I present to you Chapter Five, dear readers. A new character is introduced! However you might be able to guess by the chapter name...

Chapter Five: The Masked Hero

Hayasaka kicked the squire on the floor. 'The three of you ganging up on me is bad enough, but is that all you can do?' he spat, turning around and walking back into the castle. Lessons were about to begin and he made his way to the classroom, only to find a scroll lying on his chair. He picked it up, rolling it out. "Meet me in the back courtyard after the afternoon lessons." It's a challenge letter, his eyes narrowed. Defeating three squires is not that large a feat. I must get stronger! He stuffed it in one of his pockets. He stiffened. This aura…this killing intent…it could only be…

'Hayasaka!' Mafuyu Kurosaki sailed through the air, running to embrace her comrade.

He instinctively dodged the woman. Did she want to attack me from behind? No, I still don't know her strength. Her aura is so intimidating, but she passed out by merely tripping on a person. What a strange girl…

'Hey, what happened to your face?' she asked, referring to the cuts and bruises on his skin. 'Oh no! Did Ta…I mean, Advisor Saeki beat you after you left with me yesterday? Is it my fault?'

'What?' Hayasaka stared at her. 'NO! An Advisor wouldn't beat the hell out of a squire! I mean, I don't know about Saeki but…I just got into a fight.'

'Your poor, damaged above-average face,' Mafuyu sobbed. 'How unfortunate.'

'Unfortunate? You're the one who has a super average face.'

Mafuyu jumped at him. 'Ah? Then what would be your type of face? I want to know! Tell me!'

Hayasaka pushed her off. 'Don't cling to me! Well, the ladies always talk about it, so I guess the Prince? I've only seen him a few times here and there in the Palace, though.'

'The…the Prince?' Mafuyu looked at him with awe. She had forgotten, but the Crown Prince lived in the Palace. 'I hope I can meet him one day.'

Hayasaka shrugged. 'You never know.'

They were sitting quietly in class, staring at the History tutor as they scribbled down notes.

'Hey, Hayasaka,' Mafuyu hissed. 'What's the Prince like?'

'Why are you so interested?' Hayasaka asked, writing down his notes.

She stared at him intently. His book was filled with notes from every subject, neatly organised with bookmarks and all the important points underlined. His movements were smooth and his quill was in great shape – unlike hers, which she always had to change due to her always breaking it. It was like that in her old town too. She and her friends always used to doodle in their books and break their quills. In fact, they used their quills for everything other than writing, like backscratchers, ear cleaners...and so on. He's a delinquent, but he's not. It's weird…was he brought up well? What a strange guy, she though.

'Lady Kurosaki,' Takaomi called during morning break.

'Yes,' she answered. He came up to her and shoved a bag into her hands. It was heavy…very heavy.

'Carry this to the armoury,' he said, and then leaned down. 'Hey, I think I forgot my robes and my sandals at your place yesterday,' he whispered.

'Yes, I think you did. By the way, where's the armoury?'

'You don't know?' he pursed his lips. 'Fine then. HEY, HAYASAKA!' he yelled. 'Show her around school.'

Mafuyu's face brightened and Hayasaka glared. 'No way,' he said, walking away.

Takaomi cleared his throat. 'Shall I tell everyone about…that incident?' That sent Hayasaka running over to Takaomi and grabbing his robes.

'I'll do it, please let me do it!' he begged. 'Just don't tell anyone.'

'You're a great guy,' Takaomi smiled and shared a look with a confused Mafuyu. 'Don't worry about it. And don't be late for class!'

Hayasaka came up to her and extended a hand. 'Give it to me.'

Mafuyu looked at him. 'A tip? Sorry, but I'm poor right now. I can't afford it.'

'You airhead!' Hayasaka banged her on the head. 'I meant, give me the bag you're carrying. I shouldn't have to say it…'

This is truly a dream… Mafuyu sniffed. Someone is offering to carry my stuff for me!

'What kind of life have you been living?' Hayasaka sighed, taking the bag. Instantly, his knees buckled but he managed to continue walking. How the hell was she able to carry this? Scary!

They reached the Palace armoury and Hayasaka dumped the bag on the floor. Mafuyu looked around her at the room that was filled with swords, shields and knight's armour. She breathed in deeply. Ah, reminds me of the good old days…her eyes met with something light coloured. She reached over and plucked it out from a pile of discarded armour. What's this? A ceramic…rabbit mask? She turned it over. It had a string attached to the back so that it could be worn. What is this? A stage prop?

Something fluttered to the ground when Hayasaka straightened his crinkled tunic. Mafuyu picked it up. 'A challenge letter? Hayasaka! Are you still fighting with people?'

'Oh, I dropped it,' he took it back. 'Of course I am. In the back courtyard after lessons.'

'Hayasaka,' Mafuyu pressed her lips together. 'Please, you really should stop fighting. Always getting hurt and beaten…it isn't good for you and nothing will come out of it.'

Hayasaka leaned back, his eyes looking into the distance. 'Don't you ever feel like you don't understand yourself?'

