Author's Note: Aaahh...It's been a long time since I updated. Writing chapter 2 just drained me dry so I took a day off before starting chapter 3. Chapter 3 is my longest chapter yet. It reached 11 pages as I was typing it in MS Word. I hope you do enjoy my story. And I would like to repeat that comments/reviews are greatly appreciated.

Thank you to Noir Kitsune, Maria-san, dracianna, iceblu12, and most of all to shadow-wind auror for your reviews!

Until here, I leave you with... Chapter 3, The Lesson Learned.


Where we left off: Chapter 2, The Guardian Angel

Maria then went to her own room and decided to sleep. She slid under the covers and finally after a long day closed her eyes, thinking of how to play Sumire's new guardian angel since the last angel flew away, leaving Sumire in plain drunken misery.


The next day, the sun shined illuminating everything as rays of light passed through the windows. It was, well, you could consider it, a beautiful day. It was another opportunity to get started, another opportunity to change.

Maria woke up and looked at her clock. It was 6:49 a.m. She did some stretches and yawned. Suddenly, memories of last night came back to her. "Oh, yeah." She said to herself as she sat down on her bed to do some thinking. "Ugh, I wish I had a bottle of wine so that I could just forget what I said and drink. If only it wasn't morning. Drinking now would just burn my stomach. Damn." And she buried her head in her hands, still thinking.

On the other side of the corridor, Sumire finally awoke. She rubbed her eyes and abruptly held her forehead. "Ouch! Ahhrgh! My head hurts from all that crying last night. Oh God." She said, feeling very irritated, as she walked to her bathroom and washed up. When she was done she decided to get some breakfast and walked out her bedroom door. And just as she stepped out, Maria was standing there.

"What were you doing there?" Sumire asked, quite agitated already from the pain of her headache.

"Good Morning."

"Sure, but what were you doing just standing there outside my door?"

"Let's eat breakfast."

"Why won't you answer my question?"

"I was just waiting for you to get up. And besides, don't you remember what I said to you last night while you were sleeping?"

"Huh? You said something? How should I know? I was sleeping. I was tired."

Maria grunted and heaved a sigh. "Never mind."

"But I do remember a bit of what you said last night and I really appreciate what you're doing for me right now. Thanks for being my friend."

"Sure. That's what team mates are for, right?"

"Yeah." Sumire said with a nod, smiling for the first time today.

Maria and Sumire finally arrived at the dining hall only to find no one there yet. They headed into the kitchen and decided to make breakfast for everyone. Maria got flour, a bowl, some eggs, and a whisk. She mixed the ingredients together in the bowl and added some water into the mixture.

"I'm going to make pancakes. You?" Maria said while heating the pan over the stove.

"I don't know. I don't cook that much."

"Right." Maria gestured sarcastically. "Make an omelet. Take those eggs, beat them together, and chop those mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese, ham, and whatever else you want to put in. Then fry the egg and then put the other ingredients in and fold the egg while frying. Ok? I mean even you can do that."

"Uh-huh." Sumire said unsurely. She was still wondering where in the world they placed the chopping board.

After half an hour in the kitchen the both of them finally went out and laid the two dishes onto the dining table – one with a stack of pancakes, the other with something that was supposed to be an omelet but didn't sort of look like one.

"Sumire-san, you burnt the omelet." Maria gazed at Sumire's dish then got a fork to taste it.

"You shouldn't have let me do the cooking if you were just going to complain. If you were smart you wouldn't have let me cook. I could've just set the table." Sumire retorted, quite distressed with her kitchen semi-disaster. Why semi-disaster? Maria just claimed the omelet was still edible.

"Goo' Mohwning." Greeted Kanna as she entered the room with a huge yawn. "Oh, we're having pancakes today and…huh? What's that? Fried fish?" she said while staring at Sumire's dish.

"It's an omelet for crying out loud! It's just a little burnt." Sumire replied with an angry expression.

"A little burnt? But it's so brown! Fried fish isn't even that brown? It's kinda black already! Look! Could we still eat it?" Shouted Kanna, outraged.

