"The gods want you dead, you know." Inari spoke as she walked up beside Akuro. He was going down the hallway leading towards the descending staircase that led to the chamber from the day before.
"Yes, I know, it's kind of hard to miss." Akuro responded, "What does it matter to you anyway? I don't see why you'd be concerned. If I'm killed by the gods then it is just less competition for you, am I wrong?"
"No, you're not wrong, but there is just something that has been bothering me." Inari said.
"Oh, and what's that? My amazing charm?"
"No, not that, you have no such thing."
"Oi, thanks."
"Do you fear the gods?" She asked suddenly. The question caught Akuro off guard. Up until then he'd never really thought about it.
'Do I fear them? Do I fear for my own life?' "That's a good question." He said simply.
"Well, do you?"
"Honestly I don't know. All I know is when I get into combat, which has only happened a few times, I'm overcome with a thrilling sense of adrenaline and excitement, so much so that it overshadowed any sense of fear I had. So to answer your question, I don't know."
"Do you fear for your life at least?"
"Again, I couldn't say for sure. I mean obviously I don't want to die again, but at the same time I never really thought about it." Akuro spoke as they descended down the dimly lit staircase. Though, he now knew he was immortal. So he really didn't fear for his life that much, but he wouldn't tell her that. Even if he was immortal, his soul could still be shattered. "May I ask why you want to know?"
Inari was silent then for a moment, as if deep in thought, then said, "I can't say."
"You mean you won't?"
"Well, back when I saw you challenge the gods I just couldn't help but wonder, so I thought maybe you were immortal, maybe that's why you were so fearless, or maybe you are just a reckless fool."
"Y'know it's probably the second choice." Akuro laughed, trying to move away from the subject of immortality. That was his best card, after all.
"Why do the gods hate you?" Inari said, ignoring his joke. "You don't seem evil or anything, so why?"
"Because they don't like my power. They view me as a threat, that simple." Akuro answered simply.
"Yeah well, I'll just have to find out what your power is myself." She said darkly.
"What, you mean fighting me?" Akuro laughed, "come on now, I don't wanna fight you, that is unless you get in my way, then I'll kill you." Akuro said this as if it were a completely normal thing to say.
"Yeah well I can't trust you."
"Nor can I you, doesn't mean we need to fight." Akuro said, "I mean, do you just go out into the streets of New York City and beat the shit out of some random stranger just because you don't trust them?"
"Depends on the situation." Inari answered.
"Wha- no. The answer is no. You don't do that, it's screwed up."
"So is killing someone for just being in your path." Inari pointed out.
"There's a difference between being in someone's path and intentionally trying to stop them." Akuro responded. "Either way, good talking with you, but our conversation ends here."
Inari and Akuro reached the bottom of the stairs and walked over to stand in their respective places around a large altar with five circular markings around it. In the center sat God, legs crossed and eyes closed. 'This wasn't here yesterday. Damn, gods move fast.'
"Good." God spoke, "We are all here." Akuro didn't know why but he always felt that God was awkward, as if he had a hard time communicating with people. In a way it was quite amusing that even God could be antisocial.
Akuro looked about for the other gods, namely Raijin, but he did not see them. 'What's up with that? No good bye?' He chuckled to himself. Akuro then glared as he caught Darius grinning at him mischievously. 'What's that kid's problem? He's so damn annoying.'
"Today you will be reincarnated." God spoke, catching Akuro's attention. "You will all appear on earth in random locations near one another, from then on what you do is your own choice, the future is yours to control. Now, let us begin. Close your eyes and focus on memories of your world, and only those. If you lose focus your soul will shatter, so do not waver."
'Memories of home, huh? Oi, not exactly things I'd like to remember but oh well.' Akuro thought back to his old life, his memories of his small home town, hiking trails, cities, mountains, rivers, lakes and creeks, as well as his mother. Sour memories flowed through his mind of his pathetic life as he could hear a faint humming and a dim light against his eyelids, then he felt a strange jolt go through his body, causing him to lose his balance. Keeping his eyes shut, he held his ground and managed to regain his balance, standing straight.
Then, a moment later he could feel a cool breeze on his skin, the faint sound of rustling leaves and singing birds. He opened one to peek at his surroundings and, sure enough, he was standing in an open area of grass deep in a forest, trees and bushes on all sides of him, whispering their ancient knowledge amongst one another in the wind.
He looked down at his hands and body. He wore the clothe Raijin had given him, but his body felt strange, like it was softly vibrating. 'Whoa, being back in an actual living body feels... strange.' The difference between an ethereal body and a physical one is that the spiritual has no organs or blood pumping through it, so it doesn't have any motion other than the actions the owner takes. Physical bodies, on the other hand, are in constant motion, whether it be muscles tensing up or the beat of the heart. When Akuro was without these functions for so long, returning to a physical form felt strange because he could actually feel all the motions within his body, and so it gave the sense that his body was vibrating or shaking.
Akuro smiled, clenching and unclenching his fists. "I'm back, bitches!" And then his stomach growled, followed by an irritating headache. "Shit..." he cursed, "I almost forgot... being alive sucks ass..."
He held his stomach. 'I need to find food and water, but I have no money. Also I need to figure out where the hell I am. Oi, this sucks. You'd think being Death would mean you not have to deal with hunger or thirst... guess not.'
