Hello, everyone. I'm dipping my toe into yet another fandom. Gotta say, Fire Force has been one hell of a series to follow and definitely one of the better things to watch during this pandemic. Rather fittingly, I finished binge watching the anime (and kept on into the manga where things have gotten crazier) and Shinra's family background is as interesting and complex as one would expect of a hero's. In light of the familial revelations and Mother's Day, I decided to put this little story out there. Also, some light shipping on my part because I couldn't resist.
I do not own anything.
Shinra was rather surprised when he opened his eyes to the rays of morning light flutter through the window. He was surprised that at some point in the night he'd managed to fall asleep; he'd thought that by the time he did, dawn would be breaking and the day would be starting. It wasn't like he had any problems with going through the entire day without any sleep, he would likely be too emotionally charged up to sit still. Just the train road would likely have him grinning from ear-to-ear and his feet twitching to the point he'd be creating sparks and embers. It certainly wouldn't be the first time something like this happened.
"No use in laying here all morning, might as well get going." Stated the black-haired Fire Soldier swinging his legs over the bed. He was somewhat taken back when they didn't spontaneously combust upon hitting the floor. So surprised that the energy he'd tried to build up fizzled out and left him sitting there, the bed covers thrown to the side and his arms atop his knees. "Hard to believe that…once upon a time I was jumping out of bed today, practically hitting my head on the ceiling and walls." Laughed the teenage leaning back with his hands stretched out behind him.
Was a part of him still in shock that he was still alive? Definitely. While he wanted to be a hero, Shinra was never under any delusions about the danger he'd been facing, about the odds of his survival from time to time. If he didn't know then he never would have been able to become a Fire Soldier, he never would have made it this far. True heroism wasn't fighting not knowing the odds, it was fighting in spite of perhaps knowing the odds and pushing on anyway. That didn't mean that one couldn't take some time to reflect on how close they'd come to death, to dying without accomplishing their goals.
Shō, I wonder where you are? Are you alright? Have you recovered from our fight? Are you thinking about me? Are you thinking about mom? Can you at least remember her face? How much she loved you? Such questions wouldn't be answered for some time to come, but Shinra was okay with that. There were questions that he could ask his little brother when they were fully reunited, when it was just them as brothers, not a member of the Fire Force and White-Clad, without swords and flames aimed at injuring one another, when it was just the two of them and hopefully their mother as it was before.
Of course, it couldn't exactly be as it used to be. It never could be and probably never would be exactly the same, but Shinra was fine with that. The past couldn't be repeated, but the future could be made better than what was. He planned on Shō being a part of his future, he always would be. In the grand scheme of things, he probably always would be, but Shinra was counting on being able to see him, talking with him, laugh with him.
Those were all the things that he was fighting for. Well, that and making sure that there were no other poor souls like his little brother.
His will restored, he rose from the bed, a smile budding on his face and he marched toward the kitchen.
Learning how to cook had been a fun experience. Or at least un in the sense of him experimenting to see what he could come up with. Hajima Industries had at least offered him that much freedom, though Shinra knew part of that was they were curious to see if his powers could be used for culinary purposes. Shinra wasn't quite sure that the results were what they were expecting, but again, the experience had been fun for him. Ultimately, Shinra discovered he could perhaps cook at a basic level, but unless he truly devoted himself to the art, he wasn't going to be winning any culinary awards. He could at least take solace in the fact that he could cook better than Arthur, and by that he meant he could cook without turning it into some sort of knight-based spectacle. That wasn't to say it couldn't be entertaining.
"Now, Shinra, remember, the kitchen is for cooking, nothing else. And remember, keep Shō away from the stoves and knives." His mother had chastised him a mere two months before she was set to give birth. She was laying down the ground rules before the youngest member of their family was born, which was probably for the best.
As expected, Shinra eagerly took her advice. Knives and the stove, got it! But what about spoons? What if he tries to eat them or something because they slid so easily into his mouth? Or what if he learns how to fling food?"
"You mean like you did…and still do from time to time?"
"Not often! I mean, I'll be a good role model for him! I promise!" He closed his eyes and remembered how she had lightly caressed his cheek with affectionate pride.
"I know you will, Shinra, now then. Which one do you want, blueberry or chocolate?"
"Blueberry!" His younger self shouted out almost instinctively. While he liked his sweets like most other children, he was a bit odd in that he didn't particular like things like chocolate and such to the same extent as others. When it came to foods like crepes and pancakes, which his mother loved making, he always seemed to lean more towards fruits and diary products like cheese and even ham. There were good times, and he looked forward to the day he could share those meals with Shō.
His nose wrinkled as he smelt the familiar odor of smoke. "Huh? Ah, what the hell!" Right before his eyes, the pancakes he'd been preparing in the pan had turned into a blacken hep. "Dammit, I hate it when that happens. Good thing that I stalked up. And good thing I got a slight raise in my pay." His mind flickered to an image of the person likely responsible for that raise. It wasn't like he was against it, but Shinra wasn't the type to boast about how deserving of it he was. Unless Arthur was involved somehow. Then he'd lobby for a pay raise just to spite him. Maybe something like that could happen in the future, and maybe when it did, he could use the extra money on Shō. "Come to think of it, I wonder if you even remember when we took you to the amusement park. Given how young you were, maybe not."
