Chapter 2

"So, Melyssa, have you…huh?" Juna frowned, seeing the dark blue haired girl had left already and raised a slow brow, looking over at Instructor Rean.

He simply shrugged, noticing how fast Melyssa had left and could feel Crow's eyes on him, not surprised when the man approached him. "I have no idea who she is, Crow." He said before the man could utter a word. "Does she sound familiar to you at all since she's from Jurai?"

There was a very good reason Melyssa bolted and it was due to the fact she was in the same class as Crow Armbrust…and who her instructor was. Why did it bother her so much to have the Ashen Chevalier as her instructor, though? Melyssa didn't harbor any ill feelings toward him or anything, but it was…overwhelming since Rean Schwarzer was a hero to the Empire and so many others for everything he and his comrades did over the past couple of years.

"I'm going after her."

"Juna, I'm not sure that's a good idea…" Kurt sighed when she simply walked out with Altina following suit, shaking his head.

Ash clapped him on the back. "Don't sweat it, man. Girls are girls, and you know how Wild Filly is. She's a mother-hen."

"Yeah, don't remind me."

Juna was also class president and that, coupled with her mother-hen tendencies, she was someone who looked out for everyone, especially new students. She knew how overwhelming, confusing and even lonely it could be. She couldn't imagine coming from abroad and not knowing a single soul.

Crow shrugged his shoulders after running his fingers lightly through his silver hair, shaking his head. "I don't know, Rean." His tone was serious for once, red eyes on the students who were still exiting. "Maybe? I left that place and its memories a long time ago."

"Well, even if you are not a familiar or friendly face to her, someone from her home may help if she's having problems."

"Do-gooder."

Rean smiled softly, shaking his head. "As if you're not, beneath the sarcasm and jokes."

Crow muttered under his breath, but didn't argue it either.

Deep down inside, Rean always knew Crow was a good person, both inside and out. After hearing Crow's backstory with his grandfather and how Chancellor Osborne, how the Empire, destroyed everything the man worked his entire life for, made Rean realize not everything in the world was black and white. Crow wanted revenge for his grandfather, who had died in his home due to a broken heart the people of Jurai and the Empire had caused. It was almost as if he gave up the will to live and Crow had been the same way, but Rean, along with the rest of THEIR Class VII comrades and friends, snapped him out of it. Rean had a meeting with the other teachers in the teacher's faculty office, so he went off to attend while Crow was left to his own devises. He only hoped Melyssa gelled well with everyone in the class or else…things would become complicated, especially since they had to link with each other in order to pass the combat portion of schooling.

Only time would tell.

Melyssa spent the better part of the day walking around Leeves, taking in the different shops and everything the town offered. She was trying to get her mind off Crow, off being in the Ashen Chevalier's class, and instead focused on figuring out what kind of club she'd join. Or be forced to, rather. There was a list of them in the student guidebook and, honestly, most of them didn't sound too bad. Once she finished, Melyssa made her way to the dorm she would be staying in and found her room, her name plate on the wall right beside it. That was interesting…there was another girl by the name of Monique she would be sharing with, but she wasn't in Class VII. Altina and Juna were sharing a room as well, so she assumed the boys were the same as far as rooming with each other. Setting her belongings down on the bed, Melyssa reached up to let her hair fall out of the bun she had it in and groaned at how good it felt to let it all down. It was long, went to her waist and she kept it up to keep it out of her face and way in general.

It wasn't long before her roommate, Monique, came waltzing in and they introduced themselves. Monique was in Instructor Towa's class, who was also a well-known name throughout the Empire. Towa Herschel. She graduated from Thors main school 2 years prior and now worked in the branch school…and she was a sweetheart, very helpful and attentive to any student who had a question for her. Monique was lucky, but everything happened for a reason and Melyssa would suck it up and deal with the hand the Goddess dealt her.

"So, you're in Class VII: Special Operations, eh? What's the Ashen Chevalier like anyway?"

"I-I really don't know. He's fine, I guess, very informative." Monique sounded like she was a huge fan of Schwarzer's and Melyssa really hoped her roommate didn't start gushing over him to her. "We should go eat before it gets too late."

