Science class back in grade school had been fun. Yeah, it had been a fun class. It was one of the times we were able to cut loose. The teacher wasn't very strict, though he didn't tolerate nonsense, but he wasn't like the other majority of teachers in my grade school. But, on that note, he did have this thing called the adult chair. If someone fucked around too much, that's where they would have to sit, and it was behind a board.

Needless to say I found myself in the adult chair, behind the board. It was pretty damn funny, looking back on it, but I hadn't been an extremely repetitive sitter in the adult chair. I did do my work and pay attention, unlike some of the kids, but I also messed around. Some of my friends never left that chair and would be there for the whole class period. My one friend, at that time, sat there for ninety minutes after calling the teacher a bitch.

It had been a pretty funny situation. We were all screwing around for the most part, but my friend was getting out of control. The teacher had yelled his name, once, super loud. Naturally, my friend was like 'what!? bitch!' and of course at that age, everyone either laughed or made the classic ooo sound.

Other than some reflection, this all serves a purpose. I had gotten relatively good grades in science. It was easy and simple enough. Water has three forms, oxygen and carbon dioxide are opposite, one we breathe, and the other we exhale. We didn't get into the periodic table, though, looking back on it. We didn't get into carbon monoxide earlier.

Whatever those sparkling blue spheres had been were as close to solid fire as I've seen. They didn't look like fire, and they didn't feel like fire. Being burned is being burned, and those spheres were at a dangerous temperature. Fire took a while to reach a high temperature. Those spheres were a consistent, battering heat. If they had struck me on the torso, I have no doubt the blood and mush in my body would have turned to steam as part of me was scorched.

I used my water ability to fend off what spheres I could. The rest I dodged by I'm not sure how much, but I'm breathing and a soaking mess, so I am alive. That's what matters. Naturally, my water hit the scorching spheres. The result of that was water's third form, gas, and its second liquid as parts of my attacks were flying away like cut up jello. I would be more amazed or surprised with how things went-but the fire alarm wails in my ear, just as the PA sounds off.

Water comes down in its second form. Liquid. Sprinklers cut on-hissing and gushing. There's nowhere to hide. I try to push my hair out of my view, but it doesn't comply. I swipe again, more annoyed than anything. Smoke is traveling into the hallway, and all of the girls are screaming while covering their heads. I would think that the threat of possibly losing one's life would outweigh the need to coddle one's hair, but evidently, these girls don't have that thought. A few scramble, and one slides into a locker.

Teachers start organizing everything. They have eyes everywhere. I move towards the nearest door. It's just in the back of the library. I know they'll only bring me along to get into a line, but my instincts are screaming. Screaming for me to duck off and evade like a ninja. I turn on my heel and head for the door. It's just a few feet away, and I open it with a start.

I slip out, moving past three girls that are running with their books covering their heads. I don't even hold myself back like I normally would have, and I clear the distance in just a step. The sprinkler are still on, as are the alarms-the smoke is steady and thick. It's not a thick, black smoke that you'd see in a full blown fire, but the thin, almost white smoke that seemed more airy than dense. Nonetheless it is cause for alarm.

I follow a group of girls being led by a teacher. I'd guess it's a classroom. I'm on the second floor now, steadily moving towards the first. The teacher takes note of me, as do the girl, but nothing is said. The teacher doesn't seem to relax, but his posture soften the slightest. If anyone is unaccounted for in this situation it would lead to one of a few things. The first will be getting into trouble and suspicion, more than anything getting in trouble. It is the same way in the states-nobody really fucks around during the drills.

I don't know what happens-but the teachers would get mad if we talked or anything else during that, so...

This is an actual event, not a drill, so if someone is still in the building while everyone else is outside that is going to lead to eyebrows being raised. Did you start that fire? What class were you in? Were you in the bathroom? Why didn't you find the nearest exit or teacher? I can see the laundry list of questions being fired off already like a sub machine gun. I can only have one retort, and do only have one. I'd have to say I was taking a crap and had to wipe.

I wince for a second.

The thought doesn't appeal to me.

Hmmmm...

We finally get outside. Everyone is moving towards the entrance. I assume that'd be the only place we'd be able to go, considering this high school has an actual campus. There's confusion, panic, and more than a little anxiety. I see some important people talking about something on their phones, more than likely calling the fire department or confirming something with the fire department.

I look all around, but I can't spot anyone I know. Now, I don't know that many people here, but the people I do know I can't find or see. This is a big school after all, and the boys and girls are together at this moment, so it's easy to get lost in translation. For my credit I just stay put with the group I came out with. I'm thankful I wear the very, very tight long sleeve undershirt to this uniform. If I didn't right now, I have no doubt that I'd be looking pretty damn foolish. The teacher's name is Tanaka.

He tells us not to move.

Now, I normally would have made a face, but I don't even do that. I have no problem staying put. I am not going to be the odd one out that starts causing trouble during this. This isn't a fire drill-for all intents and purposes, this is a real fire. Had been a real fire, somewhere. My blasts of water must have put the flames out, but it still wasn't enough.

"Yo."

I turn around, feeling a hand on my shoulder.

It is a hand!

Hitomi is grabbing me. I shrug her off as quickly as I can. Every instinct and reflex inside of my body is screaming and jolting. Right now, I should be hightailing it or punch this girl right in the face as hard as I can. Fight or flight. No in between. No sitting still, like I am now. I didn't notice this stupid and cocky little girl in this particular line. I hadn't been paying much attention, my main concern had been getting out swiftly and without much detection.

"You act like I'm on fire." Hitomi comments, setting the hand that had been gripping my shoulder on her hip. "What's up with that?"

I take a deep breath, trying to ease my heart. It's not really working, but I still try to ease it. Between the exertion from before, and sheer surprise that Hitomi slammed inside of my body, my heart is going about five million miles. Even Shizuku playing her games and flustering me doesn't get my heart going this fast and hard, not even close.

"You scared the shit out of me." I hiss at her, narrowing my eyes.

"You don't need to glare at me like that."

I don't turn away from her.

"Anyways, that was a close call, huh?"

