For better or worst.
Warning... Vaishnava dunking on the stuff I didn't like about the SMT portrayal of Krishna and that stupid Tokugawa googled image.
No, that thing doesn't even deserve t be called a Mandala... it's lazy and hideous and obliviously a lazy ad on.
'Shit, Shit Shi!' Iori cursed a storm as he slew yet another Alliance goon, bashing his head in with the Iron bat Stephen had so generously provided and the up-pill. Losing Nanashi to those cultists had been a blow; learning that his daughter and son were the ones who freed Krishna was another one... and then there was Asahi still not talking to him...
And now this...
he killed a Hindu-looking demon, letting out a cathartic cry as he crumpled under his strike. 'I swear if I see Mukhara again...'
She had changed everything. This Hare Krishna Cultist had seduced everyone to her side with empty words and false promises. Acting as if she was the emperor of Japan. She had now more followers then there was Hunters in Tokyo... not only that, but rumour has it (and Halleluhia's words. Poor kid had it rough, and Junpei couldn't do shit to get him out.) that she and her demoniac cat of a friend had murdered Abe at the top of the dome.
...
Alright, so Abe was apparently a fallen angel working for Lucifer and having his chopstick in too many rice bowls. But still!
He had been the hunter's contact with Lucifer, and while the other fallen angel was a disaster on a good day, it still meant that kinshicho had some breathing room. Hell, he suspected that the whole thing with Adramelech was the demon acting by himself, ignoring his boss's order.
As Junpei ruminated at how bad things were now that Abe wasn't here, an Asura managed to sneak up on the Boss. He only had enough time to turn around and realized that he would not even have time to summon Hermes, let alone the pill that sat uncomfortably in his guts.
Then an Asura fell, his head cleanly cut from his shoulders. As he fell, Mukhara and her damned Cohorts came into view. He wooden shaku stained with demon blood.
The Kasha wasn't present... but it was clear the Hare Krishna had gathered quite an army, including Skin and Toad, the weapon dealer.
Junpei bit back a curse, one one hand, he would be ready and willing to kiss this crazy woman, for Kinshicho's hunter's were already overwhelmed by the sheer number of demons flooding the place, unable to hold them back without the summoning app... what to say about Hermes, his old persona was barely making any difference. And yet, on the others...
She was a damn Krishnaite, She had murdered Abe, and without Abe, the Asura kai descended into bloody chaos, making expensive resources even harder to find! And she... her cult had murdered Yuki. And now... she offered a supposed 'third option.'
Thankfully, Stephen had warned him not to trust her, for she was serving Krishna.
'I should have killed her when I had the chance.' Junpei tough darkly as he felt his gift from Matsuda stir within him. 'Better late then never.'
Mukhara kept a wary eye on Iori-san as she monitored the situation. The kinshicho station now resembles a trench filled with blood and death. Some demons were petrified and shattered on the floor; others were not as lucky.
There were wounded, and a few ghosts managed to escape the reaping... she could see small bodies.
She returned her attention to Iori-San; he looked haggard, bloody and hateful.
'Yes, Iori, I know what you want of my Family and me... but I cannot ignore those who call for help because of you.' she thought as she quickly approached Krishna-Kripa's father. 'Is this how having an ex feels like? It's terrible.'
"Iori Junpei, How may we be of help?" She asked the man, ignoring whatever foul mood he had by channelling as much love for this man as she could.
He had raised her darling son so nicely, maintained him and fed him at the best of his ability, in a situation that every parent dreaded.
She owed so much to this man... even if he hated her.
"Just kill whatever demons are there and get out; we don't want you here." The bespectacled hunter growled.
'A wise man.' Mukhara's appreciation for this man swelled. He may hate her enough to desire to see her dead, but he still had the presence of mind to see the Vaishnavi and her extended family as potential helpers in this fight.
"Kripa, Gaston, Hoshi." Mukhara barked. "You take the northern part and the parkātoad, Skin. You come with me; we were taking the eastern part and the train line. Mai! Zhong Khui! You two, heal whoever is not dead yet and keep the departed corralled and counted; we can't let the demon gather more souls!"
With the order given, the Hunter of Kinshicho receive their second wind... but the silence of their desires was almost as deafening to Mukhara's hyper-sensitive ears as the din of the battle.
Kripa killed a few more goons here and there, having learned how to read their elemental weakness by dowsing with his Shovel and sight.
Many demons had already popped away into this weird data thing, and Gaston was once again proving why he had been chosen as the commander in chief of the Holy Crusaders.
Crusaders that were busy protecting Shibuya at their risk and peril...
But Kripa wasn't thinking about that... he was thinking about his sister and Medusa.
Krishna was protecting them... that's what He had said. But the Lord was also known not to hold his words if it meant one of his devotees would suffer.
He had vowed not to pick up a weapon and fight on the battle field of Kurukshetra... He broke this promise to protect Arjuna from Bishma-Deva's assault.
And knowing Krishna, Kripa knew the Lord of his heart would but Mukhara, Gaston and Skin's life before Asahi.
"Oh, Krishna... You control everything, and you protect whatever we have and give whatever we lack.' Kripa desperately prayed as he cut down more demons with his shovel, not even bothering with magic. 'It's your call, Krish, not mine.'
At this point, He just wanted to get rid of his tension...
