Part 2 of "episode 1". Yeah, I'm still counting the chapters as half episodes.

Hi! Sorry this took so long guys, there were two parts in the chapter that need re-writing.

Plus I'm still sorting out the story. Worried about what to keep, what to cut, and what to add, while making sure it all fits together in a way that doesn't horribly hurt or confuse your brains.

Big thanks to all you guys, for jumping onboard with me again. I've never gotten so many fave's in one go before! I made this chappy nice and lengthy for you so enjoy it, and hopefully it'll keep you guys satisfied until the next one.

Disclaimer – I don't own Black Rock Shooter.

First, second and third period seemed to drag on for hours, and though the work on the board was easy enough to understand, Mato found herself struggling to keep up.

Mato let out a yawn and frowned, silently scolding herself for not getting enough sleep the previous night, like Yomi had instructed. A note was passed from one row over and two seats down, by Yomi who had been watching her. Mato unfolded the paper in her lap and read it.

It's only the first day, try to stay awake! -Yomi

She frowned and eyed Yomi behind her, who was poorly trying to conceal her giggles. Mato tucked the note into her pocket and attempted to finish her work for class.

A solid thirty minutes later, Westminster chimes rang signaling lunch period. The students got up and stretched themselves to go about their way, and not waste the break.

Mato practically threw herself onto her desk in relief. She hadn't realized right away, a top ranked school would require top ranked effort from its students. As if the entrance exams hadn't been some sort of a hint.

"Mato?"

"Hey." She responded lifting her head.

Yomi pulled out a chair from the empty desk next to her girlfriend and sat down. "Were you up late last night? You were nearly ready to pass out in class today." She questioned.

Mato sighed. "Kinda. Hiro and I were goofing off at video games and I stayed up a little late."

"That's no good. I told you to go to sleep early last night!" Yomi scolded.

"I know. To add insult to injury, I lost the game too! My extra effort was wasted." Mato huffed crossing her arms.

The heiress shook her head. "Promise me you'll get some sleep tonight?"

"Hmmm... You know, I sleep a lot better with you next to me." Mato suggested with a wiggle of her brow and a wide smirk.

Yomi smiled sympathetically. "You know I can't go to sleepovers on weekdays any more. Now that I'm 16, my dad is really bearing down on me get serious about things…" Yomi muttered, rubbing her cheek with slight apprehension.

"But we haven't been alone together in ages! I miss you." She complained shrinking her shoulders and giving Yomi her cutest pout.

Yomi turned away with a giggle.

"I've long become immune to your deceptively 'adorkable' ploys. So don't even bother making that face." Yomi said, stick her nose in the air.

Mato leaned in close and snuggled into her girlfriend's neck.

"Come on, work something out. For me?" She murmured as she snuck a hand onto Yomi's knee, squeezing it gently.

That one touch had goose pimples prickling all over Yomi's skin, and Mato didn't relent as her hand moved higher up, and she began tracing lazy circles on Yomi's thigh.

Yomi sighed with a blush. "Well, my dad is going out of town for a business trip for a few days, so maybe…"

Mato smirked. 'Heh! Immune my butt!'

Their cuddling was interrupted as Kagari entered their classroom carrying her bento.

"Chow time!" She announced.

Mato and Yomi were forced to separate as Kagari pulled up a chair and sat between them.

"Kuroi-kun, trade with me!"

"What? Why?" Mato asked unpacking her lunch from her school bag.

"Yomi packed sweet and sour pork in my lunch today."

"Eh?! You told me you wanted it!" Yomi argued.

"Well not anymore. Kuroi-kun, give me yours?"

Mato scowled. "You ungrateful…! Fine, fork it over! I'm more than happy to eat anything Yomi cooks!"

Mato and Kagari traded bentos and opened them. Kagari tried to split the spare chopsticks Yomi had given her, but they refused to break evenly. She scowled for a moment before looking over at Mato.

"Ne Kuroi-kun!"

"-sigh-…Trade chopsticks too?"

Kagari grinned, she handed her uneven pair of waribashi over for Mato's lacquered bamboo ones. Mato snatched them and quickly began shoveling down Yomi's home cooking, Kagari proceeded to eat Mato's lunch. Yomi watched on in complete confusion.

'Is there something going on I should know about? Mato's never so lenient with Kagari.' Yomi unpacked her own lunch and began to eat slowly, still keeping an eye on her friend and girlfriend.

High above tall ink-black bamboo trees stood a figure. Slim and feminine in a black dress with an opened back, she was motionless as she watched the churning of the purple clouds above her head. She listened to the wind as it blew quietly about, gently rustling the leaves of the tall bamboo trees within her world.

