Shi no Kenri Chapter 1
死の権利
死の権利
His eyes open slowly and he was lying on the soft grass next to a large oak tree. After he blinked a few times, he rested his elbows on the comfortable grass and sat himself up. He looked to him left and right and saw nothing but grassy plains. He had on his blue Atari logo shirt, a black high collar windbreaker jacket, jeans, and white shoes. The sun was out with a few misty clouds were in the sky. He fully sat up and he had a throbbing headache. He grabbed the left side of his full head of dark orange hair with his left hand and leaned against the tree behind him. He looked behind himself and noticed the giant oak tree supporting him. He was feeling a bunch of emotions, but he mainly felt confusion because he's got no idea how he got to this amazing wonderland. He got himself to one knee and with the little strength he had, he forced himself to stand up. He looked down and rubbed side of his head and as he was doing this, something off in the horizon was running his way. He looked up and noticed it, but couldn't tell what it was. His first instinct was to call out to it.
Tanaka (calling out): Hey!
He waved his hand around, letting whatever it was know that he was friendly.
Tanaka (calling out): Excuse me! Can you help me? I don't know where I am. Do you know what time it is?
The silhouette running at him got closer and closer without answering any of his questions. The figure two large steps and from about 30 yards away, it leaped into the air.
Tanaka: Whoa… How did he–
He paused for a second. The figure jumped so high, that it jumped in the path of the suns ray of light. It complete blocked out the suns natural light like a solar eclipse. The silhouette drew a sword from its sheath and came down at Tanaka.
Tanaka: Whoa! Wait!
Before it could come into contact with Tanaka, a man and woman, both in black Kimonos, jumped in front of him with swords at the ready. The man to the left had spiky red hair and the woman to the right had medium length pink hair tied back in a ponytail. The man had on a red rope belt tied in a bow on the right side of his waist and the women had a dark purple rope belt tied in a bow in the back.
Red Haired Man: Get back!
Tanaka was frozen. He heard him, but he couldn't move. His body wasn't responding to his brain. The silhouette came down and connected blades with the spiky haired man. Sparks flew from the blades where they connected. The pink haired woman tried to cut the attacker vertically, but it backed away.
Red Haired Man: I thought I told you to get back, kid.
Hearing the word "kid" snapped Tanaka out of whatever trance he was in.
Tanaka: Kid? Hey, hey, I might have a baby face, but I'm far from a kid– Whoa!
Another man wielding a Black Bladed Duel-Bladed Katana yanked Tanaka away from the tree. Another silhouette came down and stabbed the ground where Tanaka was just standing.
Tanaka: Holy–!
The man that grabbed Tanaka let him go. He had spiky, yellowish hair and golden eyes.
Pink Haired Woman: Sanji, get him out of here.
Sanji: On it. Hey kid, keep up.
Tanaka: I'm not a–! Huh?
Sanji ran off at speeds reaching close to 90 miles per hour.
Tanaka: What the hell?! Where'd he go?!
Sanji ran all the way back and stopped in front of Tanaka.
Sanji: Sorry about that. I forgot you just got here.
He grabbed Tanaka, threw him over his shoulder and zipped off again. Since Tanaka wasn't use to moving that fast outside of a vehicle, he couldn't help but scream.
Tanaka: Mmmmmm….aaaahhhhhhh!
His face was morphing from the constant movement and spit and mucus was coming from his face in giant globs. Everything froze for a second.
Tanaka (Voiceover): See that guy there? Yeah, that's me. As you see, I just woke up but let me show you how I got in this situation.
Opening Theme Song Plays: Return to Destiny (TV sized) by Maon Kurosaki
20 Minutes Earlier
It's a warm afternoon in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The wonderful month of May has brought out the lovely women in bathing suits, families and married couples going on walks through the park and summer vacation for the kids and teenagers in school. It's 2015 and everyone seems to be having a marvelous first day of summer. A cool breeze comes and blows in the hair of 23 year old Tanaka Sato, a recent college grad, a two time Baseball Team MVP, and our main persona. Tanaka is walking with his high school friend, Yamato Ito on the sidewalk.
Tanaka: Yamato-kun, where are we headed?
