Confrontation

"Hitsu, go show Nox the bedrooms," Takeshi said as he continued to read the report in his hands.

Hitsu pulled himself off of the floor with a pained groan. "Yes sir," he responded. Hitsu took a moment to regain his sense and control of his body. After a minute he seemed to have recovered enough to be Nox's guide. "Follow me," he said to Nox with a smile.

Nox listened and followed Hitsu to the stairs. Juno leaped down from the table and began to follow the two. As they ascended the stairs to the second floor Nox could feel herself about to ask a question. She knew she had dozens of questions but she resorted to only asking one.

"So when you were in Twindawn, that was for a job?" She asked.

"Yep," Hitsu responded, "That pack of five shadows had been seen entering the walls so someone sent in an urgent mission."

"Wow," Nox said as she watched her feet climb up each step. "It's weird to think that if those shadows didn't break into town I never would have met you." Suddenly Nox was forced to stop as her head bounced off of Hitsu's back. She quickly looked up to see that he had stopped walking and was now looking back at her. Recognizing the situation she just created Nox became flustered.

"Uh, I, Did I say something wrong?" Nox said embarrassed, "I'm sorry."

"No it's fine," Hitsu said with a chuckle, "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Well, I guess it's true," Hitsu said, "There is good to be found in bad."

Nox took a moment to comprehend what was just said but soon she found herself smiling just like Hitsu.

"Yeah, I guess there is," Nox agreed.

Juno meowed in agreement.

The three continued up the stairs until they reached the second floor. This floor also consisted of wooden floors, walls, and ceiling. Unlike the wide-open first floor, this one seemed to be a hallway with a door at the end. In the middle of the hall was open doorways on each side of the hall. The door at the end of the hallway stood out visually due to the darker and sturdier wood it was made of.

"Right this way," Hitsu said with a joking bow.

"Please," Nox said copying Hitsu's tone, "After you."

Hitsu led Nox down the hallway to the two doorways.

"On the left is the girl's room and on the right is the boy's," Hitsu said upon arrival.

Nox looked into the room on the left and gasped. She was looking into a giant bedroom. The bedroom had twenty beds spaced evenly across the floor. Along the wall hung multiple televisions for the room's occupants. Each bed had its own dresser and nightstand. The quality of the room was better than any Nox had ever seen before.

"I guess you could say we are more than prepared for new members," Hitsu joked.

"This is where I'm gonna stay?" Nox asked in shock.

"Yep, and you are the only girl considering Juno is a cat, so you get to pick your bed," Hitsu responded. "I'll be around if you need me," Hitsu said before he walked off leaving Nox to settle in.

"I can get used to this," Nox said to herself.

...

Slowly and quietly Nox approached the door at the end of the second-floor hallway. She knew it led to the headmaster's room and a stairway to the third floor. Despite it being only her first day as a Future Vein Nox had a problem. Over the day Hitsu had been chopped by Takeshi twice more and his overall attitude towards the boy seemed cold. That was why Nox stood at the door now, she made sure Hitsu didn't see her from the boy's room and made her way here.

After taking a deep breath Nox carefully pulled open the door and stepped inside being sure to close the door after her. She found herself in a small room. On the left side of the room was another dark wooden door and on the right was the stairs to the third floor. After scanning the room Nox made her way to the dark wooden door, the headmaster's room was on the other side. After a moment of hesitation, Nox knocked on the door firmly but quietly to not gain Hitsu's attention.

"Yeah?" Takeshi's deep voice said from the other side of the door.

"It's Nox," she said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Doors open," Takeshi answered.

Nox stared down at the metal doorknob for a minute before she worked up the courage to grab ahold of it and open the door. Nox cautiously peeked her head into the room. Takeshi sat in a giant chair across the room, his back turned to the door. In front of him sat a desk with different papers scattered about. The left side of the room consisted of a table with various bottles of different shapes, sizes, and colors, all of them empty and awaiting refilling. The right side of the room was filled with normal bedroom findings, a bed sat by the window with dirty clothed strewn across the floor.

"What do you need kid?" Takeshi asked without looking up from the paper in his hands.

Nox stepped fully into the room before closing the door behind her. She took several steps until she was in the center of the room before she spoke.

"It's about Hitsu," Nox said.

"What did he do now?" Takeshi said seemingly annoyed at the mention of Hitsu's name.

"He didn't do anything," Nox said angrily, "So why are you so mean to him? What did he do? What kind of leader are you?" Nox spat.

Takeshi stopped in his tracks. Nox heard the crinkling of paper as he set it down on his desk. Takeshi slammed his hands down on his desk and slowly rose from his chair. Nox was filled with a sense of dread as the giant man turned to face her. With a single hand, he grabbed his large chair and launched it across the room, it landed with a flinch-inducing thud. Takeshi made his way across the room in only a few steps and towered over Nox.

"Are you questioning my leadership?" he said coldly.

Nox stared helplessly up at his expressionless face, she had no way to read this man. As he towered over her Nox couldn't help but feel consumed by his threatening aura. Her fight or flight response kicked in and every part of he told her to walk away. She wanted to turn and run and hope Takeshi would forgive her for this. Despite what her mind told her Nox's heart took the lead.

"Yes..." Nox said confidently as she stood her ground against the giant man, against her leader, against the person who would be in charge of her future.

"...I am!"

...

End of Episode 23