“Reawakening”
No Time Zone
“Where… Where am I? Why am I laying on the side of the street?” puzzled Yuki placing her hand on her forehead and then turning to lie on her side. She stopped and analyzed the area. She was lying on the sidewalk just outside the sushi bar. She noticed that the windows were shattered and that it was empty. The electricity had gone out and all the tables were knocked over and parts of the legs had broken off. The chairs were scattered all around the building. She also noticed people walking past her, ignoring her as if she wasn’t present. She stood up trying to catch herself from loosing balance. She felt terribly dizzy and couldn’t quite shake the feeling.
“Can’t they… See me..?” she asked in confusion. As she turned around she flinched at the sight of a tall business man talking on his cell phone walking right through her!
“Wha-What am I?” she shrieked checking herself to make sure she was still there. Her clothes had dried blood stains all around the front of her shirt. Aside from the blood stain, her clothes were clean and there wasn’t a mark on her.
“Am… I dreaming?” she asked herself.
“Hey there! I see you’re awake!” greeted a strange youthful, male voice behind her. She could feel his breath on her neck. A chill ran down her back. As she turned around she was blinded by the sight of a cute Silver-haired and blue-eyed boy. He seemed to be around her age. He wore a long black hooded shirt almost like that strange girl’s without any red. He also wore long blue jeans. His bangs were long and spiky and his black hood hid the rest of his spiked, messy hair.
“Can you….see me?” she asked clearing her throat a bit. However, the only thing that crossed her mind was….
“HELLO!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME?!”
“Yeah. I can see you fine. What? Thought I was talking to a log? Although there are no logs in a city, but oh well…” teased the boy.
“Who are you?” she asked in a gentle voice.
“Who cares what your name is?! How about seven digits and an address?!” Yuki thought to herself of course.
“Don’t get any ideas.” Said a dark toned, powerful, but feminine voice. Yuki looked around to spot the owner of the voice, but she couldn’t find her. A dark-haired girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere next to the boy. The girl’s eyes were closed and the girl’s hood covered her eyes making it hard to see her face. Yuki couldn’t help, but to think she looked familiar. Suddenly Yuki’s eyes widened and she had a flashback reminding her of that strange and mysterious girl sitting at that table.
“That’s it that’s got to be it!” Yuki thought, but this time she got a better look as the girl lifted her head revealing her bright red piercing eyes. The dark-haired girl wore her hood hiding her hair as before, but this time Yuki noticed a black curled line under each of her eyes, her black choker, and a black scythe with pointed ends in the shape of arrows. Her arms were crossed and she looked like pure evil.
“Too late for no ideas.” Yuki smirked to herself. The girl glared at Yuki as if she was hearing her thoughts. Yuki backed off a bit.
“My name is Watanabe Ichiru and this is my partner, Miya-” Ichiru introduced breaking the silence just before being interrupted.
“Midori.” The dark-haired girl interrupted.
“Yamamoto Yuki.” Yuki introduced. Yuki then felt a small weight upon her right shoulder and a tug on her ear. She looked on her shoulder to find a small girl about the size of a person’s thumb. She had short, pink curly hair covered by a fluffy white snow cap. Drooping out of the cap were a pair of long white, floppy bunny ears. The young, tiny girl’s eyes were surprisingly as stunning brown as Yuki’s. She also wore the same outfit, but had a white pair of mini wings.
“Who’s that short scary girl?” asked the small adorable girl in a mousy voice.
“Oh, her? That’s Midori-San.” Answered Yuki pointing.
“SHORT?! WHY I’LL TEAR YOU APART!! YOU LITTLE WORTHLESS CRETIN!! YOU THUMBALINA WANNABE!! WHY I’LL RIP OFF YOUR HEAD AND HANG IN SOME CRAZY HUNTING GALLERY!!” retorted Midori flailing her arms as Ichiru quickly and without ease held her back.
“Midori! Calm down!” Ichiru yelled to calm try and calm Midori.
“I’m not short…” she whined. Yuki giggled.
“No one called you short!” yelled Ichiru.
“That stupid spirit chibi did! Oh you just wait!” yelled Midori starting a mumbling rampage.
