It was yet another bright and sunny day at Youkai Academy. Most of the rubble had been swept away and repairs were steadily returning this place to its original glory. Ice was pleasantly surprised last night to find her room was almost undisturbed. Almost, there were still a few bloodstains here and there. She could see red flecks on the ground, and the walls, and the celling.
Today Ice had two goals: One, survive to the end of the day. Two, get Kasumi to stop wearing her uniform.
The first was remotely possible. The second however could take a while. Every time she was about to acquire a usable stock of pants something would get in the way. Fires, bombs, and clothing raids by gnomes just kept on dashing the best-laid plans.
"Kasumi, Wake up!"
"But mom, I don't wanna go to school today", the brown haired boy mumbled.
"Kasumi, you have exactly 10 seconds to wake up. Ten, nine, eight, seven . . .
The brown haired boy leapt out of bed. Long forgotten memories of Rin's count downs resurfacing with violent force. It should at this point be noted that Leaches can suck blood from just about anywhere. Anywhere.
"Oh, hi Ice. So what do you want?"
"You to start wearing pant's. However I've already classified that as a long term project. What I really need to talk about is your plans for our break"
"Why are talking about that again?"
"School ends tomorrow Kasumi. Of course with the amount of concussions you've sustained it's not surprising you'd have trouble remembering that."
"How can it end already? We haven't even learned anything"
"Welcome to Youkai Academy"
Ice folded her arms and glanced at the clock.
"Any ways, as I was saying we need to talk. My dad says that weird stuff tend to happen over breaks. Assassination attempts, new dangerous organizations trying to destroy the world, and other unpleasant surprises like that."
Kasumi turned pale as a sheet.
Ice either didn't notice or was past the point of caring by this point so she just kept on talking.
"Our best chance of survival is for us to stick together. You, Me, Rin, and any one else who has nothing better to do. Also do you know if do you know if Arang is Kurumu's Niece or her daughter? I just can't tell"
Kasumi had graduated from being pale as a sheet to being terminally confused.
"What's even weirder", said Ice, "Is that she looks just like this person I keep on seeing in my- Oh jeez, we're going to be late for class. Better double time it!"
Ice ran out the door. She was quickly followed both her massive dog carrying another spare uniform in its mouth and her cousin who was trying to follow her without accidentally flashing every one. Did Ice use lead weights to keep her skirt down? Hmmm, that's a novel idea.
Unfortunately all the novel ideas in the world couldn't change the fact their classroom has simply ceased to be. Fortunately there was a message drawn on one of the surviving walls in blood.
It read, "Due to a minor accident this week miss Nekonome's class has been moved to the subterranean mining complex. Please be sure to bring some hard hats to class. Smile Emoticon, Winky Face, Smile Emoticon, I can has Cheeseburger?"
Kasumi had yet again paled. What was that kids problem?
"You- You don't think this could be a trap or something?"
"A trap, no. Extremely deadly, yes. At least we know our deaths will probably be accidents", helpfully concluded Ice.
The two them then scrambled around campus until they found the way down to the underground facilities. They stumbled in on a group of shaking soot-covered students with picks and mining hats.
"Hello there, grab a pick and get ready for some fun!", warmly announced Miss Nekotome.
"Why are we digging?", asked Kasumi.
"Because I'm the teacher, that's why", answered Miss Nekotome with a smile.
The cowardly brown haired boy started to pale again as Miss Nekotome slowly advanced. At the last second ice pulled her cousin out of the way. Nonetheless Nekotome's claws just barely missing their mark.
"Come on Kasumi. Lets go dig"
The two of them got to work. As they did so they heard some singing. A group of about seven goblins or so had entered the mines.
"WRAAAGH!"
"WRAAAGHAHAHAGH!"
"WRAAAGH! To collect shinnies we come. We mustn't leave until we're done, off to collect shinnies we come"
The Goblins ran forward on all fours and leapt at the rock. Hacking at it with crude implements while hurling crude language at the rocks. They seemed to be doing much better then any of the students. They'd gathered more ore in about thirty seconds then any one else had their entire time there.
Once the green creatures got their grubby little hands on shinnies they left swiftly. Strange noises of jubilation came from them as they crawled back into the darkness.
"Ice, was that weird?"
"What do you mean?", grunted his cousin as she swung her pick.
"Weird for us"
His cousin took a moment to think.
"No"
Miss Nekotome's work whistle blew and all the mining came to a halt.
"Congratualations every one. Now you've completed your first year of education"
"We didn't learn anything", whined a girl covered in soot.
"Did you see goblins?"
"Well yes-"
"Then you learned something. Congratulations Everyone! Oh, and miss Griphook. I'm going to have to ask you to talk with me after class"
Every one physically capable of doing so fled the mining caverns as swiftly as possible. It was time for a vacation!
Near the entrance to the school stood Rin. Her chest was puffed out, her shoulders were back, and she towered over all at her full height. This giant of a young woman gave a confident grin as Ice and Kasumi approached.
"Hey there, so are you two ready for our vacation"
"Yeah, what are you planning on doing Rin?", asked Ice.
"You know. The usual, hang out with my family and make sure this knucklehead over here doesn't get into trouble"
"Oh, I see. Well I'll just be at my house if you guys need anything", responded Ice.
Rin smiled and patted Ice on the shoulder, "Will do buddy".
The indomitable Rin then threw the doors wide open and walked out. She took a few steps forward before stopping in her tracks. She saw something moving just beyond the tree line. It was there for a moment and then it was gone.
* Crack *
Rin spun around. That girl had her arms draped around her little bro. The one who couldn't take hint, the one who she had thrown through a fraking wall, the one who was grinning victoriously at this very moment.
It was a bit different seeing her out and about in daylight. Now she could tell just how much smaller this girl was then her. The little brat appeared to be wearing a skintight black body suit beneath her uniform. Every inch of skin from the neck down was completely covered. What was she playing at?
"Oh, Kasumi. Would you mind if I stayed at your place for a bit?"
"Um, I'm not sure that that's such a good idea"
"You're no fun", whined the hunter.
"You know what would be fun though?", announced Rin.
"Breaking you spine. Stay away from my family"
The taller girl then ripped her little bro from that harpies grip and dragged him to the bus.
"See you soon", called the hunter after them.
Rin and Kasumi got on the bus. Ice was headed that way too. As she came ever closer she gave the school one last parting glance. When she turned around there was nothing much to see, just her older sisters dog running after her with a spare uniform in its mouth. Ice thought she'd be missing Youkai Academy when she left it for the first time. How very wrong she was.
Ice and her Mastiff boarded the bus, the bus driver cracked a few puns, and life continued to grinded on. What was really out there in the world? There had to be more out there then this.
"Hey, Kasumi. What do you think the name of Sendo's kid was?"
"Oh, well that's easy. I think it was-
Character Bio
Name: Sendo Huang
Species: Witch
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 74 kg
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Crimson
Psych Evaluation: Ailurophobia, Insular Paranoid Personality Disorder, Low self esteem.
Other Pertinent Information: Sendo suffers from chronic self-doubt due to his lack of natural ability as a martial artist. Another cool fact about him is that he likes sunfish.