Chapter 4

The sun was shining over Gosha Village again, and all people had already been doing their daily pursuits. The students of Gosha Academy had a break from lessons and some of them preferred to have a nap, while the other part decided to have their dinner, or even to have some practice with each other in order to sharpen their skills. However in the musician class, were only two students one of them was a boy and another one was a girl. The boy dark hair and brownish eyes, he was slightly muscular, the girl had brownish curly hair, which reached her shoulder blades, and her eyes were like a pair of pure rubies. Both of them were wearing the uniform of the academy. Both of them were sitting in front of the piano, the boy was straight in the middle while the girl was sitting on is left, and was watching how the boy was iterating over the keys, suddenly the boy stopped and said to the girl.

"Wow Masami, it's just our second lesson, but it seems that I started to understand how this instrument works, it's all thanks to you." the boy was amused of himself and from how the girl taught him too.

"I did nothing special Pavel." Masami got up from the chair, "It's you who is doing the main part, so you shouldn't praise me at all." she added as she got up.

"I think you'll be a perfect musician teacher in the future." Pavel smiled to her.

"Thanks." she merely replied her voice was emotionless.

Pavel started to feel awkwardly himself he didn't know how to come to her better, so he decided to do this from afar, "By the way, what do you think about Oleg-Semenovich? Do you like his subject?"

"I don't know." he noticed how Masami pondered, "Subject as subject, in some ways he explains the new information interesting, but some of it is a bit hard to remember."

"Yes, honestly, he does his subject in this way firstly, usually he is more boring and monotonous, but it seems that he tries his best to interest you and instill his subject to you."

"It seems that you know him quite well."

"Yes, after all he was one of two my favorite teacher in Russia." Pavel smiled.

"You had only two favorite teachers?" Masami asked him, she tried to hide her surprising, she could belive that there only two teachers who were his favorite from the whole academy.

"Well, frankly speaking, when I became a hunter I felt myself rum, I didn't know why I was there, and what I should do, however he and the other teacher showed me that the life of a hunter is really important." he did a small pause, but then continued, "I think if not them, I wouldn't continue my life as a hunter." Pavel raised his head to the roof.

"I see." Masami replied and after a small pause she said, "I will go, I have still something to do in the library, next we will take another melody."

"Understood." Pavel said raising his hand to his forehead.

Masami quickly grabbed her school bag that was lying on the desk next to Pavel's one and left the musician class, Pavel came to the desk too, and saw when he was about to take his schoolbag too he found that there was a book on the desk. He took the book and saw English letters on it.

"Ivanhoe." Pavel read out loud, "Man, it was pretty much since I read this book." he opened it and saw that the book was in English, "Wait, is it Masami's one?" Pavel wanted to follow his musician mentor, but heard how the bell rang, "Damn, I must hurry for the lesson, don't want Oleg Semenovich wait for me." he put the book in his schoolbag, "I will give her it after the lesson." he ran to his classroom.

After several minutes he finally reached it. The fortune was on his side as Oleg Semenovich, was still absent, he took his place and after some minutes the teacher had finally arrived, and after Oleg Semenovich there was another student who had been late for the lesson, Masami apologized for being late and entered the classroom, the teacher didn't pay too much attention on this and started his lesson.

"Well children, today we will speak about unique demons." the class started to whisper, but Oleg Semenovich quickly calmed them down, "The first unique type of demons we are going to study is Pegasus, as I acquainted only two of you in this class seen this type of demons, please raise your hands." Oleg Semenovich asked his students, after a while all of them could see Pavel's, Ren's and Maki's hands, Oleg Semenovich nodded and the students lowered their hands, "First of all I want to ask you what have you noticed fighting him?"

"He has got wings!" Maki exclaimed being the first one.

"Sato-san." Tereshkov said, "First of all, raise your hand please, and secondly I think that all of you know that Pegasus have wings." the next one whose hand he saw was Ren's one, "Yes Ikenami-san?"

"As I noticed, they all use wind abilities."

"Correct." Oleg was surprised and glad that Ikenami finally joined the students and started to work with the class, "Pegasus are the creatures that can use only wind abilities, but the biggest power hides in their wings, if you are able to hurt even one wing he won't be able to fight with full power."

