Chapter 83: Wearing human skin - An agreement between life and death

Time was frozen. No one moved. Reapers put down their weapons and bowed in reverence. Shadow soldiers were dispelled back into the ring. Humans present but unable to move or comprehend the situation. Even the snow that fell from the grey sky, seemed to hang in midair, waiting for the word of the Lord Reaper to continue its fall to earth.

"My lord..." Gabriel grovelled on the ground. Knee to the snow and head bowed deep into the ground.

"I attempted to deal with our rogue reaper. However, the meddlesome Er-"

*Whack*

Another punch, this time a left hook to the jaw, sent Gabriel face first into the snow. Not only because Gabriel needed a good thump in that immaculate face of his. But the red fool was about to spill the secret of the Reaper to everyone. Especially not in front of the RCU.

"Enough. Both of you. Gabriel your mission was to cleanse the soul of Thanatos. A task which was completed successfully." Death spoke. Turning to face Isamu, who was still clutching the spear that had pierced the gut. A wound that was fatal for any mortal. The last of his Reaper blood keeping him going in these dying moments.

"But... my Lord." Gabriel continued to grovel in the snow, head bowed.

"The task was done; this was unwarranted and unnecessary."

Eren snickered internally. Seeing Gabriel being admonished by their lord was a rare sight-

"And you Reaper... Your defiance, your refusal to comply with the reapers would have brought ruin to all present. Your actions have consequences." Continued Death. Turning to Eren, eyes that were not present but held a dark penance towards Eren.

It wasn't fun being the target of Death's ire, but it was better than seeing the others pay for the mistake of one.

"I did what was right. I won't let Gabriel or any of you decide what is right." Eren stood firm in front of Death. His voice was unwavering and stern like he-

"Yet here we all stand. Without intervention you would have perished and your mission a failure." Death gestured their hand to their surroundings. A man that stood in a field of Reapers held down by their respect for Death.

What's worse than being scolded by one's boss? Knowing they are right.

"My lord how are we to resolve these matters... We cannot allow this afront to our laws to go without sentence."

"Mediation..."

---

"Breath Captain. Breath." Luca held his hands firmly on the wound of the captain, keeping pressure on the bleeding. They were trapped in the void of Death. The only thing left was to observe the strange beings.

"What is it?" Mori asked, looking at the figure in a black robe and scythe.

"It looks like a grim reaper... The grim reaper." Aki replied. Hand still on her weapon, ready to defend the others.

"He sounds annoyed." Mai said, trying to get a better look. She was too far away to pick up the words, but by the tone and body language of the Reaper. It seemed that something serious was happening between the three beings.

It did bring a coy smile to Aki's face. Seeing a monster get its due. She had always thought the being was a dangerous menace, but now she had a reason.

It was literally an agent of death.

"Mai. Mori. Go and help the family." Takeshi ordered. Gesturing towards Akemi, Isamu, and the children. They needed help there was only so many hands the captain needed.

"Yes sir." The pair nodded, rushing over to help the wounded man.

"Miss, please. Lay your husband down on the snow." Mori spoke with urgency, gesturing to Isamu. Akemi, still in shock, slowly complied, helping her husband lay on the white ground, blood seeping into the snow and melting the frozen powder.

"P-p-please... I... My family..." Isamu spoke, a cold and shiver in their body.

"You're gonna be fine-"

"K-keep... Them safe. Don't let... Them come after..." Isamu continued to speak, blood trickled from the corner of their mouth.

"Keep ya mouth shut ya big lug." Said Akemi, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You're not gonna die on me, not until I get a few more words into ya."

Those words, soothed Isamu's heart. He would need to live, for them.

Meanwhile, from the portal emerged a tall, slender figure in a black suit. Face of a black jackal with golden glowing eyes. It surveyed the field, the humans, the wounded, and then Death.

"Anubis of the reapers, welcome." Spoke Azazel. Offering the Jackal a welcoming hand.

"Lord Azazel..." Anubis greeted Death with a deep bow.

"What is it that you require? The line is currently without judgement, awaiting your return."

