"About the demon sword…" Sid furrows his brow at the back of Death staring at the mirror standing before him in the death room.
"Hm?" Humming, Death perks up at Sid's voice.
"He surrendered to us after the battle under the school so we've taken him into custody but I think you should be the one to assign how he's dealt with now that we have it." Sid reports to Death.
"Yes I should. Hm…" Unsure, Death trails off craning his body to the side.
"Is there something bothering you sir?" Sid questions concerned.
"Yes there's something strange about the demon sword." Death tells Sid.
"What do you mean by strange?" Sid queries confused.
"The demon sword has devoured a great number of human souls right? So we'd expect them to be well on their way to becoming a kishin but nothing could be further from the truth." Death explains to Sid.
"What do you mean?" Mystified, Sid queries.
"I don't know how it's even possible. But I guess you could say something has had some sort of purifying effect recently what do you think about it Sid?" Intrigued, Death asks Sid.
"I don't have the slightest idea you may say the kid's had some purifying effect but that could easily be changed within a heartbeat. But I do know this. I think we should hold the demon sword accountable for all the horrible things he's done. I realize she's a child and led by a witch, but he can't ignore his actions. I think the same severe punishment we use for other cases should apply here as well. Don't you agree?" Sid explains to Death making him go quiet.
"Hmmm…" Death quirks his body to the side similar to a spring almost again.
"Hm?" Sid copies his boss' movements not quite sure what to make of it.
"Don't know! So I think I'm going to put it off!" Chirpily, Death declares dismissing Sid as he slams his fist into his gloved palm, declaring said fact.
Silently, Lord Death stands in his room, in the manor, in their room as he looks down at his partner sleeping soundly before him. How many times had he left the death room to see her? He had lost count, he hated leaving her like this, he hated seeing her like this, he hated being away from her. If you had asked lord death of the past, he would have mauled you alive for even thinking he could be dependent on someone other than him. He was Death, people had feared him, people still feared him and yet…she never did. She treated him not as a god far from it and at first he was shocked. He hated it but overtime as time passed as people passed, he realized…how truly alone he was.
He remembered it well, he remembered her eyes, those piercing gold as bright as the sun staring him dead in the eye unfazed by his demeanour, by his presence by anything. She simply stared at him as if he was nothing more than a speck in her eye, a pebble she would have to stand on. She wasn't scared in the slightest, he had met many humans, met many witches, met many creatures who had an inch of fear in their eyes. But not hers, never hers if anything it would be of exasperation, of exhaustion, of frustration from the sheer sight of him. He had never met another like him in some regards, unnatural to this world and yet he envied her, despite these supernatural tendencies of hers, these inhuman traits of hers, she could fit in, she could become one with humans but he…? He never could.
"You hurt her…you hurt her again!" Saddened, Lord Death's mask falters Asura's words ringing as his claws brush against her pale cheek, claws drawing patterns into her ice cold cheek as she sleeps, brushing aside a few stray strands as he grimaces at the cracked neck, reminiscent of a porcelain doll almost or a cracked mirror. He didn't…he didn't mean to push her so hard but back then…
"Morning…" Groggily, the voice calls out alerting Death to look down at Ava.
"How are you feeling?" Worried, Death crouches down slightly, clearly concerned for her, his tone turning deeper, his normal voice taking root bringing a small smile to the sleep Ava.
Well I'm breathing so that counts for something right?" Shyly, Ava smiles.
"Ava…" Death places his claw on her shoulders.
"I'm fine Death I promise." Patiently, she places her hand over his bigger claw, brushing her fingertips against his own as he sighs at the sheer size difference.
"You should rest." Sternly, he reasons, his claws rubbing against her cheek.
"Shouldn't I say the same to you? Your mask was torn off." Smirking, she points out leaning into his claw.
"Only a bit besides its fine now." Death assures Ava.
"Death we need to talk about this, about Asura." Sadly, she sighs bowing her head pained.
"Listen we will when you're better." Death tells Ava.
"But I am better." Ava tells Death.
"You know what I mean…" Death sighs.
"Kid should at least be told the truth." Sternly, Ava argues.
"And he will." Death sighs removing his claw from her.
"When Death? He has the right to know." Impatiently, Ava points out.
"When he is ready." Death states.
"When you're ready you mean." Mad, Ava crosses her arms over her chest.
"…" Tiredly, Death sighs slumping his shoulders, standing up from the bed and turning towards the door, not wishing to argue but…
"What about Crona what's going to happen to them?" Impatiently, Ava demands from her husband.
"Still pondering on that myself." Honestly, Death confesses.
"Death…" Ava sighs only to grimace from the sharp sting to her temple, flinching from the familiar voice whispering in her ear.
"Ava…" Softly, she hears her whispers making her grimace.
