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Sunday, January 15th

I swear I honestly think God has it out for me because every time I think my life couldn't get any more like a soap opera, it does. But before I get more into that, let me go into what has happened to me in the last few hours.

First of all, Ben's grandfather died on Friday. I had found out he had died shortly after I had went to bed which was awful. Why is it that everybody around me seems to die or get hurt, I'll never know. I was afraid how Ben would react when he finds out...if he ever wakes up that is. He and Benji had always been close. I had always envied that since I never really got to know my mom's father and I never met Dad's father since he refused to talk about his family. I worried Ben would flip out on everybody or get really depressed and stop talking to everybody. I hoped he wouldn't do that. I really needed him right about now...a shoulder to cry on I guess...selfish I know, but you would think the same thing.

I had went to Sunday services mostly to pray for both Benji and Ben's souls but it just didn't feel right. Ben often came with me and not seeing Benji in the front row made me miss him since he had always been big in Church activities. Plus, Dad wasn't there doing the sermon. Father Hernandez was a nice man and certainly was a good preacher but I would always be biased towards Dad.

After Church, I went back to Ben's place (All the damage had magically been fixed as if Thursday never happened). I managed to get a bit of my homework done and the teachers had been nice enough to give us our assignments for this week and the next.

After several hours of schoolwork, I found myself hungry and saw that we had no food in the fridge so I decided I would take some money and go grocery shopping with the money Ben's parents had left us. Sounds like nothing can go wrong right? Nope, not the case! After I got to the register with all the food and was about ready to pay for it, a snow white bunny dressed in all black with a mask over his face swiped my cash and told all the cashiers under the threat of a knife and a gun to hand over all the money inside all the registers.

Everyone began to panic of course and went along with his demands. I, on the other hand was PISSED! How dare this bastard steal Ben's parent's money AND have the gall to shove me on the ground while making his demands and all after the HORRIBLE week Ben and I had been having! I stood up and roared with claws unsheathed while the bastard bunny along with everyone else stared at me in shock and fear. I used this opportunity to attack the bunny in a fury of claws and teeth. (Ben had gotten his granddad to teach me some of his moves when we were still in elementary school.)

Poor guy didn't stand a chance and he couldn't get a swing in. As he lied down bleeding and screaming in pain I took Ben's parents money back from the bastard, paid for the food and began to walk away, pushing the cart with a small smile on my face. I felt great when all the anger, sadness, and stress that I felt in the last few days all but vanished. Hell, I almost thanked the bunny as I walked past by for being my punching bag.

That is until he took his knife muttering, "You shouldn't have tried to be a hero kid" and stabbed me once in the chest, once in the stomach and another two times in both arms when I tried to defend myself. As I lied in the puddle of my own blood, the bastard took the money from the cashier and limped away. After the crook left, a raven mom screamed for someone to grab a first aid kit and to call the cops and ambulance but it was too late as I felt myself slipping to death's embrace. I apologized to Ben and Dad for my stupidity and awaited death while the raven tried her best to seal my wounds and I could hear her husband on the emergency hotline.

"911! We got a stab victim here! Um... we are at the supermarket on Vine-wood street! The victim? Um... a male panther, late teens I think... he's got puncture wounds in both his stomach and chest! He's bleeding pretty badly...okay please hurry...it'd be a shame for someone so young to die..." He said as he got off the phone. "It'll be alright son, helps on the way!" He told me gently.

As I began crying from the pain, wishing death would hurry up, I suddenly saw two hooded figures walk into the store. I recognized their outlines from the hospital on Tuesday and realized they were the ones that stopped the Shadows from killing Ben and I! But this time I could see them plain as day and guessed my powers were starting to awaken fully now. One of them was carrying what looked like a massive sword almost as tall as he was! Who did he think he was? Cloud Strife? He was also dressed in a black shirt, baggy jeans that didn't cover his bare feet and there was a chain going along each of his sides that attached to belt loops.

He was also wearing a white zip-up hoodie that hid his face from view. The same hoodie had what looked like a bright green wind swirl design along the back. The other one was female and was dressed in the same stereotypical death cloak I saw on the guy that rescued me from the shadow monsters when I was five.

Though their faces were hidden, it was obvious that they knew me as well because the one dressed in white seemed to recognize me immediately as he dropped his sword and went down to his knees soon after. I could barely hear him whisper "No this can't be happening..."

The other one replied with.

"I know it hurts but we have a job to do we can't mess up again, you know the coincidences if we do." Her voice sounded like she had been crying but underneath the tears I could sense a grim sort of determination.

I was about to say I was ready to go when the one who was dressed in white suddenly shouted "NO!" and vanished, only to reappear in front of me with his sword drawn, pointing it at the female. His aura was radiating pain, determination and most of all anger. I saw flames begin to dance around his body. He said nothing else as he had a staring contest with the female. There was a tense silence between the two during this stare off until the female broke it.

"You do realize what this means right? You may have been strong during the event at the hospital but there is no way your Reaper powers are even close to mine since they have been adjusted to beginner levels by Suzaku and even if you do somehow beat me, what are you going to do after? His soul is going to attract everything that goes bump in the night! Not only that, but you'll have the wrath of the Reapers on your head."

I turned to the 'Reaper' in white (I guess that's what they were called...at least I finally got a name to call these guys) and awaited his reaction. His only response was to disappear and reappear in front of the other Reaper who barley had enough time to block.

"I DON'T CARE!" He screamed. The wind started to pick up as well but it was more like a small breeze compared to the ones he summoned at the hospital. Still, it was strong enough to frighten every civilian and rattle every window in store.

Hearing the screams, the other Reaper replied, "Lets at least get away and fight outside so we won't harm anyone in the crossfire" and the guy in the white hoodie said nothing as he disappeared and reappeared outside in a battle ready position. The other Reaper sighed deeply and said, "Boys...though I can see his reasoning..." before turning to me.

"Listen spirit boy, all that the guys outside can do is buy time until the ambulance arrives. You might make it out of here alive but we on the other hand might get in trouble so just be thankful HE is with me or your soul would be on its way to the afterlife by now. After this is over though, can you do me a small favor? PLEASE stay home when you get out of here like a good boy until Ben wakes up from his coma and PLEASE make sure your Dad gives you your charm!"

