Chapter 1 – Black Ballerina

Death the Kid

The sun had raised high into the sky already. I figured we were running late, the Thompson sisters and me. But here in Death City, Nevada it always looks like the sun is scorching the ground at anytime of day, so it's hard to tell time by the sun.

"Don't bother with him. It's not worth it." A young man's voice stated flatly.

"It's really not worth it." A young woman concurred.

Their voices carried over the courtyard. I knew each person by voice alone. A scuffle at this time of the morning was nothing new. I don't know what made me look over except…

"You seriously want to take me on?! Ha ha ha. That's seriously funny!" Another young man's voice boomed.

With my hands stuffed in my pants' pockets I felt compelled to saunter over. I wasn't in the mood for the noise this early in the morning, but I had some interest in what could cause…

"Black Star, stop it. She's new." A young woman's voice scolded quietly.

…to be so irritating at this time of the morning.

I arrived at the area of the argument. Maka, in a white polo shirt and red plaid skirt was on my left. She had a worn yellow sweater tied around her waist, and she fanned her self with her left hand. I cocked my head to my right.

"What's the situation here?" I asked quietly.

She looked back at the center of the quarrel. "The usual. Black Star's trying to pick a fight with the new girl."

"Ugh." I heard from my right. I shifted and took a look at Soul, who was running his right hand through his white hair. In an unusual move he wore his striped black three piece suit with a red dress shirt. "I didn't think this was going to be such a big deal."

I took a look at the situation. In front of our trio was Black Star, his sky blue hair fuzzy and his wide face red with anger. He tapped his right foot, had his arms crossed across his chest, and stared across the courtyard. The center of the controversy had been moved across the courtyard by his Weapon partner Tsubaki. Tall, quiet, and reserved, she had her back turned to us, and her long black hair partially concealed the subject of the squabble.

I felt my brow narrow and I looked back at Soul incredulously. "Are you trying to protect her or something?"

Soul's red eyes met mine. He then looked back in the direction of Tsubaki and sighed. "She's my second cousin."

That made sense at least. I debated for a moment how Maka felt about that though. They already had a rocky Meister-Weapon relationship. Soul tended to be an uncooperative scythe, and Maka a hot-headed perfectionist. They're usually considered a volatile pair. Not like me and sisters.

I glanced up at Tsubaki and then back at him. "So what's with the suit?" Even I, in my black, semi-formal dress pants and jacket felt underdressed compared to his full suit.

Soul stuffed his hands into his dress pants pockets, ruffling the sleeves. He stared at the still-angry Black Star. "She wanted to make a good impression. I told her that I would take her to meet Shinigami-sama in person and she insisted that I wear this suit. Said something about making a good first impression." He pulled out his right hand and pulled on the lapel of the suit coat. He then put his hand back in his pocket and watched Black Star wearily. "So much for that."

Tsubaki began to return to the circle, her long fair arm around a young woman dressed all in black. She wore a short black dress that flared out and black stockings. With black ribbons tying her white hair down her back and to the sides she looked far younger than her natural age. Or so it seemed. With her fair hair and red eyes, her resemblance to Soul was obvious. Her fair skinned hands were balled in fists, and I thought at first she had first-day jitters by the agitation in her eyes. Then I realized what it was. Her brows were furrowed with anger. She wasn't put off by Black Star's attitude at all. She pulled away from Tsubaki and stood in front of Black Star. Tsubaki simply sighed and hung her head, looking embarrassed.

Soul took a step forward. "Seriously, don't do this Sai." He told her, but his voice was unconvincing. The chances of him actually meaning it seemed slim. I personally don't know anyone who minds seeing a good fight, but Black Star's a tough competitor.

I wondered if Soul knew something the rest of us didn't.

Sai sighed. "That's fine. I'll fight you. I'm kinda tired of your attitude." Her voice was slightly musical, and very light. It was hard to determine her age.

Black Star appeared stunned. "My attitude?! Do you know who you're talking to…?"

Sai eyed Soul aggressively, almost looking for approval.

