Chapter 4
Sorry this one took so long. Between school, work, and having to get another proofreader I haven't had much time to work on it.
I do not own either Darksiders or Corpse Princess
The next day just before dawn Strife, still in his human disguise, arrived at the abandoned warehouse that Death had been using as a home. Death was in the middle of the abandoned building sitting on an old couch.
"Nice place you've got here," said Strife in a mocking fashion as he sat on an old chair directly across from where Death was sitting.
"What can I say? I like the atmosphere," responded Death.
"You would," answered Strife under his breath. "Is there any reason you called me here?"
"Something about this mission doesn't add up," spoke Death with an attitude that was more serious than usual.
"What's to be worried about?" spoke Strife in a laid back voice. "We kill the Shikabane, we deal with the Kōugon Sect, and we go home. These Shikabane are hardly even a challenge for you and me."
"That's why it doesn't add up," said Death with anger at Strife's arrogance. "I can deal with the Shikabane on my own easily enough. What would possess the Council to send an additional Horseman when it is unnecessary?"
"So the Council wants to end this quickly," said Strife still laid back. "It's not like they want us in the Third Kingdom after all."
"There's one other thing." Said Death in his serious tone again. "They wished me luck."
"Who did?" asked Strife with a new found curiosity.
"The Council," responded Death. "They wished me luck before I came here."
"Since when has the Council ever wished luck to anyone?" asked Strife with the first sign of concern Death had seen in him.
"They don't, not unless it's serious," responded Death. "I'm going to try and form an alliance with the Kōugon Sect in order to discover what secrets they are hiding. In the meantime, I would ask you to take over my duties of dealing with the Shikabane in the area."
"You want me to do your job?" responded Strife with a smirk.
"Yes," responded Death. "Keep your true identity a secret for as long as you can, and stay close to the boy, Ouri; he always seems to end up were ever Shikabane appear."
"All right," responded Strife with a smile on his face. "I haven't gotten to fight anything yet, so I'll take over for now. Sounds like fun anyway."
"One last thing," said Death as he pulled out a large binder from behind the couch. "This is a copy of the information I had Vulgrim gather for me. It contains details on all the contracted monks and Shikabane Hime in this region. I'd recommend looking it over."
Strife took the binder from Death and rode off on Toil's back heading for yet another day at school.
Later that day Strife saw Ouri talking with his friend Sumitori outside the school building.
"Hey, what's happening guys?" said Strife as he put his arm over Ouri's shoulders in what looked like a wrestling move.
"Oh, hey Victor," responded Ouri still unaware of his friend's true identity.
"Man, I had this crazy dream last night," said Strife. "I dreamed I was in a car with you, Itsuki, and some other girl and we almost killed each other."
"Oh really," said Ouri not wanting to tell him it was real. "That is a weird dream."
"So, what are you guys up to?" asked Strife.
"Sumitori was going to show me something," said Ouri.
"You can come see too, if you want," added Sumitori.
"Sure," said Strife with a curious intention.
Later the three were in a room at Sumitori apartment looking at an internet blog that was used by a friend of his named Mitsuyoshi.
"In the middle of eighth grade he just started blowing off assignments," said Sumitori. "Then he just stopped showing up."
"He ditched," said Ouri.
"There was this ninth grader who teased the crap out of the lower graders," responded Sumitori
"So he was a bully's victim," said Strife. "Should have guessed as much."
Sumitori turned the laptops to show Ouri and Strife. The page was pitch black and the letters were in red. Some of the words were hard to read but for what they could read it was disturbing.
"This is more like an epic poem, then a blog, "said Ouri.
"He used to just talk about video games and TV shows," said Sumitori. "But now he's completely obsessed with constantly updating it."
Sumitori pulled up an entry titled "My Birth". Strife read through the entry with great interest. Most sounded like basic nonsense but one part caught Strife's attention. It said that he was electrocuted and was surprised to be alive and that he had some new power.
"The other day one of the seniors in out kendo club passed away," said Sumitori interrupting Strife's thoughts.
"It was the bully, wasn't it?" asked Ouri.
