Author's Rant: Thank you guys very very very very much much much much! I seriously love you guys…will you marry me…? Just kidding, really, I can't believe I got this much reviews and favorites and alerts for this story, thanks you guys so much *bows low*
Hope you'll enjoy this ^^!
Beware of OOC0-ness, AU and stupid typos and grammar mistakes :X.
Disclaim: If I owned DC or MK, the world would be at the end.
Reapers.
By: Shimizu Hikaru.
Part 7:
... Shinichi was floating in a world of darkness. He could still hear people talking and he recognized voices of Kaito, RIE and Hakuba. There was another voice, even and sly, of a woman that Shinichi heard Kaito called Akako.
And he heard the story of the Reaper called Sherry… Vermouth, that woman was the one took Kaito away from him, was the one killed Kaito's father…but her story was still so sad. If he was her, he would have done the same. Everything she did was all for her precious one. And wasn't that the cruel Hades the main reason behind all of this? He felt anger ran through his body. He wasn't sure he had hated someone this much before but he really wanted to open his eyes, to tell Kaito he was okay and then he'd come to the cruel Hades to beat him up himself.
He really wanted to but something was pretending him from waking up. He struggled against it but it was fruitless. Yet, he still tried harder.
'Ah-ah, be still Shin-chan,' Kaito's voice chided him softly.
Kaito?
'Yah, the one and only,' he could see the grin on Kaito's face right then, 'But you forgot to add chan!'
He really wanted to roll his eyes but he couldn't so yeah.
I'm rolling my eyes now, just to let you know.
'…seriously?'
And I'm nodding right now.
He really wanted to talk to Kaito face to face, really.
'Don't worry Shin-chan, you will be able to soon.'
But how the heck are you talking to me anyway?
Silence greeted him and he was pretty sure that Kaito was tapping his chin thoughtfully.
'Not really talking to. More like I'm thinking to you, and it's thank to the Pandora…' Kaito said and indeed there was thoughtfulness in his voice but soon it was replacing with cheerful confidence, 'No, wait. I'm sure!'
Pandora eh? That the gem Akako-san was talking about right? And who's Akako anyway?
'You heard?' Kaito's voice was surprised but not letting Shinichi answer, he continues, 'Yah, the Pandora. And Akako is a friend of mine. She's watcher.'
But I thought Watchers can't show their face to Reaper? You said that when we first met.
'We met in the Central and she was interested in me I think.' After a moment of silence, Kaito continued and Shinichi could see a cocky grin along with it, 'Jealous?'
He huffed. As if.
'You are!'
Not too.
'Are too!'
Seriously, I'm not.
'Are too! Are too! Are too!' Kaito sing song.
He smiled fondly (mentally v^^). I'm not…do I need to cry to make you give up?
A faint chuckle, 'Maybe~?'
Kaito…?
Silence.
Kaito…? Hey?
Again, no one answered.
Kaito…? Kaito!
He called panicly but still no one answered him. Just then, a pairs of arms sneakaround his middle and someone whisper to his ear.
'Come on, Sleeping Beauty, your prince has come,' the arms tightened, 'So, wake up.'
And he was pulled out of the darkness. Everything went white.
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
'Maybe~?'
"Amazing Akako! Like you said! I can talk to him!" Kaito beamed at Akako, who smiled amusingly.
"Yes, yes," she said, waving her hand dismissingly, "You can wake him up now."
He nodded and he was going to shake Shinichi up that Akako stopped him.
"…Not like that. You're supposed to pull him out there," she said and Kaito looked at her blankly.
"Like close your eyes and image that you're with him?"
Again, Kaito nodded and closed his eyes.
In a second, he was floating in a world of darkness. He looked around to see Shinichi float slowly in the darkness though Shinichi's panic calls still echoed. He smiled before swimming over there.
Winding his arms around Shinichi's middle, he whispered huskily in to his ear, 'Come on, Sleeping Beauty, your prince has come,' he tightened his arms, 'So, wake up.'
And everything went wide.
