Promised it wouldn't be a long wait. I actually enjoyed the chapters, I also read y'alls reviews and I find them to be quite interesting towards guessing for the next chapter and what'll happen. I'm glad you guys are engaging and I would assume you're enjoying the story. In saying that I hope you continue leaving reviews because I love seeing you guys talking and guessing what'll happen next. Anyway I'll see y'all you guys in the next chapter, please enjoy chapter seven.

-Malik Syv

CHAPTER 7: Oppose Me in Body but Understand Me in Mind

"It's time." Bill sighed to himself, placing his mask on. He turned to Louis with eyes that demanded him to watch but they were met with a smile. Bill took to the stage and began the performance. He delivered his opening lines flawlessly, articulating with passion and confidence.

"Who is that?"

"It's not Louis that's for sure."

"Look at his arms, it must be the tiger."

"Did Louis get replaced?"

"This'll be a boring show."

Whispers slowly filled the auditorium. The words were light on the air but heavy on Bill's shoulders, still he pressed on. From one scene to the next the audience remained silent or whispered to one another. All they wanted was Louis and no one else could satiate that desire. Everyone watched the play drag on with Legoshi noticing how unsettled Bill got as it did.

"You'll be on soon, are you ready?"

"I'm still nervous but I'll be fine." Louis smiled at Legoshi's honesty.

"The first time is always nerve-racking. Keep your mask up even if your heart wants to jump out of your chest. Though, keeping up a facade is something you're used to."

"I don't have a mask." Legoshi adjusted the cloak of his costume. "I'm an organic actor."

"Ha, your sense of humor is peculiar but reassuring. Good luck." Legoshi turned back to the stage and took one last breath going out on cue. The lights above bathed him in more attention than the audience.

"So you are the final devil I must vanquish?"

"I will kill you and that woman, for there is no redemption to be found for you." Bill stood in awe of the line. It wasn't in the script.

"A devil with a tongue of silver. Interesting but unwelcome." The bite in Adler's voice forced a laugh from the devil. Legoshi let his mind run rampant with thoughts of how to articulate his improv.

"Unwelcome? The only thing unwelcome here is your intentions. Adler, you indulge instinctual desires for love but are you sure it's not lust?" Bill's anger flared once more.

"The true Adler would've killed that woman three days prior. Now you take her for your own. Are you prolonging the inevitable, for what reason I wonder?" Bill's body began to twitch.

"Those who love also lust. You are Adler, the grim reaper, death's true partner. You are nothing more than it's scythe and sword. Yet you try to embrace what instinct you have lost. It's time to rid you of those instincts so the true Adler can rise once more." The audience glowed at those words. Legoshi felt his heart beating a mile a minute but he couldn't lose composure. However, Bill began to lose himself in rage.

"You speak nonsense, Devil!"

"Do not fool yourself. This is the beginning of the end, soon I'll take away your temptation and return you to yourself before I slay you!" Bill could no longer contain himself and attacked. However, Legoshi simply danced around the strikes. Bill wanted nothing more than to put Legoshi in his place. On the other hand, Legoshi felt his enjoyment building. His grin grew wider and his body more agile, however he stopped himself again. He stood there under the spotlight and before he knew it reality came for him. He blocked Bill's strike at the last moment, then jumped back with Bill charging once again. Legoshi knew he could have avoided the strike but his instinct for dominance weighed on him. He needed to reason with himself that he is not a beast who needs instinct to feel content in this world. Even with the action of physical altercation making him feel sick to his stomach.

"Have you lost heart Devil?!" Legoshi felt Bill's dedication to his character and collected himself.

"Not quite! Now show me your truth Adler!" Legoshi charged at Bill and the two clashed blades. The prop weapons began to shout angrily each time they met and weep when they missed.

"This is the lie of you, is it not Adler? The rage of your blindness in the face of your instinct being tested? Is this your true nature?!" Bill slowly began to feel everything connecting together.

"The woman you love is one you bring to death itself. How could you possibly exist with such a conflict in your heart?" Bill's anger began to waver. Tem, Els and so many others in the drama club he called friends. How could he act like he didn't consume herbivore meat while playing nice with them?

"I am not living with… contradiction, Devil!" Bill raged in voice alone.

"Open your eyes, Adler!" Legoshi moved past Bill's sword and jabbed him with his elbow followed by a strike of his sword. Bill's mask fell away as he landed a few feet from Ellen.

"It's time to face the truth. You are no Grim Reaper, you are not Adler. You are just a beast fallen to their desire." Legoshi's condescending tone reminded Bill of Louis.

"He's just like him. Like Louis… No… he's not." Bill rejected the thought. "I should know myself better than anyone but… I don't know. I'm too tired for this." Bill closed his eyes and accepted defeat.

"Adler! You promised to put me to rest, so please stand up and defeat that devil!" Ellen cried out.

"Oh, right." Bill opened his eyes and clutched his sword.

"My body is moving on its own. Why?" Louis and Legoshi tested Bill's patience, pressing for the same answer. They were both right. He was a beast but one that wanted to live. To live a life with relationships that were true. He had to determine his own role and how he wanted everything to go in the end.

"Are you proud of what you're becoming?" Bill let that question flow freely in his mind.

"I'll return you to yourself." Legoshi declared. Bill stood to his feet and finally understood.

"You speak the truth Devil. I am not the Adler I once was, nor am I the Adler you see before you any longer." Bill paused, everyone awaited his next line.

