Chapter 30
"Well, we walked a lot..."
"Y-Yes... I'm a bit tired..."
It's already evening, we are walking in the Fuyuki Central Park. Having barely set foot on the lawn, I feel the negativity and horrors of this place. But I ignore them, concentrating on Asia's overflowing good mood. It was great to see Asia's reaction when we went to the game centre and other shops.
"The area is full of grudges, what happened here?" I hear Asia whisper.
"It was the center of a terrible accident that killed a lot of people. That's why there aren't many people here. This place has left a scar on everyone in Fuyuki..."
The images come back clearly in my head. I see myself walking through the debris, the flames and the corpses, looking for help, trying to survive. I notice that Asia is looking at me strangely, my face must have tensed up, thinking about what happened.
"Senji-san, am I bothering you? You haven't sketched a smile or anything, you're so inexpressive, I didn't want to be a bother..."
"Hmmm, no don't worry about that, spending my day with you did me a lot of good. I'm a pretty withdrawn person, that's all."
"Is this related to what happened here?"
"In part, yes. I was there when it happened. These are images that will stay with me forever..."
Suddenly, a violent pain swept through my body, and I almost fell over because of this horrible sensation. I can feel the residue of light grinding into my flesh.
"...Senji-san, are you injured? Is it from yesterday..?" Hearing about my past and seeing myself in this state, Asia's expression gets cloudy.
(Shit, why did I open my mouth, she didn't need to hear all that, I screwed up.)
Asia supports me and helps me sit on a bench.
"Can you take your top off?"
Hearing this, I think of objecting, telling her it's not necessary. But seeing her worried face stops me. Seeing myself riddled with bullets must have traumatized her. So I do as I'm told and strip down to my bare chest.
Asia bends down and starts to check my injuries, one in the shoulder, three in the stomach and one in each leg, the bullet marks are still there. She places her palm on it. A warm, soft light shines on my wounds. It really is a warm light. It's a green light. It's like Asia's eyes and it looks so beautiful. It feels like her kindness is inside her light.
"How is it?" Asia stops her light, and she urges me to move.
"This is amazing Asia. I don't feel uncomfortable anymore. I don't feel any pain at all." I stand up and stretch, feeling no more pain, no more discomfort.
Asia smiles happily when she sees me.
"You're amazing, Asia. The power of healing, it's an incredible power... Too incredible to be normal. Alters are incapable of such feats, and doing with energy takes a lot of effort. So... it's a Sacred Gear, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
(Just like I thought.)
"To tell you the truth, I also have a Sacred Gear, but mine is more about violence than anything else..."
"Hey, I can't disagree with you too much, but ouch nevertheless."
"Was it that strange liquid that covered you last night?" Asia puts on a shocked face after hearing my confession.
"No, that's another story. But to compare them, Asia, your power is incredible, you can heal human as well as animals and also Devils like me, right?"
She put on a complicated expression, then a sad face. Soon after, a single drop of tear falls from her eyes, more tears starts flowing, she then got down and starts to cry. I sit her down on the bench and cuddle her against me, reassuring her as best I can.
"Senji, can I tell you a story?" Asia asks, wiping the tears from her face.
"Sure."
"Very young, I was discarded by my parents and raised in a Church nearby by a nun along with other orphans. Then at the age of 8, I received a special power. I healed a wounded puppy, and a person from the Catholic Church witnessed it by chance. From there on, my life changed. I was taken to the main Catholic Church and was symbolized by many as a "Holy Maiden" because of my healing power. I used my power to heal many believers and they were told it was a power of divine protection. Rumors brought rumors and I was respected as a "Holy Maiden", even without my approval. I had no dissatisfaction for how I was treated. People from the Church were kind and I didn't hate healing people. I instead was happy that my power was of use. I was thankful to my power which was bestowed to me by God. But I was a bit lonely. I didn't have any friends I could open up to. Everyone treated me nicely and was nice to me. But there were no one willing to become my friend and I understood why. I knew that they were looking at my power as something irregular. They didn't look at me as a human but as a creature that could heal humans. But one day, it changed. By coincidence, there was a Devil nearby and I healed him. A wounded Devil, I couldn't ignore it. I thought that even if it was a Devil, I had to heal him if he was injured. It was my kindness that made me take such an action. But that changed my life forever. One of the people from the Church saw that incident and notified others of the Church. The ministers of the Church were shocked about were several people who had the power to heal. But the power to heal the Devil was out of the question. The people of the Church thought it was common sense that the power of healing doesn't work on Fallen Angels and Devils. Apparently, a similar incident had happened in the past. The power to heal Fallen Angels and Devils that were not protected by God. But that was feared as the power of a "Witch". So the people saw me as a heretic."
