'Till Death do us Part (1x1 with Stardustblade)

[Stardustblade358 806]

Death rested on his chair, fast asleep as his head hung back, his arms crossed. He had fallen asleep on watch duty. Even the doctor had his weaknesses. However Jorge's struggle brought him to become awake. Death rubbed his eyes and quickly shot up awake at the sight of an awake Jorge. "Don't move!" Death insisted, running over and gently pushing Jorge back down on the sofa. "You just woke up. Hold on, I'm getting you water." Death murmured, hurrying over to the kitchen and coming back with a glass of water, helping Jorge drink it. "Here we go. Please drink it call up. It'll clear up any residuals that might still be in your body." Death asked, looking down at Jorge worryingly. "Miguel is alive. Most of his body received severe burns, but I was able to patch it all up as best as I could. He's asleep and under numbing pain medication...if you want to see him I can take you, but I won't allow you to force your body." Death insisted. The sun was barely rising, rays of light shinning through the windows. "I tried to savage anything from your house...I couldn't find anything." Death sighed, rubbing his head. "You and Miguel can stay here as long as you need to. Especially while you're under medical care."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Jorge continued to fight and protest, even choking on the water. However as soon as Death said that Miguel was alive and sleeping, Jorge calmed right down. Those words were all he needed to hear.

"M-Miguel-" he coughed, now trying to drink the water. Jorge was able to relax now and leaned back in the couch. He didn't care if everything in the house was gone. As long as Miguel was okay.

"It's... Fine..." He whispered, voice set and raspy. "I will... See him... When he wakes... Up..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death sighed in relief and smiled at Jorge. “God protected you guys. From the time you were inside I honestly thing it could’ve been much worse. But you two should make a full recovery.” Death said. He had a few hours before he had to go ahead and do his rounds of patients. “You’re as stubborn as a bull, Jorge! And Miguel is very strong too. At his age not many children are able to handle such pain for such a long term of time. But he was able to. He’s going to grow up to be one of the toughest guys of his age, you know!” Death added as he walked around to get ready for the day, trying to cheer up Jorge. He had his small bag with medicines and a list of patients. He picked up a jar filled with baby maggots, barely the size of a grain of rice each. “There you are. You boys ready for work~” Death cooed, quickly hiding them inside his bag before Megara saw them.

 

Grim groaned and rolled around in his sleep. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, stretching his hand as he felt Miguel. “Miguel…are you hungry…I can sneak you some fruit from the tree outside…”

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Jorge was happy to hear such good news. All that mattered was that he and Miguel were okay. The house was just a house. It could be rebuilt. He could even build a nice hut. Everything else was just vanity. The crops were in decent shape. And Miguel... He didn't have to hear Death's words to know that Miguel was strong. Miguel was the strongest little boy he met. When Death picked up the maggots Jorge chucked.

"Oh my... Don't let Mega see that..." He said with a small smile.

 

Miguel meanwhile whined softly as he woke up. His body was still in searing pain, but everything felt so numb.

"N-Nooo...." He whined softly. Miguel loved to eat all the time but not now. He was in too much pain. He felt that if he are anything his stomach would rot.

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death hugged the jar of baby maggots almost like a child. “Never.” Maggot therapy, though a recent discovery, was something that Death had learned long ago. The tiny creatures will only eat dead skin. If applied to a wound, the maggots would eat up all of the dead and unusable skin, leaving way for the healthy skin and the wound to make an even quicker recovery. As long as the maggots were killed before they entered into their cocoon stage to turn into flies, it was safe and secure. When Megara discovered the first jar of baby maggots on the kitchen table, she almost had a heart attack, which proceeded with her throwing stuff at Death for him to get the creatures out of the house. “I’ll be back quickly. I just need to do my rounds real quick.” Death said, closing up his bag as he wrapped his scarf around his neck. “Rest and gain your energy, alright?” Death smiled at Jorge as he made his way out the door for his daily work.

