After eating lunch, the group headed to the gymnasium located in the Summer Wing. There were some more students aside from them out on the field receiving instruction, some Shu's never seen before and others quite familiar with. Judging from their uniform they attended a different school.

"So this is combat class…?" Naoto observed the students, smiling with a hint of excitement to get started. A sentiment shared with Shu. Raquel could never understand men, always itching to hit something like a bunch of barbaric animals. She didn't pay the excited duo any mind as they conversed like children about what these students were capable of and all that nonsense.

She separated from the boys and continued into the locker room to change from her school attire to the clothes distributed by the school for combat training. Quite bland in her opinion, but not wretched. A moment of thought and Raquel decided to wear her own clothes, much more fitted for casual wear, but much better and more relaxing then those given to her by the school: a white collared long sleeve blouse and stylish mini skirt with knee-high boots; a red bow tied around her left leg and red ribbon around her collar.

"You and Shu, hm?" Raquel suddenly spoke.

"What about me and Shu?" Es asked.

"Don't you have feelings for him? Are you not going to share them?"

"I think you're mistaken."

"Then you wouldn't mind if that one girl captured his heart? Her name was Alice, correct?" Raquel said.

"I don't trust that girl and I wouldn't allow Shu to have his emotions toyed with or taken advantage of. They would have to go through me first." Es proclaimed, unaware she had fallen face first into Raquel's ploy. It took her a moment of her staring for realization to dawn on her. The anger which swelled within simmered, replaced by embarrassment. "You were saying?"

"…Nothing."

Getting changed and meeting everyone else outside, Shu's voice was the first to be heard coming onto the massive field.

"Now THIS is more like it." Shu wasn't referring to the field though. Divergent of his enthusiasm towards the open space, most of it directed to his gym clothes: a black hoodie, gray shirt, dark grey gloves, and black shoes. Two holsters latched onto his knees with another holster for his knife behind his waist. He wasn't a fan of the school's regulated uniform. Out here, he could wear whatever he wished. Though that happiness became annoyance when he felt someone push by him, clearly on purpose.

"Hey, what was that for?" Shu directed to the white-haired girl who pushed him, her hair in a short bob cut and orange eyes spewing this revolting sense of superiority.

"Maybe you should watch where you're going." She said in a harsh tone.

"You could've said excuse, you know? Or, I don't know… go around me?" Shu argued.

"Hmph. Why should I show any sort of respect to a weakling like you? And if me pushing you is really getting under your skin, you don't belong here."

"Tch. Who pissed in your cereal bowl this morning?" He bit.

"Such a vulgar tongue… Here I thought you couldn't be any more repulsive."

"Why I outta—!"

"Stop," Raquel put a hand out to stop him. "Arguing with someone as arrogant as her who's been pampered since day one doesn't know the value of hard work, so she wouldn't understand anything you said."

"That's the pot calling the kettle black, vampire. Shouldn't you be hiding in the shadows?" She bit.

"Hmph. You have quite the tongue yourself. A bit hypercritical, yes? And if you believe those silly little superstitions about vampires, then you are more of a fool then a thought." Raquel said.

"No, I think you're the true fool if you believe just because a few people accept you means everyone will." A smirk appeared across her face. "Your kind doesn't belong here and never will."

"I have heard that many times before. If you are going to try and anger me, can you at least try? I'm falling asleep. Such a pathetic woman… Mmm… no, woman is too good for you. Witch, perhaps? Yes! That is a good nickname for someone as ugly as you."

"How dare you!"

"How dare me?" Raquel put a hand on her hip. "Do you truly believe you are better than everyone? You who has shown me you lack any sort of decent quality that leads me to believe you can back up your words? The weaker the dog the more it will bark, as the saying goes. Now kindly step aside. Just being in your presence irks me." She said that last part with enough venom to send a shiver up their collective spines and those who stopped to listen to the argument.

"Look at the pups staring each other down like that. I wonder… who's the predator and pray in this situation?" A gruff voice cracked the tension risen between the two girls, their attention directed to their teacher, Azrael. His eyes, even though non-lethal, sent shiver up all their spines as they immediately stiffened. The closer the bulky man got, the heavier the atmosphere seemed to get. His long blue hair swayed with each powerful step, his white jacket thrown over his shoulder to display his battle-hardened body and the many tattoos covering it. He came to a stop at the five troublemakers. "Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to see who comes out on top, mock battles don't begin until tomorrow. It's shame, but we need to save the harvesting until then."

