Lady Death proceeded to enroll me in the Death Weapon Meister Academy—a job I very well could have done myself, but she insisted on it. Then she also found me living arrangements in Death City, since I had no parents. I think she must have really wanted to get rid of me.

Apparently, I would be staying in the dungeons of the DWMA. I was a bit unsettled when Lady Death informed me of this, but she proceeded to try and calm my uncertainty.

"Don't worry," she said soothingly, "Lots of kids stay in the dungeons! It's like a party every night."

"Oh, well that's good to hear," I replied sarcastically. "Don't they have dorms, like us?"

"I'm afraid not." She gave me what I'm guessing was a sympathetic look.

"Fine, whatever," I said, shoving my suitcase in the back of the cab. "Dungeons it is."

She smiled innocently. "Well, you better get going, Miss Marshal. You don't wanna be late for your new start at the DWMA. Wouldn't make a very good first impression, now would it?"

"No, it wouldn't." I forced a smile. "Well, see ya I guess."

Lady Death took me by surprise by embracing me in a hug. "Goodbye Melody." She pulled away and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Good luck." Then she turned and floated back inside the academy.

I gulped, taking one last look at the academy where I had spent the last eight years of my life. In a way, this place had become my home. The academy had taken me in after my parents were attacked by a kishin in 2004. I was only seven.

I slowly walked up to the academy, running my fingers along its old red bricks. I bit my lip. It had been my home, but the place was never big enough for me. I was destined for bigger and better things. Things hopefully awaiting me at the DWMA.

I turned on my heel, putting the DWSA behind me. Putting Bernice Brown behind me. Putting Lady Death behind me. I approached the cab and stepped inside. Lady Death had already paid my cab fare. "Let's get on the road," I told the cab driver. "Death Weapon Meister Academy, here I come."

We came to a stop on the cobblestone street, and I stepped out of the cab. I stared up in awestruck wonder at the sight in front of me. There, atop much too many steps to count, was a large, strange-looking building I'm guessing was the DWMA. The majority of it was made up of several black towers that were red and pointy at the top, and there were two giant lit candles sticking out of the side. Then there were three large white skulls at what I'm guessing was the entrance to the building, and a large circular cobblestone area in front of them that met the hundreds of steps.

"Goodluck, kid," the cab driver said as I began to drag my suitcase up the steps. I waved and he drove away. As I climbed the steps, I went over in my head what to say to Lord Death when I got to his office. Hi, I'm Melody, the new student. I came from your ex-wife's school. Where am I supposed to go? No, that didn't seem right to say. Nothing seemed right. The sun grinned at me from its spot in the sky, and I could feel its heat on my back. I felt myself start to sweat. Just great, I always sweat. When I overheat, when I get nervous, pretty much anytime. It's so gross.

When I got to the top step, I heaved my suitcase onto the cobblestone and collapsed. "Who are you?" I heard, and sat up again instantly. I turned around to see who had spoken. I saw a boy, short but very muscular, with electric blue hair that stuck out at odd angles. His face was scrunched up and he stood with his hands on his hips staring at me, a menacing stance. "Hey you, carrot top!"

I touched my red hair gingerly; it had been a while since anyone had called me "carrot top." I frowned.

"Are you deaf?" the boy continued shouting obnoxiously. His voice didn't match his body, being so muscular you would expect a deeper voice that what he had. Instead it was somewhat girly; I figured it was because he was young. "I asked who you where! No one ignores a great assassin like Black Star!"

"Black Star, stop it!" It was then I noticed the girl, tall and curvy, with long black hair that was tied up. She stood behind the boy named Black Star and blushed, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry," she said, stepping towards me. "He's been cooped up in class all day and we just stepped out to get some fresh air. I'm afraid he's always like this, so don't take it personal." She held out her hand and helped me up. "I'm Tsubaki, that idiot over there is Black Star, and you are?"

"Melody," I said, letting go of her hand and picking up my suitcase.

"What a pretty name," she said, smiling blissfully. "Weapon or meister?"

"Weapon," I said as we started towards the skulls that marked the entrance. Black Star trailed behind us, scowling. I felt his eyeballs burning into the back of my head; I tried to shrug it off.

"Me too!" Tsubaki chirped. I felt bad for being a bit annoyed by her, she was being unusually nice to me and I appreciated that, but she was just too cheerful. And I don't do cheerful. "Black Star is my meister," she went on. "And my best friend."

