Chapter Text
Destiny is the master of all. The stars are lined up, a butterfly beats its wings, a cannon is firing somewhere in the middle of the sea, and these are just so many strings in the web Destiny tightly spins around every being. She sets in stone the joy, degradation and death of God’s creatures and no one can escape her scheme.
However, from time to time –seldom if ever– Chance rears its head and turns her plans upside down.
Look, for example, there was a rabbit in the neighborhood of Kamino. The rabbit ran out of its hole, crossed the road and scared a horse that was drawing a wain loaded with hay –it was a really fearful horse. Well, the horse bolted and rushed in the town at full gallop. There, it had to collide with Count Sero who was walking out of City Hall and trample on him, causing his irrevocable death.
Yet, a few miles away, in a convent perched on the edge of a cliff, a maiden named Ibara Shiozaki had set free a dove from its cage. The dove flew over Kamino, pooped on the church, landed on City Hall, and from there took flight at the very moment the count was leaving the building.
The young man might have continued on his way and died under the hooves of the horse, but by a sudden fancy that Destiny couldn’t have foreseen, he stopped and dreamily watched the bird fly away, merge in the sunlight and disappear in the vaporous cloud layer. The runaway wain passed a few inches away from the count, leaving him unharmed.
Then the dove built a nest in the highest tower of an old manor, the farmer spent an hour gathering up the hay his stupid horse had scattered all along the street and Count Sero went back home.
This event wasn’t an important change in the scheme of Destiny, and although it could drastically alter the future of Lady Kendo, it wouldn’t change the face of the world. And given that no one expected the count to die, no one rejoiced or regretted that he got to live.
Did I say no one? My apologies. No human soul would be more accurate.
You see, in the green hills that surrounded Kamino stood the ruin of an abandoned windmill. No one lived there, since it was abandoned. But that morning, an unwonted individual was hidden in the cool shadow of the stone walls, sitting cross-legged on the bare ground.
He looked young, and as he counted on his fingers and muttered to himself, he let out chirps of contentment and wagged his tail –it was a long and thin tail, black with glints of red, and ended by a spike. At the same time, the stranger consulted various booklets spread on the floor, turning the pages excitedly and rummaging through his note cards.
‘It’s ten o’clock,’ he said, raising his head at the sound of the church bells, somewhere in the distance. ‘The count is dead by now,’ he added with a bright grin that bared a row of sparkling teeth. ‘The death duties and inheritance will be dealt with in a week. All his fortune will go to the orphanage of Shie Hassaikai. What a nice institution!’ he exclaimed, swaying his blond locks as he shook his head.
‘All those gold coins will drive the director mad, but can anyone blame him? He’ll stole the money from the orphans, I know it because Jupiter and Mars are lined up, and then… he hehe! The money will mysteriously disappear and the fragile heart of that dear director will give out. I’ll get his soul and Kyoka will stop making fun of me! Oh, and I’ll have my reaper license. I’m quite certain, but maybe I should make the calculations again, just to be sure…’
As he was purring merrily, scribbling symbols in a notebook with one hand and holding an astronomy textbook open with the other, he didn’t notice a very short man had entered the ruined windmill.
The latter had round purple hair, a pointy tail, small wings and horns, and his name was Minoru Mineta.
‘Denki, what are you doing? Denki!’ he called but the other didn’t hear, too much engrossed in his books.
‘DENKI KAMINARI!’
The named Denki started, flapping his wings in surprise and finally looked at Minoru.
‘Oh, it’s you! The count is dead, I’m gonna have my license!’ he exclaimed, hardly hiding his pride.
‘Denki, the count is not dead.’
‘What? Yes, he was knocked over by a wain.’
‘No he wasn’t. Look,’ Minoru said and showed him the pommel of his cane. It was a rather small crystal ball, and when Denki bent over it, he saw the count was going back to his manor, perfectly fine and very much alive.
‘But it’s impossible!’ the blond cried out in horror. ‘I’ve made the calculations hundreds of times!’