"I heard that he was run over by a train," said Sumitori now attracting Strife's attention. "But I'm sure that's just a coincidence. I called Mitsuyoshi a couple of times to tell him but nobody answered." Strife had heard enough after that and left. He kept looking over the blog on a cellphone he purchased the other day. He spent hours reading about how this Mitsuyoshi thought he was chosen and how he was a champion of justice.
"If this guy isn't a shikabane I'll eat Redemption," said Strife to himself. After a few hours he notices a comment that read "Are you dead?" and the response was "I'm a chosen one." Strife knew that the only person who would ask that was Ouri and he needed to find him fast.
Strife searched for hours but couldn't find him. He had a hard time since Death make him promise not to break his disguise. Eventually he stumbled upon Ouri on a highway road next to the ocean. He was lying on the ground while someone who Strife assumed was Mitsuyoshi was pointing something at him. As Strife grew closer he saw that it was Mitsuyoshi's arm that was pointing at Ouri and it looked like a giant insect leg. Suddenly Mitsuyoshi started screaming and transformed into a hideous creature worthy of the nine hells. The creature had six insect leg-like appendages with sharp points where his right arm should have been, what looked like a bee abdomen for his left arm, a giant mouth on his chest and his head had big teeth two large horns and no visible eyes. Then as if out of nowhere a woman comes flying in and knocked Mitsuyoshi away from Ouri.
"And who do we have here?" said Mitsuyoshi in a demonic voice after landing on an above highway sign.
"I kill corpses whose regrets keep them from dying," spoke the woman who Strife recognized as Minai Ruo. "I'm shikabane hime,"
Suddenly from the left side of the mouth on Mitsuyoshi's chest three heads spouted out. They were identical to the head he had in his human form.
"So in other words you're pure evil," said the three heads in unison.
"Evil," said Minai in a quiet and scared voice.
"I'm not what you call a shikabane," spoke the three heads still in unison. "I gained this new life and became a hero in order to do what is necessary."
Suddenly Minai was kicked from behind by a monk that Strife believed was her contracted monk.
"Hurry and attack it already," said the monk to Minai.
Strife had heard enough after that and decided to deal with this himself. A haze of white mist began to cover him and he began to change. His body got taller and more muscular and his human disguise began to melt away. His arms and legs became encased in armor, black fabric covered the rest of his body and a blood red scarf hung from his neck and moved in the wind. In his hand appeared a metal mask and once places over his face his silver hair turned black and only his yellow eyes were visible. The two guns Mercy and Redemption hung on his sides and were ready for battle.
"I will not forgive evil," Spoke the three heads. "I will not forgive those who make people suffer. And you dare turn you fist towards me in anger, evil."
"Shikabane are contrary to all that is good in the world," said Minai as she charged at Mitsuyoshi.
"I am different," spoke Mitsuyoshi. "I'm justice."
As Minai kicked Mitsuyoshi he didn't move but Minai was thrown into the cliffs.
"Minai!" yelled a concerned Ouri.
"He must be cursed," said the monk from behind.
"Cursed?" asked Ouri.
"When he became a shikabane his body wasn't the only thing that changed," explained the monk. "His curse functions beyond the laws of physics. This is proving to be more difficult than I originally thought it would."
Suddenly from the side of the cliffs Strife started applauding.
"That was quite an impressive show," spoke Strife as he slide down the cliffs and jumped onto the same highway sign as Mitsuyoshi. "I didn't think I would find a creature with that kind of power anywhere on this planet."
"And who are you?" asked Mitsuyoshi finally talking through his regular head in a demonic voice.
"I've gone by many names to the humans," spoke Strife. "In ancient time I was known as Pestilence, later on I was known as Conquest, but in modern time I'm known as Strife, White Horseman of the Apocalypse."
"So you're pure evil as well," said Mitsuyoshi.
"Evil is a matter of perspective," spoke Strife as he drew Mercy from his side. "As far as I'm concerned, who's good and who's evil here is irrelevant. The only important thing here is that we are enemies. And look, my gun has four barrels. One for each head."
