AN
Alright, so because I've been on a bit of a writing bender lately, here's the second chapter hot and fresh off the presses! This one comes in at a few hundred words shorter than the last one, but I didn't want to try and extend it beyond this point, it would start becoming redundant and boring, which considering that this is the exposition part of the story, that would be saying something. I'm trying to keep things interesting, but I understand if these first few are a little bit of a slog.
The next chapter will also just kinda be out at some random interval. I haven't really set a time frame thus far, just kind of winging it. Whenever I get to about 4500 to 5000 words is when I consider it just about done. I'll try to keep (at the very least) a weekly update schedule, because if things go according to plan, I'll be on this one for a while.
Also, I just wanted to take a chance to say thank you so much to everybody who's dropped a review my way. I take all criticism as constructive, and will continue to do so! Always feel free to drop what you really think there, I'm always checking for new ones, seriously, it's like being a little kid the night before Christmas with them. As such, Imma start doing some responses down at the end of the chapter. Feel free to send questions in a PM if you wanna know something as well. I take all comers.
ON WITH THE STORY
Chapter 2:
Tense and jittery, Ben couldn't help but look over his shoulder as he hurried out of the classroom at the end of the day. He had barely been able to escape his tail in the form of Koneko, who was swarmed by the masses the second the bell rung. He was out of the doorway in under a couple seconds, using a bit of his supernatural abilities to aid his escape.
She had been keeping an eye on him all day, he couldn't even eat his lunch in peace as he felt the steely gaze of the small girl on him from across the room. He felt like a dying animal in the sun, vultures flying around him as they waited to descend.
Despite being watched over all day, he did manage to come up with a plan between the introductions and greetings that were exchanged between the teachers and the class throughout the day. He was glad the first day was less intensive than the rest, the last thing he needed was one of the teachers breathing down his neck. Emissaries of hell and an angered educator at the same time did not sound like fun.
If their subtlety as anything to go off of(if you could even call it that), they treasured the fact that they blended in. Despite the way that they stood out, Ben had to commend them for their ability to hide in plain sight, especially in full view of everyone. He liked the mysterious and smug asshole angle better, but their method worked wonders for what they were going for. At least it would in every other situation.
As much as he hated playing this kind of cat and mouse game, the easiest way to make sure they couldn't corner him was to make sure that he was constantly surrounded by people, at least until he was able to get back to his room at the Udon shop. At that point, he would have to rely on pure dumb luck.
He would then repeat this process every day until he graduated.
It wasn't a perfect plan, it had it's fair share of flaws, perhaps more than it should have. The fact that he was relying on a coin flip for a third of it being the stand out. The plan covered what he knew, which was decidedly very little in the grand scheme of things.
What do I know? The Nephilim thought as he mushed himself in with the crowd leaving the school, sticking as close as socially possible to the other students.
He knew that they were all affiliated with the "Occult Research Club", which from what he could gather was an ironic front for their activity in the city. Okay, maybe he didn't know for certain, but based off of the little bit that he got out of Koneko amongst the threats and backhanded comments, that was the case.
He also knew that there were more than 3 of them. This was more of a hunch than anything else, but the way they all carried themselves screamed that their numbers were greater than his by a good amount. He ballparked it around maybe 6 people that could come after him at any given time. Specifics in this category would be the most appreciated, but walking up to them and asking "How many devils are gonna come end me?" didn't exactly seem like the best idea.
And finally, he knew that these people were no pushovers, they were packing power by the pound, at least as far as his strength was concerned. Taking them on all at once would be a slaughter, with him being the meat. One at a time he stood a better chance: Koneko being the one he could say that he would reliably beat. Akeno and Rias were in a whole other league. On his best day, he might stand a chance against them if he singled one of them out; but if today was anything to go off of, he wasn't having a very good day.
All of these (and he used the term loosely) facts only solidified the cornucopia of shit he found himself in the midst of. It also furthered to prove that his plan was utter garbage, and ditching it the second he had a better idea was priority numero dos, right after having the idea in the first place.
His thoughts brewing like a bubbling cauldron in his head, Ben didn't notice the other demonic presence that descended upon him from behind, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, the half breed spun around in a flash, knocking the hand away.
