Lesson 1-3 Alliance
Two small children stood before a great mansion. One child was a boy whose skin was somewhat pale and his hair white as snow. He held the hand of a smaller little girl who held similar features to him, they were sibling would be the first thing anyone would say observing them. The girls clenched tightly on to the boys clothing, he looked down upon her and gave her a weak smile to reassure her, and he gave her a nice pat on the head. The boy than led her to the door then striking the door three times and waiting patiently. After some time pass the door creaked open and frail old figure appeared before the two children.
Old man: "Ah you must be Kou I've heard so much about you please come in."
The old man opened the door allowing the two children in the mansion. It was a large place that glowed with golden light reflecting of the fine oak used to construct the interior.
Old man: "come this way sit."
The old man led Kou and his sister to a large red chair. They were small enough to where they could both sit in it at the same time. The man gave them a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate for each of them the sibling snuggled against one another and looked at the old man.
Old man: "so tell child is it true that you can predict when a person will die?"
Kou fidgeted around in his seat a little. He was very uncomfortable about this kind of subject, but he looked up at the old man to give him an answer.
Kou: "yes."
The old man rustled in his own chair crossing his legs and then rubbing his chin thinking.
Old Man: "hmmmm and tell me how accurate are you with these predictions?"
Kou: "I've predicted that I would be orphaned three times now, and I predicted the death of 4 other people. All of them died, and now I'm not allowed to stay at my old orphanage anymore, they say I'm cursed."
The old man begins dropping cubes of sugar in his cup of hot chocolate.
Old man: "oh no young child what you have is no curse why it's quite the gift."
Kou gave the man in a befuddled look not just because he disagreed with him but because he just placed his 20th sugar cube in his cup of hot chocolate.
Kou: "How is this a gift? Because of me no one will adopt me or my sister. This is a curse it surely is. Trust me if you knew me you'd truly think that."
With his 30th cube the old man lifted his drink and slurped a bit of hit. He gave a look of disapproval and then set the cup back down.
Old man: "child do you want to know why what you have is not a curse."
Kou: "why?"
Old man: "because you have the ability to provide a person with an early warning system about their death. In truth Kou believe it or not you possess the power to prevent a person's death. This is a power many have been searching for all their lives."
Kou: "… but how can I stop someone's death."
Old man: "knowing when someone will die is half the battle. After that you'll require some deductive skills to figure out how the person will die, and once you know the when and the how you'll be able to prevent this death."
Kou: "but how will I get these de duckative skills."
Old man: (chuckles) "I will teach you my boy. Child the man sitting before is no ordinary owner of an orphanage, and I feel sorry to tell you I didn't call you to be an orphan here."
Kou: "you didn't?"
Old man: " no I called you to be the son of the fifth ranked L. a wise and brilliant detective that wishes to pass his knowledge to a new a capable generation."
Kou was shocked in his old home he had heard about the L's. After the Kira investigation the new L held out a competition to see who would be his worthy successor. They would be called L and then have a number place next to them to depict their rank and progress at becoming the next L. Kou though the detectives were so cool and when he was very young dreamed of being called an L. those were childish dreams although he is 13 now so why not allow those dreams to come true.
Kou: "mr. … Mr. L5 can you teach me how to stop death?"
Old man: (smiles) "of course I can and please from now on call me father."
Kou awaken from his dream. He was having memories of his past flood back into his head. Kou looks up towards his ceiling watching the fan spin.
Kou: "father I sure hope you were right when you said I could stop death."
The morning had its usual flair. Kou opened Asuka's door and helped prepare her for morning classes. He gave her a fresh clean uniform and help brushed her teeth. It's not exactly that his sister was helpless it's just Kou grew to be very protective of Asuka. They were passed from orphanage to orphanage as children and never had a lot of time to attach to any parents. It seems something hated them, that something in the universe was out to get them. Everywhere they went no matter how happy the place was it was ultimately flooded in despair. All they were ever given was the early warning system of the figure of death that always appeared marking the coming doom of its victim. This large dusty humanoid buzzard would loom over a person who was destined to die. Sometime he'd fallow them for months, sometimes weeks, and sometimes days. One always new when time was drawing near, the figure would fallow closely day in and day out always hovering behind; when time grew short a silhouette of a skull would appear over the face of the victim. This would mean that at the most the victim had only one week left, and as the week went on the skull would become more a more vivid. The cause of death for the most part would be unknown and the time was also unknown. All that is given is the one week span.