“Reapers can’t see spirit chibis when their “reapee” first dies or any newbies, Midori you know that!” yelled Ichiru.
“Well, they also can’t “see” people’s auras or spiritual pressure or even spiritual levels just by looking into their PUPILS, but I can so...HAH!” argued Midori sticking out her tongue at Ichiru.
“Pupils.” Giggled Yuki again. Midori growled at Yuki and she suddenly stopped giggling.
“If I knew what you guys were talking about I would say she has a point.” Yuki quickly added as Midori smirked.
“I think I’m already starting to like her.” Midori said in a sarcastic tone.
“Yuki! Scary!” whined the spirit chibi trying to hide behind a few strands of hair as a lady with her brown Chihuahua passed by.
“It’s okay.” Said Yuki comforting the spirit chibi and cupping it into her gentle hands.
“What’s your name?” asked Yuki.
“Ichiru.” Replied Ichiru clueless of what was going on.
“Not you!” yelled Yuki. Ichiru stepped back and stood right next to Midori.
“Who is she talking to?” he asked putting his hand in front of his mouth and whispering to Midori.
“Her spirit chibi.” She answered in a calm and casual voice.
“No name.” the spirit chibi answered.
“No name? You have to have a name! You can’t be serious. Hmm… how about I name you!…Aimi? For love!” suggested Yuki.
“Eye-me.” Aimi slowly pronounced. Midori’s eyes widened and the pupils of her eyes faded. Her eyes began to change a darker red color. A dark red aura formed around her and soon she was engulfed in her own power. Her head tilted back as her head was parallel to the sky. Her bangs lifted and gracefully flowed as her power changed the scenery. There was a bright red flash and the city they were once standing in was no longer there. The sky was scarlet and the city was now a devastated war zone. Mostly everything was completely destroyed, in ruins, or turned to ashes and the air was tainted with the scent of blood. The ground was piled and almost completely covered with deceased angels, some even found separate from their wings and their halos found broken and rusted. Plus the constant revolts made the ground very unstable. It was made easy to tell that the wings were clearly torn off indicated by multiple blood trails. Demons, imps, ex-reapers, reapers, vampires, and other creatures lay lifelessly on the ground as well. Ichiru, Yuki, and Aimi were walking, avoiding as many deceased bodies as possible.
“Where is everyone? Midori?” called Ichiru walking with Yuki.
“Who’s that?!” Ichiru yelled pointing at little Aimi.
“Who? Oh! That’s Aimi! I didn’t realize you could see her.” Answered Yuki.
“I guess the newbie thing wore off. It sometimes wears off on some people before it does on others.” Informed Ichiru. Suddenly, Aimi grew life size. She was the same size as Yuki. However, her mini white wings remained the same size.
“Where are we? It’s creepy here!” Aimi whined.
“Look!” yelled Yuki pointing at dark figures in the sky. There they spotted Midori fighting off many creatures. This clearly wasn’t the same sarcastic Midori, but a cold blooded and broken murderer fighting for her survival. This Midori wore a long black robe with no sleeves. She wore her black choker however; she also wore a shackle over it around her neck attached to a broken chain. Shackles attaching to broken chains were worn around her wrists and ankles too. She wore long black boots and her hair was jet black with no high lights. She still wore a hood over her head and her long black gloves. Her face was darkened and covered in the blood of the enemy. A group of creatures consisting of four demons, and an angel. The angel tackled her as they spiraled downward from the sky as the angel held Midori’s arms. Midori grabbed the angel’s hands and flipped the angel off herself. Midori used her broken chains to hold the angel’s wings keeping the angel from falling. Midori yanked the angel closer and then standing on its back she ripped off its wings with her force sending it spiraling to the ground. Blood oozed from the fallen angels back spurting every which way. It drenched Midori adding another thick layer on her clothes and face. The angel’s wings turned to ash and Midori continued to have that same emotionless face. One of the demons grabbed the chain of the shackled attaching to Midori’s neck choking her. Midori turned around and her eyes flashed red. The demon exploded as his blood rained on his comrades. Midori tackled a demon and as they spiraled down she pulled back her right arm while holding the blood thirsty monster with her left. She motioned her hand as if to punch him, but just before her blow pierced its chest she opened her fist and ripped through the demon’s chest clutching its heart and ripping it out. The demon fell lifelessly out of the sky and Midori arched her back and floated up still grasping the organ. She finally crushed it having the blood ooze through her fingers and then dripping downward. She straightened up and watched as one of the demons attempted to retreat where she let go of the heart. The other however, went to punch her. Midori simply disappeared and re-appeared behind her foe, her head right by its neck just so it could sense her behind it.
