12I really am sorry for not updating so long. Here it is OpenDNS really stopped me this time. But luckily I'm in the hospital mooching off their free wifi. Go, hospitals!
赤いの 祓魔師 – Episode 5 – Classmates
Yukio was full swing into his "Mr. Teacher" mode, lecturing the class with the skilled vivacity of a passionate veteran. He was going over the different types of Holy Water used by the True Cross Exorcists. There were three classes and three different densities for each class.
"Now, Triple-C density Holy Water is the preferred type and density. Mostly because it not only works on all the lower, weaker demons, but injures most higher-classed demons." Yukio wrote on the blackboard, making skritch skritch noises with the chalk. There were three circles on the board. One was very large. It had two other circles within it, and they intersected with one another like a Venn diagram. "Now many of the Eastern branches we have actually prefer to use Triple-A density Holy Water. Can anyone tell me why?"
Only two hands rose out of the lot.
"Yes, Bon?"
Izumo grimaced but quickly wiped it away. Typical Bon, always called on first.
"Well," began Bon. "There are quite a few half-demon hybrids who are Exorcists within the branch."
Miyu's ears pricked up at that fact. She didn't know that at all. At least, it wasn't in her textbooks.
"Triple-A density is preferred because it doesn't affect those of that parentage, so they would avoid injuring themselves if some accidentally were to spill on them." Bon finished his academic strutting and smirked. Rin, who was awake (surprisingly), gave a jealous snort and looked away.
"I see," murmured Miyu, her chin in between her thumb and index finger in thought as she leaned back in her chair.
"Himura-kun," said Yukio, noting the mumbling of words from his new student, "you don't have any questions, do you?"
Being put on the spot like that, Miyu froze. Her mind seized up. She didn't really like participating in class for many a reason. The main reason: she turned into a blathering, spaztic idiot. This was what was going to happen at the moment, for example.
For a couple of seconds she had forgotten that she was disguised as a boy.
"Ah I was just thinking that…" blurted Miyu, her heart racing, "it's like bra sizes!"
That was the worst thing to say disguised as a man, a lewd comparison of holy water to bra sizes.
Yukio's face was no longer its usual shade. It had darkened to a deep red that matched Miyu's hair. "B-bra sizes?" he whispered to himself shakily. "That's…"
"Yeah," continued Miyu. "Most people like Triple-C density, but it takes a real special person to appreciate Triple-A!" The words came out before she could stop herself. It was much like she was being possessed. However, she had just succeeded in praising her own flat chest, so a small part of her mind felt justified.
Izumo stood and banged her hands on the table. "What kind of pervert are you!?"
"Pervert?" said Miyu. She thought for a moment, but then what she had said earlier had begun to sink in. "AH!" The girl-disguised-as-a-boy panicked for a moment, but then clapped her hands together. "I'm sorry! Forgive me! I'm just….sort of comfortable about talking such things because I have two older sisters at home!"
Shima stood up and mimicked Izumo, his eyes shining. "What are their names? Out with it, man!" His bubblegum pink hair suddenly had sprouted wolf ears, and from out of nowhere a matching tail also appeared.
Yukio clapped his hands. "That's enough everyone."
Whichever students were standing seated themselves quickly. He may have been the same age as the rest of them, but Yukio was a pretty powerful Exorcist. He probably could have beaten them in unarmed combat with his eyes closed.
Izumo folded her arms and forced her magenta eyes on Miyu.
Our heroine flinched. She looked away in hopes of disappearing very soon.
Yukio continued teaching, albeit with a light blush covering his cheeks the entire lesson.
They had a slight break in between classes since one of the instructors was on a mission of his own today. The other boys gathered around Miyu in attempt to bond with "him". Shima clung especially close, since he had heard of "his" two older sisters who discussed their lingerie openly. Said pink-haired boy pat Miyu on the back.
"Yeah, I think you're on Kamiki-san's 'List' forever, now."