‘You’re calculations were correct,’ the shorter individual said reassuringly, although a bit curtly, ‘but Ibara Shiozaki released a dove. It happens sometimes. It’s not your fault.’
‘Oh no…’ Denki whined, pulling on his horns in despair. ‘I have less than three months left to bring a soul! That’s impossible!’
‘Well, perhaps you shouldn’t have spent the first nine months trying to seduce maidens in the hope of leading them to sin. Especially since it never worked!’ Minoru replied mockingly. ‘Most devils bring back dozens of souls during their initiation year, you know? And you only have to bring one.’
‘But it’s too hard! Normally I just follow Kyoka’s instructions! It took me so long to come up with this plan! What am I gonna do?’ Denki moaned, looking at the other with pleading eyes.
The short devil let out a sigh as he watched the pitiful apprentice wringing his hands despairingly.
‘Kyoka is a good reaper but not such a good teacher,’ he mumbled to himself, before banging his cane authoritatively on the ground.
‘Pull yourself together, Denki. Kyoka must have told you, the main part of a reaper’s job is calculation. So keep calculating; you’ll find a solution.’
At those words the blond devil shook his head vigorously.
‘It’s too hard, too hard! I’m so stupid! What am I supposed to do?’
‘Enough of that!’ Minoru snapped. ‘You know full well that I’m not allowed to help you.’ He softened a little. ‘You were almost there; just try again. I’ll keep an eye on you,’ he added and cast a glance over the pommel of his cane.
He then stretched his wings and disappeared in a flash, leaving the pouting devil in a cloud of dust.
~ ~ ~
In the afternoon, Count Sero took a carriage to pay a visit to Lady Kendo, an independent maiden of noble birth who lived in the countryside.
She was a lively girl, resourceful, clever and handsome, in other words, an ideal fiancée, which was a piece of luck for Count Sero because he was engaged to her.
The carriage dropped the count off at the entrance of the estate, and after the young man had passed the high wrought-iron gate and a small meadow, he found himself in a patio framed by white columns that led to a big mansion.
The count considered himself a happy man. Before dying, his parents had been kind enough to provide him with a substantial inheritance, a good education and although he couldn’t be called handsome, he had no unpleasant features. They had also given him their sensibility about beauty and poetry, and of course they had betrothed him to a respectable maiden, who he was supposed to marry in the spring.
Now, this easy living offered the count the luxury of thinking and worrying about unimportant details, like the happiness of his future wife, and his, in regard to the arranged marriage.
The young people had been blessed with genuine friendship, but as strong as it was, it was nowhere near love. So Count Sero was worried that he might make his wife unhappy, which would bring shame upon his family and himself.
Those were his thoughts as he wandered between the old columns of stone, cracked and ivy-covered columns that seemed about to collapse. And behind the last one was hidden a familiar figure with round cheeks, a pointy nose and little horns.
‘Come on, just a little closer,’ Denki Kaminari whispered impatiently as he watched the count approaching.
This time was the right one. He would kill Hanta Sero himself and get his license. Just a little push on the right spot and the old column would fall and squash the count. Sure, it wasn’t very classy for a devil to kill a human with his own hands, but it wasn’t forbidden.
Denki couldn’t quite contain his excitement, and one could see his thin tail wagging behind the column. Fortunately, the count was lost in his thoughts and didn’t notice him.
Just two more steps and the young devil would finally succeed. He would become a real reaper and be allowed to have a magic cane like Minoru and Kyoka. One more step…
‘Stop Denki!’ Minoru said and landed behind him silently.
‘Not now, I have to finish this!’ The blond replied without taking his eyes off the count.
‘There is no use killing Hanta Sero. When he realized he almost died this morning, he wrote his will.’
‘Eh?!’
Denki peeked in the pommel of the examiner’s cane.
‘Oh no! He bequeathed his entire fortune to the orphanage of Mirai Sasaki! There’s no way the director becomes corrupt by money!’
‘Don’t look, you scoundrel!’ Minoru scolded and hid the cane behind his back.
Meanwhile, the count had knocked on the door of the white house and disappeared inside.
Denki wanted to scream in frustration but the other cut him off: ‘Now do your calculations seriously and bring back a soul!’
