Bab 7: A Chat With The Doppelganger and Another Chat With Rias
The pain was pounding and my ears were buzzing, my vision was darkening around the edges and despite knowing there was nothing wrong with my chest or my lungs, I felt like I couldn't breath. Like there was some kind of immeasurable weight pressing down on my chest from all sides.
"...cuse...me..."
Looking at her hurt, but I couldn't look away. It was both nice and excruciating.
"Excuse...me..."
Why did there have to be someone like this in this world, huh? Is this some kind of sick joke by God? Because if it is...I'll kill him. The pain was dying down, but only slightly. My eyes were still threatening to black out and my ears were still buzzing, and that weight was still pushing against my chest, but I could actually hear that the girl was trying to get my attention.
"Excuse me, sir?" she asked, her voice filled with patience and no sign of frustration. She was all smiles and optimism. But all I could focus on was how her voice was similar to Miki's.
"O-oh, yeah, sorry," I forced a smile and backed up slightly, hoping that if I stayed a bit away from her, it wouldn't hurt as much but it didn't help, "Are you okay, miss?" I asked, my worry actually genuine, for obvious reasons.
The image of Miki and this girl were overlapping in my head and despite my efforts to stop it, I just could stop finding similarities between the two.
"I should be asking if you're okay," she said, her eyes worried as she got closer to me, making me flinch a little and causing her to frown while looking up at me. When she got close enough, she looked up at me intently, "Are you okay, mister?" she asked with such genuine worry that I had to wonder how weird the two of us were - worrying about a complete stranger so much.
Even if she looks like Miki, she isn't Miki. Miki died. I'll never allow myself to fool myself into thinking otherwise.
"Honestly, I'm not okay," I weakly smiled but as she seemed to be about to do or say something, I lifted my hand, "There's really nothing you can about it, Miss...?" I subtly asked for her name and could only hope that it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.
"Ah!" she exclaimed before quickly giving a small curtsy, "My name is Asia Argento, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
Giving a slight sigh of relief, I replied with a smile albeit a slightly forced one, "It's good to meet you, Argento-san. My name's Akira Fudo, you can refer to me however you want," my attention then focused on the suitcase next to her, "What are you doing around here with a suitcase? Did you get kicked out of your house or something?"
"Akira-san, please, call me Asia," she smiled shyly, bowing her head a little and averting her eyes before realizing my question and exclaiming, "I'm lost, Akira-san! I was meant to get to the Church in this town, but I can't find it!" she said, her lip trembling slightly and her eyes comically teary eyed.
I know I should do what I'm about to do, but...I'm gonna do it anyway.
"I can walk you there if you want? It's not too far away from my route to school," I tried to casually say but even to myself, I sounded awkward.
But Asia didn't seem to notice it, and if she did, she didn't see to mind as she beamed a bright and innocent smile at me before nodding, "That would be wonderful, Akira-san!" she stood close in front of me after picking up her suitcase, her excitement practically bubbling over the edge, "Lead the way!"
And that's how I got to know Asia Argento. A girl who reminded me of my painful past whenever I saw her, but also helped heal the grievous wound it had left on my psyche.
. . .
"That power you used earlier...that was a Sacred Gear, right?" I asked, a surprised expression on my face as I remembered the sight of that kid's scrapped knee healing up around the same speed as a wound on me would.
Asia looked over at me with a surprised look, "You know about Sacred Gears, Akira-san?"
"Mhm," I nodded before lifting my hand and summoning one of the Boosted Gear gauntlets, it's black, streamline armor glinting under the intense sunlight above, "I have one, so I know one when I see one."
I had noticed something I hadn't originally noticed on my Sacred Gear - there was black, coarse fur growing out of the places between each of the plates that made up the gauntlet. That, and the metal-looking material that made up the Sacred Gear also looked very biological in appearance. Like it was alive. Which is was, I would assume.
Asia's eyes widened and I de-summoned the gauntlet. Her surprise soon turned to excitement, "Oh thank the lord!" she put her hands together, her happiness growing even more, "I was worried you would think I was weird! But knowing that you have one as well, it takes a big weight off my shoulders!" she said, actually looking relieved.
Before I could react or say anything, Asia perked up and pointed toward the Church near the top of the big hill Kuoh Town was built around, "Ah! That's the place!" I followed her finger and as you'd expect there was a view of a western church slightly covered by trees that were in the way.
"Well you said the Town's Church and that's the only one we have," I smiled over at her, the psychological pain of her looking like Miki having mellowed out quite a bit after spending time with her. Though it was still there, I could deal with it. Anyway, I came to some conclusions when I realized Asia had a Sacred Gear - she's probably a part of the Church and might even be an exorcist.
When I say, part of the Church, I don't mean the normal one. I mean the supernatural one that aims to fight Devils and other things that aren't Angels.
Though looking at the Church did feel a bit weird - it made me pretty uneasy - I wasn't scared of it. I felt like I could deal with any problems that occurred if I went near it. But I'd try not to tempt fate too much as it is Angel territory.
"Akira-san, I wish to thank you, so can you accompany me to the Church? I'll make some tea and we can chat over some food as well!" she seemed excited and I guessed that she didn't have many friends and was quite excited over making one. Which is why I hated that I had to deny her hopes like I had to.
"Sorry, Asia, but I can't today...Maybe another day? I've got school today and I'm no doubt late right now," I laughed, trying to joke about my situation, but I knew I'd no doubt get a reprimanding talk from Rias when I got to school.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, her face instantly becoming worried and apologetic, "I didn't mean to take away from your time, Akira-san! I'm sorry!" she said, seemingly worried I'd hate her or something.
