The final day of the first week of school. Anya sat with her back against the wall. Another long night trying to get her brother to sleep. By the time the toddler went down, the sun peeked over the horizon. She looked into the darkened room. Emil lied in bed out cold.

"Finally." Anya sighed. She stood and walked to the couch where her father had passed out hours before "Good night." she said softly then prepared for school. She ate a light breakfast then headed out. -Things had been hard since Emil was born. Due to complications during delivery, her mother passed away. Anya and her father resolved to raise him to the best of their abilities. That was easier said than done. He was a difficult child, refused to nap or sleep, got into everything, chewed on everything and was so full of energy. It was tough. Anya had to give up everything to care for him and their father had to work multiple jobs to support them. Despite her abrupt absences, Kid and Skai went out of their way to be involved. On times out from school they'd help watch her brother. As he grew to a toddler he settled some but was still a difficult child.-

Anya arrived at the campus. She met up with Kid, Skai, Jem, Mini, Sai and Tori. -Since the other day, the Arata siblings had been adopted into their group. Neither of them said much though. Sai explained their powers: She had the sense to identify other Guardians and detect lies while he had super strength. They made plans to locate the rest of the Guardians in the down time since Arlin's assault on the twins. - Sai pointed out a classmate of hers that was also involved, Hiroko Mira, but she wasn't sure as to how to approach her. As they sat around waiting for class, Skai sighed, resting his head on his hand.

"And she's the only one from your class?"

"Yeah, sadly I can't be of much help." Sai bowed her head.

"No, you are a valuable asset and a friend." Skai shook his head in response then adjusted his glasses. A wide grin came to Kid's face, despite being clueless to the nature of the conversation. He clapped his hands rapidly in front of his face.

"F-r-r-i-e-n-d-s!" He cheered. Sai and even Tori gave small smiles. Skai frowned feeling a little embarrassed.

"We're just like a big happy family." Anya smiled along with them. Jem and Mini cheered. They began discussing other topics as Skai and Sai continued to discuss business.

“Did you hear about that leak?” Mini leaned in towards her sister and Anya. “There’s gonna be some big announcement next month!”

“You think there will be a sequel?” Jem grinned eagerly.

“Oh, the one with that dancer guy you like?” Kid poked his head in and asked her. She nodded enthusiastically back.

“The way ARK choreographs his dances is so transcendent!” she swayed around delighted until she saw Syrus staring at her with wide eyes from a distant table. “Wh-what? Why is he looking at me like that?” Kid chuckled softly with a smile as he watched. Anya followed her gaze to Syrus, who quickly turned away, scowling. 

“Planning on learning any new routines if those rumors are true?” Mini bounced in her seat. “Let’s practice together!”

“Heh, once this heals…” Jem grumbled and pointed to her various injuries.

“Let’s hope nothing bad happens…” Anya sighed and looked back to Syrus again. Kid nodded and rocked back. “We should probably go to class.” She called out to the rest.

“Yes, let's.” Skai adjusted his glasses and agreed. Tori waved as Sai separated from the group as they went to their respective rooms.

Class went on as usual. Anya grew suspicious of Syrus as he watched Kid. She had been on edge since the twins' fight with Arlin. She couldn't shake the feeling that Syrus was involved in it. He had also disappeared the day it happened. Even though Skai rejected the idea persistently, she wasn't as convinced.

At lunch he sat alone. Anya scrutinized his every action. "Why has he been favoring his right arm? I thought he was right handed." She squinted her eyes trying to see under his sleeve when something hit her back.

"Ah!" she jumped. Mini had lightly slapped her. She shook her head. "Yes?"

"Weren't you gonna show us?" Mini asked impatiently.

"Show you what?" Anya grinned nervously.

"The pictures?" Jem gave her a dubious look.

"Oh, right!" she laughed. Skai looked over with concern and whispered in her ear.

"Everything alright? You look tired."

"I'm fine, really." She waved him off and dug around in her bag for an envelope. It’s true that she didn't get sleep the night before but that wasn't what distracted her. "Kanamura Syrus, what are you planning?"

"Wha! So pretty!" the twins exclaimed simultaneously. In their hands was the contents of the envelope, Photographs. Anya always carried a camera with her and would take pictures while out and about. She always loved photography and would collect pictures, memories, of all the places she went. Before her brother was born, 3 years ago, her and her parents would travel to all kinds of wonderful places.

