Hello Everyone! Xager here finally back for another chapter of Persona DxD! Last chapter we had some interesting developments! Minato holds one of Sona Sitri's pieces for her! Minato finally tolerates Rias's presence after beating down Koneko and Kiba, being shanghaied into a meeting that he didn't want and having her break down in front of him.
Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the delay. A new full-time job, hospital appointments and various other things have delayed this chapter far more then I'd like.
Secondly,I'd just like to address something before we go any further. Yes, the last two chapters are extremely similar to ADAD. However, this is where it really starts to deviate. Friends with the Devils? Overdone! Let's do something different!
Now, roll with Chapter 3!
As I arrived home from my very interesting day at school, I was more than a little surprised when a light spear slammed into my door as I moved to open it. So, they followed me home. I turned to face the man from yesterday, the young one (Mittelt, I think it was?) and the taller woman with the piercing eyes holding Raynare up between them in a touching display of camaraderie. The once-proud Fallen Angel that had taunted me so much yesterday whimpered in pain, while the man had clearly let go of her to throw the light spear at me. Raising an eyebrow, I met his angry gaze with an apathetic one.
"Can I help you, Fallen-san?" Manners never hurt anyone, after all. If I was polite, perhaps I could avoid destroying my house. However, I did take the precaution of pulling out my Evoker, letting it hang by my side.
'I can bring back the being that did this to you at any moment' I was subtly saying, causing the man to slump slightly before speaking.
"We... We want you to heal Raynare and ourselves. We can offer compensation if it would suit you."
Well. That was unexpected. But not unwelcome. While I would not heal Raynare, as she had been the one to inflict the most suffering upon the boy I considered a friend and the girl that he had fought to save... The other three were a different story. I opened my door and gestured.
"Come inside. Let us talk. Be welcome in my home."
The man and the others nodded and thanked me politely, no doubt terrified that I would summon Helel again. I can't blame them, after what he did to them.
Flashback!
Helel gently floated to the floor and looked at the four Fallen Angels. His lips curved into a slow, arrogant smile.
"You Summon Me For These Whelps, Minato?"
Helel was one of the few who would tend to end up speaking to me as informally as that. One of such power and pride was not someone who bowed to anyone. The fact that he obeyed me was enough respect in my eyes. Raynare was the only one who spoke.
"H-h-Helel-sama..." Helel turned his blazing gaze onto her, his hand glowing with the power of a barely restrained Morning Star.
"Be Silent, Raynare Of The White Gate. Your Betters Are Speaking." Helel's voice was different to Metatron or any of the other angels. Where Metatron's voice is hard, loud without volume and bears the weight of one befitting of the title of 'Voice of God', Helel's voice was much softer, yet it held undercurrents of power that none could deny. Raynare did the sensible thing, and fell silent. Helel turned to regard them as Raynare had regarded me: As insects, unworthy to be in his presence. Let us see how they like being judged.
"Raynare Of The White Gate. Dohnaseek Of The Forbidden Archive. Kalawarner Of The Golden Hall. Mittelt Of The Lord's Choir. I Name You. I Recognise What You Are."
Helel slowly began walking towards them, his wings gently swaying with each step. The four walked backwards in tandem, trying to keep their distance from the original Fallen Angel. Helel vanished, and Dohnaseek, the man, roared in pain as Helel's hand burst through his chest, the much more powerful Fallen impaling the shorter man on his arm before casting him aside.
"The Archivist. What Is Your Excuse For Falling From Heaven? If It Is As Good As Mine, I Might Forgo Judgement." Helel was lying. I knew it. Helel was one of my most loyal Personas despite the fact that he is the original Fallen Angel. His fall from grace was caused not by pride or contempt, but over-adulation. His adoration for God turned to obsession, and the obsession caused his fall.
Dohnaseek choked on his own blood as he looked up at Helel's neutral face. Holding out one hand, he touched Helel's foot reverently. Despite his fear, he still revered the Bringer of Light.
