A/N: Hi everyone, here I am with chapter 24...
Some chapters might connect to the anime in some way, so there might be spoilers...(You are warned XD)

Disclaimer: I don't own Darker Than Black. It belongs to all the wonderful people who made it!

OC Description:

Codename: Ying (which stands for the flower sakura in chinese)
Her real name is Sendo Erika. Her Messier Code is KS917. Also known as "Kuro no Tenshi" Her ability is to create black holes which suck everything that comes in contact with it to disappear. Her remuneration is to drink the blood of a man she likes (HINT). However, she normally just uses her own blood. Her mission out fit is a black hooded cloak, over her black top with black and white striped sleeve. Her pleated skirt is trimmed white at the bottom and she also wears black long socks with high heels.
Ying likes to keep her hair down.

Chapter 24: Dead, or Alive?

Another beam flashed passed, blasting the ruins I was hiding behind to pieces. I cursed under my breath as I rolled on the floor, ducking beside another remain of buildings.

"Are we playing hide and seek?" Sora guffawed, eyes glowing red once again and the blue contractor aura highlighting him. I sprawled on the floor, narrowly escaping it before charging at him.

"Aren't you suppose to be the cat?" He drawled on, jumping backwards and shooting another beam. It was my turn to use my ability as the black hole sucked the beam into nothingness. Sprinting onwards, I swung Kuro Sakura over my head so that the front blade curved around his neck. He stood dead still, realizing that he was trapped.

"Try running and you lose your head." I sneered. If he had tried to run, I could have just use the back blade to block his way, and therefor bring his neck with it. Even if he jumped into the air, I could flip as well, flinging the scythe like a boomerang.

"Tell me, why are you still alive?" I inquired.

"What do you mean?" He asked playfully.

I drew the blade closer to the throat, so a little trickle of blood oozed from the small cut.

"Fine, fine. Firstly, you are right in guessing that that wasn't a decoy. Secondly, the thing you were meant to bring us brings back the dead by reacting with the altar."

"WHAT?!" I blurted out.

"Don't worry, only people who are special. Perhaps, my companions and I, and of course you." He said.

I pondered what he said. Special, in what way? Reviving the dead? The Shinigmai?

"But then again, it only works once anyways." He said casually on.

In a split second, I pulled the blade and his head fell forwards while his body fell back.

"BROTHER!" The one in yellow yelled.

"Let's see him live this time." I said menacingly. I didn't have time to deal with these people, if I wanted to them to die quicker, I should destroy the bell or altar first. If that works, that is.

I faced the altar, they were all standing in between me and it. I could try to just break through, but that probably won't work in my tiring state. The bullet gash on my leg was still seeping blood, and I could feel my mobility decreasing rapidly.

Perhaps, just once. I stood still and brought Kuro Sakura to my front, standing it vertically. Just once, lend me your power.

Just for this time, let me use you.

"HAHA, I knew you would come to me eventually."

No, I won't let you take my soul.

"Hmm, I wonder how you will die this time. The three left aren't very 'normal', it'll take a while to kill them."

Please, just once.

"Okay, okay. I can't see my host die on me anyways. Just remember, I demand a lot of blood~"

Ying's eyes snapped open. They were bloodshot, illuminated by the glow that protruded from the lock around her chest. Four blades now surrounded her, circling their master as she prepared for a fight.

"Last bind, kai!" Another great burst of light Ying was surrounded my a black aura with flower petals dancing around her.

"Last dance, Infinite Blade Duet!" The four blades that encircled her were multiplied to their full extent, suddenly all pointing at the colored figure on the floor. Pointing Kuro Sakura at the enemies, Ying grinned manically as the one thousand and one blades directed themselves to the target and pelted forwards. The effect was horrifying, the ground shook as the great force crashed themselves to earth. Once the smoke finally cleared away, the three figures were lying without moving on the floor. Though they were pinned down, none of the blades had hit them where it would cause serious injury.

