Chapter 3

Glenn was greeted with applause as he stepped through the door. The audience of Reapers erupted into cheers, celebrating his victory over a tier-three soul. Creatures of all shapes and sizes filled the room. Hermes’ assistants darted up to shake his hand before rushing off. Gremlins from the IT department scurried around, trying to touch and inspect his scythe. Demons from HR were already creating propaganda posters featuring Glenn. There were even creatures he hadn’t met before—like dwarves and golems from Engineering or the Oni and Trolls from Security, who, for once, were awake.

“Oh, shit. Glenn, some of the elders are here,” Canis whispered, pointing toward the crowd.

Glenn scanned the room, overwhelmed by the sheer number of beings. Most Reapers looked like skeletons, making it hard to distinguish anyone.

In the far-left corner, Glenn’s gaze locked onto a particular figure. The moment he did, an immense pressure weighed down on him—unlike anything he’d felt before.

The figure wore a long, tattered cloak reminiscent of a boatman’s robes, shifting between solid fabric and mist. The edges dissolved into wisps of smoke or water droplets. His hollow eyes faintly glowed with a golden light, resembling coins. This could only be Charon, the Ferryman and one of the Elder Reapers Canis mentioned. He wielded a long staff that doubled as an oar and a scythe, its weathered blade scarred from centuries of use. Coins were embedded into the shaft, symbolizing the fares of countless souls. In his other hand, he carried a ghostly lantern, its light guiding lost souls through the darkness of the underworld.

Charon looked directly at Glenn, shook his head disapprovingly, and walked away.

Even after Charon disappeared, Glenn still felt the oppressive weight in the room. He kept scanning until his eyes landed on another elder—a Reaper with a cigar, smiling at him.

This Reaper wore a sharp, tailored black suit with a white vest and shirt. The slightly unbuttoned shirt revealed a necklace made of small bones and charms. He wore a long, flowing black cape lined with purple satin, its edges shimmering faintly like trailing smoke. His top hat was adorned with feathers, bone fragments, and glowing beads, exuding both authority and mysticism. This was undoubtedly Baron Samedi, another Elder Reaper.

The Baron tipped his hat to Glenn and vanished, leaving behind a cloud of cigar smoke.

Finally, Glenn noticed a third elder, perched cross-legged on the reception desk. This Reaper wore a flowing black kimono embroidered with intricate silver patterns depicting cranes, cherry blossoms, and swirling clouds. The designs shifted subtly as he moved, symbolizing life’s impermanence. His pale, angular face was ethereal, and his black eyes, with faint glowing pupils, flickered like blue flames. His long, jet-black hair streaked with white flowed like ink down his back.

This was Yami, the Shinigami. His weapon was a hybrid between a scythe and a ceremonial staff, adorned with jingling rings and topped with a crescent blade. Yami stared intently at Glenn before vanishing as another Reaper passed by.

Despite these notable presences, Glenn still felt an immense pressure he couldn’t explain.

“Not bad, lad,” a whisper sent chills down Glenn’s spine.

Maeve appeared silently beside him. Her hand grazed his shoulder as she floated to face him, smiling.

“I remember the day he fell,” Maeve said softly, looking at his scythe. “I haven’t sung a song like that since.”

She studied him with a mix of curiosity and nostalgia. “What did the great Hound teach you? Because if you left that battlefield with only his soul, then you’ve missed the real prize.”

Glenn looked down at his scythe. “All my life, I thought I was living. But the truth is, I died long before I was hit by that car. Cú Chulainn taught me that even in death, I can live for something. Fight for something.”

Maeve’s expression brightened, her icy demeanor melting for a moment. She held his cheek, staring into his eyes. “You keep surprising me, Glenn. Careful, or I might start thinking you’re worth keeping around. I wonder, do you have a voice to match your scythe? Or will I have to sing your praises myself?”

Glenn blushed, unsure how to respond. After a moment, he held out his scythe. “I want you to have his soul. I know he’d be okay with it.”

Maeve froze, her eyes wide with surprise. A ball of light emerged from Glenn’s scythe, swirling around before settling in Maeve’s hands. She cupped it gently, holding it close to her heart. Looking back at Glenn, she mouthed a silent thank you before floating away.

“That was crazy,” Canis blurted, startling Glenn, who had forgotten he was there.

As the crowd dispersed, a Hermes assistant ran up to them.

“Anubis would like to see you both in his office. Now,” the assistant said before darting off.

Canis and Glenn exchanged a look before heading to Anubis’s office. Canis knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Anubis’s voice commanded.

Inside, Anubis sat at his desk, signing papers as a Hermes assistant shuffled them in and out at lightning speed. Once Canis and Glenn entered, Anubis dismissed the assistant and leaned back in his chair.

“The task was not simply to claim a soul, Glenn,” Anubis began, his tone measured. “To reap him is to confront more than just a man—it is to contend with a legacy. That you succeeded shows promise to Management, but do not mistake this for approval. It is merely a step toward proving your worth.”

Glenn had expected praise, perhaps even acknowledgment of something special within him. But Anubis’s neutral tone left him deflated.

“By completing this task,” Anubis continued, “you have ensured the scales remain even. For that, the balance is grateful, even if you do not yet understand the weight of what you’ve done.”

“I hope I made Management proud. I do what I can for the Reapers,” Glenn said.

“Me too,” Canis echoed.

