A/N: AHH! It's been so long! Sorry sorry! REALLY SORRY! I wanted to get this chapter out sooner but events at work spiraled out of control and it took a while for the chaos to die down... Let's just say i experienced three lifetimes worth of events.

I realized that it has already been two months since my last post... really... sorry for that. I hope none of my readers went off to commit suicide or anything... That would be really depressing for me. No, killing yourself will not make this story go any faster, nor will it allow you to enter the Afterlife and join the SSS. Remember kids, killing yourself is stupid.

It is good to have Niker back, not to mention having all the new readers enjoying my work. As for my loyal readers, reading your comments kept me going despite my turbulent life troubles. Thanks!

I have begun writing new stories but this will still be considered my main story. Because of this, chapters will be slowed down for this story. Once i'm done with those stories this one will go full throttle once more!

On a more depressing note, I am sad to announce that i have decided to get this story into it's final arc. After thinking about it all this while, as well as discussing with my sister/editor about this, i have come to the conclusion that stretching this story any further would do more damage to the plot than it would benefit it. I will be putting all other story ideas into my side stories for this, so wait for it. The side stories will only be published after this story has ended. I hope all of you understand and accept my decision as it was hard on me to make this decision.

For now, read and enjoy my latest chapter! Don't forget to review!


Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Chapter 29

Trials by Fire and Darkness

What Musashi said to Katsuragi did not make sense. Was he Kurogane Kou? Obviously not. Kurogane Kou was a girl. There was no way he could be the leader of the Guardians and besides, Kurogane Kou was a different person who occupied a separate space in time. Well, what was time in here anyway?

"Well, it doesn't matter. You have slight differences... though very similar."

Musashi said as he turned back to the furnace.

"Come back in two days. I'll have your weapons ready by then. Boss, until then-"

"I know, I know. You don't want anyone to talk to you. Well, there you have it, come back in two days and we'll have it all ready and sparkling for you."

With that, Shino led the two new recruits out of Guild and down a tunnel. But it was not the same tunnel as the one they took on the way in. It was a completely different tunnel.

"The Guardians are going to have a DiRe Operation soon and since the two of you are still new, not only to the Guardians but also to the entire Organization itself, the two of you will have to go through a crash course in order to power-up yourselves in the shortest possible time. We do not know why our leader chose the two of you but whatever is given to us we will take it on."

Shino explained as she led the way.

"We're going to see an expert in the assault division who specializes in training. He works with us Guardians regularly to help us out with training sessions and he would be the best person outside of the Guardians to go to if you want to gauge the strength of a Guardian."

Shino led the way into a separate tunnel and went up the ladder, pushing open the grate that covered the entrance. The three exited the tunnel and Katsuragi found themselves to be out in the middle of a familiar place. The Assault division's training grounds, though it was covered in snow this time. While it was not weird for it to be the Assault training ground, given that their new trainer was someone who was part of the Assault division, it was weird for their trainer to be someone other than the Guardians. Just what sort of demonic trainer was he? The more Katsuragi thought about it the more it got him worried and worked up over the prospect of what sort of demon awaited him.

"Come on, follow me."

Shino led the way towards the main building of the training ground. The training ground had expanded by quite a bit the last time Katsuragi came here. It was quite to see additional buildings being put up. The old looking shacks that were used before were converted into slightly more sturdy buildings. Sturdy old buildings that is. Shino walked over to a large building in particular, opening the door and stepping inside. The interior was like the room of the Wolves, lockers, resting area, boards to clip training schedules and a lot... a lot of sweaty people. Okay, so the Wolves did not have a lot of sweaty people but this room was like a sauna of sweat. You could actually see your very vision start to get foggy and literally 'see' the sweat cloud that lingered in the room. Rather, it was suffocating the room. Wasn't there a window or anything in here?

"... K-Katsuragi..."

Saya gripped onto Katsuragi's sleeve, tears starting to stream down her cheeks.

[Saya is now looking very alluring]

"S-Saya-san."

"I... I... I cannot take it anymore..."

