Chapter 2: Fated Encounter
Current Location: Natsuki Residence
Time: 9:50 PM
4 years ago
A young, black-haired familiar boy was questioning himself on what is the point of his existence. He never helps around the house where his two wonderful parents do their absolute best to make him feel comfortable, how utterly slothful. How unrepentant this youth is towards the sin of sloth. He embodies it, embraces it, feels repulsed by it, craves it, admires it. He feels his breathing going erratic, that unbearable invisible weight crushing him as much as all the expectations he has never fulfilled, left unattended or simply, one of the boy's favorite methods, to run away from.
"Stop thinking like this or else you will really want to go through it and end it all." Screams the boy at his despairing mind just when he was about to let a silent scream a single knock echoed upon his door. Blinking the boy takes a moment to consider where he is. Is he still lost in the dark recess of his mind, where thought and reality merge and intertwine at every interval, wanting nothing more than for his own sanity to join them. Was there a knock on the door or was that jus-
A firmer yet still polite knock graces his door for the second time, pulling the boy back to himself fully as he bolts alright. He gasps his chest as color returns to his eyes. Taking a deep breath he utters a word that he still does not know if to treat wearily or not:
"Come in… please." There, he said it will that mean that after one or both of his parents come in and say whatever they need to say before taking their leave. Will he be able to resume continuing his existential dilemmas on why his loving parents should simply give up on their defective parasitic spawn and they should-"
"Natsukii are you thinking bad thoughts again? You should stop before I make you eat lots' of mayonnaise!" Intones a voice with a small drawl and just from hearing the voice the inner demons of Natsuki Subaru retreated and locked themselves deep inside his mind. Willing to depart momentarily for they know they would be back.
Subaru feels his real self, the tangible one that people could actually see and not his despised self, the one that made up more of the boy than any unconditional love could do to try and fix the mess of his mind. He takes a silent breath and looks up while he slips on his everyday facsimile of a smile, hoping that he had improved it to be even more flawless and undetectable than before. He has to be oh, so careful, since it was from his mother that he inherited these fearsome eyes after all.
"Hey mom, what are you talking about? It is me, your son, the one and only Natsuki Subaru." Exclaimed and posed a cheerful(Fake) Subaru while eyeing his mother with caution only seen to himself. As he is about to breathe a sigh of relief that she had not noticed anything, he sees a glint from those very fearsome eyes and his breath hitches as he knows the jig is up.
Natsuki Naoko may not be the smartest person around, yet a mother's intuition and perception bar none. She frowns slightly but upon seeing the obviously fake smile crumbling from her son's face as he looks like he is going to panic, she takes three steps towards him and embraces one of the two people that make her complete. It always pains her that her joy of life trembles so, as if he is unworthy of his own mothers love. She knows her son is an inherently good person but struggles with issues that herself and her beloved try their best to understand. But both herself and Kenichi agree that sometimes some issues need to be left alone to the person dealing with them, while they would offer their encouragement and support. So she held her sobbing son as her heart broke a little as well, yet it should be the duty of the mother to take on the pain of their children and that is oh, so unfair.
After a little while longer both the content mother and slightly embarrassed son parted while she still kept one hand on his shoulder. Making sure that he would at least try to be more familiar with his own mother.
And watches as her embarrassed son finally puts on a real smile, albeit it looked a little odd, as if it rarely if ever saw any use. Naoko gives her own serene smile and Subaru's face relaxed slightly as if he had passed a test and scored a 100. Remembering that his mother had come and possibly more than to check up on him he asked:
"What's up mom, while it is always a pleasure to be graced in your divine presence did you just come to check on your worth… son? Because I really appreciate it buu-"
Interrupts Naoko, as she puts her index finger on Subaru's lips while thinking why indeed she came up here. While it is always great to see her son and both of them do their own activity, which is to just gaze absentmindedly and eat mayonnaise, she recalls she had another reason perhaps? Hmmm maybe five more minutes and then her son finally puts two and two together and reminds her. See! At least you can count…. Hmm that wouldn't go too well with him right? And-
"Mom you came here to ask if I could go to the convenience store right " Interrupts a calm Subaru with a smile that was lifted ever so slightly in what could have become a genuine grin if he ever relaxes enough.
While rubbing her hand over her brown smooth hair and the other one under her chin as she slowly came out of what her son affectionately called Pensive State. She opened her fearsome eyes that were shining with happiness that she had two wonderful men in her life. She frowned suddenly at the idea of one of them ever disappearing, the disturbing thought leaving as quickly as it came. If Naoko does not like something then she shall just banish it.
Nodding contently she gave her shining star a list that her wonderful husband had written out for her. Because if she would have to write it she would have to go into a Pensive State for hours and hours. Until she realized that It would be nighttime. Much better to do it this way and just trust in her men.
Subaru shook his head and his smile returned in full force as the boy felt suddenly lighter, as if he could face his trials and maybe instead of running away at least attempt them? Is it worth to think like that, nay, could he afford to think like that and fail while remaining ok? Suddenly just when his smile was about to contort into one of despair a soft hand ruffled his hair and a serene voice followed:
"Hmm, it is always nice to see you smile, all I and your father ask is to smile more often, when you can ok? Now go Subaru, before your father gets cranky over not eating his chips during his favorite parts of a show." Giggles Naoko and pats her son on the head as she exits the room of her shining star, Subaru.
