Life of a Demon Slayer

Chapter 3: apprentice? - part 2

"Nothing. Let's go."

Lily still seemed curious but she didn't ask anymore; she followed behind as Mark led the way to the road.

When xe reached the main road, xe took off running. As xe did, xe could hear lilys footsteps keeping pace behind xim.

Suddenly she was next to xim.

"First one to school wins!" She smirked, sprinting past xim.

"You're on!" Mark shouted after her.

As the two neared the school, they didn't slow down. Instead the two of them tore up the front steps of the school and sprinted down the hallway toward the classroom. As the first bell rang, lily threw open the door to the classroom.

Bang!

"Safe!" They called out in unison as their feet hit the classroom floor.

Heads turned to look at the pair as silence stole the room.

The professor adjusted his glasses and glared at them through the round frames.

"Please take your seats." He spoke with a familiar distain.

"Yes, sir." Mark lowered xis gaze and found xis way to xis seat.

Hushed whispers followed them as lily took her seat as well.

"Quiet down now!" Professor G. Snuffed out the quiet voices." It's time for attendance."

As professor G. began droning through the list of names, Mark turned xis gaze to the window. The teachers monotonous voice became a buzz of white noise and soon, xe found ximself drifting into xis head.

". . ., rk? —llo? Hey! Markus!"

"Huh?" Mark flinched at the sudden sound and snapped xis gaze to the figure standing next to xis desk.

Professor G.'s eye twitched slightly as he retrieved the book he'd dropped.

The professor cleared his throat," now that I have your attention, maybe you'd like to answer the problem on the board, mr.dragons?"

"It's Mx," Mark grumbled, making xis way to the front of the room.

Mark took a moment to glance at the equation on the board before scribbling down the answer.

Xe returned to xis seat to a glaring professor.

"Very well then. Seems you were listening." Professor G. adjusted his glasses and returned to the front of the room to finish his lesson.

After a few minutes, the bell gonged and the professor dismissed the class with a scowl.

I have no idea how that guy became a teacher, Mark sighed, stretching xis arms.

Suddenly the room was alight with chatter and Mark found ximself surrounded by the other boys who sat near xim.

"Holy crap man! You really showed professor chad today!" Exclaimed one.

"I can't believe you bagged the hottest girl in class bro!"

"Dude you gotta tell us what happened!"

What the hell?

Mark's head was spinning and before xe knew it, xe was being pulled from xis chair.

"Leave xim alone!" Lily shoved her way through the circle and grabbed mark by xis hand. To xim, she added." I need to talk privately with you."

"Huh?"

Before mark had a chance to process what was happening, xe was being whisked out of the classroom; suddenly they were running down the hall.

Where are we going?

"Hey, Lily! Stop!" Mark pulled ximself free and fell back against the wall, struggling to catch xis breath.

"Sorry!" Lily exclaimed, sliding to a stop.

"It's fine," mark sighed, pressing a hand to xis side," what did you want to talk about?"

"About that. . ."

Mark raised an eyebrow.

"Well. . .I had a talk with Shizu after you went to bed last night—about how I can see spirits? Well, he suggested—"

"No."

"No? But you haven't even heard me out yet," Lily protested.

"I don't need to—"

"—but why not?" Lily reached for xis arm," I know it'll be dangerous, but—"

Mark grabbed her wrist and slammed her against the wall.

"No! You don't know! You could never know!" Mark spat, feelings xe'd been suppressing for so long finally bubbling to the surface.

"But I want to try!" Lily argued, squirming under xis grip.

"Forget it! This ain't some anime where everything turns out fine! People have died! People you know—family, your friends!" At this point, xe was screaming, but xe couldn't stop ximself." You think this is a game but it's not. One wrong move and it's over. One tiny mistake, and you're dead! Your partners dead! Your parents are dead! And you'd be lucky to leave a body behind."

Lily bit her lip and dropped her gaze.

"Y-you don't know that. . ." Her voice trembled.

"I do know—better than most. Because I survived! My family didn't." Mark lifted xis shirt to reveal the collection of bruised and bloody bandages covering the left side of xis body.

"If you can see this and still tell me you want to fight, then we'll talk."

Lily couldn't hold xis eyes.

"Mark, I. . .I had no idea."

"Yeah, you didn't." Mark scoffed.

Xe let go of her hands and turned xis back as she fell to her knees.

"Just forget you ever saw me."

Xe kept xis back to her tears to hide xis own as xe walked away.