Grief, Death and Pain

A/N: This was based 5 years before DMC 3, when Vergil and Dante were living together, and Vergil was in love with my OC. I imagined that Vergil's thirst for power and his constantly being upstaged by Dante made him leave with a vengeance, leaving both his love and his familly behind. Jade wasn't with them in the fight at Temen-Ni-Gru because Dante told her to stay back, and she did.
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Grief, Death and Pain
MazdaKitsune

The atmosphere of the bar was pretty quiet, not many people out that night. A group of men sat playing poker, the only noise were the taunts from the winner and the grumbles from the losers. The bartender stood cleaning a shot-glass while a woman sat drinking whiskey at the bar.

She had long black hair, slightly tanned skin and emerald green eyes. A real beauty if you looked closely at her, and someone looking out for fun, with her hair tied up in two ponytails. But theis night, Jade Castero was far from looking for fun. Already half-wasted, her bangs covered her eyes as the bottle slammed down on the bar with a loud 'thunk', louder than she meant to. Long legs taunted the men under her short black skirt, but they knew better than to mess with her.

Two Colt M1911s were strapped to her thighs, a wicked looking katana leaned against her stool. She was a partner of Dante's, lover of Vergil, and a female mercenary not to be taken lightly. She was drunk this night, but if anything happened, she would remember it tomorrow. And no one wanted to die by the hands of one of the sons of Sparda.

"Hey, Joe..." Jade's slurred voice brought the bartender out of his thoughts. "Play that song for me, will ya? That slow one on the jukebox...."

Joe cast a worried eye over her before complying, giving the jukebox a small thump before a slow song floated out.


...She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette
She broke his heart he spent his whole life tryin' to forget
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
Until the night ...

Whiskey Lullaby. Jade smiled as she leaned her forehead against the chilled bottle, letting the glass chill her flushed skin. Why was she so depressed tonight? She didn't know. But she did feel rather depressed. Was it because Vergil had gone to Hell, though he promised that he'll be back? Maybe she feared his safety. Maybe she feared that he never would return after all.

What was happiness, then? Was the happiness she felt when she was with Vergil real? Or was it just a maya, an illusion? She didn't know.

The door opened and slow footsteps approached her. She smiled again without turning. "Hey, Dante... what is it? Another hunt?"

Warm hands rested on her shoulders, sliding down to grasp her elbows gently. "Let's get home, Jade. It's getting late." The warmth of a body enveloped her, coaxing her to release the whiskey bottle. Dante's bangs shadowed his eyes as he picked up Insurga, slinging it on his back as he helped Jade stand.

"Did you know.. Insurga's real name is Hizoku?" She slurred, leaning on him for support. "I just changed the name because I thought Yamato would get jealous... that another sword that looked like it had a Japanese name..."

"I know, Jade. I know. C'mon now." Dante guided her out, throwing a grateful look at Joe before opening the door. The bartender lifted the glass he was polishing at him, giving the half-devil a look that was clearly concerned, telling him to 'look after her'.

The trip back was rather uneventful, Dante sullenly lost in his thoughts and Jade singing Whiskey Lullaby under her breath in a rather off-key tone. Once they had crossed the threshold of Devil May Cry, he let go of her, setting the weapons in their respected places before turning once again.

Jade leaned against the wall, silent now, and almost in tears. "Why..?"

"I wish I knew, Jade." Dante's arms crept around her, pulling her into him, chin resting on her head. "I wish I knew...."

"He's such an idiot," her voice broke and she began crying. "Vergil is the biggest idiot ever! I don't even know why I fell in love with him! And it hurts.... frankly, it hurts....."

"You're not the only one hurting inside..." Dante lifted her, and she saw that his clear blue eyes were totured. "I'm hurt too."

With a start, Jade realised that while she had been too busy with her sorrows, she had only added to Dante's hurt feelings with all her disappearing acts and her drinking. That's right. Dante is Vergil's twin brother. Of course he's going to hurt inside... I'm not the only one...

Worldlessly, she looked up at him, and he looked back at her before capturing her lips in a kiss.
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The next morning, Jade woke up to a pounding headache that quickly subsided when her demonic powers slowly worked it's magic. She was lying on Dante's chest, his arms wrapped reassuringly around her. What was happiness to her? Was it in her life as a Huntress? Would she even find it now that she was a half-breed? She knew that when she died, she'd still go to Hell. Devils weren't allowed in Heaven, so there was a high chance of finding Vergil again, living together in eternal damnation.

She sighed, shifting as Dante sleepily pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Last night had passed like a whirlwind, anger, hurt and desperation released in their lovemaking. It was anything but gentle, and truth be told, he was rough with her and she returned it likewise.

They both relished and reveled in the pain the other caused, using the pleasure-pain to drown out the grief of Vergil's departure.

But would she ever be happy? She didn't know....
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(5 years later)

You've heard of it, haven't you? The legend of Sparda. When I was young, my father would tell me stories about it. Long ago, in ancient times, a demon rebelled against his own kind for the sake of the human race. With his sword, he shut off the portal to the demonic world, and sealed the evil entities off from our human world. But since he was a demon himself, his powers were also trapped on the other side.

I never believed it. I thought it was just a child's fairy tale. But I discovered that this so called legend wasn't a myth at all. Sparda existed. How do I know? I met the sons of Sparda, both of them.

