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I get up. Damnit! I fall on back. My head is killing me! I press both hands on the sides of my head and close my eyes, as if that'd help.

Aah damn! What the hell is this?!

Relax. Just an after-effect. Just used too much, too fast. Geez, what a cry-baby. Prothero answers back with a huge sarcasmic overflow.

I pinch my eyes closed and press harder.

Hey. I told you to relax.

Shut up!

Hah. Wish I could. Now calm the fuck down! He almost shouts in my head, amplifying the painful head ache even worse.

Fine! Just stop yelling!

Hmph. Go out. Raven's at the door.

I hear a knock. After a moment, I hear Ravens familiar voice. "Ryu? You should come out. There's someone here to see you"

I get up. Aah damn... I stagger a little bit, go up to a mirror. I look horrible... My hair is everywhere... I tie it back quickly into a ponytail. Better. I fix my posture and put on a black tank top and a pair of dark green cargo pants. A little too big. Belt. Fixed. I stretch for a moment and walk up to the door. I open it and see Raven, Draco, Shay and Jack.

"Heard about what happened. You ok?" Shay's the first to speak. She looks genuinely concerned.

Her voice is so loud to me! I press my hands on my ears... Wait... Right. _Snake-_ears... Two small holes on the sides of my head. "Yeah... Could you please be a little less loud?"

"Huh? What? You have a hangover or something?" Jack laughs a little. He doesn't seem concerned at all! And his arm... It's metallic but it matches his left arm almost perfectly. But it doesn't seem to worry him.

"I don't know. My head's just pounding..."

"Never heard of that. You must've drunk some-" Shay-Lee responds with an annoying tone.

"I didn't. End of discussion" I interrupt rudely, tired of being questioned.

"Fine. Jack" She turns to the maned lion with his arms folded across his chest. "Where's River? Didn't he tell you anything?"

"No. He's picking up some mage. He's worried that that... Jackal gets to her first" He holds a pause, staring at his right arm. "But he's a good one. He'll have no trouble finding one mage"

"I hope so" She looks down, gazing at a set of knives. She must use those to fight... So she's a close-combat type then?

I sit down on a couch. Jack sits on a huge seat, almost filling it up with his muscles. Raven just sighs and sits on the window-ledge and stares into distance. Draco lies down on the floor and Shay cuddles up to him. They start relaxing. I breathe calmly and drift away...

************

Back in the room. I see Celeana! I run up to her and she smiles at me. Then slaps me across the face, still smiling.

"Didn't I warn you about Prothero? Why did you go on with his plan?"

I rub my cheek, hurt that my own element would slap me like this. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the moment."

"Well it might've been. But now the Council-"

"We need to talk about that" I interrupt, sitting down on the cold, black floor. She cocks her head quizzically and does the same. I tell her about the strange jackal called Graverobber, what he did and what his possible plans were. She seemed to understand everything, until I told about the real Council not being in the tower.

"So... The real Council is somewhere else? And now this Graverobber-person wants to kill the wrong Council?"

"By now, he's probably whacked 'em all off" Prothero answers without hesitation. He stands behind Celeana and places his hand on her shoulder. He sits down next to her. "But that's not the problem. Is it?"

Celeana gives a quick kiss on his cheek and starts talking. "No. The problem is that, now I can't take more control than Prothero. He's going to have to be your primary-element"

"Can't we just switch it over again?"

"If we do that, I might end up consuming her. I don't want that to happen, so I'll work with you" He huffs. Obviously displeased with the thought. "I'm not that good with info though, so we'll have to refer to Cel. If that's fine with you?" He nuzzles her cheek. God. They should get a room instead of my head!

"Of course"

"Then. Ryu" He extends his hand at me and huffs. "I'm the first Shadow to submit to a caster... You're lucky, ya know?"

I take his hand in mine and smile nervously. "Sure"

*************

I open my eyes, smiling. Someone knocks on the door. River walks in with a blonde mouse? Her hair is down to her shoulders and she looks around, as if looking for something. Her expression seems warm and she's wearing long, pure white robes with a flame pattern on them. I wouldn't be able to tell that she's old enough to be a teacher, so River must've lost the intended mage. She looks around for a moment and notices Jack. They both seem to have a pause in their heads. Then the mouse leaps on him, seemingly hugging the air out of him.