Strife opened fire and Mercy fired like a machine gun. Mitsuyoshi jumped and dogged the fire and fell towards Strife. Strife got out of the way and continued to fire from the side of the cliff but despite Mitsuyoshi's hulking body he could move surprisingly fast.
"Stop right there," yelled the monk from below. "This shikabane is ours. Leave at once."
"Shut up, cue ball," Strife responded to the monk. "I don't see your name on it."
"Get up, Minai," yelled the monk.
Minai started to rise and ran towards Mitsuyoshi. As Minai started to fight it seemed to go in her favour: she tore off all but one of his right arms and ripped the abdomen like appendage off his left revealing an inner arm with a small stinger. However, when she hit him in the face it looked as though she was also hit in the face and fell down.
Minai landed in a parking lot and was chased by Mitsuyoshi. Strife followed close behind to take a shot. He put Mercy away and pulled out Redemption, and with one shot he hit Mitsuyoshi in the shoulder. But, suddenly he felt a pain in his own shoulder and saw a wound in the same spot as where he had just shot Mitsuyoshi.
"Not a single one of your attacks is having even the slightest effect on me," spoke Mitsuyoshi as he continued to chase Minai. "I am immortal, you are pure evil."
Mitsuyoshi jumped onto the side of an overhead cliff and launched himself at Minai. She dodged the assault but apparently her contracted monk had seen enough. He charged at Mitsuyoshi with the end of his staff and pierced his right arm and suddenly a similar wound appeared on the monk's right arm.
"Mirror Damage," spoke Strife finally moving after his wound. "Reflecting damage back at the one who caused it. I suppose it's appropriate for you given that you were bullied and wanted the bullies to feel the same pain as you."
Suddenly Ouri rammed Mitsuyoshi from the side and pushed him off the edge of the road into the ocean. Minai jumped in after him.
"Wow," spoke Strife. "My brother was right, that kid really does have a death wish."
Strife was able to track Ouri and Minai to a cave a little further down the cost. He approached but didn't get too close because he wanted to hear what they were talking about.
"Just stay in here," Minai said to Ouri. "Isaki and I will take care of everything."
Strife deduced that Isaki must have been the monk on the road and was probably Minai's contracted monk.
"Why do you listen to someone like him?" asked Ouri to Minai's surprise.
"Because this is how my atonement is achieved," said Minai.
"What?" asked Ouri.
"Before I died I murdered someone close to me," spoke Minai as she began to recall her past. "I was going to die with him. But, to my surprise I didn't die, I couldn't. That's why I've been forced to live this hollowed existence."
"You think being a shikabane hime is a punishment?" asked Ouri.
"What that shikabane said could be the truth," spoke Minai with a sad expression. "Maybe he's really justice. And we're the evil ones here after all."
"In the name of the nine Hells," spoke Strife as he finally walked into view. "Why don't you go just cry me a river? You think that killing one human means eternal punishment?"
"Well doesn't it?" said Minai still surprised to see Strife.
"Look, I'm not a nice guy," Spoke Strife as he sat on the stone floor next to Minai an Ouri. "I've done a lot of things in my past that I'm not proud of. You would not believe the number of innocent lives that were killed by these guns that hang from my belt, and for the sake of your sanities I hope you never do. It doesn't matter what you did in your past, what matters is what you do in the future. That's one of the reasons that my brother and I don't always get along. He believes that because he was a Firstborn that he should always have authority, but I believe that actions speak louder than words."
"But I…" Minai started to say.
"The point is, there's no punishment unless we chose to accept it," continued Strife. "Get the picture?"
"He's right," said Ouri. "Besides, that guy was going to use me as a decoy, but you saved me."
"Well, I couldn't just stand there and watch you get hurt," said Minai.
"So thank you," said Ouri as Minai blushed.
What the hell is going on in this place? Thought Strife. And a better question, why the hell am I giving this kid a pep talk?
Suddenly Mitsuyoshi arose from the water and moved towards the trio. Minai tried to attack it but was knocked back instead.
"You'd think you would have learned by now," said Strife sarcastically.
