The roaring prince.
Warning, some weighty subject matter and Mukhara's opinions on a few of them.
They emerged from the underground district of Shibuya, making their way to the Tsukiji Hong-wangji as fast as they could. Praying and recovering bodies along the way.
It was... a gruesome task to say the least. But it would be of poor etiquette to leave those bodies behind to be eaten...and the ghost lurking around it to wait and suffer unnecessarily.
On their way, they had met people who were traumatized, terrorized and..apathetic about the entire ordeal, not caring about others...and not caring about themselves either.
"You see beta, they are like frogs put in a pot over a stove. The fire is on, but they simply adapt to the heat...that is, until they can't remain alive, and exhausted by the hot water, die boiled."
Kripa shuddered at the image, he could vaguely remember those classes.
The living entity had this amazing ability to adapt to whatever situation he was out in. Some more than others. And they had all adapt to somewhat survive without Krishna's personal presence, instead madly running after His Shadow, Maya, and adapting to whatever she was giving them.
But in the end, even as they would die in trove again, and again and again...they would still try to be happy in a place devoid of real pleasure, considering every slight amount of joy to be worth all the trouble and suffering...even if, in their heart, they knew they were being cheated.
They were all stuck in the blazing fire of material existence, being attack by internal enemies like Lust, Greed, envy, anger, Madness and illusion... and two more that escaped Krishna-Kripa's mind. Never the less. Those poor souls, ignorant of their nature, still tough everything was fine despite the blaze, and would not even try to reach a life-boat, thinking their sinking ship safer.
And thus, it was the duty of those who had already being saves to return to the blazing, sinking ship and pull out as many of those fools as possible. Unmindful of being the last to leave the damned place...
For this was the duty who love had found the true and eternal refuge of Krishna's ever so sweet and delicate lotus feet.
They continued in silence, praying for those who had not been as lucky, tho those whose ghost remained, crying and lamenting for their loved ones...or raging and raving about the unfairness of it all.
Just like this family that had lost their mother/wife...the one Mukhara and Radha were giving comfort to.
Kripa sighed from his seat on a ledge. They needed to go...but at the same time...
At the same time, a Vaishnava had a duty to all the living entities to perform. For they could not stand the mere thought of any suffering souls. But he also had the feeling his mom was making his rest before they raided the Tsukiji.
Suddenly, someone sat beside him...
It was Gaston.
He crossed his arms and watched as Mukhara talked with the grieving Family.
Both boys stayed in silence, not really looking at one another.
Then...
"So...this Maha...Mantra." Gaston began. "It's for calling...Him, isn't it?"
"Him?...you mean Hari, right?" Kripa asked back, now in an underground district with playful echo, he had to watch himself lest he reveals to the traumatized and grieving population of Tokyo that he and his family worshipped Krishna...the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not the brown one.
"Hari?" The much taller young man finally deign to somewhat turn his head toward the unclean one...for he was covered in sweat, dirt and demon blood.
"Yeah...He has thousands of names, like Govinda, Keshava, Madhusudana, Vishnu, Narayana...and unlimited form too."
"Hmm, I see."
"And all of his names describe Him. Like Govinda...It means; he who controls the cows and senses. Keshava means the killer of the Keshi Demon...and he who has beautiful hair." Kripa closed his eyes as he remembered the beautiful mane of deep dark hair tinged with vermilion that framed Krishna's lotus face.
He had touched this divine hair, removing the twigs and sand that had dared gathered there, after his Krishna had saved his life.
There was...no words to describe how soft, fragrant, luscious, curly...
Kripa held back a sob...but some tears still managed to shot out of his eyes at the bittersweet memory.
"You...you met him." Gaston mercifully broke Kripa out of his remembrance.
He whipped his tears. "I did...don't ask me how to do. Still have no idea why God would want to hang out with a sinner...let alone me." he sniffed. "Oh, God! I stink!" He exclaimed as he caught a whiff of his body odour.
He smelled like a mix between a slime and a mad Gasser...lovely.
"yes...you...indeed are quite the unclean one," Gaston smirked. He himself not as pristine as he used to be. "But to be back to our previous topic..." there, Gaston leaned to Kripa's ears. "How's the actual Krishna, the one your family worship?"
"Oh...he's the best friend one could ask for." Kripa grinned. "He will Literally give his shirt off his back to help someone in need, he feeds everyone, gives us all air and...and he's kind, funny, witty..." Oh, he remembered some of his banter he would have with his friends. "God...God's love Gaston. And he loves us all...we may be like...boringly normal to an ancient prince of japan, dirt poor in the street, a demon... and queer." He pointed at himself Hari doesn't care...he cares about the soul inside the designation...not the designation."
He turned to Gaston, who was staring at Kripa with... not with fear, but he may be regretting his previous nap with a very small spoon.
"Oh...don't be so full of yourself, Gaston," Krishna-Kripa spoke as he turned his queer mode to eleven. "You may be a handsome hunk...but you ain't got nothing on my Lord."
"A...Ah?"
Kripa sighed. "The body you have right, now, as muscular, tall and dreamy...isn't going to stay like that for so long," Kripa explained, his eyes half-closed. "Krishna's eternal...and what you see is who He is." He gave a dreamy sigh as he saw the Lord of his heart dancing in the middle of the Vraja-Gopis, looking most resplendent in their midst and besides...Her.
He shook his head...no, he could not lose himself like that. Krishna wanted his Mercy to be in Tokyo.
"Alright...were done her." Mukhara declared as she walked toward her son and his...
A friend...yeah, Gaston was a friend. A friend that was pretty prideful...but a friend!
"Hey, before we go, I just received a call from Fujiwara...Boob-" ken interjected, then seeing the look Gaston sent him, switched to something less offensive, knowing that his protegee was serving under them.
"Merkabah and egg-head are about to go live, we all need to be there." He cleared his throat.
"Alright...Hunter association then." Kripa grumbled. 'great...another time waster.'
The group walked into a rather full H. A bar, everyone was staring at the screen the broadcast was due to start in five minutes.
