Homecoming, Part 8

"Mikey, damnit" I whimper. "What's going on with you…"

"So there you have it," the Chairman says, interrupting my sobs. "So not one, but two members of the famed Slayer Hachi's squad are criminals."

My entire body tenses up, and instinctively, the veins across my entire body begin to glow blue. "DON'T DISRESPECT NICK LIKE THAT!" I roar.

The Chairman smirks at me as he reaches into his suit jacket, but as my veins stop glowing, he retracts his hand, without pulling anything out.

"I'm sending my Assassins after the Pyromaniac as we speak, that boy is a lost cause. I always knew that Hachi made a mistake when accepting him into his squad," the Chairman explains.

"Where is Mikey?" I ask.

"You are not a Pro Slayer, I have no obligation to tell you," the Chairman replies, so I turn around to face my friends.

"We're just regular Slayers, not Assassins, we weren't told either," Grover sighs.

"Let me go on the Pyromaniac Mission," I order with a scowl as I turn back around to face the Chairman.

 "And why should I do that? You are a simple junior Slayer, not an Assassin," the Chairman asks.

"Because I'm the only one strong enough to fight Mikey!" I cry.

"But you wont kill him," the Chairman replies. "And I want him dead."

"Listen, Mikey's going through some shit. I know him better than anyone, and if I can see him again, I know that I can-" I begin to say, but the Chairman cuts me off by holding a hand up.

"Convince him to join the Slayer Organization again?" The Chairman asks, causing my entire body to tense up. "But how? The Pyromaniac wants you dead as much as I want him six feet under. You won't be able to talk with him, Luis Tramontana."

"I can try," I growl. "The Cards of the King, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, every time they've messed with me, Mikey's been by my side. In our final showdowns, I'll need him."

"You talk as if you're the King of the World," the Chairman replies. "You're just a half-demon that the Organization's enemies happened to find interest in."

"The Pyromaniac is a lost cause. But, before I arrest you, Luis Tramontana, I am willing to make a deal," the Chairman then continues.

"What deal?" I growl. After hearing the Chairman's Assassin deal with Nick, I'm a tad weary of his deals.

"I was told that you weren't to return home until you have full control over your half demon powers, is this true?" The Chairman asks.

"Yeah," I answer.

"And I'm sure that Slayer Hachi told you about the Slaughter of 1999, correct?"

"Everything."

"So you could imagine why I'd be weary of having half demons in my Organization?"

"Yup."

"And I'm assuming August revealed himself and Winter as half demons to you during the previous International Junior Slayer Tournament?"

"Yes, just get on with it already!" I snap.

"I'll make you a deal, Luis Tramontana," the Chairman replies. "In order for me to hire you as a Pro Slayer again, you'll have to pass the Slayer Exams again."

"That's it?" I ask. "I did it as a kid, I can do it again now."

"But your exam will be a tad different this time around-" the Chairman then continues, but he's interrupted when two new people barge through the door, a boy with red hair and a girl with blue.

"August…" I growl as I turn to face the red-haired dude.

"It's been a while, eh, half demon pal?" August asks me as he spreads his arms out wide like he's going in for a hug.

I glare at August, causing him to turn his palms towards me in surrender. "Woah, someone's grouchy," he teases.

"If you can defeat August and Winter in a fight, I will allow you to enter our ranks once more," the Chairman finishes as he turns back to face me.

"A two on one?" I ask.

"What, you scared?" August smirks.

I turn to face August and smirk back. "Nah. I was just thinking that a two on one's a little unfair. Try…a four on one, maybe," I reply, causing August's smirk to instantly melt into a scowl.

"Big talk for the man who got fourth," he grunts.

"Still holding that single victory in high praise?" I tease.

"August and Winter are my prized possessions," the Chairman then continues, interrupting our banter. "The super weapons of this Organization. August and Winter were created by the head of the Slayer Organization's research branch, Slayer Kurāken, by splicing half demon cells into the bodies of test tube fetuses. Luis, the three of you, artificial or biological, are half demons. And if you can't beat August and Winter, then I have no use for you since I'll still have these two half demons by my side, two half demons far more trustworthy than you are. Why do I need a weak, untrusted half demon when I have two, trustworthy stronger half demons? I'm sure you understand. But if you can beat August and WInter, then you are a worthy addition into my Organization as the strongest half demon and therefore my strongest weapon.

