Chapter Text
Data Minstery Axiom Viewer Log: P74 #103/4
-?
On the top floor of the seemingly abandoned building, two silhouettes were talking. Only illuminated by many maintenanced lights filling the surrounding streets and buildings.
"My Liege, I believe we must pursue another way of achieving things. We can't just reshape and or conquer every reality to keep the regulation together." The silhouette standing in front of the other one, who was sitting behind a very elegant desk.
"Well, my hunter king. What do you have in mind?" The supposed leader figure questioned.
"We need a…. Peaceful alternative."
"Oh do tell, what do you have in mind for this…Peaceful alternative?"
"We need to make a specs op team, peacekeepers. Saviors, medics, leaders, Godslayers. We need to make a Peace Corps."
The leader just made sounds of active thought. "It seems you've put a lot of thought into this. Do you have people already in mind?"
"It's really nice of you to ask my liege. I've taken up an apprentice. He was a younger boy that I saved from a demon attack. He was fighting off a horde of the Wild Hunt, protecting a helmeted girl in blue. Who I assume to be his girlfriend. He hasn't told me otherwise, since his throat's been cut, but I know he has potential. I could feel it off of him, off him and his girlfriend. They both had that aura those intertwined with events that shape the world had."
The leader perked an eyebrow. "I'm going to assume this is going to be a long story, but I have nothing to do at this moment so go ahead. I could never stop you when you grow…invested into something. So how about you start by telling me the boy's name, perhaps?"
The young man softly laughed to himself. "His name is Nanashi."
P74 #141/1
"Hey Nanashi. Wake up!" A female voice called out.
The boy in the padded green jumpsuit with various symbols and words all over it groggily started to open his eyes.
"Come on…Get up, Nanashi. You're sleeping on your bag. If you don't get up, you'll crush all of the food and water we brought." The female voice said, now given form in the shape of a helmeted girl in blue with long black hair, goggles on her helmet, a bag on her belt with two flash bangs in slots, a knife holstered on her left upper arm, a small electronic screen watch on her wrist, and a somewhat large military messenger bag hanging over her shoulder.
This girl was Asahi Seike, Nanashi's childhood friend and pseudo-sister. She always watched his back and he watched hers, ever since he lived under her Father's guidance in the Kinshicho underground district.
"Everybody's out fighting demons right now. You can't doze off like that!" Asahi declared.
"I know…I know…Asahi. I'm just tired…you know that even if…we're equipped. We're Cadets, they'd only see us….as something…getting in the way." Nanashi said, his voice breathy and scratchy. He put his ungloved left hand on his heavily bandaged throat, Asahi just giving a worried look as Nanashi adjusted his bandages.
Asahi looked away and sighed. She went to say something, lifting the arm with her smartwatch but cut herself off.
"How long's it been since Nikkari and Manabu went outside? This is boring..." Asahi huffed in annoyance.
In the growing silence, Nanashi stood up strapping his shortsword to his side, his holstered handgun to his lower back, his single strap backpack over his shoulder, and readjusted the holstered knife on his lower left shin. "Asahi. What's wrong? Usually you're…. more composed." The boy brought up, going through the physical struggle that is talking for him out of respect and admiration for his "sister"
Asahi just groaned. "I wanna hurry and get my own smartphone so I can be a legit hunter…This smart watch Kazuko gave me is really useful but if I put even a single demon on it...it just makes all of the other apps stop working. Kazuko said it was something about 'data capacity', and speaking of Kazuko. She's been teaching me how to properly disinfect and stitch up wounds, and how to effectively shoot a handgun recently. Eventually they'll let me carry a gun around, and I just won't have to rely on this knife and the kick boxing techniques Kazuko taught me" Asahi explained, happy to talk about something enjoyable to Nanashi.
As Nanashi was going to open his mouth and talk again. "We can't stay Cadets forever. Right, Nanashi?"
Nanashi only nodded. "Think of all the good we could do! People would see us as heroes, just like Nori and Flynn. Nanashi what's it like having the King of Hunters….no one really calls him that, well the Hunter Champion as your hunting instructor?"
"Well…it's not anything strange. You already know what…it's like. I've told you...before."
"I know Nanashi, he gives you the spare rewards from jobs he does, and explains the finer works of demonology to you, like how to convince them to join your side or get them to give you an item in exchange for items in your possession." Asahi stated, it very quick and well pronounced, like it was something that as repeated many times before.
Silence filled the room again. Nanashi stretching to get himself back in condition to do the next job they'll probably receive. Nanashi noticed Asahi was looking at his bandaged neck. "She always does this. It wasn't her fault it happened."
"Asahi...It's not your- ""Nanashi! Don't tell me that! I don't want to hear it, it was my decision to go to Ikebukuro with you, and I was weak! I was only a burden to you and it only lead to you ending up like this. It's my fault it happened!" Asahi yelled at Nanashi almost like she was going to cry. Nanashi went to go wrap his arm around her shoulder and comfort her, but she just grabbed his hand tightly.
"It's something I need to accept, that I'm weak. But it only shows that I need to prove that I can become strong, to prove it to myself, to you, and everyone else. There's a thing Kazuko always mentions when promises come up, that the ones held to your heart should be written in blood, as failure to keep it means the worst, but keeping it means the promise shall last of the rest of our lives. So…. In our blood?" Asahi declared with optimistic determination in her eyes.
Nanashi gripped Asahi's hand in return, a smirk on his face. "In our blood."
Asahi just smiled and held Nanashi's hand as the room went quiet. Letting go after a few moments and walking to the center of the room, looking for something else to talk about.
Nanashi scanned the room for a way to kill time, seeing the TV was on. Pointed towards it and gestured for Asahi to watch with him.
The two sat for a few minutes watching the news report about Flynn the samurai Liberator of Tokyo and his journey that made him the liberator.
While Asahi was absorbed into the news cast, out of admiration for the hero of Tokyo. Nanashi was looking around the room, just scanning it to get an assessment of the situation, and found the silent period, standing next to Asahi. Nice and relaxing.
