Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Anatomy of Melancholy ❯ Black on Black ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I promised updates ... and I meant it. So - here you go.

Chapter Two: Black on Black

The pair had been traipsing for hours -or longer, neither had a clue. Sin had them stopped at a checkpoint station, trying to find someone that might be able to transport them to the Kaioshin planet. Of course, none could. But, miracles of miracles, Sin did manage to find someone that had a higher contact that could establish communication to inform Higashi no Kaioshin that his demonic charges were at the Southern station.

“Higashi should be around soon. It seems he is engaged at the moment. You need to go to the Eastern sector station to meet him. I need to find you a guide - blood of a ... oh snake toes. I need to find a guide to take you in. It might be a stretch, so ... you kids put your sittin' britches on, just don't stray too far - I don't have it in me to chase you youngin's around like I used to.” The blue skinned oldster said, a soothing grandfatherly smile gracing his aging features. It nicely complimented his faint Southern accent.

“Oh, bless you sir. I am so in debt to you.” Sin said sighing in absolute relief, a smile of the deepest gratitude painting her lips. The female vampire looked about for her companion, finding him near to the station entrance bopping his head and doing an odd boogie to the music in his portable cd player. Sin giggled as she sashayed up to him, trying to decide if tapping him on the shoulder or tickling the piss out of him was the better option.

“I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world ... life in plastic, its fantastic!” Sounded the crude shout, startling Sin into crossing her eyes and almost stumbling into a man entering the station. Behind her, the old gentleman dropped a large stack of folders he had been carrying, muttering something unintelligible. Sin cringed in disgust at her raucous friend, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth in both disappointment and agitation. She restrained herself, though, more interested in helping the kind old man pick up the dreadful mess of scattered papers.

“Come on Barbie, let's go party!” Varish sang, earning another odious glare from Sin and a fearful stare from the foreign man standing at the counter.

“I am terribly sorry.” Sin sheepishly apologized as she knelt to begin picking up papers.

“Oh, darling, don't bother.” The blue skinned ancient soothed. “I declare, but if he isn't bad as all possessed.” He laughed, better adjusting his reading glasses upon the bridge of his thin nose.

“I fear so.” Sin said, cringing again and making a sour face as her larkish mental case of a best friend prattled on in the backdrop. Soon, the papers had been collected and sorted, and she helped the elder gentleman to his feet, once again muttering apologies.

“Oh, you poor thing. No more apologies. I bear enough burdens on this threadbare conscience of mine - I need not add making you so uncomfortable to the list.” He said laughing and patting her shoulder in consolation. “Dear me, poor Higashi. I bet the critter has no idea the bed he has made for himself this time.” He continued, shaking his head and laughing again.

“Sir, if you could ... Higashi - what is he like?” Sin asked, crossing her arms and leaning on the counter, nibbling her bottom lip in absentminded thought.

“Higashi no Kaioshin.” He said smiling. “I hear he is polite, kind, stable in temperament and open minded - if a brooding basket case at times ... an honest to goodness gentleman. Of course, I hear that guardian of his, Kibito, I think that is the chap's name - you better be on your best around him. He dotes on master Higashi like a mother hen, and he is not, by any stretch of the imagination, of a mindset to adopt an outsider. You get on the good side of Higashi and you're set, though. Higashi can manage Kibito.” He joked, organizing files and handing a thin pile of papers to the man at the other end of the counter.

For some reason, Sin found this man to be comforting. It was in part because he was so amicable, but there was something else, too. She could not quite put her finger on it, but he made her feel so stable. His hospitable demeanour intrigued her. It was not often that anyone treated a demon, let alone a vampire, to any amount of kindness or respect. But it did not seem to matter to him. Sin had deduced (since she had lost touch with her supernatural moxie) he was not a demon - just a simple spiritual guardian assigned to maintain some semblance of proper order and balance.

“Doncha wish your girlfriend was hot like me ... Doncha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me. Doncha. Ooh, doncha.” Varish shouted in the background, bouncing around the station entrance and frightening a group of innocent pedestrians and amusing a hoarde of demon children.

“Ooh - I need to get him some better music, or something. Pardon me, please.” Sin said, spinning darkly on her heel and strutting up to the impish rogue. Once close enough, she lent him a churlish slap to the back of the head to ensure his attention.

“Doncha wish your girlfriend was ... ouch!” Varish yelped. “Say!” He thundered, louder than appropriate because of the earphones and slapping at her hands. Sin spent no time in ripping the earphones out and spatting him again. “Doggone it ... if you insist on doing an impression of American Idol, could you at least please be more modest ... and put on something that isn't so sordid. You're frightening the pedestrians - and me.” Sin finished, casting him a doubting glare.

“I am supposed to frighten people, Sin. I am a bloody vampire - so are you for that matter, pumpkin, or did you happen to forget?” He retorted, spitting his tongue out at her and nearabout getting it pinched as Sin grabbed for it.

