A/N: A couple of notes to start with... if you've come across this story from my others and don't know this series well (it has happened before), the SMT mythos is quite different. There are many points in this story where I don't intend to offend anyone, but complying with canon may end up with something offensive. Just keep in mind: it's fanfiction, many views presented are not my own.

For those of you who do know this game, Dante will not be appearing and I have replaced him with someone else (and not Raidou). I know, that might make some of you pass this story up, but my reasons are simple: this is the only game I've played with Dante in it and I don't feel comfortable portraying him. His replacement is someone I'm familiar with, a character I've wanted to use for a long while and has some parallel to the Demifiend. It'd amuse me if guesses were made about them before their name gets revealed.

With that done, I hope you enjoy this story.

Chapter 1: Leaving the Ordinary Behind

Another law of the world's rebirth is that only humans can bear the seed of Reason. Any human who beholds the sacred light of Kagutsuchi is capable of this. But the gods and demons who are awakened by Conception will tip the scales of the balance of Reasons. A strong will will bear a strong Reason, but a powerful interest from demons can empower a weak Reason.

-from The Scriptures of Miroku, passage 5

Should this theory of Lucifer's heir come about, the Demifiend will be a powerful weight to break the balance of Reasons. If the Demifiend's interest counters that of a bearer of Reason, the bearer should not allow the Demifiend's power to grow or else that Reason is as good as stillborn.

-from The Scriptures of Miroku, passage 13

The whir of the terminal invited silence, muffling the minute hum of electricity and the mundane sounds of two people. This room was a haven from the modern cacophony outside the hospital. Unfortunately, the silent sanctity of this place was already disturbed. Her voice was quiet and respectful, but in this ugly world, serenity was frail.

"There's no reason to," Hikawa said, setting a hand on the worn book at his side. "All that is needed is the power of the Lord and the Maiden, a man and a woman." At minimum, that was two potential Reasons. He could be sure that if her Reason did not align with his, her's would be far weaker. Not even the power of god or demon could change the world's course from his designs.

While Yuko tried to stand firm, her shoulders shifted towards a meek posture. She wasn't capable of fully defying him. "Perhaps that is the bare minimum," she said. "But the Scriptures speak as though there are more. Nature favors competition."

"Indeed," Hikawa said, reviewing some passages mentally. "Now that our intent is declared, nature may call on others itself. But is it for that reason you propose this, or because of a futile hope of saving another?"

Yuko shifted her balance, gripping her elbow to support herself mentally. "Well, I know all will pass with the death of the world, even those who have little fault by themselves. It would be fruitless for us as humans to try gathering all those that deserve a new chance. I… I would regret not being able to save at least one other, true."

He listened and weighed the possibilities. She was a teacher who was not on good terms with what family of hers remained alive. From that, it was clear that she was most likely to attempt saving her students. They would be ill-prepared for what lay ahead, ignorant of what had to be accomplished. Any competing Reasons from high schoolers would be simple to overwhelm with his own will and preparations. And on the off-chance that the theory of the Demifiend would become reality, it would be fascinating to see what occurred. All of Miroku's scriptures were written with certainty save for the Demifiend.

Among those thoughts, the one that decided it was simple: it was better he know his rivals at the start than to discover a strong one called by nature.

"If that will take away your regrets, very well," Hikawa said with a small nod. "Would three be suitable? We wouldn't want too much noise to go into the rebirth of the world."

Relieved, she bowed to him. "Three will work. Thank you, Hikawa."

"Just be warned that I would rather not be disturbed in the last hours of this tiresome world," he said, shifting his chair around to indicate that the discussion was done. "I will lock the basement gate to keep to myself."

"I'll do what I can," Yuko said, then departed.

There was still time. Closing his eyes, Hikawa reviewed his strategy. Even if he accounted for three extra Reasons, there shouldn't be much he had to do. He had already planned for opposition since most demons would not be that interested in his proposed ideal. The guidance of other humans, even if one surprised him, shouldn't keep him from completing his objectives. The most interesting thing would be if the Demifiend showed up after all.

Perhaps he could make an allowance to see how effective such a being could be, even if he ultimately meant to block them from interfering.

If Hikawa had only allowed her one, the choice was simple. He'd allowed her three, which forced Yuko to consider who else to assist. They had the guidance of the prophecies, and yet she wasn't entirely sure what they would encounter in the process of giving birth to a new world. What would help the new world along? Who would be a danger to it, or give a violent form to it? She had some ideas, but nothing certain.