‘But I’m out of ruse,’ the blond devil pouted.
‘Of course not. You have an infinity of possibilities. And more if you uses magic stamps,’ Minoru said pedantically.
‘I don’t have many stamps left, I don’t want to squander them,’ the apprentice retorted, turning his nose up.
‘Come on, Denki, a devil has more than one trick up to his sleeve!’ the examiner stated before taking flight.
Denki looked with irritation at the sky where the short devil had just disappeared, then at the door and kicked a stone.
But then he smiled devilishly and banged his fist in his palm.
‘Minoru’s right! I can use tricks that don’t require magic!’ he exclaimed and let out a Machiavellian giggle. He suddenly covered his mouth with both hands and hid behind the column as the butler of the house, alerted by the high-pitched sounds, was looking through the window.
~ ~ ~
Count Sero came back without any trouble to his manor while the night was falling. It was an old gothic building, dark and decrepit, but still full of lovely memories, and if one listened very hard, he might hear the echoes of children laughing in the park.
That night, the count was the only living soul in the place, since the old servant of his father had recently died and the butler was in town for the preparations of the wedding. Therefore the young man had dinner alone in the long and high-ceilinged dining room.
He wasn’t expecting any visitor, so he was surprised when someone knocked at the wooden door of the room. But it took more than that to make him forget about his good manners, which were his best asset in this world, and he said ‘Come in please’ although whoever was behind the door had entered the manor without his permission.
‘Good evening, Count,’ Denki Kaminari said as he walked nonchalantly into the dining room, facing the man seated at the table.
The young devil looked overall the same as before, but there was no tail in sight, no horns and no wings. His ears were still a bit too pointy for a human being, and his cunning grin uncovered quite sharp teeth.
‘Good evening, sir,’ Count Sero replied with phlegm, standing up to welcome the intruder and bowing his head a little. ‘May I help you?’
Denki let out a bloodcurdling snicker and his eyes shone dangerously. He came closer and grinned more, pleased to see the fear painted on the count’s features. The open fire made his yellow eyes and blood red shirt gleam in the half-light, mesmerizing the young nobleman.
‘If you may help me?’ the devil mimicked his voice. ‘Don’t be arrogant, Count, that’s not a pleasant trait.’
He was just in front of the man, and although Count Sero was taller than him, Denki knew he was more intimidating.
‘Who are you?’ Hanta Sero couldn’t repress the trembling in his voice, despite all his self-control.
‘Lord Kaminari, at your service,’ the devil replied and bowed mockingly. ‘I have the honor of offering you a deal. This is your lucky day.’
Count Sero was well aware that it wasn’t his lucky day, and that whatever were the intentions of his visitor, they couldn’t be good. He searched the face of the shorter man, then looked at his elegant outfit, and finally set eyes on his shadow.
Holding back a cry of horror, he stepped backward abruptly and caught hold of the table to stop himself stumbling. Henceforth he knew who the frightening intruder was –a devil, as the horns and tail visible on his shadow proved.
He kept moving back while the undesirable guest delighted in his terror, and he instinctively cast a glance over his rapier that was displayed on a broad sideboard.
Denki just laughed, knowing for certain that this kind of weapon was of no use against him. At this moment, the count had to make use of all his fortitude to keep his composure.
Instead of trying to draw away like the devil had expected, he swiftly grabbed a jug, and mustering his courage, he took a step forward.
‘Leave my dwelling, devil, or I’ll spray you with this holy water!’ he threatened, raising the jug of not-at-all-holly water at shoulder height as he faced the fiend.
Denki wasn’t stupid. He was just… inexperienced.
Never before had he faced a human being who didn’t look afraid of him. Of course, a number of people had tried to kill him, attacking him with pitchforks, scythes, axes, and other harmless tools that couldn’t scratch his skin. Yet he had been traumatized by a kid who had thrown a crucifix at his face, and Kyoka had warned him countless times against churches and priests. But she had never talked about aristocrats brandishing holy water.
All that to say he miserably fell into the trap.
