Pawsy: 'Ello! I'm back! And for once, I had a ton-o questions. That was kinda neat!
Frieza: Pawsy doesn't own DBZ.
Pawsy: Hey! That's right, Frieza! You're so smart!
Frieza: *sweatdrop*…thanx…
Pawsy: Velcome! Oh, just to give credit where credit is due, the gate guardian was nam-
Frieza: 'Titled.' *Pawsy stares at Frieza with narrowed eyes*
Pawsy: I know that…*ahem* Sorry. Anyway, he was given his 'title' by none other than my brother, Fangsire! All I did was draw the guy and fuss at how I couldn't think of a good enough name. He took my notebook and came up with a name on the first try. Wow…
Frieza: Now that she's rotted your minds with that senseless bit of her life, you may continue reading.
Pawsy: Hey!
********************************
A Visit to the Realm Below Hell"Supreme Kai," Shin looks up from the book he's reading to see Kabito standing in the doorway.
"Yes, Kabito?"
"The dragon is here." Shin sets his book aside and walks to the door.
"It's about time," he says as the two of them exit the room. Stepping out onto the grassy areas of the kai planet, Shin can see Eternity talking to Elder Kai up ahead. A portal stands behind the dragon. The minute he joins them, the two fall silent. Heaving a sigh, Eternity smiles slightly.
"Ready to go?" the silver-haired man asks.
"I always have been," Shin steps forward into the portal before Eternity can say another word. Shrugging his shoulders, the dragon follows.
A pit. That's the only word that can describe where they are now. It feels like they are falling endlessly into a dark abyss. No matter how many times he's been so far, Shin still can't swallow that rock in his stomach feeling he gets every time they descend. And just as soon as the trip started, it ends as they land on their feet in familiar territory. Dusty brown soil swirls across the ground and mingles with deep colored skies. From here, both Shin and Eternity walk forward till they come to a large deep gray canvas wall. They stop. Eternity looks to the kai.
"Are you sure you want to go in again? It's just going to be the same thing over again…" Eternity asks with concern.
"I'm positive," Shin replies. Shaking his head, the dragon realizes it is futile to argue. Looking up again, he calls out.
"I call upon, Gouge, the gate guardian!" A silence follows these words before the shocks came from the ground. In seconds, a large brown, stone podium shoots up from the dirt and above Shin and Eternity. On the front, it's decorated with many symbols that circle around the familiar S symbol in the center. The podium settles in its new spot when a figure suddenly leaps out from behind the stand; arching his neck back, he let's out a pained hiss. Now panting, the creature dips his head down and glares at the two. Shin just stares back at the demented beast.
It's a strange creature with pale green skin except on its chest where mud brown fur bristles out and curls over his shoulders and covers the top part of his back. His fingers wrap onto the edges of the podium, his black, claw-like nails digging into the brown stone. His has a neck that resembles a horse's and a twisted horse's face. Two fish fin shaped ears shift to listen in on the figures below him. His anger-shaped eyes house stone-blue irises and small pupils. His mud brown hair jaggedly creeps onto his forehead and grows back and down to the bottom of his long neck.
This is the most Shin has ever seen of the creature, but that's all he cares to see. His eyes finally focused, the creature stares at the two again. A twisted, fanged smile breaks onto his face.
"Well, hello there," the creature says to the kai. "Back so soon?"
"That we are, Gouge," Eternity quickly interrupts the beast's attention. The diamond irises follow over to Eternity now.
"Ah, yes, the dragon is here to," Gouge says with very little enthusiasm. "Let me guess. You've come to see the kai's visit goes well again?"
"Actually, I'm here to see Spirit," the creature perks instantly.
"Really, now?" Gouge looks down onto the podium and a book quickly rises out. The horse creature starts to flip through the pages before stopping on what he was looking for. Scanning the page, he places the tip of claw somewhere in his many writings.
"Yesss, I see," Gouge closes the book. "My master awaits by the chambers." The creature turns, his side now facing the two below, and draws out a long, slender sword.
"Kavasay!" He places the tip of the blade against the cliff wall. A black substance trickles from the sword's tip and branches out across the wall like an ink drop in water. Upon reaching an appropriate height, Gouge pulls the sword back behind the podium. The gate is open; a blinding darkness calls from inside the wall's gap.
