Zombie-Loan Fan Fiction ❯ Angel of Death ❯ Chapter 2
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: MikariStar 
Anime/Manga: Zombie-Loan Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Drama / Horror | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.23.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.8K | Visits: 167 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Zombie-Loan Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Drama / Horror | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.23.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.8K | Visits: 167 | Status: Completed
Angel of Death
Chapter 9
Koyomi can't focus in the task of hand; wish is simply taking a bath. She is certain there is someone there, another presence. She wraps a towel around herself and peeks out the bathroom door, there is no one there. She considers locking the door which she usually leaves open since she is the only one at the apartment but decides against it, reapers don't use doors anyway.
Koyomi quickly dries herself and dresses. She still feels the presence and as she passes by the bathroom mirror she recognizes a look in the eyes that should be hers, that is not hers, in the image looking back at her from the reflective surface.
She breathes deeply recognizing the presence. "Yomi don't scare me like that," Koyomi rarely speaks to her other self, for when one is awake the other sleeps. But today she draws comfort from the other self she has feared before. "Are you worried too?"
The Koyomi realizes that the comfort she felt is nothing but a trick of her need to stay relatively calm and relatively sane. But nothing has changes, because when Koyomi is awake, Yomi is sleeping.
"You are not Yomi," Koyomi steps back.
The image in the mirror gains motion, stepping out of the reflective surface and passing through the wall. Her appearance changes from Yomi to Michiru. "Yomi hurt me didn't you know that? It's your fault for not controlling her."
Koyomi wants to run but is unable to move. "No! That's not true! Yomi didn't hurt Michiru, she didn't! Michiru would have told me!" Koyomi feels angry at her other self and thinks that maybe if she was gone, then Yomi would be gone and Michiru would be safe.
The reaper changes her appetence again, now gaining the form of Chihiro. "It's your fault I'm dead Koyomi, because you're stupid and ditzy like everyone says."
"It wasn't my fault," Koyomi pleads. "I made a mistake, I was trying to help, I didn't mean to!" She continued to retreat step by step, her back against the cold wall. "You guided her, even if her death was a secret, even if I made up a story for her to have miraculously survives, it wouldn't have worked. You killed her and left us no chance of bringing her back!"
"How do you know Koyomi? Not even Bekko can say for sure. Oh yes, I know he's been giving you hints, but I don't care. Keep your pitiful ferryman," the reaper in the guise of Chihiro continues to approach Koyomi slowly.
"Leave me alone!" Koyomi runs, rushing out of the bathroom, slamming the door uselessly closed, she heads for the front door, and opens it. She sees the reaper there, still in the shape of Chihiro, a stab wound is on her heart, blood dripping down her chest, down her body, all the way to the floor forming a pool at her feet. Koyomi slams the door close and instinctively locks it, then she runs.
"You can't get away, Koyomi, you can't escape your name!" The reaper follows slowly, savoring the futile chase.
Koyomi's mind races, her tears flows, her heart threatens to break out of her rib case. She knows there's no escape as she sees the reaper appear before her.
"When Chika finds out a dear friend of his was killed he'll be so sad, I'll watch him break apart knowing that Momoka is about to die. But don't worry I'll put him out of his misery eventually, He will be the last. I'll continue my game of death all the way to Z, then start over again, it's so much fun!" The reaper laughs insanely. "One by one, they all die... Sotetsu will die too or rather I will guide him, then Yuuta when the time is right. I'll restart again and watch Chika struggle with life and death. Then Shito the one who was born dead who will return to death. I'll keep going until it's Chika's turn, the game wont end until he dies. Then I'll think of a different game, but what do you care? You won't be here anymore, oh no, you'll be long gone!" The reaper's look is insane, cruel, evil, desperate. Her appearance changes to Momoka, "to be killed by someone with such a sweet face, isn't it unexpected?" A scythe appears in her hand and she holds it above Koyomi.
"I can't outrun you..." Koyomi cries, her life flashes before her eyes, the happy moments and the sad ones, and the black caused by her eternal companion of the dead man's tongue still remain mostly blank, with only bits and pieces surfacing at last, but not enough to understand exactly what was going on with Yomi when Koyomi slept.
A loud crash is heard Koyomi's door is broken apart and Sotetsu stands there axe in hand. Chika is next to him with a sword, one not made by his plasma but a sharp katana none the less. "I knew you would come," Chika was ready to fight, because Koyomi would not die simply because she knew the boy whom the reaper decided to stalk. Because of that, she had already suffered, no more could happen, no more, he would not allow it.
Sotetsu stand firm, protective of Koyomi, "you want to lay a finger on her, you have to get through me first."
"Have I not already beaten you before?" The reaper laughs evilly. "I speared the lives of Chika and Yuuta last time, and the soul of Sotetsu," she grins madly. "They are all such ingrates; they really must want to die."
"Whatever happens, we have to win, and we will win," Chika is determined, casting away all doubts. "I will not forgive you for all you've done and for copying Momoka!"
"Come then foolish mortals, come have a taste of defeat, but I won't kill you yet," the reaper stands ready to attack, scythe held with both hands, pointed at Chika. "I'll just have to hurt you, with the face of your dear little sister."
Chapter 10
The efforts of Chika and Sotetsu prove useless against the seemingly invincible reaper. "Don't hold back Chika, just because she looks like that don't..." Sotetsu reminds him.
"I know," Chika attacks, feeling as if a part of him died all over again when his sword cuts through the image of Momoka. But the blood is not of her, but a show from the reaper who is not truly wounded.
The axe and the sword continue to collide against the reaper until laughing like a manic she catches both weapons simultaneously, blades against her hand sinking to the bones of her fingers, and she pull them hard, and she tried to throw them away. Both of the weapon owners hold on and it only amuses the reaper more. She finally lets go. "Stubborn, so stubborn, passionate maybe?" Her ramblings sound incoherent and with a hint of lust. She takes the appearance that is classic to a reaper once more, black ragged cloak, ghostly pale skin, black long uneven hair, blood red eyes, matching sharp long nails, scythe in hand she approaches Koyomi who had not fled not daring to leave Sotetsu and Chika to deal with this alone, and knowing the reaper can never be outrun by her in such a way.
Chika and Sotetsu attack from and left and right at once, going right through the reaper as if she were nothing but a ghost, a terrible ghost of death. Sotetsu's axe lands on Chika's shoulder, the blade of Chika's katana piercing Sotetsu's stomach, they fall with the momentum and it looks like all is all for Koyomi.
"Say goodbye..." the reaper prepares for the kill.
"Goodbye," a slightly different voice replies, confident, sexy, determined to live, she refuses to disappear.
The reaper lowers her weapon and looks at the young woman standing before her. "Yomi..."
"M name is Yomi, second to last in the alphabet. Will you break your own game?" Yomi asks. "Will you admit that even if it is small, in some way you lost, in some way you were mocked?"
"You dare stand up to me?" The reaper curiously looks at Yomi, the woman who speak the words of the dead. "Momoka meddled when I was about to kill Chika and I will kill her."
"I have nothing to lose save for my life, if it is the worse you can do," Yomi lowers her voice to her trademark seductive tone, "then do your worse my angel of death and lose your game."
Without another single word spoken, the reaper disappears and Yomi retreats into the depths of her host, a confused Koyomi falling to her knees. "Sotetsu, Chika, the reaper..."
"She's gone," Sotetsu is more concerned about Chika's wound than his own. Though Chika's wound would not be as life threatening as Sotetsu's, Sotetsu is still a zombie and Chika is a human again. "Yomi drove her away,"
A woman in her forties, a man in his late twenties, and another man in his early thirties, the last clad in a blue uniform that distinguished him as the security guard of the apartment building, all three stood at the shattered door to Koyomi's apartment, faces pale, expressions frozen in fear. They saw too much. They are Koyomi's neighbors from above and bellow, and the guard who usually stays in the first floor, all unable to react.
Ohtsu arrives on the scene, realizing he is in fact too late. He knocks down each of the three with swift jabs to the back of the head. "I will have their memories be modified; it's for their own good." No protests are heard as Ohtsu examines the state Chika's is in. "We'll get you to Yuuta, don't waste your new life." Ohtsu is clearly sleep deprives, stressed and plainly frustrated.
"Yuuta is here, Kenken and Konkon too!" With a pace much faster than usual, Yuuta gets to work in healing Chika first. For Chika is no longer a zombie, and his human life is as fragile and easily lost as any other.
"Chika!" A split second passes and Momoka is there, followed by Michiru. They had their silent doubts about Koyomi being the target. They did not want to say it, but they kept those thoughts, all of them.
"Momoka, don't cry, I'm alright, it's just a scratch, I've had much worse and recovered." Chika forces a smile, and stops himself from wincing at the pain that feels so much more -real- not that life flows along with the blood of his body.
"As a zombie," Momoka reminds him, she had heard the entire story after all.
"No need to worry," Yuuta assures, "I can heal him, no problem. Just because I revived, doesn't mean I lost my abilities, if anything Kenken and Konkon are more powerful now." Yuuta is rare; someone of his kind was called a white mage in ancient times, a healer, that, he was.