I nodded to show her I understood and she turned around and calmly walked out of the store...though she tripped on her way out. I would have laughed if not for the serious situation. Why are these Reapers letting me live? I don't even know them...or at least I don't think I do and the boy sounded and acted like he knew me. His voice sounded vaguely familiar as well but it was distorted by the coat and it sounded like someone was speaking alongside with him. And how did the girl know so much about my situation? Had they been following me?

I thought all of this as I watched the epic battle take place for about 5 minutes until a giant stepped out of a portal. My sight had started to blur so I couldn't make out his features. Then I heard the sound of an ambulance and saw it pull up, which grabbed the other twos attention from their fighting.

The EMT's recognized me as well. "Hey look it's the kid from Tuesday! You've had some week haven't you kid?" said one of the EMT's the other as they worked on me. I was carried to the ambulance and was just about to pass out when I swear I heard Ben's voice say "Stay safe Dil" and with the last of my strength I looked up and around but he was nowhere to be found and neither were the Reapers. I then passed out as the ambulance pulled away.

I woke up a few hours later in the bed next to Ben. I felt like I was in agony the entire time and the pain was so bad. When he saw I was awake, the skunk doctor brightened "Hey there! Aren't you just a magnet for trouble...or is it that you love hospitals so much that you find reasons to come back? Anyway, I hope you know that you are lucky to be alive...we had to do major life saving surgery to save you." However sensing that I was in pain he sighed and gave me some painkillers.

He then lectured me for like an hour and I was bound to hear the same lecture from my Dad, so I zoned out and thought about what happened earlier that day. I then decided I was going to find the Reapers and thank them for all that they had done. Just between you and me I'm kinda hoping the guy that saved me would go out with me if I asked him when I find him. He is definitely my type...I'm crushing on a dead guy...I must be losing it...

Wednesday January 13th

I finally found him! The one that saved me at the hospital and from the other Reaper that was going to take my soul to the afterlife. I recorded this entry using a tape recorder as I began the chase. Boy, they are really fast! If I didn't have my bike I would have lost them a long time ago. I need to spend less time talking and more time pedaling because I'm beginning to lose them...wish me luck!

~~~

I quickly put my phone away as I started to stalk my prey. I had spent nearly 3 days in the hospital after my near death experience. I noticed the Reapers seem to be checking on me periodically, as if guarding me but for some reason they always kept a safe distance and would run away every time I raised my arm for a wave and they were so fast! I couldn't follow them on foot, even if I sprinted like my life depended on it so I was doing my best to keep up with them on my bike. Hopefully they wouldn't avoid me this time.

I snapped myself out of my daydreaming quickly enough to barley avoid getting hit by a car, which was occupied by a very pissed off old cougar yelling at me to watch where I was going. I yelled a quick apology over my shoulder and pedaled faster to try and catch up to the pair who appeared to be bickering about something.

'That's a good less of a chance of them spotting me!' I thought as I decided to shorten the gap I allowed between us to lessen the chance of me being spotted.

Suddenly the pair decided to jump down from the buildings they were jumping on and started running on the sidewalk. 'My luck seems to get better and better for once' I thought as I avoided the twentieth fur that barely got away from b_eing ran over my wheels of my bike. 'Now they should be slowing down so they won't run into other fu--' that thought ended when I saw the pair just go through everyone on the side walk while the victims of the collisions just shivered and went on their way. In fact, it looked like the Reapers just seemed to go faster now. _'Never mind...fuck my horrible luck!' I cursed as I maneuvered my bike on the edge of the road and pedaled like my life depended on it.

After about ten minutes of pedaling my ass off and nearly losing the pair of Reapers twice, we finally stopped behind a Burger King where I could see a prone figure of a Doe on the ground who looked really close to death. I was just about to call an ambulance when the Reaper dressed in white stabbed the women with his sword and, knowing it was too late I switched to text message to the police that there was a body discovered and I sent the location. After the body exhaled its last breath, the spirit slowly sat up and stepped out of her body. After appearing in spirit form, she looked up at the two standing before her and began to cry while the Reaper dressed in black rubbed her back to soothe the woman and whispered something. I guessed she was trying to calm her down and though I could barely hear what the Doe was saying, I could make out the words of "Don't want to die!" "Date..." "He raped me!" then "Was stabbed then shot..." the words surprised and upset me enough that I found myself tear up a little. Who could do such of a thing, especially when it was noon? Either the guy was extremely cocky or he knew what he was doing...I wondered if he was still here?

After a quick glimpse of my surrounding I didn't see anything abnormal so I turned just in time to see the Reaper's sword come down across the women's chest. She looked pretty peaceful as she disappeared into a storm of ethereal lights but that still didn't stop a few tears from escaping. I offered the soul a quick prayer before turning back to the Reapers.

The one dressed in black collapsed against the brick wall and she let out a puff of exhaustion and said "Phew that's the seventh soul we had to reap in the past 2 hours I'm beat!"

The Reaper dressed in white sheathed his sword and replied "How? I'm the one doing all the work!"

The Reaper dressed in black just huffed in annoyance. "We also fought some Shadows earlier today! The ones you were absolutely useless against!"

The Reaper in white fired back in a matching huff of annoyance and shrugged. "I can't help that they used long range attacks and you know I suck in the magic department!" I took the chance of their arguing to move closer and closer to the entrance of the alleyway. "Which reminds me, I think it's time to check if Dil's alright."

I nearly dropped my bike in surprise at the mention of my name. 'So I was right...they have been checking on me...but why?' I parked my bike along the side of the restaurant and made my way silently as...well a panther tracking its prey and leaned against some garbage cans in front of the alley way. My heart was beating so loud from nerves that it echoed in my head.

I heard another huff in annoyance.

"We just checked on Dil not even a hour ago...how many times do I have to tell you that if a Shadow attacks we would feel it? You know, for someone who claims they don't have a crush on the guy you sure act like you do."

'Now this just got VERY interesting!' I thought as my cheeks started to burn. 'So this guy may like me? Is that why he has been protecting me?' I thought as I leaned in closer so I could hear the Reaper in white's response which is good because his reply was in a grumble.

"That's what you said before Dil got stabbed in the grocery store remember? And you know very well why I am so protective of Dil Hope." I could feel the air starting to get a bit hot enough that I was starting to sweat, which was weird because it was still kinda cold out. I risked another glance at the one dressed white and saw bits of fire dancing across his body...I guessed the Reaper called Hope hit a nerve.

I ducked my head back down before they saw me. "I know, puppy is in denial" I felt an eye-roll in that statement. I popped my head out from my hiding place again in time to see Hope let down her hood and I saw...something I never saw before. She was like a fur I guess but without fur, scales or feathers. How strange...Hope smirked and suddenly, a torrent of water erupted from her hands and hit the one dressed in white, the water causing the fire that was covering him to be extinguished with a sizzle and soaking the other Reaper to the bone. "You really need to cool down that temper of yours puppy..."

I had to choke back a giggle and I was about to step out in the open to expose myself when I froze as the Reaper dressed in white unzipped his hoodie and replied with "Ha ha very funny! Now I have to take it off so I can dry it...I guess you got your break!" My mind was doing flips of joy at that. 'I can't believe I'm finally going to see my saviors face!' I shouted inside my head. I held my breath and leaned even closer against the garbage cans as he yanked off his hoodie and exposed his face. My mouth dropped and my eyes widened in shock as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.

...

...

...

"BEN?!" I shouted as the garbage cans I was leaning against crashed onto the ground, which caused both Hope and Ben to jump and face me with shock and surprise etched on their faces which matched mine. At first, no one moved and we just stared at each other...until all hell broke loose.

"Oh no...this isn't good...this isn't good at all! oh dear oh dear!" Said a panicked looking Hope who continued saying "Oh dear!" As she started to pace back and forth.

"Fuck! Shit! Damn!" Ben continued to curse every dirty word he knew as he tried to hide his face from me as if I would forget what I saw but there was no chance in hell that was going to happen! I got up and then fell over the trash can again with an 'Ow'! I picked myself up, shook my head and rubbed my eyes just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

Judging from the pain of the fall and the fact no matter how many times I blinked and rubbed my eyes the image wasn't going away. My mind was strangely empty as I got up without saying a word and walked up to Ben which caused both to stop what they were doing and stare at me with a 'deer caught in the head lights' look. I then tried to uncover Ben's face but since my paw went through his face, all my paw touched was a cold spot like it would have if I touched a ghost.

I withdrew my paw and looked at it, then glanced at Ben's golden and Hope's blue panic stricken eyes. Then struck my paw through Ben's head again with the same results and as I looked at my paw then back to Ben and Hope I sat down with a calm and neutral expression (While inside I was freaking out with a thousand questions, namely with WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE!?) and said "Explain" with my voice so steady and filled with authority it scared even me.

