Chapter 74: Wearing human skin - Ideals of the living

Thanatos rushed back through the winding alley ways of ward 4.

Mind racing with fear for the safety of himself, and that of his family. Eren, a reaper and a force to be reckoned with. Even in the land of the dead the old Reaper was seen as a monster on the battle field.

'I'll take them to Akemi's parents; we can start again... The Reapers won't find us.' His mind continued its record pace, plans and strategies. Trying to figure out how to escape the wrath of Death and its servants. It would be difficult, nigh impossible.

However, all Thanatos wanted to do was protect was his family, and his life as Isamu. A happy life filled with joyous memories. Not the cold and endless abyss of the land of the dead.

Arriving back at the Ramen shop. He felt a pit in the stomach. Death of a different kind clung to the air.

"Akemi! Kids! Where are you?!" Thanatos called, barging through the door like an avalanche of bricks. Climbing the stairs to the house above. Only to stop when saw...

Eren, helping the kids pack their bags in the living room.

*Slap*

"Why didn't you tell me..." The teary eyes of Akemi looked to her husband. A firm slap knocked all the planning out of him

'Why... How?' Thanatos was stunned, how did Eren beat him home? An answer he would not like.

"Oi, ya got something to say ya big lug?" Asked Akemi with fighting words, hair, and clothes now clean and tidy, "You know, I thought you were always a bit strange, but this? Why didn't ya tell me."

Thanatos was speechless, not a single word came to mind. What did Eren say to her?

"W-What as he told you." Thanatos was almost too afraid to ask.

"What? You don't know?" She had a sarcastic tone, "Well allow me to tell ya." Hands on hips as she stepped closer to the large man.

"You worked as some kind of mercenary, forgot to pay ya dues and now they've come to collect. And, I'm sorry Isamu, but I ain't gonna let nothin happen to you or the kids, ya hear me?" Her attitude was that of a fiery tigress. With her hands firmly planted on her hips.

'A mercenary? He didn't tell her?' Thanatos could only wonder why?

"Grab a case and pack. We're gonna stay at my folks house till things blow over." She ordered, heading into the kitchen to grab food and water for the trip.

"You have funny hair. Heh." Said a young boy. One of the two children of Thanatos, both doing more playing than packing.

"Yeah, it's all white. Are you an old man?" Asked the girl.

Eren gave a friendly head pat. "Yeah. I'm almost as old as your grandparents." A half-truth. Technically, Eren was older than all the great grandparents the world over. A fact that aggravated him earlier. Although he wouldn't take it out on kids.

"Hana, Kojūrō, go grab your cases and pack." Thanatos said.

However, Eren proceeded to pick them both up; carrying the pair in each arm. Like a loving uncle.

"Wow your strong like daddy." Hana said, her voice filled with all the excitement and joy of a child.

"Heh, I'm stronger than your dad. Ya dad couldn't even beat me in an arm wrestle." He joked, thinly veiled malice.

Thanatos was helpless, the children hung from the Reaper's arms like meat on a hook.

'Please don't hurt them...' A reaper scorned, is a monster without mercy or care. Thanatos could only hope that some of the whispers of Eren were lies. That, Eren's brutal nature was all an exaggeration.

---

*Bing* *Bong*

'The maglev train to Osaka, Ward 2. Will be leaving in 5 minutes.'

The near empty train station was void of most life. Aside from a tired guard and a few stragglers; the only one's present were Thanatos and Eren and family. Thanatos was a broken man in that moment. He was powerless to do anything as Eren practically carried both children to the maglev platform and waited.

"Oh, nearly forgot, I have your tickets here." Eren gave Akemi four tickets. For her and the kids to travel to Osaka's Ward 2.

"Don't worry about money, it's all paid for."

"What? Ya serious? Why are ya doing this? My man ain't got the money to pay you back." Her eyes were full of confusion and appreciation. This man had just appeared out of nowhere, and was helping them.

