My car stalled out...

The flight...

Sucked.

I don't like being in airplanes. For lots of people it's the take off that they don't like, or the landing. For some it's the turbulence during the flight. For me it's all of the above and the fact I'm stuck in the big ass thing twenty thousand something feet in the sky! I don't think Kampfer can fly, and while I could use my water element to give myself wings, I'm not going to push it and quite literally fall flat. Anyways, back to my point the flying sucks!

If I am meant to fly I'd have wings or be able to fly through some means, but seeing as I walk, I am not supposed to be this high in the sky. I don't like being taken off my feet in general, and that's not even scratching twelve feet off of the ground.

Through it all though, nothing went drastically wrong.

The worry I had with airport security was quelled upon them just letting me walk through-there is this special thing you can get where you don't have to wait in the lines and just walk through while having the luggage scanned, but even the treatment they gave me couldn't compare to that. I didn't even have to get searched or anything, the only thing they took out was my skateboard and laptop.

So, it is a plus I didn't have to repack and refold everything, and more importantly it would have been strange to see a woman with boy's boxers, but that's all I have other than shorts. I think I'm more inclined to wear the shorts than the boxers at this point, doesn't seem as weird.

"I literally can't believe that worked." I sigh.

"I told you to stay positive, and everything worked out fine."

In my defense I had no clue that my Driver's License would change from a young man...To how I look now. Everything is the same, my height, my weight, even my eye color-the biggest difference is of course I am a woman in the picture. Despite my awkwardness with the whole thing, I am thankful everything went smoothly-even the flight was smooth despite it being ridiculously long.

I'm just happy to be off of the plane and on my own feet on the ground.

On another note, I am still a woman...Girl, young lady...Despite falling asleep.

I hope this isn't permanent.

I must say Japan really puts a lot of work into their airports. Sure, there's some airports in the states that are modern by all means, but they got noting on Tokyo Airport. The carpets look like blankets-super fluffy. The departure lounge is nothing short of spectacular the floor is tiled with light brown-opaque? It's very shiny and clean, I can see my reflection staring back at me even, nothing like the dark colored floors in the airports I'm used to that tend to have some dirt or grime.

There's also this structure above the security check that is three levels in all and stretches all the way down the long hall, way into the next corridor. I mean, I've been in Miam's airport, and Fort Lauderdale's airport, and even they can't-they don't compare to this.

The market place has to be the most dramatic for me-since this is my first time being here and all.

There are multiple shops. I'll even dare to say hundreds, stairs are leading up to the higher levels with railings that arched and looped with the same trajectory. There's a neat wagon thing in the center of the area-I think they may be selling something out of it? Anyways, the largest glass ceiling is above me, allowing the sun's light to drift in with magnificence. There's...An elevator at the end of the area that goes up to the top platform, and there's a railing that spirals down a few feet from it adding a nice touch.

I kind of walk in a daze.

This is really amazing.

I'm in Tokyo, Japan!

Needless to say there's a lot of people just coming and going. I mean there is a lot of people-I know there's like one billion people or close to it all living here, but this is just baffling. I can't get by without swaying passed or away from someone; I don't know if doing this is polite, but I'm not going to bump into them by accident, and they seem to give me the same courtesy and moved passed me-though not as fast as I do. There's foreigners of course, but they're probably going more towards the tourist sites and not really the residential areas where I will be spending the rest of my days.

They could also be waiting for their flights to come through.

Pain rifles through me followed by a loud gurgle.

"I better get something to eat before I think of doing anything else." I mutter, adjusting my duffel bag so the strap is on my left shoulder while hugging Stubby Bear to my chest. As soon as I find the chance I break off away from my current route, and start searching for some restaurant. Seeing as there's a lot of people moving towards the same direction, and the aroma of different foods are cooking-I'd say it has to be this way.

There is some English here, but a lot of the signs are of course, written in Japanese.

I don't know if they sell Ramen here, and not that cheap stuff I can get from the store back at home either. I'm talking about the real deal Ramen with the long handmade noddles, other toppings like shrimp or Tempura, and that broth that is meticulously prepared for the Ramen; but that's something that seems like it'd be more in a city or residential area and not in an airport. All these other businesses will lose out if there's a Ramen stand.

I stumble upon an array of restaurants. Some of them are open and some of them are closed. A few are authentic Japanese eateries-I think a few sell sushi, Sashimi, and all of that good stuff, but I can't order from these since they're closed. Bummer. But, I do spot a Mcdonalds like ten feet away from me. I'm not sure why I feel surprise at the fact there's a long line crowding at the front of the place. It is the same thing in the states, there's always a line at this place, whether you're in the drive thru or in the building; maybe it's a little foolish of me to think it'd be any different here.

Who can hate Mcdonald's?

Remembering my manners, I just wait patiently trying not to look as awkward as I do clutching my bear and having this duffel bag hanging off of my right shoulder, it's not heavy but I'm tired of it. Manners are a huge thing in this country. Now, I do have manners, and most parents in the states with any brains raise their children to have manners. But, there are some that don't have manners, and their children don't either.

