Identity quest, a change of pace that broke everything…


In the store room in the back, Iori Junpei and Mukhara stood facing one another.

The atmosphere was tense, the boss held his pipe between his teeth. His evoker was within reach, as was his sword.

Mukhara, on the other hand remained standing, her regal air filling the room. She knew full well that Mister Junpei could do nothing against her…and yet.

She would rather have a peaceful resolution than a war…especially with Krishna-Kripa's blessed adopted father.

"I'm not here to take your son away." She spoke with gravity... Trying to salvage the volatile situation. "I just want to get your your family out of harm's wa-"

"Bullshit!" Junpei spat. "I know you people, once you have someone in your grip; you won't let him go 'till he's dead!"

Mukhara hid a wince, this man…he only desired the day not to have happened, and for her to be dead in a ditch somewhere. He wanted to keep his son, his family intact…

'Now…how should I go dealing with this?" Mukhara addressed her Lord. "Krishna, this man has obliviously lost a friend…someone who used to be a devotee.'

"What's the matter, Can't handle the truth?" The boss sneered. "I know everything about your cult, all the dirt you tried to hide, all the trash."

"Before you go any further, know that we, the Hare Krishna Movement, never tried to hide our mistakes, we own up to them. And even if K… Nanashi was not my son, then I would still extend to you the same invitation."

"What invitation? For a 'love feast?'" The boss scoff. "No thank you, I don't do drugs."

Mukhara felt an eyebrow twitch; it was one of those delightful haters. And she knew full well what Iori Junpei would use his pipe for.

"Mister Iori-kun… I know you hate me and everything connected to Krishna with a burning passion but please hear me out." Mukhara pleaded. "The Tokyo you are living in is not the real one but an illusion made by a powerful being, a hermit."

Usually, The Hermit Hunter would keep this fact hidden and act in the shadows. But in this situation, she felt inspired to reveal the truth...to a few. No use causing yet another state of panic if she could help it.

"Prove it!" The boss demanded. Rightly doubtful.

"Didn't Radha show you her facerecord time-line? You can even see K… Nanashi's baby picture." She would be more than willing to re-show Iori-san the few millstones her Kripa passed.

The boss didn't look at all impress. "Yes, so I've seen." He grumbled. "So this whole deals with The Demons taking over the world and the dome over Tokyo's just a big steaming pile. Fine," he threw his Hands in the air "she didn't need to show me a picture of you holding my son still dangling from your womb with a time stamp to prove it!"

Mukhara's eyebrows went to the top of her head. "Wait… She showed you what?"

"Nanashi's birth picture." The boss tried to remain angry, But Mukhara knew this particular picture…it was Krishna-Kripa's first minute out of her cramped and disgusting womb.

"Oh...well, Radha was there...and it just so happened that she wanted to take a picture of her God nephew the moment he got out." she tried to defuse the whole situation, no, it was not like she had expected her Radha to have shown this particular picture...' I thought I told her to erased it..." and yet, instead of causing her a burning pain known only to those who have a lost a child, this time, she couldn't help but reminisce about the whole joyful event.

A fond smile drew itself on the ascended hermit's ever youthful face. "I thought I had another week to go before he would drop." She remembered with a loving chuckle. "But Kripa had another plan and... Well, she chose to take birth in Vrindavana, In Gopala's garden. On the twenty-third of November 2023, at the end of the Brahma muhurta…at nine- ten in the morning."

"And that Nekomata was there?" Junpei asked, most of the heat in his voice gone. Save for some hidden sparks too stubborn to die.

"With her cellphone…."Mukhara gave awry smile, really, she had almost killed that cat the moment she realized she had taken this particular picture...but then, she remembered that Radha was a Vaishnavi, and thus it would anger the Lord. Besides, it could always be deleted.

Thankfully, it wasn't.

"Radha-Shyamasundara wasn't there at first, she had to find me." They had been going around Goverdhana hill in a parikrama, Mukhara had believed she had to answer a call of nature…she was not wrong about that one, but something more cherished had come out of her. "Radha's a good friend to me…a sister really. " Another chuckle escaped her lips. "You know…we would often joke that I should marry her since…since we were already living together and…and she loved my son as if he were her own. She loved...loves him so much…" her voice choked.

