7th Bullet: ¡Graveyard Panic¡

Akio pulled the thread through her cloak and tied it securely, doing the same to her boots. She looked in her mirror and patted her perm neatly, the waves tailing on the ends. She lips had a light sheen of lipstick and her eyeliner was thin but visible. She looked competent and able. Similar to that of her room, Akio was simply and brief. 

Her nightstand had a lamp and her desk was neatly stacked with paperwork that completed and read ten times over. A large banner over her bed displayed the Killrights pin, a large crucifix with a pair of wings sprouting from side to side with twin pistol crossing diagonally behind. 

She eyed the pin of the same design on her collar. Standard Killrights had this pin whilst rookies only had crucifix and pistols. The wings represented the birth of maturity, one being able to fly out and accomplish the goals set by the End. When she first stepped into the academy and graduated as the 15th overall pick, she was honoured and kept full respect. 

She wanted to party, to celebrate, to have fun on her accomplishment but she didn't make many friend in the academy, only talking to those that were strictly there to graduate with high marks. She almost felt disheartened and very much lonely but she brushed it off. Her mom and dad were proud and so were her younger sisters.

That's right. She became a Killright to prove that Akio Kobayashi could stand with the Afterlife's mightiest. And the only way to do that was to become a Primus Division Killright. The current Captain, Zetta Salsamenta, was everything you'd want in a Captain to lead the Order. He was strong, competent, experienced, intelligent, wise and devilishly handsome.

She blinked at the thought and blushed. Okay, it was true. Only him and Rosner had the best looks. Salsamenta's short crew sandy hair and sharp stubbled jaw was irresistible and his eyes were deep and bottomless black like she could float forever in there.

A sharp shake of her head and she was back into reality. Right. Desperado. Mission. Professional. Always professional.

She holstered the M9 with pride and slide open her door to be greeted by a tumbling Janda at her doorstep. He fell to the ground and she leapt back. What a moron.

He sat up and raised a hand of greetings.

"Yo," he simply whispered. His voice was always hush and deep. "What took you so long?"

"I was..." She looked away before looking down at him. "Preparing myself and checking my paperwork."

"Your eyes will go crossed if you keep on reading."

"I take my job in its highest right. I don't need a rookie lecturing me."

Janda got up and patted himself. "Blah, blah, blah. You're always calling me a rookie. It gets pretty annoying, ya know?"

"Too bad. I'm your 1st Seat and you'll have to deal with my words regardless of your feelings. Let's get a move on." She walked past him before a hand clamped on her shoulder.

"Akio," he began. "You're always so focused all the time. How do you stay like that? Don't you ever get bored or tired?"

She jolted to a stop and slapped his hand away. A long breath of silence was held. It was a question she did not expect but one she always had an answer for. 

"For one, I work for my strength and keep it like that day in day out. If you want proper advice, head my words: Discipline rules over all."

Janda gave that same lazy, unfocused stare before letting go and drifting after her towards the increasingly violent shouts in the common room.

“I forgot to tell you,” Janda said, like he’d just remembered to breathe. “Uvo’s hazing the other rookies again. He never does it to me though. I wonder why.”

A loud shout echoed from the lounge.

Then another.

Then screaming.

They turned the corner.

A full chicken fight was in progress.

Two rookies sat on the shoulders of two others while Uvo circled them with a long switch like a deranged schoolteacher. He snapped it at their ankles. The bases hopped and shrieked while trying not to drop their riders. The dreadlocked, muscle massed Lieutenant gripped the stick tightly, a huge smile on his face.

The whole lounge had cleared out furniture to make room. Several Killrights leaned against the walls placing bets like it was a sport. Shouts erupted and calls sounded as it starting to look like a blood sport match 

“C’MON!” Uvo barked. His stick flailed out. “You call that balance?! I’ve seen coffins with better footwork!”

One base spun in a panic and accidentally pirouetted. The rider on his shoulders clung to his head like a terrified crown.

“THERE YOU GO!” Uvo barked. “USE THE FEAR!”

He whipped the floor again. Everyone jumped at once.

The bases started hopping in frantic circles. One of them began crying but still refused to drop his rider out of pure stubborn pride.

Janda watched for a moment. “…Tenacity."

Another rookie got shoved. The rider went down. Uvo blew an imaginary whistle.

“DISQUALIFIED! DEAD AGAIN!!”

The fallen rookie groaned from the floor. “I’m already dead.”

“NOT HARD ENOUGH!” Uvo snapped.

The Killrights broke into a frenzied shout, hollering and savage remarks spitting into the air like a sports stadium.

Akio stepped into the doorway, stared at the chaos, then at Janda.

“You let this happen?”

Janda blinked once. “I’m observing.”

"Oh, my God..." she whispered to herself before inhaling the biggest breath in her entire life, Janda plugging in his ears before the bark of the century sounded off. 

"EVERYONE!! ORDER!!"

The Killrights stopped and stared, Uvo swinging his stick around with surprisingly good technique.

"Ah, Kobayashi," Uvo began, his deep Scottish voice speaking to her, "can we assist?"

"A lot, actually. For example, stopping this ridiculous hazing session."

Uvo frowned. "Oh, c'mon, Akio, it's for the rookies. You know how we do it. We've all went through it, right fellas?"

A unified agreement was given by the Killrights. 

"Well this ends. We have a mission, Lieutenant, and I do not plan on wasting precious time on nonsensical traditions like this."

A pout was placed on the Lieutenant's lips. "You're no fun..." He spun the switch and snapped it into two. "Alright, fellas, you're dismissed. Enda! Stop taking bets! We talked about this."

