Ch5 - The Wolf

Of the gods, only the god of death does not desire gifts.

"Come on, get up.

They scheduled you for a duel."

The voice was teen, perhaps sixteen.

He was standing next to a bed.

The sheets were completely pulled over whom was sleeping.

The teen crossed his arms.

Another came up, "He still sleeping?"

The first responded, "I guess,

apparently he was authorized another solo assignment.

I think the teachers play favorites."

"Maybe not... if they scheduled him for a duel right after an assignment."

The first shrugged in response.

Another teen came in, "Hey, where's the neko?

The teachers are in a frenzy.

Apparently someone from the royal family is here to observe the duel."

The first two looked to the new teen, then the bed.

"Wake up man, the teachers will kill you if you miss a duel to be observed by the royal family."

There was no movement under the sheets.

"Just shake him!" the newest teen said.

The two looked to each other, then the newest.

"No." they said in unison.

The teen grumbled and came over from the door.

"Why not?

He's clearly not getting up just by you guys standing there."

"I am not risking my neck for that."

"You two are pathetic." the newest said and reached for the sheets.

"You really shouldn't-" one said, as a warning.

The newest grabbed the sheets though.

In a blur of movement, the newest teen was on the ground.

On top of him, holding a crimson knife to his throat was a male.

The male appeared nearly sixteen.

He had long purple hair, that touched the floor, and was parted by cat ears atop his head.

He was thin, but all muscle.

He had only purple pants on, and he had a long purple tail.

The male, now pinned to the floor was in shock.

The other two just stood, "I warned you.

He doesn't like people to touch him.

Especially when he's sleeping."

The neko stood up, and the dagger disappeared.

He looked annoyed, then looked to the other two.

One spoke, "You're late for a duel.

Royal family is observing, apparently."

The neko shook his head, looking more annoyed.

He didn't want to put on some show for the royal family.

He went over to his wall locker, as the other boys helped the one off the floor.

The neko grabbed a white sleeveless shirt.

He pulled it on, as the boy who'd been attacked walked out.

The others stood, the first spoke, "You really are late.

The teachers are gonna be pissed."

The neko shrugged, before grabbing a hair tie.

He pulled his long hair back, and tied it up haphazardly.

He wasn't wearing any shoes, but didn't care.

He closed his locker, and walked out.

The two followed.

They were the closest things the neko had to friends.

Though friendships were strongly discouraged.

Emotional attachment of any type of generally discouraged.

Part of this was because any duels had a chance of being fights to the death.

Occasionally the duels were used to eliminate various students.

Teachers had to not only ensure a student would kill someone on command...

They needed to eliminate those who wouldn't.

Or those that the teachers realized were likely to become psychopaths.

Those who seemed to enjoy the prospect of killings others a bit to much...

Or those who were likely to go on a murderous rampage.

They were assassins, they did not kill people because they liked it.

They killed people, because it was their job.

The neko walked into a room.

There was a teacher, who looked to him.

"Why are you late?!

You know what time these duels are!

Wha- you look like you just woke up.

You're not even wearing shoes! 

Gah! It doesn't matter.

The royal family will be observing.

Today's guest of honor is the prince, and heir apparent.

He has not chosen his assassin, even after observing several duels.

Being chosen would be excellent for your career.

It guarantees contracts, and excellent pay.

Now, do try to impress the prince without being showy."

The neko rolled his eyes, and went over to the arena door.

The teacher chirped in, before the door opened.

"Oh, and only one of you can leave the arena."

The neko nodded, and took his tail in his hand, before he tied it around his waist.

It was a habit he's picked up, after it had been grabbed a couple times.

That s--t hurt.

The door opened, and he walked into the arena.

The dueling area was different than the one from when he had taken his main exam.

It was larger, and more like a stage.

There were only seats on one side.

The edge of the dueling arena glittered with a magic shield.

This was to prevent observers from getting hurt.

And to prevent anyone from escaping.

The door closed behind him.

He did not look to the crowd, though he could feel the eyes watching.

They were quiet, his peers, older class man, teachers, and a prince.

Unlike when he was younger, the crowd did not need to induce adrenaline.

