Emptiness

Chapter 1: A Mission

2 years ago

Unknown Chruch

Milan, Italy

Let us tell the story of a certain boy.

The tale of a boy who, more than anyone else, doesn't know any kind of emotion, and was led to questioning his existence.

The dream of that boy was only one.

His wish was for to find the reason of his existence.

It is a twisted dream that any sane man or woman could not imagine. Even for a boy who questions his own life and existence

Any happiness requires a sacrifice, something all children learn when they become adults.

But, that boy was different.

Maybe he was just really twisted. Maybe he was broken somewhere. One that common people cannot understand.

Understanding that he was not in accordance with the world, he worked hard to correct this mistake, attempting to be pure and beautiful. All throughout the years, he did everything he could to overcome his defect after accepting its existence. He suffered agony, though he never knew if it truly was agony, trying to pursue something he lacked from the start

Rather than surrendering himself to his condition by indulging in twisted pleasure, he tried looking within his own body for what could not be found in his mind, attempted to use mental pain, which is more significant than physical pain for missionaries, and attempted to abstain from eating during their pious acts

That was until one day he met a girl.

A girl named Asia Argento

He designated by the Vatican and the Eight Sacrament to protect one of the most important symbols of the church, The 'Holy Priestess'

He was entranced on how kind she was to him. It filled his heart with purpose whenever he looked at her emerald eyes.

From that moment on, he knew friendship. He knew Love.

Outside the window, a snow storm has frozen everything. A mid-winter night is congealing the ground of a forest.

The room is in a church now built on frozen soil, but it is protected by a gentle flame burning in the fireplace.

In the warmth of that shelter, the boy was sitting on a bed as his arm was being wrapped by bandages by a blonde-haired girl.

She was a small one just almost the same height of the boy — having emerald eyes and blonde hair wearing a nun outfit that symbolizes her status as a nun of the church.

In frail eagerness, continued wrapping the bandage as a concerned look marred her face but there was a smile as he looked at the brown-haired boy.

"Are you alright, Kirei-san?"

As he moved his bandaged arm around, the girl only looked at him with a worried look

From the pained look of the boy, he isn't fine yet, but even so, his didn't show any emotion

"You always worry me whenever you go to any mission, I always pray to God, to guide you and come back to me."

"..."

Without answering, dumbfounded, the boy looked up and saw the smile that filled the hole in his heart. Had Asia's smile ever looked that dazzling?

Asia was abandoned by her mother when she was a baby and was raised in a church. Some time during her childhood, she gained the ability to use her Twilight Healing and became known asThe Holy Priestess.

And now — she was crying.

"You know, I'll miss you when you leave."

Quietly bringing forth her emotions, Asia Argento spoke, crying as she clutched Kirei's hand.

"I know, Asia. It may be tough for me to leave you. But, I know you will get through this. There will be a time where I will leave but from leaving I will also come back for you"

His appearance is didn't change, and, looking at her, she is a lovely girl.

But — the boy knew better. That to the world he was part of, the snowstorm outside the window was the most appropriate.

"Kirei-san, I — "

By firing one single word, the girl's chest felt like it was pierced through by a blade. That blade was the inevitable departure of the boy in front of her. She wasn't able to continue as the boy in front of her spoke up

"I will come back for you and I will show you the world."

Asia's teary eyes only widened at his declaration. She only covered her hand in shock as tears of joy began flowing. Kirei only turned his gaze towards the girl before taking off the golden cross hanging from his neck, before giving it to the blonde-haired girl.

He wiped the tears with his fingers before kissing the girls forehead, as she became beet red from his actions.

The girl only smiled at him, it was the same smile that filled his empty existence. In a spur of a moment she kissed his cheek

"Yes, I'll wait for you."

But the future that was already decided for the both of them.

Current Time

Villa Richelieu

Bordeaux, France

When we speak about religion, there is one prominent that always came to mind, the Vatican. The seat of power of the Roman Catholic Church which boasts the most followers of all religions around the world, Their influence can be stretched back in history to where their presence change how civilizations live today

Holiness and Purity. That is the aim of all clerics.

For the Chruch and some of its fanatic followers for them there must only be God and God

— To put it simply, that is what Kotomine Kirei was undergoing.

"The 'Holy Priestess' has been excommunicated for a month now, we got information that she is on her way to Japan."

The person with the smooth but feble voice who explained this was Cardinal Richelieu, The Cardinal of Paris

In the room of an elegant villa built atop a small hill in the neatest district in the south of Bordeaux, France, 3 men sat on a lounge chair. Kirei and Richelieu, and the Father who introduced them and mediated the conversation, Kotomine Risei... Kirei's actual father.

