Falling Leaves 3 ??
Clyde opens his eyes, to the sight of a barren wasteland of stone, the skies are deep crimson with clouds swirling around like an endless hurricane.
Giant demons clad in dark armor walk with leashes wrapped around other people.
“Oh my God—-” Clyde says his voice trembling, the chains break off him slipping to the ground, the sound of metal crashing together radiating through the air.
Screams and groans echo through the air, weeps follow after. Clyde’s soul tenses, his halo shakes.
Ohtli and Itzpapalotl push him forward, “What are you doing? Walk!” Ohtli shouts.
Clyde stumbles forward clenching his fist “I had enough of you things putting your hands on me!” He whirls around hooking a punch at Ohtli.
Ohtli raises his hands calmly catching his fist, “Stupido—-” he whispers twisting Clyde’s fist.
“AHAG!” Clyde shouts, Ohtli shoves him forward “Go on. Walk before I do something worse!”
Clyde grits his teeth rubbing his hand “I’m already in hell! What more can you do?!”
“HUH!? I don’t give a damn what you do if God won’t save me and I’m stuck here fuck following any of your orders!”
“Fuck you and your reaper!”
“Tch—-” Itzpapalotl grunts lifting his leg snapping a kick striking Clyde.
“Ugh!” Clyde groans falling to the ground, “We’ll just have to drag him by force, you grab his legs I’ll grab his arms,” Itzpapalotl says.
“Si, Si” Ohtli says stomping on Clyde’s chest.
“Well how cruel, ganging up on a fresh soul like that.” A mysterious man’s voice calls out, his voice low and calm, almost soothing.
“Who?” Ohtli and Itzpapalotl mutter in unison.
A man wearing a black and silver robe with the end of the sleeves cut like ribbons steps forward, his skin a sickly grey, his pupils a piercing yellow.
His hair is black reaching the length of his ears, he wears a wooden necklace with scratches etched on the beads.
He bows in front of the two orcs “A pleasure to meet you guys my name is Amon.”
“I don’t recall we ever asked for your name demon.” Ohtli grunts.
“Move out of our way we have a job to do.”
“How rude, after I just introduced myself so kindly, you just dismiss me like I’m nothing.”
Amon chuckles “Say you aren’t from here are you? I never seen demons like you before.”
Itzpapalotl scoffs “It’s none of your business where we’re from, and no we’re not lowly demons like you.”
Clyde hisses under Ohtli’s heel “They’re from the Spirit World!”
Ohtli stomps on his chest once more “?Cállate!”
“Kakuriyo-” Amon catches his tongue “I mean the Spirit World eh? What are Spirits doing roaming the Abyss?”
“So let me ask you who do you think you are to question us?” Ohtli says clenching his fist.
“Who am I? That’s an interesting question, I went by many names in this lifetime.”
“The Light of Dawn, The Rising Morning Star, names of that nature.”
“But right now I’d just say you can call me Diablo Del Octavo, Pilar Del Fraude.”
“Eh?! ?Diablo Del Octavo? What would you be doing in Mercado del Tormento this is the first circle not the eighth!” Itzpapalotl says.
“Oh? Now you’re the one asking the questions? Remember just like you I don’t need to explain anything to you.” Amon smirks.
“Bastard! You know what? Get the hell out of the way!” Ohtli shouts, jumping off Clyde’s chest landing in front of Amon.
“Are you sure this is wise Spirit?” Amon chuckles calmly.
Ohtli opens his palm as a small red vortex appears in it.
Amon lets out a sigh “A shame and here I was trying to be cordial.” He shrugs.
“Tell me before you kill me, is the life you’re living right now really the one you want?”
“You seem stressed, overworked, undervalued. It must suck dealing with all that huh—-”
Ohtli grits his teeth “Shut your mouth—-”
Amon grins “Oh? No Spanish this time? I struck a nerve?”
“Say, is it not the Shinigami’s job to bring souls to Hell? Why are you delivering him?”
