A/N: Right-o back again for more stuffiage…

Big ups to my reviewers, BrokenheartedBella and Sorrows-Litany! I looooove yooooou! Thanks so much for reviewing my story!

Also, for this story: I have over-simplified kido for the sake of not wanting to make up long incantations or different names for the kido used. You'll see, for those of you who are Bleach-virgins.

This chapter's inspiration was the song hell above water by curve (yes. Doctoroctogonapus.)

Anyway, on to the next chappie…

I arrived home a few minutes later, praying I wouldn't run into Charlie. I wasn't all too sure that I'd be able to control myself. Because as angry as I was at myself, I was far, far more angry with Jacob. If there was one thing I've learned in the last few weeks, it was that I needed to stop blaming myself for everything that went wrong in my life. It was time I started blaming the people who deserved it.

Charlie was waiting on the porch for me. I slammed on the breaks as I pulled into the driveway, only realizing how fast I was going when I had to pull to a stop. He walked out to meet me.

"Billy called. He said you got in a fight with Jake—said you were pretty upset," he explained as he opened my door for me.

He unconsciously stepped back at my facial expression, which I'm sure was still livid. I sighed, trying to calm myself down. "That's not exactly how it happened."

After a moment he put his arm around me and led me into the house.

"Then what did happen?"

I smiled bitterly. "According to Sam Uley, Jacob isn't permitted to be my friend anymore."

Charlie's eyebrows pulled together. "You really think there's something wrong with this Uley kid?"

I shrugged. "Well, what do I know." There was something definitely off about the whole situation, something I was quite sure I didn't want Charlie investigating for me. I needed to handle this myself. Just today, Sam seemed weirdly… familiar to me. And I wasn't sure that was a good thing. "I'm going to change."

He nodded. "Okay."

Worried though Charlie was about me, I could see his quiet relief that I was merely angry about this fight, and not devastated. I snorted mentally. I was pretty relieved myself.

I took a long shower; washing away the dreadful afternoon I had. Putting on my pajamas, I sat down on the floor, cross-legged. Closing my eyes, I began what would turn out to be long conversation with Nemesis.


I did most of my training in my mind that night. Although—or perhaps because—Nemesis was me, she knew everything there was to know about different kinds of combat and how to unlock one's own power. I once ventured to ask her how she knew all this, and she said that this was all pulled from my instincts and festering powers. An interesting thought, to presume that I knew all this from the start, but I was still thankful to have some sort of teacher figure, even if it was myself. I worked better with encouragement.

Somehow I was more determined than ever to reach my maximum potential, and Nemesis could sense that. She worked me harder than ever before that night, and I could tell it was the first of many.

But I was improving. There is no better way to train, both mentally and physically, than fighting yourself. She taught me the various ways I could channel my spiritual power—zanjutsu: swordsmanship, hakuda: hand-to-hand combat, hoho: flash steps, or invisibly fast movement—faster than vampires, and kido: spells. Now I could call Nemesis in her weapon form without calling her name; I merely had to make a drawing motion and she was in my hands.

I planned out a schedule for myself—training my mind was more important than training my body, so I reserved the nights for that, in addition to the fact that it was best to remain in my bedroom on the odd chance that Charlie decided to check on me (which had happened before). Of course, part of some nights were reserved for hunting. I found my thirst a minor irritation, easily quenched, and sometimes simply not present, because human food still appealed to me. After school was reserved for physical training.

Nemesis was having a serious conversation with me about the necessity to learn something called bankai, which she said would unlock both of our true power, and its many unique forms, when I was abruptly called back into the physical world by a sound like fingernails on glass. My eyes snapped open and I immediately donned my mask (I usually kept it off during nighttime hours). I wanted to take whoever this intruder was by surprise.

I could feel Nemesis getting excited. There was power boiling in my veins like blood, and I bared my teeth in a grin at the prospect of Victoria coming for a "visit." Undoubtedly she was shocked and curious about just what had killed Laurent, but still confident that I was still a weak human. I could feel my breath speed at the idea of a fight—at last, a chance to use all the things I'd been learning. Yes, she would come in, entirely consumed with arrogance, and then she'd grasp the smell of a vampire. Idly she'd wonder who's scent it was. Then I would appear, unsheathing Nemesis in one smooth draw, and bring it down on that flaming head before she could—

"Bella! Ouch! Damn it, open the window! OUCH!"

