Chapter 11
Death

With Ayame’s wedding over with, she still possess the power of her family and her name, but still, it came with a price of not knowing the full potential of her family’s power. Traveling back to the academy, Hajji decides to make a quick stop for Ayame and the others to have a quick bite to eat at the village Amelia was living in before heading back on the long, enduring road. The village welcomes them with open arms again, and serves them a bountiful feast.

Yukio: So you guys went this way?
Suzuki: Yeah, but knowing you Mr. Yamanaka, you found an easier route.
Hitomi: Yeah, thank the stars Yukio was with us, or we would be lost.
Yukio: I ignore your sarcasm.

Amelia then rushes into the house and embraces Kushiro from behind, while at the same time exhaling the food from within his mouth. She soon releases him after realizing her rude interruption of their breakfast.

Amelia: Oh, sorry Kushiro. I didn’t mean to disturb your friends from your meal.
Miwa: I’m so glad I wasn’t hungry.
Dash: Sheesh man, cover that up, we‘re trying to eat.
Kushiro: Sorry.
Amelia: Who are these people? They weren’t with you last we met.
Yukio: Kushiro, how does she know your name?
Dash: Oh, what about Kunoichi? [chuckles]
Kushiro: Shut up. These three right here are my teachers from Soul Academy, Hitomi, Ayano, and Dash. This old pervert here is also a teacher, and he is my uncle as well.
Yukio: Stop calling me that! Hi there, my name is Yukio Yamanaka, perhaps you heard of me.
Amelia: No.
Yukio: Really? I’m really popular and known throughout the whole Reikai World.
Amelia: Still no clue.
Yukio: . . . Really? One of the Great Heroes of the Chaos War?
Kushiro: She’s new to the afterlife so stop trying to butter yourself up.
Yukio: Oh.
Amelia: So how did the wedding go Ayame?
Ayame: Not so well, I didn’t get married.
Amelia: Aw, I’m sorry to hear that. Well you know what that means.
Ayame: What?
Amelia: That means he wasn’t the one for you. I’m sure you will find your true love.
Ayame: Yeah, but right now I’m staying away from relationships.
Amelia: Miwa.
Miwa: Amelia.
Suzuki: Okay you two, no fighting.
Amelia: Oh I won’t fight her. It’s pointless to reason with her, but, deep inside that cold heart of hers, she actually believes.
Miwa: Speak for yourself, I don’t believe in fairytales.
Kushiro: Okay you two, let’s not start this again.
Hajji: So Amelia, how are you fairing with your life now?
Amelia: Little by little, I try to cope with the way the afterlife runs.
Suzuki: Well I’m stuffed.
Hajji: We should get going now, I’m sure you all have something very important to do at the academy.
Amelia: Oh before you go, I have to warn you about something. Further down the south, there have been attacks on cargo and innocent travelers.
Ayano: How awful.
Amelia: They don’t harm them, they just loot their belongings and flee.
Miwa: Nothing but a bunch of low lives.
Dash: The minute we find them, they won’t stand a chance.
Yukio: Okay guys, let’s speed this up. We need to get back on the road if we’re going to make it back in time.
Kushiro: For what? It’s not like you have anything important.
Yukio: Just shut your mouth and get on the chariot.
Amelia: [giggles]

While the group prepares to depart from the village, far away down the south, along the path they traveled and found Amelia, a cargo of goods was being delivered by some villagers to a nearby market. As they go along the narrow, rocky path, they were unaware of three shadowy figures stalking them from atop the mountain cliff. One of them clamps their hands together, then slams his mighty hands down into the ground, as the tremor startles them from proceeding. Then part of the road starts to break apart beneath the cargo, as the men desperately flee for their lives, leaving the cargo to plunge to the bottom of the cliff. But, a hand forms from the mountain side, and catches the falling cargo from certain doom. The hand then travels along the rocky walls and places the cargo safely on the path while the ground suddenly rebuilds itself. The three demons, none other than Hisako’s friends, then drop from their hiding spot to claim their plunder.

Jiken: [laughs] Good job Trogon, now let us see what’s inside.
Trogon: I hope it’s something good for the boss in there.
Rensu: With our luck we won’t find even a trinket.
Jiken: Bah, there’s nothing but food and junk! Burn it Trogon!
Trogon: Do you think we should give that back to the humans?
Jiken: Who’s the leader of this team huh?!
Trogon: Hisako.
Jiken: Right. . . No! I mean the leader of this operation!
Trogon: You?
Jiken: That’s right, and if we’re going to get on the boss’s good side, we better find the perfect gift.
Rensu: You would think finding a gift before Hisako’s birthday would be a more, effective strategy.
Jiken: Shut it Rensu! I don’t see you with any bright ideas!
Rensu: Instead of ransacking cargos, we should steal some kind of necklace from some unsuspected woman.
Jiken: Yes, very wise idea Rensu!
Trogon: What about the cargo?
Jiken: Just burn the darn thing!
Rensu: I’m getting bored playing thief with you guys.
Jiken: No one told you to come with us.

The gang say their goodbyes to the kind people of the village, as they continue their journey back to the academy. Bored and with nothing to do, Kushiro takes out his father’s journal to learn more about his days in the Reikai World.

