"Now..." I start finally, "where is Minako?"

"She was taken by one of the Ryuujin soldiers..." she stammers her reply. "I don't know which direction."

"She's given up on you already, Akio." Hisoka smirks thinking that I'd give up.

'The fool doesn't know me as well as she thinks she does to believe that the Shinigami gives in so effortlessly.'

"Did anyone see them..." I ask emotionlessly.

"I would bet Mamoru did... he was coming from the gates after checking on the guards there."

I start to walk down the passage as she stays there in fear. Hisoka steps up to her and scowls. "Come on... let's help him find Minako."

'Given up so easily?'

"You wish Shinigami..." she replies in my head.

'Why did you stop calling my Akio?'

"Because you have earned your true name again."

'Akio is my true name... Shinigami is just an alias.'

"Well you have earned your 'alias' then." She states annoyed.

I smirk as we walk down a passage way to the throne room. As we enter we see a huge group of guards with spears and swords and spears drawn aiming at me. Mamoru stands on the platform with his thrown, armor on and a sword at his side. His sword is a huge cleaver... made of kokuryuu scales and steel. His face is caring but his smile shows annoyance.

"You are certainly powerful..." he calls. "But I still do not believe that you are the Shinigami."

"I'm not interested in proving that to you Mamoru." I call back. "Tell me the name of the Ryuujin who took Minako."

"I will gladly tell you... if you pass."

"Damn it, Momaru don't you remember me?" I call to him. "You and I trained here as younglings..."

"I don't remember training with the Shinigami."

"I wasn't the Shinigami then you arrogant fool!"

"Now, now... no name calling." He says waving a finger at me. "I believe I have told you that before... or was it no threatening?"

"Tell me where Minako is now or I swear that you will never be able to breathe with the same ease as you do today!" I scream at him in rage.

"Oh please..." he replies. "Kill him."

The guards start to advance as I gradually become infuriated.

"That's it!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

I charge the group as they try to block my attack. I summon spell after spell... charm after charm... and curse after hundreds of curses. All of them torturing the groups I cast them on while the lucky one die at the hand of my blade. As I speed toward Mamoru, more guards stand in my way... they all hit the ground. Finally I slash at Mamoru.. he blocks it and attacks me... I dodge a diagonal cut and pin his blade on the ground. I use my majutsu to smash his blade into tiny shards. I raise my blade at his throat and wait for him to speak.

He smiles as he waits for my movement.

"Have I proven myself now?" I growl.

"Yes... Akio..." He says. "You are the true Shinigami."

"About time..." I reply. "Now the name of the Ryuujin."

"I won't give away his name... but I will show you where he lives."

I smile a sinister sneer, "Even better."

We venture out from the castle... they offered us horses. But I summoned my special breed. It's hide is as black as our souls and it's mane is long and free...  it's armor is a special obsidian combined with steel. And it's nailed into it. The beast has gotten used to it ever since it choose me as its master when I was just starting the "job" as a youngling. Ever since it has been allowed to be free until summoned. And today seemed like a good day for riding. The group following me preferred that we go unseen by the locals. So we voted to wear cloaks... for me I have my old one back on... sort of itching to get rid of it. I wait for the time we actually see the ryuujin's house... where Minako just maybe. I look on thinking of the future...

'What if she's happy with him?' I ask myself. 'What will I do then?'

I slightly shake my head thinking about turning back... fearing a bad confrontation. Hisoka... not far behind me, sees this.

"Having second thoughts Akio?" She smirks.

"It's Shinigami to you, Hisoka." I growl back not looking at her.

Mamoru is besides me as we head on down the mountain side.

"How much further?" Isao asks.

'Ah, I almost forgot about her.'

She is the last person in our group, and will never shut up about the path and voyage.

"Just a little further." Mamoru calls back to her.

"If you'd hurry Isao, then you wouldn't be so far behind." I snap.

"I blame the horse!"

"I personally feel sorry for it." Hisoka grumbles.

Isao hears this and calls to her, "And why is that?"

"Because of the dead weight it has to carry on its back..." She replies. "And the attitude that goes with that dead weight."

I sneer at this as Isao just grumbles curses under her breath. We keep moving for a time until a gentle sprinkle comes from the skies. I look up as I wait for the storm to hit.

"The weather is showing sympathy for you my friend." Mamoru chuckles to me. "That must mean your Minako has found a new one."

"It's only been three days." I reply back to him.

"Most of our kind can find mates in that time." He snickers. "And most of the time it's too late for someone who delays."

"Last time I checked, you were the delay... since you still wanted to try and "make sure" I was the Shinigami. I'm still going to kill you for those tests."

He laughs not noticing the seriousness in my voice. I ignore his fickle laughter and look ahead to spot a cabin. I think about what I need to do to get her back... but will the others help me.

'It won't work... she'll know it's you and if not the others will give you away.' My subconscious says to me.

I sigh a resigning breath as we draw closer to it. As we do I see a girl working in her garden. She spots us coming and I immediately see it's Minako. She runs in and get's the Ryuujin. We come closer to them as he waits outside with a cross bow in hand, it remains at his side since Mamoru is with us. But he still holds it as if expecting something. We approach the gate and wait to let him speak.

"Who are you?"

"I am Mamoru, Ryuujin shogun, and these are my... friends. Isao and Hisoka, and the other does not wish to reveal himself." Mamoru says with authority.

"Well he can't come in unless I know his name." The Ryuujin states.

I raise my hand and blast open the gate. I dismount my horse and walk him into the yard and tie him to a post. I then look at the Ryuujin who now has the crossbow aimed at me. I then nod my head and the cross bow bursts into a black flame. He yells and tosses it to the ground as I watch it burn, and then nod again to dissipate the flames in a second. The crossbow is dust. Mamoru comes in and then smiles.

"Sorry, he doesn't take no for an answer." He chuckles. "We wish to stay a night or two... we are on our way from a hunting trip and I'd not like to ride in this weather and time of day."

The Ryuujin nods in agreement and lets us in. As I pass I catch a glimpse of Minako. I then move away from them and sit under the porch roof against a wall watching the slight shower. I decide to rest out here and wait for her to come to me... I can already tell she has sensed me coming and knows I'm here. She comes out and sets a plate of food on the porch besides me. I ignore it as I watch her go back in.

Soon night has fallen on this place and she sneaks out to where I am. I have not slept... nor eaten. She stands there as if expecting something to happen. But then she sighs and says, "I know it's you Akio... you should know that I have reasons for why I left you. And I am happy here... happier than the life I've had with you... the least you could do is talk to me, but not tonight. For now I no longer know for certain if I love you or not... good night... Shinigami."

She walks in as I look out onto the fields and yard. My heart is screaming in agony and sorrow. She has never once called me "Shinigami" in replace of Akio. This can't be for real but I have no doubt in my mind that's it's true. The rain pours down now as my feelings are flooded with small tears. I keep a straight face. But I can't stop them from coming.

"Minako..." A defeated breath says. I hear another being come out and see the Ryuujin.

He looks tired and a little depressed. "So your Akio,"

"Did she tell you?"

"My Minako, no."

"Don't call her that!" I snap back at him.

"Look she stills cares for you, but it's fading." He replies. "And I can't believe I'm the competitor against the Shinigami over the fact but... that's life mate."

I nod after a slight ponder about what he said. "How fast is it fading?"

"Faster than I thought..." He replies.

"When she wanted to come with me she cried every night in the other room." He sighs. "Your name and I'm sorry is all she ever said. Until last night..."

"I tried..."

"To go after her?" He asks. "What stopped you?"

"I did." I hear Hisoka say.

We turn to see her drag Minako back out and practically slams her on the front porch forcing her to sit.

"What was that for?" She protests.

"Shut up and listen you arrogant-"

"Hisoka!" I snap at her.