"T-Thank you." I thank the cashier, hoping I don't sound completely inane while speaking Japanese or because I just stuttered. I didn't say the whole phrase for thank you, just the first part which is good enough. I give a quick bow before and after I grab my food. I don't do the low stereotypical Martial Arts bow, or a deliberate slow bow. I'd more than likely be making an ass out myself if I did either of those things. A small bow would do and it is common courtesy here to do so when you get your food.

I sit down in a corner away from everyone else and set Stubby Bear on the table right next to mine while letting my duffel bag drop onto the floor beside me..

"You can tell you're a foreigner."

"Clamp it."

I frown at Stubby Bear, well no shit they everyone can tell I'm a foreigner; I am very tall, and Japanese don't get this tall-I'm not seeing a lot Japanese men walking around at six foot three-let alone women. I have brown skin for too, and last I checked Japanese don't have brown skin, their skin is ivory. It looks really nice. Hello there, don't mind me, I'm just a little odd!

I scowl a bit working on setting down my array of food before me-I really hope I didn't make an ass out myself back there. They don't have Mcchickens here, so I just got the Mega Teriyaki, the Mega Mac, two other burgers, some fries and a few other things that sound really tasty.

Airplane food is the worst!

"What?" I ask, finishing chewing before I spring the question on Stubby Bear. He's just...Staring at me as I'm eating, almost like a dog begging if I didn't know any better. The only thing missing is a pool of drool coating his mouth and dripping onto the table. Now, I'm not a greedy person, but I get really pissed when people have their nose or hands in my food.

"Are you...Hungry?"

"That looks really good."

I blink and shake my head. Did Stubby Bear even have to eat? It doesn't make any sense if he has to, I mean he's an Entrails Animal! Stuffed animals don't need to eat to survive, they can just sit there. But, I feel myself start to waver as I look at Stubby Bear eyeing my burger and fries. Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to share some with him...

"Here." I shift some fries in his direction, giving a quick glance around me. Okay, no one is around or watching me. I don't want to be known as the crazy foreigner speaking to a stuffed animal in a corner pretending to feed it.

"You're the best, girlie!" Stubby Bear cheers, helping himself to the fries I spared him.

I think he's actually eating it, because the fries are...Going inside of him.

"Do you really have to eat?" I raise an eyebrow, genuinely curious as well as puzzled.

"No, but just looking at all of the food you ordered...It looks really tasty."

I look over my array of food, most of it is gone due to my quick eating, but his comment makes me narrow my eyes just a little. I really don't see a problem with how much I ate considering I was just on a ridiculously long flight and the food had been anything but enjoyable in my opinion. My stomach had been growling for the last three hours of the flight, and then I think I was getting flight sick as we were landing.

I guess I must look odd with all of this food around me considering I am a woman, and what sort of woman would engorge herself? What woman would eat three things of fries? Yeah, well that's me right now.

"Are you going to eat the rest of that burger?"

"I plan to." I answer immediately, giving the big bear a dry look as I take a bite out of the very burger he just asked about. Now, I shared my fries-which is a huge thing because I love these fries, I also gave him some of the other burger. I'm not about to give him my whole mean, I'm hungry too damn it! I actually need food to live, you stuffed oaf!

This burger is really good, a lot of people would think since this in Japan it'd be weird, but they're so wrong-I'm savoring the taste, pointedly ignoring Stubby Bear.

"I want some of it."

I give him the rest since there isn't all that much left, and throw away the garbage.

"So, is there anything else you know?"

"If you ask me a question, and if it's within my knowledge I will answer it."

"Do you know anything more in depth about the three types of Kampfer?"

It'd definitely help me in the long run if I know all of these things instead of later on. I don't want to be caught off guard or unaware, it's bad enough I can be caught off guard by other Kampfer.

"Oh, yeah..." I sigh, feeling incredibly stupid.

Next thing on my list of things to do...

Have a private place so we can talk about things of this nature.

Better head to my apartment.


My parents must have pulled some strings because the landlord of the apartments wasn't all that shy in greeting me or showing me into the complex when we were done introducing ourselves. Now, I'm sure a lot of landlords would rather turn the other cheek than deal with the prospect of a foreigner living in their establishment-getting hurt in said place, more importantly, and I'm just lucky I have roof over my head. I didn't want to be stuck out in the rain.

So, my landlord's name is Okemi. She's short-standing about five foot four, ivory skinned, with dark eyes that held a bright light to them. Her hair is up in a loose fitting bun, unlike mine which I've just let do as it wants for the moment. I have her by several inches, I don't know anything else about her other than that, I have no desire to talk unless I absolutely have to, and she just seems like she's not a talker. The only thing I know is that she owns this place.

The place is extremely spacious, never mind the outside and how exotic it looks. There's a garden at the front, and there's even a red tiled roof before you actually step into the place! I'm twisting and turning now on the inside. Stepping up several flights of stairs, keeping my strides less than what they could be so I don't leave Okemi in the dust, and find entertainment by flicking my eyes on room numbers. We started at '100' and now we are on '435' to be exact. I'm a little puzzled as to why we just didn't take the elevator, it could have saved the both of us a lot of trouble having to climb up all these stairs-not that I mind, it'd just save time.

"This is your room."

"440." I nod slowly as Okemi opens the door and gestures for me to enter first.

