3 The Beginnings of a True Warrior

It took a few hours for us to finally reach their village and I couldn't be any more excited as I could finally rid myself of this kath hound. It weighed more than a ton and smelled as if it decided to mix shit and year old eggs into its fur. Kag and others seemed to relax a bit more when we caught sight of their home.

Kag and his sons are a nice family as I came to talk to them while we marched. The oldest happened to be the one called Brazz, his hair was a dark brown slicked back while his eyes were the same amber as his father, but shorter than him being at 6'4". He couldn't have been no more than twenty-two and was athletically fit, closer to a swimmer's build if anything. Apparently, he was the next in line to be head of the clan after his father and was learning the ins-and-outs of leadership from his old man.

There were the twins, Jazeadth and Arurk, a pair that apparently never leave each other's sides. They were the pranksters of the family, but knew when to be serious. Both had scruffy dark brown hair, but while Arurk had amber eyes, Jazeadth had sky blues. Both even had the same runner's build of being lean and wiry standing at 6' even.

Then there was Okka, the behemoth and the second youngest of the family being eighteen years old. He could give All Might a run for his money in both height and muscle mass, standing a large 7-and-a-half feet tall and weighing between three hundred and five hundred pounds. I noticed that unlike his siblings, he had crew-cut midnight black hair and amethyst colored eyes. Kag noticed my confusion and said that he and his sister were from his other wives.

Overall, they were a good natured bunch despite the intimidating presence they were presenting.

The village itself was actually more of a town if the buildings and technology were any indication. Each building was well structured and had an outer lining of durasteel to weather the more harsher aspects of the wild. The streets were clean and well trafficked based off the footprints, the people looked calm and hardy, each one I saw had a weapon on them, whether it was a blaster pistol, slugthrower, or a blade hardly mattered as long as it was a weapon.

I don't know what drew more attention, the giant albino kath hound on my shoulder or my clothing. While everyone here wore some type of metal armor with the warriors wearing full armor gear, I wore black cargo pants, a forest green long sleeve shirt, steel-toed combat boots, and a dark leather jacket. Most of the clothing that I used to have were either torn up or missing since my time in the wilderness so this was literally my last pair.

Ignoring the whispers and stares, I continued my walk until we reached their clan homes. A walled off section of the town in-between two other compounds, with both European and Japanese styled homes. Kag and his sons removed their helmets again smiling all the while as if a great weight had been removed from their shoulders. I dropped the hound off my shoulder rolling it to get the kinks out. We all began to walk towards the massive front doors, only to be greeted by a large group of people whom I can only assume to be the rest of their family.

"Sir! The missus has been wanting to know when you would be home. Shall I inform her of your arrival?"

"Master, the elders have arranged for a meeting and are waiting for you."

"Sir, Athea has been in the training room since yesterday and will not leave. I can only imagine she wants to see you."

I took a step back as Kag was bombarded with questions and information. From where I was standing, it seemed that Kag was taking it all in stride as he settled each person with an answer before turning back to me.

"Draven, if it is at all possible. Could you please go see my daughter and maybe retrieve her for me? I seemed to be indisposed at the moment." Kag never had looked diplomatic to him until that moment so it threw me for a loop until I realized he was waiting for a response.

"Uh, yeah. I'll go see this daughter of yours. What about your sons? Shouldn't they come with me at least?"

Kag nodded and directed Okka to lead me as he walked away with the group. Both Okka and I glanced at each other shrugging before walking off towards a direction. Okka is a quiet person so I spent most of my time observing their home.

It was three stories tall, based off the staircase, it was of European make, most likely British columbian style if the floor panels and simple wall designs were to be compared. Despite its size, the place felt well used and warm, I corrected myself mentally when we reached a bottom staircase and headed further down. Once we reached floor level, I was amazed by how spacious the entire floor was. And by the entire floor, I meant the ENTIRE floor as there was no rooms per say. Just sections where various forms of practice and combat were initiated. Shooting ranges, marksmanship, hand-to-hand, weapons training, weight lifting, acrobatics, it was all there on one floor.

