BOOYAH! MY BIRTHDAY IS TODAY, APRIL THE TWENTY-FIRST. Dude, I'm seventeen now... Well, it's official at 2 something in the morning, but we don't have to get technical here. I'm soooooooo excited! I have my license test today... I hope I pass, root for meeeeeeeee! Lol I'm so happy I could burst!
So this chapter is extremely confusing and bewildering. So feel free to ask me any questions and I'll respond to you as soon as I can. (Believe me, I was beginning to confuse myself writing it.) We have a special guest, erm, "appearance" today lol. And no, it's not Yuki. Soooory! I was way too tired to check this one over, so I'm givin' it to ya raw, folks! This chapter is completely, smokin' new and unedited. So I prolly have about a million mistakes in it, but I'm too wiped to check... Don't make me...
I don't own "Another Star". Stevie Wonder owns it. So there!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEE!
To Samurai-Tenshi- Lol, I'm glad you're glad. Hmmm... does he like Shu? I guess you'll have to wait and see...
To Ichigo Pocky- Lol so it wasn't exactly soon, but I've been busy with SAT class. And honors physics. That class is one giant headache. But your review made me very happy!
To Luciver- Lol it's a good thing you skimmed. And you're onto something there, (wink wink). I smell a little green monster forming. And there's nothing wrong with being bipolar.
To Rae Anderson- Okay, okay! I'm gonna jump around with you now lol! Can we be hyper together?
To AngelofLight-Yes, chaos SHALL ensue lol. If only he hadn't left the cave...
To Shuichi-kun shindo- Lol wow. Don't stay up too late now. I like my readers alert! (jk, I love all readers lol.)
To Luciferian- You see, I like you. You just about summed up my chapter with one word. Gotta love it.
To JasLine- Lol your review showed up twice for some reason. Well, when you're hungry, your stomach tends to think for you.
To Krazy Kitsune13- Omg, this girl I know who goes to Rutgers has the cutest bunny in her dorm! It was black and fuzzy and tiny and he fit in my hand! He was sooooooo cute!
To Sweet-single- Lol you're cool! And I should have updated sooner, my apologies!
To Clover- I'm really, really, really hope you like this chapter. And aw... you're making me blush!
To leah- Lol you spelled it correctly. Is five days soon enough for you?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
AND HE BECAME ENGULFED
Shuichi decided that he wouldn't move another inch. Maybe then Apollyon would be able to find him. I'm in a lot of trouble… He smiled, trying to find humor in this dismal situation. I'm right in the middle of a desert as wide as America… Yeah, I'm screwed. Pollyon, where are you?
The wind blew through his hair, rustling the water lily behind his ear gently. Shuichi let out a sigh and stood up. He had waited long enough. Apollyon was most likely looking for him, right? Or did the Angel not even know Shuichi was gone? Or was Shuichi supposed to leave by himself?
"Either way, I've got a job to do. I have to reach Ichiban." Shuichi scowled, scratching his head. "I'm sure Apollyon will find me eventually." And so, the half-demon chose a direction and began walking. He tried to walk in a straight line, but how could that be possible when there was no path before him? And nothing but grains of identical sand and wind to make his tracks vanish.
Needless to say, it didn't take very long for Shuichi to get lost. Actually, it was safe to say he was lost the moment he exited the cave. Why am I so stupid? Shuichi groaned out loud and looked up at the blazing sun. I'm so hot…
Shuichi decided to sit down on the hot sand and take a break. He felt dehydrated and weak. It looks like I haven't moved from where I started at all… What kind of sick joke is this? How am I supposed to find the end of the desert? Is anyone even out here at all? Shuichi held his hands out, cupped them and then formed cool water in them. He began drinking greedily, loving the feeling of the cold water sliding down his parched throat.
