Disclaimer- i do not own any of the characters to Yami no Matsuei

Chapter 19: Walking into Destiny

Raylene appeared in the abandon warehouse where Ragnor was resting. The demon dog awakened to see they had two guests. One head salivated hungrily at the two. Suddenly the middled head narrowed its eyes as it took a closer look at Tsuzuki. The shinigami shrank away from the glowing red eye monster.

"I know you," it said. "Yes, that face, those eyes. There is only one person who has those eyes."

"Now now Ragnor, let's not spoil the surprise," said Raylene. "I'm sure He would want to tell the little one himself." His smile became wide as he stared at Tsuzuki. "And I am sure He will be pleased to hear the news of your pregnancy."

Tsuzuki wrapped his arms protectively over his stomach. "What are you talking about?" He frowned in apprehension. Tsuzuki was not liking this whole situation. It screamed doom. "Who will be pleased to hear of my pregnancy?"

"I demand that you release us at once," said Tatsumi.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Tatsumi." The devil turned his brilliant sapphire colored eyes on him. "I need you two to lure them here."

"I don't understand. Why are you after Kazutaka and Alicia?" asked Tsuzuki.

"Well, if you two hadn't interfered with their transformation you would have known why I am after them." Raylene smiled evilly. "But don't you worry. You will see who and what they truly are. Which means you positively cannot eat his soul, Ragnor." He glared up at the demon.

The dog demon snorted. "Well, can I at least eat the other one?" the demon stared hungrily at Tatsumi. "Guardians of death usually upsets my stomach but I am willing to make that sacrifice on account of I am starving."

"No, you cannot eat him either," said Raylene. "Mr. Tatsumi is more important to the completion of my plan than the little violet there." He smiled at the two guardians and then his attention back to Ragnor. "Why haven't you gathered more children for your meal?"

"I have tried but those damn Kurenai warriors and Guardians of Death are making it difficult for my symbionts to bring me food."

"Don't worry. I will bring you more souls."

"How could you," yelled Tsuzuki cradling his stomach. "How can you be so cruel as to feed the soul of an innocent child to this . . . this monster?"

"You have some nerve, little one," said the demon lowering its huge head to stare at Tsuzuki. "When you yourself slaughtered those same innocent children in your village. When you were hacking into them were you thinking about how innocent their souls were. Or were you damning them to hell."

Tsuzuki stared at the demon in horror. "How . . . ?" the violet eye shinigami swallowed a dry lump that was stuck in his throat.

"How did I find out about your sin?" the demon chuckled. The sound was like a giant gargling rocks in its throat. "Did you think your crime was unseen? The lord of hades isn't the only one that knows what happened. There were demons there as well feeding off of the carnage that you created. No little one, your sins are known to every demon and devil that walks the face of this Earth."

Tsuzuki fell to his knees with his head lowered. Tears fell from his eyes. It is a part of his life he did not want to be reminded of but it seems that no matter how hard he tries to forget, there is always someone there to remind him of what he did."

"Tsuzuki! Tsuzuki! Snap out of it," said Tatsumi looking worriedly at his friend. "Don't let them get to you."

"Oh and what about you Mr. secretary," said Raylene smiling. "Did you ever tell little violet why you stopped being his partner?"

"What are you talking about?" Tatsumi glared at the devil.

"So you never told him you couldn't take his suicidal emotional state. That when you looked into his pain filled, sorrowful eyes you were looking into the eyes of your mother. And that several times you had actually come close to killing him just like you did her."

Tatsumi said nothing. He stared at the devil with murder in his eyes. 'How did that little bastard find out about that?' He turned to see Tsuzuki staring up at him questioningly. Then Tatsumi turned back to glare at the devil. If looks could kill, Raylene had a feeling that he would have been splattered all over the wall. Those cold steel blue eyes of the secretary promised a painful death for the devil.

"Is it true?" Tsuzuki asked in a tiny voice.

"Of course not," snarled Tatsumi glaring at the devil. "I would never want to do anything to hurt you."

"But yet you left him in his hour of need," quipped up the devil smugly.

