Chapter 2

There was a soft click as the lock on the front door released. The door swung open as Ashura walked into his home. He kicked off his shoes and hung up his keys.

"Hey dad! You home," Ash yelled into the house. "No, of course not. You've gone out everyday since mom died," he said to himself. he walked up the stairs and opened the door to his room. he walked though the doorway and tossed his bag into his closet and walked back down stairs.

Ash walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He looked around and said, "Damn. We don't have anything good." He shut the fridge and opened the pantry. He grabbed a pack of ramen and got a pan. He set it up and turned on the heat.

There was a loud knock on the door and a buzz as the doorbell rang. Ash walked through the house and opened the door. There were two men that looked to be in their late twenties standing outside. They were both about six and a half feet tall. One had brown hair and brown eyes and wore an ocean blue shirt and jacket. The other had red hair and green eyes and wore a fire red shirt with a black jacket with flames on it.

Ashura didn't recognize the two men so he asked, "Can I help you two?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact you can," said the man in blue. "Is your name Ashura Anderson?"

Ashura looked at the man in surprise. "Yeah, I'm Ash. What's this about? Am I in some kinda trouble or something?"

"Oh no," said the man. "We were just wondering if we could talk to you for a moment."

"Uh...yeah, I guess so. Come on in." The two men walked through the doorway. "You caught me in the middle of making a snack. Go ahead and take a seat. I'll be back in a minute."

Ash left the two men in the living room while he went back to the kitchen. The ramen was ready so he turned off the stove and pored it into a bowl. He walked back to the living room, sat down, and started eating. The men looked at him while he ate. Ash looked at them and said with a mouthful, "You guys can start. I'm listening."

The man in blue cleared his throat and said, "My name is Ren and he is Blake." The man in red smiled and nodded in Ash's direction. "If you don't mind me asking, can you tell us a little about yourself?"

Blake groaned and said, "Oh, just get to the point. We're from an organization called E.M.O.,the Elemental Master's Organization. We are a group of demon slayers."

"And what does that have to do with me," Ash asked.

"We believe that you have untapped potential and power," said Ren. "Your fighting skill was displayed earlier today at the school."

Ash starred at them and then burst out laughing. "You guys almost had me. Ok, where's the hidden camera." Ash started looking around while the two men looked at each other.

Ren sighed and said, "Listen Ashura, this isn't a show or a prank. This is reality."

"If this is reality then show me proof. Physical evidence of this unknown world."

"Fine. Is there someplace outside that we can go to and not be seen?" Ash nodded and led the two men to the backyard. "Now, every demon slayer has an element that they can control. Hence the name Elemental Master's Organization."

"Even if that were true," Ash began. "I can't control an element so I can't be a slayer."

"Would you shut up and let him finish," said Blake.

Ren said, "Thank you, Blake. Now as I was saying. Both Blake and I are slayers. My element is water and his is fire."

"Prove it," challenged Ash.

"Very well," said Ren. He held out his hand and a bluish glow surrounded it. Ash could feel the air around him get more and more humid. Then the water in the air rushed to Ren's glowing hand. A ball of water floated in the palm of Ren's hand. "Is that proof enough?"

Ash stood there looking at the ball. "That is so cool," said Ash. "How did you do that?"

Ren smiled and looked at Blake. "Kid," started Blake. "If you thought that was cool, check this out." Blake opened his hand really fast and flame burst into view. Ash just stood there amazed.

"So," said Ren. "Do you believe us now?" Ash just nodded, speechless. "Good. Will you come with us then and become a slayer?"

"But I can't control an element."

"I told you earlier. You have untapped potential. You can't see demons either, but in time you will. After the acceptance process your element will be awakened, you will be able to see demons, and ,with training, you'll be able to summon your Soul Caller."

"What's a Soul Caller?"