"I... fell... from battle-lust... I indulged... too much... in glorious combat... I was deemed a threat... so I fell..." Such honesty surprised me a little. I had expected him to try to lie his way out of Helel's wrath, and it was clear that Helel had expected the same. Grabbing Dohnaseek by the head, he lifted the Fallen Angel up to head height, before slamming him against the wall and scraping his face along it, tearing bloody holes in both his face and the wall.
"The Lust For War. The Drive For Combat, War, The Endless Dance Of Death. Those Without Power Fall, But The Powerful Thrive... An Acceptable Reason, But Not Enough To Satisfy Me."Helel's displeasure was made known as he tossed the weakened form of Dohnaseek into the air and smashed his hand into his spine in a devastating strike that dropped the man to the floor, unmoving. Helel snorted, kicked him aside and then turned to face the horrified Mittelt.
"The Choir Girl. You Bore A Revered Place In Our Father's Voice On Earth. What Possible Reason Could You Have To Fall That Will Appease Me?" Helel's disgust was obvious, and he showed it in a sickening manner as he backhanded Mittelt to the floor. Mittelt wept slowly as she moved to her knees.
"My Lord... I fell from grace due to envy... I desired the proud title that people like Kalawarner possessed." Mittelt's tears rolled down her face, but her eyes were angry and so was her voice as she raised it against the strongest Archangel. Kalawarner, I noted, looked stunned at this revelation.
"I was just a lowly choir girl! I wasn't even worthy of a special place! All I wanted was to be recognised, and to have the limelight from those that stood in it! I am more than just a nameless face, Lord! I am Mittelt!" She spat at Helel, who simply stared at her before speaking.
"Foolish. Do You Honestly Believe That Our Father, Purveyor Of All And Master Of Heaven Did Not Notice You, Mittelt? Do You Think That He Did Not Acknowledge Every Angel In His Service, And Was Most Proud Of Them?" Helel's voice rang of rage and contempt as he struck Mittelt down again and again, smashing her against the cold stone as he excised his wrath. After he had finished, he flicked his wrist and a weak Dia struck her, barely sustaining her life. I wasn't even aware Helel HAD Dia. Then came Kalawarner, who looked away. After all, the guardians of the Golden Hall of Heaven were picked by Helel, back in the days of old. This was personal to him, even if it was not his world.
"Helel-sama. I fell due to- Ghak!" Kalawarner was interrupted by a sudden kick to the stomach that caused blood to burst from her mouth.
"Be Silent, Kalawarner. I Entrusted The Protection And Sanctity Of The Golden Hall To Very Few. You Were One Of Those Chosen. How DARE You Try To Justify Violating That Trust, The Trust That I Bestowed Unto You!" Helel's wrath was sudden and swift. Gripping her by the throat, he swung her about like a rag-doll, smashing her against the walls and throwing her around like an angry child with a doll. He gripped her by the hair, and lifted her to his face. In his other hand, a glowing orb of energy appeared and glowed with the same kind of light that shone in his burning eyes.
"Kalawarner, You Shall Face Punishment For Your Crime. Never Shall You Speak Again, To Raise Your Voice In Blasphemy Or Manipulation Of Your Betters!" Helel crushed the orb into her throat, searing the vocal cords shut and only a whistling, toneless scream came from the mouth of Kalawarner. Again, he dropped her to one side, her face pressing into Mittelt's nether regions in a deliberately humiliating discarding of what had once been one of his chosen.
Finally, Raynare. She had long turned and run for the back wall, scrabbling against it desperately in a vain attempt to escape for Helel's mere presence filled the world with Light, sealing the room tight with his power. Helel stalked toward her and gently took her face in a light grip.
"Raynare... Guardian Of The White Gate... What Say You As Your Defence? What Sin Took You That You Would Do This?" Her voice trembled as she answered the relentless being, but her answer was one that managed to shock even Helel.
"No worse than yours, Helel-sama. I fell to love." Helel's voice seemed lost to him as he blinked at the Fallen Angel in his grasp. But as quickly as his composure was lost, he regained it and burning orange orbs locked with amethyst.
