"Monster!"
"He's here!"
"Don't go near him! You'll die!"
Harsh whispers filled the air as a raven-haired man walked down the dirt road before him.
His blood-red eyes glanced at the people on the side, causing them to flinch.
The raven sighed and walked away from the crowd and into a forest full of Sakura trees.
"What have I ever done to offend them?"
~~
"Wow~! It's Okinawa!"
"Yay, it's Okinawa!"
"Do you guys really need to shout for every single thing?"
"YES!"
"Why you--"
"Rayn, it's fine--just keep calm."
Rei chuckled at the simmering anger under Rayn's skin as the bluenette was glaring at Keshet and Damian.
'This banter's been going on for a while...'
Rei sighed and smiled softly before looking ahead of the group; she activated her eyes.
Her smile slowly faded as she read the aura of the town.
Fear.
Anger.
Disgust.
The list went on--only filled with negative emotions.
She was brought back to reality from a firm shake of the shoulders, courtesy of Keshet.
"Rei? What's wrong?"
The said Headmaster simply shook her head before walking towards the town.
"...Keep on your toes. This place is full of Nanashi."
~~
(O.D.D.- Konichiwa...this is a chapter dedicated for those that have committed suicide because of bullying...( T_T)＼(^-^ ))
A raven sighed, stepping closer to the edge of a cliff nearby.
He looked at the crashing waves below as the wind gently blew in his direction.
'...Should I do it this time...?'
"No."
The raven gasped slightly and spun around to face a snownette, who had her hands stuffed in her white, trench-coat pockets.
Her ruby-red eyes gazed at the raven calmly, observing the other's movements.
"Don't jump."
The raven took a shaky breath before stepping farther away from the snownette and closer to the edge.
"Why would you care?"
The snownette stared at the other for a while longer before smiling softly.
"You looked like you could use the help."
The raven laughed brokenly.
'What an understatement.' "Who...are you?"
"Shirokawa Rei. And what might your name be?"
"Boris...Ackerman Boris."
Rei smiled before slowly walking over to Boris; she sat down on the cliff ledge.
"Just sit with me. My other companions decided to go find a place to stay for a few days."
Boris looked at her with a dumbfounded expression before slowly sitting down on the ledge that he had almost jumped off of.
Boris's hair was messy, sticking out in every direction. His black t-shirt was torn and his dark-red jeans were moth-eaten.
The raven continued to stare at Rei with curious eyes--he was still wary of the other.
Rei sighed at the other's uneasiness before suddenly pulling the other into a one-armed hug, wrapping her arm around his head.
(O.D.D.- Eto...Boris-san is like 19 years old now, so he's kind of like a child to Rei, and He's the youngest out of all of the teachers.)
Boris panicked slightly.
"What are you--?"
"It's alright to cry."
The raven froze.
"Crying isn't a way of showing weakness." Rei smiled softly as she ruffled the other's hair. "When people cry, it shows how strong they've been for so long."
Boris was stunned; his vision blurred slightly as he felt something warm fall down his cheeks.
"Why...are you helping me...?"
Rei blinked at the question before looking up at the orange-filled sky.
"Well...I don't believe I need a reason." The Headmaster smiled again. "A helping hand is something everyone needs at least once in their lives."
~~
"Eh? Who's this?"
"This is Ackerman Boris. Please welcome him warmly, Keshet--and please--no death-hugs."
"Hai, hai~!"
Rei watched with amusement as Boris hesitantly met the others, although he sometimes he behind the Headmaster like a shy child on their first day to school.
After a few greetings and name exchanges, Boris slowly released the tension at his shoulders, giving lopsided, real smiles to the teachers.
The group chatted and ate dinner before heading to bed.
Boris snuggled under the covers of his temporary bed. He gazed at the ceiling before a small smile appeared on his face; he closed his eyes.
'It's so warm...'
~~
"Hand the dagger over."
A cloaked man grinned as he held out a sacrificial dagger to a man wearing a similar cloak.
"Is the stage set?"
"Yes."
"The boy?"
"He's starting to gain consciousness, sir."
"Hm~not a problem."
The apparent leader walked over to a brown-haired boy, who was slowly opening his dark-brown eyes.
When the dark-brown eyes focused, they widened with shock.
