Hey! This is sooner than planned but I had the time and thought that anyone reading would appreciate. Don't expect another update for a while, I've still got some writer's block that I am working through, but once I do, then the real fun begins *creepy laughter*. But, still, sorry for its shortness, please forgive this humble writer her imperfections; there is only so much I can do.
Review: Unbenounced to Uni, Blackstar had decided to use his assassin skills to figure out more about the new kid. And this time he was determined not to screw it up by letting the big man he was become too noticeable. Besides, he had to find something to use to get back at her for that sun remark.
Uni's mind, however, was concentrating too much on getting back to the dojo and Shishi that she wouldn't have even noticed Blackstar had he been shouting. Her mind was also focused on the little girl that she hoped wasn't waiting for her at the dojo. Man she hoped she wasn't too late. Lord knows, Shishi has had enough disappointment and evil in her life already.
Shishi's parents had both had kishin egg souls and she had been on her way when the DWMA had intervened. Her parents had been easily dispatched and she had been put under house arrest until further notice. She had a big burly Russian bodyguard named Yakob that didn't protect her as much as protect others from her. She hadn't actually had a kishin egg soul but she had been close enough to make the DWMA wary.
It was really strange how Uni and Shishi had come to meet. Uni had been lost, running away from the dojo, running away from that something and had decided to ask directions of the little girl. For some reason the usually shy Uni hadn't felt shy towards this girl, only alikeness and comfort.
Uni and Shishi had become fast friends and it hadn't taken Shishi long to spill her story especially after Yakob came out of the kitchen and spotted Uni. Faced with a big burly Russian guy staring her down Uni immediately sized him up and couldn't hold back a smile at the two sandwiches in the guy's hand. Somebody had a soft spot.
In exchange for the explanation, Uni told her own story, only leaving out one detail. Shishi had seemed enthralled with Uni and after a suggestion from Yakob arrangements had been made that on one day every month Shishi was allowed off grounds, accompanied by Yakob of course, to the dojo to be taught by Uni.
So that was why Uni was running full speed towards the complex. She didn't dare think what would have happened if Shishi had already showed up. I mean it was barely into the afternoon and Shishi usually showed up at two, she should still have time, right? Right?
Uni unconsciously made her way to the dojo, her muscles instinctively remembering the route. She didn't stop as she burst through the door and sprinted into the back rooms where the instructors had a couch and lockers.
Muri was seated on the couch as Uni came in and skidded to halt. Not taking a moment to catch her breath, she asked, "Is Shishi here yet?"
Muri wore a shocked and surprised expression as she answered, "No she was scheduled for a three o'clock appointment and it is only two. I thought you were taking today off."
Uni rolled her eyes as she slowly explained, "Yes, but Shishi is coming in today." Muri knew of Uni and Shishi's relationship, everyone who worked at the dojo for longer than two months did, but Muri wasn't the brightest, even though she was the best knife thrower Uni knew.
Uni's dojo wasn't an ordinary one. It trained people in a variety of fighting techniques from martial arts to bodkins to katanas to throwing stars and almost every weapon in between. They weren't small either and more than one future weapon or meister had trained there.
Muri gave a small "oh" as Uni opened her locker and extracted her practice clothes. They consisted of a red tank top with short yellow shorts, black and white almost ballet-flat slippers, and black and white wrist/arm guards that had been designed specifically for her. The shoes and guards reminded her of Kid's drab wardrobe and put a small smirk on her face.
It wasn't long before the smirk vanished, turned into a scowl, as Uni was suddenly reminded of something. During this suddenness Uni was so shocked she released her hold on her training clothes and they clattered to the ground with a muted thud that would not have been able to have been heard over Uni's muttered, "Damn!"
Luckily no one was around to hear/see Uni's break in composure as Muri had left while Uni had been occupied with her locker.
Uni leaned against the row of lockers as she slowly sunk down to the ground with a groan, eventually sitting in the pile of her dropped clothing. She had just agreed to join the DWMA, how in the world was this going to work out with Shishi?
Letting her head fall back against the lockers with a bang/rattle, Uni let out another groan. How in the world was she going to explain this to Shishi?
Through a window looking into the lounge, Blackstar quietly watched his target, agitated that he didn't know what had distressed her so and therefore couldn't use it against her.
On the other side of town, in a hallway leading down to the basement of the DWMA, Soul watched his partner calmly, hands in his pockets. After bring her partner for so long it was obvious to him that something about the new girl they had met had upset her in some way.
"What's on your mind?" When Maka looked over, Soul was staring straight ahead with no indication that he had been watching her before asking the question.
"It's the new girl."
"What about her?"
"I don't know, there's something almost familiar about her and on top of that I'm still trying to figure out her soul."
"'Figure out her soul'?"
""There's something off about it." That statement brought a break in the conversation before Maka continued, saying, "And I can't help but feel that I know her from somewhere."
Soul, seeing how much this topic was disturbing his meister, decided to change the subject, "So do you think that Chrona's poetry is going to be as emo as always?"
A book appeared in Maka's hand as a tick mark appeared on her forehead, "MAKA CHOP!" Maka marched off, leaving her weapon bleeding on the floor.
Maka didn't looked back and missed the smile that graced Soul's face as he watched her storm off. 'Worth it.'
For three months Uni met with a tutor and studied to the best of her ability. When she wasn't found with her tutor, she was either found with a book in front her head, trying to work ahead or do the 'homework' the tutor assigned her, at the dojo trying to keep in shape and slightly working herself to exhaustion, or asleep on any surface she found herself able to pass out on.
The timing actually worked fabulously in her favor as she would be starting classes at about the same time that her new class would be getting back from their break. It was sort of a summer break for the students, though it didn't always come in summer. They still had to practice each day and go on missions but they didn't have classes for roughly a three month period.
In order to keep a constant supply of students in classes and learning, they would switch out which classes were on break or not. A three month period for each class before they would come back and a different class would go on break. Not every class would get a break each year but it was made as fair as it could be. Also in the instance of an emergency, like the one with the Kishin Ashura, the class on break would be called back into classes.
It actually worked out perfectly because when Uni had been called in to speak to Lord Death was also the time when the new recruits were starting their classes and when her new class was first going on break, allowing her to choose either and have a good chance with them. It was something she was sure not unknown to Lord Death.
It was one day in each of those first two months that Uni spent hours staying as far away from any mention of the DWMA as she could. It was the one day in the third month that Uni finally told Shishi. Only after the lesson did Uni spill, Shishi's hurt and tearful expression soon turned to one of anger as she sprinted out of the training room. Instead of going after her like he was supposed to, Yakob hung back for a few seconds. He went up to Uni, placed one of his large hands on her shoulder, looked her in the eye, and simply told her, "Protect."
It was as Uni watched him leave, trying to hold back her own tears, that she remembered that Yakob was employed by the DWMA.
So that is what led our heroine to be standing outside the DWMA on her first day of school, feeling nauseous. With her mind exhausted from learning so much in such a short time, frantic from leaving her foster parents and moving into the new apartment, and in turmoil over Shishi, she just wasn't able to work up the courage.
It was Maka who eventually noticed Uni's pale demeanor, reassured her, and drug her inside.
And that, dear readers, is only the beginning of our tale.
AN:
So, yes, those who have already read the story might not notice that this was lengthened but for those just joining us and reading it I truly did mean that I am going to have some fun, once I get through this spiteful transition, that is.
Please review.