Chapter 3: Black and Black

Xenon awoke at the first beep of his digital clock. He slammed a hand on it to stop it. He slowly got up and took a quick glance on the LCD screen. The red light blared 4:00 a.m. Xenon sighed.

"First day of school." He muttered. "Time to get ready." He fixed his bed and noticed that the other one was empty and was in its usual disarray. "Seems like he didn't go home last night." He shrugged. Abaven might have partied all night.

He went to the fridge and took a bottle of water. He took a swig and noticed the phone's red light was blinking, an indication that a message was left on the answering machine. He walked to the phone, pressed a button and Abaven's deep baritone filled the silent room.

"Hey bro, I won't be home tonight. Just called to remind you to lock the doors and windows before you go to sleep and when you get to the bathroom…...don't forget tomorrow's the start of….."

"Sheesh! I know, I know." He grumbled turning the machine off, not bothering to hear the rest of the message. "Damn. How many times do I have to tell him not to call me that?" Xenon cringed. "He's the one to talk. He shouldn't have partied all night if he knew school's about to start."

He went to the wide windows and opened it, letting the breeze in. While Xenon changed into his sweat pants and running shoes, the wind went in and circled the whole room sweeping the note that was loosely posted on the bathroom wall. The note that had been there since early afternoon yesterday, fell and unnoticed by Xenon flew out the window. Xenon went to straight to bed yesterday and wasn't able to see the note, if he had seen it, it would have read:

Hey Bro,

Dr. Enkil told me earlier to remind you that she reminded you that tomorrow's the start of full moon week. She said you should check yourself before you leave the room or you'll be in big trouble. Don't forget to lock the door and the windows. I'll call you in the evening to make sure you get the message. Won't be sleeping with you tonight. Lock the door and the windows.

XOXO,

Abaven

Xenon changed into his black cotton pants, black sleeveless shirt and his black running shoes. He grabbed his ipod and hitched it in his armband. He took his customized skull candy headphones and placed it around his neck. He snatched Quaun and Ubry on his night table and dropped them in the pocket of his pants before he left the room. He headed straight to the sports complex and started to warm up. The well-lit grounds were empty except for the occasional patrol guards. After a few minutes of warming up, he started his morning routine.

After about an hour of exercise, Xenon went back to his dorm room. He strapped Quaun and Ubry on his black coffin back pack and took off his clothes before heading for the shower. At about 6:30 Xenon was out of the bathroom. After draping a towel around his waist, he went to the fridge to get the bilberry pie he made yesterday, grabbed his back pack, his room key and left after locking the door.

He walked to the academic building without meeting anyone. He spotted Ami standing on the hallway leading to the cafeteria. They always have breakfast together before class. As always, she was in her usual gloomy self. He frowned when she approached. She was raising a brow at him and was giving him a look that he could only identify as disgust.

Despite that, he smiled and greeted her with a cheerful "Good morning".

Ami merely tsked.

"What?" He asked, handing her the box of bilberry pie.

"You should be dead already." She replied, accepting the box. "I'm wondering how you made it this far without dying."

"What did I do?" He asked, confused by her cryptic words.

"That's the problem right? You…...didn't do anything...obviously." She retorted.

"Huh?"

Ami sighed in exasperation. "Do you know what today is?" She asked.

"Start of term." Xenon promptly replied.

"Guess not…." She groaned. It wasn't the answer she was hoping for.

"It's the start of school right? Right?" He asked.

"Must we do this every month Xlain? Didn't Abaven remind you?"

"I don't need to be reminded by him of anything." Xenon retorted indignantly.

Ami growled and whacked him in the forehead with her Masume. Out of reflex, Xenon quickly shielded his forehead with his left hand. She always hits him when she gets annoyed, so Xenon had adapted a reflex whenever she raises her hand.

"Ooow!"

"You're faking it." Ami spat. She knew too well that didn't hurt him at all. It was more of a stimulus response on her action that caused him to yelp in pain.

"Why'd you hit me?" Xenon chuckled "That's bilberry pie by the way, what do you want for tomorrow?" He said, pointing to the box in her hand.

"You're being your usual stupid self." She replied. "And you're changing the topic."

"Am not."

Ami rolled her eyes in annoyance. Why is she acquainted with this idiot? She should better make him see what he is missing before he gets into trouble. Not that she does not want to see that but for today, she is too busy to witness him suffer. It is the first day of school after all.

"Did you look into the mirror before you got out of your room?" She asked.

"Uhmmmm…..m-maybe?" He answered uneasily. He did not remember looking at the mirror before he left. This conversation seemed to be heading straight to another episode of his impending doom.

"Riiiiiiiiiiight…..apparently you didn't dumbo. Girls who saw you walking here have already fainted by now, not to mention having nosebleeds." She remarked sardonically. "Dr. Enkil's gonna kill you." What she said was a fact, not an opinion.

"Why?" He asked. "I didn't do anything."