The Vaishnava's (plus friends.) found an inconspicuous corner...and waited.
Gaston was beside Kripa...and Hoshi was at his other side.
'Great...stuck between the world's most awkward friend and an ex who doesn't like the life choice I've made.' Kripa had no idea how he had managed to get himself in such a situation, he just hoped to get a good lesson out of that.
Not only that, but it was clear the crusader wanted to ask Kripa some more about the Lord...and Kripa desperately wanted to know what had happened to him during his very long nap. Why was he so...interested in Krishna all of a sudden?
Not that it was bad...but it had been abundantly clear that Gaston was an ardent worshipper of YhVh, and anything else that was not YhVh was to be aggressively rejected since there was only one God!
It wasn't wrong...but it also didn't mean that any and all demigods had to be demoted to mere pageant spirit with little to no power. They were all of Krishna's servants after all.
And the crusader was definitely more...clingy? No...that sounded wrong. But it was clear Gaston would keep close to Kripa.
Still, with Hoshi around, it made talking about Sri-Krishna and devotion in general near to impossible, even Kripa's mother, the ever so tolerant Mukhara looked fatigued and draw!
Not only that but...Hoshi was starting to be a bit...clingy.
Kripa didn't like that...something in his heart was telling him that this...was not as innocent as the son of Mukhara would like.
Suddenly, there was a hush over the hunters, the broadcast was starting.
Fujiwara was on the screen, between him was booberella and the Egghead from hell, it was weird not seeing him with Ken at his side.
Then...the scared spear wielder walked on screen. "Sorry I'm late, had a snake to kill." he apologized, behind him came Mukhara. He regal air filling the screen. She shamelessly wore her Tilakas, Tulasi neck beads and Japa-Bag on display.
This caused the two leaders of law and Chaos to take a fighting pause. The regale and saintly prince of Japan took no notice, and instead, floated to a seat and landed. Looking at them both with a very knowing smile. "I am Mukhara Devi Dasi, Mother of Krishna-Kripa das, servant of Raganuga-swami, worldwide preacher and a Servant of the Real supreme personality of Godhead, The unlimited opulent and loving Sri-Krishna."
There was a hush that covered the entirety of Tokyo.
"No, the 'Krishna' you know is a fraud, a fake. An abomination swaying the weak of heart and mind to commit suicide over a so-called salvation that has more to do with damnation." She turned to Merkabah. "And yes, Krishna is God...but not the brown one."
The baroquien abomination opened his mouth. But Mukhara beat it to the punch.
"Ishvara Parama Krsna, Sat chit ananda Vigraha, Anadir Adi Govinda, Sarva Karana Karanam." She quote for the first verse of the fifth chapter of the Brahma-Samhita. "In other words, Krishna in the supreme and absolute controller. Meaning he is God. His Form is made of eternity knowledge and bliss...and he has a human form. But unlike our bodies, his body is no different than Him, The supreme source of all soul, the super soul. And thus, does not undergo change such as old age and death. He is the source of everyone and everything and He eternally resides outside the material manifestation in his own abode of the spiritual Sky, Goloka-Vrindhava.
"And while he is not in this world, this world is Him also, for all is his energy. And all are serving him."
" This is not what the bible said." Merkabah managed to edge in. He was clearly getting upset while Lucifer remained with a bemused expression. As if he was between laughing his ass off or keeping quiet to listen.
"The bible is not that old, it's merely two thousand...sorry, three thousand years old" Mukhara waved off regally. "The Brahma-Samhita, the scripture from which I have quoted is timeless. We only know that Sri-Krishna-Chaitanya Mahaprabhu found a copy of it in the sixteenth Century. But in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, our oral tradition written six thousand years ago by your calculation, it was spoken at the beginning of creation by Brahma, who was born from a lotus that grew from the Navel-Lake of Garbodhakasayi-Vishnu, the expansion of an expansion..of an expansion of an Avatar of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.."
Merkebah opened his mouth. But Mukhara once again answered his question;s before he could even speak.
"You do not have any proof of it because you kept your mind close... and I doubt Tokyo even has acess to the bonnafied revealed scriptures.
Yes, God is one. But how do you know the one you serve is God?" Mukhara raised her hand and began to lecture everyone. "It's simple, really. You have to read the oldest scriptures you have, and the oldest one just so happens to be in Sanskrit. And King Solomon has also confirmed our Lord's Indentity with one of his prayers about how hi Lord was not an old man, but a fresh youth the colour of marble, wearing dark blue. and yes, it's in the bible." She leered at Merkebha. Making the absolutely massive angel shrink under her gaze.
"I could keep on speaking about how God had sixty-four attributes, the last of those fore being present in Krishna alone, or how we know that He has manifested Twenty-four avatars and how He is the source of all beauty, sweetness and love...but I grow tired arguing with you. And no, I would never serve the brown so-called 'Krishna'. His hands are not reddish, they do not reach his knees, he dosen't have the kaustuba gem and his eyes are dead and dull. The eyes of the real Krishna are warm Gold, reaching his ears and red as if he was intoxicated. And Krishna is never alone!" She emphasis. "He is always surrounded by his loving servent, exchanging loving dealings we can only dream of as he heard his Father's cow in his eternal realm of Goloka-Vrindavan."
"God would never-"
"WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE GOD! WHO ARE YOU TO TELL HIM WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO?" Mukhara roared as she floated up from her seat, her aura out and outshining Merkebah. "God is free to do as He, please. For he is the supreme independent!" she declared. " If you cannot accept that, then you are no better than an atheist."
"If Our Lord and Supreme Master desire to be an eternally sixteen cowherd boy in his love-filled abode if Sri-Vrindavan Dham, then so be it. And if he wants to destroy this universe, then so be it! But right now, I know from our revealed scriptures...God-sent Scripture that our Lord is not scheduled to make an official appearance until the Kalki avatar comes and kill whatever sub humans are left of the earth at the end of the age of Kali. Which is not going to happen until a few eons have passed.
