A/N: New poll! Please vote!

(12/17/10)

Monday...

After getting the results (Me being top of the class again.) we went to class, where Professor Peter was having an oral quiz.

"Brains are totally amazing. They work 24/7 on the clock, for 365 days, from the day we were born and only stop when we..." Professor said and trailed off, making a motion for us to answer the question.

"Take exams?" I said.

The class laughed. Even Professor.

"Okay, now, Quan, give the report about China." He said.

Quan stood up proudly and began a long, rather boring speech about China's greatness.

"Thus, the Great Wall of China comes as the seventh wonder of the world!" Quan concluded his report as thus.

"Probably since that's the only Chinese product that lasted that long!" Lee retorted.

The class again roars in laughter.

"Say, Prof, can I go use the toilets?" Lee asked.

"You've been there many times already...Answer this question first... Define machine." Professor said.

"Oh, machines are anything that reduces human effort." Lee said simply.

"Reduces human effort..." Professor mused, "Be more specific."

"Okay... Uh, a condom could be considered one. Reduces human effort of having to earn for kids. Get it warm for a while, lube that bitch up and slip him in!" Lee said as he made a rolling up and down motion.

Cato, who sat in today, threw something at Lee, which made him flinch, "Sir, machines are a combination of bodies so interconnected that their relative movements are synchronized with each motion. And by which means force and motion maybe transmitted and modified and strengthened as the screw in its nut or a lever range turnabout a fulcrum or a pulley by its pivot etc. especially a construction more or less complex combination of a combination of moving parts or simple mechanical elements as wheels, levers, cams etc." Cato said.

"Er... Thanks Cato." Professor said, "Lee, you may go."

"Oh, finally!" Lee sighed.

"Where are you going, eh?" Cato said, "Define it like I did."

"Oh for Pete's sake! Facilities which may be urinated, defecated and nauseated, areas which may be used for washing, gushing, brushing and flushing. By which people with full bladders may relieve themselves with relative ease and comfort, if someone wants to swirlie someone or when they want to or need an excuse to get out of class." Lee said.

"What?" Cato said.

"The toilets." Lee said said the entire class roars with laughter, by which he exited.

"Ah, yes, I forgot to mention... There will be a Christmas Ball for chosen students who have achieved excellently within school standards. It starts on the 19th, right after closing ceremony." Professor Peter said.

After classes, we found out the Top Ten and a good few others were chosen to go.

Yukari came to me immediately after I went out.

"Hey Minato-kun." She greeted.

"Oh, hey Yuka-chan." I said.

"So, I was thinking... The ball, right? Are you free?" She asked.

My heart plummeted. I hated doing this, especially to girls. But my heart wants what it wants and it wants Minako, not Yukari. She's my past and Minako is my present and future.

I decided not to lie to her and tell it to her straight, "I'm sorry, Yukari..." I said, "But... I want to go with Minako."

Her eyes fluttered, as if she didn't believe me, "Really...?"

"Yes, really." I said boldly, "It's not you, it's me."

"Oh my God... Not that line again..." She muttered.

I gulped, "No, seriously. You truly deserve someone better."

She raised an eyebrow, "Tell me this, Minato and be honest..." She said, "Do you have feelings for Minako?"

I opened my mouth and closed it.

"Don't you dare lie to me." Yukari said casually.

I took a deep breath, "Yes. I have feelings for her."

That moment, I saw pure disappointment in her face, which she hid in a veil of false happiness.

"Is that so?" Yukari said with clenched teeth, "Good for you two."

"Yukari... Please... I'm still trying to figure out my true feelings." I said.

"Don't lead me on, Minato." Yukari said stiffly, "Just take your sweet time." She said and left.

I decided to go ahead and ask Minako. But for some reason, girls kept asking me to go to the dance, which I replied with a vehement 'no'. I even heard of a plot from Junpei and Kenji that some sophomore girls were planning to spike my drink with some kind of love potion, but I didn't confirm it yet.

I found her outside the lunchroom, no surprise there, but she was surrounded by many boys. Such a sight made my blood boil with a vengeance.

"Er... Wanna go to-" a freshman began.

"Not on your life." Minako said harshly.

"Wh-what about me? My dad owns a yacht..." A sophomore said.

"Buy your own yacht then!" Minako cried.

"Hey, honey, I don't have a date-" a junior said.

"I already have one, so take a hike!" Minako spat. She looked at me and held my arm as I glared at the boys.

"Oh!" The freshman cried, "S-Sorry Arisato-san, we didn't know she was yours!"

They scurried off.

"Thanks. Those annoying boys wouldn't stop hassling me." Minako said, "Thanks Minato."

I smiled dumbly, "Um... Minako?"

She tightened her lips and raised her eyebrows, "Yes?"

"Uh...uh..." I felt totally idiotic acting nervous, but I bit the bullet and said in the most eloquent tone ever, "Wangoballwibme?"

She tilted her head, "Say what?"

"D-Do you want to go to the... b-ball with me?" I said nervously, "You know, the Christmas Ball?"

The words were out of my mouth before I knew it. I felt as if a stranger had said it.

Minako turned her bright, red eyes at me in surprise, "The Christmas Ball? With you?"

"I'd love to go! But..." She pursed her lips, "Sorry, I already said yes to someone."

I closed my eyes and wished for the ground to swallow me up right now. I wanted to shoot myself with an Evoker, that was an actual gun. Preferably something that could kill big game animals, like Elephants, Rhinos or Gorillas. I didn't want anyone to recognize my corpse after this epic fail.

"Wait, let me text him..." She said as she fished out her Samsung Galaxy phone.

I nodded darkly, not meeting her eyes. Then, my phone vibrated and I opened a text from Minako.

"dude, a rilly handsum blu hared emo dood asked me to da dance nd im gonna say yes. Hihihihihi!"

I smiled. When I turned around, Minako grinned widely.

"You're such a troll, you know that right?" I said playfully.

"At any rate, the answer is yes, handsome." She said as she kissed me on the cheek.

"Aha!" Pinky cried. Minako grabbed Pinky and ran off.

I sighed contentedly. I was ready to die. Minako kissed me on the cheek... Though it doesn't sound like a big deal though, me having kissed her on the lips already.

I whistled and grabbed a terrified freshman and danced with him in the halls.

Pink found out about it though, "Hey everyone! Minato loves Minako! MINATO LOVES MINAKO!" Pinky wailed about and sure enough, everyone knew that I was taking Minako to the Christmas Ball.

Everyone looked at me. Girls with hurt looks, and guys looking murderously at me, but they didn't voice it out.

(12/19/10)

Wednesday...

After signing our attendance, we listened to the usual droning of the Principal. I had already asked Lee if it was okay with him if the boys and I could use the dorm as a changing room, to which he shrugged a, "Sure."

I wore a formal winter coat with a pair of slate slacks and polished snowboots.

We separated after that. Lee was going with Fuuka, Quan with Pinky, Kenji with Rio. Junpei had no date, seeing as Chidori was busy. I felt sorry for Junpei, but it seemed he was down for a long distance relationship. Instead, he asked Leah if she was interested, and she accepted, since she was bored. Yukari also had no date, so she and Junpei decided to ask Leah and Akihiko to accompany them.

When I arrived at the school lobby at 6:30, I found an unusual amount of girls lurking about, all of whom were staring at me rather resentfully as I approached Minako. She wore a magnificent crimson gown that made her seem like a walking flame that had been entirely encrusted with precious gems and jewels, red, yellow, orange, white and blue, that accents it. As she walked towards me, the other girls gasped in admiration and envy as she seemed to be engulfed in tongues of fire.

I was awed, "H-Hi." I said, "Should we go?"

"Oh, sure." Minako said cheerily, "Where is the party?"

"Auditorium." I said, leading Minako along the hallway, away from all the muttering and staring.

Deciding to compliment her, I said, "You look fantastic."

She blinked her eyes, "Why, thank you!"

"Yes, your dress compliments your eyes." I said.

"Thanks." Minako said.

We opened the door of the auditorium. The ceiling and walls were draped with red, green and brown, colors of Christmas. There were gold and silver tassels, that it seemed that the room was one colossal tent.

