Keep your friends close...

"Go away!" She'd said once, when all there was, was complaints about how bad her grades were, about how she could be so, so much more-

-she'd flinched as well, when her mother fixed her with accusing eyes, smiling with poison in agreement.

"'Go away'?" The woman had repeated. "You want me to 'go away'?"

There was a greeting of silence.

"That's it, isn't it? You like your father more than me, right? That's why you want me to 'go away'! You're so ungrateful! I'm already sick, don't you know that? It'd be better if I was dead, huh, Lia? You love your father more than me after all. I'll just die. You won't miss me. And when I'm dead you know what? Your father will leave you. He'll leave you for another woman, someone more better than mummy."

She hated how her mother talked about dad behind his back - how could she say things like that? To her own kin?

...why would she even talk about her own death so easily?

She hated... things like that.

Things like her mother scowling at her dad's back whenever he talked about how messy the house was and how she should clean up more often after herself. Things like her dad shaking his head tiredly whenever the bills came up and mother would refuse to pay because she needed money for medicine and such. Things like her dad spending his birthday with relatives from his home town than at his own house, with his own family. Things like her mother not caring, not wishing him a simple 'happy birthday'.

Things like illness, like anger, like fighting...

"Yes, you'd be better off without me, wouldn't you Lia?"

A barely noticeable gulp to swallow the hateful emotions.

"Look, I didn't say-"

The door slammed shut, and then Lia was left alone in her- no, maybe she couldn't even call it a home. Sometimes she didn't even feel like she had a family, with all the arguing. They just couldn't be happy with each other, could they?

Her dad wasn't at home, visiting his sister and his brother and whoever was related to him far away, away from home - and her mum, working late at night at a hospital for money. A hospital. Ironic, really.

You'd think, as adults, they would notice how Lia didn't like it - 'it' being everything that was going on. No, she really didn't like it.

You'd think, as parents, they'd notice how they should just stop talking so venomously, and start being happy, for her, for their daughter.

The next day, when Lia went to normal school, everyone fell when their eyes met hers. Fell - to the ground, just like that.

And she wondered, confused and hurt and a lot of feelings in one - bitterly... if maybe she could fall too.

The door crackled, a peculiar sound for a door to make, as it slid open. Lia made her way to a random seat near Ivan, who she'd ask a day before if he was going on the school trip. There was no point in coming to the Academy if everyone went when she couldn't, after all.

And...

...it was odd.

"Hello Iv-... what are you doing here?!"

"I could ask the same of you."

Ever since her fight (or whatever it was) with Edward the other day, he had been acting weirdly. So maybe he wasn't grovelling at her feet for forgiveness (not like she expected that, because, well, ew). And, like she thought he probably would have - he wasn't regarding her with cool indifference. Instead, he talked to her. Sure, there were insults and comebacks involved, but there was no longer the slight menace that was there before.

Or maybe she was just over-thinking everything. Yeah, she tended to do that.

Or... maybe it was just that he thought she was weak now, that she had cried so openly.

Now that pissed her off. She was the OPPOSITE of 'weak' - so maybe she didn't have that much physical strength. It was her will that mattered, was it not?

Scowling, she glared at the brunet.

After at most - 30 seconds, he turned towards her with a smirk.

"Falling for me already?"

How did he know she was looking at him? Did he see her eyes through her blindfold?

The chair she was sitting on screeched against the floor and she fell with it as it swung backwards, hitting the ground hard on her bum.

"Che!" She spat, recoiling slightly, "As if!"

But she couldn't deny the mixture of embarrassment and surprise when he laughed out loud at her, grinning.

He didn't offer to help her up though.

And neither did Ivan, who looked to be in deep, deep thought.

She grumbled quietly to herself as she pushed her body off the ground, and rearranged her chair so she could sit on it once again. There was another silence. Lia heaved a sigh and resigned to lay her head on her desk. All the other students, as well as most of the teachers, had went on a trip to a museum of sorts, so they could learn more about the history of Heroes, NEXTs and the like. She had no qualms at staying behind at the Academy (she couldn't contact her parents), but with a bi-polar popular kid who seemed to be in hate-at-first-sight with her? Sure, he seemed to be more... what was the word - calm - now, but he was still pretty bi-polar in her opinion.

