Devourer
"A Grand Day Out, Sakomato finds his partner?"
I woke from a fearful nightmare quickly, feeling cold beads of sweat roll down my face. Breathing heavily, I scanned my surroundings feverishly, then looked at the clock. It read 7:43. "Oh man, I'm gonna be late if I don't hurry." I said softly to myself. I got out of bed, stretched then scrambled to find some decent garments to wear to school. I finally found my black duster and grey pants, and slipped both on. The bedroom door flew open followed by my zany sister, Misaki, who was clearly wide awake. "Morning Sako! You'd better hurry or you'll be late for school sleepy head!" she said loud and cheerylike. "No worries, I know." I said slowly. "If you say so, I'll see ya later!" she said very quickly. I nodded as I put my heavy steel boots on. My name is Sakomato Ouzawa, a fifteen year old Weapon Meister at Death Weapon Meister Academy. The DWMA was created to rid the world of evil and keep it at peace. I'm a rookie since I've only just started two weeks ago. I have yet to be paired up with a partner since I'm not really the social type of kid. The only weapons I've wielded are my sister, who's a bow, and my mother who is a scythe. I have a good feeling though, that today will be the day I get my weapon partner. I hurried downstairs and out the door with my bag of notes on my back, and headed off towards the academy.
"I hope you've all done your homework last night, because today's lesson will test your knowledge on how to synchronize your soul wavelengths with one another." Professor Regime said to the class. "Now, I want weapons on the left and meisters on the right." He stated pointing to both sides. Everyone in the class followed the command and split to both sides. "Ok, now face each other across the room, and try to synchronize your souls." Professor Regime finished before stepping out of the way. I looked across and found my partner. He was a frighteningly large guy, tall and mighty looking. His narrow eyes met with mine, and for a moment, he looked surprised, then he simply grinned at me. I didn't like it, but I closed my eyes and detected his soul. The color was large like it's owner, and the color of red. I began to connect my soul wavelength with it, but a blunt force struck me in the gut, forcing me to the ground. I opened my eyes and looked up in confusion, the large student was laughing hysterically. 'Did he hit me?' I thought to myself. "You really think I'll let a short loser like you sync with me?" He questioned loudly. "Mr. Ouzawa, get up now, this is no time to be lying on the floor like a weakling." The professor said sounding annoyed. I got up, curious to why the teacher didn't suspect that I was downed for a reason. "C'mon, aren't ya gonna sync with me?" the brute student questioned pretending to be innocent. I remained silent, closed my eyes, and attempted to sync again, this time bracing for a strike. I felt his soul, and nothing happened. Then, a great force crashed into my eye, sending me backwards onto the floor. Laughter from everyone in the room echoed off the walls as I opened my eyes. 'I don't understand, what's going on? Is this some kind of sick joke?' I asked myself. I stood up feeling pain in my left eye, the teacher walked over to me looking quite agitated. "Sakomato, sync with Tank's soul, it's not that difficult." He said angrily. I then faced Tank, feeling rage begin to course through my calm mind. I shut my eyes tight, and detected Tank's soul again. "C'mon loser, you can't sync with the Tank!" he mocked while laughing. I rushed forward and punched Tank right in the jaw, but I was overcome with dismay, as I barely even scratched him. He looked very serious and angry now. Suddenly the bell rang, which meant we could all go home. "That's all for today, we'll pick this up again first thing tomorrow." Professor Regime said. In the crowd of people, I went to my chair, grabbed my bag and hurried out the door to avoid Tank.
