Chapter 1

“Hey loser move it!” shouted Torshen pushing past Angel knocking him to the ground causing him to drop the wood he was carrying.

“Hey!”

Torshen turned and looked at Angel and looked he straight in the eye and smirked

“What cha say?!”

Angel clenched his fist but looked down at the ground and said nothing. Torshen laughed

“That’s what I thought wing boy!”

Torshen pushed Angel again then walked off laughing. Angel looked after him tears blurring his vision, Torshen was always mean to him ever since they were really small. Angel thought things would change when they became 16 but they hadn’t. Angel hit the ground as hard as he could, why, why was he so different? Angel got up, wiped of the dirt from his clothes, and gathered up the fallen wood. It didn’t matter what Torshen or his buddies said his grandfather loved him and that’s all that mattered. Angel quickened his pace at these thoughts and walked toward the hut on top of the hill overlooking the village. Angel was winded by the time he got to the top. He shook the sweat from his brow, looked over his shoulder at his wings, and sighed. He still didn’t know how to fly which annoyed him even more, what was the point of having wings if you couldn’t use them?

“You’ll learn in time Angel, don’t rush yourself.”

Angel looked up and saw Haku sitting in his easy chair near the edge of the deck where he could catch the evening rays of the sun on his face. Haku smiled and looked at Angel.

“You look tired” he raised a glass of water in the air “Want a drink?”

Angel smiled

“You know it!”

Angel walked on to the porch and placed the wood down near the door, then walked over and took a seat in the chair next to Haku and drank the cool glass of water he had placed there for him.

“How was your day today?”

Angel looked down at his feet then back up at his grandfather

“It was good until Torshen….”

Haku frowned

“Torshen given you trouble again?”

Angel nodded.

“Angel you have to stand up for yourself you can’t let a punk like that pick on you”

“But Gramps Torshen is stronger than me and….”

“Stop making excesses!”Snapped Haku “He’s strong only in your mind!”

Angel looked down at his feet again and said nothing. Haku sighed, placed his hand on the boys head, and lifted up to look in his direction.

“You have a strength like no other and it will reveal itself to you in time just don’t give up.” Haku smiled

Angel nodded and smiled back up at his grandfather.

“Thanks Gramps.”

“Now hurry up and get ready for dinner we’re having your favorite… chicken.”

Angels’ eyes lit up

“Alright!”

“And don’t forget you start school at the Hall tomorrow” shouted Haku after Angel. Angel thoughts raced as he made his way down to the stream behind the house.

That’s right I start training to become a warrior tomorrow. This will be great; gramps has been training me since I was eight, and only the strongest children are chosen to become sentinels. I’ve been waiting for this for eight years. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I forget that I been chosen and that my first class was tomorrow.

“I’m going to be the best warrior there is!” shouted Angel as he ran down the path “Without a doubt!”

“Alright class let’s begin. My name is Kadaj sensei and as you know this is the school where every waking moment you’ll be being put to the test and where you will eventually become Sentinels.”

Kadaj moved from the where he was standing in the front and began to pace up and down the rows of students.

“Here we will teach you the three disciplines of our village. Strength, Skill, and last but not least Will.

Angel sat on the edge of his seat he couldn’t wait; this was going to be great. He had under gone eight full years of training for this day. I’ll be the greatest Sentinel ever. Maybe even better than Gramps he thought. Angel had only heard rumors but back in the day Gramps used to be one of the best Sentinels within three villages and even was asked to join the famous Zero division. Angel closed his eyes and tried to image what it would be like to join the Zero division. However his daydream did not last long, Angel was brought from his dream of glory by a wet object hitting him in the back of the neck. Angel spun around and looked for who hit him. Not too far from where he was sitting he could see Torshen smiling. Suddenly there was a loud slaps that caused everyone to jump. Angel spun back around right into the face of Kadaj sensei. Angel slowly gulped and started blushing. Kadaj sensei stared Angel right in the eye; Angel swallowed hard and looked down trying to hide his embarrassment. Kadaj move his stick that had caused the loud noise and continued to walk on.