"Sensei?" the girl from the first line with red hair asked the teacher.

"Yes, Maeda?" Oleg asked the student.

"How is it possible that almost all of us have never seen these demons?"

"Good question Maeda." Oleg Semenovich smiled at her question, "There are some demons that never leave the demon world. They try not to contact with people because they don't interest in them at all, they can't be called good, but also they can't be called evil, however some of Pegasus still attack ordinary people, the most interesting thing about them is that they have their own special law honor, instead of the other demons."

"What do you mean sensei?" Maeda asked him again.

"Well, if take lots of others types of demons, you'll easily find that they are ruthless, prideful and vile. Pegasus on the other hand he will never attack wounded, no matter it is an ordinary human or a demon hunter. If Pegasus sees that you're unable to fight he will spare you, he will try to fight with you on equal terms, and will never do something despicable toward you in your fight." he saw Aki's hand and nodded allowing to ask what the boy wanted.

"Sensei, is there some other types like Pegasus?" Oleg smiled.

'If only students in Russia were so active.' he thought and then started to answer the boy's question, "Right now it's difficult to remember such types all, but I belive you know about elves, amazons and centaurs, they are from that type. However it's still a big question, because they all are human type, when Pegasus are much different from us."

"But how do you think, why Pegasus could attack us?" Pavel was another one who decided to ask next question.

This question impressed Oleg more than the others; he was surprised that Pavel decided to ask something like this, "Well Pegasus is a noble type of demons and they won't serve to some other types of demons. The demon must be a higher rank to serve someone."

'Someone like Edwin Black?' Ren thought, 'She knew about strong demons like Black, Kuroi, Astaroth and the others, 'Could it be that these criminals are working with some from them?' the teacher wanted to add something, but they heard a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Oleg asked, the door was opened and the woman with white robe and blue hair entered the classroom. The class wanted to get up and greet the teacher, but the teacher gave a sign that the students could sit, "What is it Yatsu-sensei?" he asked Murasaki.

"Class, I have a got a little announcement to you." she turned to her class, "I know it will be unexpected to you, but still, since today your class teacher is Tereshkov-sensei."

"What?!" the biggest part if the class exclaimed.

"I received this information today, so I hadn't got a perfect opportunity to tell you this." Murasaki said, "So know you can turn with all your questions to Tereshkov-sensei."

"Is it really true?" Oleg was surprised too from hearing this information, "I thought I supposed to be informed personally."

"Because of some business I was charge to the full, and right now I can't do my class management."

"I see." Oleg nodded and then tried to calm down the class that found a new theme for discussion.

"It everything for now." Yatsu said and left the class room.

'Well another headache.' Oleg thought and returned to his lesson.

The Russian teacher continued to tell about Pegasus and at the same time ask his students lots of questions, but from this moment the class preferred to discuss what happened, Oleg understood that it was useless to stop their discussions so he decided to continue his lesson, after all he was surprised with such news too. When the lesson was about finish he said to his class, "Well, since I'm your new class teacher I hope that you will not change your attitude towards me. I hope that this news won't scare you, if you have different problems or questions don't be afraid, come and ask me, I'll try to help you how I only can, however it's a chance to know you better for me and vice versa." the teacher stopped for a second he glanced at Ikenami and Andou and then added, "I hope we will became a good class." then the bell rang and the teacher left the classroom, Pavel got up and went to the girl with brown curly hair.

"Masami." he turned to the girl, "It seems that it yours, isn't it?" he stretched a pretty thick book to the girl; Masami widened her eyes and grabbed the book.

"Yes, thank you." she said and put it in her bag.

"Do you like medieval novels?" the Russian boy decided to talk about the book, the girl answered nothing, Pavel decided to continue the talk a bit carefully, he didn't want to be persistent and make her angry, "This book is one of the most favorite of mine, I like the place where the main hero arrives to help the Jewish woman." Masami got up and came to him, "And what is your favorite place?"

"I'm sorry, but I must go." Masami answered him and left the classroom.

