Episode 1: Back at Home…Death's Symmetry?

I stop in front of the door of the house and take a deep breath.

"Home at last…" I locate the spare key and pause. I should knock first. I rap lightly on the door. No one answers, even after a few minutes.

"Are you looking for Kisa-kun?" I turn abruptly to the voice and stare at the person there. Red hair…laid back expression…

"Spirit-san?" The man blinks and examines me.

"Renka?" I wince, but nod once.

"Yes…" Abruptly, he hugs me tightly.

"We were all so worried about you when you and Sora disappeared! Where is she?" I push him away and roll the key in my hand.

"Dead…um…are my parents out on a job?" Spirit-san looks down, shaking his head.

"No…they died in battle with a witch a few months ago." I stare at him dumbly, dropping the key. Spirit-san picks the key up and sighs. "Are you hungry? I'm not that good a cook, but the cabaret has some pretty good food." I snap out of it and shake my head.

"I'm fine. I'll just…go inside…" I take the key from him and turn to the door. "Um…Spirit-san?"

"Hm?" I stick the key into the doorknob and sigh.

"Did they at least kill the witch?"

"No…but she was pretty badly injured. It's impossible to come out of a battle with a copycat without major injury." I nod once and turn the key, unlocking the door.

"That's good. Well, I'll see you around."

"You should come to Shibusen. There aren't any copycats left, but I'll bet someone…"

"I don't need a weapon." I open the door and go inside. "And by the way…this is the last time I'll answer to my old name. It's Kiren now." I close and lock the door, pulling the chain closed and ensuring there is no way into the house.

I turn and look around the living room. It's pretty dusty, and the furniture is covered with white sheets, but it's the same setup I remember. I go to my old bedroom and stare at the faded pink furnishings and decorations. I shake my head and grab an old friend from the bed. "Long time no see, Koneko-chan."

I squeeze the stuffed black cat to my chest and sit on the old bed. The springs creak under my weight and I throw myself back onto it. It still smells like the vanilla room spray I used to use in here. I sit up and take a second look at the room. A second bed is in here, and the side of the room that one occupies is decorated like the sunset sky, pinks and blues and purples all over.

Well, the entire room is like that now that I examine it. They probably moved Sora's things into this room as a sort of shrine to the two of us to make room for guests in the other room…I get up, still holding the plush cat, and leave the room, heading for Sora's old room. The room is decorated in shades of green with a single bed and bedside table, obviously a guest room.

I nod slightly and leave the room, heading for my parent's room. Their giant four poster bed doesn't seem so huge now that I'm older and closer to their sizes. I go to the closet and laugh slightly. All of their clothes are still in here. I touch one of Dad's shirts and smell it. It still smells like him.

Mom's clothes are the same. I pull a dress down and hold it up to myself in front of the mirror. It looks like it might fit me. These clothes stink of witch magic. I change into the dress and smile slightly at the resulting image in the mirror. I don't remember Mom ever wearing anything this style, but it smells like her. And it fits me perfectly.

This dress is too dark for my mom's sunny personality, all black with a zip in the front corset on the bodice and the skirt puffy enough to hide a bird cage under. I turn to look at my back and stumble. "What the heck?" I catch myself on the closet door and concentrate. It must be the three layers of Soul Protect I'm having to keep up.

I look at the stuffed cat I set down and think of something. Anchoring the spell to something physical will eliminate the problem of using energy to keep it up. I'll just have to carry it with me all the time. One layer to a plush. I nod slightly and grab the cat.

I run to my old room and find three keychain figures. Three types of cat, a black cat, a white tiger, and a leopard. The three of them are pretty big for keychain toys…but it'll work. And if I anchor the majority of the witch magic I've learned to 'Koneko-chan', it will be easier to handle myself. I nod to myself and start to work.

Death City is so peaceful at night…I really missed this.

"Patty! You're too far to the left!" I turn a corner and see a group of three people standing at the entrance to an alley, a thief cornered at the other end. The group of three is a boy with black hair—with three horizontal stripes on one side of his head—a tall girl with long blond hair and another girl that's shorter, also blond. Both girls are wearing cowboy hats and outfits, while the boy is wearing a suit. The thief at the end of the alley heads down a manhole while the boy suddenly starts sulking.

"Excuse me…" These guys are probably Shibusen students…and that thief must have been their target to gather a pre-Kisshin soul. I shrug to myself and run down the alley, dropping into the manhole after the thief. "Cat Ear Mode." I curl my hands as claws appear along with the rest of that form.

I spot the thief and grab him with my tail. "Sorry, but you can't run away." I go back to the street level and pause.

"Understood, Father." The image in front of me disappears suddenly and the group from before stares at me.

"Where'd you come from?" I sigh.

"I was walking by and saw this guy escape from you. Figured you were from Shibusen, so I thought I'd help out." I toss the guy towards them and keep my tail around his ankle.

"Are you a weapon?" I shrug.

"That depends on how you look at it. I'm Kiren." The shorter blond grins and bounces over to me.

"I'm Patty! That's my sister Liz and that guy's Death the Kid!" I laugh slightly at her boisterousness.

"Nice to meet you." I sigh and start walking out of the alley, releasing the guy. "I should be getting home." The guy steps in front of me.

"We could walk you home. As a thanks for helping out." I shake my head.

"Nah…thanks though. I've got claws harder than diamonds over here, no one's gonna mess with me. Though…" I turn to Liz and Patty. "What kind of weapons are you two?"

"Guns." I nod slowly.

"Interesting. I've never met guns before. Well, I'll see you around. Do you go to Shibusen?"

"No." I nod again.

"Well then…hm. I'm not surprised by that. You're Shinigami-sama's son, correct?" Death the Kid nods slightly, confused.

"How'd you know that?" I smirk.

"Maybe I'll tell you next time." With that, I turn and walk back to the house.

"Wait up!" I turn to face the two girls.

"What?"

"Look, we're going to Egypt tomorrow for a job. You want to come help out? Kid's useless if he gets distracted by anything non-symmetrical…" I raise an eyebrow.

"Is that why he was sulking and let the target get away?" Both nod. "That's stupid. Getting distracted can get you killed." I sigh. I'm a sucker for protecting people that need it. "Okay, I'll go. When are you leaving?"

"In the morning, as soon as Kid finishes making sure everything in the house is perfectly symmetrical…"

"Symmetry? That's a pretty silly obsession." I sigh and turn. "I'll see you guys in the morning." I start walking again.

"Here's hoping he doesn't freak out when he realizes that she's out of balance…" I laugh to myself. This should be interesting. I get to the house and go inside. There isn't anything in the cabinets except dust, so I just won't worry about eating. I head to my old room and pause.

I'm too tall for that bed now…I sigh and head to my parent's room.

"Sorry, but I'm going to use your bed from now on." I walk to the dresser and look for a set of pajamas. I find a set and change into it. "It's surprising how easily I fit into these clothes…almost like someone situated it for me." I go to the closet and frown. All of my parent's clothes are gone.

The clothes in here match my personality perfectly…all black and whimsical. Who did this? I spot a piece of paper and pick it up.

'Renka-chan, since you're back and all, Shinigami-sama and I wanted to set you up. Sorry I didn't get food in the cabinets yet. –Spirit.' I crumple the note and locate a trash can.

"Idiot."

"Good morning!" I wave at Liz and Patty and they grin.

"You made it!" I smile slightly and turn to their partner.

"Good morning, Kid-kun."

"What are you doing here? And so mismatched! Why are there three animals on one side and none on the other?" I sigh.

"There are three. I can't quite put them on either side evenly."

"Then carry four!" I frown and clench my fist.