Identity quest 11
They walked further in the scorched forest. Nozomi would call for the names of her fairy. Sometime finding their remains, but more often than not, she would find nothing.
Krishna-Kripa could practically hear her fears and self loathing about the whole situation.
Situation he and his sister where a big trigger for.
They passed a meadow where he and Krishna had played hide-and-seek…he could practically hear his sweet ankle bells ringing at every footfall as the Lord of countless universe frolicked with him... and in those moments of pure bliss, Kripa forgot his identity...there was Only His Krishna.
It was oblivious...he had fallen for the unattainable...
And then Kripa noticed something.
It was not as damaged as the rest, it was still scorched, but upon closer inspection, he realized that it was some kind of filter…like, the leafs and flowers were still there, but they had changed colour.
He turned to his mother. "Mom, is this normal?" he pointed at the practically intact three, only a covering of sooth and this layer made the ancient sakura look dead, still burning with this eerie blue flame.
Mukhara approached her son, peering at the seemingly scorched foliage from behind her glasses."Not at all, this is not how scorched vegetation look like in real life." She turned her golden gaze to her son. "But it is a cheap trick used by hermits to make their world change according to their scenario." His mom explained.
"Well that's nice and all." Nozomi drawled. "But it won't bring my subject back." She then kept going down the scorched path like a lioness going to a war.
Once again, Mukhara perked up at a sound only she could hear, an action that was quickly copied by Radha-Shyamasundara.
Krishna-Kripa unhooked his shovel, ready for whatever demon the divine power had left there. But instead of a horko of those one eyed cows, it was a familiar face that had managed to survive the blaze.
The little cave fairy eked out of the hole she was hiding in, her body was covered with sooth, ashes and plenty of scratches. Here doe eyes were wild and filled with fear. Those same eyes fell on Nozomi, and Napaea burst into tears. "N… Nozomi? Nozomi!" she flew out of the hole in the three and right into the awaiting arms of her queen.
"I got you! I got you home girl…it's alright…everything fine." The blond queen voice choked as she hugged the little fairy closer to her heart. "You're alive…your alive…" She tried to suppress her sobs…but Krishna-Kripa knew how she must have felt.
Both son, mother and aunt took a step back as the last of the surviving fairies swarmed their queens, shamelessly embracing Nozomi as they wept over the lost of home, family and friends.
'They're suffering…they lost everything.' Krishna-Kripa thought. "Mom...suffering is caused by bad Karma, right?"
"Yes, as is pleasure… Me loosing you, the Fake Krishna and his hydra, thus forest burning and all of those fairies losing more than just their homes… me finding you again after fourteen years, alive and well. It's all our destiny." she explained. "We are all destined to a certain amount of Joy and pain, we just have to learn how to be undisturbed by life's bump. Of course, one cannot help to lament if without God Consciousness."
" I know many are praying to him for relief. But I also know that if they don't get what they want..." Krishna-Kripa spoke darkly...
Mukhara inclined her head, closing her eyes. "The one problem with Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and even Islam is that they take God as their order provider. As their menial servant if you will. Thing is, Krishna is the Master of all, and our eternal position is to serve Him, not the other way around!" She spoke with great emphasis. "He can change our fate if He so desires, or he can also not do what we want. Something Krishna will give wealth and what the beseecher desire, and sometime Krishna will remove everything and give himself fully to his worshipper. But this is up to him." she explained with a helpless shrugged.
"And what about prayers?" Kripa asked.
"Prayers are Good, it means the worshipper has some faith in god." the Vaishnavi wisely nodded. "What you desire has more chance of happening if you pray to Krishna. Actually, we have plenty of personal account about how the lord protects his devotee's and rearrange their fate. And arranging for their hearts wishes to come true." Mukhara explained with a meaningful glance to her son. " A miraculous last will that came to a devotee requested to attend a lonely man's funeral, a cancer that Lord Narashingna-deva remove before a dangerous brain surgery could rob a man of his faculty...and then there's your birth and survival." Mukhara gave a somewhat wobbly smile. "But...we're not looking for miracles, were not even expecting them, the only thing one should pray for is to serve the Lotus feet of Krishna's pure devotee."
Once again, his mother's golden gaze didn't leave him.
Kripa looked away at the tree where he and the lord had climbed...well, Krishna-Kripa did the climbing, unwilling for his Krishna to get any more scratches after his stunt with the branch.
He clenched his teeth and his eyes, willing the tears not to fall. In his heart, he chanted the maha-mantra...feeling His Krishna Dance at every syllable on his tongue.
'Oh hey! He's not dancing alone...good.' A lonely Krishna was a sad Krishna.
