Author's Note: Well, here it is. This is the defining chapter of my story. This chapter is basically the pillar upon which my story has been building up to, and upon which the rest of it will revolve. Whatever you may think of this chapter, it is as it is meant to be and if something doesn't jive properly with what came before, it's what came before that I failed to properly execute.
Chapter 15: The Wings of Night Raid
"I hope a war doesn't break out," Tatsumi said worriedly as he stared out the window the classroom he was in with Bennia.
Outside, arrayed all around Kuoh Academy was an army of Angels, Devils and Fallen Angels. They were being civil for the most part, as civil as three factions eternally at odds with each other could be at least. Glares and curses were being hurled back and forth between the three groups but as of yet it hadn't come to blows.
That was probably taking a miracle or three to achieve. It might have also been the threat of pain, retaliation or disappointment from their respective leaders that kept them in check. Tatsumi had watched each of them enter not long ago. He himself hadn't bothered to go home after school, and thus had been inside the building when the enormous and powerful barrier came up around it.
((Why don't we just go now?)) Bennia asked from across the room. ((I'd rather not be forgotten about.))
Tatsumi glanced over at his lover. Bennia was sitting on a desk nearby, his desk to be exact. She had opted to don her Reaper's cloak and skull like face mask. All he could see of her face was a pair of sleepy golden eyes. Considering the importance of the day Tatsumi could understand her need for formality.
He'd done the same. The Shroud of Longinus rested easily across his shoulders, its blue gossamer thread revealing the black armor with its lines of glowing white light Tatsumi wore beneath it. Tatsumi learned from Gabriel that the armor would actually shift and grow with him, a one size fit all type thing, although there were limits to how large it could grow. He wore the same durable black pants he had during his battle with Esdeath.
"Go now? Hmmm…" Tatsumi was tired of waiting and Gabriel had never actually stated when he needed to arrive. He pushed off the window and started for the door. "Sure, why not?"
((Finally! I was getting bored of watching a bunch of lowbies hurl curses impotently at each other!)) Bennia said cheerfully as she hopped off the desk and glided over to his side.
Tatsumi stopped just outside the classroom and threw a confused look at Bennia. "Lowbies?"
((It's a term I heard online. Means weak, low level people or something like that. Humans are making up new words every day it seems.))
Tatsumi deadpanned. "You have way too much free time on your hands."
((You think so?))
"I know so," Tatsumi said as he gave her a quick hug. She just stuck her tongue out at him. Letting go he started for the meeting room. He knew where it was, roughly, somewhere on the second floor. There hadn't been any reason to go there before, it wasn't an often-used room. It was created specifically for this sort of situation, or so Tatsumi had been told, however this was the first time it'd ever been used.
The halls felt empty as the two of them passed through them. During the day they were always so full of life, energy. Even during class there was this palpable buzz of energy. There was none of that. The air felt stale and the silence was absolutely deafening. Neither of them made any sound as they moved so it amplified everything else. He could hear Bennia's heart beat in her chest behind him, beating in time with his own.
The eerie silence came to an end as they neared the meeting chamber. Faint vestiges of muffled conversation floated out from those closed doors. Tatsumi knocked twice on the pair of double doors as he came up to them.
The conversation ceased and a moment later the doors were opened to reveal a beautiful silver haired woman in a blue and white maid's outfit. Tatsumi knew instantly that this woman was dangerous. She had same sort of expression on her face that Sona always did, making her the no-nonsense type of woman. More than that was her demonic energy, like an enormous wellspring of power that was ready to burst forth at a moment's notice. It made his skin itch being this close to her.
"Ah, Nakimori Tatsumi, you are expected," the silver haired woman said before stepping to the side and gesturing him inside. "Your place at the table has been prepared."
Tatsumi glanced past her into the room. A large, ornate table dominated the center of the room. Positioned around it where six large high back chairs while another row of small, less extravagant chairs, lined the wall nearby.
All save one of the large chairs were occupied by the respective leaders of each faction.
Sona's sister, Serafall, was there and for the first time in his life he saw her wearing something other than the magical girl cosplay she always sported. Was it a testament to just how important this meeting was or had someone come down on her with a harsh enough threat? Even dressed as she was he still couldn't envision her as the Leviathan, one of the four great leaders of the Underworld. It just didn't match the person he'd known up until now. Standing just behind her was none other than Sona herself, hovering protectively about her like an escort, although Tatsumi was sure it would be the other way around if battle broke out.
Sona's Queen, Tsubaki, was here as well, although she was standing at the wall by the row of chairs.
On Serafall's right was the current Lucifer, Sirzechs, with his back to the door. That red hair of his was unmistakable, a Gremory, Rias' older brother. Even without being able to see him properly, Tatsumi could feel the unfathomably large amount of pure power that lurked just beneath the surface. It reinforced Tatsumi's opinion that even if he had managed to kill Rias Gremory, he probably wouldn't have lived long enough to see the next sunrise, with or without Gabriel's protection.
Thinking of those two brought his attention the two sitting across from Sirzechs. Gabriel wasn't clothed in anything he'd ever seen her before. She was clad in tight, form fitting golden armor and her circlet glowed softly on her forehead. A glowing halo shone brightly above her head and twelve pure white wings extended from her back. She looked positively demure, like the personification of innocence. It was reminiscent of how she'd looked during the School Visitation Day. Behind her was Xenovia wearing the same robe she'd worn that first time Tatsumi had met her.
Beside Gabriel was Michael, the leader of the Angels and the one currently in charge of maintaining the great system created by God that bestowed divine protection and miracles upon humanity. Tatsumi had trouble envisioning him before just from Gabriel's descriptions but those golden locks and those pure, kind eyes of his fit him better than any description Gabriel had given. One wouldn't even need to see the golden halo floating above his head or the twelve golden wings sprouting from his back to realize what he was. His entire persona screamed angelic.
What Tatsumi hadn't expected to see was Budo standing behind him. Budo had unmistakable presence and his blue eyes, as hard as sapphire, seemed to pierce straight through Tatsumi as if trying to determine his threat level. The only notable difference at first glance between this Budo and the one Tatsumi was familiar with was the color of their armor; gold instead of the dark grey Tatsumi was familiar with.