It was easy to pick the one person she most wanted to sustain their will through these events: Naoki. As one of her students, she saw things in him that others did not. He seemed to be a thoroughly average student with nothing special to him. His grades were above average, but other students were more impressive. While he tried a few different clubs and sports, he wasn't attached to any of them. He even looked completely average for a Japanese youth. Although he had gray eyes, they weren't anything that stood out besides the unusual tint.

Yuko felt like he simply hadn't found his own means to brilliance yet. While his grades weren't impressive compared to others in his grade, they were actually rising respectably well since he'd entered high school. Naoki was one of those for whom traditional schooling methods like memorization didn't work well. Once Yuko offered her students other ways to see things, he was one who thrived by them. She taught her students the ways that led her to excel.

As her footsteps echoed in the empty hospital, she wondered if it wasn't her own vanity in wanting to give him a chance unlike any other. Out of all her students, he was the one who benefited most from her style of teaching. Yuko wanted to give him more time to pull out of a mediocre status. She ended up thinking about him a lot lately, less like a student and more like a son of her own that she wanted to succeed. Well, it was impossible for her to have her own child, even if the time left for this world wasn't exceedingly brief.

She had to make her choices quickly. Checking her phone, she noted that classes would be ending shortly. This would be a good time to ask them to come visit. But who else?

Isamu. He wasn't doing as well as Naoki in class. In nearly every paper he turned in, Yuko saw signs that Isamu had rushed to get it done, possibly up near the deadline. But he was Naoki's closest friend. The pair of them joked around together and supported each other in classroom endeavors. As long as they stuck together, they should be able to help each other succeed even after the end of the world.

And the third choice was even tougher… Chiaki. Naoki got along with all of his classmates whereas Isamu didn't. And neither did Chiaki, honestly. She was know as the rich girl, one with a more prominent family heritage than the rest. With cram school courses and her family's high expectations, she was among the top three students in the school. But Naoki was one of the few who would listen to her and treat her without jealousy. There had even been rumors this past school year that the two of them were dating. Whether that was true or not, Chiaki and Isamu would certainly help Naoki.

Yuko sent off messages to the three, as if she were letting them know that she had open visiting hours today. She had confidence that they would come, at least Naoki. After all, nature thrived with competition. Its choice seemed clear; she'd foreseen that he would be involved even if he claimed no allegiance with Gaean or Mesian groups.

He is chosen for two hidden talents. One, he is one of the few who can withstand the transformation. Many unfortunates were lost before the affinity for magatama was discovered. Two, he has no desire to reshape the world yet. He will bring no preconceptions into the Amala Universe. It is unlikely that another of such raw clay exists close by.

In short, it was meant to be. Her mind felt a serenity that Hikawa yearned for; her vision for the mundane was blurred by light. In this state, she could see through to what was truly important. It was in a time like this that she had accepted the need for the Conception. She was in the hospital room that she'd been resting in, preparing for this day. While there should be no one else besides her and Hikawa here, someone approached her. Observant gray eyes stood out to her, still searching for his way in life, pure and unmolded.

Yuko told Naoki what was important about what was to come. It felt necessary, as if someone expected this.

Ms. Takao was perfect in Isamu's eyes. She was intelligent, she was caring, she had a voice to die for… she dressed modestly, but it gave her an elegant air. On top of all that, she had all the characteristics of a warm faithful housewife: that modesty, that caring, her integrity, her subdued charm. She was the ideal kind of woman who'd take care of a man and not complain.

And he must be getting close to breaking the student-teacher barrier between them! After all, she'd just sent him a message saying that she wanted to visit with him at the hospital she was in. Wasn't that a clear sign of interest, thinking of him while in a low point of her life? She had invited two others, true, but Isamu was pretty sure that they all must have been picked out as something special. They were the first to visit her from their class, after all.

"The other students in the cram courses are so competitive that it's sickening," Chiaki said. This street by the hospital was not as busy as others, leaving fewer competing noises. "Always trying to prove their worth, and they're not beneath using other's work to their advantage. If Ms. Takao can clue us in on specific subjects in the preparatory tests, I won't have to study blindly and have them tease me for worthless knowledge."

"Yeah, sure," Isamu said, mostly because she got annoyed if people didn't agree with her. Chiaki always acted like the world should revolve around her. He'd rather be chatting with Naoki since he could talk more openly then.

Rather, he could plan better how to win Ms. Takao's feelings with this visit. Chiaki would think it was dumb. Naoki would listen and help him out, which was great. Ms. Takao always acted nicer when he was around. If he could know anything, Isamu would want to know why she reacted that way to Naoki and not himself. Isamu was working on charming Ms. Takao; Naoki denied he improved her mood even when he did and wasn't trying at all. Why was that?