My heart eases just a bit. Probably because of the question Hitomi just asked me. We had a tense moment, and she managed to break it. But, that doesn't mean that I'm not on high alert or on guard. If Hitomi moves any body part towards me I'm going to be liable for wrenching her arm behind her back and shoving her down onto the ground.

"I guess so. It'll get the heart going."

There are students that express my statement with their actions. I see more than a few looking at the school with worry, concern, and a faint sliver of dread. Some of the girls have their hands cupped in front of them or over their mouth, and some of the boys have the usual hard squint of observation. They're covering the sun from getting in their eyes with the back of their hands, staring at the school with scrutiny.

I have to wonder if some of them are just trying to find a way to the girl's side. There had been something about a group of boys tunneling underneath the school and almost reached the girl's side. Well, they did, but it wasn't around any grass. They ended up coming up in the woman's locker room-more over, the showers where they'd wash up.

I hadn't been here for that escapade, but I have no doubt some of these guys are formulating some sort of plan. If I go from this way, or use this roof, I can shimmy on down and go this way. Maybe go a different way. This is the first school I've went to-that separates boys from girls, so I don't quite get the fanatic cult-like demeanor some of these guys exude.

"No, this is not a drill."

"Did someone pull the fire alarm?"

"We don't know. The firefighters are investigating."

I try my best to listen in on the conversations. The chatter is close, and distant-all at once. The voice rumble and jumble into each other. It's like distorted noise, and trying to find the one line that traces back to the distortion. Students are starting to ask if this s a drill, is it a surprise drill, and so forth. The teachers, of course, tell them it is not. Shizuku didn't run through the fire drill schedule with me during our time alone, since I've met her, ironically enough. Still, even if the teacher's weren't saying it's not a usual drill, and it is the usual, I would have a sick sense that it isn't just an ordinary drill.

Unfortunately, I am a cause of it. Whoever the second person is-the motherfucker that attacked me, I'm not sure. I know she's out here, somewhere. She probably has her eyes on me, watching my every move. I turn every which way. Some people are chattering. Some are silent. Some are getting restless. The teachers are talking among themselves.

I realize even if I hyper focus, I'd have no luck in finding the girl. Even if I could-I don't know how she looks, her age, her walk-I know nothing. I'm blind. The only way I'd know for sure is if I seen those blue orbs-hot as the sun. Then, I would be able to track them back to the source, and then I'd know how this girl looks. But, pondering this is just useless and makes my head hurt.

That's also not including listening to everyone talking-well, everyone I can that is around me. I don

"Are you afraid of fire or something?"

Only fucking Hitomi would ask me something so stupid.

Not even Natsuru would ask that.

"Who isn't?" I ask, giving her an annoyed look.

"Do you have a phobia?" Hitomi retorts.

I think everyone has a deep rooted fear of fire. It's the same with spiders or snakes. There's something about seeing them, that just puts a person on edge. Granted they have venom, eight legs, fangs, and things that'd turn a human into a pulpy meat soup...Even if they didn't have all of that, humans would still be afraid of them. They'd always jolt. It's the same with cockroaches, for the most part.

Though, with cockroaches...It's more of a repulsion than fear. In my case-I've seen them, of course, but I felt them...I felt a presence, of something, and I turn-there's a cockroach skittering away. Fast as lightning. Disgusting as shit. I don't blame women for screaming at the top of their lungs if they see those nasty fuckers-they fly, if they're big enough, too.

"I just don't want to be charred." I tell Hitomi, sighing.

"I get it. Fall off your skateboard."

Again, she Hitomi puts her hand on my shoulder, and again, I snarl at her. I shrug her off, but I'm not going to glower and glare at her this time. That had been my response the first time. I'm not going to simply glare and snarl at her for doing it a second time, I am going to make it clear what will happen if she touches me again. And, if she does, well, that's going to be her problem.

Now...

"You touch me again and we're going to have a problem, Hitomi."

She may be in the track and field club, but that isn't going to make a difference at all. I'm going to nail her one good time across the jaw or mouth, and put her ass down. Hitomi is going to scramble, she'll hit me too...But, I'm going to stomp on her ass. I honestly don't care if we throw hands right here and now. I'm not in the fucking mood to be dealing with her shit, and just being this close to her is making my skin crawl.

She looks into my eyes-smirking that cocky smirk. Her eyes have that cocky look to them.

I don't give a damn if she knows martial arts-you punch a man's balls, hit a woman's chest, and they'll drop like a stack of bricks. I'm not against doing this Hitomi at all, I'm going to come at her with the intent to kill, and I'm going to fuck her shit up.

"Are you threatening me?"

I suppress a laugh. "Honey, I don't do threats. I'm telling you that if you put your hand on me again, or touch me, we're going to be throwing hands. I'm going to fuck your shit up and break your fucking neck."

"Scary." Hitomi whistles, her cocky smirk gone.

"Keep on fucking with me and you're going to see how scary I can get."

"Ms. Ambrose. Ms. Minagawa. Are you two finished?"

Fucking teacher. Fucking stupid bitch Hitomi. I don't know is on my bad side worse at this moment in time-Hitomo or this punk ass of a teacher.

"Yeah, just a little worried." Hitomi replies, she gets by my ear. "I look forward to having it out with you, when that day comes."

"I'll bite your fucking throat."

Thankfully, we're able to go back in the school. The library, and rooms around it are taped off and nobody is allowed near them, which isn't too much of a problem, at least in my opinion. I'm just glad to be away from Hitomi, finally. I don't know if it had been the situation, or her usual nonsense, but that girl had really got under skin outside. Literally. I had been shaking and clenching my teeth, trying to control my urge to lash out with my fist. I don't think getting suspended is the best idea.

Shizuku might strangle me.

"Andrew."

"Akane?"

I look at the short girl. She's not transformed, thank goodness. Although, I would like to take to her about something when she is transformed. It wouldn't be a good idea to do that now since she's be prone to emotional outbursts. She has the same outbursts when she's transformed, but it's more of an anger-I'm going to unload my clip of bullets on your stupid ass, type deal. Right now-as she is, she'd be more likely to scream at me.

"Sorry. Did I startle you?"

I stare at her.

"Andrew?"

"Sorry. I zoned out there for a second."

"Are you...Okay?" Akane ventures, not quite sure how to start.

"I'm a little out of it."

