As Kotaru and I enter the schoolyard, I hear a very familiar voice call out in an overly friendly tone as my teacher, Mr. Matsumura, walks up to us two with a huge grin on his face, "Ah! Good morning, Yuuki-kun, and you too, Kotaru-kun. Nice to see you both and especially simultaneously… Are you both fulfilling your dreams thoroughly?"

I reply with a chuckle as I feign a nervous smile to add to my façade, "What a weird question to ask, Matsumura-sensei… If you take interest in the dreams of your students, we might have another epidemic like Sekka High suffered a while back."

Mr. Matsumura replies with a sigh as he turns around and begins to walk towards the east side of the school building, "There is no proof though… But, no matter. I will see you both much later, and remember to study for today's exam in English class!"

What a fool… Telling me to study when he knows that I am a prodigy in that topic. Then again, he may have been talking more to Kotaru than to me.

But, even more important than that… Why would he ask about our dreams all of a sudden? It is not like him to ask such a personal question out of the blue. Such an abnormality in his behavior CANNOT be overlooked, not even one bit. However, I doubt that it would be a note-by-note encore performance of last time. Even SHE is not that stupid…

Though, if he is a vessel with a Dream Demon who doesn't suspect my presence…then things might go a bit smoother than anticipated. That is, if the arrogant fool doesn't strike any other pool souls first… THAT would be unfortunate and ever so tragic. Though, if he strikes either Kotaru or I, that will be game over before they can even make too much of a mess.

Kotaru suddenly snaps his finger in front of my face to snap me out of my daze as he says with a slightly serious tone, "Yuuki-san… You know the warning bell has rung, right? Don't think you will want to be tardy with you priding yourself with punctuality and all…"

I reply with an embarrassed chuckle as I swiftly take my leave en route to the second-year classroom, "What? Thanks for the heads-up, Kotaru-kuuun!"

I just barely make it to class on time and make my way through the crowd to my personal sector of the class, which some may refer to as 'my seat', and take out my Algebra textbook as I lie in wait for the teacher's arrival. Which is the main thing that bugs me… Mr. Matsumura is ALWAYS late for some reason, even though I see him almost every morning and know he is perfectly capable of getting here on time. Maybe he does it because it bugs those who cherish punctuality like myself, or to make a point about SOMETHING or another. No matter what his reasoning is, I wish he would just hurry already…

He finally arrives only three minutes after the bell and says with a cheery voice as he begins writing something on the whiteboard, "Good morning, students. This morning, we will skip the Algebra lesson…for something much more vital to your overall success."

Although skipping such a tedious subject for just a day couldn't hurt…I DO wonder what could be so important that it would cause him to change the entire lesson plan. No doubt he is following up on his suspicious conversation from earlier.

Mr. Matsumura continues with a seemingly-phony smile as he passes out a bunch of blank forms that seem to be a questionnaire about possible career preferences and plans for transition from high school, "I just ask that you all use this time to fill out this form as honestly as possible. The guidance counselors have been a bit…worried as of late due to that 'Dream Loss' epidemic a while back."

Matsumura-sensei… You are either so freaking damn ignorant, or you are trying to lure the naïve into a trap. Then again, either is possible, albeit a bit predictable and unoriginal on your part… Quite the desperate move on your part, and one that will cost you the battle if you aren't too careful.

Nevertheless, I fill out the form with a certain degree of honesty that will not shake suspicion towards my assumed identity, knowing very well that I may in fact be walking into the most predictable trap in the history of Dream Demons. Then again, I can EASILY take on without any doubt in my mind any arrogant fool who is stupid or brazen enough to utilize such an obvious screening method to find victims so that they can satisfy their 'needs'.

After a few long minutes of silent focus, Mr. Matsumura exclaims with a wide grin as he comes around to collect each of the questionnaires himself, "Good job, everyone! Now…you may all take a break outside for a few minutes…except you, Yuuki-kun. I would like to have a little chat with my teachers' pet after all…"

I reply with a sigh as I come up to his desk just as the rest begin to leave the room, "Yes, Matsumura-sensei?"

He exclaims with a sly look in his eye as he leans back in his chair, "Have you thought about what I asked you and Tsukino-kun this morning? Although I am sure your questionnaire will reveal the answer anyways…I would much rather like to hear it from you."

I let out a sigh and reply as I lean slightly on his desk, resting myself on my left arm, "Well, for one thing…I have somewhat of a love for poetry. Writing it almost feels like I am writing lyrics to the perpetual song of the universe, and because of that, I would love to be able to share my work with others… Do you get what I mean?"

He lets out a hearty chuckle as he gleefully replies, "Of course… May I see some of your work?"

That snake… So smooth with his words, when in fact he lies in wait to strike with his wicked fangs. Thankfully, I have a sample for occasions such as these…

I reply with a phony smile as I take a folded piece of paper out of my pocket containing a poem I had just finished formulating, "Sure… This is a piece I just recently finished and was going to present to the rest of the Writers' Guild later this week…but I guess you can read it before they get a chance to, seeing as you are curious and all."

He exclaims with enthusiasm pulsating from his tone as he scans the poem with an analytic gaze, "Very intriguing, Yuuki-kun… You have quite the talent… However, I hope you don't mind me asking you to read it how you want it to be read. I would much rather hear YOUR voice associated with it than possibly corrupt its words by reading it too plain and simple."