"So I'm fighting to earn my keep?" I ask. "Everytime I interact with you, it feels like something like that is happening."

"I'll give you a week to prepare. One week from today, come to arena one, and there you will fight August and Winter," the Chairman explains.

"I don't need a week!" I exclaim. "Let's go, right now!"

The Chairman smirks. "Tomorrow it is. If you can beat August and Winter you can join back into the Organization. If you lose, you will be hunted by Assassin Slyers and be killed," he replies.

"Alright, but I have one more demand," I reply.

"Oh? And what may it be?" The Chairman asks.

"When I beat August and Winter and earn my way back into this Organization, then you will allow me to go on the Pyromaniac mission and see Mikey!" I exclaim. 

The Chairman leans back in his seat and smirks. "Interesting. I agree to this deal," he replies as he extends his hand out to me. I take it and we shake.

I then turn to face August again. "See you tomorrow," I growl.

"Yeah, see ya'," he replies with a smirk.

Winter is silent.

And so, I then exit the Slayer Organization Headquarters for good, with Grover, Jamie, and Austin following me out.

But as I step foot into the outdoors, I see her, wearing that eyepatch I forced her to wear…

Ella.

***

"And there are your schedules," the Chairman says as he hands both Ella and Austin a folder with their name on it holding a few documents inside. "Your classes begin in an hour, I suggest you get going."

"Thank you!" Ella chipperly squeaks. Meanwhile, Austin raises an eyebrow at the Chairman.

"Can I help you, Slayer Takanome?" The Chairman asks as he peers at Austin.

"Sorry, Austin replies as he shakes his head and adjusts his glasses. "You just surprised me, is all,"

"Oh, I did?" The Chairman asks with a small smirk of satisfaction as he leans back in his seat. "How so?"

"You're just a lot more human than I originally pictured you," Austin explains. "At first, I only saw you as a raging douchebag. And now, you're a raging douchebag but also a responsible business owner."

The Chairman's entire body tenses up.

Ella holds back a chuckle.

"See you later!" Austin says, before turning around and strutting out of the Chairman's office. Ella giggles, then hustles after Austin.

"TAKANOMEEEE!!!!!" The Chairman roars.

***

"So this is it, huh?" Ella asks as she and Austin step in front of the front gates of the ginormous campus sprawling before them, the Pro Slayer University.

"This is the largest college in North America," Austin comments. "Ironic, considering that only Pro Slayers are allowed in. I guess there's a lot of room since they need to incorporate space and classes for every job within the organization, from support to combat.

"Good luck," Ella says to Austin with a smile as she peers up at him.

"Same to you," Austin smiles back as he peers down at Ella.

Ella and Austin then take one last look at their schedules, before heading in opposite directions.

***

"I'm lost…" Ella sighs, a mere half an hour later. "This place is huge, I just can't find my way around…"

"Excuse me," a voice asks, and Ella peers up to see a girl a few years older than her wearing blue scrubs walk over to her. "Are you lost?"

"Y-yes…" Ella sniffles as she wipes her nose.

The girl pauses, then looks Ella up and down. "Aren't you…a little young to be here?" She asks.

"YES!" Ella sobs.

"Woah, sorry," the girl recoils. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. In fact, being young here is actually a compliment. It means that you were promoted fast."

"R-really?" Ella sniffles as she wipes her nose again.

"Of course!" The girl replies. "How old are you, anyway?"

"Sixteen…" Ella answers.

"Sixteen? DAMN!" The girl replies. "You were promoted fast!"

"How old are you?" Ella asks.

"I'm eighteen, so I'm uhh…middle of the pact," the girl sheepishly answers as she rubs the back of her neck with a small laugh. "I'm Lily, what's your name?"

"Ella," Ella answers with a small smile.

"Ella, huh? Pretty name," Lily answers as she extends her hand out to Ella, and the two shake. "So where are you going? I'm new here, and this place is huge so I may not know my way around too well, but I'm sure that I can help you at least a little bit!"

"I'm training to find the Medical Wing," Ella answers, causing Lily to perk up.

"Well you're in luck, because I'm a Medical Student!" Lily replies. "Come on, let's go!"

And without another word, Lily snatches Ella's wrist and begins dragging her away, causing Ella to smile.