Remorse

[Arma La Rosa]

What possible motive could she have, she was the intelligent and rather snobbish of all the La Rosa family blood line, but could it be helped? Always pushed aside and teased and stepped on she was the youngest sibling and youngest girl so with her constant 'know-it-all' ways she was always viewed as the silent book worm, so she found solace in the books that she held dear to her heart, for they were her only friends as a child. So what possible motive could she have going to the latest social gathering with the La Rosa family? That was easy, it was just to be accepted to be loved and be liked for personality. As Arma had made her way through the throng of woman that always said hello to her last even though she still right in front of them. A sharp inhale, thats all it took just so that she wouldn't cry, holding back tears of anguish toward her family as she bit her lip trying to stop the words tumbling over her full lips. She hated them.

When she was surrounded by such a family she was a bit taken back and all of a sudden her confidence drained and she had felt like the scared child before standing there with her plushie rabbit or a book held close to her chest for comfort, her big brown eyes wide in fear of being teased and taunted. But she held her ground as long as she could before the tears would eventually spill over. Arma quickly snapped out of it as some of the family members grazed her with a few soft kisses on her cheek and some quick hugs, of course they would be people she didn't know. A soft pink shell lost in a sea of crabs, inhale she told herself, just one more breath just breathe Arma! She screamed at herself her thoughts raging back in forth between turning into her gun form and killing them all or to just break down and weep helplessly on the marble floors of her aunts house.

Gather your yourself! Get your eyes off the ground! Why did you come here unless but to feel sorry for yourself? She told herself as she produced a false smile to please the woman at this party. Arma made her quick rounds saying hellos and how are you doing phrases as she found a quick escape to the bathroom and glanced at herself in the mirror, hands shaking from hidden rage that had developed-

" Ms. La Rosa...are you alright? Your hands are shaking... "
The voice of the sweet young barista from the cafe had snapped her back into reality. The party she once was happened a few days ago and she couldn't help but to glance down at the porcelain cup of coffee that shook between her shaking fingers. Her two rings chimming and rattling the delicate cup as she quickly placed the cup down and glanced back up at her server.
" Yes, sorry... I guess I am stressed with the school work...I am alright thank you."

And with a seemingly doubtful look on her servers face he had left her alone to attend other costumers. Arma sighed deeply...had she been so wrapped in her petty anger issues that she was now showing them? The question began to pull and tug at Armas mind wondering if any of her inner demons had shown to anyone else or Johnny...The young weapon buried her face in shame as her eyes concentrated on her reflection in her black cup of coffee. Would Johnny like her if he knew...if he knew the real me...and how...how e-
No No....he wouldn't give me up so easily...would he? Armas frown line began to show deeply in her face as she started to sip lightly from her now cool coffee.

Holding the cup once more she drifted off back to the party she had attended. She had went to the restroom to escape the party but also to clear her mind and breathe.Arma would try to strike up a conversation but every time she tried someone would joke around to put her down. " Oh we are a good looking bunch aren't we...to bad the good gene in our family skipped Arma." One of her distant cousins had said and not in whisper but in front of her face as she ate a piece of vegetable. The trio of cousins that sat in front of her at the dinner table laughed it off as a joke to cover up their hidden addenda which was to make her feel bad. Her hands began to wond into a ball up into fists but she breathed ...and continued to breathe..." So what have you been up too Arma?" one would ask, she perked her head up immediately and smiled wide. " Well I was accepted into the academy and I have become a partner with someone ...do you remember my tall friend I used to talk about? Well him and I-"

But Arma had quickly realized that someone elses conversation was already more entertaining than hers as the cousins went off to talk with someone else. Arma inhaled deeply as she found herself cut off by someone and stood up, but she was use to it as she went back to her tray of vegetables, even though she had lost her appetite. Through out the night she would often day dream of her classes or her partner but with that she would sigh wishing she was anywhere else but here.
" Did you hear about Arma?"
"Yes I heard that too...how dare she show off her achievements and throw them in our face."
"I know she would be that way...its was all in her mothers side. She was brought up to proud."
" Can you imagine what her father has to go through?"

