Undertaker's Apprentice

Chapter Ten: The Call

    "But I want chocolate!" Halona whined.

    "No! Two years! Two years you've asked for chocolate! What have I always said? No! I said no! And I'm saying no now! So no!" Undertaker yelled. He continued dragging the girl by the wrist as she whined and begged for the treat.

    "Please! Just this once!"

    "No! Last time you had sweets I was running for my life!" He shouted. As they passed through town they received many strange looks, some would talk to each other and gossip while others grabbed their children and ran off.

    Halona wore her usual black knee length dress with her top hat that Undertaker had given her. Every day she wore it proudly, she never took it off unless she was asleep or bathing. The sun stone brightly on their skin, not helping them feel any cooler.

    Once they reached the home she had begun her studies for the day. Halona had shown to be a quick learner. She could now read and a very high level and would write her own stories. What she excelled at most was art. She could draw a face she had seen only once from memory. Undertaker had received a few sketches as gifts for him every year.

    He loved her art so much he framed them and hung them on the wall for all of his 'guests' to see. Once, Ciel had complemented the art thinking it was Undertaker who had drawn them. The old man explained to the boy that they were gifts given to him.

     Phantomhive had expressed that the artist was extremely talented, causing Halona to blush wildly.

    Halona was repeatedly teased by Undertaker for how red her face had become that day.

    The day went on as usual, they continued to train and she progressed more and more. Night came and Halona was as usual, causing trouble.

    "Halona get down from there!" Undertaker screamed. She had climbed onto the roof and started screaming that she wanted chocolate.

    "No! I'm a bird! And I want chocolate! Caw! Caw!" She shouted while flapping her arms in the air.

    "Halona get down here! Now!" Screamed Undertaker. Halona looked at him with a straight face.

    "Fine, I'll fly down." Undertaker's green eyes widened as she leaped off the building.

    "No no no no no no!" He shouted, grabbing her just in time before she hit the hard ground. The girl landed on his chest, exclaiming that she flew.

    "Papa! Papa! Did you see that!? I flew! I flew!" Undertaker groaned and let out a painful giggle.

    "Heh...sure you did." He pushed her off and stood up. Halona smiled at him and started running around.

    "Halona! Get back here!" Undertaker called after her. She didn't get very far once Undertaker swooped her off the ground and slung her over his bony shoulder.

    "Hey! Put me down!" Screamed the girl.

    "Hay is for horses not for people my child." Undertaker simply stated. Halona whined and squirmed, trying to escape but failing miserably.

    "Off to bed with you!" Declared the old man.

    "But its early! And I'm not tired."

    "Too bad."

    "Awwwww but papa-"

    "I said no, and that's final!" Halona huffed and crossed her arms.

    "You're no fun." She muttered. Undertaker giggled and thought to himself, 'you have no idea'. He tucked her in and closed her coffin, hearing her light snoring. She wouldn't admit it but she loved to sleep and would rather sleep all day instead of running around causing chaos.

    Undertaker sighed and climbed into his own coffin. He was about to drift off to sleep until someone knocked on the lid of his 'bed'.

   "Halona, go to sleep." Another knock.

    "Halona! I said go to bed!" He shouted. Then came another knock. Undertaker groaned and lazily crawled out of his 'bed'. Standing in front of him was the reaper William T. Spears.

    "William? It's a little late to be checking on her training." Once a month William would come by to report on how well Halona has progressed to dispatch. He was honestly shocked at how powerful she had become.

    "I am not here for a report. Dispatch needs your help." William said.

    "Whatever for?" Asked the old man. William took off his glasses and sighed.

   "It's James." He said. Undertaker's expression completely changed.

    "Are you sure?" William nodded. Undertaker sighed deeply.

    "What has he done now?"

    "He gathered all the banished reapers and attacked dispatch. We fought back but barely won. His army retreated, but they'll be back. We don't have enough reapers to win another fight. We need you-"

    "You know I can't." Undertaker snapped. William stepped forward.

    "He was your student!" William said angrily. Undertaker pushed him up against the wall forcefully.

    "I said I can't." Undertaker glared into Williams eyes.

    "Can't? Or won't?" William asked, gasping for air. Undertaker released the reaper and turned his back.

    "He won't listen to me." He stated. William got back on his feet, fixing his glasses.

    "He won't listen to anyone. Dispatch is a mess, we barely survived. We need you to fight with us. He's gotten much more powerful only you can defeat him!" William begged. Undertaker took a deep breath and turned to face him.

    "I can't just leave her."

    "We need you. James plans on taking all death scythes and using them to cast the spell." Undertaker gasped at what he had just heard.

    "He wouldn't..." muttered the old man. William nodded.

    "He also knows about the girl. He claims she will be his next target once he's won. Undertaker, you have to come and fight. We can't afford to lose." Said William. Undertaker thought long and hard before answering.

    "Fine. Just give me one more day with her. So I can make plans for her safety."

    "Alright, make it quick. We don't have much time." Undertaker nodded and with that William left. For hours Undertaker stood silently, trying to come up with a plan.

    "James..." he whispered.

~flashback~

    "Undertaker! Look! I made a hat!" The white haired boy exclaimed proudly.

    "And what a fine hat it is indeed my child." The boy smiled and hugged the old man. Undertaker looked into the boys brown eyes and pale skin.

    "Here you go!" Exclaimed the boy. He stood on his tippy toes and placed the paper hat on Undertaker's top hat.

    "Now you have two hats! Which is better than one!" Undertaker giggled and smiled at the boy fondly.

    "Thank you James I love it."  The pale child laughed and continued to run around the field of grass.
   

~end of flashback~

    The old man stood there smiling at the fond memory. He looked over at his desk, walking over to it. Opening the desk drawer he pulled out the small paper hat.

    More memories flooded his head as he held the gift. He sighed, knowing what he had to do. He walked over to the phone and picked it up, dialling the number.

    "Yes, Earl of Phantomhive! I need a favor."