(A New Fate Unfolds, let us see where it takes all that is involved.)

Bold = English Conversations

Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations

Fate 12

Outside the 13th Hierarchical city of Kagutsuchi's NOL branch, a blonde haired man stood in front of it's hallowed doors. He wore the clothes of the NOL themselves, his blaze blue coat flowing with the wind blowing his way as his eyes were closed. Were they closed in deep thought about what has happened to the NOL in general? Or was there something else going through his mind at that moment as he felt the sense of familiarity this situation brought him.

"Is something on your mind?" A voice called out as the man simply remained quiet and standing upright. "What is it?" The man questioned. "It's just that you have been standing there for quite a while now. I am just wondering if this place has any kind of history for you." The voice questioned as the man simply scoffed upon hearing that statement. "None of that matters, This is merely a recreation of previous events. My memories of the events here are not relevant." The man said as the voice couldn't help but be curious about that.

"But are you not curious still? To see how events hold up compared to your memories?" The voice questioned as the man scoffed once again. "And are you not urgently wanting to see those two? We have no time for useless detours." The man sternly said as the voice inside him sighed. "That is true… But at the same time I would think you would have some curiosity about current events." The voice mused as the man remained silent.

"Do not mistake me. I am merely helping you achieve your goal right now. If I could, I would gladly go after my brother right now and have a duel against him right now." the man explained as the voice simply made a soft sigh. "I understand. Do hurry though, those two will not last much longer." The voice said before vanishing from his mind, the man simply scratched the back of his head upon hearing that.

"Do wait for me Brother… I promise…" Before he could finish his train of thought at that moment, the man felt the air around him become near suffocating. This was a sensation he was deeply familiar with as he tensed his grip around his weapon, a katana with an intricate handle construction and blue sheath. "Brother? This aura though…" the man said as he looked down and saw his tensed grip on the katana. He did not know how he should proceed but at the same time he knew one thing.

...He cannot let what he just sensed pass him by…

"Are we there yet?" Makoto asked, half in a serious manner and half in a joking manner. "No were not Makoto. Please don't make it a bit." Sora said as Makoto giggled upon hearing Sora make that statement. They were slowly approaching their final destination, the 13th hierarchical city of Kagutsuchi's NOL branch. Both Makoto and Sora had made sure they were properly rested and their wounds were healed so they were ready for any possible alterations that would come their way.

"So...You really did come to the NOL branch all while carrying me in your arms?" Makoto questioned as Sora nodded his head. "All while dealing with NOL soldiers that were brought in by Meifang Lapislazuli." Sora added as Makoto simply sighed upon hearing that. "I'm sorry I made you go through all of that. I really do wish I was stronger then." Makoto said as her hand drifted towards her own stump, placing it gently as she rubbed on it affectionately.

"Don't overthink about it. That was out of our hands. We should focus on the things we can do now instead of the past" Sora explained as Makoto smiled upon hearing that as she looked at her new arm given to her by Caroline, reattaching it to her arm stump as she tensed the prosthetic fist into a fist. "I know Sora, but don't you wonder sometimes if there is more you can do over what you were given?" Makoto questioned as Sora stopped walking at that before smiling

"And that Makoto, is how you end up in my position." Sora said as he placed his hand on Makoto's shoulder, giving her reassurance that he felt the same way as she smiled and hasten up her step. "So are we there yet?" Makoto questioned as Sora couldn't help but shake his head upon hearing that statement. "Not yet Ma…" Before Sora could finish his sentence, he immediately sensed a dangerous killing intent come his way as Makoto could also feel that aura come her way.

Before either could state the obvious, they immediately entered battle stance as without warning, a blade was swung down Sora's head. If it were not for his drive, Sora would have been easily cut down at he performed a blade catch, grabbing the blade responsible with the palm of his hands and holding them tightly. He held onto the blade as tight as he could as Makoto immediately followed this up by attempting to deliver a blow to the assailant's stomach to send him flying only for them to retract their blade or rather, make their blade vanish.

"I thought that you were someone else… but to think I would meet you two here in all places." a voice called out as Makoto and Sora's eyes immediately raised upon hearing that statement. They immediately relaxed from their tense battle stances and their gaze was simply focused on the individual in front of them. "No way… You're…" Makoto said as the person walked a bit forward to expose their body to the visible light provided by the lamp post.

His Blaze blue coat was the normal color associated with the majority of NOL soldiers. His coat however was that of a high ranking official, that of a major. His outfit reflected that militaristic attitude, with simple combat boots and slim pants that blended with his legs. His weapon, a katana with a blue sheath rested on his hip as his blue eyes gaze both Sora and Makoto a cold gaze. "So you are the one that caused quite the stir…" The man said as Makoto was going to say something only for Sora to interject.

