Falling Leaves 16 ??

  In the Astral Realm, Akuji begins disappearing before Sue?o as she lies on him in bed, watching the view of the giant Lavender Moon.

  "What?! I'm waking up?!" he exclaims.

  "Aw—- I was enjoying our time—-" Sue?o responds, disappointed.

  "Tch—- great, now I'm being forced back to reality—-" he sighs. "Sue?o, I'll make sure to come see you again, I hope."

  "Mi amor, please try—I'll miss you," she says, holding onto him tighter before he disappears.

  *****

  Akuji's eyes burst open, his violet pupils dilated as he sits up, instantly seeing the carnage around him.

  "What the hell happened here?" he whispers, "Where even am I?"

  Kiyoko steps back, "Shinigami—-" she mutters, "Oh no, he's awake! I have to run! I have to RUN!"

  "Reaper—-" Ikigai calls.

  Akuji stands, turning his head to her, "Oh, Ikigai—long time no see. What are you doing here?"

  Ikigai points to Sachi lying nearby, her body covered in blood and burn marks.

  "Damn, who did that to her? Really did her wrong," he scoffs, slightly annoyed.

  Clyde in the air looks down and spots Akuji standing.

  "No—-" he begins shaking as Amon inside him feels the same way. "SHE BROUGHT THE REAPER BACK?"

  "CLYDE, CHANGE OF PLANS—WE HAVE TO FIGHT HIM! MAKE SURE WE KILL HIM!" Amon commands.

  "I feel the same way! It's about time I can beat this guy's ass," Clyde responds, landing in front of Akuji.

  Akuji raises an eyebrow. "And who are you supposed to be?"

  Clyde balls his fists. "Don't act like you forgot me! I made a promise I'd kill you! That I'd kill you, Danya, and Sachi!

  Something in the Astral Realm—I told you this was coming!"

  Akuji tilts his head, then remembers, "Ohhhh, mortal!" He laughs, "What's with the new look? Kinda cool—I like the little smoky hair thing you've got going on! You're looking like a Death Spirit now!"

  "I'LL BE DAMNED BEFORE I EVER BECOME ONE OF YOUR KIND!" Clyde and Amon's voices mix.

  Akuji chuckles. "Then what the hell are you supposed to be?"

  Clyde grits his teeth. "I-I'm—"

  He can't answer the question. He knows he's not human anymore but refuses to call himself a demon.

  Akuji flicks his wrist, "Oh whatever, I don't care anymore—you took too long to answer."

  He turns to Kiyoko. "Oh, and you're here too? Perfect. Hey, you mind changing me into a better pair of clothes? You know, ones that actually suit me—-"

  "I-I—-" Kiyoko stumbles over her words, "F-fine—-" she points her finger at Akuji as a green beam hits him.

  It gives him a black cloak with golden and black robes inside.

  He examines it, feeling the material, "Not bad, but can I also get some golden earrings—the dangling kind?"

  "Uh—-" Kiyoko moans.

  "FOCUS, YOU AIRHEADED DUMBASS!" Clyde and Amon's voices mix as they roar.

  Akuji turns to them, sticking his pointer finger up. "One moment. Geez, I've never met someone so eager to die."

  Clyde's eyes twitch as Amon begins speaking in his head, "I can't stand this guy! I just can't!"

  Amon forces Clyde to lift his hand as a vortex appears in front of him.

  At the same time, Kiyoko fires another green beam at Akuji, giving him the golden earrings.

  "Gracias," he says with a soft smile to her.

  She blushes. "Oh um—- you're welcome—-"

  Akuji turns to Clyde as the vortex opens, watching him pull someone out of it.

  In that moment, Akuji's eyes widen as he sees Clyde holding Danya—bloodied, beaten, charred, and unconscious.

  "Y-ou—-" he shakes.

  Clyde and Amon both laugh in unison, "HOW'S THIS, REAPER? HOW'S THE PAIN?! SEEING THE ONE YOU LOVE IN THIS CONDITION?"

  Clyde grabs her by the neck, holding her up like a toy.

  "LOOK AT HER! FEEL MY PAIN! FEEL HER PAIN! THE PAIN OF ME LOSING THE ONE I LOVE BECAUSE OF YOU COSMIC TYRANTS! I LOST ARIEL! MY ONLY ANCHOR IN THIS FUCKED UP AFTERLIFE."

  Tears begin falling from his face.

