-The Beyond
'The darkness, it might consume me. Am I dead? Am I alive? My legs have gone numb, and so has my mind. Am I floating or lying down? This feeling in me, is it warmth or the cold? I can feel it, but I can not describe it. There is no light, no sound, no feeling. What distinguishes me from pure energy is erased, is this what he felt? Could I be going mad, uncontrolled, no will of my own? Or am I dead, dying, or being attacked? I would not know, and no amount of trying would see a result. Should I give up? Is there a ray of hope or is that my imagination? What do I do completely helpless like this? The feelings inside me are completely gone and with that no motivation. This world of absence has made my soul fickle and untrustworthy. Darkness, it consumes me, and with that I am neither dead nor alive. But wait, I can feel it, a slight prickling in my lower body. It is that feeling, that stinging feeling. The darkness, it does not hold me any longer. The light I can see it, the sound of air I can hear it, the ground I can feel it. The earth feels so rugged against my rough hands. I can now feel the warmth in the wind, the wind so beautiful yet an eerie hum to it. I can see, I am opening my eyes. But this is not what I expected, this was not the light that was promised, this was…darkness.'
Atoshi got up his head hung heavy as his form sat up. His eyes had shown him the world, one that he had never been to. The sky was dark, no stars and purple currents flowing around. The wind whipped around what rubble remained around him. Through smaller cavities it would give off a high pitched whistle. Standing now he looked at the large castle in front of him made of black stone. Behind him, there was a long drop, a drop to a town below full of decayed trees and the same ground he stood on. The dirt looked to be harmed, its color not a cool brown but a painful bruise color. He staggered a moment and was fully on his feet now standing up straight. "Where am I?" He asked confused. Ahead of him lay three bodies. Noticing them he quickly rushed over hoping they were still alive. He turned over the first one, it was Sartos. "What is this?" The man squinted his eyes and successfully opened them.
"At-Atoshi. I do not believe it, you…survived."
"What happened?" He asked greatly concerned for his Uncle's condition.
"I could not…do…it. He was…too…powerful." Sartos' body went limp, and slowly faded away into dust.
"Rest Uncle." Atoshi said moving onto the next person. It was Alastor, the Great Beast.
"Well…look at that. I never thought…I'd see you again."
"Alastor, what happened?" He asked direly trying to find out the cause.
"I…I saved her…for you. She is not…too badly hurt. You…should go to her."
"Just hang in there. Do not leave me." He tried to give as response but his body just gave out. He was sleeping and barely alive. Atoshi moved onto the final person who lay there.
"Hi…Atoshi. It has been…a real long time." Her voice was familiar, and her face was too.
"Yes, it has been ten years, Nomia. How did you end up like this?"
"We…fought Shinigami after…learning he had taken over Reaper's realm. I found myself…in the village below. When he came back…the three of us fought him. We stood no chance. He eliminated…us all with one…attack." Her voice was getting softer and softer. "I will…be alright. What about…the rest?" She said through deep breaths. He shook his head as he thought about Sartos.
"My Uncle, is gone. Alastor, he is still alive."
"I…I am sorry."
"Do not be. Get some rest." She nodded and rested against the ground. Atoshi turned his attention to the castle sitting on top of the floating island.
"SHINIGAMI!!!" His voice echoed over the empty expanse. Chatter below on the street rose to a clamor as several hundred people got out of their house to look up into the sky. There was large manifestation of energy at the top above the castle. It soon formed Shinigami and he looked several times more powerful. His aura was actually flowing out of him.
"Surprise surprise, my catalyst seems to make it through unharmed. I should be upset but I must say it is satisfying to see you again."
"Do not talk of me as if I am your pawn! I said we will finish it and now I have my chance."
"Poor poor boy, I am sorry to say but your time is up. Not only do I have full access to my power now but your Arlon energy is about to destroy you from within. Nothing you can do now will help a damn thing."
"That does not matter! I will use my feelings and focus them on you!" His power multiplied as he took off into the air, his wings extended. His chakrams were unhooked in mid flight as he went up against Shinigami. The sparks flew as their weapons clashed together.
"Unfortunately for you I can do more than just disruption now." He said through clenched teeth. A wave of energy swooped around Atoshi's side and sent him into the ground of the floating island. It felt as if a hand was holding him down. "You see, I told you that my power was no match for you." His gloating was short lived as the Arlon energy made Atoshi's body shine a golden orange. From this he used it to make a small crack in the middle of the stream holding him down. The crack started to claw its way all the way up the arm of the stream and straight into Shinigami. Once it hit its target there was a large explosion. The malevolent being slid to a stop in the air as the vampire took to the skies once more.
"Very good, but I still-" Shinigami was interrupted with a punch to the face that sent him downward. He once again stopped himself in the air. "So ru-" He was punched again.
"Shut the hell up and fight!" He turned his face back to his assaulter; the blood on his face was dripping down his chin.