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
Kaito opened his eyes just in time to see Shinichi's eyes flicked open slowly and soon, he was looking at a pairs of light blue eyes that he had missed so much.
Those blue, blue eyes stared up at him before a smile tugged at Shinichi's lips gently.
"Hey, good to see you again."
"Same here," Kaito smiled back before his eyes watered and he hugged Shinichi with all his might.
"Uwah! Shin-chan! I missed you so much!" he babbled out tearily before Shinichi whacked the back of his head.
"Grow up will you," Shinichi grumbled and scratched his head while in the background, chibi-RIE poked at chibi-Kaito's body lay on the ground, with a huge lump on his head, with her mop.
He smiled and held out his hand as his eyes set on Akako, "Nice to meet you Akako-san." Chibi-Kaito slowly sat up with big watery puppy eyes on his face as he looked at Shinichi longingly.
Akako nodded and smiled a little, "Same here, Kudo-kun." Now, chibi-Kaito was crying to chibi-RIE while babbling nonsense things and chibi-RIE pat his back as both she and chibi-Hakuba swaetdropped.
"So, Kudo-san wakes up. What are we going to do?" Hakuba spoke up, hand on his chin thoughtfully.
RIE also looked up while Kaito was still babbling in background.
"I think Kudo-kun and Kuroba-kun should go to the Central while you two stay back," Akako said.
"But why?" RIE protested and Kaito was till crying and babbling.
"Simple, once I open the portal, the barrier will be down so I need you two to protect me and Kudo-kun's body. And Hakuba-kun can't go anyway," Akako explained.
"How can Kudo-san go then?" Hakuba asked, looking at Shinichi thoughtfully.
"He's half of the Pandora so it connects Kudo-kun and Kuroba-kun. That makes him half-Reaper so his soul can be extracted from his body," came the even answer, "I'll also need to keep Kudo-kun's body alive so I'll be defendless if demons come."
"I see," he nodded, finally agreed and RIE also nodded reluctantly.
"Is that okay with you Kudo-kun?" Akako turned her attention to Shinichi questioningly. Shinichi nodded in agreement without hesitance.
Akako then nodded before turning to Kaito, "What about yo-…Kuroba-kun?"
Everyone stared at him.
"…and he said he loved me too! And then we had passionate night full of…" he finally looked up to see everyone sweatdropped at him, "Uhm…yes?"
Everyone shook their head and he noticed Shinichi was missing.
He also sweatdropped, "Hey guys…is Shin-chan behind me?"
Everyone nodded their head slowly. And Kaito fearfully turned around just in time to see Shinichi was cracking his knuckles coldly.
"…full of what Kai-chan?" Shinichi smiled while glaring down at him coldly, sending a chill down his spine.
"Uhm…" he looked around, trying to find an escape.
"…Of bananas?" he said hopefully as he found none.
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
"I agree," Kaito nodded his head painfully while nursing the second lump on his head and his purple eye and split lips.
"So that's set then," Shinichi clapped his hands together, smiling cheerfully.
"We're ready," Kaito said seriously and Shinichi nodded.
Akako also nodded at them before closing her eyes and doing some hands seal. Instantly, they heard the sound of glass breaking though there was nothing broke. A black, swirling hole appeared behind Akako and Shinichi collapsed. Kaito quickly took a hold of his hand though his body still collapsed down, leaving his soul stood on-through his body.
He attentively stepped aside as Kaito sweatdropped, "That's kinda scary…" but he turned seriously again, "Let's go then." And they both jumped into the portal.
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
"Why Gin? Why are you doing this?" an old man yelled out while struggling against his energy bonds.
The man, Gin, took in a breath of his cigarette before smirking.
"Why? Can't you tell James? Because I want power."
"You're already a Hades!"
"…It's not enough."
And as the old man, James stared at him a group of Watchers and Reapers came in with a struggling short blond hair woman in their care.
"Jodie!" James yelled out to the woman and her head snapped up to look at him surprisingly.