Anubis’s golden eyes bore into Glenn. “Victory breeds confidence, but do not let it cloud your judgment. You are not yet a master of your scythe, but this task was no small feat. If nothing else, it shows you have the capacity to rise. The question remains—will you?”

“I will,” Glenn said, his voice firm.

Anubis nodded. “Good. Your next assignment will come from Yami, who has taken an interest in you. He has a soul for you to reap. But before you go, report to the IT department. Management wants your scythe examined and registered. They want to know if it is you or the scythe that is special.”

“Yes, sir,” Glenn replied, suppressing his doubts. For once, he allowed himself to wonder: What if it really is me?

Anubis, however, saw through him. “Glenn, there was nothing wrong with your old life. You had a chance at normalcy, but that ended when you reaped Cú Chulainn. Management is watching now. Those who walk so closely with death rarely find happiness. I myself—”

Before he could finish, a Hermes assistant rushed in and whispered urgently into Anubis’s ear.

“What? Where? In New York? How can this happen?” Anubis shot up from his chair, grabbing his briefcase.

“Sorry, Glenn. Urgent matters require my expertise. Head to IT—they’ll know what to do.” With that, Anubis vanished.

“What was that about?” Canis asked, looking over at Glenn.

Glenn shrugged. “No idea. Should we go to the IT department, then?”

Canis groaned. “Ugh. They’re not as bad as HR, but they’re awful in other ways. For creatures that are supposed to be smart, they can drag out a problem forever. Fine, let’s go.” He got up reluctantly, clearly dreading the trip.

They walked down the hall to the entrance of the IT department. It was a sprawling, dimly lit area filled with glowing runes, mystical monitors, and an endless tangle of wires and conduits that seemed alive. Floating screens displayed streams of data on souls, scythe status reports, and portal calibrations. The shimmering ghostly light illuminated text and images in both human and divine languages.

The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, modern blueprints, and diagrams of mystical artifacts—a chaotic mix of magical and technological inspiration. Energy conduits ran along the ceiling and floor, glowing faintly blue or green, pulsing like veins carrying lifeblood through the underworld.

As Glenn looked around, he noticed something odd. “Where is everyone?” he asked.

The place seemed deserted. No gremlins, no Techlops—nothing. They ventured deeper into the department until a floating monitor appeared in front of them. A wiry gremlin with glowing eyes and long white hair popped up on the screen.

“Yes?” the gremlin asked impatiently.

“Oh, uh, I’m supposed to see the IT Department about my scythe?” Glenn replied.

“Did you submit a ticket for that?” the gremlin asked, squinting at Glenn.

“Of course we didn’t! This is an order from the higher-ups,” Canis interjected.

“Doesn’t matter. You need to submit a work ticket first.”

“What? Listen here, you little—” Canis started, but Glenn interrupted.

“Canis, it’s fine. No big deal.” Glenn turned to the gremlin. “How do we submit a ticket?”

“Go back to your workstation and submit it through the link we sent to all Reapers. Just read your emails.”

“We’re already here! Can’t I just submit one through you?” Canis asked, clearly frustrated.

“Go back to your workstation. You’re only making this take longer.” The monitor blinked off before Canis could argue further.

Both Glenn and Canis let out an annoyed groan as they trudged back to their desks.

“Okay, log into your computer,” Canis instructed Glenn.

“Um… what’s the login? And what email was he talking about? You guys have emails?” Glenn asked.

“Oh, right. You weren’t properly onboarded. Shoot. Okay, let me log in and get that info for you.”

Canis attempted to log into his computer, but a message popped up: “New password required. Cannot use the old password.”

“Ughhhhhhh! I just did this a month ago!” Canis grumbled, resetting his password. After several attempts, he finally logged in. “Okay, now I just need to email IT for your info, and—”

“Weekly station restart required. Computer will now restart.”

“NOOOOOOOOO!” Canis screamed, pulling out his scythe. He was seconds away from slashing the computer in half when it rebooted. He grumbled, logged back in, and went to his email, only to be greeted with another message: “Email password requires update.”

Slash!

Canis split the computer in two with a single swing of his scythe.

“Glenn, can I use your computer?” he asked, turning to Glenn, who stared wide-eyed at the destroyed machine. Glenn nodded slowly.

Finally, after much effort, Canis managed to request Glenn’s computer setup and submit the work ticket.

“Let’s go. We can deal with your computer later,” Canis said, still fuming.

When they returned to the IT department, it was bustling with activity. Gremlins scurried around, and Techlops were hard at work.

“Where was everyone earlier?” Canis asked a gremlin with spiky purple hair.

“Oh, we were all on lunch break,” the gremlin said nonchalantly.

“We’re here about a ticket we submitted. Management wants to register this scythe,” Glenn explained.

“Oh, a scythe registration? You didn’t need to submit a ticket for that,” the gremlin replied.

Glenn glanced at Canis, whose skeletal face somehow managed to look like it had died again.

“Steve usually handles scythe registration,” the gremlin added. “He’s tinkering with the Scales. Head all the way back to the server room.”

As they made their way through the department, Glenn saw more of IT’s chaotic work environment. A Techlops was arguing with an older gremlin.

“To properly fix things, you need to take your time and use the correct parts! Not just slap it together with magic and duct tape!” the Techlops yelled.