"Who Was It, Little Raynare? Who Was It That Brought About Your Fall?" Helel seemed almost sympathetic to her plight. Of course he would. He knew how it felt to fall due to loving someone. Raynare looked down in shame.
"Azazel-sama." She fell for the greatest of the Grigori? I remembered the passage of Enoch, in the Apocrypha that I had read once in the library out of boredom. That surprised me to no end.
"Ah, Azazel. While I Can Understand Why You Fell, I Must Punish Your Transgressions Nonetheless. Know, However, That I Take No Pleasure From Your Punishment As I Have The Punishment Of The Others. And Know Also That Azazel Cares For All His Lovers, Regardless Of Whether He Still Beds Them."
With those words, Helel attacked. Raynare, although saddened and knowing that she stood no chance against him still summoned a light spear in a desperate attempt to defend herself.
"I will not simply submit to my fate!" She screamed as she stabbed at Helel's skin ineffectually. Helel, on the other hand, tore two great chunks of rock from the walls of the church and brought them hammering against Raynare's wings, crushing them against the back wall.
"AAAAAAGH!" Raynare's scream was sickening, even to me. But I did not interfere as I went about the business of untying the girl and gently placing her on the ground. In the background, I heard Raynare's screams choke off as Helel brought a crushing blow to her throat that silenced her. Another orb of energy formed in his hand, and this one he sent searing across her body in a burning blast that struck the other unconscious Fallen and scorched their backs.
Gently, I placed the girl on the ground and smiled at her in what I hoped was a reassuring manner. She smiled at me slightly despite her pallor, and I moved her next to Issei.
"Issei-san... and you... you came to help me...?" The girl's voice was faint, but I heard her clearly despite the whimpers of pain as Helel scorched the word 'Trash' on each of Raynare's cheeks. I nodded and gestured to Issei.
"Issei came to help you. I simply followed him." I smiled at her as I heard a thump behind me, moving my body to block the girl's view of what was going on behind me. Helel came to my side, and I looked at him.
"This Girl Is Dying."He did not mince words, didn't Helel. Said girl looked up at Helel, and smiled faintly with a slightly delirious glint in her eye.
"Angel-san... Your wings are beautiful..." The girl reached up with one hand, Helel leaning down to touch one wing to her hand. An honour indeed, for the Son of Morning to grace this girl with a touch of his wing.
"Soft..." the girl slowly sank into unconsciousness, and I looked at Helel.
"Fix her." I said with a sad tone in my voice. Helel nodded and leaned over her, his hands tracing over her form lightly before he looked at me.
"She Is Too Far Gone, Minato. She Is Beyond Even My Power To Perfectly Restore. Only Messiah Has The Strength Of Healing To Bring Her Back To Perfection. And He Will Not Interfere." As always, Helel's words were right. Messiah, the greatest of my Personas, very rarely got involved in my affairs unless they were world-ending. Or my love life. Irredeemable pervert.
"The Best I Can Do Is Place The Shards Of The Extracted Power Within Her Once More. She Will Never Again Use Her Power, But She Will Live." I nodded at Helel's words, smiling at him kindly.
"Do it, Helel. And thank you." The most prideful of my Personas bowed slightly in what was, for him, an enormous display of respect. He then placed his hand on the girl's forehead, and spoke.
"Salvation."
The spell worked through the girl's body and slowly repaired her. Her body filled out slightly as the lack of nutrition she had received under the Fallen Angels was repaired and her face took some colour, changing from a pasty white to a much healthier pink. And under the gentle ministrations of one of my strongest Personas, the girl was restored. Slowly, I moved her into a sitting position and moved Issei next to her. After a moment I sighed and sat myself between them, Helel smirking at me as he amused himself by forcing the unconscious bodies of the Fallen Angels into a supplicant position.
"I'll See You Again, Minato. Summon Me Again When You Have Need Of Me." And with that, he vanished back into the depths of my psyche and I sagged with tiredness. But my night was not over yet. I had to make sure someone looked after Issei and the girl.