Shuichi looked up into the huge blue sky. Not a cloud was in sight, nothing to bring him temporary shade. Just the hot, sizzling sun and the even hotter sand and wind to blow that hot sand into his face. How was he supposed to walk in one direction when he had to block his eyes from the sun? He needed help…
"What am I supposed to do?" Shuichi groaned out loud, pulling his knees to his chest and hanging his head. Think, Shuichi, think. He let out another loud sigh and stood up. It was useless. He was going to be stuck in this giant desert forever. All this stupid sand whirled around him, blocking his vision. He couldn't see, but he could hear. Maybe Apollyon would be able to hear him as well.
Hmmm… what song should I sing? Shuichi closed his eyes and began twirling around, as if he was dancing with someone. But he was all-alone in the desolate desert. For now, anyway. He tried to picture himself somewhere else, where all his problems melted away, where there were no such things as responsibilities or wars or anything that required work for that matter.
"La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la
For you
There might be another star
But through my eyes the light of you it's all I see
For you
There might be another song
But all my heart can hear is your melody
So long ago my heart without demanding
Informed me that no other love could do
But listen did I not though understanding
Fell in love with one
Who would break my heart in two
For you
Love might bring a toast of wine
But which each sparkle know the best for you I pray
For you
Love might be for you to find
But I will celebrate our love of yesterday
So long ago my heart without demanding
Informed me that no other love cloud do
But listen did I not though understanding
Fell in love with one
Who would break my heart in two
For you
There might be another star
But through my eyes the light of you it's all I see
For you
There might be another song
But in my heart your melody will stay with me
La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la
La la la la la la lala la…"
Shuichi ceased his graceful twirling and opened his eyes. He could sense a life form approaching him. "Apollyon? Apollyon, is that you?" He shouted eagerly, looking around all the sand for the angel. Then suddenly, something burst forth from the sand not too far away from him. Shuichi let out a yelp and backed away, nearly falling over in the process.
Shuichi found himself staring at the largest snake he had ever seen in his life. Well, it looked like it was half-human. His human half went from the tips of his hair to his waist and fingertips. From then on, it was his tremendously long tail. And he had just emerged from the sand below him. So the demons here travel under the sand, most likely to avoid the sunlight. That's smart… too bad I can't do that. Or are there tunnels under there? I wouldn't know… I never tried digging. Maybe I should… Shuichi broke off his mental babbling and instead studied the snake in front of him.
The snake/man was extremely tall when standing on his tail. He had a somber look to him and fire red hair that partially covered his obsidian eyes. The amount of piercings in both his ears was remarkable. How one had enough room for so many holes was beyond Shuichi's imagination. His snake tail was striped black and white and looked like the suit Beetle Juice wore. Well, except this snake was scarier than Beetle Juice and his tail looked long enough to suffocate Shuichi with.
But the one thing that got Shuichi about this demon was his eyes. His dark eyes held so much sadness, so much forlorn pain. Shuichi could practically feel the depression seeping off the snake. His eyes made him look so much less threatening. And the fact that his human portion was scrawny. There were barely any muscles or fat on him. His human half looked, thin, gaunt.
Shuichi found the snake staring him down as well. "You haven't been dead long." The snake spoke matter-of-factly. He had a very calm, blasé voice. Then again, what was the point of worrying? The snake was dead.
"Yeah, that's true." Shuichi smiled and scratched the back of his head. "The thing is, I'm trying to get out of this desert. It just isn't my thing. I… I prefer a more… tropical area to live in." The snake stared at him incredulously in reply.
"Was that you singing before?" The snake man asked, completely ignoring Shuichi's earlier statements.
"Yeah, it was." Shuichi laughed lightly, nervously.
"A friend of mine is turning seventeen hundred today. She's having a giant birthday/deathday bash."
"So that means she died on her birthday? Wow… that's sad." Shuichi blinked slowly. I wonder how she died…
"She died exactly one-thousand years ago. A rare disease had been eating away at her for a long while, but she wouldn't do anything about it. Of course, since she never let anyone know she was sick, no one could heal her. She died much too young for a demon of her caliber." It was as if the snake man had heard Shuichi's unasked question.