The boy started to struggle in his bindings; the sound of chains rattling filled the candle lit room.
The leader chuckled darkly before kicking the boy in the gut; the brunet child whimpered, bringing his knees to his chest while his arms were bound at his sides.
The man then lifted the boy by his hair, tugging mercilessly at the brown locks.
"Hey, kid..." He grinned sinisterly. "You're gonna help me with a little project of mine..."
Boris shot up from his bed, gripping his sheets tightly; he trembled violently.
Suddenly he felt a warmth embrace him; he blinked in surprise before recognizing the calming smell of rain, earth and flowers.
"You alright, Boris-kun?"
"Y-Yes...Rei-san..."
"Maa, Boris-kun, you can call me without the honorifics."
Boris shifted slightly and peeked through his messy bangs to look up at Rei, who was smiling softly at him.
The raven sighed before releasing the tension in his shoulders.
"Thanks...you can...let go now..."
Rei slowly released the other and brushed a few sweaty bangs away, causing the raven to blush slightly; he looked down at his lap.
"Why are you helping me?"
Rei blinked, knowing that there was a deeper meaning in the words.
Boris took a shuddering breath before continuing.
"I...I'm a d-demon..."
The raven-haired teen waited for worlds of rejection.
There was a few seconds of silence before Rei spoke.
"Oh~? Who told you that~?"
Boris shivered slightly at the demonic tone that was being used; he glanced up at Rei.
She looked royally pissed--disguised by a 'warm' smile--and it wasn't directed at Boris.
"...Y-You don't n-need to w-worry about that..."
Rei hummed softly as the edge in her smile disappeared.
"...So what if you're a demon?"
Boris jolted in surprise and stared at Rei with shock.
The Headmaster's smile turned sorrowful as she slowly laid the other back onto bed, lulling the other to sleep with her hand brushing through his hair.
Boris closed his eyes, but he caught the last few words Rei whispered to him.
"...I'm...an abomination..."
~~
BANG, BANG, BANG!
"OPEN THIS DOOR!"
Boris jolted out of his bed before scrambling to his window; he glanced down to see the cause of the noise.
His eyes widened with fear at the sight of angry villagers; he backed away from the window and bumped into a warm body.
"Hey, Boris-chan!"
The raven spun around and faced the speaker.
"K-Keshet-san!" 'I-Is she going to give me up to those villagers?'
The blonde Art teacher grinned before grabbing Boris's hand.
"Just call me Keshet! Now...let's...GOOOOOO!"
"E-EHHHH?!"
The two jumped out of the window and soared over the villagers.
"Come on, Boris! Run, run, run!"
Keshet was laughing as she dragged Boris, running away from the angry villagers.
"Rei-chan, Rayn-chan and Moose are waiting for us at the harbor--come on!"
"The sacrifice is made! The demon is inside the boy now!"
"Look at those blood-red eyes! Magnificent!"
"His brown hair has also turned into a raven-black! Amazing!"
"WHY?!"
Keshet blinked in surprise and confusion at Boris's sudden outburst.
"'Why', what?"
"Why...are you taking me...with you guys? I'm...a demon..."
The Art teacher stared at Boris with a rare unreadable expression before she spoke in a serious voice.
"Because you're our friend. And we want to have fun adventures with you." Keshet smiled softly. "No matter what they call you, or whatever you call yourself...you're still our friend."
Boris felt tears trail down his face as Keshet grinned widely.
"Th-Thank you so much..."
"Heehee~no problem~!
~~
"REEEEIIII-CHAAAAN! START DISEMBARKING!"
The said Headmaster looked up and saw a breathless Keshet running with...a laughing and smiling Boris.
Rei blinked in surprise before a warm smile spread across her face. She quickly turned to Rayn and Damian and told them to pull up the anchor and unfurl the sails.
With lightning magic, Keshet and Boris suddenly appeared on the small ship.
The angry group of villagers had to stop at the edge of the sea, but the still threw curses at Boris.
Hearing them, Rei, Keshet, Damian and Rayn all held a similar, eerie, and dark smile on their faces.
"...Are all of you good at long-ranged magic?"
"Hai/Yes/Yup~!"
"Give them hell."
Luckily, Okinawa was not wiped off of the face of the Earth.
Boris simply grinned at his new family.
'It's really warm...'