The boy in question just feels a huge weight off of his chest and grins with confidence the first time that week. With shining eyes he points his finger at the direction of the corner store he has travelled to and fro so many times. "Mission get Dad snacks before he gets cranky and body slams me has been assigned! Bonus points if they have the spicy kind mom also likes! Let's Go time for shu- Natsuki Subaru to go out once more!" Finishes the boy with just a mere tremble instead of collapsing. Progress is progress after all. The boy gets his phone and leaves the house for the short journey, unaware that destiny had a surprise coming for him.
(Scene Change)
A sharp eyed boy was relieved that they had all the snacks his gluttonous parents demanded their frail son to bring them. He smiles at all the efforts his parents put in for a wor—son like this. Maintaining his cheery disposition as slight cracks emerge he pays the familiar cashier and waits for his change.
Glancing around he notices it is quite empty even though it is only a quarter past ten. Looking outside he sees that the full moon is in bloom, opening up the tendrils of darkness that form part of the sky and letting the moonlight liven up all she touches.
While feeling melancholic the cashier gets his attention and the boy stops paying attention outside, missing a glint of shadow that seemed to appear and vanish just as quickly. The only silent witness was the moonlight and she was not one to gossip.
The boy leaves the store and stretches his hands in the air as he does a quick few stretches from his favorite workout. After several minutes he is done and feeling his muscles properly lessened of tension. He once again looks at the full moon and it makes him entranced for another moment.
If something this celestial can bestow its life to petty creatures like himself than he should have another motivation to keep smiling he thinks to himself, while checking that his smile was ok and in no sign of cracks he turns around to start the short trek home when his eyes widen at the alarming scene that had appeared in front of him.
There on the ground, lays a female figure slowly trying to get up but failing to muster the energy, and an incoming semi-truck can't see her due to her clothes being black and his seat up to high until he finally hits the breaks and-
Immediately he drops his recently bought merchandise everywhere as he sprints as fast as he can, pumping any reserve energy he has from his body. As only one thing occupies his mind.
Faster,Fasteer,Fasteeeer,Fassteeer,No please faster, faster, faster, get there Now, Now, Now, Oh dear God, Faster, Fasterrr, Fasterrr, Fasterrr,Fasterrr, Fasterrr,Fasterrr,Fasterrr, Fasterrr, Fasterrr,
Fasterrr Fasterrr,Fasterrr,Fasterrr,Fasterrr,Fasterrr, ….DAMN ITT! I WON'T GET THERE IN TIME!
Despite the boy's assertions and all his willpower he is a couple seconds too short he knows he won't make it but he can't give up. For once in his pathetic excuse of a life he does not want to give up, or attempt half-heartedly. He wants to succeed, nay, HE WILL SUCCEED OR DIE TRYING!
COMMMEEEE ONNNN BODDYYY DON'T FAIL ME NOWWWW!
Suddenly time seems to freeze to a standstill around the two people.
One is desperately trying to stand as her weak body refuses to let her fight for her life, and the other is risking his life for this complete stranger. The boy, nay, hero grabs the weak figure from the ground and throws her as hard as he can away from the imminent danger she was in mere moments before, knowingly having swapped places with her. The final thing he heard is a hysterical scream coming out of the woman he just saved, and then the final thing he felt was his body getting hit and thrown like a ragdoll.
(Scene Change, Location:?)
Darkness surrounds Subaru as he is unaware of what is happening, he cannot feel his body, his limbs, his face, his arms, nothing. It's like he is in nothingness. Would that mean he is nothing as well? Ah that would make sense, the boy nods in his head, and for a very disturbing moment the boy seems to grin In his mind.
He erroneously thinks he deserves to be labeled a parasite, a worm, vermin, a scourge, a blight upon the amazing parents that should have never given birth to the alien entity that is Natsuki Subaru.
A broken individual with no desire to ever be remembered, to perish in the nothingness means he became nothing. He cackles out loud in short spurts of insanity, finally content that the world judged him as a blight upon its land and removed his tainted presence.
How very slothful , how unbecoming, how greedy, how envious, how sad, how mad, was laughing in sheer madness the non-corporeal body of Natsuki Subaru. Now a mere shell of its former self as it prepares to merge with what has always been its true essence , nothingness for it has always just been a good facsimile of what a human should be. It wonders if its fake parents would think that as it closes its mind for the last time.
While It could take a second or an eternity which wouldn't matter since all is equal in the void. It was wondering why It/He could still think? Could still process and analyze It/He's conditions towards It/MYSELF.
As fragments of the sanity of Natsuki Subaru the person, and the alien entity that considered itself Not Natsuki Subaru fought for establishment, a warm light such as moonlight touched both Natsuki Subaru's.
Natsuki Subaru the person, one filled with warmth and kindness and acts brave despite portraying himself as inferior. Who loves the world while downplaying the love that he should have more for himself. Such a light filled Natsuki Subaru the person with warmth and clarity as the damaged boy's soul finally began its long and arduous process of accepting it's self-doubts.