"Whoa there!" the male student exclaimed in surprise. He was only slightly shorter than he was, Ben only had to look downwards slightly in order to meet his eyes. His blonde hair was spiked and parted in the middle, the bangs making their way across his forehead in uneven ends. He blinked a pair of green eyes at the taller boy, "Scared the crap outta' me man!"
He could smell the demonic power on him, significantly weaker than the others he had met thus far, but there was something else mixed in with it, it felt strong, despite appearances of his aura, "What do you want, I have somewhere I gotta be," Ben said as he glanced back and forth quickly, scanning the crowd for any other demonic powers before returning his gaze to the boy, "Spit it out."
"She really wasn't kidding about that edge to you, huh?" he said, rubbing the back of his head and pushing out a sigh as he closed his eyes, "Look, I'm just the messenger. The Student Council wants to speak to you, something about adjusting to the different culture or something."
Ben raised an eyebrow to the other teen, skeptically looking him dead in the face. He honestly wasn't sure what to think. For all he knew, this was a ploy by the rest of the Occult Research Club to segregate him from the common rabble. The boy was a devil, like the others, and while his aura didn't have that same tinge to it that Koneko's had had, taking this kind of chance had the potential to put him six feet under.
Then again, if this really was just a helping hand extended from the Student Council, biting it certainly wouldn't do him any favors with them. Being labeled a delinquent wouldn't help his ability to blend in, and sticking close to people would become a lot harder if he became the kind of person that most folks would cross the street to stay away from. That was a worst case scenario, sure, but it didn't hurt to be cautious.
Still, hardship in the future was preferable to having no future, Ben decided. He'd rather have issues being normal than be lured into a trap, "Thanks but no thanks," he said to the boy, waving a hand as he went to turn around, "Like I said: I got places to be, I promised my Grandma I'd pick up a shift in the shop. Tell 'em that I'm doing fine, nothing to worry about."
That's when he felt a tight grip on his arm, one that was definitely not the strength of a normal human. Ben flinched as he turned back around, his arm feeling ever so slightly number by the second, and the grip becoming stronger, "Sona is gonna kill me- look tall, dark, and broody: the council is trying to help you here. We're not with Gremory and her 'group' if you catch my drift."
So the council was also a group of devils, and he expected Ben to believe that they weren't in cahoots with each other despite their proximity. It was literally the same building they inhabited on a regular basis, "Even if I knew what you were talking about," Ben pursed his lips, speaking incredulously, "Do you really expect me to believe that? What is this, the 'fuck with Ben' hour?"
"If I were on their side, why would I all but admit that-thing-that-I-basically-just-admitted?" he asked, raising an eyebrow
Ben squinted his eyes, "To lure me into a trap?" he stated as if the answer was as simple as it sounded, "Seems pretty self-explanatory to me."
"Are you really that paranoid? Scratch that- are you really so full of yourself to think you're the first priority here? We got bigger fish to fry than a stray devil trying to play house."
"I'M NOT A-" Ben yelled, drawing the passive attention of the stragglers as they passed them by as well. The half-breed cleared his throat, and slapped the boy's arm off with his own burst of superhuman strength, "I'm not a God damn stray."
The boy looked at him expectantly, "I'm not the one you need to be telling that to, man," he turned to walk back into the building, taking a few steps forward before looking over his shoulder with a confident smirk, "So you coming or what?"
Ben blew a breath out, the air fluffing the bangs that hung down on his forehead, "Shoulda said a prayer this morning," he said before begrudgingly following after the messenger, walking up next to him, "Ben Silas, by the way, Blondie. But I'm guessing that you knew that already, huh?"
"Try Genshirou Saji, dude. Rolls off the tongue better," he shot back at Ben.
AT THE SAME TIME...
Awake, it knew that much.
Consciousness was an odd sensation, or at least that was what it was perceiving this sensation to be. It had suddenly become aware of the world around it, a world that it had always somehow knew existed. Though only now it felt the sweet tickling of thought poke at it's mind, it somehow got the sensation that it had always been capable of these actions, but they had been prevented until this very second.