“Do you work under them by any chance?”
Ohtli starts to tremble, he cocks his hand back, throwing the vortex at Amon.
“BE CRUSHED INTO NOTHING!”
Amon swipes his arm casually, cutting Ohtli’s arms off.
“Ugh!” Ohtli groans watching his arm fall to the ground, what just happened not registering in his head.
“Sad, you could have walked out of here alive.”
“AUGHHHHHH!” Ohtli screeches dropping to his knees, blood spraying out of his socket.
“OHTLI!” Itzpapalotl screams.
“HOLY SHIT!” Clyde adds on.
Amon steps forward lifting his arm “I’ve never been a fan of noise, maybe that’s why I despise this circle so much.”
Ohtli’s pupils dilate in fear “No—-!” Amon smiles “That’s your last word? I’ve heard worse.”
He swipes his hand slicing Ohtli’s head off, blood spraying backwards landing on Clyde and Itzpapalotl.
The two watch in horror as Amon casually flicks the blood from his hand. “Yes now back to the important matter.”
“BASTARD!” Itzpapalotl bellows rushing towards Amon.
Amon instantly appears in front of him gripping him by the neck.
Itzpapalotl gags, his eyes roll back to the back of his head. “Oi, boy what is your name?” Amon asks Clyde.
Clyde on the ground tries to stand “C-Clyde—-”
“Interesting, say how about we make a deal here. You’re still a fresh soul after all. How about you help me with a little project?”
Clyde stands trying to regain balance “Help? I’m good. I’m not making a deal with a devil, again I’m already damned!”
“So what do you have to lose huh? It’s either damned or be damned, I’m giving you an option to be less damned than you already are.”
“Erm—-” Clyde grunts.
Oh what the hell—- he’s right, I have nothing else to lose, I’m already dead, I’m already in Hell. What else is there that can happen?
“Fine—- I’ll take your deal—- but first.”
“Hm?” Amon hums leaning his head closer, the chokes of Itzpapalotl growing louder.
“I want some clothes, just give me some damn clothes.”
Amon laughs “Oh most certainly, Wow you sure are low maintenance.”
Amon tosses Itzpapalotl on the ground, he points two fingers at Clyde, a red beam fires zigzagging at him.
Once the beam hits Clyde a red light courses through his body, a black robe similar to Amon’s instantly appears on him.
“I hope you like the new tailored outfit.”
Clyde looks at the sleeves and wooden sandals “This is kinda cool—- I feel like I’m in some ancient Japanese garment.”
“Yes, Yes cool, very cool right?” Amon says with a grin, he walks up to Clyde placing his hand on his shoulder.
Clyde raises an eyebrow “Why are you-”
“UGH!” He shouts as Amon forcibly plants his hand in his mouth, black energy starts to flow from his arm, leaking into Clyde’s mouth.
“AUGHHH!” Clyde screams as his eyes roll back, black starts to leak out of his mouth.
Amon drags his arm out of his mouth, the energy evaporating the excess saliva. Clyde falls back to the ground coughing.
“WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Just planting a little seed now, get up you’re going back to the Spirit World,” Amon says stepping back instantly appearing next to Itzpapalotl.
He grabs him by the arms forcing him to his feet “Uhhhug—-” Itzpapalotl groans.
“Open the portal, go on return him to the Spirit World.”
“Please—- no I’ll be killed!” Itzpapalotl whimpers.
Amon sighs putting his arm around him “It’s either you die there, or get killed by me and I promise I’ll make it ten times worse.”
Itzpapalotl shakes “F-fine!” He runs away from Amon’s grip, spreading his arms opening a red vortex.
“Oh, and Clyde was it?”Clyde jolts standing to his feet “What? What do you want now?”
Amon chuckles turning his back to him “Raise Hell while you’re up there.”
Clyde pauses confused by his words “Huh?”
“Raise hell?” He mutters to himself.
A breeze of wind appears on the back of his neck, Amon stands behind him “No time to waste get going now.” He shoves Clyde in the portal.
“AYE!” Clyde shouts, Amon then appears behind Itzpapalotl grabbing him by the arm, “You too! Sayonara!”
“Wait- stop!” Itzpapalotl yells before being launched into the portal.
The portal closes as Itzpapalotl flies inside. Amon looks into the sky taking a deep breath he stares at the swirling red clouds.
“Sister, I guess I’ll be able to see you again after all.”
He clenches his fist “And yes even you Hosai, I can’t wait until I take you down—-”
—————————————————-
Back in the Spirit World at the top of La Ciudadela del Gran Abajo.
Akuji sits on a chair made of straw, the cushions made of the leaves from the surrounding trees, the two women stand beside him, one fanning him with a giant leaf, as the other feeds him a small strange yellow fruit, the colors of pink and yellow mixing together.
She takes the seeds out, placing them on his tongue. “Gracias! Oh, this is much deserved break.”
He rubs the woman’s cheek gently, “And you’re making it even better.” He says with a whisper making eye contact.
“I-I’m glad I could make it better-” the woman blushes once more.
Uhhhhhh! I can’t hold it in anymore I need him! Her inner thoughts shout to her.
No I have to stay clean! Professional!
“By the way, I never asked your name. I need to know someone as beautiful as you, so I can look forward to coming here more often.”
“Oh—- my name is Xochitl—-” she says placing another fruit on his tongue.
Akuji chews “Xochitl eh? Oh, I’ll be looking for you every time I come here.”
“Sí, Se?or, please do— please do!”
“?Eh Se?or La Muerte!” Jefe calls out.
“Hm?” Akuji hums turning his head to him “Don’t you see I’m busy right now? What is it?”
La Jefe points his cane to a portal opening at the edge of the platform.
“Oh they’ve finally returned huh, about time-”
Before Akuji could finish Clyde and Itzpapalotl fall out of the portal.
Akuji’s eyes widen as he blinks in disbelief “My eyes must be deceiving me.”
“Oi Xochitl! Do you see what I’m seeing huh? Is that the kid again?!”
“Uhm—- Sí I believe it is.” She says back.
“Tuh! How the hell?!” He sits up turning into purple mist leaving a gust of wind blowing against the two women.
Xochitl holds on to the basket of fruit, “I’ll be waiting here Se?or!”
The other woman glares at Xochitl “You lovesick vixen! That is our boss! What do you think you’re doing getting close to him like that!”
Xochitl turns her nose away from her “Don’t get mad at me because you’re jealous puta!”
“Puta?! I’ll show you who the puta is!” She raises her fan.
“Hmph do what you must! But know that if you destroy Se?or’s fruit you’ll surely be killed! So go on do it.”
“Tch—-” the woman smacks her lips crossing her arms “Qué Será—-”
The purple mist appears in front of Clyde and Itzpapalotl.
Akuji forms out of it, “Mind explaining what’s going on here huh?”
“LA JEFE!” He shouts, “Eh! Sí, coming!” The sound of his cane smacking across the ground approaching the three.
He makes it to them huffing and panting.
Akuji grits his teeth “YOU SAID THEY COULD GET THE JOB DONE!”
“DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH SHIT I’LL BE IN IF OTHERS FIND OUT A MORTAL CAME BACK FROM HELL ON MY WATCH!”
“I understand, I’m sorry I thought they could!”
Akuji palms his face “Oh my Stars—-” he sighs “You know what—- I’ll just get rid of them!”
He sticks his palm out aiming it at the two.
“Se?or please—-” Itzpapalotl grunts, Akuji scoffs “Please? You have the audacity to beg, do you know what you just did!”
“I was going to get killed by a Devil! Please understand he already killed Ohtli!”
Akuji grits his teeth “So you mean to tell me you feared some demon over me?!”
He starts to chuckle unhinged “It’s either you die by his hand or mine! And you thought mine would be easier! I’ll make you suffer 20x more than he would!”
Clyde tries to move “Wait please!” he calls out as Akuji’s hand lights up in violet flames, the heat radiating from him now even hotter, La Jefe stumbles back “Ugh! Okay, try not to cinder all of us!”
Akuji’s eyes gleam matching the color of the flames, his locs flow backwards, the light from the flames illuminates the entire room.
All the orcs present cover themselves. “You’re now a mistake to the cosmos, an error that must be corrected, ADIOS FOR GOOD THIS TIME!”
“May your soul burn and cease to exist!”
Clyde twitches on the ground “Shit! What was I sent here for?! Just to be killed again!”
In that instant everything around him freezes and loses color, Amon appears in front of him, pointing at Akuji.
“This is how you decide to be erased? By a Shinigami throwing a tantrum? Stand your ground.”
Clyde’s eyes widen, his fingers twitch, his mouth opens as the black energy leaks out of him condensing into an orb.
The orb starts to crack and seep out light, color returns to the area as Amon disappears.
“Huh?!” Akuji grunts as the light engulfs him and the orcs.
Akuji covers his eyes with his sleeves as a low growl appears from the light.
“What the hell?—-” he mutters, he slowly opens his eyes, as a shadow looms over him.
His pupils dilate in shock, “No way—-”
La Jefe and the other Orcs start to panic “How is that even possible?!” Jefe screams.
Growls radiate through the room, as a giant black and red beast stands above Clyde, its eyes are pure red, its fur a metallic jet black, its mane grey flowing like smoke.
It roars opening its mouth, a red light forms in its mouth.
The light shines over everyone, “Shit—-” Akuji mutters, a beam fires from the beast swallowing the entire room.
Screams and wails get muffled from the sheer noise of the blast.
BOOM! An explosion scatters through the temple causing it to collapse.
“Shit!” Clyde yells covering his head, the beast grabs Clyde into its paws as they fall through the air.
They land on the grass below, Clyde looks up at the temple falling apart “Christ—- you really killed them all like that?!”
The Beast growls once more, steam erupts from its mouth.
Purple mist forms in the air, Akuji forms from it, his body covered with blood and bruises, his cloak ripped from the top, revealing his chest and torso, his left eye seared shut.
He holds Xochitl as she’s unconscious. “I can’t just have a simple day today can I huh?!”
He wipes blood off her mouth, “Day ruined, break ruined, workers dead, temple destroyed!”
He floats down to the ground placing her down in the rubble.
He summons his scythe surrounding them in a pillar of fire. He smirks as his pupils dilate “But—- I might not get the chance to kill like this for a while!”
“HAHA! OH SCREW IT!” His scythe starts to change shape “Armas de los Muertos!”
“ESPADA!” He screams as his scythe turns into a long blade, its hilt pure black, the blade a shining violet.
The Beast places Clyde down behind it, “GWROOOO!” It roars once more facing back at Akuji.
“Oh, Cállate! Filthy mutt!” Akuji stomps his foot forward, instantly charging at it leaving a trail of purple flames.
The Beast raises its paw slamming it on the ground trying to squash Akuji at the perfect moment, Akuji turns into purple mist in the last moment, appearing in front of its face.
Akuji drives his knee into its snout “RWAHHHUG!” The Beast screams stumbling back.
It opens its mouth once more firing a laser directly at Akuji, Akuji lights the blade of his sword on fire slashing it down against the beam cutting through it.
The red and purple mix together, as the split beam shoots into the blue sky.
The Beast steps back leaping into the air, Akuji touches the ground the heat radiating from him burning the surrounding grass, particles of violet ash floating in the air.
Akuji runs after it, his eyes completely locked onto it, the Beast opens its mouth once more, a multitude of beams start to charge.
“GWRAHH!” It screeches firing a barrage of beams at him, Akuji slashes and ducks through the rapid fire, he blocks one of the beams with his sword. He plants his foot down shifting his weight onto it, leaping forward.
Clyde by a tree watches the two beasts battle “Aw hell naw! Get me the fuck out of here!”
Trails of flames follow Akuji’s sword, he dances around the beams, shifting his feet back and forth, he spins like a twister through the barrage.
The Beast raises its paw, its claws sharpen, as Akuji approaches it swipes it down once shifting its body weight with it.
It launches towards him, Akuji jumps in the air, slashing his blade cutting off the beast’s claws leaving flame residue.
“DIE!” Akuji shouts turning into the mist once more, instantly reappearing above the beast, stabbing his blade into its skull.
“RWAHHH!” It screeches crashing to the ground, Akuji turns his blade while it’s still inside it, the Beast’s body combusts into violet flames.
Akuji rips his sword out and sighs “Where’s Danya when you need her—-”
“Man I miss her right about now—-”
Clyde hides behind a tree watching Akuji stand on the beast’s corpse.
This guy is a monster! That shouldn’t even be possible for a guy his size.
Oh fuck this I need to find a way out of here.
Clyde slowly turns ahead checking if there are any sticks, Okay I need to make sure I don’t make any sudden noises or movements.
He takes one small step as he suddenly bumps into Akuji.
“You thought you could hide?” Akuji says with a tired voice.
He raises his blade ready to cut down Clyde.
“PLEASE NO!”
Akuji pauses for a moment, “You know what?”
He retracts his blade turning it back into flames, he grabs Clyde by his collar “Ugh!” Clyde grunts.
“I need to learn more about what just happened—-”
Chains appear from Akuji’s wrist wrapping around Clyde.
Clyde struggles in the chains once more “You know what just erase me! JUST DO IT ALREADY I’M TIRED OF THIS!”
“No,” Akuji says dryly. Two scaly black wings start to form on his back.
The claws on the edges of them grab onto the chains around Clyde.
“WHY NO NOW HUH? YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT BEFORE WHY STOP NOW?”
“I’M AN ERROR RIGHT? ERRORS NEED TO BE FIXED SO GO ON ERASE ME!”
“Tell me why are you fighting to be erased now? Weren’t you desperately clinging onto your existence? So you tell me why now don’t you want to exist?” Akuji says.
“You think you can cause all this and believe you can get the easy way out? How entitled can you be?”
“What?! How does that make me entitled! I’m asking for what you were about to do anyway!”
“And still you think I owe you anything? You are the one who messed up cosmic laws, you, again I told you multiple times I’m doing my damn job. Who do you think you are to think you’re any different from others?”
“ That’s what I despise about mortals like you, a self-importance more than what they actually are. You are nothing, get it through your head, you will forever be nothing in the grand scheme of things. So shut up and comply.”
“Grrrr! And who do you think you are?!” Clyde shouts back.
“Death,” Akuji says coldly.
“Tch! Y-you—- why—- Ou! Screw you-” before Clyde could finish Akuji drives his knee in his gut, “AUGH!” He shouts as his pupils disappear, he loses consciousness.
Akuji sighs “Ghosts shouldn’t be talking back—- I’ve been too lenient with this guy—-”
He lifts his wing dangling Clyde from the air, he flaps his other one blasting into the air.
As he floats he summons his notebook, the pages open on their own, “Oh? Danya’s off from reaping right now?”
“And Azazel? Perfect for a meeting about this kid!”
He points his index finger upwards as it glows violet, highlighting Danya’s name.
“Amora! Finally!” He shouts turning into mist.
On the ground, Xochitl opens her eyes, “Se?or—-” she mutters as a flashback plays in her head.
The moment Akuji rushed to her to grab her away from the blast, she looks up at him as he holds her across his arms.
Oh Se?or—-. Oh Se?or—-
Her eyes glisten, her face reddens as she flusters, ignoring the heat from the beam, staring into Akuji’s face as his skin and eyes glisten from the light.
I love it—- I love it all, I love you! Mi Amoreee~ her thoughts race.
Back in reality, she groans coughing up blood “I-I need to find you again—- I need to see you—-”
END
