XX

Words of Affirmation

Kouji didn't sleep that night.

He stayed up on the roof of the church, fidgeting and toying with the Serpent Scales as he had done countless nights over the past year. He created constellations using a combination of the scales and light magic, a way of remembering Aespa as he had done before. Sagittarius, Capricorn, Gemini, Taurus, Libra, Pisces…all the constellations he had memorized. It was the only reason he even attempted to learn light magic, to create constellations.

Kouji used his eyes to admire the sunrise over a new day, keenly watching as the humans of the town started their day. He could see the birds flocking over the skies, streelights turning off, even hearing Amy talk in her sleep.

And of course…his mind lingered to Irina. He had only seen her once, passing by through Rome with Xenovia by her side. It seems she had become a Holy Sword wielder over the past year and had taken Xenovia as a partner, which was good. She didn't deserve to be alone…she seemed happy anyway. Every cell in his body wanted to cry out to her but he forced himself to stop. It was better this way. She didn't remember him…and she never will.

Amy woke up soon after the sunrise, a habit she had probably picked up growing up in such a military focused organization such as the Church. He was confused more than anything about why he was letting her in so much. He should hate her, one of the people responsible for his life becoming…this. He wanted to hate her…but he couldn't bring himself to hate anybody but himself. It took a lot of self reflection over the past year but he realized the person he hated the most for his problems…was himself.

"Did you stay up all night?" Amy yawned and scratched her stomach. "Do you not sleep anymore?"

"I wasn't tired," he smiled. "You sleep okay? You were talking a lot in your sleep."

Her cheeks flushed. "W-Was I? Was it anything bad?"

"Not really," Kouji placed a kettle of water on a Serpent Scale before heating it up with light magic. "Who's Drake?"

Her eyes widened. "He's…He was my brother."

Was. That one word gave away more than she would have liked. Rather than ask her about it any longer, he poured the boiling water into instant ramen bowls they picked up last night on the way back to the church. As far as breakfast goes, it wasn't an English breakfast…but it'd do.

"Were you thinking about it?" asked Amy. "The cards that Lord Azazel mentioned…Were you thinking about it?"

"I was," Kouji slurpped his ramen. "But I shouldn't."

"We're fighting a war very under manned Kouji," Amy slowly slurpped at her ramen. "We could use all the help we can get."

"And we will…just not from them," said Kouji. "You wouldn't understand, Amy. I can't drag them back into this…"

"What were they like?" asked Amy. "I don't know too much about music or idols, but apparently they were a big deal."

Kouji smiled. "They were…I never thought I would get to meet my favorite idol group let alone get wrapped up in all of this with them. They took me in when I was at my lowest, celebrated with me at my highest…taught me how to control my eyes, magic…they gave me a glimpse of how beautiful this world could be when, at the time, darkness was everything I had known. It was my fault they wound up like that…I can't ask them to come back into this world."

"I hate to say it Kouji," said Amy. "Lord Azazel may have been right. You don't have to ask your friends for help, and they're better friends if they help you without your permission. It sounds to me that you're just scared of confronting them again after you forcefully wipped their memories."

"Excuse me?"

"Kouji, you keep spouting these superficial and selfish words of how you don't want people making decisions for you and how you don't want people dragged into your life," said Amy. "Yet you're doing the exact same thing. You made the decision to wipe their memories, you made that decision for them…I saw how much they begged you not to, begged for you to let them help you."

Kouji gritted his teeth. She was right…As much as he wanted to deny it, she was right. He didn't know what he would even say to them, how he would say it…if they'll even listen to him. They probably hated him. The only thing he feared more than their absence would be their hatred of him. If he was the one who distanced himself, he could live with that…but Kouji didn't know if he could live with himself if they were the ones who distanced themselves from him.

"Kouji…" said Amy. "Start with one."

"What?" asked Kouji.

"You think that you have to confront all of them at once," said Amy. "That much stimulation might be too much for you…so start with one. Pick one and see how you do. If they're your friends and you mean that much to them, they'll understand. Friendships are stronger after they're tested, same goes for every relationship anyway…at least I think."

"I…I don't know what I would even say," said Kouji.

"Apologize," said Amy. "You apologize genuinely and from your heart…if they accept, you work towards that apology and prove to yourself and to them that you'll be better."

"I don't know if I can do that," Kouji set his ramen bowl down. "I don't know if I can-"

"I'll be right here," Amy smiled. "Look I know I might not be your first choice as a couple's councelor but I can help. As much as I don't want to admit it, Lord Azazel was right. I can't watch you kill yourself in isolation anymore. If I hadn't tracked you down and confronted you, you would have continued to be by yourself with that thing in your eyes."

"You mean when you stalked me like an obsessed fan across five countries," said Kouji.

