Mara's ear swiveled backwards, tracing the sound of Keiichi's path as he approached. His footsteps were familiar now, easily discernible from the heavier footfall of Thoth's more ape-like avatar. They were talking. About what, Mara couldn't say. Thoth wasn't broadcasting his thoughts to the demon as he was Keiichi, leaving the human with the appearance that he was having a one-sided conversation with the monkey.
Not that it mattered to Mara.
She had other things to occupy herself with. Like the large black dog sitting several feet away form her. No words had been shared between the two of them; the dog-if he was who she thought he was-had never been much for conversations, and Mara herself found herself increasingly nervous in his presence. It had to be him, she reasoned. There weren't many black dogs that roamed the Underworld, and the intelligence within his bright, white eyes destroyed any thoughts that he might be another guard dog like Cerberus or Garm. But what if it's not? The lynx asked herself. I could get us both in trouble if I say the wrong thing to this guy and it turns out not to be Him. Her skin twitched at the thought. The dog was waiting for her to act first, she was certain, and it made her injuries itch. The lynx hated waiting games.
Finally, an idea came to her. It's either he'll know its me or he'll think I just insulted him. She told herself. Either way, it'll save His ass if it turns out I'm wrong, and a demon insulting a god, even an Underworld god, is nothing new. A thought occurred to her, and the lynx wilted on the inside. Nidhogg curse it, if I'm going to make it an insult, I'm going to need to announce it to everyone, not just Him. But if it is Him, and he responds...a small piece of her screamed in agony. ...That means they're going to hear it too...The fiery beast swore in every language she knew and several that she didn't, almost wishing the black beast before her wasn't who she was hoping it so dearly could be.
The lynx took a deep breath. Principessa Consuela Bansardiheyla Buttsniff! The demon all but screamed, a part of her cringing as the horrible name escaped the confines of her mind. There came an audible squawk from somewhere to her left, and Mara deliberately ignored it in favor of the canine. She watched his reaction carefully, watching as the beast stiffened, ears lashing in all directions as though the name had been auditory in stead of mental; the hound searching for the direction the name had come from. The black hound rose to all fours, and Mara mimicked his stance, suddenly on guard. Shit, I was wrong. She thought to herself. It's not Him. Nidhogg bless it I should have-
George Tiddybomboms! The canine responded, and Mara almost fell over her feet in the sheer amount of relief that cascaded down upon her. The dog's tail began to wag, and the beast yipped at her.
Somewhere behind her Mara could easily make out Keiichi's strangled voice. "G-george Tiddybomboms?" The man sounded like he was choking on something. Mara's ears folded back against her head and the demon bristled.
Don't laugh, Keiichi. I swear, if you fucking laugh you can kiss any hope at children good-bye. She growled, only vaguely surprised to find the black dog-Bansar, he'd begged her, once upon a time so long ago-at her side and growling as well.
The demon looked over her shoulder at the human. Keiichi stood beside Thoth, eying them both warily. Yet even Mara's threats and Bansar's growls were not enough to rid the smirk from the spirit's face. The demon narrowed her red eyes and yowled in warning, the dog snarling at her side for added affect. Smiling, Keiichi raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! I get it, it's not funny." The smile only grew. "Definitely not funny." He insisted.
Beside him Thoth rested back on his hindquarters, large jaws open and panting in what Mara immediately recognized as laughter. Such unique names! The monkey exclaimed. No wonder you are so closed lipped about that time, my friend. Tell me, who bequeathed you and your associate with such titles?
Mara unconsciously shuddered at the memories. Bansar growled and leaned against her. He was a full two heads taller than the lynx, seeming to tower over the smaller demon. Something that never should have existed. Mara said warily, sending a flat look toward the monkey that killed any chances at further questions. The baboon bowed his head in acknowledgment, and the demon felt a tension she'd not realized existed leave her body.
Bansar sat panting beside her and Mara headbutted him. Nidhogg curse it, it had been too long. She'd been sealed and then the whole fiasco with Vikoka happened and she'd wound up captured and then Skuld and Keiichi and...the demon closed her eyes with a sigh, momentarily overwhelmed by the many events stacked on top of each other. Bansar nudged her, and Mara opened her eyes. Keiichi was staring at her in open curiosity, and the demon tilted her head to one side in confusion, wondering what he was found so interesting.
The baboon gestured canine and feline towards him. Come, come, gather 'round. We've much to discuss thanks in part to your disturbance. He revealed. And what must be done to right those wrongs.
The lynx stood, shaking herself and removing the freshest layer of ash from her coat. The dog sneezed before trailing after her; a large, intimidating shadow that dwarfed her smaller build. The demon eyed the scribe in distrust, hackles raising even as Bansar grunted, nudging her hard enough to stumble with his snout. Be nice. He advised. The Scribe holds allegiance to no one.
Mara sent her larger companion an uncertain look before giving in and settling at Keiichi's side. During the short time she'd known him, the demon had learned to trust the canine's word, and now would be a bad time to start doubting him. Thoth bared his teeth at Bansar in a human's smile; it came off looking like a snarl, missing the hostility usually attributed with such a look. Thank you, my friend. He said with a nod, shifting to face human and demon together.
The Scribe unrolled the papyrus in his hand. Ah, yes. Keiichi Morisato, is it not? The baboon directed one black pit of an eye towards the mortal in question, who looked at the deity in trepidation. Summoned a Norn working one of the Wish Foundations and incidentally had her bound to his side. The monkey redirected his attention to the document. Managed to bring forth the remaining Norns to the Assiah...cursed into various forms not his own...The deity sent a look to Mara, who returned it without a blink. He returned to the document. Lord of Destruction...my, even allowed himself to be possessed by it for the Norn! Demons playing with time...even met with the Daimakaicho personally! Had it been possible, Mara was almost certain Thoth would have whistled.
The white deity continued at a softer pace, muttering more to himself than anyone else. Finally he looked up, meeting Keiichi's puzzled gaze. You've got quite a track record, Ba. No wonder you came up as an anomaly in the system. With so much divine and demonic intervention, I'm surprised you even come up as 'human' in the books!
That caught Keiichi's attention. The man stiffened in alarm. "What's that supposed to mean?" He demanded, and so close to him Mara could smell the bitter-sweet scent of fear rising from his body.
Thoth tilted his head to one side in curiosity, switching his gaze from Keiichi to Mara and back again. You don't know, Lad? He asked, confusion audible in his voice. When Keiichi shook his head, he looked to Mara. Has no one told him? Of the results that happen to one so close to the Otherworlds?
Mara moved to lay down. Her shoulder was starting to burn again. A bad sign. Hell if I know. She said, carefully pushing her back against Bansar, being careful of the metal spike in her shoulder. It isn't until recently that I've been forced to interact so much with Keiichi. She explained. Otherwise, I kept more to myself when on the Assiah with him. What little interactions we did have were on opposite sides of the fence. She flinched when something cool and moist tickled the area around the metal ridden shoulder. A quick glance showed the canine behind her actively investigating the foreign metal, a small, perturbed growl in his throat. Don't touch that. She warned. It'll zap you dry before I can even think to stop it.
The black beast looked up, curiosity warring with concern shining in his bright eyes. How did you get this? He inquired.
Mara hesitated a moment before shaking her head. Doesn't matter. She almost snapped. Just-just don't touch the metal. It's dangerous. Turning back to Thoth, the lynx continued. Keiichi isn't-wasn't my responsibility, so I assume Belldandy or Urd would have told him about it.
"Told me what?" Keiichi demanded, looking between Mara and Thoth expectantly. "What was Belldandy supposed to tell me?"
Thoth shared a glance with Mara. I believe it might be better to hear it from you, Madam George, Mara winced the name, being that the two of you are better acquainted.
Mara's stubby tail lashed against the ground, stirring up a small cloud of ash. Keiichi looked to her expectantly, and the demon released a sigh. Of all the things Belldandy couldn't have told him...she muttered, uncaring if Keiichi heard her or not. Shaking her head in disdain, the demon looked at Keiichi. No one told you about what happens to humans who interact too much with the divine or the damned. She said.
Keiichi held his silence, yet Mara could see the nervousness written on his face. Damn the Norns, they really hadn't told him. Keiichi, you remember what happened during the last uprising in Niflheim, right? The revelations about the wish, the Gates, the test from the Almighty Himself? Keiichi looked at her in shock, mouth slack with surprise. No, no, whatever it is, save it. I've got my ways, Boy, and Urd loves nothing if not gossip. She snorted. Haven't you ever wondered about it? Why there were so many tests stacked on you? No, not Belldandy Boy, listen to me. You. And I swear if you give some ridiculous answer like the Almighty was testing your love for Belldandy or some other romantic shit I'll slap you upside the head with my paw-claws extended.