“Its fine, kids. I don't mind - besides, this old place could use a little spirit.” The blue skinned gentleman assuaged. “Son, hand me one of those there records. I am curious to the music you young people listen to these days.” He said, motioning Varish up to the counter.

“You're such a spoil sport. Coming dad.” Varish smirked at Sin as he skipped past her up to the counter, handing a cd to the cordial old man. Sin rolled her eyes, sighed, and resigned herself to the old adage that if she couldn't beat them, she might as well join them.

“Ooh - here, this one. Put it on the second track” Varish said, bouncing on his heels and handing the selection to the oldster. Sin tried to peer to see the one he had picked, but he had nudged her out of the way with a seductive swing of his hip. She sighed, and nudged back in frigid annoyance, snuggling into him out of habit as his arm protectively slithered around her demure waist and pulled her close to him as the soft violin music floated into the station.

“When the Devil is too busy, and death's a bit too much ... they call on me by name you see, for my special touch.”

Sin giggled as Varish sensuously sashayed out onto the floor, singing along to the music, his smooth, graceful gestures almost hypnotic. She glanced to the casual oldster, finding him to be just as amused and entranced.

“To the gentleman, I'm Miss Fortune,” he droned, slipping up beside the other station occupant, the man edging to the side and eyeing the strange character as if he had sprouted a second head. “To the ladies, I'm Sir Prize,” he purred, sliding his hands around Sin's hips and dusting his lips along her ear. “But call me by any name ... anyway it's all the same.” He paused, pinning Sin tight against him as the pair struck a perfect tango pose.

“I'm the fly in your soup,
I'm the pebble in your shoe,
I'm the pea beneath you bed,
I'm the bump on every head.
I'm the peel, on which you slip,
I'm the pin in every hip,
I'm the thorn in you side,
Makes you wriggle and writhe.

And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life, you see,
The Devil tips his hat to me.
I do it all because I'm evil,

And I do it all for free ...”

The pair came to a rigid halt as the music cut short, nose to nose, not noticing the blossoming audience gathering about the station. One in particular grinned in diabolical delight. He thought he had sensed them around.

“Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need.” Varish spun Sin into an exquisite circle and then dipped her, appreciating her the opportunity to notice the onlookers - including their dear old friend. She patted her partner in panicked rapture, pointing to the large, intimidating demon that had just entered the station. Varish motioned their elder ancestor into the station, the audience parting and lending the King of Demons appropriate room as he made a seat and took in his gregarious children.

“While there's children to make sad,
While there's candy to be had,
While there's pocket's left to pick,
While there's granny's left to trip ... down the stairs.
I'll be there,
I'll be waiting `round the corner,
It's a game, I'm glad I'm in it,
`Cause there's one born every minute.

And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life, you see,
The Devil tips his hat to me.”

Varish glanced to Dabura, dipping Sin and earning a pleased gesture from the Demon Lord.

“I do it all because I'm evil,
And I do it all for free ...
Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need.”

The pair parted, parading up to Dabura and prancing in adoration around the contented Demon Sire.

“I pledge my allegiance ... to all things dark,
And I promise on my damned soul,
To ... do as I am told.
For Beelzebub has never seen,
A soldier quite like me,
Not ... only does his job but does it happily.”

Skirting about on table tops, hopping from chair to chair and slithering to and fro the pair skirted about the station much to the fascination of their enthusiastic audience.

“I'm the fear that keeps you awake,
I'm the shadows on the wall,
I'm the monsters they become,
I'm the nightmare in your skull.
I'm the dagger in your back,
An extra turn upon the rack,
I'm the quivering of your heart,
A static pain, a sudden start.

Joining at the hip once more, the couple danced their hearts out.

And it's so easy when you're evil.
This is the life, you see,
The Devil tips his hat to me.
I do it all because I'm evil,
And I do it all for free,
Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need.

And I do it all for free,
Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need.
And I do it all for free,
Your tears are all the pay I'll ever need.”

Soon, the music began to ebb to a subtle, sad sort of cadence, and the demon couple became sluggish and almost listless in the intimate embrace.

“It gets so lonely being evil.
What I'd do to see a smile,
Even for a little while.
And no one loves you when you're evil ...”

Sin flaunted a sullen smile, her scandalous mentor brandishing her one just as morose, resting his forehead to hers as the pair shared a solemn sigh. The partners bent their heads in regret a moment before flashing each other a matching set of menacing, iniquitous grins.

“I'm lying through my teeth,” they sang, “Your tears are all the company I need.” Varish spun his gorgeous apprentice once again before dipping her one last time as their tango interlude concluded. The station erupted in gleeful applause, the bemused spectators, including the old caretaker, had to admit the pair put on quite the delightful presentation.

“Dabura!” Sin beamed, bouncing across the room to hug the sense out of her long time father figure. She had not seen him since his encounter on Earth. It had broken her heart the day word came that he had been absorbed by Babidi's hideous creation Buu. She had been in a dangerous depression for months mourning his death. Nosferatu had searched long and hard, and at last had found him - Dabura had been located.