"Yup." Answered Maria as she went back into the kitchen to get the butter and syrup for the pancakes.

Sumire just picked up the plates and placemats for the 3 of them instead and arranged them on the table.

Soon, the three of them were busily eating pancakes and their portion of omelet. Kanna had already finished her part of the omelet and got another pancake and began spreading butter and syrup onto it. "Yeah. Maria was right. The omelet still tastes ok." She said. After a few more minutes the three of them were done and carried their plates to the sink.

Just then Koran, Sakura, and Iris came into the dining room and said their good mornings.

"Oh, so we have pancakes and…Gah? We're having burnt fried fish for breakfast!" Koran exclaimed, surprised by what was set on the table.

"Don't worry. It's just Sumire's omelet."

"Oh." Whispered Iris.

"It tastes fine!" called Kanna on her way out while waving her hand.

"Meet you in the theater at 10 o'clock and don't be late for practice!" Sumire yelled before going out of the dining room door with Maria.

Maria and Sumire headed for the garden while Kanna went the opposite direction. When the two got there, they felt a bit awkward on why they decided to spend time together so suddenly. Now they were constantly beside each other. The first few minutes of their 'bonding' time together was spent in silence until Maria decided to break it.

"Well, since we're now officially each other's companions, might as well do something with the time, right?"

"Uhm, yeah. Sure." Replied Sumire, not knowing what else to say. Then she had an idea. "M-Maria-san?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, could you help me work on my…uh…attitude?"

"What do you mean?" asked the blonde, now folding her arms across her chest.

"You know, help me change. I believe I could be a much better person. Uh, maybe you could teach me how not to be as stubborn as I am now." Sumire said, avoiding eye-contact with the girl beside her. It wasn't easy for her to ask help for something as intimate as her attitude after all.

"Ok." Maria answered as if nothing out of the ordinary was asked of her.

"Really now?" Sumire's eyes wavered in disbelief.

"Yeah. So, let's begin," Maria stood directly in front of Sumire as if in a commanding position. "Sumire-san!"

"Hai!" responded Sumire, her posture straightened and stiffened and her face was restricted. She knew Maria was in her authoritative mode again.

"Your first order is to learn how to give in." Maria said without looking anywhere else but Sumire's eyes.

"Learn ho –" Sumire put on a quizzical expression and began to relax her shoulders when Maria stomped her foot. "Hai!" Sumire tensed up again and her eyes became wide with surprise.

"As you were." Commanded Maria.

The brown-haired girl's posture started to slump and go back to her natural pose, the hand-on-waist thing. She cocked an eyebrow and said, "Give in? How am I going to do that?"

Maria took a few seconds to come up with an answer. "Well, you should give way to others' wants. So, you could start by giving Sakura-san back her role."

"Why!" shrieked Sumire. She didn't like Sakura-san acting very poorly on stage and she hated giving the second lead role back to the lady samurai. Sumire still believed the part was clearly made for her.

"Well, Sakura-san looks like she definitely fits her former role much better. It's easier for her to portray. Playing a cold, bitter lady just isn't…her. But you, you're a much more versatile actress. You could play the older Marchioness any day but right now, I think your position would be Ms. Sally Brass."

"Alright." Sumire said. She had to admit, Sakura-san playing the older Marchioness was a more appropriate part for the shy and determined girl so Sumire agreed to what Maria said.

"Good!" And with that the both of them continued walking around the grounds.

They still had an hour to spare so they began telling stories to each other, Maria telling about her history as a Russian soldier, and Sumire relaying her experiences as a daughter of the Kanzakis including the time when her mother passed away. They sympathized with each other. And deep inside they realized how lighter they felt when they let go of their innermost depressions and just decided to turn to a friend and talk.

In the span of 60 minutes, the two fortunately became more comfortable and acquainted with each other. They began to laugh together as they recalled the stupidities they've done over the past years. After all, even determined fighters like them also have their low points in history caused by their carelessness and ignorance.

