An hour later... and the needlepoint finally made their way to the Tsukiji. And once again, they were met with Ganesha and the other guy... who was not a berserker but the one-legged ghost of a black-smith.
The more you know.
"Alright...so if miss Toki's indications are correct, there should be a secret passage under one of those statues." Mukhara whispered as they sneaked in the 'temple's outer stone gardens, the one with the memorials and such.
"Yeah...mom, what the hell happened back there?" Krishna-Kripa asked as he followed his mother in the most inconspicuous part of the garden.
Quite astonishingly enough, two sets of walls surrounded the garden. One outer wall, and one inner wall since...
Some liked her privacy.
There, a big stone boulder on a stand loomed, a bunch of Gaean drivel marring its otherwise perfect face.
'The Maha-Mantra would look better.'
"Apparently, me roasting the blasphemous representation of Christianities worst -but not completely undeserved caricature impressed Toki so much, she wanted to join our group. But since the order had not been given by the two demonesses, she...Glitched."
Kripa skewered his lips. "Whatever sin Toki commit, may those two bitches pay it tenfold." He muttered darkly.
"Krishna!" His mother scolded. To which, the son of Yuthika wilted. "Oops...sorry, mom."
"Eh...she got you whipped." Nozomi teased the baby of the group.
"Hey...She's my mama..." Kripa tried to defend himself. But to be honest... he quite liked this dynamic. He had to watch what he was saying...but his mother would otherwise let him be who he was despite his numerous flaws.
And for this...Kripa would do his best to improve and be the Vaishnava gentleman his mother deserved.
"That's very nice of you, my son," Mukhara mentioned as she began inspecting the boulder with the help of Ken. "But you have to know that we all have our quirks and nature. Not everyone can be a man in the renounced order of life, and not everyone can be a householder." She explained, experimentally pushing the rock. "But everyone is a devotee."
Krishna-Kripa quickly helped her, even when Ken told him to stay put since this thing was too heavy for him.
Those words had a swift death when the son of Yuuka very easily lifted the boulder and gently set it to the side. "There you go..."
"Great, thank you, beta." Mukhara thanked. "Alright, once were in, we won't have any opportunity to pray."
"Your really serious about praying to Krishna, aren't you?" Ken commented.
Mukhara gave a crooked smile. "Ken-Kun. When we fought the Indra-Naga the first time around, we failed to worship Jaya-Sri-Pathi, or Krishna, the husband of the ever-victorious Sri. And my son and I almost died. I'm not taking any chances."
"Once again, you have me astounded at the faith you have with the Lord," Gaston commented. "It is true; no good endeavour can truly fructify without His say so."
"Yeah, totally!" Radha piped up from under a bush, scaring everyone by her sudden appearance. "Like this one time, King Purushotama went at war against another king who refused to give him his daughter 'cus he was Jagannath's...Basically Krishna's sweeper." The Kasha explained as she took back her human form, dusting her clothes from the dust that had gathered. "Thing is, Purushotama, in his wounded pride, forgot to ask Jagannath's permission to go out and fight. So he lost."
Mukhara chuckled. "Yes...It's exactly how we lost to a snake," she commented. "Long story short, The great Gaja-pathi of puri failed and had to retreat with what was left of his army back to his land."
"Then he went to the Jagannath temple and fell at the lotus feet of Sri-Jagannath, Sri-Baladeva and Subhadra Ma." Radha picked up as she leaned onto the displaced monument. " After that, the two transcendental Brothers, Rama and Krishna, went and defeated the other king's army even before Purushotama even had the time to arrived at the designated battle field." she made a gesture of her hand. "We know it was them since the two divines Bro's made a pit stop and asked a young milkmaid for the yogourt she was carrying; Krishna gave her his golden ring after He and Balai drink her entire stock. A ring the pujaris confirmed as belonging to Jagannath." (True Story.)
"Krishna, in all of his forms, is know to grant an easy victory to those who constantly meditate of his lotus feet," Mukhara informed. "Now, enough time-wasting. Let's-" Mukhara paused, and all the assembled warriors held hands and looked at Mukhara expectantly.
Even Toki...
"Oh...I see. Welcome aboard, Toki-Ji. It's a pleasure to have you with us." Mukhara greeted as if she was expecting it.
And Kripa realized his mother most probably did.
"Oh, God...This place stinks." Kripa choked out as he presses his gas mask closer to his face
"Eh, it ain't that bad, to be honest." Radha drawled. "it smell's kind or like the back streets of old hell...ah...I miss home a bit now." The kasha sighed as the group advanced to a steel door.
"Beyond this point, the maze starts," Toki informed the group. "It's filled with numerous demons and fallen Gods." The young girl warned, her ghoulish mask back to hiding the breathtakingly young features. "it's also filled with blood and some little remains of Lady Yuriko's enemy."
"Lovely." Kripa sneered. "Bet this place is choked full with ghosts and the likes.