It's awareness spread like a plague, suddenly realizing that there was more than just its head that it was capable of moving. It's fingers wiggled on command, but when it tried to move its arm, it seemed to be incapable of doing so. There was a feeling binding it's wrist to the thing behind it. They were both cold, but the object around it' wrists made it angry. Why couldn't it move? Why wouldn't it move despite how much it struggled?
Anger. That was an emotion. Not only did it now seem to be able to process the world around it, it was capable of emotion as well. It felt a warmth-like feeling wash over it, the one it believed was called joy, or excitement. In this excitement, it moved its legs as it shook with glee, only to find the same type of object binding it's legs to the surface.
It became angry again. It struggled against the bindings, shaking violently and erratically. It could hear the muffled sounds of shifting from the bindings as it did so, but nothing more happened. It continued to struggle for a time, then it stopped as a coldness ran down it's spine.
It felt alone, as if despite is ability to perceive and move, it was completely and utterly alone. Sadness, it believed it was called. And even though the experience of a new emotion was uplifting somewhat, it did nothing to change the tide.
"-ause it's unethical! Not to mention a ticking time bomb!" it heard a voice scream out. It sounded angry, like it was upset with something. It wanted to speak out the second it heard a voice, but it felt a chill at the voice's depth and intensity. It's actions froze before they could even begin.
"Unethical? Unethical?! That's rich coming from you!" another voice replied. It recognized that the voice was decidedly younger, but sounded just as angry as the other. An argument, it believed it was called, "I'm not the one playing with forces beyond my comprehension!"
The deeper voice scoffed, "That's exactly what you're doing," it said, calming down, but still in a huff, "Creating Sacred Gears is one thing, but playing God is a whole other matter."
"News flash, Azazel, God is dead! What's he gonna do to me from beyond the grave, smite me?" the young voice laughed incredulously, "And don't act all innocent, it's your notes that told me how to do it.''
"Incomplete notes," the deep voice, Azazel, it noted, corrected. It sounded like a male name to it, so it decided that's what it was, "And incomplete for a reason. Bestowing sentience upon that which did not have it before is playing with fire. Especially in the way you're doing it. I mean, creating clones? Clones of high ranking devils, no less! Are you really trying to start an all out war between us and them? Because if they ever found out about any of this, it would not be brushed off as nothing. We've managed to stay out of each other's way for the time being, but things are reaching a boiling point," Azazel sounded much more sober as he reflected on some unknown situation, "We have to think about our actions, and how they reflect on the rest of us as a result, son-"
"Don't," the young voice spat out, the tone dripping with venom, "Don't call me that. You're not my father, don't try to act like it."
The deep voice was quiet for a moment, and then spoke with a lethal intensity laced behind a lighter tone, "Pulling the authority card isn't exactly my favorite pastime, but try to remember who you're talking to, Icarus. I didn't become leader because of my charming good looks."
The younger voice was silent, but not without protest. It seemed to be named Icarus, again a male name, or at least that was how it perceived it. It began to think passively as it listened, what was its name? Did it even have one? It wondered if it was acceptable to give itself a name, but decided to think on it later.
"... I'll be honest, kid- I'm just as curious about them as you are. There's a reason I was looking into it all those years back… but there's also a reason I stopped," Azazel sighed, "Things got muddy quick, and by that I mean really quick. Those things, the homunculi, they learn very fast, faster than anything I could have predicted would lead me to believe. That learning led to-"
"Increased cognitive processes, which eventually leads to them becoming self aware," Icarus finished, "But I've taken steps to prevent that!" he added enthusiastically.
"That's not the point."
"No just… just listen," it heard a shuffling of papers, things being rapidly and hurriedly moved from one place to another. It surmised that meant that Icarus was looking for something, most likely to help him explain his point, "These ones are different, they're completely obedient to the nth degree. Say… say for example I told them to jump- they're on the moon before I even tell them how high," Icarus strained, thinking about his words, "They don't actually think for themselves, they are just husks waiting to be filled with orders. A more layman way to put it would be that they're lobotomized."
