(Arena 5, Wednesday, 12:30 pm)

Neo and Ichika were in Arena 5 practicing with Rin and Charlotte.

"Alright, you two ready for this?" I asked.

"Bring it!" Rin said. Someone's excited.

"Ready." Charlotte said

"Alright, Neo, let's show them what we can do." I think this is no gonna go well for either of us. Ichika had attacked Rin, leaving me to fight Charlotte. I pulled out my SMG and started firing at her. Unfortunately, her IS has a shield which was blocking all of my bullets. She then started to fire both of her assault rifles at me.

"Oh crap." I then dodged the flurry of bullets and aimed my mega launcher, lock-on visor covering my eyes, aimed at Charlotte. "Fire!" The large red beam was dodged, but it put a large dent in the arena wall.

'I'm not fixing that.'

'You're not helping.' Unfortunately, I was distracted and was about to be hit by Charlotte's pile bunker. So, I did what anyone would do, cover my face with my arms. And when I was hit, I crashed into the side of the arena, and OUCH! That really hurt. Then I saw Ichika get blasted by Rin , and he was headed straight for me.

'Man, this is gonna hurt.'

'YOU THINK?!

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHhhhhhh!"

" AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhh!" Why are you screaming too?!

(BOOM!)

After practice, and having me and Ichika patched up, I went to class so that we could decide what to do for the school festival. Me and Ichika were looking over the suggestions, and most if not all of then involved me or Ichika in some way, shape or form. Let's see, Pocky with Neo and Ichika, Twister with Neo and Ichika, The King and Prince vs. the kingdom, Ichika and Neo- in Bandit interrogation, and I can keep going on and on, and on.

"Oh come on people, isn't there anything else that you guys can suggest that doesn't force me or Ichika into some sort of game?" I noticed one girls raised here had. " That doesn't have to do with me or Ichika serving your deepest wishes?" She then put her hand down. Like I thought.

" How about a maid café?" I looked to the middle row and saw Laura. Seriously, I think the idea is nice, but I also think this is just an excuse to see Ichika and me in tuxedos. Well, I can't think of anything better, so we accepted this. After that, Ichika dragged me to the Student Council room, saying Chifuyu wanted to talk with both of us.

" Neo, since you're the only other boy in this school, I want you to join him in the Student Council." Oh dang it. This is bad for three reason. One, I'll be booked with meetings, and I really hate meetings. Two, Tatenashi now has all day to bug me. And Three, well, I don't know what three is, but I'm sure there is one.

" All right, I'll join. So, what's first on my agenda as Student Council member?" I looked at Ichika, hoping he would know.

"Hey, don't look at me. Tatenashi called me here and asked me to bring you." (Huff) I thought as much. Speak of the devil, Tatenashi comes from behind me and covers my eyes.

" Guess who?"

" Oh, I know, the pale blueberry with strawberry eyes." I said sarcastically.

" Really? Then I guess that makes you the black licorice ice cream with some whipped cream."

" Touché. So what is it you want me and Ichika to do exactly?"

" I want your help with a show. Just put these on." She handed me and Ichika a pair of royal clothing, each with a crown. Ichika's crown was bigger and more stylish than mine. I was skeptical at first, but if she wants us to get stylish, then I guess I can give her a break.

Meanwhile, Death, Mirage, and Autumn were watching from behind a tree in the Academy's yard.

" Alright, you brat stay here. I'll get Byakushiki." Autumn said.

" Yeah, you do that. I'll be getting Dark Hound in the meantime." Mirage then disappeared, like her namesake.

" What? Dammit. Death, go make sure she doesn't mess this up, and remember your mission."

" Right." Death said as he disappeared.

( Academy stage, 2:30 pm, Wednesday.)

Ok, I take it back, Tatenashi is in for a serious beating when this is over. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll explain quick. When me and Ichika got on stage, this movie about warriors princesses called "Cinderella" played, and when it ended, some of the girls came out of nowhere and attacked us. I remember Rin saying something about handing over the crown. Right now, Ichika and I were hiding behind a door to this castle stage.

" I think we lost them." Ichika said.

" I don't think so." I said as I saw a glint through the keyhole.