The lone girl walked slowly towards the closest to her, looking down at him with a smirk on her face, eyes still flashing.

Regathering the original four blades around her, Ying pointed the scythe at him.

"Should I, or should I not?" she questioned, with an expression of utmost pleasure on her face.

He glared bleary eyed at her from his position, unable to do anything against her taunts. She bent down and looked at his face.

Hey, Shinigami...

"What?"

Is it okay if I just take a random man's blood?

"For this once, I'll accept theirs."

I'll take that as a yes...

Ying pulled the black bade that was penetrating his right arm, and pushed back the sleeve. The cut had gone right through and the blood simply wouldn't stop flowing. She gently licked a few drops with her tongue, savoring it a little before taking it all in more vigorously.

"Don't get the wrong idea," She said as she stood up, waiting a trickle of blood from the edge of her mouth. "It's my remuneration." Without another word, she through the black blade she had pulled out of his hand directly into his heart. He froze for a second, and then relaxed, unable to move anymore.

I wonder will he revive? Never mind, whatever..

Ying made her way towards the remaining two on the floor. One had already lost his life while the other one was struggling to get up.

"You probably want to stop trying, it's a waste of energy." She drawled with an uncaring expression.

"You should be the one being worried. You won't get away with this." He rasped, still trying to free himself.

"OH~ Whatever. Since you are still alive, care to tell me how to destroy this altar thing?"

She watched as the life ebbed out, and he didn't reply. Doesn't matter, I'll just make it disappear.

"I'll do you a favour." She said in a matter of fact way, pulling Kuro Sakura high up over his heart.

Suddenly, a great gust of wind blew over the clearing. A distant howl in the woods brought the scary atmosphere closer to the current scene. The man on the floor gave a weak laugh.

"They're here." He whispered.

Ying pierced his heart and all the blades dissolved into black dust. She quickly made her way towards the altar. Her eyes glowed even more scarlet as the blue aura surrounded her.

Suddenly, something wrapped itself around her arm, making the black hole bounce off course by several metres. She spun around, wanting to find out who was interfering now. But more wires tightened themselves around her body, and she was tied up, completely immobilized.

Ying could make out two figures, standing solitary opposite her. She struggled, wanting to break free and yet failing. The one on the left walked over to the three other enemies to which Ying had already left dead, checking their status.

He or she shook his head, indicating to the one on the right that all was lost. It was he or she who spoke now.

"I see you have done a great job disposing my subordinates." The male voice drifted out.

"Who are you?" Ying asked through gritted teeth.

"No one in particular." He replied, and walked over to her, lifting her chin to meet his face.

"You're a pretty one to be offered for the Shinigami." He said casually, dropping his hold on her.

Ying concentrated hard, managing to direct her blades to cut the wires were binding her.

"Don't even try." The one on the left strided to her and placed their hand on her chest, sending a great burst of energy through to her heart. Drops of blood littered the floor, Ying was almost still, completely winded.

She stared daggers at the two, also looking for a way to escape. Kuro Sakura was out of reach, and it didn't seem like she would be able to use the shinigami and her own powers any time soon.

"What should we do?" The left one asked.

"Well, we can't have her ruining our plans. I suggest we keep her." The one on the right answered and once again approached Ying.

"STOP! PUT BOTH YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" Came a voice that startled the three, including Ying.

Misaki darted out from the trees and pointed her pistol at the one on the right.

"Take five steps away from her." She commanded, still pointing the gun at them while slowly edging closer. She actually felt pretty happy inside. Today, she had finally found the answers to many questions she had had. Firstly, KS917's star seemed to go black as soon as she enters this kind of killing trance. Secondly, that would explain why she wasn't active quite so often nowadays. Thirdly, she could finally find out who exactly was under that hood.

Still lost in thought, Misaki didn't realize as the one on the left suddenly materialized behind her and banged her head. She fell to the floor, losing consciousness quickly.

"What should we do with her?"

"Just leave her."

She blanked out after hearing these words.

"Sorry for this." The one on the right said gently, and knocked Ying unconscious as well.

I woke up, opening my eyes groggily. I wonder how long I was out for. I could hear voices, they were talking quite near me.

"Have you got the clone?"

"Yep, looks exactly the same."

"My codename is Ying, messier code KS917. I am a physical agent of the Syndicate, and my partners are Hei, Mao, Yin, and Huang."

That was me, my voice but not coming from my mouth. I tried to speak, but nothing came out of my throat.

"Good, good. You're going to return to the hotel, keep in touch with us."

"Yes, master."

"Are you awake?" Came a voice right beside my ear.

I opened my eyes again, only managing to see a blurry black outline.

"Don't try to escape. I have sealed your powers temporarily, probably even the Shinigami can't help you now. No worries, we are going to take you back to Tokyo, but not like your friends will be able to find you there anyways.

"Why?" I asked weakly.

But he only laughed. A mirthless sound that haunted my mind.

The doorbell rang, and a few seconds later the door was open.

"Huang." Hei said as he greeted his team mate.

Huang walked into Room 201 and glanced around, clearly not finding what he was looking for.

"Hei, where is Ying?" He asked, turning to Hei as he returned from the door.

"Ying? I thought she was with you on a mission." He replied, surprised.

"She hasn't been back for a good two days now."

"I thought she was with you."

"And I thought she was with you."

They both fell silent now, each thinking about their version of what happened to their other star contractor. However, none of what they thought came close to the truth, or what was going to happen next.

"Where was she sent to?" Hei asked, rising to his feet.

Huang was about to answer, but suddenly the doorbell rang once more. Hei crossed the room and opened the door.

"Ying!" He exclaimed.

"Hei!" Ying burst out, hugging Hei and snuggling into his shoulder, not going to let him go.

"I miss you so much!" She said, still holding him close and saying with an expression of utmost happiness.

Hei made no reaction, he was rooted to the spot. This was too shocking, he was hugged by a girl who was suppose to be quite shy in such a strange and loving way that it almost made him puke.

"Hei?" She inquired, staring with a curious face into his dark blue orbs.

Huang stood behind them, his mouth falling and his hand falling to his side. This was unbelievable, he never knew that contractors could be so emotional.

Ying made her way towards the sofa and sat there, pigging out the food bag that she herself had bought two days earlier. Hei followed her, his face was emotionless but his mind was in turmoil. Something was wrong, and yet he couldn't name what.

At last, he asked "Where have you been?"

Ying stopped eating and looked up at him with cute puppy dog eyes. Suddenly, she dropped her food and lunged at Hei's waist. She wrapped her hands around him and cried "WA~ Some strange people took me away, I only just managed to get out. I was so scared!"

This was too much, this is just not right. Even Huang said "Eh~ I'll leave you two to it.. Eh~ Goodnight?!" and he rushed out the door, a I-don't-think-I-should-be-here look on his face.

Finally, the time came when both of them went to bed.

"Hai, I have successfully filtrated. Hai...Hai.. Okay."

What was she doing? Hei's eyes opened slightly, not able to see Ying since he faced the other way but heard her hushed voice. And her reactions today, it was too shocking to be accepted. He remembered the two accessories she had left in front of his bed before leaving for the mission. He always kept it by him now, both scythe and dagger. Also, the key. The key with the matching lock. The key had glowed a pure shade of black two days ago, could that have something to do with Ying's strange behavior?

All will be clear tomorrow, Hei thought as he closed his eyes again. They were going back to Tokyo the following morning.

To be continued...

Me: Oh no, the exams are coming up.

Ying: Did you study?

Me: Yeah of course.

Hei: Can you get 100?

Me:...Idk

Ying: Good luck!

Me: Thanks! Heres the end of chapter 24, dead or alive. Did you like it? Or did you hate it? Leave a review to tell me what you think! :)