"Did something happen?"

I wonder if Shizuku set me up for that shit in the library. Akane's question triggers that one within me. It isn't too far fetched that she'd throw me out as some bait to lure in a fucking shark. Natsuru is wary of her as it is. I can understand why. I don't know what happened between the two of them, but if it's anything like what happened to me a little while ago, I get why Natsuru is wary.

And, more to that point...If she is using me like that, we're going to have problems. I am by no means stupid enough to believe that all because Shizuku has an interest in me, doesn't mean she won't throw me out as bait. If she has the inclination to kill-she could follow through with it. She may put the inclination into motion, and instead of feeling me up, she's slashing a hole into me.

Can I confide in Akane?

Yeah, I can. We did make that pact. I don't want to think it's superficial. We don't exactly hate each other, but I don't take her shit, and she doesn't care if she throws her shit at me. As long as I don't start trying to put the moves on Natsuru or try to get with Natsuru-relationship wise, I won't suffer her wrath. Which suits me fine, because I don't need her unloading a whole clip and a half on me over that dolt.

"Yeah, but I can't tell you now..." I whisper into her ear. "After school."

For a moment, her eyes harden, and like a light switch was turned on-she's transformed. She's that gun toting, loud and foul mouthed, not giving a fuck little woman that she is in this state.

My gosh...

What have I done...

"That wanna be queen wants you in her office."

"Shizuku?" I laugh a little.

"Who else?" Akane asks, scratching at her head-she's got the safety on. She waves for me to follow after her, and I do just that. "What bitch attacked you?"

I can really appreciate how blunt she is. Now, Akane as she normally is will speak her mind, if she feels the need to. If she feels pressured, she will speak her mind. But, will she say bitch, and be foul mouthed? Not at all. Will she be so quick to say what's on her mind? Not at all. She doesn't talk all that much, unless she has something worthwhile to say-she's a quiet and pretty girl.

So, for that reason, I divulge.

"I don't know." I admit, a little ashamed. "I was in the library when she attacked me. I couldn't see who did it-only her attacks. Shelves and other stuff blocked my view."

"What was she?"

"Since she was using orbs of some sort, I'd say a Zauber. There were no bullets and I didn't see any sort of blades."

Akane hisses. She turns the safety off, there's an audible click, and I keep one eye solely focused on her. She's unpredictable whenever she's in this state-if she thinks I'm lying or bullshitting, she's going to turn that gun on me and shove it under my chin. She may shove it into my forehead, too. Point is, I'm going to be at gun point, then I'm going to have use my water, and there's going to be nothing but chaos and destruction here.

No doubt Shizuku will come in all of her glory and rip us a new one. I'm going to be pissed off, and Akane is going to be shooting. The result of that is going to be half of this school going into the ground.

Still, even as I'm thinking all of this-I don't take my eye off her.

"I have to tell you something."

I just look at her.

"Someone attacked me earlier. She was a Gewehr. Didn't manage to see her, either."

"Did she use a sniper rifle or something?"

The very thought fills me with more dread than the thought of a Kampfer toting around a rocket launcher or RPG. This isn't Saint's Row or Grand Theft Auto. Someone isn't just going to haul around weapons like that. Someone just isn't going to fire a sniper rifle. But, now that I think about-if it had been a sniper rifle, I definitely would have heard it. Unless this happened at the same time I was dodging fire balls, I don't think I would have caught the sound of the gun firing off.

"Hell no. Way too many bullets to be one of those. Aim was horrible too. If I had to guess, she was using a sub machine gun."

I feel faint. I step back, and I end up falling into a locker. My head bounces off, hard. I try to massage it, but it just makes it hurt worse. I set there, trying to compose myself-Akane is looking at me like I'm half baked. I look at her-blinking. My mind is blank for about a whole minute before I can gather enough wit to lift myself up.

Boy, what a day.

"Are you okay? Looked like you spazzing out like Natsuru does for a second there?"

I wave my hand, dismissing her statement. "You're telling me somebody was shooting at you with an Uzi? A fucking Uzi of all things!?"

"There's a chance it could have been a MAC 10. I think it was a Mac 10, there were a lot of bullets."

I feel faint again, but luckily this time I keep on walking. The shock value of that has diminished greatly since the thought trained its way through my mind. There's some Kampfer in this school that has a gun that can fire six hundred rounds per minute, or has a gun that can fire more than one thousand bullets per minute. Hell...Motherfucking...No. This is almost as bad as a fucking RPG or rocket launcher.

"Akane...You're serious."

"Of course I am!"

I laugh, at a loss. "You're not bullshitting."

"Nope."

"How..." I shake my head again. "How and why are you so calm."

Akane smirks this bloodthirsty smirk. "When I see that bitch again, I'm going to shove the barrel of my gun up her ass and unload my clip. I'm going to hoist her up like a popsicle!"

I can only laugh-I'm really losing my mind.

Akane looks at me, arching a brow. "Are you sure somebody was shooting balls of light at you?"

It takes us about twenty more minutes and an elevator ride, but we finally get up to the floor where the Student Council Chambers-for lack of a better term, are located. They miles well be chambers considering it's lit by one light, and that light is only focused on Shizuku. Of course, we still have a bit ways to go before we get to the room-and maybe unconsciously, we slow our footsteps down until we're at a crawl.

"Yeah-they looked like an energy blast from DBZ, sort of. I mean, it was glowing, and sort of looked like a jellyfish." I finally answer Akane's question.

"That makes no sense."

I take a deep breath, find my center, and I push out. This is tricky, and I really need to work on this, but I try to just leak out some water. Thankfully a torrent of water doesn't come out, and instead-a gentle sphere forms within the center of my palm. It's cool, and moist, but oddly enough-it doesn't drench my skin as it moves. It has the properties of water-it's sort of hard to explain.

Akane looks at my palm with wide eyes, for just a second. Then, she smirks.

"Think of my water sphere, but glowing light blue. There was white flickers in the orb, it almost looked alive or organic." As I finish my sentence, I dissipate the sphere into nothingness.

"I guess that makes some sense. I still wonder who those bitches were, though." Akane tells me.

"Do you think Shizuku set us up?"