And no, He was not predicted to the advent in Tokyo, without his consorts, friends and servants...and believe me Merkebah, if our brown fraud really was our Master, then the complete host of demigods would be here, worshipping his lotus feet with the choicest of prayers, Death would leave his golden helmet at his feet, Garuda would recite auspicious prayer and my Lord would have lifted this dome... And all of us Hare Krishna would be at his feet, waiting to serve him in anyway He so desire." she sat back to her seat, crossing her fingers like the conqueror she was.
"But of course, even if God would be in front of you, you would reject because...there's no description in the bible about his appearance short of 'He looks like us."
Lucifer roared in laughter as Mekebah's mind was blown and his pride in tattered.
"Now...I must apologize for my behaviour I...I cannot stand to hear my Lord and master be defamed by a fraud...and me being unable to pray to him, fearing for the life of my son and those I care about." she apologized with folded palms. "I just wanted to clear this up since...as you must have noticed, it was driving me up a wall."
Merkabah openly stared at Mukhara...but remained curiously mum.
'Yay! Go mama, Go mama! Shut that trap off! Woo!' Kripa sheered from the privacy of his mind while the entirety of the hunter association clapped for her.
This reaction...was a huge relief for the teen. Mukhara had revealed who she and the Vaishnavas were and where she stood.
At the feet of Sri-Krishna...the real one. The real, the one, the absolute truth.
Their reaction had not been to grab pitchfork and flame towers.
"yes Mister Fujiwara...what were you about to say?" she asked stopping herself from saying more.
"Ah...well, I was about to say that, with Shesha gone, Tokyo can breathe a little easier."
Mukhara inclined her head. "Indeed, but do not let you guard up." she warned. "this is our best opportunity to strike...and it's theirs also. We must make our offensive a defensive one also."
"which is why I request every hunter and whoever are able-bodied to guard the underground districts, we are still under high alert, and thus, until the polytheistic alliance has been completely eradicated, I would request you all to act as if Shesha was still roaming the streets." Fujiwara addressed his hunters.
"A sound decision," Gaston muttered. "This man knows what he is doing. And so is your wise mother."
Kripa raised a brow. "Who are you and what happened to the prick who insulted my mom?" He asked the much taller young man.
"I'll tell you later, you're king and his general still have some decree to give." He gestured back at the screen. "Oh...not to demean your...height or anything. But I was wondering if you would like to climb on my shoulder?" Gaston proposed, to which, Hoshi began to sputter.
"Ah, no I'm good. I'm watching the whole thing on my phone. Besides, I wouldn't want to hit my head on the low ceiling, your tree." He playfully shoved Gaston.
Gaston shoved back...as equally playful.
"Hey guys...keep it down, Lucifer's about to speak," Hoshi grumbled a bit, clearly disliking the display.
Kripa shrugged and returned to his own little screen...and then was lifted off the ground by Gaston and onto his right shoulder.
"Ah...Gaston?" Kripa asked a bit nervously.
"Yes?"
"Ah...well, good news is, you didn't brain me."
"yes...and?"
"And...why?"
"I surmised that you would rather watch your mother's moment of glories on this big...moving portraits. Then on a small and outdated gauntlet." The much taller samurai stated. "now hush...it's about to start.
"I have to say. I'm impressed with you, 'human', for you managed to dispatch Shesha Most splendidly." Lucifer praised.
"Oh...I didn't. Shesha was slain by one of Merkabah's holy Samurai. Gaston Landry, if I remember correctly." she informed the entirety of Tokyo. "My son helped also...but really, this crusader's valour shone brightly, like a bright star among the great constellation of God's blessed warriors." she praised. "For all the infamy I've heaped upon you, Lord Merkabah, your Samurai are not one of them."
Lucifer made a face...and Merkebah kept staring at Mukhara as if he was really seeing her.
"Now...we ask you all for your co-operation." Mukhara once again addressed Tokyo, her natural leadership shinning forth like a sun. "We will soon commence our raid upon the P.A. those who can fight, lend us a hand by providing support...and those who can't, please chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and beseech the Real Supreme personality of Godhead, Sri-Hari for our continued success." She folded her palms whit an astounding amount of humility for one who managed to shut up both Mekebha and Lucifer.
"All together now!"
Kripa looked at Gaston...and Gaston at Nozomi. And, accompanied by Ken, began to chant the same Mantra.
And then...a miracle happened...they were not alone in their recitation. Practically everyone, in their jubilant mood, were Chanting the holy name.
Either sarcastically, or simply because tiny Mukhara had fearlessly stood up against the like of the two faction leader, Krishna-Kripa didn't care.
Great bliss flooded his heart and tears his eyes.
For a lay man...this seemed like a case of brainwashing, but Kripa knew much better...it went beyond that.
The Maha-mantra's potency is the same as being in personal contact with the sweet lord, Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna.
Mukhara Kept chanting, leading the first Harinama Sankirtana Kripa had since his premature death as Ananda-Rupini.
It was like taking a delightfully cold shower, eating his mother's kitchary, seeing Krisna's smile as he held his hand.
In other words... it was pure bliss.
After this divine display and a miracle worthy of Sri-Nityananda Mahasayi. Mukhara and Ken had returned. The saintly Hermit gliding across the floor, her whole body tense yet serene at the same time. "Alright...so, how many want me dead right now." She asked with a humorous smirk.
"Well, around two in Shibuya, no idea about the rest of Tokyo tough." Nozomi spoke up. " you made us all chant like a bunch of lunatics."
Mukhara's eye's shone with bliss from behind her glasses. "So I take they all had a dose of the name?"
"You dopes us all, Princess," Nozomi stated with a blissful smile. "Now...I may have taken plenty of shit, but that was above and beyond my usual crack," she stated.
"Mom, you made the Hunter Bar belt out Hare Krishna...even as a fake avatar's terrorizing Tokyo!" Krishna-Kripa stated, still blissed out by the name. "How did you managed to do that!?"