"If that's how you wanna see it, be my guest," said Amy. "But this is me…helping you, Kouji."

"Because you want to repent for aiding in King's murder?" asked Kouji.

Amy was obviously hurt by his comment, however she leaned forward and took his hand. "Because helping people is what I do…I am an exorcist, remember?"

Kouji didn't know if this was the right thing to do. He had spent all year doing whatever he can to close himself off, to turn away any meaningful relationships to avoid the exact situation he was in right now. To let someone in is to be vulnerable. To be vulnerable is to be…weak. He couldn't afford to be weak all that time…maybe this was what Azazel had been after all this time. To let him settle down in one place, to form meaningful relationships with others…just for him to feel what it's like to be human again.

"NingNing," said Kouji.

"Excuse me?"

"NingNing," Kouji took a deep breath. "She has history with Karisma, a lot of history…apparently the Church were the ones who killed her. If she can put away that anger for a second to actually think…I think she can help us."

"Then let's do it," Amy grabbed the box that Kouji had hidden under his bed. "Which card is she?"

"Ten of hearts," Kouji sighed. "Amy I don't know about this…NingNing is really unpredictable when she's emotional. If she-"

"We'll be fine," Amy smiled, handing him the metallic Brave Saint card. "Are you ready?"

"Not at all…but then again when am I ever ready for anything."

The card felt heavy in his hand. It was a stupid analogy to make in his head but…it felt like he was really holding someone else's life in his hands. He knew the basics of the Brave Saint cards…all he had to do was pour a sufficient enough amount of magic into them to wake up any Reincarnated Angels linked to it. It was why the Archangels would normally possess these cards, the only ones who could supply them with enough magic…aside from him anyway.

The card began to heat up in his hand as he poured every ounce of magic he had in his tank. The card itself began to crack, shaking and trembling as it took off from his hand. The card shattered into pieces, scattering and disappearing only to leave behind a translucent card that almost resembled a magic circle. It attached itself to the ground before raising itself up like a normal magic circle used for teleportation.

"Oh my god…" Kouji balled his fists.

It was NingNing…really NingNing. Her hair had changed, no longer the teal colored he remembered but the blackest of midnight. She wore the same outfit she had worn that day in South Korea, encased in her wings. He had never truly seen angelic wings before…like the color of snow but somehow brighter, wrapped around her body like a protective caccoon. It was only when her eyes slowly began to open that her wings began to vanish.

NingNing barely caught herself when she fell, rubbing her head and groaning as she looked around. "What in the…my head! What…happened…"

Her eyes lingered until she fixed on Kouji. It took her a second to recognize him however her eyes began to tear up as her mouth opened. Kouji felt frozen in place as she walked over to him slowly. He closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst. NingNing was strong, even for a Reincarnated Angel, she was strong. If she were to slap him across his face, would he even-

"You stupid, selfish, pig-headed moron!" NingNing pulled him in and hugged him. She was trembling as she held him, squeezing tighter and tighter. "What the hell did you do? Why would you do that? Why would you…" She pushed away and caressed his cheeks. "What happened to you? Are you going to get a haircut?"

A sheepish smile grew on Kouji's face. "Hi…"

NingNing smiled as tears rolled downed her cheeks, feeling Kouji's face and checking to see if his hair was real. "You…You owe me an explanation."

…

Kouji forgotten how much NingNing can eat. It wasn't anywhere near Winter's ferocious appetite but after a year of hibernating away, of course she was hungry. During Kouji's entire explanation, NingNing managed to eat away at half of the provisions Azazel had stored in here for emergencies.

"I don't even have the words to properly tell you how stupid you are," NingNing set down the last of their stock of ramen bowls. "Kouj, I've been alive for five of your lifetimes and I don't have the language skills to properly scold you for how stupid you are."

Like a child being lectured, Kouji lowered his head. "I'm sorry…"

"Thank Gabriel Rina had us cast that seal on you," said NingNing, burping as she rubbed her stomach. "Oh man I haven't had anything to eat since last year…thanks for the food Kouji."

"Sorry it was only the instant stuff," said Kouji. "There's not exactly a kitchen here."

"I can wait," NingNing smiled. "Your food is always worth waiting for."

"How are the others?" asked Kouji. "Karina, Giselle, Winter…are they okay?'

NingNing smiled and scratched her head. "Lady Gabriel visited us everyday. She tapped into our pyschic link, even while we were hibernating, to talk to us. She would never tell us what happened to you but she always said you were okay…"

"I was o-" He caught himself. His fists trembled as he felt the air escape his lungs. "I wasn't…okay. I missed you…I missed the others…I missed Irina…" He bit his lip. "I missed King."

"Oh you stupid boy," NingNing floated over to him and embraced him, pulling his face into her chest. This wasn't their first hug but it definitely wasn't like the one from before. There was no anger in her touch, no hostility no hatred…just affection. "Did you think we cared for you so little that this would make us cross with you? Kouji we love you…We just didn't want you to suffer through all of this alone."

"I'm sorry…" he gripped her arm and cried. "I'm sorry…"

"Just promise me…" said NingNing. "Promise me you will never, never do this again. I swear if you pull a stunt like this again…I'll turn you into a tadpole."

Memories her Scripture came to mind and her emotional tendencies sent shivers down Kouji's spine. She wasn't kidding.

"I promise…" said Kouji.

"Gabriel help you when Giselle wakes up," said NingNing. "The rest of us aren't exactly mad at you but Giselle is furious."

Kouji gulped. "I'll…deal with that when we get to it."

"Alright then, onto more pressing concerns…" Her eyes grew cold as she turned her attention to Amy. "Kouji, what is the little rodent who held a sword to my sister's throat doing behind you…and why is she not dead?"

Kouji gulped. "She's…a friend. There's been an incident and she and I are kind of caught up in it. I need your help NingNing…she can help us."

"How exactly is she going to help us?" NingNing appeared behind Amy and held a fork to her neck. "Tell me little exorcist, how does it feel to have a weapon at your throat? To have your life at my fingertips…to know that if I just press this into that scrawny neck, your life ends."

"NingNing, no," said Kouji. "Don't hurt her."

"Are you serious?" asked NingNing. "Kouji, she held a sword to Karina's throat. She helped Karisma kill King! How can you be so forgiving?"

"Because it wasn't her fault…" said Kouji. "King died because of me, because I dragged him into this world…He died because he had something to do with me. I'm the cause of all of this…not her. NingNing I didn't even want to bring you back…I was afraid of what you and the others might think, if you'd even remember me…She was the one who pulled me out of that pit and taught me it was okay."

NingNing gritted her teeth and removed her hold over Amy. "You always did know how to take the fun out of things. Alright then, what's this problem we have?"

"Princess Alice was murdered after she gave a final prophecy," said Amy, struggling to catch her breath. "The Prophecy of the Starless Night…that's what the Elders called it."

"What?" NingNing's eyes narrowed.

"You know the prophecy?" asked Kouji.

NingNing crossed her arms and sighed. "I don't know it the way Rina or Giselle knows it…I've heard it a couple of times whenever we tagged along with Lady Gabriel to see Lord Micheal. Apparently some prophet spoke it a few years before I was Reincarnated…I'm sorry Kouji."

"Why?" asked Kouji.

"The prophecy is dark," said NingNing. "We all thought it was a one off, a distant thing we wouldn't have to worry about for a few hundred years…that's what Rina said anyway. But if another prophet had the same prophecy and she was murdered for it…the dots are connecting."

"What's the prophecy?" asked Amy. "Princess Alice only told it to Lady Karisma but it seemed like the Elders knew about it too."

NingNing sighed. "The child of a Demon and the spawns of an Angel. The end of all days, to spare those be thine faithful. The hybrid of the Apocalypse shall be the Catalyst, to see the void for all those punished. To live is to sacrifice, the seven trumpets shall sound the price."

A silent tension filled the warehouse.

"That's…spooky," said Kouji.

"An armageddon prophecy?" asked Amy. "I've never heard one of those before, especially from Princess Alice."

"Speaking of armageddon…" NingNing smirked as she eyes his shirt. "Is that our shirt, Kouji? Oh my, what a sweetheart."

"It's a nice shirt," Kouji smiled. "I like it."

"I really did miss you Kouji," NingNing smiled. "You have no idea…I can't believe you spent all this time by yourself. I can't believe we left you all alone…"

"It was my fault," Kouji smiled. "I don't want to leave you guys alone either…never again."

"Um…guys?" asked Amy. "I really don't want to mess up the reunion but…what are we supposed to do now?"

"The rodent has a point," NingNing sighed and crossed her arms. "If Karisma really is gone, there's going to be a power vacuum for that spot. It won't be long until they figure out you're staying in one place…but I'm more worried about where we are."

"You noticed, huh?" asked Kouji.

"Japan in general is home to a lot of Devils, but Kuoh is at the heart of it," said NingNing. "The Gremories and the Sitris are here. Forget everything else for now…we've gotta figure out how to avoid unneccessary conflict with the Devils."

"Where are you going with this?" asked Kouji.

"Oh gee…" said NingNing. "It's almost like we know someone who's as good in political negotiations as she is in eating seven buffets out of business."

Amy smiled and nudged his elbow. "I told you this was a good idea. You're smiling already."

"You were right Amy," Kouji smiled. "I missed them…I was wrong to think they could hate me."

