You may think it's religious drivel...but eh, Krishna did tell us that he would do everything to give you all salvation.
The Lord ask, I deliver.
Also, From now on Nanashi will be called Krishna-Kripa.
The place they were they were was…filthy. It was a small room with a bunk bed and some supplies left there by travelling hunters knowing the power of generosity. But the walls were covered with numerous graffiti and substances Nan…Krishna-Kripa hoped never to identify. The place smelled like death, blood, booze, humidity and roasted demon meat.
He missed his Krishna, everything was better with him.
"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare…" Nan…Krishna-Kripa chanted on his mother's Tulasi beads. "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" it was soothing to his heart…and an act that was so familiar, the boy wondered why he never picked up a string and 109 beads and chanted on them…
'I didn't remember…Narada, I didn't have his mercy.'
"So…how do you feel now?" Mukhara…his birth mother asked gently.
"I'm…better." Krishna-Kripa answered. "That's….the Maha-mantra, right?" He may remember who he was in the past…but he only knew what necessary, nothing more.
"Yes…do you remember what it is?" Mukhara asked gently. "Do you remember your Sadhana?"
"No…I remember some but…not everything." He answered his mother, still fingering the beads with Practiced ease. "I just know I was Ananda-Rupini, who used to be Aigis and Hamuko before that. I remember some of my time with S.E.E.S, Yuki-kun, The fall and joining Iskcon. I knew you, our Guru and Practised Krishna Consciousness… And I died in yet another car crash, begging you to be my mom. But beyond that..." He gave a helpless shrugged.
Mukhara, who was sitting beside him, gave Krishna-Kripa's knee a reassuring squeeze. "It's alright…you will remember everything in time. Trust me." She gave a warm smile…a smile only a mother could give. "To answer this question. The Maha-mantra, when chanted purely, like the heartfelt cry of a child for his mother, will attract Sri Sri Radha-Krishna causeless mercy. "His mother explained. "This mantra…it gives everything, it takes away the fear and anxiety that plagues our life and it gives us the highest realization of one's true self."
"It's…addictive." Already, Kripa wanted to chant more, four rounds simply weren't enough.
"Yes…" His mother looked away, clearly deep in thought. After some time, she spoke again, a serene smile on her face. "And you…you want nothing else but Krishna's service…to love him without self-interest. This, this is pure chanting."
Krishna-Kripa clutched his mother's Tulasi beads. He felt calm, more stable…just as if Krishna was here. 'No…Krishna's everywhere…and especially in his names.' Some blurred memories resurface, memories of his old Guru and the many classes he gave on the power of Harinama.
He took a deep breath in, remembering Krishna's aroma, and let it out. He felt ready to face whatever YhVh would throw at him, even Shesha.
He tried to get up; But Radha (in her black and red cat form.) prevented him, pushing him down to the bed.
"Nyah… Listen there baby. You ain't looking up to snuff yet, and those demons can smell it, Nyah." She managed to slur out, her mouth not suited for human speech. "I know ya want to get to Yuki A.S.A.P…but haste makes waste Kiki." She chided.
Krishna-Kripa sighed…he knew they were right. But…every moment he waited was a moment Yuki lost.
He looked at his mother, she had removed her left arms, some welt had formed under the fake limb. Welt that were already healing.
"Say…mom. What happened to your arms?" Krishna-Kripa asked as a way to move away from Krishna…at least for now.
His mother turned her head, a peculiar look taking shelter of her lips. "It's…well, not quite a long story but…you know Gensokyo, right? You know, from the Touhou games?"
"Yeah…not much but…some." So far, he had played Phantasmagoria of flower view. (Yuuka Main!) And was still struggling with the eleventh game. Not that he had any more time to play after he began his cadet training.
And then…it hit him.
"It's real..." he breathed out. "Reimu…Marisa…Satori…Kanzanami….oh Krishna." He put his hand to his for head. "I…Kanzanami…"
"Yes…listen when we have more time, I may go into the miracle of your birth. But yes, you are also Yuuka's son. "His mother spoke with deep affection as she held his hands. "And yes…it also means that you have two mothers."
Nanashi let out a laugh. "First a robot and now a freaking plant with two moms…what else, Shiki Eiki's my betrothed wife?" as far as he knew.
