Hey guys, Fear's Blade here. Sorry for the long wait. On the holidays, I become quite busy. Anyways, today I have another chapter for you. Leave a review and tell me what you think. I am open for suggestions and criticism. Don't worry, I don't care about flaming. If it helps, then I'll accept it.

P.S. 'Text in this format is thought'

The infirmary was quiet today. Perhaps it was because only one person lay on a bed there. That person was Cecilia Alcott. The battle she had just fought, well it was more like a useless struggle for her, was all she could think about. It only happened a few hours ago, but she had a feeling the memory would never leave her mind. She would never forget the unforgivable image of the scoreboard in her head:

WINNER: JADEN SNOW

ENERGY REMAINING: 598

RUNNER-UP: CECILIA ALCOTT

ENERGY REMAINING: 0

'How had he only used up two energy points in that entire thing? I know I didn't hit him a single time, but even the rockets barely did anything!' Cecilia sighed and closed her eyes. 'Who is he? Jaden Snow... the boy of white and red... who is he? Will those red eyes of his reveal anything? Who is he, and WHAT is he?' The door of the infirmary opened and closed, followed by the sound of a single pair of footsteps. The steps were rhythmic and composed, those of somebody with a purpose. Cecilia opened her eyes to see who the nurse was, but there was no nurse. Standing there instead was the impossible boy that crowded her thoughts and invaded her mind. Jaden Snow walked up to Cecilia Alcott's bed and knelt down to Cecilia's eye level.

"How are you? Are you doing okay, Miss Alcott?" Jaden snow stood there in the grey long coat he had on before the first shots were fired in the battle. He stood there without a single scratch on him, looking more like a divine being than a student. His white hair covered his right eye, although the intensity of his left eye alone was enough to bring armies to their knees. Cecilia stared in awe, unaware that she had started to drool. Before it got too bad, she caught herself and turned away from him.

"I-I-I'm fine..." Cecilia spoke with a tone she thought she'd never use before: vulnerable. Cecilia shook her head and brought her hand up to slap some sense into herself. She swung her hand to her cheek, just to find it stop only a few millimeters from her cheek. She looked at that hand of hers to find another hand lightly grasping it. Cecilia held her breath. 'Jaden stopped it? Just what it he?' Jaden cleared his throat and turned Cecilia to look her in the eye.

"Cecilia, are you okay?" This time, Jaden spoke the question more like a command. Her heart felt like it had just gone flat in her chest, and her chest was way too tight. She felt like she couldn't breathe. Cecilia wanted to say that she was fine, but she couldn't bring herself to it. For some reason, she felt that she literally had no ability to lie. This man was more influential than Orimura sensei. Cecilia finally found her voice, although in a whisper, and spoke.

"I... I... I..." What does she tell him? That he causes her to lose sanity?

"I... I'm not, but you don't have to worry about it. It's an emotional thing." At the mention of emotions, Jaden's expression seemed to alter in some way, but Cecilia couldn't put her finger on it. Jaden gently released Cecilia's hand and stood up. He straightened his jacket and talked in his same calm and composed tone.

"I am sorry. I cannot help you then. If there's anything else you need though, feel free to ask me." Cecilia couldn't stop blushing after he said that, so she turned away from him and replied.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you some things regarding our duel." Jaden sat down in a chair next to the bed and listened. Cecilia still felt the blush, so she asked him while still facing away.

"Was that your personal IS? I didn't know you had one." Jaden took a moment to collect his thoughts, then spoke to Cecilia.

"Yes, that is my personal IS. It is Daku Nekketsu, or in English, Dark Blooded. I had received it when I found the ability to pilot an IS. I have had it for quite some time now. It is a close range IS, equipped with Sourufuria, a 12 foot longsword." Cecilia waited for him to say more, but he has seemed to finish his thoughts.

"That's it? It is only equipped with a sword? Nothing else?" Jaden nodded his head.

"Correct. It leaves room for maneuverability and speed." Cecilia connected the realization in her head. 'So because he only has a sword, his IS becomes a more agile machine. That must be how he was able to evade so easily, but it still requires the pilot's personal speed if there isn't a mental enhancer slot package. Since he only uses a sword he can't have any other IS compensation packages. Is he THAT good?' Jaden spoke to Cecilia while she was still thinking.

"I have learned to work with only a sword. True I don't have any mental enhancers, but I'd rather prefer being able to move around freely. It also limits the energy use so that I can conserve the shield energy" Cecilia froze. 'What the hell!? Can he read minds or something!?' Jaden chuckled and looked to Cecilia, who was still facing away.

"Any other questions?" Cecilia finally decided to turn towards Jaden. She was conflicting in her head if she should swallow her pride and ask him to train her, or if she shouldn't.

Jaden stood up, preparing to leave the room. Before he left, he looked at Cecilia in the eyes and said one last thing before he left the infirmary.

"If you'd like, I could offer you sessions after school to help you improve your piloting skills. I'll give you time to think about it." Cecilia sat there in bed, with wide eyes and a chest that felt like it was going to burst. Jaden turned back around after walking through the doorway and waved to Cecilia.

"It was great to meet you, Miss Cecilia Alcott. I hope you and I can be great friends." And with that fresh in Cecilia's mind, the door closed. Cecilia curled into an upright ball, pondering on the things Jaden told her. Her face was still quite red and her chest still felt too tight for comfort. Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't know what to do.

'It was great to meet you, Miss Cecilia Alcott. I hope you and I can be great friends.' Cecilia held her hand to her heart.

"Who are you, Jaden Snow?"