And the rest is more than obvious, Asia who was respected as a Holy Maiden was then feared as a "Witch" and the Catholic Church abandoned her. She didn't have anywhere to go and the organization of "Stray Exorcists" picked her up. In other words, she had to get divine protection from the Fallen Angels.
"But I never forgot to pray to God, and I never forgot to thank Him, even after all this." She said, clasping her hands together with a sad smile.
Even so, she was abandoned, that God didn't save her.
"But, didn't anyone try to defend you?" I ask, transfixed by her story, much like my own.
She shakes her head in response, there was no one who cared about her.
"I've seen some Sacred Gear wearers with disastrous lives, but for you two to be so similar is unfortunately an awful fate. Even if for you it started long before I appeared..." I can hear in Ddraig's voice a certain disgust and above all compassion.
"...It's because I didn't pray enough. It's because I'm clumsy. I'm so stupid that I can't even eat a burger by myself." The girl, Asia, wipes her tears while laughing.
I didn't know what to say to her. I didn't know what to say after finding out her devastating past.
"This is also a trial that the lord gave me. Since I'm a clumsy nun, the lord gave me this trial. So I have to endure it." She was laughing to herself.
(You don't have to say anything any more...)
"I'm sure I will make lots of friends one day. I have a dream. I want to go buy flowers with a friend, buying books and... talk..." She is full of tears.
Hearing this, I look away. She must have been enduring it the whole time. She has been waiting for God to save her the whole time and has been hiding her feelings all along.
Even with all this, after all she's endured, she still manages to find happiness, the courage to move forward. In comparison, I'm incapable of doing so, my past is clinging to me, engraved in my memory forever, and since that day, my life has had only one purpose. I can't afford to find happiness, I don't deserve it and the truth is, I'm very unfamiliar with it. But, if it's for her, then maybe... no, sure, she should be happy, after the injustice she's been through, I'd do anything for it.
"Asia, I will become your friend. No, we are already friends." I took her hand. I say it to her while looking directly to her eyes which is wet with her tears.
Asia stands there looking puzzled.
"I'm a D-Devil, but it's all right. I won't take Asia's life, and I won't take any price! You can call me whenever you feel like it! Ah, and I will also give you my mobile number." I put my hand inside my pocket to get my mobile phone out.
"...Why?"
"It's not why! Asia, you spent the day with me, didn't you? We talked, didn't we? We played together at the arcade, right? So you and I are friends! Whether human, devil or god, it doesn't matter! We're friends!"
"...Is that a pact with a Devil?"
"It's not! Asia and I are going to become actual friends! We will put other things aside! We will talk when we want to, we will play when we want to, and yeah, I will also go shopping with you! Whether its books or flowers, we will go shopping much as you want! Okay?"
I know for a fact that I suck at conversation, it's not even romantic. Kiba probably knows the right thing to say at a time like this. But Asia put her hand on her mouth, and once again starts to shed tears. Though, this time, her tears didn't seem sad.
"...Senji-san. I have no common sense."
"Well, let's go out together more often, I'll show you every corner of Fuyuki, you'll know it by heart in no time."
"...I can't speak Japanese. I also don't know about its culture."
"I will teach you! Leave it to me! We could even go to museum to look at Japanese national treasure! Samurai! Sushi, and geisha!"
"I also don't know what to talk about with a friend."
"You talked to me normally for a whole day. That was fine. We were already talking like friends." I hold Asia's hand tightly.
"...Will you become my friend?"
"Yes, even if I'm not a jovial person, and a bit stubborn, I'll do my best for you, so let's get along from now on, Asia."
She nods her head and smiles.
(Phew, ok, that was harder than I thought...)
I only realize it now, but I can feel my cheeks burning hot, I must be blushing.