Those who need not be involved are taken away by Ohtsu, and those who know of the secrets stay. Bekko stands at the door, quiet as can be, unnoticed by those who bask in a small moment of rest. One could say, a battle had been won, but they were very far from winning the war.
xoxox xox xoxox
Carmella watches the destinies unfold reflected on a crystal ball. The keeper of the key is away, as is the one who was born death and now lives. They shall return, Carmella predicts, and for that she does not need the round glass device that cannot see into the future but the present and present alone. "The wheels of fate are turning, another player is about to join the game of destiny..."
xoxox xox xoxox
"What did you do, Toho?" Shito angrily asks. The man at the other side of the rectangular table collapsed with no signs of injuries.
"I assure you it was not I," Toho replies, he sounds somewhat concerned, "I sense the presence of another, a powerful being who can make itself invisible even to me..." Toho had not thought something like this would happen. The man called Kintaro had no signs of a black ring around his neck. The wheels of fate had turned indeed.
Chapter 11
The death of Kintaro is blamed on Shito, a war is expected but none occurs. The wheel of fate takes an unexpected turn and instead of applying some form of revenge, it brings a positive consequence for Shito. The mafia does not go to war, it fears after the death of their supposedly invincible leader, Kintaro, not fully human, not exactly a zombie, but an advanced golem beyond anything made by Yoshizumi. The necessity to use Shito as a negotiator is lost, Toho's side of the mafia gains territory and Shito takes the opportunity to leave, his destination is to return to Japan.
xoxox xox xoxox
Yuuta, Koyomi, Chika, Momoka and Sotetsu are in Michiru's house. "It doesn't look like she's done anything yet," Yuuta kept the log in information from the ferrymen database and is able to access it though the common internet, quite convenient. But of course, the database was full of beings who were born and named, none that were created.
"If she comes back for me, I'll call Yomi out," Koyomi voiced.
There was not much else they could do, and being unable to deal with the situation and get it over with was frustrating. They decide not to let the reaper girl get to them and try to move on with their lives the best that they can.
xoxox xox xoxox
Later that day Yuuta, Koyomi and Sotetsu had gone home. Momoka and Michiru had become friends and Yuuri is on yet another trip, such is the life of Mr. pretty boy model; but at least he's happy and he makes the best of his time with his "little squirrels" also known as Chika and Momoka.
Michiru invites them to stay over and Chika doesn't want Momoka to remember the first meeting with the reaper during that time they were alone at the Akatsuki house. They stay over.
It is the evening and Momoka is watching a movie in the living room. Chika is laying on the couch half watch, slowly drifting off to sleep.
Michiru announces that she is going out. "This dog is a bottomless pit," she whispers to Momoka while putting a leach on the fat saint bernard's collar. Chika is too sleepy no hear her. "I'm just going out to get some dog food and I'll take him for a walk, he needs the exercise."
"Chika and I can come," Momoka offers.
"No, it's fine. Chika is tired and if he wakes up and you're not here he'll worry. Besides we decided we would live our live without worrying right?" Michiru, like the others, ids determined not to because a slave to the fear of death.
"Are you sure?" Momoka asks for the last time, keeping her voice quiet so as to not wake her brother. Chika has stopped watching the TV and is now fast asleep.
"Yeah," Michiru replies with a smile. "I'll be back soon," and the girl with the reaper eyes leave along with her pet dog, Leon.
xoxox xox xoxox
Michiru arrives a local pet shop where they sell not only animals but other pet related products including food. Pets are allowed inside as long as they are on a leach. Michiru goes in along with Leon. "Be good Leon, behave well and I'll get you some treats." Michiru doesn't want to admit it but she does spoil that dog and that is probably the reason why he is so fat.
At the store, there are several kinds of dog foods on the shelves. Michiru sorts through them looking for the flavor Leno likes best. She picks up a large bag, wrapping her arms around it, she can hardly lift it and she is not looking forward to carrying the bag back to her house, but Leon has a big appetite and Michiru doesn't have the heart to make him diet, even if it would be for his own good.
With some effort, Michiru takes the large bag to the end of the aisle, Leon following close behind wagging his tail. The dog stops and whimpers, reminding Michiru that she had forgotten something. "Right, treats," Leon wags his tail and watches as Michiru picks up a smaller bag, this one containing dog treats.
The lavender haired girl pushed the large bag up with her knee to try to get a better grip around it. She walks towards the front counter with her arms wrapped around the large dog food bag and the end of her fingers clinging to Leon's leach on one hand and to the bag of threats on the other.
The boy who works at the store finally noticed her predicament and give Michiru a hand placing the items on the counter. The two items are totaled and placed in a large bag that Michiru has no idea how she'll haul home. The boy gives her the bag. "Sorry I can't leave the shop," he apologizes for not being able to help the girl carry a bag half her size.
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," half dragging and half carrying the large bag, Michiru stands on her way back home. She wishes Chika and Momoka had come along, she wishes she had woken up Chika then they would make him carry the oversize bag.
Michiru laughs at her own predicament and takes a shortcut through the park. "Don't get any ideas Leon," she warns the dog. "We're not here to play, we're just taking a shortcut home." Not that Leon is the kind of dog who likes to play and run. Leon is a lazy spoiled mutt whose idea of going to the park is sitting under the chase of a tree and occasionally barking at random passer bys.
Michiru takes note of the sun sinking in the horizon and tried to pick the pace, but it is hard with the large bag she had to carry. To make matter worse, the bag rips and the two bags inside fall out. She sighs, she really wishes she had brought Chika along, he owed her for all the time she spent playing gopher.
She takes the large bag in her arms and grabs the smaller one losing her grip on the big on. She drops it and it rips, she wishes she hasn't bought such a large bag even if it meant another trip to the store soon. Michiru turns the large bag over, with the ripped side on top and waits for Leon to finish eating the food that fell on the ground. "Grab that, will you Leon?"
Leon obediently picks up the bag of treats with his mouth. "Don't eat them on the way; they're for later, okay?" Michiru reminds him, and once again they are on their way.
Chapter 12
Michiru continues her arduous journey and notices that the park is quite empty. Children are usually playing during the afternoon and people bring their pets to play. At this time of the evening, when the sun is setting, people are usually leaving the park, but it is not usually this deserted.
She makes sure she has a good grip on the bag of food and glances at Leon who is still strolling beside her with the bag of treats in his mouth. Then she quickens her pace, she does not feel good about being in the park alone. The silence becomes eerie and Michiru starts to hum. Her humming evolves into singing to comfort herself until suddenly Leon stops, drops the bag of treats he was carrying and whimpers.
"Leon what's wrong?" Michiru gives the leach a small tug but Leo doesn't move. She sets the large open bag of food down and goes to check on the dog. "What is it Leon? Do you feel sick? Does something hurt?" She feels guilty for letting the dog get so fat in the first place. She pets him and tries to determine what the problem is, but he looks alright. She goes down on her knees next to him, searching for any injuries, thinking that maybe his stepped on a thorn or something and hurt his paw.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru bolts to her feet looking around her, searching for the voice.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru cannot locate the voice that sounds like Yomi, and deep down she knows it isn't Yomi.
"Chiru chiru..."
The echo comes from everywhere and no where and the sun continued to sink in the horizon dimming what little light is left.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru's heart is pounding. She grabs Leon's collar and pulls on it hard. She leaves the bags behind and continues trying to make the dog move. "Run Leon, we're going home, now, move it!"
"Chiru chiru..."
Leon whimpers in fear and tried to keep up with his owner, but the fat and lazy saint bernard is very slow.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michuru stops, coming face to face with someone who looks like Yomi who appeared out of nowhere. "You... you're not Yomi."
"You're a smart one chiru chiru Michiru," the reaper laughs, she keeps her appearance as Yomi this time.
Michiru steps back. Leon growls and barks at the reaper. He's afraid but he tries to defend Michiru.
"You need not worry too much; I don't really like girls the way Yomi does. I like your little friend, Chika Akatsuki," it was odd seeing the image of Yomi licking her lips and expressing interest in a man, but that wasn't Yomi, it was the reaper in disguise.
"Chika doesn't like you," Michiru feels as if her words are completely unimportant to the reaper and she knows they are. "But you don't care do you? Even if he hates you?"
The reaper shakes her head. "Not really, it doesn't matter to me what he wants or doesn't want. But I won't force him into anything, even if I easily can. I'll wait for him to come to me." She grins evilly.
Michiru glares, her anger and frustration are evident. She doesn't like it when her friends are threatened. "That's not going to happen."
"What would you know chiru chiru Michiru?" The reaper mocks her. "Don't you know that humans are weak? Oh you should know, you've seen their black rings, humans are ever so fragile. Once I break his will he'll come to me seeking mercy. I'll savor that moment than put him out of his misery."
"Chika would never do that... you don't care about him at all, all you want is to torture him..." a part of Michiru screams for her to run away, but she knows it's useless.
"Reapers know no love, only lust my dear," the look in the reaper's eyes scares Michiru more than Yomi eye scared her, it's the fear of death, what people talk about... Needless to say, looking at death in the eyes is not as easy as they make it seem in the movies. "Or do you think he cares for you?"
"Chika and I are friends," Michiru clarifies and for a moment she wonders if the reaper is acting jealously towards every girl who is around Chika, Koyomi included even if her crush on Sotetsu is common knowledge.
"When I ask you if you think he cares about you, I speak of an entire different he," the gives Michiru a pitiful look, as if the mortal girl is nothing but trash.
