-Luminescent-

"Deuce"

"Not if I can help it," I fight back.

Again and again, Rem and I have been going on for a while, getting tired by the more attacks made. Even so, nobody decided to leave. They were all focused on us. And neither Rem and I backed off...

As time passed by, I got restless. We started to pant, tired from countless attacks fired at us. The both of us became wounded over time.

I will finish this....

Without thinking, my necklace glowed. I thought that if I could use it in secret, maybe I can win this pointless battle. Behind my back, I started to save up enough energy for the final attack. Just when I was about to let it go, Kiryu inside me shooked me...As a result, my final attack failed.

"Kiryu? What are you doing?," I whispered.

In my mind, I could see Kiryu shake his head at me.

He didn't want me to use it....

I took a deep breath and took Kiryu's advice...I will win this fight fair and square...

I could see Rem already positioned for my next move...This time, I decided to go for an up frontal attack. With my blade, I fell in close for this attack to work. Over and over, Rem and I go off, neither one backing off...

In the end...we were panting hard, both of us could hardly stand...

At this rate, none of us could win...

As close as we were, we both went in for a final attack....Halfway, we stopped our attacks and collapsed on each other...

In the corner of my eye, the Demi's were all speechless...Beside me is Rem, tired as I were.

I was surprised that there was someone who could match my skill. Before, I didn't have as much fun as I did just now. I had completely underestimated him. Rem that is....

Ji then called in healers...Exhausted, a girl with salmon hair sang a hymn that recovered all of my wounds in my body...Her voice was sweet, and beautiful. She didn't look like any of the advanced students here...But, she was probably the best healer I've seen so far...

Within a few seconds passing by, I was completely healed...The healer then shifted over to Rem as he sat up to let her heal him...I stood up and looked over at Ji standing at the entrance of the room. A huge smile right across his face like usual. In the end, I have exposed two of my attributes...three...to Ji.

I have to be careful of not letting the last be known...

I slid my blade under my skirt as I walked to the entrance. Overall, neither of us won. It was a deuce...

"Hmm? Have you always hid that blade of yours under there?," Ji asked.

Huh? Is he a pervert?

"Yeah....since I don't use my ANIMA, I use a weapon instead..." I replied, giving him a look.

"Hmm, effective...Especially its second form." He stated.

Right....I was too involved in this battle...

"Sorry Ji, I went overboard. But I promise you....that is all of my secrets. I'd hope," I said, guilty.

Gently, he gave me a warm smile and patted me on my head.

"You are very special, Shiro. Because of that, you need to learn to control yourself," Ji whispered.

I thought about it for a while...

Control myself? How?

"Anyways, you and Rem both passed," Ji announced.

It's a good thing that we passed but...

Silently, I sat down on the seats in the arena, watching other students fight against each other. Rem then walked over to the seat beside me and sat next to me...

"You are stronger than you look," he said avoiding contact with me...

I gave him a stare...

"I don't know what you are planning, and I guess I won't find out today," He stated.

I looked at him confused...

Planning? Planning what?

I mean, I know that I came out of now where....plus, I'm probably the only one in the entire school who doesn't use their ANIMA....but who said that I was planning something?

"Even so, I don't plan on being nice to you," He stated with his piercing eye.

After that, he went quiet and walked away...I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I was just worried...that news of this will soon reach Master...

Right...he knows that I'm a weapon and a fire user now...so does the whole class.

It's been on my mind since I've met him but....

Why does he wear an eyepatch?...what does he hide under that mask?

I looked down into my hand, of where I placed my blade onto. During that battle, I wanted to win....
It may be because I didn't like to lose. But it was fun.....

I clenched my hand...

That felt awesome...

I smiled to myself, thinking about the enjoyment of fighting Rem...

I would like to go against him again...

As I started to notice my surroundings, a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes came upon my view...

Oh...The boy before that sat next to Rem...

A friend of his?

Unlike Rem, he had a softer smile...

"Hey, you are Shiro, right?," the boy asked.