"Kipra?" Hi mother broke trough his meditation. "You...is everything fine." she fussed over her returned son.
Krishna-Kripa gave a somewhat suffering sigh. "Yes...I'm fine. I just..." he ran a hand in his hair.
"Overwhelmed? Missing...Him?" Mukhara deduced.
Krishna-Kripa didn't have to speak, he looked away from the divine clearing...
"You know... Once were out, you don't need to stay with me." His mother spoke with a sad smile. "You can live in Mayapur, I'll secure you a small flat, or even a piece of land where you can live peacefully and worship Gauranga...the Golden Avatar will make sure you and your dear Lord will meet again... I promise." Mukhara assured. "I know what you want...you have my full blessings."
The revived youth turned his brass gaze back to his mother, a hopeless hope shinning in his heart. He gathered his emotions again, and breathed out.
"Thank you...mom."
His mother lowered her gaze and moved her eyes back toward the mournful gathering. Krishna-Kripa realized that this was Mukhara's way to close this particular subject.
They remained in silence, gazing at the scene before the greenette broke the ice again
"Mom... So many people prayed to Him. But...sometime Krishna doesn't make their desires true." He began. Moving away from this particular subject.
"No, Krishna's still free to accept or reject whatever request come to him. Mukunda will never allow something detrimental to his practising devotee, but if his servants keep asking him, then he will give it in a way that they will never ask again."
"When Krishna does that... He's hated." He knew not many knew of Gods ultimate plan...and many more thought the Lord to be against their pleasure.
Even Kripa himself was only dimly aware of what his Krishna wanted, only that it involved saving Yuki.
How to save Yuki, on the other hand, was a complete mystery.
"Not if they have pure knowledge and a purified intelligence." Mukhara explained. "Pure devotees see's everything as Krishna's causeless mercy, either they be great blessings...or the worst of tragedy."
"How about those who can't see it like that?" Kripa asked as he tried to ignore the king of fairy bowing to Nozomi, vowing to serve her with his life. His wife, Tatiana, nowhere to be seen.
"Then they suffer...the worst of suffering comes when a self-entitled conditioned soul doesn't get what he wanted, but got what he deserved." Mukhara chuckled. " But to be honest, the greatest of suffering is Ignorance of God...everything else are but the mere symptoms of this great illness."
Krishna Kripa made a nose from the back of his troth. "Those who don't...those people are demons, right. Human demons."
"Yes...sura's, and auras. Those who serve God willingly and love, they are overflowing with bliss and a pleasure unkown to us lowly one. Those who serve him unwillingly and suffer due to ignorance of their rue self and identifying with matter. It's an eternal war that only the Sura's can win.
''And yet, even those born as Demons, great and unrepentant sinners, cruel hunters, drunkards, debauches, murderer, man eater, tigers, dogs and even the most sinful of prince can get the mercy of the Lord. For in this age of Kali, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the Lord advented as the Golden Avatar.'' Kripa's mother closed her eyes as her whole body shook with bliss. ''And as Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, He and His eternal Brother, Sri-Nityananda Mahajana, bestows pure love of God on anyone and everyone with a little faith."
The golden avatar…
"Shradhavan, Jan he...Shradhavan Jan he." Krishna-Kripa whispered as, once again, the Lord bestowed yet another memory of his past as Achyuta-Gopi, the mechanized Vaishnavi.
''Nitai-Gauranga, Nitai-Gauranga'' the assembled devotees chanted and danced as the sacred full moon arose, signifying the end of the prescribed fast in celebration of Sri-Krishna-Chaitania Mahaprabhu; the most merciful of avatar appearance.
"Krishna endowed with the heart, love and colour of Srimati-Radharani, his eternal consort and prema personified..."
~''anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau ~ ~samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam ~ ~hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ ~ ~sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ~
Krishna-Kripa recited despite himself, having closed his eyes to the rest of the world….
He heard the angel... Mai gasp. ''You...you just spoke it tongue!'' were her eyes free of the blindfold, they would be filled with stars.
It was at that moment that Krishna-Kripa realized that he was now the centre of attention. Everyone was looking at him...and the angel with clear fear.
''he's with them.'' he heard a fairy harshly whispered to her companion.
'''May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart.'' Radha-Shyamasundara began to recite, her palms folded as she became the cynosure of the scene. ''Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of -.'' She paused a bit... ''The ever so sweet fifth mellow of pure and causeless devotional service.'' She finished with a flourish. Turning to her nephew with a bright smile.