Mukhara stifle laugh. "Oh lord no! She's a widow…and way too old for you my son."
Kripa openly chuckled…this was huge but…after the events of the day, this news were easier to swallow, it helped that it was nothing groundbreaking about them…in his opinion.
What was left to be surprised about after the day he had? Not much really.
"So…Reimu's now called Revati Devi Dasi And Marisa is Maricha Devi dasi." His mother explained as she glowed with pride. "They got their initiation four years after mine…even Yuuka joined. Offering her flower mastery at the service to the lord." She closed her eyes and folded her palms, Sorrow's painted her movements. "she...she left her body a few years after...after you were taken from me. But Ekadasi...Elly Told me there were signed that she returned Back , back to Godhead"
"So...she died." Another person Kripa would never get to meet.
Mukhara shook her head. "No, for a Vaishnava, death is nothing but the spring-board back home, ...back to Radha-krishna's Lotus feet and eternal life."
"or Gauranga." Piped Radha.
"Or Gauranga." a small smile light Mukhara's lips. " Yuthika...had a very long life, a life that ended perfectly, as confirmed by a friend out ours." Mukhara finished with folded palms.
"Mom...did you...did you love her?" He had to know... Last he knew, those type of relationships were not really accepted, not out of fear or hatred, but simple Logic and the fact that, as a Hare Krishna, they had better thing to do then run after the pleasure of the flesh and the dull material senses.
Mukhara looked at her son, listening to something deep in his heart. "We didn't lust after one another, if it's what you're asking. But I did love her as a vaishnavi...or a pseudo vaishnava in my case, loves another...nothing less than that. But I will admit that after you were born, another unwritten rule had been set in place."
"Which is?" Kripa asked, curious to catch up after so many years.
"If a child can be born naturally from the couple, then they can marry." She curtly described. "So far, this rule came into play twice."
"I see." Krishna-Kripa nodded, making a mental note. "So...how did she di...passed one?"
"Time... Yuthika was...she was quite old and...that particular winter, her fire-place got extinguished in the middle of the night. She didn't... Ekadasi...Elly told me she realized Yuthika had left when her body began to wither. " Mukhara closed her eyes as tears flowed from them. "I... She used to be known a masochist, one who only desired to defeat powerful foes and cause pain to others.. And she would kill anyone fooling enough to even break a leaf of-of the gardenia." His mother's voice choked.
"...when she joined...she gave her entire garden of the sun to the Hare Krishna movement, saying that every single flowers had to be used for the lord's service. Same as the vegetable...she told me... she told me this was the reason she was so protective of those flowers in the first place." tears were now flowing freely from behind her glasses.
"…I'm the reason why she... they followed the path of Bhakti." She lowered her head in reverence. "Our spiritual master sent me to do some outreach there since I was a native and also hard to kill." She showed her doll limbs, moving away from the painful subject. "Didn't stop them for eating me." Mukhara gave a wry smile as she whipped away her tears.
"But…why? How?" Nanashi asked. And after the battle performance Mukhara had shown, her being ambushed seemed more than unlikely.
"Why?" she shrugged. "My body's delicious to them…. And…well, there were some powerful demons who didn't like what I was saying. so, they arranged for me to be sent to old hell and…" She sighed. "Well, long story short, all my limbs got infected with this highly virulent gangrene…amputation was the only way to save my life."
Krishna-Kripa's eyes widened…he knew gangrene; he had seen many hunters suffer from it.
"Yeah well…that was all part of this big multi level sham to gather human meat from them dumb tourist." Radha-Shyamasundara piped up. Reminding her nephew that, even as a cat, she could still speak. "First Yamame would infect them with something bad enough to remove a limb, and then Parsee…Paundra-Maya would curse 'em 'cause, back then, she hated everyone equaly and she got a kick out of seeing others suffer. Then Yami…Yugi would pick em up, show 'em some of Old hell's finest hospitality and fatten them up until they got sick enough to lope the limb off…" the Kasha began to ruefully kneed Krishna-Kripa's belly, careful not to hurt him with his claws.
