"Wow, Shura, I can't believe you got a 100 on the verses test from yesterday," Arthur said in awe as he looked at her paper over her shoulder. The redhead smirked triumphantly and snickered a bit.

"Yeah, I know, I'm awesome. Was a pain in the ass to study for it, but the old man said he'd treat me to something if I aced this one. And bam, I nailed it~"

"You really are amazing, Shura," Arthur slumped his shoulders as he looked at his own test. "All I could manage was an 89. I'm worthless when it comes to tests." So Caliburn had reminded him hundreds of times since he had more deeply ingrained himself into the Cram School.

"Whaaat? No way, that's a great score. Ya scored an 85 on the last one, right? Ya did better~" Shura did a little jump so that she could reach up enough to lock her arm around his shoulders, pulling him into something of a headlock. "Quit selling yerself short so much. Ya did really good on the pharmaceuticals test the other day, too."

"I got a 98. I should have done better, but I was stupid and got the last question wrong," Arthur sighed, looking glumly at his own paper. He knew herbs fairly well, but that last question had tricked him. He'd done over three extra hours of study on the subject before he even dared attempt to speak to Caliburn again after such a miserable performance. He would really get it for the mediocre score he got on the verses test. Before he could linger in his gloom for too long, though, Shura had pulled him into a tight headlock.

"Don't ya' give me that. Yer not as bright as Lightning, no one's that scary, but yer no dumbass."

"I dunno, I think he might be brighter than me," the onyxette chuckled from his desk. "Have you seen the way this guy shines in his rigid code of honor? I get worried that I might go blind from just looking at him." Arthur flushed, bowing his head from the praise.

"Good," Shura snipped back at the onyxette. "Maybe once yer blind and outta' the way we can go ahead and get serious with things. With any luck, maybe ye'll get a sunburn as a bonus for us." Lightning did nothing but snicker at her words, going right back to the book he was reading.

Arthur smiled, hearing the familiar banter between his two friends. This had become something familiar, comfortable. He wouldn't have this any other way, with himself and his two friends and classmates. They were so engaged in their usual contentment that none of them noticed the door opening.

–

God, this is such a pain. Why did I even have to come?" The teen groaned inwardly as he walked through the halls. Thankfully he was at least just allowed to slip into the class without too much pomp and circumstance about his arrival. Maybe he could get through this month without too much annoyance.

He arrived at last at the door to his appointed classroom, and pulled it open.

It seemed that its current occupants were currently engaged with one another. Three students talking casually. One weird looking guy with a stupid looking hat. Some girl with red and blond hair (weird). And what looked to be some blond guy with a gigantic sword. Nothing of too much interest.

...Wait a moment. A person with long blond hair, and a large sword, wearing all white... no, it couldn't have been... could it? He looked more closely at their back, focusing on the sword. So big, and yet so familiar... wait a minute... no. It couldn't have been...

...Oh my god, it is.

–

"But anyways, ya' gotta stop puttin' yerself down like that, Angel. If ya' keep on aiming for perfection every time, all's gonna happen is ye'll get headaches from stress and all that pretty hair o' yers is gonna gray early." Arthur shrugged, looking down at his paper.

"I... I guess so. It's just that-" Whatever it was 'just', he never got to say. Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly found himself in a choke-hold from behind. Someone's arm wrapping around his neck and yanking him into a head-lock against his assailant's chest. He yelped, struggling briefly and trying to free himself. He heard Shura's chair scoot back sharply against the floor, her hand slam against the desk.

"Hey! What the hell, dude?! What's yer problem?!" Shura snapped. Whoever it was, however, didn't seem to mind her. They were just laughing and manhandling him as he squirmed uncomfortably.

"Oh man! I can't believe it's you, foreigner! It's been so long!" Arthur paused in his struggles, hearing them speak. He recognized that voice... No, it couldn't be.

"Ch-cheng-Long?" At last the arm around his neck released him, and he was able to stand. And he saw that he was indeed correct. Standing before him, grinning, was Cheng-Long Liu.