~~~

'Fuck this is bad!' I thought as I watched Dil approach me with an unreadable expression.

"Ben this isn't really that bad..." Suzaku said in a nervous voice. 'Fuck this is REALLY bad!' I thought as I watched Dils' paw go through me. I saw a flash of surprise on Dil's face before it went back to the scary expression it was before he looked at his paw. Dil tried again and not surprisingly got the same result...he glanced at me now and then to Hope who was frozen stiff in mid step as if she didn't move. Dil couldn't see her but we all know he did. Then he glanced at me and very calmly sat down and said."

"Explain!" With a voice that reminded me of Suzaku and my father mixed and I felt like a pup again who was about to get in SO much trouble.

"Oookaay... maybe it is that bad..." Said Suzaku while staring at Dil with a fearful look. "I think I'm going to take a nap...a Guardian needs his strength you know!" Said Suzaku while fading from my sight.

'Don't leave me here alone you big chicken! What if a Shadow attacks!?' I yelled desperately in my head before I felt Suzaku shudder.

'You know who to call! You don't need me now though since the only Shadow I see is Dil and I doubt you want to destroy your own boyfriend..."

I started to see red and shouted 'HE ISN'T MY BOYFRIEND DAMNIT!!' in my head. Suzaku was silent and I was about to shout something else until Dil spoke for us to hurry up and explain NOW in a REALLY angry tone. He sounded like he was barely holding himself together from exploding like that, which caused Hope and I to start talking all at once. Dil stopped us and told us to speak one at a time and after about ten minutes we finished explaining in a quick summary of what had and has been happening since Monday which was all listened by Dil in a calm expression.

When we finished Dil turned to Hope and said in a voice cracking with emotion "So this..." he motioned towards me now, "Is all YOUR fault!"

Hope put on a brave face and tried unsuccessfully to look Dil in the eye "Y-yes but in my defense-" Hope began but was interrupted by Dil.

"No excuses please, now what are you anyway?"

"Human, our kind never existed in this-" She began but once more, was cut off by the panther.

"Don't care about the details! I just asked what you were" Said Dil while silencing Hope with a wave of his paw which shut the girl up immediately. (God, I wish I had that power...me and Hope had been been arguing non-stop so that power would have came very useful then!)

Then Dil turned to me and got very close. I gulped "Why haven't you at least TRIED to contact me in some way?"

Hope being the know-it-all she was spoke up "He isn't allowed. It's against Reaper code--" If looks could kill then she would have been vaporized by the glare Dil shot at her.

"I didn't ask you!" To my relief he was satisfied with her answer and I got away from his glare though that relief was short lived when he started to pace, yelling as he did so. "So, I've been having the MOST MISERABLE WEEK OF MY LIFE because of an IDIOT Grim Reaper! Also, because of something called Shadows that keep showing up because I'm an irresistible meal to them! NOT ONLY THAT but I can't even share my pain to my best friend because he's in a COMA! Is it because of an easy to understand health issue or due to some chemical he inhaled? NO! ITS BECAUSE HE IS OFF PLAYING THE GRIM REAPER LIKE SOME SORT OF PUP WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!"

That pissed me off so much I began to see red "You're mad at ME for keeping secrets?! How about the secret you've been keeping from me since we've known each other Mr. I-See-Dead-People?!" Dil flinched visibly from that remark.

"T-th-that's different..." He mumbled, the fire in his eye was all but gone and now was reduced to a kitten in trouble with his ears pinned down submissively, his paws wringing his long tail and the fact he wouldn't look me in the eyes. But I wasn't going to let him off that easy because he realized he was no different. Nope. I was going to be a true friend and bring it out in the open.

"How the fuck is that different than what I did? In fact, you had YEARS to tell me something that important, so if anyone should be angry about secrets being kept it should be ME not you!" The fire returned back into Dil's eyes with that remark.

"How? How could I have told you in a way that wouldn't make you question my sanity like any normal fur would? YOU on the other hand could have easily told me what was going on when you found out about my powers and I would have believed you. Why didn't you? Oh wait, I know why...because you were way too busy playing Death just because you had the power to and probably had some fun while doing it! While I on the other hand was just miserable from the week I've been having while I had no fucking clue what was going on!"