BANG BANG BANG

My attention from the training dummies was refocused towards the sounds of blaster fire. Not just any blaster fire but sniper fire. Making my way over with Okka smirking, I was able to witness a teenage girl put three bulls-eyes into the 250, 500, and 750 yard markers respectively. The girl seemed to notice our presence as she stopped firing, put the rifle on safety, stood up and whirled around with a roundhouse kick towards my head.

My senses kicked in luckily enough as I ducked under her, hook swept her legs then pinned her with my hand around her throat. Just as I was about to comment on her attack, my senses kicked in yet again as I back-flipped over the large incoming fist, grabbed the wrist, then proceeded to slam Okka down onto the ground.

"What the fuck Okka! I thought we were cool!"

Okka shrugged and got back up, "Sorry, force of habit."

The girl stood back up as well, eyeing me as if I was a predator she needed to take down. I huffed before calming down and presented a handshake. "We got off on the wrong foot here. I was sent down here to get you. Your father is home and he thought you might want to see him. I'm Draven Verd by the way."

The girl stood there still observing me, so I decided to do the same. She was around 5'2", slim, midnight smooth black hair that was in a pixie cut with bangs, silver eyes that seemed to shine with life, her face still had bits of baby fat. Overall, I was guessing she was my age and that she had a different mother from the others.

The girl finally shook my hand, looking me in the eyes all the while, "You're strong. Taking down my brother Okka is no easy feat. My name is Athea of the Ordo clan. I..apologize for my action. I thought you were an intruder as I didn't recognize your walking rhythm."

I nodded and waved her off, "No big deal. Now, you should upstairs, your father may be waiting for you." With that, she walked off and as I was about to go back the way we came. A large hand landed on my shoulder which I followed back to an excited Okka.

"You. Me. Should spar. Now."

I was actually genuinely surprised by the behemoth as he reminded me of an excited pup. I couldn't help but give a grin and nod to him. "Show me the mat."

xxxx

Athea marched her way towards her father's study, head held high, back straight, and with a gait of confidence. To the people outside the clan, she was a warrior princess, but to her family she was Daddy's girl.

"Father!" And it is only proven more when she glomped her father after silently closing his office door.

Kag's smile couldn't get any wider as he hugged his daughter tightly. "Ner mesh'la ad'ika. (My beautiful daughter)" He couldn't help but reminisce of his late third wife as his daughter had her eyes. The only difference he could tell between her and her mother was that her mother had red streaks she dyed into her hair. Athea smiled up at her father before her lips started to slowly droop when she remembered the outsider.

"Father. Te aruetii (the outsider)?"

"Ah. So you did meet him. He's not an aruetii. At least, that is what he claimed when we spoke. Something about him seems familiar though." Kag began to space out for a second before coming back in, "Ahem. Anyway, what do you think of him?"

Athea scrunched her face up in thought, "He's trained. Not as a mandalorian, but as something else. He managed to catch me off guard, if he was trained in our ways then I would say he would make a good warrior."

Kag smiled just a bit more as he knew that his daughter was a harsh person when it came to judging someone's skill set. So for her to actually compliment Draven despite the miniscule amount of time they interacted says a lot. He put a hand on her shoulder and began to redirect her towards the training room again.

"Then why don't we go down there and see if we whip that boy into shape."

xxxx

This wasn't what Kag had imagined when he and Athea came down to check up on their new ward. It sent a shock through their system as they heard their family members slam down onto the ground. Draven stood there huffing and puffing with his guard up while Okka, Brazz, and Jazeadth got back up to engage him again.

