DISCLAIMER: MPK does not own Star Driver or its characters. Just Niika and Arata. New character belongs to bamafelix. Thanks again for letting me borrow him!

NIIKA'S P.O.V.

"Good Morning Niika-chan!"

"Hello Niika!"

After greeting all the people who had said hi to me, I was able to reach my classroom. Arata had headed inside before me so I didn't really have much luck of avoiding people today. I don't know why but somehow I suddenly had become a little popular over the first few days. My brother thinks it's because of the new skirt. And to be more specific, in the guys case, because of how low it was. I wanted to ignore all of that and just experience what its like to live what's called 'a normal high school life', but its kinda hard when you keep getting surrounded by dozens of students, asking you 'Where did you get that skirt?!' or 'You're so pretty! Can you go out with me? Please?!'. I've never experienced this before. Heck, I've seen so many people in one place before in my whole life neither has Arata. I'm surprised by it and he must be too. It's all so new to me, and I felt somewhat refreshed by it.

I was feeling kind of tired was kinda just letting my feet drag me inside me, I wasn't really aware of what was going on around me. I was up late talking to that crazy red-headed baka, all casual like it was normal for him to just come into my room lay in my bed beside me so late at night. It took me a whole 30 minutes to get back to my senses, remember he wasn't suppose to be there and kick him out. Which made me realize something...

"Good morning Midori no me-chan." Takuto sat back it as he looked up at me, "What brings you to my side of the classroom?" Watanabe-san watched us, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

"Ano...Thank you for getting me home safely last night. If it wasn't for you, my brother would've gotten worried." I hesitated but bowed in front of the psychopath.

Takuto waved his hands in front of him, "Its was nothing. Anytime." He rubbed the back of his neck, "Maybe I could do it again."

"Don't push your luck, hentai!" Takuto sweatdropped.

"Ooh!" Mrs. Watanabe shouted, "He walked you home Niika-chan?!"

"Um, not exactly..."

"Oh, don't lie to me, you! He took you home!" We sweatdropped as she tried to hug me. I moved further away from her.

I turned back to Takuto, "But Takuto, how did you know where I lived?" A red tint showed up on Takuto's face.

"Etto...I...may have...followed you home the day before."

"What!?"

"Ooh! And he's a stalker! Niika, I'm so jealous!" Watanabe-san suddenly jumped up and hugged me anyway. Her huge bust slid up and down my arms, making me uncomfortable.

"It's not like that!" Takuto said, "I was just wondering if you knew where you were going. I thought you were going the wrong way after you just randomly started walking away looking so angry. So I followed you just in case you got lost. And you are kinda new and all..."

"YOU GOT HERE THE SAME TIME I DID!" I yelled in his face.

"Hey, what's all the yelling about? Don't tell me this guy is giving you trouble, Niika." Arata had come over to us, "Then we might have a problem here." Takuto gulped as my brother cracked his knuckles.

"Um, no Onii-chan. Everything's fine. I'm just a little tired and frustrated." I told him wiping my eyes, yawning slightly.

"Oh okay. Just making sure." Arata still gave him a sideways glare, intimidating Takuto.

"Well hello, Mr. I'm sexy without my glasses!" Mrs. Watanabe cried at the sight of him, "Why are you still wearing those anyway?"

"I'm still waiting on my contacts." Arata lied then returned his attention to me, "Niika, can I borrow your notes for English class? I need to copy them real quick. I sorta left mine at home."

"Uh, sure. Just give a second..." Then I realize I don't have it with me, "Oh crap! I left it on the front desk of the office this morning! I'll be right back!" I suddenly sprinted before anyone could respond. I didn't get very far though, I accidentally bumped into someone after just making it through the doorway. I was about to fall when some slung an arm around my waist and pulled me back onto my feet. "Gomen'nasai!" I shouted immediately. I was going to say something else, but that was until I saw his emerald eyes and more importantly, his white hair. "White?" I murmured quietly.

"Takashiro Niika-chan?" I looked at this white hair boy who I've never met before.

"How do you know my name?" I asked the first thing popping into my brain.

