Author note: This is a continuation of the original fanfic that has been left to my attention to continue as I've gained permission from the original author to continue the story. In this regard, there will be several changes that must be made given that the story is mostly left behind in the continuity of the original comic series of Rick Griffin. I hope you enjoy what I had planned and made available for you guys to read! Any criticism is valued.
Chapter 6 (Continuation of the original fic)
As Kenji slowly getting used to his odd surrounding, he found himself face to face with Spirit Dragon, who now stares at him with utmost intent of look that could spell one's own doom if they were to even mutter incorrectly. In his stupor, Spirit Dragon takes the time to ask her question to him once again "Where did you come from Kenji?!" a question that fumbled Kenji and made him panic, unsure of what to do in his current state, especially worried about being exposed to have been an anomaly, an outsider, whom doesn't belong in this very universe.
In around after Dragon asked her question, Kenji came to his senses and composed himself after regaining his composure after being brought to this blank plane of existence.
Kenji took notice of the table he is on, which is a huge table with some kind of huge map and a name that says 'Babylon Garden' at it's place. He grunted questionably about his current state with a huff and proceeded to ask "Am I on a table? This seems like a table, and pardon if I'm being a bit rude or whatever, but this seems like a DnD setup?" Kenji's reply was met with a annoyed eye roll by Dragon who then promptly stares back at him and tapping her fingers with another lingering aura and asserted her demand once again, "Your question will be answered the moment you answer my question first and with the utmost importance that you do not find your way to lie to me for the consequences will be dire. Now, answer my question, who are you and why are you here in Babylon Gardens!"
Kenji, knowing he's in a pickle of a situation took note well of her stance and replied promptly while leisurely looking around the vast empty void of white that they're in, "Well, my name is Kenji Taios, I'm unsure if you're aware of or know that, and I pretty recently just moved into Babylon Gardens after serving in the Military and that's just about it? Say am I dreaming? I hope I am cuz I don't recall having any memories or dreams about a dragon before?" Kenji's reply have Dragon questioning the Beauceron even more especially when she couldn't read through his minds and see or know what he knows of or whether he is telling her the truth.
In that instance, Dragon proceeded to shift her position and took a more comfortable stance sitting down on some chair that materialized out of nowhere. Dragon proceeded then to rest her arms on the table and sigh, to which she then says "No, you're not dreaming, and sadly I do not have the patience, let alone the time to waste here making things go through following protocol. If you're telling the truth, so be it, but it still doesn't stop me from having my suspicion of you Kenji, especially when you whom I am to presume to be a normal pet in Babylon Garden can somehow block me, a Celestial from reading your mind and soul. You quite frankly have me on my guard."
This reply from Dragon made Kenji be aware that perhaps Darius has done something to help him from being ratted out, being read by other forces beyond, like this strange green dragon he met just now, whom he has a lingering suspicion to have been some kind of connection to Tarot or some kind. Whilst in his thoughts, Spirit Dragon continues "Although you may proclaim that youre just an ordinary citizen, it doesn't make you any less suspicious now especially when you have that gear on you right now." Spirit Dragon said mentioning of the Beauceron's armor and wings. Kenji at this point then realizes he cannot hide this but still chooses to play it cool.
Kenji then said "Well, I'm not even sure myself of why I have this on me, I thought it's you who put me like this?" to which Dragon simply felt like that wasn't enough of an answer to satisfy her, but then she ponders 'He might be telling the truth, but at the same time he could be just playing the fool card to get me off of his back. In any case, for now, I'll have to make sure he's under monitor.' Kenji took note that Spirit Dragon might be unto him but was also skeptical of the whole scenario herself. Kenji took this as a initiative to then ask her questions, "So, let me get this straight, I'm not dreaming, and that you're some kind of...dragon lady thing and you're interrogating me under what charges exactly?" this question was then met with an instant reply by Spirit Dragon "You have blocked my ability to read you is one thing, but it's another when we couldn't find anything to prove that you're not a spy, especially a Demon spy which quite frankly could be the only answer left about you if you yourself can't answer our question."
That's when Kenji realized something isn't right, he thought he was alone with Dragon but he felt like he was being watched by more than just Dragon alone in the empty void dimension. Kenji proceeded to then turn his head and see 2 other more figures of giant proportion before him, all who seems to be sitting at the table. He took note of how the new members that are sitting now seem to look differently than Dragon. One figure looked like a Gryphon bird of sorts with blue feathers with a cocky expression and the other one looks like a huge white fox, who holds a more musing facial expression, one that screams of content face of a trickster or a prankster with a smile plastered to his face.
