Chapter 9: Want to Go to Singapore?

Haruhi was panting, and after calling off her scythe bent over, putting her hands on her knees, trying to regain normal breathing. She was sore all over, although with no major injuries.

D.A. cocked her head to the side. "You seem like you're in pain. Are you?"

"A-a little…mostly just exhausted."

"Very well then. Sleep it off, and then meet me in the common room. It's time for an assignment."


"Where are the others?"

"I'm not sure; probably in Europe or Africa."

Haruhi stretched, looking around the empty room. It was the same as where she had first found D.A., although the clothing and sketchpad was gone. There were also two gargoyles on pedestals, their eyes glowing red. D.A. approached the one on the left, speaking clearly, "State assignment."

"Skraah! Two souls in Honolulu, Hawaii. Both are possible Envy Demon threats, skraah!"

Approaching the gargoyle on the right, D.A. repeated, "State assignment."

"Skraah! One soul in Singapore. Possible Greed Demon threat, skraah!"

D.A. turned to Haruhi behind her, staring at her. Haruhi shifted her weight, eyes flickering to the left awkwardly, until she asked the other girl, "What?"

"Do you have a preference? This is technically your assignment, after all."

"I've never even been outside of Japan…" Haruhi looked between the two statues, unsure. But then again, did it really matter? She figured she might as well go with the simpler one, telling D.A., "I guess Singapore."

"Alright then. Place your hand on top of the gargoyle." After Haruhi had done as she was told, D.A. placed her hand on top of hers, and said, "You'll probably get pretty queasy. Just try not to puke."

"Will do."

Looking back to the gargoyle, D.A. commanded, "Transport to site of soul."

"Skraah! Transporting!"

It was more or less like normal teleporting, but longer, and Haruhi didn't dare open her eyes, feeling wind rushing up past her and blowing what little hair she had up and out of her face. When she opened her brown eyes, she saw they were behind police tape, spectators and reporters opposite them.

"How can they not see us?"

D.A. told her, turning away and walking into the alley behind them, "Your clock. It conceals you from mortals and allows you to be intangible to them, so long as it's around your neck."

"What happens if it's not?"

Haruhi could hear her footsteps stop, and she listened for D.A.'s voice. After a few moments, it came, replying, "That would be a problem."

Deciding she wouldn't get any answer more specific than that, Haruhi turned and caught up to the other girl, who had stopped, and was looking at something. While she was walking, she passed by officers, overhearing their conversations. Unfortunately, she had no idea what they were saying, and wasn't curious enough to try and find out.

"Are you okay with blood?"

The brunette blinked. "Why?" she asked suspiciously, although she knew exactly where this was getting at.

"Oh, there's just a lot."

Great. Haruhi steeled herself, taking a deep breath and stepping closer, the body coming into view.

D.A. commented, "You're holding up pretty well. Better than Hikaru and Kaoru, anyway. They vomited at their first assignment, although there aren't any severed limbs this time around-hey, Haruhi, are you okay? You look a little faint."

And upon seeing the lifeless body, the new recruit promptly passed out.


Haruhi could feel her mind coming out of unconsciousness, so that she felt she was drifting in a sea of black. She could faintly feel a mattress beneath her, and something cold and wet pressed to her forehead. She could begin to make out voices.

"Is she awake yet?"

"Shh-Hikaru, she still looks pale; she needs rest."

"She's immortal. Give her some of that magic tea crap and she'll be good as new."

"It's a little more complicated than that. Don't you remember how we felt the first time we saw a dead body?"

She recognized them. Hikaru and Kaoru, right, the twins. What were they doing here? Where was she, in the first place? The girl's eyes began to twitch, preparing to open.

"…Uh, no. But didn't you barf?"

"I distinctly remember us both vomiting."

"No, I'm pretty sure it was just you."

"If anything, you puked before me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Haruhi's eyes fluttered open, and she squinted, groaning from the sudden light. Hikaru and Kaoru turned, the latter sitting on a chair next to the bed, the former leaning against the left wall. Kaoru gave her a small smile, saying, "You passed out. You're in your room now."

"How?"

