Chapter Posted: 13/02/23
Author's Notes:
Hello, friends.
When it comes to writing, there are two aspects that take precedent inside of you: the writer and the storyteller.
The writer writes for themselves, the storyteller writes for others. There's a part of both in everyone.
When it comes to this story, I'd reckon I'm 80% writer and 20% storyteller. I love writing this story, you won't even believe how much dopamine gets released when I'm finished writing a chapter.
However, I want to know your thoughts on my new approach. We are now four chapters into this revival of Godly Affair, and I haven't really received any particular feedback on it (except for Wacko12, you're a true OG follower, thanks for droppin' by and leaving reviews even after all these years, massively appreciate it. Check your DMs, mate, I have responded to them).
To reflect the difference in material, approach, and characterisation of the story going forward, I have changed the genre tags from Comedy/Adventure to Drama/Adventure. Though those tags don't do too much to bring in more eyes, I thought it would be more appropriate and representative.
In other news, I have been able to organise the outline for the story fully, and can begin categorising chapters into sections I've dubbed 'parables'. There will be six parables.
Chapters 1 through 14 falls under PARABLE 1: MERGER
The next parable begins this chapter.
Questions and concerns? Let me know, and I'll respond quickly.
- Your friend, InGen
WELCOME TO: PARABLE 2 – REQUISITION
The previous night...
The night air weighs heavy on the people of this town. The streets are alight but empty. A cold gust has swept in. The stars shine, with none to see them. Save for one.
A shadow lifts across the alleyway, tracing a path to the skies, dangling on the brickwork and concrete structure of the building. As a cloud dances in front of the waning moon, the shadow washes away into the mesh of the wall.
Kane felt out of breath. Even scaling a small apartment complex like this winded him. His exhaustion, despite his slumber, had not faded entirely. Though he had tried to shut away the memory of when the Sacred Gear had revealed itself out of him, the image of those gold-trimmed gauntlets makes his heart grip tight at every second it flashes in his head. Combine that with the lack of any food that he had been able to consume for well over two days, and it was a miracle that he was able to walk, never mind climb himself up a whole building.
'I have to approach my apartment carefully. There will probably be scouts and recording equipment setup to monitor if... when I return.' He pondered. Panting, and in pain, he ran across the rooftop, leaping in-between the small spaces of each block. Even in a suburb like Hadano, the buildings stuck together close by, a testament to architectural efficiency. At a jump that was too large for Kane, he slid down a rain-drain chute, peering out into the alleyway. Not a single soul wandering, even amongst the streetlights.
He had taken a very slow, methodical approach to return back 'home.' It had taken him a few hours to get even this close. He had only a few more blocks before he would return. In the distance, the glow of tourism facilities shone around the base of Mount Fuji. It reminded him of better times.
Kane hung from the ledge, trying to latch his feet onto the windowsill. He had dropped down from the shaded side of the block, where the streetlights couldn't reach into, so that there was less of a chance of being spotted. He had managed to catch the latch, and swung it open. Kane briefly let go of his grip on the ledge, and grabbed on just as quickly to the windowsill, and pulled himself inside.
Table ripped into two. Chair parts strewn about. Paper and electronics scattered around the room. The door to the building hallway, non-existent. It looked like a hurricane had been localised in his room. Kane found, in the corner of his room, a duffle bag he had not thought he might use before. He began to pick up the pieces of his clothes that were strewn about the floor and furniture, putting them all back into the bag. He tried to look for any signs of his laptop and phone, but even after he turned the entire place upside down upon itself even further, he found not a trace.
'They took it... fuck me.' Kane slumped down next to his wardrobe, taking care not to land on any shards of wood or pieces of stray electronic parts. 'Maybe they smashed it into bits... that would have been a better outcome.' He rested his eyes a little, trying to paint a picture of his feet in the sand on the beach at sunset.
You're not supposed to be here.
'I'm getting what I need to.' He replied, firmly. He wanted nothing to do with Aurei at the moment. Kane sate up and ambled over to the fridge, finding nothing but a few granola bars and fruit he had brought with him from the airport well over a week ago. For him, it was enough. He stuffed them into his bag as well.
A flash of a memory passed through him. Immediately, Kane activated his hidden blade and tore through the mattress that was laying haphazardly on a corner of the room. Inside, he found an ancient Sony Ericsson that he embedded deep within, the first day he had arrived. A backup. Immediately, he turns it on and dials Rebecca, wondering if they are doing any better than he is. Only a failed dial tone greets him.