I paused and thought about that for a second and concluded that Dil had a point. If he told me his secret before this entire fiasco happened I would have thought he was joking around or something. Besides, how would that come up in a normal conversation? 'Can you pass the salt? Oh, by the way I have the power to talk to ghosts isn't that crazy?' The other part of Dil's words however...

"Oh boo hoo you had a terrible week! Cry me a river Dil! I know what kind of week you've been through and you want to know how Dil? I HAD THE EXACT SAME WEEK!! I DIED because of a mix up of mistaken identities, then came back to life only to find out it was my grandfather that was supposed to go! Which, by the way I had to reap later in that week! Do you know what it's like to have a hand in someone you love dies Dil? No, I don't think you do and not only that but I also have to deal with HER!"

I pointed to Hope and got a "Hey what-" I ignored her and continued.

"The same person that started this whole mess and I have to risk my very existence because I want to protect a CERTAIN SOMEONE who likes to keep secrets and who apparently is extra yummy to a bunch of soulless monsters!! So EXCUSE ME for finding it appropriate to hide a secret from the same friend when the reason I couldn't say anything was because my very existence is being threatened by the same organization that I work for! So me 'playing' Reaper has NOTHING to do with me not telling you!" I finally finished my long rant just in time for all of us to hear a bunch of sirens coming from a distance.

Hope came between Dil and I while we were still glaring, growling, and hissing at each other while preparing for another round (And probably a brawl if it were possible)when Hope said "I hate to interrupt this soap opera but you..." Hope began pointing to Dil, "Should get out of here before the cops show up and pin you for the crime that happened here."

Backing away from Hope's touch shivering, Dil tilted his head in confusion "What crime are you-" Dil started before he was interrupted when he slipped on the puddle of blood and landed on top of the body that sat there, laid forgotten on the ground. Dil recovered from his fall and looked at what he tripped over only to freeze and just stare at the lifeless corpse in disbelief. The tension and silence that was similar to that when Dil discovered us could have been cut with a knife as Hope and I awaited Dil's reaction with both slightly open mouths. As Dil looked at himself covered in blood, one of two things flashed in my mind.

1) Dil is a total germophobe...

2) Dil is highly emotional right now and is probably really close to a mental breakdown

Dil freak out initiating in 3...2...1...

Dil suddenly sprinted out of the alleyway yelling "AHHHHHHHHHH GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" until he quickly got out of hearing range before Hope and I could stop him.

Crap...

...

DAMN Dil can run really fast when he is scared and panicky! Even with our Reaper enhanced physical abilities and my Quick Step, Hope and I had to resort to following Dil's soul wavelength and bloody paw-prints all the way to his location, which was predictably his house. He lived on the same block I did...a few houses down actually.

"Why does your boyfriend attract so much drama?" Hope whined as she landed gracefully and turned toward me while standing in front of Dil's doorstep with an expression of annoyance and exhaustion.

My landing however was not so graceful and I ended up tripping over some imaginary obstacle and phased through the door. Getting up now majorly annoyed me at both the fall and what Hope said as I replied with "HE IS NOT-" I stopped mid-sentence and took a breath to calm myself down. "You know what? Forget it, no matter what I say you and Suzaku are going to keep calling Dil my boyfriend so why should I argue with you guys anyway?"

"Exactly! You shouldn't argue with us because you know we are right" Hope said with a mocking know-it-all smile.

Too physically and emotionally drained, I just waved the comment off with a "Whatever" and followed the bloody footprints and bloody clothes to the bathroom where I heard a shower running. Hope followed close behind. I went to knock on the door but of course, my hand went through it. With that option marked off the list of ways to obtain Dil's attention I went with plan B. "Dil are you ok?" I only heard the water hitting the shower floor and Dil's crazed mumbling

"Must be clean...! Must be clean...!" I guess he couldn't hear me. I turned to Hope and Suzaku for suggestions and both just shrugged because they didn't know what to do either. I pondered my predicament for a minute...on one hand I could just wait for Dil to get out of the shower but who the hell knows how long that could take with him freaking out like he is right now? Probably until the water becomes ice cold and maybe even a little bit after that so I couldn't wait that long. Decision made, I decided to phase through the door and check up on him. We do share a dorm room after all so it wouldn't be that weird since I've seen him in his underwear more times than I could count but strangely enough, I never once seen him naked if you don't count the times we bathed together when we were little kids...oh wait you never heard that embarrassing thought okay?

Taking a deep breath I phased through the door, wanting to say something before I lost my nerve "Dil are you-?" I muttered just as Dil shut off the water and stepped out of the tub. (Luckily the bathroom was still covered in a steamy mist so I couldn't really see any kitty bits though, If I looked hard enough I could see an outline of his sheath...not that I looked or anything...) We kinda froze like we did in the alleyway but for not nearly as long maybe a few seconds or so when Dil quickly threw a towel over himself and started throwing everything he could throw at me while yelling.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO KNOCK BEFORE YOU ENTER THE BATHROOM?!"

"I tried but I just phased-" I started to say while turning around blushing like crazy and covered my eyes with my paws while everything Dil pelted at me just phased through my body, not hurting me one bit. I on the other hand was wondering if it was possible to die of embarrassment even if I was already kinda dead.

"I GET IT! YOU'RE A GHOST OR WHATEVER SO YOU COULDN'T REALLY DO THAT BUT YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST SHOUTED OR BETTER YET WAITED UNTIL I GOT OUT!"

"I wanted to-"

"I'M FINE BEN! I was just dirty NOW WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE?! GET OUT!"

Not needing to be told twice I quickly made my exit, still blushing like mad and into a hysterical Suzaku and Hope with both of whom were on the floor laughing there assess off. "Ha ha very funny...I'm glad you guys find that situation entertaining" I grumbled while making my way to Dil's living room. The room was a modest looking set up with an average sized TV set, a leather couch, two love seats, and with a couple of book cases and pictures along the walls. It was of course completely spotless to an almost sterile degree. I sunk into the couch with Suzaku plopping right next to me still chuckling and I was, at that moment wishing to myself that I had died and stayed dead on Monday.

About ten minutes later Dil emerged (Fully clothed in a brown sweater and blue-jeans.) with Hope next to him and both were basically getting to know each other and by the sounds of it they were getting along very well...'Oh goody! Two ditzy, hyperactive people getting along! That's so not going to bite me in the ass later in the future' I though while Hope and Dil waved at me to follow.

