I looked back, just before I entered the city. Taking in the view of the desert one last time. This is it, I thought, this is where things get interesting. I gave a small wave to the scenery before turning back towards Death City.
"Come on Maka. Class starts soon." Tsubaki called. Maka turned towards her friend's voice and smiled, "Just coming!" Tsubaki smiled back while Soul and Black Star groaned in frustration. Maka's smile grew wider as she glance one last time at the mission's board and darted off in the direction of her friends.
"Seriously Maka," Soul mumbled as they walked, "You're the only meister I know who stares at that thing for hours on end."
"Oh be quiet, just because you're a Death Scythe now doesn't mean I don't wanna do other missions like everyone else! That's part of being a student here. Plus, it's fun! Showing off how strong we are." She replied, holding her head high as she boasted, once again, about Soul being one of Lord Deaths weapons. She loved the way it made everyone respect her, she felt superior.
Soul grinned, "Although you are right, you still don't need to gawk at it, it's not cool."
"Yaaahoooooo! Check this out! I, the amazing Black Star, have just got a special mission from Lord Death himself. He must realise how much of a star I am and wanted only the best to take out this guy!" Black Star shouted as we entered the classroom, Soul rolled his eyes and snatched the piece of paper off him that he was holding.
"Black Star, this is a remedial lesson. And it's signed by Stein." He muttered, giving his friend an almost pitiful look.
"So? Lord Death still handed it to me personally." Snatching the paper off Soul as he wandered off to his seat, muttering about surpassing the Gods.
Maka followed, paying only half of her attention to Professor Stein as he rolled into the classroom. He waited until his chair came to a complete standstill before clearing his throat to get the classes attention.
"Hello class, before we begin. Quick announcement. We have a new meister joining us today. Marie is showing her around as we speak, so if you see someone you don't know wandering around without Marie, well ... You can work the rest out yourselves. Now, let's begin ..."
Maka drowned out Stein's voice as he talked about Advanced Soul Resonance, thinking only of the new meister that's joining the DWMA.
"Marie, are you sure you know where we are?" I asked for what felt like the 100th time. Marie was standing at the end of a T-junction, he face masked with confusion. I shook my head, swinging my leg back and forth to shake off the annoyance that had started to build up. I didn't like being showed around anywhere. I preferred finding my own way.
"Of course I do! I work here, I know my way around ... The Death Room must be this way." She said, as she walked in the opposite direction of the sign that clearly said Death Room.
"Okay Marie, I think I'll just go to the bathroom. You work out where we are and I'll be right back." I replied, backing away slowly in the right direction.
"Mmm'kay!" Marie waved her hand as she glared at a wall. Turning around quickly, I ran down a corridor when a kid with blue hair stepped out from the shadows, leaning against the wall. I skidded to a stop, hoping to find a real guide.
"Hi, I'm new and-" I started.
"I know who you are. And why you have come here. But let me tell you, I am the big man here, and I will not let some new chick take away my limelight! I, Black Star, am going to assassinate you! Yaaaahhoooooo!" The kid said, pushing himself off the wall, standing directly in front of me.
"Ookay ... Erm do you know where the Death Room is? I really need to get there before the bell rings." I asked, making a mental note to ask Lord Death if everyone here was on some sort of crazy pill.
"Oh, I'll tell you." The blue hair kid replied, he'd started to grin. I rolled my eyes. Why do people always want to fight? I dropped my bag on the floor, holding my hands up in surrender.
"Look, kid I just wann-"
The kid ran at me, palms out. Oh great, a wavelength attack. I sidestepped, sticking my left foot out just as he passed, sending a blur of blue hair skidding along the floor. Just before he stopped, I ran up and grabbed his ankle, shooting him with my own wavelength, sending him flying even further down the corridor. A mess of blood had been left trailing after him. "Note to self: Apologise to cleaner." I murmured, struggling to keep the smile that was trying to break out at bay.
The bell went just before Soul's eyes stayed shut completely. He knew everything Stein was talking about. Maka had read the chapter from her textbook to him over dinner back at their apartment. Of course he'd zoned out then too, but some of the information stuck. Leaning back he stretched his arms, looking down at Maka and Tsubaki talking to Stein. He'd noticed Black Star had ditched, but decided against making it apparent to everyone else. It's always rare for him to stay for a full lesson.
" ... Thanks Professor Stein!" Maka called as they finally walked out of Class Crescent Moon. Soul zoned out again. Thinking about everything other than what Maka was blathering on about. He turned his eyes to the crowd just across from where they had stopped. They were all giggling. Bored, he walked over to them. "Hi guys. What's so funny?"
One of the girls turned to face him, her blue eyes full of laughter "I'm surprised you haven't heard. That new meister whose coming here, Black Star challenged her and got beat. He's racing around the academy trying to find her." She giggled.
"Not cool. Do they have a weapon partner?" Soul asked, his boredom melting away.
"Nope, she's a solo fighter. She must be pretty strong to beat Black Star by herself."
"Okay, well I'd better warn Tsubaki, see you." He waved to the girl, earning a smile in return.