Michiru doesn't know what the reaper is talking about. She is not talking about Chika, is couldn't be Sotetsu, she didn't think it was Yuuta, Shito wasn't even in Japan to the best of Michiru's knowledge; then who? "Who do you mean?" She feels compelled to ask.
"I had already given you the answer to that, just think of my words and it will come to you. Either way it doesn't matter, you know I'm not here to talk," the reaper's appearance changes, she now has grayish skin, feathery black wings and ragged black revealing clothing. Her hair is a deep crimson and her eyes are golden, standing out against the other colors of her being. She wields her scythe pointing it at Michiru.
Leon barks loudly, standing between Michiru and the reaper. Michiru holds the dog back, it would be useless if he attacked. "You're obviously not here to tell me this."
"Oh no, I do have a good reason to be here chiru chiru Michiru," the reaper's insane sadistic laughter echoes.
The sun has gone down completely, the park is dark, a cold wind blows. The leaves dance on the trees, Leon's barking is drowned out by the sound of the reaper's voice, and no one approaches the park that will in the near future gain the reputation of being haunted. No one goes to Michiru's aid, no one knows she is in danger. "My name start with an M, if you're not here for me then..." she makes a pause eyes wide. "Leon?"
"What I am here for, Chiru chiru, is to break the pattern," the killing intent is strong in the reapers eyes and Michiru can't help it but to feel as if her life is about to end.
Chapter 13
"To break the pattern..." Michiru repeats, eyes filled with terror. This time she does not quietly accept death, instead she run. "Leon get away from here, go home!" maybe if the dog goes home on his own her friends will know that something happened. Michiru herself does not run home. She knows that it would be useless to ask her friends to fight the reaper once more when they are still recovering, especially Chika who was injured and must take batter care of his recovery now that he is alive again.
Michiru runs away, she doesn't want to get her friends uselessly involved. She doesn't have another self with a different name, not that it would matter anyway. The reaper said she was here to break the pattern, she must have been angered by Yomi's move and now she is after Michiru. Michiru continues to desperately run, even if she knows it's useless she is not the same as before. Now Michiru clings to like with all her strength, she wants to live, she does not quietly accept death.
Michiru saw no black ring around her neck this time, though she once thought of accepting her fate when she saw it in the past, this time is different. Even if she had a ring, even if it were her time, Michiru knows it is too early, she is too young to leave this world, and she refuses to fall. Instead she runs, she runs for dear life and when she is about to reach the exit of the park she cones face to face with the reaper.
Out of breath, but with a strong will to live, Michiru turns away and continue to run. If se is to die, she'll die of exhaustion fighting for her life, but she will not die because she gave up.
Michiru continues to run desperately in the park. She sees a branch on the ground in the faint light of the full moon and picks it up. She knows it might not be much but if her life is to end today, then she will go down fighting. Gripping the branch in her hands she looks at her surroundings and listens for any suspicious sounds. She hears some one approaching and swings the branch high. The branch flies over Leon without hitting him.
"Leon!" Michiru drops the branch and hugs her pet. "I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you right? You scared me. I told you to go home Leon, get out of here."
The reaper appears before Michiru, golden eyes glowing, crimson hair flowing in the breeze, the moon's light reflecting off her grayish skin. "You can't run away."
Michiru jumps to her feet and picks up the branch again, she tries to hit the reaper with it but the dark being cuts it with her scythe. "Poor helpless Chiru chiru," the reaper laughs, her voice echoing as if the world was empty with only them in it.
The human girl clenches her fists, she will not give up, she is not the same scared girl she was when this all began. Working for Z-Loan, being with her friends, the countless zombie hunts, it all made her stronger, it made her hold on to life. Michiru tries to fight, but is does not work. She is knocked back, thrown against a tree.
The reaper swings her scythe at Michiru. "Didn't I tell you Chiru chiru, I'm here to break the pattern."
Michiru's life flashes before her eyes and a sharp pain strikes her. Michiru's holds her cut shoulder, the cut reaching down to her elbow, blood dripping through her fingers and she squeezes the wound trying to hold it closed.
"I said I was here to break the pattern Chiru chiru," the reaper cruelly glares, looking down on her.
Leon jumps on the reaper, biting into her arm and the reaper easily tares him away. Leo attacks once more and the reaper swings her scythe reaching one of the dog's front legs and cutting it off. Leon falls crying in pain. He struggles to get up.
"Leon!" Michiru screams, horrified, in pain, tears flowing.
"I suppose I already broke the pattern with Kintaro the golem, you did hear did you? I was hoping a war would break out in the mafia, a war that would destroy Chika's friend Shito," the reaper sounded annoyed that instead of war, the death of Kintaro was though it was somehow blamed on Shito, was the winning card for Toho's side of the mafia, with his clan taking control of a large amount of territory. Because of that, Shito was able to slip away and would soon arrive in Japan.
"Shito... Stay away from my friends!" Michiru yelled while she desperately tries to stop Leon's bleeding.
"Beg for mercy, cry, be angry, hate me, do all you want. It's not going to work, isn't that frustrating?" The reaper grabs Michiru by the throat.
Michiru tries to break free, the air in her lungs becoming scarce. She scratches at the reaper's arm to no avail. Leon bites the reaper again despite his wound and continuous bleeding. While still holding Michiru, with her other hand the reaper cuts one of Leon's back legs, the dog releases her in pain, and she throws Michiru on the ground.
Michiru has several small cuts on her neck from the reaper's long sharp nails. She coughs and tries to breathe some air into her thirsty lungs. "Leon!" The loyal dog has suffered too much. "Stop this! Why are you torturing him? What are you getting from all of this?!" Leon can no longer get up; missing his right front leg and left back leg, the blood he's losing is abundant.
"Amusement my dear Chiru chiru!" The sadistic reaper laughs insanely, she truly enjoys the suffering of all living creatures. "The reaper pulls Michiru away from Leon by her hair, cutting a few strands in the process. "You should thank me chiru chiru Michiru I'm about to put this pitiful creature out of its misery, and then I'll bring more misery to you."
Chapter 14
The reaper sings in a creepy cruel voice. "A is for Allen too bossy for his own good. B is for Brittany and now I ask you. Who is the idiot? The one who starts it or the one who doesn't make it end too? C is for Chihiro the from of Koyomi. The girl of the dead man's tongue who delivered a message for me. D is for Daniel, they thought he was smart and astute, but I don't think humans are like that, do you? E is for Ember who thinks she's so cool and F is for Fuji that old fool. G is for Geraldo who drowned at the sea and H is for Hayden another death for the list. I is for Isis from the land of heat and J is for Jem they all fall at my feet." She lift her scythe and brings it down on Leon. "Time to break the human pattern... K if for Kintaro the mafia golem and L is for Leon a dog loyal to humans, he shall die for it."
Leon's head is cut off and thrown a Michiru with the impulse. Michiru screams until her dry throat hurts and there is no air in her lungs. The reaper and the pieces of Leon's body disappear and Michiru is left along in the park, the wound in her arm and shoulder still open, bruises all over her body from when she was thrown, clothes soaked in her dog's blood.
xoxox xox xoxox
Momoka wakes up after having drifted off to sleep in the living room. She turns the TV off and glances at Chika who is still sleeping on the couch. Momoka wonders were Michiru is, she must be home by now. She searches for Micihru around the house and goes upstairs to Michiru's room. She peeks in and sees that there is someone on the bed under the covers.
An odd smell lingers in the room and Momoka notices the open window. She tip toes across the room, assuming the unpleasant scent is coming from outside, and closes the window before the smell wakes Michiru.
Momoka leaves Michiru's room quietly and considers waking Chika and sending him to bed, but he looks comfortable as he is, so she decides to let him rest. Momoka heads for the guest room and goes to bed.
Time passes and Chika wakes up. He realizes that he is on the couch and gets up to go to bed. He first goes to the guest room where Momoka is staying to make sure she is alright. He sees Momoka sleeping soundly, the night light still on. She did not used to leave any light on while she slept, but after the reaper attacked she started to dislike total darkness.
Chika visits Michiru's room next. The room is dark and it's hard to see. He notices something under the covers, he assumes Michiru is sleeping and is about to leave. An unpleasant smell is notisable in the room and Chika sees the open window. He goes over to the window and closes it. He doesn't know what the smell is, but it is similar to the scent of death, of rotting corpses and it bothers him. He thinks that Michiru and Momoka are safe because Yuuta has not found any deaths by the nameless reaper girl on the ferryman database starting with a K. He does not know that golem deaths are not counted on the database. Koyomi has Yomi to protect her so for now Chika thinks they are all safe.
He goes to bed and lays down sleepily. He can't help it but to worry in the back of his mind, but he pushes the thoughts away. They had all decided together that they would not worry. Chika moves a little, half asleep. He rolls over, his face buried in the soft pillow, one arm hanging over the side of the bed. He hears a soft whimper and identifies the sound as originating from a dog. "Is that you, Leon?"
Chika feels a canine lick the hand he has over the side of the bed. He pet's the dog's head, unaware of the two other heads the canine has. "Go to sleep, Leon."
