Author's Note: We have another one that is long. I had to rename this halo because there was already one called "Murata". Poor Ryo, he doesn't even get an "on-screen" death. I have been sitting on this idea for the halo for a long time. The words just came out as I wrote this. Another piece of the idea came from the podcast, The Grey Rooms. Forest of Love and a real-life serial killer from Japan helped me with this. There are two more halos before the season is finished. I have the last two all pulled out with crumbles of ideas. Hell, I even have the next season pulled out. Oh, there is going to be an AO3-exclusive in Match to April. For now, enjoy this week's halo.

Halo Twenty-Seven: Dante Killer:

Murata Kichizo grew up charmed. The only son of teachers in the countryside. He knew how to get his way from the time his was in elementary school. For you see, Murata saw himself destined for great things. His hometown was dying. Most of the youth had already moved to the city. The elderly were dying off as they hung around the town. His parents would soon have to get new jobs. Young Murata could see the writing on the walls. It would only be a matter of time.

That time would come when he was seven.

His father got a better job at a high school in Osaka. It didn't take long for young Murata to adjust. After all, he had his charms and knew how to weaponize them. So much that they would be devastating to everyone around him.

But alas, all of his scheming and charms would catch up to him. It only time about three days before the murder of Mikajima Saki. His death would then push the game further into its dark, reckless path.

Day One

1.

BREAKING NEWS

A local elementary school has suffered an attack from a lone assailant. Around ten in the morning, a lone teenager broke into Ikebukuro Elementary school and stabbed several children. As of reporting, eleven students have died and twenty more have been injured. The suspect has been identified as Takiguchi Ryo. The seventeen-year-old boy was a student at Raira Academy. Police have gunned him down when Takiguchi tried to attack them with the same kitchen knife he used on the children. Takiguchi was suspected in the murders of his parents. Their bodies were found when an anonymous tip was phoned into the police. We will keep you updated on further details.

2.

As stated before, Murata was a charming boy. He knew how to win over his teachers, other classmates, and even his own parents. Like most kids, he got to thinking. How could this boy use his charms to his advantage? Another thing that has to be said about Murata is that he is a quick learner. Add on to keeping secrets and you have a monster in the making.

Let's back up some.

It all started when he was six years old. This was before he moved away. Murata was just coming into his charms. So far, no one ever said no to him. One teacher was going to find out the hard way of what happened when you told Murata no.

There was a teacher who shall remain nameless. Now, the details vary depending on who you ask. The story can be boiled down to this: young Murata, the teacher in question, a ball point pen, and an injured hand. What exactly happened? Murata claimed that the teacher tried to touch him inappropriately. The victim said that he kept the student after class for throwing rocks at his classmates. You can see where this is going.

Murata's claims got the teacher arrested. However, the charges were dropped after the family moved away. Was his father's job transfer a cover for the son's alleged misdeeds? No one can confirm or deny this.

In Osaka, young Murata honed his charms. On the surface, he was a model student. Polite, perfect grades, really popular students, and he had many girls falling for him. However, young Murata had a dark side to him.

But we'll get into that later on.

3.

"You see it too?" Nami asked.

"Yeah," Mikado said. The tadpoles all sat in Shinra's living room. They already knew where this was heading.

"This is a new power, right?" Yamato asked.

"Well… yes and no," Shingen said.

"What does that mean?" Tetsu asked.

"You had a slight mutation," Emilia said. "They gave you the antidote. You are now seeing the leftover effects in your blood."

"So… it's not permanent?" Hifumi asked.

"We don't know," Shingen said. "But we will look into that."

"So we're going to be seeing the lives of dead people?" Shuichi asked. "We have to feel how they die?"

"Yes," Emilia said. She always tried to show gentler towards the test subjects. The tadpoles all had grim looks on their faces.

"I'm so sorry," she said. Her husband put his hand on her shoulder. She turned to see him shaking her head.

"Don't," he said. "Just let them stew for a while." Emilia started to speak but closed her mouth. Instead, she turned back to the frowning tadpoles. This wasn't helping to earn their trust.

4.