 

Grim pouted. Miguel was usually so full of life and was the most energetic out of the two. To see him this way was almost eerie. It was Grim’s personal mission to make Miguel feel better. “I’m going to help you, Miguel! When I grow up I’m going to marry you, and I will make sure you feel mucho mejor!” Grim said determined, smiling as he heard his mom walk into the room. “You two are awake. Grim you didn’t wake up Miguel did you?” Megara asked. “No!” Grim insisted. Maybe it was a lie. “Well it’s time for breakfast. Miguel, I’m going to make you a special pudding so you don’t strain yourself.” Megara smiled. “Can I help?” Grim asked. “You can help by watching over Miguel.” Megara said, kissing the two boys softly before she went off to say hello to Jorge. Grim smiled and went on to bring as many toys as he could onto the bed for Miguel to play with.

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Jorge rolled his eyes at how Death treated the maggots. Treating them like they were his babies.

"You hold that jar like it's your child," Jorge began, deeply amused Death's actions. "And yet you kill them all after they have done their job. Such a thing is ionic." He chuckled to himself as Death left to make the rounds. As soon as Megara came in however, Jorge smiled in delight.

"Buenos dias, princessa." He said. "I hope your prince hasn't been giving you a hard time. If he has, let me know. I'll smack him with my cane. It's okay; I'm old so I can do whatever I want."

 

Meanwhile Miguel continued to whine. He just wanted to go to sleep and wake up when he felt better. It was way too early too. He always hated it when his father woke him up to tend to the crops.

"B-But... No..." He said with a sniffle. When Grim put toys on the bed, his disposition changed immediately. He couldn't say no to toys. Miguel reached his good arm out to grab a wooden bat.

"Papa made most of these..." Miguel said. "Papa used to love making toys but he told me he doesn't make them anymore because everyone don't like the toys he makes now... He only makes them for me."

 

Meanwhile, as Death was making his rounds, not all was well. As he was walking, suddenly a loud scream came from the river. And almost immediately, a crowd grew to see what happened.

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Megara smiled at Jorge’s compliment. “Buenos días, Jorge.” Megara called, walking over and rubbing Jorge’s head gently. “Feeling better, I hope? If you’re hungry there’s no need to worry, I’ll be making some breakfast now.” Megara cooed, turning to the kitchen to cook something up.

 

Grim smiled as he sat next to Miguel, holding up some of the toys. “Uncle Jorge makes the best toys ever! They’re always so pretty and fun!” Grim cooed. It always fascinated Grim how Jorge could turn simple pieces of wood into wondrous toys. It was almost like magic! “Miguel, we could learn to make toys when we grow up too! We can make toys for Uncle Jorge! Though I think that takes a lot of grown up stuff. Like sharp tools and other stuff papi nor mami will let us use.” However a certain thought had Grim frown. “I don’t know why they don’t like his toys. They’re awesome!...they’re just being mean for no reason.” Grim murmured.

 

The scream certainly startled Death from the morning walk, as it would anyone. It was coming from the river. Countless of scenarios began to run through his mind as he ran to the source of the scream, following the crowd of people. Drowning, injury, head trauma, he didn’t know what he would expect but damn well he would make sure to be prepared for anything. “What happened?! What’s going on?!” Death asked, carefully maneuvering through the crowd.

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Jorge smiled softly at Megara's loving rub to his head. He always loved Megara and how kind she was. He loved her as a niece, or maybe even a daughter or granddaughter. She knew exactly how to treat people, and to take care of one's elders. When Jorge was with her he knew he was going to be take care of.

"Yes, I'm feeling better." He said with a smile. "The pain is there, but I'm happy knowing my Miguel is safe. And I can't wait to eat your wonderful cooking. Perhaps when I'm truly better I can cook for you and Muerte as well."

 

Miguel smiled and continued to fumble with the bat with his good hand. All his toys were toys that Jorge made for him. He'll never grow out of them.

"Why are they so mean?" Miguel asked. "They're all meanies... But me and my Papi didn't do anything wrong... We're nice to everyone!"