Though the same blood of their father flowed through their veins, the two battled each other fiercely, like arch-enemies. It seemed like they derived some sort of twisted pleasure through this brotherly fighting. But in the end, only one was left standing....

Dante fell back as Yamato stabbed through him, landing on his back with a hard thump, eyes wide and disbelieving. Vergil swept back his hair and picked up Rebellion. "Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness."

He walked away, sword scraping against the ground. Dante's fingers twitched as a vision of Jade flashed through his mind and he tried to call out to Vergil, to tell him about her. Vergil stopped, pain suddenly imbedding itself in his heart as the thought was projected at him.

Jade... Forgive me... But I need more power... I swear, I will come back for you when I've become the ruler of Hell... but for now.. stay dead.

He turned and with one swift thrust, buried Rebellion into Dante, cutting off the happy memories of his past. A warrior needed no distractions, but a cold heart.

Somewhere in the city, Jade felt her heart die.

The Sparda Legacy

A/N: Annnndddddddddd.... yeah, here it is. The idea came into my head after a little tiff I had with Vergil for sassing him. Mmmm mmm... the Sparda twins are hot... not to mention Papa Sparda as well!!!!! XD WHHHEEEE!!!!!! I LOVE CHUS, PAPA SPARDA!!!!!! XD

Sparda: ^/////^ M' lady...
Vergil: ....... >.>
Dante: GODDAMMIT!!! QUIT HOGGING MY GIRL, DAD!!!!

Jade's weapons:
Umbra- Black gun, designed for her right hand
Levis- White gun, designed for her left hand
(Both guns are Colt M1911's, a gift from Dante after her beloved Baby Eagles (Jericho 941) wore themselves out during a tiring hunt)
Insurga- A sword (japanese type. Yeah, given by Vergil???!! Nooooo!!!! Okay, he found it, she broke her sword, he threw it at her and told her to take it)
Sentis- A whip (original weapon)

And now, let the insaneness begin!!!!!!
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The Sparda Legacy
MazdaKitsune
Chapter 1- Faded Memories of a Jade

It had been years, many years since she ever saw that man with his silver hair and blue eyes that seemed to pierce through your soul though it shone with playfulness. Jade sighed, her pencil tapping quietly against the table. A blue tear-drop like stone hung between her breasts, a present from the aforementioned man. It glowed softly and sparkled when the light caught it, but she paid it no mind as she yawned, stretching slightly.

Jade was a girl of twenty that had long black hair and mysterious emerald eyes. Her skin was slightly tanned, the product of fighting in the sun. But wait, fighting? Well.... on the outside, this young woman looked like a normal, everyday girl that was harmless and could only be sitting in one place; behind a table, studying. What no one knew, was that this particular girl had a job. A dangerous job at that.

Devil/Demon hunting.

She was no odinary human. While she did play the part of a human girl and went to college, she hunted demons when the sun went down and took on cleaning jobs for people. A mercenary, one could say.

But you must be wondering by now. Why was she in the dangerous business of hunting demons?

It all started with one man....

Dante Sparda.
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Years ago, Jade used to be a normal girl, living with a normal family and leading a normal life. Then everything went wrong when demons attacked her house one day, killing both her parents and everyone she knew.

The young, plump girl with overlage green eyes sat in terror by her father's dead body, watching as her mother attempted to deflect the horrible, ugly creatures with long scythes trying to come at them. She didn't know what her mother was doing, maybe she was trying to put out the fire that raged around them as well, by splashing water at both the monsters and the flames.

A shadowy mist rose up behind the woman, and the child tried to call out, tried to scream a warning, but all she could do was sit there, watching with a kind of horrified fascination as the long, wicked curve of the blade rose and fell in a smooth, graceful manner, cutting through her mother's body, which twisted and fell, as if caught in some macabre dance. The blood reached her legs and the edge of her tattered nightdress, yet the child just sat quietly by, either too afraid to move, or too bewildered to understand what was going on. Death, as she now called the monsters, remembering a picture she had seen in a picture Bible, loomed closer to her, their scythes gleaming in the dancing flames.

Then he came.

Bursting through the flames in dramactic bravado, the silver-haired stranger let off a series of gunshots, which to the girl sounded like thunder, dispelling the Death monsters into dust. His boots clicked on the wooden floor as he walked closer and kneeled to inspect the bodies. "Shit... looks like I came too late.... Nothing can be done for these people now..." he muttered, running a gloved hand through his hair. He lifted his head, and his gaze fell upon the young child, who had her hands over her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. "Hold on a second there.... you're still alive, kid?!"

She opened her eyes to a face full of disbelief and blue eyes that shone with warmth. Gazing at this stranger for a while, she finally decided that she liked him and nodded. "Great. Then we'll have to get you somewhere safe. C' mon now." He picked her up and nestled her in his arms as he made his way through the fire, using his red coat as a shield.

The girl turned back to her parents. "What about mama and papa? Aren't they coming too?"

The man paused. "Sorry, kiddo. I can't do anything for them. They'll have to stay."

She seemed to understand what he was saying. "Are you an angel, then? Mama always said angels had fair hair and blue eyes. You look like one I saw in my picture Bible."