She had to act fast. There was a warrant on her target's arrest. She saw what the plan was. There was no way she was going to let her kill get stolen out from under her. She bit down on her thumbnail.

"Bitch."

She was going to have to readjust her plans for the kill to work. She stopped moving around in the ladies' room. She probably looked like a basket case pacing around and biting on her thumb like that. She paused and took a breath.

"Calm down. Just rework with what you have. Calm down and take a breath."

She stopped walking and closed her eyes. She took a breath in and breathed out. She did this about two more times. She felt herself calming down.

Right…

She took another breath. She just needed to change her plans a little bit. Yes, that's it. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

"Hello? Yeah, it's me. I'm going to need a little favor from you."

When all of that was sorted, she calmly walked out of the bathroom and headed back to her desk.

5.

They just wanted to be worshipped like in the old days. Modern life ruined everything. They used to have so much power. Now they were nothing more than a whisper. However, they didn't want to go out so easily. So it formulated a plan.

They just needed a body. It wouldn't take long for them to find one.

6.

Murata sat alone in his room. He hadn't led a sermon in days. His followers began to worry about him. It didn't help that the minister started drinking again. Murata clutched an empty bottle in his hand. He jerked his head around when he heard a knock on the door.

"Murata-sama?" a woman's voice asked.

"Go away!" he shouted. Murata threw the bottle at the door. He let out a scream like a wild animal. The minister sat, panting. Outside the door was quiet. Murata dropped his head in hands.

How did it get like this? This wasn't supposed to happen. How much did that stupid woman know about him? She thought she was so smart staying in jail not saying a word. He ought to will her to off herself in jail. Murata gritted his teeth.

No! There was no way in hell he was going to let his empire crumble to the ground. He came to Ikebukuro to conquer it. The man vowed to have all of Japan bowing at his feet. There was no way some scandal was going to bring him down. He was Murata Kichizo, god damn it! He was nearly god thanks to her! It was Miya's loss for leaving him. It didn't matter. She and the other tadpoles as they were called would be in his service. Once that was done, who knows? Maybe the world? Limits met nothing to him. With all of that in mind, Murata knew what he needed to do.

The minister stood up and straightened himself out.

"Time to raise my army," he said to himself. A little smirk came across his face. Murata walked out of his room after he straightened his tie.

Day Two

7.

The detectives hit jackpot. The younger one nudged his partner in the arm.

"Hey. Hey!" he said. The older detective looked up.

"What?" he asked.

"Look at this," the younger detective said. His partner looked at the screen. A curious look came over his face.

"What is this?" he asked. He scrolled down on the screen. And suddenly, it started to make sense. The detectives looked at each other.

"That would explain everything," the younger detective said.

By ten in the morning, Morikawa was walked back into an interrogation room. She still refused to talk. Why were they even wasting their time on her?

She found the two detectives waiting for her in the room. Morikawa frowned when she saw them. She snorted and rolled her eyes.

"I have nothing to say to you," Kita said.

"You don't have to," the older detective said. "We'll do all of the talking." The suspect sat down in front of them. He shoved a picture of a fifteen-year-old girl's mugshot. Kita quickly straightened up.

"Where did you get this?" she asked.

"Who is this?" the detective asked. Kita looked away.

"Ono Kagami," the detective said. "Aged fifteen. Bright future with straight A's. She looks really pretty. Why is she in jail?" The former secretary growled as she wrinkled her nose.

"We took the liberty of doing more research," the younger detective said. "Does the name Iwai Sachi ring any bells?" Kita puffed up her cheeks and frowned. The detectives looked at each other.

"Do you want to go first or should I?" he asked. The older detective shrugged.

"I guess I will go first," he said. He turned back to the suspect. Kita refused to look at them. The older detective tapped his finger on the picture.

"Ono-chan's niece, isn't she?" he asked. "She was your sister's only daughter. What made her end up in jail like this? Her record has been clean until this point. Did she fall into the wrong crowd?"

"No," Kita growled. The older detective raised his eyebrow.

"No?" he asked.

"No!" she said again.

"I see," the older detective said. "Hm… Could it be that she was in a cult?" Kita started mumbling something under her breath.

"Hm?" the detective asked. He leaned in closer to hear her.