Then, Sumire noticed the time and it was already five minutes past ten. They hurried to the theater finding only Sakura there.

"Sakura-san, where are the others?" asked Maria.

"They haven't come in yet. I was here since after breakfast practicing. I hope you don't mind. I'm trying to perfect my role as Ms. Sally." Replied Sakura.

After that, Maria nudged Sumire on the shoulder to signal her to talk to Sakura.

"Ow!" exclaimed Sumire looking at Maria with an annoyed look. "Ok, ok! I'm going." She continued as though irritated she even had to do it. "Sakura-san! May I have a moment?"

"Sure." Alleged Sakura and the both of them stepped aside.

"About your role as the older Marchioness, I'm giving it back to you. Your personality allows you to act her out more easily. I'll take my part as Ms. Sally Brass this time. I believe you'd be more comfortable playing Sophronia than Sally." Said Sumire in the gentlest way possible.

"Sumire-san, that's very kind of you. But for now, I'd like to try something new. It may be a tough challenge for me playing Ms. Sally but it helps me grow to be a better actress and I think you'd like me better if I get to depict Ms. Sally right. It would make me more flexible. It's ok, you could take your position as Sophronia in this play. It's your turn to have a second lead role and you've earned it." And with that, the two of them hugged and let go with each of them wearing a smile on their faces.

"Thank you, Sakura-san and I know you'd be able to portray Ms. Sally really good…" Sumire encouraged, "after a lot more practice."

"Yes, Sumire-san. I'll try harder." Replied Sakura with an apologetic smile.

Sumire then walked back to Maria with her look light and happy with a smile. "Look at her. If her expression was like that everyday, everyone would just stare at her. She's even more beautiful wearing her natural smile than she is on-stage with her costume and make-up." Maria thought to herself but soon enough, she snapped back to reality and saw the girl she was just thinking about in front of her. "So, how'd it go?"

"Good. Sakura-san decided to stick to her part as Ms. Sally. She let me have Sophronia instead. She says playing Sally would make her grow as an actress, so I let her have my former role. Sakura-san seemed sincere in telling me that she wanted to play Sally so I didn't insist any more and gave in to what she wanted. That's how it goes right?" Sumire told Maria.

"Yeah. So it's like a win-win scenario between the two of you."

"Pretty much." Agreed Sumire as she smiled and nodded.

After a few more minutes of waiting, the rest of Team Hana arrived.

"Sorry we're a little late. I had to make double check the adjustments I made to the Kobus last night." Apologized Koran.

They went through the script a few times to try to memorize their lines and stepped onto the stage to act them out. Then they set some props like tables and chairs and began practicing with them. Hours passed by and Team Hana kept repeating their lines over and over again, acting them out repeatedly, which made them end up with an empty stomach from all their hard work. Luckily, lunch was prepared by Kasumi and Yuri this time, so no more burnt food for now.

Afterwards, they were back on-stage, with Iris and Maria having their dialogue.

"Oh, I didn't mean any harm, indeed," cried the small girl, struggling like a much larger one. "It's so very dull downstairs, Please don't tell upon me, please don't."

"Tell upon you!" said Maria. "Do you mean to say you were looking through the keyhole for company?"

"Yes, upon my word I was," replied Iris.

Maria considered a little. "Well, come in," she said at last. "There, sit down, and I'll teach you how to play cribbage."

"Oh! I durstn't do it," rejoined the small girl. "Miss Sally would kill me if she know'd I come up here."

"Have you got a fire downstairs?" asked Maria or rather Dick Swiveller.

"A very little one," replied Iris now being the small servant.

"Miss Sally couldn't kill me if she know'd I went down there, so I'll come." Said Dick. "Why, how thin you are. Could you eat any bread and meat? Yes? Ah! I thought so. Did you ever taste beer?"

"I had a sip of it once," said the small servant.

"There's a state of things!" cried Mr. Swiveller. "She never tasted it – it can't be tasted in a sip! Why, how old are you?"

"I don't know."

