READ BEFORE CONTINUING
To all those currently reading this... less than stellar piece of work this was my very first draft of this, since then, I have changed up a lot, at the time I had a lot of conflicting ideas over what I wanted from this series, but now I have a clear vision of what I want. No more chapters of Karitori: Kuragari will be published any more, instead the new draft/remake/whatever is being published in the form of Karitori: Kyodai. Thank you all for supporting this... piece of let's just say bad fiction. Some day I will publish a bonus chapter explaining some of the ideas I wanted at the time, but for now, this is farewell.
Part 0: The beginning of the end
Arc 1: The next Reapers.
(The Middle of New York City, an eclipse starts slowly covering the sun)
(Daytime around 11:46)
(In the middle of a street)
(2 men are staring each other down; The one on the far left standing next to a bloodless corpse)
(The 2 men rush towards each other while the one on the left laughs maniacally)
(8 years ago)
(A snowy early morning in Japan, Tokyo)
(A man around 17 years old, 5.2ft, with an average build, neatly kept middle-parted light brown hair and purple eyes wearing a white and red winter jacket with black pants and black shoes are standing outside a college gate; looking angry and disappointed)
The Man: (Lets out a sigh of disappointment and starts to walk away) Tch... No formal education. (In a spiteful tone) "Oh we're sorry but we're gonna have to ask you to leave..."
(The Man continues walking; kicking a can and throwing down his jacket in anger)
The Man: (Quickly picks his jacket back up and puts it on again) Shouldn't have done that, should not have done that!!
(He continues walking and walks past a girl with blonde hair and green eyes; wearing a gray winter vest and white pants)
The Man: (Thinking to himself) I think she was in Able's school and I think she's my age... I don't think I have enough courage...
(The Girl walks across the street)
The Man: (Sees a drunk Semi-truck driver coming at her at high speed) Hey look out! (He pushes her out of the way of the truck and gets hit by a truck; going under the wheels)
(The Man miraculously survives, but is on his last breaths)
The Man: (Thinking to himself) Damn it this sucks!!! Wait...wait maybe if I just focus and stay still I'll be fine... The pain's not too bad...
The Girl: (Rushes over in a panicked state) Sir! Sir! Are you okay please tell me you're okay!!
The Man: (Thinking to himself) And this girl's kind of cute so maybe I'll survive and score myself a girlfriend... (Feels a sudden pain in his chest) NO! That's most definitely a heart attack!!! Not making it!!! Here's hoping the Isekai's fun!!!
(The Man dies in the cold empty street; next to a girl as the drunk driver rushes out and someone from the college comes running out too)
(He suddenly wakes up in a wooding room with 3 doors The white and Black ones have locks on them yet the Gray one doesn't. In the room there is also; a grandfather clock, a metal sink, and a small bed with a red blanket)
(A woman wearing a dark cloak is sitting across him on a chair)
The Woman: Samuel Logan Reyes... My, my quite unfortunate that you died at the tender young age of 17.
Samuel Reyes: What the!?
The Woman: Hey, hey easy now you're still a little shaking up by what just happened!
Samuel: How am I!?
The Woman: Calm yourself, Mr. Reyes.
Sam: (In a panicked state) Please just call me Sam and also it's pronounced "Rays" not "Ray-es"
The Woman: Alright! Alright! Please just calm down S...Sam.
Sam: (Panicking) I can't! Getting some Kazuma Satou from Konosuba flashbacks right here! Wait!
The Woman: What?
Sam: (Grabs the woman by the shoulders) It's Isekai time!
The Woman: Excuse me?
Sam: You're the hot goddess companion who will join me on my journey in a new world. After that journey, we'll settle down and get married! We'll live a calm peaceful life! Please tell me I'm not dreaming! You are a goddess, right?
The Woman: (Pushes Sam away) No, no, no I'm not appealing to your weird fantasy!!!
Sam: (Calms down and sits back down) It's not a weird fantasy-... Alright... alright can you tell me why I'm here?
The Woman: Alright I am a judgment, The being that will guide you to your afterlife. My name is just Claire.
Sam: So you're the Grim Reaper?
Claire: No, no something far different.