"We are in need of mediation. We will resolve the matter here. Between life and death." Death gestured to all that were present.

"Very well, my Lord." Anubis turned, looking to Gabriel, then the Reaper and then towards Lucifer.

"Gabriel. You will be the side of Death. Reaper, you will represent the living." Death continued.

'What?' Eren had been thrust into this 'Mediation' like it was common knowledge.

'What does this have to do with anything?' Much rather settle this in the arena of the Reaper like back in the day.

"I'll represent the ever-charming Reaper in this matter." Lucifer strutted up like a proud cock, an almost smug expression on his model face.

*Sigh*

"Very well." Anubis continued. He was ready for the shenanigans of Lucifer; it was common knowledge that the reaper would cause annoyance and chaos wherever his emerald eyes would land. All for his own entertainment and amusement.

It was the reason why Lucifer was often shunned by the others in the land of the dead, a personality and charisma that was just too much to deal with, a bad mixture to add to an already chaotic world.

"First order of mediation." Started Anubis. "The being Eren Heart. What will be done with their life?"

"Ex- Excuse me?" Still unsure about the rules and how mediation worked, but hearing one's name brought some concern to the Reaper.

"I say we execute them for insubordination." Gabriel spoke up, taking a step forward, standing side by side next to Anubis.

"Mmmmm. No." Lucifer replied. Arms folded and pretending to be deep in thought.

"Of course it would be you stand for him; you enable him. He is your ward." Gabriel hissed at the blonde-haired man.

"He has no regard for authority, nor respect. He is not fit to wear the mantle of reaper, nor the God Eater."

"He HaS no REgArD fOr AuThOriTY." Lucifer mocked in a deeper voice.

"You dare make light of this situation-"

"Gabriel." Anubis cut in; a hand raised in the air. "We use our words, not our fists." Said the jackal, spoken like a teacher to a student.

"Lucifer. What's going on? Why are you speaking on my behalf? Why is he trying to execute me?"

"Oh, little dove. Don't fret, it's just internal politics. I haven't done mediation in centuries. Put simply, it's like a debate. Both sides discuss an issue, then the judge decides the fairest outcome for both parties. In this case, that handsome devil dog-"

"Lucifer." Anubis interrupted, already the jackal had enough of Lucifer.

"Yes?" The blonde turned, still with a coy expression.

"Do you have a rebuttal towards Gabriel's statements?" Asked the jackal, gesturing to the red Reaper.

"We kill Gabriel." Lucifer suggested with a smile.

"You wouldn't even touch me." The Red Reaper replied with derision, arms folded and eyes glaring at the blonde-haired man. As if he would allow such inferior beings to get close.

"But my little dove already has, twice." Lucifer smirked. "He's getting slow in his old age, I'm afraid. What was once a mighty warrior is now a pompous pretty boy." Continued the Blonde.

"Gabriel. What say you?"

It was like watching a playground game where only the cool kids knew the rules, yet here was the new kid trying to join in.

It was confusing, frustrating, and annoying all at the same time, but to Eren's surprise it slowly became clearer.

"A fight to the death?" A middle ground between both parties. Gabriel wanted Eren to be less insubordinate dead, whilst Eren wanted him to fuck off.

"Yes, very astute little dove." Lucifer praised.

"Gabriel. What say you?" Anubis asked. The Jackal had no love nor hate for the reaper Eren. He just wanted the conflict to be resolved as soon as possible, the line of souls was getting long and the longer the situation was drawn out; more souls would be added to the queue and backlog.

"It is a fine idea." Agreed Gabriel with a nod.

"I get to use my shadow soldiers." Eren added.

"No. They are a separate entity entirely." Gabriel shook his head.

"This is between the two of us. Our power and skills."

"No... Without me they are cease to exist, their power is mine to control. Therefore, they are me and I them."

"Fair rebuttal, little Reaper." Anubis turned back to Gabriel, expecting him to agree to the terms.

'Little?' Eren didn't like the insulation. But let's not pick another fight with a being ensuring fair play in a game that he was only beginning to understand.

