Chapter 2: An Amazing New Friend

Kaori awoke sore and grumpy. She had been a little too over enthusiastic the night before–and where the hell had Stefan gone? With what she would have liked to call a graceful sortie–which was really nothing more than a slouching out of bed, she arose, grumbling all the while. Kaori would be the first to tell you she wasn't a morning person, and personally she was a severe skeptic of the whole "early to rise" epithet.

"Alright! Rise and shine girls!" called a too cheery Sara

"Pfft! An oxymoron onto itself. 'Rise and shine'? Spare me. I'd like to see you rise and shine you delusional nutjob–you want shine? I'll give you shine!" and so went her ramblings until a mug of coffee lay safely nestled between the palms of her hands. Something of a goofy smile graced her face as she sat in the cafeteria, humming to herself. And all the while people passed her by murmuring, "Oh that must be Miss. Kaori." or "There she is!" Like a glutton she sucked and sucked at her ever growing pool of praise, her ego exponentially growing in size, until–

"Well if it isn't my favorite amateur."– it popped. Kaori could only watch as her inflated pride deflated with all the grace of a whoopee cushion. Nonetheless she slowly opened her crimson eyes and slid them towards her aggressor.

"Oh. If it isn't you." she responded with mock enthusiasm once she beheld Adrian. The emphatic "you", he realized, implied that she would not even deign to design a clever or insulting name. Indignant, he stalked away. Satisfied, Kaori sat back in her seat. If mister "true death god" wants to mince words with me, she thought, then bring it on! I'll pulverize him into next week! An instructor entered the room then, as he only did for the first day, and called the students to attention.

"Listen up, children," he began snidely. "The next week will be the most painful of your life, and the three after that? Even worse! This training is not for the faint of heart! If you have any second thoughts I suggest you drop out now." The room bristled and sure enough tiny murmurings began to spark all over the room. Adrian stood from his place at the center table and flicked his sliver hair out of his eyes.

"You may be wondering why I have been among you recently, especially after the auditions yesterday. Contrary to the popular rumor I am not scouting talent for the next show, nor do any of you interest me enough to encourage such an honor. What I have been doing is assessing your skill and desire to be here. Those of you that I call will continue to train with Mr. Chaos. Those of you I don't? Well, you'll have to leave, I'm afraid."

The cafeteria was in an uproar.

"What?"

"You can't do that?"

"That wasn't in the contract!"

"You're kidding!" In response he simply closed his azure eyes with a smug smile until there was silence once more.

"Are you quite ready now?" he let the rhetorical question hang in the air a moment and then began to read names alphabetically off his list.

"Elana Aiken." a little ways off Kaori heard a tiny squeal. "Alexander Akane." As the young man a few tables away heaved a sigh of relief, she watched Adrian unblinking, as if that alone would will her name onto his list. She had a sinking suspicion, however, that foul play was at work here. "Opal Allen." Kaori worked a bitter smile unto her face; So he hadn't called her name after all. She opened her mouth to sigh, defeated–he held the keys now anyway– until she caught him watching her. He didn't look away, as she thought he might, but very slowly allowed his lips to form a cheeky smirk. "I have control now." or "there's nothing you can do about it."it said to her. And with every glance he gave her she became more and more sure: Her name was on that list. Adrian, however, was choosing to ignore that little detail. Slowly but surely little niggling pricks of anger nagged at her till she roared in thought: That little bitch. At this point she was so sure of his plan that, to avoid calling out and disgracing herself, she gave him a belligerent death glare, staring long and hard, pouring everything, Adrian's "amateur" line at dinner, Stefan disappearing, having to get up this morning—everything into that stare.

His glances came less frequently until they became nothing more than darting looks. She isn't ready for the stage. He thought adamantly. Catching a glimpse of her ill tempered scowl, he averted his gaze. Or is it that the stage isn't ready for her? murmured an amused voice in his head. He exhaled sharply, putting a dramatic hand to his forehead and let out a riled "hmph." I don't' want her here. he thought darkly as he matched her glower. But part of you wants to see what she can really do. replied that same voice. Adrian took that moment to close his eyes, taking a deep long breath. He split them open to find her, of course, and a tiny glinting figure floating just over her shoulder. Waving olive hair, crimson eyes and half a mask; the Spirit of the Stage. Immediately a bitter jealousy filled him. Has he chosen her? Regarding her angrily, he caught her vicious glare. She's still upset with me I see... If she knew the stage had chosen her...the spirit had chosen her she wouldn't have anything to worry about would she...? Shaking his head he smirked. She probably couldn't even see him, which only further proved his point: She wasn't ready for the stage and she would never be, not while this was merely a hobby or naive dream for her. This had to be her life and being a star, even being on the stage involved more than just performing: It was intricately and intrinsically connected to the cosmos, to the ethereal and to the various spirits that ruled there. His mother had understood that. And that was what had made her a great star–what would make him a great star. Anger checked by that thought he opened his mind to the sprit. Why is it that I can see you...and yet you never speak to me? The Spirit's gaze was disinterested, though as he tilted his head toward the girl a small smile crept across his face. I don't want her here he thought in pretentious warning. The Spirit's smile twitched out of existence and in a splash of sparkles he floated before Adrian.