"Ah ha! I was right! You are pretty!" He shouted, "Here! Your English notebook miss. The Secretary told me to give this to you since you were in my new homeroom. After meeting someone like you, I know I'm going to have a great first day. You're almost like a lucky charm Niika-chan!" Little did I know, and I don't think he knew either, we had moved into back into the classroom. His face was just so close I kept backing up, until I felt my back hit the wall. He must've known at this point that we were inside, because he removed his arm from around my waist then put both hands on the wall so that I was in between them. "You will wish me luck today, wont you?"

Suddenly he was tapped on the shoulder by the blue-haired stalker who sat in the corner, "Um, Excuse me?" The new boy looked at Sugata. He had one of those Sebastian Michaelis smiles on, "You're trespassing in my circle of protection here." We both looked down we were right by Sugata's desk. It was then I sweatdropped. "If your going to do that, can you please go over there?" When he pointed to the other side of the classroom, I sweatdropped some more.

"Seriously? That's your only problem with this?" I asked. He looked at me.

"Is there something else I didn't include?" Instead of sweatdropping some more I facepalmed.

"Excuse you..." My brother had come over with the same expression glued to his face, "That's my sister so if you don't mind..." He grabbed the new boy and push him away, "I'd like you to stay about this many feet away from her, okay? Do we understand each other here?" Arata seemed to get bigger, while the new boy only seemed to shrink.

He gulped, "Loud and clear, sir."

"Oh there is no need for the honorifics, just call me Arata." He told him casually, but his expression was still the same.

"Whatever you say, Arata..." Suddenly his tone became cheerful once again, "Then you can call me Kazuma!"

"Kazuma-kun? You're already here?" Sensei had appeared finally, "I was just looking for you!"

"Don't worry, ma'am! I made it here safely! And in one piece too!" He shouted as he saluted.

"Good. Now all I have to do is introduce you to the class and we can get started." Sensei then made the class quiet down and had the new boy come up front, "Everyone, we have a new student. Fujimoto Kazuma-kun. Why don't you introduce yourself?" After this new guy, Kazuma, finishes talking to the class, even making them laugh. He sits next to Sugata in the back and class starts not even a moment later.

A Few Minutes After English Class started...

The teacher starts writing stuff on the board, "Today we'll be learning how to give simple compliments. Now open your notebooks and copy these words." She then started to write a couple of words. Pretty. Beautiful. Adorable. Cute. Handsome. And Lovely. As she continued to write I could help but notice a conversation was starting the back. And it obviously was coming from Ms. Watanabe.

"Hey, Takuto..." Watanabe-san starts, "What do you think of me being a high school wife?" Wait what?

Takuto's eyes roiled back to look at her. He seemed slightly irritated, "Um I... I guess it works."

"It works? More specific, please?"

"What do you mean, specific..." When I looked over, she was checking out her ring.

Watanabe-san stared out the window, "My husband is a man named Leon Watanabe. Do you know him?" She started to explain, "He's the head of the Grand Tonnerre Foundation. He'll be 65 this year. He doesn't leave Paris, so we're living separately now. You know what that means, don't you?" By now the conversation caught the attention of the entire class, including the teacher.

"Um..."

"The thoughts that go through my head every night as I, a new bride, lay alone in my bed..." Takuto sweatdropped, "Do you understand, Takuto?"

Before he could answer her, Keito, the class prez budded in, "Ms. Watanabe. Please be quiet during class." When Watanabe obeyed, Takuto mouthed the words 'Thank you.' And sighed mouthing the words 'Thank goodness' before continuing to work. I couldn't help but giggle a little inside my head before doing the same.

Lunch...

"Takuto, where's your lunch?" Ruri asked him. I had decided to hang around the guys that I meet yesterday, even if it mean't I had to enduring seeing that red-headed baka's face everyday.

Takuto had a rain cloud over his head, "While I was swimming over here, all of my money for the month got eaten by the fishes..."

"You really are reckless." I told him as I leaned on a desk crossing my arms.

"You're one to talk."

"Excuse me?"

Ruri slapped a bento in front of him and opened it, "Here, take some of mine then!"

Takuto's eyes lit up, "Whoa! Croquettes!" His mouth watered as he bit into them.

"Why don't I make your food this month, then?" Ruri suggests, "Croquettes are my specialty!"

"So, you make good croquettes?" Chill suddenly runs down my spin as Watanabe-san suddenly speaks.

"Ms. Watanabe...Are you really getting a haircut during free period?" I asked her.