Okka made for a grab at his collar, planning to pin him or toss him towards his more agile siblings however that didn't go as planned since Draven slapped his wrist upwards then launched his shoulder into the giant's diaphragm. Once he felt the body hunch, Draven gripped onto the man child and threw him towards the downed twin. His senses flared soon after as he back-flipped over the two warriors then proceeded to flop on his back when they both performed a back kick. Kipping up, Draven kicked out at both of their torsos, knocking the air out of both of them. With that advantage, he gave Brazz a solid right hook into the jaw putting him into the mat while Jazeadth lost whatever air he had left when a palm strike landed into his solar plexus.

Backing up, Draven took deep breaths to calm himself.

Inhale deep. Hold for 4 seconds. Exhale. Repeat.

Just as he was about to relax his guard, his sense flared once again as he grabbed and held onto a dainty fist that was half a foot from his face. Glancing away from the threat, he realized it was Athea and her father near him. Slowly letting go of Athea, he backed up once again in a placating manner.

"I apologize for that but you are the one to attack me."

Athea stepped back as well, looking down at her fist in deep thought while Kag's booming laughter sounded around the room. "Amazing! Boy, I do believe we will make a Mandalorian out of you if this is just the tip of the iceberg. Haha! I think we should get these boys into the med-bay. Athea, stop admiring Draven and help us get your brothers."

Athea jolted up and sent a backwards fist into her father's midsection while trying to control the major heat in her face. "I AM NOT ADMIRING HIM! I was just..just..trying to come up with a way to train him. He obviously needs it." She huffed out before going towards the wheezing Jazeadth and having him lean against her. Kag chuckles and coughs before picking up Brazz and Arurk who were moaning and groaning from their damaged bodies and pride.

Draven blinked rapidly for a few seconds until he got head straight. Walking over to Okka, he heaves him up over his shoulders in a fireman's carry and began walking back up the stairs with the others.

He couldn't help but fidget slightly on the way to the bay because of the warrior princess staring straight at him. "Umm. Can I help you?"

Athea shook her head no, "You are strong. Not many can say they could defeat my brothers or lift Okka without any trouble."

Draven shrugged just slightly in response, "Part of my quirk gives me superhuman strength plus with my training. It all adds up you know."

Athea nods her head before noticing the blaster on his hip. "A DL-44? That is a rare pistol, you are definitely of the old ways if you carry that."

Draven looked at her impressed, "No one I have met other than my masters knew of what type of pistol this was. Not to mention that it is a blaster. How are you all carrying one?" In all his years with his masters, he was told that the way to making blasters, energy shields, and other technology was destroyed by his ancestors for no outsiders could steal their secrets. It was only through their words that he was taught how to make most weaponry and machinery. So when he came here it was a huge shock to see people carrying blasters of multiple models.

Athea tilted her chin up in pride, "We Mandalorians are prideful of our weapons. It is our way of life, no outsider is to copy our technology as each slugthrower, blaster, and armor is equipped with a bio-scanner, genetic password, and a self-destruct feature if it tampered with by anyone but its owner. You should know, that pistol you have looks to have the same thing."

Draven nods slowly as he remembered Revan explaining to him that each weapon he made is a part of him and must never fall in the wrong hands. Now he finally understood what he meant. The conversation ended there as they reached the med-bay, it housed mutilple hospital beds in small secure rooms with both human and droid doctors and nurses. The connected building smelt of disinfectant and other medications he couldn't quite identify.

Laying Okka down, he turned back Athea and Kag who also set down their family. "I really am sorry for this. I guess I went a little carried away. It was only supposed to be a spar between Okka and I until the others came down and joined in."

Kag shook his head, "Don't worry about it. I know my boys and they would have asked you for a spar sooner or later. This may push them to keep progressing in their training."

Suddenly, Draven had an idea, "Sir, if I may ask, is it possible for me to train with you all?"

Kag's expression was unrecognizable however his inner self was beaming, 'This is perfect! I didn't even need to ask him. Inducting him into the village and making him into a true Mandalorian may be just what we need to spur this village into taking the old ways again.'

"Hmm. I don't see why not. We can train you in our ways and in-exchange, you help around the village."

