Chapter 2: August 15, 2018, 8:15 A.M.

"Tik, tik, tik, tik," grumbled the motor of the green and white bus in the almost deserted parking lot of Tokyo Dragons Academy. Nathaniel was at the back of the long line of fifth graders, glancing at the red, white, and black building standing against the grayish-blue sky. Smack in the middle-center of the building in emerald green words were, Tokyo Dragons Academy. Next to the school on its left side was a small park surrounded with a few gnarled, old, but beautiful trees; chains snaking around their trunks to lock a couple of bikes in place. Behind him, the students chattered loudly to each other like wild animals brawling for territory, their voices echoing in the parking lot. Inside his jacket pocket, stretching out as she sunk her metallic, silver claws into the fabric to prevent from falling was his clockwork saber tooth, Nadia.

Nathanial gently stuck his hand into the jacket pocket to stroke Nadia as he waited for the bus doors to open, feeling her soft, silver fur against the tips of his fingers. Nadia purred as she rubbed against his fingers, reminding Nathanial through their mind connection that he must control his powers or get kicked out of the school, making Tokyo Dragon Academy the third school he been kicked out of. Nathanial's foster parents, Takashi and Katsu, told him that they found a saber tooth sleeping on the doormat in front of their apartment with a baby cuddling against her, its face half buried in the silver fur, watching with pure curiosity as Katsu gently took the baby into her arms. Nadia had electric green eyes, silver, soft fur, sharp, strong, metallic claws, fangs, and teeth, and a metallic nose that identify any smell. No one knew about the clockwork saber tooth's existence except for Takashi, Katsu, and Nathaniel.

The doors of the middle-aged bus opened, its hinges creaking as they retracted out. The bus driver made a hand signal to the teachers that they could start loading the students on the bus. Two by two, the fifth graders stepped into the bus, the line shrinking every few seconds until Nathaniel was the only kid standing outside, the wind stirring his midnight hair. He glance through the thin, clear windows of the bus, watching his classmates chattering, horse playing, or staring with a bored expression through the window, not really seeing the busy street right next to the school. Sighing, Nathaniel climbed up the steps and hopped onto the smooth, black walkway.

As he strode towards the back of the bus, the other 5th graders shot glances at his back as he pass by them; some were full with hatred, others were filled with fear. When he whisked by them, his presence causing them to lower their voices to a whisper or cease to talk at all, shifting their bodies so that they faced away from him, though there were a few kids who dare stabbed their finger in his direction, tell their partner in loud whispers that he is a freak, a monster, and possibly a murderer. Nathaniel just ignore the 5th graders, staring straight ahead, his hair falling into his mismatched eyes; one aqua blue, the other sea green as he listened to Nadia growled softly, baring her teeth at the kids as they passed them.

Finally, Nathaniel reaches the caboose of the bus, which is a long, cushioned, black bench where three to four people could squeeze into. He threw himself at the right side of the bench right next to the medium-sized window that overlooked the academy; jostling Nadia in the process. She sunk her claws in through the fabric of his jacket and shirt into his skin for a moment before climbing out of his pocket onto his shoulder. From an angle, he watched a few volunteers jump into their small, multiple-colored cars, their engines purring with life, or rushing towards the park to unchain their bikes. The fifth grade teachers began to settle into their position, their eyes darting to each student within their peripheral vision, sharply correcting the children. The teacher in the very front of the bus signaled the bus driver that they were ready, clutching the silver, metal pole with a hand.

As the bus grumbled and groaned to life all the way, Nathaniel glances through the window as the other students in front of him chattered continually with each other, listening to the peaceful ticking of the clockwork saber tooth instead. He saw the colorful, tall sky spacers of Tokyo flew by him as the bus glided through the crowded streets that were bustling with life. A couple of trees were planted into the small, gravel sidewalk with wooden benches sitting in their shade. People with different backgrounds and cultures and from different races bustled in and out of variety, and sometimes weirdly shaped, buildings. Most people sped down the sidewalk, calling for taxis, jumping into their tiny cars, or unlocking their bikes from bike rack to reach their destinations. Tourists gawked and awe as their greed eyes tried to take Tokyo in, in one glance.

An hour later, the bus creep to a halt at its destination: the Museum of Japan's History and Culture. The building reassembles one of the imperial palaces in Japan; with many slated roofs stacked a few meters apart and the building decorated in royal red, pearl white, jet black, and a pinch of royal purple. A couple of people were lingering on the marble, white steps; either sitting or standing, some scanning their surroundings, eating delicious junk food, or reading a book. Standing on either side of the entrance, a few meters from Nathaniel, there stood two stoned, statues of the legendary samurai, both glaring out to the street with their cold-stoned eyes. Above the door in the middle in black wording, is said, "Museum of Japan's History and Culture." Nathaniel sighed and slump back into his seat as the doors tracing out, listening to the groaning of the bus as it put its energy into stopping itself completely, feeling Nadia scrambling off his shoulder to the jacket pocket. In front of him, kids either groaned because they were about to learn, sighed in boredom, or manage a faint smile.

"Before we enter the museum, I will assign you to a group and a teacher. During our visit, you will have to stick close to your group and teacher until we are back at school. Understood?" shouted one of the teachers who stood in front of the bus next to the bus driver over the loud chatter. Everyone bobbed their heads up and down except for Nathaniel as the teachers cast a few glances at a couple of students, which included Nathaniel.