I made it outside the academy without bumping into that giant brute. I just had to get further away so I don't get into trouble with Tank. But before I made it to the staircase, two hands took hold of my arms. Swiftly I looked to see who it was. They were two tall guys that looked quite menacing. "Hey Sako, you know our good buddy Tank, right?" he asked. I lunged forward to run, but before I could break loose, an axe met with my neck. "I don't want any trouble, I was just leav-" "Well that's too bad, cause Tank wanted to have a nice little chat with ya." The second guy said before they roughly escorted me to the back of the school. They brought me to a dark and shaded area where Tank was waiting with a sinister smile on his face. "Well look who it is, it's the smart guy who thought it was a good idea to throw a punch at the Tank." He said. He then thrust his hand forward, and it transformed into a golden hammer head. I hopelessly struggled to break free. "It's your fault man! You're the one who hit first! I never did anything to you, you had no reason to do that!" I argued. "Oh no, I had a reason to do that." He said quietly walking over to me. "What? Why!?" I asked. There was a pause, then he answered. "…Because I can." He then threw a strong jab at my stomach, forcing out my breath. "This will teach ya to not mess with The Tank!" he yelled as he raised his hammer hand. I shut my eyes tight and braced for impact. The two behind me let go, but then, nothing happened. When I opened my eyes, the three cruel students were lying on the ground motionless in front of me. "Hey, you ok?" a feminine voice asked behind me. I turned to see who it was, the voice came from a buxom girl with silvery hair, who wore a furry coat and white clothes. Her face housed a crescent moon tattoo on her right cheek, and her eyes were azure like the ocean blue. "Y-yes, I'm alright, thank you." I said finally snapping back to reality. "Oh goodness! Your eye!" she exclaimed sounding horrified. "Oh don't worry, I was born with it," I joked. "So what's your name?" I asked. "My name is Starla Stumblein, I'm a daito weapon, I just started a couple days ago." She answered with a smile. (Daito is a a type of Katana.) "I'm Sakomato Ouzawa, a new meister." I responded back kindly. "You little maggot…" a gravely familiar voice said from behind me. I turned to see Tank and his allies starting to stand up from the ground. "Looks like these guys are really mad, quick Sakomato, synchronize your soul with mine." Starla said to me seriously. I detected Starla's soul, it was energetic and warm, it was also blue like her eyes. I synced my soul wavelength with her's quickly, and in a flash of light, Starla disappeared and in my hand, I held a Japanese Samurai sword with a blue linen string attached to the handle. "I'm gonna crush you like a bug!" Tank bellowed as he raised his golden warhammer. "Think you know how to use a sword?" Starla asked me. "Don't worry, I've practiced using swords almost my whole life." I answered gripping the handle firmly. Tank roared in anger, and came running at me at full force. When he was in range, I dodged to the side and made an incision on his left leg, bringing him to his knees. "You..-You-", "If you were wise, you would stop now before you get hurt." I warned him gravely. "Shut up!" he snapped getting back onto his feet and turning to me. His face was red hot with rage as he scowled at me. "Take this!" one punk shouted from behind me. I turned, parried the slash of an axe, and followed up with a gash to the shoulder. He let out a yelp of pain as fell on his back. A little appeared on the ground from the cuts I made. Suddenly I realized what I had been doing. I was hurting people, drawing their blood, I hoped I would never have to do that. A chill shot down my spine at the realization. "That's enough!" A feminine voice called from above. Up on the balcony, a woman who looked like she was in her twenties, jumped down to where the fight was. She went over to Tank, and thrust her palm at his chest, and his hammer reverted back to a hand. "This again Tank? Ok. All of you are coming to the Death room, now!" she said fiercely. "That means you too!" she finished pointing at me. "Wait!" Starla exclaimed returning to her human form. "This isn't-," "Hold your tongue! If you have something to say, then take it up with Lord Death himself." The woman snapped angrily. I hung my head in shame and followed the woman to the Death Room where our fates would be decided.
