Hiya guys, Azail here!

English isn't my first language so if you see any grammar errors or things of the like please let me know so I can correct them. I am open to suggestions and criticisms, what is writing if you don't know how to accept those. Also thank you for taking the time to read my work I appreciate it.

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H.A.D.E.S. 2 years ago

"Yes, bro I'm eating well. In fact, I'm on my way to the cafeteria. Stop worrying okay? I'm seventeen for cheese's sake. I'm not a baby anymore. Zero's the baby, not me." Xenon grinned sheepishly. He wasn't concerned even if other people thought he was crazy. He was, from a far perspective looked like he was rambling incoherently to himself.

Actually he was talking to his brother whose deep baritone voice rambled through the bluetooth headpiece lodged on his right ear. It was Saturday and during the weekends, there weren't many people in HADES. The grounds and hallways were void of students, it was the perfect time to take a leisurely stroll to the cafeteria for breakfast, no mob of fangirls tailing behind him, no girls asking for his personal biodata and screaming his name in delirium, or so he thought.

He was preoccupied and in a state of euphoria because he was calling his brother so he wasn't aware that there were girls tailing behind him, watching his every move. They were like predators waiting for the right time to strike the prey dead.

Xenon glanced on his customized back steel Rolex wristwatch. It was half past eight. "Time flies fast when I talk to you." Xenon said, smiling to himself.

"Well then Xlain, I should be going now, I've promised Zero we'll visit the museum of guns today and buy a new knife." Xanxus said over the phone. "We'll visit when we'll have time okay? Take care of yourself, eat well, don't make Dr. Enkil mad, remember last time?"

"Uhhm….yeah. That memory would be forever etched in my soul." Xenon grimaced.

"And before I forget, are Qauan and Ubry with you?"

"Yes. I never leave my room without them, I can be preoccupied but I'm never forgetful."

Xanxus chuckled. "If you say so. Well then, eirini akribos." Xanxus bade.

"Eirini." Xenon replied.

The line cut off. Xenon sighed contentedly, unaware of the impending doom lurking behind him

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The weekend is Ami's favorite day. It was the perfect day to finally finish the book she had borrowed from the library. The grounds solemn, devoid of any student and the hallways were deserted, perfectly still….or so she thought. She was about to sigh in contentment and breathe in the familiar scent of solitude that accompanied the weekends when screaming voices invaded her auditory senses. She turned and glared at the source of the racket.

What met her eyes was a young man clad in black. From behind him was a mob of screaming girls. She recognized him as one of the older students of the Accel class. Personally, she does not know the guy and she does not give a damn. It was just that she often sees him in the school grounds talking with one of the staffs that she recognizes him and for the fact that he was one guy that would be really hard to miss. He was tall six foot something and his way of dress was unmistakably Goth. He was wrapped in black from head to foot. Even the dolls strapped on his belt were dressed like him. He had sense of style though and he definitely stands out.

Then Ami noticed that he was running away from the girls, most of which had tears falling down their cheeks.

Ami tsked in disgust. "He's got to have done something shameless to these ladies. He must have exploited them one way or another, there's no way girls would cry for no reason. The bastard, making girls cry. I'll teach him a lesson." She believed him to be some kind of psychopath. One that has done so many horrible things that earned him to be lynched by shrieking girls.

She thought of unsheathing Masume when he gets abreast her. Having a taste of her nodachi ought to give him a lesson.

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Curse his inattentiveness! If he was not careless he would not have been chased by screaming fangirls now. It was mostly his fault that he gets too preoccupied when his brother is calling. When he glanced to check on his back, it was already too late. A mob of girls had already gathered behind him. The only thing that he was able to do was execute evasive tactic number one - to run.

