In a world when the Seven Gods and Goddesses ruled- not everything was so peaceful….

“Ah, quiet at last.” Rinji noted with a content sigh. “No city smog or anything.” He added jumping into the nearest tree with remarkable grace. His brown hair was roughly waist length, and currently separated into a few lose, tiny braids, otherwise it hung down limp. His eyes were a sharp shade of green; they glimmered innocently in the setting sun as he examined his surroundings.

“Not another thing in sight, I’ll be.” He mused; he had a touch of a multi-ethnical accent. His khaki pants hung lose on his thin form. “I wonder what the others are up ta, its been a while since I seen ‘em.”

He laughed suddenly. “Masika would have a fit if she saw me. Up here talking to meself like dis. I remember ‘don’t talk to yerself Rinji- it makes people look at you strange’.” He mimicked. “Not dat people don’t look at a guy in khaki pants an a green shirt holdin’ a snake strange already. But anything for little sister, I promised, but oh well.”

He smiled at the snake in his hand winding up around his arm a little more and hissing. “Ya know- your right!” Rinji beamed at the snake. “We should go find little sister!”

The snake hissed again and Rinji jumped down, his gaze hardened as he heard someone approaching, bone like claws stretched from his knuckles as he turned. “Who goes?!”

“Tsk. Rinji, you don’t remember me?” A voice asked with a hint of sarcasm. A black haired woman emerged from the bushes; she looked like a modern-Gothic princess.

“Oh- Kali.” He said, remotely startled, the bone-claws retracted back into his hands and he rubbed his knuckles. “Don sneak up on me like dat- you know da claws come out when I get surprised!”

“It is your curse you should be able to handle it.” Kali retorted.

“And you can handle your curse?” Rinji snapped back a little irritated with the woman in front of him.

“I’m learning.” She replied. “He’s not really that bad except he’s a hellish version of me.” She added shrugging. “Devil Child.” She added casting a look back as a young boy appeared beside her. He looked about 6, with waist length white hair and dark eyes.

He smiled innocently at her. “Oh don’t hate me cause I’m cute mama.” He told her sighing.

“He’s cute, Kali.” Rinji noted.

He raised an eyebrow at Rinji and stuck out his tongue. “Whatever Mr. Snake-talker-man.”

“Fawn!” Kali scolded.

“Its not that big of a deal Kali- I do talk to animals a bit too much. Trust ‘em a bit more dan humans.” He said shrugging.

“Well- you’re the top-ranked God, he needs some respect.”

“Nah- the rest of ya are jus as important as me.” Rinji said, shrugging it off. “I mean- just because I created the Earth and the trees and nature doesn’t mean I didn’t have help from you guys.”

“Don’t be so modest.”

“What brings ya to this neck of da woods ne ways Kali? I thought you were living in France!”

“Well- I was just thinking about how the Seven of us haven’t seen each other in so long and decided that I should round up the lot of us for a bit of a reunion.” She said shrugging. “I’m using curse boy to track y’all.”

“Can we get Masika next?” Rinji asked hopeful, the idea of seeing his little sister again made him very happy.

“Of course!” Kali agreed. “You haven’t seen her in a while have you?” She added.

“Nah, not for a bit.” He agreed.

“Lets get started- we can find Masika, Raidon, Kirin, Aeolius, and…I dread trying to find Aidan, last I heard she was partying in Hollywood.” Kali reeled off.

“Yeah- dats what I heard too.” He agreed as they began walking.

“Where’s Masika, Fawn?” Kali asked the boy.

“Cancun Mexico.” Fawn told her smirking.

“Lets go then.” Rinji demanded nodding.

They started walking, not realizing that they were being watched.

“Hey Kali I forgot to ask- who’s the shrimps father?”

“I dunno- some guy.”

“And he’s your curse?”

“No I just call him that.” She replied laughing a little. “my curse is something else.”

“I’ve never seen it in action- what’s it like?”

“It sucks.”

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Chapter 2: Water never looked so good….