Suzuki: Whatcha reading now Kushi?
Kushiro: I’m trying to see if he left any clues in here, like where he is now. Fawks did say it was delivered to him after the war.
Yukio: Give it up Kushiro, you won’t find any clues in that thing.
Kushiro: But still, I should take the time to look over it.
Suzuki: By the way, could you tell us what was it like fighting Chaos?
Yukio: [sighs] . . . Sadly I have no idea.
Suzuki: What?!
Ayame: No idea?
Ayano: What do you mean by that?!
Yukio: Back then we came up with an assumption that he was looking for a new body, seeing how he was merging with every body he swallowed whole in that concoction of mess. Hiro and Irimaru, were the ones who fought the true form of Chaos.
Dash: So what the hell were you guys doing?
Yukio: Izumi and I were to dispatch the demons from the outside and cause a distraction, while Hiro and Irimaru went inside.
Kushiro: Inside?
Yukio: Look that’s all I know, if you want to know more details, you will have to ask Irimaru.
Suzuki: Where is Izumi?
Yukio: Well, we sort of split up after the war. Can’t say what she’s doing now.
Kushiro: So Irimaru was the only one with my father at the time?
Yukio: Apparently so, and you know the rest.
Kushiro: [thinking] Irimaru isn’t the only one I can ask. I can ask Chaos, but then again, asking him is suicide.
Yukio: But then again, if you check that journal of his carefully, you might find some details pertaining to the war.
Kushiro: I guess.

As Kushiro flips the pages in front of him, he comes across a page with different handwriting from the others. Stopping the pages as quickly as he could, he searches for the page he passes and soon finds it.

Kushiro: Hey guys, there is someone else’s hand writing in my father’s journal!
Hitomi: Really?
Yukio: That’s probably one of our pages.
Kushiro: Your pages?
Yukio: Before we headed into combat, Hiro made us write our own pages in his journal.
Kushiro: Who pages are these?
Yukio: Well those are mine, and if I remember correctly, Irimaru’s is next followed by Izumi.

As Kushiro prepares to turn to Irimaru’s page, they were suddenly ambushed with the same tactic by Jiken and the others. For the horses safety, Hajji releases them from the straps as they flee from the danger, just in time as the path beneath them breaks apart and sends the chariot down into the jagged rocks below. Then the hand forms on the side of the mountain again, and catches it on its side as everyone inside was slammed against the side of the chariot. Hajji could only watch in horror, hoping no harm would ever come to Ayame and the others. Rensu then leaps from the mountain top and breaks into the chariot, and quickly spots the necklace around Ayame’s neck. As everyone was still in confusion, he snatches the necklace around her neck and flees.

Ayame: My necklace!
Yukio: What the hell just happened?!
Ayame: Some demon just stole my necklace!
Rensu: I finally got something worth value.
Jiken: Good Rensu, let’s beat it and find the boss!
Trogon: What about them?
Jiken: Dump’em.
Trogon: Are you sure?
Jiken: Of course I’m sure! We do not need them sending reapers to hunt us down, so drop them!
Trogon: Okay.

Trogon then slams his fist into the ground, trying to sever the hand underneath the chariot, as Yukio and the other teachers soon start to realize they were in danger of falling. They soon grab the students, and escape from the chariot just in time before the hand gave, and plunges the chariot down the mountain side.

Dash: That was a close one.
Hajji: Ms. Ayame! Are you hurt?!
Ayame: I’m fine Hajji.
Hajji: [sighs] Thank the stars, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.
Ayano: Is everyone okay?
Suzuki: We could’ve died.
Ayame: First day on the job as guardian and it gets stolen.
Ayano: Guardian of what?
Ayame: Uh, nothing Ms. Moto, everything is fine. It’s just that they stole my necklace for some reason.
Hitomi: They must be the thieves.
Dash: Great, they saved us the trouble of finding them.
Hitomi: I don’t think so sugar.
Dash: Come again?
Hitomi: We need to get back to the academy, or the Juuyou will have our heads. We’ve taken too many of our sick days. We don’t have enough time to play cops and robbers.
Ayame: [thinking] Oh no! If we don’t go after them, the necklace may fall into the wrong hands!
Dash: True, I can hear old man Zakashi scolding us already.
Ayame: But what about my necklace?
Kushiro: What’s so important about that necklace anyhow?
Ayame: It’s very special and I can’t afford to lose it!
Kushiro: Geez, I was just asking.
Ayano: Ayame, couldn’t your parents buy you another one?
Ayame: No, it’s irreplaceable! My mom gave it to me for safekeeping!
Hitomi: That important?
Ayame: Yes, and I’m sorry that I rose my voice at everyone. I-I’m just a little unease.

The team prepares to track down Hisako’s servants to retrieve Ayame’s necklace, hoping that they can make it back in time before heading into more trouble than they bargained for. Meanwhile, Hisako travels back to the academy with Kamisori by her side, mourning over the death of Kushiro.

Hisako: [sobbing] How will I live without my poor Kushi?! The whole reason I stayed in that lame excuse of an academy is because of him! [sighs] I might as well burn it down or something. Now that Kushi is dead, what’s the point of living.
Kamisori: [maniacal laugh]
Hisako: You Rikotsu need to seek help.
Jiken: Ms. Hisako! Ms. Hisako!
Hisako: Huh, what are you goons doing here? You’re supposed to be cleaning my place. I bet you even left the door open.
Jiken: Well, we figured you wouldn’t show up for your birthday, so we decided to come to you.
Hisako: Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about my birthday. So what did you lamebrains get me this time?
Jiken: In commemoration to our boss’s birthday, we give you this wonderful sapphire necklace.
Hisako: A necklace?!
Jiken: Here you go mistress, we hope you like it.
Hisako: Hmm, it’s nice and all, but it totally clashes with my style. Huh? What’s this in the sapphire?
Jiken: I’m sure it’s nothing, just a symbol of some kind.
Hisako: . . . This is the Chiba’s family crest symbol!
Jiken: Oh, even more value for you to keep.
Hisako: One question, did you steal this from a girl with blonde hair, surrounded with a bunch of other reapers?
Jiken: Uh, Rensu?
Rensu: I was quite startled, but amazingly I escaped without battle.
Hisako: You, [growls]!
Jiken: What’s wrong my mistress?
Hisako: You blockheads stole this from the princess of the Chiba family! They’ll hunt us down to the very end! Calm down Hisako, they just stole a necklace, it’s not like they killed her or anything.
Jiken: [speechless]
Rensu: Smooth move Jiken.
Trogon: I think we’re in trouble.
Hisako: Please tell me you guys didn’t kill her. I’m begging you, I had enough bad news for today.
Trogon: Say something Jiken.
Jiken: Uhhh, well you see.

Before Jiken could finish his sentence, the others catch up with them in pursuit for Ayame’s necklace.

Ayame: Give that back!
Jiken: You stole from a bunch of dirty reapers?!
Rensu: Anyone can wear a kimono and pose as a shinigami.
Miwa: Unfortunately we’re the real thing.
Hisako: [gasps] Kushi!! You’re alive!!
Kushiro: Wait a minute, I remember you guys. Weren’t you the ones we were trying to stop from burning the forest down?
Jiken: Not only that, you stole from one of Hisako’s husband’s friends! Have you no shame?!
Kushiro: I’m not married to that thing!!
Hisako: Oh don’t fight it Kushi, you know it was meant to be, and last I checked, I can have mood swings.
Yukio: What are you doing way out here? Shouldn’t you be looking after Hamaru?
Hisako: Look pal, I’m not your babysitter. I have a life too, so I left the little brat for a while to clear my mind.
Ayame: Look, just give me back my necklace so we can leave.
Hisako: You mean this pretty thing?
Ayame: Yes!
Hisako: Hmmm. . . I should, but I won’t.
Ayame: If you don’t give that back to me.
Hitomi: Chill Ayame, let us handle this.
Hisako: Why should I give you this back? Seeing how these guys went through all the trouble to find me a present worthy of possessing.
Jiken: You really care about us boss?
Hisako: Don’t push your luck.
Jiken: Well it was nice while it lasted.
Yukio: A present?
Hisako: It’s my birthday for crying out loud. [fakes tears] And you meanies want me to give up this priceless, beautiful, irreplaceable piece of jewelry for nothing.
Suzuki: Aw, we made her cry.
Dash: I do feel kind of low.
Ayame: I don’t care if it is your birthday! Give it back!
Kushiro: Ayame, let’s be fair with this.
Ayame: With her?!
Kushiro: I mean she did help us some time ago.
Ayame: Have you forgotten what she tried to do to us?!
Kushiro: Yeah but still, I would have been dead if it wasn’t for her, and you would still be trapped inside that place.
Hisako: That’s right, in a way you actually owe me one.
Ayame: [growls] . . . What do you have in mind?
Hisako: I’ve always wanted to be treated like royalty, with servants serving me hand and foot with my king by my side.
Jiken: Hey, what have we been doing?!
Hisako: Giving me nightmares with your face, now shut it.
Rensu: Ouch.
Trogon: [laughs]
Jiken: I’ll kill you two.
Ayame: Where are you getting at?
Hisako: From now on, I want you to become my servant.
Hajji: Nonsense! Ms. Ayame will do no such thing!
Ayame: I ought to kill you for just thinking that.
Miwa: Calm down Ayame, don’t let her ride you like this.
Hisako: [giggles] Well?
Hajji: No way, that’s an uneven trade. I demand you give that necklace back right now.
Hisako: Really now? To little Chiba girl here it means the whole world to her. I wonder why.
Ayame: It was a gift from my mother.
Hisako: There’s more to it than that, and I know what it is.
Ayame: You’re lying.

Then in a quick flash, Hisako instantly appears behind Ayame’s back, with her hands on her shoulders as she whispers into her ears the secret of the necklace. After realizing she knew the secret of the necklace, Ayame gives in to her demands, forced to serve Hisako till the end of the day.

Hisako: It’s not that hard, just do a few things for me and you can have it back.
Ayame: . . . [sighs] Fine.
Miwa: Ayame, don’t lower yourself.
Ayame: I don’t have much of a choice Miwa. I want that necklace back.
Hisako: Good, I’m glad that all worked out without any unnecessary violence.
Trogon: Does this mean we can have a break?
Hisako: No that means you have one more joining your group. Ayame, meet the losers you will be working with.
Ayame: Oh boy.
Jiken: Don’t worry, it’s not so bad.
Rensu: Sarcasm from the imp.
Jiken: Shut it Rensu!
Dash: Okay, now that we got that little ordeal out the way, let’s go home already.
Hisako: Why walk when you can warp?
Suzuki: Warp?
Hisako: Demon magic of course.
Kushiro: For once I’m glad you’re here.
Hisako: Everyone stand back.

As everyone steps back, Hisako begins a chant words under her breath, while moving her hands with grace as flames follow her every movement. Her eyes gradually close as she continues her spell, then opens her eyes fully, revealing her eyes pitch black. She then thrusts her arms outward, and expands her hands as a dark rift slowly opens in front of them. Flames roar from the rift, as the fire spreads to form a path. As soon as it fully opens, she returns to normal, hazed and faint from the spell as Yukio catches her.