"Please…have a seat." Junpei said as he went up, pulling out a chair. His desires had changed, from bitter and protective of his adopted son to…wanting to hear more from the woman who brought him to this world. The boss made Mukhara sit down…

"Thank you." Mukhara wearily spoke…she felt emotionally drained. The whole day…no, those last fifteen years.

The death of a child, an event so unnatural, it would leave a wound that would never complete heal. Only the schedule change of body could remedy to it.

"You…love him." Junpei asked as a mix between a statement, and a question.

"Of course I love him… He's my son, A son I was not supposed to have." The regal bearing vanished. "I… I couldn't bore children naturally… My body…Is simply not suited."

"You must've been thrilled when you managed to conceive. Your husband also."

'Hah! A husband…no, only me a Yuthika.' Mukhara thought sadly, the flower master had desired to give her a gift, what the Vaishnavi had always dreamed about; a child she could call her own

There was nothing more between them. And whatever was there had evaporated when…that terrible day happened. She closed her eyes…she could still smell the sterile air of the hospital, see the many ghosts that haunted the halls…the nurse stony silence and the doctors regretful attitude as they confirmed the worst nightmare any parent could have gone through.

"Mam'? Is everything fine?" Iori asked, definitely concerned for the ascended hermit.

"Yes…everything is fine… My son… I thought he had died at age one and a half… And now, I just met him again and… He… He called me mom" she gave a very wet smile. "God… Krishna… He preserved him through you…." Mukhara babbled, realizing that, once again, the Lord had extended an unprecedented amount of mercy.

A look went over the boss wizened face. "So…you are a worshipper of Krishna? Why? Isn't he an amoral cheater?"

Mukhara's ears burned, the man just wanted to break her faith, to instill doubt. To be right and on high moral ground and to bring Krishna down in the dirt…at Junpei's level.

'Not on my watch.' Mukhara put her emotions on the back burner…this meant war.

Not…a bloody one, but she would not let this pass.

"Who are you to judge God?" she mildly asks, and yet her words still resounded like the crack of a whip. She had thought Junpei-san was making some progress, but it seemed he didn't want to let go if his hatred.

"A father who wants to protect his kids." Iori replied with the same kind of heat the generator in old hell could produce.

Mukhara snorted, definitely not impressed at Iori's statement. "You couldn't Protect Nanashi this morning…" Mukhara shot back coolly; she was tired of trying to deal with this man. "Krishna's the one who protected him…as always."

Junpei opened his mouth, ready to rebuke the ancient Hermit. But the princely Mukhara would have none of this. "Listen, I know it was Krishna who protected. No, revived our son." Mukhara explained. "'Proclaim it body, oh Arjuna, that my Devotee shall never perish!'" She quoted with confidence. "And indeed, he is alive… He was saved by the one who bore the mark of Sri on his chest and the Kaustuba gem; Krishna, the Supreme personality of Godhead!"

"Yeah sure, and that creeps been following my son like a love sick puppy...that's totally God alright...he got the same taste as his-"

"Don't you dare finish this phase Iori Junpei!" Mukhara hissed as she got up. " You do not know Krishna, the Lord never accept this kind of demons as his associates, and the Yamaduta's bring them all to a special hellish planet were their victims enact their revenge...their sentence longer than anything you could imagine. What to say from those caught by our child protection office." Mukhara closed her eyes and breathed out...she wanted to make like this breath and leave the stuffy room, but foolishly enough, she wanted to see if Krishna-Kripa's father could be made less inimical.

'I don't think it will happen, oh Krishna, please forgive this man.'

" He wants to anger you... my dear, do not act like a rock, remember Hanuman."

"Mister Iori, I would rather you stop trying to anger me with baseless allegation. Yes, we have our past, and we have moved on...and I would love for you to do the same." Mukhara suggested.

Iori smirked. "Well; I would love too...but history repeats itself and all that."

Mukhara's face remained neutral, but inside, she was fuming. "No matter what you say or do, Junpei-san, my son will rejoin our Hare Krishna movement, with or without your permission."

"NANASHI'S NOT A CULTIST!" The boss roared as he rose from his seat, grabbing his gun. "I should've killed you when I had the chance!"