The sound of a man sighing alerted the childhood friends from there moment of peace. "What's this? Here we are…. fighting demons bustin' our asses for the people of Tokyo. While you carefree cadets just sit on yours and chat all day?! Injuries aside its such a cozy life you two lead." A flashy younger man with braids and a yellow red and green stripped scarf berated the duo, only seeming to be half joking. A bird demon with a medicinal hat and stethoscope flapping its wings to say chest height with him.
"It's not like we have a choice…Give us smartphones and we'll— "
"Hey, cut it! Listen. Calling Tokyo dangerous is an understatement. Every street corner, from Tabata to Tennozu, is teeming with demons. But the cold fact is, there's no way we can keep living without the food and resources that are out there. That's why we hunters risk our lives scrounging the essentials for the people of Tokyo."
"…Uh-Huh, And?" Asahi returned, not enjoying the lecture in the slightest.
"And maybe think about the Big Picture instead of whining about not having a phone?"
"Then give me a gun! I've been practicing for weeks now and I believe I can be trusted to use one without issue!" Asahi yelled in response.
"Asahi. Enough." An older man that had come into the room with the braided man.
"But, Nikkari." Asahi returned, honestly wanting her point accepted.
"Asahi. It is a tradition among hunters that take apprentices for them to give their apprentices weapons as a mark of coming of age, and when a firearm can't be given. The apprentice is given funds or relics to secure the acquisition of a firearm. It's an old tradition between men and women who fought for this country's safety and I would never take that right from Kazuko. I hope you can understand Asahi." Nikkari explained to Asahi, who just seemed to take everything she was going to say and pushed it all down.
"Manabu. You left one of your demons summoned. Put it away." Nikkari stated, motioning his head towards the bird.
"Whoops! Thanks for the heads up Nikkari. Shit, my battery's about to die, too…" the bird, in a small light show of green shifting into orange, turned into three dimensional pixels which flew into Manabu's smart phone. A notification dinging on his phone.
"We've cleared out Downtown Ginza. Should be safe out there, for now. Manabu and I will work on skinning and cleaning the demons we hunted. Nanashi, Asahi—you two scour the area for salvageable relics in the meanwhile." Nikkari calmly briefed the two cadets.
"Yes, Sir!" Both quickly said.
"Finally, time for some action! Think we'll find some cool stuff today?" Asahi asked Nanashi, who only shrugged before having his left hand grabbed Asahi's and almost dragged out of the building. "Ready? Let's go!"
The two walked to the entrance of the building, Nanashi pushing the powerless security door to the side leading to the two walking onto the aged pavement of the Ginza crossroad.
The two split up, looking through every corner and lingering pile of trash and rubble in the crossword.
"Hey Nanashi, I found one! Signal me if you find something!" Asahi yelled across the street. Nanashi stopping his attempts to pry open the jammed doors of a Ginza shop, and looked around the side walk, finding a small device hidden in the broken inner alcove of the safety rail.
He carefully pulled it out of the hole, finding a cracked smartphone. He couldn't believe his own luck.
"Hey…Asahi, I found something!" Nanashi tried to yell but it only came out as a very gravelly and strained demand, he went to wave his arms to get her attention, but she was already running to him before he even finished what he said.
"Wait…Isn't that a phone!?" Asahi gasped. "Can we use it to summon demons on our own?" Asahi questioned for the both of them. "I'd better get Nikkari…Wait right here. And don't. Touch it, while I'm gone." Asahi nearly demands as Nanashi crouched to pick the phone. Staying crouched as he just stared at the thing.
"She's so impatient at times." He chuckled to himself, which only seemed to get drops of blood to come out of his wound and mouth.
Asahi returned with Manabu in tow. "I couldn't find Nikkari so I settled for Manabu."
"'Settled,' Thanks…anyway, Asahi says you found a phone?" Manabu complained in the way the two knew very well was just the way he talked. He looked the phone on the ground in front of Nanashi. "Looks busted to hell…why doc'tcha try turning it on?"
Nanashi picked up the phone. It asking him to insert a username. He could only think of three names he could try but one was one he would feel awkward not being called by anymore.
"Whoa is that thing actually on? Give it here." Manabu grabs the phone from Nanashi and tries to navigate the apps and General UI of the device.
"Yup, it's a goner...Screen's cracked, and looks like the data's all corrupt, too." Manabu expressed honestly disappointed.
"You mean we can't use it?" Asahi asked, sharing in the disappointment.
"Well, the map app still works, but the demon summoning program won't load. Better than nothing. I s'pose. Might as well hold onto it until you get a working one."
Nanashi just gives Asahi a shrug, and slots the phone into the phone armband he found a few years ago.
"Bummer…But hey, you get to keep! Wish I had one, even if it was broken." Asahi grabbed the arm with the slotted phone and eyed it. "Did it ask for a username? What did you put in? An alias, like Nikkari goes by? Or did you use your real name?"
"Well…I had three ideas... One was Akira" Nanashi stated, getting a reaction out of Manabu who tried to hide how visceral it was. "But I remembered… that was a name …Hunters don't really...like, and…there was...also Inanis…but that's only…my name in latin...so...it felt cool… but weird. So..i picked the name, I'm used to hearing, Nanashi. Even if it…means 'no name'…it's special to me." Nanashi explained, looking at Asahi the whole time.
"You kept 'Nanashi' Good call, It's very 'you'" Asahi proclaimed, not saying it, but honestly happy she got to call her close friend his name.
"Stickin' with the same name? Eh, everyone's used to calling ya that, so I guess it's better that way." Manabu agreed.
Nanashi laughed, it was breathy and scratchy and it ended with him groaning in pain. Asahi putting her hand on his shoulder in concern. "I'm fine. Manabu, Asahi. That was the idea. Since it would be…strange. To not hear my name anymore. Would just be...empty I guess." The close friends just seem to smile with each and start to just laugh over the positive atmosphere.
