Hints of yaoi in this chapter...
Hmmm_Hmhmhm...Grell hummed as he walked home. Along the way he decided to pluck some flowers, stopping to lean against a tree every so often and braid the flowers stem by stem into a garland for his head. Sadly it was Autumn and the plant-life was starting to perish against the season's chilly kiss. He loved the death of nature not for the mild temperatures, but for the penultimate shade of red that stretched over the landscape. Living in the forest, his small cottage was surrounded by a dying garden and beautiful red leaves. Oh! Like his prisoner's blood splattering on his white skin, only with more passion and romance. Death making love to the sweet, virgin earth over and over again-that thought kept him through the winters.
Sighing, he placed the small garland on his head and removed the small, gold mirror from his pocket. He had confiscated it from a demon of Vanity, those demons were quite hard to catch. Most of the time the reapers working patrol caught demons of Greed, such as Claude and Hannah. Sebastian was of Lust, but Vanity he enjoyed most of all. They often drenched their appearance in gold and jewels and other cosmetic things. Grell would take every bit away from them, most of his make-up actually came from demons. He chuckled, quite an entertaining thought. When it came to demons of Vanity he often felt a small twinge of sympathy. He frowned, it was so hard being beautiful-no matter how hard to tried he could never truly resemble a woman. In his heart though he knew he was one and would achieve it.
Today's little mishap suddenly came to mind, the Undertaker, Sebastian Michaelis, offering him something that haunted him day and night? Not only did this make his heart twist in both excitement and apprehension, it terrified him. What reaper in their right mind would make a contract with demon? And who exactly was this Undertaker? Rogue shinigami were reapers who were dishonorably discharged and put to work with the scrubs trying to built their way up. He did say he took care of the demons' corpses, that was certain for sure. It took a very well-practiced reaper to destroy a demon entirely; mind, body, and spirit. Not even Grell knew how to destroy a demon entirely, an execution ended the spirit and temporarily incapacitated the demon's body from healing so he could be transferred to the surface and properly dissected, drained, and then burnt. No, Undertaker could not be a rogue shinigami if he knew how to completely obliterate a demon...
The Undertaker seemed different though from the scrubs, he was willing to use magic-illegal magic he assumed-to make Grell what he longed to be. It was very rare a reaper would possess the endurance to practice and perform such magic. It was likely that he and the demon had a history, and if that were true he wasn't so much concerned for the demon's flesh. It was his soul he wanted to save from Grell's death scythe. It was in the soul the ability to perform demonic magic lied. Whether labeled Dark Magic, Sorcery, Witch-craft, it was all related to the soul of a demon. Without the soul a demon's blood held no value, their flesh held no supernatural strength or regeneration. They were quite literally made human. Even if their body was kept alive they would just be a drone. Despite that though, Undertaker still wanted to save Sebastian Michaelis' soul.
Grell sighed and shook his head, he had no proof their offer was genuine. Besides that if he bargained with a demon and did take the transformation, there was no telling what twisted results would ensue. He stepped back, barking at a tree he had almost walked into. He had become distracted and it was starting to get chilly out. It was best to hurry home to his cozy cottage and burn some wood to warm the cabin up. He began to jog, he grimaced when he felt a few drops of sweat run down his jawline. He hated exercising while he still had make-up on, at least no one could see him. This area of the woods was rather secluded, and quite a distance from the Catacombs.
Jogging along he smiled at the view; golden rays of the sun caressed red autumn leaves, the wing danced with them, small animals ran under them. Oh! How lively and beautiful the Autumn was, it was the reddest season of all! There was a dry, pollen-like smile in the air. The rotting of apples mingled with it as well, providing a moist undertone to the scent. Oh! How he longed to be as beautiful as the Autumn. It looked right, smelled right, sang right even like a Siren. It drew him in...Almost not as much as the mirror though. The thing he loathed the most was the creature beyond his mirror because it continuously marred his reflection with jealousy and hatred.
