Cross had just pulled a long case from beneath his bed when his bedroom door opened behind him. He didn't bother turning to look to see who it was. There were only a handful of people who would walk into his room without knocking.

Romeo wouldn’t open the door so quietly, preferring to slam it open and yell something in a loud and obnoxious voice. That or toss in a bomb and slam the door shut.

Romeo was a big fan of trial by fire. Unfortunately, his trial by fire often involved literal fire.

Makina would enter the room in a similar manner, though her entrance might also be accompanied by an extremely annoying proclamation of her divine importance and, if Cross was unlucky, which he often was, some kind of freezing wind that would chill him to the bone and leave him shivering for at least an hour.

As none of these things happened that left only one person.

"Hey Lex," Cross said as he flipped the case over and peered at the lock. He glanced over his shoulder at Lexi as she moved to perch on the edge of his bed.

"Getting ready for tomorrow?" Lexi said, peering over him to look at the case.

“Yeah, I guess."

"Do you not want to?"

Cross shrugged.

"Why did you agree to do it?"

Cross let out a bemused breath. "Because it's Alice.”

Lexi stared at him for a long time. "What is your relationship with her?"

Cross looked up at her before turning back to the case. He drummed his fingers against the lid. "Honestly… I have no idea anymore."

Lexi tilted her head but Cross did not say anything more as he ran his hands over the case and stared at the lock with a pensive expression. When he didn't move to open the case, Lexi nudged him with her foot.

"What's wrong?"

Cross coughed. "You wouldn't happen to remember…"

Lexi stared at the back of his head and Cross shrunk slightly before he cleared his throat.

"You don't remember where I put my key, do you?" Cross said lamely.

There was a moment of silence before he heard Lexi stifle a giggle. Ruefully, he flicked his finger against the lock.

"It's been a long time, alright" Cross grumbled as he turned around to look at her. He could see her slim shoulder shaking with silent laughter. "It was months ago when I last opened this thing. I know you know where it is because you were in here when I locked it last."

Lexi sat back on Cross's bed and smirked.

Cross sighed and rubbed at his temple. In theory he should have been able to figure out where the damn key was through the use of his Sight, but something was blocking him. He could break through the block, but he didn't want to put in the effort. Plus, he knew with almost complete certainty what was blocking him. Rather, who was blocking him.

He could almost hear Kosu faintly giggling somewhere deep in his mind. It was amazing how she could manage to bother him without even being present.

"You're not going to tell me where it is, are you?" Cross said as he rubbed his temple harder.

Lexi shrugged.

"You're mad at me because last time I lost it you told me to put it somewhere I wouldn't forget it because 'there is a place for everything and everything has its place' and I said… something. Aren't you?"

Lexi blinked

"Alright, alright.” Cross let out a soft sigh. “I'm sorry I called you a dork when you tried to give me some good advice."

The corners of Lexi's mouth turned up into a smile but she remained silent.

"Can you at least give me a hint?"

Lexi thought about it for a moment before flicking her dark eyes to his desk. Cross followed her gaze and nodded. He rummaged through the drawers for a few minutes, but came up empty. Frowning, he ran his hand along the underside of the desk, hoping he had hidden it there, but to no avail. With a few silent curses he grabbed a few books at random and shook them, hoping to dislodge a hidden key, but he was again met with failure.

"Right, then." Cross sighed as he sat down on the floor and turned back to Lexi. She had spread out along his bed, propping herself up with a pillow to watch him struggle.

"Can I have another hint?”

Lexi toyed with her scarf for a while before nodding back towards his desk. Cross gave the desk another once over, but still he was left without a key and a growing sense of frustration.

"Lexi, would you just tell me where the damn key is?"

Lexi gave Cross an extremely slow blink.

Cross held up his hands and tried again.

"Lexi, would you please tell me where my key is so I can open this case?"

Lexi looked up towards the ceiling.

Cross clapped his hands together and bowed his head. "Please, Lex?"

With a smirk, Lexi smartly popped up from his bed and crossed over to the desk. Cross watched as she dropped down to one knee next to the chair and ran her hand under the seat. When she pulled her hand back a small silver key was clutched between her fingers.

