A/N: This chapter will mostly be about how Undertaker got most of his scars. A 'quick' peek into his past, a battle that scarred him for life. A man turned into a legend!
Now enjoy ^_^
"We're losing him!" Doctor Elkins was shouting. They had just arrived at the infirmary to see that the Undertaker had lost consciousness again and that his heart was ceasing its beating. With his breathing already coming short and unsteady, they should have known it was to happen. Even if Shinigami didn't need to breathe, it could still cause complications when carrying a head wound. A fractured skull as was in Undertaker's case seemed bad on its own, let's not add troubled breathing on top of that list. Oxygen was needed for the recovery of every being. Be it an angelic, demonic or divine being, it was all the same for that matter.
Grell's heart was sinking slowly. It was breaking, shattering in thousand pieces. Sharp little pieces that carved one word into his soul. 'Undertaker'. The mortician had been responding better, yet he was fading away from him. Why? The moment the red Shinigami found Undertaker on the ground he had felt panic rising steadily. That panic never lessened when his lover didn't wake up, nor did he calm down when he called William Spears. He was losing his sanity. His one true love that chained him to the will to fight on in the life where no one cared whatever he felt. He used to smile throughout the day and cry himself to sleep. The Undertaker had put an end to these days. Grell laughed a true genuine smile, however now it seemed these depressing days were about to come back.
Was it an accident? Had the crazy old fool tripped on something and hit the side of one of his coffins? It seemed unlikely. Undertaker's balance was that of a flamingo standing on one foot. He moved as quiet as the wind, knowing how to play with the secrets of gravity. It couldn't have been an accident…could it?
Questions left unanswered, questions only Undertaker could know the answer to. While doctor Elkins was trying to save the retired Shinigami, the Undertaker was fighting as well.
"Have you noticed? The night seems darker than usual." That sentence was the start of a battle. A battle which would leave many scars and memories. Even if Undertaker decided to forget them, they would still haunt him.
"With other words, the perfect night." Undertaker said to a dark figure standing before him. The wind was roaring, screaming that a storm was approaching. It didn't matter for the two reapers standing at the port though. Rain was starting to fall soaking the dark clad men. Undertaker's gaze never faltered when the other man was staring at him with hatred and mischief. He'd been assigned to reap the very soul of a fellow Shinigami. Said Shinigami had betrayed his own kind, he'd made a contract with a demon. Undertaker, being the very first of their kind didn't even know it was possible for a Shinigami and demon to form a contract. The Shinigami before Undertaker wore dark trousers and a long coat, his dark brown hair came just below his shoulders and was waving along in the wind. "What made you betray your own kind?" Undertaker asked the brown haired Shinigami. The latter smiled and narrowed his eyes, inspecting Undertaker from head to toe. The elder wore a long cloak with the hood pulled over his head. Even with the wind blowing so hard, it never fell down. His silver hair played around him, glistering because of the rain.
"What made me betray my own kind?" The younger reaper repeated. "I didn't betray them, they betrayed me." He stated, a maddening look perched upon his features. He summoned his death scythe in one swift motion. A sword like blade appeared in his hand threatening Undertaker by pointing its sharp point towards him. "What makes you think you can stop me by the way?" He asked almost laughing out loud. Amusement was clearly seen as he looked over the ancient. Old fashioned and disgusting. When he was still walking around in the library, he'd hear about the elder reaper who wandered around some times. Undertaker had the habit of moving eerily and disappear without someone ever knowing he was there to start with. As far as the brown haired man was concerned, the old man was weak. He barely spoke and when he did it was only a sentence or two. He spoke at just the right volume, his voice a deep sound that made everyone go silent instantly.
"You were the one to form a contract, Desimus. You betrayed us." Undertaker said. He still was barehanded. He didn't feel like summoning his scythe…yet. He ignored the second question for he knew for sure the younger reaper was about to find out soon. Desimus frowned at the ancient. The rain was soaking them, making their clothes cling to their body. How annoying.
"You know, let's just finish this conversation fast." Desimus said sprinting towards the cloaked figure of the Undertaker. All the while, Undertaker stood in silence. When the other reaper's scythe was mere inches from his face, Undertaker jumped away. At lightning speed he called forth his own scythe and slashed Desimus' back. A hiss reached his ears as he stood still facing Desimus with the calmest expression. Truth be told, he didn't feel anything. He was void of everything. He didn't even care whether he lived or died. Not that he wanted to die, mind you. "You're fast for an old man." Desimus commented straightening delicately as the wound on his back pulled painfully. Undertaker didn't respond, he only watched the man for another attack.