Jiken: Boss!
Yukio: You okay?
Hisako: . . . I’m fine. [stands up] It’s been a while since I performed that spell.
Hajji: My, it’s certainly got a bit stuffy out here.
Hisako: It’s the portal, it’s designed only for those who can take the heat. Any enemies foolish enough to pursue me, instantly gets burnt the minute they step directly in the rift’s opening.
Ayano: Wait, this is too dangerous!
Hisako: Don’t worry, you’ll survive, I am the one who’s controlling the temperature.
Ayame: Then cool it down a bit.
Hisako: Can’t, it will disrupt the core temperature, causing the portal to fall apart, and soon explode. So deal with it ice princess.
Ayame: [growls]
Hisako: What’s the matter, afraid you might melt?
Ayame: Watch it you little!
Hitomi: Look, you two can duke it out later, let’s get back now.
Hisako: Fine with me, be sure to walk in single file, the path is as you can see. [giggles] Anyway, you three morons go back to where you belong. You caused enough trouble for today.
Jiken: We can’t come with you?
Hisako: Uh, I didn’t know you guys had such guts, being around a bunch of reapers and all.
Jiken: Duh, on second thought, that reminds me. Rensu, you haven’t finished none of your chores from Ms. Hisako!
Rensu: What?
Jiken: Sorry Ms. Hisako, Rensu can be so forgetful sometimes. See you all later!
Rensu: What chores?
Jiken: Get moving you dopes!!
[they flee]
Hisako: What a bunch of dorks.

With the portal open, they soon enter, with the flames spiraling around them. The intense heat immediately gets to them, threatening them of burning alive. Meanwhile, Hamaru spends his time by playing cards by himself, waiting for Kushiro to return. Then, the room temperature begins to rise, as the rift begins to open in the wall behind Hamaru. He slowly turns around, and leaps in fear of the portal, then runs to hide in fear of a demon. Everyone soon pours out of the portal from overheating and exhaustion, as Hisako casually walks out and closes the portal.

Hisako: Man, you humans are pathetic. It was only five degrees in there.
Yukio: That’s enough to roast a duck.
Hamaru: Brother?
Kushiro: Sooo . . . Hot.
Hamaru: What happened to you guys?
Hisako: Apparently they can’t take the heat.
Ayano: Be a dear and fetch us some water will you honey.
Hisako: Oh don’t sweat it Hamaru, let Ayame do it.
Ayame: What?
Hisako: Remember? [swings the necklace around on her finger] You’re serving me for today, so get moving slave.
Ayame: [growls] . . . Fine.
Hisako: What was that?
Ayame: . . . Yes Ms. Hisako.
Hisako: Good, now hurry up, each second you waste makes me change my mind about our deal. [smiles]
Hamaru: Deal?
Kushiro: I’ll explain later.

After Ayame fetches everyone some water, Yukio and the other teachers decide to head back to the academy to notify Noah of their arrival. Meanwhile, Kushiro explains to Hamaru of Hisako’s deal with Ayame, as she continues to bring Hisako anything she desired.

Hamaru: That’s mean!
Kushiro: Yeah, but that necklace must be important to her.
Suzuki: Well of course, her mother gave it to her when she thought she was going to die.
Miwa: Still, you got to have standards sometimes.
Hajji: I will not stand for this. Her parents would have a heart attack if they saw her serving a demon.
Suzuki: I just hope she doesn’t degrade herself for this thing.
Miwa: Aren’t you supposed to call someone.
Kushiro: Uh, who?
Miwa: Your girlfriend nimrod.
Kushiro: Kunoichi! Quick, where’s that piece of chalk?!
Hamaru: Here brother. [hands a piece]
Kushiro: Thanks bro. I’ll be back.
Hisako: [sighs] I’m bored. There’s nothing much to do in the Reikai World. I know, let’s go shopping.
Ayame: How? You don’t have any money.
Hisako: That’s why I got this. [shows Yukio’s credit card]
Ayame: That’s Mr. Yamanaka’s!
Hisako: So? Now, to get to the Living World.
Ayame: I can’t let you do that.
Hisako: Is that so?

Hisako then takes out the necklace and conjures a small flame on her fingertip and places the jewel in the flame.

Ayame: What are you doing?!
Hisako: You know what happens to sapphires when they’re heated over sixteen hundred degrees? They tend to get darker, and darker, then they lose their value. For us, it’s a natural recipe for making a cursed necklace.
Hajji: You mustn’t do that!
Ayame: Stop that!
Hisako: But, if I’m right, the Touketsu Stone is kind of like ice, only stronger, and will break under temperatures like so. The darker it gets, the weaker it gets.
Ayame: Stop it!
Kushiro: Give me that! [snatches it]
Hisako: Hey!
Hajji: Uh.
Kushiro: Look, I’m getting tired of you torturing her like this.
Hisako: But Kushi, torturing a slave is practically normal.
Kushiro: How about we settle this right now?
Hisako: By what terms?
Kushiro: You give the necklace back to Ayame and apologize, and I will take you on a date.
Hisako: Really?!
Ayame: Kushiro.
Kushiro: Yeah, but first things first. [hands it back to Hisako]
Hisako: Okay. [sighs] I’m sorry Ayame for torturing you or anything else I’ve done to you.
Ayame: [snatches it] Give me that.
Hisako: Sheesh, you could at least put on a fake face. Now Kushi, where should we go on my birthday date?! At the beach, the movies, the mall?!
Kushiro: How about when I feel like it?
Hisako: Huh?
Kushiro: I said I will take you on a date, but I didn’t say when. Now if you would excuse, I have my real girlfriend to call.
Hisako: . . . Hey, that wasn’t very nice, . . But I like your cunningness, which makes me like you even more. [sighs]
Ayame: Kushiro. . . [whispers] That’s the second time you helped me.
Hajji: Ms. Ayame, is the fragment alright?
Ayame: Yeah, it seems fine. . .[sighs] Hajji, do you think I make a decent guardian?
Hajji: Hmm? Of course Ms. Ayame.
Ayame: Hajji, tell the truth.
Hajji: Uhhh . . . Well, maybe you need to study more about the stone. Surprisingly Hisako knows more about it than you.
Ayame: . . . Thanks Hajji, that’s just what I need. [walks away]
Hajji: Oh, I wish I didn’t said that.

