Yokai Hunters

Chapter 1 - Draw Your Weapons

  On a bright and warm day, there were young children, happily roaming the wide streets. Mothers and fathers were socializing as the elders stayed shut away in their cabins. Guards were surrounding the tall and thick walls that protected civilians, inside and out. While everyone is enjoying their slice of serenity, a teen stood upon the wall, gazing into the peak of the horizon. The scattered forest and broken land that were once homes were littered with hellbent beings. But she enjoyed watching the guards defend the small city, hoping one day, she'll become one of them. Her aging gold like eyes glow with determination as her feet dangerously dangled over the edge, with her dark blue long skirt and heejab blowing in the calm breeze.

  "Ivory!" a man around his 30s' comes rushing up a long flight of stairs, having the air in him slowly withering. "How many times have I told you not to sit over the ledge of the wall?!" the man says. The young girl faces him with a nervous smile. "Sorry, father." She spins around and jumps off the ledge of the building, landing in front of her father. The man sighs and starts wiping his sweat. "You scared the soul out of me. You can't keep doing that. Remember the last time you were here? You almost fell!" Ivory holds her head down in shame, hiding her pale caramel face. "I know, I just can't resist it. The breeze relieves all the tension off my back. Plus, its a rarity see the sun rise or set." she looks towards the city below. "Even the younger children should a chance to see it's beauty." Julius, her father, slowly grows a small smile on his face, admiring his daughter's hospitality. "I understand, but it's still too dangerous. Come now, we still have some time for you to pick out your weapon." Ivory's eye light up in excitement. "I totally forgot! The exam is next month!" a wide grin plasters on her face as she hurries her way down the painfully long flight of stairs with her father following behind. 

  As they run, Ivory's long skirt waves like a flag behind her as she makes her long jump down half the stairs. She pivots toward the tallest building within their district. Hurdling over fences, dashing through the streets and skipping through groups of children, she arrives at her home. The home of the greatest hunters and preachers alive. Yokai Hunters Academy. She approaches the stairs, only to see a familiar face eating a lollipop. Julius. Ivory's jaw drops to the floor. "That's no fair! How'd you get here before me?!" Ivory groaned in envy. "You'll learn one day." he smirked smugly. Ivory skips her way towards the entrance doors of the school, following behind Julius. "So what weapon are you going to chose?" he asks. "I don't know, maybe a broad sword." Ivory shrugs. The walk into the depths of the schools basement. It reeks of sweat and mildew, but Ivory isn't bothered by it. She holds up her skirt a little while they strut though murky water, approaching a door made of metal bars. Julius reaches his hand towards the door knob, but a gentle breeze opens it for him.

  They walk through the humid corridor and approach a smaller wooden door. They enter to see a large gallery of weapons. Blades glimmered in the skinny rays of light that could be reached by the tiny lamps scatters in the room. A nails-on-chalkboard sound and loud grunts echoed through the room. "Oi, Laurence!" Julius calls out. "I'm over yere by the cauldron, Julius!" a thick Irish accent responds. Julius and Ivory make their way towards the voice, only to see a short man with curly  dark hair over a cauldron with large and skinny metal pliers and a mask. He pulls out a flaming red blade and quickly carries it to a bucket of water. He dips it in and black smoke dances through the hall. Julius and Ivory's lungs choke on the smoke and begin to cough violently. The smoke begins to clear, and the small man faces his guests. "Ah! It's nice to see a familiar face." Laurence pulls away his mask and reveals his scraggly beard and bronze beady eyes. He faces Ivory and smiles. "Ivory, darling, I haven't seen you since you were a wee lass!" Ivory squats to his height to prepare for one of his hearty bear hugs. He gives her a hug and pats her back with the remaining hand he has. "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Laurence." Ivory says. Laurence steps back and examines Ivory. "My, you've got yourself a beautiful daughter, Julius." He turns towards him. "What're you here for today?" 

  "Ivory is looking for a weapon." Julius puts his hand on her shoulder. "She wants to be a hunter like her old father." Laurence stretches and rubs his back. "Browse around as much as you want. When you find the one you like, bring it over here." Ivory nods and begins to scavenge through the mountains of weapons. She walks past large swords, gauntlets, bows and arrows and such. The weapons that were displayed were displeasing to her.

  After some time of searching, she begins to give up on finding her "perfect weapon". She reaches over to a random katana with chains braided together as the hilt. The blue and black silk ribbons spiraled over the clumpy metal loops, illuminating it with beauty. Her six fingers hover over the sword until a red light flickers in her eyes. She flinches in surprise and looks towards the direction of the light.

  A scythe with a goats skull near the blade laid delicately inside of a glass box. Her eyes glimmer with wonder as she walks towards it. She carefully opens the box, trying not to crack the fragile case or make a loud noise while the adults were conversing. Ivory gently holds the staff of the weapon and lifts it, examining its features. The staff held a glass orb in between itself. The blade glistened, as if it was made recently. Ivory looks towards the index card with its information. The weapon was six centuries old. The spirit or God held captive inside of it was unknown. "They must've brought this a few days ago." She glides her fingers over the blade. The scratches among the blade caused a tingling sensation through out her body. Ivory's eyes averted to the skull once more. The skull was old and appeared realistic. A crack was placed near the horns. She blows the dust off its cranium and sees a symbol embarked on its forehead. She looks closer, trying to translate it.

  "I should probably discuss this with father." Ivory says out loud. Her hand brushes against the orb embedded within the staff. A powerful shock rushed through Ivory's body violently. Her vision faded to a crimson shade of red. Screaming echoed through her ears and a demonic face rushed to her at full speed. Ivory falls back surprise and falls on her butt. She regains her vision quickly and looks at the scythe in confusion and fear. The same face quickly glides past the blade as Julius makes his way over to he. "Are you alright, Ivy?" Julius asked as he helped her stand. "I'm fine, the goat skull just surprised me a little." Ivory says while giggling out of embarrassment. "Ah, I see you've found the only scythe in this gallery." Laurence says while walking towards them. "She was brought in a week ago. It took a while for me to get all the scuff marks and dirt off of her blade, but that clear globe is a beaut." He puffs out his chest in pride. Ivory begins to ponder on if she should keep the weapon. Ivory looks down at it and feels a weird sensation in her arms. The sensation of pride and power. "I want this one. How much is it?" Ivory asks. "For you, darling. It's free." Laurence smiles. 

  "Are you sure, Laurence? Don't come to me later expecting any sort of payment." Julius crosses his arms while adjusting his tinted glasses. "No, no, no, Julius. No payment or favors needed from ya." Laurence says while walking back to his cauldron. "Now be off, I still have more weapons to make before the year starts." Julius nods and they leave Laurence's working area while making their way back to the elevator to their home. They enter the top floor of the building and step into their secure haven. Ivory enters her room and places her scythe one of the corners. She begins to change out of her clothes and into a white sleeveless tee and black sweatpants. As soon as she sits on her bed, a loud knock is heard from further outside of her door. Footsteps head towards the entrance, only to be met by a loud greeting.