"SIT DOWN!" Mukhara roared…and the boss could not help but to comply with the ancient Kshatrani's order.

The thunderclap reverberated throughout the small room until its echo faded. "Yes… He is." Mukhara revealed, quietly. "From his previous life and to this one, the process we practice, the Bhakti-yoga cult, is eternal; whatever progress we make is never lost at death." The divine sennin spoke with a calm that hid a terrible storm. "Iori-san. I knew Kr…Nanashi before he was Nanashi..."

"Oh? And let me guess, he used to be another queer you guy killed?" The boss sneered, still shaken at the powerful and authoritative voice that had issued fort from the short woman.

"No… He used to be Aigis, the old combat android. The one who had vowed to Protect Yuki… Now the 'Krishna'who kidnapped your messiah, with her life." Mukhara revealed. "She would speak of you and Yuki very often… Iori Junpei."

Junpei stared at the Vaishnavi, his face turning from pale to red. "You… You can't know that! My son… My son used to be Akira."

"Akira never existed…and Kripa... Nanashi remembers his previous live…he remembered me when I still had my arms and legs. And he remembered his death…his final moments." Then she closed her eyes…, he was shocked, filled with denial and plenty of doubt, and Mukhara knew this was as far as the conversation would go.

Iori...was one of those type of persons filled with hatred...and Mukhara did not have the purity to move his heart away from the poison.

Mukhara felt drained, tired, and only wanting to be with her returned son again, and yet, she was unwilling to show any weakness to this man. "Iori-san, You may want to keep your family together, but know that this is not in your power…I'm sorry for your loss, but my son will never follow anyone who shows this type of attitude towards Krishna." the saintly hermit left no place for an argument. "I had hopped our difference could have been dealt with, I really do." She turned her back to the atheist, more the ready to put this whole event behind her and start the healing process for a second time. And then…inspired, she turned her head toward Junpei.

"You know, when all will be said and done, know that you and your daughter will have a place in my-"Mukhara's body moved even before the boss had the gun in his hand, and was out the crack of the door before the trigger could be pulled.

As she walked down the corridor and to Krishna-Kripa's room, she could not help but wonder what she could have done better...

' Just as with every endeavour I perform; yes, definitely.'


"So…what's a hermitage?" Nanashi…no Krishna-Kripa asked his…his mother as they crawled through underground Tokyo, making their way to the Hunter association head-quarter. Cutting through whatever 'demons' and 'angels' had the misfortunes of attacking the... the Ascended Hermit and a Hell-cat.

On that note, both women were formidable warriors. Mukhara was clearly more of a physical fighter; despite her lack of limbs she would use her wooden shaku like a sword with terrifying efficiency. Her magical abilities were also nothing to sneeze at, But Radha was the one who could summon and manipulate ghosts and evil spirit and invoking the flames of hell on the most recalcitrant one.

As for him?

Well…his aim had gotten better with the shovel, but the reason why didn't make him happy.

Krishna was gone… Nanashi could not hear his ankle bells anymore, nor his flute. He could not smell his aroma, could not hear his voice…and He could not see his smile.

Krishna-Kripa never thought…he never thought he would miss Him only after less than a day of meeting him… But dammit! He did miss his Krishna…terribly so.

He knew his Lord was back in Vrindavana, back to his eternal abode. But...what was he doing? Was he herding his cows? Was he with his mother and father or...

'Krishna's happy there...he doesn't need me.' It didn't make him feel any better though...quite the opposite really.

And thus, to mitigate his pain, the Servant of Krishna had put his entire attention at the task at hand, and the execution of Krishna's desire; Saving Yuki…

Which… even with his mother and cat-aunt, may be more complicated than just barging in the Tsukiji Hongwanji and get his poor…let's call him an old friend, out and exorcised the hell out of him.

The reason for this complication, was the place they were in; a Hermitage.

Obliviously, this told nothing to the servant of God, and thus he had asked his Mother; a Hermit.

