We All Fall Down

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Ch. 1

The Feast Grotesque

It was like a mass burial. Bodies lay, outstretched, in agony and death for miles. Piled upon one another, the corpses attracted the surviving demons, twisted with hunger, whom feasted upon the rotting flesh, thus poisoning themselves. They were oblivious to this while they hungrily tore away at the dank remains. Giant swarms of monstrous insects clouded the skies. This was the epidemic. The plague. It was only the beginning.

Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies…

Over a small, smoldering fire, a bird roasted, a tree overhead. From the branches shone the crimson eyes of a forbidden child. Hiei leapt from the tree to the side of the fire, hungrily eyeing his meal as he removed the blackening stick from above the fire. He pulled away the hot roast, obviously not affected by its temperature, and tore in to it with sharp teeth. Food had been difficult to attain, and now he was feasting upon the hefty Demon Bird. His pointed teeth ripped away the undercooked flesh, organs spilling to the ground. Hiei cared no longer. At least he was alive.

Ever since the sky had become black with swarms of Makai Insects, swarming to the feast of grotesque, every meal or drink, every comfort was far enough. Life in the Makai was difficult, but now, it was near impossible. The one plus side to this spreading epidemic was that there was hardly a need to worry about other demons.

Wrapping a dark cloak around his meager yet sustained body, Hiei leapt into his tree. It, too, was twisted and gnarled with famine and sickness. Everything was dying.

Hiei sighed. "The one time you need a kitsune…" he trailed off, staring in to the darkening surroundings, searching for anything that hinted to better times to come. Even this cloaked and hidden man wished for happier days.

In the unforgiving darkness, he slowly fell in to an uneasy slumber, prepared to awaken upon the slightest sound.