 

When Death got to the river, there was blood. It was everywhere. At the edge of the river was the boy Death just spoke to the day before; Ani. It looked like he was stabbed multiple times, and his blood turned the area of the river where he was at red. A woman, who appeared to be his mother held his dead tiny body to her chest. She was weeping, screaming for her son. Next to them was the dead body of the fisherman. He had a knife in his hand, one used for skinning fish and his throat had been slit. On the wrist of that same hand however, was a snake bite.

"My son!" The woman screeched. "My Ani!!!"

Already onlookers were talking rumors, theorizing what happened.

"He killed his own son." One mused. "Killed his son then killed himself."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Megara smiled at Jorge as she began to make up a nice breakfast. “The two of us making a meal together would make any person drool with anticipation. We’re the two best cooks in this entire town!” Megara chuckled, turning as the scent of breakfast began to float around the house.

 

Grim pouted and shook his head. “I don’t know.” Grim murmured. It was a mystery to him. Jorge and Miguel were always so kind and so nice. Why would anyone be mean to them? It was ludicrous. Even when he asked his father and mother, the only thing that they would say that it was because sometimes people thought of some things that they shouldn’t even be thinking about. Grim never really knew what that meant either. “…they must obviously be celoso that Jorge is your papa! Because Jorge is your papa and he’s so awesome they must feel it’s unfair! You two are so awesome that the rest of them can’t even handle it!” Grim proposed. It made sense. At least to Grim it did.

 

The scene sent shivers down Death’s spine. The death of a child was never something he could just get used to. The murder of one…by his own father, the same two that he had just spoken to yesterday…he would’ve collapsed if he wasn’t that strong. “Dios mio…” Death whispered, holding the rosary around his neck tightly. He didn’t had the heart to separate the child from his mother just yet…of course, she was too distraught of it. He instead focused on walking over to the fisherman. “Amigo mio, que te paso…” Death murmured. He knelt down and picked up his hand, the grip on the knife still tight even after death. He pulled his fingers to let go of the bloody knife, and as it fell he noticed the blackened bite mark. The two marks made it obvious that it belonged to a snake. Ani’s words echoed across his mind. ‘He will be mad when he finds out, the snake told me so.’ “Let us not jump into conclusions now.” Death told the villagers who murmured out their guesses. He pressed on the wound, watching blood spill out mixed with a type of venom. “(Could it be a frenzy effect? Venoms can cause delusions and changes of personality…but could it even be possible to have alter him so much for him to have gone this far?)” Death thought, holding his head slightly as he tried to think. What snake could’ve possibly be responsible? Unless he had the snake, he couldn’t even make sure that the snake was the cause of it. He turned to the mother, gently speaking to her. “I know this is hard…but I must ask you if you heard or saw anything out of the usual yesterday, or this morning before…this.”

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel couldn't help but smile brightly at the idea. Yeah... Grim was right! Everyone was jealous of him and Jorge. Jorge was the best father in the world. The very best. Obviously everyone else would be jealous.

"Si!" Miguel cheered, flying the bat around. "Everyone wishes they had a papi like my Papi!"

 

Meanwhile the woman continued to scream and shout all while holding her dear son to her chest. She petted his hair and cheek as if she thought he would wake up. She slowly looked up into Death eyes with pure misery in her heart.

"N-No!" She cried, unable to hold anything back. "My son- Dio mio why... My Ani... Hijo... He was quiet yesterday... Like something came over him but he's never quiet at all... He wouldn't say anything and didn't eat his dinner..." She looked down at her son once again and it only caused her to scream even louder. In the background the villagers sounded angry as they proposed more theories.

"The spirit of the witch came back and possessed the fisherman..."

"It's all la bruja's fault! The damned son of la bruja! He did this!"

"That demon should've died yesterday in the fire!"

"He survived because he's a demon..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Grim smiled playfully. However, before he could go on, Megara knocked on the door and walked in. “Boys, breakfast!” She chimed. “Yay!” Grim cheered, jumping onto his feet before turning to Miguel. “Will Miguel be able to eat?” “Of course. However if it hurts too much, he can eat on the bed. What do you think sweetie? Does it hurt too much?” Megara asked as she rubbed Miguel’s head gently.