Eventually, he managed to find a group of hunters by a Barricade. Kripa was quick to fly there, now used to having wings. "Yo! Demeter! Jorge, Raidou!" He called out to them. "It's me! K... Nanashi!"
He knew them; he and Nikkari would play poker on Sunday before the two became the head of the hunters.
The two-man and a woman looked up...and Aimed their weapons!
"STAY AWAY, DEMON!"One screamed. "GO BACK TO HELL!"
"YEAH! WHY DON'T YOU GO AND KISS KRISHNA'S DIRT-" There was an explosion... either that, of Kripa, covered his ears...
So... he was not welcomed here. It drove the point in that he had been kicked out.
He turned his back as he tried to look for his sister...
His sister... was she really? 'No, I call he my sister, but our bond is conditional.' It this was how his old friend were treating him...
Asahi must have talked... a bored Asahi was a dangerous Asahi.
And yet... 'She's a frustrated young woman whose only friend turned his back to her, who can't do and be what she wants... She may not be my real sister and may not even consider me her brother anymore. But I will still protect her... If Krishna's wished it so.'
Kripa kept looking for her or Medusa without any result, only more jeers and hatred.
"Yo, what's wrong with your folks?" Hoshi managed to ask over the din of the ongoing skirmish. "It's like... they are aiming more at us then the bad guys!" The Nephilim said as he pulled out a bullet from his shoulder joint. "Gah... son of a Bitch." He winced.
"Wow... Hosh... are you?" He asked his ex.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." He huffed. Hoshi looked like something out of a horror movie with his pink hair, the withe skin, and the crack around his eyes. " But I don't think were attacking the right people." He growled.
"Hosh-" Krishna-Kripa was about to rebuke his ex when he felt his headset turn on.
"Beta! They have breached the Kinchisho guild; your father ran in without me... your sister's there with Medusa, and another entity, powerful, Alliance."
Krpa didn't need more then that. "HOSH! WITH ME." He screamed at the top of his lung as he shot a few more demons, saving some of the bastards he used to call friends.
No used to kill what was not meant to die.
He ran to the entrance; the sliding door had been melted open, the usual graffiti now burned and lost to the heat. From what used to be safe heaven, the sound of a horrific fight... and terrible heat.
"DAD!"
"ASAHI, GET DOWN!" Junpei screamed, there was the sound of a gunshot, then the old S.E.E.S heavy hitter bellowed out the name of his persona.
"HERMES! COME!"
Hope dared to elect a home in Krishna-Kripa's pounding heart. Junpei still had his persona; he could still fight!
"Hey, Leader!" Hoshi called out. "What the hell are you doing!" The youth shoved the plant-like being toward the door... just as a wave of flames rolled on him...
But before he can be turned into ashes... Someone shoved him off the side.
Kripa can hear the grunt of pain, the weight, the smell of burnt cotton and burnt hair.
It had been The boss, and for some odd reason, he wore a baseball cap with an iron bat, and Kripa's mother was nowhere to be found.
"Oh? What is this? A follower of a false prophet?" The demon spoke with plenty of venoms. "You have walked too long in the path of darkness, child. Give up this play and give your soul to Krishna, and be one with him."
"I'm already one with him." Krishna-Kripa lazily declared, trying to see if he could stall the demon long enough for his mom to manifest. "What my Sri-Gopinath wants is my desire also... by the way, who are you?" he asked as he leaned his hands behind his head.
Let this feathered being think of him as weak... let him underestimate him.
"Nanashi, what did I told you about being Cocky!" The boss warned. And Krishna-Kripa decided to pull the teen card and ignore him. 'Good, now this guy will think I can't put my money were my mouth is.' He almost smirked.
The exotic-looking demon spread his arms to the sky, showing his snake-like arms. "I am Quetzacoatl, God of the Sun and creator of the universe." he declared. He was about to give a snide remark when Krishna-Kripa beat him up to a point.
"Oh, well, my mama named Me Krishna-Kripa..."
"I gave you the name Nanashi." Iori groused. "Please, use it."
'Hmm. It seems Daddy dearest regrets his decision.' "No, you gave me no name... but I still thank you for the amazing fourteen years of care. I would not be there otherwise." He spoke with plenty of sincerity.
"Nanashi, you know I'm terrible with names!" Iori defended himself.
"Yes, well. I like Krishna-Kripa better." The greenette close this particular conversation. "and, if I were you, I would make sure little miss Sunshine-"
Quetzalcoatl ruffled his feather as he angrily hissed.
"Not you, oh great sun god, my little sister Asahi."
"I couldn't care less about this fallen soul!" The feathered snake hissed again, his hackle raised. "I will make your soul!"
"Yeah, good luck with that." Kripa lazily drawled as he fully turned to... what's his face. "Listen, I know you have a job and that you want to serve Krishna... and there's nothing wrong with serving Krishna." The Vaishnava sent a warning glance to his father. "Thing is, are sure he's the real one?" He prodded with a tilt of his head.
This seemed to catch the Mesopotamian Tarksha. "What do you mean by that, child?" He asked, with a quirk of his eyebrows.
"Weeeeeeell." Kripa stretched out. "Do you even know who he is? You're what... Mesopotamian?" he asked. "Sorry if I'm wrong, by the way. I never had the chance to speak to a God like you, by the way. Love the look."
The God leered at him, and... a look of confusion overtook him.
