"SENPAI! WILLIAM SENPAI!" Ronald shouted over the laughs of the demon who threw William down and over to the field of over grown grass. He heard the thud when William hit the solid ground. In his head, he prayed to the higher gods that he could carry his senpai back home and that he could take out this demon, on top of collecting of any souls that were left. "You-you bastard! I'm going to fucking kill you!" he lifted his lawn mower and started it up, the blades running as fast as they could. He pointed the bottom toward the demon and ran towards it.
"Pathetic really, did William train you to be so weak?" the demon tisked and as soon as Ronald was close enough to hit him, the demon stepped off to the side to let Ronald run inside the burning building. He watched as he fumbled inside, tripping over boards and bodies, nearly dropping his oddly shaped death scythe. "C'mon kid, you're wasting my time. There's a whole feast of souls here and I'm going to eat every last one of 'em!" he mocked as he went inside the building after Knox.
Ronald got back to his feet and stood firmly toward the demon, like William he detested demons only not as much. But he had a reason to hate this one in particular, hate him with a firey passion. He pointed the bottom on his scythe back at him, glaring at him under the large framed glasses he wore. He ran back toward him swinging widely at him again and again, each time missing because the demon was easily able to dodge the blonde's attacks. He would roll his lawn mower over the floor before lifting it and swinging it down at the demon. He would go at every angle at different speeds, hoping to throw him off and eventually hit him.
"Trying the same things again and again kid? ! When are you going to learn it won't work? !" he laughed madly, taking a few steps closer to the blonde shinigami after dodging yet another attack.
Ronald stepped back and near a burning crate, he was right, doing the same thing again and again won't do him any good. He looked around the demon for anything that could help him kill the thing quickly. He looked up to see a large beam ready to fall from the ceiling almost over his own head. It was dangling by a few loose nails, most likely to fall at any minute or even second. "You're right demon, I can't just do the same tricks over and over, how boring would that be?" he played along with him, walking over to the metal staircase leading to the second floor, the demon followed every so slowly, stopping in the place Ronald was standing in from the beginning.
"What are you playing at reaper? If you're trying to bring down an attack it won't work. I can dodge your attack no matter what angle you bring it down as or how high it is." he smirked dangerously as his eyes watched the blonde go up the stairs. He took several large steps toward him and slashed out at the back of Ronald's thigh. Instantly, blood pooled out of the young shinigami, any color in his skin disappeared in only a few moments and he fell at the foot of the stairs, panting and holding the handle of his scythe loosely, his eyes murky instead of a stunning green. "Now now, I can't let you take my meal away, so why not lay there to die as I enjoy myself?" he kicked Knox in the side roughly a couple of times before going to the closest body. he put his lips against the corpse's and drank her soul quickly, not caring on savoring the flavor. He made his way around the room and finally ended at the place under the loose beam.
Ronald stared up the stairs weakly, he had to get to the top and jump off to cut anything holding the beam. While the demon was distracted with feeding on the numerous souls, Ronald slowly crawled up the stairs, his lawn mower clanging up every step. One step, then two, three, four, soon it was ten, and at what seemed like forever he made up all sixteen stairs and after another forever, he got up on his feet. He leaned against the blazing brick wall to catch his breath.
The demon looked up slightly from his spot, eyeing the reaper with a mocking face. "Even after that you're still going to try the same shit again?" it was obvious he was laughing at Knox.
"Who said I was attacking you, hm?" with a slight push off the wall with whatever energy was left in his body, he sprinted to the railing and jumped onto the edge of the the railing, then leaping off the bar and up to the soon to falling beam. He had his scythe aiming directly at it, ready to pierce through anything that kept it onto the ceiling. Only, by the time he go there- he realized the whole part of the ceiling would collapse with it and possible crushing him as well. But it was already too late, the blades of his lawn mower cut through everything and the beam came flying down at the demon.
"That's seriously it? ! After that graceful leap that's all you do reaper? !" he laughed widely easily avoiding being crushed by the beam. He looked back up at the falling Knox as well as the falling cieling. Everything was suddenly crushing down on him, he held his hands up in defence to protect his face.
Unfortunately for Ronald, he fell strait onto the claws of the demon, them going through his stomach. He was lucky only one hand went through his body; he screamed out in pain as his death scythe fell to the ground next to them. More and more of the roof fell down on top of them until they were completely buried in debris. Screams were heard from any living workers and Ronald himself. He could nothing from under the things he was buried in, only a few spots were open and all he could see there were violent flames from the fire that was still burning. Everything went fuzzy and loud, soon quiet and gone.