'Uh…not really…'

'Well, when I fight, I feel…at ease. It's like all my worries just melt away. Even if it's a short amount of time, I can forget all the bad things in life.'

'You mean…like alcohol?'

He glared at her, walking away. 'It's my mental support, so just…leave me alone, okay?'

But fighting isn't the answer, Mafuyu thought as he left. This place…the Palace and your training lessons are a place where you play with your friends, where you chase young love and compete in tournaments, where there's joy and laughter and so many positive things! Violence won't solve anything. I know by experience, she clenched the mask in her hand. If fighting without cause is your support, then that's too lonely. A normal life is so much better! Why don't you get it?

Hayasaka landed another punch. Seven people! This is too much for me to handle. There's still four more. Maybe I can…he groaned ad someone landed a hit on the back of his head. He collapsed to his knees as the squire raised his leg to kick. So this is how it ends, huh…? Hayasaka screwed his eyes shut, bracing himself. He had no more energy left.

Whack! The squire fell down, grabbing his head. Wait…is that…a shoe?

'You rapscallion!' a high-pitched, female voice shouted. 'Seven against one? Where's your honour?'

Hayasaka's mouth dropped open as he looked up to see a girl standing on the roof of a shed. That light brown gown…the red embroidery…the white ruffles…

'Fighting is bad,' she continued. 'I will not forgive bad things.'

'You…' he gaped for there stood a girl…in a Palace Lady's uniform…

Wearing a ceramic rabbit mask.

'Who the hell are you?'

'The greatest ally to justice, Lady Bunny-man, at your service!' she squeaked. 'Here I go!' she jumped off the roof, landing perfectly on the ground. 'Now, will you kindly return that boy to me?'

The squires who were attacking took a step back, staring at Hayasaka. One of them pointed. 'He knows that freakish thing?'

'No I don't!' Hayasaka yelled, scrambling away.

The masked girl raised a hand…and punched one of the squires square in the jaw. He went flying. She turned to the rest, her lifeless eyes staring.

'No, don't come closer!' they begged, running. It was all a blur after that. Hayasaka kept on flinching after every kick, punch and elbow hit their targets. Soon, the ground was littered with groaning boys. She turned to him but before he could get up and run, she crouched down and placed a hand on his head. 'Did anything change after you fought?'

He swallowed and batted her hand, looking away.

'You don't enjoy fighting, do you?' she continued. She wanted to reach him not with brute force, but with her words. 'It's not manly or cool to fight against many people, even if you do win. It's worthless. You're great the way you are. When you fight, it only hurts yourself. You must have other hobbies, right? Why don't you aim for something grand and worth achieving?'

He blinked. 'Like what?'

'Uh…' the girl scratched her brown hair. 'Like becoming the king! Anyway, I must leave now! Um, just stop fighting!' she blurted, scrambling to her feet and scurrying away. Hayasaka chuckled.

'King? Well, that sure is grand. How can a commoner become King?' he laughed. 'One girl defeated four second year squires. Amazing…she even called them rapscallions. Hah! Worthless fights?' Hayasaka shrugged. 'I guess she has a point.'

Mafuyu walked into the classroom the next day, only to find Hayasaka looking out the window. She licked her lips nervously. Did he realise Lady Bunny-man is me? Oh no, what if he's mad? 'Hey…good morning.'

'Kurosaki, I think I'll stop looking for fights,' he muttered. Mafuyu smiled. 'Yeah. This day onwards, I'll only fight when my enemies come at me themselves.'

Her eye twitched. So he will still fight? Oh well, at least it's one step ahead!

'I met a very strange girl in a rabbit mask yesterday, you know,' he said dreamily. 'I wonder who that was.'

'I…I don't know, of course,' Mafuyu stammered. So he didn't realise…but why is he acting so weird?

'I hope I can meet her again,' he said, a slight red tinging his cheeks.

Mafuyu cringed. That look…is like a girl in love, Hayasaka!

'Advisor Saeki,' the man dressed in silk robes picked up the gold plated quill. 'Are you sure about these conditions?'

The man before him nodded. 'Of course, your majesty.' He smiled. 'For a long time, gambling has been my specialty.'

'Hold on,' the King stood up, the guards at his door instantly stiffening. He gestured at them to relax. 'No, I think I should change the conditions. This is…'

'If you win this…very dangerous bet…you will benefit by much, your majesty,' Advisor Saeki said. 'I need only nothing…or everything.'

The King sat down, signing the scroll in front of him and sealing it. 'Very well, then. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into, I'm happy to play by tis bet of yours.'

Advisor Saeki bowed deeply and left the room. The second he was out, a cunning smile spread on his lips. 'And so the game begins.'

And so we start to move on to the actual storyline. I had to name Usa-chan-man as Lady Bunny-man due to the fact that this fanfiction is not in Japan, and besides the names of the characters, nothing else (except for a certain 'ninja' in the future) is supposed to be Japanese. Please, if anyone has a better name, inform me in your reviews! Although I hope Lady Bunny-man is satisfactory. :)