"Jackie!"

"Lulu?! The hell are you doing here?!" He laughs out, holding her with both of his arms.

"I-" She notices his arm and cuts off herself. She taps on it, curiously. "You got yourself hurt again?"

"Yeah" He holds up the arm. "But I don't mind. I've always been one to experiment. This'll be just as fun as building a gun" He laughs.

"Haha... But yeah... I'm here to teach a snake? Apparently? Why are you here?" She speaks out, looking around the room again.

"I'm here just because the HQ got burned up and didn't have anything better to do" He nuzzles her. "But I'm glad I'm here now"

She giggles softly and gets up. She walks up to me and her careless face turns into a stern, almost frightening expression. "Niten Ichi-Ryu?"

"That's my name, yes"

She stares at the pattern on my shoulder and runs her fingers along it. "Dreichoon? And a Shadowcaster? That's not a pleasant mix, I'm afraid"

"That's what people keep on telling me. But yesterday, Prothero saved my life, so I'm not too quick to judge"

"Yes. I heard about your little 'transformation'. Not so smart. I bet that you have a hell-of-a-head-ache right now, hm?" She crosses her arms with a curious stare.

"How did you know?"

"You used up too much, too fast. Your body couldn't handle the element, so it tried to reject it. That's what happens, when you put your magic into an impossible position. Such as, using body-morphing techniques before even knowing basics"

I press my head down, ashamed. She's smart alright... "Lulu? That doesn't strike me as a very professional name"

Her expression freezes completely. She smiles in the same way River used to, when he couldn't stand me. "Look. I don't give a rats-ass, mind the expression, if you die. But since you're an interest of the Council and the Seven Deadlies, it's in my best interest to help you control this Shadow. Got that?" She pokes my in the chest, warningly.

"Yes ma'am" I swallow. Shay lets out a small laugh and Draco also cracks a small grin. Lulu notices and snaps her fingers. A small blue flame appears in her hand.

"Do I amuse you?"

Shay gets up and pulls out a knife. It's a small, kunai-shaped. Doesn't seem like it'd do much damage against a mage. "As a matter of fact, you do. First of all, that's my line. Secondly, starting fires in a hotel-room isn't the smartest thing to do"

They both stare daggers at each other. Jack lets out a nervous laugh. "As much as I'd appreciate a cat-fight, mind me" He holds his hands up. "I don't want either of you to start fighting. We might need this room later on, and I can't see any sense in demolishing it, before we start"

Lulu immediately calms down. "Fine"

Shay grins and takes her time placing the knife back into a sheath. "If you say so, big kitty"

The mouse doesn't seem to like this and flicks a finger, flipping a small flame at Shay but she manages to pull her knife in front of the fire, rendering it useless and only grins wider, as if she'd just won a fight.

Lulu walks up to Jack and sits down next to him. "But how do you expect me to teach a Shadowcaster? I don't even know where to start"

River speaks up for the first time today. "Obviously Graverobber thought that you could, so there must be something. Maybe simple offense?"

"Nothing is simple, when it comes to Shadows" She huffs and locks eyes with Jack. "River would be better off teaching you how to fight with swords, than I could teach him" She points at me. "How to fight with the Shadow"

"Well. Maybe he has a point. You should at least try" He smiles at her.

"I'll do my best. But I'm not sure if it makes any sense" She smiles back, thinking out loud. "If a Shadow broke loose, I could easily crush it. But helping someone control something that I don't know how to control in the first place is mindless to begin with"

I get up and huff. "If you don't want to teach me, then don't"

Ryu. Calm down a bit. She wants to help. Let her. Prothero suddenly speaks with a calm tone.

But she obviously doesn't want to help. I snap at him.

Sure sure. But she's definitely capable of teaching.

How do you figure that?

She's strong. She doesn't seem stupid and she-

"Her hearing isn't impaired" Lulu interrupts the dialogue in my head.

"Excuse me?" Jack looks at Lulu curiously.

"Prothero sounds reasonable. Listen to him" She smiles. Okay. Now this is just creeping me out. How did she hear that?