"You may enter," the creature bows, allowing the two to walk forward. "Do enjoy your stay," his hand shoots out and latches onto Shin's wrist, giving the beast a chance to meet the kai eye to eye, "especially you, Shin." Before another word is spoken, Eternity has Gouge by the throat and thrown against a solid part of the rock wall.
"You are never to speak to him by his name as if he were you equal! To you, he is the Supreme Kai!" Eternity hisses at the beast. Gouge realizes his raptor talon feet hang above the ground, so he just weakly smiles.
"Of course…" he gulps slightly, "dragon…" Eternity releases his grip on the beast, allowing Gouge to drop to the ground. The creature gasps slightly before slowly turning his head to the passing duo, growling at their very existence.
Even in the darkness, there is a sense of invisible light enabling him to see. Eternity stops finally and turns to the kai.
"I must leave you. Think you can fare on your own?"
"I've done well so far. I don't think this time will be any different," Shin replies. The dragon sighs but relents.
"If you insist," Eternity turns to leave when he glances at the kai one more time. "Just remember to avoid conversation with anyone but those you mean to speak with. The others could bring you down badly."
"Of course," Shin starts forward.
"And another thing!" Shin falters in step slightly before he comes to a complete stop.
"Yes," he says with his best manners, even though he is bit irritated at the dragon by this point.
"When I say to avoid others I mean it. Especially Spirit." The kai falls completely silent.
"You know…"
"I've known. Ever since the beginning," the dragon paces a bit.
"But you still let me come?" Shin asks, causing Eternity to let out a sigh.
"I'm pretty confident that if I didn't, you would've found a way in anyway. This way I can be near if something goes wrong. We don't need to lose the Supreme Kai in such a…pit," the dragon turns to walk away, "just stay out of trouble." With that, Eternity disappears into the darkness, leaving Shin alone. But it didn't matter, he knows exactly where he needs to go.
Stepping further into the darkness, he walks on the walkway he can't see but can feel. Various screams echo around the kai and he tries his best to ignore them. Finally, he stops at a wall he knows is there. Reaching out, he grabs hold of the door's latch.
"What are you doing, kai?" a voice snarls. Shin swivels around to see who is talking to him.
Before him is a creature covered in a light orange/mud brown fur. The only exception is his hair, which is a yellow mix instead of orange and comes far off his forehead and puffs out at the sides on the nape of his neck. He has pale red-violet eyes and coyote like snout. His arms and legs are thin, long, and lanky, and the only clothes he wears are the tan slacks with torn ends. His feet have two large talons on the front of his foot and a hooked claw on the back.
"Devidil," Shin snarls. The coyote bears a smile from his muzzle, showing the sharp canines his jaws house.
"So, you had to come back," Devidil laughs. "You feel that sorry for him? Pity." Shin says nothing and pulls the door's latch back. Devidil continues on. "I, for one, thought you'd be happy. After all, we're looking at a guy who did some serious damage in his life. Don't you think he belongs here?" Shin continues to be silent and untwists the chain from a ring on the door and the wall. "I even remember when he first came. The little fuck was such a child ab–"
"Shuttup!" Shin snaps, surprising Devidil as he falls silent. Pushing the door open, the kai runs in and slams the door behind him.
"Bastard!" he seethes.
"Who's there?" a voice asks in the darkness. In this room, the darkness still subsists but very little of the invisible light exists. "Well? Who's there?" the voice is beginning to lose the boldness it just had.
"Don't worry," Shin says calmly. "It's just me." A figure in a dark corner moves.
"Kai?" the figure tries to come forward but a series of chains hold it back. "Damn it," it mutters before turning its attention back to Shin. "Back again?"
"I haven't given up yet," Shin says.
"You're stubborn," the figure states, but laughs slightly. "Knowing you, you never will." Shin smiles at the complement. "Let me guess why you're here…" Shin looks away, hoping his companion doesn't see the discomfort on his face.
"I give up," the figure states. "It certainly isn't because of me."
"Well, you're half of the reason."
"I'm touched," the person says with a joking voice.
"So…things holding well for you?" Shin asks.
