Chapter 8: Reborn and Undead
Mansion
Sheele's POV
Sheele slowly opens her eyes as she looks surround which she does not recognize this room, does not know where she is. She remembers Mine and Sheele fought against the imperial police, along with her Teigu. She remembers...that she lost her arm and lower half. Furthermore, she had to check at left arm, but she is expecting she lose her left hand. She had to prepare worse as she carefully looked at her left arm which was fully functional. Flexing her hands, fingers, thumb. Looking back and front twice. She still felt too confused, her arm had been sewed back or grown like a sprout.
She looks at the blanket that was hidden on her lower half. She had to try to move her ankles, and wriggle her toes, but unable to lift both of her legs as if they were dead asleep. She lifts her blanket and is shocked that her lower half is now connected to her. Checking on her waist and could see her scar around, like a circle on her waist. She is still confused, and she should be dead and eaten by the Teigu dog.
She's trying to remember what happened afterward. All is she knows they were in the forest and, possibly, rescued by Shiki. In the end, her memory becomes blank. She felt helpless and unable to do anything until she heard the door being knocked twice before opening the door. She doesn't recognize a female with black hair, wearing her maid uniform. Nor, she is a member of Night Raid.
"Oh, you're awake. I hope you had a good sleep, last night. I never thought you never made it." said a woman with a maid uniform, "Oh my manners, my name is, Shrinto Mayashiko. My master expect you would never wake up."
She brought a wheelchair before she helped Sheele to get into the wheelchair before being escorted elsewhere.
"I...I do have many... questions," said Sheele, still confused while they were heading straight to the dining room.
"I understand you are feeling confused and tired at the same time. I'm sure my master will give you an answer whatever you require." said, Shrinto, pushing her wheelchair, "Please save for your strength because your legs are too weak to walk."
When they found a door as she knocked on the door, "Master Tohno, I'm here with Sheele."
"You may come in."
She opened the door as Sheele saw two people sitting on that chair. From what she noticed, Shiki sat near a woman, in mid 20, with black hair, eating her food while Shiki didn't have food to eat.
Once Shrinto pushed her wheelchair to the table near as two people who were now sitting, next to her. From what Sheele noticed that woman is presumed, Tohno, next to Shiki. Therefore, she still has so many questions about these two people and herself.
"You may excuse me, I'm going to prepare tea for Miss Sheele," said Shrinto, bowed her head as she left to kitchen room.
"So you're Sheele, member of Night Raid? My name is Akiha Tohno, and I'm sure you know my idiot brother as well." said Akiha, finishing her food as she gave her hand to Sheele, "Right now you are on recovering sooner or later."
Sheele shook Akiha's hand as she thanked her, "I...I don't know what to say about this. I would like to thank you for saving me."
"Hah? I didn't save you. Nii-san saved you from your death. And I'm sure you have many questions, and I may or may not answer for you."
"What? I thought Akiha saved me, but Shiki saved me? Then how am I still alive?" Her thought came to Sheele's mind as she still had many questions to ask, "I should be asking... How am I alive? I should have been dead. Aside from my lower half and my hand?"
"It's not easy to sew you back in pieces. I remember my Nii-san brought you half-dead here. You were losing so much blood and I had to give you...half of my life for you. And Nii-san gave you his blood to survive. It is still difficult for me to deal with. And now you are dead but less alive."
Sheele thinks Akiha is making a joke with her, as she could laugh a little bit. Akiha's face becomes serious as she continues her conversation, "Now you are staying here, to be under no circumstances unless necessary. I honestly, don't know how will you change worse."
Shiki spoke up as he explained to her, "What she said is true, you might have gone insane whether you are becoming...how do I say? Insane or not. Akiha's ability is life force, meaning, you're a corpse. And it's not Teigu."
Sheele's eyes widened as she realized what Akiha meant, that she had been resurrected as dead. She had to leave, but she was unable to move her legs.
"Ah...that's where I turn your legs off because I had to prepare for the measure. This is why it is hard to explain to you," said Akiha as she noticed her maid sat Sheele's tea on the table, including a handle with a mirror, "Then have you forgotten what you look like? I suggest you should check your own face."
She picks her mirror and saw her face which she did not recognize her own self. Originally her hair is supposed to be purple, instead white hair. Her face remains unchanged.
