Death's Hunt

Epilogue

I emerged from the mist with my sack in hand while my monster birds followed me. As I glided towards Anga’s bar, I saw a small figure hopping from tree to tree. I flew down to greet Chiyoko.
“How is my favourite student doing?” I asked as I pulled alongside her.
“Hi Kakrix. I’m well. How about you?”
“Just came back from a successful hunt, so I’m doing very well.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“What about you? Did you have any luck?”
“My hood is completely full, so I would say yes,” she laughed.
“Yes, I guess that would be a good thing, wouldn’t it?” I said joining in with her laughter. “So, you headed towards Anga’s bar?”
“Of course. I need to get rid of these souls somehow, right?” I chuckled at her commentary.
“Well I was heading there myself, need a lift? You know, just how we did in the old days?”
“Sure. We can do that.”
“All right, well get ready,” I warned her before scooping her up with my tail. While we twisted and swirled above the forest, Chiyoko asked me something.
“Kakrix?”
“Yes?”
“You promise that we will always be friends?”
“What kind of question is that?” I asked, caught off guard by what she had just said.
“It’s just… well… I don’t want to forget about you.”
“Chiyoko, listen to me. I promise that whatever happens we’ll always be able to work together. We will always be friends.” I finally landed at the old bar. “Well, this is our stop. Everyone off,” I joked as Chiyoko jumped from my grip. As we were about to open the door, a death came flying out of a window. Inside I could hear Anga screaming, “Vlagor! You caveman! What did I say about throwing customers out of that window?!?”
“He knew that would happen if he called me something!!” Vlagor hollered back.
“You know I have to replace that window every single time?!?” Anga retorted.
“Well here we go again,” I sighed as I opened the door, its hinges squeaking under the strain. The scene before me laid out an establishment filled to the brim with deaths of every imaginable shape and size. As Chiyoko and I walked up to the counter, Vlagor and Anga spotted us.
“Hey! Come over here my friends! I saved you both two seats.”
“Thank you Vlagor,” Chiyoko said gratefully as she climbed up unto the stool.
Anga then walked over to us from the other side of the counter. “All right you two, what will it be?”
“Well, I already know what Chiyoko wants,” I laughed. In response, she playfully kicked me.
“All right, surprise it is,” Anga said while jotting down the order on her notepad.
“It’s funny you know,” Vlagor commented. We both looked at him slightly confused. “It’s funny how just like me, Chiyoko always takes the usual. And yet, at the same time, since it’s always the surprise, it’s always something different.”
“I guess it is a little funny,” Chiyoko agreed.
“I don’t see what’s so funny about that statement,” I simply remarked.
“Well, I guess not everything changes,” Anga called out from the kitchen. “Now let me guess Kakrix, you want nothing?”
“Exactly!” I shouted back while placing a large sack of souls on the counter.
“Really! You three are all so predictable!” Anga barked back.
“Then where was that predictability during the Soul Hunt?” a voice asked from behind. Turning around, we saw Sheri standing there.
“Well, it wasn’t like we were just going to let you win?” I told her.
“Yes, I guess you’re right.”
Anga came back with two platters of food and placed them in front of Vlagor and Chiyoko. “Sheri,” she bluntly said.
“Anga,” Sheri responded with the same tone.
“So how have things been treating you?”
“All right.”
“You know the only reason I even tolerate you in here is because of your attempt to change. As for you Kakrix, I still can’t believe you convinced me to give her a second chance.”
“Well, it’s not like I like you either,” Sheri retorted with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Good. Because I hate you.”
“Right back at you.”
I sighed at the sight before me. It was clear that my words had affected Sheri to some extent. And although she kept trying to change, I could clearly see that it was a bit of a challenge for both her and Anga to get along. Realistically, there was a good chance that they would never truly relate to one another. I mean, it had been over a year since I had had my talk with Sheri, and even now, I could still feel a slight tension between the two. But at least now, they were not trying to strangle each other.
“Well then, since you’re all here, I might as well bring up my next idea,” Anga announced.
“Anga! We had a deal. You wouldn’t drag me into one of your schemes again,” I growled.
“Please! Kakrix, admit it. You love my schemes.”
“I most certainly do not!” I grumbled.
“Well…” Chiyoko simply said before trailing off.
“You do seem to enjoy enacting her plans, my friend,” Vlagor observed.
“Whose side are you on?!?” I asked sullenly.
“Clearly on his own side,” Sheri scoffed as she emptied her own bag onto the counter. Grabbing the souls, Anga ran into the backroom and began rummaging through her cupboards to get whatever it was she wanted to show us for her latest plan.
“I’m never going to be able to be left alone, am I? She will always drag me into some new scheme,” I mumbled.
“Nope! Now quit complaining!” Anga yelled as she came back with a picture frame. “Here’s the target I had in mind.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I told myself. In the frame was the map of a railroad line. “You want us to cause a train accident?”
“Why else would I have brought this here?”
“Now this! This sounds like fun!” Vlagor laughed as he held the picture up to his face.
“Anga, do you realize how hard that’s going to be?” I asked.
“We did pull off some big things during the Soul Hunt, right?” Chiyoko interjected.
“Well, yes. I assume we did.”
“Then I’m sure we can do this.”
“Well…” I looked at everyone who in turn waited for my answer with anticipation. “Well…” I grumbled. “Well what the heck! It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
“I knew I could get you to agree! I knew it!” Anga enthusiastically shouted.
“Don’t think you four can get rid of me that easily,” Sheri hissed. “If you’re going to try to jump a train, then I’m one hundred percent coming too.”
“WHAT?!? I didn’t invite you!” Anga shouted.
“Come on Anga. Give her a chance,” Chiyoko implored.
“Da. She would be of great help,” Vlagor added.
“We will need all the help we can get,” I continued.
“What? Next, you’re going to tell me to invite everyone in here?” As soon as she said that all her patrons’ eyes were on her.
“Something tells me you might have to now,” Sheri laughed.
“You better watch your back, because I am definitely going to get you for that,” Anga growled from behind her mask, giving Sheri one of the nastiest look she could muster. She then got up on the counter and shouted, “All right! Who wants to cause a train accident?” The bar erupted in cheers as customers got up from their seats. “Okay everyone, let’s go!” she yelled getting down and walking to the back door.
“It is as I said: the more deaths, the more souls,” Vlagor cheered.
“You never said that once in your entire unlife!” I called after him as he exited the establishment.
I then looked to Chiyoko who was getting up. “Are you going to be good to do this?” I asked.
“I’m not afraid anymore Kakrix. I’m ready.” I bent down and wrapped my arms around her.
“I know we aren’t related in any way, but you’re like the daughter I never had. We’re family. Don’t forget that. And… I love you.”
“I love you too Kakrix,” Chiyoko replied while cuddling in my arms.

The End