'It will be really difficult to try to talk to her.' he thought and heard how someone turned to him

"It's useless to talk with her." the boy with green hair and a bit blunt face came to him, "The better thing to do is just to give up on her."

"Oh, it's you Kimura." the boy said to his classmate.

"Don't worry; just call me Ketsu." the boy said, "Masami won't let you come closer to her, and however she won't let anyone do this."

"What do you mean?" Pavel heard that Masami had some problems but he didn't know what these problems were, Pavel saw how the girl with red hair came to him, she also had a birth mark under her right eye. The girl hit Ketsu at his hip.

"Don't you think that it a bit impolite to talk about your classmates behind her back?"

"Hey, Kin that was painful!" Ketsu exclaimed playfully, "I just wanted to say to our Russian friend that he could stop trying to talk with Andou-san."

"But you could do this much softer." the girl that had asked the teacher before continued to lecture the boy.

"Do you know why Masami behave herself so?" Pavel asked them.

"Sorry, but we can't answer this question." Maeda Kin answered him, "I don't think that Maeda will glad when she know that we raise reports about her behind her."

"No problem, I understand this." Pavel said with a smile he took his bag, he glanced that his friends have already left their classroom, he wanted to leave it too, but suddenly was stopped by a girl with long fair hair.

"Can I have a talk with you?" she asked him.

"Mai, of course. What is it?" he asked Ogawa Mai.

"Not here." she took her school bag and gave him a sign to follow him.

Mai left the classroom and when right by the corridor of the academy, Pavel quickly followed her. They weren't in hurry or something like this. Lots of students were passing by them, some of them were their coevals, but some of them were younger. Pavel went at some distance from his classmate.

'Is she going to talk about Masami?' Pavel thought, 'What a stupid question. Of course she wants to talk about her. Maybe she knows something about her? It was a really helpful if she would tell something important that I could use as a baseline.' He stopped and remembered the words of Kin and Ketsu, "Or maybe she wants me to stop trying to talk to Masami? Yes, it's possible too and I think this is the real reason she took me. Well I think it's useless to think about it right now." he sighed, 'Better to leave these questions for our talk.' Pavel founded quickly that they were going to the roof top, it was their final lesson so he understood that there was a pretty small chance to meet someone there, 'After the talk I should go to the club, interesting how was going the training of Tatsuro?' he asked himself remembering the brother of the blue haired leader of the kendo club.

When they finally arrived to the roof top Pavel admitted that he was right that there was no one there. He sighed in a relief that there won't be unnecessary listeners of their talk. Mai came to the edge of the room and started to take deep breathes, like she wanted to have some cool fresh air. The edge was closed with the fence. After a minute she turned to him and started her talk.

"I think you should stop your tries to find an opportunity to get close with Andou." she said him.

'Just as I thought.' Pavel was right when he thought about the second variant, "But why?"

"She is not from those who will allow you to approach to her. Not anymore." she a bit lowered voice.

'The hell happened to her that she became like this?' he thought for a second and then decided to ask straight, "Mai, I want you to ask you about something, can you answer me straight?" Mai nodded, "What happened to Masami that she became like this? I see that she has some problems, maybe if I knew them then perhaps I could do something."

"You will be able to do nothing." Mai shook with her head, "I think that you can make things even worse."

"But what happened to her?" Pavel asked her again, "She has some trauma, hasn't she?"

"Yes, she has and it became much deeper since then."

"And no one did anything? I mean…" Pavel couldn't finish as he was interrupted by Mai.

"Firstly, we didn't notice it, but a little by little she started to change from a merry and a very genuine person, she became close and gloomy, and some more time she stopped to talk to other people preferring to be alone."

"But how didn't you notice that?" Pavel still couldn't understand, he didn't like that his classmate was talking about Masami somehow convoluted.

"However it's also her fault that Andou didn't turn to us or teacher for a help." Ogawa did a small pause and continued, "She is from the type of people that tries to solve her problems personally trying not to involve the others in them."

"But still what happened to her that made her change that much?" the last thing that still wasn't answered, "Maybe there's still a way to help her if I…" he was interrupted by a fair haired interlocutor again.