She glares at me and sighs. "Look I cast a spell that made him invisible to you. You couldn't hear nor see him. I wanted Akio absolutely destroyed."

"Why?" The Ryuujin asks.

"To resurrect the Shinigami." She smirks slightly. "The one who I wanted to be for the past years of my life."

"So why are you helping him." Minako asks harshly not believing us. "As far as I know I was killing him for you."

"You were killing the Shinigami... or so I thought." Hisoka replies. "He wasn't dead... just hidden."

"So why are you helping him now, when you succeeded in trying to get us apart."

"You didn't see him once you left." Hisoka replied. "The rage in his eyes at me made my very soul scream for mercy. What he did to get back at me was the worst thing I've ever experienced and never thought in my dreams of someone possessing that power."

"You could be making this up for him."

"Out of all the years you've known him... has he ever made things up?" Hisoka scowls back. "This is torture for me don't you get it! But I felt like I needed to do something otherwise this world would have lost the Shinigami forever!"

"That's good right?" Minako says. "If the Shinigami leaves then there's no more death."

"You fool!" Hisoka snaps at her. "Don't you realize the sacrifice to gain that life, is nothing more than the Shinigami's death?"

"So?"

Hisoka turns toward me. And uses majutsu to pick me up strangling me. I can't move my arms, my legs, I can't even think about a counter charm.

"Fine," She says glaring at Hisoka. "Then let me kill the Shinigami then."

"Go ahead."

She looks to me with a hint of remorse... for either killing me or the Shinigami, I don't know. I then see black streams come out of my chest and absorbed into her body. Then pain they cause is tremendous. I can't gasp to scream but my face shows the torture.

"Minako... don't you realize what she's doing?" The Ryuujin says.

"Yes," she replies. "She's killing the Shinigami."

"Isn't Akio the Shinigami?"

"So?" She asks with a slight quiver in her voice. "If it allows us to live forever."

"Why make that sacrifice though..." he asks her. "If you love him then stop her. Don't worry about me... you think for yourself and what you want."

"But I don't-"

"Almost finished..." Hisoka calls to her. "Once I'm done with the Shinigami's body I think I'll keep his spirit as a pet... you won't mind if I torture it a little longer do you? I mean since you don't care... or do you?"

"I don't-"

"Minako..." someone calls.

We turn to see Isao there. She stares at Minako. "You know as much as I, you do."

"For the final time I don't!" She screams. "Why would I want him to die?! He's a living thing too."

Hisoka takes my sword and places it in her hand.

"You either kill him," she sneers. "Or I'll have him kill you."

"Why?"

"If you say you don't love him then prove it." Hisoka replies. "Kill him where he... floats... and then we'll leave without a fuss nor... much... judgment."

She takes the blade and comes to me. I watch her as I wait for the blade to stab into my skin. She starts to raise the blade and then drops it after a while. Her eyes tear and she drops to the ground sobbing. "Why must you have to torture me like this Akio?"

I stare at her gently all though my feelings are shocked. She called me Akio, not Shinigami.

"He isn't torturing you... in fact I'm torturing both of you together." Hisoka says. "He doesn't want to leave you... but I forced you to leave. He didn't want this as much as you."

She drops me onto the ground as I stand there. I think about what to say.

"I'm not going to force you to leave a place that makes you happy, Minako." I call to her dryly. "But the choice must be made here and now."

She looks up at me... as if wanting something but not wanting to seem unfair... the look's so... Minako.

"Think and chose wisely. I have to continue my travels as you know. You have till
dawn."

"Dawn is not far." She says.

"Then you must think quickly." I reply. "If you have not made a decision then I will leave you here and do so without a word of farewell."

"How can you demand that of me?" She asks incredulously. "You expect me to believe you after what happened that day and then you demand an answer on whether I love you or not? Akio you are the cruelest person-"

"Shut up!" Hisoka snaps losing patience. "I attacked you that day... I planted every little lie to make him and you look terrible for each other. It was me who paced around you filling your head with my curses from my tongue. Me, not him, me! And if you can't get that in your head, then maybe I did him a favor!"

She closes her eyes remembering what happened. She then opens her eyes and stares at me with a familiar emotion. She turns to the Ryuujin who smiles a little, as if letting her go in his mind... my bet is he has another lover that Minako didn't know about. Ryuujins... so secretive, yet so easy to figure out. But she smiles back at him and then turns to me.

"Akio..." She states, "...I... I wish to travel with you again. That is if you'll let me."

I think about it for a little while. She did leave... but that was because of Hisoka... I bet if I was her I wouldn't even be daring returning to her if that happened to me... she's got a lot more guts than I have in this subject.

"So I pulled it off on the wrong person?" Hisoka growls in my head. "Gah! I wanna do over!"

'Hell no Hisoka.'

I look to Isao who kinda nods as if giving me permission... like I need it from her...

"Only if you never call me 'Shinigami' again." I smile.

She beams and wraps her arms around me.

'Thank you Hisoka.'

"You ever mention this again... to anyone... and I won't fail next time." She hisses in my thoughts. "But you're welcome."

We let go and then I grab my sword off the ground. Then we turn to see Mamoru come out. He sees us side by side slightly smiling. And smiles as well.

"Have the love ravens come together again?" He asks.

"Ravens?" The Ryuujin asks.

"Crows are the sign of a death Mamoru." I tell him.

He thinks about that for a minute and replies. "I said that."

I look to the Ryuujin and shake my head. "And you chose him to lead why?"

"You're asking the wrong guy." He chuckles. "I blame the drunk bastards who pay attention to that stuff."

"Pay attention to what?" Mamoru calls.

"Obviously nothing when dealing with you..." I grin sarcastically.

He glares at me with a death glance. I laugh as Minako comes and places her head on my arm. I look down at her with a slight caring and calm stare.

"Feel better?" She asks.

"Much." I reply gently.

We turn and look at the sky.

"Auch!" We hear Isao call. "How long are you two going to be like that."

"For a long time..." Hisoka replies. "Trust me when I say I don't like it either..."

"Why didn't you do a better job?" Isao asks Hisoka.

"Because I value my life..." She replies. "Unlike you unless you, by some miracle, learn to be silent."

"He's not going to do anything... Minako won't let him."

"I wasn't talking about the Shinigami." Hisoka grins darkly.

"And another thing, why not just call him Akio..." She snaps. "It's not like he's actually going to kill you if you say it."

"It's his title, nave," Hisoka snaps back. "You honestly want to call him by his real name?"

"Well yeah... everyone does."

I turn to her, scowling a little. "No, everyone doesn't, only the people I most trust and allow."

"So I don't have your 'permission'," She says. "Oh please... I let you call me Isao."

"Yes, but note I haven't used your other name at all."

"So..."

"Have you been going around using a different name or title?"

"No?"

"So use the one that most people use on me." I demand.

"Hell no I've been calling you Akio since we've met!"

"No," I state calmly. "You only started using that when Minako called me Akio with you near. Before then I was always Shinigami or Shini-dono."

"And your point?" She asks again.

"I think he wants you to shut up," Hisoka softly says in her ear passing behind her. "I'd be silent if I were you."

"I don't care what he wants." She snaps after her. "I want to know-"

I raise me hand and a black cloth wraps around her mouth. successfully closing her mouth and only allowing her to breathe through her nose. She grips at it but can't find the spot where it's tied... most likely because it's not tied. The ends are fused together. She stops trying and glares at me after a while.

Hisoka stops and cocks her head as if listening to something. "You hear that?"

"Yes Hisoka," I reply. "It's called silence."

She sighs. "Finally."

I chuckle at her comment and then return looking at the horizon with Minako.

“When should we leave?” Hisoka asks. “I’d like to get back to my home village.”