Yamato: You'll see when we get there, dude.
They kept walking up the sidewalk and Yamato decided to make conversation about their future career.
Yamato: You know, if we plan on working with some of those big anime companies, we're going to need more experience first.
Tanaka: I know that. What are you getting at?
Yamato: I've got us an appointment set up to meet Shouji Sato!
Tanaka (excited): Don't you dare lie to me!
Yamato: I'm not man!
Tanaka: If this is a joke, this isn't funny!
Yamato: I'm not kidding! He emailed me back last night. He wants to see us Monday morning in his office!
Tanaka: Yes! Wait… It's Saturday.
Yamato: Yeah. I couldn't get it today. I don't know why, but he insisted that we stopped by Monday morning at 8.
Tanaka: Man! This is big!
Yamato: Right? I guess sending YouTube videos to famous producers and writers since 8th grade was a good idea!
Tanaka: Man… If we can get our names as Creator and Illustrator of our own Manga? That would be epic!
Yamato: We might start off as voice extras for their shows first. Creating a Manga is a lot of money, time and patience.
Tanaka: That's true… And since college, money is one of those three things I don't have a lot of.
Yamato: Right? College drained out 90 percent of my cash.
Tanaka: Same with me.
They made a left and continued up the sidewalk. Birds flew over head and Yamato pretending like he was shooting them as they flew past.
Tanaka: Dude, what the hell are you doing?
Yamato: I'm sorry. I'm just pumped for Monday.
Tanaka: Speaking of that, if that is scheduled Monday, where are we going?!
Yamato: I told you dude, you see when…
Yamato looked past Tanaka. Tanaka looked in the same direction Yamato was looking and there was a high speed chase in process. Armed criminals were in a stolen white van and 6 squad cars were chasing them. Two men leaned out of the windows of the van and began spraying at the officers. The squad cars swerved across the road, tried to reduce vehicle damage. As the police sirens blared and gunshots continued to ring out, innocent bystanders were scattering. Yamato shook Tanaka.
Yamato: Run! What the hell are you standing still for?! Run!
Tanaka and Yamato began running back up the sidewalk. Before they could reach the corner, Yamato, who was in front of Tanaka, fell to the ground. He was shot twice in the back.
Tanaka: Yamato-kun!
Tanaka couldn't stop his legs from running. His mind told him to stop and check on Yamato, but his body said to keep running. But before he got too far ahead of Yamato, he was shot twice in the back as well. Once he was shot, he spun and fell to his back. The van and squad cars rolled right past the two boys and turned right, going back up the street the two boys just came from. Tanaka died with his eyes open. While the distant screams of other men and women were going on all around them, the boys lied lifelessly on the ground.
Tanaka (Voiceover): So you see, I died like a normal person in the year 2015 would, caught in the crossfire of crime and justice. I never expected to wake up to more danger. Now please, watch and enjoy how my life gets even more ****ed up.
20 Minutes later
The screen unfroze and Tanaka's face continued splurging snot and saliva everywhere as Sanji carried him.
Tanaka: Hey! Slow down, man!
Sanji: Will you shut up? We're almost there.
Tanaka: Ahhh!
After a few more seconds of moving at an intense speed of 130 miles per hour, Sanji jumped into a slide and stopped. He let Tanaka down and he immediately threw up.
Sanji: Now that… is disgusting.
Tanaka wiped his mouth and took a few deep breaths.
Tanaka: *huff huff* Well what do you expect? You were bouncing me around at 100 miles an hour!
Sanji: Actually, it was 130 mph.
Tanaka covered his mouth as his cheeks filled up. He looked away from Sanji and threw up onto the grass again.
Female Voice: That's enough Sanji.
Tanaka had already thrown up and he paused at the sound of the amazing voice. The voice reminded him of a person he knew before he was murdered in cold blood. He looked up to see a woman with long, silky white beautiful hair and smoky grey eyes. He also noticed that she wears white bandages on her hands that reveal her fingers. She looked no older than 30, and was barely pale skinned.
White Haired Woman (calm, proper, polite voice): Go back to Hideyoshi and Fujiyoshi to make sure they don't need help.
Sanji: Yes, ma'am.