The boy shall always carry with himself doubt but know he can see that he has it in himself to improve. To be diligent, motivated, ambitious, humble, and persevere towards the great goal of becoming a better individual by doing the simple act of believing more in himself.
Accepting the help needed from his parents, accepting the mistakes that follow, and do not let them repeat themselves and wallow in past choices while moving on for a future that was as dark as the void in between stars. Which was slowly starting to shine as when the sun illuminates the day, bringing a feeling of warmth to all.
Instead of increasing his self-loathing and doubt and letting them to ever allow a phenomena such as this one to ever repeat itself, from the peaceful smile on the unconscious boys face, he shall put up a much better fight. And Natsuki Subaru the person, simply became Natsuki Subaru in all his self.
While Not Natsuki Subaru the impostor simply disappeared into the void, never to be heard from again. The wicked thoughts that had paralyzed the innocent boy's naïve mind disintegrating while a faint purple shadow could see streaking through the nothingness and joining Not Natsuki Subaru in a journey to where not even the Gods knew where it would lead to.
A girls silver bell like laugh was heard throughout this now stable mind frame of the boy who risked his life to save a total stranger.
(Scene Change)
Pain, sheer agony running through his entire body. It took everything that made Subaru to will himself not to die. Shivering he suddenly felt a warm hand grasp his, or at least that is his hand he believes.
It is strange how that warm hand was able to drive most of the pain away. It had a soft delicate touch to it, yet seemed to contain untold strength. He is trying to figure out if this may be his mother's hand or his fathers. But he dismisses that idea quickly without a doubt.
Naoko has firm yet gentle hands, easily not these since he has helped her make dough before. And he didn't even consider his father. His father would rather jump on him with a pro wrestling move. So he wonders who does this dainty hand that he can feel the gentleness from belong too. He must make an effort to find out, to at the very least satisfy his curiosity.
Subaru struggles to open his eyes and when he can finally open them all the way he takes a look around. White orderly rooms, a faint disinfectant smell, fluorescent lightbulbs. With a frown, he tries to recall what he last remembered. It did not help that it was in flashes, some dropped candy, a figure trying and failing to get up, bright lights incoming towards the figure, having an urgent desire to save something? No, it was someone.
Are they important to him? He is not sure but he hopes that they are ok. He feels that wonderful sensation through his body as if all the negative thoughts and self-doubt had been eradicated or simply erased. Well maybe not all of them since he can still feel small tendrils here and there, but if not given a reason to grow then all should be well.
He finally takes an opportunity to check himself and discovers that he has casts surrounding most of his body. Looking more like a mummy than anything else, but infinitely more alive.
He feels what appears to be the only mostly undamaged appendage which is his right arm, which of course connects to his right hand following the line of thought till he reaches his destination, he blinks in shock and disbelief.
The dainty and oh, so warm and gentle hand that is holding his belongs to what could possibly be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Silky, smooth long hair that seems to follow below her waist, each strand reflecting different colors depending on how the light hit it.
A heart shaped face with full and gorgeous lips, pinched together as if trying to frown. How odd but it makes sense since she is currently asleep . The eyes could not be seen but the lashes adorning them were long and thick, many women would be pouting in jealousy. She seemed to mumble in her sleep, what a cute quirk thinks Subaru warmly as he realizes quickly he has been ogling at her for quite an inappropriate amount of time.
While feeling conflicted whether he should wake her up or not he did not have to worry about that issue anymore since her body was more than happy to get in motion. She stirred slowly like a cat unrolling it's body stretching as she got up. Now that the lad saw her she had an amazing figure as well to his quick blush. Yet the most fascinating thing to him were her eyes, he had never seen such a color on a person. Sure maybe as a trick of the sun, or false contact lenses, and only the absurdly wealthy would use implant graphs on their visual organs merely for the sake of aesthetic and not military or sight enhancement . But no they look as natural as those lips of hers that were presenting a small frown. Gorgeous Amethyst eyes on such a fascinating woman. She was also wearing a rather interesting midnight black dress, following her all the way to her feet.
"What a marvelous lady." As he knew that she must have been staying with him for how long? A few days, weeks? Hopefully not months. He cleared his throat to hopefully get her attention and not embarrass himself, but what fate may be, leave it to fate.
As the lady in question still hadn't noticed who said that he coughed his throat again motioned to her with a grin, or whatever painful imitation of that is. "Hey nice to meet you, I am Natsuki Subaru shut In extra-!" He was interrupted by the girl launching herself at him and he was just left in total and utter shock as the girl looked at him with eyes already bawling out in tears.
"Subaruuuuuu, Subaruu! You are alive, thank god, thank everything, I was so worried, I.. I .. I..(Hiccup), Uuuwuuuuuuu…" Finished the trembling lady as she just hugged the person she owed her everything too while wailing like a five year old. The stranger that had saved her pathetic life when she had already resigned herself to a violent death, one she felt she may have deserved and been a form of punishment for her sins.
She gripped the confused and shell shocked boy firmly but with care since the med gel and medical nanites had not finished fixing the many lacerations he suffered in protecting her life. She mentally cursed herself at putting such a wonderful and selfless boy in such danger when it should have just been her to suffer and perish. After meeting his worried parents she could tell how loved this wonderful boy was deep down.
