I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Deep within Grigory
Hidden from almost everyone's eye. Bury under tons and tons of construction material. Located in the deepest parts of the inverted castle, which Fallen angels call home, was a church.
A blessed place that few knew about. A place untainted and deeply cared for by the fallen angels that abandoned the side of their father.
"You made this?" Michael asks as he lays eyes on the small wooden building surrounded by a small garden and pure white flowers. The building looked old, yet it remained intact as the hands that once built it continued to ensure it stood the test of time.
"We made this with our hands and in secret. Most of us never forget Father or Heaven. When… we started to build Grigory, many ideas were thrown around, and although the design is far from heaven's beauty, we still added a few things that made us remember that we once belonged up there alongside the rest of our siblings. We might love the ability to choose our paths, but… we never forgot our connections to heaven." Azazel admits as he guides Michael.
"...Azazel.. I-" Michael is stopped as Azazel raises his hand.
"What is done is done. What we lost still hurts, but we must continue forward and try our best to rebuild the bridges that we once burned down. The present and future is all that matters now." Azazel replies as he smiles before returning his eyes towards the building. "Now, let's see why Ddraig asked for a meeting in this building. I'm still trying to figure out why Baraqiel told him about it."
Michael remains silent as he scratches the side of his head, knowing what is coming. "You want to talk about this so soon? Are you planning to marry her soon?"
Questions started to arise inside the seraph as he followed his brother. He knew the moment would come but never expected it to be so soon.
As the pair arrived at the door, Azazel opened it without knocking.
"We were waiting for you. Come and take a seat with us." Shemhazai said as he sat alongside Ddraig on the seats closest to the altar.
Michael was amazed by the attention to detail in the woodwork inside the church. It was as if an artist with the highest level of skill had taken the time to make sure the inside of the building was not just worthy of a church that paid respect to their Father but also remained simple without the need for gold, marble, or any fancy addition to the structure.
"Eyes forward, Michael. You can check the church afterward." Azazel said.
"Right," Michael replied as he followed his brother until they reached the seats.
Once seated, the four men looked at the wooden cross before them. It lacked a depiction of the messiah, but the writings that covered each corner filled the object with a holy aura that few objects had.
"This is a place of prayer and reflection. Our piece of heaven in the deepness of this impure land. Is still surprising to know that Baraqiel revealed its existence to you, but he likely had a reason. Our ears are yours, Ddraig. Speak your mind." Shemhazai starts as his eyes remain focused on the cross.
Ddraig's hands remained locked into his cane while his face focused on the floor. "... During the trip to Ra's realm, something happened."
"With Serafall? You brought us here to speak about your future bride?" Azazel begins. "Come on, Ddraig. I understand she might have ears everywhere, but this is no place to discuss such themes."
Ddraig shakes his head. "This has nothing to do with Serafall and me….. It has to do with Gabriel and me."
As soon as such words escaped his mouth, the atmosphere changed as the aura that emanated from Gabriel's siblings changed. Even though Michael knew what was coming, his brotherly instincts took over.
Ddraig felt the glares of each of the men present on him. "I… considered Gabriel a friend and an ally since she started to live with me and my family. Even if her allure incited darker desires within me, I never acted upon them. I never dared to touch, romance, or even charm her. I know my place, and I know her importance. I know that in your eyes, nobody is worthy of her."
The siblings continued to glare at Ddraig while they held the impulses to attack under control as they continued to listen.
"Even if we fell on top of each other. Even if, by mistake, we fell into awkward situations, I never allowed lust to guide my actions. I have always respected her and never crossed the boundaries. This also applies to Issei. I have seen Gabriel as a friend, one with whom I could speak about anything over a cup of coffee. One with whom I could enjoy an afternoon while just looking at the sky and enjoying each other's presence. To me…. She has been a wonderful friend whom I wished to protect…. A friend who I could never betray…. Someone for whom my feelings started to grow with time. A crush is what we could call it, but it is one that I will never allow to come to fruition as I can't forget the past nor who I am."
Shemhazai feels his anger increase as he listens to such a declaration.
