Nuriko and Zakuro braided the girls hair. The boys ran around and Chichiri sat extremely close to Zakuro.
"Why are you in Kai Lo?" Chichiri asked.
"We heard a monster was ravaging the town." Zakuro replied, scooting away from him.
Chichiri scooted closer. Zakuro was running out of space. She put some flowers in the girl's braid.
"Waah!" The girl exclaimed. "They are so pretty."
Zakuro smiled at the girl.
"Thank you, Zakuro-ne!" The girl laughed and joined her friends, showing off her braids.
Chichiri observed the children quietly.
"It's been a while since I have seen them this happy." Chichiri watched, as Nuriko mock wrestled the kids, the shadow of a smile on his face.
Zakuro smiled in response. Suzahara walked into the forest a while later, loaded with food. The kids ran to him excited.
"Hold on, you guys!" Zakuro called out, rising. "Nuriko, help me set up a table. Shin, no pushing! Kang, don't climb Suzahara!"
Suzahara, Nuriko, Zakuro and the kids sat on the green grass, holding bowls of hot, steaming food. The kids looked at Zakuro expectantly, waiting for her signal to start. Zakuro smiled and nodded. The starving kids dug in.
Zakuro watched as Chichiri casually disappeared into the forest.
"You'll make a very strict mother one day, Zakuro." Nuriko commented.
Zakuro snorted in response.
"This is how my mom is." Zakuro said, thinking of how her mom disciplined Toya, Tomoko and her, when they were being rowdy.
Zakuro looked at her food, wondering if her mom still set her a place at the dinner table. She sighed and ate.
Suzahara scooted closer to Zakuro. He took a bit of meat from Zakuro's bowl, as though it wasn't a big deal. Zakuro frowned at him.
"Is the ghost here?" He asked in hushed tones as he reached over to take another bite.
Zakuro slapped his hand.
"No." She replied. "Stop taking my food!"
Zakuro started eating faster and coughed as she choked. Suzahara gave her some water and patted her back.
"We need to talk." He mumbled, signalling Zakuro to follow him into the forest.
Zakuro looked at Nuriko, who was observing them.
"Take care of them." Zakuro said, as she rose to follow Suzahara into the forest.
They stopped under an old tree whose bark was peeling off. Suzahara looked at the tree for a while before he started.
"The villagers say that the forest was once alive and lush." Suzahara started, turning and reaching out again to eat from Zakuro's bowl.
Zakuro moved the bowl away and frowned at him.
"Did you call me out here to eat all my food?" Zakuro said, angrily.
Suzahara blinked in confusion.
"Not all." He said, grinning. "Just the bits I like."
Zakuro rolled her eyes at him.
"I heard the villagers' whisper last night as to how the demon which Bao Shou killed was not the reason for their misfortune." Suzahara continued. "I think things escalated this morning. They plan on tearing down the haunted old house in middle of the forest."
"Shit!" Zakuro cursed. "What do we do now? We've to warn them!"
Zakuro turned to get to Nuriko. But Suzahara held her hand.
"There's more." Suzahara said.
He was still holding her hand. For some reason, his touch calmed her nerves.
"This Chichiri that you see." Suzahara said, frowning. "Is there anything strange about him?"
Zakuro remembered the way Chichiri's form shifted and nodded.
"Could he be the messenger spirit?" Suzahara continued.
"What if he was?" Zakuro asked, casually pulling her hand away.
"Then we can't allow him to be exorcised." Suzahara said, scratching his chin. "I'm sure we can stop the villagers from hurting the children. But we have to save the spirit."
"I'm not sure if he is." Zakuro said, uncertainly.
Suzahara sighed.
"I really didn't want it to come to this." Suzahara mumbled. "If I had it my way, you would be miles away from ghosts. But for some reason, you're the only one who can see him."
Suzahara frowned.
"Promise me you'll be careful." Suzahara muttered. "We need to ascertain if he is the messenger. He doesn't seem violent. And I really really really really wished it didn't have to be you. But you need to find out what he is."
Zakuro nodded.
"Promise me that in case you even smell trouble, you'll call out to me." Suzahara insisted, his eye-brows coming together.
Zakuro nodded again.
Suzahara genuinely looked unhappy.
He just wants to make sure I don't die on his watch. Zakuro thought, pushing away any other ideas entering her mind.
-X-X-
Chichiri walked into Kai Lo, humming a doleful tune. He could smell it even before it happened. He was low and he needed a fix.
