Summary: Strange deaths have been occurring all over the human world and even in the demon world. The oddest thing about these deaths is that the soul of the victim is taken. It is up to the spirit detectives to figure out who is up to this. The only way they can is to actually hear from the source, but how will they manage that?

Warning: Gore, Violence, Language, Yaoi, Rape, Death

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Weeping Darkness

Beautiful Death

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Kurama frowned as he looked up at the tall, dark, grey temple. It looked more like an old castle than a spiritual temple. "Here we are," Kurama said.

"This looks more like a creepy old demon castle than a church," Kuwabara said with a shudder.

"Hn…" Hiei said as he walked forward.

"Wait, Hiei!" Kurama said with a frown as he walked after the little fire demon.

"I have a very bad feeling about this…" Yusuke mumbled.

"As do I," Kurama whispered. Kuwabara and Hiei silently agreed.

They trudged through the forest slowly. They wanted to make it to their place of worship but at the same time they did not want to anger the gods by thinking they were eager to sacrifice someone. They stopped when they came upon a most shocking scene. There was a person with white hair wearing a dark robe lying in a field of white carnations. They all gasped.

"Good it be…Shi-Shinigami?" The old man asked.

"It can only be!" The old woman cried. "Carnations do not grow in this forest! And white carnations do not grow anywhere in the surrounding area!" The younger men of the group walked over slowly.

"He is hurt?" The old man gasped as he too walked forward.

"Are you sure this is a man?" One of the young men asked. "This face…"

"It is a man!" The old man snapped. "This here is the Grim Reaper! A Shinigami! A god of death!"

"Oh my! We must get him to the temple! We have to clean him up! He will surely reward us?"

"WHAT!" The old bellowed. "Reward? Woman, do you want Mammon to come fry you to death? Your greed will be the end of you!"

"I mea-meant a spiritual reward!" The old woman cried. One of the young men reached over and began to pick white carnations. He held a bunch in his arms. The other picked the Shinigami from the ground. Once he was lifted from the ground, the white carnations began to wilt. Even the ones the other had picked were wilted.

"He is a god of death…" The old man breathed. "Quickly, we must rush to the temple!"

"So what exactly are we going to do as soon as we step foot in there?" Kuwabara asked with a sigh.

"I'm not…so sure myself…" Kurama mumbled.

"Shuichi?" Their gaze snapped to the right to see a young girl running over to them. "Oh, Shuichi! I knew you'd change your mind!" She squealed as she hugged him tightly. Hiei growled and glared at the girl. Kurama laughed a bit nervously and pulled her away.

"Naturally," He said with a smile.

"Sadly, we can't date anymore considering I have a boyfriend, but we can still be best friends!" She giggled. "Come, I bet you're still a newbie anyway!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him down the path they were already taking. Hiei growled as he quickly followed after them. Yusuke and Kuwabara shrugged and ran after them as well.

"He's so beautiful…" the young lady in charge of doing make up sighed as she caressed the Shinigami's pale face.

"What are you doing?" Someone snapped making her withdraw her hand quickly. "Asmodeus would have a really fun time with you," The person said with a shake of her head. She walked in and began to cut the tattered dark robes from the Shinigami.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Father told me to dress him in better than these rags," the woman said. She stared at the Shinigami's unmoving body. "He is a shell,"

"A-A shell?"

"He has no purpose anymore," The woman said with a shrug.

"What is this Shinigami's name?" She asked. The other woman frowned.

"The only way to find out is to draw blood but we're not to mar him. We are to prepare him for sitting out. We have a real Shinigami's body here and we are to pray to him," She nodded. The younger lady nodded.

When they reached inside, Kurama and the others looked around in awe. It may have been dark and evil looking, but the décor was quite magnificent. "CAREFUL!" They all snapped their heads to the right at the loud yell. "If you drop him, you will be answering to the gods!" They watched as the 8 people carry a black casket across the room. Mina – the girl that still had Kurama's arm – squealed.

"What is that?" Kurama asked. Mina smiled at him.

