Hello everyone, after all the exams, I'm finally able to finish this chapter. I know I'm a bad writer myself, but I'm trying to improve as much as I can. In this chapter, you find some familiar names from other anime.
Chapter 5: Fall of Darkness and Return of the Forbidden Legends
The twin are sitting in front of each other having their breakfast. There is an awkward silence, knowing that they are going to abandon what they have in the city. The two are recalling their memories on the run.
The two still remember what their angel said to them.
"Your bloodline was cursed 15 years ago, you should know well as your father suppressed your brother's memories to save you all from them itself. The unholy ones are eying for the eyes that Azrael gifted to the clan. If the eyes are lost to them, the world will be destroyed. Your brother's soul was captured by the Sin Lords and Azrael has fallen to become Nevermore when he saved him. However, the Sin Lord of Wrath, Amon has control on him as well, if he were to lose his soul against Amon, the world will be in ruins." Angel of Darkness, Abaddon said to her.
"You are the chosen vessel by the Sin Lords, and I'm at this state is the result to save you. But Lord of Wrath, Amon has control on you as well. Resist him, when you meet the one with multiple divine souls, you'll be purged from his control. But you are the one who will purge him instead." The fallen form of Azrael, Shadow Fiend, Nevermore said to him.
The prophecies of Phantom strikes them hard. As Arashi is cursed, and to free him, it will be Yuki who will have to die with the possibilities of her not returning. Arashi doesn't want to risk it, he doesn't have much friends to begin with, he do not want to lose the last person who cares for him. Knowing that silence is not going to help anywhere, he stands up.
"I'm leaving, don't go anywhere for too long." Arashi donning his black hoodie and leaves the house.
Yuki remains silent, but just as Arashi wants to leave.
"Yuki, did anything happened to me more than 3 years ago?"
"Nothing, Arashi, just go and enjoy your last moments with her."
Arashi gives her an annoyed face and leaves the apartment unit.
"Sorry Arashi, sometimes escaping won't solve the problem. Especially when Itsuka is the salvation. Those memories must be suppressed unless it is absolutely necessary. You had shouldered too much all along."
Yuki knows it for herself, Arashi is the family's only hope. She blames herself to be weak, even after his memories are sealed, he still takes up the responsibilities all by himself. He lost his childhood and his time as a teenager, when he should have fun.
As Arashi walks towards the apartment complex. He couldn't help but to reflect at his past and decisions.
"On the run and living by the blade for 3 years. I vowed not to use my eyes on and kill anyone, but once that devil takes control, they'll just die… And something must be wrong somehow… I just can't remember anything beyond that 3 years. My mind just have the thought of him, who is he?"
"Arashi!"
He stopped his reflection and looked at his front, it is Kaguya in her gothic outfit. Kaguya immediately clings onto his arm, the two walks together.
"Umm…. where you want to go?" he asked
"How about bowling?" Kaguya suggested
"Sure."
As Arashi has little experience in dating unlike Shido, he is a bit slow to kick start a conversation. Kaguya sensed something is wrong with Arashi.
"Seriously, just what's wrong with you. You look like you are going to move to another planet and never return."
"Is it? I guess…"
Before he can finish, Kaguya pressed her finger on his lips.
"Just forget your worries, and just enjoy the time."
"Hah…"
Arashi couldn't help but to smile, it is his last day to spend with a girl that he likes. He should just make full use of the time.
After they arrive the bowling centre, the two of them goes to the lanes and he rented the gears and put them on.
"Let's go."
The two heads to the lanes, Arashi heads to the lane with a ball. As he wants to throw it, Kaguya stops him.
"Wait! I have an idea. As we both have yet to reveal anything about our past. We shall bet that the loser will have to reveal his or her past."
"No… Not this topic." he thought.
The word 'past' is just like a taboo to him.
"I shall just forge one then…." he thought to himself.
"Well… I'll bet it. Forcing me to be serious is not a good thing, I'm warning you." he said jokingly.
After he said that, Kaguya lift the side in her lips to a happy manner.
"Show me your seriousness then, and I'll wipe it off."
"Watch me then…"
With his movements perfectly in sync, he throws the ball and it strikes.
"I usually bowled by myself, I won't lose that easily!" he said confidently.