…

Kouji and NingNing sat on the roof of the church, looking out into the sunset as the stars began to fill the night sky. Just being with NingNing again filled Kouji's heart with an unsurmountable amount of joy, but to actually speak to her again after all this time…He had never felt more relief and happy to be alive.

"I'm so sorry…" NingNing rested her head on his shoulder. "God…I should have been there for you, we should have…"

"It was my choice NingNing," said Kouji. "Besides, it wasn't all bad. I got to visit a hell of a lot of new places. I even went to the Prada shops you talked about in Paris."

"Oh?" she asked. "What did you think? Wasn't it amazing?"

"So big…" said Kouji. "I didn't know a designer store could be so fricking massive…"

NingNing smiled. "Next time we go back, I promise I'll get you something. I had my eye on this really nice coat that I think would look great on you."

"Can we even afford those anymore?" asked Kouji. "NingNing you're not an idol anymore…Azazel put out a press release saying Aespa disbanded because of personal issues. You guys haven't been idols in a whole damn year."

"Oh please," said NingNing. "You think Lady Gabriel didn't give us money? Kouji, I could probably buy this entire town off of the humans if I really wanted to."

"Excuse me?" asked Kouji. "You're that rich?"

"And I'm not even the one with the most money," said NingNing. "If you saw how much Rina alone made from all her years, you'd break every calculator on the planet. But money's just money…it can't buy what all of us really want."

"Yeah…I kind of understood what you guys were talking about over the past year," Kouji smiled and looked up until he found Sagittarius, the constellation he had created for Karina. "I'm sorry NingNing…I shouldn't have made the decision for all of you…being alone was the hardest thing I ever had to do."

"And Imugi?" asked NingNing. "How is that thing? I don't sense that thing in your body anymore. Did the seal work?"

Kouji's eyes shifted. "Perfectly…it kind of messed up my body for a bit but it worked. Imugi's sealed into my eyes…but after we learned about the prophecy, it completely went silent. 13 months and that thing never shut up…until now."

"I guess for the time being, that's good," said NingNing. "So are you going to release the others?"

"Honestly I thought you would have snatched the cards from me and release them yourself," said Kouji. "I was so terrified of facing them….facing you again. I was so scared of what you guys would say to me."

"We love you, you moron," NingNing sighed. "But as for the cards…I don't think you have to worry about the others."

"What?"

"She's right, Kouji."

That voice. Kouji shot to his feet and turned around, tears filling his eyes as he saw a familiar face. Lady Gabriel hadn't changed one bit in the past year. Her blonde hair was the color of the sun, curled to perfection, and even the white of her dress stood out in the bleak darkness.

"L…Lady Gabriel…" Kouji gritted his teeth. "I…"

"I am so happy to see you doing well," Lady Gabriel embraced him. "You do not know how many times I wished I could intervene…to hold you and tell you everything would be alright."

"How…How do you remember me?" asked Kouji. "You said you would correct the imperfections in the spell."

"I did," said Lady Gabriel. "Just…not on me. Don't worry Kouji, the Archangels still don't remember you, except for myself and Aespa."

"It is good to see you in person again, Lady Gabriel," NingNing got on one knee and bowed her head. "Thank you for telling us everything that happened…though I do wish you would have told us about Kouji."

Lady Gabriel smiled. "I'm afraid that would have counted as my interferring…though now that you and the others are officially released, I don't need to conceal my allegiance anymore."

"Wait…what?" asked Kouji. "The others are released?"

"Of course," said Lady Gabriel. "Did you think using one of those cards would only release one? Kouji, the girls are connected in ways you don't fully comprehend. They were all released from their pods at the same time when NingNing was awakened, however she was the only one who was teleported to your position."

"W-What happened to the others?" asked Kouji.

"The dominoes have all begun to fall Kouji," said Lady Gabriel. "Azazel may have set you down the right path, but these girls will guide you from here on out. Multiple incidents have taken place all over the world and are all connected. I've sent them on their own missions to investigate, but don't worry I've already told them of what happened. They're all eager to see you again…though I've never seen Giselle quite this upset before."

Kouji smiled awkwardly. "Looks like I'm gonna have to deal with that a lot sooner then I thought."

"Karina and Giselle have more to deal with," said Lady Gabriel. "They're helping out on the this supposed magic enhancing drug, however Winter should be done with her job rather quickly."

"And…what's her job?" asked Kouji.

"She's stopping by the Vatican to see more into Alice's death as well as find any clues on the Paladin's disappearance," said Lady Gabriel. "Don't worry, she's rather good at deduction, I'm sure she'll be here by nightfall tomorrow."

"Hey guys!" cried Amy from the ground. "I've got more food! Can we please eat! NingNing ate all our food…I'm starving!"