EBONY

The exams were coming up next week but I didn't need to revise. So I just stayed on my own getting stronger by the day. My cut was healing and I breezed through one exam to the next.

I knew Kai would do well. Tyson scraped some decent grades from each subject (we didn't have our battle, I think a certain two toned blue haired boy told him not to…well I won't, not yet anyway) and Max had the same results. Rei scored high as did Kenny, Hilary too did well. But no one got perfect scores on all of them like me. When they came through the post Hilary's mum was proud of Hilary and very impressed from mine.

In my spare time I stayed with Kai away from our houses. We had the beach; the park, an abandoned warehouse he used to hang around and anywhere his car could take us.

I still wasn't ready to let him in just yet, but I was getting close. Our year was having a school trip to somewhere I hadn't counted on. A shiver ran down my spine, it was the same place where I used to live. But to top it off it was the same place where my parents were buried. They died after being capped by a debt collector. I smirked as I saw them being shot. I felt nothing but relief when they were finally gone. I was getting tired of their hatred for me.

Kai, Tyson, Rei, Kenny, Max, Mariah and to my distaste Hilary was going. But to really put a sting in to the trip Irene and her small clan of popular girls were coming too. Tala was there to keep the peace; he sent Irene the wrong way or gave us a hiding spot. I still disliked Tala for calling me a cowgirl but he was handy to have around. I even apologised for nearly killing him. "Hey don't worry about it. I'll help anyone who can make who can put a smile on Kai's face." He ducked as Kai threw a stone at him. "What? It's true!"

I felt sick and when we were approaching my old home. We were going to a ranch nearby but I still felt sick. We passed my parents old house on they way. I smirked as I saw it was being torn down. We also passed the graveyard on the way there and I thought about paying them a visit.

KAI

Ebony became cold and the old fury in her eyes came back. She didn't tell me why so I asked Hilary. "I don't know if I can Kai. Ebony likes to keep her life quiet so I have no idea why she's angry again." She sounded sad and sorry that she couldn't tell me. "Don't worry, I'll find out."

But when I asked her she told me not to worry about it. I tried to tickle it out of her but she pushed me away and sat on the other side of the coach. Ebony was becoming more distant by the minute. I tried to apologise but she wouldn't even look at am. This was starting to get serious. Ebony looked at me as I came close to her. "Access denied." She was angry so I thought it best to leave her be.

TALA

"Hey Kai, what's wrong with Ebony?" He shrugged, but I could see he longed to be with Ebony when he glanced at her. He was cold again just when I thought his icy shell was begging to crack. I wondered what was wrong and I went to Ebony. "Hey, you ok?"

"Ancient proverb, mind your own business." She said this so threateningly I left her alone. "What did you say to her Kai?"

"That's just it, I said nothing wrong. I think it has something to do with this place." I looked out the window to see a beautiful landscape and wondered what could provoke such hatred.

It didn't take long for us to reach the Ranch. The local kids who worked there greeted us in a friendly way. I still wondered what was wrong with Ebony but something happened when she came off the coach. The smiles disappeared off the kid's faces and they glared at her. She glared back making some of them cringe. Ebony was deeply annoyed and said nothing. The head of the ranch looked a bit fearful as well. She wore the same type of clothes as Ebony except they were lighter colours instead. "How are you Ebony?" Ebony shrugged and went beside Kai.

KAI

"You'll see why I hate this place." She whispered in my ear and I looked at her in a concerned sort of way. But Ebony was looking at the kids with a deadly glare. "Shadow's missed you." One of the kids grumbled. Ebony nodded and went away from us.

"Right, now let's set up some ground rules. Boys and girls have separate barns and must stay there. If I catch anyone sneaking in to the others barn then there will be severe punishments that will guarantee your obedience. There are three bathrooms to each hut so be quick to get ready. You work hard from dawn till dusk, anyone caught slacking will also be punished. You will get up at seven, breakfast is at eight, lunch is at one and dinner is at seven. You will be working from nine to six everyday except Saturdays. You will each be assigned your own horse so keep them fed, cleaned and watered or there will be trouble. It is very important that you take care of your horse, if you don't then we will make sure you do until you've got it in to your heads. Now any questions?" Everyone looked at each other before shaking their heads.

We were shown to our huts. The girls was bigger than ours due to there being more girls than boys. The beds were sturdy and comfortable, it was clean and well kept as were the bathrooms. There was nothing to complain about and we settled in fine.

Work was to begin tomorrow so we were shown around the place. Irene was throwing looks of love at me but I looked away. My horse was a huge grey, Tala's was brown with a white star, Irene had a Gelding and the others had paint horses, stormy greys or Chestnuts. But the most stunning horse had to be Ebony's.

The local kids took us riding and we spotted Ebony on a huge black horse. It had no other colour on it and galloped with its tail in the air. It was strong and proud with its head held high. "That's Shadow." I heard one of the kids say. "He's a thorough bred stallion. We keep him for breeding when we let him loose with the females at the end of the summer holidays. He only listens to Ebony and lets her ride him."

"Why?" I heard Hilary ask. "They grew up together, she was there when he was born. His mother died a few months later just after he was weaned on to solid foods. Without his mother we didn't hold out much hope for him. But we were surprised to find Ebony taking care of him night and day. She didn't like anyone and treated horses like horses. So why she would help a foal that we didn't hold much hope for is beyond me."

"There's more to her than you think!" I scolded the boy. I had heard enough of him talking about her like that. "Say what you want, but we've known her for most of her life. This is a boarding school if you haven't already guessed that. We open to people in the summer holidays and are paid to give people the experience of being on a ranch."

Ebony rode towards a nearby fence and cleared it with ease in front of us. I heard most of our group gasp, whilst Irene and some of her followers muttered 'show off' but there was clearly jealousy in their eyes. We dismounted to give the horses a break.

"Where's she going?" Tyson asked looking at her gallop away from us. "Who knows, the further she is from us the better."

"Hey! If you don't stop criticising Ebony I'll knock your teeth down your throat!" The boy glared at me. "Go ahead! Make me!" I came towards him but Tala intervened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, come one guys. We've just got to know each other so let's save this for a further date." The boy nodded but I wanted a piece of him. Tala pushed me back and took me away from the others.

"Come on Kai! What's wrong with you? They're just words…unless…" I glared at him. "Unless what?" He shook his head and looked away. "Unless what?" I asked again in irritation. He turned and looked at me in a serious way. "You don't…um…"

"Spit it out Tala, I don't have all day!" He cringed as I scolded him. "You don't…love her do you?" He blurted out and my eyes opened wide. I didn't think about that, I mean she was the first girl I liked that way…but love? I didn't know so I shrugged. "You do! I never thought Kai Hiwatari would fall in love." I felt my face burn and glared at him. But he took one look at me and laughed. "Oh man, you've got it bad!"

It was only when I wrapped my hands round his throat did he stop laughing. We stepped away from each other as he rubbed his neck. "Ebony was right, you are annoying."

"Glad I could be of service." He croaked. For the rest of the day Ebony kept away from us. She didn't even show up at lunch and I really started to worry about her. But the head of the ranch told me she'll be fine. "Shadow was becoming restless but no one else would ride him. She's going to be out there for the rest of the day." I nodded, but I was still worried about her.

Ebony finally joined us at dinner. The local kids kept as far away from her as possible. I noticed she liked it that way as I sat beside her. "Well I can see where you get your charming personality." She shrugged and didn't say a word. "How's Shadow?" She shrugged again and I was getting impatient, I missed the sound of her voice. "Talk to me." Ebony had finished her meal when she looked at me. Ebony got up and left for the girl's barn. The local boys looked at each other and left as well looking very suspicious. The girls rolled their eyes and continued eating. I hadn't finished but went after her, I could see trouble was coming so I decided to follow.

It took me ten minutes to find her. I heard shouting emitting from behind a nearby shed. The local kids were fighting someone and I didn't have to guess who it was. They ran away with black eyes, red marks and split lips on their faces.

A roar came from behind them. I saw the shadow of what appeared to be a dragoon with wings on a barn next to the shed. It came down in size and went back in to Ebony's shadow. I stared not knowing what to do. "Get a good look?" I heard from behind me. I spun round to Ebony glaring at me. Her voice was icy and her eyes were filled with a dark aura. She had a bruise on mouth and spat out some blood.

"Still want to be with me? I'll understand if you don't." She had changed in the space of a few hours and I wanted to know why. I wanted to hear her sweet voice again.

EBONY

I turned away not knowing what I wanted to hear. Either sounded good so I just stood there. But then I felt Kai put his hands on my shoulders and sigh. "I don't want to be with anyone else. Tell me…please." I sighed and looked at him. "Are you sure?" Kai smiled. "I'm positive."

"Only fools are positive." He held me close so I could feel his breath on my face. "Then call me a fool."

"Ok, here's my story. Four years ago my uncle died in an explosion. He studied bit beasts and how to make them stronger. He even had a theory that people could become one with their bit beasts both physically and mentally. There was an accident in his lab and I was there. My soul was torn apart so he decided to put his theory in to practice. He melded my soul with one of his partners bit beasts, Dark Dragoon is female so he introduced her in to me. He melded our souls together and it worked. But in saving my life he gambled his…and lost. I walked out without a scratch carrying him in my arms. I am stronger, faster and smarter than the average human being. But I was put in this shit hole because of it. You have no idea how much I have tortured myself over and over thinking about his death being my fault. My parents saw me as a mistake and kept shipping me off somewhere else when he died. I hold my own and I don't grow attached to anyone. That is how I've survived, that is my past."

KAI

She sounded like she had just got rid of a great weight upon her shoulders. Her head was lowered and I couldn't see her face. I put my hand under her chin and raised her head so I could see her eyes. They were no longer clouded with shadow but brimming with tears. "Let it go, you don't have to be strong anymore." She shook her head and tried to look away. But I kept her head looking deep in to my eyes. "I won't think any less of you." Ebony broke away. "But I will." The tears were gone and she became cold again.

Ebony kept going to the girl's barn. But I was far from finished with her. "I don't want to loose you again." She stopped but didn't turn. "You never did."

"Do you love me?" She shrugged and I felt a pain in my heart. "Ask me when we go home." That wasn't too reassuring but I had a feeling that she wasn't a complete waste of time. "I'll do that."