"Well, well, well." He heard a familiar drawl. "If it isn't Chichiri-sama."
Chichiri looked up and saw his old friend standing on the roof of a building. His friend jumped down in front of him and grinned, revealing razor sharp teeth. His neatly parted oiled dark hair shone in the sunlight. He carried a large scythe on his shoulders and scratched his stomach as he looked at Chichiri.
"Yo, Shouge." Chichiri waved. "Funny seeing you here."
Shouge grinned. Chichiri continued walking. Shouge stopped Chichiri, his scythe on Chichiri's neck. Shouge mock-sighed before he spoke.
"Didn't you hear?" Shouge said, trying to curb his enthusiasm. "They assigned this entire area to me. You can congratulate me later on this big promotion. But I know you can feel it too..."
"Stop fucking around, Shouge." Chichiri muttered angrily, pushing the scythe away. "This is my turf."
Shouge tutted.
"You can't have a turf." Shouge said, his voice drawling. "You threw away the scythe for a bunch of kids."
"I'm still..." Chichiri started.
"Oh." Shouge interrupted. "But you aren't. Don't you feel it? Don't you feel yourself fading away, consumed by despair? I can smell it off you and frankly, it's disgusting. Look at what you've become."
Chichiri clicked his tongue. He wanted to retort but chose against it. He could feel his life force draining. He started to walk again.
"You should be nice to the new big dog." Shouge said.
He swung his scythe at Chichiri, who instinctively dodged. He jumped a few meters back. His form flickered with the dark shadow.
Shouge blinked in surprise.
"Oh, dear." Shouge said, smiling.
Chichiri jumped on top of houses and fled back to the forest.
-X-X-
Chichiri arrived at the forest and found the kids laughing as they ran around on the sunny afternoon. His uninvited guests sat with their backs to the wall of the dilapidated house.
"Chichiri." Zakuro mumbled.
Suzahara and Nuriko looked at her.
"He's back." She said, under her breath, hoping only Suzahara and Nuriko heard her.
But Chichiri heard her. He could feel the life radiating from them. He gulped and decided to go into the dark house for some rest. He had to get his strength back. He walked past the trio, looking at Zakuro who was staring at her knees.
-X-X-
Zakuro cautiously entered the house. She looked around at the dusty artifacts of a once rich household. Spiders crawled on the walls. The house, like the forest, seemed to be taking its last breathes.
"Chichiri?" Zakuro called out.
She could feel Suzahara boring into her from the window. She walked a little further inside and saw Chichiri lying on the dusty ground. He looked weak with dark lines under his eyes. His form flickered and in the darkness, Zakuro could only see the cruel smile.
"This house stays up because I will it." Chichiri said, his voice ragged. "The brats can't stay once I'm gone."
Zakuro went closer to Chichiri and kneeled next to him.
"Where are you going?" Zakuro asked, hesitantly.
Chichiri didn't answer.
Since the time Suzahara told Zakuro about the villagers intent, Zakuro had been thinking of ways to communicate to Chichiri. But the only thing she knew about him was that he genuinely cared for those kids. That was the only way she had in.
"Did you spirit away those kids?" Zakuro asked.
Chichiri's form flickered again. Zakuro heard him chuckle.
"Those brats come to me." Chichiri said. "It was only Ling in the beginning. The others just stumbled through the forest."
Zakuro believed him.
Chichiri was in a lot of pain. He shifted his weight a little, trying to get comfortable.
"Why is the forest dying?" Zakuro continued.
Chichiri sighed.
"Is this payback for me asking you so many questions?" Chichiri retorted, sarcastically.
Zakuro did not answer.
"Probably because of me." Chichiri answered after a while. "Beings like me aren't supposed to on this plane for too long."
"What do you mean, beings like you?" Zakuro asked after a reasonable time, trying her best to make it seem that this wasn't the answer she needed the most.
"Most folks can't even see me until the very end." Chichiri started. "Children can. But as they grow older, they forget that they can. You're the only one who has been able to touch me."
"I didn't know that I shouldn't be able to." Zakuro replied, almost immediately.
Chichiri chuckled.
"Relax!" Chichiri said, moving his back a little. "It's OK being weird."
Zakuro frowned.
"Who are you?" She asked, genuinely confused.
.
.
.
.
"Don't you have reapers in your world?" Chichiri asked, his voice laboured.
"Reaper?" Zakuro asked, the wheels in her head turning rapidly.
Zakuro scooted back a little.