Saya's grip on his sleeve tightened.

"I... I..."

"Saya-san..."

"I... BLARGH"

[Saya vomited]

"GAAH! Don't vomit over me!"

[Katsuragi suffered unexpected attack]

[Katsuragi suffered massive damage]

[Katsuragi now stinks]

At this moment, Shino reappeared before the two.

"Hey you two, let me introduce you to-... Katsuragi, that's gross."

Shino said, pinching her nose in disgust.

"You should go change. Here, a change of clothes."

A young man stepped forward and offered a new set of SSS2 uniform to Katsuragi, who took it thankfully. The young man had a short trimmed hair around the sides, but the hair on his top were naturally standing up, making it look like his hair was a set of tall grass. He had a soft sort of expression on his slightly tanned face.

"... Er... Thanks..."

Katsuragi said, taking the clothes.

"The changing room is right outside on the right. You cannot miss it."

The young man smiled and Katsuragi nodded, heading out, feeling that the sudden change in attitudes between Shino and this person was quite different. And the changing room was really obvious, since there was a giant neon sign pointing so. Really, you cannot miss it. Once changed, Katsuragi stepped outside the changing room, noticing that Shino, Saya (who was still hunched over and regurgitating her lunch), and the young man from before were waiting for him outside.

"You're done. Good. Does it fit just right?"

The young man asked, to which Katsuragi merely nodded. It did fit, which was a surprise.

"Good, let me introduce you two to your new instructor."

Shino said, pointing a thumb to the young man.

"This is Kai. Second lieutenant Kai. He will be training the two of you to be at least of an acceptable standard for us Guardians. Kai, I'll leave it to the two of you."

"Alright."

Kai nodded and Shino walked off. Turning to the two recruits, Kai smiled.

"So, I'll be training the two of you. We'll start of things slow and we'll work things up progressively."

Kai explained, which earned an immediately objection from Saya.

"I thought this was a training for Guardians. We do not have time to idle by and take things slowly."

Saya said outright, despite still looking sick. Kai blinked a couple of times at her, before nodding and smiling.

"I understand your impatience to learn and be stronger, but my training regime will take you to your goal. Believe in me and everything will be alright. Impatience will get you no where so just trust me. I will make the two of you stronger. Strong enough to face any challenge. Strong enough to be a Guardian."


Panting heavily, Kusanagi Yamato leaned her hands on her own lap as she tried to catch her breath. It had been a tiring week for her thus far. Both physically, and mentally. Her hellish training with Sakagami Tomoyo was already reaching its second week, Katsuragi was made into a Guardian while she wasn't, she had yet to get a promotion, and while she has shown improvement in skill and power, she feels as though it is still inadequate. Tomoyo walked over to where Yamato was with a can of Key Coffee in her hand.

"Looks like you're progressing quite well. Good."

Tomoyo nodded while sipping on her drink.

"I... I don't feel like I am getting to where I am. Not yet... not strong enough."

Yamato replied, closing her eyes.

"... You're still trying to aim for the impossible... Has everything I taught you mean nothing to you?"

Tomoyo asked with slight concern.

"I understand your position, senpai... but I need that strength."

"... Is it Katsuragi?"

The moment Tomoyo said that, Yamato's eyes opened. Bingo, or so Tomoyo's mind was telling her.

"I-..."

"... Fine. Anyway, I think it is about time for you to face your last trial."

Tomoyo turned and nodded to a figure that was standing at the edge of the training field. The figure stepped out and walked towards the two. Yamato looked up and was surprised to see that the person approaching them was-

"Ayane?"

Mitsuhide Ayane nodded to Yamato's question before looking to Tomoyo.

"Ayane is also my student. She had been training far longer than you, Kusanagi, and she has her own personalized weapon now. However you, on the other hand, took an intense form of training from me and have reached a respectable level. If anything, I believe that you are ready to take on Ayane as an opponent."

Yamato's eyes flew wide open upon hearing that.

"A-against Ayane? ! I-I can't do that!"