"And you seem to retain your memory of me… Jin Kisaragi." Sora quickly answered as Jin placed his hand on the handle of his blade as Sora did not do the same thing, instead relaxing his body. "It's good to know that we have another person whose memories has not been tampered in any way, it's been quite a journey so far." Sora explained as Sora noticed that Jin did not relent from his grip as Makoto couldn't help but feel like something was wrong at that moment.

Before she and Sora knew it, Jin immediately drew his blade, forcing Sora to block the attack, using his Black arm to do so as he felt his arm get easily severed off his body, forcing him to take a roll in order to avoid the edge of the blade on his neck. His Black arm ached for a bit before returning back to him, swimming across the ground to reattach itself to Sora. As soon as that happened, Sora could feel a sense of bloodlust come his way.

"Step away from him Makoto Nanaya." Jin warned as Makoto immediately realized what he was thinking. "Stop Jin! He's not our enemy!" Makoto yelled as she ran ahead and placed herself as a shield in front of Jin. "Do you know what he is?" Jin questioned as Makoto nodded his head. "Then why are you standing in my way, You do know the risk of protecting such a dangerous being. What it means if he betrays us?" Jin questioned as Sora wanted to intervene but Makoto raised her hand, telling him she has the situation under control.

"I know… It's because I was the one who brought him to existence." Makoto explained as she felt the blade of Yukianesa press on her neck at that moment. "I know you are a friend of Tsubaki… but choose your next words carefully." Jin warned as Makoto knew what his threat meant. "The world was forgetting about him… I couldn't forget him at all. I refused to let him disappear while the world lived on blissfully without knowing better. I would rather die than live in such a world with the truth given to me." Makoto said as she unhesitantly walked forward, letting Yukianesa remain on her neck at that moment as Sora held back the urge to lunge in and save her at that moment, knowing that would simply make things worse.

"And I know what a danger that Black Beasts bring to the world, I have read my Dark War History and the history of Black Beast Remnants that remain in the shadows." Makoto said as Jin's hand did not waver, ready to cut Makoto down at any moment as he had one last question for the woman in his mind. "And what will you do if he does become a danger to the world? Can you say that you will be the one who will put him down?" Jin questioned as Makoto grabbed the blade of Yukianesa, feeling it's chilling touch on her physical hand.

"There will be no need for that because I will make sure he doesn't become a danger to the world no matter what." Makoto said, her eyes directly staring right at Jin's own as her grip on Yukianesa tightened. Jin contemplated the meaning of her words at that moment before lowering his blade from Makoto's neck. "Then you better make sure you fulfill your words or I will do so in your place." Jin warned as Makoto took a deep breath upon realizing she managed to convince him that Sora was not a threat.

"I promise I will Jin Sempai." Makoto said as Sora approached the two at that moment, not sure how to process the information that he had been just given. "So you're the one called Sora Minakaze." Jin said as Sora nodded his head. "And you also were a student of the Academy no? One of the people who were part of the Black Rebellion?" Jin further questioned as Sora nodded his head upon hearing that statement.

"… Then Makoto Nanaya would be able to vouch for your involvement in said events." Jin said as Sora nodded his head upon hearing that statement. "I see… So my memories are the truth then." Jin said as Sora took a deep breath upon hearing that as he was simply in relief that Jin remembered him, but that raised a different question in his mind. "Wait a minute, So how did you even retain your memory of me? You were not summoned to this world like everyone else?" Sora questioned as he felt his head ring upon saying that.

'Oh not again…' Sora thought as Makoto could see the slight pain in Sora's face as she quickly rushed to see what was wrong with him. "Is something the matter?" Makoto questioned as Sora shook his head, reassuring her that he himself was alright but there was something else in his head. As soon as he recomposed himself, he focused on his surroundings to figure out what is going on to cause him to act like the way he was.

"… insist that we should try and get that woman away from him." A voice called out as Sora was alarmed to hear that. "Silence you. We shall handle this situation my way." Jin replied quietly as Sora knew he had to say something otherwise things would make him worry even more. "Jin… Who is that you are talking to?" Sora questioned as the moment Jin heard that, he simply sighed. "I will not ask how you can hear but regardless, show yourself." Jin ordered.