"I... I don't know...I..." He grabbed his head. "I'm Quetzalcoatl, God of the sun, the creation wars and education..."
"Alright, and how were you made? Who's your mother? Who's your father? Where do you come from?" Kripa prodded further. He knew it was a bit twisted of him, but the sight of the confusion maring Q's face made him giddy... it was like hunting for prey.
"I... I am... I don't know!" A look of horror drew itself on its face, and the living entity realized how little he knew of himself. Then, he bared his teeth, his ire raised. "Quit your mind game! I am here to collect souls for Krishna's new universe!"
Krishna-Kripa barked in laughter nobble laughter. "Oh really? Your 'Krishna' need more souls?"
"Wait... what is this with Krishna needing more souls?" Mai, who had just arrived at the scene, spoke to Krishna-Kripa.
"Oh, you know. Mister sun god here think Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, need a handful of souls to... Hey, why does 'Krishna' need us souls?" Kripa turned to Quetzalcoatl, his grin not diminishing at all.
"To make the new universe." The demon spoke with clear confusion. And his confusion deepens when not only Kripa but also Mai gave in to some subdued laughter.
"Oh, for Heave's sake." Gaston wheezed out, Having being stalled by some demons on the way to the fight. "My dear Quetzalcoatl, let it be known to you that the Real Krishna, the one we worship, does not need any souls to make a new universe. For if God so desires, then so it will be." The Neophyte explained as she moved a bit closer to were Medusa's tail laid on the ground.
'And I think I know where my sister is... He Bhagavan, I hope her and medusa are alright.'
"Krishna's not God." The feathered snake denied.
"Absolutely, he's-"
"Oh, hush you." Kripa interrupted his adopted father; he had no time for this. "Sri-Krishna, the real Krishna that's not a mass of writhing darkness processing the body of my Adopted little brother... He has an expansion called Karanadakashayi Vishnu that is in a deep sleep in the ocean of causes. And when he breaths out, unlimited universes takes birth... without anyone's help." Kripa spoke as he began to move... he felt... he could feel that something was bound to happen. But what? "And... If Krishna's the unlimited source of all souls... meaning of all of us, then why would He, the Master of all Universes, need the speck-full that is Tokyo?" He rhetorically asked. "That's because your so-called Krishna is non-other then a frau-"
Pain exploded from the back of his head, and all went black.
Back at the Tsukiji-hongwanji temple. Radha was making plenty of progress.
Odin was a lovely man with a heart so broken and jaded that he considered believing in an Utsuro for a slight chance of freedom. Other whose, it was clear, his choice weighed heavily on his heart.
He was also very lonely and desirous to talk, and thus, he had spilled all the beans to his cat, who would relay all of it to Fujiwara as soon as she could. And boy, did he knew his stuff. She also gathered some info by listening to whatever spirit had managed to escape the sweep, and boy, did they have juicy info.
Dagda was a Nihilist... and that was pretty much it. Sure, he looked at the end of the spectrum for edginess, but beyond that... and the fact that he had the power to 'revive' the dreads and control them?
Nah, not worth the trouble. The guy was in so deep that not even an auspicious glance of Gauranga could drag him out...
Well... no, if Gauranga and Nityananda would dance in ecstasy in front of bone-daddy, then Dagda would attain the supreme, personal bliss, no question ask. But Radha was just a neophyte, someone who was lowly and held close to no love for the Lord.
Moving on to Maitreya...
He was a terrible man, a monster that had the guts to take the name of the great Rsi Maitreya, the one who was blessed to live for quite a few days and nights of Brahma. A pure devotee of Krishna and one of the next Sapta Rsi, and one of the rare who managed to thoroughly impress Shiva and Parvati with his pure devotion.
The guy, on the other paw, was fanatic, thinking himself to be the next Buddha, even though he had absolutely no compassion, save for himself.
Really, the only ones that truly were worth the trip were Odin, Flynn, Shesha (a Guy by the name of Issachar) and Makoto Yuki.
Suddenly, as she rounded the corner, Radha-Shyamasundara managed to catch a glimpse (and a whiff) of the so-called incarnation of Vishnu, and the cat almost took a chance to rip all the demons and evils spirit out of the poor boy. But refrained due to a few key points.
He smelled like death, his body showed signs of decay, and it was clear he would not survive the next full moon.
And what was inside Yuki-kun?... Oh, it was something Revati and Maricha could tackle. But not alone, Kasha. Not even a divine one.
If Tenshi could be beaten up black and blue by a human, then Radha could also...
Still, Radha was not deterred in her investigation. Free to roam where she desired, unopposed by all.
Yes, being an ascended Kasha was good! And short of being able to take on the utterly massive legion that squatted Yuki, there was practically nothing she could not do.
And indeed, she could feel her hackle raise as the Utsuro slithered forward, the amalgamation of suffering soul oh-so-easy to recognize by those who dealt with evil spirits all the time. His unfortunate host was being dragged along for the hellish ride.
Makoto Prabhu's eyes were sunken, his lips stained by the yellow blood that flowed from his nose and mouth. ( K.K had warned his aunt that Yuki fell from the sky, and this Yellow blood confirmed it.) It was clear he was in need of a newest of clothes and... an overdue visit to Eirin's place. The poor kid looked as if he was barely holding on to his life air.
