Eternity sat on the parch bench, it was a midday heat wave in Japan. He enjoyed the sun though, it lifted his mood constantly. The wind rustled the leaves of many native trees, and the sounds of birds chirping were just enough natural noise to make him feel at ease. He was dressing casually in a plain grey t-shirt, with white cargo shorts, they complimented his dull grey scales or at least he thought so. The sun was high in the sky, and in his eyes. He’d bought a pair of reflective aviator sunglasses to help with the brightness and so far they were working very well. He smiled; it was one of those days that made him forget about past events and just live in the now. Passing family’s visiting the parks with their small kits and cubs were also enjoying the day for the most part, some had to constantly keep a vigilant eye on their young in case they’d wandered off. One small bobcat cub had walked right up to him, waving, before her mother yelled at him dragging him by his paw away. He didn’t blame the woman, she looked over worked, probably had two jobs just to keep up with rent or something rather. Eternity breathed a sigh of relief, closing his eyes and soaking up the sun.
His eyes opened when he heard his name being spoken. Eternity looked to his left to the far end of the bench, where a black panther dressed in a white suit was looking at him. “Your name is Eternity Brair?” his accent was hard to place, even for Eternity. Now he didn’t want anyone to ruin his day, but ignoring the panther might make his day worse out of sheer rudeness.
“Uh…yeah, that’s me. Who are you?” Eternity asked, changing his posture to look more attentive. The panther smiled at Eternity, holding out his hand.
“My name is or…well was Hugo Nook,” The panther handed Eternity a black card. “Now it’s just Yutana.” The panther replied with a smile, Eternity glanced down at the black card. It was designed to be black with silver writing etched into it. It read…
Yutana
Here to reap your soul
Sorry for the trouble
For information call: (555) 296-2700
“…wait a second, reap my soul?” Eternity tilted his head, looking at the card again then laughing loudly. “This is like a joke right? I’m on camera or something?” Eternity looked around still laughing. “You got me!” He said sarcastically, waving his arms about. The panther just sat there looking at him, puzzlement on his face. “Listen, guy, I was having a good day and you look pretty stuffy in that suit. Why don’t you go put on something cooler, and enjoy yourself it’s a perfect day? Now please leave, before I…” Eternity made sounds like he was thinking. “…have you arrested for disturbing the peace, I don’t know.” Eternity closed his eyes again, leaning back into the bench.
“As you wish, but please, keep the card just in case.” The panther winked, but Eternity didn’t see it. Eternity didn’t hear the panther walk off, but when his watch started beeping he looked up and the panther was gone. Eternity looked down at his watch; it read 4:30pm. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an orange prescription bottle, putting two pills into his hand he sealed the lid and swallowed both the pills. He craned his neck, and it popped then he stood and stretched. “Better start heading out I suppose.” Eternity said to himself. The sun was setting rapidly and he made his way out of the park, he hailed a cab and headed home.
His apartment was small and cramped but he spent little time there. Only to rest and recuperate before setting out again. The other tenants were more than noisy, which was one of the reasons he avoided staying there too long. As he closed and locked the door to his small apartment, he pulled everything out of his pockets which included his cell phone, wallet, and the black business card. He took a second to look at it, and then smiled. That guy was such an idiot, he thought as he tossed the card aside onto the floor. He opened the fridge, there was nothing in it and he slammed it shut with a mutter curse. He smelled something in the air, and was about to pass it off as something thrown out before he noticed it wasn’t a normal smell. It was sulfur.
Eternity turned around rapidly, to see the card spinning silently on the floor with increased speed then a big black mass building above the card. As the card slowly stopped spinning the black mass began to form into the very same panther that had given him the card. He stood there, while Eternity took a few steps back, wary of this panther.
“Sir I’m beyond reasoning with you. You didn’t believe me before, but maybe this will change your mind.” The panther raised his fist as if holding a staff, then brought it down to his waist and a scythe materialized in his paw. It was black, and sleek, the blade looked like it might’ve been the day it was forged. Yutana held out his other hand to Eternity. “Common, there’s no sense in struggling.” Eternity was the first to move, he wasn’t about to die now it wasn’t his time. He reared back his right fist, and brought it with speed and power, attempting to connect his fist with his face. His fist stopped short, midair, seemingly held fast by an invisible force. Yutana’s free paw went into a fist, and Eternity fell to his knees, his heart felt like it had stopped.