"I was never going to declare my interest in her. I had set my mind to bury such feelings as I would never be worthy of such a pure soul. I knew she would never reciprocate such feelings… or so I thought."
Azazel rises from his seat, ready to attack, but Michael grabs his hand.
"He… speaks the truth. Gabriel and I spoke about her feelings for the Welsh Dragon." Michael explains with a calm expression, although his brotherly instincts were screaming at him to punch Ddraig to death.
"Gabriel…. Likes Ddraig?" Shemhazai asks with a trembling voice.
"... We…. Before the trip, on an unexpected day, while I was looking for her within Neo Elysium, I coincidentally heard her conversation with Eury. During such a conversation, I heard many things that I wasn't supposed to hear, including her possibly growing feelings for me. I was in shock, but I didn't get my hopes up. I knew better back then, and I still do now. I'm not the person who's worthy of her hand in matrimony. I'm a dragon, a sinner, a former enemy of heaven, a monster known for the many lives he has taken, someone unworthy of her hand. I told myself that I wouldn't let my feelings get in the way, and if she ever approached me with her feelings, I was going to reject her."
"Did she do it?" Azazel asks. "Did my sister declare her feelings for you?"
"... On a night while traveling in the cold sands of such a desertic realm, she approached me, and we spoke. We spoke about her feelings and the emotions she felt for someone. I told her that I saw her feeling such emotions wasn't an issue, but I couldn't support her because I knew who was the object of her growing affection." Ddraig admits.
"You rejected her?" Michael asks.
"I did. I know what such a thing could spell for the Alliance. Damn it, I know that my hands have taken the lives of many of your siblings. How can I dare to say yes? I knew better… I knew better…. But…" Ddraig stops as he almost crushes.
"But what? What did you do?" Shemhazai asks as he throws daggers at him.
"... She asked questions as her emotions went rampant. She realized I did share such emotions with her, but because of her position and past, I wouldn't have the guts to follow such emotions. She was angry that her position as a seraph was getting in the way of her love. She tried to crush her halo with her bare hands." Ddraig admits.
"Ridiculous, Gabriel wouldn't-" Shemhazai stands up, but as soon as his eyes meet Michael's, he realizes that Ddraig is telling the truth. "My Holy Father."
"It seems that emotional outbursts run rampant in our family." Azazel massages his head. "Ddraig, how did you stop her?"
"I tried to reason with her. I told her that I wasn't worth it. She claimed that…" Ddraig turns to Michael as if asking for the right to speak about that small secret that was as outrageous as Gabriel's.
Michael nods.
"... She was angry that she was being forced to end her first love before it even began while Michael was secretly dating Athena," Ddraigs says.
Azazel and Shemhazai go limp as their ears hear such words. Their eyes slowly turn to face their sibling for confirmation.
Michael takes a deep breath. "I am dating Athena in secret."
Azazel and Shemhazai scream in a panic to the skies. "What in the living holy spirit? You were dating a goddess before Gabriel declared her feelings for Ddraig?" Both fallen angels ask in a coordinated manner.
"Yes." Michael continues. "An angel shouldn't lie."
The fallen brothers are shaking their heads in confusion.
"How are you still in grace?" Azazel asks.
"Are you hiding your broken halo?" Shemhazai continues.
"... No. You can ask all those questions after we finish with Ddraig." Michael points his finger at the dragon.
"Right, as if both are not the same issue. Continue, Ddraig, before we have a heart attack." Azazel says.
"... She wasn't listening. Her halo was losing its light as she tried to break it into a million pieces. I tried to stop her by moving her hands away, but her grasp was too strong, and the halo was cutting me. I was trying my best, but as I heard her say, "And I want you! I care for you as much as everyone else. I can't think of a world without you in it. I want to be beside you as more than just your ally or a friend. I want to stay with you." I broke down and kissed her. I cherished her too much and couldn't endure seeing her in such a state anymore. My feelings got the best of me. If she was willing to lose her place in heaven for me, then I couldn't just ignore it anymore. I accept her and the feelings she felt. Under the moon of the desert, we became a couple amongst tears and my bleeding hands." Ddraig finishes, but as soon as he stops, his face is hit by a powerful punch from Shemhazai.
