Chapter 1: Julia
I tremble as I ascend the stairs leading to the doors to the DWMA. I had been there before, of course, but never as a student. It's a new beginning. "Don't worry!" Justin says as we climbed. "You'll do great!" Justin is a Death Scythe, and a young one, at that. Much younger than me. But he is in charge of North America, where I used to live, and is my escort. His head bobs up and down to the music he listens to. Easy for you to say, I think. But it would be good to see Lord Death again. I am as old as him, after all. I am a Changeling, the last one in the world. Being able to turn into anything human or humaniod is very convenient and the reason I can be weapon or meister. I just need a partner, which is why I came to the DWMA. We reach the top of the stairs and see two students awaiting us. They smile at us, which makes a little of my fear go away. I read their souls with ease. One, named Maka, seems friendly and nice, but rather bookish. I don't mind that. The other, Soul, is more arrogant, but can be caring. I am grateful for that. "Welcome to DWMA!" says Maka, " You must be Julia, the Changeling!" They know I am a Changeling? I didn't think Ol' Death would tell them that, I think. "Th-thats right!" I say, still nervous. "Come on, let's go to class!" "Ok, then!" I reply, both excited and nervous. "After class, we'll take you to see Lord Death!" Soul says. "It should be interesting to see Lord Death again." I intone. And it sure would be. "See you later!" says Justin, off to return to searching for the Kishin Asura as Lord Death asked him to. "Good luck!" I reply. Then Maka, Soul and I walk to class. They go on and on explaining about the school, but I'm not listening. When will I find a partner? Will anyone want to be partners with someone 1000 years old? Will anyone actually be nice to me, other than these two? These worries and others sprout in my head as we walk. Then, we reach class. I take a nervous step in. "You must be our new student! Welcome!" says a tall man with a screw through his head. This must be Stein, I think. Isn't he mad? I'm surprised to see him teaching classes, but he is a very powerful meister. And a genius. "Hello. You must be Dr. Stein!" I say. "That's me! Everyone, this is our new student, Julia! She is a Changeling, and is looking for a partner!" Stein announces to everyone. "Hi." I mumbled nervously. Everyone welcomes me warmly, but I also hear murmurs, saying stuff like, "A Changeling? No way!" and "Wow, I wonder how old she is!" I take the only open seat and try to tune all the muttering out. I always hated going to a new school. "You don't have a partner either?" a voice asks from beside me. I look up to make sure Stein isn't paying attention, and then turn to look at the speaker. I freeze, in utter awe. He looks at me with these beautiful orange and yellow eyes with and inquisitive look. He has longish, black hair, with three white stripes on one side. I can't think, lost in those beautiful eyes. "Well?" he asks, snapping me back to reality. "You don't have a partner?" "Th-thats right." I mumble in response. "Finally, I'm not the only one! You won't believe what happened. One of my weapons wanted to be the meister of my other weapon instead of them being my weapons. They were tired of my symmetry obsession, so Stein surgically removed the weapon part of her soul. I can't believe she'd do that. There's nothing wrong with symmetry being my aesthetic. So, I'm left without a weapon. My old weapons are over there." He points to two blond girls, one of which is filing her nails and the other is strangling a paper mache giraffe. I am afraid to ask. "My name's Death the Kid, by the way. Call me Kid." he said in a charming way. He seems excited and angry at the same time. I read his soul, he's neurotic and serious, but looking for love underneath. But wait. No way. I gasped. He is a shinigami! So this is Death's son, the one I heard about, I think. "Nice to meet you, Kid. I'm Julia, but I guessed you figured that out when Stein announced that to the whole class." I say cheerily. He already knows your name, idiot, I think, feeling a blush coming on. "Cool. I hope I can get to know each other better. Care to hang out after class?" he says, almost sounding a little hopeful. My insides turn to jelly. Hanging out with him? Just the two of us? "I'd love to, but I have to meet with Lord Death before I can." I say, feigning nonchalance. "That's alright, just head over to Maka's, we're all hanging there after school." He replies. "Sounds good." I say, still nervous. I guess it's not just with him, but that's alright, I'd probably turn to jelly if it was, I thought. "Alright, class dismissed!" Stein says. Everyone pours out of the classroom. He walked over to me. " Don't forget you have to meet with Lord Death." he says to me. "I remember," I reply.