I sigh as I swiftly take the poem from him and begin to recite, "Under a golden scenery…running through forsaken streets… A mysterious man draped in ominous purple weaves a web of chaos and deceit… With the stroke of his hand, he snuffs out the souls of the damned… Under infernal decree, he warps the fabric of reality. Relentless lust seething from his blackened heart as you succumb to his…vicious toxin… Shackled by a wicked daydream…you drown in a sea of frigid breath cauterizes away your doubts as you blindly become nothing but a pawn…in this game of restless, jagged shadows that favors those with quick wits over those with brutal brawn. And, after the ghostly rain drenches you in despair… Unable to hope… Unable to dream… With lifeless eyes and without a care…you have lost the will to scream."

He replies with a slight smirk as he begins to give me what seems to be applause, "Well done… I see you have quite a bit of skill with weaving words together. I am very sure that if you keep at it, you will be a world-renowned poet in no time at all…"

I simply bow in a respective way as I exclaim with gratitude, "I appreciate the support… I really do. But…"

He interjects as he raises his eyebrow with intrigue, "What is it?"

I reply with maddened laughter as I thwack him on the forehead and open the gate to my daydream realm as I drag him and whatever is formulating such wickedness in his head into my domain, "I am much more curious about what YOUR dream is, Matsumura-sensei…"

He cackles with a mocking tone as his eyes grow wide with madness, "Who the hell do you think you are, drawing us into your world before it is even time for the slaughter?"

I reply with an annoyed sigh as shadows begin to gather around me, "I should ask you the same thing… You really did not see my suspicion in turn suspicious in itself? Pity. I quite liked your teaching style, Mr. Matsumura… But, alas…all good things must come to an end. Now, if that…thing will show itself…I wish to have a little chat with them."

A high-pitched chuckle resounds throughout the daydream as a lithe, feminine figure draped in pitch-black feathers descends upon the fray and exclaims with a gleeful tone, "Ah… How so very nice of you to greet us in lieu of your dream demon, human. A smart move on their part indeed, but a pointless one in that… Why would they even dare to hide from their impending demise? Such a coward they must be…"

I reply with an impatient tone as the shadows reform my attire from those I wear in reality to those that represent me in a daydream, "Why, I am offended, whoever you are… Calling a top-tier Dream Demon who has mastered the art of disguising himself in the form of a vessel a coward right in front of his face...such disgraceful behavior. Anyways, if you still doubt the power I possess, feel free to try and kill me…that is, once you have revealed your true identity."

She replies with an amused smirk as she propels a flurry of jagged raven feathers in my direction, "Seems only fair to know who brought about your undoing… The name's Tori Edgefeather, and I am known as the Raven of Death. Now to begin this fatal hurricane of carnage and despair… Raven's Edge! Remnant Flurry!"

I chuckle at her brash attempt at an attack as I swiftly summon a small 'shield' from the surrounding shadows in order to block her petty assault. Then, without a word, I use the shadows to slice into her impeccable flesh with a phantom edge, causing her to snarl profanities in her agony.

Amused by how quickly the tides turned in my favor, I exclaim with another chuckle as I unleash the blades hidden within my sleeves and gleefully lick the poison off of its tip, "Now then… Shall you change your tune at last, little bird? Don't act like you haven't considered the possibility that I outmatch you in power already… No matter. I am not in the mood to eradicate you just based on a few missteps on both you and your vessel's parts. You know what… I shall finish this after school, as I have some…business to attend to before then."

Tori replies with a scowl as she gathers a few of her feathers in order to attempt another assault, "Face me, you bastard!"

Mr. Matsumura interjects as he shakes his head at her before glaring at me with a satisfied smirk on his face, "No… Do not do anything too rash, Tori… Well then, Yuuki-kun… If we can't touch you too easily, I guess we will have to strike at your dear friend instead. Pity that he will have to suffer for your insolence."

I reply with a mocking chuckle as the daydream begins to slowly transition back to reality, "Not that such worries me though… He is in the hands of the spawn of chaos, after all. Engaging them will only bring you to oblivion faster than I wish for you to be. But, since you are SO eager to get them involved…I shall send them your regards."

Mr. Matsumura exclaims with frustration as he clenches his teeth, "Damn it… Damn you, Yuuki-kun. You WILL suffer for this, I swear it…"

My voice replies with a resounding echo as the daydream fades away at last and I take my leave before he comes to his senses, "Day to night… Sugar to salt… Azure to crimson... Joy to despair… Order to chaos. And of course, the time will come for me to transform life…into death."

But, first things first… Better inform the twins of the impending hunt. No doubt Embrek will be overjoyed. Eserla is more of a mystery, but…I think she will not have her brother claim all the glory. Unfortunately, I will not shatter the bond between Tori-chan and Mr. Matsumura with something like my poetry or even my inherited use of the poisoned pens…yet the shadows will not be as efficient as either of those two. Then again, if THEY interfere and end up killing Tori themselves…two birds, one metaphorical and the other literal, will be slain by one stone. And even if they fail, I could easily just erase Mr. Matsumura's memories if need be. But, even that will be more unsavory than any other scenario, as I dislike interfering with a person in such a disrespectful way, whether they are an accomplice to a murderer or not. Oh well… What else can I do? I have seen the scars that Mistleteinn left, and I will not allow such a fate to befall my fellow students, especially on MY watch.

I am their guardian after all, whether they know the extent of my zealous stalwartness or not… Their hopes and dreams in the end are my property, and I dislike it VERY MUCH when fools carelessly squander my stuff. Heh. If only Mr. Matsumura knew of the hell that will befall him soon enough…pity that such a promising soul could be tainted with such ease and then condemned by his only true comrade…only to find that there is no longer a place of which he can run.

In his attempt to weave a web around me, that baka spider got himself caught in MY web. And therefore…I shall have to make an example of him…no matter what.