"Obliviously, the imperial Prince has a natural charisma that can make a motley crew of sinners chant and dance to the holy names of God." Gaston declared.
Everyone stared at him...saved for Hoshi, who was standing as far away from the crazy Hare Krishna as possible.
Mukhara smiled. "Well, Gaston Prabhu. Let it be known that my divine and ineluctable charisma comes from my Guru-Maharaja." she folded her palm in a mix of humility and pride. "His duty is to make the world chant and dance to the maha-mantra, I am but an instrument of his mercy."
"Yeah, whatever, let's just go kill Krishna and get it over with," Hoshi grumbled, his arms crossed.
Kripa felt indignation get to his throat...but remained quiet. Holding back on his anger.
Hoshi was all alone right now. He had no home to return to, no family left. Mukhara had killed the only guy he could consider family and was now forced to hang out with a bunch of devotional lunatics.
Still... He sort of... wanted to kill him right now.
But to kill him meant that Kripa had to commit suicide right after, and he wouldn't do that to his mom.
'Sorry Krishna... I...'
"It's alright, my dear. I know your heart..."
If Kripa were in his position, he would've said the same thing. Still, he could not remain completely mum about it.
"Yeah, your totally right Hosh," He stated with a hand to his hip. "Let's take care of that fraud..." He leered at his ex. "But our way, not the Kai's way. Got it?"
Hoshi sneered. "Yeah...so we're gonna chant this stupid song until the guy...what, make you all join his side and tuned us all in drugged up lunatics?" He practically spat, then he grabbed Kripa's... less painful shoulder, shaking him a bit. " Dude... Just come back to earth. your 'mom' a cultist! and he's no better then the Gaeans serving under maitreya"
"Dude...that guy's not the real Krishna," Krishna-Kripa stated flatly as he removed his X's strong grip from his shoulder, moving a bit closer to Gaston. "And Mukhara's my Mother, trust me on this." He declared. To which Hoshi rolled his eyes as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, Sure...as if I'm going to believe you." He turned his back. "Anyway, I'm gonna stick with Fujiwara...have fun with your new boyfriend, do be too loud at night." Hoshi bade farewell and left Kripa reeling at how...
Kripa cringed... what had happened to his ex?
Really, he used to like the guy, as in, they had been planning their future togheter a few years back and all that mushy crap angsty, not quite hormonal teenagers would do.
And were the circumstances different...yeah, he would've totally rekindled their relationship in a heartbeat, maybe even brought it to the next level! But now...
He had changed... He had, dare he say, mature to see what had fueled this relationship.
It was lust... plain and simple. They just like each other because of the pleasure they received from one another...nothing more.
They were no better than pleasure merchants gathering debts and taking as much as they could. And whatever love they had was word-deep only.
If it would've been love, then Hoshi would have been cautious but happy to see his beloved happy. And he would have done everything in his power to help and assist Krishna-Kripa in his endecour or... at least not being an absolute ass about it.
And he would...
Some doubt began to niggle Kripa's heart... what if He was?
'Bullshit, I've been practicing for two whole life, and I know what I'm doing is right... beside, I've gained more as a cultist then as a 'normal' atheist.' And how!
He would've loved to share his newfound bliss with Hoshi but...
the Nephilim only exuded envy. And since he knew Kripa would not please him anymore, he had broken off the deal.
'Krishna...I hope he'll get better with time.' He prayed to the lord of his heart. For if Hoshi would deal with any other prospective like this... he would quickly find himself alone and extremely dissatisfied.
"So...Gaston." Kripa addressed the older young man as they made their way outside the Shinjuku underground district. "How come your so...friendly with me?" He asked him.
Gaston was about to answer when a familiar voice met his ears.
"Wait! Hold on!"
He turned around, his mother was already on alert, but still at peace while Radha, now wearing a hunter issues armour and pants began to sniff the air. Her eyes growing wide as a slight growl escaped her.
The person who caused this reaction was none other than Isabeau.
She looked tired and thinner than before. Her eyes had bags under and she exuded a type of anxiety only a hunter would show when one of his compadres was in danger, and he was to join the rescue effort.
"I knew you'd pass this way, I'm so glad I ran into you." She gave a grateful smile.
"But why tough?" Radha-Shyamasundara asked, her arms crossed. "Where a bunch of Krishna worshippers, doesn't it bother you?"
Isabeau looked down at her white boots. "I know what you are...the entirety of Tokyo know of you and of your true master." She raised her eyes. "but it matters not to me."
'Well...that's good news, I guess.' Kripa thought. 'Hoshi's out, Isabeau's in...an envious if powerful Nephilim for an experienced Samurai from Mikado...not bad!"
"You are going to the Tsukiji-Hongwanji temple... to save Flynn." the lady Isabeau stated, and Kripa didn't need his mother's hearing level to know what she wanted.
"We are indeed going on a rescue mission." Mukhara intoned. "We wouldn't mind another blade master in our midst...but first, how are you feeling, I can see your exhaustion."
"I'm fine...I can rest once Flynn is safe and sound." she humbly declared with a silk soft tone that hid galvanized steel. "I cannot let you rescue Flynn all alone, no matter how powerful you all are."
"And thus, you desire to join us." Mukhara deduced...or heard, most likely.
"Yes..."
"Mother..."
"Yes, mother." Isabeau inclined her head to the somewhat shorter woman.
"Say, Radha... what was that face back then?" Kripa asked his cat-aunt, keeping his tone low as the two sword-woman spoke to one another. "Are...are you scared of her?"
"Nah...she just smells the same as Revati," Radha-Shyamasudara explained, hanging her hand in her body armour.
"Revati..." He knew he'd heard this name somewhere.
"Revati devi Dasi...Born Hakurei Reimu, shrine maiden of the pseudo paradise." she declared. "Think yah heard of her."
"Oh yeah! Now I remember. Mom told me she became a Hare-Krishna." Who would have though that the main character of the Touhou game... who happens to be more real than Kripa expected, had joined the movement?
Not him, that's for sure.
