I'm glad there's still some people that read this story -w- It makes me happy that I came back. I've been working on the other AU's plot but that'll still take some time to complete. For the meanwhile I'm doing this one to keep my inspiration :)

Thanks to Twilight Dark Angel for the story following and favorite. It makes me happy to know people are reading it after these years TwT

Now to get to the next chapter~

.: Playthrough 6 :.

= Weapon of Choice =

The most powerful force ever known on this planet is human cooperation - a force for construction and destruction.
- Jonathan Haidt

"It's been a week, Kanda-kun," Keiko explained while taking a smoke in the inner gardens. "I'll need you to show yourself there once at least to see Reiyo-chan's weapon." There, near the makeshift koi pond, was Kanda sitting near it. Since it was the private gardens that Tiedoll himself had grown himself, only his sons and himself, apart from the scarce caretakers it had when the family members were away, were allowed entrance in there.

Himuro Keiko was one of the few attendants of the household that were privy in the matter. That night she stood beside the youth while he stared down at the pond that glistened with the moonlight coming from the outside of the glass ceiling. The garden was situated at the East Wing's roof giving it perfect view of the moon and sun when they rose.

Thanks to the ruckus that was going about his house nowadays, Kanda had found sanctuary in this garden that usually saw no outsiders. Yet Keiko, the one responsible for his House's defense teams, had pried herself inside of it. She had a key being that she was an attendant. Now he had to deal with the woman's obnoxious nagging about the brat that was his property.

"That nezumi can go die for all I care," he snapped at Keiko's outburst and turned to glare at her. "And put that damn thing out. It's disgusting."

"Yes, yes," Keiko chanted and licked her thumb and fore finger before putting out the cigarette's ember with them. "But in all seriousness, if I can't train her specifically for the weapon Inaguri has assigned her, even all the combat styles I can teach her will be useless. We must hurry and put her up to par at least with Lee-san. If I can't do that, I won't be able to train her to the fullest of her abilities."

"What abilities?" Kanda complained keeping his eyes on the koi that jumped and swam from place to place. "That brat couldn't kill a fly."

"She's improved very much over the week I've had her," Keiko interrupted his insults for the girl the moment she got a chance. Having known the kid since her third year of high school had given her a clear view of her personality. Her aptitude to take challenges was incredible. She'd gone through Gabrielle's workload on her own before other's were hired. She wasn't one to give up so easily. Specially when it concerned little Gemma. "I'm sticking to my promise of having her ready for you in a month's time."

"Marian already said it's not quick enough," Kanda reminded her with a tone of disdain when saying the man's name. He seemed to have a rather intense hostility towards the members of Black Rose. Then again, he hated everybody. "Besides I don't need the brat."

"You will eventually and I will have her ready for when that time comes," Keiko replied standing straight from leaning on a near tree. "Marian-dono clearly stated how they're starting to target Allen-kun. If this is, indeed, the truth, then once they have enough manpower, they'll come after you, Kanda-kun."

"I'm not afraid," he simply deadpanned at her. A guppy jumped up from the pond and splashed back in making the silence break and start all over.

"It's not about fear, it's about prevention. Better safe than sorry, after all," Keiko added trying to get the point through his thick skull. "We're not going to risk losing a member of this family. I know neither your father nor brothers wish to see you dead."

"They're not my family," he protested shutting her up. "They're not my brothers and he damn sure isn't my father."

"Resentment won't help the situation here. You have to understand that what we're doing is to keep you safe. Nothing else," she scolded slapping him upside the head. He held onto the back of his head and growled angrier at her than he was before. But before he could shout at her for daring to lay a hand on him, she had already walked away from his reach. "Tomorrow morning, ten sharp. I want you at the arena. Be there or I'll be sure to hunt you down myself."

Kanda clicked his tongue audibly loud for her to hear him. Soon he heard the door of the garden open and close assuring him she'd left. His cobalt eyes become hooded as he glanced over at the pond close to the koi pond. There mushy grasses grew along with buds of flowers yet to blossom. And the ones he personally took care of.