"Don't worry about it. Besides... First class train tickets aren't that much." He joked. In actuality, the Reaper had used his money from an 8-figure salary. A basic transaction when one has more money than they know what to do with.

"Thanks mister." The kids were elated to be given such a rare treat, to ride on the first-class carriage.

"But me and Isamu need to have a chat really quick. We will meet you in first class." Eren escorted Thanatos to the back carriage. Empty, all seats already brought and paid for by Eren.

Isolation was needed.

"You leave a piece of him for me as well. We need to sort somethings out." Akemi said. She was in the dark about what the two men were really talking about. All she wanted was to protect the kids and to give her husband a stern talking to.

*Bing* *Bong*

'Train is now departing. Please stay clear of the closing doors.'

The maglev train moved like lightning. It's speed and power were awe inspiring to many. Yet... On the last car of the train. Two reapers sat in tense silence.

"Eren... I."

*Whack*

A heavy fist connected with the former Reaper's head, "Fair enough..." Thanatos rubbed the side of the skull. He deserved the hit, but not the death sentence that may await him.

"Please don't hurt my family-"

"You don't get to make demands. I am fucking furious with you." Eren stated bluntly. The Reaper was in no mood for mercy. Having a building collapse in on you would only add to a growing list of problems.

"What did you tell them?"

"That your old employers want payment, and you left them high and dry..."

"And you?

"A former acquaintance come to warn you."

"Listen. I know you have no reason to do so, but please... I'm begging you." The man lowered to the floor, hands clasped and head bowed. He was desperate. A life of happiness was now on the brink.

"Let me live, please, I beg of you!"

"..." Eren's eyes pierced the soul of Thanatos, the cold and calculating gaze of a killer.

"I'm going to kill you in front of your family. They will see what kind of monster you really are." Eren said, with a dark and sadistic tone. He wanted to break the man. His family would no longer see Isamu as a father and husband, but as the creature that Eren knew Thanatos to be.

"NO! Please, anything but that. Don't hurt them." He pleaded, head bowed even further and tears falling from the former reaper's eyes.

"You won't know when or where I'll strike, your final days will be in paranoia and fear... That I will grant you." Eren was not a sadist. However, he was in no mood for anything. Hearing his age; first came depression, second came solemn resignation. Third came self-loathing.

Lashing out at the world was the only thing Eren felt was left. The only thing that was truly left.

Eren left Thanatos in the back of the train. Sounds of clacks and whistles from the maglev's engine filled the air.

---

"Oi, you've got a lot of explaining to do mister!" Akemi stormed to the back of the train. Like a hurricane of rage and emotion, she stood by his seat. Whilst he couldn't bear to look her in the eye.

"Well? I'm waiting!?" Her tone aggressive, and loud enough that it would cause quite the commotion if the train were packed.

"..."

"Spit it out! I ain't waitin all-"

A hug from those tree trunk arms. Thanatos embraced her tightly. Tears falling from Isamu's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry..." His words were muffled by the sobs and cries. Yet, she could hear them clear as day. The heartbreak, the pain, the love for the woman that was in front of him.

"Eh... What's going on? You're scarin' me a little." She said, hugging the big man back. Her voice was full of concern and worry, anger no more. Confusion on why her husband was so sad.

"Look, if this ain't just some merc work then ya can tell me. Ya know that right?" Her tone softened.

"These are bad people. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I never want to drag you guys down with me." Isamu explained. Although... He was not talking about himself, rather Thanatos.

"Hey, we're a family. We'll keep together. Don't think you can run away from us." Akemi said with a smile, and a loving embrace. One that brought a little bit of joy to the broken reaper.

"I love you, and the kids." He spoke.

"Isamu Sasaki. Why do we get the feeling your trying to say goodbye." Akemi pulled away from the embrace, looking deep into her husband's eyes. She saw pain, suffering and a deep sadness that weighed on her husband. A burden she wanted to help carry.

"If ya don't want to tell me, that's okay. Just know, I'll still be by ya side. We're in this together." Akemi took Isamu's hand and held it softly, a little tear rolling down her right cheek. She was not a woman of many emotions, tough and hard willed as they came.