He sighed, and called Shaun too. Once again, a failed dial tone... and then a message, directly from Shaun.
'Kane, we're evacuating from our HQ. Kyoto base was also infiltrated. You are on your own for a little while longer. We're okay, don't worry about us. Get the Piece and return to Europe safe. – S' Kane read out loud in soft whisper. He turned his phone off, putting it in the inside pocket of his jacket.
He climbed out the window, pulling himself up the way he came, smacking the window downward with his feet before he did so. A gust blew from the ocean, sending a shiver down his body.
Your Gear is incomplete. You need to fulfil its purpose.
'I don't want anything to do with it. I serve the Order, and do what I must, but I won't be a weapon of mass destruction.' Kane spoke back to Aurei, thoroughly frustrated. He ran back across town, leaping from rooftop to rooftops, shuffling in the shadows of the alleyways and corners of the streets. It must have been half an hour until he had stopped, satisfied that he had made enough distance between his old apartment and himself.
You are only human, after all. A Rating Game between devilkind will kill you. A one-on-on fight between you and a devil will kill you. Did you really think you could battle the Heiress to Crimson Ruin with mere training?
Kane sat down, resting next to what seemed to be a small ventilation unit. He felt the hidden blade bracer underneath his clothes, traced its structure and form. 'Can you remove it from me after this is all over?'
I do not know, human. I do not know whence it shall be over. I do not know if I can return you your previous life. This abomination... is all you have, right now.
Kane peered at his hands, turning them over, back and forth, wondering about the destructive nature of the Pieces. He rose up, seeing the distant glow of morning rise above the horizon, in-between the towers and mountains of Tokyo city.
Kane was hungry.
It had taken him a long time to find a grocery store that was open this early. As the first customer in, Kane felt a little out of place in such a pristine environment with no one but the cashier to keep him company. He didn't try to make small talk, as he could tell the cashier was about as interested in it as he was. He bought what he could with the last of his money in his wallet, packing everything into a couple of huge, re-usable bags. As he left the grocery store, he saw it was now very much distinctly morning. He was far away enough from his apartment that he could somewhat comfortably walk back to the school.
The Present
"Why in the world do you have so many groceries anyways?" Issei asked. He had taken some of the load off of Kane as they flanked Asia's journey to find a church, which Kane had appreciated in genuine surprise.
"I need it for my cooking class." Kane lied. It would have been embarrassing for him to admit that he was having to live in the school. The had been walking up towards the hills for a while, which was fine by him since it was just plain closer to the school.
"I-I'm surprised a hooligan like you even cooks..." Asia muttered under her breath. Kane chose to ignore it entirely; he didn't want to instigate any more conflict.
"We have a cooking class at the school? I didn't even know." Issei responded inquisitively. Kane felt relieved, knowing that they weren't going to call his bluff.
"Are you sure you know where you're going, Hyoudou-san?" Kane had asked him.
"Yeah, of course. There's only the one church in town. We're gonna get there soon."
"I'm glad you're so kind, Issei-san. It must be divine guidance." Asia chimed in, giving him a soft smile. "I didn't have any idea that there was only the one... I had been looking forever."
Issei had tried to smile back, but something made him contort his face. He immediately looked away from Asia. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, concerned.
"No! Nothing is wrong, it's all fine!" Issei was nervous nonetheless saying so.
'He must be a devil already then...' Kane thought, remembering how Rias and Akeno grimaced at his mentioning of God's name. At that moment, the cries of a child could be heard by all three in the distance. Asia took the initiative to run towards them, but Kane and Issei could not with all the things they had to carry.
When they emerged into view, they could see that a faint green aura emanated from Asia as she held her hands above a little boy's injured knees, scraped and bloody. Kane had some idea of what she was capable of... Issei, on the other hand, was entranced, as the wound closed up entirely. Kane noticed the glow emanated from a ring, ornate and twisted in silver with an emerald jewel beset upon it, that Asia had worn on her index finger. 'It acts like a shroud... but it's in the form of a ring.'
An advanced prototype of a next-generation local reality tissue-reconstruction exuder.
Kane gave a deep sigh, as Aurei sensed that his description had confused him. He was wrong, as it did not confuse Kane, it just annoyed him.
The first production types were shaped in the form of humanoid clothing that one could wear. You Hidden Ones call them shrouds. The Isu desired something more tactical when they waged their war with your kind. This was one of the designs envisioned.
'Another piece of Eden... she has a Sacred Gear too.' Kane wondered.