Mitsuyoshi raised his right arm and began to charge at Minai. Ouri got in the way to try and save Minai but suddenly there was the sound of machine gun fire and Mitsuyoshi right arm was blown apart. Makina appeared as if out of nowhere and landed on Ouri back. Continuing to fire on Mitsuyoshi he eventually fell into the water and sank.
"Just as I thought," spoke Makina after getting off Ouri's back. "Since I'm missing my right arm I took no damage when I attacked his. This is the first time I'm happy that my body is still regenerating."
"How did you find us?" asked Ouri.
"The head temple contacted us with some questions about your cellphone," explained Makina. "They said that Itsuki was investigating. Why do you still keep getting involved?"
"Well I ain't complaining," interrupted Strife. "If he hadn't gotten involved I wouldn't have known about this."
"And who the hell are you?" Asked Makina with anger.
"Long story and I don't feel like telling," said Strife sarcastically.
"You weren't worried about me, were you?" asked Ouri interrupting Strife and Makina argument.
"What?" said Makina confused.
"You saved us! You're my hero!" said Ouri.
Makina looked incredibly embarrassed and all Minai did was laugh.
"Did you really just say that?" said Strife adding insult to injury.
Suddenly Mitsuyoshi jumped from the water and both Makina and Strife started to shoot at him. Neither Makina's machine gun nor Mercy could hit him as he ran across the water like a demonic water horse. Eventually Mitsuyoshi started to walk upright and ran down the coast just in the water. Makina fallowed close on the beach and continued to shoot at Mitsuyoshi right side and while holes appeared on Makina's sleeve with no arm she still took no damage. After only a few shots Mitsuyoshi fell over and Makina was on him with her gun pointed at his face.
"Why are you just sitting there, Minai?" growled Isaki from the road behind. "It is your job to destroy this shikabane. As deputy guardian I demand you carry out your duty as shikabane hime."
Everyone present starred at Isaki with surprise.
"If I allow a shikabane hime in the process of regenerating her body to assist us then guardian Takamine will have my hide," Isaki continued to blather on. "Besides, all your actions here are forbidden. A shikabane hime cannot destroy a shikabane without her contracted monk present."
"Hey cue ball," yelled Strife. "Last time I checked when it came to killing something it's first to the finish."
"You insolent whelp!" screamed Isaki with an angry face.
Minai started to stand and walked towards Mitsuyoshi.
"Minai," said Ouri with great concern. "There's no way you can hold your own against that thing. Don't do it."
"If I can break his concentration, I can take him down before he has a chance to use the curse," spoke Minai as she marched like a solder going to war. "And I'm not doing this because I was ordered to."
Wow, thought Strife to himself. And I thought Ouri had a death wish.
Minai began to charge at Mitsuyoshi as Makina got off him and moved away. Minai was moving at incredible speeds and was difficult to keep track of. Mitsuyoshi however began to rise to his feet and Ouri, for some reason was dialling something in his cellphone. Minai was getting close to Mitsuyoshi and was readying her fist for attack. But just as she was getting close, Mitsuyoshi used the spike on his left arm to stab himself on the neck. The damage instantly mirrored onto Minai and she fell over backwards. Mitsuyoshi apparently unscathed by the hole in his neck began to laugh.
"You're just a monster," Mitsuyoshi declared to Minai. "But I am justice. Do you hear me? I am justice. It's time to die."
"Mitsuyoshi," spoke a familiar voice from Ouri's phone that caused Mitsuyoshi to stop in his tracks. "Mitsuyoshi, are you there? I had no idea you knew Ouri, but thank goodness you do. I'm so relieved."
It took Strife a moment, but he recognized the voice. It was Sumitori.
As Sumitori continued to talk through the phone something strange happened to Mitsuyoshi. His body started to break apart and fall to pieces revealing the human Mitsuyoshi inside. Mitsuyoshi's face was in utter shock and for a brief moment he looked like a scared child. As Sumitori was talking Minai snuck up from behind and struck Mitsuyoshi on the head. Mitsuyoshi fell to the ground and disappeared into dust.
Ouri hung up his phone and looked like he was about to cry as he apologized to his friend who could not hear him.