Immediately Keiichi's mouth snapped shut, and Mara sighed once more, ears drooping as the sure signs of a headache came on. See this is one of the things I hate about gods-she paused, looking over her shoulder at Bansar. Otherworld Gods, anyways. She corrected. The higher ones don't lie, sure, but they're damned good at dodging true explanations with smaller truths. It's irritating as all hell and then we demons get a bad name for laying out the entire truth on the spot and then being ignored. Mara shook her head in disgust.
You're ranting. Bansar pointed out, and grumbling Mara returned to the topic at hand.
Keiichi, they weren't just testing your devotion to Belldandy. They were testing you. They wanted to see how far you'd progressed.
"Progressed?" Keiichi stared at the demon in confusion. "Mara, what do you mean? You aren't making any sense.
Mara rolled her eyes, growling in irritation. Progressed to godhood, Keiichi. They wanted to see how much more divine you'd become since meeting Belldandy and her sisters.
"God-" Keiichi went still. Very, very still.
Watching him carefully, Mara continued. Did you think Belldandy's parents would allow simply anyone with their favored daughter? A mortal who's life was but a flash of light in comparison to Belldandy's own? Why do you think the Daimakaicho took such an interest in you upon your first meeting? Here's a hint: it wasn't because of your good looks.
Keiichi, humans are creatures born of the flesh of the first demons and the spirits of the first gods. They are constantly walking a gray path of neutrality which can at any moment grow darker or lighter depending on that person. Because of their heritage, because of how easy they are to sway from that neutral path, humans begin to mutate when cast in the presence of the divine or the demonic. That same mutagen, that very thing that makes them human, can also make them gods or demons. A man who chooses to devote his life to the gods, to speak with them and learn their ways, can in turn become as holy as the deities he worships, for his actions and words attract those very entities to his side. This cleanses the spirit, allowing the man to evolve and ascend to the same level as the deities around him.
Yet the same can also be said of a man who chooses to walk in the shadows. A man who succumbs to his own desires, his own instincts, draws the presence of demons to him. His spirit becomes polluted and black, allowing the blood of the first demon, Kingu, to awaken and devolve his form into one of the lower Demonkin. His spirit will tear apart the body that becomes unfit to house it and transforms into a lesser demon; a creature of mindless, selfish instinct.
Burning red met stunned brown, and Mara bared her teeth in a snarl. That was why you were tested by the Gate. That was why you were tested by the Almighty. And that is probably the only reason you still have a sinner's chance in heaven to even exist, let alone live.
And therein lies the problem. Thoth picked up, budding into Mara's explanation as the lynx broke her gaze with the man. Your records show what you have been through, the many trials you've endured and the active divine influence on your life since summoning the Norn Belldandy into your life. The monkey shook his head. For all intensive purposes, you should be a demigod right now, and thus incapable of even accessing the Underworlds.
"D-demigod!?"
The demon fell silent, taking in Keiichi's shocked expression with no small level of complacence. A small part of her still resented the man's existence and all the trouble he'd caused her because of it, and by Nidhogg's fangs it felt good to yell at him. Mara closed her eyes, feeling a tension and irritation she hadn't even knew existed slide from her body. It'd been a long time since she'd been able to scream at someone beneath her.
Laid it on a little thick, don't you think? Bansar murmured from where he lay resting beside her. His voice was soft, meant only for her ears over anyone else. Briefly she wondered if the canine knew how to actively broadcast his thoughts to one person in particular rather than to anyone within range.
Mara ignored the comment for a moment, choosing instead to stretch her legs, pushing herself harder against the black dog's body. Bansar grunted. Not in particularly. She replied, opening her eyes to observe the mortal. Keiichi was staring at her, eyes still wide with shock from the revelation, one hand buried in his hair. It's the Norns' own fault for not telling the fool sooner. Leaving an explanation up to a demon over a god means there's nothing to buffer my words. It's his choice on what he's going to do with it.
Ignoring their secondary conversation, Thoth continued with a nod of his head. Yes. He agreed. You've had an incredibly active divine influence in your life; three Norns, a first-class goddess, a Valkyrie, a young, second-class goddess, and even contact with the Almighty and his consort. The monkey tilted his head to one side, observing the man in with one eye in a manner more similar to his ibis avatar than the baboon. Not even the demonic influence in your life which sought to balance that interference-your lynx, the little time turner, nor the many direct interactions with the Daimakaicho and access to Niflheim should have been enough to balance so much divinity, and yet...the monkey spread his hands. Here you are. Human.
"And yet here I am." Keiichi echoed in a daze. "A human." The man looked between the three entities, and Mara looked towards him in open curiosity as his gaze rested on her. Then to Mara's bafflement, Keiichi began to laugh. A high, nervous laugh that bordered on hysteria. "This-" The man snickered, running a hand through his hair. "Heh, Mara, what kind of joke is this?" The spirit laughed louder, and despite herself Mara rolled to her feet in alarm. "Y-you got me good there. Hell, you even got your buddies in on the gag!"
If denial had a scent, Keiichi would have reeked of it at that exact moment. This is no joke, Keiichi. She said firmly, only for the man to erupt in a fresh fit of giggles. I'm serious! She cried, feeling a fresh bud of anger well in her chest at the man's impudence. The fact that he was borderline hysteric flew to the farthest recesses of her mind, and the demon bristled with an angry hiss. Stop treating this like it doesn't affect you!
The words caused Keiichi to pause, and the man squared his gaze on Mara. The spirit's eyes were half-mad, bright with fever and desperation that caused Mara's initial hostility towards the man's attitude to vanish. "Then how am I supposed to treat this?" He demanded, voice shrill with anxiety. "You just...Mara, you just told me that I shouldn't even be human right now!" The man leaped to his feet. "That because I was around the woman I love-because I was around Belldandy and Urd and Skuld and Peorth so much that-that..." The man clutched his head with both hands. "What do you want me to do, treat you all like radiation or something? That I should be...That I'm..." Keiichi's voice was trembling, and Mara realized that they hadn't just shocked him-they'd flat out terrified him.
Her shoulder throbbed. Keiichi- the lynx rolled to her feet and approached him, only for the man to jump away from her as though she was a snake.
"No." He said, voice firm for all his face was white with fear. "Just-no. Okay?" He backed further away from her, from all three of them. "I-I need...I need to think this out." And without another word the man turned and bolted.
Keiichi! Mara shouted, moving to chase after the mortal only to collide with a wall of darkness. The lynx grunted, stumbling backwards as Keiichi disappeared into the horizon. The demon looked up with a grimace, meeting a pair of solid white eyes. Move Bansar! She snarled, all pleasantry gone from her voice. I need to bring him back!
Bansar did not move. Nor did he flinch under her gaze. Why is the mortal so important to you? He asked.
Mara's ears folded against her head, a growl rumbling in her throat. He isn't! She snapped. I couldn't give two shits about that fool!
Then why are you trying so hard to retrieve him?
Mara bared her teeth in a manner that was more a grimace than a snarl. Because I promised a child I'd bring him back. She said. Because Urd, someone I value for reasons even I can't explain, views him as part of her family. The demon sat, feeling a new wave of weariness seep into her bones. Yggdrasil's root, her shoulder hurt. ...And because for all his spirit is here, his physical body is wasting away in a cage right beside mine. She finished softly. Had she always felt so exhausted? Her shoulder...
In front of her, Bansar worriedly thumped his tail against the ground, a high whine escaping his throat. A cage...The dog-no, he was no dog, Mara acknowledged. She only saw him as a dog because the abnormal Wendigo called him a dog and whatever that monster said became law. The jackal pressed against her comfortingly. Has anyone ever told you you're a terrible liar? He asked, sniffing at the twisted metal in her shoulder once more.
Mara closed her eyes. Only you." She retorted weakly. The demon felt too exhausted to argue with the Underworld Entity now.
Leave him be. The jackal advised, drawing his head away with a sneeze. He needs to come to terms with what he was just told, something made easier without the presence of otherworldly entities. The black beast observed the metal in distaste. In the meantime, why don't you tell me how you obtained this thing. The Underworld deity licked at the fur around the wound, and Mara suppressed a shudder at the almost soothing cool that seeped into the inflamed muscles. I find this thing leaves a bad...taste in my mouth.
