Chapter 1
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"Everything in this world is a research subject. Naturally, this includes myself."
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I woke up to the same patchwork design on the ceiling that I had been for the 14 years before now. Today was the day we'd decided was my birthday, but I didn't even really care. I slipped my jeans on, pulled on my shirt and threw a jacket on top of all of that. Then I grabbed a bandana off of my dresser and tied it around my neck. I ruffled my silver hair, grabbed my keys out of the box next to the door, slipped my shoes on, and went on out.
'It's a large building with three skulls on the front of it. You can't miss it!' My uncle had said.
My name is Jeff, and I've been living with my uncle for 15 years today. I've been told that when I was one, my parents were killed by assassins... I think he'd said the Star Clan or something... and he took me in. Unfortunately, people think my uncle's a bit... psychotic... on account of the screw through his head.
Last week, after I finished reading my fourth book that week (and dissecting a few frogs and other... miscellaneous animals), my uncle suggested I go to this Academy in the city. Apparently, my mother was able to turn into some sort of weapon, and it seems that those genes were passed on. I've been turning my hands into swords ever since I was little... about six, where I woke up with my hands as blades and gave myself that scar above my right eye.
Since then, I've been able to conjure my right hand into only one sort of sword, and I haven't even been able to fully turn into a weapon. So, my uncle suggested I go to this academy to learn to strengthen and control myself.
I found the building I was told to look for. Massive. Three skulls. Impossible to miss.
Yeah. It was IMPOSSIBLE to miss. There was a sign out front that said "Death Weapon Meister Academy."
I was so excited that I charged up the stairs and towards the door... and I didn't realize I practically ran over a girl on the way until I tripped on one of the stairs.
I got up, brushed myself off, turned around to make sure no one saw me fall, and I saw her. She was sitting flat on her butt, looking shocked and confused. I swallowed my pride and ran over to help her up.
"Hey, sorry about that..." I chuckled, trying a smile as I offered her my hand. She looked up at me and laughed a little.
"It's okay. I should've been paying attention. I'm such a klutz..." She grabbed my hand, and I pulled her to her feet.
That's when I realized just how small she was. I'm about 5' 11", but this girl... she was like... 4' 6" or something like that. She was dressed in a black shirt with a skull on it, and the numbers 42 on both shoulders, and 564 at the bottom hem. She wore purple jeans and had long brownish black hair that easily flowed to her waist.
"W-well it's my fault I mowed you over... it's my first day here." I stammered, trying not to look like I was checking her out.
"Really? Mine too!" She laughed, and I relaxed. That laugh was oddly soothing... who was this person?
"If...if I may inquire as to your name?" I stammered. She laughed again.
"Anna. What's yours?" she said, smiling.
"Jeff. I live at the edge of town. Pleased to meet you." I said, shaking hands with the little girl.
"Likewise!" Anna replied.
"If... it's not too much, how old are you?"
"Me? I'm 16." She smiled.
I couldn't believe what I'd heard. I've met somebody who's only the height of an eight-year-old, and a year older than me?! I would've replied, except the bells of the Academy started ringing.
"Crap, I'm late! I'll see you around, okay, Jeff? Later!" She yelled as she ran inside. I shrugged and went inside to look for a classroom... Crescent Moon, I think?
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I walked into the classroom, and the seats were all set up in an auditorium style of seating, which of course made it easy for everyone to stare at me for being late. I beamed and walked toward the teacher's desk... without looking at who the teacher was.
"Ah, I see you're late again." the teacher replied.
"Fashionably. And what do you mean 'again'?" I asked as I turned toward the teacher.
"Just like you're late coming home." My uncle grinned.
"AHHH! Unca, yu da teecha?!?!" I blabbered out, as I blushed, realizing I spouted gibberish.
"Yes, 'I da teecha'. Now go take your seat between Miss Minus and Miss Nakatsukasa." He ordered.
"Ummmm...." I felt clueless. Maybe because I was.
"Up here!" Shouted a voice I'd only just recently learned. I glanced toward the second row from the top, and sure enough, two seats over from a really attractive girl I assumed was Miss Nakatsukasa, was Anna.
"This day just keeps getting better and better." I sighed as I climbed toward my seat.