"Yup! She's still the foremost incident resolver, somewhat less grumpy and definitely and Atmarama; she's fully satisfied with whatever comes her way." The pride in Radha-Shyamasundara's voice was undeniable. "But don't get on her bad side though."
"Got it..."
"She's worshipping Gaura-Nitai instead of this lazy ass pseudo-goddess." She revealed with a smirk. "heard the bitch got real upset whit our super-duper miko...never heard of her after that."
"Alright...Let's go to the Hongwanji. We have wasted enough time already." Mukhara declared. Breaking the conversation between aunt and nephew.
Unwilling to make his Mother, Flynn and Yuki wait longer than needed, Kripa and the rest followed the underground path to the last remaining temple in Tokyo.
" Not those guys again," Radha growled at the sight of the fake Ganesha and the beserking swordman. Her ears were flat to her head, and her tails whipping the air around. "do we really have to listen to them again?" she asked Mukhara, who seemed to have heard something, but wasn't acting upon it. Saved for a crooked smile.
"No..." Mukhara smirked. "We won't have to."
"Good, don't want to make some undue casualty on the way in." Nozomi chimed in. " some of those insides are innocent."
"Innocent?!" Gaston Scoffed. "Those 'innocents' Have taken the side of the Polytheistic alliance, their lives have already being Forfeited."
"No," Nozomi rebuked the young man. "Just because we don't agree with them doesn't make their life less Valuable!" She argued with her arms crossed.
"Well...to play the devil's advocate." Mukhara injected herself in. "Those 'innocent' in the Honganji have willingly chosen a false god, aiming to perform a spiritual suicide." She explained. " And if my ears are correct...some have already performed the act...an act so vile, it's considered one of the worst insults to God known to the Vedas." she declared quite boldly to her deathly silent audience. "This human form of life is the most valuable if used correctly. Nevertheless, to throw it away is worst than being a deadbeat slob sucking on a piss filled bong, with an opioid drip in his veins twenty-four seven."
"Dang mom... that's a... That's an opinion." Kripa managed to say, it was clear his mother had no patience whatsoever when it came to suicide.
Still... ouch!
" Just see, those who wanted to be cheated, and who wanted to lose themselves, to become one with a void, have now received what they wanted." Mukhara's harsh words left no valid arguments. "It terrible, an uneeded waste of the precious human form" she gestured at the temple of death. "...but what can we do? "
"We can make him pay." Kripa growled, communicating to all his 'demoniac' nature.
There was a moment of completed silence before Radha patted Krishna-Kripa on his back, careful no to struck the plant-like wings growing in his back. " You said It Nrhari!" she smiled fondly. "But how do we get in?"
"Maybe we could have Aegis laser the place." Ken proposed. "Would fix this particular problem.
"And that would kill both Flynn and Yuki..." Kripa crossed his arms. " Beside a third hole int he firmament would probably turn Tokyo in a mass grave...and there no place I can spark safely." He leered at Ken. "And I can't belive you would see nothing wrong in saving your dear kid crush Amada-san."
"hey, don't you start on me Aegis." The elder hunter sneered. "And didn't Nikarri thought you about what was to be done to someones who processed by a legion of evil spirits?"
"Yes sir, he did." Kripa inclined his head. "But I'm following Krishna, the real one's order." He shrugged. "If Krishna want's to kill someone, nothing can save him, and if Krishna wants to save someone, then nothing can kill him."
"I see..." He crossed his arms again, leaning on one foot. "But...this doesn't tell us how we can get in tough...not without slaughtering a whole lot of people anyway."
"Then maybe we could could ask the hidden Oni. I'm sure she's burning to be useful to us." Mukhara informed with a smile, pointing at a shadow in one of the alleyways.
A short and thin figure in black emerged from the said shadow, a ghoulish mask obscuring her identity. From the smell and the cat-like way she walked, it was clear it was a young girl. And the two blades in her hands glinted in the artificial light with blood.
On her poncho, the Gaean sigil was as clear as day.
Mukhara advanced. "Lead us to your leader, young one. Just as they told you." she addressed the mysterious young girl. "We will follow you, and no one will hurt you...as long as you do not murder anyone." The saintly prince smirked.
The young assassin remained unmoving, staring at Mukhara through the eyes of her mask.
And then...coming to a decision, she finally spoke.
"Follow me." she intoned, her voice very sweet and monotonous.
Kripa clenched his jaw, same as Radha and Mukhara...and everyone else.
She looked young, sounded young...and already, this little girl knew how to kill. As proven by the congealing blood staining her blade.
It was at this time that Kripa vowed to utterly destroy this hermit...how could he make a play where young girls had to be turned into weapons?
What type of game enslaved people to fight against one another, and force the survivors to eat corps.
What type of insane game denatured the sacred form of a woman, making them no better than prostitutes to caters to the taste of lonely young men. To turn them into mere objects to satiated once lust?
What to say of stripping them down of all personality to turn them into weapons... when they should learn how to love?
And who, in a show of completed and utter edgelordiness would put the ever so sweet, kind, and all-attractive Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead as nothing better than a villain? Who would make such a game? Such a play where thousand would die for a single person's twisted idea of entertainment.
A future pile of ashes...that was who.
"Mom?"
"Yes, Beta?" Mukhara addressed her son as they transverse the underground labyrinth of Tokyo, following paths and hidden tunnels more or less free of demons. The Gaean slave leading the way like a quiet shadow...not even reacting when Radha had turned into a cat and had playfully weaved around her feet.
"How are you holding up?" Kripa asked. He knew his mother was anxious and had enough of the place...he did too.
Mukhara sighed. "I'll be very honest with you Putra, save for Amada-Prabhu, Gaston, Mai, Nozomi and you... This Hermitage would be put very high on my 'worst hermitage' list. And please don't ask me about the worst one, I had Yamuna...Yukari sealed this particular memory and nothing Short of Sri-Krishna's intervention will make me remember it."
"Geeze mom...that bad?"