"James?" she called out before turning to look at Gin with narrowed eyes.
"What do you want? Why are you capturing us and alerting the Eggs?"
Gin grinned at her coldly, "Just wait and see, Jodie-dear."
Right then, another man dressed in black came in with a limp body of Vermouth.
"What is it?" Gin raised an eyebrow at the body.
And Vodka bowed his head before answering, "Sir, this woman, she's a traitor." He let her body fall to the ground.
"How so?" Gin turned around, not sounding a bit surprised.
"All the Eggs under her controls have not been alerted sir," Vodka's voice sounded hesitant at Gin's indifferent question.
The said man the walked up to Vermouth's body before kicking it hard, sending it to the wall and it collapsed down with a loud 'thud'.
Gin then turned around coldly, "Cut off her Egg's energy supply."
Vodka bowed obediently then looked at Gin curiously, "What about the others?"
"Let them be. Without their Keepers, they will be erased soon. And you bring the Pandora's body to the Core yourself."
Jodie and James, who had been silent the entire time let their eyes widen.
"What are you planning with the Core?" Jodie shrieked out angrily, "It's the only thing that keep the Living and the Dead apart! You should know that!"
Gin looked at her indifferently, "Of course I know. That's why I'm doing this."
He turned to the Reapers and Watchers, "Bring those Hades to the Core."
And he grinned dangerously, "I'll let you witness the whole thing."
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
"Okay, which way, Kaito?" Shinichi asked at he looked between the two separated corridors.
Kaito looked thoughtful before grinning sheepishly, "I think when I got my memories back, my memories of this place were erased."
"…so what now then? Should we separate and each takes a corridor?"
Kaito protested immediately, "No way! I can't let you go alone!"
Shinichi put his hands on his hips, tapping his foot impatiently, "So what do you suggest?"
"Ehm…"
'The left. Go on the left way," Akako's voice echoed, starling both of them.
"Geez, Akako! You almost scared me to death!" Kaito complained while held a hand to his heart dramatically.
Ignoring him, Shinichi asked curiously while dragging Kaito to the left, "How do you talk to us?"
'Through your body here, Kudo-kun,' her voice was dry, 'I'll lead you two there.'
"But what's 'there'?" Kaito asked, but then he quickly pull Shinichi into a hallway.
"Wha?" Shinichi said confusedly but Kaito just held a finger to his lips. Right then, three Reapers walked by them.
"Reapers…" Kaito whispered as they were gone, "I think they've gone berserk…" Shinichi nodded in agreement and stayed quiet.
After a moment, they both stuck their head out, Kaito looked at the left while Shinichi checked the right.
"Clear," Shinichi said and Kaito nodded. Then they both bolted out of their hiding place to turn another corner. There was a huge door at the end of the corridor.
"Hey, Akako, is that 'there'?" Kaito asked, letting his eyes darted around the area. No one was there, he frowned.
'Yes, it's the Central's HQ. Where the Hades usually gather.'
"…But why's there no one? There should be some guards at least…" Shinichi asked lowly. But no one answered them.
"Akako-san?" he called.
"Shin-chan, let's check the HQ first, we'll try to call her again later," Kaito said, walking slowly to the door. Shinichi followed suite.
Kaito opened the door a little, just enough for him to have a look inside. No one. He opened a bit wider, let his head stick inside. He looked around, still no one. Finally he let himself in, and when he was sure it was not some kind of trap, he opened the door completely and grinned.
He bowed and held the door like a butler would do for his master, "Please come in~!" Shinichi glanced at him and rolled his eyes but say nothing.
"…what now?" he asked, looking around.
"I don't know…" Kaito also looked around curiously. They were about to get out and try to connect Akako again but some movement stopped them in their track.
A nearly transparent woman was writhing painfully. They swiftly ran to her and crouch down.
When they got a look at their face, they froze.
"Hey Kai…is that…?" Shinichi asked uncertainly.