Mara grimaced, ears pressing against her head as she irritably looked to Thoth. This is all your fault. She accused.
Keiichi ran for what felt like an eternity. Minutes, hours, days...there was no way to accurately tell how much time passed, how much ground he covered, only that he ran through the fire in his lungs and the pain in his feet. It hurt, yet seemed incapable of stopping the man as the fatigue would have in his physical body. Demigod. He thought, and Keiichi pushed himself harder. What did that even mean for someone like him? He was supposed to be a human-a regular, short, human mortal who went to college and worked on bikes and drank and partied like everyone else.
So what if the love of his life wasn't human? Who cared if he kept company more often with extra-dimensional beings than other humans? Was it really going to affect who-what-he was if he was victimized to potions or inventions or demonic plots?
No. It shouldn't have. Demigod. And yet...his mind raced through the past several years of his life. He'd been cursed by Mara. He'd offered himself up for possession by the Lord of Destruction. He'd undergone magical influence in Sayoko's 'Magic Kingdom' from the transformed school and...and...angel.
The man came to a stop, dropping his hands to his knees and breathing heavily. The angel...that's right! He'd even supported another deity's angel! And a devil! "Because I was loved by many goddesses..." He said aloud, recalling Lind's words from that night. The man grit his teeth. "Son of a BITCH!" He roared, smashing his fist into a nearby boulder. Pain flared up his arm, piercing the cloudy haze of emotions that muddled his thoughts.
Still panting, the man approached the boulder and turned, dropping to the ground and leaning his back against the rock. "Can support an angel-or a devil, but it was angelic in nature because it was Belldandy's." He muttered, bowing his head as he propped his arms up on his knees. "Been victimized by Hild's plots as well as Mara's..." He paused, then added as an after thought, "and Urd's and Peorth's as well. Got turned into a girl," he made a face at that, "and can see ghosts." The man sighed, leaning his head against the boulder with a light thump. "Hild kissed me before going to Niflheim and forced me to carry some miniscule piece of her inside me-gross, who knows what she did to me then-and I also got Herja's blood all over me when the shrine was attacked." Keiichi frowned, swallowing a lump of guilt that rose in his throat. "D-didn't Lind say something about the dangers of a goddesses' blood or something back then?" The dark-haired man screwed his eyes shut. "I can't remember..." A grim smile spread across his face. "And of course now I'm here, which would lead back to what that monkey-bird was saying about my still being human." The man opened brown eyes, looking to the dark, murky sky above his head. He felt his neck, running his fingers over the irregular flesh from where Mara had bitten him. "And I took some of her memories too..." Images of cages and the maddening scents of fear and death flashed through Keiichi's mind.
The man laughed with a grim sort of acceptance. "Maybe Thoth was right. Maybe it really is a miracle I'm still human." Sighing, Keiichi shook his head, taking in the quiet of the area meditatively. Somewhere off in the distance he thought he heard the groans of ghouls, yet they sounded far off. "Belldandy..." It wasn't her fault she hadn't told him, of that much Keiichi was dead certain. Her status as a goddess first-class meant she wasn't allowed to speak of many things in the most literal of senses, and the man was almost positive the whole...mutation...thing was one of them as well. Urd might or might not have known, given her own position as a goddess second-class, and Keiichi was pretty sure Skuld was ignorant of the whole fact. Would either of them have been more careful with him had they known? Or would the impending thought of his own godhood have only encouraged their rough antics with him?
Brooding, Keiichi shook his head. In a sense it was almost ironic that Mara was the one to tell him. The revelation came as more than a shock; to know that his own libido had been restrained with his original wish with Belldandy was nothing in comparison to the discovery that he might not even be human anymore. Mara telling him gave him someone to lash out at, even if Mara didn't deserve the blunt of his anger. "The woman I trust is unable to tell me the truth and the woman I don't is the one who speaks it." The man grumbled. Had it been anyone else, he'd probably be de-more than dead right now. "An anomaly." He muttered, recalling his grandfather's words. "He said people like me weren't even supposed to be here. Was this what he meant?"
A sigh escaped his throat, his anger fading as the man looked around. The surrounding area was identical to the rest of the land with its jagged terrain of loose boulders and dirt, none of which he recognized as near his mindscape. Keiichi grimaced. "I shouldn't have run." He muttered. "It's not like I know this place very well or anything." Great. So he'd just condemned himself to wandering around like an idiot until Mara found him again.
The man heard a familiar moan and winced. Maybe if he left enough bodies Mara or her friends would be able to find him faster-and suddenly found himself laughing once more. Since when had blowing up a ghoul's head become such a casual thought for him?
As if knowing his thoughts, right on time Keiichi spied a ghoul slowly making its way towards him, it's walk more of a hobble. It looked like something had eaten one of the ruined spirit's feet. Bite marks and deep scratches covered its rotting flesh, and Keiichi spied multiple holes the size of his fist covering the spirit's torso. The man frowned, feeling an overwhelming sense of pity for the creature. It's last conscious thoughts must have been awful. And in that moment Keiichi realized how lucky he was. If not for his grandfather, if not for Mara, he could have very easily become the very creature that now so desperately approached him.
And now here he was again with only himself to rely on. He had no ancestor to rely on. Hotaru was making his way back to Yomi, and from the spirits initial perspective of the Shikome, if it was discovered that Hotaru had aided Keiichi in his plight to save Mara, would most likely be punished for something close to borderline-treachery. The man had no demon either, though. Mara, for all the care she'd taken to try and bring him back to the world of the living, was probably back with Thoth and Bansar, angry and most likely cursing his name for his sudden abandonment.
Keiichi squeezed the bridge of his nose. Since when had he started making it a habit of losing the people who went out of their way to care for him?
Before him the ghoul loomed closer, yet before he could bring about the mental pinch that would leave to the ghoul's downfall, the rotting spirit's head exploded. The man jumped with a yelp, watching as the body fell to the ground before looking around wildly. The man cursed, turning and finding he was not alone. Hotaru, more human than Ikusa, stood behind him, watching him with a frown.
"Boy, when the hell are you going to learn to shut your yap?" The elder spirit demanded, and Keiichi winced. "Are you naturally loud or do you just have no sense of self-preservation in this world? We could hear you from the bottom of the cliff!" The man pointed behind him, yet Keiichi could see no signs of a cliff edge or the remaining Ikusa and Shikome. His grandfather ran a hand through his hair. "Thought that damned bird's warning was going to become a reality." Hotaru muttered, more to himself than Keiichi. "And instead I find my wayward grandson about to be eaten by a damned ghoul-again!"
Grimacing, Keiichi rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry." He mumbled. "I-sorry."
Hotaru turned his stern gaze on the mechanic. "What the hell are you even doing here?" the man demanded. "Here I am content in the knowledge that you were going back to your woman and that I'd never see your idiotic face again." He snapped. "And yet here you are, following our convoy to the very edges of the borderland into Yomi. Boy, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you'd changed your mind and wanted to join us!"
"That's not it!" Keiichi desperately cried, alarm causing his voice to rise in panic. Hotaru sent him an angry glare, and the man lowered his voice. "That-that's not it." He repeated softly. "It's just that-fuck, I don't know. I-I guess I'm a little lost is all."
"Could have fooled me." Hotaru retorted impartially.
Keiichi allowed himself a smirk. "Yeah..." He mumbled. "It's just..." The man shook his head. "What did you mean when you said I didn't belong here?"
Hotaru eyed him thoughtfully. "What, that you were touched by immortal hands? Was my prior explanation not clear enough for you?"
Keiichi grumbled something under his breath and sent Hotaru a look. The man frowned. "Or perhaps it was," the soldier said slowly, "not the explanation you needed?"
The spirit averted his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest uncomfortably. "Kind of-yes." Keiichi said after a moment. "It's just...when I got here, you said I was human, right?"
Hotaru raised a black brow. "As human as I was before someone told me I was dead." He replied. "Give or take the odd tinge of your aura."
"My aura?"
Hotaru nodded. "Your aura was what made you unique when I came hunting for you. It's...colorful, for lack of a better term." The soldier shrugged nonchalantly. "Sometimes it borders on blue, other times and drifts into red. Like those fancy mood rings those damned Gaigin started selling before the shit hit the fan during the war. When you were angry, it'd shift to red. When you were relieved about something, like that damned demon of yours coming to her senses, it'd switch to blue."