He'd just started to walk back towards Maka when the corridor was silent. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. They just watched as she walked through.
I was well aware that everyone was staring at me. Even more so by the fact that the only sound you could here was the sound of my boots on the tiled floor. Hoping I didn't look intimidating, I widened my stride and kept my head high. Eyes forward. I didn't dare meet any of the students stares, if there was anything worse than being stated at by hundreds of students, then I haven't found it yet.
"Hey! New girl! Are you lost?" a voice shouted. I turned to see a girl running up towards me, her pigtails flapping around as she ran. Another body came up behind her, but he didn't say anything. His red eyes just stated.
"Hi, yeah, erm I'm Amy." I stuck out my hand, luckily the other girl smiled and returned the gesture.
"Maka, and this is my weapon, Soul." she pointed behind her to the boy. I smiled, and he remained sullen. Ignoring him, I turned back to Maka.
"Ah, Maka Albarn? I should've known, I can see Spirit in you." I smiled again, thankful to my memory not giving up on me.
"You know my papa?" She asked, her head tilting to one side. She was trying to read my soul. Great, my mind muttered, Stein's taught this one too …
"Yeah, long and boring story, seriously not worth going into," I laughed, her face changed from curiosity back to normal, I knew I'd get quizzed later.
"So I'm guessing Marie lost you?" She asked, changing the subject completely.
I smiled shyly, scratching the back of my neck, "I kinda ran away. She's hopeless with directions so I figured I'd eventually find my way. It can't be that hard, right?" I laughed.
"Harder than it looks." Soul piped up. He'd finally stopped staring and was slightly smiling now. "We can show you the way; Stein had warned us Marie might lose you."
"Yeah, that'd be great. Lord Death wanted to have a talk with me before I properly started here." I stepped aside and let Maka and Soul move past me. I quickly fell into step behind them.
For a while they stayed silent as we walked, I made sure to keep a small distance behind them, trying to escape from Soul's piercing red eyes. Something about his eyes unnerved me.
"So where do you come from Amy?" Maka asked.
"Oh. Here, there and everywhere. I haven't had a proper home since I was about 6. The parents were never ones to stick around in one place for too long." Maka looked back at me, I put on a smile, "It's fun, I've seen more of the world than I would've if we didn't move around so much."
"Well it does sound interesting. So where are you staying now?"
"Until I find somewhere, the backseat of my car. It's a lot cosier than it sounds, honestly." Again her eyes showed her worries.
"Well that won't do, I'll see if Lord Death will work something out. Until then you can bunk with me and Soul, the couch isn't much but it's way more comfortable than a car."
"That's kind of you, but really I'm okay. I'm only just getting myself together, I'll find somewhere soon enough." We'd turned the last corner and were walking down the corridor towards the Death Room. "Okay guys I can solo it from here," I skipped out in front and stopped Maka in her tracks, "Thanks a bunch for bringing me here! I'll see you around!" And with that, I darted off towards to door.
Maka watched Amy run off before she walked after her.
"Maka, what are you doing? You can't go in there with her!" Soul grabbed her and pulled her back.
"You can't tell me you're not curious, Soul. No normal student needs a meeting with Lord Death before enrolment."
"Of course I'm curious, Maka, but haven't you heard the saying 'curiosity kills the cat'?"
"And haven't your learnt by our little experience with Blair? Cats have nine lives." Maka grinned and ran down the corridor. She was pretty sure she heard Soul softly curse before running to catch up with her.
I'd just gone through the door leading to the Death Room when I'd heard running footsteps. Knowing Maka and Soul were following me, I shut the door and kept running. Lord Death was waiting for me along with Spirit.
"Hey hey! Wassup? How you doing? Say, why are you out of breath?"
"Students were following me in here; I had to run to escape!" I said as I tried to catch my breath, running was not one of my strong points.
"Oh dear, what a pickle. Well your here now, so we can get star-"
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" A voice shouted, before a mass of blue hair wizzed past my head.
"Black Star! Wait a minute!" A female voice called, also wizzing past me. The blue haired boy had stopped and now faced me. His nose all bloody from where it had connected to the floor.
"Oh joys, you again? Listen, kid, I'm not in the mood to fight children. Can you at least wait until the meeting is over?" I held my hands up in surrender. The girl, who turned out to be his weapon, was pulling at his arm. Trying to get him to budge.
"Black Star, listen to me, now is not the time. Let's go back, please?" She begged, but looking at his eyes. He wasn't going anywhere. More footsteps sounded and out of the shadows stepped Maka, Soul and three other students.
"Oh, looks here like we have a welcome party!" Lord Death sang, clapping his big goofy hands together.
"Sorry dad. Maka told me it was urgent," The new boy glared at Maka accusingly.
"That's all right Kid! Amy was just going to introduce herself. I haven't met her and Spirit won't shut up telling me about her days as a child." Death said, I glared at Spirit. He just waved and laughed.