"As much as they can, I'm sure," the figure lifts an arm but the chain weighs it, so he settles down again. "But for the most part, it's just a survival to hold my sanity."
"Really…"
"Yeah, three more have given themselves fully to Spirit. And now there are three more beasts roaming freely, but mindlessly," the figure sighs before cheering up again. "Then again, not my problem, right?" Shin weakly smiles at his companion.
"Yeah, not your problem…" He replies. "So, what's new around here?"
"Not much. From the small world of my prison, I just have a few new gashes on my back, had a few moments in pitch silence though I could see a world around me, and I just had a moment of remembering lies…" the being's voice slowly dies away. Shin can't help but look up, only to come eye to eye with the figure's saddened gaze. Quickly, it turns away.
"Sorry…" Shin says quickly. After a moment, the kai decides to speak again. "You know, there's something I've been meaning to tell y–" The door bursts open, where a large, dark figure stands. It's light pastel violet eyes glare into the room.
"Out…" it hisses. "Your time is served here and if you want to speak with your other purpose, you best get there now. He is waiting." The figure looks to Shin again.
"Well, what are you waiting for? You're being called on," it says as it curls into the corner of its cell. "Not much fun staying here, really."
"Silence you!" the creature at the door snarls. The chained figure narrows his eyes in rebellion.
"Why don't you make me, you fuck!" Silence echoes in the room. Suddenly, the creature grabs onto Shin's arm and tosses him out of the room and into another 'wall'. The shadowed beast then storms into the cell and slams the door behind it. Silence again. Slowly getting to his feet, Shin stares at the large door. He can only imagine what sort of things these creatures do to their victims.
"Having fun with the locals?" Shin quickly turns to the sound of Devidil's voice. The creature just smiles back at the kai.
"What are you doing here?"
"I live here," Devidil laughs. "Now, if you wish, you presence is required." The coyote bends slightly in a bow. "I am to take you there. Please," he says the word with false joy, "follow me."
"I know where to go, Devidil."
"True," the beast stalks forward a bit. "But it looks more professional with me being a guide." Devidil turns and walks forward with Shin following behind. Roaming onward, the hall starts to widen in size. The moment of eerie silence disappears when Devidil speaks again.
"So, tell me, kai? What about our realm interests you so much that you have to visit it as often as you do?" Devidil asks.
"My reasons…" Shin replies coldly.
"Oh, really, now?" Devidil partially looks over his shoulder. "I bet I know…"
"Hmm? What makes you say that?" the two turn a corner to a more open and grotesquely decorated hall.
"Instinct," the beast slyly replies. Shin looks up to the coyote and snarls quietly to himself before speaking again.
"Alright, why am I here?" he asks.
"Because you're thinking you can save the world," Devidil's voice drops as he leans down towards the kai, "…or something of the variety." The beast bends back and turns to continue on. Shin quietly follows, trying to swallow his fury and the need to attack the monsters. No, he will not play Devidil's game. Suddenly, the creature stops. Placing a hand on a chain doorknob, Devidil turns to the kai.
"Dare to enter again, a foolish one you are," he smiles as he pulls the door open and allows Shin to walk in. Once inside, the door is closed behind him. Shin adjusts to the familiar setting around him once again. Even in this black place, he can feel how the room should be and the sight is a plain as it would be in bright sunlight.
Towering orange-brown cliffs weave and cover the room. There are various cracks on the cliff walls where beings can climb, crawl, and walk through. A small path trails at the root of the cliffs. The supreme kai calmly walks forward on the path. Somewhere in the vast room, there is something waiting for him, and he hates to be one to disappoint. Growling noises echo from behind, causing the kai to swiftly turn around. Following his trail are two identical beasts.
They look like disfigured dogs with broken tails and eagle talon feet. Drool covered fangs are bared at Shin, who ignores but keeps a sense of hesitance around the monsters. He is quite use to the sight of the creatures, no matter what their form. They are Death and Destruction, and everyone knows that death and destruction can appear in any form, small or large, cute or hideous. Even though they have a different appearance every time Shin comes, there are certain traits that always remain. On Death's right eye is large, deep scar, while Destruction's is on his left eye. A short, jagged yet wavy Mohawk of hair curls back on Death's head; it is white with a black stripe trailing at the tips. The same is on Destruction only his is black with a white stripe.