"What're you doing with a bunch of children?" Zakuro demanded. "Are you just going to kill them?"
This was bad. They were in danger. She wanted to signal Suzahara.
"Reapers don't kill." Chichiri said, looking blankly at the ceiling. "We merely help souls reach purgatory before judgement can be passed upon them. I had the worst job in the world. I reaped children. Innocent souls whose time ended too soon."
Zakuro could see the regret on Chichiri's face.
"We can't control death." Chichiri said, his voice barely a whisper. "We just bring the bad news."
Zakuro could hear people arguing outside.
The villagers. Zakuro thought.
She rose to leave. But Chichiri held her hand.
"I can hear them." Chichiri said. "But they're barely a whisper. Tell me. What's happening? Are the children safe?"
Zakuro was starting to feel bad for Chichiri. She patted his hand.
"Don't you worry." Zakuro said, confidently. "The children are all safe."
She was sure he was the soul that needed to be saved. She tried to wriggle her hand free. But Chichiri held it tightly. Zakuro was starting to feel pain.
"Ow." Zakuro muttered. "Chichiri, let go."
Chichiri started humming a doleful song as Zakuro struggled to get free.
Keep the children out of sight.
The reaper is awake.
Keep the women locked up tight.
The reaper is awake.
Keep the father tired in bed.
The reaper is awake.
Keep the souls in purple jars.
The reaper is awake.
"Are you in pain, Zakuro?" Chichiri asked.
"Let go, Chichiri." Zakuro said, angrily. "This isn't funny."
"The children were in pain." Chichiri said, slowly rising. "And yet, they were all damned."
He turned to look at Zakuro, his lips curled in a cruel smile. Chichiri was surrounded by a dark aura.
"Do you want to know what hell feels like?" He asked, cocking his head.
Zakuro screamed at the top of her lungs as Chichiri pulled her towards him.
"Your soul is my fix, Zakuro." Chichiri said, tearing Zakuro shirt and exposing her neck.
His fingers were now claws. He scratched Zakuro's neck and a stream of blood flowed out. He licked the blood.
"Pure." He cooed.
"ZAKURO!" Suzahara shouted as he barged into the house.
Chichiri jumped back, holding onto Zakuro's neck and hips.
"I considered his soul for a moment." Chichiri said, his claws rapidly growing. "But nothing can beat the taste of a virgin."
He licked her neck again.
"Chichiri..." Zakuro said, her voice wheezy. "Stop this! Let me go. This isn't like you."
"And how would you know that?" Chichiri said. "Do you think that I'm the soul of the trial?"
Zakuro's heart raced.
"Are you shocked I know of the trials?" Chichiri asked, making another cut on Zakuro's neck. "I'm a reaper after all."
"You were a reaper." A voice drawled and swiped a scythe at Chichiri.
Chichiri let go of Zakuro and jumped back. Zakuro fell to her feet and looked around confused.
"Going after innocent souls now?" Shouge tutted. "Atleast before you were looking for the soul of a sinner."
Suzahara came to Zakuro and hovered protectively in front of her. Shouge and Chichiri observed them from above.
"Although, there does seem to be a certain appeal." Shouge said, as he jumped back.
Chichiri clawed the air wildly, his form permanently stained in black.
"CHICHIRI!" Zakuro shouted, looking up at him.
"What's going on?" Suzahara asked, looking to where Zakuro was looking.
Tears started flowing down Zakuro's eyes. Suzahara looked at her neck.
"That bastard!" He said, angrily. Zakuro shook her head.
"He is in pain." Zakuro said, unable to understand why she knew this. "So much pain. He is so alone. Suzahara, he is the soul we need to save."
"He attacked you." Suzahara said, his voice filled in anger.
Shouge's scythe made contact and Chichiri howled in pain.
"CHICHIRI!" Zakuro screamed again. "WHOEVER YOU ARE, PLEASE STOP!"
Zakuro stood right below Chichiri. She couldn't see Shouge but could tell that something was attacking Chichiri.
"CHICHIRI!" She called out. "CHICHIRI!"
Chichiri looked at Zakuro and swooped towards her. Zakuro took a step back but held her stance. She had to get through to him. She couldn't fail. She didn't have the option. Judging by Zakuro's gaze, Suzahara appeared in front of her, blocking Chichiri's path. Shouge appeared in front of them both and clicked his tongue.
"Foolish mortals!" He said under his breath and blocked Chichiri's attack.
