A/N: I am so sorryfor that huge break in between! I will try to prevent that from happening again to the best of my abillities. I appreciate everyone who's stuck it out with me so far, thank you all! Hopefully this chapter is more of a breather and I can win some laughs with it.

I also feel the need to apologize for not proofreading some of my previous chapters. This one and all the rest will be proofread to avoid errors.

Happy Reading~! 3


Chrona stared at his phone, just waiting for it to ring. Well, to ring or do something- he was tired of staring at the wall after the other day. Of course after three hours he figured it wouldn't and decided to watch another movie. Chrona wanted a distraction of some kind, anything would suffice really, but at least staring at a moving thing would make him seem less pathetic. Then again...less pathetic to who? He picked up a comedy and read the summary. He had taken the whole day yesterday to think over what had happened the night before and he pretty much understood that if he really wanted Patty back that he just had to become that person- that man.

"I guess we need some new movies," Chrona sighed, throwing the one he held on the couch. "I'll go down to the video store then."

"It's about time," Ragnorak sighed. "You've been moping around the house for the past two days- seriously, you need to get out more, for my sake. You're not the most attractive person."

Chrona sighed as he picked up his keys and put on his shoes. In his despondent state Ragnorak's angry rant fell on deaf ears. Within the soft sounds of the midday activity of the city, his thoughts trailed back to her. The words still hurt as if she were standing there saying them all over again. She needs a man. He pushed his way through the video store door and wandered to the section of action movies. Who didn't feel manly watching Die Hard or Riddick? Chrona skimmed through the titles with little interest.

"Are you seriously doing this?! There's a chick with an amazing body and low IQ out there waiting for you and you're in here looking for a movie to take back home and rot your already suffering brain?"

"Did you just call her stupid?" Chrona asked, half distracted.

"Which is why you're being an even bigger idiot than usual! Do you have any idea how hard it is finding someone to match your level of stupidity?"

"What, Ragnorak?" Chrona sighed as he picked up Judge Dred. "You've been quiet this whole time, why are you talking to me now?"

"Because I thought you would actually do something smart for once but, no dip, you're still being an idiot."

"And what exactly do you think I should do?"

"I don't have to tell you stupid, you already know! Now do it or I'll rip down those stupid posters you have on the wall back home."

"Fine, fine! I'll do it, but I'm not promising anything," he mumbled as he went to pay for the movie.

...

Chrona stared at the phone with beads of sweat forming on his forehead and trailing slowly down the curve his face. His arm felt like it weighed a ton when he tried to raise it to pick up the phone. Both of his elbows now hurt from the effort so he was left in this awkward position of trying to lift it with his telepathic ability- which he didn't have. Chrona took a deep, shaky breath and raised his arm past the numbness in his elbow and put his hand on the phone. He let it rest there for about a minute before grasping it and attempting to lift it from the reciever.

"What are you doing? Remember, hot chick and bikini," Ragnorak continued to remind him.

"Will you stop it?" Chrona whined. "I want to do this for Patty, but do I have to call him Ragnorak? Isn't there anyone else we can ask for help?"

"No one's gonna do a better job than this guy and we need someone who's gonna give it to you straight! Hurry up and call him already."

Chrona swallowed the lump in his throat and dialed in the number with a shaky finger. He held the phone up to his ear as it rang. His heart beat harder the longer it rang, his breath catching at the short pauses in between. Then the dreaded click.

Hello?

Chrona's voice caught in his throat.

Is someone there? If this is a prank call-

"N-No! I-It's me, Chrona.." he managed to choke out.

Whoa, hey, Chrona! How have you been handling yourself? You know, Tsubaki's still mad at me for what I said that other night. Thanks to you she's been giving me that evil glare a lot.

"I-I'm sorry, b-but I called t-to ask you about something." Chrona forced the words out.

I guess I should help you out. What do you need?

"Can you help me..." No matter how he said it in his mind it sounded pathetic. "I need help with something kind of personal and-"

Hey, whoa, think about what you're going to say and if it sounds wierd then don't ask.

"No, I want you to help me...change." Yep, still wierd.

Oh... I thought this was going in a completely different direction.. Uh, sure, I guess. I'll help you out. So you're taking what Patty said seriously, huh?

"Y-Yeah... I am."

Then I'll give you a little advice now, forget about Patty.

Chrona's arm went numb and he quickly switched the phone into his other hand before he dropped it. "What? Forget about..what?"

Forget. About. Patty. If you do this thinking only about her then it'll only make things harder. Forget about her for now. You have to do this for you, Chrona. You're going to work hard to change yourself for you, not her.

