Chapter 12: Experiments and New World
It's been a few months since Shiki took his rest to heal his body. He walked around in the new base while the others went for training or scouting. He notices Najenda is reading the reports from her contacts. Before she notices Shiki as she greets him.
"Morning, Shiki. How's your sleep?"
"Compared with bed, I would rather sleep in a coffin." said Shiki, joking before responding, "It's quite fine. So...what's up with your report from your contact?"
"Well, we got an unknown danger beast. Assuming, they're new ones than what I know some beasts. I was wondering if you know about them."
"That's quite new to me," said Shiki, starts thinking some kind of new monster than what he remembered, "In this case, we are going to the police station over there because my little bird told me they brought one back in there."
"Let me guess...secret police is it?" said, Najenda, remembering Akiha once told them she was given her full control by her father before he died. Sounds like she is going to take the opportunity to accompany him, "Then let's go for now. I want to see what it looks like."
"Bingo, Najenda."
They both head straight to the police station to learn a new species before she lets Susanoo know they are going out for a while.
Later...
The police chief in mid-40 with grey hair and a fully grown beard is now smoking his plain cigarette while he had plenty of smoke butts on the ashtray on the table, beside a report of a new beast. And now the number keeps rising while they keep appearing in every region and village.
He kept wondering why he took his job to work with Akiha Tohno while acting as secret police to kill her relatives. He didn't understand why until he realized what were they. If he didn't take his job, then anyone else could take their job to work with Akiha. And now it's too late for him to turn back.
His door is knocked twice before a police officer comes in and tells him, "Sir, S has brought with a red Robin Hood here."
He knew what it meant as he let him know they were coming to his office. He sometimes wishes he would rather...no. He would rather keep his mouth shut and do his usual job. They were let in as he recognized a person who was wearing his red blindfold and the woman, he assumed she was a member of Night Raid.
"My name is Commissar. What can I do for you?" said the police chief, greeting him before introducing him.
"What a lovely place you got. I heard you got a new species here. My friend wants to see it there with her own eyes." said Shiki, smiling at him.
Commissar nodded his head as he led them to the morgue room as they found a dead beast on the table which the doctor was now performing a full autopsy. The doctor noticed that he brought two guests before taking his gloves off.
"Hello, what can I do for you, sir?"
"This is the beast? Then what can you tell me about it?" said Shiki, walking toward the dead beast to get a good look before Najenda came.
"Ah yes. As you can see, I took their DNA sample and thought it might be a new one, instead what I found is human DNA from an unknown species." said the doctor, taking his paper as he flipped it before showing it to Shiki.
"Mmm...this person was kidnapped around 6 months ago?" said Shiki, looking at Commissar, asking him, "Has anyone made their report about missing?"
He nods his head as he responds, "Yes. I did cross reference to every missing person from 12 months ago. However, it's not very common for those people who sold their own as slaves from villages, because they haven't paid their debts."
Shiki looks at lifeless species while having a conversation with the doctor. Najenda joins with Commissar and asks him, "It's not your real name, is it? I guess you guys kept your name as a codename."
"Yes. We were given orders by Akiha. Just as you know we are acting as secret police to keep an eye on them. Just like Mix-Blood were." said, Commissar, taking his cigarette out from his pocket before starting to light and smoke.
"I think I get it. You were given orders to kill people if they lost their control. But I won't ask anymore."
"It's the best thing that you don't need to know anymore because I had to get my hand dirty to get it done."
Once Shiki is done checking on the lifeless beast as he toward them before giving his report to Najenda, "Looks like we got someone else is doing an experiment on these people."
"Then we know nothing, besides them being experiments?"
"That's right. In this case, I have to do other things to get it done. I'll see you later." said Shiki, taking his leave while leaving Najenda and Commissar to have a conversation with.
Shiki has left the police station as he plans to head straight to church for himself to gather some information about unknown beasts. He reached church while Father Nork was sweeping in front of the door. He notices Shiki has arrived before asking him, "What can I do for you?"