He had a feeling that today, all the amusement parks would be filled up with families and loved ones. Shinra could remember his times there, including some amusement parks that were still in operation, booming even. Quietly, he prayed there were no incidents of Spontaneous Human Combustion at any of them. If so…well, he was sure his mother would forgive him for stepping out to prevent history repeating itself.
"You shouldn't linger here for too long; you have other more important places to be. Besides, we have things covered as is."
Shinra laughed. Such a response was exactly what he was expecting from the lieutenant. For that matter, he wasn't too surprised that he was in and working just like it was an ordinary day. Come to think of it, he didn't know much about the lieutenant's family life, but he never pried, partially on account of the fact a part of him was scared to ask. The last thing he wanted was for the marksman putting him through more monstrous training and administrative torture.
"Hey, I'm just dropping by for a little bit." He stated.
"Then get your business here down then get going. You've got someone waiting for you." Lieutenant Takehisa stated without missing a beat. Though his voice was flat, Shirna could detect the hint of emotion, the encouragement behind it. Suddenly stopping in his paperwork, he reached over and picked up a large rectangular container. "You're not the only one out, so's Vulcan, but he sent this for you." Spoke the bespectacled 2nd Generation Fire Soldier.
"This?" Shinra blinked examining the box. It was no more than two feet long and easily carried by a foldable handle. After a second of rattling it around, Shrina heard something metallic inside clang against the edges. "Wonder what he went and made this time?"
"Knowing him, probably a thank you gift." Lieutenant Takeshia stated. "The Captain is waiting for you in his office."
"But before you go, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking some of these with you." Spoke a gentle voice from behind the flame-footed youth. He turned and smiled as he found himself standing before the Fourth Company's Sister. In her hands were a bundle of flowers that she gently presented to Shinra. "Though I may not have known her, I know you, and as a soul who has returned to the great flame, I pray that her soul has found peace. And I will do my part to ensure that you and your little brother are able to live long as well."
With a slight blush, he accepted the flowers, a nervous laugh falling from his lips. "Hey, you don't need to worry about the 'live long' part. I don't have any plans on kicking it until I've kept my promise, and taught Shō all that I need to about life!"
"Yes, which includes teaching him how to do his paperwork and not push it off to someone else." Sniped the company's firearms user, again, not missing a beat in his statements.
"W-What?! H-Hey! Once I get Shō back, he'll be free to do whatever he wants! Besides, he's just thirteen, he'll have to go through school first before he can consider joining the force, and that's if he even wants to!" Shinra countered only to pause. "Then again, at the level he's at he'd probably be a pretty good Fire Soldier, not to mention passing school isn't exactly a requirement. I mean, look at-gah!"
Iris squeaked in shock as she realized a wrench had been thrown right past her and impacted Shinra square in the face. The dark-haired boy tumbled backward, smacking into the edge of the desk sending a slight tremor through it. Lieutenant Takehisa's glasses glimmered as the stack of papers he'd previously categorized came tumbling down. Shinra rose, a look of comical fury in his eyes as he stared past the Sister to Company Eight's self-proclaimed Knight-King. Said king looked as nonchalant as possible as he spun on his heel and began to continue walking down the hallway.
"Just practicing my aim, after all, a knight must always keep improving himself. One may never know when danger may strike and they must be called to action." Arthur whistled continuing to walk on by while Shinra steamed.
"Or be turned into a burnt up tin-can." Growled the red-eyed rookie looking to the metal box and wondering if he could use it as a bludgeon and not risk damaging what was inside. "Hey! I could come right on back and kick your ass if I wanted to!"
"That would imply you're able to handle me in a fight!"
"I can, and I'll win!"
"Shinra! Arthur!" Boomed the Eighth Company's Lieutenant. Both boys save for Sister Iris jumped in pure fear. In fact, one could see the faintest hints of a smile on her saintly face as a cold sweat broke out over the two, including the male blond who was hurrying down the hallway back to the garage where the "company witch" was hard at work. After letting the now lone Shinra sweat for another minute, the lieutenant spoke again. "Shinra, the captain's office. Now." He said in the same simple tone.
With a nervous nod, the he decided not to waste any more time and bee-lined straight for the captain's office. It wasn't until he was inside did, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Sounds like your Mother's Day is off to a great start." Chuckled the Eighth Company's captain watching his star rookie drop into one of the two chairs recently set up in front of his desk.
"It was off to a great start when I accidentally burnt my own breakfast, and no, it wasn't because of my powers." Explained the younger male suddenly feeling like a weight was being lifted off of his shoulders. Being in Captain Ōbi's room had had a sense of doing that to him, especially when there were others around him. His teammates, the people he'd inspired. This morning though, it was just the two of them. "I was…drifting off, thinking about the past."
"Frankly, I'm not surprised. Mother's Day…I've known several who lost their mothers and maternal figures to Spontaneous Human Combustion, and that's not counting those cases where it happens on a day like today." They were horror stories, but also reminders of the cruel and unpredictable reality that they lived in. Ōbi woke up every morning with the slight fear of what their line of work would bring them into contact with, whose life would they have to end in order to save their souls. Doubtlessly, it was extremely stressful, but it was a burden they chose to bear as members of the Special Fire Force. Looking at his flame-running subordinate, the former fire fighter was reminded that they were still human beings with feelings and fears. And a need for emotional rest. "Today, when you're visiting your mother, don't try to think too hard about what happened in the Nether. Tell her about the good things that have happened, like joining Company 8." He finished with a smirk.