Running is, through his experience had proven to be the best and effective way to evade fangirl lynching, and his feet had never let him down before. He has never been caught but most of the time, he escapes shirtless. He just hopes he won't come across someone he might bother. Based also in his experience, causing aggravation to others prove to be painful. He had had received too many high heeled kicks on his gut and about a million newspaper whacks upside the head (he's used to it by now but that does not mean it does not hurt) especially when most of the girls chasing him starts to faint due to severe blood loss caused by nosebleed and has to be taken to the infirmary. This type of scenario happens almost five times a day in average. He could only wish to spend one whole day without being mobbed. That will never happen.

He was running for his life, and for the shirt he had recently sewn when he noticed a slim figure a few feet up ahead. Poised in a stance that he knows all too well. As an assassin he had been to too many fights and seen too many to mistake the stance for something else. He recognizes hostility when he sees it and the figure up ahead all but exude predator air.

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Ami paused, closed her eyes for a moment and took several slow deep breaths. When she exhaled, she opened her eyes and gripped her nodachi firmly. The familiar feeling of Masume on her hand brought back the memories of the people she swore to protect and the reasons she became what she is now. She took a small step backward with her left foot, slightly bent her knees and waited. A few more steps and she would help rid the world of another maniac.

Xenon's brow creased. When he got nearer the figure, he recognized the long black sailor uniform that wasn't prescribed by the school and along with it is the sardonic face of the infamous Ami Daeth. The new transfer to the Accel class.

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A few more paces, the target was fast approaching. Twenty paces more, Ami relaxed and exhaled slowly. She smoothed her left thumb on Masume's sleek black saya and remembered the day she received her nodachi. She had vowed to only unsheathe Masume for a worthy opponent. Sheathing Masune for the approaching young man seemed to be only just. She has heard of his missions and he may have done the world some good but his being a maniac is not something she would overlook. Well, she is not entirely certain if he is a maniac but the sheer number of the mob chasing him is evidence enough for her. It would suffice. Why else would a group of angry, crying girls chase one young man if not for his immoral advances on them?

Fifteen paces.

Ami took one last breath, five more steps and he is done for.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

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Xenon's eyes widened at the sight of the still figure in front of him. She was still about fifteen paces up ahead and he could clearly see that she was set to attack. He could see her glaring adamantly at him. What in the name of Zeus has he done to this girl for her to release such killer intent on him? As far as he could remember he has not even so much exchanged greetings with this person, not even eye contact. One thing is for sure though, he must have done something to piss her off without him noticing it. He should apologize if that is the case, he thought. Women tend to go ballistic when the men who erred them never realize that they are the ones at fault and never try to ask for an apology. But before that he should first resolve his current predicament.

Exactly ten paces from her, he stopped running. A few girls who were right behind him caught up and grabbed his shirt. The girls from behind bumped into them and the girls in front bumped into Xenon, and with the suddenly halt, Xenon tripped and fell on the ground face first. His new shirt was ripped to pieces and the girls who took hold of the tattered fragments started a riot among themselves on who should keep the torn rags.

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"Now!" Was the word that screamed inside Ami's head.

She was about to sheath Masume when the unexpected happened. The young man took a sudden halt, causing a rather comical turn of events that left the young man deprived of his upper garment.

It was when the young man fell that Ami saw something that she did not anticipate. He was on his mid fall when they had eye contact and Masume was half way out of its saya. She saw it, in his eyes. The same look that her Grandpa and Grandma have in their deep brown eyes. It was that look that made her hesitate. It was that look that made her stop.

He may look threatening and vicious but his eyes bellies all the things his physical appearance may illustrate. She saw through his façade almost immediately. This is a man who had never done anything evil to anyone nor even conceived malicious thoughts. Someone who possesses the same eyes as her grandparents could not possibly be a maniac. The girls behind him could be chasing him for some other reason, she could see that now. He may even be suffering from it.

Ami fixed her gaze on the riot of girls. Seeing them fighting over a piece of cloth like that made her wish she was not born with the same gender. She wants to ask some questions to the guy who just fell, but she doubts it if she would be able to start a conversation from the racket. She of course needs to silence the girls first but she hates conversations and any effort to explain is a waste of energy. Oh well she could only hope it would be brief. She cleared her throat to get their attention. As it turned out, it was all she needed to do to muzzle them up. They stopped squabbling, took about a second's look at her and left without a trace, clinging on the tattered shirt and muttering hysterically about a female student who can slit you in half within a blink.

