his head. [i]Same as always... party party party... then swimming at the bath house... then party... Can't forget harassing Negi-kun till he blows up. I wonder how Negi handles it all...[/i] He said softly as he smiled, and layed back, his head on the cool stone. Sorin closed his brown eyes and started to hum softly.1

"Sorin-kun...?" a small, quiet voice said softly. Sorin's eyes opened, and he heard quiet steps approach him. He lifted his head and smiled softly as he set his head back down. "Setsuna Sakurazaki... how can I help you...?" he said as he stretched, and sat up. His black hair glittered as his warm brown eyes looked into hers. Setsuna blushed softly as she cleared her throat, and looked up again at Sorin. "Sorin-kun... I have a small favor to ask..." She said very softly. Sorin patted the stone next to him, his eyes inviting. "I'm listening..."2

Setsuna sat next to him, taking a deep breath. "I know that we've... in the past, had a bad history. The fight between Kurosawa Yuu and yourself... when you were dark... I apologize for that battle..." She whispered out, almost ashamed. She had attacked a master Swordsman, who was in a time of need... harming who he is... She held back tears... this subject rather emotional for her. She, like most of the girls in the Mahou Campus, had a small soft spot for this man named Sorin... Iie... not a man, but rather... a teenager... like herself. He was physicaly as old as she was... but mentally, beyond years.3

Suddenly, Setsuna felt a soft, gentle touch on her right shoulder. She looked up, glittering tears clinging to her eye lashes. "I'm sorry Setsuna-senpai... I didn't know that I would have hurt you through my actions... forgive me..." he said, a smile on his face as he looked out into the sunset. "What my past was... when I was of the Shadows... you did nothing but your job..." Sorin turned, and smiled at her. "thank you... for saving me from myself..." Sorin said, his hand still on her shoulder, the other wiping away the lingering tears that were on her face softly.4

[i]This man... this boy... is so beyond what the mind can fathom... calm... collected... and yet... still so powerful... learning with us... but still... moving beyond us...[/i] Setsuna smiled, and a quiet giggle escaped her throat. [i]No wonder... we all seem to like him...[/i] Setsuna shook her head softly. "Iie... watashi..." Setsuna started... before Sorin leaned foward, and placed his index and middle finger on her lips gently, to stop her from finishing her statement.. [i]N... nani...?[/i]5

"Setsuna-sempai... you carry so much weight... so many burdans on your shoulder..." Sorin said very softly, his hands leaving her face, and touching her shoulder softly, his palm where her wings would normally errupt from. "And yet... instead of stopping... you continue... carrying more and more... releaving people of their hurt... and putting it in your soul... It's about time you let yourself heal... and forgive yourself." Sorin said as his eyes looking into hers... almost into her soul... "One's dark past... isn't an excuse to not live..."6

"But... Sorin-kun... you told me on your first visit... when you were still of Shadows... 'If There Are People Clearly Suffering, For Whatever Reason, They Cannot Be Ignored'. I've followed that... but..." Setsuna said as she looked down again. Sorin shook his head, and tapped her head softly with his fist. "Then you missed the second part..." Setsuna looked up. "ara...? Second part...?"7

Sorin cleared his throat. "If There Are People Clearly Suffering, For Whatever Reason, They Cannot Be Ignored... But Before You Can Save The World... You Must Be Able To Protect Your Own Heart..." Sorin finished, his eyes closed, his face turned to the sun. He smiled as he felt the cooling heat of the sun. Setsuna was speachless. "You know Setsuna..."8

"yes...?"9

"Yuu misses you... as did I..." he said, eyes still closed, a small smile still upon his lips. A blush crept up Setsuna's cheeks as she looked down. [i]He missees me...? Yuu...?[/i] She smiled softly. [i]Sorin-kun missed me too...[/i]10

"I'll promise you something Setsuna..." Sorin said as he opened his eyes, and turned to look at her. She was taken aback... his eyes... they were... amazing... dark... serious... Setsuna felt her heart speed up slightly. [i]Is this was Asuna meant about Takahata-sensei's eyes..? Why is my heart like this...?[/i] She thought as she blushed again. "h... hai...?"11

Sorin's face neared hers... Setsuna's ears throbbed with blood. "I'll... i'll protect you... i'll keep you safe... also... I'll keep Yuu safe... I'll do everything in my power to keep you happy... and to protect your soul..." he said softly. Setsuna blushed very, very deeply. "Ah... S... Sorin..." She whispered softly. Her hands gripped her sword, trying to find a word or phrase to say. She finally found something to say. She lifted her head quickly...12

[i][b]Plip[/i][/b]13

Sorin's eyes and Setsuna's eyes grew wide. Their lips had met... all by a simple accident. 14

Sorin pulled away, Setsuna still in pure shock. He blushed, and scratched the back of his head. "Ah... well... that was... mmm.." Sorin tried to say something... but was very confused. [i]That... was like... Motoko's kiss... Her lips are almost the same... and that feeling...[/i] Sorin shook his head, and inclined his head into a small bow. "Gomen Nasai Setsuna-sempai... my mistake..." He said as he smiled at her, his cheeks still red.15

"I... iie... it was my fault..." she said softly, unable to look at him.16

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!"17

Sorin's face blushed very deeply, and Setsuna and himself shook their heads. They knew what was going on... and refused to look. 18

Asakura, Yue, Asuna, Kū Fei, and Nodoka stepped out of the bushes, and grinned at them. "I KNEW IT!" Asakura shouted as she started to snap pictures. "Ara ara... Setsuna-chan... what's Konoka going to say...?" Asuna said as she punched Sorin softly. "And you... taking Setsuna's innocents..." She said, trying to look angry, but was laughing... Kū Fei grinned as she jumped up and down. "Kiss-aru!" She said continuesly. Yue and Nodoka stayed quiet, and smiled as they just watched them. "Sorin-sempai... always the playboy..." Yue said in her normal monotone voice.19

They were all joking and laughing... but in fact... there were tinges of jealosy.20

[i]Damn her...[/i]21

Sorin laughed, now controlling his blush. "Let's go... we have a party to attend..." While they were walking back, Negi walked up, looking around. "Ara...? what happened...?" The group of girls, save Setsuna and Asuna, attacked Negi. "Let's go Party!!" Negi rolled back, and nodded. "Go ahead... i'll be there soon." With that, the 10 year old Negi looked at Sorin. "You came back Sempai...!" Negi said with a happy grin.22

Sorin smiled back. "That I did Negi... that I did..."23

[i]It's good to be back... to where I have my friends... where... I almost have a family...[/i]24

"SORIN-KUN!! Hurry!! We'll miss the party! Asuna will eat all the food!!"25

"WHAT? WHAT ABOUT YOU IDIOT!?"26

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A IDIOT, YOU IDIOT!!"27

Sorin smiled as he ran, following the sound of his friends...28