"Mommy, are we going to a party?" a young Ronald Knox swung his feet while sitting on the cusion inside a carridge, his legs still too short to touch the bottom. Large blue eyes looked up at the woman sitting across from him. She had light hair and dark eyes and smiled warmly at Ronald. "Of course we are dear, where else would we be going at this hour? And why else would I dress like this and you so nicely?" she wore a long blue dress with no sleeves and long white gloves that ended at elbows, her hair pulled up into a high loose bun with two strands of hair framing her heart shaped face.
"I'm just making sure Mommy, I never been to a party before, this'll be my first one!" he beamed a childish smile and closed his eyes. He was dressed in black shorts with high socks and oxfords that were tied neatly in a perfect bow. His top was dressed in a white dress shirt and a navy blue coat that dangled at about his thighs. A simple bow was worn at his neck that was also tied to perfection.
"You're ten now Ronald, I think it's time you get to experience a party first hand. You'll be going to them quite a lot, I want to spend time with you, as well as you making some friends." she explained as the carriage was pulled up into the front of a grand estate. Ronald gulped before the footman opened the door, helping his mother out first before he got out himself. "Now be a gentleman Ronald, escort your mother inside." she smiled as Ronald took her arm and escorted her inside.
Once in and announced, his mother went over to a few friends of hers and introduced Ronald to them, although he hid behind his mother, blushing from shyness. "...he-hello..." he whispered bashfully, keeping his face hidden from the strangers.
They laughed warmly. "Oh he's a darling Lily! You have a good kid on your hands." one of the men pointed out as he handed her a glass of wine. "Before you know it, he'll find a woman and settle down with her."
"He's only ten Raphael! Let him enjoy his childhood and let me enjoy his company!" Lily scolded playfully and laughed as well. "Ronald, go get yourself some water, maybe play with some of the other children here."
"But...but mommy... what if I loose you?" he looked up at her sadly.
"I'll be right here when you come back, don't worry dear."
Ronald nodded and stepped away from his mother cautiously, going to where they were serving drinks. He got on his tiptoes and got himself a cup of punch. The first taste was strong and fruity, but it didn't taste like punch. Ronald didn't care, it still tasted amazing. He quickly finished his glass and placed it back down on the table, his head spinning slightly.
"Hey! That's a grown up drink mister! What in the world do you think you're doing drinking some of that" he looked behind him to see a young girl the same age as he was. She had a short pink dress with long sleeves and long brunette hair tied back with a large ribbon. Her gloved hands rested on her hips and her pale lips came to a pout directed at him.
"Uh...um... I didn't know... I thought it was juice..." Ronald said, quickly turning his head away from the girl.
"Juice? The only thing we kids can drink here is water!" she stepped even closer to him. "Let me guess, you're new to the whole party thing aren't you?" she put her arms down so that they rested comfortably at her sides and her pout and angered face came to something more gentle and calm.
"Uh-uh huh..." he nodded, going back to staring at the girl. "...um...um...you look...you look really pretty...what's...what's your name?" he asked bashfully but taking a tiny step closer to her as well.
"Me? Oh! I'm Daisy! Daisy King, my dad is throwing the party." she informed him quickly, blushing herself. "So... what's yours?"
"Ron-Ronald... Ronald Knox..." he always thought he had a strange name, so he felt almost uncomfortable saying it out loud.
"Ronald? I've never heard that name before- so I'll call you Ronnie okay? You can't say no." she smiled and giggled.
"Su-sure um okay... you can call me that." his blush deepened when she held a hand out to him.
"Want to go out and dance with me? I'm sure you'll have fun, and stop being so shy! This is a social party so you gotta have fun!"
"Oh! Yeah, I'll-I'll dance but... I'm not very good." he took her hand anyway and she lead him out to the dance floor.
"I'll teach you so don't worry." she put one of his hands on her waist and put her hand on his shoulder, their other hands were out and holding each other. "Now take a step forward and I'll follow you, try to move with the music."
Ronald nodded and tried doing so, watching some of the other guests dancing as he tried to dance with Daisy. He took a step forward, then back, a bit to the side and turning slightly.