"Did Burial Agency give you some news, didn't they?"
"Yes. I've heard about some new beasts. I was informed that some people have gone missing and presumed, experimented." said Nork, still sweeping some leaves without looking at him, "And we still haven't identified the suspect."
"Then we are not in 2nd Tier. We are still in 3rd Tier," said Shiki, still doubting some people were kidnapped, instead of sold as slaves. One thing he still doesn't understand is why someone else started an experiment on some people. He knew it wasn't Klein's work, nor Valesti. It is someone else out there, playing as god.
Shiki smiles before he chuckles softly as if he is perfectly, sane enough. He knew his own side was just basically laughing but he managed to calm himself down for a bit. He thanks Father Nork before he goes back to base but he has to finish his own business first.
Later...
Shiki came back to the new Night Raid base as he noticed all of the members were now attending their meetings about new beasts. He never intends to join their meeting before Najenda notices him, "Ah perfect timing, Shiki. You just got here after I explained to them about some new beasts."
"Oh good for you," said Shiki, walking toward to kitchen room as he prepared to make his own tea.
He took his seat as he drank his tea before Len came toward him and sat on his legs. Len is now eating her cookies while Shiki pats her head. He noticed Leone come before asking her, "What brings you here?"
"Hello, Shiki. You just came back from your so-called business. I won't ask for some details from you. Speaking of topics...what have you learned about dead beasts?" said Leone, taking her seat on the opposite side.
"Some people were being experimented by third party. From what I know it wasn't done by either Valesti or Klein. The thing is...I don't know who did their experiments from the start." said Shiki, taking a sip from his tea before putting it on the table.
"Well, this tonight, we are going out to scout and exterminate some beasts if they are being too close to this base. I was wondering if you are going to tag with us or not."
"I would be happy to, as long as nothing will get in my way," said Shiki, tapping Len's shoulder as she jumped off his leg and left the kitchen room before standing as he stretched his legs, "Then tell me whom to tag with."
Later...
At night, the outskirts of Capital
Shiki decided to tag with Tatsumi and Lubbock for no reason while the two of them were talking about Lubbock's life before joining Night Raid. Shiki kept walking with them while he looked at the moon.
"Say, Shiki...you got your ability is called, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception? That means you can cut them like paper?" said Lubbock, looking at him smiling at the moon before responding.
"Yes, I can easily cut them like paper. Or I can make them easily disappear without a trace."
"Then how does one acquire Mystic Eyes of Death Perception?" said Tatsumi, stopping on his track as he was wondering how he got it.
"You don't. It's hard to get it. I bet Akiha already did explain to you about my background, didn't she?"
Both of them nod their head as they remember Shiki's background and his original family. They were curious about how he got it.
"You have to die as many times as possible as you could," said Shiki, smiling at them as his answer caught them off their guard.
"What do you mean? You're pulling my leg, aren't you?" said Lubbock, still being surprised that he is able to get Mystic Eyes of Death Perception while he died to get it.
"Haha. If I were you, I wouldn't dare to get it. Some people...may die early if they obtain it. There is only one person that I knew she got it from. But I didn't want to give her details for you guys. And the rest of history would prefer to stay in the dark."
"Sounds really terrifying to me. I think I would rather not get it and live as a normal person," said Tatsumi, feeling a bit scared to hear what Shiki told them before remembering the task that they were supposed to keep an eye on beasts, "Right, I want to check out on top of the mountain because I want to see if I could find them."
"In this case, I'm going with you. Having other eyes to check is better than one," said Shiki, offering to give him extra eyes in case some beasts will appear.
"Very well. In this case, if you find them, then let me know," said Lubbock, feeling his strings were not being tangled for reasons. He suspects some beasts are smarter than average humans. He knows Shiki is now looking for some information about beasts and possibly, scientists, like, Dr. Stylish was.
