章 71: Chapter 64
It's decided.
She needed this, for far too long!
"Ufufufu~...!" Akeno giggled with sadistic glee, lightning dancing between her fingers and across her body, another chorus of screams from the lovely volunteers who decided to attack her home ringing out as the electricity burst out and struck them.
Yeah~, she's most definitely needed this.
Akeno has been feeling…pent up, for lack of a more appropriate term, for what's felt like forever.
Truth be told, it's only really been a few months, and for a Devil that's a drop in a bucket…
But for Akeno, it feels like it's been longer than that.
After all, that man, her "father" has been the singular source of everything wrong in her life, but at least she didn't have to see him again.
She hoped it'd stay that way forever.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and he showed up.
Dumped at the doorstep of her home in the Underworld of all places, and Rias, the sweet adorable Devil she is, didn't turn him away.
She was too nice for that.
But that's why Akeno is here, what her best friend can't do, she'll gladly do in her stead, especially if that's what needs to be done.
Although, looking back on it, maybe using enough lightning to blow that man out of the living room and through the servant's quarters was a bit…much.
She should have used fire instead. Of course he would be resistant to lightning.
A mistake she wouldn't repeat next time.
Because there was going to be another time, Rias wouldn't let the issue go.
And for some reason, that man wouldn't let it go either!
All this time, he was content to stay away, leave her alone, sit back, and watch as she was hunted like cattle by the Himejima, but now he decides he needs to make amends!?
Apparently, the reason why he was dumped on the Gremory at all, was because he got into an altercation with the Himejima Clan. Kusanagi showed up and beat him down, and her cousin was the one who decided dropping him off with them was a spectacular idea.
Akeno honestly doesn't know who to loathe more. A part of her wished the Himejima and that man got each other killed, a part of her wished Kusanagi would have gone for the kill immediately rather than sparing his life.
She knows she would have.
What she does know is, she dislikes her cousin for doing this to her, and she's ever so slightly pissed that Kusangi would help do this to her.
She's also been able to gleam that, during those two's fight, whatever he said to him somehow kicked his ass into some sort of shape.
Akeno isn't even sure how Kusanagi knew about her past, but to be perfectly honest, she doesn't care about that.
No, what she cares about is that said past couldn't be left to rot, and instead she's got to deal with it and him once again.
It wasn't often at first, maybe a day or so out of the week, Rias would broach the subject of him with her.
And Akeno would, as usual, brush it off, and pretend like she has no idea what she's talking about.
A month would pass like that, then, Rias would start bringing it up more frequently.
A day turned into a couple of times a day, turned into a day or two or three until it felt like the whole week she kept bringing it up…!
Until finally, Rias grew what felt like some semblance of a backbone, turned away from acting more like a friend, and as her King, ordered her to go see him again.
To say Akeno was happy about that would be a…well.
She knows Rias means well, but just can't possibly understand.
It was probably the first time she considered running away, back to the streets, since Rias first took her in and she was much more…jumpy.
In the end, though, she grits her teeth, nods her head, and decides that this new life she carved out for herself isn't worth abandoning all because of him.
She wouldn't do what he did.
That, at least, she can be certain of.
So when he showed up again, this being some time after he showed up, he'd gotten some job with the Fallen working with the Devil's Government…well.
This time she used fire.
And this time, to her shock, he actually fought back!
A part of her was astounded at the nerve of that bastard, for fighting the fate he rightfully served…but at the same time, a part of her was relieved he didn't keel over, and give up right away like the first time.
It gave her the chance to say exactly what she'd wanted to say to him for the longest time now.
There was no experience quite like it, looking back on it
The screams of these nobodies pale in comparison to seeing the way his face twisted up in anguish and guilt as she told him exactly how he screwed up her life, got her mother killed, and how, because of him, she hates herself for existence.
Catharsis.
Shame Rias and her mother had to break that meeting up.
Since then, Rias hasn't broached the topic anymore, and for months there's been this tension within the peerage whenever she's in the room, and something like the 'War' with the renegade Fallen is brought up.
Though Akeno couldn't say why. She'd be all for going out and zapping some crows…
Unfortunately, Rias' brother is stopping them from going out, and keeping them far away from the action.
Too young was the excuse to keep them out, and Rias ultimately didn't want to put any of them in harm's way despite the chance to win some glory to be had.