"This isn't something you need to worry about everything will be alright I promise now go rest for me please?" Pleadingly, Death sighs placing his hand on her shoulder squeezing it making her jolt up at the voice turning to look up at him hurt.
"…Fine but we will need to talk about Asura to Kid." Groaning, she states her gold glaring up at him grimacing at the throbbing searing sensation in her tense temple.
"Yes, yes." Death sighs gently patting her head only making her hue twitch.
"Don't you dare yes, yes me Death!" Enraged, Ava snaps at Death.
"We will in time. For now you need to focus on getting better okay?" He reminds her as she winces when feeling another wave of agony flowing through her temple.
"…Okay." Sighing, Ava slumps her shoulders. She lies back on their bed, her brow furrowed frowning, fortune having favoured death as Ava feels exhaustion wash over her, feeling her eyelids turn heavy as next thing she knew she felt a familiar claw comb through her locks leaning into the touch before her, feeling the faint tap of a familiar mask upon her temple before descending down into the dark depths of her mind once more…
Whe…where am I? Confused, Ava furrows her brow at the room she finds herself in, feeling her heart drop at the interior of the jail, shuddering from the crisp chill teasingly touching her. She feels her muscles ache, tensing up. Her heels click against the uneven stone floor below her, feeling her fingertips brush against the rough texture of the jaded rocks of the dark damp room. Her nose winces at the stench of iron. She sees the numerous vials, dirtied needles and rusted implements casted to the side, a dark crimson coat smeared dried upon the sharp implements. Her yellows soften sadly at the sight of the bloodied worn shackles dangling down from the wall, seeing hay of straw below, seeing sharp strike marked embedded into the wall.
"Home…" Shaken, Ava gasps at the low voice of a familiar voice, a voice she swore she'd never heard again. Scared, she gasps at feeling the ghostly touch upon her arm making her gasp, her hand turning into a familiar blade slashing at empty air finding the once thin hand with coal coated nails upon them long gone. She turns towards the source, seeing the door peeking open, grimacing at the waves emitting from the singular door, taking a shaky step back, feeling the sharp shudder crawl down her spine, feeling her blood turn ice cold, feeling her eyes dilate panic clear as day upon her frightened facial features, feeling her blood boil, bubble, burn with adrenaline, with fear with panic. She turns to the other door.
"No…No…I got to…I got to get out of here! I got to get out of here! I got to get out of here!" Frantically, Ava darts towards the door, tugging with all her might hearing her voice resonating, echoing, thrashing.
"Ava…where do you think you're going? Ava…it's time to play, come now hiding only denies the inevitable. Come on out to plaaaay Ava…Ava I'm getting tired now…Ava this game is growing tiresome…AVA! COME HERE NOW!" Scared, Ava whimpers, her voice breaking cracking as the tears freely fall from the once calm sweetly sinister voice soon morphing transforming. She grimaces at the wavelengths extruding out of her mother making her cry out, feeling her nails dig deep into her cheeks, feeling small slits of red rip open feeling the bug begin to eat away at her, feeling their teeth nibble, gnaw at her skeletal form. She screams, not again, not again her madness no, no, no….she didn't want this, she didn't want any of this, she wanted out, she wated-
Desperately, she continues bashing, banging against the door that is until feeling her body fall, feeling light. Next thing she knew the screaming, the ringing, the roaring it…it ended, the bugs no longer feasting upon the bare scraps of flesh, of remains, barely bones. She shakily stood, instead hearing the crisp crunch of leaf's as she felt her legs burn, seeing her body move on its own, the adrenaline pumping through her telling her to run, to run, to escape, to flee that is until stopping at a cliff where she feels her legs give way. She comes crashing down to her knees heaving huffing, sweat slithering down her as next thing she knew…
"Found you…" Startled, she gasps turning to look up only for her bloodshot gold to meet a pair of warm green only making her glassy gold grimace at the sight of the man, his tail wagging happily. He helps her up wiping away the stray strands of muck upon her. She looks behind her pained at the sheer sight of the wolfmen each and every one of them bowed before her…
"Mother?" Startled, the low creak of the door echoes as Ava jolts up at the voice turning towards the door where her hues meet a similar shade to her own as she sees Kid peer in the room, Patty ad Liz behind him, concern clear upon their faces.
"Hey kiddo…what's with the grim faces? You look like you've seen a ghost." Attentively, Ava smiles at her son reaching out to him as he reaches out to her.
"How…how are you?" Gently, Kid squeezes her arms as he holds her which she happily returns smiling softly up at him, warmth in her gold hues.
"Well I'm alive if that's anything. Are you going out?" Jokingly, she smiles up at her.
"Blackstar wants to play some basketball!" Patty hollers.
"That sounds like a lot of fun. If I remember right Liz has a manicure so I'm guessing it's you two going. Kid don't push yourself too hard and Patty don't get too rough." Sternly, she warns the two, combing her fingertips through his coal black locks as he leans into her touch.