"Nope..." Radha shook her head, making her braids dance. "No Ghost..." she made a face. "This ain't boding well, guys."
"Never the less!" Gaston cut trough. "We must pass through this maze...let us not tarry any longer, for the smell and the demons will still remain."
"Point taken...and please wear your mask Gaston, the air inside is vile and will make you sick," Mukhara informed the youth.
"And how about you two?" Gaston asked the Gensokyen duo testily.
" I will wear it...But Radha-Shyamasundara is a denizen of hold hell, smells and airborne bacteria's are just another fact of life for her." Mukhara informed everyone as she covered her face with a copper mesh mask. On the purple fabric was the Kanji for peace...wa. "No, please cover your mouth and pray your boots won't sink in," Mukhara muttered, and Kripa could easily decipher that she was speaking from experience.
Mukhara would float above the filth while everyone would have to slog through blood, fat and marrow...
'Yesh...what wouldn't I do for you, Yuki...you better live up to a hundred after all that.
As expected, the maze was extremely repugnant... thankfully, it was also filled with easily killed demons...for Toki, at least.
One thing Kripa was especially terrible at was combat in small rooms. He simply didn;t have the required space to maneuver as easily...but it didn't mean that he was easy prey, oh no...
Most demon programs were not accustomed to hand-to-hand combat... armed with his shovel, Kripa quickly learned to grapple with them.
After five or so of those foolish creatures, Kripa learned one thing... he had more strength than what his scrawny form would infer, giving him a wonderful advantage.
And when they eventually reached the main temple, everyone took a full five minutes to breathe in the fresh-ish air and the dark blue walls... still remaining quiet despite the moans of relief that wanted to erupt from the very depth of their beings.
And after that...it was more sneaking around since...the last thing they wanted was to alert the Fake that they were in...and that his hostage situation was about to end.
They sneaked in, stoped Toki from 'mercy' killing a gaean and had Mai healed the poor suicidal thing and... gained a key from her before the angelic being extracted the poor fool to Cafe Florida. Confident that Fujiwara could help right her mind...
It had been the most nerve-wracking and boring experience in Krishna-Kripa's life...one he hoped he would never have to go through again.
After yet another trip in the bomb shelter ruins and corp disposal unit, Kripa couldn't wait to get his hands on the alliance goon.
His mother's skirt was ruined, Gaston looked pale, and his own boots a disgusting red...and the son of Mukhara just knew his new unlikely friend would have nightmares about this place for days...if not years to come.
Nozomi looked no better; it was clear the destruction of her small kingdom still weighed heavily upon her heart... and Toki...
Toki acted as if everything was normal... the blood, the body part, the demons nibbling on them.
She was unaffected by this hellish scene.
Eventually, they came to a red door... and Krishna-Kripa could just smell the fighting spirit behind it.
He grinned. Knowing what would wait for him behind the door.
"Kripa..." His mother's warning tones were enough to remind the servant of Krishna not to fall for the call of blood lust... and yet...
He doubted whatever was behind would be the fitting recipient of his anger...
Ken unlocked the door as quietly as he could...and violently swung it open with a kick. Surprising those that were inside.
Those were Gaeans goons...headed by a woman.
But Kripa doubted they were like the last one...the one Fujiwara had to work his juju on.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the head gaean asked, having taken a step back from the sight of the needle's point.
" She follows Maitreya; we must silence her," Toki informed the group, he choppers ready.
Kripa turned to the shorter girl, holding his Shovel nonchalantly behind his head. "Silence her? Oh, my dearest Toki... Let's make her scream."
behind him, Radha chuckled darkly. "Say K.K, Never thought you'd feel up to some Yokai mind-play."
"Guys... Please keep it for our real target." Mukhara scowled.
"You!" The Gaean mook sneered at the girl, forgoing Krishna-Kripa and everybody else. "those two old crones of Yuriko's faction must have sent you..." the Maiterian fell into a fighting stance. "Yuriko has led us astray; There's no future fighting in her name."
"Your right." Toki agreed. Surprising the other cultist. "And Following Maitreya will lead you to the same result."
"No! Maitreya is different! With him, there's a chance that we may become one with the Gods!"
There was a pause as the assembled devotees processed what the poor woman had just declared...a and then, Mukhara facepalmed. "In that case, miss, know that Maitreya is no better than Yuriko."
"LIE!" The Gaean Spat as she raised her hands to the air. "I will leave this worthless body behind...and give my soul to the alliance! ALL HAIL THE ONE! THE GREAT OLD ONE!"
"He Bhagavan... I hate when fanatics sound like us." Radha openly cringed at the display. "Gives us a bad wrap."
Suddenly, they felt another presence moving behind them. " Our belief is that Lord Maitreya will save us... please send your soul to Lord Maitreya as well." The other Gaean whispered, his voice deranged.
Kripa took a fighting stance. "Oh, Hell no, I belong to Govinda, not an overly Kitchy Lawn ornament." He sneered.