‘What home?’ I think to her, since I know she’s reading my thoughts.

“That hurt Akio.” She hisses back to me in my head. “Why do you have to make me suffer?”

‘Because you made me suffer, even worse you made her suffer. You’re lucky I didn’t kill you when we were in the maze.’

“I was trying to help….” She says a little hurt in my head.

‘Next time you try to bring the old me out,’ I reply in my head, ‘ask me first if I want it out.’

She sighs to me slightly, “Sorry if I wanted to be like you…”

‘Why?’ I ask in my head. ‘Why would you want to be like me? I’m hated and feared for a “job” I didn’t even want.”

“That’s why,” She replies. “You’re feared. You strike terror in the hearts of my people. And that says something. But me, well… I’m just a runt in my race. A poor excuse that even humans didn’t fear.”

‘That should be a good thing… the only person who didn’t fear me was an old man whose life was filled my father’s presence… and mine. He saw the deaths of his family by my father when their time came. That and Minako… but even she has her moments of staring at me with fear.’

“So trade me jobs.” She says.

‘It’s not that simple.’

“How?”

‘I’d rather keep living if that’s okay with you?’

She sighs defeated.

And just when I think that the conversations, that I’d really rather not have, are over, Minako pulls me aside and stares at me with her caring eyes.

“Akio why do you hide your true self from me,” she asks with a hint of love in her voice and worry.

I sigh deeply and turn my head away.

“Because I’d rather not allow it to come…” I reply. “I’m terrified it will separate us.”

“Akio you know that won’t happen.”

I turn to her and gently reply. “Minako, every time it takes over and I kill, I see your face and all I can see is a terrified look, and that is one thing I don’t want to have happen. I want you to love me… not fear me.”

She wraps her arms around me, “I do love you Akio, and I’m not scared of you, I’m scared of what will happen to you. When you turn I look into the future and I see an entire army slaying you. I see you killed… and I don’t want that to happen, but that shouldn’t mean you should hide it… just control it.”

“I don’t know if I can though…”

She kisses my cheek and replies, “Then I will help you.”

I wrap my arms around her trying with every inch of my being to not shed one tear… so far I’m succeeding. I let go of her and she lets go of me, and we then walk back to the others.

“So Akio,” Isao says. “Were you really going to torture me back there in that room? I mean since you had that spell that ate away the guard’s flesh?”

Minako looks at me as if I committed a federal crime, and I probably did…. but…

“You did what?” Minako turns to me sternly.

I glare at Isao but she smiles as if she knew this would happen.

‘Hisoka if you want to kill her you have my permission.’

“Thank you,” she replies in my head, “That might just be an offer that I can’t refuse.”

“If I wasn’t going to then I won’t now.” Is my reply to Isao.

Minako smiles me slightly as if her training for me was going well.

“But never the less,” I finish, “I never said that Hisoka couldn’t.”

Her and Minako gauks at me.

“What was that one move you used on me?”

I smile with a dark, sinister expression. “Which one?”

“The one that gave me shivers…” She replies. “The one that hurt the most.”

“Sorry, that’s classified for the Shinigami’s knowledge only.”

She pouts a little and curses. “Ofcourse.”

I smile as I turn back to Minako and she only stares at me with a slight hint of fear…

‘I don’t care what she says it’s for… it’s still gut wrenching…’

“She doesn’t mean the move you used on my father do you?”

Her father was the sort who kept control of their family by the rule of “put them down and keep them down”, needless to say I didn’t approve… When I went to his house and saw what he was doing to Minako and her mother, I lost all control and respect for him. I used my little power to make him insane… I then sent him into a world of my creation where I go to fill my thirst for blood. After that I swore I’d take her with me… but we lived with her mother to be sure that she was fine on her own.

I sigh a resigning breath, “Yes Minako… I did.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t have control of myself…”

She nods…

“I’m sorry Minako.”

“It’s okay.”

“No it’s not…” I reply.

“Akio we’ll talk about it later okay?”

“Okay,” I sigh a resigning breath…

‘She’s not happy with you… why do you keep doing things that kill the relationship?’

“You’re not killing the relationship…” Hisoka says to me in my thoughts.

‘And since when did you get an invite tomy internal conversation?’

“Since I wanted to,” She replies in a playful manner. “But that’s not the point… What you do isn’t killing the relationship… it’s making it a little more difficult to work with but no where near killing it.”

‘And dare I ask how you know?’

“Instinct,” She chuckles.

‘You read Minako’s thoughts didn’t you?’

She pouts, “It’s no fun when I’m figured out.”

‘Don’t be so predictable then.’

I turn and walk away as the others head into the Ryuujin’s home to eat… I stay out and watch the sun rise behind the grey clouds and the horses eat. My horse, Uma walks over to me as I stare off into the horizon.

“You seem to understand me in a way others don’t Uma,” I call to it softly. “So what do I do now?”

It stands there looking at me as I walk over and pat its nose. I use some majutsu to make a sugar cube and place it near its mouth… it smells it and then takes it from my hand, gently rumbling in enjoyment.

“Do you have an answer my friend,” I ask it.

It looks toward the door then off to me. I sense Isao’s presence.

“It’s not nice to eaves drop on one’s conversation Isao.” I call out to her.

“Since when does one have conversations with an animal?”

“Since the horse has foretold me of dangers that could have killed me a thousands times over.”

“So how can you listen to it if it doesn’t talk?”

“It cannot be explained to one who doesn’t understand,” I sigh disappointed, “but you have to listen with signals given to each other. Only then can your conversation with these majestic beings be acquired.”

“What body movement did it give you?” She asks in an annoyed incredulous expression.

“It told me you were there by moving its head.”

“That’s it?”

“Sometimes the signs can be as simple as a head gesture,” I reply, “other times you might have to ponder and think of what it wants you to know. It get’s easier as you talk to it more.”

She walks back in as she does I hear Minako ask her if I was out there.

“Yes he is,” She replies. “But he’s in the middle of a ‘conversation’ with his trusted steed.”

“Really?” She asks. “Has it responded?”

“I dunno…” Isao answers. “But I think the Shinigami’s hood has squeezed his head a little too tight.”

Minako chuckles as I hear her come out.

“What has it told you Akio?” She asks standing next to me.

I look at her gently and back to my friend. “He thinks Isao needs a little more time to understand her surroundings by feel and not by mere sight and hearing.”

Minako chuckles as she pats his nose.

“What did you ask it?”

I sigh a defeated breath knowing I can’t lie to her. “What I should do next.”

“Well being the Shinigami has a heavy responsibility.”

“I know that…” I reply. “I’m just tired of drifting from town to town, village to village. Just to kill every other day.”

She nods gently staring at me, “You don’t plan on quitting your current occupation do you?”

“No,” I reply. “You and I both know what will happen then.”

She nods gently. “Seems ironic doesn’t it?”

I turn to her with a curious glance.

“Killing hundreds yet not being able to experience your own product.”

“Yeah,” I reply. “Sometimes I wonder if living is worth it.”

It’s her turn to look curious.

“But I think differently every time I look at you.”

She smiles slightly and places her head on my shoulder. “I love you Akio.”

“I love you too Minako.”

My friend looks at us and then turns to its head to the north and waits for me to comply.

I look off and then to my friend.

“What is it?” Minako asks.

“He senses something,” I reply. “But it’s too far out for me.”

“Maybe we’ll know in a little while.”

“Yeah…” I sigh, ‘I just hope that it’s a storm instead what I think it is.’

She starts to head inside and turns to me. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“No,” I reply. “I just can’t handle being near too many people…. I’d rather stay away from the crowd…”
She nods and goes in, as she does, I return to my spot on the porch as Uma walks off to another part of the garden…. He still looks off to the horizon and then to me, but resumes eating his grass. I continue to watch him though.