Chika is not sleeping well this night. He silently thanks the one he thinks is Leon for being there, though he would never admit he draws security from the company of Michiru's dog. Whenever Chika half wakes in the middle of the night, the remnants of a nightmare blurry in his mind, he listens to the soft sounds Leon makes and reaches to pet him again. The dog Chika thinks is a normal, although big and fat, sanit bernard, stays next to Chika's bed for the entire night.
The three headed canine is anything but a normal dog, a creature of darkness brought from the depths of the underworld. The being is only a puppy, a newborn child of Cerberus, but it is as large as the biggest adult saint bernard. Chika sleeps next to the dark being. He has no idea that Michiru is not safely sleeping in her room, and that creature on the floor next to him is not her dog. Until the morning comes and Chika wakes up, a terrible feeling present in the atmosphere.
Chapter 15
Chika wakes up with a bad feeling. He hears the sound of a dog under the bed but doesn't stop to look. He assumes Leon is fine and needs to know his sister and Michiru are okay.
A scream pierces the morning air. Chika runs towards Michiru's room where Momoka stands with a horrified expression, a few tears escaping in fright. There is a foul scent coming from the room, Momoka came to see if Michiru was okay, she lifted the covers and found the bloody pieces of Leon.
Chika stares at the mess with wide eyes. It is a disgusting pile of severed body parts with the inner workings piling out in plain view, but he cannot look away. Everything falls into place like the pieces of a puzzle, the scent from the night before, the fact that he only saw something on the bed under the covers and assumed Michiru was sleeping, but he didn't actually see Michiru. "Momoka, did you see Michiru yesterday before going to bed?"
"No... She left to buy dog food, she insisted she would be fine," Momoka wishes she had gone with Michiru; she wishes she had woken Chika so the three could go together. Seeing Leon so brutally murdered and left on Michiru bed makes them think Michiru must have been killed too, her body left in a similar state, and this is the reaper's way of letting them know.
"Last night, before I went to bed and I came. There was a bad smell, I thought it came from outside and I close the window..." The events replay in Chika's mind, if only he had paid more attention, if only he had not assumed anything.
"That's what I did too!" Then the reaper must have been there early, she must have opened the window Momoka closed.
"Since last night..." Chika feels a cold chill. "Leon slept in the guest room with me." He pales and rushes out of the room followed by Momoka.
A black dog head with red eyes peeks out from under the bed in the room Chika had slept in. Then two more left and right from it. They are not three dogs, but a single dog with three heads, long white fangs stained with dry blood from its latest victim. Chika can't believe he was petting that thing the previous night thinking it was Michiru's large but harmless dog. The three headed dog grows and Chika shuts the door, the dark canine slams against it scratching at it wanting to go through but there is no time to deal with that.
"We have to find Michiru," Chika and Momoka rush down the stairs and notice letters written in blood on the front door that were not there the previous night. "Feed him human flesh every day, and y your side he shall stay. When the sun the spotlight steals, it is time for his next meal," Chika read it.
The dog must have already been fed the previous day and did not try to feed on Chika that night, but not that it's morning; it's time for his next meal. Chika reaches for the blood soaked door knob, but feels it twist from the other side and lets it go. He steps back and signals for Momoka to stay behind him.
The door opens and Michiru stands there, bloody and beaten but alive. "She killed Leon..." Michiru speaks softly... "She killed K and we didn't know, Leon was the L."
A million thoughts run through the Akatsuki siblings heads, but right now getting Michiru healed is the first thing they must do. "Momoka, call Yuuta." Chika goes after Michiru when she start climbing up the stairs in a tired pace. The noise coming from the guest room catches her attention, then the foul scent reaches her nose. "Don't go up there."
Michiru looks down at her bloody clothing. The abundant red liquid soaking through the fabric and ticking to her skin, even in her depressed state, all she wants is to scrub her body clean. "What is up there?"
"A three headed dog, like a miniature Cerberus is locked in the room I stayed in. Leon's body is on your bed." Chika decides it's better to just say it like it is.
Michiru gasps, hands covering her mouth, green eyes wide. She rushes up the stairs and Chika follows, their steps echoing in the empty house, with Momoka's voice speaking to Yuuta on the phone heard in the background.
"Michiru!" Chika rushes after her.
Michiru stops at the door to her room; she glances at Leon then looks away. She knows Momoka is next and just thinking about it brings her to a whole new level of sadness, frustration and anger.
Chika goes inside the room and throws the covers back over Leon's body, hiding the mess. He goes to the closet and opens it, making sure there's nothing strange in there. "Michiru."
Michiru silently nods and goes to the closet to get some clothes.
Chika checks the bathroom, nothing out of the ordinary. Momoka had finished her call and joins them upstairs. Yuuta is coming; we should all meet up at Koyomi's appartment."
Chika nods. "Hurry up and change gopher, you'll have to wait until we're at Koyomi's place to take a bath, we'll guard the door."
"Alright..." but it's not alright really. Michiru goes inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She tries to hurry cleaning herself a little and changing. She wants to cover herself with a thick layer of soap until the smell of blood is gone, but there's no time for that. She changes quickly then opens the door, feeling relieved to see Chika and Momoka waiting. With all the surprises and uncertainties, Michiru had started to fear that her friends would be killed the second she took her eyes off them, and they thought the same of her.
Chapter 16
Michiru, Chika and Momoka head out of the house. Just as they reach the front door, the three headed dog breaks the guestroom door. Chika opens the front door and nearly runs into the reaper.
This time the reaper looks like something right out of a classic anime, but she is much more evil than she looks. She's making fun of them no doubt. She is wearing a rather short sailor uniform, her pink hair in pigtails and for the most part she looks human, save for the cat ears and fluffy tail. "My Ceviru puppy will chase you all like a cat chases a mouse..." She wields her scythe, creating an unnatural gust of wind that throws Michiru, Chika and Momoka back inside the house.
The doors close and the three humans quickly try to open them, but it's not use. They tried the windows but they are sealed as if by magic. Ceviru, still quite young and relatively small in comparison to Cerberus, growls at his prey.
xoxox xox xoxox
Kuze goes up a tall spiraling stair case made of glass. Her trip had taken much longer than she expected, but now she is heading back. A bad feeling looms in the air, as if the world threatened to fall. The keeper of the key quickened her pace. Something was happening, something bad...
"Keeper of the key..." A voice echoes, piecing the darkness, soft clear light reflects off the stairs its origin impossible to determine, the steps are illuminated and soft but rapid steps are heard.
"Carmella from the Wheel of Fate..." Kuze recognized the woman coming up the stairs after her.
The blonde woman is wearing a business suit as usual, carrying a matching briefcase in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other with printed words in a language humans do not know. She hands the paper to the chair person when she catches up.
The chair person and keeper of the key looks at the paper, quickly reading over it. She skips a few lines, focusing on the most important parts and finally she speaks. "So she has returned... In the past the Wheel of Fate did nothing to stop the illegal reaper."
"Indeed, she comes and goes, and never disappears. A punishment for mankind perhaps, something ancient." Carmella's expression can be read as curiosity. She wishes to know what will happen but for once, she might not participate in pushing things along.
"Research..." Kuze continued her path up the stairs, the tight feeling in her chest becoming stronger.
"Research is very important and for many centuries she has provided us with that. No one knows what she is, but even few centuries she appears, having possessed a reaper and changed their shape to best fit her. She kills for pleasure, not to guide the souls that have exhausted their time." Carmella speaks as if the situation does not concern her, as if a forth walls stands between her and the reaper.
Normally this would also be truth for the keeper of the key, but the current keeper, Kuze, prefers to take action. "There is a reason why you are telling me this. I know that something will be set in motion, even if you don't do it directly you always do..."
"This time the wheel is spinning by itself. There is no need for me to push it along as it was done in the past. But you're right, I do have a duty with the Wheel of Fate, but I have already accomplished that duty. I wish you luck..." Carmella turns away and goes back down the stairs.
The alliance between the Wheel of Fate and the Other World was still shaky, but moving towards becoming solid. The Other World, a place where ferrymen go, guiding souls along with them... or more often, the subordinates of the ferrymen send the souls away. Bekko and Kuze had frequented that world because of their duties, and Kuze was held back in a meeting representing the Other World.
It is ironic, some would say, that the Other World, once thought of as absolute, would side with the growing power of the Wheel of Fate. One seeks to protect the cycle and the other to break it, both existing outside of it and perhaps because of that unable to control or even understand it. The cycle... humans, their lives, could anyone truly guide them?
The feeling that hung in the air around Kuze falls. The sheet of paper slips from her hand, she knows why Carmella mentioned this. Kuze was unaware that it was her friends who were involved, but no doubt that was it, she knows it now, she runs up the stairs.
Carmella looks up from the bottom of the stairs. "That spirit has echoed for too long. For at least this piece of the cycle to be broken, I wish you success."
xoxox xox xoxox
Yuuta runs to meet up with the group. He tries to catch up with Chika, Michiru and Momoka on the way to Koyomi's apartment. Shito walks by heading towards the Z-Loan office, the first place he could think of where he can establish contact with everyone. Yuuta turns a corner and bumps into Shito. "Shito!" He greets in surprised, hands shaped into his loyal companions Kenken and Konkon. Then he remembers when he was running in the first place. "Emergency! I'll explain on the way!" Yuuta continues running, looking back only once, "hurry!"
Shito has just arrived and he does not know about what's been happening. Somehow he tells himself he shouldn't be surprised if Chika got into a mess, and he runs after Yuuta. "What is happening?"
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I don't own Zombie Loan. Written for Snow's challange at Plot Whole.
Chapter 9
Koyomi can't focus in the task of hand; wish is simply taking a bath. She is certain there is someone there, another presence. She wraps a towel around herself and peeks out the bathroom door, there is no one there. She considers locking the door which she usually leaves open since she is the only one at the apartment but decides against it, reapers don't use doors anyway.
Koyomi quickly dries herself and dresses. She still feels the presence and as she passes by the bathroom mirror she recognizes a look in the eyes that should be hers, that is not hers, in the image looking back at her from the reflective surface.
She breathes deeply recognizing the presence. "Yomi don't scare me like that," Koyomi rarely speaks to her other self, for when one is awake the other sleeps. But today she draws comfort from the other self she has feared before. "Are you worried too?"
The Koyomi realizes that the comfort she felt is nothing but a trick of her need to stay relatively calm and relatively sane. But nothing has changes, because when Koyomi is awake, Yomi is sleeping.
"You are not Yomi," Koyomi steps back.
The image in the mirror gains motion, stepping out of the reflective surface and passing through the wall. Her appearance changes from Yomi to Michiru. "Yomi hurt me didn't you know that? It's your fault for not controlling her."
Koyomi wants to run but is unable to move. "No! That's not true! Yomi didn't hurt Michiru, she didn't! Michiru would have told me!" Koyomi feels angry at her other self and thinks that maybe if she was gone, then Yomi would be gone and Michiru would be safe.
The reaper changes her appetence again, now gaining the form of Chihiro. "It's your fault I'm dead Koyomi, because you're stupid and ditzy like everyone says."
"It wasn't my fault," Koyomi pleads. "I made a mistake, I was trying to help, I didn't mean to!" She continued to retreat step by step, her back against the cold wall. "You guided her, even if her death was a secret, even if I made up a story for her to have miraculously survives, it wouldn't have worked. You killed her and left us no chance of bringing her back!"
"How do you know Koyomi? Not even Bekko can say for sure. Oh yes, I know he's been giving you hints, but I don't care. Keep your pitiful ferryman," the reaper in the guise of Chihiro continues to approach Koyomi slowly.
"Leave me alone!" Koyomi runs, rushing out of the bathroom, slamming the door uselessly closed, she heads for the front door, and opens it. She sees the reaper there, still in the shape of Chihiro, a stab wound is on her heart, blood dripping down her chest, down her body, all the way to the floor forming a pool at her feet. Koyomi slams the door close and instinctively locks it, then she runs.
"You can't get away, Koyomi, you can't escape your name!" The reaper follows slowly, savoring the futile chase.
Koyomi's mind races, her tears flows, her heart threatens to break out of her rib case. She knows there's no escape as she sees the reaper appear before her.
"When Chika finds out a dear friend of his was killed he'll be so sad, I'll watch him break apart knowing that Momoka is about to die. But don't worry I'll put him out of his misery eventually, He will be the last. I'll continue my game of death all the way to Z, then start over again, it's so much fun!" The reaper laughs insanely. "One by one, they all die... Sotetsu will die too or rather I will guide him, then Yuuta when the time is right. I'll restart again and watch Chika struggle with life and death. Then Shito the one who was born dead who will return to death. I'll keep going until it's Chika's turn, the game wont end until he dies. Then I'll think of a different game, but what do you care? You won't be here anymore, oh no, you'll be long gone!" The reaper's look is insane, cruel, evil, desperate. Her appearance changes to Momoka, "to be killed by someone with such a sweet face, isn't it unexpected?" A scythe appears in her hand and she holds it above Koyomi.
"I can't outrun you..." Koyomi cries, her life flashes before her eyes, the happy moments and the sad ones, and the black caused by her eternal companion of the dead man's tongue still remain mostly blank, with only bits and pieces surfacing at last, but not enough to understand exactly what was going on with Yomi when Koyomi slept.
A loud crash is heard Koyomi's door is broken apart and Sotetsu stands there axe in hand. Chika is next to him with a sword, one not made by his plasma but a sharp katana none the less. "I knew you would come," Chika was ready to fight, because Koyomi would not die simply because she knew the boy whom the reaper decided to stalk. Because of that, she had already suffered, no more could happen, no more, he would not allow it.
Sotetsu stand firm, protective of Koyomi, "you want to lay a finger on her, you have to get through me first."
"Have I not already beaten you before?" The reaper laughs evilly. "I speared the lives of Chika and Yuuta last time, and the soul of Sotetsu," she grins madly. "They are all such ingrates; they really must want to die."
"Whatever happens, we have to win, and we will win," Chika is determined, casting away all doubts. "I will not forgive you for all you've done and for copying Momoka!"
"Come then foolish mortals, come have a taste of defeat, but I won't kill you yet," the reaper stands ready to attack, scythe held with both hands, pointed at Chika. "I'll just have to hurt you, with the face of your dear little sister."
Chapter 10
The efforts of Chika and Sotetsu prove useless against the seemingly invincible reaper. "Don't hold back Chika, just because she looks like that don't..." Sotetsu reminds him.
"I know," Chika attacks, feeling as if a part of him died all over again when his sword cuts through the image of Momoka. But the blood is not of her, but a show from the reaper who is not truly wounded.
The axe and the sword continue to collide against the reaper until laughing like a manic she catches both weapons simultaneously, blades against her hand sinking to the bones of her fingers, and she pull them hard, and she tried to throw them away. Both of the weapon owners hold on and it only amuses the reaper more. She finally lets go. "Stubborn, so stubborn, passionate maybe?" Her ramblings sound incoherent and with a hint of lust. She takes the appearance that is classic to a reaper once more, black ragged cloak, ghostly pale skin, black long uneven hair, blood red eyes, matching sharp long nails, scythe in hand she approaches Koyomi who had not fled not daring to leave Sotetsu and Chika to deal with this alone, and knowing the reaper can never be outrun by her in such a way.
Chika and Sotetsu attack from and left and right at once, going right through the reaper as if she were nothing but a ghost, a terrible ghost of death. Sotetsu's axe lands on Chika's shoulder, the blade of Chika's katana piercing Sotetsu's stomach, they fall with the momentum and it looks like all is all for Koyomi.
"Say goodbye..." the reaper prepares for the kill.
"Goodbye," a slightly different voice replies, confident, sexy, determined to live, she refuses to disappear.
The reaper lowers her weapon and looks at the young woman standing before her. "Yomi..."
"M name is Yomi, second to last in the alphabet. Will you break your own game?" Yomi asks. "Will you admit that even if it is small, in some way you lost, in some way you were mocked?"
"You dare stand up to me?" The reaper curiously looks at Yomi, the woman who speak the words of the dead. "Momoka meddled when I was about to kill Chika and I will kill her."
"I have nothing to lose save for my life, if it is the worse you can do," Yomi lowers her voice to her trademark seductive tone, "then do your worse my angel of death and lose your game."
Without another single word spoken, the reaper disappears and Yomi retreats into the depths of her host, a confused Koyomi falling to her knees. "Sotetsu, Chika, the reaper..."
"She's gone," Sotetsu is more concerned about Chika's wound than his own. Though Chika's wound would not be as life threatening as Sotetsu's, Sotetsu is still a zombie and Chika is a human again. "Yomi drove her away,"
A woman in her forties, a man in his late twenties, and another man in his early thirties, the last clad in a blue uniform that distinguished him as the security guard of the apartment building, all three stood at the shattered door to Koyomi's apartment, faces pale, expressions frozen in fear. They saw too much. They are Koyomi's neighbors from above and bellow, and the guard who usually stays in the first floor, all unable to react.
Ohtsu arrives on the scene, realizing he is in fact too late. He knocks down each of the three with swift jabs to the back of the head. "I will have their memories be modified; it's for their own good." No protests are heard as Ohtsu examines the state Chika's is in. "We'll get you to Yuuta, don't waste your new life." Ohtsu is clearly sleep deprives, stressed and plainly frustrated.
"Yuuta is here, Kenken and Konkon too!" With a pace much faster than usual, Yuuta gets to work in healing Chika first. For Chika is no longer a zombie, and his human life is as fragile and easily lost as any other.
"Chika!" A split second passes and Momoka is there, followed by Michiru. They had their silent doubts about Koyomi being the target. They did not want to say it, but they kept those thoughts, all of them.
"Momoka, don't cry, I'm alright, it's just a scratch, I've had much worse and recovered." Chika forces a smile, and stops himself from wincing at the pain that feels so much more -real- not that life flows along with the blood of his body.
"As a zombie," Momoka reminds him, she had heard the entire story after all.
"No need to worry," Yuuta assures, "I can heal him, no problem. Just because I revived, doesn't mean I lost my abilities, if anything Kenken and Konkon are more powerful now." Yuuta is rare; someone of his kind was called a white mage in ancient times, a healer, that, he was.
Those who need not be involved are taken away by Ohtsu, and those who know of the secrets stay. Bekko stands at the door, quiet as can be, unnoticed by those who bask in a small moment of rest. One could say, a battle had been won, but they were very far from winning the war.
xoxox xox xoxox
Carmella watches the destinies unfold reflected on a crystal ball. The keeper of the key is away, as is the one who was born death and now lives. They shall return, Carmella predicts, and for that she does not need the round glass device that cannot see into the future but the present and present alone. "The wheels of fate are turning, another player is about to join the game of destiny..."
xoxox xox xoxox
"What did you do, Toho?" Shito angrily asks. The man at the other side of the rectangular table collapsed with no signs of injuries.