Both Sora and Makoto wondered what Jin could mean with his choice of words but before they could ask any further, the air suddenly shimmered in front of Jin. Their eyes squinted a little bit before they could see a figure manifest in front of them. Makoto's eyes widened even further as soon as she saw the recognizable features of the person that was beginning to manifest in front of them. Sora meanwhile was still puzzled beyond all things as to what Makoto was freaking about and thus decided to wait until the ghost properly made themselves appear.

The figure that manifested in front of them was a woman in her early 20's. The school uniform she wore was hard to see thanks to the massive puffy coat she wore that came with the hood pulled up her head. Twin tailed blonde braids with two ribbons tied at the ends were the only visible parts of her hair as her thin framed round glasses made her green eyes seem much bigger than they were as she wore a dignity and grace that betrayed her youthful appearance.

"Who are you?" Sora simply questioned before getting a small elbow to his stomach by Makoto. "That's Trinity Glassfille, one of the six heroes from the Dark War and a sorceror on par with the great sage nine herself!" Makoto exclaimed, Sora simply nodding his head as Trinity simply shook her head upon hearing that. "I am not that great of a mage to be honest, I was merely an excellent student that's all." Trinity said as Makoto simply shook her head.

"No way! In Torifune, you are often held as the patron saint for study! There are people there that look up to your studious ways and hope to achieve the same things you did in life!" Makoto said as Sora couldn't help but scratch his head upon hearing that. "Most of that studying not coming from actual school work am I right?" Sora said as Makoto flinched upon hearing that, elbowing him again.

"Enough idle chatter, it is clear that we understand who this woman is." Jin said as Sora and Makoto quickly nodded their heads upon hearing that, understanding that Jin was just getting straight to business at that moment. Both Sora and Makoto wondered how Trinity Glassfille was relevant to Jin being fine at that moment. "Right… As Mister Kisaragi said now is not the time for idle banter." Trinity agreed as Sora and Makoto nodded their heads.

"Sora Minakaze. Answer this, Are you indeed in fact a composite being created from the fusion of a Black Beast Core and Nox Nyctores?" Trinity questioned as Sora immediately understood where this was going but decided against answering her question with another as he simply nodded his head. "If I may ask, are you the Anima Voluntatis: Balmung?" Trinity questioned again as Sora nodded his head upon hearing that question.

"Balmung… The Nox Nyctores created to fight against Mucro Flagro: Fafnir… Nine's final Nox Nyctores she created in life." The moment both Makoto and Sora heard that, they immediately understood what was going on. "The only question I have for you is why are you the way you are right now? What happened to the original Balmung?" Trinity questioned as Sora looked down upon hearing that statement, unsure how to explain it to Trinity.

"Anima Voluntatis: Balmung was never a weapon Trinity. It was the user." Makoto explained, surprising Sora as Trinity's eyes widened upon hearing that statement. "My gods… so the final product was…" "And I am currently the newest user of Anima Voluntatis Balmung, Makoto Nanaya." Makoto said, placing her hand on her chest as Trinity closed her eyes as sadness seemed to take over her.

"I will not ask why you have accepted to become a user of that Nox Nyctores… I only ask that you understand what it means to accept such a burden." Trinity questioned as Makoto nodded her head. "It means that when I do die someday… my past, present and future are gone. I will never be able to be reborn in any world created by the Master Unit." Makoto said as Sora was shocked to hear that statement come out of her mouth.

"Sorry Sora, I did want to tell you this earlier just in case you didn't know. Though judging from your face you didn't know that part." Makoto explained as Sora shook his head. "I sort of understood what was going on… but that part…" Sora said as Trinity looked down upon hearing that. "Balmung...A Nox Nyctores created by Nine to stop Draco… A contradiction that erased itself the moment it's duty was completed." Trinity said as she placed her hands in prayer.

"I had truly hoped that Balmung would not return to the world, it would rest deep within the abyss of the Azure. But it appears it did not." Trinity said as Sora shook his head upon hearing that statement. "If Balmung was never discovered, I wouldn't be here right now… and I wouldn't have met her too." Sora said, holding Makoto's hand at that moment with his Black Beast hand as Makoto smiled at that gesture.

"I do appreciate the details but at the same time it's proving to be a waste of our time, Let us proceed with the actual details that they want to know." Jin said, breaking the conversation that the three were having as Trinity cleared her throat upon hearing Jin say that. "Mr Kisaragi is right. We do not have much time unfortunately so I will try to make my next set of words as brief as possible." Trinity explained as both Sora and Makoto nodded their heads upon hearing that statement.