‘If he moves to me post haste… then I know, I need to go ahead to make sure everyone stays alive…’

Minako comes back out and looks over to the horse after she sees my gaze toward it; she then turns back to me and leans down setting a small glass plate on my lap. I see fish rolls and rice, and some water in a small glass.

“Are you hungry Akio?” She asks sitting next to me.

I try to keep composed but in all honesty I’m practically starving. The only real meal I had was when we had the fish after my fight with the Kyuuketsuki. I slowly eat keeping my etiquette.

“Yes very,” I reply after one or two bites of a fish roll.

“Yeah, so was everyone else… but I know you want to make sure the others are okay before you, and I had to make sure you ate something.”

I finish the plate and set it to the side and finish the water. After I do I feel a lot better. “Thank you Minako…”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m not the first one to eat am I?”

“No, you’re the last just like you would want.”
“Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” She replies.

“Did he take care of you?” I ask.

She stares at me as if that was the last thing she wanted to have brought up.

I return her gaze with one of my own, it’s a little hard but I turn away back to the horizon.

“Y-yes,” she replies. “He… did…”

“Better than me?”

“Why are you asking this?” She asks. “You can’t be thinking of leaving me here, are you?”

“No… at least not forever.” I reply. “I ask this because there might be a force coming… and I think it’s the Kyuuketsuki.”

“But you can take care of them easily right?”

“Just answer Minako, please?”

She stares at me and I return my gaze to her.

“No,” she replies after a while. “He has only fed me and housed me.”

“What have I done that was better… I have to travel and can’t even settle down like I want.”

“You have saved me from slavery to the Kyuuketsuki,” she starts. “You saved me from a prison while keeping us alive. You protected me and my mother from my father, saved me from the fires made from a necromancer, you have taken thousands of blows, been subjected into many traps, attacks, assassination attempts, and has walked the very boarder of death to make sure I was alive and well.”

I sigh as I remember ever last one of those items on her list. All has left their scare on my body, and all has taken their toll on my mind…

“Yes Akio,” she finishes, “you have done an immensely better job than what he has just simply provided. You have kept me safe even when it could have meant certain death to you, both physically and mentally.”

I see Uma look back to the horizon and does not return to his meal ears pointed in the direction he’s looking at.

“And I might have to do it again.” I reply to her.

I start to sense the force arriving and the familiarity is enough to make me scowl.

“You feel them too don’t you?” The Ryuujin comes out looking toward the horizon with me.

“Kyuuketsuki…”

“Yes,” He replies to me.

Minako looks off to the distance with a slight sinister sneer, I can’t help but do the same.

“Looking for a little vengence?”

She turns to me and uses the majutsu she posesses to recall her claws to her, then she replies with a single word. “Very.”

I chuckle as I look off to the distance. I think about how I will do this. But I can’t help but feel a different pressence than just the Kyuuketsuki… and I don’t like it… I don’t know if its more than just one of the creatures.

“I’ll think of a plan of attack…” I call to them finally. “If anything I’ll go alone…”

Minako glares at me, “You going alone?”

“Forget vengence this time Minako…” I sigh to her. “Just trust me on this one, please?”

“Akio-”

“Minako please…” I call to her glaring at her with concern. “I still don’t want you to get hurt.”

She stares at me but then reluctantly complies with my request. “Okay Akio, as you wish.”

“Thank you…”

She turns inside and then Hisoka comes out with a slight concerning look.

“You sense them too?” I ask her.

“Yes,” She replies. “I don’t understand h0w they were captured….”

“They Kyuuketsuki are determined beasts,” I answer. “They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.”

“The majo’s aren’t a match for what they have in mind…” I reply. “They want to kill me.”

“Why though?”

“The race has wanted to opprotunity to claim the life of the most powerful being,” I sigh a resigning breath.

“They killed a majo… why do they need you?”

“Because I, like you have stated before, have hidden my power to the world.” I answer quietly. “And when they were heading to a village of you’re people, they turned to me for protection.”

She stares at me in shock and disbeliefe.

“When they outnumbered me, and I was down to my last breath before my time ended in this world, I used that hidden power… Nothing could stop me… the beasts they brought, the men, the leaders, the grunts… everyone of them were killed by my blade… I left one grunt alive to go back and tell the tale of the onslaught to their queen… Only she didn’t take the warning as such, she took it as a challenge.”

“And so they keep coming in order to fufill their lust of being the dominant.” Hisoka glares off to the horizon.

“Unfortunately…” I reply.

“You seem reluctant to fight…” she states turning to me, “tell me why.”

“I’m the one who started this mess…” I reply dryly. “If this keeps going I’ll have to kill their queen.”

“You just might have the chance.” Hisoka calls to me.
I turn to her waiting for the reason she knows this.

“As you must know,” she starts, “the majo’s have a telepathic power with other creatures.”

“Couldn’t tell from all the conversations we had in my head.”

She chuckles but goes on, “I have spoken to one and they think that she is leading the force this time… as if she knew you were here.”

“Just like always…” I reply. Then I think to myself. ‘Amaya what are you doing.’

“You know her?!” Hisoka screams in my mind.

I sigh and resume the external conversation, “You keep doing that I’m going to go insane.”

“You already are,” she replies. “But answer me.”

“Yes I know her…”

“Why haven’t you told anyone of us that?”

“Because it’s none of you’re business, Hisoka.”

“You need to tell me all I need to know since it’s my people in her chains.”

I stand and growl at her darkly. “It was you’re people that tried to kill you, or have you forgoten… runt!”

She slaps me and her nails claw into me.

“HISOKA!!!!” Minako screams from the door.

I turn to her and she darts out after us. I catch her and stops her as she tries to claw Hisoka to nothing.

“Minako it’s my fault, I said some things that I shouldn’t have.”

“I don’t care she still didn’t need to do that.”

“Let me go Akio I want to kill her.” Minako says but she doesn’t open her mouth.

‘Minako calm down.’

“Great now she’s playing with my head again…” She thinks. “What are you doing with Akio’s voice.”

‘Minako it is Akio,’ I reply.

“What?”

‘Minako it’s me, Akio.’

“How did you intrude my thoughts.” She thinks to me.

‘I don’t know, and intruding you don’t want me?’

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Hisoka what is this maddness?” I ask her.

“I’ve been waiting to do that.” She sneers. “I placed a poison of my people on my nails. And when they dug in they gave you the same telepathic power as I have.”

“YOU POISONED HIM?!!!” Minako screams in rage.

“It won’t kill him, so no need to kill me.”

“At least not just yet.” I say to her looking at her curiously. “Why?”

“So you can talk to her and get her to release my people.”

“Why should I?” I ask. “Next thing I should know is that they’d kill you.”

“It’s better than living in shame.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, it is.” She hisses to me. “You should remember that.”

I glare at her with a hint of rage.

“Oh you haven’t fogoten yet have you?” She sneers at me.

“Don’t make me send you into a nightmare far worse than anyother one I have used against you.”

She stares at me with slight anger and fear.

“Akio…” Minako sighs in her head, “it can be hard to love you like when you’re like that.”

‘Why didn’t you say anything then Minako?’

“Because I didn’t want you to hide yourself again, but I will adapt.” She thinks.

‘You don’t have to if you don’t want to.’

“Akio…” She sighs again. “Why is it so easy to love you but so hard to adapt to it?”

‘I don’t know Minako, I’m sorry.’

“It’s not you’re fault.”

‘Yes it is… I need to be better than what I am… a lot better than what I am.’

“Akio you’re not getting it,” she says. “You’re can’t be any better because you’re the best, I just need to remember how I loved you back then when you didn’t hide yourself from us.”

‘Minako you’re doing just fine…’ I sigh in her mind. ‘I’ve just become darker since we lost eachother.’