"Is there anything we can do? Money, favours."

"I-I, don't know..." He didn't want her or the children to know the truth. A selfish desire to keep them in the dark. The former Reaper wanted to go back to a normal life. It was the one thing that had kept Thanatos going for so long.

"There mercenaries ain't they? Could you do a final job for em. Square the debt?" She was not wrong. Isamu was a mercenary, albeit one for the forces of death and the underworld.

"Pay them what ya owe, and we'll rebuild. Start from scratch?" Her mind was already on the future, and the possibilities ahead.

"No, it's not a matter of debts or favours. I have to- Wait. That's it. Akemi Sasaki, you're a genius." Isamu said with a smile, an idea hatched in his mind. One that might save their life.

"Eh?" She was confused, but her husband's smile had returned, and the tears had stopped. "Well, I suppose ya wouldn't be wrong."

"It's going to be all right." Pulling he into a grateful embrace. He had hope once more.

"Say, with the train near empty. Ya want to try that thing we've wanted to do for so long?" Akemi whispered in her husband's ear, a flirtatious and seductive tone.

"A-alright..." A blush on Isamu's face, a wide grin on hers. One of the reasons why the Reaper loved her so much; she knew what he liked.

Mounting her husband she kissed Isamu. A passionate kiss that had been building for years. 'I'll figure something out. We can make it through this together.'

"With the kids with that friend of yours... We should be free to-"

Eren. With his kids. It made him sick to think about. He gave a slight push to Akemi's chest, and broke away from the kiss.

"Is it Eren.... He reminds you of your merc work?" It was more a statement then a question. Yet, she was right on the money. Isamu didn't speak. He didn't have to. His wife had a way about her where she just knew.

"Don't worry, we can just cuddle, ya big lug." She said, a smile and loving embrace.

"Thank you."

Of all the whispers and rumours about Eren, The Reaper, he didn't hurt kids. That, was enough to put Thanatos at ease. He would figure out a way to square the debt with Death, the Reapers and Eren.

***

*Bing* *Bong*

'Osaka, Ward 2. Thank you for riding the maglev line.'

The morning glow of the sunrise shined bright in the horizon. The children of Isamu were sound asleep, curled up and resting in the seats of the train car, as the adults exited the carriage.

"Eren, can I talk to you?" Thanatos asked. As the sun illuminated the withered yet still beautiful gardens of Osaka. The winter chill hung heavy in the early morning air.

"How will you square the debt?" Eren, knew as if he were a there.

"Yes... How did you?"

"You and your wife are exhibitionists as well-"

"I-I mean. I don't, uh." Isamu stammered. His mind wandered back to what nearly happened on the train.

Two crows, one black, one white appeared from the shadows, perched on the bench behind them.

"They were watching." Eren stated. "Quickly then, tell me."

"I separate my soul from the mortal body."

"And then?"

"Gabriel. You can take my soul back to him, proof of the deed, and my severed ties to the realm of the dead."

Eren paused, pondering the idea. It was a good one, a simple one. However... the how is what he wanted to hear.

"If you thought it was easy you would've done it already. So... What do you need?"

"There is a ritual that would require a powerful potion, one I don't have the recipe for."

"Why should I trust you? Why shouldn't I just cut you down where you stand?" Eren stated coldly, eyes narrowing on Thanatos.

"Because..." Looking back at his family, "You've shown you're not as heartless, or cold as others have said."

For a moment he thought, hard. Thanatos was desperate to cling to a life of happiness. To leave the underworld and all it's suffering behind. To be a human, with a family and love.

"We have until Friday... Then, what happens is up to fate." Eren spoke, a little bit of compassion in the pit of the Reapers stomach.

"Thank you."

"Say goodbye to them." Leaving the former reaper, and the two crows in tow.

'To be human...' A goal that Eren could only see as futile, and pointless. His humanity was lost, and now all was left was the mission of balance.

'I can't be saved.'