"Okay, That's enough puppy dog eyes for one day. Better get back to Nikkari." Manabu complained.
"That's not what this is! Cut it out! Let's go, Nanashi." Asahi yelled in response, feeling defensive. Dragging Nanashi by his other arm back to Nikkari.
The group of three walked back into the near empty building. Nikkari on his phone. "Echo Team, reporting in. We've met our salvage quota. Will turn recovered weapons over to the Hunter Association shortly. Out."
Nikkari turned around towards the group. "Good, you're back. I'm not quite done yet…Give me a few." Nikkari went back to expertly cutting the demon meat him and Manabu spent the last few hours collecting, using a separate blade from the katana on his waist.
Manabu leaned over Nikkari. "Whoa…that's one vintage knife you got there. Nikkari. Have you been using that since you rolled with the JSDF or whatever?"
"This blade's been my companion for over 20 years now, yes. Speaking of, how old are you cadets now?"
"We're both 15." "2 to 3 months...away from 16" The cadets answered.
"I see. In ancient times, that's when children would undergo the Genpuku coming-of-age ceremony. "
"Are you saying we're old enough to be full-fledged Hunters?" Asahi asked, stars almost in her eyes.
"Almost. Neither of you are quite ready, just yet. I promised Kazuko and Nori I'd watch over you two and I could never take the honor of it from them."
"Whaaaaat…"
"There's still much for you two to learn. Like history, in fact, I think a lesson is in order. A refresher on how Tokyo came to be imprisoned under the shadow of the firmament seems appropriate."
Nikkari gave a lecture about the destruction of the former world, the forming of the firmament, the reoccurrence of demons appearing, the discovery of the demon summoning program, and the making of the sky tower.
As Nikkari came to the end of his lecture. "Time passed, and people started splitting off into disparate factions"
"Yep. The Ashura-kai, the Ring of Gaea, and of course, the Hunter Association. Though Flynn took out the leaders of the other two. Ya go that? Yeah?" Manabu finished the lecture for Nikkari.
"Geez…Stop treating us like little kids. We're Hunters, too, you know." Asahi argued.
"Hunter Ca-Dets." Manabu flatly said.
"Okay, okay—so we can't use demons on our own yet. I get it." Asahi accepted.
"Good. Always keep that in mind, ca-dets."
"Oh for the love of—Cadets may be limited in the types of jobs assigned, but they're expected to perform as regular hunters." Nikkari interrupted Asahi.
"Having said that, both of you have been a tremendous help today."
"Really? Thank you! We did it, Nanashi!" Asahi cheered as Nanashi just gave a thumbs up before Asahi prompted him to give a high five, which he gladly returned.
"Such a softie under all that armor, Nikkari." Manabu mentioned as he watched the two cadets cheer amongst themselves.
"Ha. Think so?" Nikkari finished cutting up the demon meat and sheathed his knife. "Manabu and I were assigned to gather whatever weapons we could recover from this area. Our finds today will help Flynn and Nori when they bring the fight to Merkabah and Lucifer's doorsteps."
"A stranger from the strange land of Mikado, now the Liberator of Tokyo, and Nori Nakano the most impulsive but effective hunter Tokyo has known rising through the ranks until he was the person to solve the people's problems instead of Flynn. He calls himself the King of Hunters, while that's melodramatic, he's still our Hunter Champion. Ain't a place in Tokyo not abuzz about those two. And for good reason." Manabu explained to the cadets.
"Can't you imagine meeting Flynn, Nanashi? That'd be so cool." Asahi asked Nanashi, glee in her greenish blue eyes.
"Yeah…It would..-Right!? It'd be a once-in-a-lifetime deal!" Asahi interrupted Nanashi, smiling dreamily.
"But I think. Nori's a lot more…Awesome."
Asahi just pouted. "You're no fun Nanashi. You know Nori is a chronic liar. Who says they've slayed a skeleton violin player that made everyone else dance to their deaths. That's so absurd!"
Nanashi only shrugged.
Nikkari checked his watch. "Time to go." Nikkari held it out for everyone to see. "Today went well. Good job, all. Let's get back to Kinshicho."
"3:30 in the afternoon…So that 'sun' thing should be out right now?" Manabu questioned.
"On the other side of the Firmament, I'm sure it is. "Nikkari mentioned as the group walked out of the building.
"Well, I hope when Flynn and Nori end the fight we get to see bright sky for a change." Manabu stated. Nanashi looked up the city light illuminated roof like sky, he was once told it looked like stars in the sky at times.
-Kinshicho outskirts
Team Echo walked up the guarded gate every district supposedly had, to Nanashi's knowledge.
The guard at the chain locked door seemed to be a gentler person that one would assume to be a guard for this kind of thing. "Hey there, Nikkari. Looks like quite a haul"
The guard nodded to the rest of the team, and went to open the door.
As the group started to go through the gate. "Yes, it was a good day." Nikkari greeted the guard.
Without notice or pretense, a Fomorian's roar resounded into the air as its massive floating body went to tackle the group. It's hunger blocking any sense of safety instinct it had.
Manabu gasped. "Watch out, Nikkari!"
In a single motion, Nikkari drew his blade and sliced the Fomorian into two, fading into dust and blood as its existence left this plane of reality... All within a second. "Hmph. No rest for the wicked. Demons won't hesitate to attack. Always be on your guard outside. Never forget." Nikkari instructed his two cadets.
"Goddamn, Nikkari. That was fierce!" Manabu cheered, honestly impressed.
The guard at the gate recomposed themselves and saluted Nikkari. "Th-thank you. Sir! You have my word—no demons will breach the underground, sir. Not on my watch."
"Good. We're counting on you"
Team Echo walked down into the Kinshicho underground district. Nikkari turning around to the cadets as they got to the general intersection of the underground district. "That's enough excitement for one day. I think we can call it quits early." Nikkari went onto his phone and with a few quick motions. Both Nanashi's phone and Asahi's watch gave off the audible sound of a notification.