“Well now I guess we can both adapt. But if there was one time I wanted you to be dark. It would be now.” She says getting a little rage in her thoughts. “Kill them all for me okay?”

‘As you desire Minako.’

I turn to Hisoka and she stares at me as if expecting a blade in her the next second.

“What are you thinking Shinigami?” She smiles darkly. “Surely you don’t mean to kill this Amaya.”

‘I plan on killing all I can, they used Minako against me.’ I reply with a growl. ‘And now they will pay the consequences.’

“Communicate with her into letting my people go.” She demands in my head.

‘And you think I’d listen to you?’ I ask with a superior voice. ‘Tell me why?’

“Because,” she starts, “because I’m begging you Akio, yes they tried to kill me, and yes I am a runt in my race, but they are still my people. So please please help release them.”

I pause for a while keeping silent in my thoughts letting my power whisper in my ear.

“She is begging the Shinigami for help… no, she’s begging Akio for help.” It says in my ear. “And that must mean a lot since she is a majo… they rarely beg for anything. So…”

‘Okay Hisoka, I will free your people one way or another.’ I reply in my thoughts. ‘But that will be twice your people will owe me. For saving them.’

“Thank you,” she starts, “Akio.”

I start to walk off to Uma and ride to the Kyuuketsuki. As I ride something in my mind hisses.

“The Shinigami is coming for an audience with me?” I hear a familiar hiss. “How nice.”

‘Amaya what have you done?’ I growl in my thoughts.

“Come see for yourself Akio,” She hisses in a taunting voice. “And tell me if I haven’t lived up to your expectations.”

I ride over the next hill and I see a good fifteen tents and camps. Then one large one in the center.

I get off Uma and turn him loose to do as he pleases. He stays there and I use my power to teleport me to the entrance of their camp. I walk in and wait to see if they will attack me. I move closer to the large then where I know Amaya must be. They all stare at me from behind their masks, I walk with more caution as I see one’s sword reveal itself as it waiting to strike when told. As I move to the entrance of the large tent, a guard stands wait and stares me down as I move past into the room.

I walk in and find a small division of Kyuuketsuki in the room around a throne in the back of the room. On top of it is a girl a little younger than me. She has on a black dress that comes to her feet with a red stripe on the sides. Her top is made of a black cloth as well that covers her pretty well but there are no straps over her shoulders. She stares at me with no mask. Her crimson red eyes glare at me as an evil grin looks to me. Over in the corner I see men and women in a cage.

‘Those have to be the majos.’

She booms from across the tent. “I have been expecting you onii.”

“Amaya what have you done?!” I snap at her. “Do you realize the very people you command were otousan’s enemies?!”

“Now, now Oniisan no need to shout.” She smiles wickedly. “And yes I do know. Why do you think I have taken control of them.”

“You are desgracing our family!” I growl.

I advance to her, using my majutsu to shove the kyuuketsuki out of my way making a huge path. The majos watch with awe as they whisper, “the Shinigami is here.”

I get to the base of the throne and she stares down at me.

“No,” she answers, “they have disgraced me. I watched them turn to you when something needed to be done. You were their favorite, you were the child that would make the huge success in our family.”

“Don’t you realize that was only when they thought of me to take over the ‘business’ that otousan was in?”

“Otousan turned to you for it,” she snapped at me harshly. “I would have killed for that job!”

“Amaya you have no idea what you would have to do in order to succeed in this job.” I sigh depressingly. “You would have to kill just to survive, inocent people would fall to your hands, and you would have to watch as you open the gates to hell and send them on their way. Knowing you have just damned someone into a life of torture and misery. I have more blood stained on me than anyone else will ever have. Do you think that otousan would be proud of his son living that life?!”

“He should be since you took it.” She snaps. “‘Onii can do this with ease,’ that’s what okaasan told me. I hated him for choosing you and not even considering me.”

“We did consider you Amaya!”

“LIAR!” She screams. Two fans apear in her hands and she uses the majutsu she possesses to speed her attack.

I raise my blade to block and wait for her next attack. As she does, she blocks my blade and uses a fan to cut into my skin. As it does I feel something move into my skull and then turn my senses off in random specturms at first I can hear and then can’t, one second I can see and the next im blind. All is chaos.

I hit the floor as I use my majutsu to try to get rid of it. I us kuroi hi to surround me in a ring. As I bide some time. Finally I control it and then make the affect disapate. I stand up and see my sister across me on the other side of  the black flames.

“Like them?” She sneers.

“You majutsu that can make the senses shut on and off in a matter of seconds. That is a nice touch but some how can’t seem to stand flames.”

“And the kuroi hi,” She says staring into the flames. “Otousan has tought you well, I haven’t seen that one ever since you two trained.”

“Yes,” I reply. “But only I was given the life time to master it, be able to fully control it.”

She stares at me. “What do you mean?”

I raise my hand and the ring grows a branch that goes to the tent wall and burns some of the kyuuketsuki. As they rush to pour water on themselves the flames only grow.

“What are you doing?!” She stares around at the situation incredulously.

“The kuroi hi, is a flame that can’t be put out unless the one who controls it wills it to.” I reply darkly. “And now the rest of these miserable beings will burn in your sight.”

She turns to me as I open a section of the ring and she charges through it. I block her fan blade and then grab her arm from slicing me again.

“You were always their favorite.” She snaps at me with slight tears.

“If you only knew the half of it.” I reply. “They loved you more than I.”

“More LIES!” She screams as she pushes me away. I hit the floor and her majutsu stops me from getting up and being able to grab my blade which had fallen onto the floor next to me.

She then summons it to her and raises it to kill me.

“I planned on using your sythe, but since it’s not here I’ll use the next best thing.”

At that moment Minako bursts through the roof of the tent and slashes her with several blows of her own. Amaya can no longer move and only stares at Minako in fear when her claws press into her throat.

“You even dare to kill him and I will make sure the rest of your eternity will be nothing but a pure nightmare.” Minako growls in her ear. “And both of us know I can, now release him!”

I feel the pressure that was pinning me to the floor disapate, then I stand up and turn to my little sister. I take my blade and stand there with it in my hand.

“Well onii,” she hisses, “what are you waiting for? Kill me!”

I look around and see the dead bodies of the Kyuukestsuki on the floor. I then turn to the majo cage and break the lock on it with my power. “Leave to your village. And make sure this never happens again.”

“Yes, Shinigami.” One woman says to us. “And thank you.”

They disapear from our sight as they leave. I then turn to Amaya.

“Amaya,”
“Spare me your lies and manipulation!” She snaps. “I do not wish to hear it.”

“Amaya shut up.” I reply. “I took this job because otousan and okaasan wanted to keep you from a fate a hell of a lot worse than death.”

“What?” She replies in disbelief. “Why?”

“This job is torture!” I snap. “I remember when dad would come home from a half century job errand. He was tortured until he came home, and the first one he saw at the door was you.”

She looks to the floor after Minako releases her and moves next to me. “I don’t re-”

“I do.” I reply. “The smile he had on his face was replaced with a fearful look when he thought about putting one of us through that punishment.”

“I thought he was killed after a shi ritual had gone wrong.”

“He did,” I reply. “but when the figure came to him to take his soul it asked which one of the offspring would replace him. He turned to me begging me to take it because he didn’t want his little Amaya to walk the same path. It was a hard choice for both of us, but in the end I accepted the job offer under the condition that you would be spared. That’s why you lived, because of the sacrafice we made, me, otousan, and okaasan took that price to keep you alive and happy. I took care of you until I had to leave.”

“But if that’s true,”

“It’s not an ‘if’ situation Amaya.” I growl slightly. “It ‘is’ true.”

She tears up and drops to the floor in agony. “I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid.”

I stand there for a moment and then walk to her and embrace her once I lower myself to her.