Mr. Swiveller opened his eyes very wide and stood up to get a plate of beef and bread and a great pot and followed his little companion into the kitchen.

"There!" said Dick, putting the plate before her. "First of all, clear that off, and then you'll see what next."

The small servant needed no second bidding, and the plate was soon empty.

"Next," said Dick, handing the pot, "take a pull at that. Well, is it good?"

"Oh, isn't it!" said the small servant.

Mr. Swiveller then took a long draught himself and applied himself to teaching her the game, which she soon learned tolerably well.

"Now," said Mr. Swiveller, putting two sixpences into a saucer and trimming the wretched candle, "those are the stakes. If you win, you get them all. If I win, I get them. To make it seem more real and pleasant, I shall call you the Marchioness. Do you hear?" The small servant nodded. "Then, Marchioness," said Mr. Swiveller, "fire away!"

"If Maria-san would be as open and communicative as she is now and was this morning, everyone could relate to her more. Everyone would just love her. She's a beautiful person, inside and out." Mused Sumire as she watched Iris hold her cards tightly in both hands, considered which to play, and Maria put on the gay and fashionable air which such society required.

Then, Mr. Swiveller remembered to go before Mr. Sampson and Ms. Sally Brass returned.

"With which object in view, Marchioness," said Mr. Swiveller, gravely, "I shall ask your ladyship's permission to retire from the presence. Marchioness, your health! You will excuse my wearing my hat, but the place is damp, and the marble floor is – if I may be allowed the expression – sloppy."

As a precaution against this latter inconvenience, Mr. Swiveller had been sitting for some time with his feet on the hob, and now he rose.

"Marchioness, he said, "I am your friend, and I hope we shall play many more games together in this same saloon. But, Marchioness," added Dick, "it occurs to me to ask whether you are in the constant habit of airing your eye at keyholes?"

"I only wanted," replied the trembling Marchioness, "to know where the key of the safe was hid; that was all. And I wouldn't have taken much if I had found it. Only enough to squench my hunger."

"You didn't find it, then?" said Dick. "But of course you didn't, or you'd be plumper. Good night, Marchioness." And Mr. Swiveller walked out from the little girl's table and setting and was about to enter his office to get his stuff and leave work.

Suddenly the screeching wail of the emergency distress signal and Ayame's voice blasted over the speakers. "Team Hana! Large Paranormal activity was detected in the southwest portion of the imperial capital. Proceed to the briefing room to hear your orders and strategy from Ohgami-san, now!"

All of them hurriedly changed to their battle uniforms and rushed to the briefing room.

"About 50 demons have already appeared in the detected site. They're steadily causing damage to residences there, apparently, their goal is to have fresh human blood to feed on." Explained Ohgami-san. As he said 'their goal is to have fresh human blood to feed on,' most of them winced at hearing the said phrase. "What's different about these demons is that they can merge together when they detect danger to form one huge body mass, with extensive recovery abilities." He continued.

"Ensign, so the issue here is speed and agility then." Said Sumire.

"Yes."

"Good! I just adjusted the Kobus' steam jets to make them move faster when decided to switch to maximum output." Rejoined Koran.

"So the point is to slice up the monster before it has the chance to regenerate and slice us up." Said Kanna.

"Yeah." Nodded Ohgami. "Your formations…" and as he said that, a visual was projected on the briefing table. "Iris would be up front to provide the primary defense. I'd be a few meters behind her. Sakura at the center to give the final blow. Kanna and Koran, you'd destroy any attack coming from the left and right sides. Sumire, Maria, you'd cover the rear end."

"Roger!" said the 5 girls as they saluted. Then they all boarded their individual Kobus and took off for the southwest wing of the city.

When they reached the site, houses were ablaze and people were running everywhere and corpses littered the ground. The bodies were either burned by the fire or bitten by the blood hungry demons. Then the Imperial Attack Group was once again in action.

"I can't see anything." Said Ohgami then an abrupt blow on his Kobu almost knocked him off balance. "The demons! They're invisible!"