Ami gave him a thorough once-over and nodded to herself. "Yup, that's the reason."

Xenon followed her gaze and almost gave out an expletive he didn't dare say in Ami's presence when he saw what he was wearing, actually more of what he wasn't wearing. The only semblance of clothing that covered him was his black cotton towel and it barely concealed his body. Half of his thighs were showing and his long hair was still dripping wet.

Ami tipped her head and sneered. As usual she was unfazed by his state of undress.

"You forgot that today's the start of full moon week, didn't you?" She smiled maliciously at him. The look on his face was priceless.

Xenon was speechless for a moment. He slapped a hand on his forehead. How could he have forgotten what today is? Ami was right, he is dead or he will soon be once Dr. Enkil finds out he went out mostly naked.

"You better retrace your steps before Dr. Enkil spots you, Xlain." She suggested.

That was good advice, but it's one that was all too late. When Ami peeked over Xenon's shoulder, Dr. Enkil was already storming her way through their general direction. The doctor didn't look pleased, not that it's not normal for her but the expression she was wearing was enough to make you wish you never existed.

"Too late Xlain." She smiled evilly at Xenon, then strategically stepped away to avoid Dr. Enkil's line of vision. She figured out, it was better if the doctor did not see her. Even if it seemed rude to not greet an elder, it was practical not to since she did not want to be caught up with the same dilemma Xenon was in at the moment.

"My dear slave, how good to see you this fine Monday morning." Dr. Enkil sweetly crooned, her voice thickly laced with poison enough to kill a herd of rhinos.

Ami smiled evilly when she saw the look on Xenon's face. He was almost as pale as she was and that's saying something. Although he looked very fresh, it was evident that sweat drops had formed on his forehead and now slowly dripping on the sides of his petrified face.

Xenon froze when he heard the voice. There was no mistaking it, he did not have to turn around to know who just spoke behind him. Xenon pondered on his next move. He has options but, they seem to leading to only one way - hell.

Option #1 - Run away and head back to the dorm room, act as if nothing happened.

Option #2 - Turn around, greet Dr. Enkil with a smile, act as if nothing happened and be berated.

Option #3 - Ask Ami for help

Option #4 - Stay frozen and strive to be unnoticed.

Option #1 had failed countless of times before. It only works on fan girls, never on the doctor. He'll be shot with a tranquilizer within ten paces, dragged to the clinic while unconscious and be castigated for the rest of the day when he wakes up. Option #2 is quite risky and dangerous but not something that has not already happened. In fact, it happens all the time that it seems like his day won't be complete without it. Option #3 is out of the question since Ami seemed to be enjoying witnessing his demise in the shadows. He could see her covering her mouth to suppress any sound coming out of it. Option #4 is stupid. He could never get away with acting inconspicuous. With his large frame, he is impossible to miss besides, he will never be mistaken as anyone else other than Abaven or himself.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He chose the second option.

He glued a smile on his lips, turned around and was about to say his greeting when "SMACK!" something thick hit him straight on the face.

"Newspaper." He guessed. Thank the gods it was not her fist or her heels.

"You are so IN-CO-RRI-GI-BLE!" Dr. Enkil said, whacking him with every syllable she uttered. "How many times do I have to tell you that you're allowed to skip the first period during full moon week?" She added, still hitting him.

Xenon just stood there, taking the hit with no complaints. After years of experience under the doctor's unmerciful hands, the whacks she was giving him did not hurt anymore. His body was already immune to her blows. Nevertheless, he needs to fake it or else the doctor will find out. One thing was for sure though, he'll have a huge red spot on his forehead for the rest of the day.

"Oooow! But Doctor, it's the start of the school term today." Xenon reasoned out. "I can't afford to play truant."

"Don't give me that crap!" She snapped. She was still continuously hitting him with the rolled up newspaper as she spoke.

"Doctor…" Xenon winced, unable to protest.

"Shut it!" Dr. Enkil spat. "How many times do you have to be reminded that you can play hooky during full moon week, huh? We've been doing this for years! How thick is that skull of yours?! Do you know how much casualties we had last month? You weren't eve naked then. For a slave, you're such a pain. I don't need another brother, Maron is a handful already and you're adding up to my workload. Geez, it would be much convenient if I can sedate you all day but who would take care of the patients….You're a headache." She said raising a brow. "Imbecilic, immature delinquent! Learn to save your princely hide will you? You're brother's not here to save it for you." She gave him one last smack before she took off her lab coat and grudgingly shoved it on Xenon's face. "Cover yourself."

Xenon took the coat and shrugged it on. The doctor seemed to have calmed a bit after her litany. She was right, his brother wasn't there to save his hide every time he creates a blunder. He was about to thank the doctor when a student came running in their direction.

The student gave a hasty greeting then said, "The head of the girls dorm is looking for you doctor." After that, the student bowed again and left.