A slight tingling feeling went through Nanashi's arm. This was a familiar feeling, when Asahi gave him her watch when had to do his errands for the last week. Asahi seemed to not have the same experience with completing quests so he never brought it, but It always made him wonder.
"Phew, what a day!" Asahi stretched her arms above her heads.
"Here, turn in the relics you found. Keep the Macca as allowance." Nikkari told the duo as he put two small bags in the hands of the cadets. "A live broadcast is airing at the Hunter Association tomorrow morning. Don't be late. Until then. Dismissed!"
Nikkari and Manabu walked off, leaving the duo to their own devices. Asahi with a calm smile on her face. "Hey, Nanashi, wanna sell off those relics before we turn in for the night?
Nanashi gave a smile. "Yeah, Let's."
The two started to chat about what they could do today in the district before going to sleep. "Asahi, there is this…. new shop…I found a few days…ago. Wanna go check it out?"
"Nanashi, what kind of shop? If a new place opened I think I would have heard about it."
"It's a shop run by…a merchant demon. I think his name is…St. Germain...I believe he trades in...precious gems…"Nanashi explained, trying his genuine hardest to reciprocate no inhibited conversation with his close friend.
"That's…interesting to say. Well if we find any gems. We know where to go, Right?"
"Yeah…."
Asahi started to walk into a hallway with a street merchant in a sports jersey siting on a crate at the end. Nanashi grabbed Asahi's shoulder. "Asahi, you know…. they won't let you… browse wares, no person can…unless they have…piles of money...or a hunter's ID."
Asahi's face shifted to more a somber look before changing back into a smile. "Yeah, you're right. Let's just go to the supply shop, and stock up on some medical supplies for Kazuko."
Nanashi nodded as the two walked up to the former Ashura-Kai controlled shop. The lady at the counter perked up. "Welcome to the Ashura-ka-I mean, uh…Everyone's shop!"
The two just looked at the lady. "Let me appraise any Relics you have on your person." The two put down their bags and went through them. Putting all of the objects that were still useable for them onto the counter.
The lady picked them up, looked them over, and then went through a book with many tabs on it. After a brief minute of her cataloging through it. She put the objects in a box under the counter and then placed the Relics worth in Macca on the counter. It wasn't much, but it was money.
"We'd like to buy some things." Asahi stated.
"What do you want?" The lady cheerfully asked as it slipped right off her tongue, pointing to today's inventory list taped to the shop's plastic window barrier.
"We'll take two Dis-poisons, one Patra stone, and two painkiller tablets, please!" Asahi told the lady who quickly grabbed the items off the many shelfs in the small cubicle like shop and placed them on the counter. "That comes to 500 Macca exactly."
Nanashi put his bag of recently acquired money on the counter, taking out the most of its contents onto the counter. The lady quickly looked through the Macca and then push the items towards the teenagers. "Thanks a lot. Anything else?"
"No, we're good." Asahi told the lady as she picked up the items off the counter. "Come again!"
"Well, Nanashi let's go see Kazuko." Asahi said with a smile, her hands behind her back.
The two went into the train platform, which was converted into storerooms for the whole district. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Asahi waved to the half-asleep guard. "Hey Jirou!"
The guard shook himself awake with audible fright. "U-Uh, Hey Asahi, Nanashi!" Jirou yelled to the two as they walked down the train platform, trying to get back into his comfortable position on the fence.
The teens walked into the residential district of Kinshicho, and went to the farthest hall in its considerable small size, looking at the three entrances to rooms that the two knew very well. The first one was Kazuko's, the second one was Asahi's who she shared with three other ladies, and the third one was Nanashi's who he alone to himself, but had room for one more.
The duo opened the door to Kazuko's room to find the same room as they always did. The large bed in the left corner, the various shelves full of medical and surgical supplies, the medical stretcher reconfigured into an examination/operation table, the various blades on the walls, and the storage locker that held thick black cases.
A woman with flowing brownish black that went down to her shoulders in a military vest with a medic armband and military cargos was going through one of the black cases.
The case seemed to contain large silver metallic worms that have folded themselves into the shapes of 6s and were sleeping on the material of the inner casing. "Ankh, Geis, Sophia. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with you. Your kind aren't meant for this world, but there's so many more dangerous ones of you out there. Even if I doubt your brothers and sisters are still alive to be useful." The woman thought out loud.
"Hey Kazuko. What'cha looking at anyway?" Asahi asked her hunter mentor.
Kazuko quickly and carefully closed the case, locking it and then putting it back on the shelf of other thick black cases. "Nothing important enough to be discussed."
Kazuko stood up and turned around, showing surprise that her apprentice and her close friend were the ones talking to her. "Oh, Asahi. Nanashi. What brings you to my abode this time of day. You're earlier than usual?"
Asahi's composure went from her cheerful self to a serious business like one. "We went to give the medical supplies we purchased, since we couldn't find anything useful in Ginza today, even though Ginza usually has the highest grade stuff. It was sorta dry today."
"Asahi, just because I maintain all of the medical supplies for the district doesn't mean you have to get me stuff every time you go out, I really appreciate the gesture. I really do, but you shouldn't be risking your ass over wanting to be on my good side." Kazuko made very clear her stance. Asahi still had a determined look on her face.
"So…There's anything else you want to tell me about?"
Asahi fidgeted slightly. "I want a gun, Nikkari and Manabu wouldn't give me one and I want to be able to defend myself past just having this knife. Even if it's a really good one."
Kazuko looked down at Asahi, her height overwhelming Asahi's drastically. "Asahi. I'm not going to give you a gun just because you want one, you have to earn that right." Kazuko put her gloved hand on Asahi's shoulder. "Nanashi could you leave the room; I need to have a more private talk with Asahi."
Nanashi just nodded and closed the door behind him.
-Few Minutes Later
Nanashi sat against the wall, going through the upkeep routine for his own gun, a high caliber handgun given to him by Nori. He was told it was called the AMP Phantom. It could pierce through most tier one or two demons without an issue, and could punch decent sized holes in just about every other tier of demon imaginable.