"That's how we got the best meat for giudon, sukiyaki…yakitori…" she shuddered. "When yer mom was sent there by this one fake Buddhist…well, let's just say it ain't just animals and youkai who grow stronger after eating hermit meat…"
Kripa glanced back at his mom, who somewhat lifted her skirt, showing a pair of manikin legs. "I can count myself lucky that they wanted to make some ham later, otherwise, forget about sitting." She gave a humorous smile, chuckling as if being chopped into pieces was no big deal.
"You know beta, I think that was the moment I realized I was not this body." She began inspecting her doll hand. "I was in so much suffering. I had a fever, low on blood…it felt as if I was about to die…and then I realized that it was only my body and my mind that were affected. I, the soul…had nothing to do with it." She grinned.
"I'm not this body; I'm the eternal spirit soul. Whatever happen to this body, whether it gets' eaten burned, or rot somewhere, it doesn't matter.
"I am the soul, the servant of God, Krishna. And if my Master desires me to die in agony, I will joyfully go through this so-called ordeal, knowing that He is pleased with my service. And this knowledge and service will give me the highest of bliss"
Krishna-Kripa stared at his mother… his mouth wide open.
"You see Kripa, for a Vaishnava, whether's he lives or dies. Whether he stays in the material world or returns home, it's all the same...in birth and death, We serve the lord, not matter what."
"Geez Mukhara… I know you into sweet surrender, but even this is a bit intense." Radha mumbled.
The hermit began to laugh. "If you think it's too much, you need to reread the sharanagati songbook of Bhaktivinoda Thakur."
Radha rolled her eyes. "Yeah…I did…I'm just not there yet."
"So…how the hell did you survive that?" Kripa asked before wincing. He knew he shouldn't cuss like that in front of his mother.
"Oh, this is where the story gets good." Radha purred. "Get a load of this, kitty. Yah see, Parsee, Me, Utsuho and Yuugi each got a limb since, yah know, premium cut and were like the pet of the boss of old hell. "
"Wait…you're a pet of."
"Yep! Used to be a simple corps lugger and Uttara was one of the furnace operators." Radha-Shyamasundara sighed in nostalgia. "Then hell had to relocate…and then Miss Savitri, Satori…she adopted us, save us when we were starving." She purred. "Anyway. Since this was hermit meat, me, Yami, Uttara and Paundra-Maya got to take everything since…well, the demons of hell don't need no power boost. And no, I ain't talking about your hell, but Gensokyen hodgepodge Japanese fantasy land hell."
Krishna-Kripa opened his mouth. And then closed it. "You…ate my mom?!" For some obscure reason he could not explain, Kripa was this close to throw the hell cat off if his lap and onto a wall...violently. But Radha beat him to it, taking back her human form after she jumped off.
"Nyah! Hey calm down! She survived right." Radha yelped.
"Maybe I should continue?" Mukhara ventured. "Beta, this happened well over fifteen years ago. Those types of injuries are to be expected when preaching in a place where known man eater reside." His mother dismissed. "Beside, by sacrificing four limbs, I got four amazing God sisters." She smiled at Radha.
"Wait… That's how Rin became a Hare Krishna?" Now that he thought about it, Radha...was definitely the stupid cat in TH 11.
Not that she was stupid, obliviously.
"Not just Rin… all who ate my flesh, sanctified after four years of eating offered food, became purified." She grinned. "Prasadam is our best weapon against the clutched of Maya."
"But!"
"It wasn't just yer flesh Mukhi, Paundra-Maya always had this fascination with tattoos, and she would collect them like stamps."
'Oh Krishna…what the hell is this family?"
"Yer mom used to have the Hare-Krishna Maha-mantra inked to her wrist; she had it in Sanskrit, English and in Hiragana." Radha gave a grin. "Long story short, we began chanting the name…and next thing we knew, we realized we got an actual saint in our midst."
"Oh hush." Mukhara lowered her head bashfully. "I still have a long way to go to be an actual saint."
"Yah gave salvation to the four worst demon in hell…I'd call that saintly."
Mukhara cleared her trough. "Yes…and it's only due to my spiritual master's causeless mercy, nothing more." She demurely admitted.
Radha-Shyamasundara winked at Krishna-Kripa as if to say. 'See, yer moms a real, honest to Krishna saint.' The teen could only stare at her.
"You see K.K, even if I don't identify myself as a hermit anymore, my body still has the benefit of one." She explained.
