Part Two

Please keep in mind that Dark Casting of any sort:

• Paralysis Casting

• Torture Casting

• Spirit Casting

• Shadow Casting

• Mind-Manipulation Casting

• Death Casting

• + certain Spells of other Casting categories

are forbidden at all times! Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension of magic!

Thanks,

"Lance Idol" Minori!

--The moment Eimi and Meika saw this note posted in large lettering written by the Student Council President, they both knew they were screwed. The paper was pinned to a large bulletin board in the Entrance Hallway, where all students met briefly in order to get to class. A small crowd gathered around the board, Eimi and Meika in the center of it.

"Well, this might be a bit troublesome," Eimi laughed sheepishly. She whispered to Meika dryly, "I don't know how to cast anything besides Death Casts and Raging Hellfire, but both of those are considered Dark Casts for sure."

Meika nodded. "Un...I can't Cast anything besides Shadow Casts. I can do a few Flight Casts, but most of it incorporates power from my wings. And having wings is also a definite Dark Cast."

"Iyaaa, we're in a huge pinch, aren't we?" Eimi laughed. "Nameless, no Cast-abilities, we're really starting all over again from the ditch, aren't we?"

"I don't see why you're so happy about that, Eimi."

"Arere? But isn't Meika-chan smiling as well? It'll be so much fun~~"

Meika smiled mischievously. "If you say so, Eimi."

"Huh?" A boy's voice rang out nearby, amongst a throng of other voices. "What the hell is Dark Casting?"

Eimi and Meika both turned in surprise. The boy was frowning, one hand to his chin, and he had light brown hair with hazel eyes and the boys' black uniform. He stared at the bulletin board in confusion.

Eimi sighed. "Hey, you, are you serious? How do you not know what Dark Casts are?"

"I'm a freshman, all right?" He said defensively. "Atsushi Masao, the Holy Warrior."

"So am I," Eimi said, closing one eye teasingly and sticking out her tongue. "And even I know the difference between the two types of Casts."

"Oh yeah?" Masao argued hotly.

"The two major categories of Casting," Meika spoke up, "are Holy Casting and Dark Casting. Holy Casting is the type of Casting most people use on an everyday basis, and military forces are also able to use this kind of Casting. Dark Casting, on the other hand, is used by criminals who commit acts of stealing, sabotaging, kidnapping, and other crimes, but mainly killing. That's why they're forbidden in most areas."

"That's exactly right!" Eimi declared.

"Hey, you didn't even say anything!" Masao protested.

"It doesn't matter!" Eimi insisted. "Meika and I are friends, after all!"

"Yes," Meika gave him a peace sign.

"What does it matter?!"

"But you're seriously stupid to not know what Dark Casts are, you know?" Eimi commented. "Are you sure that you're a descendant of the famous Atsushi family line, the Holy Warrior who on a revolutionary war a couple centuries ago?"

"Eimi, they must be all brawn and no brain."

"Ah, you're right, Meika-chan! That would make sense!"

"Who are you calling all brawn and no brain?!" Masao barked.

"Then name a criminal who uses Dark Casting," Eimi instructed.

"Urg..."

"Told you so," Meika said at his uncomfortable silence.

Eimi sighed. "People here really are stupid, aren't they?"

"If you want to know," a new boy's voice spoke up, "the two #1 criminals in the world use Dark Casting. The Annihilator and the Death Angel use Death Casting and Shadow Casting, respectively."

Eimi swallowed a shout of surprise. Instead, she tilted her head and blinked her eyes curiously at the new boy that had approached them. "Arere? Who're you?"

"Ah, sorry," the boy said quickly. "I'm Katashi Isamu."

"Katashi--as in the family line with the title 'Detective Hero'?" Meika mused.

"Yeah," Isamu sighed. "My dad's working on the case of catching The Annihilator and the Death Angel, so I know quite a bit about Dark Casting."

"That's nice," Meika said monotonously, as if she didn't care. But her eyes narrowed sharply as she thought. The Detective Hero...it couldn't get much worse, could it?

"By the way," Masao accused. "You haven't told us your name yet."

"I haven't?" Eimi blinked. "Oh! Freshman year, Mihara Eimi!"

"Hoshimi Meika."

Masao frowned. "Mihara and Hoshimi? Never heard of it."

Isamu thought. "Neither have I...Say, what's your title?"