 

Death couldn’t help but to curse mentally as he turned his attention back to the fisherman’s body. Ani and his father had taken any valuable information down to the grave with them. Whatever poison the snake had injected was mixed with the blood, unable to separate the two fully. He picked up one of his small glasses and poured some of the fisherman’s blood directly from the snake bite, hoping that some venom would go along with it. He would have more questions for the mother and wife, but he knew now wasn’t the time. She had lost her son and husband and was in a fragile state. Any questions would have to come by later. He walked closer to her and murmured a small prayer for Ani. However once again the villagers brought up the whole situation of the witch and Miguel. Feeling anger rising, he stood up, walking up to the villagers and glancing at them with a serious expression. “Right now, we do not know what could’ve possibly gone wrong. Whether it could’ve been a side effect from being bitten by an unknown snake, or a surge of madness, we are yet to see. However…right now is not the time for you to stand around and blabber about superstitions. It is not the time or place…A tragedy has happened, let us focus on that…” Death asked, careful to not anger them, or to upset the grieving woman any further.

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel smiled when Megara came in. He always viewed Megara as a mother even though Jorge was his father. Megara was the only woman figure in his life after all. He didn't even know any other women. He asked Jorge once if he was going to get a mami, but Jorge only replied by saying he wasn't in his prime anymore. Whatever that meant. Still, Miguel was okay with that. Miguel tried to sit up in bed but only winced and whimpered in pain.

"It h-hurts still..." He whined softly. "I'm scared to eat..."

 

Meanwhile the distraught mother only continued to scream and cry. She wasn't even paying attention to her husband. Only to her dear son.

"I want to die!!!" She cried. "Dios mio, why did he not take me? Why..." Her heart was utterly shattered. In pieces. It was possible that not even time could heal her broken heart.

One of the villagers growled, gripping a dagger on his belt.

"Sí it's a tragedy! A tragedy that little bastard caused! It's time this ended!" He yelled, to where most of the other onlookers called out in agreement.

"The fisherman was kind to him and he still cursed him!"

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Megara kissed Miguel’s head and hugged him gently. “It’s alright, don’t worry. I made harina just for you.” Megara assured. “Can I feed Miguel?!” Grim asked. Megara looked over at him. “Oh I don’t know.” Megara cooed. “Please~” Grim asked. Megara hummed. “As long as you don’t end up pouring it on him…” Megara went on, looking over at Miguel with a smile. “Surely you won’t mind? If you do just give me a holler.” Megara said. She walked away for a bit and came back with a plate of delicious harina, soft cream sweet and tasty, perfect for morning. “Be careful.” Megara warned, and Grim took the plate and spoon, looking at Miguel with a sheepish smile as he offered up a spoonful. “El conejito va a la cueva~”

 

The situation was getting much more hostile than he expected. “You all really believe a mere child is even capable of putting out such curse to create a man to lose his mind?! One doesn’t simply lose their minds over a curse, that’s illogical! There must be something to explain this, one way or another that is physical and solid. We cannot always let these wives tales sway our logic over the fact that you’re laying the blame of this on a child!” Death argued. If they let them go on a killing spree everything would fall into chaos. “Do we really have the hearts to spill anymore blood than what has been spilled today?”

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

(Omfg I freaking love farina)

Miguel's face lit up into a smile as soon as Megara came right into the room with a bowl of farina. Miguel absolutely loved it when his father made farina with him almost as much as he loved it when his father made white rice with fried eggs and tostones. Still, Miguel's sweetooth always made him choose the farina. When Grim showed him the spoon Miguel opened his mouth wide and are it. "Hmmm!!!"

 

Meanwhile the man with the dagger drew it out. He clutched at it in pure rage; his knuckles turned white.

"I do!" He yelled while some of the other men walked over to him in support.