"Oh…" Shuichi didn't know what to say. She probably didn't want to be a burden to anyone. I know that feeling… Shuichi felt as if he understood the demon, even though he had no idea who she was.
"I am called Ramechi." Ramechi raised a dark eyebrow at Shuichi, who froze. "I think Alysia would appreciate having you at her birthday. You seem to be a nice girl. What are you called?"
Okay… I don't know who this stranger is. For all I know, he could be in league with Ryuichi's dad or Manchu or Nuri. Or this could be some kind of test. Either way… I don't think I should give Ramechi my real name. Shuichi blinked suddenly. Wait… did he just call me a GIRL? Gaaa, why does he think that? Oooh… the flower. That could have something to do with it. In any event, this actually helps me.
"I-Ichigo." Shuichi muttered out the first thing that came to his head.
"I see. Well then, Ichigo, would you sing at Alysia's birthday party?" Ramechi asked seriously. "And I'd like to be your escort as well." Shuichi's jaw almost dropped to the floor. "The party begins in a couple hours."
"Uh… sure." Shuichi inwardly sighed. How do I get myself into these things?
Shuichi let out another sigh and stared into the large mirror in front of him. After agreeing to be Ramechi's escort, the snake had happily taken him back to his lair, a cavern of some kind deep under the sand. He learned that Ramechi was a master at illusionary magic, a very rare talent in the demon world. He also learned that Ramechi was a full-blooded demon, despite his appearance.
(Begin Flashback)
"I was traveling in the far east in the Demon Realm when I was captured by a weird demon cult of some kind. They took me to a gigantic mansion on some moving island and performed all kinds of horrific experiments on me. They were trying to make me into a Hybrid Child." Ramechi shook his head sadly.
"A Hybrid Child? What's that?" Shuichi cocked his head to one side.
"You're a half-demon, are you not?" Ramechi stared at Shuichi hard, waiting until the boy nodded his head. "A Hybrid Child is the child of any half-demon. They're a very new race. Usually the children of half-demons die very early their lives. Most of them aren't even born. The rumored instability and insanity in half-demons is actually found in their children. Most Hybrid Children lose themselves in all their power and either have to be killed or sealed away. The ones that don't end up committing suicide.
"But in this mansion, there were hundreds of them. I had never seen so many Hybrid Children in my life and it terrified me. For Hybrid Children are always stronger than their parents. Imagine, a being that is half tiger demon and half human mating with oh, a being that's half werewolf and half dragon. Their child will be one-fourth of each of those races, having the abilities of a tiger demon, werewolf and a dragon. Mixing certain beings can bring catastrophic results, such as breeding a Darkness Demon with an Angel of Light or a vampire with a phoenix. Those combinations are very unstable.
"You see, all those races by themselves are fine. But once you start combining races and making new mixtures, an explosion is bound to occur at some point." Ramechi paused for a moment and looked at Shuichi to make sure the half-demon was taking all of this in.
"So that means… I shouldn't have any children." Shuichi's eyes lowered to the ground sadly. "I wouldn't want my child to suffer like that…" That's not fair…
"Unfortunately, that is correct. At this mansion the cult experimented on me and turned half my body into that of a human's. Absolutely disgusting, but what can I do about it? During my stay there, one Hybrid Child took a liking to me. Her name was, Athena, I recall, she was vivacious and she always smiled.
"One day, Athena led me into a secret room far below the mansion. The room was devoid of anything but child sleeping in a gigantic metallic bubble. The bubble was attached to a machine that was under it. It was constantly beeping and different parts of it kept lighting up in diverse colors.
"Athena told me that the child had been there for about a century or so and had never woken up. She told me that she once saw a beautiful necklace on the child, a necklace made of exquisitely rare gemstones. There was something horridly wrong with the child. A demon child should never need to be hooked up to some kind of machine. It was unnatural, uncanny. Athena told me that they had only allowed her to sneak down and talk to the child. I asked her why and she said that her talking to the dormant child helped the child's development. As a human mother reads a book to the baby in her womb.