"Shut up," Kita said under her breath. The other detective watched as he could see this lead was getting warmer. They just needed to poke the bear a little bit longer.

"How close were you and Iwai-san?" the younger detective asked. Kita shot them a cold glare.

"I'm not speaking until my lawyer gets here," she said. "Guards! Get me out of here!" The guards came and took her out of the room. The detectives looked at each other. They would have to keep looking on those hard drives. Kagami and Sachi could be the keys to breaking this case.

8.

The members of the Asahara sat in the pews of the sanctuary. They whispered among each other. Where did Miya go? Ever since she left, the women became more uncomfortable around the male guards.

Now, they were called together for a sermon.

The room got quiet when the doors to the hallway opened. Murata walked out to the sanctuary. He took a look around the room. Good, everyone was here. Even the cameras were rolling. Murata smirked to himself as he strolled over to the podium.

"Good morning, my flock!" he greeted the congregation. "You might have heard some things about me and Chang-san. I am here to get some things clear." He could hear a pin drop. Their eyes stayed fixed on him.

"There are lies being spread about me from the enemy," he said. "They are calling me a conman and a criminal! Lies! They are lies! The enemy came in when I was at a weak moment and took hold of me! But I have risen above!" The crowd roared with cheers. Hina sat in the back corner with her eyes lowered. She knew this was all lies. She saw the real him back in that restaurant. Because of him Miya was gone. Now who was going to protect her and the other girls from the guards? Murata lowered his head for dramatic effect.

"The enemy has led away Sister Chang," he lied. "She is lost to us now. But do not worry. She and many more will come back to us. For now is the time to claim the country as our own! Tokyo will be the start! We will spread our word to this country and beyond!" The crowd cheered again.

She sat in the very back with her hood up. It was easy to see why they hung on his every word. If things were different, maybe she could get behind what Murata was saying. But he would have to go before her rival got her hands on him. She already had her trap worked out.

All she had to do now was wait.

9.

When Murata was fifteen, things took a bizarre turn. It all started with a class trip. Murata and his classmates went to Hokkaido. Things had gotten boring in his life. He wished that something exciting would happen to him.

They wanted to get out of the shrine they were stuck in. People came and went, but they didn't have what they needed to become a god again. Too old, too young, too naïve, too pure. This was no good. They needed someone with ambition. Someone who wasn't afraid to do anything in their power to get what they wanted.

Until that person came along, they were going to be stuck here.

Murata made his way to the shrine. Hokkaido was alright. It wasn't his cup of tea. There wasn't much to look at with the snowy landscape. The other classmates chatted away excited. Some of the girls wanted to accompany him. There was one in particular who wouldn't give up.

Her name was Konishi Kokuro. She was the shy that no one paid attention to. Murata did notice her here and there. Kokuro admired him since the first day of school. However, she never had the courage to confess her feelings. She was certain that some other girl would've swept him up by now. It amazed her that Murata was still single.

Today, she gathered the courage to confess her feelings. For most of the trip, Kokuro hung around Murata. He couldn't understand why, but he didn't try to push her away either. Anything to make this trip exciting, he supposed. That's when she came up with the idea.

"Let's go to the local shrine and make a wish," Kokuro said. The boy gave her a strange look.

"Why?" Murata asked. Kokuro looked a little bit hurt.

"Oh…" she said. "I just thought…" Her eyes shifted away from him. Murata turned her face to him.

"Whatever, let's go," he said. Kokuro's eyes lit up.

"Thank you so much!" she said.

So that's how they ended up on the steps up to Ubagami Daijingū. Murata wanted to be alone, but Kokuro didn't try to hound him for his attention at school, so he let her stay. He figured that he would humor her long enough and try to ditch her when she wasn't looking. She tried to think of something to say, but nothing was coming to her head. Instead, Kokuro looked down at her feet and kept walking.

They made it up to the shrine. She had one wish in mind. He was just going to stand there for a few seconds and just pretended to make a wish. Kokuro dropped a coin into the shrine, clapped her hands together, and started to pray. He stood next to her and shut his eyes.

