A/N: Hello everyone and welcome to my first HOTD fanfic, I recently got into HOTD thanks to my friend because she suggested that I'd watch it. Though I have to admit...some parts of the anime left me with a 'WTF' look on my face. So after watching the anime, I decided to write a fanfic! With my own OCs involved in the storyline ^^ Now, enjoy the very first chapter of Howls of the Dead!
Disclaimer: I don't own HOTD nor its awkward amazingness
Claimer: Howls of the Dead and other characters belong to me!
Howls of the Dead
Chapter One: Soon to be Dead
A boy of 12 stared the building in front of them as he and another person kept walking forward. The boy of 12 wore a white sleeveless unzipped hoodie over a baby blue t-shirt, black shorts that went a bit past his knees, and black and white ankle-top converse. His hair is dark blue with bangs of his hair sweeping to the right side of his forehead but doesn't cover his gold colored eyes. The boy's name is Mason Cooper.
The person next to him is about 18, a third year student. He wore a simple w t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and black basketball shoes. His hair is dark blue as well as with a bed-head hairstyle. The teenager's name is Alexander Cooper.
"That was a long walk from home," Mason muttered to himself as him and his older brother walked up the stairs after passing through the school gates. The 12 year-old looked around to see cherry blossom trees mostly every on the school campus, speaking about the school- Alexander is about to start a new school year at Fujimi Academy. You see, Mason and Alexander recently moved to Japan due to their father's military relocation. They moved several weeks ago but didn't get a chance to take in their surroundings and remember it whenever they got lost or something. Since their father is in the military, he's strict about school and future decisions in their lives.
"Come on, Mason," Alexander called out to him and Mason jogged up to him "Now remember: don't go running off because we're just getting a tour of the school before I actually start." He told his little brother as they stepped the last step of the stairs and headed towards Fujimi Academy "Got it? I don't want to be in trouble by father."
"Pffft," The 12 year-old stuck out his tongue and waved his hand dismissively towards Alexander "I know that!" He said "Hey, onii-san, you think they have a kendo club here? 'Cause that would be awesome!" Alexander can only shrug his shoulders as a reply.
The two brothers made it to the double doors of the school to see students hanging around in the hallways and the staircase. Alexander turned into the hallway on the right and Mason followed close behind while looking around. Mason then noticed several students stare at them as they passed by, some girls were staring at his older brother.
After a while of walking and turning into multiple hallways, they finally made it to the councelors office. Alexander opened the door and entered the office but Mason stopped mid-step and glanced left and right before looking back at Alexander. Mason made a grin, he dashed down the hallways they came from 'Sorry onii-san, but I want to see if they have a kendo club here,' He thought to himself, imagining Alexander's reaction later on.
It was then that Mason accidently bumped into someone and fell backwards on his bottom, he groaned. Mason looked up to see that he bumped into a student with long violet hair and blue eyes, the 12 year-old just blinked as the two stared at each other. He blinked a few times before snapping himself out of his trance and jumped back to his feet "Sorry about that!" Mason quickly apologized with a bow.
"If I may ask, what's a kid like you doing here?" The teenager asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"For your information," Mason began "I came with onii-san for the tour of the school becuse he'll be starting here tomorrow. And second, I was looking around for the kendo club." He said the last part sheepishly with a smile.
The teenager got down on eye level with Mason, "Kendo, huh?" She asked and Mason nodded eagerly "If you're looking for the kendo club then you're looking at the wrong spot of school." Mason looked at her with a confused expression and a frown "There's a shrine where club members go to practice."
Mason's eyes instantly lit up, "Seriously!" The girl smiled at his high-spirit "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Cooper Mason." Known to Mason, he knew about the japanese culture and how you should say your surname before your first. He studied a bit before his family actually moved to Japan "What's your name?"
"Busujima Saeko," Saeko introduced herself, she held back a giggle as she watched Mason try to pronounce her surname but failed and stuck his tongue out "You can call me Saeko if you like," Mason nodded. Saeko stood back up and started walking down the hall with Mason close behind her "So, what makes you want to take kendo?" Saeko asked.
"Well, I started learning kendo when I was eight and grew fond of it." Mason replied with a thoughtful look "Most of the time, I would take lessons from my great grandfather whenever he visited. He's actually better than my mentor."
The two continued their way through the school and walked out of the back entrance of the school. Saeko continued to ask questions and Mason would answer them with a bright smile on his face. Known to Saeko, she never met anyone who held a great passion for kendo- especially at a young age.
