It's Easier to Be Cold

Unleashing more power and speed than before Aura once again charged at Fenix. Surprisingly to her this time he caught her punch in his hand and spun her away from him. She only remained disoriented for a moment before doing a spinning kick aimed at his head.

"My, My," Fenix stated with a pleasing voice. As he back-stepped out of range of her assault.

"Let me hit you!" Aura yelled. Fenix laughed and backed away saying,

"No thanks, that would hurt." Aura growled at him and launched herself towards him punching as fast as possible directly towards his face, but he somehow dodged all her attempts, but he didn't evade her knee to his stomach, and as was hunched over from the pain he also received a right hook to the jaw.

"Alright 8 points to Aura. A total of 10. The victor of this sparring match is Aura." Her classmates cheered.

"I knew Aura would win." one said.

"I never doubted her for a second." stated another. Aura exhaled heavily then reached out her hand to help Fenix stand up. He rejected her gesture and stood up on his own. At first, he looked a bit upset, not wearing his usual smile but glaring down at the floor but a split second later he was smiling again.

"You got me." He said in a carefree manner. " You did a good job, Aura." Aura put her hand which she still had extended, down to her side and remarked plainly,

"That's right, I did."

"Great match; both of you!" Cleaver praised, whilst clapping his hands. "You're both excused to go and rest for the remainder of the class."Aura bowed and thanked him humbly, while Fenix ran to quickly pack up his things and left the room just as quickly. Aura was a bit more relaxed with her packing and she very slowly put her clothes back on. As she was leaving she heard Cleaver announce the next two fighters but she did not bother to stay and watch.

Mirror was waiting in front of Aura's room tapping her foot in an agitated and impatient manner.

"Oh, God! It's worse than I thought!" She rushed and grabbed her sister's arm forcefully. Aura didn't complain knowing exactly why her sister was upset. Mirror dragged Aura into her room and began moisturizing Aura's face. Then she very roughly began combing the tangles and knots from Aura's hair. "You really need to start taking better care of yourself! You're a girl you know." Aura said nothing in response. "You're really pretty too, so it's a shame when you don't take care of yourself." Aura frowned and finally spoke.

"But... it's a bother." Mirror hit her head. "Ow!"

"This is something a girl has to do! We have to make sacrifices to keep up appearances." Aura sighed knowing no matter what she said Mirror wouldn't understand her point of view. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you... but I won't always be around so you can't depend on me to fix you up forever." Mirror spoke softly this time, gently braiding up Aura's hair.

"Okay... thank you." The younger sister mumbled out softly. Mirror scoffed at her.

"Your hair is tough I was pulling with all my might and not one strand broke... my comb lost a few bristles though." Aura laughed.

"Sorry." Aura responded still feeling very tickled.

"Let's hang out today but first change out of that nasty looking uniform." Aura pouted.

"There's nothing wrong with my uniform! I washed it two days ago." Aura remarked sounding a little upset. Mirror sighed

"It's full of holes and has stains and worse than that it's the boy's uniform!" Mirror argued back.

"It's more comfortable! I couldn't possibly wear one of those skimpy skirts!"

"Says the girl who fights in her underwear." Mirror stated sighing once again. Aura flailed.

"That's different! I don't care what I wear while fighting! I just need the ultimate amount of mobility possible..." After Aura said this Mirror hit her once again.

"Just change!" Aura held her head and pouted, holding in her tears.

"Fine!" She yelled running to her bedroom and changing clothes.

Mirror took Aura to the shopping district and bought many clothes for Aura, forcing her to accept them afterward. Aura was a bit bashful about accepting so many gifts so for every gift she received she bought Mirror something as well. Afterward, they went out to eat at a local café and Aura made sure to pay for everything which was just two cups of tea with milk and honey and 1 slice of vanilla cake, and one strawberry shortcake slice.

"I can pay for my own food you know," Mirror grumbled.

"But you're always taking care of me... so I want to pay this time." Aura stated with a slight blush. Mirror laughed.

"You're so cute." Mirror stated, reaching over the table and lightly patting her little sister's head. "If you don't start caring about yourself more, no one other than me will ever know how cute you are." Aura frowned.

"I don't care." Mirror removed her hand and groaned.

"You're at that age! You should be interested in romance now!" Aura ignored her and began sipping her tea. (That's all Mirror ever thinks about) Aura thought to herself becoming annoyed with the situation. "Oh yeah, I heard that a new guy actually got a hit on you." Mirror stated, knowing her sister well enough to change the subject for her sake.

"Ah... that was just a lucky shot." Aura replied coolly. Mirror shook her head.

