Hey, minna! And, here is my next chapter for the story, "Rejection Rejected"! And, since now I have an OC in play, let's make HIM do the disclaimer!

A.T.: What? Why me? You didn't even give me a name! Why should I listen to you?

Aysha-chan: Well, if you don't you know what will happen…*shows whip* And besides! It's not my fault I couldn't think of a Japanese name for you! The only thing that comes into mind is Oblivion! Would you like that?

A.T.: Well, I would, actually…

Aysha-chan: Okay then, fine. From here on out your name will be Oblivion, got it? Even though the name SO doesn't suit you.

A.T: And just because of that, I'm not doing the disclaimer!

Aysha-chan: What did you say? What did I tell you about not obeying me? *cracks whip* You know I could erase you from the story, right? I am the author…ah…the wonderful powers of being an author…

A.T. : Fine, fine! The mean old lady Aysha-chan…

Aysha-chan: What!

A.T: I…I mean nice, young girl! Yeah, that's what I meant! The nice young girl Aysha-chan does not own Shakugan no Shana…sadly, only me.

Aysha-chan: Okay, enough chit-chat, let's start!

…..

Shana and Yuji, although, still slightly awkward around each other, began warming up to the presence of the other, since, of course, they had to, since it was decided they'd be working together to defeat this so-called "Ancient Tomagara". Yuji was well enough to start training again, so as to be ready for fighting the Tomagara.

A few days back, Shana and Yuji were on the dining table with Wiilhelmina, and they started talking about the Tomagara.

"So Carmel-san, the Tomagara that attacked me, he really has no name?" Yuji asked.

"Well, I did some research, de arimasu. And I found out that he does have a name. It is Oblivion, de arimasu." Wilhelmina answered.

"Oblivion? That's a pretty odd name. I've never heard of a Tomagara having that kind of name before." Shana noted.

"Well, he is one of the oldest Tomagara, older than most Flame Haze, even, de arimasu." Wilhelmina replied.

"Even older than Khamsin was?" Shana asked again.

"Yes. Even older, de arimasu."

"What else have you found out about him?" Yuji asked.

"Many things, de arimasu. If you recall, I mentioned him as a character that wishes to take over worlds, but constantly fails. That part is true, but only to a certain extent. Even though he constantly fails, we – you must not take him so lightly, de arimasu."

"Why not, Wilhelmina?" Shana asked.

"Because he is an excellent fighter, highly skilled in both swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, de arimasu." She replied.

"So, why has he been losing all this time?" Shana asked again.

"Well, you see, he lacks strategical thinking. He always gets screwed over by his own plans. But with what I have noticed when he battled you, his plan was simple, and that was to kill you. Then he could take over Xanadu. And since killing involves fighting, he believes he has a good chance, de arimasu."

"So, basically, you're saying he's an idiot who is only good in fighting, and that is how he plans on taking over Xanadu?" Shana asked incredulously.

"Yes. But he also has many comrades, I believe, and they plan on helping him take over, as his, advisors, de arimasu."

"I see. Well, all we have to do is defeat him and his comrades, and we'll all be safe from his plans, right?" Yuji asked.

"Hai."

After the discussion, the two planned on making sure they wouldn't get beaten by Oblivion. They had to train intensely, so as to defeat him.

"He was known to defeat armies by himself." Wilhelmina had said.

"We are not losing to an idiotic person like him." Shana whispered to Yuji.

Yuji nodded. Then they decided they had to train hard if they wanted to make what Shana had said a reality.

….

Today the two were training outside, practicing hand-to-hand combat as well as sword fights. The two were getting better and better as the days went on, as Wilhelmina noticed.

Yuji and Shana were dealing with sword fights today, Shana was armed with her Nietono no Shana, Yuji with his Blutsauger. They fought really well like they were right now.

Shana attacked Yuji from his side and slashed at him, and Yuji quickly dodged, leaping away from Shana, his sword intact and pointed at his sparring partner. He leapt at her while she was still recovering from the dodge, so when she turned around she was facing Yuji's sword, the Blutsauger. She leapt immediately, and faced Yuji in a battle position.

