"Grell! We passed!!!"

I ran up to my brother, shoving the paper in his face. Jazz, my best friend, was skipping gleefully behind me.

Grell took the slip of paper from me and began to read it. Immediately, his expression changed from anxious to surprised. "You had perfect marks on everything?!"

I nodded, smiling proudly. "Every class and every mission! I was the best trainee in my class."

Grell looked between the paper and me several times, before he seemed like he couldn't stand still anymore and jumped into the air, hugging me tight. "Oh, Scarlet! I knew you could do it! You've made your big sister so proud!"

I sighed, but decided I didn't have the heart to chastise him. Today was my big day. Finally, I could call myself a reaper.

Jazz walked up to us. "Sorry to leave you, but I have to go tell my family. Jay was sure I would fail. I can't wait any longer to show him he was wrong!" She was clutching her own paper tightly in her hands, and I could see the tears of joy threatening to spill from her eyes.

I nodded. "Then go show him! You were an amazing partner in that last test. Thank you for all your help!"

"You were the amazing one, Scar, but thanks anyway. I'll see you later!" With a wave, she ran off in the direction of her home, to show to her awaiting family she had what it took to be a true reaper.

Speaking of family... "Come on! We have to show Mom!" I squealed in excitement, snatching the paper back from my brother and running off towards home. Grell followed, his smile never falling from his face.

When we got home, Mom was waiting anxiously on the couch, tapping her foot. As soon as she heard the door open, she raced over to me, her eagerness to see my results clear on her face.

"Well? How did it go?" she asked, her voice hopeful. As happy as I was that she was supporting me and hoping I'd passed my final exam, I couldn't help being a little confused. Just a couple of months ago, she was practically begging me to quit training to become a reaper because she was worried about me. Now, here she was, excited to see my results.

I smiled at her. "Were you really worried I would fail, even knowing I'm the best in my class?"

Her mouth opened in awe, and she snatched the paper from my hands and read it carefully. "Perfect scores across the board. Now that's my Scarlet!" She jumped in the air happily, then captured me in a bear hug. I laughed a little at her enthusiasm, hugging her back.

"How did Jazz do?" she asked, pulling away.

"She passed, too. She was so excited to prove to Jay that she has what it takes."

"Well, next time you see her, tell her I'm very proud. I knew you both could do it. I got worried when you were being targeted, but I know how strong you are. You can take care of yourself out there. I know it."

I wiped a tear from my eye. "Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."

She smiled, then turned her attention to Grell. "It's a good thing your sister passed. Someone needs to be keeping a sharper eye on you." She sighed, then. "If only I'd passed my final exam..."

My smile faltered. "You can always try again, Mom."

She looked at me kindly. "I know that, dear. But to be honest with you, I'd much rather be here for you and your brother when you return from your missions. You may need someone to take care of you."

"Hey!" Grell interrupted, annoyed. "I've been given my death scythe back! I don't need my little sister to babysit me!"

Mom glared at him. "Just because Ronald was nice enough to talk to the higher ups about letting you keep that awful contraption you call a scythe doesn't mean you're out of the woods! You're still on very thin ice with everyone. Do not forget that."

Grell backed away slowly from Mom's rant, and I couldn't help but sigh. Some things never change.

*

"So? How did Jay handle the news?"

Jazz's eyes sparkled. "He was in disbelief. It was amazing!"

I laughed at how happy she was. Since nothing was going on at home, I'd decided to go see Jazz and her family and see how proud they were of her. Her parents had been ecstatic that she'd passed, knowing she could do it even as protective as they were. Jay, being a very skilled reaper and mean older brother, never seemed to think she had what it takes. But, seeing as how she passed her final, clearly she did. Maybe he was just worried his little sister would be better than him.

"Oh, I can't believe it!" Jazz sighed, seemingly in a daze. "We're actual reapers now! It's so exciting!"

I nodded, smiling. "Maybe that demon won't look at me like I'm some little kid now."

Jazz's smile faltered. "You've been thinking about what happened a few months ago a lot lately. Is something wrong?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm just a little anxious, I guess. I don't know when those beings will call on me again, or what they'll have me do."

Jazz leaned forward and took my hands in hers. "Whatever it is, we'll do it together. I won't let you fight alone, Scar."

I gave her a small smile. "Grell said the same thing. At least I know with both of you by my side, I can handle whatever they try to throw at me."

Jazz's smile returned. "Yes, you can. Of course, given how talented of a reaper you are, you probably don't need either one of us," she joked.

My smile grew at the compliment. "I may be talented, but I'll always need the people I care about to help me. I'm only ever at the top of my game when I know someone is there to help me if I need it."

There was a beat, then Jazz released my hands and hugged me tight. "Let's ask Will if we can be a team," she suggested. "Then, we'll always be able to help each other."

"I don't know... He's a pretty picky man, and I'm not sure teams of reapers is really a thing. Sure, they'll partner up for big missions, but to always be working together..."

Jazz's hold on me loosened slightly. "If you don't want to-"

I quickly interrupted. "I didn't say that! I'm just not sure it'll be allowed. I'd love to work with you."

Jazz tightened her hug again, her spirits rising. "There's no harm in asking. The worst they can do is say no!"

I sighed, both in relief and defeat. "Alright. Let's go ask, then."