Premature Awakening
I'm sorry Ritsuka…
Jeanne could only look at the three black haired Himejima siblings in remorse. The three bundled together in a thick warm blanket, struggling to keep their purple eyes open, as they wait for their father to return on the front porch.
Baraqiel informed the family that he would be taking longer than normal that day, but the three decided to wait for their father to return to tuck them in that night. One by one, they fell asleep, hugging each other close for warmth while their mother was inside doing chores. First was Nozomi, clutching Fou and Akeno, nuzzling her sister for warmth. Then was Akeno herself, long since drained from acting the part of head of household that day. Lastly, Ritsuka realizing her defeat was inevitable, set her dragon, Faf-nee on the porch to act as their guard while she too succumbs to sleep.
The scene sank heavily in Jeanne's heart, knowing in a moment she will turn their sweet dreams into a traumatic nightmare. Sighing in remorse, she focused inwardly once more, hoping that she was wrong the first few times.
No.
No she was not.
Grimacing, she looked at the peaceful faces of siblings. Akeno was 8 years old, Ritsuka and Nozomi, 4. Far too young for Ritsuka to safely activate her magic circuits.
But I have no choice… when Angra Mainyu sent us over, he gave me years worth of prana to maintain my existence plus extra to serve as an emergency guardian should anything happen. Normally, I would be able to last for 10 years with enough to fight one serious battle. But now… I won't last 6 years at this rate and 4 have already passed.
Bitterly, she shifts her gaze to the various wards and shrines placed within the home. Her hatred was boiling and contradicting itself. The protection wards harm her so destroy it, but it protects Ritsuka so destroy all that threatens it. Shaking her head, she again focuses back upon her dilema.
How could I have not realized that a Shrine would have bounded fields to ward and destroy wayward spirits? I took my Magic Resistance for granted. Although it is at EX, it merely prevents magic and spells from reaching me, it does not actually negate or block the spell. And here, inside a permanent bounded field meant to dispel me, I have stayed continually for four years. It was bound to affect me eventually. Instead of draining 1 point of mana a day to exist, I had to use 2. Unnoticeable at first, but the effects pile up. If I don't do something soon…
Spreading her senses out, she felt Shuri preparing a snack for Baraqiel when he returns, and in a distance, she sees the familiar black wings gliding back home.
Good, they will be in position to help Ritsuka through this. Forgive me master, I will do my best.
Placing her astralized hand upon Ritsuka's back, she forced her prana into the child, forcefully attempting to open her magic circuits. Ritsuka screamed in pain, her body spasming in pain as she knocked her siblings away. Rudely awakened, Akeno and Nozomi looked on in annoyance before panicking, calling for their mother. Shuri hearing the commotion, ran outside to see her daughter suffering in complete agony.
Damn, I didn't expect it to be this bad. EMIYA wasn't kidding that manipulating circuits without skill would be painful and dangerous. Oh shit, Ritsuka's heart rate is going too high, I have to hurry and finish before this kills her!
"Gaaaaaaaah! Mom! Da- Gaaaaaaah!"
Ritsuka's body became flush red as her body began to burn, her clothes drenched in sweat as her body desperately attempts to cool down. Trembling, Ritsuka reached out towards her mother, only for her body to betray her efforts with massive painful spasms. Her breaths hitching and becoming more shallow each time.
I can sense some of the circuits opening, but at the cost of those massive spasms… Dammit Shuri, start healing Ritsuka already! She won't last the 17 more needed at this rate!
Jeanne could only grimace in fear as she silently hoped for a miracle to make things right. Hating herself, she pressed on, swearing to herself she would do all she can to amend for this wrong.
Shuri knew something was wrong the moment she heard Akeno and Nozomi shout, pleading for her to come. But what she found was beyond her wildest fears. Her daughter, Ritsuka was spasming on the ground, her face contorting in pure agony as something afflicted her. Panicking from the sheer suddenness of of the crisis, Shuri found herself rooted to the doorway, wasting for a few precious moments she stood silent, and unmoving as she attempted to comprehend the scene before her. It wasn't until Akeno tugged on her arm did she snap out of it.
What am I doing? What kind of mother just watches as their child suffers?
Shaking her head in self-admonishment, she ran over to the spasming and screaming Ritsuka, carefully sifting her energies through the child to sense the source of the maleficence. Her eyes widening on horror as she determined the source.
