Blood-Bound

by kawaii-witch181

A/N: Here we go! The official start of the story! *o* I felt so restless and hyper when writing this. And Naniwa no Soran Bushi wasn't helping. XD You should listen to it. The song is so hyper and crazy.


Chapter VII

Frustrations of Life

Poof!

Sixteen year old Sakuno Ryuzaki coughed repeatedly, a hand attempting to clear out the suffocating burnt odor evading her breathing space. "I think I'd overdone it…" Her statement sounded muffled.

On the cemented table in front of her laid the scattered remains of her experiment. Broken glasses, spilled liquid, and lots and lots of soot. The girl groaned. Clearing this up would be tons of work.

"I really should follow the book's instructions…" She mused, wiping her darkened hand on her apron. She glanced at the innocent clock on the wall. It clearly read an hour before midnight. The time was way, way, past her sleeping time. Not to mention there's school tomorrow, too. Life could be such a sucker sometimes.

"Note to self, originality is a no-no in potion-ma—no, potion-experimenting." Sakuno mumbled as she fought back a yawn. "I think I'm officially hopeless with potion-making…Just good luck to me." She finally let out a yawn.

...

Sakuno Ryuzaki groaned. Her biological clock already told her it was morning. Morning meant waking up…and school. She needed to rest. That much she knew. However, she couldn't just ditch school. Tomo-chan would be worried. So, she got up with the slightest bit of her morning stumbles and proceeded to do her hygiene. It was around fifteen minutes later when she reached downstairs. This sixteen year old girl did her routine, making breakfast and lunch bento simultaneously.

Sakuno hummed, her nerves finally relaxing. But upon casting one look at the clock, her humming immediately ceased. She hurriedly removed her apron, dumping it on a nearby chair. She was running late!

The auburn haired girl swiftly poured her hot chocolate on a paper cup, grabbed the already prepared buttered toast and the brown leathered school bag. She dashed out of the door…immediately recoiling back to flash a smile at her grandmother's memorial photo.

"Time to go, 'baa-chan. See you later!" She smiled widely before mouthing the toast and finally dashing out of her home in her complete school uniform.

"Mou! I'm running late again!" Sakuno ran, having difficulty with what she held. Amidst of all the running, her clumsiness switched on. Her usual stumble; causing her hot drink to meet the hard ground. "Such a waste," she said wistfully but soon shrugged it off.

She was running late! She reminded herself.

The gates of Seishun High eventually greeted her line of vision. It was almost close to closing. The auburn haired girl increased her speed as much as she could. She reached the gates just in time.

"G'morning, Ms. Ryuzaki. It's good you're not late today." The disciplinary officer said as a greeting.

"Y-Yes. Thank goodness." Sakuno said between pants. "And, good morning to you too."

The officer nodded, gesturing an arm to the school building. "Hurry, or else you'll be late for your first period."

Sakuno chewed the last piece of her toast. It was already cold and was almost tasteless, too. "Y-Yes, sir."

She really ought to be on time. She thought to herself. Her energy was being wasted.

...

"G-Good morning, s-sensei." Sakuno greeted, a hand resting on the opened door. The teacher gave her a nod in acknowledgement. She silently walked to her seat.

"Woke up late?" greeted her long time best friend, Tomoka Osakada.

The auburn haired girl lightly shook her head, taking her designated seat beside her best friend. "Didn't see the time. I made lunch for the two of us."

Tomoka smiled. "You shouldn't have. But thank you."

Sakuno flashed a smile, too. "Don't mention it,"

It was all she could do; an act of gratitude for all the times her best friend stuck with her.

...

Lunch Break

Two girls sat under a large cherry tree, just behind one of the school buildings. They idly chatted while eating their lunch. The leaves of the tree swiveled with the wind.

"How's your witch practice, Sakuno?" Tomoka asked out of the blue, setting down her chopsticks for a while.

"Shhhhh, Tomo-chan!" Sakuno hushed sharply. "It's a secret, remember?" She let out a sigh. "Never mind…" Really, sometimes, she was regretting she'd let Tomoka know the secret of their family. Her best friend could be such a brutal of a loud-mouth.

"So, how is it?" The twin-pigtailed girl pressed.

"I'm trying to be better." Sakuno replied, her mind drifting back to what happened last night. "I'm studying the books. I think it's better to start with the basics."

Tomoka gave her a look. "That's boring."

The auburn haired girl glared.

Her best friend succumbed to eye rolling. "Whatever,"

"Anyway, I'm thinking what specific ability to harness… Grandma's known for her transforming abilities. I want to develop mine, too…" Sakuno said thoughtfully, munching on her side dishes.