Meanwhile, Yukio and the others arrive at the academy, heading to the Juuyou’s office. Soon they meet Ms. Anko, sitting at her disk working on important documents and writing down Noah’s schedule for today’s assessment.

Yukio: Ms. Anko, how are you doing?
Ms. Anko: Just fine Mr. Yamanaka. Did you all enjoy your sick day?
Dash: [chuckles] Guess you know our drill.
Yukio: Is the Juuyou here?
Ms. Anko: He’s out for the moment, but he should be back soon.
Noah: Ah, Mr. Yamanaka, Kazaku, Sochi, Moto. Nice to see you all here again.
Yukio: Juuyou sir.
[they all bow]
Noah: Oh please, there’s no need for that. So, how was Ayame’s wedding?
Dash: Priceless.
Noah: That good?
Dash: It was a certain occasion where you had to be there to understand.
Ayano: Dashu. Sir, never mind him. We would like to apologize for our misbehavior of leaving the premises.
Noah: No I understand, I would have left too, but I was so swamped with work.
Ms. Anko: Juuyou sir, you have a 11 o’clock meeting with the Special Corps leader, Nabojin Ushiba. He wants to discuss the matters of the top ten in their markings.
Noah: Nabojin huh? What joy that meeting will be. Well, guess I’ll be seeing you guys some other time. [walks off]
Yukio: Thank you Juuyou, same goes for you.
Dash: [whispers] I’m surprised we got off light this time. I love this job.
Noah: Oh, and we took away your remaining sick days guys, compliments of Zakashi.
Dash: Uh!
Hitomi: Well it was fun while it lasted.
Dash: Oh come on, that’s not fair!

Back in Tokyo, Kushiro finally arrives at the dojo, as he quickly searches for the phone. As he approaches the phone, he notices the answering machine with ten messages.

Kushiro: Only ten? Let’s hope Kunoichi isn’t one of them.

He then plays the messages, as he walks into the kitchen to fix himself something to eat. Then his actions stop when he hears Kunoichi’s voice pop up in the first message.

Kunoichi: Hi Kushiro, just calling to see if you’re back. Give me a call, k?
Kushiro: Let me just end it there.

As Kushiro turns off the answering machine, someone knocks on the door as he runs off to the living room to answer it. When he opens the door, he becomes shocked and frighten, as Kunoichi stands at the doorway with her suitcases in hand, and incredibly mad.

Kushiro: Kunoichi?!
Kunoichi: Kushiro Yamanaka! Where are you?!
Kushiro: . . . I’m right here.

Strangely Kunoichi couldn’t see Kushiro, as she walks in the house as he moves out the way.

Kunoichi: Strange, the door just opened by itself.
Kushiro: Hello? I opened the door.
Kunoichi: Where is everyone?
Kushiro: Kunoichi!

Kushiro reaches out to her, only to have his hand phase through her shoulder. He then steps back from Kunoichi, shook from his presented ordeal, questioning the situation at hand. Then, Hisako arrives, invisible to Kunoichi’s sight as she walks over to Kushiro.

Hisako: Hi Kushi.
Kushiro: Hisako, something’s wrong. My hand went through her.
Hisako: . . . Kushiro you do realize you’re dead, right?
Kushiro: Dead?! What are you talking about?! . . . Oh, but, I didn’t feel anything different.
Hisako: That’s how death is, you feel nothing.
Kushiro: But, Kunoichi.
Hisako: I’m sorry, but you brought it on yourself.
Kushiro: Mom. . . [drops to the floor]
Hisako: Kushiro.
Kushiro: What am I going to do?. . . [cries] I can’t be dead! Kunoichi, my friends, my family, I can’t! . . . I just can’t.
Hisako: . . . I’m sorry Kushiro, but you should have known better.
Kushiro: No. . . it’s okay. I just don’t know how my mom is going to deal with this.
Hisako: You want me to let Yukio know she’s here?
Kushiro: Yeah, I don’t want her to worry too much. It’s best she knows.
Hisako: [sighs; thinking] Why does it have to be like this?

Hisako quickly runs through the portal and back into the Reikai World to find Yukio. Meanwhile, Ayame and the others arrive at the training center, where they find Ryota training with Hitoshi and Ire, with Gina watching as always.

Ayame: Hi guys!
Gina: Ayame!
Hitoshi: Well I’ll be, welcome back guys.
Ryota: How do you like your new life?
Ayame: I didn’t get married.
Hitoshi: What happened?
Suzuki: Thanks to my brilliant thinking, I was able to stop the wedding and save Ayame.
Miwa: Kushiro played hero.
Ryota: Is that so.
Ayame: It’s nothing like that!
Ryota: Sure Kushiro wasn’t jealous?
Ayame: He has a girlfriend you know.
Ryota: Okay, just saying it sounded like Kushiro was jealous.
Hisako: [pulls Ayame’s cheeks] Well that’s because this little hussy had a spell on him.
Ayame: Get your hands off me!
Hisako: [backs off] Okay, my mistake.
Hitoshi: What do you want?
Hisako: You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. Keeping a secret like that from him.
Gina: Secret?
Suzuki: How did you know?
Ryota: What secret?
Ayame: . . . Kushiro challenged Emperor Kumori’s captain, and died.
Gina: [gasps]
Ire: We don‘t have much time, if he stays in the Living World he’ll attract demons.
Hisako: He’s at Yukio’s place in Tokyo with that witch Kunoichi looking for you guys.
Ayame: Kunoichi’s there?!
Miwa: You did close the portal right?
Hisako: Uh . . . What do you take me for, an idiot? [nervous chuckle]
Miwa: You moron.
Ire: If she finds that portal to here, she will face the ultimate punishment, and live here in the Reikai World as a prisoner.
Hisako: Oh relax, it’s in the back of a closet.
Ayame: So?! Let’s go back before she finds it!