"But you will. I've been training you constantly for two weeks now, and this is the final test. I told you before, Kusanagi, that to obtain your own dreams, you must be prepared to crush the dreams of others. Do you want your dreams to end here? Didn't you train these two weeks to become a Guardian?"

Yamato gritted her teeth as she understood what Tomoyo was trying to say. But understanding it and accepting it were two different things. Yamato looked up to Ayane, who was silent as usual.

"Here. Use this."

Tomoyo tossed a pair of gloves to Yamato, who caught them. Tomoyo stared at the gloves in her hand and were surprised to recognize them as Tomoyo's.

"These are-"

"Those were mine. I have trained you in my style of fighting as you are quite similar to me. While it isn't your true personalized weapon, use it in this mock battle."

Yamato stared at the battle-worn gloves. So much wear and tear on them had shown her the struggles that Tomoyo had gone through to get to this stage. It showed Tomoyo's pain, her constant drive to be better, to right the wrongs of her past. So much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears poured into these gloves. Tomoyo was handing these to her. Yamato knew that she could not go back now. She pulled the gloves over her hand, feeling the confidence and power brimming throughout her. Tomoyo smiled in acknowledgement at Yamato's renewed confidence.

"Good. The two of you will now fight it out in a mock battle. The aim is to subdue the other. Use any and all methods available. No time limit. Use this field as your boundary, so don't step out of it if not you will fail this."

Tomoyo explained the rules and the two girls merely nodded, keeping their eyes on each other.

"Good. You may start."

The two girls immediately jumped away from one another, both trying to distance themselves in order to gauge what the other is going to do. Tomoyo smirked as she retreated to the outskirts of the field.

"Good tactic, Kusanagi. You never know how the enemy will attack first, so distance yourself. Give yourself ample space to get a feel of your opponent and formulate a plan to counter and attack... is what I would normally say. But your opponent... is someone who uses distance as an attack."

Ayane reached for her back and pulled out an odd triangular object. The object was larger than her own hand though Ayane showed that it was not a problem for her to grip onto. Yamato was confused and puzzled by the object, but not for long.

"Access: Shangri-la'"

Ayane muttered. Large blades shot out from the triangle, transforming the object into a large black boomerang the size being slightly taller than Ayane herself.

"What? !"

Yamato only realized it a split second later before Ayane hurled the boomerang at Yamato. Yamato could only jump to one side to dodge the incoming attack. The boomerang sliced through the ground where Yamato was a mere second ago, before it flew upwards and arced its way back to Ayane, who caught the weapon with one hand and spun her body around in order to slow down the spin of the boomerang without causing injury to her arm. But such a cool down was not a weak point for Ayane as she was already ready to throw her weapon once more.

"So... how are you going to get out of this mess, Kusanagi?"

Tomoyo wondered out loud with a smile on her face.

"... You have... bad taste."

A cold and stoic voice spoke up beside Tomoyo.

"Not as bad as yours. Are you sure you don't need to participate in your division's operation?"

"... They can handle it... or they would not be... guardians... Besides... you called me... here."

"That's right, I did call you here. These are my two new hopefuls. What do you think of them, Kou?"

Tomoyo finally turned to face the sixth division leader, whose bangs were casting a shadow over her eyes and expression. Kou leaned against a tree and observed the mock battle on the field.

"... That girl... She does not have... any connection to the program... this... is not a fair fight."

"True, Kusanagi doesn't have any power from the program, but she has determination and skill. Just watch. I think you'll be surprised."

Tomoyo smirked. Kou eyed Tomoyo for a moment, before turning her gaze back to the battle.

"... I thought... you were afraid of me... to the point... of not talking to me."

"Geh... er... well... After seeing these new recruits trying their best, I decided that it was time for me to get over my own obstacles."

Tomoyo explained, though not in a good way. Kou's lips curled slightly into a smirk, one that went unnoticed by Tomoyo.

"Whatever... you say."