The Welsh Dragon remains seated, although his mouth starts bleeding.
"Shem?" Michael questions his sibling.
"I'm sorry, but I needed to do that. As her sibling, I had to punch him at least once. Azazel?" Shemhazai turns to Azazel.
"Give me a moment." The fallen angel stands up and approaches Ddraig. "This is going to hurt."
Ddraig doesn't reply before he is punched once more.
"Michael, are you joining us?" Azazel asks as he holds his hand. "Damn, his skull is too damn strong."
Michael shakes his head. "I'm not able to judge him even if I wanted to."
"Suit yourself. How are you holding it?" Azazel asks Ddraig.
The dragon cleans the blood from his mouth with his hand. "I won't argue I deserved those."
"Glad to hear that you understand the situation." Shemhazai takes a deep breath as he faces the wooden cross. "Never did I expect to hear the day that Gabriel got a boyfriend and even less that the boyfriend would be the Welsh Dragon. But you're not here for such a thing, right?"
Ddraig shakes his head. "I spoke to Baraqiel. I want to marry her."
"Damn it. You just had to bury the stake even deeper. This hurts like hell." Azazel says as he holds his chest. "You're killing us. She's our sister, and you want to make her your bride."
"I won't ask why it had to be her. Now I understand even more why you went on a rampage during the mission. Your two future brides being injured in front of your eyes must have been as if they opened the gates of hell. Damn, now the eye makes even more sense; you went as far as to pull your damn eye for her. I don't know if to feel happy or angrier after hearing all this." Shemhazai says as he takes a seat beside Ddraig.
"Not even in my wildest dreams would I have imagined any of this. Michael and Athena? Gabriel and the Welsh Dragon? This is nuts. Just how many problems could this news create? I mean, pure angels being more open to these emotions and connections is amazing, but not everyone will be open to the idea of two prominent figures breaking such a significant taboo." Azazel scratches his head as he tries to figure out how to deal with the possible aftermath. "Michael, you haven't fallen from grace, right?"
Michael shakes his head. "No. My halo, my wings, everything remains the same. Although Athena and I are a couple, we are rather pure about our interactions. I haven't crossed that line."
"Yet. Are you planning to in the future?" Shemhazai asks as he examines his sibling from head to toe.
Michael grows silent as he reflects before answering. "Athena and I won't cross that line for some time. Neither of us has experience, and is best if we slowly explore things. There's also the fact that I want to see if a wedding is even possible for us before we reach such a stage. Ddraig and Gabriel might be the ones that give us insight into what we can do and what not to do in the future."
"So she also knows about Gabriel. Who else knows?" Azazel asks.
"Eury, and likely the amazons that live alongside Athena. They have said nothing, but they likely know why I visit so regularly." Michael turns his face towards Ddraig. "I imagine your current brides know as well."
"Tiamat, Serafall, and Raynare know. I have yet to tell Le Fay and the others." Ddraig admits.
"Wait, Raynare knew? Why didn't she tell us?" Azazel looks confused and surprised as he asks the dragon.
Ddraig raises an eyebrow. "Because she's family and the one that cares for our home. If anything, she might have expected it to happen before I knew what I felt."
Azazel crosses his arms. "Talk about betrayal. It seems Raynare's alliance lies with you. Anyway, let's stop going around the bush. You ask us here because you want our blessing, right?"
Ddraig nods. "And your collaboration. I want to give her a proper ceremony according to your Father's beliefs, even if I'm not a believer."
"A wedding such as this is already complicated for many reasons. One is Gabriel, who we're talking about. Two, you're a dragon with multiple brides, but I guess you haven't married any of them in an official "Holy" ceremony. It is complicated, to say the least." Shemhazai turns to the cross. His mind wanders as he remembers his childhood back in heaven and the moments he shared alongside his siblings, especially Gabriel. A smile takes over as he imagines the seraph in a dress as she walks down the aisle. "I guess I can't really oppose granting my sister's wish. Look, Ddraig, I'm not fully in on the idea. I would have preferred if Gabriel remained oblivious to the affairs of love, but if she truly wants to marry you, I won't oppose it. Azazel?"