"An angel, huh?" A painful look passed across her rescuer's face. "I wish I was one, kid. I really wish I was..." Without giving her time to say anything else, he forged a way through the flames and soon emerged into the cool night air. There, in the street, he got a chance to study his little friend's face. Her hair was in two pigtails, and a double chin stuck out from a plump face. But her green eyes shone clear and innocent, her dirty face bearing no streaks of tears whatsoever. "No tears. You didn't cry, even when faced with those Death Scythes," he said in wonder. "You're a spunky one, kid. I admit, you have guts for one so young. Well, you'll have to come home with me before I find you a new home. I wonder if Nina wants you..." The man started walking away.

For the rest of the night, she slept next to her angel in his home. The next day, he cleaned her up, offered her strawberry sundae sheepishly for breakfast, and brought her to see a woman in a cafe. The girl sat eating a strawberry cheese-cake, swinging her legs back and forth as he talked to the woman. "Remember how you said you always wanted a daughter or a son to take over from you? Well, I have a kid I rescued from a demon attack yesterday, Nina. Her whole familly was killed, but she held strong. She's got spunk."

Nina ran an eye over the child, expression softening. "Her familly was killed you say? Poor thing.... it came out in the papers this morning. The house was burnt down to the ground... little Jade here was presumed dead as well. She doesn't seem too traumatized though, Dante."

"I told you, she's got spunk. She just sat there and watched those Death Scythes kill her parents, then watched me get rid of those pests before calling me an angel." Dante seemed to grin at that. "And she didn't even cry nor get any nightmares last night. She may be young, but she's got the spirit of a possible hunter."

"Angel, huh?" Nina smirked. "I'll take her under my wing, Dante. It's only me and the big mansion and I'm lonely. Let me go clear things up with the police, then I'll legally adopt her as my daughter."

"Alright, then. Thanks, babe." "No problem. I've always wanted a kid at home." Nina stood and held out her hand to Jade. "C'mon, child. It's a long way back home and I want to get there in time for lunch."

Jade looked at Dante and after a nod, slid off her stool and took Nina's hand. "Home?" Nina smiled. "Yeah. Your new home. And I'm your new mom." She regarded Nina with childish seriousness before nodding. "Mom."

Jade grew up as Jade Castero after Nina adopted her, and she never saw Dante, her angel again. Though she did meet him again when she was sixteen, she didn't remember him as her angel or her rescuer until he mentioned it.
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"Jade Castero!"

The girl shot up straight in her seat as her lecturer called her name. "Yes, sir?"

He frowned slightly at her and she cringed, knowing full well that she had been dreaming again. "What are the advantages of employers adhering to the company ethics? Give me one example."

It only took her a moment to think before answering. "The employers gain the loyalty of the employees, who in result will stay with the company and produce a lower labour turnover."

The lecturer's face broke into a smile. "Good answer. And so class, we see that........."

Jade gave a sigh. They could throw any question at her, but she always made sure she read her notes beforehand to answer their questions.
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Demons. There were always demons trailing her for some reason. Jade scowled as she lashed out with her whip, Sentis. It was Latin for thorn, and could cut through the demons that surrounded her, leaving dust in it's wake. "Dammit, dammit.... leave me alone, you jerks!" More Death Scythes lunged at her and she bit down on the handle of her whip, whipping out two Baby Eagles, Jericho 941s, that she had bought out of her own money. Lifting the guns to eye level, she released the safety.

"Eat metal, uglies."

Dinner With Her

A/N: Um... another ByakuyaXRyorin pairing. Don't ask why, but the idea of Bya having a rather.... violent wife is..... *giggles* cute. ^^
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Sounds of fighting came from the Eleventh Division's yard, and Ikkaku's voice echoed around the confines, yelling at the unseated Shinigami that he was training. "Hora, hora, hora!! Get up and fight, ya wimps! It ain't time t' rest yet!"

"Wimps don' make it in here, geddit?! So up on yer feet and fight me!"

The rough female voice made Byakuya falter in his steps as his head involutarily turned towards the source of the voice. Ryorin stood in a ring of groaning Shinigami, one hand on her hip with a boken on her shoulder, looking both eager and irritated. Ikkaku was yelling again, waving his boken at them. All of the trainees had wounded looks, almost as if Ryorin had beaten out their prides with her boken.... which she probably did.

Byakuya turned his whole body to face her, deciding to talk to her for a while. He hadn't spoken to her even after she had left the 4th Division, though he knew unleashing his shikai on her had caused Zaraki's rage to blow up. Walking towards them, his silent footfalls naking no sound, he took a deep breath.

"Kamaitachi-san. May I have a word?"

Ryorin turned, and her eyebrows rose in surprise. Sending a glare back at the trainees, she thumped her boken on the ground. "What are you guys starin' at?! BACK T' WORK!" Her roar was enough to send them scrambling to their feet, and Ikkaku, ever eager for a fight, eargerly took her place. Byakuya almost smiled. While having such a small and seemingly fragile frame, this young woman was formidable, and could project her voice in a roar similar to Zaraki's to control her subordinates. He hid the small twitching of his lips when she approached him to pull him to a shaded area under a tree, well away from the sparring that was going on, though. Ryorin's emerald eyes glowed with vibrant health and energy, though she had just had an intensive sparring session.

"I see you're all healed, Kamaitachi-san. But shouldn't you be resting instead of sparing so vigourously?"

"Nothing I can't handle, Kuchiki-taichou." Ryorin flashed him a grin. "Besides, I went easy on those guys."

Byakuya nodded. "About last time...."

