CHAPTER 2:
TEENAGE SHOUTY NINJA EGOTIST
Five years later…
Demon Cinder Castle: a sinister, broken silhouette of a structure, clawing at the cloudy sky, where the sun scowled down from above. The ruins of a castle, with a tilted statue of a lizard's face poking out its tongue above the door. A man in a suit, smoking a cigar, and followed by a number of goons in similar suits, was approaching it. They halted just as they were about to ascend the stairs, for sitting on them, a sheathed sword at the ready, was a young man with long hair.
"What brings Don Al Capone, king of the underworld, here?" the young man asked. "Choose your answer with care: your life depends on it."
Capone snorted. "Are you threatening me, wise guy? Ice him," he said to his minions.
"I think that's your answer, Mifune," came an amused voice from behind them. They whirled to find a pair of kids, in their early teens. Both were scrawny and slender. One was androgynous, with pink hair, pale blue eyes, and dressed in what could have been a black dress, or a robe. Her eyes shifted around anxiously. The other was a dark-haired boy with green eyes framed by glasses. He had a rather sardonic smirk that seemed too old for his face. "Can we take this lot?"
Mifune, the young man with the sword, smiled a thin little smile. "All yours. They're all Kishin Eggs anyway. Should be good enough for your total, Harry."
"Plus, Ragnarok's been getting antsy. Wanted to try out our new combos," the dark-haired boy said. He then transformed into a sword with a wavy blade, one which the pink-haired teen caught in her right hand. Black liquid burst out of the back of that teen, before reforming into a pitch-black blade with lips on the blade.
"A Weapons Meister?!" Capone demanded. "Are you with the DWMA, trying to poach the Witch?"
The pink-haired teen looked at him. "I don't know how to deal with people like you. Well, except for one way. Harry, Ragnarok…Dual Resonance."
The black sword began to scream, a hideous, hateful thing, matched by the pink-haired teen, who screamed in both anguish and to psych herself up. Had Capone and his men been capable of seeing souls, they would have seen the most extraordinary sight. And if they were acquainted with such things, they would have thought it utterly impossible.
But they didn't. Instead, they could only gape when the pink-haired teen said quietly, "Swords Dance: Dancing Mad." And then, she was suddenly amongst them like a whirling dervish, her swords slicing through them like hot knives through butter. Soon, Capone's men were dead, and the man himself was pissing himself in fear.
The black sword dissipated, though a strange, muscled thing sprouted from the teen's shoulders. "Okay, Crona and Harry! Big finale! Do me proud!"
Crona, the pink-haired teen, gave a very slight smile, before she hefted the wavy-bladed sword, and dashed forward. "Ultimate Weapon Technique: The Soul Reaver!" she yelled.
Capone's scream died instantly, along with the man himself, when the sword passed through him. His body exploded into shards of shadow, his purulent soul briefly caught on the blade before being absorbed into it like water into a sponge. Soon afterwards, Harry transformed back to normal, working his neck to get the cricks out of it. "Well, that was easy. And productive. Thanks for letting me have the finale, Ragnarok."
"Meh, no biggie, I had the last one."
"Don't you mean the last six or seven?" Harry asked the demon sword wryly. "I never get a chance to use the Soul Reaver technique lately, what with you pigging out."
"Hey, don't give me any lip, squirt!" Ragnarok retorted. "I've got a big appetite, and since you wimps won't let me chow down on any old soul…"
"Please, stop fighting!" Crona protested. "I don't know how to deal with that!"
"I do. You two, shut up," Mifune said. Harry instantly shut up. He actually respected the stoic bodyguard. Whereas Ragnarok retreated back into Crona, but not before blowing a raspberry. "Someone else has tripped the perimeter wards Angela set up. I think it may be a Meister and their Weapon. It seems that the DWMA have taken notice of Angela."
"She's still off delivering that potion?" Harry asked.
"Yes. But it may be that I am a Strong Soul. I think Lord Death has sent some idiot to have me teach him a lesson. I wish Death wouldn't do so. I am a bodyguard, not a teacher. I don't think Angela would count as a Witch Death would want dead."
"So what do we do?" Crona asked.
"Ambush. I will do it. You only intervene if necessary."
They had only joined up with Mifune about a fortnight ago. They had travelled for a long time, a pair of kids alone in the world (save for the dubious company of Ragnarok, anyway). The longest they spent in any one place was a couple of years in Brooklyn, teaming up with the Thompson Sisters, a pair of thieves and muggers who were also Weapons themselves. Not the nicest of people, but the Thompsons had helped them out, helped them survive, before Harry and Crona decided to move on.