“I will send you to hell.” She whispered viciously right before pulling back and snapping its neck as she watched it fall. She left the last demon to run. She could care less if it got away. Yuki screamed. She was horrified along with Aimi who was sitting curled up, her head on her knees covering her face. On the other hand, Yuki just watched in terror, frozen with fear, as Midori floated in the air. Her hood blew back and you could finally see her entire face and her long hair. On the right side of her head her face was covered by long uneven bangs hanging over her eye. On the left side her face was clear of hair besides her long evenly cut bang just in front of her left ear that reached a bit farther than just shoulder length. Her long black hair was clean and it was hard to tell exactly how long considering it was flowing in the wind, but it was safe to say her hair was past her knees. Suddenly the demon that had retreated before appeared with two larger demons with high spiritual levels. You could sense the tension. One grabbed the chain attaching to Midori’s neck as the other two grabbed the chains attaching to her arms. They began pulling her towards them, but she resisted. Then a dark character looking exactly like Midori except she had silver hair appeared. She wore a black sleeveless turtle neck and a silver scarf. She also wore long black pants. She wore black boots with silver soles ending about a few inches above her ankles. This girl had pointed silver pierced ears and a silver bushy tail with black chibi wings attached to her back. This girl appeared behind the demon holding the chain attached to Midori’s neck. She ripped its head clean off; decapitating the demon watching as its body dropped as the head slowly followed the blood spiraling upward into the girl’s face. Midori gasped for air. Then she pulled on her arms as the demons were forced forward.
“Ai!” yelled Midori. Midori and Ai’s, the girl’s, eyes flashed as their pupils vanished. There was a bright red flash of light and then suddenly Ichiru, Midori, Yuki, and Aimi were standing back in the city. Midori closed her eyes and Midori’s power faded into her as she caught control. Midori re-opened her eyes and they were as bright red as before and her pupils were still there. Midori’s eyes were partially closed. She was fighting to stay conscious. It seems her power was putting a strain on her body. She looked as if she was going to faint.
“Midori?” called Ichiru taking her by the shoulders holding her up as her head dropped parallel to the ground. Ichiru lightly shook her back and forth as her body dangled and shook without resistance. Midori lifted her head slightly fighting for control. Her face was flushed and a bit paler than usual and her eyes a bit dazed.
“What?” she answered in a faint voice slowly gaining her energy.
“Are you okay? I mean you look-” asked Ichiru concerned before being interrupted.
“I’m fine.” Midori answered interrupting him.
“Midori-san, what was that place?” asked Yuki.
“You really want to know?” Midori asked standing on her own two feet and out of Ichiru’s grip and then turning her head to Yuki. Yuki nodded. Midori walked towards the sushi bar. She placed her hand against the wall and then gripping her scythe with both hands she sliced a portal into the wall. She pulled it open a little bit more and stepped in between the human world and the portal. She gestured her hand for them to enter.
“Midori-Chan, what is that?!” asked Ichiru. Yuki stepped closer and began walking towards the portal as Aimi followed.
“Ichi-kun are you coming or not?! Don’t be such a baby come on in!” Midori ribbed.
“Fine.” Ichiru answered trying to act tough to impress his new lovely feminine companions. Yuki walked into the portal followed by Aimi and Ichiru. When Ichiru, Aimi, and Yuki were no longer visible Midori turned around and closed the portal watching it seal back and vanish into the wall. All four disappeared and a rip in the sky formed. Ichiru stretched the rip and stepped out of the portal followed by Yuki, Aimi, and Midori. Midori turned around and pulled the top and bottom tears together and watched them seal themselves. They were standing in a city much like the one before although the sushi bar was clean and crowded with customers. All around the street walked creatures of all kind. They even flooded the skies. Reapers, demons, chimeras, goddesses, angels, and other creatures walking or flying amongst each other. There was no sign of a war at all.
