"OPEN THIS DOOR!!!"

Kyouma sighed as he continued staring at the ceiling, ignoring the screams. Mira, who was staring at the door as the knocks grew louder, walked out of Kyouma's room and tapped him on the shoulder.

"It's been two hours."

"It's probably nothing."

"It's Elizabeth."

"Exactly. Nothing."

"Answer the door."

Kyouma sighed as he sat up slowly. Although many, including Elizabeth herself, said that she was more mature than him. She certainly didn't act like it most of the time.

"She's going to keep knocking."

"It never ends with her, does it." Kyouma said, shaking his head in disappointment.

Slowly getting up and stretching, he opened the door and looked down. Inwardly grimacing that it was indeed the small, pouting form of Elizabeth at his door.

"About time." She glared, arms folded. "How dare you make me wait so long."

"Go back to your room Elizabeth."

"Fight me!"

"No." Slamming the door in her face, Kyouma walked back to his comfortable place on the floor.

It wasn't long before there came even more frantic knocking from the door. These were accompanied by Elizabeth yelling back and forth with someone in the hall. Mira chuckled a little at her persistence, earning a death glare. Knowing Mira, it was probably her fault Elizabeth was at it again.

Trudging his way back across the room, Kyouma took a deep breath. Secretly, he hoped the spiteful blonde had simply left. Save him the trouble of dealing with her.

….

Nope. Still there, a little more agitated looking, but still there.

"I see you've returned." Elizabeth dramatically spun her head to the side and gave a confident smirk. The helm of her dress rustling in a breeze that wasn't really there. "I knew you couldn't resist."

Behind him Kyouma could hear Mira laughing.

"If I listen to you will you go away?" He asked.

"No! I-I mean, yes! Look, I don't need to explain myself to you. Not when I'm obviously the more mature one here."

"Well if you're sure-" The door started to close again.

"Wait!" She cried, poking through the doorway. "I want a rematch!"

"No."

Elizabeth punched his arm. "No way. No exceptions! I've been training!"

"Um….congratulations?"

"Save it for when you lose."

Man, this girl...

"Just humor the squirt." Mira said as she walked up beside Kyouma. "What do you have to lose?"

"You see? Even the weirdo is on my...SQUIRT?!"

With the flick of Elizabeth's wrist, Mira was sent flying across the room by an invisible force. Crashing against the far wall she gave a soft moan.

When Elizabeth's face turned back toward Kyouma, her eyes were no longer a ruby red but completely black. Beneath the frill around her neck, something shined.

"You know what Elizabeth...I guess I can make time in my busy schedule. Let's go Mira, looks like we're going out to the pier a bit earlier than anticipated."

Mira pulled herself out of the wall and nodded.

"How in the-"

"I'm just that good."

Kyouma stared at the table with mouth agape. Dozens upon dozens of stuffed animals, each of differing sizes and shapes, and barely managing to be crammed upon the table. It was utterly impossible, and yet, there it was, presented like a painting on a canvas.

"Well, I may only have two, but they were infinitely harder to get. So I think I win."

"LIES!" Elizabeth screamed, the object around her neck glowing. "I won and you know it."

"Okay, okay. Calm down." Kyouma grumbled, knowing that she was right. "You did good."

"You're dang right I did!" Elizabeth screamed triumphantly. "I freaking beat you! I really did!"

"Not like it was a real contest anyway…" Kyouma muttered, watching her dance around much to the curiosity of a growing crowd.

"What did you just say?" Elizabeth asked, suddenly cracking her knuckles.

"N-nothing!" Kyouma stuttered, not wanting to cause a ruckus with so many people around.

"Good." Elizabeth laughed, throwing her arms around Mira in celebration.

The latter responded with, "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

Never one to know when to keep his thoughts to a mirror, Kyouma muttered, "When you said you wanted a 'rematch'. I kind of thought you meant a real rematch. Like the last fifteen times. Where we actually got serious and fought each other. If I had known you only wanted to come here and compete at kiddie games, I would've stayed home."