"That is the Shinigami that was found in the middle of the forest!" She said happily. Kurama and the others exchanged looks.

"Shinigami?" Kurama asked. Mina nodded and dragged them over.

"They cleaned him up but found he was nothing but a shell now. So all we can do is preserve his body and pray to him," Kurama frowned at her as she spoke.

"What kind of twisted religion is this?" Kuwabara mumbled lowly. Yusuke and Hiei snorted.

"Your guess is just as bad as mine," Yusuke mumbled. Mina led them to where the casket was being placed.

"It is said that if you touch a Shinigami's bare hand, you will see how you die," Mina whispered. They stood before the closed black casket. She placed a hand on top and began to whisper in a language none of them could understand.

"This place…" Kuwabara whispered as he shuddered.

"I want to leave here as quickly as possible…" Yusuke mumbled. Mina looked up and smiled at the confused faces of Kurama, Kuwabara, and Yusuke. Hiei was busy looking around.

"We are revealing the Shinigami at tonight's gathering," Someone said, gaining everyone's attention. "Please gussy up and get changed into your robes," Mina smiled and nodded.

"Aiyai Naiyai…" Mina said with a bow. The man bowed and said the same. Mina motioned for them to follow.

"What was that?" Yusuke asked.

"It means may the gods show you mercy," Mina said with a smile. Yusuke and Kuwabara shared a look before following.

"So…" Kurama said.

"We don't know which god you will serve," Mina said as she looked at them all. "So you will just have to wear black and white,"

"Which would be…?"

"Black robes with a white carnation," Mina said as she led them inside of what looked like a storage room. "We only have fake white carnations,"

Grey eyes opened slightly. It was dark. "What in the world…" He mumbled quietly to himself. He sighed and closed his eyes back. Maybe he could sleep now… His eyes snapped back open when he heard yelling. He frowned. "What is going on out there?"

Mina led them back to the room with the black casket. "Looks like we're starting," Mina said excitingly. She took a seat in the middle of the room and Kurama and the others followed.

"This is all too weird…" Kuwabara mumbled.

"Now! For the unveiling!" Someone whispered. The casket was opened by two men who were dressed in red robes. They lifted the body from the casket. Kurama and the other's eyes widened. They all leaned forward to get a better look at the so called 'Shinigami'. They placed the body on a slanted slab of stone that was surrounded by white imitation carnation flowers. The flowers instantly died away and real white carnations took their place. Everyone gasped. There was a chorus of "Aiyai Naiyai." Around the room. Everyone had their heads bowed as they whispered the chant. Kuwabara, Kurama, Yusuke, and Hiei all exchanged glances before doing the same.

"Oh Shinigami! Oh Lord of Death! Oh giver of the darkest mercy!" The priest began to chant. Everyone repeated after him.

"He wakes!" Someone cried. Everyone's head snapped up to see that indeed the white haired Shinigami was awake and staring at them in confusion. Everyone began to mumble the "Aiyai Naiyai" chant again. Hiei huffed and stood.

"This is all a load of bull…" Yusuke mumbled.

"My lord of mercy!" The priest cried as he kneeled down in front of the Shinigami. Hiei and the others looked at him. "I beg of the-" The man grabbed the Shinigami's bare hand and his eyes went blank. He snatched his hand away and backed away from the Shinigami trembling. "I-I…I'm to die a wrathful death!" The priest cried in horror. The Shinigami raised an eyebrow. "I am to not be shown mercy. The Shinigami frowned as the priest ran out the room screaming bloody murder. He slowly slid off the slab of stone and stood. He looked down as if shocked about his clothing.

"We must show the lord of death the very place built in his honor!" Someone shouted. The room was quiet.

"I'll volunteer!" Mina exclaimed. Everyone began to mumble and then agreed to allow her. Everyone stood and left the whole temple. Kurama and the others blinked in confusion. They watched as Mina approached them. "You guys want to help me? Looks like everyone chickened out!" She grinned. Kurama furrowed his brow.

