All righty, here I am again. After almost two months, I finally got the next chapter done. For whoever's waiting for it. If anyone is. Anyway, good news is, school's out for the summer, so I'll be able to get a lot more writing in these next few months. Hopefully.
Note: This chapter will be from Jirai Urameshi's perspective (the Overseer of the Academy. Hope I can pull this off...)
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. I'm not sure if I need to keep saying this, but it never hurts to be careful, right?
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Soldiers of Spirit: The Tensaari Saga
Chapter 4-Overseer
"Ma'am?"
Not even bothering to look up from studying a report on recent demon escapees, I cleared my throat softly. "Yes, Dalwer?"
Crossing the room, my secretary, a short, nearly entirely bald pale man studied my desk, attempting to find a place to set the manila folder he was carrying amongst the clutter. "I have the profiles you asked for."
"Ah. Excellent," I said, taking the folder and handing him the escapee report. As he shuffled out to file it, I studied the documents inside the folder. Taking out the first one, which had a picture of a teenage boy with dark black hair and startlingly blue eyes, I began to read.
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Name: Izuma Merrakai
Age: 17
Birth Date: May13, 2083
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 132 lbs.
Blood Type: A-
Background: Raised by father and mother until both were killed in a car crash in 2085. He and his brother Hodame Merrakai moved to a much smaller apartment on the far side of the city, scraping a living by Hodame working long hours at a nightclub. Hodame was severely wounded and hospitalized while driving home from work during a heavy storm. Izuma was reported to refuse social workers who offered to place him in an orphanage, and instead attempted to get a job on his own. Hodame instead insisted he go through school and get an education, and sent Izuma off to begin in second grade. Being antisocial and resentful, as well as behind others in his class, Izuma did not make many friends in school, and was instead often reprimanded for bad behavior. Often rebelled against teachers and faculty of schools, but was also known to protect weaker students from bullies and others who would pick on them. He was suspended from school a total of 9 times for participating in various fights, but worked determinedly, often finding encouragement from his brother, whom he visited often in the hospital. Still known to rebel at school from time to time, but incidents have lessened since he began to allow friendships to enter his life.
First known act with Spirit energy: Healing his brother Hodame of a life- threatening seizure, as well as every one of his wounds from the car accident mentioned earlier.
Estimated Spirit energy class: E
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Setting aside Merrakai's profile, she picked up the other. This one pictured a boy with silver hair and piercing hazel eyes flecked with light brown or gold. ----------------------
Name: Tomogata Ryu
Age: 15
Birth Date: December 31, 2085
Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
Height: 5'5''
Weight: 101 lbs
Blood Type: O
Background: Born in Okinawa, Tomogata's family moved from there only two months after his birth. As Tomogata grew, his family moved a total of 17 times throughout the years for unknown reasons, only moving to Tokyo near the end of last year. Because of the constant changes in his life, Tomogata found it difficult to make any friends that he could keep growing up. As such, he became quiet and reclusive, often not speaking until spoken to. He excelled at his studies in school, but failed to partake in any group activities or games. Never known to cause trouble, Tomogata was always quietly respectful of his teachers, numerous as they were, and there are no listed incidents or suspensions that involved him to be found in any of his school records. Is often a target of bullies because of his quietness, his vulnerability, and his tendency to be alone often.
First act with Spirit Power: Unknown as of now. Was found passed out in the street with a spirit aura still surrounding him.
Estimated Spirit energy class: C-
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As I reached the end of the paper, I stared at the last part of the profile. C-? How could that be possible? That was the highest level any student have ever entered the academy with, and only three others in its entire history had entered at that level! Could the boy really be this powerful? It was incredible that two students such as these had been found on the same day, in the same city no less. Hopefully, this would be a herald of good things in the Academy's future.
As I picked up the files to study them again, there was a knock on my door, and Dalwer poked his head in. "Ma'am?" he said, the way he always did when addressing me, "Mr. Ogunwe has brought the boys to see you."
"Very good, Dalwer. Send them in please." He nodded, and a moment later the door opened and Ogunwe strode in, followed by the two boys whose profiles I had just read.
"Thank you, Ogunwe," I said. "You may go now. I'm sure you have other duties to see to." He nodded crisply, and turned to stride out without a word. Both boys watched Ogunwe go uncomfortably, as though they felt unsafe without him. That thought made me grin. My reputation preceded me, obviously.
"Tomogata Ryu," I said suddenly, causing them both to turn around as though startled to find me in my own office. "Izuma Merrakai. Welcome to our Academy. I assume you had a pleasant trip?" They nodded slowly. "Good, good. Now, are there any questions you would like to ask me, regarding the Academy?"