"Yes, I think she is…and you forgot the 'chan'," Kaito answered, eyes not leaving the woman. Shinichi hesitantly touch the woman gently (not before rolling his eyes at Kaito's remark though).
"…Vermouth?" he called out softly. The woman slowly cracked her eyes that was closed tightly due to the pain open.
"Oh…" she smiled, despite the pain, "The Cool Kids…"
They both narrowed their eyes at her suspiciously. "Why are you all transparent?" Kaito finally aked.
She chuckled lowly, "Can't you tell…? I'm going to pay for all the crimes I've commited…" and then coughed painfully.
"Hurry, go to the Core and stop his plan…" she looked at them desperately, "Only…you two can…"
Their eyes softened at the sight of her desperate eyes, "We will."
"Thanks…" and a single tear rolled down her cheek, "…Please, please…save Sherry too…" and she disappeared in a flash of light, like when a lingering soul finally completed their wish. But she was different…her wish was still unfulfilled…
Shinichi looked at the spot where she once was sadly and Kaito put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. He slowly raised his own hand to place it over Kaito's and squeezed.
"…I seriously wanna beat this cruel Hades myself…" Kaito said quietly after a while. Shinichi didn't answer him, he stood up quickly and called out to Akako again.
"Akako-san? The Core, do you know where is it?"
Silence again greeted them and then Akako's voice echoed, but it was wavering and weak.
'Get out o-of there…T-turn left at the next corridor…then r-right and right again…go down the stair and you'll se…see…seee…' it cracked up and finally died down. Both Shinichi's and Kaito's eyes widened.
"Akako! What's happening? Akako?" Kaito called out desperately though no one answered him.
"She's not answering…" Shinichi said after a moment of silence, "…Do you think it's because Vermouth was erased…?"
"Damn…" he slammed a fist to the wall and looked down angrily. Shinichi quietly looked at him before taking his hand in his own and tugged gently.
"Come on Kaito, didn't you say you want to beat that cruel Hades up?" Shinichi said gently then smirked, "Didn't Akako-san gave us the direction, no?"
Kaito stared at him for a second before his own smirk tugged at his lips, "And that's why I love you, Shin-chan~! Let's go then!"
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
"Akako!" RIE yelled out and swung her mop at another demon as Akako collapsed in the ground, painting hard. She ran to Akako and crouched down.
But then, she herself felt a sudden drain of energy, she gasped out in pain and fell on her knees. A demon came right up behind her and was ready to attack her but Hakuba beat it before it got to her.
He kneed down, holding her body up and looking back to her and Akako worriedly.
"What's wrong?" and he swung the kitchen chair, his makeshift weapon around to prevent the demons that come for them.
"…We lost out Keeper…we won't last long…" Akako choked out, breaths came out in puffs.
She tremblingly took out a pedant that glowed a soft blue light and tied it around Shinichi's hand shakingly.
"That'll keep his body alive…" she smiled satisfiedly. And Hakuba yelled at her, "What about you two?"
Akako shook her head, still smilingly, "There's no he-help…U-u-unle-less…" and she dissolved into thousands dots of light.
Hakuba turned to a gasping RIE and hugged her tightly, she hugged him back shakingly, a gently smile tugged at her lips.
"No... Please RIE…not you too…please…" he whispered brokenly, "Please…"
RIE tightened her hold on his back, "It's Aoko…Nakamori Aoko…" and she closed her eyes, "Please keep helping Kudo-kun and KID…I…I…" tears rolled down her face and her smile wavered.
"…I'm glad I met you, H-hakuba-kun…"
In his embrace, she, like Akako, dissolved into thousands dots of light, leaving him still hugged her no longer there form…he stared blankly at the ground, his hands closed into fists. He stood up and picked up his makeshift weapon, holding it tightly.
He smirked confidently, "…Akako, Aoko…I won't let you two down…"
And he charged at the demons.
xxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
"Everything is ready, sir," Vodka bowed as Gin walked in.
The room was ill lift. Light only came from the big hole in the middle of the room. And there were the other Hades tied to the wall far away from the hole. They had stopped trying to get out of the energy bonds and now set on glaring at Gin angrily.
