Yao Wang, heir of the noble house of the Fire Dragon narrowed his eyes dangerously as he observed a petite blonde male in his school uniform making his way leisurely to school. Yao had to admit Arthur was attractive, the dark blue blazer and trousers with a white shirt complemented his physique perfectly. Him being attractive certainly wouldn't derail his plans. He started to move forward when Kiku Honda caught him by the hood of his red coat.
"Let me go-aru!"The Chinese boy screeched furiously in protest. Kiku sighed heavily, he should have known that Yao would react this way after he discovered that Arthur had been nominated for the next Championship. Arthur probably didn't even know yet, and Yao had most likely assumed that it would be Brandon, as Alana had been nominated the previous year and had won. Her victory was forcing Yao to compete again, for the third year in a row, as the only available candidate from his clan. The others were either far too young or far too old.
"I think that you were about to do something stupid" replied Kiku rather patiently for someone who was holding back a cousin with an iron grip.
"Damnit Kiku! I have to make myself known to him; he's my rival!" Kiku knew that Yao didn't truly want to make Arthur his enemy, he was clearly attracted to him. It was because of parental pressure that he was acting like this. It wasn't fair for Yao to have to carry the burden alone.
"Even so, you should at least afford him the respect that he deserves. He is a talented witch in his own right, he deserves at least that much, please remember your manners as the future Lord of Fire. It would not be wise to make an enemy of his clan, you do remember his sister, don't you? And his oldest brother? The dragon slayer?" Kiku persuaded and Yao deflated/
"Yes Kiku, you're right- but that doesn't mean that I have to be his friend!" Sniffed Yao haughtily.
No, thought Kiku, but you will be anyway.
/ / / /
Arthur reluctantly took his seat in the very back corner of the classroom, where he had a clear view of both the classroom and the garden below. Nobody would dare sit beside him, the people harassing him out of jealous and spite ensured that. It wasn't his fault that he was a light magic prodigy and they had been particularly nasty for the past week. The only thing that others had that he didn't was a familiar, and it appeared that Alana was making having one a possible outcome.
His heart sank as he remembered the situation. In all honesty while he envied the bond his sister had with Alice, he didn't envy the heartbreak that losing a familiar caused, nor the co-dependency. He preferred being alone, isolated from his peers who did nothing but mock him for the absence of a familiar- a life long partner. No, Arthur shook his head as he unloaded his books from his white and green backpack. He had made the right decision by waiting, he could clearly see that people were miserable with their first choices, which were made in haste. He preferred to be alone.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
A pair of blondes had been following Arthur all morning completely undetected, proving both their capability and the inadequacy of the witches who attended his school.
"Wow! He is sooo hot! Is that really him!?" Alfred sighed dreamily. They had been searching for the perfect master for a while now, and their previous candidates had been... Unsatisfactory. And so, eliminated. However, they had been researching him in depth since their summon and found him to be their perfect match.
"Yeah, that's him, so please don't screw up! The Lady summoned quite a few others after all, so we have some serious competition... Are you listening to me?" hissed Matthew. He hated when he was being ignored.
"Did ya say somethin' Mattie?" asked Alfred, being snapped out of his fantasy by the sound of his name.
"Oh never mind... We need a way in though, otherwise someone else will steal him away." Grimaced Matthew staring longingly at his Master as he walked onto the school grounds.
Wait, that's it!
I have an idea!" said Matthew with a broad smile, this may take a lot of time and energy, but it was their best bet. Two blonde Labrador puppies suddenly stood up, their bodies changing rapidly from that of a dog to a human. Blonde hair shortened, blue eyes brightened, and a school uniform appeared.
"Perfect!" announced the boy with longer hair and gentle demeanour; Matthew.
"Awesome dude!" grinned the blonde with a dazzling smile; Alfred.
"Now then, let's go and find our new master." Matthew's lips curled into a sly smile and he lead the way into their new school.
