Note: this is a fan made interpretation of the light novel StormBringer. In no way does it replace existing content. This is released for fan use only as well as no copyright infringement. Please support the author by buying the original content this is based on. While I take pieces from the actual text it is mostly modified to suit the direction of the fanfic. The dialogue here is either edited or left alone depending on my discretion as the fan author transiting this into a fanfic model. I do not own any of Kafkas characters. My OC is my own.
Certain OC's that show up in this are solely for the purpose of the plot of the fanfiction and do not replace any canon content. This is set to take place AFTER THE EVENTS OF BSD UNDERGROUND TAILS OF JAPAN.
Summary:
Alu meets a mysterious person named Azuki who claims Alu should give up on meddling with what is fated to pass. Alu believes and is determined to defy fate in order to save her demon fox Juubi and change Odasaku's fate. Set 2 years prior to events of Dark Era, there is a new series of conspiracies with one spunky chibi Chuuya and his past, a mysterious white haired man, and Dazai.
Vol 1.
Ch. 1
Where is the Off Switch
Splash!
Coughing, the frazzled girl found herself coming up for air from the middle of the riverbed she'd found herself in. Splashing like a dog, she made her way to the riverbank, pulling herself out of the water and scowling. "I'm going to kill Azuki," she griped, wringing out her shirt.
She blinked, looking at her clothes now. She was wearing a long sleeved, white top and bottoms. Or maybe they were light grey. But, what was frustrating was she had soaked her simple slip on shoes too and she was completely cold to boot!
"Tch," she grimaced, shivering despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. "Some warning would have been nice. And what's with these clothes? I look like I escaped an asylum!" She whined. "Ugh…"
Her stomach growled. "And I'm hungry… as usual!"
She rubbed her stomach, and continued to wring out her clothes after. Her shoes were wet and sloshed, and she was tempted to just go barefoot. Holding onto her shoes, so they could dry, she finally just gazed up at the bright blue sky, shielding her eyes with one hand, gazing at the peaceful day currently spread out before her in the lovely city of Yokohama.
"I wonder if it worked," She mused to no one. She used to talk to Juubi but he wasn't available for a chat right now.
Alu pursed her lips. She missed him. His silence was worse than his complaining. But, she remembered what Azuki had told her.
Alu fell through the hole and landed in a room, the one she had been staying in before. Brandishing the knife from Nikolai, she was prepared for a fight but only saw Azuki casually sitting with one knee drawn up over the other, on the edge of the bed, gazing at her, her cheek resting in her palm. "No need for that," she said, brightly, waving a hand.
Alu was tense. "If you're actually here to help me, then help them!"
Azuki tilted her head. "I will, don't you worry!" She brightly stated. "Now why don't you put that down before you hurt yourself?" She chided.
"Who are you in all of this?" Alu asked, wearily.
"Me?" The young woman tilted her head. "I'm just the messenger!"
"Great, Fyodor is involved?" Alu deadpanned.
The young woman chuckled. "Oh, not his messenger, I speak on behalf of a higher power," she pointed to the ceiling. Alu glared.
"Are you another religious nut?" She retorted.
"I'm hardly religious," Azuki countered. "I'm like you in that sense. I'm more Agnostic, if you were to give me a name for what I feel," she shrugged. "Still, do you wanna hear my message so you can save that boy already?"
Alu grit her teeth. Yes, she did. More than anything she wanted this nightmare to end so she could go back with Dazai and Odasaku. She wanted for those people to finally have a chance to breathe and be happy—for once. She wanted Kosuke to be safe. She nodded. "Okay what's the message from this higher power or whatever?"
"Well," Azuki grinned.
She moved in front of Alu before Alu could react, and took the knife from Alu, before she caused Alu to back up, not liking how close in space the young woman had decided to get in. "!?"
"It's more of a cautionary word of advice," she said, smiling at Alu. She reached out to touch Alu's face but Alu flinched, finding this person increasingly disturbing. Azuki paused, staring at Alu's glaring expression. Azuki sighed finally. "…You want to help that boy? Then do so by not helping at all."