“Not your soul, at least not part of you.” Yutana explained with a sarcastic tone. He pulled his free paw towards his body and Eternity felt like he was going to throw up. The edges of his vision were going black, and all he could do was remain there and take it. Then he did in fact throw up, but it wasn’t bile, it was black. That’s all he saw before he lost consciousness.
“Sir…sir?” A voice broke him from the darkness of his mind and he opened his eyes. He looked up to see Yutana standing there, no scythe just his suit, and a fairly big jar type thing. It had a lid, but with carvings in it and the inside of the jar held only darkness that appeared to be moving. He backed away from Yutana as soon as his muscle control came back to him.
“What…the hell did you do?” Eternity asked, glancing between Yutana's smug panther face, and the jar he held.
“Well sir, I’ve just relieved you of your duty. You can thank me later.” He tapped on the side of the jar, grinning. Eternity stood, slowly regaining his balance he peered at the jar. Yutana, clearly proud of himself and the jar he smiled. “Like the looks of this little devil huh?” Yutana asked smiling.
“What in the hell are you talking about.” Eternity asked, rubbing his head with one hand, and with his other hand he reached out to the glass. A long pink tongue lashed out from the darkness, rubbing up against the glass, and then two white reptilian eyes were glaring out at Eternity. All he could make out were the eyes, the tongue (obviously), and the teeth, the jagged teeth that looked like they could tear flesh like a hot knife through butter. “…Is that…Durok?” Eternity asked, looking up at the proud panther.
“Yes, he’s got a date downstairs and the big man will pay quite a handsome fee for someone like this here guy.” Yutana was enthusiastic, obviously thinking about the kinds of things he’d get if he turned in Durok. Eternity was less than happy.
“You can’t just take him from me!” Eternity yelled, standing up tall. Even if he didn’t like Durok, he was still a part of Eternity.
“You have no say in the matter dear friend.” The panther grinned, and started to walk out the door. Eternity grabbed a metal bat right in front of his door.
“Like hell I do.” Eternity reared back and swung. This time Yutana wasn’t fortunate enough to stop him, only turn in surprise giving Eternity a clear shot at the jar. He didn’t even hear Yutana scream in horror as the jar smashed open the black mass splatter all over the reaper. Eternity took a few steps in horror, watching Durok’s pure form engulf the reaper who howled in agony as if his skin was getting peeled back. Yutana’s body, now covered in the slime like blackness fell to the floor, stone dead.
Eternity looked at the bat, it had some of the blackness on it, which quivered then slid off the bat with a sickening smack. He dropped the bat and looked at the panther corpse, his suit and fur was completely unruffled like nothing had happened. The panthers face looked at peace, well if his jaw wasn’t mangled into the horrifying scream he’d howled just moments before. Eternity took a tentative step towards his prone form, and tapped the side of his face with his foot. The panther’s eyes shot open, they were different colors now, the colors Eternity’s eyes had been when Durok took control. The panther Durok cracked his neck, and then looked up at Eternity. Durok brought his paws up to his new panther face, which had a look of complete shock and awe, identical to Eternity’s.
“Well,” Durok spoke quietly, looking down at his new paws. “This changes things.” He looked up at Eternity as he stood, grinning. Durok experimentally tried the same move Yutana had used to summon his scythe, and it worked. The sleek blade materialized into his hands and he laughed. “You know,” Durok started, eyeing Eternity evilly. “You were always a pain in my ass!” Durok reared the scythe back, and swung all Eternity could do was hold his hands up in front of his face.
Chapter 2
Despite what people say about the saying, “When one door closes, another opens.” I think it should really be changed to “When one door closes, a thousand and one open.” I mean how just one door can open, if that were the case that’s called destiny. But, if a thousand and one open, it’s called possibility.
-Eternity
Eternity blinked. He didn’t feel the sting of the blade as it sunk into his side. He moved his hands from his face to see the blade stopped midair, with Durok looking skeptical pulling on the thing. It was stuck in the air like he’d drove it into stone, but eventually it gave way and Durok examined the weapon carefully. He experimentally attempted to prod Eternity with the opposite end of the weapon, and it stopped just a few inches from Eternity’s chest.