"The way my friend described it seemed like he had pretty impressive reflexes and that he caught you off guard. She said you tried harder to land a hit him than you have with anyone else." Mirror explained. Aura then answered,

"... He... was annoying." Mirror's eyes widened after hearing Aura's statement.

"You mean you were bothered by him? ~" She inquired.

"Yeah..." Aura replied, with this new information Mirror got very excited.

"You usually only get annoyed by people who are close to you... yet this stranger managed to get under your skin! There may be hope for this one." The elder sister elaborated.

"Go to hell Mirror." Aura hissed.

"Ha-ha, maybe later, right now I must stay here and tease you. So was he cute? Do you like him?" Mirror asked.

"I didn't really look at him, and of course not! I barely know him at all. Stop being stupid." Aura started losing patience

"I think that's the most you've spoken all day." Mirror cooed playfully, smiling widely and placing her chin in her palms while resting her elbows on top of the table. Aura's face palmed herself.

"Can you please cease acting like an idiot?" Mirror shook her head 'no' causing Aura to sigh heavily. "It's just that... my situation concerning him is unique. I don't especially care for him and I don't want to speak with him more than necessary, he's nothing more than a hindrance as things stand." Mirror stopped smiling after Aura's statement.

"Oh, how unromantic." Mirror complained. Aura shrugged indifferently then took a large bite of her cake, clumsily getting whipped cream on her face but continuing to eat, not caring enough to wipe it off. Before they left the café Mirror made sure to use a napkin to clean Aura's face.

They separated in front of the dorms since Mirror had a friend she wanted to meet up with. So Aura carried her bag of clothes to her room alone. To her shock, Fenix was standing near her room. It was late; So Aura didn't know why he was there.

"Ah... you're back, I was worried I had the wrong room" Fenix stated in that cheerful tone that used to sicken Aura but now she has begun growing used to it.

"What do you want?" She asked annoyed. Fenix combed his hair from his face with his fingers then replied

"I just wanted to apologize for embarrassing you. Your fists let me know that you weren't happy about what happened and I hope you can forgive me." Aura narrowed her eyes at him.

"I do not care enough about you to hold a grudge." She responded, making her way to her room and placing her bags down so she could unlock her room door.

"Oh, that's good! I was really worried." After speaking, Fenix waved bye and walked away. His response to her cold way of speaking caught her off guard... but Aura only spared a second to ponder about it, she then hustled to enter her room, closed and locked her door then carefully put away the clothes her sister had given her. Once that was done she was fast asleep.

Aura awoke early the next morning so she did a quick exercise routine then took her shower, remembering to cover her hair this time with a shower cap. Next, she got dressed hurriedly and grabbed a chocolate Poptart, forcing it into her mouth as she rushed off to class. Today Fenix was there before her. He was staring out the window with a blank expression etched across his face. Aura was tempted to speak to him but pushed that thought aside and sat down at her desk silently. Hearing her chair move Fenix turned to her and smiled.

"Oh yeah, there's something I wanted to ask," He began "Why do you wear the boys uniform?"

"That's none of your concern." Aura retorted. Fenix's smile didn't falter, even at the harshness of her response.

"You're right, it's not. I was just curious, I'm sorry if what I said annoyed you." They sat quietly for a moment then he added. "You look better rested today, that's good." Aura was a little surprised that he had noticed she didn't sleep much the day before. Though it wasn't too shocking.

"Yes... that is true." She replied staring down at her desk. "Although your worry is, completely, unnecessary." She added quietly. Fenix hummed to himself.

"I was... afraid to fight you, because you looked tired and because you're a girl...but I was wrong for underestimating you." He turned to look at her once again. "You are a very skilled fighter." Aura blushed, even though she knew this already, being complimented still embarrassed her.

"Thank you." She mumbled. Fenix nodded his head still sending a smile her way. At that moment Ms. Emerald entered the classroom.

"Alright shut up, you bunch of fucking brats." Everyone knew what this tone meant... Ms. Emerald had been drinking before class, again. "Now I hope all you have done your damn homework, otherwise you'll be punished so severely you will be begging me to kill your miserable ass." Right then all the students who had their homework rushed to pull it out while the two who hadn't run out of the room.

Aura felt very happy to leave that class once the 2nd-period bell rang. Ms. Emerald swears almost every three words, even when she's teaching if she has had any alcohol. Aura's second class was Herbal Studies

"As you know," Madam Cantarella's soft and slightly shy voice began "If lost in enemy territory without rations you must know what to eat and what not to. Also, you must know which herbs are good for medicines. That's why this class is important." Cantarella readjusted her glasses and then asked, "Can anyone tell me which herbs are good for minimizing pain." Aura raised her hand but Cantarella refuted her. "Someone with an Earth affinity has an unfair advantage when answering so let's hear from someone else." That's when Fenix raised his hand. "Yes... Fenix? You may answer."