"If you don't want to feel what you're feeling you shouldn't get involved," Said Makina as she helped up Minai.
"Are you OK, Minai?" asked Ouri as he ran towards her.
"He acts like you're long lost friends," said Makina.
"Minai," yelled Isaki. "Were going back. Right now."
Strife decided that was his queue to leave as well so he walked to the cliff. As he walked he heard Minai speaking.
"I'm going to be fine," spoke Minai as she held the wound on her neck closed. "And I think I'm done with considering the wound on my body as punishment. I'm not human, I'm shikabane hime; I know now why I fight. Even if it meant I could get injured, I promise I will do everything I can to protect people. I can do this. I can take pride in this even though I'm not human."
Strife reached the cliff and jumped up onto the road. He saw Isaki looking angry.
"Aw, don't feel bad cue ball," spoke Strife as he leaned his arm on Isaki's shoulder. "Get a rug on that head of yours and maybe next time you'll get the girl."
"BE SILENT, YOU VERMIN!" screamed Isaki with a passion as he threw Strife's arm off his shoulder.
Suddenly, from up in the sky everyone heard a loud cawing sound. Everyone looked to see a large black bird circling up above.
"Looks like my brother wants to see me," announced Strife. "Well, see you all later."
Strife gave out a loud whistle and suddenly a field of mist appeared and from that came Toil. Once Strife was on Toil's back, he rode off until he was out of sight.
The next day at the temple where Keisei lived, Dust had perched himself on a tree next to a window that lead to the room where Keisei and Makina were visiting with guests. Although he could not see inside he heard two additional voices: one he recognized as Rika Aragami, the woman that deduced Death's identity, and the other must have been her shikabane hime, Saki Amase, though it was strange that Saki's voice sounded like that of a child. Dust listened to the conversation.
"I wanted to talk to you about your brother," said Rika.
"He's just been sticking his nose where it doesn't belong," declared Makina
"He's your brother," spoke Saki. "Why don't you just have him play follow the leader and join you in the Kōugon Sect as another contracted monk? It could be fun for you. Minai can work with him after she cuts her bond with Isaki."
"No," spoke Keisei. "I won't do it. I can't let him get any closer to our side."
"Nice idea," replied Rika. "But you're a contracted monk attached to Makina. Keeping him away will be hard with your attention divided."
"True," uttered Keisei. "But I've made up my mind. I'm going to keep my promise to Makina. But, what I won't do is allow Ouri any closer. They're both important to me and that's the best I can do."
"Sure," pronounced Saki with an arrogant tone. "Mister cool sunglasses indoors guy has some feeling. More like 'you screw up again and you're toast'. At least, that's what you told me, right Rika?"
"She's crazy," declared Rika in a panic. "I didn't say anything like that."
Death had heard enough and ordered Dust to get their attention. Dust started to caw like crazy until Keisei eventually opened the window.
"That's the same crow I saw last night before Strife left!" shouted Makina.
Dust started to fly away.
"Follow it," ordered Keisei.
Makina jumped out the window after Dust while the rest went down the stairs. Saki grabbed her giant hammer, Rika put on a strange gauntlet and Keisei grabbed his staff.
"Senior, you're still hurt," Rika said to Keisei.
"I'll be fine," announced Keisei. "Let's go."
They followed Dust until they lost his trail in a nearby cemetery. They searched for a while but couldn't find him.
"And I looked, and beheld a pale horse," spoke an unknown figure in a black cloak facing a tombstone, with a book in his hand. Makina turned and, with her one remaining arm, aimed her gun at him. "And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
The figure never turned to face Makina and the other as they prepared for an attack. Instead he simple closed the book and looked down at the tombstone.
"I find the way you humans define me in your mythology to be rather entertaining," said the figure as Dust flew out of nowhere and landed on his shoulder. The figure then turned to face the group and inside the hood of his cloak was only a bone white mask.
"So it is true," spoke Rika. "You are the Pale Rider."
"I have gone by that name and many others," spoke Death. "But that is beside the point, Rika Aragami."
'You know who I am?" asked Rika with a surprised voice.