This was enough to have the two derange women attack the group... and Kripa frowned.
Those women had chosen death... and there was nothing great of satisfying about killing them. 'Sorry, Krish, but I have to act like a Demon for a bit. May you find some pleasure in this slap fight.'
After a very disappointing fight, the two gaean's laid on the floor... dead.
Kripa cleaned his Shovel not...it was not the first time he had killed...but it was the first time a pair of humans had to lose their lives at his hands.
It was... not really terrible, but it did leave a very bitter taste in his mouth, especially with how those two women had all but welcome the final blow, calling out to Maitreya in so-called material...
'Nah... Can't call that pleasure...' Kripa pursed his lips; what he had seen was disgusting. Those two Gaeans' only desires were to be one with a god...
A god.
Not even Krishna, just a random, so-called god of dubious Buddhist origin.
To desire to be one with Krishna was the last snare of Maya for the conditioned souls before they could attain liberation from material bondage. For while the spirit soul was an atomic part of God, Krishna and thus one with Him, they were nevertheless separated from him, eternally so.
They were all one in Spiritual qualities with God...and yet, they remained different in terms of quantity.
Krishna was and always will be the greatest of all soul, Vibhu-Atma, the ever-expanding one, while the Jiva's were his atomic particles, Anu-Atma, the eternal servants.
Besides, becoming one with Vishnu meant that they could not share any sweet pastimes. And serving Radha-Krishna in Goloka-Vrindavana in one's eternal identity spat on the cold ashes of impersonal liberation.
But those Gaean... those two women were even worst than the average couch Mayavadi, for they wanted to merge in any so-called gods.
Not even confirmed controllers like Shiva, Durga, Brahma and Vishnu... just any old fake god would do!
Those were no better than the prostitutes... no, even prostitutes were better than them. For they never wished to merge into their clients.
"Kripa?" Mukhara called out to her fuming son. " I have no idea what you are thinking about Beta, but you may need to turn down your killing intent, your scaring everyone," she informed her son.
Krishna-Kripa breathed out his nose. "Sorry mom..." he got up and began to stalk away.
"Yes, Beta, after all, is said and done, you will have all the time in the world to chant and hear about your beloved Krishna. Do not fret." Mukhara assured, having heard his desires.
A small smile light Kripa's lips... he didn't deserve such an amazing mother, and he could only pray for Yuki and Flynn's survival. Especially Yuki.
His Brother deserved to be free to follow the path of Bhakti...
as they dove further in the maze-like confine of the Hongwanji, Kripa prayed for the two departed souls, knowing that those tormented Spirit's destination was a low one...
"Gaston, please keep your mask on," Radha-Shyamasundara warned the tall crusader. "Sure, there may be no blood, but my nose tells me this place's filled with fungi."
Beside them, Gaston Grumbled. " I can only pray that we have soon reached the...surface. I cannot stand having this piece of filthy rag on my face any longer!"
"Yeah...well, your welcome to remove it, Gaston...but don't complain about the coughed-up blood that will stain your tabard later, capiche?" Ken warned, shutting up the prime and proper youth.
For his part, Kripa remained quiet... he could already feel a strong presence as they came at the end of the misnamed, 'lapis-Lazuli hall.'
It looked like a proper stone dungeon...like, a boring dungeon every RPG had.
Eventually, after what felt like hours...
"Halt!" A red-faced Chinese demon blocked the path. " I am Zhong Khui-"
"Kaazami Krishna-Kripa."
" Toyosatomimi no Miko... but may call me Mukhara."
"Rin Keanboou, But Radha-Shyamasundara Devi Dasi will do,"
"Amada ken, at your service."
"Gaston Landry. And may you never forget my name."
"...Toki."
As always, greeting the monster was enough to make him pause and stare.
"Let's me guess... you hear to try to stop us from reaching the fake Krishna, don't you?" Kripa asked nonchalantly. "Yeah, that's nice and all...but what makes you think you can stop the slayers of Shesha?"
Zhong Khui bristled. "I'll let you know, child, that I am the general and caretaker of 80,000 ghosts!"
Behind Kripa, Radha whistled, and a few ghosts came in to view before she shooed them away.
"Ah...my bad. Didn;t meant to call them." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "So eighty thousand demons. Dang man, that's awesome!"
The red Chinese spirit eyes grew wide. "You... you think so?" He asked most uncharacteristically.
"pshyeah! I can control a thousand myself, but... I ain't as great as you." She praised. "By the way... I think I heard about you from Yamaraja once. Your that guy who committed suicide by walking into a closed-door until ya big ugly head cracks open!" She pointed at him. "Dude, ye'r a freaking Legend were I live."
"I...am?"
"yeah!" Radha declared with her hand on her hips. "It ain't every suicide Ghost who gets a big post, ya know! We usually just leave em to rot for a bit until they come begging at death's door for a new birth... But Shiv still watches over em... "
At the mention of the Master and Protector of all ghosts, Zhong Khui's eyes soften. "Yes... I ...I remember him. For those few years, he helped me find my way to Yamaraja..." Then he turned his glance to Krishna-Kripa. Looking less fearsome, somewhat. "And you... you are called Krishna."