An angry spirit is attacking the soul of my child!? How?! This shrine is covered in wards and barriers to purify and cleanse evil spirits. To overcome all of those just to attack my daughter… No, investigations come later, right now all that's important is saving my child.
Her eyes narrowing in determination, she began filtering her own energy into Ritsuka, to obstruct and push back against the invading spirit.
"Akeno! Fetch the talismans and the ofuda! Nozomi, grab the ritual salt! Hurry!"
The sisters nervously nod before running into the house, their panicked steps echoing through the house. Baraqiel, who was leisurely gliding back, noticed the sudden panic of his family and dove at breakneck speed, before landing in front of his wife and child.
"Shuri, what is happening?!"
"A spirit somehow overcame the shrine's protections and is attacking Ritsuka. Call the Grigori! I don't know if I can save Ritsuka alone! Hurry!"
His face paling, Baraqiel pulled out a phone and flew a small distance away, his normally stoic voice containing hints of panic. Shuri could barely make out the names Azazel and Penemue, but she could hardly care less. Devoting all of her energy into Ritsuka, she pushed against the spirit.
I may not overcome you spirit, but I will not let you harm my child unopposed!
Idiotic bitch!
Jeanne found herself cursing profusely despite no others being able to hear her. A frustrated grimace forming on her face when she realized Shuri was using her energy to defend the areas she had not reached yet instead of healing the damage.
She's treating me like an infection! Trying to quarantine the affected areas before treating them. She's actually blocking and slowing down my efforts to access the remaining circuits instead of treating the ones that have been opened. Now the activated circuits are overheating! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT!
Panic began to overwhelm the servant of hate, has she desperately tried to use brute force and even more of her power to overcome Shuri's defenses. As the struggle went on, she unwittingly began tapping into her more malefic prana, traces of her hellfire seeping into the circuits.
Ritsuka screams reached an even higher pitch as her body burned from within. Her body wracked with an ever intensifying fever. Shuri could only grimace has her strength waned. Her breaths were uneven, her body drenched in sweat from the exertion of staving off the 'spirit's' power.
"Mom, we have the stuff!"
"Akeno, set up the talismans and Ofuda for an purification ritual. Nozomi, sprinkle the blessed salt on Ritsuka!"
Diligently the pair followed Shuri's instructions, and as the salt touched Ritsuka's body, the faith imbued into them by believers took effect, pushing back against the malefic spirit. Seeing the spirit stymied, Shuri began diverting some of her energy into stabilizing Ritsuka. Ever so slightly, Ritsuka's suffering eased as the invading mana retreated against the healing pulse.
The spirit's influence in receding? But it is still pushing hard against me… What kind of spirit so easily cedes ground to healing and purification. It would make possession impossible. Wait… possession isn't the goal. It's plundering. It's trying to siphon something away from Ritsuka! It isn't opposing my healing because it already has plundered what it desired from Ritsuka. Do I let it continue and focus on healing Ritsuka? No… whatever it is plundering may be essential. I will not yield my child, or ANY part of her to you!
Narrowing her eyes in concentration, she spoke softly to Akeno who was nearly finished with arranging the ritual.
"Akeno, I have taught you the basics of spiritual healing. Once you are done, help me treat Ritsuka."
"Yes mother!"
"What about me Mom?"
"Go to your father and ask if he needs any help, more people will be coming soon to help us and we need to be prepared."
"Ok Mom!"
Jeanne's face scrunched up in annoyance as the battle between herself and Shuri reached the next phase.
Only 7 more circuits to go. About time they started healing Ritsuka. I had to weaken the amount of prana I pushed into Ritsuka but they are finally getting the idea of maybe TREATING Ritsuka instead of just resisting me. Tsk, what a balancing act…
With the purification talismans and ofuda in place, Shuri began filtering her depleted power through them, relying on its strength rather than her own hastily made protections within Ritsuka. Panting from the exertion, she none less kept her focus, slowing the entity's pace to but a trickle while Akeno, pale from the effort at such a young age nods confidently towards her mother.
We will make it.