  "ALL THE PAIN, ALL THE TORTURE, EVERYTHING YOU'VE CAUSED ME SINCE I DIED—YOU WILL PAY! YOU WILL PAY FOR IT ALL! I LOST MY HUMANITY FOR THIS! AND I WON'T LET IT GO TO WASTE!"

  Akuji remains silent as his eyes begin flowing violet, black energy radiating from him.

  He speaks, "First, I see Sachi bloody here, now you're holding Danya by the neck?"

  He walks closer to Clyde without taking his eyes off him, "Well, whoever this Ariel is, I'll make sure you die worse than she has—- you have my word,” he smirks, "Today you burn."

  Clyde assumes a battle stance with Amon's guidance from within.

  "Clyde—- I need you to put everything you've got in this fight," Amon instructs.

  Clyde nods as his fists light up red, gripping Danya's neck tighter.

  Akuji summons his scythe, preparing to charge. Clyde runs toward him when suddenly a powerful gust of wind blows him back.

  Akuji, shocked, looks back and sees Ikigai standing. "Why?"

  Ikigai scoffs. "You're not the only one with a vendetta against that creature. He hurt my sister. We can both kill him together."

  Akuji agrees, summoning a wisp in his palm as he fuses it with his scythe to turn it into a blade.

  "I can't argue with you on that. Let's chop him to pieces." He grins sadistically while summoning his dark wings, immediately chasing after Clyde.

  Ikigai still holds her gut. "Kiyoko—- take care of Sachi."

  "Yes Ma'am!" Kiyoko responds with a salute.

  Ikigai surrounds herself with silver light, charging toward Clyde.

  Clyde flies across the battlefield, digging his feet into the ground to stop his momentum.

  Akuji and Ikigai instantly appear beside him.

  "Shit!" Clyde grunts as Akuji quickly slashes an X across Clyde's chest, black goo flying out of it.

  Ikigai follows up sliding in front of Clyde and placing her palm on the wound, instantly igniting it with blue flames. Ikigai jumps back as the flames blaze out of the wound.

  "AHHHGGGG!" Clyde screams.

  Akuji appears next to the arm holding Danya, instantly cutting it off. He places Danya over his shoulder in that instant, whirling to send a kick straight to Clyde's head, sending him rolling sideways.

  Ikigai swipes her hands as chains of ice made from blood shoot from the ground, wrapping around Clyde's neck, legs, and remaining arm.

  "AUGGGGGH!" Clyde continues screaming.

  Akuji's grin widens as he summons another wisp, this time turning his blade into a hammer.

  The top is round and jagged, filled with black and purple flames radiating purple light with spikes appearing. A skull lies at the end of the handle.

  He leaps into the air and declares, "ADIOS KID!" while laughing maniacally.

  Clyde raises his head in horror as Akuji comes crashing down with his hammer.

  Akuji smashes Clyde's body under the hammer as black goo flies everywhere.

  Akuji sighs. "Well, I expected more from him—he was barking up a storm." He turns to Danya's unconscious body, rubbing her face. "At least you're safe now."

  The black goo begins moving, all pieces running toward each other to form a singular mass.

  Clyde regenerates, his eyes gleaming an intense red as his fists glow brighter with them. He blitzes toward Ikigai, throwing blows.

  "EUGH!" Ikigai grunts, trying to block the incoming attacks.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  He manages to grab her face, kneeing her in the same spot he kicked her—the gut. He throws two rapid punches to her face, sending her flying back.

  He doesn't let up as his footwork shifts from front to back. He chases down Ikigai, grabbing her by the waist mid-air and pulling her in to slam his fist into her face once more.

  Akuji instantly appears in front of Clyde, forming from purple gas as he swings his hammer. The spikes rip Clyde's head off. He extends his palm to blast the body with purple flames.

  *****

  Back at Tenko's position, he's still spinning in his cyclone, killing demons and angels back to back. He finally slows down as the flames dissipate. He drops to his knees as sweat drips from his face, huffing and gasping. He tries to stand but wobbles, using his scythe to support himself.

  He looks around at the bodies of angels and demons, "All these sacrifices were required—- please forgive me, fellow warriors of heaven."

  Suddenly a ball of purple flames passes him. He stares as it crashes into the ground.

  "Wha—" he mutters.

  "Oh, so you're still alive? Guess he wasn't wrong," Akuji's voice calls out.

  Tenko freezes in place as more sweat runs down his face.

  "No—- no—- not him—-"

  He turns around and sees Akuji, his eyes glowing violet as his hair flows back from the wind.

