This is my twentieth chapter... I never thought I would go this far and have that many stories.
Thank you so much for all of your support. It means a lot to me.
The moment she entered the 'temple' proper. From the cradle of Odin's arms, Radha immediately knew that something was worst than first thought.
All of those gaean and other assorted humans had quite a few ghosts poisoning their subtle bodies, sapping their energies and whispering unto them the sweet poison of Nihilism.
Radha re-loafed herself tighter in Odin's arms as he passed by them, the God covering her much smaller body with his hand.
He was nice, despite the fact that a fool was cheating him.
As the tall and imposing Norse semi-god traversed the corridors, those afflicted souls, some of whom had less ghost poisoning their minds, would wallow at his feet.
Eventually, the crowd of noisy bitches disperse and let her ticket in go through.
"I'm sorry, Queen." He addressed Radha. "Those thralls will no hurt you of this, I swear." He petted her... probably trying to comfort her as she traversed the very boring corridor.
Yeah. So as it turned out, Odin really was a sweet guy... for now.
The kasha could easily perceive oodles of ghosts reverentially trailing behind him... and not so reverential.
"You can see them... don't you?" Odin asked the Cat. "Those are the souls are the Eihenjar... now homeless and lost. The Valkyries... their wings cut, and Frigg gone, cannot bring them to Valhalla... for the armies of God had taken it over."
Radha really felt bad for the guy... She had no idea if he was the original Odin or just a guy who toughen he was the Semi-God.
Or maybe Ooin was just some dreamed-up guy inspired by the puranic Gods? Like Indra?
Who knew?
Eventually, they pass by a door that smelled of death, disease and a Yaksha... like, an Actual Yaksha. And by the stench of it, he was bleeding and in poor health.
He looked at it, and Radha-Shyamasundara could just hear the gears running. Then he sighed.
Radha expected the pseudo-god to say something about the dying guy, but it seemed even the Lord of poetry was now mute.
After a few minutes, he reached a room that smelled of demon meat and some better stuff. Like mice.
Now, most people considered Radha-Shyamasundara a hell-cat and thus expected her to be one of those beings to be an obligatory carnivore. Which would be true would she still be a hell-cat.
She had ascended... just like Yugi, Parsee and Utsuho had after eating Mukhara's limb. Meaning that there were free to eat as much Krishna-Prashadam as they wanted without having their belly's protest at the vegetarian fare.
Of course, not all Yokai had this sweet mercy, for example, A certain Suika... now Suki devi Dasi still needed to drink booze, and her friend Ramba was still known to hunt rats and other rodents that called the Hare Krishna temples home... those that could not be reasoned with, that is.
Nevertheless, the other celestial being of hellish origin had to act a certain way now, and since this was magic food... it was a caveat.
And the GBC had ruled that, for some special cases like those who owned or were animals, lab-grown meat was tolerable if need be.
Odin dropped the hidden Vaishnavi on the counter. "There you go, my friend... now, how am I supposed to call you?" he addressed Radha. "Hmm... You're a little girl... the first innocent one I have seen and probably the only female cat alive that is not kept for..."
Radha merped; she was aware that whatever was not demon meat was from other smaller creatures like cats and rats.
She hated the place for a reason.
"Embla..." Odin asked as he petted Radha's head. "I will call you Embla... what do you think, Embla."
"Ra-dha~" Radha tried to Convey; she already had a pretty awesome name, thank you very much... and Ebmla was a bit too close as to how she would sound when about to hack a hairball out.
Taken aback, Odin stared at his four-legged companion. "Ra-dha?"
"Raw raw... Radhaaaa~" She tried again, with more emphasis.
The bi-colour being stared at her... and a smile quirked the side of his lips. "Radha... You want to be called Radha."
"Maroooo." Radha-Shyamasundara rolled on the countertop... He had no idea, but Odin had just gained All blessing from Krishna. For the Lord of the Universe, he who was worshipped by all in all respect would fall at the feet of those who simply uttered 'Ra'... and would subsequently worship their feet when they added the word 'Dha.'
Meaning Odin just won the Spiritual Jack-pot on this one.
The So-called god chuckled at her mannerism, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Alright...Radha, my people here call's me Odin, but you may also call me Ooin. Can you say that?" Odin playfully asked.
"OoOooi-Mmmmm," Radha repeated, which netted her some awesome chin-pets and head rubs... and a very happy Pseudo-God.
"What is this filthy creature doing here?" A distorted, echoing voice intruded in the sacred bonding time between a false God and a divine cat.
Odin immediately straightened up, his features darkening at the sight of the massive Buddha-like being that stood outside the room.
"Greeting, Maitreya. Yes, I am doing well, and I am still on standby for the second part of the plan." He flatly informed the Buddha. "And this is Radha-"
"A fitting name... for a rat."
'Welp, That guy's dead.' Radha thought as she blatantly ignored the fat bastard.
Sure, she could try to act cute and melt his heart with her feminine will... but the guy was an insult to Maitreya-Rishi and had indirectly blaspheme Srimati-Radharani.