Sam: You're wearing a hood, you're guiding me to the afterlife, you've got a Scythe hanging on the wall... That's totally Grim Reaper right there.
Claire: I am not! Listen you were selected to be a Reaper...
Sam: But there's only one Grim Reaper.
Claire: Listen to me. Not just any "Reaper" but a Reaper who hunts monsters! Defends the innocent! Withholds Justice and follows orders without a doubt!!!
Sam: That's just Bleach...
Claire: Shinigami's and Reapers are totally different!
Sam: Shinigami is Japanese for Grim Reaper... Can Ms. Pendragon just wake me up already!?
Claire: Oh you're gonna be a pain to get through that door...
Sam: (Scratching his head) Unless this is the result of hospital drugs...
Claire: Listen! You're wasting my time! I have like 200 other people today! So go through that gray door right there already!
Sam: (Rushes up and goes over to the gray door) Okay, okay geez!!!
(Sam quickly goes through the door)
(He gets surrounded by a shroud of light)
Sam: (Overwhelmed by the light) This is it my Isekai!!!!
(Sam pops up in a classroom)
Sam: Whew, I thought she would kill me a second time. Wait what about back home! I didn't bring the groceries on the list oh no Mrs. Pendragon is gonna be mad! Why am I panicking so much I'm dead! I'm having a mental breakdown and talking to myself!!!
(Sam looks around the room and sees other students staring at him; confused, concerned, and ashamed)
Sam: Umm, there has to be a mistake. Hehe... (Sam opens the door and it leads to a hallway) Nani? (Sam opens and closes it a few more times, always leading to the hallway) The hell?
One of the students: That something called a door dumbass!
Sam: (Readies a small fighting stance) Oh you want to go at it asshole!?
(A man with blonde hair, black eyes wearing a formal suit like outfit hits Sam over the head)
Suzuki Yamada: Sit down Samuel.
Sam: You know my name?
Suzuki Yamada: Of course I do, now sit down!
(Sam sits down at the nearest open seat)
Suzuki Yamada: Alright now that everyone's here we can start with introductions! My name is Suzuki Yamada and I'm your Education Master!!! Now I understand most of you are between; Confused, angry, shocked, and.... (Looks at one of the students throwing up) still recovering from their early life-ending circumstantial causes... But rest assured all this will be explained in due time!
Alex Shaw: (Raises his hand) I was just promised one thing. I get to be a monster-hunting bad-ass. When does that happen?
Suzuki: Who told you that?
Alex: The Grim Reaper.
Suzuki: That sounds ridiculous don't say that again. Now, where was I? This may seem all too fast for all of you but; in a few minutes, you will all be called for a formal group meeting.
Sam: You mean assembly right?
Suzuki: Yes. (In a sarcastic tone) In the meantime let's introduce each other!
Sam: Oh I'll start! I'm Samuel Reye-...
Suzuki: (Hits Sam over the head) I was being satirical.
Sam: Ow! Stop doing that!
Suzuki: You're gonna have to man up if you want to fight monsters. All of you! (Softly laughing) But that job ain't up to me.
(A hall clock rings like a school bell)
Suzuki: Flawlessness. OK now, all you get up and go to the right walk out of the hall and form a formal group next to the other students outside!
(Everyone stands up and goes outside)
Suzuki: Let's see how this "Adventure" pans out...
(Sam looks around confused while walking in the group)
Sam: What is going on here?
Peter Trustein: (Around 5'4ft, shaved head with brown hair and gray eyes wearing a casual white shirt and black pants) Hey pal I'm just as confused as you are. Name's Peter Trustein.
Sam: Oh hey. Samuel Reyes everyone calls me Sam.
(The 2 of them shake hands)
Peter: That's a strange name for a Japanese man.
Sam: Yeah Reyes' is Spanish for King.
Peter: I'm assuming your father was Spanish then?
Sam: No father was Japanese, Mother was half Spanish, half Japanese.
Peter: Well I'm German myself.
Sam: Soll ich auf deutsch sprechen? (Should I talk in German?)
Peter: Nein danke. (No thank you.)
Sam: Ha look at us; known each other for 10 seconds and already sharing personal info and speaking German.