Ivan, well, he was...

Principal Massini walked in whistling a loud tune, effectively pulling all three of the students out of their thoughts.

"Ahh," he said in understanding, "So you're the three students leftover, I take it?"

The trio nodded.

The adult couldn't help but see the absolute stroke of chance that only the three teenagers were left. Fate maybe? It seemed undeniable.

And... it was a great chance to allow them to bond. The principal grinned brightly.

He shuffled the paperwork in his hands noisily. The students looked at him both confusedly and with slight suspicion - why was he smiling like that?

Then, as suddenly as he came in, he gave a slight nod and left, humming.

...the quiet returned.

The two boys weren't talking that much, only staring thoughtfully into the distance.

Briefly, she wondered how they got along so well... or maybe the silence was the answer. The bell chimed, but there was really no need for it. Edward stood and gathered his bag. Ivan was a little slower, but he followed Edward's actions. Unsure of whether to just stay in the classroom by herself, she just gazed at their shoes - boots, in Ivan's case - as they made their way towards the exit.

"Coming or what?"

It was an annoyed drawl.

Slowly, she let her eyes trail up, to Edward's face. Was he... inviting her to sit with him and Ivan... or something?

"I'm talking to you."

Edward was blunt. And he was kind of creeping her out.

Disconcerted, she stared at him. Why was he being so... talkative? Or at least, talking to her? He held his hand out to her and she cringed involuntarily.

He noticed this, and frowned.

Their eyes met, and the two engaged in a battle of wit and all the important things in the world, before Edward's lips quirked upwards and suddenly he turned to the only onlooker, Ivan.

"Ivan," he ordered, "Do this!"

Slowly, unsurely - the pale-haired boy stuck out his hand in front of Lia just like Edward - Edward pulled his hand back. Lia stared at the appendage, and then at Ivan's face, which looked slightly flustered. He didn't know what was going on either.

Ivan's hand was still held out awkwardly, and Edward seemed intent on something.

So, to avoid the continuation of the stillness in the air, Lia placed her hand in his with a deadpan stare, before tugging on it and bringing herself to stand beside the guy. What was the harm?

But in exact sync, the two glanced down at their joined hands, and an ambiguous quiet followed.

Loud guffaws tumbled from Edward's person, and Lia and Ivan blinked. Hurriedly removing her hand from Ivan's, she glared at the top student. He didn't stop like she wanted him to. Instead, the noise got louder.

"S-sorry," he apologized, making Lia scrunch up her face in confusion, "I just find it funny how you-"

He paused.

And a sinister-looking smirk stretched across his lips.

"What?" Lia demanded.

If possible, the smirk grew.

"C'mon Ivan!"

Edward pushed his friend towards the exit, and suddenly both of them disappeared from her sight.

She stood there for a moment.

"W-wait!"

She slipped her bag over her shoulder, clumsily knocking her shoulder into the door on her way out. She spotted the two walking casually through the hallway, and ran to catch up to them. They didn't speak, but they had acknowledged her. She could tell by the way Edward's mouth twitched into a smug smirk, and Ivan, too, had something on his face that resembled a smile. No, it was a smile, albeit small. She gave him a sideways glance, but then ducked her head, not wanting to risk eye contact.

She 'tsked' quietly to herself, but her two companions had heard it, and looked over at her. When she met their gazes, she merely turned her head and continued to walk. She noted; it was the first time she'd seen him smile (okay, it wasn't that much of a 'smile', but it was something - she reasoned).

...it was nice.

The hallway they were previously walking in had melted into the courtyard - they were now outside, and she briefly wondered when they were going to stop and decide a place to sit at. But they didn't, and only until the three paused in front of the school entrance did Edward speak up.

"I'm going to become a Hero," he stated, turning to face Lia. "And so is Ivan."

Loosening the grip she had on her bag strap, she raised a curious brow, "...and?"

"I'm not letting you walk with us because I want to."

Contempt and bafflement enveloped the girl, and she opened her mouth-

"It's because you're my rival. And I'll beat you."

She stared at him disbelievingly, and from the corner of her eyes she could see Ivan doing the same, just toned down.