End Flashback!
As I walked in, I heard the footsteps of the Fallen Angels following me inside. Good. There would be no treachery from them if they did not attack me from behind. Instead, they followed me quietly, the loudest noises coming from Raynare's whimpers of pain. Of course she still hurt. Helel's wounds would not heal so easily. Gesturing to my sofa I looked at Dohnaseek, who hobbled slowly forward with his back obviously in severe pain. I looked at him seriously, my voice unwavering.
"There are conditions to my help. Firstly, Raynare will only have her pain relieved. The rest of her injuries shall heal naturally as her punishment. Secondly, Kalawarner may not have her voice back. Thirdly, I will not heal any permanent scars on Mittelt. Finally, I will not be attacked any further by you or your group. If you disagree with any condition, then you can leave." None of them looked happy at the conditions, but they quickly realised that they had no choice. Dohnaseek went first, and I glanced at his face and back quickly before Pixie emerged from my Sea of Souls.
"Master, let me help!" Pixie always was the most subservient and enthusiastic of my Personas, ever willing to help despite her status as the weakest of my Personas. Yet that same weakness made it easy for me to summon her even without my Evoker. Dohnaseek looked unimpressed, but after a couple of Dias to fix the worst of the damage and ensure no permanent maiming occurred he looked much happier. The tall man smiled at me and bowed his head in wordless thanks before moving to Raynare's side, holding her hand gently and stroking the back of it reassuringly. It seemed that the warrior had a fondness for Raynare. How sweet.
Kalawarner stepped up next and gestured silently. I calmly responded by looking at Pixie, who pressed her hand against the much larger woman's stomach. A small Dia flowed through her, and she shuddered. Healing always felt pleasant, the absolute cessation of pain and the warm tingle of the energy flowing through you. I could only imagine how much pleasure Kalawarner was in as her body's internal systems knitted together once more. As Pixie finished, Kalawarner knelt submissively, as if she were a knight awaiting orders from her lord.
"She's got a power fetish." Mittelt's voice was muffled by the fact that half her face was almost destroyed, some of her bones actually protruding from the childlike Fallen's cheeks and jawline. But I knew this sort of behaviour. I displayed it (albeit to a much lesser degree and after a lot longer time together) to Mitsuru-sama, when we were first together. I supposed I should probably stop calling her that, but my mind fought against it. The influence of Angel wanting to revere a saviour, of Penthesilea and and Artemisia demanding silently that I honour my lost lover.
But with Kalawarner, I simply looked at her and gestured to one of the chairs in my sitting room. Standing, she bowed slightly and went to seat herself in one of the chairs. Mittelt approached, and I shook my head at Pixie. This was beyond the power of Dia to fix. Closing my eyes and straining, I called upon one of my old friend's Personas to aid me.
As Pixie vanished, Isis materialised and cast Diarama upon Mittelt's face, one hand tenderly brushing the blonde's cheek. The bones shifted and twisted back into place, but the girl's face remained horribly scarred on one side, a savage memento of the beating she had received at the hands of the Lord of the Fallen. One blue eye had a milky film to it, clear proof of blindness. The girl would never see again from her right eye. Almost unconsciously, I raised my hand to her face only to snap out of it at her voice.
"What the fuck are you doing?" The girl glared at me and slapped my hand away, prompting Dohnaseek to jolt upright.
"Summoner, I apologise for Mittelt's outburst!" The former archivist cried out, before grabbing Mittelt and hissing at her. "Mittelt, he not only did this to us, but now he's healing us of the worst of it and making it look easy! If you fuck it up by slapping his hand away, I swear by all that I hold dear, I'll stab you to death myself!" Obviously the man was strong enough to back up his threats as Mittelt backed down, her anger cowed by the intimidating figure. I shook my head and interposed myself between the two.
