The alarm clock went off in the early morning. Justin stirred in his sleep. The sunlight shone through the window lighting up his room in a golden light. Everything was in its place. He slowly opened his blue eyes to look at the clock. It showed 6:00 AM. He sighed. It was time for him to get up and continue his work. Sitting up he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He pulled a draw open in his bedside table and reached inside. He charged his D-Pod every night and he always kept it next to him. His fingers moved about the draw searching for it. Justin wondered what was going to happen in the day ahead. He said a short prayer for the day to go well and for him to succeed. As he finished he still hadn't reach his D-Pod. Justin turned in slight frustration to the draw and looked inside. He paused for a moment as he pulled out the single cable of the recharge pack in the draw. He slid it slowly shut and took a deep breath. He got up from his bed and went to the door. Quickly checking himself in the mirror, he went out to reclaim his D-Pod. He knew exactly where it was. He knew this wasn't the first time she'd done it, but it would never be the last.
She was lying tucked up in her bed typing away on her laptop. Listening to music through a D-Pod she had 'borrowed'. She was wearing some light blue pyjamas she was given when she was taken in. It had been a while since she moved in. Her ginger hair rested on her shoulders in a scruffy state. This was Vanora. She had run away from home and was taken in by Lord Death. Giving her background and history Lord Death didn't want to put her with the other students at the academy, mainly though because of her age. He decided it was best she move in with one of his Death Scythes. Spirit was the first to volunteer but was stopped swiftly with a shinigami chop to the head. Stein wasn't deemed suitable and neither was Yumi. She was too serious and hard working. Marie would have been a good match but she was already taking care of Stein. That left Justin. Justin was happy to take on an apprentice. They only forgot to mention one detail. Vanora was a girl. Justin of coarse was a bit shocked when introduced but he had already accepted his mission. There were of course issues between the two, unfortunately for Justin, Vanora enjoyed annoying him. She was very good at hiding things luckily this habit had calmed down over the weeks. She typed away at her journal. She wanted to keep track of her days as an apprentice but what she was going to accomplish was still unknown.
"Where is it?" Justin asked from the doorway. He looked over at his apprentice. She stared at the screen completely unaware of his entrance. He sighed and walked forwards. Vanora's concentration was incredible, but this then made it very hard to get her attention. Justin crouched down next to her and grabbed hold of the black wires running down her chest to her pocket. He gave then a small tug and the headphones both came out.
"Hey I was..." She looked over at Justin. She pouted and turned away.
"And the rest." Justin held out his hand. She looked at it, then up at him.
"Why don't you ever just take it back?" She asked. Justin smiled, after all the times she had taken it, she was always asked to give it back. Justin never took it back. It would defeat the point of asking. She had to learn to stop taking it. Justin wasn't one to punish people so he let her work it out herself. He just prayed she would stop doing it soon.
"I don't take it back because I trust you to return it." Justin answered.
"Or... you just don't want to go into my pocket to retrieve it." She smiled back at him. She understood his position and did try to push him occasionally. She sighed and pulled out his D-Pod from her pocket. She placed it in his hand. Justin smiled and stood up, taking a few steps away from her, pocketing his D-Pod. Vanora looked up at him. Justin was wearing a plain white shirt and a pair of black trousers. They weren't his normal clothes, they were his pyjamas. She didn't know how many people ever saw Justin is anything other than his normal attire. She in a way felt privileged and wondered why Lord Death had paired her with one of his youngest weapons. Surly two teenagers living in the same house would cause questions. She guessed that Lord Death trusted Justin to remember his position. He turned and left the room.
"Breakfast is in a few minutes. I'll see you there." Justin closed the door behind him. She heard him walk off, she sighed and went to her wardrobe to pick out her outfit. Vanora pulled out a smart dark blue shirt and black trousers. She sorted herself out and went to get breakfast.
