Tsubaki knew people were spreading rumors about her. She could tell by the way a room got quiet when she entered and how people kept giving her side glances then giggling, like someone stuck a "kick me" sign on her back.

She tried to ignore it, but curiosity ate at her insides like a disease. No one had ever spoken about her behind her back, save the few "Why is she partnered with that idiot? IWith those skills, she could be with anyone!"

Tsubaki wanted to know what people were saying about her. She lingered in the hall at the beginning of lunch until she found a group of boys from the NOT class standing at the end of the hall. Tsubaki ducked behind a corner, just within earshot.

"No way, dude! She's too nice!" Tsubaki recognized the voice. It was a younger meister who had dropped his books down the stairs. The older weapon had helped him collect them.

"I'm just telling you what I heard!" Another boy protested.

"Isn't there some kind of list you have to get on?" Somone chimed in.

The second boy spoke again. "She fucks anyone with legs." Tsubaki pressed a hand to her mouth as tears gathered in her indigo eyes. All the boys laughed.

"Think if I ask her, she'll do me?" The first one asked. More boys laughed. The demon weapon blinked fast, trying to clear the tears from her eyes.

She turned and ran down the hallway. She was mortified. She needed to leave, now. She turned a corner and ran smack into a chest. She stepped back, even more embarrassed than before.

"Tsubaki?" It was Black Star. She turned around, ready to run away, but her meister caught her wrist.

"Tsu? What's wrong?" His voice was suprisingly soft. Tsubaki forced a smile.

"Nothing's wrong, Black Star. I told you, I needed to get stuff from my locker."

"You've been gone for a while, I was worried." He said with a shrug. "Now seriously, what's wrong?" Her smile wavered, and a few tears dripped past her lower lashes.

"Hey, don't cry!" Black Star paniced a bit. She stuttered something out, but through her tears, Black Star couldn't tell what it was.

"What?"

"Rumors. People have been spreading rumors about me." She sobbed out.

"Rumors? About what? You don't do anything wrong."

"They're saying I do stuff..." She hiccuped and trailed off.

"What kind of stuff?" Black Star asked.

"Unbecoming stuff." It took him a minute, but Black Star got it.

"Book of Eibon?" He asked softly. Tsubaki nodded. Her meister grabbed her hand.

"Who were they?" Tsubaki shook her head.

"Black Star, you can't!" She shrieked. "They're NOT kids!"

"I don't care. They made you cry." His face was darker than it had been a moment ago.

She knew there was no point arguing with him when he got like this. "Just, don't hurt them." Tsubaki pleaded.

"Don't worry, Tsu." He said, lightly tugging on her hand. She followed her meister down the halls until she spotted the group of NOT boys. She pointed them out, and Black Star cracked his knuckles.

"Are you seriously going to ask her to do you?" A blonde boy asked. The meister Tsubaki helped earlier laughed.

"She'd totally fuck me, dude." They all laughed. Black Star came up behind them.

"Hey, what're you all laughing about? My weapon?" They all froze and blinked up a the meister.

"You made her cry." He grabbed the blonde boy's collar. "Apologize." He pointed to Tsubaki. The boy stuttered.

"Now." Black Star prompted. The blonde boy sputtered out an apology, which Tsubaki almost didn't accept.

"If I hear you talking bad about my weapon again, I will crush you. You got me?" All NOT boys frantically nodded.

"Good." Black Star returned to his weapon's side. As the young boys ran away, Tsubaki hugged Black Star. He blinked, but reciprocated. It was so much easier to hug him since his growth spurt.

"Thank you, Black Star."

"It was no big deal. Those little brats deserved it for making you cry." Tsubaki giggled.