Keiichi stared at his grandfather in curiosity. "And I take it this isn't typical?" He asked, then as an afterthought added, "What color is it now?"
"Kind of a dark purple." Hotaru replied. "Like it can't decide if it's red or blue. And no, it's not typical-at least not for humans. Humans more often have a clear, unremarkable aura that marks them as human. Occasionally we'll get one who's aura is tinged with a specific color, but it's only the ones who've had actual experience with divine or demonic entities that have a full colored aura like yours." The man tilted his head to one side, examining Keiichi with a critical brown eye. "And of those, none of them were as...shifty as yours." The man crossed his arms over his chest. "What's this all about, Morisato? What'd that damned demon say to make you question your own humanity?"
"What about the gods and demons who were sent out to retrieve those people?" Keiichi dodged the question with one of his own, inwardly cringing when Hotaru sent him a worried look.
"Solid colored, like the ones they came to retrieve." Hotaru replied. "Though theirs weren't confined to a specific red or blue. All of theirs were different colored-a single different color" He emphasized. "Your demon's was red-orange, like the flames of a fire. That bird who told off the Lady Shikome was a blue so light I almost mistook it for white, and that devil dog that was with him had a blue-black aura like the night sky. The Lady Shikome's aura is a grey-blue like polluted water, and the Lady Izanami herself is gray-black, symbolizing her status as an Underworld God."
"But none of their auras change color like mine?" Keiichi pressed, and Hotaru shook his head. The man scowled. Damn it, he thought, I wish I could see this for myself. The man ran his fingers through hair. It felt greasy and thick with grime. "What the hell makes me so special?" He muttered in disgust. "I haven't done anything to-it's not making any fucking sense!"
Hotaru snorted. "Boy, I don't know what your deal is, but your nothing if not 'special'. You told me yourself your love is a goddess, and of all the things sent to retrieve your soul, it was a damned demon who came for you." The man crossed his arms. "You ask me, your in denial, Morisato. I've yet to come across someone with the contacts you've got. No one else has allies among both the divine and the damned population, and if you ask me, that's a pretty special thing."
The younger spirit grit his teeth. "But..." Keiichi hesitated for a moment, setting his jaw and continuing. "These relationships...these people in my life-they're changing me. And I'm not sure if its a change I want."
His grandfather raised black brows in surprise. "Changing you?" He asked. "Boy, I could have told you that the moment I met you!"
The man stared at the soldier in bafflement. "You-what?" Keiichi stared at Hotaru gape mouthed. "What the hell!?" He cried. "Are these changes so obvious that I'm the only one who doesn't realize it?"
Hotaru shrugged. "Probably." He said. Looking around, the elder spirit sighed before making himself comfortable on the ground. He scowled. "Listen Boy, change is unpreventable. It happens to everyone, whether they like it or not and it changes them for the better or the worse. It's part of life."
Keiichi made a face. "I know that." He almost snapped, catching himself at the last moment. "I know that." The man repeated in a softer voice. "It's just that...these changes..." He hesitated, sending a wary glance to his grandfather. Hotaru waved him on silently. "Grandpa, I don't even know how I'm still human anymore."
The warrior raised an eyebrow but offered no words of his own. Taking his silence as encouragement, Keiichi continued. "Mara-the demon-she told me some things. Things I'm not even sure I'm supposed to know and..." The man fiddled with his hands nervously, unable to hold still.
"They're trying to make me a demigod." Keiichi finished quietly, voice just above a whisper. "And they're failing somehow and I'm still human and...and I don't know what to do." The man sighed heavily, directing a troubled gaze outwards and ignoring the startled glance Hotaru sent his way.
"A demigod?" He echoed. "Like the Lady Shikome or...?" The spirit whistled, running a hand through his hair. "That's...I can remember hearing stories of warriors who-but never in real life!" The man muttered under his breath, before releasing a nervous laugh. "That's...that's pretty damned impressive!" He cried. "Is this so you can be with your Gaigin goddess?"
Keiichi sent the man a dirty look at the name before nodding his head. "I guess." He muttered reluctantly. "Apparently being around a bunch of otherworldly goddesses will do that to a man."
Hotaru sent him a hard stare. "So than what's the problem?" He asked. "If someone told me I was going to be a demigod, I'd be ecstatic. Not only are you no longer confined to the Underworlds like me, but you're divine and you still get to stay with your woman. Why are you wandering around like a kicked dog, Morisato?"
The mechanic flinched. "It's not that I-" The man stopped himself before starting again. "I just...I wish someone would have informed me of it sooner. Or given me a choice in the matter." Keiichi brooded. "I mean, I'd have liked to decide for myself if I was going to stay human or not. You said yourself that the human spirits with colored auras were taken from the underworlds, right? What if they ended up becoming demigods or demidemons or whatever and found out they didn't like it? We're not talking about a change in citizenship here-it's not like I'm marrying into a rich family or going to live with someone across the sea-we're talking about my humanity here!"
Hotaru tilted his head to the side. "Humanity, huh?" He asked. "Then let me ask you this: Since meeting your woman and all these other people, did you ever feel your humanity was in danger?"
Dark brows furrowed together in confusion, and Keiichi frowned. "Well...maybe with the Lord of Terror, but...that was more voluntary than anything else." If it meant protecting Belldandy from that thing, than so be it. "But beyond that...I've never really felt like I was in danger like...like that. At least not until what Mara and Thoth told me came to light."
"So...you haven't had any urges to go out and murder a hundred people?" Keiichi sent his grandfather a disturbed look before shaking his head. "No desires to trying and build mountains out of molehills?" Another head shake. "To bend reality to your will?" Head shake. "How about trying to catch the sun in the reflection of a mirror?" Keiichi snorted but shook his head once more.
Hotaru smiled. "So than what's the problem?" He asked. "You don't sound like a man who's gone mad from divine power or been corrupted by demonic influence."
"I don't, huh?" Keiichi sent his the old soldier a dry look.
Hotaru shook his head. "Not in the slightest." He said. "You look like a scared and confused kid who's up against something he barely understands." Keiichi sent his grandfather a sideways glance as Hotaru continued. "I was like that once. When Japan was involved in that damned war and I was brand new to the service. A lot of us were-most of us were a bunch of kids who'd joined for various reasons. Money, glory, honor, pride..." The man shook his head. "All that went out the window when we got our first taste of war." The man frowned at the memories, eyes growing dark and distant for a moment as images long since buried resurfaced. "After that first fight whatever excitement or pride or whatever was gone. We saw our own die beside us, just as we'd killed people trying to kill us." The man snorted. "I couldn't sleep for three days the nightmares were so bad."
The Ikusa leaned back, propping himself up with his arms with a sigh. "It sucks." He summarized. "But you adapt, you deal with it, and you move on." The man's dark eyes flashed. "You survive and learn from the experience, because it changes you, though not in a wholly good or bad manner.
"I see." Keiichi mumbled softly. A thoughtful silence descended upon the two relatives. It took Keiichi several minutes before he finally asked, "So how did you deal with it?"
Hotaru shrugged. "I did whatever I could to keep my mind off it. Drank with the guys, fooled around with some woman-don't give me that look, Boy-gambled, wrote home, did my job..." The man sighed. "But ignoring it doesn't make it go away. So we'd talk about it too, like how we are now. It helped ease the bite from the experience."
"Right." Keiichi frowned in consideration. "I guess...it would be kind of cool being a demigod..." he mumbled reluctantly. "But what Thoth said...he said I was still human. That I shouldn't be with my own track record." The lad sighed. "I should be grateful, and I am...yet now there's a piece of me that's worried. A god just told me I shouldn't be human, yet for whatever reason I still am." He explained. "So what's keeping me human?" The man ran his hand through his dark hair. "Is this something I should be more concerned about than becoming a demi-whatever? Should I even be happy about this?" the man shook his head. "It's all just really confusing right now..."
The Ikusa regarded Keiichi with a careful look. "And they don't know what's causing it?" As Keiichi shook his head the man continued. "Then I would say not to let it bother you, Morisato."
Keiichi looked up with startled brown eyes. "There is nothing you can do, is there?" Hotaru ventured. "And yet, being human is nothing new for you-you've been a human all your life. Essentially nothing's changed, right?"
"Well, yeah I guess..."
