Snake Eyes (mxm)

Four

"Uh, it's nice to meet you too, Kai and Yevstakhiy," Jin began nervously.

"How'd you end up here?" Yevstakhiy asked Jin with a raised eyebrow.

"Well," Jin began, sighing. "I got into a bit of a tussle with some delinquents. I got stabbed in the back. I would've died right there in the alleyway if it wasn't for Zaizriiel..."

"Wait. You know Zaizriiel?" Kai inquired. "As in the siren, Zaizriiel?"

"Not exactly. He led me to a cellar. And I went in," Jin told the two, honestly. "It turns out it was some sort of worship ground. Then, I ended up here. That's where I ran into Diablo Madrid."

"Diablo Madrid?" Kai questioned.

"Yeah, do you know him?" Jin asked as the group of three started to walk.

"Vaguely," Kai said.

"Who's worship grounds was it?" Yevstakhiy asked Jin.

"Some demon named Kyros Kozakov," Jin responded.

"Kyros?" Kai eyed him, pulling a face. It looked like Kai had just seen a ghost.

"Yeah."

"Ah..."

"Have you met Kyros?"

"You could say that," Yevstakhiy responded for Kai.

"Why were you out at that time of night anyway?" Kai asked Jin.

"You want the truth?" Jin asked.

"Sure. Let's hear it," Kai commented.

Jin sighed. "Well, I'm uh..." The Chinese man trailed off before continuing. "Thief. ...So, I got the idea to take a Xia Dynasty sword. I thought it would be worth a couple million."

"So, did you get it?" Yevstakhiy asked Jin.

Jin nodded. "Yeah. I did." His hand came to rest on the sword.

"Can we see it?" Yevstakhiy asked, once again with a raised eyebrow. It was almost like he had never put it down.

"Yes." Jin then pulled the sword from its holder. Jin was shocked when he gazed at the Xia sword. Instead of it looking aged, crumbling, and having some sort of mold, it was bright and shiny. It wasn't like it was a new sword. It was the same sword, but restored--in a better condition.

Kai whistled. "Sweet weapon, Jin."

The sword wasn't dull either. It was sharp--really sharp. 

Then, Jin slid the sword back into its holder and asked, "Question. If I died, then how come the sword is still in my possession? Not even my lighter came with me."

"Hmmm." Kai looked perplexed. "I don't know. Stories of this kind of thing are far, few, and in between."

"I guess the sword just chose you," Yevstakhiy said.

Jin laughed a little bit, a smile starting to creep into his face. 

The group continued on more before Jin asked another question.

"Hey, I was wondering if I could ask how you guys came to be here?" 

"Well, we died," Yevstakhiy responded.

Jin of course rolled his eyes at this comment.

Kai sighed. "We died during the Anglo-Russian war."

"Oh," Jin responded.

"I became ill," Kai said. Then he gestured to Yevstakhiy. "And he was stabbed through the heart by a Brit. And for some reason, the wound never healed--even though we're dead."

"Ouch," Jin commented.

"It's fine," Yevstakhiy began. "It's been a bit. I'm used to the pain."

"Did you guys die in a worship cite too?" Jin asked, wide eyed.

"Well yeah. The battle grounds of Sweden were a worship ground for Aylwin Bayko," Kai told him.

"So this Aylwin owns your soul?" Jin asked.

"Sort of," Yevstakhiy replied. "He's a lot more lenient with his ownership."

Kai then came to stop at a staircase.

Jin looked up the stairs and toward the building it housed. "What is this place?"

Kai smirked. "You'll see."