[ ν ] – εуλ 0001: May
Aiko Shirakawa
Once Shan had purged himself of the anxiety that had plagued him these past few months and gotten himself pulled together; He disentangled himself from his Grandmother's embrace.
"Thanks, Gran," he said quietly; a little ashamed at having broken down so completely.
Aiko, seeing Shan bow his head, chuckled. "No don't be like that, my little Shadow Dancer!"
Shan looked at his Grandmother to see her eyes alight with mischief and shook his head smiling a little at her use of the pet name she had given to him when he first started down the path of a warrior; as he would spend many hours practicing walking stealthy using the shadows to help conceal him.
As he and Tseng grew older, they would play a game of Hide-and-go -seek-Tag, where he mastered this skill of stealth and concealment and even Tseng was hard-pressed to keep pace with him, let alone beat him in this game.
"I'm not a child anymore Gran!" He replied ruefully.
She looked at him sternly. "That's right Shan, You are not a child! But there is no shame in expressing your feelings!" She placed her hand on his cheek, preventing him from looking away. "Even those feelings that may not be considered 'Manly'!" She replied.
He took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, your right!" He smiled reassuringly to her. Grateful for her steadfast support and that she didn't ask him to recount the events of the last few months.
He now turned his attention to the manifestation of his God. He had only been blessed once by Leviathan and that was when he had completed the trials of the Pagoda and received the mark of Samurai. But that had been many moons ago and Leviathan had spoken no words to him at that time. Shan had the feeling this encounter would be a lot different.
He stood and bowed respectfully. "My Lord! With an open mind and an open heart; I will listen to what you have to say!"
"Sit and be comfortable! And now that the thirst has subsided within you; you need to nourish your body with regular food!" and with that, a variety of foods and drink appeared before them.
Now that Shan was no longer crazed by the terrible hunger that had plagued him; The smell of the food made him realize how hungry he was as his stomach rumbled in protest.
Aiko laughed and begun to fill a platter with food for him and poured him a large glass of fruit juice. "Eat child and let us learn the truth of what has happened."
Leviathan gaze fell on both of them but let them eat in peace for a bit before he began, "I do not know all and there is some I can not tell, but what I do know is this! You, young warrior, have unknowingly been used in genetic experiments done by the man Hojo!"
Shan's head shot up at this and Aiko gasped but neither interrupted him. They just both stared in disbelief and waited for him to continue.
"A long time ago; A biological weapon from an alien race was sent to this planet to eradicate all human life and prepare it for habitation for the species that sent it. " Leviathans voice was low and dangerous.
"Those who called themselves the Cetra and are now known as the Ancients had inhabited much of this world, at that time. Sadly they had lost many of their people due to the manipulation and deception of this weapon. It was like a virus and a sickness of the mind; Making people believe it was dead friends and family who had come to them and allowed it to get close enough to infect them with its genetic material and would cause them to mutate into monsters. It then spread through the population, almost decimating them. Finally, the remaining few banded together and defeated it! Containing it's 'body' in the Northern Crater, where it lay dormant for 2000 years!" He paused here to make sure they both understood what it was he was saying. After both nodded he continued.
"Those Scientists, who worked for the newly made Shin-ra Manufacturing Works, were conducting many experiments. Of those came the ability to take the lifestream and convert its energy into electricity! But also came the knowledge of genetic manipulation and the discovery of the entity they named Jenova. A being, they believed, to be Cetra... It was the weapon!" He looks solemnly at Shan.
"It is the Mako treatments, that course through your body, that makes you SOLDIER! But it is that genetic material and the sword wound through your belly that has caused you to mutate and has changed you! Drawing upon your worst fears, to create a monster to continue to carry out its mission if you will."
Shan sat there, the food all but is forgotten, both his hands clenched in anger. To be used in a science experiment, without his consent or knowledge was bad enough but the fact it was done to him by one of his countrymen sent lances of white-hot rage coursing through him. He was about to get up and find Hojo and kill him very slowly.
Leviathan watched Shan closely as he told him these facts and the moment he saw the young man's eyes shift to violet, he cast a barrier around Aiko and thundered "ENOUGH!" And in that instant Shan could feel Leviathans' extreme power and he was able to regain focus and get himself under control.
"Now listen to me, my child! I marked you as one of my warriors. Even though I knew you would not be content to stay in this village! I saw into your heart and mind. I saw the strength of conviction that you had! I know it is within you to fight the savageness that consumes you but first, you must accept Who and What you have become! You must also consume blood to sustain that monster and keep it in check! If it is blood infused with Mako or with pure magic, the less you will need! More importantly, you are going to have to learn to control your anger! Or that which is inside of you will become stronger and will change your forever!"
