I do not own Soul Eater nor do I intend to garner revenues from use of its characters
Ash and Thunder
By Reizod
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Chapter 1: Clouds and Tender
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To serve your meister.
To protect him at all costs.
To be his weapon, comrade and friend, in that exact order.
This is what it means to be a meister's weapon. No matter what I will protect him. I will do all that is necessary to ensure his safety during missions. I will be his rock and compass when he is lost. And, if need be, I will trade my life for the sake of my meister.
This is my creed. My mantra.
I will abide by this mantra until I am no longer fit to be my meister's weapon. If I divert from this path before that day comes I will have failed at that which I was born for.
For that reason, I must never divert. I must never relent. I must destroy all things that would impede my partner and do everything in my power to ensure his success.
Because above all else, we must never fail.
I am Harvar D. Éclair.
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Harvar stood on one of the many balconies of Shibusen, discerning eyes locked upon the school grounds below. He could see a myriad of students exiting the school all heading to their respective homes. However, there was one in particular that he was focused upon on this warm summer afternoon.
"Kim Diehl" he muttered as he watched her saunter down the stairs to Shibusen. " 'The witch that doesn't destroy'" He shook his head as he watched her make her way to Ox who'd been waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. "Some kind of oxymoron if you ask me."
Ever since the girl had been returned to Shibusen, Harvar had been keeping tabs on her actions around the school. Even if Ox trusted her, she was still a witch, and therefore a danger to all she came in contact with. No doubt, the day would come when she would turn her back on Shibusen, accepting her witch heritage. When that day came Ox would have little defense against her if Harvar wasn't present. After all Ox had essentially dedicated himself to Kim's survival and acceptance.
It was a rather foolish thing for Ox to do, although, to be sure, it was not uncharacteristic of him. He was such a driven man, dedicated to his studies, his friends, and most of all his duty. He was the kind of person Harvar could respect. Ever since Kim showed up, however, it seemed that his focus had become slightly skewed.
She had become his top priority. He was still dedicated to the mission that was given to him and Harvar, but it seemed that he was willing to throw it all away for her sake. A notion that proved to be true during the attack on Arachnophobia.
And even with Kim's true nature as a witch unveiled, Ox still continued to be devoted to her. That foolish dedication was going to get him killed.
Harvar watched with an impassive frown as his friend greeted the witch, before taking her hand and escorting her down the street. "Their on the move." Harvar murmured as he crossed his arms. "I better hurry if I want to follow them."
The young demon weapon turned away from the balcony only to find a pair of annoyed female eyes glaring at him. "You're never going to leave it alone, are you Harvar?"
Harvar returned the glare from behind his stylized shades "Has anything I've done in the last week led you to believe that I would, Jacqueline?"
"No. And the name's Jackie." Jackie retorted. "Why can't you just trust her?"
"She isn't my meister." Harvar replied "More over, she's a witch."
"A witch who has no urge to fall into the thrall of magic." Jackie shot back
Harvar remained impassive "A witch is a witch. Doesn't matter what kind."
Jackie shook her head "It's always black and white with you isn't it?"
"You can put it that way if you want." Harvar replied simply "It won't change how I think." He took a step to the side of the raven haired girl that stood before him, his dark frown ever present. "Now, I need to get going."
Jackie raised an arm, blocking Harvar's path. "I'm not finished with you yet."
"That's too bad." Harvar replied as he quickly slipped underneath the girl's outstretched arm "Because I'm through with you."
He continued forward, focused eyes beneath his visor, and a stolid frown to ward away any remaining students in the halls. He kept a feverish pace as he traversed the hallways, barely slowing down for corners and stairwells. Yet this apparently wasn't enough of a hint for Jackie, as her persistent steps followed Harvar around every corner, through every door, and down every stairwell he deigned to use. Her flustered breathes were reason enough for Harvar to keep up his pace as the young girl's fierce exhalations appeared to be more out of fervor than fatigue.
It appeared that she wasn't going leave him alone this time. Truth be told, it was unsurprising. The only reason he'd avoided her before was because she'd caught him following Ox and Kim in between classes. There wasn't enough time for her to really get started on her reprimand, but just enough time for Harvar to finish his surveillance before class started.
However, now with no classes for either of them to get to, Harvar knew he wouldn't be getting rid of her as easily as before. This was a fact that Jackie appeared to be quite aware of as she stepped in front of him when he was about to leave through the main entrance to the school.
Harvar scowled "I don't have time for this."
"Well you're going to make time." Jackie spat out "We have to talk. Now."
"I already know what you have to say." Harvar replied "And I already know my answer."
"I don't care." Jackie said tersely. "You're going to listen to me."
"Fine Jacqueline." Harvar replied exasperatedly. "Say whatever it is you need to say."
"It's Jackie." Jackie said darkly. "I know I won't change your mind through words. You've separated yourself so far from your own emotions that I doubt anyone other than Ox could sway you, and even he would have a hard time.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Harvar replied, crossing his arms.
"You do that." Jackie said as she rolled her eyes. "I know you don't trust Kim, and think that Ox is in danger."
Harvar was beginning to grow impatient. "That should be obvious."
"I also know that you're willing to exercise force if ever you feel Ox is threatened by her."
Harvar's frown deepened "Get to the point, Jacqueline."
"It's Jackie." Jackie replied dully "And my point is that I don't think you have the right to take that responsibility. She's my meister. If anyone should stop her if things go wrong—which they won't—it should be her partner."
"You?" Harvar snorted "You, the girl who left Shibusen and aided in Kim's return to the world of the witches? You who almost killed Ox in service of that witch? You who gave up her morals so that you might be better wielded by a witch in magic's thrall? I think not Jacqueline."
"For the last time, it's Jackie!" Jackie exclaimed, now on her last nerve "Now you listen and listen good, Harvar. I'm telling you right now, that if you so much as try to touch Kim, I will char you to a crisp, burn the remains the ground, and use the ashes to season your soul when I eat it."
"I see" Harvar replied, adjusting his visor slightly. If Jackie had been watching closely she'd have noticed his eyes gaining a slightly intrigued glimmer behind the darkened visor. "You could've said that in the first place."
Jackie crossed her arms in annoyance. "I was trying to be polite you ass."
"Don't be." Harvar replied. "You're not good at it." He then took a step to Jackie's left, shoving his hands into his pockets. "If that's it, I need to get going."
"We're not finished here Harvar." Jackie said darkly, turning to face Harvar as he made his way down the steps of Shibusen
"Yeah, I know." Harvar said over his shoulder as he continued down the steps. "But I've got places to be."
"Then so do I" Jackie rejoindered as she proceeded to follow the stern demon weapon. "I'm not leaving you alone until this is resolved."
"Thought you wouldn't." Harvar murmured to himself, as he continued on his way down the stairs.
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End Chapter One