"I bet that bitch did. This is right up her alley, with her damn shady ass. That damn wanna be boss queen! I'm going to shove my gun in her mouth and unload my whole fucking clip!" Akane snaps, growling like a savage animal-glares at the space in front of us.

My body jolts. I have been truly startled, and taken by surprise. The last thing I had been expecting ten seconds ago was a violent outburst from Akane. I should have been anticipating it-I should have seen it coming. But, I didn't, for whatever reason. Whether it's the thought of Shizuku using me as bait, that Kampfer attacking me, that Kampfer that attacked Akane and was unloading with a damn uzi or mac 10, or the damn fire drill...My mind is just not as acute as it normally is.

I'm really off.

"You're going to attack her with me, got it?"

"Hold up-"

Akane jams her elbow into my ribs, hard. It's super hard. I have to stop walking, and clutch where she struck. I can't breathe-it hurts, my lungs suck more air in furiously, but it feels like it's not even getting halfway down my body. I slowly crouch, before I fall on my ass, gasping, wheezing.

"You're going to flank me and we're going to fuck that bitch up! She fed us to the sharks. That elbow is going to be cakewalk compared what I do to you if you back out on me right now!"

All I can feel is anger. The pain is there, of course, but it just makes me angrier.

"You just fucking hit me!"

I swing off. Her flesh is soft-my fist sinks right into her stomach. I didn't hold back at all. The end result is Akane being flung off of her feet, hitting the ground with a thud. She falls on her knees first, gasping and coughing while clutching at her gut. I don't feel bad at all for doing what I did-now she knows how I'm feeling right now.

"Fuck!"

I lean against a locker, bringing my legs closer to my chest, Damn, does this hurt. I can't stop clutching at my ribs.

"That...Hurt." Akane growls at me, inclining her head so it's not on the floor. "Damn, you hit hard."

You hit me first..." I hiss, bringing my legs a bit closer to my chest. "I think you hit my lung with your elbow. Fucking shit."

"I don't need you wussing out on me."

"Fine, I'm pissed off now. I think Shizuku was feeding us to sharks. In the library she was next to me one second, and the next, she was..."

My hands ripple with water, and I'm feeling charged.

Akane stands up.

Yeah, we hit each other, but we're past that now. She got pissed, I got pissed, and we took it out on each other. Shizuku is going to come correct. I don't care it kills me, if she crossed me, I'm going to blast her through this school with my water.

"She was gone." I snarl.

"I'll kick down the door, use your water attacks to cover my bullets." Akane says.

"That's not much of a strategy." I can't help but frown. "That'd be good for the opener, and if we were ambushing her, but we need something a little more concrete."

"Cover my bullets with your water attacks."

"So...Drench the whole room?"

I can do that, definitely.

Akane grins. "Douse that bitch."

"As long as you keep your trigger finger down."

"Deal."

We get to the door, ready to bust in. Shizuku is skilled and she's used to combat-at least Kampfer wise. I don't think we can beat her, if we were to challenge her straight up. However, we're about to bum rush her. She's expecting us to come in huffing and puffing, pissed off with the recent events. And, we will do that. However, now isn't the time for that. I'm going to kick this door down, and Akane is going to go to work, and I'm going to cover her path and rush Shizuku the second the door flings off its hinges.

I want answers.

It's not a coincidence that Akane and I were attacked today. Its no coincidence we were attacked at the same time, but in different locations, if that did happen. She could have gotten attacked before or after I did. But, the two of us being attacked isn't a coincidence. I have to wonder if Mikoto was attacked by some Kampfer now, or did they steer clear from her? If so, why is it that Akane and I were attacked-when we're the most explosive ones out of the group when it comes to emotions and such?

I can only think of Shizuku pulling strings.

How...Unfortunate.

We get to the door, ready to bust in. Shizuku is skilled and she's used to combat-at least Kampfer wise. I don't think we can beat her, if we were to challenge her straight up. However, we're about to bum rush her. She's expecting us to come in huffing and puffing, pissed off with the recent events. And, we will do that. However, now isn't the time for that. I'm going to kick this door down, and Akane is going to go to work, and I'm going to cover her path and rush Shizuku the second the door flings off its hinges.

I want answers.

It's not a coincidence that Akane and I were attacked today. Its no coincidence we were attacked at the same time, but in different locations, if that did happen. She could have gotten attacked before or after I did. But, the two of us being attacked isn't a coincidence. I have to wonder if Mikoto was attacked by some Kampfer now, or did they steer clear from her? If so, why is it that Akane and I were attacked-when we're the most explosive ones out of the group when it comes to emotions and such?

I can only think of Shizuku pulling strings.

How...Unfortunate.

I suck in a breath, eyes hovering to Akane. There's no sliver of hesitation or doubt in her eyes or body language. She's ready and prime to attack. She's geared in for our assault. I have no doubt now. Shizuku will be taken by surprise, at the very least by our attack. Akane and I are on the same page, completely, and we're geared in for this.

I focus again, pulling in towards my center, and then I push out...But, instead of simply letting it out, I bottle it up. The water in my hands surges-sort of vibrates like a spring being put under too much pressure. But, once that spring is released, no longer compressed, it's going to shoot upwards and right out of the bed like in the old cartoons.

Akane nods at me, and moves in front of the door.

BAM!

She kicks down the door.

"Akane-san and-"

I let my power flow, erupting like some ravenous stream. Water explodes from my hands, and around my vicinity. It's as tall as eight foot waves, and twice as wide. I can hear Akane's shots-they're pound against my ears, but I keep my focus on Shizuku. I take note there's surprise in her eyes as my waves of water slam and crash into everything except the kitchen sink.

"You scheming little runt!"

Before my fist can connect with her jaw, Shizuku is sliding across the floor, falling to her back and hits the wall, hard. My fist slams into the desk she had been sitting behind, cracks it, and then finally sends it toppling down into a heap. The dull throbbing pain of my knuckles recedes.

"Andrew!"

I jump before Shizuku can wrap the chains around my ankle. My feet hit the ceiling, and I'm inverted for a second. I sprint to the side, defying gravity. I drop, sliding across the floor on my own water. Those skewers are coming right at me, another is going for Akane. I have a few choices, but only one of them will work ultimately. Thinking quickly, and keeping in mind that I'm still able to press the tempo, I jump low and slide on one knee, pressing myself up with one arm and spin, throwing myself to the side barely missing the chain that would have wrapped perfectly around my torso.

