Siana: WHAT THE HELL YOU TWO!

Tamiko turned her head in surprise, allowing Seigan to position his hand right by her face. The air around his fist was vibrating with energy. 

Seigan: Looks like this round goes to me. 

Tamiko: Wrong. This round is mine, Seigan Atasa. 

Tamiko gestures for Seigan to look behind him. He turned to see a hardened ink spike nearly pressing against his back. 

Seigan: Fine then, it's a tie. 

Tamiko: Wrong again. My ink was already there before your fist.

Seigan: I would've dodged it!

Tamiko: Unlikely, since I've already won three rounds in the same manner. 

Siana appeared next to them with shocking speed. She delivered a scolding punch to the top of both of their heads. 

Siana: I'm glad you're both so adamant about training, but you wrecked my basement!

The two of them looked around at the damage they had absent-mindedly caused.

Seigan: …Sorry?

Siana: You're lucky I already arranged for the training room to be upgraded. But now, it'll take longer, so one of you has to leave an apology letter since they'll have to do extra work. 

Tamiko: He should do it considering I won the most rounds with a score of 25 to 24. 

Seigan: First, that's a lie, the score was 26 to 23 my way, and second, there's more stray ink marks on the walls than there are craters in the floor. 

Tamiko dropped her calligraphy brush, letting it fade away. She held out her hand and closed her eyes, slowly all the ink around the room gathered to her palm before dissolving. 

Tamiko: You were saying. 

Seigan: Umm…

Seigan: [Sonia, can I…?]

Sonia: [No.]

Seigan: [Worth a shot.]

Siana: Honestly I don't care anymore, both of you write one. Have them done before we leave in an hour. 

Siana walked back up the stairs swearing under her breath. 

Seigan: I guess we did kinda mess this place up. You want to work on our apology notes together?

Tamiko is already starting up the stairs, not even turning to Seigan as she speaks. 

Tamiko: I'll pass.

Seigan: Ok…

Sonia: [She doesn't seem to like you.]

Seigan: [She doesn't seem to like anybody.]

It took slightly over an hour for the six kids to get ready. Seigan and Takuro spent the last twenty pulling Inezo from his bed. They sat on the front porch waiting for Siana. 

Sakiko: I wonder what this fun place we're going is? You guys think it's actual fun or like, Hitwoman, trial by combat fun?

Akida: Who knows? I just pray we can finally get some real clothes, I'm sick of wearing this uniform. 

Inezo: Especially since we aren't enrolled anymore. 

The heavy silence that followed Inezo's words was cut off by Siana exiting the house. 

Siana: Sorry about that. Follow me, and try to keep up. 

The instant the last one of the group closed the gate to the yard Siana took off in a sprint.

Akida: She can't be serious. 

Tamiko: Seems like it.

Seigan: What if we just stay here? You think she'll come back?

Six shots rang out. Rubber bullets hit all of them right in the face. 

Siana: I said keep up.

The six of them sprinted after her, doing their best not to collide with the numerous people who were walking the streets. They managed to keep pace with her as she weaved around corners and sped up on straightaways. She finally stopped in front of a modernized castle with a "K" engraved on the front of it as well as on the door, the building itself was hovering off the ground. 

Siana: Welcome to the R&D division. 

Takuro: This place is…

Inezo: So cool! 

Siana: That's the most excited I've seen you since you got to the island.

Inezo: How do we get inside?!

Siana: Oh right, this'll be good to know in advance. For certain buildings on the island, your clearance level has to meet a requirement. 

Siana took a step forward onto a circular symbol engraved in front of the castle. The engraving lit up as stairs began to descend from the door.

Siana: This particular building is different. It scans your Serava signature, so some people aren't allowed access regardless of clearance. 

Takuro: So where do we have access to?

Siana: Your IDs haven't been authorized yet but you'll get access to the non-civilian floors of the hospital, majority of the training facilities, and levels 1,2,3, and 6 of Xodur's citadel.

Akida: So, where's the "fun" you promised us?

Siana: Aww, I thought we were having fun already. Fall in line behind me, don't get in anybody's way, please.

