"N-Niou what the hell are you doing here!"

"What's it look like? I'm here to use the toilet" without so much as a glance at the black haired boy on the ground, the blue haired teen turned and began to undo his pants when he was rudely interrupted

"Um couldn't you have done that some where else?"

"Hmm I could have but then I'd probably pass Yoshizawa's office and then she'd ask me why I was at her place, then I'd have to tell her the first thing I remember"

"…"

"That little tidbit I'm sure isn't my going to the bathroom but the people who told me to use another restroom"

"…"

"Or you know" turning around to face the group of guys, Niou gave them one of his most terrorizing smiles that instantly showered the group in pain of the beat down they were going to get or the fear they would live through when Niou was 'playing' with them. "I could just kick you're asses here and now"

"You don't scare us! Niou Masaharu"

"Yeah! Just cause you're renown as the Trickster of Rikkai doesn't mean we have anything to fear from you!"

"Yeah! You're just a prankster!" continuously one after another, voice after voice of 'yeah' or 'we're not afraid of you' kept being yelled throughout the small restroom; echoing against the metal walls.

"Sigh, you asked for it" without a second notice the blue haired second year twisted and punched, kicked and flipped any and all the guys who stood in his way, easily avoiding their own attacks Niou slipped past their throws and curses; weaving his way through the crowd until he was standing over the black haired boy.

Grabbing him by the waist, Niou pulled Akaya up and turned "stay close-" but before he could finish his sentence a blur of black and green was all he saw before the remainder of the male students fell to the restroom floor.

"Damn didn't know you were a fighter"

"…I didn't need your help" without facing him, Akaya cleaned off his hands of the nonexistent dirt

"I wasn't expecting a thanks" stepping over the bodies of the students Niou went to the latrine and finally used the bathroom, much better

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Hmm you say something" smirk laced throughout his voice Niou watched the boy in the mirror, although it was quite a shock to see the spoiled brat flustered for once, being Niou and all he just had to tease him.

"Your way of fighting, where did you learn it?"

"From a friend" the blue haired boy said above the running of the water as he ran his hands under

"Who…"

"Why? You're strong enough from what I could tell" when it took him about six minutes to take out 12 guys, it took the latter ten seconds to take out six guys.

"…I want to get better" still with his back to the other teen, Akaya did well to hide his grim face

"Why?"

"Does it matter!" finally turning to look up at the second year, emerald clashed with icy blue. "Are you going to tell me?"

"Do I hear a please?" before Niou could even smirk, the boy bowed his head

"Please tell me…" to say he was flabbergasted to silence was an understatement, first it was a flustered kid he just saved now it's a bowing well tamed boy? Where was the arrogant brat who annoyed the hell out of him?

"It was my friend, Marui"

"…!"

"Yeah, he's actually the captain of the martial arts team in Rikkai, if you want to get better ask him" tucking his hands in his pockets, Niou cast his eyes down at the bodies of unconscious males and scoffed

"Though I still don't see why you need to get any better"

"That's none-"

"Of my concern? it is now"

"…" stepping closer to the boy until they were only an inch from each other, Niou watched as emerald eyes momentarily turn a shade lighter and without words Niou shook his head, bright blue locks shaking along as he placed a gentle hand on top of wild black curls.

Turning to leave the silent room, the seventeen year old could have sworn he felt for a moment an emotion he recognized instantly.

During the remainder of school that day, Akaya asked around trying to find all he could about the martial arts club, where and when they met.

"I think they meet in the dojo behind the tennis courts" with a nod of his head Akaya left without so much as a thank you he earned a scoff from the student he had asked; had he cared.

The black haired boy quickly exited the school grounds and pasted the courts, watching as the tennis team played; Akaya continued along the fence until he saw the corner of the dojo.

Making his way into the building, sliding the familiar shoji door the first year was silenced by the scene before him, a flash of pinkish red hair and white clothes ran across the room with a dozen men after him, circling the redhead in a heart beat the men lay crumbled on the floor.

"Alright get up! Class is over" a disembodied reply of "yes, sir" came as the room emptied leaving the second year and freshman at the door.

"Try outs are over, try another club or next year"

"I'm not here to join the club" turning to look at the person at the door, Marui's violet eyes widened

"Kirihara!"

