A/N: For zhuy-chan who is a super amazing artist.

X

Kim wouldn't have been surprised if Tsukimi and the others ran to the courtyard. She was sure Jacqueline's scream could be heard all the way to Shibusen campus. The 'straight-laced chick' was out of her weapon form, hands scratching at her cheeks. Indeed, she looked like the figure in "The Scream" painting. Kim didn't understand what was the fuss. It was just a tiny burn.

"Look, I'm all right." She held her hand over the burn on her knee and whispered. Magic wove back and forth over the wound until the inflammation disappeared. Her knee looked glossy and new.

Unfortunately for Kim, this wasn't enough to calm Jacqueline.

"I'm sorry I hurt you!" she screeched, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"It's gone now. Let's get back to practicing." When Jacqueline didn't move, Kim narrowed her eyes. "The longer you dawdle, the more I'm going to charge for my time."

Jacqueline quickly gathered her spirits, back straight as a rod. The look on her face was more serious than usual and that worried Kim. Somehow, she had a feeling things weren't going to be as simple as they should.

She outstretched her hand, ready for Jacqueline's warmth to drop gently into the palm of her hand, flames burning brightly. She opened her eyes and saw her hand was still empty. She knit her brows in frustration. "Hey! What's the deal!?"

"I'm- I'm just afraid I'll hurt you again!" Jacqueline exclaimed.

"Sounds like you enjoy losing your money," Kim teased.

"That's not it at all! I tried- I can't change into a weapon."

Kim's grin fell. "Um, hey. You didn't really hurt me-"

"You said, 'OW'!" Jacqueline fell to her knees and sobbed in shame.

"That was just a reflex! You just surprised me is all."

Jacqueline sniffed. "You're a bad liar. I hurt you. I'm supposed to be your tool and defend you- not hurt you."

Kim crouched down next to Jacqueline, then glanced around the courtyard, making sure no one was watching. She took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around Jacqueline, pulling her close to her chest. Panicked, Jacqueline squirmed. "No! I might hurt you!"

"No." Kim squeezed. Jacqueline blanched, a flurry of emotions welling up within her. She was thrilled to feel Kim's embrace, but now of all times! She knew that when she became too emotional she would turn into her weapon form. She wondered if that was Kim's plan.

"If you can't transform because you're too scared to hurt me, how are you going to help me fight? What will you do if someone tries to attack us?" She paused. "Then I'll really get hurt."

"It's not like you to say things like this," Jacqueline said, shocked that Kim was being so honest. Normally Kim liked to tiptoe around serious subjects or give the impression that she wasn't compassionate, rolling in the money-loving tanuki image she had created.

"It's not?"

Kim smiled. She ran her fingers through Jacqueline's hair, undoing the too-tight bun. Her hand held the back of her head gently, and then she leaned forward, closing her eyes.

Jacqueline's eyes widened and she turned bright red. Her entire body fumed, burning. She thought she was just flustered until she realized she had shifted into her weapon form without thinking. Frantically, she searched for Kim and her eyes rested on a form standing tall, with scorch marks dotting her body and her clothes blackened and burned at the corners.

She noticed that this time Kim didn't cry out in pain.