"I suggest you stay out of this." Then Tatsumi turned to his friend and bit his bottom lip. The violet eye shinigami was staring at him with those sad puppy dog eyes. "Don't listen to him, Tsuzuki. That little bastard just wants to cause trouble. I have never contemplated killing you. You are my friend. I would do anything for you." He smiled at his friend. And Tsuzuki smiled back.

Raylene pretended to gag. "All this sweetness is churning my stomach. Okay, I made that last part about killing you up. So sue me." He shrugged his shoulders smiling.

"I'll do worst than that if I ever get out of here and get my hands around your scrawny little neck," snarled Tatsumi.

"You bastard," growled Tsuzuki.

Raylene chuckled. "I'm sure you're wondering how I knew your little secret." He turned to Tatsumi and smirked. "Like Tsuzuki, did you think you were alone when you killed her. There were demons there that was drawn to your murderous intent and they saw everything."

Tatsumi stony expression didn't change an inch but if one were to look closely, you would be able to see the slight widening of his eyes.

"Now my pretty ones, its time for you to sleep. The time for the coming of the master is close at hand. And I want you, as well as the dragon twins to be here when the master walks upon the Earth again."

Suddenly the spheres began to fill with a blue mist.

"Wait," said Tatsumi fanning the mist away and coughing. "Earlier. What did you mean by I am more important to your plan?"

"In due time little one, you will know the true meaning of your entire existence," said Raylene. "You are the Key Mr. Tatsumi. The key that will usher in a new age for mankind.

Both Tatsumi and Tsuzuki choked and coughed from the mist. "What coming? Who is . . . your ma . . . master?" Tatsumi asked gasping for breath. He collapsed to his knees. As his eyes slowly closed he could hear the devil laughing and then he said, "The king of all the devils and demons. He goes by many names but if you are a Christian, you know him as Satan." Then there was darkness and silence.

xxxxx

Upon opening his eyes Muraki found himself surrounded by darkness. He frowned as he began to wonder how he came to be in such a cold isolated place. Muraki tried to get his vision to adjust to the darkness but the inky blackness of his surroundings was all consuming. He placed his hands on the ground. To his surprise and wonderment he felt no grass or dirt beneath his fingers. It felt as though there was nothing below him. Where could he possibly be? He knew it wasn't Earth or anywhere in Meifu. So where else could he be. Knowing that he won't get any answers if he continued to sit there. He slowly got to his feet, and turned around in a complete circle. "Hello," he called out but all he heard was silence. "Is there anyone else in here?"

Sighing, Muraki picked a direction and went that way hoping to maybe come upon some light at the end of this dark tunnel. He felt as though he had been walking for hours even though only minutes had passed. He stopped and tried summoning his powers. He was going to get out of this dark prison. But nothing happened. He tried again and once again nothing happened. He sighed slumping his shoulders. 'I have to get out of here. That devil is there with my Asato. I have to . . .'

Suddenly from the dark he heard something. He stopped and waited to see if he would hear it again. There! He heard someone calling out.

"-ello!" He heard the voice call out. It was familiar but . . . "Hello!"

"Alicia," Muraki said as his heart began thumping against his chest. "Alicia!" he called out to his sister.

"Kai!" she answered his call. "Kai, is that you?"

"Yes! Where are you?"

"Damned if I know!" she yelled back. "Keep talking and I'll follow the sound of your voice to you!"

"What should I say?"

"I don't know," she said irritated. "Say anything that comes to mind. I just need to hear your voice."

"Okay!" Muraki thought for a moment as to what to say. Then he thought about his dreams. "Well, every since I was young, I have always had these dreams about two angels called Damien and Damia. I think they were sister and brother. I could tell they really loved each other but they were very violent when they fought demons."

Alicia listened closely as her brother described the dreams that she had been having. Before, she was only guessing that he knew about them when she was in the hospital after meeting Raylene. He was asleep at her bedside and he called out Damia's name. She was surprised that he has been having them for so long but then he was older than her so it did make sense. What didn't make sense was why were they having dreams about two angels in the first place. It wasn't like they knew them although in the dreams the faces of the angels were always fuzzy.