The last person at the table was Azazel, the leader of the Fallen Angels. Tatsumi had to secretly admit he was the one he had been most interested in meeting. After all, he'd been the one to send him on that ill-fated confrontation with Esdeath that seemed to have kick started so many different events. He was a tall man with jet black hair and blond dyed bangs sporting a goatee that Tatsumi didn't think suited him particularly well. Unlike the others that were all dressed to impress, Azazel had just thrown on a maroon colored overcoat over a pair of dark pants. He also seemed to have a belt fetish. Tatsumi counted no less than twelve of them wrapped around various parts of his body.
Azazel had brought two people with him. Leaning against the wall nearby was none other than Vali, the White Dragon Emperor. He hadn't been lying about escorting Azazel apparently. Tatsumi quickly pushed him from his mind however as it was the second person that he was more interested in.
Mine. She stood at attention at Azazel's shoulder, waiting patiently on him. She looked no different than the day he first met her at that diner, still dressed all in pink, although the accents were black instead of simply a darker shade of pink.
It only took a few moments for Tatsumi to take in the entire room. There was a lot of power gathered here. It was amazing that the entire place didn't just go pop. Tatsumi had no expectations of surviving more than a few milliseconds against any of those powers.
He looked back over at the maid that had opened the door for him. "Thank you…" Tatsumi trailed off, waiting for a name. She was someone he hadn't been introduced to by Gabriel.
"Grayfia Lucifuge, she's my wife," Sirzechs stated from the table.
"How very amusing, Sirzechs-sama," Grayfia said as she teleported to the man's side. "But please do not spread lies about us. I am your maid."
Tatsumi kept a tight rein on his emotions. "It's nice to meet you, Grayfia," he said politely as he made his way to the sole empty chair at the table, it sat between Serafall and Gabriel. "I suppose you're the reason Sirzechs-san doesn't have a harem?" As one of the Leaders of the Underworld he should have women throwing themselves at him.
Silence reigned as Tatsumi padded his way over to his chair. Sona didn't even acknowledge his existence as he walked past her. Worry started to trickle into his mind. That probably wasn't the best way to greet someone who held more power in his pinky finger than you had in your entire body.
Then Serafall started to snicker even as an amused smile came to Gabriel's lips.
"Did I say something wrong?" Tatsumi asked as he took his seat. Bennia took up position beside him, mimicking the other escorts.
The silence was shattered as Azazel leaned back and roared with laughter. "Not a thing, my boy! Not a thing!" he laughed some more. "Poor Sirzechs! Struck speechless by a mere human in the first exchange! I had my doubts at first but not anymore! That made it worthwhile to let you sit here with us!"
Tatsumi threw the man a guarded look. Sirzechs was trying his best to keep a straight face but his eyes were conflicted. Grayfia shared an identical expression. The both of them very much wanted to throw back a response but couldn't for some reason.
Then it hit him. He had slapped them both with a trick question they couldn't answer. If Sirzechs said no, then it meant he was looking for more, if he said yes, then it made him look as if he was subservient to Grayfia, someone who had just stated she was simply his maid. A Great Satan couldn't do that, not at an official meeting such as this. Grayfia, likewise, couldn't respond because she wasn't technically his wife here, but his maid and bodyguard.
"You don't have to answer," Tatsumi said. No need to start this off on the wrong foot, although it might already be too late for that.
"No, no, I want to hear an answer!" Azazel said, leaning forward eagerly. "We can't start until your little sister arrives, so why not?"
"It is hardly an appropriate topic to discuss here," Sirzechs finally said with carefully chosen words. "Suffice to say that I am content with my current wife and have no desire for more."
"Content? Or resigned to the fact that Grayfia has decimated every woman that's so much as batted an eyelash in your direction?"
"Sirzechs-sama needs to keep his attention focused on handling matters important to our race," Grayfia said without a trace of emotion in her voice. Her white knuckle grip on her skirt spoke volumes as to what she was truly feeling. "It is my duty to ensure that he is not needlessly distracted."
No denial, so Tatsumi had been right in his assumption. Still, if the man truly wished it he probably could pull rank and force her to stand down. That he didn't proved he cared more about her feelings than having additional bed fellows.
Before the conversation could continue there was another knock on the door. Grayfia quickly left Sirzechs side and made her way over to answer it. On the other side was Rias Gremory along with Akeno, Issei and Asia.
"Excuse us," Rias said politely as she bowed to everyone in the room. She was slightly startled when she noticed him sitting at the table along with the other leaders but she quickly regained her composure and entered the room.
"My younger sister and her family," Sirzechs introduced them as they made their way over to the chairs along the wall. Tatsumi felt more than a little smug at the fact that he was at the table while she, the supposed 'owner' of this area, was relegated to the wall. It was bad of him to feel this way, he knew it, but he really just couldn't bring himself to care enough to squash those feelings. "She was involved in the attack by Kokabiel a few days ago."
"Yes, Kokabiel, I saw that he caused quite the disturbance down here," Michael said in a light voice.
Azazel let out an apologetic laugh, "sorry about the trouble Kokabiel caused you." He threw Gabriel and Serafall nervous looks. "I should have stopped him sooner."
His words caused a thread to snap inside Tatsumi. "Why the hell are you apologizing to her?" Everyone's gaze was on him now. "Oh my! Kiba is in a coma, big fucking deal. My parents are dead because you let that bastard run loose, along with several thousand humans! Where are our apologies? Where are your efforts to help us rebuild like you rebuilt this academy? I'm sure a nice brand new school is a welcome comfort to all the parents that mourn their dead children or children who have to walk home to an empty house!"
"That's ah… not what I meant," Azazel said hastily, proverbially backpedaling as quickly as he could. "Of course what Kokabiel did outside of the Academy was unforgiveable. That sort of wanton destruction doesn't serve anyone."
"No, it doesn't, but it is completely fine to pretend it never happens unless someone slaps you in the face with it because we're just human. We don't matter. When you three play, we're the ones that suffer most."
A gentle hand was land upon his arm and he turned to find Gabriel's concerned and compassionate eyes upon him. "Tatsumi, we know. That's why you're here at this table with us." Serafall nodded her head in agreement.
"You're right, Tatsumi," Sirzechs agreed, "We're all so concerned with our own species that we often fail to consider the others."
"We cannot rightly agree to any course of action that would needlessly endanger mankind," Michael added. "Even if we protect ourselves, we would be abandoning our duty if we failed to protect humankind as well. With God gone it is up to us to protect and guide Humanity. We will not fail in this duty ever again."
