disclaimer- i do not own any of the characters to Yami no Matsuei. all rights and whatnots belongs sole to original author. and i make no money whatsoever from this story.

Chapter 20: Identity

There was a rustle of wind as a flurry of feathers danced upon the currents and fell away with a gentle thud. Appearing out of the feathers were three guardians and two humans.

"Here we are," said Watari nervously looking at the creepy, maze of condemned warehouses. The moon hung suspended in the night sky as a few clouds lazily drifted by.

"They're in there, somewhere," said Hisoka shuddering from the evil aura that seem to permeate the night as he gathered his jacket around him.

"Do you think you can locate them?" asked Kazutaka.

"No, the aura that surrounds this place has my senses scattered all over the place." Hisoka stared at the many abandon warehouses. "I'm picking up Tsuzuki and Tatsumi's aura in every building out here."

"Dammit! Well, no use in standing here," said Alicia. "We did come here for a reason." She took her staff and slammed it against the rusty lock. The metal crumbled against the force of her blow. Pushing the gates opened, they walked inside cautiously watching the shadows for any sign of an attack. The street lamps flickered as a chilly breeze blew in from over the water.

"Now what?" asked Watari.

"This dock is large so we should break off into groups," said Hisoka. "We can cover more ground."

"Alicia and I will go this way," said Kazutaka.

"The kid, Watari and I will go this way," said Oriya.

"If any of you come upon that devil do not try to fight him. Contact the rest of us immediately," said Alicia.

"Okay," said Watari. They separated into their groups and began their search.

Making their way into the maze of abandon warehouses, they began to carefully search each one. Not long in their search Kazutaka and his sister split off and went in different directions. But no matter how many warehouses they searched, all they came up with was nothing. The hour was getting later as the full moon shown down ominously on the search party. Alicia looked up at the moon and felt her heart chill with dread. Clouds were starting to roll in and if she was not mistaken, they seemed to resemble a hand with long bony fingers reaching for the moon.

'That's a very bad sign.' She shivered as she wrapped her coat tighter around her and continued her search. It was not long afterwards that she was drawn to a warehouse that seemed to be in better condition than the others. She pushed opened the door and stepped inside. Almost immediately, she gagged nearly throwing up her lunch as she quickly covered her nose and mouth. The odor was atrocious. It smelled as though several animals had died and their carcases were left in the sun to bake after being consumed and vomited back up.

She was about to turn and run outside for fresh air when a deep throaty chuckle reverberated through the dark room. Swallowing down the bile that was trying to escape, she grabbed her staff and walked further into the room. "Is there someone here?" she called out. There was only silence. Suddenly her senses were struck by a dark ominous presence. Instinctively she clutched her staff tighter and walked further into the dark.

Suddenly something cracked beneath her feet. 'What the hell!' She took another step and there were more cracking sounds. 'What is this?'

As though to answer her silent question the lights snapped on. Alicia quickly bit her bottom lip to stop the scream that was threatening to erupt from her throat. What she saw made her sick once again. The floor was littered with the skeletal remains of humans. Some still had flesh clinging onto them. Some had the heads missing while others looked as though some huge animal had been chewing on them. Flies and maggots swarmed around the bodies that still had flesh on them. She could feel her lunch trying to escape from her stomach.

"So," came a booming voice that filled the room, "we finally meet again, little dragon."

Alicia looked up and stared in shock at the huge three-headed dog with large black leathery wings. Two of the heads were chewing on the bodies of their latest victims. Saliva dripped from their mouths to burn holes in the floor like acid. And around the beast's feet were the bodies of those they had yet to devour. "I am Ragnos, devourer of souls and I have waited a long time to take my revenge on you and your brother."

Before she could say or do anything the middle head opened its mouth and a ball of red demonic energy surged from its mouth streaking toward a startled Alicia. She quickly raised her staff placing a barrier around her. The blast hit her in the chest and sent her crashing through the wall slamming her into the warehouse facing the demon's lair.

