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Taiyo High School...

Near the end of Ms.Kasugano's History Class...

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Elena tapped her pencil on her desk as she sat through Sakura's class. She was bored out of her skull and wanted to get to her training. It had been four months since she started training under the former Ansastuken fighter, and she was getting stronger every day, each kick, each punch gaining more and more force behind it, each dance coming out quicker, faster. Sakura, too, was getting stronger, which was only fitting. Her teacher wasn't kidding when she said she was powerful. To Elena, though, she was rapidly becoming only a means to an end. Any gratitude she felt towards the woman for helping her was slowly dissolving as her focus started to shift.

More and more, her thoughts drifted to Akuma. She reviewed his movements against her in their fight over and over again, trying to find something that could be a weakness, something that could be exploited.

Nothing else mattered to her. Nothing. Only the fight, only making Akuma suffer as she did. That was her sole goal in life now.

She gave Sakura a murderous glare as she continued her lecture, prattling on about Amakusa's ancient rebellion. She then turned her gaze to the clock.

Finally, the bell rung. She turned in the paper she was working on and walked out of the classroom, planning on throwing everything in her locker and heading straight for Sakura's car, so that they would begin their training almost immediately.

In the hallway, she had just finished putting her books in her locker, when an old friend of hers, Narumi, came up to her.

"Hey, Elena!" the short young girl said, smiling widely. "I'm glad I finally caught up with you!"

Elena sighed, not looking at her. "I'll bet," she muttered.

"Anyway, it's been so long since we've talked. Me and some of the other girls are getting together this weekend. Wanna come along? We'd love to have you," she asked, smiling widely.

Elena turned slowly, her good eye glaring at her. A slow smile spread over Elena's face, but there was no happiness, no humor in it. Narumi sweatdropped, but kept her smile, waiting for her friend's answer.

After a long, uncomfortable moment, Elena said, "Why?"

Narumi blinked, her smile faltering, "Why? Why what?"

Elena stared directly at Narumi, still smiling, but her eyes angry. "Why should I care about your little... 'get together?'"

Narumi blinked, frowning. Something in Elena's expression was frightening to her. "Why? B-Because you're my f-f-friend, and you've been so w-withdrawn since you w-were, well... I-I've been worried about you, and..."

Elena held up a hand, silencing her. "You are not talking. I am the only person talking in this conversation, so listen to me very carefully, you stupid little bitch: Your little party does not matter. You do not matter. Nothing matters except getting stronger. Nothing but revenge. Nothing but VICTORY. And I'm not going to let anything stand in my way of achieving these goals. Now get the hell out of my way."

Elena shoved Narumi aside, leaving the shocked girl to stare after her as she strode quickly down the halls.

Narumi was horrified. She had never seen Elena like this before! Ever since she was attacked, Elena had been so quiet, so withdrawn into herself. She didn't speak to the other girls in the dormatory where they were staying, despite their best efforts over the past year to get her to speak with them, and lately Elena had withdrawn from the other girls even further. She and the others had organized the party mainly so they could get Elena out and about again, to try and help her come out of whatever funk she was in.

But this was the absolute last thing she had expected. What had she done to deserve this? All she was trying to do was make her friend feel better! She stared after the long-legged woman's retreating form, trying to figure out what was going on with her, when something happened.

Elena's light brown skin darkened by several shades.

"Dammit. It's happening faster now..." said a voice from behind Narumi.

The schoolgirl yipped and whirled around. Sakura was standing behind her, staring at Elena.

"Oh, Kasugano-sensei!" Narumi said, surprised, "What did you mean by, 'It's happening faster now?"

Sakura shook her head sadly, saying, "I never should have started training her..." she blinked, realizing that Narumi had spoken, "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

Narumi frowned up at her teacher, tears in the scared young girl's eyes. "I asked what you meant by 'It's happening faster now.' What's happening to her?"

Sakura sighed, staring after Elena, who had already disappeared down the stairs. "Something very bad, Narumi. Do you know the full nature of what happened to her several months ago?"

Narumi shook her head. "She wouldn't say anything. I knew she got into a fight in that tournament she fought in, and that's how she got that bad scar and lost her eye..."

Sakura chuckled weakly. "Oh, she actually showed you? Willingly? That's more than she's given anyone else, apparently..."

Narumi huffed. "Well, I'm her best friend!" She then sighed, sniffling. "Well, I was..."

Sakura sighed. "She still is, Narumi-chan. She's just going through a very bad period right now. The best thing you can do is give her space and pray that this passes quickly."

"I guess so..."

Sakura smiled, ruffling the girl's hair. "You'll see. Everything will turn out all right."

Narumi smiled, a little mollified by what her teacher had said. She walked off down the hall to her locker, troubled at heart.

Sakura watched Narumi leave, and prayed she wasn't lying to the youngster.

She's become so violent. She refuses to read any mail her parents send her, even if they send them to the school to be given to her first. And now, just brushing off her friends like this...

She sighed weakly. Elena was showing signs of the Satsui no Hado, a force to which she had very little knowledge of. It was sheer luck that she had been able to convince Elena to continue school during her training, she knew that. But her luck couldn't hold out forever. This darkening of Elena's skin was a sign of the Killing Intent which Ryu spoke of taking hold. Soon the girl would focus on nothing but her training.

She needed to find out more, and there was only one person who could possibly help her at all. She went to her desk, and pulled out a cellphone, dialing a long number.

She waited for a while, pressing every button the automated machine told her to. Finally, she got the answer she was looking for.

"Hi, Karin? It's me, Saku-chan."