"I assure you it was not I," Toho replies, he sounds somewhat concerned, "I sense the presence of another, a powerful being who can make itself invisible even to me..." Toho had not thought something like this would happen. The man called Kintaro had no signs of a black ring around his neck. The wheels of fate had turned indeed.
Chapter 11
The death of Kintaro is blamed on Shito, a war is expected but none occurs. The wheel of fate takes an unexpected turn and instead of applying some form of revenge, it brings a positive consequence for Shito. The mafia does not go to war, it fears after the death of their supposedly invincible leader, Kintaro, not fully human, not exactly a zombie, but an advanced golem beyond anything made by Yoshizumi. The necessity to use Shito as a negotiator is lost, Toho's side of the mafia gains territory and Shito takes the opportunity to leave, his destination is to return to Japan.
xoxox xox xoxox
Yuuta, Koyomi, Chika, Momoka and Sotetsu are in Michiru's house. "It doesn't look like she's done anything yet," Yuuta kept the log in information from the ferrymen database and is able to access it though the common internet, quite convenient. But of course, the database was full of beings who were born and named, none that were created.
"If she comes back for me, I'll call Yomi out," Koyomi voiced.
There was not much else they could do, and being unable to deal with the situation and get it over with was frustrating. They decide not to let the reaper girl get to them and try to move on with their lives the best that they can.
xoxox xox xoxox
Later that day Yuuta, Koyomi and Sotetsu had gone home. Momoka and Michiru had become friends and Yuuri is on yet another trip, such is the life of Mr. pretty boy model; but at least he's happy and he makes the best of his time with his "little squirrels" also known as Chika and Momoka.
Michiru invites them to stay over and Chika doesn't want Momoka to remember the first meeting with the reaper during that time they were alone at the Akatsuki house. They stay over.
It is the evening and Momoka is watching a movie in the living room. Chika is laying on the couch half watch, slowly drifting off to sleep.
Michiru announces that she is going out. "This dog is a bottomless pit," she whispers to Momoka while putting a leach on the fat saint bernard's collar. Chika is too sleepy no hear her. "I'm just going out to get some dog food and I'll take him for a walk, he needs the exercise."
"Chika and I can come," Momoka offers.
"No, it's fine. Chika is tired and if he wakes up and you're not here he'll worry. Besides we decided we would live our live without worrying right?" Michiru, like the others, ids determined not to because a slave to the fear of death.
"Are you sure?" Momoka asks for the last time, keeping her voice quiet so as to not wake her brother. Chika has stopped watching the TV and is now fast asleep.
"Yeah," Michiru replies with a smile. "I'll be back soon," and the girl with the reaper eyes leave along with her pet dog, Leon.
xoxox xox xoxox
Michiru arrives a local pet shop where they sell not only animals but other pet related products including food. Pets are allowed inside as long as they are on a leach. Michiru goes in along with Leon. "Be good Leon, behave well and I'll get you some treats." Michiru doesn't want to admit it but she does spoil that dog and that is probably the reason why he is so fat.
At the store, there are several kinds of dog foods on the shelves. Michiru sorts through them looking for the flavor Leno likes best. She picks up a large bag, wrapping her arms around it, she can hardly lift it and she is not looking forward to carrying the bag back to her house, but Leon has a big appetite and Michiru doesn't have the heart to make him diet, even if it would be for his own good.
With some effort, Michiru takes the large bag to the end of the aisle, Leon following close behind wagging his tail. The dog stops and whimpers, reminding Michiru that she had forgotten something. "Right, treats," Leon wags his tail and watches as Michiru picks up a smaller bag, this one containing dog treats.
The lavender haired girl pushed the large bag up with her knee to try to get a better grip around it. She walks towards the front counter with her arms wrapped around the large dog food bag and the end of her fingers clinging to Leon's leach on one hand and to the bag of threats on the other.
The boy who works at the store finally noticed her predicament and give Michiru a hand placing the items on the counter. The two items are totaled and placed in a large bag that Michiru has no idea how she'll haul home. The boy gives her the bag. "Sorry I can't leave the shop," he apologizes for not being able to help the girl carry a bag half her size.
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," half dragging and half carrying the large bag, Michiru stands on her way back home. She wishes Chika and Momoka had come along, she wishes she had woken up Chika then they would make him carry the oversize bag.
Michiru laughs at her own predicament and takes a shortcut through the park. "Don't get any ideas Leon," she warns the dog. "We're not here to play, we're just taking a shortcut home." Not that Leon is the kind of dog who likes to play and run. Leon is a lazy spoiled mutt whose idea of going to the park is sitting under the chase of a tree and occasionally barking at random passer bys.
Michiru takes note of the sun sinking in the horizon and tried to pick the pace, but it is hard with the large bag she had to carry. To make matter worse, the bag rips and the two bags inside fall out. She sighs, she really wishes she had brought Chika along, he owed her for all the time she spent playing gopher.
She takes the large bag in her arms and grabs the smaller one losing her grip on the big on. She drops it and it rips, she wishes she hasn't bought such a large bag even if it meant another trip to the store soon. Michiru turns the large bag over, with the ripped side on top and waits for Leon to finish eating the food that fell on the ground. "Grab that, will you Leon?"
Leon obediently picks up the bag of treats with his mouth. "Don't eat them on the way; they're for later, okay?" Michiru reminds him, and once again they are on their way.
Chapter 12
Michiru continues her arduous journey and notices that the park is quite empty. Children are usually playing during the afternoon and people bring their pets to play. At this time of the evening, when the sun is setting, people are usually leaving the park, but it is not usually this deserted.
She makes sure she has a good grip on the bag of food and glances at Leon who is still strolling beside her with the bag of treats in his mouth. Then she quickens her pace, she does not feel good about being in the park alone. The silence becomes eerie and Michiru starts to hum. Her humming evolves into singing to comfort herself until suddenly Leon stops, drops the bag of treats he was carrying and whimpers.
"Leon what's wrong?" Michiru gives the leach a small tug but Leo doesn't move. She sets the large open bag of food down and goes to check on the dog. "What is it Leon? Do you feel sick? Does something hurt?" She feels guilty for letting the dog get so fat in the first place. She pets him and tries to determine what the problem is, but he looks alright. She goes down on her knees next to him, searching for any injuries, thinking that maybe his stepped on a thorn or something and hurt his paw.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru bolts to her feet looking around her, searching for the voice.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru cannot locate the voice that sounds like Yomi, and deep down she knows it isn't Yomi.
"Chiru chiru..."
The echo comes from everywhere and no where and the sun continued to sink in the horizon dimming what little light is left.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michiru's heart is pounding. She grabs Leon's collar and pulls on it hard. She leaves the bags behind and continues trying to make the dog move. "Run Leon, we're going home, now, move it!"
"Chiru chiru..."
Leon whimpers in fear and tried to keep up with his owner, but the fat and lazy saint bernard is very slow.
"Chiru chiru..."
Michuru stops, coming face to face with someone who looks like Yomi who appeared out of nowhere. "You... you're not Yomi."
"You're a smart one chiru chiru Michiru," the reaper laughs, she keeps her appearance as Yomi this time.
Michiru steps back. Leon growls and barks at the reaper. He's afraid but he tries to defend Michiru.
"You need not worry too much; I don't really like girls the way Yomi does. I like your little friend, Chika Akatsuki," it was odd seeing the image of Yomi licking her lips and expressing interest in a man, but that wasn't Yomi, it was the reaper in disguise.
"Chika doesn't like you," Michiru feels as if her words are completely unimportant to the reaper and she knows they are. "But you don't care do you? Even if he hates you?"
The reaper shakes her head. "Not really, it doesn't matter to me what he wants or doesn't want. But I won't force him into anything, even if I easily can. I'll wait for him to come to me." She grins evilly.
Michiru glares, her anger and frustration are evident. She doesn't like it when her friends are threatened. "That's not going to happen."
"What would you know chiru chiru Michiru?" The reaper mocks her. "Don't you know that humans are weak? Oh you should know, you've seen their black rings, humans are ever so fragile. Once I break his will he'll come to me seeking mercy. I'll savor that moment than put him out of his misery."
"Chika would never do that... you don't care about him at all, all you want is to torture him..." a part of Michiru screams for her to run away, but she knows it's useless.
"Reapers know no love, only lust my dear," the look in the reaper's eyes scares Michiru more than Yomi eye scared her, it's the fear of death, what people talk about... Needless to say, looking at death in the eyes is not as easy as they make it seem in the movies. "Or do you think he cares for you?"
"Chika and I are friends," Michiru clarifies and for a moment she wonders if the reaper is acting jealously towards every girl who is around Chika, Koyomi included even if her crush on Sotetsu is common knowledge.
"When I ask you if you think he cares about you, I speak of an entire different he," the gives Michiru a pitiful look, as if the mortal girl is nothing but trash.