“I’m sorry onii.” She cries burying herself in my shirt, now sliced in some places. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay… you’re free now.” I reply to her. “You are forgiven.”

I stand up as I think of what to do with her...

‘She can’t stay here… I mean half of her forces, all of her forces are dead and chard.’

“Do you have a place to live?” I ask her.

“I have to go back to my people…” she replies. “I am their queen…”

“Not anymore.” I hear someone call.

We turn to see a kyuuketsuki with a general’s outfit on. The mask is white and black only white on top and black on bottom, and his cloak is a little more fancy, and important looking. A yin yang is on his forehead.

“What do you mean?” Amaya asks.

“The high council has made a final discussion was made and they decided that after this you are no longer qualified to be the queen. You are banished from the kyuuketsuki kingdom.”

Amaya sighs with a disappointed look. “Okay. I understand.”

“Good, now good bye,” He says.

He leaves us and then that concerns me about what Amaya will do. As I watch her, she slowly stands. She looks around at what her life has gained her.

“The high council’s decision?” I ask.

“The high council has a meeting every time the sun is high in the sky and the same for the moon. And apparently they have decided to let me go from the throne. I wander who they replaced me with?”

I look around at the bodies as I see Hisoka arive. She glares at Amaya with rage and anger.

“You,” she starts with no hint of control, “you are the one who brought shame to my people!”

Amaya looks at her with a hint of sorrow and shame.

“You must be Hisoka.” She stares at Hisoka.

Hisoka stops and turns to me. “Did you tell her?”

“No.” Amaya continues. “You’re people did.”

Hisoka looks shocked. “What do you mean? I disappeared from them a mellenia ago.”

“One still remembers you… I think a friend… maybe a younger sister… but she called your name when she was put in with the others.”

Hisoka looks shocked as if she knows who Amaya is talking about, but that only lasts for a second, after that she becomes enraged even more.

“You will die!” She screams at Amaya.

She starts to advance on ther but then is stopped when I get infront of her.

“What are you doing Akio?” She asks confused, but then continues in rage. “Let me destroy her!”

“No.” I reply sternly. “You shall not pass, or I will destroy you.”

“You’re stopping a fate ment for her. And that is death!” She screams. “Why? Help some inferior Kyuuketsuk?”

“Because she is my imouto and you shall not touch her.” I growl darkly. “Or else I’ll give you another dose of my power. And I don’t think you want that.”

She glares at me but then finally subcomes to my demand. “As you wish, Shinigami.”

“Good,” I reply.

“Akio what about your sister?” Minako asks me in me ear.

I turn to her and look at my sister who has gone to the throne and stares at its ashes. “I don’t know yet…”

“She can’t come with us…” Minako states. “Isao and Hisoka are already too many.”

“We may not have a choice…” I reply with a hint of sorrow. “But she’d be horrified of me…”

“Not entirely in accurate…” I hear Amaya call.

We all turn to her as she turns to us slowly, and with saddeness. As me and her stare at eachother for a slight second I finally find the courage to ask.

“What do you mean?”

“When I saw what you could do to yourself back as a child when we were young. How you could turn into that beast… I was terrified to call you my onii. And the kuroi hi you produced made it a little worse. Those eyes when you told me about it only showed darkness beyond what any abyss can fabricate.”

We stare at eachother as I finally accept that I can deny it no longer. Hearing it from my own imouto… expecially from when she told me of the beast I became back then… I am nothing but a beast inside this world making nothing but a fool of myself.

‘I am no man… just a beast that needs to be caged from the world.’

“Oh don’t start that again!” Hisoka hisses in disgust in my mind.

‘Bite your minds tounge Hisoka, and your real one too.’

“Fine, just not that again.”

I look over to Minako and she can tell that I’m hurting a little.

“I know you’re reading my thoughts Akio,” She says in her mind. “What is bothering you?”

‘I don’t feel good about my true self now… if I scare imouto away from me then what kind of onii am I?

“You protected her from stuff she never needed to see and endure. You turned into that beast to save her. Yes it was a little terrifying but I’m sure she understands that it was for a good cause.”

‘I hope so.’

As I stare at my sister she returns with one of her own. But then slowly turns away.

“Can you go anywhere Amaya?” I ask her.

She thinks for a little. “I can find a place… maybe I can speak to the high council of the Kyuuketsuki and find out.”

“I hear our people need a new leader. And their own council is actually wishing that one of us could be there. And since I can’t…”

She stares at me and then smiles. “Onii, you really mean that I have a chance?”

“Well they respect me, and you tell them that I sent you with this.”

I use my majutsu to summon a small parchment with the sign of the shinigami on it and my name. Above it is the words telling them each that my sister is available for the spot of the higherarch. I and it to her and she smiles at me. She then embraces me, “thank you onii!”

“I think it’s a job you should do well in.” I reply with the same smile. “Now you must hurry for the spot might be taken.”

She starts to leave but then stops. “Uh… can I have a-”

I summon a portal made with the shi symbol to take her home. She stares at it and looks back at me, I nod and she smiles again. “Thank you onii.”

“Be good, and take care of yourself,” I reply. “Hopefully I can stop by while on my travels.”

She nods and then turns to Minako. “Good bye Minako.”

Minako gives her a huge good bye hug. “Sorry for all the fuss earlier. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah,” Amaya replies. “I’ll see you too?”

“I’m not letting Akio out of my sight.” Minako chuckles. “So you can rest assured that I will be there when he sees you.”

“Okay.” She steps into the portal and turns to us. She gives one final good bye and I send her home.

I turn to the rest Minako and Hisoka.

“That was too… revolting.” Hisoka gags.  “‘I’m not letting Akio out of my sight, so you can rest assure I’ll be- ’ BLEAH!!!”

We chuckle as I look to Minako. “I could kill her if you want.”

She smiles but looks around. “I think that you’re kuroi hi has done plenty of that for one day.”

I nod and we return to the hill where Uma is still standing. He looks to us as if anticipation our arrival. I set Minako on him first and then get on myself.

“So what are you going to do?” I ask Hisoka.

“I’m sticking with you Akio.” She says. “After seeing the kuroi hi in action and hearing about your beast form. I think I’ll stick around to see it for myself.”

“Becareful though,” I say noding. “That might be the last thing you ever see.”

“I’ll be sure to make it worth while,” she replies. “So that way if it the last thing I see… I won’t die disapointed.”

I get a little annoyed and concerned for how much see wants to see of my powers. I sigh as I look back to the Ryuujin’s house. “We’ll discuss that matter later. For now I need rest.”

I ride off with Minako infront of me as I hold the reigns. She places her head against my shoulder and slightly takes a nap. When we arrive she wakes up and I help her off. We turn to the others as they stare at me, cut up and bleeding in several places.

“What, just a few hundred Kyuuketsuki,” I call the them shrugging. “No big deal.”

They chuckle as Minako and the rest go inside. Hisoka appears next to me, no doubt teleported, and I grab her tunic, dragging her around to the side of the house. She complains all the way.

“What are you doing?” She demands.

I push her against the wall and glare at her. “Why do you want to see my power so bad?”

“Because it’s legendary and I want to witness it.” She chuckles.

“What legends has been told about it,” I ask with a disgusted scoff. “All I heard was horrible scary tales.”

“Legends can be scary tales, Akio.” She says. “Either way they get told.”

“As true as that may be… I will do everything in my power to stop it.”

“Why?” She asks stammering in shock. “Why do you still wish to hide your power?”

“Because it’s my choice, now leave it be.” I growl back at her.

“You’re ‘choice’ makes no sense!” She snaps at me. “She told you that you don’t have to hide you’re true self anymore, why must you continue to defy her?!”

“What does it matter to you?” I snap back loudly. “Why do you have to care about things that no one ever wants to endure?”