He lit some candles after getting out the tub, it was rather dark in his small cottage. He secured the towel around his slim form as he opened his wardrobe. Where was his nightgown? That damned garment, why did he have to hang his nightgown up some damn high! He growled, standing up on his tippy-toes to retrieve it. He managed to pull it down using his middle finger and index finger, only to let go of it when a eerie, deep voice filled his small cottage.
"Hm?" Undertaker noted, picking up a red, silk pillow from the bed, "From the outside I would have guessed that you wouldn't have so much red silk,"
"W-what?" Grell gasped as he covered himself with his nightgown, "How th-? How dare you break in and watch a lady undress! My hair's not even dry yet you perverted dolt!"
"Ah, do pardon me," he removed his top cat and bowed apologetically, voice cracking as he suppressed his laughter, "Being as old as I am, I have license to be as insolent as possible,"
Grell growled, sliding the nightgown over his body quickly before letting the towel fall, "Why are you here? I thought I made it clear, I'm not trading an inmate for...for that! I could get killed!"
"Oh, just poppin' in to see if you changed your mind," Undertaker shrugged, opening an auburn-wood cabinet to find a series of plush dolls. The most colorful of which had sewn in, red lips. Red yarn also hung from its head and over its red-button eyes. Grell snarled and snatched it up, "Will you stop that?"
"I take it that's a doll of Angelina Durless. Yes, I heard you quite attached to that demoness of Envy," Undertaker grinned, "I had the pleasure burning and dissecting her corpse. It seemed you both shared a common goal,"
A harsh pang hit Grell's chest as he held the doll to his chest, "That's none of your concern..."
"Oh?" his moved his bangs away from his face, Grell's eyes went wide once again. A handsome reaper? Oh, and one who was in his room with him? If not for the fact this reaper had attacked him earlier today he would've forgotten the formalities immediately and pounced on him, "I understand you fed her fetish..."
He gently grazed Grell's lip with his thumbnail, cupping his chin, "Jack-the-Ripper, ne? Oh, didn't that boss of yours go lenient...No, he never found out, now did he? They were scheduled to be murdered anyhow..."
Grell's dazed look faded, was he being threatened, "Are you blackmailing me?"
"As much fun as that is," Undertaker chuckled, stroking Grell's hair, "I'm not here to blackmail, you're far too amusing to blackmail! Your little shopping sprees for red paint keep me in business!"
Grell frowned, eyes started to glaze over as his cheek turned red, "Are you here to talk about this business or are we going to get to business?"
Undertaker wiped the drool from his chin, his short burst of laughter having made him salivate a tad excessively, "Oh yes, do pardon me. Being in the presence of a lady often excites me beyond my age,"
Grell blushed a tad harder as he continued, "I like you Grell, you and your method of execution. But I cannot allow you to have Mr. Michaelis soul, he's far to valuable to be killed,"
"And so I should be killed for him instead?" Grell interrupted, "Like Juliet for her Romeo? Oh..."
He pressed a hand against the elder reaper's chest, trying to push him away, "Even if I admire their passion and devotion I'm not that easily persuaded,"
"Who said anything about killing?" Undertaker grinned once again, "As much as that keeps me in business, it's not my intention. How do you think I became a rogue reaper? I'm the first to use Dark Magic for our own benefit, including you Grell,"
His lips were dangerously close, "Mr. Michaelis tells me how badly you want to bear 'his child,' how you wish to be a woman. We're willing to do this in exchange for his life,"
He pecked Grell's lips softly, the red reaper's knees collapsed and he fell. He caught himself on the black robe of his visitor, "I like you Grell, I'm only here to make you happy in exchange for a few good laughs. Laughter only Mr. Michaelis can provide,"
Grell clutched his leg, leaning his head against it, "They'll kill me..."
Whoever said anything about killing?
The lights in the cottage went out.