That hatched faced hag thats pointing at me with a sneer...I don't see her...those giggling girls with the whispers they want me to hear...but i don't hear them...the girl with the sniffle behind me...if i suddenly turn...oh look shes lost her nerve...right now i am their prey ,right now i am their quarry, but they'll come a day they all will be sorry. And sorry will be all they deserve...

With another sharp inhale she found herself getting lost in the darkest fantasys to cause them pain and soon outside of her thoughts a couple of bystanders had noticed a black mass of aura had formed around the buxom girl, her hands closed around a object...a wrist perhaps oh how it snapped so easily. " MS.LA ROSA!!"
The same familiar voice had snapped her back to reality once again only this time she had found pain circulative through her palms and fingers. She glanced down, hands cupped and shaking around and bleeding against the shattered cup. Her eyes widen as the blood continued to pour down her wrists and sleeves of her school uniform jacket. She looked up at panic at the other costumers that gawked at the bleeding girl. Arma quickly grabbed a few napkins and swiftly apologized to her server as she ran out of the cafe with such a speed you'd think she would run as afar as she could. I need to control myself...i need to control my anger...oh father if you could see me now. I'd be such a disappointment...

[Mercello Lad]

"You should travel so far from home..." A voice said to the birds as they gathered around the person. The figure kneels down in front of them with a piece of bread from the café he took with himself. They chirped happily as they pecked at the crumbs. The boy's brown hand rose to pluck some more off as he glared at them with a content expression. He just so happened to see these birds hopping around the café area hoping for someone to drop some crumbs. He was the only one aware of them, even with his tall stature he looked where he stepped.

He was a student at the academy, a new one at that, Marcello Lad. He was a bit uneasy at first, being in another new place, and another new life was a little much for him. Marcello's blue eyes looked to his hands, the bread he had, he realized they devoured the entire thing without him knowing. "You work fast." Marcello said as he stood up tall, "Sorry, that's it, maybe next time I'll bring you something tasty." He waved bye to his small friends and continued his walk.

That was the most eventful thing that's happened to him all day. Throughout the area he had gotten funny stares, some of them a bit stunned by his height. Marcello wasn't bothered by it because it was just like London all over again. Many see it as a spectacle, but Marcello sees it as an annoyance. It never ends with people talking about how tall he is, or where he's from. It started to piss him off, but his father told him 'It's not everyday you see someone who can block out the sun like you can.!'

Marcello didn't know if that was a joke or just a fact. He glared towards the sky with a sharp expression, his normal face, exposed. In his hand he held a bag of treats for himself to eat. He didn't want to stay because of those glares so he took what he wanted and left. No need to stay when you have eyes gawking you. As he walked he felt something nudge him, of course he didn't fall, he stumbled lightly. His bag fell as he looked at his hand with his sharp blue gaze.

He turned around slowly with this look, his hand held out, "....May I help you....?" His tone was deep, and a bit calculating for a boy his age. The person he saw was a girl who seemed to be in a hurry, but that didn't excuse her for her rudeness. Marcello glanced at her, of course he couldn't leave her there on the ground. Without hesitation he grabbed her by the hand lightly and helped her up, then went to pick up his items. "You shouldn't be running and not watching where you're going." He said, which was a bit of his opinion and truth.

[Arma La Rosa]

Had she been so preoccupied into her rather over dramatic outburst in a public cafe she had forgotten how to actually look up when she ran accidental bumping into a young man that had caused him to drop his bag and the rest of items, which caused her to fall onto the ground, her head nearly hitting concrete had it not been for her quick reflexes as she caught herself with the still bleeding hands. As she glanced up she felt towered over , she knew she was the shortest among her peers but mostly not ones to make her feel so...small? She didn't know if it was the right word to use as the young man grasped her hand and helped her up observing her clumsy behaviour she blushed deeply eyes to the ground.