The fallen angel takes a deep breath. "I don't have the right to choose who she should fall in love with. I only ask that you treasure her and continue to give it your all to make her happy. Gabriel is too special, and I agree that nobody deserves her, but she should be free to marry whoever she wants. As someone who left heaven because I wanted to write my own path, I can't be a hypocrite and deny her wish. I will offer my support."
Ddraig smiles as he seems to have gained support from three of Gabriel's many siblings, yet the most important remains. His eyes turn to Michael.
Michael faces him. "... I… This is hard."
"I understand," Ddraig says.
"We have been enemies in the past. Nothing connected us before the present except for animosity and distrust. I agree with Shemhazai regarding who's worthy of Gabriel, but I know this." Michael places a hand on Ddraig's shoulder. "If two individuals can risk it all to protect each other, then I can't oppose their desire to be together. You are making her happy, far happier than ever before, not including when Father was around. Like me, she's growing out of her shell, and I will not interfere. I only ask that you keep making her happy, Welsh Dragon. I entrust my sister to you."
Ddraig looks at the three men with a sense of joy. "... I appreciate your words. I'll continue to do my best to make her happy."
Shemhazai claps his hand. "Well, shall we discuss how this wedding will go down? Are we allowed to tell the other fallen angels?"
Ddraig scratches his head. "One step at a time. Gabriel wants something simple and discrete. No fancy and exorbitant ceremony. The complete opposite to what Serafall's parents might want for hers."
"... Did they start to prepare for the wedding?" Azazel asks.
Ddraig nods. "I have yet to present her ring to Serafall, but I started to get these secret letters from her parents. They have plans for the venue, the coverage of the wedding, and the afterparty; it is the most awaited wedding in all of the underworld in terms of the devils."
"Well, she's that popular, and I imagine everyone wants to be a part of the wedding…. Wouldn't it be funny if the weddings coincided with each other?" Shemhazai suggests.
"How?" Michael asks.
"Well, think about it. What if Serafall and Ddraig get married the night before Gabriel's wedding with Ddraig? All attention will be drawn to the majestic ceremony from the previous night, and we could have a quiet wedding here without anyone looking for us. Everyone will be too tired to ask where Ddraig is or where Gabriel is after such a large wedding." Shemhazai explains.
"Two weddings so close to each other. A black wedding the previous night leads to a bright wedding the following day. It's quite a fantastic setup, but it could work. You might need to discuss it with both of them, Ddraig." Azazel said.
"Maybe… but I might need to focus on something more important first," Ddraig says.
"Which is?" Michael questions the dragon.
"The rings. I asked Hephaestus to start working on them." Ddraig admits.
"That soon?" Azazel asks with a confused expression.
Ddraig smiles as he closes his eyes. "I… want to ensure everything is in place in case anything goes wrong. Shiva gave me a rather obscure omen; I'd like to have no regrets if that happened. I even asked Hephaestus to prepare "presents" for several people in advance if I were to have an accident."
The three men look at each other, confused and even a bit scared after hearing such words from the dragon.
"You think about dying?" Michael asks.
Ddraig shakes his head. "I'm not giving up, but if I were to become unavailable for some time, I wish to leave a few things in place for such an occasion. Issei might not be back on time, and even if he is, who knows what could happen to the two of us? I want to make sure that everyone I care for knows that even if I'm not around, I'm still with them somehow. Be it a ring, a random object, a letter, a promise, I want to assure them that…. We will return to them…. that I… care and love each of them."
Ddraig extends one of his hands forward. It trembles as he closes it to form a fist.
"... I'm not dying so easily. I have too much to protect and too much to see. Even if I were to disappear…. I/We will return." The dragon says as his eyes shine with an unbroken will to live.
"... I hold you to your promise. I will not forgive you if Gabriel is left at the altar waiting for you." Michael says as he smiles.
"... What's a wedding without the groom?" Ddraig jokes.
The group begins to laugh as they share a moment as allies and soon family.
Meanwhile, Second Chaos Residence.
"So he is working on the rings?" Serafall says as she tries to break the ice.