If one cared for his life of so-called pleasure, the last thing he wanted was to insult any Bhaktas.
"Yes... for you see everything equally," Odin muttered. "I found this Queen in the room... you know the one."
"Yes... the contaminated one." Maitreya huffed. "How dare those frauds to give liberation to a filthy spirit."
'Oh Krishna, talk about ironic.' Radha clenched her jaw.
"Nevertheless, Krishna's plan is well underway despite those... frauds brainwashing the population."
Case in point.
"Yes... I see. And how is Flynn?" Odin asked as he picked up Radha from the countertop.
"Why do you ask?" Maitreya retorted. " This part of the universal will is still deep in illusion, I have no idea why Krishna's keeping his moving corps around, less it is to teach us about the suffering we must all go through at the time of death, and that living and dying really is the same."
Odin remained silent, and Radha could just feel that this guy went through so much...
"Perhaps, he finds some pleasure in his company." the Golden Buddha continued. "I have heard many of my disciples fawn about his beauty... Do they not know that it is but temporary?" He crossed his arms. "'tis but a body maintained by Lord Dagda's magic... nothing more. Once this scion of yours grows tired of him..."
"... The eternal rest will await." Odin intones, his voice carrying sorrow.
"Yes... like we all long for." Maitreya admitted, his feature growing softer. "Once YHVH Is destroyed, and Krishna can make his new universe, we will merge with him... we will all be one." and with that, the false avatar of the real Krishna vacated the premise.
Once he was gone, Odin let out a sigh as he moved to the fridge. "This, Radha, was my colleague Maitreya... he's apparently an ancient Vedic deity, a God filled with compassion." he let out a quiet snort. "But I will tell you, my dear, that this entity has nothing but contempt for everyone."
Radha 'merped' as she rubbed the top of her head to Odin's chin. 'It's alright, Prabhu; It'll be all over soon.' Mukhara just needed to stop being overly cautious and just wreck the place; the Yamadutas would take care of the rest.
"But... if we aimed at the end of YhVh's reign of terror, I have to tolerate him, at least until the full moon graces us again in five days, and Shesha turns into the universal egg."
"Krishna will reset everything to the way it's meant to be. Asgard will be back, so will midgar, Valhalla and Hel. We won't have to fight with one another, for humans will be part of us, and we will only need to have faith in ourselves to live and..."
"Mrrr?" Radha asked the Allfather, whose voice had choked up.
"It will be worth it, Radha... I promise you, all the atrocities we're perpetrating will lead to a paradise, a new universe worthy of all sacrifices." He hugged the cat closer.
"Mraw-waw?" She asked.
"That's what he told us... Stephan... he told us what we had to do."
'Stephen...' Radha took note of the name, for Param-atma told her it was rather important.
"But..." Odin seemed to hesitate. "But I... I have doubt about his methods," he admitted as he opened the fridge and took out...
"Ah... Demon meat... do you mind it? I think it may be fish." Odin informed Radha as he sniffed the content of the Tupperware. Pulling it away from his face with a wince. "Or dragon, perhaps." he then showed the content to his new friend who... after one sniffed, hissed at the content.
'Human flesh... I may have some weaknesses, but I ain't that fallen yet.' Radha thought as she jumped on Odin's shoulder. 'All glories of Sri-Nityananda Raya, the saviour of the most fallen... no thank you, I don't eat humans anymore but, thank you anyway." She prayed in thank.
"Oh... not to your liking?" Odin asked.
As an answer, Radha whipped his face with her tail.
"Phu!... Alright... I get it..." The Norse got spat some hair out as he rummages through the fridge some more. "It didn't smell all that fresh anyhow." After a minute or so, the all-father gave up his search with a sight that bellowed plenty of frustration. "I'm sorry, Radha... there's nothing..."
The cat-like celestial' heart broke at his tone; he was probably seeing her becoming rail-thin and dying.
"We... have nothing Radha... nothing at all. And even if the dome would be lifted, there's nothing purely animal... it's all demons." He transferred the ascended cat from his shoulders to his arms, cradling her like a baby. "Humans made a mistake with the summoning app, and now... there's nothing left.
'Poor Odin... Oh Nitai, please be merciful to him, the guy's so unhappy, only you can make him eternally happy.' She prayed to the most merciful avatar.
Back at cafe Florida, Krishna-Kripa was wandering around, still playing with Krishna's lotus.
His mother was taking a nap, and Toad was in deep discussion with Ken and Gaston and Toki was basically stuck to Nozomi's side like a baby bat her colourful mother.
Something about her still being considered a mother... and some unexplained tragedy Kripa didn't care to hear... for it sounded uncomfortably recent.
And apparently, after Mukhara's speech, more of the tua te daanan now trusted the choice of their queen. Meaning her fairy power was slowly but surely returning.
'What else...Aunty Radha's doing Recon in the real temple, Mai... what is Mai even doing?' Probably praying to Krishna...
And Krishna... what was he doing? Was he happy? Was he with... Her?