" What makes you say that?" Just as he said that, BAM! A bullet pierces the door and hits the ground. Luckily, neither of us got hit. I look through the hole to see Cecilia with her sniper rifle. Why did Tatenashi let them use weapons? Is she trying to kill us?

" Just a hunch. Look, let's split up, that way we can try and shake them. Okay Ichika? Ichika?" I look and see he's gone. I look to my right and see he's following Charlotte. ' Or just get another girl to help, that works too. A scimitar blade then chopped a hole in the door, probably Rin.

'Hey, why don't you just hide over there, in that tower?" Nena said as he popped up and pointed to the tower to my far left. That might be the best idea you've had so far, thanks. I took her advice and hide in the tower and blocked the door.' That's not gonna keep them out for long, especially with Rin swinging that scimitar like that. What am I gonna do?'

" Neo, over here." Who said that? I look around me and spot Miyako, in a beautiful red and black ball gown. I-I-I-I...

' Hey, Neo, this isn't the time to be going gaga over your princess over there. Look.' I look and see the Rin and Cecilia were chopping and kicking at the door. So I follow Miyako up the stairs, onto the roof, and locked the door behind us.

"(Huff)(Huff) Thank you, you saved my life."

" Well, of course. You would've done the same for me." She said. This moment was really... tempting. I mean, the light are in a good postion, there's no one here to interrupt, and my girlfriend is dressed so beautifully.

" Hey, since no one's looking, you think we could have one little kiss? I mean, the prince always kisses the princess."

" Just as long as you aren't think of anything naughty." Miyako said with a smile.

' Too late for that.'

' I'm not thinking like that!'

' That's not what your day-dreaming tells me. What about that dream when she-'

'Hey, you're the one that forced that image in my head!'

" He's a boy, so of course he's thinking like that Miyako."

' Just because I'm a boy doesn't mean I think like that, Nena.'

'Umm, that wasn't me actually.'

"Oh Amaya, be nice." I look over to Miyako and notice another A.I girl with her. She had long red hair and blue eyes, and she wore a red version of the IS academy uniform. "Oh, Neo, this is my A.I friend, Amaya." Well, I wasn't expecting this.

" Yeah, nice to meet you, and I believe that you and Nena have already met, right Nena?" Nena then appeared behind me, surprising Miyako.

" Nena? Who is this Neo?"

" She's the A.I. of Dark Hound."

" Your IS had an A.I too? Why didn't you tell me?"

" You didn't bother to ask."

" How could she, when you were too distracted by her?"

I felt my cheek burn more than usual. "S-Shut up."

" So, you're Nena, or should I call you Dark Hound?" Amaya asked.

" I answer to either name, but I prefer Nena. It make me feel special."

" What, little puppy wanted some special attention?"

" Watch it Archer girl, cause this hound has fangs that you don't want chomping at you." Nena said with a angry, yet seductive look on her face. 'Oh my God.' Yep, I think they're gonna be really good friends, If they stop arguing.

" Now Nena, stop flirting with your girlfriend."

Now Nena was the one flustered. She grabbed me and put me in a choking headlock. "W-W-W-What do you mean? I'm not like that. Why would you think that? You have a very dirty mind! Dirty, dirty, dirty!"

Suddenly, there were two explosions, from the ground a few yards away, and the ceiling. Byakushiki rose from the hole in the ground, along with a blue, water-type IS. So that's the IS Tatenashi told me about, her Mysterious Lady. A butterfly-like IS came from the ceiling, already fighting Cecilia and Houki. Something else came out of that hole in the ground, something that I thought I'd never see again.

"That's..." I saw it, the very thing that I have been wanting to find for the last three years. That spider IS." Nena, let's go!"

"Uh, right." Nena had shifted into Dark Hound, and I flew towards that murderer.

" Damn brats hold still so-Ach!" I kicked the spider IS in the back, and the kicked in into the wall. " Ichika, Tatenashi, go take care of the other one. This one all mine!" I then charged her with both of my heat swords, but she grabbed my swords with her extra legs, keeping us in a stalemate.

"So, you're Neo?" Autumn said with a smile under her IS mask.