"Call me Mrs. Watanabe, please. We're friends Niika-chan, but I do prefer to let it be known that I am married. Besides, there's nothing wrong with getting a little trim, I call it getting my hair 'shaped to perfection'!" I sweatdropped.

Class prez speaks up, "Please refrain from having your hair cut in the classroom."

Watanabe smirks confidently, "Stick still up there, huh dear leader?" A boy with black hair comes over with a broom and dustpan to sweep up the hair on the floor, "What's wrong? We're not leaving a mess."

The blond girl doing her hair sighed, "Please don't move, Mistress. It's almost done."

"Takuto." She calls, "So I heard, you're having money problems? Then how would you like to come over to my place after school?"

Takuto ate more food down then gulped a second time, "Please tell me you're talking about a part-time job and not what I think you are."

"Of course! What else would I be talking about?" Watanabe then smirked deviously, "Unless there was something else you wanted to do..."

"Nope. Nevermind." Takuto coughed fakely, "So what's the job?"

"Well, It's just pool cleaning, but we could really use some extra hands around the place." I stuck a small lollipop I got from one of admirers in my mouth.

"Sweet!" I squealed to myself.

Ruri squealed after I did, "Wait, is your house is the one I'm thinking of?!"

"If you all want to come, we'd be much obliged."

"Really!? She then grabbed Wako, "Wako too?!" Wako looked at her like she was crazy.

"Shall we come too?" Arata and Sugata walked over joining the conversation.

"No way! Even Arata and Sugata's coming! Now you know you have to sign me up!"

"Well, it sounds like fun." Sugata says.

"You're all very welcome. Niika-chan." I looked at her, "You are coming aren't you? It would be no fun if you weren't there."

"Well I guess if everyone else is going, I guess I have no choice but to go." Ruri then tried to glomp me, but I side-stepped, "I mean it is better than just staying in the house all Saturday by myself..." That's when I had a sudden brain spark. I had totally forgotten about the new guy. Where had he gone? After scanning the classroom, I managed to find him coming into the classroom with his lunch in hand as he sat down to eat it. I couldn't help but see even from all the way where I was standing, that he had a sad smile on his face. "But he's...all by himself. Alone."

Apparently Mrs. Watanabe had saw me looking at him because of what she said next, "Checking him out huh? He is kinda cute." My head spun around to look over at her, "If you wanted to invite him over too, all you had to do is say so. Don't be so shy!"

"Shy?! I wasn't I'm not..."

"You who! New boy!" The blonde girl that was doing her hair sighed heavily as she moved again. Kazuma looked over at us, "You're invited to come over my house tomorrow! Besides you already know that you're invited to my house anytime." For a moment I thought I saw Kazuma's face darkened before he answered her.

"Eii. I wouldn't want to intrude on a gathering of good friends." His sad smile for some reason, tugged at my heart. I knew what it mean't to feel like that. Experiencing loneliness is the worst feeling in the world to me. I could stand it anymore.

"Kazuma-kun." I walked over to his desk, "You wouldn't be intruding. We're inviting you. Besides, if you don't come now, we'd be awfully offended. It'd be like your saying you don't like us..."

"But I do!" Kazuma blushed after shouting this, feeling embarrassed that.

I held out my hand to him, "Then say you'll join us. Onegai?" He stared at me for a couple of moments then hesitantly took my hand.

"Well, when you put it that way...I'd be happy to join you." I smiled and a light blush appeared on his face once again.

"So Watanabe-san, Is your house really that great?" Takuto asked as he continued to chow down.

"You don't know, Takuto-kun?!" Ruri cried, "It's docked at the eastern port. It's the gigantic..."

THE NEXT DAY AFTER RURI'S EXPLANATION...

"So rich wives stay here, like a hotel?" Arata asked when we all arrived at the docks. We were face to face with a huge...boat...I think that's the name. I've never seen one this big before, nor have I ever had the chance to catch a glimpse of the beautiful ocean scenery. There was even an clear blue sky today. It all seems, quite breathtaking.

"Not quite. This entire boat belongs to Ms. Watanabe." Ruri explained while walked aboard, "Her husband gave it to her when they got married." I see out the corner of my eye that Vice, that little yellow fox from the so called 'Drama club' yesterday had follow us. But it didn't really brother me. As long as he stayed out of trouble.