Michiru doesn't know what the reaper is talking about. She is not talking about Chika, is couldn't be Sotetsu, she didn't think it was Yuuta, Shito wasn't even in Japan to the best of Michiru's knowledge; then who? "Who do you mean?" She feels compelled to ask.
"I had already given you the answer to that, just think of my words and it will come to you. Either way it doesn't matter, you know I'm not here to talk," the reaper's appearance changes, she now has grayish skin, feathery black wings and ragged black revealing clothing. Her hair is a deep crimson and her eyes are golden, standing out against the other colors of her being. She wields her scythe pointing it at Michiru.
Leon barks loudly, standing between Michiru and the reaper. Michiru holds the dog back, it would be useless if he attacked. "You're obviously not here to tell me this."
"Oh no, I do have a good reason to be here chiru chiru Michiru," the reaper's insane sadistic laughter echoes.
The sun has gone down completely, the park is dark, a cold wind blows. The leaves dance on the trees, Leon's barking is drowned out by the sound of the reaper's voice, and no one approaches the park that will in the near future gain the reputation of being haunted. No one goes to Michiru's aid, no one knows she is in danger. "My name start with an M, if you're not here for me then..." she makes a pause eyes wide. "Leon?"
"What I am here for, Chiru chiru, is to break the pattern," the killing intent is strong in the reapers eyes and Michiru can't help it but to feel as if her life is about to end.
Chapter 13
"To break the pattern..." Michiru repeats, eyes filled with terror. This time she does not quietly accept death, instead she run. "Leon get away from here, go home!" maybe if the dog goes home on his own her friends will know that something happened. Michiru herself does not run home. She knows that it would be useless to ask her friends to fight the reaper once more when they are still recovering, especially Chika who was injured and must take batter care of his recovery now that he is alive again.
Michiru runs away, she doesn't want to get her friends uselessly involved. She doesn't have another self with a different name, not that it would matter anyway. The reaper said she was here to break the pattern, she must have been angered by Yomi's move and now she is after Michiru. Michiru continues to desperately run, even if she knows it's useless she is not the same as before. Now Michiru clings to like with all her strength, she wants to live, she does not quietly accept death.
Michiru saw no black ring around her neck this time, though she once thought of accepting her fate when she saw it in the past, this time is different. Even if she had a ring, even if it were her time, Michiru knows it is too early, she is too young to leave this world, and she refuses to fall. Instead she runs, she runs for dear life and when she is about to reach the exit of the park she cones face to face with the reaper.
Out of breath, but with a strong will to live, Michiru turns away and continue to run. If se is to die, she'll die of exhaustion fighting for her life, but she will not die because she gave up.
Michiru continues to run desperately in the park. She sees a branch on the ground in the faint light of the full moon and picks it up. She knows it might not be much but if her life is to end today, then she will go down fighting. Gripping the branch in her hands she looks at her surroundings and listens for any suspicious sounds. She hears some one approaching and swings the branch high. The branch flies over Leon without hitting him.
"Leon!" Michiru drops the branch and hugs her pet. "I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you right? You scared me. I told you to go home Leon, get out of here."
The reaper appears before Michiru, golden eyes glowing, crimson hair flowing in the breeze, the moon's light reflecting off her grayish skin. "You can't run away."
Michiru jumps to her feet and picks up the branch again, she tries to hit the reaper with it but the dark being cuts it with her scythe. "Poor helpless Chiru chiru," the reaper laughs, her voice echoing as if the world was empty with only them in it.
The human girl clenches her fists, she will not give up, she is not the same scared girl she was when this all began. Working for Z-Loan, being with her friends, the countless zombie hunts, it all made her stronger, it made her hold on to life. Michiru tries to fight, but is does not work. She is knocked back, thrown against a tree.
The reaper swings her scythe at Michiru. "Didn't I tell you Chiru chiru, I'm here to break the pattern."
Michiru's life flashes before her eyes and a sharp pain strikes her. Michiru's holds her cut shoulder, the cut reaching down to her elbow, blood dripping through her fingers and she squeezes the wound trying to hold it closed.
"I said I was here to break the pattern Chiru chiru," the reaper cruelly glares, looking down on her.
Leon jumps on the reaper, biting into her arm and the reaper easily tares him away. Leo attacks once more and the reaper swings her scythe reaching one of the dog's front legs and cutting it off. Leon falls crying in pain. He struggles to get up.
"Leon!" Michiru screams, horrified, in pain, tears flowing.
"I suppose I already broke the pattern with Kintaro the golem, you did hear did you? I was hoping a war would break out in the mafia, a war that would destroy Chika's friend Shito," the reaper sounded annoyed that instead of war, the death of Kintaro was though it was somehow blamed on Shito, was the winning card for Toho's side of the mafia, with his clan taking control of a large amount of territory. Because of that, Shito was able to slip away and would soon arrive in Japan.
"Shito... Stay away from my friends!" Michiru yelled while she desperately tries to stop Leon's bleeding.
"Beg for mercy, cry, be angry, hate me, do all you want. It's not going to work, isn't that frustrating?" The reaper grabs Michiru by the throat.
Michiru tries to break free, the air in her lungs becoming scarce. She scratches at the reaper's arm to no avail. Leon bites the reaper again despite his wound and continuous bleeding. While still holding Michiru, with her other hand the reaper cuts one of Leon's back legs, the dog releases her in pain, and she throws Michiru on the ground.
Michiru has several small cuts on her neck from the reaper's long sharp nails. She coughs and tries to breathe some air into her thirsty lungs. "Leon!" The loyal dog has suffered too much. "Stop this! Why are you torturing him? What are you getting from all of this?!" Leon can no longer get up; missing his right front leg and left back leg, the blood he's losing is abundant.
"Amusement my dear Chiru chiru!" The sadistic reaper laughs insanely, she truly enjoys the suffering of all living creatures. "The reaper pulls Michiru away from Leon by her hair, cutting a few strands in the process. "You should thank me chiru chiru Michiru I'm about to put this pitiful creature out of its misery, and then I'll bring more misery to you."
Chapter 14
The reaper sings in a creepy cruel voice. "A is for Allen too bossy for his own good. B is for Brittany and now I ask you. Who is the idiot? The one who starts it or the one who doesn't make it end too? C is for Chihiro the from of Koyomi. The girl of the dead man's tongue who delivered a message for me. D is for Daniel, they thought he was smart and astute, but I don't think humans are like that, do you? E is for Ember who thinks she's so cool and F is for Fuji that old fool. G is for Geraldo who drowned at the sea and H is for Hayden another death for the list. I is for Isis from the land of heat and J is for Jem they all fall at my feet." She lift her scythe and brings it down on Leon. "Time to break the human pattern... K if for Kintaro the mafia golem and L is for Leon a dog loyal to humans, he shall die for it."
Leon's head is cut off and thrown a Michiru with the impulse. Michiru screams until her dry throat hurts and there is no air in her lungs. The reaper and the pieces of Leon's body disappear and Michiru is left along in the park, the wound in her arm and shoulder still open, bruises all over her body from when she was thrown, clothes soaked in her dog's blood.
xoxox xox xoxox
Momoka wakes up after having drifted off to sleep in the living room. She turns the TV off and glances at Chika who is still sleeping on the couch. Momoka wonders were Michiru is, she must be home by now. She searches for Micihru around the house and goes upstairs to Michiru's room. She peeks in and sees that there is someone on the bed under the covers.
An odd smell lingers in the room and Momoka notices the open window. She tip toes across the room, assuming the unpleasant scent is coming from outside, and closes the window before the smell wakes Michiru.
Momoka leaves Michiru's room quietly and considers waking Chika and sending him to bed, but he looks comfortable as he is, so she decides to let him rest. Momoka heads for the guest room and goes to bed.
Time passes and Chika wakes up. He realizes that he is on the couch and gets up to go to bed. He first goes to the guest room where Momoka is staying to make sure she is alright. He sees Momoka sleeping soundly, the night light still on. She did not used to leave any light on while she slept, but after the reaper attacked she started to dislike total darkness.
Chika visits Michiru's room next. The room is dark and it's hard to see. He notices something under the covers, he assumes Michiru is sleeping and is about to leave. An unpleasant smell is notisable in the room and Chika sees the open window. He goes over to the window and closes it. He doesn't know what the smell is, but it is similar to the scent of death, of rotting corpses and it bothers him. He thinks that Michiru and Momoka are safe because Yuuta has not found any deaths by the nameless reaper girl on the ferryman database starting with a K. He does not know that golem deaths are not counted on the database. Koyomi has Yomi to protect her so for now Chika thinks they are all safe.
He goes to bed and lays down sleepily. He can't help it but to worry in the back of his mind, but he pushes the thoughts away. They had all decided together that they would not worry. Chika moves a little, half asleep. He rolls over, his face buried in the soft pillow, one arm hanging over the side of the bed. He hears a soft whimper and identifies the sound as originating from a dog. "Is that you, Leon?"
Chika feels a canine lick the hand he has over the side of the bed. He pet's the dog's head, unaware of the two other heads the canine has. "Go to sleep, Leon."
Chika is not sleeping well this night. He silently thanks the one he thinks is Leon for being there, though he would never admit he draws security from the company of Michiru's dog. Whenever Chika half wakes in the middle of the night, the remnants of a nightmare blurry in his mind, he listens to the soft sounds Leon makes and reaches to pet him again. The dog Chika thinks is a normal, although big and fat, sanit bernard, stays next to Chika's bed for the entire night.