“What’s with this thing?” Durok asked out loud, hitting and shaking the scythe. He reared back again and with an animalistic fury swung the blade with all his might. Again it stopped midair just inches away from Eternity. “Why the—“he was interrupted by Eternity’s pointing and laughing.
“Ahahahahaha, can’t even use the thing right.” Eternity felt tears coming to his eyes. Not only was he free of Durok, but Durok couldn’t do anything to him. Durok glared at Eternity, growling.
“I’ll be coming for you when I figure out just how this works.” Durok exclaimed, the scythe de-materializing with a cloud of darkness. He took a deep breath, and walked to the door. “Have a good life…while it lasts.” Durok grinned, opened the door and stopped right there. Eternity peered down the hall to his front door where Durok stood.
“Forget something?” Eternity said sarcastically, even though he felt a little curious as to why Durok was standing there. He peered down the hallway at Durok, who still looked alien to him in the Black Panther form but felt just as he had the first day they’d become of each others’ existences. Durok took a step, but his foot wouldn’t touch the ground in front of him. He turned to look at Eternity with an irritated glance.
“I can’t go any further…” he muttered shuffling his feet for a minute looking down at them.
“What do you mean?” Eternity stood; looking at Durok from down the hall he tilted his head.
“I mean just that! I can’t go any further.” Durok attempted to walk away again, to no avail. Eternity turned and made way to his kitchen counter, dictating mentally that it wasn’t his issue until Durok started becoming irritating. As he did so he heard a loud screeching sound across his floor and he spun around to see Durok away from the door, a few feet from it, his maw was open slightly in shock.
“Oh god, please don’t say it be true.” Durok closed his eyes, bringing his paws together in a pleading motion. Eternity took a step back, not taking his eyes off Durok. The sound, as it turns out was Durok’s feet sliding across the floor, moving closer to Eternity. He couldn’t believe his eyes, and Durok looked like he might cry as Eternity took another step back, watching Durok slide across the floor. The realization kicked in as soon as Durok spoke.
“I’m stuck with him?!” they’d both said in unison, and then they glared at each other. Eternity was the first to speak.
“We need to think about this, and work something out.” Eternity exclaimed, clearly Durok could only go so far, and it appeared he couldn’t actually pull Eternity the way Eternity could Durok if he was too far away. “I think that maybe, we’re still connected.” Eternity sighed heavily.
“Oh really? Oh thank you Eternity, without your insight I might of missed that completely,” Durok’s voice was covered in sarcasm and he cast Eternity a mean glare. They’d both moved into the living room, Eternity in his chair, while Durok sat on the couch at the end closest to Eternity, which was only six to seven feet away. “Tell you what lizard genius; you have fun figuring out the simple stuff because apparently that’s all your brain can process. While I, on the other paw will consider why and how to make us separate. Now please don’t strain yourself while I try to think.”
“Hey listen you,” Eternity pointed a finger at Durok, whose eyes were closed deep in thought. “I’ve got a life to live, and I can’t suddenly have you following me around all of a sudden.” Durok interrupted with a muttered “I’ve been following you your whole life…” which Eternity ignored. “Now common man, we’ve got to work something out okay? I’ve got tomorrow and Sunday before I have to go into work, so Mr. Expert you’ve got those few days to figure something out before we’re really screwed. Eternity stood, walked behind the couch, to the bedroom. He heard the crash first, of the sofa, then Durok’s several muttered curses. “Oh sorry, I keep forgetting you’re tethered to me like a little cub. I’m going to bed.” Eternity made way to his room, opened the door then turned back to see Durok standing behind him.
“Ohhh…no, no, fucking no. I’m not having a psycho in my bedroom and with me in it!” Eternity whined, and Durok only smirked.
“We’re stuck together, and if you closed that door with me outside I’d get pinned here. Besides I’m a guest, you’ve got to treat me like one.” Durok said grinning. Eternity took a step inside his room, turned to look at Durok. He looked at the door, then Durok, then the door again. He hit it with his fist testing it then spoke.
“I’ll take my chances.” He remarked before closing the door in Duroks' face. As he walked away from the door, he heard the thud of Durok’s body getting stuck to the door, luckily Eternity could reach his shitty apartment bed, and he fell asleep within five minutes of Durok talking to him through the door.