"Okay, then," the teacher said as his fellow co-workers pulled out clipped boards out, "Let's get started."

A few minutes later, Mrs. McLean, one of the fifth grade social studies teacher, called on Nathaniel. Mrs. McLean has shoulder-length, dark brown hair, and thunderstorm cloud gray eyes. She wore a flowered printed shirt, khaki pants, a navy blue sweater, black flats, and a silver necklace. He stood up and amble toward her, Nadia's growl echoed in his mind as classmates stared at him for a couple of seconds before going back to minding their own business. He joined three other boys who were behind the teacher; they all took one step away from him expect for Alby. Alby has light brown eyes and military short, dark hair. He wore a light blue basketball shirt with hints of orange in it, a light blue jacket, black shorts, a bright red Miami Heat cap, and dark red and black high-tops shoes.

As Mrs. McLean shot Nathaniel a warning look with hawk-like eyes Alby leaned closer to him and whisper," Before this day is over, I will rid the world of you, freak."

Nathaniel sighed, imagining all places he rather be than here, as students dismounted the bus two by two and lined up in front of the museum.

Museum of Japanese History: August 15, 2018, 10:30 A.M.

Inside artifacts, statues, and monuments were scattered all around the museum; hanging from thin strings connected to the ceiling, attached to the bland cream white walls, and stood on display on the marble floor. After they pass the security desks and pay the entrance fee, one by one, the teachers with their groups slowly drifted away in different directions until Nathaniel's group was the only one left in the main hall.

Mrs. McLean began to amble through museum. "Today we will learn about the history of the samurais." One of the boys with gray eyes, short ginger hair, and freckles splattered on his face mummer yes under his breath. She stopped in front of two stone statues; a wealthy landlord standing over a kneeling samurai at his feet.

"Samurais were part of a powerful military dictatorship that dominates both Japanese government and society until the people of Japan rose up against them and destroyed the dictatorship," Mrs. McLean said, gesturing to the statues, "but in the early years, the samurai, which means "those who serve", served wealthy landowners."

While the teacher was lecturing, Alby leaned closer to the freckled boy, Sam, and the other boy who has dark brown eyes and dark brown hair with a red tint, Mark, whispered something to them, eyeing Nathanial out the corner of his eye. Nadia growled inside Nathaniel's pocket, baring her sharp, teeth as grouch into attack position. Flashes of red danced in Nathaniel's eyes as hatred and anger boiled in his insides for every idiot and spoiled brat he ever met in his life.

Mrs. McLean moved onto the next exhibit; pieces of a samurai's armor on display with an information deck just outside of the rope area.

"Before we move on to the Rise of the Samurai, first we go over the parts of the samurai's armor," Mrs. McLean announced. "Now who could tell me the translation of kabuto in English?"

"I know that the freak doesn't know because he's a retard. He can barely speak!" Alby whispered to the others. Annoyance joined the party as Nathanial if they know his real potential, but he would just be humoring the pathetic idiots, so he blankly stare at the exhibit.

"Alby, thank you for volunteering. Now what is the answer?" Mrs. McLean asked.

"Hmm..... I don't remember it," answered Alby.

Mrs. McLean said," Try again. What is the translation of kabuto in English?"

"Is it... the shoulder armors?" Alby asked.

"No. Kabuto in English is helmet. I will give a point for trying. Now, Nathanial, what is the translation of shikoros in English?"

"Mrs. McLean, he can't speak because he's mentally retarded," Alby said with a sly smile on his face while Sam and Mark smirked behind him, trying to hide it by turning around.

Suddenly a stone samurai was standing behind Alby, pulling out his swords as he shifted into attack position. Sam and Mark stopped smirking, their mouths opened dumbed founded and their eyes widen in shock. The teacher, who eyes were widened in shock, shifted her graze from the samurai to Nathanial over and over again. Nearby people screamed, ran straight to the exits or entrances, or shared Sam's and Mark's expressions.

Alby's smile slowly disappear as he asked, "What's going ....?"

At the same moment, the samurai slammed his long sword into Alby, causing him to scream in pain as he collapse on the marble floor in front of Mrs. McLean. The stone warrior switch his long sword for his short sword as he was about to step on Abby's back, Nathaniel stepped in between the injured bully and the samurai and yelled, " Yamete!"

The samurai straightened himself as he put his sword away, staring at Nathaniel. Then, the samurai slowly kneel down at Nathaniel's feet, bowing his head as his knees touch the ground and went back to being mindless statue.

Silence filled the hallway expect for Alby's cries of pain as pairs of eyes stared at the boy who had a stone, statue of a samurai, but Nathaniel ignored them as he stare at Abby gritted his teeth in pain, remorse and horror of what he has done to the helpless boy ate his insides. Nadia's voice echo in mind trying to comfort him but those words held no meaning to him. Freak, Monster, Murderer, his mind screamed at him. Nathaniel needed to disappear, to get away from this place and others before someone else get hurt. With a deep breath, feeling invisible, cold hearten power in the tips of his fingers, he put the hood of his gray jacket on his head, Nadia digging her claws into the fabric. Suddenly, all his senses ceased to function, feeling detached as he watched her body split into thousand tiny pieces and disappear into thin air, Nadia making a noise that sounded like a cross between a growl and a whimper.