Here is fifth chapter! Read, hope you enjoy, and review.

I think dialogue is better here.

Exchanging poems and meeting same person for three nights in row was marriage tradition in Heian Japan. Then bride's family would hold banquet, but as Death is... well, you know, not really member of family, she held banquet herself. Beginning of Asakura family is mix of my headcanon and small information we have ( that ladies loved Hao and that he slept around out of loneliness).

'' Bar the doors! Don't let him get close!''

'' Where the hell are reinforcements?''

'' Oh fuck, we're all gonna die, we're gonna die...''

Screaming and shouting fills bunker, glorious cacophony of fear and powerlessness. Death watches, waits, and revels in their panicked dance, their terrified singing, in imminent doom that suffocates them all.

In less than second, light overtakes building as brother fire blazes, free and glorious. Scream is born in their throats, but never freed, for her hungry brother consumes all. Bones melt and skin cracks, and she wears smell of charred flesh like perfume. For second, she and fire are one, their souls interwoven, as he marches towards people and ghosts in bunker, bringing them to her embrace.

Cement and metal melt, building collapses in thick liquid and dust, and walls break to reveal Hao, his smile slight and carefree, that of child playing with dolls.

Fools, they were, to try to hide here, in desert, during day, when her brother reigns supreme then. Fools, to follow those that would try to defy her. Hao stands and smiles, lord of ash and smoke, as fire follows him, ever-loyal and unhesitant.

'' This is what you were so worried about? Few dozens of mediocre shamans and humans? We will hunt them all in few weeks.'' Death is gone, for here job is fnished for now, but he knows that she will hear him.

'' Spirit of Fire.'' His spirit answers, impatience and barely restrained hope swelling in him. '' I think you deserve a snack.''

Joy erupting like volcano, Spirit turns towards fleeing ghosts and feasts.

'' Grandpa... Are you really sure this is so important? Why would we care about Hao's marriage?'' Minute passed before Yohmei slowly blinked. With sigh, Anna smacked Yoh over head.

'' I apologize, sir.''

''No need, Anna. Yoh, I need you to realize that this is serious matter. Hao has two Grand Elemental Spirits under his control. Spirit of Death is so dangerous that not even Patch were trusted to guard it. It can control cycle of life and death. And it has allied with Hao. Imagine for what he could use it.''

'' For nothing. And I would appreciate if you stopped treating me as weapon.'' Voice rang out, and Asakura family turned to see Death standing in corridor, slightly floating above ground. Yohmei and Mikihisa summoned their guardian spirits, Kino and Anna raised their beads, Tamao squealed as Ponchi and Konchi hid behind her, while Yoh and Keiko sat, not moving a bit.

Death remained where she was, arms crossed, walls and floor dark and cracked around her. Shadowy hair moved as if carried by wind. She was standing side ways, but er blood-stained headwas looking at them, and though they were meters apart, Yoh could notice her eyes, white and unblinking, looking at and through them. Like before, she looked tired and uninterested.

But that didn't mean she couldn't kick their asses. She was death, after all.

'' Hello? Welcome?'' He tried. It apparently worked, for her hair stilled and she turned to face them, head slightly tilted.

''At least some of you behave properly towards your elders.'' At Yohmei's frown, Death continued, before anybody could open mouth. '' What? You can't deny that I'm much older than all of you combined. And I'm wife of your founder and eldest member. That demands respect alone.''

'' Trying to garner respect from this family by identity of your husband isn't smart thing to do.'' Of course Anna could stare at death itself without blinking, calm and unwavering when others struggled to speak . Yoh felt amazement flutter through his chest. Death looked at Anna- really looked, not just stared in her direction.

'' Of course it won't. But elder I am. Now, I think we haven't been introduced?''

'''Anna Kyoyama, Yoh's fiancée, future Shaman Queen.''

'' Ambitious. I'm glad to see that at least this family has remained wise, if not polite. You will be good wife, and he'' she gestured to Yoh '' fine husband. I am proud to be able to call you sister-in-law.'' Anna's face was wide and frozen, surprise slowly taking over her before she blinked and composed herself.

