A/N: Chapter 10 of The Cold's Shards. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own OCs. Mikagura School Suite belongs to the rightful owner.

Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.


Chapter 10: An Exhibition match

In my room...

Even though I managed to catch the last few moments of Usamaru's battle up to the destruction of his last crystal upon my return to my room, his opponent's words that made my blood boil. She was condescending, she was mean and she mocked her opponent before walking off, a smirk on her face after obtaining victory. Something about watching the match made me hate fighting just for sheer joy of gloating in the opponent's face.

Tch...! That was frustrating to watch...I tossed my device on my bed, placed Seisa's portrait gently on my desk and stood by the window deep in thought. I released a sigh, closing my eyes and rubbed my temples. "And these loud noises are giving me headaches...curse my extra hearing."

Kurisu!

"Iliya-sama?!" I opened my eyes and everything outside disappeared. In front of me I could see her, my golden-haired angel hovering before me. Her smile and everything, I remember so clearly. "Iliya-sama!" In that instant the window shattered and her body crumbled to pieces, each shard fell harmlessly onto the floor. I couldn't breathe. I didn't blink. My blood ran cold as I stared at her head, the only piece that hadn't fallen yet. She was staring at me, her lifeless eyes bore deep into mine. It just hurt so much seeing her but knowing that she was still gone made the hurt that much harder to bear.

Ku...ri...su... Her lips moved before curling up into a smirk. It hurts...it really...hurts...I shivered as ghastly fingers grasped my face, pulling me closer to her. Relive me...of this...pain...

"No...no...no..." I tried to get out of the grasp but my body wouldn't obey my command. This is just a dream...a really harsh nightmare..."

Relieve me...The voice continued to whisper, a mantra circulating within my mind. Save me...

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Clutching my head I iced my entire room as well as half of the dormitory, losing control of my power. The sound of students yelling and trying to escape reached my ears but I could only curl up into a ball in the middle of my room. "Iliya-sama...I...I...!"

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"Oi! Puppy! Control yourself! You've froze nearly the entire dormitory!"

"Keep doing what you're doing. It'll make the rest of us juniors look better..."

"Sadamatsu what kind of encouraging words are those?!" Nyamirin scolded with a disappointed look upon her face. "We have to look after Puppy-chan no matter what!"

"Arrrgh! The floor's really slippery! I shouldn't have worn such shoes!" Himi squealed. "I forgot how unmerciful the ice was!"

SNAP!

In a flash the ice disappeared at the sound of my snap, not a trace to be found and not a puddle on the floor. Taking a deep breath I adjusted my hood over my head, feeling a wall of ice rise to encase my still wounded heart. How could I be happy...when Iliya-sama's death hasn't been solved? I can't afford to waste any time...but...here I am, watching the battles... I turned to see the other juniors filing into my room. "Why are you guys in here?"

"Are you alright?!"

"I was just on my way when half of the dormitory froze over! I just had to run over!"

"I came along because Kyoma ran over as quickly as his legs could carry him. I could care less."

"You no good pot head...are you sprouting flowers from your brain now?"

"Hey that's enough, we're all friends here..." Nyamirin placed herself between me and Sadamatsu, a frown upon her face. "You know how the headmistress hates it if we made a mess in the dormitories, as well as set bad examples for the others."

"If Nyamirin wasn't here I'd have you beat." I snarled.

"Don't think for a minute I sat on my ass doing nothing after that battle we last had." Sadamatsu replied, meeting my gaze without flinching. "I'm not like how I used to be."

"By the way, you didn't show up to Eruna's congratulatory party." Akama told me, changing the subject for everyone's convenience. "We kinda threw her one, not because Shigure threatened us by any means..."

"I came back from the fair and didn't really get an invite." I replied, blinking once before looking at my device that was still laying on my bed. Looking at the screen I frowned. "Oh now I received it..."

"Wow talk about late..."

"Sorry. I'll send Shigure a text back." My fingers flew across the keyboard before sending the message out. "I'm sure he'll understand."

"By the way I'm sure Eruna's next battles are coming up soon." Himi proclaimed as she glanced at her watch. "Don't want to miss them right?"

"I'll just watch them from here." I gestured to my room. "Also could one of you find a frame for the portrait?"

"Hmmm? So you and Seisa did swap portraits~" Nyamirin grinned as she looked at the painting. "Looks cute~"

"I'm sure we have some spare frames in the art club. Come by when you're able to and I'll have it ready." Kyoma said before leaving, taking Sadamatsu with him. The others also excused themselves and said goodbye to me too. "Make sure you enjoy the battles once in awhile."

BA-PING!

"Hmm? A message?" I noticed my screen light up and looked at it once the others disappeared. From the secretary? When did she get my number?

What do you say to an exhibition match against the winner of the finals? If you win the headmistress will gladly give you the information she received in regards to Iliya. Of course that also means that you, as the sole representative of the Night Patrol Club, have to do well.

"Fighting in the Rookie Battle?" I frowned at the weird message. Is the headmistress belittling me? There's no way I'm allowed to fight in there...I thought she knew that...

BA-PING!

"Mmm? Another one?" And so quickly after the first?

If you don't comply...you will never solve your mystery. And...it would be my victory.

"Tch, I knew this was too good to be true! What the hell is this?!" I stared at my device in shock, debating whether to ignore it or follow the order. "A hack?!" Looking at the number I realized that it was untraceable but soon it was calling me. I waited ten minutes before picking up, holding it against my ear. "Where are you and what is your relationship with Iliya-sama?"

"Well it seems you caught on quick..." The voice was definitely a female's when she spoke to me. "And you haven't changed in the slightest...jumping straight to the point."