Mukhara turned a tired glance at the only remaining son. "K.K...rare are the hermitages where I am barred from chanting Hari-Nama and hide my devotion. And even less where our Best Friend is treated as a monster."
"Yeah...I get you." Kripa sighed as he ran a hand in his greening hair. "Mom...how is it...How is it in the outside world? Did they finish the ToVP on time? How did the world take it and...and is Japan still the top small temple for book distribution?" one of the servants of Krishna asked, wanting to move Mukhara away from the object of her frustration.
And by her smile, it was clear this particular mission was accomplished.
"Materially, the entire society is still going through a lot, the economies a bit more stable, but a few wars are going on, the siryen war os over tough, same as the indo-pakistani one. And no fear for any nuclear war tough since Uttara ate all of those weapons"
"And...who's Uttara?"
"Maybe you know her as Reiuji Ustuho, the troublesome flames of hell," she explained. "I think...yes, you know who Radha used to be in...what was the name, sub perennial...animism?"
"Subterranean animism." Kripa corrected automatically. "I only managed to beat Kisume, Yamame, Parsee and Yuugi, But Rin would always destroy me." He admitted. "Well, I managed to pass through her once, I just remember this pink-haired girl with the eye-thingy."
"Ah yes, Savitri...her name is Komeji Satori, one of our most reclused practitioners. Radha and Uttara are her pet Kasha and pet Hell-corvid." She explained. "Uttara's bigger than a Yokai crow, but more gregarious than a normal raven. She'd also smarter than what one would expect...even if she's quite simple-hearted." She chuckled. "But she did almost burned down mother earth out of misunderstanding after she got her power."
"Holy..."
"And after that got cleared... she has condemned to man the useless subterranean sun generator. All alone..." A look of deep nostalgia overtook the celestial. "When I met her... she could barely speak... and she was so lonely, she took care of me instead of consuming my sinful body, as she was expected to do."
"She's the other yokai who ate your limbs!" Kripa exclaimed, making everyone stared at him.
There a pause before Mukhara awkwardly coughed. And everyone took this as a sign to keep going, for this conversation was not theirs to listen to...
Meaning they were all ears.
"OK...Moving on. Kings and Queens are back to protecting the planet and being the authority for their people. Were not talking like those aristocratic pigs but real, highly trained and valorous monarch ready to die on the battlefields for their people...and spiritually elevated also."
"Really? Awesome!" Finally, some real rulers.
"And yes, The temple of the Vedic Planetarium is fully operational. Pancha-Tattva and Radha-Madhava and their lovely Ashta-Sakhis have moved in their eternal home and Sri-Mayapur Narashima-deva is bestowing his mercy and miracles to all." She gazed at her son meaningfully. "This reminds me, once we're out of this place, we both need to give our supreme cat the biggest donation plate we can, repeatedly, every day, for fifteen years."
"Why?"
"My son...despite everything, you are alive." Mukhara's voice chokes in the end. She cleared her throat. "Mayapura...no, Navadwip in her entirety belong to Iskcon, and we've made tremendous improvement both structurally and spiritually wise. Some of our Russian and Australian devotees have event started a perma-culture there and in Vrindavana to restore our Mother-Land to her glorious beauty."
"Oh really?" Kripa perked up at that. "Ah...Ma...where do you live?" he asked... Slowly realizing that after all was said and done, he would be out of there and...and he would need to live somewhere in the world.
"I live in Mayapura, on the island of Rtudwip. I own a small piece of land where I like to spend the winter months." She explained. "It used to be a rice field...I and your mother managed to re-naturalize it and..." Mukhara grew quiet.
"Mom?"
"She would be proud of you..." Mukhara breathed out, it was clear she was fighting against her tears.
"Because I've been fighting like the demon I am," Kripa spoke as he hunched his shoulder. Sure, he may not hide his true bodily nature, but he still felt ashamed at his sadistic tendencies.
"Partly..." Mukhara admitted. "You... Picked up Krishna Consciousness like a fish to water. You've controlled you mind, anger and senses and You are ready and willing to reject an old love for the Supreme lover."
"moooom!" Krisha-Kripa covered his ears.
"Were here." The masked young girl spoke up, gesturing at the door in the red light district of Ginza. The air was filled with the sickening smell of incense, and Gaean were eyeing Mukhara and her troop...wetter it was good or not, Kripa hoped he would never have to find out.
Mukhara was about to open the door when Skin got to the handle first. "Wouldn't want to lose you, Prince." The scared man stated, to which, Mukhara made a face.
"Ken-Kun... Short of God, nothing can kill me now."
"Better not risk it then," he mumbled as he bushed the door open, making sure he was the first in. Protecting them all with his body.
Then he paused, and the sound of two old women shrieking met Mukhara's sensitive hears. His divine mother grit her teeth and soldiered on. The rest of the group, and their young escort following them.
In the dilapidated local was a pair of twins, the two women were old, their face marred with numerous wrinkles, they stared at Ken with clear disgust, it was clear that they didn't appreciate Skin's wicked battle scars.
"What is this? I was expecting a cute boy not a...piece of ground meat." One spoke.
"Well... Mii, if I were you, I would look behind this piece of dead skin...just look at those three youths." Another woman spoke, shamelessly ogling Gaston, Krishna-Kripa and Mukhara...
Mukhara must have heard something, for she fully went on the offensive at the two old biddies.
Suddenly, Ken took out his Glock. "Kids...Get out of here...this is something us above eighteen have to deal with." the way he spoke and the energy he radiated made Krishna-Kripa...and the rest of the 'Bellow-eighteen group' listen.
Truly, this was something only Skin, Nozomi, Mukhara, Isabeau and Radha-Shyamasundara could handle.
In the corridor, far from the twin's door but close enough for the adult to see the three youngsters of the group. Gaston was leaning on the far wall while Kripa was sitting on his haunch, using his sacred shovel to maintain his balance. The girl in black was in front of them, she seemed calm...but Krishna-Kripa knew better.