I let my power erupt again-and this time it's nothing but a stream of pure force.

Gazing behind me just long enough to see that menacing three pronged blades are coming right for my head, again, I shift again before spinning low and kicking off. Hairs stand up all over my body and I can feel the whoosh of air kicking up at me with more and more vigor. I flex my hands, slam them together like I'm praying, and sent a torrent at Shizuku.

Shizuku's brows are drawn together, and I can hear her hiss. One of Akane's bullets had been close to her right arm, the only reason Shizuku managed to evade that is through experience alone.

"Get ready to die! You bitch!"

Akane's unloading like crazy. Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash. I say she's getting off seven shots a second, she could be rounding off at close to seventy per minute. I dare say she's fired off at least five hundred bullets since we kicked the door down. It's hard to cover every single one with my water. It hard to form a wall around them. It's a little tricky to provide a smokescreen that'll keep Shizuku just not on her toes, but to keep her mind bouncing back and forth, and back and forth so she can't formulate a strategy. This forces her to improvise.

I realized that covering all of Akane's bullets was almost impossible, so I improvise a little bit.

"Shizuku!" I exclaim, feeling the steady trickle of blood flowing out from my right cheek. I ignore it for about thirty seconds. I'm within grabbing distance of this little scheming weasel now.

"Foolish!" Shizuku almost snaps, eyes cold.

Kicking up my speed despite my heart's and lungs' fervent protests, I manage to put just a few inches between us. My legs force ahead, shock waves brimming up my feet smashing all the way into my knees with each step as lactic acid starts engorging me, and the burn is just agonizing, but I push forward, gritting my teeth when I see Shizuku's eyes widen briefly.

I accelerate, again, and this time...

"You set me up!" I yell in her face.

I couldn't outpace Shizuku. But, I damn sure can and did get in her guard by being convincing and stupid enough. I'd love nothing more than to crush her pretty little neck I have in my hand. I can feel the air going down her lungs and back out, I can feel her swallow-I can feel her pulse. Anger burns me, and it surges me forward. I can only grunt and hiss as we collide with the nearest wall.

"I did no such thing."

"Save it, bitch!" Akane yells, unloading. "Hold her still so I can bust a cap in her ass!"

I stumble forward-thighs heavy as lead, calves solid as rock, and I hastily slam both hands on the ground. I steel myself as my sight inverts and my stomach dips from the sudden change. A shallow breath escapes my lungs as I land. My momentum forces me into a wild slide across the drenched floor-my water had yet to even dry or begin that process. I'd say there's a good foot around her, if not more.

I didn't even realize Shizuku struck me, until the blood oozing from the wound on my forehead draws my attention.

Akane skids to a stop, barely halting just before she hit the wall across from us. She's a short distance away, but if Shizuku and I go at it again, it'll take her at least a minute to get to us, maybe less. Firing her gun wouldn't do any good for two reasons. First. Shizuku will just play distance and cut the bullets in half, no doubt. Second. I can't cover her shots, and there's just glaring for Shizuku.

I suck in shaky breaths, closing my eyes in an attempt to fight off the heat in the pit of my stomach. The fury that is starting to take a hold of me. I shift my focus ahead of me, watching with barely concealed disdain-Shizuku taking two steps, before stopping. She's wary-very on guard. There's nothing in her body language or expression that she isn't taking this serious. She's very serious, and knows if she takes the wrong step, or says the wrong word I'm going to be coming for her neck.

We're out for blood.

"You'd better start fucking talking." I growl at her, looking into her piercing eyes. "Why did you set me up!? Why did you set us up!? I'll get my hand around your neck again, and I'll break it! Even if it kills me!"

Akane reloads her gun, pointing the barrel at Shizuku's eyes. "Let's skip past the interrogation. Let me blow that bitch to smithereens!"

"I'm telling you both...I had nothing to do with it."

Shizuku seems convincing. Genuine even. Her voice is genuine. Her expression doesn't waver. Then again. She's always had a good poker face. I never played much myself, but if I were to go up against Shizuku-I wouldn't know if she was bluffing or not.

"You took me to the library. You left right after." I snarl.

"You're a lying three faced bitch!" Akane shouts, firing bullets into the ceiling. "You set us both up for your own twisted little scheme. I'm going to bust a cap in your stupid ass."

Something in Shizuku deflates, it seems. Her posture loses in strength. It becomes less rigid. For a second, her eyes soften, and a long sigh escapes her lips. I don't know if it is resignation or conceding something, but...

"If you both just give me some time to explain-"

"Explain what!?" I snap, smashing my foot into the floor and sending a torrent of water everywhere. "You stupid fucking..."

Shizuku turns her palms up. The chains disappear. Those damn meat cleavers disappear. The pattern of white on her hair disappears. She keeps her palms up, arms extended out in front of her. I know what it is. A clear sign she means no harm and has given up. She doesn't want to fight and won't fight anymore-if Akane or I want to, right now, we can kill her.

"Big mistake."

"Don't shoot, Akane!"

I clash with this hot headed bitch, eyes meeting her own. I don't blink. I can feel my heart beating rapidly, adrenaline is flowing through my veins like fire, and I'm ready to fight. I am so ready to fight. I am so ready to grab Shizuku by her neck and snap it. However, I have to keep my composure. I have to remember that Shizuku is offering herself up, right now.

Therefore I won't let any harm come to her.

"Why!?"

I look at Shizuku, and search. I'm not quite sure what I'm searching for, if I have to be honest. My mind is nothing short of a fucking mess right now and I can't even see straight. Am I this woman's friend? Am I something more? Am I just something to dangle around to get whatever she wants, when she wants it? I don't know. And, it makes me so mad. She's seen me naked-totally naked, she's felt my naked body, she's kissed me, and she's driven me up a wall...

"Just...Wait." I plead with Akane, hoping she listens and doesn't open fire on me.

There's a tense moment. The only sound is the water I had used splashing back and forth. It signals even our faintest movements.

"Fine, I don't know what you're trying to do, but I don't trust this bitch as far as I can throw her."