“Calm down. It works, doesn’t it? If it breaks, I’ll just fix it again… maybe,” the gremlin replied.

Further along, a group of gremlins was crafting ID badges like the one Glenn used, while two Techlops tinkered with a portal door connected to a strange machine. A pile of broken wooden doors lay nearby. In the back, damaged scythes were being repaired. Gremlins used enchanted screwdrivers to work on energy circuits, while Techlops hammered out dents in blades at a glowing forge.

At the end of the department, they reached a door labeled “Scales Server Room.” Inside was a cavernous space filled with towering server racks made of dark, obsidian-like material engraved with glowing runes.

The servers hummed faintly, their colors shifting based on the data being processed: blue for souls, green for Reapers, and red for an unknown purpose. Root-like cables light up the room with energy, snaking across the floor toward energy nodes and ports labeled with different locations like HR, Management, and more.

In the center was a glowing orb harnessing and distributing power. Wires extended from it toward the Scales, which loomed in the distance.

Steve was working near one of the floating monitors close to the Scales when Glenn called out.

“Steve!” Glenn said, happy to see a familiar face.

Steve turned, his expression sour. “Oh no. No, no, no. It’s you. You’re trouble. I want nothing to do with you.”

“What? What did I do?” Glenn asked, confused.

“You lost the scythe I gave you! Do you know how much trouble I got in?”

“Relax. It was just a temporary scythe. Those get misplaced all the time,” Canis interjected.

“Actually, it wasn’t. That was Hades’ scythe! Now Charon is furious, and you do not want to be on his bad side. Just thinking about him gives me chills!”

“Hades? The Hades? Oh, yeah, you’re screwed,” Canis said. “But how is that Glenn’s fault?”

“Because I never make mistakes! I’ve been doing this for over a thousand years, and the first time something goes wrong, it’s with him!” Steve ranted.

“I’m truly sorry,” Glenn said sincerely. “I’m still new at this. I never meant to get you in trouble.”

“Don’t apologize, Glenn! IT makes mistakes all the time,” Canis said. “And besides, this order comes from Anubis. Management wants Glenn’s new scythe chipped and examined.”

Steve’s frustration turned to curiosity as he eyed Glenn’s scythe. “Wow… what a scythe. Maybe I could sneak in a quick task or two… for Management, of course.”

“Of course,” Canis said with a sly grin, knowing the tactic had worked.

All three left the room and headed toward where the gremlins were repairing scythes. Curious Techlops pretended to work while sneaking glances at them.

“Glenn, may I?” Steve held out his hand. Glenn hesitated before handing him the scythe. It was the first time it wasn’t in his possession since he received it, and he didn’t like the feeling. The attachment was deep, almost like the scythe was a part of him. He could sense the scythe didn’t want to be separated from him either.

Steve held up the scythe, and a chorus of gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd of gremlins and Techlops.

“That’s right. Now make way. Shoo!” Steve barked, and the others scattered as he placed the scythe on a table.

He pulled up a monitor with streams of data, pressed a button on the side of his head, and a red beam scanned the scythe. Steve’s expression shifted to shock as he examined the results. He pulled root-like wires from the monitor, stretching them toward the scythe. The wires seemed to grow and fuse with the weapon.

Steve’s astonishment deepened. He activated the red light again, this time scanning Glenn.

“What is it?” Glenn asked nervously. “Is the scythe too special for me? It’s okay if Management wants it back.” Glenn’s insecurities were bubbling to the surface, and he braced for a disappointing answer.

“No, it’s not that,” Steve said, his voice tinged with disbelief. “I’ve never seen this before. Your soul and the power radiating from the scythe are intertwined. I can’t distinguish one from the other. It’s as if it’s fused with you.”

Steve stepped back, considering. “Try something for me. Call the scythe back to you. Don’t think about how—just focus on summoning it.”

Glenn was unsure what any of this meant, but he was willing to try. Holding out his hand, he first thought about pulling it back like a Jedi, but then he realized it was deeper than that. He had to picture the scythe as an extension of himself, belonging in his grip.

Swish.

The scythe flew into Glenn’s hand. He smiled, triumphant.

“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Steve warned, holding out his hand for the scythe again. He rummaged in a drawer, pulling out a device that implanted chips. After typing on the monitor, a chip popped out, and Steve inserted it into the device before pressing it into the scythe.

“Ouch!” Glenn exclaimed, rubbing his arm.

“Just as I thought,” Steve said grimly. “Your spiritual pressure is fused with the scythe. If something damages or depletes the scythe’s energy, it’ll do the same to you. Glenn, if the scythe is destroyed, you’ll be destroyed.”

“Whoa,” Canis muttered.

“It’s fine. I won’t let anything happen to it,” Glenn said, resolute. The scythe pulsed in response, as if echoing his determination.

“What does the chip do?” Canis asked.

“Every scythe is chipped so Management can monitor its location and power output. That’s how we track reapers on the monitor at the front desk,” Steve explained.

“Oh, I never knew that,” Canis replied.

“Well, I’ve done what Management asked. The report is already being sent to Anubis. Now, if you don’t mind, I want nothing more to do with this,” Steve said, handing the scythe back to Glenn.

Glenn felt uneasy about Steve’s fear but decided it wasn’t the right time to address it. He and Canis left the IT department, their next destination clear: Yami.

“Where’s Yami’s office?” Glenn asked.