"Kamiki-san? Oh, the purple-haired girl?" She looked over at the other table where Shiemi and Izumo were sitting. Miyu thought back at the look Izumo had given her. "Seems Tsundere to me."
"What a very….otaku-like observation," Konekomaru commented.
"You just don't see it," Miyu said dismissively.
Shima gave Miyu a thumbs up anyway, eager to know where the new kid lived, and by extrention, his older sisters. "So where're you from?"
"Kyo-to," she said. "I used to live in the Chion-in Temple."
"Really?" Bon was interested in meeting someone from around the same area. He also used to live in a temple as well, so it was doubly interesting.
"My mother….was the Head Priestess." A dark look donned across her face. "She also was an Exorcist. I only found out recently."
"But didn't a high-level demon attack that temple not too long ago?" Konekomaru adjusted his glasses and squinted at Miyu. He'd seen this person before, but he couldn't figure out where.
"Wait." Shima pointed to Miyu in shock. "I also heard something about that. Didn't that happen, what, last night?" He paled when he realized the meaning behind Miyu's words. "I… I'm sorry for your loss." He bowed slightly.
"You mean," Rin's attention had joined the conversation rather quickly at the mention of a demon attack, and he felt a pang go through his chest when he heard that this was the same attack Yukio had mentioned last night. "Himura-kun, you okay?"
Miyu's smile returned. "Of course. I'm fine." She ran a hand through her hair. "I mean, I've got my sisters and this sword. That's all I need."
"Oh, so…" Rin knew a carefully constructed façade when he saw it. Better to change the subject. "You plan on being a Knight too?"
From what her father had told her about the different classes of Exorcist, she had decided maybe that it was a possibility. Maybe a little bit of Dragoon? If she was ever without her sword she could always stash a pistol somewhere on her person, right? Aria was too difficult. One had to have a good memory for that, and although she wasn't what you'd consider dumb, she had neither the time nor patience for memorizing scriptures.
"Yeah, something like that." Miyu shrugged. "Maybe I could also carry a gun in case we get separated."
Bon raised an eyebrow. "We?"
"Me and my sword," explained Miyu, smiling broader.
They thought it strange he referred to it as if it were a person, but it wasn't the strangest thing they'd heard from him all day.
"So, is it true?" Shima grinned darkly, glints of mischief in his eyes.
Five question marks floated around Miyu's head. "Is what true?"
"That you got into a fight with Kagasaki-san?" Shima shrugged and pat Miyu on the back, and she hoped the True Cross Academy uniform was thick enough for the boy not to feel her bra straps poking through the back of her shirt.
A nervous sweatdrop rolled down her forehead. "I never fought that dumbass."
Rin gave Miyu a suspicious look before snorting. "Then why is he saying you did?"
She rolled her eyes. "No idea. In fact I rejected him and kept walking."
"Eh? Really? That's what I heard from most of the girls, but I thought they were covering for you or something." Shima poked his fingers together guiltily for doubting them.
"Why would they do that?" Miyu mused aloud, and tried to sort out why in the world they should say things like that.
Shima put his arm around her shoulders and stage-whispered. "If you haven't noticed, you're somewhat of a bishounen."
What in insult to her femininity. Somewhere within Miyu her inner girly girl began to wither and die. "Uh…really now?"
"Anyway, Kagasaki keeps trying to spread the rumor that you chickened out and begged for your life," Shima said this matter-o-factly, wondering how in the world Miyu had made Kagasaki mad in the firt place.
"He…" She ground her teeth, imagining the enjoyable scene of that Kagasaki jerk being dismembered. "Oh, that weaselfu—," she grumbled, muting the curse.
"Well now…." said Bon, looking over the murderous expression with a cause for concern.
"So Miyu, you got any goals later on?" said Shima, upbeat as usual as he was with most everything.
"Goals?" she thought about it, but aside from that one thing… "Well if you're looking for goals, then…I want to…become the most kickass Exorcist in the world!" She stuck up a thumb and smiled.