''That's my fav verse of the Chaitanya-Charitamrta. Know this one by heart.'' the Kasha then turned to the assembled group of fey survivors. ''Alright yall. Names Radha-shyamasundara, Born in hell, worked as a sin-sack lugger for 148 years straight in the dai-nippon furnace room eight." She loudly introduced herself. '' the other handsome one here's none other than Prince Toyosatomimi no Miko, reborn after a thousand year nap, we call her Mukhara devi dasi now and the scrawny kid that smell like basil none other than her son returned from the claws of death! And his name is- ''
Krishna-Kripa saw his mother blanch...and then he realized what she was about to do.
''Radha! DON'T-''
''Kanzanami Krishna-Kripa. Born of the prince of Japan in the Govinda-Valabha garden on the twenty-third of November two-thousend-twenty-three, on the sacred month of kartika!'' the hell-cat boldly declared to the assembly forest fairies.
Nozomi looked at the sacred trio, she held no fears in her eyes, only tired surrendered.
''All three of us are the servant of the servant of Lord sri-Krishna...and that piece of dried curd that burned down yer house, the polytheistic salience...we don't like em.'' Radha crossed her arms. ''they are a fraud...and we don't like em frauds.''
''We come from outside the dome, in a place where no bomb fell...in reality!'' Mukhara took the stunned and confusion born silence as an opportunity to speak.
The huddled group began to whisper to one another in hushed tone.
Nozomi got up from the ground, and Lady Danu manifested to the world at large. Her eyes narrowed behind her withe mask. ''Prove it! ''
''No problem lady, Catch!'' Red-head Radha threw her phone ad the ancient mother-queen of the Tua te daana. Nozomi deftly caught the bauble heavy micro-computer., knowing that Danu wouldn't know a thing about technology.
''just look in my gallery, the latest one.''
Nozomi fiddle with the somewhat recent model...and then, her eyes grew wider. As were the eyes of Lady Danu.
''wait...no...this...it can't be. '' Nozomi shook her head in sheer disbelief. ''that's... Kinshicho park... ''
''yeah.''
''is that...daylight?'' lady Danu asked, her mask showing bewilderment at the picture.'' I... I've never seen so many happy humans in my life! Is it...is it real?''
''It is queeny.''
''so many humans...but...how can this….that's not possible!'' Nozomi pressed a hand to her head, grabbing a fistful of hair.
Krishna-Kripa heard his mother sigh as she glared at Radha-shyamasundara. She approached the two Queens, her stride ghost-like and regal at the same time.
'My mom's an old prince of Japan...yeah, ok...lets go with that.' at this point in his life, Krishna-Kripa realized he should just stop worrying about the bombs and just roll with the hits. It was simpler like that.
''Miss Nozomi... We need to talk.'' Mukhara spoke with a very surrender edge to her tone.
Yuki was gone...or, Ikutsuki/ Nyarly had taken control of the dying Celestial, forcing their newly healed puppet to dance at their own tune... And Flynn could only watch.
Once again, he was forced to see innocent suffer...but this time, he was forced to assist.
Never in his life did Flynn feel so...small, hopeless...useless. Not even when he had to...euthanize Isachar did he felt like this.
In those moments...Flynn would usually fall to his knees in front of a cross and fervently pray to god for help. But now…
Whom did he have to pray to, he was the enemy of the angels...and the devil.
He knew no deity who was truly neutral, save Masakado.
He touched the thin scar circling his neck...no, he...he didn't desire to worship this deity, even if he was the protector god of Tokyo.
'Well…. I could always pray to this half lion deity.' while this divine beast looked intimidating, Flynn could not help but feel...soothed by his presence. Even his mere remembrance decreased the distress he felt. 'But...he could also try to control me. I've yet to meet a benevolent entity other than Skin, Fujiwara and Isabeau.'
And thus...there he was in Yuriko's old room. A place that smelled of illness and death, his back to the wall, his knee's to his chest and his hands clasped as his eyes remained dried for lack of tears. Flynn prayed to the source, the axiom for something, anything to stop this mad play...for a way to get out. To stop this madness…
'Oh Axiom...oh supreme will...your messiah cannot do it. I can't escape, for Dagda will simply kill me and revive me once more. I can't fight, all my powers have been taken away...and I can't die, for Tokyo still needs hope despite everything.'
'Please, please oh cosmic power who controls all, on great unknown...send me help.'
Suddenly, he heard the sweet sound of little bells.
Flynn looked up and stared.
Standing in the middle of the room was a five-year-old boy. His skin was midnight blue, his eyes golden, his hair curly and in a top knot. He shone with an inner light like those sacred icon's worshipped in the churches.
