So I've got a bad case of writer's block with The Key, which is kind of stupid because it's at a pretty easy part, but the problem is I can't seem to get it to be very long. While I was brainstorming, I suddenly had this pop into my head, and decided to type it all out while I still remembered it. As you may notice, this one includes manga references too, while my other one is anime-only. Well, enjoy!

Chapter 1

Darkness, and a numb sensation. That's all he could comprehend, as he floated in an everlasting black nothingness. He had thoughts, but they were so fleeting the could hardly comprehend them. Unable to tell if he was even conscious, he kept floating into….what? There wasn't anything. No stars, no clouds, nothing.

But suddenly, there was something. Before he could comprehend that, he was thrust into blinding light; suddenly he was laying on sand, that rolled and shifted like waves in an ocean. Standing up, he fought to keep his balance on the constantly shifting ground; he also had to move out of the way as ships randomly rose out of the dune-waves, only to sink back down within seconds. After a bit of wandering, he saw ruins appear out of the sands; he stepped onto them, glad for the solid ground.

He looked around the ruins, and immediately his gaze fell upon what had obviously once been a throne. Seated upon it was what looked like a woman, but a blackish-grey color, and flickering like smoke. Her eyes were a bright, piercing yellow, and they were focused right on him. She smiled, and he felt a slight chill go down his spine, as if a demon had just smiled at him.

Demon. That word unlocked a flood of memories, and he realized that he was dead. Or, rather, should be dead. But he'd been dead before, and he felt at this moment that he was very much alive.

"Hello," the woman said. Her voice was smooth, almost seductive, but he could hear malice in her tone. "And welcome to Tartarus, my realm of chaos." She vanished, and reappeared just a few feet from him. "Now, as you've probably realized, you're dead. However, I may just fix that." She smiled again, and he narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

"And why would you do that?" He asked; his voice felt, and sounded, off, like it echoed slightly.

"Well, the good guy winning all the time is just so boring. I just want to see a little excitement in the mortal world. A little chaos, glorious chaos." She said, relishing the last part. As she spoke, she had come closer, and now stood within a few inches of him. He stayed impassive, ensuring that she didn't have the satisfaction having him step back.

"And what do you want in return for this, favor." Her said, eyeing her as she chuckled.

"All I want in return is for you to cause as much discord as you possibly can," she said, still chuckling. "But, here's the catch. There's only one way for my little favor to stay permanent, and that is for you to….retrieve something for me."

He raised an eyebrow, unsure if he liked the conditions this offer came with.

"Now, now, let's not be so suspicious," she said, somewhat mockingly. "A goddess's word is her bond." As she said this, she carved an X over where her heart should be. "I mean, think about it. You'd be able to have revenge, both for your recent death and hers." She gestured, and an image of a beautiful woman in an old-style kimono took shape from the sand blowing around them. The image morphed, and became a boy with headphones behind his ears, wearing a white T-shirt, green pants, and a bear-claw necklace.

Hao Asakura looked at the figure for a moment, then turned to the goddess Eris, and asked "What would you like me to do?"

Should I keep going with this? Review and tell me yes or no!