"No need to apologize." She chuckled. "I went into shikai first, so it's only fair that you release yours. I've felt pain worse than that, don't worry about it. Demo.... I should apologize for Taichou going after you in the 4th Division." Her head lowered as she sighed. "It wasn't your fault after all... It was me who wanted a sparring."

He shook his head slightly. "No. Don't apologize. It was bound to happen. I shouldn't have unleashed shikai on you. If anything, I would like to apologize for hurting you badly and making you end up unconsious in the 4th Division. Is there... anything I can do to compensate?"

Ryorin had opened her mouth to protest, but she closed it slowly at thought for a while. "How about.... coming over to my quarters for dinner tonight? If you want to apologize, Kuchiki-taichou, you can do it by gracing me with your presence over dinner."

Byakuya's eyes widened in surprise, then he nodded. "So be it. And... another thing, Kamaitachi-san."

"Nani?"

"In doing so, you must allow me to address you as Ryorin. You may address me simply as Byakuya as well, but only in private."

"Ehhh...." A blush crept up Ryorin's neck, and she nodded shyly before abruptly turning and running over to the fight, hollering at Ikkaku long enough to get him to pause before she promptly threw herself into the dust, her two ponytails swishing about her shoulders. Byakuya allowed a small smile to briefly flash across his lips before his cold mask settled on again, and he left the vicinity of the 11th's training grounds.
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6pm sharp. The quarters of the seated Shinigami were the size of a small house, and private, unlike the barracks that the other Shinigami shared. It was one of the things Ryorin was thankful for, being a girl. It wasn't as if she couldn't live with the other men, but she needed privacy... especially when she was always stricken with "illness" each month that required her to run to the ladies every two hours or so.

Thankfully, Unohana and Zaraki always gave her leave on those days.

She was still cooking when there was a quiet knock on the door, and she gasped, scurrying to open it. Byakuya stood before her, wearing a dark blue yukata and carrying a bottle of sake in the crook of an arm. "Kuchiki-taichou! You're early!"

"I take it that I wasn't expected till much later?" Byakuya's smooth baritone carried a hint of amusement in it.

"No, not for another another." Ryorin opened the door wider and let him in. "Come in."

Byakuya slipped out of his sandals and took a step into the quarters, casting his eye about. To his surprise, it was neat for someone so active and rough. Ryorin herself had her hair up into a ponytail, and was wearing a white camisole and shorts, something of her purchase in the Living World, no doubt. The rumours about her addiction to the Living World was true after all.

"Surprised?" Ryorin came back out of the kitchen with a tray, bearing two cups and a pot of tea. "I've been living in Ichigo's world for so long, it doesn't seem right without having some stuff to remind me of it here."

"Iie. I'm mostly surprised by the... neatness of your home." Byakuya watched as she poured out the tea for him with skill. "Compared to others... Yumichika included, I'd say that yours is the neatest I've ever seen before."

"I AM a girl, Kuchiki-taichou," Ryorin reprimanded teasingly as she offered the cup to him. Music was coming from her computer, the type that Ichigo and his friends listened to often, and the type that Rukia enjoyed nowadays. The girl winced and got up, fiddling around with the contraption before the rock music turned into soft piano.

Moonlight Sonata

A/N: Moonlight Sonata. Composed by Beethoven. First movement: Adiago Sostenuto. Play it to your heart's content, till you fall asleep.
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She sat playing at the piano, the whole room dark except for the moonlight coming in through the window, illuminating both the Grand Piano and it's player. A bitter smile was on her lips, her long black hair falling down her face in a curtain. Her simple white gown was dotted with blood, the same crimson trail running down her fingers to mar the pristine white keys of the piano. Dull emerald eyes closed, then opened again in a half-hearted effort to stay awake, as if a part of her told her to cling so desprately to life, even if she didn't want it. But she still played the song, over and over again, on autopilot.

The Moonlight Sonata.
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His presence filled the room as he appeared in the room with her in a ghostly presence, a chill ran through the air, followed by the room having a small breeze of cherry blossom petals as they flowed to her from behind, making his presnce known to her silently. She stiffened slightly because of the chill, but she made no acknowledegement of his presence, and kept on playing, playing to her heart's content.

Inwardly, he frowned, but kept his expression neutral, instead raising his spiritual pressure to catch her attention, slightly irritated at being ignored. The air around her got heavier, the Sakura petals that swirled around her leaving small scratches on the mahogany wood of the glossy Grand Piano.

Still, she didn't face him, and he wondered if he should treat her likewise, and silently take her, but she suddenly spoke.

"It's my birthday today."

"You don't say... Happy Birthday, then." He softly spoke in a calm tone as he walked around the piano to face her.

"Arigatou.. you know.. I just turned eighteen today..." The young girl looked up at him with tired, lifeless eyes, but a smile twitched the corners of her lips. "It's ironic, isn't it? You, who I've been chasing after, coming to me on my birthday."

He wasn't surprised that she knew him. After all, he had been watching her, waiting for her, waiting for the perfect moment where she would finally travel over to his world one day. She intrigued him, fascinated him, for he had never seen a human so eager to court Death, calling for him patiently without giving up in the past years. "Why do you wish.. for Death?" He slowly stepped up to her, his silver-grey eyes calm, betraying no emotion as he gazes into her faded emerald irises, gently placing a hand on the side of her face.

