Chapter 1: The Video Game of Death

Note: The beginning may seem a little depressing, but this is a series all about death and dying. To clarify a little bit, the game can only be accessed by the dying, but only the dead can actually participate in the events of the game. It's complicated, but basically only a soul detached from it's body can fully access all the areas of the game, which is why Ichigo and the other shinigami will be able to play. It gets much more interesting later, so please at least read up to chapter two. That's all I ask.


"The Video Game of Death." That is what every one called D.E.G., the hottest, latest thing in gaming and system networks.

D.E.G., or Dead End Gaming, was a video game only give to a select and chosen few. No one outside of those chosen ones could operate the game. Mainly, the chosen ones were the dying or the dead. Dead End Gaming was a game that required a sacrifice, the sacrifice of life, to play and none could escape its curse. Not even its creator.

"You want to play that game? Are you serious? Do you even know what that means?" A strangled voice shouted over the telephone line. "You're crazy! Absolutely raving mad! There is no one crazier than you are! What could possibly possess you to—what?"

Silence greeted the response on the other line. "How can you be so sure? What do you mean you are positive, how can you positive about such a thing? This is a negative thing, dammit!" He slammed his fist down on the table, gritting his teeth. "Death isn't something you can joke about or just laugh off. It's scary, it's painful, and in the end, you will be alone. Even if you are dying at the same time as someone else, you will be alone in what you are going through. Only you will know what it is like for you to die. Don't talk about it so lightly."

"I understand you're worried, but I already bought the game. I am sure I am going to die young. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. Besides, if I'm going to die at such an early age, I want to know that my soul will have a place to go afterwards."

Three days after this conversation took place, Keito Mikami died in a terrible "car accident." According to the doctors who received her shortly after the crash, they discovered a rare, fatal disease. Had she lived, she would have had a long drawn out battle with this virtually unknown disease, with no chance of winning and a slow, painful death. It was lucky that she died before it ever got to that stage. That was what most everyone was discussing at her funeral. Ichigo Kurosaki, however, the last person to speak with her alive, had his doubts.

"I'm saying it's suspicious, Rukia!" Rukia Kuchiki shook her head as Ichigo continued. "She knew something was going to happen to her! When I spoke to her, she kept saying that I needed to watch my back and be careful for the Hollows."

"That underground group of villains?"

"Yeah. She kept warning me of them and then she said that she was going to die young, that she was sure of it. She insisted that I take care of everything and that everything goes to me when she dies. Not if but when she dies. Then three short days later, she suddenly dies in a car crash? I don't buy it. It sounds fishy to me. Plus, she was going on about how she had just bought that new game system, D.E.G. or whatever it's called."

Rukia froze, her eyes widening, and slowly turned her head so that she was facing him. She dropped the notebook and pen she was taking notes on. She grabbed Ichigo by the collar roughly and yanked him towards herself. "Are you absolutely sure that she said she bought that game? Absolutely sure?"

Ichigo glared at Rukia. "She was my best friend for 15 years, Rukia. I remember almost every conversation I have ever had with her and I know that is exactly what she said. We argued furiously about it for weeks and she even stopped talking to me for a time because of it. I know she went out and bought that game. I know she used it at least once before she died. And I know she was dead set on dying young no matter what. Therefore, whether this was an accident or not, I want to be absolutely sure that her death wasn't pre-planned."

"I don't think you understand, Ichigo!" Rukia said, releasing him and clutching her hands to her chest. "My brother is Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, the reigning detective over the paranormal activity in the area. That game is suspected to—no! This is not the place to be having this kind of conversation. Ichigo, you will need to come with me later on. We're both going to have a very long conversation with my brother."

Meanwhile . . . inside the game, Keito Mikami was finding out exactly what kind of game D.E.G. was.

Slowly, Keito opened her eyes. She was sitting on a sidewalk, at the very intersection she had died. Died? I . . . died? Keito wondered, trying to remember. Yes, the memories were slowly coming back to her. Yes, I remember now. I died here. There was an accident just as I was stepping off the crosswalk and. . . . There had been so much pain, so much pain and suffering as they rushed her away from the scene in an ambulance. Everyone was doing their best to keep her conscious and alive, but she had just wanted the pain to go away. She had kept wondering why everyone was trying so hard to keep her alive if she was just going to be in pain and then.

And then what? What happened after that? I finally closed my eyes to go to sleep and there was a bright flash of light and . . . And next thing she knew, she had ended up here. Where was here, exactly? Why had she woken up in such a strange place? A strange bus pulled up to her, a lot like the ones she had seen in her visit to California, but a bit wider and longer. She gingerly got up and walked towards it. The doors opened and she climbed inside. That's right, I am inside the game. After you die, your soul goes inside the game and that's when it starts.

The game was starting . . . and Keito Mikami was not going to be one to lose this game!