It is very basic but roomy. There's light colored carpet save for in the kitchen where it is tiled. There's a large kitchen counter with drawers just a few inches from the living room with a stove top oven complete with burners. There's a hall adjacent to it with two doors running parallel. The first on the left is an empty room, the first on the right is the bathroom-there is a shower and bath, something I am thankful for since I prefer taking showers, and the last two are both bedrooms. Where one would spend the majority of their time and sleep, aside from the living room. So, three rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom-that's not bad at all.

There's also a very large fridge with more than ample room for storage.

I need to hit one of the stores and fill this baby up with some food.

"Here are the keys. You have two." Okemi hands me a key chain while giving me quite the stern look. I guess people tend to lose their keys around here, or here is the off chance people's keys are being taken and thus she has been forced to make copies. I avoid he stern gaze, listening to her. "I'll have a fresh futon up in a few hours, unless you want to buy your own furniture."

"That'd b-be really n-nice, thank you."

"If you need anything else I live in the first room on the first floor to the left."

I fish out some money from my pocket-the first place I went to is the currency exchange place.

"Enjoy your stay."

I mutter under my breath while shutting the door. She was quick to get my money, I had to pay like four different things plus another thing. It didn't really set me back, but there had just been so much and I'm not even sure why it came to that much.

"Oh well, nothing left to do other then unpack."

After about twenty minutes I have just about all of my belongings organized and in order-I really need to get some dressers to store my clothes, but that can wait another day. My shirts are stacked and folded on one end of the wall with my pants and boxers, my socks and shorts are folded and paired right under them. I've made sure to give my DVD and tape collection its own space along with my DVD player-it stinks my TV couldn't fit, but I can still watch these off my laptop. My laptop is also in its own little space and lastly my skateboard is situated against the wall.

I sigh happily, and let myself fall on the floor spreading my arms out to my sides, it just feels good to relax, Jet lag is terrible.

"I'm so tired." Stubby Bear plops himself down next to me.

"You didn't even do anything."

He just shrugs before lying on his back and staring at the ceiling. "Being in that airplane was fun."


Thankfully it's the weekend, so I have the time to do important things. The first, take a shower along with catching up on sleep and writing to my family. The second, order furniture. The third, get groceries, eventually. It must look odd for me to be hauling my own furniture into the building, but I am using the elevator to get them up the rest of the way, it's not like I'm carrying them up the stairs. I couldn't honestly care less what people thought, but moving furniture has always been more of a man's thing. The dressers had to be the most awkward to get in and carry, besides the couch, but I manage.

It became a matter of setting up the furniture once I got it in. The couch went right in the living room near the back wall. The dressers were put in the first room to the left, where I would be sleeping if I don't fall asleep on the couch first.

I take a seat on the plush couch, sighing as I feel myself sink into it. Getting all of my clothes situated within their respective drawers took a long while, and getting my DVD and tape collection organized on the top of the dresser took a long time as well. I have a lot of tapes, before I stuffed them into the duffel bag they were in one of those large plastic bins-I have quite a bit of DVDs, but nowhere near as close to how many tapes I have.

I also hooked up a fifty inch widescreen TV in the living room along with my DVD player.

So, this is pretty sweet.

"So, are you going to ask me more questions?"

I look at Stubby Bear, turning away after a few seconds as I gaze outside. I didn't think he knew anymore than what he told me, thus that was the total limit of his knowledge. But, perhaps I had been wrong-am wrong, and he knows a lot more than what he said.

I guess he can read my facial expression well, because he speaks up. "If it is within my knowledge I can answer it."

"The Kampfer types, do you know anything more about them..."

"Details?"

I nod. Is he a mind reader? No, that is impossible considering he is a stuffed animal-I'm not going say the last part aloud of course. I do want details on the types of Kampfer. There's the Schwert who uses swords, the Ghwer who guns and long ranged weapons, and lastly there is the Zauber which uses magic and is multi-ranged. I'm the last one so really any information pertaining to this will be more than acceptable, but I won't remain ignorant of the Schwert and Gewher. I bet a Ghwer could have a rocket launcher or a mac ten-that'd be so unfair, honestly.

I bet a Schwert could have an extra long katana, and that is also unfair.

There is also the question of why and perhaps how I am a Black Kampfer, who these White Kampfer are, and why it is that we're even around.

"Is there a difference in reaction time between the three types? Are one's reflexes more keen than the others? Can a Gewher modify their weapons or do they remain the same?"

"As a Kampfer you already have enhanced speed and enhanced strength. You can move immensely fast as you've already seen at your old house, and you can also jump incredibly high. So, naturally your five senses especially sight and hearing increase as well as your sixth sense, or intuition to compensate for this increase. You also have enhanced or accelerated healing-broken bones will heal within a few days, and minor wounds heal nearly instantly. It's rumored that Red Kampfer are three times faster than Blue Kampfer, but I think with training the gap can be bridged. It all depends on the person. Unlike you, a Gewher and Schwert have what they have, meaning the weapon they use is set and they can't change or modify it."

I stay silent, just absorbing the information being explained slowly and carefully.

"It is rare, but in extreme cases the transformation can be more than physical. For instance, if someone is timid and shy-when they transform they'll be the exact opposite of that personality. If the person's body isn't suited for combat the transformation will make that person's body suited for combat-these are just in extreme cases and it is to ensure that person can fight without any restraint or worry. And, for guys it's transforming into a girl, because that is the rules-only girls can become Kampfer."