"I'm not even sure I fully understand what just happened here," Kurama mumbled.

"I'm hella confused over here too…"

"This is why I don't believe in all this religious crap…" Hiei growled. Kurama shook his head with a sigh.

"Well, he is a Shinigami," Mina jabbed a thumb in the direction of the Shinigami that was walking around looking at everything on the 'stage'. "Also known as the Grim Reaper or the almighty god of the darkest mercy!"

"The darkest mercy?"

"He will kill you," Mina shrugged. "And relieve you of your punishment for the sin you've committed," She explained. She jumped when the Shinigami tapped her on the shoulder.

"What is going on?" The Shinigami asked with a frown. "How did I get in here?"

"I think some of the church goers found your body and brought it here to worship," Mina explained. She bowed. "Aiyai Naiyai,"

"What?" The Shinigami furrowed his brow. "Why the hell would they do something as creepy as that?" Hiei and Yusuke raised an eyebrow. Mina sputtered.

"I'm…not sure…"

"Humans…." The Shinigami grumbled.

"May I ask your name, My lord?" Mina asked with a smile and a bow.

"No you may not," The Shinigami frowned. Mina's smile faltered.

"Aiyai Naiyai,"

"What are you saying?" The Shinigami asked with a frown. "What is this Aiyai Naiyai I keep hearing you idiotic humans chant?"

"I-I…It means May the gods show us mercy…" Mina said slowly. The Shinigami snorted.

"Mina Iowan," The Shinigami said. Mina's eyes widened.

"H-How…."

"You will walk home one day and a building board will drop on you, ending your life," The Shinigami said with a shake of his head. "What a horrible way to end…"

"I-I…" Mina's eyes watered up. She ran out and cried. The Shinigami looked at the remaining four.

"Shuichi Minamino, Yusuke Urameshi, Kazuma Kuwabara, Hiei the Jaganshi," The Shinigami smiled widely. "My name is Syn," He bowed, his long white hair falling over his shoulders.

"H-How did you-" Kuwabara asked with wide eyes.

"It is weird…" Syn said as he walked back over to the stage. He played with the white carnations on the stone slab he was laying on. "I look into each one of your eyes and I cannot predict how you will die…"

"Why would you want to?" Kuwabara asked. Syn held a white carnation up to the light.

"Life is as fragile as a flower…it is almost like a flower…" Syn tilted his head to the side and smiled sadly. "All beautiful things come to a…horrifying end…" He crushed the flower in his hands. The white petals turned brown when he opened it again. He turned and held out his palm for them to see the wilted and crushed flower. Kurama frowned. "But…some are reborn into something else…something far my beautiful…" The flower slowly came to life but instead of a white carnation, it was a red rose. "Even if that one beauty you are reborn into is even more fragile than what you were before," The Shinigami smashed the flower in his palm and let the blackened rose petals fall to the ground. "Isn't that right….Youko Kurama?" Kurama's eyes widened.

"You-"

"I know all about you…" the Shinigami whispered. "I know everything….except how you will die…." Syn laughed. "You are either a demon, dead, or very spiritually aware … maybe you have very powerful mental barriers?" Syn sighed as he lay back down on the stone slab. "I will make a deal with you…"

"And what would that be?" Yusuke asked with a frown. Syn looked at him with a sad smile.

"I will help you to the best of my ability if you help me get revenge on those who have betrayed me…"

"Betrayed you…?" Kuwabara asked. Syn got back up slowly and made his way over to the four. He disappeared from their sight and they took a sharp intake of breath. Kuwabara gave a low cry as he felt cold hands on his chin. The three looked to see the Shinigami behind Kuwabara with a frown.

"I was betrayed by the seven you seek out….they are responsible for the death of all those humans,"

"How do you know this? Why are you telling us?" Yusuke asked with narrowed eyes. Syn pulled away from Kuwabara and he disappeared.