"That cabròn isn't a child; it's a demon! He should be killed!" The man was cut off however, by the wife of the fisherman letting out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Enough!" She screeched, thick tears falling from her face in agony. "I cannot take this anymore! No more! No more bloodshed... Please..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

(that **** is the greatest thing ever)

 

Death had his hands wrapped around the cross around his neck, and was about to do something until he heard the distraught wife. He turned, walking over to her and gently wrapping an arm gently around her in hopes to comfort her in the pain she was going through. He glared at the crowed. “As I said, this is not the time or place for these accusations. Come, we must tell the Undertaker...” Death spoke softly to the woman, helping her up. Today would be a long and tragic one, filled with tension…he hoped that no one would do something too radical.

 

Megara gave Jorge his breakfast, helping him if he was in any pain while eating. “It hurts too much for Miguel to come over to the table, but he’s eating. Do you want to see him after breakfast?” Megara asked.

 

Grim fed Miguel with glee, taking a few bites of the harina himself. It was delicious and healthy and easily one of the greatest breakfast ideas out there. However Grim couldn’t help but to feel like a doctor as he helped his best friend. “Miguel, what do you want to do when you grow up? Will you be a toy maker like Uncle Jorge? Though you like to catch stuff, so maybe you’ll fish? I think I’ll be like daddy or mommy.”

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The fisherman's wife looked up into Death's gaze with eyes full of pure agony. Slowly she nodded, and stood up with him.

"The Undertaker..." She whispered, tears still falling. "Dios mio... My son... Why did he take my hijo away from me... Mi espiso... Mi hijo..."

 

Meanwhile Jorge thanked Megara for the food. It still hurt, but he could bare. He ate the food as he normally would. "Yes..." He said with a small smile. "I want to see him... I want to hold him to me and never let go."

 

Miguel looked down in the blanket for a moment. After a few minutes of thinking he shrugged. He had no idea what to do when he grew up.

"I don't know..." He said as he looked to the door. "I think my Papi will want me to continue the crops and stuff... I don't know. What is there to be?"

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Grim had to think about it for a while, before slowly crossing his arms. “…I don’t know.” Grim murmured. They lived in a small town. There wasn’t exactly much choices that you could be. You had to learn to fish and to plant crops and to farm in order to keep yourself and your family fed. You could always go off to study in larger cities and become something different, like his dad Death was sent off to become a doctor. “Hm…A fisherman…a farmer…working at the church…” Suddenly his eyes glistened as he looked over at Miguel with an idea. “Miguel, what about a torero?!” Grim asked. Of course bull fighting was always a popular sport. The only thing Grim didn’t agree on was that the bull had to die, even when his own father sometimes said that if the bull wasn’t killed it would end up killing the participant.

 

Death walked with the grieving mother, glancing over at the villagers. “If you would like to help…at least cover his body so the crows won’t get to him. Otherwise help bring him to the Undertaker, or go on with your day.” Death asked, walking off to the Undertaker. The Undertaker had the most morbid job in town, yet people always seemed to pity him in his position. Maybe because he was the one who helped put their beloved ones to eternal rest. He was the son of the previous Undertaker, following the family tradition to taking the job that no one else would like to have. He had a two story building that stood just besides the cemetery, the downstairs large and with space where he made the coffins and helped get the bodies ready, the upstairs being his own house. He was quiet one, and seemed rather creepy living next to a cemetery and dealing with bodies and all, but he was actually rather sweet, and he absolutely loved children, having a child of his own around Grim and Miguel’s age by the name of Santiago. A knock on the door brought Undertaker over, opening it with a small smile.

 

“Good morning, why around so earl-“ Undertaker paused all at once when he saw the child in the mother’s arms. He moved his hands over his mouth, his heart racing. Even in his many years, he could never get used to seeing the corpse of children, especially since he had one of his own. “Dios mio…que paso…”

 

“I’ll explain later. Right now we need you to help us out…” Death explained. Undertaker was quick to let them inside, having the mother sit on a nearby chair. He went off to pull on an apron and his coat. “We need you to prepare for another one as well, an adult…” Death explained, whispering to Undertaker the situation that it was father and son.

 

“It can’t be…how is this possible…” Undertaker murmured.