"I am sorry...I am ideally not so careless...but I had been preoccupied with something..." Surely Arma wasn't going to tell a complete stranger than she had just had a complete mental break down at the cafe and had crushed the porcelain cup within her own hands. She picked up the remainder of his items and handed them to him, one she noticed was a school work book, so he was a student like her and quickly scanning his clothing she had found the "Meisters" badge that was pinned to the right sleeve of his shirt. Arma bowed her head in respect and repeatedly her apology once again.

" I am sorry once again for my rudeness...I can see that you go to the Academy, I am enrolled there as well...My name is Arma, Arma La Rosa I am a Weapon, Gun specialists actually. So your a Meister right? Tell me what weapons do you specialize in? Do you have a partner?" Arma had began to lose herself in endless supply of questions before even knowing the young mans name. Though he had a stubborn look upon his face he seemed perfectly nice and trustworthy to her as she waited for him to introduce himself and answer her questions without realizing that her hands, hanging from her sides, continued to bleed. Dripping down onto the sidewalk below them.

[Mercello Lad]

She was asking so many questions, Marcello glared at her as she helped him put his items up. His blue eyes looked down at her small frame as he stuffed his right hand in his pocket, "I haven't got a Weapon...I rather be alone for awhile." He answered back to her, his eyes looked down at her hands as he noticed dried blood on them. He fell quiet for a moment and grabbed her by her wrists lightly, glaring at the severity of her cuts.

"You're injured." He stated as he glanced back at her. "You're in need of help. Do you wish to see a doctor...?" He asked with his deep tone which was filled with responsibility. Now he felt bad for scolding her like he did. Marcello's tall frame turned and he began to walk, "No matter...I have bandages, I'll treat your injuries. Come with me..." He said as he walked on. He felt as if he were forgetting something as his sharp eyes glanced up for a moment. He stopped with his serious expression pasted on his face.

"I am Marcello....Marcello....Lad." He said a bit embarrassed he ignored her introduction and didn't respond back. But looking at her he could tell she was in need of help, so he forgot. Marcello's eyes wandered a bit before he continued to walk, falling quiet once more.

[Arma La Rosa]

Arma couldn't help but to notice his striking blue eyes that glared down at her even if he assisted her with her hands. He gave his name which was extremely unique and his accent was very unfamiliar to her as well but none the less he was very kind to help her as they made their way down the main street and towards what she believed to be the park.

Once arriving there she noticed other students had but all glanced their way towards the duo. It was probably due to his and her height. She knew she was tall for her age...but she didn't know how old he was probably the same age as her, or at least she thought. Once passed the cobblestone walk path through the park Marcello had but towards a rather large oak tree that provided a large shaded area.

Once near the tree she had sat down with Marcello as he notioned her too. Once sat she gave him her hands palms facing up, the dry blood stained the rim of the sleeves of her blue coat. Glancing at her cuts she whispered softly. "I am surprised I didn't do severe damage to any nerves or muscle..."

[Mercello Lad]

"The gashes are deep enough, however you'll be fine. Until then you'll need to relax your arms for a moment for them to heal properly." He stated in a stoic tone. "You should be careful next time or you may never be able to use your hands again..." He added on as he went to put his bandages up and cold water he used to clean her cuts. He took out a carton, it was orange juice. He placed it in front of her with a straw poked inside of it.

"Drink, Vitamin C heals cuts..." He said not making eye contact with her as he reached inside and pulled out a giant sticky bun eating it quietly. People were looking and gossiping and it made him very annoyed. His eyes glared are a group of people who turned a bit white at the face once he made eye contact. They scrabbled about trying to look natural. Marcello continued to eat in his silent solitude as he waited for her to take his offering.

