IV

A Normal Life

Night had fallen over London as Kouji sat on the swing set of a park just down the street from his house with King at his side, admiring his new gift.

"Dude…" said King. "What's going on? When were you and Aespa buddies? How could you not tell me?"

"It's…complicated," said Kouji. "Besides, they were the ones who reached out to me. It wasn't exactly like I went looking for them."

"But still,' said King. "What's so special about you?"

Kouji smirked. "Is someone jealous that I got Karina's number?"

"Dude she's like 10 years older than you," said King. "And you're a minor. I'm not gonna let you do anything even if you wanted to."

"So that's a yes."

"YES!" King shot to his feet. "I mean how could you? My best friend…alone with Aespa…and he kicks me out of his house? I thought we were brothers, family…how could you betray me like this."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Kouji smiled and held up his hands in defeat. "Things are just…really weird right now. You're kind of the only thing I have that keeps me normal."

"C'mon man," King sat back down and began to swing. "It's me. You can tell me."

Kouji…wasn't completely against the idea. Ever since he found out the truth about who he was and what he can do, the first person he wanted to tell was King. But would that be the right thing to do? He had only recently found out about how scary and fucked up this world is…is it right to burden someone else with that information? Someone who had nothing to do with all of this.

"Do you remember when you transferred to Holton?" asked King. "And you couldn't make any friends because you got caught sleeping in class?"

Kouji frowned. It wasn't his fault he had done the reading for the class beforehand. Listening to someone who didn't fully understand the topic lecture about it made him tired.

"What about it?"

"Remember how I actually talked to you?" asked King. "The start of a friendship…You can count on me, Kouji. After all we've been through, do you think you can ever burden me with your problems? For crying out loud, I have half of your medicine cabinet stuck in my backpack just in case anything happens, that's how much I love you."

Kouji caved. He knew better than to tell King about what happened but he had to. King had been his best friend since his family moved to London, the one person outside his family he could depend on. Of course he could tell King…He could always trust his best friend.

He told King about everything, however left out the bit about God being dead. Even though it sounded cool after the existential crissis of knowing the Creator of the universe was dead, he felt like it was above his pay grade to be telling random people that. However Kouji told King about exactly what happened at the concert, everything he knew about Aespa, about his family, and especially about what happened to Kouji himself.

Both Kouji and King stopped swinging as King went quiet. He was always nervous when King went quiet, the same thing with Irina. It was always strange seeing outgoing people not be outgoing.

"So…" said King. "You're actually some kind of demon?"

"Half, apparently," said Kouji. "Karina said it's because of my eyes, a Sacred Gear."

"And that's supposed to be…miracle machines that God gave humans?" asked King. "I'm not even Catholic, am I going to heaven?"

Kouji shrugged. "I have no idea…we're in uncharted territory here. I know as much about all of this as you do."

"Wait, so if God's real," said King. "Does that mean the Devil's real too? And what about the Bible? Is everything in the Bible real?"

"Again, I don't know," said Kouji. "But maybe you're right, I should probably read the Bible in case I missed anything."

"And what about you?" asked King. "So you can just see dead people?"

"I guess so," said Kouji. "It's kind of spooky, I can never really tell when I'm alone anymore."

"That…is…sick!" King shot to his feet. "Dude, do you know what this means? You're a real life ghost whisperer! Are there any dead people here right now?"

"I…I don't know," said Kouji. "And trust me, it's scary. Remember all the times I told you I could see things watching me sleep? Karina says it's because they could sense that I have the gift, they know someone can see them."

King's excitement died down. "Oh…Kouji I'm so sorry."

Kouji furrowed his brow. "For what?"

"I…I didn't always believe you when you told me those things," said King, taking a seat again. "I mean at first I thought you were just trying to be funny but then Irina told me you were sick…I didn't want you to be insensitive."

Kouji couldn't help but smile. "Trust me, it's okay. I was starting to think I was insane too. But everything's real…everything. Okay, let's see if there's any dead people here."

Kouji remembered Karina's words and focused his eyes. The brown of his eyes shifted to a blood red as the tomoe symbols spun to a stop. He hadn't noticed it before but aside from the ability to see spirits, his vision was remarkably clear. It was like colors were sharper and even in the darkness, it felt like he was still seeing things in daytime.

"Doesn't look like there's anything here," Kouji glanced around the park but it was empty beside them. "Guess we really are-"

No…they weren't alone. It was faint but there were traces of something. A thin veil of smoke that looked like…blurred movement?

"Something's wrong…" Kouji got up and backed away towards the street, grabbing King's wrist. "Something's here."

"Dude…you're scaring me," said King. "What is it?"

