I was going to punch Kaito in the mouth by the end of the night. I just knew he was going to push that final button just one time too many and I was going to snap. How was it possible for one teenage boy to possess the ego of an entire school? And he wouldn't shut up! That's what was killing me right now, my patience draining like a major artery that's been knicked.

"It won't matter that you can create your own world in the middle of time and space and create your own rules." I finally snapped at him. "You aren't going to magically make a strategy game that Kurama isn't going to figure out the rules to and take in stride."

"Kurama?" Kido, the blonde one that kept finding excuses to come and stand near me, asked with a frown. I cursed myself and my temper, taking a deep breath.

"That's what everyone on the team calls him. Anyway, Kaito, you need to bump your ego down a few notches and give him the credit you know he deserves."

"I knew this would be too complicated for you to comprehend." He sighed, adjusting his glasses. I twitched, his water bottle on the table flying into the wall and shattering in response to the growing fire in my gut.

Genkai's hand touched my lower back, grounding me just enough for me to turn around and inspect the walls.

"Yanagisawa, you said you can copy anyone with just a touch, right?"

"The plan is if they manage to get past Kaito that we'll grab Kuwabara and I'll copy him." He nodded, his hooded eyes vaguely focusing on me. I nodded, examining the staircase beyond the door, secretly admiring what they had managed to do with this building. They had power, that wasn't a question, they just needed to focus and temper themselves and they could change the world together. Unfortunately, Kaito specifically really could do great things for the world, despite how much I wanted him to fail.

"So the only thing you really need to have figured out is the game and the rules, which you're well on the way to, Kaito," I tried to be polite and get this over with, "and kidnap Yusuke."

"Kuwabara would be an easier target." Kido pointed out.

"If you take my cousin, you then have to deal with Yusuke being himself and possibly blowing up the house when they get past Kaito, and Hiei will not go to save him."

"Then why shouldn't we choose you?" Kaito challenged me. "You're close to every member aside from Yusuke, and we know from you and Master Genkai that he won't abide a member of his group being taken."

"He will also tear this place apart if you took a non-fighter." I crossed my arms, facing him directly despite my better judgement.

Kaito pushed his glasses up his nose, bowing his head in that arrogant show of superiority that was quickly becoming the bane of my existence. "I was under the impression that you were a fighter. Cleary I misjudged your abilities."

I stared at him, blinking past the increased thrumming in my head before deciding to ignore him instead of rising to the bait. "And my cousin won't cooperate the way you want him to. Not to mention the vertically challenged demon with homicidal tendencies toward humans."

"And he won't have these tendencies with Yusuke?" He scoffed.

"He won't kill you on principle with Yusuke." I bit back.

"Such a simple, childish nature to resort to violence so quickly."

"Dio dammi forza..." I closed my eyes and counted to ten, willing my patience to just hold out until I could leave the room. It was so frayed that I wasn't sure I could do it.

"Dio mi dia la forza." He corrected in a bored tone. Something popped in my temple and I saw red, and I barely registered the energy keeping me where I was as Genkai's hand rested on my shoulder.

"I was under the assumption that your training was beginning to pay off." She chided gently. "Are you really going to let one young boy push you out of control when you've been doing so well?"

I was suddenly very embarrassed, fidgeting with my bracelet and clearing my throat to try and dispel the whirlwind of emotion I was struggling not to get lost in.

"I'm going to get some air." I finally choked out, turning to get out of the room as quickly as possible and tripping like an idiot on my way to the door. A gust of wind hit me at the main threshold, blowing away that boiling fury that was coiled deep in my gut. I could feel the heat in my throat, the need to hit something, and the shame from my teacher just made me want to scream because I was being goaded on by a nerd with a chip on his shoulder. Him and his kickable teeth and his irritating nasal quality of speaking...

"Ella?" I glanced at Kido, sighing and trying to force myself not to scream in his face. It wasn't the poor kids' fault I was upset.

"What is it Kido?" My words came out harsher than I intended.

"Kaito doesn't mean to insult you. He's just... he ain't real good in social situations."

"I hadn't noticed." I snarked, sighing and pulling on my braid, playing with the ends to occupy my hands.

"Um... Ella?"

"What?"

"You're smoking."

"I'm sorry?" I glanced back at him, following his concerned gaze to my arms. Low and behold, mist was rising from my skin.

Well that's... unnerving.

I ran a hand down my forearm, confirming my racing suspicion and shrugging, closing my eyes again and facing forward again, relishing the wind.

"Evaporation." I explained.

He cleared his throat, shuffling his feet and changing the subject. "So you're one of Genkai's apprentices?"

"Yep."

"And you're not a fighter?"

"She taught me how to utilize my power; you don't need to be a fighter to defend yourself."

Silence took over the space once more, and I looked up at the sky.

"You know, I could show you around the city sometime when this is all taken care of. It's really a beautiful sight to see when nothing is polluting it."

"I'm well acquainted with Mushiyori City, thanks."

"Oh." He cleared his throat again and glanced around as though he were trying to pull a conversation out of thin air.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I'm really not interested in social interaction right now." I sighed, rubbing my eyes and breathing in deeply again. "Thanks for checking in on me, but I'm fine. I'll be in shortly."

I could hear him hesitating, not sure what to say or do with my straightforward attitude, before he turned and closed the door softly behind him. I rolled my neck, knowing that I couldn't stall forever. The night air was soothing against my skin, and the misting had slowed down, which seemed to be a good sign. I resigned myself to deep breathing exercises and turned back around, kicking a rock while I walked back inside and shut the door.

Translation:

Dio dammi forza: God give me strength

Dio mi dia la forza: (May) God give me strength