“Not far from Maeve’s, but he’s never there. He’s usually hanging out in the lounge,” Canis explained.

Glenn considered asking about the lounge but figured it would be more bizarre than anything he could imagine.

When they arrived at the lounge, Glenn was struck by the unusual setup. Near the entrance were racks filled with scythes, Hermes’ shoes, cloaks, and other otherworldly tools.

“You can drop your gear here if you want. The trolls will watch over it,” Canis offered.

Glenn glanced at a massive troll standing guard. “I think I’ll hold onto my stuff.”

The troll grunted. “Suit yourself.”

They entered the lounge, which initially looked like a typical office break room. Creatures mingled at tables, snacking on mythical foods. Two figures stood near a water jug, chatting, though Glenn doubted it contained actual water.

Around the corner, signs pointed to “Gym,” “Spa,” and “VIPs.”

“The gym’s for practicing with scythes. The spa’s for relaxing, though I’ve never been, so who knows what that means. Each Elder has their own VIP lounge. Yami’s is probably where he’s at,” Canis explained.

They walked to Yami’s door, marked with his name, and stepped inside. The space was serene, a Japanese Zen garden brought to life. Sakura trees and bamboo plants surrounded a path leading to a sand garden shaped like Japan. Rocks represented mountains, while the sand patterns shifted in response to Japan’s current state.

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In the center sat Yami, radiating calm darkness. He meditated cross-legged on a boulder, his scythe balanced on his shoulder.

“It smells good in here,” Canis said, breaking the silence.

“How can you smell?” Glenn asked, puzzled.

“Really? I’m a talking skeleton, and that’s your question?” Canis shook his head. “I like what you’ve done with the place. Very… zen.”

Yami opened his eyes, focusing on Glenn. “Glenn Garcia, the fledgling reaper. I’ve heard of you—the mortal whose soul could not be judged. Tell me, how does it feel to tread a path so uncertain, with a scythe you do not yet understand?”

“I—I’m trying to do my best. I reaped Chu Chulainn,” Glenn stammered.

“A reaper must be more than a wielder of tools, Glenn. You must understand the weight of the souls you guide and the lessons they leave behind. Duty is not a burden; it is an honor,” Yami said.

“Chu Chulainn was guiding you. But not all souls will. What will you do when faced with a soul just as powerful, but consumed by destruction and cruelty? Can you command your power at will?” Yami’s gaze bore into Glenn.

Glenn bowed deeply. “Sir, I’ll do my best to learn. I won’t give up. I’ll take any advice or training you can offer.”

Yami nodded. “I have a task for you: Tomoe Gozen, a legendary samurai. She refuses to move on. Help her find peace.”

Yami conjured an origami bird, which flew to the sand garden and transformed into a samurai figure.

“Tomoe Gozen fought valiantly, even when her master fell. She defied death itself. But she lingers, bound by something I cannot understand. Discover her truth, Glenn Garcia. Perhaps you’ll find your own along the way.”

“I will!” Glenn said with determination.

As they left the lounge, Canis whispered, “See? He likes me. Called me a jester, but in a good way.”

“Canis, I’m not sure that was a compliment.”

“Shut up and let me have this.”

With that, they headed to the portals to begin their next mission.

The Trolls and the Oni were arm wrestling on the reception desk.

Canis held up his ID badge and Glenn followed suit.

“Hey Canis, why do we hold up our badge?”

“Oh, back when I was a rookie myself, Baron Samedi showed me around and how to enter portals.”

“I see.”

Glenn ran over and opened the door. They walked through and arrived inside a building with a hot spring in Japan.

“No, way a hot spring!I love a good bath.” Canis said.

“What’s there to bathe?” Asked Glenn looking at Canis’s bones.

“Have you ever been to a hot spring before?” Asked Canis rolling his eyes.

“No. I don’t think there are any in my city. And I’ve never gone far outside of the city before.”

“Never gone– WHAT?!. Ok. I’m calling an audible. We are taking a quick break. A nice hot spring will recharge our souls.”

“What? No. We have a mission.” argued Glenn.

“Look. No one can see us so we can’t get in trouble. And the soul isn’t going anywhere. She has already been there for hundreds of years. Pretty sure she will still be wherever she is. Come on. We can come up with a game plan. Go over the files and recharge at the same time.” said Canis.

“Hm. When you put it that way, I can’t think of an argument.”

“It’s settled!” Canis said excitingly, ripping off his cloak . He ran over and laid his cloak and scythe next to some bamboo plants and jumped in full skeleton.

“Ahhhh.” He let off a huge moan as he sunk into the steaming water. “Come on. Just because we’re dead doesn’t mean we can’t live a little.”

Glenn was reluctant. He took off his cloak and placed it next to Canis’s. Next, his clothes ,keeping his undergarments.

“Nope. You have to go full skeleton too. It is part of the experience. And the scythe.”

“Fine, but the scythe stays.” Glenn agreed and took off the rest of his clothes. He held on to the scythe tightly as he dipped a foot in. It was hot but nice. He went all in.

“Wowwwwwwww.” Glenn said as he slid down until the water was up to his nose.

“See? Look, I think even your scythe likes it.” Canis pointed to Glenn’s scythe which was pulsing.

“So should we discuss a plan?” Glenn asked lethargically.

“What plan? Oh, right. Do we even know what Tomoe Gozen looks like?” asked Canis.

