Kara, Gray, and Julius stood just outside the doorway each with a skeptical look on their face. This wasn't normal, not even the slightest bit so. Kara looked between the two taller men before she let her gaze drift back over the sight that had them stunned in place for the past ten minutes. Nightmare sat behind his desk, humming happily as he did his work. They watched confused as he stopped and pulled something out of a drawer then stared with wide eyes as he did what Kara had shown him on her first day there and took his medicine, shuddered afterwards, then went back to work enthusiastically.

The shocked girl pulled the two down and into the kitchen. She sent the two a look as she crossed her arms, "He's up to something."

"I agree," Julius nodded as Gray was still too confused by his boss' sudden change in behavior to speak.

Kara looked between the two and thought out loud, "But what is he scheming?"

"Who are we talking about?" came a loud excited voice behind Kara.

She screamed out in shock as she jumped away from the strange person behind her. Julius sighed as Kara studied this new role holder who seemed to always be happy. His red jacket brought out his equally red eyes that contrasted with his brown hair. She noticed the sword that his hand rested gently on and took another step back. Already she didn't trust him or his smile that sent off alarm bells in her head and the word 'DANGER' flashed bright red through her mind.

"You're new. Do you have a heart too? I wanna hear it," he took a step closer as Kara backed into Julius. "Awe Julius, you're not sharing?"

He went to grab for Kara when she was yanked away from the knight's touchy hands while Gray and Julius both glared at him, "Ace, you idiot. Don't scare Kara."

She stared at the new man with apprehension in her sky blue eyes. Ace watched her with a smile but she had seen the flash that passed through his guarded eyes and took another step back. Couldn't they do anything to keep him away? She was about to say something when Ace had appeared in front of her and latched onto her wrist then laughed as she jumped, "C'mon Kara, let's go camping!" She whimpered already knowing to fear his fake smile and happy eyes as she watched them harden the slightest bit and his other hand on still on his sword. She tried to pull her arm free but his iron grasp wouldn't give an inch.

Suddenly, she was pulled back into a warm firm chest as a pair of arms wrapped around her stomach. Her eyes widened when she noticed Gray and Julius had their weapons pointed at Ace who smiled at the threat. She looked over her shoulder to see Nightmare glare at Ace with hate. The close proximity made Kara take note that the incubus that held her was more built than she had thought. She tried to move but as the arms squeezed tighter, the sound of ticking filled her ears. The sound of metal on metal brought her back to reality to see Ace's sword bear down on Gray's daggers. Her eyes widened as fear rushed her veins when Gray dodged a hit that would've took his head off. She didn't want any of her friends in the tower to get hurt and wondered who exactly this insane knight was.

Her blood froze as Gray took a small cut and looked between Nightmare and Julius, who stood there and did nothing but watch the fight. She hated it when anyone fought especially for no reason other than for fun, that's what she gathered from the look on Ace's face and the fact he had started to laugh and egg Gray on more. Someone needed to do something. How could these other two men stand there and do nothing? She knew that when someone died here, their clock went to Julius and when it was fixed someone would take the place of the one that died. But it wouldn't be the same person. Not the same memories or emotions. She couldn't lose her friends that were as close as family now.

Kara watched in pain until she felt the arms around her loosen up until she was let go. A plan formed quickly as the two continued to fight. She hated violence but didn't see another option. Thankfully, she was right next to the counter and drawers that held what she needed and backed up until she leant against the one she needed. No one took notice as she quietly slid the drawer open behind her and let her hands grasp several handles. She just hoped this would work and not come back to bite her in the ass afterwards.

Everything seemed to stop as a large kitchen knife flew by Ace's head and embedded itself deeply in the wall behind him. They watched as a small cut appeared across his cheek then began to bleed. Several pairs of eyes looked to where the weapon came from to see Kara with a few more. Her eyes narrowed on the knight as she readied another one, "Don't you dare hurt my friends," she hissed, muscles tensed for a fight. Gray had backed away while the Ace touched his cheek in shock and pulled his hand back to see the blood there.

Julius blinked when Ace seemed to be confused as to what he should do next while Nightmare stared at the still panting and glaring girl. Her thoughts were unguarded while she watched the red knight. Ace was a threat to her and her friends. She had to protect them. They've protected her and she didn't want to lose any of them.

Her blue eyes flicked around while she watched the knave, already knowing his moves by now after she witnessed his fight with Gray. Ace grinned brightly about to move when she threw another knife. He laughed as he deflected it, only for his eyes to widen when he felt something sharp cut through his skin and look over to see another knife in his shoulder. Nightmare stared down at the black haired girl who watched the knight while she grabbed more knives and moved away from the drawer. Julius looked at the incubus with equally stunned thoughts.

None of them thought she would be able or want to fight. But she proved them wrong when Ace pulled the knife out and threw it back at the tensed girl. She ducked to dodge the knife as the inhabitants of the Clock Tower called out in alarm when the knave ran for her. Kara just sighed, already five steps planned ahead of him as she moved and let the sword slam into the ground and get stuck. She moved behind him and with her free hand, jabbed her pointed fingers into his kidney and twisted. He tried to move when she did the same thing to his other kidney and pinched a nerve to where he couldn't move and could only gasp for air, unable to talk. She kicked him in the bend of his knees and hid the knives ready as he hit the floor, using them to pin him to the ground.

He watched her with wide eyes, all hints of the crazed look gone, while he wondered what had happened. She looked down at him with cold blue eyes, "Don't ever try to bother me or hurt my friends again Ace." He stared up at her as she reached down and released the nerve to where he could start to get feeling back. "Do you understand me?" He tried to chuckle but she put her foot lightly on his throat until he nodded with a grimace. She nodded back and pulled all of the knives back, collected the one in the wall and on the floor, then deposited them in the sink to be cleaned and sharpened. With all eyes on her as she made her way to leave the kitchen, she turned back and gave the man who was slowly sitting up a warning look, "I'm a trained tactician. I know what you're going to say. No Ace, I won't fight you any time."

With that, she left the quiet room as Gray looked at Nightmare, "Did you know she was?"

Nightmare shook his head as they watched Ace groan while he slowly walked away. "No, but her thoughts are always guarded. There's one thing I'm worried about."

"The other role holders?" Julius asked as they relaxed.

Nightmare shook his head, "If Kara, Tirn, and Rin get angry and join together, all of the role holders will be in trouble. Rin is a weapons expert, Tirn is stronger than normal, and Kara seems to be a genius at planning. If any of us make them angry, they could most likely kill any of us." Gray paused as they all realized the truth until Nightmare chuckled, "We'll need to keep them away from Blood."