Death lets out a hiss.
"I'm here to see your master," Shin replies as he ventures further into the room. The twin beasts look to one another, nod, and charge forward. Leaping from stone edge to stone edge, the two creatures disappear into the dark.
"Guess I'm going on a manhunt," the kai says as he starts on the path leading to the end of the room. Moving with the constant twists of the road and squeezing through narrow edges, the higher being becomes even closer to the heart of the room. After wandering the narrow stone maze, the hall disappears into a large room only to see the cliffs split into two new paths.
"How long is this pla–?"
"Who's there?!" A voice calls out. From the cliffs in the center of the split, a figure shifts from darkness of the shadows. Stalking from edge to edge, the creature moves closer. Death and Destruction softly growl with excitement.
"It's me," Shin says. The creature suddenly stands.
"Kai?" Coming out of the shadows slightly, Shin can see the familiar form of a beast. With out another word, the figure leaps from its high cliff and plummets down. At the final seconds, two dragon wings extend allowing the being to touch land on a spot just above Shin. Just as quickly, the wings are folded against the being's back again as its tail lays across the stone perch.
It has a very pale dark brown/gray skin color except for the fur that grows on his elbows, covering the tops of his lower arms to the back of his hands. His roughed wolf ears are the same color as the fur on his arms, hazel and black, and go back in caution. His fur covered tail, cattish, scraggly, and a bit longer than his entire height, coils around his legs and over the cliff's edge. His dragon talon feet stand comfortably on the stone, allowing the six claws, three on each foot, to dig into the rocky cliff. Two large dark brown dragon wings with a gray underside curl on his back. He has thick, yet scraggly slate/black hair that coils over the front of his face and back down to the end of his neck. His eyes match the rest of his unique appearance: a vibrant yellow with orange irises and slit cat pupils to finish.
Even with the new appearance, some things didn't change. For one, he is barely an inch above his original height. The face barely changed if you ignored the canines uncovered by his jaws and more importantly, the triangular symbol under his eyes. The 'face' and tent-like markings are each on one of his arms with the dreaded symbol of Spirit below them. All the markings are a ash red color, as if blood had burned the beast's skin.
With out another word, the figure leaps from its high cliff and plummets down. At the final seconds, two dragon wings extend allowing the being to touch land on a spot just above Shin. In seconds the wings are folded against the being's back again as its tail lies across the stone perch.
"Back again kai?" the creature snarls.
"Of course…" Shin hesitates a moment, "Soul." He says the name with disgust and shame, but the creature smiles slightly and settles in his position. Soul sits down on the rocky edge.
"So," the beast's voice is deep and threatening, "what brings you to Hellon this time?"
"My reasons," the kai quickly replies.
"Visiting the bastard and decided to see what I'm doing," Soul accurately predicts as he stretches across the rock edge on his back. His head slightly tilts over the side so he is still able to face the Supreme Kai. "You're too predictable, even for a cosmic being," he laughs. Shin stares at the ground in silence before speaking again.
"You've changed so much," Shin's voice echoes in the empty caverns. Soul stares at the kai with a strange curiosity, his ears perking in thought.
"I am the same as the last and every other time we've met," the being says.
"Not every," Shin glares directly into the beast's orange irises. After a moment of silent hesitation, Soul eyes narrow.
"You always come to this," Soul curls up and onto his hands and knees.
"Of course, I do," states Shin. "I haven't given up!" Soul lets out a laugh as he paces on the stone.
"In what? A false dream?" the creature quickly turns to see the kai's angered expression. "When are you going to accept the fact that I am one of Spirit's warriors? I am Soul."
"That is not your name…"
"I have a title, not a name. To have a name would rank me with your kind, 'cosmos'."
"You may not be 'my' kind, but you sure as hell are not their kind, either!"
"What am I, then?" Soul asks, a hint of irritation flowing in his voice.
"You are the wizard, Babidi!" The creature is suddenly before Shin.
"That is not my title!"
"That is your name!"