The girl shuddered slightly at his cold touch, and her bloodied fingers stopped moving, silence reigning in the room. "Because life is so full of despair. I... I want something that cannot be found in Life, something only Death can offer me." She raised a hand, her fingers, bleeding after playing for hours on end, leaving imprints of blood on his ivory skin.

"I see..." His eyes focused on hers as he gently caressed the side of her face. "Would you die without regret?"

"No regrets... I have no regrets... I just want to leave this world, which is so full of despair, behind..." Her eyes flicked between his and the empty bottle of pills on the floor. "I saw you.. Death... I saw you, a long time ago at my grandmother's funeral, and at the pool where my friend drowned. I could never forget how you looked like... pale ivory skin, long black hair... I wished I could see you one more time, to end all my depression, my suffering."

Death said nothing, but the piano began to play on it's own, the soft strains of Moonlight Sonata rising from the unmoving keys as he raised her into his arms, holding her closely to him. It was almost time now.

The girl sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder, suddenly feeling weariness creep upon her lithe form. "What will happen after this?"

He kept her in his embrace, closing his eyes, pulling a withered lily out of nowhere and placing it in her hair. "Do you... tuly wish for death?" The funeral flower fitted her, a flora mourning a girl that was alive yet dead.

She gave him a laugh, liliting and bitter. "Death is holding me in his arms even now." She sucked in a shaky rattling breath. "Tell me your name, Death."

"My name.. is Byakuya." Death leaned down in a mocking gesture of a dance move, gazing into her eyes as his lips lightly brushed against hers, sending a deadly chill throughout her body. "and what is your name, little dead girl walking?"

"Risa..." she murmured. Yes, she was a little dead girl walking. She had been that, for the past four years. She could feel her body shutting down even now, the unbearable tiredness creeping into her voice and making it soft. "Tell me... what will happen to me after this?"

"You will depart from this world... And find peace in my kingdom, the Soul Society." Byakuya closed his eyes, keeping her pressed against him as he straightened, almost overwhelmed by the sweet smell of a one who was nearing her last breath.

"Will I be with you?" Risa murmured, already drifting away with the soothing melody of her favourite song.

"You will." Oh, he was so close now...

She closed her eyes, smiling bitterly as the lily dropped from her hair, shattering into pieces of glass at their feet. "I feel so tired, Byakuya-sama.... just so tired...."

Triumph sang in both their veins as he tilted her head up with a finger, his icy touch and breath ghosting over her skin. He knew this was her final cry to him, a final cry for her death and to be at peace. But still he teased her, wanting to savour this sweet last moment. "Shall I help you to rest.... for now?"

"Please..." She opened her eyes and looked up at him, and he inwardly smiled. "Make me your Queen."

"And so you shall be." He held her closely as he gazed into her eyes, and devoured her soul, sucking out her last breath with a Kiss of Death, ending her mortal life in a kiss of cold, fiery passion.

Her very last breath left her in a silent gasp, stolen by him, and she couldn't reply, eyes lifeless and unseeing, her body cold and unmoving, already dead.

Her heart had stopped beating, and the little dead girl walked no more, truly in Death's clutches now.

Death turned and walked away, holding her body gently against him as he disappeared in a flurry of Sakura petals and cold wind.

And Risa ceased to exist.
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The room slowly fell silent as the piano played itself out, the moon's soft rays falling on the still body of a young girl that had died on her birthday to her favourite song. At her feet lay eighteen withered flowers.

Lilies, a sign of mourning.
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Byakuya kept her in his arms, even after he had laid her down to rest on his bed, watching the time as it went by. And why not, when he now had her and they had all the time in the world to wait? From now on, she was his and would only be his. "You are mine, my white Queen, for all eternity, and I will be your Black King."

Risa's emerald eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him, a spark of life in her irises. "Will I always be with you?"

He nodded slightly and kissed her forehead, spreading a comforting iciness throughout her body, marking her as his.

She gave him an empty smile as her eyes slid shut again, and his rose to play the piano. "Thank you... Death."

Moonlight Sonata rose in the air again.

Warmth of a Phoenix

A/N: I redid Chapter 2 cause the other one was crappy. Jeez... sorry for the totally long update, but I had some issues that were not easily solved.... Would a hug from Byakuya compensate?

Byakuya: ......... -_-"'............
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Warmth of a Phoenix
Chapter 2- Akamatsu Arisa
MazdaKitsune

She burns as bright as the sun
And she falls darker than night
She shines as light as these days
And she fades faster than time
Phoenix in flames
~Phoenix in flames~
~Converge~___________________________________________________________________

The first thing he saw was the flames.

The next thing he heard was the screams of the people in the building.

A fire had broken out in the neighbourhood, in one of the hotels in the area. People were pushing each other, trampling on those that had fallen in their haste to escape the burning inferno instead of moving orderly.

Byakuya only watched emotionlessly at the Living beings that rushed all around him, jostling each other uncerimonously, without any sign of order. Uncivillized... he thought absently to himself. In Sereitei, if such a thing happened even at the Academy, the students know better than to panic and run about screaming like this. They would've organized themselves into orderly lines and walked out without a fuss. There wouldn't be chaos as for something as petty as a fire. Now where was I...?

