Reunion

Alibaba

It's been two weeks since school began and Alibaba is nowhere near where he wants to be. In terms of popularity, he only has two friends who are constantly around him unlike a certain red head in his class which he's come to hate – Kouha! The guy constantly has girls flocking him and he's always the center of attention in the crowd of gawking people who follow him. Alibaba had a spotlight for what, only a few days after Jamil disappeared out of their lives and now no one seems to remember how awesome he is! He's just called that blonde kid with the hair who no one cares about.

Grade wise, Alibaba's okay…well, not really. On top of being the newest metal vessel user in the class, he has a hard time understanding the sophisticatedly worded lectures Sinbad gives them daily. He's constantly picked on for Sinbad and his classmate's enjoyment since he sucks at even getting Amon to work with him. If that weren't bad enough, he's always mocked by Kouha and his sister Kougyoku whenever he fails at something in class.

When it comes to dating…that's…a work in progress. Okay, Alibaba's nowhere near getting a girl. They're all either taken or would laugh at him if he were ever to approach them, not that he's asked anyone out but he's pretty sure he'd get turned down. Alibaba's only met a few girls anyways. Kougyoku keeps staring at him – when she's not laughing her head off with Kouha – but not in the good way you want to be stared at. Alibaba doesn't get what her deal is but he doesn't plan on approaching her about it any time soon.

There's Hakuei who's always kind to Alibaba. She'd greet him every morning when he'd walked into homeroom but she also has this air around her that he can't really describe. It's not like she's unapproachable but at the same time, he doesn't think that anything could go further for them than being classmates.

Then there's Morgiana. She's been with Alibaba and Aladdin since school officially began. She'd have lunch with them in the cafeteria when she wasn't with her two friends from Class D. Nothings really progressed in terms of her speaking to him. Morgiana always listens in to their conversations and only speaks if Alibaba or Aladdin asks her something to get her talking. Morgiana's nice and all but there are certain things she takes too literally, not that that's a bad thing. She'll open up eventually though, Alibaba's sure of that.

"Alibaba."

"Huh!" He snapped his head to attention, meeting Sinbad's golden eyes at the front of the class.

"I said come up here, you'll be our demonstrator."

Alibaba suppressed the groan that almost left his throat and walked up to the front. He should have seen this coming.

"This should be good." Alibaba met Kouha's stare.

The red head had a smirk on his face, leaning back in his chair as always.

"What do I have to do?" Alibaba asked his teacher.

"You're the only student in my class who can't Djinn Weapon Equip yet so why not try it out."

"He's been trying for days, he'll never do it." Kouha rocked his chair back and forth. If only Alibaba's reach could somehow make that chair fall back!

"His determination's admirable. He'll get it eventually." Alibaba's so glad he has someone like Muu in his class.

The older male was kind but Alibaba's heard this rumor about him being the leader of some ruthless gang, but he doubts that's true.

'I'll get it this time.' Alibaba drew his knife.

"You have to focus your Magoi into your metal vessel. Don't just release it aimlessly. Surround your knife with Magoi and compress it to form Amon's weapon."

That's easier said than done. Alibaba's been trying to figure this out for the past two weeks but he only releases Amon's vibrant flames instead of the actual weapon. All his classmates have some wicked piece of artillery but he's been stuck with his short knife while being mocked at behind his back.

'Why won't you work with me!' Alibaba's accomplished how to draw flames out of his weapon but that's all he can do. He controlled the flames so that they didn't hurt his classmates.

"See, fail. I knew he couldn't do it." Kouha said smugly.

If Sinbad weren't beside him, Alibaba knows exactly what he'd use his failure of flames to do to Kouha's face.

Alibaba released the fire, sheathing his knife at his waist.

"You'll get it next time." Sinbad's large hand clamped onto Alibaba's shoulder, "You can take your seat, Alibaba. You'll get the hang of it eventually."

"He never will. He's the worst person to ever Join Class B!" Kouha said just as Alibaba walked past his desk.

"He can't be called a metal vessel user if he can't even Weapon Equip. It's the simplest thing to do." Kougyoku remarked with a loose long sleeve covering the pity smile she probably has on her face.