For the friend of a Father who would soon reach 80, that Richelieu was an old French man. He did seem to be around the same age as Kirei's father, settled and with the presence of an expert. This villa was his secondary residence.

Being a Cardinal isn't such a strange thing as it may sound, for they are one of the most powerful positions to be achieved in the Vatican. Kirei was, as his father, a clergyman, yet the duty of the father and son greatly differed from what ordinary people know of a 'Father.'

The 'Holy Church' that people like Kirei belonged to had a doctrine that was outside the bounds of miracles and divine mysteries, but would bear the role of exterminating devils and Heretics, and burying it into oblivion. That would be, taking a standpoint from where they could supervise a blasphemy.

It was the previous week that Kirei had discovered that Asia Argento the Holy Priestess by the Vatican after discovering that her power could also heal Devils. He had then consulted his father, and Risei had immediately taken his son to Bordeaux the next morning to meet the Cardinal.

From then, after a hurried greeting, the explanations Cardinal Richelieu had given to Kirei in this secret meeting were concerning the 'Holy Priestess' banishment and her current affiliation with the Fallen Angels,

Kirei's duty in the Holy Church was, in essence, direct removal of heresy and Devils, meaning he was a fully-fledged combatant. You could say that it was his very duty to wager a life-and-death bet against any supernatural beings. Rather, the problem was the contradiction that it required Kirei, was the order of the Cardinal to him

"After we have banished, the 'Holy Priestess' the majority of the Cardinals and I with the exception of the Pope,approved of the excommunication. We encountered another problem, we have heard news that she was taken by the Fallen Angels of the Grigori."

"Why did you call me here for?"

Cardinal Richelieu nods to the yet-unconvinced Kirei.

"I mentioned that majority of the Cardinals approved of the excommunication and the Pope with the remaining Cardinals disapproved of it, their blind eyes still see the 'Holy Priestess' as a holy figure despite of her healing a devil. It's a Heretical Power that should only heal the pious"

The Cardinal only faced Kirei

"As the Head Secretary of the Eight Sacrament, I will have a mission for you."

Both Kirei and Risei, father and son, have a place in the section called the Assembly of the 8th Sacrament. A duty of that group in the Holy Church is to recover control of holy relics.

"With this mission we want you to ensure the image of the church. If the devouts heard that the 'Holy Priestess has sided with the Fallen Angels, there will be severe damage to our political power."

At the words of his father, Kirei could but tilt his head.

"Please wait. You want me to bring her back? Didn't we already banished her? "

"No, but we want you to do something else"

The unusual smile of the stubborn father was implying something that Kirei could not read.

"Kotomine-san, you shouldn't trouble your son. Let's move on to the real question."

Cardinal Richelieu explicitly urged the old priest to the point.

"Hm, right. — Kirei, all we have explained was only about the consequences of the excommunication of the 'Holy Priestess' but there is more."

"... Which is?"

"To tell the truth, we have no regrets excommunicating her. But we can't just bring her back, it will also bring poor remark on us as it will make people wonder why we brought her back. So there is only one way for us to clear up all of the problems."

His Father explained

That's how it is. Otherwise, the Holy Church would be concerned by the opinion of the people. If they brought back the 'Holy Priestess' there will be more political pressure within the Vatican and no doubt the Pope will limit the power of the College of Cardinals due to their indecisivness

— Though, to allow ourselves to leave it alone, we need to pass it to a strong person. If an unwelcome fellow got around her, we don't know what kind of accident might be caused."

"Then, if we eliminate it as a heresy —"

Kotomine Kirei only stayed silent as he heard this, They don't want her to be brought back but rather they want her to be eliminated as a Heretic

"... I see."

Kirei was gradually catching up to the true motive of this interview since his father was intermingling with Cardinal Richelieu

"Since she has been already excommunicated, we were alarmed when she was picked up by the Fallen Angels. This does not bode well for us due to the fact that she was one of our prized symbols."

Cardinal Richelieu nodded, then resumed speaking.

"Upholding our image and purity. There is no greater purpose than this to us as the Church. But, sadly, the Pope and some Cardinals, who once shared the same motive a long time ago, have lost track of it to more worldly matters, and have now totally forgotten their original intention. I won't even mention how they have only preached peace but not finishing God's work during the Great War."

That would mean that the Holy Church would approve of no one else but Cardinal Richelieu since he is the General Secretary of the Eight Sacrament Assembly. So Kirei understood more about his assignment.

"So you would like me to got to Japan and execute Asia Argento?"

"That's it."

Finally, Cardinal Richelieu showed the first sign of a smile.

"Of course, As our best operative, we know that you will complete this mission."