Ami grinned to herself. "Girls." She scoffed. She turned her attention on the person at hand. The young man who fell on his face has yet to recover. Her brow creased in curiosity when she saw the tattoo splayed all over his fully exposed back. It was the combination of black for the outline and gold for the base. She gasped when she saw the intricate markings.

Ami is one person that is hardly surprised of anything but the tattoo is not something you see every day. The emblem, which belongs to a covert organization, is the world's finest. Seeing one in HADES is quite a shock. It is the rarest of the rare. The emblem itself is the stuff of legends and the one who possesses it is the bogeyman of all the other assassins in the world. It is known that being in the presence of someone who possesses the emblem means you are in the presence of the fiercest, deadliest man you will ever encounter in your lifetime.

"If he's an Order assassin, what's he doing here?" Ami asked silently. "What's HE doing here?"

Her head was filled with questions, but in the end she was too lazy to think of them so she let them go.

"Ah, who cares." She muttered. "Are you still alive?"

She tapped the young man's head with Masume's saya since it has been a little while now and he still has not shown any sign of life. She raised a brow when he blocked Masume with the back of his left palm.

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Xenon grimaced when he felt the impact on the back of his hand. Man was he glad he did not let that thing hit his head. Whatever it is, it smarts. Xenon suddenly bolted upright and patted the dust off him. He grimaced again when he saw that he had left a dent on the marbled floor. "I hope Headmaster Woody won't know I created that dent." He mumbled to himself.

"How heavy is that thing?" He asked immediately, inspecting the nodachi in Ami's hand. It must have been the thing that hit him.

"50 lbs." Ami promptly answered in a thick Italian lilt.

Xenon raised a brow and let out a low whistle. "Thank the gods it didn't shatter the bones in my hand. I thought it weighed a ton though." He chuckled, inspecting his hand as if nothing happened.

Ami tipped her head to the side. "It should have or worse." She retorted. "Is this guy for real?" She thought. It was the first time anyone received a whack from her using Masume, just grinned and bore it as if was just a slap from a baby.

Xenon scratched his head and smoothed his unbound hair, the girl in front of him just stared and he himself cannot seem to say anything. Then he noticed that she was staring at him and he was not wearing a shirt. She was not blushing, drooling or screaming. She was not having a nosebleed either, the things girls normally do in front of him and it seems it is the only thing they do in his presence.

"You're okay." He realized.

The girl just gave her a blank stare. "Pardon?"

"I meant, you seem okay." He corrected.

No response to that. Maybe he did not make himself clear.

Xenon scratched the tip of his nose, deciding to repeat his statement. "I said, you seem okay." He could not believe this girl. There he was, almost half naked in front of her and she was not the least bit interested. She was just plain not I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-E-D.

"Hey I heard you the first time. No need to repeat yourself. I'm too lazy to hear the repetitions." She drawled lazily. Obviously, answering was also a tiring task for her.

"Oh, okay." He said. "You're not bleeding too. And you're okay. That's good." He beamed. It's the first time he smiled at a girl who did not pass out instantly.

Ami gave the young man a droll stare. This guy might have the same eyes as her grandparents but he was confusing as hell. "What? Why should I be bleeding? And why am I not supposed to be okay?"

She asked. She was surprised this total stranger she mistook for a maniac could make her utter two whole sentences, she had never done that for anyone before. She would normally just shrug it off and leave. Looked like the guy was full of surprises.

Xenon was about to explain when he noticed the girl narrow her eyes and for the first time during their conversation broke eye contact. She leaned slightly to her side and peeked at whatever caught her interest over his shoulder. She was in that position for full sixty seconds that Xenon, intrigued, turned to look too.