"Ah." Cross rubbed is temple. "The chair."

"The chair," Lexi said as she tossed the key towards him.

Cross caught it with a deft hand and quickly unlocked the case as Lexi returned to the edge of his bed, leaning over slightly to watch him.

Cross lifted the lid and stared down at the contests of the case. It wasn’t particularly full. There were a handful of Binders, along with a few leather-bound notebooks, and two swords that were each tucked neatly against the sides.

After a moment he reached inside and pulled out a sword. It was a simple cross hilt design, similar to Lexi's own Nightmare, though with a noticeably thinner blade. Cross pulled it a few inches from the sheathe and checked the blade. Lexi reached down and gently took it from him, pulling the blade out completely and inspecting it with a keen eye.

"You’ve kept it clean.”

Cross nodded. He had kept it well maintained, even though it had been years since he had actually used it.

"Are you sure you want to fight tomorrow?" Lexi said as she tested the swords weight. It was a tad too light for her taste. She preferred the heft of Nightmare, the weight of the blade countered by the heavy pommel. After a few more moments of contemplation she handed the sword back to Cross.

Cross shrugged as he stood up and took a few practice swings with the blade. Rolling his shoulders, he spun the blade from one hand to the other before thrusting forward. Frowning, he stepped back and returned the blade to its sheath.

"A little slow," Lexi said.

"A little.”

"A little sloppy."

"A little."

"When's the last time you actually practiced with that sword?"

Cross glanced at her and managed a small grin.

"It's been a while."

Lexi gave him a knowing look and he sighed.

"Yes, I am aware I could have spent more time practicing with you.”

Lexi rolled her eyes and Cross continued to delve through the case, removing several items, including one of the large, leather-bound notebooks. He pulled a few loose pages of folded paper from inside his jacket. Carefully, he unfolded them before placing them inside of the notebook. Lexi watched curiously but before she could voice a question, Cross had already replaced everything inside the case, save for the sword, and locked it again. For a moment he held the key before tossing it to her.

Lexi caught it and looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Mind holding onto that for me?"

Lexi tilted her head in curiosity.

"I might need you to get something for me tomorrow, depending on how the tournament goes." Cross yawned. “Hard to tell, considering.”

Lexi hesitated a moment before nodding and placing the key inside her pocket.

"That's a privilege for my Leader only, you know." Cross gave her a crooked grin as he glanced down to her ring finger. "Servilia told me. So, it's official now?"

Lexi grinned and gave a single nod.

"I guess that means we're going to have to form a formal contract then," Cross said. "That is, if you still need a simple Courier."

Lexi thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure. Might not be worth wasting a contract on just a simple courier."

“Ah you’re right, that is a lot of paper work to do.”

“And I know how much you hate paperwork.”

“True, but it might be worth it for you.”

“Is that so?” Lexi’s smile grew. “Perhaps I should see if said Courier can actually do anything else before I make any promises.”

"And how would he go about doing that?" Cross said, leaning towards her.

Lexi edged forward until she was hanging off the bed and only a few inches from Cross. "I suppose winning the Dance of Blades would be a start."

"Is that an order?"

Lexi's eyes twinkled. "Yes."

Cross laughed and gave a mock salute. "I will do my best, Captain Hart."

Lexi rolled her eyes and slid from his bed and onto the floor in front of him. Slowly, she slipped the scarf from around her neck and gently wrapped it around Cross.

"For good luck," she said softly.

Cross reached up and toyed with one of the tassels.

"Thanks, Lex."

Lexi gave him one last smile before giving a curt nod and standing up.

"Now get some sleep," she ordered as she headed out the door.

"Yes, ma'am" Cross called as his door clicked shut. He waited until he heard Lexi's own door open and close before he let out a sigh and readied himself to sleep.

xXx

Makina was not particularly pleased with having to wake up early yet again and she was making her displeasure known to anyone who would listen, as well as those who did not want to listen.

"I simply do not understand why these tournaments must be held so early in the morning," Makina grumbled as she took her seat. "Would it be so terrible to allow me to sleep in? Even a Goddess needs her beauty sleep."

"Ah don't say that. You look fine," Romeo said. He reached out and pinched Makina on the cheek. “Cute as ever, kiddo.”