"But I didn't have that much time to ask Athena anything else. Because then they showed up and killed me. Right in front of her. The last thing I remember is hearing her scream. But they wouldn't do anything to Athena. They needed her, needed her power. They also needed that child for some reason." Ramechi finished, watching Shuichi stare at him in awe.
"So you mean to tell me that there's some kind of uncharted island out in the ocean of the Demon Realm that's harboring Hybrid Children?" Shuichi shook his head. "Wow… that's almost unbelievable. But… who where 'they'? The demons that captured you."
"I don't know. They all wore long, black-hooded cloaks. They never showed a sliver of their skin. They were practically shadows. The magic they used was so powerful, so ancient, and so very deadly." Ramechi frowned slightly. "But they are planning something with those children… that much I know."
(End Flashback)
Shuichi shook his head again. He had a feeling that these Hybrid Children were going to pose some sort of threat to him. I'm going to have to rule over them. And if Ramechi says there are hundreds of them in that mansion, I have A LOT of work to do… But he also had a feeling that whoever was behind this was trying to lay low. He had a feeling that nothing was going to happen just yet. This was why he decided not to worry about them just yet. He had much bigger fish to fry.
Shuichi looked down at the dirt floor he was standing on. There was a tiny, ragged, blue beanbag chair plopped on the floor behind him. And the giant mirror in front of him that was somehow floating on its own. "This is quite the ideal guest room." Shuichi turned around, not being able to face the mirror anymore.
Shuichi dropped down onto the soft couch, relishing in its smoothness. He buried his face deep in the tattered cobalt blue. He wished that all of his problems could melt away. His brain hurt a lot, after hearing about the prophecy, the Golden Age, the Nadir Wars, the Type Zeroes… and now these Hybrid Children.
"Why me?" Shuichi groaned out loud. And on top of it, I'm cross-dressing again. Funny, I remember I told my Dad I wouldn't do that anymore. Thinking back to the banquet brought a genuine smile to the half-demon's face.
I wish I was back there, instead of here. Back with Michael and Saki and Yuki and everyone else… Sure, things weren't perfect. But I was happy. Tears filled Shuichi's eyes and they spilled from his cheeks. Now I'm stuck in this lair with a demon I don't even know, a demon that could turn on me and kill me in a second. I'm stuck in Hell without a friend or ally. Apollyon is never going to find me…
Shuichi slowly sat up, tears still falling from his eyes. His shoulders began shaking uncontrollably and he tried to hold himself. I've never felt so alone in my entire life… He hung his head in shame and attempted to stop his tears. He managed to reduce his waterworks to loud sniffles and lessened his shaking to mere shivering.
"What am I going to do?" Shuichi looked up into the dirt ceiling. He was surrounded by dirt. I could destroy this whole thing if I wanted to. I could make it collapse. All I have to do is release a huge amount of water. This dirt becomes mud and it won't be able to sustain itself. I'll be free from Ramechi.
But if I do that, I won't have any leads at all. I'll be right back where I started. Plus, this Alysia may not like it if I hurt Ramechi. I don't know how they know each other. And who knows? Maybe Apollyon will be at this party, looking for me. Seventeen hundred, one thousand seven hundred, one-seven-zero-zero.
Shuichi wiped his wet face vigorously until all his salty tears were gone. "Good. I've cried enough." Shuichi was bound to meet up with someone at this party. Everything happened for a reason. So what if he had to endure a few hardships?
He would reach his destination eventually. And that hope, the hope that he would find his way out of Hell and back into Yuki's arms (that is, if the demon even wanted anything to do with him, but for sake of not losing what little sanity he had left, Shuichi decided to pretend that Yuki missed him dearly) let a few rays of light shine into Shuichi's once dark world.
"Shuichi…" Shuichi could hear someone call his name. A soft, beckoning voice, a calm voice that soothed him. "Shuichi…" That voice was music to his ears. But where was it coming from? It couldn't have been the couch.