"Fine." He readied his sword and took a swing at his opponent. The sword met with the chakrams once more. It was another case of sparks but the weapons he carried glowed the same color his body did. The sword had finally been shattered, sending a shockwave into the castle. The rubble was shot all over the island, to Atoshi's surprise Alastor had recovered enough to help Nina off the island before the structure collapsed. Taking the chance Atoshi turned berserker endlessly hitting his target. Shinigami had no choice but to dodge the attacks. First a vertical swing by both weapons, then a diagonal. Finally he wrapped up with a disruption field. It blocked Atoshi's attack long enough for him to make another attack. The aura streams were adjusted so a piercing spike was smashed into the orange aura around his chest. The spike drilled Atoshi further away until he finally stopped the power. "This, this is wrong. Why and how can you do that? Nobody ever takes a direct hit without suffering damage."
"My friends give me strength and I give them hope." Atoshi punched Shinigami straight in the face again sending him through the island breaking the magic holding it up. The rocks started to fall to the ground. Using his quick speed and agility Atoshi managed to get down to the crater Shinigami landed in. He picked him up by the collar and chucked him in the air. "DARK IMPULSE!" A shockwave of blackened energy shot upward in a dome shape. The large pieces of the island were shattered into nothing but dust, the rubble of the castle suffered much the same fate. Shini tried to block it using another aura stream. It stopped the attack in its track near the center but the rest kept going making a depression in the middle of the visible edge of the wave. He hung there for a good ten seconds before he managed to burst through the wave. Before he could react, the vampire was already attacking him again. This time the hits connected, several cuts on Shinigami's arm were visible and the pain reflected on his face. The horizontal and vertical slashes stopped as he pulled back on his right chakram and thrust it forward straight into the entity's chest. The spikes on the end of the blade dug in deep and the force of the punch rocketed him right off of them. As he launched blood sprayed in the air. Coming to a stop a good thirty meters away Shinigami was now breathing heavily and blood stained his clothing.
"Such…power. You will receive my full potential." Shinigami closed his eyes as he focused. Atoshi tried to charge at him but was stopped mid way by a wall of power. Once his enemy opened his eyes he extended his arm as if to grab a toy. The aura was shaped to his will and grabbed hold of the helpless bat. He then closed his hand and squeezed so hard his arm shook. With the conflicting auras several sparks shot out as Atoshi screamed from the pain. His body was being crushed; his bones could be heard cracking. As soon as it was no longer amusing Shinigami threw his victim to the ground laughing. "Ah ha ha ha ha! Can you take on what my true power is?" His answer was simple, bursting through the dust cloud he was in, the fast object made his strike. His objective was to run straight into the sphere of power Shinigami had around him. He made it a good few feet in before he was stopped. "Bad idea." The sphere allowed Atoshi in but gripped him like before. Inside the winds kicked up and the aura was used like thousands of tiny razor blades. His skin was being cut up, every part of him started to form wounds. Shinigami then took his still prey and began performing advanced martial arts moves in mid air. The aura once again reflected him and large bone shattering blows were made. An uppercut, then a kick to the side, followed by several small kicks straight to the chest, and finally his leg came to a rest. He raised his arms and started punching Atoshi in the face. He could not move his body and the aura started to dissipate. "Final blow, multi crusher!" Shinigami prepared himself for his technique. He began to punch his victim with thousands of punches per second. Next there was a heavy punch sending him to the earth. Extending his arms above his head, the aura shaped into thousands of hands that followed after the target. Atoshi did not even have a chance to rest after he hit the ground. A second later the hands made it to him and started to pummel him even further into a rock coffin. Half of the village below was destroyed after the attack stopped. Now with time to think Shinigami rubbed a bit of blood off of his face onto his fingers. Looking at it he smiled. "Pitiful." His smile turned into a frown as he saw the blood in his hand turn silver. "So you are still alive!" He shouted below to the dust now clearing.
"Yes…and with the power of the vampires, I shall destroy you!" The blood from below shot up into thousands of sharp tendrils. It confronted the orb Shinigami had around him. From the opposite end the hands came out and grabbed hold of the silver pillars. As they passed by they smashed through each one shattering it into thousands of tiny crystals.
"You serve no threat!" The crystals falling were then turned into a weapon. Each of them went for the sphere again in a futile attempt. They were nearly shattered into nothing as they confronted the awesome power above. Atoshi could not stand any longer and he fell to the ground.
'This is it, the darkness. It has consumed me and consumed the rest. The numbing feeling comes back, the sounds start to disappear, and the ray of light lost. I could not help anyone, and I could not help myself. My power is no match for his and no use to others. I tried my best and even that was not enough for the likes of him. Perhaps he truly is invincible. Wait, an orange glow? Arlon, you trusted me, you trusted my friends. Our power is what will defeat him and save the world. That is right; we have the ability to do this. The light at the end of the tunnel…it is a brilliant golden orange.'