"A hermitage." Mukhara began. "Is a place where hermits such as myself remain as they practise their art and perform austerities to gain even more power. It's usually away from the public eyes and the chaotic atmosphere of Kali Yuga, our current age." She explained as she shot a demon that seemed to have taken a little too much interest in her….with a laser, no less. "Usually, a great sage will find a crack in a stone, the hallowed out trunk of a three, a cave…anything which is small enough to be unnoticeable and, after entering it, will make a realm in which he can control pretty much everything. This plan is commonly called senkai."

"Oh, I see." Kripa murmured as he shot yet another demon that had eyed his aunt a bit too hungrily. "So…were in a crack now."

"Yes… In the Aogikahara Ice cave of all places." Mukhara rolled her eyes as she floated above the ground like a ghost. "Think of it like dungeon and dragon. There are different players that would be you and the rest of the hunters. Then there's monster to kill, different maps and finally a dungeon master."

"The dungeon master being the Hermit, YhVh." Kripa deduced….was it an oni leering at him? No…he was a friendly one. "So how about the monster we fight…are they alive, or are they like NPCs moved by a program?" He loved a good fight, but the act of killing…

"It depends on the hermit. In some hermitages, it's all illusions. In others, those are humans, animals, kidnapped demigods and even ghost that were bespelled and covered." Mukhara readjusted her right arm.

"Mom…do you need a break?" Nanashi asked, he noticed that Mukhara would often stop and fiddle with her doll-like limbs.

"No… I'm fine, trust me. But those are not my fighting set…" she admitted. "I knew you had died this morning…this is how we managed to find you. I just didn't know you were living in a place crawling with highly powerful F.O.E. I didn't prepare in consequence."

A chill went up and down Krishna-Kripa's back. He knew the folly of going on a mission unprepared. "Mom…I think we should…maybe you should leave and come back…you know, to get your better arms?"

Mukhara tried to suppress her pleased smile. It was clear she loved to be called mom…even with all her protest. "No, I'm fine…beside; the Hermit must already know I'm here." She spoke gravely. "If I leave, I may not be able to return…beta, if I would have my way, I would take you away from this place right this instant."

"But how about my dad and Sister?" Kripa asked. "And…and Yuki?" His old leader the one who had introduced him to their Guru…there was no way Krishna-Kripa would leave him to rot there.

The vow of protection he had taken was still valid.

"They could come also, it would be trickier for sure, but I have some connections here and there." Mukhara assured." Of course, I will do my best to save Makoto Yuki, he's been in your heart ever since your previous life…and he was a prospective God-brother of mine, so the least I can do is to try to get him out of trouble." Mukhara spoke with gravity. "Don't expect any more miracles son…and don't be attached to the result, but don't you dare think I will leave him to rot here." She vowed.

Krishna-Kripa gave a half-hearted smile. Yuki…it may have taken two lifetime and God meddling in the affairs of Mortals, but he would get him out.

Krishna desired it.

"Now, to return to the hermitage, the one were in right now is a mix of the two types. Most demons mobbing us are but illusions. But those who have a personality and a role to play in the scenario will usually be someone under the cover of an illusion."

"Like Mai." Speaking of the 'angel', the Boss had given her to N… Krishna-Kripa to deal with at his discretion.

So, obliviously, the 'Angel' was also out. Offering healing and a very powerful light spell…and she was another person Kripa could speak to about their time with God…

'If somebody would tell me I would fall in love with God in one day and let and angel play… I would have called him an idiot.' Actually, the servant of Krishna would probably use much, much harsher words, but with his mother around…'and that's something else.'

"So…you're hunting down Hermits? But…aren't you one?" Kripa asked, still keeping an eye out for troublesome…mobs.

Mukhara turned a golden glance towards her youngest son. "No… I stopped being a hermit 17 years ago. I'm a Vaishnavi, a Servant of the servant of Krishna." Mukhara, in a mix of pride and humility, declared with folded palms. "And…well, I sort of have a knack to stumble on hermitages…"she admitted. "But… I would not rather say that I hunt hermits, I free the souls imprisoned by them, and give them all a chance to come in contact with Sri-Krishna's Holy Name." Mukhara elaborated.

"Oh… I see." Nanashi murmured.

