Yeah, I know. You are wondering: " what about the other chapter of 'Angels with Singed Wings'? When are you going to post it?" Well, let me tell you that one is on its way. It's just that I had a MAJOR problem with my crazy computer. You see, I wanted to install a Cd-R on it and – guess what?!!!! – the motherboard went loony! So I had to buy another one . … what a beautiful world, don't you think so? o.O
Ok… you know the drill with me.
1. Hablo español!
2. Thinking – and, in this case, memories – are in italics.
Disclaimer: NO I DON'T OWN THEM… so shoo!
Notes: …he,he… To tell you the truth, I don't know what went on my mind when I wrote this; but I'm developing it, giving it from – don't worry! I still don't know how should I call this. Maybe you could help me:: hint, hint ::on that matter…
What do you think of these titles?
1. Black
2. The Hunted.
3. ~~~ Your suggestion placed here ~~
Well, on with the story!
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Prologue:
One of the many Messengers of Death was sent to the Mortal World to do – what looked like – a very simple task.
Its mission was to simply go and fetch a handful of souls that were due; and bring them to the Underworld so they could be sent to their final resting place.
It sounded so simple… It even looked simple once he saw the list of those he was supposed to look for. And his job was going on smoothly… Until he had to grab that… that… that demonic girl's soul!
Usually, the one in charge of this kind of task – The Kind Spirit of Death – could do this job in less than a day. He could lure his 'victims' into their Deaths without they knowing so. But since this particular Messenger was already engaged in a very special and delicate mission in the Mortal World, the great Hades decided – against his better knowledge – to send his younger, and most mischievous Messenger…
"It's simple, Shinigami." – the Messenger remembered bitterly. – "Just take the list and memorize it. Although you'll be able to notice the ones I send you to go and bring here, it's better if you memorize their names. Sometimes they can be tricky; especially those who want to escape Death"
Shinigami snorted.
"… So there are ones who want to escape Death, huh?" – he muttered sourly, while moving slowly through shadows following his last 'victim'.
She was the last one on his list. A young girl between the ages of five or six – though he wasn't sure; and he didn't care. He didn't like nor understand mortal's practice of keeping track of the years they have lived. He thought that was a very stupid tradition, since every mortal would die one day or the other. The importance of one mortal's life wasn't measured in how many years he or she lived, but what good or bad deeds this mortal accomplished during their life, and if he or she learned something valuable during it.
For him, time was immaterial – since he was immortal. He's being 'alive' ever since the word 'millennia' started to be used; and still, he is considered a 'youngster' between his peers. So that's why he can't get the idea of keeping track of the years one has lived. He knows that a mortal would never beat the time and experience an immortal has – no matter how old in years they can be.
But, sometimes, there were ones who seem to have the talent to make immortal's task nearly impossible…
"Damn-demonic-mortal child!" – he growled when the girl – again – found a way to escape him.
It's been days trying to grab her soul! She has delayed him terribly! And his father Hades must be furious with him – to boot…
"But they are children, Father. Do you think they'll try to trick me and escape Death?" - He remembered. And he just knew he was a fool at that time. He thought it was impossible for a mortal to try and escape him, the Great Destroyer Messenger.
Now, he knows better…
"That's not the real problem right now, little Shinigami. The real problem is that there are those who may try to trick you so they could die." - Hades said. And his words were true, since he met a lot of souls who were trying to fool him. But he dismissed them rapidly. They were easy to perceive – though he can't understand why would they want to die.
"People may want to die, Father? How could that be? Isn't life the greatest gift a soul can have?" - He remembers the disbelief in his voice. He was really naïve at that time…
He remembers his Father's throne chamber, all dark and cold – the way he likes it. The great Hades was in his throne, looking like a giant seated on a mere mortal's simple chair. His voice, unenthusiastic and deep, seemed to roar through the room. Shinigami couldn't look straight at his eyes because his face was always shrouded in shadows – as if he didn't want to be seen. But the young Messenger could sense a deep sadness on his father's voice and aura.
Hades sighed dejectedly. "Yes it is, my son. But when they see so much pain and sadness around them, they start to think that Death could be the end to their problems."
"Don't they know that Death isn't a solution, Father? That they just leave the Mortal World, but their souls continue to exist?" - Shinigami asked, agape, when his father shook his head sadly; telling him that mortal's didn't know a thing of what really happens when they 'die'.
"That's a knowledge only us, the Immortals, have, Shinigami. Souls forget what happens when they die once they touch the Mortal World."
"That's sad…"
"And it's even sadder since many of them want to leave the Mortal World right now."
"Why?"
"Because the Mortal World is suffering. A war is threatening Earth and humanity. The place, where you are supposed to go, is dying. A deadly virus is killing its inhabitants and – the irony of it all – is that the government has its cure. But they are not giving it to the people…"
"That's awful, Father!" - Shinigami said, appalled.
"But it is the truth, my son. Mortal's can be like that…"
"… And gods, too…" – whispered Shinigami.
"That's also true, Shinigami. But we don't die as mortals do. We change form; become weaker. Mortals leave the Mortal World, but their soul doesn't die. On the contrary, they become stronger because they gained more knowledge…"
"If that's so, mortal's can become gods, too…"
"It is not that simple, Shinigami." - Hades chuckled.
But now that he sees that girl, Shinigami wants to know if his Father's words were entirely true.
"She must have some kind of power… This isn't normal."
Finally, he found her – hidden under a pile of old newspapers and cardboard boxes. She was trying to mislead him, but her trembling betrayed her. She was sick with the virus like many others on that colony. She was supposed to be dead for over three days… But she was still fighting, trying to protect a younger child.
He moved swiftly through mortals at such a high speed that they didn't noticed his presence but a mere chilling gust of wind that pricked at their necks. Usually, a mortal can feel a Messenger's presence when they stay too long at their side. When this happens, it usually means that this Messenger is there to grab your soul, but sometimes it happens when the Messenger was either planning on how to get their victim's soul, or they were just resting or passing by.
And since his 'victim' was already found, he moved at top speed to get to her.
He was in his Messenger of Destruction form. He looked like a black cloud of smoke that was floating near the ground. In this form, he didn't have a face, but a dark void were his features were supposed to be and big, bright orbs of deep violet would linger where his eyes should be. He always works with his bright silver scythe – though, in this occasion he didn't need it… supposedly.
Now that he is beyond pissed, he's actually considering to use his scythe… So he took it out of his black cloak, practically making it materialize in his hand, and brought it up over his head. He was going to take that girl's soul now.
Again, the girl seemed to sense him, and she peeked through her hiding-place. Once she saw him, she jumped up and grabbed the hand of the little child she was helping.
"Come on!" – she yelled, pulling the innocent child. The kid nearly undulated in the air when she pulled him. She was running with the child 'flying' behind her.
But Shinigami was faster, and, this time, he wasn't making any concessions to her. If he hadn't done it in the first place, maybe he would be back at his home right now.
He stood in front of the girl, and swayed his scythe over her head – just to scare her and force her to look at his eyes. If she looked at his eyes, he could grab her soul. But she didn't look at him. She just elbowed him and then crashed into him with her shoulder in his stomach, leaving him off balance.
"Come on, Kid!" – she yelled, starting to run.
The kid ran after her, whimpering, frightened, while Shinigami fell to the ground, near the kid's feet. Shinigami moved swiftly, and grabbed one of the kid's ankles and pulled. The kid fell flat on his face and started to shriek once he felt the death-chilling force of Shinigami's hand. And he started to kick about violently.
The girl, hearing the kid's shrieks, turned.
"Leave him alone!" – she cried furiously.
"Let's make a deal." – Shinigami said. The old, incorruptible law of 'never talk to your victim' was long forgotten. He wanted to end with his task right now.
"NO!" – she said, running towards them and kicking Shinigami in the face.
Shinigami caught her feet before she could touch him. He had to admit that the girl was strong and courageous… but a nuisance nevertheless. And she was supposed to be dead, also!
Remembering that, he stood up, keeping the girl's feet in his hand. She started to thrash about, trying to kick him with her free leg. Ferocious growls could be heard out of her throat. But Shinigami was stronger, and he kept her at a prudent distance away from his body.
"You're coming with me!" – he growled.
"NO, YOU MONSTER!"- She declared wholeheartedly and had the great luck to kick him in the face. But her feet went through him. She looked up, wide eyed, scared and confused when she learned that this man didn't have a face. –"What the…?"
Just when she was about to look at his 'face' – or lack of it – the kid screamed.
"What's that?" – the kid wailed.
Shinigami took the opportunity to grab a hold of her chin. He forced her to look at him.
"Close your eyes, Lita!" – a female voice thundered through the vast space they were in – a junkyard, to be precise.
Shinigami looked up. A bright cloud of gold and navy exploded, revealing a female form. A bright object – a magical object - was in her hand and she was threatening him with it. A short sword of silver with a jeweled handle flashed at him menacingly.
"Leave her alone, Shinigami. She's not in your list anymore." – the woman said.
"What do you mean 'she's not on my list anymore'? You can't decide that! Just Hades has that power…"
"Hades can't do, or say, anything once Jupiter or Selene make a decision. And they decided that girl can't die…" – the woman smirked at him
Shinigami, who had his nerves on edge already, lost his cool.
"Oh, yeah?! I don't give a damn about that! I have orders and I'm gonna follow them!"
"You just can't do that…" – another woman said. This one had a dark aura and when she stepped out of her cloud, he saw that she held a long staff with a garnet orb on its end – another magical object.
He just knew who they were…
"Now, what in Hades name are you doing here? You are the Guardians of the Silver Moon! What do you want with this mortal child?!" – he asked, shaking the girl he still held by the chin.
The girl screamed, feeling her jawbone snap.
The one with the short sword ran towards him. Shinigami stood his ground, while the kid Lita was trying to help made a dash out of there. The woman pummeled Shinigami to the ground and the girl landed near him, confused and hurting. The other woman – the one with the long staff – went to grab the little girl. But Shinigami turned and kicked her. He hurt Lita in the process and she stayed on the ground unconscious.
"Grab him, Haruka!" – the one with the long staff said with a composed, commanding voice.
"Oh, no! You don't!" – yelled Shinigami pulling himself on his feet and taking Lita in his arms in a swift motion. He turned and ran.
What he didn't know was that he was running in the direction the kid Lita was helping took.
Haruka growled and followed Shinigami.
"Haruka, be careful! You can harm the girl!" – the one with the long staff said, running after her.
"Don't worry, Setsuna! I'm going to aim to his feet!" – she said, lifting an arm up. –"URANUS WORLD SHAKING!"
A golden globe formed in her fist and went rolling on the ground, making a groove while sparks fly about. The globe moved at high speed and knocked Shinigami in his legs. He fell on top of Lita.
"Take her out of there, Haruka!" – ordered Setsuna.
But Haruka was already on that task. She pulled Shinigami off Lita and lifted the girl.
The kid Lita was helping was hiding near them and could hear everything. He was trembling and crying softly. He couldn't understand a thing of what was going on, but he felt that something very bad was happening. They were fighting over his friend Lita. And his friend seemed to be dead to him. Now he was all-alone in the world – and he didn't like it.
When the kid saw that the one named Haruka took his friend Lita, he came out of his hiding place
"Don't take her! Please!" – he pleaded.
"Stay out of this, Kiddo. This is dangerous." – Haruka told him.
"I won't let you have that girl…" – Shinigami stated, materializing his scythe in his hands; its blade pulsed bright silver.
"Oh, no!" – Haruka whispered. She knew Shinigami was about to attack her, but she could turn and run, even with the girl in her arms. Curiously, she was worried for the kid. He was behind Shinigami and she doesn't know if his attack could harm him in any way. Besides, the wind swept with a chilling force that told her something bad was about to happen. – "Kid, run!" – she cried while turning and running with Lita in her arms.
Shinigami swung his scythe, creating deadly waves of heat and density. A deafening buzz could be heard from his attack. The ground seemed to vibrate under the force of the waves he created.
Haruka lost her footing and fell.
"PLUTO DEADLY SCREAM!" – yelled Setsuna, sending a bright ball towards Shinigami.
The ball caught him square in his chest and sent him flying backwards. His Messenger of Destruction form flickered, threatening to collapse and leave him in his Shinigami purest form – that of an Immortal soul. In that form he was weak and could die under the attack of another Immortal like the Guardians of the Silver Moon.
And he was starting to feel weak already. If the Guardian decided to attack him once more, he could die…
"PLUTO…"
Unfortunately, his greatest worry was becoming a matter he was about to face…
"…DEADLY…"
"Oh, damn!" – he muttered.
He needed to do something to protect himself, before she could kill him.
Why do they hate us so much?! – he thought.
The kid behind him screamed when he saw that the Shinigami was about to land on him.
"…SCREAM!"
He didn't have another choice…
Sorry, Kid… - he apologized mentally.
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How does it look so far? =^.^=
Remember that I'm expecting your suggestions on the title!
Bye!