" Don't think I've forgotten what you did! Because of you, my sister is dead! And now, I'll make you pay." And I intend to keep that to my heart. " That's a promise!"

" Oh calm down. Your sister got in the way. I was only there to track one person, Renowa Ichimaru."

" My mother? What did you want with her?"

" She's a scientist who worked with Tabane on creating and augmenting IS cores. We thought her expertise would help Phantom Task achieve our goals." She must be crazy if she thinks that my mother would cooperate with her daughter's murderer. But more importantly, me and mom are apparently gonna have a long talk.

" And why in hell would she ever cooperate with you?" I said.

"Why would I tell, you brat!" She tried to push me back, but my heat swords started to activate, cutting all of her extra legs of clean. "W-What did you do?!"

" Dark Hound's variable heat swords. The swords each contain a small internal heat generator, controlled by the pilot, allowing me to shift the amount of heat the swords use. The more heat that disperses, the more powerful the slash, and you just witnesses first hand the swords at full power."

"Tch." I then raised my sword in my right hand. Finally, after all these years, I can finally end her for Yumi's sake.

(Flashback, 3 years ago)

I was in the Yumi's hospital room, the day before her hospital check-up. She was laying in the bed. I was crying, even after my parents told me it was gonna be alright.

" Hey, it's okay big bro. Come on, smile for me." Yumi said in her hospital outfit.

" No, it's okay. I'm the reason that this happen to you, so how can you still be so cheerful about this?"

" Because, I have such a great brother beside me to pray for me."

I was shocked. I didn't know what to think at that point.

" You've always taken care of me, help me, made me laugh, so the least I can do is put on a big ol' smile for you when you've practically guided me through my life. Promise me, that you'll always smile. It's not cool of you to cry and frown like that."

" Alright, just promise that you'll be okay."

"I will, but you'll owe me big time when I come back." I then put my hand on Yumi's forehead.

" I'll hold you up to that."

(Flashback End)

"RRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" I swung downwards, only to have the sword blocked by another katana from a silver IS. "Agh, who are you?"

"Death." She, or in this case, he said as he kicked me away from the woman. She began to retreat, but Laura and the other were dealing with her..

" Another male pilot? That's not good."

" Yeah, but I can take him." I charged him with my swords, swinging and slashing. He was blocking and dodging. I decided to change things up. I took the swords in both hand and put them in reverse grip. I unleashed a combo of reverse slashes and roundhouse kicks, occasionally getting some hits in, but he's was simply too good. He managed to trip and disarm me. I was pressed against the ground, katana pointed at my throat, Death was looking at me through his mask.

" It's over, surrender your IS, and we'll leave quietly."

'As if I'm handing her over to the like of you.' I then opened up my leg panels and fired missiles, which passed Death completely.

"What did that accomplish?" He asked. A piece of ceiling came down on Death, only for him to slash it in half, which was more than enough time to aim my mega beam launcher in his face when he looked back and fired. It blasted both of us back, and the launcher was now busted. before I hit the wall, I was stopped by something. I look to see Miyako in Amaya.

" You okay?"

"Y-yeah. Now then, let's get him." We prepared to attack him, but then a few laser blast hit the round between us.

" Couldn't let you steal all the fun, Death. Let me have a go." That voice, it can't be. I look up into the ceiling and sure enough, was Yumi and her hydra-like IS. " Hi Neo, did you miss me?"

" Yumi." I started to tear up again.

" That's your sister?!"

" I believe that this is one of your friends, am I wrong?" She said as she held Charlotte by her collar, unconscious.

"Charlotte! Yumi, put her down, now!"

" Fine." She dropped Charlotte in midair.

"No!"

" I got her." Miyako had caught Charlotte and placed her with one of the school teachers.

" Aahh, isn't that cute. You've got a girlfriend." I knew what she was implying, especially since I now saw her pointing her rifle at Miyako and Charlotte. "I wonder what her screams sound like." She pulled the trigger, firing a yellow energy blast.

"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I boosted over to them, shielding Miyako and Charlotte from the blast."AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everything started to fade slowly, getting...blurry...can't..feel..

Neo was now unconscious. Everyone stopped fighting and saw.

"NEO!"

