Kiyoshi: After the last few chapters being written so quickly, it seems like it's been forever since you last wrote a chapter.
FCL64: Yeah… well, the readers know who I own… so here's the chapter, I guess…
Kiyoshi: You guess? You're the author! Without you our entire universe will spontaneously combust! Or spontaneously hydrate! Or collapse in a series of fiery implosions!
FCL64: And you accuse me of being overdramatic.
Kiyoshi: That's more like it. You may now proceed to write the chapter.
FCL64: Great. I'm thrilled to know that chapter ten of my story has the blessing of the person in my head.
Kiyoshi: Any time. And a heads up: we know Koenma is out of character. Eventually it will make more sense but not in this chapter, so please don't flame us for it.
See Paradise With Me…
"Koenma, sir?" The voice sounded sure of itself, but was hiding its uncertainty. "We received a message telling us that you are now in charge of this case. We were also kicked out of the apartment of the demon who Cītā and Gentlom are staying with. We couldn't really force our hand to stay, without revealing our identities to her human best friend; there was really nothing we could do." The captain of the special defense knew that they had failed their task enormously.
"Let me get this straight. Cītā is staying with a demon whose best friend is human. On top of that, I have just discovered that Kurama and Hiei are already involved in this case. But that they will not be working with us." He sighed. This case was already starting to wear on him, and he hadn't yet been in charge of it for a full twenty four hours.
"Correct. Although I would say Hiei's involvement is limited at this point. Kurama is friends with the demon girl. Her name is Ella. I haven't had much time to look into her background, but so far I've found nothing."
Koenma nodded. "I'll have Botan look into it. As for now, I'm assuming Ella is the reason Cītā is in the human world. But that leaves the question of what her aim is…" Koenma had just been given an answer to one major question, only to be left with even more questions. He couldn't say it was surprising, considering his sister's personality.
"About that…"
Koenma looked up. "What about that?" His words were slightly suspicious.
"Well, Hiei's limited involvement has been forced on him. And it probably won't stay limited."
"She has got to be kidding. Hiei?"
"Well, sister?"
"I spoke with Hiei. Rather more directly than I ever intended, I'm afraid. But I think I'll let well enough alone for two weeks or so. How was you're day?"
"Hmmm… same as usual I suppose."
"Wait," Yuri said, "Why are you stepping out for two weeks? That makes no sense."
"Hiei will dwell on my words. And he'll also be allowed to think he's won. I will then return… Am I correct in saying that Ella is less fundamentally opposed to falling in love than Hiei is?"
Yuri glanced at her friend and nodded. "She's probably you're favorite person in the world. She always just let's the chips fall where they may."
"Those people from the other day are coming back. And some new people. One has the same aura as you two," Ella said suddenly. Gentlom looked up and Fate raised her eyebrows.
"This came sooner than I expected," Fate muttered.
Almost immediately the door to Ella's apartment was knocked down and ten people crowded in. One wielded a golden sword, pointing directly at Gentlom who was sitting on the floor, an almost-white orb in his hand. Another's fist was blazing one finger pointed directly at Fate. The seven from the day before divided themselves between the two deities, lending support to both of the men on the offensive. Then there was Koenma. He walked in and simply stared.
Then Fate said, "Lower your weapons, boys. I have no wish to harm you. Harming humans saddens me… harming demons saddens me." With her last words she looked significantly at Koenma.
The boy in front of her then said, "You wouldn't be saying that if I were to nail you with an aura blast at point blank range."
Koenma looked alarmed and said, "No violence, Yusuke! I thought we went over this?"
Fate waved him away and said, "I know perfectly well who you are, Yusuke. And I also know you won't shoot."
Koenma sputtered, "He's unpredictable. His unpredictability is what brought him to me in the first place."
Fate grinned. "Was it his unpredictability or your lack of ability to read humans that brought him to you? Keep in mind, Dheunos, that reading people in life is my job."
"Not anymore. You gave that up when you left. You and Gentlom both."
"This soul would suggest differently," the man sitting on the floor said. The luminescent, pale purple spirit suddenly fled the room. "He has now joined the ranks of the living. Not able to walk and talk or live on his own yet… but he has a body."
Fate looked decisively at Koenma. "Can you do that? No. Can you interfere directly in the human world, other than through someone who has a sixth sense or some other form of spiritual fortitude? I thought not."
Yuri watched as the brown-haired youth before them bolstered himself in the face of such obvious denial of his claims. Then Koenma stated in a voice that seemed to offer no room for argument, "I hereby place both you, Cītā, and you, Gentlom, under arrest."
"The crime?"
"Treason. You deliberately disobeyed father's orders and left."
Fate's eyes narrowed but she didn't look worried. "Doing my job, the way I have for almost all eternity, is now considered treason? Oh, how the underworld has fallen. I gave up naught when I left. The only thing I did when I left was refuse to bow to an unfair power. I also hope you realize that the only reason Gentlom and I have not tried to displace Father before now is that it would upset you. The balance of power between the three of us is what keeps the three realms running smoothly. But you have overstepped your bounds, causing that balance of power to tip precariously."
Koenma looked ready to respond—perhaps violently—but Ella interrupted. In a stunned voice she said, "You broke my door."
5071 years previously (3061 b.c.)…
"Gentlom, Cītā," a voice thundered. "I need a word."
They walked quietly into the room where the man with the powerful voice waited. The woman seemed to float and the man seemed preoccupied by the fiery orb in his palm, "Yes, Father?" the woman asked.