Adrenaline allowed them to be swept up in the combat, and pressured them into their first kill.

Now they observed.

They were learning, trying to discern weakness.

Once moved into the last tier of training they were allowed to eliminate competition.

You could not be caught, or have any witnesses.

If you were seen, you weren't a very good assassin.

The opposite door opened, and another male walked out.

This male appeared completely human.

His hair was even a messy brown.

The door closed, and a bell chimed.

The first bell, meant 'ready'

The both stood just staring at each other.

The second bell chimed.

And suddenly the neko's opponent's face changed.

It grew longer, and his teeth grew sharper.

The male also grew taller, and began growing a layer of shaggy fur.

A wolf demon.

Related to the werewolf, with exception of changing form at will.

And being able to shift between human, a demonic wolf form, and a pure wolf.

He howled, and the neko just stared at him unimpressed.

The werewolf charged, before the neko smirked.

Suddenly the wolf was stuck, and looked down to question why.

Holding his feet was blood.

Countless people had died on this stage, it was saturated with blood.

The neko raised his hand up and blood pulled up.

The blood formed various needles.

The needles then shot across the stage striking the werewolf.

The werewolf howled enraged, and managed to rip himself out of the blood.

He slashed at the neko, who barely jumped out of the way.

The neko rolled, before standing again.

He brought up more blood, forming a sword.

The wolf laughed, "Your little tricks can't beat me, kitty boy."

The neko growled, and held his sword in both hands.

The werewolf lunged slashing again.

Instead of properly dodging he attempted to retaliate with his sword.

The sword did made contact but did nothing except cut some fur.

In exchange for that little bit of fur the neko got a nasty claw slice to the side of his stomach.

He would not be able to cut the wolf demon's thick furry hide this way.

His stomach bled, but he paid it little mind.

The wolf bit at him, and he ducked.

He dropped the sword allowing it to dispaite, it would not help him.

He instead pulled up a thin slice of blood against the beast's stomach.

It drew a little blood, as the neko rolled to distance himself.

"Why do you have such long hair?

You spend time brushing it, instead of training?"

the wolf laughed, as he clawed at the neko again.

The neko dodged, watching the wolf.

"Maybe you think it'll make you a pretty kitty boy."

The neko growled, he was getting annoyed at the wolf's mocking.

In truth he'd only ever let his mother cut his hair.

He didn't much trust anyone else near him with a pair of scissors.

So it hadn't been cut since his mother died.

It then occurred to him this was the wolf's plan.

The wolf relied on brute strength of tripping people up.

Mocking people generally caused them to get upset.

Thinking went out the door, as most acted in annoyed rage.

He dodged another attack, before realizing he was suddenly trapped in the corner of the arena.

A bad place for anyone.

Especially when faced with the claws of a wolf.

The wolf gave a cruel and evil smirk.

The wolf believed he had the duel won.

However the neko gave a glare of defiance.

As the wolf brought down his large claws to strike.

The neko brought up a wall of blood.

The wall knocked back the wolf's strike like a sturdy shield.

The blood then changed shape, taking the form of some demonic monster.

The wolf stepped back, it was a gruesome looking thing.

It appeared to have fangs, and long arms with razor sharp claws.

And though it was all blood, it looked solid.

The neko stepped forward, and the blood monster sliced at the wolf.

The wolf jumped back, but refused to stay on the defensive.

The wolf sliced the monster, but partway thru the creature his hand was trapped.

The neko stepped around, and the wolf sliced at him with his other hand.

The monster moved in the way, and suddenly both of the wolf's hands were trapped.

Blood also captured the wolf's feet.

The neko moved and stuck his hand in the wound he had managed to inflict on the wolf.

He focused on the wolf's blood, then ripped upward.

The wolf's blood pulled out and up, causing the beast to howl in agony as his own blood cut him from the inside.

The neko stared at the wolf, the teacher had said only one got to leave.

That meant he had to kill the wolf.

The neko glanced to the crowd, sitting at the top was the prince.

He had nearly forgotten he was suppose to impress the prince.

Perhaps he'd make a bloody show of this.