Shuichi stood up off the couch, facing the mirror. "Shuichi…" The voice was coming from the mirror. He ran forward and practically mashed his face and hands against the mirror, breathing on it heavily. The mirror slightly fogged up from his breath. "Who's there?" Shuichi whispered silently.
Shuichi could feel something pulling him from the other side of the mirror. He watched in horror as his fingers began disappearing inside the mirror. They were being sucked inside by some invisible, unstoppable force. He tried to pull back, but it was all in vain. He was too late. So he decided to stop fighting and allowed his entire body to pass into the mirror. His body was flying through darkness, against its whim, under the control of some unknown being…
Shuichi opened his eyes and looked up. He saw a perfectly blue sky. There were seagulls in the distance, flapping their white wings majestically. He was lying down on sand, pure, white, and smooth. He could hear the ocean waves moving upon the sand, in an almost gentle lapping manner. It soothed him, it all did.
Shuichi wanted to spend the rest of his days just lying there on that strange beach, but something was wrong. Why was he here? Who brought him here? Shuichi sat up, looking all around him. Was this a trick of some kind? Did the mirror suck him up? And what about Ramechi? Did he do this?
"Jeez Shu. You can't stay happy for too long these days." A childish voice came from the sky. "Try and relax, will you? You need a good, old-fashioned rest. And I intend to give it to you."
"Who are you? Who says I need any rest?" Shuichi demanded, scowling slightly. This voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Shuichi, you were practically drowning in your despair. I could feel it and I'm light years away from you." The voice giggled slightly. Shuichi froze. He knew that silly laugh. It couldn't be… it was impossible.
"M-Michael?" Shuichi breathed out, not believing himself.
"Bout time you realized it!" The voice shouted gleefully. Michael shouted gleefully. "But man oh man, I never expected to find you in Hell, Shu. What's going on? What happened to you? And who this Ramechi? Is he holding you captive?"
"Whoa, calm down buddy!" Shuichi let out a laugh. He couldn't believe it. He was sitting on some forsaken beach talking to Michael, whom he hadn't seen in weeks. It was a miracle! "Erm… I'm not exactly sure where I should begin…"
"That's okay. I'll just ask Manchu why you're dead when he gets back." Michael said carelessly. But those words caused a chill to go through Shuichi. "Oh, don't worry about me. We're here to talk about you and your well-being."
"What do you mean?" Shuichi cocked his head to one side. "And of course I'm going to worry about you! You're five years old and you're trapped somewhere with a crazy demon that hates me! He said he was going to-"
"Your tears basically sent a distress call to me. And I'm technically not five years old anymore." Michael said matter-of-factly. "If I was, do you think I'd be able to contact you like this?"
"How can you not be five years old? Did your birthday pass?" Shuichi frowned. He didn't like where this conversation was going. The voice sounded like Michael, his behavior seemed like Michael, but what it really him?
"Er… not exactly. You're not going to like this and I didn't want you to worry about me, but… Manchu sorta… used some major black arts, maybe a Type Zero here and there and changed me into a synthetic half-demon."
"WHAT?" Shuichi screamed out, his hands becoming fists. "How can he do that? How is that possible? Why would he do that?"
"Shuichi, have you ever heard of a Hybrid Child?" Michael asked calmly.
"Yea…" Shuichi narrowed his eyes.
"Well, it's Manchu's goal to change me into the first perfect, synthetic Hybrid Child. One-fifth human, one-fifth demon, one-fifth angel, one-fifth zombie and one-fifth ghost. He basically wants me to be one of everything, the perfectly blended being with capability and power at my fingertips." Michael said slowly. "He wants me to lead a revolution where the Hybrid Children are under my command. He wants us to take over all the realms. He's been planning it for some time now. He needed a vessel to lead them and I was the lucky pick."
"But, I don't understand." Shuichi had tears in his eyes again.
"So I've been fused with a fifty-five billion year old Darkness Demon, the eldest of its kind, who was around during the Nadir Wars." Michael continued on. "This is why my intelligence has increased sevenfold, considering I've technically been alive almost as long as dirt."