"Tell me what I need to know." I growled. "What happened that day? I know it was you you snake!"

"No no, that's not how I do things." The voice taunted. "I'm sure you're wondering, out of all the students why is your phone the one that received the messages? Why indeed..."

"Is it because of my relationship with Iliya?" I asked and in the background I could hear the clapping of hands.

"Bravo...bravo indeed. Then we should go straight to the main course."

"How do you know the Rookie battle was happening?"

"How could I not? It's being broadcast and all I needed to do was tap into the network and viola~ Instant television and entertainment." There was a chuckle. "Now if you don't want anything bad to happen to that friend of yours...or any of them for that matter then I suggest you follow what that message says."

Seisa! "You filthy little-"

"Don't think about making threats, I make the calls here. Not you. The headmistress doesn't even know, this will be our little secret."

"You do realize that if she notices, I'll be in serious trouble?!" I hissed.

"Since when were you afraid?" The voice questioned. "You eagerly followed that blonde goddess of yours anywhere, you even did as you were told without hesitation. Why don't you show me your courage now?"

"You keep her out of this!"

"Oh but why should I? Everything revolves around her death, you, me and soon the entire school. Now do as I say...I'm sure you are already suspecting Lucoa and you have every right to. But all I need is to press one button.."

"Okay fine. Fine..." I spoke, not wanting to hear the rest. It was no doubt blackmail but I couldn't run to the headmistress. "I'll do what you want."

"Good dog. Now put on a show for us."


Elsewhere...

"Wow, isn't the Rookie tournament interesting?" Lucoa exclaimed as she walked beside Seisa, looking around and watching the various battles with glee. "I've never had this much excitement in my life."

"I guess..."

"You don't seem happy, is it because of these club battles?" The red-head asked. When she didn't get a response she nodded her head with knowing. "Ah~ It's okay if you don't tell me, I already have a hunch."

"Oh you do?"

"Isn't that Eruna? She's doing exceptionally well!" Lucoa said as the battle between Eruna and Tonkyun were half way done. "Wow, if she wins she'll go into the quarterfinals with ease!"

"I wouldn't be so sure..." Seisa murmured and sure enough they managed to see the first year fall to the girl from the broadcast club in the quarter final. "Hmm just as I thought."

"You should be a psychic~"

But it seemed as thought Kyoma was in a better mode after watching her earlier fight. Seisa thought, witnessing the representative of the Art club painting to his hearts content, a large grin on his face. Was it all thanks to Eruna?

"Check that out!" Lucoa's voice jerked her out of her thoughts and she looked up just as the final battle came to the end. "That girl must have potential cause that boy barely made a scratch on her~ What I wouldn't give to have a fight with her!"

"Winner, Otone Fujishiro." The announcer spoke as the arena erupted into cheers. Eruna and the other members of the drama club stood in the stands, unable to believe their rushed over to see if they could cheer Asuhi on only to find him on his butt and his crystals shattered.

"This wasn't even considered a warm-up." The girl huff, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair with her finger. She had on a monochrome-themed dress with transparent frills, matching stockings and black shoes. Her hair was white with wild violet streaks, fashioned into twin-tails with dark frilly ribbons. "Hmph."

"Then allow me to change your mind since you don't seem fulfilled."

"EH?! SENPAI!?" Eruna gasped as I stepped forward, hands in pockets and my hood covering my face. There were whispers from the crowd and even Shigure looked at me strangely.

Oho so Kanade-sama was behind all this. Lucoa smiled as she lowered her device, reading through the new message. Turning her head to speak to Seisa she realized that she was standing alone and the sophomore had vanished. Huh? She disappeared without me noticing, just when we had gotten to know each other better. What an interesting prey.

"Kurisu..why are you here?" Shigure asked me as I stepped onto the stage, angling the microscope away so it was just talking between us. "We aren't supposed to intervene with the rookies!"

"Please step off the stage." I replied, focusing my eyes on Otone who squared her shoulders immediately when she sensed the urge of battle rolling off my body in waves. Asuhi got the jest and so he went to stand next to Eruna in the stands, holding the telescope in his hands. "This is between me and her now."

"What...?"

BZZT~ BZZT~ BZZT~

"Hello? Huh?! Headmistress are you sure?!" Shigure asked worriedly, his eyes darting back and forth between us. "Well...I guess we don't have a choice now do we? Okay I understand. Okay bye then!"

"So?" I questioned once he hung up. "Did I get the ok?"

"Yeah...I don't know what's going on but...don't go overboard." He warned and hopped off the stage. "Well students, you're in for a treat! Feast your eyes on the exhibition match, approved by the headmistress herself!"


In the office...

"Headmistress! Headmistress!" The secretary rushed in, a scared expression on her face. "Have you seen this?! What are we to do?!"

"She's fighting in the Rookie battle?" The elderly woman looked at her own device in hand, a sigh escaping her lips. "I know."

"Then why aren't we doing anything about it? It's against the rules to-"

"I know. I know the rules very well!" The headmistress replied before looking at the actual screen, hands pressed together with worry. Her eyebrows were knitted together in thought. "But I can't penalize her for it."

"Why the hell not?!" The headmistress merely showed her secretary her device with the newly read message."Isn't that...blackmailing?"

"I already gave Shigure a call so he knows. We'll just have to watch until they're done." She looked at her secretary for a moment. "Call her to my office once their little bout is finished, we must start acting accordingly."

Don't think about stopping the exhibition fight. If you do, I can't guarantee your granddaughter's safety. Before long the lives of every single student within your school will be held within my grasp. Now relax and enjoy.