Oh, and the child was….otherworldly beautiful and...he glowed with an innocent and purity that shamed the messiah.
''who...who are you? What are you doing here. '' he gently asked the innocent poor five-year-old, who would not be able to survive in Tokyo… 'Oh Axiom, why did you send this mere child, the milk of his mother's breast still in his mouth!''
The blackish boy folded his palms and gave pranam. ''greeting, oh fortunate soul. '' the otherworldly being spoke, his voice as sweet as that of a cuckoo. ''I am Prahlad,SOn of the First Demon, and a servent of the Lord.''
Flynn's eyes grew wider. ''which Dord?'' he wearily asked...getting YhVh's attention was the last thing he wanted.
Prahlad smiled, showing a prefect row of pearl shaming teeth. ''The supreme Lord, The master of the universes, the source of the Great Will, Bhagavan Sri-Narashima-deva. The half-man, half-lion incarnation of Krishna...the real one of course. ''
The image of the animalistic god, siting on an effulgent throne with his glorious wife sitting on his lap met his mind eyes…
''No...this...God can't be-''
''By implying that God can't have multifarious form,'' Prahlad interrupted. '' you are practically denying his omnipotency.'' the small boy, a five year old practically, answered without missing a beat, his sweet, cuckoo like voice bellying a wisdom well above his age. ''Our Lord and master is the supreme atmarama, His Sweet will is law and thus can do as He please, including apearing as a half-lion, half-man incarnation...among many others.'' Prahlad continued, and Flynn could not help to listen.
''Ah...I see. '' Flynn spoke under his breath a bit distractedly, the last thing he had expected was to hear a monotheistic philosophy from what was clearly an Indien...demon? God?
An angel?
No...he had called himself the son of the first Demon. Meaning…
''are you the son of Lucifer?'' Obliviously, egg-head was very quick to contact his 'old friend'.
''You ask weird questions.'' Prahlad said instead, as a five year old would. ''No, I'm much older then the concept of the fallen angel...I was born in Satya Yuga, meaning I'm well over 100,000,000,00 year old at that point, I may be even older. '' the 'child' revealed. "Older still then what historian believe to be the birth of humanity and the saurian that once inhabited this land.''
Flynn made sure his mouth was closed...he'd never thought… he could not... ''Prahlad...your older then Humanity.'' Flynn managed to choke out…
he had to remember to breath, otherwise, restarting the whole 'living' process was quite painful.
Prahlad shrugged. ''Not really, Humanity began with Manu and his wife Shatarupa. I'm actually a second generation demon...a Rakshasha.''
''Oh...I see… your a...demon who serves God. '' Flynn had never heard such a thing, Demons would usually side with either humanity, but most of them were sold to Lucifer.
Prahlad nodded. ''Yes, my lord and master does not care about one's material qualification and disqualification, if He can sence even a shred of Love for him, then even the lowest of creature can gain his association. » the young boy lowered his eyes in humility, once agian, his body was covered with goose bump
A look of compassion bloomed on the otherworldly boy's face. ''Worry not Flynn, my Lord and Master, Sri-Narashimha deva is taking care of you and Yuki as we speak. Everything will be fine, trust me...you just need to surrender unto him.''
''Surrender?'' Flynn Scoffed. He may feel desperate, but he was not that desperate that he would surrender to God...'but wasn't what I was doing not but five minute prior?'
'but that was the Axiom...'
''Why, you've already surrender to his impersonal features,'' Prahlad tilted his head. ''You just need to accept Him, as He is...Either a Narashima, Varaha, Kurma...Krishna.'' Prahlad raised his hands. ''The one who's eternaly residing in Vrindavana...not the imposter controlling Snow.''
''Obliviously.'' Flynn dryly replied as he got up. ''I… will think about this. But, if your master is really willing to help me, and if he is...other then YhVh, then...I will surrender if it's mean Tokyo will be free from the grip of the divine dictator.''
a bright smile lit Prahlad ever youthful face. ''really? Oh jaya! My master will be so happy to hear of it! '' the five year old boy did this little jump, making his ornaments dance and sing. ''Flynn Prabhu, in the coming days, much suffering will be had, but fear not, for my master will protect you and your devoted friend. May you live eternally...and may my Master bestow his mercy upon both of you.''
and with that, Prahlad was gone, leaving Flynn all alone in the room.
Five minuted later, 'Nyarlatotep' stumbled into the room, dropping Yuki's body like how discard his cloth. The Godslayer managed to catch the ailing Yaksha before he could hit the floor.