The blood monster began to pull at the wolf's limbs, nearly pulling him apart.

The neko stuck both hands in the wolf's new vertical wound and ripped it open.

He purposely pulled blood as he did.

The beast howled again.

Suddenly, the blood monster lurched forward into the wolf's wound and ripped thru him.

Blood went everywhere as the wolf collapsed to the ground.

Though, most of the blood wasn't actually the wolf's.

The neko had purposely got the blood monster to practically explode.

It had a much great visual affect he felt.

He stood there, in the pool of blood.

He looked down at his clothes they were stained with blood

Plus his side was still bleeding, he'd nearly forgotten.

His hands, and feet were soaked in blood.

It occurred to him to come up with a way to transport large amounts of blood without it being obvious.

For now, he felt like he needed a shower.

He didn't look to the crowd again, though he was curious the prince's expression at the show.

He instead turned away, and walked out leaving bloody footprints.

Once the door closed behind him he looked to the teacher.
"Really? It looks like a dozen people got massacred in there.

Were you trying to be obnoxious?"

The neko shrugged, that hadn't been his goal, but if it got him chosen by the prince?Then sure.

"And the... I dunno what that was, a freakin blood monster?

I specifically told you not to be showy."

The neko shrugged again, and began to leave.

"You're getting blood everywhere you step!

I know you can control that s--t!

Clean up after yourself!"

The neko rolled his eyes.

Sometimes teachers were worse than he imagined parents would be.

He waved his hand, and the blood from his steps soaked into his pants.

He then just moved the blood from his feet into his pants.

The neko walked, lost in thought, perhaps that would work.

He was to create his own armor soon.

If he did it properly, he could soak a lot of blood into it.

It would turn the armor a nice dark crimson if done properly.

And it would give him a good supply of blood to fight with.

He returned to the sleeping quarters, and walked to the back.

There were showers to the left.

To the right, was a room with various cabinets, and general blood stains everywhere.

He went right, and went to a cabinet opening it.

Inside were various medical supplies.

Assassins rarely had access to a good healer, nor could they usually get to a hospital.

As such, they were all trained in self-aid.

Being able to stitch themselves up from a variety of wounds was important.

He grabbed a couple things, there was no worry of blood loss.

He'd easily stopped the bleeding.

But he couldn't force the wound to just heal itself.

So he took out a needle and dissolving thread.

He then stitched up the cut on his side.

He flinched a bit, he couldn't pretend it didn't hurt.

Finally he finished, and returned to his wall locker.

He opened it, grabbing a bag of 'shower supplies'.

The door to the room opened quickly, and one of the neko's 'friends' came running in.

"Damiaan!"

The neko looked to the teen, who came running down.

Talking as he ran, "You're not gonna believe this."

The neko just stared.

"Wow- Uh... They said you were covered in blood, but uh...

Is any of that yours?"

The neko pointed to the side of his stomach.

The shirt was torn, showing his make shift stitch work.

"Ouch- And... You suck at self-aid."

The neko shook his head closing the wall locker, with the bag.

"Oh! Oh, no.
Put that back.

Apparently, the prince loved your duel!

He wants to meet with you, to discuss hiring you as his personal assassin or something.

You gotta go to the royal quarters, right now."

The neko looked down at his own outfit.

He was soaked in blood, and certainly not dressed to meet royalty.

"What? Your outfit?

Damiaan... We're in school...

A school for assassins.

None of us have clothes for meeting royalty.

Though... You could lose the blood.

But maybe he likes it?

I dunno man, just hurry."

The teen left seeming more excited than Damiaan was.

The neko put his shower bag back.

He pulled his shirt off, and moved all the blood into it.

His pants looked clean again.

He grabbed another shirt, and put it on as he walked out.

It was a nicer shirt, that the school had provided.

Some students had clothing sent from parents.

Others bought some during their two week holidays.

Damiaan had bought some clothes.

He'd gotten money from contracts the school had assigned him.

It wasn't until he'd returned, that he realized everything he'd purchased was purple.

His mother had been a horrible influence on him in that regard.

Could purple be a less intimidating color?