-"ex!"

"lex!"

"ALEX!"

"Huh? What?", I woke up and found Casper by my bed. "What is it?"

"Your cell phone rang three times", he said tiredly.

"Sorry."

I picked up my phone to see who had called me three times. It was only 2 am for crying out loud! I sighed as I saw the caller id.

"Might as well call her back."

I dialed the number for the only person who would call me at 2 am. It rang a few times and I almost fell asleep waiting.

"Hello?"

"What are you doing calling me so late?"

"Time zones stupid."

"I understand. But isn't there a time when it's good for both of us?"

". . .I just realized, you never said 'hello'."

"What do you want?", I asked again. I thought about hanging up.

"I just wanted to tell you I'll be visiting Japan soon."

"This couldn't wait?"

"No. The last time you said I didn't warn you."

"That's because you dragged me from my bed at 5 am and put me on the next flight to the Chinese Federation."

"Sometimes you're such a lightweight. See you later."

And then she hung up. It has now come to me, during this ungodly hour, that I have not told you my friend's name. Her name is Cassandra Kilduf. I've known her since I was 5, when I lived in New Britannia.

But she wouldn't stay there. She would go away to live with her parents every few months. Cassandra lived a legal guardian. She told me her parents were extremely busy. I'd tell you more, but I've got class in a few hours and I need to get some sleep.

- - -

"I heard you have a date with my sister", Leonardo said.

"What?"

Leonardo caught me in my pre-class nap. The teacher hadn't arrived yet.

"Lea told me about you guys meeting this weekend."

"Yeah. She wanted to work together because our assignments are related."

"I'll say this once Alex. You may be my friend, but touch my sister and I'll break your neck", he said darkly.

I gulped, because I knew he was serious. He always beat me in the virtual reality combat games at the arcade. I once asked if he killed a man. He didn't answer me.

"I swear upon my neck, that I won't make a move on your sister."

"Leo, isn't it a little early to be bullying Alex?", Jun said coming to my rescue.

"It's never too early for that", Leonardo answered.

"Jun, did you get anything from your grandparents for the project?", I asked.

"A little. My grandma told me our ancestor's name was Kaguya Sumeragi, and she was Kururugi's cousin. She was part of the Black Knights, but didn't do anything major."

"Having a Black Knight as an ancestor. That should spice up the report", Ivana said coming from behind me.

"You'd think, but my family doesn't talk about her or Kururugi much", Jun said.

"Oh, before I forget. My friend Cassandra is coming to visit", I said.

"Isn't she the one that sent you to the Chinese Federation against your will?", Leonardo asked.

"Yeah."

"And had you make 10 pizzas at once, then ate them all herself?", Jun asked.

"Yes."

"And is this the same friend that made you sneak into a movie just to see the previews?", Ivana asked.

"Yes, yes, yes!", I yelled agitated. I was well aware of what Cassandra did.

"It'll be nice to finally meet her", Jun said.

"On a less related topic, did anyone ask Marie for passes?", I asked.

"No, but I haven't seen Lea. Maybe she's asking", Ivana said.

"No. She told me she was at a swim team meeting this morning", Leonardo answered.

At that moment Leandra ran into the classroom, panting. Did they actually swim this morning? She caught her breath and looked at us with a smile.

"Guess what I've been doing?"

"What is it?", Leonardo asked.

"I went to Marie after the meeting, and asked her for passes. She said she would give us some on one condition", Leandra's face turned down.

"What's wrong? It can't be that bad", I said.

"Sh-she said she wanted Vince to be her personal slave for a week", she answered.

Ivana snickered. "Well if that's all-"

"What do you mean 'if that's all'?!", I yelled. "Giving Vince away like that is like selling our souls to the devil."

"Besides", Jun added. "How are we going to get Vincent to go along with it?"

"You and Alex would be right Jun", Leonardo said. "But you're forgetting one thing."

- -After School- -

"Vincent Ververs, personal slave, at your service!", the blue haired energy ball exclaimed.

"I can't believe he's actually into it", I said.

"Vince, are you really okay with this?", Jun asked.

"Totally!"

Right now Jun, Vincent, and I were at the Student Council meeting room. Ivana dragged Vincent in here without telling him anything. So Jun and I had to explain things to him. Apparently he's all for it.

Marie looked at us with sharp green eyes. Her hair was a sandy blonde, and she always wore it in one ponytail. The way she looked at us reminded me of Ivana's grey eyes. It was a little intimidating.

Kasumi just stood there quietly. I tried to focus on her ice blue eyes. They were always gentle. She had black hair that went straight to her hips. Sometimes she wore it in a braid. Today it was just straight out.

"So, what are you gonna have me do?", Vincent asked. "Do your laundry, shop for your underwear, or maybe-"

"Stop!", Marie threw a book in his face.

"M-Marie", Kasumi tried to calm her down.

"Enough you pervert. I've got other things for you to do."

"Like what?", Vincent asked.

"Go grocery shopping for the festival, buy the material for everyone's costumes, preparing snacks for the meetings-"

"Wait a second Marie! Is there anything that isn't going to break his spirit?", I asked.

"Well he's also going to be my assisstant. He'll carry my books, coordinate my schedule, babysit Kasumi's siblings,-"

"I said NOT break his spirit."

Marie smirked. "Any kind of work done long enough will either break your spirit, or make you stronger!"

I put a hand on Vincent's shoulder to comfort him. "Sorry about this Vince."

He gave me a thumbs up. "No prob! I'll come out this a better man or dead!"

"At least he's optimistic", Jun said.

Kasumi walked up to us. "Here you go."

She handed us passes for everyone. I wondered if it was really worth it to give up one of my friends to the green eyed devil. Jun and I left to go give everyone theirs. Afterwards Jun left for kendo practice.

I didn't have any chess club today, so I decided to go to the school's library. I should find at least one book on vi Britannia. I went to the computer and typed in his name. You won't believe how many books came up.

And it wasn't just books. There were movies, song files, video clips, and voice recordings. I put on the headphones and listened to one.

'Voice recording of Zero. Dated 2017 in the Imperial Calendar.'

"People of the world, fear us and seek us out. We are the Order of the Black Knights. We Black Knights are allies of all those who are unarmed! Be they Elevens or Britannians! The cowardly Japan Liberation Front took Britannian civillians as hostages, and murdered them cruelly. It was a meaningless act. And thus I punished them."

As I listened, I got a better picture of the type of man vi Britannia was, or Zero, or-it's too confusing!

"The only ones who can shoot, are those prepared to be shot by others!"

I took the headphones off and turned off the recording. This guy was realling influential. I was starting to believe his words. I probably shouldn't be listening to them anymore. I chose one of the books from the list and it told me which aisle it was in.

I got it and started reading. It was a short biography of Zero written by someone named David Reid. Why did that name sound familiar?

- - -

Okay, so I didn't get to Lea and Alex's study date. I didn't expect this chapter to be so long.

But the next chapter I'll have those two go to the Delaney Archives and then they'll have their strange encounter.