This human will become a target. Tread carefully.
'She already is a target. Freed wanted her. Now I know why.'
"Sorry... force of habit..." Asia said, but as she stuck out her tongue out at Issei playfully. It seems she has mostly forgotten her latent rage.
'Dang, she's cute.' Kane and Issei both thought at the same time, as Kane gave a wry smile, and Issei gawped in astonishment.
They set out on their way towards the church. At every passing moment, Kane saw that Issei had gave grunts of slight pain and discomfort, had fiddled around his with his fingers as he held the grocery bags. He tried not to put too much thought into it. Asia and Issei had idle conversation about introductions and day-to-day life, and Asia's many complaints about a pale-skinned vigilante that put her into trouble.
As they came into view of a church o'er the hills, Issei froze, as if he had met an impenetrable barrier. Kane noticed his hands were shaking.
"Well, that's as far as I can go!" Issei exclaimed, his voice full of bravery mixed with a tinge of nervousness. "But... I haven't seen anyone there." He said to himself, too quiet for Asia to hear.
"Thank you so much you two... what a relief! I'd like to return the favour... would you please accompany there?"
"N-no! I'm alright! I've got something to do!" Issei responded, panicked.
"I can walk with you up there, I've got a little while until classes." Kane answered in turn. He wanted to give him an out, at the very least... he still felt a little guilty for his assault of him and his friends, as notorious as they are. "No favours are necessary to be returned, though." He took the grocery bags back from Issei, carrying both loads by himself now.
"Oh... I see... that's okay. I'm still happy to have met someone as kind as both of you after all that commotion on my first day in Japan. Please do visit me at the church when you find the time, Issei-san!"
"Uh... yeah, okay! I'll... see you two around!" Issei said, turning around to follow the path back to school. They had walked along an alternate route from the suburbs to the hills, and had already passed the turn for Kuoh.
'It's going to be a long walk for me...' Kane thought, very tired, very sleepy. Asia waved Issei goodbye as he returned the wave. Kane turned to face Asia, who's happy demeanour returned to that of someone who's more than slightly miffed.
"You protected me that day... but that got me into a lot of trouble." Asia sternly told Kane, or as sternly as her airy and light voice could allow. "You shouldn't meddle in other people's business like that and then lie about it! I was going... to be fine..." she seemed unsure on the suggestion that she was going to be fine under Freed's care... but Kane accepted it all the same, for now.
"I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't want Hyoudou-san to know that I go about after school to randomly get into fights... rumours spread too quickly at our school, you know?" Kane gave a little chuckle, trying to loosen the mood. "Look, I just saw someone in need at the right time... that's all. I helped you get back here to the church too... so... I'm in the clear now?"
Asia glared at Kane, pouted her cheeks a little... but deflated almost immediately after. "You're... in the clear." Kane gave sigh of relief, his second of in the morning.
"We should continue up the path. Come." He said, leading her down the way.
The path up the hills towards the Church was easy to follow, even though it seemed a little longer than they both had expected. Kane took the opportunity to make sure that Asia would be alright, if she were to be under Freed's jurisdiction again... he did not know if she herself was a Templar too, but at that moment he had no way to know.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay? Father Freed didn't seem like the gentlest of people..." Asked Kane. Asia looked up to Kane, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"He can be a bit temperamental... but that evening, I had messed up some directions... so it's my fault he got angry." Asia answered, returning her gaze to the ground.
"If he raises his hand... don't hesitate to run. This place seems a little isolated, so remember the road down." He advised her. Kane had hoped that she would be okay... but he suspected that it wasn't going to be the case.
"I will." She said, without even a hint of confidence in her voice.
As they got closer, the path became more and more unkempt and unmaintained, and the trees became thicker. They passed through a clearing in the path, and found themselves in front of a grand building. It had looked a bit old and dilapidated, but the grandeur stunned Kane and Asia alike. It was much larger than he had assumed from a distance.
"This seems to be the place. Won't you come inside with me... ah... I don't know your name, I'm sorry." Asia offered, hesitatingly.
"You can call me Kane. I already know your name is Asia, of course. It's nice to meet you." Kane gave a little bow with his head. "I'd love to come in, but I have to go back to school now before it's too late..." Kane had lowered his voice considerably for the next sentence: "...remember, keep yourself safe." To this, Asia nodded. Kane watched as she walked forward up the steps, knocking on the door. For a few seconds, nobody answered, until a voice called out from inside for Asia to come in. She opened the door on her own, and waved Kane goodbye, and disappeared inside.