He sighed and resigned himself to return to his room where he'd at least attempt to go rest for the night. Yet the night would turn out to be one of those sleepless nights where only dread slumbered.

"You've seriously done this all week?" Lavi queried after the Brit boy and Chinese girl. Unlike the past days, the American had decided to tag along with them this time. Apparently, he'd grown tired of going for Keiko and instead decided to go for the 'gang'.

"Same time, same place," Allen answered him while pushing around the cart that he'd gotten from the kitchen along with a whole menu's worth of food. "But she might have gotten the hang of waking up early now." He faced Lenalee who kept knocking uselessly upon the wood door, "Maybe she's already at the training grounds."

"I doubt she got the mansion mapped out in a week," Lenalee retorted with a huff, placing her hands on her hips.

"She's probably dead with the training Kei-chan puts her through," Lavi snickered with his hands behind his head.

"You two really think that?" Allen inquired dumbfounded. "I actually think she's there already."

"Wanna bet?" Lavi grinned with a glint in his eye.

"Give me a price," Allen accepted with a soft smile on his features.

"I'll take you to a buffet if I lose. If not you get me my books," Lavi offered stretching his hand out towards the younger boy.

"Deal," Allen agreed and shook his hand.

Lavi smirked and turned to Lenalee then, "C'mon Lena, bust the door open!"

"Geez, you guys. Really?" she scolded with a sigh and simply knocked once more. "We're coming in, Reiyo-san!" With that last warning, Lenalee opened the door and saw the room clouded in darkness. She flipped the switch and illuminated the room to find no one in bed. It was actually made. She walked over to the bathroom and saw no one there either. "Could she have run away?" she asked knowing how she'd fled the coop the first day she got here.

"Not likely," Lavi chirped as he threw himself on her bed and laid there with his hands behind his head. "Yuki and Nana would have caught her," he added referring to the canines out front which was the only way out of the mansion.

"I'm telling you guys, she's probably at the arena already," Allen argued and got a piece of chicken from the trolley. "We should check."

And the minute they entered the training room, they were met with the pants and grunts of the blonde girl. She was practicing her hand-to-hand fighting with her hands already wrapped.

Lenalee and Lavi both stared amazed at her new found determination. Allen gave them an angelic smile and raised his hand towards Reiyo and waved, "Good morning, Reiyo-san!"

This distracted the blonde and made her turn with her face flushed from her training. At seeing them she grinned and nodded at them before turning back to her exercises.

"Damn," Lavi hissed and slumped against the wall near the door to slide down to a sit. "My wallet's crying right now."

"I don't take bets that I can't win, Lavi," Allen bantered with an all-knowing grin on his lips.

"Which is never?" Lenalee suggested to which her owner only gave small smile before going to back to eat. In the the years they had known each other, the British boy had never lost a single bet no matter how absurd it was. To this date, the craziest one he'd won was about Kanda's tattoo. They'd bet on whether Kanda had really gotten a tattoo when he was sixteen. Lavi went with no since the Japanese didn't like people touching him. Much less poke him with needles like that. Allen had gone with yes. After the struggle that it had been to undress the heir, against his will to boot, they found out that he had actually had gotten one three days after his sixteenth birthday. Lavi kept nagging Allen about how he knew and the boy simply went with his usual statement, 'I don't take bets I can't win.'

"Really, Allen how the hell do you do it?" Lavi cried out childishly with a pout.

"My innate talent, of course," the youth simply said as an answer. The two others really doubted it was as normal as he made it sound. They were almost sure of it.

"Morning, children." The trio turned a bit to watch Keiko enter the room with her usual teaching attire. They all greeted her alike and were a little confused as to why the brunette didn't surprise attack Reiyo like she'd done throughout the week.

"What, no morning heart attack for Rei-chan today?" Lavi chuckled at her appearance.

"Today's going to be a different type of training," she answered with a wink and patted his head while he sat on the floor.

"Different?" Lenalee repeated curious. "How so?"

"You'll see," she assured her and whistled at Reiyo who turned to her teacher. Keiko spun her finger in a couple circles and Reiyo simply nodded and started to go around the arena for some laps. "First we need her to limb up a bit more."