"Shizuku, am I your friend?" I ask.

"I was hoping-"

I snarl, stomping my foot down. "Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me. Answer my question, now!"

"I am...But, I want to be more..." Shiuzku murmurs.

I inhale. I exhale. I do it again and again. Some relief washes over me, and I feel some excitement at her proclamation, but I can't let that sway me.

"Does this have to do with the White Kampfer?"

Akane shoots a look at me, and I note that Shizuku starts to shift.

"Yes."

I wave at Akane, and surprisingly she lowers her gun. I don't know if I should be wary or not. "Were you trying to flush them out?"

"I wanted to identify who they are, and if possible, who they hang out with." Shizuku explains.

I get the feeling she's hiding something.

"Is that all?"

"I wanted to verify if they were our enemies or not. In the event that they are, it'd mean that our pact has been causing problems for the Moderators, and you joining us has had a negative effect as well. This would mean that someone in this school, somehow, has contact with the Moderators and is reporting to them on the regular basis. Whoever attacked us would most likely report to this person."

"You think it's White Kampfer?" Akane arches a brow.

"They must report to someone, unlike us. They didn't appear until we made our pact. Someone reported it to the Moderators. The White Kampfer are the end result of that." Shizuku reasons.

"What about Andrew?"

I stare at Shizuku, not going to cut her off. I want to hear this, because it's getting to the point where I'm not going to be able to walk around in this school without battling. In short-I'm going to have to fight. I'm not going to hold back. If someone comes up to me and starts shooting or blasting me, I'm going to kill them. I'm going to fucking kill them and leave their mangled corpse behind.

"The Moderators could be having an internal quarrel, and one sent Andrew as someone to equalize what's happening here in order to bring their internal strife to an end. But, Andrew has joined us, so whatever incentive was behind that move, is a moot point. But, it seems that it has motivated the White Kampfer enough to launch attacks in this school."

Akane groans, scratching her head. "You're presenting that all eloquently and what not. Answer me this then. Why are the White Kampfer attacking us?"

"We'll talk about this after school. At Andrew's place." Shizuku replies.

"Hold on a second."

"Hold on nothing! You're going to let us come to your apartment and we're going to talk." Akane glowers at me. "Understand? I'm going to be hungry, too, so you'd better make something good."

"What the fuck are you smoking?" I snap at her, flicking my focus between her and Shizuku.


The rest of the school days goes off without a hitch. There's no more random attacks. No more blasts of light balls. No more gun shots. It's all so normal and mundane that it drives me crazy.

"Home at last."

I sigh, throw down my bag and walk to the couch. Shizuku, Akane, Natsuru, and Mikoto all file in after me. Mikoto shuts the door and locks it. Shizuku takes what is becoming her usual spot, Akane and Mikoto both throw themselves down on the couch, and Natsuru does that weird little shuffle thing while looking around awkwardly like she's in some spotlight.

"Can you sit your ass down already?"

"I didn't want to be rude..."

I snort. "Akane and Shizuku are the rude ones, you don't need to worry."

Natsuru nods, a little more at ease, and takes a seat. I'm thankful she does, because if she didn't I would have to make her sit down, and whether that means shoving her down or punching her in the gut, I'd make her sit down. Maybe I'd be taking out my frustrations out on her, but at the moment, if I were to do just that, I couldn't care less.

"Do you have any tea?" Shizuku prods.

I'm surprised she can even be so casual and talk about fucking tea after what happened today. She also knows I prefer juice, and only have juice in the fridge. The only tea I know how to make is the bad tea. Warm up some water, but the bag in, and viola! You got yourself a tea. This woman is used to that long brewed out tea that doesn't come in a bag.

I'm not going to do that.

"No, but I have juice."

"I'll have some! I love juice!" Mikoto throws her hands up.

I get everyone a glass of juice, and bring the gallon to the table. I bring some snacks, mostly chips and things like that with me. I set it down the gallon of juice on a towel-so it doesn't soak the wood, and I take a seat on the recliner next to the couch. I take a couple of sips of my juice, swishing it around in the cup before taking another sip.

"I'd prefer some tea, Andrew." Shizuku comments.

"I'd prefer to live a normal life that doesn't involve crazy bullshit. But, I don't get that."

"So I don't get tea because of that?"

"You're catching on quick."

Natsuru and Akane both simper while Mikoto audibly laughs. I'm glad they find amusement in my dynamic of conversation with Shizuku. If I wasn't so focused on why we're here in the first place, I'd share in that amusement, but since I'm so focused...I can't even be amused. There's also the fact I'm not going to spend twenty minutes brewing tea, wait another ten minutes for it to cool enough to pour into a glass, and wait another ten minutes before it's cool enough to drink. Too long. Too tedious. More importantly.

Juice is better than tea.

"Umm, if you don't mind me asking..." Natsuru trails off, looking at me for a brief second before turning his eyes to his knees. Weird, he's a guy now. "Why are we at your place?"

"We need a more private place to discuss...Something important." Shizuku supplies.

"Another one of your schemes, huh president?" Natsuru asks, a frown clear on her face.

I look at Akane-she in her Kampfer form, of course. There's something mutual in our eyes, in the way she nods at me. Yes. we're on the same page, and just like when we kicked down Shizuku's door, we're of a mutual mind with this. We were both attacked, and while Shizuku did have a hand in my attack, unwittingly, the point remains we were both attacked by White Kampfer. Stubby Bear warned me about them. He warned me about the reality of my situation. He warned me...

I observe Mikoto-wondering if she was attacked as well. It can stand to be reasoned that she wasn't attacked. If she was-Shizuku told her to keep quiet about it until we got here. But, knowing the silly girl-she would have been shouting about it and going on and on and on about who attacked her. If she didn't recognize the girl, she would have said so. She'd know what grade she's in, though.

"Nothing like that, Natsuru." I pacify.

"We were attacked today. I was attacked near the girl's locker room, and Andrew was attacked in the library. We were both attacked by White Kampfer." Akane finishes.

Natsuru is out of his seat faster than I could say dog. He is full of concern and caution. His body is as stiff as a wooden plan. There's a hardness to his eyes that surprises me, a little bit. "What!? Are you guys okay?"

Akane transforms back to her normal self-not sure how, but she's reduced to a blushing mess. Natsuru worrying about her, asking if she's okay, two seconds away from grabbing ahold of her and shaking her for answers...No wonder she's the flustered mess that she is right now. I on the other hand am not a flustered mess like Akane-I don't really have those sort of feelings for Natsuru, and he's less than impressive as he is now. At least when he's transformed her body is fit and fine-ass and boobs, looking like an hourglass.

I clear the thought from my mind, focusing on the objective.

"I-I'm fine, Natsuru-san." Akane manages to get out.

Natsuru's eyes are on me like laser beams, and it's my turn to set my hands in my lap and feel a little awkward.

"S-Sorry." He stutters out, relaxing, and taking a seat. "What about you? Are you okay?"

"Other than being annoyed, I'm fine." I reply, waving my hand at him.

"So..." Mikoto speaks up. "You two were attacked by White Kampfer? Did you manage to see who did it?"

I can only remember dodging and flipping like my life depended on it. I remember having to blast my water to extinguish the spheres of glowing light. But, never once did I manage to catch sight of my attacker. Between the attacks, the fire alarm, my water flying all over the place, and me moving at least fifty miles in the blink of an eye-I couldn't even see my shoe strings if those slip on shoes had any.

Truth be told there was no time to observe, at least in my situation. The library was a perfect place to maintain cover. Between the shelves and computers all over the place, I wouldn't be able to tell which way was up and which way was down. But, I do know that a Zauber attacked me. Only a Zauber can produce elements, or anything along those lines.

"No. The only thing I seen were these balls of light. There were so many coming at me at once-I counted at least twenty, and that was the opener. There were at least ten times that when things got heated. I don't think Akane managed to see her attacker either. There were too many bullets for her to do anything but evade and go guns a blazing on whoever was trying to pick her off."

"Whoever attacked me must have used a MAC 10. Only a gun like that, or an uzi could empty out so many bullets, so fast." Akane explains.

There's a moment of silence.

"Why wasn't I attacked then?" Mikoto asks.

"I wasn't either." Natsuru adds-looking at Akane and I. She looks at Shizuku, and she frowns automatically. "President..."

I wave at Natsuru, and get his attention. "I thought she was using me as bait, too. However-White Kampfer attacked Akane and I. Shizuku was only trying to identify them and if they were part of a different team, or went rogue like us."

"But, still-"

"No! There is no still!" I yell, cutting my hand through the air. I glare at Natsuru, and I punch the cushion by his head. He jumps, clearly afraid. "You'd better fucking stop or I'm going to beat your ass."

"In any case..."

Thankfully, Shizuku interjects herself to play the peace keeper. I'm about three seconds from punching Natsuru so hard his head is going to be spinning like a Beyblade. I will not tolerate this stupid little fucker to point fingers at Shizuku and treat her like a damn criminal. I did just that, but my reasons are justified, Akane did it as well, but her reasons are justified. Natsuru has no reasons to do it. He's only doing it because Shizuku had a thing for him, but from what I see-he only has an interest in that weird ass bitch Sakura.

That means this is nothing more than him affirming that he wants nothing to do with Shizuku. Not only does this knock us off focus. It's Natsuru's way of saying-I want nothing to do with you. Leave me alone. I already like Sakura.

"Andrew, your fist." Shizuku stares me down, and I can't help but feel anger.

"If you ever try that shit again, I swear I'll knock your head off your fucking shoulders. Kampfer form or not, I'll wreck your shit." I retract my arm, folding it across my chest with my other one. "Fine. We were getting off focus anyways."

Shizuku clears her throat. She smiles her little smile. But, she smiles a different smile at me. However, as things need to move along, she gets serious.

"I believe that there is someone in our school that is in contact with the Moderators. They are constantly feeding them information. It's how they knew about our pact, it's how they knew about our refusing to play this game, and it's how they knew that Andrew made a pact with us."

"But, she's a Black-"

"I was getting to that, Mikoto." Shiuzku simpers. "I believe there was internal strife among the Moderators. Andrew is what you'd call damage control."

"Damage...Control?" Natsuru asks, confused.

Shizuku nods. "Andrew's task was to get rid of us, get rid of the White Kampfer, and possibly get rid of whoever is in contact with the Moderators-because whoever is in contact with them has failed at their duties. With all of us dead, things can reset, so to speak. The damage that we all caused would be cleaned up and swept under the rug. But, Andrew made a pact with us-and is part of our team, so if this had been the objective, it is a moot point now."

I note all eyes are on me, and there is fear. There is caution. There's wariness. There's the fear that I will kill them at any given time. There's fear that I will turn on them. That I will throw what pact I made with them away and go after their necks. Truth be told-I had never been told my purpose of being a Black Kampfer. Stubby Bear didn't divulge too much. All I was told was I had to fight-there had been nothing about cleaning up a mess or messes.

This could all be observation and conjecture on Shizuku's part. Something that she pieced together on her own. It's not exactly surprising that she pieced this together. It's more than reasonable to think that I am some form of damage control. If that White Kampfer are getting out of control with their exploits-if Shizuku and this group are getting out of control with their exploits-that means there'd need to be some form of damage control. Someone to put them in their place, and if that fails, kill them.

However, I can recall Shizuku mentioning something about internal strife among the Moderators.

"I believe..."

Here it comes.

"I think there is a form of internal strife happening between the Moderators as we speak. There is a disagreement and a consensus isn't being reached. Originally-us red and blue Kampfer were supposed to battle to the death as part of a proxy war. We made a pact, and went against the status quo. The Moderators, after making contact with whoever is feeding them information in our school, decided to bring White Kampfer. It s reasonable to think that whoever is in contact with the Moderators is their leader. But, they haven't been able to sway us from our pact, and are exploiting what they can. This angers some of the Moderators. They send Andrew in to clean up the mess, but now she's part of our pact."

There's silence, but I can hear a couple of soft gasps. I can't blame whoever made the sound. I wouldn't know since all of my focus is on Shizuku and taking in her explanation.

"I sort of get what you're saying, but...It still doesn't make a lot of sense to me. So, what do we do now? Is Andrew a danger to us?" Mikoto questions.

