To Sapphire Angel, Ookami Aya: I know, I hate it too. It's a long story, but in short we've beenstudying "postmodernise" at school the whole of this year. The teacher asked us that if we were to do anything, do it differently. Somehow she knew I write, and started to snub me to write "differently". But hey, holiday's here, so I can stop doing that now!

Omasuoniwabanishi is that spelled right? : Sigh That's what I'm hoping as well. But we'll see... Glad you like Roviel, she's one of my favourite charries I've ever created.

Princess Kandra: Thank you! Does theater bow, then hits hand to head. Owww!

Darkspirals: I know, the shame... hangs head I feel like such an idiot... But happy that you like it. Updated now, this one's a bit slow, but the next chapter ought to be faster... I think. I'm not really sure what's going to happen in the next chapter, except for the fact that Roviel's going to tell about her personal history and they are going to try and teach her how to use Youki...

Chapter Four: ...'Tis A Sad Fact of Life...

Sun poured into the room, the filtered rays of life sweeping across the air, bring the dance of dust motes in the air to life, finding and creating the silent music of the day. She gazed at the dust motes now, the dark eyes looking but not seeing. Or maybe she did, but her numb mind refused to register the acceptance. The scratching of lead against paper whispered in her ear, a background voice to the voices she is hearing once again...

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"Look, drink that. I personally distrust this coffee business, but you look as if you are going to need something warm in you. Gods, how I hate the body I have in your world. Under aged, they call me? Do they realize that I'm over two centuries old? If it wasn't for that you won't be holding coffee right now, but something much stronger."

The drink smelt nice, the scent of sugar floated from the cup. A hint of cream, Saiku put milk? Taking a tentative sip from the mug, she coughed at the sudden onslaught of bitterness, eyes watering as her throat tried to chock out the disgusting taste. It might not have the effect Saiku was hoping for, but it did the trick. Gulping down air, Yuki's eyes lost that glazed look, something that's been there for over an hour.

With the sound of coughing filling the air, Roviel turned, flipping a small round container into the air before tossing to her.

"Finally, some signs of life. If it had come any later, I would have been using this on you."

Catching the small brown bottle, she twisted open the lid. A mixture of dried plants and salt like powdering greeted her curiosity, and an acidic scent rose from the opening.

"Yet another of my prized possessions. Don't sniff it; your body won't be able to take it. Just blow the smell over someone, and I can guarantee that they will wake. It can even wake the dead, if only for a little while. Very potent; two small whiffs and your brain would go into a temporary blank. A mix of two Embedded Words, one of Gate's Opening and another of Daybreak. Useful, especially if someone's paralyzed."

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"Yuki Hatake, do you hear me?"

The loud harsh voice blared before her, revealing a very harassed and red faced teacher in the sound's wake. To her right, Sara looked at her friend with a mixture of curiosity and worry. Although not the brightest student in the school, Yuki never less holds a good impression over her teachers with the reputation of being a quite and diligent student. But ever since yesterday...

"Look Yuki, I know it's the last class of Friday, and you can't wait to get home. But that doesn't mean that I give you the permission to daydream in my class. Look at the bad example you are setting to Saiku. I'm just glad that she isn't catching your bad habit."

The teacher turned with a disgruntled huff, glaring at a few nearby students who have decided to watch the show. They turned back to the books quickly enough, for the lady left, marching back to her high desk and continued marking homework. Lifting up her pen, Yuki took a sideway peek at the girl sitting to her left. She was back to her normal looking self, the dim veil muffling her appearance once again. The fawn colored eyes looked down; a frown of concentration adorned her face as Saiku seemly poured over the book. But Yuki saw, how the lips curved up ever so slightly, how a ghost of amusement lazed in those eyes.

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"Just who the bloody hell are you? Where did that weapon thingy come from, why did your looks change back there?"

The glaive was back to its original form now, the thing gold chain pooling around a small shard of blue crystal. Toying with the jewelry, Saiku gave a purring laugh.

"Who am I? That's what I would like to know. I don't know what happened, or why I'm here. One moment I'm in my own world, minding my own business. The next second I was literally dropped from the heavens, landing myself not only in this sad place, but also a very rude welcoming party. The youngsters haven't told me much, but form what I've heard it would appear that I'm somehow a demon in this world... How that's different to humans I do not know, and frankly, I don't want to know."

Her mind rushed to sort this startling new information. Demons? Other world? What the?

"Youngsters? Who are they? Are they what, demons too?"

A bark of laugh sounded, and Saiku shook her head as she chuckled to herself.

"What? You make it sound as if they are a pack of three meter tall, scale covered, blood thirsty monsters. That's too good for them. Nay, the four boys can't look more human than you or anyone else out on the streets."

She absorbed these new facts, much like a overly used sponge absorbing water; the first go not much gets sucked in, but after squeezing the sponge dry and trying again, one would find that after several goes the water is nearly all absorbed. Thus she sat there, in the small apartment next to the road, the cup of cold coffee placed, untouched, on the table before her. Her hands wandered, tugging at creases in her skirt then smoothing over the fabric with her palms. Somewhere out there, a police siren rose from the darkness, the whirling cries floating across the night.

"So... What do I call you now? I mean Saiku probably isn't your real name, right? Is it that one...? Re..."

"If you can say it properly, then my name's Roviel. But let me warn you, if you can't pronounce it, then don't bother. It's Row-vee-el. Remember that, I hate repeating myself."

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The sun's nearly set; ruby wings flew across the maple sky, the sun leaving behind a final glorious display of majestic beauty and power before releasing it's reign to the gently protection of the moon. Her bag was heavy, in it stuffed full of necessaries for the weekend away from home. Anyone looking on would have presumed that the student was going on a weeklong camp, considering the mass of the traveling bag. But she was a female, and so has thought of every possible side and poked into any half forgotten details. Panting slightly, Yuki continued to drag her bundle of possessions along, one tired eye keeping the shadow filled form of Sai... No, Roviel. She hopes that they will be there soon, or at least that by some miracle her bag becomes lighter, or that it grows wings and can fly. Looking around their surroundings, the girl eyed the empty warehouses with distrust.

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"So, what do I do with you? Do I let you go, and than risking the whole of this placing hunting me down? Or shall I... make sure that you won't be able to tell another living soul this incident?"

The hooded eyes blinked slowly, golden slits peering out from behind the sleepy gaze. Licking her lips, now dry with sudden fear, Yuki raised both hands in protest.

"But... But I thought you said that you can't kill people. I heard you back there."

"Who said anything about killing? The bottle I showed you earlier? Enough of it and one's mind could become a blank sheet, permanently. So what will it be, hum? It's your choice."

The mind works in strange ways, and as Yuki heaved after Roviel's fast, bag-less form, she wondered just what made her say the words that had just changed her life, and not for the better.

"Neither. I'm not going to either die or become a simple brained idiot... I'm... I'm going with you, to meet the people you spoke of. I'm going to meet them and ask why can't I keep my memories and live."

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Suddenly Roviel halted, one hand rising to shade her eyes against the sun as she looked upwards at the sky.

"Koenma said that someone was going to pick us up... Ah, there it is."

A black shape formed, the faceless mass hurdling towards them at startling speed. As a shape began to emerge, Yuki tossed any thought of a bird or small plain out of her mind. There, hovering one meters off the ground, dressed in a pink kimono, a blue haired girl sat upon her oar and waved furiously at Yuki.

"Hi! I'm Botan, your Grim Reaper. Koenma asked me to pick Roviel up, but I didn't know she was bringing a friend. And a bag as well? Oh my, that's going to be hard. But that's all right; I'll just have to be extra careful then! Well, what are you waiting for, get up here!"

She handed her bag over, tying it to the end of the oar. Botan's ceaseless chirping growled in her ears, filling her senses with the bright voice. The Grim Reaper? Did she just hear that clearly? And how can an oar float in air. As a matter of fact, where did this Botan and her oar fly from?

"Well, come on! We don't have all day. Koenma-sama is in a real hurry, and I have two more souls to collect. So? Jump on!"

A cough sounded, and turning, Yuki was surprised to see that Roviel was leaning against a wall, looking as if she had absolutely no intention of climbing onto the oar.

"Is there any portals to Rekai near here?"

Botan frowned, confusion marring her smooth skin.

"Well, yes. As a matter of fact, there is one two blocks south of here. It's in a deserted garage. But why are you asking?"

Stone scratched against cloth, a sound of booted feet crunching against gravel and dirt rolled through the air. Strolling away, Roviel lifted her voice.

"I have an excellent idea, Botan. Why don't you take Yuki here with you instead? She's never been to Rekai, and I think flying with you would be a great way to show her around. You could point thing out, since you have been living there for so long. I'm taking the portal, so you guys could have some private chatting time together."

Perhaps it's her imagination, but Yuki could almost swear that there was a hint of a triumph smirk lingering in those words...

Both hands gripping the oar with steel like fingers, Yuki watched as they rose above the buildings.

"...and help dead spirits to go to Rekai, you know. It's such a tiring job, and even worse when you don't get even a single thanks at the end of the day. Just like that Yusuke. Someone ought to teach him some good manners. Could you imagine, that the first time he died, that I went to greet him and he was being so rude to me? Even after being a Rekai Tantei he's still the same. I don't know how Keiko puts up with him. But that's beside the point. So your name is Yuki? How do you like it, living on Nigenkai? Do you know Yusuke or any of the gang? How do you..."

And so, as they sped away from the ground, Yuki realized that not only was she losing her normal life, but also her sanity...