"We're going to the hospital" They both glanced at each other when they said the exact same thing at the exact same time and they both simultaneously giggled. 'Oh I can tell life is going to be a blast with two ditzes hanging around.' I thought as I followed Dil and Hope though it still amazed that they were getting along so well so quickly.

During the walk to the hospital, Dil was filled in on almost everything about the supernatural world and the basics about the Reapers. About how Reapers are basically the guardians of the balance between 3 worlds that co-exist with each other, there are only a chosen few are born with Reaper powers and the fact we get awarded with a paycheck. (Hey Reapers have to make a living to!) Also explaining that they have a longer lifespan (That consists of an added few hundred years with subtle to no chance in physical appearance) since we are basically half dead (Yes Reapers can completely die of old age and sickness if they live through all the combat they have to deal with on a daily basis.) Dil was surprised to learn that the same Reaper that saved him when he was five is actually the same Reaper who is currently in charge of the American Reapers when the old leader passed away.

In turn, Dil explained (While pretending to be in a conversation about a game over the phone so he wouldn't look crazy though in reality it seemingly looked like he was talking to himself because people couldn't see us) the full details of his powers and how his mother was apparently a medium of some kind and his dad was apparently part of a group who could use souls in some weird ritual stuff, though he admitted he really wasn't sure.

"So that's why your soul is so strong! I've been trying to figure out how such a normal looking fur such as you had such a strong soul! Now everything finally makes sense!" Exclaimed Hope

"I'm glad it makes sense to someone..." Dil mumbled.

"Ditto..." I said with an equal mumble

I turned my attention away from the conversation that was taking place and was surprised to learn that we had already made it all the way to the hospital, which was a pretty lengthy distance from mine and Dil's house. I didn't even notice the trip go by besides a couple of bus rides we hitched a ride on. We didn't say anything as we walked up to the hospital and into the lobby so people wouldn't look at Dil like an escaped patient from a mental ward.

"So what are we doing here anyway?" Dil asked as climbed into the empty elevator, giving us the opportunity to talk again.

"Today's the day that Ben goes back into his body" Replied Hope before I even had a chance to explain. She appeared to be texting on her phone again, presumably to talk to Boss again about the successful mission and about the whole event about Dil finding out everything.

"Wait, so how is Ben going to be a Reaper if he is alive?" I wish they would stop talking to each other like I wasn't even there...it was starting to piss me off.

"Suzaku and Hope did a few adjustments to both my soul and body so that my new powers won't overload and destroy my body. That's why we had to wait about a week in order to get me back in my body again so they could prepare."

"Who is Suzaku anyway? I heard one of you guys say that name in the store when I was stabbed" Giving me a curious look and tail flicking like it always did when he was curious about something, this would be the first time since the whole shower incident he's spoken a word to me.

"Suzaku is a phoenix. He's been sleeping in my soul, waiting for me to leave the living world but due what happened on Monday, he was woken up earlier than scheduled. Apparently he is my Guardian and the source of my powers. Only I can see and talk to him though so don't ask to meet him and trust me you don't want to." I explained as Dil pressed the button to my floor. Suzaku suddenly appeared and slapped me in the face with his wing, causing my head to snap back from the impact.

"I heard that. Not funny" Suzaku said before he disappeared again. Dil raised an eyebrow when he saw my head snap back.

"He heard me" Was all I said in response

Dil rolled his eyes "Reapers" he said in exasperation

A few minutes later we made it to my room where we saw a lioness nurse doing her duties. She greeted Dil when he walked through the door and he responded with a wave and a "How ya doing?" before proceeding to make small talk from there while Hope began to chant strange words coming from a page in a book she had stowed into her robes.

Hope's voice had taken up a whole new other tone then I was used to. Her normal annoying high pitched voice had taken on a deeper and serious pitch, kinda like Father Patterson's voice did when he was preaching as Hope said "Adeo mihi proficiscor vos solvo" in a low almost barely audible whisper. Even though they were whispered I heard them clear as day and the power that I felt from them caused the fur on the back of my neck to raise up and for my stomach to tighten.

"Alive undead vos vadum exsisto imbibe" Hope's voice had risen to normal speaking levels but still held the commanding tone as she said the next verse. The lights in the room started to flash off and on and I heard the heart monitors hooked up to my body start to go crazy. Not only that but I was hit with a sudden wave of nausea.

Hope continued without pause but this time her voice risen up at an even louder volume as she said. "Cruor quod erant fang!" The nausea and the headache I was now getting were becoming so bad that I almost yelled at Hope to stop. Doctors and nurses had rushed into the room to see if that they could slow down my heartbeat to normal levels and my body was now thrashing as if it was having a really bad dream. I had spared a glance at Dil and he was looking almost as scared as he did when the Shadows attacked him on Last week.

"imbibo mihi mote is exsisto!" Hope shouted with a hint of finality laced with a commanding tone and there was a sudden flash of light, similar to that of a lightning strike and I heard the heart monitor flat lining. I was still doubled over from the pain and nausea that had reached intolerable levels.

I watched Hope come up to me while clicking her pen to summon her staff. Her expression was one of pity and serious enough that it was almost business like...something I was not used to seeing. "You know what's next" Hope said in the same tone as her expression. It was really hard to draw in air so all I could manage was.