"The reason why Mr Kisaragi is here and retaining his memories is because I granted him his current body with the use of alchemy." Trinity explained as Sora understood something before Makoto could. "Wait, current body… didn't Makoto say that Jin was originally injured back fighting Ragna?" Sora said as Makoto realized what Sora had just said. "Wait… So Trinity gave you a brand new body for you to fight with Jin-Sempai? What is going to happen after all of this?" Makoto questioned.

"My body will become unable to fight ever again." Jin explained as that alarmed both Sora and Makoto. "Unable to fight? What does that even mean in this case." Sora asked as Trinity knew she had to explain. "Mr Kisaragi was badly harmed in his duel against Ragna The Bloodedge. His injuries would have taken months to heal. I used my alchemy knowledge to forge him a brand new body that would allow him to fight but once this is all over, he will rendered unable to fight ever again." Trinity explained

"That doesn't really explain how that would make him unable to fight, wouldn't he still be able to use Ars Magus and Yukianesa? Wouldn't he be able to train his body to fight again?" Makoto questioned as Trinity shook her head. "It truly means that he would be unable to fight any battle any longer. His body would be rendered unable to use Ars Magus and too weak to use his Nox Nyctores. He would be rendered just a normal man after all of this is said and done." Trinity explained.

"But...But can't you just give him a body with alchemy once again?" Makoto questioned as Trinity shook her head. "I only have so much limited time in this world. I must conserve my alchemical prowess for the battles ahead. I wish I had the time to truly transmute him a perfectly capable body but alas, this is the solution we came to." Trinity explained as Makoto looked down a bit before Sora placed a hand on her shoulder.

"...Does Tsubaki know about what you have done?" Sora questioned as that surprised both Jin and Makoto. "Unfortunately, she had been sucked into the Embryo before I was able to let her know. I too ended up here but as you can see, my memory is protected." Jin said as Sora's eyes wandered towards Trinity. "Most likely a part of her alchemy am I right?" Sora said as Jin simply remained quiet, making Sora presume that Jin's silence was his word.

"...Just make sure she knows when this is all over. I am pretty sure that Tsubaki would make sure you have 24 hour security at all times." Sora said as Jin couldn't help but smirk at that comment. "I am pretty sure she would make such arrangements." Jin said as Makoto couldn't help but smile from hearing that. "So what brings you two here in the first place? There's no reason for you two to be here in the first place." Jin said as both Sora and Makoto looked at each other and nodded their heads.

"We both arrived here but not from the Embryo sucking us in. When we came to, everyone's acting weird and like everything was back to December 31st 2199. Kagura's taken your place as Hero of Ikaruga and everyone's out looking for Ragna The Bloodedge." Makoto explained as Jin nodded his head, matching with what he understood at that moment. "And thus we decided to go after Ragna himself. We're hoping that by following him we can figure out what's actually happening around here." Sora explained as Jin closed his eyes upon hearing that statement.

"...My brother… Is he alright?" Jin questioned as Sora immediately became confused upon hearing that statement. "Oh… Ragna's fine… but he seems to have lost all memory of what happened, even himself. He only knows how to fight and is trying to figure himself out." Makoto explained as Sora's eyes widened upon hearing that statement, realizing that Ragna The Bloodedge was Jin Kisaragi's brother.

"I see… and I presume this is his next destination?" Jin questioned as Makoto nodded her head. Jin's grip on Yukianesa tightned upon hearing that statement as he wanted to badly chase after his brother but knew that other things had to be resolved first before he could do so. "As much as I would like to accompany you, I need to finish the errand Trinity has tasked me first. So I ask you both to take care of my brother in my place." Jin said as both Sora and Makoto nodded their heads at that.

"You don't need to worry about that Jin-Sempai. We will make sure that Ragna's safe and sound and figure out what's actually happening around here." Makoto said as Sora nodded his head in agreement. Jin simply nodded his head in response before turning his back on them and started to walk away. "Wait! Do you want to be able to communicate with us? Just in case?" Sora questioned as Jin shook his head at that. "Do not bother. I have the feeling we will meet up once again." Jin replied as he soon disappeared from the area.

"Oh don't worry about Jin-sempai. You know how he is most of the time." Makoto said as Sora nodded his head before looking back at the direction Jin was walking towards. "Has Jin always looked like a loner?" Sora questioned as Makoto simply shrugged her shoulders. "I don't really know. All I can say is that Taro and Akane were the ones who kept him sociable back at the Academy. Kind of sad those guys didn't stick on as a trio." Makoto said as Sora nodded his head upon hearing that statement.