He jumped backward like a jack-in-the-box, covering his face with both arms and hollering horribly: ‘No! Don’t do that!’ But embarrassed by the sound of his own voice he pulled himself together. His face became all innocent and gentle as he spoke unctuously. ‘I mean… where are your manners, Count? I’m only here to serve you-
‘Silence! Leave and don’t ever come back!’ Count Sero raised his voice, with assertiveness that was no longer feigned.
‘I have a very good offer, if you listen-
‘Not one more word! I don’t wanna hear anything about your offer!’
‘But-
‘Get out of here!’
Suddenly Denki turned away from the count, fell to his knees, and although he wasn’t proud of it, he burst out crying.
‘You’re mean!’ he grizzled between loud sobs, hiding his face in his hands. ‘I only want to speak with you and threaten to kill me!’
Count Sero hesitated only for a few seconds before softening and dropping his guard. But in his defense, the devil huddled up in front of him was nowhere near frightening.
Denki was rather short, built like a teenager, with round pink cheeks that made him look like a cherub. Framed by long dark eyelashes, his big eyes were full of tears at the moment, red lips pursed into a pout and fine blond hair shaking lightly as he sniffed pitifully.
In other words, he was very cute, according to human standards.
‘Come on, don’t cry,’ the count said kindly, lowering his jug. ‘What is that deal you were talking about?’
Denki immediately jumped to his feet with a feral grin, and turning around he wiped his fake tears (you didn’t seriously believe a devil could cry, right?) and stepped forward.
‘What is your dearest dream, Hanta Sero?’ the devil whispered mesmerizingly, his yellow eyes flickering like flames. ‘Which shameful fantasies do you harbor in secret? Tell me everything, for there is nothing I cannot accomplish.’
The count was ready for this sweet talk and he replied without hesitation.
‘The good Lord endowed me with the breath of life, and there’s nothing else I must desire,’ he said as a good Christian.
‘Don’t be prudish, Count,’ Denki scolded, repressing a grimace of disgust. ‘I know your heart is not at peace. Everyone in Kamino and the neighborhood heaps praise on your clever and beautiful betrothed, and claims you’re the luckiest man in the world, but I’ve seen a grim look on your face. Confess now, Hanta Sero, and you’ll become the luckiest man in the world.’
‘I… am concerned about this wedding,’ the count admitted, although he didn’t know what the devil was getting at.
Denki smiled brightly and clapped his hands together.
‘See? It wasn’t that hard! I’ll solve your problem but in exchange I need you to destroy a certain document for me.’
‘A document?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing really! That will and testament you’ve written today noon. Burn it.’
Count Sero grew pale, his long fingers clenching on the jug. The conversation was turning bad faster than he had expected and he regretted his earlier moment of weakness.
‘What are you afraid of, Count?’ Denki smiled charmingly when he noticed the dread of the dark-haired man. ‘You’re young and in the best of health. You have no need of a boring testament.’
‘I appreciate your offer, Lord Kaminari, but I must decline,’ Count Sero replied courteously. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, as if he hoped the devil would be gone when he opened them again.
But Denki didn’t left. He laughed softly, almost kindly, like he genuinely believed the count was joking.
‘So you’ll just marry that woman you don’t love and who doesn’t love you? That’s wrong, my Lord. Especially since it is up to you to make this lady happy.’
‘But how could I…?’ the count gulped, captivated despite himself by the honeyed words.
‘Just ask,’ the devil replied with gleaming eyes. ‘I told you I can accomplish anything.’
‘Anything, really?’ Count Sero asked doubtfully.
The irony of the tone cut Denki to the quick.
‘Just ask,’ he tried to speak coldly but the pink hue of his cheeks betrayed his embarrassment.
Really, he was endearing, with his clumsy manipulation attempts and his naive reactions, and the count couldn’t help being amused.
This conversation had gone way too far, the man knew it full well, but he wanted to push his luck just a little further away. Of course, he had never had the intention of making any deal with the devil –this could only cause trouble.
However, his life hadn’t been very much exciting thus far, so even if he could be satisfied with a humble life, he could hardly say no to a little thrill.