"But how can he do that? That doesn't make ANY sense!" Shuichi shouted angrily. "I don't believe you! You're not Michael! Michael was, is, and always will be HUMAN!"
"If I was still human, I'd be dead by now." Michael said, with a coldness in his voice that Shuichi had never heard before. "I've endured torture, rivaling even yours. I've had to listen to Manchu's insane rants about taking over the universe. Day after day, I have to get used to all my new powers and all the pain it brings.
"My tiny body can barely sustain all the new power I have. And the maturity it brings. My body almost fell apart the first night of my being a half-demon. The pain was over unbearable. I couldn't sleep for days. Night by night, I laid awake, holding back the tears. Manchu told me that if I uttered these words: 'I hate Shuichi.' he'd take the pain away, just like that. That's all I had to do.
"But I never did. I believed in you. I believe that even though you couldn't save me, you would if you could. That you'd believe in me; that you'd still love me even though I wasn't human anymore. Thinking of you was the one thing that kept me sane. And this afternoon, I could feel you, your distress, your pain. And I decided to leap the bounds of space and time to help you. I used countless amounts of energy to reach you.
"And what do you do in return? You say I'm not Michael, that Manchu couldn't have made me into a half-demon. You say you don't believe me. Look that the humans, Shuichi. Do you see what they can do? They can clone things now. Their machines do most of the work for them. If humans are this technologically advanced, how much do you think demons can accomplish?" Michael finally ceased his angry tirade. Shuichi half expected the sky to darken at this point.
"I'm sorry, Michael… but you have to understand. This is a lot for me to swallow." Shuichi let out a long sigh. "I've just had a lot of responsibility dumped on me. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'd never want to do that. All of this is overwhelming it, it really is. I can't take it much longer. I need help; I can't do this on my own. I feel like I'm so lost, but I don't know where to begin to look. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say."
"I think I understand…" Michael said slowly. "So… you should take a few deep breaths. Listen to the ocean, it's very calming. I come here after training. It's the one place that Manchu can't follow me to." Shuichi simply lied back on the sand and closed his eyes. He listened to the ocean, just like Michael told him to.
"Michael? Can I see what you look like now?" Shuichi mumbled after a period of content silence.
"I'm warning you Shuichi, I'm a monster as of now. My physical body has almost been reduced to a temple of violence, my mind struggles between the human and demon halves. My soul is the one thing that cannot be completely altered." Michael let out a sigh. "But if you wish to see me, who am I to refuse your request?"
A huge TV screen appeared in front of Shuichi. The screen fizzed gray, white and black. Then it flashed blue and image appeared. It was a dark room with a gray stone floor and dull gray blocks for walls. It was dimly lit by a dusty chandelier.
There was a raggedy bed with plain white sheets to the left and a stuffed bookcase to the right. The exit, a door with chipped wood, was all the way at the back of the room. Shuichi could see a tiny black blur jumping around rapidly. Each time the blur stopped jumping, Shuichi could hear metal clashing and he could see the silver metal. But then the blur commenced its leaping and Shuichi couldn't see the metal anymore.
"Stop." Michael commanded and the black blur stopped in mid-air. It landed on the stone ground, directly under the light of the chandelier. Shuichi could now see it clearly. He gasped and tears filled his eyes. It was Michael, his physical form.
Michael had gotten slightly taller and a lot more muscular. His blonde hair was shaggier and messier and his bangs completely covered his eyes. He was wearing a silver T-shirt with a black vest over it and black shorts covering in various zippers, buckles, and chains. The silver shirt had a giant blood red "X" on the front of it and it looked as if bloodied claws had scratched it.
A large black wing unfurled itself from Michael's right shoulder. It was about twice his size and covered in thick, dark feathers that fell ominously onto the ground as Michael moved it. The wing itself was curved and hooked sharply to the right. As if to horrify Shuichi even more, two bright red gleams shone were Michael's eyes should have been. He truly looked like a demon.