“Here we expect you to be on your best behavior, you are no longer children, but apprentices and we will not expect ill actions.”

Angel lowered his head as the class began to laugh. He could feel his checks burning hot with embarrassment. He clenched his fist if he could get away with it he’d pound Torshen into the ground.

“Now since there are more students then there are teachers we’ll be assign three of you to one master.”

Kadaj went through a list of names. After every three names Kadaj would state the name of the teacher. Then he would tell where the students were to meet the instructor. Angel was on the edge of his seat this was the day he had waited for, this was the day the real training begun.

“Nuru, Tsume Angel. You are assigned to Master Koga; you are to meet him at the old south bell at noon tomorrow”

“WHAT!”

Everyone looked at who had shouted. Near the top of the auditorium was the prettiest girl Angel had ever seen. She had brown hair dark eyes and beautiful tan skin; Angel could hardly believe such a girl even existed.

“How come I am stuck with the freak with wings and that lazy ass?”

Angel’s dream of beauty went up in smoke and he could feel himself blushing. Man I hate it when people draw attention to my wings. Everyone of course as if on cue to what Angel was thinking looked at his wings. If the earth had of opened up and swallowed Angel whole it would have been a blessing from the gods. He could hear laughter as he looked all around him but what caught his attention was a head bowed down not laugh or giggling with the others at him. Angel looked closely to see if he could see the boy’s face but it was hidden by his long white hair. Angel was brought back to reality when Master Kadaj raised his voice at the young girl.

“That’s enough from you young lady!!” shouted Master Kadaj “ Sit down and be quite Nuru I would hate to tell your father that I had to kick you out of school today!”

Nuru rolled her eyes and sat back down with her arms folder clearly still upset. She glared at Angel as if he was the reason she was corrected. Angel signed. Yeah the “Really” training dose begins he thought.

Angel walked out from the school building and started home when he felt someone tug at his bag; he turned right into the grinning face of Torshen. Oh no… Torshen pushed Angel to the ground and laughed then he nodded to his buddies and they all began to pull and push him.

“Look at you; you’re pathetic; you won’t even fight back. What a loser!”

Angel glared up at Torshen how he want nothing more than to knock him out but, that wasn’t what Gramps would want. Angel thought back during train while Gramps was teaching him how to use a sword he told him that a true warrior never acted in anger or rashly.

Angel got up slowly and wiped himself off and glared at Torshen who only smiled and put his hands on his hips.

“So what? You’re not going to cry and run to the old man?”

“Leave him alone,” shouted a voice. Angel and Torshen looked up and there stood a young girl with sky blue hair standing in front of him. Who is that, no ever has stuck up for me before? Torshen towered over the girl, glared down at her, and snared.

“And what do are you going to do if I don’t stop huh?” Torshen laughed “Huh Hikari? You goanna to slap me or something…”

Before Torshen could finish the Hikari kicked him in the balls, Torshen doubled over in pain.

“Why you little bitch!”

Torshen reached and wrapped his hand around the girls’ throat and began to choke her. Hikari screamed and tried to beat his hand but she was too weak from loss of air. Small groups had gathered by now and were cheer or crying out for a teacher. Angel couldn’t believe it; if he didn’t do something soon Torshen could seriously hurt the girl. Angel got up, ran over to Torshen, and punched him in the gut. Torshen cried out and doubled over causing him to let go of the Hikari. Angel rushed up and caught her before she hit the ground. Angel laid her down on the ground gentle. The girl opened her eyes and looked up at Angel. He smiled gently at her.

“Are you alright?”

The Hikari said nothing and closed her eyes. Angel looked up at into the face off an enraged Torshen.

“You little piece of crap; your goanna die!” shouted Torshen

Torshen swung his fist but Angel duck and see his opening uppercut Torshen. Torshen howled in pain but went to hit Angel again only for Angel to dodge it. This continued for about four minutes until one of the other children shouted that a teacher was coming. Torshen pals started pull him away tell him that Angel wasn’t worth the fight. Torshen shook them off and glared at Angel.

“This anit over freak!”