'' Thank you...''

'' Oh don't be so surprised. We are soon to be family. It wouldn't do for me to be impolite. Which reminds me.'' She gestured towards Imari, Shigaraki and countless leaf shikigami summoned by Mikihisa and Yohmei. '' Could you dispel your oversouls? I'm not here to fight.''

'' Your words don't exactly fill us with confidence.'' Said Mikihisa.

'' But that is truth. And I daresay if I wanted to get rid of you, there is nothing that could stop me. So let us avoid violence and talk.'' Oversouls hovered closer to their shamans, but didn't dispel. Death sighed. '' That can work too. Now, I believe you have some questions?''

'' Yes. To start, would you mind telling us what you are doing here?'' Keiko spoke with smile that didn't reach her eyes, her hands held tight.

'' Of course not, mother-in-law. I heard you all gossiping about me, so I came to clear up some misunderstandings. Plus, I wanted to meet you all. This way, you know. Not business related.''

''Business?'' Yoh asked.

'' She meant before we all die. Right?'' Anna said.

''Correct. You'd be my first family-in-law I get to meet this way.'' She frowned. '' He never introduced me to his parents in either of his previous lives, so I had to take initiative.'' Nobody commented that they didn't really qualify as in-laws.

'' You said that Hao wouldn't use you for his ends. How can we trust that?'' Yohmei asked.

'' That's true. I won't aid Hao in any way, as I haven't aided him five hundred years ago, and thousand years ago. I can assure you he won't receive special treatment.''

'' So you don't support him, even though you are his wife?'' Anna asked. That was... strange. In her opinion, good wife should support her husband.

Though, on other hand, Hao didn't need anymore support, least of all of death itself.

'' Correct. My relationship with him is strictly personal. It won't interfere with my purposeWho joins me, when and how, that is will of Great Spirits.'' Her eyes widened as she spoke name, her voice quieter and lighter, full of reverence.

'' Why did he marry you?'' Keiko asked. There was no way Hao Asakura married something...something like this, if he had no benefit. Being husband of death... There had to be something, some favor or aid others wouldn't receive.

'' Why you married him?'' Death looked at Mikihisa.

'' I...what does that have to do with anything?''

'' Just answer me. Answer for answer.''

''We met. Became friends, fell in love, he proposed and I accepted.''

'' And there's your answer. As you did, so did Hao.'' Heavy silence reigned as stunned family mulled over words.

Hao? In love? Yoh thought. What did that look like? Small smile appeared on his face. I knew he couldn't be so bad! Then implication sunk in his mind and he almost screamed.

'' Wait! Do you mean... That you proposed to Hao?'' Idea seemed so preposterous. He knew that sometimes women proposed, had nothing against that, but in Heian period? And that anybody-even death, would dare propose to Hao.

'' Yes. And it was proposal, no matter what he says.''

'' Ah?'' What did she mean by that-why would Hao claim it wasn't proposal? Pride, maybe.

'' I swear that eclipse and crater were accidental.'' Maybe it's better that I don't know details.

'' So you chose him.'' Anna said.

'' Yes.''

'' Why?'' I would think that death would have better taste.

''Why?'' Death arched head above, as if looking through time, replaying past in front of her.'' There are many qualities he has. He is wise, and powerful. Of strong will and character. He was skilled and grand shaman, unlike any else. He had mind to go with that power. He had his... special way of looking at life. Not to mention that he was rather pretty. But most of all, he interested me, he and his strange soul.''

'' Strange soul?'' Kino spoke.

'' Yes. Your souls, souls of living- be they mightiest shaman or poorest plant- are all same. Small and pale and flickering, dim lights singing their boring melodies. I could consume every living soul that has ever been, and it wouldn't be enough for small snack.'' Everybody straightened, unyielding like steel, chill passing through them as they remembered, that what stood in front of them wasn't woman, but creature like Spirit of Fire- a god, force of nature that could feast upon souls without end, without mercy.