"You would have all your souls against myself? A man who has been away from combat for so many years? It would not be an honourable victory." Countered Gabriel.

"Too bad you won't get one." Eren replied, voice low.

Gabriel thought for a moment. Then something struck his mind.

"A counter then... An... Apology." Each word pained Gabriel; it was like pulling teeth from the red reaper.

"Fine-" Eren agreed readily, he didn't really want to fight again. He had enough. But Lucifer whispered something into the reapers ear.

"An apology and an acknowledgment of the good looks, charm and abilities of Lucifer." Eren said with some difficulty.

"...I am sorry for attacking you. And I accept that Lucifer has a certain... Charm and Handsomeness… To his form." His face souring as though someone had pissed in their morning tea, but reluctantly he accepted the conditions.

"I knew it I am the most beautiful being in all the land." Lucifer clapped their hands together, happy to be praised in public. In front of the top dogs of the Reaper hierarchy.

"Next, the ring of the god eater-"

"No. That is outside the scope of this mediation. That item shall have no discussion." Death cut off Gabriel mid-sentence. This was to be expected; the ring is of concern to the greater balance of life and death. Something greater waited for the ring.

---

"Final, topic for meditation. The life of Isamu." Anubis began to get antsy with his words. Clearly, he missed his desk job.

"Immediate execution." Gabriel said. "The law is clear, any who abandon their post are to be punished to the fullest extent."

'They're making it up as they go.' Thought Eren. Laws that he never heard off in all the time of being in the land of the dead.

"No. His soul was offered up in exchange for his freedom. He is no longer a reaper." Lucifer countered. Standing beside the Reaper.

"Yet, he still defied our laws as a reaper. Hid as a reaper and only now when caught he has decided to give up that soul. Cowards should not be afforded such leniency." Gabriel countered.

Lucifer couldn't rebut that point. He too seemed wary of these seemingly arbitrary rules that were being presented.

"I'll fight for his right to live-" A hand placed itself on the shoulder of the Reaper. Lucifer gave a slight shake of the head.

"If you might as his champion, then Gabriel is entitled to pick his own champion..." The blonde explained.

"And he would pick me, my little dove."

Eren withdrew the idea from their head. It wasn't worth it, to have Lucifer fight. He wouldn't sacrifice a friend for Isamu, a man that he barely knew and had tried to kill him several times.

"Is their counterpoint to Gabriel's? No? Then the judgement is clear-" Anubis spoke up. Nearly ready to end the mediation and go back to work. Until a fiery tiger made her way to the circle.

"Hey!" The booming voice of Akemi cut through. She marched over, eyes with a burning rage. Fist clenched and teeth gritted.

"Ya all talk about killing my husband, but ya won't let me say anything for him? I'm his wife ya know."

"Human, this does not concern-"

"It does. Dog face; carrying on like a bunch a brutes and morons."

This woman, who strode up to beings of death itself. Had the courage to call them out, her eyes filled with rage. None would say it but all respected her determination. Akemi stood in the middle, eyes swapping between all the parties.

"You make speak." Anubis relented.

"I've been married to Isamu for over twelve years. He was the best ramen chief going round. But a lousy husband and shit farther to my two kids." She began.

"He could cook but couldn't give a lick ave attention to the children or me. I was gonna kick his ass to the gutter. But then... He left for a 'meeting' with some friends... He came back the next day holdin flowers and a box a chocolate."

"Where is this story leading?" Gabriel asked.

"Shut it curly." Akemi glared at the red reaper. "You, ya don't get a say after tying to kill me and mine." The lady would rather pummel him into the snow. Sure, it would have been entraining to watch. But would have sealed Isamu fate.

"He came back a better husband, paid attention to the kids, his ramen became aggressively average. I thought the bastard hit his head or somethin' but now I know, that someone else came back."

"I know you say that's a monster livin in my husband's skin, but I don't care, cause ya know what? It's a better man than the original Isamu. The type of man I wish that Isamu was. If he was a monster then so be it."

Tears began to well up in her eyes, but they did not fall. Her gaze was locked onto the black void of Death's head.