What was fast approaching looked like a cloud of dust. He stared at it intently until he saw the silhouette of a voluptuous figure. Xenon swallowed audibly. From the sound of the rapid clacks on the solid floor the figure was wearing heels.

"Isn't that the school doctor?" Ami asked.

"I don't think so." He muttered, hoping she was wrong. Any other female teacher can wear heels. It could be Lizard or Sword but he never saw those two in such stylish footwear so they were out of the question and besides, no other woman had that figure in HADES, it definitely had to be her. "Damn!" He cursed silently, slapping a hand on his forehead. Why was he contradicting himself?

"I believe that is her." She confirmed. "That killing intent can't be emitted by anyone else. I've passed by the clinic so many times before when she was torturing her student assistant enough to recognize that presence." Ami smiled to herself when she remembered those days. She ought to get some torturing tips from the doctor. The woman is brilliant. Who could have thought a rolled up newspaper could be such an amazing tool of torment?

Xenon cringed. "I'm her student assistant."

Ami stared back at him again, her eye sparkling maliciously. "You don’t say?" This should get really interesting. After a long time of looking at the silhouettes in the infirmary's glass windows she could now observe the doctor in action.

He was in trouble and he knew it. There was nothing he could do but accept the inevitable. Xenon groaned miserably. It was supposed to be the weekend and he was supposed to be enjoying his free time without running into the doctor. The girls who chased him earlier were probably in the clinic now and the doctor of course, did not like it. He gave her work when it was supposed to be the weekend and the doctor's day off. He should have known better. Well if you would add it all up, it would all go back to him. It was his entire fault. He has not even had breakfast yet. Facing the doctor in her current mood with an empty stomach would only sum up to catastrophe in ginormous proportions. He was going to have hell for his morning meal.

Rather than stay put and be berated all over again for an incident that was fast becoming a daily episode in his regular schedule, Xenon decided to postpone this particular sequence to that routine and made a bolt for it.

"Oh, ho! The slave makes a run for it." The school doctor commented snidely.

Ami did what she deemed appropriated in the presence of an elder, one that was briskly walking. "Good morning, doctor." She greeted.

The doctor briefly turned to answer her a forced smile, albeit half hearted, and returned the greeting with an abrupt "Good morning" before turning her full attention on an escaping Xenon, not breaking stride.

Ami stepped in the side lines when the doctor suddenly halted to a sideway position and sent something flying from underneath her long white coat, the projectile rotating at dangerous speed. A loud "SMACK" echoed in the hallway as it caught Xenon at the back of his head, sending him falling on his face again. Just as immediately, the doctor was on him, one hand holding his head facedown, a knee buried against his shoulder blades refrained any further movement on his part. In succession to her actions, she quickly jabbed a syringe on his neck without remorse even as he gave a yelp of surprise.

Within minutes, Xenon's massive frame slumped on the floor. The doctor stood, straightened her coat with a shake and dusted her palms together. "That's that." She nodded, catching sight of a fellow instructor just down the hall. "Lizzy, mind giving a hand?"

It was Lizard, the female teacher with a Herculean strength. The lithe-moving instructor gave them a questioning look when she glanced at the unconscious body on the floor. There had been several others, all female though, just down the other hall. "Er… I suppose. With what?"

The doctor smiled, and pointed an index finger down at the oblivious form.

Without further inquiries, Lizard bent and picked up Xenon as if he weighted no more than he seemed. Ami did not know whether to feel pity or amusement at the way she dragged him along towards the clinic's direction, the two staff members now engaged in discussion about a drinking party for later that day.

Ami watched them a moment longer before she decided to leave when she happened to glance down where Xenon had fallen. Amazing that, a man his size, didn't leave a crack on the marbled floor, and only it did when she hit him with her sword. A dark square of leather caught her attention a bit off where he had lain. Picking it up by the corner, it came open to reveal a wallet with an identification card in display.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Xlain Eulyses Nikyrian Ozz Nyxx Zilch.

