Alora looked out to the mansion one more time, the high temples and little pond of koi fish Sombre under the night sky. Yasuo and her mother were standing by the main house entrance, waving her goodbye. Their smiles soft and eyes dotted with tears. Her throat swelled at the sight, wanting to scream back ' I'll miss you' but she kept it in. Last time she said that the person she loved never came back. Saying I miss you was a bad omen for her. So as much as she wanted to express how much she held them dear to her heart, she couldn't.
Her fingers gently traced the black hand wraps that ran up her arm. Feeling the distinct Weaving of her mother, taking in the scent of herbs they had been soaked in. She let out a sigh, and looked to the belt of daggers Yasuo gifted her when she was twelve. She hadn't lost one piece of the set since and wasn't planning too. They were the only thing that reminded her of him, keeping them close to her always reassured that he'd always be there.
"Alora," a deep baritone voice spoke from high up on a horse. "We need to get moving."
"Alright," she said, her voice slightly faltering. She turned around and straddled up onto her black stallion. A click of the tongue, and the horses began trotting off. Away from Nobunaga mansion, and off into the wilderness of Uku Island.
Neither of them bothered to utter a word to each other for fifteen minutes, keeping their eyes pinned to the pathway that was leading them to mount Genji. Occasionally, Alora would sneak in quick glances at her partner; the glow of his bronze skin against the glitter of the lantern he held. His eyes roving about the trees, studying everything they passed with killing intent. Hard as the flecks of sapphire threaded through the deep blue of his eyes flickered.
She too did the same, taking Yasuo's advice, memorizing the sights and sounds of the atmosphere, the scenic display of rocks in the valley and the growls of distant tigers.
"Alora," her partner called. She turned to him, watching his bulky body sway upon his horse. "How old are you?"
"Didn't your mother tell you not to ask for a girls age?" she scoffed.
The man glared at her, sucked his teeth as they turned up and out the valley and into a cluster of trees.
"I need to know for your registration. I've been trying to prepare your enrolment details for the past two weeks. But there's no record of your birth or grade which is more than an inconvenience if you'll be attending my school."
She kept her eyes pinned to the road, marking the trees wrapped in braided chords. "Is my age the only thing you need?"
" I also need your nationality, which clans you belong to and your parents' names and basic information for security's sake. Would be helpful since there's no record of your citizenship either."
Alora sighed. She heaved in the courage to answer,' unlocking details she preferred to keep hidden.
" I'm 16. In the seventh grade. I'm an Asalen of the Santu tribe. I'm listed under my mother's clan, the Koi's from Dawa. My father was a hunter, Khari Moroka, son of Bakhari. My mother a sorceress, Uzuri Koi daughter of Sannah.
She pulled the reigns of her horse, stopping just beneath the trees. She could see the distant twinkling lights sparkle in the rift between mainland Uku and the city of Kokonoi. Land set adrift to float in the sea, bordered by the deep waters were the serpent Orochi used to dwell thousands of years ago. She gawked at the shimmering haze of night life, remembering that that was where she would be spend the next couple months while hunting Aki. A student by day at a prestigious school, a hunter by night spinning through red light district and other nefarious places.
"Was that enough information for you?"
"Yes, it was," he smiled. "Thank you for your cooperation."
She rolled her eyes, clicked her tongue and the horse began trotting again.
It took a few minutes to reach the bridge, the horse hooves clicking over the wooden planks, natives staring at them as they entered.
An old lady at the end of the bridge, jumped in front of her horse. She wore a black cloak and had thin spindle like fingers that reached out to touch Alora's stallion. Khaya's face hardened, letting his horse take two steps forward to block her.
"Old Lady, please allow us to continue our journey," his voice was sharp and deep, eye's staring at the lady as her thin eye's remained plastered on the horse.
"Your father used to ride a black stallion," she chuckled.
Khaya's hand slowly drifted towards his belt, eyes steadily glued on her, but the old lady calmly retracted her hand and walked away, back into the bustling streets of Kokonoi.
"Strange," Alora muttered as her eyes lost track of the woman.
"This usually doesn't happen."
"Well, it happened. Nothing we can do now."
She gripped the reigns of the horse, eyes perusing through the shops and cheery people that lined the fish markets and kabuki theatres.