"It has come to my attention that you two have been working hand in hand with demons."
"Not precisely…" Gentlom muttered, not bothering to look up.
"What?" their father roared.
Cītā quickly said, "Father, you know Gentlom. He only meant that the souls he works with haven't yet a physical form. Therefore, no hands. But other than that, you're statement is true. Is there a problem?"
"Yes. Demons grow in number and power each day. There are already many out there which cannot be controlled by any but the royal family. It is a necessity that Gentlom stop producing these souls."
"Hmmm… could be difficult…not all souls would be cooperative with a human body… disaster could ensue…" the younger of the two men muttered, almost to himself.
"That does not matter. The demons must be wiped from the face of the earth. From the demon plane. They should not exist!"
"You fear them Father." The woman's words were blunt, and the king was not used to hearing the truth laid out so plainly. Before he could respond she continued, "It would be wrong for Gentlom to stop creating souls destined for demon bodies. And what has this to do with me, anyway, other than as a mediator?"
"The demons are becoming violent. I believe it is time for you to stop aiding them."
"They are violent, so you want me to bring a different form of violence upon them. Violence only begets more violence, Father. It may be of a different nature, but helping them find happiness, or punishing them for their wrongdoings is another form of love. I am merely guiding them to a happier state of mind. I work to help them find a small piece of paradise in the time before their deaths. But if I weren't there, they might not ever find it, and follow instead a path of destruction."
"They already follow it, even with you here."
"Not everyone listens to their heart, Father. It takes some longer than others to realize the right choices, the sound of Cītā at their ear." All three of the people in the room heard the unspoken words. King Enma, lord of the underworld, was on of those people. They all jumped when the door shut.
"Dheunos, what think you of demons?" Cītā asked.
"Eradication is the best solution." The response came without hesitation.
Cītā glared. "Eradication? You may be Death but does that mean you believe they don't deserve a chance at Life?"
"No; I believe they are growing stronger. An organized rebellion could overthrow us. We could all be killed."
"So they must all die, so we four may live? Is that just?"
Dheunos blinked dark brown eyes once and replied, "The world isn't just, Cītā."
"That's because you and Father make it so damn difficult for me to do my job."
"Enough!" Enma boomed. "Gentlom, the souls are to stop being created. Cītā, you are to restrict your aid to humans and those beings in Reikai."
"If you think you can stop us." Cītā replied once then louder, "If you really think you are capable of stopping us, I suggest you try."
Gentlom followed his angry sister from the room, saying, "I truly wonder what she has planned…"
That night they fled the premises, disappearing into the more distant reaches of Reikai, where their strange aura melted into that of the even stranger landscape.
Ella's words registered with Yusuke and he couldn't control himself. He fell over laughing; the glowing orb of aura that had surrounded his hand disappeared; he clutched his sides, trying to breathe. He then gasped, "A perfectly serious conversation and all she has to say on the matter is that we broke her door."
Koenma glared at Yusuke and said to Fate, "I must insist that you return with me to Reikai for trial."
"Who will do my job?" Fate asked with mock concern. "Who will perform Gentlom's tasks?"
"Father and I will cover them," Koenma replied swiftly.
"Will you, now? Have you acquired some ability I do not know of in the past five thousand years, Dheunos? One that allows you and Father to do work that previously only Gentlom and I could perform? Do you not recall that without us mayhem will cover the earth? Is it fair to condemn the living to a life of pain and insanity because Death feels Birth and Life have overstepped their bounds? I think not."
"The world isn't just, Cītā."
"That is because you insist on making it that way. Gentlom and I are going now. But not with you. And you shan't try to follow us, or stop us."
"No. Don't move. Gentlom will stop creating souls. You will stop interfering in the living realms."
Fate looked down at her hands momentarily. Glanced at the fiery orange spirit glowing in Gentlom's hand. "If you think you can stop us," she said to herself. To Koenma she said, "If you really think you are capable of stopping us, I suggest you try."
Koenma froze and Fate pulled Gentlom to his feet. The soul fled the room, taking refuge in the body Gentlom had assigned it. As she stepped over the threshold she threw a few words over her shoulder. "And if you suggest I stop interfering in the living realms, I suggest you do the same. More so, as doing so is my right as the Fate of Life. But might I remind you that, no matter it's preoccupation with death, even Reikai is a living realm?"
Kiyoshi: This is definitely turning into more of a Fate-Koenma-Gentlom triangle story than it was intended to be. There really isn't as much Hiei-Ella stuff going on as I would have predicted for the tenth chapter.
FCL64: I know. But, boy, this story has a long way to go. Aye aye aye.
Kiyoshi: Whatever. Who's going to answer reviews?
FCL64: You.
Kiyoshi: Me, okay—wait, what?
FCL64: I like putting you on the spot and seeing what random nonsense you spout out when under pressure. Okay, go. The readers are waiting.
Kiyoshi: Well... animegrlsteph: old sayings... yes glad you liked them.
Kuramasredredrose: yes we... I mean the author, not me, loves irrationality as well (if you haven't noticed).
heve-chan: thanks for the review and I'm glad I managed to catch (and keep) your interest! The story is set after the Tournament of Kings but before the last bit with the buttons, if that clears anything up.
Dyani91: I would like you to know that I appreciate the force with which you demand more. Your review is the only thing that convinced me not to be lazy and to update (that takes skill and you should be congratulated, considering how lazy I actually am). In other words, you are the only reason this chapter is currenlty up. :)