Kenji then asked in interest of the new people on the table, asking "Well, who are you guys supposed to be now? If I'm not dreaming, I hope you have answers of your own as how I will answer your questions later." Spirit Dragon took the time to introduce herself and her companions, she then proceed "My name is Spirit Dragon, and I am a Celestial Being, a demigod if you will, and these 2 are my companions, or rather co-workers as I'd like to call them. The blue one is my bumbling idiotic of a brother, Pete the Gryphon, and the white one is Great Kitsune, another fellow Celestial Being." Kenji proceeded her with a question "Okay so you guys are Demigods, so I take it you guys are here to judge me or something over some kind of sin I've committed or something?" Pete, the blue one interjected "Judge you? How about interrogating you 'Good Cop Bad Cop' style? You got Dragon's attention, and quite frankly earlier I thought she lost her touch of being a Celestial, given how much of a hag she is, but then I realized even I can't read you, so that's got us concerned, even Kitsune can't read your damn mind or soul for that fact! Your ability to block our abilities is frustratingly, concerning due to the potentials that you being a threat to our 'game' itself and that you might be a spy or worse an anomaly of sorts."
Kenji took this information quite well until he realized something that Pete mentioned something about a 'game' and that piqued his interests to hear. As Kenji was about to open his mouth to ask, Kitsune then opened his mouth to talk before the Beauceron could "Well I'm sure you have questions a lot Kenji, especially in regards to what the 'game' is but don't worry, we'll explain it in a way that won't shatter your perceptions of reality, and while we're at it, who designed your armor I wonder, pretty fancy, but not my taste though." said Kitsune with a hint of sly and snark to his tone, making Kenji feeling suspicious of Kitsune with his remarks."Well, I am in serious need of answers myself 'cause frankly I myself can't answer your question about how I can block you reading my mind, but I'm more concerned on the fact that you tried to read my mind, invade my privacy of all things!!! What gives you the authority to do that??!" barked Kenji, startling Dragon with his outburst in his question.
Dragon proceeded to tell "Well it's our job and responsibility to ensure our Game isn't interrupted or disturbed by any external forces, or worst, of any possible invading force. Your capability to block our abilities to read you means you're not from here Kenji, and we took notice of a small shift in reality, especially with how some behavior of our local Babylon Gardens themselves don't seem to behave as we know them to have behaved. Quite frankly that made us worried that you could've been the cause of it."
Kenji then barks back with "Wait, I caused a shift in the reality of Babylon Garden?? How so?? And what do you mean the people of Babylon Gardens have changed?? Are you insinuating that I'm magical of some kind?""Not exactly, but the possibility that you've been blessed with some form of magical abilities is still high given that you are adorned with an armor that none of us can identify or know of it's origins." replief Kitsune.
He continued "With whatever we could find out about you, it's our best interest to have you detained in our dimension for questioning until we can verify you're not a threat, but given that your mere arrival moving into Babylon Gardens had already caused a shift in the reality here in Babylon Gardens, it's safe to say you got our attention the moment everything was out of it's place of order."
Pete then sizes up Kenji with his index finger then says "Well, just know, even with that strange armor you got, if you dare try to even fight your way through, I can pummel you to dust little man, so don't play around with me, the last thing I want is for our Game interrupted by some inexperienced invader" Pete's words annoyed Kenji making him growled with annoyance with how arrogant the blur bird sounded. Kenji then replied "Well, if you wanna fight me, try me big guy, unless you're a wuss who can't even beat a guy smaller than him, you're no different than the God of War games bosses like that Rhodes statue, all size but no power." Kenji really tripped up on that for Pete then proceeded to try to punch him in his place with his huge fist almost hitting Kenji but was stopped by Kitsune, who then retorts to Pete "Whoa, whoa, whoa there big guy, chill out! Last thing i need is to be held responsible for letting you destroy our prisoner, he needs to be sent to be judged by Bahamut for goodness sake!!" "I take it you're not that much of a big shot around here huh, blue bird?" Kenji snide at Pete but was then reprimanded by Dragon "You can try whatever you want Kenji, but know this, you are an entity that could ruin our plans and work here if you still show resistance. Know that your entire existence could be erased by us if we deemed you to be dangerous and unworthy to be kept around."
Kenji felt insulted, but nonetheless kept his cool, for all he knew, he's not even entirely sure if the armor that Darius injected to his body could even withstand a blow from these Celestial Beings. The last thing he'd want was to be in a bruising time of his life, not that he mind the idea of fighting these guys, but for all intent, he needs to go back to Babylon Gardens and if being cooperative is the only fastest way to get him back at Babylon Gardens, so be it
Author's note: this is a rewrite of the continuation chapter of the original fanfic by plavoko12 that is long overdue for a rewrite due to poor writing and cringe dialogue that i wrote years ago, I changed and rewrite it to flesh out the story even more. Don't worry, I'm planning on going back on it soon, and I'm currently writing the next chapter as we speak so do not fret folks for I haven't abandoned this project yet! See you guys next on the next chapter!