Siana led the line past many rooms, all of them working on something different. Some of them had closed doors with signs that read "confidential" on them, and others were simply on fire from an accident. Siana guided them to the third floor. The entire floor was one large workshop. 

Elijah: G'day! 

Elijah slowly levitated down from the ceiling. 

Elijah: Just finished up the project for you kids. 

Sakiko: You can fly?!

Elijah: Fly…? Oh, no. My arms and legs have anti-gravity functions. I can float around but not fast. 

Inezo: Is that the same technology you use to make this place float? 

Elijah: Nah mate. The building is floating via magnetic fields, the anti-grav stuff is still in testing when it comes to buildings, wouldn't want any accidents.

Inezo: So cool!

Siana: That's for letting us in on such short notice Elijah, do you have the X.H.U.C.? 

Elijah: Yup! Got 'em right here. 

Elijah walked over to one of the many tables scattered around the room and returned with a handful of earpieces, and a pair of headphones. 

Elijah: Here you all go. These are the official versions of those earpieces you've got there. They work as a communicator as well as a translator. 

He handed one to each of them before he stopped in front of Seigan. 

Elijah: And these are for you, and you're enhanced hearing. Unfortunately, I'm still working on making the translator work with the noise reduction so you might want to carry the earpiece with you just in case. 

Seigan: Got it, thanks. 

Seigan took the headphones from Elijah, swapping them with his current pair.

Sonia: [You can trash that earpiece, you don't need it.]

Seigan: [Weren't you listening? I need it for translation.]

Sonia: [Yeah, and I'm saying you don't need it!] 

Seigan: [Why?]

Sonia: [Because you're my Blessed. Every single deity controls a concept – their "Territory" as you know mine is sound. Sound itself will do whatever it can to help me, and since we share a body it'll also do whatever it can to help you.]

Seigan: [Now that makes sense, was that so hard?]

Sonia: [Don't push it, kid.] 

Seigan reached under his headphone and removed his earpiece, handing it back to Elijah. 

Elijah: You alright there mate?

Seigan: I'm just fine. 

Elijah was shocked that Seigan could understand him, but it only took a moment before he came to an understanding. 

Elijah: Alright then, Siana, you need anything else from me? 

Siana: Yes, actually. 

Siana walked up to him as she ripped a page out of her notebook. She folded the page and handed it to him. 

Siana: These are also for them. I just need them by the date we discussed in the meeting. 

Elijah unfolds the paper and scans it for a moment, adjusting his glasses. 

Elijah: These shouldn't be too hard. 

Siana: You can adjust them as you see fit, based on the information you already have. 

One of the screens on the side of the workshop let out a small chime. 

Elijah: Ahh, looks like the work at your place is done. 

Siana: Already? That was fast. 

Elijah: I sent Jazz with the team to oversee the work. You know she's an overachiever. 

Siana: Regardless, I appreciate it. See you later. 

Elijah: No worries. 

Siana hurried the group out of the R&D castle.

Siana: Next we're going clothes shopping. 

Akida: FINALLY! 

The seven of them stopped by several of Siana's favorite stores before returning to the house. Each of the kids gained numerous items to stock their closets. 

The sun was already setting by the time they returned to the house. Siana let the group take their new clothes upstairs before they regrouped in the training room. 

Inezo: More training? Do you hate us?

Siana: No, I don't hate you. I'm preparing you for your mission. 

Seigan: A mission?!

Takuro: When?!

Sakiko: Where?!

Akida: About time!

Inezo: Sounds exhausting.

Siana: Yes, a mission.

Tamiko: That's fast considering we just got here. 

Siana: I agree, that's why every day until the mission we're going to train till you drop. 

Siana clapped her hands. 

Siana: Practice dummy. 

Just like at the Citadel, a dummy rose from the ground. 

Siana: The basement is now much better equipped to help with your training, it can give you dummies, weights, and numerous other training equipment. It's also more durable so we won't have any problems like earlier. 

She shot a sharp look at Seigan and Tamiko. 

Siana: This training might…no it will be tiring, but I promise it'll be worth it. 

Siana clapped her hands once more and a platform rose in the center of the room.

Siana: We're starting with sparring matches. Pair up!