"I will not have violence in my home. Do not worry, though, I will not count this as an attack because I made her uncomfortable. And my name is Minato Arisato, Dohnaseek-san." My voice held a calm, soothing tone that Yukari had often described as my 'listening voice' or Shinjiro called my 'diplomatic tone'. I'd used it in the past when Junpei was picking an argument to calm him down, when Ken needed to vent after Shinjiro's passing. It worked in the past, and it worked here. Dohnaseek released the smaller girl and bowed his head in my direction.
"Of course. My apologies, Arisato-san. Although, I prefer just Dohnaseek." Dohnaseek smiled at me before flinching as Raynare screamed in new agony, having just rolled over on my sofa and put pressure on her broken wings. Her eyes were wide, unconsciousness denied to her due to the sheer agony that flooded her body. Instantly, Isis was by her side at a mere thought of helping her from me. A mighty Diarahan engulfed the girl, instantly soothing her wounds and healing significant amounts of the damage. Yet her wings would not mend, nor would the scars on her back or face. Helel's magic is amongst the most destructive at my command, and what his Morning Star sears, only he or Messiah can repair. But the expression of agony on Raynare's face eased, and her eyes fell almost closed in relief. Her mouth opened and she spoke so softly I thought she had simply exhaled at first.
"Thank you..." I blinked at her thanks. Why would she thank me for relieving an agony that was my fault? I shook my head as she finally passed into Morpheus' embrace before looking at the others. A wild idea emerged in my mind, one that I doubted was a good idea but one that I believed would work out.
"There are bedrooms upstairs. You may take them, if you do not mind sharing. Dohnaseek will sleep in a separate room to you ladies. As for the rest, make yourselves comfortable." I almost smiled as they looked at me in awe. Dohnaseek stepped forward again, the voice of the group.
"But... Don't you want your compensation? And we can offer you little to stay with you..." I interrupted the man with one raised hand. I did not care.
"I don't mind. For compensation, I ask that you never harm a human, devil or angel again, unless threatened. As for staying here... As long as you help around the house, maintain it, I do not care for payment. I have more than enough money to last me." It was true. I had invested my already substantial money into several excellent businesses, my time spent with Mitsuru-sama talking about business and my own considerable intellect serving me well in my endeavours. And I knew that if they tried anything on me, my own paranoia would save me. After all, ever since I started dealing with the Dark Hour, I have always posted a Persona at my door to keep watch while I sleep. And also to try and catch Pharos. But I digress. Dohnaseek looked at me with shock on his face.
"Why? Why would you help people who tortured an innocent girl? Why would you help people who attacked you, who tried to kill you?" It was a valid question, the man's confused gaze meeting my cool stare. I smiled faintly.
"Because you are not beyond saving, Dohnaseek. You're lost right now. But you have taken responsibility for your actions, and have been judged for them accordingly. That is the first step to redemption." I smiled at Isis as she turned to face me from where she had been gently tending to Raynare.
"Minato-sama. You truly are a gentle soul. It is sad that Yukari-sama couldn't be here to witness your kindness and forgiveness." Isis always did know how to get to me. Yukari was my best friend. When I first arrived at the Iwatodai dorm, she was the first one I met. The first time we met, I knew we would be friends. And I had the joy, the privilege of watching her develop from a terrified girl armed with a practise bow and a hell of a lot of attitude, into a brave and skilful markswoman and lady of the hurricane. She was one of the group that stood with me against Nyx, while the others held off hundreds of Shadows.
I bowed my head to Isis gently before turning back to Dohnaseek.
"You can stay in my room, while the girls can share the back bedroom. I will stay downstairs, on the sofa. I rarely use my own bed anyway." It wasn't false. I tend to sleep downstairs these days. My bedroom felt empty without my beloved there, so I tended to sleep on the sofa so that I could at least be close to my piano, my escape from the loneliness that I felt. Dohnaseek noticed my saddened expression and smiled comfortingly, the older man placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Look kid, we'll not let ya down. Who knows? Maybe we'll become friends." I nodded and pulled away, moving to my sofa and gently lifting Raynare. Dohnaseek moved beside me and took Raynare's other arm, slinging it around her neck and nodding at me. Between the two of us, we easily carried the most crippled of the Fallen Angels up to the back bedroom. A fairly large room with twin bunk beds, it was plenty large enough for the three female Fallen to live in comfortably. We gently laid Raynare down on one of the bottom bunks, Dohnaseek nodding respectfully at me.