"So then stop worrying about it." The elder man repeated. "Don't let what these 'supreme overlords' say get to you. In the end, regardless of power they're still people, just as we are. People talk, and in all my years if there isn't one thing I haven't learned it's that people rarely know what they're talking about. Don't overreact. Take their words with a grain of salt and do what you feel is right for your sake-not theirs." With a soft grunt Hotaru easily rose to his feet with all the ease of a cat, making his way to Keiichi. "And one last thing, Morisato..."
The man's fist suddenly collided with Keiichi's head, causing the younger man to yelp in pain. "Stop coming to death for answers!" Hotaru roared. "I may be among the ancestors of Yomi now, but that doesn't mean you need to go hunting me down for advice in the Deadlands! A fucking prayer and some incense would have sufficed nicely, nitwit!"
Keiichi covered his head with his hands, warding off any further blows as he glared up at his grandfather. "I never asked you, asshole!" He snarled. "It wasn't like I was trying to find you!"
"Bull!" Hotaru snapped. "If that's so, then why am I here counseling my own 'divine' grandson? You're more than human now, right? What need do you have of some 'lowly' spirit's advice?"
"I wasn't asking!" Keiichi retorted hotly. "You just popped out of nowhere and started blabbering off like the long winded old fart that you are! If I'd known you were going to yap all day long like some tiny rat dog, I'd have blown your head up in my mindscape!"
Hotaru laughed. "As if a puny whelp like you could! You couldn't even blow the head off of the weakest of ghouls!"
As if hearing those exact words, a ghoul appeared in all its lurching, moaning glory.
The two men looked at the poor beast with raging eyes. "Shut up!" Keiichi cried.
"Piss off!" Hotaru growled.
And under their combined, heated gaze, the ghoul's body exploded, covering the two relatives in rotting chunks of gore.
For a while no one spoke, too stunned at the large explosion to bother trading insults. It didn't help that both men had forgone the way of common sense and now had a mouth full of chunky ghoul for them both to chew on.
Keiichi spit a couple ghoulish morsels from his mouth. "...gross..." He spat again, trying to rid his mouth of the rotting taste.
Hotaru grimaced, shaking an arm covered in no small amount of grime. The man gave a long suffering sigh, wiping his forehead and trying to rid himself of some of the thick slime that coated his face. "I hate ghouls." He grumbled.
Farther in the distance, Keiichi thought he heard a shout, looking off in the direction the noise came from with a frown. "Did you hear that?"
Hotaru spat before joining his grandson's gaze. "Relief party." He said. "Probably wondering where I wandered off to." The man ran a hand through his hair only to find it wouldn't budge halfway down his scalp, the grime had built up so heavily. Grimacing, he yanked the limb free. "Which means its time for us to part ways. Unless you really do want to come to Yomi with me."
The younger man frowned and shook his head. "I'll pass." He muttered, looking down at clothes black and wet with gore. "I think I've had all I can stand of the dead. Besides, I've got a goddess and a demon waiting for me."
Hotaru grunted. "Then get out of my sight." He rumbled with a scowl. "I don't ever want to see your Gaigin-loving ass in the Netherworld again, you hear me?" He said, though Keiichi could see a dark twinkle in his eye that instantly reminded him of his mother Takano.
The mechanic smirked before turning and heading off in the opposite direction of the approaching voices. A glance over his shoulder showed Hotaru doing the exact opposite, and then the Ikusa was gone.
How Keiichi managed to make his way back to his mindscape was a mystery. The man had been more than lost by the time his grandfather had stumbled upon him and with his departure Keiichi was certain he was going to remain lost until either Mara or one of her god friends stumbled across him again. Yet nothing of the sort happened, Keiichi instead surprising himself as a familiar bright form and two other, less familiar bodies, appeared against the horizon.
You've returned. Thoth greeted as the short man drew near. The monkey's words drew the attention of his two companions, causing Mara and the black dog to pause from what looked like the starts of an argument. Mara's fur stood on end, and as she turned to look at Keiichi the mechanic saw a fading snarl on her muzzle. The dog-what had Mara called him? The only thing he could remember was 'Buttsniff'-perked his ears towards him before approaching him.
Don't even think about it, Bansar. Mara's voice was a growl, as vocal in his mind as it was a physical thing.
Buttsniff-or was it Bansar now? Maybe Bansar Buttsniff? Heh, that was a funny name. B.B. ignored the lynx, his attention too heavily focused on Keiichi. Please don't sniff my butt. Keiichi silently prayed. Things are awkward enough as it is. No need to make it more so by having a god smelling my ass.
The god didn't live up to his name, much to Keiichi's relief. Instead he let out a yip, his white gaze never leaving the spirit.
Eh? Thoth tilted his head to one side, looking between Keiichi and B.B. in curiosity. Very well. The god acknowledged, before turning to face Keiichi. He wants me to translate for you.
Keiichi tore his gaze from the hound, looking at Thoth in confusion. "Why can't he just tell me himself?" He asked. "I've heard him speak before-why can't he speak now?"
Thoth shook his head. You misunderstand. The monkey said. You have heard him speak, yes, but my companion cannot speak directly to you.
Keiichi frowned. "Why not?"
Because you are human. The god replied. My comrade is not allowed to speak to humans, per our laws. The dead may hear his words, as may demons and other gods, but as the Guide to Duat he is not allowed to speak directly to a living human.
Mr. Buttsniff yipped once more, causing Thoth to pause before speaking again. Yet it is precisely for that reason that he has a request of you.
Keiichi's frown deepened, a look of uncertainty darkening his eyes. "A request?" He asked. "Of what?"
Behind Bansar, Mara growled in warning. I'm warning you mutt. Don't do it.
Yet B.B. merely panted, looking over his shoulder and baying something at the demon.
That doesn't count! The lynx snarled.
Bansar turned his back to her once more however, sending Keiichi a soft bark. He made Lady George a promise. Thoth translated. And you are in her debt for her coming to retrieve you. Another bark, one that caused Thoth to bare his teeth angrily a moment later. And he claims you are in debt to him for ending the hostilities of the Lady Shikome and her Ikusa.
Keiichi grimaced at the reminder of the demi-goddess. "Okay..." He said, staring at the beast doubtfully. "...But that still doesn't explain what you want from me."
This time Buttsniff sat panting, staring at the man with what Keiichi could only describe as a big doggie grin. Simple. Thoth said. He wants your aid in removing the metal from your comrade's shoulder.
A silence descended upon the area as Keiichi let the words sink in, staring at the black beast with large brown eyes. "...You want me to what!?" He demanded, and as Bansar broke out into rapid yips and barks, Keiichi continued. "How am I supposed to help you with that?" He cried. "The last time I touched that thing, not only did it cut me, it drained my blood too!" The dark god growled at him, baring his teeth in a snarl. "Yeah, I bet buddy. In case you haven't noticed, that thing is dangerous! How the hell are you even going to get it out of Mara's shoulder? This isn't exactly something I can help do!"
And I haven't even agreed to this idea! Mara snapped.
The lynx was ignored.
My comrade says he can kill the flow of magic that you find so fearsome. Thoth replied, though there was a hint of worry in his voice now. However, do to his own magical nature, he is unable to touch the blade for worry of the negative reaction it may have on him and the lady demon both.
"So he wants me to remove it for him? With what, my hands!?"
Yes. Thoth replied, and Keiichi sent a glare to the black dog. You have a shirt, correct? The monkey continued. Wrap your hands within the cloth if you so fear being cut.
Bansar, I'm telling you, don't do this. Mara warned once more, crouching low to the ground as she slowly backed away from the dog. I don't want this-the thing isn't hurting me that bad. Just leave it all alone!
Bansar paused from where he sat 'conversing' with Keiichi, turning to look in Mara's direction. Something that almost sounded like a upset whine escaped the god's throat, and the dog rose and approached the smaller lynx. Mara yowled anxiously at his approach, and before Keiichi's eyes the lynx burst into fur and flames as though trying to warn the larger beast away.
The black hound paused, head cocked to the side and one paw raised in the air as he considered the hazards of approaching the burning lynx...and then Bansar continued, unabated by the flames that turned the sand beneath his paws to molten red glass. The liquid glass blackened and bubbled where the dog stepped, hissing angrily as though it was a snake being trod on. Yet the dog ignored it, approaching Mara even as the lynx retreated and in that moment a troubling question arose in Keiichi's mind.
Why wasn't she attacking him?