The place was positively crowded, stuffy and bathed in an orange firelight, cast by the chandelier assembled earlier.

Loud caroling and Christmas songs were being sung. The distinct haze of smoke wafted from a nearby closet. When I opened it, Lee was inside smoking one while wearing a Santa hat. I closed the door, though.

Several old timers were conversing in croaked, hoarse voices as they ate Christmas ham and eggnog.

A troop of waiters were navigating their way through the crowds, bearing silver platters of food, that they seemed like moving tables.

"Ah, Minato, my lad!" Boomed Professor as soon as he saw me, "Come on, there are so many people I want to introduce you to!"

Professor was wearing suit, with a blue blazer.

He gripped my arm tight, he led me to the throng of a party. I quickly grasped Minako's hand and dragged her along with me into the fray.

"Minato, Minako, I'd like you to meet my old teacher, Mel Turner, a former collegue of mine as well as the author of 'J.R.R. Tolkien: Realist or Fantastic?' And his friend, Kristoff Polkien."

Mel, who was a tall, lean man with a bald head and a small goatee, shook my hand vigorously. His companion merely nodded curtly. He looked absolutely bored. A group of students looked at him curiously.

"Minato, I've heard quite a lot from you!" Mel said, "Your life story is so tragic. I was saying to Peter here if you were interested in making a biography? Tragic Short Second Life of Minato Arisato!"

"Really?" I said, not sure what to make of it.

"You're too modest." He said, "But come on..." His tone became unusually formal and businesslike, "I'd be glad to write it myself. Everyone still wonders how you rose from the dead. 'Are you a zombie?' 'What does Heaven looks like?' are only some of the questions in their minds. They're craving for revelations! They're hungry for it! Hungry I say!" Mel said, before composing himself, "If you grant me an interview for about... Oh, I don't know... Five to six hours everyday until the next two weeks, we could have a book out within a month, or a fortnight! And with extremely little effort on your part. Ask Kristoff here."

Kristoff grunted.

"My dear chap, the amount of money you could make would be-"

"Not interested." I said firmly, "And I need to see that my friend here has something to eat. Good evening to you." I said as I grabbed Minako and passed through two people who looked like they were from 2NE1.

We saw Rio, who looked dishevelled, as if she fought her way here from a forest.

"Hey, Rio, what happened?" Minako asked.

"Oh, yo... I just escaped... I mean left Kenji for the while... He's had a little too much eggnog." She panted, "Under the mistletoe." She said after Minako and I looked at her strangely.

The three of us made our way over the other side of the room, taking three goblets of punch, and saw Ms. Toriumi alone.

"Oh, hey Ms. Toriumi." Minako said.

"Eh? Good evening, Minako." She said with a slightly slurred voice.

We could smell the fumes of Bourbon on her breath.

A waiter came by. He looked oddly familiar.

"Deviled eggs, anyone?" He asked.

"Richard? That you?" Minako said, remembering the battered kohai Lee bossed and bullied around, which they took as a sign of affection.

"Yep. They were a bit too shorthanded here, so Professor asked Big Boss to find some help. I wanted to go with my girl, but whatever Boss' commands are my desires." Richard said unhappily, "At least I get to sample the food. He has Adachi handing towels in the bathroom." He then gestured to the silver platter full of eggs, "Deviled eggs?"

"No thanks." Minako said.

"Eh? Well, good choice. These things give horribly bad breath. They're like Cool Ranch Doritos." Richard muttered.

"In that case, these might keep Kenji at bay..." Rio said as she stuffed her face with several of the eggs, "Oh crap!" Rio hissed,"It's Kenji!" She waved at us, before running off.

"Was that Rio a while ago?" Kenji, who reappeared between two people, said a minute later.

"Nope, didn't see her." I said.

"I see..." Kenji said.

"Try looking for her." Minako said.

I nearly coughed out my punch, because that was the exact reason why Kenji was doing. It had been worth it to bring Minako.

Lee later met up with us, holding Fuuka's hand.

"Hey you two!" Lee said, "Lookin' real happy!"