Alu snapped, "That's terrible advice!"
"You really don't understand, do you?" Azuki's tone was dark and unamused. Azuki grabbed Alu and pinned her to the wall just then, her arm at Alu's collarbone, pinning Alu with what felt like a heavy weight of flexed energy. Alu choked but Azuki continued to speak. "No matter how hard you try, you cannot change that which is inscribed."
Alu kicked Azuki in the stomach suddenly, despite the dress making things difficult. Azuki let her go, stumbling back. But she recovered quickly, and just continued to gaze down at Alu. Alu breathed hard, rubbing her neck, eyeing the knife now on the floor. Whether or not this person was here to help, Alu couldn't shake this feeling that this person was dangerous. "Nothing is set in stone, not even prophecy!" Alu snapped. "I'll change it, somehow!"
Azuki raised her eyebrows and sighed again, rubbing her forehead. "You're super dense, you know that?"
Before Alu could retaliate, she felt herself kicked in the stomach, unceremoniously flying into a wall, and slamming her spine into it. Alu cried out in pain, coughing, and slid down the wall, entire body on fire in pain now. Trembling, she looked past blurred vision to see Azuki just squat in front of her. "Ngh…I just want to change this one thing…so they can all…be happy."
Ango.
Dazai.
Odasaku.
Those three deserved better. And the orphans. Even if Alu wasn't there anymore, she just wanted one outcome that ensured they could spend just a little bit more time together…as friends…as a family.
"I'll say it however many times I need to in order to get it into your thick skull," Azuki lazily replied, before she tilted Alu's face to look at her. Alu was in too much pain to resist too strongly. Though she gripped Azuki's wrist holding her jaw weakly. "Don't flatter yourself. You are not God. Stop trying to change what isn't yours to control to begin with. You have tried to change too much."
Alu's eyes widened. She felt taunted and ridiculed. This person didn't understand her motive at all. She wasn't Fyodor. She wasn't doing something with some weird religious underscore. She believed in things like karma, sure, but she wasn't trying to change everything. Just one small thing. She had already defied death the day she met Juubi. She wasn't one for convention. She trembled.
"Seeing reason now?" Azuki mused, gazing at Alu's shadowed frown.
"God?" Alu panted, smiling madly at her opponent. "I'm not God, no, but that's because no one can claim to be Him. However…He is said to be mirrored in all of humanity's creation. So by that logic, I'm not not God either."
Azuki looked irritated. "Tch, you're hopeless."
Alu gripped Azuki's wrist tightly. "You're right, we are similar. I too am more agnostic than anything. But that's because I believe that nothing is meant to be set in stone. If you have a chance to change a tragic situation, wouldn't you take that opportunity?"
Azuki quieted.
Alu didn't know what was going on in this other woman's head.
Azuki smirked darkly. "Very well, let's test that theory," she hummed before Alu found herself starting to glow. Azuki let her go and stepped back smirking. "You don't even realize that your actions in this timeline have caused a sacrifice in the form of your fox's life, do you?"
Alu's eyes widened with shock. "No!" She exclaimed, tensing. She could feel the inward panic. Juubi had been unusually quiet. Even when Alu was in trouble, he didn't come to her aid. Even if her life was in danger, he hadn't been triggered. Alu wondered if her instinctive fear with Fyodor had to do with the fact that he actually could have killed her, after all.
"It's true," the woman shrugged, glaring at Alu with a fervent animosity of dark glee. "There's a cost to every action you make, and you should know that better than me, even! A wise person once told me that 'you cannot always change the past but you can make the right choices in the present to secure a better future…' and those words are wisdom, don't you think?"
"Tch. I was sent to this time for a reason!" Alu said, glaring at Azuki. "I was meant to change this outcome!"
Azuki cackled and Alu tried to punch her. Azuki caught her fist, squeezing it tightly, a fanged leer on her face. "Or maybe you weren't? Did you ever think of that?"
Alu felt stunned and confused. No, that didn't make any sense. She was there to stop the tragedy with Odasaku and the orphans! She had to be! "No, that's…that makes no sense…"
"Whatever makes sense to you is different for the next person! Everyone has their own sense of sensibility, you know," Azuki chided her, pinning Alu once more to the wall. Alu was too weak and in pain to resist. "Regardless, Juubi is dead. And no matter how hard you try, no matter what timeline you go to…the outcome for Odasaku and those orphans will never change. You should give up."
Alu stared at this woman. Azuki's expression was hard and the usual glee was gone. She looked melancholy and yet, Alu couldn't shake this terrible feeling. "Who are you? Why do you know so much?" She said, voice shaky. "I won't change my mind just because of your negative outlook, you know! I'll get Juubi back! He's not dead!"
"In this timeline, he is."
"I'll find a way to bring him back then! I won't let you discourage me! If you're saying my presence here is pointless then answer me this, why am I here at all?" Alu glared.
"I already said why you're here. But you have to figure that part out yourself," Azuki deadpanned.
"Then help me!" Alu snapped, tearful. " Help me save the boy, Odasaku…And Juubi!"
"Hah, I see you're still floating with your head in the clouds…if that's that case, maybe I should just kill you." She grabbed Alu by the throat and Alu struggled. " A mercy killing means you won't have to feel the pain the living deal with every day. You could be so much more useful if you just disappeared, you know?"
"Kuh! Gack," Alu choked.
"You want to know who I am? Very well, I'll tell you. My name is Azuki…"
Alu found herself suddenly in white space, blinded by the light. She yelped, shielding her eyes finding she had no footing. It felt like she was falling but Azuki grabbed her by her wrist, pulling her easily onto a ledge that appeared out of nowhere. She still held Alu by the throat. All around them was just white expanse. It felt like energy? Alu looked around, and felt her stomach sumersault. She hated heights. Below them, was nothing, it looked like. "Ah…" She found her windpipes were both constricted and not at the same time. It was a terrible feeling.
"…Osamu."
Then, the woman pushed Alu with no warning off that small white ledge and to the empty space below. Alu cried out in alarm.
Alu's world turned to white.
And bam.
That's how Alu ended up here, nearly drowned. Tch, Alu shook her wet hair out of her eyes. This was annoying. But, she had to figure out why she was here. That person claimed to be an "Osamu…" and that's when it hit Alu.
"Sister…" Alu concluded as a much worse option popped into her mind and nope she was not going to entertain that. Nope, nope, nope. She'd just have to ask Dazai if he had a crazy sister or something. She did act a terribly bit like him actually. Yeah, that had to be it. Alu sweated.
Still, she needed to gather as much information as possible. Azuki had stuck her somewhere but the time was unclear. Alu touched her chest, placing a hand over her heart. Even though Juubi's presence was faint, she sensed that at least here, he was alive. Alu felt relieved. But she knew that unlike her original 'rewrite' ability, that this was a different sort of power. Though Juubi wasn't dead, he was more like a phantom that pressed on her mind.
Don't worry, Juubi, Alu thought determined, I'll definitely find a way to bring you back to me. Just hang on!
First thing was first, Alu needed to gather intel. Her clothes were still wet and she honestly wished she could get clothes from the ADA or Elise right then, but her heart panged. She didn't have either of them as an ally here. Honestly, Alu missed them already. She couldn't explain it, but it felt like she wasn't in the present anymore. Was she in some future? The past again? Alu frowned, scratching her head. "Jeez," She groused, "Who dumps someone without at least some explanation?" She complained, flapping her arms like a bird. "At least send me a sign—-!?"
"Detecting, civilian in distress," someone monotone said, startling Alu as a figure in a blue suit landed next to her like a rocket landing.
"Holy hell!" Alu yelped, stumbling back, eyes wide. Staring at the dark haired man with the odd personality, Alu wondered if once again, she'd stumbled upon another weirdo in Yokohama. It would totally be her luck. Or lack of it.
"Your heart rate is elevated, that is unhealthy. You should take calming breaths." The robot spoke as though to lecture and show concern but at the same time, sounded monotone and robotic. Alu grimaced.
"What are you, a robot?" She deadpanned.
"I apologize, to disrespect self-introduction is rude according to your human protocols," the man in the suit bowed formally to Alu. "I am a business-intended machine, an officer from EUROPOLE. My model number is 90F7819-5. I am a creation manufactured by ability technician, Professor Wollstonecraft. Out of the world's police agencies, I am the very first autonomous high-speed computer. My codename is Adam. Adam Frankenstein."
Great, a talking British male Siri that had legs.
"You are cold and this may heighten your chances of contracting a deadly disease that could take your life, allow me to help you dry off," the robot said deadpan. Before Alu could stop him, his hands turned into what appeared to look like blowdryers, and Alu found herself blasted comically with hot air.
While it did dry her off almost immediately, Alu did not appreciate having anything blown straight in her face. "Okay, I'm good! I'm good! Stop!" She yelped.
Adam lowered his arms, his hands returning to their 'natural' state. "It would be greatly appreciative if you could aid me with searching for a particular individual." He said formally as though drying her off was the equivalent of asking for her help.
Alu's face tightened. "Uh, sure?" She deadpanned again. She honestly didn't know why she was suddenly targeted. Was it her outfit? Or was this robot capable of sensing her otherworldliness? No, looking at him, he looked more like a lost little kid who would ask anyone for directions.
"Do you just ask anyone to help you look for this person while giving your entire backstory?" She asked, sighing.
"Yes, that is correct, it is how I will find success in securing this person eventually," the robot, Adam said, nodding his head.
Oh man. For a robot claiming to be the highest late grade tech with advanced smart technology—-this robot was ironically still an idiot.
"Word of advice," she added, quirking a brow at the odd individual.
"Yes?" The man politely asked. "I will take this advice and apply it if I see it is useful otherwise it will be discarded, as you humans say, I hope there are 'no hard feelings' if I choose that course of action."
Alu was ready to punch this guy already, robot be damned. "Tch." She had a half a mind to just leave him but, it was against her moral code. Dammit, she wasn't a robot but she still abided by her own human code. She huffed. "Don't go around announcing you're some government agent to just anyone. You know people could actually take that as an opportunity to target and kill you, right?"
The man blinked. Then he tilted his head at her, a completely bewildered expression on his face. "That is new. No one has told me this before. You have expressed what humans call 'concern' but I am a complete stranger. You should have no need to warn someone you only just met—!"
Alu held up a hand to cut him off. "Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there, Mr. Overthinker," she huffed, rolling her eyes. "You don't have to know someone well to care about them," she pointed out. "All you have to do is care at all."
"That does not match with what has been programmed into my database," Adam frowned, scratching his head in an almost human sign of bewilderment.
"Look, I get you're a robot, " Alu crossed her arms, "but you strike me as someone capable of adapting your code, so put some humanity into it," she pointed an index finger at him, cross. "Humans learn from observation and trial and error, I have a feeling whomever programmed you programmed you with the intention to make you no different," she added. "Or they have a god complex," she mused, stroking her chin, walking around Adam, fascinated and irritated with the robot at the same time.
"I cannot put humanity into anything," the robot said, puzzled. "I am a robot programmed to simulate 'being human' but even as such, I have evolved beyond a human perspective. I am the result of surpassing the limitations of humanity's—!"
Alu flapped her arm in his face. "Okay, seriously, enough with the mansplaining," She growled, irritated. "Jeez, whoever programmed you clearly has no social etiquette," she huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "So, who is the person you're looking for anyways?" She figured she may as well get this show on the road.
The robot replied. "Nakahara Chuuya."
Alu stared. Oh shit. She was trying to keep a low profile and this crazy robot was looking for Chuuya? Alu wondered if it was modern Chuuya but that didn't make sense. Shit hit the fan from where she came from, so if Azuki sent her somewhere else, it was most likely to a time before shit got fucked up, was all Alu could rationalize. Alu grimaced.
"You know this person, I sense your heart rate elevated," the robot annoyingly commented. "You will be of use to me."
Alu was going to seriously punch this robot. "We are going to work on your manners," she griped, smacking him in the arm with a punch. The robot blinked, staring at the sudden swing Alu directed at his arm. Alu winced, holding her hand. It smarted. Ow, this guy was really a robot! "Ow," she hissed.
"I would not advise you hit me anymore, as it will result in more injury," the robot helpfully said. "You see, you give me advice and now I have returned the favor, so we are as you humans say, 'even steven'," he looked pleased.
Alu wanted to throttle him by his damn android neck. "I'm going to go awol on this Woll bastard," Alu anger dokied, her eyebrow twitching.
"Sensing threat to creator, if your intent is to harm my creator, I will have to dispose of you," Adam said, serious. Alu huffed again.
"You're hopeless," she started to walk away.
Adam blinked, and then trotted after her like a puppy. "You are going the wrong way," he said, helpfully.
Alu paused. She looked at the robot. "How do you know? We're looking for him, right?"
"I already know where he is," the robot said, brightly.
Alu pursed her lips. She wanted to throw the damn robot into the canal. "Then why ask me?" She whirled, glaring at the robot.
"I try to gather as much intel on my way as I can," the robot explained. "When your heart elevated at the mention of his name, I knew you would be essential to this retrieval!"
"Wait, retrieval?" Alu frowned. She realized she didn't know anything about this robot. But, judging from the fact he was a foreign entity sent to find Chuuya of all people, she could easily piece the puzzle together. If this person was after Chuuya, could it be someone who was really just after Arahabaki that resided within Chuuya? Alu pursed her lips. She didn't know much about Chuuya or his past, but she certainly knew that he was a clone used in experimentation that resulted in Arahabaki being sealed away within him or something.
"The rest is confidential, I will only expound if Chuuya-San wishes," the robot continued.
Alu pursed her lips, finding it funny how formal the robot was when it came to Chuuya. Oddly enough, he didn't seem like he was out to hurt Chuuya. But, she had to be sure. "Look, caring about someone you don't know and ignorantly leading that said person to someone you also care about are too different things," She put her hands on her hips, glaring at the robot. "I need proof that you're not out to hurt him before I go with you."
"I have no intention to hurt him," the robot said immediately. "I can sense your 'sincere' feeling of protectiveness. It is interesting to observe human behavior, thank you for allowing me—?"
Alu had already started to walk away, not interested in hearing the robot prattle more about mundane humanity crap. "Advanced being my ass," she mumbled, frustrated. This guy felt more like a pile of information on humanity without a proper filter.
Adam scooped Alu up without warning. "Whoa!?" Alu yelped, clinging to Adam's shoulders as he gracefully flew through the air like gravity itself was non-existent. "Ah! Put me down! Stupid!" She yelped, like a frazzled cat, clawing into Adam's blue suit.
Adam spoke, as he landed lightly on a telephone pole with her now, "Apologies. I merely calculated the fastest route to our destination. This was the most feasible. Are you uncomfortable with this current arrangement? If I change it now, it will take longer to reach our destination."
Alu had a headache coming on and she hadn't even been back in Yokohama's new timeline for ten minutes. "Whatever, just get us there already and put me down!" She clung to Adam, hiding her face in his shoulder.
Adam blinked. This was a strange person indeed that he'd come across. But she was someone that appeared on his radar as a powerful ability user. Of course, she had been hurt in the canal which is why he had paused his efforts to search for Chuya in order to help her out for a moment. Adam had his mission but he was also programmed to 'care' about strangers. However, he was not used to strangers showing him that same service. This girl was an oddity. He wanted to study her more. He felt like it was pertinent.
"Look, I get you're a robot, " Alu crossed her arms, "but you strike me as someone capable of adapting your code, so put some humanity into it!"
His own creator had told him there was a lot more to learn from the world than he could simply program into him in the lab. His creator wanted him to find out more about humanity. Find unique individuals that would help Adam only grow. Though Adam didn't quite understand what his creator had meant, he was starting to feel like he actually understood a little better now.
Adam wondered if he stayed close to this girl, would he learn what humanity was?
He smiled. "Understood."