Looking back at the battle, Yamato was beginning to feel like she was being pushed back. Ayane's speed in catching and throwing her giant boomerang was too fast for a normal person. Tomoyo wasn't kidding when she said Ayane was well trained. Yamato had Tomoyo's gloves, but unlike Tomoyo, Yamato had no skills to use with them. She wasn't 'linked' to the program, unable to bring out the true strength of these gloves. Yamato had learned from Tomoyo that the special 'skills' that the different people use in conjunction with their weapons was a part of the program. That much was obvious to Yamato from the beginning, but what she did not know until Tomoyo told her, was that the person himself had to be 'connected' to the program. In a process the SSS2 call 'tune linking', they have to set the program and the user to synchronize. Tomoyo did not explain in specifics, but from her expression it must involve a very painful process.

"Woah!"

Yamato ducked under another boomerang attack. Now wasn't time to think of unrelated things. All she had to think now was how to get in close enough without being cut apart by that boomerang.

"Come on... think!"

Yamato cursed herself. While Yamato had a strong will and strong fighting skill, it should be noted that her test scores are all average. It has also been proven in the past that Yamato was not exactly the thinking sort of person. She left complicated matters to Katsuragi to deal with, and since Katsuragi isn't here at the moment, she would need to deal with this problem by herself. Here are Yamato's options:

a) Try to punch the boomerang in hopes her fist is stronger than a steel edged weapon

b) Dodge the weapon till Ayane becomes tired though Yamato is most likely to tire out first

c) Parley

d) Run away

.

.

.

Parley? What the hell? Who comes up with this crap? And the first two were stupid reason to even attempt.

"Am I really stupid?"

Yamato wondered as she dodged another attack. But that was when she noticed something. Something even a toddler or monkey would understand-

"I get it already! I'm stupid so quit saying it!"

Right, you get it. So even the half-witted Yamato had noticed that the boomerang had to fly towards her, hit the ground before arcing upwards and back towards Ayane. The total time the boomerang actually was held in Ayane's hand was quite short compared to the time it spent flying in the air. And once a boomerang was thrown, its trajectory was more or less fixed. All Yamato needed, was the timing. Yamato dodged the next attack and traced the boomerang's return to Ayane. Ayane caught it once more, spinning herself to contain her weapon's momentum. Ayane eyed Yamato and threw her boomerang once more.

"Now!"

Yamato dashed forward, running straight for the boomerang. Just as it seemed that Yamato and the boomerang were about to collide, Yamato's figure disappeared in a blur, reappearing behind the boomerang and continuing her dash towards Ayane. This was one of Tomoyo's tricks, shun-po, or ground contracting. It focused a great deal of power into a single step, forcing the person to move almost instantaneously to another point, as though they were teleporting. This skill was considered a high level skill and was hard to control. It was like bottling up all of your energy for one sudden explosive burst. And there was another skill that Tomoyo taught Yamato. A skill that she used when she was calculating the timing of when to start running. It was also important for this skill to be used in conjunction with shun-po as it would allow Yamato to control her shun-po to a certain extent. That skill is called-

"Over-clocking."

Tomoyo said out loud.

"A skill that allows the user to over-clock their minds in order to process things faster, force their perception of time to alter, and at more advance stages, can cause the body to move just as fast."

"... I don't... need an explanation."

Kou muttered back.

"But it looked as though you were wondering about it. I did teach you a bit of it before, didn't I? But you weren't truly compatible with it. You could learn it, but your body would be unable to cope with the stress of over-clocking."

"..."

What Tomoyo said was true. While Kou had the ability to learn every skill available, her body was not trained to do such skills. Her frail and small frame was not suitable for rigorous and prolonged fighting, resulting in Kou's style of 'one-hit, twenty kills'.

"Maybe before... before all of this happened... before the battle of Big Site... maybe back then you could have learned this skill. But now..."

Tomoyo trailed off, afraid to say anymore than that. Kou closed her eyes for the moment.

"... Maybe..."

The fight between the two girls had just gotten to a new level as Yamato managed to dash past the boomerang and close the distance her and Ayane with extreme swiftness that it caught Ayane off-guard.

"This fight is mine!"