Obvlious to the raging fire about him, he continued walking on, wondering if Mayuri had purposely given him the wrong coordinates out of spite. But Ukitake had been watching and opening the Gate as the 12th Division's Captain prattled on about 'taking extra care when handling her' and other nonsense, and certainly Ukitake of all people wouldn't have a grudge against him.

To exit the Gate in the middle of a raging fire. Incredible... Byakuya pulled out his cell phone to double check his location, and found his coordinates matching those prepared for him by Yamamoto.
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(Flashback) "There was a flaw in Kurotsuchi-taichou's gigai. One that he failed to see when he created it," Yamamoto explained, leaning on Ryuujin Jakka as he spoke. "He wanted to create a rieatsu-absorbing gigai, much like the one Kisuke Urahara used on your sister, Kuchiki Rukia. I believe the man even took some samples on the gigai before we had it destroyed in order to create his version of it. Apparently, Akamatsu Arisa was assinged for patrol duty in Karakura at that time, and he sent me a request, asking if he could test his gigai out on her. Akamatsu-san initially refused at first, but after some persuading by Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou, she reluctantly agreed to help him try it out." "Unfourtunately, it absorbed too much of her rieatsu, trapping her in the Living World. Things were going rather smoothly, but Akamatsu-san sent back a report saying that she was unable to open the Gate to Soul Society in her Shinigami form. Therefore, I have to send someone to open the Gate and escort her back." "Such a task can be assigned to an unranked Shinigami," Byakuya reasoned. "Why should a captain be bothered by this?" "This was Kurotsuchi-taichou's request. He requested that a captain be given the task, because according to him, he didn't want his, I quote, 'precious gigai to be hurt.'" Yaamoto's look was slightly apologetic. Slightly. "I could only think of you, Kuchiki-taichou, because you are one that will give me the least problems. Besides, it would help in the bonding between the Akamatsu Clan and yours." Byakuya resisted the urge to sigh. Of course the General-Captain would choose him. His effiency and capability of completing a task with minor problems, no matter how menial would've already selected him as the best candidate to... retrieve Kurotsuchi Mayuri's gigai. His eyesbrows creased. Akamatsu. Akamatsu Arisa. Was fate trying to play some kind of twisted game with him? First, he had an audience with the Head of the Akamatsu Clan, and now... he had a task to escort one of their members back to Soul Society? She had to be a noble, no doubt. Her name gave that away. "Yamamoto-soutaichou. May I please have some details about Akamatsu-san's appearance?" Yamamoto looked at him strangely for a while, as if contemplating, a silent question on his face. 'Do you not remember her?' he seemed to ask, but when he opened his motuh to speak, he said, "She will know how you look like, Kuchiki Byakuya. You need not have to worry. Dismissed" Byakuya frowned openly at this as he turned. Had Yamamoto and Akamatsu Hachiro planned something behind his back, setting him up on this mission? There was definitely something suspicious here.... (End of Flashback)
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Suspicious indeed... Byakuya felt like snorting dersively. The Elders of the different Clans were close to Yamamoto, so it wasn't a surprise that the Head of that degraded Clan would have met him right before arriving for his audience with Byakuya.

/There is no time to think about this, little one.../Senbonsakura's gentle voice chided him. /Focus on the task ahead.../

Byakuya resisted the urge to roll his eyes when he heard Senbonsakura's words. The zanpakutoh had not given up the habit of calling him 'little one' though he was in his twenties right now, about 200 years old by Shinigami standards. True, he had obtained his zanpakutoh at the tender age of 10, but-

"Ah!"

A woman gave a surprised cry as she ran headlong into him, almost causing him to drop his cell-phone. Byakuya stumbled back with her in his arms, and hurriedly let go of her, straightening as he stowed his phone back into his uniform, giving her a glare. To his surprise, her eyes immedieately met his, shining with unspoken apology for stumbling into him. You can see me...? He wanted to ask, and implusively reached out a hand to her, but the woman's eyes shifted to a female teenager about 17 who had fallen beside him, bending down to help her up.

"You'll be alright," the woman murmured as she helped the girl up and pushed her into the arms of a man, presumably her boyfriend. "Keep going and don't look at the flames."

As the man thanked her and rushed away, Byakuya turned, dismissing the earlier incident as coincedence. There was no way she was looking at me. I must've been mistaken...

"Kuchiki-taichou...?"

The woman's soft voice caused the noble to whirl around in shock. She was standing clamly there, looking at him, and by the look on her face, it was clear that she was apologizing for bumping into him. After all.... she was looking straight... at him.

She was almost his height, slender in build, with slightly narrow emerald eyes and long, black hair held loosely in a topknot ponytail. There was an aura of thoughtfulness about her, showing in her features. Getting over his inital shock, Byakuya cleared his throat and nodded at her. "Akamatsu Arisa, I presume?"

Her face broke into a smile of relief. "Yes. Gomen, Kuchiki-taichou.. for not greeting you earlier because I was helping that girl.. and forgive me for stumbling into you."

"Apology accepted," Byakuya said curtly. "It surprises me that I didn't sense your rieatsu, though, Akamatsu-san."

"Not didn't.. couldn't is more like it," Risa corrected. "The gigai's power is a bit too potent, eating up most of my power. If I didn't send a message to Yamamoto-soutaichou, I would've been rendered a normal human whithin a day."

"Sou ka.... I see it now.." Byakuya murmured as he unsheathed Senbonsakura and opened the Gate to Soul Society, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Clearly she was of noble upbringing. He could see it in her posture, the proud way in which she held herself and the quiet air about her that most noble ladies had. "After you, Akamatsu-san."