"Not telling," Eimi and Meika declared simultaneously.

"Are you serious?"

This came from an upperclassman, a stern-looking boy with fiery red hair and blue eyes framed by wired glasses. He folded his arms strictly, and he wore a Student Council armband.

"It is required for one to state their title upon introducing oneself. Your title is your pride and honor--you should carry it with the utmost respect!"

"All right," Eimi laughed, "Mr. Know-It-All. Meika and I can be classified as 'Nameless,' then."

Nameless. The worst of the worst. Those who had been disowned by their family and therefore unable to inherit the family name, but have also been unable to accomplish anything worthy enough to earn them a name. Most of the time, these people were homeless and hated by the world, and yet Eimi had said she would rather be classified as a Nameless than to reveal her title. Such a statement had never been heard of before.

"Yes," Meika gave them a peace sign, her face still emotionless. "Start from scratch."

"You--" the upperclassman sputtered in surprise, losing his composure for a minute.

"Ara ara," Eimi said teasingly, "if you don't reveal your name upon meeting someone either, then does that mean you're also a Nameless, Mr. Bully-on-the-Student--ow!" She broke off with a wail when Meika smacked her on the head.

"Ahem," He cleared his throat. "Excuse me. I am the 'Iron Fist,' Disciplinary member Fuyubayashi Shuu."

"Shuu-kun," Minori ran up, grinning as she pounced on him. "It's fine, isn't it? If they want to stay anonymous then shouldn't we just let them do as they please?"

"But they're only filthy Nameless--"

"Shuu-kun!" Shuu flinched at Minori's sharp tone. "Speaking like that to your underclassmen is strictly prohibited!"

"I'm sorry," Shuu lowered his head reluctantly.

"It's fine, it's fine!" Eimi chirped. "Meika-chan and I are used to it, right?"

"Un," Meika replied. "Used to it."

"But that doesn't mean that Shuu-kun's behavior was acceptable," Minori insisted. "I don't want to hear something like that ever again, understood?"

"Yes, Prez."

There was a sigh, and a new girl's voice spoke up. "So what did you do this time, Shuu-niichan?"

"Kyoko!" Shuu exclaimed. "What makes you say--?!"

The girl laughed. She looked to be the same age as Eimi, a freshman, and she had the same fiery red hair as her brother tied in a long ponytail and glittering golden eyes. She grinned at Eimi and Meika. "Sorry about that. Shuu-niichan tends to just say whatever mean crap's on his mind, you know what I mean?"

"Hey, Kyoko!" Shuu protested.

"I know exactly what ya mean!" Eimi chirped. "Ah, I'm Mihara Eimi, and this is Hoshimi Meika! If you're this guy's brother, then can it be safe to assume that your title is also the 'Iron Fist'...Fuyubayashi...Kyoko...chan?" Eimi tipped her head curiously, frowning.

"Correct!" The redhead grinned. "You're pretty sharp, aren't you?"

"Bingo bingo!" Eimi laughed. "Ow!"

Meika elbowed her sharply. "Don't get in over your head, Eimi."

"Sowee, Meika-chan!" Eimi stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Mi...Mihara...san?"

A new, familiar voice spoke up shyly from behind Kyoko.

Eimi recognized it right away, however. "Arere? Akina...I mean," she corrected quickly when Meika raised another hand, "Kaida-san, is that you?"

"U-Un..." The Future Miko peered out, looking flustered, from behind Kyoko. "A-Akina is fine...E-Eimi-san."

"Told you it's no problem, Meika-chan!" Eimi insisted. "Ah, are you and Kyoko-chan roommates by any chance?"

"That's right!" Kyoko beamed. "The President just kind of put us together when we were among a couple of the only freshmen left, so..."

"Good for you, huh, Akina-chan?" Eimi said cheerily.

"U-Un," Akina nodded shyly, smiling.

"Hey," Shuu scowled, "shouldn't it be about time that you four headed to class? You shouldn't be late to your first day, right?"

"Isn't it just homeroom?" Eimi tilted her head curiously. "Ow! I-I got it, I'm coming, Meika-chan!"

"Oi, wait up, you two!"

"K-K-Kyoko-san! Wait for me please!"

"Come on, Akina-chan!"

"Eimi, less talk more walk."

"Waaaa, you're a meanie, Meika-chan!"