"I don't have a name!" Soul suddenly backhands the kai, causing Shin to stumble. Quickly, he starts to retaliate but Death and Destruction jump in the way and bare their fangs at the deity. Soul stalks between his two pets in order to face Shin. He grabs the front of the kai's wardrobe and pulls him onto his feet.
"I have a title and a place. I belong to Spirit. I belong in Hellon!" the beast hisses. "I am Soul!"
"You are nothing!" Shin retorts. Soul quickly raises a fist to strike the kai but Shin was faster. He lands a punch directly on the side of Soul's face, causing the beast to loosen his grip. Without hesitation, Shin takes that moment to run, since his powers are useless here. Death and Destruction are behind him, snarling and trying to latch onto his legs. Scaling part of the cliffs, Destruction leaps off from an edge and tackles the kai. The creature starts tearing into the fabric of the kai's clothes, only to be cut short when Death lunges at his brother for a taste of the 'meal.' Shin takes this moment to escape. Twisting and crawling through various cracks in the stone, he begins to wonder if he's lost, but he doesn't have a lot of time to think about that. Even at a distance, he hears the growls and steps of the ever-closer Soul. And to add to it, he didn't sound pleased about what happened. Heart racing, fear creeping into his body, Shin surges forward without ever looking back. Then he sees it. The door! Just feet away is freedom! He collapses against the large entrance and takes a moment to recover. He grabs onto the chain and pulls on it to help open the large door. It's stuck! He tries frantically to get the door to budge, but nothing happens. Glancing over his shoulder, he sees Soul, sword drawn and lunging straight at the kai. He raises the blade over his head and quickly brings it down. It lands inches from Shin's head. Standing in silence, a twisted smile creeps across Soul's face.
"Good day, kai," he says, pushing the door open. Shin falls back and out of the room, and the door immediately closes. While waiting for the panic to slowly slip away, he sits there in a quiet shock. Laughter tears him back to the real world. Devidil peers over the higher being, giggling happily all the while.
"Well, well," he snickers, "have a nice visit?"
"He–he…he tried to kill me!" Shin says, obviously shaken up by the experience. Devidil breaks into laughter again.
"Kai! Have you learned nothing?" Shin stares at the creature. "He can't kill you. He's not allowed," Devidil squats down. "To kill you would cause quite an upset in the dragon's world. And if you must know…" his voice drops to a whisper, "…we really don't want that." Back on his feet, he grabs the back of Shin's clothing to lift him up slightly. Finally, he drops the kai who lands on his feet.
"Better?" the coyote asks. Shin says nothing, anger towards the beast growing, but it doesn't matter. He knew the creature could care less. Not getting a reply, Devidil walks away anyway, laughing at a silent joke. After he's gone from sight, Shin, then, relaxes.
"I can't believe I was so panicked, I couldn't even open the door," he mutters to himself. He makes his way to the entrance of Hellon, hoping Eternity is already there waiting. He really wants to go home now and forget this whole meeting. Unfortunately, Gouge is the only one standing by the Hellon gates. Always waiting for new arrivals, the creature snarls quietly to himself in impatience.
"Heaven, help me," Shin mutters as he walks closer to the gates. Gouge quietly looks up.
"Leaving, kai?" the beast snarls, dropping all manners since the dragon is nowhere near to rebuke him.
"Yes," Shin says quietly. "Tell Eternity I'm waiting for him outside of Hellon." He calmly goes through the portal without another word. As soon as he leaves, Devidil enters the rooms.
"Lost again, did he?" Gouge asks.
"Yes," Devidil smiles. "Good thing too." He leans against the wall. "We don't need him spreading rumors to Soul, now do we?"
"Yeah," Gouge snorts. "Especially ones that are true." They stand in a moment of silence before Gouge speaks again.
"What happened this time?" A sneer plays across Devidil's muzzle.
"Our little newcomer tried to kill the higher bastard," the coyote beast mimics.
"Guess the kai didn't know we're not allowed to kill him," Gouge shifts in his position a bit, "not without one shit of a punishment, at least."
"For the moment," Devidil snarls quietly. "Thinks he's such a perfect fuck."
"Who? The kai?" Gouge asks, but Devidil doesn't answer. Gouge sighs.