"Very good. Now, today class, we will begin with a dissection lab..." my uncle said as he picked up a book.
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After the lab, I took the initiative and decided to make intelligent conversation with Anna.
"Ai. Doa yo nu muc abut Nakats?"
She stared at me. I blushed as I realized I spouted gibberish again.
"Sorry. Anna, how much do you know about Miss Nakatsukasa?"
"Don't call her 'Miss Nakatsukasa.' She really hates it when you do. Just 'Tsubaki'."
"Oh. I'm guessing you found out the hard way?"
"Yeah. So, Stein-sensei is your uncle?" She replied.
"Yeah."
"I couldn't have told otherwise. You're far too nice." She smiled.
"R-really? Most people call me a jerk." I stammered.
"Maybe because you didn't run them over." She laughed.
"Nice. Maybe..." I blushed bright red as she gently jabbed me in the side. She grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me close to her face.
"You're no good at talking to girls, are you?" She whispered.
"N-n-no... I really want to talk with Tsubaki, but I'm nervous..." I stammered.
"Well, as my first friend here, I'll help you out." She replied and let go.
"H-How?" I asked.
"Hey, Tsubaki! The new kid wants to talk with you!" Anna barked at Tsubaki, and I turned bright red.
"A-ANNA!" I choked.
"Was there something you wanted, Jeff-kun?" Tsubaki asked.
"Have fun~" Anna smiled as she opened a book.
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"Well? How'd it go?" Anna said as we left class. I was still wondering if I'd made an awesome friend or a terrible enemy.
"I-I dunno... I couldn't talk to her without stammering."
"Any gibberish episodes?"
"None, thank Death."
"Excuse me, Miss Minus, Mister Stein. I'd like to speak with you." Stein-sama said.
"Did we do something wrong? I know we were late, but..." Anna said quietly. I raised an eyebrow at her. She had no trouble talking to me, but she acted meek in front of my uncle.
"No, no, nothing like that. I just needed to tell you something, you two being new and all." He said as he started turning the screw in his head with an eerie creak.
"Right. What's up?" I asked.
"Since you're both new here, you need to choose your partners. Miss Minus, you need to find an appropriate Weapon partner; while Mister Stein-" He said, turning to me. "-will need to find an appropriate Meister partner."
I nodded, but Anna looked at me like I was an alien.
"What?"
"You-you're a weapon?!" She stammered.
"Yeah. And you're a Meister. Now, I think I'd like to browse more before I choose a Meister. Uncle, was that it?"
Uncle Stein nodded. "That was it."
"Okay then. Anna, I'll see you around. I have to 'browse'." I said as I put my hands in my pockets and walked out into the halls.
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Jeff left the classroom to "browse" for a Meister, but I knew I'd see him later that day.
"...your soul seems to be confident right now." Stein-sensei said. I instinctively covered my chest as if he'd said "Hi, I'm a pedo.", but I lowered them as he smiled.
"...yeah. I'm pretty sure I've chosen my weapon." I said, staring into space, listening to Jeff's footsteps down the hall.
"He'll change his mind. I've known him and raised him for 14 years today. He's always a bit rough around the edges, but if you're as sweet as you're soul depicts, then he'll smooth out. Now, I want to ask: Are you sure?"
I smiled.
"Yep. I'm pretty sure."
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My day turned out like crap. I'd met all sorts of Meisters, but NONE of them had a personality like mine. I'd met this geeky guy named Oxford, but he was too much of a know-it-all. Everybody else I saw were just too odd for me to even remember their names. Maybe I'd find some tomorrow.
That's when I saw Tsubaki in the hall, with a guy who had blue hair. I hid behind a pillar as I watched them.
I was in awe. Tsubaki seemed like such a meek and loving person. But that guy, he was yelling something about "being the biggest star of all", and saying that he'd prove to the whole school that he could cheat even death.
I narrowed my eyebrows. That guy was a huge showoff! And yet, Tsubaki wore the same stars that the kid did, so maybe... they were partners? They couldn't be! They were far too opposite!
Then I remembered hearing Uncle Stein working, saying something about how souls have to balance each other, even out. If that was the case, then those two could totally be partners.
Tsubaki and the kid I assumed was her Meister started to walk towards the hall I came from, and I finally got a good look at Tsubaki.