  Flashbacks hit Tenko from when Akuji killed him.

  "STAY BACK!" he screams, "ARE YOU JOINING THE DEMONS?!"

  He notices Danya over Akuji's shoulder.

  "LET HER GO! PLEASE!" Tenko cries, trying to pick up his scythe.

  Akuji grins. "Relax, I'm not here for you. We already settled our battle. You're a clone of me—you must know I don't pick fights I've already dueled."

  Tenko blinks in confusion. "Then what are you here for?"

  Akuji points at the burning body as black goo surrounds it.

  "Him."

  Tenko turns and watches as Clyde regenerates, "What is this monstrosity?"

  Akuji shrugs. "A mortal turned demon. I prefer calling him 'Scum of Satan.'"

  Clyde regenerates and assumes a stance, his fists glowing brighter.

  Akuji hands Danya to Tenko. "Hey, take her away from here."

  Tenko stands, holding her, "You're going to fight him by yourself?"

  Akuji scoffs. "I'm the one he wants anyway—this is my battle. I created this beast." He summons a wisp, changing his hammer back into a violet flaming blade.

  He declares with a grin, "I'm trusting you to keep Danya safe. And hey, if I don't make it out of here, you can finally take my spot like you wanted!"

  "REAPERRRR!" Clyde screeches.

  He stomps his foot down as red and black energy radiate from him. Giant black wings sprout from his back, horns begin growing on his head, his mouth starts deforming as it stretches.

  "Well—- you're sure an ugly one, aren't you?" Akuji looks on in disgust, pointing his blade at him.

  Violet flames ignite around the blade.

  "But you'll need a millennia of combat experience to even go toe-to-toe with me. So let's skip the dramatic effects."

  He speaks as glowing purple and pink streaks appear on his face and arms. His wings sprout once more as the same streaks appear on them.

  Tenko prepares to fly away, "Akuji! I made a vow to get rid of any demon that stands in my way. I should be the one to take down this beast."

  Akuji sighs. "Well, let me tell you something—you're in no position to fight this thing. Look at you, exhausted. Plus, your vow was slaying demons. This thing is an entirely different level from that. I'm fighting a pure devil right now."

  Tenko steps back, nodding. "Fine—- but—- for Danya's sake, don't die here."

  "No promises—this guy seems pretty determined to kill me," Akuji responds chuckling

  Tenko flies away as Ikigai lands next to Akuji.

  "Reaper—- I'm fighting with you."

  "Fine, fine—- at least I know you won't slow me down," Akuji replies.

  Ikigai's moon tattoo shines silver as her eyes gleam ice blue. Silver light surrounds her as grey markings appear on her left thigh and arms. The blue around her dress and head begins shining as well.

  Clyde continues screeching as the violet sky starts turning dark. A black orb appears in front of him.

  Both Ikigai and Akuji assume their stances as the orb bursts, releasing a giant black serpent that charges at them.

  Akuji jumps into the air as Ikigai uses light to teleport beside him avoiding the snake.

  Clyde looks at them while they're airborne, flapping his wings as he charges toward them.

  "REAPPERR!" Amon's voice roars this time, distorted.

  Ikigai creates a barrier of wind around both of them. As Clyde makes contact, he's instantly blown back to the ground, creating a crater. Ikigai opens a hole in the barrier as Akuji fires a blast of violet flames straight at Clyde. Ikigai adds wind to the flames, making them stronger and larger.

  "REAPERRR!" Clyde bellows, his voice mixing with Amon's as he stands from the crater.

  The blast hits him head-on as his screams continue to distort. The serpent charges toward Ikigai's barrier while Akuji turns into purple gas, instantly appearing in front of it and stabbing it in the head. He uses his feet to blast flames from his soles to propel himself, slicing through the serpent.

  As the serpent is cut in half, purple blood rains down on the corpses of the angels and demons who fought in this battle.

  The purple darkens the blood-stained ground, matching the color of the sky.

  Clyde bursts from the flames, charging at Ikigai. His fists burn red, his mouth hangs unnaturally open, his jagged teeth showing as he roars.

  And so the war in Heaven continues to wage—now a place between life and death, where the moon and a being of death fight a child of clay, taken over by damnation. The Sun dims as the crimson moon lies dormant, carried by a light never meant to exist.

  Clyde attacks while continuing to summon black orbs in the sky, summoning different hell beasts. Ikigai fires beams of pure ice, freezing them as Akuji uses fire to break them apart.

