Yuri groaned as the sunlight speared his eyelids. "Morning already?" he asked, not expecting an answer.
"Yeah, morning. It's a fairly common phenomenon. Happens every day I'm told." Death Emperor commented dryly. "If you're planning to get yourself a job, actually getting out of bed could be a good idea, but don't quote me or anything."
Yuri threw his arms over his head, unfortunately smacking himself on the head with the splint. "Ow," he said after much consideration. "Can I take the splint off yet?" he asked plaintively. Death Emperor snorted.
"Harmonixers heal quick, true. But I'm fairly confident that broken bones don't heal overnight. Try in about two weeks."
"Ohhhhhh," Yuri whined. "But I want it off now!"
Death Emperor shrugged.
"Not my problem."
"You're sympathetic." Yuri commented sarcastically. "'Spose I should get up through. Never know, might have a job calling." Death Emperor shook his head in disbelief, but wisely chose to say nothing. Yuri was not a morning person.
It didn't take much work to clean up the cave. There really wasn't a lot to do. Stack firewood, roll up blanket, and put claws on. Doesn't usually take a long time. However, Yuri decided to take some malicious pleasure in making Death Emperor wait for him. It's not like he could do anything more to him. After all, Death Emperor was currently residing in Yuri's skull, making it difficult to take revenge on him. Yuri sighed at the injustice of the world.
Eventually Yuri discovered the Pre-schoolers' Rule; No matter how long you take to do something, it will be done in the end and no temper tantrum will deny that. With Death Emperor becoming more impatient in the recesses of his brain, Yuri stepped out into the daylight. And sighed again.
"How do you propose I find a job? It's not like there are ads around that ask for 'Junior monster slayer required. Must be willing to work unusual hours and have an open mind,' unless I've missed something."
"I grant you that there aren't any ads for monster slaying. Normally what happens is that you wander around, asking at towns whether they know of any monster trouble and emphasise that you're willing to work at a cheaper rate then the usual run of the mill slayer. And don't mention your age, unless you want to get laughed at. Although that could be quite amusing for me."
Yuri rolled his eyes. "You can't honestly tell me that monster hunters just wander around looking for trouble! I mean really, what do you take me for?"
"An adolescent boy with no respect for his elders and believes that he knows everything."
"Ah, but I do." Yuri emphasised this with an 'Aha' gesture.
Death Emperor sniggered. Yuri pouted. "What, you don't believe me? That'd be right."
"Can we leave yet?"
Yuri sniggered, and then started walking in a general direction. He had no real destination in mind, just wanted to keep Death Emperor quiet. Not a particularly noble aim, but certainly a practical one.
"Do you have any idea of where you're going? The nearest town is west of here you ill-begotten wretch!" Death Emperor demanded. Yuri shrugged, but was saved from answering the question when a shout rang through the morning air.
"Monsters stole my baby!" a woman screamed, her shrill voice cutting the air like a knife. Yuri winced. "Wouldn't want to live with her. Imagine the fights." Death Emperor shuddered in sympathy.
"And in answer to your question, I believe I'm going to get her baby back. It's not like you stumble on jobs every day!" Yuri grinned wickedly.
Death Emperor sighed with exasperation. "Didn't I tell you that you do stumble over jobs? Don't you listen to anything I say?"
"Nope!" said Yuri happily, as he ran in the general direction of the screams.
The screams came from a woman in her early thirties, who was standing inside a house. A person less diplomatic might describe it as a rundown shack. In fact those were the exact words used by Death Emperor. Yuri ignored his complaints and spoke to the woman.
"Morning Ma'am. Was in the area and heard that you needed a monster hunter. Interested?" he asked politely, or at least as politely as he was capable of, which wasn't much. Death Emperor had had a bad influence on him in regard to social interaction. The woman looked at him with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"You're a monster hunter? You look about twelve. Go home to your mother and stop playing around. There are dangerous monsters around you know?" she finally said, her tone carrying her disbelief at Yuri's statement.
"I'm eighteen for Christ's sake! I'm well aware of the monsters, that's why I'm here. Do you want a monster hunter or not?" he demanded, getting annoyed.
"Nice lie there," Death Emperor commented quietly. Yuri ignored him and continued to glare at the woman. She stared back, and then relented.
"I want a monster hunter. Monsters took my daughter this morning. I'd hunt her down myself, but I can't fight." The woman added after a minute "I can pay, not a lot, but I can."
Yuri considered then said, "You've got yourself a deal. Name's Yuri Hyuga. Yourself?"
"Catherine," the woman replied. Yuri waited for the rest. When nothing was forthcoming, he asked, "Did the monsters leave anything behind?"
Catherine shook her head. "Scales, blood, anything at all?" he added. She shook her head again, becoming more annoyed at him. Realising this, he threw his hands into the air in the universal gesture for surrender.
"Sorry Ma'am. It's just unusual to find that the monsters have left absolutely nothing at all."
"And you would know this how?" Death Emperor asked.
"I'll take a look around, see if there are any tracks or anything. I doubt that they would know to cover their tracks. After all, they are monsters, right?" Yuri commented. He then turned and walked out of the door. Once outside, he said aloud, "Would you mind not saying anything while I'm talking to someone? It's distracting!"
"Sorry," Death Emperor said, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "If you're interested, the monsters headed into the north and are currently about five kilometres away. If you run, you might save the kid."