Peter: We're building a friendship like this is a crazy friendship anime...
Sam: Yeah. What a bizarre situation we're thrown into.
Peter: Haha yeah... Strange question but; how did you die?
Sam: Truck and you?
Peter: Hahaha... My girlfriend stabbed me for "Cheating" quite the way to go...
Sam: Hmph we're gonna be good friends. I'm just wondering what's going on.
Peter: I guess we'll soon find out.
(The group arrives outside)
(The stand in an area covered in grass with a few cliffs overlooking it)
(A few banners are covering the front cliff)
(The banners have the image of a Scythe covered in roses, 2 rifles split between the Scythe in an x formation, The Roses Of Hope, Scythes Of Courage and Rifles Of Faith)
(A second group is already waiting there)
(The Second group is wearing uniforms with neat black jackets, white shirts and white pants some people are wearing small accessories like gloves and neckwear)
Sam: (Notices someone that stands out in the crowd) Hmm?
(Sam sees a man 18 years old, with neatly swept-back black hair, Amber eyes, a small scar below his lips, and a small birthmark on his neck. He is wearing a small neck accessory that looks like a Dragon and is 6ft tall)
Sam: (Sam rushes towards him) Able Pendragon!?
Able Pendragon: Sam? (Sam and Able shake hands) What are you doing here?
Sam: I just got here!
Able: (In a confused tone) Wha-, who-, How!?!?
Sam: Well I kinda got hit by a truck... Then I spoke to some Grim Reaper chick and now I'm here. And my day just started!
Able: Did you get into college!?
Sam: Nope "No formal education" they said. Not how I expected my morning to go.
(Sam sees a strange figure wearing a red cloak standing behind one of the people in the group; looking at him. He can't make out any facial features nor the expression on his face.)
Sam: (Looks at the figure) Hmm? Who is that?
Able: (Turns around and sees no one) I don't see anything.
Sam: Probably just my eyes messing with me...
Peter: (Touches Sam's shoulder) Hey you might want to get in line, looks like something's about to happen.
(Sam gets in line with the others)
(A man wearing a classic army general outfit steps in front of them all)
(The man has balding grey hair, he looks around the age of 45 and has blue eyes)
Anderson Redfield: Alright everyone listen up!!! My name is Anderson Redfield! I will be the one who will ensure you all don't die to your first werewolf, Vampire, Hellhound... whatever do you hear me!?
(Everyone stays quiet)
Anderson: I said do you hear me!?
Everyone: Yes Sir!!
Anderson: Good. Follow my every movement right now!
(Anderson straightens up his back and legs)
(He loosens up his left arm and brings in the fist towards the leg)
(He brings his right arm up towards his left shoulder and smoothly moves it towards the right keeping it straight)
(Everyone follows with only a few making mistakes)
Anderson: Tch... You'll get the hang of it.
One of the Reapers: (Around 5,3 with blonde hair and brown eyes) Sir, but what about those who can't take the heat of training!
Anderson: (Walks over to the Reaper) Did I permit you to speak up boy did I?
Reaper: No sir!
Anderson: You did it again (Kicks in the Reaper's leg knocking him down) You are officially on my shit side! Do you understand!?
Reaper: Y…yes sir!
Anderson: (Helps him up and knocks him back down) You did it again! What's your name now you have permission.
Kelly Dine: My name is Kelly Dine!
Anderson: What a trash bin of a name.
Kelly: It's my uncle's name.
Anderson: Does it look like I care, it can be your goldfish's name for all I care, now get up and clean yourself!!! tch... (Quietly talking to himself) It looks like I'm gonna have to push all to him this time...
Sam: I guess I'm gonna have to see how this pans out for me... Boy, what have I got into?
(Anderson starts slowly walking in front of everyone)
(Narrator: What a strange day this has been for not only Samuel Reyes but everyone. What are these Reapers? Who is the red-cloaked figure? And just what is going on? All these questions will find their answers! So starts the story of Sam Reyes, one full of happiness and sorrow! The story of one Reaper who truly finds what he most desires a family... Kakumei o tsudzukeru!!!)
(End of Chapter 1)