Hisako then leads them back to the portal to the Living World, where Kushiro follows her around the house, searching for Yukio or any sign of life.

Kunoichi: Where is everyone? Is this the right house?
Kushiro: Kunoichi, I wish you could hear me, I’m so sorry.
Kunoichi: Here’s Kushiro’s jacket, he has to be here.

She picks the jacket up and holds it to her, embracing the remaining articles of his clothing. Then, a loud crash startles her, as she runs out to the hall and locates the noise coming from the closet. She slowly approaches the door, and grabs the handle with her quivering hand. With a deep breath, she slides the door open as Ayame and the others rain out of the closet.

Kunoichi: What are you guys doing in a closet?
Suzuki: We were playing hide and seek.
Kunoichi: And you all decided to hide in one place?
Suzuki: Duh, that makes it harder for it to find us.
Kunoichi: Okay, what’s going on here? Where’s Kushiro’s uncle?
Hitoshi: He, Hamaru, and Kushiro had to step out. They’ll be back in a while.
Kunoichi: Who are you?
Hitoshi: The name’s Hitoshi little lady.
Ryota: I’m Ryota, this is Gina, and Ire.
Kunoichi: Are you guys also students?
Ryota: Uh . . .[whispers] You didn’t tell her did you?
Ayame: Yeah, they’re new to Mr. Yamanaka’s dojo. They just came in a few days later when we got back.
Kunoichi: Oh.
Suzuki: So what are you doing here?
Kunoichi: I was worried because Kushiro didn’t call in the last four days when he left. Luckily, Mrs. Yamanaka paid my way and I was able to arrive here in Tokyo. Of course, finding the place wasn’t so easy.
Suzuki: Oooh, someone’s missing their boyfriend.
Kunoichi: [blushes] Well.
Kushiro: Where’s Yukio?
Hisako: I couldn’t find him, sorry.
Kushiro: This isn’t good, something might happen if Kunoichi finds out that I’m dead.

Then, a low voice echoes in Kushiro’s mind, getting louder with each call of his name.

Kushiro: Chaos?
Hisako: Chaos?
Chaos: [chuckles] What now boy?
Kushiro: Where are you?
Chaos: I’m talking to you deep within your subconscious.
Hisako: What about Chaos?
Kushiro: What do you want?
Chaos: You seem desperate to reunite with her.
Kushiro: I’m not desperate.
Chaos: Well don’t worry, she’ll be seeing you very soon.
Kushiro: Don’t you dare!
Chaos: What will happen is not my fault boy, those reapers will have her head if known of her living existence in the Reikai World.
Kushiro: Kunoichi.
Hisako: Where? I don’t see him.
Suzuki: Why don’t you sit with us until they get back?
Kunoichi: What about your game?
Suzuki: Oh we can play that some other time, right now we girls can socialize. Come on. [pulls Kunoichi away from the group]
Ire: What were you blabbing about?
Kushiro: Nothing, look, can you guys stall for time till I figure something out?
Hitoshi: Will do.
Ire: It’s pointless, sooner or later she’ll find out you’re dead.
Kushiro: I don’t care! Just do what you can do to hold her off!
Ryota: Okay man, leave it to us. [everyone leaves]
Ire: If I were you Kushiro, I would leave.
Kushiro: Huh?

As everyone leaves Kushiro alone with Hisako, Chaos speaks once again, but with a proposition.

Chaos: How sad.
Kushiro: Will you stop that?
Hisako: Stop what?!
Kushiro: Shut it Hisako.
Hisako: Well.
Chaos: How long do you plan on holding back the truth? It is like that Ushiba boy said, it’s pointless.
Kushiro: [frustrated] . . . He’s right.
Chaos: . . . But I can be of service.
Kushiro: Uh.
Chaos: I can breath the breathe of life into you, so you may live once again.
Kushiro: . . . You mean resurrection?
Chaos: All I need for you to do is accept this one thing from me.
Kushiro: What is that?
Chaos: Take me as your new blood.
Kushiro: New blood?
Hisako: [thinking] He’s talking to Chaos about the deal. Be careful Kushiro, your life is more important than that girl’s.
Chaos: With my power, I can bring you back to life, and she will never have to suffer from your mistake.
Kushiro: . . . As much as that sounds good, I can’t accept.
Chaos: [silent]
Kushiro: Kunoichi’s life, and my family’s, means a lot to me. I know your plan, you’re planning to use me to enter into the Living World, well tough luck.
Chaos: [chuckles] A wise choice, you’re not as dumb as I thought.
Kushiro: [growls]
Chaos: But sooner or later, you’ll need my help.
Kushiro: Fine, I didn’t need your help in the first place!
Hisako: . . . Kushiro.
Kushiro: . . . . I don’t have much of a choice.

Back in the Reikai World, Noah and the other headmasters await Nabojin, leader of the Ushiba clan to discuss business with the top ten marks. Soon he arrives, dressed in an all black ninja outfit, with his face concealed by a blank mask. He then bows as he stops at the alter of their presence.