He has enough rounds to fill around four magazines besides the one in the handgun. So he can last until he gets enough money to buy more ammo. Maybe. "Hey! Nanashi, look at what I got!" Asahi yelled in excitement. Nanashi not noticing Kazuko's door having been opened and then closed, he looked up to Asahi, tilting his head to signal he was listening.
Asahi had bruises on her arms and her legs, but a very big smile was on her face. She bent down to look directly into his eyes, and then turned around pointing her hips towards him, showcasing whatever was on her waist or under her skirt (besides the elastic shorts Nanashi knew she wore under her outfit).
He looked on her waist to see a well-worn but reliable gun holster on her belt, a gun in it. "Oh, you got one."
"Yeah I did! So after some…negotiation with Kazuko, she gave me one of the few guns she had for the 'emergency invasion stockpile' she refuses to take from, until now! It's a SOCOM, so it's not much, but it's a start and that's good enough for me!" Asahi helped Nanashi stand up and they walked to their rooms.
"Man…I'm tired, let's go drop our stuff in your room." Nanashi nodded to Asahi and unlocked the door to his room with the key he kept hidden in his bag.
Asahi let her strength leave her body as she landed on the couch in his room. She always felt more at home at his place than her own. It was so quiet and relaxing, usually leading to her spending more time here then there.
"Ah, It's good to be home. So…What now?"
"I'm thinking of…sleeping…" Nanashi replied as he was taking his stuff off and already getting ready to sleep, down to the under shirt under his jumpsuit and jumping into pajama pants Kazuko bought him every year.
"Hm? Going to bed? Guess I'll head to my room then." Asahi closed the door behind herself. Leaving Nanashi alone in his room.
Nanashi crawled into bed. Within moments, the day's exhaustion pulls him under.
It was a strange feeling. Only watching the events at play, disembodied, never able to scream or move. She could only watch as she was killed by a detail less body with ebony skin that literally punched through her chest then burned her to ash, her ashen body surrounded by the bloodily and ashen bodies of Nikkari, Manabu, and Nanashi.
She watched herself push Nanashi out of the way of a snake faced being, devouring her lower half within seconds, ripping each piece of her limbs off and shoving it into its mouth, blood spraying everywhere.
Nanashi's face went blank and he was shaking. "I'lll...I'll...I'll…. K-kill you! -
Asahi sat outside Nanashi's room waiting for him, just pondering her dreams…fear filling her body as it simmered in her mind. "What's taking him so long?!" Asahi thought to herself, pushing down her terrifying thoughts and opened the door with the spare key she owned.
She scanned his room and found him still asleep, she stood over him and started to shake him. "Come on, Nanashi. Wake up!"
Nanashi stayed unmoving. "Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up!" Nanashi's eyes started to twitch open. "Hey, c'mon! Gotta get ready for work, fast!"
"I'm up…just let me change." Nanashi groaned, as he got out of bed and started to change into his jumpsuit and put his gear on in front of Asahi, who didn't seem to care at seeing her close friend getting more nude.
Nanashi didn't mind that he was changing in front of Asahi, she was like a sister to him, and she never made a deal out of it, but she was very annoyed for him taking his time though.
"FINALLY...Hurry, we're gonna be late! Don't tell me you forgot about the morning meeting…"
Nanashi seemed to be pondering a heavy subject. "I didn't forget…but…"
Asahi noticed the disposition of her close childhood friend. "What's up? You know you can talk to me about anything."
Nanashi went for a minute explaining a very strange and vivid dream he had during last night's rest. Asahi honestly confused at what the partial mute told her. "Someone who looked like Flynn…Killed himself? And then rock covered up the sky? Sounds like Nikkari's 'history lesson' from yesterday, but what's this about a guy committing suicide? That all sounds like something Nori would tell you, and you know how much of a chronic liar he is, like how absurd is a guy saying he's engaged to a fairy queen is right?" Asahi talked herself through understanding Nanashi's dream and against showing her distrust of her close friend's mentor.
"I can see why that'd rattle you. Maybe tell the others about it when we get to the Association?"
"Yeah…. I should. Well let's go." Nanashi agreed with Asahi and the two walked out.
Asahi strolled up to the counter in the crowded and loud music filled Hunter's Association Bar. "Wow, quite the crowd…. Nikkari here yet Dad?"
A man in a bartender's outfit with short black and glasses, carrying a pipe, moved from his place from the counter to Asahi's place. "Come on now, if I said it once I've said it a thousand times…"
"''Don't call you 'dad' at work'' Right, right. Boss" Asahi replied, enjoying the poor impression she put up to reference the quote.
"Come on now…. if my own daughter can't get it together, I'm really in trouble. A little help here, Nanashi?" Asahi's dad asked.
"Is it really…that big a deal? She's always going to be…your daughter." Nanashi answered, the second part more private between the boy and the man.
"Hear that, BOSS?" Asahi said, enjoying the pushing of her point.
"Don't be daft, girl. Nanashi just had your back is all. You could learn a thing or two from him." Boss scolded Asahi.
"Geez, Dad…. Wouldn't hurt if you had my back sometimes, too."
"Like all children, you'll never know just how much your old man did and always will. Nikkari's around her somewhere. Better not keep him waiting, cadets. Now scram. And be sure to give Nikkari your full attention!" Boss nudges the two to get off the bar seats and go look around.
After half a minute of wading through the crowd, the cadets found Nikkari and Manabu. "'Sup?" Manabu greeted.
"Morning. Hope you got enough rest. Today we'll be going on a food run. We'll head out after the meeting." Nikkari briefed the two cadets.
"Shouldn't be long now. Just kick back and relax in the meanwhile."
Nanashi took that open time to explain his dream to Manabu and Nikkari. After explaining it, the two eyed Nanashi suspiciously.
"So a dude who looked like Flynn killed himself, then Masakado transformed into the firmament? No offense, but your dreams are suuuper boring. Try having cooler ones." Manabu responded, interested but underwhelmed.
