- Death and Lucifer -
Lucifer was shooting explosive orbs into the ground when Death walked up to him.
"Are you okay? I know how much you wanted to kill her."
Lucifer didn't respond.
"You understand my perspective right? I don't care IF Mira dies, I care HOW she dies. Dying by your hands is the worst possible way and you know that."
Lucifer was seemingly ignoring Death.
"Ignoring me is something Michael would do."
Lucifer's ears twitched.
"No. Calling you "Reaper" and acting self-righteous is what Michael does," Lucifer responded. "If Mira becomes a problem for me again, what will you say? If her still being alive hurts me, what will you do?" He stopped shooting explosive orbs and faced Death.
"I know very well what me killing Mira would look like. It might even make more "Miras" in some cases." He turned around, looking away from Death as he spoke.
"I'm just so sick and tired of this cycle of resentment between me and my "family" " His voice sounded fatigued.
"How long will I live with this kind of thing? I fell ages ago. Human kingdoms have risen and fell. Hell's conflict with Heaven is considered an old tale. And yet...some angels continue living in the past."
Death listened. He waited until Lucifer was finished.
"Nothing unites people like a common enemy." Death's tone was soft. "Sometimes it's easier when that common enemy is an outcast of one's own kind."
"Common enemies should be the shortcomings of one's kind, not a literal person or being." Lucifer made eye contact with Death. "I know that's wishful thinking though. It always will be."
Death wasn't sure what he should say. Clearly, this journey had taken a unique toll on Lucifer mentally.
"Do you want another practice match? It might clear your head." Death offered.
Lucifer shook his head.
"No. I just want to find this unknown. Kill or convince them, and move on."
Lucifer started heading back to camp.
"How long has it been since we've talked about something cheerful?" Lucifer stopped walking as he passed Death. "A new human invention or book that we enjoy talking about?"
Lucifer's question was a simple one. Death thought about it and started wondering.
"Work comes first. Always does. I'd love to live in a world full of mundane problems and discuss new fascinations with the human world, but the time for that is infrequent."
Lucifer looked at the ground and groaned.
"I'm just having a bad week. Forget this conversation happened. No sense in making things awkward."
Death didn't want to leave things as they were.
"You want to know what I'll do if the Mira problem comes back to bite you? I'll grab Michael by the throat and tell him to bring the angels in line."
Lucifer was silent as he walked away.
'I doubt that. Nothing will change.'
Lucifer's quiet leave left Death wondering if what he said was right.
'I wish it was that easy. I'm sorry that it isn't.'
- Amaterasu -
(Sometime after running away from Death)
'That reaper thinks he's won. I hope that moment felt good. Your happiness won't last much longer.'
Amaterasu reached the border of Heliopolis. There was a line of large blue oni waiting for her. She went up to one that handed her a sack. She transformed into her woman form and grabbed the sack, pulling an echo from within it. She called Azriel.
"I hope all is well Ama." Azriel greeted.
"Things are going to plan. Looks like Mira was okay, though my presence might have gotten her killed."
"Either outcome is fine," Azriel said casually. "So long as it appears Death and Lucifer aren't suspicious of our movements."
"I swore on my parents' names. If they suspect anything after that it's just bad luck for us."
Amaterasu wasn't particularly interested in Lucifer. Her main target was Death. She knew she couldn't beat him alone, so she enlisted help.
"Are Odoroku and Taifū ready?" Azriel asked.
"Yes. Everything is set up where it needs to be."
Amaterasu wished she could ask Tsukuyomi for help.
'If only you found that moment as insulting as I did.'
She was thinking about Death and The Saint's "visit" to the yokai territory. She had wanted for so long to get back at Death, but she was consistently warned against such an idea. The previous warnings played in her head.
' "He is far above us. To get revenge against him is as foolish as waging war against an ocean." ' Tsukuyomi's echoed.
' "He is not worth your life. Don't let petty frustrations be your downfall." ' Susanoo had warned.
Amaterasu had received many warnings similar to these. Centuries passed, and she thought she might never get revenge against Death, until one day an archangel asked for a meeting with her.
(In the past)
Azriel had requested an audience. Amaterasu who had been mostly apathetic towards angels decided to accept it. Azriel told her of a plan he had that involved Lucifer.
"Help me, and I will help you with Death," Azriel assured.
She was overjoyed to hear that she had an ally against Death. Someone who wanted to knock him down. She didn't care much about the Lucifer part though.
"I'll help you," Amaterasu said.
Azriel smiled.
"Thank you. I'm sure this will be a great success."