Tatsumi transforms into his Incursio as he starts wall climbing toward the top while Shiki is able to catch up with him. Tatsumi is surprised as he is to climb due to him being Dead Apostle Ancestors. He had so many questions about his other abilities that he hid off.
Once they reached on top as they kept searching for beasts for straight two minutes until Tatsumi gave up while Shiki sat on the rock, smiling at him. His smile annoys Tatsumi before his Incursio starts deactivating.
"You can stop smiling. It's annoying."
"I don't know why am I smiling. Maybe something happening in a few minutes or something?"
He felt a bit pissed off but he doesn't want to provoke him because Shiki is a member of Dead Apostle Ancestors. He assumes they are more powerful than Teigu. He is wondering if this humanity will survive in this vampire world with their Teigu.
"Say...Tatsumi, don't you think they're coming over here? Or will Esdeath be coming here?" said Shiki, still smiling at him as he asked him an unusual question.
"I doubt the beast might but-" said Tatsumi, feeling shockwave from behind as he did not expect Shiki is able to predict.
He turns back as he looks at an intruder and instantly, recognizes her, Esdeath, pointing out her sword at Tatsumi and Shiki. It took her a moment to recognize him and her eyes moved and pointed at Shiki.
"Satsujinki, I finally meet face to face you! This time you won't get away from me!" said Esdeath, pointing her sword at Shiki.
"Ah finally...Ice Queen, nice to meet you." said Shiki, standing up as he pulled his knife out from his pocket, "Then don't you want to have chit-chat with me?"
While the beasts were crawling up as they decided to launch their surprise attack. Tatsumi is able to warn them before Esdeath and Shiki manage to defeat them in the blink eye. Esdeath stood still while the beasts were cut into a few pieces on her feet before Shiki, himself made his distance from Esdeath's range.
"Tell me...what's your name and I shall remember it," said Esdeath, pointing her sword at Shiki.
"You finally ask me nicely...my name is, Shiki. You shall remember my name. Member of Dead Apostle Ancestors and now I'm currently ranked 7th." said Shiki, smiling at her before bowing his head.
"And now you have to surrender yourself nicely and maybe I will take you to the torture room and do a nice talk with you."
"Oh...you're scary as I expect yourself to be, Ice Queen. I would politely decline your offer, but...we have uninvited guest here," said Shiki, putting his knife in his pocket as he looks at on the left direction as if he spoke over there, "I know you're out there and you might miss your party."
Tatsumi saw a person with a huge scar on his face, coming out from his hiding spot, and gave them his huge smile before making his comment, "I thought I hid well. And now I finally met Satsujinki in the flesh. Your name is Shiki, right?"
"You could say it right. Tell me...you're the one who runs your own experiments, right?"
The unknown man starts to laugh like crazy before responding to him, "I would rather not give you an answer for you...this time, I'm going to send three of you elsewhere where you will never reach!"
He pulls something out from his pocket before Shiki's instinct reacts before giving his warning to Esdeath and Tatsumi. They were caught by light from below as they were transported to the Capital City, however, the scene seems different than what they remember.
The houses were destroyed or burnt down next to the huge wall to protect some people inside of the castle and people alike. The big red moon is more huge, above the castle. With duo are confused while Shiki is unfazed by this scene before he speaks up, "We need to go right now."
"Hey, we are not going! You are in Capital and you know what am I going to do," said Esdeath, still glaring at him before she made her action and noticed Shiki pointing at the wanted poster on the wall.
She walks toward as she notices it before she realizes what she sees her own face appears on a wanted poster and the rest of the Night Raid members that she does not recognize, except the one that was Akame's leader, Najasho but Akame is absent from posters. One thing that she did not understand was why her face appeared on the wall. Include, Shiki's face appears too.
Tatsumi came over as he noticed and became shocked as Esdeath felt the same way as he did. She had so many questions that she was unable to comprehend in her own words.
