Chapter 7: Hello, auntie.
Zazu packed his things as was ready to go in half an hour. He didn't have much anyway; among them are his toiletries, his clothes and a few other things. After packing them into a small bag, he was ready to go. He left his 'so-called' pentium-10 computer at his room in Vanagdrassil, only to wait for a suitable place for him to stay.
Zarah taught him a passive spell (a passive spell is a spell that is continuously activated in the background) called 'translate thy words'. It gave him an easy way around compared to understanding Japanese manually, because it would take weeks for him to master even the basics. All his prior knowledge of Japan came from the manga's and the anime's that he had read or seen.
Furthermore, he would not be used to the new cultures that await him when he reaches Japan later. The season, the climate, the food, and many other things will be new to him. He would really need to be open-minded to adapt quickly to the new environment. Furthermore, how does Nekomi Tech University taught its students? He heard of students in Japan attempting suicide due to failed exams. (Writers note: No offense meant) That made him worry whether if he could catch up to the other students in the university or not.
"Oh yeah, how am I going to get my money over there?" he asked Zarah.
"Simple, you will have an instant account with enough money in it for you to buy an island," replied Zarah.
Zazu gulped. "No thanks, all I need is enough money to get me by. I don't want to be spoiled."
"Fine with me then, it's proposed by your grandmother anyway."
Zarah then suddenly gave a very innocent look at her face with puppy eyes. "In that case, can you transfer a few billon yen to me? Please?" Both of her hands were cupped upward, and smiling mischievously at him.
"No, you must live like a normal student anyway."
"Please?" a softer voice.
"No."
"Please?" an even softer voice.
"No!" Zazu replied loudly.
"Damn you!" Zarah broke her innocent look and throw a huge fireball at him.
This time, Zazu was caught off guard by her sudden change of behavior.
After fixing him from the burned portions of his body, Zarah materialized his new set of clothes and his bag. It was a standard blue jeans and a white T-shirt for him to wear. It was probably the 30th new set of clothes she made for him.
"Zarah, how about you? How are you going to look like in human form?"
Zarah smiled and began her transformation process. Energy began to twist and twirl around her. Zarah focused as she rearranged the structure of the molecules in the air around her and form them into fabric. The light was quite bright that Zazu had to close his eyes.
Ten seconds later, the light dimmed and a girl popped out into view.
"Oh my demon!" Zazu said to himself. "She looks really good!"
Zarah looked like a 20 year old female that came from western countries. She had slightly bluish eyes and a fair complexion. Zarah was still the same height, around five feet plus, or about 3 inches shorter than him. However, she looked more timid compared to her demonic form. She had short brown hair that was slightly shorter than shoulder-length, with the ends curled outward slightly. She looked weak and timid, perhaps around 45kg. She wore a yellow skirt that reached knee length. And finally, that face.
A guy could become dizzy looking at it.
Zarah caught Zazu staring at her. She smiled, "Why Zazu, never taught I could look so nice?"
"Uh-huh," Zazu replied, semi-hypnotized. "You cutest girl I ever met."
Zarah was taken aback. She was expecting him to say she was the most striking, beautiful, enchanting or enthralling female he ever met or something like that.
"Uh.... Thanks," she blushed.
"Yeah sure," Zazu said, blushing too. He didn't know he could be that brave to say something like that too her.
A moment of silence was in the air.
"One thing through," Zazu suddenly chirped in.
"What? Am I too beautiful to be a mortal female?" Zarah boasted.
"Remove the wings and fangs."
"What?"
"The wings attached to your head and the fangs in your mouth. A female would look weird with those two things attached to her."
"I don't want too! It'll make me look less beautiful and cute if I remove them!" Zarah sulked.
"But you'll look like an alien!" Zazu chirped in.
BOOM!
Another fireball came from Zarah, but blocked by Zazu. He anticipated something would be coming when he started to comment on her looks.
"Argh! Now I'm in a bad mood. First I can't keep my looks and now I can't bully you. I'm outta here!" Zarah opened a portal and teleported away.
(Focus to Zarah, alone)
Zarah was in a private place.
"I really need to practice again. All this babysitting on Zazu is really dropping my combat capability. I might be dropped out of second- class demoness if this continues on. Am I addicted to taking care of that idiot? Damn-you! Damn-you! Damn-you!"
Her ranting about Zazu went on for a while, until...
"You looked really cute......."
"Uh, him again," Zarah flash backed to that voice, "Well, he is kind of right through. I had never seen normal people on earth with fangs and wings. Anyway, I will have a lot of people to manipulate, control and play with later in Japan. Hehehe...." Zarah giggled evilly.
"I never know that copying Selphie from that stupid mortal game named Final Fantasy 8 could be so useful after all."
(Focus to Zazu, alone)
"Man, can't she even take any advice? I do care about her after all. She really has a lack of understanding and patience." Zazu sulked.
"I guess it my fault after all; I never really minded about a how pretty a girl can be." Maybe he should show her some human female pictures later. Then she'll understand what he is saying.
"Geez, I really don't know what shall I do. I like a girl that has a nice attitude and a little quiet. I didn't even mind the look of my dream girl. But she has nothing like that! Sometimes, her acting really pisses me off! Sometimes I feel like she's pushing me away from ever wanting to court her at all!"
(Zarah came back to see Zazu later)
She gave him a briefcase, and told him it was all the details they needed to study as exchange students later. He opened it, and saw his and Zarah's traveling documents, identification cards, and every single forgery he needed to enter the country as an exchange student. It was perfect.
The documents says that he comes from Malaysia, a student studying in Chemical Engineering, currently in a fourth year bachelors degree (equivalent to third year in Japan, I think) and currently will be taking a student exchange program in Nekomi Tech for one whole complete year. For Zarah, it says that she is an exchange student that came from Canada, and taking a course in Mechanical Engineering, third year.
One thing that kept making him feel weird through: Why did his grandmother wanted to send him to Japan? Well, at least she didn't send him to a country in war or something like that though. He was very open-minded. Joining a club named AIESEC in his university help him much to be more open- minded and accepting to other peoples cultures and societies.