''He lasted longer this time. Good Job Flynn!'' the eldritch abomination praised, once again taking the form of Itsukusi. ''I would love to give you a raise, but I believe you..'' Flynn braced himself. ''are high enough...no...not good enough. I would give you a raise, but I still need you on the ground...''
Flynn held Yuki close to him, not giving any reaction to the amorphous demon.
Itsukusi cringed. '''meh...those...were not my best. Oh well, patch my doll nicely, would you flinth? can't have him flat now, don't we?'' The beast roared in laughter and Flynn narrowed his eyes…
yes, he could foresee what Prahlad was alluding, he just hope he could make it out with his sanity more or less intact...and hopefully Yuki also.
He closed his eyes...and, with nothing else, Surrender to the Lord of Prahlad and hoped for the best.
Unseen by him, Krishna sighed as tears streamed down his ever youthful face. 'Finally, my friend...I have waited so long for you.'
Colossus came and went, as with every demons that had dared to face off the Servent of God, his celestial 'Mother' and the family's hellcat. Not to mention the Fairy queen and her small army of irate fair folks.
All in all, Colossus had a very bad time. His battered remains set afire and the result send via picture by Nozomi to the Polytheistic alliance with a 'your next' written in fancy red script beside it. Mukhara's expertise as a hermit being useful for once.
He words, not her son.
After a short chat about the nature of the world they were in, including the definition of a Hermitage, and how nothing in the outside world was radiated/ controlled by angels and how yes, They were worshiping Krishna, not not the brown one. Yes, they would deal with him...they hated fraud. Nozomi had accepted to help to get in Cafe Florida.
Danu had taken the news the hardest, but Kripa and Mai had been here to support her, telling her that everything would be fine…
The queen didn't seemed convinced. Nonetheless, she returned to Nozomi. She had...plenty to think about.
They had faced Shesha...but the beast had quickly ran away the moment he noticed the Ame-no Habakiri dancing in Mukhara's hands.
He was now in Cafe Florida's guest room. A much nicer place then the old safe house, the room also had this old hippy sorta flair to it.. There even was an old CD of George Harison...My sweet Lord, it was called.
Needless to say, Krishna-Kripa had been quick to burn this one song on his smartphone...and whatever he could find of the old Vaishnava.
He was now sitting in the very soft be, having truned of the lava-lamp and turning on the growth-light grciously lended by Fujiwara, as pert he request of his mother.
He already felt much better, his enegies returning to him. Holding his mothers sacred tulasi Japa-Mala, Krishna-Kripa chanted on them to his heart content as the adult talked. Kripa had already given his account...making Sure his Krishna's involvement was skirted around...until he realsied that he could not explain why a perosna by the name of Hari wanted to save Krishna's imposter…
so the son of Mukhara began to speak the truth , revealing all that had happen to the flaggerblasted audience that included his father and Sister via video-call...oh, and an older woman of around Skin's age by the name of Mandodari, from Canada, no less.
To see this plump stranger, her face red from the sun, showing them arounf the guarden of Sri Sri Radha-Manohara was enough do solidify Mukhara's claim that the tokyo they were in was but an illusion.
After that, Krishna-Kripa had been sent to the guest room, his mother's beads around his neck and he order to remain under the growth light insuring he would not move...not that he wanted to, he still wanted to Chant Krishna's name.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
He let the familiar prayer dance on his lips, his one source of constant comfort. Iddly, he wondered how long it must've takken him to developed the taste for it…
And then , he realised that it was not as he remembered it. Something seemed to be...missing. Something importent. Something Vital.
But before ld even beguin to comb his previous memory, he heard a knock on his door.
He almsot groan-out loud. 'Ugh...I hope it's not Fujiwara again.' Krishna-Kripa was just tired of awnsering question's. He just wanted to rest and meditate...and put the whole sequance of events behind him, preparing for what would come next.
He also needed to mourn...something his aunt said he should do. He had lost two father figures yesterday...a pair of teachers. A pair of dear well wishers. And he also had to deal witht he fact that his entre life had been this one huge lie...a mere play for the sick pleasure of a Hermit...a dungeon master with little care for his pawns.
Kripa...had quicly learned that trying to be a man, or bottling up his emotions would not work with his mother. And Radha had quiped that beign a man didn't mean to hide his emotion until they blew up, it meant to learn how to deal with them. So he did…
He...it was a terrible feeling, but knowing that they were souls and thus didn't really died help. He would miss them though. And didn't Krishna said that they would take bright again in one year? A Human birth.
As he had dried his tears, Kripa thnaked Krishna with all of his heart. Manabu and Nikkari were out! They wouldn't have to fight for survival anymore.