Grayish-purple eyes wandered all over for something out of the ordinary. There had been a rustle in the leaves earlier, like a wild animal running about. It had been odd, for whereas she herself had visited many worlds, none had ever been so foolish enough as to invade her domain. None that lived to tell about it anyway.

Quiet as her name sake, Ninja Zero Two leaped from tree top to tree top.

Coming to a stop, she balanced precariously on one leg from a single bamboo shoot, and flexed her gauntleted fingers as she waited. For several long moments there was nothing. Perhaps her enemy had fled?

There was a rustle to her left, and she pounced after it. Springing out like a leopard, Zero Two dropped down into the brush below after the intruder, but saw nothing. Not a trace could be found.

("Hmmp. Quick little devil, aren't they?")

There was another rustle to her right, loosely waving the bamboo. Zero Two leaped and slashed into the trees with her fingers, tearing at the thick brush and slicing it to pieces. Other than the shredded remains of black wood, there was nothing.

Where had the intruder gone now?

("Hmhmhm!") A voice chuckled. It seemed to echo from every direction, and Zero Two couldn't pinpoint it.

("Show yourself!") She shouted, slashing into the bamboo enraged.

A dark hooded figure watched Ninja Zero Two from the shadows, and grinned. Zero Two grunted in frustration as the voice giggle again.

("Heheh!")

Out of the darkness a blast of red fire, like a shooting star, sped by Zero two's head. Though it didn't make full contact, the flare singed her shoulder as it passed. It blasted through three bamboo stalks before burning away.

Ignoring the burn on her shoulder, Zero Two turned and darted deeper into the black forest in the direction the blast had come, growling with anger.

The shadowed intruder chuckled as she ran, happy to prolong her game of cat and mouse, with Zero Two hot on her heels…

Mato sighed in contentment as she consumed Kagari's bento, and placed it down on her desk.

"Yomi's cooking is always so yummy!"

"Kuroi-kun, your lunch stinks." Kagari pouted, staring into Mato's half-eaten bento of simple rice and assorted veggies.

Mato just smirked. "No one said you had to eat it."

Yomi looked between the girls, and put her own bento away. "So what now? There's still time left to explore the school before our next class."

"The gym! Let's go find the gym!" Mato exclaimed jumping out of her seat, startling her friends.

"Ehh? I meant look for a regular place to have lunch."

"We can do that later! GYYYYYYM!" Mato whined waving her arms about.

"Okay, okay! No need to make such a fuss." Yomi chided, standing up. "What about you Kagari?"

"I'm gonna look for the cooking club."

"Out to poison us with more of your killer sweets?" Mato teased.

"Yeah, and I'm thinkin' of making you my new taste tester." Kagari teased back.

The girls laughed as they walked the halls in search of their destinations. At a fork in the halls Kagari took a right, deciding to follow her nose to find her way to the cooking club. Mato and Yomi took a left.

Mato was all smiles and grins, beaming about how she was happy to get back on the basketball court. She talked about how curious she was as to whom her new coach would be, and if she'd be able to take her team through to the tournament this year, or perhaps the next.

Yomi simply listened and nodded.

In truth, Yomi was not looking forward to watching Mato sign up for basketball club. To have to pass by the volleyball court where the temptation to play would be, and be forced to walk away. She just couldn't…

After the discussion with her father a few days ago, Yomi didn't even want to think about sports.

"Ne Mato? Will you be okay signing up for basketball alone? I… wanna take a look at some of the other clubs."

Mato stopped in her tracks, unsure of what to say.

"Uh, yeah it's okay. I'm sure I can find the gym on my own. So, you're… really not gonna play volleyball anymore?"

Yomi shook her head. "Not this time, maybe next semester."

Mato was disappointed but she managed to paint on a smile for her girlfriend's sake. "Well, whatever makes you happy. You'll tell me what club you do sign up for later?"

"Of course."

Yomi nodded and turned to leave in the opposite direction, when Mato reached out and grasped her by the arm. She pulled the taller girl in close, and gently she planted a small kiss on her cheek.

Yomi stood confused for a moment. "Was that for luck?"

Mato shook her head. "No, I just wanted to."

Satisfied and giddy with excitement, Mato sprinted off to find a teacher and ask for directions to the gymnasium, her lengthy twin tails swishing out behind her.

Yomi was left standing in the hallway, blushing a mile a minute with a curious finger absently rubbing the cheek Mato had kissed.

…

Mato hummed to herself happily, as the soft rubber soles of her shoes made a tap-tap sound while she skipped.

'I wonder what my new coach will be like. Ah who cares! Anybody is better than killer-coach-Kohacchi! Though, I did miss her when she graduated last year.'