Yamato clenched her fist in preparation to punch Ayane. A punch strong enough to send a grown man flying at least a metre into the air. That is the sort of power that Yamato had been training with for quite some time. A power that she gained through her constant push and determination to get stronger through Tomoyo's gruesome and hellish training regime. It would be this power that Yamato will use to propel herself to reach her goal. If only it were that simple.

"... Too naive..."

Kou muttered. Just as Yamato's attack was about to connect, Ayane's left hand, which was behind her back all this while, suddenly pulled out from behind another one of those triangular objects.

"Shi-"

Before Yamato could complete her curse word, the object in Ayane's hand shot out to become a second giant boomerang. With one swing, Ayane brought the entire weight of her weapon down on Yamato. Yamato could only bring up her arms in reflex. A loud explosion erupted as the boomerang was brought down, causing a large dust storm of sweep out from the battle.

"It's over, huh."

Tomoyo muttered, sheltering her eyes from the dust. Kou narrowed her eyes at the battlefield, as though she could see past the clouds.

"... No... Not yet."

The dust slowly cleared, revealing that Yamato was done yet. Clashed against Ayane's boomerang attack, was another boomerang. Yamato had caught Ayane's first boomerang and used it to block Ayane's second boomerang.

".. Over-clocking."

Kou muttered. Within a short span of time, Yamato had managed to catch the first boomerang and use it to defend herself. Ayane realized this and immediately jumped back to set more distance between herself and Yamato, but the fierce Wolf member would not be shaken that easily. As she sprang forward, Yamato dragged the heavy weapon through the ground and upwards against Ayane. The Assault division member brought up her weapon in order to parry, but the combined momentum, weight and force that Yamato used in her attack proved too much for Ayane to guard against, resulting in her being knocked back, losing control and grip of her weapon.

"Now... the match... is decided."

And indeed the match was the decided by then. Yamato was in a clear advantage, ready to strike Ayane down with her own weapon. Yamato no longer had any hesitation to cut down her own friend, her own feelings. Only the fires of rage were still burning in her eyes. Nothing could stop her.

"Close link!"

Ayane shouted, raising her hand up to the boomerang in Yamato's hand. A light blue symbol emerged from her palm, forcing the boomerang to retract back into its original triangular block. Yamato may have missed, but she used her downward momentum, flipping her body and dragging her leg in one large arc around, ready to bring it down on Ayane. But suddenly it stopped. Yamato could not move her leg any further as it was currently immobilized by none other than Sakagami Tomoyo herself. Tomoyo had intervened in this fight, stopping both Yamato's leg attack, and Ayane's drawing of her combat knife with one hand each and with relative ease. Tomoyo was indeed someone to fear.

"That's enough, this match is concluded."

Tomoyo said sternly. The two combatants stared at Tomoyo. Ayane then nodded, putting back her knife. But Yamato still had those eyes. The eyes of insanity. This was bad. Yamato jumped back, repositioning her body into another stance, ready to attack.

"That idiot. After I warned her so many times about using over-clocking too much."'

Tomoyo muttered. Over-clocking was essentially forcing the brain to process every stimuli, every action and everything around the user. It can greatly speed up the user's speed, increase accuracy and decrease reaction time. But using it too much, or focusing too much can cause the user to go insane. The insanity of power. The mind would be unable to cope with the stress and Yamato may eventually reach the point of no return. Even dying and reviving may not help. Tomoyo knew of one such case. One of her former students over-clocked too much, resulting in him killing his own comrades. Even killing him and letting him revive did nothing as he went on another rampage. Kou was the one who eventually put him down. No one knows what happened or what Kou did, the only thing that was known was that the guy was put down and he disappeared from this World. Did he pass on? Or did Kou have a skill that was similar to the Angels? Tomoyo rather not find out. She will stop Yamato here. Yamato charged once more at Tomoyo, who had blinked only once. But in that one split second, her eyes changed.

[Tomoyo activated Over-clocking: EX mode]

Tomoyo reached out her hand, blocking Yamato's initial attack, pulled Yamato towards her side, kicking at her knee to cause a bone to break and to make Yamato lose balance and fall forward. Tomoyo released her hand, spun one round with her leg arcing to bring it down on Yamato's back, slamming Yamato into the ground. All of this happened within an instant. It happened faster than Yamato in such a way that Yamato's own over-clocked brain was unable to catch what happened, and wasn't able to react. The blow forced Yamato into the ground with a loud bang, causing a crater to form as well. But Tomoyo knew that even though Yamato was unable to do anything in her current position, within Yamato's eyes still had the flame. The determination. Yamato's ambition, her drive was fuelling her insanity even more. Over-clocking just became the trigger to set it off.

"Still trying? While that drive is good, it is also a double-edged sword. I cannot allow you to continue down this path."

Tomoyo said. With one short burst, Tomoyo caused the ground to explode as her foot drove Yamato harder and deeper into the ground. By the time the dust settled, Yamato had completely lost consciousness and Tomoyo stepped aside.

"She may be rough and wild, but she does have the skills. So what do you think of my two disciple's, sixth division leader-san?"

Tomoyo looked up to Kou who stood at the edge of the crater, looking down.

"... Fine... I'll take them."

Kou muttered, making Tomoyo smile a little.

"Good. That's all I need to hear. I can only guide them this far. The rest... is up to them to find their own paths."

Tomoyo said, looking down the unconscious Yamato.

"Grow strong, Kusanagi. Grow strong enough to face any obstacle. I have done all I can to help you. The rest is up to you."

"... Tomoyo... why do you help them?"

Kou asked as the assault division member climbed out of the crater. Tomoyo closed her eyes for the moment before looking at Kou.

"Maybe I'm trying to atone for my own regrets. Or maybe it is an old habit of mine, to help others when they are in need."

"... It isn't good... for your body."

Tomoyo smiled sadly as her hand covered over a scar on her arm.

"... My stay here... has been too long. But... I can still continue. I will not rest till my work is done. I swore to myself that if I am unable to help even one person... then I would be unable to face 'him'..."

Kou did not say a word in reply to that. This is the path that Sakagami Tomoyo chose for herself. There is nothing for Kou to do. Kou just had to focus on her own mission. Her own priorities. Her own vengeance.


Training was tough. Not that he did not already realize that when he was given the black band. A Guardian was a fighter, an elite of the organization that served no one but the reaper, Kurogane Kou, as well as allowing themselves to be consumed completely by their own hatred, their own vengeance. Their own insanity. Katsuragi panted, trying to catch his breath though the cold weather was not making it easier, having his lungs feel like it was being frozen from within. Second Lieutenant Kai stood by the side, silently observing the training. It was always like this. The Lieutenant would always give them the training instructions and let them do it on their own while he silently observes by the side. If there is something wrong with the way the training is performed or if they were not putting in enough effort, the second Lieutenant would simply tell them straight to the point, but he never did assert authority or force them to do it. In fact, the second Lieutenant was rather... soft on his approach to training. In the first place, why was this training done in the snow? !

"Well, it's snowing so there isn't much of a choice on where the training is. As for my approach... well, I guess there's a reason for everything."

Second Lieutenant Kai explained with a certain distant look in his eyes. A reason. Katsuragi knew that everyone in this World had a dark past. A secret that they kept. A reason for being here. But truth be told, Katsuragi was starting to find this whole 'secret background' thing extremely annoying. It was like everyone was hiding one huge secret behind their backs from him, somewhat like having a huge zit on your face that you can't see and everyone who sees that zit on you would simply look away with pity in their eyes. Or something along those lines.

"Anyway, the two of you are almost ready for the final test."

Kai said with his usual smile.

"... A test?"

Katsuragi wasn't exactly sure he was listening to that correctly. Test. An examination. Somehow, he did not like the sound of that. Did it have something to do with his past?

"Yes, a test. It is important to see how far you two have progressed and it is also used to see how effective the training is. The second reason is for my own benefit."

Kai explained. So that was the reason. But still... a test?

"Ah, before that, I have a serious question to ask."

Kai suddenly said, making Katsuragi suddenly think of some grave thing. What was this serious question? Was it to question if he really wanted to be part of Guardians? Whether they really believed themselves to be worthy? What sort of question?

"Is it better if the caramel went on top of the pudding? Or by the side?"

.

.

.

.

Eh?

"Hmm... that is indeed a serious question."

Saya nodded in agreement. Wait, you're agreeing with that statement? !

"What, Katsuragi? Do you not know the importance of the caramel?"

Saya raised an eyebrow. No! He doesn't know the importance of caramel! In the first place, is it suppose to be important? !

"Anyway, the caramel can wait. Right now for your test."

Now things were getting serious again.

"Being a Guardian means more than being able to defeat Shadows and Angels. Anyone can do that with just training. But what Guardians have that no other in the SSS2 have... is the determination to fight. Fight for all eternity. There is madness in this war, and the Guardians embrace it, use it, breathe it, live with it. For the Guardians, the very madness that drives everyone crazy can be said to be their power."

Kai walked over to his bag and pulled out two jars of essences. Black essences.

"I'm sure the two of you have heard before that black essences may consume those who do not have a strong resistance to it. Black essence is more or else the darkness that resides in this World, accumulated by those who pass through here, mainly humans like us. The darkness in their heart and souls, their ambitions, their sins, their despair. The final test... lies within yourselves. Each of you will now take one of these."

Kai passed the jars of essences to Saya and Katsuragi. Katsuragi held the jar to his eye level, staring straight into its deep dark blackness. It felt cold, scary... and foreign.

"Right, now what I'm going to let the two of you do is something that will test your own determination and strength. Remember that in this World, as long as you have the will for it, you can do it. Never lose track of your own paths. Face your own pains, your own regrets and overcome it. Overcome your own weaknesses. That is the way to get through this trial."

"My... own weaknesses."

Katsuragi muttered, mesmerized by the contents of the jar. What were his weaknesses? There were simply too many to actually count. The darkness within himself. Was this the reason why the Guardians were feared? Because they embraced this... darkness? Katsuragi felt fear. A fear unlike any he has ever known. The dark swirling mist seemed to suck him in, drawing his very soul into its dark grasp. It was hard to pull his gaze away. What... was this?

"I have no idea what you two will experience through this, as each person has a different fear, a different darkness. From this point, your journey is your own."

Kai's voice seemed more distant than before. Almost like a faint echo.

"Let's begin."

The moment Kai said that, he snatched the two bottles from Katsuragi and Saya's hands, causing the two to snap back to attention. The two were relieved to be back to normal, but that wasn't for long as they noticed that Kai held the two jars upwards above his head.

"Er... what is that-"

Before Katsuragi could finish his sentence, Kai swung both of his arms down, sending the two jars crashing down on the two recruits' heads. The jars smashed upon impact, causing the black essence to spill out and over them. With the impact, the two were also knocked out cold and collapsed onto the floor. Kai tossed aside the broken glass and watched with some guilt in his eyes as the black essences began to devour his two trainees.

"... I could not go through with this process, too afraid of what I may find. Because of that, I could not be a Guardian. I hope that the two of you will succeed where I have failed. Good luck."


"... Get... up... get... get up... Get up."

Katsuragi groaned, sitting up from the ground. Somehow all of this seemed too familiar. Maybe a little too familiar. He opened his eyes and blinked a little, trying to get his eyes back to focus. Where was he? If he recalled, he was meant to undergo some 'test' of sorts. Kai! That second lieutenant smashed a jar of black essence on his head and let him be devoured by it! There had to be better ways to do this test! Why smash the jar? ! He looked around and noticed something odd. He wasn't in 'that' World. No, he was in... a room. A bedroom. By the looks of things, this wasn't his bedroom but it felt extremely familiar. He turned around and saw someone standing there by where he was. It was a young girl with long dark raven hair and piercing eyes... wait a minute-

"K-Kurogane? !"

