Placeholder (MxM)

A Playdate With Death part 1

A Playdate With Death (MxM)

Volume 1

Takano Masamune

Chapter 1: Reaper Peeper

***

In a dark alley in the off skirts of the city, a quiet neighborhood, one in which nothing seemed to ever happen, for the first time in a long time, there was a commotion… But it felt like no one could hear or see it…

“No, no please… I just… listen to me… I need to live I have a family and what if they-” The pleading was loud but there wasn’t a single person there to hear his cries. “I need to live… please…” He begged and begged and yet before the man could finish his tragic speech the Reaper took away his soul. With a single swing of the death scythe he left the empty shell of the human, his body laying coldly on the ground to be discovered…

Emotions were something Reapers seemingly didn’t possess… it was an exclusively human trait. Besides the more one pities humans, the more they become like them… and for a Reaper, an entity with powers comparable to God, it was the worst imaginable thing on earth…

“Eh? Wasn’t that too cold hearted?” Another Reaper questioned him, this one unlike the other didn’t have an all black appearance, his hair was a bright yellow color and he wore white clothes. “You could have at least listened to his story!” He complained all the more enthusiastically. Yet although he was scolding the man, he was smiling all the way. His name was Jeremiah.

“There is no purpose to listening to that…” Bennet replied, his cold demeanor made him seem unapproachable but the other didn’t seem to mind.

Jeremiah placed his arm over the man’s shoulder and pulled him in. “Come on! Aren’t you even a little bit interested in humans?” He questioned him with great interest. “You know they have so much to tell… they live these short lives and yet each one of them is uniquely different! Isn’t it impressive?”

It was odd, the way Jeremiah spoke of humans had a hint of admiration, curiosity and great interest… almost childlike traits…

“It’s just another task we have to do. I don’t get interested in what bugs I have to squish.” On the other hand Bennet was heartless, he spoke of humans as nothing more but a means to an end.

“That’s why even other reapers don’t want you! You’re so boring!” Jeremiah remarked as he let go of the man and turned his back to him.

“Boring… huh…?” Bennet didn’t really care about being interesting to anyone or anything. He just existed to do his job and take care of humans that are about to die. Nothing more and nothing less… it wasn’t difficult for him to see how that would be boring to someone like Jeremiah that found joy in what he did…

“I have a new task for you.” The Reaper Guardian who took the appearance of an elderly man dressed in all dark gray clothes, spoke in a low manner. His voice was devoid of the youthful tone that the other reapers had…

Reapers can’t age… but they can take the form of a human and their age will vary on their sole collection. The older you look the more souls you’ve collected, and the younger you looked the more of a novice you were…

In this case the Guardian Reaper was the one that had taken out more than ten million human souls. And thus his appearance was that of an elderly man in his nineties… he was the most qualified reaper there was, thus trusted upon him was the title of Guardian.

“I heard this woman was supposed to die years ago… however something saved her each time she was near death. It was an outside interference but we never investigated it as a new death day was planned. That day is today. Please make sure you collect her soul properly.” The Guardian Reaper’s words were stern almost as if he was putting all his faith in the man in front of him.

“Will do…” On the other hand Bennet had the appearance of a man in his twenties. That’s because until this point he’s collected only about 100 thousand human souls. And although that was more than most of his colleagues, of course it was nowhere near the level of the guardian who’d been there since the beginning of time.

He was still the most qualified of all the Reapers, and the one that the Guardian favored, the one he wanted to exceed him…

You see, although Reapers are long living, they are by no means immortal. They were no Gods that would exist forever… they too had a lifespan like everyone else…

“Ehhhh you have another task already!?” Jeremiah asked as he glanced over the document the man had been handed. “No fair! I only get a task every month or so, how come you get new ones as soon as you’re done with the last!?” He asked, there was a faint hint of jealousy in his voice.

“Maybe it’s because I don’t waste my time with every single human like you do.” Bennet replied without as much as a second to think.

“But… they’re living beings like us, right? Isn’t it only proper we give them their last words and the time to process what’s happening?” Jeremiah asked as he looked up at the sky above them. “Do we really have to just take their souls and leave? Isn’t that too cruel?” He questioned.

“Don’t do that… the more time you give them to recollect their memories from earth the more trouble you cause for us. Because of you people have a myth that ‘before you die, your life flashed before your eyes’ ha…” Bennet sounded genuinely so tired of the man in front of him.