Mato pushed open the doors to the gym and stepped in.

There was only one girl on duty at the moment, bent over setting up the gym's basketball equipment. Upon seeing the basketballs, Mato became excited and ran to her.

"Hey miss? How do I sign up for the basketball club?" Mato asked leaning over to get a look at the girl's face.

Mato's heart dropped to her stomach when she caught sight of her.

The girl wore a pink jersey jacket with black sweat pants, and a pair of bleach white sneakers. Her hair was a deep burgundy with two pigtails, and her eyes were an odd color of rosewood red.

Mato's face broke out into panic as the girl gave her a lopsided grin, and stood up. Every muscle in Mato's body said run, but Mato was frozen in place, as she came face to face with her former 'taskmaster'.

'No... No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOO!'

The girl crossed her arms and grinned wider. "Well, if it ain't my favorite grunt!"

"K-K-K-KO-KOHACCHIIIIIIII?!"

Arata pulled Mato into an all too familiar choke hold with one arm, and noogied the top of her head with the other.

"And here I thought I'd never see my "Ace" again! Fate's brought us back together!"

Mato cried in pain as Arata affectionately rubbed her scalp with her knuckles. With miserable tears forming in her eyes, Mato had only one thought on her mind.

'FATE'S A BITCH!'

…

The sun glared as Yomi wandered from the main building out into the flowered court yard of the school. Though she had told Mato she would look for a new club, she really had no desire to, whatsoever. Yomi watched the clouds as they drifted lazily overhead, the heavens content with their slow moving pace.

Without having Mato around as a distraction, all of Yomi's worries seemed to rise up again. The heiress sighed as the memory of her last conversation with her father made its way to the surface.

...

3 Days Prior…

Yomi giggled in the yard of her house as she went about balancing her volleyball on her foot. She tipped to the left, then to the right, and when the ball moved to roll away, Yomi kicked it up and served it to the side of the house.

BAM!

It bounced off the outer wall, and she slammed it forward again performing a jump serve.

BAM!

It bounced off the wall once more, and Yomi ran for it. As it rushed to her, she put her hands together and executed an underhand serve.

BAM!

The ball, again bounced off the outer wall as Yomi continued to practice. She laughed as the rush of victory pulsed in her muscles, and her adrenalin fueled her to push harder. She was completely unaware of the disturbance she was causing to her father who lurked just one story above her.

BAM!

Mr. Takanashi sighed for the umpteenth time that afternoon. He sat back in chair, papers littering the desk of his home office.

BAM!

What was once a neat pile of work was now a scattered mess.

BAM!

Mr. Takanashi had come home early. It was his idea of spending time with his family (though all he did was stay held up in his office, going over documents he'd brought from his work).

BAM!

And now, as luck would have it, the very document he needed to finally be finished, was missing. He'd searched high and low, nearly turning his desk inside out, hence the mess.

BAM!

And Yomi was not helping by bouncing that damned ball against the side of the house!

BAM!

Good Lord, it was like a series of mini time-bombs were going off!

BAM!

Kenji Takanashi sighed and rubbed his temple, as the pounding on the outer wall of his home added to pulse of his already aching forehead.

He knew he couldn't blame Yomi for his own negligence; he'd probably left the paper at work. It didn't mean that he enjoyed that dreadful pounding against his personal dwelling though.

Kenji left his desk, happy to put aside his frustrations for a break. He spied from the second story window, Yomi deep in practice.

She was quite skilled. 'Naturally, she's a Takanashi of course!' Kenji reasoned in his head. Still, there something about it he just didn't like. Though she was the picture of dedicated athleticism, this was somehow not the image he'd always had in mind for his daughter.

She had become different in the past three years since they'd settled in Machinami-cho, not quite the lady he'd hoped she'd grow into. It was disappointing really, already 16 and still had not mentioned what she wanted to do with her life.

Kenji had hoped Yomi might consider a career in academics; she was certainly smart enough for it. Or maybe even take hold of the reigns and continue with the family business perhaps?

Yomi certainly wasn't the son he had hoped would succeed him someday, but that didn't mean she couldn't do if she really wanted to. But the girl had shown no drive for anything thus far, and it worried him.

Granted, she was only just about to start in her first year of high school, she still had plenty of time to choose. Yet as Kenji watched his daughter waste time on a sport (that might have been good for the body, but) was useless for her brilliant mind, he felt his worry mount.

Of all the things Yomi could have chosen to excel at, why did she pick volley ball? As if he didn't know, that Kuroi girl probably had something to do with it. Yomi had never shown an interest in sports, before she'd met Mato.