"What have I told you about 'borrowing' my D-Pod?" Justin asked her as she entered the room. Justin was already sitting down eating a slice of toast. She walked in and made herself a bowl of cereal. Justin waited at the table for her, he had one headphone out so he could hear her. Normally he wouldn't take either out but Vanora did so much behind his back when she arrived, he decided it was best to be able to hear her.
"I should ask your permission first." Vanora said tired. She walked round and sat down opposite him.
"How many times have I told you?" Justin asked.
"69 times." She replied. "I'm sorry."
"And 69 times you've apologise. And I forgive you." Justin said. "I might get you one someday, depending how you behave." Vanora smiled at him. She liked this side of him. Most people would have thrown her out by now, but Justin was different. Even after all the times she was sure Justin wanted to throw her out. He never did. Nor did he hold any grudge against her. She admired him for this. At that moment the mirror in the room began to ripple and there was the sound of a phone ringing. The two of them got up and went round to the mirror. They were waited for Lord Death to come in.
"Hi! Hello! How are yah?" Lord Death said his image bouncing around the mirror.
"We are both fine Lord Death." Justin replied. Vanora nodded.
"Well that's good! And I see you have your D-Pod this morning Justin. Very good." Lord Death commented. Vanora chuckled. There had been the odd occasion when she had hidden his D-Pod and Justin couldn't find it. Then and only then she saw the Death Scythe stress out. Much to her own amusement. But she had stopped doing that and normally gave it back before breakfast. "Well I have a mission for you two today. There has been a spot of bother with some wax works."
"How can wax works be a problem?" Vanora asked.
"Well..." Lord Death said. "The wax works themselves are not the problem it's more the person who is controlling them. We think it's a witch, I want you two to find the perpetrator and if possible catch her."
"Lord Death, how should we go about this?" Justin asked concerned.
"Well I guess undercover work will be in order..." Lord Death replied.
"I mean about the fight." Justin cut in. Lord Death paused. Vanora had never been in a proper fight. They were still unsure whether she was a weapon or meister. Most people were either children of know weapons or meisters or are found by accident in the heat of battle. Vanora still was unsure of what she was. Maybe this was the time to find out.
"I'll be able to look after myself." Vanora said. They both looked at her. Then Lord Death pulled one of his massive hands out and did the classic thinking pose. He was deciding what to do. Justin looked at Vanora.
"It could be dangerous. I wouldn't want you hurt." Justin said. He was always concerned for her health. There was nothing between the two other than friendship but she liked teasing him. He just accepted and now joked along with her at times.
"I'll be fine, remember I'm one of the fastest people ever enrolled. Besides..." She gave a quick cheeky smile "I'll have you to protect me." Justin smiled and shook his head.
"Will you ever stop?" He said.
"Nope." She replied.
"You two will go undercover and fight only if necessary. Hopefully this will give us a clue on what she is." Lord Death announced. Both of them nodded. Lord Death went to end the call.
"WAIT!" A shout came from behind Lord Death. Spirit then came into view. Vanora sighed. "You can't send her off with him! You need to make sure she won't get hurt! I'll go and help!" Spirit said quickly. He was freaking out. He didn't want the newest girl in danger. Especially as he hadn't had any alone time with her. "If she's a meister I'll be there to be her weapon! I can protect her!" He was cut off by a swift blow to the head, Lord Death quickly hiding his hand behind his back.
"Well Justin, seems like you have a big mission. I would like to wish Vanora and you good luck." Lord Death ended the call.
"Well... let's go." Justin said turning to the door.
"Are we going to take the car?" Vanora asked excitedly. Justin didn't answer her. Vanora went after him. She noticed both headphones were now in. She smirked and picked up a cushion from the sofa. She then threw it across the room. Hitting Justin in the back of the head. He turned quickly and glared at her. She looked innocently back. Justin took one headphone out, she smiled. "Are we going to be taking the car?" She asked.
"Yes we are." He answered. "And will you please stop doing that."
"I needed some way to get your attention." She shrugged her shoulders. He sighed. She walked past him grabbing her coat. "Well let's go!"