Kou walked Asuka to the kitchen and prepared her breakfast. They sat down at the table and began to socialize or at least Kou imagined they were in truth they were both eating in silence.
Kou: "you know Asuka I promise you this time we will have our paradise. Asuka now we have friends and this time I promise you none of them will die and you know what, they'll like us so much that we'll be friends for life. We'll have so much fun Asuka, and guess what one day I promise you will talk again with real words."
Asuka looked up at her brother and gave a slightly annoyed nod to him and then continued eating her food.
Kou: "I don't have class today but you do once your done you should head straight to class, I'll just clean things up here while you're gone and then after class we can hang out with our new friends."
Asuka nodded and Kou smiled. After Asuka finished her meal Kou cleaned her plate and escorted her to the class room. Giving his usual heart felt good bye and then returning home to clean. Upon opening the door Kou was met with a young figure with long purple hair. She smiled at Kou with a beaming grin.
Kou: (nervous mental chatter) *this girl is the girl I saw the first day here, that day she wasn't real, but today she stands in my room. I could try calling her out on this, call her unreal, but then again I can't really tell what is or is not real sometimes.* "who are you?"
Purple: "you don't remember me you gave me bread remember?"
Kou: *hmmm so she is the girl, now the question is did I forget some parts or is she really a fantasy. * "weren't you crying that day. Can you tell me why you were crying was it because you lost your parents?"
Purple: "no I wasn't sad that I didn't have any parents. Well to some extent but I was sad because there is no one who can help me."
Kou: "help you with what?"
Purple: "help me fix everything."
Kou: "that's not really an answer."
Purple: "Mr. Kou can I ask you a question?"
Kou: *a question? Yeah let's just answer the request of an imaginary figure. Though I am curious as to what she has to say.* "sure go ahead."
Purple: "I'm all alone and I feel so powerless that I feel I can't make a difference no matter how hard I try. Mr. can you make a difference for me?"
Kou: "make a difference in what?"
Purple: "can you protect the lives I've failed to protect?"
Kou: "I don't know what you mean, but sure I guess." *I guess? Really? Who just agrees to a figments? She does need my help. I can't simply ignore a defenseless child.*
Purple: "then if you don't mind can you go to the Furude shrine to night? Please try to make it there at 8 pm that would be very helpful."
Kou: "sure I guess but why?" *stop being chivalrous she's not real. But if what its helpful, psychologist say that visions are connect to your inner mind. Maybe it's helpful. Yeah or maybe she's a spirit. I need to stop arguing with myself, it makes me feel unstable. Wait where did she go?*
Kou scanned the room and notice the girl had vanished before his eyes without a trace. He was slightly shocked and relieved at the same time. This meant the girl was a part of his mind like the red haired kid, and at the same time he knew that what she asked of him was important, he could ignore it and wait for his stake out with Michi or he could solve this now before things got out of hand.
It was hard for Kou, but he waited throughout the day. The boredom of waiting made him decide to pay the library a visit. Kou skimmed through a couple of books but few held his interest for long. He eventually found a good book though. It told a story of a boy who had an extraordinary power that allowed him to command people. The power intrigued Kou it was definitely better than vaguely knowing when a person was going to die. The story detailed how the boy tried to use his power to change the world, and make it a safer place to live. Using powers to change the world seems like a fairy tale dream. He skimmed a few chapters head and saw an interesting passage about how the boy used his power to command his friend to survive. Kou chuckled a bit somewhat jealous and wishing he could do the same thing to Michi.