 

“I suspect something involving a snake but the rest of the town suspects witchcraft…if you see anything unusual with the bodies…” Death began. Undertaker nodded, understanding what Death meant. He walked over to the grieving mother, kneeling down in front of her.

 

“If I may…?” Undertaker asked, extending his arms, referring if he could have permission to take the child away for preparation.

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel daydreamed, thinking of all the possibilities. Maybe he could be a snake catcher, if that was such a job. Or maybe a witchdoctor! If Grim was to be a doctor for regular stuff, maybe Miguel could be a witchdoctor for witch stuff. He only got the idea of how everyone in town talked about witches and demons and evil spells, but he didn't know much about that. They also talked about predictions of outsiders coming to claim the land, but that was also just the usual ridiculous things everyone talked about. What Miguel wasn't expecting however, was Grim giving the suggestion of becoming a bull fighter.

"A-A torero?!" Miguel asked, already thinking about what it would be like. He had to admit it didn't sound all that bad. "B-But mi papa- I think he'd kill me if he saw me doing that! Owwie... I can still feel the knock in the head he gave me with his cane when I tried to knock a beehive out of one of the trees next to the house with rocks... Well it wasn't bees it was those waspy things but they're the same thing!"

 

Meanwhile the grieving woman only stumbled inside. Her skin was basically white and she was extremely lightheaded. It was surprising that she even made it thus far. As she sat in the chair she wheeped into her son's shoulder. She held onto him so tight her knuckles turned white. Once the Undertaker kneeled down in front of her however, she looked into his eyes with dread. She was fearing this moment.

"S-Sí..." She whispered in anguish. Slowly she reached out her arms to hand her child over to let go for the last time. Even then she still had problems actually letting go. This was he end of her time with her precious son.

"Dios mio..." She whispered once more. "Kill me now... Por favor... Kill me now..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Undertaker frowned, gently taking the child from his mother’s grasp. “Lo siento.” He murmured, taking the child in his arms with the upmost of care. “I cannot do any harm to you. I am sorry that I cannot help you with this pain other than by doing my job.” Undertaker explained. He stood up, holding the small child in his arms. He couldn’t help but to think of how young he was. It broke his heart. “Santiago!” Undertaker called from where he stood. A small boy with green eyes, tanned skin and red hair peeked from a doorway. “Si papi?” “Prepare two beds and two robes, one adult size and one child size.” “Si.” Santiago went off deeper into the building to do as told, helping his father out. Death murmured under his breath. There was really nothing he could do to help the widow but to let her grieve. Soon the villagers brought in the husband as well, and he too was taken in for preparation. Death decided that he would help out by beginning to dig up the lots in the cemetery.

 

Grim chuckled, but then winced on his own accord. Every parent had their punishment of choice. Jorge smacked Miguel with his cane. Not hard enough to hurt him badly nor soft enough to barely feel it. Megara always chose the all terrible chancla. He swore his mother had super powers, because she could throw the thing from across the house and it would always land where she aimed at. His father didn’t even need a punishment. When he was angry, his glare alone made Grim pee his pants. “You’re right. I don’t think mommy would want me to be a torero either.” Grim admitted, giving Miguel more spoonfulls of the breakfast. “Hey Miguel. Does it hurt that much to move? Do you want me to bring you anything? Maybe I could catch you a frog and we can keep it in here!”

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

(Omg the canclas of doom)

The widow only continued to weep as the Undertaker carried out her son. She reached for him as if her son was still asleep. But sadly he wasn't. After what felt like hours of just weeping at the chair, her body finally couldn't take it anymore and she passed out from exhaustion.

 

Meanwhile Miguel nodded with a frown. He absolutely hated being still. His tiny little body was filled with so much energy that caused him to bounce off the walls. But sadly that had to wait.

"Sí..." He muttered sadly before Grim suggested getting a frog. As soon as he said that Miguel's face brightened.

"Sí! Sí!" He said. "Bring a big one! Or a baby one!"