"Oh, that will be a problem." Tomoka said. "I don't know what abilities you're talking about. I can't suggest."

"Well, there's the potion ability…" Sakuno paused and noted mentally not to be a potion maker. "…a conjurer, a transformer, weatherist…and so on. There are too many. I don't even know which I have."

Tomoka's head shot up. "Huh? Have? I thought witches are free to choose."

"No, Tomo-chan. It's already decided when one is born. A birth right. At least, based from what I'd read." Sakuno said.

"That sucks. How would you determine yours, then?"

"Almost at that part," the auburn haired girl said sheepishly. "I fell asleep, though."

Tomoka's eyes narrowed. "You're not getting much sleep, are you?"

The bell rang.

"Tomo-chan, it's time! Hurry up or we'll be late." Sakuno said.

Her best friend sighed. "Your grandma wouldn't be happy. Stop ruining your health, Sakuno."

"Don't worry, Tomo-chan." The auburn haired girl assured. "I'm perfectly fine."

...

At the sound of the last bell, Sakuno hurriedly gathered her things together.

Tomoka raised an eyebrow at her. "Why are you such in a hurry?"

"I have tons to read, Tomo-chan." And we have lots of homework, too. Sakuno answered, voice half-complaining. "I want to finish up as soon as possible."

"I really wonder how you can simultaneously do important stuffs, studying, and your witch activities." Her best friend said with a whine. "Gosh, I envy you sometimes, Sakuno."

The auburn haired girl chuckled. "Gotta go now, Tomo-chan! See you tomorrow!" She said, dashing out of the door.

"Be sure to get enough sleep!" The pigtailed girl added but Sakuno was already out of sight. She let out a huff. Sakuno could be one heck of a hard worker sometimes. Even to the brink of getting sick. She dropped her head at the table. "I'll surely surprise visit her…"

"Oi, Osakada! You're in duty!" Her classmate called in irritation.

"Shut up, Horio! I knew better!" Tomoka yelled back, finally standing up. Fine, she'll worry about Sakuno later.

Several minutes later, Sakuno already reached her home. Her footing managed to clear out her well-known clumsiness, resulting to her being back without any new scratches. She fumbled with her keys, hands slightly trembling because of the residue of adrenaline. Sakuno got all paranoid when walking home alone by herself, especially without Tomoka. It was because of the abnormal minute amount of people parading down the streets. Considering their neighborhood, it couldn't be denied that the people weren't that much active with socializing and going out. That was why Sakuno hated being alone outside. It gave her the creeps…like some monster or serial killer would just pop out of nowhere.

She quietly closed the door…and locked it.

Well, better be safe than sorry, right?

She couldn't help glancing at the clock. Still early in the afternoon. Sakuno decided to spend her free time finishing up the last pages of that ancient witchcraft book owned by her late grandma. Then, she would move on to the next one… School works could wait.

Her face suddenly brightened up. "Tomorrow's a weekend! Finally!" She hummed while ascending up the stairs. When she reached her room, she plopped down her bed, deciding to change clothes later. Her scheduled book was lying just above her head. She reached for it.

"Let's see… Page 104…"

...

It was past seven in the evening when sixteen year old Sakuno Ryuzaki decided to lay down her book and finally, finally, succumbed to the eating desire rebelling in her stomach. She did a simple dinner for herself and proceeded to satisfy her hunger. Her thoughts drifted back to what she had read.

There's a way to determine your specialty… Your birth right abilities… That is through Determining.

She'd definitely try that.

"After I eat, of course." She mumbled to herself.

Before she knew it, her plate had gone empty. She must have been too hungry not to notice. Sakuno, being the independent girl she was, washed the dishes afterwards. When all was clean and shiny—she jokingly told herself she was a neat freak—she took out one of the small bowls and half filled it with faucet water. Sakuno plopped down the chair, propped her chin under two joined hands, and stared at the bowl silently resting on the dining table.

"How would I recite an incantation I don't even know how to understand…?" The auburn haired girl let out a sigh. She followed the instructions anyway.

First of all, keep in mind that ordinary human water won't do. If you still insist on using human water, you have to make the water enchanted, magical. Incantations will do perfectly fine, but choose the right incantations, dear witch. Below is an example…

A flashback of phantasmagorical writing invaded her mind. Okay, next.

Immerse both your left pinky and ring finger in the water. Make the two touch each other.

Sakuno dipped the mentioned two fingers. At first, nothing happened, but then words she couldn't understand flowed out of her mouth, making the water shimmer and appear magical. Sakuno's lips slightly parted. Now, she was convinced she was really a pure blooded witch.

Blood is needed. A smear or even a drop is enough.