Alicia groaned as she coughed up blood. She took a shaky step out of the crater her body had made when she was slammed into the building. 'That's going to leave a mark.' She felt something powerful coming. Her head snapped up and eyes widened as another energy ball was on a collision course with her.

She leaped out of the way to land on top of the roof of the warehouse. The attack went through that building to destroy the building behind it. Suddenly the dog demon burst through the roof of its den. "Oh shit!" said Alicia as the demon seemed to have gotten bigger than it was when inside the warehouse. "This is definitely going to leave a mark."

The beast towered over Alicia glaring down at her with its glowing red eyes. But the Kurenai Warrior stood unflinching in the face of danger.

"So little one, here we are face to face once again."

"Once again? I have never seen you before." She sneered. "I would remember such a vile, wicked odious monster like you."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," the demon laughed.

Suddenly there was a rumbling that shook the Earth. Bursting out of one of the warehouses behind the demon was a metal cross made from the steel beams of the buildings. Alicia's eyes widened in horror when she saw her brother-in-law bound to the cross with thin metal wire. He had on nothing but a pair of black boxers. His head hung limply as the wire cut through his wrists and feet. The only thing missing was a crown of thorns upon his head.

Alicia felt her blood boil in rage. "How dare you do something so vile?" Her silver eyes began to glow in the dim light of the night and street lamps. "I will make sure you are cast into the lowest level of hell for this."

"Bold words from someone who doesn't even know who she is," said the demon.

"SILENCE! You miserable mutt," she snarled in fury. "I have had enough of your babbling." Just as she was preparing to attack, the voice of her brother calling the name of his husband pulled her out of her fit of rage.

"Asato!" Kazutaka stared in horror at his pregnant Beloved bound to a crucifix of steel.

"Kai!" snapped Alicia staring down at her brother.

"Well, well, well, the other dragon has arrived."

Alicia paid the dog demon no mind as she concentrated on her brother. "Kazutaka Muraki!"

The silver hair guardian heard a voice call to him but the voice sounded as though it was a million miles away. All he could see was his Beloved bleeding and unconscious on the cross with his pregnant body exposed to the harsh winter elements. But his attention was finally pulled away from the awful sight when he heard Alicia sternly call him by his full name. He turned pain filled eyes upon her.

Alicia felt her heart break at the look of fear in her brother's eyes. She took a deep breath and smirked down at him. "Just be ready to rescue your maiden in distress." She winked at him and then turned her attention back to Ragnos. A breeze began to blow as her leather coat danced upon the currents around her. She stood on the roof top planting her staff at her side. "I am Alicia Muraki, Kurenai Warrior." Her staff began to glow brightly. "And I am here to punish you for the lives that you have destroyed. Ragnos! Prepare yourself for the cool embrace of oblivion!" She launched herself from her spot on the roof and at the same time the dog demon's heads snaked toward her with its jaws opened snapping at the human warrior.

Alicia dodged the gaping maw and then slammed her staff against the middle head. The dog head swayed from sided to side dazedly. She landed on the top of the left head.

The demon's tail reared up and tried to swat her off but Alicia leaped into the air and the tail left a deep red mark across the demon's head.

"Now Kai!" yelled Alicia. She swung her staff three times. Her power streaked toward Tsuzuki severing the wire around his wrists and feet freeing him.

Once he was free, the pregnant Asato's limp body fell from the cross. Like a streak of lightning Kazutaka shot pass the two fighting opponents capturing the falling guardian into his arms.

"NO!" roared Ragnos. One of the dog heads tried to grab them in its mouth but Alicia slammed her staff against its head cracking its skull knocking it unconscious. Blood trickled down the limp head. The other two heads roared in anger as the Muraki siblings landed on their feet and ran through the maze of buildings.

Once they were out of the maze of warehouses they met up with the others.

"We saw what happened?" said Hisoka. "Is he all right?"

"I don't know," said Kazutaka worried. He placed his beloved Asato into Oriya's arms. Then he took off his coat and covered up his husband's shivering body. "You have to get him out of here."

Alicia turned to face the demon as it stepped on the buildings crushing it beneath its huge paws.