“Pops!” Varish chirped, bounding up and hugging the Demon King in mirthful elation.

Dabura, one of the original ancestral patriarchs of the Kindred, had become a precious favourite of Sin and Varish. The much feared Demon Lord had adopted the pair, looking upon them as superior to most demons. Demons, in the beginning, were notoriously feral and solitary creatures that put no importance on and held no loyalties to hierarchical structure. Dabura held the opinion that a demon bound to order relinquished his intelligence to ignorance through the sophistical rhetoric and misguided dogma of his dictatorial tribunal. He became ... almost human. Order had its place, but for a demon, order did not trump the demon's independence.

Dabura struggled to regain his footing and composure as the tenacious demons clung to his hard middle like a set of famished leeches. It occurred to him that maybe this is the reason people started insulting them as such. Of course, this pair did not blood feed. Instead, they latched on and hugged the life out of their intended meal.

“It looks as though you are quite popular, Your Highness.” The oldster behind the trio offered, shuffling more papers.

“You are in the presence ... of ...” Dabura struggled to catch his breath, “a couple of special demons here, Leonard.”

“I thought about as much. Your young admirers are going to see the Kaioshin.” Leonard said in an impressed tone.

Dabura blinked. Once, then again, glancing to his children for a thorough elaboration. Instead, he found himself met with a pair of innocent, sheepish grins and lots of snuggling. Something had happened. He could feel it - and he did not like it.

“I am beginning to lose patience.” Dabura ground out. Of course, he harboured no anger at the young, sociable demons. He needed to better understand the matter, and the King of Demons had no time for pleasantries. Not that he had a reputation for offering them, mind you.

“Oh, right. Er, you might suppose ...” Sin tried, clutching his regal clothing as she floundered in helpless malcontent.

“I got us banished.” Varish interposed, glancing at Sin and then up at Dabura, his ocean blue pools hurt and apologetic.

“Banished. I see. Go on.” Dabura snapped, although the inquest lacked the earmarks of malice or rancor. It became clear to the pair that his bad blood did not lie in personal disappointment, but instead it resided in the situation. In particular, both felt certain, with The Council. Dabura despised them and no doubt he had already concluded that the Kindred Tribunal had their hands in the cookie jar.

“I let some kids see me. I had no idea. I thought I was alone. To make a long story short, one of the Elders put a block on our abilities - and then The Council made the decision to forego slaughtering us as intended in favour of banishment. It seems this Higashi no Kaioshin character petitioned them about acquiring a demon charge. I am not certain of the particulars, but, Holy Joe is curious of our abilities and he hopes to use them to help protect the universe from threats like ... right.” He concluded behind a dolorous sigh, inspecting his feet and the floor to elude the piercing glare of the Demon Lord.

“Sin, it is true.” Dabura inquired on a rhetorical note as he looked to his youngest disciple for confirmation. He could feel his blood boiling beneath his flush tinted skin.

“It is.” Sin lamented, her features pinched in mild irritation both at their plight and the Holy Joe crack. Sometimes it surprised her at some of the things that came out of his mouth.

“I see.” Dabura began, his breathing strained and laboured as he seethed. “I thought so. So be it, then.” He fumed, digging his razor sharp black nails into the flesh of one palm, droplets of orchid blood gathering around his fingertips and sliding along his knuckles to puddle on the spotless marble floor.

“Sin ...” Varish nudged her out of her trance and pointed to Dabura.

“Dabura, you're bleeding.” Sin reached for his hand to clean the gashes, but he pulled his hand to the side and settled his other hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

“I fear I can not restore them for you. It is paramount that I ascertain the method used to obstruct your potential. I can not establish a counterpoise until I better understand the enlisted energies or I could damage you. I am going to need time.” Dabura calmly consoled them. “I need to go - but do send Higashi my best regards.” Dabura said grinning fiendishly and flashing dangerous pearly canines before disappearing.

“I like being banished.” Varish said in a spellbound stupor.

“Masochist.” Sin scolded, about to find a comfortable chair and stretch out, but Leonard hooting in the backdrop distracted her.

“Okay youngin's - there is a gentleman set to meet you at the South Eastern border. You just head out up that there road,” he gestured, pointing to the cobblestone path, “and keep on that. You're going to come to a fork about dead center ... take the one leading to the left and you ought to run smack into him.” Leonard grinned proudly.

“No kidding. You're a peach, Leonard. Come on Sin.” Varish said, tugging her along behind him as soon as she had collected her bags and bid a fond goodbye to the adorable old man.

End of Chapter Two.

So - You like Dabura? I do. I do not think I wrote him too out of character. Of course, if you seen the episode of him in Otherworld ... it is not as if I decked him out in roses or anything of that ridiculous sort. You are going to see more of the King of Demons, so do be prepared. I plan on introducing Higashi in the next chapter. I am quite looking forward to that.