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The next day turned out to be hectic for Xenon. He was asked to bake cakes and pastries for the weekly afternoon staff meeting. He was specifically requested by Doctor Enkil to bake the sweets as form of punishment for his latest fiasco the day before. He grimaced inwardly when he remembered what happened after his conversation with the mysterious girl in black. He recalled being sedated by the resident doctor that resulted to his involuntary and unexpected black out. He regretted ever thinking that it was possible to postpone his impending doom, although it was worth a try, the result did not turn out to be what he had anticipated. When it came to the Doctor, resistance is futile. No loopholes. He of all people should have known that. He had passed out for almost half an hour and when he came to, he was bombarded with unrestrained castigation from his "boss". His ears are still ringing from it up until now. Then after that, he was asked to take care of patients while the doctor left with Liz, seemingly to be in a good mood after venting her aggravation on him.

To top all that, he noticed when he got back to the dorm that his wallet was missing. His identification card along with his most treasured possession (his brother and nephew's photos) and all his credit cards were all there. He had spent the entire night searching for it but he did not find it. Hopefully someone had picked up and had returned it to the lost and found section.

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Ami sighed. She had been staring at a picture of a cute baby she had found inside the wallet of the young man she had met the day before. She had been doing it for hours. The baby in the photo was simply irresistible. She wished it was not just the picture she was seeing. The baby, who looked about three years old was wearing a black cat costume while holding a black kitten with mismatched eyes - right side amber, left side blue.

"This isn't his baby picture, right?" She asked herself, inspecting the photo carefully. It cannot be that the cute little sweeting that she wants to squeeze desperately could have grown up to be an intimidating giant. She pouted and tipped her head to the side. If she remembers correctly, the young man yesterday had crimson eyes, blood red like the color of the monsters usually depicted in the movies and the baby had soft amber eyes, like the kitten. So it is possible that it is not his baby picture.

Ami shook her head gently and returned the photo inside the wallet She had meant to return the wallet but when she saw the picture of the baby in it, she hesitated on ever returning it. She wants the photo so badly, she is planning on keeping the wallet for a few more days. She will eventually return it to its owner…..maybe.

"He won't notice, will he?" She asked mumbled, thinking of secretly keeping the picture when she returns the wallet. After a few moments of silence she shrugged. She was to lazy to think of the possibilities. "I'll cross the bridge when I get there."

She dropped the wallet on the pocket of her long skirt and marched to the library.

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"Good job, slave." Dr. Enkil beamed as she patted Xenon's head like a pet dog. Xenon smiled in return. Grateful that the doctor was pleased.

The meeting had just adjourned and the attendees were now leaving the premises. Only doctor Enkil and a few other faculty members remained. The headmaster was still on his seat, leisurely sipping the remaining mint tea.

"You can leave now Xenon, you can take the leftover cakes if you want." Woody said beaming. "But leave the peach pie and the carrot cake alone."

Xenon took the box of the remaining cake.

"Until next time kid."

"I'll go ahead then." He said, bowing deeply before leaving the room.

His next destination was the guard house. He was going to check if anyone had returned his lost wallet. He was passing through the library building hallway when he spotted a familiar slim figure.

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Ami stopped her tracks when she smelled a sweet fragrance wafting in the air.

"Cake." She murmured. She lifted her nose and inhaled slowly, trying to pinpoint the location of the intoxicating aroma. It was, if she was not wrong, cream gateau with fresh fruits and based on the tangy, citrusy smell it has got to be filled with oranges and…..grapes. She closed her eyes for a moment letting the scent drown her senses.

She turned her head to the direction of the sweet fragrance and then cursed with a soft "merde" after seeing the person approaching her direction. It was the young man she had encountered yesterday. He was the last thing she wanted to see.

"Oh well." She said as her eyes fell on the cream colored box he was carrying in his right hand. He met her eyes when she looked up, a glint of recognition lighted his face when he saw her. He then smiled cheerfully as he ran towards her.