The man had seen first hand the strengths of the demon hidden within the body of a lynx, and yet before Bansar, the black netherworld dog god, she held back, retreating to keep her fires away from the approaching god rather than rising to drive him off. The man watched in open curiosity as Bansar slowly edged closer to the demon, the flames surrounding her body dwindling rather than accumulating. The dark beast's tail wagged gaily once, and Bansar paused, tilting his head to the side once more in curiosity. This time when he stopped, so too did Mara. One of her ears flicked forward from where it laid pressed tightly against her skull, and the flames lessened further.
Oh, I see. Keiichi thought. He must be talking to Mara. The flames gradually faded before vanishing altogether, leaving Mara trembling before Bansar. The god's tail wagged once more, and panting he drew closer. He licked her muzzle, causing the demon's ears to flick uneasily, then sneezed, causing the lynx to start. A fresh cloud of ash arose around the two. Bansar headbutted Mara and Keiichi could almost see some of the tension easing from her body.
Get ready Ba. Thoth warned, causing Keiichi to jump. So wrapped up in the demon and the Nethergod, Keiichi had forgotten all about the holy scribe. Uncomfortably, Keiichi unzipped his jacket, reminding himself that this was a stupid idea, Mara was probably going to burn the shit out of him, and wondering how these crazy gods had managed to convince him to do this stupid stunt.
Bansar made his way around Mara, thick tail whipping gaily as Mara bowed her head, following his movement carefully. The larger beast pressed against the lynx, causing the demon to stumble before the smaller demon sat, panting as the black dog circled her. Keiichi wondered with no small curiosity what the two were conversing over, but whatever it was must have had something of a positive effect on the burning cat.
Gradually, Mara began to relax, easing herself down to the ground as Bansar sat at her side. The beast looked down at his smaller companion for a long while before immediately directing his gaze to Keiichi's. Bright white met concerned brown, and Keiichi felt his heart skip a beat as a sudden thought entered his mind.
Now.
Almost as if possessed, Keiichi made his way towards the odd duo and as he did, Bansar suddenly struck. With all the silence of the dead, the beast's jaws suddenly snapped down on the nape of Mara's neck and pulled up. Mara screamed with rage even as her body went limp, immediately relaxing into a ragdoll as the dog held the lynx firmly by the scruff. Keiichi swallowed as he approached, catching Mara's gaze and trying hard to ignore the murderous intent within the demon's red eyes.
Bansar sat.
Mara growled.
His nerves making his hands shake, Keiichi clumsily removed his jacket, wrapping his hands inside the near-shredded material several times before drawing closer to the two animals. Bansar looked at the mechanic expectantly while Mara's ears folded back against her head, pure anger wafting from her body like heat. "So...all I gotta do is pull that thing outta Mara, right?"
Bansar released a muffled woof.
Keiichi licked his lips. "Right. Got it. Just like pulling a thorn from a lion's paw." He told himself. "It can't be that hard. S'not like it's the sword in the stone or something." His hands drew close to the metal, and weak though it was, Mara squirmed and growled in protest. Somewhere in between her realization of what her doggie friend was plotting and now the demon had stopped communicating with him telepathically. Perhaps she'd lost the focus needed to project the messages and curses no doubt running though her mind towards him.
Swallowing his nerves, the man wrapped his gloved hands around the twisted metal, biting back a yelp as red sparks assaulted his makeshift gloves. They didn't actually hurt the man, per say; not unless being assaulted by too many zaps of static electricity hurt. But they definitely hurt Mara, for the lynx released a noise that sounded so much like a whimper that for a moment Keiichi almost released the metal. Yet Bansar rose to four legs next to him, and a low, threatening growl weaseled its way out of the god's throat.
Keiichi held his grip.
Gritting his teeth against the sparks, the man adjusted his grip. The metal seemed to vibrate in his hands, and it wasn't until the spirit's leg accidentally pressed against Mara that Keiichi realized it was from the demon's trembling. The spirit paused, sending an anxious look to Bansar. "Are you sure about this?" He asked. "I mean, while she's conscious and everything? Wouldn't it be easier if you, well, knocked her out or something?" The raven haired mechanic hated asking the question, but actually feeling Mara shivering against him..."I-I feel like I'm trying to preform some operation on her while she's still awake." Keiichi admitted. "This feels...it doesn't feel right. You're an Underworld God, right? Isn't there something you can do for Mara that won't let her feel the pain?" He hesitated a moment, gauging the beast's reaction before adding, "She is your friend after all, right?"
Bansar narrowed his eyes, ears folding down against his skull angrily. The dog's lips peeled back in a snarl, and this close Keiichi could see where the hound's teeth-sharp, sharp teeth, like they were fashioned from metal rather than bone-had bit too deeply into the loose skin of the scruff. Small trickles of red painted yellow fangs an ugly, messy shade of pink, and the young man was certain that if Bansar wasn't preoccupied with Mara he would have bitten the spirit with that bear trap of a jaw.
The meaning behind the snarl was unfortunately all to easy to understand, and so with a grimace Keiichi wiggled his fingers and once more adjusted his grip on the metal. Another mewling whimper from Marller, followed by a less-than-encouraging growl from Bansar at Keiichi's continued hesitation. Taking a deep breath, the man began to pull at the metal, finding to his horror that the twisted steel refused to move. Mara did, however; her whole body squirming and a scream that sounded all too human piercing the air. The metal sawed into Keiichi's wrapped hands and the mechanic heard something tear into the material.
Bansar immediately moved to solve the problem, maintaining his grip on Mara's scruff as he straddled her. The god bore his weight down on the smaller demon, halting a majority of the lynx's struggles and causing the demon to release a strangled cry of pain.
For his part, Keiichi tried once more, eyes large and distraught as another pained scream, strangled though it was, tore from the demon at his side. The bolts of red lightning assaulted his hands with a new ferocity and Keiichi felt his grip slide up. Please let that be the metal. The spirit prayed silently, trying hard to block out the screams from Mara. This wasn't like the fight with Hotaru or the Ikusa or even the demons in the shrine. It's Herja all over again. He thought in distress, recalling the Valkyrie he'd so vainly tried to save...I'm trying to help but I won't be able to and all I'm going to do is cause her pain and-there came the sicking sound of ripping flesh, and Mara's screams increased an octave.
The cries were horrid, impossible to ignore regardless of Keiichi's attempts. Need to hurry and remove this. He thought, taking another deep breath and yanking at the steel once more. What is this thing!? A part of him thought frantically. How deep is it? The sounds of ripping grew audible still, yet Keiichi was beyond the ability of telling the difference between his jacket and Mara's own flesh. The spirit ignored it; such a thing didn't matter now. The only thing he needed to focus on was getting that damned thing out of Mara's shoulder.
There came a long and agonizing rip, and suddenly Keiichi found himself falling backwards, something bright and metallic and pulsing with red lightning approaching his body. The man hit the ground with a soft grunt and immediately after came the metallic shard. It landed at his side, the red sparks lashing out none to gently at his exposed flesh. Struggling to free his hands from his jacket-why wasn't he wearing a shirt again?-the spirit rolled to his hands and knees, stumbling as he tried to roll to his feet. Yet his legs failed him, sending the short man to the ground with a grunt as behind him, the foreign magic of the parasitic steel solidified into something more.
Like a bright, neon red bundle of worms the magic swarmed across the metal, growing and thickening and heating the surrounding sand into liquid glass before Keiichi. The magical worms lashed out at him, causing Keiichi to jump with a yelp. And then Bansar was at his side, large jaws snapping down on the twisted metal and engulfing the magic in his maw. The man saw one of the worms trapped in Bansar's teeth spasm before falling limp with something like a shriek, followed by black steam that rose from the hound's muzzle.
After that, the world grew eerily silent.
Mara's shrieks had faded to nothing, the lynx motionless behind Bansar. The dog himself refused to move, his bright gaze focused on something Keiichi couldn't pinpoint as the remaining steam departed his snout. Not even Thoth spoke, a silent observer that stood as a statue farther off. The silence was deafening, and it wasn't until Bansar rose and approached Keiichi that the man even bothered to breath. In the silence of the moment, it had somehow seemed improper to break the unnerving quiet, and now the spirit sucked in a large gulp of air.
Bansar's jaws still trickled lightly with smoke, though it had lightened to a barely visible white. Keiichi knelt as the dog drew near, and in that moment the man truly realized just how large the god was. Even kneeling as he was, the black beast was a full three heads taller then him; a large and intimidating black mass of fur the seemed to devour the light that touched him. His fur doesn't reflect any light. Keiichi thought dumbly. Like a black hole; all-consuming.