"D brought you back here after she collected the soul." Kaoru lifted plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel off of her forehead, asking, "Feel any better?"

As Haruhi opened her mouth to respond, Hikaru scoffed. "She's fine," he replied for her. His glaring eyes caught hers for a moment, and his narrowed before he turned away, pouting. Haruhi only blinked and kept on staring at him, utterly confused.

Kaoru rolled his eyes, placing the cold press on the bedside table and standing up, going over to Hikaru. They began to whisper, Hikaru clearly upset and Kaoru calm. Haruhi couldn't hear much of the conversation, but she did manage to catch, "Be nice. She's our toy," and "Everyone's acting like she's dying."

It ended with Hikaru huffing and stomping over to her bed, where Haruhi had sat up by now, and mumbling, "Feel better." Without another word, he transported, leaving behind blue smoke.

"That could've gone better." Kaoru looked over at Haruhi, smiling apologetically and saying, "If you feel better, head back to the common room. If not, make some tea. Sorry, but I have to go after Hikaru, he's having a fit."

"A fit?" she parroted, only being confused further. She came to the conclusion, "He doesn't like me very much."

"Hikaru doesn't like most people very much. But he'll come around." At this, Kaoru came closer, a dangerous glint in his eye. When he was at Haruhi's right, he rested his hand on her bed, leaning in so their noses were almost touching. He whispered seductively, "After all, you're just too cute to not get closer to."

Haruhi seemed dubious. "Both of you insulted my looks before, especially Hikaru. And why do you feel the need to whisper?"

Kaoru leaned back, and it was his turn to blink. "Seriously?" He looked mildly amused, asking, "No reaction at all? No blush, no stuttering? What, am I not attractive or something?"

"I don't even know you, and yet you expect me to be in love with you? If anything, it shows you're arrogant. Besides, I honestly don't care about appearances."

The ginger only chuckled, and Haruhi watched as orange smoke swirled up his legs and around his torso as he gave her a few departing words, "Oh, you're going to be a fun toy, all right."

Only after he left, did Haruhi register his words.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"


D.A. watched as Death wrote silently on parchment with his quill. "So then she passed out?" he asked, looking up to his right to see her standing and seek her answer.

"Yes. She should be doing fine now."

"Well, that's not too bad for her first time," he concluded, placing the quill in its ink bottle. He actually hadn't written anything of real importance on the paper, just some nonsense, but it always made him look just so official. "If anything it's simply…stupor."

"You have too much free time."

"Yes, but that's not necessarily a problem," he countered, smiling and leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head. And before he could release his latest pun on her, there was a distinct thud, followed by a female voice yelling something indiscernible that caused Death to turn even paler, his smile to disappear, and his eyes to widen. "That, on the other hand, is."

D.A. only looked at him, asking, "Should I take Haruhi on an assignment?"

"No time. Get out of here, teleport somewhere, before Life comes in here with the world's worst case of PMS."

She nodded, gone in a flash and the smoke disappearing just before a woman and two young men burst into his office. The two boys were definitely angels, First Rank, probably bodyguards, one of them tall, dark, and serious, the other short, childish, and hugging a stuffed rabbit. The woman herself was beautiful, with a kind, oval face, warm green eyes, full pink lips, and long, curly brown hair. Her sundress was a brilliant azure, simple and outlining her curves, and her gladiator sandals were a warm, sunshine yellow. If her face wasn't red, her hands weren't clenched into fists, and her eyes didn't have a murderous quality to them, she would look rather beautiful and comforting, like a mother. But at the moment, Death couldn't help but compare her to a wolverine.

Slamming her hands onto his desk, Death flinched, but never broke eye contact when she glared him, snarling in his face, "What are you doing, going behind my back and interrogating one of my highest-ranking Angels?"

"And a fine day to you, too, Life."


Let's pretend this didn't take forever to write, shall we?

Originally, Death didn't make an appearance, and neither did Life. Actually, this was going to end after Kaoru left Haruhi alone in her room, but then Death and Life simply demanded they be put in, and I had to comply. At any rate, yes, yes, that's Hunny and Mori.

Next chapter will feature Angels, Where's D.A.?, and macaroons, oh my.

Until next time, read and enjoy!