All of us entered the Death Room, a mirror stood tall in the center, and the walls and ceiling depicted the illusion of the sky and clouds. Surrounding the floor were a number of crosses, and a Shinto Spirit gate stood behind us. "Lord Death will be here momentarily, stay where you are." The woman said before walking out of the gate. "Tck* great, look where you got us you idiot!" Tank spat angrily at me. "This is your fault, if you hadn't hit me like that, none of this would have happened." I responded calmly. "SILENCE!" a thunderous voice shouted. All of us stood still with fear. If I was right, then I hoped I was wrong, because that sounded like Lord Death himself. A white light came from the mirror, followed by a black silhouette, the shape of something big and horrifying. The black shadow levitated through the mirror, and became more visible. I was correct, it was Lord Death himself, but something was off about his appearance. His face was nothing more than a simplistic skull, I imagined him to be much more frightening. "Tank, it's a pleasure to see you again, what trouble have you caused this time?" The grim reaper asked sounding jolly and silly. "I didn't do anything." He began deceitfully. "I was just minding my own business when this kid-," but before he finished, a massive, white, block-like hand came crashing down upon Tank's head. "OW! My head!" the bully screamed in agony. Retracting his hand back into his cloak, Lord Death moved closer to us all. "It's one thing to bully someone, it's worse yet to try to lie about it." He said to Tank. "I already know what happened, so there is no need to explain. You rejected this boy's soul and hurt him in doing so." He said pointing his giant finger upward. "I believe it is in everyone's best interest if you apologized for what you did." Death finished. "And…what if I don't?" Tank asked growling in pain. "Then maybe you'd like another reaper chop?" he asked readying his hand. "Ok! Ok! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! Now please don't chop my head again!" the bully pleaded on his knees. "Very good, now that we understand each other, you may go." Death finished gesturing with his mighty hand to leave. "C'mon guys, let's get outa here!" he said running out the gate as fast as he could. The other two punks followed in panic, probably in fear of that powerful chop. Only Starla and I remained in the room. "Now as for you two, I'd like to chat with you." Death said looking at both of us. "Tell me young man, what is your name?" he asked me. "Sakomato Ouzawa, level one meister sir!" I answered quickly and affirmatively trying to show the upmost amount of respect. "Ouzawa you say?... Ahh yes! Your Jeniifer's boy! Glad to meet ya!" he said in rememberance. "Yes sir, my younger sister is also here, she's a weapon unlike me." I replied to his statement. "I see, and this must be your partner, yes?" he asked looking at Starla. "No actually, she was the one who protected me from Tank and his goons." I answered. "Oh? But the way you fought together, I would have figured you two would have been partners for at least some time." He said sounding stumped. "Lord Death, may I say something?" Starla asked. "Of course Miss Stumblien," he answered. "I think the reason that we were able to fight like that is because our souls are a good match. Since he doesn't have a partner yet, and I'm brand new, maybe I could be his partner?" she asked the reaper. "Hmm… Let's see." Death said before leaning in closer to the two of us. Looking into the holes where his were supposed to be, I got the feeling he was examining our very souls. "Such interesting souls you two have, I believe you both would make an excellent team." He said finally. "Is that ok with you Sakomato?" Starla asked. "Of course!" I answered without hesitating. "Please Saki, there's no need to be so uptight. At DWMA you should feel as relaxed as you are at home." He said with a laugh. "Oh ok." I said feeling silly. "Now run along you two, I've got some important business to attend to, and you'll both need your rest for tomorrow." Death finished. "Thank you Lord Death! We'll be going now." I said turning to exit through the gate. "Take care you two!" Death said. Starla walked along with me as we left the Death Room.
"…That boy's soul…. It has unimaginable power.."
The sun was beginning to fall from the sky, signaling the coming of the night. Starla walked with me down the large staircase, I wondered why she had made the decision to become my weapon. "Hey, is there something up?" she asked me. "Oh it's nothing." I answered. "You sure? It looks you got a lot on your mind." She replied curiously. "Well, I was just wondering…" I began as I came to a halt. "Why did you choose to be my weapon?" I asked Starla. There was a pause, then she turned to me and said, "Because I need your help." "Really?" I said in astonishment. "Yes, you see, you're the first person beside my dad to wield me like that." She explained. "Oh.." and that's all I could think to say. "I want to become a death scythe, and you're the one I need for that to happen. I'll do anything you ask me to do." She said sounding a little anxious. "There's no need for that, I'll help you become a Death Scythe, that's what a meister is supposed to do." I replied. "Really? You will?" she asked. "Of course, you helped me out back there, I want to help you out." I answered. "Thank you Sako! I have to go home now, but I'll see you tomorrow!" she finished before taking off down the street. "Ok, see ya Starla!" I called out to her.I continued on down the road to the right on my way home. I today would be the day!
Hope you enjoyed chapter 1!