And even if they were best friends, it was important that Naoki not get a clue and try taking their teacher for himself. Because he would probably succeed while Isamu had failed to catch any special attention from her. Well, special attention that wasn't sending him off to detention or reprimanding him. But even when she scolded him, Isamu felt no cruelty from it. She was strict because she cared, which made her all the more attractive.

"Isamu," Chiaki said, getting his attention, "what do you think of that?"

"Uh, what now?" he asked, trying to brush it off as not embarrassing.

She still sighed. "You really weren't paying attention. I'm talking about having a study group with you and Naoki. It'd be more interesting that way, plus you both could really use the extra push."

Isamu waved it off. "Hey, we get enough studying in school as it is! I'd hate to have it overtake my free time too."

"Don't you ever think about your future?" She shook her head. "If you keep being lazy now in this critical time of our educations, you're not going to get anywhere in the world. You're already risking it by not taking extra classes."

"I'd rather enjoy this time before the grind that comes with being an adult," he said. Although, would that impress Ms Takao? She was a teacher. And it'd be nice since he hadn't seen Naoki much over break. Hopefully he hadn't gotten too absorbed in the weird occult stuff he'd been reading last year. "Naoki might make it more interesting, so maybe if you don't starting draining any potential fun out of it."

"As long as it gets you studying, there might be a fun way," she admitted. "Speaking of Naoki, I wonder what's holding him up? I know he has to take a different train, but he could have arrived at the station before us."

"It might not be his fault," Isamu said while she got out her phone. "I just hope an off-schedule train doesn't hold him up too long."

Because this visit would get boring or awkward if it was just him and Chiaki.

'It is interesting material, but sometimes you seem obsessed. Given what's already happened, you ought to be more careful.'

Hijiri was being careful, but this was a time to act. Occurrences were lining up in worrying patterns: a wealthy member of the Gaean cult going rogue, a hospital in a key location closing up without warning, the Mesian cult going on high alert also without warning, otherworldly artifacts being seen in proven incidents. If things went as he suspected, there was a strong possibility that the world could end.

I've seen it all before, a higher cycle ending by narrow-vision mortals. It must be witnessed and recorded.

Around him, pedestrians walked along the streets without such worries on their minds. It was regrettable but understandable. Even his editor didn't fully believe it was possible. True, it might not be the true end of the world. It might just be an elaborate ritual that was only meant to intimidate Hikawa's enemies. But that man seemed serious. If Hijiri could see the scene in Yoyogi Park, he could estimate how real this was and how soon it could be.

The earth knows it's dying. Unconsciously, I feel the pains of the lethal wound. It's coming, I must know…

He had a kind of instinct for supernatural phenomenon, something Hijiri couldn't explain. It was like he could smell a fake before he found evidence to prove the scam. However, he didn't have much for such powers himself. There were secret societies of demon summoners and the like, usually connected to and controlled by the Gaean elite. Rituals tended to fail if he got involved.

They will be alert if I regain the ability to summon. I can't let myself know that or I will be in danger.

The Gaean and Mesian cults were kept in an uneasy truce. Hijiri looked over the park at a quiet entrance, searching for a way into the communications tower area. Despite the truce, there had been a conflict between the two in the construction area here. Many people did not believe in either cult because they did not believe in the supernatural. They lived mundane lives in modern society; nothing bad about that, especially compared to the alternative. As such, the cults kept quiet to avoid ridicule, waiting for times of uncertainty when they could speak out.

Then why did they risk a large conflict that had to be covered up by police as a riot? He'd heard talk that both cults wanted to be rid of Hikawa. But of course, they wouldn't work with each other. Hikawa was a corporate executive who commonly used cutthroat tactics in business. He could easily trick those after him to fight each other. But would it be enough sacrifice to trigger an event like the Conception?

It was, this is the time to be alert and witness… as I must.

Someone was approaching. Hijiri turned around, readying a calm reply to a question of why he was here. As a reporter, there were many people who would accuse him of being nosy. But this was no police officer; it was a high school boy who looked like an ordinary teenager. Hijiri's senses still triggered around him. Some power was watching this boy like a game piece for a board that was still being set up.

He's important. I can't tell how, but he's important.

While he was gathering information, Hijiri didn't have a particular person he was gathering it for right now. But he had a feeling that this boy might just be a person who'd need his kind of information. That was only emphasized when he mentioned on the phone that he meant to meet someone at Shinjuku Medical Center. There might not be time to establish each other as contacts right now, but the gesture should be started.

If I could advise him based on all that I've witnessed, that would be the help he truly needs. But I can't. I have to make due with what information I have in this lifetime.