"Yeah, the kitchen is only open for another hour. Come on, I haven't ate either."

Nodding, the girls made their way to the kitchen area of the dorm for supper.

Monique WAS a huge fan of the Ashen Chevalier, an admirer for sure and she was very open about it. She kept her questions to herself while they navigated to the kitchen to get a bit of supper, knowing food needed to come first and her roommate seemed overly quiet. "Homesick?" She asked gently as they got their dinner, knowing some first time students tended to get that way, even those who weren't that far from home. It was the change, being in a new, strange place on top of being surrounded by and living with people one did not know. "I promise, it does get easier." She flashed a reassuring smile, looking for a quiet spot to sit before her eyes landed on none other than Rean Schwarzer sitting with Crow Armbrust. "Oh my…" Maybe near the pair, not RIGHT NEXT to them, but… close enough.

"No, it's just a new place and I'll get used to it before long."

Spotting them instantly, Melyssa just followed Monique's lead and sat down at the table behind them. That was fine; she would endure it for her new roommate, who would probably become a good friend of hers. Maybe. Then again, the way Monique was eyeballing the Ashen Chevalier…no, definitely not. However, they were roommates and she would do her best to get along with the woman. Another good thing was she couldn't see Crow, he was out of her eyesight and it made it easier to swallow the food in front of her. The food wasn't half-bad either, so that was another plus as she popped a fry in her mouth.

Rean had instantly noticed the two women. It was a bit hard not to be aware of Monique, she kept glancing over at him every other second with what would normally have been an attractive blush in her cheeks, if not for the fact that she was… in awe of the 'Ashen Chevalier'. Or making him sort of uncomfortable. She reminded him A LOT of Musse, actually.

"Don't. You. Dare. Laugh." He muttered, staring determinedly down at his bowl of soup.

"But it's so adorable." Crow was using his peripheral vision to watch Monique, finally shaking his head. "You seemed flustered, Ashen Chevalier."

"You know I don't like being called that."

The problem he had with Crow was that they were friends; the student / teacher relationship was virtually non-existent outside of the classroom. He glanced down the table, realizing who else was with Monique. The new girl who had seemed like she was drowning today, overwhelmed by everything. Miss Brackett, that was her name. Melyssa Brackett. She seemed quiet, focusing on her food while Monique talked her ear off. He didn't know if Monique would be good for Melyssa or drive her mad.

"Oh, and did you see the shops around town? They are so cute! Oh, did you hear there's a hot spring type baths RIGHT HERE in the dorm?!" Monique was a chatterbox and always had been, grinning while stealing glances at the very handsome Rean Schwarzer. "I really wish I wasn't a student. He's even more handsome in person." That part she whispered loud enough for Melyssa to hear.

"Uh huh." Melyssa was on the verge of getting a headache and stood up from the table, having finished her food in record time. "I think I'm going to go to the lower level and get some practice in…" It'd been over 24 hours since she pulled her cutlass out for a workout.

"Oh…okay…"

"Melyssa, there you are!" Juna jogged over to them, breathing somewhat heavily and actually placed a hand on Melyssa's shoulder while catching her breath.

"What's wrong? Is everything all right…Juna?" Thank the Goddess she remembered the girl's name.

"I've…been looking all over…for you."

"Juna, I told you not to run so fast." Altina chastised, standing beside the pink haired girl and folded her arms in front of her chest. "Breathe in through the nose, out the mouth…"

"I don't need you to tell me that, Allie!"

Melyssa blinked, clearing her throat and wasn't sure what to say to this high-spirited, somewhat temperamental girl. "Do you need some water or something?"

Rean couldn't help being worried over Juna and had made his way over, clearing his throat to gain everyone's attention. "Juna, what happened? Are you hurt?" Pure concern shimmered in his fuchsia eyes over his student, friend and comrade.

Juna gave him a confused look before becoming exasperated, nodding while also nudging him away as politely as she could. "Of course, I am!"

Rean was overly helpful, overly concerned about people, and tended to put others first to an extreme. It was one of the things that both drew people to him and made them question his sanity. He was the guy who would quite literally give someone the shirt off his back. Her emerald eyes crinkled at the corners as she flashed him a warm smile before giving her attention back to the matter at hand.