He looked at Tanaka and smiled.
Sanji: See ya around, kid.
Tanaka: Yeah…
Sanji turned around and bolted off.
Tanaka: How does he–
White Haired Woman: Run that fast? He's a Ninkami. We all have that ability.
Tanaka: Ninkami?
White Haired Woman: Walk with me. I'll explain a little bit of this place to you.
Tanaka (nervous): Uh, okay.
She turned and walked away from him. He looked to his right and saw a large building with a blue capitol "N" in black and a white circle around it. The building was 3 stories high and it had the appearance of an office building. He looked ahead of him and jogged to catch up to the pretty lady. She had on the same Kimono as Sanji, Hideyoshi and Fujiyoshi but she had a black rope belt with the bow in front and Sanji had a white one with the bow behind him.
Tanaka: Excuse me, miss? Where am I?
White Haired Woman: My name is Akiko Saitama, one of the few leaders of the Ninkami. And you're in the Neutral Realm.
Tanaka: Neutral Realm?
Akiko: Yes. This place is a purgatory, you know, the place in between Heaven and Hell?
Tanaka: Oh… I thought that was Earth?
Akiko: No. The Human Realm is just a planet. We're in another dimension, just like Heaven and Hell are in their own dimension.
Tanaka: Ah. I see.
Akiko: So what's your name, kid?
Tanaka (nervously scratching his head): I'm not a kid. Ha, ha.
Akiko: It doesn't matter. You have no age here. Are you going enlighten me with your name or what?
Tanaka: My name is… um… ah. It's…
Akiko: Don't think too hard. There have only been 4 people to actually remember their names when they first arrive. And that's extremely rare. You have your wallet on you?
Tanaka reached into his pocket and handed it to her. She opens it and the first thing she saw was his ID.
Akiko: Tanaka Sato. Nice to meet you.
She closed the wallet and tossed it to the ground.
Tanaka: Hey!
It lied on the ground for 5 seconds and then sunk into the grass.
Tanaka: What the hell? How did it–
Akiko: Like I said, we're in the Neutral Realm.
Tanaka: Meaning?
Akiko: Personal objects like that don't matter. Might as well toss that necklace as well.
Tanaka: No! This isn't just some necklace. It's my deceased mother's pendant!
Akiko: Well, don't drop it. Because if you don't pick it up in five seconds, it will do what your wallet did.
Tanaka: Thanks for the warning.
They continued walking and got to a cliff. The cliff had an excellent view of the landscape and below was more grassy plains.
Tanaka: Not that many trees around I see…
Akiko: Oh no, there are plenty of trees. We aren't in the Tree Region. We're in the Grassland Region right now. Where Sanji carried you from was the outskirts of the Tree Region. But that is a dangerous area.
Tanaka: How are trees dangerous?
Akiko: Not the trees, the things that lurk in and around the trees.
Tanaka: What are they?
Akiko: They're called Seishin Satsugai or Satsugai-sha; whichever you prefer.
Tanaka: Is that the thing that attacked me right when I woke up?
Akiko: Probably. They normally attack in groups though. What attacked you was a Satsugai-sha that took over the body of a Ninkami.
Tanaka: What?! They take over bodies?!
Akiko: Yes. It's a dangerous burden we bear as Ninkami.
Tanaka: What the ****… A Neutral Realm, Ninkami, Seishin Satsugai… What the hell…
Akiko: I understand. It's stressful when you first wake up. It's a lot to take in.
Tanaka: Hm… So, how did I get here?
Akiko: I can't answer that. No one is certain on why or how they ended up here and not in their normal resting place. We just go with it and fight.
Tanaka: So, do the Seishin Satsugai just roam around here?
Akiko: No. They can enter the Human Realm through these wormholes called Spirit Gates.
Tanaka: Enter the Human Realm? Isn't that bad?
She nodded solemnly.
Akiko: If they enter the Human Realm, they can destroy that planet. Or, if they are small Satsugai-sha, then they'll take over a humans body and drag it to Hell. Once in Hell, it will then leave the humans body and leave the human stranded in Hell.
Tanaka: Ah, shit… That's serious!