"I'm not that rough." Pouting, Patty huffs.
"Patty dear five kids were sent to the hospital when you played baseball with them." Truthfully, Ava reminds Patty.
"Not my fault they got in the way of the ball!" Intensely, Patty snarls, her voice turning dark only making Ava chuckle amused adjusted to Patty's shift while Kid simply flinches from it not quite used to the change of temperament from the blonde.
"Mother you're body went through a lot although you can regenerate that doesn't make you a god what were you even thinking of grabbing the kishin's scarf you could have…! You could have…!" Sternly, Kid frets furrowing his brow, panic laced in his tone making her hues widen alarmed at the sight of her panicking son.
"Hey, hey it's alright it's okay." Tentatively, she brings him into her arms, holding him, hearing his voice cracking breath breaking as she rubs patterns into his back feeling his shaking arms around her, feeling the faint dampness on her shoulder. But brushes it aside as her son sits down by her side, holding him, rocking him back and forth trying to help him through this.
"No it's not! None of this is okay you shouldn't be in bed, the kishin shouldn't be out it's all my fault this is happening as a grim reaper I should." Scowling, Kid sniffles as she wipes away his tears hearing him sniffle, bowing his head pained as he bows his head ashamed.
"Enough." Sternly, she raises her hand flicking his temple making him gasp.
"H-Huh?" Taken aback, Kid clutches his temple.
"Death The Kid need I remind you you're still immature." Sternly, she prods his chest.
"I-Immature!? Have you seen Blackstar mother!? I'm far more mature than that bonehead." Kid grumbles crossing his arms over his chest making her roll her eyes at him, a small smile upon her lips at her endearing son.
"That isn't what I mean dummy being immature isn't always a bad thing you know?" Softly, Ava drapes her arm over his shoulder bringing him into a side hug. He nestles into her side.
"In what regard is it a good thing? Look if you want I don't have to go we're meant to rest anyway and I'd be happy to stay here and…" Anxiously, Death offers making her sigh.
"Nonsense. Kid I'm fine kid. I'm glad to see you guys trying to act your age." Ava smiles relieved.
"But mother…" Paranoid, Kid begins worried.
"Kid you try to juggle so much for someone your age, it's good sometimes to take a step back and realize you're still a kid you can still enjoy youth before becoming a grim reaper." Tenderly, she promises her son, placing her lips upon his temple.
"Mum…" Softly, Kid begins bowing his head, his brow furrowed frowning.
"You're a kid Kid, it's literally in your name it's okay to act like one sometimes." Softly, she smiles placing her hands on either side of his cheeks, combing her thumb against his cheek.
"But as the next…" Kid sighs staring down at his hands, his fingertips coiling bundling up the duvet below him.
"You shouldn't rush things enjoy things while you still can kid." Softly, she tells him.
"Mum…" Kid sighs trying to collect himself but…
"Wait your shirt is it…oh my god!" Shocked, Ava gasps when taking note of his current attire but what stands out is his shirt the collar with one side being three spots but on the other…is blank.
"M-Mother are you okay!?" Alarmed, Kid gasps at the tears freely falling from the hands coiled around him, bringing him into a hug oblivious to the smiling Liz and Patty peering into the doorway seeing her give both girls a thumbs up making them both beam back brightly, smiling at the bedridden woman.
"I'm so proud of you sweetie! My baby boy's all grown up!" Wailing, Ava whimpers, her voice cracking breaking briefly, feeling nothing but pride at her son's current attire at seeing his progress while the puzzled Kid simply glances back over at both the smiling Patty and Liz lost to it all as he simply hugs his mother back befuddled by the scene entirely…
"So Sid what's the headcount looking like so far with the gathering of the eight death scythes?" Curious, Death turns to Sid having returned to the death room.
"Well, it appears Justin Law has enters the city, counting Spirit and lady Ava along with the other two who got in earlier we have a total of four." Firmly, Sid reports to him.
"Okay we have half of them at least. What are the other four up to?" Lord Death questions Sid.
"It looks like the ones in charge of Europe and west Asia are too busy with work and can't make it right now." Sid sighs.
"That's no good what about the one we got stationed in south America?" Lord Death asks.
"It's kinda hard to tell with all the growling and barking." Bluntly, Sid deadpans.
"And Africa?" Lord Death pries.
"Yeah they won't take our calls." Curtly, Sid states after a brief pregnant pause between them both.
"Well…I guess four of them is just going to have to be good enough here's hoping." Optimistically, Death offers.