"I wish it would be different. It's…not an easy job. Many times, the scenarios are so twisted, and the victims so traumatized…that nothing can be done to help them short of rewriting their memories… If they can even accept that what they tough was reality was but an illusion." He face darkened, she was probably remembering some of her worst hermitage raid.

"You can rewrite people's memory?" Nanashi asked, aghast that his mother could do such a thing.

"Oh no. I'm just an ascended hermit; I can exercise some administrative power over a hermitage…and take complete control if needed. But another team takes care of the victims once they are out."

"Oh… Ok. So, you basically run a rescue operation." Kripa summarized.

"Yes…a rescue operation that has shown me the very ugly side of material lust, greed, wrath and anger…and also quite a few mira- Hold that thought." Suddenly, Mukhara dashed forward, killing a rainbow colour snake that had been a bit too close to the angel for comfort.

Kripa averted his eyes…she still wore Krishna's blue shirt…a shirt that still bore His scent.

'I'm hopeless… Oh Krishna, why did you leave.'

"Beta, are you alright?" Mukhara asked after returning from Mai's side.

Kripa gritted his teeth. "Mom…you served Krishna…right?"

"I still serve him." Mukhara spoke gently. "You do to."

"How…how do you managed…" The servant of god asked, willing his tears not to fall. "How do you stop missing him?" shamefully enough, Kripa's voice cracked at the end.

"You don't…" Mukhara spoke with a compassionate tone, her eyes soft behind her blood stained glasses. "Just keep what you feel from him Hidden…do you need a breather?" His mother once again asked as she put a compassionate hand on Krishna-Kripa's aching shoulder. They were now close to a dilapidated bunker, a place where hunter travelling between Café Florida and Shinjuku would use as a resting point.

Krishna-Kripa was about to shoot the idea down when his mother took him by the wrist and all but dragged him at the safe spot.

"Mom! Let me go, I'm fine!" He protested. Losing the fight to keep his cheeks dried.

"Beta… I know you're not. You've been pushing yourself beyond your limits…and you've suffered through much lost today."

"It's alright… I'll get over it." As long as he didn't think about it…everything would be fine. He was a man…man didn't…

"Yes, and you need to take it easy for this to happen!" Mukhara's eyes took a hard edge.

"I can take it easy once were at Café Florida." He would be fine by then, back to normal…' Oh, why is Asahi still kept under key…she went through breakups…' or maybe he could go to the fairy forest and speak to Nozomi about it…

In the forest where he and Krishna decorated one another with flowers (well, Krishna-Kripa did, Krishna just gave him the flowers he thought were the best)…where he Massaged Krishna's supremely soft and fragrant feet…where-

Where His Krishna risked his life to save him. A lowly servant…a sinner…

"No guarantee they'll let us in. Now come…and no protest this time!"" His mother broke no argument as she dragged her breaking son to the shelter, filling the air with tiny bullets to deter whatever demons who thought they could take advantage of Krishna-Kripa's moment of weakness….and supreme bliss.

Kripa had no power to protest.


Back with Flynn and Navarre.

"So…how did you died?" the ex-Samurai of hope asked his ghostly companion as Yuki slept.

Flynn had already performed the difficult feat of bathing the dying young man, and had managed to find some clean cloth for him to wear. While he had cleansed Yuki, Navarre had foraged for food, and had returned with something more than descent for Yuki to eat…some preserved berries, some corn…and what he hopped was dried tofu.

After crawling in the underbelly of Mikado, the condemned land to Tokyo, Flynn had eaten enough demon meat to know that it was definitely not meant for human consumption. At least the one that was available from the hunter association.

Yuki barely nibbled at the vittles, his appetite not present. Or perhaps, he was simply too weak to chew. Nevertheless, the Moon child had eaten, and was now fast asleep.

After that, all that was left for Flynn was to regale the ghost of his…let's call him an unfortunate bully, with the tale of his earlier adventures with Isabeau, Jonathan and Walter as they discovered Tokyo, performed quest for both demons, and human and seemingly travelled through timelines. Flynn did not skip of how He and the lovely Isabeau had dragged Navarre's maddened self-trough demon infested Tokyo, dodging angels and running after the insane Luxuror.

Yes, the Godslayer took great pleasure at how uncomfortable it made the green ghost, he felt vindicated…not that he had any right to, for the pompous so-called samurai had…died.

And thus came his questions.

Navarre looked extremely uncomfortable, wringing his hands and fading in color. "Listen Flynn. I'd rather not…it not a death fitting for one of my calibre."

"You've seen mine…" Flynn voiced. "There was nothing heroic about my death."

"You've got killed by a powerful demon, an entity beyond anything conceivable." Navarre argued. "And while it was not a good way to perish…"

"Choking on liquid darkness was better?"

Navarre opened his mouth, and closed it with a click. "To be very honest…no, not at all." The green ghost curled up on himself. "I…I drowned."

Flynn's closed his eyes. Having suffocated, he knew the terrifying feeling of that type of death.

"Care to tell me how?" Flynn asked nonetheless.

At first, Navarre was reticent. But…after finally having a willing ear, the ghost opened up.

"Flynn…you didn't cause it. Actually, after you left me with Fujiwara, the wonderful man did everything her could to bring me back to sane mind." Navarre began, an uncharacteristic look of gratitude illuminating his ghostly form. "And…he succeeded."

Flynn let out a sigh…he may have held only contempt for the ex-samurai. But to see him in such a wretched condition, haunted by fear and driven mad with anxiety had broken the samurai's heart more than he cared to admit.

"He... this great man had even started using the wretch to run errands over Tokyo." Navarre continued as a fine smile drew itself on his lips…a more human form revealed itself.

"So…you were not afraid anymore." Flynn spoke with awe and pride, really, Fujiwara could pull off miracles.

Navarre shook his head. "No… I was always terrified, which made me perfect as a courier." Navarre admitted with a wry smile. "It was on one run that I've met with my…untimely demise." Navarre paused, returning to his blob like form.

'His death must have been shameful one if he cannot even bare to feel his full form.' Flynn realized.

On the bed, Yuki opened his weary eyes and turned his head toward the two deads. He was quiet...and Flynn could feel that…something had changed.

"Yuki…do you need something?" Flynn asked gently. To which the Yaksa shook his head.

"If you need anything, please don't be shy and just ask."

"No… I'm fine." Yuki breathed. He looked different.

"Are you sure Yuki?"

Yuki looked at Flynn then at Navarre. The ghost froze, looking at the bed ridden youth with fear and some mistrust.

"No…you… You are not Yuki, are you?"

Yuki looked at Navarre, his cloudy grey eyes widening…before an amused smile drew itself on his lips. "You have good eyes, Ghosty. I like that." He gave a charming smile as he gingerly sat up.

Flynn sighed…of course taking care of Yuki would not be that easy. "And you are?" The Samurai asked, fearing what he would hear.

A weary smile lit 'Yuki's' gaunt features. "Now…that's quite the question, isn't it?" he turned clouded eyes to the calmly panicking Godslayer. "No, I'm not this…creature controlling Yuki. And I'm definitely not Ikutsuki."

"Who are you then?" Flynn reiterated.

The…other person inhabiting Yuki leaned his head back, his eyes closed. "Hmm… I bore many names in the past, Paros, Thanatos, Death, the appraiser of death… Nyx, the night mother."

Dread flushed out all the stale blood in Flynn's veins… "Y…you!"

"Oh…don't worry beautiful. I would never follow the bidding of this lunatic…even if I would be given a new body." Nyx reassured the Samurai, giving him a winning smile. "If it can make you feel better, you may call me Ryuji…actually, please call me Ryuji, the other names are not me."

"Right…what else do I need to know?" Flynn asked wearily.

"I'm…a friend of Yuki. A very old and close friend." Nyx… Ryuji began. "And like you, I've been tricked to believe a so-call well-wisher." His face darkened.

"Then Ryuji, why do you possess your very dear friend like a common ghost?" Navarre asked with a sneer.

"I would rather you not deal with the…zoo that formed in Yuki's head." Ryuji spoke wryly. "Many of us are feral, and would like nothing more than to enact revenge on the world at large." He rolled his eyes. "But…that's not important. You Flynn, and Navarre, are playing a game you cannot win."

A self-depreciative smile lit Flynn's grave features. "Oh, I know…by the end of the week, were all dead. I've-"

"You didn't fail anything…the master of this place just want to keep playing with us, that's all." He leaned back. "I won't be the Apocalypse…Nyarlatothep has no power over me and I have no desire to follow his crazy plan for freedom…but another man has another plan…"

Navarre and Flynn exchanged glances. "What do you mean by this?" the undead samurai finally asked.

"I will make it quick. The war between angels and demons, removing the dome from Tokyo and this whole deal with the Evil "God" is merely a play." Ryuji revealed. "This Tokyo…and even the place you come from Flynn, isn't real. There was never demons running around, and there's not a dome over Tokyo. My Yuki didn't die and God…the real one, is not evil. The one controlling this play is though…is."

Once again… Flynn's world tilted on his axis…as was Navarre. "Wait…so you mean…there's no Mikado? No dome?"

"Last I remember, no…and the last time we were in the real world… I believe it was in 2024…" Ryuji revealed. "I don't know much about this place we're in, but whatever happened is not real…it's just a game for him."

Flynn clenched his fist… "And how can we believe you? For all we know, you may be lying."

Ryuji looked right into Flynn's eyes, gazing at them a bit longer than was sociably acceptable.

Finally, he spoke. "No…your right!" The ghost admitted. "I have no proof for you. Not even a picture or anything. Just my and Yuki's memory of our last sunset together…" Ryuji sighed, his countenance growing hopeless. "Yuki warned me you would not understand."

"If he warned you…is he still in there?" Flynn asked.

"Yes…he is. This body belongs to him after all…he just let me use it while he takes a break." The possessor explained.

"Take a break?"

"Yes…as you must suspect…when Nyarli's using Yuki's beautiful body for his own pleasure, it caused it to…break apart." Ryuji explained his voice tight. "And when this…demon's bidding is done, he leaves Yuki to suffer for him…" He sneered. And Flynn could hear around a thousand vows to avenge his friend.

"And…this is why he wants me around. To keep his vessel alive while he keeps using it." Flynn clenched his fist hard enough to draw blood. "That's…torture."

Ryuji chuckled. "Yes…and it's all for naught. Nyarli can only go as far as his leash will let him…like all of us really." The ghost then turned his clouded glance toward the Samurai of hope. "Flynn…we are surrounded by powerful enemies…not just one. And those enemies are also the puppets of something even worst than the delightful Nyarli." The ghost gravely spoke.

A shudder ran up and down Flynn's spine. "And…do you happen to know who it is?"

"Why should you trust me?" The ghost asked as he settled himself a bit more comfortably.

"What choice do we have?" Flynn retorted. To which, Ryuji snorted.

"Not much green eyes…not much at all." The ghost inhabiting Yuki's body gave a languorous stretch. "I know the bastard who's in charge of this place. Unfortunately, I can't speak his name…"

"Why would that be?" Flynn asked.

"Same reason why you can't say YhVh…" Ryuji murmured, his eyes closed, his whole body slack. "All that I can say is that he wears glasses…and is extremely powerful." He whispered…before falling silent.

Flynn moved closer to the ailing young man. Once again remembering that this yaksa had the same stamina as a dying. "Ryuji? Ryuji, is everything-"

"Yes beautiful…I'm fine…" Ryuji grumbled, his eyes still closed. "I just want this body to get some rest…. Yuki's… Yuki can't sleep that well unless absolutely exhausted…but I can fall asleep standing up." He yawned. "Welp… The goddess of sleep is calling." He turned his tired eyes to the Samurai's own. "Good…whatever time it is Flynn… I hope I'll be able to see you and Navarre tomorrow…." And with a small and a sigh he fell asleep almost instantly. Leaving Flynn and Navarre to try and digest what he had just said.

Now used to be a cosmic plaything…or, maybe not so cosmic, Flynn sat down and rubbed his browns. Wishing he could turned back the clock and return to his simple life as the son of a simple farmer.

"Do not worry…everything is under control."


Somewhere, in a realm that glowed like a diamond. Stephan looked at his p.c.

There were two intruders in his realm…one of them was one Toyosatomimi no Miko, the huntress. And the other was but a mere hell-cat raised in Yukari's…let's call it an experiment in uncontrolled growth and the lazy control over one's pets.