"Arigatou, Kuchiki-taichou." Risa was about to step in as two Jigoku Chou fluttered out of the shoji-like doors, but froze when a male voice called out to her.

"Risa!" A male voice shouted and a man burst into the burning area, his long ebony hair falling about his face. "Risa!! Come on!! You'll die if you don't move!!"

She paused in her steps, biting her lower lip slightly as she turned around. "I apologize, Kuchiki-taichou... I had forgotten about.... a minor problem."

Byakuya nodded. "Do not take long." He vanished into the Gate.

"Risa!!" The man yelled again, frustration and fear evident in his voice. "Are you mad?! You'll die if you stay any longer!!"

Risa composed herself and turned calmly, one hand moving behind her back. "I'm sorry, Leon.... but I can't..." A wistful but slightly fond smile lifted the corner of her lips. "How can I leave, when I'm about to go home?"

From whithin the Gate,Byakuya watched as she discreetly made a motion with her hand, and the flames in front of her grew higher, causing the ceiling to collaspe, effectively blocking her from Leon's view, noting the uncanny way in which she controlled the fire. So... she wasn't really in danger from the fire after all. "Akamatsu-san."

"Hai?" She looked inquiringly at him as she turned back to join him.

"Strangely, the fire obeys you. When you made that gesture, it was more of a controlling motion than just a simple move of a hand. You've had this ability, I suppose?"

"Yes." A small smile found it's way to her lips as she stepped through the Gate. "My zanpakutoh, Houkatori (Firebird), has the element of fire, therefore I have the ability to control this particular element as well. It's the same way Hitsugaya-taichou can effect the temprature wih Hoyrinmaru... Houkatori allows me to control heat however I like it."

A pyrokinetic. Byakuya was starting to become rather curious about her. As the shoji doors closed, Leon's howl of despair reached their ears and a look of regret flitted across Risa's face. "Sakurai Leon.. Gomen ne.."

"I take it that your stay in Karakura got you... attached to him?" Byakuya stated mildly.

"Iie. I simply regret allowing Sakurai Leon to get too close to me," Risa replied softly. "He got to know me when I took a job at this hotel, working as a secetary. I had noticed the signs of him having a.. 'crush' on me, as the humans would put it, but I regret not doing anything to stop it in time. My heart, still belongs to Soul Society and it's occupants."

She gave him a smile and quickened her pace so that he was staring at her back and hair, which swished gently from side to side with each step she took. Intriguing... this Akamatsu Arisa, he thought. What do you think, Sen?

/What I'm thinking... is that my young charge is curious about her and wants to get to know her more./ Senbonsakura's tinkling laughter rang at the back of his mind with a gust of pink sakura petals as the zanpakutoh teased him.

Stop that. Irritation rippled through Byakuya's reiatsu, effectively stopping Sebonsakura's laughter, but still.. the young noble could not help but remember the first time he had met Risa's eyes. Those emerald eyes.... held a thousand and one mysteries to him that made him want to explore it.

/In due time.../Senbonsakura purred lightly. /All in due time.. Byakuya-bo../

Bruised Hearts

A dead silence hung over the room. Saber's eyes were wide, Archer's mouth was set into a grim line, but they both didn't say anything as they simply stood there, unwilling to believe that someone as strong as Gilgamesh was gone. Sure, the King of Heroes hadn't been particularly nice to them, but he was still nice when he wanted to be. He was Lancer's best friend, and speaking of Cu' Chulainn...

Lancer burst through the door, startling Rider, who was silently lounging near it. The blue haired man was breathing erraticly, eyes wide and almost hysterical-like. His next movements were so quick, no one realised what he was about to do next. "GAE BOLG!!!"

"LANCER!" Rider countered Gae Bolg with her stakes, wrapping the chain around his spear and pulling it tight so he couldn't move them. "Stop it, Lancer! You can't do anything now! He's gone! Gilgamesh's gone!"

"Let me go!" Lancer turned furious eyes on her. "Let me go right now, Medusa! Or I'll kill you, you Gorgon!"

"I'd like to see you try, Cu'Chulainn," Rider said quietly. "You would kill the innocent Gorgon now that the King is dead, Hound? He's in a better place! He's gone to where all deceased Servants go to! It's not the last time you'll see him!"

"You..." Lancer tried to pull his weapon back. "Damn you, Rider!"

Tears were stinging Saber's eyes as she watched Rider stop Lancer from trying to attack Gilgamesh's dead body. "Lancer..." Archer silently looped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

Lancer growled and finally dropped his spear, turning to rush at Gilgamesh's dead body. "GILGAMESH, YOU BASTARD!!! WAKE UP!!! YOU'RE NOT DEAD YET!! I KNOW THAT!!!"

"STOP IT! HE'S GONE!" As usual, Rider's agility was stunning as she appeared in front of him and threw her arms around him, holding him back from Gilgamesh. Lancer trashed. "HE'S NOT DEAD!! HE'S JUST SLEEPING! CAN'T YOU SEE?!"

Rider shook her head. "It's time... He's gone, Lancer. Accept it." Almost in time with her words, Gilgamesh began to dissolve into golden particles that drifted up into the air and vanished.