"What have you told him, Spirit?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Oh nothing embarrassing." He smirked. All the while Tsubaki, I'd heard Maka call over to her, was still trying to get Black Star to move. "Please Black Star, she was just defending! You did try and attack her, she's bound to defend!"
"Tsubaki, just transform. Ninja sword mode." She bowed her head and nodded, poor girl. I looked over at Lord Death.
"Well, well. Looks like a fight. Go ahead Amy. Teach your first lesson." He said, I grinned.
"Teach?!" A chorus of voices echoed.
"That's right, starting from today, I am your new teacher." I said, just as Black Star came rushing towards me.
A teacher? Seriously? She doesn't even look that old! Soul watched Amy as she fought once again with Black Star. He could tell by her movements she was no beginner. He took a side glance over at Maka. She's also watching the fight, but Soul could tell she was analysing every move, she was studying.
"Maka, now is not the time to study! We need to get Black Star out of there." I waved my hand over her face.
"I honestly don't think that's a good idea, Soul." Steins voice sounded from behind him. Soul spun round to face the professor.
"Why not? Black Star is going to get slaughtered!" He almost shouted, but restrained when he realised where he was. Stein smiled, "She's dangerous, but not stupid. Amy is just playing right now, her body language shows that. When she's serious about a fight, you can tell. Once you get to know her, you will learn to spot the differences between serious and play fighting. I've known her since she was a child, trust me on this." Soul turned back and watched the fight once more. He looked closely at Amy's fighting style, watching how it differs to Black Stars. He could tell straight away that Black Star was serious; he was hardly talking at all, putting his full concentration into defeating the opponent. Whereas Amy, her body movements were relaxed, she was still fast though. Each time Black Star rushed at her, she was already defending. She never went on the offensive.
"You know Black Star, if you watched carefully, you could easily tell what I'm going to do or even counter. It's not difficult." Amy said, blocking his various swipes with Tsubaki.
"Shut up! I don't need a lesson from you, now fight properly! It's bad enough you're a girl, I don't want to be lectured because you don't have a weapon either!"
"Oh how charming, my opponent is sexist too. Fine, I'll get a weapon," She said, turning to face Lord Death. "May I?" Lord Death looked at Spirit. Everyone gaped at her, she can use a weapon as well? Soul looked up at Stein. He was smiling.
"Amy is a Scythe meister by birth, but she can handle any weapon that gets thrown at her. But she is a big fan of her scythes." He said, looking down at Soul with a glint of something in his eye.
"My, my! Well of course! Go ahead Spirit!" Lord Death sang, patting Spirit on the head.
"I'm not going to enjoy this am I?" Spirit grumbled, walking over to Amy's side.
"For old time's sake Spirit," She grinned, grabbing his hand, "It'll be fun!" Spirit smiled back as he transformed.
Spirit transformed into a scythe, the feel of the weapon between my fingers felt amazing. It's been too long since I'd held a weapon. "Are you ready Spirit?" I asked, changing my fighting stance as I spun the scythe above my head. I was enjoying this a little too much.
"When am I not ready? Just don't kill him. It doesn't look good if I kill a child."
I laughed, "Now, now. Murder wasn't on the agenda. This is a lesson."
"STOP TALKING!" Black Star shouted, rushing forward. I smiled, running to meet him.
Amy met Black Star at full force, using the handle of Spirit to drive him back. Maka watched intently, determined to learn how she fights. She knew that Amy would be a tough opponent to beat, whether she was taking it easy on you or not. Soul was standing there, playing with his hands, like he was nervous. He never got nervous.
"Soul, are you okay?" Maka asked, she grabbed his wrists to force him to look at her.
"I'm fine, Maka. We just need to get Black Star out of there before he pisses her off."
"I agree, Father!" Kid shouted, moving around the fight to stand next to his dad. Maka didn't hear what Kid had said, but Lord Death grabbed Black Star's collar and held him up in the air, while Amy just stood there. Clearly disappointed the fight had ended early.
"What's the deal Lord Death?" Black Star shouted, swinging his legs and arms around trying to free himself.
"Sorry kids, but Kid is right. Black Star, you won't stop until someone is bleeding and Amy isn't one to turn down that kind of a challenge. So this can carry on another time." Lord Death said, dropping Black Star down on the floor. Tsubaki and Spirit had already transformed back. Tsubaki looked like she'd already spilled the blood, she mouthed 'sorry' to Amy so many times Maka lost count. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Soul take a deep breath and relax. What got him so worked up, she thought to herself.
"I can't believe that got broke up, I was starting to enjoy it. Oh well," Liz stretched her arms above her head, "No doubt they'll have another scrap sooner or later. Come on Patty, let's go get some food."
"Okayyyyyyy!" Patty sang, skipping after Liz.
"Yes, I think getting some lunch would do just fine about now. Come along Black Star." Kid said, he looked at Maka and she nodded.
"Are you coming Soul?" Maka asked, watching Black Star and Tsubaki follow after Kid and the Thompson sisters.
"Yeah, I'll be with you in a minute." he said, Maka shrugged and followed her friends out of the Death Room.