Michael smiled then, showing off his caustic fangs and flexing his elongated, vicious-looking claws. His fangs and claws were fairly thin and underdeveloped, but still lethal. But his smile… showed anything but happiness. It was a mad-man's smile, a smile given by one who has no sanity or even a heart, a smile given by one who is completely lost in oblivion.
"N-no…" Shuichi managed to croak out, practically choking on his tears. The innocent little human boy he used to play with was now half a Darkness Demon. And it was obvious he didn't make the transition well. Shuichi forced himself to look at Michael yet again and spotted the self-inflicted wounds all over the boy's arms. "Why? Why… I don't…. I can't… Michael…"
"Sometimes my bloodlust becomes too strong for my human side to control so I just take it out on myself." Michael said nonchalantly.
"How can you be okay with this?" Shuichi screamed out. "You're… you're… How are you in two places at once?" He jumped as the physical Michael leered at him ferociously and spread his two arms out as far as he could go. Shuichi saw his, yes his twin daggers appear in Michael's hands.
"De mortis nil nisi bonum." Michael said, laughing out loud as he did so. He slashed the air with the daggers, leaving a jagged blue and silver "X" behind. The letter shone blood red and became a huge circle. About twenty zombies leapt out of the circle and it closed completely, leaving the air vacant once more.
"Wait, was that a Type Zero?" Shuichi asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. This is crazy… he went from using a water gun to Type Zeroes in no time flat.
"I believe it has something to do with respecting the dead, therefore giving the user to summon lifeless creatures." Michael spoke out. "In any event, the demon in me is bored of training and wishes to practice its newly acquired powers out on something, usually zombies."
"Why?" Shuichi frowned. This didn't make any sense. He still had no idea how Michael's body was in one place and his voice was in another. Michael began flying around and swiping at the zombies with the twin daggers.
"Because they're the easiest to learn Type Zeroes from. Zombies only use Type Zeroes in defense. It's been summoning them ever since Manchu gave me that spell to use. So it basically beats them until they use a new Type Zero. Then it memorizes the new spell." Michael let out a sigh. "I think it's learned a couple hundred by now. I've lost count."
"Why do you keep saying 'it'? And you still haven't explained why you're here and there!" Shuichi was getting impatient and more confused by the second.
"I refer to my demon self as 'it' because I don't want to associate myself with its malicious deeds. That demon was placed inside my body against my will." Michael said curtly. "And I've learned a few useful Type Zeroes as well. I only separated my human soul from my human and demonic body because I need to concentrate in order to reach you in Hell. You see, Shuichi, this is all an illusion. That mirror has magic powers, due to the demon that owns it, and I simply magnified its power. I'm still inside the room you see now, just floating around."
"Oh." Shuichi blinked. "But wait… a ghost, a zombie, and an angel are going to be placed inside of you as well? How are you going to handle that?"
"We-ell… I'm most likely going to go completely mad. It was hard enough assimilating the Darkness Demon. But Manchu told me he's going to wait four years before he inserts the zombie into me." Michael said thoughtfully. "Then after another four years, I get the ghost. Two years later, I'm released and I go to Heaven, kill an Archangel and take over his/her position and powers."
"And he told you all of this?" Shuichi's mouth dropped open. Jeez, Manchu really thinks ahead. But how is Michael going to get into Heaven?
"Yeah, it's all according to his plan." Michael said uncaringly. "I'm just counting down the days. Ten years stuck in this stupid castle. Fun, fun, fun."
"You wouldn't happen to be in a castle on an island, would you?" Shuichi asked hopefully. Michael's laugh was enough of an answer.
"As if Manchu would be that obvious. I'm sorry, but don't even bother looking for me. Even if you do (which you won't), the whole castle is barricaded by charms and barriers and demons, not to mention some Type Zeroes." Michael said sadly. "The only one who can enter or exit is Manchu."
"Where is he now?" Shuichi frowned suspiciously.