Xenon was sure he heard the air around the doctor crackle. He sighed, bowed down his head, stared at his bare toes for a moment and when he looked up, the doctor's beautiful face turned into one of those oni masks his brother brought him one time when Xanxus came back from Japan.

With no inhibitions at all, the doctor grabbed a handful of his hair, twisted it and yanked -- hard. Xenon cringed but did not protest, all he did was follow when the doctor started to move. He saw Ami scribble something on a piece of paper, attached on one of her little knives and threw it at him. He caught it in one hand, unfurled the note that read:

Will be here. Come before first period. Good luck Xlain, you're dead.

…...fufufufufufufufu

Xenon chuckled as he saw her disappear from one of the pillars that lined the vast hallway.

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Glancing on his wristwatch, Xenon hastened his pace. It was already 7:00 a.m. He shrugged on his sleeveless pirate coat and combed his hair with his hand. After an almost thirty minute hell with Dr. Enkil, he was not able to properly dress himself when he got back to the boy's dorm.

After the incident in the hallway, Dr. Enkil dragged him back to his room, grabbed some clothes, threw it at him and ordered him to change in one minute. Luckily the clothes she grabbed were easy to put on. His favorite jolly roger shirt, a pair of artistically ripped loose black pants and his red and black sleeveless pirate coat. He was still hopping on his left army boot when the doctor grabbed his ear and towed him to the girls' dormitory where he was ordered to heal the students who fainted.

As for the meantime, he was on his way to the cafeteria…..again.

He was halfway through when he saw a girl in a black dress walking in circles just up ahead. She looked lost. Xenon took the liberty to approach her. She did not even notice his presence not until she bumped into him. There was a loud "THUD" and the girl fell back but Xenon caught her before she could hit the floor.

***************************************************************************************Felicienne Corleone closed her eyes, the moment she hit something hard. She felt herself tumble back. She braced herself, anticipating a fall on the marble floor. She was surprised when instead of the cold surface, she felt a pair of strong warm arms enveloping her body. After that, she was set straight on her feet.

"Are you alright?" She heard a voice ask, and based on its deep baritone it belonged to a male. She nodded, eyes still closed.

"Thank goodness." She heard him sigh in relief.

Felicienne opened her eyes and what she saw squatting in front of her was a pirate.

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"Sorry for bumping into you." Xenon apologized.. "You seem lost. New student?" He asked.

The girl in black nodded shyly at him.

"Are you heading to the Assembly hall?" He asked eyeing a piece of paper clutched in her hands.

"Y-yes." She replied.

"May I see that?" He said, gesturing at the paper.

Hesitantly, the girl handed the piece of paper. Xenon took the paper and examined it. As he thought, it was a map of the school. An inaccurate one at that. He shook his head, folded the paper twice and returned it to the little girl.

"That map won’t get you anywhere near the Assembly hall." He commented, reaching for his coffin shaped bag. The chains wrapped around it clinked together as he rummaged inside. He produced a small pamphlet, took out a red marking pen and started to scribble. "Where'd you get that map anyway?" He asked.

"Uhhhmm….."

"Here." He said handing the pamphlet to the girl. "It's the official map of the whole school. I marked the fastest way to the Assembly hall and all the entrances and exits as well as the facilities and the 'STAY AWAY' places."

"Thank you." She said smiling as she took the pamphlet.

Xenon stood up. "Well then, I better get going." He said, swinging his bag on his back. "Welcome to HADES by the way." He added, then left for the cafeteria.

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Ami was on the exact spot with the exact same look about herself where he had left her earlier, making him wonder if she even moved at all.

"You're late." She said, as she turned her back and walked towards the cafeteria.

"Sorry." He apologized, grinning sheepishly.

"You're the only pirate in the world who's a diplomat." Ami commented.

Xenon chuckled. "Yeah."

They walked together side by side. To the students of HADES, this couple clad in black is just common sight, nevertheless they still provoke questions, questions that would never be answered for no couple could be more compelling and intimidating as this two in HADES. Nobody knows if they're dating. Rumour has it that they do, but no one has yet confirmed it. Nobody dared asked.

A blond student eyed them in particular. Some freshmen stared out of curiosity. Fan girls stayed out of sight and are trying their best to conceal their presence from the girl walking beside Xenon.

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After breakfast, the two headed straight to the Assembly hall. Students entering the hall eyed them, their opinions of the couple safe inside their little minds. Anyway, even if they voiced them out, the two would not give a damn.

Voices of screaming girls echoed in the distance. Ami and Xenon looked at each other and at the same time, uttered one single name.

"Abaven".

Before they entered the hall, Xenon felt something crawl down his spine. He spun around and scanned his surroundings.

"What the heck was that." He uttered, surprised when he heard the same words coming from Ami.

He looked at her and saw that she was looking at him as well. They stared at each other's eyes for a moment, then shrugged.

"Something wicked….."

"This way comes….."

Xenon walked besides Ami, into the assembly hall bustling with special students.

-chapter end-