{Family Bonds Arc}
It's been 13 years since I raided the Japanese Branch of DEM. I continued to disrupt DEM until 2019, in which they pulled out of Japan to lick their wounds.
5 years after DEM pulled out of Japan, Shido "Itsuka" Takamiya was born! Yes, that's his full name. He's literally Date a Live royalty, put some respect on the name.
Now, in the present, I'm currently babysitting a 4 year old Shido for Mio and Shinji while they... went to work?? Seems unlike them to make an honest living considering they're spirits, but here we are.
19th of July, 2028.
"Uncle, what's this?" Shido beckoned, holding my black bulletproof helmet.
"Ahh, that's a helmet little one. It's used to protect your head." I replied in a gentle tone as I entertained the little boy, a smile appearing on my face.
Shido would be making happy noises, his voice was actually making me melt; he's adorable.
"Uncle, when are mama and papa coming to get me?" Shido asked out of curiosity.
"When the clock looks like this.." I said, showing Shido an image of when it's 3 o clock in the afternoon.
"Okay!" Shido replied with a grin on his face, his body full of energy.
"To think I'd be babysitting the main character of this world.. it almost feels like an honour." I thought to myself as I walked over to my radio player in my newfound home to put on some music.
(Song): Fairy Tail - Main Theme (Slowed Down) (Piano Cover)
"Uncle, what's that?" Shido asked me with curiosity.
As the song began to play, I felt so at peace. Whether it was the motif of the song, or the piano itself, it brought a soothing comfort to my heart and mind, my body relaxing to the sounds.
I kneeled down Infront of Shido, gently patting his head, looking into his eyes solumnly as I said...
"You'll understand one day, my nephew."
With that, the song played on, the piano sounds plucking at my heart strings. Shido sat there in silence, taking in the sounds of the piano as he looked very comforted by it.
I smiled at the boy, knowing despite the fact he'll be quite the womaniser in the future, he'll grow up to be a fine young man. A man who'll melt away the worries of the maidens we all know and love.
With Shido, his looks resemble that of Shinji's; his dark blue hair, brown eyes and his oval-shaped face. The same is said for his personality; a person who is willing to put himself on the line no matter what the situation may be. One of many masculine traits.
However, what Shido inherits from Mio, is his spirit lineage which in other words, makes him a spirit but not in the way you all would think. He started off as a regular human but when he starts sealing the spirits, beginning with Kotori Itsuka, that's when the spirit within him awakens.
After around 2 minutes, the song would fade out, signalling it's end.
"Hey uncle, can you show me more songs?" Shido questioned.
"Maybe another time little man. Some of these you wouldn't get until you grow up." I replied with a smile.
"When I grow up, I wanna know all the songs you know!" Shido stated with determination.
I nodded in reply, admiring the young boy's tenacity for knowledge about stuff. Though, I'll let Mio and Shinji teach him about all of that.
"Alright Shido, it's almost time for you to be picked up by mama and papa. Let's get you ready." I mentioned.
"Okay!" Shido responded as he sat on one of my couches, putting on his jacket as I helped him get his shoes on.
The time was 15:00. Mio and Shinji had arrived at my home to pick up Shido and head on home.
"Was Shido sensible Scara?" Mio asked with curiosity.
"He behaved remarkably. We've just been listening to music all day. Apart from when I let Shido have a run in the backyard. As you can see, he's a tired little man." I replied with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
"I'm glad to hear he's had a good time. Again, we're sorry about the sudden request Scara." Mio said in a guilty tone.
"Don't be sorry Mio. I love having Shido around whenever the opportunity arises and besides, like I said all those years ago, my loyalty lies with you and Shinji." I replied with an assertive but gentle tone.
"Hey Scara, heard anything about DEM recently?" Shinji chimed.
"Not really, apart from the fact their return to Japan is confirmed for 2032. Shido will be 8 by then." I replied with a serious tone.
"DEM?" Shido questioned.
"You'll understand who they are in due time little man. For now, don't worry about it." I said to Shido with a smile which soon faded when I looked back at Shinji.
"2032 huh? Will Westcott be among them?" Shinji asked with a hint of annoyance.
"No doubt about it. Remember, he's after spirits. Especially Mio." I replied with a serious tone. "It's also around that same time that Kurumi becomes a spirit I would've thought. 2035 is when things start picking up exponentially."
"Alright, well, me and Mio will have a talk about this when we put Shido to bed once we're home. Thank you again Scara." Shinji stated with a slight smile as we fistbumped before he departed.
The next day.
20th of July, 2028.
Me, Shinji and Mio were all sat together at the dinner table in Takamiya household. We were holding a meeting to discuss what to do when DEM comes back to Japan.
"So, what is it you wanted to speak with me about you two?" I asked out of concern.
"Scara, when DEM returns, me and Mio will have to go back into hiding. I'm sure you know why." Shinji said with a serious tone.
"Yeah. Westcott. He'll do anything to find you two and if he finds out you two had Shido, this could get ugly." I stated with a slight hint of concern.
"Exactly. Me and Mio have come to the agreement that in 4 years time, we'll have my friends Tatsuo and Haruko take care of Shido while DEM are in the country. That way, Shido will be safe and sound. Though.. I do fear that we're being awful parents by doing that." Shinji stated with a conflicted tone.
"Shinji, Mio. Whatever preserves both your lives and Shido's, I'm absolutely fine with. As long nobody dies, I'm happy. Plus, I think you're the best parents Shido can ask for. You're thinking about his future carefully while keeping him safe. He'll come to understand why you two did what you did one day." I replied with a sentimental tone.
"I just don't want our little boy to get caught up in this mess. At least, not so early on in his life." Shinji stated with a slightly worried tone.
"Westcott will do anything to capture Mio. Even killing children. It makes me sick just thinking about it." I said with a look of anger on my face.
Just after I said that, I saw Mio have an angered look on her face, her light blue outline showing.
"Mio, not the best time." I mentioned calmly.
"That man and his goals.. can go straight to hell!" Mio shouted angrily.
"Mio." Shinji called out, his hand ontop of hers. Mio then calms down, the light blue outline disappearing.
"I have a suggestion Mio." I mentioned in an enthusiastic tone.
"What is it?" Mio asked with curiosity.
"For dividing your power in two, you can create a doppelganger of yourself with a more adult and mature look to watch over Shido when the real you goes into hiding. That way, you can also distribute the remaining Sephirah crystals without having to reveal your true identity."
"That's actually a brilliant idea Scara!" Shinji expressed with fervor.
"I may just do that. That's smart of you to suggest." Mio mentioned with a gentle smile.
"Now Mio, make sure your doppelganger doesn't flock your name around carelessly. We'd need your other half to assume a different identity. Otherwise this won't work." I stated with a serious tone.
"That's true... I'll come up with a name for my other half later. For now though, we've got a 4 year window to put everything we talked about into play. Scara, please defend Shido with your life." Mio stated with a calm tone before pleading to me.
"Shido will live to see adulthood, I know that for damn sure."
As I said that, all 3 of us heard a knock on the door. We all went quiet, seeing if the knocking sound would repeat. To our surprise, it did.
"You two stay here. I'll go see what it is." I said quietly before silently manuvering around their house, heading upstairs.
"Excelsus." I recited, my white katana appearing in my right hand.
I then jump down from the upstairs window above the front door, as I did, I saw a blonde man in a wheelchair with a short haired woman.
I immediately put the katana to the woman's neck as I landed.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" I asked with a glint of annoyance in my eyes.
"Easy! We're not your enemies!" The man in the wheelchair begged.
"Start talking." I stated bluntly.
"My name is Elliot Baldwin Woodman. I'm the founder of an organisation known as 'Ratatoskr'. The woman you're currently holding hostage is Karen Mathers, my assistant. We're here to see if 'Deus' and that boy she was with all those years ago would care to hide in one of our underground bases." Elliot explained with precision.
"Hang on a minute, aren't you the man who let the 2 of them run away at the time?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"Yes. I'm sure you're familiar with Issac Westcott?" Elliot asked with a serious tone.
"That twisted fuck. Yeah, I know him." I said with a tone of disgust.
"Once the 2 youngsters fled, I defected from DEM and Karen came with me. I founded Ratatoskr to counteract DEM or 'Deus Ex Machina Industries.' Ratatoskr seeks to save spirits, not kill them. Meaning you'll also be safe in our care, 'Balladeer.' Elliot explained with a pure smile.
I slowly retracted Excelsus from Karen's neck, tucking it away.
"Fine. I believe you. If everything you say is true, please take care of Mio and Shinji." I said with concern.
"So Mio and that boy are still well... that's a relief." Elliot said with a gentle sigh.
With that, Elliot, Karen and I entered the house. All 5 of us were about to hold a strategy meeting and I knew that this was starting to get more interesting.
A/N: Man this chapter is bigger than the Standard! That plus the interlude makes around 3k words. Christ alive.
Hope you guys are enjoying this fanfic. I'd want to see it get to 15 follows and favourites before I post chapters 11 - 20. I'd love that.
I'd love for you guys to post a review on which one of the spirits (apart from Mio) that Scara could end up with. It could help me guide my romance scenes accordingly.
With that, I'mma start imagining Chapter 9. Thank you for reading!
Next time: Ratatoskr's Entry. Don't miss it!