The world began to change around the group so suddenly that it was more than a chock to the system. It was a frantic heartbeat. Taijo noticed much of the familiar scenery. He could see the moon and the dark sky. The pools of blood were making there way across the ground. All he could think was,<em>Not here, not now, not in front of them. </em>All signs of panic were physically visible in the young man’s form. However, his panic was broken by a single command from Kari to huddle up. Commands were something he knew well. They were something he could manage in any situation. He tried to get a grip on himself quickly and looked around to asses the situation. The confused and frightened stares of his fellow classmates matched his own. Only Kari and Aryn seemed to be ready. They had their bokun and were ready for a fight.<br/><br/>It finally became apparent that this was real. Everything that had happened to him the other day was real and now he was being attacked again. Everyone was being attacked. He could hear Kari cry out to whatever it was and ask what they wanted of them. Taijo wasn’t sure whatever was attacking them would answer. Then Aryn told them to prepare to fight and Taijo obeyed. If he could help in any way he would.  He undid all the buttons of his shirt sleeves and neck. If he was going to fight he was going to have to be loose enough to do it. His neck was also fully exposed now and showcased his lovely bruise from the day before. Yes, he was scared. However, he had been trained to keep a level head in all situations just like he had been trained to fight from the time he was young. He thought of his father and how fortunate he was to have had that crazy man in his life right now.<br/><br/>Then the first beast approached and Taijo was taken back for a second and noticed Kari charge. “Kari-Kun!” He called out trying to tell her not to take on that thing on her own, but it was too late. Other shadow monsters were approaching them now and he saw Ayrn go for the nearest. Taijo wasn’t about to sit this out. He leapt in on the approaching horde and through a blitz of punches at the nearest one. Each was sadly ineffective. He felt as though he was fighting off some gelatin monster. However each attack did force the creature back. Then it happened. Kari fell; Aryn went to her aid and got slashed. And then Kari went to his aid.<br/><br/>Taijo leapt back and looked at the other students for a brief moment. Shine in particular seemed petrified. They weren’t going to make it. Taijo couldn’t keep all of them safe himself. He needed them to do something though. He needed them to try and help. “Fight!” He screamed at the group, “We all have to fight!”  Just as he said this one of the shadows cornered him and he got knocked to the ground. He felt the wind knock out of him and gasped for a moment. He didn’t have time for this though. He didn’t have time to lie down and die here. He got up, bloodstained and bruised, and stared at the approaching shadows. He knew he would die fighting. Taijo leapt back in and began to brawl. Punching out one with enough force to push it back he then focused on kicking another. It would have been so much easier if he had his weapon, but he didn’t. He was doing little, but slowing down the inevitable and getting his ass kicked.<br/><br/><br/>Suddenly, everything halted. Taijo stopped himself and breathed heavily. There was something in the air and it was powerful. He turned to see Kari holding a gun. An insane look on her face and all he could think was that she was going to end herself right then and there. He reached out in her direction and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.<br/><br/>He saw it all with awe and horror as Kari transformed into something horrifying in its own way. He ran towards the group and took cover among them and watched in horror as the shadowy Kari tore the monsters to shreds.  Then he noticed the new girl break away from the group. She was going for Aryn and Taijo wasn’t going to let her go alone. He ran after her and forced back some of the approaching. He made it to her side. He was the biggest guy in the group and could have carried Aryn on his own, but he couldn’t have Michiyo cover him while he did that. “I’ll cover you!” He told her as he prepared to defend her while she dragged Aryn’s body back towards the group.<br/><br/>