"Welcome. Thank you for coming today." Ms. Watanabe said once we reached the deck.

"We won't fail you, ma'am!" Takuto says saluting to her. I couldn't help but notice Kazuma-kun seemed a little uneasy about hanging with us, so I decided to say something.

"Gomen'nasai." I apologize walking up beside him, "I forgot to mention that we'd be helping Watanabe-san clean up around this place a little."

His emerald eyes looked down at me, "Oh that's alright. I already knew anyway, your brother told me on the way. I can't help but still feel his glare on me through, you know." I looked over at my brother and sweatdropped, "Even though he says I'm cool with him, I can't help but feel like he doesn't like me."

"Don't worry about him. Arata glares at everyone I socialize with. He's just really overprotective."

"I understand completely, my older sister used to do that..." He saddened suddenly, his eyes seemed hazy.

"Kazuma-kun?" He shook his head.

"Sorry. Just uh...remembering something...excuse my rudeness." He bowed, I frowned. "Really, Niika-chan, Don't worry about me. I'm okay." He smiled.

"But~" Before I had time to question him, Sugata came over.

"Sorry to interrupt, were gonna start now." He said holding a couple of brooms for us. We took them and got to work.

"Mistress, a call from the master. He's inquiring when you'll return to Paris." The blond girl that was cutting her hair yesterday told her.

Watanabe sighed, "Is that what did he said? It seems he's impatient. I guess he's getting lonely. Tell him I'll talk to him later."

"Forgive me for asking," Sugata stopped for a moment, "But, You don't answer him yourself?"

"Nope. He isn't good at Japanese, and I'm hopeless at French."

"Wow. I'm sure that makes your marriage interesting." Arata said.

"Well my sexy blue-eyed friend, I'm a young lady with sex appeal so the perv just likes me for my body." Arata sweatdropped, "But he happens to be one of the richest men in the world. Globally speaking, we aren't a particularly unnatural pair. We're a couple bound by the unbreakable chains of greed."

"I've never heard anyone just say they have "sex appeal" like that..." Wako murmured.

"I've never seen a ship this grand..." Ruri mumurs to her.

"Okay, everyone! Let's get to work!" The boy with black hair that sits next to Watanabe in class shouts as he joins us. Stepping down inside the pool, we see its filthy, as expected though. But something was moving some where in the back.

"There's something in there!" Wako and Ruri shout hiding behind the boys. I just stare at the thing that popped out. It was some huge green animal with sharp teeth.

"What the hell is that? Its so huge~!" As I start to walk forward to get better look, Arata grabs my arm.

"Niika no! You don't know what its capable of."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. The pool is Baron Allibert's home. You should be fine, though. The Baron's friendly."

"Are you sure?" Takuto turns to look at her, an intimated look on his face.

"How could you causally forget to mention something so important?" Kazuma asks. Watanabe shrugged, we all sweatdropped. We all began to scrub, which was followed by silence. That was until Takuto broke it.

"What's the lady doing up there?"

Ruri replies, "Probably trading stocks. Each time Mistress Watanabe taps a key, the budget of a small country changes hands."

Sugata chucks slightly, "Really? What's a girl like her doing on an island like this?"

"Huh." Takuto turned to Kazuma, "Ne, Fujimoto-kun. Why weren't you at school the first couple days?"

"I was sick." He says nonchalantly. "And all of you can just call me Kazuma." Out of nowhere, Vice jumped off my shoulder and pounced of toward where 'Baron Allibert' was. Soon enough he came back around the corner as quick as he went and jumped up to where Watanabe was.

"Takashi! Kill this rat!" She shouted spilling her drink and climbing on her chair. Vice ran back toward the Barron, screamed, then ran back towards me and jumped back on my shoulder clinging on to me for dear life.

"You poor thing. You must feel traumatized." I told him as I patted it on its head. The black headed boy, Takashi, didn't feel the same way as he was about to whack him while he was still on me! "Wait! Stop!" I shouted flinging my arms around then finally in a defensive pose waiting on the impact of his broom. When it didn't come I looked up. Both Kazuma and Takuto had blocked Takashi's broom with their own.

"That's enough of that." Takuto told him.

"If wanting to kill it tempted you to almost hit a young girl in the head with a broomstick, I'd advise you to just leave the creature alone." Kazuma added.