"Do...It" Hope nodded as she cocked back her staff and swung it as hard as he could at my head. The pain from my headache made this feel like a light tap on the head, not that the hit itself didn't hurt but that's just how bad the headache was. All pain instantly left me as I landed back in my body and was replaced with an overwhelming urge to sleep and the relief equal to that of walking into ones house after a months worth of absence. 'It's good to be home!' I thought as I gave into the urge sleep making everything go black.

~~~

As soon as the two Ben's collided, the heart monitor suddenly burst back into life again showing Ben's normal heart rate as if nothing happened. Ben's expression of pain and his tortured thrashing turned to its peaceful state once again. I wish I could say the same for my heart rate, my tail that was thrashing about like crazy and my fur fluffed up considerably due to the stress of everything that happened in the past minute. One of the doctors shook his head as he stared at Ben's unconscious form as if he held the secret for the sudden crash in Ben's condition. The same skunk that was my doctor just turned towards me exasperatedly.

"Kid, crazy random stuff follows you like an fog doesn't it...? If one more weird thing happens to this hospital and you're around I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" With that, all the doctors and nurses left the room.

"Tell me about it..." I mumbled as I looked worriedly at Ben's body, half expecting it to crash again as Hope approached me with her staff withdrawn.

"Don't worry, the crash is a common occurrence that happens when you try to bind a soul back to his or her body. It shouldn't happen again."

I sighed in relief at that. "When should he wake up?" I asked while crashing into a nearby chair while Hope began to walk out of the room while replying.

"Ben should be out for another hour or two but he shouldn't be suffering from any ill effects. I got to go and prepare for my punishment so I'll see you guys later"

"Wait...punishment for what?" My tail flicked like it always did when I was curious

Hope sighed.

"For causing this whole mess to begin with. Watching over Ben is just half of it...Don't worry we will see each other again...bye!" Hope said as she floated through the ceiling like a ghost. I looked out the window and watched her go with her cloak flowing behind her in the wind until she disappeared.

"Reapers...what a weird bunch...only fitting that Ben is one to..." I sighed in exasperation while taking out my IPod touch for the inevitable wait. I turned my music up almost full blast and instead of playing games like I usually did I just laid back in my chair and thought about all the events that had taken place to Ben and I. All of which were very strange and had taken place in the span of a week and to think it all started with agreeing to babysit Benji. I still can't believe the Reapers forced Ben to reap his own grandfather...I know they wanted to challenge his ability to follow directions and help prepare him for the future but wasn't that a bit much?

Speaking of Ben...I turned my attention to Ben's unconscious form, whose chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm. I still couldn't believe he was the one who protected me all this time...actually I do. Ben has always protected me from bullies (Well the ones that he sees and is aware of...some still escaped his radar but I don't want to worry him. I can take care of myself) that always tortured me because of my sexuality. He always came to my aid when I needed him to and sometimes when I didn't need him to, even though Ben has life difficulties as well.

But bullies are one thing and shadow creatures that want do to do nothing but eat souls is another. How can Ben be brave enough to face down a threat like that? I probably would have just ran for help, but actually fight them and have the balls to challenge the very organization that he works for just to keep me safe? Who in the hell does that?

That's what I don't get though. Ben could be a bit cold, rash, and bull headed at times but has all sorts of positive qualities as well. He was caring, honest and loyal to those he cared for...he was brave, funny and a blast to be around! Not to mention...wait a second. My eyes widened and I nearly dropped my IPod in shock.'Could I have fallen in love with Ben while I wasn't looking?' I thought before I shook my head. No, No, No! Not possible... or is it? Even now, my heart beats were becoming bit faster as I looked at Ben in a totally different light and I noticed things I haven't noticed before like the sheen of his fur, his well pronounced abs that he got from all the years he played basketball and the sun made him look...

I was stopped in my daydreams quite suddenly when my lips collided with Ben's, causing like a thousand fireworks to flash across my vision and for my body to be completely consumed in pleasure and that was just from a kiss! As I kissed deeper, cognitive thoughts of what I was doing finally surfaced.

SMACK!

I had to resort to smacking my own face away from Ben's mouth because my lips wouldn't follow my brains directions to stop kissing my best friend. I fell on the floor with my face still stinging from the impact but I was back to my normal self. WHAT THE FUCK CAME OVER ME?! This is bad! This is really bad! How could I fall in love with my best friend?! Like my life wasn't a soap opera already! Especially when I have no clue how Ben would react to it. Would he freak out and never talk to me again or...

I made my way to the bathroom that was linked to Ben's room. 'Stop freaking out Dil...Ben doesn't have to know you practically molested him while he was still in a coma...' I bashed my head against the wall. 'STUPID STUPID! WHY DID I DO THAT?!' I splashed water from the sink to snap myself out of the haze I was still in and tried to will the leaking boner in my jeans away...stupid tight jeans!

'Damn it what do I do now?! I want to be more than friends with Ben but I don't wanna risk my friendship to try and finally succeed!' As I made myself look at the very least presentable, I hung back and put my hand on the doorknob 'I guess I can try to keep these feelings in check until I know my feelings for sure and how Ben will react when I finally tell him' I thought before I turned the knob and stepped into the room. I was surprised when I saw my charmed necklace with a note leaning against it. I picked up the note and began to read

Dil

I came by to drop off your necklace at the hospital when I saw you weren't home. I couldn't stay for long since I really needed to get back to work so I couldn't wait for you to return to Ben's room in order to say hello but I will see you when we get home. Be sure to be home for supper! Tonight's your favorite!

Love Dad

P.S. Be sure to not forget your necklace in the future. If this happens again I won't have any choice but to seal your powers away like I should have done when you were younger for your own safety.

I gulped as I finished reading the note. My powers may cause me troubles from time to time but I still think of them as part of who I am and I definitely wouldn't want them to be sealed. I put the necklace in my pocket since I really didn't feel like dealing with its side effects of having it off for so long. I was snapped from my daydreams when I heard the smacking of lips.

I raised my head up from the note to find Ben still half asleep, groggily smacking his lips and saying "Why do I have this strange taste in my mouth?"

"Ben!" I yelled, running up to him and grabbing the wolf in a tight hug. I wasn't ashamed to admit I cried a bit. He gently rubbed my back until I finally calmed down enough to stop blubbering incoherently.

"Good to see you to Dil," He said with a tiny bit of amusement. "Feels good to be back in my body...'"

After awhile, the doctors did a couple more tests and made sure Ben wasn't going to fall under another coma. We were cleared to go after they could found nothing physically wrong with him and before we left, one of the nurses told Ben of his grandfather's passing. Even though Ben already knew this already, his acting skills impressed me. He did cry...I guess from the grief he still felt for his grandfather but still managed to put up a 'macho guy' attitude and tried to hide it from the nurse like he would if he just heard about it.