"If I recall, both of you took a long time before you could weapon equip," Hakuei gave her siblings a smile, "So if Alibaba does manage to get this within the next few weeks then wouldn't that mean he's better than both of you?"

"No it doesn't!" Kouha shouted, causing his snoozing brother to wake up beside him in a daze.

"Don't compare my unrivalled skills to someone as weak and pitiful as him." Kougyoku glared at Alibaba.

"I'm just stating the truth. Am I wrong?"

Hakuei got the last words and her siblings turned away in defiance.

'Thank you, Hakuei.' Alibaba thought silently before taking his seat.

"Just work on your concentration, Alibaba. You'll get it soon enough," Sinbad carried on with his lesson, "Now, Magoi is the energy created by the Rukh which…"

Maybe if Alibaba paid attention more, he'd get it. He found his eyes wandering to the window beside his seat and something moving caught his eye. There were a few kids doing laps around the field and they looked exhausted. At the end of the line…well he wasn't even part of the line since he fell way behind everyone else, was Aladdin. The guy looked like he was about to pass out. His clothes were drenched with sweat and his legs looked like jelly from Alibaba's angle.

'Poor guy.' Alibaba smiled a bit, his focus tuned in to his dying best friend.

Aladdin

'When I…signed up for this…I…never thought I'd…have to exercise!'

Aladdin can't go on. His legs felt like jelly and they wobbled just like it. He coughed every time he tried moving forward, his throat drier than it's ever been in his life. He'd give anything for just a drop of water.

"Keep running!"

At the crack of a whip sounding nearly identical to thunder, Aladdin mustered the willpower to take the next step. His right leg gave way instantly and he fell, his chest rising and falling at a fast pace.

"Get up!" The female dictators voice rung in Aladdin's eardrums as she shouted at him from above.

Aladdin attempted to pick himself up, his eyes met the boots of his instructor. Miss Myers bent forward and Aladdin met her gaze for nearly a second before his sights trailed off to somewhere else.

"If you can't make fifty laps around this field then you have no right to be in my class. Now, get on your feet unless you want me to give you additional laps."

Aladdin struggled to get on his feet which he accomplished because of his teacher's wonderful motivation.

Aladdin took off at a slow run, passing some of his fallen classmates who looked sick beyond measure. If he wants to take this course, Aladdin must pass Miss Myer's expectations.

"Alright, those of you who couldn't complete the laps think about a suitable course replacement 'cause there's no way you'll be able to survive in my class," Miss Myers announced when everyone was huddled in a small circle, "As for the rest of you, get proper sleep tonight 'cause tomorrow's class will be twice as hard as what you did today."

Aladdin was still out of breath but he was glad that he made it.

"Especially you, midget. You actually surprised me. Make sure you bring that attitude to class tomorrow." Miss Myers said in a harsh tone but Aladdin took it as some sort of praise.

After a much needed change of clothes, Aladdin fell back in his seat at the front of his classroom. His body felt heavier than usual and he couldn't get up. If he tried, his legs would shake and he'd stumble.

"Aladdin." He didn't have to look up to recognize the voice of Sphintus who sat in the empty seat next to Aladdin.

"Hi."

"Let's go get something in the cafeteria. Your class is already over, right?"

"I can't move." Aladdin whispered sullenly.

"Don't be like that. I told you not to take Myer's class. From the first time I saw her I knew it would be hell." Aladdin breathed in the familiar scent of Sphintus' cloud of smoke.

He knew this was wishful thinking but Sphintus made Aladdin realize how hungry he was, "Will you carry me?"

"Of course not!"

Aladdin raised his head up from the table, trying out his best adorable pleading face that barely ever fails to guilt people when he wants something from them.

"That won't work on me." Sphintus met Aladdin's gaze with a stern look.

"Please?" Aladdin tried even more.

Sphintus rubbed the back of his neck, "Alright I'll help you walk, but I'm not carrying you."

Aladdin grinned.

With one hand looped around Sphintus' neck, Aladdin walked slowly out of the room with his friend.