"If I told her about half the stuff we'd gotten involved in, I'd probably be there for most of the day." Laughed the devilish young man.
"Then so be it. Shinra, like I told you before, today is pretty much a day off for you, and Vulcan, and Tamaki." Though the official story was the latter's stay in Company 8 was temporary, she'd practically became a full-time member of the group. At the very least she felt that way, as did Captain Burns. Company 8's formation was proving as unconventional as some of its members were, but that simply made Ōbi all the more proud, as well as all the more eager to ensure everyone got their time off. They certainly needed it, especially in preparation for what the future might hold for them. "The people we have on hand now can handle any cases that pop up, so don't feel like you need to hurry back."
"Even with an airhead like Arthur on duty?" Quipped the young pyrokinetic.
"An airhead backed up by at least half of the team, all of whom are ready to move at a moment's notice." Ōbi answered. He could see the building grin on Shinra's face. Odds were he was hoping for some incident to pop up so he could swoop in and perhaps steal the spotlight from his blond-haired rival. The relationship between the two fire-users could be annoying at times, but ultimately, it was a positive one. They pushed one another to be better, and ultimately had one another covered in battle. His expression quietly turned downtrodden as he leaned forward and put both hands on the table. "Shinra, listen, though the odds are pretty slim, if anything involving the White-Clads shows up, we'll try to notify you."
The elephant in the room had been exposed with little fanfare, not that Shinra was ever expecting much out of it. "Alright, thanks." If he were honest with himself, he didn't expect another lead to the White-Clad or his brother to come along for a while. It was frustrating, but frustration was something he'd learned how to deal with in various ways. On a day like this, he felt he leaned more towards peace and quiet than going off on a quest in which he had no leads. But he wasn't averse to any leads appearing before him, he certainly wouldn't have minded it.
In the end, he left the Cathedral, feeling as relaxed and composed as he had when he came in, maybe a little more so. That said, he certainly was coming out with more than he came in with. Besides the metal container Vulcan had left for him, Sister Iris had given him some flowers for his mother. In his heart, he had the words of the captain, the lieutenant, the sister, Maki, Viktor, and even Arthur. Not that he'd admit to the last one, or that the knight would either.
The knight seemed to want to get one last word in as when Shinra looked back, he saw the blond looking back to him from the front entrance of their base.
"So, you're not going to run there?" He questioned in a tone that belayed how hard he was at trying to sound as emotionally removed as possible.
Shinra could have shot through it, but he chose not to. "Doing that carrying all of this wouldn't exactly be a wise idea." He said indicating to the number of items he had in his arms in addition to his own bag. Running while carrying someone or something was one day, but running while carrying delicate objects, especially objects given to him by his friends, that was another matter entirely. Not to mention deep down, a part of him actually didn't want to run the full length to his destination. "You won't make a great big fool of yourself till I get back?"
"Fool? Me?" he laughed with the same cocky smirk he had since the day they'd meet. Shinra smiled, revealing his own pointed teeth in contrast to his rival's straight ones. "You are our company's devil as well as our jester."
The grin broadened. "Who gets way more work done than you!"
"More than me? I seem to recall only one of us needing to be carried back from our quest into the darken tunnels of the Nether." A vein popped on the runner's forehead causing Arthur to smirk, but only for a moment. His face fell into a neutral frown as he turned his back to his fellow third generation comrade. "Make sure you come back here with the same resolve you had when we went down there…no, make sure it's stronger. A knight's true worth can't be shown if his opposition falls short of being worthwhile." With those words hanging in the air, he went back inside of the garage, heedless of the somewhat stunned expression on the devil's face.
It was only momentary as his trademark grin manifested seconds after he was gone. Arthur was out of sight so Shinra could let his smile widen, let the heartfelt emotion seep through.
"You idiot, you don't ever have to worry about my resolve." Already, his feet were hitting the pavement. "Next time, Arthur, I'll be rescuing your loony ass."
In this world, death by fire was a horrific, yet common occurrence. It was, unfortunately, an accepted risk of waking up every day. One could hold up in their homes and fervently pray that Spontaneous Human Combustion wouldn't befall them, quite a few people had attempted such a thing, the number tipping all the way up into the thousands.
For some it helped, for some it didn't, but for many, it wasn't something worth worrying yourself over. That was how civilization was able to rebuild, that was how life was able to go on. Life went on, and the dead were remembered and mourned.
Special graves were set up for those who died from spontaneous combustion. Given how wide-spread the issue was, the graves were large, but small enough that they could be grouped together with the graves for those who died via other things such as old age, disease, and of course murder. Meeting one's end by any of those things was by no means something to be envied, except maybe the old age part because one could have hopefully lived a full life.
Shinra wondered what that would feel like-he would have liked it if his mother could have been one of them. But she wasn't, in fact, technically speaking, she wasn't even dead.
Or was she?
He'd made the trip to this cemetery countless times in the past, throughout school, vacations, and now his time as a member of the Special Fire Force. If he wanted to, Shinra could close his eyes and perfectly picture the sub-section of the cemetery put away for those who'd died by fire.
"May these lost souls return to the Eternal Sol, where they shall find peace eternal, Latom."
The first time he'd gone to his mother's grave, that was the inscription atop the "entrance" to the "Cemetery of the Burned" as he'd heard some call it. It was a crude name, but one of many that all summed up what the graves were for. It also eliminated the need for listing why the deceased were dead. While most had been turned into an Infernal and had to be purified, there were also those who'd died in the crossfire. Shinra heard once upon a time there'd been a debate about rather or not to include them in these graves with the argument eventually ending in a yes. It was the sight of how massive the "sub-section" was that helped cement his resolve to become a hero and end the threat of Spontaneous Human Combustion.
Over six acres of land set aside for fire-related graves, two-hundred and twenty-thousand feet of earth of which there were probably less than three hundred bodies in the grounds. Or remains of bodies. His mother's body wasn't amongst them, yet she had a tombstone like so many countless others.
"Shinra!" She'd cried out while he watched in horrified silence at what was happening before him. "Don't look, honey! You need to run away! Hurry!" Her entire body had been consumed by flames as she made her plea, perhaps knowing they were the last words she'd ever speak as a human being. As the flames raged around him, all he could do was focus on his mother's burning form. Shinra remembered the sound of her tears, of his failure as a son to protect his mother. "You…have to get out of here, Shinra."
"I…didn't really follow your advice of my own accord, mom. Sorry." His tears wet the grass beneath him as he sat on his knees before the gravestone. Now that they'd started flowing, he couldn't stop them. Of course, he smiled too, the tears cascaded down his frozen smile. "I'm…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…mom." All of his things laid at his side, temporarily forgotten. When he regained a sense of self-control, he'd place them before the gravestone as they were meant to, but for now, all Shinra did was kneel before it and cry. He apologized again and again, but he felt like it was never enough, it could never be enough.
The Demon Infernal he'd seen that night twelve years ago had been the bane of his existence, now he knew it had once been one half of the crux of it. Shinra couldn't count how many nights he'd gone to sleep seeing it, in righteous dreams where he beat the damn thing to a pulp and took back his baby brother and avenged his mother, nightmares where the creature did nothing but laugh in triumph as it either disappeared into a sea of flames with him or burnt Shō to ashes right in front of him. Daydreams had been spent doing the same, and sometimes doodling away on notebook paper. He saw the Demon's face when he pleaded with others that it wasn't him who started the fire that burnt down his world. He saw its face when he thought not of the heroic aspirations he held in his heart, but the hatred within him. He saw that eyeless face, those horns, and that horrid mouth full of teeth, all surrounded by blazing orange and yellow flames.
He'd spent the last twelve years hating his own mother.
By now, his head was touching the grass, just a mere inch from the tombstone. His tears continued to soak the grass, even as he found the strength to raise his head and look at the slab of stone. He could only imagine how pitiful and even abhorrent he looked, tears streaming down his face yet the same near demonic grin on his face. There wasn't an ounce of humor in it, when it came to his grieving, his smiles were never humorous; not that anyone ever got that, the mere fact that he was smiling itself was enough of a turnoff for them.
"I-I…have a lot to apologize for when I see you again, a-and a lot to tell you." He started after finally finding the ability to speak again. "Now I know…you're out there somewhere, waiting for me to save you, just like Shō. Speaking of which, I finally found him…and we…kind od got into a fight. To be fair, I tried talking things out with him, but he's been hanging around a bad crowd, a really bad crowd. The same ones who took him and caused that awful fire that night." Quick as lightning, the anger came in, the burning hot rage that nearly caused his feet to ignite. Shinra held it back though. He'd never have been able to come down here, especially on a day like today, if he wasn't able to hold it together. "The White Clad and this Evangelist, I seriously don't know what their ultimate goal is or how they're planning to reach it, but I know it involves the Adolla Burst that Shō and I possess, that's why they took him. There's still so much of it that I don't know…but I'm going to find out. I'm going to get to the bottom of it all. I'm going to stop them…but I won't be doing it alone."
Finally, he was able to wipe the tears from his eyes and scoot back putting a little distance between himself and the tombstone. Reaching over, and pulled out the first of the many items he'd brought. First was the metal box that Vulcan had left him. Opening it, he held up the metallic statue in the shape of a scorpion. It was a work of art forged from metal and wiring that could only have come from the skilled and imaginative hands of a craftsman like Vulcan. And from someone with as noble a heart as well, and a bit of animalistic knowledge that always left Shinra in awe.
"Vulcan's our Company's engineer, and pretty much the best tinkerer that I've ever met. Heh, of course, he sued some of those inventions to try to scare us off when we came to recruit him. That was one hell of an afternoon. It was also the same day that I…saw Shō again. It was all pretty wild." That day had been something of a flashpoint, especially since it was their first real engagement with the White-Clad and the true start of whatever this could be called, a war perhaps. Shinra was more excited than scared, and told his mother that through the tombstone. He told her of the hope he was filled with even as they were forced to flee and sat in the hospital recovering from the engagement with the enemy. For the first time in years, he had a real shard of hope.
That hope had been ignited, and ironically, it burned brighter as they entered the Nether and battled the White-Clad in the bowls of what was beloved to be their headquarters. The battles had been fierce, but they all knew that going down. Every step in the door, every spark, brought them closer to their goal, or at least it did in Shinra's case. He told the tombstone in front of him of his battle with Shō, a battle that had, at least according to Victor, broken the laws of physics.
"It seems both of us have grown into some real troublemakers, huh? Breaking the laws of physics, messing with the universe and reality, potentially threatening to destroy all of Tokyo, hehe, you'd definitely have scolded the both of us, wouldn't you? Granted we probably would have had it coming, I mean, we got a tad aggressive for a game of tag." Shyly, he scratched his hand, then moved his free hand to his abdomen where the katana wielded by his brother had ran him through. The fact that he rubbed the wound with fondness might have been cause for concern to some, but Shinra wasn't the type to care what other people thought. Or at least he tried hard not to care. "Shō's gotten really good at tag, I'm not sure which of us won that round, but next time, I'll do my best to win. I'll wind and I'll bring him back home, then…hopefully we can both look for you."
Of the thousands of graves here, few actually contained bodies, the tombstones were the most that they had. For Shirna's mother…that used to be the case, but not anymore.
When someone turned into an Infernal, they were officially listed as dead and the best one could hope to do was purifying them so that their souls could be put to rest. That was one of the duties of Fire Soldiers. Shinra, however, was about to make an exception to that rule.
"I know it's probably selfish of me…but if you're out there, no, I know you're out there, mom." He affirmed reaching out and placing his hand against the tombstone. "I won't purify you…I'm not going to because I'm going to save you. I'm going to reverse the process, somehow, someway…I'll turn you back to normal." Resolution colored his face as his fingers curled across the stone. "Besides us, there's this other Company, Company 5, they're researching Infernals too, and are probably further along than anyone else. Their captain is…" a light blush crossed his face at the thought, the image, of the tan-skinned Princess Hibana who'd gone from foe to friend. Very devoted friend at that. "Heh, I kind of wonder what you'd think of her. I mean, at one point she did kind of try to get me to kneel before her, but hey, I'm still standing! And I can ask her for anything and get it, and sometimes I don't even have to ask! Still, she's actually pretty nice and driven once you get to know her. Or you can just get her around Sister Iris. Heh, those two make for an awesome pair."
Above him, the sky temporarily darkened as clouds passed over the sun. Looking up, Shinra patiently waited for the darkness to pass and light to return. It did, with it, he smiled. He supposed he was luckily that it was a calm spring day, albeit the forecast did say there could be rain later on. Hanging out in the rain didn't seem like such a bad idea to him, it wasn't like he hadn't done it before.
"Company 8, I don't think I could have asked for a better fire company to be assigned to. Captain Ōbi, he's the kind of guy I think you're admire. He's strong and fearless, but he's definitely the kind of guy that you'd want leading you. After him there's the lieutenant…who's definitely one of the scariest guys I've ever met." A whimsical smile blossomed along the young Fire Soldier's face as he delved into the zanier traits of his comrades, all of whom he trusted with his life. "He works us to the bone rather it's physical training or with paperwork, especially the paperwork. Good guy, that's the worst part of it! The absolute worst, I don't know how the lieutenant does it! But he forces us to do it, and if we don't, he threatens us! He threatens us when we're goofing off! He threatens us when we're misusing our powers! He threatens us while we're training! But he always has our backs, fighting on the front lines with everyone else, and watching over the rest of us just like Captain Ōbi. Heh, especially Maki." A Cheshire grin spread along his face as he caught the little…interactions between the two former soldiers. Shinra could tell there was something between the two of them, something that neither of them wanted others becoming aware of. At times it seemed that they didn't even realize it themselves, but Shinra caught the way they looked to one another and cared for each other just a tad bit more than usual.
It reminded him of the bond between his mother and thoroughly deceased father.
"Take…care of them, your mother…and…little brother, Shinra. It's…up to you now. S-S-Sorry…to be d-d-dumping this on you, b-but you're now the new man…of the house."
Shinra knew he'd failed in that duty…but not anymore. He was done failing his family; as he laid there in the hospital bed, he made a vow that would never happen again.
"Tamaki's a transfer from Company 1…and she…likes putting herself out there, or at least. She's got some pretty rotten luck, but she tries hard not to let it slow her down. That's one thing about her I definitely admire." If the cat-themed girl heard him, he could only imagine what her flustered reaction would be. Surely it'd include a blush. Something told Shinra that if they met, Tamaki and his mother might hit it off, or even attempt to set the two of them up. The possibility got a snicker out of him. Next, he placed the set of flowers given to him by Sister Iris. "You'd definitely love our company's sister, Iris. She's the nicest girl that I've ever met, and not afraid to set out onto the front lines with the rest of us. She and Hibana…what happened to them, their whole covenant going up in flames, Hibana lost her faith, but Sister Iris never did. She held onto it, and still does. To be honest, I think it helped bring back Hibana, not that she'd admit it. Heh, truth is, she really doesn't like to admit how much nicer she's gotten, still calling everyone grovel and all, but you can definitely see that Sister Iris brings out the best in everyone, especially Arthur, the idiot that he is." Crossing his legs, he bowed his head and smiled at the memory of the stealthy encouragement his rival had given. They'd both go to their graves before owning up to it though. "Arthur…how can a guy be so dumb, but still strong enough to hold his own? I don't think it's something I'll ever figure out, but he does what he does, and it somehow seems to work. Sparing with him, it's preparations for the day Shō and I cross paths, we both know it. If I can stand up to his Excalibur, then I can definitely take Shō's sword, provided he's got a new one the next time we fight. Knowing him, probably, here's hoping I don't accidentally run myself through on it.
"Watching the whole thing was Viktor, our other engineer. He's a bit…well, nutty, and I mean nutty. He was actually assigned to from Hajima Industries, but to be honest, he really doesn't come off as one of theirs. Truth is…I actually think he just came to us because he wanted to. In spite of being a scientist, he can step up to the plate too! It was thanks to him that we were able to escape the White-Clad the at Vulcan's place! He's a bit odd…but he's actually pretty dependable and even nice. Hehehe, so I guess he fits right in with the rest of us at Company 8. He makes up our science team along with Vulcan and his friends, Lisa, and his apprentice Yū. Oh, speaking of which, that's where Vulcan is, taking care of his friend Lisa. She's had it pretty rough, being used as a pawn by the White-Clad…just Shō is being used now. When we went down into the Nether, Vulcan and Captain Ōbi managed to get her back; she's…traumatized, I mean, who wouldn't be after everything she's been through. I'm thinking once I get Shō back, it'll be the same with him." Shinra knew that trauma, especially life-shattering trauma, wasn't something one could easily overcome. It often shaped one's outlook on life for a considerable amount of the future-he was a living example, albeit a positive one. He knew the same couldn't be said for every person out there. Where his little brother would fall was up in the air, but Shinra was determined to make sure that Shō came out on the better side of things.
The same vow went for the hopefully dozens of people he could help in the future.
All around him, the wind picked up catching a handful off-guard. Others merely looked to it with solemn acceptance, perhaps letting it carry them back to happier times in their lives. Times when they were together with loved ones. Shinra could sympathize with the feeling, closing his eyes and remembering the afternoons spent with his family. When he opened them, he was back to looking at the tombstone.
He could see it, the otherworldly realm called Adolla where black smoking skeletons lay littered around him. Rising up from the twisted wreckage, grasping at him, was the Demon Infernal he'd spent so long hating, but now felt an overwhelming love for-his mother.
Placing his hand on his cheek, he tried to think of what he could have said to her. Would it have been a waste of words? Would she have been able to understand in that twisted state? Shinra was sure of it, after all, there were those cases where people were able to keep some shred of their identities even after turning Infernal. If there was anyone with a willpower strong enough to do that, it was his mother.
"Mom, I've been doing my best these last couple of years, but I gotta ask you to hold on just a little while longer. Please? I promise, I'll find you, I'll find Shō, I'll bring us all back together." His fists clenched as the number of possibilities the future could take ran through his head. There were too many to list, and almost all of them would bring him close to death's door again. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. He believed there was a way out there, and if he had to burn through the White-Clad and their mysterious Evangelist to do it, then so be it. "I'll find you two, I promise. I'll find you…and rescue you."
There were words directed at a slab of stone for a person he refused to believe was dead. The revelation about his mother practically made the entire point of this grave redundant. But it was the closest thing that he had.
Time passed, more clouds drifted in. Eventually, he rose to his feet, his body casting a shadow over the bouquet of flowers that now laid. It was a splendid collection put together by his friends, his new family of Company 8. At the center sat the metallic scorpion idol crafted by Vulcan. When night fell, the tail-end would light up and illuminate the dreary stone, a "guiding light" as the engineer had wrote in the letter he'd left behind.
I guess we'll talk about what to do about this tombstone when you're back. It's going to be one awkward as hell talk, but maybe it'll be something for us to laugh about. His feet turned, putting his back to the tombstone. "See later, mom…and hopefully, I'll see you soon." His arms free of their earlier burden, yet his soul hardened, the rookie Fire Soldier departed, a look of firm resolve on his face. He'd left the cemetery several times before, his face varying levels of determined, but this time, it was at its strongest level. A new hope had been restored in the devilish young man.
Hibana was willing to say she was lucky, but even that was pushing it.
After that wretched day, she stopped believing in any sort of divinity wholesale. Even though her faith had been rebuilt just a little, she wasn't willing to say she was a believer the same way that she had been. She'd never be a believer the same way again, just as she'd never truly be the same person she was before.
But it was okay. She refused to look back and lament on the past, especially when the present and future required her utmost attention.
The future was an uncertain thing, but Hibana was in the line of work that demanded she look forward to it with both eyes. It was her duty to help decipher it. Once upon a time, it was for purely selfish goals, and in a way, they still were. Now, thankfully, she could say she'd changed if only just a little bit. It was all thanks to one person, a person she was sure had been here earlier when the sun was still out and shing.
Pockets of sunlight were breaking through the rain clouds. If it kept up like this, there was a chance a rainbow might form. Hibana wasn't counting on seeing it though, she came to speak her piece and that would be it.
"You have no idea who I am, though I hope your son at least gave me a brief mention. He's quite the guy, a boy you can be proud of." She started kneeling on her knees. It wasn't exactly comfortable considering she'd chosen to wear a skirt, as usual, but it was what she'd chosen to do. A little humility was warranted in certain cases, that's what she'd learned, that's what she'd remembered. "I don't know if he's mentioned this…but I really put him through the ringer when we first met, trying to make him kiss the dirt like the grovel that I thought he was. Needless to say, he wasn't and isn't nor will he ever be." Usually, she looked back on her defeats and such with scorn and annoyance at best, but her defeat at Shinra's hands, it was something she'd never forget. Though she'd already met Shinra, after falling to his flames, it was like she was seeing him for the first time.
It was the moment she'd fallen in love with him.
Though the rain brought with it a late spring chill, Hibana felt nothing but warmth, likely from the memory of the night Shinra and his blond-haired rival stormed her Company's base. To say that she'd found the whole thing laughable would have been an understatement. For her, the entire night had been nothing short of amusing and life-changing, and of course leading to an unexpected but rather fruitful alliance with the Eighth Company. It had now grown to encompass the Seventh Company, and aspects of the First as well.
The female captain's gut rumbled at the mention of the 1st Company. While she enjoyed making a fool of Karim, she knew to watch herself, and he knew the same. In particular the Company's captain had her attention.
"He knew about it, about my mom and Shō, everything."
"Well, I can't quite say I'm surprised, in fact, I'd be more surprised if he didn't know. He was there on the scene and the 1st Company reports to the Holy Sol Temple, if anything, they're the ones with the answers you might be looking for. That said, getting those answers won't be easy."
"Not going to stop me from trying!"
"Good, then it won't stop me either."
"H-Huh? Hibana, what do you mean?"
"What? You said that there could be answers to your search for your brother and mother in the church, so I'll use whatever old contacts that I have to help. Not to mention if there's a possible link to Spontaneous Human Combustion, that's all the more reason."
"B-But…um, won't that be like…I don't know, sacrilege?"
She remembered the heartfelt laugh she'd given off as she looked back to him, a mischievous glint in her eyes which now held pink stars. "Why Shinra, after all I've done, do you think something as silly as sacrilege will stop me? Especially when…I'm helping you?"
The goofy but gracious smile that he gave her in response practically made her heart explode in her chest. Somehow, she contained the joy and managed to keep herself mostly composed for the rest of the evening. Of course, once she returned home the jubilation got the best of her.
"I can't say that I've followed any moral guidelines in researching Human Combustion, research that I'm hoping may one day lead to an end to it all. I won't make excuses and say that I cut corners out of some altruistic drive…I was selfish, utterly selfish and glory-hungry. In most ways, I suppose I still am…but thanks to your son, I want to try to do more. People like you, out there, suffering, longing for release…besides the Great Sol, there's another place for you to go. That place is at the side of your sons." Her fingers laced together as she bowed her head in prayer. "I can't say that I won't cut corners to reunite you with your son, and again, it's probably for selfish reasons…but to see Shinra happy. To see him smiling and laughing, able to be a big brother again, if I have to damn myself for those things, then so be it. Mrs. Kusakabe, all I ask of you is that you hold on for a little while out there. Try not to get yourself killed by any of the other Fire Force companies out there, and definitely stay out of the clutches of the White-Clad, even if they have your youngest son. Shinra…Shinra's got him covered, for sure. As for you…"
When she received the description of what Shinra's mother looked like in her new Infernal state, Hibana made a silent promise to herself. No matter the cost, no matter the pain it brought her, she would catch the scorpion-tailed Demon Infernal if they met. She had to, even if it cost her an arm and a leg. Briefly, Hibana wondered if mentioning Shinra would get her to pause and actually allow herself to be taken in. It wasn't like it'd be any different from those Infernals who maintained their sense of self and waited to be dealt with. Hibana could hope, but she wasn't too optimistic.
If it came down to a fight, she was prepared to give it her all. After all, she was a Fire Force company captain. She had her pride as one…and her pride as a lover of Shinra.
She stood up after saying her prayer and placing her flowers at the grave. Hopefully, Shinra wouldn't notice the extra addition, after all, there was already a good deal sitting before the tombstone. There was something comforting in that, seeing the outpouring of love from total strangers; arguably it was reinforcement of Shinra's idealism, idealism that had bled into her.
"You know, I don't think you're as selfish as you think, Hibana."
After the first blink, she realized that the object of her admiration and obsession was standing right in front of her. A bit too close for her liking. "A-A-Ah! S-S-S-Shrina! W-W-What? H-H-How?!" Her arms were waving about, her umbrella went toppling to the ground while the rookie snickered at her. Hibana's cheeks flushed bright pink. "D-D-Don't sneak up on people like that!"
His snickering only grew louder. "What can I say? You were so spaced out, and looked really cute with that peaceful expression on your face and all." Her blush deepened, her eyes darted to him then to the ground and back again. "Heheh, still, guess I should say sorry. Embarrassing a woman right in front of my mom's grave, she'd definitely scold me for that one."
"J-Just b-be more mindful in the future, alright." Spoke the Fifth Company's captain after finally getting herself under control. Spying her umbrella to the side, she quickly collected it, then folded it up seeing that the rain had stopped, for how long she could only wonder. "I-I just came by to…um…"
"You don't have to explain yourself." Comforted the black-haired young man with a gentle smile. "I came back to talk to her again, or make myself believe I'm talking to her when she's really..."
"Out there and waiting. Besides, I did come to pay my respects…to several, including three children that lost their mother about a year ago…today." Immediately, his happy-go-lucky expression crumbled. Hibana let out a half-mocking laugh. "Don't look at me like that, I don't deserve it as looking back…I was callous to their loss."
Almost just as quickly, his smile came back. "But you came back here to make up for it, right?"
Her cheeks flaring, she tried to keep a serious face by looking away. "One of them asked me if there was a way to stop Human Combustion…I told them that…one day there would be. I don't want to say that I gave them false hope, I want to believe I gave them some hope, hope that they wouldn't have to live with the fear of dying like their mother, or losing their loved ones."
"Then you sounded like a member of the Special Fire Force, a member of Company 5 to be precise." Shinra affirmed giving her a thumbs up and a wink. They nearly sent her heart into overdrive. "Someday, we will find a cure for it…and when that day comes…heh, I think I'll just go into the regular fire department like Captain Ōbi was. I still hate fires, and I still love putting them out and rescuing people."
"That sounds like you, and it sounds like a job you'll be well-suited for." Stated the Fifth Company Captain with a giggle.
"What about you, Hibana?"
"Wh-What do you mean what about me?"
"What I mean is, if we're able to solve the mystery of Spontaneous Human Combustion, defeat the White-Clad, and get my brother back…what will you do then? Stay on as a captain? Keep working for Hajima Industries?"
It was a genuine question that warranted an answer, or at least she thought it did. The problem was the more she tried to focus on giving an answer, the more nervous she became. Hibana told herself it was because Shinra was so damn close to her, close enough she could reach out and wrap her arms around him. If she did, she'd never let go. Truth be told, that was one half of the future she wanted to confess to.
Ultimately, she turned away, unable to look him in the eye without feeling like her face was going to spontaneously combust. "Flowers…a garden…botany. My powers are nice and all but…real glowers, genuine flowers like the kind that used to grow around our convent. Heh, can you believe that?"
"Yep, and it's a flower shop I wouldn't mind stopping by." Replied the male Fire Soldier catching her attention. "Sister Iris told me that besides your own powers, you like real flowers too. A life where you're able to tend to them, I don't think that'd be so bad! It's something to work for, is what I'd say. I'd love to bring my mom and Shō by there."
"W-W-Well, I-I'd welcome you all, but let's focus on living to see all that." Composure returned, though the blush on her cheeks remained, as they always did around Shinra. "So…um, Shinra…are you…Shinra?" Following the direction of his gaze, she was genuinely surprised to find a rainbow was stretching across the sky, a result of the sunlight reflecting off of the rain and moisture in the air. It was a sight many were left in awe of, including Hibana herself.
She'd been a deeply cynical woman, but strangely of all, it was her encounter with a "devil" that saved her. The world made little sense, and sometimes that wasn't something to lament over. When fortune fell into one's lap, she knew it was to be cherished.
Neither of the Third Generation Fire Soldiers said a word as their hands found one another, their fingers lacing together. Their faces, on the other hand, spoke volumes.
We're holding hands. We're holding hands! A voice in the back of her head was screaming for her to throw both arms around the younger boy. Again, if she did, she'd never let him go.
Okay, Shinra, you can do this. It's nothing like doing paperwork, training under the lieutenant or listening to Arthur babble on about knighthood…It's all going to be fine. Repeated the pyrokinetic runner over and over again. "Um, Hibana?"
"Y-Yes?!" She exclaimed.
"Um, how's about I make up for scaring you? I mean, it's something my mom would want me to do so-"
"Yes! Definitely, come on, I know just the place!" In a heartbeat, her self-restraint had gone up in smoke and she was affectionately tugging the rookie on by the arm.
"Thank you." The words were simple and direct, but they were like a stake to her legs.
"F-F-For what?" She stammered.
There was a brief squeeze that sent waves of euphoria racing up the Fifth Company's body and sending her heart into overdrive.
"For coming by, and…for making that promise." Clarified the black-haired rookie. He looked down to the rain-soaked grass beneath his feet. "I'm pretty much back to where I started when all of this began, but this time…I have people beside me who can help. It's one big mystery, but-"
"It's one that will one day be unraveled…just as surely as the sun will always come out again, even after a rainstorm." Finished the blue-eyed captain, a serene smile she let only a handful see. Because him, she was able to smile in such a way, look up to the sun and feel a spark of hope and optimism for the future. "Now, come on, and you'd best know how to treat a lady right on a date. If not…" But a part of her inner darkness remained as she relished how Shinra flinched behind a nervous smile beneath her cackling. "As the Captain of Fifth Company, I'll teach you, so you better be paying attention and on your best behavior."
The unease denied down, and in its place spread excitement. Laughing, Shinra took the lead, happily dragging the petal-eyed woman behind him.
Back by the grave, the scorpion idol sat amidst a bouquet of flowers, a sea of colors that matched the streak of multi-colored light stretching across the sky. It was once believed that rainbows connected to the heavens to the earth. Given that ability, one could perhaps hope they could connect them to loved ones lost and missing. Shinra certainly hoped so as he looked back at the luminous bar of light.
Shō, mom…just wait for me. Just wait for me to save you.
This turned out to be a tad longer than I originally set it out to be, but I had fun writing it and diving into the heart/comfort angle. Like Shinra said, he spent the last decade of his life hating the Infernal he saw that night only to learn that it was his mother, and she could still be out there. I chose to inject a tad bit of drama in the possibility of her having to be fought, and it coming from Hibana who'd certainly have some thoughts on the entire thing. Given how she was introduced experimenting on Infernals and Shinra's quest to restore his mom, I thought it'd be an interesting topic to focus on.
The "idol" Vulcan crafted in place of flowers was a scorpion for the set reason scorpions have some interesting symbolism behind them. In Egyptian myth, scorpions were symbols of rebirth and even healing as scorpion gods such as Serket, was responsible for healing venomous stings and snakebites. Shinra's mother's Demon form's defining feature aside from her horn-eyes is her scorpion-like tail, which I don't think is just coincidence given how the series is running through quite a lot of religious symbolism along with the fire-related myths.
Well, that's my first Fire Force story. Happy Mother's Day, and may you all stay safe and healthy along with your loved ones!