Though ultimately, Akeno doesn't think there's going to be much choice for them soon.
Rias's betrothed was pulled into the fighting months ago, and despite the marriage being pushed up, it hasn't gone through as of yet.
Everyone thought this fight was going to be quick and easy, yet somehow, the renegade Fallen are still holding out.
At this point, Akeno is almost one hundred percent sure the Fallen are getting help from someone, likely multiple Factions that dislike the devils, and seek to cause some chaos.
Another reason why this latest attack on Kuoh is such a good thing, in her mind.
It's been a while since she last had to fight. She was feeling a little rusty.
"It's such a shame…" she walks over to the closest guy, lightning crackling between her hands, a small incomplete smile on her face, "That you guys aren't much of a challenge…"
"A-Ah…wait, wait wait wait!" The guy cries, shivering in pain and fear, "DON–"
"Hush now." She utters, his cries dulling out as the roar of her lightning building in her hands overcomes them.
She dropped her hands, to bring the roaring thunder down upon him.
Light flashed, lightning crackled and burst, and yet, when the light and sound died down…she didn't find herself in the out-of-the-way old factory that she'd been fighting in.
No, instead, she was outside, the cool night air blowing through her hair, and the calm twinkling stars and bright silver moon hanging overhead.
She blinked. Slowly.
Then tilted her head.
"...well, this is new." She muttered, curious, not worried.
These people she, her fellow peerage members, and even Sitri and her group, were fighting all seemed to possess some type of ability.
Sacred Gears, a particular skill with magic and or a type of weapon.
All in all, they were all weak. Barely a match for a Middle-Class Devil individually.
Yet as groups, they were a pain to deal with, like scurrying little rats.
Judging by the fact that she isn't immediately being set upon by an attack, or attackers, then it's likely that she was simply forcibly relocated.
Perhaps one of them snuck up on her as she was about to finish their friend off, and in a haste, sent her to somewhere random?
She doesn't know every single Sacred Gear in existence, but such a gear existing with such annoying 'people' would fit.
Though, now, she can't help but be a touch offended.
If there's one thing she's good at, it's magic, it's probably the only part of her Queen Piece that gets actual use!
Teleporting her away will buy them mere seconds, if that, she can be back in mere moments.
So, with a scoff, she closed her eyes and snapped her fingers.
…Only to feel nothing happen.
Well, that's not entirely correct, she did feel her internal powers move, but they were…slow.
Incredibly slow. Sluggish. Slippery.
She didn't even get to cast the spell, as the energy she tried to pull into it slipped from her grasp.
Her eyes opened, and she annoyingly glanced at her hand, snapping her fingers again, this time putting a tad more effort, will, and concentration into the spell.
Her energy pulled forth like, trudging through her body like overly thick molasses.
She clicked her tongue, as her powers slipped through her mental fingers once more, rebounding far quicker and easier than it took to pull them out.
It was like trying to pull on a block of hard, thick jelly.
…Okay, she'll admit. This may be more than a simple relocation spell.
Her powers aren't suppressed, more so that they're incredibly hard to bring out. With time and effort, she could probably do it.
But for now, she should probably figure out where she is, it'll be easier working on getting back physically than magically at this point.
So, she looks around, taking in her immediate surroundings.
At first, she thinks she's in a forest due to all the foliage and trees around her, yet she then quickly spots…walls.
They weren't exactly big walls, they were of middling height, built clearly in a traditional or ancient Japanese style…like those you'd find around old estates.
Not only were there walls, but also a stone path leading to the entrance through them.
She just so happened to be placed right in the dead center of said path.
Instinctively, she held out a hand slightly to summon up a bit of a static shock surprise… there was no way this wasn't some kind of trap. It's far too convenient.
But finding even that little being far too sluggish, she sighed, and stepped forward, following along the path empty-handed.
Her magic may not be working, but she is a Queen. Perhaps those Rook and Knight traits of hers may finally get some use?
Though, on the other hand, perhaps not.
Akeno likes to consider her sensing ability, her ability to read auras, to be top-notch. Even when Koneko began learning Senjutsu, and took to it like a fish to water, she still has yet to surpass her in the art.
So, as she walks to the entrance, yet finds no supernatural aura, either hidden or not…
Well, she doesn't know whether to be more concerned or relaxed.
Regardless, she presses on, pursing her lips at the sheer lack of security for what appears to be some sort of wealthy estate.
