Kuroyuki: Through the Eyes of the Shinigami

Chapter 4: I See Trust

“Nii-sama…” Kuroha tapped Yuki’s shoulder as they flew high above the busy city.

“The whole city… it’s starting to reek of death. What could be happening?” She added. Yuki stopped for a while and began to scan the city from where they were.

 “It doesn’t feel like a typical malfunction, I say. We better investigate further. Something big must be coming.” Yuki said as he continued to soar alongside Kuroha.

“We better be prepared, huh.” Kuroha gulped as she gripped on Yuki’s shoulder.

“It’s convenient that you can sense deaths that aren’t supposed to be happening. Good work, Kuroha.” Yuki smiled at Kuroha.

“Everything has their distinct smell. Humans, animals, Impalers, souls, those that are to live and those that are to die… even the unknown. Before I got this curse in my left eye, it was different. I can only smell the distinction between humans and Impalers. It’s probably because, now, I carry the burden of despair from all those souls that passed through the gate of the void and my portal that connects there. It’s painful and heavy, but it’s the least that I can do for them.” Kuroha remembered the explanation given to her by the one who cursed her with the wound.

“Even if it’s a small chance that we could save a life, then we will. The Book of Mortality’s record is fixed, but for some reason it feels like it is being altered.” Yuki speculated.

“Then there’s only one person who could do that. The guardian of the Book… do you think it’s…?” Kuroha thought.

“Yes, it must be her, the Scheduler.” Yuki concluded.

7:58PM, Medical Institute Research Center

"Ack! I'm so sorry! I'll go clean that right away!" The young intern apologized for accidentally spilling half a glass of water on the laboratory floor.

"Just ask a cleaner outside to wipe it clean, Shiki." A woman, who was preoccupied with her work on the computer, said without even looking at the panicking intern.

"Ah yes, Dr. Yoshioka! Right away!" He replied.

"Dr. Yoshioka, can you get those virus samples in the PCR machine? I forgot to check if it's the Gisei virus strain, sorry." A man in his late 50's asked his co-researcher.

"Oh, sure thing! You've been here for 48 hours straight with minimal sleep, right? You shouldn't overwork yourself, Dr. Kirishima." Sayaka replied to the elder researcher, Lau Kirishima, both doctors in their own respective fields. Sayaka finished the last sentence of what she was typing and stood up from her work table to assist her tired co-worker.

She went on to get the nanotube inside the PCR before another researcher starts with the procedure of cloning the virus for further research.

"If you want I can check it for you, Dr. Kirishima." Sayaka said with a loud voice to the other hood across the other side of the room.

"Oh please do! If it is, please extract 1.5 microliters and spread it in a glass slide. Be very careful with contact. You may get infected if it enters your body. Thanks a lot!" Dr. Kirishima replied with the same level of loudness.

Sayaka wore a pair of thin rubber surgical gloves, lab goggles and face mask. Safety Protocol must be followed inside the lab to prevent unwanted accidents from occuring. Researching for a cure for incurable viruses is their laboratory department's job. Although it has been so long since they started to research about this lethal specimen, called the Gisei virus, a cure hasn't been found until now so they need multiple samples to check and experiment on. The Gisei virus’ source is still unknown. Symptoms similar to furious rabies, with excessive internal bleeding and organ decay may manifest in about 4 to 10 hours after infection. Infected patients’ life becomes an estimated 2-5 days before death. The disease is highly contagious through immediate contact with infected liquid, including bodily fluids. But the lab is not just constrained with this virus alone; virus research varies per group of researchers and department.