"Don't mention this to anyone else. And forget the name 'Akira.'" Nikkari said, distinct scorn hidden in his voice.
"Why, what's the big deal?" Asahi asked, honestly not seeing the danger in something like this. "Same…I thought 'Akira' would…have been a fitting… Hunter alias."
"As something I think Nanashi would know. Akira's not a name Hunters like to hear." Nikkari explained.
"Akira ran with Skins and Fujiwara. The founders of the Hunter's Association. Fought alongside both of 'em, back in the day. I hear he was pretty well-trusted."
"Until the day he betrayed the Hunters and abandoned Tokyo." Nikkari finished Manabu' explanation.
"What did he do, exactly?" Asahi asked for both herself and Nanashi.
Nikkari sighed dramatically, as though exhausted. "Doesn't matter. Just don't speak his name."
Asahi was visually unhappy at Nikkari's evasion.
"This conversation is over. Besides, the meeting's about to begin." Nikkari brought up, pushing Asahi to reluctantly drop the issue. The group all turning to watch the large monitor all Hunter's Association bars have.
-Café Florida-Broadcast
"Good morning. Let's get right to it." A glasses wearing man in a fedora and a blue suit blazer named Fujiwara started. "We've suffered through 'God's plan' in darkness for the last 25 years. Now things have taken a turn for the worse."
A man with many facial stitches, almost like had multiple skins walked into camera shot, he was known as Skins. "This is all the intelligence we've got so far. Merkabah and her army have taken over the Sky Tower."
In the Kinshicho bar, the Hunters surrounding team Echo were openly questioning about Merkabah.
"Merkabah says she's following orders directly from God. And you might remember her as one of the angels of death from 25 years ago."
A young man in armored military grade jacket and a distinct dark blue Irish cabbie hat walked into camera shot, he was known as the Hunter Champion, Nori. "Meanwhile, Lucifer is holding the fort at Camp Ichigaya. He plans on gathering his forces to intercept the angels. In simple terms, humanity is about to be in a war between the two sides of the biblical extremes. Heaven. And. Hell."
Skins picked up when Nori stopped. "That's the bad news. But it gets better. We've still got Masakado's Katana and just about every other Medium to the National defense divinities, and there in good hands. Flynn has taken it upon himself to take out both Lucifer and Merkabah, while Nori has taken up the role of keeping the oncoming war from reaching the underground districts."
The Hunters were yet again mildly cheering for their Liberator and Champion.
"Our Hunters have just finished stockpiling supplies. Now it's our turn to back up Flynn. From now on, Flynn's mission is our top priority. Let's show those bastards what we're made of." Skins finished his briefing.
The camera focused on Nori again. "We as a people, a society having been putting our faith into Flynn. I'm sure he won't fail us. Not when I'm protecting the people!"
The bar was cheering, rallied behind those willing to protect their districts while Flynn went to stop the war.
The camera moved to Fujiwara, who was clearing his throat and recomposing himself. "Once upon a time, we humans made it to the Ceiling. We made it, and they knocked us right back down to tear ourselves apart. Tokyo was left to fend for herself from the corrupt Ashura-kai and the anarchists in the Ring of Gaea. But now, the Hunter Association is the only faction left, and we're fighting for freedom. I thinking surviving this long has earned us the right to live above the Ceiling."
"Our freedom depends on our victory, and our victory depends on Flynn." Skins added.
"And one day we may just live in peace under the sun." Fujiwara stated as a fact.
"While Flynn will assure our freedom and victory, I will assure the safety and longevity of the people of Tokyo!" Nori addressed to the Association.
The Hunters in a burst of final buildup lifted their weapons into the air and were cheering without words just roars of vigor.
"Each member of the Hunter Association will receive a task suited to their skill level. Continue with your normal duties until you receive your orders. With that, I'd like to bring this broadcast to a close. Go out there and give it your all." The broadcast ended as Fujiwara gave its final words.
The cadets looked up to their chaperones. "Well then. Until new orders arrive, our assignment remains the same."
A notification of a quest being accepted went onto the devices of the cadets. ([Ast] Deliver Food)
"As soon as we're all geared up, we'll head out and scout for food." Nikkari explained.
"Still got mouths to feed, no matter what's goin' on—even a big battle."
"Report to me when you're ready."
"Yes, sir!" The cadets yelled with astute respect.
The two went to check their gear for a few minutes, checking off the normal list of things to make sure about before every job.
The two walked to Nikkari, ready to go. "Let's take our leave, then. Nanashi and Asahi will hang back and provide support." Nikkari made clear as the plan.
"Big surprise there…" Asahi groaned to herself, Nanashi putting his hand on her shoulder.
"We'll leave through Kinshi Park."
Team Echo went out of the bar to the western exit of the district, and up an elevator.
Nikkari leading the group went to the gate guarded by a hunter in a full face mask. "Ah, Nikkari—Headed out?"
"Off to forage, yes."
"Okay then. Be careful out there!" The guard opens the fence, and the group went through, into the demon-infested park.
Nikkari looks to the cadets, then closed his eyes in thought. "I suppose it's time you two learned from experience instead of just instruction, at the very least" Nikkari motions for the group to stop.
"Out here's demon territory. As you know, they'll attack on sight. You might only be cadets, but I think it's time you learned to defend yourselves in a real fight."
"Whoa, aren't you skipping a few steps? They don't even have their own phones…" Manabu said, worried about the risk.
"Sure, you're only considered a Hunter when you can wield demons. And that means having a phone with Demon Summoning Program installed. I'm not telling them to go look for trouble—not without smartphones. But they should be able to hold their own if shit hits the fan. Besides, with war about to erupt, we could use all the help we can get."
"Still, you can't just send'em into the wild without phones."
"If you're so worried, accompany them."
"Wh-Wh-whoa, what now?"
"You're skilled enough to show them the ropes, plus you can keep an eye on them."
"…Oh, brother…" Manabu groaned.