"You're still missing my point entirely, you can't just make copies of whoever you want, it doesn't work like that!" Azazel exclaimed, trying to restrain himself, but boiling over, "What were you even planning on doing with these? Were you going to stage a coup?"
"What?!" Icarus denied incredulously, "By all the gods there are no! I haven't been able to perfect them yet, that would be suicidal!"
"The very idea of replacing them at all is suicidal! Your 'ambition' is going to get us all killed!"
Icarus hissed at the statement, apparently it was a sore subject.
"I had thought giving you some freedom would help reign you in a bit, buff out the edges, but it looks like that wasn't the right way to go," Azazel sighed, "Sorry, kid, but as of this moment you're decommissioned until further notice."
Icarus began sputtering, trying to buy time to find some kind of combination of words that would get him out of this situation, "What?! NO! YOU CAN'T!"
Azazel sighed, "We'll find your niche, Icarus, I promise. But until then, I gotta make sure you don't endanger us like this again. The guards will be here in a minute," he was a leader of some kind, this much it could also gather from what was being said, "I'm getting soft in my old age… Say your goodbyes," Azazel seemed to be conflicted about this decision, as if he would come to regret it later. Azazel then seemed to leave the presence of the room, or at least that of Icarus. It could not sense his presence in the room anymore.
Light slowly began to impact it's eyes, blinding it as the first light it could ever process assaulted it brutally. It shut its eyes to shield its eyes.
"It's a good thing he didn't find you," Icarus said, his voice now much clearer as if he was right in front of it, "I won't let them take you, not when I'm so close to a breakthrough. You will be the impetus for a whole generation of your brethren," he breathed heavy as a thud hit something right in front of it. It opened its eyes slightly as it glanced forwards. Icarus had placed both his hands on the thing in front of it, it remarkable looked like glass, "The perfect bride for the prodigal son of the greatest inventor who ever lived. Fitting that I made you exactly to my specifications, even if your looks are borrowed… though that shouldn't be a problem- at least for the moment."
It was so confused, there was a flux of emotions existing inside it, emotions that one at a time would make sense, but all muddled together like they were, it didn't understand what was happening. All it knew was that it felt scared. Scared of Icarus, scared of the world around it, and to a steadily growing degree…
Scared of itself.
"Problems to worry about later," Icarus decided. Though it was unclear as to exactly what it was, Icarus pulled something from what looked like a pocket on the black silhouette that it had just learned was its creator, "Azazel isn't the only one who can make sacred gears," he said as he held out a small ball of light tinged what it believed was called the color "blue". The ball of light floated towards it, and fused slowly into it's chest. It felt no pain as it did this, but it did none to alleviate its confusion.
"When the time is right, I will find you, my sweet. I swear it," He declared with ferocious intensity.
The blue light grew brighter and brighter, this time it emanated directly from it, as if the small light was now using it as a magnifier. It tried to breath, tried to speak, but found its words trapped in it's throat, not a sound rang out as the light eventually became too much to keep its eyes open.
And in an instant, everything that it had been processing turned to nothing once more, the bright light, Icarus, the restraints on it's arms and legs. All in a flash, they were gone. It felt it's knees scrape against something hard and dirty, its hands were experiencing the same sensation. It looked around, confused even further. A gentle wind blew across it, a wind that made it feel that same sensation that the restraints had. The sensation of cold. It shivered, huddling itself up into a ball to try and maintain warmth.
As its eyes adjusted, it could vaguely make out the color blue once more. It tilted its head upwards, and gazed at the long stretch of black and blue that weaved in the air above it. It felt… peaceful to look at as little white dots twinkled above in the sky.
The sky. Yes, that was what it was called. And the white dots, those were called stars. It could see them, yet they were so far away, so far that they looked small from here. It found it poetic that despite how far away they were, their light still reached where it was.
These conclusions came to it as it felt fatigued, it leaned backwards, finding a wall behind it that was as cold as what it was sitting on. It wasn't comfortable, but with the view it had from here, it had not a care in the world.
The sky was so pretty from where it sat.
Ben pushed the door open to the small apartment, the scent of mildew and dirty socks filling his nose. He grimaced as he set his schoolbag down right next to the door, closing it behind him as he walked over to his bed, not even bothering to shed his uniform before falling back onto it.
