Life, Death and the Hotel Business (part 3)

By Yai-tzu Hin

Warning: No part of this story or cast of characters may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author, Yai-tzu Hin. If you do, moths will eat your favorite shirt, mice will take up residence in your kitchen and you can't get rid of them no matter what, all the bulbs in your reading lamps will go out, you'll run out of gas in your car when you're running late, and your computer will develop the annoying habit of deleting the best part of every fic.

"I must say he was the most rude, loud, and irritating person I've ever had the displeasure of serving." Imizu grumbled. "He's a child for crying out loud!"

"He doesn't look any older than the Jin and I." Kin informed her cousin.

"Calm down Imizu." Meiko replied. I'm sure the young man didn't mean any harm. He was probably having a bad day. I bet people mistake him for being sixteen all the time. It's because he's short."

"Can we PLEASE get off this topic." Keien yawned and put his head down on the table. "I thought we were here to discuss Eizou."

"Sorry, I'm just so mad at that guy."

"We heard. Now let's drop it." Kayumi said. "Say, where are Eros and Psyche?"

"I think they're still in their room. I'll go get them." Imizu offered standing up. She moved away from the large table in the middle of the dining room where everyone was seated.

"Greetings." Eizou said appearing suddenly causing Imizu to clasp her chest and grab the back of the chair at the same time.

"DON'T DO THAT."

"Gomenasai."

"Your apology is accepted." Imizu said straightening sweater. She strode out of the room on her mission. Eizou looked worriedly after her then moved to hover near Kin.

"I haven't offended your cousin in any way have I?" Kin shook her head.

"You just startled her." Jin replied scooting his chair closer to Kayumi. Kayumi looked down at the young romeo and rolled her eyes. Yatsurugi smiled, secretly glad to see his sister get a taste of Kagamida charm instead of him.

"Now that you're here," Keien began. "We have a question to ask you." Eizou nodded folding his hands in front of him.

"Have you ever tried talking to the thing in black?"

"I've asked it what it wanted of me, but it didn't respond. It simply pulled out a large stick from thin air and pointed it at me."

"Strange." Meiko stated.

"Very." Eizou replied. Suddenly he froze. "Gomen." He apologized as he vanished. Startled by his abrupt exit, everyone looked about just as the door to the dining room opened. In strode a youth with long black hair pulled back in a braid. His dark red eyes scanned the room sizing everyone up before taking a seat at a table in the corner. He looked as if he was in his late teens although he was short. A shudder ran down Keien's spine as the boy walked past him.

Planting himself in one of the chairs he ignored everyone.

Cocking an eyebrow, Yatsurugi stared at the boy wondering where he'd seen him before. The room remained silent until Imizu reappeared. She came barreling through the door breathing hard.

"It…was…an…accident, I swear." Imizu said in between gulps of air. She'd obviously run down the stairs. "I walked in while Psyche was changing."

"You saw Psyche without any clothes on?" Kayumi exclaimed jumping up. "No one has EVER seen Psyche like that except Eros! Was it male or female?" Yatsurugi was thinking the same thing.

"Psyche's a…." Suddenly Imizu went sheet white and collapsed.

"Well, I guess we won't know the answer." Keien remarked as everyone hovered around Imizu.

"Murphy's at work." Yatsurugi grumbled. "He and Psyche must have some pact to keep its' secret."

In the corner, the boy raised one eyebrow and smiled.

Eizou flitted back and forth. As long as he was in the attic he was safe from that thing. Or at least that was what the twins were assuring him. He liked Jin and Kin, but he wasn't sure how much longer the wards would keep that thing at bay. The new friends he'd made seemed concerned and were willing to help, but what could they actually do? All we can do is stall for time, he thought miserably.

"Ghosts?" Suiichiro shook his head and stared down at the youth in front of him.

"Yes, sir. Have you heard or seen any around here?" Again Suiichiro was dumbfounded. Certainly there were no such things as ghosts.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I just do."

"Come off it kid. There are no such things as ghosts."

"Kid?" the youth narrowed his red eyes. "Do I look like a kid to you?" he demanded.

"What are you, about 15? If you're doing a project on scary shit that happens around this place, why don't you go ask the owner? I've got other things to do." Suiichiro said dismissing him with a wave of his hand. "See you around, KID." Sauntering off, Suiichiro didn't look back. If he had, he would have seen a very enraged youth. Clenching his fists the boy growled low in his throat.

"I'm older than you realize, jerk." Then as an after thought he added. "November." Before stalking back to his room.

Shifting uneasily, Keien tried to find a comfortable position in the chair. His back hurt from sleeping wrong on it last night. Yatsurugi opened one eye. He'd been trying to take a nap, but listening to Keien curse about his back was keeping him up. Being able to hear Keien's thoughts wasn't always an advantage.