"I don't know…" said Kouji. The blur was starting to manifest as it approached him. His body, once again, reacted on instinct. He leaned back and dodged an attack from the blur, flipping back as his eyes adjusted to the enhanced speed. "Who's there!"

"You can keep up with me?" asked a feminine voice. "Well that's a first. I was hoping to just kill you outright."

Kouji pulled King away as the blur manifested. Appearing from a puff of smoke, a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties smiled at them. She looked almost French with her ashy blonde hair and vibrant blue eyes. Her armor was pull plated yet orange like the fruit and she carried a sword that was resting on her shoulder.

"Who the hell is this?" asked King. "Did she just try and stab you?"

"You're…human?" asked Kouji. "You're not an angel in disguise are you, or a Devil? God I am losing track of reality."

"Totally human," the girl smiled. "Jeanne, at your service." She bowed. "I am here to end the tragic life of Shidou Koujiro, and I would very much appreciate it if you accept your fate graciously as to avoid any…unneccessary bloodshed."

"Again with this…" Kouji sighed. "Look lady, I am-"

Jeanne sent out a warning shot. Her sword, a thin blade almost resembling a rapier, stabbed at his cheek and narrowly missing it. His cheek began to bleed as Kouji decided to shut up. Talking to her was meaningless…she was here to kill him.

"Run."

Kouji grabbed King's wrist as they ran down the street.

"W-What the hell is she?" asked King. "I didn't even see her move!"

"That tends to happen," Kouji gritted his teeth. "We have to go back to the house!"

"W-What? Why? Shouldn't we go to the police?" asked King.

"And tell them what?" asked Kouji. "That a French girl is trying to stab me to death because I'm a demon hybrid with the ability to see dead people? These aren't human problems man! We gotta deal with them with inhuman solutions!"

"How exactly do we do that?" asked King. "You're not telling me there's some supernatural police, are you?"

The silence that rang out between them as they ran back to the house was startling.

"Are you fucking serious!" cried King. "There's a supernatural police? Call them?"

"Her number is back in the house," said Kouji. "Irina's out on a job, finishing it up before my dad gets home. We don't have a choice."

"You mean we're gonna call a girl group to fend off a sword wielding French woman?" asked King. "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding!"

Kouji kicked down the front door and stumbled inside. "She'll be here soon, the album's in my room. Call it and tell Karina that we're under attack!"

"What the hell are you going to do?" asked King.

"Pull something out of my ass and buy us some time," said Kouji, scrambling through the living room. "Where the hell is it!"

"What are you-"

"Go!" cried Kouji.

It had to be here. That Holy Sword that Irina mentioned she had stashed in the living room. If it's here, it's the only thing that can possibly defend him. He had to find it before-

Kouji jumped to the side to dodge a volley of…swords? How the hell did she throw that many swords his way? There were five or six lodged into their T.V as Kouji looked underneath the couch.

"What did I just say?" asked Jeanne, entering their house. "Why does everyone feel the need to run? It's pathetic to run from something you can't avoid."

"Oh? Should I just sit back and let you kill me?" asked Kouji.

"Yes!" cried Jeanne. "I mean, think about me! Do you think I want to kill you?"

"Well…kinda," said Kouji. "You seem to be having fun. I mean you're literally smiling right now."

Jeanne smirked as she poked her out from behind the couch. "Okay yeah, I might be enjoying it a little. Now can we please just end this?"

Kouji felt the ground begin to rumble as he jumped back, seconds before a collection of swords protruded from the ground and almost turning him into a kebab.

He could feel it. Unlike last time, his head began to tingle as he could feel the mask beginning to form over his eye.

"Look at you," said Jeanne. "Once a monster, always a monster."

Kouji gritted his teeth. Aespa was one thing, but he was not going to die here like this. Not at the hands of this sadistic weirdo. He was going to live…He had to live.

"Say goodbye kid," Jeanne held a rapier to his heart.

Kouji let go of his fear and grabbed hold of the rapier. He forced himself to his feet as the mask began to form more and more. His eyes turned crimson as the tomoe symbols began to spin more and more.

"Righteous be thine heart and fearless be thine soul," said Kouji. "Come forth from your circle of binding…Guardian of Scales!"

A magic circle formed on Kouji's arm and travelled down to his palm. A snake shot out from the magic cricle and wrapped itself around his arm as he grabbed onto it, hardening as a sword shot out from its mouth.

"Oh it feels good to be back," Kouji smiled.

No…Something's wrong. This wasn't him. He was moving, he was speaking, but it wasn't…him.

"What are you?" asked Jeanne. "You're not the kid."

The mask had completely formed over his face. It was the mask of a serpent with his blood red eyes piercing through the eyeholes. His body was beginning to change as well. Golden scales began to form over his skin and reached his neck.

"No, I am not," said Kouji. "Did you think the Master was unguarded? Did you think you and your mundane crusaders could simply walk into his home and attempt to end his life? Did you think we would stand for it?"

"Who are you?" Jeanne gritted her teeth.

"I am the Guardian of Scales," said Kouji. "The Dragon of the Earth."

"The right hand of the Serpent King," Jeanne grinned. "And here I thought you were dead."

"You sure are talking quite a lot for a dead human," said Kouji.

Jeanne broke free from Kouji's grip, shattering her rapier as she gained some distance. Kouji watched as he deflected a barrage of swords shot from Jeanne through magic circles. It was the same honeycomb shield that he used to defend himself against NingNing. But he activated it so casually…so easily…

Kouji's sword retracted back into the snake as he held out his hand. The snake shot out and took on an ethereal form, wrapping it around Jeanne to confine her.

"Fall into madness," said Kouji.

Kouji could see it. The tomoe symbol of his eyes shifted as the ends of the tomoe symbols connected. He peered into Jeanne's soul as the world went red. Color was stripped from the world, the light was red and everything else was pitch black.

Snakes shot out from the ground and entangled Jeanne, lifting her up like a cruxifiction.

"W-What is this?" asked Jeanne. "What did you do?"

"Did you think you can just try and kill my Master without consequences?" asked Kouji. "Did you think no one was watching?"

Kouji watched in horror as an army of snakes and serpents arose from the wood of their floor. Blades shot out from their mouths as each and every one of the hundreds of snakes took turns stabbing Jeanne. Each pierce was slow and even slower coming out.

What the hell was this? Through his own eyes, Kouji could see the clock. Not a single second had passed. Time was completely frozen here…wherever here was.

"Do you understand yet, ape?" asked Kouji. "You are powerless here as you are everywhere."

"Enough."

Kouji stopped as the world they were in began to crack. Like glass shattering, the crimson world broke away as Karina stood before him.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked Karina.

"The nephillim," said Kouji. "So we meet again."

"You are not wanted here, Imugi," said Karina. "Give the boy back his body."

Imugi? This was Imugi piloting his body? The snake…it somehow got control of him. Kouji began to put it together. The mask…it was a channel for Imugi's power and influence.

"And what of that one," asked Imugi. "This ape dares to take my Master's life and you would leave her alive? You sure have lost your edge."

"She'll get her punishment," said Karina. "But the boy's body is his and his alone. Return it at once, Imugi."

"Very well," said Imugi. "But remember…The time will come when the Serpents will rise."

Kouji felt his body returning to him as he collapsed on the ground, the mask shattering away. Karina caught him as the other Aespa girls arriving to catch Jeanne.

"Kouji!" King stormed downstairs. "Kouji! Are you okay? I tried to come down but the…door…was locked…"

"Can you hear me?" asked Karina. "Talk to me Koujiro."

"My head…" Kouji groaned. "God it feels like my brain's been put in a blender."

Karina smiled. "You did good, holding her off and protecting King. Your bravery is to be commended."

"She's out cold," said Giselle. "What the hell happened to her? Her brain activity is completely irregular. It's like she was in a coma…for a few years?"

"The Mystic Eyes of Purgatory," said Karina. "It can sense and detect spirits of the deceased, but it holds the power of mental domination. She was most likely caught in an illusionary world controlled by Kouji. Who knows how long they spent in there…"

"Oh my god!" King scrambled downstairs. "You're Aespa! You're really here!"

Kouji forced himself to his feet. "Everybody calm down…Is she okay? Did I…Did Imugi kill her?"

"No, she's alive," said Winter. "But her brain's been completely scrambled. It's gonna take a lot of healing magic to make her normal again."

"Please tell me you can help her," said Kouji.

Winter furrowed her brow. "You want to help her? Koujiro she just tried to kill you, she came pretty close to it too."

"But it's not her fault she…ended up like this," said Kouji. "Please."

"Are you serious?" asked King. "Dude she shot swords at us."

"She just thought I was a threat," said Kouji. "She doesn't deserve to die just because she was afraid of me."

"So is the rest of the world."

An invisible force pushed Winter and Giselle away as NingNing materialized spears of light at her side. A young man with spiky black hair and glasses caught Jeanne as he glared at them.

"And you are?" asked Karina.

"Someone you do not want to make an enemy of," said the boy, fixing his glasses. "We'll remember this, Shidou Koujiro."

The boy vanished in a magic circle along with Jeanne as Kouji and King were left alone with Aespa once again.

"Was that…who I think it was?" asked NingNing.

"They found him," said Giselle. "How did they find him so quickly?"

"It doesn't matter how they found him," said Karina. "They did."

"Who exactly found him?" asked King.

"The Hero Faction," said Winter. "Kouji just had his first encounter with te descendant of an ancient heroes."