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

That was like a weapon of mass destruction when I was small it didn't matter where you were she knew and

 

---

 

Grim smiled brightly, hurrying over to the window and sneaking out that way. "I'll be right back!" Grim said as he ran off. About an hour later he had come back with a box full of dozens of frogs that bounced all over the room and on Miguel as Grim sneaked them through the window. If he even tried through the main door his mother would be having none of it. Grim grabbed a hold of a really big one, sitting by Miguel as he showed it off to him. "Look at how big this one is! It's all fat and squishy!" Grim giggled, his hands and feet covered in mud. When Megara found out she would be having a fit over how hard it would be to get the mud off the sheets. A few frogs began to sneak down Grim and Miguel's shirts, trying to find places to hide, causing tickles and giggles. "Think mom would let us keep some for ourselves? Having a pet frog must be fun! We can feed them insects and stuff!" Grim cooed, keeping the frog from escaping his slippery grasp.

 

Outside around the rest of the house everything was pretty normal, Megara and Jorge talking to pass the time. When Death walked in through the door however, it was obvious that something was terribly off. He looked sad, and his boots were covered in mud and dirt, which he did at least the favor to pull them off and set them aside before he walked any further into the house. "Hey, something happen?" Megara asked as she noticed his awful mood. "There was...a murder." Death sighed, surprising them as he took out the small glass of blood and liquid and set it on the table. "Murder?!" Megara asked. murder wasn't common. At all. "Who?!" "...The Fisherman killed his son and then himself." Death explained, causing Megara's colors to drain from her face. "Dios mio..." She whispered. "I checked up on his body and I saw a snake bite. I theorize that a snake's venom might've clouded his vision and sent him into a frenzy and then had him kill himself after he realized what he had done but...without the snake or its venom I can't prove the theory, and I can't go hunting down every snake I see either." Death explained. "Will there be a funeral...?" Megara asked, almost in shock. "Yes. At sundown. However..." Death turned to Jorge with a worried expression. "As you can guess...they are blaming Miguel for this. They say that he put a curse on the fisherman and you know the rest." Death sighed, taking a seat on a chair. "I really think you two should stay, for the sake of Miguel. The villagers got very...upset with the theories. I don't want them to try to harm you or Miguel at the funeral." Meanwhile Megara was beginning to fume. "How dare they even think...he's a child!"

 

 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel became very excited as soon as he saw all the frogs enter the room. Already they were hopping on him. Sometime they hopped on his burns, but Miguel shifted somewhat painfully so they won't land on his wounds. He reached out to cradle one of the other big ones with his good arm.

"They're so cooool~" Miguel chimed. "I hope she lets us keep them! I want to catch crickets and scorpions for them to eat! But... They can't eat scorpions, can't they?"

 

Meanwhile all the color drained from Jorge's face once he heard the news. He knew as soon as he saw Death's face when he entered the house that something was terribly wrong. Still, he wasn't expecting this. A small tear went down Jorge's cheek as he heard Death's words. The fisherman was one of the only people who were ever kind to Jorge and his son. Because everyone shunned and threatend him, Jorge was unable to shop for good meats to cook. It was bad to only rely on the crops be grew for food. Luckily the Fisherman sometimes gifted Jorge great fishes. And the Fisherman's son was a wonderful boy. Actually Jorge helped name the son. Aní; came from the word attencíon. To pay attention. Jorge knew as soon as he met the newborn so many years ago the boy would be one to keep his eyes and ears open... To see and hear things others could not. To understand what others could not... Such a boy deserved such a name.

"Goñio..." Jorge whispered. "It's understandable why they would think such... Arrogant things. Marichòns they all are! I cannot risk any of us our there tonight. Those who were closest to the family will get violent. Killed his own son then killed himself... I honestly believe El Diablo himself-" he was cut off by the sound of hopping and ribbits right nearby. In the doorway, a small frog appeared. "Que...?"