"But I do." he murmured coldly. "And whether you will it or not she will have this stage." Adrian swallowed hard, cold denial seeping into his eyes. The Spirit floated there, as if sizing him up before responding. "Do tell me, Hades," he began with a smugly bemused tone, cryptically disappearing into a mass of shine "Will you make an enemy of me? The Spirit of the Stage?" Adrian watched the spirit vanish, staring hard at the spot he had just been floating in, and bit back his pride. In the end the Spirit owned the stage and his warning had been more than clear. If he dared act against the Spirits' wishes...he would not even think on the matter. Blinking to remove his focus from the spiritual realm he was confronted by an immediate problem: Kaori

"I suppose congratulations are in order, Miss. Akibara." Adrian chuckled grudgingly.

"Oh?" Kaori replied callously.

"Yes, you passed my final test for you." Inquisitive mumblings traversed the cafeteria until Kaori stood, sending her chair flying back with an awful screech. Arms crossed, she kicked her legs over the table and landed on the opposite side, her stride unbroken as she cooly sped towards him. Her crimson eyes burned as she narrowed her eyes up at him. Without any warning, she flicked the list out of his hand, between her thumb and forefinger, and skimmed the first few names. 3. Kaori Akibara. she read mentally. Catching his affected gaze she returned his chuckle.

"Just as I thought." she said with a smile reminiscent of their first meeting; cold–challenging. Without another word she released the sheet and let it flutter to the ground, halfway out of the room by the time it landed with a whispery "clack".

You smirk down at me, hiding behind that glass ceiling, Death God. Enjoy your stay for now because when I shatter it...I'll send you flying back down to Tartarus where you belong.

From far off, Fool watched.

"She will dethrone you, Hades. That much I will see to. But in doing so she will fall herself, hesitantly taking the three pomegranate seeds of vengeance you offer. And so enter godom. She will shatter and fall...unless Demeter holds and releases her...then..then she will fly...and restore the natural order that Angel so unwittingly disturbed." He watched her leave the room and frowned a bit. "I see Persephone in her future...if she manages the shattering...but something else lingers...something even I cannot see." Slowly allowing his gaze to travel to Adrian he sighed and called to him. "Fall not in vain, Hades. Learn and rise... then you will truly be the God of Death; a king of shades. I will come to you then."

A few hours later...

"Adrian chose you fifty–fifty out of four hundred. Feel honored." Mr. Chaos told his students. A hum of agreement rose amongst the group. "Now! Pair up! The person you choose will remain your partner for the next four weeks. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" Kaori gulped, despite the confident reply she clamored with the group. She didn't know anyone, after all. In the end a young man choose her.

"I know if I partner up with you that I'm sure to make it to the finals!" he confided in a whisper.

"Uhh..sure.." she tittered hesitantly. Is that a complement? she wondered. Feels more like he's using me..I'm not sure I like that. Once the pairs were decided he gave the fifty young men and women two drills to perfect by the time he returned; they had three hours.

"Well, shall we?" Caleb offered with a smile. With a shrug she began, reaching for the thick rope hanging from the ceiling nearby. She swung up and pulled herself up a few feet, her arms already getting tired.

"This is harder than it looks.." she called down to him with a wince.

"Please." he laughed haughtily. "Tired already?" She allowed herself one eyebrow twitch before, miffed, she released the rope and fell the five feet she had climbed. She landed effortlessly and handed him the rope.

"Why don't you try then?" Cal took the rope smugly and began his assent. He reached the six foot mark before he had to fall back down.

"You were right..." he coughed between huffs and puffs. Kaori crossed her arms in mild approval of his pseudo-apology and smiled. Just then a loud crash distracted her.

"What are you doing?" screamed a red headed girl. On the ground, obviously in pain, sat another.

"Look at her." managed Caleb. "She's enormous." he continued as if telling some shared joke. The red headed girl smiled wickedly.