"Yeah, I got one," Merrakai said loudly. "What the hell did that Ogunwe guy mean when he said people die here? What kind of school are you running, lady?"
Tomogata seemed to cringe at his friend's own rudeness, but I brushed it aside. I had experienced worse. "Naturally, learning to harness and use the body's Spirit energy can be a risky process. Some students draw more than they can take of it, or misuse their energy, both of which can lead to disastrous results. I and the others who run this academy do the best we can to prevent these accidents, but we cannot prevent all of them every time. You already learned of the risk and accepted them, or you would not be here. It's too late to turn back now anyway."
Merrakai looked a little shaken by my ominous choice of words, but he fired off a second question without missing a beat. "All right, one more thing: what the hell was that thing that we used to get here? All it looked like was a damn little piece of paper to me."
"That was a gatekey, used to open gateways, portals that the Tensaari use to travel around the world. We have found them to be more convenient that our other modes of transportation. If you wish to learn more about them, you should ask your teachers. Yes, Tomogata?" I said, turning to him. The boy had been studying the walls of my office and the documents on my desk curiously and with interest, but he had now raised his hand as though he were in class. The contrast between these two's attitudes towards authority was amusing.
"I don't mean to be rude, ma'am," he said timidly, "But I can't help but wonder why you called us in here. With all due respect, I don't think you would call every new student into your office just to answer their questions. It doesn't seem like you would have the time," he finished, with a meaningful glance at my cluttered desk.
I nodded, pleased. The boy was a perceptive one. He would do well if he put that to use. "Yes, Tomogata. I called you two in here, first because I wished to ask you some questions regarding your-"I cut off suddenly, noticing that Merrakai, who had begun looking me up and down while Tomogata spoke, was now staring at my...chest...in a matter I found most irritating. I cleared my throat, and he suddenly glanced up, noticed I was gazing at him, and coughed, turning his head quickly and going a deep shade of red. Shaking my head, I turned back to Tomogata, who also looked embarrassed on his friend's behalf. "I wanted to ask you some questions regarding your first contacts with Spirit energy. Merrakai," I said, turning to him. He was gazing around the room, as though determined not to look at me. Reluctantly he glanced my way when I said his name. "It says here you healed your brother of all of his energies during your first experience with Spirit power. Tell me, how long ago was his accident?"
"Oh...hmm...well," he said, scratching his head, "If I remember right, the damn night was around 11 years ago...2089, I think."
I shook my head a little in incredulity. He healed 11-year critical injuries during his first contact with the power? Amazing. There was no other word to describe it. Turning to Tomo, I spoke again. "All my report on you says is that you were found passed out in the street with an aura surrounding you. Would you tell me what happened the first time you found your Spirit energy?"
The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and he spoke hesitantly of a fight he had had with another boy, Seriasko, and what he had done to him. Calling Dalwer in, I asked for a report on the boy's condition, so I could make an accurate judgment of Tomogata's strength. Glancing over at him I saw the lad staring at the floor uncomfortably. "Don't feel bad, Tomogata," I said in what I hoped was a soothing tone. "Spirit energy feeds off intense emotions and strengthens them, as well as acts on them. For you to have hurt the boy this badly, I assume he must have well deserved it to bring out such anger in you." He nodded glumly, and still stared at the floor. Sighing, I cleared my throat again.
"I also called you two in here to warn you: You both have some of the highest potential I've seen come to this academy in years. This power will be hard to control, and you will have to dedicate yourselves to mastering yet. You could do great things with your powers, but you could also destroy more than half the academy if you lose control." They nodded, faces serious. "Also, be on your guard: some of the students here may be jealous of your powers, and may wish to take out their jealousy upon you with violence. I would advise you to tread softly around here until they begin to accept you." Again they nodded, Merrakai looking amused about the prospect of students attacking him, while Tomo heaved a small, sad sigh.
"Very well," I said with finality. "You two may go now. I would suggest you get your things unpacked, learn your way around, and then get some rest. Tomorrow will be an eventful day for the both of you."
We rose and they bowed to me, Tomogata respectfully, Merrakai halfheartedly. "I expect I will see both of you again soon. Good luck." They murmured their thanks to me, and walked out slowly. Sighing, I sat back down, studying the medical report on the boy Seriasko that Dalwer brought in for me. Turning, I smiled softly at the picture on my desk amidst the clutter. "Am I doing a good job?" I asked it softly. "Is this what you had in mind when you founded this academy, Grandpa Yusuke?"
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Okay. Another one done. There won't be two months between this one and the next..hopefully. As always, read and review!