Chapter One

The class was silent; there is a transfer student in front. She has no smile…no uniform. She observed the room with cold eyes. People tried to meet her gaze, but when they did, they got the feeling of dread, and looked away. One look at those dark blue eyes, you would know she has experienced death, murder, and creatures so fearsome one could never imagine. She turned her head as the teacher told her to write her name on the board and her hair fell away from the side of her face. A collective gasp rose from the class. On the side of her head was a long scar, reaching from her cheek to her jawbone. She looks at the class with an expression that read, "Don't dare you ask." The class falls silent as there was some whispering about her. The teacher repeats, "Will you please write your name on the board and introduce yourself?" With a small nod, the girl turns around and writes across the board… "I…zu…mo, Sa…zu…ki."

"Alright, will you introduce yourself now?" The teacher asks tentatively, as if afraid of her.

Izumo looks sideways at the teacher, "There is no need," she said in her seemingly menacing voice, "They all know how to read." There is dead silence, no one has ever done that to the kind teacher, but then, she doesn't seem like a regular person.

The teacher mentally shakes herself awake from shock. She had been warned about her and why she was here, but never had she thought Izumo-san was so cold. It was as if she didn't want people to know her. Like she though it was too dangerous to get too close to her, and maybe that was the case. So, she weighed her question in her mind, not wanting to force her to do something. Finally, for what seemed like hours, she asks, "Would you mind if your fellow classmates asked you questions?"

"Do what you wish; there are just some questions I will refuse to answer. For example, where I got my scar." Izumo said, pointing at the hideous mark. There is more silence. The class was afraid if they asked, she would get mad. Sazuki can clearly see that they were very curious about her. She has no concerns if she makes friends or not. Besides, it is better if she doesn't and Sazuki knows it. The class looks around as if saying, "someone else can go first, who's gonna do it?" The teacher sits, wondering if she has made the wrong decision.

Finally, a boy in the back stands and says, "Nice to meet you Izumo-san, you can call me Takeki. How old are you?" He says it tentatively; as if afraid she will hit him. Sazuki is actually pleased; someone is finally brave enough to ask her a question. She didn't think that was the question Takeki really wanted to ask. She had the feeling he was just afraid. Everyone else was. You can see it in their eyes. They're waiting for Izumo's reaction.

There was no need to worry, Sazuki gave a tart nod and says, "Yes, I'm eighteen as of August first." Everyone relaxed, you could see it, the tension in the room is gone. Questions were being fired at her at the same time. "Where are you from?", "Why aren't you wearing a uniform?", "Where do you live now?" and, "Do you have a boyfriend?" The questions overwhelmed Izumo, as the class is different from the ones she's attended. Others usually shied away whenever she was near. Still, she had to make clear she didn't want friends. With one hand formed into a fist, she slams it on the blackboard; she forgot to control her strength and the blackboard shook. Immediate silence, they were awed and even more afraid of her now. "I want to make clear that I don't want or need friends. Keep your distance. As for the questions, I'm from Oosaka High School, moved here because there's business I need to attend to, I live by myself in the apartment two blocks from school, and I don't wear those dresses because they flap and restrict you movements." She looked around, people seemed satisfied, then she remembered the last question she heard, "Do you have a boyfriend?" She has never had a boyfriend and never experienced romance. She regrets that, but only ever so slightly. Observing the others at Oosaka, it didn't seem boyfriends was that great anyways. "Oh, ya, and I don't have a boyfriend, never had one," she added on. There were looks of pity and friends saying, "ha, I knew it." She didn't care; she shouldn't be here long anyways. Sazuki also frequently missies class due to her duties. She will be like an invisible person in the class.

The teacher looks around, it seems that Sazuki's little outburst made people not want to ask her anymore questions. "Time to settle down, guys," she said cheerfully, "Now we can start class. As for where you'll sit Izumo-san…" Everyone looked around for an empty desk. The class was full. Finally, she spots and empty desk in the back of the room. "You can sit there, Izumo-san, behind Takeki." Izumo nodded and looked over at Takeki; it seems he doesn't care if she sits there or not. She shrugged and walks there.