After my meeting with Lord Death, I head to Maka's. What Lord Death said to me is still running through my head. "The world is relying on you, Changeling!" He said when I was leaving. The whole world? Yikes. I guess I am the only Changeling. Soon my thoughts change to Kid. He's only 15, it would never work out. But his beautiful eyes, how could I not love him? He's so nice and friendly. Finally, I reach Maka's house. I knock. "Hey Julia, glad you could make it!" Soul says as he answers the door, pulling me into the house. "Hey everyone, guess who arrived? Our very own Changeling!" He says in a loud voice. "Hey everyone!" I say. "Eh, why does she matter when I am here? I will transcend God! I am so big I fill the whole world! I am the biggest thing! Who are you anyways?" A blue-haired boy bellows in my face. "It doesn't matter! I am BLACK STAR!" he steps back and laughs. "YAHOO!" Oh lord help me, I think. "Sorry about him." says a tall pretty girl. "I'm Tsubaki, Black Star's weapon. He is a bit rowdy sometimes." She smiles. "Hi, Tsubaki." I reply. We walk together into the living room where everyone is sitting. "Julia! Good to see you!" Kid says, obviously glad to see me. "Hi, Kid, good to see you too."I say shyly. "Come, sit down!" He says, patting the seat next to him. I sit. "So Julia, are you liking DWMA so far?" asks Maka. "Yes, it's wonderful, just like I remember it." "How old are you?" blurts Soul. "I'm 1000 years old." I confess. Everyone gasps. Idiot, you should not have told them, I think. "But I don't feel it. I feel fifteen. Changelings are youthful beings. Age is just a number to us." I hastily explain. "That's what Father told me when he explain about you joining DWMA." says Kid. "That we shouldn't judge you because of your age." "Exactly my point." I say, smiling at Kid, grateful for his explanation. Everyone relaxes. We continue to talk for about an hour. "I think we are heading home now." says Tsubaki. "As are we" says Kid, talking about himself and his old weapons, Patty and Liz, who I had just met. "I would, but I have nowhere to go. Is there room here, Maka?" I ask politely. "No, sorry Julia." Maka says sadly. "There should be room at my place." offers Kid. "But wait," says Liz, one of Kid's old partners. "There's only three bedrooms, one for you, one for me, and one for Patty. Where will she go?" "I'm sure we can find room." says Kid. "Yay new friend!" says Patty, and smushes me a bear hug. "It's good to be your friend, too, Patty." I say. She releases me. We head home. "I forgot to mention, Justin forgot to bring my bags. He said I should just go shopping, and I have money. Would any of you like to come?" I ask. Liz and Patty both volunteer. "I'll pass." says Kid. "Going shopping isn't fun. Just please get symmetrical clothes." "Oh, grow up, Kid. She can wear what she wants." Liz groans. "No, it's fine. I don't mind symmetrical clothes." I say, not wanting to disappoint Kid. We get home, and I say, "So, where do I sleep?" I ask. "Umm, well... I was thinking maybe you could share with me?" says Kid, looking highly embarrassed. "Um, ok." I say, trying to act cool. No way! Sharing a bed? Yes! "I can lend you clothes until we get you some." says Liz. "Thanks!" I say. Kid and I walk to his room. I have dragons in my stomach from nervousness. I put Liz's borrowed clothes on the edge of the bed. "I'm gonna go shower." I tell Kid. "Just don't use up all the hot water!" he jokes. "I'll try!" I reply. I pick up the clothes and head to the bathroom. While showering, I think of Kid. He may actually like me! No way! This is great. Since he's a shinigami, he'll live forever too! So it could work out! Screw the age gap, I feel as if I am his age! This could actually go places! I step out of the shower and attempt to wring my hair dry. I put on Liz's comfy pajamas and head back to Kid's room. His bed is huge, and perfectly symmetrical. Like the rest of the house. He is already in his pajamas and is attempting to get his hair dry as well. "I'm back!" I announce. "You take long showers." He comments. "I was just thinking about the day." I respond. I crawl into bed, and curl up under the covers. It's November, seven months after Asura was revived, and it's cold out. I shiver under the covers. Kid crawls in and notices my shivers. "You must be cold. Here, I'll keep you warm." He says as he wraps his arms around me. I snuggle into him, feeling warmer. Much warmer, because it sets my heart on fire. I felt safe, like Kishins never existed in the first place, like my 1000 long years and the harsh things that happened never took place. "Sleep well, beautiful." says Kid. It is last thing I remember before I drift off to sleep.