"What's this idiot smiling for? As if we're friends." Ami thought.

"Heya!" Xenon beamed happily. "You're that girl from yesterday right?"

Ami arched her brow. "Duh~ Is this guy some kind of moron? Of course I'm that girl. Isn't it obvious?" She mused. "Unless you're not the guy brutally dragged to the infirmary yesterday morning, no I'm not that girl."

Xenon grinned. "You're her alright." Xenon scratched his nape, remembering his wallet. "Say, miss have you seen a black wallet yesterday while we were talking?"

Silence.

Ami debated between telling him the truth and lying to him. She wondered why she was even hesitating. If it was someone else, she would lie with no second thoughts. But this guy seemed to be too…..she can not even find the right word to describe what he is...to be deceived.

"That wallet is really important to me you know, I'll do everything just to get it back." Xenon added when she did not respond.

On those words, Ami's ears perked up. "Everything you say?" She said, smiling malevolently at him.

If it was any other sensible person who saw the smile on her face at that moment, that person would have had bolted away and migrated to another country, changed name and went under plastic surgery. But Xenon has a twisted rationality inherent to assassins and that for him, that was a normal, not disturbingly creepy smile.

Xenon beamed, nodding enthusiastically.

Ami studied his expression. It was a genuine smile, as if he did not notice the malice that laced the smile she gave him.

"For sure? Anything?" She asked, her steel gray eyes piercing his.

"Yes. Anything." He confirmed.

There was another pause and then Xenon noticed her gaze shifted to the box in his hand. He tilted his head, surveying her reaction.

"I wonder…" He thought. "Does she like cake?"

Only one way to find out.

Xenon transferred the box from his right hand to his left while observing her impassive face. He chuckled when her gaze followed the box.

"What if I tell you, I know where you're wallet is at." She said, eyes still fixed on the cake.

"Really? Where is it? Can you tell me?" He asked eagerly.

Ami cleared her throat and looked up at him. "For a price." She said with no reservations.

"Name it." He countered confidently.

"The cake in your hand….." She said.

"Sure." He said earnestly handing her the cake.

"Along with a box of pastries like this everyday for the rest your life here in HADES, preferably with grapes or bilberry." She continued, accepting the cake.

"Sure no problem." Xenon replied.

Ami looked up at him in surprise. Unbelievable. He was taking all her demands in all readiness. This guy is really something. He could be just generous or simply stupid.

She opted for the latter.

"No kidding?" She asked still a bit suspicious.

"I said anything, right?" He replied, scratching the tip of his nose.

"You swear it?" She asked.

"You have my word." He said, etching a cross on his heart.

Ami shrugged. "Ok then….you'll get it tomorrow."

Upon hearing those words Xenon's shoulders drooped. He was hoping he could get his wallet back by today. Ami felt a bit sorry for him. He looked liked a wounded puppy but she has no choice. She wants to make certain he will keep his word so he has to wait until tomorrow.

Staring at him looking dejected made her remember the photo of the baby in the wallet.

"One more thing…."

"Yes?" Xenon replied glumly.

"What if something went missing inside your wallet?"

"I won't mind as long as it’s not the photos."

"Photos?" She asked feigning interest.

"Yeah….I have the photos of my nephew in there along with my older brother's." He replied.

Ami secretly sighed in relief. It was not his baby picture after all. It would be appalling and creepy for her part to have had felt cuddly for the baby that had grown up to be such a scary giant. "You have a nephew?" She asked, wanting to know more about the baby. It was unacceptable to her that someone like this intimidating young man could have such a cute relative. It was totally unfair.

"Yeah…." He replied gloomily.

From the looks of it, he seemed to be getting more and more depressed so Ami quickly changed the topic before it gets worse.

"I'm Ami Daeth by the way." She introduced, bowing like what her Grandfather had taught her. For her, it was more convenient since she does not like shaking hands.