About five minutes later after the nurse left, he was teasing me about how I stood by his side while in a coma like a worried mom or something. After seeing me blushing about that remark Ben laughed really hard so it was safe to assume Ben was alright...well after the kick to the shin I had to do to make him stop laughing.

Ben asked where Hope was and I said she had to leave for her punishment. Ben surprised me by smiling and pumped his fist in victory with a "Yes no more babysitter!" His mood was ridiculously bubbly from then on. I guess he REALLY didn't like Hope. We decided to just walk home to catch up with each other, sharing stories back and forth about his adventures as a Reaper and my stories of funny and scary ghost misadventures that happened to me over the years.

Pretty soon we were just talking and joking about normal teenage stuff as if nothing that happened had happened. Definitely not what I was expecting when I finally told him about my secret of being able to talk to ghosts. It was almost like the time when I told him I was gay and he barely reacted at all, but that's just Ben I guess because nothing ever shakes him. In fact, I believe it made our bond stronger than it ever was before. Now if I can only tell him that....

As I was pulled away from my daydreaming, I was suddenly tackled into the pavement by Ben while he screamed "Look out!" just in time to narrowly avoid some kind of blast of darkness in the spot where we just were. As I recovered from the impact with a shake of my head I took in my surroundings and noticed that the park we were passing by was covered in fog. Squinting in the fog, I could barely make out some jelly fish looking Shadows.

"Can we not have a peaceful minute today?!" Ben yelled at the Shadows, their only response was to launch about 6 beams of darkness that merged into one large beam that Ben barely dodged. Dirt and debris was launched into the air as the attack landed, causing an explosion that blew both me and Ben back several feet.

"Damn it I hate these guys..." Ben mumbled as he reached into his pocket for something.

"You faced these guys before?" I asked while leaping to my feet, getting ready to dodge the next attack.

"Yeah with Hope though...they're Shadows that attack in powerful long range bursts that take a bit to charge up, hence why we haven't got shot at while we were talking.It's like a Shadows equivalent to a sniper!" Ben said as he found what he was looking for, which was a short dark red colored flute with air swirls as a design along the sides of it. Ben told me earlier that this flute was how he could turn his Reaper abilities on and off with a few notes that Suzaku made him practice until he remembered by heart. The thing is Ben hadn't got a chance to try out the transformation out yet.

"Well that's good since you faced them before...you can take them out quickly before they can kill us right?" I yelled as I noticed the Shadows charging another burst.

Ben tossed his phone and mp3 player at me but didn't answer my question as he put the flute to his lips and blew, creating a beautiful melody that for some reason put the image of a feather falling before spontaneously com busting in my head before I felt actual heat, flame and wind coming off of Ben's body in the same column of flame that I saw in the hospital but at a much smaller level which was about the length and width of a Ben and a half. Ben emerged from the flame dressed in his Reaper getup and big ass sword over his shoulder. His expression was one of calm but I saw a flicker of nervousness in his eyes.

"I wish, my magic sucks and they move way too fast for me to hit with my sword...plus with this fog, they're almost invisible. The only thing I can do is buy time so you can run away to safety and call Hope so she can come help!" He said while getting into a battle ready position with his sword lowered like a samurai and his feet spread apart like he was getting ready to sprint. I asked him why he got into this position before and all he did was shrug and say it was just natural, sorta like how everyone uses a pencil in a different way.

"Well that doesn't exactly radiate your usual confidence...What if she doesn't answer or is too far away to help?" I asked while searching for Hope's number quickly on Ben's phone and hitting dial as I pocketed his Mp3 player.

"They kicked my ass enough to knock me down a few pegs..." Ben said with a shrug as he continued. "But I'll figure something out while you haul ass back to your house...oh, and put your necklace back on! You neglected to put it on earlier. I felt it in your pocket when I tackled you earlier." With that, Ben 'Quick stepped' as he calls it toward the closest Shadow just as some released their shot at his last position and at ME! I was frozen stiff, stupidly staring at the dark mass coming toward me with wide eyes and when I thought I was toast a green shield appeared around me and with a stroke of luck, caused the shot to bounce back and damage the one that fired it. Barely damaging it but it was still a hit.

"Dil MOVE! I'll keep them busy!" Ben yelled as another shot was fired, this time only at him but this one he didn't seem to dodge because he was looking at me.

"BEN!" I screamed as he was consumed by a cloud of dust, thus blocking my view but he suddenly appeared right next to me gasping in pain and clutching his legs which looked badly burned.

"I'm fine...managed to Quick step at the last moment...call Hope while you get out of here..." He gasped while grimacing in pain.

"But you're injured-!" I started but the wolf interrupted me.

"I'M FINE! NOW GO!" He screamed while picking me up like I was nothing and tossing me about five feet into the air (I know he has enhanced strength but this is ridiculous!) and right as another shot was fired, I nearly screamed his name again before I caught a glimpse of the outline of the same green shield that protected me earlier through the fog and smoke.

I crashed into the ground but quickly got up and hid behind a tree and I put the phone to my ears and tried to hear over the many explosions in the background and over Ben's trash talking. Don't know why but I counted the rings the phone made because maybe it was my mind trying to find order in chaos I guess...stupid OCD.

1 ring

2 rings

3 rings

*click*

My heart rose when I heard the click and I was about tell Hope what was going on but my heart dropped when I heard "Hey! You reached Hope's voice mail! Sorry I couldn't come to the phone *giggle* better luck next time. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you!" I quickly left a quick shouted message before hanging up and putting Bens' phone in my pocket before hitting a tree to vent my frustration. Then I got out of my hiding place to yell at Ben.

"HOPE'S NOT ANSWERING HER PHONE! WE ARE ON OUR OWN!" I yelled before I yelped and dodge-rolled to another tree before a dark laser crashed into the spot I was standing on.

"FANTASTIC!" Ben yelled with heavy sarcasm in his voice. "AND I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO HAUL ASS TO YOUR HOUSE!" Ben shouted more as he summoned another shield to protect himself as another five dark laser blasts crashed into his shield. Ben looked like he was getting tired from holding the shield up for so long and it looked like he couldn't move because of the burn on his leg.

"AND LEAVE YOUR SORRY ASS BEHIND!? I DON'T THINK SO! FRIENDS DON'T LEAVE FRIENDS BEHIND!" I shouted back. I suddenly had an idea. "WHY DON'T I DRAG YOU AND WE CAN RUN AWAY FROM HERE WHILE YOU USE A SHIELD TO COVER US?!"I asked as Ben lowered his shield and launched a few fireballs at one of the Shadows which just dodged and faded in the fog, disappearing from his vision, presumably to charge another blast.

"THAT'S A GOOD IDEA-" Ben started as I began to sprint my way toward him before I felt a gust of wind launch me back a little bit farther than my starting point "IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE MOVING WAY TOO SLOW TO GET AWAY AND THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MAGIC TO DEFEND US FOR VERY LONG!" Ben shouted back as I soared though the air. "DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME AND RUN! YOU'RE DOING NOTHING BUT BEING A TARGET!"