Akiko: Yeah. And they can do the same thing to us here.
Tanaka: But how?
Akiko: They're demons. They serve Lucifer who is eternally bond to Hell by God.
Tanaka: Lucifer, the "Almighty Tyrant of the Universe" is trapped in Hell? Ironic…
Akiko giggled.
Tanaka: What?
Akiko: I'm sorry. I… I don't know.
She continued giggling. She was able to calm herself and she stopped.
Akiko: Haven't met a soul as funny as you since Hikomaru.
Tanaka: Who's Hikomaru?
Akiko: He's another Ninkami. You'll meet him soon.
Tanaka: Hmm… Hey, why couldn't I remember my name? And I'm not too sure as to how old I am. I could answer that, but you tossed my wallet.
Akiko: Age doesn't matter here. Neither does time. All we know here is day and night.
Tanaka: So if I ask you for the time right now, you'll say day?
Akiko: Daytime, yeah.
Tanaka: Wow.
Akiko: Others will explain more to you once you begin your training. Let's get back to HQ.
Tanaka: Whoa, hey! Training? I never said I wanted to be a Ninkami!
Akiko: Are you skilled in Alchemy?
Tanaka: Uh…
Akiko: Didn't think so. Let's go.
She grabbed his right hand and pulled him along.
Tanaka (thinking): Holy shit she's strong!
After a few steps, she let him go and he walked beside her.
Tanaka: Now, what if I were skilled in this "Alchemy"?
Akiko: Then you'd be a large asset to us. You'd be able to heal and cleanse our souls if they get tainted by the Satsugai-sha after a battle, and close Spirit Gates.
Tanaka: If you get hit by a Seishin Satsugai, your soul becomes tainted?
Akiko: It one hits you and you still manage to defeat it, then you'll need to see one of our Alchemist immediately.
Tanaka: What if you can't make it to an Alchemist?
Akiko: Then you will turn into a Satsugai-sha and your soul will be tainted forever. You'll be one of Lucifer's lackeys.
Tanaka (thinking): Shit! I'm no Alchemist… I wish I was though. That would mean I wouldn't have to fight the Seishin Satsugai… Damn my luck…
The two get back to the Ninkami HQ and stop outside of the doors.
Akiko: Let's head inside, shall we?
Tanaka: After you.
Akiko led in and Tanaka followed in behind her. The hallways were simple, white and black patterned tile floors and black tile walls. There were several pictures and notifications lined against the wall in picture frames.
Tanaka: So um, this is HQ huh?
Akiko: One of them, yes.
A man with light brown hair was walking past and greeted Akiko.
Light Brown Haired Man: Hey, Akiko-sama.
Akiko: Hello, Takuma.
Tanaka (thinking): Sama?
Akiko: That's Takuma Yamanashi. You may want to get acquainted with him. He's one of our top Ninkami at this base.
Tanaka: Takuma Yamanashi… How does he know his name?
Akiko: Same way you found out. He was smart enough to keep his wallet on him.
Tanaka: Ah. But, back to the HQ stuff. You this was only one of them?
Akiko: Yes. We have six scattered all around the Neutral Realm. One in the Rock Mountains Region, one in the Empty Sky Region, one in the Steam Region, one in the Tundra Region, one in the Night Region and one right here in the Grassland Region.
Tanaka: Wow… Six HQ's in each of these regions? That's amazing.
Akiko: There must be 50 regions all together, but we've only settled six. We have been to a few others, but most of our scouts we sent didn't return. We've managed to get Intel on the Water Region, the Waterfall Region and the Rural Region.
Tanaka: What did you find out?
Akiko: The Water Region is entirely water. Sort of like an ocean. The Waterfall region has an estimated 600 foot waterfall right in the center of it.
Tanaka: Damn! Six hundred feet?!
Akiko: Yeah. For most humans, that's unimaginable. The Rural Region is mainly uninhabited farmland. Like a countryside kind of look.
Tanaka: Not too much seems to be there.
Akiko: Well, since there are no animals to farm, it's kind of a waste of a region. It's under Satsugai-sha control for now.
Tanaka: Can you tell me about the other regions?