Chapter 3
Daylight shone brightly through the window of the small bedroom, hurting Eternity’s eyes. He turned over so his back was facing the sunlight. He sighed, sleep was one of those few things in life Eternity enjoyed and he felt like he hadn’t gotten any of it. He rose slowly, his muscles urging him to go back to bed but he ignored it. There was a problem to be dealt with, and it was right outside his door.
“I can hear you in there Eternity, if you’d be so kind as to open this damned door or at least move closer to it so I’m not stuck here it would be greatly appreciated.” Durok’s voice didn’t sound the least bit tired, he sounded like he did yesterday. Eternity opened the door and Durok fell backwards into Eternity’s room, still in the black suit. “Hey thanks man, I’ll make sure to return the favor.” There was a hint of malice in Durok’s voice as he got up and dusted himself off.
“Don’t you ever sleep?” Eternity asked, rubbing his eyes and shuffling out of the room to make coffee.
“Yes, I did, well when we did.” Eternity shuddered at the way he’d said ‘we’ and couldn’t discard the fact that Durok had been inside him for all these years. “Now I haven’t felt tired at all lately, so I don’t know.” He shrugged casually, following Eternity into the kitchen and taking a seat at the bar while Eternity moved about.
“How about getting hungry? Don’t suppose I can starve you to death can I?” Eternity asked sarcastically, but Durok still gave him a dirty look.
“No,” Durok said irritated. “Haven’t felt the need to eat at all, I’m pretty easy to take care of I guess.”
“The talking must pick up the slack for everything else you don’t need.” Eternity muttered, than looked at Durok to see if he heard, which apparently he had because there was that dirty look again. Durok looked different, Eternity thought, but not really physically more or less emotionally. He seemed pretty mellow and Eternity intended to keep him that way even though it appeared that Durok couldn’t do any real harm to him. “So…” Eternity mumbled, and Durok looked back at him. “What are we going to do?”
Durok sighed, “Well I suppose I have to follow you around until I can figure something out. I don’t think I can or anyone…” He seemed saddened by this fact but kept a neutral face.
“Why would you say that?” Eternity asked questioningly. Durok was looked down at his paws, staring intently.
“I think when you smashed that container and set me free I took him over. But, unlike you he gave into my power instantly, expecting my power to improve his. Turns out I’m not exactly the sharing type, so I killed him and took his body, and if he was a Reaper then…”
“You have certain rules to obey, like you took his job?” Eternity finished his sentence, and then wondered how he knew that was what Durok was going to say. Durok looked up in surprise for about a second then realization.
“I’m still linked to you; I don’t think it was like it was before but, relatively similar.” Durok murmured quietly. It was very quiet until Eternity’s phone rang out into the silence; Eternity reached into his pocket and flipped the phone open. Durok rolled his eyes, and Eternity felt rude but ignored it.
“What do you mean?” Eternity exclaimed, attempting to hide the alarm in his voice. “I see…I’ll be right there,” He looked over at Durok who seemed to be off in his own world. “I just need to take care of something first.” Eternity closed the phone and put it back in his pocket.
“Who was that?” Durok asked nonchalantly.
“Chief of the Tokyo Police Force, he said there’s been a murder.” Eternity said quietly, putting his index fingers on his temples and rubbing them slowly.
“So? We’re not involved with the police.” Durok shrugged.
“Someone from my brood was killed.” Eternity said sternly, walking to the door and grabbing his long black trench coat, then decided it was too hot and put on his thin vest with a hood. Durok also walked towards the door, right behind Eternity like a loyal cub.
“You mean our brood right?” Durok asked, he asked it like he knew the answer already and said it purely to rub it in Eternity’s face.
“Not anymore,” Eternity said, pulling his reflective aviator glasses from his cargo shorts pocket and putting them on. “You’re a panther now, not really a brood mate…not that you were to begin with.”
“Oh your mistaken dearest Eternity,” Durok grabbed his shoulder and spun Eternity around. He wasn’t a panther anymore, but a mirror-like image of Eternity if he had black, not grey scales. Also where Eternity had yellow eyes, Durok’s were a solid dark red which wasn’t uncommon in his family but, certainly uncommon in the world. He grinned, “I am and always will be part of your brood.”