That's a little surprising...I had no idea the transformation could alter a person's personality. I mean I don't really feel any different than usual.

"Can I sense other Kampfer?"

"You're inquisitive." Stubby Bear comments, looking up at me for a few seconds before lying down."Yes you can, you'll even be able to feel them when they're near if you're bracelet doesn't start glowing like I said before, but it'll be out of your control it-it'll just happen. It'll be...Strange at first for you, but through training you can hone the skill so it's like second nature."

"That is a relief." It'd be terrible if I'm walking around blind more than I am now. At least there is a way I'll be able to feel if any Kampfer are near me, how I'll know or what that feeling will be is as good as a guess as any, but I'll trust my instincts. The skill sounds like very hard to master completely, but I'm up for the challenge. "And, what about these White Kampfer?"

"There have been times that Red Kampfer and Blue Kampfer stop fighting and unite to fight against the Moderators. The White Kampfer are like enforcers, you could say. Which brings me to my next subject. The Red Kampfer and Blue Kampfer that are here in Japan have stopped fighting, that is why the White Kampfer are around, and that is why you are here."

This throws me for a loop. It's not the Red and Blue factions ending their conflict and raging against the machine, it's not the White Kampfer being enforcers, and it's not even about the current Red Kampfer and Blue Kampfer ceasing their conflict to rage against the machine. It is about the fact that I am here at this very moment, that I've been thrown into this, and am part of this new team of Kampfer that hasn't been around in who knows how long...The possibilities for this are endless, and just about all of them I don't wish to entertain for a second.

Am I some rogue? Do I kill everyone or do I spare everyone?

Not like it matters because I have no intention of going along with it, but if I at least know...

I get the feeling I'm always going to have more questions than answers.

"Why am I a Black Kampfer?"

"That, I do not know." Stubby Bear answers honestly.

"Do you know anything about the White Kampfer or me...Are we different than Red Kampfer and Blue Kampfer?"

It's an odd feeling to feel like I myself am a stranger to well...Myself.

"White Kampfer tend to be just slightly stronger because they're enforcers. White Kampfer also don't transform into their Kampfer counterparts, they stay as they were before they became Kampfer. As for Black Kampfer, the only thing that I know is that they transformed as well, were by far the quickest of the Kampfer and were very deft. Their physical strength and flexibility was also incredible, even by Kampfer standards. I can't remember the last time there had actually been one though, so I'm quite puzzled. But, I can assure you that you are not the first to be a Black Kampfer."

I resist the urge to snort at his last statement. Well, you're not the only one. I've been puzzled for a few days now and there's no sign of that ebbing a bit. It's only going to get worse, and on top of all of this I have to go to school. It's really too much for me to be worrying about something so trivial when I'm basically in this life or death battle royal-or what will be a battle royal if things continue on the way that they have been before my arrival. Yeah, school is like the last thing I should be worrying about now.

The last thing.

So, the Red Kampfer and Blue Kampfer have ceased their fighting and formed a truce of sorts. Apparently-clearly this goes against what the Moderators want so now they've sent in their little enforcers the White Kampfer. The White Kampfer are also very different from myself and the Red and Blue-for starters they don't transform like we do, they just remain the same as they were before. Now, I don't know if this would involve the personality change or not, I would think that's right across the board even for a rainbow Kampfer. If their bodies or personalities aren't suited for combat they are changed accordingly.

Or, it could be completely random.

To make matters even worse and even more confusing I'm part of a fourth team of Kampfer. An unknown fourth team that Stubby Bear has little knowledge of other than the basics. I feel somewhat better that I'm not the first Black Kampfer to ever exist in this whole mess, but why I am a Black Kampfer is yet a mystery, and that makes me a little uneasy since there's so little information and facts on it. Am I an enforcer? I am the one that kills all of them? Do I just mind my own business and do what I do best while skirting around this whole conflict?

Do the Moderators have some twisted and sick sense of humor that they decided to put me through this just for laughs?

"The Moderators don't do things without a reason. For no reason. Just because you or I don't know the reason or reasons for them doing what they do, doesn't mean that what they do isn't without a reason. Without a purpose. You are a Black Kampfer for a reason. Now, I don't know why you are, and obviously you don't. But, you are a Black Kampfer for a reason. Also, like I said before Kampfer tend to gather in one place."

It makes me feel so much better that there is some unknown reason for me being this way. Not. This is like holding up a carrot so high, watching me jump with all of my might to get it, but I come nowhere even close to getting it. It's like teasing a dog with a treat and not giving it to them in the end after all of that teasing. Except in my case I can't charge or bite like the dog can because the Moderators aren't even here on earth-they're somewhere else completely. So, I can't lash out against them in such a direct and vicious manner as a dog going on the attack, but I can grind their gears and not do what I'm supposed to do. I don't know what that is, but I'm not going to go along with it in any case.

His last statement brings up a horrible point.

"Are you telling me I'm going to be going to school with them?"

"Pretty much."

"This is ridiculous." I grab the sides of my head, careful not to pull my hair too hard.

"Where are you going?" Stubby Bear hurries after me as I throw my thick jacket on and slip on my skate shoes.