Tatsumi roughly reined his emotions in and forcibly calmed himself with a few deep breaths. "Fine." He realized he didn't need to be here, he knew that. Any one of them was powerful enough to toss him aside without effort. That they were at least willing to extend an olive branch, even if that branch might not extend very far, was worth his patience. "He still could have at least done something for the victims."
"And how would you expect me to compensate them?" Azazel asked lightly. "I can't just walk up to them and apologize."
"No, but an anonymous donation to the families of each victim would help. It might not heal their hearts, but it'll help them get their feet back under them again. Some of them are still homeless."
Azazel went white as a sheet as the blood drained from his face. The other leaders were all staring at him now. "I do believe selling some of the results of your research into Sacred Gear has made you quite wealthy," Sirzechs said. There was a little smile on his face that didn't bode well for the Fallen Angel.
The temperature in the room dipped dangerously and Tatsumi wasn't sure what the cause was more, Serafall's power leaking from her eyes, or Gabriel's little smile that seemed out of place on such a kind, gentle face. "My, I don't consider it that unreasonable a request," Gabriel said softly. The smile on Serafall's face became dangerously wide and frigid. "Is it not common practice for the victor to demand compensation from the defeated?"
"I hate my life," Azazel whimpered as he sunk lower in his chair. He popped back up soon with a determined look on his face. "Fine! I'll make donations to each affected family. There can't be that many."
((Two thousand, seven hundred and fifteen families in all were negatively affected by this)) Bennia chimed in helpfully.
"I'm going to be broke after this!"
"Perhaps next time you might think about preventing your allies from causing mayhem and destruction?" Michael suggested.
A pitiful whimper escaped Azazel's throat causing Mine to give her superior a startled look. Vali just started to laugh quietly.
"Will that suffice for now, Tatsumi-san?" Michael asked him, smiling.
"Yes."
It was far more than he had expected out of the man.
"Good, then let us begin," Michael said as he gave everyone in the room a smile. Rias took a seat by the wall along with her peerage as Michael continued. "First, let us start with a common ground. Everyone gathered here in this room has learned, from various sources, that God is dead." Asia twitched across the room as pain crept into her eyes. That knowledge must not have sat well with her. A quick glance over at Xenovia showed that she had been hurt by that knowledge as well but she was taking it better than Asia. The fact that she was Gabriel's chosen may help. God may be dead, but Heaven still needed her. "With his death and the death of the original Satans, all three factions were left devastated. If we continue to war it would only bring about the complete destruction of all of us and," he gave Tatsumi a gentle smile, "it would bring untold suffering to the humans. None of us here stand to gain from continued conflict between us."
"Especially not if it's going to cost me millions every time one of my subordinates kicks over a house by accident," Azazel muttered bitterly. "I can't even begin to continue my Sacred Gear research if I'm paying out reparations every day or two!"
Tatsumi was going to assume that was a good thing for humanity but with Azazel one just couldn't be certain.
"Is that why you have been gathering Sacred Gear users?" Sirzechs questioned the Fallen Angel. "I had thought you were gathering them to augment your battle strength so you could wage war against us or Heaven."
Michael seemed to have the same opinion. "Acquiring the Vanishing Dragon reinforced my thought of this as well. Why else would you obtain such a battle hungry individual?"
"It's not to do battle against the two of you." Neither Michael nor Sirzechs seemed to buy that explanation. Azazel just smiled bitterly, "it seems I'm not particularly trusted here. Do you want me to forward all my research to you? A gesture of good faith if you will? I'm perfectly fine with the world being at peace. I can't pursue my goal into researching Sacred Gears if I have to fight off Angels and Devils every time I so much as poke my head out of the ground."
"It would go a long way to earning our trust," Michael said.
"Ours as well," Sirzechs agreed. "There may even be something in that research we devils could use to help rebuild our numbers. That and restoring our society are our number one priorities. This brings me to the devil's position. It is the opinion of all four Satans that we neither have the time, resources, or even desire, to renew hostilities. We must look to our own first and foremost."
"I hope your plans entail more than just reincarnating every useful human you come across," Tatsumi said dryly.
"It does," Sirzechs said, unperturbed by his words. He had obviously anticipated Tatsumi's objection to that activity. "Much of the dark side of the Underworld has been left fallow and empty since the end of that Great War. Reclaiming that from the beasts and animals that have taken it is one step. We're also going to encourage the remaining pure-blooded devils to procreate. I've already taken the initiative with my own wife. With luck we should be expecting a second child before the year is out." How he managed to say that with a straight face, Tatsumi would never know. "Too many others are content to sit back and simply accumulate money and power instead of actively trying to contribute to the restoration of our race. That will change." Sirzechs face became hard. "Reincarnated devils will also play a role. The Evil Pieces system, I'm afraid, has simply become too ingrained in our society to discard it anymore. One's place in society is determined by their success in the Rating Games that are played. That is not going to change." Tatsumi felt his anger bubble up. Gabriel's hand tightened around his wrist sending a calm, soothing wave through him. "I know this upsets you, Tatsumi, but I must be realistic. Without it, my people will die out and I simply cannot allow that just to assuage your feelings." His face softened. "However, that doesn't mean we can't take steps to refine it, make it friendlier to humans and less prone to abuse. You brought up a very good point to my sister a few weeks back. We should not be reincarnating humans without their consent first." Sirzechs reached into a small pocket dimension beside him and pulled out a sizeable stack of documents. "Ajuka Beelzebub looked into it and there is a strong correlation between Stray Devils and forced reincarnations."
"The only Stray Devils to ever appear are actually devils that were originally forced to become members of a peerage against their will." It took Tatsumi several moments to realize it was actually Serafall that was speaking. She was so serious it felt like a completely different person. "Slaves in the truest sense of the word if you will. Whereas devils that willingly accepted to become part of a peerage without any sort of threat or coercion hanging over their heads are all either active members in their peerage or have been let go after their master retired and live out normal lives as part of our society."
"No one likes Stray Devils," Sirzechs continued, "it's in our best interest to shift our strategy in this regard."
"That's all well in good, for those that listen and don't run around behind your back and ignore your orders," Tatsumi pointed out. He knew for certain that Gregorious Abaddon wouldn't give two shits about any rules the Satans put into place. "How do you intend to filter out those that were forced from those that weren't?" Individuals like Hikaru who were very good at hiding their true feelings for their own protection. "And how do you intend to prevent a repeat of what happened to my sister, Mira?"
"That is a bit more difficult to enforce, but we will try," Sirzechs assured him. Serafall was nodding her head in agreement. "Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine whether a devil killed a human out of malice, or out of self-defence. Gregorious' murder of your sister is a fairly clear cut case. An eighteen year old girl is no threat to someone of his stature, but it's not always that way."
"That's not what I was talking about," Tatsumi retorted. He shot a look at Sona and she just shook her head.
"Tatsumi, I never spoke of what you told me to Leviathan-sama," Sona said respectfully. "It was something you said to me in confidence and I would never break that."
"You actually kept it from your sister?" Tatsumi asked in disbelief. That was actually surprising. She truly was different from the other devils. He honestly expected Serafall to know by the end of day.
"Know what?" Serafall asked peering suspiciously between the two of them. "Is So-tan… Sona-san keeping things from me?"
"It's because of this," Azazel said unexpectedly. He pulled out a small oval shaped object that looked like a closed eye. He slid it across the table to Tatsumi. "It's Mira's Sacred Gear."
Tatsumi's blood ran cold as he picked up the metallic object. It felt warm to the touch, like there was a source of life living within it. "Why do you have this?"
"I believe I mentioned collecting Sacred Gears is a hobby of mine," Azazel said and quickly continued on before Tatsumi's mind could conjure up the worst. "I had nothing to do with what happened to your sister, I assure you. Didn't even know the attack was happening until Gregorious broke through the glass and flew off. I just got curious and followed his trail back to the building. I will admit I did take advantage of her death to get my hand on her Sacred Gear but I had no other involvement in that situation." He shrugged, unashamed of his actions. "It's useless to me. Gregorious' actions towards your sister tainted it. Only a human can use it or maybe an Angel."
"What sort of Sacred Gear is it?" Serafall asked curiously as she peered at it.
"It has no battle power by itself, but what it can allow someone to do," Azazel shook his head from side to side and gave Issei an amused look. "I'd rank it higher than the Divine Dividing and Boosted Gear."
"You can't be serious," Vali stated incredulously. "We already know about all the higher class Longinus', that thing isn't amongst them."
"Of course not, it's because it exists above the Longinus'," Azazel returned. "Thinking about it objectively, it should be locked away in the strongest, most secure vault in existence and forgotten. If Gregorious had known the truth behind it he never would have left without first ensuring Mira was secured."
"And just what makes it so powerful?" Michael asked.
Azazel shot him an amused look as a short chuckle escaped his lips. "You use the Eye of God to watch over Humanity, do you not, Michael?"
"I do."
"Didn't God have two eyes?"
As one they all turned to stare at him and the Sacred Gear he held in his hands. Tatsumi broke out into a nervous sweat as he realized what he held in his hands. A piece of the almighty God himself. "Well… I was told it could see the past and the future. Mira didn't really deny it when Gregorious spouted its ability."
"So it's true," Michael whispered, sounding awed.
"I've done my own research into it," Azazel continued, "it's not as powerful as the original, not by a long shot. It can't see all possible futures, only the most likely. And it can only look into the past that was and only of this world, not all the pasts that could have been and of all worlds. Still, that is the remains of God's Left Eye after the original Leviathan tore it out in her death throes." He threw a bitter look at it. "It also rejects Devils and Fallen angels, even reincarnated devils. Only humans can use it, or possibly Angels as I said."
Tatsumi rolled the Sacred Gear Azazel had called the Left Eye of God in his hands several times. A Sacred Gear that only humans could use, one that had used to be his sister's. Would it accept him? Could he use it to prevent anyone else close to him from ever dying again?
Yes, he probably could. But at what cost? A price he didn't want to pay.
"Here," Tatsumi said as he offered the Left Eye of God up to Gabriel. "If it really is a part of God, it belongs in Heaven, not down here on Earth."
Azazel let out a long whistle through his teeth. "Seriously boy? You're giving away quite possible the single most powerful Sacred Gear to ever exist! One that had been your sister's! I doubt there's anyone alive more compatible with it right now than you."
"True, but how long do you think it'd have been until someone like Kokabiel decided to use me to their advantage?" Tatsumi asked. "Even if I can see everything, it doesn't mean I'm strong enough to be able to act upon what I see. No, it's better this way." He shrugged, there was one other reason, the most important reason. It was a piece knowledge that came from deep inside him, a piece of instinctual knowledge, something he'd known from long ago. "And if I used it, I'd never again be able to experience Joy, Happiness, Pleasure or anything else. I'd end up becoming an emotionless husk incapable of feeling."
A deafening silence filled the room as everyone turned to stare at him in shock. "What did you just say?" Gabriel whispered quietly. It echoed about the silent room like thunder.
"You never thought about it?" Tatsumi asked them. He could see that they hadn't, that they still didn't understand. For some reason Tatsumi could, so many things just clicked all at once. It almost felt like something else was speaking through his lips, yet wasn't. It was his words, his actions, his thoughts, but he didn't know where it was coming from. It was strange. "I imagine that's probably why God let himself be killed by the Satans." Words couldn't describe the level of shock Tatsumi was witnessing play across their faces. Even Vali seemed stunned. "If God, being as powerful as he was, could also see everything that is, was and would be, is there honestly any force in the Universe that could kill Him unless he wanted it to? He'd see any attack coming his way eons before it arrived and could have a million counter measures in place for it." He could see that Azazel, at least, was beginning to understand. The Governor of the Grigori was starting to tremble uncontrollably. "He probably ignited the whole Great War to strengthen the Satans to a point where they were strong enough to hurt him. The entire reason being he had grown tired of life. There wasn't anything to care about. All of his creations were growing, evolving, becoming something more, and would continue evolving until that perfect evolutionary end point. If he could already see what would happen, and every step of the way to that end state, what's the point of staying around to watch it unfold? You've already seen it happen a million different ways. That's no life I want to live. I'd be looking for the first ticket to the afterlife I could find." It was the issue with being able to see the future. Life only held meaning because the future was unknown. That unknown allowed for growth, evolution. A purpose. "Let's put it another way, and the main reason why I don't want that Sacred Gear. How can you Suffer if you've already Suffered all that there is? How can you feel Joy, when you've already experienced all the Joy that is, was, and will ever be? How can you Love when you've witnessed the birth, evolution, and death of Love an infinite number of times in every single moment of every day?"