Radha turned her body into a subtle sound and followed the thing. Finding so many flaws in his 'Krishna' Cosplay.
'Boots... who in their right mind would force Krishna to wear a pair of leather boots? It's like the worst blasphemy one could do. If there's no hell for this sin, I swear, I'll have a word with Yamaraja about this even if I need to die first! I mean, urgh, brown boots...' No, the ascended hell cat didn't care about it at all. 'Still, love the Fedora. It's so playful and mischievous... I think one temple even put one of them nifty hats on Krishna once... or was it a house deity? I don't remember. Oh hey, he's entering a room.'
Radha slunk in after the horrific demon, entering the dark and pungent room on his heels.
The room, as Radha expected, was a dark and broody as the rest. And only her Yokai eyes could pierce the gloom and reveal the slumping body of another young man... in nothing but his brief.
His skin was deathly pale, and the Kasha could not perceive any heartbeat. He was young, in the high sun of eighteen, his body already scared and bruised...
And dead.
She licked her chops; sure, she may be considered a celestial and had lost her taste for dead humans, but...
He smelled good. Like... not Krishna good, but close to it.
And he was not hard on the eyes either.
"Oh... My, my, my." The Utsuro rasped as he wobbled around toward the practically naked body. "I didn't know... you were into... older man... let alone dead ones." He chuckled like a Jiang-shi... and the young man with the hime-cut raised his head.
He had piercing green eyes that burned with a hatred only one of Uttara's sun could produce... meaning, an outstanding amount for a human.
"Oh... so much... hatred Flynn... would I... not be on my way... to ascension... and destruction... I may have-"
"Just leave, demon." Flynn practically commanded as he got up, glowering at the being. " The longer you're in control, the harder it is for me to heal Yuki."
"Ah yes, you're poor Yuki." The Utsuro rasped. " You care... so much for him."
Radha didn't like the tone the demon used, and neither was Flynn.
The eldritch being slithered closer to the almost naked young man, touching his face and hair.
'Oh, Bad touch, bad touch.' Radha growled as she began praying to Narashima-dev in Flynn's stead.
"So beautiful... So pretty... You would be... a wonderful addition to... Yoshika..." it breathed out all too close to the young man, who got up, circling his powerful arms around the lithe frame of the afflicted.
Flynn had closed his eyes... both in disgust and pain.
And Yuki's body flopped down like a rag-doll, held in place by Flynn's preemptive move.
Radha-Shyamasundara could see that the Utsuro was still in its preferred vessel, slumbering in a space only a special type of Yaksa had to keep unruly spirits.
Flynn held Yuki's limp body, embracing him with the same parental energy a father would generate. His eyes filled with helpless tears. He lowered the dying youth to the ground, laying him on his side as to let whatever fluids had buildup in his lungs and stomach out, keeping his hands on him.
Flynn sighed. "Hey... Ryoji? Ryoji, can you talk?" He asked, and Radha tiled her head.
No answer, and after shifting her sight, Radha almost let out a hiss of outrage.
Yuki... Was filled with ghosts. Like... the poor kid must have one hell of a time with his identity.
But worst of all was his subtle body, it was practically torn to shred at this point, and the divine Kasha doubted it could be fixed with time alone.
The only thing that seemed to hold it in more or less one piece was one ghost with two identities.
Flynn sighed as his hands began to glow, healing the poor soul. "Navarre? Can you hear me? Can you speak to me?" He tried again.
Yuki coughed out some congealed blood, clearing out his airway.
"Oh... Holy Mary... Mother of G... God..." He rasped out, his tone somewhat snobbish despite the agony he felt. "F... Flynn... Flynn..." Finally, some movement could be perceived in the teen... and the terrifying green aura of a ghost... a death-like Aura.
"Oh Gaura, this kid can't catch a break, can't he.' Radha asked her Lord.
Flynn gathered the possessed youth and held him gently, still healing him. "I'm sorry, Navarre. I have to know how is he."
Navarre... yet another Ghost using Yuki's body as a shared flat. Gasped and sobbed. "Oh... I never... Flynn..." His whole body shook. "I don't think... My Nyxy told me... she told me he was as good as a vegetable... dead despite breathing."
Radha-Shyamasundara devi Dasi let out one of the saltiest curses known to hell. 'Too late to save him, Oh Sri-Krishna-Chaitanya, please don't leave your devotee to suffer for long.' Oh, she could pray to Mayapur Narasimha-Dev... or his Pujari, since this form of the lord was known to be especial merciful and quick in his reciprocation.
Flynn pressed his lips and took a heavy breath in. It was clear this was not what he wanted to hear.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Flynn... there's... there's nothing much we could have done." The bitter tone in Navarre's voice was clear... as clear for the care he had for this afflicted boy and prospective Godbrother.
Radha almost made herself visible to the two young men but elected to wait and see what happened. Besides, if she showed up to early, they may panic.
And... No, the Abomination was still sleeping. She could feel it.
Flynn remained in place, healing Yuki until his stamina and mental fortitude ran out. Exhausted and looking even deader then before, Flynn made his way to his feet, holding the wall for support.
Now, Radha dasi knew she should not look; she knew she was supposed not to look at a man's face or a man's body, for it would make her a prime target for Kamadeva, the God of Lust.
But dang... Flynn was Hot!
To her imperfect senses, at least.