"You've improved so much!" Kid admired the photos as well. Tori picked up on from the pile on the table. It was from a festival a few months back. In the picture was a booth of handcrafted candy animals. Sai peeked over and laughed a little. Of course it was food. The rest of lunch they talked and laughed until they returned to their classes. The next class was uneventful. As they ran the track for gym, the twins noticed Alex and Arlin having a rather serious conversation.

"Not this again." Jem sighed. Skai turned back to her.

"What?" as he asked, Mini pointed to the pair behind them.

"That can't be good." Tori spoke up for the first time that day.

"Huh?" Kid looked back at the lagging group of his friends. "What's the matter?"

"N-nothing." Anya answered, giving a forced grin. The rest agreed. "We can't get him involved." Jem offered to distract Kid, so the others could talk.

"We have to make the first move." Skai adjusted his glasses and urged reluctantly. "I would rather we not fight but it would be worse to have a repeat of Tuesday."

"I'm gonna kick ponytail's scrawny little ass!" Mini declared enthusiastically. Tori gave a small grin.

"I'd hate for anyone else to get hurt." Anya sighed.

"We don't really have any way to defend against Akseli's magic." Sai reminded them.

"Murasa can probably hold his own" Anya added "I've heard rumors about the disciplinary committee getting into fist fights with students." she continued.

"Geez! Really?" Mini grumbled "Sounds like something Tubs would do though..."

"I won't let anyone hurt any of you." Tori declared resolutely. Everyone turned to him surprised.

"Ah, thanks!" Mini gave him a thumbs-up.

"So how should we act?" Skai returned the derailed conversation with a question.

"Well ponytail was waiting for Sharpe by the south exit." Mini confessed

"He knows what way Kid leaves from..." Skai looked down.

"We just have to draw their attention elsewhere while Sharpe san leaves." Sai explained.

"You two usually go home together, so you'll be bait!" Mini slapped Skai on the back.

"Ngh...sure." he groaned and reluctantly agreed. After they worked out the details the class was called back to the locker rooms to change. Anya looked to Sai and then the twins.

"So it begins." They hastily changed and left the gym. Skai gave the signal then headed to the south. The rest hid around the open area, near the south exit, where the twins fought Arlin before. Skai leaned against the wall as if waiting for Kid to come by. Nothing. After all the students had cleared out two figures approached them. One much larger than the other. Something trailed behind him, like a scarf. The other shorter one wore a long cloak. They came. As they walked into the clearing, Alex wore a devilish smile.

"Ahoy, you guys sure are persistent." he said with a cocky laugh. Arlin followed behind, silent.

"Suck it, fatty!" Mini jumped out pointing one of her daggers to him.

"So this is how it's going to be?" His tone turned dark. His haughty expression faded, replaced by loathing. He drew his blade. At this point Skai adjusted his glasses and transformed. He wore a classy suit vest and slacks with a cream, collared shirt. He rolled up his sleeves before drawing his scythe. Jem and Mini looked on in awe. On his vest, a symbol 'Scorpio'. Anya walked out in fighter's garb lined with fur. Her sign 'Aquarius'. On her hands she wore metal plated gloves. Jem met her sister and turned to Alex. He quickened his pace until he was at a full sprint, straight at them. "He's fast!" Mini ran toward him planning to strike. Right before he was in reach, he thrust his blade downward vaulting himself into the air.

"What?" Mini staggered back. In the air he pulled his arm holding the weapon in. He shifted his weight and began to turn, descending toward Mini.

CLANG!

The sound of metal impacting metal. Mini fell back as everyone gasped. In front of her was blue. She looked up. A long black dolphin tail.

"Arata?!" Jem called out. Sai held off Alex's strike, donned in a blue dress, blue scaled armor and chainmail. In her hands, a trident locked with Alex's blade. 'Pisces' written out on her scale mail.

"Damn you!" Alex cursed at her then launched himself off. Behind him the silent Arlin readied his magic. Anya leapt toward him, only to be intercepted by the airborne Alex. Skai charged in front to deflect his blow. Arlin raised his hand releasing the dark energy as a bolt.

"Skai!" Anya cried out trying to pull him back. A loud crash. In front of the pair was a bronze hammer.

"You ok?" above them Tori dropped down, crushing the bolt with his hammer. He was clad in similar chainmail as Sai and bronze plated armor. His chest plate read 'Taurus'. Mini lunged at Alex, daggers in hand. Skillfully he dodged it, stepping just out of range and followed up with a vertical roundhouse kick, dropping her to the ground. She shrieked in pain.

"You bastard!" Jem yelled and sprang at him. Alex dropped all his weight to the ground and she flew over him right into a gust created by Arlin. Alex stood and gave a satisfied laugh. Suddenly another loud sound, metal grating on metal. Tori swung his hammer at Alex in a rage. Alex blocked it with his blade and staggered back.

"Heh, not bad." His anger faded as the adrenaline surged through him. Swiftly he rolled Tori's hammer away. The resulting impact caused the cement to crumble at Tori's strength. Sai charged at Arlin, who remained silent, preparing another spell. As she thrust her trident, a red flash.

CLANG!

The shaft flew out of her hands. Alex pivoted on one foot and slashed away her weapon. Skai followed behind. He swept his scythe at Alex. He ducked under and followed up with an uppercut to Skai's gut, knocking him back. He choked in agony. Alex lowered his blade at his side and glanced back at Anya, who had gone to help Mini. He dashed forward readying his swing. Arlin then aimed his blast at the already downed Skai. Sai tackled him to save him from being hit. A loud crash intercepted Alex's path. Bits of concrete flew into the air when Tori struck. Alex stumbled to the side to avoid it and maneuvered past.

"I'm not done with you!" Tori roared, his sapphire eyes filled with scorn.

"You're wasting your time!" a different voice called from a distance. Everyone stopped where they were. The new entrant ran toward Arlin, a rapier in hand. In a swift slash the blade cut across his abdomen. Syrus corrected his posture and turned to the group. "Don't you have someone more important to worry about?" he growled in a frenzy. Everyone, except Alex, wore a look of pure terror as Arlin crumpled to the ground, felled by his best friend. All of a sudden, his silent figure began to dissipate, leaving a strand of purple hair, cut in two. At that Syrus released the hilt of his sword. It vanished, and he took off running.

"No!" Skai struggled to stand with Sai's help.

"A fake?!" Jem collapsed.

"How?" Anya stared in awe. Alex began to laugh.

"You are all so gullible!"  Soon after his laughter came to an abrupt end, he reverted back to his uniform and rummaged through his pockets.

"You?" Tori glowered at him disoriented and exhausted. Alex pulled out his phone. An uncharacteristically gentle smile came to his face.

"Well that's all for today." He mockingly gave a bow.

"What do you think you're doing?" Anya barked at him.

"I'm done." He announced. "I have somewhere else I'd rather be right now." He looked back to his phone and the smile returned. All of the animosity he had faded, and he walked away.

"Kid." Skai groaned holding his stomach and adjusted his glasses with his other hand, as his transformation faded.

"We have to find him." Tori also undid his transformation.

"Kanamura knew!" Anya growled. "Why didn't we watch for him?"

"Atsuko..." Mini grumbled.

"If he didn't step in..." Jem continued. "He saved us."

"They could have planned the whole thing!" Everyone fell silent. Tori knelt down at Mini's side.

"Will you be ok?" he looked away feeling disgraceful.

"Yeah..." she pushed her sore body off the ground. "He didn't break anything."

"O-ok..." Tori whispered and helped her up. "Was he holding back?"

"You're in no condition to search for him, go home." Sai looked back at the twins. They nodded. Tori helped escort them while the rest reassembled.

"You sure you're up to this, Skai?" Anya looked to him with uncertainty. He nodded,

"Kid is our main priority." he proclaimed and adjusted his glasses. "We must find him!"

The remaining three ventured out into the city. They split up hoping to find some clues as to where Arlin could have taken him. Anya wandered the streets asking around about the pair of boys and occasionally Syrus. The sun was beginning to set. She grew frantic. They needed to find Kid, but she also needed to get home to her brother.

"Come on, brother!" a young girl's voice reprimanded. "You really need to take better care of your injuries!"

"Sorry..." a familiar voice sighed. "What?" Anya turned the corner. There stood Syrus and a young girl with similar features.

"You!" they both called out at once. The girl turned to Syrus.

"You know her?" she started to tease. "Do you 'like' her?"

"NO!" Syrus barked. "Mind your own business, Kori!" his face flushed a little.

"You have a sister?" Anya had a skeptical expression.

"Yes, what of it?" he glowered back.

"God, no need to be so rude!" Kori smacked him on the arm.

"Sor-" he began to reluctantly apologize when his phone went off. He hurriedly pulled it out. "Arlin!" He looked to his sister then to Anya.

"What?" she remained wary of him but was completely confused. "You aren't working with them?"

"No!" he scoffed. "Kori go with her, there's something I need to take care of." he gestured at Anya.

"Huh?"

"What the hell, brother!?" Kori glared at him. Unfazed he took off running.

"That idiot is going to get himself killed at this rate." Kori sighed and turned to Anya with a sarcastic grin. Anya stared back bewildered.