“Because I wanted to be you for a time…” she replies dryly. “Is there so much wrong in that?”

I turn away from her as if wanting to imagine what would happen as I try to become that infernal beast.

‘That is my strongest state…. But also the easiest state to kill…’

“That’s some interesting information Akio.” She hisses in my mind.

I pull my sword out and lunge at her pinning her against the tree in the yard. I use my majutsu to keep our alone time exactly that.

She stares at me with a  huge sneer. “Is the Shinigami afraid to die?”

“Only when the things he leaves behind need him most.” I growl back. “And don’t forget you needed me.”

“Oh really?” She says in a disbelieving seductive tone. “Do tell me how you know.”

“You asked for my help to escape the prison remember?”

She smiles again proving that I’m right. “What’s wrong with making deals?”

“It depends on what the deals are.” I reply. “But why do you want to see my beast side and you had better answer me truthfully.”

“I want to see your power.” She lies.

“You want to kill me! You traitor!”

“No!” She screams back. “I don’t want to kill you…”

I stare at her with shock in my eyes as I see her stare at me then turn away.

“You may not want to…” I say. “But you have to…”

She sighs a resigned breath, “Yes… I have to… the people who control me are making me do it.”

“You didn’t want to break me to free the Shinigami side of me did you?”

She nods. “I actually kinda did… but I didn’t do it for that reason.”

“They told you to destroy me… mental…”

“Physically and sprirtually.” She finshes for me. “Yes they did.”

“Who?”

“The only one who were able to capture me.” She replies.

I stare in shock as realize who she means.

“Mamoru…”

“Yes,” She says.

I slam my sword in the tree as I remember the times we had as children. The times where the two most michevious kids in the town went along causing all kinda a trouble. We were close, faught by eachother, stood by eachother, and helped eachother through the most difficult trials set ahead of us at that time…

‘And now the only friend I’ve had in this world wants to kill me?!’

I slam my fist into the tree and splinter it to fall backwards.

Hisoka stares at me as I get more enraged.

“My own friend… my only friend tries to murder me behind my back?!” I growl in a sinister way.

“Akio I’m sorry,” Hisoka replies as she cowers away from me.

“Who else is in on this?” I glare at her.

“Him and the Ryuujin inside.” She says. “He planned on leaving Minako to some others for a small profit.”

“Were they going to split it?” I ask.

“No, all Momaru wanted to see was you under the dirt.” She replies. “He wants to live forever… and is deffinatly scared of dying.”

I smile a sinister grin. “Then I will make him see death waiting for him.”

She sees me use my majutsu to form my cloak around me and bring my sythe back from its hiding spot, and sneers.

“You’re job’s ‘uniform’ I presume?” She asks. “I don’t understand why you hid it from me for so long… I mean I’ve never hidden my things from you.”

“Stop teasing nave…. And just help me get my plan in action.” I scowl.

“Well what is it you plan to do?” She asks me with a sly grin. “Destroy them in the most horrid way imaginable?”

“I might have a thing or two in mind…” I sneer a sick, twisted, evil grin. “Just make sure that it plays in my favor… or else I might end up like you or worse.”

“So you are afraid to die?”

“As I said befor, only when those I care for need me most.” I reply.

“Like me?”

“You want out of their chains?” I ask.

“I would adore that.” She replies a little irked at me asking.

“Then yes you need me.” I reply.

She stares at me in anger, again proven right.

“Go and get them. I have some things I would like to ‘discuss’.”

She goes in and gets the two Ryuujin. As they come out Mamoru smiles his same caring smile… only now I see the deseption in the expression. As he steps forward I become more enraged. He would be terrified if he could feel the rage I’m going through. That or he’s too stupid to understand he’s caught… or accept it.

“You called our audience Akio.” Mamoru says in a cheerful tone.

“Drop the tone Mamoru… I know what you’ve planned with the majo.” I reply in a dark tone.

He stares at me with the same smile only now it shows defiance and arrogance. I scowl at the michevious grin.

“She tell you, did she?” He asks.

“I kinda forced her too.” I reply. “It’s was my pleasure to be honest.”

“So you know everything we’ve planned against you… that’s a shame… I didn’t think I’d get your blood on my hands Akio.”

“No you won’t,” I reply. “It’s the other way around, I’m going to get your blood on my hands.”

“So determined to kill your friends are you?”

“More like traitors than friends.”

“Traitor is such a strong word… We like to think of it as being opportunistic.”

“I hardly believe trying to kill me to gain life is the perfect example for being ‘opportunistic’.” I scowl.

“Now Akio, you never should have given the opportunity.” Mamoru shakes his head. “So many fond memories that we share… to bad all of those had to go to waste.”

“Indeed.”

He looks up at the cloudy sky as it starts to rain. “I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?”

I shake my head and he produces the cleaver blade from the escape of the prison, and the Ryuujin behind him takes out his. As I see the Ryuujin start to get ready I summon a small fire right behind him so he can’t see it. A Kuroi Hi to be precise. Mamoru starts to walk towards me. I make the fire attack its victim. He screams and is instantly consumed in the fire. Mamoru stares in awe as he shrivels to the ground in terrorizing screams.

“Like it?” I ask with a sneer over the man’s screams. “It’s my a little trick I learned from the past Shinigami. Only I modified it to be a little more… sinister.”

He turns to me with a little more composed look about him. “It’s a neat little trick, but I’m assured you won’t use it for me?”

I point my sythe at him. He stares at it with the same smile.

“No, you are a little more lucky than that.” I reply with a harsh grin. “You have the honor of being killed by death himself.”

“Death has come to claim me then, has he?”

I nod and charge him. He sends his blade to block my sythe and we stare at each other as our weapons are locked. “Mind yourself, Akio. This one Ryuujin knows your tricks.”

“You know Akio’s tricks,” I reply. “But the Shinigami has some that no one has ever lived to tell about.”

We break off and I dart at him again. He twirls and dodges my attack and sends his blade to cut another gash into my back. As I wait to feel what his majutsu does to me he smiles.

“Waiting to see what my blade does Akio?”

“I told you. You’re fighting death now.” I scowl at him.

“Maybe that’s why you’re getting cut up?” He shakes his head. “Maybe the Shinigami and Akio should combine their power.”

I think about what he’s just told me and sneer. I remove my cloak which is now damaged a little. And change my scythe for my blade. He stares at it smiling. After that Hisoka scream in my head, “You diot, that’s what he’s wanting!”

‘I don’t care! If I choose to use my ultimate trick I will if I see fit.’

“What do you mean by that?!” She asks. “You can’t mean..!”

‘Shut up and let me fight my way damn it!’

“What’s the matter ‘Shinigami’, can’t fight now?” He mocks.

“Shut up Mamoru!” I growl at him. “I have told you before that it was the Shinigami you were fighting. Now it’s my turn. Akio is back to make sure the kill is worthy of scum like you.”

He smiles wider, which makes my anger turn to rage. I swing my blade around allowing momentum to help with my blow as I bring it down to slice him down the middle, he smiles and blocks that too, and then pushes my blade away from him leaving me open, he takes the opportunity to send his into my body. As I stop and feel every breath leave my lungs I hear him whisper to me after I lean on his body.

“Poor Akio… couldn’t step up to the challenge like always.” He sighs. He pulls the blade out of me and I fall to the ground dropping my blade and curling up my body. He turns back to me and shakes his head. “What a shame to actually see this, what will happen to Minako I wander?... Oh I know! The market has a good price for women like her. I hope she won’t mind me saying you had to leave her behind after not being able to take the heat of being the ‘Shinigami’. Good bye old friend.”

He turns and starts to walk off.