"Long life, 'eternal' youth, and damn near impossible to kill." Radha joyfully revealed as she sat beside her adopted nephew, keeping him close. "Good thing too, otherwise the universe would have lost-"
"Radha, that's enough now." His mom stopped the hell cat. "I know you think of me as the second coming of the Christ, but I assure you I am just another Jiva trying to please her eternal master."
"Yeah…me too." The cat smiled. "Anyway, she changed the face of old hell for the better, got four God sister and made friend with one Alice Margatroid."
Mukhara smiled, repositioning her prosthetic now that the welt had healed over. "Alright…we've wasted enough time here." She turned to her son. "K.K…I know…I know I couldn't give you a normal childhood…and…" she sighed. "Listen, if it's too much for you…you don't have to think of me as your mother, you don't even have to stay with me once your out of this hermitage.…just…just keep chanting the holy names, that's…that's all I want."
Krishna-Kripa moved his gaze to his hands. "No…I wanted you to be my mom so…It's just…" Krishna-Kripa sighed as he buried his head in his hands. "Its…It's like way to much…meeting Krishna, Yuki's alive and pocessed by…I don't know…Erebus I guess. Flynn's kidnapped, then I learn that everything I went trough's just the sick play of…of course…Narada would know…"
Kripa sighed as he got up. "And I'm born of …I'm born of Kanzanami Yuuka, and…I have no idea who you are game wise…but I guess you must be super powerful to…" He ran a hand in his greening hair. "Anyway…let's just go get Yuki and Flynn out of trouble; I can deal with all that shits once were out." And with that, the servant of God grabbed his shovel and headed out.
At this point, he knew he didn't have any choice.
He couldn't turn back the clock...he could only go forward and pray for the best.
"Are you sure you can't let us in?" Mukhara asked the guard blocking their path to Café Florida. "I have some urgent information to give to Fujiwara."
"Ma'am, Demon's ain't allowed in here without another member. Now git!" The guard waved his gun, his treat clear.
Mukhara raised her hands. "Alright…were leaving." The saintly hermit bowed and turned her heels.
"Aw man…what a bummer." Radha sighed. "I'm sorry you guys. Guess the guys allergic to hell-cat." Her shoulder slumped as the Divine trio walked away from Café Florida.
"Don't be, in such a place, I have to applaud the guard to his cool head and bravery. A lesser man would not be as calm." Mukhara praised as she glowed with joy. "Really, if I can manage to crack this hermitage, I'm engaging him as a temple guard."
"Yo, God'sis. Don't put the bull in front of the yolk."
"Mom, why do we have to speak to Fujiwara again?"Nana...Krishna-Kripa asked his newly returned mother.
Mukhara turned her gaze toward her son, meeting his gaze. "Beta, what I told you about the hermitage and how this reality is but an illusion?" Krishna-Kripa nodded. "Well, this need's to be revealed to the population at large...in a tactful, gentle way that won't cause three-quarter of the population to go mad from revelation. I also want to check whether Fujiwara or this skinned man are the hermits." she admitted. "But in truth...I want to get you and your sister out of trouble...you still deserve the punishment for letting your sister released a potentially dangerous entity." His mother spoke amiably a smile lighting her lips. "By that way...thank you for releasing him, there nothing worst then being sealed."
Nanashi just watched his aunt and mother, simply following them in underground Tokyo. He realized that, even with his birth mother around, he was still in way over his head.
"Say, Mukhara. When you come back from your preaching mission, I want to show you around Tokyo." Aigis…Ananda-Rupini proposed the young girl.
"As long as you keep me away from loud streets, then it's a deal."
'Well, I kept my end of the deal.' Krishna-Kripa thought as he rubbed his eyes. 'Shit…I need to change my contacts.' And then he remembered…they had run out and whatever was left was both the wrong colour or ungodly expansive…even with the Asura-kai gone.
"Beta." His mother spoke, you don't need to hide anymore. Just remove them." Her own golden eyes shining behind the glasses.
Krishna-Kripa turned his blood-shot eyes to his birth mother…one of them at least. "How did you-"
"I can hear desires…remember."
"Right…" Some relief bloomed in his heart. He had worn either glasses of coloured contact from as long as he could remember. To be able to remove them…and to stop colouring his hair…
'I'm free…' he though as he expertly removed his old, black contact, revealing his brass coloured eyes.