/ / / / / / / / /
Arthur sighed heavily, trying to ignore the obnoxious laughter coming from the other side of the classroom. A trio of hooligans dominated the other back corner; Ivan Braginski a Russian boy with silver blonde hair and a build like a brick wall. Antonio Carriedo, the year's heartbreaker from Spain and Gilbert Bielshmidt- the albino joker who loved to torment everyone... It really wasn't fair that he was stuck in a different form to all of his friends. Stuck here, being forced to listen to Gilbert screech about some girl and Antonio whine about Lovi not loving him. Ivan was suspiciously absent, something which Arthur should have paid attention to.
Sadly, Arthur's closest friend of all, a vampire named Vlad, was currently on the run from a gang of hunters so he was left all by himself... Roderich and Basch were in the room next door, most likely arguing over something petty while Herakles (sleeping but present) and Kiku were in the class down the hall. He would surely meet up with them later- they had most of their classes together being the best and brightest of their generation. Arthur hoped that Jao would appear in the doorway, late but cheerful and present. An unlikely scenario as he hated school, and nobody was going to force him to do anything (the pampered Prince) but at least Leon would be transferring in soon.
Arthur jerked his head in the direction of the doorway as muffled shouting and loud thuds commenced.
"A fight? Seriously? What utter fucking morons to be causing a fuss!" Arthur grumbled, grabbing his disciplinary committee sash from his bag and making his way towards the scuffle.
/ / / / / / / / /
Matthew was panicking, nothing was going to plan. They had met an aggressive familiar candidate in the hallway, and he has recognised them. Alfred was fighting with the tall pale boy with silver hair and a Russian accent while a crowd gathered. The noise was driving Matthew mad- honestly, how did their master cope in such an environment? Oh Gosh, that's his classroom-he can hear us! Alfred is disgracing the Kirkland famil name! Fighting in a school hallway, a few mere feet from their potential Master? Matthew wouldn't blame Arthur for rejecting the lot of them!
Shit, shit, shit! There he is now! No! You fucking blew it Alfred!
/ / / / / / / / / /
Arthur glared coldly at the bastards fighting.
"Unless you want detention for a month you two should drop this immediately. Ivan, let the lad go, and go to class, you are exactly four minutes and thirty-two seconds late, I will not tolerate it being five."
Ivan dropped Alfred stiffly. He hadn't intended for Arthur to catch him, but hopefully this would prove his willingness to protect his future master. He was thrilled when he had been summoned for someone he knew and liked. Arthur was adorable, and it annoyed him whenever Tony moaned about him, he was just a sore loser.
"Now Ivan, explain yourself."
Alfred and Ivan exchanged glares, there was no way they could tell Arthur they were fighting over who was going to be his familiar- he would hate and abandon them in a heartbeat. A powerful witch such as he could have anyone that he wanted.
"I was just teaching the new boy some manners Arthur, I know how important the rules are to you" said Ivan in a rumbling, silky voice. Ivan smiled broadly at the blonde, he knew exactly how to charm his way out of situations, even though he knew that Arthur was very adept at resisting him.
"He started this" mumbled Alfred sulkily. He had been made to look like a fool in front of Arthur- completely humiliating. Totally not heroic.
"And I finished it, now get to class!" Arthur scolded them, and they sheepishly entered the classroom, with Arthur and Matthew behind them.
"Sorry about my brother, I'm Matthew" said Matthew scratching at his head and fluttering his eyes. He knew Arthur would love the cute younger brother act.
"It's not your fault, I know what it's like to have embarrassing brothers, no harm done. My name is Arthur, I'm in charge of student discipline" Arthur replied with a smile that enchanted him, extending his hand to the new student. Matthew shook it, and he felt sparks fly. Yes. Arthur was perfect, and nobody would be allowed to take their master. He was theirs, he just didn't know it yet. He released Arthur's hand reluctantly, they were soft and smooth and warm- but it would be far too awkward if he didn't let go.
/ / /
Arthur and Ivan had retaken their seats and the teacher entered the room, calling Alfred and Matthew to the front. Matthew smiled innocently as the teacher introduced them to the class, he was already planning their next move... And a lecture for his brother about controlling his temper.
/ / /