“No. Or her real name. How do we find someone if we don’t know where they died, or what they look like, or their real name?” Asked Glenn.

“Hmm. What?” Canis was too relaxed.

They suddenly heard a door creek open slowly..

A door opened and a woman in a pure white kimono covered in delicate floral patterns of cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums appeared., The kimono was embroidered in silvery pale blue and her obi was a soft shade of lavender.

It seemed as if time stood still for Glenn as she gazed upon her. Her long, jet-black hair flowed freely, shimmering as though caught in an invisible breeze. A single, delicate hairpin with a cherry blossom motif was tucked into her hair. Her skin was pale but almost seemed luminescent. She kept her eyes down“Canis. Psst Canis. I think we are in the wrong hot spring!” Glenn whispered aggressively over to Canis.

“I don’t see any signs that say ‘female only’, do you? Come to think of it, I have not seen any workers either. But don’t worry about it, they can’t see us.”

“But-but isn’t this wrong?”

“I’m not a human so I’m going to stay right here. You are going to learn human’s do weird shit when they think they are alone. We see it all the time.” said Canis.

Glenn got up to leave. But as he stood up he remembered he was naked and quickly sat back down in the water. It was too late, the woman dropped her kimono and walked to the spring. He had never seen a naked person in real life before. Girls were always nice to him,, but he never pursued a relationship. He had kissed girls, but without passion, so they usually gave up. She got in and placed a towel over her eyes.

Glenn’s face turned redder than the hot springs themselves. His dead heart beat louder than he ever heard before..

“God I hope there is no asshole horse this time. I got my ass kicked last time. You know, I never asked you. How did you beat Chu Chulainn?” asked Canis.

“Should we be talking about that? With you know…” Glenn points over to the woman with his head.

“Who cares. She can’t hear us.”

“Right. Well. I don’t think I defeated him exactly. He wasn’t going 100%. It was like he was testing me, I think if he wanted to, he could have killed me at first. I don’t know why he let me reap him to be honest. But I owe him, because now I know my purpose. Heawakened something in me.” He looked at his scythe. “I feel different somehow.”

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. But I feel…power.” Glenn’s eyes flashed pure blackness as he looked at his scythe.

“That’s good. Maybe Management can promote you to Elder Reaper after this? I mean usually you have to reap thousands, but two 3 tier reaps could be an exception. We could get our own VIP room! Oh, yes then we can put a hot spring in it.”

They both laughed. “That would be nice. Tell me Canis, why haven't you been promoted to Elder? You seem to have been around a while.”

Canis’ demeanor changed. “Yes. I joined the reapers around 381 AD. I don’t remember my past really, but they say my soul is from a Canine. I know I had a master, but he was more of a friend. A best friend.He was a leader, a good man. I don’t think we lived on Earth but it was similar. But something happened to him. And to me. The reapers found my soul on the brink of destruction. They offered me peace, but I knew my friend was out there. So I asked if I could join the reapers. I am pretty loyal and do what I am told, so they didn’t see a problem.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain why you are the butt of everyone’s jokes and haven’t moved up in rank.

“Not everyone can jump to a Tier 3. For most, you have to go through many reaps. It’s not always about a soul not wanting to reap, but the reaper not wanting to. Life can be unclear. Souls are always asking questions we don’t have the answers to, but then the reapers start asking questions. And Management doesn’t like reapers who ask questions.”

“ What type of questions?”

“You will soon know. But we got business to get down to! Taking down Tomoe Gozen.”

“Yeah!” Glenn wanted to change the subject and cheer Canis up so he stood up with newfound energy, then sat right back down again from embarrassment.

“How about you call her out and as you talk to her I leap from behind a rock and give a reap from behind. Or can you teach me that awakening thing? We both go Super Saiyan on her. Yeah, how did you do it?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I just grabbed my scythe like this.” Glenn stood up so only his waist was underwater. He held out his hands gripping the scythe. “He threw the spear at me and I just knew I had to give it my all. I just started to scream.”

“Oh, ok hold on!” Canis ran and grabbed his spear and ran back to Glenn waist deep. “Like this?”

“Yeah, and this. Hold it real tight. And then scream.”

“Like this? Ahhhhh!” Canis started to scream.

“Yeah. But try to scream from deep within. Really belly it. Ahhhh!.” Glenn screamed.

“Ahhhhhh!” They both screamed together.

“Ha. Haha. Hahahahahaha.” Glenn and Canis abruptly stopped screaming and stared over at the woman laughing.

“This is who they sent to reap me?”

Canis and Glenn looked at each other, frozen in their tracks.

“Did she just talk?” Cnais whispered.

“I thought you said the living can’t hear us?” replied Glenn nervously.

“They can’t.” Both slowly looked from each other's eyes to the woman laughing. She removed the towel and lowered her head to gaze upon them. Her eyes were the same spiritual blue as Chu Chulainn.

“Who are you?” asked Glenn.

The woman turned her back towards them and stood up. Her body was slim and fit. At a closer glance, Glenn saw a scar covering her body. She looked over her shoulder back at them. “Don’t you know it is rude to stare?”

Both Canis and Glenn turned around. Glenn looked over at Canis and gave him a ‘why are we doing this’ look, but Canis just shrugged.’ She smiled as she saw Glenn blushing and walked over to her clothing.