As he looked at the devil-child’s offended pout, the fleeting thought –so quick and frail but full of arrogance– that he could beat the fiend at his own game and win the deal crossed his mind.
Needless to say that whereas Denki Kaminari lacked experience with humans, Hanta Sero was even less experienced with devils.
‘Hypothetically speaking,’ the count started slowly, carefully choosing his words, ‘could I ask that Itsuka Kendo and I live a long and happy married life?’
On the floor, the shadow of Denki’s tail swayed lazily as he pondered the question.
‘So both of you must live happily to a ripe old age?’ the devil asked.
‘Yes.’
‘And be married?’
‘Naturally.’
Denki bared his sharp little teeth, looking frighteningly adorable.
‘That’s fine by me,’ he said, ‘as long as you get rid of your will within one hour.’
‘Oh the will, right,’ Count Sero murmured and frowned, looking absentmindedly at the water in his hand.
‘And put down that jug,’ the devil added, wrinkling his nose as he followed the count’s eyes. ‘You’ve made a wise request, Hanta Sero,’ he resumed when he judged the jug was at a safe distance. ‘I’ll keep my promise and grant your wish.’
The count felt beads of sweat trickling along his neck. This whole encounter seemed so unreal. He had to keep his feet on the ground but he felt like in a trance or in a dream.
‘One moment, please, do you assure me that neither the soul of Itsuka Kendo nor mine are involved in this pact?’ he asked prudently.
‘What? Your souls? Hell, no! What kind of devil would want such pure and white souls?’ Denki looked even more horrified than when the count had threatened him with water. Then he started to grumble ‘Tch, that’s so gross. How dare you disrespect me?’
‘My apologies,’ Count Sero replied immediately with a disarming smile, ‘far be it from me to offend you.’
‘Well, you bett- I mean, no harm done,’ the devil regained his composure, and suddenly he was just in front of the count, looking deep into his eyes. ‘So, do we have a deal?’ He grinned, baring once again his teeth that looked red with the firelight and the reflection of his shirt.
Despite all his will, the count couldn’t look away from the hypnotizing gaze. And despite all his good sense that yelled at him to run away, he remained standing there.
He had to say no, or simply say nothing.
But…
Those yellow eyes were so big, so shimmery… He just couldn’t collect his thoughts.
‘Yes,’ he whispered, and he felt a cold breeze going through his body.
‘Wonderful,’ Denki murmured ecstatically, stepping back to take a better look at the count. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then clicked his fingers. ‘Now we need a piece of paper and a quill to put the contract down in writing!’
‘So the verbal agreement wasn’t sufficient?’ Count Sero asked in surprise.
‘Of course it was; you’re bound hand and foot by this contract. The written part is for, uh… hmm, because I want to have a souvenir of my first pact.’
‘This is your first pact?’
The devil wrung his hands, blushing a little, then his embarrassment turned into annoyance.
‘Yes, so what? I’m as capable as any other devil, you don’t have to worry!’
The count smiled leniently. It seemed that competency was a sensitive subject for this devil.
‘Let’s write it down then,’ he said lightheartedly.
He brought a blank page, and using his best handwriting, he took down the contract Denki was dictating. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the shadow of the thin tail was wagging in contentment and he bit his lips to repress a smile.
But the tail fell when Count Sero signed the contract.
‘Ain’t you gonna use your ring to append a wax seal?’ the young devil raised disappointed eyes towards the count.
‘I can do that, although it’s kind of old school.’ This time the man couldn’t hide his amused grin as he ran the wax of a candlestick on the sheet, but Denki was too much excited to notice. He stamped the contract then stood up and pushed aside a painting, revealing a secret niche in the wall. ‘Here is my testament,’ he said as he picked up a sealed envelope. ‘Would you like to burn it yourself?’ he offered, naively thinking it could please his guest.
The devil stopped purring and admiring the contract to look suspiciously at the count.
‘Why? No, that’s your part of the deal,’ he retorted, somewhat curtly.
‘Very well, then,’ Count Sero replied without abandoning his good mood.
