Hello everyone. I am still stuck with the bonus chapter of 'Am I Ugly?' as I suffered the case of writer's block. However, I think I am breaking it already.
Now, this story was inspired of a bus ride back about few years back, seeing a cemetery. I will be honest, this one is meant for soldiers that passed away and well….it made an impact of my life of how people died to protect us. Just had this revelation and decided to write it down. Kind of strange eh? And why not pick on Shakti as the perfect candidate on this one.
Hope you all enjoy
Disclaimer: I don't own Danmachi, nor the characters.
Shakti stared at a tombstone she has been familiar with for years now.
Ardi Varma.
Her sister died after a suicide bomber killed her. There was nothing left for her and it broke her heart. She was a kind girl who loved to help people out and always tried to make people smile, no matter how bad things were during the dark times.
She began to question herself if there was any good in this world. She asks herself why do the good people die as evil people live on? She does her best to be good and kind, but at times, bad tends to grow further in Orario. Even when Evilus is taken out, some people in Orario are monsters. They would deceive innocent lives and some end up being poor and hopeless.
She wished she could do so much.
" ?"
She turned and saw it was Rabbit Foot aka Bell Cranel. She pondered if he lost someone as well.
"Ummm….what are you doing here?"
"Oh. I came here to pay my respects to Hashanah. He was the first person who greeted me and gave me great advice. He died on the 18th floor months back. I never got the chance to give my respects….until now."
She blinked and nodded and looked back at the tombstone. He looked at it and was surprised to have the same last name as Shakti.
"Who was it?"
"My sister. She died during a suicide bombing, it happened years ago."
He squatted down and looked at it curiously.
"I don't understand why her...she was a kind and good person and helped people out. How can evil even still be around. I mean…..I know I sound so selfish, but..." she looked down.
Bell looked into the tombstone and replied "I cannot say much on that subject. However…" he got up "I do know this: if good sits there and does nothing, then we would have been in worse shape. I would imagine your sister wanted to change the minds of others by their actions. She died with her ideals strong and without any regrets."
She looked at him "True, but what purpose did it come out of if she died?"
He looked at her with conviction "I would assume it would push people to do more good than evil. Keep on going without any despair during those times she lived."
She sighed in frustration "I wish she never died."
"I don't want people to die either, but the reality is that we are mortal."
She looked down, but then she felt a hand on her shoulder "But their ideals live on. Even those memories of the good things people have done."
She smiled softly, "You are right."
He nodded "We strive and learn from others in the past, in order for us not to make the same mistakes ever again. The truth though" He looked all over the graveyard "We tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. I mean, we tend to assume we are better than our past with words, but our actions on the other hand…"
She nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we tend to forget though."
He patted her back "Feeling better?"
"Yes. Thank you, Bell."
He gave a bright smile "Anytime, Ms. Varma."
"Shakti." She simply said.
"Okay, Shakti."
She smiled back. Then Bell suggested something.
"Let's get something to eat, if you have time."
She blinked in surprise and nodded "Sure."
Both left the graveyard as they went to get something to eat.
Food stall
"Thank you, Lord Take!" Bell bowed.
He waved with a smile "Anytime!"
He gave her a potato snack that she ordered and both were walking.
"How is your arm?" she looked at him.
He smiled and moved it "It feels better now. Just a miracle that I survived."
She smiled "I don't know how you survived on the 37th floor. How do you manage to keep yourself hopeful?"
He took a bite for a moment and swallowed it "I do everything I can not to give up. I think of my familia, my friends, the people I care the most to go all out until I can't move anymore. I think of the heroes of the past, those that rose up to the impossible to make it possible."
She smiled softly, "You sound like Ardi."
He blinked in surprise "I do?"
She nodded "She used to love reading those storybooks of heroes and would sometimes tell little children about them. She would tell me 'Shakti, watch me as I become a heroine bringing smiles to others!'"
He smiled "I wished I would have met her."
"You both would have gone along well with each other."
He chuckled "I seem to recall another person that is like that. Tiona Hiryute."
"Tiona?!"
"Yeah. It is because of the Argonaut tale that motivated her to smile. She told me of a battle she had in Melen with another Amazoness, and she was able to beat her."
Then she took another bite and became thoughtful.
Bell then changed the subject "How is the food?"
She replied "It's pretty good. What favor did you get?"
"I got mine with fish flavor. Was pretty curious about it."
She was curious about it as well. "Could...I try it?"
He nodded "Sure."
She took a small bite from what he had and she was surprised how it tasted.
"Pretty good." She smiled
"Yeah. I have never tried fish flavored before."
She looked at her food "Would you like to try the red bean one?"
"Sure."
He took a bite of it and smiled "Wow, not bad."
"Thanks."
People saw this act and knew who those two were. Some whispered about how they are on some date of sort, while others are whispering about a relationship. They knew Shakti was a serious person, and yet watching her smile from the one known as the Record Holder brought a lot of respect from various men. They decided to let them be and start to spread the word.
They were enjoying the walk for a while, until they found a place to sit. They sat down on a bench and relaxed.
"Bell."
"Yes, Shakti."
"What is a hero?"
He thought about it for a moment. Then he replied "I would say 'If anyone has the right to be called a hero, It's not the one who took up the blade. It's not the one who raised his shield, nor the one who healed the wounded. Only one who truly risks his life may be called a hero. Protect your friends, save the girl, and face danger. It doesn't matter if you fall. No, that's just fine. Cry your heart out over it. within the defeated, a victor waits to emerge. Stay true to your wishes. Cry out your desires. And if you do that's what will make you the coolest hero' "
She stared at him and was surprised by the answer "I...never thought of it that way."
"Yeah. I would thank my grandfather for that." He smiled looking up.
She smiled right at him, "Your grandfather would be proud of you."
He nodded "Yes. I did what I could to follow his advice." Then he had a sheepish look "but sometimes he is an odd man."
She then unconsciously laid her head on his shoulder. He blushed from her action.
"Bell. How are the Xenos doing?"
He knew that the Ganesha and Shakti were aware of the Xenos. "They are doing well. We would chat from time to time, I would hang out with Wienne" his smile faltered "I wish I can get them into the surface. I will do what I can to continue bridging the gap between the people in the surface and the Xenos."
She held his hands as he flushed. "I will be by your side every step in the way."
He smiled and held her hands.
Few hours later, Ganesha place
Both arrived at the large place of Ganesha, as they held their hands.
"Bell….thank you for taking me back." she smiled shyly. She felt something about him as the stories were heard about the rabbit charm. Even though he was just being himself. Or maybe she began to see him in a very interesting manner.
"I-it was nothing. Just making sure you are safe." He scratched the back of his head with the only hand that is free.
She then went over to him and leaned a little down. She gave a small kiss on the lips. Bell was surprised by this and gave a small kiss back. His face was red, while Shakti's face flushed a little.
"S-so…" She felt a little bashful "Do you want to head on a date next week?"
"Ummm….sure, I would love to."
She smiled brightly "Great! Take care Bell….my hero."
She went inside as Bell had a big smile on his face.
He made a fist pump as he had a date with the captain of the Ganesha familia.
On top of the statue, stood the god himself Ganesha. He chuckled "Shakti needed someone like him. Ganesha knows that the Rabbit Foot will keep her smiling and hopeful." He looked up and said "Ardi, I know you would be happy for your sister now."
Ganesha then yelled "I AM GANESHA!"
"Quiet down!"
End
A/N: Interesting enough Hashana's weapon is now in possession of a certain minotaur that beat Bell on the surface during the Xeno's incident. Kind of interesting eh? I didn't know she was 38. Man what a hot cougar! Makes sense for Bell to like older women.
Anyways, thank you all for reading and I am uncertain who is next. Hope I am inspired again by something. I will write the next chapter for Brighter Future. Until then, take care.