“How the hell did you do that?” Eternity took a step back, out of surprise.
“Well being stuck to your damned door all night makes a guy really think about what his true potential is.” Durok shrugged, as if his shape shifting was an everyday occurrence. Eternity just stared, and Durok noticed with an annoyed look. “What?”
“I’m not even going to bother; we’ve got to go now.” Eternity muttered, opening the door with Durok right behind.
Chapter 4
I swear last night, even with Durok outside my door I felt like he was still in my head. But, not like he usually is, like he was searching through all my memories to see how to do things, how to act. That’s strange isn’t it?
-Eternity
Tokyo was a very busy city, and this morning was no different. The roads were cramped with cars, all wanting to go somewhere but, going nowhere at the moment. The streets were nearly that crowded because Eternity and Durok had been getting bumped into every few seconds, which resorted in Durok walking behind Eternity, using him as a pedestrian shield.
“Why don’t you own a car?” Durok asked, looking up at the tall buildings and the citizens as if for the first time. It was an innocent enough question Eternity thought, if not very stupid. The answer was right there in the road, it was full, always was even furs on bikes had a terrible time navigating the traffic. Eternity simply motioned towards the road, and apparently it was sufficient enough answer for Durok because he was quiet the rest of the way. That or having a conversation with someone walking in front of you trying to ignore you was too much of a hassle for the black lizard.
The Tokyo Police Headquarters looked like somebody had plucked a skyscraper from New York and plopped it right in with all the Japanese looking buildings. Eternity felt it out of place, and he sensed Durok thought the same thing. Durok pulled out from his black suit pocket a pair of sunglasses that made him look like a federal agent, and Eternity held back a laugh.
“What the hell are you laughing at?” Durok asked, tilting his head sideways slightly with a growl.
“Pfffff, you look like you are going to go in there and wipe everyone’s memory or some shit.” Eternity laughed louder this time, but no one at the police plaza seemed to notice. He walked off towards the front door, knowing Durok was probably really pissed because he was still stuck with him. He heard Durok cough ‘fagzilla’, but when Eternity looked back Durok was looking intently at some potted bamboo plant.
The lobby for the police station had marble floors, and rows of desks going up and down the long concert hall sized room. The door at the end read Police Chief Tseng, and a secretary was at a desk right next to the door. She looked up, saw Eternity standing there and pressed a single button on her desk phone. From way back near the entrance Eternity couldn’t hear what she was saying but guessed it was that he’d arrived because before he’d gotten to the desk the door slammed open and a large panda donning the Police Chiefs Formal Uniform stepped out. He whispered something to the secretary, who from here looked like a slightly attractive minx, but he paid her no mind. Tseng walked up to them, shaking Eternity’s hand. He had a good few inches on Eternity even though he was a solid six feet even.
“I’m sorry we’ve had to meet on such grave circumstances Mr. Brair.” The panda seemed genuinely saddened and Eternity gave him a look of understanding, even though it was hard to see behind the aviators.
“At least you didn’t meet him after arresting him.” Durok smiling, apparently very pleased with his own quick wit. Tseng looked at Durok, with a curious look if not a hint of irritation. He held out his paw to Durok, who just looked at it.
“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you either Mr.?”
“Sablebane, Durok Sablebane.” Durok said cheerfully, happy he’d gotten a response but, made no move to shake Tseng’s paw. Tseng retracted his paw, sighing and shaking his head.
“Please ignore him sir, now what made this so important that the chief of police had to call me up himself personally?” Eternity asked, putting his arm in between the two.
“Well as I told you over the phone, it appears one of your family is dead. You don’t seem distraught in the least, why is that?” Tseng asked, giving Eternity a strange look.
“I don’t keep tabs on family, much less brood mate’s sir. It was very dysfunctional family brood, and I’ve never really called any of them up. Plus most I’ve never even met, mom was quite the uh…well she got around if you catch my drift.” Eternity mumbled, it was hard thinking about his family. Hell, it was like he’d never even met any of them it had been so long since he’d seen any of them.
“Oh son, I do believe me.” Tseng put his paw around Eternity’s shoulders as they walked towards an elevator. “We’ve got furs in here all the time just like your mother,” Tseng thought about what he’d said then spoke again. “Well I mean she was probably a great woman.” He coughed a little.
