Eating Souls, Act One: The Beginning

39: A peek at someone else : What are they up to?

Mifune looked on as his young students practiced, waving their sticks around in sloppy yet enthusiastic imitations of what they had learned. He smiled. They were doing quite well, considering not one of them was over ten years old.

He leaned back against a large tree. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm, but with a slight breeze. It was the kind of day that made him truly enjoy holding his class outside. His first few lessons had been in a classroom, but after three broken windows, eight holes in the walls, and countless bruises, he had requested that he be allowed to hold class out in the field. Lord Death had agreed, looking somewhat relieved.

He thought back to the day he had decided to accept the offer to become a teacher at the DWMA. Lord Death had seemed quite pleased to have him, despite having no open positions. He easily resolved the dilemma by creating a class that taught basic fighting techniques to young human children. It was the perfect job for him. Eager to start, he was pleasantly surprised when Lord Death had a large group of students for him to teach the very next morning.

"Alright class, that's all for today," he announced, returning his mind to the present. "Well done." He smiled at them. "You'll all be legendary samurai in no time, I have no doubt."

The children gathered their belongings and departed, laughing and chatting excitedly, except for one little boy. He was the last to leave, and he looked upset.

Mifune walked over to the boy and knelt down in front of him. "Ronan, right?"

He looked up, surprised. "Y-yes Professor?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Well..." he glanced to his left, where a girl and a boy were sitting and eating lunch together. "That girl over there...Shayla..." He paused, turning pink. "She's nice. And she has pretty hair. But..."

Mifune chuckled at the young boy's obvious crush. "But what?"

"Well, um...she's always hanging out with...him...even though he's not nice." He scowled at the boy sitting beside Shayla. Edric was his name, but most of the children called him Ed. He was fairly popular, despite (or perhaps due to) his habit of treating the other kids like they were beneath him. At that moment, he had taken Shayla's candy bar and was holding it above her head. "He keeps calling me a loser and hitting me with his stick. He says it's an accident, but I know it's on purpose."

He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I think he's jealous because I learned the blocking moves you taught us today really well." He grinned proudly. "A bunch of people said so. Even Shayla." At that, his face fell. "But she still likes him more."

Mifune frowned for a moment, then reached into his pocket. "Hey Ronan, do you like candy?"

Ronan looked up at him and nodded curiously.

"Here," Mifune said, pulling a Konbu out of his pocket and handing it to Ronan, who took it and ate it happily. Mifune patted the boy on the head. "I'm sure she'll realize that you're a better friend than him in no time. Until then, just keep being a good friend, and one of my best students." He smiled and stood.

Ronan grinned. "Thank you Professor!" He grabbed his bag and ran toward the school.

Mifune looked over at Edric. Shayla had gotten her candy bar back, but she was walking away, looking annoyed. Ed was calling to her to come back and stop being a baby. Mifune sighed. He hated this part. He'd have to talk to the boy's parents.

/*-+-*/

"Alright Black Star, try it again," Stein instructed calmly. "But this time, try to focus a bit harder." He readied himself for Black Star's next attack. He had requested special lessons from Stein in order to improve his ability to attack an opponent with his soul wavelength directly. He wanted to be able to project it out from his body like Stein was able to do, but so far his attempts had been mediocre at best. Stein was patient. It was a rather difficult technique, and it would take even Black Star quite some time to master.

Leila, on the other hand, was not quite as successful at keeping a straight face. She was relaxing (or, at least, attempting to) in Stein's rolly chair, laughing audibly whenever he failed to hit Stein with his wavelength. Whenever she laughed, it occurred to her how much it sounded like Rivin's laugh. How funny...

"I WILL MASTER THIS TECHNIQUE AND SURPASS GOD!" Black Star declared as he focused his wave length in his hand. If this worked right, it should shoot from his palm straight at Stein. As it was, the focused energy exploded and blew Black Star into the nearest desk. "augh..." He groaned, rubbing his back where it struck the corner. "One more time!"

He refocused and took aim. There was a pop... And his energy fizzled out.

Leila cackled and nearly fell out of the chair. "Oh g-goodness," she said breathlessly, clutching her sides. "What an attack! I don't know how he'll recover from that one...breaking the furniture. Good strategy!" She gave him a thumbs up, then began laughing again.

Stein nodded his approval. "Despite Leila's sarcasm, you did make some decent progress today. Shall we pick up again tomorrow, or would you like to continue?"

"ARE YOU KIDDING I CAN GO ALL DAY LONG!" Black Star tried and failed to focus his wavelength again. Instead, his stomach grumbled loudly at its cruel mistreatment and neglect.

"I don't think that's where the attack is supposed to come from, Black Star!"

Stein smirked. "I'd say it's lunchtime. We'll try again tomorrow."