Akko looked to Conquest and just about threw a dart at him had she had it her way. "You don't give anything for free. We know that. So we cannot afford to risk anything when we are already at such a high risk time. War will cost us much already, no more should be hanging over my niece's head." Yuki said firmly, his eyes piercing as be looked to the male who had spoken. "Yes, my uncle is right. Unless you gentlemen would not give a price and just offer your services in exchange for staying and being apart of this land and my guard, I must decline politely." Aiko said smoothly. Hearing the Hatter she turned to him. She was still hurt by all these secrets and shadows that shrouded him in a fog that she couldn't see. He had more secrets then any other being she knew, besides her mother. "If you wish... I will not force you to do anything considering this is still your first day." she said softly and looked down at the hands in her lap. She felt the pressure of the situation weighing more and more upon her heart. Something terrible was going to happen, she could feel it within her bones. Plus the pressure of the horsemen, if they helped she would have a massive advantage, but if they helped, she would also have a massive debt to pay. It was a double edged sword that she couldn't afford.

"My cost. Nothing. You let me fight, and fight my own way. You do not question my method's or how i do my job. For every time you question me it'll cost you." War said prepping everything in his mind. "Mine. Land and money. If you wish to have me contact my squads." Conquest said taking a drag from his cigar. "Michael is already fulfilling my requirements. And I'll be there anyway, so I'll help i suppose" Death said with his ominous tone. Pestilance said nothing yet again, who worried Michael greatly every moment of every day. "Better be a good guard and help out." MIchael said and gave a smile to his princess and felt Death watching him as he did, knowing full well the consequences of failure in what was to come. "I'll be bringing in 5 men of my own. They will bring their own supplies and some more of mine" War said with a chuckle

Aiko listened and nodded slowly. "I can accept that War, just don't kill my men." she said in a joking matter. Then looking to Conquest, she nodded, mulling over his cost. Looking at Death she nodded her head to him thankfully. "I am gratful, mr. Death." the Queen said smoothly and glanced to the ever silent man. "Land is not an issue, as long as you folkow the building codes and all those rules. But how much money are you thinking Mr. Conquest?" Aiko asked smoothly and then smiled at him, her uncle squeezing her shoulder. She was good at these situations, being raised to handle this, but he stayed for he was worried. These men were odd.

"Tell your men not to come within 50 meters of me. I tend to get Danger Close a lot" War said aiming his gun at the floor checking the iron sights. "Just call me Death" Death stood and motioned to have Michael follow him, around the corner Death brought out his lantern and a black ball. "You know how this is gonna work, close your eyes" And as soon as Michael closed his eyes he felt Death's icy hand inside his check. Biting his lower lip not to scream, letting out a muffled groan he felt his soul being ripped from the false body as he watched the soul be placed in the black orb that would soon be his body, he feel to his knees and colapsed

Akko nodded to War and smiled. "I will tell my Men that." he said and then looked to her uncle. He squeezed her shoulder and then nodded. "Okay Death." she responded and watched as he and Michael left with worry upon her face. She was thinking when she heard the sound of a body hitting the floor and stood up, worry on her face. Walking swiftly towards the place where she had seen Michael and Death. Seeing his body on the ground she gasped. "Michael?!"

"Don't worry. He's fine." The body began to decay rapidly as the orb went from green to pitch black. Suddenly it grew arms and legs, its eyes were red and it had fangs and claws. Its voice echoed in the heart and soul of the morals around him "Finally. Feels good to be back in my own body." Michael said as his skeleton grew, followed by his muscles and skin. He some how had clothes on. "Yes my queen?"

Hearing Death didn't settle Aiko down any. Gasping as Michael's body decayed at a rapid pace before her eyes made her nearly loose her lunch as it did. The orb then went black and suddenly the skeleton came forth, causing a startled cry come from her lips as she watched in horror the sights that unfolded before her. Her body trembling at that point, she couldn't stand to look at him. "You're cruel..." she breathed and swiftly turned leaving them there. Passing through the room the other sins were in, her uncle looked worried and followed after her. He had seen tears welling up in her eyes, so he knew something terrible had just taken place. Catching her arm in the hall, the woman instinctively flinched away, making his chest squeeze. Pulling her into a huh, he cradled her head against him, holding her tightly as she clutched to him. "It will be alright Aiko." he said reassuringly. Though the woman felt so shakey, she had seen Michael go through things that no person should go through, and no one should witness.

"So have you made up your mind Michael? Or would you prefer I took you?" Death said with his ever ominous tone. "No, I havn't." he said racing off to his room. Running right past all the horsemen who looked bored and amused after watching the princess run past. "Going to need you two" he pointed at his ghouls and told them to get ready grabbing Angi-Kat and his book. He sprinted back to where the horsemen were "come michael lets go outside." War said forcing Michael outside

---------- Post added 11-17-2012 at 12:12 PM ----------

(( txt me back )))

Aiko slowly pulled from her uncle's embrace and then slowly headed back towards her room. She couldn't believe that she had seen that happen, it made her skin crawl. Walking into her room, she striped off her dress and threw it upon her bed. Standing while looking at her trembling hands she looked away from them. Her legs then moved her to the closet where she grabbed her fighting outfit she would need, and stepped behind the screen. Tears fell down her cheeks as she tried blocking out the images that scared her so much. Shaking as she tried to get dressed, she shook her head, making her hair fall from it's bun. Getting on the skin tight underlayer, she slowly sunk to the floor, trying to block out the horrible memories that were plaguing her mind.

Yuki allowed his niece to go, and then rounded the courner where the men were grabbing Michael. "Gentlemen, I am sorry, but I need him. Michael needs to get back to his job." the male said coldly, his eyes holding a spark of anger towards Michael. "I trusted you Michael, you better not make me think you have betrayed that trust."

The four horsemen looked at the uncle. They all gave him the death glare, no one told the horsemen what to do. "Guys calm down, I got this. My body was plagued with rot and weakness, it was a fake body, mine is at least stable." Michael said following Yuki back. "We'll be close." War slapped a handgun into his hand. "Keep it close." Michael opened the chamber and checked the magazine, there were two bullets.

Yuki watched Michael get handed a hand gun, and the four men leave. Shaking his head, he led the guard to his niece's room and then stopped, looking at Michael. "She likes you Michael, maybe a little too much considering your buddies back there... But I like you as well. I can see you're a good guy. Aiko needs a guard, and she needs you to be there." he said sternly and then frowned. "If you hurt her, there will be no where you can run from me, do you understand?" he said and then patted him on the shoulder. "Not a threat, a promise." he added and walked away, leaving the man to do his job and watch the Queen.

Michael watched the uncle leave. I could just shoot him. Would solve my contract. But lets not. I'll hold off on the contract till Death is breathing down my throat Swallowing hard and putting the handgun in a holster he magically gained, War must have given it to him when he wasn't looking. "My Queen..." He knocked softly on the door. He felt bad bringing news of the war, the horsemen, and his own suffering to the queen's mind.

Aiko slowly opened the door, seeing michael, she nodded and then stepped away. She didn't want him to know that she had been crying. Wearing a tight long sleeved black underarmor shirt and tight black short spandex shorts, she grabbed her dress from her bed and moved to hang it up. She didn't dare say anything, for fear of the words catching in her throat. But her hands were still trembling as she hung up the dress. The female wasn't alm enough yet to see him, but he was her guard and he had to be there.

"I know your upset. It's very noticeable, but I've go some bad news. If Death dies, I die." He said sitting down on the queens bed. After the war was over and everyone caught their breath, he would sit down and tell her the whole story, of how he got his powers, how he knew the horsemen, and about the gun

Aiko stopped moving hearing Michael's grave news as it reached her ears. "So I must protect you both..." she breathed slowly, her voice just loud enough to be heard. Turning to look at him, she felt a tear well in her eye. Rubbing it away rather angerily, she frowned and shook her head. "Plus protect the cell... The royal seal... And make sure my mother doesn't stab me in the back while this goes on..." she said and then sighed heavily and flopped down up the couch. "Oh yeah, and protect myself..." she said sarcastically and put her head in her hands. More and more by the minute she felt overwhelmed. This wasn't what she planning for at all when she had rescued Michael, and now her world was all upside down.