She ran directly towards Yuji, her sword aimed at him. He countered the sword's attack with his own, creating a sword block. Shana attempted to push him off, but his grip was too strong. He pushed at her, but she held her ground. She swiped at Yuji again and he dodged, he did the same thing and she avoided his attack.

Shana was getting tired and annoyed with all the dodging, so she struck out at Yuji, trying to get him to lose grip over his sword. It worked, and Yuji was unarmed. He raised his hands up in surrender.

"Okay, okay. You win today." Yuji said, laughing. Shana smiled at him, and he couldn't help but admire her absolute cuteness. Shana noticed him staring and she blushed, he noticed her cheeks turn red and he blushed. The two, who had just realized they were staring at each other all this time, turned away to look at other stuff, Shana at her sword and Yuji at the sky.

It turned awkward again, but luckily Wilhelmina called them over for break time. The two went over to the dining table and sat as far away from the other as possible, still not looking at the other person.

Yuji, annoyed by the silence, tried to break the ice.

"This is a lot like our training back on Earth, ne, Shana?"

Shana nodded, smiling at him.

They smiled at each other, reminiscing about their moments back on Earth. They remembered all sorts of things, making it even more uncomfortable and awkward between the two of them.

Yuji remembered Shana sleeping on his bed, her wearing a swimsuit, and all sorts of cute moments between him and the Flame Haze. He also recalled his desire to protect Shana, and being with her forever. Shana, however, remembered only one moment, the time she first said she loved Yuji.

They looked away from each other for the umpteenth time, blushing again.

This was going to be difficult, as Wilhelmina noticed. If the two were too awkward around each other to train, she wasn't train, she wasn't sure they could work together to defeat Oblivion. Oh well, they still had a number of days to train, hopefully by then everything between them would get resolved, for two reasons, for Shana's happiness, as well as to be able to stop that idiotic Oblivion.

….

Today Shana and Yuji were training with hand to hand combat skills. Clearly, Shana was on the upper hand. Yuji was far too slow, and all he could possibly do was dodge Shana's flurry of attacks. Shana kicked and punched Yuji and all he could do was block and leap away. At least, until he turned things around.

Yuji managed to grab one of Shana's arms when she was going in for a punch. He flipped the arm – and Shana along with it – around and onto the ground. Shana was pinned to the ground and unable to escape Yuji's grasp.

Shana, however, saw opportunity when her feet were close to Yuji's. She twisted his feet around, making an attempt in making him fall down to the ground beside her. It didn't go the way she planned.

"Haha! I've got you now! Wait, wha-?" Yuji said, yelling as Shana twisted his feet around. Instead of Shana's intended plan, he fell on top of her, rather than beside her.

They stared at each other's eyes. Once they realized what had happened they turned bright vermillion. But nobody moved. Shana was trying her best to keep looking at Yuji, and Yuji was looking intently at her. They could feel their hearts thumping in unison, and this made them both blush harder.

Shana was getting slightly uncomfortable now, but her heart raced more and more once she saw Yuji's lips moving towards hers, his face moving down to meet her own.

Just a smidge away from the other's lips, Yuji stopped, staring at Shana in shock. Shana's eyes reflected the emotion in his eyes, and the two blushed even harder. Then Yuji looked away and stood up. He offered a hand to Shana and she took it.

That was the mother of all embarrassing moments. The two looked away from the other and went opposite directions.

Wilhelmina noticed everything. She was getting worried now. Would they ever manage to fight Oblivion if they were acting this awkward around the other?

Luckily, an unexpected event answered her question.

With a whirl of smoke, Oblivion appeared right there, on their backyard, in front of the three of them.

"So, are you people ready to die?" he asked.

The three faced him, Shana and Yuji with their swords, and Wilhelmina already in battle mode.

"Are you ready?" Wilhelmina asked the both of them.

The two nodded, and began their attack.

….

A.N/ Sigh…I'm so NOT happy with my work…I think you can tell, too. Anyways, the next chapter features not one, but two fights! But not the fight you'd expect! Just wait for it, ne?

Ja nee! Oh, and review, please?