A/N: Two chapters, back to back ? It's almost like the Extra had been written a couple weeks in advance and I was wondering how to integrating it in the story or something...

Even then, it seems like some reviewer are even faster than my upload button. (That and I was cleaning this chapter up)

For information, at the end of every part (like this one), it'll be the time for a Omake.

The Omake are going to be pretty wild and long, since they are all one shots.

Anyway, lets hear this.

Kirby The God Eater: Yes, and no. I wrote it like this, but now that you mention it, I am an avid Project Moon enjoyer, so, kinda.

Arokaday : You are correct, somewhat. Chronos and one of its effects was, in fact, inspired by Katana Zero ! Most of what it can do, other than that, is not. Guess for the hidden letter, the mystery wasn't really worth it… I'll take this L with pride, though. I'll do better next time. (That's what reviews are for, imagine that !)

Well then, without further daddling, let's go.

It took me 30 seconds to get dressed.

Unsurprising, considering the reason I had to get dressed that fast.

I mean, if your President just randomly asked you to come to his office, escorted by the goddamned CIA, you'd shut up and get in that car.

Well, in my case, it was a little more important than that.

I mean, as a Fallen, he kind of has my life in the palm of his hand. If he randomly decided to, I don't know, want to kill me for being a filthy heathen, he can just kill me and nobody will be the wiser. I mean, he is the Pope, he does what he wants.

Well.

That and me having not many 'good' intentions isn't really helping.

"Get moving, we need to move fast."

"I'm going as fast as I can, Andoain ! You're not the one that's going to be interrogated for some reason !"

"Well, you should hurry, else that interrogation will be under the business end of a gun barrel."

"So even you acknowledged that I might be screwed !"

"I am very much aware of this, yes."

"Damn it…"

Just my luck… As if I needed more reason to be jumpy.

"What's happening ?"

What is she doing here ?

"Not exactly a good time, Fiammetta."

"When would be a good time..?"

"I don't know, but right now it really isn't one."

"I see..? I just wanted to… Well… Have a talk ?"

"Sure. If I come back alive, I'll have a heart to heart if that's what you want."

Andoain giving me a side eye, considering the sarcasm I put into that sentence he probably guessed that both something happened between the both of us, and that I really am not looking forward to saying 'heart to heart'.

Well. I also forgot how dense she was.

"S-sure… I guess calling it a heart to heart is somewhat apt…"

"... Let's go with that."

"Huh..? W-wait, what did you say about coming back alive ?!"

"Well, the Pope called for me, which is why I'm in a hurry, and considering it's the Pope, I'm not exactly guaranteed to come back from this in one piece."

"B-but wasn't he the Pope that loosened the Fallen regulations ? I heard a couple more laws are passing that are allowing the Fallen to be treated well."

"'Somewhat' is more apt, and it's closer to being 'somewhat treated as actual living being instead of something less than even Sarkaz' kind of thing."

"Urgh… Can't exactly… Deny that…"

"I mean, try to argue that to an actual Fallen, like yours truly, and you might get punched in the face."

"..."

"I do not want to interrupt your lover spat, but we really need to go."

"Got it."

"L-lover spat ?!"

… Is she glowing ..?

"If you are truly done, let us go, no ?"

"Yeah, Yeah, I'll see you later, Fia."

… She's definitely glowing.

Let's move.

This has been a long time coming.

I guess.

I mean, it would have happened at some point, considering I'm a Fallen and all that.

He seemed to be relatively chill so I'm more worried about his subordinate than him directly.

It could be that I don't really want to get in trouble with the guy that holds my leash, but in reality, I'm more worried about what kind of dumb thing I'll have to do to 'prove my loyalty' or some other dumb things.

Getting escorted by a fucking Apostalic Knight does not alleviate my fears.

Especially when he seems ready to gun me down at any kind of sign.

… He really seems pissed at me for some reason. Almost like I personally hurt him or something.

"... We are here. This is our stop, further down the hall is the Pope's office."

"Alright. Thanks for guiding me this far."

"Think nothing of it. I hope you find the answer that you seek."

"I guess ..?"

Huh.

Considering the kind of 'vibe' he was giving me I kinda guessed he would curse me or something.

But he is simply leaving without saying anything else, and wishing me luck.

Maybe he just has a pissed off neutral face ?

… For some reason, I still think he was mad at me for some reason.

If I wasn't 13 I would have wondered if I hadn't slept with his daughter or something.

Well, not like it's possible with me, being a Fallen and kind of on the chopping block…

Oh boy…

Time to face the music, ey ?

*knock, knock*

"Enter. It is not locked."

*creak*

God this door's opening sound is making this more tense than it should be.

"You have asked to see me, your Eminence ?"

"... You can drop the formality, it wouldn't be proper for me to receive them."

What..?

Is he saying that I'm that beneath him or something ?

"I… See ?"

"Come sit with me, boy. It is time we have a long conversation."

"Alright…"

This is not what I expected.

But I don't know what I was expecting, so fair enough.

"There is a lot to discuss. So I think it's better to rip this bandage immediately."

"Which means..?"

"Here, see for yourself."

He handed me a single photograph.

..?

This is..!

"Mom and Dad ?"

"Yes. As you can see, I am just there, and over there, passing his arm on your father's shoulder is Marcellus. This was a while back, as you can imagine."

In the photograph, I can clearly see my mother, Angelica, my father, Vincent, a young Marcellus, a somewhat younger Pope, and someone else.

They all have a smile on their face, as if it was some kind of happy event that took place just before.

"We had finished a project that was dear to our heart. Your father nearly died for it, and I nearly regretted the whole thing. I don't think I could have ever forgiven myself if he had perished that day."