Kou: *using your power to stop death sadly it's not as simple as that. I have to use cunning and evidence to stop death, but he can with a simple word. Almost makes you wonder can death be stopped, no I can't think that way I just have to remember if I can solve this I can improve her chances of living. She will live, if I will it.*
In truth it was an empty statement that Kou himself hardly believe. He's tried many times and nothing really seemed to slow down death, but that doesn't mean he won't keep trying. A man came in telling everyone that the library was closing. The students began to leave one by and Kou was the last of the group to go. He quickly picked up his books and tried to rush for the door. He wanted to get this day over with as fast as possible, but with his clumsiness he ran into a very tall solid figure. The impact made Kou collapse to the ground. Dazed and confused Kou looked up to see what he ran into or better yet who. Kou had ran into a young man (and I use that term loosely) with long maroon dread locks and he had tannish skin. The boy gave Kou a dark grin that gave Kou a slight chill.
Maroon: "ah one of my class mates I have a feeling we haven't properly met."
He extended his hand out to Kou and lifted him to his feet. Kou was a little nervous of this man he had been bullying Kou for the last few weeks, but for the most part he never really spoke to him before now.
Maroon: "so the little man getting comfortable in his new school huh?"
Kou: "well….yeah I guess you could say that."
Maroon: "looks like you've even manage to attract a pretty little girl too haven't you?"
Kou: (surprised) "I did I haven't really notice."
The maroon haired boy grabs Kou by his shirt and holds him close.
Maroon: "don't play dumb boy that girl the one with the pink hair that you stayed with last night. She's my girl and I'm not too keen on sharing. So as a bit of advice from Yuudai stay away from her and I'll make sure not all your bones are broken."
Kou: "I…..I….I assure you that we're just friends and nothing more."
Yuudai: "good let's make sure we keep it that way got it."
Yuudai puts Kou down and begins to walk away.
Yuudai: "tell me something Kou do you believe in Hell?"
Kou: "well…. I'm not exactly sure?"
Yuudai: "well you better hope it isn't real, because if I hear you're going out with Michi. I will personally ferry you there myself."
Yuudai continues off and Kou takes a moment to breath after his confrontation. he picks back up his supplies, and takes a look at his watch noticing 8 is coming soon it was 7 now and he only had an hour before he was supposed to go to the shrine.
The sun was now gone and Kou found himself trudging through the woods. The shrine was still hidden in the forest. Ichimaru's modernization never touched the area. His clock was approaching 8 and Kou was drawing near the shrine. As he drew close he could hear some voices coming from his destination. Kou hid himself in the shrubbery and tried to see what was going on. Through the bushes he saw two men standing around the shrine both had short blond hair, but one was taller and more muscular than the other one who was quite wimpy in comparison. The smaller one was fiddling with the shrines lock while the larger man starred with one hand fashioned around his chin appearing to be deep in thought.
Small: "I can't open it. The lock's rusted and even if we had a key I doubt we'd be able to open it."
Big: "it doesn't matter that much we may not be able to see what's inside but we can very well see if anyone comes by."
The larger man pulls out a small box filled with a number of little black devices.
Big: "Sora plant these around the area it will allow us to observe the shrine and see if anyone comes."
Sora: "okay, do you really think anyone would mess with this old thing I mean it doesn't look like anyone been around here for years Shigeru."
Shigeru: "I know, but would you rather sit at home all day and accomplish nothing, at least this has the chance of turning up results."
Kou:* who are these guys are they trying to investigate the murders too.*
Sora: "Shigeru I see rustling in the bushes over there."
Kou:*crap*
Shigeru: "whoever you are come out there's no point in running."
Kou felt shivers in his spin the man's voice was deep and commanding but at the same time seemed somewhat gentle. Kou stood from the bushes and came into the open. Now he had a better view of the two men. The larger man that seemed to be named Shigeru was indeed more built than his friend but it wasn't as exaggerated as Kou thought it was. Getting a look at his face he notices that the man had a youthful appearance and was likely the same age as Kou. The only difference was the since of maturity and power in this man. His face beamed with unnatural confidence, indeed in the situation Kou was out numbered, but even then they knew nothing of Kou or even what he could do. That's what made this man scary he could stare Kou down with his hands exposed to sides revealing he was unarmed, but at the same time remain intimidating with his authoritative posture. The other who was named Sora didn't have any of the qualities Shigeru had; he seemed completely innocent and pure. The boy didn't have a scary bone in his body it almost made Kou wonder why two people with drastically different energies would be together here at a place like this.