"Want a massage?" Yatsurugi asked getting up.

"That would be nice. I'm so stiff."

"I know. I can hear you growl all the way over here." Yatsurugi crossed the room to where Keien was sitting.

"I didn't think I was talking out loud."

"You didn't have to be." Keien mouthed 'right' and shook his head. "You know, I think this would be easier if you were on the bed." Yatsurugi decided after a moment. Keien moved. "And take off your shirt while you're at it."

"Fine." Keien replied pulling off his long sleeved knit shirt. He tossed it aside and lay down on the soft blankets. Yatsurugi perched himself along side of Keien and slowly began to work the knots out of his lower back.

"Oh, that feels good."

"I hope it does, your back is a mess." Yatsurugi commented digging the heel of his hand in harder. Keien felt like purring it felt so good. Continuing to massage his back, Yatsurugi remained silent. His hands worked up and down Keien's spine in a circular pattern. Pausing every so often to work a particular hard knot, Yatsurugi tried to keep up a steady rhythm. He could feel Keien relaxing under his touch.

"Mmmm….That feels SO good."

"I'm glad to hear that." Abruptly Keien shivered. Yatsurugi too felt the sudden chill in the room. Looking about he noticed Eizou standing over by the window.

"Hello Eizou." Eizou jerked and stared at Yatsurugi and Keien.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll leave."

"No, it's okay. I'm just giving Keien a back rub. What are you doing here?" Yatsurugi removed his hands from Keien and got up. Grumbling to himself, Keien fumbled for his shirt and put it back on.

"I like the view of the mountains from this room the best. I come here often. I'm afraid this is the second time I've startled you." He said looking straight at Keien. Raising his hand, Keien assured him that it was all right. Eizou wanted to say more, but he couldn't. Something black had caught his eye.

"I shouldn't have left the attic." Eizou cried and bolted. A black shadow surged forward and tried to halt his exit. The ghost dodged and retreated towards the far wall. Standing directly in front of Eizou, the shadow grew to its full height. Keien gasped at the ten foot some black figure that loomed over Eizou. A large scythe appeared by the shadow's side, which was nearly as tall as it was.

For a moment it looked like the shadow had won, but Eizou sank through the floorboards to the room below. The shadow followed suit.

"We have to stop him!" Yatsurugi cried, leaping to his feet.

"Yeah, or Eizou will be in trouble!"

"No, you don't understand. We need to stop Eizou from running." Yatsurugi was already at the door. Keien stumbled after him.

"What do you mean!"

Suzu stared at her fiancé with a stern eye.

"A ghost? Now don't tell me Nakabori and his little roommate have got you believing in ghosts now?" Suiichiro chuckled.

"What is wrong with people today? Scientifically speaking there are NO SUCH THINGS AS GHOSTS."

"I know that and you…"

"Excuse me." Eizou called as he flew past them. Suiichiro paled and Suzu just stared. Eizou was almost threw the next wall when he stopped. Backing up hurriedly, he came within inches of Suzu. The shadow oozed through the wall towards them.

"G…g…gh…ghost." Suzu stammered. She screamed and fled. Eizou was right behind her with Suiichiro a close third. The shadow sighed and flew after them.

Kin was sure her ward would work. Now all she had to do was put it on Eizou. Of course attaching it to the ghost was going to be difficult, but she knew she could. Somehow. Suddenly Suzu tore down the stairs followed by Eizou, Suiichiro, and the shadow.

"HEY! KEEP AWAY FROM EIZOU YOU MONSTER!"

"There they are!" Yatsurugi called. Keien was out of breath from running. They'd been all over the stupid hotel looking for Eizou. Glancing down over the balcony Keien could see Suzu running with Eizou, Suiichiro, Kin, and the shadow following.

"EIZOU STOP!" Yatsurugi yelled, but the ghost didn't stop. Instead he headed for the dining room. Keien and Yatsurugi tore down the stairs after them.

Meiko had been outside with Kayumi while they showed Jin the car. He had a fascination with sports cars and was busily trying to talk Kayumi into letting him take her baby out for a spin. Having been rejected, Jin was trudging his way back inside. Meiko decided that it was time to go in. The three opened the lobby door in time to see Suzu go flying into the dining room with Eizou, Suiichiro, the shadow, Kin, Yatsurugi, and Keien following behind.

"I don't even WANT to know." Kayumi said.

"KIN!" Jin called and leaped into line behind Keien.

"Oniichan!" Meiko exclaimed.