Alicia walked until the sound of her brother's voice was clearer and closer. She looked around the place. 'I hate this place. It's so dark. I can't even see my hand in front of my face. What is this place? In fact, where is this place?'

She was only a few feet away from him. "Finally made it," she said closing the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Kai, it's so good to hear you even though I can't see you. For a minute there I thought I was here alone."

"So did I," said Muraki keeping his arms wrapped around her. "So mighty Kurenai Warrior, do you have any idea where we are?"

"I was going to ask you, Shinigami."

"I wish I knew. I'm just as stumped as you are."

"Maybe we should keep moving," said Alicia. "It can't stay dark forever."

They began to walk again when Alicia broke the silence. "I know you may think I'm crazy but for some reason. This darkness seems . . . familiar."

"Familiar. How?"

"Well, I don't know quite how to put it but I feel as though I have been in a place like this before," said Alicia.

Muraki was silent for a few seconds before he spoke again. "I have been having the same feeling."

"What does it mean, Kai?"

Before he could say anything else, two glowing balls of light appeared out of the darkness to settle before them. The light illuminated the darkness making it possible for them to see. Muraki and Alicia gasped as they stared at the clothing they now wore.

"What in the hell is that crap you have on," Alicia said shocked.

"Me? What about you? You have on the same thing," said Muraki smirking at her.

Alicia looked at herself and lifted the fabric of the clothing. "These look like the robes worn by angels in those paintings in museums." She looked at her brother. "And your hair." She raised one hand and raked her fingers through his long silver tresses. "It's long."

Muraki grabbed a handful of his long hair to stare at it. "What in the world is going on around here.

/What do you think is going on/ said a male voice from out of nowhere.

"Who said that," said Muraki, as he and Alicia turned to see who was speaking but there was no one there but them.

/Over here stupids/ came an agitated female voice.

Alicia and Muraki turned to the glowing balls of light.

"Did those voices come from there," said Alicia walking up to the light spheres. Muraki grabbed his sister by the hand holding her back.

/Wow, you're smart/ the female voice sneered in contempt. /You two are idiots and I demand that you release us at once./

Alicia felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristled in anger at the insult. Then she just remembered that the female voice had called them stupid as well. "Wait! Who the hell are you calling an idiot and stupid?"

/Since you two are the only ones here. That should answer your question./

"Why, you . . . you . . . At least I'm not a glowing ball of light," Alicia snarled. She was really starting to hate that obnoxious female. Whoever she may be.

/Why you impudent little snot . . . I should ring your neck./ The female said but the male voice stopped the other and spoke up.

/Now now, little one/ said the male voice. /That's no way to speak about ourselves./

"What do you mean 'ourselves'?" asked Muraki. "Who are you?"

Suddenly the glowing balls of light began to take on the shapes of two humans. When the transformation was finished Alicia and Muraki gasped in horror as they stared back into their own faces. /We are you and we want our bodies back./ The two lunged toward Muraki and Alicia.

xxxxx

Muraki and Alicia bolted upright gasping for breath as sweat covered their faces. They looked around the room fearfully expecting to see those doppelgangers waiting to attack them. But instead, the only ones there were Watari and Hisoka. Alicia turned to her brother and when she saw her own emotions reflected in his eye she knew that they both had the same dream or nightmare or whatever. She bolted from her bed and flung herself into his arms. She held him tight as she could hear his heart beating like a drum against his chest.

"Kai," she said in a terrified whisper.

"I know," he said stroking her hair trying to sooth her.

"Muraki. Alicia. What's wrong?" asked Watari as he and Hisoka stood at the foot of the bed. "The two of you sat upright so suddenly that I nearly jumped out of my skin."

Both siblings looked at the blonde hair man and sighed in relief to see that it was in fact Watari.

"It was nothing," said Muraki. Then he remembered about the devil appearing in the conference room. "What happened with the devil?"

"He is long gone." Watari walked around to the side of the bed and sat down. "You two have been unconscious for three days."

Upon hearing this, Alicia sat up and frowned as she looked around the room. "Where are Asato and Tatsumi?" she asked looking from Hisoka to Watari.