'' But his soul, his strong, shining soul was different. It blazed, bright and brilliant like a star, singing majestic symphony. He blinded me, deafened me, burned my very being with his presence. It was amazing, something I have never seen before- and I was here, when this world was formed out of magma and gas. Such soul would keep me well-fed for thousand life times.'' Her eyes bulged, her bright red lips widened in mad grin, and none could mistake want, hunger in her voice. She looked like predator, starved and beaten wolf who has finally captured flock of lambs.

''And he saw me, and addressed me. He sensed my presence, my soul, saw me for what I am, and spoke to me. So kind and smart was he. And whenever I would be in vicinity, he would do same, and I would answer. So time passed, and I came to him as I came now to you. Without reason, without job to fulfill, in dead of night when all men were asleep. We talked, and he was so interesting, so funny and smart. I had to have him. And so I clothed myself in human shape, and made my wish known. As humans did then, we exchanged letters and poems, saw each other for three nights in row. he ate from my table, my banquet, and then we laid, as wife and husband.'' Her smirk grew tiny, but sharp and cold as ice.

'' Legends are spoken, of men seduced by spirit women. But none of them wonder if man knew what woman was, if he wanted her and accepted for that. None consider that maybe both found each other suitable, and decided to unite in matrimony, bound once and for all.''

Yoh didn't know what to think. Death's description of Hao made him sound so strange, more and less human than he ever considered. He sounded like good, wise person. But death's hungry description of Hao's soul ( was it such because he was truly strongest shaman ever? Or was he something different, something else?) made it sound as if she intended to eat him. He doubted Hao would ever allow that to happen, much less marry such person. Spirit. Force. Whatever she was.

'' Are we your descendants?'' He asked suddenly. Death blinked, gaping and confused.

'' What do you mean by that?''

'' Did you and he... have a children? Are we your descendants as well as his?'' Death blinked once again, before she burst in laughter, deep and joyous and rumbling. It sounded so human.

'' You're so funny. No, we didn't. We can't. better said, I can't.''

''Why?''

'' Because I'm death. I'm end of earthly life, beginning of your existence as ghost. I can't create or nurture life. Only wither and take.''

'' Oh. I'm sorry.''

'' You shouldn't be. That is my purpose, my nature. Reason for my existence. Feeling sorry for something like that is unreasonable. Fire can't freeze, water is never dry and I can't produce life. Universe would be much madder place if that was possible.''

'' But then, where did we come from?'' Death shrugged.

'' Apprentices. Servants. Adopted children. Other humans he laid with. His human wife.''

'' Human wife?'' Hao had two wives at same time?

'' Yes. There was me and there was she, some miko he married because of politics and tradition. She bore him child. And there were others.''

'' Did he cheat on you?'' Poor souls. He hoped that death didn't take vengeance against them but Hao.

'' No, he didn't. I knew all about it. I even advised him which ones were good. It wasn't rare in those days, to have several wives or concubines. But mostly it was politics. And sometimes boredom.''

'' Boredom? With what?''

'' With me. He grew weary of me sometimes, of chill and darkness and rot, so he wandered verdant forests and happy cities and laid down with humans and their warm, soft bodies.''

Please stop there, he pleaded in his mind. What happened yesterday was enough. He could feel his gut turning, his face frowning. It wasn't right, you couldn't just get bored with your wife. Hao didn't sound in least as kind person death described.

'' And you weren't angry?''

'' With what? I knew everything, and did same. Sometimes I too grew tired of his soul and warmth, and stalked cold and black corners of universe, where nothing can survive, and consorted with ancient demons and gods, with creatures that have never lived and will never join me. In the end, we would return to each other's side. Everybody was aware that those instances were meaningless, and nobody was hurt.'' Oh. Well then it was okay, he supposed. Every marriage had peculiarities, and if it made everybody happy, and as long as everybody was honest, it didn't really matter. It worked for them, obviously.

'' Let us talk about more pressing matters. What do you think of his goal?'' Yohmei cut in.

'' His goal?'' Death sneered. '' It is common cause of fights among us. Killing whole humanity in one day... Do you know how tedious that would be? How much work?''