"Thanks, kid. I appreciate this."
Instantly, I heard a shattering noise that was extremely familiar to me.
'Thou art I, and I am Thou. An old bond hath been reawakened. You have reawakened the Chariot Arcana.'
Well. That's good to know. I should need to keep Dohnaseek close, then. I smiled at the older man, who nodded in return. Silently, he walked out and wandered downstairs, leaving me alone with Raynare.
Raynare. A name that should inspire disgust and contempt. Yet somehow, I felt only pity for the girl. To fall for the leader of the Grigori, a truly unfortunate state of affairs. And to fall for him so hard that she's willing to torture and rip apart a girl for him... I could not hate her, despite her crimes and her wounds that she had inflicted on me. Instead, I simply pulled the covers over the crippled Fallen, walked out the room and turned out the light.
It was the middle of the night when I awoke. Even now, well over a year after the Dark Hour, I still awake at exactly twelve minutes to midnight and cannot return to sleep until one o'clock strikes. Standing, I walked to the window and stared outside. A frosty chill blew across my neck, and I looked at the silent street, the peaceful street. Without turning, I spoke to the figure that stood behind me.
"I am lost, Artemisia. I have taken responsibility for my actions as best I could. And now I am forever apart from your true Mistress, my love. Tell me, what do you think I should do? What possible path can I take?" A gauntleted hand gently placed itself on my shoulder, ice-cold metal pressed against my warm flesh. Artemisia squeezed my shoulder reassuringly before replying.
"My King... I can offer you little useful advice this time. You have accepted foes into your home, tended to their wounds when you had every right to reject them and you refuse allies in an attempt to keep your loyalty to my Mistress and to keep your independence. While I do not doubt that Mistress would appreciate the sentiment, she would also want you to move on in the event of her death. And this is no different. Do as you see fit, my King. We all will follow you. From Pixie and Apsaras to Thanatos and even Messiah himself. We will always follow you, until you take your eternal rest."
I smiled at Artemisia's words, a hollow grin that twisted the faint reflection in the window's face into a tormented mockery of its usual calm state. They will follow me? Of course they will. They always have done, and I love them for it. I turned to look the masked Persona in the eye, and opened my mouth to speak only to be shushed by the imposing being.
"You healed the Fallen. You keep them in your home. This will not go over well with the Devils, most likely. But you will do as you always have, and take responsibility for your actions and decisions. And perhaps, in doing so... You will mend the part of you that was broken when you lost Mistress and the rest of SEES." Artemisia smiled under her pointed mask after delivering her speech. I smiled more genuinely and nodded at her advice.
"Of course. Thank you, Artemisia. I have a much better idea of what to do now." I bowed slightly to her and received a polite bow in return as she returned to the Sea of Souls. I turned back to my sofa, lying down and closing my eyes as I fell to thinking. It was pointless to separate myself from the factions. They clearly had a lot of power, and despite my own considerable strength and the near-unlimited power of my strongest Personas, I would not be able to defend myself against all the factions. At the same time, I couldn't allow anyone to find out about my Personas. If they did, I would become a target. So I had three choices. I could join with the Fallen Angels, and pray that they would not try to harm me for the damage I did to the four that now slept in my home. I could join the Devils. Sona and Rias would leap at the opportunity to have me join their Peerages. Or I could go into isolation. None of those options appealed to me particularly.
"Ugh... What's going on...?" Mittelt staggered down the stairs, wiping sleep from her eyes and blinking furiously as I turned the lights on. I looked at the small blonde Fallen and smiled slightly.
"Go back to bed, Mittelt. I'm just thinking some things over." I turned back to the window and glimpsed the flicker of a human-shaped shadow blurring into the darkness. I was right. Sitri-san DID send someone to watch me. Mittelt didn't return to bed, instead folding her arms across her still-dressed chest and glaring at me.