"What the hell, ya' know this clown, Angel?" Arthur looked up, and saw that Shura had come close to pulling her sword on the Taiwanese exorcist. The hilt of the sword was already sticking out of the tattoo on her chest.

"Y-yes," he said quickly, trying to make motions indicating she could put the sword away. "H-he's a friend of mine that I met in Taiwan a little over a year ago." He looked to his friend. "B-but I don't understand. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in the monastery for your training?"

"That's why I'm here, duh," the other grinned. "The master thought it'd be good for me to get some experience learning from teachers outside of our monastery. Our people are connected to the Taiwan Exorcists' branch, so I got special permission to come and do some studying here. But man," Cheng-Long shook his head slowly, "I never imagined I'd be seeing you of all people when I came here. How'd you even end up in Japan?"

"I... took a boat," the blond answered vaguely. To be entirely precise, he and Caliburn had snuck aboard a boat and had hidden from the crew as it made its way across the ocean. "B-but, regardless of that, I can't believe I'm seeing you again. It's been so long since I last heard from you."

"Same," the Taiwanese teen grinned. "Man, we have got a lot of catching up to do."

However, whatever talking they could do seemed as though it would have to wait. A teacher walked in at that moment, lesson plan in hand.

"Whoops, guess we'll have to get started on that later. I'm gonna' have to focus on the learning part of this trip, otherwise the master is gonna' let me have it when I get back." He shot his blond friend a thumbs up, then walked up to the front desk, intending to introduce himself to his new instructor.

Arthur stood there a moment, stunned, yet somehow pleased at the same time.

I... I guess now I have three friends in my class, he thought to himself. And just that simple thought sent warmth all through his chest.

Hm... not doing half bad on your studies. Keep it up and you might get a semi-decent grade on this, Caliburn sniffed from her sword. Arthur nodded, pouring over his homework and intaking all of this new information. There sure was a lot to know about being an exorcist. Really, there was just a lot to know in general...

"Um... Caliburn?" He heard the demon's sound of acknowledgement, and he took a breath. He had to ask now, or else he'd never be able to. "Th-there's... there's something I've been meaning to ask you about..."

–

In the past couple of weeks, Shura had noticed something increasingly strange about her blond friend. He seemed to be avoiding them at times, leaving the classroom as soon as it let out. And whenever she asked about it, he just said he had some things to take care of. Pissed her off, to be totally honest. Where did he get off being so secretive and crap?

She had even seen him sneaking around towards the teachers' offices. At one point she caught him talking with Father Fujimoto about something, but they stopped talking shortly after she got there, so she didn't learn much. She saw him scurrying around with thick packets of paper, too, whatever the hell that might mean for an oddball guy like him.

Well, whatever. Not like it was any of her business. She had other things to attend to anyhow.

One of which, being the regular school that she had to attend in addition to the Cram School in the afternoon. The blond sighed as she walked into the classroom, plopping down into her seat. Another day, another boring several hours of school. Lame. She shoved her cheek into her palm, sighing and resting until the teacher came in.

"Good morning, class," the instructor greeted. She waited until everyone had gotten into their proper seats before she spoke again. "I have a special announcement to make. Our class has the special honor of taking in a foreign exchange student." Shura snorted quietly. A foreign exchange student, huh? That might provide some excitement. Honestly, though, she wasn't too intrigued. No matter where this student was from, they certainly wouldn't be able to compare to that foreign friend of hers back in Cram School. "You can come in now."

Though she heard her classmates straining their necks to look at them, Shura never bothered. Maybe some prissy high society British type? Or some gaudy, loud American? Maybe they'd get someone from a South American country. She'd hear of another class who'd gotten one from Ecuador or something...

"G-good morning." Her train of thought stopped abruptly, hearing that timid voice. No. "M-my name is Arthur... Arthur Auguste Angel. I-it's a pleasure to meet all of you, and I look forward to learning alongside you all." No way in hell. But, when she looked up, she saw. It was indeed him. The very same Arthur Angel, her classmate, was standing at the front of the room, wearing the school's uniform. The only thing not per usual that she saw of him was his lack of sword.

"We'll be very glad to have you in our class, Mr. Angel. Now, to just find you a seat..." The teacher scanned the room, looking for an empty desk. "Do you have any vision or hearing problems?" When she received an answer to a negative, she nodded in decisiveness. "Alright then, Mr. Angel. In that case, you can sit right there, next to Ms. Kirigakure." Arthur looked right at her then, and managed what usually passed as a smile with him. He was told about his classwork he would need to catch up on, sent to his seat, and that was the end of that.

Then went the usual introductions. People greeting him and telling him about where the nurse's office was and questioning him about where he had come from. Some girls Shura overheard were whispering about him and how they thought he was kind of quiet and cute Things like that. The boy seemed about as timid as ever, no changes there. But she was just dying for some time away from everyone else so she could actually question him about all of this.

She got her chance when lunchtime rolled around, and she told him to follow her. Well, mostly she said he was going to come with her, and then she grabbed him by his jacket and dragged him along behind her until they had reached a place in the courtyard where they could talk without being overheard.

"Alright, ya've got about ten seconds to start explainin' what the hell yer doin' here!" Shura snapped, crossing her arms. The blond held his hands up defensively, trying to placate his friend.

"I-I, it's really nothing really big or mysterious," he said quickly. "I-I was just thinking that, aside from my training to be an Exorcist, I don't do much else. I thought that, since I'm here, and I'm not doing traveling or anything... maybe I could start learning more things about the world in a school like this one. S-so I went and talked to Father Fujimoto, since he seemed to have some connections with the Principal and all. H-he helped me to get a spot enrolled as a student and filled out all the paperwork, and... well..." He gestured to himself. "I-I'm here now. As a student... in your class."

He looked at her nervously, wondering what she would make of his story. Would she think he was stupid for wanting it? Did she not like him being in a class with her? Was she going to be angry with him? These questions circled about in his head, worrying him, until at last she burst out laughing, startling him into jumping.

"Oh my god, you gigantic dork!" Shura laughed, shoving him in the chest. She grinned, watching him regain his balance and dust off his front from her sudden push. "Well, at least regular school won't be so freakin' boring anymore. Now I've got someone to stir up some trouble with. " He started to stutter a bit about how he didn't really want to cause trouble, but the smile on her face told him it was just another one of her jokes, and he managed a small, good-natured laugh. "Seriously, ya' did all that sneaking around these past couple a' weeks just so ya' could come to school?"

"I... yes?" He responded weakly. "I-I had wanted it to be a surprise..." Or else not be a disappointment if he'd ended up not getting in.

"Well, sure surprised me," Shura snickered. She sighed, looking him over. "So, yer at school now, huh? What about that huge-ass sword of yers?"

"I-I decided it would be best to leave it in my room, all things considered," he shrugged weakly. He'd seen from experience how... discomforted, people could get if they saw someone walking amongst them with a bladed weapon so large.

"Ah, makes sense. 'S one of the reasons I keep mine in my tattoo," Shura shrugged. Arthur was about to nod in agreement, but at that moment his stomach growled loudly, and a deep flush lit up across his face. All Shura did was laugh. "Well, I guess we can continue this conversation later. C'mon, let's see if we ain't too late to grab some sandwiches 'r somethin' from the school store. Race ya'!" She took off at a bolt, only for Arthur to start and run right after her.

"H-hey, wait up!"

–

The little blond girl behind the trees narrowed her vivid green eyes as she listened to the conversation between the two teens. She didn't bother to follow when they ran off, nothing more she needed.

So, she was an 'it' now, was she? Honestly, after all that she had done for him, all the work she had put into conditioning that single human boy and attempting to train him into a respectable fighter, this was what she got in return? Disobedience? Rebellion? Asking for more than she had previously provided? Where did he get off with the right for any of that nonsense? He needed her. Without her, he was nothing but a worthless child with no talents besides killing and little to no ability to function on his own without her by his side, lest he throw himself into hysterics or otherwise lose all will to go on.