Ben pulled his arms up under his head, cupping his hands behind him as his elbows pointed towards the ceiling. His face curled into a pensive scowl as he stared directly upwards, not even really using his eyes as he sunk back into his thoughts.
It had turned out to be what he had expected, the student council was a group of devils, much like Rias Gremory seemed to have. The pack analogy he likened their groups to was seeming more and more accurate since his little meeting with this other group. Apparently, their agendas were completely different, and Ben had to agree, he probably liked Souna Shitori better than he ever did Gremory.
Granted that this was all within a one-day time frame, but still. At least the second group had bothered to show some courtesy to his secrets; rather than threatening him with death because he wouldn't open up.
That was what the gist of the meeting was, that whatever kind of supernatural being he was, as long as he wasn't causing or getting into trouble, he was going to fall through the proverbial cracks. Up to this point, Ben hadn't done anything of note, besides interacting with the other devil sect. Typically, to be classified as a stray, one would both have to have had a master at one point or originate from hell. Neither of which he had or was. While the hybrid had powers that were derived from both sides of the line, he had never actually been to either side. Something that you could apparently tell by looking at him.
While Ben was glad that he wouldn't have to worry about being hunted down like a dog just walking home from school, the feeling of paranoia still persisted somewhat. Sure, he had gotten the word of Shitori that the problem would be taken care of, but to what extent could he trust that she would keep her word.
These people were devils, the kind that comes from the place where the worst of everyone goes to burn for all of eternity. Being nice and being from hell didn't go well together, at least to his understanding. And while he hoped that her word was her bond, the half-breed had no real reason to take her at face value. A shame that he had to distrust a pretty face like hers, most chicks would kill to look like her.
Which was yet another thing that led him to distrust these devils. They looked too good, too perfect in many aspects, to be perceived as real people. Gremory's group more so than Shitori's, but with how much star power each of them were packing, they put the best models in the world to shame. He couldn't trust faces like theirs, faces that for all he knew were completely fake: faces made for the sole purpose of buying loyalty like it was going out of style. Guys and girls alike would bow to a pretty face, but a gorgeous one? They would follow to the ends of the earth. They were damn fine to look at, but once you got closer, it was like playing with fire. Hellfire, in fact.
The words of the student council president echoed in his mind, playing back to him like she was in the room saying it… he actually looked to make sure she wasn't.
"As long as you don't get directly involved, then you have nothing to fear from those of us here at Kuoh," she had said, but to what extent was that true? Ben really had no way of knowing. It was starting to make his head hurt, the more he thought about it.
As long as I don't get directly involved, I'm golden, he thought, Just gotta stay out of trouble, be as normal as possible… he stopped, pushing out a breath as he realized the futility of trying to do so.
Wonder how long it'll take me to mess this up.
AN
Well our boy Ben certainly doesn't seem too confident in his ability to keep things quiet, now does he? We'll see how well things work out for him next time, but if I had to place bets, I'd say that they'll get interesting pretty soon.
Guest: Thanks man! First ever review, glad to see that you're enjoying it so far.
Drew: Don't worry, everybody's favorite pervert will be in here as well. I wanted to try and establish a few things here and there first before bringing him on. As far as the power levels thing goes... I haven't officially decided where I want Ben to end up in the rankings. He's not going to be taking on the leaders of any of the clans themselves, but as far as the young devils go, I'll probably have to map out a tier list of some kind. Right now Ben's just kind a weak because fighting has never really been on his radar, but that might not always be the case...
Zarroc789: Thanks dude!
Grimraven.V: Thanks and wouldn't that be interesting? I did like their little back and forth, the stoic retorts to the snarky comebacks. That certainly wasn't the last time those two have interacted, I assure you. But as far as romantic pairings go, we're still a ways away from that. Ben isn't exactly on the best of terms with the devils at Kuoh yet, and he certainly does know how to get himself into hot water with little issue.
That's it from me this time, guys and gals! Like I said earlier, these'll come out as they're done, so just keep an eye out!
Or just drop a favorite or follow my way... that might work too...
'till next time
-Stax