Draven smiled and bowed in acceptance while Athea looked between him and her father in bewilderment before her eyes shined in excitement. Draven got a weirdly pleasant chill down his spine when Athea landed her eyes back on him that surprised him if anything. Kag looked between them with a small smile on his lips while his mind whirled with a regimen for his new young ward.

XXXX

1 year later..

There is a lot more to being a Mandalorian than what I first thought it to be. For one thing, the training is not the same for each clan as I thought. Each of the four clans have their specialties in the arts of combat and war. The Ordo clan is known for its marksmanship, weapons handling, smithing of all of the village's weapons and armor, demolition and strength training. They are all capable hunters and the training they put me through made me nostalgic of my time with Revan.

Clan Bralor are known for their minds as each person I met and trained with were strategists and tacticians that made me feel as if I was only looking through a fogged lense. They taught me how to open my mind and think outside of the box of conventional means. They even trained me in their clan's supposedly "superior" reflexes training. Now I was able to shoot the wings off a fly from over thousand yards with the combined trained from Athea and Bralor's brashest son Drax.

The Fett clan was a more..serious clan than what was left to believe. I had to be initiated before I was allowed to train with them. That day was by far the most painful day for me as I needed to endure a week long torture and interrogation session without revealing a shred of info they told me beforehand. Once I completed that then they treated me with open arms and respect as they taught their arts of assassinations, covert ops techniques, and poison handling. They continued the torture and interrogation tactics, but explained to me the hows and whys of each method. It was considered pain tolerance training to them and went along with their grueling endurance training that made me thankful for my quirk physiology.

The Rook clan's training was the least painful compared to the other three, but that did not make it any easier. They were the ones to have taught me their martial arts, espionage, and first-aid training. Physiology lessons made the experience awkward as nearly every person in that clan were women with the head of the clan being a stunning woman in her late thirties named Tai. Her daughters certainly made it interesting when it came to their agility training as each day was both fun and challenging as they pushed me to reach their levels of perfection. Though I was always met with a meaningful stare from the ladies and a possessive glare from Athea every time I came home from training.

Now the reason that all the clans decided to train me was because it became known that I defeated the albino kath hound by myself. Without my knowledge, I earned the clans' respect and their Mandalor's wariness with that feat and earned many more as I completed each of their training regimens. Now it has boiled down to one final test, a trial that all people who want to become Mandalorian warriors.

That was also a thing with Mandalorian culture, it is not based on race, gender, quirks, or anything. It is an ideal, a culture that can be practiced anywhere with discretion. The people that live here came from all walks of life, most of them are quirkless citizens that have had enough of the discrimination, others were people that were discriminated due to their quirks considered being either useless or villain-like. All four clans of the Mandalorians were quirkless yet due to their constant training, high advancement in technology, and genetic evolution they were able handle themselves quite well to gain themselves a reputation as bounty hunters, bodyguards, or mercenaries.

This trial is one test for me to be accepted as a True Mandalorian which is considered an equal to a clan member. I allowed Athea to be the one to send me off as we created a close bond as training partners since my first day being in the village. She seemed to hold a worrying expression on her face as she stared deeply into the cavern that I was about to enter.

"I don't know why Mand'alor decided to change the trial for you. It is strange he chose this place as our pits are for more suitable for everyone to judge your skills."

I nodded along as I adjusted my clothing, gone were the modern clothing as now I wore light gray leather armor over a woven shirt and loose fitting pants with combat boots. The leather came from the hide of the albino kath hound as it was my first kill from the wilderness as is tradition with the Mandalorians. On my left hip held a foot long dagger made from the horn of the hound and a metal called durasteel.

"It should be fine. He said that I just need to find and retrieve the blade that the first Mand'alors had used. The most I would end up fighting are probably some kinraths and maybe a Laigrek if I'm unlucky."

Turning to face her, I patted her head gently and place a palm on her cheek while making eye contact. Forming a comforting smile, I spoke "I'll be fine Athea. I won't die in there because if I do then I know that you would just drag me out and beat the ever living osik out of me."