"Please. Don't take him. Life's hard enough already. The kids need a farther that's there. I-I need someone there for me to lean on when I fall. Please... I'm begging you, don't kill this one..." Her hand reached out, trembling.

The mediation fell silent. Each sharing glances between each other. Unsure of what to do or say.

"I withdraw from mediation." Gabriel spoke first, taking a step back; their gaze was turned away, no longer staring at any of the others.

"I don't have anything more to add." Said the Reaper.

"Then I suppose this concludes the mediation between life and death." Announced Anubis with a clap.

"I declare that the soul of Isamu will remain, bound to Akemi, until death does them part." Next Anubis walked back to the gate.

"So, business as usual then?" Akemi jested to herself, wiping the last of her tears away.

Not many could convince the dead to let a soul go, and of those few who tried; they would not have been so bold as to speak to Death itself in such a harsh manner.

She held her head high, higher than normal. Bragging rights until death in deed take them part.

"Indeed." Replied Anubis. Before the jackal disappeared into the darkness of the black gate.

"Well. That was fun." Lucifer clapped harder than Anubis, turning to the Reaper.

"Now for my compensation." A mischievous grin plastered on Lucifers face; it was the look of a man who already knew the answer.

'Here we go.' Eren groaned internally, the price would likely be something stupid. Something like 'A kiss on the cheek' or some other embarrassing thing. Better to just get it over and done with.

"Hold Lucifer." Death raised their hand, the last of the parties left on earth.

"My lord?" Lucifer looked up, the smile fading to a more neutral expression.

"I need to speak with the Reaper. Alone." Death said, turning to face Eren, ushering him away from area.

"Very well." Lucifer bowed. Stepping away from the Reaper. "I'll be waiting for my reward." He whispered, a wink as the blonde reaper returned to their post, leaving the Reaper and the avatar alone.

***

Death walked past the two groups. Captain Shimada's wound, although fatal, was healed by the touch of Death. So too was Isamu's spear wound. It was an act of good faith.

The avatar wanted no further hostility. They walked towards the outskirts of the garden, where the snow began to fall once more. But still that heavy chill remained.

"What is this all about?" Asked Eren, the snow crunched under their feet. His eyes watched as the wind carried the white powder around like sand in a desert. It had always been a beautiful sight.

"Your actions... Here, and in your time on earth... What is it that you want?" Their voice was low, cold. Like the snow that fell from the grey skies.

Eren paused. He too was unsure. Ever since coming back to life he felt like a stranger in a strange world. Thanatos and his mission were the first time he truly felt differently about himself.

"I... I wanted my sister to be happy..." His words carried on the winds that blew past the two.

"But it's like I'm looking at a box from the outside. Seeing everything unfold. All the hurt all the pain. I had to do something, to try and make things right."

"You have carried your role well..." A small blue bird, fluttered from the sky and landed onto the skeletal hand of the avatar.

"Bringing balance between life and death. Bringing judgement to those who harm others. Mercy to those that need it most." The bird hopped around the hand a couple times before opening its wings and returning to the grey sky above.

"Mercy... I haven't brought mercy to many." Eren said. His eyes focused on the small bird in flight.

"Yet... Here we stand; you choose to spare a former Reaper, someone who had tried to kill you, flee from you, loathe you. You choose to help others, even if it goes against our will." Death turned, looking at the Reaper.

"You are still a reaper. Still a human's heart." He continued, a hand reached out. Touching at the chest of the Reaper.

"Do not forget that." The cold touch brought warmth.

"Is there something else?" Eren wanted to go home, cook for Emi, do something normal after all this.

"Yes." From his other hand he pulled a black worm. The shadow worm, the second one that had appeared in a matter of days.

"The dominus of the goblins." Said the Avatar, looking at the wretched worm in their hands.

"You are on a course for war." They spoke. Turning back to the garden.

"I know... The ring wraps reality in subtle ways." Eren sighed. It was bound to happen eventually. Someone big and powerful would notice the Reaper, a new player to the great game.

"As long as you stay true, the balance between life and death shall remain."