He looked to his mother and aunt; both women could barely hold back their tears.
"Ah…Mom… Radha. Is everything alrig-"Kripa's words died his mouth as Mukhara engulfed him her doll arms.
Then he realized…he was back…he was back…
Back to his loving, grieving mother who had now just realized her son was back.
Now he understood why Krishna's voice had choked when he remembered his own…
"Oh my son…Oh my Putra…he putre…he putre…." His mother cried as she held him.
This show of spontaneous love, free from desires, and unbothered by time place and circumstance took Krishna-Kripa by surprise… this sort of love.
He had never experienced something like this with the Boss...not even his sister.
And then, this impromptu loving moment was interrupted, not by Shesha, but by a hunter association notification. An urgent one, if his phone kept buzzing like that.
Krishna-Kripa sighed. 'Well, back to 'reality'.' Or something that was he thought had been real…now crumbling to dust. He grabbed the smartphone and froze.
There, on the notification tab…there was an emergency quest to be taken immediately.
DA FERY FORS3T IS BURNIN!1! 1
I NEED HALP!
Krishna-Kripa didn't need to read to know who it was.
"F-Sh—Oh Krishna!" He automatically called out to his Master.
"Trouble?" His mother asked.
"Mom… There a magical forest in Yoyogi park, I know its queen and…and one of the fairies, Napaea sent this…" He showed her the tabs.
The forest was burning…the place where Krishna looked the most at home…the place where Krishna had played among the glowing pink Sakura tree…the place where the Lord had feed him Chaas…where Kripa had massaged Krishna's lotus soft feet…
It was burning…
"beta, Lets go. Lead the way." Mukhara spoke with urgency, already knowing what her son desired to do.
He grabbed his mother by the hand, and dragged her as fast as he could to the nearest terminal.
Behind them, Radha ran. "Hey! Wait up kid! Where the fire?"
"Oh." Radha's tail flopped down.
"It's…it's all gone." Krishna-Kripa whispered in pure horror.
What once was a thriving, magical forest filled with glowing cherry trees and frolicking fairy had been render a pile of ashes. The blue fire that had consumed it all.
Gone were the pink blossoms…and the son of Mukhara could already perceive some little bodies, scorched beyond recognition. Even the tree under which Krishna had feed his Chaas was but a burnet out husk.
"It's…it's all my fault"
"Beta? Beta…it's alright…everything will be fine." His mother tried to calm him.
"Fine? FINE? I-"
"Kanzanami Krsna-Krpa !" Mukhara snapped, holding her son by his upper arms. "Calm down! None of this is real!
Those words, heavy with power, did indeed calm him down…and her touch kept him grounded.
"It's alright beta…everything's fine…you did not cause this." Mukhara continued, gently rubbing her doll thumb on Kripa's shoulder. "Remember, this is a hermitage…nothing you see here is real. It's just a stage. Just a play."
Kripa gritted his teeth.
"I know baby…I know…I hate it too when they do that." His mother gave a wry smile. "I went through hell a few times…but hermitages are just the worst."
"Kitty, if it can make ya feel better," Radha-Shyamasundara interjected. "There ain't no real corps."
Krishna-Kripa turned to his aunt.
"Trust me, I know dead bodies an' I ain't seeing any."
"How to you know?" he asked.
"No ghost…" Radha shrugged. "When a living entity dies before his appointed time, he hangs 'round his corps until the thing decomposes of gets burnt." She walked away from the (fake) pile of dead fairies peppering the scorched ground. "So obviously, burning 'an em dead body is way better then burial."
Krishna-Kripa let out a breath…the new made his feel…marginally better but…
"Krishna was there…wasn't he?" Mukhara stated as she gently rubbed her son's painful shoulders. To which Kripa could only nod.
A moment of silence fell on the three servant of Bhagawan. A moment in which they were all one in thoughts and feelings.
"Mom…why me?" Krishna-Kripa asked his throat and eyes burning due to the acrid smoke….
"Why you? Why did you suffer so much?" Mukhara asked.
"No…Why…why did Krishna chose me? Why…I…" Kripa closed his eyes.