"Oh, then it wouldn't be that boring. It is my turn then."
Kaguya gets a ball and throws.
"Dunkelheit Windhose!"
With the shout and move, Kaguya scores a strike but it causes the side alley to strike as well, resulting a triple strike.
"You got to be kidding me…." His jaws dropped.
"Try to beat that!"
"Hell yeah…"
Back at Yuki and Arashi's apartment
"Itsuka, I'll meet you at the park soon."
"Okay."
Yuki already knew Shido is their salvation as she already seen his soul with her eyes. The shimmering blue soul of Shido, a sign of divination. Something that Arashi did not see.
She called Shido out the day before.
At Shido's house
"Who was that on the phone?" Kotori asked
"Nah, it was Tonomachi. I'm going to meet him later."
"Can I tag along?" asked Tohka
"No. It is something private."
Shido knowing that Ratatoskr and Kotori would stop him if they know about the meeting.
"Sorry if I get you into trouble, Kotori. But if we don't act now, the two will be totally helpless. And Arashi will continue the destruction."
Shido prepares himself to meet Yuki.
Back at the bowling centre
"Dunkelheit Windhose!"
With Kaguya's shout and her move, it is yet another triple strike causing Arashi to lose out horrendously.
"Man…. I lost."
"So, you ready to tell me about your past?"
Suddenly his head aches, like something has piled into his brain.
"ARRGH…."
The intensity of the pain causes him falls to his knees.
"Hey, you okay?" Kaguya asked in worried.
Arashi can hear the voice, the voice from the Sin Lord of Wrath, Amon.
"Look at her, cut her soul…"
Arashi's lost controlled body moves his head to look at Kaguya. With his hand trying to reach for his switchblade.
"Stop, please, don't kill… her..." he whispered.
Kaguya look at Arashi's distressed eyes, to her horror, his left eye turned from sapphire blue to blood red.
"Is he at that scene last week?" she thought.
His pain stops, he gets to a seat and panting heavily. His adrenaline rushes, as he managed to fight back the control. His blood red eye turns back into sapphire blue.
"I guess so… It's getting worse…"
"Great, at least it won't come back anytime soon." he thought to himself.
"I'll talk about it when we get to a park."
He get back up his feet, still staggering. Little did he realize, someone else is spying on them.
"Well, well, I didn't expect to see Assailant and Berserk together."
Ellen in her disguise had followed the two of them.
"This would mean that Reverser is alone now. I'll take care both of you next time." she thought.
"Adeptus 1, there was a massive spirit signature, you managed to track a spirit?"
"Yes, it was Assailant. One of Berserk is with him. Track down Reverser."
After a brief moment, the operative notifies her.
"Found her, at a park up north!"
At a secluded park
"Man.. Yuki is sure a strange spirit, to meet at such a secluded place."
Shido waits for Yuki at the meeting point
"Itsuka!"
"Yuki!"
"Sorry to call you out suddenly, I must have disrupted your time with Tohka-chan."
"Nah… It is nothing."
Deep within Shido's heart, he is literally in fear. Arashi is nowhere in sight, and with her suddenly calling him out. Everything look just like the last time he met Tokisaki Kurumi.
"I have something important to tell you. We shall talk when we start walking."
Yuki's face is now a serious one, completely adrift from her usual cheerful look.
"Perhaps it is about Arashi, he thought."
Back at Shido's house
"Commander, Shin has gone out to meet Aokaze Yuki." Reine said.
"What!? I'm heading to Fraxinus now!"
Reine and Kotori managed to teleport into Fraxinus.
"Commander, Shido is trying to seal Yuki on his own, we can't establish any contact with him now. His phone is also unreachable."
"SHIDOOOO…" Kotori shouted angrily.
"Closely watch over them!" Kotori commanded.
Back to Kaguya and Arashi
The two of them goes to a park, it is quite and two of them are alone together.
"My memories beyond 3 years ago are jumbled up, I can't tell you anything about it." Arashi tries to avoid the topics.
"So, you are trying to back off the bet? If you disobey me you will be burned in hell and fall off from a cliff!"
He couldn't help but to think on how naive she is, but he thinks that she is cute this way.
"Nah… Just joking. We lost our parents 3 years ago in a car accident. As a result, I got these frequent headaches. We move around frequently and I have to work my way out for survival. When the landlord decide to increase our rent, we have to move."
"Wait, it is true that Mum and Dad are killed 3 years ago… But why everything just sounds like a lie? Did something significant happened more than 3 years ago other than my trainings?" he thought.
"Then, we are similiar." she spoked.
"Huh?"
"Yuzuru and I are orphans. Tohka and us are in the same orphanage as well. Thanks to Shido's parents who adopted us."
"I see… No wonder you all are close to him."
"I'm envious of you all, ya know?"
"Why?"
"You all have no worries, I have many things to take care of. Both financially and perhaps mentally."
Kaguya laughs for a bit, it puzzles Arashi.
"You know what I like in you? It is your strong heart."
"Hah…"
He decides it is time to pull that off.
"Kaguya… There is something I have to tell you."
He hugs Kaguya tightly
"Arashi…"
"I'm sorry, I admit I do fall in love with you. But we can't be together."
Her pupils shrunk, as it is totally unexpected. Hot tears fall from her eyes.
"But why?" She asked crying
"Because…"
Suddenly, his pupils shrunk to of a pinhole size. He has sensed that his sister is in imminent danger.
"Yuki… She's in danger!"
His close whisper has caused Kaguya to hear it.
"I'm sorry!"
He kissed Kaguya's cheek and run off.
"Wait!"
She tries to catch up with full sprint, but Arashi suddenly disappeared.
"Damn it, Yuki, why are you not staying at home and waited for the escape?" he thought.
He sprinted at a speed where things just stop moving, using his spiritual link with his sister, he heads towards the park where Yuki is.
At the park
"So… What you want to talk about."
"Umm.."
Suddenly, Yuki senses danger.
"LOOK OUT!"
She pushed Shido away and taken a hit from a beam, leaving her position smoking.
"Yuki!" Shido shouted
As the smoke clears, a dark barrier has manifested from her palm. Ellen in her Excalibur CR-Unit appears.
"You're able to nullify a full charged Excalibur with just the barrier, you really earn your name, Reverser."
"Yuki! Why I can't move."
"Itsuka, I thank you for your effort. I already know who you are and your objectives. This is my fight to protect my brother from further bloodshed."
Yuki uses her powers to stop Shido from moving.
"Without that little brother of yours, you are nothing!"
Ellen charges at Yuki, with her blade going to hit her.
"You're finished!" She thought.
But in an instant, Yuki disappeared.
"What!?"
She is immediately kicked from her back.
"I don't always fight, because I don't wish anyone to get hurt. So… Don't take my kindness as my weakness! Astral raiment, Ashbringer!"
A shadow vortex is formed and it shrouds her, a dark blue astral dress with a knight's helmet as insignias is formed.
"Abaddon!"
Another vortex is formed and a rapier manifest on her hand.
"Leave us alone, and maybe your live will be spared."
"Back down? You got to be kidding me, as the world strongest wizard, it is my duty to take you out!"
To Ellen's surprise, Yuki disappeared again.
"Strongest wizard? Then as the world's strongest devil fighting clan member, it will be our duty to take out whoever helped the devils, both direct or indirectly!"
Yuki swings the rapier, but Ellen's territory protects it, and she parries the rapier away.
As she tries to strike again, Yuki parried her blade confidently.
"The more you think about it, the less concentration you can have on that pathetic barrier of yours."
Yuki disappear once more, when Ellen looks back, it is too late to defend.
"Sensou-Suigetsu!"
A blow shatters Ellen's territory, and she falls to her knees.
"Nooooo… I can't let you to defeat me! If I can't kill you then I'll kill him instead!"
Ellen throws a canister at Yuki, an electric pulse is emitted when it detonates, and it drains Yuki's mana.
"Arrgh…" Yuki cried in pain as her mana is so low that her rapier disappeared.
To her horror, Ellen now charging at the immobilized Shido.
"No! Swap!"
She used us the last of her mana, instantaneously swapped Shido's position with hers.
"Argh..."
Ellen's blade runs through her chests. Fresh red blood flows out of her chest profusely.
Ellen was surprised, she did not expect Yuki would take the hit. She backed off a bit, to prevent her from retaliating.
"Yuki!" Shido shouted.
On Fraxinus, the crew are shocked to the unexpected turn of event. The failure to seal and causing a spirit to die. Yuki speaks with last of her breathes.
"Itsuka… I know you seal spirits..."
"Please don't talk any more…"
"I'm one of the few last surviving spirit guardian, but I have turned into one. I can't heal without mana, I'm dying…"
"No please, don't!"
"Our name isn't Aokaze, it is… Nanaya. Please, save my brother, from the unholy ones. Also, preserve my body, I want my brother to do the last rites."
"Yuki!"
"Arashi…"
Arashi appears out of nowhere
"Great, 2 sephira crystals can be taken and Itsuka Shido will be captured. I'll let you all have your little farewell."
"..."
He remains silent.
"Arashi… Sorry, I can't be with you anymore."
"Stop it… You'll be okay…." His tears fall off his cheeks.
"I don't think so... It is time for him to come back. Be strong."
"Stop it!" Arashi protested in tears
"Oh lord who bless our bloodline with your powers... Unlock the last remnant of this man's consciousness... Sheath, Run, wake up! Kyoukushin, Nanaya!"
"Argh..."
Something hit his head like a bullet. He can remember what happened more than 3 years ago but still fuzzy.
"Welcome back from your sleep. My dear killer brother."
Arashi remains silent with his tears roll off his eyes.
Suddenly, Yuki's astral dress starts to disappear.
"Remember... we will always be with you..."
Her eyes shut and she stops breathing. Arashi leaves her body on the floor and stand up. Shido is shocked from the turn of event.
"You… turn back…. It is going to get really bloody..."
Shido is puzzled from his sudden change of demeanor.
"She's dead now. It is your turn! I will take your sephira crystal as well."
"I have been asleep for 8 years... Waking me up is not a good thing..."
"What are you talking about? You are living as a spirit and killing people for 3 years."
"Who needs sephira crystal when you have the power of death itself? You think I'm ordinary spirit with holy angels? You're wrong… I'm an unholy one… blessed by angel of death himself."
Ellen seems to be puzzled, little does she knows about the nature of her enemy
"Those who harm spirits and followed the devils both directly and indirectly, the punishment is death, that is our creed of a spirit guardian. "
A dark shadowy aura engulfs him.
"No way... you are..." Ellen spoke in fear.
"That's right. I am Nanaya!"
The word Nanaya sends chills to both Ellen and crews in Fraxinus. His eyes are blazing in bright blue, his vision are filled with red lines. With all his force unleashed, he let out a roar.
"It's time… TO LET ER RIP!"
Ellen notices shadow of trees are moving towards her. She creates a large territory where shadows cannot exists.
But to her horror the territory is shattered by Arashi's switchblade in just one poke.
"Do you people only know to fight in that pathetic field?"
"No way, Assailant! How can you shatter a territory?"
"I can see what's cannot be seen. Its death is destined when I pierce its death."
Ellen charges at Arashi with her laser blade. Without a dose of faltering, Arashi is not even intimidated by the bright jets of blades. His adrenaline rushes, everything seems to move very slowly in his eyes. With all his precision, he pokes the point on the main frame of Ellen's blade that is only visible to his vision. Light burst out from the clash, the laser blade has been broken to pieces like shattered glass.
Ellen's pupils shrink to of a pinhole size. Arashi's mind keeps rushing, the moves that previously unknown to Arashi came to light as his memories are released. He takes the opportunity to prepare his next attack. He swings his switchblade at such a speed where he makes 8 quick and shallow slices on Ellen. He mercilessly kicks the staggered wizard away, allowing the wizard to get back up her feet.
He threw his switchblade at Ellen, it appears that the blade will miss. But just as the blade is close to Ellen, he sprints and he jumps so fast that he seems to teleport. With his fluid motion in air, he maneuvered his body upside down. Once again, things stopped moving in his eyes as if everything is so attuned to him.
"You're too slow... To out run me, the death itself."
"What the…" Ellen is surprised.
Arashi grabs his blade and runs across Ellen's chest. Blood burst out of the big cut like stream of river.
"Hahahahahaha….. I missed your neck…."
He laughed maniacally, clearly enjoying the suffering of Ellen at his hands, the aura of crippling fear has froze Shido and Ellen.
Even if he stops moving, the shades that he summoned from his own shadows cut Ellen's shadow, causing constant pain and agony as she feels that she is being burned.
"THERE IS JUST ISN'T ENOUGH BLOOD!
He dashed and slashed Ellen multiple times at the back. Ellen who has received too many wounds, falls to the ground.
"You… Monster… Your clan should just die in the first place…" she muttered in a pool of blood.
"Monster? Don't call me with such a lowly name when I can even kill both angels and devils. And, I'm not having enough fun yet… I barely use my eyes, don't you dare to die on me..."
Shido who sense that Ellen is going to die, stops the insane Arashi.
"Stop, you don't have to kill her."
"Shut up! She killed Yuki, my only kin left!"
The short brief moment where he stopped his carnage, a Bandersnatch appears and takes Ellen away to safety.
"Report… Tell Mr Wescott that Nanaya still exists…" Ellen muttered.
"NOOOO…" he shouted.
He tries to blast the Bandersnatch with the shadows, but misses. Enraged, he tries to manifest his shadow wings for pursuit. But a sharp pain in his head stops him.
"Argh… What is this devil presence in me?"
He can see his soul is slowly turning into red. A sign of losing control of his soul.
"Damn… Amon…"
He struggles to maintain his vision, realizing he cannot wrestle the devil within him, he flies off from the area.
"ARASHI!" Shido shouted.
Shido's voice failed to reach Aokaze Arashi, who is now someone who is called Nanaya Arashi.
Shido falls to the ground kneeling, he didn't expect such turn of events.
"Shin…" Reine calls him
"Reine… I..."
Shido muttered in his tears, he is clearly devastated as Yuki got killed because he did not inform Kotori about it.
"It has already happened… Come with us."
Shido complies, knowing that he is in deep trouble.
"I'm sorry… Yuki…" he whispered
Back on Fraxinus
"Commander… Positive ID… Aokaze Arashi is indeed Nanaya Arashi. His family changed their name to Aokaze when he was at 8. He was dead 3 years ago from a massacre. Nanaya Yuki, their father Nanaya Aokaze and mother Nanaya Tsukuyo were all killed in that massacre." Shiizaki reported.
"To think that they are still alive, but as spirits, it is amazing…" Kawagoe exclaimed
"Don't be crazy, they killed all sides, not even civilians are spared." Mikimoto countered
"That's all for today's... operation..." Kotori announced
Shido and Reine are in the Fraxinus, and Kotori looks for him.
"Shido."
"Kotori…"
Kotori can tell that Shido is in deep guilt, further scolding wouldn't help either.
"Neeh... Shido… You really got me into deep trouble this time…"
"Sorry… But if I don't do something… They'll be hunted down isn't it?"
"Forget it, Nanaya are cursed to be hunted. My trouble won't be so deep to reveal that Nanaya still exist."
Shido is puzzled and asks.
"Wait, what's the big deal about them?"
"They are a clan of assassins, they claimed to protect spirits and humans. It was said that the clan was gifted spirit powers which allows them to dictate the life and death of spirits, object and humans. Their way of protecting however is very questionable, though they have killed DEM wizards, they have killed countless civilians, government officials and even Ratatoskr members alike world wide. The fact that they are so skilled at assassinating, there is no evidence that can send them to jail. And thus, Nanaya is a forbidden legend amongst us and DEM. The international assassin terrorist group, 14 Blades are formed by them. However, there was an internal strife within the clan causes the clan to die out. I don't get it why the rounds are looking for them."
"I see…"
"But you have make yourself in some trouble too. That creed, because you have indirectly caused Yuki to die, Arashi will see you as his enemy."
"..."
Shido remains silent
At a rooftop of an abandoned building
"Argh… Azrael… Why? After you abandoned our clan… Why are you still saving my soul and turn yourself into Nevermore?" Arashi asked, clearly having a distrust on Nevermore
"Don't be a fool… The eyes… once it is fallen to the unholy side, everything you know it and you loved will be gone. You are the last Nanaya, and you who fight devils with devil like thoughts will cause me to be fallen no matter what." Nevermore explains
"And then the curse, which killed nearly all of us by the hands of Nanoka?"
"You killed them, didn't you?" Nevermore asked
"At the price of what? The whole Nanaya? Yuki and my life as a human? ARGH!"
A sharp pain hits him once again in his head and lose consciousness.
"Hahahaha… Azrael… Still trying to protect the eyes that you treasured and the avatars of heaven even at this state. I'm sorry… he is mine!"
Arashi now lost his control, his soul is suppressed by Amon.
"Hahaha… Eyes of Death is mine!" he said
But the devil is immediately met with resistance.
"Damn you, not my body!" he regained partial control.
Suddenly, someone fired at him, but the he dodged it.
"For some mad guy who just talking to himself that loudly, you are asking for trouble."
It is Tokisaki Kurumi in her Elohim astral dress, and she fired her flintlock pistol at him.
"Zafkiel's avatar, how lucky am I? Unholy Astral Raiment, Abysm!"
The dark vortex shrouds Arashi and with a burst of blue flames, the astral suit with Nevermore's insignia is formed. As he only have partial control, the partly devil possessed Arashi's eyes turn blood red. Kurumi is surprised to see that.
"That power... you are not human, a spirit, a fallen one."
"Take you long enough to figure that out… You are certainly a rogue one aren't you? To fire at me, it is your end as we punishes any spirit who crossed the line."
Arashi run towards Kurumi with blinding speed and unsheath his blade, but suddenly he stops.
"You think leaving a clone like that will make me think that I've killed you?"
"You figured out."
Kurumi suddenly appears from above and tries to shoot him, but to her surprise, her flintlock and musket are immediately shattered.
"This clone, is dead."
Arashi performs an arc jump at the mid air Kurumi clone, he pierces the red points on the body which she cannot see. At the same time, he threw the switchblade at another Kurumi clone that clone blocks the blade away, but Arashi runs so fast that he reaches her before his blade does, he grabs the blade and pierces the point on her neck. In just 3 seconds, 2 Kurumi clones died.
"Good luck in trying to create that one, I doubt you'll be able to create anyone."
The real Kurumi appears, in her disbelief face.
"No way, I can't generate any more… You cut our weapons with just that little knife. Just what of a monster are you?" she asked in anger.
"Zafkiel, Yud!" she shouted
She uses the tenth bullet, Yud, to look at the monstrous teen's past. She shoots at him, and look at his memory.
"Just look at it, my past is nothing but darkness and death."
In her eyes, she sees Arashi's memories through his eyes. She is puzzled as his vision is in cracks. But when he trace the cracks, thing just breaks and when he pierces a point in the cracks, objects will crumble and living thing just dies instantaneously. Realizing on what she's up against, she is stunned to find out that he is the last living guardian who is the enforcer and a protector of spirits.
"No way… you're a… "
"It's too late to realize that… Zafkiel just chose the wrong avatar."
Using the eyes of death, he moves towards Kurumi back like a ghost and pierces the blue point on Kurumi.
"Arrgh…"
She let out a scream, a dark aura emerges from her and falls to the ground The clock of Zafkiel appears.
"Banished from the existence in this world, Zafkiel."
He lands a final blow on Zafkiel by piercing the red point. The clock immediately cracks and shatters, spirit mana is released from it.
"ZAFKIEL!" she shouted.
Arashi now pins her down, she is clearly terrified when she meets the opponent she do not want to meet the most.
"Aren't you all wiped out?..."
Arashi ignores her question, but now he sets his eyes on her soul full of cracks.
"You clearly have claimed so many lives to fuel Zafkiel, now he is gone, that lives won't matter, and I'll take them for myself. Nevermore, Harvester!"
An ethereal blade is formed, he runs towards her and runs the blade at her legs. With one of his hand engulfed in shadows, he ripped the severed soul out and absorb it. A dark blue aura burns heavily, signifying that the souls are providing plenty of mana.
Kurumi falls to the ground unconscious and Elohim is broken down.
"Be grateful that a Nanaya would spare you… Zafkiel's former avatar, the rest is up to you..."
Nanaya Arashi disappears in a puff of black smoke, leaving the unconscious spirit to die.
This is the end of the chapter, the Nanaya here means seven nights. This is a tribute to Tsukihime which both Yuki and Arashi possess similar powers as Nanaya Shiki. The Nanoka would mean seven daylights. And those who don't understand, basically, Arashi has been living in a lie for 8 years. Why? Find out in upcoming chapters.