"There you go! You're a fine dancer Ronnie!" she smiled and followed his every movement. There were a few moments of foot stepping and loosing place, but it went pretty well. They danced together through several songs, Ronald getting better with each one. It was soon a very natural movement for him and simple steps and turns, he didn't dare try any complicated moves the adults were doing. After a while, Daisy yawned and rested her head on Ronald's shoulder. "...after this dance... you wanna take a break? I'm getting kinda tired..." she giggled softly and pressed herself more again Knox. He smiled and held her closer. "Alright... we'll get a snack and sit down." he told her softly as he steps slowed to a waltz.
This was Ronald's first love.
Over the next parties Ronald went to, he would always try to find Daisy and most of the time was able to find her and dance the night away with her. This night in particular, when Ronald was about fifteen years old, he wanted nothing more to hold Daisy, kiss her, and just to make love with her. When he was sure his mother wasn't looking, he asked Daisy if they could go up to her bedroom. With a heavy blush, the brunette nodded (the party was once again held at her house). They snuck away upstairs, closing and locking the door behind them.
"... I love you Daisy... I really do and... I want to do this with you, I want you to be mine." his hands wrapped around her waist and held her close his his body, kissing her neck softly.
"...hnmmm... I... I really love you too Ronnie..." she gasped as her hands grasped onto the back of his jacket and titling her head to the right, giving him more access to her neck, moaning slightly when he nipped right behind her ear.
He lead her to the bed and laid her carefully, instantly, he began to strip her down starting with her dresses, then her gloves and stocking, ending with removing her bra and panties. For a moment, all he did was stare down at her body taking in how lovely she looked before going down to place heated kissed everywhere on her body.
He didn't know where his pleasure began and where it ended, where hers began or ended- everything was mixed together so her pleasure was his and his pleasure was hers. It was the most amazing feeling when he pumped in and out of her body, loving every moan that was drawn out from her mouth, it was all so beautiful and wonderful. Her climax however, was the most enjoyable sight he ever saw. Her lips were parted in a silent scream, she rocked against him widely, and her walls clamped tightly around his shaft until she laid limp under him. He rode out whatever he could before filling her with his hot seed, anything else seeped out and trickled down her thighs. He collapsed on top on top of her and kissed her softly. "...I...I love you Daisy..."
"...hnmmm...I... I love you too Ronnie..." she panted, trying to recollect herself. For several minutes, both of them laid there, trying to regain control of their breathing and getting down from their high. "...we-we better go downstairs...huh?" she asked looking up at him with love filled in her eyes. Knox nodded and pulled out of her slowly, collecting their clothes and helping her dress before dressing himself. They fixed themselves as best as possible before leaving her room, hand in hand with smiles etched into their lips.
"Ronald there you are!" his mother came over to him as he and Daisy got to the bottom of the stairs. "It's time to go dear, it's rather late even for me." she laughed and smiled sweetly to Ronald.
"Right, I'll see you again Daisy." he kissed her cheek in a friendly matter as he went to his mother's side. "Alright, ready."
She noded and the two went outside, going into the carriage and sitting opposite of each other. The reins were whipped and they were on their way home in the dark streets on London. It was silent between the two until Lily spoke. "You love her don't you?"
"Mother?"
"You love Daisy, I know you do." she smiled softly to Ronald, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
"...I do... I love her a lot..." he looked down, slightly embarrassed.
"It's alright dear, I'm not mad at you for loving anyone. I want to tell you that you must take care of this woman and love her with everything you have. Promise you will?"
"Of course! I'll love her no matter what!" he stated boldly, looking up at his mother.
"That's good Ronald... you'll be a fine man one day." the carriage suddenly bounced widely, both of the passengers hitting their heads on the ceiling of the inside. "Ah! What the hell? !" Lily shouted before before her question was answered, the carriage was turning quickly onto it's side. It was a huge mess, two carriages crashed into each other and over turned.
People on the streets were standing in shock at the sight, the carriage on the bottom was nearly crushed by the second one, they thought that no one survived this crash if they were in the bottom one- however one man was alive but only just. His head was cut open and his skull was cracked, his brain drooping slightly out of his blonde locks.
"Someone get a medic! He needs professional help!"
"Someone is on their way! He'll be here in any minute!"
"Ronald Knox! Ronald Knox!"
"Ronald! Knoxie~! C'mon wake up!" the calls of a familiar flamboyant shinigami filled Ronald's ears. His eyes cracked open to about half way as he looked up at his red haired senpai. Everything was blurry around him and his body ached all over. He suddenly remember, he was out with William on a mission and he was hurt by a demon. "Wait...wait... William-William senpai!" Knox shot up into a sitting position, the pain going through him again only at a higher rate.
"Knoxie~ Lay down! The doctor said you shouldn't be getting up like that yet!" Grell Sutcliff whined as he pushed Ronald back onto the bed and into a laying position. "You had me sooooo worried! Alan noticed that the two of you weren't back even though you were out for hours! Eric and I decided to go and look for the both of you!" he whined and sat on the bed with Ronald, keeping a hand on the boy's chest so he wouldn't sit up again.
"...you and...and Eric senpai?" Ronald asked staring up ta Grell, was he really gone for that long? It only seemed like a few minutes before he blacked out.
"Yeah, we had to go out and save both of your sorry asses." a taller shinigami with messy blonde hair on one side and dark hair in cornets on the other stepped out from behind a corner with a smaller reaper with chocolate hair and a broach instead of the common tie.
"Eric senpai! Alan senpai!" Ronald cried out, looking at the two close reapers as Grell placed his glasses on.
"When Grell and I found that place, he smelled the blood and death right away. He went inside to search for you guys and I check around outside. Found Spears in a really bloody mess with a gaping hole in his chest. I picked him up and his scythe and went inside with Grell to help him find you." he shrugged walking over to his bed and sitting on an empty one next to it. "I found a giant pile of boards and other shit and Grell trying to take the stuff away. I looked over him and firstly saw the demon dead under you and claw going strait through your stomach."
Grell nodded in agreement. "You were really pale too Knoxie and then we saw the gash on your back leg, I picked you up and the two of us got both of you back as fast as we could. Oooooh~ you were both so close to dying that I couldn't help but cry! When we got you to the operating portion here they said both of your records started playing and I thought I was gonna loose both of you~" Grell sobbed bending down to hug Knox. "Willu's still in surgery and you just came out an hour ago~ You lost so much blood Knoxie that the three of us donated to help you pull through!" he let go of the blonde and pulled out his sleeve, showing a red bandage on the inside of his arm. Eric and Alan did the same and there too were bandages. "Don't you ever scare me like that again Knoxie! I thought you were a goner~" he started sobbing again and holding Ronald who smiled and patted his senpai's head.
"Alright alright... I'll be more careful from now on okay? I promise." he said, trying to be louder than Grell's cries.
"Good! Good Knoxie!" he wiped away tears and pulled away, sitting up and properly like a lady.
"Ronald, there were no souls left when Eric and Grell got there, they said there was almost no sign of life other than from William- san and you." Alan brought up. "... I don't think any of us want to break the news to Mr. Spears about the demon eating all the souls." he frowned slightly, trying not to imagine William's face if he found out, he'd probably pop a vein or something.
"Ah shit... forgot all about that." Eric rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably as Alan sat down next to him. "Well, the bastard isn't going to be awake for a while so... guess we got time to think up of something. He knows that he couldn't have collected them since he was well, gaping hole and sprawled on the floor. He should at least think that a newbie shouldn't have taken down a demon easily without some kind of serious damage done to him. Spears is a smart guy, a rotten slave driver, but smart. He'll probably figure it out on his own yeah?"
The three other reapers nodded, knowing William for the past so many years it was obvious that he could come to conclusions quickly- most of the time them being completely accurate.
"Excuse me sirs?" a female reaper in all white and a nurse's bonnet walked slowly over to the group of Dispatchers.
"Hey Lucy, everything okay?" Ronald asked, giving her a smirk like he did with mainly every girl in the whole reaper system in London.
"Yes... well- yes and no. Good news and bad news sort of deal." she blushed lightly at his smirk, he could just so cute sometimes!
"Well, it's been a pretty shitty day, lay out the good news for us would you?" Eric asked, leaning against the headboard of the bed, pulling Alan a bit with him.
"Of course Mr. Slingby." she nodded and went a bit closer to them. "Mr. Spears just got out of surgery and he's going to recover just fine but..."
"OH~ Please do tell me what happened to my Willu~ I can't stand not knowing if he'll make it or not!" Grell whined and pretended to cry, although he truly was worried if William was going to be alright.
"Mr. Sutcliff please! I just said he's going to alright!" she shouted, waving her hands and shushing the red haired reaper. "The bad news is that it's going to be quite a while before he can get out of bed and even work. This usually isn't a problem because with regular Dispatchers they could rest here without everyone going into much chaos. But Mr. Spears is an Officer and Head of the Dispatch section. Someone is going to have to be his replacement until he fully recovers."