Gin walked over to the Egg that was glowing softly and looked at it satisfiedly for a moment.
"The moment I've been waiting for…" he whispered, tracing the Egg gently. Then he turned to the other Hades with a chilly smirk.
"You'll soon see the greatest moment in the Dead's World! Happy?"
"Damn you!" Jodie spat at him angrily but he ignored her, continuing to walk by the hole and looking down at it with a nod.
"Push the Egg in," he ordered and Vodka bowed obediently. As Vodka was about to touch the Egg, a sharp card flew between hid hands and the Egg, making him withdraw his hands in shock.
"Hold it right there~!" a cheerful, confident voice reached their ears as they turned to see a boy dressed in white suit was grinning cheerfully.
"Who are you!" Vodka yelled out angrily. The boy bowed with the ever lasting grin.
"How rude of me~! I am KID, known as Kuroba Kaito in my past life, a Reaper sir."
"Hey James…isn't out code dress black?" Jodie whispered to the old man while her eyes was still on the newcomer.
"Yes…don't you recognize him? The trouble maker yet still the top Reaper, Kuroba Kaito?" James whispered back.
"Ah…that boy…that all the Teachers complained about…" she nodded in realization.
"Kuroba Kaito huh…" Gin looked at Kaito oddly before grinning, "Isn't this my dear Pandora?"
"Not yours sir," Kaito grinned back at him, "I am belong to someone else~."
They engaged into a glaring match before Gin turned away, "Well, glad to have you here. You'll get to witness the moment of the Dead World's change."
"Ah-ah, I really want to sir," Kaito cocked his card gun cheerfully, "But my Shin-chan doesn't want me late for dinner…so I guess I'll have to make this quick."
He aimed the gun straight at him and smirked, "So sorry, sir." He fired but Gin dodged as expected.
But then, a hard rock about as big as a fist flew at him, he barely dodged it.
Shinichi emerged from behind Kaito with a smirk matched Kaito. Gin stared at him in shock.
"How…? You're a human…"
"Let's just say…" Kaito winked at him, "…it's magic~!" and he fired several cards at Gin.
Vodka hurrily darted in to help Gin but several rocks flew at him.
"You forget me eh?" Shinichi said dryly, taking out another several rocks and let them fall to the ground, ready to kick them.
As he still fired his gun at Gin, Kaito let his aim title to the other Hades. Two cards flew at them and cut off Jodie's arms restrained. She quickly used her hands to form some hands seal to release James. Right then, bunch and bunch of Reapers and Watchers flowed into the room, attacking Shinichi and Kaito and the two Hades.
"Can't you guy fight harder? You guys are Hades for God's sake!" Kaito yelled at the two Hades, who were struggling to fight off some Reapers.
"Can't! He also restrained some of our power!" Jodie yelled back as she finished off two Reapers at time, "And we can't really erase them! they're under his control! It's not their fault!"
"Damn!" Kaito cursed and used his gun to hit a Reaper that was sneaking up behind Shinichi.
"Thanks," Shinichi said and Kaito stood back to back with him, "Anytime, Shin-chan~."
They continued to fight off the mass of Reapers and Watchers that they didn't notice Gin's chilly grin.
Using the Reapers and Watchers to his advantage, Gin quickly moved to Kaito's Egg. And he pushed the Egg in…
The hole glowed suddenly. Light coming from it blind everyone and when Shinichi could see again, he and the other Hades were lying on the ground, all the Reapers and Watchers had disappeared. The light still glowed out.
And Kaito was hugging his own body to himself.
Shinichi crawled to his feet quickly, holding Kaito's shoulders tightly.
"Kaito! Kaito! What's wrong?" he yelled out urgently, worriedly, desperately.
"I'm cold, Shin-chan…so cold…" Kaito whispred out, gritting his teeth together.
"Hold on there!" Shinichi embraced him tightly, "It's okay now…It warms up yet…?"
Kaito snuggled to Shinichi more, still holding his body tightly, "Mh…nope…but you're warm…really warm…"
The other Hades ran to them worriedly.
"Oh God, what's happening?" Jodie said, bitting her lower lip.
"What? Aahahaha! Soon! My plan will be complete!" Gin's voice yelled out smugly, loudly. They turned their head to look at him, Kaito was still trembling in Shinichi's arms.
"Soon…soon…And then…I can finally control the Living too!"
Jodie's and James' eyes widened, "You-! What?"
Gin smirked at her coldly, "Well…If I put the Medium power of one hundred Mediums in the hole that keep the Living and the Dead a part, what will happen?"
"It'll connect the two Worlds…" Jodie whispered, her arms fell to her sides, "There will no longer a wall between the two World, the balance will be destroyed and you can control the Living."
"Bingo!" he clapped his hands loudly, "After all, Medium is the thing to connect the Dead and the Living."
James stared at him in shock, "Since when…? Since when you have enough Medium power…?"
Gin's expression darkened, "Sixteen years ago, I was finally obtain the power but…" he narrowed his eyes, "…That Sherry woman and her Medium dared to stop me…"
"Sherry…" Jodie's eyes closed, "She was the Reaper that was announced traior…?" she tightened her fists, "She was accused of being traitor for saving us all…"
Gin grinned, "Ah, it's too late now, isn't it?" he held out his arms, "Once the light goes off, my time will begin!"
And then, the light went off. Everyone stopped breathing altogether, one was excited while the others were terrified.
But then, nothing happened.
Gin's eyes widened, "What…Why don't I feel anything?" he stared at his hands in shock.
"Because the Power wasn't enough," a calm voice of Shinichi spoke up. He gently put Kaito's now cold, limp and transparent soul on the ground before standing up. He glared at Gin then smirked, "Can't you tell? The Pandora, in order to survive, had divided itself into two."
He looked back at Kaito, eyes softened before they narrowed again as he looked at Gin, "One is him and the other…is me."
Gin glared at him and grinned madly, "SO I just need to put you into it too!" and in a flash, he was standing in front of Shinichi, who didn't do as much as blinked. Gin's arms shot out to take a hold of Shinichi but some kind of barrier stopped him.
Shinichi smirked at him and his body glowed. The light in the hole resonated with Shinichi's light. He whispered to Gin's shock body, "The two parts is finding each other…"
He walked past Gin to the hole, "…I'm sure you know, the hole requires the exact amount of power and it somehow connect to you right? So you can be the only one control the Living. It can't be less or more than power of one hundred people… and…" he continued to walk.
"I am also a natural Medium, I have my own power it combines with the Pandora in me…I'm sure you know what will happen…" he turned back to smile dryly at Gin, "The hole will reject it…and it's anger will engulf you…"
"Don't! Don't…" Gin's voice was trembling with anger, "You might die too! You're scared right?" he grinned madly at Shinichi, "So…come back here…come here, boy…"
Shinichi was no longer smiling, "My life was already stopped the day I was born. I am fated to do this…" his eyes looked past Gin to looked at Kaito's fading soul gently, "At least I can be with Kaito, no?"
And he let himself fall into the hole… the last thing he saw was Gin's horrified expression.
xxxxx TBC xxxxx
Part 7 is here~! Sorry for late update… but the power in my area was cut off for the whole Sunday and then, I have classes all day on the next day…so yeah…
The part with chibi Kaito and RIE was originally intended as an omake but then, I think it'll be a great relaxing moment before the serious moment…so yeah…hey, 'bananas', remind ya of anythings xD? *hint hint* lol.
And well, I can't believe I kill off Vermouth, Akako and Aoko…sorry guys! Your deaths won't be a waste!
And please ask if you're still confused about anything :3 just don't ask why Shinichi knew all about those things…he just knew v^^.
Next part should be the last…and I'm having and ideas for some kind of omake and involve another AU world…you want it :3?
Please read and review! I seriously need reviews to have the will and courage to write!