Chapter 5: How We Operate
"You want me to what?" Sid rolled his eyes as Black Star continued his sit ups, a frown now on his face as he listened to the older male speak. He had walked in on the azure haired assassin in the middle of one of his basic routines with a simple request and the ninja didn't seem to keen on the idea. However, even after a week of these people being in their school, none of the professors were exactly up for having their lessons observed by outsiders from the city. Leaning heavily into the wall, Sid crossed his arms.
"I want you to allow Wilson's people to observe you and the class in Hand to Hand today." Sid answered easily. He raised a brow, waiting for a response as Black Star kept moving. "It's the one class where not much speaking is done and some of what we do can be observed and potentially not taken out of context."
"Why can't they watch Stein's class?" Black Star grumbled. "Or Maka's?"
"Because Maka is on Soul Technique with the older students and Stein has started explaining Duel Arts." Sid answered. "There are very few classes that Kid is allowing be sat in on. Not only that, but some of the staff will be sitting in on short interviews." At this, Black Star stopped.
"Interviews? About what?"
"I don't know yet. Experiences I suppose. Tsubaki and Soul will be sitting in on Weapon interviews with Marie." Sid answered easily.
"What about Meister?"
"I don't know yet."
"Why can't I?"
"Because you have a class."
"Can't you take them?"
"Black Star…" Sid groaned. "I'm not the one calling the shots on this. Kid has it set up the way he does for whatever reason it is. If you want, you can monitor whatever questions your group is asked during class." The assassin perked up at this. The excitement was evident in his eyes despite his careless stretch as the azure haired man made his way for the door.
"Alright. I guess I could do that much." Sid grimaced slightly, following the assassin out the door only to be greeted by Wilson, clipboard in hand and professional smile in place. It seemed to throw even Black star off for a moment.
"Good morning. You're Black Star, am I right?" she asked, holding out her hand to shake his. Uncertainly, the azure haired man nodded, shaking her hand in response.
"Yeah. Sid said you wanted to come sit in and see how we do things in some of the classes here." Black Star answered and the woman nodded.
"Yes, we were told that we could look in on select classes. I'm sure it's ok that I ask you a few questions yourself." Black Star perked up slightly. "I heard that you were raised in the school since you were a baby. It's interesting that you would even go so far as making this your profession as well." Sid rolled his eyes as a wide grin split across Black Star's face. This woman had no idea what she had just gotten herself pulled into.
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Zeke grimaced, standing back slightly as the other students walked into the room. The fact that the classes had been switched up for different reasons that day was just too convenient. He had been grateful for getting out of Hand to Hand since Star-Sensei had been hounding them on having a specialized attack, but now he was spending the hour in Soul Focus with Marie-sensei and there was one of those weird official people sitting in the corner of the room with a clip board in hand and anxious look. Gabe had wrinkled his nose as well. "Why's that guy here?" the brown haired boy blurted out. Marie perked up and glanced at the slender man sitting in the corner before turning back to the young group.
"He's gotten permission to hear about what you kids learn about." She answered in her usual friendly tone. There were so whispers amongst the small group. "Don't worry. I'll be here to monitor the situation."
"So there's no lesson today?" Gabe asked, raising a brow. "I mean I'm not complaining or anything…"
"We're still having a lesson today." Marie answered promptly before turning to the curious man. "Mr. Robinson, feel free to ask any questions and we'll be sure to answer as best we can."
"Of course." He answered swiftly, sitting up straight in his seat as Marie instructed the students.
"Now this week we're focusing on strengthening your soul bonds. By doing so, you could thus increase your soul resonance ability and even battle madness." Each of the students sat across from each other. Zeke sat on the floor across from Ayame. There was a candle between them that she was staring at. "These are special candles." Marie continued.
"Like scented candles?" asked Rion, picking up the one between him and Ava, sniffing it thoughtfully as his partner leaned back on her palms with a bored expression.
"Something like that." Marie answered with a knowing smile. "I want you to light your candles and then I want you to tell your partner everything you think about them."
"WHAT?!"
"Sensei I don't think I want to take part in this."
"Are we supposed to be saying anything specific?"
"What happens if our partner gets mad?"
"Now, now! You're testing the bond between you and your partner today. You've all been partners long enough that you should get through this test." Marie explained. She was now passing out matches. "I want you to tell your partner their flaws. Don't hold back." There was hesitance, but they slowly began lighting their candles. An almost calming aroma filled the room, yet Zeke could feel a slight tugging. He looked across from him at Ayame who had wrinkled her nose in disapproval. He would have figured that she'd love this opportunity. He leaned forward and sighed.
"You're a brat." Ayame blinked in confusion.
"What?"