"How do you know all that?" Yuri asked, curious. Not waiting for a reply, which was a good thing seeing as though Death Emperor wasn't about to give him one, Yuri headed off in a northerly direction.
After about ten minutes of running, Yuri panted "Don't you find it odd that there are no monsters here? None at all? What are the chances of that?" Death Emperor was silent for a moment.
"I don't like it. Knowing our luck, they're either all waiting in ambush, or were all defeated by the monsters we're tracking. Neither of which is good for us." Death Emperor's tone was tinged with a bit of fear.
Yuri stopped suddenly. "You're scared!" he said in disbelief.
"Hardly. Merely concerned for my continued existence."
"You're dead. Remember?"
"I need a Hyuga. Remember. You're the last, so if you die, so do I."
"But don't you find this exciting?"
"No. Stupid, yes. Exciting, no." Death Emperor paused, and then snapped, "Make up your mind! Either go back to that woman, or continue on! Don't stand in the middle of the forest! What are you, stupid?"
"No, distracted." Yuri continued running.
Finally they arrived at a clearing. It appeared as though the monsters had congregated there. Yuri asked Death Emperor "Any monsters in hiding?"
"No," said Death Emperor, puzzled. "They're it."
"Guess I just grab the kid and run, huh?"
Death Emperor blurted, "Are you kidding? They'll track you down, you stupid boy. Try using your brain for once. You're going to have to kill them all first."
Yuri's eyes widened. "I can't kill them all! I'm only fourteen!"
"I'll help. I remember once that I fused with you partially, took control of your right arm. I might be able to take control of everything but your left arm, and fight for you."
Yuri was silent for a minute, and then said, "Do it."
It was an… interesting experience being only partially fused. Yuri's instincts screamed at him to either complete the fusion, or reverse it. It took all of his concentration to maintain the equilibrium. With he was being occupied, Death Emperor started to fight the monsters.
The two weaker monsters were defeated in minutes; their only talent was the ability to heal the central monster. It was this central monster that disturbed Death Emperor. Though not obviously stronger then the others, its ability to withstand Death Emperor's attacks frightened him. He continued on, eventually weakening it. However, as he did that, the monster attacked Death Emperor's left arm. Yuri screamed and reversed the fusion. He reverted in time to see the monster lunge for him. In desperation, Yuri threw his left set of claws at the monster. Luck must have been on his side that day, as they sunk into the monster's throat, slicing the jugular and killing the monster.
Yuri fell to his knees. "I killed them all. Slaughtered them like animals."
"Oh stop with the self-pity! They were animals, remember. Get over it! And while you're at it, get the kid too."
Yuri looked up. "True." He ripped the claws from his right hand, removed the other set from the monster's throat, and tucked them into their pouch. He then looked at the child.
"How am I supposed to carry you and still be able to fight?"
"Why did I get stuck with the village idiot? Make a sling from your blanket and put the child in that. That should leave your arms free." Rather then dignify this with a comment, Yuri pulled the blanket from his backpack and tore a thick swath from it. He then tied it in a loop, hung the loop around his neck and placed the baby into the base. Pulling his claws free from the pouch was an experience in itself. Yuri had never been so scared about dropping anything in his life.
With the claws finally on, Yuri started to jog back to the shack. Thankfully, no monsters attacked him. He really didn't want to try to fight while terrified that every movement would dislodge the baby. When he arrived at the shack, he was greeted with a knife held against his throat.
"Ah, lady? You really don't want to do that," Yuri said cautiously. The knife fell away from his throat and he resumed breathing.
"My baby? Where's my baby?" Catherine asked desperately. Yuri grinned wryly. "She's in the sling."
After checking that her baby was all right, Catherine turned back to Yuri. "What can I do to thank you?" she asked.
"Payment would be nice. Oh, and a new blanket. I wrecked my old one rescuing your kid." Yuri said dryly. Catherine nodded and walked over to a wicker basket, still holding onto her child. She pulled out a fluffy pink blanket and handed it to Yuri, who accepted it. Death Emperor shuddered. He didn't like pink. Especially pink and fluffy. Yuri also accepted a small pouch of coins from Catherine. He nodded his farewell and left.
Outside the shack, Yuri counted the coins.
"You rescued her child and all she gives you is 700G? That is way past cheap!" Death Emperor grumbled.
"Oh shut up! She's poor, isn't that obvious? And we got a blanket!" Yuri replied.
"Don't remind me of the blanket. At least we got some money from that battle."
"True," Yuri said.
"Say that word again, and I will be forced to remove your vocal cords." Death Emperor snarled, irritated beyond measure.
"You wouldn't do that," Yuri said. The silence from Death Emperor spoke volumes.
"Fine, I won't. Shall we go?" The two walked away from the shack, into the morning.
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Authors Note: Yuri's first mission!!! That was fun! In case you're wondering, there are two references to modern media in this chapter. The first is "Monsters stole my baby!" It should be dingos instead of monsters, and it is a really sick cultural joke. The second is when Yuri does the 'I slaughtered them like animals.' I had to watch Attack of the Clones for an English assignment, and that was the second funniest scene in the whole film. I mean really, he acts like a psychopath, and all Amidala says is "I love you anyway". My favourite scene, in case you're wondering, is when Shmi dies. Now that was lame acting.
I was thinking of making this story into a series, and telling the stories of all the characters. Should I do it? Let me know!