The tense stalemate endured for an entire hour, with Ritsuka sporting a fever and groaning in pain from the struggle, but no longer at risk of imminent death. The interval between spasms increased each time, with less noise from Ritsuka. But Shuri and Akeno would not relent, for they could not tell if it was because their efforts were succeeding, or if Ritsuka's strength was fading. The grim atmosphere was interrupted by a cohort of Fallen Angels, led by Azazel.
"I came as fast as I could organize everyone. Penemue check on the child. Dohnaseek, you grab the other 2 winged angels and saturate this area in light. I want whatever demonic entity attacking our kin to feel the weight of our presence. Baraqiel, you grab whoever is free and scout the area. See if anyone is attempting to use magic or a curse."
"Yes sir!"
Without hesitation, the angels followed their assigned tasks, with Azazel walking with Penemue to the child. Kneeling the pair studied the child, and the various energies fighting for supremacy within.
Fascinating, all these different kinds of energies. I can feel Shuri's and Akeno's shrine maiden abilities working their way through Ritsuka, with Akeno's being bolstered by her light of a Fallen Angel. And this malefic energy… its not of a devil or a demon. It doesn't even feel like any spirit I have seen before. And this new energy… if feels like raw magic, and it is coming from Ritsuka herself.
Narrowing in concentration, Azazel focused on the pathways of the energy. Watching carefully, he observed when the malefic energy overpowered a layer of Shuri's defenses and reached a part of the body which seemed like nerve, and forced its way through. Ritsuka would then spasm and cry out in pain, but more importantly, that pseudo nerve started generating that raw magic. Looking at Penemue, she nods as they have reached the same conclusion.
"Shuri, Akeno, stop resisting the spirits advance. Focus everything you have left on healing Ritsuka."
"What?! I will not allow this spirit to do as it pleases!"
"At the cost of Ritsuka's life!? Whatever this spirit's plan is, it involves Ritsuka being able to generate mana independently. It's not attacking her soul. Either we force it out entirely, which would kill Ritsuka from the sheer amount of power required to flow through her, or we let this spirit finish and do what we can to ensure Ritsuka endures."
Grimacing, Shuri glared at Azazel in frustration, before the pained moans of Ritsuka drew her attention. After a moment of hesitation, she abandoned her attempts to impede the spirit and with Akeno, focused on treating Ritsuka.
"If you are wrong, I will never forgive you."
Nodding in acceptance, Azazel gave a pointed glance at Penemue, who also added her own light towards the efforts to save the child. All the while Azazel carefully observed the flow of energy, looking for hints to the identity of this mysterious assailant.
Finally! I can finish this off quickly. Hold on Ritsuka, only 2 more to go. I think I got the hang of this now, so I'll do it all at once!
Forcing her prana into Ritsuka with on final wave, Jeanne sighed in relief as the final circuits opened and allowed prana to gush forth. Noting her work was complete, Jeanne completely cut the flow of prana into Ritsuka, whose spasms and trembles subsided as the remnants of Jeanne's power was purged out from her body. Still flushed red from a fever, Ritsuka's breathing slowly began to stabilize. She was still deathly ill, but now at least, her suffering was ending, and Jeanne could feel a trickle of prana from her master slowly restoring her reserves.
Smiling remorsefully, she patted her master's head with her astralized hand.
You did well Master… Thank you for not dying… and leaving me alone again. I'll make this up to you, I swear.
Sensing that the spirit retreated, Shuri and Azazel breathed a sigh of relief. Finally allowing herself to rest, Shuri collapsed onto the floor, much to the distress of her children. Terrified that something bad is now happening to her mother, Nozomi hugged her mother tightly, pleading and crying, "No mama, don't be sick!" while Akeno, in her exhausted state could only watch in concern. At such a scene, the remaining fallen angels stared at Azazel to speak up. Sighing in annoyance, he scratched the back of his head while speaking.
"Now now girls, your mother is ok. She's just really tired. All that Shrine Maiden stuff she did really took a lot out of her. She'll be fine after she gets some rest."
Noting the anxiety in Nozomi's face, Azazel sighed again, thinking of anything that could make the child more at ease.
Well, keeping them busy might do the trick.
"Nozomi, do you want to help your mom feel better?"
Nodding emphatically, Nozomi looked at Azazel with pleading eyes. Azazel motioned Dohnaseek to lower himself from the skies and approach.
"Your mother and older sister are extremely tired from saving Ritsuka, so can you show Dohnaseek here where you keep all the drinks? Getting some tea or water will help your mother recover faster."
Dohnaseek raised his brow in annoyance but complied, but as he walked past Azazel he heard him speak softly.
"Keep your guard up, whatever attacked the child is still here."
Dohnaseek's eyes widened for a moment before nodding seriously and narrowing his eyes, expecting a possible ambush around every corner. With the two inside, Azazel began inspecting the surroundings, attempting to find any deficits, any flaws in the spiritual defenses of the shrine that could have allowed a spirit to enter.
Moments later, Dohnaseek returned with Nozomi, passing around cold drinks to the lingering Fallen Angels and the Himejima family. Azazel nodded in acknowledgement, but continued studying the defenses of the shrine.
Nothing is wrong, the only places with better spiritual defenses are head temples and famous shrines… and some of these are warning barriers that haven't been triggered, save for when I and the fallen angels arrived. So when did it…
Widening his eyes in apprehension, he immediately flew to the resting Ritsuka. Ignoring the startled reactions of everyone around them he placed a hand over the chest of Ritsuka and once more checked the flow of energy.
Interesting... Ritsuka is constantly leaking out energy, but instead of dissipating into the air, it vanishes after travelling a few feet away from her. But wait… the direction changes ever so slightly, it is almost as if it is a tether. By the Father… the spirit is using Ritsuka as an anchor for its existence. And the fact that none of the intruder barriers were triggered… the spirit was here the entire time. At least for 2 years now.
Caught up in his own thoughts, Azazel ignored Baraqiel who returned with the other fallen as well as all of Penemue's inquiries on to his actions. Instead he double checked the purification wards and barriers of the shrine, and quickly calculated the strength of the aura, including that of the light currently bathing the area from his own angels.
"Ultimate class at least…"
"Azazel?"
The fallen and the awake Himejima members stare at Azazel in concern. Snapping out of his contemplative state, he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Oh Baraqiel! When did you and the others get back?"
"Half an hour ago. You've been ignoring everyone for an hour from what I've heard. And what the hell do you mean 'ultimate class at least'!?"
Azazel flinched at the unnatural agitation in his friend's voice. Coughing briefly into his hand, he attempted to regain his aura of command.
"The strength of the spirit that attacked your daughter. All the shrine's protections remain in place and are undamaged. The warning wards were triggered only when we Grigori arrived. Meaning the spirit has been here since at least before the wards were replaced. So it has been here, for years."
His audience, both Grigori and Himejima cringed at the thought, with Penemue's eyes widening at the implications.
"Azazel doesn't that mean…"
"Yes, it endured the raw purification power of this shrine this entire time without ever leaving for relief. For a spirit to endure for that long, it must at minimum be as powerful as an ultimate class devil, probably even more so."
With his words, the Grigori immediately went on their guards, warily pushing their senses to their limits to detect such a powerful foe. In such a tense atmosphere, Shuri finally stirred.
"Impossible… why would something that strong want to harm my daughter…"
She turned to Azazel, her eyes pleading for this to be a cruel joke.
Please, don't make this Shrine where I am bound by oath to be a death trap for my children.
"In all honestly, I don't believe it wanted to harm your daughter, not directly at least."
Remembering the agony her daughter was just in, her gaze hardened in hatred. A murderous aura began leaking out behind her.
"It didn't want to harm my daughter? Then what do you call the past few hours."
Flinching at sudden change, both Azazel and Baraqiel found themselves cringing. Quickly calming himself, he took a deep breath before coughing briefly into his hand.
"I believe it was trying to awaken your daughter's powers and tether its' existence to her. While I was examining your daughter during the struggle, I observed what it was doing. It was forcing power into some of her nerves, and afterward those nerves started generating raw magical power. Its siphoning the excess energy leaking away towards itself."
"So my daughter is being used a battery or a renewable crop to feed it. I fail to see how that is supposed to make me feel any better."
"The fact that you have a better understanding the situation makes it easier to make the right decisions. That's better than guessing randomly in the dark and hoping you are lucky."
Sighing in frustration, Shuri turned to look at Ritsuka, sleeping restlessly as she tossed and turned, her face still flushed from a fever. Looking on in sympathy, Azazel looked into Penemue's eyes and after an unspoken conversation, she nodded in consent.
"Everyone, our job is done here! We are heading back!"
At her words, the Grigori sans Azazel and Baraqiel reluctantly took to the skies and flew back.
"Sorry, but those are my observations. If I have your's and Baraqiel's permission, I'd like to come over periodically with Penemue to study this phenomenon. Perhaps I may be able to discover a solution."
"You aren't going to experiment on her are you?"
"No, anything I or Penemue will be done with your consent. And of course that will be after we explain everything, including possible benefits and potential risks of those actions."
She gazed into his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. Seeing none, she sighed before reluctantly nodding. Upon seeing his wife consent, Baraqiel nodded in acceptance as well.
"Good, for now I would recommend getting the girl cleaned up. Ritsuka is soaked in her sweat and it's already cold out here. At this rate she'll get the chills on top of the fever. Baraqiel, you're the one in best condition, and I don't think it's appropriate for me to..."
Nodding in understanding, Baraqiel picked up his daughter and led the others inside for a much needed rest.
Fire… I'm on fire!
Ritsuka opened her eyes to see herself tied to a stake, the flames slowly consuming her vision. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free. All around her was a jeering mob, calling her a witch all the while a fat cardinal watched from a far, chuckling at her suffering.
"Oh Jeanne, my sweet Jeanne… why do you passively allow yourself to suffer? Why do you ignore such evils to be inflicted upon you? How can you stand such treachery after all that you sacrificed?"
The images of the countless masses she saved echoed throughout her mind, so grateful when she arrived, only to turn into contempt as one by one they turned their backs to her, the image of gold passing into their hands. One by one, they walked away, leaving her alone. Until there was only one man. He looked the part of a knight, until it morphed into that of an insane jester, one playing the role of a mage.
"I will not abandon you my Jeanne! No matter how twisted I must become to remain by your side!"
Tentacles of monsters burst forth from the crowd, tearing them to pieces, while wrapping themselves around the fat cardinal before he could flee. The odd mage then appeared before her, quenching the flames and untying her with utmost care. Guiding her over to the captured cardinal, she ignored the stench of his soiled robes.
"I beg you, mercy!"
"Silence knave! A blasphemer and a hypocrite such as yourself does not even deserve to look at Jeanne, much less speak to her!"
With a wave of his hand, the monsters obeyed, forcing a tentacle down his throat to silence him. Looking reverently at Ritsuka, he bowed respectfully.
"Oh Jeanne, what would be your judgement be upon this most unworthy swine?"
Her lips moved unbidden, her words not her own.
"God's judgment of course. Were you not the one who said God will save his own? I survived the trial, let's see if you can."
With a snap of her fingers, fire erupted from the ground, the man's muffled screams sounding like music to her ears. Smiling as he died, she couldn't help but comment.
"My my, what does it say about God's thoughts on you Cardinal, when the tentacle monster is unharmed, while you were burned to ashes?"
"Hahahaha! Such artistic beauty my Jeanne! What shall we do next!"
The look of joy and excitement on his face was contagious. Ritsuka soon found herself smiling as well. She felt… liberated. Looking at the now burning city around her, one thought came into mind.
"What, my dear friend? Isn't it obvious? We shall give the entire world his judgement. Shall my flames of vengeance prove righteous? Let us see if ANY survive."
Together with her only loyal friend, she walks out of the burning city, humming along to the screams of its denizens as flames and dragons descend upon them all.
France awaits!
Gasping, Ritsuka shoots up in fear. Looking around, she sees an unfamiliar man sitting next to her bed, holding equipment that wouldn't look out of place in a laboratory, or a hospital. His eyes widen in surprise, but he soon smiled in relief.
"Well, I wasn't expecting my new equipment to be so scary that its mere presence would shock a coma patient out of it. Well, wait here Ritsuka, I'm certain your family will be happy to see that you are finally awake."
As soon as he left the room, Ritsuka looked around, noting that it was her room, but now there were flowers arranged all over it, alongside well wishing cards. At the foot of the bed was the strange man's equipment, and with it tubes that connected her arm to it. And sitting at her side was the ever loyal Faf-nee, eternally vigilant. Her observations were interrupted when family, beside themselves in relief ran over to her side, hugging her tightly.
"Can't… breathe…"
Smiling wryly at the scene, the odd man came to her rescue, gently tugging the her family members away, with a certain mother being the most determined to hang on.
"Ah, I know you are glad at seeing your daughter awake Shuri, but I doubt you want to put her back into a coma."
Reluctantly, she did release her daughter when she noticed the shades of blue on Ritsuka's face becoming more prominent. After a few moments to catch her breath, Ritsuka looked around inquisitively.
"Mom, Dad, what's going on? Who is this?"
The family looked at each other uneasily, unsure of how to answer. Seeing there hesitation, the odd man decided to speak for them.
"I am Azazel, leader of the Grigori. Or in simpler terms, a friend of your dad and his boss. They called me over to help you after you… got sick. A spirit did something to you, and what exactly, is what we are still trying to figure it out. But it took its toll on you. You've been asleep for about 3 months now."
Ritsuka looked at the man oddly as if he was speaking gibberish, then glancing at her family, she looked to see if the outlandish things he was saying was the truth. Their sad gazes was her only reply. Looking down she noticed red markings appear briefly on her hands before it vanished. Looking up quizzically, she noticed that the man had no reaction. As if he did not see anything.
"Ah, I see you are having a hard time accepting it. Well… to prove this isn't a joke, here have a look at yourself in this mirror."
Ritsuka's now bronze eyes widened in shock. Gone was its former clear violet hue. And her hair was no longer solely black, instead it had streaks of vermillion, as if she had highlights. Her eyes watered at the thought that she would no longer fit in with her family. A fear that maybe she won't be as loved as she was before crept in, until Akeno, seeing her little sister's despair walked forward and grabbed her hand.
"Ritsuka is Ritsuka, my little sister. Even if her eyes are no longer the best color."
Smiling wryly at her sister's jab, Ritsuka felt at ease, as if things will be the same. But out of principle she still had to retort.
"You're just mad that I'm ready for Halloween."
To that Akeno had a sarcastic pitying smile.
"You've been asleep for three months, it passed already."
"Nooooo! I missed an event! All the things I could have collected!"
"Yep, she's back to normal."
Indeed she is, some things just never change, eh master?
Everyone in the room, sans one irate child smiled at the sense of normalcy returning.
Author's note
Apparently, I am weak to peer pressure, seeing how even though I have homework due, I focused on finishing this first because I felt obligated to give you guys more. And I keep delaying my other fiction ideas too... Tsk, going to be about a week before the next chapter at least, assuming nothing changes. Because you know, college is important if only because it is so bloody expensive.
On a different note, there will be a few more chapters for the childhood arc before we reach the main DXD plot. I wasn't expecting this scene to take up an entire chapter either, oh well.
Btw, does it make me a sadist that I corrupted a scene my editor wanted, just to see him squirm? That and the moral of this chapter is proper communication is important. Because without it, child Ritsuka will have moments when every pain receptor will fire constantly, meaning she literally is feeling the most amount of pain physically possible.
Regardless, I hope to hear all of your thoughts in the reviews!
Editor Notes (also from my phone):
So, uh, yeah, kys my dude. I really wanna give you a pimp slap, but since you weak af and bruise easily, imma decide against it. Anyways, this week, our boy Kovaras here has had his Aqua-Gilgamesh complex on overdrive these past two days making him slightly less tolerable than usual and this doesn't help the case.
In other news, a certain fic I enjoy extensively got a small update so I was pretty stoked. Destiny and Fortuna have began stabbing me with reasons to disregard my schoolwork. Fun. And now, if I can get my writing streak back, I might start doing some writing on my own. Also, I'm not gonna bother editing the AN or my EN anymore than this this time around because I'm currently doing this in the bathroom and my class starts in 5.
Also, Bmao my dude, if you see this, drop kick our boy for me. *mic drop*
Author's response:
Silence mongrel! I am mourning myself! How dare you make your king do lowly editing work while you do something so mundane as being productive in class! Even one such as I knows that tending to the masses of one's loyal (online) subjects is a royal endeavour to be undertaken by his king and ministers! You should be grateful that I have acknowledged your skill and allowed you to partake in this journey!
Editor's Response:
Feed me Ramen plzthx, o'king gilaqua
Your king is magnanimus, I shall overlook your debased nature. You shall have your Ramen. And perhaps even mochi as well.