"Yes"

"I wasn't excepting you this early!"

"What?"

"Niou told me about the incident in the bathroom"

"…."

"From what he tells me you're a really talented martial artist yourself"

"I'm the best"

"Really? Then how about we make a deal"

"…"

"We have a little match, I win you tell me why you want more training"

"And if I win?" emerald eyes gleaming against bright violet

"I'll train you personally without question" leaving the door frame, the first year took out his hand shaking in agreement. With a nod the black haired boy untied his tie and took off his shoes as Marui took his form; they waited…

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two….

One! In a flash of light without sound black clashed against red, back and forth dodging and attacking the two fought. Aiming a right punch at his head, he was knocked off his feet by a whirl of his legs, jumping back in the air he ran up to him and aimed a left hook at his stomach but was caught by a back flip and a kick to his chest sending him to the floor.

Over and over again on the floor or in the air the two battled and fought, punches aimed to hurt cut the cloth and the skin, the smell of sweat and blood filled the tatami walls and before long….it was done.

Two bodies, cut and bruised lay on the floor breathing, gasping.

"D-damn it! I can't believe you beat me!"

"You were t-tougher than I thought"

"Thanks" Marui couldn't believe he lost! From what Niou had told him he thought the kid was good but not great or anything, sure as hell he was proven wrong. "Guess we can start your training tomorrow, after school k?"

"…yeah sure" getting up from where they laid, the redhead took out his hand with a smile

"As I said I'm not going to ask questions why you want more training even though you beat me"

"…"

"But be prepared to sweat and bleed tomorrow, I'm not going easy on you just cause you're a freshman"

"I wouldn't ask for your help if I didn't think you'd push me"

"Good answer Kirihara" with a nod the two broke apart and the day was over.

"What took you so long! We thought-"

"Tomorrow I'm staying after school, I'll be back around 5" Akaya spoke to his personal guard as they in turn looked shocked

"Stay after for what?"

"None of your business"

"Akaya-sama-"

"I said leave me, I've made up my mind I'm staying after everyday"

"…." closing the door to his room, Yanagi and Jackal were left to ponder about their Young Master.

"What do you think he's staying after for?"

"His hair looked disheveled and dry, like he had exercised and then air dried himself"

"He smelled of sweat as well, do you think he's been training?"

"With who? And for what reason? He gets all his training here…." Yanagi spoke deep in thought as the two men stood outside the boy's room.

"I don't think Akaya would give anyone reason to believe who he really is"

"Me neither, Akaya's stubborn but not stupid"

"It couldn't be because of Yukimura-dono could it?"

"No…I don't think so…"

"Should we tell Kirihara Suou-sama?" Jackal's grey-blue eyes looked over to the light brown eyed man

"No, Akaya purposely didn't tell his grandfather so neither should we"

"Right" and that was the end of it.

Sitting on the edge of his king size bed, filling the room so it didn't look so barren, long gone were the treasures and gifts given to him years ago. Akaya filled his room with his bed, wardrobe and swords. And one small picture laying on its back on his table side, of a family of four.

A man with bright blue eyes and wild curly black hair, holding onto a smaller woman whose vibrant green orbs caught the attention of many surrounded by long flowing locks of straight black. There stood beside them a little girl with her mothers straight hair, short and cropped but did little to hide her fathers eyes on her pale beautiful face. All of them smiled and glowed around the last of their family; an enfant in his mother's arms, bright green eyes like his mother and wild black hair like his father.

Akaya picked up the picture and let a smile creep onto his face, ghost like and faint.

Gently setting the picture down, the boy got up and stood by his window out looking the garden as the kobun trained under the families saiko-komon; the boy let his mind wander to the school day.

First it was this Niou who surprised him and then it was his friend Marui who surprised him further. He would have never thought the redhead of all people was the captain of the martial arts club.

"He's not as strong as any of the kobun but he's something else, Marui Bunta and Niou Masaharu" even if the redhead lost to him, something about the older boy made him want to learn more, his fighting technique was different but with Akaya's skills he was sure he could turn those attacks that were aimed to hurt and mold them so they would kill.

Tomorrow might be the start of something interesting.