“Mido-Chan, what does this place have to do with the flashback?” asked Ichiru.
“Well, considering you’re a newbie you wouldn’t know anything about the war. You see time can pass by in the human world and here the time can by doubled or even tripled. However, if you die here and the judgment is that you can go back to the exact time you die and you live. As you are here life goes on in the human world as if you are dead.” Explained Midori.
“But what does that have to do with here?” asked Ichiru stubbornly.
“Well, you see that was here. The war happened a few years ago. I haven’t aged much because you age slowly here and you can always change your age and your looks. You see when I died; I died when the war had started. Demons, criminals, exiles, all types of creatures were sent from Hell to wreak havoc on the world in between life and death. At the beginning angels tried to guide the creatures back to Hell, but it became difficult and soon the angels attacked each other and everyone else. It was an all out war. You couldn’t trust anyone even your friends, but some were able to fight in groups to attempt to take down the biggest threats. It became a pointless war, everyone against everyone. However, if they accomplished defeating the threat it was soon back to attacking each other. I had no training and knew very little of this world, but as the battle raged on I adapted. You had too. It was either kill or be killed again. I don’t remember how I died or much about my life before the war. I’m the only one to operate and use my power without a spirit chibi. Amaya or little Ai was taken from me after the burst of power. Everyone vanished after that. I don’t know if she is still alive or…” Midori frowned and tried to hide her fragile eyes beneath her hood.
“It’ll be okay Mido-Chan. I’m sure we’ll find her.” Comforted Ichiru being as optimistic as possible without sounding like some kind of happy freak.
“So… Why are you guys here? I mean what do you want with me? What are you guys?” Yuki asked eyeballing Midori’s scythe. Midori gave out an evil smile.
“We’re Reapers.” Answered Ichiru.
“We’re here to eat your soul and cut you up into little tiny pieces!” ribbed Midori inching closer to Yuki with her scythe.
“Midori!” yelled Ichiru noticing the fear on Yuki’s face. She grew stiff and pale.
“Oh calm down! I was just kidding. I can never have fun… It works sort of like this. When you die you’re assigned to a reaper, us, but now we have a buddy system due to the severity of the war and it is also to help us to not die here of violence. When you are assigned a role given by your reapers such as ghost, which is what you are now, us, angel, demon, imp, etc. and etc. It’s supposed to determine your status and it also helps whether you go to hell, Heaven, you pass on, or even stay here. When you die you remain the same age and the same look as you are in the human world, but when you are here in the “in between world” you can age and change your look however you please. Time isn’t a factor here. So years can pass by here and it would be only a day in the human world, but then again sometimes the time in the human world can race ahead depending on who is freezing time. Don't ask some demons do that, but if you have enough magic power you can deflect it no problem. Also time passes by in the human world and life goes on as if you were dead as you are here. If you die here you are given a final judgment by the “All mighty and powerful”. If the decision is that you may live you go back to the exact moment you died and then you live. The rule is, is that there are none and finally everyone has a spirit chibi. It is like your storage of power. Aimi will help you unlock and use your power with ease and safety. She’s also like your instructions manual on how to use it.” Explained Midori.
“So…does this mean I’m…dead?” Yuki gulped afraid of the answer. Ichiru frowned and slowly nodded his head.
“Ah. So you caught on. Very good” Teased Midori treating Yuki like some sort of child.
“Well, if everyone has a spirit chibi then why doesn’t Ichiru have one?” Yuki asked.
“I already told you. Some become visible before others.” Explained Ichiru. Yuki looked at Aimi and smiled as Aimi chased a beautiful blue mountain swallowtail butterfly.
“So, Mido-Chan, what role are we going to assign Yuki-Chan?” asked Ichiru.
“Let’s give her one thousand eyes or we could even make her an imp.” Said Midori wearing an evil grin on her face.
“I don’t want to look like a freak!” yelled Yuki terrified and then turning to Ichiru.
“We could make her an angel?” suggested Ichiru in an attempt to comfort Yuki. Yuki smiled and then blushed a little.
“Nah.” Answered Midori rejecting the idea.
“Midori! Seriously!” yelled Ichiru.