"That reminds me," said Khaya, "We should discuss a few things about the academy and mission before we head our separate ways for the night. It's a little late and I doubt we'll have time to talk when I sign you in."
"No thank you. We can talk tomorrow. For now, could you be a little quiet." The streets were swamped with people that moved like sardines in multiple directions. The scent of demons strong, lingering through every street corner. She kept her mind quiet, eye's focused in hopes to catch a scent, a trail where Aki could possibly be hiding. Or at the very least, assimilate the unique demon scents so when it changed, she could follow the unusual scent that could lead to Aki.
It required her to engage her sixth sense, a daunting sensation that often left her nauseous. And that night was no exception, the invasive waves of malevolent energy sinking into her skin like radioactive energy, her mind having to sort out and make sense of the information while trying to remain in control of herself. Khaya's talking made the process harder to bare, having to filter out his waves of mal energy while responding to his words. She side eyed him, wondered if perhaps he had tinges of a demon within himself. His charismatic eyes that seemed to reel in the trace amounts of energy that lingered in the air.
His eyes narrowed, staring at her, "I'm just trying to help you."
They turned at a street corner, an influx of teenagers pouring out a building. She looked out to the sign pinned out the front 'Megami Tuition' it read; girls dressed in expensive uniforms, the usual pleated skirts, knee high socks and red blazers with golden emblems. Their eyes were clouded, vague as they lifted their fans and covered their mouths. Snickering and whispering as samurai ran up to them and escorted them down the street to their cars that had been parked along the curb.
"Fine. First, let me ask you a question," said Alora, eyes frantically scrolling through the city as she tried to ease into the chaotic air. "What are you?"
"What am I?" he asked, twisting his face. "Human, obviously. Or do you want me to say Out born?"
"No, there's something weird about you," they turned at another corner rising with the land as they stared up the enormous temple that's stood a level above the rest of the city.
"You're going to have to be a little specific."
"Your energy, it's off putting to say the least."
His blank eyes were pinned on her, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to bear it. I would have preferred if we could interact normally with one another, I guess that'll be a challenge for us."
"What do you mean?"
"Soul Eater," he said, lifeless and void. "It has a variety of things it can do, but what I deal with, or at least the first aspect that's been identified within me isn't positive. Because of that, the Organization paired us together. So that in the event one of us loses control, the other can land the final blow. And because of our compatibility, the only way for you to, at the very least bear it, is if we achieve a certain level of intimacy."
She exhaled, tightening her hand around the reign, "And obviously that could never happen."
"For good reasons," he said.
The temple was getting closer, waves of a purer energy flowing out of it. An echo of souls that howled the songs of unending war waged with the unseen. Alora felt it cast a net that warded of corrupt spirits. But it was faulty, weakening, being corroded from the inside out.
Her lips parted in an attempt to ask about it, but as the words brushed her lips, a thought skimmed her mind. Perhaps it wouldn't be best to discuss it, not yet. Not until she was certain of what she sensed.
She eyed the gold and red that spun around the temple's towers, wondering what lay withing the quarters.
"You still haven't told me what you are."
He chuckled, his smile stretching across his cheeks, "Something's are better when they're a mystery."
"Don't be a flaccid penis," she said, the two approaching the golden temple gates.
"A what?" he laughed.
She rolled her eyes as his cackled continue to fill the still air.
There were samurai roaming up and down, eyes piercing through the night as they stood watch.
A shrine gate behind the main gate had a board placed atop it that read in bold iridescent gold 'Keiko Temple.'
Khaya road up ahead, leaving Alora paces behind. She watched him approach the samurai, his laughter dying down till it came to halt and silence refilled the still air.
She caught up to him, jumped of her horse as one of the samurai walked up to them.
"I. D," he said sharply.
Alora smiled, "I'm a new transfer, here on a mission. My name is Alora Moroka."
The samurai looked her up and down.
"You're shorter than I was expecting," he said.
She laughed, forcing a bright smile up her lips and clasping her hands together behind her back. Massaging her knuckles that were itching to land a solid punch on his forehead.
He inspected her thoroughly, patting her down for any weapons. His sharp eyes landing on her belt, fingers reaching for her daggers. Alora quickly swatted his hand away. "Touch them and you'll die."