As the blood spilling from my wounds soak the grass I stare at him with rage building up to the unnatural rate. My heart beats faster, my blood lust rises, and I feel myself turning. I use my majutsu to raise me up to the air. Then black silk like slivers of shadows surround me as I feel the legs of the beast within me take the place of mine. My nose grows longer as I growl turning into a demonic wolfs growl. Fur starts to take form on me and at the ends of them a long trail of the Kuroi Hi. I start at him with my eyes turning to those of the wolves like the ones on the world. Hisoka falls to the ground in awe and fear as my larger than life form lands on the ground.  I roar in his direction causing him to stop in his tracks. He turns with an evil smile on his face. As I start to charge him, he smiles wider. Raising my paw to strike, he then says something under his breath and then the ground erupts with chains. He then disappears and I feel hundreds of blows from his blade on my body. He then lands back in his first spot. At first nothing happens and I snarl and sneer, getting ready to dispose of his existence. But the chains then wrap around me forcing me to the ground. As I feel them pull me down I try to fight it with every inch of my being.

“Don’t try to fight it Akio it’s over for you.” He laughs at the sight.

I hit the ground and am no longer able to move. He stands on top of my head with his sword in the strike position.

“Poor Akio, even in your most powerful state you’re still the weakest among us.” He sneers, “Good bye now Akio.”

I wait for my time on this world to end but I hear the sound of steel stabbing flesh, but I don’t feel his blade in me. I look back and see my blade in his body with Hisoka wielding it.

“You’re chains shall no longer hold me… or this pathetic pups being again.” She growls in his ear.

The blade leaves his body and he falls to the ground breathing his last breath. The chains leave their position around me and sink back into the ground. As I start to get up I stop at the sight of Hisoka glaring at me, as if tempted to try and live forever. I change back into my true form and get up.

I stare at her and her at me.

“That repays my people for both debts…” she says to me.

I nod and reply, “Agreed. And thank you Hisoka.”

“Forget it… if I hadn’t found a liking in you Akio, I would have let you die… or done it myself.”
“Speaking of which,” I reply.

I walk up grab my blade and punch her.

“What was that for?” She yells at me.

“For calling me a pathetic pup,” I smile.

We walk back to the house and step in it. Minako is at the window and is sitting below it with a worried look, she looks up and sees me alive, smiles with relief and wraps her arms around me.

“I thought you were dead.” She cries.

“Not when so many people need me.” I smile.

She looks down and sees the stab wound and the others on my body. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks to Hisoka… she killed him at the last second.”

Hisoka then walks outside and leaves us alone… as if not wanting the credit. We look at each other and I walk outside to her.

“Don’t like having the Shinigami being saved by your hands?” I ask.

She looks at me shaking her head. “I thought I’d have to wait a hundred years before I saw you turn. But I wasn’t prepared for that.”

I nod but smile. “Did you enjoy it?”

She laughs. “Kinda. But it was a little small for me.”

“Yeah yeah,” I reply. “I’m nothing but a pup, I know.”

We laugh at my joke and she heads in as I look out onto the yard as the rain pours. As I watch it I see the dead body of my foes. As I look at them my anger rises and I nod my head summoning the kuroi hi to claim their bodies.

I stare at them while the skin blisters and melts and the bones turn to ash. I curse under my breath, “Damn you Mamoru… why could you not just accept death like others I’ve claimed?”

As I continue watching them I think about where I need to go to next. The Ryuujin guard will suspect somehting is wrong once their leader doesn’t return.

“I could head into the lands of my home…” I sigh. But then remember what happened the last time I went there… but with Amaya as the policial leader I think that might have been cleared.

I stare at Uma as he approches from around the house. I hear him rumble with curiosity once he realises something it bothering me. I turn away from him not wanting my companion to notice, ‘I don’t it to realize that its master is troubled.’

As I watch the horizon bring more rain I sigh and let the droplets fall onto my face as I walk out and feel the pain and caring sarrow that it brings.

“You seemed upset.” I hear someone call.

I turn to see Isao there and she stares at me with slight concern. She walks out looking in the same direction as me.

“I’d rather be alone,” I reply.

“Yes but that’s not what you need.”

“What I need is none of your concern.” I scowl. “Usually you’re in a complaining mood… what made you change? Why did you come out here?”

“I felt like coming out here.” She responds.

“Hisoka threatened, you didn’t she?”
“Big time.”

I slightly smile as I look off and think about what I’m going to do about that. I send her back in and I hear Minako come out. She wraps her arms around my neck from behind and kisses my cheek.

“What is the matter Akio?”

“We need to leave and I have a place in mind… I just don’t know if we should though.”

“Where would that be?” She asks with slight concern.

“Home.”

She stares at me with a caring worry. She turns me to her and then says softly. “You remember what happened last time?”

“Yes… but with Amaya as the political leader I don’t see why it can’t work… that and I was just Akio then… now I’m also the Shinigami, and they respect the name with both honor and fear.”

She nods a little alarmed with that last sentence but complies with what I mean.

The last time I went home I was chased out of my village. After the day I was Shinigami, I already had my first assignment, to kill our hierarchy. As soon as I did I had to take Amaya and run to a location only I knew. I had to steal to get our meals, attack all men and thieves that wanted to take her away from me. And kill all who tried to kill me. Finally one day some one came to take her, I trusted his character for he said he was a medicine man and she was sick close to death, I knew this cause I could feel it. So he took her and offered to take me as well. But I was old enough to thrive on my own and turned him down... although I never wanted to. But as I started to leave I was caught and thrown out by a small band of the villagers.

After that I never went back expecting the same thing, that and there was no reason… every time I was coming back from stealing something, or killing someone… I would pass by our old home… now only able to be abandoned… I couldn’t keep doing that little “walk down memory lane”, it was too predictable… and more importantly it was too agonizing.

The tears stare to burn my eyes as I remember the horrible path… but I remember feeling as if I had no choice to walk it… I would always long to turn away and run in the other direction, but something always made me turn back around and walk past that house. Maybe it was that being from the Shi ritual forcing my being with my own majutsu… or maybe it was the haunting feeling as if it’d disgrace my family if I didn’t, but no matter what it was it kept forcing my legs to walk to past the place where my future was vigorously determined.

My heart begins to pound with the pain of the things I’ve done… to my own people… and my own friends. I wished I could call them that now… they abandoned me after I had to tell them what I was. I feel as if hundreds of swords are stabbing into my flesh as of now, and I wish that some would. A tear slowly rolls down my cheek, slightly cleansing the dust and dirt, leaving a clear sign of its travel. The wound on my cheek from the battle is opened again once the bitter droplet of water touches it. As blood trickles mixing in with the tear, down my face I can hear screams of all my victims again. The last words each of them said… all of them haunt me, and have for decades, never ceasing! I can’t drive them off though I long to. They keep playing in the back of my head, when I sleep, when I eat, when I think of my life, every single minute of ever day! But they are the loudest and most violent when I think about taking the very blade I possess and running it through what ever heart I have left and watch the sun slowly disappear, the warmth of my body fade, but even then they’ll still haunt me.

I slowly reach for blade, as if something is controlling my body, but I’m too distraught to stop it. Finally I feel a hand place itself on top of mine.

“Akio…?” Minako asks concerned.

I look down at her hand and look back up to her beautiful face, getting lost in her exhilarating eyes.

“Are you going to be okay?”

I turn away slowly shrinking to the ground. She follows and allows my head to rest on her, gently stroking my hair as I listen to her heartbeat. I close my eyes as I listen, finally the only thing I can hear. I feel her love pour from it as I relax; it’s always when she shows her desire to love me, which I can no longer hear the voices screaming in my mind. It eases my spirit and heart.

Only silence surrounds us as I hear feelings from within. Finally I can’t feel pain… no long able to feel the anguish and suffering I’ve been going through for millennia. Finally I'm at peace.