"Still can't believe you survived that Spartan training. I was looking out the window of my class and I was in pain just watching you guys run."

"Miss Myers really motivated me to keep moving forward." Aladdin grinned at the thought in his head.

"How?"

"Well…hehehe."

"By that face of yours, I don't even want to know."

Morgiana

Morgiana's last class for today was Muscle Training with Masrur. He's one of the few teachers that Morgiana's fond of. His training methods are much more intense than what she does on a daily basis. From his self introduction during their first class, Morgiana realized that he's from the same country as she is and found him easy to talk to unlike most of her classmates who are intimidated by him. He's also the closest thing to a brother figure that Morgiana's ever had, even if they've known each other for a few weeks.

Morgiana decided to finally use her chains again. After accidentally injuring Alibaba-kun, she hasn't placed them on but stuffed them in her dark blue locker. Masrur can take a beating so he's the perfect person she can spar with.

There were two tall boys standing in front of Morgiana's locker and they were both laughing with each other as if someone said a joke.

"Excuse me," She interrupted them, "You're blocking my locker."

The instant their eyes met hers, the colour drained from both their faces.

"It's Morgiana!" They both backed away in fear.

'Why do they look so terrified?' She thought, 'I didn't say anything scary.'

She took a step forward and they backed away even more.

"W-we didn't mean to offend you!" "Please spare us!"

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

"She sounds angry!" "Dude, run!"

They both took off without a trace, leaving Morgiana in confusion.

Morgiana opened her locker, taking out her precious item which became a snare to her conscience. Morgiana stuffed the chains in her bag, closing the locker with the back of her foot before running down the hall. She didn't like the idea of being late.

The class was held in the gym and Morgiana was the only girl in the group assembled before the red haired teacher. Masrur stood at the center of the gym floor with an assortment of weights at his feet. He assigned each person in the class a different dumbbell based on what they're able to handle. Morgiana could easily lift all of the weights in the room but Masrur gave her a three hundred kilogram weight and she began counting.

'One, Two, Three, Four, Five…Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, Twenty-Seven…Fifty-Nine, Sixty, Sixty-One, Sixty-two… One Hundred and Seven, One Hundred and Eight, One Hundred and Nine…'

"That's so amazing, Morgiana!" It took one person's words to turn all eyes onto Morgiana, the weight nearly slipped from her grasp.

"Want me to get you another one?" Masrur asked her as he was making his assessments on each person.

She knows she can hold up more weight but… "No, this is fine."


When class was over, everyone filed out of the gym to head home and Morgiana received a few pats on the back and remarks about how amazing her level of strength is. Someone even mentioned something about being a girl but Morgiana chose to hold back her tongue.

"You care so much about what they think." Masrur was packing up the weights.

"It's not like I choose to show off." She said when everyone but the two left in the gym.

"Exactly. Don't worry about them and focus on your training. I'm sure I could've doubled your weights and you'd have been fine."

"Okay," She took out her chains and Masrur's usual stoic expression remained the same, "I'd like to spar with you before we leave if that's okay."

Masrur glanced at the metal, "You're using those?"

"Yes."

Morgiana slowly brought the cuffs to her wrists, locking them after a fierce mental struggle. She won over the words of Jamil which refuse to leave her. She took her usual fighting stance and Masrur had one of his own. His hands were up as he anticipated Morgiana's attack. Just as she practiced with her invisible enemy, Morgiana willed the steel chains forward. They moved fast enough to strike Masrur on the cheek before he could react. Morgiana manipulated the chains with the upward motion of her left arm and they recoiled before locking themselves around Masrur's left arm. Her teacher tugged on the chains with the swift pull of his arm and Morgiana was drawn towards him. Her right foot left the ground but she dug deep into the concrete with her left, bracing herself to that spot.

Masrur's strength is greater than anyone Morgiana's ever faced. He's a formidable opponent, that's for sure.

Masrur wrapped the chains around his forearm twice and pulled Morgiana forward. She didn't have the strength to stay grounded. She was airborne while Masrur cleared the distance between them before Morgiana could act. He placed her into a submissive hold as her body was tossed to the gym floor.