Now that he was out of her sight, Kane could proceed to investigate the building. If it was Freed inside, this might be a Templar base of operations, and he would need to be wary of it going forward. He stepped back, dropping off his duffel bag near the grass, then placing his grocery bags on top of them. He carefully stepped around the side of the church, hugging the walls. The windows were a little too high for his height, but thanks to the archaic construction, he was able to grab on to the bricks and pull himself up just high enough to see inside.
The interior, grand, abandoned, and dark. So dark, Kane could hardly look inside. He saw Asia walking by the aisles up to the altar, as a figure stood in front of a cross that stood in front of the figure. Messy hair, a gun on his side on a holster... and a sword made of pure light, that he seemed to be using to bless the cross, Bible in one hand.
'Freed.'
As Asia walked up behind him, Kane could hear chanting coming in from the interior, muffled and quiet. Right before he could see them interacting once again, though...
"And what do you think you're doing?" A deep-faceted, dangerous voice called out behind Kane, high up in the trees. Kane jolted, losing his grip on the bricks, and fell down to the ground, landing on his feet. He snapped around, seeing a tall man in a grey trench coat and a brimmed hat landing on his feet as well, as the trees above rustle back to a calm state.
'He was watching me from all the way up there... and broke his fall with zero effort.' Kane remarked internally. "Sorry there, mate. I brought a friend up here to the church, they were a bit lost. Just wanted to see if they were doing alright in there, but didn't want to bother if anyone was praying." Kane said quickly and precisely. He wasn't sure what it was, but the man gave off an oppressive aura, something akin to the winged girl that had attacked him twice at the park. He gave a relaxed smile, but tensed his muscles all the same, preparing for the rest.
"Oh, I see." The man said, approaching towards him. "Some kids have come by to paint graffiti and such, so I've been on watch." A lie, Kane knew it from the onset. Something wasn't right, but he feigned acceptance:
"Oh, that must be quite annoying. My apologies, I'll be heading back to school now, don't want to be late for class!" Kane said, walking away back to his belongings. The man stopped walking towards him when Kane began moving, instead keeping a steely gaze on his figure.
"What is your name, son?" He asked. Kane had to think of something to throw him off his tail.
"It's... Dhomo, sir. Dhomochevsky." He lied. He wondered if he looked even remotely Slavic in that moment.
"I see... please, Dhomochevsky, avoid returning to this area. This church will be under reconstruction, I would hate to see kids getting hurt here." Something still didn't feel right about his tone, but Kane just couldn't put his finger on it. He put on his duffel bag on back, and took up the grocery bags on his arms.
"Understood sir. God be with you." With that Kane, took off down the road. At that last comment, the man seemed to stand down a little. The entire time he had felt him stiffen up at every step he took towards Kane. 'What a strange man... it was a close call.'
"What's all the commotion out here?" a voice called out from behind him, immediately after the church doors clambered open. Kane froze immediately. He knew that voice.
"A teenager wandered in here, Raynare-sama. He'll be on his way out now. He escorted the nun here." The man responded firmly. It was clear she was his superior. Kane began walking again, fast, very fast.
"Almost like I saw him somewhere..." Kane heard her say behind him. His heart began racing, his eyes darting, seeing for any where he could make a quick turn. He heard the flapping of wings, and felt a gust blow past him. He began running, with some fruit and bags of snacks falling out of the bags he carried. The food he can always get back, his life? Not so much.
Kane made it only a few feet forward when he came face to face with her once again, wings unfurled, a disapproving scowl painted on her face. "Yeah, yeah I definitely recognise this brat."
'God, does she ever fucking wear clothes?' Kane wondered. He set his bags down at his feet, and dug his feet in the dirt. "Raynare-san, was it? Listen, though you skewered me a couple days ago, I don't harbour any hard feelings. I'm not a devil, okay? I'm here, in front of church, mentioning God and all that. I just want to leave. I've got nothing you want." Kane explained, trying to see if he could reason with her.
"Oh, that's all well and good, but those devils clearly had something to do with you... even if you aren't one right now. They came to your aid, human. Why's that?" Raynare asked playfully, but Kane felt no such amusement from it.
"I do not know. I rejected their approach, anyways. I'm not really a fan of devils..." Kane said, but his sentence was punctuated by a spear of light that promptly punctured the ground before him. He could hear the other man make his approach towards him too. 'I'm getting flanked... Aurei, some help?'
I am restricted in how much connection I can maintain with your human world, at this current moment. True Dawn's Reckoning. Your cursed Edenic Gear. You must bring it forth once again.