"You…gave your life for a devotee. This… Impressed Krishna so much, he shared a pass-time with you." Mukhara explained. "So…how long did it last?"
"…too short."
"Wait, wait, wait, a freaking minute…did I just heard right?" Radha's eyes bloomed wider. "Kripa…ya had…Ya met Krishna?"
Krishna Kripa narrowed his eyes. "You didn't?"
Radha shook her head. "No…We don't…those who met Krishna personal while still embodied…I can count them on my fingers."
Kripa sighed as he held his heart…
"Kripa…you've received an unprecedented amount of Causeless mercy."
The son of Mukhara hunched over…his heart burning hotter than the forest.
"Wow…That's…Mukhi, yer son's worship-"
"Shh!" Mukhara hissed. But Krishna-Kripa didn't care or heard anything…
He had just heard…The sound of Krishna's flute…
Like a moth seeing a light, Krishna-Kripa ran after the divine sound, not waiting for his mother.
He ran trough the ashes, the smouldering corpses of threes and others who used to live there.
He didn't feel the heat, nor did he feel his lungs burning.
Krishna was here…His Krishna was back.
Finally, Kripa found a meadow…this one filled with flowers, untouched by the blue blaze. There, standing under a banyan three, bent in three places, a peacock feather adorning his opulent white turban, luscious black hair spilling from it in rivers of curls, a fragrant garland of forest flower resting on his necklace laden chest, his flute to his cherry red lips, his dhoti as resplendent as molten gold and his Golden eyes filled with Love…It was Krishna, surrounded by his cows.
Fresh tears filled Kripa's eyes as he ran toward his Lord. His Krishna…and then he stopped…
What should he do? What should he say? He had nothing to give him, and he didn't remember any prayers…and...and…and…
He could give himself, but Kripa knew it would not be enough. And he now knew…he knew he was not qualified for this embrace...he was not even qualified to know him...let alone meet Narada...
What to say to have him as...to have him as...
It was not the right time…he was not pure enough yet...
He didn't...she didn't love him...she...
Had nothing for him.
Krishna noticed His servant, and a bright smile light his mind stealing lips. "Oh Kripa~!" He stopped playing his beguiling song and ran to his frozen servant, engulfing him in his cooling embrace.
For Krishna-Kripa it was as soothing as a cooling shower, and yet, it was lighting a fire that he knew had no remedy…
'I'm so bony, Krishna's body's so soft… Oh Krishna, please don't hold me so tight, you're going to bruise yourself.' He had already seen Krishna covered in scratches…he didn't want Him pierce with his bones.
Suddenly, a wave of pure bliss flooded him… Krishna had just kissed the top of his head.
'Oh Hell no…he pierced his lips…when was the last time I washed my hair with soap? …I'm sure there still some hairs die smell on it!' Krishna-Kripa thought as he tried to get out from Krishna clutches…and then abruptly stopped. 'No…If I struggle…Krishna's so delicate…so fragile…'
"Kr… Krishna…please…please let me go…" He sobbed as he meekly begged, his voice sweet, the babbled words sounding like the tinkling of bells. "I…I…"
"No…I've waited for so Long my dearest friend…" Nanashi could feel Krishna's tears cascading over his back. "I'm never letting you go…I'm never leaving you."
"You did…" Kripa meekly replied, feeling some anger.
Krishna had been gone for lest than twelve hours…but for Kripa, it felt like twelve millennium…more than that.
"No…Kripa, oh my dearest. How could I leave one so dear and dedicated to me?" Krishna explained as he kneeled in front of his servant, holding his delicate hands. "I have never left you. I've merely hid myself in your heart."
Now having the Lord in full view again, Kripa tried to remain angry…but how could he? Krishna's eyes were reddish with tears, his smile…oh His glorious smile…how he could describe this smile.
It was like a cloud pouring divine rain on scorched land.
And yet…and Yet Kripa knew it wouldn't last… Krishna would never remain with a demon…someone born of-
Once again, Krishna-Kripa was back in Sri-Hari's embrace. "Oh my dearest…don't you know that you are the soul? The person inside this body? You have no real connection to your mother, and definitely no connection to Yuthika. You are not a demon, nor are you a young man... You are mine…you have always been mine and will forever be mine. Just as I am yours."
Suddenly…Krpa woke up in the fairy lake…literally in the lake.