Eros, Psyche, and a still deeply embarrassed Imizu were standing in the kitchen making tea when they heard Suzu yelling something about keep it away. Curious, they stuck their heads into the dining room in time to witness Suzu round a table and go screeching out the way she had come. Eizou, who apparently had been chasing her, broke off and flew past them into the kitchen. Suiichiro went after his fiancée, while the shadow breezed after Eizou. Kin, Yatsurugi, Keien, Jin, Meiko, and Kayumi ran into the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, Eizou flew up and headed back to the attic with the shadow close on his heels.

"To the attic!" Kin yelled and the entire crowd did an abrupt about face then went back through the dining room. Staring after them, Eros decided that he was just going to stay were he was.

"Tea?" he asked Psyche and Imizu. They nodded.

"Stop and desist you hellspawn!" Kin roared. The shadow had Eizou pinned in the corner of the attic. She advanced upon the specter, her ward held in front of her.

"Kin. I'd stop." Yatsurugi said.

"Why?"

"Because I don't think that's a monster."

"And how would you know?" demanded Jin.

"Because it doesn't act like a monster. They're ugly and drool all over the place." Yatsurugi said.

"It could be a different type of monster." Kin replied. She turned to glare at Yatsurugi.

"ALL RIGHT THAT'S IT!!!!" an unfamiliar voice snapped loudly. "I'VE HAD IT!" Everyone stared at the shadow. "LOOK! I'm just trying to do my JOB! I'm DEATH! You know the guy who takes souls to their rest? I'm not SUPPOSED to talk while I'm on duty, but you guys are so bloody dense I have no choice!"

"You're Death?" Kin asked.

"YES!" Death snapped. "Talk about dense. Didn't the big black cloak and the scythe clue you in?" Eizou, Kin, and Jin shook their heads. "I'm working with idiots." Death muttered to itself. "Look, people. There has been a bit of a snafu and I'm here to clear it up. You," he said indicating Eizou. "Should not be here. Someone should have come to get you about thirty years ago, but somehow we lost your file. For that I'm really sorry, but you don't need to runaway. No one escapes Death. At least not for very long."

"I'm sorry." Eizou replied. "I didn't know you were Death."

"It's okay."

"Do we have to leave right away? I'd like to say good bye to everyone." Death thought about it for a moment.

"Heck, you've waited thirty years, what's an extra day or two. I'll be back in two days to get you. Be ready, I don't want to have to chase you all over the place. And could you take these stupid wards down. They're annoying." With that Death melted back into the darkness.

"Odd." Meiko muttered. "Definitely odd."

Yatsurugi and Kayumi stayed in the attic while everyone else went back downstairs. Reimu and Shinji appeared from where they'd been lurking.

"I must say that this has been one of the more amusing afternoons I've had in a long time." Shinji said.

"Yeah, you managed to piss off Death." Reimu chuckled.

"First off, we didn't make him mad. Secondly, he's one of many Angels of Death, not Death itself." Kayumi informed them. She crossed her arms in front of her.

"I still can't believe that one actually broke his vow of silence. You know there is going to be trouble."

"I think that they'll understand the situation" Yatsurugi told Reimu.

"Probably."

"You people are bloody annoying." Death grumbled appearing again. "More precisely, those mortals are annoying. Imagine trying to keep me from doing my job. I don't envy you guardian angels."

"So you figured out we're guardian angels?" Kayumi asked him wryly. Death nodded.

"I can always tell mortal from immortal. It's my job."

"Right." Kayumi rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I'm technically on vacation for the next couple of days and since you're staying here." Death began edging towards Kayumi. "Want to go out somewhere and eat? I haven't had mortal food in a long time. Especially not with a pretty angel like you."

"Are you trying to hit on me?" Death nodded. "I don't even know you're name."

"My name is Hades."

"I'm Aisaku Kayumi."

"Well, now that we're properly introduced, how about lunch?" Kayumi rolled her eyes. She probably couldn't do much worse. "Fine, but I get to pick where."

"Deal, first let me change." The blackness swirled about and dissipated leaving behind Hades' human form. Dressed in a black leather jacket, a red shirt, black jeans and boots, Hades lowered himself to the attic floor. Everyone stared at the angel with black wings that had red tips and bands.

"Well, shall we go?" he asked, his red eyes bright and eager. "It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure." Kayumi stared down at Hades. He was roughly five foot three, where as she was nearly five foot eleven. His black hair was pulled back in a braid that reached down past his waist.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she muttered.

"A lunch where I'm paying. I'd never let a lady pay. This is my treat, shall we go?" Hades said offering her his arm.

"I guess." Kayumi replied taking it. They walked out of the attic with Yatsurugi, Reimu, and Shinji staring after them in shock.

"My sister has a date with Death, I don't believe it." Yatsurugi said. "I can't wait until I tell Keien about this one."