At Cardinal Richelieu's words, Father Risei gives an austere nod. Due to the ceasefire treaty between the three factions, they could not make a official operation to execute the 'Holy Priestess'

As for that, it was neither good nor wrong to Kirei. If the intentions of the Church were clear, there was only the fulfilling of his task as one devoted executor.

"Kirei-kun, you will fly to Kuoh, Japan. From there you know what to do."

Without a break and with a practical tone, Cardinal Richelieu hastened his explanations.

"Only me?"

"You're our best Executor, Kirei. No doubt you will accomplish this without back up"

Saying this, Father Risei took out a letter. It was a notification with the joint signatures of both the the Office of the Head Secretary and his father, and was addressed to Kotomine Kirei. Kirei was more than surprised at the merit of the performance: from the day before to today, the letter had been taken care of immediately.

In the end, there really was no real purpose of acting up in the matter for Kirei, nor had he any particular reason for taking offense at the discussion. For Kirei had no purpose at all but he felt conflicted by this mission. He was being asked to kill the very person who filled his empty existence

"The important thing will be to have you must not fail."

Kirei only slowly nodded as his brown eyes never shone as he knew that this was not even a mission issued by the Pope

"Yes, I will do it and will carry out the will of the Church"

Cardinal Richelieu gave a cold-hearted smile and shook his head.

"Thank you, child. Go forth and bring God's Justice."

"Yes, your Holiness."

Though Kirei didn't mean to understand about the mission given to him, he had a good grasp of the tendencies of the people known as 'Heretics'. He had had countless occasions to compete with 'heretics' as an executor. The number of people and supernatural beings that he had brought down with his own hands isn't in the tens or twenties.

"So, do you have other questions?"

As Cardinal Richelieu requested for a conclusion, Kirei asked the question he had had since the beginning.

"Only one — What will happened if I fail?"

Apparently that was really not a question Cardinal Richelieu expected. The Clergy's eyebrows gathered in a wrinkle for a short while, then he gave a relaxed reply.

"You will be branded a heretic if you fail."

"So, I will be excommunicated by the church?"

"Yes. The Pope has no Knowledge of this operation. If you fail we will need you to excommunicated to ensure the Pope will not inquire"

While speaking, Richelieu seemed to realize what Kirei was suspicious of.

"... How about it? Does this explanation satisfy you?"

So, he gave his conclusion with such a daring tone.

"..."

This arrogant confidence seems to suit the man called Cardinal Richelieu. This man holds a dignity that just borders sarcasm.

Certainly, as a Cardinal, he was a man of excellence. And he must have had the self-confidence that came with that excellency. That's why he probably would never doubt his own judgement.

That meant that you would never get any other answer from the Cardinal here and now — That was Kirei's conclusion.

"When do I go to Japan?"

Hiding his inner discouragement and distress, Kirei changed the subject.

You will go to Japan by tommorow."

"Understood. Then, I will go at once."

"Kirei, go ahead first. I need to discuss something with Cardinal Richelieu."

Nodding to his father's words, Kirei stood up from his seat and, after a silent bow, left the room alone.

※※※※※

Remaining in the room, Cardinal Richelieu and Father Risei silently watched Kotomine Kirei off.

"That's a reliable son you have, Kotomine-san."

"His strength as an 'Executor' is guaranteed. None of his colleagues are more studious than him during training. I'm the one you should doubt."

"Ho... Is that the exemplary attitude of a defender of the faith?"

"Oh, it shames me to say it, but this Kirei is the only pride of a senile old fool like me."

The old Father was known for his rigor, but, feeling at ease with Richelieu, he smiled. As his eyes turned to his only son, his trust and love clearly showed up.

"As I still didn't have a child past 50, I had given up on an heir... But now, I am amazed at how far my son has gone."

"Though, he agreed more easily than I thought, hasn't he."

"My son would jump in a fire if that was the will of the Church. That's how far he would go for his faith."

Though Cardinal Richelieu didn't mean to doubt the words of the old Father, the impression he had had of Father Risei's son wasn't quite such a 'passionate faith'. The quiet appearance of the man called Kirei felt more nihilistic to him.

"To be honest, that was a disappointment. However I look at him, it seems he was just handed a mission to kill to a person he guarded for over 6 years. He seemed confilicted"

"No... Kirei knew Asia Argento but from what I saw when he left her 2 years ago to train he didn't look back."

Speaking ambiguously, Father Risei stated with proudness

"It is a private matter, but Kirei was blessed by God with a Sacred Gear"

"Oh, and what is it?—"

Richelieu was at loss of words at the new information

"Though he doesn't use it, I am very proud of him and was overjoyed upon learning that he was blessed by God."