'What the... How did I manage to get there?' The last he remembered, he was in Krishna's embrace.
'Krishna…' suddenly, he remembered His words.
I am yours…you are mine…
'Tat twam Asi…I am his!' he pressed his scared hand on his heart, a warm feeling emanated from there.
'I am his…eternally…and he his mine to serve forever…' he took a deep breath…then he realized he has underwater.
'Aw crap…at least the water's not freezing anymore.' No guessing why.
As he was about to get up, someone gave him a hand.
It was…a woman hew from flawless black marble, dressed in a shimmering dress of pink and gold, the gossamer like fabric letting her beauty shine trough. Her breasts were full, her waist thin and bearing three folds of skin above her deep navel. Her hips were broad, her thighs…nothing could describe them. Her feet were small, delicate and reddish at the bottom. Her head and face was covered by a gauzy veil that his her features…only her lips, form in a mysterious smile peaked from under the golden trim.
Her beautiful arms were delicate and decorated with golden bangles, gem studded bracelet and many rings danced on her delicate, flower like hands, their palm reddish. She carried a golden pot, holding it playfully over her shoulder.
Krishna-Kripa stared…never in his life had he seen such a beautiful woman. She was…no, she was a young woman… 'Well…guess who's straight today!' But then…considering that she looked amazingly like Krishna…
'Krishna!' Krishna-Kripa averted his eyes from the heavenly beauty. No…he would not fall into this trap.
The young servant of the Lord knew he would never be able to share this type of relationship with His master…but he had already given his heart to Him.
The divine beauty chuckled, her sweet voice resounding like silver bells. "You're so sweet…tee-hee."
"I'm sorry miss, but my heart-"
"Was stolen by a great thief…and you let Him take it, didn't you?" She bent closer to him, her firm breast dancing him her dress. "Do you know how much you will suffer?"
Kripa got up from the ground. 'I used to be underwater…now I'm on the ground…what's next? I'll be in Mikado?' Well, at least he could now speak normally. Externally, he addressed the girl. "If it makes him happy…then let me burn in hell."
The mysterious' minx smile grew wider.
"Who the hell are you anyway…?" Krishna-Kripa tried to catch a better glimpse of the Krishna-like woman, trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered as bliss slowly but surely began to affect him. 'No...that's not my Krishna... Krishna's not a woman.' he chided himself.
"I am Mohini … And I am yours, just as you are mine." She brought the golden pot in front of her. "When desiring to chase Yamaraja away, and recuperate those bodies too damaged for life. Call me, pray to me…and I will return the righteous one." She gracefully gestured to the effulgent lotus hanging from Kripa's left ear…the one Krishna had given him.
The son of Mukhara gently touched the divine lotus…the delicate flower still fresh and as fragrant as the first-time Krishna hung it there.
And then...she was gone.
"Krishna! Why…did you run away like That!" his mother all but yelled, her eyes wide open, tears of anxiety streaming down her face.
"Sorry mom…I had…I thought I heard something." Kripa averted his eyes…not used to have a mother yet. Well…he used to have one. But…
But Mukhara was his real mother…and not just by blood.
"Krishna-Kripa! Don't you dare pull this "oh there was a noise' card on me, If I can't hear it, then it doesn't-"Mukhara stopped, and Krishna-Kripa could see that his mother's ears perked. "I heard something…" her eyes opened wider. "That's a survivor!" And at those words, It was now Mukhara's turn to run with very little context. (And a very frustrated Radha followed suit.)
Internally, Kripa thanked his Krishna. He had no desire to tell anyone of what had happened.
It was between him and his Krishna…and no one else.
Eventually, they found Nozomi. The fairy queen looked confused, frazzled. She held a gas mask to her face, and she had sustained some burns.
"Oh…Nozomi. NOZOMI! Krishna-Kripa called to the fairy queen.
"You know her beta?" Mukhara asked.
"Yeah, she's the queen of the place, helped her yesterday to deal with a prissy King Frost. The one I Killed with the Master spark..." Kripa paused…this should've been a huge clue to his parentage. Nevertheless, he ran to the skimpy blond, hoping she was not the only survivor.