Soul shrugged. "Works for me. But don't say I didn't warn you." He turned and started to move out of range, pulling Maka along with him by the arm.

Black Star looked towards Sai triumphantly, and puffed his chest out. "Ha!"

Soul stopped briefly and half turned back. "I meant you." He stated flatly. "Serves you right." He then took a dozen steps and turned back around, pulling them safely out of any direct attack.

I took this as the signal to move, and pushed Patty and Liz back towards the far wall. I don't usually have to worry about Liz. She's smart enough to handle herself, but Patty can be an exception to that rule. There was enough going on without having to worry about my own partners getting hurt in the process.

Being slightly taller than me, Liz protested my pushing. "I can move myself, thanks." She stated, scowling back at me.

"Then do it. Now. This might get ugly."

Patty jumped up on the wall and sat down with a flop. "She's tiny though."

I turned about and leaned back against the wall, and sighed. "I know. Just watch, okay?"

"We're going to be late for class, Kid." Liz argued.

"Forget about class. This is important." I retorted.

"But…"

It was barely nine am and they were already wearing on my patience. Sometimes I doubted that had I made a good choice in picking them up. "Just watch and let it go for the moment."

"Hey!" Black Star yelled from the center, in our general direction. "Are you done over there yet?"

I could feel the acid in my voice. "Yes, sorry. Continue."

Tsubaki stood awkwardly in the center with Sai and Black Star. "Um. Should I get a teacher? It can't be registered as an official duel unless it's supervised." She asked quietly, looking more at the ground than the action around her.

Sai cocked her head to the side and looked at Tsubaki curiously. "Aren't you his weapon? Why aren't you fighting with him?"

Soul yelled from the sidelines. "Don't bother. It'll probably be over before you get back."

Tsubaki didn't know who to answer with what, and looked over at Soul.

"Just come stand over here for a moment. Give him a moment in the spotlight." Soul stated with a smirk.

Giving up, Tsubaki jogged to the side and stood next to Maka.

Now I was convinced there was something I was missing.

"Exactly! It's my spotlight!" Black Star roared, garnishing everyone's attention.

Which gave her enough time to disappear from in front of him.

Sai appeared behind Black Star with a shimmer, having flipped over at his back. She smacked him in the center of his back and jumped up. This time she let him see her do it, causing him to flip around and try to punch her. Once again, she landed behind him, this time with a light plop. Sai backhanded him across the back of the head, catching his attention, but it appeared to be nothing else.

"Sai! Stop playing around! I'd like to get to class eventually!" Soul yelled, catching everyone's attention but hers.

She jumped back a dozen feet, and sighed. "You're no fun! But can understand that." She yelled back at him, but facing Black Star.

Annoyed by the distraction, Black Star charged at her, but she side stepped him in a blink. Sai brought her left hard down on him hard and he was flattened to the ground.

He coughed. "What the…" Was all I could hear before…

Sai spun on her right foot, housed in little more than a black ballet slipper, and kicked the fallen Black Star in the ribs. He flew some twenty feet and smacked into the wall between Soul's grouping and my own.

I could hear Black Star gasping as he climbed out of the rubble created by the crash. And even a dozen feet away I also heard his rage building in a stream of profanities.

At that point, quiet footsteps coming up the stairs to the institution distracted Sai for a brief moment.

"Spirit-sensei…" She started to say to the tall, red-hair man entering Shibusen.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment. A step from the porch itself Spirit stopped and surveyed the situation. Sai was facing him and leaving herself open for attack. Soul in the process of yelling for Black Star to stop…

And me, not thinking about it, charging at Sai to push her out of the way.

But it didn't quite work out. I was faster than Black Star, true. I have having a longer stride, of course. I had expected to hit him, at worst, not the other way around. I was too fast, being fully absorbed in running. I slammed into Sai with full force, but she caught me instead of being pushed back. She simply didn't move in response. With no give, Black Star then slammed into me with full force. I actually got to witness the hit. Not something one forgets easily.

And that would be my first trip to the infirmary over her.