~KAX9N~

~Thump thump~

It's deafening when the only thing you can hear in the silence is your own heartbeat...

~Thump thump~

The only surefire way to know you're still alive in the darkness, the loneliness...

~Thump thump~

Bang Bang Bang

"Wakey Wakey XN! Time to show the big boss why you're so special," A scientist sings as he enters my room, waking me up.

I sigh to myself, but get up and dressed. It had been almost a week before I was let out of that room, training continued as if nothing had happened though, only slightly less rough. A few more weeks went by, where my newfound strength and powers were tested and tuned, allowing the date for 'The presentation' to move closer. Following the scientist out to breakfast then to the training room. He wandered off to who knows where and left me in the training room. I looked around, not seeing anyone else in the room nor the overhead gallery. Sighing to myself again, I wandered over to the equipment table, looking over all the tools I have come to know over the year. There were a few new ones here and there that I picked up to inspect and fiddle with. I loaded a few weapons, power pellets, paper bombs, and the sort into my belt and shoes, wrist guards, and pockets, making sure they would be positioned as not to hurt me during the fight. New movement caught my ears along with tiny murmurs and mumbles so I lifted my head, looking around as I focused my ears to see where the noises were coming from.

"Shh, Shh, Shh!" Ok, that I definitely heard.

I placed the two kunai in my hands down before looking around the room again, my gaze finally going to the overhead gallery as the once transparent glass was now a darker shade, harder to see through.

'So he's here,' I think before turning back to the equipment table, grabbing the kunai and putting them in the back of my belt before heading over to the piece of water in the training room.

Staring down at the reflective surface, I took a breath. If I mess this 'training' session up I'm done for. I'll never hear the end of it from Torune and my mentor, not to mention they'll have no use for me after that.

"XN?" My mentor's voice sounded.

I lifted my head slightly, showing the older male I was paying attention, even though my eyes were still focused on the water.

"We are going to start the session now," He added.

I took a deep breath, turning to face the entrance before nodding. The door opened and a tall and pale male walked forward. Said ninja was skinny yet well-defined, built with short greyish purple hair and orange-red eyes. He had a tattoo of the Roman numeral "Ⅶ" below his eyes and light blue lipstick. He wore a black cloak with a maroon inner color and shinobi sandals. Beneath his cloak, I could see he wore a blue collared midriff shirt, asymmetrically bi-colored apron tied around his waist, a long glove on his left arm, and a gauntlet-like fingerless glove on his right. He gave me really bad vibes.

"You will fight till one of you can't continue..." Torune's voice sounded.

'Great,' I roll my eyes.

"No mercy Joker, that would defeat the purpose of this trial," A new voice sounded.

I closed my eyes, taking a breath before listening. Five heartbeats excluding my own, three are elevated and the other two are calm. One of the calm ones belongs to my opponent, which means the other must belong to his 'comrade'. So he's not afraid of me, that's new.

"Begin!" I open my eyes and stare at the male in front of me.

He looks at me with a smile with a hand on his hip. I too held my ground, looking him over.

"Well someone start..." The new voice sighed.

I rolled my eyes before speeding forward, going for his head.

(The fight at the top is what I imagine their duel to go like their duel)

________________________________________________________________________________

"HSS!" I hiss as one of the team medics cleaned the cuts on my back and shoulders.

"Sorry," He said.

"It's fine," I snap, turning to look at the door where my mentor, Torune, and the scientist stood, talking with another cloaked figure.

I watched as my mentor tried to explain something with great emotion as he was using his hands and face to express a great deal of worry, but the male in front of them held a hand up, silencing him before saying something and walking off. I watched my mentor drop his head before Torune placed a hand on his shoulder and they all turned their heads this way.

"Ow!" I growled at the medic behind me as he pulled a stitch too tight.

"S~" He tried by I cut him off.

"Just finish quickly, I'd like to leave." I hiss rubbing my bruised and cracked knuckles.

"XN?" My mentor walked in.

I lifted my head to look up at him.

"You did well," He said.

"I stood no chance... That session was nothing but a time-waster for them, a game in which to entertain themselves~" I hissed.

"~Sir" I added tauntingly.

"They have been training for many years... more than you have," My mentor added.

"You will get stronger." He says.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a little tug on my back before the medic stepped back.

"Done," He said.

I hopped off the table, pulling my shirt on, ignoring the sting that ran over my arms and back as it met the material, beginning to leave the infirmary when my mentor grabbed my arm.

"Mhh," I gritted my teeth, clenching my eyes and fists shut as pain ran through my body.

"I am sorry, XN," He whispered just standing there.

He wasn't apologizing for grabbing my arms but for my failure, my blatant lack of strength and skill. I clicked my tongue at him, yanking my arm away and heading for my room.

"Tsk," I growled to myself as I entered my room and slammed the door.

I stood in the middle of the space for a few seconds before heading over to my desk. I pushed the whole unit to the side, pulling the three bricks I had loosened over the years lose and placing them down next to me, looking out at the valley. There was a cold breeze blowing, sending chills down my spine as it hit my face. I took a few deep breaths, allowing the crisp fresh air into my lungs. Opening my once closed eyes, I watched the silver and white flakes fall from the trees around us, watching the wind carry them away. There was little to no sun today, the grey sky obstructing any beams of light that tried to push through. I stuck my hand through the hole, holding it palm up and watching little specks of white land on my hand. Snow isn't very common this far North, so I treasured the sight whenever it comes around.

~"I am sorry..."~

I sigh as I replay the conversation over in my head. How could all my training have been for naught...? Why was I still so weak... I retracted my arm and stared at all the small flecks of white littering my skin. I was built for war... wasn't I? I lifted my eyes to look out my little spyhole one more time, doing a double-take as I caught the sight of another shinobi-looking male, his familiar black cloak swaying in the wind and his white hair blowing over his mask as he stared straight at me.

'What the...?'