"Oh…" Something seemed to click in Mukhara's head. But before she could express it…
"Who…Wait…Aegis? What the hell happened to your eyes?" Nozomi rapidly noticed the hunter's golden eyes.
"Removed my contact. I'm…I'm not human." Kripa revealed with as much confidence he could muster. "Nozomi, what the hell happened? Are you alright? Do you need any help?"
Nozomi looked at Kripa…then at his mother and Aunt.
"Oh that's my mom, Mukhara and my Aunt, Radha-Shyamasundara." He introduced them…realizing that Nozomi was most probably not award of his Ex status as an orphan. "Asahi's under house arrest…nothing bad just…Dad doesn't want her to get in trouble…especially with that siracha-noodle gobbling up people." Kripa scratched his ear.
He was not used to talking to people... Asahi would usually deal with them.
Mukhara walked closed, he look on concern on her face. "Queen Nozomi. Everything will be fine." She began, keeping her voice low. "As my son told you, my name is Mukhara…and we're here to help you."
Nozomi tuned her eyes toward the smaller woman. She let out a low chuckle, aiming her shot gun to Mukhara's heart.
Radha moved in front of her best friend, and Krishna-Kripa aimed his shovel at Nozomi's head. Praying to Krishna that the fairy queen would come to her senses.
Mukhara, with her right doll hand, move the death stick away from her most vital organ. Showing no aggression towards the grieving queen. "Miss Nozomi, I know what you're going through…"
"Course you would…you're with the polytheistic alliance..."
"No…I'm with Prabhupada and his society. The Polytheist alliance is frauds." Mukhara answered shortly. "I know my Lord and Master, Krishna. I know how he looks like. This youth clearly isn't him."
"Alright…Prove it then."
"Nozomi," Krishna-Kripa intervened. "The Real Krishna is the supreme Personality of Godhead. Do you really think he would need to gather souls to make a new universe?" He pointedly asks. "Besides, if this was the real Krishna they wouldn't be called 'Polytheistic'. Since His presence would make everything moot to point."
"Wait…you mean."
"God's not YhVh, The real supreme personality of Godhead is Sri-Krishna. He's eternally sixteen, not eighteen. He's is delightfully plump, not like the other guy…" Kripa closed his eyes…Yuki at a glance, had looked relatively healthy. But after a longer look at the memory of how he used to look at his healthiest…
No…Yuki was not Ok.
And this whole event was...very awkward.
"Queen Nozomi…I think we need to talk in a more private setting. If you don't mind, my family would love to offer our assistance in this hour of need." Mukhara smoothly segued, saving her son from further embarrassment from social interaction.
Nozomi looked at the trio, and Krishna-Kripa hoped that she would not pick up her gun again…
He didn't want to be a real orphan this time.
Nozomi looked at the group…and sighed. "Damn if I do, Damn if I don't." she murmured. "Alright…I'm…I don't know if following you is the right choice…but I don't have that much option at the moment."
"It's all right…much has happened during this twenty-four hour, for the both of us." Mukhara spoke gently. "You have two choices, either we take a break now and I tell you everything that is needed to know. Or we hunt down the demon that scorched your kingdom, and we talk later. What will be your choice, oh glorious Fairy Queen?"
Nozomi looked at Mukhara, Radha-Shyamasundara and finally at Krishna-Kripa.
"So…what do you think Aegis? Is your mom cool or…"
"Nozomi…I trust her with my life." Krishna-Kripa revealed…while his previous memories were blurry, he knew Mukhara…he knew she was trustworthy, same as Radha.
Why would he die for her otherwise?
Nozomi looked at the teen servant of the Lord and sighed as she removed the safety. "Let's get this piece of pig shit out first. Queen's duty and all that."
Mukhara smirked. "Then, oh Queen, let this prince of japan and her son assist you." She bowed low.
Krishna-Kripa paused, tuned to his Mother…and took a good hard look at her.
Now that he was really looking at her, Kripa realized that she…sort of looked like a boy. Not by much, but…
'Oh Krishna…don't tell me…'
And for a moment, Kripa could hear the sweet, nectar-like stifled laughter of the supreme personality of Godhead.
Authors note...At first, Nanashi's Parentage was just a couple of run-of-the-mill humans...and then the whole thing turned into a crossover vaishnafied Touhou project.
So sorry/not sorry. Have a good day!