These massive gaps in updates seem to becoming rather common, but really it's not my fault it just sorta happens. I'm trying to make more time for my hobbies but it's a little tricky, I'm doing this instead of sleeping tonight.

Crimson was right, the rest of the day was about as fun as the 5 kilometer run. It had consisted of weightlifting, jump rope, swimming and finally an obstacle course that combined the previous 4 excercises. If Crimson had know this was going to happen he would've had breakfast that morning. But that didn't matter now, as he was now in the cafeteria again, picking out food for dinner.

"No, no, what the hell is that? no... Is there nothing to eat here?" He complained

"These things are good." Aurora pointed out some fried triangle shaped things "and those too, but only if you have ketchup too." She pointed to something that was also fried, but of no distinct shape.

"You don't want those." Tatsu advised "I suggest the various types of pizza." Tatsu held up his plate to indicate that the pizza did in fact exist.

"Hey! where'd you get that from?" Crimson asked

"Just over there, next to the potato things" Tatsu turned and pointed.

"Yoink, too slow!" Crimson grabbed Tatsu's plate and ran off.

"I had to pay for that you know." Tatsu complained. They were now sitting round a table with their different dinners. The pizza had ran out by the time Tatsu had got back round the queue, he was now morosely prodding at some of the fried stuff that Aurora seemed to like.

"Ah well, it's your fault for not keeping your eyes on the prize, gotta be sharper than that if you want to be a hunter." Crimson leaned back in his chair

"And just who said I wanted to be a hunter?" Tatsu snapped

"Maaan someone forgot to take their nap today, lighten up. I'm only messing with ya, I'll pay you back for the pizza."

"Heh, thanks, didn't mean to yell at you, it's been a tough day."

"I know what you mean, but that doesn't mean you should drop your guard against my awesome ninja skills." Crimson held up a slice of pizza and struck a ninja-esque pose. The slice of pizza was quickly stolen by Aurora, who stuck her tongue out at him.

"Nyah, my kung-fu is stronger." She handed the pizza back to Tatsu, who accepted it gratefully, then ate it as fast as possible.

Crimson retaliated with an attempted theft of a fried thing from Aurora's plate, all he got for his efforts was a rap across the knuckles with a fork. They all laughed like idiots, attracting odd looks from other people at the table.

Once everyone, excepting a few slow eaters, had finished with their meals, Sergeant Carlson stepped forwards to address them.

"I do hope you all enjoyed your meals kiddies, because once the money in your pockets runs out, that's it, you live on the academies generous allowance, I'd suggest you learn to cook. But that's not important right now, what is important is that a few of you pudgy little people failed to meet fitness requirements. You all know who you are, and I won't embarrass you by naming names. Except you, Ashton Farzad, your sister is a better hunter than you, you should be ashamed."

Judging by the colour of the boys face Ashton was feeling very much ashamed, it seemed like he was attempting to master invisibility by sheer force of will.

"Remember" Carlson continued "One month to improve, or you go home. But now it's time for beddy byes, no sharing of rooms, the health and safety regulations forbid it. But I don't care what you do, so 6 people to a room if you feel like it, just don't set fire to anything."

Crimson pushed his chair back, stood up and stretched "No dessert? What a rip-off."

The group filed out of the cafeteria, one of the other groups was waiting outside, obviously mealtimes were taken in turns according to group. One dark looking youth was staring daggers at Crimson for no apparent reason. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and then the boy turned away and went into the cafeteria.

"That was an unfriendly looking bunch huh?" Aurora commented

"Yeah, looks like all the moody assholes were thrown into one group" Crimson replied. Tatsu kicked him in the ankle "What the hell was that for?"

"You should watch your language when in the presence of ladies" Tatsu told him tartly.

"There aren't any ladies around here, just Aurora. OWW!" Crimson received a kick from Aurora too "You guys are mean, stop picking on me."

Aurora grinned at him "Oh I'm sure you could use your awesome ninja skills to stop us if you wanted to."

"Nah" Crimson dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand "Wouldn't wanna hurt you, would I?"

"Oh?" Aurora smiled at him archly, then without warning, grabbed Crimsons ankle, yanked it so he hit the floor front first and twisted savagely "Wouldn't want to hurt me huh?"

Crimson pressed up with just his arms and handsprung back up so he was standing with one foot on Aurora's chest. "Yup, thats exactly what I said." He pressed down lightly on Aurora's ribcage and then helped her to her feet.

"You okay?" he backed up a step, Aurora was looking mad at him. He backed up further when he saw her shoulder muscles tense. "Umm, sorry?" He didn't make the 3rd step before Aurora growled at him and tackled him to the floor.

"TICKLE ATTACK!"

"Ah, no! haha, I'm sorry! hahaha I'm sorry!"

Tatsu shook his head "Well my rooms not far from here, I think I'll leave you two lovebirds to play" With that, he jogged off

Aurora immediately got off of Crimson. She stood up and smoothed her clothes down. "I hope you learned your lesson mister, and don't go getting any funny ideas, that was strictly a punishment, got it?"

Crimson pretended to look chastised "Yes mistress."

"Hey! don't call me mistress, we're just friends."

"Of course mistress"

"Gah, you're intolerable, you know that?"

"Well I do try." Crimson smiled "Oh yeah, by the way, guess what?"

"What?"

Crimson reached out with one finger and prodded Aurora's nose "Poke!" He ran away laughing.

"Hey, get back here! Don't think your mistress won't punish you for that!" Aurora took off in hot pursuit.

The chase ended in Crimsons room. Crimson laying flat out on the bed, and Aurora on the floor, since Crimson was big enough to take up the entire bed there was very little choice

"Hey Crimson?" Aurora asked suddenly

"Yeah?"

"Don't you think it's weird how we're friends so fast?"

Crimson thought about it for a moment "Not really, I've always thought that the best friendships were the ones where you're friends right away, not ones you have to work at."

"So you believe in love at first sight as well, right?"

"I.. umm... well..." Crimson struggled to find words to fit the situation

"Hahaha, you're so funny, you know that? You're cute when you're innocent."

"hey... don't make fun of me."

"I'm sorry" Aurora's apology seemed sincere, but then she was back to her usual self "It's so easy to do though."

"Whatever, I'm going to sleep now, I get cranky if I don't sleep for about half the day, see you tomorrow." Crimson rolled over and pulled the blanket on top of himself. Aurora settled down at the end of the bed.

"Night Crimson"

"What do you think you're doing?" Crimson was more bemused than annoyed "You've got your own room, and bed, sleep there."

"Promise you won't laugh at this?"

"Won't laugh at what?"

"I'm scared of the dark, and I've always had a brother or sister to share a room with."

"Aww, thats so cute" Crimson laughed "You can sleep here, but I'd best not wake up tied to the bed or anything."

"Don't worry, I haven't unpacked the chains and handcuffs yet." Crimson couldn't see Aurora because of the dark, but he was fairly sure she was smiling evilly.

There was no further conversation for the rest of the night. Despite Aurora's claim that she was scared of the dark, she fell asleep fairly quickly. Crimson however had to finish thinking before his brain would let him switch off.

Was Aurora really joking earlier? She was far more playful with him than she was with Tatsu, but then Tatsu was a little more introverted, and if Aurora had let him give an answer, what would he say? Love at first sight seemed like a silly idea, you can't love a stranger. But it seemed so natural to joke and play around with Aurora. There was just something about her that brought his inner child to the surface.

Crimson smiled in the dark, whatever it was between the two of them, he was thankful for it. By meeting somebody who was so childish, he had been given an opportunity to have at least some part of the childhood that his father had managed to deny him.