[Johnny Vicious]

His dark side had been showing all day. It wasn't necessarily that he was mad at his parents or anything, but the fact remained that he had started to get tired of the drilling. The tactics that he had memorized more times than he knew his parents had let alone any of the other family members learning from his parents. He looked over at his older cousin through his bangs and glared. This guy had seemed to take his place as the son of the Vicious family. He had seen his parents giving him more attention and praise on his flawed tactics while Johnny had actually outmaneuvered him in every single way that he could think of. A natural tactician he was called by some of them. His parents evidently didn't see that in him.

He was going to go for a one on one battle with his cousin that day and wouldn't show any mercy. Even if they called the fight...he wouldn't let up. Not today. Eventually the hour was upon them and he found himself hurtling directly into battle within thirty minutes. His team had their designated targets and he had his. He went into battle with the one objective...to win. His fist hurtled towards the face of the cousin and his cousin spoke.

"JOHNNY! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF MAN!" His fist stopped and the vision faded. In front of him was a fellow classmate of his. He sat down and put his head in his hands. That's right...I was in the cafe looking for Arma. Where is she anyways? It's not like her to be late. He looked at his watch and turned red before falling onto the table in front of him. She wasn't the late one...he was. His watch ran slow and he had forgotten.

"If you were looking for that Arma girl or whatever her name is...she broke a porcelain cup and cut herself pretty bad a few minutes ago. I saw her with that giant from our class a few seconds ago."

Hearing him say that made Johnny sit up straight and look at the kid. Just his look was enough to make the kid tremble and point in the direction they had gone. He nodded and sprinted out of there, hightailing it as fast as he could. It didn't take him long to find the 'giant' and his best friend and weapon. The giant...Marcello Lad. That's all he really knew about the kid aside from the fact that Lad stood above him in height. His tactician mind began to move taking in the area where they were as well as height of Arma and the other people. He saw one possibility that would leave him with a chance to land a hit if he even missed his first kick.

Johnny ran full speed and made it to the point where he poured on the speed and began to run sideways along the wall. He passed over Arma and pushed off to attempt a flying roundhouse kick to the tall man. If there was any other guy with Arma...he wanted to be there to make sure she would be safe. This guy didn't look that nice either. Just the way he held himself and how his face was composed. He really hoped that his first kick would land...

[Mercello Lad]

Marcello felt the juice leave his hand, his eyes were in his same stoic glow as his neck was bent to the side. "....?" He didn't really know what happened, all he knew was that there was a sharp stiffness in his neck. Marcello began to raise as he straighten his frame and rubbed his neck lightly. His frame turned to the side to look at the attacker, "...."Marcello was quiet, a startling silence engulfed the area where people began to sense a bad aura amongst the three under the tree.

"....Arma." He addressed the wounded girl first, stuffed his hands in his pockets and keeping his eyes glued on the boy, "Do you know him? If you do I promise I'll keep him conscious." He said as he began to roll up the sleeves of his shirt. "If you don't know him...." He said his tone become rough and thick, "I'm going to knock his head clean off of his scrawny shoulders." He proclaimed as he fixed the folds of his sleeves, towering over the girl.

This is what happened when he tried to be nice to people. There was always some thug who believed they could use that as some sword to pierce through his "armor" Marcello didn't take kindly to no-names getting in a lucky blow like that. Marcello stepped forward and began to walk towards the short male like a tiger talking a piece of living flesh. "Tell me now." He demanded as his blue eyes gave a dangerous gleam.

[Arma La Rosa]

Arma had just relaxed her hands, enabling Marcello to rub her hands down with some cold water and thus taking out any remaining shards of porcelain that remained buried within her pink and abused palms. She winched slightly and inhaled sharply as his large hands began to work their magic. Arma's head tilted to the side as she continued to observe Marcello's behaviour, so concentrated into every detail of her small hands, the young weapon couldn't help but to notice how large his hands are. Sure, Johnny's hands were also big but in comparison Marcello surpassed...well no thats not quite the right word...maybe just the complete opposite him in every way, the height, the stature, hell even his behaviour...he was so quiet.