“Didn’t peak at all? Shame, you’ll never get that chance again.” The woman said as Glenn and Canis turned back around. She had her kimono back on but this time a katana sheathed in her obi.

She walked over to their scythes. “That is because this is where you will die. My name died along with my mortal body. But you may call me Tomoe Gozen. I believe you were hoping to, what was it, reap me?”

Both Canis and Glenn were frozen, still naked in the water and unsure what to do. She picked up Cani’s scythe, inspected it and then threw it over to him. Next, she picked up Glenn’s and paused for a moment. As she held the scythe up her eyes brightened. She touched her neck as if she couldn’t breathe for a split second. She tossed it over to Glenn, and he caught it with one hand while the other was covering his crotch.

“Whoa, wait I’m still naked!” Glenn shouted.

“You think your enemy will wait for you to get dressed? There used to be honor among warriors, but I learned the hard way. There is only one thing humans have in common. We all die alone!” Tomoe Gozen raised her Katana and leapt at Canis and Glenn. Canis darted in front and blocked her attack.

Glenn looked around and saw a towel. He hopped out of the water and rushed toward it, wrapping it around his waist. Tomoe Gozen's eyes locked onto Glenn.

“Wait. Are we really doing this here?”

“A battlefield is wherever it needs to be. Now fight.” Tomoe Gozen Knocked Canis on his boney butt with a swift sweep of her leg.

With blinding speed, Tomoe closed the gap between herself and Glenn, her katana cutting through the mist like lightning. Glenn barely blocked with his scythe, the clash sending a ripple through the water.

“Hesitation will cost you, young one!”

She knocked Glenn’s towel down, causing him to stumble backward, falling into the shallow water, splashing into the pools as he struggled to steady himself.

Canis leapt in, spinning his smaller, jagged scythe with fluid precision. He striked Tomoe from the side, his attacks fast and unpredictable.

“Let’s see how you handle a little chaos, lady samurai!”

Tomoe sidestepped gracefully, parrying his strikes with ease, her movements like a dance.

Watching Canis’s boldness, Glenn found his footing and charged back into the fray. He swung Mora’s scythe in a wide arc, forcing Tomoe to leap backward.

Tomoe smiled faintly “Better. But power without purpose is nothing.”

She focused an attack on Canis, sweeping his own scythe into the ground, then punched his head into a 360. Seeing Canis knocked off balance, Glenn charged forward, focusing into a precise downward strike. Tomoe blocked, their weapons locking, sparks flying as she leaned in to study Glenn’s face.

“You fight as though you’re unsure of your place. Find your resolve, or you will fall.”

“I know my resolve! I want to be the greatest reaper!” Glenn says,their scythes tangled.

“Your lust for power will be your undoing.”

“It’s not for power! I want to save everyone!” Glenn’s comment made Tomoe leap back into a defense position

Glenn continued, panting, “I want to be there for the frightened. For those who die alone. A light in the darkness of this world. That even though there is no reason for death, I will keep their memories alive.” He looked at his pulsing scythe. “With me.”

This resonated with Tomoe Gozen as she died fighting for her master and her ideals: to protect those she cared about. She had no desire for fame or legacy. She saw life after her battle with Minamoto no Yoshinaka. She hoped once the battle was over, he would leave his wife and they could live happily together. But during her final days, Minamoto no Yoshinaka was betrayed by his family and their warriors were ambushed. Minamoto no Yoshinaka wanted Tomoe to retreat. To survive. But her love for him was too great and she perished fighting until the very end.

Tomoe Gozen walked away from their clothes to the other side of the room, and took a seat cross-legged on the ground.

“Go ahead. Grab your stuff,” she sighed.

Glenn was suspicious. Tomoe pointed to Glenn’s nakedness as he forgot about the towel. Glenn, embarrassed and blushing, ran to his cloak.

As Tomoe Gozen was laughing, Canis tried to sneak up behind Tomoe for a blow.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. Just grab your stuff and let’s have a chat.”

Canis thought about it then dropped his guard.

“Why are you messing with us?” Canis said. “I know you have not shown your true form yet.”

Glenn, now dressed, walked over to Canis and handed him his cloak. Canis snatched it with impatience.

“First, I must know. Who exactly sent you to reap me?”

“Yami.” Glenn said.

“Yami did?” Tomoe Gozen looked puzzled. She muttered to herself. “What does he see in you?”

“That scythe, boy. Where did you get it? Who are you?” Tomoe Gozen asked.

“My name is Glenn Garcia. I am a newly-fledged reaper. I am not anything special. I lived my life like anyone else. Went to school. Played video games. Then one day…it’s hard to remember. I was hit by a car. Then when I woke up, I was dead. I followed my body to where they laid it to rest, which is where I met Mora, one of the sisters of death. She gave me this scythe by sacrificing her life force. Next, I met Anubis who took me to the scales. They were perfectly even. Anubis didn’t know what to do with me so they made me a reaper.”

“And then he met me. The most important,” Canis butted in.

“And Canis of course.”

“Yami? Anubis? Mora? It would be rare for a soul to even meet one of those deities, but all three? Earlier you said there was no reason for death. You’ll find that is not the case. There are forces at play here. You remind me of the young version of my master. Minamoto no Yoshinaka wasn’t always a great general. He was young once. Kind. He wanted to make the world a better place. But the world will test you. What will you do when someone like Canis betrays you?”