For quite some time Kenji had been trying to veer Yomi down (what he believed to be) the right path. He'd sent her to the best schools, traveling abroad to give her a taste of different cultures, sent her the best private tutors money could buy, and even violin lessons… which were quickly halted after it was more than obvious Yomi had no musical talent.

Yet despite it all, she'd taken a fork in the road and gone in the opposite direction; turning from a little lady, to this tom-boy of a girl, bouncing a ball about the house. There had to be some way to steer her back, wasn't there? Perhaps a talk was in order?

Kenji left his office and made his way to the yard.

Yomi served the ball to the house again. As she ran to catch it, she missed, and it rolled past her. The roll was stopped by a black shoe that came down on top of it.

Mr. Takanashi picked up the ball and tossed it to his daughter. "Practicing hard I see."

"D-Dad… I didn't know you were home, I'm sorry. Was I making too much noise?"

Kenji felt himself sweat a little. "Uh, no not really. So, are you excited about starting high school soon?"

"Uh… yeah, I guess I'm excited."

Yomi's brow lifted, was her dad actually trying to make small talk with her?

"You know, I remember when I started high school. It was a boarding school overseas in Europe, a very classy place for the élite."

"Your parents sent you to a BOARDING SCHOOL?!" Yomi exclaimed, nearly horrified. Her father wouldn't be crazy enough to do that to her would he?

Kenji laughed, noting Yomi's mortified expression. "Hey, boarding schools aren't nearly as bad as people make them out to be, so long as you follow the rules. I was made class valedictorian my first year there." He gloated.

"In fact, it was while I was over there I had decided I wanted to take over your grandfather's company and continue the family business."

Yomi's expression went from surprised to confuse, just what exactly was her father getting at?

"Yomi, I don't suppose you have any future career plans in mind?"

Yomi's expression went from confusion to suspicion. 'Subtle dad…very subtle.'

She gave her dad the most condescending smile she could muster. "Nope, I don't have a single plan in mind what so ever."

Mr. Takanashi frowned. "That's… what I was afraid of. Yomi don't you think it's about time you at least made some sort of plan? You don't have to act on it now, but at the very least do some sort of research toward future careers? College entrance exams are only three years away."

Yomi sighed and looked away, unsure of how to answer. Why did her father have to bother her with this now?

"I… I really don't know what I want to do later on." She answered honestly.

Kenji sighed this was getting him nowhere, really fast. Change of subject.

"Well, I suppose we can forget it for now. What do you plan to do for high school? Clubs I mean."

"Uh? Volley ball of course." Yomi said staring at the ball in her hands.

"Really? Are you sure you wouldn't like to pick something else this year?"

Yomi turned back surprised by the question. "Why would I pick something else?"

Kenji shrugged. "Well I'm not saying you have to, but as I've said, high school won't last forever. Why not try something new this time? See what's out there? Get away from such tom-boyish sports for a while and try something more.. suited for a lady?"

Yomi's eyes widened. Did he actually just call her a tom-boy?

"L-lady…?" She stuttered out.

Her father nodded. "Something more appropriate for a girl your age. You could try the tea ceremony club or literature club. Your mother was in those clubs when she was in high school."

Yomi stood unresponsive, and Mr. Takanashi shrugged. He turned to walk away.

"Well no need to decide right away, just think about it." With that, he left and returned to the house.

Yomi dropped her ball to the ground, not caring where it rolled. She continued to stand in one place in shock, long after her father had left and the sun had set, lost in thought over her father's words.

'Dad thinks… I'm a tom-boy?'

...

Present Day…

Yomi sighed again, as she wandered through the school's garden. She took her seat in the grass, behind a cluster of red rose bushes and wrapped her arms around her legs. Her father's words still echoing in her head.

["Try something more.. suited for a lady."]

Something more suited for a lady… What exactly did that even mean? Did her father not like her playing sports because he thought it wasn't girly enough? No, that wasn't it. He didn't like it because it wasn't what he had chosen for her.

It came as no surprise to Yomi at this point, that her father was adamant in believing he knew what was best. Not just for himself, but everyone else around him too. For so long he had wanted Yomi to grow into a lady, and obviously sports was not part of that image. Not part of his image.

Yomi looked up, confused and remorseful from her dilemma. A club other than volley ball. There was the literature club and tea club like her father had suggested. But she couldn't see herself in either.

Yomi did enjoy a good book, but literature club just didn't seem productive enough for her, the same for the tea ceremony club. Yomi already spent too much time sitting around doing nothing but reading and making tea for her family at home, she didn't want to do it a school too.

The art club? That was no good either. What difference was there in sitting around making tea, and sitting around splashing a big mess onto a canvas? Besides Yomi wasn't much of an artist any way.