"Okay. I'm listening" I sit back down. Shay, Draco, River and Jack all crack a small smile. Damnit... Now I look like an idiot...

"Well. We can start with small advice. River told me that you used an ice-blade last time you trained. Is that correct?"

"Yea. But Shay told me not to do that anymore" I smile at her. What do you say about that, huh?

"I told you to use the air around you. I never said that you should stop completely" Shay smiles at me, knowing that it'd only make me look dumber.

"Aah... Right..." I rub my head. Damnit it hurts. Why can't I think straight?

"So. I can teach you how to do that then. Also, you should be able to do the same with the Shadow. So if you trust Prothero, give it a try next time you spar with River. I'll be observing and giving possible hints on how you should fight. Other than that, I have no clue how to help"

River lets out a small chuckle. "Sounds like a plan to me. Ryu. Tomorrow, perhaps? I don't think that I have it in me to train you today" He rubs his arms.

"Fine by me" I respond. Great... I still haven't recovered from last time... And my head is killing me! Damnit! I can't train, let alone fight, in this condition. I need some time to think!

"No" Lulu interrupts. "You will have one day in between. Today and tomorrow are both going to be days of rest" She glances at Jack quickly. Fantastic. These two must have some history... Obviously. "It wouldn't make any sense, to put any more stress on him. Besides, I'll be training the others as well" She looks at Raven and Shay-Lee. Raven quickly snaps back in to the conversation. He's been staring blankly through the window the whole time and now he just looks confused.

"I'm sorry. I thought you said that you'll-"

"I did. And I will. End of discussion"

"But I'm a third year student! After you and River, I'm the most capable here-"

"I already said 'end of discussion'" A little flicker of light passes under her robes, as her expression turns more hostile. "Must I repeat myself?"

Raven huffs at her, nonchalantly. He doesn't seem to care. "Fine. But I need a chain. It's my amplifier. I can barely use magic, without it"

Lulu nods and Shay is about to say something. The blonde mouse gives a warning glance at Shay and she closes her mouth and cuddles up to Draco again.

"Sounds good. We can get you a chain today"

Raven almost pounces up. "I won't have just 'any' chain! It must be one of my own clans-"

"I have already told the Zephyr family about your dilemma. You may pick up your chain by nightfall at the local post-office"

"Oh man... Dad's gonna be pissed... Wait. Post office?! Those idiots won't treat my chain right!" He shouts, furious and offended.

"They have been given proper directions, as to how they must take care of it. Do not worry about them" She smiles at him. "Are we settled?"

"Yes" Raven slumps back into the window-ledge and stares outside, zoning out.

"Good. Now we should head to the city-centre. Iris and Shin will be waiting for us" The mouse crosses her arms, smiling pleasantly. Seriously? What's up with this one? She's happy, when she's with Jack but as soon as I open my mouth, she's a complete jerk! It's like she's two people... Wait.

"Iris?!"

"Shin?!"

Raven and I both pounce up from our seats. We both stare at each other for a moment and blush a little. We sit down, trying to look cool and collected. Lulu cocks her head at us and thinks for a while.

"I assume that you both know these two?" She grins mischievously.

Both Raven and I blush even harder. We respond at the same time.

"Yes ma'am..."

"Good. Then that will be little problem as well. Ryu" She looks at me, thinking for a split second longer. "You'll be with Shin. He'll help you find suiting clothes. He can also help with your head ache" I let out a displeased groan. I can't see Iris for a while longer... "Raven" She turns to him, obviously taking some pleasure in the moment. "You'll take care of Iris. She'll need to look around the ruins of Zero Division. You'll make sure that nothing happens to her"

Again, we speak the same words, at the same time. "Yes ma'am"

She smiles, very pleased, and motions with her hand to Jack. He gets up and walks out with River and Lulu. "Come on. We have lots to do today"

Raven gets up, oddly frustrated. What's his problem? He's always so happy. I walk out of the room with Raven and look back to the fancy hotel-room. Shay and Draco both take their time and once Lulu tells them that they can stay behind, they both smile at each other, very pleased. Wonderful. They better not do anything in my-... Draco's room... I'm sharing rooms with Raven today, aren't I? I close the door and immediately hear someone getting pounced. Yup. I'm not stepping in Draco's room today.