She couldn't help but to notice but gentle he was toward her injuries, taking in every detail making sure his work was completed. She smiled as she brought her wrapped hands back toward her sides, she beamed up at him thanking him as he brought out a small carton of orange juice. " Thank you Marcello." She took it tenderly within her wrapped hands and took a sip with a sweet smile on her full lips. Arma was about to ask Marcello another question when suddenly she felt a familiar soul near the area, almost like being struck with a small jolt of electricity she shivered and sat up straight and looked around questioning her sanity wondering if the soul she just felt was her-

Then her own guess came to light as she saw Johnny come down from above her head and strike Marcello with a full round house kick to his head. Arma let out a small cry and gasp as she saw Marcello take the full hit. Arma then saw Johnny getting in a stance ready for the next attack and Marcello get up from his seated position and glanced down dangerously at Arma demanding an answer into if she knew this person or not. Arma stood up on her feet instantly getting between the two, observing her apparent lack of height between the two, both hands rested on each of their chests, her eyes widen with panic as she answered swiftly. " H-He's my Meister! Johnny Vicious! Please don't fight!"

She glanced up to Marcello and then turned her head fiercely toward her partner. " And Johnny what in the hell was that for?!" Arma hardly cursed but she was clearly upset by the situation then noticed her blood soaked sleeve began to transfer onto Johnnys and Marcello's shirts, removing her hands back to her sides she winced in pain but then turned to Johnny her eyes clearly demanding answers from him. But Johnny s eyes glanced down at the blood questioning her intensely Arma sighed deeply and began to explain. " I had bumped into Marcello, he saw I was injured and took me here under the tree and held my hands and cleaned and wrapped them. I had broken a coffee cup at the cafe that I was waiting for you at, nothing happened Johnny!"
But regardless if she explained she still stood between the towering boys that sandwiched her between them, she then widened her stance ready for any fight that would break out. Though Johnny had always been there to protect her little know what she could do on her own, though the young brunette hated fighting she was ready to calm down these two hot heads.

[Mercello Lad]

"Your Meister." Marcello repeated back as his eyes turned back to "Johnny". "Good to know..." He said sharply. Suddenly, Marcello's foot lifted slightly, and with force, stomped down on Johnny's foot with his hands at his side. Marcello's long right arm cocked back and he flung a punch at the forehead of his new nemesis, there wasn't a lot of power behind it...by Marcello's standards anyway. Marcello would then begin to grind his knuckles into the boy's forehead if it landed, "You almost made me spill her drink you thickhead son of a bitch. Apologize." He demanded in a rough tone.

He looked back at Arma as he saw her wounds, "Sit down and drink your juice. We're having a quarrel..." He insisted in a solemn tone of voice. "You are hurt...please rest." Marcello gave her the best advice as possible. He turned back to Johnny with a thuggish tilt of his head to the left side as he looked down on him, "You better have a good enough reason to have done that...because if it was because of her. Not only are you misinformed, but you picked a fight you aren't going to win without me beating you into the ground first." He said in a threatening tone.

"This was just a taste, now I'll satisfy your hunger with more. " He cocked his left arm down and began to snap up a uppercut, if he had time to...

[Johnny Vicious]

As soon as Johnny's foot made contact, he instinctively landed in the second attack stance, but let up. It was over and he had gotten his point across. He looked over at Arma when he heard Marcello say something about knocking his head clean off or just injuring him. He looked over and saw the tall kid walk over towards him, a hostile look in his eyes. Johnny went back into tactician mode for a split second before hearing Arma cry out.

"H-He's my Meister! Johnny Vicious! Please don't fight!"