The paranormal and occult club? Yomi immediately had the image of a grinning Dead Master flash across her mind, and she shook her head to quickly wipe the idea away.

No. Just no.

The sewing club? Fat chance on that! Thanks to Kagari, Yomi never wanted to see another sewing needle ever again. And no to the cooking club or any other club that had said blonde in it, or reminded Yomi of her.

Yomi rubbed the temple of her forehead in frustration; she was running out of options. She had to pick something. But as the sun continued to beat down on Yomi's head, she contemplated giving up, as she could no longer think of any more choices open to her.

Yomi closed her eyes and curled into the fetal position, content for the moment with letting the scent of the roses relax her from her troubles.

She was startled out of her doze as cold water sprinkled down upon her head.

"UHHWAHHHH!" Yomi yelped, leaping up.

Yomi stood up and came face to face with another girl. She was tall, with soft neck-length black hair, holding a garden hose, and wearing a green frilled apron over her uniform. She laughed and apologized as Yomi jumped from behind the rose bushes, her top half soaked.

"Ah, I'm so sorry; I didn't see you sitting there. My apologies." The girl bowed. "I guess my garden hose must have thought you were one of the roses. You're certainly pretty enough to be." She complemented.

Yomi just stood there confused, wringing water from her shirt. "Huh?"

Deep within the pit of green, Dead Master sat in a lounge position atop her throne. She leaned against her hand and tapped a finger to her head with very board expression, as she listened in on Yomi once again mentally flaying herself over her father's words.

('Not this again… Why can't she be a normal teenager and just plant her foot in her father's face?')

Dead Master really didn't want to deal with Yomi's angst today; she was much too concerned with Rock's odd behavior as of late.

But all to quickly, the pressure mounted and the urge to fight for Yomi's pain began prickled beneath her bones. Dead Master found herself ignoring her own desires, and rising out of her seat.

('Fine, a quick stop at the arena, then I'll continue to watch Rock.')

Dead Master left the double doors to her chapel, and signaled to the two large hammer wielding, skull warriors who guarded her home, to keep watch for her.

She ascended from her pit, and made her way the white arena in the distance, where she knew her first opponent for the day would be waiting.

("Chariot.")

Mato ran at break-neck speed through the gym doors, gasping and sweating like she was escaping from the bowels of hell itself. Arata sped after her and called out down the hall.

"I'm expecting you after school at 3 o' clock sharp! DON'T BE LATE ACE!"

Mato turned the corner and continued to run as fast her feet would take her.

Why was life so cruel? Hadn't she suffered at the hands of Arata enough for one life time? Apparently, fate didn't think so. Mato slowed to a stop and panted, trying to catch breath she didn't have.

Mato held her heart and heaved for air, and when she finally caught her second wind, she took a moment to observe where she had run too. It was an unfamiliar area, though most of the school still was to her at this point. The rooms here appeared to be for the various school clubs and the faculty.

Mato looked up and quirked her brow as she caught sight of something peculiar… and frighteningly familiar. A sign on the door she stood next to.

"Dawn… CONSULTATION?!" Mato exclaimed in pure horror. 'No way… it can't be!'

"THAT'S RIGHT!" Saya exclaimed bursting out of the door.

"WAHHHHHH!" Mato's hair stood on end, and her heart leaped into her throat.

The counselor sported a wide smile, as well as a blue ribbed cowl-neck sweater, and a pair of dark denim Capri jeans. As always, her "happy-sunshine" band was visibly pinned to her left sleeve, and a cup of coffee was present in her hands.

"Good afternoon Kuroi-kun! You're looking well I see." Saya greeted, leaning against the door-frame.

Mato stood in a nervous stupor, unsure of how to respond to this development.

"Hmm? Cat got your tongue Kuroi-kun? Some coffee might help. I just brewed some, you want a cup-"

"-No I don't want any of your poisoned coffee! I TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES BEFORE; I'D NEVER DRINK YOUR COFFEE AGAIN! AND WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?!" Mato exclaimed finally finding her voice.

Saya winced from Mato's outburst. "Louder next time! I don't think they herd you over in America." She joked crossing her arms. "At least give me a chance to explain won't you?"

"What reason could you possibly have for following me here?" Mato asked contemptibly, a vein pulsing above her left eye.

"A very good reason in fact." Saya answered and stepped out of the door way.

The counselor revealed a sheepish looking girl with ash brown hair and honey colored eyes, holding a mug of coffee and smiling nervously. The girl wore the same maroon colored seifuku as Mato, only difference being the orange sweater she wore over her shirt.

Koutari Yuu.

Yuu smiled and stood pigeon toed. "Hi… Mato."

"Y-Yuu!"