He shouldn't worry like what he did earlier. In fact, he should see it as an opportunity to experience other people's cultures and lifestyles.
Zarah opened up a portal. It was opened up near a secluded area behind the university. This time it was only a meter off the ground. He easily jumped down to the soft grassland.
"Time for a new life," Zazu muttered.
(Focus to Hild)
"This will be interesting." Hild taught. Adding Zazu and Zarah towards helping Mara out in dealing with the three goddesses and that mortal are perfect. First, she could get rid of Zazu's problems with staying in hell. Two, she could get him to start practicing his skills as a demon with some 'examples' in earth. Three, maybe the goddesses could get into real trouble this time when Zazu and Zarah helped Mara.
Two goddess, two demoness and two hybrids. Perfect.
One thing though: Zazu didn't know she has plans for him. It is a plan that will fit his legacy well.
"Hahaha... I'm so smart!" Hild laughed to herself.
Her subjects looked at her as if she was crazy. But when she stared at them, they are back to their normal duties.
(Back to Zazu and Zarah)
Registration at the new university was done without any problems. Zazu pondered why the person who took care of his papers looked so angry with them both. Did anyone piss him off before this?
Zazu looked at Zarah. She was also acting weird. She seemed to be extra careful with her surroundings as if she will be ambushed or attack by someone. Don't she realized that there are only mortals around there?
After the registration, Zazu told Zarah that they should find a place to stay with a permanent address. Zarah asked him why; since they could simply 'make' a house somewhere near the university. He later then told him that they should find a real apartment to stay and rent so the university officials will not suspect them later.
Since they will start school tomorrow on Tuesday, they started off to find a new home. After only a few hours, they found a place. It was easy because Zarah hacked into the communication systems around Japan and used them efficiently. She wanted to change all the television channels to porn and create a lot of havoc through, but caution from the three goddesses that lived near their area stopped her.
After making arrangements with the landlord, they rented two rooms that are beside each other in the apartment.
Zarah then called Zazu over to her room. She informed him of the three goddesses that lived in an abandoned temple named Belldandy, Urd and Skuld. She told him that there was a mortal named Kenichi that lives with them. She also told him that Belldandy and Kenichi studies in the same university with them and at the same year too.
However, the most surprising news was Zarah told Zazu that Urd was his aunt, and the sister to his mother.
Finally, she also told him that he should start practicing his skills (i.e. causing trouble) with the three goddesses.
In return, Zazu told her about lifestyles of being a woman on earth. Among them are some of the lifestyles of normal human females, such as why a woman would sometime do this kind of things and that, in his perspective. Zarah listened to Zazu carefully, and can't stop wondering why humans on earth are so dumb to do so many useless and stupid things repetitively.
After his explanation, Zarah taught Zazu on how he should become more sensitive towards any aura projected by godlike beings. She didn't want him to become mincemeat if he accidentally bumped into the three goddesses.
"You must feel your surrounding more, Zazu. You can't depend on your five senses all the time."
Zazu concentrated, but he still can't feel anything.
"Try to ignore your other senses for now, hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing."
He did, and he picked up something. He sensed an aura from a godlike being. He couldn't determine the distance. "Who is that?" he asked Zarah.
"Good. You are actually sensing a goddess named Urd. She is probably drunk again. She is currently being fetched back by her friend to the temple. It is a real mistake showing her aura like that. Any demonic being that took advantage of the situation could attack her. She has immense powers though; I won't recommend you fighting her yet, and however sober she is."
"Furthermore, I'm currently shielding us both from their detection, so don't give sudden bursts of demonic energy or they might detect it."
Zazu then suggested to Zarah that he would try to change to his god form later with the assistance of Angi-Dev. Maybe their opposite forms will cancel each other's auras off.
Zarah continued on teaching him on how to refine his senses until night came.
Zazu's stomach rumbled.
"Well, Zarah, lets go find a place to eat," Zazu suggested.
"Nah, you go on by yourself. I don't need them anyway. Your partial mortal form needs it, but I'm a pure demonic being, so it's pointless."
"Nah, come on. Wouldn't it be really weird in the university if people never see you eating?" Zazu persuaded.
"You're probably right," and she followed him.
Zazu knew that it was not the case. If people noticed that she was not eating, she could simply make an excuse that she only eats at home anyway.
Actually, he wanted to take her out for dinner. He wouldn't make any real moves yet, but he just wanted to know her more. He was still pondering on whether he should court her or not.
After locating a suitable food stall, Zazu ordered two bowls of ramen for both of them to eat. (Ramen - Japanese noodles)
"You have to hold the chopsticks like this," Zazu told Zarah.
"Whatever." Zarah was frustrated at the inability to pick up the noodles with the two long pieces of plastic that she was holding.
"Calm down, and don't give up."
"Argh! Stupid piece of equipment!" and snapped the chopsticks into two. People looked at them, some smiled, but some laughed at Zarah incapability to handle the chopsticks. Zarah seemed to boil on the seat.
"Never mind, come on, let's go back," Zazu calmed Zarah down, before she decides to fry every single mortal that is eating in the stall. It seems like he didn't achieve anything from the dinner today.
Both of them went back to sleep in their respective rooms. Zazu didn't mentioned goodnight to her, because he's afraid that she might hit him again for being soft and nice at her.
What he didn't know was Zarah had begun to get used to his earthen attitudes already.
(Introduction of new character – a demon named Sebarah [pronounced Sae-Ba- Rah])
Senior first class Demon Sebarah, ranked 4 in the demonic army, eyed upon one of the female souls that was condemned to hell. She was in a state of stupor like pain already, and he could not make her experience his torture anymore. Her brain was burned out. He tortured her in all sexually ways unimaginable, which was highly praised by his demonic counterparts. The bad side is that now he had to call the demonic doctors for the 'torture treatment' again, where the mentality of the victim is restored sufficiently enough, so it could experience pain again.
Well known for his sexual desires, and ways to either torture the opposite sex, most of the demonesses avoided him. He was considered as 'no fun' to play with. It's only 'his way', and not any of 'her way'.