The hermit folded his hands as he looked at the lines of codes and runes that controlled his world. So far, his scenario was going alone rather well, despite everything. and yet...

'I knew I took a gamble when I killed Kaku and took her two puppets as my own.' He thought as he followed the movement of Miko, the son of Kanzanami Yuuka and the cat as they navigated the labyrinth like Tokyo. Fighting hordes of demons and heading towards Café Florida much earlier than what it was planned.

Stephan narrowed his eyes. This…was too early, and knowing this particular sennin…she was probably trying to break his game.

'No…not on my watch.' He tough as he began to press a few keys.

"What are you doing, my friend?" someone asked from behind…someone that had not been there a moment ago…and someone who did not register in his reality.

The specked man turned around in his wheelchair to face the anomaly.

There, he saw a young Indian man, glowing like the sun and moon combined. He was dressed in a saffron robe of an aesthetic. He wore a fragrant flower garlands, his long blond hair were tied in a top knot and a vina rested on his shoulder, his feet were not touching the ground. The sage glowed with a natural effulgence Stephan knew he could not imitate.

"Who are you…and wha are you doing in my realm." The powerful man asked the youth, already planning how he could either add his to his growing collection…or kill him.

The powerful sennin highly disliked those who thought themselves more powerful then he…

"My name is Narada Mahamuni, a travelling minstrel and a well-wisher of all." The sage introduced himself politely. "And only want what is best for you." He gave a very trustworthy smile. "So, what are you planning, oh powerful one? "

Stephan looked at the sage…another intruder in his realm, one his system could not detect. And yet…he could not help but feel as if he could trust him.

"I was thinking to start over and remove this Krishna from my story entirely. I thought adding Nyarlatothep to my goddess game would give it a nice twist but…it seems that he's aiming at sabotaging my realm…again." Stephan explained. "And Nanashi, as much as he is interesting. He was not meant to gain access to his demonic power…and Dadga was supposed to be his leash." He frowned. "No…this will not do. I had this perfect scenario planed out… I knew I should've ended the whole thing the moment the Clone of Yuuka shot a hole in the firmament…no, when he developed this persona."

Narada hummed.

"What a shame…it was starting to get interesting." He continued typing on his computer. Better now than never. He could still get Hijiri again and make the fool play as a useless puppet. No matter how much the poor fool tried, it was hilarious to see him still struggle after all those years. "Oh well, nothing left to do but restart my game…"

"Before you do that, oh great wise one. Maybe you should reconsider." Narada spoke.

"I already did…" Many times really, but Stephan knew when it was time to start over from scratch. Just like his last session with the Demi-fiend.

The poor fool. He almost felt bad for him.

"But did you thought about having them face you as the penultimate boss?" Narada proposed a playful smile on his lips.

Stephan stopped his typing.

"You are a very powerful Sennin, one I have never met until now." The saintly Narada praised him. "Who in this world could defeat you? Oh Master of this world. Certainly not a dryad, that's for sure. And think about this, once you killed Miko, you will have dominion on the biggest hermitage in the realm of senkai."

'Yes…he's right." The place Miko own was the biggest, yet simplest realm ever made…the world wide women Ashram.

Stephan hid his smile under his clasped finger. Oh, if he could gain the key to this realm, he would have plenty of Magnetite to work with…and puppets to play with.

He cancelled the reformation and conception protocol…let them believe they had won for now. Let them play a bit more.

"I see that you have changed your mind." Narada spoke with a mysterious smile. "Good, my dear friends, if you want to reach the auspicious end you desire, do not, in any circumstances, destroy this realm. Let Mukhara and her son do as they desire. And remember, one often meet his destiny on the road to avoid it." The great sage spoke his for finger up in the air.

A shiver went up Stephen's spine….yes…very often he had seen it happen. "Great Sage Narada…I must thank you."

"No, it is I who must thank you. For rare are those who have the intelligence to listen to my words of wisdom." He bowed. "Now, I would like to go, I am needed somewhere else in the universe." He begged with folded palms.

Stephan looked at the powerful sage… "No please stay here…I do not want such-"and the next thing he knew, Narada was gone.

"For shame."