"I need to speak to you, Melyssa and you Monique." She then looked around, her lips pursing. "You as well, Crow." She imagined this little mix-up of hers, that she was now correcting, was not going to go over all that well since it seemed that Monique and Melyssa were becoming chums.

Frowning, Melyssa took a step back and listened as Juna informed them that there had been a mix-up with Monique and Crow's rooms. "So, you're saying…" Wow, the Goddess really must've hated her for doing this! Oh Aidios save me, she thought, finally meeting Crow's intense crimson gaze for the first time and steeled herself for his reaction. "Crow is my actual roommate instead of Monique?"

"I mean, well, this IS a military academy and they did away with girls only and boys only rooming last year." Juna didn't know how Melyssa felt about this. It was hard to read the first year. "So Monique, you will be rooming with Ash instead of Ash and Crow together."

"Oh, okay…" Monique didn't see a problem with it and smiled, shrugging nonchalantly.

Rean stood back, silently watched and listened, as an instructor should, wondering what was going through the navy haired girl's head at the moment upon this mix-up.

This was… interesting, even Crow was at a loss for words. He knew all about the integration of the genders, how the old rules had been turned over in favor of more progressive policies. To be fair, he hadn't expected them to have an effect on him either, not really. Pushing away from the table, Crow rubbed the back of his neck, not sure what to say. Usually, he had a sarcastic or amused comment for everything, but the way Brackett's face had gone stiff and blank, he was guessing right now was a terrible time to attempt humor.

Ash, on the other hand, did not have any of those issues at all. "Wow, this integration thing is awesome." He flashed Monique a very wicked smile. "So, I'm a cuddler."

"You have your own beds." Juna said flatly, folding her arms over her chest. "Don't be lewd, Ash."

"I'm being polite and informing her of my sleeping habits. I also sleep in the nude."

Monique's eyes were wide and her cheeks pink as she considered him, glancing at Rean, who seemed concerned though not necessarily for her. "I'll keep that in mind." She said finally, her voice coming out demure.

"Ash…" Rean's voice held a note of warning.

"So… roomie…" Crow decided to focus on his new roommate, who was still looking… stiff. "I don't snore, if that helps."

Ash was more vulgar than Crow, which was very HARD to top since Crow did have his lewd side. Rean had seen it one too many times, especially when they were classmates in old Class VII. He STILL remembered the concert they performed with everyone at the Military Academy festival and the 'notes' he had written for the girls' costumes. Just thinking about it now made him silently groan and he really hoped Crow minded his manners with Melyssa.

"Please don't call me that. Melyssa is fine."

"I kinda like Mel, I'm gonna start calling you that instead." Ash informed her, not giving a damn what anyone thought and folded his arms in front of his chest.

This man had NO filter at all. "Okay…"

She couldn't focus on Ash right now and instead looked back at Crow, her new roommate. He didn't recognize her at all and something twanged in her heart. He was supposed to be dead. Yet, here he was alive, in the flesh, in front of her and now they had to share a room together.

"Actually…" Rean really didn't want to throw Crow under the bus, but he also felt he had to be truthful with his student. "You do. I roomed right across the hall from you for months and yeah, you DO snore."

"Oh woe is me! Whatever shall I do with the snoring? Maybe I'll get some earplugs? Just, uh, stay in your own bed and we'll be fine."

Juna raised a brow, along with Monique. "Did you just crack a joke?"

"No, I mean yes, well…people do that from time to time, don't they?" Melyssa cracked the barest hint of a smile and kept swallowing down her nerves. "But I meant the last thing I said – stay in your own bed, roomie."

Her joke fell flat, she definitely needed some help in the 'how to make jokes' department and maybe even line delivery. Crow made a mental note to give her some pointers. Not only were they roommates, -Goddess how did THAT happen, this kid must have done something wrong to someone at one point in her life to wind up with him- but they were from the same town. He had a reputation to maintain.

"Just remember you said that, Brackett," He said sweetly, his red eyes however weren't sweet, they were borderline wicked. "You may change your mind."