"Are you threatening me?" he narrowed his eyes, clasping his katana. Khaya, from the other side of the gate came running back.
"They're cursed articles. Poisoned daggers. If you had touched them, the poison of her power would have sent you into shock and you would have literally died," said Khaya.
The samurai looked back at him, then back at her, giving her one more inspection. He moved to the gate, unlocked it and pushed it open.
Alora eased in, stepping to Khaya's side as she bowed and bid the samurai goodbye. She wished he had actually touched them, longing to see if they were still as potent as she remembered.
"You've done your research," Alora said as the two walked down a pathway lined with bushels of bonsai.
"I needed to know who I'm dealing with," he blandly said.
They got to the main hall entrance, walking in to the gold and white room. The air crisp and laced with mint. Teachers were signing out, clad in the fighting gears of their respective cultures; some in suits of blue and white, some in loose black robes, some in tight leathers pants and tunics. The perfect tone in their muscles and the glints of silver in their weapons of choice a sign of their status.
Alora couldn't help but gawk at the brutal gaze they held as they passed by and visually profiled her.
One of them, a pale skinned man wearing a blue velvety blazer, eyed her bracelet. He stopped by her for a second, about to tap her shoulder, but Alora's prudent glare begged him not to. He silently retracted his hand and walked away, still eyeing her figure.
The receptionist fixed her glasses once Khaya and Alora moved up in line. She looked up to Khaya, smiling as she pulled out a sheet for the students who lived in 'House Senka'.
"Good to see you back. How was it at the Nobunaga mansion?" she asked.
Khaya picked the pen of the desk and signed himself in. "Great. Finally got to meet Yasuo and Onda. It's not every day you're summoned into the presence of living legends."
"I know some of the other students would have killed to have been chosen instead."
"Guess I got lucky," he chuckled, slipping the paper back. She tucked it away and turned to Alora.
"You must me Khari's daughter," she beamed. Alora could feel her diner swish around in her belly; being labelled with someone else's name.
She bitterly smiled and responded, " Yes. But call me Alora."
The receptionist pulled out another paper titled 'House Shinya'. She slid it towards Alora and handed her the pen, "Your luggage came in this morning. You'll be in room 8, with Vanya Drabek and Ryoko Kamakura. Out-Borns room together to gain better compatibility with each other's power, so please, try to get along with them."
The drone of her voice made it seem as though Alora would be bitter and cast the room into doom and gloom.
Her sharp eye's looking at Alora as if asking whether she clearly understood her word.
Another paper was slipped into Alora's hand, " This is your class schedule. If you need to skip a class for the sake of your mission, please inform your teachers. The headmaster is leading investigations on Aki, so every morning at 6am, please report to his office for a daily report. Khaya will be your guide during your stay here, if you have any further questions, please ask him."
Alora turned to him when the receptionist mentioned him being her guide. He was smiling while sticking his tongue out at her.
Alora begrudgingly took the schedule, looking at the cluster of consecutive classes that ran from 7am to 9pm. There were three break intervals at 10am, 1pm and 6pm. She flipped the paper and began reading a list of school rules. As she muttered out each word she read, Khaya gently nudged her elbow, and the two started walking off, out of the first hall and into the Temple courtyard.
"So, where is House Shinya?" she asked, fatigue driving her to distraction.
"Next to where I live."
"Which is where exactly?" The gloating smile upon his bronze skin made her eye twitch. She tried to keep her composure with him as they passed a clique of boys. They were as to be expected, tall, large with lean rippling muscles that flexed as they walked. She could tell they were normal, but the satisfied smile's they wore as they talked and laughed about the success of their training, having endured the fabled hell's gate, made her tense.
"I'll take you to your room," she heard Khaya say.
"You can take me to the entrance. I'll find the room myself."
"You know," he said, snaking his arm around her shoulder, pressing his weight down on her. "If we spent time together, it could ease that unsettling feeling. Maybe chat a little and get to know each other."
"I have nothing to say. All I want to do is sleep."
"Alright," he moaned. "But first, you'll have to meet your roommates. Classes just ended, so I bet they'll be just as tired. Quick introduction and then you can get to bed."
She face palmed herself, "Alright."