Shigeru: "I believe this is the point where you tell us your name."
Kou: (flinching a little at the sudden question but he quickly regain his composer to try to make himself not seem completely terrified) "I'm Kou."
Shigeru: "no last name?"
Kou: "no I'm an orphan I don't have a last name."
Shigeru: "interesting you know I myself lost a parent as well, even Sora lost his a while ago. Guess that means we have a little in common."
Kou: *a little in common who is this guy, we just meet in the woods and he's willingly giving me this kind of information.* "yeah I guess."
Shigeru: "so tell me are you new around these parts I remember seeing you around the school but besides that I know you're a fresh face."
Kou: "oh yes I'm new around here, I came here around a month ago."
Shigeru: "and after a month decided to come here of all places to have a walk huh."
Kou: "please I wasn't ease dropping *why would I say that! I might as well as just confessed*
Shigeru gave Kou an almost unsetting grin and then placed his hands in his pockets.
Shigeru: "tell me Kou have you ever heard of Oyashiro's curse?"
Kou: "kind of it's some old curse people used to believe in."
Shigeru: "kind of. That's a good way to explain something if you don't know what it is. The curse I'm not sure if it's real or not, but it's said that Oyashiro will stalk his victim causing the sensation of mass paranoia and inflict them with an extreme case of Schizophrenia. There are many reasons as to why someone would be inflicted with Oyashiro's curse. Leaving the village, talk about him, being too lucky, being a foreigner, and worst of all being here at the Saiguden."
Kou: "so it appears this Oyashiro is pretty easy to piss off huh."
Shigeru: "you can say that, but it's more like its people are easy to piss off. Now Kou there's only two reasons why you would be visiting the Saiguden at night. Either A you're a cultist and since you're a foreigner that's not likely, or option B you've become curious about the chain of mysterious suicides and came here to see if you could find someone committing action A. I believe your performing option B am I not correct."
Kou hunched down a bit and began to ponder a little.
Shigeru: "no need to speak, your silence shows I'm right. You know Kou what the three of us are doing here right now can to the people of this village seem like treason. It wouldn't be illegal, but being here would be enough justification to come over and slaughter the three of us. That's why Kou since our lives are on the line and I'm sure you and maybe a few of your friends are curious of this case I think it would be a smart idea to team up."
Kou: "team up?"
Shigeru: "yes we could team up and solve this case, or we could allow Oyashiro's curse to consume us while we investigate with only one foot in the door, it's your choice."
Kou: *this was not what I was expecting to happen. At the most I thought I would see another vision, but to meet two others who are investigating this case along with me it's almost convenient. Today I was torn with the concept of how I'll save Michi's life and today I'm given allies to solve the one case that could change the outcome of her death. It's almost too grand, but can I really pass it up.* "allow me to talk it over with a friend of mine please."
Shigeru: "very well Sora give Kou my spare key to the church."
Sora: (surprised to be included in conversation) "oh yes sir. (walks up to Kou with a small key) here you go. This is very important so don't lose it please."
Shigeru: "when you feel you're ready to join us have you and your friend come to the old church established by the missionaries on the outskirts of the city. We may not be there when you arrive but I assure you wait long enough and will come."
Kou: "than… thank you."
Kou walked home after that. He was anxious to talk to Michi. He called her and told her he had something important to tell her. He wanted her to meet him at the club room in private. It was late in the evening now very few roamed the halls at this hour. Kou knew he and Michi would be alone to discuss their plan. Kou went to unlock the door but noticed someone already unlocked it. Michi likely made it first. He creaked the door open and saw Michi siting at the table, and above her was the Buzzard still lingering. Kou's eyes drew to Michi's face and he was horrified. It was the final sign of death, upon her face was the silhouette of a skull covering her face like a mask. This was her final week, and that's only if Kou was lucky. Michi turned to Kou and gave him a bright smile.
Michi: "so what's this good news you wanted to tell me?"
End of Chapter 3