They decided that they were going to become a Weapon and Meister pair, but independent of the DWMA. Harry was, after all, a Sorcerer, a male Witch. He might end up being a target of the DWMA. They chose to follow a similar path, though, in order to avoid attention, not to mention the morality of eating any souls other than Kishin Eggs. It was also, in a way, penance for killing Medusa: as much as she had been quite evil to Crona, it had also been their first kill, done in panic, and while unprepared for the enormity of such an act.
They came to this ruined castle to seek shelter, only to be challenged by Mifune, who had recognised that they were a Meister and a Weapon. It took some persuading for him to believe that they weren't here for his life, or for that of Angela Leon. In fact, it didn't take long for the young Witch to adopt Harry and Crona as her big brother and big sister, respectively. Mifune offered to help with their sword-fighting skills, which they accepted. And they sometimes helped Mifune deal with anyone who wanted to attack Angela.
Soon, the intruders appeared. One was a boy with spiky blue hair and an arrogant, energetic demeanour. The other was a slightly older girl, with dark hair and a rather demure demeanour. Surprising, given that both were dressed in ninja clothing.
"What's with this place?" the boy asked, looking around.
Mifune suddenly leapt down, slashing at the boy. It was more of a warning ambush, meant to warn the boy off. "It's been a busy day," he muttered.
"Hey, you must be the bodyguard I heard of," the boy said. "Didja kill all these bozos?"
"Not this lot," Mifune said. "These weaklings perished to…colleagues of mine. Are you here for the Witch's power?"
The ninja boy grinned cheerfully. "Yep! And your soul too!" As Mifune glared, the ninja boy said to his comrade, "Tsubaki!"
"Yes, Black Star," the girl said, changing into a pair of sickles, chained together.
"As I thought, a Weapon Meister. You've come for Angela's soul," Mifune said.
"And you're in so much awe of facing me, it puts things into perspective, huh? Don't worry, I used to get shocked by my awesomeness whenever I looked into a mirror."
Harry whispered to Crona, as they watched from hiding amongst the rubble, "Is it me, or does he have a big ego?"
Crona chuckled softly. Meanwhile, Mifune's eyes narrowed. "You're dead."
Black Star sneered. "Gonna hafta make a big sword from a big Buddha statue to even have a chance!" He then lashed out with one of the sickles, wrapping it around Mifune's sword, and yanking it from his grasp. Even as Black Star taunted the swordsman, Mifune was already moving, snatching a sword from where it had been embedded in a nearby column from a previous attempt on Angela's life, only to slam it down on Black Star's chain scythe.
"Your reflexes are good, but if this had been a normal weapon, you'd be dead," Mifune said. He then plucked another sword, left over from the last attempt, from the ground, and began swiping at the boy.
Harry knew that Mifune was actually taking it easy on Black Star. He would have been dead long ago, otherwise. Black Star yelped as he backed into a column, and Mifune flung a sword into it, above his head.
"Get out of here, brat," Mifune said. "I don't like killing kids."
This seemed to only inflame the anger of Black Star. "You bastard! Is it because I'm small? I'm in the big time, you moron! Tsubaki, Shuriken Mode!"
That's interesting, Harry thought, as the girl changed from a pair of scythes chained together, into a massive five-pointed shuriken. She can shift between different weapons.
"I'm gonna cut you into pieces, and then who'll be small?!" He hurled the shuriken. Mifune leapt expertly over it, and jammed his sword into the hole in the middle, halting Tusbaki. However, Black Star then yelled, "Smoke bomb!" And soon, Mifune and Black Star were obscured by a blast of smoke, only for Black Star to laugh as he lunged, "YOUR SOUL IS MINE!"
Mifune merely smashed him away with the back of his sword, sending him sprawling, and causing Tsubaki to reappear, rushing over to Black Star in concern. Black Star snarled, "You're cocky. Only big shots like yours truly hit with the back of a sword."
"Empty vessels make the most noise. You're no big shot. You're small fry. You ignore your partner's concern and advice, and it is only thanks to her that you've done as well as you have had."
"That's not true at all!" Tsubaki yelled. "He's trying his best! He's just a bit off."
Meanwhile, Black Star was scowling. "What the hell is your game, Mifune?"
"I'm protecting Angela. That's all."
"No, it isn't!" The boy snarled. "You're calling me small fry just to make yourself seem big! To make yourself the star! Well, I'm Black Star, the lead of this show, and I don't take kindly to upstaging upstarts!"
