Heat and Soul: A Soul Eater Love Story (xKid)

~Chapter Two~

“I’ve been attending school in a neighboring town,” Daemon begins.

I dig for details to get my mind off of the issue of how much I should tell him, “What’s the school called? Is it a big public school or one of those tiny private schools?”

“It’s called Shibusen. It’s pretty big; there’s a whole town centered around it after all. I guess you’d call it a private school though. Not just anybody can get in.”

For some reason, the name “Shibusen” rings a bell. I can’t place where I might’ve heard it before within a few seconds, so I push it from my head.

“So do you live in the town then? Or maybe there are dorm buildings?”

“A little of both. A lot of the closer buildings in the city are owned by the headmaster, and he allows students to stay in them. Provided, of course, that they don’t wreck anything.”

I try to imagine that, “So… Do you have roommates, then?”

“Sometimes, yeah.”       

“Only sometimes?”

“Well, they like to stick new transfer students with kids who have been there longer at first. Once they’ve found some friends of their own, they’re free to move.”

“So… You don’t have any friends to room with?”

“Nah… I don’t really have friends at Shibusen. Don’t get me wrong, everybody there is unique and interesting, but… No one has really… clicked with me like we did as kids.”

I mull that comment over for a minute, “I don’t remember us ‘clicking’ as kids. I remember hiding behind my mother as our parents introduced us.”

His small, lopsided smile comes back, “Yeah, you were terrified of me at first. But once your mother shooed us out of the house together you warmed up quickly enough. We played in the sandbox that first day, if I remember correctly.”

I grin, remembering how careful I was not to bump into him or brush fingers, “Our poor sandcastle ended up collapsing on my end right before we were called back in for dinner.”

We share a laugh together, but then go silent. I can hear my own heartbeat. I wonder again if I should tell him about my strange powers.

“Enough about me, Ember. What about you? What brings you to this fine town?”

Oh, crap. This is just the question I didn’t want to answer. I decide that I probably won’t get away with lying, but I don’t have to tell him the whole truth.

“Well, the house in our hometown burnt down, so we had to move.”

He doesn’t seem surprised or worried at all. I find it unnerving. I clasp my hands together to keep them from shaking.

“I’m living in town right now, though. With my Auntie Io.”

His eyebrows twitch downward ever so slightly in confusion.

“Well, you wouldn’t know her, Daemon, ‘cause she’s not actually my aunt. She just likes it when I call her Auntie Io, and I guess it’s become a habit.”

I suddenly remember the reason I was out in the first place, “Speaking of which, I’m supposed to be running some errands for Auntie right now… I’d better go… I’ll meet up with you later, I guess.”

He stares at me hard for a moment, as if trying to see through me.

“If you’re sure… I could always help you out.”

“No, I… Look, um… Come here again, like maybe Saturday morning, and I’ll come meet you. Say, ten or so? We can talk more then, okay?”

He continues to stare at me with that “What are you hiding?” look on his face. I squirm in discomfort.

“Fine. I’ll see you Saturday morning, then.”

I breathe a small sigh of relief and get up. I start to turn away, but change my mind. I jump in for another tight hug, which he returns gently. When I pull away, I have my best fake smile on my face, trying to convince him that I’m fine. I wave and walk away before I can chicken out. I can feel him watching me leave until I duck around a corner. I lean against the wall and force myself to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.

I hear a strange sound in the square, so I peek back. Daemon’s already gone, and there isn’t anybody else in the square. I fondle my pendant and subconsciously notice that the torch is lit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, during dinner with Auntie Io, my conversation with Daemon is still floating in my head. I remember that the name of his school sounded familiar.

“Auntie Io? Can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you know the school called ‘Shibusen’?”

By her reaction, she does. And either it has a horrible reputation, or she has some personal vendetta against it.

“Where did you hear that name?”

I debate whether I should tell her about Daemon. The suspicious look she’s pinning me with tells me it might be a bad idea.

“I heard someone talking about it while I was running errands for you today. I could’ve sworn I’d heard the name somewhere before, but I don’t remember where. I figured, being a resident of this town for several years, you would be the best person to ask about it.”

I think this is the first time I’ve seen her scowl, “Don’t tell me you actually want to attend school there…?”

“Well, no, not really… I was just curious.”

“Shibusen is full of cowards and fools. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave that place well alone.”

Her tone tells me that the conversation is over. Hmm, it’s probably not a good time to ask if Daemon can visit someday… I have to wonder why Iodama, who seems so sweet and kind to everyone, could hate Shibusen that much. What happened that turned her so strongly against the school? The rest of dinner is filled with silence. I go to bed early, but can’t fall asleep. My mind is still racing with questions. Several hours of tossing and turning finally nets me some sleep, but it is fitful and filled with nightmares of fighting against horrible powers and witches cackling.