The wailing of a police siren sounded in the distance. Another crime, another wrong commited, perhaps another death. This is part of life and can only be accepted, because in reality what can one person do about it?

The girl the little television in the living room and switched to the news channel. There was another story about a gruesome murder in the slums of the city. A gang had ripped the poor person to shreds. The motive was not given, but the girl surmised that it was probably debt problems, nothing out of the ordinary.

Sighing, she switched the TV off because the news was getting extremely repetitive and boring. When you're around death 24/7, there's nothing new about it. Once you first experience death, it wraps its long grotesque fingers around your neck and chokes you until you give in to its power. But sooner or later, it grows old, like yesterday's newspaper. Such an insignificant part of your life that you don't even notice it anymore.

Because that was what she had to live with. A constant fear of her mother and father not coming back home at night. Having to eat dinner alone in her musty, lonely house and waiting for someone to return back. Lying awake at night and praying that the screams which resonate throughout the city don't belong to one of her parents.

When someone asked her 'What do you want to be when you grow up?', she would answer 'Well frankly, I don't know'. Experienced with the realms of arm in arm combat, explosives, and criminal justice, she would make an extraordinary policewoman. But to this, she would reply 'Over my dead body. Do you think I would want to go to work everyday and leave my kids in a shadow of doubt? Cast over my entire family a sense of death and destruction, looming over them every single day? I would not want to expose my children to that.'

Her name was Yukiko, daughter of a cop and a former assasin. A formidable criminal herself, if she felt like it. And this is her life.

- - -

It was a dreary night and everything was still. Perhaps a little too still. Her mother was making dinner and her father was sitting at the table, reading the Sunday edition of the Times.

"One of my colleagues was shot in the field today. It was too bad, he was actually a decent guy. You know, I was almost sent to that crime scene, but my leader changed it last minute." Her father commented, not taking his eyes off of the paper as if he was chatting about the weather.

Yukiko's hand clenched around her pencil. *That could've been him.*

A knock sounded at the front door. "Could you get that, Yukiko, I'm kind of busy right now." Her mother called out from the kitchen.

Yukiko dashed up and skidded to the door. When she opened it, no one was there. *Weird...* She glanced down and saw a letter sitting at the doorstep.

Bending over, she picked it up and examined its contents. At the back, the blood-red seal read the letter SEA. A hint of recognition in her eyes, she smiled mysteriously and ripped it open.

Dear Ms. Yukiko,

Welcome to Star Empire Academy! We have recieved your application and reviewed it thoroughly. And we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as a student for the new school year. Congratulations to you and your family.

As you may know, the extensive supernatural world has been b with excitement over our opening our doors to the public. Many have responded to our call, but you stand out amongst the rest. We believe that you have what it takes to prosper here at SEA.

We await your presence on the first day of school. Please keep in mind, life is part of the cycle that we experience also. What is important is that you keep your head high and live life to the fullest. And that would be smart if you would like to survive at Star Empire Academy.

-Non est vivere sed valere vita est-

Mr G.

a/n Congratulations to TurtleYesung ! Sorry if this seems a bit weird and rushed, I was kind of in a hurry. The Latin phrase means 'Life is more than just being alive'. Lock n' love guys-

seizetheday