She wore a one piece dress whose skirt seemed to lean only on her left side, so she wore a silk stocking up to the midpoint of her thigh. The belts at her waist kept the dress hugging her hips, and kept her from showing anything she didn't want to. The top part was a sort of v-neck vest, showing off a little of her... erm... lungs. Yes, lungs. Anyway, she had a gold star on her right... lung... on the dress, and she had cloth armbands on both arms, wearing stars on the forearms. She had her long black hair up in a ponytail, with her bangs laying cutely across her face.
I waited until they passed, and continued to the locker room. Uncle told me that he'd left a change of clothes for me in there.
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I stepped outside, thumbing through weapon options that Stein-sensei had given me. Some looked okay, but the only one I'd met that wasn't on the list or taken was Jeff. He was the only one I'd actually spoken to and been able to actually speak to.
I sighed and put the pictures in my pocket. It was time for me to go home.
"Hey, cutie. Wanna 'play' with us?" A creepy voice said from behind me.
"Hey, boss. Are you sure this is a good idea? In front of the academy?"
"Absolutely. She can't scream loud enough."
"Who says I'd scream?" I snapped as I turned around to see two kids from the academy... no, from my class; start walking toward me with those creepy "Hi, I'm a perv!" smiles.
"Well, we can tell you're awfully well developed for such a little girl." The first one said, drooling. I swear, I wanted to hurl. I raised my hands and covered my chest as he reached out.
I felt two hands grab me from behind, as the first dude's buddy put his hands on my waist.
"Maybe we should knock her out!" his buddy said.
"Nah, I like it when they fight back. Makes it more rewarding!" He laughed.
"HEY. Droolbuckets, mind getting your hands off of my friend?" I heard someone yell. The first dude turned around, and all I saw was a shadow. I could tell what he was wearing, but not his face. He wore a sort of labcoat, covered in stitches as if he'd torn it apart on purpose just to sew it back together. He also had something sticking out behind his head. He stepped out into the light, and I realized that it wasn't behind his head. It was THROUGH his head.
It was a screw, but it wasn't Stein-sensei.
It was Stein-kun. Little Stein.
"I said, LET GO." He ordered sternly.
"Whew. I was worried. I thought it was Stein-sensei. I actually thought we were in trouble. But no, it's just the noob. Run away now, kid. We'll just have our way with her and move on. We don't need a second, and certainly not a guy." The first guy laughed.
Little Stein shook his head. "I'm repulsed. Truly. Although, your technique I can't argue. It's funny though. I thought you'd need an army to stop Anna. You can let go now."
I laughed. He was mocking them in so many ways. They just didn't know it yet.
"You must've caught her by surprise. Otherwise you two would be dangling from the pinnacle there." He continued as he reached for the screw in his head. He began twisting it with the same creak that Stein-sensei's screw made.
"Will you stop with your little threats?! We'd kick your butt if we didn't have such a hotty caught!" the first guy barked, spraying spit in Little Stein's face. He didn't even blink.
"You seem to be mistaken. They aren't threats. They're promises. You have until the screw clicks." Little Stein said, as his eyes glowed viciously for a second.
I laughed so hard I got the hiccups and had to use my hands to cover my mouth.
"Haha! My fluffies!" The second guy yelled, and before I knew what had happened, he'd grabbed my breasts.
The click from Little Stein's head could be heard through all of Death City.
"Ahh, I feel much better now." He said, and his eyes filled with malice. "I have the urge..." He cackled like a maniac. "... TO DISSECT!!!"
He ran toward me, slammed his elbow into the first guy, then flipped and kicked Pervo in the head, throwing him into the ground. Little Stein kicked Pervo in the ribs, then pushed him down the stairs to the Academy.
I fell to the ground in the fetal position, cradling myself, feeling utterly violated. Then Little Stein stepped in front of me, holding Dude One by the scruff of his neck.
"I'll let you do the honors." He said, grinning sadistically.
I stood up and stood on the Dude's back. I then jumped on it and kicked him in the head.
"You pervy bastards! I'll beat the soul out of you!" I yelled as I jumped on his back some more.
Pervo slammed into Little Stein, who had been loosening his screw, and pushed me off of Dude One.