'' So you are opposed to that?'' Even if from completely selfish reasons, Yohmei reasoned.

'' If you want to interpret it that way. I'm not as much opposed as not fond of it. But should that happen, his will will be will of Great Spirits. I give no special treatment to anybody. If I'm summoned, I will come. If person dies, they come to me. Simple as that.''

'' And you won't feel guilty?'' Yoh asked.

'' Guilty of what? That is my reason for existence. My nature. Great Spirits made that way at beginning of time. If somebody joins me, they have. There's nothing complicated about that. Sooner or later, I come to everybody. even stars and planets. One day, life will be completely extinguished, and universe rendered into frozen, dark void. That will be my last job, to turn everything off. And then I will stop existing, and rejoin Great Spirits together with last soul.''

'' And you aren't afraid of that? You will accept it?'' He could understand logically why death wouldn't care about mankind. When you were preparing for end of universe, of course one species was small. But his heart couldn't accept it, couldn't understand that somebody felt nothing at all in face of such misery.

'' As I said, that is my purpose. My nature. I cannot be afraid or hesitant anymore than wind can feel bad about blowing leaves off trees, or earthquake for destruction. Conscience, hesitation... Such things exist only within living, not within us.'' Death turned her abck towards them.

'' Thank you for this talk. It has been most delightful. Again, I assure you that I won't aid my husband in any way that goes against my purpose. And should you kill him, I will come for him as I have done so before. '' There was pause, and they all knew she was smiling.'' I might visit you again like this. I'd be most pleased to get to know you all better. For now, i will be going.''

'' Wait!'' Yoh shouted.

'' Yes, brother-in-law?''

'' What's your name?'' They couldn't keep calling her death, could they?

''Isn't it obvious? Death, nothing more, nothing less.'' Oh. They could.

And then she was gone, white fog and black ash lingering a second more after her disappearance.

'' How was it, my darling?''

'' Amazing, beloved husband. I would have loved if they remembered to ask about favor. But your brother asked about children.'' Of course he did, small fool. Everybody with two brain cells would understand that it was impossible for Death to get pregnant. But many people seemed to lack that sense. Once she wore same shape as they, they all started seeing her as simple spirit, sooner or later. They all forgot what she was.

He never did, neither with her or fire. But he still treated them like individuals, like people. And they were loyal and allowed him to confide in them.

So simple. And yet no shaman communed with them, with nature, in that way. With respect and awe they deserved. Nature couldn't be commanded, they bowed to nobody but Great Spirits, God, of which they were aspects. In the end, everybody, even he, could only be manipulated by nature. You could struggle and be destroyed, or accept and become one with them.

'' That little group of fanatics'' Death spoke, '' ones with so called goddess in iron box, are researching Taizan Fukun no Sai.''

'' They are? What for?''

'' They believe they could accomplish it. That my target did something similar.'' Fools. he was only one who could accomplish that ritual besides divine spirits. only those who could master pentagram and command demons could start ritual. Beating seventy five lords and crossing hell was only small part of it.

Beating Death was another.

'' I see. Thank you.''

'' What would it look otherwise?'' She was bound to him, as was he to her, by blood and ash and fire. They tied each other with debts, and though they would survive and prosper without other, it was much more pleasurable having somebody to talk and perform favors for you while they waited for long, lonely night to pass.

Giving him information and revealing forgotten treasures had nothing to do with her purpose. Just as nothing stopped him from killing those who defied her, from making her warm.

'' Master.'' Pale, almost blue face turned towards bowing servant.

'' Yes?''

'' Our workers were massacred.''

'' And you told me this because?'' As if he didn't have more important things to work on.

'' Attacker used Spirit of Fire.'' Man stopped.

Is it... Is it true? Were legends correct?

'' Master?''

'' Go to Tokyo bay. Where Shaman Fight is held. Ask them. Ask them about Hao Asakura.''

'' Yes ,master.''

This would complicate things on one hand. But on other...

It seems that my family will finally have proper vengeance. Just you wait.

Here it is! Read, enjoy, please review!