"I said you that you can make things even worse." she repeated, "You're new here and you are just a stranger for her. Ren had already tried to help her; she couldn't do this and make Andou to shut herself deeper from the others, so just follow my advice." Mai came closer to Pavel and said, "If you want good for Andou just forget about her."

"Are serious?!" Pavel couldn't belive what he heard, "Do you really want to leave her in such state forever?! Do you want her to suffer?!"

"I just told you what is more preferable, it's up to you to choose what do to, but remember that it will be absolutely your fault if something bad would happen to her."

"No matter what, I will try to help her. I'll come to bits but I will find a way to do this." Pavel responded her.

"Then try your best." Mai nodded and left him to stand on the roof alone. He didn't notice but it was seemed for a while that Ogawa smiled slightly, but still he wasn't sure in it. As he heard that Mai was from those who didn't like to expose her emotions.

"What should I do then?" Pavel threw his school bag, onto the roof, "I still have no answers how to help Masami, I hoped that Mai would tell something, but she said absolutely the same." he breathed out, "Wait a minute! She said that Ren tried to help her. Maybe Ren should know something then, and maybe we could think of something together?" he grabbed his bag, "But still Ren is not from those who will let to interfere in someone life. So it also can be a bad idea and at the same time I don't want to ruin our friendship. Man, it also impossible to call it friendship." he threw his bag onto the roof again and grabbed his head, "Why it so difficult!" he shouted, the birds that were sitting on the edge of the roof flew away being scare with his voice. He had been thinking for about ten or so minutes, "Well, right now I don't think that I'll be able to think of something, the best idea is to go to the club and try to relax there." he grabbed his bag, and went inside of the academy, 'I think that it will be good to talk to Oleg Semenovich if he knows something." when he was on the ladder he suddenly saw his knew class teacher, 'Sweet!' he thought and shouted, "Oleg Semenovich!"

"Ah it's you Pavel." Oleg turned his head and saw his student who was hurrying to him, "What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you about Masami, did you know something about her?" Pavel asked his teacher in Russian.

"Yes." Tereshkov's face became a bit frown, "As I was told she was in charge of some mission eight months ago, and during it her squad was trapped. Then the reinforcement was sent after a little while, the problem was that they only could save only her alone." Oleg did a small pause, "I guess you understand what had happened with her before the rescuing." Pavel nodded, he became frown too, "The problem is that Masami from those people who never accepts someone's help, but only tries to help to someone herself, that's why she rejected everyone, I think she also was afraid that the same story would happen with another people who is precious to her."

"But how her squad was trapped?" Pavel wanted to hear out how this could happen.

"The scout gave wrong number of enemies so they couldn't deal with them."

"So it's not her fault in what happened to her comrades."

"Yes, but she don't want to belive in it as she was the one who was the leader in that mission and gave orders, by the way did you know something about her?"

"Just a bit." Pavel wasn't happy to hear such things, "As I understood, there were plenty attempts to help her, but all of them were failure. I also was told that Ren tried to help her."

"Did she tell you this?"

"No, Ogawa told me this, she also told me to stop trying to help and just leave her be."

"I see." Oleg thought, "Did you find something what could make you closer to her?"

"I started to practice playing the piano with her, I must say she is an incredible teacher, I never thought that I will be able to play such instrument."

"I hope you won't tell it to your musician teacher." Oleg was glad that his student could get close to Masami for a bit.

"Of course I won't. And I also found that she like reading." he added.

"Sometime people like to read when they won't to doze off or to go away from reality for a bit." Oleg pondered, "Don't you know how much she reads?"

"No, she always leaves the classroom first."

"Then try to spy on her." Oleg said suddenly.

"What? Isn't it too rough?" Pavel didn't like the idea of his teacher.

"It's the only chance. We must to find something about her that's why we must try to do at least something, the best thing to do is not to make yourself scarce, when you find her personal place, try to come there earlier than she will do it, and just think of something how you got there."

"It's not a bad plan I must admit." Pavel was puzzled a bit with such idea, "But what if she notices me?"