(Present)
That moment was long ago. Getting all the pieces in place wasn't easy. Lucifer's missions had come and gone. Amaterasu was getting impatient. She had been assured by Azriel that the time spent wouldn't be wasted.
"Soon. We're almost ready." Azriel reassured.
Time passed and eventually, the day was at hand. The forces had been gathered and Lucifer had another mission, one that Death was participating in.
"Doesn't this complicate things?" Amaterasu asked.
"Not at all," Azriel assured. "You had your team that was prepared to fight Death, and now you get the perfect chance."
Amaterasu felt unsure about things. She wanted to drag Death to her homeland where she had a greater advantage.
"I hope for your sake this all works out." Amaterasu had warned Azriel.
"Of course. I wouldn't dare risk your anger."
These thoughts of the past were unwelcome to Amaterasu. They only served to worry her.
"Is that parasite still working with you?"
"Yes, he is." Azriel sounded disgusted. "As I said before, he's a powerful ally who will help our plans greatly."
"I wonder about that. Have you ever heard the human tale of "The Scorpion and The Frog" by any chance?" She mocked.
"I'm well aware of how such alliances can end." He was clearly saying through his teeth. "I believe we will have the bare minimum trust that we need."
"Bare minimum is not reassuring." Her tone started to sound accusing.
"It's my problem, not yours." He sighed. "If anything goes wrong it will only make my side of things more difficult."
Amaterasu had a small, growing distrust for Azriel. He was an archangel that was going against the wishes of his leader. Such beings were often looked down upon.
'Tsuki would probably tell me something like "Entrusting your back to such a being is like trusting a thief to hold your treasure," knowing him.'
"See you tomorrow then. I hope that all goes well on your end."
"Likewise." Amaterasu ended the call.
- Death and Lucifer -
The sun rose and with it, the group started heading to Heliopolis.
As the group crossed through the various towns Peter began to think something was off. There were noises mixed in with the usual merchant shouts. Noises that most wouldn't pay any mind to, but Peter, possibly out of paranoia, couldn't stop focusing on.
He walked up to Lucifer and whispered.
"Does it feel like we're bein' followed?"
Lucifer gave careful glances to the surrounding buildings. He didn't see whatever it was Peter was seeing. That didn't stop him from playing it safe though.
"Inform the others discreetly."
Peter gave a small nod. He knocked his fist against the cart three times. A normally meaningless gesture that might seem like a nervous tick. For everyone in the group, even Elijah who had been told prior of the signal, it meant "prepare".
Death was the only one unfamiliar with this signal. Lucifer walked up to Death and spoke quietly with a calm look.
"Sol is amazing, isn't it? So many merchants, traders, and sellers."
The redundancy of the statement caught Death's attention. He knew Lucifer well enough to infer a greater meaning.
"Yes, it's quite a market. Do you think there are more or less here than usual?" Death's eyes subtly traced the area.
"Possibly more."
Death kept a straight face.
'Who could possibly be foolish enough to attack us both? Amaterasu? She wouldn't stand a chance, even with reinforcements.'
The buildings of Sol got more clumped up near the border. Blocky stone buildings with stalls littered the area, making it almost difficult to see the border.
Peter grabbed a rolled-up black cloth from the supply cart. He made sure he couldn't be seen, and slowly handed every member of the team a piece of gear.
Lao and Yvere received black gauntlets that had removable fingers. Sabu received an assortment of knives and shuriken. Elijah was given a small grey orb. Finally, Peter had his sword.
The border was now in sight, and along it were multiple large blue onis, each about twelve feet (3.65m) tall, and seven feet (2.13m) wide. They had the same red hair color, just in different styles. They were all wielding large clubs.
The moment Death and Lucifer saw them they thought to attack. Before they could, the oni in front of them spoke.
"Amaterasu wanted to say she was sorry." The oni's deep voice grumbled out. "We're her personal guards. She had to leave back to the homeland, but wanted us to stay behind and give you her message."
Lucifer and Death weren't buying it. The things the oni said might have worked at a different time, back before the various problems the group had faced, but it wasn't going to work now.
Death conjured his scythe.
"We are just messengers. We mean nothing-" The oni swung his club at Death.
Death didn't want Hrom getting hit, so he went to slice the oni's club. Right as he did, hands grabbed him from a shadowy puddle on the ground.
The oni's sliced club fell with a large thud to the side of Hrom. Lucifer shot a stream of flames at the oni, knocking him back and burning his body.
"We're under attack!" Lucifer yelled.