It seemed that did the trick as she formed her own small smile. "Oh you better believe it. Can't have you dying on me before I.." She didn't finish while I tilted my head in confusion, "Before you what?" I didn't get my answer as a puff of air was knocked out of me as she hugged me tightly.

"Forget about it. I'll tell you after you come back. So you better come back alive. Okay."

I nodded again as we released the hug and I began my walk into the dark cavern.

xxxx

It has been nearly an hour if not longer since I have explored the cavern. The only reason I have been able to see at all was because of these small illuminating crystals that were in-bedded into the walls themselves. I had only killed a few kinraths since my entrance into the caves, their screeching made it easy to pinpoint where they were as these abominations of praying mantises never seemed to shut up. I had to be careful in using the Force in the caves as this place seems to be saturated in dark energy. Feelings of hatred and fear soaked into these creatures making them far more aggressive than how they usually are in the wild.

It took another hour before I was met with an intersection where two paths fell before him. I wasn't really sure which path to take so instead I let the Force guide me. Closing my eyes for just a second to concentrate, a small nudge directed me towards the right which I followed. Thirty minutes walking led me into a huge clearing with only path.

A bridge, only two people wide maybe a bit wider, and in-between point A and point B. A hole that had at least two hundred meters in depth if the pebble I kicked down was any indication. The small area I was in was maybe twenty by ten feet in surface area while the other side was about the same. Taking my steps onto the bridge, I waited for a couple seconds for a trap or some sort of beast to react so when nothing happened I kept walking. The bridge was maybe one hundred/hundred twenty meters in length so reach the three quarters mark took only a couple minutes.

Those few minutes were the most peaceful time I was going to have in this cave.

Thundering steps shook the stone bridge I was on as I looked on into the dark entrance of point B. What came out made my entire body tense in trepidation as its step stomped out slowly but surely. Once it finally came out into the open, my breath hitched at the monstrosity in my path. Nearly four meters in height and maybe 2 meters in width, it was a sickly vomit green with dark brown four foot spikes jutting out of its skull and smaller ones coming out of its back. Its tusks and razor sharp mouth dripped with saliva laced venom while its four claws in each hand clenched in anticipation. Its musculature reminded me of an elephant as you couldn't tell if it had muscles by its hide but the heavy stomps into the stone surely indicated its strength and weight. I knew what this beast was as Revan told me a story of his time fighting these creatures during his time in the living. He even showed me a memory of his that haunted me for week. A monster that all Force users of the family feared and tried to exterminate with extreme prejudice.

"A fucking Terentatek."

I pulled out the dagger they given while keeping my eyes on the beast in front of me.

"You got to be fucking kidding me."

It charged with speed that belied it weight and size roaring at its favorite meal.

xxxx

At the same time…

The council of clan heads is a yearly event most of the time as they usually make the large decisions for the village and come to consensus on people they deem worthy of being a mandalorian. Each clan head is to attend the meeting with each person having a son and/or daughter attend to learn the workings. Then there was the Mand'alor. He is the one that gets the final vote in case of a draw and can make laws for the village as well. One is usually decided by combat or vote if the previous Mandalor dies from natural causes or combat outside of the village.

This Mandalor was "chosen" by the council when in reality he sneakily put himself into power and held it with pure willpower. Since then, he has been known as Mand'alor te atin. Mandalor the stubborn or what the village and council secretly call him Mandalor te di'kutla atin. Otherwise known as Mandalor the idiotic stubborn for his cowardly act of not taking the trial of combat or actually being voted in. He sat there in the middle seat of the half-circle oak wood table with the clans around him.

"Alright, sorry for this meeting Mandalor, however the clans have all come to a consensus on the decision of making Draven Verd a True Mandalorian like us." Kag said while his son Braz held a proud smile. His daughter Athea beamed at the news with two other girls doing the same.

