For the record the Red eyed boy was inspired by an artwork on the Gods Eater Burst wiki page. I don't really have to say which one, the description gives an idea. The other I just made up. Enjoy!
Chapter 42
"I'm baaaccck." I said giggling. "Did you miss me?"
"Okami, you're back! What took you so long?" Alisa said, running in for a hug.
I laughed and hugged her back. "I missed you too Alisa. Sorry I took so long, I had to take it a little slow getting here with the extra company."
"It's good to see ya," said Kota approaching us. Then he bent down to poke at Shiro. "But... what's up with these squirts? You found them on the way or something?"
"Don't call me a squirt, Orange-for-brains!" Recognizing his voice Kota and Alisa jumped back.
"Woe! Shiro?!" Kota said in surprise.
Shiro gave him a toothy grin as his yellow eyes twinkled with glee. "The one and only."
"What?! Woe! Holy!"
"Now, now Kota. There's no need to panic." Said Kage, stopping forward.
"No way, Kage?" Soma said in disbelief. Kage turned to Soma, his face softening.
"Hello Soma. It's been a while."
"Okami, what the hell is going on?" Soma asked.
"Yes, I'd like to know why you let these 'monsters' in the Den?" Said a new face that had an awful resemblance to someone I use to know.
I slanted my eyes at him. "How dare you. Who do you think you are?"
"Greetings, it's nice to finally meet you, BEAST." My eyebrows squinted some more at the familiar label without the endearment. "My name is Garland von Schicksal."
"So you're Soma's uncle... I see the resemblance. I'm grateful Soma inherited his eyes from his father's side of the family and only half its attitude. However, you lost any chance of getting on my good side the moment you called my brothers' monsters. State your business with me."
"I was sent here to make sure you didn't run off with one of our God Arcs. But it seems I have another issue to worry about."
"There was no need for that. I came back on the appointed day and time as promised. And as for your other statement." I pulled my God Arc and held it out toward him so he could get a good view. "This isn't your God Arc, it's MY partner. I'd like to see you try to take it from me and see what happens... This is my partner, my comrade, my friend. And I'll hold on to him until the day I die."
"Which won't be happening anytime soon. We'll make sure of that." Kage and Shiro said simultaneously, stern looks on both of their faces.
"You must tell me how you accomplished nearly the impossible Okami!" Saki said, looking at Kage and Shiro excitedly. "You've done something I've tried but couldn't do... you've created singularities." I had to sigh at remembering the process.
"It wasn't easy. We've been very busy. Fighting Aragami after Aragami with Human-like traits until Kage's and Shiro's evolution-like-transformation came to a halt, reaching a human-like extent. But... with only a month... we had to work faster. Luckily the supplies I already had helped out a bunch to the point I didn't have to worry so much about taking them into battle with me. Now... they're most likely stronger than me now."
"No way Sis. You're the greatest!" I had to chuckle at Shiro's antics.
"I thank you for that Shiro, but... I know my limits better than anyone and I can tell you guys have gotten much stronger."
"Yes, I do feel so much more powerful than before. And strange..." Kage said, looking down at his hands, "it feels weird having these extra limbs."
"And uncomfortable not having any hard scales. Although I do feel freer down there, but I also feel like it's an exposed weakness." Shiro said, pointing down toward his groin area then looked at Soma and Kota. "How can you live with such a vulnerability?"
"Ah you just don't make girls angry enough to take advantage of it, keep out of striking rage, or wear a cup." Kota answered that ridiculous question.
"Idiots." "Fools." Soma and Kage said at the same time. And they said they weren't alike.
"And what the hell happened to your clothes?" Soma said, eying me. I felt like his eyes were on me longer than needed.
"Well, after fighting so many Aragami; after ripe and tare and limited supply of clothing. With them constantly being destroyed and my limited carrying room when I left I was bound to run out eventually. And when I did I had to make a make-shift outfit, along with find something for my brothers when the transformation was complete."
"And may I ask who's that beside you?" Lindow asked, pointing at the small wolf like Aragami next to me.
"I guess you could say this is my... pet. But he's more than that, he's my friend." I looked down and pat him along his head, he slightly purred and moved into my hand. "I got in a fight with his parent who bared his fang at me. Before the beast returned to the earth he produced. Taking pity on him I raised him and took care as my own pact. And since he had a beautiful crimson color to him I named him Akai."