"Keep your friends close... and your enemies closer," he recited, with that same irritating smirk.

She could see it in his eyes - the challenge he presented.

Why was she his 'rival' already? But still, the raven-haired girl rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

She could care less. She didn't even want to become a Hero anyway.

"Good."

He officially stepped out of the school, and Lia couldn't help but ask, "Isn't it still lunch?"

"School is pretty much over," was the curt answer she recieved. She looked over at Ivan, who nodded. Maybe there's been days where the academy's been on excursions, with only them two left? It might explain their friendship - and why they seemed used to it.

Wordlessly, she too, exited the school, and lastly, so did Ivan.

"So where are we going?" Lia asked after a short while of pitter-pattering footsteps. And even though Edward is the one walking in front of them, Ivan answered simply, with a hint of admiration tinting his voice, "An anime store."

Unbeknownst to the sixteen-year-old, Edward scowled.

And Ivan smiled.

"Ah, Ivan, look!"

Lia waved the DVD in the air, and Ivan's eyes lit up. Softly, he grabbed the Rurouni Kenshin case from her hand, and muttered, "Dub or sub...?"

She leant over his shoulder (which was slightly hard to do seeing as her chin just met it).

"Dual audio, I'm pretty sure. You know, Japanese dub and English subtitles?"

She couldn't see his face, but she was pretty sure he was giving that same smile again, or at least... he was happy. After all, he did seem like the type that preferred sub over dub.

"Weirdoes," Edward murmured, arms crossed.

Lia sent him a look.

"You're friends with one, aren't you?"

Edward shook his head, uninterested, and peered outside the store's window. People were crowding around something...

The female returned her attention to her blond friend, and tilted her head curiously. He was either still staring at the DVD, or something in his hands. She stepped towards him, and then around him to gain a closer look, and blinked. She was right. His wallet was in his left hand, and the anime in his right.

"Not enough money?" She guessed.

The boy jolted upright with momentary shock.

Then, he frowned.

"If you want, I can-"

A gun shot.

And then screams.

With wide eyes, the three students turned their heads towards the source; Ivan dropping the anime, and Edward and Lia dropping their bags. The shop owner would've opened his mouth to yell at Ivan, and tell him how delicate the item was, but he too had stopped to stare at the commotion going on outside.

"Let's go!" Edward was the first one to snap out of his trance, and was also the first to sprint out of the shop, and onto the streets.

When Lia realised she was just standing there and doing nothing, she looked over at Ivan, who seemed to be hesitating - so with that, she grabbed his hand and ran after Edward.

Maybe, that was a bad idea.

The crowd, in a bumbling panic, did not notice when the three teens pushed their way through. And yet as soon as they did, they were greeted with - to Lia - what seemed like a regrettable sight. The police were there already.

But they weren't doing a thing?

They were just pointing their guns weakly at the kidnapper; a man clad in black, the same colour as her hair - and the hostage; a woman donning a dark turquoise outfit.

"Get the car ready!" A gruff voice shouted, originating from the criminal.

"W-what should we do...?" The Asian heard an officer whisper.

"Have the Heroes arrived yet?" Another asked.

"Not yet..." Came the shaky reply.

Were they just going to wait? Weren't they police for a reason? What if someone got hurt in the meanwhile? They couldn't just depend on the Heroes-

"Let's go, Ivan!" Edward uttered.

"E-eh?!" Ivan exclaimed quietly, eyes widening at the prospect.

"What about me, you douche?" Lia hissed, feeling left out.

The corner of Edward's mouth pulled upwards slightly, and he repeated, confident, "Let's go! We're going to settle this."

"But... using our powers outside is against the rules..."

...it was?

"That doesn't matter!" For once, she agreed with the brunet.

And yet, she - only very barely - had a small grasp on what Ivan was feeling. Doubt... and insecurity, was it not?

"Our powers are meant to save people!" Edward asserted, frowning. "What good are they if we don't use them?!"

...that was true.

Briefly, Lia wondered why the police weren't doing anything, so maybe it was because they couldn't... but surely...!

"But my power is..."

Shape-shifting. That... was also true. What could Ivan do with his power to help?

So Edward glanced at Lia with determined eyes.

"Lia," that was the first time he said her name, the black-haired girl noted, "Come on."