"Wha...what's happening...to me?" said Sheele, trying to find her own words which she is unable to comprehend, "Why...my hair is...white?"
"I gave you my blood to save you because I didn't have time to go to the hospital to get your blood. As a result, you have nearly gone berserk. I was able to hold you before you passed out," said Shiki, recounting her event as Sheele's face became pale.
She felt like she wanted to throw up, but she didn't. Now she had to accept why she died while living as a corpse. One thing that she still had her mind was, "So...I can't go back to...base anymore?"
Akiha nodded her head without a word before Shiki stood up and left the room, "If you may excuse me, I have to pay a visit to twins here, then pass your message to Night Raid."
One Shiki left the room already while Sheele, Akiha, and her maid were becoming quiet as if Sheele was becoming awkward. Akiha finished her food as she stood up, and asked her, "Can you please stand up? We are going for a walk."
Sheele didn't think twice before she tested her leg as she stood up without help. She tried to walk a bit without worry. Strangely, her legs were turned off a moment ago, and now she is able to walk around without a problem.
"If you may follow me, then we can go to the garden and maybe clear your mind," said Akiha, giving her directions as they all walked together. Sheele still wants to catch up with Night Raid but she feels she is not ready yet.
Night Raid Base
Shiki's POV
"She's alive? I just saw she died with my own eyes?!" said Mine, who was surprised while wearing her left arm case which it supposed to heal, "You're telling us that you took her in, and now she's alive?"
With every member of Night Raid were all shocked to hear the news of Sheele's fate. While Bulat starts asks him, "Then...how...did your sister revive here? with Teigu?"
"Nope. Just a bit of life force that she gave. In the meantime, Sheele is going to adjust her life around after she becomes a corpse."
Mine felt anger after hearing what Shiki said and wanting to beat him out, "THEN HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO FEEL BETTER?! AFTER YOUR SISTER REVIVED HER AS CORPSE AND I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
With every Night Raid members were able to stop Mine before she planned to kill him her. Tatsumi is still shocked to hear and decides to question him, "You said she was resurrected? How?"
"Like I said this before. My sister gave her life force. I believe it's called, Od. Imagine...if a person has magical energy, he or she may have any amount of souls as long as they live for. To give life force to someone else, like, Sheele was. As long as their subject may live for a duration as long as their owner may live. Give or take a few months or years or a least a few decades to go. If it happens to the owner, the consequence result is she will be as good as dead. And it's not Teigu that can resurrect someone else. It's just the complete opposite myth. She should be fine without worry."
Najenda sighs as she still can't believe Sheele is alive and well, but Shiki won't give her location to Night Raid members. From what she understood Sheele's choice, and give her time to sort out before she will come back to Night Raid base.
"And I heard someone else out there slander your organization. Am I right?" said Shiki, starting to smile at her, which caught her guard off.
"Ah yes. That's where the problem came from. I do not who slander our names because our Revolutionary army is now being suspicious of us." said Najenda, handing out every poster that was done by imposters.
"And you need my help? I'm guessing, you're sending your members to sniff out imposters?"
"Yes and no. I'm sending every assassin to protect our officials at specific locations. One, Ryusuen, and other outskirts Capital. Mind you, they kept their distance from Empire."
"In this case, I shall go and tag with Tatsumi and Bulat to do their usual business. Remember this, you're the one who needs my help, and make no expectations."
Later...
Trio managed to blend with the crowd as they saw a huge ship arrive in time. While Shiki noticed three people were wearing their hoods to cover their faces. Shiki smiles as he knows they are going to target this ship. He chose not to tell them and simply played their cards.
Tatsumi was able to get in while Balut's Teigu made him invisible where no one else could see him. One of the staff recognized him as they let him in without question. With Tatsumi and Balut were baffled that he was able to get in without trouble.
"How did they let you in?" said Balut, wearing his armor to make him invisible.
"You remember Tatsumi? The place that I took you in?"
Tatsumi realizes as it hits like a brick, "Ah right, business, huh? Sounds like everyone else knows about you and your reputation."
"Sounds like you made them to do it for you," said Balut, starting to agree with Tatsumi.
"It is complicated. You don't know half of it. They were all feared by me because I killed every vampire and their clans. They all bend their knees on me and treat me like I'm a celebrity." said Shiki, starting to chuckle as if he is crazy or perfectly sane, "Then why don't you change your suit? I'm in no mood for the party."