I nodded solemnly, wishing she would stop talking so I could find my way to Lord Death's office. We walked through the skulls mouth into the building and she said, "So I'm guessing you're new?"

I nodded again. "Yep, and I need to find Lord Death's office."

"Oh, I can take you there if you'd like," she offered pleasantly.

"Great, thanks."

"So, where you from, Melody?" she asked, turning down a long corridor. The ceilings inside were high and the halls were lined with large doors I'm guessing led to classrooms.

"Death Weapon Sister Academy."

Tsubaki's expression looked puzzled. "I've never heard of it, where is it?"

"In the mountains outside of Death City."

"The mountains," she murmured. "Lord Death says those are dangerous."

"I've been in the mountains," Black Star piped up behind us, "And I never saw this 'Sister Academy.' You're fibbing, carrot top!"

"Am not." I shot him a death glare over my shoulder. "It's an academy only for weapon girls. It's run by Lady Death."

Tsubaki's eyes got wide. "Lord Death has a lady?"

"Ex-wife," I corrected. Behind us, Black Star let out a loud cackle.

"Another fib?" he said loudly. "If you're trying to impress us it isn't working so well."

"I'm not making it up," I said to Black Star. His eyes were narrowed, it looked like he was about to attack me. Then Tsubaki stopped.

"Here is Lord Death's office," she said. I was looking at a large red door at the very end of the hallway.

"Thanks," I said again, and I put my hand on the brass doorknob.

"See you around." Tsubaki turned and dragged Black Star back down the hallway, all the while he was going on about being the greatest assassin ever and surpassing God. I shook my head and turned back to the door, took a deep breath, opened it and stepped inside.

The room I found myself in was very long and looked like a blue sky scattered with clouds. There were multiple archways one after another leading to a platform where Lord Death stood in front of a mirror. As I shut the door, it echoed through the room. "Melody Marshal," he said without turning around. His voice was strange, not the kind of voice you'd expect a grim reaper to have. "About time. How is the Lady?"

"Um, good," I said, not sure how to answer a question about his ex.

He turned around. "I see you have your suitcase still. Why haven't you put it in your dungeon room yet?"

"Well um, I didn't know how to get there," I said.

"Why are you acting so shy, Melody?" Lord Death asked quizzically. "Lady Death tells me you are the farthest thing from shy. Don't be intimidated by my academy. After all, it is the greatest academy in the world."

I scrunched my nose up after hearing this statement, which sounded awfully braggy.

"Come now, Miss Marshal," he went on, "Here is your class schedule." He handed me a scrap of paper that seemed to appear out of thin air. "My Death Scythe will take your suitcase to your dungeon for you. Spirit!"

A man with bright red hair came running into the room. "Yes Lord Death?" he said, panting. "Do you have another mission for me and Stein? Please don't make me go anywhere with him again, please! He will rearrange my insides!" he was practically begging on his knees.

"Spirit, pull yourself together," Lord Death ordered. "Take this young woman's luggage to her dungeon, room 346."

"Yes sir." Spirit took my suitcase and nodded to me, then left promptly.

"Now, your first class would be Dr. Stein's. It's on the second floor, second door on the right after you step off the staircase. He is already expecting you so hurry along now. Good luck miss Marshal."

I nodded to him, and turned and walked back through the archways, clutching my schedule in my sweaty palm. I closed his office door behind me and walked down the corridor towards the stairway. I leapt up the stairs two at a time, then turned to my right, walked past the first door and came to the second. I heard voices from inside. Out of them I heard Black Star, loud and obnoxious. There was no missing his voice. I lingered there a moment more, wiped my sweaty hands on my shorts, and knocked on the door.

I heard wheels rolling, then the door opened, and a man was sitting there on a wheely chair in front of me. I was shocked at the sight of him, there was scars and stitches all over his body, but the most frightening thing was the large metal screw sticking out of his head around his gray hair. This had to be Dr. Stein.

"You must be the new student," he said loud enough for the whole class to hear. There was a collective sound of curiosity from the students. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Melody Marshal," I said.

"Well, Melody," Dr. Stein said, grinning lopsidedly. "Welcome to my class!" The class cheered in unison. Dr. Stein looked up towards the students and pointed to an empty seat. "You can go sit up there by Black Star."

I nearly died.