"Akaya-sama you are doing perfect!" praised his trainer as the black haired boy continued to block each and every target, jumping and twisting his body to near impossible angles. Akaya kept his eyes focused only on finishing the training.

"I think that's good enough for now, rest up" leaving the dojo the trainer closed the shoji doors leaving Akaya behind, standing in the middle of broken and torn targets of wood and paper.

"…damn it" falling to the ground not caring to wipe the sweat off himself, Akaya sat cross legged and pondered

"Who the hell was that guy!" biting his bottom lip as he always did when he was thinking, Akaya was pissed off just remembering. Who was that guy! Niou Masaharu and Marui Bunta, to call him a brat! To 'advice' him! Bullshit, no one had ever spoken to him in such a manner, it took most of his will power to not kill the two on the spot. Who gave a damn if they was a year older, or taller or students! They had no right to talk to him like that!

"Bastards!" in a flash the young heir had gotten from where he fell and kicked a hole into the tatami wall. Clenching his fists Akaya let his anger slip out and once more the calm face of Kirihara appeared.

"Akaya-sama! Are you alright!" voices of his personal guard as well as the family guards and kobun, came rushing yelling at the door, only to be silenced when the door slid open

"I'm fine"

"We heard a big bang are you sure Young Master?"

"I kicked a hole in the wall, fix it"

"SIR!" making his way out, instantly the room was filled with the subordinates.

"Akaya-sama are you sure you're alright?" Jackal asked once the door was closed and the two bodyguards were alone with their master.

"I said I was fine, I just lost control for a moment"

"…was it someone from school?" thick with seriousness, Jackal had to admit although he had been working with Yanagi for years, since they were only teens both abandoned by their families; he rarely heard just darkness in the other man's voice.

"It's none of your concern"

"No, Akaya it is"

"Don't make-"

"We were appointed as your personal guards and as your guard we need to protect you; even if you don't want it" Jackal spoke

"Then I'll-"

"That won't work, we were given our roles by your parents, Akaya, and only your parents can take it away" Yanagi said, when the black haired boy stopped walking the two men stood beside him

"…."

"It's the same with Yukimura-dono"

"Don't!" glaring up at the ever closed eyed man, emerald shone dark "don't you ever say that name near me! I don't give a fuck if my- parents gave him the role of my mentor, he abandoned that title long ago!" continuing his stride, Akaya headed off to his room.

"…we're sorry Yukimura-dono" Jackal expressed in a light murmur, a shadow moved from the outskirts of the garden and a man stood looking up with sad deep blue orbs

"No, I expected him to still hate me, it's only been one day"

"Give him some time, I'm sure he'll forgive you" Yanagi spoke as another shadow appeared behind the blue haired man,

"Listen to Renji, Yukimura-sama, they know Akaya better than we do now"

"It's not that easy I'm afraid, Sanada" glancing at the late thirty year old and ever faithful servant. Yukimura looked up at the young bodyguards "Yanagi, Jackal, watch over him will you"

"Of course" the two said in automatic unison, bowing they left to follow their master; leaving the assassin and his own personal guard alone in the dark of night.

"You didn't tell them again, Yukimura-sama"

"They don't need to know"

"…eventually they'll find out" giving a side glance at the taller man, Yukimura smiled coolly and perfect; just as the wind picked up- twisting his face into the mask that was always the last thing his victims would see in this world.

"Until then, I want to watch Akaya…I don't want to hurt him anymore than I already have"

"Yes, of course"

The next day the sun shone brightly on Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku as the mass of students came filling in before the morning bell tolled, a bob of cherry red and bleached blue came into focus

"Damn it"

"What's up? Bad dream?"

"No, I just remembered I have a test"

"Knowing you, you'll probably fake the teacher into giving you an extra day of studying or something"

"Now now Marui, it's like you don't know me at all" smirking at the smaller boy, Niou walked off with his hands in his pockets, bag over his left shoulder and a stride in his step.