“It’s cause it’s really interesting!” Jeremiah didn’t seem to regret his actions. Although he didn’t have that impressive of a number like the other man, he had collected above 5 thousand human souls, and he listened… he heard them out… each soul to him was another story, another moment in history, another living being.

“I’m leaving.” Bennet headed out before the other man could respond to him at all.

“Ha… what a boring guy…” Jeremiah was looking up at the clouds that were gathering above their heads. “If he continued being like that… he might never know what it’s like to really be living…” He muttered under his breath… so quietly the whisper carried through the air and dispersed into the clear sky…

“Here…” Bennet observed the apartment of the woman, but he didn’t see her there. Her name was ‘Julia’ as far as the details of what her death will entail, he didn’t know any of that. Just that today was her final breathing moments.

Bennet stood there and waited for the man for a while, until he heard something from the bathroom. Soon enough the person in question walked out completely naked with a single towel she had over her shoulders that she used to dry her hair… The rest of her body completely exposed, her breasts and thighs still had small droplets of water trickling down. The woman obviously thought she was alone in her home.

“Hm?” Julia tilted her head to the side as she looked at the Reaper. “Um… did you get the wrong door? Or are you here to rob me? Cause I don’t really have much. Ah, but if you do find anything please share it with me, it’s no fair otherwise.” Julia spoke in a completely careless manner as she walked to the side of her bed.

This woman was as calm as a cucumber seeing a stranger in her home, there was no trace of fear, nor was there a trace of shame for her exposed appearance.

“P-put some clothes on!” The Reaper yelled, suddenly his entire face flushed a bright shade of red as he tried to hide his eyes.

“Hm? I’m at home, if you don’t like it don’t look.” Julia replied in the same careless way as she sat on her bed and spread her legs. “Besides aren’t you a guy with experience? What’s with being all blushy like you haven’t seen one of these…” She spoke in a brass manner as she snickered at the man.

“It’s not about having or not having seen one! You shouldn’t be waving it around like that. Close your legs! Wear something, anything… a napkin even… just cover up…” Bennet looked nearly shocked to death, if that were possible then maybe he would have passed away already.

“Well, I don’t want to~” Julia continued to defy the man. “Now tell me what you want and why you’re here.” She demanded answers as she glanced up at the man. “I can tell that whatever you’re reason is, it’s not simple.”

“I’m… well…” Bennet gathered up all his strength to be able to speak at that moment. He regained his composure and breathed in then out. “I’m the Reaper that’s come here to collect your soul.” He said with a strong voice that was more commanding than anything else. He really seemed threatening at that moment…

“Hey, you’re tough guy act would be more convincing if you were actually looking at me while saying that, you know?” Julia said while tilting her head to the opposite side. The Reaper had his back turned to her and spoke coldly to the wall he was staring at.

“Give me your soul.” Bennet said as he turned around and made his death Scythe appear out of thin air.

“Whoa, you do look cool now!” Julia said as she observed the man in front of her. “Well then… if it’s my soul you’ve come here for then… feel free to take it.” She smiled kindly at the man and locked eyes with him…

Unlike other humans there was no fear within her eyes, her voice didn’t break as she spoke, and she never once looked away… she wasn’t like the others… she didn’t care about dying… but she didn’t look like she wanted to die either…

It was… strange… she was a strange woman…

Chapter 2: Souless Banter

***

With a swing of the giant all black death scythe, the Reaper is able to get every soul in an instant… however this time he couldn’t…

“What’s the matter? Can’t take it?” The naked woman sitting on the bed smirked up at the reaper. Her calm exuded a confidence the Reaper had never encountered before.

“This doesn’t make any sense…” Bennet looked down at his weapon, then back at the woman who approached him and pressed his chest against hers.

“See, the reason you can’t take my soul is because I sold it to a Demon, and that isn’t you. So it’s not yours to claim.” Julia touched the man’s scythe and her hand didn’t get injured like any normal human would.

“A deal with a Demon? Is that why… but then why wouldn’t he be here to claim your soul. Your life has expired already.” The reaper being so confused he didn’t even mind the woman that was completely naked standing so close to him.

“Ah, that’s because the Demon is dead.” Julia said with a heavy sigh. “He got exercised by a Priest or something? I thought today was my last day too but here we are.” She continued, her tone no more or less moody than before. She laid down onto the bed on her back, still completely exposed she crossed her legs. “Truth is I’m kind of wondering what to do here myself as well… I got all I wanted from the Demon and now I’m just-” She was suddenly interrupted.