A few unfortunates did fall into his clutches. Even the 'corrupted' mind of a demoness, which could stand against a lot of torture and pain, needed demonic treatment after he had his way on them.
However, he was getting bored. He needed more excitement and more praises from his demonic counterparts.
And so to happen, two sisters seem to fit exactly into his tastes.
He heard of the two sisters that took out the god named Mars recently. Both of them gained popularity fast in the underworld. Many demons wanted to tame the sisters to be under them. It would prove nice to your image if you could control and manipulate a demoness that could take out a god like Mars. Furthermore, both of them have very alluring bodies that will make other demons extremely jealous of you, if you could get even one of them.
He heard that many went to try the prettier one among the sisters. The elder one named Mara, was taught to be an easier one to tame since she is just an office demoness in charge of wrecking peoples' wishes. However, not many could outwit the demoness. Many demons fell into her trap, and were either being pulled along to her wills unwillingly or was shamed upon as a failure.
The smaller sister had a different story. She was well known to either maim the most 'important' parts of anyone that tried to court her or simply kill the demon outright. No games. No talk. Expect her weapons blazing or fireballs flying as the answer to your advances. This sister was a playgirl no too long ago. However, a recent assignment to a demon made her change her playful attitude.
The two sisters are hard targets. He wanted both of them, but he knew it would be a futile attempt. One must come at a time.
So happens that one of them ranked lower than him in the military.
After checking into the Vanagdrassil database, he found something that made him grin from ear to ear.
Zarah was on earth with a babysitting job. There will be no other demons after her. Furthermore, her only assistance would only be a new demon that would have no combat experience at all.
She is all his to play with.
(Night time, Zazu)
Zazu summoned Angi-Dev out.
"Angi-Dev, what do you think of Zarah?"
Angi-Dev replied that Zarah is a very beautiful girl, but with a hot- tempered manner behind it. However, she has her soft spot sometimes.
"I know, like that night after I shouted at her. I didn't know I could make her cry like that. It makes me feel a little guilty."
Angi-Dev then taunted Zazu that he has a crush for her.
"You know me, huh?"
His companion nodded. The devil/angle than suggested that he let Zarah to get used to the environment in earth first. That might soften her up.
"Yeah, but did you see the chopsticks?"
Angi-Dev nodded, but replied that he shouldn't be so choosy about the girl that he wants. Angi-Dev also told him that if he was too fussy, then how is he going to accept anyone to his heart? His companion then told him to accept Zarah for what she is.
"Then I should mind all the times she accidentally pushed me away?"
His companion then told him to follow his heart more than his brain.
"I guess you are right. I need to be more open-minded about the girl that I liked. I'm still worried about it through."
Angi-Dev told him to relax and told him to try it anyway. What he could lose? His companion told him that he will warn him if Zarah only wants to manipulate him to her wills only.
"Thanks. You are a true companion to me."
His companion said that he was welcomed, and then hugged him as a sign of comfort.
"Ugh, how many times I must tell you not to hug me like that?" The last thing Zazu wanted is a companion that is gay. Having a companion that is 'attached to his back' that is 'attached' to him will be a major nightmare for him.
His companion laughed off the matter, and assured Zazu that he shouldn't worry about it at all. His companion said that the tendency to hug him comes from his companion's angelic side.
"Fine, so are you going to tell me how to permanently supply Yagdrassil's power to me while turning Vanagdrassil's power off?"
After a brief explanation of what to do, Zazu began his transformation.
His companion told him to 'feel' the power from Yagdrassil. Yagdrassil's power is warm and claming, while Vanagdrassil's power is icy and chaotic. Sensing them both and shutting one of them while accepting the other one will change his form completely to the other side.
Floating about one foot in the air, energy began to twirl around Zazu. Beginning from his legs, the mist twirled higher and higher until it completely encircled his whole body. For a moment, he was shining white, and the room was bathed in a holy glow. Long shadows marked the opposite sides of the objects that blocked his glow.
After a while, the glow settled down. Zazu went to look at his image in a mirror.
The two purple marks that formed a 'V' on his forehead were gone. Instead, a purple rectangle formed on his forehead. Similar but smaller marks appeared on the sides of his cheeks.
Zazu smiled. Zarah should we very surprised now, when she suddenly sensed a god beside her room.
"Zarah should be barging through the door any moment," Zazu told Angi-Dev. His companion laughed and agreed.
KRUNCH!!!!
Instead, Zarah came barging through the wall between their rooms.
He was right on one thing through, she was surprised.
"Like my new look?" Zazu asked Zarah.
"Well, I will usually begin with my wings swinging intending to chop the limbs off the being that is projecting out an aura like that," Zarah threatened playfully. "Other than that, I think they are fine," said Zarah. "You are very amazing through, capable of doing something like that."
"Well, I hope you will respect me and understand me more then."
"Understand? Maybe. Respect? Wait till I become a goddess," jeered Zarah. That means never to him.
"Thanks," Zazu said in thankful mood.
"What? Didn't you get my insult?" Zarah was puzzled.
"I know, but I'm thankful to you for trying to understand me more," said a soft voice.
"Uh," a pause. "That's fine, I don't mind," she waved him off, trying to hide her blush.
"Well, goodnight, as what mortals say here," said Zarah.
Now that surprised Zazu. Perhaps she was not that ignorant and crude after all.
"Goodnight to you too. Sweet dreams!"
"WHAT!!!!"
That resulted in a fireball coming at his face. The fireball was deflected, but not before making a good sized hole in the apartment wall.
"Zarah! You have to patch that up! Humans will notice that something will be weird if they see a hole in the wall like that!"
Disturbed by that order, Zarah patched up the wall and went back to her room. She decided to ignore Zazu for the rest of the day.
(Tuesday, first day to attend classes)
Zarah, woke up suddenly in the morning, panting and sweating.
Zarah had a sweet dream.
"Oh my demon! I really don't like those kinds of dreams." Zarah dreamed that she was hugged by someone, and that person gave a very nice feeling to her heart.