"Oh, I know far more than that," spoke Death as he pulled a binder out from his cloak and started to flip through it. "Rika Aragami, 23 years old, descended from one of the ten great holy families and a Gon-Sojo as a result of her ancestry to one of the ten disciples of the founder of the Kōugon Sect. You also have a license in cooking, dislike caterpillars, are known for your abilities to heal others and," Death paused to look up from the binder and toward Rika, "your apparent inability to button your shirt."
"Wow, he nailed that one right on the head," stated Saki as Rika looked really embarrassed.
"Saki!" shouted Rika as Saki just Giggled. "Whose side are you on?"
"Saki Amase," interrupted Death as he looked back into the binder. "10 year-old shikabane hime to Rika Aragami; was a childhood friend of Rika's before dying in a fireworks accident. Was kept frozen on request from Rika in order to become her shikabane hime when her training was finished. Your favorite food is candy and your only known specialty outside of being a shikabane hime is guessing potato chip brands."
"How do you know all that?" said Rika as Saki starred into space with an embarrassed look on her face.
"I like to stay well informed," answered Death with a small smirk under his mask. "But don't worry, I did not have Dust lead you here to review your history, nor did I have him lead you here to end it. I brought you here because I wish to form an alliance with the Kōugon Sect."
"An alliance," spoke Keisei with surprise. "Why would you want to form an alliance with us?"
"I fail to see why not," responded Death. "We have the same enemies and the same objectives; I can't see why an alliance is a bad idea."
"And how do we know we can trust you?" asked Makina still aiming at Death.
"You don't," responded Death. "But, from our previous encounters it should be obvious that I have no intention of harming you. If I did I could have killed you over a dozen times by now. But you should see that my powers are great and that you would be foolish to refuse them."
Keisei and the others didn't like the way he said it but he was right. It would be better to have him as an ally than an enemy. But could they really trust Death.
Meanwhile, at Ouri's high school.
Strife (disguised as Victor) was walking down the hall when he saw Ouri going outside with Itsuki. Being curious he decides to follow. Once outside he saw Itsuki sitting on top of a tall fence, Takamasa right below her and Ouri talking to Minai. Strife stayed out of sight just along the other side of the building
"I'm afraid I've got some bad news," spoke Minai as Strife noticed she was holding Ouri's cellphone. "Because you accessed that shikabane blog using your cellphone I'm going to have to confiscate it as evidence in a shikabane case file."
"Isn't that an inspector's job?" Asked Itsuki. "Why did you come all the way here by yourself?"
"I thought it was an urgent matter," responded Minai. "I also had some business to attend to in the area."
"I really don't mind you taking my phone," said Ouri. "But I'm out of luck if I need to call or text someone."
"Don't worry, we'll get you a new one," spoke Minai. "I'll even pay for it, if that's alright with you of course. See you after school."
Minai and Ouri smiled at each other, and then Ouri walked directly toward Strife who the jumped out and put his arm around Ouri, everyone else just watched with surprise.
"Hey, Ouri!" shouted. "So who's your friend here?"
"Ah, no one," responded Ouri while his face was red.
"Ah, no need to be embarrassed," spoke Strife in his usual sarcastic voice. "So what's your name? I'm Victor Shiro."
"Minai Ruo," responded Minai.
"Nice to meet ya," spoke Strife. "I'd love to stay and chat but I got someplace to be. See you all later."
Minai had a surprised look on her face after Strife left.
"Is something wrong?" asked Ouri.
"It's just that I feel like I've seen him before," responded Minai. "But it's probably nothing. I'll see you after school, Ouri."
I don't know why but I got a bad feeling, thought Strife to himself. I better follow them on their little shopping trip.
After school, Strife followed as Minai and Ouri went shopping. He was careful to keep his distance so he never really heard what they were talking about. All that he was able to hear was Ouri saying something about asking Minai for her phone number. Minai pulled out her phone, but when she looked at it she had a very worried look on her face. Strife continued to follow them as they walked down the street. Minai was trying to call someone, but it didn't look like she wasn't having much luck. After hanging up her phone for what had to have been the tenth time, she suddenly started shaking then a look of pain appeared on her face and then she fell to the ground.