''Kripa, It's me, Mukhara. '' his returned mother spoke. ''I...I need...I want to speak to you. ''
Kripa sighed...and got off his seat to awnser his mother.
No, he would not stop calling her that...it felt natural, grounding. And God...Krishna knew he needed it.
After he opened the door, his mother stood there, looking at him...she looked, rather uncomfotable. Were she not a prince (oh hey! Something else!) she would probably be shuffling anxiously.
''hey m-''
''please don't call me that.'' Mukhara spoke quicly, he eyes downcast. ''It's...not about you, Kripa it's...'' She sighed as she ran a hand in her platinium hair. ''Can I...''
'she probably want to get in.' Kripa removed himself from the door way and admited his mother in.
Mukhara took a seat on a chair, it was clear she had somehting heavy in her heart. Kripa took his seat on a funky cushion on the floor, close to her without apearing creepy.
''So, What did you want to speak about?'' Kripa asked as he still held his mother's prayer beads.
It was...recomforting, the tulasi beads felt like a group of old friends dancing in his hands. Telling him not to worry, Krishna will arrenge everything, He knew what he wa doing.
Mukahar blushed. ''To be honest...I just wanted...I just wanted to be with you...not...not in a creepy sort of wat just... ''She sighed.
''It's alright Mom...you missed me.'' understatement of the century.
Mukhara hiched her shoulder. ''Krpa please...you don't need to force yourself. I'm- ''
''My mom...in this life time.'' Krisina-kripa kindly grinned. AT that point, he had understood that it would be easier on his sanity to just go along with it.
His mother reaised her eyes, her eyes meeting with Kripa. ''Kripa...''
''Hey, I thought I was an orphan adopted by a pair of hunter. It's nice to have my mom back.'' Kripa beamed.
''Krishna-kripa prabhu...you don't have to do this.''
''your right, I don't have to. But I want to.'' Kripa said with conviction. ''So...now what.'' He asked instead.
Mukhara loked at him, her golden eyes filled with tears and yet...and yet gratitude stubornly shone in despite everything. After a moment she sighed. ''Well, I and my godsister Mandodari managed to convinced Fujiwara and your father about the illusoary nature of this realm.''
''so...were getting out soon? and how about Yuki?'' Kripa ask, anxious to save his little brother from ytwo lifetimes ago.
His mother shook her head. ''no, not yet. Getting in a hermitage is easy, but to extract thousedns of people take time...years really. » Mukhara explained. ''right now, those who are living here belive that this is reality...so to extract them and simply dump them wihtout support in the eartly planewon't end well. We need to do this gradualy...''
''yeah, that make sence.'' To be trown in place were he didn't have to stuggle for survivial wuld probably trigger some pretty intence bouts of paranoya. ''meaning we just go along, right?''
''Yes...but nor completly.'' Mukhara gave a playful smirk. ''We can indeed follow the intended path, but only as long ar our ultimate goal is reach...but we are also permited to mess with the place enough that we can smoke out the controling hermit.''
A devilish smile lit Krishna-Kripa's face.
'''withing reason.'' his mother cautioned.
''meaning?''
''meaning we will do everything in our power to get your Yuki...and mess up with the established narative enough that the hermit will face us...but not enough for him to delet his creation.'' Mukhara warned.
Krishna-kripa's eye brows whent up to his hair line. ''...they can do that.'' it was so...unseteling to know that someone could simply pull the plug and kill everyone at his whims.'No...it won't happen if Krishna won't allow it...and if Krishna allows it?' Well...maybe he would wake up in the spiritual sky agan, in a form suitable to serve his Krishna.
His mother gravely nodded. ''but...enough about that. I want to know...I want to know everything about you. What do you like, how did you live? Who was your other mother, how was your sister? And ...how did you meet Our Supreme Lord, Sri-Krishna? ''
« I thought you didn't want to be my mother. ''and then a tough came. ''Umm...did Dad...told you anything about me?'' Kripa cautiously asked. He knew he was a deviant...and he was also awar that any self'respecting religious organasiation would frown upon his...attraction…
alright...so he was Queer, loved to wear long flowing dress...and was an Asexual too. but he still dated Hoshi and this was his big bad secret since Hoshi was with the Asura-kai...
This was the leach Asahi held, and he just knew she sang...
No way the hunter assocation would leave any secret uncovered...especialy after the whole debacle.
''He did..."His mother confirmed his worst fear.
'There you go.'
"but from what I can hear from you, you desire the Lord.'' Mukhara spoke gently, and yet the Vaishnava-punk cpuld hear some warning in her voice. ''As long as you realsied that you are not this body, and that you may only serve Sri Sri Radha-Krishna in a spiritual body, bestowed by the mercy of Sri-guru, then , no, I have no problem with you being gay."