"Serafall, forget about the rings. We need to discuss something much more crucial. That omen…. Has Shiva seen something bad in the future?" Tiamat asks as she reflects on what they heard.
"... It has to be just an omen. He…. couldn't die. Right?" Gabriel asks with visible fear on her face.
"Gabriel. Remain calm. My lord won't fall so easily. He won't allow himself to fall." Raynare argues.
"He won't. He has forsaken that right." A voice says.
The group turns to the source of the voice. Ereshkigal stands at the kitchen entrance.
"... How much did you hear?" Serafall asks with an inquisitive expression.
"Just enough to know that all of you are keeping tabs on him. I admire the lengths to which you put these secret microphones on him in his clothes, Serafall." Ereshkigal approaches the group with an exhausted expression. "I won't divulge your romance with him, Gabriel. It doesn't take a genius to know that it was happening since you returned from the trip."
Gabriel's face brightens momentarily before she remembers the issue at hand. "He's… not dying, right?"
"He can't. I won't allow him to. I'll do what's necessary to bring her back to life until he fulfills his promise. If Shiva's omen is right, we must adapt and prevent it from coming to fruition. Keep him under surveillance and never let him be by himself until we are sure he's not in danger. Trap him in a nest of love if necessary, but don't let him escape your sight." Ereshkigal suggests.
Tiamat shakes her head. "He might see through us if we tried to go there. At best, we can try to keep him in company, but I'm unsure if he will stand around if the situation demands his direct involvement."
Tiamat pulls out a small red scroll. As she places it on the table and rolls it down, a short message is visible to everyone's eyes.
"A head for a head. An eye for an eye. A life for a life. Yours for Tsukuyomi's. Come to our realm and face me in a duel, or I shall take my legions to your doorstep.- Susanoo."
"It arrived today alongside an official messenger. Yukime is away and gathering information as we speak. We might have a new crisis on our hands, and this time…. Peace might not be achievable." Tiamat says.
Far away, in the Shinto Realm.
A beautifully dressed goddess who irradiated light as the brightest of stars above slowly made her way to the top of a mountain. Her slick black hair almost touched the floor, and her bright golden eyes were filled with doubt and regret, although her face tried to hide it. A mysterious mirror continued to float around her.
As she arrived at the top, she faced a large pool of water. At the pool's center lay a blue statue of a deity she knew very well. A figure remained seated while facing the statue. A large sake container floated next to said figure.
"Tsukuyomi, if you were alive, could you help us choose a different path? What if we had listened to you back then? Could we have avoided so many unnecessary deaths?" Amaterasu asked herself as she tried to take a step forward.
"Go back. I won't forgive him." The figure said.
"Susanoo…. He-"
"He is why he's dead! If he had not been there, Tsukuyomi would be alive now." The figure retorts with an angry tone.
Amaterasu bites her lips as she knows the answer is not as simple. "Susanoo… you need to accept it."
"Never…. He is the one who killed our brother. Either he dies, or I'll perish at his hand. I won't stop until I avenge Tsukuyomi." Susanoo said before he took another sip from his drink. "Go back. If you can't avenge him, me and the other five will do so."
"No, this is not about vengeance. All of you want to blame him because we all know the truth… it was all of us who killed him. You can't accept that it was us who led him to his death. You might finally accept that reality if the Welsh Dragon defeats you." Amaterasu told herself as she turned around.
As his sister departed, Susanoo was left alone once more. "Soon…. I shall make amends, brother. Soon I will offer his head to you and then…. Then…." Tears start to roll down his cheeks as the pain returns.
As the memories come back to him. The blood, the carnage, the horror that he faced.
"Turn back, you foolish brother of mine. Go back home and live on."
He could still see his smile as he was executed before his eyes while saving him. There were no remains to recover as the massive attack destroyed his mangled body.
"If…. only… I…. no, it was him. It was the Welsh Dragon. If he had not shown up, then… Tsukuyomi might have been alive today." Susanoo said as he kept evading the truth. The same truth that six of the remaining seven gods of this broken pantheon tried to deny.
The guilt was too much to face, as blaming others felt much easier.
As they all remained "Sinners Seeking A Path Forward."
Countdown:12….