Nikkari turned towards Nanashi. "Consider this a broad overview on the basics of battle. Combat 101. The demons out here aren't that strong, so it's about as ideal as conditions can get for you."
A notification on Nanashi and Asahi's devices went off, saying an addendum was added to their Quest. "Manabu will provide more details once you've approached an enemy. We know both of you have been given training, but we want to see how well you fight in a conflict with stakes. He'll try to help you two improve you form and tactics during this."
"Alright, I'll teach you. Ya boy's got your backs, so feel free to go all out."
Nikkari started to walk off. "Come find me at the foundation in the back of the park when you're done. Don't rush, though. Take your time and make sure you know the ins and outs of combat."
The group of three walked off to a corner of the park and waited for a Katakirauwa to float by. "Need a crash course on where you'd need to hit a demon to kill it?" Manabu asked the two.
"No need." "I'm fine." Nanashi and Asahi said respectively.
"Uh-huh. Then show me what you two got!"
A Katakirauwa floated by the group and the cadets pounced it. Nanashi unsheathing his blade from his lower back and slammed the Hunter-issue blade into the small demon pig, the vibration causing the demon to briefly give off green and orange light as it stuttered from the blow, enough for Nanashi to get another blow in.
The pig went back and went to slam its dull teeth into Nanashi, Asahi fired a shoot from her SOCOM, the tar skinned pig had a hole in its face but the bullet didn't stop its charge.
It impacted into Nanashi's arm biting the jumpsuit, not breaking the skin or the suit, but bruising the arm with the force of the pig's jaw grip. Nanashi stabbed it straight through with his blade, Asahi putting a bullet into its eye to stop its twitching.
Nanashi cut open the demon as procedure and found a reddish gray stone. A life stone. Asahi took the stone and put it in her bag, giving Nanashi a thumbs up, who returned it with a nod.
"Not half bad for tow half pints! Think you can do it again?" Manabu asked, genuinely impressed.
"You bet we can!" Asahi cheered.
The duo with Manabu following went after another Katakirauwa. "Yo, if you're gonna do your best in a fight, you'll need to figure what makes an enemy hesitate, stutter, do something against its instincts. It's weakness, not all demons or demonically empowered beings have weaknesses, but there's always something that will give you an edge in a fight, and exploiting that will tip almost every battle in your favor. It's what all the best Hunters do!"
Nanashi smiled. He knew this stuff from Nori explaining supernatural beings have certain things that destabilize their dimensional state, lead to openings big and small to use to one's advantage in a fight.
"So if you find it, try it! Let's pump it up!" Manabu cried. The cadets going into the fray against another one.
It died quickly as Asahi kept it occupied with placed shots, letting Nanashi maul it to death with his blade.
With the sound of the food type demon's body hitting the ground, the other demons in the area, flew in other directions. Scared of something.
"I think that's enough for now? I…think we scared off the rest of the demon herd. So I guess we go see Nikkari, he's waiting at the fountain, you know.
On the way, the cadets found a pristine backpack laying against the foundation walls. "What's this doing here, no one leaves there gear here unless a dead body is a few meters away." Asahi pondered as Nanashi went through the bag putting its contents, some small bottles of painkillers and some life stones in his own bag.
The group of three walked through the park, going to the fountain. Finding, as Nikkari said he would be, waiting there.
The experienced hunter nodded approvingly after sizing up the two cadets. "That should do, for now. Let's be on our way."
Asahi looked to Nanashi. "Was fighting hard, Nanashi?"
"It wasn't a big deal. How about you?"
"I think I was a pretty crack shot, Nanashi. You really held your own out there too." Asahi smiled, happy that she's getting closer to being a Hunter team with Nanashi.
"What the- "Manabu shouted out, staring at the literal cloud of demons circling them, it grew thicker and thicker until the horde lowered itself down to the ground level, surrounding the group.
"Damn it..." Nanashi muttered to himself.
"Shit, we're surrounded!" Manabu yelled.
"Why're there so many?" Nikkari questioned, the group moving themselves into a formation covering each other's' backs.
A demon that had the appearance of muscular brown ebony skinned man with a flamboyant horse head and a large metal gilded peacock's array of feathers approached the group from inside the surrounding horde. "I am Adramelech, loyal servant and sworn knight of the Demon Lord Lucifer. There's been talk of Merkabah's descent from the Sky Tower. We came to see."
Adramelech circled the group, sizing them up with a pompous smile. Team Echo had unsheathed their weapons, ready to defend themselves, the myth given physical form only seemed to be amused by the gesture. "Of course, after such a long and arduous journey, my soldiers and I find our stomachs howling with hunger. Well, I digress. Word is you humans have started feasting on the flesh of demons. I can't say I disapprove. It's just a law of nature that the strong rule the weak. It's a dog-eat-dog world, after all."
Adramelech looks behind himself, towards the demons surrounding the group. "Besides, you don't expect us to wage war famished now do you?" With a sharp and quick motion of his head, the demons ready themselves to charge at the group.
Nanashi pulled back the slide on his gun, slotting in the bullet. "I expect less, actually." "This is a tier six demon, it has to be, it's aura is immense. This will be a challenging fight."
"Get ready, here they come!" Nikkari yelled out, Team Echo raised their weapons, going to strike at the surrounding horde.
Adramelech always looked like he was smiling, but this time, it was an even deeper smile. "A world governed by the strong..This is the world Lord Lucifer seeks to create. Which means weaklings like you will be food for the strong."
Nanashi fired the first shot, the high caliber bullet punching cleanly through a few clumped up demons in the horde. Manabu and Asahi started firing many shots into the horde, prevent them from getting any closer on the group. Nikkari slashing through any demons that went in close.
While the Hunters were occupied with the overwhelming horde. Adramelech formed a hand sized ball of flame in his palm, and with an amused gesture sent it into the air, landing in the center of the Hunters' formation. Nikkari dashed in to the hordes to avoid the blast, and Nanashi jumped to the ground, the shock wave shaking his whole body, blood rising to his mouth, feel a pleasant chill from the charm earring Nori gave to him, it keeping him from fading into the lulling pull of unconsciousness.