Takashi growled, "Please move!" He flung his broom at Takuto like a sword, Takuto block every shot. "I was given...an order!" At a certain point, Kazuma took over for Takuto. When Takashi started to hesitate at his speed, Kazuma took the advantage and knocked his broom out of his hands, poking his broom in his face.

"Forgive me, but I'm not one to hesitate like you." His green eyes flashed an emotion that I couldn't quite read.

Watanabe suddenly clapped, "Beautiful! You have some guts Kazuma, Takuto. Hey, why don't you two have a match? To see who's the better fencer!"

"Only if its part of the job." Takuto told her, she smiled. "Kazuma-kun?"

"I usually don't fight unless provoked..."

"Fine. Then you're saying you can't beat me."

"Now I'm provoked."

A COUPLE MINUTES LATER...

Wako scowled, "Hey, hold on. Aren't you going to wear guards?"

"They'll be fine." Watanabe stated.

"Have you two ever fenced before? You both don't have to do this if you don't want..." Sugata started.

Takuto ignored him, "How much for this?"

"Which ever of you win, I'll double your pay. The other will have to kiss me through the glass…Minus the glass, and as much as I want."

"Double pay? Heh. Too good to pass up." Takuto squatted into position. "Ready to lose, Kazuma?"

"Oh no. I'm going to enjoy practically pushing you into Watanabe-san's arms. Try not to get scared when she has her way with you." Kazuma said doing the same.

"And Go!" I then watched the two engage in this battle they called fencing. From what I could tell it seemed like a dangerous...sport that's it. I mean come on, they were on a concrete circle basically in the middle of the pool. If one of them were to slip and fall off the edge, or just slip and fall on the concrete, they could get seriously hurt. I'll admit I was worried about Kazuma, and I guess the red-headed baka too.

"AH ah!" Both guys almost tripped on the edge a couple of times making my heart jump each time. Takuto seemed to be mostly on the defensive and Kazuma on the offensive, but most guys got their chances to swing at each other. I could tell Kazuma was definitely holding back, aware of the circumstances #1 and frankly just not really wanting to fight Takuto anyway. Takuto was basically the same way, not really hitting him that much. I mean they had just both met like 30 minutes ago, and now they were fighting each other?

"This is no good. Neither of them are really trying. I'm bored." Watanabe suddenly says then leaves without another word.

"Halt!" The boys froze, then retracted their weapons away from each other.

"Geez." Arata said walking up to Sugata, "She was the one who made them do it...She's really fickle, isn't she."

The battle ended and I was relieved. Takuto and Kazuma seemed to have enjoyed their little fight, even though their expressions a few minutes earlier seemed solemn. We all just went back to working and soon after, the pool was clean, completely rid of that green gunk. We all got paid afterwards, once it got a little dark. Watanabe still gave out the bonuses like she promised though, to the both of them.

"Whoa look at all this cash!" Kazuma exclaimed.

"Who knew she'd spend this much green on us?" Arata said counting it.

"I'll have enough for lunch money for half the year! Plus snacks!" Takuto had dollar signs in his eyes.

"Is that all? Then take a few more hundreds." She told him flinging more hundred dollar bills in his face.

His eyes widened, "I'll never go hunger on this island again!"

"Not a bad pay day." Sugata told him.

I looked over at Takashi who was in a corner sweeping the deck. I walked up to him, a little hesitant though. Hopefully he won't swing the broom at me again. "Um, Takashi-kun?" He looked at me out the corner of his eyes then looked back at the deck continuing to sweep. When he didn't answer, I started talking again, "Ano..."

"Did you want something?" He then asked me kinda rudely, I ignored it though.

"Uh, were you really gonna hit me with the broom earlier?" He sighed.

"I was ordered by the mistress to kill that thing, and I was simply following through, even if there would have been collateral damage." I frowned.

"I'm collateral damage?"

"That's how the mistress sees it. Don't take it too seriously though." I blinked, "I'll do anything for the mistress, even if it means I'll have to sacrifice my own innocence to do it." I was confused by what he said, so I just left it alone. Once Watanabe retired to her room, we all left going our separate ways.