"You're a brat. You don't really think before you act, or speak for that matter, and it wouldn't hurt to act at least a little like a girl every once in a while." Zeke answered easily. That smell that filled the air was kind of annoying now that he thought about it. He watched coolly as his partner glared.
"Yeah, well you're a know it all." She countered. That was lame. "And you're too closed off sometimes."
"Closed off?" Zeke scoffed. "Because I don't want to spar with you? Because I'd rather read a book than go running around school getting in trouble?"
"That's not what I'm talking about." His meister was getting agitated. It kind of felt like she was getting distant with each word exchanged between them. Was the smell bothering her as much as it was bothering him? Why'd they need these damn candles anyway? There was nothing soothing about them at all.
"You're always so aggressive, Ayame." Zeke blurted out.
"I am not!"
"Yes you are! All the time with just about everything." Were they the only two yelling?
"It's your fault!" She countered.
"How do you figure?!"
"You've been different ever since the incident!" Ayame shot back. "You're different everyday!"
"What? How do you figure?!"
"You don't talk to me anymore, idiot!" Ayame yelled. Zeke stiffened, trying to ignore the fact that there were others in the room staring at them. "You space out all the time and sometimes you even get super weird on me but you never have the balls to tell me what's wrong!"
'Why don't you just tell her brat?'
"Ayame…" Zeke started, but she wasn't backing down.
"Tell me!"
'Go on kid. Do it.' Zeke groaned in annoyance, shaking his head.
"No…" Why wouldn't the voice just shut up and let him think for once!
"HEY!" All attention snapped to Marie trying to break up another escalating argument. Tension had really filled the air and it was thick. Despite the shift in attention, Ayame was still sitting with an annoyed expression across from her partner who watched her carefully.
"Zeke…" Ayame growled, hands clenched in her lap now as she glared at him.
'Why don't you just tell her?' The voice asked again. 'She's your woman isn't she?'
"She's my partner…"
'What the difference? Isn't that supposed to be more reason to tell her?' The voice asked with a scoff. 'Pathetic.'
"Zeke!" Snapping out of his own daze, the white haired scythe stared in confusion at Rion who was standing over him with a skeptical look. "Dude, Ayame's super mad at you. What did you say to her?"
"What?"
"Yeah, she just stormed out…" The younger weapon answered easily. "Suppose she doesn't take criticism well either." He informed. Looking around the room, a few students were sitting with the official, a pair was talking to Marie, and the others were talking amongst themselves. All the candles had been blown out as well.
"Hey, the two of you come over here as well." Robinson was calling them over, shooing away the group he had been interviewing. Rion had been apprehensive, wrinkling his nose in disapproval as Zeke pushed himself from where he was seated. "I only have a couple questions and then you can be on your way."
"I need to find my partner."
"She said she'd be back." Robinson answered but Zeke shot him a look and the man shut his mouth.
"I need to find my partner." He repeated and walked out of the room, ignoring the whispers of the others in the room. Huffing when he walked out of the room, the boy only came around the corner to see his partner standing there, arms crossed and glaring at the floor. She sure didn't get far. "Hey." She looked up and frowned further.
"What?"
"Are you gonna talk to me?"
"I'd rather not." She answered. "It's pointless. You're not gonna open up to me anyway." Zeke rolled his eyes.
"It's not exactly something I expect you to understand, Ayame." He informed, moving to stand by her and leaning heavily against the wall. There was a long silence. "You know, your bratty ways made us look like complete ass holes just now." At this, she turned her head swiftly and glared up at him.
"What do you mean!? It's partially your fault for what you said to me!"
"It was part of the lesson. That guy probably thinks we have no partner dynamics at all." Zeke explained, glancing at her knowingly. He noticed the annoyed expression on her face and had to hold back a smile. Though they hadn't been out of the room for long, he felt himself calming some and could feel that even his tense partner had relaxed. The tugging feeling was finally gone.
"We don't operate like other people." Ayame muttered. "It's not necessarily easy to explain that." She said and looked to her partner for confirmation. Zeke shrugged a shoulder, arms still crossed.
"I guess you're right. I mean, I know that you're head strong and you know I'd prefer reading a book…" he said and smiled slightly. "So how about we skip out on this and hang out on the roof. Maybe a nap while I read to you this cool book I found?" Ayame perked up, though she clearly tried to contain her excitement.
"What kind of book do you have this time?" she asked, pushing herself off the wall and leading the way none the less. Zeke followed, giving a lazy stretch.
"It's about other dimensions." He answered. "I think you'd like it. Lots of adventure." Ayame nodded her head distractedly.
"Yeah, I think I could."
Author's Note: So my brain totally shut down when doing this chapter. The next chapter you will get to see some of what the officials are asking the kids. Also, you MAY get to see what's the deal with that voice that Zeke hears ;)
Read and review please. Makes life beautiful