"Minai!" shouted Ouri as he went to her side.
"Is she all right?" yelled Strife from behind Ouri.
"Victor, what are you doing here?" asked Ouri.
"I was in the area," responded Strife. "But that's not important. Let's get her out of the crowd."
Strife and Ouri managed to get Minai to the side of the street and sat her on some nearby steps. Both Strife and Ouri tried to call Minai but she just kept mumbling something they couldn't hear.
Meanwhile, back at the cemetery.
Keisei and the others were still discussing whether or not to except Death's offer when Keisei's cell phone rang.
Keisei's face showed signs of panic, but Death couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Sorry, Death," spoke Keisei. "But we'll have to discuss this later."
Everyone was tuning and started to leave when Death took a few steps forward.
"A contracted monk has died," stated Death which caused the other to freeze.
"How do you know that?" asked Keisei after they all turn to face Death.
"You forget who I am," spoke Death with a small laugh. "I felt it the moment his soul left its mortal shell. I didn't know who it was, but the fact that something worried you around the same time that I felt a powerful soul pass could not be a coincidence. The real question is, why does this stop our little meeting?"
"The real concern is his shikabane hime," spoke Keisei, surprisingly trusting Death. "When a contracted monk dies it leads to the death of his shikabane hime. However if that doesn't happen and she continues to live on past the monk's death, then she will become just another shikabane."
"So you need to find this shikabane hime?" responded Death as Keisei nodded. "Perhaps I can be of some assistance here."
"Assistance? How?" asked Rika.
Death put his arm to his shoulder and Dust jumped onto his hand which he then outstretched toward Keisei and the others.
"This is Dust," introduced Death. "He has quite the nose for corpses. He is how I have been able to find shikabane and shikabane hime, and he shall lead the way."
After Death was finished talking he threw up his arm and Dust went flying. Death chased after but the rest were still sceptic as to whether or not they should follow (except for Saki who just ran ahead without thinking), but as Death got further out of view Makina also followed while Keisei and Rika returned to Keisei's house because he was still injured.
Back in town with Strife Minai and Ouri, Minai was walking, but the way she walked made her look more like a zombie. Eventually Strife and Ouri followed her to an alleyway next to a construction site. Minai kept mumbling something, but Strife could only catch a few words like "Why is this happening," or "I'm starting to become-."
"Minai, slow down," said Ouri. "What's going on with you? Just tell me what the matter is. You can talk to me."
"SHUT UP!" screamed Minai as she turned and hit a parked car so hard that it flew into the construction site and landed on its side.
"Oh, Ouri," spoke Minai in a much gentler tone as tears ran from her face. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," said Ouri. "It's okay."
"NO, IT'S NOT!" shouted a voice from the construction yard.
Everyone looked to see Saki standing on the sideways car that Minai had just hit. Suddenly Ouri was grabbed from behind by Itsuki and Strife was grabbed by Takamasa. Saki jumped off the car and impaled the blade on the bottom of her hammer into the bottom of the car. She them lifted and threw the car at Minai who kicked it back. The car exploded in mid-air and Saki charged at Minai, but Minai dodged the attack and ran to into the construction yard. Minai got her gauntlets on and started to fight.
"STOP!" yelled Saki as she started the fight with Minai. "You might think I'm just an irritating ten year old." Minai was hit with the blunt of the hammer and knocked to the ground.
"But, my contracted monk is Rika Aragami, a member of the great holy families," continued Saki. "Descendants of the ten senior disciples are obligated to become contracted monks to shikabane hime. No shikabane hime can beat me."
Ouri managed to break free from Itsuki and ran towards Minai.
"You know it," spoke Saki. "You felt it when it happened. Your contracted monk is dead."
Ouri stopped dead in his tracks.
"It's true," said Itsuki. "They say it was an accident."
"Well, this has gotten interesting." spoke Strife, still being bound by Takamasa. "My brother is going to kill me for this."