Still, wow!
The teen lumbered to an adjacent room, and as he opened the door, the sound of a drying machine met Radha's ears. That, and the smell of natural detergent.
'Alright, whomever ow's this place ain't afraid of technology, that's for sure.'
The dryer stopped, and Flynn made a somewhat triumphant sound. 'Dang, why didn't I developed this mind-reading quirk like mom!' The Divine hell cat grumbled.
Flynn walked out of the room, carrying some fresh laundry. " Nyarlathotep getting predictable."
"Not sure... if this is a good thing, my friend." The Ghost in Yuki spoke as he peeled off his disgusting clothes, revealing even more scars.
'Holy crap... what happened to Yukimaru?' Radha wondered in shock as she took stock of the bodily state.
It seemed he had been hacked to pieces and hastily put back together... and he once had breast.
She took a whiff, confirming that, indeed, both living entities were clearly male.
One was 'dead' and the other so sick, Radha kinda wished he was.
'Alright, Gaura, you gotta tell me what happened to him.' The hidden celestial asked her lord as she moved closer to the technical trio.
Suddenly, she heard and smelled Shesha at the other side of the door.
The Vaishnavi braced herself for more morbid play when the door opened... and a young man dressed the same way as a Gaean walked in.
"Isa... Did you find something?" Flynn asked as he got up, covering his lower body with a towel.
Isa removed his hat, revealing a snake-like youth.
'No way... that's Shesha's real form!?'
"I managed to find some medicine and proper vittles... hopefully some Yuki will be able to stomach."
"Oh, I doubt Yuki could even stomach the mildest of soup," Navarre informed the duo, now freed from all layers and in his birthday suit.
Yeah, it was clear this guy's body would not last to the end of the week; he was covered in scars, and while it was clear Flynn would heal him, his expertise was not perfect.
Still, it was like having a blind uncle... at least you had an uncle.
Flynn helped Navarre get off the ground; the poor young man could barely stand on his feet, which was after a pretty intense round of healing.
He leads him to the bathroom; there, Radha could perceive the sound of running water. Thirty minutes later, and both walked out... Or, Flynn walked out carrying Yuki's limp body, wrapped in a clean bed sheet. And Flynn wore one of the most bad-ass Jedi-inspired getups since this one comic-con in Seattle.
Good days.
He laid the dying youth on the bed and kneeled beside him, waiting for Yuki to stir awake again... or For Navarre to once again take control of the burned-out Yaksha.
In the bathroom, the washing machine was on again, and despite the noise, it was making, Radha could still perceive the most sacred prayer dancing on Flynn's lips.
'Hare Krishna... Hare Krishna...'
A shiver ran up Radha's subtle body and soul form. Flynn knew the Maha-Mantra... she had to save him, no question asked.
Soon, the human-shaped snake sat on his haunch beside his friend, a arm over his shaking shoulder.
"Still praying to Him?" He asked. "I don't know; after all you and Yuki went through, I would have given up on Him... What am I saying? I gave up on God a long time ago."
Flynn became silent; his palm still pressed together before he released them.
'Aw crap.' The cat-like celestial cursed as she was about to manifest to the lower vibratory realm, only to be stopped by Gauranga.
"Issachar." Flynn began, his eyes shining with conviction. "Prahlad told me that it would be worst before it would get better."
'WHAT! No... no way!' The hidden cat gaped. Oh, She knew little Prahlad, every Vaishnava knew Prahlad Maharajah, every Hindus knew of Narasimha-Pryia Sriman-Bhakta-Prahlad, one of the twelve pure souls, the Mahajanas, the great teachers of the science of Bhakti.
"Yeah, well, you told me this little Prahlad was just five years old demon..., and I have yet to meet a demon without a silver tongue," Issachar spoke with experience. But Flynn remained quiet, his jaw clenched and his nails digging in his palms.
"No... you don't understand." Flynn rasped, and he stuck his chest a few times. Probably dislodging a blood cloth or something. "This young boy... he was glowing... and I could feel he was not of this world."
"Then why didn't he got you and Yuki out!" Issachar raised his voice. "If he truly was an envoy of this God, he should have freed you."
"Nah, That would be my job."Radha-Shyamasundara took this opportunity to reveal herself to the group in her full glories.
It was risky... but she would rather Flynn not lose his budding fate in the face of adversity.
The two-man got to their feet, ready to fight. And Issachar's eyes grew wide with recognition.
"Sup, boys." She wagged her fingers, pintedly not looking at Mister Flynn's eyes for too long.
"Wait... you... Your demoniac cat!" the snake pointed at the divine feline, on guard.
"Yep... Sorry about... what happened back then. Had to protect some peeps I like and all that." She explained as she planted her hands on her hips. "Still, ya gave us an awesome fight, Shesha-char. Hope we can be friends."
She then turned to the Zombified young man; he kept staring at her forehead. "And you, me and Mukhara heard much about you."
"You... those are hunter's gears, and this..." He touched his forehead. "Those are similar to the mark Prahlad was wearing." He spoke with wonder, it was clear hope was returning to him.
Radha moved her bangs away, showing her fresh tilaka in all of its glories. "Wore that sacred sing for over ten years now, and I ain't gonna whip it off anytime soon." She proudly declared.
"You are... Narashima-Deva sent you," Flynn spoke with quivering words, his whole body on the verge of collapsing in relief, and then he retook the defensive position. "Or... Are you."