"Try not to allow this." he said, "Oh, I've totally forgotten. Are you planning to visit Maria Sergeievna?"

"Huh?!" the boy didn't understood.

"She is in the hospital of Gosha Village, I'm heading there right now, and will you join me?"

"Sorry, I'm going to the club right now, but if she is there I'll call on her a bit later."

Oleg Semenovich hummed, "Then you won't be protected from her lecturing."

"Don't worry, I find them pretty useful." as Pavel said this they passed the ladder and the boy ran to the gym where was his club now.

"Nice to see that Japan, changed him in good side." Oleg smiled and went to the exit from the academy.

Pavel could reach the gym pretty quickly. When he dressed in his uniform and joined the members of his club he found that everyone was there including Tatsurou and Aki, "You are a bit late has something happened?" Aki was worried for his friend.

"Nothing special." Pavel replied, "Just met Oleg Semenovich and decided to have a talk with him."

"I thought that there was something serious, I saw how Ogawa dragged you somewhere."

"Ah you're meaning that." Pavel wasn't happy that Aki saw this, "Nothing special we just had a little talk."

"About Andou-san?" Aki continued his interrogation, but his voice became slightly lower.

Pavel glanced over, it was good that they were in the corner were not that much students. "Yes, about her."

"I think I know what you're going to do…" Aki started, but wasn't able to finish his statement as he was interrupted.

"Do you think that I should give up on her too?" Pavel asked him straight, his voice was lowered too.

"I didn't say this. I and Andou-san have never been friends, so I can't tell you anything about that, but I think that you're doing right trying to talk to her, I think you will be able to find how to march up to her."

"Thanks at least you are on my side." Pavel smiled understanding that he found at east someone who can be on his side.

"Pavel!" they heard a ringing voice, "You will practice with Tatsurou!" Pavel and Aki turned their heads and saw Rinko Akiyama the captain of kendo club.

"On my way!" Pavel responded, and went to Rinko along with Tatsurou.

"Aki, you'll be my opponent!" and Aki followed them.

Pavel stood up in front of Tatsuro preparing for their practice battle, the boy with purple hair did the same. Then their bamboo swords clashed against each other. Pavel wasn't attacking Tatsuro like he used to do it; he preferred just to protect himself. 'So what should I do?' he asked himself, 'Now I know that Masami became so because of her mission, also I know that it wasn't her fault at all. The plan of Oleg Semenovich isn't bad at all, but what will happened if she notice me? I don't think that it will be really good to spy on her, but since I have no other plan.' his eyes were directed at Tatsurou, Pavel was protecting himself perfectly, he noticed that Tatsurou became a bit faster, and stopped his thinking for a while, 'And Mai with her ask.' suddenly his eyes became wide, 'Wait a minute, she told that Ren had already tried to help Masami. Could it be that she wanted me to talk to Ren about what happened between them?' Pavel was surprised; he couldn't belive that it was really so, 'If she really wouldn't me to help her, she definitely didn't tell me anything about Ren.' his hands trembled; he didn't notice how Tatsurou hit him by his head.

"Pavel-san, are you alright, you seem oblivious today." Tatsurou was worried a bit for the Russian boy.

Pavel rubbed was glad that his head was protected with the helmet; he didn't want to get such hit at his head, "Just pondered a little." Pavel confessed.

"About the girl you were talking about?" the boy asked again.

"In some ways, nothing to worry about."

"If you say so." Tatsurou responded indecisively, the boy didn't want to interfere in Pavel's ponders so he decided to spar with another person, who was free now.

Rinko noticed that Pavel was different today and said him to have a rest for today, Pavel couldn't disagree with her, as his head was ready for sparring today, and he decided to leave earlier. He returned to the dressing room and changed in his casual, uniform. 'Well at least I will be able to visit Maria Sergeievna much earlier.' he thought about his second teacher, 'Interesting how her arm is? I think I should buy something for her, Oleg Semenovich will buy pears for her definitely, maybe tangerines?'

"Oh Tarasov-kun, how are you doing?" Pavel heard familiar female voice.