"Welcome to...Alternate Universe. I would suggest, we need go to hideout right now." said Shiki, gesturing to his fellow to find their hideout.
Before they leave as the 15 soldiers notice them and surround them as one of their soldiers shouts, "GOT YOU! WE HAVE YOU SURROUND, SATSUJINKI AND TRAITOR!" He gave his gesture to his fellow soldiers to let the entire army know.
But Shiki wouldn't allow it as he made his move without having them notice cutting them into 10 soldiers into a few pieces while he stood behind them. He clapped his hands as the 10 soldiers froze as they fell into a few pieces which it surprise before five soldiers had to fight him. It was too late for them as he managed to slice them into a few pieces, leaving one soldier alive.
Tatsumi and Esdeath were all surprised as Shiki managed to take down no more than 14 soldiers in the blink eye.
"Say...don't you want to have...a little talk with him?" said Shiki, leaving a single soldier alive to Esdeath.
Esdeath walks toward a scared soldier as she lifts his collar up, asking him, "Why did you surround us? Tell me, have you lost your mind? I'm your general!"
"What? You are not general anymore. Don't you know you're the one who betrayed Empire?"
Her eyes widened as she became confused, didn't understand why she had betrayed Empire. She had to push more questions, "THEN WHAT ABOUT HONEST?! TELL ME HE IS HERE?"
"What? Don't you know, Tatsumi is the one who killed both Honest and Emperor and now he has become king!" said the soldier, spitting on Esdeath's face.
Esdeath drops him as she takes her sword out from her hip and stabs his heart before he dies. While Tatsumi stood, his face became shocked in fact he did kill, Honest and Emperor. Shiki claps his hands as he decides to escort them to his hideout, "Are we done? Then let's go!"
Once he escorts them to his hideout as they expect his hideout was abandoned, instead, a luxurious hotel. Shiki already assured them that he made his arrangements for them while he took care of it.
He is going to make contact with his old friend while he gives them his money out of nowhere. Both of them were shocked as they received the money in the bag to check and the currency is different than what they remembered back in their old world. Except, a new face of Emperor, spitting out of Tatsumi's image.
"Now what?" said Tatsumi, turning at Esdeath, sitting on her chair, thinking hard before responding.
"What Shiki is telling the truth, we are in this alternate universe. In this world...I betrayed Empire and you became Emperor..." said Esdeath, her words were cut off as if she was trying to speak.
Tatsumi felt bad...or at least he should have been. He had to comfort her without knowing she was a member of Imperial soldier and most top general in the old world than in this world. But he doesn't plan to stay here with her for too long while Shiki takes care of it.
The question is, how Shiki will get them out of this world and get back old world?
Shiki's POV
Shiki made contact with Van-Fem but he sent his assistance on his way to Shiki's location. He was wondering to whom he sent to, knowing he had 7 daughters but they were away for their business. Did Shiki kill them? He never killed them because they were his daughter while they were from the French Incident. Of course, he remembers Ciel's background which was caused by Roa. And now, it is far forgotten by the public, but only Dead Apostles and True Ancestors remember.
"Yo, Death!" said a girl with pink hair, wearing a business dress, carrying her huge suitcase.
"Well...well...if it isn't Asara or...should I say, Chelsea?"
"Please stop calling my old name. I would rather discard my old name because I'm not the same person as you remember."
"Heh. He got my message?"
"Yes. That's what I've been told. You got two uninvited guests here?"
He nods his head with a word as her eyes widen, "MORE FOOD FOR ME!"
"Want me to make you disappear?" said Shiki, starting laughing a bit as she laughed back.
"Let's go. We don't have to keep them waiting. Good to know I came in with my preparation." said Asara, holding her huge suitcase.
They both walk toward Shiki's hideout and they find Esdeath and Tatsumi on the bed, presumably, making out on their own. They both stare before the duo realizes as they put their clothes on. Suddenly, Tatsumi double-checks as he recognizes a woman, Chelsea.