"What about you two?" asked Oriya.

"I have a job to do," said Alicia turning her head slightly to look at them over her shoulder smirking at the men. "Besides that mutt still has Tatsumi. And I do not intend to leave until I have what is mine." Then she turned to her attention back to her opponent.

"Go on. We will join you once we have Mr. Tatsumi," said Kazutaka.

"You can't. From what I have read on demons like him. They are as old as the universe itself, maybe even older. How in the world are you two going to take on something so powerful."

"And don't forget about that devil, Raylene," said Watari. "He is still lurking around here also."

"You do not have to worry," said Alicia not taking her eyes off of the demon. "Your job is to get Asato back to Meifu and check him out."

"I'm afraid," said a silky voice, "I can't allow you to leave with the little one." Alicia snarled in rage as she saw the devil walk out from behind Ragnos' right back leg.

The others turned to see the devil, Raylene standing beside Ragnos. He wore a long sweeping red leather trench coat that reached down flaring outward at his feet. He had it button down just to his stomach while the rest of the coat flowed around him in the chilly breeze. It was covered with zippers and buckles. He wore a pair of red leather pants with two black leather belts criss-crossing around his hips. Black leather boots on his feet and he also had on a pair of fingerless black leather gloves. His fingernails were painted with a dark color nail polish. Instead of his short orange colored hair, the boy's hair hung loosely down to the center of his back. Upon his back was a pair of large black wings. Alicia wanted to rip that smug smile off of the devil's face.

"There is someone that is dying to meet him."

"Who?" asked Kazutaka standing protectively before his husband. "Who is so anxious to meet my Asato?"

"Well, I can't say. It is a surprise." Raylene's smile widened on his face.

"Where is Tatsumi?" demanded Alicia clutching her staff tightly.

"Oh, he's around here somewhere."

"You will give him back or I will make you curse the day you ever heard the name Alicia Muraki."

"I already am cursing that day. Since you nor your brother knows who you really are, fighting you isn't worth it," said the devil bored.

"You bitch! I'll show you!" Alicia launched herself at the devil with her staff raised high ready to strike a killing blow.

Unbeknownst to Alicia the shadow beneath Raylene's feet began to shimmer and move. Just as she was about to smash her staff against the devil's skull, the shadow rose from beneath the devil's feet creating a barrier effectively blocking her attack.

"What the . . ." Alicia said shock. Before she could do anything else, the barrier flung her away from the Fallen Angel. Alicia bounced across the concrete to land at the feet of the others.

Kazutaka knelt down to help Alicia to her feet. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"No, but I'll live," said Alicia. They turned to face the devil. Glaring at the shadowy barrier it seemed to ripple as something began to move inside of it.

"Is there someone in there?" asked Watari narrowing his eyes.

Suddenly a leg emerged out of the shadow as the rest of the person stepped out into the night. Everyone gasped in shock as Tatsumi stepped out of the shadow. His cerulean blue eyes were dull and lifeless. He was unclothed from the waist up and his feet were bare. His body was covered in strange dark sigills. Across his forehead was an eye and on his chest was what looked like a key.

"What in the hell did you do to him?!" demanded Alicia. "What is that . . . stuff?"

Hisoka squinted his dark green eyes as he tried to see if it was paint or . . . "Is that . . . blood?" he asked nauseously.

"You're clever little boy," said Raylene smiling. "Yes it is. In order to perform this spell, I had to use human blood."

"You despicable fiend," said Kazutaka.

"Says the pot." He turned his annoying smirked to the silver hair male. "Why should you two care if I used a few humans? From what I've heard of the two of you, you have done far far worse than I ever could have done. In fact, from what I'm told you two have killed millions, maybe billions of innocent life."

Everyone stared at the devil as though he had gone insane. "He's insane," said Watari shocked. "There is no way for anyone to kill as many people as you are claiming."

Raylene snickered. "Once the dragon twins of heaven appear, you will know what I mean when I speak of their crimes." Then he turned to face Tatsumi. "Now, what was I saying before . . . oh yes, I need human blood to do this spell to awaken my little darling." Suddenly Tatsumi knelt before the devil staring at them with those dead emotionless eyes.