He raised his head and saw a handsome woman with white hair, she was wearing grey official suit, her eyes were slightly squinted, but it was possible to see that they were blue, he quickly knew the woman that was the leader during his second mission being a Taimanin, who also was his teacher of music.

"Good afternoon Hirata-sensei." he greeted the woman, "Quite well I think." he responded.

"How do things go with Andou?" she suddenly asked him.

"Do you know about this too?" Pavel surprised how fast rumors get others' ears.

"Do you really think that I'm blind? You have practice in my class after all." Chikeko smiled.

"Totally forgot about it." Pavel hit himself with his palm, but then he decided to speak out, "Worse than wanted." he sighed.

They exited from the academy and went by it courtyard. They weren't in a hurry, but also their pace wasn't slow. "What is it?" she was interested what wasn't so, "Maybe I will be able to help you."

"The problem is that I still can't find a way how to start a common talk with her. She responds as a machine, I want to try to find out about her hobbies, but it seems that it's absolutely impossible because she is not configured for dialog, and at the same time everyone wants me to stop trying my attempts to do this."

"Modern Masami is so." Chikeko sighed, "Sometimes I really want to see her smile again, but it seems that it won't happen again." but then she immideately bucked up, "Wait a minute, are you doing this because Tereshkov-sensei asked you to do so?"

"No, he asked me nothing." the Russian boy protested, "But honestly, we made a plan how I could come a bit closer to her."

"Can I hear it out?"

"What? Why do you want to hear this?" Pavel was surprised.

"Don't worry." Chikeko smiled, "I'm on your side, and after all it was me who told a little about Masami."

"If you say so." Pavel felt relief hearing that he has got an ally in his deeds. Then Pavel started to tell about their plan, how Oleg Semenovich offered to find the place where Masami disappears. He said that he noticed that Masami liked to read as he noticed, he also told about his lessons with her. And when he finished telling, Chikeko decided to share her opinion with him.

"You did really a great work Tarasov-kun; I must say that you could do as much as Ren-chan could do." Chikeko thought for a while, "Maybe we will be able to crack her shell this time for sure."

"Sensei." Pavel asked when they passed central gates, "You said that I've done as much as Ren did what do you mean by this?"

Chikeko sighed deeply, "First of all it will be right to say that Ren-chan was the only one who tried to help Masami-chan is from those who never excepts help in personal life neither other student not especially from the teachers. She can hide her warnings perfectly so it was really difficult for us see her changings, I still can't understand how Ren could see them, I don't know how Ren wanted to help her, but I only know that only Igawa-sensei must know about it."

"Do you mean Miss Asagi?" Chikeko nodded.

"Then it will be a perfect idea to ask Ren about it." Pavel looked at Chikeko.

"You can try to do this, but try not to be too persisted, as you can make your relation worse."

"Got it." Pavel nodded.

"By the way where are you heading?" the teacher of music decided to talk about something else.

"Do you remember the woman that helped us?"

"You're meaning that Maria?" Chikeko understood what the boy wanted.

"Yes, I want to visit her, after all she is my teacher too." Chikeko was a bit astonished to hear this, "Do you want to accompany me?" he asked her this time.

"I think I'll do it." Chikeko responded with a smile, "At least, I want to thank them for their help."

"Oh sensei." Pavel suddenly turned to his teacher, "Have you cooked something for Oleg Semenovich today?"

"What?!" Chikeko's cheeks became red.

"Don't think that I've forgotten, I remember how you asked me about what he likes." the Russian boy chuckled, "So what have you cooked for him?"

Masami started to wind her strand, her cheeks were still red, "I made some chicken with some salad for him."

"Not bad." Pavel crossed his hand behind his head, "If there was another beautiful girl who would cook for me." Pavel seemed to be jealous.

"Don't worry, Masami-chan will do this when you help her." Chikeko said playfully.

'Honestly, I would like that Ren will be this person.' Pavel thought, he didn't hear her responded, suddenly he saw a shop, "Sensei, can we go in this shop I want to buy something for them."

"Why not." Hirata Chikeko nodded and both of them went into the shop.