'Dumb question, of course, He is, Krishna's never separated from Radha...' So... he was happy.
But Kripa... His heart burned. He missed his Krishna, and he missed...He missed Vraja.
'I'm still serving him here... but I'm still so far from Yuki.' He had thought Yuki would be saved after the raid, the crawling chaos exorcised from him and recovering under Mai's loving care...
But no, his Yuki was still under the grip of the abomination... suffering in such a way that would make suicide almost a valid option.
Almost...
"You look worried." a familiar voice floated down the hallway, it was Gaston.
"Oh hey... uh... yeah, I am." Kripa readily admitted to the crusader.
One part had sort of hoped it was Hallelujah, but Fujiwara had explained to the son of Mukhara that something had pushed the boss of Tokyo to send the Nephilim to Kinnshicho. No, he was not a bad person, and after talking to him and explaining to the teen about how Kripa had the right to do whatever the hell he wanted, Hoshi had graciously accepted the fact and happily moved along.
Meaning, he had bitched about it, mopped for a bit and finally surrendered but still held hope for a reversal.
...
'Why did I even hoped it was Hallelujah again?' Really, he had to remove those nostalgia glasses and see things for how they were, like how Gaston was looking down at him with clear worries.
"I... I'm worried for Yuki-kun." He admitted to the only other young man that approached his age.
"And pray-tell, who is this Yuki-kun?" Gaston asked as he leaned on the wall, showing Kripa that he was all ears although he knew not of the subject.
"Yuki... He used to be someone very dear to me in my previous life... and to God."
"Oh... Another servant of the Lord then."
"Yes... He's the one who introduced me to Krishna-Consciousness. And he's the one who leads me to Guru-dev's lotus feet." Kripa closed his eyes as he also leaned on the wall beside Gaston. Someone who was proving himself more friendly than at first blush. "I ow so much to him..." A sad small light his lips again.
"Ah, I see... he was very dear to you."
"Yeah... and in my life before that, the one I was Hamuko, Yuki-kun used to be my star-baby," he admitted as he let this memory take over unbridled. "Mom and Dad had a cabin up in the mountain, and during one winter, when I was seven, I wished upon a star for a baby brother." Kripa closed his eyes at a painfully joyful memory.
It was Christmas morning, and her Papa had fraught her to hike in the snow in a pair of genuine Canadian snowshoes or, Lackette as he had called them.
It had been so fun. Even after a long hour walk through the heavy snow, since Hamuko had a goal.
"You see, the night before Christmas, the sky was clear, and the moon was gone," Kripa explained as he kept his eyes closed despite the tears that spill from them. "Oh Gaston, I had never seen so many stars in the sky... the milky way, it's a river of stars."
"Oh, In Mikado, we call it the celestial Styx," Gaston commented. Making his friend scoff.
"No, man. This ain't the Styx river; it's the Celestial Ganga and Yamuna descending on earth as a plethora of sacred droplets." He revealed to Gaston, whose eyes gained a shine.
He leaned his head back onto the wall as he dived back in this particular memory, happy to share it with the young man. "Still, you lived in Mikado, and Mikado... do you have street lights shining at night?" He asked.
"Of course we do... but my father would often time take me and... Navarre out to gaze at the stars." Gaston's voice grew quiet at the end. He cleared his throat. "Nevertheless, What happened to this star-brother of yours?"
Right. "Well, Me and dad found a good spot, and he told me to look out for shooting stars." A warm smile drew itself on Kripa's face. "And... I saw one, and I wished I could have a little Brother... or baby to raise and love."
"At age seven?"
Kripa chuckled sadly. "Hey, plenty of girls wants a baby at that age... even if it's raising your sibling."
"Yes, my elder sister would steal me from my nurse..." Gaston's eyes lost themselves in the memory. "Hamuko would've been a wonderful mother."
A sad smile drew on his lips. "yeah... and I was for five years before my Hamuko body got destroyed in a car crash, and I was stuffed in a robotic body." His smile turned wry... then sadistic. 'Alright, next time I see mister Matsuda, he and I will have a little chat.' He cleared his throat as he chanced a glance back at his interlocutor.
Gaston was openly staring at Krishna-Kripa as if he had...
Well, to be honest, Getting in a robot body instead of a regular body by the regular method was quite far-fetched, to be perfectly honest. But it was surprisingly not so unheard of in the Vedas. More specifically, in Sri-Rama's pastime.
During the pastimes of Lord-Ramachandra, the supreme personality of Godhead in the mood of the perfect king, he had to abandon his pregnant wife, Sita-Devi, in Valmiki Muni's care due to some unsavoury words about her and what happened in the Ashoka grove in Lanka.
Rama had been devastated. But, being Dharma-Purushotama, the incarnation who follows the Laws perfectly, he had to go through with it. But the Vedic laws also stipulated that the wife should be present at the side of her husband during a sacrifice.
And thus, he had commissioned Visvakarma to sculpt a golden Sita-Devi to sit beside him on the throne and by His side during the numerous sacrifice to Vishnu (himself) that he would perform.
And after all sacrifice, all golden paraphernalia and the Sitas would be stored in a room... never to be used again.
By the end of it, there had been thousands of Sita-Murti.
One night... all of those Deity, growing tired of the neglect, went to confront Rama about how they were all their wife... Only to be rejected by Eka-Patni Rama.
But the merciful Lord had assured them that they would all enjoy him as Sita did when He would return as Lila-Purushotama Sri-Krishna. The Lover of the Vraja-Gopi.
And he kept his promise... Or tried to. For by this time, those Sita-murtis had taken birth from the glorious and ever pure wombs of Vraja-gopis, eternal associates of Mother Yashoda. And that new participant in the game of love conquered the Lord, making Him wave a white flag of surrender in the war of loving exchange.
But this is a story for another time.
"Kripa? Hello?" Gaston waved a hand in front of Krishna-Kripa's eyes, trying to break him out of his meditation. " Have you gone to the moon?"
"Ah... not, but Yuki has." Maybe... he would need to find doc Mastuda to know for sure... or this wheelchair guy. "Anyway-"
"And what is a robot, pray-tell?" The regal youth asked.
"A robot's basically a doll moved by an electronic abacus. It may look alive and even act like it... but there's no soul inside."
"Hmm, I see... Like an Automata then." Gaston stated.
"Yup... But, apparently, Hermits... people like my mom can stuff a soul in and... I was one of those unfortunate souls." His face darkened. "I'm telling you, Gas, there nothing worst... I couldn't feel anything, I couldn't taste, and my eyesight was... It was terrible." Kripa let a shudder shake his body. "I wanted to eat but... it was impossible and...Well, the only good thing I had in this situation was Yuki..." A soft smile drew itself on Krishna-Kripa's lips.
"Gaston... you have no idea how fortunate you are to have a Family that loves you... Yuki had none."
Gaston listened without a word, but from the way his adam apple had bobbed, it was clear he had a clue of what was to come.
"You see, when I died... I wasn't alone. My mom and Dad also died..." Kripa finally revealed... it was something, a nightmare he had hidden from everyone... even his father and mother.
"I see... Yuki was an orphan then." Gaston intoned, his voice grave and without its usual... umph.
"Yeah... And I... I was only with him for like... four months or something." Kripa crossed his arms... unwilling to remember the post-confrontation with Nyx and how... Ill he had been.
But then... his new friend needed to know.
"Yuki... Saved us from Nyx, the death mother." Kripa spoke with his voice tight. "He went up to the moon for that."
"He did?" Gaston asked, aghast.
"I'm not sure, but... that's the official story anyway." Kripa shrugged. "But... that's... not important." He lowered his eyes. "He... tried to suicide once."
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear of this grave news." Gaston lowered his voice.
"But... Our Guru saved him, Raghanugha swami Maharajah... and he... he became a Hare Krishna."
Gaston's mouth fell open.
"Yeah, I know... Krishna played a role in our collective lives for longer than you can believe... And I have Yuki to thank for that." Kripa admitted as he sent yet another prayer to Krishna... For Yuki's safety.
Yes, It was by Krishna's will that he be saved... but more prayer's never hurt, anybody.
He felt Gaston's hand on his shoulder. "Say... Can you tell me more about this, Yuki? Why is he called Krishna now?"
Krishna-Kripa took a deep breath. "Alright... I'll tell you, but... It's not a very happy story."
An hour later, and it was clear Krishna-Kripa had gained another ally in his quest to save Yukimaru.
"I shall not let this great injustice pass!" Gaston boldly declared. "This abomination will rue the day it tough taking over a dear servant of God was a viable idea!" He hit his chest. "I, the Magnificent Gaston Landry, will serve as Krishna's glorious weapon and save His Grace Yukimaru!"
A smile touched Kripa's lips as laughter bubbled from within his heart. "So, your one of us now?" The servant of Krishna asked as he could not keep the bliss that glowed in his heart from overflowing. "Do you want to surrender to God, To my Krishna?"
Gaston's smile dropped a bit... and then he closed his eyes, deep in thought.
"...I do." The much taller young man admitted. "This... it feels right and-"
"He stole your heart?"
"he stole my heart." Gaston breathed out as his cheek reddened a bit. "Oh, if the population would know of God's true form... and his sweet dealing, then I doubt churches would be as empty as you told me."
Kripa scoffed. "Oh, Gasby, if only it were that easy."
"Gasby?"
"It's a nickname... a cute name..." The Vaishnava tried to explain to the thoroughly confused crusader. "A... it's a name-"
A supervised smile drew itself on Gaston's lips. "My mother called me Gasby..."
"Your mother has impeccable taste." Kripa shamelessly praised.
"I could say the same for you." Gaston playfully shot back as he began to walk. "Krishna-Kripa, God's mercy."
"Bah... I don't deserve this name... and Mom told me I was the servant of God's mercy... nothing more." Kripa dismissed as he followed his... friend.
'I have another guy friend... a guy friend who doesn't want me because I'm not human... but want me... for me!'
'Or because I'm a tiny servant of Krishna.' Yeah, that must be it... and it just gave Kripa more reason to love God despite his inabilities.
"A servant, you say?" Gaston asked as he rubbed his chin, some stubble visible now that he hadn't shaved for a few days. "Then if the servant is this virtuous, kind, merciful yet strong, then what does it say about your Master?" The taller brunette clapped Kripa on his back, almost launching him forward.
Sure, Kripa had the strength of one terrifying flower master... but he was still woefully light.
"Oh, Gasby, sweetheart." He simpered. "Whatever power you may have seen from me is but a drop of Krishna's unlimited and grace... just as your magnificence."
"Oh, you don't say?" Gaston asked with a raised brow. "Now pray-tell, my friend... can God, the one I now pray to, pierce the celestial vault with light?" He playfully asked.
"Oh yes... and he used this scrawny, no-named orphan on the verge of death to do it..." Kripa's jovial mood took a turn as he remembered the event. "I... He... Krishna took a hit for me... and"
"Wait... the Lord... Do not mind my absolute ignorance of Tokyo's vernacular, but would you kindly remind me of what 'taking a Hit' mean again?" Gaston asked as his eyes widened a bit.
"He... protected me with his body, shielding me from a branch that should have killed me."
"How... please explain further, my friend. Tell what you and our Lord Sri-Krishna did when he was with you?" The crusader asked—a greedy light dancing in his eyes.
"Yeah... God was in Tokyo; he was following me around... talking to me... feeding me..." Kripa closed his eyes as he relieved that sweet moment's as they appeared in his heart. "We went to Help miss Nozomi get rid of a King frost, and that Fat Bastard almost killed me."
"Oh my..." Gaston gasped. "Well, thankfully, the Lord did not keep you with him, for the world would miss an exceptional soul."
Kripa felt as if he had swallowed something extremely bitter.
And the... He realized that this must be Krishna speaking through his devotee.
"Gasby, Krishna's serve by an unlimited number of ever perfect Lakshmi's in Vraja, the spiritual world. He doesn't need a tiny soul like me, you know." Kripa closed his eyes. "Beside... I'm needed here."
Suddenly, Medusa slithered into view. "Yeah... Wait, what was the conversation again?" She asked, seemingly confused.
Beside Kripa, Gaston froze as he stared at the beast. Kripa placed an arm on his shoulder, reminding the crusader that she was not an enemy.
Besides, she did look a bit out of it.
"Hey, Medusa... what's wrong? You look like you woke up on the ugly side of the bed." The Vaishnava addressed the Nagini; he looked at him through her brand-new ruby glasses.
"No, That's just how I look naturally, sweetheart." She sassed back. "Just woke up from a nap... a long one."
"Bored?" Kripa asked.
Medusa sighed dramatically. "Oh, you have no idea spinach head. I can't turn pretty people into stones, can't turn ugly people into stone to make them pretty... can't even sketch because-"
"No sketching paper."
"Not even a piece of coal." Medusa's shoulder slumped, her gigantic form overtaking the hallway. "and I'm hungry..."
Kripa winced emphatically. "Oh, that's just the worst, girl."
"And don't tell me to eat more kitchary or whatever your ma call's it. I want meat!" The lady snake declared. "I need meat."
Krishna-Kripa pressed his lips together as he consulted with his Krishna in his heart. 'Krish, what should I do?'
"Just have her go to kinshicho and eat whatever comes into her path. As a snake, she cannot survive by eating human food." His lord told him. "For a snake such as her, there are no sins incurs in eating another, for it is her nature. Just as my Garuda, the best of the Vahan, incurs no sin's with his diet of fish and snakes."
"And how about humans? Is it alright for them to eat meat?' Kripa asked his Lord.
"No, I gave humanity herbs, fruits, vegetables and milk as sustenance. Meat is only to be taken in absolute last measure... and those who think they need meat to survive are both incredibly selfish and low-class."
And thus spake Bhagavan-Sri-krishna.
'Yeah... alright.' Krishna-Kripa lowered his head in a half nod as he conveyed the order to Medusa, who, whit a whoop filled with unrestrained joy, left to...
Eat.
Gaston watched the demoness slitter away with what could almost be described as a skip in her step.
"Well... I... Hope no humans will get in her way."
"Please define human?" Kripa asked as he made his way to the kitchen; his mother did tell him that she and Radha had prepared a little something for him and whoever wanted something other than demon meat.
Needless to say, the Dryad dearly hope there was some scrap left; he was starving!
Sometime later, he and Gaston were hanging out in Kripa's room, away from Hoshi's...
Mood? Energy?
The Nephilim seemed happy enough behind the bar; he would talk to a few patrons and just be his goofy, adorkable self and serve them the poison they wanted...
But despite how happy he seemingly was, there was just this bad vibe that hung around him every time Gaston and Kripa would be in the same room.
So back to Kripa's funky crib... exchange notes of devotion with Gaston, his friend.
"So this is how we pray; Oh Father who art in heaven." Gaston began as he casually laid on the shaggiest carpet in existence. "Hallowed be thy name."
"My turn." Krpa grinned. "Alright, how's this? 'Oh my dear Krishna, whose lotus feet eternally touch the Chintamani ground of Sri-Vrindavan-Dham, may your name be ever victorious!"
Gaston's eyes light up. "Hmm... So, this is how you're convent call's heaven?"
"Nah man, It's way higher than that." Kripa's grin was irrepressible as he talked about this eternal land were cows gave unlimited milk, and an unlimited number of Laksmis served his Krishna. "So, what's the next verse?"
Gaston was about to share another part of the Lord's prayer when... the ground began to violently shake, sending bobbled and lamps crashing to the unforgiving ground.
The earthquake siren screeched as Kripa threw himself on top of Gaston, Screaming the holy names of God as the dome above collapsed on top of everyone...
It eventually stopped... the shaking ended, and only the screech of the alarm and the scrambling of people's feet met his ears.
"KRISHNA! KRISHNA!" He heard Mukhara's panicked scream... She was alive.
The door flew open, revealing a sleep tousled yet very much awake Mukhara, he eyes were wild, her chest heaving... and she was still in nothing but an oversized man shirt and no prosthetic.
The next thing both boys knew, they were hit with mama's body-hug as she wept in relief and alternatively dragging Kripa and Gaston out of the room by the scruff of their neck.
With her teeth...
They followed the emergency light down to the bunker under Cafe Florida; there, they met with the rest of the group.
"Kripa, Gaston..." Fujiwara began but had to stop his phrase, for it was clear Mukhara had a very rough awakening.
"Alright, Everyone, this is an emergency situation. Remain calm, don't panic, and don't do anything stupid unless you want to be thrown outside by yours truly." Ken barked at the shaken hunters. "The dome's not fallen yet, and we need volunteers to help get people out of the rubles before it does!"
"Boss!" one of the lady hunters approached Ken; her face was pale. "This is bad; I just got a call from Shinjuku."
"And?"
"Demons have taken over the underground district." She said among the horrified gasp of her cohorts. "And there a report as to how a... weird glyph covered Tokyo... and no one can access their summoning app."
At those words, the horror became a tangible entity... they were all dead in the water.
Fujiwara turned to the Needlepoint. "Hey, I know your goal's to save... Yuki, But could you lend us your aid?" he asked the still shaken Mukhara.
At those words, the hermit nodded. "I was about to tell you that I just needed some clothes. My team will assist you all; we will be hitting the street in...twenty minutes at most." She imperially stated as she floated out of her son's arms, already recovering from her fright. "Come on, Let's gear up.
And with those words, the Needlepoint got up.
No rest for the wicked and the servants.
"Well, aren't we glad to be demons now?" Kripa lazily spoke as they moved a demon carcass out of the way. Behind him, Zhong Khui, Mai, Toad, Toki and Mukhara nodded... while Hoshi grinned.
"Yep, Never felt better about my nature."
For her part, Mukhara narrowed her eyes, it was clear she heard something she didn't like.
"Still being raised a human's wayyy better than being a full demon, tough..." Kripa added, not willing to give an inch when his ex could take an arm.
Right now, it was only those who didn't need demons to fight that were making their way to Shinjuku... Meaning that Gaston, Nozomi and Ken were staying back at Caffe Florida to help with the refugees.
Ken's order.
Besides, it was not like Kripa, and his mother were underpowered when it came to mooks.
'Oh, Kripa... be careful about your hubris.' Kripa warned himself, the memory of Shesha's victory on him still painfully fresh.
Eventually, they managed to make their way to the underground district, slaying demons left and right...
Like Airavatas...
Really, the guy who made this place was going to hell, plain and simple.
There, they met the sight of carnage; bodies were strewn around, lying in pools of blood, man, woman... children.
"He Bhagavan..." Mukhara breathed out at sight. Praying for all of those departed souls.
It was clear she was not a stranger to such a hellish sight, and it made Kripa wondered just how bad the previous hermitages she had raided were.
After a second of silence for the deads, Mukhara perked up. " I can hear a survivor... and the D.A." she didn;t finished her phrase as she flew in the direction of the sound, somewhere deep in the desolated station.
"Great, let's mosey!" Kripa grinned; some will pay for this.
They ran past the bend and in a tunnel, there, they found some... relatively powerful demons... a human fish that floated in nothing and some other water-based goons.
On the ground, crawling away in abject fear, were a few survivors. Their palms folded in prayers.
"St... stay away!" The man begged. "Don't come near us!"
The demons hissed and lunged, only to be stopped by the fish-man; he stopped them with an imperious wave of his arms.
The fish loomed over the cowering group chanting Harinama... for their life depended on it.
"Fear not." the fish demon uttered. "For you have all accepted Krishna as your sole Savior... now let go of this physical form and the lies fed to you. And accept salvation."
"Oi, leave the guy alone, fish boots, they are with us!" Kripa hollered as he casually twirled the sacred shovel. Gaining the attention of all the demons in the area.
The moment the merman saw Kripa and Mukhara, he froze.
The Vaishnavi wiggled her fingers. "Hello Dear, I hope you were not about to kill those surrender souls. For I do not feel the need to stain my shaku with fish blood today."
"It's you..." The fish sneered as he tried to hide his fear.
The man who was about to get killed noticed Mukhara, tears of fear and relief filling the eyes of all the captive. "M... Mukhara... the Mantra worked, you really are here to save us!"
Mukhara gestured to Mai and Zhong Khui to protect the humans.
"Yes, the Lord heard you. Fear not, fortunate one, we will save you." The saintly hermit declared as she took her shaku out of her belt.
The fish demons scoffed at the sight. "Oh... so you only have a pair of demons at your disposal, fancy that." he sneered, turning his ugly face even worst. "It will take more than that to take me down."
" Sir, you gloating about how the Alliance plan to disarm everyone and feed the beast more despair will only fuel us more on our quest for Justice." Mukhara drawled. Causing the fish man to gap openly. "I can indeed hear you, and I can indeed defeat you. Your impure desires stink up the place worst than an open-air gutter."
"So... I take that you humans will not surrender to the Alliance then."
Hoshi smirked. "Buddy, who told you we were humans?"
The fish sneered deepened. "It matters not what you are, for I will rip you souls out and offer them all at Krishna's fee-" But he could speak no further, for this had been the drop that made Kripa's glass spill.
Now, Yuuka was known to be rather slow, if terrifyingly powerful. And Mukhara was fast and agile since she was a sword-women and thus needed those stats to be as efficient on the battle field as she was during preaching.
Krishna-Kripa was the son of both and apparently, by Krishna's divine grace, had gained both of their best attributes.
He dropped the dead fish down and leered at the rest of the demons. "Alright, who's next?"
They all vacated.
"Aw, really?" he sighed as he planted his hands on his hips. "and I was looking forward to a challenge."
"Be careful what you wish for, Kid." Toad warned, still on edge as he went to the survivor. "Or it might bite you in the ass."
Beside Kripa, Hoshi chuckled nervously. "Yeah... My Bro would warn me not to get too cocky."
"A wise advice," Mukhara spoke from where she was calming a child down. " He was a wise master, despite everything."
"Yeah... too bad someone killed him." Hoshi groused as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Yo, Hosh..." Krishna-Kripa called out with a deep frown. "Were in war, shit like this will keep happening. Count yourself lucky mom took you under her wings."
"I didn't ask for this!"
"Yeah... like you would not have asked to be left of the streets to fend for yourself." The greenette crossed his arms. "Listen, hun', I never asked to be kidnapped, I never asked to be adopted by the boss. I didn't ask to die in another car crash, and I didn't ask to have my heart ripped out." He heard Hoshi gasp as his face lost all colours. "I didn't deserve to be found by the boss, I didn't deserve to be saved by Sri-Krishna... and I didn't deserve to have my mom back..."
"Just like you didn't deserve to be taken by us, hunter." Hoshi shot back.
The Dryad's eyes took a reddish tint. "Count yourself lucky you're bro got killed by a pair of saints. Otherwise... we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"Yo, we thought we've made a deal, Nana... we don't turn on another over a joke."
"Well, I'm not laughing," Kripa growled as he stalked out; the place was clear; only the Stupid Yantra kept spinning above Tokyo like the lamest disco ball in existence.
Behind him, he heard Hoshi's attempt at following him, only to be stopped by Gaston. His mother was busy with Mai and Zhong Khui in treating the wounded and scared.
Kripa quickly found an empty room, it was dirty, musty and... quiet.
There, he leaned on the cleanest part of the wall.
He had thought it was just him who was intolerable of Hoshi... but his ex truly was insufferable. Such a far cry from the sweet and adorkable young boy he had fallen for.
But then... was it really all that bad?
"Kripa... is everything alright?" A woman spoke... a familiar woman whose bodily aroma chased the mould and musty smell away and filled the room with divine light.
Krishna-Kripa raised his head, and indeed, there was Mohini-Murti, sitting on a pink lotus.
"Mohini... why are you here? I haven't called you." Kripa addressed the being...
The name was very familiar to him... but he could not recall her from anywhere. 'I need to ask my mom about her.'
Mohini shook her head from side to side. "You did call me... and here I am." She stated as she got up from her lotus seat and walked to Kripa's side, he feet never touching the filthy ground.
"I... Don't remember." Kripa flatly informed the most beautiful woman in existence. Who took this as an opportunity to sit by close to the plant-like teen.
Kripa, for his part, kept looking at her delicate feet, trying to show this otherworldly woman as much respect as he could muster.
'The bottoms of her feet are red... just like Krishna's.'
"Are you a persona?" The old persona user asked; he felt weird around Mohini, kind of like how he would feel around Krishna.
But, this was not Krishna... since Krishna was the supreme and only male.
Meaning... no skirt and no breasts.
Another lotus manifests under Mohini, and the being sat on it as she drew the plant-like being to her left side. " What is a persona?" She playfully shot back as she began to play in Kripa's greening hair gently.
" Ah... I don't quite remember, but it's supposed to be a trained shadow."
"Ah yes; I am the shadow, the true self." She spoke wisely. "No, I am not a Shadow, my dear... just a well-wisher." She informed the servant of the servants of Krishna. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright and..."
"And?" Kripa wearily asked, preventing the celestial beauty from taking his sacred lotus.
"... is it a sin to be with you?"
"Lady... I have only eyes for."
"Krishna... I know." Mohini sat straighter. "But this man is a debauchee, the worst of skirt chaser and a confirmed heart of stone." She huffed as she crossed her arms across her voluptuous breast. "And yet you still won't give him up."
Kripa scooted away from the vixen, vexed at her remark. "I don't care..." He grumbled.
Why did he have to go away from his mother and teammates? Separating the group never worked for anyone's favour.
"But why? Because you love him?" The heavenly woman asked. "You are a boy... It's not well viewed were He reside."
"No... I don't love him and... I don't care how many girlfriends He has, and I don't care about how I look now." Kripa declared as he pushed himself away from Mohini. "And I'm not gonna remain in this body forever."
"And what guarantee's you that you will gain a form Krishna likes?" Mohini asked with a slight smile.
"I will wait as long as I need until I am qualified..." Krishna-Kripa declared with steel-like conviction.
Then he gasped as a staggering amount of divine bliss entered his heart.
"I see... and if you were still a boy in Vrindavana and were attracted to the attractor of cupid, what would you do?" Mohini asked, the same mysterious and mind stealing smile still playing on her enchanting lips.
"I would serve Krishna's beloved." Krpa didn't even need to think about it. "She makes him... Without Radha, Krishna won't dance and play his flute."
Unseen by him, Mohini-Murti shuddered in bliss, practically swooning. "Oh, so you think yourself qualified for Her service?" She breathed.
Kripa paused... and looked down at his hands.
Hands that had killed, hands that belonged to something that only vaguely human.
He had so many faults, so many sins...
"No..." He felt tears falling from his eyes. "I am not qualified... and I... I don't think I can do much about it."
A moment of silence descended on the two.
"You... have already received His unlimited mercy..."
Kripa scoffed as he whipped away his eyes, then the ever so delicate hand on Mohini grabbed his wrist. Gently touching the trail of tears.
He raised his head and got a close glimpse of the supra-heavenly beauty, her Krishna-like face stealing Kripa's heart.
"Those tears... are your heart, liquefied by the flames of separation that pours out through your eyes. Krishna is the cause of those tears of sorrows, and yet. You are unwilling to let Him go..."
A memory flooded Krishna-Kripa's consciousness...
It was the tail end of the morning program at the Radha-Govind temple. The temple resident were sitting in a semi-circle as they read the Siksashtakam.
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together. Thus the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death, is extinguished. This Sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it helps to have a taste of the full nectar for which we are always anxious.
She recited with the other Brahmacharini, helping a new girl learn the last eight verses given by Sri-Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful form of Radha-Krishna and the last Avatar until Kalki.
They reached the final verse, which was the integral teaching of God's advancement as a servant.
"āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām, adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā," Kripa recited, this ancient memory burning bright in his heart "yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo, mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ"
I do not know anyone except Krishna as my Lord, and He shall always remain as such, even if He handles me roughly by His embrace, or He may make me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, but He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
He felt a pair of arms wrap around him, more golden than gold and more powerful than time. Behind him, Kripa felt crushed against His hard chest... and His mood flooded him, opening the gate of his tears.
"Oh, my dear friend...You and I are of the same heart." Mahaprabhu spoke, his deep voice eclipsing the sound of the shaking dome.
"M... Maha..." Kripa choked out...
But before he could fall at the Lotus Feet of the Karunavatar... his phone rang, and he was once more in the dilapidated room.
It took some time for Krishna-Kripa to return to external consciousness, but when he did, he was quick to pick up his phone.
'Oh God, I hope it's not some bad news.' Knowing how Mukhara had no tolerance when it came to Hoshi, he prayed, hearing more than what she cared about from him.
"NANASHI!" His sister yield over the din of battle. "Nanashi, thank God you p-" There was a crash, a scuffle, and the voice of medusa that floated nearby... and the sound of a rock shattering on the ground.
"Asahi! ASAHI!"
"I'm Ok... Nanashi, Kinshicho's under attack from the alliance, none of us can summon demons, by the way, thank you for sending Medusa, she's like, a huge help." His sister spoke quickly. "She's doing her best, but we need reinforcement ASAP!"
"No problem, sis, were on the way; just hang tight!" Kripa ended his call and rushed out of the room, having no memory of his encounter with Mohini-Murti... Or Sri-Krishna Chaitanya.