After Strife had finished he rammed Takamasa face with the back of his head, and after getting free he ran towards Minai just as Saki was about to bring down her hammer. Strife caught the hammer just before it hit Minai. With his free hand he hit Saki in the chest with an open palm and sent her flying into a forklift. Strife looked towards Ouri and Itsuki, still holding Saki hammer in his hand.
"Sorry, Itsuki," spoke Strife with an evil grin. "I had hoped to stay friends with you a little longer, but I guess the cat's out of the bag now."
"Hay!" screamed Saki as she pulled herself out of the debris that use to be a forklift. "It will take more than that to…."
Suddenly Saki was on her knees holding her stomach in pain.
"Consider yourself lucky," said Strife in a serious tone. "If I had actually closed my fist on that attack it would have broken your rib cage open."
"Just who are you?" asked Minai.
Suddenly, from on top of the building under construction, Death jumped down with Harvester drawn. He tried to hit Strife but Strife blocked with Saki's hammer.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asked Death to Strife.
"Well," responded Strife as he looked at Ouri. "What can I say? I kinda like the kid. He reminds me of myself when I was young and foolish."
"YOU'RE STILL FOOLISH IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFY ME!" hollered Death so loudly, the ground seemed to shake.
"This girl doesn't deserve this fate just because her contracted monk is dead," Spoke Strife as he pushed Death back. "That cue ball had it coming if you want my opinion."
Minai and Ouri both stared at Strife in surprise after hearing him say cue ball.
"I knew I recognized you," said Minai still on the ground. "You the one from yesterday, the Horseman Strife."
Suddenly a cloud of mist surrounded Strife and when the mist cleared his disguise of Victor was gone and his true form was shown.
"Sorry, my brother," said Strife. "Looks like I blew my cover."
Death charged at Strife with Harvester and Strife countered with Saki's hammer. As the two clashed in an epic battle Itsuki and Takamasa both tried to attack Minai but Strife pulled out Redemption and with three shots he hit both of Itsuki's pistols and broke Takamasa's bow.
"Ouri!" shouted Strife. "Take Minai and run, now!"
Ouri did as Strife ordered and grabbed Minai. Together they ran from the scene.
"Dust, follow them," Death ordered as Dust flew after them.
As the fight continued on Strife tried to use the hammer to hit Death on his right side. Death blocked the attack with Harvester stopping the hammer just below the scythe blade. Death made the blade of Harvester close down around the staff of the hammer so Strife could not pull it out and kicked Strife hard enough to make him smash into the wall behind. Death then opened Harvester dropping the hammer it was holding.
"We both know that you can't beat me," Spoke Death as he loomed over his brother on the ground. "Why do you continue to fight?"
"There's more to that boy than you think," responded Strife. "He has great potential, and a curious nature. I believe he can be of use if he becomes a contracted monk."
"That is not for you to decide," declared Death.
"But if he makes the decision himself what can you do about it?" alleged Strife.
Suddenly a squawk was heard and Death turned to see Dust returning to his master.
"What are you doing back?" Death asked the bird as he looked into its mind. "You lost them? That boy is cleverer then I thought. Try and find the girl's scent."
Dust just looked at Death and turned its head.
"I don't care if the wind directions changed! Just find her!"
Dust flew off and started to search.
A few hours later, just outside of Keisei's house, Death and Strife waited until Dust returned with news.
"It would seem that Minai is dead," declared Death as he held on his hand and for Dust to land in and then put Dust on his shoulder.
"Damned shame," spoke Strife. "She and Ouri would have made a good pair. If you don't mind me asking, how did she die?"
"I'll tell you about it later, but right now we have other business," said Death as he turned towards the door of Keisei's house.
Keisei walked out to meet Death and Strife.
"I sent your request for an alliance to the head temple," spoke Keisei. "It'll be up to them whether or not to accept."
"Many thanks," spoke Death as he and Strife started to walk away. "One other thing, Keisei. I understand your desire to protect your brother - believe me I do - but take it from someone who's been there: the more you try to keep him away, the more likely he will be drawn in. That boy has great potential and that potential will come to the surface whether you want it to or not."
With that, both Death and Strife summoned their horses and rode off into the night.
Fourth chapter of my first crossover. Please review and comment on my work.