I sat on the ledge of my balcony at home staring at the the blue sea below. It was all so calm and serene, especially since the wind was blowing slightly. I felt the need to get closer, so I jumped off the balcony like I did a few nights before and began to run. I stopped at the edge of the cliff, where I had jumped to save Takuto before. Sitting down, I looked over the water seeing the moon's reflection. I then grazed my hand over the crescent shaped mark on my neck. 'I know what the other one is, but now what is this?' I thought and sighed. I pulled out the small flute I had brought with me from my room. It was really old and battered, but it was one of my only treasures. I started to play the song Fish Girl had taught me, Monochrome. The notes quickly left my flute and filled the air.

SOMEWHERE...

"Open the Cybercasket!" A member of the glittering crux shouted, "Apprivoise!"

'Sakana-chan. I'm here, I know who Galactic Pretty Boy is. What do I do now?' Playing the chorus once again, I suddenly hear the words come in at the same time to match...

Mau yuki wa hoshi no kakera tentai ni te wo nobashite
ikikau negai kanjiteiru ne
subete wa ima MONOKUROOMU no naka...

I suddenly blow the wrong note and dropped my flute. I clutched my shirt, chest aching in pain again. I looked around me and noticed time had stopped. I knew exactly what I needed to do. 'But seriously Sakana-chan, why does this process have to be so painful?' I asked knowing I wouldn't get an answer. I closed my eyes and once they opened, they glowed bright green.

"The door to another dimension has been opened..."

After a light emits into the sky from my mark and so screaming, I ended up in Zero Time. I was already in a bubble this time. Wako was in a bubble beside me and Takuto was on the ground in front of the new cybody, from my guess, probably getting ready to fight it. But in the other bubble beside me, was someone I didn't expect...Kazuma.

"Kazuma?!" I shouted, "What are doing in Zero Time?!" Kazuma completely ignored me as he glared down at the huge cybody. Right then I had noticed an emotions in Kazuma's eyes that I thought I'd never see, hatred. Hatred and disgust.

"This again. Where's Takuto?" Wako asked herself apparently looking around for him. Is that all she's ever worried about?

"I challenge you!" The pilot of the foreign cybody shouted at Takuto in a familiar voice.

"At night? I'm not even getting paid. Pfft." Takuto bluntly stated.

"Is that, Takashi-kun?!" I asked.

"That bastard!" Kazuma cursed which surprised me, "I should have know that he was part of the crux!"

"You know about the crux too?!" He ignored me again, his face got dark. Takashi's cybody swung at Takuto but he jumped in the air and dodged.

"APPRIVOISE!" His mark glowed bright blue and Tauburn appeared. A blue orb appeared in its chest, Takuto transformed in the center of it. "Dazzling the stage! Ginga Bishonen! TAUBURN!"

"Hold on, that red head, Takuto. He's GINGA BISHONEN?!"

"That's what we all said when we found out. I didn't think a baka like him could be capable of possessing Tauburn."

Kazuma looked at me, "Niika-chan? How exactly, are you mixed up into this? Why are you involved? And her too?" The expression of his face had cleared up. It now showed more, concern.

"Star Sword Améthyste!" Takashi's cybody pulled out a red sword that seemed to be made of some kind of energy, before I could answer.

"A sword? Time for that, Jii-chan?" Takuto asked himself, "Star Sword Emeraude!"

"Star Swords." Kazuma murmured.

"What are they?" I asked him.

He glared down at Tauburn's sword, "Legendary swords that chosen cybodys carry. There should be eleven total."

"Is that so? So that means that thing and Tauburn are two of the chosen ones." Kazuma started to tune me out again making me both frown and get annoyed. We all continued to watch the fierce battle. With every attack Tauburn gave, it received on in return. Tauburn seemed to grow weaker, which seemed to be pissing Kazuma off. Why for some reason, do I feel that right now Kazuma seems darker than his normal self?

"See Pretty Boy, I'm being serious this time! Blade technique: Divine Blizzard!" Takashi shouted, his cybody's attacks seemed to get more offensive.

A couple more attacks and Tauburn was down, "I can't... this is too much." Takuto told himself.

"Dammit! He's pissing me off! I'm sick of this!" Kazuma's bubble suddenly disappeared. Out of nowhere he starts moving toward Tauburn at lightning speed.

"KAZUMA?!" I shouted.

"What is he doing?! Kazuma come back!" He ignored both me and Wako as he stopped abruptly in front Takuto.