"Queer...just queer and asexual."
Krishna Kripa cringed...he never wanted to put a name on this type of identity. And to hear his mom say it… ''don't worry...I don't want to west my time.'' while it was blurry, he still remembered the heartbreak yuki had gone trough...and his own.
No, he may not be matching what soceity wanted, but it was still his choice to act on it or not. He was a punk, it was his duty to go against the sheep's expectation.
His mother burst into laughter. ''Oh wow...Oh, yes, pleae. I bless you that you will never followed what the so called 'normal' human society expect of you my son. May you eternaly serve the greatest servant of the Lord. »
A smile light Krishna-Kripa's face.
And thus, hours went by as Kripa opened up about everything, same with his mother. Knowing how they were, their mistakes, their triumphs and Nanashi's most fortunate encounter with one Narada Muni...and his full day with he lord.
After that, his mother began to massage his feet, telling him that he had walked for so long, and it was her duty to make sure he was wealthy and happy.
Kripa would've love to return the favor, but without egs, no feet could be served.
By the end of it, both mother and son could not help but love the other the way a servent of Krihsna, l a pair of Gaudia vaishnava's could. It was a love beyond comprehension, a love that was spontaneous and unbridled. And love untainted by lust.
''So...let me get this straight. You're the ancient prince of japan, now a trans magical hermit who managed to get pregnant via Yuuka?'' Kripa resumed, and he thought his identity was crazy. "And I'm like...a clone of Yuuka but not really?"
'''well...not really, what you just said is only my material identity. I, the soul, is eternaly the servent of the servent of the servent of Krishna, the ocean of all pleasure.'' Mukhara spoke with a smile, she had migrate tot he floor, right beside her son. "And while you started as one of her clone, your sojourn in my 'womb' gave you enough of my DNA that you're body's really that of My son." Mukhara explained.
''Huh, alright then" Krpa srhugged it off happily, atleast one mystery had been solved "So,do you know who you are like...like your eternal identity?'' he then asked.
''I do.'' Mukhara nodded. '' But...it's private. Like every relationship.'' she mildly chided.'' Krishna can reveal it, but until the Lord...or our spiritual master lead us back home, back to godhead, we have to deal with the world with our material identity and by following the rules dictate by the Vedas, the previous Acharya's words and elder vaishnava's who have been practicing for longer then you.'
''Oh...'' Kripa lowered his eyes.
''the reason why we have to follow rules and regulation is simple. If we can't follow them...then it means we are listening to our false ego, And not to Krishna, our dear well wisher.'' Mukhara further explained. ''That's why so few have joined the Bhakti movement; We have to give up a so-called freedom to be 'shackled' by rules and regulation. But with those guide line, remembering Krishna and controlling our minds and senses becomes easier...and it proves to Krishna, and Srila-prabhupada that we are sincere about returning back, home, back to Godhead. Back to our eternal service and identity.''
''Yeah...it make sense.'' Kripa agreed as he brought a knee to his chest. Talking about Krishna felt great, but…
he still missed him.
''Kripa.'' His mother broke him out of his musing, putting a doll hand to his knee comfortingly. ''...Never stop missing him. But don't you ever consider the mercy you received as something cheap.'' she warned. ''what you have receive is..not quite unheard of, but it's definitely not very common.''
Kripa averted his eyes.
''I have no idea why Bhagavan sri-Krishna, or even Narada would show themselves to you. I can speculate that it was by your sacrifice, but really, it was by His sweet will only, nothing more then that.''
Kripa made a noise in the back of his throat.
''God is free to act as he desire...and we, his atomic part and parcel can only play along, hopping that one day, he may reside in our heart.''
''and what if...'' Kripa began.
''For you...you don't need to worry...no ones need to worry.'' Mukhara spoke sweetly, gently caressing the face of her son. Freezing a bit before the artificial finger shyly brushed against his cheek.
Kripa sighed as he ran a hand in his re greening hair. a tired smile on his lips.''Krishna's in control...we just need to be his instrument.'' He finished, knowing full well that, just a few days ago, he would probably commit suicide over willingly becoming God's instrument.
Now though?
Well...it's not like he wanted to go back. Krishna had send him on en adventure...with his mother no less.
now...there was something else he needed to know.
''Mom...how's Asahi?'' he asked. He hadn't heard of her since...since she had been almost choked by Maitrya. not even durring the video conference.
a quiet Asahi never bode well.