Watari sighed as he did not want to be the bearer of bad news. But before he could say anything, Hisoka beat him to it.

"They were taken by the devil after you two were knocked out," said Hisoka.

"That slimy little bastard," snarled Alicia savagely. "When I get my hands on that bitch, I am going to choke the life out of him."

"Do you have any idea where they may be?" asked Muraki. It took all his will power to hold back the burning rage that was threatening to consume him. 'How dare that worm put a hand on my Asato! Be brave Beloved. I will come for you.'

"Well before he left, he said that he will be waiting for you and Alicia in Tokyo," said Watari.

"Has the ministry been searching for them?" 'Is that little worm challenging us?'

"Of course," said Hisoka looking offended. "We have been searching for both of them every since they were first kidnaped."

"In Tokyo," said Alicia. She looked to her brother and he nodded his head. Both got out of bed.

"What do you two think you are doing?" asked Chief Konoe walking into the room.

"We are going to get our men back," snarled Alicia.

"So, you two are going to go up against the devil, Raylene and his cohort Ragnor," said the Lord of Hades walking into the room behind Chief Konoe.

"Of course we are," said Muraki looking up at the mask man. "They dare to take what is mine."

"You know there is no way for you to take them on. Raylene is a fallen angel. She was . . ."

"I know all about Raylene. She was one of Michael's generals," said Alicia. "Big deal! She has fucked with me for the last time."

"Then what about Ragnor?" asked Chief Konoe. "How is it that you two knew the name of an Original? No one but the council of hades should have known about that demon. According to the information on him, he makes Sagatanus seem like a flea. How are you two going to take on something like him?"

"We'll deal with it when we come to it," said Alicia. "Now if you will excuse us. We have to get dressed." The room was filled with a blizzard of white feathers as both Muraki and Alicia disappeared.

Hisoka turned to the Lord Enma. "Sire, why is that devil after them?"

Instead of answering he looked at the two shinigamis. "I want you two to get to Kazutaka's home and go with them. We can't have those two destroying the city fighting that demon and devil."

Hisoka was startled at the obvious abrupt dismissal of his question. He was about to ask again when Lord Enma turned and walked out of the room. The teenager sighed as he turned to Watari. "We may as well go to the mansion before Muraki leaves without us."

Watari nodded his head and the two hurried out of the room to catch up with Muraki before he and Alicia disappeared on the streets of Tokyo.

xxxxx

When Muraki arrived in her apartment, Alicia wasn't too surprised to see Hisoka and Watari with him. Alicia was dressed in her black leather outfit and over it she wore a black leather trench coat. While Kazutaka was dressed in his trademark white suite. He wore a white coat with black fur around the collar.

"We're coming with you," said Hisoka. "Tsuzuki and Mr. Tatsumi are our friends as well."

"That's fine. The more the merrier," said Alicia. "Besides, I received word from the old man."

"The old man?" said Watari puzzled.

"She means the head of the Kurenai village. Master Takakura," said Muraki.

"Anyway, he says that there has been a great deal of demon activity going on as of late. It seems like something is stirring them up. Reports say that a large number of demons and devils seem to be coming to Japan but they seem to be waiting for something to happen before they make their move."

"You think this has something to do with that devil?" asked Muraki.

"It's hard to say. Every since I returned to Japan I have been having this unsettling feeling that something traumatic is about to happen and it will happen soon." Then she reached into the drawer of her lamp table and took out four walkie talkies. She handed one to each of the men. "We'll use these to keep in contact with each other." Alicia strapped her staff to her back. "I'm ready."

"Then let us be on our way," said Watari.

Once outside they each took a different section of Tokyo and began to search the city. Although Watari and Hisoka were trained to always work in a group, Alicia explained to them that they could cover more ground if they split up instead of searching in groups of twos. "Just don't go fighting anything without contacting us first. If you come across a demon or devil just observe him and if you see Raylene contact us immediately."

They searched the city up until midnight with no results. It was as though Tatsumi and Tsuzuki never existed. It took both Watari and Hisoka to convince the Muraki siblings that they needed to rest if they wanted to be strong enough to go up against the devil. Alicia let them stay in one of the rooms on her floor of the apartment building.