Just as Tauburn was about to pull out another energy sword, Kazuma jumped in front of him. "Takuto! Just stop!"

"HUH!?" Takuto was confused as we were. "Kazuma, what are you~"

"Its obvious that you're a double wielder, yet you keep using only on sword! I've had enough of this! Watching you fight so poorly! If you're not going to use all of your ability, leave this battle to me!" Kazuma yelled at him in a deeper voice I did not recognize.

Takuto stared at him in awe, "Kazuma..."

"Well look who it is? Its been a while. I thought our last battle crippled you, Phantom." A crux member, woman with green hair and a mask asked Kazuma.

"Is that...Watanbe-san? No wait, Phantom? Why she'd call him that?" I thought to myself aloud as Tauburn stood up.

"Don't start with the small talk, President! All that matters is I'm back and I'm taking your cybodys down!" The woman in the mask smirked.

"We'll see, but are you so sure that you won't be boring?" Kazuma growled.

"Does anybody know what's going on here?!" Takuto asked us, we couldn't give him an answer.

"Galactic Pretty Boy!" Kazuma or Phantom rather called to him, "You've had you're turn, now stay out of my way!"

"That's the spirit! Show me what you got, PHANTOM!" Takashi told him. Something on Kazuma's chest started to glow a dark violet.

"NO WAY!" Takuto shouted, "HE HAS A MARK TOO!?" I looked down at the boy not knowing whether to call him Kazuma or Phantom.

'Kazuma-kun? What are you hiding? Who exactly are you?'

"APPRIVOISE!" The violet mark on his chest appears and he quickly disappears. A huge circle opens up in the sky, then moves downward toward the ground revealing a cybody that looked similar to Tauburn, expect it had a midnight black color scheme with silver trims. A white orb appeared in the chest of its chest, Kazuma in the center starting his transformation. "Ready for Battle!" A white mask hid his face. A black cloak appeared on him, a white straitjacket appearing underneath it. A thin green tint appeared in his white hair as the rest of his clothes appeared, "Galactic Man of Mystery! Rise, ALPHONSE!"

"No...no way?" Takuto murmured, "That's...he's...what?! This doesn't make sense at all!"

"Appear, Caladbolg!" A long sword appeared in the right hand of Phantom's cybody, Alphonse. "Cross shield, Aegis!" A shield huge shield to match the sword appeared in its left.

"Alright! Let's see how you handle my Divine Blizzard attack!" Takashi's cybody came at Alphonse almost at lightning speed, but he was able to block just as fast. The raged on, so now, Alphonse was battling Takashi's cybody. Tauburn watched from the 'sidelines' with us.

"Why does this seem so familiar?" I thought aloud again, the I remembered. Earlier today when Takashi almost hit me, Takuto started to fight him then Kazuma took over for him. 'It was exactly what happened just now. So if like before, if Takashi hesitates...' I suddenly had a vision.

"Final Oblivion!" Alphonse had found an opening to where Takashi was blocking, right in the center of its chest. Phantom took the opportunity to knock Takashi's star sword out of his hands with his shield and aimed his sword at the cybody's core.

"Kazuma wait~!" Takuto couldn't get the words out in time. Once he struck, the cybody blew up almost instantly, with Takashi still inside.

"Takashi!" The President shouted, the blonde girl with a mask standing behind her did the same. She looked kinda like Simone.

I froze at the sudden boom, "That attack...so much impact..."

I shook my head after viewing the violent vision and looked back down. "If Alphonse attacks Takashi directly, he could die! I can't let that happen!"

"No he won't. You remember the metal units we saw when we were inside the abandoned mine?" Takuto asked suddenly, I looked at him. "You see, the Crux use those machines called Cybercaskets that allow people to gain artificial marks so they can pilot Cybodies. They use their machines to control the cybodies like remote controls. If a person piloting using a machine has their cybody destroyed, they are safe from harm because they're not really inside the cybody in Zero Time, but if it was a natural mark user using their TRUE cybody, then if they are defeated in a reckless manner by their opponents, then they may die."

Understanding what he said, I looked back the fight. "But Takuto, there so much force behind Alphonse's attacks. If Alphonse attacks Takashi directly at his core, Takashi could still get seriously hurt, even inside the casket!"

"What did I tell you about hesitation! Soon, I won't give a chance to recover!" Phantom shouted from inside Alphonse.