Omniscience was the greatest curse in existence and nothing would ever come close to it.
"He… wanted to die?" Gabriel whispered in a horrified voice, like someone suddenly seriously entertaining a thought that they never wanted to.
"I always thought it was because the Satans took advantage of his weakened state after sealing Trihexa 666… but if he knew before hand that would happen perhaps it was deliberate?" Azazel asked to no one in particular. His hands were shaking uncontrollably. "You know what, I'm suddenly very glad I didn't try to force that thing to work for me. Half the joy of research is discovering new things but if I already know the results before I start…"
He understood. What would be the point? Why would you bother to put the effort in to explore an avenue of research if you already knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what the result would be? Why care about what the future might hold when you already knew everything that would ever happen.
"How did we not see this?" Sirzechs asked, his voice subdued.
"Too close to the source," Sona spoke up from her spot beside her sister. "It's a phrase humans have. We're all too close to the source. We can't see the whole as a result. Humans though, they're a bit further back. They can see much more than we."
"That's my Sona-chan!" Serafall cried happily.
"And all things considered, I'm probably even further back than the Humans here," Tatsumi added. He wasn't of this world. He was a stranger from a different world that didn't care much about what a God was or meant.
Tatsumi got a number of strange looks for that comment. He ignored them.
"Quite possibly," Gabriel whispered her agreement as she held the eye reverently. "Your words would make His final actions more sensible now."
"His final orders to me as well," Michael added. He gave Gabriel a gentle smile. "It also explains all the loopholes you so enjoy utilizing, sister."
"Yes." Gabriel tucked the Left Eye of God beneath her armor. "We will safeguard this for now. As a Sacred Gear it's not directly compatible with the system but perhaps someday we can place it alongside God's other eye."
"At least you'll keep it out of the hands of people like Gregorious," Azazel said dryly. "That's one guy I think we can all agree should never get his hands on that."
"I agree but if Mira had such a powerful Sacred Gear, why did Gregorious kill her?" Serafall asked, sounding confused.
Tatsumi flinched. He had hoped they wouldn't ask that. He bowed his head and stared at his blood-stained hands. He could still see Mira's tear stained faced staring back at him. "It's because Gregorious didn't kill Mira." His heart clenched painfully. It still hurt to this day thinking about it. "I killed her. I strangled the life from her with my own two hands."
((We've already been over this!)) Bennia snapped angrily. ((He broke her mind and forced her to try and kill you! It was pure self-defence and—))
"It doesn't matter if she begged me to kill her," Tatsumi snapped back at her. "It doesn't absolve me of the responsibility. I didn't even try to look for an alternative! I just strangled her to death!"
((There weren't any alternatives!))
"Tatsumi, that's enough," Gabriel said, her soft musical voice was filled with concern, "Bennia is right, it's not your fault."
"But!"
"I know Gregorious, he would have come back for Mira if you hadn't killed her," Serafall added quickly. "You might have had a whole two hours to come up with an alternative, do you think you could have done so?"
He wanted to say yes but the words died in his throat. Even with everything he knew today, he still wouldn't have been able to help Mira break free. Back then though? Considering how weak and stupid he'd been, there'd have been absolutely nothing he could have done. He didn't want to admit that though!
"If it's any consolation, Gregorious did try to come back for her," Azazel stated. "I sort of taunted him a bit when I flashed her Sacred Gear in front of him. He flew off steaming, guess he didn't want to fight me for it."
Damn it, why was every one trying to convince him he wasn't at fault here? He hadn't been fast enough to stop her from falling into Gregorious' hands. He hadn't been strong enough to beat his servants before he finished with his sister. He hadn't been quick enough to stop the ritual and save her. He had been the one to kill her with his own bare hands!
He could still feel Mira's soft skin beneath his fingertips. Taste the pain and sorrow that had hung upon that room like a cloud. It was all he could taste anymore, tainting everything he ate. Her death was his burden to bear his entire life. A mistake he must never forget.
A mistake he had made again, and lost his parents as a result. He hadn't been strong enough, fast enough, powerful enough to stop Kokabiel from killing them. He hadn't even been strong enough to avenge them. There were so many corpses strewn out behind him. How many have died because of him? Because of his failures?
He would never forget, he would accept it all and remember. His mistakes would be his strength so that he would never falter again. Kill his emotions, his feelings. Cast away everything, become that perfect killing machine so that he'd never have to suffer again. No one would ever suffer again.
"It's all my fault! They're all dead because of me!"
((Tatsumi! Stop! It's not your fault!))
A gentle hand fell upon his shoulder.
A soundless shockwave rocked the room. The darkness clinging to his mind was banished with a howl, washed away under a tide of overwhelming light. Tatsumi arched backwards, gasping sharply as the warmth of Heaven's kindness filled his being. Standing above him was none other than Michael himself.
"I have spoken with your parents and your sister in heaven, Tatsumi. Believe me when I say that the only person that blames you for their deaths, is you."
Tatsumi stared up into the gentle eyes of the Pillar of Heaven. He who sat on Gods seat in his absence and managed the great system. Within the endless depths of those pure eyes of his Tatsumi saw no blame, no accusation. Just forgiveness and understanding.
Was he really allowed to let go? To set aside the blame?
Was he allowed forgiveness?
For a brief, singular instant he could see them through his eyes. His parents standing behind Mira, their hands on her shoulders as all three of them smiled down upon him. He felt them, there, around him, embracing him. He felt their love for him. Even now, after they were dead, none of them blamed him for what happened.
He let go.
Bennia caught him as he crumpled in his chair. Tears streamed from his eyes unchecked. They wouldn't stop. He didn't even try. He wept into Bennia's arms as all the suffering and guilt he had kept bottled inside for killing his sister drained out of him.
"It seems there was much more to this story than I was informed of," Sirzechs mused thoughtfully while Michael made his way back to his chair. "In this situation I believe we can go one step further."
Tatsumi gently pushed Bennia aside and forced himself to sit up straight. He didn't care if tears flowed from his eyes unchecked. Their opinions be damned. But no one there at the table seemed to hold his tears against him in any way. Even the Fallen Angel, Azazel, had an interested look in his eyes, like he was having the time of his life trying to piece together a complex puzzle. Through the tears he could see Sona struggling with whether to come to his side or stay at her sister's.