"... What was your relationship with them ?"

"I am your uncle."

"... From my father ?"

"Yes. He is my little brother. We have many years between us, and honestly, I didn't know I had a little brother until I randomly visited my parents when they had him. I had left the family house many years before he had been born."

"... I see."

"While I assume you wished to know the fate of your grandparents from my side, they are no longer with us. As for why I never went to see you…"

"I'm a Fallen, right ?"

"... This is indeed part of the reason. But not the full story. For that, I would need to talk about some very important and confidential things."

"Something about Marcellus, no ?"

"You seem aware of a little bit of what has been discovered on his death. I supposed Andoain told you about some of it ?"

"Yeah, he mentioned something about a drug."

"... He knows more than I thought he could. That is interesting in and of itself. Regardless, what is important is that this is no ordinary drug. Actually, it is not something a full grown adult is supposed to take in his body. As it remodel your body to fit its needs. As was… proven."

"..."

There's a story there.

"This drug was made out of the remains of the First Saints. Their power can only be inherited naturally by born Saints. Normally, that is."

"Which implies that there is another method."

"Correct. This became some very sensitive topics, but in reality, I can't even tell you the full story. Just that your father was just like me, and your mother was the first successful attempt."

"... And that's how they found each other, isn't it ?"

"... Indeed. Their love blossomed in one of the most unlikely of places."

"Other than telling me that we're related, anything else I must know ?"

"Ahahaha, you seem unfazed, as if you had seen things yourself ?"

My deadpan look must not have convinced him much.

"It's just… It's been 13 years. Dropping unannounced into my life isn't going to change much from me, I'm not going to magically jump into your arms, call you 'Uncle' and right all the wrongs. That's just not how things roll. But, well, I'm sure you were already aware of that."

A sigh escaped his lips.

His eyes looked tired, bags under his eyes were visible.

This isn't some kind of religious figurehead.

The leader of one of the most important religions in the world.

The head of state of one of the most influential countries in the world.

This is simply the face of someone too tired for this.

Who has already seen all that needed to be seen.

"... You are right. I have long since abandoned the hope that you, your father and mother, could forgive me. I have left you alone to rot and die. Even with as much 'help' I threw your way, you kept refusing them. Over and over again. The gag order wasn't enough to deter the various Cardinals, and they started asking questions. This in turn led to some of the longest years of my leadership. Being questioned on my decision daily isn't some kind of fun time, I will admit…"

He… Is looking towards the sky.

Through the windows behind him, an ethereal light shining on his face.

"I have done things I'm not proud of. I have done beautiful things I'm very proud of. I have seen things I would rather forget and bury deep into my subconscious, and others that I wish that even after my eventual death, would be engraved upon my soul so that I may reminisce about them for eternity."

"... What are you trying to say ?"

"Dante. This world is beautiful. It loves you, me, and everyone in it. It's not something you can understand yet, as you are young and haven't seen it with your own eyes yet. Going with the Pontifica Cohors, while good on paper, will just hold you back eventually, and I won't be capable of protecting you forever. Nor should I do so."

"..."

"I will assign you, once you graduate, as a Legati. It shall allow you to visit this beautiful world and experience what is in it. Once you have arrived at your conclusion, about your view of this world, I hope to be still around to hear you. For I will have something ready for you."

"... Do you think anybody can change ?"

"..."

"No, let me rephrase that, do you think anybody should be capable of change ?"

"Yes. Do you ?"

"... I don't think I'm capable of answering my own question right now. Maybe… Maybe I'll be able to once I have reached said conclusion. Maybe."

His smile, a genuine smile, as if he was looking over his own blood- as he is looking over his own blood, maturing, becoming someone.

"Good. I didn't need an answer just yet. Go see the world, write your own story. And then, once you have done this, We will be able to have that talk again."

I start heading towards the door.

Just before I exit, without looking back, I say something I should have done in the beginning. I and I, both in agreement.

"... Thank you."

At this, thanks to the mirror to my left, I see his eye going wide, and a single tear running down his cheek.

He seems to be radiating light, as if a weight was lifted off his shoulder. Something that he thought he would never be able to fix.

"Do you see that, Vincent ?"

He was laughing.

"He reminds me more of Angelica than you, yet he holds the same compassion that you had."

His laugh was one so genuine he didn't think one like this would even happen again in his lifetime.

"Even without you being capable of raising him to maturity, he holds the same conviction that you both had, is it your doing, beyond the grave ?"

His tears weren't stopping.

"Ah, maybe, just maybe, I found the perfect candidate."

For he was truly happy for the first time in years.

"I will simply need him to climb naturally. But that's just par for the course. I don't want any old parasite to get this."

For he has found hope, once again.

Just like he had, all those years ago.

Coming back felt weird.

It took me just a couple of minutes to leave the building.

The giant Basilica didn't take me long to navigate, even alone.

The way in and out of his office was pretty straightforward, after all.

And after leaving the building, and getting a little bit far away, in a place not very frequented…

I did the only thing I could think of right now.

"AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !"

I screamed.

Not because I was in pain, or something.

I just…

Needed that off my chest.

Looking upwards felt weird.

This is a fake sky.

I knew it, I saw the true sky of Terra in Lone Trail.

But right now…

I didn't feel so unbearable.

Moreover, it seems like…

The me here and the me from before are truly one.

I always felt a bit disconnected before, as if something was missing.

But not, I don't feel any of this.

It's like I'm 'me' now.

'I and I' became 'I'.

As much as it can make sense.

… God damn it.

I promised a heart to heart to Fiammetta, no ?

I'll have to do it after this… When I don't even know how I fully feel right now..?

This is going to be a pain…