Mason looked around to see other students playing sports like basketball, soccer, and others. He jogged over to Saeko who was walking ahead of him, Mason then noticed said shrine that they came to "Why is the shrine out here? Shouldn't it be inside the school building?"
"The reason it's out here is because of silence." Saeko replied, Mason titled his head to the side "In order for learners to learn, they need silence to concentrate on their movements and breathing. If it was inside of the school then the learners would have a difficult time concentrating with the noise coming from outside of the class." Mason then made an 'o' shape with his mouth "At occassions, kendo club members would come here and meditate." At that moment, they reached the shrine and Saeko removed her shoes before sliding the doors open and entered. Mason copied her and followed after her.
Mason's jawdropped as he looked around the shrine, he looked up to see a panel above the windows to see trophies that were won at tournaments. Below the long panel were certificates, Mason walked up to one of the certificates and read it aloud, "For an outstanding movation and swordsmanship, Busujima Saeko. Winner of the Kendo Championship." He blinked several times before looking back at Saeko "You make jealous" He smiled and Saeko smiled back "Since you won the championship, can you teach me a move or two?"
Saeko's eyes slightly widen at the sudden request from the 12 year-old, "I don't know, there were some moves that requires practice." She pointed "And I can't unless your brother gives me permission to teach you." Mason frown in disappointment, Saeko noticed then came up with a solution "Although I can't show you any moves, I can teach you some basic movements." The violet haired girl then noticed Mason suddenly perk up. Saeko went over to a nearby kendo bokken stash that was behind a wooden door. She grabbed one for herself and one for Mason.
The young boy couldn't help to smile as Saeko handed him a bokken, Mason held the bokken with a firm grip. His left near the end of the hilt and his right hand in front of his left hand. He then swung the bokken in full ark before raising it over his head and slashing downwards.
Saeko watched as Mason performed several moves, his movements with the bokken that is slightly taller than him is fine but his balance was wobbly and so were his movements that seem a bit...rusty and unflowing. She walked to wear Mason stood and helped him with his posture, Saeko stood next to him on his left with her bokken poised.
Mason looked at her posture, he corrected himself and began to copy her movements.
After a while of practicing basic movements, Saeko taught the 12 year-old about controling his breathing and meditating. Both Saeko and Mason sat on their knees with their hands in their laps and listening to the sounds outside of the shrine. Saeko cracked one eye open and looked over at the boy to see him let out a long yawn before going back to meditating, she couldn't help to make a small smile.
It was then that the shrine door slid open, Mason looked over his shoulder drowsily and Saeko followed his line of sight to see a teenager who looks almost looks exactly like Mason except taller and more mature 'That must be Mason-san's older brother,' Saeko though to herself. The teenager seems to be 18 and at least a inch taller than her.
"Onii-san...?" Mason yawned again with water at the corners of his eyes.
"Should've known you'd be out here," Alexander mused with a smile. Saeko stood up and helped Mason back onto his feet, she then walked him over to his older brother "I apologize for whatever my little brother caused you," He said.
Saeko made a reassuring smile, "There's no need to apologize, he didn't cause any trouble." Alexander blinked a few times "In fact, he insisted that I teach him a few basic kendo moves."
"Hey, onii-san, I learned a lot from Saeko-senpai about kendo." said Mason as Alexander helped him put his black and white converse shoes on.
Alexander ruffled his little brother's hair, he then looked at Saeko "Allow me introduce myself, I'm Mason's older brother- Cooper Alexander."
"Busujima Saeko," Saeko introduced herself as well and Alexander nodded.
"Come on Mason, it's time to go back home," said Mason's older brother as he hoisted the boy on his back "Say your thanks to Busujima-san,"
Mason yawned tiredly and smiled, "Thank you for the kendo lessons, Saeko-senpai." With that said, Alexander turned around and started to walk away but Mason managed to wave his good-bye without falling off of his brother's back "Bye!"
A/N: Chapter one is complete and I'm likin' so far. So yeah, I'm putting a 12 year-old OC in the HOTD anime storyline (Never read that everday, huh? XD) Anyways, if you got questions, go ahead and ask me. I have this entire fanfic planned out from the very beginning. Now then, hope you enjoyed this chapter more than I did! Until the next time on Howls of the Dead! See ya!
Don't forget to review~!
P.S. Did I get Saeko's personality right? I do hope so... ^^;