"Shizuku..." I level with her-staring right into her eyes. "Do you think the person in contact with the Moderators is Sakura, right?"

"Sakura would never-"

I'm on Natsuru in a second, fist right by his nose. Mikoto and Akane don't move from their spots, but it's clear they're going to attack me if I cave in this fucker's face right now at this moment. I don't give a fuck-I will fight them both if I have to. I always follow my instincts. I knew there was something way too fucking odd and off about that fucking bitch Sakura. Hi everyone! My name is Sakura Kaede and I'm cheerful all the time and grinning like an idiot.

Fuck you, you dumb bitch. You can't be so fucking stupid to think there are two different Natsuru-one male and one female. Nobody is that fucking stupid. Only Natsuru is so stupid-and he didn't choose a different name for his female half. But, even he wouldn't think there are two different Natsuru-one male and one female. Nobody is that stupid.

That means Sakura is trying to play an angle.

That bitch is dangerous.

"Is that so!? And what makes you think that!? Mister I know everything about nothing about who attacked me and Akane!?"

"Andrew's eyes got super huge!" Mikoto gasps.

"I know Sakura isn't-"

"You want to finish your sentence, Natsuru?" I snarl, so close to him that I can feel his breath hitting my nose. "I'll cave your face in."

"Andrew-"

"Don't you tell me to calm down!" I whirl on everyone except for Natsuru, eyes on fire-my teeth and clenched so hard I can feel them grinding. "I'll kill you. You fuck with me, I will kill you!"

Natsuru is in the couch, trying to distance himself from me.

"You understand me, you little fucking bitch! I'll fuck you up!"

Mikoto and Akane both grab one of my arms-pushing and pulling, and Shizuku puts herself in front of me, grabs me by the neck, and moves my back with the other two. I'm so full of rage and shaking that I'm about to explode. I can't stand a dumb fucker like Natsuru who is so blind to the truth by his own feelings for a fucking bitch that they can't see straight. Usually, the man is getting fucked so good and hard that he doesn't give a damn about anything else, but Sakura ain't putting out for Natsuru.

He needs to back the fuck off before I snap.

"Andrew...Please calm down." Shizuku says, looking me in the eye. "Please."

"Even if Sakura is, we have no proof." Akane whispers in my ear, joining Shizuku in the gang up of my hot headed ass.

I take a breath, and once they deem that I'm stable enough to be let go-they do just that.

"Natsuru, you need to go."

I move towards my door, unlock it, and then open it. "Now. I'm a hair away from hitting you, and I don't need those three grabbing me again. I had beams of light shot at me today, I'm not in the mood..."

"O...Okay."

"Andrew, try to be more corrigible." Shizuku admonishes.

"What the hell does that even mean!?" I grouse.

"She means don't kick us out just because you're upset." Mikoto replies. "You also have to teach me skateboarding, so I'm not leaving."

"I'm not going to do that now."

Mikoto only shrugs. "Fine, but I'm not leaving."

So they all end up staying. I don't even ask Shizuku why she's staying, I already know why she is. Shizuku doesn't want to be alone at her house. Her parents are away on business, like always, won't be back for who knows how long, and it is late out. I wouldn't feel right letting her walk alone. I get the feeling Shizuku's worst fear is being alone the rest of her life or not being loved.

I think that's everyone's fear. Loneliness. Not being loved. To give your all and get nothing in return...

Everyone dreads that.

Even me.

Akane, Natsuru, and Mikoto are staying for...I don't even know why.

Since when did my house become a sleepover hub?

"Keep your motherfucking hands to yourself tonight, Shizuku." I order.

"I'll do that. I don't want to get on your bad side." She concedes with my order. "Though, I'd say I already am on your bad side after today."

I shake my head, laughing. "You're not. If you were, we'd both be dead right now. Even if it killed me, I would have snapped your neck back in your office at school. If I couldn't do that I would have let Akane turn us into a shooting target. Oddly enough, you're keeping me grounded and from losing my temper."

"I'll take comfort in that." She simpers. "Do you mind if we watch TV? Or, do you want to watch one of your Gojira DVDs?"

"I wouldn't mind watching Gojira or Rodan." Mikoto says, smiling for a second. "We can watch War Of The Gargantuas, too."

I look towards my room-wondering what that closet half with pervert could be up to. Stubby Bear, I mean, of course. I wasn't able to talk to him today, and more than ever, I needed to. He'd have the answers I'm looking for. He'd know exactly what to say and what not to say, and he'd say it all. That way, I get all the information I need.

I need it after today, but tomorrow I'll talk to him.

Definitely tomorrow.

"I was going to watch a Japanese Period drama, or a drama in general, but you guys can watch TV if you want."

"Awww man! Those are so boring! It's like a history lesson in school!" Mikoto moans and groans.

"Fair enough. I'll meet you in the middle-what do you want to watch?"

"How about Ryomaden?"

"I don't know." Natsuru comments from his spot on the floor. "That's real serious. There's others that are more comedy based."

Shizuku arches her brow at me. "About the Bakumatsu? Fair enough."

"Is it odd I watch that stuff?" I arch my own brow.

"I didn't think you were familiar with Japanese history considering you came from the States and all. You do have the history class, but I don't think you got to that subject yet."

I sigh, scratching at my head. At least things are back to normal-this woman mildly insulting me. Natsuru, Akane, and Mikoto voicing what they want to watch-total opposite of what I want, and what they want respectively.

"I'm no scholar in that department, but I know enough about the Bakumatsu. Shinsengumi. Mimawarigumi. Ishin Shishi. Hitokiri. The fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Boshin War. The Ikedaya Incident. The ushering of the Meiji Era."

"I don't care what we watch, just put something on. I'll watch cartoons, even." Mikoto comments. "Just stop talking about history for crying out loud!"

"Okay, okay...I see you're not ignorant, we'll watch Ryomaden." Shizuku says.

She flips it on, and inches towards me.

"Can I have more juice?" Natsuru asks me, head on a pillow.

"Help yourself, I have more in the fridge when this gallon is all gone."

"Thanks."

Sure."

I jump, feeling something soft press against my side.

"Shizuku...You're a little too close."

"I don't think I'm close enough."