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death watched with the most amused of expressions as the frog bounced around from the doorway all the way to the living room, to which Death gently picked up in his hands, the frog ribbiting rather loudly. “It’s a frog.” He murmured, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face. His wife was less than thrilled. “How did that get in here?” She wondered, only to be surprised as a few more frogs began to bounce right into the living room, just casually walking around. Megara and Death looked at each other and Megara went off to find the source. There was only one possible person responsible for this. It look less than a minute for Megara to open the door to the kid’s room and yelp in surprise. “WHAT ARE ALL OF THESE FROGS DOING HERE?!” Megara asked, looking around at all of the frogs that bounced around Grim’s room and bed. Grim looked up as he held a frog of his own, another sitting on his head. “Mami!” Grim said cheerfully, showing off the big frog in his hands. “Can we keep them?” He asked. Megara was less than thrilled. “No you cannot, frogs belong outside not inside the house!” Megara insisted, quickly grabbing a broom as she began to shoo the frogs outside. “Shoo, shoo, out, out!” Magara went on. “Aw por favor~” Grim whined, holding his own big frog in his hand along with Miguel. At least the few frogs on the bed were safe from Megara shooing them off. All Jorge and Death saw were a small army of frogs bouncing off as Megara shooed them. “Well…this is new.” Was all Death could muster up, opening the front door of the house as he watched the frogs bounce away. “He took that after you!” Megara called from where she stood. Death rolled his eyes, watching the small plague leave the house. Grim whimpered, frowning at his mom’s dislike of the amphibians. “No fair!” Grim whined. “Frogs are meant to be free animals that live in water and river ends. Not inside houses and definitely not on the bed.” Megara said, picking up a frog from Grim’s head and getting it outside. Death looked over at Jorge. “Megara and I will attend the funeral for the sake of the widow. If any of the people try to start any violence I’ll be around to stop it before it begins.” Death explained to Jorge.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Jorge would've face palmed if it wasn't for his injuries. He wasn't even surprised at the chaos the boys were able to cause. No matter what the situation Miguel and Grim always found away to make a mess. This however, was somewhat amusing. He watched as Megara kicked all the frogs out of the house.

"Dios mio..." Jorge muttered. "These kids are going to be the death of me." He looked over to Death and gave him a stern look.

"Be very cautious..." He said. Jorge knew Death was always cautious, however Jorge still had to say it either way. "Even with the Fisherman's wife... She just lost her hijo and esposo. She's capable of doing anything especially to herself."

 

Meanwhile Miguel began to sniffle and whine as all the frogs were leaving. It wasn't fair. He was having so much fun too.

"B-But-" he whimpered, helpless to do anything due to the state of his body. He couldn't even move in bed to do anything. "They're mi a-amigos..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Megara couldn’t help but to fall for Miguel’s whines. The poor kid was sick and injured after all. She went ahead and got all of the frogs that were on the bed and got them inside of Grim’s box. “You can play with these for a little bit longer. Just be careful with them, alright? You’ll have to set them free before bath time, though.” Magara insisted. Knowing Grim he would find a way to try to sneak frogs into the bath too. “No fair, why can’t we keep the frogs? They’re so cute~” Grim whined. Megara rubbed their heads gently. “Frogs are cute but they aren’t domestic animals. Maybe one day you can have a cat or a dog.” Megara smiled. That and Frogs were slimy and left mud wherever they went. “Now you two behave. Your father and I will be going somewhere for a little while.” Grim tilted his head, petting one of the frogs before handing it to Miguel. “Where are you going, mami?” Grim asked. “Well…something very bad happened. I will explain it later.” Megara said, giving Grim and Miguel kisses on their cheeks before she hurried to change into some black colored clothing.

 

Death nodded at Jorge’s words. “We will be careful. I can’t assure that I can do much to avoid for the widow to do anything extreme, but I will do my best. In times like this, she needs all the help she can get.” Death said, changing his white scarf to a black one from the many he had hanging in one of the cabinets. If there was one thing Death liked, it was scarfs. No one really knew why. He was already wearing a black colored attire and boots, and waited for Megara to come back to the living room. “We will be back after the service. See you soon.” Death said as he waved, walking out with Megara as they headed towards the cemetery to bid their final goodbyes and respects.