Chapter 11: The Echo Promise

The world changed around me. I'm laying on a boat that's floating on water. Cuddling with me is Echo. She was rubbing small circles on my chest to comfort me. The wounds on the outside of my body is gone but the pain inside is still there. Yet here is Echo trying to comfort this pain.

My familiar Echo. I remember her brown hair, her gray eyes, her delicate milky skin, and her most favorite outfit. She wears a blue blouse, black jeans, blue converse, and she wears a blue ribbon on the top of her head. Blue was her favorite color just like mine. She was like me in every sense.

I remember this place. This is where we've shared our first kiss together on the lakes of planet Galen. It was one of our most calmer and peaceful journeys. The waters have a mystical feel to take all of your worries and pain away. For the first time I was thinking about nothing else but Echo.

I started crying as I said, "I'm sorry, Echo. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. It's all my fault."

"Shhh," She said, "It never was, Doctor. I've never blamed you. But there's something I must ask of you. If this pain is too much for you to handle alone. Never forget that you have us to share it with. Don't keep this darkness inside your heart. Share it with me, share it with Donna, with Lin, with Kaneki. Share the pain with everyone who you love, and the people that care so much for you. It's time that you stop keeping yourself such a mystery. Let us know how you feel so we can understand. Let us know how Blood Jester feels... Remember your promise."

That's right, the promise I made when I started calling myself Blood Jester. Blood Jester is much more ruthless but open too. I understand the pain of Ghouls because they shared it with me. Now I have to do the same.

"DOCTOR!" shouted the voice of Donna.

"Donna! What's happening to her?!" I said.

"DOCTOR!" shouted Kaneki.

"DOCTOR!" shouted Lin.

Everyone is calling out to me. What's happening to them? Has Albus won?! No I have to save them! I have to get up! If I don't everyone will be killed! Donna, Lin, Kaneki, and the people of Anteiku! Which I why I can't let this happen! NOT AGAIN!

"Doctor." said Echo, "When you wake up you won't be in total control of yourself. You're already starving from not eating someone's timeline."

"I can't believe that's the curse of a TimeGhoul. Not only do I eat someone's flesh but also their time."

"You know Chernabogs live over thousands of years. Eat his and you won't have to eat someone's time for a while."

"How true, but you said I'll won't have control over myself. How can I be sure I'll won't hurt the others?"

"Focus on the Chernabog. Focus on Albus. Think about no one else. Now wake up, Blood Jester. They need you."

Suddenly my Rinkaku healed up faster than the speed of light. They became longer but turned completely blood red. Parts of my body is covered by my Kagune turning it into armor. Then my entire head became covered that is shaped into a demonic looking face of a jester. Wait... I know this I've seen it before! What did they call it? This is my Kakuja form!

"Ah the true awakening of Blood Jester." said Jux.

"What's happening?!" I said, "Why is my Kakuja form being activated now?!"

"You made a promise not just to yourself but to us as well." said Shian.

My world flipped upside down as everything that was beautiful disappeared. My Echo disappeared. I'm alone in this boat that's floating on a sea of blood. "What have I awakened?" I said, "This can't be me doing this is it?!"

I suddenly heard a bell and it's ringing constantly. It started off small but it's growing louder in my head like a crescendo. It's driving me mad! "Stop it you two!" I shouted at Jux and Shian.

"It's not coming from us, Blood Jester." said Shian.

"You're ringing that bell all on your own." said Jux.

"That ringing! That loud annoying bell! Where the hell is it ringing from?!"

"Why from you of course." said Jux.

"That Kakuja has a name Blood Jester." said Shian, "It's your act to perform for the audience. Don't you want to give them a good show?"

"A good show?... Act?"

Of course, every show needs a name. I remember one time I did played a Jester once. Acting like a fool in front of a king. What did I say to open the act? Oh yeah that's right. I would stand up outstretch my arms with a big smile on my face and said, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I WILL NOW GIVE YOU THE KILLING JOKE THAT WILL MAKE YOU DIE WITH LAUGHTER!"

Killing Joke... Ha ha! The Killing Joke. That's what I'll call it. Yeah it's going to be a great act!

"Of course with some acts we must have lovely assistance." I said as I turn to Jux and Shian. "Laughing Blood, Cyan Jester. Will you assist me with this performance tonight? The Doctor always have companion by his side, so why not Blood Jester have assistants?"

"Well this is interesting." said Jux.

"But just one thing." said Shian, "There's no backing out. You have to eat Albus whole, and let no one stop you."

"That won't be a problem at all. The show must go on until the act is over. No one has the right to stop it."

My Kakuja lifted me up out of the boat as I said, "Well what are we waiting for? The show must begin!"

I dive into the blood and found myself back into the forest. Except my vision is different. Everything is pitch black and all I see is the shape of the Chernabog that's all in red. I can smell his flesh and his very life force. Of course before I can eat, the performance of the Killing Joke must come first. I can feel this change within my body that's screaming within. I've been through this before. It's the same change I've put myself through when I became human once.

It's called metamorphosis. Finally a good change for once.