Yumi aimd her rifle again, intending to finish Miyako this time, until Yumi, Death, and Mirage received a message.

" Squall?... No. Just give me some more time. I'm almost-"

" Enough Mirage, we're going." Death said as he pulled back from fighting Ichika.

"Arrgh, fine. Autumn, M, time to wrap up here." Yumi and Death then flew out of the building, Autumn set her IS to self-destructe and escaped with M. Luckily Laura stopped the explosion with her AIC." Is everyone okay? Come one, let's get Neo to the infirmary."

"Right." Everyone rushed Neo to medical room to attend to his wounds.

Yumi was anger, no, anger wasn't the right word. Words couldn't describe how mad she was. She had one of her tail blaster pointed at Squall, who had Autumn point a gun at Yumi.

" You had better give me one damn good reason not to shoot you Squall. I thought you wanted me to capture Neo." Yumi said with extreme venom in her voice.

" Your objective was Byakushiki, Neo can wait for now.

"Tch Fine, so what's next?"

After that, the Phantom Task gang went to 'negotiate' with Tabane for some new IS's, but she refused. Autumn, Death and M tried to subdue her, but to no avail " Sorry Aki-kun. Madoka-chan, but you'll never beat me." She then looked at Yumi and Madoka. " Madoka, Yumi, I want to make an unique IS for the both of you. Please come with me."

Yumi whispered to Squall. " This is the famed Tabane Shinonono? Are you sure this isn't just some drunk little girl?"

" Unfortunately yes, bye now."

" Wait, What?" Tabane had grabbed Yumi and Madoka by their collars and jumped out the window " Hey, let me GGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOO-" Her screaming was drowned out as she was falling, only for the three to land in Tabane's signature metal carrot and to god only knows where.

(Thursday, 4:05 am, Chifuyu's office)

Chifuyu was troubled, not only because her school was unexpectedly attacked, but also one of her best students was now unconscious and wounded. Neo had broke his left wrist and hadn't woke up yet. Not to mention that now Phantom task has a male pilot with them. Dark Hound was in the maintenance bay, and some of the girls, especially Miyako, were in his room, worried about him. Tatenashi was transferred to Ichika room in Neo's place, and Neo was placed back in Miyako's room.

" Dammit, I heard Neo was impulsive, but I thought she was just kidding to scare me. I hope he wake up soon." She looks at the file of Neo's parents, and she found two things. Neo was actually adopted. She looked into this for the last three hours and she found out his true family, and when she found out, she almost dropped her tea and screamed. " Oh my god. Neo, we need to talk."

It was 7:35 am. Miyako, Rin, Tatenashi, and Kanzashi were in Neo's med-room with him. Kanzashi had cried herself asleep, so Tatenashi took her to her room.

"Ugh."

"!" Miyako and Rin surprised to hear something from him.

Everthing started to come back to me. The feeling of life, the softness of a bed, even the sudden aching pain in my wrist!" Where am I? Ouch! What happened to my wrist?"

" Neo!" Miyako then grabbed me and was hugging me really tight, and I mean REALLY tight. Imagine a bear hug, only worse.

"Mi..Yako...Can't breath." She then let go.

" Oh, sorry."

" Neo, I'm so glad your alright. Kanzashi was worried about you." Rin said.

"Where is she?"

" She cried herself to sleep, worried about you. I'm glad you're okay. I'll go tell the others, bye."

" Bye Rin" So Rin left the room. So much deja vu right now.

" So Miyako, are you okay?"

" I should be asking you that. Thank you Neo, you saved my life. I'm really glad I met you." She then kissed me on the lips, to which I returned the favor, until Ichika and Chifuyu walking in.

" Well, well, looks like someone is enjoying themselves." Oh crap, she saw us?

" M-Ms. Orimura! This isn't what it- I didn't..."

"Calm down, You're both a good couple so I'll let it slide. Ichika and I need to talk to Neo alone, can you go back to your room?" She's... smiling. Okay, who are you and what have you done with Chifuyu?

" Okay." Miyako then left, but not before Chifuyu whispered something in her ear. I didn't catch it, but I noticed her face flashing red before she left. Chifuyu then looked at me.