Early the next morning they ate breakfast and continued their search. Alicia received another call from Master Takakura. It seems that more and more devils and demons were converging on Japan. As of yet, they still don't know where in Japan the horde was planning on going.

xxxxx

It was now December 24 and they still could not find a trace of the devil, Tatsumi or Tsuzuki. In the center of the table was a map of the city. The sun had gone down hours ago as the four sat in a cafe going over all the places that they have searched when Oriya walked into the little shop.

"Oriya, what are you doing here?" asked Watari standing to give his boyfriend a hug.

"Kazutaka called me and told me what happened," said the brown hair swordsman taking a seat.

"So did you find out anything?" asked Muraki.

"Nope, I called in every debt I had and no one has seen hide nor hair of either man."

Everyone sighed in defeat. Alicia took a sip of her coffee and was about to say something when her cell phone rung. Answering her phone, she sat the coffee cup back on the table.

/Alicia, it's me. Subaru./

"Did you find out anything?" she asked anxiously.

/Yes. One of the other warriors captured one of the foreign demons and forced him to talk./

Alicia sat up straight staring into the eyes of her brother. "What did it say?"

/It seems that the devils and demons are gathering because the devil, Raylene, has promised them that tonight they will see the return of their lord and master/ said Subaru.

"Lord and master? Did the demon say who this master was? Did his master go by the name of Ragnor?"

/No. All he said was that the devil had two Guardians of Death that will be given to their master as a sacrifice./

The phone fell from Alicia's limp hands as she trembled in fear.

"Alicia. What is it?" asked Muraki worried. He picked up her phone and rested his arm around her shoulder trying to comfort her. "Hello. This is Kazutaka."

/This is Subaru, sir. Is Alicia all right?/

"She seems to be in shock. What did you tell her?"

So, Subaru told him all that he told Alicia and he nearly dropped the phone as well but he held onto it. "Where is this suppose to take place and when?"

/Tonight at an abandon warehouse called Yokohama Inc in Kawasaki./

"Thank you, Subaru," said Muraki.

/Wait! Do you need help?/

"No, we can handle things from here." He ended the call and handed it back to Alicia. "Pull yourself together sister. We have work to do."

"Did they find them?" asked Hisoka.

"Yes, we now know where they are and why Raylene took them?"

"Why?" asked Oriya.

"Sacrifices to his master," said Muraki. "Let's go Alicia. It's time to end this."

"Right," she said pushing her fear to the back of her mind. This was not the time to fall apart. Tatsumi needs her. And she was going to make that bitch Raylene pay. No one puts their filthy hands on her Tatsumi and gets away with it. Alicia stood up followed by the others as they stepped outside into the cold.

Muraki turned to his friend. "You do not have to come with us Oriya. This will be very dangerous."

"I know I don't have to come but I want to come," said the swordsman. "Tsuzuki has made you happy. I thought the day would never come when I would see you smile again but you have. And it's all because of him. I want to help. I don't ever want to see you sad again." Then he smiled. "Besides you're going to need someone to protect my air head lover and the kid." He nudged the blushing scientist in the side smiling at him. "I may not be as powerful as you or Alicia," he held open his coat revealing a sword hidden in a secret pocket designed to hold the weapon, "but this sword has been in my family for generations. It was created by powerful monks and was used to kill demons."

"Isn't he wonderful," said Watari wrapping his arms around Oriya.

"Do you two mind waiting until you're at home for that," said Alicia rolling her eyes. "We have to get to that warehouse."

"You do realize that this could be a trap," said Hisoka.

"Of course it's a trap," said Alicia smirking. "I mean we have been trying for days to find Tatsumi and Tsuzuki with no luck. But all of a suddenl we now know exactly where they are." She snorted. "A blind man would know it is a trap."

"So, we're going to just walk in with our eyes opened?" said Oriya.

"It's the only way. There's a reason for Raylene letting us find out where they are hiding now." Alicia shoved her hands into her pockets. The rings on her staff jingled like wind chimes in the icy breeze.