No guards at the entrance. Hell, there isn't even a door, it's an open archway that leads into a front garden, with a small pond, stone lanterns, and a small sand and gravel arrangement.
Her first thought, that the walls are surrounding some kind of estate, isn't far off the mark.
The walls wrap around a rather small pseudo-traditional Japanese manor. Half modern, half old style architecture, a blend.
The manor itself isn't all that big, and there's only one other building, what looks like a shed, off to the side of the front garden she's standing in.
There might be a back garden as well, although obviously, she wouldn't know, she can't see the back from here.
Yet, she gets the feeling she knows there is.
A frown begins to crease her lips.
In fact. Doesn't this entire place feel…familiar?
With an irritated huff, she shakes her head and focuses on the front door of the manor house.
She'll ask where she is, then she can run off and figure out how to get back from Kuoh from here.
Quick. Simple. Done.
As she starts to stride toward the door, however, movement catches her eye, prompting her to still.
It wasn't outside movement though, no, it was from inside the house.
Through the glass window, one of the few modern parts of the place, she could see into what looked like a dining room.
But it's not so much the movement that caught her eye, but who's moving.
A large man, wearing mostly black, skin tanned and face perpetually scrunched up and eyes narrowed shut in a seemingly endless frown, with a full beard, sideburns, and head going to the back of his neck with pitch black hair.
That man. Her…father.
He had merely walked in and sat down in a chair.
Meanwhile, her mind was reeling.
What was he doing here? Why was he here!? Why couldn't she sense him?
A very good question, that last one. She'd feel his repugnant aura several clicks away!
Yet, if she didn't know any better, not having the displeasure of knowing the man personally, she'd think he was just a normal, albeit grouchy-looking, human.
She finds herself cracking her knuckles without even thinking about it.
Those Knight and Rook traits just might get some use after all~...
Only, just as she's about to take the easy way straight to getting answers, through the window, more movement halts her.
Then promptly causes her to take several steps back, a pain-filled gasp leaving her throat as she did.
This time, a woman walks in.
She recognizes this woman. How could she not?
They share virtually the same appearance. The same hair. The same way of putting up that hair in a ponytail. The same face, eyes, even down to their bodies.
If there's one thing Akeno can say that she doesn't hate about herself, it's her appearance.
Because despite the blood in her veins, that disgusting black feathered wing…everything else, she got from her.
Her mother.
But…she died.
Years ago.
So then…how…?
She walked over to that man, and for a second, as she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, something inside her nearly broke in sheer unrelenting rage.
She wanted to stop this. To break through that window, and whisk her mother away, tell her all of what he'd do to her, to them, to their family…
Yet, she could barely act on it, as that man…smiled.
It was a simple thing, it looked almost unnatural on his gruff face, and yet…
It caused something else to break inside of her at the same time.
Something hit her chest, it felt like...a droplet of water?
…But it isn't raining?
More pelted her chest, and she raised a hand, catching a droplet or two more, just under her chin.
That's when she feels it. The tears cascading down her cheeks.
Ah, she's crying…
She watches, as that man says something to her, still smiling.
She laughs, and reaches over, pinching his cheek, drawing a laugh from him in turn.
She watches, mesmerized, as her mother turns and walks past him, to where she can't see anymore.
And as if mirroring her, that man follows her with his narrowed eyes himself.
Akeno can see where specifically he's following her with his eyes, and yet…
She just chuckles.
A sad, hollow thing.
…Why does she suddenly feel so tired?
And why…does she want to go in there so, so badly?
Not to blow him up, either, for once.
She just wants to, needs to, sit down. For only a second or two.
This place, she remembers now.
It looks slightly different, what with the slight modern bent, but this is her family's old home.
It has to be, what with her mother right there!
She just needs to–
She starts walking, almost in a daze, as though she's barely conscious.
It starts right as she's almost at the manor proper.
[I don't think that's a good idea, Akeno Himejima.]
She freezes in place.
Abruptly, a voice echoed within the back of her head. It sounded male, distant, and disembodied.
[Those two…the Shrine Maiden Shuri Himejima, and Fallen Angel Baraqiel, don't know you here.]
"...What are you talking about?" She uttered through gritted teeth.
[Come on, think about it…isn't there a third missing here in their little family?]
Akeno stays silent at that, simply frowning.
