Nat's POV:
I looked sadly at the familiar trees sweeping farther away from me, as the small limousine whisked past my old home. Ever since Shiro Fujimoto died, my foster brothers , Rin and Yukio, went to this school that was for teaching exorcists. I waited on my decision, though Rin and Yukio both encouraged me to. After a few months, I finally gave up from their urging and agreed.
"Shiemi will show you around, since you wish to become Tamers." The strange clothed man started with a mischievous tone. "Though I would think an exorcist-also a sword wielder- would become a Knight."
I placed a hand on my belt that the sheath of my sword hung on, uncomfortable but slightly sooted that my sword was still with me. I mumble to myself incoherently, biting my lip as the remnants of my home were replaced by a grand city, many children and adults bustling around the wide streets.
"Why do you need to come, you ask?" He asks, his face a few inches from mine, making me frown, shifting back so my shoulders pressed into the plush of the back of the seat.
"I-I didn't say anything." I sputtered, my cheeks flushed from embarrassment.
"Ah, but your face shows everything." He chuckles, leaning closer again. "The reason why is to protect your 'brothers', isn't it?" He smiles lightly like the Cheshire cat. It made me cringe, but I sustained the urge. "Because you're also powerful of many sorts, and you need a home, after your harsh missions and that 'incident' with your foster father. I know what you are. No other creature on this planet has those eyes." He smirks lightly, gently poking my eyelids. I winced, pressing back against the back of the car's seat. I squirmed, my cub sleeping soundly on the seat next to me.
"Who's my team, anyway?" I questioned, curious but wary.
"Ah, you'll meet them soon enough. Even so, you'd recognize them from a million miles away." He answered immediately.
My eyes narrowed at his comment, but softened as I just nod. "...Fine." I sighed a little, and leaning back, fiddling with the headphones rested on my neck. After a minute or two of silence, the car stopped abruptly, sending me tumbling forward into the man, but was steadied again.
The door opened widely, showing a boy around 16, with dark hair and navy blue eyes. My eyes started to twinkle, and I smiled widely. So that's what he meant. "Rin." I whispered, and looked up at him and smiled. He grew.
"Hey! I'm Rin, who-" His eyes met mine, and his navy blue irises widened, then softening with happiness. "Nat… Onee-chan!" He cheered, tackling me in a hug. My eyes widened, and I smiled wider, hugging him back for a moment before he was pulled back by another boy, who had a blonde streak of hair, almost like tongues of golden fire.
"Baka! Don't crowd her, she may want personal space!" He scolded, and I peeped out of the car, my golden green eyes searching for Yukio.
My cub trotted out, before meowing annoyed, climbing up my arm to my shoulder, nestling into my dark curls. I scanned the group of teens with my eyes, noticing how some immediately tensed up, when one trotted over and draped an arm around my shoulders.
"Hey," He said, in a slightly seductive voice. "The name's Shima. How 'bout we go talk about ourselves over lunch, heh?" He offered, and my face started to darken until my cheeks were a dark crimson.
"U-um...I think...um…" I started with a dry throat, never really familiar with flirting and affection other than with Rin and Yukio. The man never told me we would have these kind of weirdos on my team. Didn't they have someone to keep them in line? All I could see was a bunch of children scattered all over the street like it was a playground.
"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?" He asked softly, his head butting lightly into my cheek. I blushed more, a hiss starting to form against my teeth, but a girl with black ponytails stormed over, slamming a hand across his cheek.
"You're such an idiot, hitting on the new girl! What are you, a pedophile? She doesn't know you! Do you even know how old she could be? She could be ten for all you know, asshole!" She screeched at him, making him fall back until his back hit the floor. Rin snickered, while Shima pouted, smirking up at the girl.
"Aw, is someone jealous?" He taunted with a smile.
"Shut up, pedo!" She retorted, before turning to me with a frustrated expression.
"H-hi. I am Nat." I introduced myself quietly, my hands fiddling with the hem of my uniform skirt. She nodded, and drew her eyes up and down my slim figure, before giving a hint of a smile.
"Kamiki." She stated sharply, and glared at the guy who was still bickering with Rin. "Shiemi! Get your butt over here and stop making googly eyes at our teacher!" She shouted over to a blonde girl in a kimono, which seemed very unfamiliar. The last time I saw a kimono was on my mother, when I was much younger.