"I second that motion. He would make a wonderful addition to the village." Rook's clan head, Tai, is a stunning woman despite her age. Long flowing black hair that reached down her lower back, a figure that most models would kill for, bright violet eyes that seemed to shine in the right angles, lightly tanned smooth skin, and a presence that spoke of strength and respect despite being the smallest of the heads at 6'0". Her eldest daughter, Ilane looked very much like her mother only shorter at 5'8" while her youngest daughter, Zava, had the same smoothly tanned skin and dark hair as her mother, but while they had violet eyes, she had a darker shade that reminded others of alexandrite and was the shortest of her family at 5'4". Each had a womanly figure that spoke of having an amazonian physique yet held beauty in their curves.

"I agree with them both. Draven has more potential than even I couldn't see." Bralor's head is the eldest son at age 28, of the previous head, Xarr, stood at a clear 6'2" with a leaner runner's build, what he lacked in might, he made up in brains as they knew him as one of the most intelligent of the Bralors they knew. His brothers, Dralla and Drax, stood behind at parade rest overseeing each person with an eagle eye for detail. Each sibling had the same hair color of charcoal gray and eyes of steel, each one could only be differentiated based on their height, build, and hair cuts.

"Fett clan believes he is ready." Spoken curt and to the point, Akdag, a man in his early forties with salt and pepper crew cut and sharp black eyes, his build was thin yet one could see the corded muscle underneath his armor if they tried. His sons, Aisuk and Krapos, stood behind him in guarded stances with eyes that searched for any danger or detail out of place. Those two were carbon copies of him down to his scowl except they held medium builds consisting of more strength than speed.

Drark, the Mandalor, eyed of his clan heads for suspicious activity or a cause to hesitate before sniffing. "Well. It seems you have all came to an agreement behind my back I see. The ad'ika hasn't even finished his trial yet so you can all hold that vote until he does." 'If he even survives that is. That or'dinii will not take my throne from me. Not while I draw breath.'

Xarr narrowed his eyes at the Mandalor as he saw his facial muscles twitch for just a second, but that second held a meaning to it. He glanced over to his brothers and saw them nod. 'So they saw it too. What is he hiding?'

"This meeting will be adjourned until he comes out with the blade. Dismissed."

Xarr walked up to Kag right after leaving the meeting room. "Kag, hold it if you will. I would like to speak to you about Draven."

Kag looked at the young head in confusion, "What would you like to know?" His stance spoke defensively so Xarr sent a small smile to ease the man. "Peace brother. I would just like to know who his family was. Something seemed...off with the Mandalor and I would like to investigate a bit."

Kag's shoulders sagged in relaxation, "Okay then. He said his mother and father were both jetii yet he didn't know who fought for what side. He only knew that his father was Mandalorian as the man was quite proud of his heritage and taught the young Draven as much as he could before his demise."

"I..see. Thank you Kag. I will look into this." Nodding to each other, they went on to their separate ways with Xarr deep in thought. 'The time is too coincidental to be an accident. Draven may perhaps be his son. Need further research to be confirmed. Must keep this a secret from Drark.'

Athea stared into the direction of where the cave was that she said goodbye to her secret love. 'Stay safe you or'dinii.'

xxxx

Meanwhile…

"Son of a Bitch!"

"ROAR!"

"Oh shut up you fucking Rancor reject!"

I have been fighting for my life for the past ten minutes since I first saw the damn monster. The blade has done nothing but small cuts on its supremely tough hide and my use of the Force is extremely limited as the damn thing is nearly immune to the Force. Blunt impacts seem to do some damage however my fists and legs are starting to be numb from the constant impact with its hide.

'Thank god for spidey senses or else I'd be dead by now.'

His leather armor is practically torn into ribbons by now from it razor sharp claws. Despite its size and weight, the speed this thing could throw around is terrifyingly fast. Dodging another swipe, I jumped right on top of its head and grabbed the largest middle spike kicking him in the eyes before leaping off it landing back on the bridge. Its stomping shook the bridge with cracks forming in the areas where it was stepping. Breathing heavily, I was looking for an opening to do damage it again while trying to ignore the bruising on my limbs.