"Urgh…what was that?" Groaning, Ava furrows her brow as she slowly slides out of her bed wincing from the faint searing sensation of her body ignoring the shy stings from her body below, the bandages coiled, wrapped around her laying loosely, not holding her back in the slightest. She gets up from her bed. Her brow furrowed at her cabinet desk when noting a familiar framed photo bringing a small smile to her lips. She picks up the frame seeing the picture of the smiling Ava standing by Death's side. The two stand before a piano where a young Kid sits on the piano bench, shyly staring down at the piano keys clearly focusing on the sheet music in hand bringing a small smile to Ava's lips at the memory.
They knew how Kid liked trying new things and when he did he would try to perfect it even as a kid, he's always stress about it refusing to perform for his parents until he knew he perfected said song, often resulting in him crying when he think he'd get it but his perfectionism would sink in, during those trying times she'd be watching and when seeing it get too much for the boy would take him off it. She'd tell him how well he did, how great the song was as he'd refuse the praise, crying as she would go through the practice exercises, she'd use on Asura if it got too much for him. She knew his mind would linger on it, she remembered him bursting into tears as she would hold him, she knew her son wasn't one for touch in particular. If someone just suddenly grabbed his hand he'd freak out so she'd be careful, she'd wait for his eyes to meet hers, she'd let him make the first move but during this time when'd be crying waterfalls. She would simply hold him in her lap, rocking him back and forth, whispering a small lullaby, combing her fingertips through his hair, helping him through this difficult moment.
Sighing, Ava gently places the frame down as she leaves the room, needing some air, needing to get out of bed, needing to get her thoughts clear from whatever that nightmare was. She feels her fingertips comb through her scalp. She shakily exhales, closing her eyes, her brow furrowed fatigue clearly plastered upon her facial features before shakily exhaling once more. She enters the kitchen deciding a snack would ease her nerves only then to smile softly at the plate bare before her, noting the two cookies sat either side of the cookie wrapper packaging looking symmetrical making her smile softly down at the endearing sight.
Mother, Patty insisted on leaving you some cookies to make you feel better, the sugar would help you but make sure to drink plenty of water and take the medicine. Don't push yourself so hard either love Kid. Amused, Ava smiles softly staring down at the neatly folded piece of paper, staring down at the writing written upon the paper noting another piece of paper, glancing over at the messy scribbles of Patty.
You worked hard so have some of my secret stash of cookies. Chuckling, Ava snickers at Patty's messy scribbles seeing the yellow hearts made of crayon on the paper, seeing some small drawings as she then notes the x's upon the paper making her smile soften even more at the sight, noting the back of the paper being…
You don't have to eat over the sink I won't tell. Ava smirks softly at the sight, shaking her head at the antics of Patty noting a few beauty products no doubt Liz's attempt at helping her making Ava's heart warmth at the sight. She should get changed, go out and get some fresh air, she reasons as she makes her way into the bathroom.
Ava enters the bathroom, noting the folded toilet paper making her chuckle at a certain memory resurfacing before turning towards the sink splashing her face with the water after turning the tap, trying to freshen up, trying to get ready for the day ahead, she couldn't just sit in bed all day, not after that nightmare…
Slowly, she looks up only for her eyes to widen when slowly standing from the sink. Her hues dilating, her blood turning ice cold, her throat turning dry when briefly before her very eyes, she sees the bright broad Cheshire-like grin of the woman behind her, grinning from ear to ear baring her feral fangs at the alarmed Ava.
"No!" Stunned, she takes a step back briefly flinching from the figure vanishing before her eyes. No that couldn't be…it couldn't…it can't be…Shaken, she feels her body fall forward briefly before grabbing the rim of the sink, heaving, huffing, trying to ignore the bile burning at her throat threatening to climb, crawl up. She slams her hand over her mouth muffling the vomit trying to break through.
She isn't here not anymore, she isn't here not anymore, she isn't…she can't be back…no, no, no! Shaken, Ava shakes her head at the thought only then to feel a pair of ice-cold arms coil around her form.
"How hurtful is that how you should talk to your mother?" Mischievously, a familiar voice bellows brushing against her ear her eyes widening when feeling her ice-cold breath brush against her heated ear.
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT HERE! YOU'RE GONE! DEAD!" Deranged, Ava snarls combing her fingertips through her locks, tugging at the stray strands, feeling her nails claw away at her.
"Oh my dear baby girl I've always been here. I'll always be here for you." Nevertheless, Ava gasps at the familiar waves washing over her, feeling the familiar nibbles of the bugs gnawing at her, screaming, screeching when seeing the bugs beginning to crawl up her form. She flails, thrashing trying to get them off but the tears freely fall helplessly wailing. Pained, Ava whimpers as she curls in on herself shaking, quivering, quaking, curling in on herself, the tears freely falling into the tiles floor below, helplessly wailing to the high heaves. But it falls to deaf ears as she is left wailing from the madness wavelengths washing over her as the familiar figure draped in shadows snickers, watching on amused as the show continues…