"Xlain Eulyses Nykyrian Ozz Nyxx Zilch." He introduced, bowing the way she did. He was relieved when she did not extend her hand for a hand shake. It would have been awkward and rude if she had and he would not accept it.

"You can call me Ami or D. Whichever suits you."

"Okay….You can call me.."

"Xlain." She supplied.

"Why?"

Xenon stared at her in surprise. She choose the name his brother calls him. She was the only person other than Xanxus to address him that.

Ami shrugged. "I like it." She declared. "Makes it sound like I've slain you every time I say that and besides, it's a syllable shorter than Xenon."

Xenon chuckled. So that was the reason.

"Uhmmm...well then I should get going."

"Sure, tomorrow then."

After they said their goodbyes, both had unexplainable feelings squirming in their chests, both whom didn't know how to name it.

For Xenon, it was the feeling of finding someone who did not scream or faint in his presence. It was the first time he met someone like Ami. She reminds him of her deceased sister-in-law. Someone who could accept him as he is, someone he could act normal around. No need for pretensions or a façade of intimidation. He felt free while talking with her. She was the first female of his age that had a conversation with him that long. It was amazing. Finally he could talk to someone else other than Abaven, his room mate and the staff of the school. The talk he had with Ami was refreshing and it was novelty that he would never forget. Even though their conversation had been a little off, it felt normal. He knew then, the moment she spoke to her, they will be sharing a bond together. By the time he got back to the dorms, he had one mission set on his mind. He is going to make her his friend.

As for Ami, it was a strange feeling, alien even. She was not able to identify it. It was odd. Xlain was the first person she had a straight conversation with. She did not have to lie. His candour was infectious. She had never had any regards with the opposite sex, she finds them useless, boorish, abusive and disgusting but with Xenon she did not feel like that. He was like her grandpa, someone who was straight forward and who looked at the world with no prejudice or malice. True, she might have mistaken him for someone malicious but it was her prejudice towards all men that made her do that. In the end she found the truth about him and even if she would deny its existence, something like a bond of some sort had already started between them . It was scary to think she talked to him without getting bored. Maybe it was high time she should get a friend. But only this once.

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As promised the next day, Xenon handed Ami the pastries they had agreed upon and Ami returned the wallet without taking the photo. She figured out that if she would hang out wind him more she would eventually meet the cute baby and have her photo taken with him and she could cuddle him to death.

They agreed on meeting at the hallway leading to the cafeteria and having breakfast together every day so that Ami could get her sweet treats before class. They had been doing that routine for weeks and Xenon had noticed that something had changed. The mob attacks from fangirls had become fewer and fewer each week. He knew it was because Ami was with him but what he did not know was that, everybody thought them an item and because both were too oblivious about the gossip among students, it took some time for them to know that.

It was one morning when Xenon handed Ami a voodoo doll of himself that the rumours made itself known to them.

"Hey, this is for you by the way." Xenon announced unceremoniously, handing Ami a doll that looked like a miniature replica of himself. The doll looked uncannily like him that it was creepy.

Ami stared at the doll for a few moment, disinterested she replied with a lazy "Yeah thanks, whatever." Then hitched the doll on Masume's fuchi like one would on a cell phone accessory, it was made into a trinket.

The girls who were in the vicinity started to squeal. "We want one too!!"

They kept doing that for about ten seconds until Ami glared at them.

Xenon added salt to their wounds when he said out loud, "Sorry ladies but it's only handmade for special people, which isn't anyone of you."

They girls left crying their hearts out.

"That was harsh." Ami commented, deliberately ignoring the sappy things Xenon jut declared.

"Hey, what can I say, a dozen broken hearts a day….ah forget it. I know you're too lazy to listen." Xenon said, cutting himself off.

Ami just smirked.

"Well...well...well…. What have we here? You two lovebirds out for a stroll eh?" Someone said from behind them.

Ami and Xenon turned to deliver a death glare to the person who just spoke. They were not least bit surprised when they saw Abaven Shahe, Xenon's roommate leaning towards them, his hands on his pockets and grinning at them while he wiggled his well-trimmed brows.

"Shut it Shahe." Xenon retorted.

"What did I do now?" He asked innocently.

"We're not lovers, okay?" Xenon spat acidly.

"Hey, don't bite my head off. I was merely stating the obvious. It's known in the whole academy you know. In case you haven't noticed, everyone has branded you 'The Dark Couple'." Abaven stated making air quotes with his hands. "Quite apropos if you ask me." He said, nodding to himself as he appraised the two who were both wearing black. "Never seen a more perfect couple, except of course Fallon and me. We would be a more perfect pair, of course there's no contest to that. As to the couple thing, I'm still working on it. She's one tough cookie."

There he goes again, ranting to himself. He was being a nuisance….as usual. "Don't make me repeat myself Shahe." Xenon warned between gritted teeth.

"Okay, okay. Sheesh." He said holding his hands up in surrender. "Don't get your pan---" He cut off when he saw the look the girl beside Xenon was wearing.

She was smiling at him. She was beautiful for sure, but she was not his type and besides the smile she was giving him was the scariest he had ever seen. As if she was plotting something evil against his beautiful self. Abaven shuddered.

Unbeknownst to Abaven, Ami was indeed planning the most painful way to torture him.

"Okay I get it. You're not a couple…..then what are you?" He asked, slowly taking a step back in case the girl beside Xenon might think of whacking him with the sword in her hand.

"We're friends." Xenon replied, beaming.

"No we're not." Ami countered.

"In denial aren't we?" Abaven chuckled.

Ami raised her sheathed sword to Abaven's face. Abaven took another step backward.

"Hey, now." He turned to Ami. "If you're not friends then, what is he to you?"

Xenon rolled his eyes in aggravation. Count on Abaven to be persistent, he'll accomplish it with 190% proficiency. You won't even need to ask him to do that, he will do it himself.

"He's my supplier." She replied.

Abaven stared at Xenon in surprise. "I didn’t know you were into that kind of thing!" He accused, feigning hurt. "We've been roommates for ages and you didn't even tell me! You hurt me brother." He clutched a fist on chest and gave Xenon a condemning look.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? I ain't your brother." Xenon slapped his forehead in frustration. "Enough with the dramatics, Shahe. It's only been two years since we've become roommates, moron and it's not what you think dumbass."

"Is he always like this?" Ami asked curiously. Xlain's roommate might have the same looks as him but the similarities end there.

"It's worse when he's drunk." Xenon answered. “He’s such a pain…” He groaned.

Abaven turned to Xenon and smiled. “That’s what you like about me, that’s why we’re close.”

“Oh, shut up. You’re like a mold.” Xenon spat.

“Yeah, one that’s already much attached to you, like it or not.” He countered, much to Xenon’s annoyance, it was true no matter how much he denies it. Abaven then turned his attention back to Ami. "Hey missy, want me to be your supplier instead?" He said winking at Ami.

Ami made a choking noise, swung her sword and was about to hit Abaven straight on the face if not for Xenon's intervention. He caught Masume before it hit the mark.

"No need to get violent." Xenon said calmly, slowly pushing Masume away from Abaven's face.

Abaven seem unfazed for he continued bombarding them with questions as if his treasured face was not in jeopardy a moment ago.

"So what does she supply you with?"

"None of your business." Ami snapped.

"I can get you whatever he does." He offered graciously.

"I doubt it." Ami countered.

Xenon chuckled.

Abaven shrugged. "Well then, you act as if he's more than a supplier. Makes me wonder why you hang out together."

Ami and Xenon both gave him mysterious smiles.

"Birds of a feather…." Ami started.

"Hunt together." Xenon finished.

With those words, the two left Abaven staring at their backs, still figuring them out. Up until now, the two could be always seen together and Abaven whose playful nature can never be contained would always tease them, much to their chagrin.

Chapter End.

TBC >