"You are..." said Tatsumi, before his words were cut off by Asara.
"Save for it. My name is Asara and Death told me about this situation. And now we are going to Nightfall Grand. You will be explained over there." said Asara, taking her huge suitcase, opening it up as she revealed lots of casual clothes for Tatsumi and Esdeath, "You better change your images because they are looking for you everywhere."
Later...
Once they arrived at Nightfall Grand which people were enjoying to watch the performance there. They could feel the music start blasting them through, instead, it becomes calm and smooth as if someone is singing, like, a mermaid's song.
Once they were greeted by staff as they were escorted to a private room before they all sat on their chair, except Shiki never sat on it. Tatsumi had in his mind as he started to ask Asara or her former name, "So...you're Asara? Then who are we meeting with?"
"Oh, my boss will be here soon. I'm sure you and your lovebird had so many questions," said Asara, smiling at Tatsumi before Esdeath jumped in.
"Then what are you?" said Esdeath, feeling suspicious about her intention.
"Heh. Tell you what. My former name was Chelsea. I'll tell you a story. Originally, I murdered my master and took Teigu with me because I was planning to run away, instead, I was ambushed by Dead Apostles."
"What?" they both said at the same time as Tatsumi knew this person was different than what he knew back in his old world.
"I thought I was going to die and become a vampire. I hunted people down and drank their blood until I joined their clan back 7 years ago. And..."
"So...Shiki came and destroyed your clan?"
"Yes. We were all prepared to kill him because we were powerful. But we were wrong. He is more powerful than me. In the end, he killed my leader and I ran away. I was wondering...why didn't Death kill me back in there."
"I let you go because you're not worthy of the rank anymore," said Shiki, remembering the day he alone destroyed the clan.
The door is now open and it reveals a young man, wearing his, white suit with a blue tie, and a matching white top hat with red gloves, introducing his name before bowing his head to guests, "Hello. My name is Valery Fernand Vandelstam. You can call me, Van-Fem as short."
The duo realizes his name is on the list which he is currently, ranked 14th as Dead Apostle Ancestors, but he is acting like a human in manners.
"You're...You're Dead Apostle Ancestor, aren't you?" said Esdeath, remembering what Klein once told her about 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors who were supposed to be dead or sleeping. And now she met him in flesh person. While Tatsumi felt the same way with Esdeath's reaction.
"Oh ho. Seems like, both of you had bad luck to be here. And Death here too." said Van-Fem, starts chuckle as he gestured his hand to Asara as she left the room to work backstage.
He took his seat, and leaned forward to Tatsumi, "Mmm...Smell like, your dragon is now sleeping." He looks at Esdeath, "And here is...ice queen, Esdeath. I wonder if she has a heart or not. But she is still human in the end."
"Let's cut this business and I need to get them out of here because they are unwanted here," said Shiki, walking toward Van-Fem as he put his hand on his shoulder, "Tell me what needs to be done and I'll be out of your hair."
He looks at Shiki's red blindfold as he responds to him, "Easy there, Death. I was getting there." He changes his position toward Shiki, "You know, I can't use my magecraft because the Emperor here is now blocking my abilities and I don't know where he got it from."
"Don't tell me, the Emperor Tatsumi is supposed not to get it from Castle. I'm pretty sure I destroyed his workshop there," said Shiki, feeling as if he missed something.
"You already did. But his wraith targeted Emperor Tatsumi and he had to work from scratch again."
Shiki didn't respond as he left the room to kill Emperor Tatsumi, leaving Tatsumi and Esdeath behind with Van-Fem.
"I'm sorry. But I have to ask, who did he kill? And what possessed...Emperor me?" said Tatsumi, feeling confused.
"His name is, Stanrobe Calhin. He was...ranked 11 and he is just...a wraith which he is able to possess some people. And now he is back to his usual business." said Van-Fem.
To be Continued...