After some time, Keiko checked the clock on the wall across from where the four of them stood. It was two till ten and there was still no sign of the head-to-be of the Black Lotus. She doubted that he was going to be late since he was such a freak about promptness. Then again he was capable of skipping on her all together. She sighed at seeing the minute hand move forth. That was it then, she was going to be forced to hunt him down like a little kid. She spun on her heels and was ready to head out when she heard the distinct clicking of shoes coming close to the doorway.

She glanced up and smiled at seeing the boy who stood a couple of inches taller than her. His long, black hair was tide back to a ponytail that rested on the nape of his neck. He wore a black long-sleeve but rolled them up to a bit below his elbows. White slacks with a black belt with black casual shoes. Keiko had always admired the sense of fashion the kid had. It was much more mature than Lavi's and Allen's. Both only wore suits for occasions. Kanda seemed to have a much more mature sense all around.

The three glanced at the Japanese male with different looks; Lenalee's was amazed, Allen's a glare, and Lavi's a grin. The latter got up out of nowhere to jump the Oriental man with a bear hug.

"Yu~ You came!" Lavi cooed disgustingly to the other. "I thought you didn't love me anymore," he pouted sadly.

"Get the fuck off me!" Kanda bellowed and kicked off the redhead.

At the ruckus that ensued of off their 'bromance', Reiyo stopped running to glance over at what the commotion was all about. When she saw the guy who supposedly 'owned' her, she scowled and without a second glance continued on with her laps.

"Thanks for not making me go after you, Kanda-kun," Keiko called with a smirk while Lavi kept groping him.

"I only came because I knew you would find me eventually and drag me back here," he contradicted and finally kicked Lavi away from him. The American swiftly avoided the attack and ran away towards Lenalee and grabbed her by the shoulders to use her as a shield.

"Lena! Yu's being mean to me!" he cried with crocodile tears coming from his eye. The girl only sweat dropped at the redhead's childishness. Although he was one of the oldest out of them, most of the times he acted the youngest and at worst the dumbest.

"I'll cut your throat if you say my name one more time!" Kanda threatened with a hand firm on his cane's head.

"No time for beheading people, Kanda-kun!" Keiko scolded pulling the guy by the arm and pulling him towards the arena. She whistled with her free hand getting the blonde's attention from the other side of the room. "Up here, Niyishima." Reiyo grimaced at seeing her dragging Kanda after her. Keiko glared at her and lowered her voice an octave for the seriousness, "Now."

Reiyo sighed in resignation and goes over to the platform jumping to climb on. She reaches up to Keiko but refuses to even glance at Kanda. "What's it now, sensei?"

"We'll be doing something different today for you training," she called and pulled from her back pocket Reiyo's glove. The one that showed her Proof of Mastership as an Excell. She tossed it towards Reiyo who caught it without hesitance.

She inspected the glove before turning to Keiko with a baffled expression, "How did you get in my locker?"

"Master keys are useful," she answered with a grin. She nodded at the glove she held before her, "Put it on." Reiyo dismissed the creepy answer and simply placed the glove on her right hand.

Keiko turned about and shouted, "Allen-kun, Lee-san. Mind coming up here for a sec."

"Sure," Lenalee answered for both for Allen had a piece of steak in his mouth.

Both came up to the platform and stood beside each other. Keiko stood between the two pairs of 'players' and grinned with a nod. She turned to the younger pair, "Mind showing Kanda-kun how to summon the weapon from his Excell, Allen-kun."

"Swure whing," he answered with his mouth half full.

"Stop fucking stuffing your face, moyashi!" Kanda bellowed more than annoyed at the Brit.

Allen gulped his food down and glared at the Japanese, "It's Allen, Bakanda."

"Is this really what happens every time with you two?" Reiyo sighed exasperated from her morning exercise.

Allen, hearing her, simply decided to ignore said idiot and turned to Lenalee. His face softened immediately which Reiyo noticed. "May I?"

"You may," she answered and reached into her jacket pocket and drew out her glove. Reiyo noticed that unlike hers, the Vs were both straight and not tilted. She slipped it on her right hand without another word.