But it doesn't matter. If Asia will smile, then it's okay. The incident from her sad past, I know how painful it must have been. But I will try my best that I can keep her smiling from now on. Back then, it was impossible for Humans and Devils to be friends, but nowadays attitudes have changed and we live in near-harmony, that's why I am definitely going to see her from now on as her friend.
(And above all, I'm going to protect her, no matter what the consequences...)
"It's impossible." The voice I've been waiting for is finally heard.
I get up from the bench and look towards the direction of where the voice came from. That person I am familiar with is standing there. A slender girl with silky black hair, Amano Yuuma is standing there.
"You finally decide to show yourself, Fallen Angel." I stand in front of Asia, protecting her.
"Heh. You survived. And as the Devil? It's that red-haired bitch, isn't it? Seriously, that's the worst." She frowns, hearing my confident voice.
Her voice isn't the cute voice of Yuuma and she sounds more like that of a bewitching adult.
"...Raynare-sama..." Asia calls her by that name.
(Raynare? Yeah, that's right. I totally forgot.)
"Tsss, that unkempt raven, the way she looks at us pisses me off to no end!"
(I'm glad I'm used to it. Thanks for letting me know when we left the restaurant, but why did she wait so long? She had plenty of other opportunities...)
"Don't try to understand their reasoning, these arrogant insects have no logic." Ddraig is really pissed off.
"What do you want?" She sneers when I say that to her.
"I don't want a filthy low-class Devil like you talking to me." She stares at me as if she is looking at something very disgusting. "That girl. Asia, is our personal belonging. Can I have her back? Asia, you know it's useless to run away?"
(Yeah... that's just what I thought...)
"...No. I don't want to return to that Church. I don't want to return to the people who kill other people. ...Also, you people did things to me..." Asia replies back with disgust.
(What happened? What happened inside this church? What did they do to her?) I can feel my blood boiling.
"Please don't say that, Asia. Your Sacred Gear is essential for our plan. So please come back with me. I also took the time to look for you. Stop being such a troublesome bitch!" Raynare approaches us
Asia hides behind me, her body trembling with fear. I activate my magic circuits, lines and flashes of green light streak across my body.
"Stop right there, can't you see she doesn't want to? Yu... no, Raynare, Asia won't go back with you and if we have to come to blows, I will not hesitate"
"Low-class Devil, don't call me by my name. My name will get filthy. Do you really think you stand a chance against me? If you don't go back to your master's place quickly, you will die, you know?" Raynare gathers light in her hand.
[BOOST] I conjure up my Sacred Gear in a flash of red and green. Feeling the surge of power, I prepare to attack.
"Tsss, this again? Last time, your toy didn't help you much! Even if I still remember the beating you gave me, I'll make you pay for it, you filthy Devil!"
She throws her spear, I push lightly on Asia and crouch to avoid it, then strengthening my legs, I charge towards her. She spreads her wings, preparing to take flight, I project three swords and throw them above her, forcing her to stay where she is. I arrive in front of her, grabbing her leg and tackling her to the ground. [BOOST] I lift my foot and crush it into her abdomen. But I feel like I'm hitting something much harder, my leg is tingling all over afterwards.
(What the hell kind of resistance is that?! Her body is so strong!)
I barely have time to react when she grabs me and throws me violently to the side, rolling for several meters before stopping.
Then, feeling the holy energy approaching very quickly, I project out a sword and parry the spear, feeling sharp pain through my body as the flashes of light hit me.
"How dare you walk all over me! Inferior creature!" Raynare stands up, her face contorted with anger.
"Just as I thought, you can't help underestimating me. I'm going to make you swallow your arrogance, one way or another!"
My body begins to glow brighter and a hundred clones appear, encircling Raynare and racing towards her.
"What ?!"
Raynare, panic-stricken, creates two spears and pierces two of my clones, kicking another out of the way. Then she flies off, sweeping away a few too close. I don't give her time to breathe as I project several swords and shots at her. My clones do the same, raining swords down on her.
She manages to dodge and parry with precision and agility, but still gets slashes here and there on her body and as soon as she has an opening, pierces one of my clones with a spear. Suddenly, I feel a slight pang in my heart, feeling blood dripping from my nose.
(I've got to finish this quickly, I haven't fully recovered from last night's fight.)
[BOOST] I create a clone, which crouches down directly to help me dash towards the Fallen Angel. I step back, then after a long breath take off, running at full speed, I use my clone as a jump, hurling myself at the Fallen Angel. Seeing me coming, she creates a spear, but I'm faster, I project a sword and cut her forearm, grabbing onto a wing.
"How is this possible?!" She couldn't believe it, watching her arm fall off. Then her gaze turns to me. "Ah no! Not again! I..!?"
I grab her by the throat, not letting her finish. I raise my other hand, gathering all the energy I've accumulated, accompanied by a sharp pain.
(Damn it! This isn't the time, Emiya Senji, fight to the bitter end!)
I fire all the energy I have into the air, propelling us swiftly towards the ground and crushing us violently, creating an explosion of earth and dust leaving a crater. I can thank my reinforcement for helping me land almost unscathed, but my magic circuits are on fire, burning me from the inside out.
(I've got to get rid of her!)
One of my clones throws me a sword, which I quickly retrieve and raise above Raynare's throat. But before I can bring it down, I receive a powerful kick in the torso, which sends me flying further away, rolling into the grass.
(Damn it! I feel like she's beaten my ribcage to a pulp!)
I'm breathless, my breathing erratic, forcing my body to pick up the pace at all costs. I struggle to my feet and [BOOST] feeling my power returning, I prepare to counter-attack... A nasty sound, something stabs my stomach. She threw at me a spear of light.
(What the... I didn't even see that coming?)
I fall down. This is bad, light is poisonous for a Devil. the spear disappears but the pain is instantaneous, the light gnawing at my insides.
"You've done well for an inferior being, but your meritorious effort ends here. You can't narrow the power gap between us. Do you understand now, low-class Devil-kun?" Raynare emerges from the smoke with a satisfied look on her face, having picked up her arm in the process.
Suddenly, the pain disappeared completely, that's because a green light is enveloping around my body. When I look, Asia is healing my wound. She is putting her hand on my stomach and is healing my wound for me. I don't feel even the slightest pain. Instead, I can feel Asia's warmth.
"Asia. If you don't want that Devil to be killed, come with me. Your Sacred Gear is essential for our plan. Your power, the [Twilight Healing], is a rare Sacred Gear unlike the Sacred Gear of the Devil over there. If you don't come with me, I will have to kill that Devil." Raynare gives a cruel order.
(What are you talking about?! I'm not done with you yet!)
"S-Shut up! I can defeat you-"
"Yes, I understand." Without hearing me, Asia accepts the Fallen Angel's order.
"Asia!" I try to get up but lose my balance, the pain from my magic circuits still present.
"Senji-san. Thank you for today. It was really fun." She makes a big smile. My stomach has completely healed. After she confirms it, she walks towards Raynare.
(She purposely didn't heal me completely to stop me fighting?)
"Good girl, Asia, can you heal me now? That's it. Problem solved. With today's ritual, you will be freed from your suffering." Raynare put on a lecherous smile.
(Shit! She's nothing like the Yuuma-chan I once knew! Also what does she mean by ritual!? She will sacrifice Asia?)
"Asia, our promise! Have you forgotten it already?!"
"No, I'd remember it forever. Thank you for being friends with someone like me."
(I-I have to protect Asia!)
She turns around, but she is still smiling at me. I become fascinated with her smile for a moment.
"Goodbye." She says her farewell.
Raynare covers Asia with her black wings. "Low-class Devil, looks like you were saved because of this girl. If you get in my way again, I will definitely kill you. Goodbye, Senji-kun." The Fallen Angel who sneers at me flew up high while holding Asia.
"What the fuck are you talking about? I can beat the shit out of you right here and now!"
They disappear into the sky. The only thing left is me, black feathers, and Rache-kun that Asia has left behind. Even with Kiritsugu's teachings, even with all the people who helped me, after entering Kuoh and selling my life to a Devil, I wasn't strong enough.
"Saving everyone, I couldn't even save one girl. What a fucking joke!" I fell on my knees and punched the ground. "Damn it! Damn it! Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamit!... Asia..."
But I haven't said my last word, I suck in energy with my Blood Pointer to relieve my magic circuits, making my nose bleed slightly and I get up again. Now that I know what she's going to do and where it's happening, there's only one thing left to do.
