Nabiki ran to the sound of two screams coming from the bathroom. She recognized her sister's scream, but not the other. She turned the corner in time to see her sister slam the door on whoever was in there. Then, without so much as an explanation, Akane ran past her, and out the door. Nabiki, however, had little time to consider the strangeness of this, before it got stranger. Just then, a boy stormed out of the bathroom, and followed her. She got a good look at him as he nearly ran into her. In fact, he would have if she hadn't stepped aside at the last second. He was a good looking boy, handsome, with bright blue eyes, his body lean and muscular. She thought he looked so wild, his long, bluish black hair flowing behind him as he ran, his shirt, open and swept back, giving her a good long look at the muscles in his chest.

"Pity," Nabiki thought, wishing she hadn't stepped aside so quickly, wishing she'd let him run into her, if only to have the excuse to hold him for awhile, and maybe feel some of those muscles. Instead, all she felt was a pang of jealousy towards Akane, knowing she was being chased by him. Suddenly, Nabiki was struck by a peculiar notion, that she'd seen him somewhere before. That somehow, she recognized him.

"Those eyes," she thought. "I've seen those eyes before." But his eyes weren't all she'd seen before. She stared at his clothes, when she wasn't staring at his chest, that red shirt, those drab pants, slightly torn. She knew of only one person who wore clothes like that.

"Who was that?" Kasumi asked. She stood in the middle of the stairway, holding a set of clothes.

"I don't know." Nabiki lied, not sure she was lying. It was just a feeling. Suddenly, she felt compelled to walk to the bathroom. She stepped inside, stepped in the water splashed on the floor. It felt warm against her foot.

"I don't know," she thought, suddenly thinking she did know, suddenly thinking the impossible.

Meanwhile, Akane was still running. She glanced back over her shoulder, glad to see the pervert no longer there. She felt a sudden anger at him, for scaring her, and chasing her away from her own house. She had half a mind to go back there, and flog him within an inch of his life. And she would've done exactly that if she weren't already running late for school.

"School?" Akane thought, suddenly realizing she had forgotten not only her schoolbag and everything in it, but also her friend. She cursed her forgetfulness, and she cursed him for making her forget. She cursed him for being in her house in the first place, and for ruining a perfectly good morning.

She wondered at him, then. She wondered what right he had in her home. She wondered at his audacity, that he should feel inclined to take a bath when surely he was no guest. And she wondered how he had known her name, when she did not give it to him.

Now, in sight of the school, and its distinctive clock face, Akane realized almost too late what was in store for her, as dozens upon dozens of boys suddenly charged outside to meet her. Then, she remembered, much to her chagrin. She remembered that this same mob did this every morning before school, each of them eager to date with her, a date which could only be won by defeating her.

Akane actually pitied them, feeling as she felt this morning. They would be sorry they ever crossed her. Without a word, she waded into the sea of them, her anger fueling her determination, driving her to victory. On every one of them, she saw the pervert's face, and that face was what she aimed for. Soon, they were falling by the wayside as she dispatched each of them in turn. By the time it was all over, the contest had acquired a graceful, however brutal, quality, like ballet.

Then, when the last of them fell as easily as the first, Akane heard the sudden whistle of something coming towards her through the air. She waited for just the right moment, for the whistle to grow loud enough. She caught it just as it passed over her head, mindful as always, of its thorns. She stared at the bright red rose with disdain. The rose, his signature, his taunt, letting her know the fight wasn't over. Unable to stop him from challenging her day after day, Akane simply shrugged. Then she heard his voice, smooth and eloquent, upon the air.

"Fleeting are the sakuras that bloom in spring. Fleeting, also, are the buildings that grow around them. And though we watch them succumb gradually to the ravages of time, are we not spared the very same fate? That in the end, nothing is truly eternal."

A boy stepped out from behind a nearby tree. A simple enough gesture, Akane thought, but he did so with all the exaggerated pomp and circumstance of an actor stepping onto a stage. He was tall, with rugged good looks, and piercing blue eyes. She might've even thought him attractive if he wasn't such a nuisance.

"Well done." He said, applauding her. "That was better than last time."

The thought of Kuno using her as a form of entertainment would've annoyed Akane if she wasn't so used to it already. In fact, she might've thought they'd developed a certain respect for each other, not friendship, but respect. The respect shared between warriors.

"And so, here we are again at the appointed spot." Kuno said dramatically. Then, he raised his practice sword to her, and issued his challenge proper. It was the same challenge she heard every day.

"Tendo Akane," he said, addressing her formally. "I would date with you."

"Only if you win," she replied defiantly.

"That I intend to do today. Now, are you ready?"

Akane knew this last question was a formality. She knew he would attack her whether she was ready or not. He was merely asking her consent.

She nodded.

The match began. And like the many before it, the stakes were the same. Akane had no doubt that, upon the event of his victory, Kuno would date her as he said. She, on the other hand, had every intention of thwarting him for the umpteenth time. They circled, watching each other for weaknesses, ready to strike at the first unguarded moment. But, at the same time wary of each other's strengths. For example, Akane respected the considerable reach Kuno's sword gave him, and the fact that it was a weapon capable of felling her with one well aimed swipe. Were she to let that happen, the match could easily be his. But she had every intention not to lose to him.

"Watch him." She thought to herself. "Let him make the first move. Let him make the first mistake." Soon as he made a swipe at her, she would dodge aside. Then, he would be vulnerable; his energy engaged more in his attack, then in his defense. Then, she would hit him before he had a chance to counter.

"Akane!" the girl shouted, running towards her.

She couldn't have picked a more inopportune time to show up. And yet, it was Akane who made the mistake. Her focus should've been better, but instead she was distracted by her friend. Taking her eyes off Kuno for a split second, she watched as the redhead caught up to them. However, that second cost her dearly.

Kuno, sensing his opening, lashed out with his sword. He gave Akane a firm blow to her abdomen. The force of it knocked the wind from her. She was on her knees before she knew it.

"I'm disappointed in you, Akane." He said, shaking his head. "I didn't think it would be this easy."

Smiling proudly, Kuno held out his hand to her. Akane knew, as did he, that were she to take that hand, such an action would be seen as her admission of defeat, and the final proof of his victory. She just couldn't bring herself to do that, however.

The redhead didn't know who the man was, and she didn't care. All she knew, all she needed to know, was that he had hurt Akane. Suddenly, she felt something she'd never felt before. She couldn't really describe it, but suddenly she was driven by an irresistible urge to hurt him back.

Kuno saw the girl coming from a ways out, and immediately he knew her intent. He waited, his every thought focused on her. He waited until the time was right, until she was close enough. Then, he made one quick thrust with his sword, with every expectation of hitting something soft, her bosom perhaps. But instead, he simply cut the air. Then, to his astonishment, he saw that she was actually standing on his outstretched blade, practically standing in air.

Their eyes met, and Kuno had just enough time to wonder what kind of girl she was before she kicked him upside the head, knocking him out cold.

After what she had just seen, Akane was starting to wonder the very same thing, but unlike Kuno, she was able to put it into words.

"Who are you?" she asked, staring at her friend in amazement.

The girl shrugged. Then she simply smiled and said, "Your friend."

Then she offered her hand to Akane, and this hand she did take.