"Let me explain." Radha began, feeling bad for the young men. She had a lot to unpack and not a lot of time to do it also.
She only prayed that, at the very least, Flynn would not lose his budding fate to Sri-Hari.
Asahi woke up...
"Huh... where am I?" She asked, obliviously confused as to why she was on the ground.
Kripa could easily empathize, for he had been in a similar situation but a mere few days ago.
"Nanashi?" Asahi asked as she tried to get up, her body stiff. And yet, a bright smile never left her face, despite the horrible burn that now marred it. "Oh, Nanashi... your alive!"
'Sis won't like it... at all.' "Yeah, It's me... Krishna-Kripa." The Son of Mukhara gently informed his adopted sister of this fact. Helping her up.
Oh, he knew nothing was broken anymore; Mai had done a terrific job.
But... nothing could be done for Medusa.
"Nanashi... what happened? Where Dad? Where Medusa?" His sister asked as she looked around.
The fight was over, and the bar was practically destroyed. The floor was littered with cheap booze, their bottles smashed on the ground with shards of woods and burn marks.
The floor was cracked and broken; the only thing that remained more or less untouched was the TV since they had demons and mage up its defence to a ludicrous level.
Those were not cheap, and it was the quickest and only way to get important news... and since it was in a bar and brawls were rather often, they had thought it wise to make sure nothing short of a nuclear blast could rip it off the wall.
Or a ten-year-old hanging off from it.
Kripa took a deep breath in and released it. He just had the most gruelling and emotionally draining fight in his life... and he now had to break to news to his sister about what happened.
He helped her off and, after sending a meaningful glance to his mother, brought Asahi to his old room.
The moment he walked in, Nostalgia hit Krishna Kripa harder then Batter's filled iron bat.
He had passed days in there, dealing with a plethora of aliment, unable to move due to lack of proper food. In this room, he would play; in this room, he would dream of being a hunter.
In this room, he and his sister grew under the loving care of the Junpei and Chidori... and in this room, he would hide from the pain her death had caused.
And in this room...
In this room, Krishna, his Krishna had casually sat on the back of his neon-green couch, as is his soft and sacred sweetness eternally belongs there... on a filthy couch Kripa didn't want to remember what he did on it.
He could not smell Krishna's divine Aroma anymore, and the artificial lights were woefully dull compared to Krishna's natural glow.
He pushed those emotions away, now was not the time to be a sap; he had a sister to take care of.
He sat the shorter girl on his bed and sat beside her.
Where to start.
"Nanashi..." it seemed his sister was once again taking the lead.
It... removed a burden on Krishna-Kripa's overloaded shoulders.
"I just... I'm sorry." The teen said quietly, her eyes never leaving her folded palms resting on her laps. "I... Yesterday. I reread all the SMS I sent you since... since you got your... sine you became a hunter and.." Asahi took a shuddering breath. "I sounded... I sounded so bad like..." She turned to Kripa, her eyes wide open and filled with tears. "Nanashi... I sounded like... like..."
"A mother fucking Karen of a bitch."
Krishna-Kripa choked on his spit; he knew his sister had a stronger vocabulary then him. And since hanging around Mukhara meant that his words choice were neat and clean.. saved when the situation called for it, to hear those words were a quick jab to his other funny bones.
"Nanashi! Breath!" Asahi said as she rubbed Kripa's back as he finally caught his breath.
"yeah, O...Ok." He wheezed. "Oof... ok... Ok, yeah. I know what you meant and... Thank Krishna, you finally realized how bad you were." Kripa scolded. "I swear, I felt less then human... and no, it doesn't mean I felt like a demon." Because, as it turned out, demons were actually higher then humans on the material evolutionary chain.
Tears filled Asahi's eyes.
'Oh, Krishna...'
"I'm so sorry, I wanted... I wanted to show dad how strong I could be and... and..." She began sobbing. "And I wanted to grow stronger quickly... and have strong and powerful demons but... but I never managed to get a powerful one... and no demon liked me enough to get trained."
"And how about Mai?" Kripa asked.
"She liked you better... they all like you better." She whipped her tears. "And I... I guess I... I guess I started seeing you less as my brother and more as a tool..." She sobbed harder after this confession. "You... You became my demon... I'm sorry, I'm sorry I-"
Kripa gathered his sobbing sibling in his arms... now knowing how demons felt like being tethered to the summoning app.
Privately. He vowed that he would never, Ever, Use the demon app...
He took a deep breath in, bracing himself for what he had to do and say.
While the Apology felt right and sorely needed...(To be honest, he had forgotten about the whole thing the moment Asahi brought it up, his false Ego brought up its ugly head.), this was not the reason he wanted to speak to Asahi privately.
"Asahi... What do you remember about the raid?" He asked, and he felt his sister stiffen.
"I... I just remember Medusa coming; everyone was freaking since... you know."
"Oh, I do."
"And then she gave Dad your and your mother's regard, dad, got pretty pissed at her but... I don't know; he changes a lot like... you used to be his favourite but now... he hates you... I don't know why he just..."
"He hates Krishna... My Krishna and whatever is connected to him." Kripa explained with a choked voice as he held his sister tighter.
"Nanashi... what happened? I know we got to attack and... and Medusa managed to help us evacuate as many civilians as possible and... and then this powerful demon with a weird name came in and..."