“I would never.” Canis exclaimed.

“And Minamoto no Yoshinaka was struck down by his own flesh and blood! Tell me, have you ever been in love? What if someone you love died in battle or worse, they turned on you too.”

“I-I’ve never been in love. I wouldn’t know what it feels like.” Glenn responded bashfully.

Tomoe Gozen put down her sword and crawled over to a seated Glenn. “It’s the most powerful of all the feelings.” She puts her hand on his leg. “Sometimes all it takes is a look.” She batted her eyes deeply at him. “Sometimes it’s an action. “She chased her hand up his leg to his chest to his heart. “Sometimes it’s a spark.” She used her other hand to hold his cheek and pull him in close so their lips were nearly touching. With her other hand she felt his heart racing. She kissed him.

She pulled away and stood up. “But you truly don’t know, until it’s gone. You can’t breathe or think the same way. When they touch you, they chemically alter your existence to be dependent on them.”

She walked back to her sword and picked it up. “That is why these attachments are so dangerous. Yami must have sent you to learn a lesson. Glenn. I will teach you that lesson or you will die here.”

Tomoe Gozen's aura blazed around her. Ghostly armor formed all over her. Her breastplate was intricately engraved with motifs of cranes and cherry blossoms, symbols of elegance and fleeting beauty, contrasting with her fearsome aura. The designs seemed to shift subtly as she moved, like reflections on water. Her shoulder guards were wide and flared, adorned with faintly glowing runes and delicate etchings of battle scenes, representing the countless conflicts she endured. The plates of her armored skirt were layered like the petals of a flower, each plate shimmering with a faint mist. The edges seemed to dissolve into vapor, emphasizing her spectral nature.

Her kabuto was sleek and elegantly minimal, adorned with a single, crescent-shaped crest that glowed softly. Flowing ribbons of energy trailed behind it, resembling ghostly banners that rippled in an invisible breeze. Her hands and legs were protected by spectral gauntlets and greaves, engraved with interlocking wave patterns that rippled with movement. Her fingers appeared claw-like,, adding to her intimidating presence.

“Whoa, I thought we were done fighting. I mean look at Glenn, I think he’d rather do something else than fight.” Canis looked over at Glenn, but Glenn stood up holding his scythe with the look of determination.

Tomoe Gozen was very pleased with Glenn. She unsheathed her blade once more, walked over to the water, and dropped her blade into it. The water evaporated into mist.

Tomoe used the steam to her advantage, disappearing into the mist and attacking from unexpected angles.

Glenn and Canis struggled to keep track of her movements, relying on instinct and teamwork to deflect her strikes.

“What’s wrong? Not very samurai-like to be using tricks.” said Canis.

“Taunts do not make you stronger, skeleton dog.” Tomoe Gozen appeared behind him. She lashed off his arm holding his scythe.

“Oh, fuck.” Those were the only words out of Canis Before Tomoe Gozen bombarded him with slashes, each one severing a body part. But she didn’t use her sword for the final blow to kill Canis. Instead she chopped his boney head off and placed her foot atop it.

“Back to where you came from, mutt.” She stomped her foot down and crushed his skull. Canis evaporated into black smoke.

“What did you do to Canis?” pleaded Glenn..

“I did not erase him from existence. I merely sent him back to where you parasites plan and scheme. I would need to pierce him with my Katana and absorb him if I wished to really destroy him.”

“So you are not so bad.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. There are thousands of reapers in my sword. And you will not be so lucky to share the fate of Canis.”

“Why me?” asked Glenn, frustrated with these games.

“You truly feel you are not special?”

“I am not.”

Tomoe Gozen frowned. In a blur, Tomoe charged forward, her katana slicing through the air like lightning. Her movements were fluid and precise, every strike calculated to test Glenn’s defenses.

Glenn blocked her attacks with Mora’s scythe, sparks of spectral energy flying as their weapons clashed. The force of her strikes pushed him back. The blows were so powerful on Mora’s scythe that it inflicted pain on Glenn.

“Come on! Is that all you got? Muster up more strength.”

“I’m trying!.”

“That is not real strength. Fine. I will show you.” Tomoe Gozen leapt back. She sheathed her sword and assumed an attack position. She absorbed the mist in the air like a black hole.. Glenn felt the pull but dug his heels in deeper to ground himself.Tomoe Gozen’s eyes were focused, then she suddenly stared off into the distance, absorbed in thought.. Glenn studied every moment of this. She screamed as gravity seemed to get ten times heavier.

She descended on Glenn faster than the speed of light. At the last second,Glenn was sent smashing through wall after wall until he was outside the hot spring building.

Glenn rolled on the ground, shell shocked. Mora’s scythe pulse slowly and faded in intensity. a crack in the scythe mimicked a wound onGlenn’s head.

Tomoe Gozen approached with her sword drawn.

“Last chance. Show me what Yami saw in you.”

Glenn tried to get up, but his head was ringing.

“Disappointing,” She said, raising her sword to swing.

Glenn laid on his back and stared at her. Even as she was about to erase him from existence, Glenn still was in awe of her beauty. If anyone was to do it, he is happy it was her. That kiss. He wished he could feel that warmth one more time. He closed his eyes and recalled what she said about love. His heart raced.. Then he had a thought. What if that was what love feels like? Or would it feel the same with others, like Maeve. No. He didn’t feel this way around Maeve. Are there other loves? Did his mother have love for him before she was murdered?