When visiting someone at the hospital, the sensible thing was to ask the staff in the lobby where the patient was. The desk bell's chime filled the room so that anyone should hear it. No one answered. No motions or sounds came from behind the receptionist window.

"I thought the annex was closed, not the main building," Isamu said, glancing above where windows into higher floors could b seen.

"If the hospital was closed, they should have put a sign on both entrances," Chiaki said. There had only been one car in the parking lot, she recalled. The staff might have taken the train here, perhaps the patients too. Still, there being just one car was strange. Was there really no one here?

After a moment, Isamu pulled out his phone. "Her message does say Shinjuku Medical Center. Not a room number, though. Gah, and the reception is terrible here. We should look around for Ms. Takao."

"We don't know where to start," she said. Searching a silent hospital like this wasn't a pleasing prospect. There might not be anyone here, but there might be a good reason no one was here. Like a supervirus or malfunctioning equipment. The lobby would be the safest place, if any place in here was safe. If they could just find someone who worked here, it would all become clear.

"Well it doesn't make sense to just hang around doing nothing," Isamu said, stepping aside. "I'll go check out the halls."

"Fine, if you can't wait a few moments to see if someone comes here," Chiaki said. Although to herself, she was glad he took off. She didn't see why Naoki picked him as a friend. Isamu was a male idiot of the worst sort. When they had group projects in school, Naoki was the one who could keep things peaceful between them. Otherwise, Chiaki wouldn't speak to Isamu at all. Why was he late?

Once Isamu was gone, she took out her own phone to message Ms. Takao. The reception bar was empty, just like he'd said. Chiaki put it away and looked back into the receptionist's office. Still no one. Feeling apprehensive but wanting answers, she found the door and went in. It wasn't locked and the area looked clean. Maybe in the closed office nearby?

"Hello?" she called, opening that door. "Sorry, but..."

No one was here either. Chiaki didn't consider herself superstitious, but her skin felt cold seeing this. Just in case, she went in and checked. While she didn't find anyone, she did spot a schedule charts on the wall. The annex lobby was to be closed for a week to unspecified repair work from Cyber Communications. Patients were moved out to other hospitals, first from the annex building. Appointments were to be canceled; people were to take a few days off with the last day being today. While there were no explanations she could figure out from the shorthand, it was clear that no one was meant to be here today. Then why did Ms Takao call them here?

What was she even sick with? Now that this mystery was before her, Chiaki realized that no one at school had been clear on what was wrong with their teacher. She'd simply gone to the hospital sometime before the start of the new school year and wasn't expected to be back until next week. Just in case, Chiaki picked up the phone on the desk nearby. There wasn't even a dial tone.

This was wrong. Chiaki left the office to go back to the lobby. While that didn't make her feel any better, at least the exit was right there. She wanted to leave.

Don't.

But what about Isamu and Ms Takao? True, she didn't like Isamu all that much. But she didn't want to see anything bad happen to him. And if their teacher was here, she should come check this lobby before long. She had asked them to come here.

Someone opened the door to the lobby. Maybe their teacher, maybe a staff member, someone who could explain things? No, it was Naoki finally arriving. His arrival did make things feel more normal. She was getting worked up over nothing; there would be a reasonable explanation behind all this. They just had to wait on their teacher to arrive now, and Isamu to come back.

But there was a quiet feeling in the back of her mind that something big was happening here.

The golden sun shone bright in a gentle blue sky. A place of vivid trees spoiled with a gentle life stood by a metal and concrete skeleton of a new building. All around, so many buildings, so much life. Moving pictures showed up without magic, stretched across a building's face to spread news both local and global. There was talk of violence, but it was a curious detached talk as if such things happened infrequently.

So this was a world where humans thrived.

Supposedly, this world was dying too. It sure didn't look like it. The energy that throbbed around him from the peaceful inhabitants was more than enough to sustain him without hurting anyone. By itself, that was a miracle. Few people looked on him as anything more than an odd foreigner with a long red scarf. That was the illusion, of course, but anyone sensitive to magic should notice the illusion itself. Perhaps it was that normal.

Seeing what could be normal, he felt his strangeness sharply. It was a pity that this would end soon. Then this mission could begin. Although it made him feel leery, it was something to do until he could get back home. It'd be nice if this world could last on like this, though. Perhaps he could learn something useful from normalcy.

Time was growing short. Feeling the motions begin, he hurried his pace to the next corner. He'd spent too long looking around; he needed to be at that place. Otherwise, the death throngs of the world might even end him. There was still reason for him to survive, to get back home.

…

Someone caught sight of the stranger and was curious for a moment about him. He turned a corner, sweeping an arm at his side in an odd gesture. Then he was gone as if he'd never been there at all.

