Title: End of The Worlds

Plot Mistress: Under The Old Oak Tree

Spell Researchers: Fellow wizards, witches onmyouji at my Yahoo!Group

Summary: The Shinigamis discover that not all gods are nice, that high school crushes are murder, and that your children can really surprise you.

Warning 1: R

Warning 2: This story features 4 main Shinigami – Shiozaki Kyo, Matsumada Takashi, Tsuzuki Asato and Kurosaki Hisoka. Both Kyo and Takashi are Original Characters. If you're put off by that, it's understandable. But please give them a chance. I assure you, they're not Gary Stus.

Disclaimer: The following disclaimer applies to this and subsequent chapters, as well as previous related and unrelated works. This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Yoko Matsushita, various publishers including but not limited to Hana to Yume. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 1

The Prophecy

Konoe Kacho was the one person in the Shokan Division, perhaps even the whole of JuuOhCho who had the privilege of regular, face to face meetings with the Lord of the Underworld himself, Enma-Daioh. Not even Tatsumi, with rumors still flying around after all this time that he was actually the real head of the Shokan, had yet to be in the august presence of Enma. While still his secretary who did his duties diligently and faithfully, every time meetings were called between Kacho and Enma-Daioh, the mammoth doors with gold-beaten leaves marked the limit of the Kagetsukai's staunch presence.

And beyond those doors was the seat of power of the Meifu.

Befitting the size of the doors at the entrance, the hall within was indeed immense. Called the Hall of the Dead, the place was massive, far bigger than any space that could ever be found within the real Diet Building. But physics was never much of a problem in the Land of the Dead. The hall was a construction of wood and stone, mimicking the old grandeurs from the time of the shoguns. Tatami began just a few steps within the doors and Kacho took off his shoes, bowing to the faceless attendant that waited at the side. It paid to be polite to the nameless, unknown beings that made up a part of Enma's Own. As he walked down the long aisle of tatami-covered floors to the dais that seated EnmaDaioh, his eyes were automatically drawn to the ceiling above.

The ceilings had never been fully lighted, lost in gloom as it was since the only light that shone on the hall came from the wall lamps spaced every few feet. Electricity seemed to be the only modern convenience allowed within this cavernous space and they were placed at normal height so that the ceiling was forever lost in perpetual darkness. As he trod closer and closer to the dais, the straw mats rustling beneath his feet, Kacho contemplated the rumors he'd heard about this place. One such rumour claimed that the ceiling was no ceiling, but a living tapestry that told the story of how the world was made. But it was never proved.

His eyes wandered then to the sides. The rows of cushions on his left and right was empty. These were usually reserved for the high authorities of the JuuOhCho, with the other eleven devas having their own Courts to preside over. Besides the Shokan division, there were other 'mortal' employees of the JuuOhCho, answering directly to Enma and on his behalf, they ran the normal, day-to-day activities of Japan's bureau for processing the dead. Their absence meant that today's meeting was either a casual affair or a clandestine one. Since the figure waiting on the dais at the end was no mere mortal subject to the need for some idle chatter, a casual meeting was not on the list.

This meant the High Lord had something important to tell. One that would concern his staff.

A wave of uneasiness roiled in him even as he prepared himself for the expected shock. Like the splash of ice-cold water to the face, like dipping your hand into boiling oil, coming into a deva's, a god's presence, would be more than the human mind could take. But all those who had forsaken the final peace of true death were given the gift to endure that agony of enduring an Immortal's charisma and so it took Kacho only a moment to settle himself. Practice helped.

The craggy-faced old man stopped perhaps fifteen feet away from the raised dais and bowed deep and respectfully. He waited for his acknowledgment and permission before he dared to raise himself from the obeisance and was taken aback when he discovered that he would not be having his usual meeting with Enma-Daioh from this distance. Instead, a plump cushion was set only a few feet away from the dais, obviously meant for him. There was a low table set beside it with a steaming cup of green tea and a teapot waiting. Old as he was, frequent visitor to this Hall as he was, hesitation and uncertainty assailed him, faced with the new seating arrangement.

Enma-Daioh sensed his hesitation and a smile graced the ageless face. A pale hand gestured briefly yet he understood it. Taking the cue, he walked closer to the dais, softly though, and sat himself down gingerly on the cushion. As Kacho arranged himself properly, he took the interval to get used to the divine presence of Enma.

How to describe him, Yama, Chief Judge of the Underworld and one of the Juniten? Lord Enma had the visage of a youth in his early twenties with hair that fell long and straight past his waist to lie like a cloak spread out behind him. His hair was a gold that surpassed even Watari's; at times, it seemed to be as pale as light or a molten river that burned. The Yama wore traditional robes of overlapping amber deepening to a shade of gold that rivaled the deity's hair in brilliance.

But even though Lord Enma looked like a young man, there was a certain, terrible beauty about it, and yet a cruel ugliness that could never be properly described. Human artisans had tried to depict death's duality since time began but the grotesque masks of Yama was only a wisp that failed to catch the true essence.

"Kanoe," EnmaDaioh greeted him. His voice, the sound of liquid music and the harsh breaking of glass on rocks.

"My Lord," Kacho bowed his head. "How may I be of service?"

"No more than which you've already given me, Kanoe," Enma smiled. "But perhaps. . .in the future. . . .who knows? You're not drinking," he added. "Please. My attendants would be most aggrieved; they would think you find their preparations lacking."

He blushed, something which he was sure would have his staff dropping on the floor in complete amazement as he felt the heat on his cheeks. "Aa, forgive me." He took the cup and sipped the hot liquid gingerly. The tea was a smooth blend, strong yet delicately so and despite himself, he let out a sigh of contentment. Doubtless it was a blend unattainable anywhere on earth. Enma-Daioh waited till he had set his cup down before speaking again.

"How is your staff doing, Kanoe?"

"They are doing as well as can be expected my Lord," he replied, a bit baffled.

"How are Asato and Hisoka in particular? Are they settling down well?"

Kacho beamed as any proud father would. "They are. Married life suits them."

A brief shadow crossed Enma's eternal face. "A trouble that begs a solution," he sighed.

"My Lord?"

He waved aside his question. "That is not for now. In the future," he sighed again. "If there is one. . ." his murmurs trailed off and again Kacho was visited with a vague sense of unease.

Something was troubling Enma about Tsuzuki and the boy, as usual. He had no doubt that it had to do with Tsuzuki's past. Of everyone in the JuuOhCho, only Enma-Daioh, himself and Hakushaku-sama knew about that secret. But obviously Enma felt that there was something else that required attention. Something that was important enough to set aside that bag of thorns for later. And that worried him. He knew how deeply concerned Enma was about Tsuzuki. A meeting with the Yama after the Saagatanus case had revealed that it was Enma who had interceded with the illusions that the demon had created to bound Tsuzuki. That Enma had taken a direct hand in it showed just how deep the Immortal Judge's concern was.

And it had to be set aside for something else of more urgent importance.

"Tell me of the others, Kanoe," Enma invited as the deity relaxed imperceptibly on his dais. It was a clear gesture for him to do the same and take his time. Whatever it was that prompted this meeting, Enma-Daioh obviously felt that it would probably taste better on the palate after idle talk. "Tell me of Seiichirou, Yutaka, Saya, Yuma, everyone. I would like to hear about them."

This was not a new topic between him and Enma. While his staff might complain about having the lowest wages in the entire bureau, that did not mean that Enma cared little for them. Enma cared for them as much as a god could, a love that would and had spanned heaven and hell. Why else would the deity grant them the shelter of a half-life of a Shinigami?

So he talked, telling him how his staff fared and Lord Enma appeared genuinely pleased about the latest developments between Tatsumi and Watari. When the Akuma case was brought up, Enma's face clouded. For reasons unknown to Kacho, this case had troubled the Lord far more than their other cases. Almost as much as Tsuzuki's past troubled him. . .

"And how is Kyo doing?" Enma asked.

He sighed and smiled ruefully. "He had us scared there for a moment when he stopped breathing that night. But he's stabilized, according to Takashi. He's still unconscious though these past few weeks. Takashi and Watari are both of the opinion that it's due to the massive damage his body took. So it'll probably be quite a while before he's completely healed. He's starting to become lucid for a few moments lately though."

Enma nodded slowly. "That is good to hear. And how is Takashi holding up?"

"He's doing well. What happened between the six of them and Akuma, as is detailed in the report sent to you, has. . . .disturbed him. But he's doing as well as can be expected. Taking care of Kyo is at least making him focus on more mundane matters."

Enma was silent for a few minutes and Kacho took the time to sip his tea, which, amazingly, was still hot as though freshly brewed. But then, he was sitting in the Hall of the Dead, so nothing much should surprise him. A frown marred Enma's smooth, pale brow, making him look decidedly mortal. But the frown came and went in the briefest instances. He looked up back at Kacho and with no gesture evident, his attendants which had waited quietly in the shadows, stood up and left the hall in single file. The great doors were shut with a muffled thump and it was just him and Enma left in the Hall.

"What do you know about our myths and lore, Kanoe?" Enma asked abruptly.

He was taken aback by the rather strange turn of the conversation but answered him anyway. "My Lord, as much as any person would, though being a Shinigami has exposed me to more."

"What do you know about the lore concerning the origins of the world?"

"Only from what I've read from the Kojiki," he admitted.

"Do you believe in it?"

He blinked. "I'm not sure my Lord."

Enma smiled. "I doubt anyone is," he answered mysteriously. "But then, that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to talk to you about the end of the world."

He was pretty sure he blinked quite a lot then.

"The end of. . . .the world?" he asked, stupefied.

"Know this Kanoe," Enma began and Kacho was struck by the sudden aura of majesty that prevailed the Yama's being then. What Enma was about to tell him would be of utmost significance and he sat up straighter.

"When the world was made, the gods were pleased with what was created. But in their pleasure, they had forgotten that for every life, death shall be the balance that rights the scale." Enma's eyes burned into him as he said this and for a moment, he saw something. He was given a brief glimpse into that time when all was new and the gods still walked the earth. He blanched from the awesome sight that sent his mind reeling and the feeling was gone in an instant.

"They, the gods, had created the ultimate life; Earth. And to right the scale once again, the annihilation of the world was set, and with it, the gods of destruction were born. But something went wrong, Kanoe. Something that should have never happened, did. And that tipped the scales too far. When the first shoots grew on the land and the first fishes swam in the sea, a prophecy was made. It foretold of the ending that was never meant to be."

Kacho gathered his courage and spoke, "My Lord, what do you mean by this?"

In answer, Enma waved his hand before him and on the very air itself, words burned into life, undulating as though blown by an unseen breeze. And it was so that he read the prophecy.

Beware when she who was human embraces the darkness

For the Dark will rise to swallow us all

And she will be the Moon that brings the tide.

Beware when she who was human seals the Demon's promise

For she will turn the Wheel of the Prophecy

And the Wheel will grind us to dust.

Beware when she who was human cheats Death

For Death will be bound

And Death shall dance to her song.

Beware when she who was human weaves her web of deceit

For Death will bring Life

And Life shall mean Death.

Beware when she who was human is human no more

For Earth shall be as ash

Water shall be as none

Air shall be a memory

And Fire shall burn us all.

Beware.

He broke into a cold sweat even as he read the prophecy and he found himself trembling as he came to the last line. Beware. . . .

"My Lord?" he gasped out. They were simple words but they struck his soul to its depth for the words were alive with power and ancient foreboding. This Prophecy was a Prophecy of Doom.

"My Lord, what does this mean? Why are you showing me this?"

The look on Enma's face was heartbreakingly sad as the deity regarded him.

"Kanoe. . . the Wheel has turned."

To be Continued

Kelly: The concept of Enma's Own is mine. Please do not use it without permission. If you'd like to know more about it, feel free to ask.