I stopped my fantasizing at that voice—the wrong voice.

I shrugged. He'll do.

I opened the window and stepped back into the shadows.

"Bella? You in there?"

Obviously, I sneered mentally. Who else would open the Goddamn window?

"Bella?"

After a moment, I saw him begin to swing his legs back and forth, looking as though he was trying to increase his momentum. Hell, maybe he'd kill himself trying to jump from the window to my house and my work would be done for me.

Nah, that wouldn't be any fun.

To my surprise, he swung agilely into my room, landing on the balls of his feet with a low thud. He looked around in confusion, finally seeing me in a corner of the room, which I must admit also surprised me. I wasn't aware that he could see so well in the dark.

But I'm not one to waste time.

Using my flash step I spun out, delivering a hard kick to his forehead, then one to the back of his knees. He toppled over, shocked.

"Sai. [Restrain]" Jacobs arms were locked behind his back, and his feet clenched together, but it was hardly necessary: he looked too stunned to move.

I smirked. Too easy.

I sauntered up to him slowly, drawing out Nemesis, and pointing her so her shining tip just barely brushed his Adam's apple.

"Bella?" He whispered.

"Were you expecting someone else?" I asked coolly.

"What—what—"

"Oh, is Jacob surprised?" I said scornfully. I'd never felt so good. "Not what you expected, is it?" I leaned down so we were almost nose to nose.

"What happened to you?" he whispered.

"Wakey, wakey, eggs and Jakey," I mocked. "I bet you thought you'd come in here and find my crying over a nightmare I had about you leaving me. Then you'd swoop in like my knight in fucking armor, say you're sorry, and make everything better."

"That's not—" He protested feebly.

"Yes it is, you fucking sexist liar. I can see it in your eyes. You felt bad for what you did, so you thought that your sweetly spoken apology would bring me running into your arms." I was beginning to pant in anticipation. "Well, not this time. Never again. You… you and Edward taught me that the only way I could live my life… was… ruthlessly!"

I took the blunt side of my sword and smashed it against the side of his face, leaving an angry bruise. He yelped, and I heard Charlie snort.

"I think I want to play with you," I hissed. "So let's take this outside, shall we?"

I took him by the collar and crouched on the windowsill, springing off and letting go of him as I jumped. I released the kido, so he landed on his feet, but put another on him that kept him in place.

"Let's make a deal," I slinked towards him, smirking. "I let you go, and we fight fairly. What do you say to that?"

"Bella, you need to listen to me," he pleaded. "That's what I came here to talk about. I could seriously hurt you."

I narrowed my eyes. "It's a bit late for the warning, Jacob," my voice was slowly lowering to a whisper now, to my chagrin. "You've already seriously hurt me."

No. I would never cry for him again.

In the time it took for me to release the kido I rushed towards him, feeling no remorse as I slammed my fist into his stomach. I met more resistance than I expected, but not enough to deter me—he collapsed and I perched on his back as he fell to the ground on his knees.

"Giving up already?" I sneered. His body was trembling.

I took him by the shoulder and pushed him over so he was lying face-up. "I'm surprised," I told him quietly. "I didn't even need my sword."

"Bella," he choked out, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. "Please… let me explain… and then I'll let you do whatever you want with me. I promise."

"Remind me why I should give you a chance to speak."

"Because I'm your friend!"

"I'm sorry, I thought you were my friend." I hissed, throwing his words back at him.

"Please, if you'll let me explain, I promise that you'll see the reason I lied to you. And it was a lie, everything I said. Then you can do whatever you want."

I bound him again, just to see him restrained, then sat down next to him reluctantly. "Well, let's hear it, then."

His face stiff with pain, he hesitated slightly. "I came back because I felt like I couldn't leave things the way I did this afternoon. That was horrible. I'm sorry."

I listened, so far unimpressed.

"I know you probably don't understand what's going on with me right now, and I want to explain—" He broke off suddenly, his mouth open, almost like someone had cut off his air. Then he sucked in a deep, shuddering breath. "But I can't explain," he said, looking angry. "I wish I could."

"Then why am I listening to you?"

"Just—please! Listen for just a little longer," his eyes looked both panicked and furious at the same time. "Haven't you ever had a secret that you couldn't tell anyone? A secret that wasn't yours to tell?"

I looked down at him coldly. "You already know that secret."

"Listen," he said desperately. "Do you remember the first day we met—on the beach in La Push?"

