Battle Team

Kai woke up the next morning, next to him Oscar was snoring. Not wanting to wake him up, Kai silently left the room to go find Evelynn. Walking around the house he found a note on the table next to some eggs and toast, still slightly warm.

'Had to go to work early, but I made some eggs for you! I see you later today for training!'

Kai smiled before digging in, it had been a while since he had eaten something other than cereal in the morning. Lance wasn't much of a cook after all.

After eating, Kai cleaned himself up before heading out to go to school. Along the way he met up with Ashe and Emma.

"Where were you yesterday?" Ashe asked. She looked tired, more so than usual.

"I was having a day off with Oscar and Evelynn" Kai explained, causing Emma to snicker slightly. "What about you?"

Ashe rolled her eyes back and let out a pained groan.

"My dad said you were doing extra training, so he got me to do twice my usual routine!" Ashe then turned to look at him seriously, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Kai you have to convince my dad to give me, I mean us, a day off!"

Kai smiled wryly before replying.

"Sure, I was planning on asking for one from Evelynn anyways."

"Kai, you are truly a blessing in my life!" Ashe cheered, letting go of him.

The trio made their way to school, chatting along the way. Kai asked to make sure Emma was ok after yesterday, causing Emma to go red in the face.

"Emma's never been good with pain" Ashe explained. "She even cried after getting a paper cut one time!"

"Really?" Kai asked incredulously, earning him a meek nod from Emma. Kai was surprised, he would never have thought that someone, let alone a spirit master, could be so bad with pain. Changing the topic they continued to talk as they arrived at school and sat down in their respective seats.

Soon the class began to fill up, Sam eventually arriving and joining Kai and the others. They talked about what they had done after school the previous day, Kai making sure to show off and tell Sam about the fun he had.

Near the beginning of Class Jax entered, causing the class to go silent like the day prior. Today, however, Jax seemed a bit more reserved and just quietly made his way to his seat, not bothering anyone. Kai got up from his seat, but just as he was about to go over Sam stopped him.

"What're you doing" Sam asked.

"I'm going to apologize for yesterday" Kai said.

"Apologize?!" Ashe chimed in, annoyed at the idea. "He deserved what he got!"

Emma just stayed silent, staring at the ground and fiddling with her thumbs.

Just as Kai was about to explain, Miss Alice entered the class. Seeing everyone had arrived on time she nodded before speaking.

"Mornings are for physical training, everyone out to the field!"

The class began to leave for the field outside, Kai was just about to step out of the class when Alice stopped him.

"You three, stay." She said, pointing at Kai, Emma and Jax. Ashe looked over curiously while Sam just gave a wry smile before they disappeared down the hall. Emma and Kai looked at each other, hoping the other might know what was going on. Jax just leaned against the wall, putting his hands pockets.

After everyone else had left the class Miss Alice began to explain.

"Don't worry, you guys aren't in any trouble" She leaned against her desk, motioning for the kids to come closer. "I just wanted to ask you all something, you don't have to agree but I highly encourage you do."

She paused for a moment, making sure they were paying attention.

"I'd like you three to form a small battle team."

Kai and Emma widened their eyes in shock. Jax stayed the same, expecting such an outcome.

"Normally only third years and a few seconds years have their first spirit rings, its extremely rare for a first year to have one- let alone four."

"What about Sam?" Kai cut her off, curious as to why he was not also asked to join.

"He came to me before class and refused" Alice said seriously before continuing. "You would spar with another team once a week on Fridays. On top of that the school would provide you with extensive facilities to train, you wouldn't have to train in the field."

"Wouldn't that mean we would be fighting people older than us? Wouldn't they crush us?" Kai asked.

"Of course, but they wouldn't crush you" Alice explained. "Most second year teams have also just formed teams, the only ones that truly have more experience would be the 3rd years."

"Before you make your decisions, know that in your second year this will be mandatory. We're only asking since something like this hasn't happened in quite a while. And while most the other teams have 7 members, since there are only three of you they'll only send out three members each fight."

"I agree to join" Jax was the first to speak up. Alice smiled before speaking.

"Good! What about the rest of you?"

Kai thought silently as he switched his gaze between Jax and Alice before finally glancing at Emma. She was staring at him nervously, waiting to see what he would say.

"I also agree!" Kai said resolutely. Alice nodded happily before turning to look at Emma who simply nodded.

"Perfect!" Alice smiled. "Now then, time for training."

Alice brought them outside to the field where the rest of the class was waiting.

"I thought you said we'd get to use better facilities" Jax asked. Emma and Kai also looked at Alice expectantly.

"I have to talk to the principal first, so until then you train with everyone else" Alice handed Kai a rope as she spoke. "Also, from now on I encourage you three to spend as much time as possible together. Get to know each other, in and out, it'll help with cohesion."

Kai starred curiously at the rope he had been handed while Alice spoke to the rest of the class.

"15 laps around the field."