He dunked the corner of the envelope in the flame of the candle, and keeping it in his hand, he watched it burn until he had to throw it in the fireplace.
When he turned around, the devil had vanished without a trace.
The young man blinked and went to the window. The night was quiet out there, with the rustle of leaves and the murmur of fountains.
But then he heard the dove that had settled in the tower.
It was a languishing and sad cooing, and it finally woke up the count from his dreamy mood.
But it was too late. The dove couldn’t have saved Hanta Sero this time.
Contemplating his hands, the dark-haired man was slowly seized with an ominous feeling.
~ ~ ~
At the crack of dawn, Denki Kaminari was pacing the grass by the edge of the cliff, hands in his pockets.
The sea was still black, while to the east, the first rays of light brushed the rooves of the convent nestled in the rolling landscape.
From the west, two horsemen were approaching, carrying a bulky package that they threw at Denki’s feet when they reached the edge.
It was Count Sero, all trussed up and gagged, rolling wild eyes as he recognized his late-night visitor.
The devil stepped over the man lying on the ground to get closer to the riders. Without a word, he gave them a plump purse that made their eyes pop when it revealed a large amount of gold coins. They hastily left with their reward, going back where they had come from and blending into the darkness.
Denki stood still for a while, reading with great delight something in his astronomy textbook.
The fake gold would disappear soon, so the two wretches would accuse each other of theft, fight, and one would die. The other would run away, drink, and commit suicide a few months later. That would make two more souls of honest people depraved by money. Now that Denki was on a roll, nothing could stop him!
Licking his lips at the prospect, he took out his diary and wrote down their dates of death, so that he would remember to reap their souls.
Now I’m sorry to say Count Sero couldn’t quite keep his composure, scared stiff and white as a sheet, but we can relate because when the devil who has just made you sign a pact orders your abduction, this cannot mean anything good.
The count had enough self-control not to struggle against his bonds –that would have been useless, really– yet he tried to roll on to his stomach in order to move away from the edge of the cliff which he judged was too close.
He was stopped by Denki’s foot. The devil pushed him backward until he had his back just above the emptiness, a ferocious smirk splitting his face while more sweat ran down the count’s temple.
With a clawed finger, Denki ripped the handkerchief that served as a gag.
‘Good morning, Count,’ he greeted joyfully, but this time the nobleman couldn’t gather the courage to return the courtesy, earning a frown from the devil.
He tried to swallow but his mouth was dry, and his voice raspy when he spoke. ‘You can’t kill me, or you’ll break our contract,’ he said with a shiver.
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Hanta Sero!’ Denki beamed, as he had obviously been waiting for this argument. ‘The pact stipulated that Itsuka Kendo and you had to be married, but not to each other!’ He puffed out his chest triumphantly, flashing his white teeth.
The count had started to tremble without restraint and he closed his eyes for a few seconds, doing his best to collect his wits.
‘What about living to a ripe old age?’
‘Well, I’ll honor this part later for you. You see, you didn’t specify when you’d live happily and all that, so… not today,’ the devil replied with a shrug.
At this point, Count Sero knew for sure that he was a dead man. So he shut his eyelids and began to pray in an undertone.
‘Hey! Don’t you dare pray in front of me, that’s rude,’ Denki scolded, poking his chest with the tip of his boot. ‘Now look at me and listen,’ he ordered and the count raised his gaze toward him, eyes wide and flared nostrils as he breathed with difficulty. ‘I have another offer for you. If you accept, I’ll spare your life. There’s a beautiful maiden named Ibara Shiozaki in this convent,’ he said, pointing to the east, ‘Seduce her, make her succumb to temptation and I’ll make you the wealthiest man of the country.’
The devil drooled over the idea of perverting both the woman who had rejected him more than once, and that right-thinking, disgustingly virtuous count.
‘So?’ he punctuated his question with a thrust of his boot.
‘N-no,’ the Count Sero stuttered so low that no human ear could have heard him.
So much for the extra souls.
‘Guess I cannot be too greedy,’ Denki shrugged his shoulders and pushed the count over the cliff.