They looked at these latest visitors. The girl wanted her love to be reciprocated. Boring! Was that all teenage girls wanted these days? So disappointing. Wait. What's this? Hm… He didn't seem to believe in anything, but he wants so much more in his life.

It smiled to itself.

"Yes, you will do just fine."

"Huh?" A bolt of energy shot through his body. He felt himself freeze up before hitting the ground. Kokuro calling his name was the last thing he heard before everything went black.

Murata came to moments later. Kokuro stood over him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. It was then Murata could feel it. The warmth rose in his chest. The light and power ran through his body. He felt like he could fly away. Murata started to see the truth of the world. He saw the past, present, and future. Murata suddenly wanted more. A voice whispered one thing in his ear.

"This is the only the beginning."

Murata sat up.

"Murata?" Kokuro asked. He turned to her with a smile on his face.

"Yeah," he said. "I feel fine." The boy froze to his feet. Kokuro looked confused.

"Murata? Wait! Where are you going?" she asked. She ran to catch up with him. Murata smirked to himself. He and his new "friend" had new plans to bring new religion.

Day Three

10.

Kitano sat at his desk. He pulled out his tape recorder and hit record.

"There will be another tribune that will be paid. The Dante Killer will make her move. However, there will be more kills on the way. A couple of the knights are on the move. The tadpoles seem to have curious development in their evolution. We will keep observing them for the time being."

He looked over at his clock.

"The killing should happen right about… now. We will see what happens next."

Kitano hit stop on his recorder. He stood up from his desk and walked out of his office.

11.

An old man sat at the bus station. This was what he did every day. He didn't have a real destination. This was just his place to relax and just think.

That wasn't going to happen this morning.

He turned his head when he heard loud, drunk laughter. Three thugs in their twenties were stumbling around with empty bottles in their hands. The old man felt his left eye twitch. He didn't need this so early in the morning. He already knew what was coming next. The men walked over the bench.

"Hey old man!" one of them slurred out. The old man didn't look up. The young man with bright dyed blonde hair made a face at the old man.

"Hey! We're talkin' to you!" he shouted. "You deaf or somethin'!" The old man kept his eyes forward. He wasn't going to let this piece of trash ruin his morning. Besides, he wasn't in the mood. One of the blonde man's friends stepped forward.

"Looks like we're going to have to teach him some manners!" he said. He held up his bottle filled with some sort of liquid and poured it on the old man's head. His victim didn't budge. The blonde sneered and clicked his tongue.

"What's with this man?" he asked. His friend tossed down the bottle. The glass shattered at the old man's feet. The blonde man spat in the victim's face. He clicked his tongue and walked off with his friends.

"So lame," he muttered under his breath. The old man didn't move the whole time. He was already made his list in his head. The old man only stood up as the bus pulled up.

12.

Murata made it to the basement sanctuary in the early hours of the morning. He got a text from ones of his wives to meet up for some "private praying". The minister chuckled to himself as he climbed out of his futon. He didn't even bother to check which wife was texting him.

Murata read the text again. A charming smile came onto his face. That sermon yesterday must have been motivating to his flock. He thought he had lost them for a moment, but now he was back.

The minister slid open the doors and poked his head.

"Hello?" Murata asked, looking around. He spotted a figure standing near the altar. The minister chuckled to himself as he walked inside. Murata closed the door behind him.

"Darling! I'm here!" he said in a sing-songy voice. "Come to daddy." The figure stepped out from the darkness. Murata froze with a strange look on his face.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked. This person looked small like a woman. She had on black jeans, black canvas sneakers, and her black hoodie. Murata raised his eyebrow at the giant black and red goat mask.

"How did you even get in here?" he asked. The masked woman took a step forward.

"I heard your sermon yesterday," she said. "I think you are full of shit."

"Excuse me?" Murata asked. He backed up as the masked woman stepped closer.

"You know something?" she asked. "You remind me of my ex-boyfriend. So charming and really handsome. All of the girls in our college loved him. Even I fell for him." The minister looked around the sanctuary. The only exit out was right behind him. Something inside of him yelled at him to run.

Why can't I move?

"When my ex started talking to me, I couldn't believe my luck," the woman said. She clicked her tongue under her mask.

"I should've known," she said. "He couldn't keep it in his pants. Turns out, I was just a plot to make his ex jealous. He dumped me for another woman." The masked woman lifted her chain.

"Since I can't kill him, you'll do just fine!" she shouted. She threw back her head and laughed. Sweat formed on the minister's forehead. His guards didn't know where he was. No one knew where he was. Murata started to call on that deity in his head.

Nothing. They didn't answer.

"Come on, where are you?" he muttered to himself. "Answer me!" The masked woman cocked her head to the side.

"You really are deluded!" she said. "I'm guessing all of that guilt is catching up to you in those files. I wonder, how long will it take before you get arrested? All of those women you ripped off. Led them on. Made them think that you went charming and how they were the only one in your life. I wonder where some of them disappeared to? Those members of the yakuza in Okinawa too? You know some of them are really, really go friend of the Awakusu-kai here. One little slip to them and you're done for. And your dear wife. Your real wife. You know, the one you abandoned in Sapporo with your daughter? What were their names again?" The masked woman pretended to think for a moment.

"Ah, yes! Murata Kokuro and Miki. You didn't even have the decency to file for a divorce. They probably think you're dead. Man, I so want to see the looks on their faces when they find out on the news what you have been up to all over Japan." All of the color drained from Murata's face.

"H-H-How do you know all of this?" Murata asked. He tried turn and run, but the masked woman latched onto his right arm as fast as she could.

"Don't bother running," she said. "We know all about you." Murata's eyes grew wide.

"We?!" he asked. Suddenly, the minister started coughing hard even to damage his throat. The masked woman laughed.

"Ah yes, my toxin is kicking in. My special blend actually," she said. "But don't worry, you won't die—yet. You're just going to be stunned long enough for me to do what I need to do. It'll wear off soon." But then, she frowned under her black and red goat mask.

"However, I am getting a bit bored. So let's just end this game already," she said. Murata started to panic, but he couldn't speak. He couldn't move. The masked woman smiled to herself under her mask as she dragged him closer to the altar.

Now for the fun part.

13.

"Kichizo-sama?" Chisa asked after hours later. Murata didn't show up for the morning sermon. The congregation got worried and started looking around for him. Chisa made her way down to the doors of the basement sanctuary. Something told her to come down here. Her "husband" usually down here with one of the other wives. Strangely, none of them had seen him. Chisa knocked on the doors.

"Kichizo-sama? Are you in there? Kichizo-sama? Kichizo-sama?" she asked, knocking. She pounded harder, but there was no response. The woman pressed her ear to the door. Silence. Her stomach dropped as she started to fear the worst. She had to see what was going on, but she knew the rules. Her "husband" could be hurt. But…

Against her better judgment, Chisa slid open the door.

"I'm coming in," she said in a whisper. The woman slowly walked inside. There was no one in sight as her eyes shifted back and forth.

"Kichizo-sama? Are you in here? Kichizo-sama?" she asked. Her footsteps grew slower as walked closer to the altar.

Squish.

Chisa froze as she felt her step in some form of liquid on the tatami mats. She shivered at the warmth. Against her better judgement, the woman looked down at her feet. Was that… blood?

"What the hell?" Chisa asked. She didn't like where this was heading. The woman looked up at the altar and what she saw made the color drain from her face.

Murata's face was frozen in permanent horror with blood running down his tear ducts. He had a crown of throne pressed down on his head. The only thing he had was a loin cloth. He had a deep stab wound in the left side. His wrists and feet were nailed down to a large wooden cross that was pushed into the ground upside. Communion wafers were tosses about on the floor.

Chisa covered her mouth as she gasped in horror. She was about to scream when her body went stiff. A strange warmth rose in her chest. She saw the stars and the galaxy as the light and power ran through her body. Her feet didn't touch the ground. Chisa started to see the truth of the world. She saw the past, present, and future. She saw all of the cycles of human life. Her voice got lost in a choked up scream.

When it was over, Chisa felt so calm. A cold smile came across her face when she saw her "husband's" dead body was nailed to the upside-down cross. The woman pulled out her phone and called the police.