Chrona didn't respond to quickly. He knew, once again, that BlackStar was right. BlackStar seemed to be on a roll that week. Chrona sighed heavily. "Okay, I'll try not to think about her."

Lesson one, make up your mind! Put your foot down and kill something! You will not think about her at all, got it? There's no trying- women try not to think about how their clothes don't match; men just don't. We know they don't match and we don't care!

Chrona could have sworn he heard giggling in the background.

You got that? We do,there's no more trying. It's time to man up!

"Y-Yes! I won't think about her at all."

And call me Great One as long as we're doing this because I'm great and number one!

Chrona sweatdropped and held the phone away from his ear as BlackStar laughed obnoxiously on the other end. This was going to be an interesting few days under BlackStar's ego. Ragnorak shook his head. Chrona just smiled and put it back to his ear when he heard the boasting cease. They set up a meeting time for Chrona to go to BlackStar and Tsubaki's apartment that week. When he finally hung up the phone he laid down on his couch and fell asleep. It was exhausting just talking to BlackStar.


Lesson 1: Put your foot down

"Alright, first things first, why do you want to do this? I'm not going to be an easy master and I just want to make sure you're doing this for the right reason," BlackStar stated.

"I'm doing this because I want to become someone who can deal with anything!" Chrona shouted as loudly as his soft voice would allow.

BlackStar nodded his approval then proceeded with his first lesson. He would talk with Chrona about something he didn't like and ask him annoying questions until he could "put his foot down" and either end the conversation assertively or change the subject effectively. Chrona, of course, failed miserably at this for the first five hours but later progressed to failing less by midday.

"You're a piece of work," BlackStar sighed. "We'll have to continue that tomorrow. I'm tired of talking. I don't think I've ever talked so much in my life."

"I guess I need a lot of work, huh?" Chrona inquired meekly.

"You need a crap load of work," he emphasized with hand gestures. "Come on, I'll ask Tsubaki to make us something to eat for lunch."

Chrona followed him inside where Tsubaki was already making something that smelled really good to their hungry noses. She stopped them with a spoon when they tried to enter the kitchen.

"I will bring it out to you, get out of my kitchen," she waved them off with a smile.

They wouldn't disobey the woman with food. They went into the dining room and sat down to wait. BlackStar noticed an annoyingly melancholy expression on Chrona's face. He slammed his fist down on the table, startling him.

"What's with that look?" he demanded. "You've just spent a whole day with The Great BlackStar, do you know how many people would kill for that?!"

"I'm sorry if I'm causing any trouble for either of you..."

It was time for the second half of the lesson. BlackStar reached across the table and snatched Chrona forwad.

"Do not apologize for stupid things. You say thank you and move on, got it?"

Chrona nodded slowly before BlackStar let him go and pushed him off the table. He was being very straight forward, he could admit that easily; the hard part was his brutality. He got up off the floor as Tsubaki came in carrying the plates of food. There was fish, gyoza, rice, and a small plate of sushi.

"I hope BlackStar hasn't been being to hard on you," she said as she set down the plates.

"He's a man- that's what he's here for," BlackStar said. "I'm toughening him up!"

"Thank you for making lunch," Chrona said. "It looks great."

"You're welcome! If there's anything you need that I might be able to help with just let me know, okay? I want you and Patty together, you're just to perfect."

"Ah, Tsubaki, you won't-"

"No, I won't tell her you were here today," she smiled. "I think it would be a nice surprise for her later."

"Thank you."

Lesson 2: Don't Think, Speak

"Um-"

"What?"

"I really, uh-"

"Just spit it out already!"

"Um, I... I, uh.."

"Hold on, you can't talk to a woman like that," BlackStar said, waving a hand in the air. "Where's your confidence?"

"I don't exactly talk to women everywhere I go," Chrona replied sadly.

"Neither do I."

"But your weapon's a girl."

"Point taken. Alright, here's how this works, you talk to a woman like you would talk to anyone else. You've seen how I talk to Tsubaki. We're like best friends, you know? Tsubaki! Can you come here for a minute?"

Tsubaki came outside in her sweatpants and green t-shirt, folding her arms, a death glare aimed straight at BlackStar. "Can you be little less loud? I was right there, I could hear you."

"Sorry, but I need you to talk to Chrona," he said, brushing off her statement. "Here, Chrona, start a conversation."

Tsubaki sat down in the third chair and turned to face Chrona. She smiled at him. It wasn't like she was some stranger, but giving all of her attention to him so suddenly put him on the spot. BlackStar motioned for him to start talking and Chrona did try.

"H-How are you today?" he choked.

"I'm fine, just enjoying the weather and some fresh air," Tsubaki replied.