The class groaned and complained, it would take them close to an hour. Some tried to protest but Alice immediately shot back, threatening to increase it to 20 laps if they didn't start. While the others began their run, Kai, Emma and Jax waited for Alice to tell them what to do.

"You guys are doing the same" Alice said. "Only difference is that you guys are going to be tied together."

The three looked at the rope. It was quite short, if they tied it around each of their waists they would at most be a foot or two apart.

"What, why would we need to do that!" Jax yelled out complaining. "15 laps are already too much, I don't want to be dragging these two around with me!"

Kai frowned hearing that, while he agreed it would be tough tied together it wasn't like Jax was some super human. He started to question whether or not it really was worth apologizing to him.

"Because you're a team" The teacher didn't elaborate. "And since you think its too much why don't the three of you do 20 laps instead, and no using your Spirit Rings. You can also use this time to think of a team name, I'll need one before your first fight this Friday."

Jax grumbled furiously, not daring to speak up in fear of having to do more laps. A couple minutes later the three were jogging together on the track, Kai in the center with Jax and Emma on his sides. They jogged in silence for a few minutes before Jax suddenly spoke up.

"I'm sorry" he said, surprising both Emma and Kai. Kai soon felt angry, clenching his fist he spoke.

"For what?! For getting us to do more laps or for punching Emma after she had begun to surrender?"

Emma blushed slightly, and turned her head to face away from the two boys.

"The laps-" Jax suddenly stopped in his tracks, pulling the other two back and making the rope tighten around their waists painfully. Jax looked worriedly at Emma. "Wait you tried to surrender?"

She nodded slightly as she tugged at the rope, trying to loosen it slightly. Kai wanted to speak but being in the center caused his rope to tighten the most, he felt like someone had tried to squeeze him into a corset.

"I wouldn't of- I mean I didn't mean to-" Jax stammered, trying to find a way to apologize properly.

"Its fine" Emma cut him off, smiling lightly. She never would of expected the arrogant Jax to be so awkward.

"Just don't stop running like that again" Kai spoke out, finally loosening the rope enough to be comfortable. The group began to job again, hoping to finish the run before lunch.

"I'm sorry too" Kai said once they reached a comfortable pace. "I shouldn't have stopped you from surrendering, it was too much."

Emma widened her eyes, confused by what Kai had meant.

"It's fine" Jax sighed. Looking back to Kai he continued. "I probably would've done the same thing if I were in your shoes."

They continued to jog for a few minutes in awkward silence.

"Hey Kai" Jax spoke out somewhat timidly. "Does the rest of the class like me?"

Kai looked over, wondering if Jax was thick in the head or something. Emma just snickered from the side, earning a strange look from Jax.

"What do you think?" Kai asked another question back.

"Well I don't know…" Jax paused for a moment. "Back in the Clan I always acted like this and everyone usually liked me, but here it seems like the opposite."

Kai thought for a moment before answering.

"Did they still like you after your awakening ceremony?" Kai asked, causing Jax to shake his head.

"No, they all started ignoring me!" Jax was silent for a moment, thinking. "Wait, you don't mean…"

"Seems like you arent that dumb" Kai and Emma laughed, Jax's face went beat red from embarrassment.

"What do I do!" Jax looked to Emma and Kai desperately. Kai just rolled his eyes while Emma looked away.

"Just don't be…" Kai scrunched his face. "You."

Jax's face went dark, no longer wanting to talk. Kai decided to change the subject, hoping to lighten the mood slightly.

"How about we think of a team name?"

…

Kai sat down at one of the lunch tables soaked in sweat and breathing hard. After the 20 laps the teacher got the class to do weights and other endurance drills. It was a different kind of torture compared to his training with Eve.

He was soon joined by the others, this time with the extra addition of Jax. Introducing himself properly, Kai proceeded to explain the creation of the Battle Team. To his surprise Ashe didn't seem too bothered for not being able to join them, given her personality Kai was sure she'd be disappointed with not being able to fight others.

"So, we have to eat with him every day now?" Ashe asked, staring daggers at Jax.

"It's not like I want to sit with you either" Jax responded quickly, not backing down. Ashe snorted before returning to her meal. Jax smiled and looked to Kai, checking to see he was better than before. Kai only shook his head before massaging his temples, wondering how someone could grow up to be so bad at talking to others.

Sam watched the exchange with great interest, he nudged Kai and urged him to explain. A few moments later Sam was laughing out loud, Jax's face red like a tomato.

"So you're like his social guru?!" Ashe was laughing together with Sam now, drawing attention from some of the nearby tables. "The kid who doesn't know how to have fun and the kid who doesn't know how to make friends! A match made in heaven!"

The tables continued to talk and laugh together, Jax slowly integrating himself into the group. Eventually the bell rang, sending the group back to class.

The afternoon was much easier compared to the physical training. Kai already knew most of the theoretical knowledge from his training with Evelynn and Oscar. Because of that Kai was able to just coast through and not pay attention.

The day soon ended, and Kai excitedly got up from his seat. He had a reason to be excited after all, today was the day he would get to train with weapons for the first time.