"Right…" blowing another green bubble, suddenly the squealing of girls came into his ear shot and the ever curious Marui turned to see what the commotion was only to see a storming boy with wild black hair, trying to speed walk away from the ever growing crowd of giggling girls

"Hah no way, it's the Kirihara brat" with amusement, the second year watched as the boy turned and glared at the girls, them cowering in fear, him turning back around and entering the school, them following with smiles and gossip on their lips.

"Second day of school and he's the most popular guy here" just then the bell began to ring and Marui cursed, running along within the mob of teens not wanting to be late.

During the beginning of the day, classes in all three years went without a hitch. It was the same boring lectures, tests, quizzes, teachers and classmates but unlike most days Marui was given the simple task of delivering papers to the front office for his substitute teacher, which meant he was allowed to wander the empty hallways of Rikkai; which might have been the reason he was currently standing at the open window of a first year class presently doing a history quiz.

But what kept Marui sating was not the class or teacher, but one student he recognized; a small pale boy with wild black hair.

"Damn why do I keep seeing him everywhere" a light murmur on his lips, as violet eyes watched the boy finish his paper before everyone else; earning an incredulous look from the teacher

"Are you done Kirihara?"

"What else does it look like"

"I'll have none of that-!" just as the teacher was about to scold the boy, she looked at the quiz once more checking each question over again, not believing her eyes. They were all right.

"I-Impossible!"

"Told you" leaning back in his chair, his green eyes gleaming with superiority, black hair bobbing with the turn of his head; Akaya caught the attention of the entire class and drew them from their own work. His voice radiating with arrogance "this quiz is a remedial joke"

"Kirihara- you are new to this school and it may be your second day here but let me tell you now, I'll have none of your backtalk do you hear me!" pointing her finger at the much younger boy who in turn, opened his mouth a response on the tip of his tongue but closed it right after, having thinking over it.

"Whatever"

Turning on her heel the teacher glared at the class, getting them back to the quiz when her eyes caught a bob of red at the window

"Marui Bunta! What are you doing here!"

"H-huh! Uh I- was" raising his hand with the papers, the teacher saw but didn't seem to care or bother to notice for she just dismissed him

"Never mind! Get going!" heading back to her seat, Marui bowed and turned on his heels heading down the hall when for an instant his sharp eyesight caught a pair of emerald green that for a heartbeat turned a shade lighter the moment violet met with peridot.

And then it was gone.

"It was weird, I mean the guy is like trying to get kicked out of Rikkai"

"Why do you care so much Marui? He's just some rich ass brat with an ego problem"

"I don't know…" blowing on his green bubble, Marui couldn't figure out why each time he turned he would see that Kirihara kid, and when he did he couldn't get the boy out of his head. What was so damn important about the brat anyway!

"Get back to your candy fatty"

"I'm not fat you bastard- hey! where are you going?"

"Bathroom, you want to come and watch?"

"Sick pervert, who'd want to watch you take your pants off" making a face, Marui continued to eat his self-made lunch of candy, cake and sweets.

"Heh you'd be surprised I have quite a-"

"Gah! Shut up I don't need to hear anymore! Go away Niou!" aiming to throw his shoe at the blue haired teen, Niou ran off towards the bathroom.

"That guy's so sensitive and I was just going to say I have quite a new pair of boxers humph oh well" shrugging his shoulders, Niou played with his tail, not paying attention to the route he was taking or to which restroom he was heading for when…

"So you think you're all that huh"

"Think you can just come to our school and get the attention of our women?" huddled in the corner of the school wall far from wandering eyes or ears, a group of boy's second, third and a few first years ganging up on one.

"Talking back to the teachers as if you're some kind of important guy- you really piss me off Kirihara!"

"Do you think I give a fuck if I piss you off!" the boy yelled back pushing the older boy off his shirt, a glare on his face

"You!"

"Come on! All of you pathetic worms I'll take-urgh!!" before Akaya could get into his stance one of the guys attacked him from behind hitting the back of his head with the toes of their foot, falling to his knees Akaya was picked up by his hair

"We'll show you whose school this-!" cutting him off Akaya spat into the teens face, earning him a kick into the stomach sending him into a coughing fit.

"Fuck you disgusting pig!" nodding to the others all of them aimed their fists and legs onto any open body part they could see on Akaya when…..

Niou Masaharu decided to step forward.