  The three clash in the sky as the squeals and screams of the beasts echo across the Colosseum.

  Clyde throws a barrage of rapid punches at Akuji while Akuji blocks and parries with his blade. He grits his teeth—Clyde's fists are as hard as the metal of his blades as they continue clashing blade against fist. Clyde's fist scrapes Akuji's robe, revealing his chest, while Akuji manages to cut some of Clyde's fingers off. Ikigai appears behind Clyde, firing a blast cyclone of blue fire at his back.

  "Damn!" Akuji grunts, turning into purple gas at the last moment as the cyclone pierces Clyde's back.

  Tenko in the distance watches the battle while holding Danya's unconscious body, "This—- this is blasphemous—- that creature—-"

  Kiyoko on the other side hides while Sachi's body lies in front of her. "Oh—- please—- someone make this stop—-" she begins weeping.

  Nari lies on the ground surrounded by demon corpses, unconscious as ripples appear in the pool of blood beneath him.

  Aoi remains unconscious in the stands, her head laid against a staircase, her body limp and twisted as blood leaks from her wounds.

  Ariel, not far from Aoi, lies dead—no longer sitting upright, her face against the limestone floors, completely burned and battered.

  Back at Tenko's position, he looks down at Danya as she begins waking up.

  She grunts, her eyes opening slowly. Her vision blurs as she looks at Tenko's face.

  "Aku—-ji—-" she whispers, "Home—-"

  Tenko cups Danya's face, "Home?"

  He remains silent as Danya's breathing becomes ragged.

  "Right—- you want to go home—- with Akuji."

  Akuji's memories flood Tenko again—a vision of Akuji performing a strange magical attack, raising his hand in the air, calling it a last ditch effort.

  "Death Parade—-" Tenko whispers.

  He floats to the stands, placing Danya down. He smiles at her as she barely opens her eyes.

  "Akuji—- where are you going?" she asks softly.

  "Akuji is going nowhere—you'll be with him shortly," Tenko replies as he turns his back, "As for me, hmph—-"

  He closes his eyes, unable to bring himself to finish what he wanted to say, "It's been a ride, Danya—-" He flaps his wings, heading into battle.

  Danya falls over on her side, "Don't leave—- don't leave me again—-"

  She reaches her arm out.

  Tenko arrives at the heart of the battle as above him, Akuji, Ikigai, and Clyde continue fighting. He looks around at the corpses of demons and angels, taking a deep breath.

  He closes his eyes as two white orbs appear beside him.

  "I always rejected doing this—- absorbing the souls of others—- but this time I have no choice," he looks at Akuji, "Ever since our battle, ever since I was resurrected, I've rejected you—everything you did.

  I tried to be the better version of you, believed I actually was. But—- this battle showed me that to survive, to save the ones you love, you have to be ruthless. You have to make sacrifices."

  Wisps begin floating out of the corpses of surrounding demons and angels.

  "You're a tyrant who contributes to evil. I was supposed to be your holy version, but I was constantly rejected by the ones who love you."

  The wisps begin being sucked into the white orbs as they combine together.

  "Today I die as Tenko! Not Akuji!" he screams.

  White aura surrounds him as the ground begins shaking. The remaining structures of the Colosseum fall apart.

  In the air, Ikigai and Akuji continue battling. Akuji slices Clyde's arm off before quickly stabbing him in the chest.

  "ARGH!" Clyde screeches, using his other arm to land a powered punch on Akuji's face.

  The heat from the punch scorches Akuji's face. He's knocked out for a second, his pupils rolling to the back of his head.

  He instantly catches himself as Ikigai fires a scythe of wind directly at Clyde, slicing him across the chest. His top and bottom halves hang on by a thread. Black goo surrounds him again.

  "BLAST HIM NOW!" Akuji commands, summoning a ball of dark energy while Ikigai summons a ball of silver light. They both fire simultaneously, blasting Clyde as smoke covers the air.

  Clyde screeches through the smoke, flailing his arms and flapping his wings.

  "That's impossible! He's not even being sent back by the impact anymore!" Ikigai exclaims.

  "Shit—-" Akuji clenches his blade, "Well—- hey, I enjoyed my time alive all these years. How about you?" he asks, rubbing the back of his head.

  "THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR GAMES, REAPER!" Ikigai protests.

  Instantly, Tenko's voice can be heard below, "AKUJI! GO TO DANYA QUICK! GET HER OUT OF HERE!" He then commands, "IKIGAI, GO SAVE SACHI NOW!"