Johnny knew then that he couldn't fight, even if this kid threw the punches. It's not like he would take them though. He had tactics for dodging and not landing any blows. He felt his foot get pinned to the ground and found a fist moving towards him at breakneck pace. He leaned to the side, feeling it just glance off of the edge of his ear. He would make it seem like Marcello was almost hitting him and that he was slow which was what he wanted Marcello to think. "You almost made me spill her drink you thickhead son of a bitch. Apologize." That what when Marcello turned to Arma and began to order her around. Johnny wanted to hit back...but he couldn't. Not here. Not in front of Arma.

"You better have a good enough reason to have done that...because if it was because of her. Not only are you misinformed, but you picked a fight you aren't going to win without me beating you into the ground first."
Johnny shrugged. "Okay...Sorry. And yes...it was for her. I get really protective if I see her with other guys. Is that enough for you?"

"This was just a taste, now I'll satisfy your hunger with more. "

He saw the shift in weight and leaned back a hair and watched the fist sail by. He leaned forwards quickly so he would lock that arm up a bit and pulled his combat knife out, placing it against the skin of Marcello's neck as he leaned forwards and the elbow of his knife arm against Marcello's free arm. "Okay...let's just calm down now. You move your arm and we both get hurt. You move your head and you get hurt. So if you could...please step off of my foot."

[Arma La Rosa]

Arma continued to watch the boys continued to bicker and argue towards one another she had but taken Marcellos advice and had stepped back, she knew between her own height and weight she wouldn't be able to prevent the two from fighting. Arma continued to watch horrified as each continued to provoke one another It wasnt till Johnny had pulled out the knife that panic began to set in. She couldn't let this fight escalate into a death match. Her coffee brown eyes danced with their body movements trying to keep with the rhythm of the each limb.

She had but finished her orange juice when she couldn't stand it anymore. She hated fighting and didn't want to see anyone hurt. Having to take matters into her own hands she got into a stance she inhaled slowly trying to concentrate her breathing pattern. Once that happened Arma took off with such a sprint that she had somehow flowed between the two right before another attack could happen. She focused her attention on Johnny first, with her running start she bent and arched her back fully to maintain her balance as she delivered a full Gainer kick under Johnny's cleft chin, full contact was made sending her Meister stumbling backwards, her long legs had become powerful over the years with the constant kickboxing and martial arts training.

As Johnny landed on the ground she had gained some quick speed as Arma turned to Marcello and ducked under his torso shifting her body to deliver a powerful Butterfly kick to his right bicep thus knocking him backwards towards the hard bark of the old oak tree. Arma's body, though as small as she was compaired to the two towering guys was quick and flexible. She didn't know how powerful of a kick had delivered to them each.

Considering that she had never used her training in these past years. A sudden guilt had washed over her but little did she forget that she had been wearing her school
uniform thus wearing a skirt. Giving both Johnny and Marcello a full on panty shot.

[Mercello Lad]

Marcello's eyes darted at the sight of the knife. It sent Marcello to a very dark and brutal place. This idiot actually thought it was going to stop him and it made him almost want to pick up the tree and beat him with it, but people were around and didn't want to see a tall giant begin to destroy public property because of this one guy. The thoughts of Marcello's past and the present began to flood into his mind suddenly. His muscles tenses up and his body began to flex entirely, almost like his entire body was one solid muscle.

Marcello glared, slowly he moved forward, blood beginning to draw on the danger areas, "Now you've pissed me off." He said in a cold tone as he went to throw another punch with his free hand. But before he could his reaction towards another attack had kept him away from Johnny. Marcello saw something flutter in the breeze, then he saw white. With his stoic expression, came a shade of pink on his face along with a blink. Marcello took the kick, but stood his ground as his body had moved towards the tree. His back touched the tree lightly.

"Arma, that's dangerous." He meant the kick and the peek he got by complete accident. "I'm not going to accept a half-assed apology from that prick." He said slowly standing there and not worrying about the injuries he had come to gain. "I'll deal with you...don't worry." He promised Vicious with his icy blue eyes glowing a dangerous hue.