"Yes... I'm Krishna's mercy... that what my mom thinks anyway." Kripa scratched the back of his head ruefully.
He didn;t feel like anyone's mercy at the moment, not with how he had mercilessly slain those two from before.
"Krishna's mercy..." Zheng repeated as he thoughtfully caressed his beard. "If you are Lord Krishna's mercy, then why are you not serving our Lord right now?" He asked without any heat.
Mukhara stepped forward. "The one you serve is an imposter, the real one forever reside in His Spiritual abode of Goloka-Vrindavan... and our Lord and Master, the real Bhagavan Sri-Krishna would never appear at this time, for his next incarnation, the Kalki Avatar is next on the scheduled, and he will appear at the end of Kali-Yuga, meaning 432.000 years from the start of this fallen age... not the blackish Krishna," she explained.
"Yeah, bud, Sorry to break it to you, but the guy you serve's actually a supposedly dead adult controlled by... I don't know how many ghosts, but the guy ain't in control of his body." Radha piped up. "We're about to bust 'im out, and... we need to pass."
"I see... This explained much then." Zhong spoke under his breath. "My ghostly army recently got quietly reduced... but the snake never eats what had been killed in the Hong wang Ji," he informed them. "Never the less... I cannot let you pass."
Krishna-Kripa groaned. Sure, fighting was fun, but... Zhong was cool. And he was just doing his job!
And... alright, he wouldn't mind fighting him, but... he didn't want to kill someone who appeared sane.
Then he chuckled. "Well... that's what I would say, but... I like you guys; there's this something about you that I can't help but trust... more than the Alliance anyway." He smirked. "You already know my name and my Abilities." He bowed.
The next moment, Kripa had yet another Demon in his arsenal.
He smirked; things were starting to look up. 'Thank Krishna..."
After a quick trip through the treasury, the group finally came to the world's most common-looking door... thus, none thought of anything when they walked through it... only to fall face to face with a Crucified Flynn surrounded by an orb of purple Flame.
"NOBODY MOVE!" Mukhara ordered as she erected a barrier from her own magic.
"But...It's Flynn!" Isabeau protested. "He's hurt... He won't last long on this cross."
For his part, Krishna-Kripa heard his Krishna tiredly sighed.
'So... Another messiah on the cross.' He smirked despite himself. 'Any thoughts about this, my Lord?'
" It's overly edgy, overdone and historically inaccurate... " Krishna informed his servant. "He was hung on an olive tree, not across."
'Huh... the more you know.'
"No... and this is not Flynn," Mukhara revealed. "This room is empty, save for us." She informed the group as she pulled a sword out from her spine and sent a Shockwave out to the illusion. When the crescent of light struck the fake Flynn, it shattered like brittle glass.
"So... We got played." Ken growled. "Typical."
"Well, well, well." The Abomination's oily toned floated into the room, and Mukhara blanched as she grasped her earmuff. " Now this is what I call a moulted crew... all out of feathers."
"Oh, God... Please don't tell me he's into puns..." Radha growled as she flattens her ears on the top of her head.
As for Kripa... He had many flash-back of Ikustuki.
"Were are you, coward!" Gaston shouted, still behind Mukhara's barrier. "Show yourself if you are a man!"
A burst of cold and heartless laughter resounded in the room. "If I am a man?" He asked. "but What if I was more than one!" a thousand voices answered back.
"Then show yourself nonetheless; many legions have fallen under the strength of my mighty arms, the likes of you are not even worth a drop of sweat."
'Speak for yourself, Gaston... this shit's not like the average goons...not at all.' This was different than anything he had faced before... and from the last time he had faced the possessed Yuki, it was clear the Abomination had grown stronger.
"But we haven't fallen...oh no, I dare say... that we have risen... and you will drown in your own sweat and blood." The Abomination chuckled as he walked out from the writhing shadows... or stumbled out like a drunken puppet.
He came into view; Yuki's body... his favourite vessel, was bleeding from his eyes and nose, the yellow substance staining his front. His eyes were cloudy, and his grin demented...more like the living shadows that poured from him were pulling the side of his lips.
Those same shadows kept him aloft, in a throne made of humanity's darkest and vilest desire and white masks.
"You!" Isabeau sneered as she drew out her sword. "What have you done with Flynn?"
'Krishna.' Chuckled, the sound painful and blood-curdling. "Flynn?... Oh... He's not there."
"WHERE IS HE!?"Isabeau demanded.
On his part, Kripa could not look at the meat puppet. The smell was like a punch to the gut, and his mother also seemed to be affected. "Mom?"
"Hi... His desires... their... desires... Polluted..." She swooned, clutching her head as pain robbed her of all faculties, only to be caught by Radha. "L... loud... too many... too m..."