Konekomaru smiled, resting his head on his hand. "…It seems you're aiming for the title of Paladin then."
Rin poked his thumb into his chest. "If that's the case, then you've got yourself a rival!"
"Really?" She looked at him incredulously.
The would-be exorcist pounded the table passionately with his fist. "See, I want to become Paladin and defeat Satan. Bon's my rival in the defeat Satan category, but he doesn't stand a chance."
Bon shot daggers at Rin through his eyes. "What, you say Okumura?!"
"Ahahaha." With the exception of Bon, all laughed at the reaction of the ambitious "prodigy".
"Hey, you know, I'm curious," said Miyu, leaning back in her chair. "I heard that earlier this year you guys tried to summon Familiars."
All the boys sighed a collective sigh of exasperation. Their gender had completely no chance in that category.
Bon cracked a lopsided half-smile. "Yeah, but you gotta have a knack for it. Shiemi for example, was able to summon one, as well as Kamiki-san."
"Really? Which one is Shiemi, now?" She looked over the three girls at their separate little circle across the room.
"The blonde," said Rin, almost dreamily.
Miyu committed the name to memory. "Okay. Right." She stood, gripped the strap holding her sword up for emotional support, and walked over. Despite being a girl, she had trouble talking to girls who weren't part of her family, so this was going to be a little difficult.
Rin, wondered what Miyu was doing, getting up so suddenly, and reached out a hand. "Wait, what're you—,"
Miyu stood in front of the three girls with feet apart and a flushed face. "Shi-Shiemi-chan! I have something to ask you."
Startled, the shy blonde wondered why the new student would bother even speaking to her. Izumu also wondered why this was happening, but since she still had not personally forgiven Miyu for earlier, she stayed silent and pretended not to notice.
"Ask m-me?" said Shiemi, whose face gained color as well.
Between them the atmosphere was becoming more like the one before a love confession, so the others around them were paralyzed and unable to say anything. They watched as what appeared to be an extremely embarrassed boy speaking to the most beautiful girl in their class.
"It's more like a favor," said Miyu, scratching behind her head and looking to the side.
"A favor? I dunno if I can help," replied Shiemi, looking down, her face growing redder.
"Shiemi-chan." Miyu grabbed her hands. Everyone held their breath and waited for the most important part…
"Will you please teach me how to summon a Familiar?"
The spell was broken, and everyone stopped blushing. Rin collapsed on the ground, steam pouring off his head. Relief was the only thing on his mind when that sentence was spoken.
"Eh?" Shiemi blinked in surprise. This was the first time anyone had asked for help in connection to their classes.
"Please?" Miyu's eyes burned with a strange intensity. "I feel it in my bones; no, it's boiling in my blood." She hit her chest with a fist and closed her eyes. "I can taste victory hanging on the tip of my tongue!"
Shiemi became flustered as if Miyu really had given a love confession. "I don't understand."
Shima sighed. Even a blockhead like him could understand what the new student meant. "I think he's trying to say that he really feels like he has the aptitude for it."
"Oh, I see." Shiemi clapped her hands together. "Well there isn't much to know." From the kimono she somehow conjured a square of paper. On it was a strange seal-like circle. "You just have to take some of your blood and put it here."
Miyu took the paper, bit her thumb with one of her sharp fangs, and applied the ichor to the seal.
"Right. Then you say the first thing that comes to your mind."
'Alright. Here it goes,' thought Miyu, closing her eyes and concentrating. The words appeared in her mind easily, to her surprise. From her lips they spilled, song-like and childish.
" Lucky Cat, Lucky Cat, I come bearing sweets and sake‼ "
Pop! Something appeared before her face, something furry and odd.
"What the?"
Before her on the ground was a calico cat. It was fat, almost like a cute little pig. Everyone froze into statues, wondering what the heck just happened.
"Who summoned me?" said the cat.