Mato ran past Saya and enveloped her friend in a hug. Yuu jumped in surprise and held her mug out of the way, while Mato showed her affections.

"Yuu-chan! What are you doing here? I didn't even know you had applied to this school!" Mato exclaimed grasping her friend by the shoulders excitedly.

"Hmm? You mean Kagari-chan didn't tell you? She and I are in the same class."

Mato scowled. "Damn! That stupid smurf! …Oh, but why did you decide to come here?"

"Uh.. when I realized I was going into another school alone, I changed my application." Yuu admitted, shifting her feet shyly.

Saya laughed. "You should have seen it Kuroi-kun, poor Yuu was practically in tears when she found out! 'What am I gonna do? I'm gonna be all alone again! I gotta find a way into that school!' Ahahahah! She was so desperate; I thought she would hold the principle at gun point if she had too!" Saya exclaimed, teasingly.

"Stop exaggerating!" Yuu scolded, blushing brightly.

Saya continued to giggle. "She almost didn't make it too. Her grades were good, but there were already so many applicants, the principle almost turned her down. A nice check changed his mind though."

Mato's jaw dropped. "Y-You b-b-bribed him?!"

Saya shrugged. "What? It worked for Takanashi-san."

Yuu put her hands on Mato's shoulders in a feeble attempt to calm her down. "S-Saya, I thought our story was that you wrote me a letter of recommendation, remember?"

Saya waved her hand about, dismissing the fib. "Oh don't worry; it's just Mato after all."

Yuu sweat dropped and Mato held her head, desperate to quell her temper.

"Okay…" Mato hissed. "Well that explains why Yuu is here. But what's your excuse, huh?!" Mato asked pointing an accusing finger.

Saya rubbed the back of her head and blushed. "Would you believe me if I told you I thought I'd be lonely by myself?"

"No." Mato answered swiftly. Saya gave her a nervous smile.

"But it's true!" She walked over to the girls and put her arms around them.

"I thought I'd be lonely all be myself, so I transferred here to be with my favorite girls!" She said, pulling them into a hug.

"Besides, someone has to keep an eye on you angsty misfits! …Especially you-"

Saya's gaze shifted Mato's way. "-Black Rock Shooter."

Mato's eye's widened, and her breath caught in her throat. Saya's gaze seem to bore a hole in the back of her head, and the overconfident air the counselor gave off, made Mato more nervous than she knew how to deal.

A bead of sweat made its way down Mato's forehead, and old memories of Saya's past tricks and threats made their way to the front of her mind. All too quickly she felt her mounting disdain for Saya pile even higher.

With gritted teeth, and dark eyes Mato turned upward Saya's way.

"So you really are following me… aren't you?" She whispered with disdain.

Saya's response was to only smile wider.

Black Gold Saw's boots clanked loudly as she walked the length to the coliseum, her young seedlings following in a line behind her.

She grinned as she spotted Strength headed in the same direction as she, and beckoned her near. Strength saw the gesture and picked up her pace, until she and Gold Saw were walking side by side.

Gold Saw was surprised to see, Strength did not have her Ogre arms on, but instead an ordinary pair of human hands covered with black leather gloves.

("So, I'll take a wild guess and say you're not going to the arena for a fight, are you?") Gold Saw asked with a smirk.

Strength's cheeks blazed bright orange before she turned away. ("Uh, I just thought I'd watch today.")

Gold Saw grinned; Strength was too easy to read. ("You never were one for battle were you? It's such a waste. All that power you possess… Such a waste. The human world has made you much too soft.")

Strength scowled and chose to ignore her companion. So what if she had no interest in battle today? Or ever for that matter? Yuu had friends now; she didn't need Strength that much anymore.

Gold Saw and Strength entered the coliseum, just in time to spot Rock and Vega leaving the center ring. Gold Saw approached her missing seedling and quirked her brow.

("Ah, so this is where you've been.")

Vega jumped in surprise and hid behind Rock, afraid she might have been trouble for wandering away from the group. Gold Saw noted her fear and couldn't resist the urge to tease her.

("Is that wise Vega? Hiding behind the woman who once beheaded you? Who's really scary? Me when I'm mad? Or, the woman who took your life once without a second thought?") She asked.

Vega stared back and forth between her mother and Rock for a few moments, before grabbing her head. Unable to come up with a suitable answer, she gritted her teeth, curled up, and let her bones rattle nosily, as was customary for her when nervous. Gold Saw just chuckled.

Chariot wheeled up beside Rock to gather herself with everyone else. With all the clunking grace of a broken doll, she held out her hand to Gold Saw.

("Macaron?") She asked handing the horned woman a confection colored in deep red. Gold Saw took it in kind, but did not eat.

