One of the many after-school activities at school, that was practiced in the school's gym, was the Japanese martial art of Kendo. Its name literally means "way of the sword", but is practised with a stick for safety reasons. To any other person, this was just another activity, but to Lewis, who had a job to do, he had to be in the gym, keeping an eye on things. Seeing as the ones practicing Kendo were all girls, there was no real surprise in a guy sitting there, watching them in action, so he didn't need to make up a cover-story. On the gym's tribune, he spotted Alice, who merely watched the others practice. Lewis started towards the tribune, deliberately took a seat behind her, where he dropped himself down. It caused a loud enough noise to draw Alice's attention.

Alice turned, annoyed to find him: "What are you doing here?"

"There's something about seeing a girl handling a stick." was Lewis' dry response, without actually looking at her.

Alice cocked her head: "You expect me to believe that?"

This time, Lewis did turn his head to look at her: "Hmm?"

"You've been in every single one of my classes, and now you're here." Alice elaborated, "Where I am."

"Whether I'm in every single one of your classes is not really my fault." Lewis said, and being really annoyed with his job there was no hint of sarcasm in his voice, "So the real question is why are you here?"

"There's something about seeing people being too stupid to handle a stick." Alice answered.

A smile crept up on Lewis' face: "Why aren't you practising with them, then? Show them how it's done?"

"I've never handled a sword before!" Alice answered.

Lewis made a face: "Hence practise."

Alice turned away from him: "I... I just can't do this."

"Why is that?" Lewis asked.

"Why do you care!" Alice asked in return, not looking at him.

Lewis laughed through his nose: "You're the one who started this conversation."

"So I can end it if I wanted to." Alice bit back.

"You could." there was a mock tone to Lewis' voice, "But now you made me too curious."

Alice sighed: "I'm afraid I'll hurt other people, okay?"

"Oh." was Lewis' reaction.

"Oh?" Alice seemed surprised at his nonchalant reaction, enough to actually turn back to look at him.

Lewis shrugged: "Lots of people are afraid of guns for that same reason. Nothing to be ashamed of."

"If only it were that easy." Alice continued, "I remember holding one of my father's swords and..."

Alice stopped there. Lewis knew that if he pushed her then, she would shut down, however if he said something along the lines of "It's alright, you don't have to say it if you don't want to", she'll take that literally and decide not to say anything. So he said and did nothing, letting her do this on her own accord.

"I don't really know what happened." she continued, "I got this flash where I was cutting people with it."

"Why would you want to cut people?" Lewis asked her.

"I don't." Alice explained, "It's just a thought that went through me. I became so afraid, I avoid swords."

"Then why are you here watching other people practise swords?" Lewis didn't quite understand.

"I dunno." Alice replied, and turned away from him. Doing so, she spotted two of the girls that were practising, and she found her reason, "Sharon and Linda."

"Who?" Lewis asked.

"Those girls from before?" Alice reminded him, "Who kept making jokes about you looking older than you really are?"

Lewis could say he is older than they believe him to be, but he simply nodded instead.

"You won't find greater racists in this school." Alice explained, "They hate everything that isn't Aryan. And yet, they practise a Japanese martial art."

Lewis scoffed: "Double standards."

"Exactly." for once Alice genuinely laughed, "Rumor even has it that they killed one of the locals, just to steal his swords."

Lewis didn't think that was funny, which Alice noticed: "It's only a rumor."

"Maybe." Lewis agreed, "But for them to brag about that..."

"I know." Alice agreed, "It's just funny to see them practice this sport, knowing what I know about them."

"A way of getting back at them for being such pains." Lewis deduced.

Alice giggled: "Why are you the only one who understands?"

Lewis shrugged: "I'm just a born cynic."

"Join the club." Alice replied.

What neither one of them realized, was that one of the two girls they were talking about, either Sharon or Linda, noticed them talking, and went on to relay the news to the other one.

"Can you believe that?"

"A general's son and a general's daughter. Match made in heaven."

"How come does she get to have a boyfriend, and I can't even get a guy to buy me a jewel?"

"We should teach her a lesson."

"Word has it she's afraid of swords."

Both of them were thinking the same thing.

"I'll talk to Mr. Powell" this was in reference to their coach.