"He's looking for a suitable zombie to incorporate into me, in Hell, of course." Michael answered slowly. "You might even run into him." Shuichi's jaw dropped. "Speaking of… Ichigo, I have to get you ready for that par-tay! I'm going to work my magic on you. Because no one can dress you like I can."
"That's for sure." Shuichi smiled, happy to see sliver of what used to be his charge. He could feel his body being lifted up and he knew he was leaving Michael. "When will I see you?"
"Ten years, Shu-chan. What, did you forget already?" Michael sounded slightly annoyed. "Well, we might get to talk a little in between then, but I might hate you after I become part zombie or ghost. I guess… this is goodbye."
"Goodbye, Michael… I'm sorry I couldn't help you." Shuichi wiped his tears away. "No, I will help you. Once you're free. I'll find you, wherever you are. In Heaven, Hell, any of the realms! You'll be free one day, Michael."
"Free from the walls that caged me in, but not free from myself." Michael uttered enigmatically. And with that, the illusionary ocean shattered into shards of light, spraying all around Shuichi. He could feel himself flying alongside them. But was he really moving at all?
Shuichi's eyes snapped opened and looked around rapidly. He was still standing in front of the mirror, leaning longingly against it. His eyes widened and he backed away. His entire wardrobe had changed. He was in complete cross-dress mode as of now. "No one can dress you like I can." He remembered bitterly and shook his head, chasing the image of Michael out of his head.
"He was right…" Shuichi stared at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a wrap around dress robe that slid off his left shoulder and was tied up by two brown leather straps. It was made up of salmon colored Chiffon and dropped loosely onto his other arm. On his right arm when the sleeve finished at his elbow, a light grass green arm warmer continued down his arm ending just below his knuckles.
The robe pulled away from his body where it was held by a dark midnight blue brooch. A grass green second part of the robe fell underneath it. To top it off, he had dark brown leather shoes that matched the straps of the robe and had rainbow buckles.
"Wow… I can't believe it…" Shuichi stared in awe at himself. He gently reached up to touch the water lily Apollyon had given him. "Maybe I should have been born a girl." The flower seemed to be the finishing touch.
Just then, Ramechi burst into the room and slithered over to him. "My, my. Where did you get that?" Shuichi could see nothing but lust in the snake's eyes and it unnerved him somewhat. The half-demon hoped the party was large enough so that he could ditch the snake as soon as he got there.
"I used a spell." Shuichi giggled uneasily. "I like to look good before I perform." I go, I sing, I ditch. That's the master plan, Ichigo! Stick to it!
"Yes, yes and perform you shall." Ramechi smiled slightly. "Well then. Shall we depart?" Shuichi nodded and the two headed off for the birthday bash, Shuichi clueless to the fact that Ramechi wasn't talking about performing for the party.
(Does happy dance) Okay, so the next chapter is the party. Shuichi unexpectedly makes a new friend. Finally, things start to look up for him! Unfortunately for the b-day girl, the party ends abruptly. Lol I feel bad for taking so long to update, so I'm going to have this one out as soon as possible. I plan on working on tomorrow. And as for my editing, I got bored with it. I'm not an editor, I'm a writer. Maybe I should hire one... anyone want the job? Lol.
Oh, btw. As you know, I have Shuichi sing a lot and on occasion, he sings with others, too. I heard this song a while ago and I LOVE it. It's called "Memories in the Rain" from a show called Bleach. The song is a duet btw. Ichigo Kurosaki & Rukia Kuchiki. Can someone get the lyrics for me (in Japanese, of course)? It would be greatly appreciated and the best birthday present ever and I would completely love whoever finds them and gives 'em to mee! So please find it!
P.s. Lol I noticed that some ppl replied already (and you flipping rock!) but when you put websites on, you gotta do it like this. Exp: m y s p a c e . c o m
If you don't then the site won't show up. I don't mean to be a hassle or bother, but for those who did find it, could you just put it back like that for me? Thankies!