She eyed the sweet for a moment, before quickly shoving it into Vega's mouth for her to ingest. Vega chirped in surprise, before choking it down with mild annoyance.

Chariot did the same for Strength, handing her an orange one. Strength declined politely with a shake of her head, but Chariot insisted and tucked the macaron into the thick black collar of the white haired girl's hood.

Strength sighed, and made a mental note to burn the sweet later when the blonde wasn't looking…

Gold Saw took a moment to survey everyone and quickly realized the whole of the main cast was not yet assembled.

("Well that's peculiar… Rock, where's the green one?")

Rock's brow quirked upward in confusion. ("Why are you asking me?")

Gold Saw grinned. ("Who better to ask then Dead Master's prized pet?")

("I'm not her pet.") Rock hissed in anger, with gritted teeth.

("…Oh really?") Gold Saw asked not convinced, and pointed upward to the sky with her finger.

Rock turned in the direction of Gold Saw's finger, and her eye's widened in shock. Floating high and silent just out of her peripheral vision were Doku and Kuro, their green eye's aglow and focused directly on her.

("Wha-When did they…?") Had they been watching her this whole time?!

Rock balled her hands into fists and turned to walk away without care. ("I don't know where she is, and I don't-")

-BOOOOOOOM!

Rock was cut off as an explosion of rushing wind blasted through the coliseum. It spread in all directions toppling two pillars and decimating a part of the wall. The blast was wild and fierce, and nearly all were knocked off their feet by the onslaught.

From the rising smoke of the destroyed wall walked in Dead Master. Her face was hard press, and she gripped her weapon with both claws. Gold Saw growled in anger, at the girl's recklessness.

("There's an entrance you idiot! Use it next time!") She went completely ignored, as Dead Master passed her by.

Stepping over debris caused by her own hand, Dead Master looked Chariot straight in the eyes. She held up her scythe and pointed it in the blonde's face.

("You… In the ring. Now.") It was an order, not a request.

Chariot eyed the girl of green for a moment before a malicious, toothy grin broke out on her face.

At last… a real fight had come.

Westminster bells rang, and Mato took that as her cue to exit Saya's office.

"I'm leaving." She murmured bluntly.

"Remember Kuroi-kun, if you ever want to talk-"

"-I won't be coming to you!" Mato finished, and slammed the door closed. She took off, stomping her feet and scowling with anger.

"Man she's got some nerve! As if this first day can't get any worse."

Mato slowed to a stop just outside her class, and took a moment to gaze out the hall's windows. Just past noon, and the sun was still high. Her talk with Saya, though aggravating, did make her wonder… What was Black Rock Shooter doing these days?

What was she doing right now?

After the incident 2 years ago, Mato hadn't seen or heard from the cannon wielder at all. There were the dreams of course, which there probably always would be. But other than that? nothing. It almost made her feel a little lonely.

'Is Rock okay? Is she finally getting along with the others? Or are they all still fighting like it was Armageddon? Does Rock still have the star I-'

"-Wahhh!" Mato yelped as she felt someone shove her from behind, her train of thought completely de-railed.

"Why are you standing there in a daze?" Kagari asked with smirk, hands on her hips.

Mato turned to the blonde and growled. "You can't come up with a better way to get my attention?!"

"Entrance exams." Kagari replied.

Mato's shoulders shrunk and she gritted her teeth, as she stared down a happy Kagari, her anger mounting. Kagari just continued to smirk.

The sound of dripping water interrupted their duel of wills, as a wet Yomi approached them, wringing out her hair.

"Yomi!" Kagari exclaimed eyeing her friend for a moment, before pulling out a cloth handkerchief from her pocket. "What happened to you?!"

"How'd your clothes get wet like that?" Mato asked also curious.

Yomi used Kagari's handkerchief to wring out her hair one last time before turning to her comrades, a smile panting her face.

"I've decided, I'm gonna join the gardening club!" She exclaimed happily.

"Huh?" Mato and Kagari said in unison, as they turned to each. "The gardening club?"

("AHHHHHHHHH!")

A scream of pain erupted from Ninja Zero Two as she was thrown to the unforgiving, hard sediment below, purple blood pouring from both arms which had been sliced off at the elbows. She writhed along the ground gasping in pain, mourning the loss of her precious black claws.

Laughter echoed through the air, as Zero Two's opponent jumped down and towered over her broken body. She held a long sword that was coated in purple in one hand, and one of Zero Two's claws in the other. Under her hood, a gleeful smirk could be seen.

("Well… You don't know how to play at all; I thought for sure you'd last longer than the others...")