She was a Gaean assassin...and she was definitely keeping them as hostages
Krishna-Kripa pulled his tongue out...not that it got any reaction from her. 'poor girl...'
"Humph...how dare they consider us mere children." Gaston declared, to Kripa's great annoyance.
"Dude...get over it." He sighed. "Sure we may have absolutely destroyed the Indra-Naga, but those two bitches are the new leaders of the ring of Gaea...not just that, but the way they stared at you." Kripa shuddered. "Gaston...it's better for us to let the experienced adult take care of them."
He heard the older teen grumble. "Still, I could have handled it by myself. What could those two old witches do to me? Gaston, the killer of Shesha?"
"Well, for once, those two old biddies are the replacement leader of Yuriko," Kripa explained, still keeping an eye out for the mysterious assassin. "You know...Rumours are that she wasn't even human. I think you guys may know her as Lilith"
"Oh? You don't say?" Gaston hummed as he rubbed his chin. "Yes...I seemed to remember her... somewhat. I was present for her execution...But, I was quite young back there...and mother hid my eyes and covered my ears." He Mentioned. "I had heard rumours that she was the demoness, Lilith...I do wonder where is Adam though."
"Adam?" Kripa asked...he could hear a pretty big scuffle in the relatively small room. But he had yet to hear his mother...or anyone, in fact, scream for help...
'Mom's fine...she's fine and she with powerful people.'
"Yes, Adam, the first human being," Gaston explained, clearly leering the pride of his scriptural knowledge go to his head. "The Lord...Krishna first made him, and seeing how alone he was, made Lilith from the same clay as he...but the mother of all whore, her sexual appetite more than what Adam was willing to provide, went out of Eden to couple with Samael"
Kripa's eyes went up to his brow. "Really? Damn, that explains why the Gaeans had so many good-looking men...and women." He cringed as he heard the sound of heavy fighting in the small room, some Gaeans warrior rushed in, unmindful on the two (plus the girl.) awkward teen having a conversation in the hallway. "But Adam and Eve... and Lilith are not present in the Vedas. The first conditioned living entity was Brahma, and his Father is none other than Garbodhakasayi-Vishu, the third Vishnu expansion." He explained to a very confused Gaston. "He took birth from the lotus that grew from his Navel." he added, bewildering the samurai even more.
Not that Gaston appeared confused, it was just the way he was wisely nodding that betrayed him.
There was a roar, either from his mother, Radha or one of Ken's demons.
'Maybe I should..' Kripa started to get to his feet, only to crouch again as those same gaean were repelled by a literal bullet storm.
'Nope...Mama and Aunty are good, they don't need me in here.' "Anyway... If Yuriko was Lilith, a powerful demoness, then what about those two? The Gaean's Philosophy is all about the law of the strongest. If those two are at the head of the Ring of Gaea..."
"Then they must be quite potent."
"Yup..."
" I doubt they would survive against you tough." Gaston gave a conspiratorial smirk. "Four your arms have the strength to trounce the great snake Shesha!"
"Bah, the thing wasn't even struggling...and you're the one who dive-bombed the guy!" Kripa shot back.
"Which would have been impossible without your intervention." Gaston returned. " This wily beast may not have struggled much, but it was your might that broke his body to pieces. I only gave the final strike" Gaston humbly admitted...
Gaston...Humbly admitted.
"Mah... this strength comes from my oth... From Krishna." Kripa inclined his head.
"yes... everything comes from him, isn't it?"
"Yep... weather, abilities, health, wealth, wisdom and intelligence, it's all from Krishna," Krpa confirmed. "God's in everything Gaston, and he's the ultimate cause of everything. So to think that we're doing things out of our own power's pretty stupid... We do have free will tough!"
"I see! Now...how about...your tradition?" Gaston asked a bit awkwardly. "Whom are the first humans? The first couple? And how about the genesis and... How about the Lord?"
Krishna-Kripa turned to stare at Gaston. "You...want to know about...Vedic Knowledge?"
"Yes! What's seemed to be the problem? Is it a sin to ask about another's way to worship the supreme?" the older young man asked in a challenging tone.
"Yo, dude, just chill would you?" Kripa asked as he got to his feet, his damaged foot not used to hold all of the thought's weight like that. "What the hell happened to you during your nap? Your like...way too nice."
Gaston looked away, but not as if Kripa had told him something bellow his perceived high intellect. Instead, he seemed more...pensive.
"Krishna-Kripa...sir...I...During my respite, I dreamed." He began, weighing each and every one of his words. "there...I saw my Uncle."
"Uh-uh..." Kripa nodded, trying to see if the older boy from Mikado would expand upon his highly cryptic answer.
"This uncle was...He was considered mentally derange and had been excommunicated by the church."
"Really? Why?" Kripa asked...now this was getting interesting.
"He...Uncle Samuel worshipped the Lord as one would...ab... boyfriend." He revealed... but it was clear the word friend may mean something else. But knowing where Gaston's concept of God was coming from, Kripa needed some more information.
Since... how the hell does YhVh look like?
"Ah... quick Question..."
"No... It was not as Yehovah, my uncle never as much as looked at a church."
"Oh... Ok..." Kripa shifted again... Sure, he desperately desired Krishna's lips but... Krishna as Krishna... Not as God and...
No... Not as Krishna-Kripa either.
"So This uncle desired to serve God as a lover... Alright..." It was not his duty to judge.
"My uncle...He would cry for God...and he would look for him as a forlorn lover." Gaston spoke quietly. His gaze far away. "He would call Him...' my Dark lover, oh Thief of my heart... where are you? Why can't I reach Mathura? Why am I surrounded by rascals?'" He closed his eyes...
For his part, Kripa was making sure his jaw would not hit the floor... 'Mathura... my dark lover... That's Mathura's where Krishna appeared six... five thousand years ago...Krishna? Krishna is this Samuel... did he...'
"We all thought he was crazy and worshipping a demon... And the church..."
"Killed him," Kripa spoke grimly.
"They did... After he painted two pictures of God." Gaston turned to Kripa...but not before glancing at the eerily quiet room...it seemed the fight was over. "Say...do you think we should..."
