A/N: This is the last chapter I have finished so far. Please give me some good advice. Read and Review. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter III

Child of Darkness

Children of Hell, children of Darkness; the children born of sin; marks engraved upon the bodies as a symbol of there Demon blood. Either “Half-Demon” or “Full-Demon,” they are the sin of the beings who gave birth to them. Claiming that they are possessed or in use of witchcraft, and of course in use of Demon magic, these Demon spawn suffer such terrible lives.

“Father! Father!” a boy of the age of fourteen or so runs about a somewhat deserted town. He wore his shaggy black hair tied in a small ponytail; his eyes dark gray with his face: tan, an unlikely thing for humans to have without sunlight.

A figure from one of the many snowy alleys appears behind the boy, “What is it now, Ichiro?” While keeping a hold on the boy named Ichiro’s jacket, he held his hand to his tired eyes.

“Father, mother is calling for you. She has gone into labor! The doctor is there and is asking for your presence!” the boy was frantic and constantly tripped over his words. “Father,” Ichiro paused, “the doctor says she will die.”

Whether the boy’s father was shocked or mournful, he hardly let it show upon his face, “Lead the way, my son.” Was all he said.

“Yes, father.” Ichiro nodded and ran off ahead of his father.

…

The wife of the man, and the mother of Ichiro: Teresa; she lay on the bedroom bed shared by her and her husband. Her groans of pain filled the whole house. The doctor stood next her, taking her pulse.

“Mother!” Ichiro yelled as he ran to aid her.

The doctor grabbed Ichiro before he could reach Teresa, “Easy now, Ichiro, there’s nothing you can do. Take it easy.”

The man to be the father of Ichiro and husband to Teresa finally stepped forward. He had long black hair pushed back that was graying; his eyes dark and strong. This man was the Kaindei, Kira’s father, aged since he was last seen and now a mortal. “How is she, Genji?”

“She won’t make it through the night at this rate, Kaiza, she may not even be able to give birth to the child.” Doctor Genji looked gravely ill and pale.

“I see. Can we have her last few minutes alone?”

“Of course, Kaiza, my friend. Anything for you, I am just sorry my best was still not good enough.” Genji left, leaving Ichiro crying at his mother’s side and Kaiza just standing there.

“Kaiza, my love?” Teresa called in a little less than a whisper.

“I’m here,” Kaiza said while he ran to the other side of Teresa. “Do not worry. I’ll be with you as you leave this world, Ichiro too.”

“The baby, Kaiza, I will give birth to it before I die. I will!” Teresa took hold of Kaiza’s shirt.

“Don’t worry, my love, just take care.” Kaiza looked older, as if he had aged ten years after entering the house.

“Father! You must save her!” Ichiro screamed, “You’re the strongest man in the village, you must be able to do something.”

“I know many thing, Ichiro, dark, evil, and grotesque things; but saving the life of the woman I most dearly care for, is but one of the many things out of my grasp.” Kaiza looked into his son’s eyes, then Teresa’s.

Teresa began to scream in pain, “Kaiza! The child is here, hurry, he’s coming!” Teresa breathed deeply and fast as she pushed her new born out of her birth canal.

“Ichiro! A towel!” Kaiza roared.

Ichiro obeyed and grabbed a towel from the closet near by. As soon as he came back, Kaiza grabbed the towel and in an instant the child was in his arms. Teresa took one final deep breath, and then lay there motionless.

Kaiza cleaned the child off and wrapped him in a blanket; the boy hardly cried but instead lay there breathing, his eyes wondering about the room. Kaiza coddled the child to sleep and turned to Teresa, “Must you take her from me?”

A humanoid figure appeared from the shadows, his face hidden in the hood of his cloak, black feathered wings folded upon his back. Darkness fell upon everything in the room, feathers flew about in a dance of Death. A deep voice rung out softly, “For the price of your son’s life, I must take her in return. Call it and equivalence in trade.” Death chuckled, “Surely you didn’t think even a high ranked Demon of Earth, such as yourself, could control the flow of life, Lord Kaindei. I must take your lover, it is simply the price for what you’ve done.”

Ichiro gasped, “Is that a Demon, father! His wings! Father, I-“

The Kaindei straightened and turned around, he placed his index and middle finger upon Ichiro’s forehead, “No, my son, that is not a Demon.” Ichiro looked at him in confusion, and then passed out.

“Was that wise?” Death asked, amusement in his tone, “To deceive him of his Demon heritage? Instead of protecting him from the Darkness, it will only help corrupt him.” Death spoke with a tone of apathy; ice cold to all those who could hear.

“Probably not,” Kaiza said as he turned back towards Death, “but does it have anything to do with you, Death, the being who takes lives? You have no right to lecture me on creating what you take.” Kaiza spoke with hatred, “Leave immediately!”

Death laughed, “The moment I leave, she dies.” Death’s arm stretched over Teresa’s body, “Are you sure that is what you want?” Teresa’s soul emerged under Death’s outstretched arm, “Think carefully, Kaindei, you may not see her for a long time. Is your hatred of me greater than your love for her?”

“It matters not,” Kaiza’s tone was strong yet mournfully sad, “I will be joining her in a matter of time, in fact; I plan on seeing her very soon.” Death frowned.

“You love ruining my fun, don’t you?” Death’s tone shown with complaint, “I hate you ‘Earth Demons,’ so cocky.” Death’s face cringed with disgust, “Have you any idea the strength of the Demons in Hell? No? I suppose it’s to be expected.” Death’s face returned to an ease. “Oh dear, I lost control over my emotions for a bit too long.”

“I know exactly how strong they are, but do you know how strong I am myself?” Kaiza looked up, “Maybe some respect is due to come out of you?”

Death’s eyes reflected the light for only a moment, and then he smiled. Death disappeared in the shadows, his cackle echoing throughout the house. Death reappeared, his dark hand reached out, “I forgot your loves soul,” Death laughed an insane laugh, then he peered over to Kaiza and the child, “Oh, look, the child is marked as a Demon; just like the little sinner he is.” Death disappeared once again.

Kaiza didn’t have to look, he knew what was there, the tattoo-like scar of “Hellfire;” stretching across his right arm like a fungus. The sign of a Demon reincarnated. “Kira, the Asukai, and my son; so many titles, so much to live for, so live strong. For a ‘Demon of Reincarnation’ is to live another cursed life filled with misfortune. A ‘Child of Darkness seems more appropriate; you will live an even more painful life than before, luckily, a shorter life as well. Hopefully you will find another to love.” Kaiza smiled, the sighed, “I am truly sorry, my son.”