Conversion by Jin

Chapter 1: "Can I talk to you about your dark lord and savior?"

My Sunday nights were so boring. Well, I should not expect much. My life has always been boring. The only interesting thing that involved me was my eighteenth birthday tomorrow. After shrine services, I did nothing but come home and read, pray, and then go to bed. I graduated high school a year early, so that ruined the little social life I had. My mother was off traveling with her boyfriend, or whatever he was to her. Living life as a priestess was… boring. I could find no other word for it. That was the only word that could describe my situation perfectly. I wanted more than to just be a priestess at my family shrine. I sighed; my grandfather would have rolled over in his grave if he had ever heard me speak such words. Souta my older brother was out and about living his life. Inviting any and everything into his bed. Drinking, partying; living a life of leisure. Then, there was me. The virgin priestess had to carry on the family traditions. I tossed my book to the floor; falling backward onto my bed. Why did I have to be a priestess anyway? Wasn't all this God and Devil business just all made up? A story people from back then made up to explain how they came to be. They had no explanation… so they made their own. That's how I saw it. A secret that I had always held onto. I never really believed in the great beyond.

"Ugh! When is something exciting going to happen?"

Moments later my house began to shake, my books falling from the shelf. As well as the contents on my desk. What was this an earthquake? A bright red light shined through my window. I ran over to it, pulling it open; and pushing my head outside. My eyes went wide at what I'd seen. The ground had cracked open, a bright red light seeping out of it. I squinted trying to look at it closer. A gasp slipped past my lips. A hand, then an arm, then a head could be seen coming out of the crevice. I was sure of it, but the smoke made it difficult to see anymore.

"What the hell!?" I cried out.

I quickly turned on my heels. I dashed over my bed and down the stairs to the front door. I had to see what that was in my backyard. I stopped, quickly unlocking the locks, and swung the door open so hard I could've sworn I'd pulled it off its hinges. Once I'd opened the door, I was gifted another surprise. A man. He stood before me. Tall; at least six feet. Skin-like porcelain and eyes that favored the Tuscan sun. Tresses that were like Nordic white locks. I took in every inch of him. The magenta markings on his, arms, torso, and cheeks. As well as the Crescent moon that sat on his brow. I was frozen. My mind screamed for my body to move, but It would not listen to me. Our eyes locked, and my heart thudded in my chest. Was this fear? Curiosity? He looked down at me through lidded eyes and thick platinum lashes. A sly smile sat on his lips. Fangs protruding over his bottom lip. A mischievous glint in his eyes.

"What are you?" I unconsciously whispered.

He simply leaned in close to me; our noses only inches apart. I could feel the immense heat radiating off his skin. His eyes never left mine.

"I am sorry to bother you so late." He purred. "But can I talk to you about your dark lord and savior?"

I blinked. "E-excuse me?"

He stepped forward, ducking under the doorframe. His one step made me take four back. He closed the door behind him. He'd put his fangs away, but the sly smirk remained on his lips. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, taking hold of my forearm. My body reacted without me asking it to. I pressed my free hand to his chest; closing my eyes. Seconds later the smell of something burnt flooded my nose. I opened my eyes. The strange man was on his knees. Hand on his chest, disbelief flooded his eyes. I too stared at my hand in disbelief. What was that? I looked at his chest. The burnt skin healing itself.

"A very strong Miko." He breathed, shooting up to his feet. "Yes, you would be a very nice addition to my collection."

"Your collection!? What the hell are you, and what are you talking about!?"

He grinned. "What the hell indeed my little Miko."

I held my hand out again. "I am not your little anything. Leave before I hurt you again. You hear me!?"

"I don't think you know how to do it again. Your powers have only just now peaked. You're young, newly of age, untouched. You are a gem. I can see why he wanted to keep specifically you from me."

"He?"

All of this was making my head spin.

He smirked. "Ahh yes. No wonder you're confused. You do not know the story. Allow me to enlighten you, little one." He said, taking a seat around my dining table. "If your curiosity is that insatiable, come and sit."

I unfortunately complied. My curiosity getting the better of me.

"Long ago you see. My father and I had a terrible falling out. So terrible that he threw me out of our home. Completely unjustifiable mind you. He felt threatened by me so of course. He did what he did best. I was banished. To where is not very important. What is important is our deal. One which we have had going on since the beginning of time. You see love. There have been many of you. You are a reincarnation stemming from a very, very, very long line of reincarnations. It began with a very powerful priestess. All demons and anything that went bump in the dark feared her and her power. So, as much as I hated to admit it. Back then I wanted to go home, which is when my father proposed this very fun deal of ours. If I was able to convert just one of his precious children. A.k.a one of the priestesses. I would be able to come home. Of course, he proposed this deal with the thought of me never winning. However, I do not want to go home now. I am having too much fun being bad. Now, I just wish to hurt him, by winning. Turning a regular everyday Joe is nothing, but one of you… that would be something very special indeed." He touched his bare chest. "Especially one so powerful."

I blinked a few times. The gears in my head-turning. I looked at him once more, that familiar mischievous look in his eyes.

"You came up from the ground… as in hell."

"Hn." He said smiling even more. "Yes, keep going."

"You were banished from your home… by your father. Are you supposed to be him?" I asked whispering the last part.

"Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. You caught on a lot faster than the others. You're handling it well also. The rest of them just lost their minds. Lost causes; all of them, but you… here you are so calm and collected." He said, his head tilting slightly to the side. "I wonder why that is."

"So, heaven and hell are real? Am I supposed to believe that?"

He perked up. "Oh, a priestess that didn't believe. You know, there is a special place in hell for people like that. A specific circle. Somewhere in the 8th circle, I believe. I'm not too sure. I just let the place run itself nowadays." He said shrugging.

"So, because of this game, were you watching over me?"

Christ Kagome, any sane person would have gotten up and run, but here I was having this utterly ridiculous conversation.

He nodded. "Indeed. I had to wait until your eighteenth birthday though. A stupid rule of this game you see. One of many that I detest."

"So, you think that you can make me into whatever it is that will make you win this bet between you and… God?"

Again, he nodded.

I was losing it, but I couldn't let him see that. I had to play it cool. Could all of this be true? Or was he some crazy man? No… that wouldn't explain his appearance and that scene in the backyard. Was there some other explanation for all of this or was I just in denial?

"Jokes on you but it isn't my birthday until tomorrow. So, doesn't that mean you lose?"

He grinned. "Check the time."

I looked at my watch… 1:30. How long had I been up reading that book? I swallowed the lump in my throat.

He leaned onto the dining room table. "So, again I ask. Can I talk to you about your dark lord and savior?"