The Kasha's mouth was tightly closed, her red eyes flashing with anger as she brought her godsister to the back of the room... a room that was now covered with a barrier.
'Shit... Krishna, were not going out of here without a fight, do we?'
"No, my friend... don't worry, I have already won for you; you just have to fight."
'Right... Just as with Arjuna.' Kripa took a deep breath in.
The shadow... this... Legion of steroid gave a low chuckle. "Well, if you were to defeat me... then I would have to choice but to give him to you."
"Kripa, watch the ground."
The son of Yuuka let his gaze fell, and he gasped at the sight.
Those cancerous mass of evil spirits was pooling on the floor, reaching for the grounded unit in a bid to infect them.
"GAURANGA!" Kripa screamed at the top of his lung, causing the malicious horror to dissolve into light; whatever tendril remained snapped back to the body of Yuki, causing the possessed young man to reel.
The sacred name... the holy name of the most merciful avatar cut through the darkness and gave life to Mukhara. The Saintly prince resumed her position in the sky, floating like the personification of Nemesis.
"You... You only want to amuse yourself and feed off the despair of Tokyo. You just want power... and pleasure from the pain of others." She accused the Abomination. "A being like you only deserve to go to hell!"
"Oh... I don't doubt it... oh ancient son of Yomei." The writhing shadows agreed. "Which Is WHY i want TO Enjoy it While it LaSt!" The Shadow once again lurched for to grab whatever was in front of him.
Kripa took a deep breath in, ready to call out to Gauranga again... but before he could belt out the holy name... The Shadow cast mute.
Taking this prime opportunity, Krishna-Kripa mutely cussed a violent storm. And this cussing practically took a physical form when the crawling Chaos grabbed Isabeau.
The great lady tried her best to break free from its grip, desperately scrambling for her Gauntlet with little success as the living shadow engulfed her.
Despite their muted status, their internal scream was enough to convey the sheer horror they felt.
Then, the shadows receded, and in front of them stood a white-washed Isabeau...
"I am one... I am all... Come and join us... salvation awaits." she uttered, her red eyes covered with a white veil. "Take this Gift... Krishna's-"
But whatever she was about to say what cut short by Radha-Shyamasundara's bullet.
She may still be silent... but none-spell didn;t need to be uttered.
And everybody else had a gauntlet.
The fight that ensued ended up being pretty once sided... But still needlessly complicated and oh-so tedious.
There had been a few time where Krishna-Kripa had been this close just to let loose and beam the hell out of the samurai... and then he realized that, while it was alright to fight and kill to protect Krishna's devotee's... and Krishna himself, needless use of violence and power was not.
Besides, he had no idea what else would be atomized.
And after ten gruelling minutes, Isabeau was on the ground, and the evil spirit that had invaded her body was taken away by Radha with the help of mister Khui.
And then... the impossible happen...Radha took a small ornamented box from her pocket and sprinkled some of it on the evil spirit.
Whatever it was, it caused the white-masked shadow to burst into light and the soul to take an absolutely stunning four-arm Vishnu form.
Kripa had almost thought that this was his Krishna, only to realize that his Krishna didn;t have four arms.. and he didn't carry any weapons.
No... His lord was sweat and kind, and he simply wasn't aw worthy...
He was love-worthy, sweet, kind, lovely and sexy enough to make the word awfully redundant and useless...
Once the dust settled and the Vishnu-Dhuta left on a plane back to the spiritual plane, Mukhara informed the group that they could not proceed further and had a few wounded a simple field dressing would do nothing for.
And thus, with a heavy heart, Kripa and company exited the Tsukiji-Hongwangji, their mission failed.
"Mom... Is everything alright with miss Isabeau?" Krishna-Kripa asked after more food and some rest.
Mukhara, who was out of her prosthetic and wearing a rather large T-Shirt, sighed. "As I feared, Miss Isabeau is suffering from a tremendous amount of stress, both mental, Emotional and Physical. Since she and Flynn began their hellish quest, I fear neither of them had the time for proper rest, proper food and medical care." her face darkened as she sighed. "She crashed beta... There's nothing much we can do for her but let her rest and recuperate." Then she let her golden glance linger on her son, her brows worried. "How about you? How are you holding?"
Kripa made a sound at the back of his throat.
"beta, please... you killed a pair of humans and... things are heading in a different direction altogether.
Kripa Shrugged again. "Well... I won't say I liked it. But those two made their choice" He leaned on the chair. " Their death would either be by my hands, the hands of the fraud or their own..."
"Beta."
"And... Nikkari taught me how to kill humans..." Kripa admitted as he lowered his eyes.
It was not something that was spoken aloud, but one of the prerequisites to take the hunter's exam was to hunt down humans who would make the worst of demon blush in shame.
He still remembers his first kill... a rapist.
He had a wife and two daughters; he had friends, colleagues and liked to watch old western cartoons.
His name had been Eiichi Sueno... a most unremarkable man following the teaching of this one Maruo...
Manabu had tough him that sometimes, the kindest thing one could do was kill his adversary... and that some ass-holes were better off dead...
"Mom..."
"Yes, Beta?" Mukhara asked, probably perceiving her son's hesitancy.
"Can A Vaishnava..."
"Kill?"
Krishna-Kripa nodded. He couldn't remember the last time he had murdered something as Ananda-Rupini, but she also remembered that he'd de-weaponized this particular body.
"Yes... But only to protect others."
The son of Yuuka raised his head, looking at his mother and... old friend.
"Srila-Prabhupada did emphasize the need to be none-violent. But he was also a very practical man." Mukhara explained as she leaned back on her fluffy chair. " We don't eat other animals, and we refrain from needless killing of all living entity... save for plant, of course."
Kripa huffed a chuckle.
"The Pandavas were warriors, and they killed many... especially in the Kurukshetra war... and many saintly kings won wars and duel against other kings."
"I see."
"Bhakti's not about external saintliness and common nonviolence; It's about pleasing the Lord by engaging everything in His service... even Jayapataka Swami Maharaja shot some man to protect Sri-Dham Mayapur. In her inception." She admitted with pride.
"We do what we have to do... and if it means to fight a rascal about to defile a deity... or one of Krishna's dear devotees, then Yes, Killing is allowed if no other ways. Are found." She paused for a bit. "Of course... Better call the police first... if there are such uncorrupted forces around."
"I see..."
"But it does not condone the slaughter of innocent animals when there's enough food for all... especially when most of the production goes to waste." Mukhara added. "felling better?"
"Yeah... Still, Can't wait to live a life free of demon slaughter." Krpa stated, he longed for a simple life, the life he had as Ananda-Rupini.
"Yes... we still have some places where your budding blood-lust can be channelled. But I'm not letting you out on a righteous rampage until the Psychologist gives you the green light." His mother informed.
"mom, I don't need-"
"Yes, you do... Kripa, I have gone through so many hermitages. And even in the mildest, most inoffensive one, all of those who went and live in the 'normal' world told me counselling helped them with the transition." She spoke to her son with all seriousness. "Beta... there's nothing wrong with getting mental help. And It's not a sign of weakness... It's humility, and there's nothing more powerful in the world than this."
"And how about love?" Kripa asked.
This caused Mukhara's eyes to light up and her smile to widen. "Love cannot appear in one's heart without humility... and humility can only be developed when the seed of Krishna-Prema is planted in one's heart."
"Ah..."
And the silence resumed anew.
Time passed slowly; Kripa, out of boredom, had grabbed His Krishna's Lotus, playfully twirling it as longing invaded his heart.
Humility...
"Mom... What's humility?" Kripa asked...
" Srila-Prabhupada defines humility as having faith in Krishna and Krishna alone. And for me... Humility means to accept that we're not the controllers of our completed destiny... yes, we can make choices, and those choices have repercussions or Karma. But in the end-"
"Krishna has the final word."
"Yes... And whatever He decides is fuelled by his inconceivable love for us." A soft smile drew itself on Mukhara's lips. "No one can divine what Krishna's plans are... we can only trust him, for, in the end, it's all good."
"... If you say so," Kripa Mumbled.
His Krishna had left him... So... why did Krishna think it was for the best? He was not a Gopi.
No way he could qualify after such a short time.
"That's what Krishna does, K.K... We wait for him, long for him while we serve our Guru and the previous acharyas. Time passed, and this waiting turns into deep longing... we never met Him, never saw him, but we've heard of His charming self and dealings.
We wait... we hear more, we chant more... and then once day, we can't chant, we can only cry for Him."
"And then Krishna appears to us in the eternal form we adore the most... But only for a moment."
"And then He leaves..." Kripa rasped as the burning in his heart turned into a blaze.
"Yes... He leaves... and he leaves Behind the mark of his divine footprints in his heart."
He forgot how long Krishna had been gone; he only knew that he was not there anymore. And if Krishna-Kripa was quite honest... it felt like millenniums had passed since their last meeting.
And yet... His Krishna thought it was for his own good.
Just like when He left his unlimited Divine Gopis headed by Srimati-Radharani...
"He left me with a broken heart... so that I will never forget him again..." Kripa whispered as he realized the unprecedented mercy to Lord had bestowed upon him.
He brought the lotus to his nose and gently smelled it... He could still detect the Aroma of his beloved...
He didn't know how long he simply smelled this flower as tears kept pouring from his eyes like a pair of burning rivers, listening to his mother singing the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra like a dirge full of lover's torments.
Eventually, Kripa realized that he would have more time to do that once Yuki would be rescued and all would be out of this damn hermitage. But for now... he had to remain here.
He pulled a face... this would be easier said than done.
The day had been... less successful than anticipated; they had another girl in the group, but... Toki was more like a dog than anything else. She was with Nozomi at the moment...
Gaston was hanging out with Ken, and Ken was pulling some favour from the weapon guys from stuff with more firepower... Radha's location was unknown, and Hoshi was behind the bar, helping out Fujiwara with guild master thing.
His sister was surprisingly quiet, but Kripa would not put it past Iory to have confiscated the thing away... again.
This left Krishna-Kripa and his mother... For the Angel was still recovering from the last fight with the faceless nun... and she wanted to make friends with Madusa and Zong Khui.
...
He missed His Krishna; he missed his voice, his sight and... everything that was Him.
And yet...
"You know," Mukhara spoke up from her chair, having woken up from her doze. " Once, Rupa Goswami wanted to write a drama about Krishna's pastime in Vrindavana and Dwarka. But Satyabhama warned him not to drag Krishna out of Vrindavana."
"Ah... and whose Rupa again?" Kripa asked, annoyed that, despite having some memories of his previous life as Aegis and meeting God, Many details were still unknown and hidden under the post-mortuary amnesia.
"Sri-Rupa Goswami is the younger brother of Sanatana Goswami and the writer and teacher of our divine tattva; we are Called Rupanugas because we follow his footstep. His divine identity is that or Rupa-Manjari; Srimati-Radharani's dear maidservant and the manifestation of her Heart." Mukhara paused and, knowing the heart of her son, continued her explanation.
"Srimati-Radharani is Krishna's divine potency; she is the Supreme feminine potency to Krishna's supreme male. She is the mother, the source of all the Laksmis and Durgas. She is the Supreme energy...and love personified." Mukhara closed her eyes as she folded her... silver nerves together.
"She's Krishna's top-most lover," Kripa whispered as he began remembering the glories of Srimati Radharani. "She's the second body of Krishna... Basically... She's Krishna, and Krishna is Radha... and She's Bhakti, Love, the supreme offering and..." The returned Vaishnava choked as his throat closed off... how could he have forgotten about her?
"In our Mantra, she is Hare..." Mukhara revealed. " Being the supreme woman and the abode of love, her heart is softer than that of a mother. And as the supreme mother, she is the one who answers our calls of distress and our begging for service. She is Bliss personified, and she is the one who gives us the pleasure of serving Sri-Krishna."
"And she controls Krishna with her unlimited qualities!" Kripa jubilantly added. Making his mother chuckled. "Oh, that she is... she only needs the far corner of her eyes to utterly disarm and subjugate Acyuta." Mukhara grinned. "And she's not human for she is the pure manifestation of spiritual nature, she may look like a golden woman whose endless beauty cannot be adequately described... And I think we should stop talking about our Queen since... Her subject is not to be explained in more detail to those who are just starting." She mildly scolded.
Krishna-Kripa was about to protest when he realized that quite a few persons were making their way to his Mother's room.
He turned back to his mother, who gave her beloved son a meaningful glance with a smirk. She was not talking about him... but about them.
And sure enough, Someone knocked on her door.
"Yes, you may all come in; I didn't lock it," Mukhara called out. "I hope you don't mind me being in a blanket and a shirt; I couldn't bear wearing anything more."
At those words, Kripa raised a quizzical brow.
"My shoulders are killing me... and I have nothing more to wear."
"Yeah... your clothes are in the wash, by the way."
"Oh, Beta... You didn't have to."
"Have to what?" Ken asked as he opened the door. Letting in Gaston, Nozomi, Mai, red skin Ghost and...
"Wait... who... are you the weapon guy?" Kripa stared at the sly man.
He wore a suit, stank like expansive cigars, and the bazooka he carried over his shoulder (unarmed... he hoped.) indicated that he was clearly working out.
"Yeah, I'm the one and only Toad." he introduced himself. "Tough you may want another guy on your team and..." He turned his gaze toward his limbless mother. "I like this Shit, this mantra you chanted... and yer the boldest person I know."
"Ah... It's really just humility at this point." Mukhara admitted. "Humility means to advance boldly, knowing that nothing, not your guns, not your ability, not your family, friends and love can save you except the real Krishna." she mildly declared. "No offences to your wear, good sir. But even the best of weapon can and will eventually fail."
The weapon specialist took a good look at the limbless woman, reading her as his face remained unreadable.
Then he smirked. "You got guts... I like that." then his smirked turned into an actual smile. "Twas about time someone like you came in and majorly shook things up."
"Thank you, Mister Toad. And welcome to our team!" Mukhara greeted. "You have my Son, Kaazami Krishna-Kripa. Or Aegis."
"S'up!" Kripa greeted, happy no have another team member. (but still bummed out about Isabeau.)
He liked Isabeau more than Flynn, and she killed it in the samurai outfit. And killed it on the field also...
She was awesome... such a Queen!
He would miss her.
After The introductions were done, Mukhara had everyone sitting down. She had a triumphant smile on her face... and it was then that Kripa realized that his Aunt truly was gone.
"Now... I convoked you all to inform you that our mission was a resounding success!" She declared without much ado.