'Harvesting?' Shu didn't like the sound of that.

"Yes, sir. Please excuse my behavior," the white-haired girl bowed to Azrael, the first show of respect they've seen since they met her.

"If we're all done with this pointless drama, line up and head over to the bleachers so we can begin. Get moving." Azrael spoke casually, but even his casual tone held enough authority to get them moving. The white-haired girl snuck in a sharp gaze and snarl at Raquel before following the crowd of students to where Azrael designated. While walking, Naoto caught up to Raquel.

"You ok?"

"Please. Something so childish won't faze me. Unlike some people, I have some self-control over my emotions." Raquel directed that line at Shu and he just groaned, the vampire truly in the right on this one. Once they took their seats, Azrael began. Sadly, he had to start with introductions. Possibly the most drolling part of this entire year in his opinion. Thankfully they got through it pretty quickly, these students anxious to test themselves against the classmates. He liked that. Some of these students had some rather interesting drives, while others just… argued still.

Azrael had a thought to just run some mock battles since that Shu guy and the girl from earlier were still at each other's throats. He shrugged and decided to handle this matter with a different approach. At least this way he wouldn't get an earful.

"Alright pups, shut up because I'm only gonna say this once. As an opening this week, you will have two curriculums to perform in, mock battles and survival. As you all know, we can't do either of those things, so today we'll be doing an obstacle course." Mutterings of confusion erupted and were silenced when he put a hand up. "Each of you will team up with a partner and race through a very dangerous, timed, active trap course. To properly complete, both members much touch all green pads throughout the course and cross the line." A dangerous grin appeared when he directed his gaze towards Shu and his company. "And you two will be the first ones up."

"What!?" His fingers pointed towards Shu and Raquel.

"Hah!" Aria shouted slashing down her sixth monster that came from the red gate, her katana dripping in blood. About to move on to the next one, a growl from behind contorted her body to face it, its large claws already coming down. Just in the nick of time did one of Noel's bullet's pass through its skull as the large beast fell with a hard thud.

Over with Ragna, his blade remained deadlocked with another beast: a one-eyed Cyclops, its body rippled with muscles, its vein pulsing as it tried to get its mace through Ragna's defenses. Ragna swung up to break off the monster off and went straight for its chest seeing an opening, but the large beast was surprisingly quick to recover. He jumped out the way for the electric-charged mace to crash into the dirt; using his momentum, Ragna leapt inward to drive his massive blade through the monster's heart. Before it could try and bring its mace down again, Ragna's blade transformed into a scythe within him, half the cyclops above the blade while the other half remained beneath. But it didn't for long as the upper half slid off his weapon and fell with a thud, his lower body falling next.

"Well, that was annoying." Ragna swung off the blood on his sword before latching it back on his waist.

"Thankfully that was the last of the Zalcons and Cyclops'." Aria couldn't sense anymore.

"We finished up quicker than before," Noel noted.

"That's because you weren't in the way so much," Ragna joked and Noel pouted. Her brow then furrowed when his knit.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yeah… Wasn't this a little easy?" Ragna remarked.

"So you noticed too?" Aria looked the where the gate once poured out monsters. She continued seeing Noel clearly didn't get the picture. "When the gates close, the beasts and such who came from it vanish too. So why didn't they?" Aria looked to the bushes. "Huh? Why didn't they vanish? Come out and explain yourself!"

"I've been found out… You've got some sharp intuition." A deep voice came from the foliage. The moment his tall, well-built form showed itself from the greenery, their hands were already on their weapons. His armor-clad boots and knightly sword sheathed on his back clacked with each step, the red cape on his back swaying in the wind. He came to a halt just feet before the trio, his purple eyes calm and almost excited.

"You know this chump?" Ragna asked.

"No, we don't know each other. Well… she doesn't know me, but I know her. Not personally though."

"A stalker? Great…" Aria groaned.

"Na, I'm just a swordsman looking for an opponent to help test my skills. My blade has gotten very dull lately trying to find some worthy opponents, and it looks like I've got 'em."

"Who are you?" Noel asked.

"I told you, just a swordsman looking for a good match. But if you need a name, just call me Sirius. Sorry about all this ruckus, but I need to scope the power of one of Ayane Rinyuko's kids." Sirius said.

"How do you know my mother?" Aria's gaze became cold and her voice as sharp as her blade. Sirius just chuckled, amused.

"Did I make you angry? Good. How about this? If you beat me or even give me a good match to get my blood boiling again, I'll tell you anything. Sounds fair right?"

"But I won't be able to kill you that way," Aria bit.

"Feisty, aren't we? Well, killing me won't amount to anything if you're left with more questions than answers." Sirius smiled when he saw her teeth. "What do you say, Aria? A friendly match? One on one, of course. Even I know it would be stupid to fight against all three of you at once."

"You don't seem too scared," Ragna noted.

"My face is just a mask, I'm actually pretty scared. Honest." Sirius claimed.

"Whatever. Hey, Aria, you gonna do this?"

"I don't think he'd make me leave otherwise…" Aria stepped forward, form prepared. "You two stay out of this."

"Alright," Ragna backed up to lean against a nearby tree.

"A-are we really just going to watch!?" Noel gasped.

"Pretty much. Besides… it's not our business to get involved. You know that, right?"

"But…"

"Now, shall we begin?" Sirius held a stance. A moment of silence passed before the two threw themselves at each other, the sound of their blades locking ringing through the air.

"Great! This is just freakin' perfect!" Shu yelled, frustrated chosen as one of the runners for the obstacle course. His growling and grumbling wafting through the forest terrain: one of the two territories of the obstacle course. Oh yeah, and he and Raquel were partners… really? Just when he believed his day would get better, it didn't.

"You have yourself to blame for arguing with that girl," Raquel told him.

"Me!? YOU singled her you and basically called her a which, not me! Don't blame me for this," he exclaimed to the vampire.

Raquel scoffed. "Enough with your childish complaints. If you had just let that woman go without saying a word we wouldn't be in this predicament, now would we?"

Shu eyebrows twitched at her words before he turned around and slammed his fist into a nearby tree, taking his anger out on the wood.

'I don't know who annoys me more her or Asani? I swear to Amaterasu that if we actually survive this, I'll be freakin' amazed.'

In the bleachers, Naoto and Es watched the pair with worried eyes. Naoto scratched the back of his head. "This… isn't gonna end well. Those two are… uh, what's the word?"

"I believe the word you're looking for his 'incompatible'," Es said.

"Yeah, that's it," he nodded.

"Oh, this is going to be fun~" Alice cheerfully spoke, her lips split in a smile that reflected the jovial gleam in her eyes, Es' vacant of life staring Alice down. Shu and Raquel were currently up against Asani and a boy with gauntlets, the gleam in her eyes growing tremendously, well aware of the spat the three had prior. Naoto was a little concerned. They had no doubt in Shu and Raquel's abilities, but together? Asani may pose a problem. That and her ability was still unknown. To be that cocky, she must've been a somewhat capable fighter. Naoto just hoped they could pull through.

"Okay, all we have to do is locate the green pads, press them, then beat Asani and her partner, right?" Shu asked.

Raquel nodded. "Correct. However, if we are to do this, we must do this together. Even though the very notion vexes me."

"Feeling's mutual," he fired back. Quickly Shu tackled Raquel hearing a click when her foot touched the ground, not a moment too soon as the landmine buried beneath the earth erupted.

Naoto shot up. "Are you kidding!?"

"That was a lot faster than I thought," Azrael said.

"What was that!?" Naoto demanded an answer from Azrael as he grinned.

"You think there wouldn't be any traps laying around? A battle is a war… and no war is played clean. Just like in a real-life situation, you renegades need to keep your eyes peeled. Each zone is filled with traps… and you'll soon find out what those are. If you think some landmine is bad, just wait. But I have to say, I'm impressed. Kids' got sharp reflexes. Maybe he'll make a worthy pray after all, but he still needs to be seasoned, heh heh."

Naoto sweatdropped. "You aren't… planning on eating my friend, right?"

Shu looked behind him and gasped at the massive crater where Raquel and he once stood. "That was too close." He stood up and extended a helping hand to Raquel. She took it, ashamed he saved her of all people from some primitive trap she should have been able to detect. "You alright?"

"Yes, thank you." Raquel examined the crater. "I can only suspect there are more scattered about the topography, and I doubt there are just landmines. We must be more vigilant from now on."

He beamed. "No, YOU need to be more vigilant from now on."

An embarrassed blush seared her cheeks. "Hmph! I would advise you not get ahead of yourself. And stop smiling. It is making my skin crawl." Raquel continued on as Shu chuckled after her, groaning knowing he wouldn't let this go for a long time.