''she's fine. But Mister Fujiwara and Skin revoked her hunter's license. And she's grounded.'' Mukhara reported. ''As for you.'' Mukhara continued, a fond smile playing on her lips. ''I think mister Skin would have a few words with you.''
Once again, the feeling of freezing cold water being systematically poured in his veins froze the son of Yuuk...Yuthika in place. The presence of the elder hunter was commanding and...and heavy with the burden he carried.
and indeed, there he was, standing in the door way as if he had been listening in for ours, somehow merging with the dark decore. ''Nothing bad kiddo, I was just passing by and...well, I'm just suprise you got along with a complete stranger.'' The heavily scared hunter commented.
Krishna-Kripa jumped to his feet and stood to attention at Skin, the unsinkable one. And stood to attention.
There was just something about the scarred warrior that commanded his full respect.
''At ease, I ain't here as a general...just want to hang out with a worshiper of Krishna, just to see how a genuine one act.'' He spoke kindly, his eyes soft and his posture relaxed and nonthreatening.
Krishna-kripa broke his salute, but still remeained on his feet, weary of what the oldest hunter in tokyo would do to his mother.
Mukhara arose also, giving her respect to the oldest surving member of the hunter...and one who knew how the sky looked like. ''Sir, it's a pleasure to have you here. Please, take a seat.'' she gestured to the couch. ''And as for me beign a genuin servant of the Lord, the I am affraid you are in for some severe disapointement.''
''I't fine ma'am. You can sit down...you raise—uh...you gave birht to a fine young man.'' Skin praised as he sat down on the soth couch. ''a fine young man indeed.''
Mukahara beamed as she folded her palm. ''Mister...Amada, if you want to praise someone, then please praise Krsna, for he's the one who gave me this soul to care for.'' she humbly spoke. ''and even that, I had no hand in his exceptional rearing.''
''Hmm...'' Skin hummed. ''So that's why you gave him the name Krsna-Krpa.''
''To be honest, I wanted to give him the name Govinda-Valabha. But his aunt was already calling him 'God's causeless mercy' while he was still in my 'womb'. The name stuck.'' she helplessly shrugged with a bright smile. Causing Skin to smile as broad as his re-attached face could permit.
''Yeah, I knew a guy like that...lost contact with him around...I guess twenty years ago.'' his face darkened for a bit. ''anyway, reminiscing about the past's not the reason why I wanted to speak with you, I just wanted to speak to your son.''
''yes you may. And I do believe it's not something private, is it?'' Mukhara gave a knowing smile.
''No ma'am, I just wanted to ask how a demon managed to slip under the radar for so long...nothing against him.'' Skin informed the small family, his hands held up in a show of submission.
''Colored my hair, either wore glasses or contact and dad made sure no one in our guild would sing about me being practically a human shaped plant...it worked.'' Kripa Shruged.
''I see...and you never wanted to eat a hum-''
''Hell no!'' Krishna-kripa's face twisted in disgust. ''Can't even eat demon meat...how am I supposed to eat a vanilla human?! '' it was an open secret that the onmoraki's were made of reanimated human...
Skin raised his hands in a show of surrender. ''Alright, I believe ya...anyway. As long as you swear not to use this laser anymore.''
''you meant he master spark?''
''sure, lets go with that. '' Skin shrugged.
''It depend...I will use it if those I care about are in danger, otherwise, why would I pierce the celestial vault?'' Krishna-Kripa answered.
''Mister Amada I know you wanted to speak to my son, but I do believe I was the actual one you desired to speak to, isn't it?'' Mukhara asked, once again, it was clear she knew what the elder hunter wanted.
Skin turned tot he vaishnavi, and while he had lost the ability to blush, it was clear he had been caught red handed. ''Well...yeah. You see, I have some question about Krishna...the real one. The one you worship and...well.''
''Say no more, and open you ears. I will answer all queries at the best of my abilities.'' And once again, Mukhara spoke, and once again, Kripa listened.
'so, Guru-deva gave you the name Mukhara?' Ananda-rupinin asked her temporary room mate as she tried to fix her faulty knee and blocked hip joint. "did he tell you what it mean? ''
''Yes, Mukhara is the name of Srimati-Radharani's grandmother, the saintly Mukhara. It also means talkative and bold in speaking.'' Mukhara spoke from her spot on the floor, she looked so boyish in her pajamas...and her hair. Were did Ananda saw it? Was it from an anime?
''I see, yes, Maharaja really gave you a fitting name, Mukhara.''
Back at the present, Krishna-Kripa could not hold his smile and tears back. yes, mis mother really wore her spiritual name like a glorious cape.