After a while they exited it, both of them had by one package in their hands. Pavel had tangerines, while Chikeko was holding the package with bananas and litchi. They were talking about the teachers, students and other staff. Chikeko also tried to know something new about Oleg Semenovich and Pavel told her some information about his mentor. Little by little they came to the hospital. They entered it and then quickly found the ward where was Maria. Pavel knocked at the door and opened it slightly, "Maria Sergeievna, may I come in?" he asked in Russian.

"Come in." they heard a respond in Russian. Pavel opened the door and entered the chamber along with Chikeko.

Maria's eyes became a wide, but she could hide her wondering, "You haven't awaited us, have you?" Pavel asked the woman, "How are you doing?"

"Quite well." the woman responded, "What about you?"

"The same with us." Pavel said with a smile, "By the way, we have brought you some fairings I think you and your partner will like it, at the same time, where…"

"He decided to go for a walk." Maria responded.

Chikeko put her package onto the side table and asked the woman, "How is your arm? You were hurt badly."

"Much better, thank you." Maria said, "Are you from academy?"

"Yes, straight from the club, and have Oleg Semenovich visited you?"

"Yes, he has left about fifteen minutes ago." she looked at the clocks on the wall, and asked the boy, "So have you joined the club?"

"Yes, I joined the kendo club." Pavel nodded.

"Is that tanned girl joining this club too?" Maria said remembering Ren.

"No, she attends swimming club."

"Interesting, you decided to join the club on yourself, I thought that you will laze away." Maria glanced at him.

"Wait a minute!" the protested, "When have I been lazing away in Russia?!"

"Regularly. As I remember, you always were told to find some club, but you did absolutely opposite, and I also remember that teacher have also complained at you." Chikeko looked at the boy hearing such things; it was good that they were talking in Japanese, because it was really difficult for her to be here.

"Wait, it wasn't always so! You and Oleg Semenovich have never told anything about me." Vlasova narrowed her eyes, "Well, there were just several times, but I can count them on my fingers, and at the same time I was good at our practice." after a brief pause he added, "And about clubs, I didn't want to join them because I wasn't able to have practice with you. Maria smiled at such comment.

"Nice to hear that you were good in our lessons after all." Pavel took the tangerine from his package and stretched it to Maria. The woman accepted it and started to peel it. Her wounded arm wasn't fixed with a splint so she could do this perfectly, Pavel decided to do the same he took out another two and gave one to Chikeko.

"Do you hear about anything what will happen to us?" Maria asked Chikeko.

"No, there's still nothing known. I tried to know, but Igawa-san tells nothing about you." Chikeko ate one segment and continued, "I think we must wait until your officials show up."

"I think so too." Maria agreed, she didn't like the idea, but she had no other choice, "In my opinion, they could do several salvations of this problem; the first one is to return us back to Russia. The other one is to help you in fighting those scums, and the third one is to make us a part of your Taimanin stricter."

"It sounds reasonable." Chikeko said, "As I was informed, you have already helped to Igawa Sakura's squad."

"Yes, it was during our first sortie." Pavel entered the dialogue, Maria glanced at him angrily, and Pavel understood her view and decided not to interfere in their talk without reasons.

"That's why, I belive that our officials know that and will make you a part of our team." the teacher of music said believing that everything will be fine.

"Have you heard something about 'The Third Law'?' she asked Chikeko and Pavel again.

"No, right now there's nothing to worry about." Pavel said.

"Other group gave them some troubles in the other place; I think they won't show themselves for some period of time."

"Perhaps during this lull our heads will think of something, these criminals are not from those who twiddle their thumbs."

"I wanted to ask you about something." Chikeko asked Maria, "That man with claws is he really you brother?" Pavel stopped chewing; he noticed that Maria Sergeievna became frown. Pavel wanted to whisper something to Chikeko, but couldn't as Maria started answering her question.

"Yes, he is a traitor of our country; I think you've read the information about him that I gave to Oleg Semenovich."

"Yes, I wanted to know do you have the same abilities or they are varying."

"No our abilities are same, I think that Oleg have already told you some information about me so there's no need for me to hide anything."