Suddenly, Elizabeth bombarded Kyouma with plushies, pushing his body backwards with surprising force. Without a moment's breath, she charged forward. Jumping into the air Elizabeth whirled around and swatted him aside like a mere fly.

Kyouma choked on his tongue as his back connected hard against the beach, a position that was quickly reversed as he was forced to dodge a barrage of wooden planks from the sky. Rolling out of the way, Kyouma jumped back to his feet and smacked a hand to his head to dislodge the slight pain.

"Okay. Wasn't expecting that." He said, staring at the planks.

Floating over from the pier, Elizabeth smiled. "Well, what do you think, Kyouma? I told you I've been training."

"It would seem. So what is this rematch going to be about?"

"It's simple. Defeat me."

Right as she said this, Kyouma immediately rushed her, causing her to yelp and tumble backwards in the air, flailing as she desperately tried to regain her composure. Which wasn't easy with the crowd that had seemed to follow from the pier.

"I wasn't finished!"

"Sorry." Kyouma apologized, removing the skewer from her neck.

Elizabeth fixed him with the coldest glare she could manage. "It doesn't make any sense…"

"What?"

Elizabeth sighed, taking a step backwards. "Don't expect it to be as simple as last time. Because I've been-"

"Yeah yeah. Training and blah blah nonsense...You done?"

"Will you hold on! I'm getting to the best part."

"Go on." Kyouma answered, curious. He'd long grown tired of the usual bouts, and Elizabeth was always looking for new and exciting ways to keep him interested in her challenges. Not that they ever ended any other way. Herding animals in the zoo had been her latest attempt, and she was still fuming over it not working out as planned.

"Alright, so, we're surrounded by all this useless sand, right?" Elizabeth began, motioning to the beach. "Nothing that can be used as a weapon."

"Yeah…?" Kyouma answered.

"So, here's my idea. Are you ready for it?" Elizabeth almost squealed, grabbing Kyouma by the hands and shaking. She looked like she was going to burst from all the excitement as she bounced around on her heels. "I'm not going to tell you unless you are ready!"

"Just tell me." He said, blank-faced. "I do have things to do."

"Okay, get this…" Elizabeth whispered, grinning widely. "Your goal is to touch my shoulder. As I try to stop you with all my skill and finesse." She finished, hopping in place.

Though her enthusiasm was contagious, it couldn't be said that her idea was something to sneeze about.

"That was your big idea?" Kyouma said, halting her self-congratulation. "THAT is what you were so excited about? You couldn't have thought of, oh, I don't know. Anything more clever?"

"W-Well...I...um…"

Kyouma frowned.

"Well, that wasn't all. There's also a time limit!" Elizabeth announced nervously. "Ten minutes."

His frown deepened.

"And as a bonus, you're only allowed to defend yourself. No attacking." She added quickly, taking off her sandals and digging her bare feet more firmly into the ground.

As much as he wanted to call the whole thing off, Kyouma didn't think that would be fair to his friend. Despite how well they "got along" at times, he still considered the girl a friend.

And good ol' Kyouma could use all the friends he could get.

Plus he wanted to see if that necklace around her neck was really a number. And just how much power it had.

"If I win. You must do everything I demand of you for an entire month like a lowly dog! As well as finally acknowledge me as the mature, respectable, and beautiful woman that I am. After the month, I will expect a heartfelt apology for the despicable ways that you've treated me." She said confidently, placing her hands on her hips. The crowd behind her clapped in approval.

"And if I win?"

Elizabeth scoffed, "As if you could. But I guess if you do indeed succeed. Which you won't. But on the off chance that you do. I'll be obedient to you for an entire day."

"Can't I get something cooler?"

"No!" Elizabeth snapped, shuffling her feet and deepening the hole she'd created.

Kyouma sighed, "Let's get this over with."

"Fine by me." Elizabeth said, standing on her tiptoes to stare him in the eye.

"Fine with me too." Kyouma said, looking her back in the eye.

"Fine!" Elizabeth shouted back, leaning forward and shoving him. "Prepare to lose!"