The group of four grew quiet from any giggles or whispering. Replace William T. Spears? Was that even possible?
Ronald sat up slowly, feeling weak when he was simply laying at the bed, and leaned back against the pillows and headboard. He looked over to Grell, and from what he saw was the Grell was thinking hard. A finger on the bottom of his lip and his eyes looking up slight as though the answer would appear before them in the air.
"...well, I don't know about you guys... but I'm thinking Alan here should replace Spears." Eric broke the silence and all eyes were on him and his young reaper friend.
"Eric- san! Why? ! I can't replace Mr. Spears! No, not at all!" Alan protested, slamming his hands down onto the bed.
"Think about it Alan! There's no way in hell Grell could do it, he'd get everything destroyed in a matter of hours! (Hey!) Oh shut up Grell you know you can't replace Spears!" he spat the last part and rolled his eyes before looking and pointing to Knox. "We have another cripple there and he's still really young, only been here for what? Three four years? And then you all know that I ain't doing it. Alan, you're it by default."
"But...but... I'm no good at leading Eric. I'm too quiet and... small..." Alan hated to admit how weak he could be and would always take his jobs without complaint to prove how strong he was. Maybe if he showed that he was a good leader than everyone would look up to him instead of looking down and pitying him.
"Alan, almost no one here gives a shit about your size. You're orginized and efficent, that's all it really takes to take Spear's place. Besides, it'll be for what, a month? You got this and if you want any help-"
"No, I don't want any help because I can do it by myself Eric! I'm an adult, not a child!" he looked up at the blonde reaper and smiled proudly. "I'll do it, I'll do a good job. Maybe I'll be better than Mr. Spears." he giggled slightly before facing the nurse. "I'll take Mr. Spears's job until he is fully recovered."
"Very well, I will the Elders of the situation. May I get your full name please?" the nurse asked, filling a glass of water next to Knox's bed.
"Alan Humphries." he answered simply, leaning slightly against Eric's shoulder.
"Very well Mr. Humphries. Report to your own office tomorrow and Mr. Spears's usual assignments will be handed to you in order for you to complete them. I'm afraid he won't be awake for about a week though, so you must wait until then for any questions of his work. I can tell you're a smart man, I'm sure you'll make sure everything runs smoothly." she smiled to him and bowed before leaving.
"Well well, look who's got confidence." Ronald teased, his signature cocky grin crossing his lips. "But seriously Alan senpai, William senpai has a big job. You may need some help in the beginning, then you'll get the hang of everything and manage on your own."
The brunette nodded. "...when you put it that way... I guess I may need a bit of help." he went back to looking up at Eric and laying completely in his chest. "...this big guy here's going to do that."
"Ah you're making me blush." Eric joked, kissing the top of Alan's hair. It was obvious to everyone that they were lovers and just not the best of friends. The affection and care they gave each other was stronger than anything anyone had ever seen.
"Well, it's late no?" Grell hummed, stretching his arms above his head and yawning. "I need my beauty sleep and it's far past a women's bedtime~" he got up from the bed and stood, continuing his little stretch routine.
"It is late... maybe we should head up too Alan." Eric offered standing up as well and helping his lover up as well. "You need more rest than any of us, you know how much caffeine Spears takes in an hour." he laughed warmly and started walking out with Grell, who was complaining about how late he had stayed up and that he still needed to wake up at six the next morning.
"Hey...Alan senpai." Ronald asked, laying back down and pulling the covers over his bandaged body.
"Hm? What's wrong Ronald? Something bothering you?" he asked, pivoting to face the young reaper.
"No no... just... don't turn into William senpai okay?" he whispered, putting his glasses on the nightstand.
Alan giggled and smiled softly. "I wouldn't want to turn into him anyway. I'm just doing it to keep things from falling apart, I won't turn into a cold dictator." he knew William wasn't really like that, but it was a running joke through the office.
"Alright, you got a point... but I wanted to warn you anyway." he yawned and closed his eyes, resting his head on the pillow. "...good night senpai..."
"Feel better Ronald." Alan said before blowing out a nearby candle and leaving the infirmary to catch up with the others.
Note: Oh I'm so terrible at fight scenes! Please forgive me if it came out crappy! Thank you for the reviews and favs! I'm glad you enjoy this story~