"Nah...Mom and Ken didn't call us." Kripa dismissed. Sure, he was worried about his mother...and everyone else. But at the same time, he knew her power...and he also knew that he was horrible in an enclosed space. "So...pictures of God by your uncle who wished to kiss him." he drawled instead. "how did it look like?"
A smile Graced Gaston's lips. " Sixteen years old, as blue as the night sky, bent in three places, wearing a golden yellow dhoti and playing the flute and a maiden most fair by his left side."
Kripa let his mouth fall open. "Hah?"
"And the other picture...he called him, golden limb. It's a beautiful young man whose skin shame gold, and who long eyes pour tears like a monsoon cloud." he turned to Kripa, his smile pure form its usual self-importance. "Yesterday...I found the book of your cult and open, it. The same pictures met me...and when I..." His cheeks gained a pinkish tint. "When I...slept with you...I saw I saw my uncle again...he was glowing, and he looked...not from this world." He took a deep breath in before he continued.
"And he told me...He told me His Gaura-Krishna...Krishna and Gauranga...they wanted me to...not act like an overinflated aristocratic fool, but as the respectable warrior I was meant to be... and to listen to you and your mother" He admitted. "It may not sound life-altering, but I assure you, Sir Kripa...To see my uncle with...Him...
"And you listened to him." Kripa smiled. "Gaston...you're so fortunate, you know that?"
Gaston remained quiet...and quite a few hunters ran into the Ginza underground district, all carried guns.
"Welp...I think Those two old biddies were wanted by the hunters." Kripa was not surprised, the one thing the hunter would always put in the forefront was the welfare of children.
The son of Mukhara glanced at the Gaean assassin, despite having the leaders dragged out in cuffed and flanked by many hunters, she was still passive.
'Alright Krishna...That's not normal.'
But this passivity evaporated the moment Mukhara walked out of the door. Then, the oni like girl moved faster than Kripa could react to, and sliced Mukhara with the twin hatchet.
Mukhara disappeared in a flash of light...and Kripa's heart stopped.
Only to start again when Mukhara re-appeared behind The demon, the girl only had time to turn to face her divine assailant when she, the saintly prince, pierced her lilt body with numerous light sword. Pinning the unfortunate girl to the far wall.
It was then that Krishna-Kripa and Gaston finally managed to move, but by then it was already too late.
"Stand down," Mukhara ordered as she approached the pinned...and probably dead, young girl.
Kripa averted his eyes...this was a young girl, she had been trained by the Gaean's as a weapon, this would have been her fate eventually. 'At least...this life had been short. Krishna...she made a mistake...and she was ignorant of who my mom is.'
"No...She knew full well of Mukhara's status as my devotee."
"Then she had no idea what was the consequence of attacking a devotee.' Kripa argued.
"A fire will still burn an ignorant child..."
"Krishna...be nice!" He scolded the Lord.
It was not His job to Protect Him, Kripa would be His sword, shield and the arms that wielded them... 'Krish...take a break, I'll take care of your devotee's'
The saintly prince stopped in front of the dead Gaean assassin and removed her mask, revealing the pretty face of a young girl...her red eyes staring at Mukhara without fear.
'Oh hey! She's still alive!'
"Who are you?" Mukhara asked.
"I am Toki..." The young girl, Toki answered without inflection. Her voice was high pitch and sweet...but was cold and empty.
It stabbed Kripa's, soft heart... What had those Gaeans done to her? 'Krishna...whatever sins she had committed, just transfer it all to those who abused Toki."
"Toki...my name is-"
"Mukhara, the leader of the true Hare Krishna... the Divine Power." Toki answered.
"No, I'm not a leader, just a lowly servant." Mukhara bowed her head. "Now...my dear Toki-chan. If I, a mere maidservant is powerful enough to take down lady Mii and Kai, what does it say about my master?"
"Mii and Kai were just the handmaiden of Lady Yuriko, nothing more." She revealed. "We Gaeans are still serving under our lady, even if she is not physically present."
Mukhara nodded. " I see...now, why did you attack me?" She asked.
"I wanted to test the power of the male Dryad, your son." she turned her red gaze to Krishna-Kripa, who averted his own. "He had killed Shesha..."
"He was not at his strongest," Kripa admitted. "And the real killed was Gaston, not me."
Well... he had Trashed the beast-like they would do in that western cartoon about the two... Gaulois.
"And he has pierced the celestial vault with a magic unknown to us."
"And you want him to be your master and... Mate with him." Mukhara concluded with a face devoid of any emotions.
"WHAT!?" Krishna-Kripa reeled. 'Oh Hell no...!'
"This demon is more powerful than anything we've known off. Mii and Key were-"
"Yes, I know Toki-Chan...But my son has the right to decline it also." Mukhara informed Toki, and sheer relief filled Kripa's body.
"Not if you tell him."
"my Son is a young man, he is free to do as he will, as long as he doesn't cause harm to other living entities...withing reason." Mukhara informed the... Gaean assassin. He arms cross as she closed this particular negotiation. "We are all free to chose Toki, we may not have the ability to change everything about our fate, but providence is more lenient and flexible then we give her credit for.
Toki's eyes grew wide. It was clear that for the young girl, having the right to deny something to have a free-will was something extremely shocking and alien to her.
"Toki-Chan... you were sent to assassinate me so that those two demon's could exploit my son." Mukhara revealed. "But...you didn't act on it, and instead, you waited for me and the rest of the hunter's to arrest those two human traffickers."
"I..."
"Wanted an out. You made your choice and went against those two jackals wishes. This is free will." Mukhara spoke gently. "My dear Toki...you made it, I won't let them hurt you anymore."
The light sword vanished, and the would be assassin fell to her feet. She looked scared, dazed and baffled.
And then...she fell to her knee's, he whole body shutting down.
The hunter association took her into custody, they would deal with Toki...and all the other weaponized children the Gaeans had abused.
But this...is not a story for me to tell.