"GILGAMESH!!!" Lancer gave one last anguished howl before he was overwhelmed and he collasped into Rider's arms, weeping. the purple-haired Servant comfored him the best she could, a sad expression on her blindfolded face.
-----------------

Rider was out alone that night, leaping around Fuyuki City just to feel the wind in her hair, her boots making no noise as she landed on the roofs of the various buildings there. Just as she was about to turn and return home to Sakura, a voice stopped her. "Rider..."

"Lancer..." She straightened and saw the blue-haired man sitting alone on the edge of a taller building near her. Lancer looked down at her wearily. "Could you... stay a while with me? I never mentioned it before, but I like watching you while you're leaping about..."

Rider was silent for a while, but she joined him on his roof, sitting next to him, her legs hanging off the side. For a while, they made no sound nor movement, sitting still as stone as the wind blew their hair about, mixing blue and purple. Finally, Lancer spoke.

"I'm sorry about how I behaved this morning, Rider. I.. shouldn't have called you a Gorgon."

Rider stirred and looked at him as a twinge of pain hit her heart. "It's not your fault. You were distressed."

"I guess..." Lancer's eyes stared at nothing.

"Everything's going to be fine. Don't worry..." Rider's hand covered his, and Lancer looked down at the contact. Her hand was warm compared to his....

"Rider..."

"Yes, Lancer?"

"... Thank you..." He leaned over and kissed her. Rider's eyes widened behind her visor, then fluttered shut as she leaned into his kiss. Lancer pulled her closer to him and held the kiss for a few moments more before breaking off, placing a palm on her cheek, thumbing the soft skin right below her visor. "Thank you, Rider.. if only I could see tose eyes of yours.."

"You'd be petrified." Rider sounded afraid that he would remove her visor, but she didn't pull away.

Lancer gave her a wan smile. "Stay with me tonight?"

"I will." Rider relaxed and leaned her head against her head on his shoulder, content to be like that for the night. Lancer smiled and looked out into the night, one hand stroking her long hair. Maybe something good had turned out in this after all....

December 20th, 12:00 am

A/N: December 20th is Hitsugaya Touchirou's birthday! TODAY, for freaking sake!! And I forgot!!! Ahhhh!!! Gomen ne, Shirou-chan!!!!

Toushirou: ....... -_-#
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December 20th, 12:00 am
MazdaKitsune

Tick... tick... tick... tick...

The hands of the clock moved slowly as the seconds ticked by. In less than five minutes, it would be December the 20th. Hitsugaya blew out a breath and smiled to himself, watching the snow fall gently to the ground from under a tree that was bare of leaves, but laden with snow.

Tick... tick... tick... tick...

Hyourinmaru rumbled gently from where he lay, next to the young captain, an early 'Happy Birthday' greetings for his master. Everytime, every year, it was the same. The same time and same place Hitsugaya would go to alone, to quietly await that special moment of the day where the clock ticked midnight, and the time changed.

Day to day.

Night to day.

The day when Hitsugya Toushirou was "born" in Rukongai.

Tick... tick... tick... tick...

Only a minute left to go now. The smile grew wider on Hitsugaya's face. His hiding place was peaceful and quiet, a special birthday place for him to hide in. A sigh escaped his lips as he leaned his head back, momentarily letting himself forget about the troubles and responsibilites of a taichou and relax in the soothing enviroment.

"Almost time," he said aloud, his breath forming mist into the air in front of his face. "10 more seconds...."

Tick.. tick.. tick.. tick..

Five

Four

Three

Two

One

"Happy birthday, Hyorinmaru/Shirou-chan."

Thetwo voices startled each other, and Hitsugaya jumped up from his spot, whirling around in surprise to find Hinamori Momo standing quietly with a smile on her face, holding a small cake with a few candles on it in her hands.

"Hinamori?"

The candles lit up her face with a soft orange glow, and she started singing the Birthday song as she walked towards him, stopping in front of him when she finished. "Happy Birthday to you, Shirou-chan."

Hitsugaya gaped at her. "How did you find me? I thought I hid my rieatsu well..."

Hinamori laughed. "Rangiku-san followed you and told me where you are. I thought I'd surprise you with a cake I made myself. Here, blow the candles and make a wish."

Slowly, Hitsugaya leaned down, closed his eyes for a while, then blew out the candles. "Thank you, Hinamori..."

Hinamori smiled again. "I have a present for you, Shirou-chan. Close your eyes."

Still stunned, the young taichou did as he was told.... and his eyes flew open in surprise as Hinamori promptly set the cake aside and kissed him. Slowly, his eyes slipped shut again and he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him with a sigh as he returned her kiss.

"I hope you like your present, Shirou-chan..." Hinamori said as they broke apart, blushing shyly.

"It's the best I ever got yet, Bed-Wetter Momo," Hitsugaya teased with a smile.

Hinamori pouted. "Don't call me that, Shirou-chan! Come on." She picked up the cake and linked her arm with his. "Rangiku planned a party for you in your office. She invited everyone, including Kuchiki-taichou, and Ukitake-taichou made a candy statue for you. You'd better get there before Yachiru decides to eat it all up..."

Hitsugaya let himself be dragged along by her, listening to her happy chatter all the way with a grin on his face. December 20th, 12:00 am. His birthday.. and also the day where Hinamori confessed her love for him with a simple kiss.

He wasn't going to forget this particular birthday in a hurry.

~Owari~