His eyes which looked so similar to his mothers and also a tad familiar from another individual she could not recall, seemed so fearsome yet they were gazing at her with confusion and relief to see her fine.
She thinks to herself:
" His eyes are the most wonderful palette of brown I have set my sights on, and look resilient as the toughest and gnarled tree in the forest. His hands are soft, nearly feminine yet for the sure and firm grip that I feel on my hand. And I feel his warmth and concern for me, as if it was me lying in this facility to treat the infirm and ones that suffered injury. How is he so good hearted?
Who could be as brave as to jump in front of such an enormous vehicle to save a mere stranger while risking their own health and well-being? How magnanimous of this gorgeous boy for such an unworthy individual such as myself. For me he sacrificed himself without ever knowing if he was going to live or perish.
For me he woke up in this facility and smiled while still confused, relieved to see myself fine and in good health. What have I done to deserve such a miracle angel to help me? I just want to continue being near this cherished person, no with Subaru."
She relaxes herself and gains warmth from Subaru yet still hugs him, she leans back and looks at the sharp eyes of this man she is starting to have her heart race for, and with a dazzling smile that makes Subaru's time stop she states:
"My Name is Satella, and your wonderful parents let me know your name as we shared our time here while waiting and hoping for you to wake up soon. Subaru-kun I just wanted to say that you are my hero. Thank you for saving my pitiful life!"
Here Satella gets off Subaru with reluctance and looks at her new savior with worry dancing in those sparkling pools of lavender, at maybe the boy not liking her, at feeling her unworthy to have been saved. Maybe he was just doing what he does best and acted like the hero she feels he is in every bone of her body. Maybe just mayb-
She is interrupted by Subaru who began crying yet not tears of grief, not embarrassment, but joy. Horrified, Satella gets closer yet is hesitant in how to approach until Subaru extends his still functioning arm to her and she looks in wonder while clasping it and falling into his embrace with a little shock.
She leans her head on his shoulder with a cast while Subaru just hugs her as best as he can with his right arm until he emotionally declares:
"I am not crying out of sadness or frustration, but I am crying out of sheer fucking joy that the one thing I decide to give my all too and forbid myself to fail, succeeds wondrously." Here Subaru cranes his neck as best as he can and looks at this fairy that seemed to have fallen from another world in her enchanting amethyst eyes.
Satella is just feeling her heart erupting in pure bliss as tears of her own form, awed at how this boy looks at her as if she saved him. What would she have ever saved him from, she wonders. It is more like he saved her and she inconvenienced him with his timely rescue, truly a man with good timing.
As she begins to subconsciously to slowly fall for this amazing man he finishes saying with a grin that makes the poor girl heart race as fast as horse's swift gallop:
"I Natsuki Subaru, can say I am blessed to have met such a fairy like yourself Satella, And saving you truly saved myself as well. So let's count it as even and be friends okay.?
Subaru's eyes crinkly with worry as he had never truly had a friend before, not even when dreaming would he have even considered being friends with a girl such as Satella, who eclipsed him in every aspect of what he is slowly realizing was a past that was neither pitiful nor sorrowful, only negative emotions feeding off him made him think those wicked thoughts.
He shakes those thoughts away with swiftness as he hesitantly glances at the fairy in his arms and hears her laugh, a sound that again seems to stop the boy's mind. And one that sounded vaguely familiar but he could not recall. It is as if the world decided to stop in order to partake in the activity of listening to this divine laugh, a sound that could enchant all, like silver bells flowing in harmony.
Subaru unaware that Satella was thinking along similar wavelengths of thoughts. How could she ever measure up to this magnificent soul, one she so admires while herself being a weak coward. They will both need to work on that, after all isn't that what friends are for she cheers in her head.
With a smile and another hug she cheerfully declares:
"It would bring me nothing but the highest joy to be genuine and loyal friends with my savior, Natsuki Subaru. I Satella vow to always be there by your side and help you as I hope you can myself when we are both going through good or bad things, and for our friendship to blossom!" Satella says while thinking to herself that she does not think she can settle for a mere friendship. Oh no, not with this wonderful man, she is sure that just being in his presence will make her heart and body yearn for his touch and hugs and maybe cuddles. Who knows, only time can tell.
As both new 'friends' looked at each other's eyes while beaming with happiness, a rough and familiar voice erupted with loud cheer, startling the two. Satella was quick to separate from Subaru with a flush on her face as she covered her tomato face with her hands. The boy gulped as a large shadow loomed over him.
Before he can even greet this veritable titan of all walks of life which is his father, Natsuki Kenichi, he feels himself being crushed in the embrace of life & death. His eyes bulge out of his sockets as his father is shedding manly tears at the joy of his son being alive. That his one and only son is still counted among them as being in the realm of the living despite the circumstances, not realizing that his beloved wife Naoko and the girl whom his boy saved are trying to get his attention with panicked expressions. He then realizes he almost sent his son on his otherworldly journey to meet Kami-Sama. He let his poor nearly dead son go and just emits a rumbling laugh that would have caused earthquakes if he didn't control his vocal timber.