Allen reached for his pocket and grabbed his blue topaz ring that showed his mastership over Lenalee and wore it on his left hand which were covered by the thin gloves. He took a deep breath and gently grabbed Lenalee's right hand were the glove rested. "My name's Allen Walker and I have chosen you as mine. And as your owner I order you to come forth for me in battle." He gently kissed the knuckles of her glove.

"Yes, Master," Lenalee answered as if nothing and took her right hand back. A sudden glow came to the mark on the back of the glove that was the color of Allen's ring. "And I, Lenalee Lee, as your weapon have vowed to grant your will so long as I have your protection." She brought her hand over his chest and brought it back catching a blurry string of the same vibrant blue color. "So we have vowed," she muttered and placed the her hand upon her legs as the string started to dissolved across them and the hue enveloped her whole body.

"So shall it be," Allen finished for her as the hue on her body receded. The string that had stopped on her legs took the solid form of black, heeled boots of a rather deep red color with moving butterflies behind the heel.

"Whoa," Reiyo simply murmured with her mouth wide open. What a light show.

"The light that came Allen-kun's body is what connects the 'owner's' life force to the 'weapon's'," Keiko explained tapping Reiyo's chin up to make her close her mouth. "So long as Lee-san is using her Dark Boots, any injury she sustains will transfer to Allen-kun as dictated by the rules of Exailion. Usually all you have to say to activate the weapon is the last sentences of the contract, 'So we have vowed, so it shall be', and just like they said it. The weapon was given at random."

"And you got kickass boots?" Reiyo asked with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

"All weapons are virtual but they are enhanced to deal extra damage. They wouldn't give a unique weapon without an advantage," Keiko added to her explanation.

"My boots are harder than any steel," Lenalee explained to Reiyo and her skepticism. "I'm trained to have greater hand-to-hand fighting styles than anything else because it empowers the weapon I was given."

"So could you, let's say, kick someone's head off their shoulders?" Reiyo suggested the gruesome idea while quickly glancing to her side where a certain orangutan man stood.

Lenalee laughed at her sense of humor. "No," she answered disappointing the blonde. "Weapons can't physically harm owners. The damage is all mental."

"Mental?" Reiyo repeated.

"Remember it's a virtual game," Keiko continued while Lenalee deactivated her weapon. The moment she did, the string that had formed them returned to Allen through his ring. "It's not real but the lengths that they went to make it seem so are big. Although not physically damaging, any hit directly done to the owners or weapon is conceived as real by the mind. What is most warned in the manual is to avoid, at all costs, attacks to the head," she said lightly tapping her temple. "Although not real, the brain senses the pain done. So say you were shot straight in the head with a gun of an Excell. You wouldn't bleed or anything but you would most definitely feel as if you'd been shot. Essentially, it's just as deadly if not worse. With a real gunshot your gone. With a fake one, the shock could send you to a vegetative state."

"Ugh," Reiyo grimaced at the image of herself forever in a bed, brain dead. Definitely didn't want that to happen.

"Now," Keiko cheered with a clap of her hands slightly making Reiyo flinch. "You two need to summon the weapon assigned to Niyishima-san."

"You mean do the thing that-" she pointed at the younger pair that stood before them. Keiko simply grinned at both. Ah shit.

"Like hell am I saying those things," Kanda scowled. "I have dignity and I won't fucking touch a dirty nezumi."

"That's my line! Wait-Who the hell are you calling a dirty rat!" she bellowed completely angered at the guy.

"Yu-chan won't do that Kei-chan," Lavi came and leaned against the platform. "He's to prideful."

"Well, let that go for a few minutes and vow to her so that we can see which she got!" Keiko ranted on annoyed that such petty thing would get a heir of the Four Houses.

"Fuck that," he spat and started to leave but was caught by Keiko and Lavi, who had jumped up hastily seeing his friend starting to depart. "Let go of me. Now."

"You have to Kanda-kun," Keiko tried to persuade him.

"Just a few little words and you'll be done, Yu," Lavi teased pushing him back.

"Fucking let go and stop calling me that!" he shouted, kicking Lavi away but leaving Keiko. "Let go, Himuro."

