Chapter 41: The Unexpected.

Grandpa Kinomiya watched the stars sadly as the shone brightly on the dark canvas of the night sky. The second full moon of the new western year, the beginning of something new, something with the terrifying potential to end the age of souls.

He sighed softly into the gentle breeze that went by. Deciding to finally get some sleep he walked past his grandchildren's bedrooms. He notices another figure curled next to his grand-daughter and he chuckled quietly as it purred in its sleep.

His grandson was dead to the world in the midst of snores and dreams, his own room was empty of guests now; it seemed the young neko-jin had jumped at the chance of taking Osiris's old bed once he'd gotten his own apartment.

Sliver light caught his eyes as he was about to leave the room. He looked up.

A beautiful young girl was standing next to the young champion's bed. Her long light turquoise hair was loose and tumbled down her back in an elegant way; her pale gold eyes showed no warmth as she looked piercingly at the old man. Her fine, delicate features cut through him like a dagger, sending him shiver up his spine as he gazed upon the ivy like tattoo that crept up her face. She was wearing a kimono lighter than her hair and carrying a sliver scythe, he recognized it to be the sort of weapon the western society associated with the grim reaper. Behind her were two large feathered wings both such a pale blue it seemed like they were white. Her stance was proud and majestic, full of a job she was meant to achieve and knowing she will do it.

"Heiji." She spoke his name with an eerie calm, her voice full of a childish authority and wisdom.

"Who are you?" He asked her. She smiled, her face creased with a malicious mirth.

"I am here to set of the trigger." She told him.

"Tyson?"

She rolled her eyes.

"No. Tyson still hasn't completed his quest yet dearest Heiji." She told him mockingly.

"What is your name child?"

The girl glared slightly.

"My name is Morana, I am death." She told him, she pointed her scythe at him. "I am here to release the trigger from the living." She told him, her eyes flashing with dislike. "You."

He looked at her with an unsmiling face. He suddenly seemed a lot older and wiser than he had ever done before.

"You have an hour to contemplate this. Use your time wisely, however you can not tell anyone what is pre-destined."

Grandpa Kinomiya sighed quietly and walked outside onto the landing. He watched sadly the stars as he came to terms with the news that he had been told through a child named death.

"Ah, my homies, what you going to do without me huh?"

"They'll be fine." Death spoke from behind him. He ignored her.

"Are you sure it's today?"

"As sure as the upcoming era."

"What about my little icicle?"

"She will survive to complete her task." That same voice, grandpa turned around, showing anger he had not known in a long, long time towards unimaginably beautiful pale gold eyes.

"'She' is also my granddaughter, she's been through enough without-"

"Complete your task Heiji. Go to your room and take your last breath." She growled slightly.

The old man didn't flinch; instead he sighed in defeat and walked into his room.

"Tyson, Hiro, Isis, you look after yourselves in this big bad world."


Isis woke up quietly, her eyes snapping open as she felt a presence in her room. The silhouette of what looked like her grandpa.

"Grandpa? Grandpa it's too early to get up now." She complained softly, struggling to sit up. She heard him chortle softly, nothing of his usual 'hip' self.

"You awake huh Ice? Hm… You and triangle are going to go through a lot okay? Heck, all of you are. The era of the Spirits Within is coming Isis. You'll play a big role, you and Tyson." He told her softly, her eyebrows crinkled slightly to show her confusion.

"What are you going on about grandpa?"

"You'll find out soon Isis. Just remember, everything comes from within okay?" He sat down on her western style bed and softly punched her shoulder.

"Er… okay."

"Good girl. Now you look after yourself okay?" He told her, Isis felt her heart flutter with a sudden panic.

"Please don't send me away grandpa, not now! I don't want to go back." She whispered frantically.

"I'm not sending you away dudette. You'll send yourself away when the time comes, when you're ready, oh, and don't let your pater sell the dojo."

"Wha? Grandpa I'm confused, what are you going on about?" She asked him, he smiled quietly.

"NOO!" She heard Tyson cry out, her eyes widened and she darted out of bed, sprinting down the corridor to where she heard Tyson cry out.

"Tyson?"

"NOO! WAKE UP GRANDPA!"

Her eyes widened in shock, she glanced into her room and saw the silhouette fade slightly.

She walked slowly up to Tyson; shock numbed her body as she knelt down and wrapped her cousin into her chest and let him sob his heart out. Hesitating slightly she felt for a pulse in his neck.

Nothing.

She gently cradled her inconsolable cousin in her arms, unable to take her eyes off her grandpa's dead body.

She heard the others run towards them, their feet making soft thumping sounds on the floor of the dojo, she realised what he meant.

I won't grandpa.

"He's dead." She told them, her voice surprised her, it was cold and distant.

She heard Ray gasp and the silent choke of Kai.

Tyson was still crying.

"Grandpa!"

Isis felt something clench her stomach and throw it around inside of her.

"I think I'm about to be sick." She murmured; letting go of Tyson she slowly raised herself from ground level and ran into the bathroom where the nauseating sound of someone throwing up could be heard.

Kai felt something gently alight onto his shoulder, a soft white fur ball. It purred softly into his ear.

Phoenix…

"Heiji"

Grandpa Kinomiya jumped and looked at the young Angel of Death as she took him further down the river of Mortality.

I won't Grandpa.


LunaRavenCroft: (sobs) I'M SO SORRY GRANDPA!!! (sobs more) er, yeah ok, first off, please don't flame me for this, it's not my fault! Wait... okay it is my fault but how else is my story going to be interesting for the last eight chapters? Now to my wonderful reviewers...

Heart of Friendship: Wow, you're a twin? Awesome, I can't wait for your newest story to come out!

Seripa: She's not going to find out in this story, but most likely in the sequel, after it's a pretty big thing to tell your girlfriend isn't it?

Emi-Chan and Her 3 Spirits: Awesome! I'm teaching myself Japanese as well but instead I've got the books and stuff, Lol.

Wreckless Spirit: Phoenix is adorable. I know what you mean mind, I just wanted to get across the point that not everyone is a good guy, and that there are some MEAN characters out there. I decided to update this story earlier just for you! (not because I was bored or anything… (shifty eyes) honest!)

Bloody-Shadows: Tell me about it, (rolls eyes) my brother is so mean, he used to hog the main computer when that was the only one without internet…

Dark-Zero: Thank you!

Ms. SoUrPuSs: Yes but if I didn't leave you on a cliffy you might not come back… lol. You know I used to have a cat called Bubbles, he was put down when I was only little though, yeah, it's awesome because Dranzer and Dragweena are both phoenixes and because of something else which I can't tell you yet! Heh, I wish I could get broadband, it would be so much easier I can tell you!

Armith-Greenleaf: It's not as cold as I'd like it to be! Still no snow… Wow, what a cool place to live! I tried learning Spanish on a short course but I have no head for languages! You read it all in one afternoon? O.O wow, that's AMAZING, seriously, it's like 152pages on Microsoft Word! Too hot for me! I mean, when it's summer over here it's always FAR TOO HOT for me!