Asahi was paralyzed in fear…unable to move, Manabu having to tackle her to the ground, his body burning to charred figment of its former self, giving out a pained scream as he shielded Asahi from the flames.
The sight of Manabu's inbreathing charred body broke Asahi of her fear. "NO!" Screaming in emotional pain.
"Might've left that one in the oven too long. Hmhmhm…Boy you should see the looks on your faces." Adramelech mused to himself, finding entertainment in his tyranny over the lives of these humans.
In his focus on the panicked girl and bleeding boy, Adramelech didn't notice Nikkari moving in through the horde and slashing at his demonic body.
With a mighty swing, the trusted blade snapped in two against the body of the Demonic soldier. "What in the world? I bet that blunt butter knife couldn't even cut through paper."
Adramelech gave the broken blade a glance, knocking Nikkari back a meter with a swing of his arm.
Nikkari pushed himself up from the ground, a bloody dent in his forehead, his right eye swelled shut, and blood dripping out of his mouth. "Hmm. Quite the fighter, aren't we?"
With a quick trained motion, Nikkari leaped at the demon, knife in his hand. Plunging it into the neck of Adramelech. Only for Nikkari's body to be easily pushed to the ground.
Adramelech casually yanked the knife out of his neck and spared it a curious look. "So old…. this won't do. Nostalgic value is such a waste. One must constantly strive to embrace the new, the future. And chaos is what will bring it."
In a surprising show of strength, Adramelech crushes Nikkari's knife. "Damn it…. You monster!" Nikkari yelled at the demon.
"You must find this all so unfair. In truth it's no different than you consuming the flesh of demons. It's merely…. a law of nature."
"You two—run! Forget about the food and get back to the Association!" Nikkari ordered the cadets, Nanashi trying to muster the strength to get up and Asahi trying to stop her panic attack.
"No, no, that won't do either. I don't much care for giving chase…" Adramelech stated, forming a floating sigil of fire in his palm. It started to spin and spin, until it was like roaring sun. Headed straight towards Nanashi as he let it fly with a soft gesture of his arm.
Nanashi as he got to his feet, in a split second accepted his demise…he wasn't strong enough to protect Asahi, or was strong enough to be worth Nori's guidance and Nikkari's mentorship…
Nikkari with the last of his strength pushed Nanashi out of the way of the raging flames before it impacted.
As the shockwave fully hit Nikkari's body, he let out a pained scream as his flesh and clothes started to burn. "I'm sorry…I dragged you both into this..." Nikkari gurgled as his body went limp and collapsed to the ground, dead.
"Nikkari! This can't be happening. We have to run, Nanashi. Run!" Asahi cried, her back to Nanashi as they tried to hopefully not have a last stand.
Asahi started to hyperventilate. "What're we going to do?"
Nanashi coughed, blood spraying onto the ground. "Asahi, Run! You need to live. If you die, my reason to fight right now will be null. So RUN!" Nanashi yelled to his dear childhood friend, blood dripping from his throat wound, firing his gun into the horde, the rounds punching through the rows and rows of them.
Adramelech formed another spinning sigil of fire and fired it at the panicking Asahi. Without a second thought, Nanashi pushed Asahi out of the way.
Time slowed down for the two as it happened. Asahi was on her knees on the ground, and Nanashi stood still, his hand to his chest, covering the hole that goes straight through his body.
"This isn't happening…Nanashi…Nanashi!" Asahi watched her close friend crumple to the ground in a bloody heap, tears uncontrollably pouring out of her eyes. "Noooooooo!"
The only thing in Asahi's world was her and the bleeding out form of Nanashi. She quickly ripped out the adrenaline shots in a case on her right thigh, she pulled the top off of one and pushed the needle out, jabbing the needle into Nanashi's chest.
"Any second now, Nanashi will get up and we can run away. Any second now…Any second now…"
Asahi just stared at Nanashi's body…and she couldn't stop herself from crying. "No... no... no...no no no! Please Nanashi, Please! Don't leave me here on my own, please!"
The demon horde surrounded her, getting drunk from the massive amounts of Kagatsuhi getting formed from her intense emotions.
-?
Nanashi opened his eyes. Finding himself in a strange, otherworldly place. He pushed himself to his feet, finding himself on an old railway on a floating piece of rock.
A shimmering, formless figure appeared before the young man. "Ah another lost soul…There's nothing for you here…"
The lost soul faded away.
Nanashi decided to walk down the railway, finding no other choice but to go that way. He looked around, he was astounded by the fact he was in the center of a spiral of raging red clouds, with indistinguishable line of black energy flying through the air.
A pillar of light in the distance.
Nanashi ran down the railway, wanting to find out the source of the light. The second island he reached had a spirit talking to himself. "This must be…I must be… Our lives must come and go in the blink of an eye…"
The soul faded away as if gaining inner peace.
Nanashi just stared at himself, finding his wounds all gone. "Wow…this is actually quite nice…just being to say long sentences without making my neck bleed and sting Is just…refreshing."
"I guess this means I'm died…how did I die again? It's such a blur…maybe I'll remember when I get closer to that light." Nanashi talked to himself, enjoying the ability to talk unrestricted now.
He ran down the railway to the next island, stopping to listen to a soul crying. "There's no way back. The only way left to us is forward…"
He kept running, needing to find a way out of this... "Can you hear me…?" A faint voice called out to Nanashi, from farther down the railway.
He stayed silent wondering to himself.
He heard another soul as he jogged his way down the rails. "That light…There must be something there…"
He didn't stop. Only to slow down when he reached the pillar of light, it was a door that lead to somewhere, it was impossible to see, as it was only light. The gateway in front of it was the subway pass toll booths. He felt compelled to walk closer to the doorway of light.
"Can you hear me…?" The voice appeared again.
"I can hear you."
"About time someone with some sense showed up. I am Dagda."