"You look, um, comfortable," he went on, attempting eye contact.

Tsubaki made sure to hold his gaze as they went on. The longer they talked, the more relaxed he became; at some point he produced sentences without stuttering. BlackStar listened and prompted him on whenever he started to revert back into his nervous habit. Tsubaki started to actually enjoy the conversation which switchd topics often. He was now ready to expand on that.

"This is key to conversation, alright? Don't forget it."

"Okay."

"Say what you mean. Don't beat around the bush, be straight forward. That is what seperates us from the women."

Tsubaki raised an eyebrow incredulously. "What is it with you and refering to woman as if we're a different species?"

"It's nothing personal," BlackStar said quickly, "but I'm drawing a line between how men do things and how women do things. It gets complicated if things get mixed up."

"Of course," she sighed.

"That's a great example right there," he said, motioning toward Tsubaki. "She said one thing but obviously meant something else. I would have said it was just an excuse rather than leave the other person guessing."

"Which means your speaking straight from your heart," Tsubaki added.

"Don't say something like that," BlackStar argued.

"So I just have to be myself and say exactly what I want to?" Chrona asked.

Tsubaki nodded and BlackStar rolled his eyes. He got the general idea so he couldn't exactly get mad at him.

Lesson 3: Stand your ground

Chrona furrowed his brow and tightened his mouth. BlackStar didn't hold back his laughter that time either. Chrona let the expression fall and folded his arms. Tsubaki brought out water then went back inside, leaving the back door open. BlackStar caught his breath and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Chrona," he chuckled, "but you really suck at making a scary face."

"Why do I have to do this anyway? I don't want her to be afraid of me," Chrona said.

"Who?"

"No one.."

"Now, you can use this for any fight or arguement. There's a certain look that lets the opponent know you're not going to give up without a fight. It's really just for standing your ground. Man-to-Man it either signals the real fight or puts you on the same field. Man-to-Woman is different. The fight could go on for much longer if you do this, then again, it ups your chances of winning."

"No it doesn't," Tsubaki called from the kitchen. "It's a last stand and only to be used when you're out of options. Take my advice on this one."

BlackStar turned to look into the side door. "I'm the one he asked for help, stop interrupting my lessons!"

"Whatever~" she called back.

He turned back to Chrona. "That was lessons one and two: being assertive and say what you mean. See how it works?"

Chrona nodded. "I'm still a little confused on this face thing."

"Alright, I'll show you. Stand up."

They stood and BlackStar leaned forward on the table. He punched the table and glared at Chrona.

"What did you just say?!"

Chrona leaned on the table. "I said that was my last piece."

"Then you'd better go get some more because I wanted one and you ate it all," BlackStar played into the random topic.

He furrowed his brow and tilted his head to where shadows were cast over his features. Chrona narrowed his eyes and leaned back just slightly to where the sun hit his eyes in that crazed blue color. BlackStar stood straight up and nodded his approval.

"That was pretty good," he lauded. "I was about ready to punch you in the face."

Chrona laughed nervously. "Yeah.."

BlackStar sat back down. "Well, I've taught you everything I can Chrona. They're basic things but anything else you learn will have to be on your own. I think you've grown up since we started."

Chrona sat down and sighed heavily. He did, admittedly, feel much more confident in himself. He felt much more capable of handling situations he may not have known how to deal with before. There was something different inside of him now and that felt good as well. Chrona had done this just for himself. All for himself and...her. Up until then he had actually managed to forget about her almost completely and it felt...good. Chrona froze at that realization that he had managed to drive her almost completely out of his life without suffering of any kind. He had actually felt normal for the first times in months.

"BlackStar?" Chrona asked to make sure he was paying attention.

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk about her now?"

"I guess this is the end of your training so go ahead," he shrugged.

"I just realized that I had barely thought about her at all and it feels okay."

BlackStar raised an eyebrow.

"It doesn't hurt to think about her anymore either," he went on. "Don't I care about her anymore?"

BlackStar stood and stretched his arms. "That's a question I can't answer," he yawned. "My job is done so go home already. That's probably where you'll find the answer. If everything turns out alright then I should see you around."

Chrona went back to his apartment and fell into bed. The past week had turned into quite an adventure under BlackStar's command. He had managed to avoid calling him Great One to often and his ego got in the way a lot, but it was still nice spending so much time with someone else. Chrona would never admit it out loud, but he had gained a new respect for the loud mouth assassin. He remained fairly serious through the "training." It would be even more amazing if all of it paid off and he could finally stand confidently in front of Patty. That, however, was a challenge he was willing to put off a little longer.