"well. If Death feels threatened he will defend himself, he will unleash his powers and use the souls of the damned to aid himself. So he'll be fine. And about your mother. We could confront her now." Michael said as he looked at her and felt Angi yearning blood. "Confront her now and deal with that threat. And you're back will be fine, for I will be there"

"She's the mother of the Queen. If she is killed, I will be framed most definitely. The people don't know this war is coming, but when it does come, they will find out. " Aiko explained and then sighed heavily. "I don't know how to kill a necromancer to make it look like it was natural." she added and then shook her head and sighed looking up at Michael. "I already had a bad hand in this war to begin with, now I feel like it will take a miricale to win." she breathed and clasped her hands together. "My aunt needs to return.... She's extremely powerful, and has kept in hiding because people will kill for her as a weapon..." she said and looked to Michael. "Uncle Yuki says I have the same potential. He can read energies well, he says I have the same untapped energy she had... I pray that I can tap into it when this war comes." the female breathed and looked up to the male infront of her.

"Did you forgot you have me. I am a necromancer. Just kill them and blame some undead beast you slayed" He said as he looked around. "YOu got me, Death, War, Conquest and maybe pestilance. You have two reasons why man is even able to die and fight each other. And you got me, Not sure how much help I'll be. But i'll be some" Michael said smiling weakly, he never had to fight much when he was training, only War on occasion who took it easy

Hearing Michael, Aiko smiled weakly and let out a soft chuckle. "You are right." she said and stood. Walking over to him, she reached out and cupped his cheek. "Forgive me for doubting you." she breathed and kissed his forehead softly and pulled away. Looking into his eyes, the female smiled softly. "I must finish dressing." she breathed and slowly pulled away from him. Turning her back to him, she walked towards the one set of doors she had never opened. Taking the handle in her hand, she paused. Inside was the armor and weapons that had been forged by the best to protect her. Magic and science had been fused into these weapons and armor, and they were dangerous. They concentrated her powers so much more so that they were as deadly as she could be with accuracy to match. Was she ready to kill so many?

"Question. Have you ever killed someone before?" MIchael asked, hoping she would say yes, so he wouldn't be alone. He never killed anyone for no reason, he had actually only killed one person. "I'm gonna tell you something I havn't told anyone but Death and War before. Death just shrugged and War laughed at me." He took a deep breath. "I have only killed one person, and it was my father" and as soon as he said it, he didn't know why he did it.

Surprised hearing the question from the Hatter's lips, Aiko nodded. "I've killed many people. I killed that man who stole a page in your book, who was the man who killed my father and used to be my closest ally." she said smoothly. Shocked hearing the male speak of only killing one person baffled her mind. But who he had killed, shook her to the core. "Why did you kill your father?" she asked slowly, her voice soft as she looked at him with confusion.

"My father was an alcoholic. He would beat my mother, and my brother. He would work so much to give us a house to live in and pay taxes, but every dime after that, liquor. Mom worked to put food on the table. He would come home completely drunk and beat her, me, my brother. One day he hit my brother with a chair, it broke, and leg of the chair lodged itself in my brothers neck. He died. I tried reviving him with magic and i failed, but he still rose, as an abomination. My dad killed him, tried killing my mother for birthing an abomination that is myself. He held a gun to her head, this gun to be exact" He pulled out the bloody, old pistol. Rust was encrusting the blood. "I shot him. 6 times to be exact."

Aiko was shocked hearing Michael's words and then sat back heavily against the couch. "So it seems our pasts are not much different.... My mother abused me for years, and even years after my father found out. She stopped ever since the spell was put on her so that she cannot hurt me, but it was brutal. So I understand what pain you went threw." she said softly and. Stood once more. Finally finishing changing into a short skirt and shirt with mail and a few pieces of protective equipment, she looked to the Hatter. "Will you fight with me truely? Not just because I pay you and house you?" she asked softly with uncertainty in her eyes.

"This is my land too." He said replacing the handgun where it belonged. "Just give me the ability to fight to my potential and protect you, thats all i ask. BUt i need some sleep" MIchael said standing up and walking out of the room, he went to his room and laid down on the edge of the bed slowly wurming his way to the pillows he laid there. "Death I know you're there." No one responded. "This is some kind of omen isn't it." There was a bird outside that watched him, the bird had 2 sets of crimson red eyes and watched him

Nodding Aiko smiled and watched as Michael beaded for the door. "Sleep well Michael." she said and then stepped out, going to run over plans with her uncle. Things needed to be taken care of and they needed it to happen now. They needed to be so prepared that they would take their enemies off guard when they arrived. The only problem now was that she wasn't sure when they were coming, all she knew was it was soon.