"They," He paused. The four turned to where he had appeared in the statue of an angel. He was sitting in the hands. "Raped me," Syn stared up at the ceiling and chuckled. "I was a fool…" He shook his head. "I deserved to be burnt alive," He laughed loudly before his laughs turned into sobs. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed harder. Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei exchanged frowns before looking at the sobbing Shinigami.

"We'll help you," Yusuke said. He gasped when the Shinigami suddenly appeared in front of him and hugged him tightly.

"Oh! The goddess has smiled upon me! She must finally forgive me for my past sins!" He cried and buried his face in Yusuke's chest. Yusuke awkwardly patted his back. He looked at the other three.

"Maybe we should…um…Take him to Koenma?" Yusuke asked. The other three nodded their agreement.

Yusuke – with Syn attached to his arm – and the others walked into Koenma's office. It was not as chaotic as it was before. "Hey Koenma, any news?"

"Well…we did figure out who-" Koenma trailed off and looked at the Shinigami attached to Yusuke's arm. "Who is this?"

"Oh Koenma, this is Syn. He's a Grim Reaper," Yusuke said. He frowned. "How do you not know your own grim reaper?"

"Yusuke, where did you find him?" Koenma asked seriously. Syn chuckled.

"Koenma, you must remember me," Syn let go of Yusuke and slowly made his way over to Koenma's desk. He sat on the edge and smiled down at the godling. "Of course it was over 20,000 years ago!"

"Guys, this is Syn Shishi," Koenma said with a sigh. "The oldest Grim Reaper. He served my dad when he was in charge," Koenma grumbled. Syn reached over and pinched Koenma's cheeks.

"You're so adorable!" Syn squealed. Koenma whined.

"George, get him off! Yusuke! Kurama! Hiei!"

"Hiei?" Hiei snorted. "Why would you call me?"

"Get him off my face!" Koenma cried. George walked over to Syn. Syn smiled pleasantly at Koenma.

"Touch me and I will make you wish I killed you," Syn said lowly with a smile without taking his eyes off Koenma. George froze and immediately slung himself backwards into the far wall. Syn giggled and let go of Koenma's face and made his way back over to Yusuke. He leaned against the taller and grabbed his arm.

"Koenma?" Yusuke asked.

"Ah yes…The killings have slowed, but now there is one main way the humans are being killed.

"Which would be?"

"Dismembered," Koenma said quietly. Everyone turned their attention when Syn gasped.

"Ira…" Syn whispered.

"Ira?" Koenma asked urgently. Syn nodded. "T-The-the-thethethethethethe the ones that escaped were the Divine 7 Sinners?" Koenma shouted.

"I thought you said 50 escaped?"

"Yes, and among them were those 7 Demons!" Koenma shouted. "They are VERY powerful!"

"Ira, Luxuria, Acedia, Superbia, Invidia, Avaritia, Gula," Kurama mumbled. Syn looked at him with a frown.

"You know their real names?"

"Yes," Kurama said as he looked at Syn, "It was a topic we had gone over in school."

"Oh!" Syn said as he tilted his head to the side slightly. "They go by different names now, though…" Syn said. "Ira still goes by Ira but is also called Satan by the humans, Acedia is Belphegor, Luxuria is Asmodeus, Avaritia is Mammon, Superbia is Lucifer, Invidia is Leviathan, and Gula is Beelzebub,"

"Mhm…" Koenma mumbled. "Will you be returning to your Reaping duties?"

"I've had enough of dead people…" Syn grumbled. "I want to stay with Yusuke until he and I fulfill our promise!" Syn smiled at Yusuke.

"What promise?" Koenma demanded.

"For someone who is all knowing and all seeing, you see and know nothing," Syn said seriously. He shook his head. "If you have not seen nor heard it, it is most likely not important enough to be heard or seen." Syn waved his hand in the air. "Now do the little paper work thingy that you and your father do to let me say with Yusuke and his friends in the human world!" Syn smiled. Koenma glared at him.

"Very well….only because I want them to keep a close eye on you be-"

"Because I know more than you and you're suspicious," Syn supplied with a smirk. Koenma glared at him.

"Precisely."

Review please?