“You know Chief,” Durok started but, was interrupted by Tseng.
“I don’t believe I’d invited you into my station Mr. Sablebane.” He said sternly, giving Durok a look that made him smile in surprise.
“I’m sorry sir,” Eternity rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb. “He’s…with me.” He sighed heavily and Durok just smiled back. Tseng gave Eternity a look that said ‘Why’d you go and bring him here? I don’t need his trouble’ and he only ignored it as best as he could. The elevator was small, even smaller with one large panda, and two equally tall lizards. Tseng pressed a button that had ‘B2’ on it and Eternity spoke up.
“If you don’t mind me asking sir, where are we headed exactly?” Tseng didn’t look at him; it was too cramped inside the elevator.
“Morgue, we’ve got the body we need you to identify just in case.” Eternity simply nodded, and Durok had quieted down as well. The elevator came to a sudden stop, and the doors opened. Tseng walked down a hospital white colored hallway and both Eternity and Durok followed. Tseng opened the big double doors to the morgue, smiled and waved to the husky behind the check out desk who wrote down times of furs leaving and entering the morgue. Durok winked at the husky, who turned away back to his little T.V that was playing a baseball game. Eternity gave Durok a hard shove with his elbow as they walked into the morgue. The room seemed stereotypical enough, a small desk computer in the corner, three steel examination tables all in a row, and a wall of those little doors where the bodies we’re kept like files inside a filing cabinet.
“Derek!” Tseng’s booming voice filled the room and a ferret face behind a medical mask popped out from behind the computer. “I got the one’s you asked for.” Tseng turned to both Eternity and Durok, but made a point of looking at Durok for a second before turning to Eternity. “I’m headed back upstairs, Derek here will answer any questions you may have, have a nice day boys. I’d rather not spend too much time down here; this room gives me the creeps. ” Tseng lumbered out of the room without another room, leaving Eternity and Durok with Derek the ferret who was typing busily at the keyboard.
“One second, just finishing this report than I’ll be with you both.” The ferret pressed a key down hard then stood and walked towards them. He had typical medical scrubs on, except that they were covered in blood. He held out his hand to Durok, and Durok took it with a big smile.
“Nice to meet you Derek, I’m Durok.” Eternity sensed he was clearly respecting the fur out of simply the sight of blood and how casually he wore it all over his gloves and chest. He held his hand out to Eternity, who pulled a Durok by just staring at it for a second, Derek pulled his hand back laughing realizing just how covered in the red liquid he was.
“Ha-ha, your friend doesn’t seem to mind the sight of blood.” Derek exclaimed, taking off his gloves and extending his paw, which Eternity then shook.
“I don’t mind it, it’s just…” Eternity really couldn’t explain himself and he just stared kind of dumbly before Derek spoke up.
“Aw, don’t worry about it. Lots of furs come here and have to leave to vomit within a few minutes but, you both seem okay to me. Let’s get to your brood mate, yes?” Derek said, putting on fresh gloves and walking towards the wall of containers. He looked at a few, than opened one letting it slide out completely. There was indeed, one of Eternity’s brood mates, he had the crest pattern on his face but, he didn’t look like any brood mate he’d met before. His scales were tinted red and some white, might have been artificial coloring but, it looked natural.
“Yeah, that looks like one of my brood mates.” Eternity sighed, upset naturally about the loss of life, but not on a personal level as he didn’t know this fur.
“Good so you know him?” Derek asked, holding a clipboard ready to write Eternity’s answer down.
“No, I just know that he’s got the brood crest.” Eternity said, looking at the dead form. Durok seemed to be staring just as intently.
“Oh okay,” Derek exclaimed, erasing writing then re-writing something.
“So, how’d he die?” Durok asked, and Derek looked at him like he’d just appeared there, than he smiled.
“Well that’s the really interesting thing, I’m really stumped…” Derek fell into quiet thought, and then shook his head. “No it’s better if I just show you guys, hope you didn’t eat before you came.” He lifted up the sheet covering the dead lizard’s torso, both Eternity and Durok’s eyes at what they saw, then Durok grinned.
“Oh no way!” Durok exclaimed, and Derek seemed to have the same amount of enthusiasm that Durok had. Eternity just stared, it wasn’t anything he wasn’t used to, but it was certainly something different.