Black Star turned out to be an absolute beast in battle. He sent out attach after attack with barely a breath in between. P.J. was forced to be on the absolute defensive, constantly shifting, and ducking behind the large shield. Black Star's aggressive pace simply did not allow for an opening.
"How are you doing, Sora?" Pearl asked between pants.
"I'm okay!" Sora called out. "But you've got to try to find an opening!"
"I'm trying!" she called back. An unexpected kick to the feet from Black Star tripped her up, and she went crashing to the ground. Black Star aimed a punch for her face, but she rolled out of the way and scrambled to her feet. She took a few steps backwards, still breathing hard.
"This isn't the Princess Pearl that I know," Black Star said with a wicked grin. "Or are you being held back by that lousy weapon of yours?"
"He isn't lousy!" Pearl shouted. "I've just never used a shield before."
"But you've used nearly everything else!" Black Star said, and he laughed deviously. "You should've settled for the mace. I think that was your best choice."
"I can use...any...weapon...I...WANT!" Pearl said and suddenly she was charging towards Black Star, but she suddenly stopped in mid stride, and spinning, tossed the shield towards Black Star like it was a giant frisbee.
Black Star was caught momentarily by surprise, but he raised his arms in time to block the blow. But he hadn't anticipated the shield's weight or the force of the throw, which cut across his arms and sent him flying backwards.
As Black Star was recovering, Pearl, with surprising agility, raced behind him and kicked him in the back with her sandaled foot. She then brought an elbow down on the side of his neck. He fell to the ground, and before he could get up she snatched the shield from under him and resumed her defensive pose with it.
Black Star leapt to his feet, regarding Pearl and Sora with a grin. Then with a loud cry he charged forward again, reckless in his abandon. Blows seemed to come at Pearl from every angle, and it was all that she could do just to keep the shield from being knocked from her hand.
One blow, in particular, sent the shield flying up and backwards towards Pearl. It caught her in the chin with a glancing blow, and she fell straight backwards to the ground and landed with a thump.
Sora instantly switched out of shield form and knelt beside Pearl. He held her head up with his arm. She opened her eyes dazedly, trying to move her jaw to speak but apparently too injured to do so.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked, as he held up two.
"Three," she mumbled.
"So...do you surrender now?" Black Star asked. His face was all serious now.
Sora glared daggers at Black Star.
"I can't believe you could do this to a girl," he said in ominous tones. "You've got no honor."
"I believe in equality, so I treat everyone the same regardless of what's between their legs," Black Star said, looking annoyed.
Sora cursed under his breath.
"This...isn't...over," Pearl said as she tried to sit up. A large lump was forming on her chin where she'd been hit.
"No, I think it is," said the honey-haired Ms. Marie. "What do you think, Sid?"
"It's a victory for Black Star," Sid replied.
Black Star somehow didn't look that jubilant.
"So who's wasted whose time now?" he said. "You hardly lasted five minutes."
Ms. Marie walked over to Pearl and knelt beside her.
"That looks nasty," she said. "We'll have to take you to the infirmary."
"I don't want to go," said the Pearl who had just now managed to sit up. "I'm sure that it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it looks."
Marie smiled, then turned to Sora.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine," she said softly. "And don't berate yourself too much. You're new to this school and Black Star is more of a veteran."
Tsubaki walked over to the group now, and smiled a little nervously.
"I'm really sorry about that, Pearl," she said. "You know how Black Star can be. I'm sure you did your very best."
"You shouldn't have to apologize for him," Sora told her darkly. "He can speak up for himself."
"Well- uh- I-"
"So how does it feel beating up a newbie and a little girl?" Soul asked Black Star in a half-mocking voice.
"Same as it always does. Tsubaki?"
"Sorry, I've got to go," Tsubaki said. "Keep doing your best," she told Sora. To Pearl, she said, "I hope you find a good partner for you soon, P.J. It's normal to feel like changing partners sometimes, but you just have to work through it. Bye!"
With that she hurried off to join Black Star and the others, who were leaving. Maka lingered back to wave at Pearl and Sora.
"Hope to see you two in class tomorrow. Bye!"
That just left Pearl, Sora, and the two teachers. Sid came over and lifted Pearl up. She looked even more like a doll in his arms than she usually did.
"By the way, Sora- my name is Marie," Marie said quietly. "I teach the Crescent Moon Class. Will you be staying on campus?"
"Yeah."
I don't know how I'll pay for it but I'll come up with something, he thought.
"Well then, let's help get you settled," she said with a little smile. "Sid will go ahead and take Pearl to the infirmary and you can come with me."
Sora nodded. Marie was just as Pearl had described her. Graceful, beautiful, and considerate. Somehow all that should have made her intimidating, but she had a very inviting aura to her, kind of the way that Maka did, but different. You felt more at ease when you were around her. Sora wondered how she'd lost her left eye, but he didn't dare ask.
"So, what brings you to the Academy?" she asked as they walked down the corridors.
Sora thought about telling his whole lie about wanting to defeat the Kishin, but around Marie that felt impossible.
"I didn't really have another place to go," he said. "I'd been attending regular school before now, but it just didn't really appeal to me that much."
Marie laughed. It was a beautiful sound, like the tinkling of windchimes.
"That makes sense," she said. "You're a Weapon, after all, and a lot of times Weapons or Meisters just don't feel like they fit in to regular school."
"Well, I never really used my Weapon abilities that much," Sora said. "Most people don't even know I can do the transformation."
"Ah," Marie said in understanding.
"So why'd you become a teacher here?" Sora asked as they continued walking through the corridors.
"Well, after the Kishin was revived Lord Death wanted to gather all of the Death Scythes together and give them new assignments," she looked a little chagrined at that. "I had the most amazing post ever, at Oceania. It was relaxing, easy- I almost felt like I was actually really retired there."
"i'm sorry," Sora said sympathetically.
"Oh, no, don't be sorry!" Marie said with a smile. "This teaching job is incredible. There are so many bright, promising students, and I actually feel like I'm making a difference in their lives somehow."
Sora nodded.
"Well, here we are,"she said finally, as she stopped in front of a maroon-painted door with the number 333 on it in black lettering. She handed him the key."This is all yours."
Sora took the key gratefully, unlocked the door and peered inside. It was a bit utilitarian, but it did have a splash of life here and there in the form of the wall paintings, brightly colored rugs and stylish lamps. There was even a mini-fridge and a small range for cooking.
"This is great," Sora said honestly.
"Glad you like it!" Marie responded with a smile. "Well, just make yourself at home. Oh, and by the way, this is free of charge. You also get an allowance for as long as you stay here- two hundred dollars a week. Don't spend it all on video games!""
With that, Marie left, and Sora carried in his green duffel bag and settled down unto the bed, testing it. It was the perfect balance- not too soft, not to firm.
He had finally made it to his new home.