  Both of them look down at Tenko as he prepares to fire a blast.

  "Is that—- No—-" Akuji watches in awe, "HE'S USING DEATH PARADE—WE NEED TO GO NOW!"

  Ikigai looks down. "Death what?"

  Akuji instantly turns into purple gas, transporting to Danya.

  "No! Wait!"

  Ikigai realizes what's happening. She surrounds herself with silver light, transporting to Sachi.

  In that instant, a blinding white light shines from Tenko, spreading across the entire colosseum.

  The light reaches Nari's body, engulfing him, then reaches the stands as Aoi is engulfed. Ariel's corpse is then caught in it.

  Akuji quickly grabs Danya.

  "NO!" He panics, summoning his reaper book as he tries to transport back to the Spirit World. He attempts to envision a good spot, but his focus wavers.

  Ikigai grabs Sachi as Kiyoko holds onto Sachi's dress.

  "WHAT'S GOING ON! WHY IS IT ALWAYS SOMETHING?!" Kiyoko screams.

  Silver light surrounds the three as they're instantly teleported away.

  Amon takes over Clyde's mind as the light engulfs him.

  "NO, NO!" Clyde's eyes dim as they widen. He cross his arms in X a position, hoping to block.

  "IDIOT! THIS ATTACK WILL DISINTEGRATE YOU!" Amon's voice roars.

  "WHAT? DISINTEGRATE?!" Clyde panics, "I HAVE TO GET ARIEL!"

  Amon's voice grows more aggressive and anxious, "FOOL! SUMMON A DAMN VORTEX! FORGET ABOUT HER—SHE'S DEAD!"

  Tenko's voice cuts through the air: "DEATH PARADE!"

  "GOT IT!" Akuji responds, finding a place to transport to. He holds onto Danya tightly as they both disappear into purple gas.

  A pillar of light erupts in the air, piercing the dark sky and adding to the light engulfing the colosseum.

  The sounds of screaming souls fill the area as Clyde sees faces of demons and angels launching toward him. A burning sensation hits his body as he begins screaming.

  "DAMN IT! I'LL JUST TAKE OVER!" Amon roars as Clyde's consciousness is overtaken. He starts screaming in agony, pushing himself to open a vortex.

  "SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!"

  More faces begin firing at him as his skin starts turning to ash. His screams are muffled by the screams of the souls attacking him. In the last second, a mini black vortex opens as one last soul blasts him.

  The Colosseum breaks and falls apart as the light reaches the kingdom of Konjeteri right beside it.

  The light dissipates as everything is destroyed—rubble everywhere. Not a trace of Clyde remains. All the corpses that littered the ground have turned to ash.

  Tenko lowers his hand, stumbling forward. The dark skies clear, returning to gold as sparkles rain down.

  "It's over—-I'm drained—- I can't even move—-" he mutters, dropping to his knees, "Oh well—- I did what I had to do—-" he whispers with a smile.

  His body begins glowing as white particles appear before him.

  "I just wish Danya—- could have seen me one last time—- to call me by my name—-"

  A single tear drop fell on his palm.

  "Oh—-" He looks down, "I'm disappearing, aren't I?" He laughs to himself, "Dying alone in a destroyed Colosseum—- isn't exactly the way I wanted to go—- But it'll do."

  "Who said you were alone?" a voice calls out.

  Tenko looks up as shock fills his face. A woman with a white robe and brown hair, bearing two wings, stands before him.

  "Y-you! I thought you were dead!"

  Ariel stands there with a smile, "Well, I am, silly."

  Tenko looks behind her, seeing Aoi and Nari standing there, fully healed.

  "What—-" he mutters.

  Nari huffs. "I guess I was wrong about you—you aren't just some clone of a hell beast."

  Aoi claps, giving a soft smile. "You did outstanding work protecting Heaven."

  "But—- I killed you guys in that blast! Why are you clapping for me!" Tenko cries as tears form in his eyes.

  Aoi kneels in front of him. "If it wasn't for you, we would have been dead anyway. We'd rather it be like this than have demons running around here."

  Ariel jumps in front of Tenko with a huge grin. "You aren't in this alone, big guy! You're with us—we walk into death together!"

  Tenko’s eyes widen “Together—-” he mutters.

  The corners of his lips curve upwards, he chuckles. “I’d like that..”

  He disappears into particles of white light drifting away into the blue skies.

  END