"A few are Cannabis, Yarrow, Cloves, and Arnica." Madam Cantarella smiled.

"Very good... Anyone else?" Aura pouted in her seat once again denied the privilege to answer questions in Cantarella's class. She felt it was very unfair. After sighing heavily and slumping over in her chair she looked up to find Fenix looking back at her... which only served to annoy her so she flicked him off and stuck out her tongue. He laughed. After that class was Martial Arts Combat. Today they sat at desks and discussed the importance of strategy and retreating when necessary.

"Your lives are important, be sure that protecting them is your top priority," Cleaver stated. "This will also sharpen your fighting skills. Remember to never toss aside your self-preservation instinct, it may be the best defensive weapon you have." Aura took notes while Fenix was steadily drifting off to sleep like 60% of the class was. Next was lunch, Aura's favorite subject. Mirror waved Aura over to sit with her and Mirror's friends. Seeing no better option Aura took a seat.

"So is that boy who annoys you here?" Mirror stated looking around shiftily. Aura quickly scanned the lunchroom,

"No." She stated blandly, causing Mirror to pout.

"That's too bad, I wanted to meet him." Aura began eating without another word, gulping down as much food as her mouth could contain and forcing it down with water. "Eww Aura, we have company, show some manners." Aura swallowed loudly then wiped her mouth on her sleeve afterward saying.

"Pardon me." Mirror sighed then began apologizing for her sister to her friends.

"Aura?" A familiar voice called. The last voice she wanted to hear at the moment. He came closer. "Hey! Is it okay if I sit with you? I don't know anyone else... I sat alone yesterday but..." Fenix stopped speaking and looked up at the others sitting at the table. "Hey... is it okay if I sit with you all?" Mirror and the others bowed their heads in unison so Fenix happily took a seat next to Aura.

"Who is he?" Mirror whispered to her sister.

"Fenix.", Fenix said answering for himself. Mirror laughed nervously... Then she smiled with the realization of who he was.

"You're the annoying guy!" Fenix's smile grew weak.

"I suppose so." He replied, his voice sounded a bit sad and he looked at Aura, who began eating as fast as she could to calm herself.

"Aura!..." Mirror leaned closer and whispered more softly this time. "You should at least be more ladylike when he's around." Aura showed no sign of hearing what Mirror said and instead kept eating until her plate was cleared then got up and quickly left the cafeteria.

Aura headed straight to her room and flopped face down on her bed. She'd never been in such an awkward situation before, and couldn't seem to clear her mind. Minutes later there was a knock at her door. She sat up and turned around to realize she once again forgot to close her room door and standing there in the entranceway in an almost nostalgic manner, was Fenix.

"Hey there." Aura looked down without a word. "...May I come in?" Fenix asked, Aura nodded her answer, so he entered the room and made sure to close the door behind him. Fenix took a seat next to her on the bed and the two sat quietly. After a few moments had passed he remarked "Your room is a lot cleaner than I expected." Aura puffed out her cheeks and pouted.

"Are you looking down on me?" She asked. Fenix reached over and stroked her cheek.

"You still got a little spaghetti sauce here," Fenix commented, gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb. She slapped his hand away.

"Shut up." She retorted, causing Fenix to laugh.

"To be honest, I might be looking down on you a little bit," Fenix admitted maintaining his perpetual smile.

"Well... stop." Aura stated, pouting once again. Fenix shrugged.

"I can't because I'm taller than you." It took Aura a second to comprehend his meaning then she flicked his forehead and glared. "Oww...heh you're so violent," Fenix remarked after being hit. Aura folded her arms and turned from him. "Your sister explained everything to me." He added softly. For some reason, this made Aura's stomach churn. (What did she say? Hopefully not any nonsense about me liking him) Aura wondered. "She said that the fact that you get upset with me so easily is because we're already close."

"That traitorous sow!" Aura mumbled.

"But... I know it's only because I happened to, accidentally, break down your usual defensive wall, due to an unfortunate event... well unfortunate for you..." Fenix muttered with a slightly nervous tone.

"Get to the point." Aura stated while clenching her fists.

"I want to be friends with you Aura is that okay?" He asked finally,

"Friends are nothing but unneeded accessories." She replied, hunching over and refusing to look at him.

"That's true... even so, I always wanted one..." Fenix stated, patiently awaiting Aura's response with a sincere expression on his face.