"A Soul Caller is a slayer's weapon. Every slayer has a weapon residing in their soul. It is a weapon perfect for their element and the perfect weapon for them. For example, mine is called Frozen Cerberus. You give your Soul Caller a name and that is the key to summoning it. Watch." Ren took a few steps back and said, "Water gather, then turn to ice. Rise from the tundra, Frozen Cerberus!" The air went cold then froze and formed a weapon. A nun chuck with three parts formed. It was ice blue and pulsing with cold energy.

"This is my Soul Caller, Frozen Cerberus."

"I'd show you mine," said Blake. "But time is short. I feel a demonic energy approaching. Will you come with us or not?"

Ash thought for a moment. Then he said, "What about my dad? What about my life here? I have to leave it all, don't I?"

Ren nodded and said, "There anr many sacrifices you'll have to take, but the power, freedon, and the ability to help is all worth it."

Ash walked forward and looked at his home. He took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, this place is a dump anyways."

Blake snickered and said, "Good. Now let's get the hell out of here."

"Wait," said Ash. Ren and Blake looked at him. "Can I have one more day? So I can gather my stuff and say goodbye."

"Sure," said Ren. "We'll meet you at the park tomorrow and 10:00 in the morning."

"Ok, I'll see you then," said Ash.

"Alright, Ren. Let's go slay some demons. See ya later, kid." Blake burst into flames and disappeared. Ren sighed and melted away.

"Weird people," said Ash. "Oh well. Life just got a lot more interesting."

--

Ashura turned to look at the clock on his bedside table. "What the hell, dad. It's 11:30. Where are you?" Ash had finished packing three hours ago. He was watching an episode of Ghost Hunter and eating popcorn.

Finally Ash heard the door open downstairs. He pushed the power butto on the remote and the TV clicked off. He grabbed his bowl of popcorn and walked downstairs. As his foot hit the bottom stair, the stench of alcohol and tobacco rushed up his nose. Ash grimaced and opened a few windows.

Ash walked into the kitchen. His dad was sitting at the table with a beer in his hand. Ashura's father was forty-two years old. he had brown eyes and brown hair. He was six foot five and overweight.

Ash was nothing like either of his parents. He didn't look like his dad or his mom. He was a lot more physically fit then both of them put together.

"Dad," Ash said.

His dad looked up and said, "Oh, hey Ashura."

"I need to tell you something."

"Ok, shoot."

"I'm leaving." Ash's dad looked at him with question in his eyes. "Someone came over today and offered me a job that I want to take. But in order to do that I have to leave."

Ash's dad starred at him for a moment then said, "What kind of job?"

Ash sighed . He had hoped his dad wouldn't ask that. Ash thought fast. "I'm going to be a paranormal investigator. I have to leave because it's a country wide...maybe even world wide thing." Ash was lying, but there was some truth to his lies. Demons were paranormal. He wasn't going to be an investigator, but a hunter.

"I see," said his dad. "When will you be leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm already packed and ready to go. I leave at ten."

His dad nodded. "Well if that's what you want to do with your life then I won't stop you."

Ash smiled and said, "Thanks, dad. If your up before I leave then I'll see you tomorrow. If not, then...well I guess I'll see ya."

Ash's dad stood up and held out his hand. "Goodbye, son."

Ash took his dad's hand and shook it. "Some farewell, huh? Father and son saying goodbye for a long time and all they can do is shake hands."

His dad laughed and embraced Ashura in a hug. "You'll always be welcome here, son." His dad let go and said, "Well, if you need to leave at ten then you'd better get some rest."

Ash smiled and nodded. He walked out of the room and up the stairs. Before he shut his bedroom door he heard the clanking of keys.

Ash shut the door and turned. On his bed was the puzzle box from the principal. He picked it up and said, "What the? Only two turns would have finished it." He turned the box twice and it was complete. Ash shook his head and thought, What an idiot.

Just before he tossed it on the bed it started glowing. He felt the box pulsating. With each pulse a redish glow surrounded the cube. Then the individual cubes started to move on their own. As the cubes started to move, they started to disappear one by one.

When all of the cubes were gone, all that was left was a single piece of paper with a single word scribbled on it: Sacrifar.