"Skate off a bridge and hope I hit my head a million times."

"Really?

"I'm going to get some Italian, there's this place right up the street...I think. Do you want anything?" I ask while nestling my skateboard under my armpit and trying to remember the exact route to the Italian shop. I don't want to get lost, again, and while the people I come across were polite enough to point me in the right direction I don't want to keep asking them where this is with my less than perfect Japanese.

"I'll have some of your food-"

"No, because I am not going to give you more of my meal than what I eat myself." I frown, setting my board on the floor while keeping my right foot on the tail, and cross my arms over my chest. He had one of the burgers I ordered at the airport in addition to a whole thing of fries that I had been indulging in-until I seen him staring at me with invisible drool coming out of his mouth desiring to have some of my meal. Which, I don't mind sharing, but I like to eat full meals too!

"Just get me whatever you're having, I don't know the names." He waves his paw almost like he is dismissing me. "Before you go can you turn on the TV?"

"Sure." I turn it on.

I'm glad Stubby Bear can adjust so easily.


I love skateboarding.

Always have.

It's not a team sport or one that forces organization. You don't have to be skinny or tall, short or stocky, or anything of the sort like with football and basketball. The only thing you need is the balls to do tricks, a skateboard, and the ability to fall correctly. The last one sounds pretty funny, I'm sure, but there's certain ways to fall so you minimize injuries as much as possible.

I bring my knees up to my chest as I bust a tre-flip. The board goes through it's amazing flip and I catch it with my front foot before leveling out and setting my back foot on it before I land on the ground.

Four stair owned.

I have no idea how a stuffed animal can come to life, yet alone talk and eat like me, but I'm not going to ponder on it. I just need to come to terms with the fact that I will always have more questions than answers when it comes to this whole mess, and the more answers I get the more questions I will have. Keeping this in mind I push a bit harder and Ollie higher as I clear curbs, fire hydrants, and stair sets. I even manage to fly above one of those orange construction things and it's vertical!

I do a few grinds giving into my adrenaline, nothing hard like a smith of feeble, just the basic 50-50, 5-0, and even get in a nosegrind.

My apartment is a bit away from the rest of the residential area where they have the shops and stores, the only thing around me are other apartments and houses of people who live here or are just visiting. It takes about twenty minutes to break through the quiet and tranquil into the noise and chaos. It gives me ample time to trick and work on my technical skills. I'm not going to bust primos and rails, landing like that is hard and I've always sort of panicked or just can't balance enough to continue the slide and trick out.

I'm not Rodney Mullen.

I swerve away from someone. My wheels make a loud but dull sound as I carve across the cement and do a quick shuv-it switching my tail to nose and nose to tail. It has to be around here somewhere... I look to and fro at the numerous shops. Some of them are clothes stores, others are video game stores or having to do with the like, and there are a few food shops that sell bakery, but I can't find the Italian shop!

I don't know what the opinion-or view of skateboarding is here. People in Japan are sort of strict, I doubt they'd want to deal with the popping and smacking of the skateboard as it hits the cement, or if someone muffs on the trick. Even more importantly, I severely doubt they're going to let anyone skate on any sort of property. It's like this in the states too, and a few times a stupid security guard tried to take my board, but I'd always snatch it away and run off while the curse at me and tell me to never come back.

There are some people here that can skate really good.

And, I don't need to say it, but there is incredible breakdancers here.

But, I doubt people would be...Lenient on them-me using rails and ledges as obstacles to do tricks on or over.

I coast for several more minutes, doing tricks as I go, and dodging cars whenever I come across them-there's a lot. I bust a Hardflip over a seven stair- and land bolts.

"Bad ass!"

I catch the sight of light blue hair soon after I land, my celebration being cut abruptly short, and immediately try to slow down. Seeing as it is not working in my favor I jump off my board. Pain and more than anything a sort of awareness of my fall makes me rolls across the cement for a second before I strain flipping myself back onto my feet, wiping off my pants and jacket while I kick out my legs.

Damn it!

Who would be stupid enough to be right in my way as I am skateboarding, easily going over fifth teen miles, flying down the street like I have a death wish and am high on adrenaline?

"That stinks..." I mutter while staring at my now cut hand-they're not bleeding but my skin is broke so to speak and I can see the other layer. To my shock it heals-just like Stubby Bear said in just a few seconds. I retrieve my board hastily before a car runs over it and turn to see just who got in my way in the first place...Or me going into their path while they were on their trek, let's just keep it ambiguous for the moment.

"Why'd you get in the way like that!?"

"You're the one flying down the street not paying attention."

I keep my breath in,, a little stunned; I observe just who it is that decided to grace me with their presence by getting into my way. It is a girl, about my age or maybe just a year younger. She has this amazing light blue hair kept a bit short with the majority of it kept up with this white band-she must be a tomboy or have that quality about her since she did cut it so short.

I run my eyes over her body-she has a very athletic build, she definitely takes care of herself and has to be the top mark in whatever sport's team she's joined. That cocky gleam in her equally light blue eyes speaks of her confidence. I'm more full and curvy than she is, what's that word...Voluptuous, I think it is...

I'm also taller by a good few or so inches. I'm still about six feet, surprisingly.

"Skateboarding? I know people do it here, but I always thought that's more a guy sort of thing."