"Boss! Are you okay?" He yelled, helping Dude One to his feet.
"I say we beat them senseless, then we get what we want. Billy, weapon form. NOW!"
"B-Billy?" I stammered, then burst out laughing. "BILLY?! Pervo was a better name!" I laughed.
"Shut up! Boss'll beat you down, Fluffies!"
"So his name's Boss, huh? I thought you were just being respectful." Little Stein said, walking to my side.
"Doesn't matter, 'cause we're throwing you in a ditch, Screwhead!" Billy said as he turned into an axe and Boss caught him.
"Nothing more creative? Pity." Little Stein said, using my head as an armrest. I almost bit his arm off.
"How about 'Patchy the Pirate'? Huh? What now?!" Billy barked.
"I meant your form. Anna, may I hold your hand?" Little Stein replied, taking his arm off of my head.
"No! Why are you flirting with me right- no, PERIOD?!" I snapped, a little insulted. I was just violated, and now he wants to hold my hand!
"Just do it. Trust me. You'll like it." He replied.
"CREEP!" I snapped and tried to punch him. He caught my hand and wormed his fingers through.
"Don't drop me now~" He said as his right arm- the one I wasn't holding- turned into a sword blade.
"Y-y-you m-m-mean?" I staggered over the words as my anger vanished with reason.
"I've chosen my Meister." he grinned as his body melted into a sword.
The blade I found myself holding was a mix between beautiful and disturbing. It was a beautiful crimson hue, but it had spikes stemming out of the blade about two inches above the end of the hilt, and they curved like a crescent moon. The weapon itself was as tall as me, and yet... it was as light as a feather. There were stiches hemmed into the blade, so it looked like someone had sewed a sword and ripped it, then patched it up. The hilt was black and gold, spiraling around itself like a double-helix. The guard was like that of a bastard sword, only the edges hooked upward like teeth.
Boss backed up and laughed.
"You're gonna fight me with THAT?! What a joke! Billy, let's snap that toy like a twig."
"Anna, don't be afraid. Be brave." Little Stein said to me.
"Ha! You think I'm scared? Trust me, I'll whup them!"
Boss ran at me, swinging Billy like he was a sledgehammer. I sidestepped him as it came down, and I kicked him in the chest, knocking him over. He rolled over, grabbing Billy and trying a side sweep.
"Cross Block!" Little Stein said, and for some reason, I knew what he meant. I blocked Billy with Little Stein vertical, and I used the teeth on the hilt to pin Billy into the ground by driving Little Stein's blade in as well. I ran in and punched Boss in the ribs, and then kneed him in the chin.
This was so cool! I was fighting like a real Meister! I grabbed Little Stein out of the ground and charged at Boss.
Boss grabbed Billy and blocked my overhead strike with the shaft of the axe, but Little Stein barked another command, and again, I knew exactly what to do. I snagged the shaft of the axe with the spikes in the blade and threw Billy out of Boss' hands, then pointed Little Stein at his throat.
"If you EVER try to touch me again, I'll let Stein-kun dissect you."
"Actually... I was only kidding. I don't like dissecting. I prefer eviscerating. I don't care about what I'm pulling out." He replied
"Hah! So I can just get off okay! I'll get your body one day, Anna Minus!" Boss snapped. I felt like just dropping Little Stein and saying "oops. I didn't mean to carve out your neck!"
"HOWEVER." Little Stein cut in. "- I don't think my Uncle would mind a new test subject." I could see him grinning sadistically from the sword.
Boss and Billy both whimpered and ran off.
I set Little Stein down as he turned back into a human.
"Sorry. I should've come sooner." He said, looking at the ground.
I laughed and gave him a hug. "Nah, you did a good job. I should've fought back before you came. The Academy would've appreciated those ornaments."
"Well, PARTNER." He said 'partner' with huge grin on his face. "Wanna head over to my place? I'm sure Uncle would love to have guests tonight. Besides, I'm sure he'd want to hear and meet my new partner."
I shuddered at the thought of being in the Patchwork Laboratory. "M-maybe later!" I tried to run off, but Little Stein caught me by the back of my shirt and pulled me back.
He laughed. "No excuses, come on!"
I caught myself smiling. I think my parents would be proud of my new partner.