At least, that was what should have happened. But now that he was here, at this school, making friends and meeting mentors, he was drifting away from all that. All that work she had put into him, washed down the drain like so much spoilt milk, because he had the unmitigated gall to defy her! He had all of the right potential: his trauma, his natural abilities, his lineage. And he was going to let it go to waste by defying her and throwing away her guidance and tutelage in favor of these people.

Well, Caliburn wasn't about to just sit back and let all of that happen, no sir.

A small smirk crossed the tiny demoness's features, tiny fangs poking out from between her lips, green eyes gaining the lightest tinge of red. Well then. If he thought he was going to be so grand and mighty, and be a big man all by himself...

Then let us just see how dear sweet little Arthur will do all on his own.

–

"You go, Arthur! You've got this!" Cheng-Long called down into the pit, cheering on his blond friend. Lightning stood beside him, seeming interested. If only vaguely so.

"You go, too, Shura. Or whatever, I guess," he shrugged noncomittally. Shura shot a glare his way, but made no other attempt to respond.

"Alright, easy as pie," she smirked as she looked over at Arthur. "Teach lets out the dog ghoul, I jump in and dance around a bit to confuse it, and then I send it yer way so ya' can chop it in half with that giant sword o' yers. Cool?"

"R-right. Let's do this," Arthur nodded. He placed a hand over Caliburn's hilt, ready to perform the usual action to draw her free of the scabbard. The two teens looked intently at the box on the other side, from which the teacher would release the beast.

And then, they were off. The gate opened, and the dog ghoul barged out from the metal, straight at them. Smirking viciously, Shura leaped right back at it, smacking against its nose with the flat of her blade. The thing was sent tumbling backwards, yelping, but recovered quickly and came at her again. Arthur couldn't help but watch the way she moved. Not a single movement wasted, just her and her nimble jumps and twists that kept her one step ahead at all times.

"Get ready, Angel, here it comes!" Shura shouted at last, giving the dog demon a turn that sent it right in his direction. The blond nodded, and slid his hand along Caliburn's hilt, murmuring the chant to ask her help under his breath.

"Caliburn, lend me thy strength," he breathed. He wrapped his hand around the hilt, giving it a sharp tug to pull her from her scabbard.

There was no give.

Confused, shocked, he let out a breath as he realized that the demon Shura had directed his way was still aimed right at him. All he could think to do was throw himself out of the way, tumbling roughly against the ground.

"Oi! What the hell do ya' think yer' doin', Arthur?! Slice it already!" Spurred on by Shura's shouts, he pulled furiously at the sword, but to no avail. No matter how much he pulled, the sword was stuck, as if it were a mere prop that was never meant to come free of the scabbard.

"Caliburn," he whispered urgently. "Caliburn, please, lend me your strength. I need your help!" A resounding howl struck his ears, and he turned just in time to see the dog-demon hurling itself at him, mouth afoam and eyes wild. Given the circumstances, all he could think to do was yank the sword, hoping against all hope that something had just gone wrong, that in just a moment Caliburn would be out. A snarl rang out, and he whipped around, seeing the dog demon fly at him.

"Arthur!" Shura shouted, running towards him. Something was definitely wrong, she could sense it. Stuck with no other options, Arthur did all that he could, and dropped to his knees, still pulling on his sword, letting the dog demon fly right over the top of its head with no way to stop its own momentum. Shura came up from the side of it, growling, and sliced her sword into its body.

The beast yelped, feeling the pain of its annihilation, and slowly faded to bits of floating black matter. The moment she was certain it was dead, Shura whirled back on her blond friend.

"What the hell was that, Angel?!" Shura snapped, sauntering over to him with her sword over her shoulder, eyes narrowed. "Ya' coulda' gotten yerself hurt there, what are ya', crazy?!" She kept up her angered expression, but this slowly faded as she saw how rigid his whole body was. As if all of his flesh had turned to stone. "... Hey, that thing didn't actually hurt ya', did it?" she asked. "What's the matter?"

"I...I..." he stared into his own hands, looking at the weapon still firmly in his sheath. He felt cold all over, despite his heart beating at about 90 miles per hours. Why... in so many years, why...

"Angel?"

"...I can't draw my sword."