The next day the Holy building was buzzing with the news. Kazuma the Shell Bullet had joined Holy! Cougar found it rather hilarious, Kazuma in Holy? With Ryuho? That was funnier than. . . . Than. . . Anything! Cougar came up and put his arm around Kazuma. "Hey, Kazuya! So, you finally wised up and joined Holy, eh? Well, good for you!" Cougar laughed.

"It's Kazuma!" Kazuma huffed. "Say it with me, Kah-Zoo-Muh! Kazuma!" Kazuma pulled away from Cougar and looked around. "So, whats going on? Whats with all of the decorations and what not?"

"It's Halloween, my good boy!" Cougar replied.

"Hallo-what?" Kazuma asked.

"Kazuya, you don't know what Halloween is! A punk like you! Halloween is the holiday on October 31st where everyone dresses up in costumes and goes door to door yelling,'Trick-Or-Treat!' Then the people give you candy! But here it's just a big party of dressed up goofballs! It's pretty fun, you can be anyone or anything! I'm not a big fan but there's a costume contest and I plan to win it!" Cougar beamed in joy.

"You're full of it. I don't know it because I never celebrate it." Kazuma replied. "Hey, where's the gym? I feel like a workout!"

Cougar led Kazauma through the building, showing him the different sections. He made it quite clear where the hospital wing was, figuring that Kazuma and Ryuho would fight quite a bit. Kazuma snuck away from Cougar as he jabbered on about cars and found the gym. He saw no one he recognized but that pleased him. He decided he'd try his hand at some of the weight lifting machines. He saw Dorinda. She wore a black tank top, black baggy pants, black fingerless gloves, and, matching black tennis shoes. She was kicking the crap out of a punching bag. She looked like a pretty good fighter from the way she was going right now. He didn't know who she was. And if anyone here knew him at all it was by reputation and nothing more.

"Hey, you're Kazuma, right?" A larger man with tan skin and dark brown hair asked. He carried a watermelon with him.

"Um, yeah, dude, what's with the watermelon?" Kazuma asked as he started his workout.

"Oh, nothing. I'm Urizane. So, what made you join Holy?" Urizane asked.

"Nice to meet you. I dunno. I felt like I needed to change my life." Kazuma said. "Hey, who's the blonde chick?" Kazuma nodded toward Dorinda.

"Who? Dori? That's Dorinda Kazutaka. Her father's a doctor. You might know his work. He's developing a way to cure leukemia." Urizane said.

"Leukemia? Really? No, I've never heard of him." Kazuma shrugged. Urizane talked with Kazuma for the next hour as he did his workout. Kazuma was enlightened by Urizane how things usually work at Holy.

Kazuma laughed. "Whew! I'm so done!"

"Thats all you're doing, Kazuma?" Urizane asked.

"Yeah, I'm beat. I've been lifting weights for the past hour." Kazuma looked over. Dorinda was still there, fighting against no one. "Damn, she never stops, does she? How long's she been there, Urizane?" Kazuma asked.

"Oh, she was here two hours before you. She'll be here another good two or three hours. Just like every other day of the year." Urizane explained to Kazuma.

"WHAT! No way!" Kazuma stood up in shock. "She stands there and fights no one for five to six hours every single day!"

"Yeah. I ask her why and she says that she has to or she'll never get better. I told her she's good enough at fighting but she didn't listen." Urizane shrugged.

"Somehow, Urizane, I don't think that's what she meant." Kazuma replied looking at Dorinda. Kazuma stood and walked over to Dorinda. "Hey." He smiled.

"Do I know you?" Dorinda asked as she high kicked.

"The name's Kazuma." Kazuma smiled.

"I'm meeting Kazuma the Shell Bullet in the flesh? I heard you were kinda cute." Dorinda smirked. "I messed with my buddy's head a yesturday, you were our subject of convorsation."

"Wanna come get something to eat with me?" Kazuma asked.

"No, I need to keep training." Dorinda said.

"Want an opponent?" Kazuma asked.

"Do you want a broken rib?" Dorinda asked back.

"Is that a threat?" Kazuma raised his brow.

"No, that's a friendly warning." Dorinda sighed.

"I don't follow you." Kazuma blinked.

"If you fight me you'll end up with at least two broken ribs and a twisted arm and/or wrist." Dorinda explained. "Not because you're bad at fighting but because that's how all of my opponents end up."

"So, are you going to this Halloween thing?" Kazuma asked.

"Yep. Halloween is my favorite day of the year. All Hallow's Eve rocks." Dorinda smiled.

"All Hallow's Eve? What?" Kazuma looked at her confused.

"Halloween is called All Hallow's Eve as well." Dorinda said.

"Hell, I didn't even know there was a Halloween now it has two names?" Kazuma sighed.

"You didn't know about Halloween! Okay, you just got yourself an opponent!" Dorinda laughed.

"Really? Well, c'mon!" Kazuma got into a fighting stance. He came at her quickly with a right punch. Dorinda dodged him swiftly and spun around, delivering a sharp kick to his back "Shit! Ow!" Kazuma turned around and low kicked at her. Dorinda fell back but got up quickly and punched Kazuma in the stomach then high kicked his face. Kazuma fell back. "Damn it!" He got up and dodged Dorinda's next punch, grasping her glove covered wrists and locking them behind her back. "I got you now!"