“s**t… s**t! This is awful… if I can’t take your soul, I can’t go back… Am I just going to stay here now?!!” This was the very first time Bennet had lost his composure in such a manner. All this time he’d never encountered such an insolent human and what’s more a human that cannot die!

“Hm? You seem awfully nervous for some reason…” Julia remarked as she tilted her head to the side. “I guess you’re stuck with me then? Until you figure out how to kill me.” she glanced at the Reaper who was crawling on the ground back and forth.

“Hey, know what? How about you be my lover while you’re here? You don’t have anything better to do right?” Julia asked with a smug expression on her face.

“As if!” The Reaper stood up with anger in his eyes. “Humans like you should know their place!” He yelped as if he had been deeply insulted.

“I’m not saying you should sleep with me or anything, but aren’t you kind of in a tight spot?” Julia asked while sneaking in closer to the man. She had a strangely mischievous side to her.

“What’s… that supposed to mean?” Bennet questioned with his voice slightly trembling in the process.

“I’m saying… that if you can’t go back and have to stay here by my side, I have to get something out of it as well right? And you’re really hot so I think you’d be perfect.” Julia’s words made all the less sense to the man at that moment. “See I got through a bad break up recently… and I’d love to get back at m ex by showing off how much better I’m doing with someone that much hotter than him.” she said while tapping the Reaper on his shoulder. “What do you say? If you refuse I won’t give you details on my deal with the Demon and you won’t be able to take my soul, like ever!”

“Hm? So there is a way to collect your soul?” Bennet asked, suddenly it was as if his body was filled with energy once more.

“Well… who knows?” Julia tilted her head from one side to the other playfully. “You’ll have to find that out for yourself, right?” she said while pressing her foot against the man’s tight, she sat on the bed. “Maybe I’d be more willing to reveal things to you if you act nice with me, how about that?” Her playful tone was irritating to the Reaper of Death.

“Mortal… I don’t know if you realize you’re speaking to a God of death… just where do you think you’re rubbing your foot against?” Bennet asked as he grabbed the woman’s ankle and held it in place.

“Hm? Oh… is it that Reapers can’t get it up? Is that why?” Julia looked slightly disappointed but all the more amused. “Isn’t that interesting?” she snickered.

“Not at all… I don’t wish to play your silly game but I will cut a deal with you.” Bennet’s words were stern and his expression as strong and sharp. “Until I find out a way to do my job and collect your soul, I will remain closely by your side.”

“That’s great! So how about we start by you putting some clothes on me, huh?” Julia looked hell bent on treating the other like her personal servant.

“And why should I?” Bennet was personally offended by it. He’d never had a human treat him like this before. He’d only ever seen humans on the verge of death begging for their lives, trying to strike bargains desperately… but this person that was so unbelievably calm, he couldn’t stand her.

“You’re sort of like my butler now, so~ get to it!” That’s how it started. The two of them had encountered at that moment and their lives would soon become innately intertwined with each other, whether they wanted to or not…

*

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If you had the opportunity to live the life you’ve always wanted… what price would you be willing to pay for it?

Is it the price of your dignity? Is it your time and resources? Is it your body?

You can never get something for nothing… there’s always a price to pay for everything in life… and with each passing day whether you realize it or not you’re silently paying that price…

Even when you’re not doing anything, life will continue to march forward, if you’re the only one left behind then, that’s your fault and yours alone…

The day that Julia had struck a deal with the demon was something that would be remembered forever…

“Please! I need help… she’s hurt, please…” Julia was staying over her sister’s body, who had been assaulted, Julia arrived on the scene to save her but it was already too late.

“Hm? You wish to save this woman?” A shadowy figure in the form of a man approached him but Julia didn’t care who it was, anyone… she needed anyone at all, no matter who or what they were.

“I can help you but I can’t save her, she’s already gone…” The man said as he leaned forward looking down at the woman’s crying face. “Tell me… what do you desire the most in the world?”

“…I…” Julia looked down at his sister whom she couldn’t help, then she stared down at her own hands. “I want… to… make things right… to get back at them… to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone again…”

“Hm… so you want revenge… but see such a thing will surely send you down to hell once and for all.” The man’s face that was so handsome was now contorted in an ugly expression.

“I don’t care… if you’re a demon, a God… or anything else… give me the power to make things right… I need to… make things right…” Julia repeated once more. She held onto her sister’s limp and could hand that she couldn’t stand anymore, it was freezing outside and the heavy rain was falling in large droplets everywhere, soaking them both completely as she sat on the pavement.