*A.N.: I took down all the chapters and submitted this instead because I felt that my story needed to have more of a background and consistency to it so it doesn't feel so random to my readers. It all makes sense in my head and it has a background story and everything, I just have to write it down. Please, read this prologue and tell me what you think!

***UPDATE: Alrighty then... Just in case people actually read these... I've been getting some reviews back wondering why this particular chapter does not match the summary and asking if I maybe posted the wrong content, and I just wanted to let everyone know that NO, I HAVE NOT. THIS WAS POSTED FIRST FOR A REASON. I have also noticed that because of this I've been gettin a lot of people that don't really read beyond this prologue, hence the new note in the summary. If you are one of these people, I am hurt by this... But if you are one of those that do read beyond just this one, you are appreciated! Read on, my friends!

Oh, and of course, I don't own -Man or the characters or the original plot line or anything like that.

PROLOGUE

Everything was in shambles. The trees had been burnt away, leaving behind only a toothpick to mark the once grand beauties. Any houses and gardens met the same fate, and the ground beneath the feet of the only two souls present to see it had been turned up and tossed about like it weighed no more than a feather. All around them were broken walls and windows, doors and tiles scattered everywhere, pieces that came from a massive hill of debris in front of them that once was the Black Order headquarters. It was a massive hill that held interwoven in all the debris the battered bodies that once were exorcists and finders and civilians and scientists, a massive hill that marked the end of a war... a massive hill that also marked the beginnings of the next war and, along with it, a hell forced upon two condemned souls that should've been put to rest right along with all the trees and scientists and civilians, but instead were once again used for the better of the two that took in the outcome of their interference in a single mortal's life.

These two... why them? The taller of the two asked.

They are perfect for the role. Why else? Their souls were already beaten and bruised. A few more bruises won't make a difference. The other responded.

Are you sure? The first one, a male said, watching out of the corner of his eye as one of the condemned souls arose from the fresh battlefield and advanced towards them in a slow and pained manner.

"...y..." it began, startling the other one, a woman.

Who goes?! She cried, spinning around so fast her hair slapped the cheek of her compaion.

"...why..." it repeated as it struggled to walk, its steps and voice growing in strength enough for it to be identified as having once been male.

...I think he's confused, Ka-...mistress... the first one said, bowing his head.

Confused? Oh right. Of course. These humans know nothing. Ha! The woman said, letting out a cackle that was short lived.

"WHY?! WHY US? WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL ABOUT US? WHAT WAS SO WRONG ABOUT US?!" The soul screamed at the woman, tearing at hair that was no longer white, scratching at eyes and cheek and jaw that no longer existed.

Mistress... If I may interject... I think this poor damned soul deserves- The man began to suggest to his mistress, however he was cut off as his mistress lashed out at him, cackling.

You think? You THINK? Who do you THINK you are? You are nothing more than a tool, a servant, a SLAVE! You are not here to think, you are here to obey! To do your job! So do it! The woman lashed out at her slave.

The slave bowed his head, not in shame, but in contained rage and sorrow. Yes, mistress... Was all he said before walking towards the tormented soul still tearing at his face.

I'm sorry... but I cannot disobey her... please understand that I, too, was forced into this... the slave said, reaching towards the soul with a trembling hand, a glowing hand.

"What... what are you... no... NO! GET AWAY! NO, KANDA!" The soul screamed in both pain and terror, calling out the name of his partner in his panic.

So strong were the cries of the tormented and trapped soul that the dead battlefield stirred once more, releasing another tormented soul, just as strong as the other, just as scarred and terrified, but this one was more proud, and just as angry as the other.

"Back away from him, beast." The soul said, its voice echoing through the dead land.

And who do we have here? HAHAHA! Looks like your fuck-buddy finally awoke. Welcome, my precious pawn, to my party! The mistress said, spreading her arms out in mock welcome.

The soul growled. "BEAST, back away from my partner." he once again said, his voice growing alongside with his anger.

SLAVE, stay put. Said the slaves' mistress, but her words fell on deaf ears. Her slave was doubting her command, and with the growing anger of the new arrival came the loss of command she held over him.

"Beast, if you know what's good for you, you will do as I demand. BACK AWAY FROM MY LOVE!" The soul finally cried, his last statement being enough to win the slave over long enough for him to obey the command of 'retreat' at the same time his mistress cried out for him to listen to her and not a dead man's soul.

"Moyashi... forgive me, I tried..." The other soul said, finally approaching the first soul, wrapping him up in an embrace so tender it made the earth tremble with fear for what fate held for them.

"Kanda... it's alright... neither one of us could've done anything, we were both blind-sighted." the soul that was called moyashi said, returning the embrace.

Ugh, I've had enough of this sappy love crap. Slave! Finish this already. Slave! What are you thinking! Do as I command! Why won't you listen?! The mistress kept calling out to her slave, but he was lost in his own thoughts.

Love... you knew how to love once... we were friends once, not master and slave... why did you change? Why... His words were whispered, but they echoed through the landscape the way a battle cry does.

Love? Friends? Restraints only, restraints and weights holding me back from grace. Now, why don't you come out of your daydream and send these poor, tormented souls to their next life already, DARLING? And with that last word, the slave snapped out of one reverie and was shoved right onto another, one he could not control.

Kanda... Allen... please for—for... forgive me... I am under her control... I can't stop... but I can— at least I can... UGH! The slave flashed in front of the now frightened souls, struggling against himself the entire way. I can... make you two forget your... painful pasts... and give you a key, and an oath. A promise out of my blood, that you will one day reach nirvana...together... he tried to continue, but chocked, for his struggles and even his own words brought a knot to his throat that he could not work around. Instead, he let his actions speak for themselves, defying his mistress and ignoring her cries once more, trapping her where she stood with a spell of his own, continuing with his spell on the souls, marking them with a seal that bound them together and sending them on their way in the most peaceful of ways that he could manage at that point, collapsing and therefore freeing his mistress immediately after.

Just beyond the hill of debris, enough into the shadows to where they could not be noticed but close enough to where they could still hear and see were two more souls, similar to the two that had just been sent but different in a way or two. Having been awakened also by the silverette's cries, they remained outside of the area, concealed by their state mostly.

"I had forgotten about this day." the first said.

"Me too. It's a pity we can't remember any of what we know when we reincarnate." the second stated.

"Speaking of which, we should do the same. This is just a memory after all." the first said.

"A memory huh? How did we die this time?" the second asked.

"Explosion. Someone rigged our car and it went off while we were passing by this same spot." the first one said, letting out a dry chuckle.

The second one joined the first in his chuckle. "Talk about irony..." he drifted off, looking at his companion with longing. "See you on the other side..."

The first returned the glance, giving a half-hearted smile. "Yeah. See you on the other side."

And with that, they too drifted off to another life, the sounds of the ocean drifting into the background and following them to their next adventure.