"Wait... But Flynn's still with the Alliance." Gaston reminded the saint. "Our goal was to penetrate their stronghold, locate and rescue Flynn and kill K... The fake!"
This caused Mukhara to smirk.
"Wait... that was a lie, was it?"
"Not completely." She inclined her head. "You see... The use of a needled is to pierce fabric to insert a length of thread." She explained. "Right now... As you must have noticed, Radha-Shyamasundara is not present with us."
It didn;t take much for them to catch on to what Mukhara was getting to. "No way." Krishna-Kripa breathed out.
"Eh... So we were just a decoy, ain't it?" Ken drawled. "Smart..."
"But why?" Nozomi mildly asked. " Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I didn't want to take any chance." The hermit stated as his smile turned into a serious frown. "we're dealing with an extremely powerful evils spirit... many, if my ears didn;t deceive me." she closed her eyes. " Spirits... and I'm talking about actual ghosts, can pass through walls, and unless you are a legitimate medium, you will never see them, hear them or even believe that you are in the same room as them." She smirked.
"Then why tell us now?" Ken asked, his scared face showing clear worry. "For all we know, those ghosts could be here as we speak!"
"Wonderful, Just when I thought I was over my Paranoia." Gaston...
"Bud... Are you legit, or are you sarcastic?" Kripa asked his friend.
"A bit of both, I'm afraid."
"Yeah, I feel you."
then they heard Zhong Kui chuckle. "Oh, Children, you have nothing to fear." The terrifying Ghost assured them. "With me at your side... and the Kasha, no spirit and demons will spy on you."
"Yes, especially with the likes of you, we can be assured that our sleep and private conversations will remain as such." Then Mukhara returned her attention to the group. "I still don't know how much I can push my luck with this particular hermit." She admitted. "But let me warn you all... we are about to head toward rocky water."
"Figures... So, what's the plan, Princess?" Nozomi asked.
"Right, now... it's a waiting game." Mukhara informed them all, to their great disappointment. "Oh, come now. This just means we have more time to recover, regroup and teach you about the outside world and how this is not the real Tokyo."
Krishna-Kripa's grin could not be contained. His mama was about to blow everyone's mind... and Maybe he would see Mother Mandodari again. She was hilarious, despite her very heavy accent... and her knowledge of the real world... outside the hermit's realm was invaluable.
He just hoped Gaston, Ken, Toki and Toad would be as interested and enthusiastic as he to learn the truth.
Odin stared at the scorched ground; the air felt pure and clean...and even his heartfelt uplifted.
This... He knew that this scion of 'Krishna' had attained Salvation. And this was not the one in which one had to walk into the gaping maw of the so-called celestial snake.
No, the All-father knew it was a hoax, or the beast had nothing to do with heaven, for he resembled more his horrific granddaughter, Jormungandr.
He narrowed his eyes... What was Krishna's true plan? And... was Mukhara's assessment of the god true?
He didn't know... and it didn;t really matter in the end.
Suddenly, he heard a sound; it was a cat meowing.
And indeed, crawling out from a crevice was a black and red cat, its green eyes shining in the gloom.
Now... Odin was an ancient god and the lord and master of Asgard... But he had a thing for cats.
His Freija loved those tiny beasts, and they would pull her golden chariot as she and her divine army of Valkyries would slaughter frost giant and bless mortals with her divine presence...
Thor also loved those creatures, sharing his mother's interest... and Loki had blessed those animals with his mischievous nature... before he turned on everyone.
The black cat noticed the looming god and flopped on the filthy ground, rolling on its back as it began to purr and play.
Odin let go of Gungnir, the legendary lance remaining upright despite his owner's lack of support, and approached the cat, kneeling beside it as he began to rub its warm and fluffy belly.
He began to purr loudly, healing something in the wizened one's heart.
"Hey there boy, whatchu doing here?" He spoke in ancient Norse. "There was a scary fight here... and Tokyo's so dangerous... hmm? Aren't you scared? You're a pretty brave one, aren't you? A real Viking fit for Valhalla."
The Cat got up and jumped on Odin's lap, still purring as he... she rubbed her head against the armoured chest of the god of thunder and wisdom. "Oh my... you're quite cuddly, aren't you?"
The cat meowed again.
"Oh, I see... yes, I do think we have some decent meat lying around. We also have some milk and cheese." Well, those were the fake ones made with oil... but it's was what they had.
The cat 'merped' at the mention of the cheese. Making Odin laugh for the first time since his Frejya was converted into a nameless martyr.
"You're so beautiful... who's the beautiful girl? Yes... you are... how did you manage to survive here? Humans would hunt you down for meat, you know." he shamelessly cooed to the fluffy beast.
...
He teleported inside the actual temple with the cat; there was no way he would let his wife's favourite pet suffer this fate.
For her part, Radha-Shyamasundara thank God for her ability to change into a mundane cat. And the fact that Odin was a cat person.
'Narasimha-devs Ki! Jaya!'