I startle hearing her voice. It's so smooth and cool.

"Gender doesn't matter. There's professional women skateboarders."

She looks me over before smiling. I don't know if I should feel unease or on edge, but I am feeling a little weird.

"You must be a foreigner."

I don't meet her eyes and just bob my head the least I possibly can.

It's clear I am a foreigner.

"You must be looking for the Italian shop being all the way over here, right? Well, my father happens to own it and I work there after school and on weekends. I was just on my way there now since my shift starts. I can show you the way, if you'd like?"

I look at her, adverting my gaze after a few seconds as she stares into my eyes without a care and smiles. It'd be really nice if she did show me the way so I'm not flying down the sidewalks and empty side streets at twenty something miles, while it's great for my skateboarding and tricks, it's not great with the fact that I'm hungry. "S-Sorry for almost r-running into y-you, by the way. That'd also be nice if you'd show me the way."

She tilts her head. Her glorious light blue hair tilts with her, covering one ear. "Don't worry about it, but you should put your hair up when you're doing that. Just follow me it's a few blocks up ahead."

I follow her, keeping my board in my hands now instead of riding it. We're getting near busier streets, and I don't need the bane of the deck being snapped in half by a driver that can't stand stupid skaters like me.

"What's your name, by the way?"

"Uh..."

I stare at her and she stares at me.

"Cat got your tongue?" She flashes a cocky smile, crossing her arms over her chest.

I look at her carefully and contemplate if I should tell her. I wonder if she'll laugh or give me the weird looks airport security did when they seen my name on my Driver's License. She does seem like the type that'd rub my face in it and tease me relentlessly, or maybe I'm wrong and she'll just laugh at how strange and out of this world it sounds. Or, what if she's one of those enemy Kampfer I have to watch out for?! No, I'm just being paranoid, she can't be one of them, otherwise she'd be attacking me right now. And, I never judge people. It's not my right.

"My name is Andrew Ambrose."

"That's a boy's name."

I hear her little snort.

"My father thought he was going to have a boy, he refused to change my name."

"Sounds rough."

"I manage. If anyone really bothers me I punch them in the mouth"

"My name is Hitomi Minagawa, it's a pleasure to meet you. Andrew Ambrose."

"Your name means iris or pupil-how lame is that!?"

"Not as lame as having a boy name like you do."

"Well played. It's nice to meet you, too." I return the polite gesture the best I can, but my less than perfect Japanese is catching up to me. And, my need to retort is also starting to brew a bit more-her name is a lot lamer than mine! Though, this girl doesn't seem to have any trouble understanding me, which I am thankful for, and if I don't know any better I'd say she's even a bit amused with my performance. Learning a new language is really, really hard! Even though being in my Kampfer form makes it easier.

She probably also found it funny that I fell the way I did.

"Japanese isn't your first language, I take it."

I clutch my grip tape a bit harder and don't even look at Hitomi's pants. I just keep my eyes on the cement ahead of me and my torn up shoes. I knew I would stand out because my height and skin color, but also because just how rough or wrong my Japanese is. I'm pretty sure I have the pronunciations right because nobody has given me weird or appalled looks when I am speaking to them, but it is clear that Japanese is not my first language. I took Spanish my freshmen year and failed that shit. I've never been good with other languages, and Japanese is harder than Spanish-easily.

"It's not." I admit. I fail at Spanish, I took a class my freshmen year and failed-I can understand the bare bone basics, but that is it. If someone started speaking Spanish all fast I will be lost and staring at them like an idiot, because clearly I can't understand them. It's taking everything I have to get all these basic phrases and sentences, and I'm close to stuttering repeatedly which is just plain embarrassing.

"I can tell, your Japanese is really rough. But, I can understand what you are saying."

"Just rub it in w-why don't you?" I look her in the eyes, finally, and pull my lips down tightly, suppressing my annoyance as she flashes a cocky smile. I think I was correct with my earlier observation in that Hitomi finds amusement in me stumbling over my words. Probably found it funny I fell too.

"Well, anyways here we are."

The Italian shop is quite big about two stories and looks to be very spacious on the inside. The front window is huge, and I struggle to read the writing plastered on the top of it. There's a middle aged man working away behind the counter, and I can see a few cooks in the back going about their tasks diligently. Cooking is very much like art to me-when a person cooks they can put on a show and dazzle people with their skills. A lot of people think throwing pizza dough and catching it is so easy, but when they try it more often than not they tear it because they don't have gentle fingers or they just can't get the throw right if their lives depended on it.

I step in just as she is about to gesture me to come in with her hand not so patiently. She vanishes in the back and comes out wearing the same uniform as her father-I'm a little surprised this is her father because he doesn't have light blue hair or eyes, but he does have an athletic build despite being so old and has a brightness to his eyes-a trait that Hitomi inherited.

"Good evening."

"Good evening." I respond back to the kind man.

"I'll take over for now, father."

So, I end up getting quite a few things, and am waiting patiently for my food to be finished.

"So, do you run too, or do you just skateboard?"

I look at Hitomi, raising my eyebrow. Now, I don't find it strange if a girl likes skateboarding, but some of them just don't care for it. It's not like they actually skate or anything, but considering I am...I still have my interests and one of them is skateboarding. Another is weightlifting-need to get a new Olympic set speaking of which. Another is running, though I've never joined a track team or anything like that.

"I do a lot of things, I guess. I've never been on a track team or anything like that, but I do like to run. Well, I think the technical term is sprint."

"You should join the Track and Field team or club of whichever school you're enrolling in here, it's a really big thing and you have a lot of potential. You're tall, so you must have long strides."


Okay besides that encounter going from comically hilarious to strange-Hitomi hadn't taken her eyes off of me even as I was leaving; I am freaking out.

It's close to the freak out level I had when I woke up as a girl...

Still haven't changed back, by the way.

My hair is soaking wet as I run my brush through it, curls even thicker and more abundant than before. It is extremely painful getting this thing caught in any knots-even the smallest knots. I'm wearing a pair of blue jeans, boxers because I don't have any...Panties, and a plain black t-shirt to finish it all of. It's the day...I'm going to Seitetsu whatever the rest is called to hand in my enrollment forms.

I'm really considering my options here, and one of them is jumping off the nearest bridge.

"I don't think I'm going to go through with this."

"I never took you for a skipper."

"Buddy, you have no idea. You haven't seen my record. Besides, I can't go there...They're going to be expecting well...the guy me, and I'm not a guy right now!"

Stubby Bear points his paw at me. "You just need to come up with an excuse or reason as to why the guy you isn't showing up and you are. I'm sure you'll think of something."

It's a pretty good idea, I admit. However, there's very few excuses I can think of at this moment as to why...My name is still Andrew, and if anyone has a lick of common sense they will be able to put two and two together. Which, in short means I am already screwed or will be screwed when it comes time to articulate these excuses. The only one that I can see working would be posing as a girlfriend for lack of a better term and handing the enrollment papers in, in his absence. They must have my records, and know that I am a habitual truant.

But, this excuse could make things even worse in the long run.

"Fuck!"

Maybe I'm just not going to go.

"You're very crude for a girl."

"I am not-"

"I'm going to laugh if you really say that...Anyways, why don't you just say that you're his girlfriend or something and turning in the enrollment forms in his place? They must have gotten your records by now-every school here has, so they already know of your habit of not bothering to show up or deciding to leave not even halfway into the school day."

To quell the burning heat in my stomach I massage my forehead roughly. I really wish I had more options at my choosing other than this one. It's the only one that I could think of that'd actually work, and it's the same for Stubby Bear evidently. It's a basic cover, I'm the girlfriend and me showing up puts things into perspective and I remain covered in that one aspect so I'm not found out. My bases are all loaded and accounted for so to speak. But still, I wish there were more options at my disposal other than this one-which is so glaringly obvious by the way.

"What am I supposed to do if I see another Kampfer?" I ask, unable to shake the blanket of uneasiness that has graced me. I really don't want to fight anyone, let alone another Kampfer-I have been training, trying to summon my water at will and change it to anything I please, but it's hard. It takes so much focus, and sometimes I lose my hold on that inner power-that heat. Of course it's gone beyond nothing but control. I haven't blasted a whole section of this apartment off like my old house nor have I created a huge spiral like then either.

"Fight them."

I'm not going to catch a break. I'm still a girl and there's no way I can avoid fighting other Kampfer-which all go to the same school I am about to be heading towards. Talk about walking into the lion's den or the hornet's nest.

"You also may want to buy women clothes."

I leave before he can even finish that sentence.

Yeah, fat chance of that happening. I am not going to wear panties or bra, I'll just stick with my boxers and for my boobs well...They're going to remain as they have been up to this point. I'm not going to embrace this change-maybe if I could transform back into a guy I'd be more open minded, but as it stands I can't transform back or haven't transformed back to a guy, and am showing no signs of turning back to a guy.

Seitetsu is about a half hour away from my apartment, maybe a little more judging from the maps. My best bet would be to catch the bus since it passes right by the school on its route, but considering it's about noon and they're likely packed with people getting lunch I will have to pass on that. The second would be the subway, but I am not going to be squeezing into anything. I don't like being in crowded spaces.

Besides, I normally got around by skateboarding if I wasn't driving in the states, and driving here isn't really a viable option unless I want to pop an artery or rip the steering wheel out. So, skateboarding it is.

Seitetsu Gakuin High School isn't what I was expecting. In fact, it's so far from what I was expecting that I've been blown out of the water. The most noticeable thing is this giant cement wall-it has to be hundreds of feet tall cutting off one side of the school from the other with layers of barbed wire and razor wire; it's not the cheap stuff either. The school doesn't even look like a school, it looks more like a mansion if you ask me. Three odd shaped buildings are the tallest, standing head and shoulders above the rest, the buildings with all of the classrooms are blocks wide and just tall-they tower high in the sky. Windows spot the the entire thing like little flies.

There has to be thousands of rooms. It's crazy-the first high school I went to there were about three thousand something kids in total, not including the staff and everybody else, but it was rectangular. The inside was just the same as the outside design wise. Numbers and rooms were easy to find, and every route always had a right of left turn, with the halls branching out in two directions.

But, this place looks like it has a campus. It's nothing like the first school I went to. It easily dwarfs that high school, and dwarfs the second high school I went to.

There's buildings everywhere-tall and just sophisticated looking. There's a neat little arch right at the entrance before the routes split with the school's name painted or written on it.

Now I can see why this is one of the best-if not the best private school in Japan.

Do I go to the girl side or boy side...Maybe I should wrap my boobs and put on a wig... I shake my head not even a second later. Yeah, like I'm going to be able make my chest look flat-even with this baggy jacket and the baggy shirt and sweater underneath it my girls are still popping out. It feels very, very weird, and it does effect my balance to some extent-there's a lot more weight on my front than before.

"Maybe I should just turn back." I mutter, shifting my weight back so the tail of my board is resting on the cement. It's not too late, I can go back to my apartment and just be done with this. Maybe I'll get a job being a Ramen chef and open up my own shop later in life and make a fortune in the end. Maybe I could go back home-catch the soonest flight and high tail it out of here.

But, that's not going to happen, and I already know.

"That would be a bad idea."

I jump, almost falling off my board in the process, but I do a quick pivot and turn.

My eyes fall onto who startled me so badly, and it takes all I have not to bolt in the other direction. I almost move on instinct, I'm so tempted to and the impulse fires through my nerves making my heart pick up in speed. Something is holding me back from darting away back in the direction I came. I don't know what it is, but I'm frozen in place.

The girl is tall, not quite as tall as me, but I only have her by just a few inches.

Blue eyes and purple hair in a hime hairstyle.

Her outfit is a school girl outfit consisting of a black short skirt that is just a bit too short for my taste, what looks like thigh length leggings that are sheer black in color, a black pair of slip on shoes-I think, and a white top complete with a tie her body doesn't even capture my attention save for just a second, and she's quite shapely as well as athletic, no slouch physically.

But, I take notice only because my eyes shifted for a second-my only focus is her hair and eyes. Those piercing blue eyes and curtain of purple hair.

The only thing missing is that cold smile as she corners me about to strangle me with that menacing chain.

It...Can't be...

It's the girl from my dream!

That barbed wire and razor wire fence...

Fuck!

"May I ask who you are?"

I bite my tongue, hard.

This can't be happening right now!

"Oh, how rude of me. I am Shizuku Sangō president of the Seitetsu Student Council. I have perfect attendance and am one of the highest scoring students here at this school, pleasure to meet you."

"I'm...Andrew's girlfriend. He didn't feel like coming, so I came to hand in his enrollment forms. My name is Brianna." I lie smoothly, not telling her that my name is in fact Andrew. But, this girl is sharp...She's staring at me intently; starting to make me feel uneasy-I idly pop my tail off the ground getting my board surprisingly high off of the ground. If I stutter or fumble once with my Japanese she's going to crack me like an egg.

I literally can't believe I just said that.

"No last name?"

"Lopez."

"Hmmm. What is the reason he didn't come to hand in his enrollment forms?"

"You must have seen his record, so you already know that he skips and rarely shows up."

"Yes, I must say he's got the quite record. Deplorable attendance to say the least. It would be strange if you're actually Andrew and lying right now."

"Yeah, no kidding."

"And, Andrew is a boy, and it's a boy name. You're Brianna Lopez, and you're a girl, as that is a girl name."

"Mhm." I grudgingly agree, subtly drawing my focus inward on that familiar heat.

I'm about to be in some real shit.

"You're wearing guy clothes."

"They're comfortable." I shrug as she tilts her head at me. I'm not sure if she's confused or puzzled with my response, but as long as I can help it I will continue to wear guy clothes and not invest in any girl clothes. It may sound strange but it is true, I can just throw them on without much hassle because they're so baggy.

"Do you want to hear something a little interesting? It's about this school."

I suck in a breath as my heart picks up in speed even more. It's drumming in my chest and in my throat, anymore and it'll be lodged there next choking me to death.

"There is no Brianna Lopez at either of the schools Andrew went to, though I know both are common first and last names in the states. You either met Andrew elsewhere or..."

The next thing I know I'm being wrapped in chains and I let out a loud yelp, not foolish enough to fight against them physically, but I try to overwhelm them-water bursts around me like a flood soaking me and everything else for easily twenty feet-this woman's hair is glowing before turning white-just on the underside. She pulls up her sleeve revealing the red bracelet.

I back flip sliding away on the water as it kicks itself up, watching warily as she gathers her chain-those three pointed dagger things clasped tightly in both of her hands.

"Hello, Andrew Ambrose. I've been expecting you, in fact I've been waiting here for you all day."

I grit my teeth, glaring at her before I shift my attention onto my board...I'm going to have to put that in the oven, or get a whole new complete because that thing will be waterlogged. This woman already knew that I'd be here!? Did she somehow remember that she had been in my dream, or did she dream the same dream, or what the hell happened!?

"Y-You're a R-Red Kampfer!"

That small, frightening smile graces her beautiful face.

I can feel myself swallow; my heart nestles itself right in my gut.

"I need you to come with me and answer a few questions. Will you do this the easy way or the hard way?"

"You should know me well enough, what do you think?"

I flex my hand, wincing as a surge of water forms in the center of it and spins faster and faster each second-it feels like I'm touching a block of ice, but it's wet and more like a liquid than a solid.

"Hard way it is, I was hoping that'd be your choice."