Makina knocked him from his seat with a gust of air. Eryn quickly slid into the now empty seat and peered inquisitively at Makina.

"You're a Wind Mage?" Eryn said. "I've yet to meet one in person. Outstanding."

"Hardly," Makina sniffed. "I am a Spirit Goddess."

"A Spirit Goddess?" Eryn repeated.

"Yes. Quite an important one in fact," Makina punctuated the statement with another blast of air that sent Eryn's neat hair flying wildly and leave a thin coating of frost along the edge of her glasses. "I am Makina, Spirit Goddess of the Northern Winter Winds!"

Eryn glanced down at Romeo who gave her a smile and a shrug from the ground.

"It's a long story," he said as he struggled back into his seat.

"I see," Eryn said. She wanted to ask more, but as she pushed her hair back into a more respectable position and brushed the ice away from her glasses, she decided against it. Makina seemed grumpy enough as is and Eryn did not relish the thought of being blasted with air again. "Regardless, she has far more control over her powers than you do, Romeo."

"But of course, he is but a simple mortal and I am a divine being.”

"Regardless Romeo's age and physical maturity should allow him greater control over his magic," Eryn said. "You seem to have very impressive control and yet you are still only in early to middle adolescence."

Makina patted Eryn on the arm. "How adorable. You poor, stupid girl. You believe this physical body represents my true age? How ridiculous. I am far older than you can even begin to imagine. I hav-eep!"

Makina let out a yelp as she was knocked from her seat by a light shove from Lexi's foot. Whirling around she glared at the shadow mage.

"How dare you!" Makina whined as she picked herself up. "That was a smiteable offense I will have you know!"

"You were being rude," Lexi said simply as she sat down in Makina's vacated seated.

"I was not," Makina pouted as she took the seat next to Lexi. She stared pointedly at the arena and fumed. "Very well. Let's get this over with. I am, admittedly, somewhat curious to see the simpleton perform. Not to mention that woman he seems so pathetically enamored with."

"Mmmm," Lexi nodded as she settled into place to wait.

xXx

Alice looked up at Cross with a delighted smile as he entered the waiting area.

"Good, so you didn't sleep in!" She laughed at Cross's scowl before her eyes dropped down the weapon he held loosely in his hand. "Oh wonderful! You got my note."

"It was hard to miss," Cross said as he held the sword out to her. "Most people would slip it under the door."

"I thought placing it on your chest would be more effective. Plus, you're so cute when you sleep." Alice winked and Cross managed to roll his eyes with only the faintest hint of a blush.

“Don’t be creepy.”

“Oh, don’t be so grumpy, you used to sneak into my room all the time when you got scared! I’ve seen you asleep many times.” With a laugh Alice grabbed the sword with her right hand and used it to tug him closer. She threw an arm around him and gave a quick squeeze. "But really, thank you for getting this for me."

Cross went rigid and awkwardly nodded as Alice pulled away and admired the sword.

The rapier was elegantly crafted with a delicate blade and stylish hand guard that wrapped protectively around Alice's right hand. She swished it through the air a few times before giving a pleased nod. Cross watched her, his brow furrowing for a moment.

"It's very light. Almost the same weight as my old sword. And it's so pretty!" Alice cooed as the light reflected off the blade.

"It should be. I just cleaned it."

"Oh?"

Cross nodded. He decided there was no need to mention that the only reason he had done so was because of the punishment he had been handed for taking part in the train debacle with Romeo. He still was unsure why he had gotten in trouble for Romeo blowing up a train.

"This is exactly what I wanted." Alice said as she strapped the weapon to her hip.

"I figured. Your note only said to bring you a weapon," Cross said as he rested his hand on the pommel own sword. “You could have been a little helpful, you know.”

"I thought about giving you more information but…." Alice grinned. "I knew you would know what to get me. After all, you've probably seen me fight more than anyone else. At least, you've lost more fights to me than anyone else."

Cross didn't respond as Octavious's booming voice echoed through the arena. In another few minutes they were called into the Arena.

"Alright, then," Alice spun her rapier around and around, the blade hissing through the air. "Shall we?"