"… So you really only have one life huh…" Sora said as Makoto nodded her head upon hearing that. "I knew something was up when the world I went to had you not existing in it… but to think it was to that extent." Sora said before Makoto placed a hand on his shoulder. "If I didn't do what I did… I wouldn't be able to bring you back in the first place. And to be frank, I would have prefered to forget about you completely if I couldn't bring you back completely. I was truly fighting my all but… I wouldn't lie if a part of me was getting tired of hoping." Makoto explained.

"… Good thing I came when I did huh." Sora said as Makoto smiled at that statement. "So I am going to make full use of this one life I have. To give the best chance of living happily ever after in the next world this master unit creates together." Makoto promised as Sora smiled upon hearing that statement. "So let's get going. We need to make sure Ragna's alright down there." Makoto said as Sora nodded his head. Makoto soon moved ahead, eager to get things rolling. Sora meanwhile stood for a bit processing what he had just heard.

Makoto's was living her last life. Sure it wouldn't make a difference if she was living her last or had infinite lives and that shouldn't really matter but something deep inside Sora was bothered by the fact this was Makoto's final timeline she was in. If they didn't get what they wanted, the life both knew would disappear entirely. This also meant that if Sora reincarnates into a different timeline, he would reincarnate in a timeline where Makoto, the light that shone brightly when he lost everything was gone from his life. Maybe his memories of her would be erased so the pain wouldn't be there… but that wouldn't change the fact that his heart would have a hole that would never be replaced.

Sora closed his eyes upon that thought, placing his beast hand on his chest and feeling it's gentle beat. He was alive right now thanks to her and he knew he owed everything he currently was to the people around him, Makoto included. Thus he made a silent promise only for himself. He would fight the very world itself, he will make sure that Makoto gets her tommorow no matter what. Even if it means violating the laws of the world itself.

Makoto meanwhile watched Sora silently and quietly promise himself. She could guess what he was thinking to himself and smiled sadly. She knew that what Sora was promising himself would probably result in the world being torn apart. All she can do is fight the good fight and make sure that would not happen. She will do her best to protect the world from the worst case scenario and make sure that Sora himself does not ever have to make that decision…

… At all costs…

"Are you sure of not telling them about the power of order and that being the reason why your memory remained intact?" Trinity questioned, a ghost in Jin's image again. "And what relevance would have that had in the conversation. Let them think what they want." Jin said. Trinity could see the logic of Jin's words but at the same time she was not sure if that was the right call at the end of the day. "In any case, let's not waste any time and focus on your errand." Jin continued as Trinity nodded her head, vanishing once again as Jin continued to make his way towards the city, approaching the city center of Kagutsuchi like he originally planned.

As Jin left the area, he was unaware that this whole time, his conversation with Sora and Makoto had been observed. "The Hero of Ikaruga… Normally I would be leaping off my feet to go after you with my all…" The man said before his gaze was focused on his true prey. "But you will taste foul… not until I feast on my true foe." The man continued as his eyes stared at Sora and Makoto as the latter approached Sora.

"Come on Sora. Let's get going." Makoto said as she placed a hand on Sora's shoulder. The observer continued to watch from the shadows as Sora nodded his head at her statement before turning to look at the general direction of the Observer. "Is something the matter Sora?" Makoto questioned before Sora leaned close to Makoto's ears and whispered something, quickly prompting the two to leave at that moment.

"Amazing. What awareness." the man said as he stood up from his perch, the light shone on his back at that moment as the moon light was enough to illuminate the individual observing Sora and Makoto. His blue hair blew on the wind and his muscular body made the moon look soft. The tattoos engraved on his body were proudly shown as he wore no shirt, just a coat that floated off his shoulders and did not dare leave his body. His maddening grin was the last thing the moon's light highlighted as he was simply in delight, no ecstacy that he was able to find his true prey.

….As Azrael, The Mad Dog, was ready to hunt…

GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION! HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING ON THIS FINE DAY!? And once again, we approach the final three months of a year. To most of you, that statement is probably nothing, just a remark that we are approaching the end of a year once again and for once, 2023 has been the most peaceful year we could ask for anyone. To others, these three months may be special to you for a wide variety of reasons. Regardless, I hope you all have nothing bad happen during these last few months of the year and that everything proceeds peacefully as a result.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT TO SORA MINAKAZE AND MAKOTO NANAYA!? HOW WILL THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE MAD DOG AZRAEL CHANGE THEIR PLANS!? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO FEND OFF THE CHALLENGE THAT THE MAD DOG WILL OPPOSE THEM OR WILL THE MAD DOG'S HUNT FOR THE ULTIMATE GAME PROVE TO BE THE ULTIMATE DERAILMENT THEY DID NOT EXPECT!? All this and more on when the wheels of fate turn.