[...Got nothing to say to that, hmm? No questions? Well, whatever. How do you do, Akeno Himejima? I'm a man of the Hero Faction. My name isn't important…what is, is that I might be one of the few highest ranking members left.]
…The Hero Faction?
Akeno almost scoffed at the irony of that name and would have out loud if she wasn't trying to think of where she'd heard that before.
Only to draw a complete blank.
[I can see that look on your face.] The man continues, disheartened, [This was supposed to be our big reveal to the world, you know? Us destroying the Devils infesting Japan, recruiting a powerful ally…]
His sigh reverberates through the back of her mind.
[Seems the other side had more problems than we originally anticipated.]
Akeno…couldn't help but find herself not caring about all that though. Instead…
"Is this your doing?" She demanded to know through a hushed whisper.
The man makes a lively laugh at her question, doing a complete one-eighty from his earlier downtrodden tone.
[My Sacred Gear [Dreamlike Curse]'s Balance Breaker's ability, [Palaselene Utopia]. I have sent you to a parallel world.]
Sacred Gear's Balance Breaker Ability?
He sent her to the parallel world?
…What.
That couldn't be right though, could it? Surely, such a power would be amongst the Longinus!
Yet, Dreamlike Curse, she's never heard of that Sacred Gear before…
A Balance Breaker is said to be capable of collapsing the balance of the world. It's in the name after all. She supposes it could also be a subspecies.
Although, not like any of that matters now though.
So, if he's telling the truth…
…Then how does she get free?
The man continues, unabated by her thoughts.
[I can't take on all of you, the Gremory Peerage, by myself. However, if it's a single person, then I can send that person to a parallel world.] He explains without prompt, [Then all it comes down to is which one of you among your group should I send to the parallel world to be affected and give the feeling of despair.]
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She was toying with food, not paying attention at all to her surroundings as she let loose.
No wonder she got caught. She knows that when she gets in the mood, she tends to hyper-focus on her fun, at the expense of everything and everyone else.
This guy was probably hiding, checking out everyone, before waiting for a chance to strike.
[The most effective target…wouldn't be you, of course. The answer for that would be your King, Rias Gremory.]
Akeno's face twitched. It felt almost like a backhanded insult, but…ultimately this guy is right.
[But I settled for you, because you seemed to be strong, but also vulnerable enough that it would still be possible yet valuable to take you out of the fight.]
Vulnerable.
…Fair enough, she supposes.
How frustrating.
[Without you around, the Gremory group has lost their beloved Priestess of Thunder. A powerful heavy hitter, which means we can attack with a bit more…bravado.] He snorted, the sound echoing through her mind loud enough to make her flinch, [Well, that, and I'll admit that the revenge I'm about to deal for your torturing of my comrades will be…very sweet.]
"Revenge, huh?" Akeno, this time, scoffed at that.
After all, how is giving her mother back to her supposed to be revenge?
[Yes, revenge! Remember how I told you this was a parallel world where they don't know?]
"Yes?" She muttered, annoyed yet confused, "What does that have to do with anything?"
[The reason why they don't know you…is because you were simply never born here in the first place.]
Akeno stared at the door to her family home, unblinkingly.
"...What?" She breathed out, unbelieving.
[You heard me right. You were never born here…and would you look at that.]
Akeno found her head tilting toward the window, where that man and her mother were…embracing tenderly.
[They're still alive and happy. All because you were never born.]
"NO!" She screamed before her eyes widened as she realized what did, and she quickly covered her mouth.
She saw as the two inside perked up, and that man turned, toward the window.
He wouldn't see anything though, as Akeno had spread her wings, one Fallen one Devil, and taken to the sky, sitting atop the roof, hands still covering her mouth.
She hears loud, heavy footsteps, through the house, and the door opening.
"...Hello?" His voice called out, alert, yet filled with concern, "Is anybody out there?"
Akeno found herself grabbing and holding her lips closed tighter.
Even as her heart cried out, wanting to say something.
"...Hmph." He grunts before the sound of the door closing can be heard.
And Akeno breathes out a massive sigh in relief.
[In this world,] the man's voice suddenly echoes in the back of her head again, yet it somehow feels even farther away, [not only are they alive and happy without you, but The Three Great Powers; God and His Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils also don't exist either. You are unique in this world. A half-breed abomination reincarnated as a race that doesn't even exist.]
Akeno growled, her demonic and magical powers trying to surge forth, but barely going anywhere.
[Have fun.]
And then, like the wind, his voice is gone.
Slowly, Akeno stood up, on top of the roof.
She glared up at the sky, as her wings twitched in agitation.
"...What a joke." She gave a humorless, mirthless, giggle.
A parallel world? Where she doesn't exist? Where the Great Factions don't exist?
There's no way such a thing is real.
There's no way she was the cause, right?
…If this truly is her old home, then she knows how to reach Kuoh Town from here.
Just wait, Rias, Koneko, Yuuto…
She'll be back before they even know she's gone!
~ A New Sun ~
It felt like days had passed.
She managed to find Kuoh easily enough.
Yet, it was peaceful.
There weren't several battles between supernatural beings going on throughout the town, it was just an ordinary human town.
Rias wasn't around. Neither was Koneko or even the Sitri Peerage. They were all gone. Kuoh Academy was still an all-girls academy, without Rias' family to influence it, that makes sense.
She had hoped that maybe, if that man was around, then somehow…but no.
She wandered the streets for hours. Even the outskirts.
It was like that Boosted Gear user never went off destroying part of the town, there were no signs of his destruction and the rebuilding that followed, nor any signs of the Fallen's mad Sacred Gear hunt, the deaths…
In the end, she only found one person she recognized…Kusanagi.
But he wasn't an Arahitogami, she could sense it, he was perfectly normal, and didn't recognize her when she tried to talk to him.
Didn't say anything back to her at all. He just kind of looked at her, then walked away.
Wondering the streets as she's been…kind of reminds her of when she was younger.
When she was forced onto the streets.
At least then, she could make money by purifying evil spirits. Here? She had to use minor hypnosis to get what she needed.
She doesn't feel particularly bad about it, this isn't her world after all.
And it's not like she can do much more than that. She hasn't even been able to make sparks, no matter how much she tries.
Yeah, it isn't.
It's…a better world.
That brings a small sad smile to her face.
…She needs to go back. Although whether to her world, or 'her' family home…
She honestly can't say.
She hasn't felt this lost in a long, long time.
So, she sat on top of the roof of one of the buildings in this alternate Kuoh and slowly curled up around herself in the middle of the night.
It's cold. It's lonely. Just like back then.
But arguably, it's worse, because they are here.
And yet…they don't know her.
They were better off without her here. Somehow. Someway…could it have been the same way back home?
Akeno lets out a haggard, sniffling breath at the thought.
…Probably.
[...Hmm?]
Ah.
He's back, humming strangely in her head.
"...Shut up." She muttered, turning on her side, "I don't feel like dealing with you right now."
[I…no that's not…wait…!] He gets increasingly more and more panicked.
Akeno slowly cracks her eyes open, only to find the entire world is…shaking.
No, not shaking, distorting? It's like the entire backdrop of the world is wafting away.
Cracks begin appearing across the world, glowing a bright white, starting from the sky.
Akeno sits up, looking on with her mouth slightly agape.
[W-What is this!? Impossible!] The man shouted in alarm, [Is this…divine power? A god is trying to break through my technique!? T-This power—!]
And then the sky was split in two, by a single golden line, before being seemingly torn open.
"See?" A male voice she hasn't heard in a long time echoes out cheekily from the other side, "Told ya I could do it."
Then, a head poked through, looking down upon her.
It was Koneko, whose eyes immediately fell upon her in recognition.
Then, as she beholds her state, she frowns.
Ah, yes. She probably doesn't look the greatest right now, does she?
Well…so much for being back before they knew it, hmm?
クリエイターの想い 
Karmic_Wizard
Karmic_Wizard So, have any of you read the short story "Rias In Wonderland"?
That's pretty much what the events of this chapter are based on, shown from Lesser Suzaku herself's point of view.
I already know, some, mayhaps most, of you probably don't care all too much about her...or maybe you get some ironic sadistic pleasure in watching her get tortured?
Regardless, this entire thing was done to finally wrap up Akeno's whole small subplot thing that was mentioned here or there in the background. Mostly so I can stop thinking about it from now on, lol.
Next time, Nori gets to talk to her...that turns out...well, it turns out? Who's to say it actually does anything though.
In other, more important news, more time with white cat! Yayyyy!
Until then though?
Peace, ya'll.
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