Akuro then leapt up into the air, happy to find his inhuman abilities were still with him as he landed atop the tallest tree he could find, black scythe held away from himself in his right so he wouldn't cut himself. He looked around him in all directions until he saw hundreds of buildings not too far away, as well as a tall building that was quite familiar, accompanied by a tall green statue. 'That's the One Vanderbilt, and Lady Liberty! I'm in New York City!' He thought. He was in a small park near the center of the city. He grinned, 'Considering where I'm at it should be pretty easy to scrounge up some money, huh?' Then an idea struck him.
'Wait... if I can manipulate souls of the living and even the dead, wouldn't that also mean I can manipulate their memories and thoughts as well?' He decided it was worth a try. 'First I'm gonna have to conceal this though. Can't really walk through a busy city with a big scythe in my hands.' He willed his aura then to engulf the entire weapon and swallow it. The scythe disappeared then as the black cloud of energy withdrew back into Akuro's body.
Akuro then spotted a small trail a few yards away and jumped down from the tree onto it. The air was warm and the breeze was light and soothing. He guessed it was around summer time as the sky was a clear blue with only a few white clouds here and there. It seemed about midday, the sun hanging high in the sky.
Akuro walked along the small path, enjoying the breeze and warm air until he came across a middle aged man jogging his way in gym clothes. "Yo, can I ask you a question, sir?" Akuro asked him.
The man stopped, breathing lightly, "yeah, sure thing.."
"Sorry, my name is Akuro Zaizen, yours?"
The man seemed confused but answered anyways. "Erm, Paul Evans, good to meet you."
Akuro held out his hand, "Good to meet you as well." He said with an innocent smile as Paul took his and. Then Akuro exuded his pressure and grabbed the man's essence, engulfing it with his dark aura. The man froze as if time had stopped for him. Akuro could feel his life essence, and so he grabbed it lightly, examining it with his aura.
'Now how would I use my power to change your memories...' Akuro examined the man's soul for awhile until he came upon the man's memories; his family, wife, two children, his stressful job... 'good, found the memories. Now to change things up a bit.' Akuro smiled mischievously.
When he was done, Akuro retracted his aura as well as his hand, and the man continued like nothing had happened, still smiling. "I'm sorry," Akuro spoke, "but what was your name again?"
"My name is Dumbass Idiot, and it's fine, happens all the time." The man spoke.
Akuro held back a laugh. 'Well, it worked.' "Alright, Dumbass, as for my question, what year is it?"
"Ah, it's 2032, why?"
"No reason, just making sure. Thanks, have a good day, Dumbass." Akuro said, smiling.
"Yeah, you too." The man then continued on jogging down the trail. When he was out of earshot, Akuro let out a laugh. 'I cannot believe that worked!' He thought. 'Well, now that makes getting money a whole lot easier, I just need to find someone wealthy. I don't really wanna take money from an already struggling man named Dumbass.'
Just then Akuro tensed up, he could feel an intense pressure moving towards him. The aura was familiar. He looked up. A couple yards down the trail stood Onoma, glaring directly at Akuro.
"Oh come on, you really can't wait to do this?" Akuro sighed, and then he stopped feeling the soft breeze. He also took note that the trees stopped moving, actually, everything that was once in motion was no longer moving. 'So that explains a lot.' Akuro thought, 'He can control time, how annoying. He's using his powers to freeze everything except the two of us, that way nothing can interfere. Smart I guess. But why doesn't he freeze me for a free kill? Is he unable to use his power on certain targets? Or are there certain conditions that have to met first?'
Akuro glanced at Dumbass further down the trail. He too was frozen. That meant Onoma's power did work on living beings. So then maybe it was based on a condition?
The crimson red axe then flashed into existence in Onoma's hands, the chain dangling down to the ground. Akuro sighed. "Yknow, your aggressive nature is really annoying, man."
Onoma then vanished, reappearing directly in front of Akuro, the axe swinging downwards. Akuro dashed away as the axe crashed into the ground cracking the stone trail, the rubble freezing mid motion.
"You're gonna piss me off." Akuro said coldly then, shadows enveloping him. His eyes went white and black wispy horns emerged from his head as darkness stormed around him. "Now fuck off." He said, shadows forming in his hands taking form of his scythe of which he swung at Onoma, who then vanished again.
Not knowing where he'd reappear, Akuro leapt straight up, holding out one hand, shadows gathering together in his palm as he condensed his own aura. Onoma flashed into existence above him, his crimson axe coming at Akuro at a downward swing. Akuro held his hand out to block it, the axe colliding with the black ball of aura in Akuro's hand. The ball then burst, releasing a shockwave as black wisps of shadow began to stretch out towards Onoma from the remains of the orb while Akuro's scythe reached for Onoma's throat, its black edge barely missing its mark as Onoma backed off, the blade's tip just managing to scratch his neck and draw a thin trickle of blood.
Akuro grinned as a surprised expression appeared on his opponent's face. Akuro raised his arm, black aura amassing in the form of massive talons that he brought down on his opponent who raised his arms to block. The impact sent a shockwave through the air as Onoma was sent soaring through the air and crashing into the earth. Akuro alighted on the ground a few feet away.
"You may be able to control time, but how can you do anything if I take your aura?" Akuro spoke, grinning as he watched Onoma struggle to his feet with a scowl on his face. "Not to mention, the fact that you didn't just zip out of existence away from my previous attack means there is a cooldown in between your ability, at least when it comes to manipulating your own time. It's pretty easy to figure you out, you don't exactly hide your abilities very well, Onoma."
Then, to Akuro's surprise, Onoma teleported to him, catching off guard. Onoma's wounds were completely erased as a sphere of red and gold aura crashed into Akuro's chest.