Alrighty so here be chapter 1! And a special little note for SpontaneosCombustion00 I LOVE YOU MY OH-SO-WONDERFUL-BESTEST-FRIEND-OH-MINE! She gave me my first review! Woot!

Shouting could be heard as everyone in the village scrambled to see who the newcomers were. Gen himself didn't really care all that much but since apparently it was rare for more than one newcomer(basically code for dead and passed on) to appear at once, he decided it was worth it to at least check it out for a moment. Good thing to because the three people(well three people and a bear) that had arrived shocked him to the core.

Standing surrounded by the villagers were Sumimura Masamori, with a deep red scar across his neck, Sumimura Shigemori, though there were no visible scars on him Gen knew there must be since the likelihood of the stubborn old man dying of simply old age was laughable, Hanashima Atora, without her usual smile and a scar starting at the back of her hand and ending somewhere unknown but obviously fatal if her currently dead-and-in-the-afterlife state was anything to go by, and lastly was Raizo, Atora's faithful lightening bear, along the whole stretch of his spine the fur was slightly ruffled and Gen knew that must be where his death scar is.

When one dies and comes to this particular afterlife all scars are erased from their bodies, however if it was a physical wound that killed them it will manifest as a, or in Gens case, couple scars. From what Zi has explained to him there are several different afterlife's. The one they are currently in is the only one that is a world of perpetual twilight and the people naturally born here have stones that appear on their bodies and seem ancient in appearance.

Gen himself is sill acutely aware of the scars of the wounds that killed him and took him away from the one he loves.

Rushing forward through the crowd he yells, "Boss!" and is promptly tackled and nearly smothered to another death by a very excited and happy Raizo

After awhile of struggling with the bear Atora managed to pry him off Gen and Zi strode forward, an amused smile on her face. As she got closer, the villagers began to dissipate, Zi was the village mistress after all, basically the queen with the elders as her advisers, so naturally all was well if she was smiling so calmly as she strode toward the group.

"Well why don't we start with introductions and causes of death" snapping her fingers an elderly man followed by a young 9 or 10 year old boy holding a large book and a quill and ink hobbled forward.

"First of all my name is Zana Sora, village mistress and a Natural Borne so I didn't die, please call me Zi" she stated while the boy handed the book to the man whom opened it and prepared to register the four Newcomers.

Shigemori stepped forward first "Sumimura Shigemori; cause of death blood-loss due to severe lacerations while fighting Ayakashi"

The man immediately began writing, despite his speed his calligraphy-style writing was amazing.

"Sumimura Masamori; cause of death assassination by slitting my throat from behind during battle."

"Hanashima Atora, server blood loss while fighting Ayakashi and this is Raizo; cause of death complete destruction of the spinal cord while defending me during battle."

When they had finished the old man closed the book and without a word handed it to the boy along with the quill and left, the boy following closely behind. After watching him go Zi gestured for the others to follow while she began to explain things, such as how there are people natural born here, called Natural Bornes, to help keep the balance and structure of the dimension, since the few people who do pass on to this world will not die while in the village they arrive in, nor(if they were young) age passed that of roughly 18 years. Anyone older than that would not age beyond their current years, so someone could be 400 years old and only appear 20. Also how this world is but one of millions where one can die and pass on to, each with a varying degree of heaven/hell qualities ranging from burning hell with fires and demons, to heaven while birds singing and people with white wings. Then there were places like this, while the appearance of everlasting twilight may be daunting this place is actually rather peaceful, at least within the many villages scattered all throughout the world. As long as one stays in the village they can live a happy and peaceful life, however naturally there are some who travel between villages bringing goods, and delivering news and such.

"Well now, since you all obviously know Gen here, I'll be sure to set up huts neighboring his for you so you'll have some familiarity." she stated while leaving them all alone in Gen's hut to get things set up.

"Ah thank you Zi-chan!" Atora waved as Zi left. Zi grinned and closed the door behind her.

After getting everyone seats(which was difficult since the hut was barely designed for two people let alone 4 and a bear) and tea he sat and asked the question that's been bugging him since he saw who had arrived. Well the better statement would be question's since he was currently filled with them, however he figured he should start with the most important to him.

"How is Yoshimori?"

Slightly taken aback by his choice of first questions Shigemori, as the first to recover, answered.

"As well as can be following you death. He did take revenge for you and killed Kaguro, but since, while he has become explosively strong, its obvious by his quieter demeanor that your death affected him greatly. It has been over a year now since your death and while he seems more back to his old self, occasionally he can be seen staring off into space with a sad look. "

Gen was shocked and unsure. Shocked at, while he knew time flowed differently here, that the difference was two months here and over a year there. He was unsure whether to be happy his secret love thought of him so much, or sad that he caused his secret love so much pain in the first place.

After that initial first question the rest seemed to flow out easily. Questions such as; How did Yoshimori kill Kaguro; and Had he found a way to seal Karasumori yet? All were answered; he disintegrated Kaguro's body with that strange Zekkai of his, and No he hadn't. It didn't escape Masamori's attention that all the questions were about Yoshimori, or that the answers to the questions involved him.

When a good hour had passed and all the tea was gone and conversation had lulled to a peaceful silence Zi returned to escort the others to their new homes, explaining that the two Sumimura's would share a hut while Atora and Raizo will, naturally, stay together. As they were leaving Masamori whispered to Gen,

"He really misses you Gen-kun, more than you know."

Shocked Gen watched Masamori leave. Was it possible? Could Yoshimori possibly return his feelings?

Ok well that be chapter two done. Tell me what you think? PLEASE! I also have chapter two finished already so all I require is at least 1 review for each chapter and I'll keep updating...though if you wait long enough I'll probably update anyways since I'm so excited to get this done. Next chapter is a real nail biter to..*wink wink nudge* R&R