A woman with long purple hair that goes a little past her tail bone approached them. She had a Scythe on her back, a Tantou or short sword on her left hip, using her rope belt to hold it and a Katana on her right side, also using her rope belt to hold it. Her rope belt was purple and she had the bow on the back of her waist. She also had on black Tabi socks instead of white ones like Akiko, Hideyoshi and Fujiyoshi. He didn't even pay attention to what type Sanji had on.
Purple Haired Girl: Akiko-sama! Come on! I was looking all over for you!
Akiko (alarmed): What is it, Maon?
Maon: Reports are coming back saying that multiple Satsugai-sha are attacking Hideyoshi, Fuji, and Sanji!
Akiko: Damnit! I'm on my way.
She looked around for a few seconds and spotted a short man with short, black, messy, unkempt hair and a tall, brown skinned man with brown hair that spikes up in the back. He had a scruffy beard and moustache-goatee combo as facial hair.
Akiko: Hikomaru! Kichirou!
The two men looked at her at the same time. The short man actually looked more like a young, teenage boy. The boy picked up his oversized Giant Mallet and ran over to her with the brown skinned man.
Both Men: Yes, ma'am!
Akiko: Come with me and Maon!
Maon: Kanon Hokkaido is outside waiting to go as well!
Hikomaru (young voice): We're on it!
Kichirou: Let's go little man!
The two ran past Tanaka and out the double doors. As they ran past, he noticed that Kichirou had a yellowish-gold rope belt style to the left and Hikomaru had a white rope belt. Also, he noticed that they both had on black Tabi socks just like Maon.
Akiko: We're off too. Um…
She scanned the room again. A man with pale yellow slicked back hair was about to go past them and to another set of double doors up ahead.
Akiko: Kiriyama!
He paused and looked dazed, but that was just his normal, laid back face.
Akiko: Take him with you. He's Tanaka Sato. This is Kiriyama Nakamura.
Maon: I'm Maon Kudo. Nice to meet you, sir.
Akiko: Alright, let's get going!
The two women ran through the double doors to the others.
Kiriyama (languid voice): So… you're Tanaka? And guessing by your clothes, you must be new.
Tanaka (nervous): Yeah. (thinking) A least he's got good judgment.
Tanaka noticed his weapon was a Straight Bladed Katana, no bend in the blade. And by the sheave, it seemed to be very thin. He had black eyes and he had a scar going from under his right eye, all the way down to his chin and he had stitches on it.
Tanaka: I hope you don't mind me asking, but what happened to Hideyoshi and Fujiyoshi? Sanji too?
Kiriyama: We've just received word that they are under attack by Satsugai-sha.
Tanaka: Damn! Why aren't you going?
Kiriyama: Well, I was about to go get someone to come along but then I was assigned to you.
Tanaka: Hmm… Cool… sword.
Kiriyama: Hmm? Oh, so you noticed him? This is Masamune.
Tanaka: You named a sword?
Kiriyama: Uh, yeah? That's how you awaken it and if it matches your Soul Energy, then you will get stronger.
Tanaka: Soul Energy?
Kiriyama: I'll teach you all about that after you pick out a weapon.
Tanaka (nervous): Uh… huh?
Kiriyama turned around and went to a door labeled "Weapons Cache". He pushed open the double doors and Tanaka walked over to him. Inside was thousands of weapons, all different in some way, lined all across the walls and ceiling; the weapons were lined all the way up 3 stories of walls.
Kiriyama (overly excited): Oh yeah! Weapons Cache!
Tanaka (nonchalant, uneasy): Yeah. Alright… Ah… shit…
The screen froze again.
Tanaka (voiceover): So yeah. My first day in a purgatory and I get attacked, saved, I threw up twice, and now I have to chose a sword to fight with. Geez… Never thought I'd become a Samurai when I died… Then again, I don't think people can think after they're dead… Hm… That can be a new conspiracy theory! But wait, I'm dead and I can think… Hm… I'll have to think this one over!
Ending Theme Song Plays: The Place of Hope (TV sized) by Maon Kurosaki
Shi no Kenri 死の権利
© 2013 Garzell Tensei, "DEATH RIGHTS" - Shi no Kenri Project
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED