(A New Fate, A new destiny awaits our heroes. Let us see what happens next in this story shall we?)
Bold = English Conversations
Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations
Fate 7
The 13th Hierarchical city of Kagutsuchi. One of the many hierarchical cities that were built after the world was destroyed by the Black Beast. Being one of the more recent hierarchical cities constructed, a wide variety of people tend to flock to this city ranging from normal people seeking a chance to build a new life, would be criminals who are looking for free targets for their schemes and the original residents that the hierarchical city was build on top of.
And in this hierarchical city, rumors have begun to circulate that the infamous SS criminal Ragna The Bloodedge have been spotted being nearby. The NOL, not wanting to waste this chance have sent an elite team of individuals to search and apprehend the criminal before he does unwanted damage to the city's cauldron. Makoto Nanaya is glad that she is part of this elite squad but there was one thing she was not happy with at that moment.
"And that is our objective for the day." Kagura Mutsuki said as she did not expect Kagura Mutsuki of all people to be the one in charge of this operation, and that was not all. "Man, Colonel Mutsuki is so cool. To see the Hero of Ikaruga up close is truly a treat." A random NOL guard commented as Makoto could not believe that Kagura of all people was the Hero of Ikaruga and not Jin Kisaragi. 'God I know this is an alternate timeline but at the same time to think things are this different…' Makoto thought
"Any questions anyone." Kagura questioned as Tsubaki raised her hand at that moment. "How do you wish for us to conduct our investigations?" Tsubaki asked as Kagura nodded his head at that moment. "Well, we got enough people. So divide and conquer. Some of us will investigate the upper floors while others will go through the lower floors. We will then meet up at the middle and gather our findings." Kagura explained.
"And what if we find Ragna the Bloodedge?" Hunter questioned as Kagura looked at Hunter at that moment. "Well, you just go and apprehend the man. Don't forget to call for backup at the same time." Kagura explained as Hunter simply nodded his head upon hearing that. "Any other questions you guys? We got some time before we need to begin our investigations so ask away." Kagura asked as Noel raised her hand at that moment.
"W-What about the other NOL soldiers stationed around here? Aren't they going to help us with this investigation?" Noel questioned as Kagura scratched his head upon hearing that. "That's the thing. The soldiers that are supposed to be stationed here have seem to gone missing." Kagura said as Noel leapt a little bit upon hearing that. "D-Do you think that Ragna the Bloodedge got to them?" Noel questioned as Kagura sighed upon hearing that.
"I don't think so but at the same time that is a possibility that I can't really cross off the list of causes." Kagura explained as Makoto kept to herself, deciding that asking any questions herself at that moment may not be worth it. "You know Makoto, you are being quite quiet right now. Do you have anything in mind?" Kagura questioned as Makoto simply shook her head upon hearing that. "Yeah no! Crystal clear! I got everything in my head! No questions whatsoever! Yup!" Makoto quickly answered as Kagura simply nodded his head upon hearing that.
"In that case, you guys got your orders. Let's not waste any time and get our search going!" Kagura said as the soldiers, Noel and Tsubaki simply saluted Kagura at that moment with both Hunter and Makoto following suit a bit clumsily. As everyone dispersed, only Kagura, Noel, Tsubaki, Hunter and Makoto remained in the area as Kagura nodded his head upon seeing the group in front of him. "Well now, which area are you guys going to go and check out?" Kagura questioned.
"Well, I guess I will go and check out the NOL facility itself. Establishing connection with the Kagutsuchi branch should help us with both defending the base from potential attacks and coordinating our search." Tsubaki said as Noel looked around nervously. "I-In that case, I will go and check the surrounding districts. You want to come along with me Hunty?" Noel questioned as Hunter looked at her startled.
"Y-Yeah! That sounds like a good idea." Hunter said as all eyes then landed on Makoto, making her sweat at the back of her neck a little bit as she wondered what she was going to say now until she realized, there was no need for her to panic unnecessarily. "Well, I first plan on checking the arts district. You never know where a criminal may decide to hide at." Makoto explained as everyone at first remained quiet upon hearing her statement, making her think that she may have accidentally messed up.
"Alright, that sounds like everyone at least have an idea of where they are going. Bar Makoto saying the arts district." Kagura said as Makoto internally breathed a sigh of relief. "Otherwise, everyone let's split up and meet back as soon as possible, maybe by the end of the day." Kagura said as everyone nodded their heads and dispersed. Makoto took that as her cue to leave herself but before she could proceed to do so, felt her hand get grabbed in the process.
"Hey Makoto, you alright there?" Kagura questioned, surprising Makoto upon hearing Kagura be concerned for her. "You are looking kind of pale. And not to mention you slugged me quite hard in the chin." Kagura continued as Makoto nodded her head a little bit upon hearing that. "W-Well...I was thinking a lot of stuff when I slugged you so I wasn't umm… really thinking straight." Makoto explained as she hoped that would be enough to dismiss some of his concern for her at that moment.
"Well at least you still have your space powered punch but if I have to add, have you been working out? That last hit was way harder than before." Kagura noted as Makoto blushed a bit before smacking him in the shoulder. "Awww Kagura. Thanks buddy!" Makoto said as Kagura rubbed his shoulder, feeling the pain spread. "In any case, pain aside, you know what you got to do?" Kagura questioned as Makoto simply looked at him with a look of dumbness in her face.
Makoto: Ummm...excuse me?
Kagura: You know… Your actual job?
Makoto:… Kagura, I may be an idiot sometimes but at the same time this whole secret sctick you got going… I'm lost.
Kagura: You know… that thing with Sector Seven?
Makoto:… Oh right… can… can you remind me again what it's about.
Makoto could see Kagura simply grit his teeth upon hearing her make that statement, the urge to slug her so real on his face if she was not a woman. "Alright… I'm going to repeat this one last time. I am not going to repeat myself after this… got it." Kagura sternly said as Makoto simply nodded her head upon hearing that statement, acknowledging that Kagura was serious at that moment.
"Our job here in Kagutsuchi is to look for Ragna The Bloodedge and apprehend him but we also have a side objective, to set up surveillance cameras that Sector Seven can use to spy and observe Kagutsuchi for potential NOL movements that they can exploit." Kagura explained as Makoto nodded her head upon hearing that. "So that means that we are still meeting with them here in Kagutsuchi." Makoto asked as Kagura nodded his head upon hearing that.
"That's the idea. The meeting's going to take place at the Kagutsuchi musuem. You won't be able to miss them even from a mile away." Kagura said as Makoto nodded her head upon hearing that. "Well… if that's the case, I better get going and start placing those cameras am I right?" Makoto said as Kagura nodded his head upon hearing that. "And don't forget, you see Ragna The Bloodedge, you send me an immediate message and don't engage him." Kagura explained.
"Alright mom. I will do just that." Makoto said as she began to walk away from him, mainly to avoid having to hear even more awkward conversations from the man in the process. As Kagura watched her walk away, he couldn't help but scratch his head in confusion. "Is Makoto really alright? She not drinking again?" Kagura wondered as he sighed a bit before he looked back at the NOL airship that had been established as a mobile home base for him to use. He would like to send someone to check up on her and make sure she's alright but that would interfere with her job.
"… I just hope that she's able to hang in there."
'God Kagura wouldn't let me off the hook.' Makoto thought as she quickly walked to an alleyway and took cover in there. She didn't feel exhausted physically but mentally she was drained beyond belief and needed some time to recompose herself and make sure that nobody was actually following her. The fact that nobody was actually hard focusing on her white hair, her change of clothes and now mysterious robotic left arm told her that the world was at least kind enough to make some slight adjustments to accommodate for her.
"Well isn't that nice world. For once you don't try to be a dick to me." Makoto said as she wanted to give the world a middle finger but decided against doing so for fear that the world would instantly change to make her life hell. But still maybe she was just overthinking things as people often times don't really pay attention to the details around them until it's pointed out. Sure her outfit choice did raise some eyebrows but her hair failed to do so.
'Oh what am I doing thinking about this stuff, I better contact Sora and make sure he's updated on what is going on.' Makoto thought as she realized that Sora would be better off knowing what is going on around his environment instead of just being left in the dark. Pressing on the communicator once again, she wondered what he was doing at that moment and if he was having the same issues she was at his side.
It took some waiting but soon, the communicator cracked back up to life, telling her that Sora got her signal. "Sorry it took me a bit Makoto. I was going through immigration." Sora said as Makoto couldn't help but blink her eyes upon hearing that. "You actually went through NOL Immigration?" Makoto questioned as Sora scoffed a bit. "Not really. I just hid inside a cardboard box and smuggled my way inside that way." Sora explained as Makoto couldn't help but feel like she lost a few brain cells hearing that.
"How did you find a cardboard box to fit you… and why didn't you just go through the sewers?" Makoto questioned as Sora chuckled a bit. "I have my methods… as for why I didn't go through the sewers. I am just worried that there's something wondering underneath there that I don't want to meet again. And it's really bad news." Sora explained as Mnakoto couldn't help but wonder about that. "And how bad this thing is?" Makoto questioned as Sora thought about how to put into words what he experienced underneath there.
"Let's just say that if Noel were to find her way underneath the sewers, she would freak out from all the bugs that it had inside it." Sora explained as Makoto immediately understood the danger that meant if Sora had to bring Noel and bugs in the same sentence. "Alright point taken. So where are you right now?" Makoto questioned as Sora looked around his surroundings at that moment to try and figure out where he was going.
"Well by the looks of it. I am near the stairs that all hierarchical cities are meant to have to navigate around should the elevators go out. Other than that, I shouldn't be late to meet you at the Kagutsuchi museum." Sora explained as Makoto breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. "Well that's good to hear, I don't want us to be split apart for any longer than we should be. At least until we find a way to get everyone's memories back and sorted out." Makoto said as Sora agreed to her statement.
"In that case… we should use the fact that we still have our memories intact to our advantage." Sora suggested as Makoto couldn't help but become curious as to what Sora was thinking. "Firstly, what is the date? Can you find out from where you are at?" Sora questioned as Makoto immediately looked around her surroundings, noticing a calendar that was being displayed and that made her check the time.
"Alright… The day's… the 31st of December...2199?" Makoto said as she realized that they had just jumped back a few weeks to the start of the new year once again. "2199… Huh...Hold on let me try something." Sora said as he tweaked the communicator and attempted to contact Caroline through his communicator at that moment. "….ello? Guys?...ear This?" Caroline responded as Sora was glad that she was able to communicate with them but at the same time the signal was weak.
"Hear you Caroline. Speak simple. Signal weak." Sora said, figuring that speaking simply would help to reduce the signal interference. "Hear you. You alright?" Caroline immediately replied as speaking in simple sentences has helped to deal with the signal interference. "Yes. Me and Makoto separated. In embryo I suspect." Sora explained as Makoto was soon able to hear the signal as well, having heard what Sora was saying and understanding what she needed to do.
"Caroline. What date is it?" Makoto questioned as Caroline was briefly confused by hearing that but she understood that she should do what was asked as she quickly checked the date on her computer. "5th February 2200." Caroline simply replied as both Makoto and Sora understood at that moment that the events had not only been reversed but the time as well has been reversed in order to ensure that things were still correct.
"Thanks for checking. Keep watching where you can." Sora said as Caroline understood that continuing the conversation was not going to be viable and knew she had other things she could do. "Will do. Good luck out there." Caroline said before ending her link with Makoto and Sora, clearing the comms for them to resume communication. "So we know it's at least the 31st of December 2199. a month after everything." Makoto said as Sora nodded his head.
"What did you remember doing on that day? Anything at all coming to your mind?" Sora questioned as Makoto thought about that day. To think this whole mess was only just a month old in her mind and her biggest worry at the time was how she was boyfriendless and potentially never going to get a love life. "Well...I remember making my way towards Kagutsuchi… and then I heard the news about the hierarchical city nearly getting nuked out of existence." Makoto explained as Sora couldn't help but remember that incident.
"Oh right, that was before I was going to fly off to Kagutsuchi. I had heard some laser beam from the sky nearly destroyed the city." Sora explained as Makoto nodded her head upon hearing that. "So if that's the case, we don't really know what's going to happen before but we can use what happened after to try and roughly guess who would be here." Makoto said as Sora agreed with her suggestion.
"In that case, who did you meet when you got here the first time?" Sora questioned. "Well...I met Noellie, Tsubaki, Hunty… Tager… The masked asshole… My asshole boss… Meifang Lapislazuli…" The moment Makoto said the name Meifang, Sora couldn't help but feel alarmed hearing that. "Meifang? You mean that crazy woman who doesn't feel pain at all? Talk about a real piece of work finding her way towards Kagutsuchi." Sora said as Makoto nodded her head upon hearing that.
"I agree… thought there is one thing that is already not matching. Kagura's here in Kagutsuchi too. And he's the Hero of Ikaruga. Not Jin." Makoto explained as Sora nodded his head upon hearing that. "So that either means that Jin was never a chosen one and thus was not summoned to this world… or he is but because he came here via a different method, he's not here to fulfill his role as hero of Ikaruga and thus the embryo improvised to replace him." Sora suggested.
"Regardless of what we think, all that matters is that people who were not here originally are starting to show up and I think we got to be careful about that." Makoto explained as Sora agreed on that statement. "More people means different events. Let's just try to meet up and sort out the mess we have found ourselves in. and try to minimize contact with people, we don't need unnecessary attention drawn to us." Sora said as Makoto couldn't help but agree with that statement.
"I agree with that statement Sora. Look I will head for the museum right now. We should be approaching the time that I am supposed to meet with Tager to discuss things. If you are not there in time I will go in and follow things, try not to disrupt things too much." Makoto suggested as Sora agreed with that statement. "I am alright with that. Just don't risk anything if you have to fight. Don't know why but I feel like we are going to get into a few fights inside this world." Sora expressed.
"You may actually be right about that. In any other case, I will go and check out the museum to make sure it's alright. You just get over here as soon as you can." Makoto explained as Sora agreed with that statement. "Alright. You be safe Makoto… and take care alright." Sora said before ending the transmission on his end as Makoto smiled a bit hearing Sora say something like that. "I could say the same to you as well Sora." Makoto said to herself as she began to make her way towards the museum with a simple hope inside her heart.
...That she and Sora would be able to live a normal happy life after this whole thing…
As Makoto began to make her way towards the Kagutsuchi Museum, Sora himself was taking a small deep breath. Right beside him was a large cardboard box that he had used to sneak his way past the border. It's still one of his favorite ways of getting into a Hierarchical city as why he should go through the hassle of going through the border then he can do something like this instead. He took another deep breath at the relief that Makoto was safely in Kagutsuchi and right now was making her way towards the Museum.
"Right… now it's my turn." Sora said as he began to make his own way towards the Museum. Unfortunately for him, this was only his second time that he was in the 13th hierarchical city and he was unfamiliar with his surroundings. He didn't know the fastest route to the museum and knew that he had the higher chance of stumbling into trouble. So at the very least he's got to minimize how big of a threat he looked.
"Alright Kevin, you should either find a place to hide or come back to the arm. I don't think people will like the sight of what looks to be a big black beast roaming around." Sora said as his eyes were looking at Kevin, it's head drooping down in sadness as Sora scratched his head upon seeing the sight. "I know buddy but you should know it yourself that you are not exactly normal yourself." Sora explained as Kevin nodded it's head, understanding Sora's logic.
"So what do you want to do? Roam around or stick with me?" Sora questioned as while it would be safer for Kevin to just go back inside Sora and stay there until he is needed again but Sora wanted to give Kevin the choice of what it wanted to do, treating it more like a pet rather than a part of himself. Kevin at that moment leaned it's head towards Sora's left hand, making him smile as he placed his hand on the Black Beast's head.
At that moment, Kevin slowly began to turn back to a sludge like substance, flowing right back into his left black arm as Sora felt a lightning sensation strike his nerves as if trying to coexist with this being of destruction was enough to cause his body to tremble. Sora closed his eyes and focused as soon the painful sensation disappeared and Kevin was fully absorbed back into Sora. Tensing and checking his left arm again to ensure that Kevin was in him again.
After making sure Kevin was inside him once again, Sora took a deep breath as he began to slowly walk his way towards the Kagutsuchi museum. He took a look around his surroundings once again as he was now able to take a proper look of his surroundings now that he only had one simple goal, to get back to his girlfriend without looking like a proper mess. His eyes were then drawn towards something that he figured he might as well take a look.
The NOL wanted board. A place that is usually used by the NOL to keep track of their most wanted criminals. It's also a place where vigilantes like to flock and see who is still available for bounty collection. Sora was here for one simple reason, to see whose the popular criminals right now for the NOL. Sure enough, Ragna was still their top criminal, their only SS criminal that they have proudly displayed on the board.
"Still...wish they would work on their sketch artist...or use a proper picture of him at least." Sora said, taking the bounty down as he felt bad for Ragna and how the current weird image of him is being used instead of his actual face. It was at that moment he felt something small bump into him, making him think a small child was the one responsible for doing so. "Ahhh. Watch where you are going ki…"
Before Sora could finish his sentence, he simply froze on the spot as his eyes were staring at an individual he did not think he would see at all. "Ahhh, I do apologize. I was just interested in the wanted board myself." The kid spoke as Sora couldn't help but stare at the kid for a little while. He wore a massive purple top hat that was clearly meant to make him look older over his blonde hair. He pushed up his round spectacles that he helped give his blue eyes the vision he needed to see what was going on as the rest of his outfit gave him a rather refined look with it's primarily purple color scheme.
"Excuse me sir… That poster you are holding. Can I have it?" The kid asked as Sora simply looked at the poster before handing it to the young kid. His eyes were then drawn to the massive automaton that was behind the child, it's gaze ever looming behind him as it's lack of eyes just stared at Sora at that moment. If he could describe it in terms of clothes, it wore a massive purple hat that matched the boy's own purple and blonde hair. It also wore a rather simplistic purple metal dress that had long massive sleeves at the end.
As the boy stared at the poster, Sora couldn't help but feel drawn towards the metal puppet in front of him. "Ah, don't mind it. It's just something I use for work." The boy said as Sora simply nodded his head but then sensed something… sad come from the doll itself. 'The Metal doll's… sad?' Sora thought as Sora felt the piece of paper be given back to him at that moment. "Thank you. Are you a fellow Vigilante that is interested in Ragna The Bloodedge?" The boy questioned as Sora simply nodded his head upon hearing that.
"Ah there's no need for us to be giving us the silent shoulder. As a fellow Vigilante we should be working together to apprehend the dangerous criminal." The boy said as Sora remained silent until he could not remain silent any longer. "I'm sorry if I am bringing this up, not to belittle your accomplishments at your age… but are you not too young to be a vigilante, Carl Clover?" Sora said as the boy, Carl Clover was alarmed to hear this man simply speak his name.
"How do you know my name?" Carl questioned as Sora debated if he should bring up his connection with his father but figured that would cause unnecessary antagonizing on his end. "I was friends with Makoto back at the academy. And sometimes she will talk about you and how much of a cute cuddly thing you are." Sora explained as he could see a crimson blush appear on the boy's face upon hearing that.
"Ahhh… So Makoto's the reason why… I guess she is rather descriptive about me if you are able to tell me despite this being our first time meeting." Carl said as Sora couldn't help but feel a bit hurt that Carl Clover did not recognize him but at the same time knew he should be used to this treatment at this point. "Still doesn't explain to me why you are doing vigilante work instead of finishing up on your studies in the academy?" Sora questioned as Carl looked away upon hearing that.
"Ahhh well… things happened and I need to make money on my own right now." Carl explained as Sora couldn't help but look away with disgust at that moment. 'A shit scientist and a shit dad as well? Relius Clover you are an asshole.' Sora thought as his hatred for a certain masked scientist asshole grow at that moment. "In that case, you sure you want to take on someone like Ragna The Bloodedge on your own?" Sora questioned as Carl looked at him at that moment.
"I would suggest against trying to look down on me. I can handle myself just fine." Carl said as Sora felt the metal doll slowly stand between him and Carl at that moment. "Ah, there's no need for you to be defensive Nirvana. He's not going to be a threat unless he tries to be." Carl advised as Sora looked at both the boy and his metal doll. "...Still...Dangerous...careful." A voice ringed in Sora's head as he shook his head in shock upon hearing that.
"I know Nirvana, but there is nothing for you to worry about. He's just an ordinary man with an abnormal looking arm." Carl said as Sora couldn't help but focus a bit more on the voice that he had just heard. Closing his eyes to do so as the boy was distracted to notice. "I know but… He just doesn't look right even for a vigilantee." The voice said as soon it became clear who was speaking to Carl at that moment.
"Yeah… I won't be any trouble to the both of you…" Sora said. He understood that if he revealed that he could understand what the metal doll, Nirvana was saying at that moment that may draw even more eyes towards him as well as suspicion. It was clear from the people around them that nobody was actually listening to the metal doll speak, telling Sora that only he and Carl were hearing this Nirvana talk. The least he can do is hint that he could understand Nirvana clearly.
"The only word of advice I will give to the both of you. Watch each other's backs." Sora said as he noticed the metal doll look at him, as if in surprise as Carl tilted his head. "Watch each other's backs? You mean me and Nirvana? Don't be ridiculous Nirvana is a Nox Nyctores, she will be just fine regardless of what trouble is thrown her way." Carl explained as he pulled out what looked to be a stopwatch to check for the time.
"Speaking of which, I must be on my way now. I do hope that if we meet again it's as friends and not as foes." Carl said as he slowly and calmly walked right past Sora at that moment, Nirvana doing the same at that moment. "You can hear me?" The voice echoed as Sora turned around to see Nirvana's face looking at him directly at that moment, confirming who the source of the voice was as Sora simply nodded his head at that. With that last gesture, Nirvana simply continued to walk away as Sora was left to ponder what he had just experienced.
"There's...a living person in that doll?" Sora questioned as he was not sure what was going on other than it was something tragic and he would not know unless he had the chance to ask Nirvana without anybody else being involved. The chances were slim to none but now he knew that Carl was in Kagutsuchi and that may change some things for him. 'I should probably tell Makoto that I met Carl the moment I meet with her… and not get into trouble in the process.' Sora thought to himself as he stretched a little and walked towards the direction of the Museum once again.
Yet the fact that he met Carl in Kagutsuchi of all places told him that there was stuff that even he was unaware of. Has Carl always made the journey to Kagutsuchi? Was he always a vigilante? Did he always had that metal doll following around his back? Even though Sora knew it was not his business to judge the people around him and what they were doing he still couldn't help but be curious as to what could have caused Carl Clover to take up the life he is currently instead of the rather innocent life he seem to have led before.
"Dammit Sora, now is not the time to be thinking about stuff like this. Not right now." Sora said to himself, slapping his face a few times to get himself refocused on the mission ahead of him. Now was not the time to be wondering about the fate of a person he knew from the academy even if it was for a brief moment and focus more on his own tasks. Mainly to meet back with Makoto and hopefully find a way for the both of them to fix this mess.
...even if said mess was something beyond both of their scopes…
GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION!? HOW IS EVERYONE DOING ON THIS FINE DAY!? I personally have been doing well and I am happy to say that I have been finding stuff to do in my free time that is not just staying around and doing nothing or playing another set of video games to death. As much as I love video games, there is something to be said about touching grass every once in a while without doing much grass touching.
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT FOR OUR HEROES!? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS PLACED IN FRONT OF THEM!? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MEET EACH OTHER WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE PRESENTED THEIR WAY!? AND WILL SORA MINAKAZE AND MAKOTO NANAYA FIND THE HAPPY ENDING THEY SEEK!? Well, the only way to know is to read on and find out for yourself.