Author's Notes (A.N.): Hi, just to warn you, this is my first time writing fanfiction. I hope you enjoy it, despite the probable mistakes it'll have. I'll gladly take any useful advice you guys have to offer.

disclaimer: I own nothing! Except the characters I create

"Speech"

Chapter 1

Will was a troubled child, at least that's what the teachers would say. All they ever saw was Will striking down another kid. It didn't matter that the kid he hurt was a bully. It didn't matter that Will only fought because the other kid wouldn't stop bullying another kid. All that mattered was the fact that Will hurt another human.

Will is a vixen. A rare breed of monster that's often associated with werewolves and kitsune. They are known as 'the jackals of misfortune'. They've been called so because if you can't hold your own against them, you'll be dead the minute you come across one. It's not that they kill for fun or kill to feed like countless monsters do. It's that they feel that only the strong should have the opportunity to live.

Will is the oddity in this case. It wasn't that he was brought up differently or that he faced some super powerful being and lost. It was what he saw in the eyes of his first friend, Captain. Captain was an old vixen that fought in many battles. Despite the countless stories he shared, Will noticed the same look throughout each story at one point. It was regret. Captain was a vixen, who near the end of his life, came to realize that the causes for the countless deaths by his hands were not right.

It wrenched Will's heart to see Captain in such a state. To go through life and at the end realize you were a monstrosity. Will decided he never wanted to have those feelings. Instead of harming the weak, he'll fight the strong that want to harm the weak.

"Which is why your being transferred to Yokai Academy," the principal declared. Will sighs and continues to doodle. He didn't care what that weak-minded pudgy old fart says. This has all happened before. Will beats up a bully, teachers get mad. Principal talks to him with his legal guardian in the room. "Fire, Wind, Rain?" What could they possibly be talking about? "Will!" the Captain's sharp voice cuts the air. Will snaps to attention. Memories of days when the Captain would discipline him over his inattentiveness flash before his eyes. "Yes Cap'ain" Will says, voice cracking do to the sudden response. He clears his throat and tries again. "Yes Captain?"

Captain sighs in disappointment. "were you even paying attention?" Will doesn't even bother looking at the captain. The principal could jump in a river for all he cared, but to letdown the Captain... "No, I'm sorry" Will looks down slightly, letting his permanent messy and curly brown hair hide his eyes.

The Captain nods, satisfied with Will's response. Despite his age, he could still bring down a frigid reprimand that won't be forgotten. Deciding that his punishment was over, Captain speaks up again, "We were talking about you being transferred to Yokai Academy."

Yokai Academy the best school a monster could go to, a school made by monsters and for monsters. The school lies under the ever watchful eye of a dark lord. Everything the school is about Will agrees with. The only problem? Yokai Academy lies in Japan. "I'm going to Japan?" Will asks slightly distressed. "I don't speak Japanese, how am I suppose to communicate?"

The principal smiles, obviously happy to be losing a sore in his side. His squeaky voice picks up, "don't worry, we have a student there who will translate for you." Will frowns. This is not what he wants to see from his principal. He turns around to see Captain. "And you agree to this?" He asks slightly upset.

Captain nods, not bearing to look in Will's eyes. He speaks up again, "It will be good for you to get a change in scenery." Will doesn't even have to ask to know that the principal was imagining him being thrown off some cliff by a Japanese headmaster. "Plus," Captain continues, "it could be a fresh start for you." Will nods at that. "Okay, when do I leave?"

Will's blue eyes stared angrily at the uniform he was in. It was a white collared shirt tucked into brownish tan pants. Then it was covered with an ugly light green jacket. It was a horrid color combination. Will simply refused to put the tie on. When will this blasted bus reach Yokai Academy? It has been three hours since Will got on the bus. It seems as though the bus is purposely being dragged through unnecessary dimensional tunnels. The bus driver chuckles, "we're here." The bus suddenly stops. Will grabs the seat urgently as he feels his entire body want to fly to the front. He grunts slightly in pain before standing. Yep, it was definitely planned.

As Will steps off the bus, he glares at the bus driver. Said bus driver just chuckles before driving off. Will looks around. The land was in ruins, trees decaying. The ocean was blood red. Not a single living thing was around except a boy who looked completely average.

"Who are you?" Will asks, slightly hostile. The boy, slightly shorter than Him, stares shocked before shaking his head. The boy smiles "hi, my name's Tsukune Aono." Tsukune pauses and looks in a little book, "I will be... your translator until... you learn the language." Will sighs, some translator. "Well lets go then," he begins to walk toward the forest.

"How long have you been in Yokai Academy?" Will asks after a few minutes of silence. Tsukune pauses to think, then looks at his book, "this is my... second year." He turns to Will and smiles. Putting an arm behind his head he chuckles, "you'll like it here... I'm sure you'll... make good friends." Will frowns. It's been awhile since he has had friends his age. "Maybe..." He mutters before continuing to walk.

Will and Tsukune walk through the forest in silence. The trees crumbled and the grass faded away. After awhile, desolate tombstone began to appear on either side of the two. All the while no wind came, no animals moved, no person spoke. The only sounds made were the crunching of sneakers and the rhythmic beating of Will's heart. Why did this make Will feel so on edge? Could it be that he was unsure whether to put his trust in Tsukune? Or was it the fact that for once in his life, Will had no clue on what was going on or what to do?

Eventually, they came to the school's gate. The school's worn walls giving it a certain character about it. Tomorrow, Will would start his new school days at Yokai Academy. Will has to wonder what he'll do though. Would he let people inside his invisible walls? or will he continue to hold back his trust and ultimately his personality?

Will looked at his temporary translator. Tsukune was staring off towards the school. His brown eyes sparkled with reminiscence. "You missed this place?" Will asks out of curiosity. Tsukune smiles, "you get used... to some things... so much so... that when they're not... around for awhile, you... discover you can't... live without them." The boy's words were carefully picked, almost like he was telling himself that before even being asked. Will looked back at the school. There must be so many memories in this place, to make someone like Tsukune to miss it so much.

"Let's get you... settled in your... dorm room," Tsukune begins to walk towards a building to the right. Will just nods and begins to follow him. He will have to learn how to navigate throughout the school, so why not start with the room you'll be living in. As they passed through the doorway, Will felt like he was being scanned. It was probably an invisible barrier, constructed to keep the students out of the other gender's dorms. Tsukune leads Will up the stairs and down a couple of halls. All the while, people would step out of Tsukune's way and whisper in this school's language. Will sighed. He needs to learn Japanese soon if he wants to have a chance of actually surviving this school.