Risei stated in his speech. The Cardinal kept gazing straight at him.

"Richelieu-dono, He has one of the 13 Longinus, [Annihilation Maker]"

Richelieu proudly nodded at the old priest's words.

As he was clearly overjoyed by this information

"This time, We will continue our work of our lord God and wipe out all of the 'evil' in this world."

At Cardinal Richelieu's dignity, Father Risei nodded in agreement

※※※※※

With the wind of the Garrone River rustling his hair, Kotomine Kirei returned from the villa atop the hill, alone and silent, on the narrow, winding path.

Finally, Kirei put in order the many impressions he had had of the man called Cardinal Richelieu, whom he had met just then.

Perhaps he had led a hard life. As if pride was proportionally converted to the experienced hardship, he was a man endowed with a firm dignity he could rightfully boast about.

He understands that sort of personality quite well. Kirei's very father was of the same kind as that Richelieu.

Men who have defined the meaning behind their birth, behind their own existence, and followed it without a doubt. They definitely would never waver, never hesitate.

Forging it into an iron will of acting with a clear objective, vectorized only by the fulfillment of 'something' that was identified as their lifelong goal, in any aspects of their life.

The 'form of this conviction' can be, in the case of Kirei's father, a pious faith; and in Richelieu's case, perhaps it was the self-confidence of one who was chosen — a privilege not for the plebeians, and the self-consciousness of someone with a responsibility to shoulder. He was one of those remaining 'genuine aristocrats' you would rarely find nowadays.

From then on, the existence of Cardinal Richelieu would probably hold important implications for Kirei... But even so, he was of a type that was incompatible with Kirei's kind. That was just the same as saying that he was similar to his father.

Those who see only their ideals can never understand the pain of those unable to have one. People like Richelieu had a 'sense of purpose' as the base of their convictions, but that was totally absent in Kotomine Kirei's mind. Not once in over 16 years of living had he ever felt such a sensation.

By judging so, he couldn't consider the most noble idea, have comfort in any quest, or find rest in any pleasure. Such a man couldn't have any such thing as a sense of purpose in the first place.

He couldn't even understand how he was so far removed from the sense of values that the ordinary world held. Kirei couldn't even figure out a passion to throw himself into about anything.

He still believed that there was a God. That there was a supreme existence, although he didn't have the maturity to perceive it.

He lived believing that one day, the holiest word of God would lead him to the supreme truth and save him. Betting on that hope, clinging to it.

But in the depth of his heart, he already knew. That salvation would no longer come from the love of God for a man like him.

Being confronted to such anger and despair drove him to masochism. Under the pretense of penance for moral training, he simply kept wounding himself repeatedly. But those tortures forged Kirei's body like iron, and when he realized, he had risen to the top of the elite of the Holy Church as an 'Executor', where nobody had followed him.

Everyone called that 'glory.' Kotomine Kirei's self-control and devotion were praised as a model for the clergy. His father Risei was no exception.

Kirei understood very well why Kotomine Risei had so much faith and admiration for his son, but that was a misunderstanding so far off the point; for in reality, his heart was shameful. A whole lifetime's worth would probably not be enough to amend that misunderstanding.

Till this day, there is no one who has come to understand how much Kirei lacked.

Until he met Asia Argento, the 'Holy Priestess'. The only person who filled his sense of purpose —

"..."

Feeling a sense of lightheadedness, Kirei loosened his pace and put his hand to his forehead.

When he tried to remember the her, he was at lost. He was ordered by his superior to kill the woman who completed him. He was conflicted on why did this happened

When he realized, he had arrived at the bottom of the hill. Kirei stopped and looked back to the faraway villa at the top.

Finally, he still hadn't reached a satisfactory conclusion on his interview with the Cardinal of Paris... That was the important problem that concerned Kirei the most.

Will he able to kill Asia Argento?

Richelieu's explanation was a desperate one.

There must have been a reason to his selection for this mission.

Yet... The more he thought about it, the more Kirei found the inconsistency worrying.

He essentially didn't have any 'sense of purpose', nor any ideal or aspiration. Regardless of the way you look at it, he had no reason except to the girl that he was ordered to kill

With a gloomy face, Kirei looked at the three symbols that had appeared on the back of his right hand.

They say that Sacred Gears are Gifts of God to his children

Would he able to fulfill his promise to Asia?

HEY GUYS ANGRA MAINYU-CHAN HERE. A NEW FANFIC I WROTE. ANOTHER KIREI FANFIC. BUT THIS TIME THIS WILL BE PURELY HIM.

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ON HOW I DID ON THE REVIEWS

:)