Before I could even say anything, my body reacted and I placed a hand on her head, patting it.
Seeing that she didn't refuse it, I continued to do it as it felt oddly...natural?
"Don't worry about it, Asia. I'm sure I can deal with a little bit of admonishment from my teachers," I smiled, feeling oddly relaxed around this girl. But I chalked it up to my brain playing tricks on me because of her similarities...
"Mhm...but I'm still sorry!" she exclaimed, her head bobbing upward and unsettling her head cloth as my hand made it slide down to the side slightly, "I'll be sure to pray for you, Akira-san!"
"Haha..." I scratched the side of my head awkward, "You do that, Asia. I hope it works somewhat in my favor," I said with a small smile, knowing that she was about to pray for a Devil - doesn't that make her sinful or something?
Bringing my hand away from her head, she sorted out her head cloth again, before beaming a smile up at me.
"I'm really glad I met someone as nice and as kind as you when I first got to Japan, Akira-san!" she said with such innocence that I was wondering if it was an act or if she really was a Saint, but oblivious to my thoughts, she carried on, "If you ever get the chance, please visit me at the Church! Promise me you will, Akira-san?" she looked up at me with puppy eyes and I felt a tug-of-war inside my head.
Rationality against the stupid desire of wanting to sort out my regrets through this girl.
It was unfair on her, but I still smiled and nodded, "Sure, I'll try. But if not, we'll probably run into each other. Kuoh Town isn't that big, after all," I smiled before turned around and giving her a wave, "Well, see you again, Asia!"
"Mhm, let's meet again, Akira-san!"
With that goodbye, I ran off.
Only to remember halfway through the journey; Aren't Raynare and that other Fallen Angel holding up in the Church? Don't tell me that Asia is a part of their group?
...Ah shit. I better go tell this to Rias.
. . .
"Never go near a Church again, Akira!" Rias said, her face slightly red in frustration, "I've already told you that Churches are basically enemy territory to us Devils! So, please, don't go near them! You never know when those Angels might start throwing Light-Spears at you!" she looked horrified at the thought and angry/annoyed at me, causing me to sigh.
"But Rias, there's an innocent girl going to that Church!" I said, my voice firm, "What if they plan to use her for some kind of messed up plan that gets her killed? Would you be able to live with that on you conscience, Rias?" I asked, genuinely wanting to know her thoughts on the situation.
"...She's a human, Akira. A member of the Church, no less. Do you think she'd show the same kind of worry for you if she knew you were a Devil?" she asked, her voice lacking faith, but she wasn't being malicious about it. Just stating facts - most people of the Church hated Devils.
But Asia?
"...I think she'd still be the same girl and act the same way even if she knew, Rias. She's pure. Innocent," I said, a small smile coming across my face, "If we aren't willing to help people just because of where they come from, aren't we no better than the Angels or the Fallen Angels? Even if you say no, I'm going to help that girl, Rias. Or at the very least, I'm gonna figure out what Raynare plans to use her for," I stubbornly said.
I know I'm slightly too hopeful, and I play the hero too much...but I can't let an innocent person die in front of me. Especially not someone who looks and acts like her...I'd go mad with grief and regret if I did.
"Do you know that if a Devil is exorcised by the Church, they die for Eternity? Feeling nothing, being able see nothing, and being unable to do anything," she listed off, her annoyance at my words clear to me in her wording and tone, "Do you understand the gravity of this, Akira?" she said, her blue-green eyes staring seriously at me.
Taking a step toward her, I glowered down at her with my amber eyes, "I understand it better then you, Rias," I said, my words serious and grim. I'd died. I'd experienced that darkness. And I'd do it all over again as long as I could at least save someone. Anyone. Just so it wasn't like my last death:
In vain and useless.
Rias' eyes widened a little in shock and she obviously didn't know what to do or say.
Closing my eyes and sighing, I stepped passed Rias before speaking, "I don't want to go too directly against your wishes, Rias. But I am going to investigate about what Raynare's trying to do. That should be acceptable, right?"
"...Mhm," I heard an affirmative noise from Rias but from how saw she seemed when she made it, I felt guilt at my bluntness. But I hardened my resolve and left the room we were in.
Right now I needed to save someone. Not worry about my standings with a girl.
. . .
"Akira, we need you back at the clubroom," Akeno's voice entered my ear from a magic circle that appeared next to it.
Swallowing the fifth burger for the night, I smiled before replying, "And is that because Rias wants to reprimand me some more about running surveillance on the Church?" I teased, but Akeno replied instantly, her seriousness making me realize it was an actual problem they needed me for.
"Just get back to the clubroom, Akira. We need our strongest member for tonight; we found a Stray Devil," and with that, the magical circle disappeared. Raising my eyebrows, I swallowed another burger before putting the rest of the junk food back in the bag. It was odd to hear Akeno speak so seriously. She was usually all about teasing and joking about.
Guess this Stray Devil business is a bit more serious than what I assumed it would be.
Taking one last look at the Church and the people in it, I released my wings before flying off toward the clubroom.
It didn't take long for me to get there, and when I did, I put my bag of food on the coffee table in the middle of the room. Seeing Koneko staring at it, I rolled my eyes and reached into the bag before throwing a cheeseburger at her, "I wouldn't recommend eating before a fight, but if you're really that hungry, you can have that," I smiled, seeing her cheeks blush a little in embarrassment at getting found out.
"So," I looked toward Rias and Akeno, the former still looking a bit sulky and peeved at me, but I ignored that and carried on with a roguish smile, "Are we going after this Stray Devil or what?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone