Sayuri's training really went well from now on. She could practice with her baton without getting hallucinations or feeling pain. She practiced her movements and Vincent explained to her more and more about their tang and the differences she'll face from now on compared to normal people. For example, the average lifespan of Tokuni people is around 110 years and that their genes have a special marking that is only visible to other people with tangs.
Vincent not only was her regular tutor, he also became like a valuable extra teacher to Sayuri that told her about all the things she had missed out on to learn and experience so far. He also agreed on some extra lessons every now and then.

She also could show something to Miss Osakabe. And even if it still wasn't enough for the Z-rank, Sayuri's teacher was satisfied, because now there was a base that could be worked on.

During her training sessions with Vincent, Sayuri noticed he often looked a bit drained and worn out. He also held his forehead from time to time. Was she so exhausting to deal with? Was he sick? Sayuri could just have asked, but she was sure if he actually wasn't feeling well he wouldn't say so anyway …

Some weeks ago Sayuri would have never thought she'd actually ever have a good time here. The more she learned the more she slowly started to understand her new surroundings. She got to know Hana and the others better and even somewhat befriended them. At least they made her feel like she fully belonged to the group and not like the third wheel on the wagon.
Even Yuki didn't seem to be mad at her anymore as she was now clinging to Ryota anyway. Only Hana wasn't pleased about the continuous presence of the green haired girl at all. She also refused to invite her to the power squirrel group chat. Well, Sayuri couldn't care less. 

Sayuri's rod was still a small baton only, so she used a wooden stick to train and learn her own style. Vincent had asked her if she did some sports and when Sayuri mentioned rhythmic gymnastics, he was positively surprised. That would be a great base for finding her own rhythm and as well would help her for fighting later. After some time the girl already had some precise movements in store.

Sayuri: "Say, what if this stupid thing won't ever expand?" She held her baton.

Vincent: "It will, you gotta be patient. Learning combat until then is also useful. Your baton is ready when you are."

Sayuri: "There's still so much I don't understand." She sighed. "I mean, will I really be able to talk to ghosts? And … use them? For my own sake after my own will? I still don't know if I'm ready for or even want this …"

Vincent: "Why are you here?"

Sayuri: "Because my curriculum –"

Vincent: "No, I mean, here at this school."

Sayuri: "Oh … well, my parents sent me here. I didn't have much of a choice." She shrugged.

Vincent: "I see." He took a short break. "How do your ungifted parents even know about the Northwind in the first place? How can you even have a baton? Who gave it to you?"

Sayuri: "I … I don't know, no one is talking about anything with me properly regarding this supernatural stuff. And I found that stick in our attic … I wish I had not …" She looked down.

Vincent: "Hmmm …" He rubbed his chin. "You do know about the council, right?"

Sayuri: "Yeah … a bit. I mean, everyone wants to work for them and they will give you lots of money if they're fond of you."

Vincent: "For example, your school bills."

Sayuri: "Yeah – wait what?"

Vincent: "So, you didn't know."

Sayuri: "No joke?! Why is the council paying my school fee?!?!" Her eyes went big. "And how do you know?"

Vincent: "Because they are highly interested in anything related to Necromancers. And I already told you: As your tutor I have access to your file …"

Sayuri: "Huh? I really didn't know … But that's not what you wanted to talk about?"

Vincent: "I was just wondering …" //Why the hell do they leave everything to me? Lazy suits.// "… You see, the council has different projects they research about. Secret projects. Which means you are not allowed to talk about them. Neither to your family, nor your little nosy school friends."

Sayuri: "Don't you dare call them nosy!"

Vincent: "Your blonde tiny minion glares at me like she's gonna kill me whenever we come across … not to talk about that shirtless rascal …"

Sayuri: "Their names are Hana and Toki!" She was embarrassed thinking about the scenario of late.

Vincent: "Yeah, whatever. Now listen." He cleared his throat and looked at her. "Top secret talk from now on, understood?"

Sayuri: "No! This is too fast for me, what are you even talking about? Secret projects? Why do you tell me about them then?"

Vincent: "That's what I'm just trying to explain to you!" He rolled his eyes. "Don't be upset before I even say a word. I just … want … to …" He started to breathe heavily and clenched his teeth and fist. //Damnit. Why now, of all times?//

Sayuri: "You wanted to …? What's wrong?" She knew he didn't feel well the last weeks, but something felt very off now.

Vincent clenched his fist and teeth so much his veins popped out on his arm and neck. Sayuri got off her chair and wanted to get closer to him cautiously. But he just stopped her with his other hand.

Vincent: "Don't …" He didn't look at her. //Not now. Not. Now. I can't control it this time …//

Sayuri: "Don't what? What's the point? Is this a kind of test? Not funny."

Vincent: "Just … go …"

Sayuri was super confused. From one second to the other the atmosphere had changed. Did he do it on purpose? A super fancy training method? She didn't know what she was expected to do.

Vincent: "GET LOST!" He screamed at her.

By chance she could get a sight of his face and was shocked. His otherwise green eyes had turned into a bloody red and he definitely had grown fangs as well! This had to be a test, right?

Sayuri: "Y-you're scaring me … I don't like this …" She still didn't move, clueless about what to do. She just looked at her tutor. But he didn't respond. "V-Vincent …?" 

But his glance was empty. He looked nowhere. The hand he had clenched to a fist all the time started to change. A dark purple matter wafted around his arm, dissolving his sleeve while its skin became dark. It seemed to hurt Vincent, as Sayuri could hear him moaning, his fingers were spreaded and bent and turned into black long sharp claws. Thorn-like things grew out of his arm. What the hell happened here? What should she do? She couldn't move. Did it have something to do with what he wanted to tell her? He surely would just reveal his bad joke any second, wouldn't he?

He wouldn't. With empty eyes he turned towards Sayuri and had a twisted smirk on his face.
Before the girl could think of anything, Vincent pounced on her like a predator, ready to attack. He threw her to the ground, she ruggedly fell against the table, her baton rolled off. Vincent was all over her, he was too heavy, she had nothing in reach to defend herself. He was choking her, she tried to fight off his hand around her neck, but he was too strong. Why? This time no one was here to help her. Why? Tears ran down her cheeks, Vincent's beastly arm lunged out, its claws directed to hit her. To hurt her. Would this all be over now?

Sayuri had a vision of what was happening right now. No. Something was different. It felt like a flashback. To a memory she couldn't even remember. She also was laying on the ground, someone as well was choking her. She cried. She wanted to scream, but it didn't work. Why? Where was she? Who was the person on top of her? It felt too familiar, too similar. In this unknown memory the assailant got removed. Air. She could breathe again.

Sayuri screamed. For an unknown reason, Vincent still had not hit her. He had removed his choking hand. He was hesitating. Like he was fighting with himself. Whatever the reason, it didn't matter right now! Sayuri developed a will to fight back. Now was her only chance! She tried to reach out for her baton. But it still was too far away, no matter how much she stretched her arm. She begged herself to just reach it. She concentrated so much, her fingertips almost touched it. Please! And it worked. The moment she pointed it towards Vincent it expanded. It buffeted against his head with enough power to throw him off of her. Sayuri used the short moment of confusion to get up. Her opponent as well got up and already came at her again. But this time the girl was prepared. She swung her baton like she had practiced so often now and managed to push Vincent back. So hefty, he crashed against the wall, where he slumped to the ground and didn't move.
Everything happened so fast. Sayuri only now barely realized what had happened.

Sayuri: //Oh god, what happened? What did I do?// She looked down to the rod in her hand. It really had grown. Then she looked to her tutor. "V-Vincent …? Please say something … Are you alright?" She still wasn't sure if it was over, if she should get closer to him or what to do. Would he attack her again? She didn't hit him that hard, did she?

He slowly raised his head. Eyes still red, yet his glance wasn't empty anymore. It was full of pain and … remorse? He looked away. He couldn't take a look into her eyes.

Sayuri: "Vincent. What was that just now?"

Vincent: //Shit.// He didn't say a word. He didn't move. His black arm just hung calmly to the floor.

Sayuri: "Answer me!" Her voice got louder. "This … you just scared me so I can activate my tang, right? Am I right?"

Vincent still stayed silent. He bit his bottom lip. With his fangs. It started to bleed.

Sayuri: "Say something! Say I'm right! It just was … to …" her voice broke. She sobbed. She tasted salt and iron.

But her tutor – or what was left of him – still could not say a single word. Sayuri had enough. She threw her baton in the corner and ran away.