Naoki took a quick glance at the man in the red suit; he'd swiveled the chair back around so it was just his black hair and the blue paper charm that showed. That charm… it'd seemed innocent enough, if out of place with the serious man that wore it. Yet all it took was a flick of the wrist and this charm activated, nearly summoning up a dark creature with wings and curling horns. A few minutes ago, he wouldn't have believed the sight of it. But something with this hospital made it feel like he and his friends had walked into another world.

Whatever was going on, he did not want to stick around the man who'd summon up a demon to kill someone who'd merely walked in on him. Naoki left to follow his teacher back to the elevator. She at least was a sensible person, even if she had acted like this all was normal. There were dozens of questions in his mind, but one should be asked first. "Should we get Isamu and Chiaki? She was in the lobby, but he went to go search the annex."

"That would be nice, but we don't have time," Yuko said. She'd once said it was fine for him to address her with her first name outside of school, although Naoki still felt it was odd. Normally teachers were like another class of people, ones he didn't interact with aside from classes. Though they were people, so there was a chance they might become friends later.

"Why not? If our phones would just work, it'd be quick." They'd all been called to see her and her given hours weren't up at all. Then again, that man had acted like time was up for everyone and it felt like that might be.

"The Amala drums interfere with cell phones, I wouldn't recommend using them," she said. "The Conception has already been triggered. As long as they stay in the hospital, they'll be safe for that long. We'll be safe on the roof too; it'll be a good view over the city."

Conception. The word recalled strange visions he'd had lately. He couldn't call them dreams as they felt too real. As human civilization grew ever stronger, the energy of the world faded. It would eventually die an agonizing long death; civilizations would collapse as the world could no longer support them, but it would be too late to reverse the process. To save everyone that suffering, the world could be returned to its womb, to be renewed and reborn in a new form. Conception seemed so abstract that he thought it was a strange fantasy his mind was stuck on.

As they entered the elevator and he touched the button to send them up, Naoki was forced to think of it as real and happening right now. It shouldn't be possible; it should just be a fantasy. "The rebirth of the world?" When Yuko nodded without hesitation, his heart sunk. "But the world and everyone on it must perish first."

After a moment of silence, Yuko said, "They must. It will be quick for them, before they can even realize it."

Naoki closed his eyes. This wasn't right, but his mind froze up at the thought of it all. In minutes, everything that he knew except those inside this hospital would be destroyed. This really was a different world. But how could it all end? A death or two was normal, a fact of life he knew from three of his grandparents passing away. They seemed like they'd always be there, but then it was over for them. These streets, his parents, his school, his friends, they should always be there. This should be his senior year, a transition time to a new life. But, it would all be gone? And some blind luck, or was it fate? Something brought him here to live through an entirely different transition, to the new life of the whole world.

But was it really so bad that the old world had to die? What was so wrong that such extreme measures were needed?

The bing of the elevator arriving was a rude sound. Yuko stepped out the door onto the ordinary looking roof. "I had a feeling you would know."

What could he say to stop this? Was there anything he could do? "It was just some crazy thoughts in my head. Nobody told me about it, and I didn't tell anyone." Maybe he should have. But it was all too easy to dismiss as a weird fantasy in his normal life. "I just had..." his mind still held back, not wanting to admit to strangeness, "dreams."

"Maybe you could have had a future as a visionary if that's true talent," she said. "But this will be our new reality. I feel like… no, I know that you will find your way in spite of what's to come. Still, we all may be separated by the chaos. Look for me in the world to come. I can be your strength. When that time comes, I will tell you everything, including my true feelings."

This was an uneasiness that was easier to understand. If Isamu was here, he might have died of jealousy from those words. Naoki didn't feel the same way, but he was briefly grateful that the others weren't here. Chiaki would definitely be protesting that this couldn't be happening. For himself, he didn't want to accept that this was happening. But he knew it was. Who thought he was worth warning of this? Just Yuko, or someone more?

"Naoki, good luck," Yuko said.

Naoki gripped the chain link fence that kept them from the edge. The sky was shimmering. Seeing that there was really no time for anything, he replied, "You too, Yuko."

Black lightning tore through the apparent peace. Buildings crumbled as the land crumpled up to surround them… no, surrounding a bright blue star that was still forming. While the world changed incomprehensibly, that light swallowed him right up.

Not long after, Naoki was in darkness and agonizing pain.

Will this lead to a new cycle of the world, still imperfect?

Will it finally become a wretched world bearing purity of Law?

Will it finally cast off the shackles of rebirth and end the Amala madness?

I'm curious to know how this will go. Let's begin.