I looked at Lee, then at Minako, who was blushing.

"Thanks Lee, I-" I said, but I didn't finish it, since my spirits were raised by a great sight. Cato Romano being dragged by the ear towards us by the Guard. We found out Professor was eating whilst talking to an old friend behind us.

"Professor Lao!" The Guard barked, his eyes gleaming with joy, "I discovered this miscreant loitering up near the Astronomy Tower, claiming to have been issued an invitation, only for it to be blown away by the winds! He delayed in returning, so I apprehended him. Did you give him an invite?"

Cato jerked his arm of the Guard's grip, looking angry, "Alright, fine, I wasn't invited, you old geezer! I was trying to gatecrash! I thought it be painfully obvious to one who may posses a brain!"

"Well, you're in trouble!" He wheezed, "Night time prowling is considered trespassing unless you have permission!"

"That's enough, Taro, that's enough." Professor said, putting up one hand, "It's a Christmas Party and not a crime to want to attend. Just this once, Cato, we'll forget about punishment. You may stay."

Cato smiled, "Many thanks, Sensei." He bowed.

"No problem. After all, your father did sponsor these delightful foods!"

Cato smiled and went off.

Minako, Lee, Fuuka and I went to the tables to eat after mingling for an hour or two.

"Okay, here's the plan... You girls go grab some drinks, while Minato and I go grab some chow." Lee said.

"Yeah, sure." Minako said and they left.

I too, a plate and cut up some chicken.

"You should try the boar." A sarcastic voice said, "Father and I shot them this morn." Cato said as he smiled.

Since he showed no outward sign of hostility, I decided to be nice, "How do you do, Cato?"

"Very well, thanks." Cato said, "Say, would you indulge me upon something? I've been into swords lately, and I saw this entry... But of course, you wouldn't want to-"

"Yeah, I know a thing or two." I said, somewhat proud I knew something he didn't.

"Please enlighten me. I saw a sword of light and a sword of darkness." Cato said, "Listed as the Sword of the Deathslayer and the Blade of the Lightbringer."

"Well... It all started from legend... Back when the world was young and innocent, about a century or so after Noah and his family escaped the Flood, Lucifer decided to cause bloodshed within his descendants. But he had nothing to make people fight over. So he crafted the first sword from his tooth and encrusted it with powerful, cursed jewels from his kingdom... With it, he imbibed it with his cruelty, his malice and will to dominate any and everything... It was never to be beaten. He gave it to Nimrod, the Hunter-King of his clan, who used it to unite the people... But there was a price... It will whittle the life of its user, unless it sheds blood a thousand times on the course of a month." I explained, "Though powerful, it has a bloody past... Almost all owners had died a great death after living five minutes in its glory... It will ever only serve one Master... One master who could bend it to his will... And it's the namesake of the blade."

"But why didn't anyone destroy it?" Cato asked.

"Because of the one thing mortal men desire the most... Power." I said, "Lucifer's Blade is mighty and indomitable."

Cato proved to be a keen listener, nodding and not interrupting. He really did seem interested, so I forged on.

"Nimrod used it to his advantage, killing his kinsmen who led clans that opposed him and united the people under his dominance. Then, after he had shed enough blood, he used his powers to create the Tower of Babel, and when they launched volley of arrows into the sky, blood would drip down. The Lord then struck them, changing their language and so on. The accounts were hazy, but Nimrod lost the sword to Sargon, who used it to unite his clan to create the first empire." I said.

"And the notable welders?" Cato asked.

"Uh... Alexander the Great, King Leonidas, Darius the Great, King Solomon, Julius Caesar, Philip of Macedon, Ramses II, King Ahab and King Saul... All suffered horrifying deaths."

"Saul?! King of Israel?" Cato said in shock.

"Yes... It was that sword that caused him to become what he became... In response, the Lord created Deus Xiphos from his tears. the embodiment of Heaven and gave it to David. After Saul died, David took it for himself, despite the Prophet Nathan's pleas to destroy it. In fact, he was wearing Lucifer's Blade when he saw Bathsheba and when he planned to kill Uriah, the Hittite."