He took a step forward, and then looked back at Ivan.

"Don't worry! It'll be alright, Ivan. I'll- we'll back you up."

He grabbed Ivan's arm but he resisted. Lia merely watched, frowning eyes shielded from everyone's view by her blindfold. Her lips were a straight, thin line.

"I can't do this..."

She felt sad, not for, but at Ivan, if that was even possible. Maybe... even kind of disappointed - but what could she do? A person the pair only knew for a week or so? Not even...?

"You'll never be a Hero with that attitude!" Edward scowled, expressing the same disappointment in his angry tone, but tenfold. Then he ran and sunk into the ground with a tiny glow of blue surrounding him - not that Lia was surprised, much. His ability was ground-based, huh? Fitting... kind of. He seemed more like the fiery type - but the sixteen-year-old didn't have time to ponder, and gathering her courage, she too, stepped into battle - tugging off her blindfold. Brighter colours invaded her vision, colours she was so used to without the cloth around her head. As long as she didn't look into anyone's eyes but the enemies' then it should be fine.

"What's the hold-up? I'll kill her, you know!" As if to reinforce this statement, the kidnapper made a move to press his weapon against his victim's temple, and the lady let out a small, fearful cry.

Lia stepped towards him and when he glanced up, he stumbled - just stumbled. He didn't fall? He wasn't sleep-walking was he? No.

The spell wore off, and he murmured a 'huh' in confusion before blinking behind the protective lenses in front of his glasses.

Then, the man smirked, his eyes showing his understanding.

"A NEXT?"

Why wasn't he unconscious yet? Her powers... weren't working?

The timing was just so...

"But you're just a kid," a vicious laugh sounded, and a thought flitted across her mind - what was it like to die?

Surely it wasn't that bad (just to spite her parents - she thought acridly).

What was the feeling inside of her? Fear? Anxiety? Relief?

Or maybe she didn't want to die, as she watched and watched the man in slow motion, raise his arm - the weapon in his hand. Her life really wasn't that bad - wasn't she being selfish? 'Life's precious', was what everyone always said... but you never know, maybe she'd be reborn into another body? Into another life? Or at least she'd forever be in the sky, Heaven even. No?

...but...

She actually kind of liked how things were going for her right now, with a budding friendship with Edward, and Ivan, who she could possibly talk to about anime and all things Japanese with (but of course, she didn't really know it'd change after this, maybe a bit or maybe a lot more).

A sudden shout broke her train of thought - and startled, brick-brown eyes darted to find the voice.

Hands had appeared from behind the criminal, grabbing the gun from the man's hold. The villain fell - but caught himself just in time for Edward to grin and say, "Give up, old man."

Triumph and then caution.

Lia's eyes widened, but the kidnapper's comrades' had already closed in around Edward, who struggled in their hands. She made a move to help him - but holding yet another gun, the person who Edward had dubbed 'old man' turned towards her, pointing the tip of the weapon towards her.

She was lost as to what to do.

"Ivan, help! O-oi, Ivan!" Edward's cries...

...and then-

Bang.

In exact sync, two guns were fired.

...and your enemies closer.

Ooh. So, I wasn't really going to end it there, but... yeah, haha. Thank you for the reviews, you precious people~ -glomps all-. I-I'm not sure whether I'm satisfied with this chapter, although I did want to get it out in time for Valentine's (which I failed miserably). So yeah, happy belated Valentines. Did you guys spread the love? I did. Because it was my friend's birthday on the day after (...it counts!), so cakes were made (by people other than me, but hey, cakes equal love, not lies).

Urgh.

Oh, and I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Urgh.

Did I get everyone in character...?

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I've read over it too much to decide what I think of it. Oh, and 'Vivi' covered by Road (an awesome singer on youtube~) is really good for inspiration. Or it's just nice to listen to, lol. And also 'The Beast' by Nano.

O-oh, and if you guys want to see progress on the upcoming chapters - check it out on mah tumblr, remove the spaces and well, instead of tee use 't':

h tee tee p : / / triangulasaurus. tumblr / fanfic

...only if you guys are actually bothered to check it out... but there's also a link on my profile.

So yeah.

Thanks for reading.