"The problem is that I don't know how your powers work, I read his dossier, but I didn't find out how his ability works." Chikeko explained her question; she remembered that this theme was painful for the woman in front of her, so she decided quickly to change it.

"Sensei, you could ask Oleg Semenovich or even me, about such thing." Pavel referred Chikeko, after all Maria Sergeievna taught me well about her abilities.

"Do you have this mental ability?" Chikeko was surprised hearing something like this from the boy, who was younger than her, and had already known such thing.

"Nope, but I really would like to have it." Pavel sighed.

"If you want you can explain my powers by yourself." Maria gave an opportunity too Pavel to show his knowledge.

"Generally there several ways to use mental abilities, the most common are: to increase someone's powers, to create special blockades and reading mind. I think Maria Sergeievna have already showed you the first one, her power influence on people's subconscious, that allows them to be a bit more quick or bit more powerful. Mind blockades allow you to withstand against tortures, affecting on your subconscious they hebetate the pain and the effect of drugs, but still they're not eternal and they must be renewed from time to time." Pavel ate another segment, "However it will be badly that you will encounter someone else with mental ability, because he can destroy this blockade and start torture your mind with false images." Pavel flinched from his own words.

"It seems that you know quite much about this power." Chikeko was surprised; she also was amused how Pavel explained it so simply and understandably.

"However there's still a small secret of such ability." Pavel looked at Maria and asked her, "Maria Sergeievna, "Can I ask you hand?" Maria stretched her hand, "Sensei, put your on hers." Chikeko did what the boy told, Maria closed her eyes and after a second she heard Maria's voice.

'Do you hear me?' but the mouth of Russian was closed.

'Wow, you can create such things?!' Chikeko was impressed more.

Maria gave her hand to Pavel and now Chikeko heard the voice of her student, 'It calls mind corridor, when you need to talk about something secretly not being heard.'

'Amazing, your power is really impressive.' Chikeko said in her head, 'I have never met people with such ability.'

"Like we have never met those who can control shadows." Maria responded, but this time she did out loud.

"Don't you have people like Sakura?" Chikeko asked the woman.

"No, as we know this ability is rare, and in Russia we have never met such people."

They talk for some time, they discussed several themes, and then Chikeko decided to leave, she wanted to leave the teacher and the student alone, maybe they had something to discuss personally, Chikeko said goodbye and wish Maria quick recovery. When the door was closed Maria said, "You did right thing that told her about my abilities."

"Do you really think so?" Pavel awaited that she will scold him, but the result was opposite.

"Yes, you're here to make good relations with Taimanin, and after this she will trust you more, and the way you explained it is good."

"After all it was you who taught me this thing, and Oleg Semenovich was the one who helped me too."

"However it was funny to use my powers on you." Maria looked at Pavel.

"Hey, that was really painfully, you know!" Pavel didn't like Maria's remark, "However, how do you think what will happen to you when the meeting of officials will pass?"

"As I told you I don't know." the woman was glad that Pavel was worrying about her, but she didn't want him to be upset, "However it is definitely the second or the third variant, if they really want to improve relations with Japan, they have to make us the part of Taimanin, especially if they haven't got such people with mental ability." they talk for a little too, and then Maria said looking at the clocks, "You should go, you will have lessons tomorrow."

"Yes." Pavel took his school bag, and said, "However, I think it will be funny to see you at the academy. Your lessons were really interesting, I mean the practical part."

"I always was wondering how you could remember everything from practice and theory was like a thick wood." but then she added, "But still, I'm glad to hear that you like to be here and it seems that there's someone you really want to impress."

"Why do you think so?" Pavel understood what his mentor wanted to say.

"I mean that tanned girl." Pavel became red, "It was nice to see you." Maria decided let Pavel go.

"Yeah." Pavel mumbled, "I think I will come tomorrow." Maria nodded and the boy left the door.

'Is Japan changed me really that much? Or it's just because of Ren?' Pavel thought, he left the hospital and went to his place.

Little note: The biggest part of presented characters is OC, like 'The Third Law', Russian hunters, 'Red Division' only Taimanin and several Japanese people belong to Lilith soft, and do not own them.