[AN: I really hate the people I'm living with right now.]

Zak flinched for the tenth time that morning. "Ow! Stop! It's not gunna work!"

Soi tugged. "Yes it will. If you did this yourself it wouldn't be a problem."

Zak howled in pain. "Stop!"

"No!"

Soi tugged harder on the comb. "Maybe we should just cut it all off."

"No!" His hand went to his head. "I love my hair!"

"If you love it why do you let it get so snarled?"

"Ow! I wash it."

"Washing it isn't combing it Zakky."

"Zak! And it's basically the same thing."

"Not it isn't. I'm not letting you leave this house with messy hair anymore."

Zak's head snapped back." Gah! I won't be able to if you rip my head off!"

Soi growled and continued to rake the comb through the fussing boy's hair.

Zak sat in his class, scratching at his head. 'Damn it stings.'

A brown haired boy took a seat next to him. "Hey Zak, what's up with you?"

Zak growled. "My mom tried to rip my scalp off."

The boy laughed. "My mom keeps trying to do that with me. So I just got it cut."

"But you promised not to get it cut."

"Gotta make some sacrifices sometime."

"Ryu, you're such a traitor."

"Just cause I don't want missing clumps of hair?"

Zak grumbled to himself as class started.

Zak walked beside Ryu, his best friend.

The other boy was practicing the hand motions for the technique Shakkahō.

"Give it a rest." Zak snapped.

"Give it a try." Ryu smirked. "Isn't it the first technique we usually learn?"

"From what I've heard, yes."

Ryu nodded to himself and shoved his hand in his pockets. Zak glanced at his uniform. "I can't believe they let you wear that."

The brown haired boy smiled. "History over rules dumb rules."

"Real smart." Zak sighed.

Ryu's uniform was a green and gold sleeveless shirt with black shorts. "I like the head band." The boy smiled and adjusted the green cloth covering his forehead.

Zak hummed.

Ryu stared at him. "Man, it's not like your uniform is any better."

"Just because I wear shorts doesn't mean anything."

"Right cause that's soooo traditional."

"...You're such an ass."

Ryu chuckled. "Thank you." He ran off once they reached the Second Division office.

Zak watched him as he ran off. "There's something wrong with that guy."

Soi looked up as the doors opened. "How's your head?"

Zak scrunched up his face. "My scalp is fine, no thanks to you."

"Do it yourself then and it wouldn't be so bad."

"Mm..."

"How about getting it cut?"

The boy sat heavily on the couch. "No."

Soi shrugged and returned to her paper work. "Have it your way."

Zak sat on a tree root, his feet rippling the muddy water. He stared at the boy meditating across from him.

"...What's your name?"

"Be patient." The mysterious boy smiled.

"You know you keep saying that, but the more you say it the more impatient I seem to get."

"You're a violent one aren't you?"

Zak growled.

"You're temper is your problem."

"I don't have problems."

"No cause that'd make you normal right?" The boy smirked.

"You're so funny."

"Thank you."

Again Zak let out a low growl.

The boy laughed. "Learn to control that nasty temper of yours."

"What good will that do me?"

"First,...control...then we'll talk about the results. Have a good night Zakarius."

"Hey, how do you..."

Zakarius sat up. He was in his room. He sucked his teeth.

"Know my name..."

He growled at the laughter trickling into the back of his mind.

"Shut up."

He slammed himself back on his bed and tried to sleep.

[AN: I cannot get this center thing right! Anyways! Sorry it's short. But this story won't be all that long.]