There was another presence. He sensed it just in time when Desimus moved again, this time Undertaker wasn't prepared for the second presence to jump in. When the younger Shinigami actually threw his scythe to the side just as Undertaker stepped aside to avoid getting cut. That was a mistake. Undertaker came face to 'face' with the sword's blade the moment he stood still. This resulted in the blade cutting diagonally across his face. He had the time to close his eye, that didn't keep it from getting damaged. When he opened his eyes again he saw a demon holding the sword. A reaper and demon working together, interesting. Never before had a reaper ever entrusted their scythe to a demon. Why were they fighting together like this? Undertaker, for a moment, was lost in thought until Desimus' voice cut through his train of thought. "He used to be my brother when we were still humans." He explained. Undertaker looked at the brown haired Shinigami and noted to his annoyance that his left eye only saw smoky blurs while his right eye was seeing as 'sharp' as any other Shinigami's eye without glasses. He had the terrible habit of forgetting to put them on. He was never bothered by his bad sight, making him the only reaper who could truly live without them.
"You can still remember your human life?" Undertaker asked curiously. Reapers weren't supposed to have any recollection of their human lives. Undertaker himself had never been a human.
"Only because he found me, he knew remembered first and made me remember as well." Desimus answered with a nod. "How fortunate." He added with a smirk and a thoughtful expression. Thunder began to rumble, breaking the silence that had fallen between the three men. "Do you remember anything from your past?" Desimus asked all of a sudden. His brother was just standing there, watching everything from a safe distance. Though he was prepared to intervene should things change.
"I was not born a reaper, lad. I've been created." Undertaker said keeping his voice calm and stoic. When Desimus' eyes widened in shock he started to grin. A very rare grin that Undertaker never showed. A grin that from that day on would continue to appear and widen.
"C…created?" Desimus asked perplexed. Undertaker nodded before running his way. His demon brother didn't have time to register all that happened, nor did he have the time to move even one finger when Undertaker's scythe plunged into his fellow reaper's chest. Cinematic records made their way out of Desimus' struggling body. The records were cut fast and easy. Slowly he turned to face the demon.
"Can I take this dance?" Undertaker asked with a creepy smile. He ran for the demon with speed, never halting or faltering in his moves. The demon fought back with his brother's scythe managing to cut the silver haired Shinigami a few times on his arms and chest. The reaper in turn cut him as well at various places. "At least you know how to fight." Undertaker said pleased. He closed his eyes smiling at the demon who was gasping for breath. The quick movements had exhausted him fast. Anger was boiling his blood. Blood that mixed with the rain. He stepped forward and reached out fast with the sword pointed at the silver haired Shinigami. The sound of flesh being slid open was blessedly covered up by the thunder. Shocked, Undertaker felt his throat being ripped open. He felt the crimson liquid already coming up his mouth. The iron taste of his own life fluid. That was it. Enough playing. The demon had no time to deflect any of the other attacks the Undertaker landed on him. He was almost sliced in half by the huge scythe the reaper carried. Blood was leaving both men at an alarming rate. Undertaker's pale skin had even paled more, the demon was laying on the ground not looking any better. Gasping for air, he knew his last breath was nearing.
"What is your name?" The demon asked speaking for the first time that night. Undertaker rare grin reappeared and he kneeled down.
"I'm Death." He whispered with a strained voice. The demon finally gave in to his injuries. Undertaker didn't even know if he heard him, but it didn't really matter. He stayed on his knees like that for hours. He didn't find the strength to return to the Shinigami realm let alone stand up. Finally, the world around him darkened, fading away in a cold blackness. He never discovered the demon's name after that. Undertaker had been unconscious for days after someone found him with the dead body of Desimus. Apparently, the demon was never found. It also turned out that the demon had tricked Desimus into thinking he was his brother. Two brothers can't be reborn as one Shinigami and one demon. They'd either be both divine beings or demonic, which was quite rare in itself.
"He's stable again." Doctor Elkins said with a relieved sigh. They'd transferred Undertaker to a bed in the infirmary, while keeping him stable. An oxygen mask was placed over the elder's nose and mouth, just in case. Grell had been send away, waiting for the door to open Grell paced anxious back and forth. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Why hadn't he been at the mortuary that day? He blamed William entirely for it. If his boss hadn't given him overtime he would have been with Undertaker earlier. Grell looked up as the sound of the door opening caught his attention.
"Doctor." Grell said in a hopeful tone. William had been sitting in the waiting room where Grell had been pacing, he was deep in thought. Thinking about not only Undertaker's condition but also the cause of it. Just like red reaper, did William suspect there could be more to it than a mere accident.
"He's stable for now." Doctor Elkins said with a nod. "I also treated his head wound, it seemed his skull was fractured. I am sorry, but there will be lasting damage." Elkins said sadly. "His inability to respond was because his brain suffers a slight damage, however that will change. He'll be able to move again as well. Though I fear episodes of a ceasing in mobility will occur, but I don't think anything as severe as previously will happen again." The doctor explained. Grell felt relieved even with the bad news. The point was, Undertaker was going to live!
"Can I see him?" Grell asked. He wanted nothing more than to be with his lover right now.
"Sure, but don't expect him to be awake for some time." Elkins said opening the door for Grell to enter. William stood up and approached the doctor with his usual stoic expression.
"Please notify me when the Undertaker's condition changes, I fear some paperwork is in need of being looked after." William said. After doctor Elkins answered with a 'certainly', William shook his hand and left the infirmary. Something was off. And he knew it.
TO BE CONTINUED