He looked up to me in response to his name. Happy at this I knelt down to his level to pet and rub him with a little more vigor. "You're such a good boy! Yes you are, yes your are. Are you hungry? We'll I am. And I'm in the mood for...pastaaa." I said with glee, remembering the joyous taste of those tiny noodles. Akai wagged his tail through it all.
"Yes, I'm quite curious about this 'pasta' and that First Love Juice you spoke of sis." Kage said. I then turned to the others.
"That's right, I must grace your virgin tongues with the taste of heaven. Hey, we're heading to the Mesh Hall, you guys joining us?"
"Now hold on one minute 'Beast.'" This man was starting to irritate me, but I guess I could lend him an ear for a little while. "I'll forgive the close call of your arrival. However, I cannot ignore that you brought Aragami into the Den. Not only that, Singularities. I'm sure they would make a most exquisite specimen sample to our scientist back at HQ."
"You will do no such thing. When I stayed with Fenrir after my unexpected retrieval I was given the promise that my family would be protected. This is my family. And if you guys at HQ go back on your word or touch them... I'll paint myself in your blood."
"Was that a threat?"
"That was not a threat, it was a fact." I said getting into a feral stance in front of my brothers and Akai.
"My, how barbaric. But that's what to be expected from one who literally devoured Aragami."
"Actually it was you who is stepping out of grounds. Threatening the family of one of our Senior Gods Eater, have you no shame?" Saki said while approaching. "Your mission here is done, you should have left the moment it hit noon... Don't dish out orders you have no authority over, this is my Branch." Saki... "I will decide what's to be done at my Branch, you are dismissed."
"Hm, very well, Paylor." He grinned at us. "This is the first time the legendary Stargazer actually got involved with direct action. I will respect your authority as this Branch's Director. Besides, I'm quite curious as to how this will play out. Aragami fighting alongside man against the Aragami. What a lovely twist... one that I would like to see in action... Until we meet again Beast. Soma, Paylor." With that he was gone. I tensed as he passed me toward the elevator, never taking my eyes off him as I blocked him from my family. Saki turned to us and gave his usual grin.
"Don't worry, he won't alert HQ. He finds this situation far to entertaining to let it be stopped by paranoid old men behind a desk, your family is safe." Then he started to perk. "Now, what to do with you guys?"
"Please Saki. You said I couldn't bring them here in the forms they were in so I helped them change into a more human-like form. If no one says anything you wouldn't be able to tell they're not human. And Akai's more like a dog... wolf. T-they'll be a great help in fighting the Aragami... So please."
"I was never going to say that they couldn't stay. I was just wondering about their living arrangements. Maybe Akai could stay in your room, but Kage and Shiro would make it crowded."
"Hm, you have a point there. Hm... Oh, I know! Why don't we give them my old room. I can purchase another bed and that should be fine."
"That's... not actually a bad idea. But they are growing boys, sooner or later they'll want space of their own."
"We'll cross that road when we get there. But for now they haven't reached the stage where they will be wanting their own privacy."
"Alright, consider it done." Saki said playfully using the words I'm usually known for.
"Thanks, Saki... Is it alright if I go out on missions after lunch? I need to catch up with everyone."
"Are you sure you want to start missions after you just got back?" Saki asked.
"Kage and Shiro need clothes that won't make them itchy. Going out will help gather material." Then I turned to Licca, who was the brilliant designer of Shio's clothes. "That is if you're willing Licca?"
"Of course Okami. I'll hand you a list of the material I need."
"Thank you." Then I turned to everyone. "Well, I'm hungry. Whose with me?"
They all gave a cheer and greeted me and my family as we slowly made our way to the Mesh Hall. Yeah... it's good to be home.
****** A couple of days later ******
Everything's been lively since Okami's return. Somehow Kota was able to turn our little trip into the Mesh Hall into a party. It's amazing what he can do on shot notice.
Kage and Shiro were fitting in well with the others, and like their sister they had a strange love for that First Love Juice. They jugged it down like Lindow jugs beer.
And that Akai didn't even have to try to fit in. He behaved like a dog, well more like a wolf, and the girls loved him for it. They cuddled around him with their 'kawaii' squeals, petting, ear scratching, and belly rubs. And he loved every second of it, with his tail waging and tongue lazing out.
We were eventually sent on missions to get material for their clothes, Kage looked like he was wearing a Panter Punk Top under an open Sweeper Noir Top with a Red Formal Bottom. Wile Shiro styled something like what he had on before, only with white pants under his long 'kilt' and a shawl-like top. It's almost like they dressed to represent their name. They looked the part of looking human, but could they fight as God Eaters?