'Come on. Come on. Come on! There has to be something!'

I saw him charge again so I launched upwards while shooting multiple webs down on the terentatek to slow it down. I haven't trained much with them yet as I haven't found a good enough time for it. It seems to have come back to bite me in the sheb as I was starting to get more tired due to draining more energy creating them.

I thought I saw an opening when the creature was more focused on the webbing so I went for the attack until it looked up and actually honest to the Force smiled. I tried leaning back from the thing until a stinging sensation drew my attention towards my chest. It got me with its unbelievably long claws and the venom was already running in my system as I could hear the wound hissing and steaming.

"Fuck!" 'I only got one shot at this. If I'm going to die then this thing is going down with me. Sorry Mei-chan, Nejire-chan, Athea. I don't think I'm going to make it.'

Webbing it one more time with all the energy that I have to give. It was practically spun into a cocoon with its feet implanted into the ground. It wasn't going to hold it long as I could already hear the tearing. Sounding like metal spun wire ripping to shreds, the terentatek squirmed and struggled while I pounded into the ground with nearly all of my 20 ton strength. Looking up at the beast, I hurried the pace as the thing was almost out.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

Just as I heard the last of the webbing snap, I lashed out one final fist into the bridge, the floor shattered beneath us as weightlessness took over. I felt my organs churn, my heart beating out of my chest, the damn thing's roaring practically echoing off my ear drums. Yet, I couldn't help but smile just a little as I stuck my blade straight into its head and unleashed a torrent of sith lightning through the blade into its brain. The smell of burnt terentatek wafted into my nose, a mixture of a porterhouse steak and a reeking human corpse, made me nearly gag but I kept pushing until exhaustion took over. My eyes drifted downwards while my body hugged the front of the beast as a meat shield while we progressively got closer to the ground.

'There are worse ways to die than this.'

Then darkness took over.

Xxxx

Sometime during the fight…

Nejire decided to visit Hatsume's garage in case Draven finally came back from what Hatsume called his "final trials". Whatever that was, she missed him dearly even if she was a little angry when he didn't message or tell her about him leaving.

"Hatsume-san! You there?"

"..."

Going against her better judgment, Nejire walked into the garage tenderly avoiding anything that might explode. 'Too many times that has happened. Not risking it.' She finally reached the workbench where the pinkette usually works and found her staring at something. Overlooking her shoulder, Nejire saw that it was a picture of Draven and her together at a party. Most likely hers as she was dressed nicely in a nice form fitting black dress, 'How is it we are nearly the same "size" at different ages? It's not fair!', while Draven wore semi-casual formal wear.

"Hey Hado-san."

"Hey Hatsume-san."

After Draven's sudden trip, the girls learned to sort of get along as they both knew they held feelings for the guy and would rather not have him leave. Hatsume looked up from her picture to acknowledge the blue sunshine. "He ain't here. I would have told you. You know, soon after I took my pound of flesh and an overdose of head pats."

Nejire shook her head, "I know. I just felt like seeing you. Needed someone I could talk to that isn't filled with testosterone. Mirio-san and Tamaki-san are the greatest friends in the world and all! But, it isn't the same as those two are denser than maybe even Draven when it comes to relationships."

Hatsume nodded her head in understanding, "Yeah, that's why I stick to inventing. Less trouble and hassle. Though Draven isn't as dense as you think. He just didn't want to ruin his friendships or choose sides, the idiot. Don't get me wrong! He's as dense as a ton of steel, but he's..you know. Draven."

They both sighed at the same time, paused, then giggled a bit before coming to a warm silence.

"Don't worry Hado-san. Knowing Draven, he will be just fine. If not then we will both take our pound of flesh and then some."

Both girls laughed a little, talked a bit about their days and then said their good-byes. Neither knowing that their love fell down over one hundred meters with a burnt corpse of a monster that eats force users.