"So, not only does it strengthens the user and steals their life force, but also influences them?" Cato said.

"Right. The voice sounds like a snake hissing in your ear. It even corrupted the once-wise King Solomon. After the affair, David broke it apart and threw it away. Solomon found it and reforged it at his wive's coaxing... After that, the sword was passed down until the reign of Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa, it was lost at sea. Legends say it dissolved in the sea, because it was always afire inside. Hence, it became lost... Some say the Saracens recovered it and conquerored the Crusades. Some say Richard Lionheart found it and wielded it with great effect. And some even said that the leader of the Boxer Rebellion wielded it, until it abandoned him... But I'd like to think it lay where it belonged... out and beyond of our reach..." I muttered, "If the sword feels you getting weak, it will leave you without hesitation and seek out a new master."

"Huh... And the other sword?" Cato asked.

"That? It was handed down David's bloodline... Father to son, and so on... I think even the Messiah wielded it... They say the owner might even be the descendant of David, but I didn't confirm it." I said, smiling inside, "It was the opposite of Lucifer's Blade, sonce it valued nobility, honor and dignity."

"I see..." Cato said, "Truly, that was informative, my friend... If you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to." He said and left. I went with Lee, who talked about Fuuka.

"Yeah, I think she knows that I have a big hear-" Lee began, when Woozie, who was serving food, spoke up. He was one-third of the kohai Lee dedicated to make miserable.

"Spotted Dick?"

"What?" Lee said, "What did you say?"

"Spotted Dick." Woozie said.

"Tch... Can believe this guy?" Lee whispered, "I try to find some grub, and he asks me if I got the clap-"

"Fool, he's offering you food." I said as I cut some ox tongue in gravy and mushroom soup.

"Oh, Spotted Dick!" Lee said, "Better call Quan, he might want a mouthful of it!"

Even I had to laugh at that.

"Alternatively, it's also called Spotted Richard." Woozie said.

"What did you call me?!" Richard cried from the other side of the table.

"Uh... Spotted Richard?" Woozie said.

"Spotted Richard!" Richard cried, "That does it! Outside now!" He said, throwing down his apron as he and Woozie went out.

Several students outside made way.

"It's a fight!"

"It's a fight, it's a fight..."

"IT'S A FIGHT!"

Richard pointed Woozie to one area. He shook his fist, "Prepare yourself, Woozie!" He cried as he charged.

Woozie cooly jumped above Richard and did a cheap-shot, kicking him and making him land on the floor.

"Ugh..." Richard groaned, "You cheat! Coward!"

"You are too old fashioned!" Woozie declared.

"You arrogant fool!" Richard spat.

"Stop this." Lee said, "Richard Mueller, Master of ContA Muay Thai is an honorable man and Wu Zi Mu is also an honorable man, Sensei of the Twelve Kicks school of Martial arts... But it is dishonorable to fight over such trifle things!" Lee cried.

After the fight broke, we had some tea.

"Whoa, it's nearly 2." I said, "Witching hour." I said.

Suddenly, something dreadful happened. Something so absolutely horrifying to the members of S.E.E.S., that it shook us to our core when it happened.

Time stood still. The familiar feeling of gripping cold and fear enveloped us. The moon and sky became a pale, sickly green color. Everything mechanical grinded to a halt as the sound system stopped abruptly. And the most shocking of all?

Everyone, except Minako, Lee, Kenji, Quan and the rest of the S.E.E.S., were instantly transmogrified into upright caskets with a red and green underlight.

I instantly knew what had happened... Although it was very preposterous, after we ended it, it was the only tangible thing that could possibly be happening... It was reinforced when I looked out the window to see the Astronomy Tower turn into a tower of Babel.

The Dark Hour had returned.

A/N: Made this chapter extra long! Please ask anything! Review please!

For those of you who forgot who Richard, Woozie and Adachi are, go reread chapter 32 again.

I'm so sorry for not answering any questions in reviews anymore! I have so little time to answer, but my sched this week allieviated somewhat, so please feel free to ask via review or PM and I'll answer it straightaway!

And the Dark Hour will be explained.