"It's Soul again, isn't it?" Devidil looks like he's about to speak when he freezes, the sound of footprints catching his attention.
"Silence! Someone's coming!" The two quickly fall silent and innocently smile, fearing that the approaching figure is their mentioned comrade. Instead, Eternity enters the room and the two quickly change to disgusted looks.
"It's you," Devidil groans.
"Usually is," Eternity says.
"You wish!" Gouge mock smiles.
"Hardly," the dragon says disdainfully as he looks around the room. "Where's the Supreme Kai?"
"Waiting for you outside of here. Couldn't handle another rejection, I guess. But then again," Gouge turns his away from the dragon, "can't say he's doing a just cause." The dragon glares at the beast, but decides in favor of better judgment. Tormenting the creature would do nothing…relieve stress, though. Eternity smiles bitterly at the thought, causing Gouge and Devidil to exchange concerned glances.
"I'll take my leave," the dragon says as he walks through the portal.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish!" Gouge says.
"In Hellon terms, 'So long, Fucker!'" Devidil shouts, allowing both of them to laugh at the crude joke.
Outside, Eternity sees Shin sitting down and apparently thinking to himself.
"Shin," the kai quickly turns around to see the approaching dragon.
"Oh, it's you," he stands up to face Eternity. "For a minute there, I thought I was going to be here for a while."
"True, usually it's me waiting on you," he notices Shin's downhearted look. "I assume he wasn't willing to change?"
"No," Shin sighs.
"Then why bother?"
"Because…because I'm the Supreme Kai! Isn't it my duty to protect people? Whether they are or were good or bad, right?" He slouches over and rests his head in his hands. Eternity sighs as he now sits besides the kai.
"That's not the truth, is it?" he asks. Shin looks to the dragon.
"…I can't help him, can I…?" Eternity places a hand on the kai's shoulder.
"You don't know that. I'll admit I still have my doubts. Everyone I know feels the same…but you continue to persist. Most usually give up trying to rehabilitate a Hellon being. Who knows? Your attempts may all payoff one day." Eternity gets up and dusts himself off. "Well then, I think it's about time we leave. By my guess, we've been here the usual length of time and by this point that guardian of yours is on the brink of losing his mind." Shin stares at the dragon as he gets up.
"I suppose you're right, dragon." he laughs slightly. "Kabito can be sort of a worrier. Believe me."
"That I do," the dragon calmly smiles. He opens a portal directly leading to the kai's planet.
"You first, kai?" Eternity says as he notions towards the opening.
"No," Shin says.
"Alright then, see you on the other side!" Eternity steps through the portal. Shin starts forward, stops, and hesitates for a moment.
"Kai? Are you coming?" a voice rings from the portal, snapping Shin back to his senses.
"Oh! Of course!" he steps into the portal and the opening disappears. In the shadows, two familiar light pastel violet irises burn in the darkness. At the figure's feet, a quiet screeching whimper can be heard.
"Calm down, my pet," a shadowed hand strokes the hidden beast's head. "I do believe the kai may be more of a problem than we had originally thought, hmm? Such trouble should be eliminated." It looks at the now gone portal; its eyes narrow. "And one day it will be."
********************************
Pawsy: Keeyo! It's finsished! Finally! After all my personal problems solved: term paper, post depression feelings, my birthday, *quietly* mainly writer's block… *normal* I'm finished! Yay for me!
Frieza: At least it's done.
Pawsy: Really. Hopefully the other chapters will be done faster. I've practically written out chapters 6-8!
Frieza: A lot of time on your hands, huh?
Pawsy: Not really. Try free spaces between classes. Oh, since I know the next chappie, I believe I can give a description!
Frieza: You're not going to let the announcer do it?
Pawsy: NO! I hate the announcer! The announcer scares me! I mean, really, who can trust a disembodied voice?
Frieza: The invisible man?
Pawsy: ..….…..…I can't believe that make sense.…..er, *shakes head* anyway, we're going to see how the wonderful Hellon beings live! …Specifically speaking, Soul! *silence*
Frieza: …That's it?
Pawsy: That's all I can think of saying except a certain thing happens in chapter 6 that's valuable to the next chapter's plot.
Frieza: Okay then.
Pawsy: Bya!