"Yes."

"Tell me about it."

I spoke in a detached manner. "We went for a walk on the beach…"

He nodded encouragingly. "You told me scary stories… Quileute legends."

His eyes bore into mine. "Yes." The word was tense, fervent, like he was on the edge of something vital. "Do you remember what I said?"

I nodded.

"Do you remember all the stor—" He couldn't finish the question. His mouth popped open like something had stuck in his throat.

"All the stories?" I finished for him.

He nodded mutely.

Irritated, I thought back. I admit, I wasn't at all eager to remember what he'd told me—it brought back memories of back when I was still blind. But I picked my mind over, my memory far better than it had been when I was human, searching for the answer…

"Another legend claims that we descended from wolves—and that the wolves are our brothers still… You would call them werewolves."

And suddenly it all made sense. Right after I'd seen the wolves in the forest, he'd changed. Every time I'd seen him after that, he'd been shaking with anger, a… beast… in his eyes…

I leapt up, shocked.

"Do you get it now?" his voice was dreadfully tired. "Do you remember?"

I stood back, unable to speak. He stared at me, that same fury in his eyes, but a sadness was there, too. "Yeah. That's what I thought you'd say."

I was quickly getting pissed off again. I sheathed Nemesis, still feeling power pulsing in my veins where blood should be. With a whispered incantation I cancelled the kido.

He staggered upward, looking down at me. Abruptly he looked away, jaw clenched in anger. "I guess I'll just…"

I punched him. He fell over again, and I stood over him, crossing my arms.

"Jesus, Jacob, you're such an idiot."

He picked himself up, glaring. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why didn't you just tell me, you moron?" I turned away, my arms still folded petulantly across my chest.

"Because I knew this would happen."

"Knew what would happen?" I looked at him over my shoulder, a small smile growing on my face. "That I'd punch you for not knowing you could trust me?"

A spark of hope came alive in his expression. "You mean—"

"I run with vampires, you big dumbass," I grinned. "If you think that morphing into a giant wolf would freak me out, you obviously don't know me as well as you thought."

(At any rate, I figured, with the whole werewolves-hate-vampires thing, I'd leave the mask on and save that revelation for another day.)

I put my hands on my hips, sighing irritably. "Sure, you cheated me out of a good fight, I'll admit, but I'm sure there'll be others to look forward to—"

I was cut off as I was caught into a tight bear hug.

"You really, honestly, don't mind that I morph into a giant dog?" he asked, his voice joyful in my ear.

"No!" I flailed my arms. "Now get off before I punch you again!"

He let me go, laughing, and as I looked at him, I realized something. "Wait a minute, buddy. You're not off the hook yet."

"I'm not?"

"Charlie said that the 'bears' in the forest have been killing hikers—"

"Oh, that wasn't us," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Those are the bloodsuckers we've been hunting."

"I see," I muttered.

"Speaking of bloodsuckers," he eyed me apprehensively. "Would you mind telling me just what the hell happened to you?"

"I think I would mind, actually," I replied sweetly.

"Okay, then—wait, what?"

"I'm not quite in the mood to tell you what happened to me," I said, turning around and strolling back towards the house.

His voice sounded aggravated now. "That's not fair! I told you—"

His exclamation was cut off by my sword in his face. "I think I'll be the one calling the shots from now on, m'kay, Jakey?"

He nodded quickly.

"Sounds good," I sheathed her once more. "Now, since I had to guess what you are, it's only fair"—I smirked—"that you should have to guess my identity. So good luck with that. I've got training to do. I can come by tomorrow, if you like. That should give you enough time to figure it out, yeah?"

"I… guess."

"Fabulous." I waved at his stunned face. "Toodles."

With that, I ran up the side of the house into my bedroom, and waved to him again cheerily from the window before shutting it decisively.

I sat back down to continue my chat with Nemesis, content. I might not have gotten a fight, but I got a friend back.

And more importantly, Jacob was now completely reassured as to just who was in charge.

A/N: Jeez, this took me awhile to write! Well, I kept getting distracted by the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya… just started, and just learned the Hare Hare Yukai… anyway, hope you liked it! Drop me a review if you care about my sanity!

Oh, one last thing… I'm not exactly sure how long it takes for Jacob to heal, but I'm going to say by the next day his stomach/ribs will be merely tender, and by the next day's sundown he'll be fine. Good? Good.