"You're a filthy liar. You have one of them too, don't you? A Sacred Gear... Something like that in just a mere human, it makes me sick. Why else would they protect you? The devils can kill you and resurrect you at any moment they want... and we can't have you fall into their hands can we, now?" Raynare produced two more spears of light out of her hands, and approached Kane onwards too.
Kane dug his feet further into the ground. He brought out his right arm in front of him to face against Raynare, his other arm brought close to his body, standing at a diagonal. First form chon-ji, the classic L-stance, with his forearm outside the block. He wasn't sure how taekwondo was going to save him at this moment, but he had to try and defend himself.
Human. The Edenic Gear you possess is what the Isu called a Type III Inertial Kinetitron Redirector, a standard issue hand-held kinetic energy accelerator. You must bring it forth with an initial, forceful contact. Strike yourself, somewhere, hard, and fast. Now.
Kane didn't even hesitate. He struck himself in the shoulder with his right fist, as hard as he could. The sharp, precise pain made Kane wince, and Raynare chuckle.
"Now, now, you mustn't kill yourself, that's my job, after all." She declared, a sadistic edge to her sardonic voice.
Kane felt the pain spread through his body, flowing to his limbs, and then his digits. A golden hue, imbued with ice-blue lightning sparks, began to flow around his arms and legs. The very air seemed to sear in heat around him, as Kane saw True Dawn's Reckoning wireframe sputter into existence, as a steel blue wave of energy passed through the frame, bringing to life the Sacred Gear's form in full fashion. He felt the bracers dig into his skin, biting through it, straight into his flesh.
"That fucking hurts..." Kane muttered, out of breath. Raynare and the man behind Kane both stopped in their steps, as he positioned himself back into his L-stance.
"That's quite an exotic Sacred Gear, human. I haven't seen that one in... oh, it must be around a hundred thousand years now. No wonder the devils flock around you... but I'll be taking it from you, now." Raynare dashed forth, spear in her hand, as she attempted to impale Kane once again.
Kane, by instinct, swung his right arm down, to deflect away the spear. He expected his hand to be cut, even as he tried to step out of her away such that he would avoid taking the hit directly into his body. Instead, right before his hand made contact with the spear, the swirling figures and symbols that Kane had witnessed yesterday, when Aurei and Rias made their agreement, faded into existence, smaller and localised. The symbols themselves seemed to make contact with the light spear, sending a shockwave that rattles them both, blowing Kane and Raynare far away from each other.
Raynare, sliding on the dirt, holds her ground. She groaned in pain, but remained unfazed otherwise. Kane, on the other hand, tumbled backwards, rolling face-first into the ground. He ignored the throbbing ache in his arms, and retook his chon-ji form. Raynare glared at him, smile gone from her face, eyes laser-focused on Kane's gauntlets. On the corner of his eye, he sees the man walk up besides Raynare, and take a battle stance alongside her, another set of inky-black angelic wings unfurled behind him.
"A... little unfair... don't you think?" Kane spoke between pants. He had to preserve the oxygen in his lungs, or else he would pass out before driving these two away... if he could even do that.
You can. Imagine a large, heavy object crashing down upon a soft object. Imagine one of your human forms of locomotive transport crushing a small animal. Use that image, and strike your fist at them, in the open air. Do it now. NOW.
Kane did as Aurei commanded, striking the air with his left fist, an imagery of a car crashing into a deer in mind. The golden symbols form for a brief moment, as a sharp throb shocks his body whole, sending him flying backwards into the deeper forest. In his wake, a cone-shaped shockwave, so powerful that it warped the air around it into a near-plasma state, carved itself a path towards the Fallen Angels. They raised their hands in defence, to no avail, as they are sent into the trees behind them at an exceptional speed. The shockwave refused to stop, as it made its way through the entire forest, instantly burning the bark and leaves it touches into ash, for at least several hundred feet beyond them.
Kane couldn't feel his arm. It felt as if every bone in it dislocated at once. Despite this, he wasted no time, as he lifted himself with his one good arm, and bolted out of the forest towards the residential sector, lamenting the food he has to now leave behind. He ignored his body crying out for mercy and rest, his mind and heart racing at more than a hundred thoughts, a hundred beats, per minute.
Upon a hill a little way out from Kane's position, Rias peers past Issei in the Occult Research Club meeting room, his expression defiant yet glum all the same. She sees smoke in the distance, climbing out of the forest, and smiles.