"How?" Tatsumi asked Sirzechs tiredly. He felt so exhausted.
"Forbid anyone from participating in rating games with a Peerage that contains someone that has had their personality warped by magic. That is something we can easily detect utilizing magical scans. Prior to each rating game, we scan the competing peerages and if someone is found in violation, they're disqualified." Sirzechs paused. "It would take time to implement the system and checks required to make it work but I believe it would go some ways to resolve that issue."
That… might actually work. It was akin to the anti-doping tests that were adopted here on Earth by athletic competitions. So long as the system itself was perverted or skirted some way, it would severely curtail situations like what happened to his sister. It might even help Hikaru last longer. That would help that situation a bit.
"Is it sufficient Tatsumi-chan?" Serafall asked him. "Levia-tan and Sirzy-chan worked really hard at this."
Tatsumi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The tears slowed. He let out a long, exhausted sigh. Was it sufficient? It hurt to think right then but he had to, for the sake of humanity. The fact was that, no, no it wasn't. That was what Tatsumi wanted to say. It would never be sufficient until Humans no longer suffered at the hands of the mystical and the unknown but would he ever get anything better out of the devils? No. Sirzechs had already mentioned that they needed the Evil Pieces system just to survive, and he believed him. If the Sitri family only had two daughters after how many millennia of existing then the fact was, devils really didn't procreate very much. Without reincarnating humans, they would die out.
The Evil Pieces system, when used for the right reason, wasn't a terrible system. It had just been perverted over the millennia and the devils were now, finally, willing to take steps to correct it.
For his sake.
"It's definitely a start," Tatsumi said finally. He opened his eyes to find Serafall's hopeful violet orbs gazing back at him. "It'd be nice if you didn't need the Evil Pieces system at all, but so long as the survival of your very race depends on it you'll never be rid of it." Tatsumi let out another sigh and gave Sona an apologetic look. "So long as you continue to utilize that system, the battle is never going to end, Sona." He would continue fighting as a member of Night Raid until the day he was killed.
Sona looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. He could see concern appear on Rias' face as she stared up at her friend. His words were not what Sona had wanted to hear.
"Perhaps not," Gabriel said, "but then we all have battles we must fight." She gave him a brilliant smile. "But we don't have to fight alone."
"I have Bennia," Tatsumi said.
"She's not enough anymore," Gabriel stated.
((Hey!))
"It's simply the truth," Gabriel returned softly. "Before when the two of you were simple unknowns and had the ability to pick and choose your battles, it was fine. You're not anymore. Everyone knows you. This means there will be those that come for you instead of the other way around. Night Raid needs to grow."
She was right. Against Esdeath he had only been enough with Mine's assistance and a lot of borrowed powered. Against Kokabiel he had been completely helpless. Even if he somehow tapped back into that power what would happen if he encountered someone greater than Kokabiel? What if an issue arose that power itself didn't matter, but Tatsumi simply needed to be in two, three, or more places at the same time?
He stared at Gabriel, she wouldn't have brought this up if she didn't already have someone picked out. "I'm not going to just accept anyone."
"Tsk, he accepted way too easily, I had looked forward to tearing apart his arguments," Azazel grumbled across the table.
Tatsumi narrowed his eyes at the man. "There's more to this than just members." Throwing a look around the table Tatsumi noticed that everyone here already knew what this was about.
"There is," Sirzechs said. "I can make all the promises I want, implement laws and toss about orders by the thousands but unless there is some means of enforcement, some deterrent or penalty, there are a great many that will ignore them. My duties don't allow me to see to it personally."
"He's also a devil king," Azazel added, throwing the man an amused smile. "Only devils will listen to anything he says. That and if he tried to expand his 'Justice' beyond just devilkin to include Fallen Angels, Angels, or any other species…"
"It would cause a war. The Devils are not the only species that preys on Humanity. Nor is it something limited to just our three factions." Michael finished for Azazel. The leader of the Angels gave Tatsumi a compassionate smile. "That's why we have decided that it's much better to have a neutral party chase down and punish those that would attempt to disrupt the peace between us."
"Night Raid," Tatsumi said, realizing where this was going. They were going to use him, his organization, and the reputation he'd already built, to enforce the peace between the supernatural and Humanity. He was going to be used as their tool to chase down and kill all those that would abuse Humanity. "I'm getting aid, assistance, and backing to do what I've always done on a scale grander than anything I had ever dreamed of and yet… why do I feel so utterly irritated?" He couldn't really put this feeling into words. It was like struggling to climb a mountain only for some to grab your hand as you neared the top and drag you the rest of the way. You're grateful you reached the top, they saved you a great deal of struggling and suffering but at the same time you just wanted to hit them in the face.
"That, Tatsumi, is you watching any sense of achievement you might have felt by building Night Raid into a noteworthy organization through your own efforts being flushed down the toilet," Azazel drawled. He breathed in through his nostrils in a long, exaggerated motion. "And it smells like victory to me."
Tatsumi gave Gabriel a questioning look. "Can I punch him in the teeth?"
"Yes."
"Oi!"
"Ignore Azazel, Tatsumi," Michael said gently. "We wouldn't have considered your organization if you hadn't already put in an enormous amount of effort. You were the first choice that came to all our minds, even Azazel's."
"We're not doing all the work for you," Sirzechs added. "The individuals we've chosen hold great potential, but at the same time they still need to realize that potential. We're trusting that you'll be able to bring that out."
"And who are these individuals?" Tatsumi asked.
"They're all individuals you know," Gabriel told him. She stood and placed a hand on Xenovia's shoulder. "From the Angels we will lend you Xenovia Quarta. As the one that Durandal has chosen her potential is amongst the greatest of our followers."
"She's human," Tatsumi pointed out.
"Not for long," Michael said softly. "We Angels will soon have a method of reincarnating our faithful as Angels. Xenovia has already agreed to be amongst the first we raise."
"Oh." That changed everything. Xenvoia was a little on the odd side and fanatically loyal to Gabriel, but Tatsumi didn't have any real complaints about working with her. If her power was boosted by becoming an Angel, that'd make her… actually Tatsumi had no idea what Xenovia was even capable of.