The auburn haired girl reached for a nearby butter knife. Using it, she narrowly tore the skin between her thumb and index finger, resulting to a small wound that drew a single drop of blood. The red plump instantly sunk under the weight of the enchanted liquid…then jump right back above the water. It repeated the aforementioned movements before coloring the water crimson.

Sakuno proceeded to stood up, her chair screeching back in the process. She ran to her room, excited to know what her ability was. Reaching her fluffy bed, she picked up the book and began reading.

What Wizard/Witch Type Are You?

Only read if Determining was already tried.

Crenroiles /cer-noyls/ or the Conjurers. The result of Determining is solid rounded blood above, inside, or below the water. Crenroiles comprise the members of the Magical Society who can create materials out of nothing. Hence, 'conjure'.

Restrictions: Witches or Wizards of this type cannot conjure living organisms, only nonliving. Objects conjured should be already seen or embedded in the memory; e.g. A witch or wizard cannot conjure pixie dust if they haven't seen one.

Eathers /eya-ters/ or the Converters. You are an Eather if the outcome of the Determining is pure water; meaning, the blood transformed into water. The liquid didn't color red or anything. After the blood dropped in the water, there are no physical changes. Eathers constitute the Magical Society who can dual task if so desired, transform and convert things into another.

Restrictions: Witches or Wizards of this type can only transform into another living being if they'd already seen it. Converting is only applicable to material objects.

Yurypteians /yo-rey-syans/ or the Nature-Glued Types. Determining result includes visible sparks. The water crackled with energy, outside and inside the bowl. If they are no visible sparks, you can still feel the sudden humidity at the premises of the bowl. Yurypteians comprise the members of the Magical Society who can do magic concerning Mother Nature.

Restrictions: Limit magic usage. Too much magic may disrupt the balance of Nature.

Ghyores /ga-yors/ or the Life-Glued Types. The result of Determining is living movements of blood; e.g. the blood jumped in a way or another. You are a Ghyore if later on, the water colored crimson.

Ghyores are the rarest types in the Magical Society; only comprising more or less seven percent per century. Abilities include two: Necromancy and Death-Scythe. Necromancy or the Life-Giving (or in layman's term, Reviving) Ability, as the name suggests, is the ability of bringing back a lost life force. Death-Scythe, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Necromancy, able to grant instant Death to someone if the wizard or witch ever desires it. Only two were reported possessing the Death-Scythe ability, both deceased.

There's only little information found on Ghyores, so this type cannot be entirely elaborated.

Restrictions: Yet to be determined.

Sakuno sighed after reading the book. Of all the types, she got the most difficult one? WHY?! She couldn't believe this. It was already tough getting successful with her self-taught flying lessons due to her infinite clumsiness…and now, this. How could she bloody harness this birth right of hers?

Her body fell forward into her feathery duvet.

"I didn't know being a witch can be so hard. I'm not even done with the basics…and there's another one piling up." She mumbled tiredly against the fabric. "I wish Grandma's here…"

It would have been better if ignorance could be a solution. However, it simply couldn't.

Feigning ignorance is not advisable. Your witch ability will find a life of its own. The pressure is too sudden for the body to handle. It would grow and grow, until your fragile body cannot suppress it anymore. The growing strength of the ability might eat you, break you. Just one advice, do harness your ability…

Just as the book had said, nonchalance was a no-no.

"How will I even return someone's life force?" She let out a groan for the second time.


A/N: Just a reminder, Sumire is one year dead.

Additional Data: Magical creatures of different kinds make up the Magical Society. Human-like creatures are known as Witches (ladies) and Wizards (gentlemen). The other members are the different types of magical animals and magical plants.

Pozrah, dearest, yes, that twist. HAHAHA. Be prepared for other twists in the future. I think there will be lots for this fic. *giggles* THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE REVIEW. OMG. YOU MADE MY BITCHY FIRST DAY BETTER. *hearts* Yep, I read your review after six minutes of uploading the sixth chapter. My second day was totally awesome! XD I found six block-mates who love anime (they said it in an introduction)—but I was the first one to say I have an obsession in anime….but, man, they said, 'love'. XD

asuna11: "what will happen when Ryoma finally see her? How can she remember him? Is this before the anime?" As to answer the first and second question, only I know. HAHAHA. I'm so sorry but I cannot tell you without any spoilers. XD As for the last question, Blood-Bound is not residing at the Universe of the Anime. Hence, the AU at the synopsis. We're in a different Universe, sweetie. So the first six chapters aren't really before the anime. *winks* Good to hear there's a song that can complement with the atmosphere of the last chapter. Hehe.

If there are questions, feel free to ask. Ignore the plot holes (if there are any). XD Read & Review, please.