Even weaponless and in bloodied pieces, Zero Two stayed strong. She glared with dark eyes, filled with contempt and hatred for the girl that had invaded her quiet world.

Her resolve only made the hooded girl laugh harder.

("Just look at that face. You still want to play? That's fine; I'm more than happy to slice you to ribbon for as long as you like.")

The girl tossed Zero Two's claw to the side and raised her sword high. All two quickly she brought it down, and slashed wildly at the girl beneath her. Left and right, cuts were made, spitting blood and painting the ground. Zero Two continued to glare as her torso was shredded.

The torture did not end there.

The hooded girl lifted her shoe and brought it down on the girl's chest, making sure to dig her heel in one of the gashes. She raised her weapon again and instead of slashing, she stabbed it in.

It plunged half way into Zero Two's stomach, and with both hands the hooded girl gripped the hilt and dragged it down. Zero Two's eyes widened and her scream echoed to the empty heavens, as her opponent performed a needless C-section.

At last when it was done, the sword was removed and Zero Two felt all her energy drain way along with her blood. She closed her eyes and did her best to will death to just take her away.

Finally sensing Zero Two's resolve to die, the hooded girl relaxed herself.

("Given up at last, have you?")

She grabbed Zero Two by the neck and hauled her up. Hoisted high into the air, Zero Two's feet dangled freely, and she was brought face to face with her attacker.

("Before you die, answer me this… Have you ever seen a star?")

Zero Two quirked her brow in pain and confusion. ("A… s-star?")

The hooded girl nodded. ("Yes, there's one in particular I've been searching for. A white star… A bright star… a star luminated in blue flames. Know of it?")

Zero Two did not know how to respond. Why ask such a useless question? Why couldn't this strange girl just kill her already?

There was a low rumble from the hooded girl's stomach as her hunger pain mounted to an unbearable level. She couldn't wait any longer!

("You may consider answering me quickly.. Or I'll just make it all the more painful for you.") The hooded girl threatened.

Zero Two winced as her assaulter's grip on her neck tightened. ("I do not!")

The hooded girl frowned. ("A pity… The information could have saved your life.")

With no other reason to stand on ceremony, the assailant made her final move.

Slowly, her mouth opened, strings of saliva rolling from her lips. Her eyes widened, and a blur of intense red heat assaulted Zero Two's face.

Zero Two found herself caught in her attacker's gaze, unable to turn away. She felt her very spirit begin to draw out from her body, and a purple tear fell from her eye.

Starting from the tips of her toes and working upward, blackness spread all over Zero Two's body. Consuming her like gang-green and destroying her down to her very core, Zero Two lost even the ability to cry out in protest.

For what felt like eons, Zero Two felt nothing but intense pain, and then…

…She felt nothing.

The hooded girl sighed in relief, and opened her hand. Zero Two's body now, no more than a useless pile of ash.

All at once, Zero Two's world of tall ink-black bamboo and purple clouds combusted. They broke away into many pieces, the world no longer able to sustain itself with its master defeated. The remaining ashes of what was once a strong warrior blew away in the whirr of distortion, as everything upheaved from its place, color draining away, like it had never been.

The hooded girl smiled, happy that her hunger was finally abated.

For the moment at least.

With her purpose complete, she turned on her heels and vanished into the black void to continue on her quest. All thoughts of the world she had just annihilated were soon far behind her.

Back within reality, in an unnamed school, in an unmarked neighborhood, a young girl of fifteen, with short black hair and grayish-purple eyes fainted right out of her desk. The motion startled her classmates and friends, and despite their attempts to revive her, she did not budge. Did not make a sound.

When she awoke later on, she had no memory of any of the things that were most important to her. Nor would she know how or why she did not remember them.

In an instant, the girl became someone different, as her every precious thing is wiped from her mind, and lost to the never-ending void that was the other world.

Episode one end.

AN – Good grief the end sounds so derp-ish, but I needed someway to cap it.

This one chapter took forever to come together! I hope it didn't seem too rushed, I just wanted episode one to be about getting everyone reacquainted, while giving the new villain something to do, before the fun starts.

Now to discuss ending theme songs. I'm thinking I like Supercell's – Perfect Day. It fits, yes? After all Supercell did the ending for the anime.

I realize this chapter had a lot of humor and comic relief in it, my apologies. I want to get all the funnies out of the way, before the pain hits later on. And oh boy when it hits, the girl's are gonna feel like a truck ran them down. Chapter three's in the works now, hopefully it won't take another month and a half to get it done.

Oh, and would look at this! It appears FFN now has a convenient little comment box right at the bottom of every fanfic. Meaning there's no reason what so ever why none of you should not review.

Translation: All of you REVIEW NOW! Or Ying-sama will find you…