Keiichi met Bansar's white gaze with brown eyes filled with trepidation, and the beast released the metal still held within his jaws. The man started as the twisted steel impacted the earth, causing Keiichi to stare at it blankly. Without pause the dog turned away from the spirit and attended to Mara, and as Keiichi looked up he caught sight of the intimidating beast lapping at the demon's shoulder. The now metal-free limb was a dark and unhealthy red, and from where Mara's blood fell to the ground Keiichi could hear the sand hiss and sizzle, much as it had with the metal. The demon didn't even respond to the dog's actions, leaving the mortal to wonder if she'd lost consciousness upon the steel's removal.
The spirit looked down once more at the hunk of metal, frowning as he examined it. The steel only seemed to grow larger the further it got from the top. From the section beneath what had once been exposed, the metal was covered in drying blood and something not so easily recognizable. Hesitantly, the man picked the piece up, finding the metal cool and dead to the touch, the magic once present now gone or dormant. Keiichi's frown deepened as he brought it closer for examination. Bone. He realized, brown eyes darting back to Mara's limp form. He scrapped at the bloodied metal, watching as red peeled off to reveal a pale yellow beneath. This thing is covered in..in bone.
Keiichi swallowed, feeling his stomach roll at his latest discovery. The shard had to be at least six inches long; a majority of which was now covered in bone. I-I just ripped four inches worth of metal from Mara's shoulder. He thought grimly. How long has she had this-this thing? How could she stand it?
The man rubbed his fingers over the steel in contemplation. In a time that felt long past he could recall the berserk demon, the crazed fight in the shrine, and the red magic that had caused Mara's insanity. The mechanic dropped it in disgust. "It's because of this damned thing that Belldandy was poisoned." he recalled, rising to his feet and kicking some sand over the offensive object.
Paying no more mind to the shard, Keiichi followed Bansar's example and moved to Mara's side, wanting to check out his companion's condition for himself. The demon's chest rose and fell rapidly, but somehow Bansar had managed to stop the bleeding from her shoulder. In its place was what Keiichi could only describe as obsidian, several spires that rose from the wound and curved back in cruel spikes. The man looked at them in curiosity before noting the ground beside Mara. Small areas of dirt and sand had transformed into black, lumpy layers of the same substance.
Keiichi raised a brow. "Mara bleeds lava?" He could only think to ask, kneeling at the demon's side and running a hand through Mara's thick neck fur. The fur was incredibly warm. A couple of areas he could feel sharp, rocky scabs. Parting the fur showed much the same; scabs from where Bansar had bitten the lynx too hard.
The dog ignored him, and instead Thoth approached. How surprising. The monkey explained, walking around the small cluster of human, demon, and god and towards the chunk of discarded metal. He examined it yet made no effort to touch it, snorting in displeasure. A sentient blade. He revealed. Or rather, a piece of what was once a sentient blade. The white baboon bared his teeth at the shard. I've never seen such a thing before. Sentient blades do not simply 'break' as this one must have. And they certainly do not live off a host within the victim's body. How did such a thing happen, I wonder?
The monkey looked up, sending his black gaze to Keiichi, who shrugged. Bansar gave a soft bark, causing Thoth to tilt his head to one side in curiosity.
"What'd he say?"
The blade was feeding off her like a parasite. Thoth explained. From what my comrade was able to learn, that shard of metal was never originally that long. The monkey paused for a moment, once more listening to Bansar's words before continuing. Where it begins to thicken like a molar around the bone-he says both bone and metal grew around each other. Another pause, and when Thoth spoke next Keiichi could hear the frown in his voice. Apparently this was not an injury he can remember your demon having upon their first meeting. And that was well over seven hundred years ago.
Now it was Keiichi's turn to frown, brows furrowing together in curiosity. "But up until a little while ago, Mara had been sealed." Keiichi explained. "Urd mentioned once she'd been sealed for around five hundred years. I don't think she got that after she was released."
Here Bansar growled weakly, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Thoth nodded. Agreed. The Scribe said. The shard needed to have been in your friend for many a year to have reached then length it is now.
Keiichi sent the god a look. "You're saying that thing actually grew in her?" He asked, pointing to the discarded object in horror. "But it's a hunk of metal! An inanimate object! How the hell could that thing grow?"
Bansar and Thoth stared at him as though he were a child, or perhaps slow in the head. Magic is a form of life in and of itself. Thoth began. When applied to an inanimate object, that item is suddenly given a source of renewable energy. If enough time passes...if that item is used enough times, it is possible for an artificial intelligence to be created by that magic. The magic condenses into a more complicated form, and from there begins to behave in a manner more advanced than before. From that an AI is possible, in which case it may slowly begin to think independent of the wielder, imitating a living creature.
The god tilted his head once more to one side. You are familiar with angels, yes? He asked. It is from just such a manner that an angel is given life from the soul of a goddess. They are nothing but a complicated magic given form and AI. Like this metal, they can imitate a living creature to the point of even changing their shape based on the materials they have access to. The monkey's tail lashed against the ground. In this case, it appears as though the metal was feeding on the minerals within your companion's bones, allowing it to gather en mass and grow within the bone.
Keiichi grimaced. "That...sounds awful." He muttered, desperately trying to get the image of something similar happening between Belldandy and Holy Bell out of his mind. The damned monkey did not need to use angels for an example. "So essentially what your saying is that we just ripped a huge hunk of metal out of Mara's shoulder as well as all the surrounding bone that had fused to it, right?" The man felt a little sick at the revelation. No wonder Mara was screaming so much. Given the circumstances, he'd probably scream too. "Then how the hell was I able to pull it out?"
Thoth's gaze turned to Bansar, who panted softly. You were working with an Underworld deity. He said. Killing cells and encouraging rot is an easy task for one such as him.
Keiichi paled immensely at the implications behind the Scribe's words. "Is Mara going to be okay?"
Your demon is a child of the flames, Ba. Thoth said furtively. She shall be fine once she awakens once more.
What felt like a full day passed before Mara finally stirred from her sleep. To pass the time, Keiichi spent a majority of it speaking with Thoth, learning more about the Overworld gods and how they sought to change regular humans such as him into demigods. He spoke with Thoth of angels and what made up their essence and the many borders of the Netherworld. The man learned of what god owned which part and what one tolerated versus another. The mechanic learned of the basic fundamentals of magic-a trait that was useless to him but, if what Thoth said was true, could hold potential for him further down the road if he indeed become the demigod everyone expected him to become.
He also learned the value of magical items.
It had taking some convincing-no, a great deal of convincing-on the part of both Thoth and Bansar, but in the end Keiichi took ownership of the large piece of steel that had once been Mara's. It protruded from his back pocket like a naked knife, and Keiichi had to be careful whenever he moved lest he run the risk of stabbing himself.
It was still a magical item, of that there was no doubt; Bansar could not kill what was not alive already, and so the magic within rested dormant, awaiting the time it could be called in the future. Such a thing was a danger to the Underworld, where any manner of beast might stumble upon it and be consumed do to their less-than-physical nature. It was for such a reason why Thoth would not touch it and why Bansar refused to touch it again. When his jaws had seized it, live cells still composed the bone and blood around the metal, allowing the Underworld deity to control it if only for a moment. Yet with the cells now dead, it posed the same risk to him as it did Thoth.
For whatever reason, they were convinced Keiichi would be safe handling it. For all he was a spirit, he was still a magic-less human; something they took a great pleasure in reminding him of. He could be trusted to handle the potential weapon without fear of whiplash, a fact that still baffled the young man. And so when not speaking with Thoth, the man fiddled with the object, lost deep in thought in all he'd learned and what the future could hold.
Bansar, for his part, remained at Mara's side for the entirety of her sleep. Whenever Keiichi looked towards the hound, the black dog appeared asleep. Yet whenever he or Thoth drew too close the god would immediately snap to attention, baring his teeth in a warning snarl that Keiichi was very careful to heed.
Finally, Mara stirred with a very vocal yowl. Bansar was on his feet immediately, licking her muzzle in concern and earning a painful scratch across the nose for his efforts. The hostile act sent him back peddling with a yelp, almost colliding with Keiichi before the man managed to get out of the deity's way. From where she lay on the ground, Mara hissed at them both, ears pressing back against her head in rage as she fought to pick herself up.