Tomoe Gozen struck down her sword with a jarring clank.

Glenn blocked it, still on the ground.

“No. I will not perish here!”

Glenn opened his eyes which were black as nothingness. Black smoke oozed from his face, forming a black skull mask. His aura was heavier. Windows on surrounding buildings shattered.

Tomoe Gozen leapt back, surprised at what she saw. Glenn rose from the ground without using a muscle.

With a burst of energy, Tomoe unleashed a powerful attack, her katana glowing like a star. She leapt into the air, striking down with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Glenn easily dodged, the force of the attack carving a massive gash that sliced right through buildings and into the ground.

As the mist cleared, Glenn stood tall, his eyes filled with determination. He gripped Mora’s scythe tightly, the weapon glowing brighter than ever.

Tomoe charged again, her movements faster and more precise than ever. Her katana glowed with spectral energy, leaving trails of light in its wake. Glenn spun Mora’s scythe in a wide arc, creating a vortex of energy that collided with Tomoe’s strikes. The two energies clashed, filling the battlefield with a massive blinding light.Blow by blow they parried with such speed that the human eye would not be able to keep up. Their strengths were evenly matched. At this point it was a battle of stamina. The first to make a mistake loses.

In the end, it was Tomoe Gozen. Glenn caught her sword pinned and jabbed, knocking her off, then using her own move to sweep her off her feet, tripping her to the ground. He then batted her sword, sending it flying away.

“Don’t worry. I will make sure you will go to Yami and to a good place.”

“No wait, please!” Tomoe Gozen raised her hands in the air.

”The reason I never let someone reap me and why I didn’t go with Yami is Minamoto no Yoshinaka is still out there, I know it. Until I find him, I can’t move on. He said he would wait for me.”

Glenn hesitated. He didn’t like seeing her sad about another man. He looked around. Then Glenn thought of something. He is a reaper. It is his job to guide souls.

“Do you trust me?” Glenn asked.

“What?”

“Do you trust me?” Glenn repeated.

Trust was the hardest thing for Tomoe Gozen. She has been betrayed so many times. But the look in Glenn’s eyes indicated he still had his innocence. He was truly kindhearted.

“Yes.”

Glenn knelt down next to her. He removed her breastplate. He placed his right hand over her heart. Tomoe Gozen didn’t expect this, but she felt warmth. Her heart raced. He removed his right hand and touched the edge of the scythe from his left hand to her heart.

Tomoe Gozen gasped as her breath was taken from her. She gazed up at Glenn as her body became light. The last thing she saw was Glenn smiling. “Don’t worry. I have you.” She heard him say.

And that was it. Glenn absorbed her into his scythe. His black skull mask dissipated into the air. Glenn looked around at the damage he caused. There were no people around. In fact, all the buildings looked like they hadn’t been occupied in a long time, abandoned.

He walked back to the hot spring where he came. The door was still intact. He walked up to it and held out his badge. He looked at his scythe. He could feel Tomoe.

“I hope this works.” He said as he opened the door.

Chapter 3.1

Deathnibbles finally found the door he wanted. He stalked another reaper and watched him enter the world and exit through the same door. He followed suit.He held up his badge using his little squirrel arm. happened. It was just a normal door.

What did that reaper do?Deathnibbles wondered. . He tried again with no luck.

Deathnibbles then had a thought. He held onto the badge while opening the door. The air felt different and the other side was not what he was expecting. He saw creatures running around and he quickly slipped inside, darted past two giant sleeping creatures, and hid under a table for cover.

A creature behind a front desk saw that the door opened. “Huh?” the creature said. In a flash, the creature was at the door. It shrugged when it saw nothing,then closed the door.

“Hey idiots, this is the last time. If I catch you again, I am telling Anubis,” the front desk creature admonished after slapping the sleeping creatures awake.

The creatures looked worried and stood up in attention. Deathnibbles used this commotion as a diversion to keep exploring. He looked up at the sign that showed directions. Where could this murderer be? Deathnibbles started with the Lounge.

The Lounge was a mistake. There were too many creatures bustling about. Deathnibbles looked to his left though and saw all their equipment laying near the entrance and walked over to inspect. A golden pair of shoes caught his attention. They were too big for him, but his scythe started to pulsate. He touched his scythe to the shoes and they shrank to the perfect size that would fit him. He put them on. They fit! He did the same thing to a cloak. Yes,Deathnibbles looked like a real reaper now.

“Hey, who are you?” Shouted a gremlin only a little bigger than Deathnibbles.

Deathnibbles didn’t waste time. He tried to run but he was so fast he blasted right through the door. Now, all the creatures had eyes on him.

“Does that squirrel have a scythe, Hermes’ shoes, and a cloak?!” An Oni said to a reaper.

“That is not possible.” The reaper responded.

Deathnibbles needed to get out of there. With his new shoes, he gained super speed. Within seconds he was able to completely run around the office. No sign of this murderer. Then he came across Glenn’s computer. There was a note on the desk from IT that showed Glenn’s ID and password. Who was this Glenn? He needed to find him.

Deathnibbles logged in. Nothing seemed of use on the computer until he saw where Glenn came from, his earth address where he lived before his death. Deathnibbles smiled. He had what he needed to locate Glenn.

Like a lighting bolt, Deathnibbles was off.