Shiki starts on his way to his personal room, leaving Tatsumi and Balut on their own. Shiki made plans on his way to the bar where three people were sitting, drinking their expansive wines. He smiles as he starts to sit near them before calling the bartender, "Can I get the same drink as these three had?"
The bartender understood him as he took an expensive wine and poured his glass before giving it to him. Shiki pays his own pocket before drinking it.
"Sounds like you have an awful taste you got there." said the old man with a heavy accent, "And you are?"
"Oh just simply passing by. You three sure know how to enjoy your time before your scene," said Shiki, drinking his wine.
He noticed that the old man had a blue vial case in his jacket before closing it as another person started to whisper to him as he proceeded with his caution, "I don't know who you are, but I appreciate your compliment. If you may excuse us, we have a matter to attend for." said the old man with a heavy accent, pay his money to the bartender as they all left room, leaving Shiki drinking on his own.
"Oh, you don't know half of it. I know you're going to start soon," said Shiki, still smiling as he drank his wine, knowing it would happen and doesn't care that these civilians may turn into undead soon. People here are monsters sometimes. It doesn't mean he never plans to save people on the ship anymore.
Meanwhile
Tatsumi leans on the balcony as he finishes listening to Balut's story. He felt sympathy with him because Balut tried to defend his superior before turning him into a criminal. The main reason was his general refused to pay bribes to Empires before Balut became of what he was.
"Feels like screw up to me. That is far horrible as I've heard of," said Tatsumi, feeling a bit anger towards Empire.
Balut nods his head before his time reaches its limit, "Looks like it's my time. I better go and change it."
Tatsumi chuckles at him, "So that they will recognize your face? In this case, just leave it to me."
Balut thanked him as he decided to find his hiding spot before he found Shiki took his hiding spot, "Balut, you have a good time at their party?"
"You sure know how to find my hiding spot." said Balut as his armor deactivated it before questioning him, "I would like to ask you a question."
"Shoot."
"What the heck is Dark Six?"
"Sounds like Black Heart Incident to me. If it's what you're asking me, Dark Six was meant to end this world, then this world will be dried out quickly because there will be no more mana left. Then Crimson Moon will return in a few thousand years. Consider yourself lucky ORT still never wakes up. I've seen on other side and decided to end the future there." said Shiki, explaining what Dark Six is.
"So...it is the end of the world. Then what will happen to this world? This humanity?" said Balut, who was shocked to hear about Dark Six's endgame.
"I... unintentionally diverted this future years ago where it supposes never happens. Instead, entering into a new era, different people. But same ol' me and couple of vampires left for me." said Shiki, smiling at him as he stood up before stretching his arms.
Bulat's eyes widened as he thought what he said before his thought, "He...what? Did he mention that he diverted this world when this world never ends? And what the heck is ORT? And Crimson Moon?"
Before they were greeted by undead females with a few bloodied missing holes, eating an arm before approaching the duo. Shiki took his knife out from his pocket and he made his move fast before cutting her half vertically down.
"Well, that's new to me." said Shiki, smashing her head into nothing, "This is...undead. And now I'm guessing it's those three who gave some unknown liquids to people here."
While the undead show up as Balut cuts them down while Shiki slices them down before Balut makes his comment, "Undead?! I never fought against the undead here. What about civilians here?"
"That means they're gone as well. If it happens to your target chance does have a 50/50 chance alive, then I suggest you go and save your friend here."
They both heard someone is playing the song as if it acted like a recorder. It doesn't affect Shiki while Balut's legs give out before stabbing his leg and gritting his teeth. With a couple of Undeads were coming toward to Shiki and Bulat. They didn't have time to deal with the undead before heading straight to Deck where Tatsumi stays there.
They both found Tatsumi is now fighting against the undead while another person is now fighting against the same enemy. The person is huge tall muscular with long, spiky blond hair, smiling at Tatsumi, "It's been a long time since I've been gaining experience aside from these dead people still eating each other. And now I want to fight a live experience fighter."
They both steadied with their weapons. None of them made their move until Tatsumi decided to head on as he rushed toward him with his sword before Balut intervened Tatsumi, "IDIOT! What in the world were you thinking?!"
While Shiki stood beside with Tatsumi before grabbing his chair as he sat and watched, "This sure is interesting."
"Shiki...the heck are they?! Why are they eating each other?!"
"They're Undead. There's no point in saving some people here anymore," said Shiki as he watched them fighting each other. While two of his associates appear as they aid him before Balut jumps high before kicking two of his associates away and chopping him in half.
He gives his lesson to Tatsumi while Shiki laughs before the old man stands up, instantly, recognizes Balut's style, and calls him out, "That Teigu. That style. I know it's you, Balut."
He walks toward him before noticing Shiki sitting on his chair as he waves at him, "You...I know you back in the bar, wearing your blindfold and acting like being a blind man. Just who in the world are you?"
"Oh...you just broke my heart and I thought you and your friends should know the one who killed more people than Night Raid." said Shiki, clapping his hands, "You should know...Satsujinki. And you're the one who tainted these wines here?"
The old man's eyes widen up before laughing, "Finally...I've been wanting to meet face to face. Yes, I did, tainted their wine and didn't expect this result as they became Undead. And now you are here, wearing a blindfold as an assassin. Killing more than 70 people"
"Still counting and up. 150 people along I made people disappear," said Shiki, correcting the old man about his killing.
"I see...my name is Liver. And you should know my name, Satsujinki." said the old man, revealing his name to Shiki before asking him, "I would like to fight you with my ability."
"Aren't you forgetting your old friend?" said Shiki, pointing out Balut still stood before thanking him.
"Thanks, Shiki. And Liver...it's been a long time since I left the army. What has you changed, general?"
"I'm no longer general anymore. And now I serve with Esdeath and my loyalty becomes stronger with her." said Liver, pointing his hand at Balut, "Once I'm done with you, I'll have a battle with Satsujinki."
Shiki laughs at Liver before clapping his hands, "I would love you to try to fight against me. Unfortunately, you going to face your old friend here." Before Shiki notices his associate recovers and is about to play his flute. Shiki ensured he didn't let it happen before he made his move fast without anyone noticing him next to him.
Shiki yanks his flute before telling him, "You shouldn't play your flute. Why don't you sit and enjoy watching them fight each other?"
"Wh-when did you get here?!" said the boy as he is being surprised as Shiki got here without being noticeable.
"Too bad...I would have kept it as treasure back at my castle. Unfortunately, it is a waste to me." said Shik as he broke it in half before throwing it away, "Then you don't need it anymore."
He smiles at him before the boy feels his pure rage as he picks up a piece of wood and stabs at Shiki's neck. Shiki isn't being fazed off by a piece of wood that pierced his neck.
Baluts and Liver both stop each receiving their deep wounds as if the world has been stopped as they notice that the boy managed to stab Shiki's neck with a piece of wood. While Liver smiles as he chuckles, "I thought he was strong. But I was wrong. And now...you and I have to finish this business."
"Wait! Look!" said Tatsumi, pointing at Shiki before giving his attention to the duo as they saw Shiki was still standing, taking it out from his neck without care. His wound starts slowly closing in as if there's no scar left on his neck.
"Ouch. That's hurt. Wonder how it feels like?" said Shiki, still holding a piece of wood which he tried to kill him. Shiki decides to stab the boy's neck before receiving the trio's shock. Shiki still smiles as he pushes it harder before breaking his neck. His body drops harder before Shiki throws the dead body to the undead as they start feasting on fresh corpses.
Shiki looks at them before starts questioning, "What? It's just a bad show, right? And why did you stop fighting?"
Balut let his body hit on the ground as he started to breathe slowly before Tatsumi came to his aid. While Liver turns on Shiki as his water dragon comes to his side, "The hell are you?! You're not a normal one!"
Shiki pulls his knife out from his pocket before answering him, "Mmm...vampire or not a vampire. I'm just a normal guy with a blindfold, whose playing his knife. Does my answer satisfy you?"
Without a word from Liver, nor will he make hesitant as he manipulates his two water dragons coming straight at him. Except his water dragons simply vanish without a trace. Nor gave him a scratch.
"What did you do, Satsujinki?" said Liver, being surprised as his water dragons just vanished without a trace.
"And now...it's my turn," said Shiki as he moved fast with their naked eyes before cutting Liver's arm.
"AHHHH!"
He clutches his arm in order to stop bleeding before proceeding his attack again. Shiki ducks down before cutting both of his legs as he stabs Liver's leg, leaving him immobilized, "The hell is this? And how fast are you?"
Before Liver could say as Shiki cut Liver's head as it rolled around on the ground. While Balut and Tatsumi were shocked to see Shiki killed Liver easily. Shiki turns around before asking them, "Are you guys done or what? We are going to leave right now."
Tatsumi is about to pick Balut up before he coughs his blood from his mouth, "Tatsumi...I don't have time. Look up on ORT and Crimson Moon. Church might know more than Shiki can't tell us."
"Stop talking. I'm getting you out here while we leave dead people here. I can't let them eat you!" said Tatsumi, not planning to let him go before Balut reassured him.
"Kid...It's time for me. And Shiki?" said Balut, calling out his name before Shiki brought his target alive which Balut and Tatsumi were supposed to protect.
"Yes?"
"Take Tatsumi out of here. I'm going to hold these monsters here. I know I don't have time to live on because he got me real good. And now he poisons me. I'm going to give my Teigu to him." said Balut, giving his Teigu to Tatsumi before he faced against horde of undead.
"This is it," said Balut, rushing toward to couple of undead as he fights against them.
Shiki grabs Tatsumi and target as he jumps high before reaching the shore. Once his feet land on the ground as it hits hard, creating a huge shockwave bit.
"Whoo...Got to write my record for my jump," said Shiki as he dropped both on the ground before looking at the ship, leaving Balut to fight on his own against the undead.
"We have to go back and get him!" said Tatsumi, pleading to Shiki to save him.
"Well...he didn't have time because the poison reached him before we could do anything else." said Shiki, giving him a hard reality of his friend, "If you would have asked me to have my sister to revive him, then it's pointless."
He turns around as he approaches to Tatsumi before looking at the forest, "I know you're here, Enhance. You can come out."
Tatsumi looked back as he saw a person with a red trench coat, two guns in his holster on each side, and his sword behind his back which it looks like demonic, emerge from the forest before spoke to Shiki, "You sure knows how to find me in hiding. And these two people?"
"Oh these. Just ignore the old man here because he is not very important to me. As for Tatsumi, you can take him back to Night Raid because I have a business to attend for."
"And the survivors there?"
"None."
"In this case, I'm going to blow that ship up to leave no trace left for Empires," said Enhance, taking both of his guns from his holster, starts chanting as his guns starts glows up.
Before Tatsumi could do anything as Enhance started to shoot the ship as it blew in in horizontal sky, leaving nothing. It became empty. While Tatsumi stares with horror, and drops both of his knees, unable to do anything.
While Shiki departs without a word as he heads straight to Capital.
"Kid...I know it's not easy because I cannot let undead roam around so that they will have their chance to infect again." said Enhance, looking at him as if he gave him a pity, "Then I'm going to take you back to Night Raid."
Tatsumi nods his head as he feels useless and he is unable to save his friend from death. He is now grieving the way he lost his friend.
Later...
Capital, Night Time
Esdeath felt a good time to walk around with ease. No more Revolutionary Army. She felt joy after she and her army managed to conquer North because the Revolutionary Army was weak than her. In meantime, she will look for someone who is stronger than her. She plans to tell the Prime Minister to start an event in the future for her future husband.
She felt something uneasy feelings. A huge killing intent that she never felt before. She looks around, at every roof, shop, crowd, food stand, and restaurant. Until she saw someone with a blindfold, sat on his chair, and gave her a small wave. She felt she knew someone else, but where?
She had to walk toward to him while the crowd got in her way. She pushes aside as she finds the man with the blindfold is no longer there. She had to trace around as she saw him walking toward to alleyway. She had to follow him again as she found no one was there anymore. Vanish like a ghost.
"Heh..." said Esdeath, smiling a little as she punched the wall a bit hard, leaving a small crack on it, "Still...I need to find him."
She sighs and she is unable to trace killing intent anymore. Unlike Night Raid. She turns back as she intends to head back straight to the castle and reports her success, but never wants to mention about mysterious person with a blindfold.
While Shiki stood on the roof while he patted Len's head, "Well...well...you nearly found me. So, it's time to open this curtain and see how will they play?"
To be continued...