The three headed canine is anything but a normal dog, a creature of darkness brought from the depths of the underworld. The being is only a puppy, a newborn child of Cerberus, but it is as large as the biggest adult saint bernard. Chika sleeps next to the dark being. He has no idea that Michiru is not safely sleeping in her room, and that creature on the floor next to him is not her dog. Until the morning comes and Chika wakes up, a terrible feeling present in the atmosphere.
Chapter 15
Chika wakes up with a bad feeling. He hears the sound of a dog under the bed but doesn't stop to look. He assumes Leon is fine and needs to know his sister and Michiru are okay.
A scream pierces the morning air. Chika runs towards Michiru's room where Momoka stands with a horrified expression, a few tears escaping in fright. There is a foul scent coming from the room, Momoka came to see if Michiru was okay, she lifted the covers and found the bloody pieces of Leon.
Chika stares at the mess with wide eyes. It is a disgusting pile of severed body parts with the inner workings piling out in plain view, but he cannot look away. Everything falls into place like the pieces of a puzzle, the scent from the night before, the fact that he only saw something on the bed under the covers and assumed Michiru was sleeping, but he didn't actually see Michiru. "Momoka, did you see Michiru yesterday before going to bed?"
"No... She left to buy dog food, she insisted she would be fine," Momoka wishes she had gone with Michiru; she wishes she had woken Chika so the three could go together. Seeing Leon so brutally murdered and left on Michiru bed makes them think Michiru must have been killed too, her body left in a similar state, and this is the reaper's way of letting them know.
"Last night, before I went to bed and I came. There was a bad smell, I thought it came from outside and I close the window..." The events replay in Chika's mind, if only he had paid more attention, if only he had not assumed anything.
"That's what I did too!" Then the reaper must have been there early, she must have opened the window Momoka closed.
"Since last night..." Chika feels a cold chill. "Leon slept in the guest room with me." He pales and rushes out of the room followed by Momoka.
A black dog head with red eyes peeks out from under the bed in the room Chika had slept in. Then two more left and right from it. They are not three dogs, but a single dog with three heads, long white fangs stained with dry blood from its latest victim. Chika can't believe he was petting that thing the previous night thinking it was Michiru's large but harmless dog. The three headed dog grows and Chika shuts the door, the dark canine slams against it scratching at it wanting to go through but there is no time to deal with that.
"We have to find Michiru," Chika and Momoka rush down the stairs and notice letters written in blood on the front door that were not there the previous night. "Feed him human flesh every day, and y your side he shall stay. When the sun the spotlight steals, it is time for his next meal," Chika read it.
The dog must have already been fed the previous day and did not try to feed on Chika that night, but not that it's morning; it's time for his next meal. Chika reaches for the blood soaked door knob, but feels it twist from the other side and lets it go. He steps back and signals for Momoka to stay behind him.
The door opens and Michiru stands there, bloody and beaten but alive. "She killed Leon..." Michiru speaks softly... "She killed K and we didn't know, Leon was the L."
A million thoughts run through the Akatsuki siblings heads, but right now getting Michiru healed is the first thing they must do. "Momoka, call Yuuta." Chika goes after Michiru when she start climbing up the stairs in a tired pace. The noise coming from the guest room catches her attention, then the foul scent reaches her nose. "Don't go up there."
Michiru looks down at her bloody clothing. The abundant red liquid soaking through the fabric and ticking to her skin, even in her depressed state, all she wants is to scrub her body clean. "What is up there?"
"A three headed dog, like a miniature Cerberus is locked in the room I stayed in. Leon's body is on your bed." Chika decides it's better to just say it like it is.
Michiru gasps, hands covering her mouth, green eyes wide. She rushes up the stairs and Chika follows, their steps echoing in the empty house, with Momoka's voice speaking to Yuuta on the phone heard in the background.
"Michiru!" Chika rushes after her.
Michiru stops at the door to her room; she glances at Leon then looks away. She knows Momoka is next and just thinking about it brings her to a whole new level of sadness, frustration and anger.
Chika goes inside the room and throws the covers back over Leon's body, hiding the mess. He goes to the closet and opens it, making sure there's nothing strange in there. "Michiru."
Michiru silently nods and goes to the closet to get some clothes.
Chika checks the bathroom, nothing out of the ordinary. Momoka had finished her call and joins them upstairs. Yuuta is coming; we should all meet up at Koyomi's appartment."
Chika nods. "Hurry up and change gopher, you'll have to wait until we're at Koyomi's place to take a bath, we'll guard the door."
"Alright..." but it's not alright really. Michiru goes inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She tries to hurry cleaning herself a little and changing. She wants to cover herself with a thick layer of soap until the smell of blood is gone, but there's no time for that. She changes quickly then opens the door, feeling relieved to see Chika and Momoka waiting. With all the surprises and uncertainties, Michiru had started to fear that her friends would be killed the second she took her eyes off them, and they thought the same of her.
Chapter 16
Michiru, Chika and Momoka head out of the house. Just as they reach the front door, the three headed dog breaks the guestroom door. Chika opens the front door and nearly runs into the reaper.
This time the reaper looks like something right out of a classic anime, but she is much more evil than she looks. She's making fun of them no doubt. She is wearing a rather short sailor uniform, her pink hair in pigtails and for the most part she looks human, save for the cat ears and fluffy tail. "My Ceviru puppy will chase you all like a cat chases a mouse..." She wields her scythe, creating an unnatural gust of wind that throws Michiru, Chika and Momoka back inside the house.
The doors close and the three humans quickly try to open them, but it's not use. They tried the windows but they are sealed as if by magic. Ceviru, still quite young and relatively small in comparison to Cerberus, growls at his prey.
xoxox xox xoxox
Kuze goes up a tall spiraling stair case made of glass. Her trip had taken much longer than she expected, but now she is heading back. A bad feeling looms in the air, as if the world threatened to fall. The keeper of the key quickened her pace. Something was happening, something bad...
"Keeper of the key..." A voice echoes, piecing the darkness, soft clear light reflects off the stairs its origin impossible to determine, the steps are illuminated and soft but rapid steps are heard.
"Carmella from the Wheel of Fate..." Kuze recognized the woman coming up the stairs after her.
The blonde woman is wearing a business suit as usual, carrying a matching briefcase in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other with printed words in a language humans do not know. She hands the paper to the chair person when she catches up.
The chair person and keeper of the key looks at the paper, quickly reading over it. She skips a few lines, focusing on the most important parts and finally she speaks. "So she has returned... In the past the Wheel of Fate did nothing to stop the illegal reaper."
"Indeed, she comes and goes, and never disappears. A punishment for mankind perhaps, something ancient." Carmella's expression can be read as curiosity. She wishes to know what will happen but for once, she might not participate in pushing things along.
"Research..." Kuze continued her path up the stairs, the tight feeling in her chest becoming stronger.
"Research is very important and for many centuries she has provided us with that. No one knows what she is, but even few centuries she appears, having possessed a reaper and changed their shape to best fit her. She kills for pleasure, not to guide the souls that have exhausted their time." Carmella speaks as if the situation does not concern her, as if a forth walls stands between her and the reaper.
Normally this would also be truth for the keeper of the key, but the current keeper, Kuze, prefers to take action. "There is a reason why you are telling me this. I know that something will be set in motion, even if you don't do it directly you always do..."
"This time the wheel is spinning by itself. There is no need for me to push it along as it was done in the past. But you're right, I do have a duty with the Wheel of Fate, but I have already accomplished that duty. I wish you luck..." Carmella turns away and goes back down the stairs.
The alliance between the Wheel of Fate and the Other World was still shaky, but moving towards becoming solid. The Other World, a place where ferrymen go, guiding souls along with them... or more often, the subordinates of the ferrymen send the souls away. Bekko and Kuze had frequented that world because of their duties, and Kuze was held back in a meeting representing the Other World.
It is ironic, some would say, that the Other World, once thought of as absolute, would side with the growing power of the Wheel of Fate. One seeks to protect the cycle and the other to break it, both existing outside of it and perhaps because of that unable to control or even understand it. The cycle... humans, their lives, could anyone truly guide them?
The feeling that hung in the air around Kuze falls. The sheet of paper slips from her hand, she knows why Carmella mentioned this. Kuze was unaware that it was her friends who were involved, but no doubt that was it, she knows it now, she runs up the stairs.
Carmella looks up from the bottom of the stairs. "That spirit has echoed for too long. For at least this piece of the cycle to be broken, I wish you success."
xoxox xox xoxox
Yuuta runs to meet up with the group. He tries to catch up with Chika, Michiru and Momoka on the way to Koyomi's apartment. Shito walks by heading towards the Z-Loan office, the first place he could think of where he can establish contact with everyone. Yuuta turns a corner and bumps into Shito. "Shito!" He greets in surprised, hands shaped into his loyal companions Kenken and Konkon. Then he remembers when he was running in the first place. "Emergency! I'll explain on the way!" Yuuta continues running, looking back only once, "hurry!"
Shito has just arrived and he does not know about what's been happening. Somehow he tells himself he shouldn't be surprised if Chika got into a mess, and he runs after Yuuta. "What is happening?"
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I don't own Zombie Loan. Written for Snow's challange at Plot Whole.