"The paranormal radar can detect them though!" said Yuri from the control center. "They're coming in at 11 o'clock!"

"Kanna-kun! Cover Iris!" commanded Ohgami.

"Roger!" replied Kanna. She headed to the front and began hitting the demons while basing their positions from the radar. "Take that! And that!" shouted Kanna and as the demons were knocked out, their true form started to show and little by little they grew more visible.

"Gah! They look disgusting!" shrieked Sumire when she saw their slimy faces with wide eyes, a hole for a nose, and a crude mouth shaped into a psychotic smile showing off pointed yellow teeth. The demons had vicious claws and bodies stick thin, with stout powerful legs for stomping and crashing.

After Kanna finished hitting all the demons coming up front., they thought it was all over.

"Are we done here?" asked Maria.

"Yeah. I think so." Said Ohgami.

"Ensign! Look!" shouted Koran. "They're regenerating!"

"But I thought we sliced them up already?" retorted Kanna.

"Of course, they're demons. They're already dead. They can't die again. Unless…" Ohgami thought.

The demons decided to merge into one massive body and they did it in record time. They raised their claws and prepared to slash 3 Kobus at once with one hand.

"NO!" shouted Iris and she put up a psychokinetic shield covering all 6 of them. "Onii-chan! I can't hold too long!" she cried.

"Just a little longer Iris…Everyone! Let them merge first into their giant form then slash them up into minute pieces to make it impossible for them to recover. That way, we defeat them all at once!" ordered Ohgami.

"Roger!"

Iris's shield was starting to waver. Sakura and Ohgami darted forward and started slicing the colossal demon into pieces. But before they could finish, the giant had kicked them both off balance and kicked them even further about 300 meters off the formation.

"That insolent thing?" said Sumire and acting on impulse headed straight for it and cut it's whole arm off with her spear. Sure enough, the demon's arm recovered for itself and crushed Sumire's Kobu. The giant threw it over quite a distance and Sumire was knocked unconscious.

"Sumire! Report your current condition! Sumire! Sumire! Are you alright?" shouted Maria.

"Sumire! You were supposed to stay and protect the rear, stupid?" said Kanna.

Iris's shield gave way and the little girl collapsed inside her Kobu because of the pressure.

"Demons are coming in at 6 o'clock. Maria-san, be ready. They're merging now." Responded Ayame through the comm link.

"Roger." And soon enough, a huge mass of rotten, and disgusting demon flesh appeared in front of Maria. She shot at it with all she's got. She had to give it her all since her supposed to be partner in defending the rear was about 200 meters away from her.

"Kanna! I need back-up!" said Maria.

"Aaaaaarrrghh!" shouted Kanna as she gave the newly formed enormous demon her hardest blow. The monster leaned back from the force of the impact but soon regained balance and stomped its foot overthrowing Kanna's stand.

Sumire regained consciousness in her Kobu and looked around. Her vision was still blurry but she could make out that Ohgami and Sakura were still trying to make their Kobu's stand up under their damaged legs, Kanna's Kobu was lying there, Iris was stationary in her position, she hasn't woken up yet. The giant that knocked Sumire out was now heading in the direction of Ohgami and Sakura, ready to beat them up again. Koran just unleashed 4 furious missiles at the other massive demon at the rear. And the last thing that caught Sumire's eyes was that blue Kobu which was now positioned under the foot of the immense demon, steadily being crushed while it's weapon, it's gun, was knocked out of it's arm.

"AAaaaaaaarrrgh!" Maria shouted into the comm. Link.

Sumire closed her eyes again and gathered all the strength she had to stand up. She pushed on, praying her Kobu could still withstand the damage and pressure. "I can't let this happen. We can't lose like this. No, no, I can't let her get hurt..."

The colossal demon's body was punctured somehow by the missiles Koran set off but it didn't stop what the demon itself was about to do next. It raised its large foot and put it down hard crashing the Kobu underneath almost to bits.

Sumire's eyes grew wide with shock, anger, and desperation. "Mariaaaaaa!"


Please don't forget to review! Thank you!