That was something he'd need to figure out.
"I look forward to working with you, Tatsumi-san," Xenovia said, bowing to him. She tilted her head to the side and smiled. "And maybe we can try making a baby before I am raised. I've been told it's more difficult afterwards."
He could feel Sona's heated stare on the back of his head. He swallowed hard and ignored it as best he could as he gave Xenovia an uneasy smile. "It's not going to be easy. You can just ask Rias' Rook, Koneko, the type of training I go through. I'll expect everyone that works as part of Night Raid to train daily."
((I don't!))
"And that's going to change."
((Don't I get any say in this?))
"No."
"And from the devil side, we have someone that volunteered," Sirzechs said. He gestured to a spot on the floor nearby. An orange circle appeared emblazoned with a symbol Tatsumi recognized. He wasn't surprised in the least when Ravel rose from the summoning circle. "Ravel Phenex, the youngest daughter of the Phenex family. You two are already familiar with each other I am told."
"We are," Tatsumi agreed.
"I'll serve you however I can, Tatsumi-san," Ravel said politely as she curtsied to him. "I have the power of a bishop and can be a valuable asset in battle. In addition I am able to provide Night Raid with my Phoenix Tears and am good at managing accounts and reports. If you'll let me, I'll be your manager!"
"Bishop?" Tatsumi asked Sirzechs.
"Ah, right!" Sirzechs said, as if remembering something. He pulled out a small bishop chess piece and rolled it across the table to Tatsumi. "Ravel's Evil Piece is technically inside her, but this is connected to it. A physical representation of her status. You obviously can't join any Rating Games since you're not a King, but if you accept it then it will be officially known that Ravel belongs to you."
"I don't need slaves," Tatsumi said as he eyed the bishop warily.
"She's only as much a slave as you make her," Sirzechs told him. "Otherwise she'll just be given to someone else. A Phenex is much too valuable to languish unused for long."
The bastard said that on purpose. Either Tatsumi took the piece, the symbol of her bondage, or Sirzechs would enslave her to someone else. It didn't matter if it was an idle threat, Sirzechs knew Tatsumi wouldn't take that chance. At least Ravel wanted this as well. She was all but begging him to accept the bishop piece.
"Fine," Tatsumi said as he picked up the bishop. "Welcome to Night Raid, Ravel."
The young Phenex was all smiles now. "I won't let you down Tatsumi-san!"
"And that leaves us Fallen Angels," Azazel said from across the table. "There really was only one person I could choose." He tilted his head back and looked up at Mine. "Isn't that right my dear?"
"At least Tatsumi-san won't be broke," Mine returned flatly.
Azazel visibly winced. "I was trying to forget that fact."
"That'll never happen." Mine returned harshly. She turned away from the Fallen Angel leader and pointed at Tatsumi. "You showed promise in our battle against Esdeath. I'm hoping to see more of the same. You better not let me down!"
"I won't," Tatsumi promised. He couldn't believe he actually had Mine back and part of Night Raid. Well, at least a portion of Mine. It was still to be seen how similar this Mine was to the one he'd known was.
Mine nodded in satisfaction. "See that you don't."
A wide smile suddenly creased Gabriel's face and alarm bells started ringing in Tatsumi's head. "These three represent our interest in helping Night Raid succeed. They will not be all the assistance you will receive from us. I will always be here to beat—" she coughed delicately. What was that? "Train you."
"I'll be here too!" Serafall said cheerfully. "Just let me know if Esdeath ever bothers you and I'll tear her to pieces for you!"
"There's one final addition," Gabriel said. Her smile was starting to terrify Tatsumi. Whatever she had in mind would irrevocably change his life, he just knew it. "Xenovia, Ravel and Mine represent our three factions. There should be a couple more for Humanity."
"Who?" Tatsumi asked warily.
"Us, Tastumi."
Tatsumi froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as the door opened and someone Tatsumi thought he'd never see again stepped through into the room. He could see Gabriel and Serafall smirking to either side but he didn't care.
Tatsumi rose to his feet and reached out across the table towards her. "Akame…"
He didn't know how, but it really was her. He could never forget that long black hair and piercing red eyes. The little emotion she'd started to show near the end of the war was gone though. She had changed in other ways, aged and matured. She still wore a sleeveless black top that clung to her figure like a second skin along with the red tie and belt, but the miniskirt had been replaced with a pair of black dress pants and shoes. She still wore steel vambraces on her forearms and Murasame, as always, was belted to her waist.
The biggest change though was the markings on her skin. They ran up her arms and covered her face and Tatsumi had a feeling they covered her entire body.
Tatsumi was across the room in an instant. "Akame," Tatsumi whispered as he reached up and touched her cheek. She didn't pull away. He could feel her warmth beneath his fingertips. She wasn't an illusion, she was real. "It really is you."
"It is good to see you again, Tatsumi," Akame said emotionlessly. Tatsumi didn't like hearing her that way. She'd started to regain her emotions near the end there. It sounded as if she'd completely reverted. Killing him had affected her greatly.
Tatsumi summoned Murasame to his hands and held it up for Akame to see. "I brought a piece of you with me. It's protected me for years."
"Has it?" Akame asked. Tatsumi frowned. She sounded doubtful. It had been useful. A weapon he could bring anywhere undetected was beyond useful. She pulled out her own blade and compared it to his. "It is a good imitation." She rested the side of her Murasame against his. "But it is a sign of my mistake. A burden you should never have been forced to bear." Tatsumi gasped as he felt the curse of death that had lived inside him for the past seventeen years get drawn away from him. It flowed into his Murasame and then into Akame's. He could only watch in detachment as his Murasame faded away as well, disappearing back into Akame.
When the last of the curse had been drawn back into the blade Akame withdrew the blade and held it aloft. The black curse danced along its edge and up her arms. Her eyes had darkened, the red orbs hovering amidst an inky darkness. "I found the cure to my affliction but it failed to work. When I was informed that you were here, Tatsumi, I realized why. The cure failed to work because a part of my curse lingered on in you. You're now free of it."
((She's right! I can't sense the shroud of death clinging to Tatsumi anymore!)) Bennia said from across the room.
"Neither can I, instead I feel something far different." That was Azazel.
"That would be the Tyrant," another familiar voice said.
Tatsumi head snapped to the side so quickly he felt it crack. Najenda walked into the room. She was dressed as she always had been with her black suit that exposed her cleavage. The eye patch was gone though, replaced with an artificial eye and the arm had been upgrade as well to look more sleek and natural. Her face was lined with the years though. She didn't wear them as well as Akame did.
"The Tyrant, is it? That's an ominous word," Azazel said, grinning as he stared at Tatsumi. "It sounds draconic."
"That's because it is," Najenda said. "But an assassin never reveals all their secrets and I would be doing Tatsumi a great disservice by revealing all of his here where the information could easily fall into the hands of those we don't wish to have it." Najenda reached for her hip and Tatsumi noticed for the first time she had something belted there. It was the key to Incursio! "This belongs to you, Tatsumi. We managed to recover it from your corpse."
"I never thought I'd see this again," Tatsumi whispered as he accepted Incursio's key. The short blade with the chain attached to it looked as it always had. It felt like a piece of him had finally been returned.
"That doesn't feel like a regular sword," Azazel said as he peered at it with great interest. "In fact, it feels a little bit like Tatsumi does right now."
"That's because it is a part of Tatsumi. It's as much a part of him as his arms and legs." Najenda explained. The famed general paced around Tatsumi, taking him in from every angle. "You look exactly like you did that day. Was it coincidence that brought us here at this time or something else?" She shook her head. "No matter. Standing here beside you I understand now what happened."
((Bennia would like to have the holes in this story plugged!)) Bennia said as she quickly floated over to Tatsumi's side. ((I'm totally confused.))
That was probably a sentiment shared by many in the room. That didn't make Tatsumi obligated to fill them in however. His past was utterly irrelevant to the matters at hand. He might tell a select few of them in private later, but Tatsumi would much rather prefer if most of them never learned another thing about him.
"Tatsumi, try to use it like before," Najenda urged him. She looked up and as she looked at Bennia Tatsumi noticed her fake eye shift colors and adjust focus. "You might want to stand back, little girl."
((I'm not little!))
"Please, Bennia," Tatsumi asked as well. Clinging to his shoulder like that wasn't the best idea when he underwent the transformation. Bennia pouted but did as asked and floated away back to the table to stand near Sona. Akame and Najenda both step back as well, giving him the room he needed.
Tatsumi took his stance and held the key out before him like he had dozens of times before back in the old world. The connection between him and Incursio was still there, he could feel it, a deep, thrumming pulse that raced from the sword into his body and back again. It felt different than before, more intimate, more powerful.
He took one last deep breath and pulled on that thrumming pulse. "Incursio!"
The room quaked and instantly Tatsumi knew something was off. Always before it felt like the Tyrant rose up behind him and consumed his body, wrapping itself around him in a solid suit of armor. This was entirely different.
His blood surged and boiled, steaming from his pours in waves of heat. His muscles bulged and thickened, strengthening beyond human limits. They warped and twisted, shifting across his skeletal frame even as that too broke and shattered, before piecing itself back together, stronger, and in an entirely different configuration. Tatsumi let out a thunderous howl of pain as a pair of huge draconic wings erupted from his back. He watched as his skin peeled back and tore open as thick scale like armor erupted from within. The scales wrapped around Tatsumi's clothes, subsuming them beneath the surface of his skin.
The key itself warped and shifted, changing from a short blade into the long bladed harpoon he had used to tear a hole through Shikoutazer, the Neuntote.
The Shroud of Longinus suddenly erupted into brilliant blue light. It morphed about his body as it incorporated itself into Incursio itself creating thick lines of blue energy running up and down his arms and across his shoulders. It spread out wide behind him and became a second pair of large draconic wings, matching the first pair provided by Incursio.
He collapsed to one knee after the transformation as a wave of exhaustion rolled over him. "That's more tiring than I thought." Tatsumi stopped, his voice sounded guttural and inhuman. It didn't sound like him at all. He forced his body to stand and turned around to face everyone. Tatsumi couldn't even begin to process the number of different expressions scattered about the room. Shock was the most prevalent of them all however. He looked over at Najenda who stood nearby with Akame. Neither of them looked surprised particularly. Akame was as impassive as always and Najenda just looked resigned, as if the transformation had simply confirmed something she had long suspected. "The transformation was different this time, Najenda."
"I know," Najenda said. She sounded regretful. "There was always going to be a side effect of pushing Incursio too far. We saw some of those signs in Leone after…" she shook her head sadly. "I just didn't think it would go this far."
"I am sorry Tatsumi. This is my fault. If I had killed the Tyrant properly you would not be like this." Akame said. She bowed to Tatsumi. "You have my apologies."
"Don't be sorry, I hadn't counted on a last minute miracle. We aren't living in a shonen manga."
Akame tilted her head to the side, confused. "Shonen manga?"
Oh right, that was a Japanese thing. They didn't exist in the Empire. "I'll show you later."
"He might have ended up like this regardless," Najenda said as she stepped forward. She tapped Tatsumi on the chest and nodded. "I am right. This isn't a suit of armor like it should be."
"It felt like it came from inside," Tatsumi rumbled.
Najenda shook her head sadly. "I know. I heard from Gabriel and Serafall everything that had befallen you, including the odd changes to your personality that didn't quite match the Tatsumi Akame and I remembered. Standing here in front of you I'm now certain of my hypothesis." She gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry to say this, Tatsumi, but the Tyrant isn't just inside you…"
"…You are the Tyrant."
Author's Note: And so the pillar has been revealed. Night Raid will be the organization that maintains the peace between mortals and immortals. That is the foundation this story has been building up to all this time, and pillar upon which the rest of the story will revolve around.
I really wanted to squeeze the entire conference and the subsequent battle into a single chapter but there was just so much to cover it didn't happen. Plus, that felt like a really good place to split the chapter.
So leave a review and let me know what you think!
Note on God: The Biblical God is, by his very definition, infinite. He's an omniscience, omnipotent, omnibenevolent entity that exists everywhere, and at all points in time, at the same time. Taking his biblical definition literal, he'd stand above Ophis and Great Red, albeit only slightly.
There is honestly no way the original four Satans who at their peak would never come even remotely close to cracking the top 10 or even top 20, would ever be able to kill Him, the individual that stands at #1, unless He wanted them to. Especially when he's guarded by the likes of Gabriel, Michael, and the other Great Seraphs. It just doesn't make sense.