Trail Mix
(Back. Sorry for delay. Finals and holidays. Hope you enjoy this one.)
The chattering group opened the door to Lord Death's office and walked up to the platform where their headmaster was centered along with Dr. Stein. The Reaper was delicately sipping a cup of tea while the scientist puffed a cigarette. The students all bid good morning to their superiors.
"Good morning, good morning all! How ya doin'?" Death's head tilted to the side.
"A little nervous to be honest," Kian admitted.
"Are we in trouble?" added Christian with his hands buried in the front pocket of his hoodie.
"Should you be?"
"… Um…" The blonde's mouth scrunched up as he looked to his friends.
"The answer to that is no." Nikki glared up at her brother.
He shook his head and stuck his bottom lip out a bit. "Nope. No trouble."
"Then you're not." The Reaper took another sip of his tea.
"That's great news," said Katy with a polite smile.
"Indeed!"
The group watched him expectantly. The swirly clouds floated by them silently as they each tried to guess what his abyssal eyes were looking at. The quiet turned awkward and it seemed Death was frozen, the steam from his tea rising in front of him almost as if he were sitting on his porch enjoying a rainy afternoon. Alone. The younger ones started to exchange glances.
Dr. Stein cleared his throat. "Perhaps you should tell them why they're here," he suggested dully.
The younger ones stared at their headmaster.
"… Right!" He set down his cup of tea on the little coffee table before him and put his hands behind his back. "You all have been chosen for a very important assignment. I'm sure you're all aware of the trouble that has reared its ugly head to the East—outside of Death City. I need the eight of you to prepare yourselves to be my front line in the East."
Several gasps pierced the air and Christian sprung up with a pump of his fist and an excited holler. Rachele and Kian also expressed their excitement with each other. Odette smiled and William looked around with his hands in his pockets. Nikki squealed and slapped Tim's shoulder and he couldn't resist a smile either. He looked to Katy. She was smiling too. But his faded when he recognized that as her fake smile.
"That's great, sir! But why did you choose us?" Odette spoke up.
"You all have progressed so splendidly. Don't you feel deserving of this opportunity?" Lord Death asked sincerely.
"No, that's not it!" Nikki said quickly, "We've worked really hard, we feel like we deserve it. But…"
"We're not the highest ranking group. What made you choose us instead of, like, Michelle and Blake? Or Teagan and Timbers? Alex and Cicero?"
"Storm and Calkin," Katy muttered, eyes going downcast at all these names that had surpassed their year's goal already. Tim glanced at her.
"Yes, yes, they are all very talented meisters and weapons indeed!" the Reaper said cheerily. "Though I think you misunderstood what I meant when I said you all have progressed splendidly." The students all watched him take his time with another sip of tea. "Though you may not be the highest ranking students at the academy, you have remarkable ties with each other that no other group of students here possesses. I chose you all because you are the most effective team at the academy." He lifted a wide boxy finger in the air. "And teamwork is more valuable than any individual's talent."
It seemed as though everyone was caught off guard by this honorable compliment and it was only Rachele that squeaked a quiet, "Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome!" Death's head turned to his office door and stared expectantly. "Hm. Death Scythe is running late."
"Not surprising," Dr. Stein mumbled blandly with his head bowed, rolling his cigarette between his upper and lower lip.
"Mr. Death Scythe is coming?" Nikki asked sharply.
"Yes, he was supposed to be here already." The Reaper looked to his students and set his tea back down on the coffee table. "Mr. Evans and Dr. Stein will be your personal instructors for the following assignment, guys.
"Instructors for what," said William, making his voice heard for the first time since they arrived. Dr. Stein stared at him, not bothering to hide the harshness in his eyes.
The headmaster promptly replied. "I want to make sure you all are prepared before you leave. There is time, so don't worry. But it is my preference that you all learn to match each others' soul wavelengths as closely as possible."
Christian looked around at the bunch that he arrived with. "…You really think we can do that?"
"Of course I do! I have the utmost faith in you! Besides, that's why Dr. Stein and Mr. Evans will be assisting you." He lifted his head a little. "Ah. Speak of the Devil."
"And he shall appear," said a moderately deep voice from behind the students. They all turned to the door through which they entered to be met by the sight of a medium height man who was closing the tall door behind him. A hand teased his white spikey locks into place and he approached up the short staircase at a saunter, clad in a gray denim jacket over a white shirt. "Sorry I'm late," he said, not sounding terribly sorry at all. The students made a path for him and he walked between them to his meister.
"It's good to see you, Soul. How was your trip?"
"Long and boring." He nodded at the scientist. "Morning, Doctor."
He nodded in return. "You look well."
"I do?" he spoke in a yawn. Every student's eye was drawn to his legendary shark-like teeth. He smacked his lips and rolled his head around to stretch his neck. "Good then, I guess. I kinda thought it was too damn early in the day to look well." The Death Scythe's crimson eyes turned to the group. "Is this them?"