"I am… Another Grim Reaper entirely." Bill stated. Legoshi felt the air change. No more anger emitted from the tiger. Only resolve.

"Then show me! Show me who you truly are!" Bill turned and walked to retrieve his mask. From above two spotlights illuminated the pair.

"Who I truly am?" Bill held the mask in his left hand and lifted over his head. "I've told you already. I am Adler, the True Grim Reaper!" Bill slammed the mask onto his face and the crowd erupted with excitement. There was no imitation of Louis or hatred festering under the mask any longer. He finally filled out his role without hesitation.

"I will be your final judge then!" Legoshi took the offensive, clashing with Bill. They both put their full strength behind their attacks. Nothing is left of them except their play and their stage. The continued swordplay made they're flimsy weapons begin to crack, however, they could not stop. Adler or the devil? Whose weapon would give out first? The finale was imminent. Legoshi swung from overhead with one hand and Bill came from a low stance using both of his hands.

"It's over Adler!"

"Be vanquished Devil!" A loud snap rang out as Bill shattered Legoshi's weapon. The wolf looked shocked but regained his character, quickly holding his chest. Bill then spun on his right foot and jabbed his right elbow into Legoshi's chest, knocking him behind the curtains. The audience erupted at Adler's victory, Bill turned around and waved his right hand to silence them.

"Come my love, let us finish this night." Bill extended his hand to Ellen who smiled and took it. Legoshi sat up to see the conclusion, he smiled.

"A splendid performance." Louis said, appearing beside him. "You're make for a good actor. Despite going rogue."

"Th-th-th-th-thank y-y–you." Legoshi stuttered as he struggled to give Louis a response.

"I suppose the stage isn't for you." Louis sighed. Legoshi slapped his cheeks a few times to stop his body from shaking.

"Even though you went off script massively, it was very good." Sanu added. Sheila helped Legoshi to his feet and the group watched the final act of the play.

"Bill isn't a beast anymore." Legoshi whispered to Louis. "He's just trying to make it in this world like the rest of us and you should try to recognize that." Louis offered no response. He simply stared at the stage in front of him, watching the carnivore he condemned. Soon the play came to a close and everyone gathered around Ellen and Bill.

"You two were amazing." Sanu stated.

"Thanks but I think Legoshi carried it." Bill pointed to the wolf. "He brought the audience to life."

"He may have but he refused to follow the script like he was supposed to. You on the other hand performed flawlessly." Louis interjected.

"Nah. They wanted you and only you." Bill walked over to Louis and handed him his mask. "You're the true Adler. Legoshi just added the flare you brought to the play." Bill waved his hand, walking away from the group. Legoshi ran after him while Louis held the mask, feeling an intense conflict.

"Why did you do that?"

"He was right, that's all."

"What are you talking about? Your performance was great. Give yourself some credit." Bill groaned in response.

"Haven't you done enough tonight? I'm tired and I still need to study for tomorrow's exam."

"Why don't we get a drink or something, talk this through. C'mon."

"No."

"Please?"

"Are you begging?"

"I'm not above that if it means we can work this out." Bill looked into his friend's eyes, he was dead serious. After a little more persuasion he finally agreed and the two changed back into the school uniform to get their drinks. They say on the benches near the vending machines in an awkward silence.

"You could at least try to drink."

"Don't tell me what to do, I didn't even want to be here! I'm just here so you didn't make a scene!"

"You really think I would have begged? That was a total lie." Bill rolled his eyes.

"I'm outta here."

"Can you tell me what happened between you and Louis?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, it's old news at this point."

"That's good." The relief in Legoshi's voice comforted Bill somewhat and he sat back down. He scratched his head and sighed aloud before speaking.

"Tell me one thing. How did you know what to say to me?"

"I believed that if I said what came into my head it'd work out because you're a good person."

"You really believe in me that much?"

"I'm your friend so I'm supposed to." The two sat in silence once again before Bill opened his drink.

"I… appreciate that." A sense of ease washed over the tiger, the unsettled feeling he felt before disappeared. Instead it was replaced with uncertainty. "I can't change overnight, you know?"

"I don't expect you to. It was hard for me too, I wanted to eat herbivore meat again. So much it drove me crazy. I needed help or I might've been the one who devoured someone." Legoshi's admission gave Bill pause. The wolf's honesty made him feel understood and welcome to share his concerns. Although biological opposites, the feline and canine were connected.

"That's when you got help?"

"Yeah, from a therapist in the black market, he's actually the reason I go there all the time. His personality's a bit rough just like yours."

"Rough? My personality is smooth, how do you think I got some action when you haven't?" Legoshi rolled his eyes at the comment. "Don't worry after exams I'm sure we can find you a girlfriend or something. Might get rid of your awkward exterior and soften you up a bit. Heard from Sheila a new girl reached out to her about joining the club this semester. I could hook you up." Bill jabbed Legoshi lightly.

"No thanks."

"C'mon gotta get outta your shell sometime."

"Not this time." Legoshi quickly stood up and threw his drink out.

"Where ya going? How come you get to leave first when you dragged me out here?!" Bill got up and chased after Legoshi. He questioned his friend about the possibility of getting a girlfriend but he got rejected at every turn. Slowly their conversation changed into everything else going on with them. Exams they had, upcoming classes amongst other things. Before their friendship didn't feel too personal or close but now it felt like they were actual friends. Friends that hadn't studied for their English exam the next day and decided to cram at the last minute. They stayed up throughout the night together in the library. One can only wonder how well they did on their exam the next morning.