Takeki looks up at Sazuki and gives a smile. She gives no reaction and sits down. It's nice to have friends once in a while, she found herself thinking, as long as he doesn't get involved. Still, they would have to keep a distance, she couldn't risk any more lives…

There was a big explosion and 10-year old Sazuki jumped up. Everyone was screaming and running around. She had to help, Captain Saiyo ordered her to. But, then, a monster grabs her screaming best friend and retreats. Sazuki runs to the window, the monster had jumped down three stories with her best friend and stood in the middle of the courtyard. Izumo prepared to jump out and save her, but the monster deliberately bit the girl's hand, ripping it free. The girl's screams escalated as the pain breeched her shock. Izumo stared at the stump where her friends hand used to be. Enraged, she jumped out the window. It was three stories high but Sazuki didn't care. Eight metal arms shred her shirt as they come out and break her fall. The arms were connected around her ribs and tapered into sharp blades. Sazuki had been wearing that and her tank top. She runs to her friend but the monster smiles his gruesome smile and tore off the girl's head. The screams came to an abrupt end, her friend was dead. Angered, with her mind, she steers the arms in front, pointing them at the monster. It says, "Too late!" and Sazuki slashes at it with the eight blades. Instant death… Suddenly, screams came from the third floor. More monsters had been hiding, waiting for her to save her friend and started killing everyone in sight. It was a trap, she was helpless…

Sazuki jerked awake and realized where she was. The teacher was talking about a field trip. She was relieved, no one had noticed she fell asleep, except one, Takeki. He was watching her with a curious expression. He seemed to have known she was having a bad dream. But no, not a dream, it had happened. She had not been able to get back soon enough and everyone on the third floor had been murdered. That was why she was here. Information had leaked to her organization that this place was the monsters' next target. It will be better not to get attacked. That being decided, Izumo gives Takeki a cold look and said, "What?" Takeki shook his head and quickly turned back to the teacher. For the rest of the lesson, he does not give Sazuki another look.

The class breaks into chatter, the lunch bell had rung. Friends from other classes were coming in, talking to friends. Sazuki stood; she had heard from the teachers that the roof is usually deserted. But first, she had to find it… she didn't want people to know where she was going, so she's not gong to ask. She looked around…where to start?... Takeki and his friends start coming over. She was annoyed and curious; he seemed to want to be friends even though she made clear she didn't want any.

His friends stayed a couple feet behind when he reached her, afraid of her cold glare. "Hey," he said cheerfully, "wanna eat lunch with us?" Sazuki could have laughed, his friends looked terrified, and they definitely didn't want her there.

She couldn't control herself and smiled, they looked relieved. Takeki seemed happy that she showed a different expression than her usual cold expression. "Sorry, I have things to do today." She indeed was sorry; they seemed like a nice bunch, especially that Takeki. He was clearly disappointed.

"All right," he says, then turns to his friends, "I think I'm going to eat somewhere else today, you guys eat without me."

His friends gave him knowing looks, "You going to that place again? You should tell us where it is one day, we can hang out there." Takeki shrugged, he didn't seem to want to reveal where he foes. He leaves the room and his friends look nervously at Izumo-san. "Well," one of them said, "we'll be going, see you later." Sazuki nodded and walked out. She wandered around the school, going up stairs if she spots them. The roof was well hidden, she had to make many turns and it was in a concealed hallway. Now, she knew how to get there. She pushed open the door and walked onto the roof. The door slams shut as the wind blew. There was a lovely view of the city and the forest beyond. Sazuki was going to like this place. She smiled and looked around for a spot to sit. There was a big cylindrical tub with ladders going up. The best place for a view and to contemplate on things. She climbed up the ladder, but there was already someone there. Izumo was confused, not many people were supposed to know of this place. By the uniform, he was a guy in the same grade as she. She walked towards him on the metal cylindrical tub. He heard her and turned around.

"Whoa! How'd you know of this place?" He exclaimed, jumping up. His foot slipped off the edge and fell. Sazuki ran forward and grabbed his arm. They then got a good look at each others' faces. "Izumo-chan, you're new, how do you know of this place? I thought I was the only one. I've never seen anyone else here before." Sazuki pulled him up. "Wow, you're strong for a girl."

"Takeki," Sazuki said, "I found this place from the administration. They told me not many people knew of this place." Her barriers were up again, her surprise hidden. She wasn't going to answer any more personal questions. They sat down, legs dangling off, and stared off into the city. Sazuki was hungry, she couldn't think about her task with Takeki here, he kept glancing sideways at her. She takes her lunch from her bag and says, "Do you have food? What some of my bento?"

Takeki seemed surprised she was being so nice. "Sure. Just curious, why are you always so cold towards everyone?" He grabbed a couple sushi's while he talked. Sazuki said nothing and looked ahead, it seemed as though she wasn't going to answer. Takeki thought that, so looked ahead, silently eating.

Izumo looked at Takeki, considering, then she looked forward and said, "It's too dangerous." Takeki looked at her, surprised that she had answered his question. Sazuki looked back at him. "You should get to class," she said, standing up. "You'll be late." The bell rung right when she said that. Takeki noticed that she said "you" not "we" and looked at her quizzically. "I'm not going to class. Have some business to attend to." Takeki reluctantly nodded and climbed sown. After he was gone, Sazuki looked out into the woods. Now… the task will begin.