Trio Maxwell: Shinigami Returns

Chapter 4: Death

"Come on, Kid! You gotta keep up or they'll catch you!" Dyuo said as he ran. Shortly behind him was Kami no Kou, now 10, who was also running as fast as he could. Behind them were 3 grown men chasing after the two with bats.

"Come back here you hooligans!" yelled the men as they chased the boys into an alley. Dyuo and Kami no Kou ran and quickly hopped over the short wooden fence. By the time the men made it over, Dyuo and Kami no Kou were already out of the other side and around the corner. Dyuo started laughing when he heard the men's worn out cursing and slowed down. "Hey, Kid, you've gotta learn to get faster. One of these days we'll find someone who isn't 40 something, then you'll be in trouble."

"But Dyuo-kun, I'm smaller then you!" Kami no Kou whined in response.

"How much faster does a rabbit run then me?"

"A lot faster..."

"Point made."

Kami no Kou looked up at Dyuo and smirked. Without saying a word his took off running as fast as he can. He turned back to see Dyuo just standing still. "Dyuo! Why aren't you chasing me!?"

Dyuo grin and responded, "Now why would I chase you when you already have a head start. Someone should yell go or something." Before either of the boys could say anything, the 3 men appeared around the corner, "Hey! There they are!"

Dyuo quickly looked back, then turned back to Kami no Kou, "Well, there is was. NOW GO!" The two ran down the street with the men chasing after them, very slowly catching up. Dyuo and Kami no Kou turned a corner and ducked behind a fruit vender as the men ran by. It wasn't until long after the voices and footsteps subsided that Dyuo got up. He tugged at Kami no Kou's shirt collar, telling him that everything was clear. Kami no Kou got up cautiously and looked around, reassuring himself that there was no one chasing him. He got up and smiled.

Dyuo looked down the street to where they were headed just to make sure everything was safe and started walking.

"Dyuo-kun, wait up!" Kami no Kou yelled as he caught up. Suddenly Dyuo stopped, fell to his knees and began coughing. Kami no Kou heard this and ran back to him, "Dyuo-kun! What's wrong?"

In between coughs, Dyuo managed to say, "It's ok... I'm fine..." He coughed again and blood flew from his mouth. He wiped his mouth, the blood smearing on his arm. "I'm fine..." he repeated as he staggered up almost drunkenly. He took a deep breath and went down to his knee again and began panting heavily. "Hey Kid... did I ever tell you about my departed friend, Solo?"

Kami no Kou shook his head and Dyuo continued, "Back before I met you, I was an orphan and living on my own, just like you were. There were a group of kids in my area found me and their leader decided to take me under his wing. His name was Solo and he was very respected by every homeless kid in the colony. He tought me everything I know now and became my best, not to mention only friend. Then one day a plague hit the colony. Since my home colony was a very poor one, we couldn't afford medicinal help of any kind. Most of the population died, including every one of my friends. Solo was the last to die... he died right next to me. His last words before leaving me were this, 'Dyuo, I may be dieing but I will always be with you.' At the time I didn't have a name, like you. I looked at my friends dead body and said quietly to myself, 'If Solo is with me, then we'll be Dyuo.' Then I wandered around by myself, looking for a place I belong. I had to steal to live, until I found you. Then we found the church, as you know.

Although for some reason, I never cought the virus and therefore had to watch everyone I ever loved die before my very eyes, I believe death is finaly catching up to me." He started coughing violently, blood shooting out of his mouth with every cough. He laid down on the ground and tried to get as comfortable as possible, despite his nonstop coughing. "Kid... I hate to be mushy... but listen... to me. If I ever leave you... just remember... I'll always be... by your side... watching over you and... helping you out. I'll never leave you..." Dyuo smiled up at Kami no Kou and his eyes slowly closed. His coughing became less and less severe until his chest stopped moving.

Kami no Kou looked down at Dyuo and shook him. He blinked and shook Dyuo again and again. "D... Dyuo-kun? Wake up... Dyuo-kun... Dyuo-kun... Please wake up." He shook Dyuo more and more violently and a tear swelled up I his eye, "Dyuo-kun, please wake up now. We have to go home and eat the bread we stole... Dyuo-kun." He stop shaking Dyuo and buried his tear soaked face in Dyuo's chest. "DYUO-KUN!" he yelled as he slammed a fist against Dyuo's now still chest. Kami no Kou looked up as a droplet of rain tapped his cheek next to his tear. The rain began forming around his face as the droplets began pouring down around him.

He clenched his fist and a small droplet of blood escaped his palm as he yelled out in angst, "DDYYYYUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Kami no Kou sat in the rain for over a half an hour, a very small puddle of blood forming under his hand. He sniffled and wiped his tears away and stood up quickly. "I won't make Dyuo sad. He wouldn't have given up if I died. And Dyuo will always be with me, he said so and I believe him. If Solo is with Dyuo and Dyuo is with me... then I'll be Trio Maxwell!"