“I was.” Midori said honestly and then giving forth a fake smile. Ichiru turned to Yuki he put his hand on her chest. Yuki freaked out and slapped him as he stepped back and away from her.
“OW! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!” yelled Ichiru rubbing the side of his face.
“YOU PERV!” she shouted.
“I was checking your aura status!” explained Ichiru. Yuki blushed she felt ignorant, but then again she was. Midori stepped forward in front of Yuki. She looked deep into Yuki’s eyes. Midori’s eyes changed, but this time her pupils swirled until they were no longer visible. After a few seconds after Midori’s eyes flashed red Yuki’s eyes swirled into a darker shade of brown her pupils vanishing as well. After a minute passed Midori closed her eyes and then suddenly Yuki’s pupils faded back into place and her head dropped parallel to the ground. Midori opened her eyes and they were as normal as ever.
“That’s strange. Her aura’s different than most.” Said Midori.
“What do you mean?” asked Ichiru.
“It’s a pretty rare sight. I might have to check it on higher spiritual levels.” Said Midori stepping back. Ichiru stepped closer.
“That’ll take too long!” said Ichiru rubbing his hands against each other and placing them on Yuki’s forehead as she finally lifted her head.
“Ichiru! You know you’re bad at magic!” yelled Midori. A blinding white flash of light emitted from Ichiru’s hand and soon nothing was visible. After a few seconds the flash of light faded into a bright aura filling the silhouette of a young girl. As the city grew visible along with everything else the silhouette’s aura began to dim. It was Yuki. A bright light filled halo was floating above her head. Aimi began to glow a little and then a halo formed above her head as well.
“An angel?” said Ichiru in a slight daze of confusion. Midori smacked Ichiru in the head and you could hear the severity and the strength of the blow. She smacked him so hard he snapped out of his daze!
“Dammit Ichiru! You’re so stupid! I told you too wait!” Yelled Midori behind Ichiru. Ichiru had hunched over holding his head in agony.
“Well, what am I?” asked Yuki curiously. Midori turned around to face Yuki followed by Ichiru who let go of his head and straightened up.
“An angel right?” she asked throwing it in Midori’s face.
“Nope, angels have wings.” Answered Midori throwing it back at Yuki. Yuki frowned she looked forward to being an angel.
“She must be a mix, mutt.” Teased Midori.
“Hey!” retorted Yuki getting offended.
“The question is with what?” Ichiru added.
“I’d say by taking a quick guess and her spiritual pressure she’d be a mix between angel and goddess.” Midori informed. Yuki stuck her tongue out at Midori.
“I wouldn’t stick your tongue out at me if you plan on keeping it. I’ll rip it out.” Growled Midori. Yuki backed off making an awkward face with an expression saying “Did she really just say that to me?!”
“Wait…an angel and a goddess. I MUST BE IMPORTANT!!” Yuki exclaimed without realizing.
“New breeds. Ichi-kun, I’m saying this because her spiritual pressure is pretty clear and she’s able to holda strange amount of energy.” Explained Midori.
“Just like you huh, Mido-Chan?” asked Ichiru.
“Like? Mido-san?” said Yuki in confusion.
“Yeah, like me.” Sighed Midori. She turned around walking further down the street on the sidewalk followed by Ichiru, but Yuki stood there thinking to herself.
“Wait…I have a question!” yelled Yuki. Ichiru and Midori stopped and turned around. In the meantime Aimi was focused on greeting creatures who walked by. Yuki ran closer and suddenly Aimi stopped what she was doing and ran after Yuki. The two stopped in front of Midori and Ichiru.
“So.... when you die reapers assign you a role, right?” asked Yuki.
“Right.” Answered Ichiru.
“So, how did you guys die?” asked Yuki. Midori and Ichiru looked at each other and there was a silent moment of awkwardness.
“Car crash. Hah it’s funny our car hit an ambulance. How ironic.” Answered Ichiru. Midori kept quiet.
“Well?” asked Ichiru looking at Midori.
“I already told you. I don’t remember how I died…”Midori replied turning her head. The portal re-opened and swallowed the group sending them back to the city.
“Mido-Chan? Why did you send us back here?” asked Ichiru. Aimi froze and looked at a bunch of constantly flashing lights. | 