"What do you mean, 'to awaken him'?" asked Hisoka.

"Well, since it is almost time for the big surprise." Raylene smiled as he looked at his watched and then turned his attention back to his enemies. "I guess I could give you the short version." He began to rake his fingers tenderly through the secretary's silky sable colored hair. His smile widened as he heard a low growl come from Alicia. Then he looked at them. "After I was freed from my prison, I took something of great importance from the Citadel of Light. Once I had this object I knew that Michael and the others would find me if I kept it."

"Michael?" said Alicia frowning. "You mean the Archangel, Michael?"

"One and the same," he smirked. "Now, don't interupt. Save all questions until i finish. Anyway, I traveled through time where I hid this object. Once it was in a place where Michael and the others would never find it. I had to hide myself as well. So once again I traveled through the folds of time where I inhabited the body of this boy." He snorted. "They never would have guessed that I would use the body of a boy to hide from them.

Once I was old enough and was able to tap into my powers. I began to search for the object I had stolen. I have to admit that I was quite upset when I could find no trace of my prize. It seems that I went too far into the future and I could not find it anywhere. That is until recently. It would appear and then disappear before I could locate it. But all that changed the day I fought you and this one. Imagine my surprise when I had finally located the object I had been searching for. This pretty little one had it all the time." He continued to gently stroke the elder man's hair.

"What is this object you keep going on about?" asked Oriya. "What is it that you stole?"

"Why, the key to the Gates of Hell, of course."

They stared at the Fallen Angel in shock. In the distance they could hear the gong of a clock shattering the silent night. Hisoka looked up to the night sky and felt his very soul scream in terror. The clouds had become a long boney hand slowly closing its fist around the moon.

"It's midnight," said Raylene. "I guess I should wish you all a Merry Christmas but unfortunately you won't be having a Happy New Year."

Suddenly the ground beneath their feet began to rumble and shake knocking all of them except for Raylene to their knees. In the middle of the warehouses something began to rise out of the ground. The condemned buildings shivered and crumbled to dust as whatever was happening was happening in the center of the docks. They watched in horror as a black metal gate with a skeleton on each side holding a side of the gate rose out of the ground.

"Behold children of man, your doom hath risen from the depth of hell," said Ragnos.

Suddenly a great howl split the night to send shivers down their spine. A huge dog with three heads that was half the size of Ragnos walked out from behind the gate. It snarled viciously as it stood before the gated preventing any from coming near it.

"It's Cerberus," said Watari.

"Cerberus. The hound that guards the gates to hell," said Raylene. "Now to invoke the spell of awakening."

"What spell of awakening?" asked Alicia. "Why do you have Tatsumi covered in those strange markings?"

"I'm surprised that you and your brother don't recognize these symbols. But I guess it's to be expected. You yourselves have yet to awaken."

"Why do you keep saying we haven't awakened?" snapped Kazutaka. "What are you going to do with Mr. Tatsumi?"

"You still don't get it. I need this one. I wouldn't be able to open the gate without him," said Raylene standing behind the secretary. He took one long clawed nail and pushed it into Tatsumi's chest. The elder man did not flinch an inch as blood began to ooze from the wound as Raylene traced the outline of the key that was on his chest. His claw cut through soft flesh, the guardian known as Seichiro Tatsumi made not a move or spoke one word of pain.

Suddenly both Alicia and Kazutaka began to have a very bad sinking feeling in the pit of their hearts. Raylene smiled at the two as he could see the two were beginning to realize why the secretary of Meifu was so important. "Wh-why do you need him?" Alicia asked in a tiny frightened voice.

The Fallen Angel said nothing. He just smiled as he continued to trace the key.

"ANSWER ME!" Alicia shouted.

He turned his piercing blue eyes up to her and the smile on his face became predatory. "Because my pet, he is the key that will open the gates of hell." Raylene's laughter echoed all around them as he stared at their shocked faces.