"Not likely." Dorinda slammed the back of her head into his face, causing him to let her go, and, she punched him in the stomach again. He fell to his knees in pain and Dorinda pushed him to the floor, not by hitting or kicking, just a simple shove. "So, are you sure you shoulda fought with me now?"

"Damn! You're good, and right. I think you did break my ribs." Kazuma tried to laugh it off.

"C'mon, I'll help you to the hospital wing." Dorinda put her black jacket on and helped Kazuma up after putting a pair of full length gloves on.

"Why do you wear gloves like that? Aren't you hot?" Kazuma asked as she helped him limp down the hall.

"I'm used to wearing them. I have to. It's a requirement set up by my father when I joined Holy." Dorinda explained.

"Why do you need to wear gloves? Do you have like skin cancer or something?" Kazuma asked.

"No." Dorinda laughed. "Nothing quite so normal I'm afraid. It has to do with my alter power." Dorinda replied.

"Oh really? Whats your alter?" Kazuma looked at her.

"I'm so sorry but that's confidential information." Dorinda giggled. She helped him down the hall when she saw Cougar storming toward her. She let go of Kazuma. "Woah, Cougar! What'd I do!"

"Kazuya!" Cougar grabbed Kazuma up by his shirt. "You left me talking to no one like an idiot! AND-- Wait, what the hell happened to you?" Cougar looked over. "When did you get here Dori?"

"I kicked the hell out of our new friend here. He wanted a fight so I gave it to him. You take him to the hospital wing. I gotta go back to training." Dorinda sighed in relief. "I thought you were mad at me." Dorinda toyed with her braid. "So. . . . Are we still on for the Halloween party?"

"Hunh? You're taking her, Cougar?" Kazuma smirked. "Oh, I get it. It's like that is it?"

"Shut the fuck up Kazuya!" Cougar barked. He looked at Dorinda. "Yeah. We are. Can't wait to see your costume."

"Okay. Bye." Dorinda ran back into the gym.

"So. . . What do you know about Dorinda?" Kazuma asked as he limped beside Cougar.

"What do you wanna know and why do you care?" Cougar asked.

"Okay, for starters, what's her alter? And the gloves. Whats with her gloves? And the training for six hours everyday? What's with that? And are you two serious?" Kazuma asked in one big breath.

"First off, I've never seen her alter. Never. And I don't care what her alter is. And her gloves are because her father is. . . I dunno, weird. She just has to wear them, I don't mind though. No one does. She trains. . . She trains because she wants to be stronger. And. . . . My relationship with Dorinda is none of your damned business!" Cougar snapped.

"You're lying! You know more than you're letting on." Kazuma narrowed his eyes.

Cougar pushed Kazuma onto one of the hospital beds. "No. I don't. And don't go meddling in Dorinda's life. She keeps it to herself for a reason. And if you find something out you'll blab, I know you. And if you hurt her I'll kick your ass!"

"Really? You love her a lot, hunh?" Kazuma teased.

"Don't make me break your remaining ribs Kazuya!" Cougar huffed.

"Fine, whatever. But I still think you know more than you're letting on. I'm gonna find out you know." Kazuma sighed.

"Since when are you a super slooth?" Cougar walked out.

Two hours later Cougar walked into the gym. It was dark and he heard panting. Only two lights were on. Cougar walked over to the padded area where Dorinda always trained. He saw her laying on the floor half awake. "You over did it again, didn't you?"

"I. . . . I'm fine Cougar. Just resting." Dorinda panted.

"C'mon, I'll take you back to your room." Cougar stepped toward her.

"No!" Dorinda protested. Cougar stopped. "I have to get up and keep going. I'm not done yet. . . I still have another hour of training."

"You're killing yourself. I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm not gonna sit here and watch you destroy yourself." Cougar picked her up. She was light for a girl her age and size. She was eighteen and it felt like she weighed close to nothing. "Am I really strong or do you weigh like a hundred pounds less than your average eighteen year old girl?"

"No, I'm light. I've always been underweight. Incase you forgot I don't eat much junk or anything.Don't take that the wrong way, you are strong I'm just much lighter than your average teenager." Dorinda replied. She curled up in Cougar's arms after a minute. Cougar held her tightly but gently.

"Why do you do this to yourself, Dorinda? Are you crazey?" Cougar asked sadly. He walked down the hall to her room. The door opened and Cougar walked in, placing Dorinda on her bed. "Tell me why. You know this is going to kill you. You know it." Cougar took her hand into his. "Why can't you trust me?"

"I do trust you, Cougar. I do. . . . But if I keep pushing myself. . . I'll get better, I will. I know it. I have to get better. You know it, too." Dorinda smiled weakly.

"I know but still. . . . Please start taking it easy, I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt. Especially when you've done it to yourself." Cougar brushed some hair out of her face. "Just sleep now. Goodnight." Cougar walked out.

'I do trust you, Cougar. I do. . . . But if I keep pushing myself. . . I'll get better, I will. I know it. I have to get better. You know it, too. . . .' Dorinda's words rang in Cougar's mind until he fell asleep that night.