Shouge commanded the elements and opened the door. He then commanded the air to lift Suzahara and Zakuro out of the crumbling house. But Zakuro held onto the door desperately calling out to Chichiri and Suzahara held onto Zakuro.
"Onii-san?" Zakuro heard Ling call out to Chichiri.
She was standing amongst the kids at the door. Behind them, stood Nuriko who looked like she was talking to the angry villagers. The villagers looked at the scene with horror. Chichiri took the opportunity and dashed for the exit, towards Ling.
"LING!" Zakuro shouted. "Get out of the way!"
Ling started sobbing.
"Onii-san." She cried.
The rest of the kids looked scared too.
"LING!" Zakuro shouted, knowing it would be too late.
Shouge clicked his tongue and pursued Chichiri. Chichiri snarled his teeth and unfurled his claws. He was going to take Ling's soul. When he was close enough, his lips contorted to a smile. He raised his hands and whipped.
A lot of things happened at once. Ling and the children shouted. Chichiri hissed and jumped back, his claws dipped in blood. Shouge arrived in front of the children, his scythe raised.
"It's OK." Suzahara said, as he hugged Ling. "Suzahara Onii-san will protect you."
Suzahara back bore deep claw marks. Zakuro fell to her knees.
"Suzahara..." She mumbled.
Suzahara got to his feet.
"Tell me where to point, Zakuro." Suzahara said, his eyes blazing.
"But..." Zakuro started.
"What good am I if I can't even protect children?" Suzahara said, his face stoic. "Zakuro, please. Tell me where to strike."
Zakuro hesitantly nodded. Shouge shook his head.
"Mortal blades can't touch him." Shouge said.
He went towards Suzahara and touched the tip of his sword.
"But this sword can." Shouge said, smiling.
He stood next to Suzahara, his scythe on his back.
"Show me what you can do, God Candidate." His voice drawled.
Chichiri howled and charged at Suzahara.
"He is a head taller than you." Zakuro started. "He is coming at you with his claws bare. It's aimed at your heart."
Suzahara blocked Chichiri and felt the pressure on his sword.
"His other hand.' Zakuro said, urgently. "Left."
Suzahara dodged and jumped back. Chichiri howled again and retreated into the house.
"Onii-san!" The children called out and tried to follow him.
But Nuriko held them back.
Zakuro looked at Nuriko, desperate for some advice. She wanted to know what the right thing to do was. These children loved Chichiri. He had kept them safe all this time. He looked genuinely happy seeing these children happy. He wasn't a bad soul. Every fiber in her being told her that they shouldn't hurt him.
"Did he retreat to the house?" Suzahara asked, as he approached the door.
Zakuro nodded. Blood dripped to the ground from Suzahara's wounds.
"We've to fix..." Zakuro started.
But Suzahara was looking at Zakuro's neck. He clutched her face with his free hand.
"I swore I would protect you." Suzahara muttered angrily. "And yet you're hurt."
Zakuro smiled weakly.
"Look who is talking." She said, clasping his hand.
"I'm gonna kill that demon." Suzahara growled.
It was then that Zakuro realized why they were fighting Chichiri.
"Demon?" Zakuro mumbled.
She followed Suzahara into the house.
The house was quiet. Zakuro strained her senses to find some track of the demon. She heard a hiss from above her. She looked at the ceiling and saw the demon crawling on the ceiling. Its pointed red tongue hung out from its mouth as it salivated hungrily.
That's right. Zakuro thought. That is a demon.
She could hear the children wailing outside.
"Above us." Zakuro said, her tone robotic.
Suzahara looked to where Zakuro was looking and pointed his sword.
"Come and get me, demon." Suzahara challenged.
The demon launched itself at Suzahara. Suzahara held his stance.
"NOW!" Zakuro signaled.
Suzahara ducked and ran the sword through the demon's stomach. The demon howled in pain and fell to the ground, to the same spot where Chichiri lay a while ago. It wriggled, transparent liquid pouring out from it.
Zakuro walked up to the spot as the demon struggled to get on its feet. She slowly raised her finger and pointed at the demon.
Suzahara charged and stabbed it through the heart. He raised his sword and repeated the motion. The demon howled, its form flickering. Chichiri screamed in pain, blood gushing out from his mouth.
Zakuro held Suzahara's shoulder.
"It's over." She said, a lump in her throat.
This is the right thing to do. Zakuro thought. Demons are bad.
Chichiri's form stabilized, his blank eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Shouge." He murmured.