Nabojin: Headmasters, general, I thank you for taking time from your diligent schedules to address this matter.
Zakashi: What is this matter you wanted to address?
Nabojin: Sir, it’s about mark number two on the top ten, Lord Irimaru. Our men have been closely scouting his subordinates’ activities, and have discovered in their possession, two Chaos Artifacts.
Izeka: Two?!
Airi: Are they using them?!
Nabojin: Strangely no, after acquiring these weapons, they simple took them some place else.
Zakashi: What is Irimaru planning?
Airi: Any news on where they were heading?
Nabojin: Sadly, on their travels, they spotted us and took down all my men, I was lucky enough to escape unscathed. So we have no information on their objective.
Noah: Hmm.
Ayumu: Please share with us your thoughts Mr. Akatsuka.
Noah: To be honest, I have no thoughts about this current situation.
Izeka: You don’t think they’re taking it to the tournament grounds, do you?
Noah: That could be it. It is almost that time of season to reopen the tournament grounds.
Nabojin: Also, I came across someone you might be familiar with. Bring him in!

Two guards then escort Satasuke into the chamber, as the headmasters eyes open with astonishment and disbelief.

Zakashi: Sata . . . It can’t be!
Ayumu: Who is that?
Izeka: Ayumu, what you see before you, is a soul survivor of the Uchida family.
Ayumu: [gasps] Uchida?
Satasuke: [sighs; thinking] I so didn’t want to come here in the first place.
Zakashi: Th . . . Now wait a minute! What if that isn’t Satasuke Uchida?! If he is, he should have the family’s seal on his back!
Satasuke: Sadly I never received the seal on my back, thanks to Chaos of course.
Zakashi: Ah, just as I thought.
Satasuke: But perhaps this will gain my trust from you all.

Satasuke then holds out his hand behind him, and closes his eyes, as a booming concentration of his spirit energy floods the room.

Zakashi: Amazing.
Airi: There’s your proof honey.
Satasuke: Zetsumei-gai, the Uchida family’s tsunagari, my kin‘s blood flows through me.

Back in Tokyo, Kunoichi ponders at Ire’s mask, curious if he was shy around others.

Kunoichi: What’s with the mask? Are you in theater?
Ire: [silent]
Kunoichi: Hello, I’m talking to you.
Miwa: Give it up, Ire is not the talkative type.
Kunoichi: What’s he look like?
Ryota: We’ve been with him for a year and still don’t know.
Kunoichi: Whoa, you’ve got some serious social problems.
Ire: I have no problem engaging in a social environment with others.
Kunoichi: Anyway, what do you guys learn here anyway?
Ayame: Oh you know, basic sword skills, the way of the swordsman.
Kunoichi: Can I ask why you guys chose to learn swordsmanship?
Suzuki: Because . . . . Uhhh.
Kunoichi: Hmm?
Suzuki: [whispers to Ayame] Well?
Ayame: Why me?
Miwa: We came here because swordsmanship has a basis around life itself. It strengths us to carry on in our life’s hardships and stress; the strong shall live while the weak dies. Think of the sword not as a weapon, but a tool to cut your path, into the uncharted world that is before us. For only then, will your sword guide you to true happiness.
Kunoichi: Wow, that was beautiful.
Miwa: Thanks, an old friend taught me that.
Kunoichi: It’s five o’clock, where are those guys?
Kushiro: Guys . . . You can tell her.

They all look at Kushiro, to reinsure his decision before telling her of his death. Kushiro then nods, as they prepare to tell Kunoichi the truth.

Ayame: Kunoichi, we have something to tell you about Kushiro.
Kunoichi: Huh?
Ayame: The thing is. . . Kushiro is.
Ire: Duck!

Then a blast of fire comes raging through the walls, as everyone drops to the floor to avoid being burnt. The blast of fire ends, catching the house ablaze as a group of Rikotsu appear in the flame, grinning with pleasure from their destructive power.

Kushiro: She’s okay!
Hisako: Not for long.
Kunoichi: Where did all this fire come from?!
Miwa: Rikotsu?!
Kunoichi: Rikotsu?!
Hitoshi: Why are they here?!
Ire: Apparently they’re here for Kushiro’s soul.
Kunoichi: His soul?!
Miwa: Suzuki, Gina, get Kunoichi out of here!
Kunoichi: What are Rikotsu and why are they looking for Kushiro?!
Gina: No time to explain!
Suzuki: Yeah, move it or we’re toast!

As Suzuki and Gina lead Kunoichi out of the burning building, Yukio was soon alerted by another reaper, and runs off to aid the students in peril. The group of Rikotsu strike, as Ayame summons her sword and guides her Northern Winds straight at them, ensnaring them in ice as they drop to the burning floor mixed with ice fragments.

Ayame: That will stop them.
Miwa: Not for long.

The ice begins to crack, and then a earsplitting screech screams across the burning house, piercing everyone’s ears as they cover them in an attempt to block out the sound. As Kunoichi was stunned by the high pitched screams, a support beam weakens above Kunoichi’s head, as Kushiro runs to her to push her out the way. The burning beam falls, along with debris, begins to fall, threatening to crush her underneath as Kushiro leaps forward. But in his efforts, he phases through Kunoichi, leaving her to die before his eyes. Hisako quickly reacts and controls some of the wildfire, concentrates her spirit energy, and flings it at the falling debris, destroying everything in Kunoichi’s path.

Kunoichi: . . . I thought I was going to die.
Suzuki: [gets up with Gina] Are you okay?!
Kunoichi: I’m fine!
Kushiro: Thanks Hisako.
Hisako: Kushiro, go back to the Reikai World! It’s the only way they will leave!

