Hey guys, who are you again? Oh right, readers! I'm sorry this took so long. It's been sitting on my computer for a little under a month "finished". I did the "" because I wanted to add to it, but yeah no. Didn't happen. Anyways, we had our first IB assessment (the "Independent Oral Presentation" a really fancy way of saying a literary analysis of anything we want) and tournament season's started, so I haven't had a whole lot of free time. Hopefully I'll post the next chapter within this month. No. it will be before New Years'. So, you've been patient enough. I don't own DGM or any characters therein.

"Oi, Moyashi! Are you listening to me?" Kanda glared at me as I realized I had been staring into space for a few minutes. I shifted uncomfortably under his dark eyes.

"Yeah, I am. I just... didn't know that you had someone like Road is to me. I never took you for the type to get close to people like that.." Kanda's glare hardened as he stood striding over to his bed. He settled under the blankets.

"Che. Shit happens; people change. It's late." I nodded, mirroring his actions. I flicked the light switch, plunging the room into darkness.

So, Kanda has Alma... Did he find him? What happened that made Kanda so.. Kanda? My thoughts wandered to various parts of Kanda's story, more questions occurring to me than answers. Laying in the blackness, with only the pale bit of moonlight filtering through the blinds, I thought about the past, memories I had long since buried.

~º~º~ºTonight all the monsters going to dance, coming to get ya, coming to get ya; calling all the monsters, calling all the monsters~º~º~º

"Whoa, guys, you look awful! Are you alright?" Lenalee's worried tone vaguely registering in my conciousness. Kanda growled, but said nothing. Lavi chuckled.

"Isn't it obvious Lenalady? They spent the night -ahem- doin' ya know...!" Before Lavi's meaning translated in my head, Kanda had Lavi pinned, Mugen pressing down on his throat.

"Touchy aren't we this morning, Yu-chan?" Mugen pressed harder, a thin line of blood forming below the black metal.

"Kanda! Get off of him!" Lenalee yelled as her clipboard made contact with the Asian's skull. Said Asian snarled at her, but did as she commanded, and wiped the blood off his beloved weapon. "Besides, we're going to be late to Ms. Nine's class. If I'm late because you two couldn't keep your hands to yourself, Niisan will kill you."

"As some of you may already know," Ms. Klaud Nine, Black Order's English teacher glanced at Lenalee. "We are getting a new student; today is her first day, and I expect you all to make her feel welcome. Come here, dear. Class, this is Road Kamelot."

A girl entered the classroom. She was very petite, but she possessed a commanding air; she was used to being the center of attention. She was rather pretty, but her most attention-grabbing feature was her spikey blue hair and golden eyes. She smiled at the class, surveying, judging, as she twirled a lollipop between her fingers. Her eyes stopped their wandering abruptly, focusing on mine. An unfamiliar feeling built inside me. I felt like I was choking, but an overwhelming happiness overrode the terror.

"Allen-kun!" She was suddenly attached to me, squeezing all the air out of my lungs in her joy, capturing my lips with hers briefly. "It's been too long! I missed you so much!"

"Uh, hey Road.." I felt my face heat up as she perched herself on my lap, keeping her arms firmly locked around my neck. Ms. Nine cleared her throat from her spot at the front. Road turned a faux innocent face to her.

"Yes?"

"While I am glad you two seem to know each other so well, Ms. Kamelot will find another seat that is not Mr. Walker's lap. Does anyone have any questions for Ms. Kamelot?"

Road looked around the room, daring anyone to question her, before glaring at Ms. Nine, clearly stating she was not going to be moved. She hasn't changed at all... Class resumed as usual, save people stealing glances at Road and me every now and then. Road paid no attention to the lesson, just review for the fast approaching midterms, which she would not be required to take since she just arrived.

"Class, do you have any questions regarding The Scarlet Letter? The symbols? Context? No? Alright, then you should all do well on your summative assessment." A collective groan went up from the students. "Don't whine; it won't be nearly as bad as you think. You will receive it today and will have the weekend to do it. Lenalee, pass these out. Lenalee is handing you the assessment. I want you to choose one question from the top section and one from the bottom. No, you will not get extra credit if you answer all four. You are going to want to support your answer with evidence from the text; use at least two quotes from the book. At first glance, does anyone have any questions about your assignment?

"No? Again? Are you guys awake? Alright, since no one seems to want to go over your summative assessment, which by the way is your only grade that will actually count, you can do it now."

"Wait a sec Ms. Nine... Can we have moment to read the questions?" Lavi flashed her his "strike" smile, as he so affectionately called it. Road peered over my shoulder, reading the questions.

"Excuse me, but what's a tragic hero?" Road wrinkled her nose in distaste of the questions.

"Excellent question, Road! You all are being shown up by our newest student; you should be ashamed. A tragic hero is an archetype in literature; to be a tragic hero, the character has to possess certain qualities. These would be 1) they have a fatal flaw. A fatal flaw, Road, is usually a deep seated character fluke. In many ancient Greek plays, it was Hubris, pride. 2) They experience a downfall. 3) They realize their flaw. So, does Dimmsdale exemplify a tragic hero? Toma?"

"Yes, he does"

"Defend."

"Well, he has two fatal flaws, pride and lust. He has pride in his reputation, and it is that pride that causes him to not want to reveal his sin with Hester, but it also leads to his downfall. These two fatal flaws work in tandem to destroy Dimmsdale. His pride refuses to allow him to admit to his other flaw, his desire for Hester. This leads him to punish himself until he ultimately just drops dead. However, he realizes his fatal flaw moments before his death in his final speech to his 'flock'." Toma glanced around nervously.

"Some of you may want to take a few notes? This could help you. Any other questions?"

"Yes, if we have already chosen to do our independent oral report on an aspect of this book, and one of the questions is really close to our topic, can we make this the base for our report?"

"No, your report has to be based on something you haven't already done. If there aren't any more questions about your summative, you may have the remainder of class to yourselves."

Excited conversations broke out around the classroom. Lenalee and Lavi came over to Road and I.

"I'm Lenalee Lee, it's nice to meet you!" Lenalee smiled cheerfully at Road. Road looked her over before locking Lenalee into a hug, allowing me to breathe for a moment. But Road's embrace was short lived, and she returned to her former position.

"And I am Lavi!" Lavi bowed elaborately, eliciting a giggle from Road. "What I don't get hugs too?" The poor rabbit looked hurt, more like a kicked puppy than a rabbit. Road shrunk away from him and more towards me, mischievously.

"If you want a hug, you have to come get one!" She stuck out her tongue at Lavi, daring him to come get her, and by extension, me. Lavi, of course, was all too happy to oblige, gripping both of us in a bone crushing bear hug.

Kanda had been oddly silent, even for Kanda through the entire class. I looked over at him after Lavi released us. He was staring daggers at Lavi and Road, not at all pleased with the situation.

"Kanda, you ok?" I interrupted his glaring, rather concerned. He looked at me for a brief moment, his eyes cold before the bell rang and he was gone.

ºººThe dreams are gone; midnight has come, the darkness is our new kingdomººº

Songs: Calling All the Monsters by China McClain; Angel of Darkness by Alex C., ft. Yasmin K.

So, I noticed they hadn't "played school" for awhile, hence the school-y-ness. As usual, R&R, if you would. I love you all~!

Love and Starbucks, Ankhesa