Angel said nothing but glared back at Torshen who turned and ran off toward the town. Angel smiled to himself; man did it feel good to final hit Torshen in the face. It felt amazing thought Angel. I final stood up for myself. Angel’s thoughts were brought back to reality when a student cried out the teacher was here. Angel picked up his books and started to run off toward his house only moments before the teacher arrived. He looked over his shoulder at the girl still lying there. Why had she stuck up for him? Angel didn’t know but he hoped she be all right.

Angel continued to run and after he thought he had gone far enough he started to slow down and catch his breath, what just happened he thought. Angel reviewed the events in his mind. Torshen had tried to hit that girl and then… Angel looked down at his fist.

“I hit him,” he said

Angel smiled, he had final stood up to Torshen. I finally did it; I finally stood up to him. Wait until gramps hears this. Angel started running again and coming around a corner, there not too far ahead was Torshen, and his Gang all gathered in a circle with someone in the middle. Angel jumped behind a crate and leaned forward to see what they were doing. Although he could see what was going on he could hear what they were saying.

“Look at you. You think you’re special huh?” shouted Torshen

“What damn loser won’t even say anything?” said one of the boys. Torshen laughed and pushed into the person in the middle and knocked him down to the ground.

“Well if he won’t talk well just beat ya up until you open yer mouth!” said Torshen

“Ah just leave him alone Torshen you’re just made because you got beat by….”

Torshens’ friend never got to finish sentence before Torshen punched him in the mouth.

“I said NEVER to mention that again!” he looked around angrily at the other boys “Never mention that again! Ya understand me, never!”

Torshen look back down at the sacred boy on the ground and laughed cruelly

“And you don’t let me see you hear again on our side again do you hear me! You low-life trash!”

Torshen and friends kicked and pushed the boy around some more before heading off leave the boy on the ground. Angel finally came out of from where he was hiding and walked over to the boy laying there on the ground like bundle of dirty rages. As Angel got closer he could see that Torshen and his gang had really roughed him up. Angel could see cuts and bruise all over the boy’s body. Angel shook his head and then knelt down beside the boy and reached out and touched his arm.

The boy rolled over and covered his face.

“Enough please, no more,” plead the boy.

“Hey it’s alright I’m not going to hurt you.” said Angel.

The boy moved his arm and looked up at Angel, slow his eyes widen.

“You’re that winged boy from the academy!”

Angel nodded

“Yeah, name’s …”

“Angel.” said the boy

Angel eyes widen. How did this guy know his name? The boy looked as if he knew what Angel was thinking and smiled.

“I know your name because we have the same sensei.”

Angel eyes lit up now he remember this boy.

“Your name is Tsume,” said Angel

Tsume nodded and smiled

“Yeah …” Tsume coughed on his sentence as some blood came up. He quickly put his hand over his mouth and looked away in embarrassment. Angel quickly ripped a piece of his shirt and gave to Tsume to clean his mouth. Damn he’s really hurt. I’ll take him back to gramps he’ll know how to help him.

“I’m sorry. You didn’t have to ruin your shirt.” Tsume apologized

“It's nothing” Angel stood up and stretched out his hand toward Tsume. “Come I’ll take you to my grandfather he’ll help you.”

Tsume looked up at Angel

“Why are you helping me Angel?”

Angel smiled

“Why not” said Angel “Look, you’re just like me”

Tsume frowned

“A loser!”

Angel frowned

“No your different.” said Angel

“And what does that mean!” said Tsume

Angel shrugged and looked off into the distance reflectively

“Don’t really know but that’s what Gramps says to me all the time, and he says special people will be able to sense others like them. I’m just saying I have a feeling your one of those people”

Angel looked back at Tsume.

“So; are you going to let me help you or not?”

Tsume looked up into Angels’ eyes he’s being serious… special…..I’m special. Sounds like a load of shit to me but if he can help me find myself than what the hell.

“Well?” asked Angel

“I can’t get up,” said Tsume

Angel bends down, lifted one of Tsume arm, and put it on his neck.

“I’ll help you.”

Tsume nodded

“Thanks Angel.”