"All hell broke loose."
"Yeah... basically." Asahi confirmed. "I tried fighting, but... I never really was a fighter, you know."
He did.
"Dad told me to hide in the bar and... I did, Medusa following me, protecting me. Then this weird demon, I think he may have been a powerful God..."
"yeah... Quetzalcoatl." Krishna-Kripa articulated at the best of his ability. 'Nah, I'm calling him quesadillas. Easier to say and remember.' He thought with some humour... for the best part of the conversation would not have any.
"I... Don't remember what happened after that." Asahi admitted. "What happened to Dad?"
'Ooooh, Krishna, please help me.' Kripa prayed as he breathed deeply through his nose. Feeling marginally calmer.
"Dad... Listen, When I came in, I was messing around with Queso, just to psych him out, you know?"
Asahi gave a corner grin; since Kripa had grown as a sickly boy, he had quickly learned how to unbalance the demon's mental equilibrium... not that he was an expert, since he lacked the charisma and confidence to be effective at it.
"And then... J... Dad attacked me."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"I was dumb as hell and didn't remember the most important lesson all warriors have to remember; constant vigilance." a sad smile stretched his bruised lips. "I almost tough my head exploded on impact. And I did lose consciousness for a few seconds," he admitted.
"Dad... hit you." Asahi whispered, in shock at what she had heard.
"Yeah... didn't kill me, but Mai told me it was a near miss..." Or Krishna didn't want his servant to die before his time.
"Wh... Why?" Asahi asked. "Dad... Dad may not trust you anymore and... and he hated." his eyes grew wide as the horrible implications hit her worst, the Batter's iron bats.
"Welp... this hatred he had from mom and me... got him into trouble." Kripa braced himself, for what he had to say next would either make it... but most likely break it. "Dad hated my mom enough that... he took a red... or something like that."
His sister froze; she knew what it meant.
"It was horrible... Dad turned... white, and he gained three support circles." Kripa sighed shakily as he tried to suppressed whatever memories of the Batter he had. "He... He told... He said that he was controlled by a higher power and sent to purify everything down to its atoms... and turn this whole farce off. Hoshi was there, and... he's the one who told me that since... well, my head was still half-missing."
"Oh, God!" Asahi whimpered as he covered her mouth with her hands.
"It's alright. Apparently, I don't need a brain to live and fight. Not that I remember much." he scratched the side of his head where Krishna's amazing lotus still dwell. "But, apparently, as long as someone told me what to do, I would just do it... and fight."
Hoshi had been... lest then stellar, but at least, he had told his ex to hide and protect Asahi. And then tag-teamed with feather quesos to take on the white batter.
"Queso died rather quickly, and his Chiro-nipu was not much help either." poor cutey. "Thank God Mom and the rest of the team managed to break the demon's barrier and fly to our help, otherwise."
"We would be dead." Asahi whispered, and she shook like a leaf. "And... Dad? What... what happened to dad?" She asked, her eyes already welling with tears.
Kripa took another steadying breath. "Dad... was saved but, he's under arrest. Kinshicho's back under Skin's jurisdiction and..."
"And?" Asahi asked fearfully.
"And you under my mom's custody until dad's pardoned," Krishna-Kripa said with tight lips.
'First, it was Hoshi, and now it's Asahi.' Kripa had no idea how to feel about it. Hoshi had plenty of resentment for Mukhara, not that Kripa would blame him; he would also be majorly pissed if he would have been in the same position.
And how about Asahi?
"Your... mom?" his sister asked, clearly confused at the whole motion. "But... Why would a Hare Krishna-"
'Oh, f... fiddlesticks in a poop can.'
"Care about me... especially you, mom." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Sure, that'd be cool and all but... after all I did, someone so awesome... I mean, you're her son, you know. And I... I acted like a bitch; I blackmailed you an-"
"Wait... you think my Mom's awesome?" Kripa blurted out.
"wait... you don't think she is the next cool lady after Isabeau?" Asahi asked.
"Your taking this better then expected, and yes. Mom's like... she's way cooler then miss Isabeau!" Kripa openly admitted with a grin. "Mom can fly, she can fight with a sword and... oh, she can listen so well; it's like she has unlimited ears. but don't be mad if she doesn't let you speak sometime since she already knows what you are about to say." He warned his sister, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "Oh, and watch your mouth; she hates cusses."
"Really? Lame..."
"Hey, Mama has sensitive ears... and it's not lame; she just wants us to up our vocabulary. Like, you should hear the curse she made; it's free of sexual therm and oh so creative."
"Oh, do you have an example?"
Kripa was about to when something struck him at odd. "Wait... I thought you'd be more upset over dad being... you know."
Asahi's bright face once again darkened. "Yeah, but..."
"Kripa... that was her coping mechanism," His Krishna said, and Kripa could also feel the proverbial dope slap.
"Ah... ah... You know what, Mama's cool with you and-" Kripa awkwardly tried to backpedal, praying to the lord of his life to rewind time so that he would not put both of his feet in his big mouth.
And as if to save him, Krishna appeared on all screens.
Not... not his dear and sweet Krishna.
Yuki.
"Nanashi.. what's going on?" His sister asked, her voice wavering.
"Greeting, Humans. It is I, Krishna... " The black-skinned youth spoke, his dead eyes not even moving.