No matter how hard she tries, Morgiana just can't beat him, "As effective a weapon as they are, your chains can also be used against you. Make sure you're mindful of that."

"Okay."

Masrur got up and pulled Morgiana to her feet. She took off the cuffs and wrapped the chains around them before stuffing them back into her bag.


"Morgiana!" She heard her name being called.

"Alibaba-kun."

He was sitting alone on the top step at the entrance of the main building.

"Where's Aladdin-kun?" She's usually the last one to get here on an afternoon.

"I don't know but he might take a while to get here. Last time I saw him, he looked exactly like the walking dead."

The doors to the entrance opened, claiming the attention of the two friends.

"Alibaba-kun, Mor!"

Aladdin-kun was desperately clinging onto one of his classmates by the waist while his feet dragged along the cold floor.

"Finally!" The boy with a golden snake coiled around his neck pulled Aladdin-kun off his body, "I've been looking everywhere for you, Alibaba. Just get him away from me."

With no one to support him, Aladdin-kun's body fell to the ground.

"He looks worse than I thought," Alibaba-kun gave Aladdin-kun a hand, "Hey, don't drag me down with you!"

Alibaba-kun let go. Aladdin-kun raised his head, a disheartened look on his teary-eyed face.

"He's your problem now," Their friend seemed to be relieved of his job of being a walking stick, "See you guys tomorrow."

Just as that boy made his exit outside of the school grounds, a light whimper escaped Aladdin-kun lips.

"Alibaba-kun…carry me." Aladdin-kun raised his arms out, attempting to grab onto Alibaba-kun's leg.

"I can tie a rope to you and drag you along." Alibaba-kun's suggestion made Aladdin-kun sadder than he already was.

"Why are you so mean to me?" Aladdin-kun cried out, "What have I ever done to you?"

"Wha- I can make an entire list of all the ridiculous things you've put me through over the past few weeks!" Alibaba-kun plucked Aladdin-kun off the floor, shaking the boy's limp body like a rag doll.

"Stop that, Alibaba-kun," Morgiana couldn't stay quiet any longer, "You're just hurting Aladdin-kun even more."

"But what about me!" Alibaba-kun let go of Aladdin-kun who fell back to the floor.

"What about you. Are you injured?" Morgiana couldn't see anything wrong with Alibaba-kun.

"No, but–"

"Mor!" Alibaba-kun was gripping onto Morgiana's right leg.

"He's just taking advantage of your sympathy Morgiana. All he ever does is deceive everyone just to get what he wants!"

"What are you taking about?" Morgiana pulled Aladdin-kun off the ground by the waist, "Are you alright, Aladdin-kun?"

"I'm okay." He answered sweetly.

"You see!" Alibaba-kun was going off again, "Behind that adorable smile is an evil mastermind who exploits other people for his own selfish gain!"

'That can't be true. Aladdin-kun is too nice to do anything with bad intentions.'

Morgiana didn't pay Alibaba-kun any attention. He was just spilling out nonsense.

"I can carry you, Aladdin-kun. We're going to the same place so I don't mind."

Aladdin-kun grinned, "Thank you, Mor."

"But…but…"

"Let's go home, Alibaba-kun. Is something wrong?" Aladdin-kun asked the fuming blonde.

"Nothing. Let's just go." Alibaba-kun walked away first and Morgiana followed with Aladdin-kun at her side.

Alibaba-kun kept grunting to himself all the way to the school gate.

"Are you comfortable?" Morgiana looked down to meet Aladdin-kun's smiling face.

"Yes."

Alibaba-kun's complaining suddenly changed to a gasp. He was already outside the gate, causing Morgiana to speed to his side.

"What's going on, Alibaba-kun!" Aladdin-kun was just as concerned as Morgiana.

Alibaba-kun stared wide eyed, his mouth trying to form words.

Morgiana caught up to him, her eyes spotting a boy who stood a few feet away from them.

The cigarette at his lips almost fell out at the sight of the blonde, "Alibaba?"

"Kassim!?"