"It's the day before Christmas," said Watari. "Maybe he wanted to wait to give us his idea of a present."

"It's getting late," said Hisoka. "You think we should contact headquarters?"

"No," said Muraki turning to face them. The false eye glared brightly underneath his silver bang. "I believe he is issuing a challenge to me and Alicia. Why?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know but we have to go under the assumption that if we come in with a army of guardians, he may just disappear again with Asato and Mr. Tatsumi."

"But wouldn't he disappear if we come with you?" asked Oriya.

"Maybe not," said Watari. "He may consider us to be harmless. After all, it's only three of us but I agree with Muraki. When Raylene said he would be waiting in Tokyo. It did sound like a challenge."

"Since it was a challenge to us," said Alicia. "We have no choice but to accept. Besides, I owe that bitch Raylene a good old fashion ass whipping." She looked up at her brother smirking. "Shall we go big brother."

"Right," said Muraki. Then they walked away from the cafe and disappeared into the night. All that remained of their presence were a few snow white feathers.

xxxxx

Suddenly all three heads of the demon dog raised up off the floor. They raised their noses into the breeze sniffing.

"What is it?" asked Raylene. He had just finished drawing a pentagram in the floor with the blood of their victims. Over in the corner were the two spheres which held Tatsumi and Tsuzuki inside.

The middle head smiled while the other two snarled. "They're coming," said Ragnor.

"So, my plan is working as predicted."

"What do you mean?" asked Tsuzuki. He and Tatsumi stared at the smiling devil.

"Well, I ordered one of the demons to be captured and his orders were to tell the others where to find you."

"It's a trap," said Tatsumi.

"Of course it's a trap and I'm sure they know it as well, but they have no choice. In order to save the two of you they will have to step into my trap," Raylene said laughing.

"I don't understand," said Tsuzuki. "You were an angel. Why would you turn your back on your belief?"

"Why? After the battle was over and Satan along with his followers were in chains, those noble, sanctimonious angels behavior to their prisoners was a disgrace. They beat and tortured their prisoners. What I witnessed that day was worse than the Spanish inquisition. The cruelty they did to those fallen angels was barbaric. It disgusted me. I watched as they tortured a young fallen angel. The boy was younger than your partner, Tsuzuki. They striped the child of his clothes and began to torture and beat him worst than a dog in the street. The child begged them to stop but all they did was laugh and continued to kick him. I became angry and killed those fools. For killing our own I was branded a traitor."

"If what you were saying was true than why didn't your report them?" asked Tatsumi.

The devil laughed bitterly as he continued to relive his past life. "I did report them to Michael but no disciplinary action was brought up against them. It was just swept under the rug as though it never happened. Or maybe he just did not care because it was a fallen angel that was being terrorized. So, after I was arrested for killing those bastards I stood before my so called 'superiors' and was judged guilty of the crime of sympathizing with devils." The boy smiled evilly as he turned to face the two shinigami. "I spat into their faces and told them I would sooner serve Satan in hell than to live in this lie which is heaven. And because I renounced my loyalties my wings turned black and I became a devil." Raylene snorted. "The fight between Michael and myself lasted for three days." Then he chuckled. "It was because of our fight that the continents were divided." His laughter filled the room.

Tsuzuki felt a chill go up his spine at the insane laughter coming from the boy.

"It's obvious. I lost my fight with Michael. As punishment I was sealed away in a block of Black Glass and I would have remained there if I wasn't freed by that boy I saved from being beaten." He leaned against the wall staring up at the ceiling. "I knew they would come after me. So I hid myself inside this body. They would never guess that the great Raylene was now a sixteen-year-old human boy." He sighed. "The day I gained my freedom. I swore to make them pay for their uncivilized behavior."

"So why are you after Kazutaka and Alicia?" asked Tatsumi.

"Of course you wouldn't know. You are only guardians of death." He smirked at them. "Well I am after them because I seek a challenge. I have heard that they are ruthless and I want to see if it's true."

"I don't understand," said Tsuzuki.

"It's not for you to understand my reason. All you need to know is that you are the bait that will lure the fishes to my net."

"They're here," snarled Ragnor.