"What's the matter porky, can't handle a little exercise?" The entire room erupted with laughter. Kaori furrowed her brow. The girl that sat there looked about her age. She had beautiful dark skin and long black hair. Golden eyes searched the room for a kind face and when Kaori took in her gorgeous curvy figure she felt anger burn in her. Even if she was a little larger than most of the girls in the room she was bigger in all the right places. These people were all crazy.

"Stop it." she began quietly. Still the laughter continued. "I said STOP IT." A hush fell over the crowd and Kaori found herself stomping towards the two. She stopped before the red head, eyeing her thoroughly, and then proceeded to slap her. "I don't know whether you're crazy, jealous or both, but stop it. Stop it now."

"What do you know? She's so clumsy she'll ruin my chances! She couldn't even get three feet off the ground!" Low snickers followed this. Without a word Kaori walked past her and knelt by the girl on the ground, offering a hand.

"My name's Kaori...and you?" The girl timidly glanced around, shifting the raven hair that pooled at the ground behind her.

"Opal..." her tiny voice admitted. Kaori tilted her head in a smile, which Opal returned, albeit diffidently.

"I'd like to see you get three feet up that rope." She called back to the red headed girl.

"Are you seri–

"Go ahead. Try it." Kaori watched out of the corner of her eye as the girl rose only to fall shortly thereafter, panting.

"What the hell?"

"This training space is placed at a strategic tilt. It makes you feel like you weigh twice as much doesn't it?" The crowd began to murmur amongst itself.

"I think she's right." Kaori heard one man exclaim.

"You claim Opal here is clumsy because she couldn't pull her self above the three foot mark...and yet it seems that you yourself have failed to even reach that point." The low murmurs became even lower giggles and the red head girl could only glance around, shame plain on her face.

"There will be no laughing here!" Kaori snapped. Hushed silence took them once again. "We're professionals! Not monsters and little children." She watched some shoulders droop, pacified. That hit a nerve. "In the end a troops' weakness isn't in it's least talented performer, but in the member with the worst character–it's that person that pulls the company down because they are incapable of performing with their whole heart." With a smile she regarded the group. "So let's none of us be that weakest link, okay?" she offered as she bounced to a stand. "Mr. Chaos won't know what to do with us!" One by one smiles began to appear.

"Miss. Kaori is right!" Elana, the first one to be read off Adrian's list, shouted. And like busy bees, they were off. Elated, Kaori made her way back to her station

"Ahh..that is...Miss. Kaori?" Turning, Kaori found none other than Opal and responded with a very intelligent,

"Eh?" Opal glanced around the room, shifting her incredible black locks.

"I..I know it's against the rules but...do you think...would you mind...being my partner?" Kaori regarded her with a confused smile.

"But..why?" The beautiful girl diverted her eyes to the ground in response.

"Well...you see...This may be selfish of me...but I work better with people I can respect..." she began. Clearing her throat she straightened her back. "And I cannot respect someone who does not respect me...who disrespects me even once." Her eyes burned like burnished gold and with a surprised blink Kaori saw her hands clench and unclench.

"Wow...uh...well...gosh..." Opal's light, astounded laugh set Kaori at ease.

"I'm sorry if I startled you...it's just that I-

"No apology required. I was just amazed at how...un-meek you are all of a sudden." Opal listened with a puzzled arch of her eyebrow and glanced away embarrassed.

"Oh! Well...that..you see...I can't be comfortable in an environment I find destructive...that's just the way I am." she replied with an honest smile. Kaori nodded understanding.

"Well..we don't have all day, do we? Two techniques! Whew, it's be close but-

"Don't worry!" Opal interrupted. "I won't let us fail." Kaori let our a whistle, finding it hard not to admire her.

"Alright then–Hey you." she called to the red head. "Do you mind if I partner up with Opal?" The red head shrugged.

"Whatever." As the girl briskly stomped over to Caleb, Kaori found herself mouthing 'whatever' and making the most heinous face she could behind the girls' back, finishing it off with a finger in her mouth. Opal giggled slightly, though her eyebrow expressed a mild disapproval.

"What?" exclaimed Caleb. "Ka–

"But nothing, Caleb. I already agreed." The young man's mouth hung open, to which Kaori could only respond by turning away.

"Alright!" Opal declared. "Let's start!"

Really guys, thanks for reading. I still don't have any reviews but I hope that will change as I get further into the story. I do have a part of the next chapter written...so if I get some reviews I might post an early teaser...maybe! So please review! That's all for now.