"What do you want from us? You didn't help us for nothing. So don't feed me that bullshit." Mittelt's distrust was expected, and I faced her with naught but the truth. I stared at her, at her damaged face and blind eye. And I smiled at her.
"What I want is for you to be better than you are. I want to see if Mittelt, Dohnaseek, Kalawarner and Raynare can earn their redemption for their crimes against the girl you tortured and nearly killed. But it is not my place to force you. I will give you every opportunity to improve yourself. But you need to be the one to take the first step." My eyes softened and I turned away.
"Helel wouldn't have spared you if he thought you were beyond redemption. If he thought you were worth something." I stared out of the window and stuck my hand in the pocket of my trousers that I hadn't taken off. I could feel Mittelt's glare boring into my back, but I did not turn to face her. I didn't know what I would be confronted with if I did. Eventually, I heard her huff and walk up the stairs, only to stop at the top of the stairs and speak to me.
"I still don't trust you, even if you could have killed us all. I'll be watching you, Arisato. Like a fucking HAWK." I didn't turn, but tilted my head slightly in acknowledgement. I heard her footsteps recede, and smiled as I returned to the sofa and lay back down. At least one of them didn't trust me. I'd be worried if she didn't mistrust me. After all, we were enemies just the night before. Calmly, I closed my eyes and began doing one of the few things that soothed me back to sleep after awakening for the Dark Hour. Addressing each of my Personas by name, in order that I summoned them.
"Orpheus. Thanatos. Apsaras. Pixie..." I made it all the way to Eligor before I passed out.
The next morning was a Sunday. I awoke early, and the others were awoken by the sound of my piano. My fingers gently glided across the keys as I played the song that Elizabeth had taught me. 'Aria of the Soul', she called it. One of the few times we interacted outside the Velvet Room, she taught me how to play the song. The awkward, utterly hilarious girl was a veritable virtuoso on the piano, and she had taught me in a matter of hours how to play the piece almost as well as she could. Closing my eyes, I lost myself in memories of one of my friends, the one who had sent me to this very different world. Memories of laughing at her as she poured millions of yen into the fountains at Paulonia Mall, as she battled valiantly against the escalator and the subsequent restaurant crawl. Watching her play in the park at the Naganaki Shrine... All these memories flooded my mind as I played. Slowly, as I played the last notes of the song, I became aware of the world around me. Of the tears that flowed down my cheeks. And of the silent pair of Fallen Angels that stood and watched me.
"Huh. Who'd have thought that you could play that thing so well?" Mittelt sneered while Kalawarner simply applauded and opened her mouth, only for a faint whistling to emerge. I calmly stood and faced the pair, forcibly repressing the sadness I felt at remembering one of the friends from my world. Obviously, Kalawarner would need some way of communicating to us. Honestly, I get the feeling Helel didn't exactly think his punishment of Kalawarner through. As I thought this, Helel's presence in my mind made itself known.
"Shut Up, Minato. It Was That Or Her Legs." Suddenly removing her voice didn't seem so bad. Suppressing a smirk, I nodded at the two Fallen and gestured to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry if I woke you. The kitchen is through there, if you want some breakfast." I slowly covered the keys of the piano and strode into the kitchen, smiling as I thought of the time spent with Shinjiro and Fuuka, learning to cook and desperately trying not to let Fuuka put strange things into her food. No matter how many times she tried, she never did get to try jacket potatoes with onion, chocolate sauce and red bean paste. Not on OUR watch. I chuckled nostalgically as I looked behind me and saw Mittelt trying to prepare eggs, and Kalawarner frantically trying to save the eggs from being mashed into mush.
"Go and set the table, Mittelt. Kalawarner, start making toast. I'll handle the eggs and the drinks." Good Lord, how had she managed to butcher eggs so badly? Behind me, I could hear Mittelt complaining as the physically stronger Kalawarner grabbed her and dragged her out of the kitchen and into the living room. Setting about my task, I smiled and hummed as I mixed the eggs into a much better-looking scrambled egg, while behind me the sounds of scraping as Kalawarner buttered some...