"Has my son been bothering you Satella-chan? Forgive him for he gets over excited around any pretty women, he just needs to develop his social skills and he will be a shining beacon of life that will attract all kinds of people and ladies." While chuckling he sends a wink to this blushing maiden his son saved. And he notices she pouts at the idea of his son meeting other woman. With a genuine smile shared between himself and his wife he continues teasing this easily flustered lass:
"Subaru my son, this is the moment that your destiny manifests! Go ahead and thank Satella-chan for bringing all that potential you had inside you unto the surface!" Naoko just laughs at her husband's antics and steps forward to ruffle her shining star's hair while grabbing Satella's dainty hand and smiles. Both Subaru and Satella feel a little confused at Naoko's actions until she gently speaks:
"Hmmm, this feels right don't you think so Satella-chan?" The tomato faced silver haired girl is getting flustered again but when she sees Naoko's tears of gratitude, inevitably her own start to form. "I know you feel guilty for my Subaru's actions and his injuries, but I also know that Subaru has not once thought about his injuries as being something wrong, isn't that right my shining star?"
Subaru smiles under his mother's warm gaze, for once she is looking as if she is fully aware of her surroundings, instead of being stuck in Pensive mode. Subaru thinks quietly to himself:
"Do I regret my actions? No not for once have I thought that. These injuries of mine are nothing compared to seeing Satella alive and walking. It is strange we should be strangers having met by extraordinary circumstances, yet I feel like we are very close. I would love to get closer to her, and dammit my dad is being so smug teasing both Satella and myself ugh. Just you wait one day the disciple will surpass the master old man!"
Kenichi gazed at Subaru once he finished thinking that, and the boy developed cold sweats upon his back. His father just smirked as if telling him he would take him on whenever which made Subaru's heart stop in apprehension and nerves. While having left his son neutralized from future thoughts of rebellion against the patriarchy he speaks to their new silver haired friend:
"Satella-chan I know you were telling us earlier that you forgot most of your memories, and the psych doctors here can't really help you since they can't seem to access your Origin Chip and even your metia seems to have been lost. I have a bastard sage of a friend who owes me many favors, so I will call him and get you a new Metia as well as a temporary Origin chip that will enable you to be registered in Japan's citizen registry. You can live with us as a thank you for everything, as well as you seem quite smitten with my bastard son, maybe one day both of you could even be-" Here the amused Kenichi is cut off by a tomato faced Satella.
"Thank you for the offer Kenichi-san but this teasing is SOOO mean." The girl composes herself a little better and stops blushing as much as she smiles tenderly at Subaru who looks warmed by the gesture and she continues speaking: "Subaru has just woken up and I have just been thanking him for saving the life of a stranger such as myself! Really with parents as amazing as both of you I am not surprised he ended up being so brave and courageous."
With a smile on her slightly blushed face she turns around to a quickly recovering Subaru who was accepting all of these new emotions and the rapidly growing bond between his family and Satella. And she chimes in with her silver bell like laughter:
"Matter of fact Kenichi-san, Naoko-kun, Subaru and I have already decided to be friends, to always help each other when one is feeling down, and vice versa. I hope that will be ok with the two of you?" Pouts an adorable silver haired girl, gazing at the parents in question with her adorable lavender colored eyes, cranking her charm to the Max.
Both Parents were already in love with this pure hearted lass and have decided to have her always be around their shining star, so he can learn to love himself and appreciate the care the world has for him. With all of three of them showering Subaru with love and affection, then no gloomy thoughts will stand in their way!
All of this was non verbally communicated between the new Shower Subaru with Affection Squad, and as they nodded to each other sealing the deal, the boy in question was so confused he had to finally ask:
"Wait, Wait, WHAT!? Satella is going to live with us, and she doesn't have her Origin chip nor Metia? This is a lot to process for someone that just woke up in the hospital. Dad, Mom can we-"
And any small protestations or at least inquiries died in his throat when he glanced at Satella, and they both started thinking simultaneously:
"How could I have been so stupid to not consider her situation? Dammit Subaru you are a first class idiot!"
"I should not have intruded in this lovely family, they all look so complete why would I have ever fooled myself thinking I may fit in with good people, when I am just a sin. Dammit Satella you are a first class fool."
No, I will make this right I don't believe someone like myself can deserve happiness, however dammit I am tired of always being negative, especially surrounded by such love. And Satella, is someone worth exploring to see how far our futures can go! I will not give up halfway anymore!"
"I should have just stayed until making sure Subaru woke up then I should have left, they would have been curious sure but the safety of their son is paramount. Truly I have been greedy for wanting to be surrounded by these wonderful people. I will just wait and slip out to use the restroom and disappear from their sphere of kindness. But then why is my heart hurting at the idea of being away from this family. Nay why is it hurting at the idea of being away from my savior? I am confused I just need to-"
"Satella!" Shouts a boy with fire in his eyes and he gets up slowly as the three dimensional casts surrounding his body breaks away as the machines determine he has been healed enough to move. The determined boy gets up slowly and both his parents and Satella are slightly shocked as they can see his will power.
Naoko is about to tell Subaru to take it easy but a warm and firm hand pats her left shoulder, and she gazes in curiosity at her husband as he grins. Knowing that his son is about to show his cool side. Naoko grasps this and smiles just nuzzling her head into Kenichi's shoulder, like she had done countless times.
"You shouldn't get up so quick Subaru. You were injured protecti-" Satella stops saying as Subaru's gaze lands on her puzzled one, and she Is shocked and slightly frightened at how his warm gaze can radiate such a serious and menacing aura, though the menacing aura is not being projected at her at all, it just seems to manifest when Subaru gets serious.
"Tella-Tan right now you were thinking you were maybe being a nuisance and wanted to leave right?" Satella gasps in shock and tears form in her eyes but the boy is not done.
"I know because I always had those same eyes when thinking similar thoughts. That you are intruding in a place that would function fine without you, that you are not needed and just the thought of maybe bothering the people around you would make you feel pathetic and wanting to be anywhere but there."
Here Naoko and Kenichi both shed silent tears as they start to truly understand how their dazzling son had such a pessimistic view of himself. But they are also smiling as they recognize how their amazing star is opening up in front of them without shame or embarrassment in order to save this wonderful girl for the second time.
Satella is just openly weeping, wondering how Subaru could see through her thoughts so easy, and wanting to deny them but not possessing the courage to lie to her savior or his parents she just keeps quiet until she sees the boy she is falling in love with stretch out his hand to her as he had done previously, and he finishes with saying.
"Tella-Tan didn't we say we are friends earlier? So welcome to the Natsuki Family, I Natsuki Subaru will always be there for you, for thick and thin, and to help you as you will help me in our moments in life. What do you say Satella? Ready to be part of this weird family?"
Chuckles Subaru as he suddenly gasps in shock at a petite figure hugging him with surprising force, her shoulders trembling.
"YES, YEES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES SUBARU. I would be honored to be part of this beautiful household!" Declares a teary eyed Satella who is smiling the biggest smile she ever has.
While Subaru is hugging Satella he glances at his parents who are both at the same time posing with their thumbs up, while his mother is mouthing good job son, his father is mouthing that babies can wait. Which makes the embarrassed boy flush with the heat of a thousand suns. And thus begins the days of healing of Natsuki Subaru and Satella at the humble abode of the Natsuki family.
(Change Scene and Time)
Current Location: Neo-Shibuya residential district
Current Time: 7:00 PM
3 Days after broadcast
Subaru vectors to the next building and lands on a small clearing while he executes a roll on the ground before getting up tiredly and leaning against a small abandoned wooden shack. He glances at the shack and remembers how fast technology has taken over all facets of life and how old structures like these should have been demolished a long time ago. He fondly thinks of a better time when he took Satella with him to look at some old buildings that were scheduled for demolition where he used to play as a kid.
"Times really have changed haven't they?" Murmurs the boy while looking around, rather lost he realizes. He cannot activate his Pirater due to how many entities and organizations could brute force hack into it and he would be surrounded in seconds. While technically illegal to turn off your Metia he was past caring since he stole the Lion's Greifhaken, the tool that has enabled him to swiftly escape that odd duo of boy tiger and hacker loli. Just when he thought of his pursuers they appear.
Garfiel exits his beast mode and collapses on the ground exhausted, as he struggles to get up he sees the target he has been trying to pursue for over four hours just leaning back on the wall, looking unfazed at the extreme levels of exertion they must both be feeling. The young blonde man is truly cursing Subaru in his mind, and if he could take one more step he would, but he hasn't even eaten all day since the moment he was going to take a bite this asshole appeared in front of him. Not even giving him the decency of waiting till he finished his meal and got back his energy to then pursue.
While boy tiger and exhausted vectoran just looked at each other, perfectly content to let the other rest for a while since both were truly too tired for another game of tag, a shrill and annoyed yet still cute voice pipes up and shocks both men:
" Betty is to her limit, in fact. Subaru how dare you force this young maiden to engage in such physical activities of a chase, I suppose. Have you no shame, I wonder?"
With those stunning words wonder hacker Beatrice appears mounted on top of a personal travel drone, that looks like it has a very comfortable seating chair where the drill loli is sitting at, without a drop of sweat in sight, sipping a Boba tea.
Subaru is just in awe at how easy some people have it, it looks like she has her own miniature command center, noticing all the screens she has displayed in front of her. That is adding to the fact that her little pet program Oracle is processing all of that information and probably calculating what the boy will do now, trying to make up for its previous failed prediction.
Here Subaru says enough is enough and lifts his hands in a peaceful gesture. Both Garfiel and Beatrice watch with apprehension, as this is not the first time they have been tricked by this annoying man.
"Beako, Garf, enough is enough would you not say? I could have kept running and evading both of you for enough time and slipped somewhere that had too many variations for your Oracle to predict with any certainty." While the loli pouts angrily she won't disagree since these last four hours of playing catch up have indeed shown that if nothing else, Natsuki Subaru can evade and shake off even the most adamant of pursuers. He continues now while looking at Garfiel:
"And Garf, you could easily pour out more of that enormous amount of vitality and stamina you possess and have tracker skills that would but most professionals to shame and make them close up shop. But you do not know this city like me. I had many opportunities to lose my scent which you use to track, and since I am keeping my Metia forcefully off neither you nor Beatrice would be able to keep this going on with such ease, at least agree with me on that? "
Both Beatrice and Garfiel look at each other and after a couple of seconds sigh, Garf is too famished to talk for long so Beatrice follows up:
"I assume you are flattering your mediocre abilities that are at least quite good at scampering away for a reason, I suppose?"
Subaru grabs his chest in mock pain at the ruthless words coming out of such an innocent face, he steels himself and decides to wager:
"You wound me with those words Beako, I thought we were getting closer to understanding each other, sigh. However yes I do have a point. Why do we not call a truce? At least temporarily, we stop pursuing each other, go eat some dinner at this point since lunch came and went. And just sit down and talk? Both of you have good hearts and I don't believe you would follow anyone with ill intentions. Despite trying to pursue me you never hurt anyone nor tried to use violence against me. It was quite fun actually." Finishes saying Subaru with a genuine grin on his tired yet hopeful face.
Both the drill loli and the tiger boy just seem to fall under the charms of Subaru since they are way too naïve. Beatrice considers it while Garfiel just wants to eat, and he had already started to admire Subaru since seeing him acting all cool when they had him dead to rights in that alleyway, yet he still managed to overcome the situation.
"Betty supposes that is fair since you haven't seem to want to truly run away, I suppose. If you could just answer why you did not try your best to shake us off, as you would say, then what did you stick around for, I wonder? Asks the curious drill loli with an adorable tilt of her head.
"Because I have no idea why everyone is chasing me, the broadcasts are not even mentioning my name, nor can I look through my metia and see any sites with more information seeing as I would be tracked immediately. also if I went to a stranger and asked them to look me up, I am positive that would not end well. We already established both of you just had the mission to retrieve me but not the knowledge why, correct?"
At a nod from a pondering Beatrice he seals the deal:
"Hey I will voluntarily go with you and meat your master or Lady. However I will not be in chains, nor constrained, furthermore and this is final, I will not leave until I find my wife. And I shall not budge on this understood? Otherwise I am going to really lose both of you even if I have to push my body to dangerous limits. So what do you say Garf and Beako? Ready to be a team?"
Subaru is maintaining a brave facade but he knows how tired he is, one more step and he will collapse. Hell if it wasn't for him leaning on the wall he would probably be on the floor just like Garf. He can only hope at this point for everything to go okay. And he is not lying he really wants to find out what is going on, maybe Satella can tell him, or maybe the Lady of these two will give him the information he so craves.
"Betty I say we jus' agree to the deal, it ain' hurtin' us one bit, and my amazin' self is truly starved." Pleads the blonde haired boy with his small yet menacing companion. Beatrice as well feels no harm to this deal, and she had been hungry for some time, yet her pride would not let her admit to that first.
"Hmph! Betty agrees tentatively, you do owe us some food for making us chase you so long and so far, in fact. We can discuss the details after partaking of some sweets, I suppose."
Here Subaru laughs and gives them a thumbs up:
" I Natsuki Subaru, am not one to let friends starve, as I have to consistently feed my avaricious teacher, she eats enough to feed me and Tells-tan over five times .Let's go Beako and Garfiel, I know just the spot.
All three former target and pursuers, under the calling of truce, became friends and Beako complained half-heartedly when Subaru put her on his shoulders and vectored away alongside a jealous Garfiel already planning on asking this man he wants to address as his captain where to get one of them grappling guns, and if they have a tiger version.
Current Location: Neo-Shibuya market district
Current Time: 8:30 PM
3 Days after broadcast
Beako is pouting while chewing with a pleased expression the lollipop that Subaru has given her to calm down her loli mood swings. Garfiel is enjoying bantering with who used to be a target that needed to be captured, to an unlikely ally and maybe friend for the future. Natsuki Subaru was enjoying the fun and amusement he has been sharing with his recently turned companions when he hears a mad laugh that startles him in place.
Everyone surrounding the trio seems to have heard the same voice, subtly laced with insanity, a voice to put nightmares in adults and make toddlers cry.
"What is that devilish voice and where is it coming from, in fact?" Questions an alert and uneasy Beako as she activates her Lumia scanner to begin assessing any potential threats, Oracle is also working at max processing capacity. Betty frowns as she cannot detect anything unusual based on the plethora of data she has received. While Garfiel's whole body has become tense, his sharp ears hearing levels above anyone in the vicinity.
"Oi Capn' I reckon there's somethin' of foul intentions around here, should we try and find whatever it may be?" Asks a highly tense young blond man, his feral instincts working overtime at sorting out this heavy weight in his chest as if danger is everywhere yet unseen.
Subaru furrows his eyebrows and makes a snap decision and tells his new companions to proceed quietly. Like the born tactician he is, the boy leads his small team rapidly and under cover to the source of the noise, an open area podium used for gaming and local affairs the citizens may dispute with one another when an actual court is not needed.
Subaru and company look in shock at what they are witnessing. Fifty heavily dressed Japanese Special Defense Force soldiers are decked out in heavy infantry gear. With kinetic pulse barriers shimmering through their special armor, said to be able to take on a fully charged shot from a pulse sniper rifle. They are all in perfect formation, spread out in a half circle with fifty menacing gauss rifles fully primed to launch at, an odd green haired man.
The man in question could only be described as utterly bizarre, with a faint stench of rot coming from him as his eyes spun around like a broken pachinko machine, as they finally settled down and focused on the waiting party in front of him. His grin grows to look as if it is about to split his lips, revealing yellow decaying teeth and with his arms held up to the sky, he begins his mad preaching:
Oh JOY! How BEAUTIFUL it is to be welcomed by such a DILLIGENT greeting party. These wonderful soldiers in front of me, are all firm believers in order, obedience, discipline, command, devotion, and duty, AGHHH, my BRAIN TREMBLES!" Crazily shouts out the insane man as he brings his fingers with cracked nails and starts scratching his cheeks with furor, quickly and forcefully enough that they start bleeding as his eyes cry tears of happiness.
To give credit to the highly trained JSDF they do not move an inch, or hesitate in front of such rage and lunacy. The commander, a tall individual fully covered in a powerful exoskeleton uses a voice Aug to project his voice directly to the madman, and the lunatic pauses his rambling as he gazes with eyes full of expectation at the leader who speaks.
"This is commander Hisato and these fifty brave men and woman are under my direct orders, if you do not comply and lie down while our drones immobilize you with tractor guns then we will open fire in ten seconds. Furtherm-!"
"HOW WONDERFUL. HOW INSPIRING IT IS TO SEE SUCH DEVOTION, SUCH DILLIGENCE TO SUCH A STRICT NATION! BUT! BUT! BUUUTT! I was not done basking in my joy! My happiness. MY REASON OF EXISTENCE. YOU RUIINEED IT COMMANDER HISATO. You became selfish, you tried to prove your DILLEGENCE WAS HIGHER THAN MINE OWN! Ahhh, now that is truly Slothful."
With a mad grin the crazed man lifts his hands in the air, and while that was happening a terrified sharp eyed boy notices dozens upon dozens of buried green lights start flashing. And he can tell that those must be high yield plasma mines. Something these soldiers stand no chance of surviving at such a terrifyingly close distance, as Garfiel and Beako both get pushed back by the desperate boy as he tries to scream a warning to the unaware soldiers, the green haired lunatic reveals himself:
" REPRESENTING THE HOLY SAINT'S ORDER , CARDINAL OF DILLEGENCE PETELGUESE ROMANEE CONTI! AND I JUDGE YOU ALL OF BEING SLOTHFUL, FOR YOUR FORTITUDE AND SERVITUDE ARE TOO SLOTHFUL AND LAZY ORGANIZATIONS AND WEAK WILLED LEADERS.
SO HERE IS MY GIFT OF DILLEGENCE TO LOST LAMBS SUCH AS YOURSELF, MAY YOU FIND TRUE DILLEGENCE AS I ONCE DID!"
Crazily laughs Petelguese as his unseen hands propel him out of the blast area when over thirty high yield plasma bombs activate, taking with them the area they were in and several hundred meters of length of the surroundings.
Subaru thought he was a goner and grabbed Beako to his chest, but then he opened his eyes and could not hear still due to his busted eardrums. However he sees the reason why Garfiel called himself with the title of Guardian.
Right in front of them Garfiel's armbraces have deployed in their full might and a kinetic barrier three times more dense and ten times more vibrant shines around them, protecting their little corner of the stage while everything else is in ruins. Subaru thanks his friend and hands him Beako.
With fury in his eyes he witnesses the madman named Petelguese laughing in glee at his carnage, and he tells Garfiel:
"We are taking that bastard down and we will do it with efficiency, carefulness, and timely execution, however there is one thing I must do first." And with determination Subaru points his Lion's grappling gun at a close direction to the loon.
"Heeeyyy Pete-Chan, is this DILIGENT enough for you? Activate, Lion's Greifhaken !" And the grappling A.I gun shoots with such force but misses the cardinal by inches, and Petelguese starts laughing:
"AHH, A FAIR ATTEMPT. TO OVERCOME ONES SLOTHFULNESS BUT
ULTIMATEL-!"
The rambling Petelguese gets interrupted as he gets kicked in the temple with the force and kinetic motion of Subaru who is seventy five kilos moving at one hundred and 20 K/M an hour, and crashes into the wall. Everyone including a shocked loli and star eyed blonde haired man are staring at this manic feat, while Subaru retracts the grappling gun and smirks at the man sized hole he made and utters:
"Thanks Pete-Chan, I hope you love my act of Diligence and Devotion, I may need to repeat it a couple of times. After all, I am still very new at this. My Wife cooks at home and gives me back rubs, so after all I am more slothful!"
The boy is unaware of the actions he has committed today, but as all things fate is a cruel mistress. However Subaru was not aware that he was being recorded live around the whole world since any incident with the Saint's Lament congregation of lunatics is watched closely, especially after what happened in Copenhagen.
Unaware of a state of the art spy sleek black spy drone that was also transmitting all of this information back to its master. A woman draped in black clothing was sitting down reviewing four monitors that were all seamlessly projecting the information to the metia the woman had integrated in her own brain. With closed eyes she reviewed the footage of Subaru and her lips curved to a slight grin as she sipped her preferred tea and muttered:
"How Interesting this is, so this young boy is the…(Inaudible). I cannot wait for how the future turns out, after all knowledge is everything, and my Greed is insatiable."