Then one of the Rikotsu phases through the floor and attacks Kunoichi, but Kushiro draws his sword in time and blocks its claw from reaching her.

Kushiro: I won’t let you lay a claw on her you freak! She’s too important to me!
Kunoichi: [gasps] . . . Kushiro?
Suzuki: What are we going to do?!

With all the exits impeded, it seems like all hope was lost, and they will soon burn alive in the house. Then, the flames around them turn black, and the attacks from the Rikotsu cease as a chuckle echoes around the room.

Miwa: Black flames?
Ryota: Kushiro maybe?
Ayame: No, he doesn’t have this kind of control.
Ire: Look!

The Rikotsu then gather, scared as they back away step by step, careful not to touch the blame flames.

Hitoshi: Well I’ll be, they’re scared of the flames.
Ayame: Yeah but why?

Then Kamisori lands in front of them, grinning as he stalks towards them, backing them into a corner.

Ayame: Kamisori.
Miwa: They’re . . . afraid of him.

The flames begin to cling to his body, as he transforms before them. The same enormous flame back at Sayoko’s Castle, ripping through the remains of the roof and towering over the stunned citizens and fire department of Tokyo. The Rikotsu then flee back into the Reikai World as Kamisori gives a loud roar into the heavens.

Kushiro: Kamisori stop that before you make a spectacle of yourself!

Then in a quick poof, his monstrous form disperse, and quickly returns back to normal smiling before them.

Ire: That thing transformed?
Ayame: I guess if it wasn’t for Kamisori we would have been burnt alive.
Kamisori: Ahhhhh!
Suzuki: . . . .We’re alive!!
Yukio: [step through the portal as it closes] I’m here kids! . . . [screams] WHAT HAPPNEDED TO MY HOUSE?!?!?!?
Kunoichi: Mr. Yamanaka?!
Yukio: [falls to the ground] My precious house, . . . My precious cherry blossom tree. . . My precious girls. . . . [cries]
Miwa: Glad to see you’re concerned with out health.

Then a group of firemen race to the top as they arrive at the scene of the fire.

Maharani: Uh . . . Excuse, I’m Captain Maharani of the Tokyo Fire Department. . . Is everyone okay?
Gina: Yes sir.
Maharani: What about him?
Ayame: He’s . . . going through a moment right now.
Maharani: Okay? . . . Say did any of you see some gigantic black flamed monster spout out from this sight?
Ryota: Nope.
Hitoshi: Not a thing.
Miwa: You were hallucinating.
Maharani: I . . . guess we were?
Ayame: Don’t worry, you’re just suffering from complete exhaustion or something. Maharani: Right. You take care now everyone. [leaves with the others]
Kushiro: Aren’t you going to drug them?
Miwa: We‘ll just let Noah know and he‘ll take care of it.
Kushiro: To the entire population of Tokyo?!
Ayame: Well at least some will forget.
Miwa: Better a few than none.
Kunoichi: Mr. Yamanaka.
Yukio: [looks up with teary eyes] Who are you?
Kunoichi: My name is Kunoichi, I’m Kushiro’s girlfriend.
Yukio: So what of it?
Kunoichi: Wasn’t Kushiro with you?
Yukio: Uh. . . Girls.
Kushiro: It’s okay. . . I want her to know the truth.
Yukio: . . . I understand. Kunoichi, there’s something I have to tell you, so brace yourself.
Kunoichi: I already know.
Yukio: Huh?
Kunoichi: I felt him when he was protecting me in the fire. For a few minutes I could almost see him, standing there fighting some beast to protect me. . . . He’s dead isn’t he?
Yukio: . . . Yes.
Kunoichi: . . . Is he standing behind me?
Yukio: Yeah.
Kunoichi: [turns around] Kushiro, thank you.
Kushiro: You’re not mad are you?
Yukio: He said you’re not mad at him?
Kunoichi: Well, yeah, I am upset, but knowing even through death you’re still with me. That’s all that matters to me.
Kushiro: Kunoichi, I’m sorry.
Yukio: He says he’s sorry.
Kunoichi: Kushiro it’s okay, you were probably trying to help someone, but you should be more careful.
Miwa: You’re taking this well.
Kunoichi: It’s just that . . . . . Excuse me. [walks away]
Yukio: [sighs] Now what am I going to do about my house?
Kushiro: Well you do have insurance do you?
Yukio: That’s right, oh but I don’t have a phone.
Kushiro: Well you can always use a pay phone.
Yukio: Guess so. [leaves]
Ayame: All of this is my fault.
Kushiro: Will you stop blaming yourself?
Ayame: . . . Excuse me. [walks away]
Kushiro: What is with them walking away?
Suzuki: Kushiro, you need to realize that Ayame is suffering from this.
Kushiro: But.
Suzuki: No buts mister!
Kushiro: [silent]

Everyone survives the dangerous assault of the Rikotsu, but now Kunoichi finds out that Kushiro has passed away, and finds to not trouble her at all. But, two suspicious characters, spies on them from afar on top of Tokyo Tower. One wearing a grey with white lining jacket, long open sleeves, red sleeve gloves, with belts strapped around the waist. His spiky, long, white hair with black highlights moves to the breeze, with his short sword hanging over his shoulder. Along with him was Jun, sharpening her sword with a whetstone.

???: So, this is Hiro‘s kid?
Jun: Yes, right now he’s dead, but there are no signs of Chaos resigning in his body.
???: That’s because he hasn’t accepted him as his new blood. But don’t worry, soon he will have no choice, and will be pressured to receive his power.
Jun: And you want the girl.
???: Exactly, and soon we‘ll be closer to resurrecting Chaos.