Krishna-Kripa stared... his cheeks had sunken, and his skin had lost whatever healthy shine there was.
This wraith was such a far cry from her little brother.
"We, of the Polytheistic Alliance, have erected a domain over the entirety of Tokyo." The abomination spoke like a weatherman. " You will no longer be able to use your demon summoning program." it seemed to waver at it, and Krishna-Kripa scowled.
'Why didn't he say that at the start of the who shitstorm.' The Vaishnava wondered. As he felt his formidable temper bubble up from were he had buried it.
The image change, and it was BFBB on screen... or what's its name.
"The Tokugawa Mandala... the grand barrier we have set over Tokyo."
Kripa felt the last of his control slip at the statement of Fat Man G... the monster inside, the powerful youkai could not hold himself anymore.
"Nanashi?"
"He's so wrong. so... so wrong." The teen tried to stifle his laughter as Fat-Man and Little Boy repeated what everyone had figured out by now. He didn't even care about this whole ' Flynn will awaken as my Godslayer and well make a new universe' sort of bullshit!
Oh... did he said that out loud? Wonderful!
"Nanashi... you're eyes." Asahi gasped, and Kripa knew what his sister was referring to.
His tri-coloured eyes... the edgiest eyes he had the chance of sporting.
"Oh, you have no idea what those eyes have seen, sister of mine." He began ominously. "But what I have seen and heard right now? Oh! It made my eyes, my ears and my mind burn with the show of clear and blatant Show of disrespect against the Holy Vedas!" He spat as he jumped to his feet, his anger and mirth burning bright. "This thing spinning atop the dome is a yantra! No, wait, that's not even worth calling a mandala; it's not even an Actual mandala, it doesn't even have any Sanskrit writings on this piece of shit! Where did the fraud find it? Photo-Bukit? Gettimage? God above and below, the thing's not even pined on properly. Just look at that wobbly ass decorations! It's like this one bad boot leged station disk we've once got, you know, the one that blew up Stupei's game stations?" he began to laugh as his anger was finally ignited.
Asahi stared at Krishna-Kripa frozen in place.
For his part, The Vaishnava had enough...
And to be honest, it was not just the ugly pieces of retarded 'magic' that had blown his cap, it was how his dear Sweet and pure Krishna had been defamed because someone wanted to be an edge lord!
No... Krishna-Kripa had enough of this farce, and he had enough of this bullshit recording, he had enough of the blatant defamation of this wonderful culture that had adopted them at the lowest point in their life, of her Yukimaru's torture by the crawling chaos that may, or may not be that thing at the bottom of the abyss of time, they had enough! THEY HAD ENOUGH!
He heard a whimper, and he turned to see his dearest sister staring at him in pure fear, her back to the wall.
Krishna-Kripa felt his lips stretched in a kind yet, frigid smile.
"Na...Nanashi, please stop this." She... oh, did she tried to order him again?
How cute.
"Now, now, Sweet sister of mine." he cooed as he felt his arms and shoulder loosening. " I'm not just another orphan now, you know. This name is dead... and it shall remain so." He explained as he slowly walked to her. "My name is Kazami Krishna-Kripa... And yes, my Other mother is the Sadistic plant that keeps giving you grief in PoFV... But don't worry... I won't hurt you." he assured her as he gently brushed away some stray hair from her face.
Was it the tears he was seeing?
How sweet.
Suddenly, he heard the door open.
"Kripa! Asahi!" Mukhara barked as she stood (floated) in the middle of the doorway, her face the very definition of cold rage and concern.
"Hey Mommy dearest, did the recording pissed you off too?" Krishna-Kripa asked pleasantly. Leaving his sister behind as he walked closer to his mother and best friend.
He felt so light, so giddy... So blazingly angry.
And yet, this burning anger was so intense, it felt like his entire body was in a cool pond.
"Kazami Krishna-Kripa."
"KKK~" He singsonged with a wiggle of his head. "It's me, mommy dearest~ What may I do for you?" The Greenette asked, his body happily swaying from side to side.
Mukhara, dear, powerful and lovely, gave a little huff. "First, you may want to crank down your killing intent." She asked him. "You're just about to give a heart attack to Toad and Ken."
"Oh my, really?" Kripa asked as he hid his mouth with his dainty fingers, genuinely surprised that he could generate this anime trope. "Oh dear, um... Mama, how am I supposed to turn that off?" He asked sheepishly, and Mukhara sighed.
"You just did." his mother said as she let Asahi run past her; she was pale, and it was clear she was terrified of him.
'Oops, I guess.' After all the blackmail the fear he had lived due to her, it was nice for Asahi to live through this consistent anxiety.
"Kripa, that's not the Vaishnava way of thinking," Mukhara warned as she floated into the room. And... you may need to learn how to clamp it down quickly."
"Why? Aunty Radha got busted?" Kripa's mouth asked, and by how Mukhara's eyes bloomed open, the greenette knew he must have hit the nail on the head.
He did his best to keep the mounting anger hidden, kept warm in the confine of his heart to be used later on the bug born from the fetid urine of a dog eater's dead kidney.
"Betta."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Let's get Yuki... and let us show the wrath of the Vaishnava."
The son of Yuuka smiled wikedly.
" After the meeting."
And groaned as he threw himself back to the bed.