Lord Death nodded. "This is them." He pointed to each of them, going from right to left. "Katy, Tim, Nikki, Christian, Rachele, Kian, Odette and William. Your new pupils."
He blinked lazily. "I'll…try to remember your names. No promises." He gave an unenthusiastic wave. "Call me Soul. No—Mr. Evans shit or, Mr. Death Scythe—that's just not cool."
William rolled his eyes. Odette, however, smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you." The rest of the students seemed either still in awe or their breath was baited with questions pertaining to his whereabouts for the past year and confirmation of facts about his famous battle with Kishin Asura. Their thoughts were interrupted by the headmaster.
"As I was saying, I have the utmost faith in your abilities, guys. I've been keeping tabs on your progress for a long time and I'm certain that you all have the souls necessary for this assignment."
Kian leaned over to Rachele and murmured. "Quite an interesting bowl of Trail Mix nonetheless." She giggled quietly.
"Actually, it's the precise bowl of Trail Mix I was looking for, Kian," Death declared. Kian ducked his head a little lower between his shoulders at having been caught making fun. The headmaster didn't seem fazed. "You each have very unique souls but I have seen how well they work with each other. Katy, your careful and critical nature can provide much needed guidance to your peers."
Katy allowed a tiny smile.
"Tim, your experience and analytical view of a situation are great aids to any mission. Nikki, your—er—stubbornness and hard-headedness help keep your friends on track."
Nikki's face was a perfect illustration of the uncertainty of whether she should be offended or flattered.
"Christian, your upbeat and laid back personality send confident and relaxing vibes to your partners."
He flashed a big cheesy grin.
"Rachele, your tender and caring nature is just the support your friends need. And Kian, your down-to-earth yet hasty nature is an adequate mix of the confidence your friends need, too."
The two looked at each other with a smile.
"Odette, your determination and your ability to remain calm in heated situations are great advantages for any team. And William…" Death's hollow eyes turned on him.
He shifted his weight and beckoned. "Come on, let me have it." He cocked his head with a sarcastic smirk.
The Reaper stared silently for a moment before his voice sounded again in a gentle string of words. "Your persevering strength. And your inherent ability to overcome the worst of circumstances."
William chewed on his cheek and looked elsewhere, receiving glances from his peers.
"This team is the only team I would trust to send to the East with the greatest certainty that it would succeed. You are everything each other needs." The headmaster took a seat on his stool again and picked up his cup of tea. "You just need to learn how to use your gifts for each other. That is why I have recruited Soul and Stein to help you. They both have firsthand experience in this matter. And I trust they will teach you everything you need to know before you ship off."
Odette sighed happily. "This is great news, sir. Thank you so much."
"Thank you!" The Reaper chimed. "I believe your sessions have been arranged after class every day. I hope you all will work hard! Remember to have faith in your own abilities as well as each other! You are dismissed."
The group of students began to disperse towards the door, Christian galloping down the stairs with a holler before Nikki jumped down on him for a piggy back ride through the halls. Their conversation blossomed into a noise as they went out. Though Tim was holding Katy's hand and they both walked in silence with each other.
"Odette and William. Just another moment, please," said Lord Death in an even tone. The duo stopped in their tracks and solemnly turned back to their headmaster. The Reaper looked to Soul and Stein. "Your private sessions will be with them."
Soul pointed at William. "Is this the guy?"
William blinked and looked around. "Am I the guy?"
Dr. Stein took the cigarette from his lips and spoke, smoke coming with each word. "He is the source of the black blood between them." His dull eyes panned to him.
Soul lifted his chin a little. "So, you're the one who—"
Death cleared his throat. "Soul. Now, now."
Odette spoke up. "Please, sir. There's no need to…tip-toe around the subject." She put her arm in William's. "Yes. He is the one who was almost made a Demon Scythe by Kishin Carvalho."
Soul's jaw jutted sideways and he looked to Dr. Stein. "Okay, well…" He looked back to the duo and shrugged. "Cool. So, we're gonna help you manage the influence of the black blood then, right?"
William kept his arm laced with Odette's. "… Is Miss Marie still going to be involved?"
Lord Death spoke up again. "Is that a problem?"
He shook his head. "No. Not at all. I prefer it."
"Then involved she will be. Okay with you, Stein?"
The doctor sighed another cloud of smoke. "We'll see."
"You can count on our best effort," Odette assured her superiors.
"Thank you, Odette. You and William will meet with Stein and Soul three times a week at the time they indicate. I have faith in all of you. You all are dismissed."
Odette nodded gratefully before turning and walking with William to the door. She kept her voice low when she spoke to him. "Please behave yourself."
"You say that as if I don't normally behave myself," he said flatly.
She smiled a little. His sarcasm was usually the most assuring thing to receive. They walked on down the hall and she kept her arm in his.