At that moment Shan realized what Leviathan had left unsaid. If he did not control this beast that was inside of him; his life would be forfeit!
Aiko had been silent during this telling but she could not keep quiet any longer. "My Lord, how can this be? Night Starkers does not exist! They are a creature made up to frighten children..." She looked horrified at the thought that her grandson had become a creature from a story.
Leviathan looked upon the older women, his gaze full of understanding and sympathy. "I do not know exactly how this is but because this creature, these Shadow Stalkers are the one thing that Shan fears, The foreign genetic material can use it as a blueprint to change its host. The original weapon did this but more quickly and fully."
Sadly Aiko nodded and even though she felt she already knew the answer, she asked anyway, "Can you not change him... cleanse him?"
Leviathan shook is head."No, I do not possess that capability... And those few I did try to help only died!" His gaze now shifted to Shan.
"But in that, I can grant you a swift and painless end, if you so choose it!"
Shan sat back down on the floor, pulling his legs up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. He gazed at Leviathan for a long time as he thought things through.
"If I were to decide to live, there will be conditions!?" he stated more then questioned.
Leviathan smiled at his warrior. "Yes, there is much you have learned today, that most do not yet know. And in this, foreknowledge is no forewarning. You can not speak of what you know... Yet! You can not confide in others of what you have become! And you cannot confront Hojo! Time is visible to me and certain events must happen to ensure the survival of the planet. No matter how painful or senseless something may seem; just know it is something that has to happen."
Shan nodded his head in acceptance. Got up and went over to his grandmother. He knelt before her and hugged her tightly. "Love you Gran but I think it is time for me to go... The war has not ended and I will not sit idle."
She put her arms around her Grandson. "I understand. Please stay in touch and when you are settled, let me know so that I can send you your care packages!" She stated in mock firmness.
"Go to the guest house on your uncles' property. There you can have a bath and find clean clothes and can rest there for the day. No one will bother you. I will make sure of that! Then pack yourself a bag of supplies to take with you when you leave." she added.
Shan chuckled at the reference to the care packages she would regularly send to both Tseng and himself. Little things like tea, treats and such that could not be gotten outside of Wutai. And it was her subtle way of defying her children; Tseng and Shan's fathers, and the council. When they had banned both Tseng and Shan from Wutai.
"Thank you, Gran, I will." He knew the guest house would be unoccupied at this time of the year and the thought of getting much-needed sleep was even more appealing than a bath and clean clothes.
He then got up and bowed reverently to Leviathan. "Thank you, my Lord. I will strive to do my best with Honor of The Warrior!" He then turned and headed out of the temple and made his way to his Uncles guesthouse. Where he did a bath and change his clothes and fell into a very deep sleep.
Aiko watched her Grandson leave and then she stood up and bowed to Leviathan. "Thank-you my Lord. I may not know or understand all things but perceive that you have given him a real chance at living. But now I must go a seek my rest."
He nodded but replied. "Aiko you have always walked the path of the spiritualist and are true of mind and body; so I will tell you this. Your other grandson fairs well. There are many trials he too will have to face in the coming storm but I see he will overcome many of them. A day will come when he realizes he has found his true love, and there will be a day he will feel worthy enough to come home!"
Aiko smiled in relief. Shan was OK and Tseng was OK. And there would be a time when they both will be able to come home. She nodded and replied. "Thank-you!' and turned to leave the temple.
Moments after she was safely on her way home; Leviathan still stood behind the altar. Only he had assumed the appearance of a man. Tall and muscular. Raven Black hair, long and flowing. In his right hand, he held a trident. On his left. A mighty shield.
Beside him stood a Warrior Maiden. Tall of stature, long blond hair. Her armor made of gold. She carried a large sword in her right hand and a slightly smaller shield in her left.
"Have we done the right thing, my love?" Leviathan asked quietly.
"Only time will tell but the pieces are in play!" Minerva replied just as quietly.
A/N: I would like to point out, that I use the term samurai, to define male warriors of Wutai! I do this in part because Yuffie is always referred to as 'The Little Ninja'. And I wanted to highlight and celebrate if you will, the differences between men and women. Yes, both sexes can and do become Warriors but each fight with different styles designed to the strengths and weaknesses.
I have also used Leviathan as the Primary Deity for Wutai as I have always felt that this community would be very spiritual and traditional and it seemed appropriate lol.
The suggestion that Minerva and Leviathan are lovers is my own need for a little romance in a story but I wanted to write it this interaction to denote that, The Gods Do Meddle (Lightnings reference in Dissidia).
I do hope you are enjoying this story. And I hope I continue to do justice for my friend's OC and to FF VII and compilations