"I really hate sweet dreams! They make you happy for a while but they are not real! At least you are thankful when you realized that a nightmare isn't real!" Zarah sulked to herself.
It took her less that half a minute to change her attire and get ready for school. After waiting for Zazu to get himself ready (which was extremely slow for her, because he was doing it the mortal way), she opened a portal, and send them both to NTU.
(NTU)
The classes were dull. The lecturers taught very primitive subjects to her. The students were all really stupid too, as they have nothing to do other then keep asking her the same questions over and over again. Furthermore, the males kept looking at her body too. All she got was irritation.
She met Zazu later in class, in a subject called environmental engineering. It was attended by all forth year and third year students taking different courses.
Then her dread comes true.
A powerful being entered the hall. She emitted a strong godlike aura. It made her cringe, ready for combat.
Belldandy, a first class goddess, had just entered the hall.
(Focus to Belldandy and Kenichi)
Belldandy and Kenichi approached the new pair of exchange students that everyone was talking about in her class. Belldandy sensed something was weird about this couple, but she couldn't pinpoint what it is.
"Hello there. My name is Kenichi and she is Belldandy. May know what your names are?" Kenichi extended out his hand, followed by Belldandy.
Kenichi shake both of their hands, followed by Bellandy.
Belldandy experienced a moment of shock when she shook Zazu's hand.
He was a god! What is he doing here posing as a student in NTU like her?
Belldandy taught cast to Zazu, "May I know what a fellow god like you doing over here? It is nice to know that there are more than the three holy beings on earth."
Zazu replied, while opening a sub-channel to Zarah, so she could her what he was speaking with Belldandy too. "Hello, I'm a new god, and I'm over here on earth as an earth trainee god. How are you?"
"I'm fine, and your friend is?" Belldandy extended a hand to shake Zarah's hands, but was refused.
"Uh, my name is Zarah, thank you" a stumbling voice replied.
"She's kind of shy," Belldandy said to Zazu. "You know, overcoming your shyness is the first step in making more friends," Belldandy smiled to Zarah.
"Well, I don't need advices!" a taught-casted reply came. That reply shocked Belldandy a lot. She was a demoness! What are a god and a demoness doing on earth here side by side? A godlike being and a demonlike being, so close to each other was unheard of. Yet they were sitting beside each other in a mortal's class. Are they here because of her?
"What are the both of you doing here?" Belldandy asked both of them mentally, alarmed.
"What I've said is true; we are trainees here on earth. However, the thing about me being side by side with a demoness is a completely different story," the reply came from Zazu.
Belldandy could sense fear emitting from Zarah, as the demoness was probably second or a third class demoness, way lower than her power she held.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, if you don't mean any harm to the beings around here," Belldandy assured the demoness.
"That's fine with me. Just don't get in our way and we won't get in yours," a short reply came from Zarah.
Kenichi was looking at Belldandy's face. She had a serious and alarmed one. Furthermore, she was in a deadlocked silence with the two new students. Something was not right here.
"Excuse me, I'm a missing anything here?" Kenichi butted in, breaking the silence.
"I'll explain everything to you later, Kenichi," Belldandy assured him.
Zazu suddenly said something, "Oh yeah, Urd live with the both of you, right? May I go and visit her later? Is it fine after this class?"
"Yeah, that will be fine," Belldandy answered. "However, I'm not sure about your partner here," she threw a sideways glance at Zarah.
Zarah seemed to be fired up, but Zazu took control of the situation, "Don't worry about her. I can assure you that she won't do anything bad to your household."
"Furthermore, she is not capable to compete with you after all, right?" Zazu assured Belldandy.
"OOW!" Zazu screamed as Zarah stepped on his foot.
"Ok. She can come," Belldandy replied.
(After a day at NTU)
Zarah and Zazu followed Belldandy into a storeroom, which had a big mirror there. Belldandy grabbed a hold of Zazu's hand, which in turn grabbed Zarah's hand.
As they exited the mirror, Belldandy floated outwards, while Zazu stumbled and fell to the floor. He banged his nose hard on it.
"OW!" He moaned.
Of course, Zarah came down on him a few moments later, and adding another impact on his head. Zazu broke his nose on the spot.
"Another of my unlucky days," Zazu moaned.
That is just seconds before someone shouted, "Skuld Mark II Fusion Bombs!"
"Skuld, stop that, they are our guest," Belldandy told her sister.
It was too late.
BOOM!
"Urgh" That was all that Zazu could voice out from his mouth.
(A few moments later)
Belldandy finished healing Zazu and Zarah.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not used to a demoness being in our house," Skuld apologized to Zazu and Zarah. "Please forgive me," the puppy eyes came.
Of course who could stand against that look?
Zazu forgave her on the spot.
However, Zarah gave Skuld a fireball. It turned her black.
"Apology accepted," Zarah replied.
"BAKA!" as the bombs began to churn out from the little girl's uniform.
"Everyone, stop this nonsense!" Belldandy said in a lond voice, enough to keep Skuld under control.
"But onee-sama! She fireballed me!" Skuld sulked. (Onee-sama means big sister in Japaneese)
"What's all this noise? The brat giving problems again?" a deeper voice came from one of the rooms.
A sexy woman came out, wearing a white dress, and deeply tanned with silver hair.
"Hello Urd, this are our guests, Zarah and Zazu," Belldandy introduced them to Urd.
"Hello, nice to meet you, especially this charming young adult," Urd turned to Zazu, which made him blush.
Urd's attention at Zazu made Zarah jealous.
"Nice to meet you too," Zarah said in a loud and sharp voice, which broke of Urd's gaze on Zazu.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Zazu replied.
A pause before he continued,
"Auntie."
______________________________________________________________________
End of chapter 7.
I'm currently doing my practical training as a university course now, so the next few chapters will be a little slow coming.
And yes, I'm a fan of the final fantasy series. I have played all the versions except the ones related to the playstation 2 console.
Do hope you enjoy it my novel.
Any comments, please mail to ytszazu@hotmail.com
Zazu packed his things as was ready to go in half an hour. He didn't have much anyway; among them are his toiletries, his clothes and a few other things. After packing them into a small bag, he was ready to go. He left his 'so-called' pentium-10 computer at his room in Vanagdrassil, only to wait for a suitable place for him to stay.
Zarah taught him a passive spell (a passive spell is a spell that is continuously activated in the background) called 'translate thy words'. It gave him an easy way around compared to understanding Japanese manually, because it would take weeks for him to master even the basics. All his prior knowledge of Japan came from the manga's and the anime's that he had read or seen.
Furthermore, he would not be used to the new cultures that await him when he reaches Japan later. The season, the climate, the food, and many other things will be new to him. He would really need to be open-minded to adapt quickly to the new environment. Furthermore, how does Nekomi Tech University taught its students? He heard of students in Japan attempting suicide due to failed exams. (Writers note: No offense meant) That made him worry whether if he could catch up to the other students in the university or not.
"Oh yeah, how am I going to get my money over there?" he asked Zarah.
"Simple, you will have an instant account with enough money in it for you to buy an island," replied Zarah.
Zazu gulped. "No thanks, all I need is enough money to get me by. I don't want to be spoiled."
"Fine with me then, it's proposed by your grandmother anyway."
Zarah then suddenly gave a very innocent look at her face with puppy eyes. "In that case, can you transfer a few billon yen to me? Please?" Both of her hands were cupped upward, and smiling mischievously at him.
"No, you must live like a normal student anyway."
"Please?" a softer voice.
"No."
"Please?" an even softer voice.
"No!" Zazu replied loudly.
"Damn you!" Zarah broke her innocent look and throw a huge fireball at him.
This time, Zazu was caught off guard by her sudden change of behavior.
After fixing him from the burned portions of his body, Zarah materialized his new set of clothes and his bag. It was a standard blue jeans and a white T-shirt for him to wear. It was probably the 30th new set of clothes she made for him.
"Zarah, how about you? How are you going to look like in human form?"
Zarah smiled and began her transformation process. Energy began to twist and twirl around her. Zarah focused as she rearranged the structure of the molecules in the air around her and form them into fabric. The light was quite bright that Zazu had to close his eyes.
Ten seconds later, the light dimmed and a girl popped out into view.
"Oh my demon!" Zazu said to himself. "She looks really good!"
Zarah looked like a 20 year old female that came from western countries. She had slightly bluish eyes and a fair complexion. Zarah was still the same height, around five feet plus, or about 3 inches shorter than him. However, she looked more timid compared to her demonic form. She had short brown hair that was slightly shorter than shoulder-length, with the ends curled outward slightly. She looked weak and timid, perhaps around 45kg. She wore a yellow skirt that reached knee length. And finally, that face.
A guy could become dizzy looking at it.
Zarah caught Zazu staring at her. She smiled, "Why Zazu, never taught I could look so nice?"
"Uh-huh," Zazu replied, semi-hypnotized. "You cutest girl I ever met."
Zarah was taken aback. She was expecting him to say she was the most striking, beautiful, enchanting or enthralling female he ever met or something like that.
"Uh.... Thanks," she blushed.
"Yeah sure," Zazu said, blushing too. He didn't know he could be that brave to say something like that too her.
A moment of silence was in the air.
"One thing through," Zazu suddenly chirped in.
"What? Am I too beautiful to be a mortal female?" Zarah boasted.
"Remove the wings and fangs."
"What?"
"The wings attached to your head and the fangs in your mouth. A female would look weird with those two things attached to her."
"I don't want too! It'll make me look less beautiful and cute if I remove them!" Zarah sulked.
"But you'll look like an alien!" Zazu chirped in.
BOOM!
Another fireball came from Zarah, but blocked by Zazu. He anticipated something would be coming when he started to comment on her looks.
"Argh! Now I'm in a bad mood. First I can't keep my looks and now I can't bully you. I'm outta here!" Zarah opened a portal and teleported away.
(Focus to Zarah, alone)
Zarah was in a private place.
"I really need to practice again. All this babysitting on Zazu is really dropping my combat capability. I might be dropped out of second- class demoness if this continues on. Am I addicted to taking care of that idiot? Damn-you! Damn-you! Damn-you!"
Her ranting about Zazu went on for a while, until...
"You looked really cute......."
"Uh, him again," Zarah flash backed to that voice, "Well, he is kind of right through. I had never seen normal people on earth with fangs and wings. Anyway, I will have a lot of people to manipulate, control and play with later in Japan. Hehehe...." Zarah giggled evilly.
"I never know that copying Selphie from that stupid mortal game named Final Fantasy 8 could be so useful after all."
(Focus to Zazu, alone)
"Man, can't she even take any advice? I do care about her after all. She really has a lack of understanding and patience." Zazu sulked.
"I guess it my fault after all; I never really minded about a how pretty a girl can be." Maybe he should show her some human female pictures later. Then she'll understand what he is saying.
"Geez, I really don't know what shall I do. I like a girl that has a nice attitude and a little quiet. I didn't even mind the look of my dream girl. But she has nothing like that! Sometimes, her acting really pisses me off! Sometimes I feel like she's pushing me away from ever wanting to court her at all!"
(Zarah came back to see Zazu later)
She gave him a briefcase, and told him it was all the details they needed to study as exchange students later. He opened it, and saw his and Zarah's traveling documents, identification cards, and every single forgery he needed to enter the country as an exchange student. It was perfect.
The documents says that he comes from Malaysia, a student studying in Chemical Engineering, currently in a fourth year bachelors degree (equivalent to third year in Japan, I think) and currently will be taking a student exchange program in Nekomi Tech for one whole complete year. For Zarah, it says that she is an exchange student that came from Canada, and taking a course in Mechanical Engineering, third year.
One thing that kept making him feel weird through: Why did his grandmother wanted to send him to Japan? Well, at least she didn't send him to a country in war or something like that though. He was very open-minded. Joining a club named AIESEC in his university help him much to be more open- minded and accepting to other peoples cultures and societies.
He shouldn't worry like what he did earlier. In fact, he should see it as an opportunity to experience other people's cultures and lifestyles.
Zarah opened up a portal. It was opened up near a secluded area behind the university. This time it was only a meter off the ground. He easily jumped down to the soft grassland.
"Time for a new life," Zazu muttered.
(Focus to Hild)
"This will be interesting." Hild taught. Adding Zazu and Zarah towards helping Mara out in dealing with the three goddesses and that mortal are perfect. First, she could get rid of Zazu's problems with staying in hell. Two, she could get him to start practicing his skills as a demon with some 'examples' in earth. Three, maybe the goddesses could get into real trouble this time when Zazu and Zarah helped Mara.
Two goddess, two demoness and two hybrids. Perfect.
One thing though: Zazu didn't know she has plans for him. It is a plan that will fit his legacy well.
"Hahaha... I'm so smart!" Hild laughed to herself.
Her subjects looked at her as if she was crazy. But when she stared at them, they are back to their normal duties.
(Back to Zazu and Zarah)
Registration at the new university was done without any problems. Zazu pondered why the person who took care of his papers looked so angry with them both. Did anyone piss him off before this?
Zazu looked at Zarah. She was also acting weird. She seemed to be extra careful with her surroundings as if she will be ambushed or attack by someone. Don't she realized that there are only mortals around there?
After the registration, Zazu told Zarah that they should find a place to stay with a permanent address. Zarah asked him why; since they could simply 'make' a house somewhere near the university. He later then told him that they should find a real apartment to stay and rent so the university officials will not suspect them later.
Since they will start school tomorrow on Tuesday, they started off to find a new home. After only a few hours, they found a place. It was easy because Zarah hacked into the communication systems around Japan and used them efficiently. She wanted to change all the television channels to porn and create a lot of havoc through, but caution from the three goddesses that lived near their area stopped her.
After making arrangements with the landlord, they rented two rooms that are beside each other in the apartment.
Zarah then called Zazu over to her room. She informed him of the three goddesses that lived in an abandoned temple named Belldandy, Urd and Skuld. She told him that there was a mortal named Kenichi that lives with them. She also told him that Belldandy and Kenichi studies in the same university with them and at the same year too.
However, the most surprising news was Zarah told Zazu that Urd was his aunt, and the sister to his mother.
Finally, she also told him that he should start practicing his skills (i.e. causing trouble) with the three goddesses.
In return, Zazu told her about lifestyles of being a woman on earth. Among them are some of the lifestyles of normal human females, such as why a woman would sometime do this kind of things and that, in his perspective. Zarah listened to Zazu carefully, and can't stop wondering why humans on earth are so dumb to do so many useless and stupid things repetitively.
After his explanation, Zarah taught Zazu on how he should become more sensitive towards any aura projected by godlike beings. She didn't want him to become mincemeat if he accidentally bumped into the three goddesses.
"You must feel your surrounding more, Zazu. You can't depend on your five senses all the time."
Zazu concentrated, but he still can't feel anything.
"Try to ignore your other senses for now, hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing."
He did, and he picked up something. He sensed an aura from a godlike being. He couldn't determine the distance. "Who is that?" he asked Zarah.
"Good. You are actually sensing a goddess named Urd. She is probably drunk again. She is currently being fetched back by her friend to the temple. It is a real mistake showing her aura like that. Any demonic being that took advantage of the situation could attack her. She has immense powers though; I won't recommend you fighting her yet, and however sober she is."
"Furthermore, I'm currently shielding us both from their detection, so don't give sudden bursts of demonic energy or they might detect it."
Zazu then suggested to Zarah that he would try to change to his god form later with the assistance of Angi-Dev. Maybe their opposite forms will cancel each other's auras off.
Zarah continued on teaching him on how to refine his senses until night came.
Zazu's stomach rumbled.
"Well, Zarah, lets go find a place to eat," Zazu suggested.
"Nah, you go on by yourself. I don't need them anyway. Your partial mortal form needs it, but I'm a pure demonic being, so it's pointless."
"Nah, come on. Wouldn't it be really weird in the university if people never see you eating?" Zazu persuaded.
"You're probably right," and she followed him.
Zazu knew that it was not the case. If people noticed that she was not eating, she could simply make an excuse that she only eats at home anyway.
Actually, he wanted to take her out for dinner. He wouldn't make any real moves yet, but he just wanted to know her more. He was still pondering on whether he should court her or not.
After locating a suitable food stall, Zazu ordered two bowls of ramen for both of them to eat. (Ramen - Japanese noodles)
"You have to hold the chopsticks like this," Zazu told Zarah.
"Whatever." Zarah was frustrated at the inability to pick up the noodles with the two long pieces of plastic that she was holding.
"Calm down, and don't give up."
"Argh! Stupid piece of equipment!" and snapped the chopsticks into two. People looked at them, some smiled, but some laughed at Zarah incapability to handle the chopsticks. Zarah seemed to boil on the seat.
"Never mind, come on, let's go back," Zazu calmed Zarah down, before she decides to fry every single mortal that is eating in the stall. It seems like he didn't achieve anything from the dinner today.
Both of them went back to sleep in their respective rooms. Zazu didn't mentioned goodnight to her, because he's afraid that she might hit him again for being soft and nice at her.
What he didn't know was Zarah had begun to get used to his earthen attitudes already.
(Introduction of new character – a demon named Sebarah [pronounced Sae-Ba- Rah])
Senior first class Demon Sebarah, ranked 4 in the demonic army, eyed upon one of the female souls that was condemned to hell. She was in a state of stupor like pain already, and he could not make her experience his torture anymore. Her brain was burned out. He tortured her in all sexually ways unimaginable, which was highly praised by his demonic counterparts. The bad side is that now he had to call the demonic doctors for the 'torture treatment' again, where the mentality of the victim is restored sufficiently enough, so it could experience pain again.
Well known for his sexual desires, and ways to either torture the opposite sex, most of the demonesses avoided him. He was considered as 'no fun' to play with. It's only 'his way', and not any of 'her way'.
A few unfortunates did fall into his clutches. Even the 'corrupted' mind of a demoness, which could stand against a lot of torture and pain, needed demonic treatment after he had his way on them.
However, he was getting bored. He needed more excitement and more praises from his demonic counterparts.
And so to happen, two sisters seem to fit exactly into his tastes.
He heard of the two sisters that took out the god named Mars recently. Both of them gained popularity fast in the underworld. Many demons wanted to tame the sisters to be under them. It would prove nice to your image if you could control and manipulate a demoness that could take out a god like Mars. Furthermore, both of them have very alluring bodies that will make other demons extremely jealous of you, if you could get even one of them.
He heard that many went to try the prettier one among the sisters. The elder one named Mara, was taught to be an easier one to tame since she is just an office demoness in charge of wrecking peoples' wishes. However, not many could outwit the demoness. Many demons fell into her trap, and were either being pulled along to her wills unwillingly or was shamed upon as a failure.
The smaller sister had a different story. She was well known to either maim the most 'important' parts of anyone that tried to court her or simply kill the demon outright. No games. No talk. Expect her weapons blazing or fireballs flying as the answer to your advances. This sister was a playgirl no too long ago. However, a recent assignment to a demon made her change her playful attitude.
The two sisters are hard targets. He wanted both of them, but he knew it would be a futile attempt. One must come at a time.
So happens that one of them ranked lower than him in the military.
After checking into the Vanagdrassil database, he found something that made him grin from ear to ear.
Zarah was on earth with a babysitting job. There will be no other demons after her. Furthermore, her only assistance would only be a new demon that would have no combat experience at all.
She is all his to play with.
(Night time, Zazu)
Zazu summoned Angi-Dev out.
"Angi-Dev, what do you think of Zarah?"
Angi-Dev replied that Zarah is a very beautiful girl, but with a hot- tempered manner behind it. However, she has her soft spot sometimes.
"I know, like that night after I shouted at her. I didn't know I could make her cry like that. It makes me feel a little guilty."
Angi-Dev then taunted Zazu that he has a crush for her.
"You know me, huh?"
His companion nodded. The devil/angle than suggested that he let Zarah to get used to the environment in earth first. That might soften her up.
"Yeah, but did you see the chopsticks?"
Angi-Dev nodded, but replied that he shouldn't be so choosy about the girl that he wants. Angi-Dev also told him that if he was too fussy, then how is he going to accept anyone to his heart? His companion then told him to accept Zarah for what she is.
"Then I should mind all the times she accidentally pushed me away?"
His companion then told him to follow his heart more than his brain.
"I guess you are right. I need to be more open-minded about the girl that I liked. I'm still worried about it through."
Angi-Dev told him to relax and told him to try it anyway. What he could lose? His companion told him that he will warn him if Zarah only wants to manipulate him to her wills only.
"Thanks. You are a true companion to me."
His companion said that he was welcomed, and then hugged him as a sign of comfort.
"Ugh, how many times I must tell you not to hug me like that?" The last thing Zazu wanted is a companion that is gay. Having a companion that is 'attached to his back' that is 'attached' to him will be a major nightmare for him.
His companion laughed off the matter, and assured Zazu that he shouldn't worry about it at all. His companion said that the tendency to hug him comes from his companion's angelic side.
"Fine, so are you going to tell me how to permanently supply Yagdrassil's power to me while turning Vanagdrassil's power off?"
After a brief explanation of what to do, Zazu began his transformation.
His companion told him to 'feel' the power from Yagdrassil. Yagdrassil's power is warm and claming, while Vanagdrassil's power is icy and chaotic. Sensing them both and shutting one of them while accepting the other one will change his form completely to the other side.
Floating about one foot in the air, energy began to twirl around Zazu. Beginning from his legs, the mist twirled higher and higher until it completely encircled his whole body. For a moment, he was shining white, and the room was bathed in a holy glow. Long shadows marked the opposite sides of the objects that blocked his glow.
After a while, the glow settled down. Zazu went to look at his image in a mirror.
The two purple marks that formed a 'V' on his forehead were gone. Instead, a purple rectangle formed on his forehead. Similar but smaller marks appeared on the sides of his cheeks.
Zazu smiled. Zarah should we very surprised now, when she suddenly sensed a god beside her room.
"Zarah should be barging through the door any moment," Zazu told Angi-Dev. His companion laughed and agreed.
KRUNCH!!!!
Instead, Zarah came barging through the wall between their rooms.
He was right on one thing through, she was surprised.
"Like my new look?" Zazu asked Zarah.
"Well, I will usually begin with my wings swinging intending to chop the limbs off the being that is projecting out an aura like that," Zarah threatened playfully. "Other than that, I think they are fine," said Zarah. "You are very amazing through, capable of doing something like that."
"Well, I hope you will respect me and understand me more then."
"Understand? Maybe. Respect? Wait till I become a goddess," jeered Zarah. That means never to him.
"Thanks," Zazu said in thankful mood.
"What? Didn't you get my insult?" Zarah was puzzled.
"I know, but I'm thankful to you for trying to understand me more," said a soft voice.
"Uh," a pause. "That's fine, I don't mind," she waved him off, trying to hide her blush.
"Well, goodnight, as what mortals say here," said Zarah.
Now that surprised Zazu. Perhaps she was not that ignorant and crude after all.
"Goodnight to you too. Sweet dreams!"
"WHAT!!!!"
That resulted in a fireball coming at his face. The fireball was deflected, but not before making a good sized hole in the apartment wall.
"Zarah! You have to patch that up! Humans will notice that something will be weird if they see a hole in the wall like that!"
Disturbed by that order, Zarah patched up the wall and went back to her room. She decided to ignore Zazu for the rest of the day.
(Tuesday, first day to attend classes)
Zarah, woke up suddenly in the morning, panting and sweating.
Zarah had a sweet dream.
"Oh my demon! I really don't like those kinds of dreams." Zarah dreamed that she was hugged by someone, and that person gave a very nice feeling to her heart.
"I really hate sweet dreams! They make you happy for a while but they are not real! At least you are thankful when you realized that a nightmare isn't real!" Zarah sulked to herself.
It took her less that half a minute to change her attire and get ready for school. After waiting for Zazu to get himself ready (which was extremely slow for her, because he was doing it the mortal way), she opened a portal, and send them both to NTU.
(NTU)
The classes were dull. The lecturers taught very primitive subjects to her. The students were all really stupid too, as they have nothing to do other then keep asking her the same questions over and over again. Furthermore, the males kept looking at her body too. All she got was irritation.
She met Zazu later in class, in a subject called environmental engineering. It was attended by all forth year and third year students taking different courses.
Then her dread comes true.
A powerful being entered the hall. She emitted a strong godlike aura. It made her cringe, ready for combat.
Belldandy, a first class goddess, had just entered the hall.
(Focus to Belldandy and Kenichi)
Belldandy and Kenichi approached the new pair of exchange students that everyone was talking about in her class. Belldandy sensed something was weird about this couple, but she couldn't pinpoint what it is.
"Hello there. My name is Kenichi and she is Belldandy. May know what your names are?" Kenichi extended out his hand, followed by Belldandy.
Kenichi shake both of their hands, followed by Bellandy.
Belldandy experienced a moment of shock when she shook Zazu's hand.
He was a god! What is he doing here posing as a student in NTU like her?
Belldandy taught cast to Zazu, "May I know what a fellow god like you doing over here? It is nice to know that there are more than the three holy beings on earth."
Zazu replied, while opening a sub-channel to Zarah, so she could her what he was speaking with Belldandy too. "Hello, I'm a new god, and I'm over here on earth as an earth trainee god. How are you?"
"I'm fine, and your friend is?" Belldandy extended a hand to shake Zarah's hands, but was refused.
"Uh, my name is Zarah, thank you" a stumbling voice replied.
"She's kind of shy," Belldandy said to Zazu. "You know, overcoming your shyness is the first step in making more friends," Belldandy smiled to Zarah.
"Well, I don't need advices!" a taught-casted reply came. That reply shocked Belldandy a lot. She was a demoness! What are a god and a demoness doing on earth here side by side? A godlike being and a demonlike being, so close to each other was unheard of. Yet they were sitting beside each other in a mortal's class. Are they here because of her?
"What are the both of you doing here?" Belldandy asked both of them mentally, alarmed.
"What I've said is true; we are trainees here on earth. However, the thing about me being side by side with a demoness is a completely different story," the reply came from Zazu.
Belldandy could sense fear emitting from Zarah, as the demoness was probably second or a third class demoness, way lower than her power she held.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, if you don't mean any harm to the beings around here," Belldandy assured the demoness.
"That's fine with me. Just don't get in our way and we won't get in yours," a short reply came from Zarah.
Kenichi was looking at Belldandy's face. She had a serious and alarmed one. Furthermore, she was in a deadlocked silence with the two new students. Something was not right here.
"Excuse me, I'm a missing anything here?" Kenichi butted in, breaking the silence.
"I'll explain everything to you later, Kenichi," Belldandy assured him.
Zazu suddenly said something, "Oh yeah, Urd live with the both of you, right? May I go and visit her later? Is it fine after this class?"
"Yeah, that will be fine," Belldandy answered. "However, I'm not sure about your partner here," she threw a sideways glance at Zarah.
Zarah seemed to be fired up, but Zazu took control of the situation, "Don't worry about her. I can assure you that she won't do anything bad to your household."
"Furthermore, she is not capable to compete with you after all, right?" Zazu assured Belldandy.
"OOW!" Zazu screamed as Zarah stepped on his foot.
"Ok. She can come," Belldandy replied.
(After a day at NTU)
Zarah and Zazu followed Belldandy into a storeroom, which had a big mirror there. Belldandy grabbed a hold of Zazu's hand, which in turn grabbed Zarah's hand.
As they exited the mirror, Belldandy floated outwards, while Zazu stumbled and fell to the floor. He banged his nose hard on it.
"OW!" He moaned.
Of course, Zarah came down on him a few moments later, and adding another impact on his head. Zazu broke his nose on the spot.
"Another of my unlucky days," Zazu moaned.
That is just seconds before someone shouted, "Skuld Mark II Fusion Bombs!"
"Skuld, stop that, they are our guest," Belldandy told her sister.
It was too late.
BOOM!
"Urgh" That was all that Zazu could voice out from his mouth.
(A few moments later)
Belldandy finished healing Zazu and Zarah.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not used to a demoness being in our house," Skuld apologized to Zazu and Zarah. "Please forgive me," the puppy eyes came.
Of course who could stand against that look?
Zazu forgave her on the spot.
However, Zarah gave Skuld a fireball. It turned her black.
"Apology accepted," Zarah replied.
"BAKA!" as the bombs began to churn out from the little girl's uniform.
"Everyone, stop this nonsense!" Belldandy said in a lond voice, enough to keep Skuld under control.
"But onee-sama! She fireballed me!" Skuld sulked. (Onee-sama means big sister in Japaneese)
"What's all this noise? The brat giving problems again?" a deeper voice came from one of the rooms.
A sexy woman came out, wearing a white dress, and deeply tanned with silver hair.
"Hello Urd, this are our guests, Zarah and Zazu," Belldandy introduced them to Urd.
"Hello, nice to meet you, especially this charming young adult," Urd turned to Zazu, which made him blush.
Urd's attention at Zazu made Zarah jealous.
"Nice to meet you too," Zarah said in a loud and sharp voice, which broke of Urd's gaze on Zazu.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Zazu replied.
A pause before he continued,
"Auntie."
______________________________________________________________________
End of chapter 7.
I'm currently doing my practical training as a university course now, so the next few chapters will be a little slow coming.
And yes, I'm a fan of the final fantasy series. I have played all the versions except the ones related to the playstation 2 console.
Do hope you enjoy it my novel.
Any comments, please mail to ytszazu@hotmail.com