I watched as the blonde came over tentatively, and then stiffened as she enveloped me in a warm, welcoming hug. "Ohayo. My name is Shiemi Moriyama. It's nice to have another girl here, besides Kamiki-san." She said politely, bowing in front of me after quickly letting go.
I bowed back to her, and introduced myself. "I am Nat," I looked over at Rin, and the other boy had him in a headlock, noogying his hair. Shiemi and Kamiki also looked over, and Shiemi giggled a little while Kamiki face palmed herself.
"I'll be back." She scowled ,before Shima came back, looking at me curiously as his eyes roamed over my figure; I wasn't much, only 5'4 inches, with a mane of dark hair and tanner skin than my two brothers. I had bright eyes, and freckles that were from the sun's rays beating on my face from when I was little. I guess I was an abnormality of appearances, because some people would glance over when I was first taken in by the ex-Paladin.
The pink haired boy was starting to make me feel a little uncomfortable, because he was staring at the top of my blouse, where an obvious patch of wrinkles and bagginess of fabric was. Before I was able to actually stop his ogling, a short, adorable looking boy with big ears trotted up to me, the other boy who was at least twice his size getting dragged along.
"Shima-san, why didn't you introduce us?" The short boy complained, a shy smile on his cheeks. My cat peeked out, and started to mew, smelling something that went to her tastes. The boy smiled, and held out a cat toy for her. She mewed and jumped into his arms, making him laugh and smile, playing with the cat. "I am Konkemaru Miwa, and this is Ryuuji Suguro, though he prefers Bon." The elf-like boy introduced, and smiled. I smiled back, and bowed, blushing faintly.
"I-I am Nat." I smile and bow again, my dark curls tumbling down the sides of my neck and down to my thighs. The boy with golden hair down the middle of his head nodded, crossing his arms.
"What would you like to be?" He asked gruffly. Looking at him, I frowned a little, fiddling with my fingers. What would I say to that? I didn't know if he meant in real life, like as a cover up, or as in our lives here, in the supernatural world? Even more so, I considered the man's warning of what he said before I opened the limousine door.
"Don't spill all of the beans, otherwise your fate'll come quicker!"
Keeping this in mind, I gnawed on my bottom lip, the already chapped lips meeting the mercy of my teeth as I bit down. I finally came to a decision; hopefully, this wouldn't anger the Demon King. "I-I would like to become a Tamer, but also a Knight. Maybe if I'm successful enough, I'll become a Doctor." I murmur, surprised at my words, especially of the bitter taste of lies on my tongue. I meet his eyes, my golden flecked green eyes meeting his deep brown eyes to search for doubt, any negativity at all, and smiled a little more, seeing none. They seemed familiar. Shiro and I would go on trips to temples in Kyoto, and I played with a few boys who looked sort of like them.
"Anywho, Shura-chan said we would have a mission tonight: In order for Nat to show us her skills, she must go to a ghost in the boys' dormitory restrooms." Shima's voice interrupted the conversation between the two of us, and so I bristled slightly, sighing softly as I recognized the voice.
Hearing the familiar name ring in my head, I kept down a smile of satisfaction to know that she was on my team. At least I wouldn't be alone on this. Even so, why the boys' bathroom? If it was for the boys, then wouldn't they go? When Yukio first joined this, they didn't do any 'mission of evaluation'. "A-alright." I nod and try to smile a little more.
"It appears in the hallway that joins the two dormitories, leading the victim to where they disappear, and only appears in front of lone females. We've detected a pattern of the locations, and so the next one will be in the boys' dormitory. So, since you're new and needed to be shown your skills, you'll be put to the challenge. We'll be there but it won't see us." The fiery haired woman instructed, spotting me as I started to pad over to the old boys' dormitory, and I nodded slowly. She and I shared a glance, as if saying, 'Don't screw this up for me'.
I sigh softly; people were putting too much on my shoulders. Not that I should complain or anything. "Izumo can show your room." She also said, and I smiled a little. I nod, and start to head towards Izumo, seeing she got the message, huffing and turning on her heel. I obediently wait for a response from her, seeing that she wasn't very happy of showing newer kids around.
"This way then." She states with a hmph, and I nod before following her.