As you may have noticed, this story is back up and running! I was given permission by the past author to continue this story in her footsteps, so don't be alarmed if you see some of her past writing sprinkled into this story.

Now onto the story?

BEGINNINGS:

The Essence of Time

Something landed in the alleyway.

A silhouette moved in the darkness over the musty brick path, sneaking from shadow to shadow. There was a faint clacking noise as the figure slinked through, almost like nails squealing against a chalkboard. The figure was soon out of shadows, the light that managed to dimly illuminate the alley penetrating the last of them. The figure stood for a minute, indecisive almost as his head-it seemed-tossed back and forth.

There was silence, then the faint whisper of another landing, then an even softer swish of another. The figure spun around with another squealing noise that followed his movement.

In the alleyway before him stood a boy and a girl, both looking around the age of fifteen, more or less. The boy glared at the figure, his dark green eyes narrowed and his brow lowered. He wore a black leather jacket with the collar popped and matching t-shirt, jeans, and pants. Dangling from his pants was a silver chain that fell from something in his pocket, and then arched back up to attach to his belt loop. On his hands were black fingerless gloves with padding on the fists for combat. His jagged black hair was ruffled slightly from his jump, but fell in a messy mop to about and inch below the nape of his neck.

The girl next to him looked on with her light blue gaze. Her golden hair fell to about to her mid chest, her long, parted bangs falling a bit in her right eye. She was a bit shorter than the boy, who stood at a height of 5'8, and she was dressed in the same attire as the boy, but her chain was gold.

For a minute, all they could see was the shadow of the figure cast against the brick. The figure leaped across the alley to land on top of a trashcan. Then, a pair of blood red eyes glowed in the darkness as the glint of steel glimmered for a heartbeat as a tapping noise began. Almost like...metal on metal.

The boy cocked his head to the side, his gaze sliding into the crimson pair. There was a flickering of a light, and a near lamp post struggled on, casting a ghostly glow on the trashcan the figure sat on.

There sat a broad shouldered man with long legs covered in black and his tall, gangly figure bent as he rested there, poised on his toes. He was shirtless and a black mask covered his red eyes. But what drew the most attention to him was his arms-on each where his hands were supposed to be was a chainsaw glistening now in the light, it's chain blades jagged and engorged as they clinked an tapped against the trashcan lid.

"M-M-Moooooorrrreeee..." The man hissed, his eyes widening as he licked his lips as his voice became a coo. "M-M-M-Mooorreee...P-P-Power!"

The boy smirked as the girl looked up to him with a nod. The girl leaped high into the air as there was a flash. The boy reached out as a Zamboto took the girl's place shimmering just as brightly as the chainsaws. The masked man hissed, his tongue flicking on his lips before it withdrew back into his mouth. "P-P-Power..."

"Fine by me." The boy smirked, twirling the Zamboto, his muscles flexing through his jacket. "Let's dance."

The man rushed forward towards the boy, his chainsaws screaming as the blades rotated at top speeds. The girl reappeared in the reflection of the sword, but this time no longer wearing clothing (thankfully, you could only see about an inch below her collar bone) as she warned, "Zane, he's going to strike you from below."

"Thanks Rie." The boy called Zane responded, intercepting the chainsaws with the Zamboto. The girl called Rie yelped as the blades squealed on the sword, a slash cutting across her shoulder as the metal gridded against metal. Soon crimson droplets were blossoming from the wound and running down her arm.

"Rie, you alright?" Zane grunted as he kicked the man in the gut, sending him flying.

"I'll be fine." She replied. "Just don't try to do that unless necessary."

Zane nodded as the man rushed against, screaming about more power. Zane leaped through the air, landing behind the man and aiming a slice across his back. This attempt was soon interrupted by another grinding on the Zamboto. Rie cried out as another gash opened on her other shoulder.

"Rie!"

"W-While he's blocking...k-kick out his feet from...under him." She winced. Zane gave a hard nod, ducking and aiming a low kick with the swish of his feet. Shin collided with ankle, and the chainsaw bearer toppled over with a growl.

"M-M-More...POWER!" He slipped out from a blow to the head and raised his chainsaws, aiming a slash at Zane's chest. Zane sidestepped out of the way, hitting the man at the temple with the butt of the Zamboto. The man staggered, his eyes darkening as blood streamed down his face.

"Power...must have power..." The man spat.

"Focus Zane." Rie's reflection whispered. "You can do this. You've seen how he attacks. Let's finish him."

Zane rushed at the man, feinting to the left, then slipping behind him, using the shadows for cover. The man looked about wildly, his eyes glowing as he raged, "POWER! MORE POWER!"

"Now!"

Zane rushed from the shadow. The masked man didn't see it coming as Rie sliced through him. The man's scream ended as he dissolved into a puff of smoke, leaving only a glowing, wisping red orb behind.

The Zamboto glowed, transforming back into the girl's human form. She stepped towards the orb, and grabbed it. She smiled to Zane, swallowing it in one gulp.

"Out of pure curiosity..." Zane trailed off. "Do souls taste any good?"

Rie though for a minute as she swallowed again. "Yeah. I don't know what's so special about them...but they do."

Zane gave a little chuckle as he patted his partner's back. "You'll be okay?"

Rie shrugged, then soon regretted it. "I'll be better tomorrow. Let's just get back to the Academy."

"Welcome new students to Death Weapon Meister Academy, or better known as the DWMA. I'm you headmaster, the fabulous Lord Death himself. Today is going to be a very busy day! Why? Well, an excellent question!

"As you read in our pamphlet, there are two types of students here-The Meister and The Human Weapon. Of course you know that the Meister bares the Human Weapon and the Weapon protects his or her master who will be the Meister. The pair of Meister and Weapon will be collecting 99 evil human souls and one soul of a witch. After completing this, the Weapon becomes a Death Scythe! Yes? You in the pink shirt...? You...didn't know this. Well we mailed you a pamphlet for a reason!

"For those who do know, come this way with me. We are going to test your Souls Wavelength, and yes pink shirt, that is also explained in the pamphlet. Looks like you have some reading to do!

"After we test your Wavelength, all who are becoming Meisters please group into this section and all who are becoming Weapons, slide over here. We are going to do a simple meet and greet in a few minutes after you receive your name tags.

"Oh? You two felt a spark already? Well, it looks like you two are compatible! No no, not lovey-dovey compatible, Weapon and Meister compatible! Didn't anyof you read the pamphlet?

"How about I get to know you first? Just fill out this forum-I'll hand one to each of you, don't worry pink shirt-and here's a pencil. Now can you please answer the questionnaire below?

"Well, I let you fill out those forums, I have to go check if the teachers are ready. I'll be back in a flash!"

Well, that's it for this chapter!

THANKS! ^.^

-Prism Fire-