"But-" I whispered before me and Ben had to dodge another attack again. When I recovered I was pushed back again with Ben's gust of wind again.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY GO HOME DIL?!"

"AS MANY AS YOU LIKE BECAUSE I'M NOT LEAVING!" I yelled back and Ben surprised me by suddenly appearing in front of me. His facial expression was one of anger, something he doesn't aim at me often.

"I guess I'm going to have to make you!" With that, he took a deep breath and blew while pushing with everything he had into one wind blast which was powerful enough to send me across the park, across the thankfully deserted street and into an alleyway where I landed into a wall and blacked out instantly.

When I awoke I had a pounding headache and when I pulled back my hand from my head I saw a bit of blood but that could have been from all the stuff that hit me earlier in the tons of explosions the dark lasers caused and not from my rough landing. I took out my phone and realized only ten minutes had past. I stumbled out of the alley muttering "You...are not getting rid of me that easy Ben!" I hobbled across the street and into the park. Just in time to watch Ben fall to the ground from seemingly multiple wounds and exhaustion.

"BEN!" I shouted and made my way toward him only to have all 6 dark laser shots that were aimed at Ben to fire at me instead. I dodged enough to just be blown away by the explosions. When I landed, I was right next to Ben.

"I..thought I told...you to get...out of here..."! Ben said angrily but his sentence was broken due the fact he was breathing so heavily and so hard. I smirked despite our situation and said.

"Can't get rid of me that easy...would you leave me if I said to since they are most likely after me?"

Ben glared at me but only mumbled a "No of course not!"

"My point exactly!" I said as I squinted through the fog and watched the Shadows preparing to fire another shot.

I was suddenly hit with another idea and took out my necklace and put it on Ben "What are you-" Ben asked as suddenly his Reaper outfit and sword vanished. He also looked a little green in the face. "What the hell?" Ben said as I explained.

"Since the necklace was configured for me, I thought if I put it on you it would mask your presence completely" I smiled, "And judging that I can't feel your presence at all even though I'm right next to you it turns out I was right...course I didn't expect for your outfit and sword to disappear but eh..." I shrugged. "Every plan has its kinks"

"Ok that's great but now what?" asked Ben and I kept smiling.

"Now I get to save you for once" With that, I started to sprint while calling over my shoulder. "Since they can't eat something with no soul they will go after the buffet they seem to love so much!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Said Ben while getting up but immediately fell over due to the jelly-leg inducing nausea that I felt every time I put on the necklace after a long period of time. It's bad for me but it must paralyze Ben since he isn't used to it.

I actually laughed (Damn I think the stress is making me snap...oh well) "That's another purpose of the necklace so you won't try to do something stupid to try and stop me from doing something stupid!"

"DIL!" Ben shouted in anger.

I chuckled only to scream when I tripped over an exposed tree root. Damn my clumsiness!

"DIL!" Ben shouted this time in panic and I looked up wide eyed at the six jelly fish looking Shadows who almost finished charging up another shot. As I was staring death in the face I smiled 'As long as I got to save Ben...well as long as he doesn't-'

I heard the sound of Ben's flute along with a "HEY BASTARDS! I'M OVER HERE!" I looked at Ben and he had successfully taken off my necklace and tossed it at me which hit me in the face and rolled a bit away from me. Three of the Shadows from the group turned and went after Ben.

"DAMN IT BEN WHY DIDN'T JUST LISTEN TO ME?!" I yelled

"THE SAME REASON YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME!" Ben yelled back, his tone filled with anger and smugness as he tried to kill the Shadows with his sword when they got close enough so he could get to me but it was all in vain since they just dodged all his swings. I shut my eyes and pounded the ground in frustration. Why doesn't he ever do as he is told?! Why did I have to be so weak that he always has to defend me every time we get into trouble?!

"DIL!" Ben yelled, his tone filled completely in panic. I looked up just in time to see the Shadows release their energy blast.

'I JUST WANT TO SAVE MY FRIEND! IS THAT TO MUCH TO ASK!?' I yelled in my head as I waited for my death that was now coming right at me in the form of a laser. Only...death never came after ten seconds of me closing my eyes. I wiped the tears from my eyes and opened them only to see everything apparently frozen as if someone had hit a pause button on everything but me. I suddenly heard a voice inside my head.

'Certainty not much to ask at all.' There was a form whose features were consumed in a bright light that suddenly appeared in front of me.

'But you would have to sacrifice the safety of your mother's charm in order to obtain the power to do so.' After I got over my shock I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the dark death beam that was frozen in mid-air for the moment.

"How can I be safe already when I'm about to die?" I asked and the voice chuckled.

'Good point' With that, the figure raised an arm and my necklace floated over with the other hand while the figure held a bow made entirely out of bright blue light.

'Once you grasp this bow and put on that necklace which, by the way has been wiped of all traces of its earlier charm it will be the physical embodiment of your soul and the source of your power. If it should ever be broken by any means so shall your soul. Oh, and you can never take it off since its attached forever to your neck...don't worry it grows with you. Wouldn't want you to be strangled with your own choker now would we?' Another chuckle came from the figure as he laughed at his own horrible joke.

"Uh thanks?" I said as I put on the necklace and grasped the bow and I was immediately consumed in white light.

When the light vanished, my clothes were gone and were replaced with a white tunic with a demon along my back. I was also dressed in a black pair of pants with white crosses along each of the knees. The fabric felt like it had the flexibility similar to that of sweat pants on the inside but was made out of stronger fabric on the outside that probably was to protect me from attacks (The tunic appeared to be made the same way.) even with all the layers of fabric, the pants and tunic were extremely lightweight. The shoes that suddenly appeared on my feet were a split of solid back on one side of the shoes and solid white on the other. I also had on a white scarf with a black tip wrapped over my choker. As I gazed over my new look in wonder, a strange angelic version of me landed on my shoulder.

"That's Cosmo; he will be your guide. So you better get along" Cosmo smiled and said.

"Me? Get in a fight with this handsome devil? I doubt it!" He laughed at his own joke. The little guy radiated peppy and positive energy that it made me smile and feel energized like I had tons of soda plus an energy drink. Curiously, I saw that along with my clothes every injury I had sustained was healed as well.

"Well it looks like you're all set...good luck you two!" Said the figure before it disappeared.

"Wait what are you and what's your name? I didn't get to thank you yet!" I shouted

"Think of me as a guardian angel and my name is..." But the rest faded before I could hear.

"Well let's kick some ass!" Said Cosmo as he pulled back the bowstring and a bright arrow made of the same blue light formed. I copied his motion and the same thing happened, causing me to grin. Looks like all those years of archery practice would be paying off after-all...

"Yeah lets!"