"Hmm? You still have not died?" Shinigami asked seeing that Atoshi was now standing again.
"We will not let them down! You will die here SHINIGAMI!" His power was doubled, tripled, quadrupled. The Arlon energy mixed in with the blood lust technique giving the silver the same orange glow. The pillars were formed once again and went straight for his foe. Aura hands were once again en route to block the pillars. As they edged closer the curiosity welled. Finally the first hand met the first tendril. There was a bit of a struggle but the hand was shattered away. The same was true with the other hands. The next objective was breaking through the sphere. It pierced the bottom like as easy as a poker through water. The attack had found its way through and to Shinigami. The first few popped through his heart, his shoulders, his arms, and his legs. Then several more came through piercing him even more. His eyes were filled with shock and awe. The blood seeped down the crystallized blood and was soon evaporated by the glowing orange aura. "Now let me show you the one attack I learned from one of my elders." His eyes flashed and his power shot out in a shockwave. Following this wave of energy the blood started to shoot out spikes just like Kington's. The blood had had time to work through Shinigami's body and several of the spikes shot out from under his skin. His breathing became extremely unsteady and he started to choke.
"The…love. I…see…it." Not able to hold the attack out any longer Atoshi retracted the spikes letting his enemy's body hang there. He began to shake vigorously and started to scream. As he went on the scream got louder, his body started to glow. One could see his body start to shatter extra pieces of himself. The ghostly image of Derfless and Exodus bled away into nothing. His soul was next as it dissolved his body no longer could hold itself together. The light intensified as the form began to melt into the seven orbs. They spun around as if part of a great machine. Lightning bolts were tossed every which way, as the orbs started to slow. One by one they each shattered until one was left. The final one was destroyed as the circling stopped. A large explosion of energy was forced outward and the sky began to clear. The purple aura was dissipating and the blackness replaced with a blue hue. The trees below began to grow with life and there was a horizon to be seen, a mountainous one at that. Atoshi now stood in the crater as both Alastor and Nomia rushed to his aid.
"Atoshi I thought I'd never see you again, I thought I-" She was stopped before she could go any further. The white beast had grabbed hold of her. Turning around she looked for a reason why she was stopped. The only reply given was Alastor's head shaking back and forth.
"He is right…I am not bound for this world…for long." He said his body already fading away. "I always…loved you Nomia." His body then fully faded as he returned to the sunlit realm from which he first came from.
-Eternity
He faded back into the harbor where Reaper had been waiting. He had known all along he would triumph against Shinigami. "You have defeated him I assume." He paused for a moment looking at Atoshi and his wounds. "And you had a fight for the ages. I am afraid, you will not survive long and your soul will most likely not find rest here."
"I never…intended that Reaper. Take me to the exit please." The cloaked figure nodded and guided Atoshi out to the gate.
-Underworld, The Gate
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUCdBzs_XSU&feature=related"]YouTube- Darker Than Black OST - Tentai Kansoku[/ame]
It was dark out, and early in the morning. Atoshi stepped through the door quietly not waking anyone who had been waiting. They were all asleep in their sleeping bags that they were given. Atoshi walked away from the gate and to the top of one of the edges of the mountain. From it he could see of in the distance Jackal's Castle. He held his right arm close to his chest as he let the wind blow by him. "So you did it." A voice came from behind. He was shocked that someone was still awake so he quickly turned around to see who it was.
"Oh, Ados."
"You suffered some heavy damage. Looks nearly irreversible."
"It is irreversible. I lost nearly all my power, and my life."
"And you are doing the only thing that will keep your soul in this world." Ados said approaching Atoshi. He stood right next to him and looked at his right hand which clutched a sapphire colored orb. "You know it will only spark controversy again."
"Have you not learned a thing? I am no hero." He chuckled to himself a bit.
"You know, legend says these mountains glow a nice dark blue hue at night after the door was opened to the realm of Eternity." Ados mentioned as the moon came out from behind a cloud. The light from it lit up the mountains as well as the orb in Atoshi's hand.
"Can you give this to my son and Hishin? Not only will it be a priceless heirloom, but it will be my will."
"Of course my friend. I will stay here and honor your death, as any good Hymn ruler would do."
"Thank you." Atoshi said staring at the moonlight. It was not long before his skin started to turn a grey ash color. His body began to dissolve and as it did the glowing light from the mountains faded almost as if they were being pulled into the legendary vampire's orb. The wind kicked up again blowing the dust away leaving just his dark blue cloak and sapphire orb. Gathering his things up Ados prepared to meet the others at the camp.
'I did it, and the light is forever secure. The orange glow has been replaced with a peaceful blue. I can release that feeling, I can no longer see, can no longer hear, and no longer feel. Unlike the darkness, this feeling brings me joy and relaxation beyond that which I have ever felt before. This is eternity, this is what legends feel like, what they do. I may not be able to hear you anymore, I may not be able to see you anymore, and although I can't see your love it rests with me for eternity.'