He stumbled backwards, surprised by her appearance. Why was she here? And... she was wearing a loose t-shirt that obviously did not fit her slim shoulders. And nothing else... This... this was a dream. Obviously a dream. Kou raised an eyebrow at him but ignored it.

"... You must have hit your head harder than I thought."

Kou muttered, walking over by the side of the room and seating herself on the chair. The chair gave a loud creaking sound as she sat on it, indicating that it was rather old. Nevermind the sound, it looked old just by itself. In fact, everything in this room looked old and worn out. Was this some sort of storage room? It was also rather small and cramped even when the number of furniture numbered so few. A worn out desk with chair, a cracked wardrobe held together with tape, an old bed with a stained mattress on it. Everything in this room just screamed 'antique'. Just what was this room? Kou pulled out a book from a bag by the side of the desk and started to write things in it.

Katsuragi felt curiosity take over, so he got up to his feet and walked over to take a look. He also noticed that he wasn't in the SSS2 uniform any more, rather he was in some t-shirt and shorts. Odd. It fitted him so well but he knew he never wore something like this before. Familiar, yet not all at the same time. He was having these flashes of deja vu all this time and it was getting extremely annoying. And disturbing. He leaned over Kou's shoulder and peered into the book she was writing. It was filled with mathematical formulae and numbers. Homework? But why would she be doing homework?

"... You're blocking my light."

Kou said, still continuing to write.

"Sorry."

Katsuragi replied, standing up straight. Kou seemed a little... strange as well. It was like she was more... lively than before. She still had the same dull atmosphere around here and her tone was more or less the same as her expression. But there was something about Kou that seemed off. Something besides her in a t-shirt and being in this run-down room. As for what exactly, Katsuragi could not put a finger on. Why? He looked around the room, wondering what other clues he could find. Was this the trial? Or was it something else? If this were the trial, then this is his darkness? In a run-down room with Kurogane Kou? What sort of darkness is this? Of lust because of Kou's current dressing? Of Greed because of the lack of goods? Of pride due to the run-down state of things? What exactly was this place? It wasn't his place... no... this was not his darkness, but rather the darkness of someone else's... someone he should know very well.

"... Are you done?"

Kou's sudden voice made Katsuragi turn back to her.

"Done? Done with what?"

He asked. Kou flipped a page in her textbook and continued to write more notes.

"... You came in my room to ask about tomorrow, didn't you?"

She asked. Tomorrow? What was going on tomorrow? And he did not recall coming in here to ask about anything-... wait... this is... her room... Kurogane Kou's room... this is... a girl's room... A girl dressed in a loose over-sized t-shirt, alone with a normal healthy young man in her room. There were too many ways this could go wrong. Way too many and Katsuragi was tempted to try them all at once. Never has the term 'Death Flag' been so strongly emphasized and displayed all around in such an obvious fashion.

"... So? What... you will not leave till you get an answer?"

Katsuragi would not even know what the question was in the first place. Kou sighed, putting down her pen and closing her notebook. She turned to face him with her usual blank expression.

"... Fine. I'll go with you. Now will you leave?"

Katsuragi did not even say a word.

"... Did you hit your head so hard that you do not know where the door is? Unless there was something else you want. I've already agreed to go out shopping with you tomorrow... even though I know full well that you're planning this to buy stuff for me and not yourself."

Kou muttered, narrowing her eyes at him as though he did something very wrong. Shopping? Did he ask her that? Maybe he really did hit his head.

"... By doing this... you're going to make 'that woman' angry again. You may not be the one being scolded, but it would be me who usually takes her wrath."

"Don't worry!"

Katsuragi suddenly shouted, though the words from his lips did not form in his mind before coming out. It was... almost as if his body was moving by itself.

"Don't worry, Kou. I'll protect you. I promise you that much!"

At 'his' words, Kou looked a little surprised. But then she softened and smiled. A rare thing that made Katsuragi blush a little.

"... I see. I will take you for your word... Onii-chan."


A/N: DUN DUN DUN! ! ! ANOTHER EPIC CLIFF HANGER! I'm getting rather addicted to these.