The obstacle course continued, spectators astonished as both sides charged through. Naoto's concerns thankfully rested seeing Raquel and Shu working relatively well together. But his worries deflected to Es who hadn't even been watching, focused on Alice and that glare didn't seem anything remotely friendly. Naoto snapped his fingers. "Hello, Es? Anyone home?"

Es jolted. "H-hm?"

"You ok?"

"Y-yes, I'm just thinking about Raquel and Shu actually passing this exam. I still have my doubts. Maybe… sixty percent?"

Alice winced. "Where's the other forty?"

"While both sides are working in a functional way, there are many flaws that keep them from fully utilizing each other. Shu is far too reckless and will jump into battle without consoling Raquel at all… but she can be just as stubborn as him at times. She's so confident in her abilities working alone is what she believes to be the best and only option." Es explained. "Besides, 'winning' isn't everything.'

Naoto blinked owlishly. "W-well, when you put it like that…"

"…they're basically screwed." Alice finished.

Azrael caught the trio's conversation, grinning. 'She's pretty sharp already realizing what's going on. Now I've got two to look out for for a decent meal. I thought of quitting too… Maybe I'll keep my resignation for a little longer.'

About an hour had passed and Raquel and Shu finally took out the last animal bot, the two a bit worn battling through more than a few dozen of these guys. Most were pretty weak, others put up enough of a fight to make them pant. She patted the dust off of her clothes as Shu lit the green pad. "I think that's the last one. And hey," a wide grin peeled his lips as he pointed to a pillar a little ways away, "we're almost done! Hello~ freedom!"

"…This is too easy."

Raquel's comment quirked his brow. "What do you mean?"

"No traps or bots awaiting our inevitable arrival, and I can't sense a single presence—magic or not. We should tread cautiously. Expect the unexpected you."

"Uh… like that?" Shu pointed up to a UFO floating above them.

"Not, really… but I suppose this constitutes as 'unexpected'."

From the UFO-like object hovering them, an unidentified object fell from the craft and crashed into the ground raising a plume of dust from the earth. Once the dust cleared they got a better view of the mysterious object: it was a T-rex shaped bot, electricity coursing through its metallic, mangled body. "Are we suppose to fight this thing?"

"It would appear we were supposed too." Raquel noted the dents and such, crossing over and tapping the bot. They looked ahead.

"I guess things really can't be simple."

Back outside the obstacle course, Azrael muttered examining the robot. "That's not right. How come that thing is already dismantled?" Was there some kind of glitch in the system? He ruled out self-destruction since the damaged sustained weren't caused by some meltdown.

"Um, did they pass?" Alice wondered.

Naoto frowned. "I don't think so. Hey, teach, what's going on? Judging by that look in your eyes, this wasn't part of the course."

"Who knows? Azani and her partner are doing just fine, their guardian active." Azrael observed the other screen where Azani and her partner were battling against their guardian modeled after the Egyptian god of death, Anubis. Trinity thought it would be fitting. A growl rumbled in his chest as the image of Shu and Raquel went out, only showing static, warranting worry from the entire class. He checked the many camera's posted about, confused as to why only the ones in Raquel and Shu's course were out of commission.

"Shu, stop," Raquel ordered.

"C'mon, we're almost here. We can't stop now."

"Even though this entire situation reeks of suspicion? I was willing to overlook the destroyed robot figuring that maybe the true guardian was up ahead, but I feel nothing. …And I have grown very tired of being followed." Raquel turned about face to the stalker who finally decided to come out of hiding, her long, pale-purple hair swaying, her armor-clad boots clanking with each footfall.

Raquel's eye twitched. "Do not insult me. I am a full-blooded vampire. But who are you? If you have the gall to stalk me, the least you can do it introduce yourself now."

The woman just giggled and looked at Shu, her grin nothing friendly. Ever more threatening and eyes growing sadistic and psychotic as she materialized a long sword in her hand. "It's nice to see you, Shu Rinyuko. I know it's your first time meeting me, but I'm gonna have to make you bleed for me if that's not too much to ask."

Author's Note: This chapter was edited by my friend BlackSavior who recently went offline. Big shout out to him for helping me with this. Check out his stories, they are really good and awesome as hell!

Again thank you Blacksavior, brother and friend for helping me with this, we'll miss you.

HellLaser descending back to Hell.