Harry was chilled by the rage in the boy's eyes. The boy wanted Mifune dead now, more than he did before. It had been a game before, but now, as he commanded Tsubaki to change into a ninja sword, he was taking this very seriously.
He went into a lecture mode, discussing the rules of the Way of Assassination. Suddenly, Harry could see Black Star rushing up behind Mifune, with the one in front changing into Tusbaki, who vanished. "Behind you!" Harry screamed.
Mifune leapt into the air just in time to avoid Black Star charging into him. But then, Black Star glared around. "Okay, where's the audience who's refusing to cheer on the hero?!"
"That's blown our cover," Harry muttered. "Come on, Crona. Let's show him."
"O-Okay," Crona stuttered.
The pair of them walked out to the astonishment of Black Star. "Hey," Harry said. "Look, this is pretty awkward, but…Mifune's our friend. Plus, the Witch you're after is pretty young. I mean, in fishing, you don't keep the little fish, do you?"
"Who the hell are you?" Black Star demanded.
"I'm Harry. This is Crona. You've met Mifune. Look, Lord Death probably sent you here as a lesson. I'm guessing you need remedial classes. I mean, you've got ability, Mifune's comments notwithstanding, but, well, Crona and I don't have many friends. We take issue when you try to kill them."
"Shut up! He's a bodyguard to a Witch!" Black Star said.
"So are we. Crona, you ready?"
"Yeah…"
Harry transformed. Speaking to Crona, he said, "Let's not kill him. Just give him a bit of a painful spanking."
"STOP!" And just before the fight could get any uglier, Angela Leon reappeared, a young Witch, little older than a toddler, appeared. Brown haired, red-eyed, and with a quirky hat looking like a chameleon poking its tongue out. "Leave Mifune and my brother and sister alone! They protect me because my magic isn't strong yet!"
Black Star honestly looked shocked that Angela was a child, despite Harry saying that earlier. Then again, he was either not listening, or didn't believe Harry. Eventually, as Angela brandished her broom, he said, "Let's go, Tsubaki. Not worth my time. Besides, I don't like killing kids."
As they passed by Harry and Crona, with Harry transforming back, Tsubaki frowned. "Are you two with the DWMA? I've never seen you two before."
"We're not with the Academy. Don't worry, we don't intend to do anything to anger Lord Death. Just tell him not to send anyone after Angela or Mifune again."
"Will do! The magnificent Black Star always has the ear of the Reaper!" Black Star said with a grin. "By the way, what are your names?"
"Harry Potter. And this is Crona."
"Maybe we'll see you again some time," Tsubaki said, a little embarrassed. "Preferably under better circumstances." The two of them then made off.
Mifune joined Harry and Crona. "That was reckless, letting them know where you were. But thanks for warning me. That kid's arrogant, but he's got surprising skill. He just needs to get more serious."
"They're just big bullies!" Angela said, pouting.
"Do you think Lord Death will stop targeting Angela?" Harry asked.
"If Black Star reports it right, he will stop doing so for the time being. He may keep an eye on her. As long as that is all, then I care not. I intend to keep her safe." He looked at them. "But you've now drawn Death's attention to yourselves. You gave your names, too. The Academy may not take kindly to an independent Meister and Weapon. I will be able to protect Angela alone. You have my deepest gratitude, though. Come and visit."
The next day, Harry and Crona departed, knowing that they had made at least two firm friends. But it was true: by giving their names to a Weapon and Meister duo from the DWMA, they may just have painted a big target on their backs.
As it would turn out, a few weeks later, they would have an encounter with another duo from the DWMA, and it was an encounter that would change their lives…
CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:
Mifune versus Black Star, and Harry, Crona, and Ragnarok show off their partnership. In case you're wondering why Harry's so chipper, well, it's a mask to hide that he's a more than a bit like Crona (only without the depressing poetry). Crona and Ragnarok, conversely, have improved: Ragnarok's no longer that much of a bully, and Crona is less perpetually depressed. She does still have a habit of not knowing how to deal with situations, though.
Dual Resonance is basically a combination of Soul Resonance and Scream Resonance. Only about two years prior to this chapter did they perfect it, which means that Crona can use Harry and Ragnarok in tandem.
I detest Black Star. He's an annoying little POS. He's basically Naruto with no charm or endearing qualities whatsoever.
Next chapter will be Harry and Crona meeting Maka and Soul, in a different version of the events in Florence.