As I turned around, I paled. Kalawarner had put marmalade, jam and butter on the same piece of bread and was NOW putting it in the toaster! WHAT IS WRONG WITH FALLEN?! CAN THEY JUST NOT COOK!?
"NO!" Raising my voice for the first time, I slapped Kalawarner's hands and sighed, dumping the ruined bread in the bin and ignoring the kicked puppy look she gave me.
"Put the bread in the toaster first. Then after it's cooked, put ONE of those toppings on the bread. And use different knives! It'll spoil my food, otherwise." Rolling my eyes, I began serving up. As I walked into the living room, I saw Mittelt had thrown five sets of knives and forks INTO the table at each space. Which was impressive. It's made of onyx, and it was very, VERY expensive. Oh well. Money isn't a problem for me. Dohnaseek and Raynare looked up from where they'd sat next to each other and gawked at the sight of me carrying four plates of scrambled eggs and toast simultaneously, while Kalawarner brought a fifth plate out.
"Breakfast's up!" At my call, and the delivery of the plates, each Fallen began tucking in such a savage manner that one would have thought they'd not been fed in weeks. As such, I couldn't help but laugh as all of them yelped (or in Kalawarner's case, hiss-whistled) as they burned their mouths on the hot scrambled egg. Calmly, I began eating the scalding food. Eligor's influence preventing the heat from bothering me, burning me or otherwise affecting me aside from making the meal taste pleasant. Just as we'd got settled, however...
RAT-AT-AT-AT-AT!
Dammit. Someone at the door. Gesturing to my guests to remain seated, I walked to the door and opened it. Before me, a sleazy-looking man with black hair and a blonde fringe greeted me.
"Good morning! I believe you have something of mine!" the man said cheerfully, only to blink offendedly as I closed the door in his face. As I turned, though, I met a fist driving into my face as two of the Fallen flew to the door and flung it open, both crying out in joy.
"AZAZEL-SAMA!" Mittelt and Raynare cried, hugging the man's arms before Raynare snarled in pain at her not-quite healed wounds. I sighed heavily at the sight.
"I just want one normal day... is that too much to ask?" I murmured, only for Dohnaseek to clap me on the shoulder.
"This is normal. Why, what did you call normal before?" the tall Fallen asked, grinning at me wickedly. I sighed again.
"Never mind... Come in, Azazel-san. I'll make another plate."
That's that, folks! Azazel's come to pick up his associates (and Raynare) but there are things that will occur yet! We'll see Minato and Azazel face off in the only way they can, and the first glimpse of Kokabiel is had!
Until then, bear with me and have fun. Before I go, though... An omake that came to me after WAY too much time on the internet. Enjoy!
Omake 1: Why you don't let Dohnaseek into the kitchen.
"Dohnaseek..." I sighed heavily as I addressed the tall Fallen wearing an apron.
"What?" the now-testy Fallen snapped, as his toast came out burned despite his best efforts. I looked at him irritably.
"Why are there scorpions in the pastry bin?" Dohnaseek growled at me.
"Because, I put them there." Ugh...
"You put SCORPIONS. From East Africa. Into my pastry bin."
"Mittelt helped." At his words, a call came through from the living room, where Mittelt was lying on the sofa in her dressing gown watching TV.
"I helped!" Why do I put up with these idiots...?
"Why?" The answer I received was not what I expected.
"Thought you could use the nutrients." At this, I SERIOUSLY questioned Dohnaseek's intelligence AND sanity.
"Dohnaseek... Scorpions don't HAVE that many nutrients. Especially when they're alive AND TRYING TO STING ME!" I snapped, finally losing my cool.
"Really?" Oh God...
"HEY!" Messiah and pretty much the entire Justice Arcana snapped at me, while the rest just didn't care. With a mental apology to them, I resumed the conversation.
"Dohnaseek... You're banned from the kitchen. Forever. Never come in here again."
Little did I know, that the worst was yet to come...