" So then, what's this about Ms. Orimura? About how reckless I was?"

" Yes, what the hell were you thinking? You could have been killed!"

" Now Chifuyu, calm down, he just wanted to protect his friends, just like me." Well, at least Ichika's here to help me out.

"That being said, I'm impressed. You've shown a lot more skill then when you first came here."

"Ummm, thanks. Anything else?"

"Yeah, I know the truth about your family." Oh course. I knew she would go into my files, so of course she would know I was adopted. I figured out I was adopted when I was 14, and my parents still don't realize I know. "Ichika, say hello to your new cousin." ( Mental crash.)

" WHAT?!" Both me and Ichika screamed. I'm... actually related to Ichika and Chifuyu? What? I- this is- Huh?

"Ichika, remember when I told you that our Aunt Sharia died?"

" Yeah, you said that her son was never fou- Oh." So, I'm Ichika and Chifuyu's cousin? I'm sorry, I'm still trying to comprehend this.

" Neo, that girl, she was your sister right?"

Dammit, why remind me? " Yeah, Yumi Ichimaru, my younger sister."

" Really? She looks like she's older than that." It's true. I noticed Yumi has changed so much. What has Phantom Task done to you, little sis?

" I need to go back to my room."

" Yeah, about that, I changed your room again. You'll be staying in room 1004."

" All right. By the way, how long am I gonna be wearing this cast on my wrist?"

" I'd say about 5 days, but I wouldn't move it for 8 days just to make sure."

" Fine. See ya later." Well, there goes my training plan. I then walked out to my new room, Room 1004.

Room 1004. I've heard rumors about that particular room. I heard that the two who live there are destined to cross paths again. Phh, I don't believe in rumors. I walked in and what I saw was just.. oh god. Miyako was in a maid outfit, right in front of me.

" Welcome back master, would you like to take a bath, have dinner, or maybe me?"

" M-Miyako?! Wh-What are you doing? This is just... unexpected.' Is my nose bleeding?' I feel my top lip. 'Yes it is.'

"Oh my god, it worked. Tatenashi told me that would happen if you liked it." Tatenashi. I'm going to have a talk with her. " So Neo, what do you think? Be honest."

" Well, if you want my honest, then I think it makes you look beautiful."

" Or perhaps you mean sexy?" She said with a seductive tone.

"Maybe. But, why are you wearing that anyways?"

She just hugged me really tight, again. " I just...wanted to make sure you were okay. I was worried so much about you, so I wanted to give you a surprise." She said in a sad voice.

' Man. I didn't mean to worry everyone this much. Ya know, without Nena talking in my head when I think, it feels awkward.'

" Alright, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to make sure that you and the others were safe."

" Neo." She then grabbed my right hand. " I want you to promise me that you'll be more careful."

"Heh, I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything." We both laughed.

"See? I told you that he would think that way." Amaya had appeared behind Miyako.

" Oh come on Amaya, you just don't like my attitude. By the way, How is Nena?"

" Bad. She's still being patched up, and even when Miyako and I visited, she was very silent." Dammit. Nena was hurt because of me. I have to help her, but for now, I should heal this wrist.

" Alright, that's all I need to know. There's one more thing, but I'll tell everyone tomorrow." I then got dress in my sleeping shorts and t-shirt. " Good night."

"Good night."

So I went to sleep wondering one question. Why would Yumi do this, and what changed her?

"WHAT?!" The eight girls yelled at me.

" I'm just as surprised as you guys, but that's the truth. I'm Ichika's cousin."

" Then she knows?" Charlotte asked.

" Yeah, she knows. Ms. World's Strongest doesn't scare me though." Everyone was looking at me with wide eyes. "What?" I then look behind me, because I suddenly felt a lot of anger coming from behind me, and wouldn't you be scared if Ms. Orimura was behind you, with a katana in her hands.

" Oh, really? Well then hotshot, let's test that theory. You have 5 seconds to run." She said as she got into her fighting stance.

' Oh. Dammit.'

I'm so tired right now. Thank God I got this out beforehand. So Plot twist, Neo is Ichika's cousin, what are the odds? The next chapter will start on a much more "Exciting" note. Until then see ya.