Unfortunately, as soon as she rested her weight on her left foreleg, the demon immediately collapsed with a pained howl. Apparently she was unaware of the new hole in her shoulder. What the fuck did you sons' a bitches do to me!? The screams began, and Keiichi visibly winced at the mental assault. Bansar hesitantly approached once more as Mara made a second attempt at picking herself up, ending with similar results and a fresh wave of obscenities.
Yes, Mara was very unaware of her new injury.
I swear to Nidhogg I'll consume your first born child! Mara swore, growling angrily as Bansar once more drew close to her fallen form. I'll destroy you homes with hellfire and sacrifice you to the Great Wurm itself! She raved, trembling as she sought to rise a third time. This time the demon succeeded, though only at with the assistance of the black hound, whom she fell against as her left foreleg gave out on her once more.
The demon looked up at her taller companion with a growl.
Bansar's tail wagged.
That guy must be a masochist or something. Keiichi thought as he approached the duo, the metal shard a cold weight against his back. "You okay Mara?"
Mara sent him a dark glare, pushing off Bansar and standing on three legs, the left foreleg curled up against her chest weakly. What kind of question is that, numbskull? She demanded, baring her teeth at him in a snarl. Do I look fucking 'okay' to you?
Keiichi brought his hands up to his chest in surrender, releasing an inner sigh of relief. For someone who'd had four inches of steel wrapped in bone ripped from her body, the demon was certainly filled with energy. Anyone that lively was fine in his books. "Just checking, just checking." He said easily, biting back a grin.
Mara glared at him with a huff. Bansar gave a happy bark behind her, and one ear swiveled back to listen to him. The lynx shook herself lightly, almost toppling over as she sought to maintain her balance before looking at Keiichi expectantly. Well? She demanded. Are we done here or not?
Thoth's voice was laughing. I do believe we are, Lady George. He said, causing Mara's ears to fold against her head in anger once more. Would you allow us to escort you all back to the Ba's mindscape? We want to ensure you have a safe journey to the physical world without anymore...misunderstandings.
Mara cocked her head to one side in confusion, just as Keiichi turned to look towards the large crevice that marked his mindscape. It wasn't exactly a long journey. Five minutes and they'd be within his mindscape once more and that included them crossing over the actual parted land. I...suppose...Mara trailed off, before turning and heading off towards the mindscape.
The lynx walked with a heavy limp, yet before Keiichi could say anything Bansar was at her side once more, walking close on her weak side and holding fast and steady whenever it looked as though Mara would topple over. Together the two ventured onwards with out comment, leaving Keiichi and Thoth to bring up the rear.
Matching Thoth's deliberately slower pace with his own, Keiichi ventured the question that had been puzzling him since seeing lynx and dog together. "So...Bansar and Mara, eh?"
It's not my place to say. Came Thoth's immediate reply. And I would prefer it left that way too. He advised. What you're implying is considered heavily taboo in the higher dimensions.
"Is that why no one's spoken Bansar's true name?"
Perhaps. Thoth drawled. It's hard to create something from fake names.
"Which is why you never say Ma-George's real name." Keiichi concluded.
Thoth grunted. It is better this way. He reasoned. We can both claim to know of a lynx known commonly as 'George'. If questioned, she can claim of only knowing a jackal called 'Bansar'. The monkey displayed his teeth in a mockery of a smile. No god, no demon, would refer to themselves by such ridiculous names, Ba. It allows us plausible deniability without actually lying to anyone. He looked at Keiichi from the side with one large black eye. Of course, this only works if everyone maintains that plausible deniability.
Keiichi remained silent before nodding in agreement. "Well, it's not like I really know Bansar by any other name." He reasoned. "As far as I can tell, he's just a really big, black dog." The man shrugged. "For all I know, he could be Cerberus or Garm-well, maybe not Garm. Garm was an ass-but Cerberus, sure. He just left his other two heads at home or something, right?" The man looked to his furred companion for verification, finding the beast panting with laughter.
You are a good Ba. The monkey said. I think humanity suits you-it'd be a shame to see one so gray to be taken by the Overworld Gods. The two came to a halt behind Mara and Bansar, both of whom eyed the crag warily.
Leaning heavily against Bansar for support, Mara looked over her shoulder at Keiichi. You go first. She ordered. It's more important for you to return to the waking world than me at the moment. Your body is still in a coma and there is still the matter of that beast to contend with...the demon seemed to be thinking aloud more than speaking directly at Keiichi.
The man frowned at the reminder of the 'beast'. "About that..." he started, leaving Thoth's side for Mara's. "How do I return?" He asked. "...And what do you want me to do if that Daimakaicho-monster is in the cell?"
Mara shifted uncomfortably on her feet. You simply...wake up. She said. Don't worry, you'll understand when you cross. As for the tulpa...an audible sigh left the demon's throat. ...A tulpa is a creature that needs a physical body to house it. She explained. It feeds off willpower that can easily be supplied by that physical body in order to truly survive, and for those who feed it, it can be controlled. The demon stared into his eyes with a fierce clarity. Tame it, Keiichi. She said. If it is to come once more to our cell, offer yourself to it and tame it. Right now it is our best chance at defeating it.
Keiichi shifted his weight from one foot to another anxiously. The metal weight pressed against the small of his back uncomfortably. "Why can't you do it?"
I've spent all my willpower merely retrieving your spirit, Keiichi. Mara explained. And when I return I will be in no condition to try and tame it. The two of us-we've met before, Keiichi, and in that time, there was never any taming of that tulpa. This time would be no different-if anything, it'd be more disastrous than last-it's something only you can do.
Keiichi's frown deepened, and before the man could open his mouth to protest further Mara cut him off once more. Do if for Skuld, if not me. She said. It is Skuld who is in more danger than any of us right now, and if not for Skuld, than for her sister that you love so much. She stepped towards him, headbutting him hard. But do it for someone, Keiichi.
Keiichi fell silent, resting a hand on Mara's head. As with the other times he'd touched her, his hand came away white with ash. "I get it." He said quietly. "I'll do it. For all our sakes, not just Belldandy's."
Mara bobbed her head up and down in approval. Good. She said. Then get going. Thanks to...certain people, it will be a while before I can join you and Skuld again. She glared down at her limp leg in irritation.
"I could carry you over, you know." Keiichi offered, smiling despite himself when Mara bared her teeth at him threateningly. "Okay, okay. Got it. I'm off." He said. Walking away from the others, the man walked back a couple of feet from the small canyon before turning and bolting into a run. The man soared over the crevice with ease, landing with a grunt inside his mindscape. "I'll see you in the land of the living!" He cried with a wave. "And Bansar, you better make sure your girlfriend gets over here safely!" He called, unable to resist throwing in his final two cents towards the dog. The man sincerely doubted he'd see the hound again. "Especially if you want to see her again!"
Girlfriend!? Mara bristled at the comment, eyes wide with shock as she stared at Keiichi from the other side of the crag. Yet Keiichi did nothing but laugh, and a moment later he was gone.
Did he just-that motherfu-he did not just say that! Mara stuttered over her words in shock, unable to link a coherent sentence together in her surprise.
Bansar sat at her side, his tail thumping the earth once and jaw parted with silent laughter. Is that what we are now? He asked aloud, causing the already heated lynx to grow only more flustered. That Ba is more perceptive than I thought.
I'm going to kill him. Mara grumbled. Belldandy be damned. Daimakaicho be blessed. I don't even care anymore. I'm going to kill him regardless of what they do to me.
Bansar licked her heated wound, his breath a cool breeze that soothed the burning fire beneath the obsidian. She sighed in relief, pressing into him tiredly. It's people like him who make me want to stay here. She muttered scornfully.
The jackal's tail thumped the earth once more in approval. Then do it.
Immediately Mara straightened from where she'd rested against him, staring up at the larger beast with alarmed red eyes. I'm sorry!? She near yelled, mouth parting in surprise. Did you just say-
Yet Bansar was already nodding his head. I did. He cut her off.
George-Mara-I want you to stay here with me.
Comments of a Madwoman: So I hit 100 reviews with chapter 34! Thank you all! I never thought I'd have a story that would be popular enough to gain so much attention. This is freaking awesome for me, and again thank you all who reviewed.
My little moment of hysteric achievement aside, I bet none of you were expecting this curve ball coming, did you? Hopefully those ridiculous names Mara and her jackal friend refer to each other by were horrid enough for you-I searched all over the web for some of the most horrid pet names I could find, and hopefully they garnished a similar reaction from you all as they did from Keiichi. And Kudo points to anyone who can both reveal Bansar's true name and tell me what a Ba is!