"Worry about yourself!" Takashi told him. Soon after, Phantom found 'the weakspot'. I got ready to do something.

"Jackpot." Phantom knocked the star sword out of his hands with Aegis and aimed Caladbolg at the cybody's core. "FINAL. OBLIVION!"

"Kazuma, wait~!" I figured out how to pop the bubble that was around me and started moving toward Takashi's cybody at lightning speed. I hoped I could do this in time.

"Niika!" Wako and Takuto yelled in unison. Using my powers, I tried to fly through the cybody, and warn Takashi and make it out before Alphonse could land the blow.

"Takashi get out of the casket! Before you hurt! Even if you don't understand, just do it!" I was suddenly grabbed by Tauburn and pulled me away before the cybody blew up in flames. I could sense that Takashi was not inside and did what I had told him. I have reason to believe the cybody partly blew up on its own because of Takashi's absence.

The next thing I knew, Zero Time disappeared and I was back on the edge of the cliff.

The Abandoned Mine...

The Crux member banged his hand on the ground in frustration, after remembering his shaking form and the horror of watching his cybody explode just before ejected himself from the cybercasket. He knew Alphonse's attacks were indeed powerful, but he had still underestimated Alphonse's ability. His cybody's weak spot just so happened to be the core, and when he was slammed by the impact, he definitely felt the damage that came with it. If Niika hadn't warn him to get out in time, the cybody would have been in worser condition.

Head, the current leader of the Crux walked up to the boy on the ground holding his hand out. "It's a good thing you were in the Cybercasket. If you were actually using your mark you could have been killed." He had the nerve to smile before the boy turned in his certification pin.

"He defeated me...again..."

The Next at Lunch...

"OH-AYA-HHO! Everyone!" Kazuma ran over to us stopping at Takuto's desk. He seemed to be back to normal.

The first ones to greet him were Sugata and my brother, "Mornin' Kazuma."

"Why is he so jumpy today? Just yesterday~"

"What do ya mean, Wako-chan!? This is how I always am!" Takuto, Wako and I gave him a look but didn't say anything. Ruri, Sugata, and Arata weren't there, so they didn't know the truth. Kazuma's stomach started to growl.

"Look who's hungry? Come on Kazu-kun let's get to the caf! Sugata you comin?"

"Of course." Sugata slung an arm around Kazuma's shoulder as the 3 boys exited the classroom. "Ne Kazuma, can you meet me and a couple of friends of mine after school today?" I heard Sugata ask him as they left. Wako, Takuto, and I all sighed.

"Look at them all 3 sexy guys leaving together to do who knows what." Ruri grabbed Wako's hand, "Lets follow them!" Ruri left the classroom with Wako before she could protest leaving just me and the ruby-eyed boy.

I looked down at Takuto, who was glaring down at his desk. "Takuto-kun, what's wrong with you?" His eyes cleared when I spoke and look at me.

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine Midori no me." He rubbed the back of his neck, "What makes you ask that?" I looked down at him for a second then knocked him in the head. "T-t-t-t..."

"Baka." I suddenly spotted Takashi walking past the doorway and quickly went to catch him. "Takashi!" He stopped when he heard me but didn't turn around.

"What's wrong, Takashiro Niika-chan?"

"Nothing, I just wanted check up on you. You know, after yesterday~" Takashi spun around and covered my mouth in one swift movement, gripping my jacket from balance.

"Don't speak of it again." Once he was balanced, he slowly removed his hand as I stared at him silently. "Look, thank you for saving me. But I hesitated and in result, I was defeated, my cybody is now damaged. Deep down, I know I should have been killed and now I have a guilty conscience. It's the price I have to pay, to serve my mistress."

"Dai-kun..." Takashi turned around and walked away from me without another word.

'Takashi, had a cybody...Kazuma, almost destroyed it...Innocent Kazuma, eii, Phantom...' I thought, 'Why did Kazuma hit him with so much force knowing that someone could have been inside? Heck, why was he in Zero time to begin with? Moreover, Galactic Man of Mystery? Alphonse? Sakana-chan, what is this!?' I walked back to the classroom the get Takuto so we can to go to the cafeteria with the others.

'How exact does this involve this new student, Fujimoto Kazuma?'

And so the adventure of life goes on.

MPK: Tell me what you think!