"Yo!" Shouge smiled at him.
"Did you enchant his sword?" Chichiri asked.
To Zakuro, it seemed like he was talking to himself.
"Yeah." Shouge shrugged. "You know how I hate to get my hands dirty."
Chichiri smiled.
"You're as slimy as you look." Chichiri commented, closing his eyes.
Chichiri's form started dissolving. Bit by bit, he started fading. Zakuro kneeled down next to him and held his hand.
"You can't see another reaper here." Chichiri observed.
Zakuro shook her head.
"Just me then." Chichiri said, grinning. "Boy, do I feel special!"
"We were supposed to save you." Zakuro said, in a low voice. "I'm sorry."
Suzahara placed his hand on Zakuro's shoulders.
"We need to go." He murmured.
All around them the house was falling apart.
"He's been alone for so long." Zakuro muttered. "I don't want him to die alone."
Suzahara sighed a little while later and settled down near Zakuro. Chichiri looked at Suzahara, frowning.
"He could have let us have this romantic moment." Chichiri muttered. "A young maiden sobbing next to me is the ideal way to go."
Zakuro chuckled.
"A reaper doesn't kill." Shouge muttered as he exited the house.
Chichiri closed his eyes, waiting for the embrace of purgatory. It was supposed to be great this time of year.
Chichiri's form glowed yellow after a while and a familiar dismembered voice spoke. Zakuro and Suzahara snapped up in attention.
"No way!" Suzahara exclaimed, grinning.
"He is saved by death..." Zakuro muttered, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all.
You've completed three quests in the God Challenge, one of the five mortals who have managed to do so. We, the reaped spirits, shall be your guide. We commend your effort and would support you in the future quests.
The orb moved towards Suzahara and entered his forehead.
Suzahara momentarily shone. He opened his eyes. He reached around to his back.
"Cool!" He murmured.
He turned around and showed his healed back to Zakuro. The house started deteriorating faster. Zakuro looked sadly at the now empty spot where Chichiri lay.
"We need to go now." Suzahara said.
Zakuro nodded and rose. Suzahara and Zakuro walked out of the house and it collapsed behind them. The children ran towards Zakuro and Suzahara.
"Zakuro-ne." Ling asked, tears still falling down her cheek. "Where is Onii-san?"
Suzahara stroked Ling's head and shook his head. The children started wailing. Zakuro got to her knees and hugged Ling.
All around them, the forest started coming back to life. The disease started peeling off the tree. Birds chirped merrily. But the children still cried. The villagers stepped forward and comforted the crying children. Nuriko and Suzahara stood next to each other, looking at the scene glumly. After the kids were all cried out, the villagers took them back to Kai Lo. They insisted that these children were the children of Kai Lo. They wished Suzahara luck, most of them queuing up, just to shake his hand.
Zakuro took deep calming breath.
This is just how this world is. Zakuro thought. I don't belong here. I need to focus on getting home.
When she thought that, she felt an unfamiliar knot in her stomach. She watched quietly as Suzahara smiled politely and shook hands with the villagers.
When the last villager was gone, Suzahara, Nuriko and Zakuro took one final look at the house.
Zakuro sighed and was the first to turn.
I can't dwell on things I can't control. Zakuro thought.
"Let's get going." Zakuro said.
"Where to?" Nuriko asked.
"An inn." Suzahara said, pointing to his money bag.
Zakuro looked at him with one eye-brow raised.
"Stealing from a thief is not stealing." Suzahara said, wisely. "It's redistribution."
Zakuro smiled sarcastically.
"God of thieves." She said.
Nuriko giggled.
Suddenly, Zakuro felt her feet leave the ground.
"ZAKURO!" Nuriko shouted holding onto her hand.
"What the..." Zakuro said as she flew left to right, dragging Suzahara and Nuriko with her.
"Awesome!" She heard somebody exclaim from behind them. "I got my chi back!"
Zakuro landed softly on the ground and the three of them turned around to the source of the voice.
"You guys heard that too, right?" Zakuro said, a smile forming on her face.
Nuriko nodded. Chichiri emerged from the forest, grinning.
"Chichiri!" Zakuro exclaimed.
"What?" Suzahara exclaimed, his sword hanging loosely on his fingers. "That's Chichiri?"
"The God of pointing out the obvious." Chichiri said, looking impetuously at Suzahara.
AN:
Yay! Another upload. I plan on updating every alternate day now. Until... Well, look for this spot in the coming chapters.
As always, keep reading!