"Not until you vow to her," she bartered with him.

"Fuck that."

"Do I not have I say here either?" Reiyo glowered completely hating the idea of saying those things to him either.

"Not really," Lenalee said matter of a fact. Reiyo thought about it and hated to admit she was right. She'd promise to do whatever they said so long as they let her go in the end.

"It was a rhetorical question," she huffed knowing full well she'd been wrong. "But if I have to, I guess I'll just...do it."

"See, Rei-chan is more mature than you are!" Lavi countered while hiding behind Lenalee. "C'mon, just say the words, let her prod whatever it is you have in you, and it's done."

Kanda grumbled beneath his breath and glared at all the ones present. His gaze went to Keiko before saying, "Just this and you'll leave me the fuck alone."

"I promise," she said exasperated to have to barter with him like he was a kid. "Now, do it," she said pushing him towards Reiyo who stood there awkwardly shifting her weight. She sighed annoyed and and took her wrapping from her hands before putting her glove on her left hand.

"Ready when you are, orangutan," she called nonchalantly, trying to think nothing of the process.

"Don't fucking test your luck," he grumbled and grabbed her hand forcefully.

Reiyo cringed at how strongly he was holding her fingers. She became a bit at a loss when her eyes landed on theirs together. Compared to her dainty and small hand, his were much larger and callous from what she could discern.

"My name's Kanda Yu and I..." he groaned as if this was the hardest thing he'd ever done. Hell, anybody would say it actually freaking hurt him to say the words. He finally gave up and continued, "Have chosen you as mine. And as your owner I order you to come forth for me in battle."

He finished quickly and swiftly, his lilt somehow filling her ears from how close he was. She snapped herself back from the horrid thoughts that came to her mind. His voice? Lilting? She might as well kill herself if she thought that. She took a deep breath but instead turned towards Keiko, "Do I really?"

"Just do it!" Keiko shouted more than frustrated to have to deal with Kanda much less her.

"Okay, okay," Reiyo muttered defeated. That was her last exit. Here goes nothing. She took another deep breath and continued the vow, "And I, Niyishima Reiyo, as your weapon-" she spat the word out hating having to use it. "Have vowed to grant your will so long as I have your protection." Reiyo glanced down at the glove and noticed something off, "Hey, it's not glowing!"

"You forgot to kiss her hand, Yu!" Lavi shouted out to him.

Kanda almost threw a fit but stopped when Keiko spoke up, "He's right, Kanda-kun. Just a small peck on the back of her hand will validate the contract."

"Fuck that," Kanda muttered and threw Reiyo's hand away. He was about to walk away when out of nowhere he felt a kick behind his right knee making him fall down to take a knee. Reiyo quickly took her chance and placed the back of her hand near his face as he fell forward. Luckily, she smacked the back of it right into his face, including his lips.

She grinned at seeing this and called out, "So we have vowed, so shall it be."

"You're dead, you little fuck!" he raged, getting up and spinning on his heels. Reiyo quickly stepped back and saw when Kanda aimed to throw her a clean punch. Side stepping and deviating it with her right hand, she reached out with her left gloved one and pushed against his chest.

"Gotcha," she muttered and pulled back feeling a hot sensation in her fingers that spread to her hand. Pushing him back enough to give her space, she pulled all the length of the deep purple string of life that now connected their life. She didn't know what exactly she was doing but her body moved on its own as she twirled the ribbon behind her back and grabbed the other loose end with her left hand.

The instant she did that she felt something solid in her hands and grasped it firmly. She gasped at feeling the same hot sensation that started at her hand spread further throughout her body and become a warm coat that seeped into her skin. Whatever she felt in her hands solidified completely while she held onto it strongly.

"Well, this is unexpected," Keiko called with a grin while taking a look at Reiyo's weapon that she held in her hands. Reiyo moved the weapon before her and gasped at seeing the clean cut staff that was a deep red color. The bamboo shoot that it was made of shone bright and the gold details on the ends and throughout the length were outstanding. "We might need to work a bit harder, Reiyo-chan."

Well how was that? hoped you liked it. I'm falling asleep over here so I'll leave you all with this c: