Shin found himself standing in the middle of an endless plain. The fields of golden wheat swayed gently in the breeze. The warmth of the sun bathed his body in a comforting glow. The air was homely and filled with nostalgia. He smiled. This sensation washed away all the stormy emotions he was experiencing. Shin ran his fingers along the wheat fields and took a walk down the field. Men, whose clothing appeared to be old yet advanced at the same time, toiled in the fields.
"Mom! Come on!"
Shin turned around and saw a young girl running past him. Her white hair shined brightly underneath the light of the sun. But her mismatched eyes instantly gave away her identity.
"A memory," Shin muttered.
This young girl was-
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a motherly voice behind him.
"Yaldi. Slow down," the woman said.
The woman's unearthly beauty stunned Shin into a stupor. She wore flowing white robes that matched her lunar white hair. Her blue eyes glinted brightly in the light of day and her sharp facial features contrasted the kind expression on her face. She laughed as she ran after her daughter before catching her and spun around with the girl in her arms.
"Mom! Mom! When's Mama coming back?" Yaldabaoth asked.
The woman placed a finger on her chin, apparently deep in thought. "Mmmmm… Lottie said that she would be coming back after taking care of some things. Who knows? Maybe she'll bring some presents?" the woman said, poking her daughter's nose.
This was Yaldabaoth's memory. A memory of days long gone. Shin instinctively reached out towards the warm woman when the girl suddenly turned and looked in his direction.
"Wake up."
Shin awoke with a start. A sharp pain pierced through his torso, causing him to double over in pain. The injuries he experienced from Yaldabaoth did not come without its after-effects. Asia can heal many things but not phantom pain. He sighed and swung his legs over the side of his bed.
"Good morning, Ran, Vivi," Shin yawned.
Vivi groaned and turned around in mid-air. Ran peeked one of her eyes open and yawned. She bounded over to Shin, nuzzling her head against his leg.
A knock on his door followed by a voice alerted him.
"Shin-san, breakfast is ready. I made the coffee the way you liked it," Asia said from behind his door.
"Asia!"
"Mmm?"
"Is Onee downstairs?" Shin asked.
"No… Akane-nee-san left to go to the Pub early in the morning. Ayaka-san told me to tell you to get ready. We're going to leave later today for Serikawa," Asia said.
Shin didn't respond and Asia didn't need him to. The sound of her light footsteps heading down the stairs was all he needed to know that the conversation had come to an end. It had been approximately a week and a half since the Three Factions Summit. The school was repaired in the hours he had been unconscious and subsequently set his bridges on fire. Shin balled his fists tightly and sighed. Finals had ended and summer was upon them. Perhaps some time away at Serikawa would make him feel better.
Shin left his room with Ran in tow, heading down the stairs. He walked past Asia, who was busy cooking something in the kitchen and saw his aunt lazing away on their couch in her sweats. Ayaka turned her head slightly and gave him a smile.
"Well, look who's finally up. Good morning, Shin-chan," she greeted cheerily.
His aunt had stayed an extra week after hearing what had happened at the school. Something about needing to keep an eye on them. The fight between him and his sister was something Ayaka had heard as well. Though, his aunt had yet to say anything.
"Akane-chan made you some food before you left," Ayaka said, turning her attention back to the TV.
"Oh…" Shin nodded mutely. He walked towards the front door and went outside, determined to take in some of the sun before going in to eat. He looked down the street and saw the massive high-rise complex that now replaced Issei's house. His eyes dropped slightly in sadness, thinking about the events that happened a week ago. But… Shin clenched his fists.
"Let's go in and eat," Shin said to no one in particular. Ran barked and walked after him, going to the kitchen and sitting down at the table. His black eyes noticed his dining companion enjoying her pancakes as if God had graced her personally with the food.
Ravel looked up from her meal and raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright, Shin?" Ravel asked.
"Huh?" Shin blinked in surprise.
"You're staring?" she answered.
"Oh, sorry. I'm just a bit tired. I did some training yesterday," Shin said.
"Still trying to get down the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu?" Ravel asked.
"Er… something like that," he replied.
"Though," Ravel swallowed her pancake, "I don't get why you keep working so hard. You're plenty strong and the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu is just impossible to learn. Throwing yourself at this like that will just make you weaker-" Ravel stopped when she heard Shin's fork stabbed into the plate. Her blue eyes widened slightly when she saw Shin's spam ripped apart.
"Sorry, I must have poked it too hard," Shin said.
"Sure," Ravel said, drawling sarcastically at his response.
"Are you going to the Dragon Festival with us?" Shin asked. "Onee's been dating Riser for two years and she's never taken him once.
"Yeah, this is our first time going. I can finally experience a summer festival here in Japan. Especially one with so much culture!" Ravel said, clasping her hands together. "Tell me, Shin! Is it true? Is there really an Evil Dragon buried in Mount Benizakura?" Ravel leaned towards him.
"Err…"
"Yes, there is," Ayaka said, resting her arm on her nephew's head.
"There is!?" Ravel said, stars in her eyes.
"Mmhmm! Moryo, the Demising Black Dragon, is buried under the mountain. Every year on the last day of the Festival, we-"
"Oba-san, we should let her experience the Festival. Besides, the festival isn't for another two weeks," Shin said.
"Eh? If it's in two weeks, then why are we going early?" Ravel asked.
"We have to help set up the stalls and stuff. It's a tradition that everyone in the family contributes to decorating the Shrine. The festival itself is over a week long," Shin explained. He placed his fork down on the plate. "Look, I'm going to head out."
"For what?" Ayaka asked as her nephew shook her arm off.
"For some training. I need to get some in before I run into Kureha at-"
"Kureha-Nee-Chan," Ayaka corrected. "You lost last year, remember?"
"Mmm… Kureha-nee. We're having our yearly bout this year and I don't want to have to call her Nee-chan for two years in a row," Shin said.
"Are you going to visit Issei too?" Asia asked, standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
Shin remained silent for a few seconds before turning around and leaving the room.
Asia merely sighed at his response, or lack thereof before returning to the kitchen to finish making her breakfast.
Shin walked down the street with Ran and Vivi in tow. He had his hands in his pockets and his phone blasting music into his ears. Shin's eyes became unfocused as he recollected the events of the past. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself. "They were in the wrong… calling me like that. I'm good. I'm strong. Stopping what I'm doing right now will only make me weak…"
"Master, there's someone ahead of us," Ran said.
Shin blinked and looked up to see a familiar sight heading in his direction.
Yeshua waved comically at him as he approached. "Hey kid, where are you heading off to so early in the morning?" he asked.
Shin stopped walking and bowed reverently to the Oldest Contractor. Yeshua sighed and patted his shoulder. "Now, now, no need to do all that stuff," he said, slinging his arm around Shin's shoulders. "Just treat me like you would anyone else. All that Ruler of Heaven stuff never really suited me." He pulled a Jack Daniel's from his coat and took a swig of it in broad daylight.
Shin gave him a deadpan look. "So it's too early for me to go train but it's not too early for you to drink whiskey?" he asked.
"Ahaha! It's the afternoon somewhere in the world, kid."
"Why are you still here? I thought Lady Uriel was going to be Heaven's Representative along with Rin," Shin said.
"Ah that, well since there are two devil peerages here in Kuoh and the town being proclaimed neutral territory and all amongst the Three Factions, they decided to send me too. Good thing too! I was thinking of starting a construction company here in Kuoh. See that house over there?" Yeshua said, turning them around. He pointed at Issei's house in the distance.
"You built that thing?" Shin asked.
"Hell yeah, I did. All it took was a hammer, some nails, and me abusing this Law to the max. Did you know before I became the Ruler of Heaven that I was a carpenter?" Yeshua said.
"I'm afraid to ask but what happened to the neighbors?" Shin said.
"I sent them on an all-expenses-paid move to another city and demolished the blocks around it. Good thing you live across the street otherwise you'd be homeless," he replied.
"Onee would crucify you again if she heard you were going to destroy our house," he said dryly.
"Bahahaha! That she would! That she would. Anyway, need some help training?" Yeshua asked.
"Help?" Shin raised an eyebrow. The Christ was offering to help him. Shin had seen his fight with Yaldabaoth. Of all the leaders, Yeshua was the only one who actually inflicted a wound on Yaldabaoth. It goes to show that rumors were just that. Rumors. Yeshua was a pacifist who didn't know the definition of the word, "Pacifism". His version of turning the other cheek was to turn the other person's cheek with brute force. If someone regarded as a legend in the Supernatural World offered him some help, who was he to turn him down?
"Yeah sure. But not anything combat-related. I use hammers, kid. Not swords. I'd be of no help there in that department," Yeshua said.
"Oh, so what can you help me with?" he asked.
"Tehom."
The word caused Shin's blood to freeze in his veins. Vivi narrowed her eyes and leaned forward, speaking for the first time. "Tehom is Shin's original Contract, right? Or it's supposed to be since his Stigmata is from Yaldabaoth. Something that bothered me about this was-"
"Shh, shh! I'll explain once we get to wherever it is that you train. Come on, I heard you were leaving later today so I might as well lay some foundation for you," Yeshua said.
"Wait… you know about that?" Shin asked.
"Of course I do. I live here now. The Red Dragon let it slip that he was skipping the Dragon Festival this year and I heard from the Vermillion Star's boyfriend at the pub that you were all leaving later," he replied.
The mention of Issei skipping the Dragon Festival was hard to listen to. Ever since Shin could first remember, he, Issei, and Irina had always gone to the Dragon Festival together. The fact that neither of them would go this year made him feel empty on the inside. A feeling he quickly shoved into the dark recesses of his subconscious.
"Come on! Show me the way," Yeshua said.
"Alright, follow us," Shin said.
"Wow, this is where you train?" Yeshua asked.
"It's the woods outside of town. Where else would I train?" Shin asked.
"To think the Vermillion Star got strong in these woods. Just goes to show how far hard work and a lot of effort can take you in this world," Yeshua said. He waved his hand and created a golden armchair. Yeshua gave Shin a look and motioned for Shin to take a seat. "Alright, kid. Take a seat. Let old Pappy Jesus explain how Yaldabaoth's authority works to the best of my ability. I've fought against it so I know better than most how her Authority works."
Shin nodded and sat down.
"First of all, explain to me how Reconstruction works," Yeshua asked.
He blinked. He wanted him to explain how Vivi's Authority worked? Him? Shin sighed.
"Reconstruction is the Authority that allows me to remake anything so long as I know the object or weapon well enough. By understanding its basic structure, I can also fill in the gaps in my knowledge and create weapons of the same structural concept. For example, if I know how to make a battleship gun, then I can make other battleship guns using my knowledge with only the caliber, barrel length, and specific factors to that gun being the only thing missing," Shin said.
"So let's say, you understand the human heart well enough, can you remake that?" Yeshua asked.
Vivi and Shin did a double-take at what Yeshua had said. Recreating organs? The thought had not crossed either of their minds. As the cogs in their brains began to rotate, Yeshua raised his hand to cut them off. "Sorry, it was just an errant thought. I just needed to know how well you understand Contracts."
"R-Right," Shin said.
"Besides, creating organs is sort of useless. You'd need to understand lots of things in order to do so," Yeshua said. "Ahem, anyway, Yaldabaoth's Authority. Tehom. Where should I start?"
"How about how it works?" Shin said.
"Ah right, so here goes. Yaldabaoth's Authority is dominion over space-time itself," Yeshua said.
"Space-Time? Wait, is this like Sacred Gears that can control it? Like Dimension Lost. I heard from Onee that it could create pocket dimensions and send things to the Dimensional Gap to be destroyed," Shin said.
"Well, sort of. Tehom can control everything we see within the Universe. The entire Space-Time Continuum is at your fingertips. Portals, Barriers, Dimensions. You were able to see some of the fight that I had with Yaldabaoth right?" Yeshua asked.
Shin nodded.
"Yaldabaoth was able to slice apart the Law of Genesis: Let There Be Light. A technique that's capable of birthing Infinity from Zero. In Layman's Terms, I can create an entirely new Universe," Yeshua said.
"And she cut through that?"
"Yes, she did. Though, mine is inferior to the one Mom created. Heaven and Purgatory are all born from Mom's Let There Be Light. Angels were created in the same manner and the Sephiroth, which permeates and extends through different dimensions were all born from it. Anyway, we're getting off track. Yaldabaoth has the ability to manipulate the entire space-time continuum, ranging from the spaces we're used to to the ones that exist beyond," Yeshua said.
"That's… broken," Shin said.
"Indeed. There is no physical or magical counter against it short of another Space-Time Authority or a Law," Yeshua said. "Your sister's Shin'en Minagoroshi, infused with the Law of Karma, was capable of holding off my sister's Endless."
"Okay, so how do we get started? How do I go from… making crystals that can warp space-time to being able to cut through space-time with a sword?" Shin asked.
"Practice," he answered. "You should stick with making crystal first. I don't want you to teleport and accidentally forget to warp one of your body parts through subspace. Let's see. How did Yaldy explain to me how it worked because I asked her for pointers when I was learning to warp space and time with the Law of Genesis. Ahhh! That's right! The crystals! She said that the Crystals were key for her to learn her control. The Crystals are shards of space-time that were warped from Subspace by shattering the space-time continuum! She said that imagining them as real as opposed to being imaginary is how she does it."
"Real? Imaginary? What?" Shin tilted his head.
"Hey, this is what I got from her. This is what you'll get here," Yeshua said.
"Can you explain it in a way a normal person like me can understand?" Shin asked.
"Okay, basically, think of it like how you use Reconstruction. Visualize a crystal manifesting in your hand but use Tehom rather than Reconstruction," Yeshua said.
"Err…" Shin nodded and closed his eyes. Okay, imagine a crystal manifesting… imagine a crystal manifesting…
"Shin, you're using Reconstruction," Vivi said.
He opened his eyes and saw blue lines tracing themselves across the air. He sighed and the construct dissipated. "This is…"
"Yeah, it's harder than you can expect. Especially with someone who uses two Contracts. You have to learn to use the other one without the one you're used to activating. Don't let your instincts take hold," Yeshua said. "Though, you should be able to sense the membranes of the space-time continuum, right?"
"What?" Shin asked.
"Membranes. Points that extend into higher dimensions?" Yeshua said.
"I'm... I'm not a physicist," Shin said.
"Okay, let's do this another way. Imagining is something you can't really do since your brain defaults to Reconstruction. You and my Sister are fundamentally different so let's use another analogy. Imagine reaching into a lake and waving your hands within the water to grab something," Yeshua said, seemingly proud of his explanation.
"That doesn't… what?" Shin asked.
"Just do it. I'm not Yaldabaoth. I'm just telling you the basics of what I know from her," Yeshua answered.
"Alright." Shin closed his eyes and tried to sense something akin to membranes. Water was the sensation he was trying to feel. But the feeling of dampness in the air was natural. Japan was a humid country after all. The air had more water in it than his bottle did. As he felt around him, he could sense something that wasn't water at all. Yet, it had the same fluid texture that water possessed. It was more akin to malleable glass that would ripple as soon as his fingers touched it. A smooth, watery texture that engulfed the entirety of the reality around him.
Touch the true reality.
Vivi's words echoed in his mind.
Shin held his hand out and touched the air in front of him.
"You did it," Yeshua said.
Shin opened his eyes and saw warped glass where his hand was. It was small but progress was progress no matter how minute. He closed his fist and tried to grab it but the warp vanished and the air returned to normal.
"I still can't call the Crystals on command though," Shin said.
"You'll get there," Yeshua said. "For now, just practice a bit more." He downed the rest of his whiskey.
"Dude, are you drunk?" he asked.
"It's gonna take a stronger drink than this shit to get me drunk, Kid," Yeshua said.
Shin nodded and got up. New powers. A style he was determined to learn. This day was starting to look up. He tried a few more times to his success, being able to create fractals in front of him. Shin spun the fractal circle a few times before it dissipated.
"Woah, 3 seconds. That's a new record. See if you can do anything else," Vivi said, darting around him. "Imagine if we can use this and my Authority in tandem. This opens up an entirely new avenue of fighting style for us. Maybe we don't have to continue learning the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu right, Shin?"
"I guess but at this rate, it'll take me a while before I get this down so learning the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu is a safer path," Shin said.
He waved his hand and managed to create a line across the fabric of reality that lasted all for about 2 seconds.
"Hmm, I think that's enough for today," Shin said, lowering his arm.
"Eh? But you haven't even spent an hour on this! It's only been like 25 minutes!" Vivi protested.
"Learning a new Authority blind isn't really smart. I'd rather stick to getting the first Kata for Onee's fighting style down," Shin replied.
Shin walked over to his pack and pulled out a bokken. Shin closed his eyes and once more, went through the motions of the first technique of the Musou-no-Onigari-Ryuu. A slash displaced the air around him and another slash sent a wave outward.
Yeshua placed the bottle on the ground and watched with interest. This kid was determined, he would give him that. But that style was never going to work for him.
"How's learning that going?" Yeshua asked.
"It… It could be better," Shin said, slicing a branch off a tree.
"Have you ever wondered why it never worked for you?" Yeshua asked.
"You're going to say I'm weak, aren't you?" Shin asked, slashing through the air again.
"Well no, I think you have the potential to become a very strong kid. You're just holding yourself back," Yeshua said.
Shin stopped and lowered his bokken. Holding myself back? What's that supposed to mean? He turned around and faced Deified Human with inquisitive eyes.
Yeshua saw the question before Shin could even open his mouth. He produced another bottle of Jack Daniel's and a golden sheen flowed from his hand and into the bottle. The drink shined and Yeshua popped off the cap, ingesting half the bottle in mere seconds. A belch ripped through the serenity of the woods. "Find out for yourself kid. Don't make me get philosophical when I'm trying to get hammered. But, let me give you a hint. A martial art created by someone is their personal identity. Learning styles will always vary between people and there are no perfect copies. Or… was that what Eostre said when she and I watched MMA the other week? Meh, what do I know?"
"Do you even understand what you're saying?" Shin asked in an exasperated tone.
"I do. The thing is, are you?" Yeshua asked.
"What does that even mean?" Shin said.
"Just get back to swinging your stick or whatever. Or better yet, focus on this Authority before you leave. After you head to Serikawa, I won't be able to give you pointers," Yeshua said.
"You don't even know how it works beyond sticking my hand through water," he bit back.
"That's more than you," the now tipsy Messiah retorted.
Shin sighed and resumed his training.
"Got everything?" he asked.
Shin stood outside Asia's room, having just spent the most infuriating training session with the Messiah. Yeshua was no help and after giving him initial pointers, just continued to drink. Vivi pestered him about focusing on his Contracts which he ignored. Still, Shin had made no progress no matter how many times he swung the wooden blade.
Asia pulled a roller bag out of her room and nodded. "Is that… all you're bringing?" she asked.
"I have clothes stashed over at Serikawa. I just need to bring a few things and I'm good," Shin said.
"This is my first time going over there. And you said this is the first induction into the clan in… over a thousand years?" Asia asked.
"Outside of marriage, yeah. You're the first outsider being adopted in a very long time," Shin said, smiling. He reached over and ruffled her hair.
Asia pouted and batted his hand away.
"You'll be fine. Mom and Dad are over there to back you in case anything happens and Aunt Ayaka is here to back you too," Shin replied.
"Do you think they'll even like me?" Asia shifted her feet on the ground timidly.
"Of course, I've sent them pictures and Onee sent them pictures too. After this, you'll actually be my sister," Shin said.
"T-Then, is it alright if we start now?" Asia asked.
"Start what?" Shin said.
"C- Can I call you, O-Onii…?" Asia said after a few moments of hesitation.
Shin felt something shoot through his chest and he just nodded mutely.
Asia's nervousness disappeared and a beautiful smile graced her features. She nodded happily and hugged Shin tightly.
Shin smiled and hugged her back. The two pulled away and headed down the stairs.
Akane and Ayaka waited for them at the door's entrance. Sophia stood across from them with her own bags next to her.
"You're coming with us?" Shin asked, seeing Sophia's luggage.
"Eh? No, I don't want to intrude on this intimate family moment. Maybe next year when Asia doesn't have to go face a family tribunal," Sophia said, waving off his words. "I'm actually heading to the Underworld with Rias's Peerage. Dad and Uncle Azazel said that they have an intense training regimen prepared for me complete with a surprise guest. It's supposed to help me grow my next pair of wings."
"Wait, so Heaven's left to look after the town?" Shin asked.
"Yeah. Lady Uriel is staying here with her Brave Saints while Lord Yeshua comes down with us. Something about Dad and Uncle saying it's good to have tripartite representation when it comes to these things," Sophia said.
"Come on, you lovebirds. Stop flirting and let's go. Sophia, you're staying with Issei until they leave?" Ayaka asked.
"Eh, no, I'm actually heading down there ahead of them. I actually have to head to the Grigori to renew my passport since it expired…. It actually expired last week but we were so busy with the Peace Treaty that I forgot to renew it, ahaha," Sophia said.
"I… see. I think mine's expired too," Shin said. "I might have to head to Kyoto some time this month to get it renewed," he said.
"Well, you better get going, alright?" Sophia said.
"Yeah," Shin replied. He turned around and began to walk out the door when Sophia grabbed his arm. "Yeah, what is it-" His eyes widened when he felt something soft on his cheek. He stumbled back and stared at her. Her face was red and she had an extremely embarrassed look on her face.
"I-It's just a kiss between f-friends! T-There's nothing to it!" Sophia stammered. "R-Rias told me that opposite sex f-friends kiss e-each other good luck!"
AND YOU BELIEVED HER!? Shin thought.
"A-Anyway, aren't you going to get going now?" she asked.
"Y-Yeah," Shin said. No sooner than he walked out the door did it slam shut behind him and the locks clicked. He sighed and walked out of the gate towards the van. Before getting on, Shin felt two pairs of eyes on him and looked across the street to see Issei and Akeno looking at him.
Issei said nothing and walked back inside. Akeno sighed and muttered something under her breath before walking over to Shin.
"You're leaving?" Akeno asked.
"Yeah, you're going tomorrow?" Shin asked.
Akeno nodded. The two stood silently for a few seconds before Akeno spoke up. "Look, about Issei and Irina-"
"Don't. I… I don't want to talk about them for now. I… We're just working through some things as friends," Shin said.
Akeno frowned but dropped the subject. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a blue ribbon. "Er, I made this for you as… as a friend's gift. Don't get the wrong idea. It's normal for-"
"Friends to give each other gifts. Yeah, Sophia said the same thing when she kissed me on the cheek," Shin said. "But thanks for the ribbon, Akeno…. Akeno?"
"She did what?" Akeno's eyes were hollow and she was leaking demonic power. Her fist tightly gripped the blue ribbon and white lightning arced off her body.
"Eh? Akeno? Akeno!" Shin said, grabbing her shoulders.
Akeno blinked and looked at Shin.
"Thanks for the ribbon," Shin said, smiling.
"Oh, right, here you go," Akeno said, handing it to him.
Shin accepted it and held it up in front of his face. "My hair's not long enough for this so…" He wrapped it around his wrist. "This will have to do."
Akeno smiled and leaned over to kiss his other cheek.
"A-Akeno! Y-You too-"
Akeno silenced his stammering by placing a finger on his lips. "Remember, it's common for friends to kiss each other good luck," Akeno said. She winked, making Shin's face go hot.
The sound of a car honking alerted the two, shattering their moment. Ayaka made kissy faces in the driver's seat before honking the van once again.
"Looks like that's my cue to leave," Shin said, rubbing the back of his head.
Akeno nodded.
Shin waved before getting in the van.
The van took off down the road, leaving Akeno to watch as it slowly faded in the distance.
Serikawa Village was a small rural village located in the middle of nowhere in Tokisaki Prefecture on the island of Honshu. The city and urban sprawl that once dominated the scenery gave way to the eternal embrace of nature itself. Trees and mountains dotted the path there. The road, which remained noticeably well maintained, winded along the mountainside. Beside them, a steep drop into the great woods below should Ayaka's less than stellar driving send them past the railing.
But in the distance, Shin could see it. The thick thatch-roofed houses in the distance lay scattered within the valley. Farmlands and rice paddies comprised most of the town with some rice paddies being the backyards of houses or serving as borders between properties. A small dirt road ran through the entire village. The newer buildings stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the edo-style houses that dominated much of the surrounding area. They were located on the steeper side of the village, near the mountain. There was a mountain that was located west of the town near a small inlet that fed into the Sea of Japan. On that, Shin saw the ever-familiar Ryuugami Shrine and its hundred steps and fifty torii gates. The stream flowed from the nearby lake located at the base of the great Mount Benizakura and branched into the inlet. True to its name, the summit was dotted with blood-red sakura trees that never seemed to lose their color, even during the winter.
"Woah… the stories of Mount Benizakura's summit are true," Ravel said, snapping a picture on her phone.
"Just remember that the villages, especially the Furudes will heckle you three for being outsiders," Ayaka said.
"Are the Furudes the only major family in the village?" Riser asked as Ayaka turned a bend.
"No, there are two other families but the other heads are all related to Akatsuki Furude in a way. The families are the Amawaka and Mitejima Families make up the Big Three, which are the ruling families," Ayaka replied. "Though… it's the Furude Family that you should be most wary of. Not all of our members are as welcoming as I or my nieces and nephew are."
Ayaka drove down the dirt road for a few more minutes before stopping in front of a large estate. The symbol of a red three-legged bird with pointed feathers was engraved on the door. Ayaka turned the car off and everyone disembarked. Akane, Shin, and Asia stood next to each other as the door opened.
The two people that greeted them smiled warmly.
The man stood tall with a proud look on his face. His hazel eyes glinted in the sunlight as he pushed up his red-rimmed, thick-framed glasses. His messy brown hair blew gently in the wind. He wore a white high collar shirt underneath a grey blazer with white lining on the tips of the sleeve. The man strode over and hugged Akane and Shin tightly. The tightness of the hug caused the two to struggle in his embrace.
"Papa!"
"Daad!"
The two cried out.
"Rowan dear, please let our children go. You'll suffocate them before I can even get to hug them," the woman said.
"Ahaha, sorry, Akari dear," Rowan said with a soft Scottish accent.
Akari Faulkner smiled gently as she walked over. Her dark-violet braided hair swayed lightly with each step. She wore a lavender high collar long-sleeved shirt that had holes on the shoulders. She wore a black skirt that went down to her calves. Akari spread her arms and wrapped her children in a hug, showering the two with kisses.
"Mama! You're being embarrassing!" Akane protested.
"Mom, stop it," Shin said.
"Your Mom hasn't seen you two in a long time and you don't want a hug?" Akari stopped and looked at her children tearfully.
Akane and Shin deadpanned before sighing. The two leaned into their mother's embrace, wrapping their arms around her tightly.
"Onee, you're not wearing your kimono?" Ayaka asked.
Akari pulled away from the two and faced her twin sister.
"No, I'm not on the job nor is it the festival," Akari said. "Besides, I can't just wear my kimono everywhere."
"Mom, we have someone to introduce to you and Dad," Shin said, pushing Asia over to them.
"U-Um, h- hello, Ma'am! Sir!" Asia bowed deeply before them.
"So this is her?" Rowan asked.
"Seems so," Akari said.
Asia closed her eyes tightly. The anxiety was killing her. Was she going to get rejected? Were Shin's parents not as welcoming as he had described them to be? These thoughts filled her psyche as she trembled in her bowed position. As she thought of getting back in the van and hiding, Asia felt a pair of warm arms embrace her, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
"You… You must have suffered a lot, you poor thing," Akari whispered soothingly. "It's okay. Everything's going to be okay now."
Tears fell from her eyes when she felt the one thing she had desired deep within her heart as a child. A desire she buried due to her upbringing. The grooming of a Saint meant that one must not be selfish. One must not desire anything. So she locked this selfish desire in her heart and never once thought of it again until she was kicked out. And now… she had gotten the one thing she wanted most. The one thing in the world she wanted more than Issei.
"You don't have to worry about anything anymore, Asia," Rowan said, patting her head.
"Mmm, welcome home, Asia-chan," Akari said. She stroked Asia's hair soothingly, running her fingers along her golden locks with a warm expression on her face.
Asia's tears flowed harder from her eyes as she snuggled her face into Akari's chest.
"I…" Asia choked on her tears. "I'm home, Mama."
[]
Furude Clan
An Ancient Clan born during the era when Gods walked the world and Man pitted itself against the Youkai.
Their founder was a woman revered by others and learned under a Legendary Exorcist.
Due to a stroke of misfortune, the woman lost all she loved and fled with the child she had sired with her lost lover.
A clan that has been forsaken by the Divine Beasts due to her connection to a certain Exorcist.
The woman established the House of Furude and did battle with the Legendary Evil Dragon, Moryo.
With a Blade created to depose the arrogant Gods, the woman and her child slew the Dragon and sealed it below a Great Mountain of Blood.
Or so it goes...
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Serikawa-Go
A quaint farming village located at the base of Mount Benizakura.
Located west adjacent to Gifu and in the prefecture of Tokisaki.
It is the resting place and home of the once great Akatsuki Furude.
In the current era, the town is run by the Three Great Families.
Furude, Amawaka, and Mitejima.
How much 07th Expansion can I reference in one chapter? Serikawa is based on Shirakawa Village, which is the base for the fictional village from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, Hinamizawa. Even the Furude Clan is a reference to that series.
And with this, we kick off the 4th Arc of Azoo. Some of you were worried for me and I'm glad but... guys, if I took a break, this story will never be updated again. I still have a Master's Program to go through and I don't think you're all willing to wait 2-3 years before Chapter 38. So with that out of the way, let's get on with this arc. This arc is the "Training Arc" for multiple characters but it will mostly revolve around Shin and Asia. Sophia and Akeno will be there but they won't appear as much.
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