Enda frowned and gave back the money to the crippling gamblers.

"Right, mission," Uvo stared, "Alright, let's head out. The horses are out in the stables. Too bad Tunker has been taken. I outta kick Rosner in his—"

Janda covered Uvo's mouth. "Can't say that can we, sailor mouth?"

Uvo took Janda's hand away and began walking. "Don't act like you haven't sworn before. Besides, it's the Old West, everyone has a foul mouth. Don't dodge reality now."

"I know but unfortunately, we're trying to tone down the foulness. We gotta have some courtesy by Madame Akio's claim."

The three of them all walked down the hall, all lined up.

"You're right." Akio sounded relieved. "Dignity of Killrights must be maintained."

"Sheltered," Uvo and Janda said in a deadpan unison.

"Who's side are you even on?" Akio questioned.

"I dunno." Janda picked his nose, his silver nose bridge cuff shifting. Akio slapped his head and Janda rubbed it and they arrived at the stables. They selected the least reluctant and most capable steads however, Janda wasn't exactly one liked by animals. The more obedient and valiant ones were only given to Beta and Primus so often the rookies had trouble selecting loyal ones. After almost twenty minutes of fighting with the beast, Janda gave up and decided to ride behind Uvo.

Death Arms packed, supplies prepared and horses prepped, the rode out into the Badlands, leaving the Cathedral behind.

"So where's the Desperado?" Janda asked Uvo, sitting nonchalantly on the back of the dark brown horse.

"Reports say that Death Matter has caused disruption in the Life Wave, around the Graveyard."

Right, the Life Wave where basic wielders of Death Matter can sense anomalies in living and Soulless beings.

"Isn't the Graveyard always overflowing with Death Matter?"

"This time," Akio answered, "the Death Matter has been cycling over itself too much. Around about two Desperados are supposed to be there and a miniature army."

"Sheesh," Janda muttered, "wouldn't it be more reasonable to bring more reinforcements?"

"Who needs reinforcements when you got me?" Uvo chuckled to himself.

"I half sober moron who can barely finish a quarter page of paperwork? You're gonna kill me with your ego."

"Like you're one to talk!"

"Bleh." Janda stuck out his tongue and the horses galloped further into the vast terrain. The journey itself was long as they past by multiple large canyons and rocks. All signs of life dissipated and they camped for the night. That night, Uvo was singing old songs that made Janda have trouble sleeping and Akio neatly wrote down their progress report and kept watch. The burning globe rose and they were back on trail, hooves pounding into the ground. As they reached further into new territory, the sand started to shift into black sand. The sun started to fade almost instantly and tangled and twisted trees appeared into view. Vultures were replaced by crows and skulls and bones were sinking into the ground. Mist swallowed them and they could barely see anything from 70 metres.

Two large gates garnered into view and the horses halted. The group eyed the towering barriers and Uvo muttered a chant that caused the air to gain pressure. The gates swung open eerily and they entered the dead floors. It was cryptically vast. The pure sight of things would make anyone pressured. Akio had a little trouble breathing. Graves weren't bunched up but rather never ending and lined up neatly. Crosses, tombs and all sorts were raised and lizards and crows scurried about.

"So where's the Desperados?" Janda asked. "I wanna get this done ASAP."

"We'll get things done," Uvo replied. "If we rush, things'll turn rotten for us faster than you can shoot a bullet. Don't forget how sly these Desperados can be. We might be dealing with somebody like Feast."

"Who's Feast?" Janda questioned. Typical. Always uninformed.

"A Desperado Captain Rosner and Keinricht ran into at Brinehook," Akio replied, remembering her reading the case report. "Surprisingly enough, we weren't able to detect him due to Death Matter from the mine overlapping his Death Matter. He was a respected member within the Desperado circle. Well, mostly for his over abundance of hunger. He killed about twenty-two Killrights and a Captain."

"I'm assuming Rosner took him out."

"No... It was Keinricht."

Janda's eyes widened and Uvo laughed. "That kid! Always doing something crazy."

Akio swallowed down the fact that she just couldn't come to terms with it. How could that village boy who was last in the draft take out Feast? It was simply unbelievable. Well, Rosner did participate in the battle so of course he was weakened but to take the Coup De Grace in one final strike? Certainly beyond reasonable strength.

Janda flashed a little grin on his face but his face retracted back to normal in a second. Vadars. What a rival.

Just as they were about to search the area, a bullet fired from afar and Janda leapt off the horse to dodge the attack. He landed on the ground and dashed for cover, even more bullets tracking him. Uvo and Akio mushed their steads and left Janda to fend for himself.

"You bastards!" Janda shouted. "Don't leave me here!"

"Too bad!" Uvo laughed from afar. "Looks like you gotta deal with the foot soldiers! We'll meet you at the Morgue! Don't get yourself killed!"

Janda grunted and tried to chase them but bullets stomped him from getting away. He glared at the shooter, his eyes swirling in annoyance. Being bored was one thing but annoying Janda was just asking for a beatdown.

He raised his arm and water swirling around his arm. A band appeared out of the moisture from the air and clamped on to his arm. Soon, a sub-machine gun formed and clamped it down strong. It was a silver SMG9 with slight cyan accents. He cocked the gun and ripped at the soldier, clipping its body in half. He leapt on to a grave and fired blindly and mist started to deepen and surround him. Bullets targeted him from everywhere and he leapt across tomb to tomb, narrowly avoiding the bullets.

He snarled in frustration and howled.

"Damn you all!" He really hated tactical scenarios like this. When he gets to Uvo, he'll give him a walloping from hell.