"...If there's this much, there shouldn't be any big problems even if a God or two suddenly goes rogue and unleashes their Divinity." Yoruichi took one final peek before keeping the terminal within her inventory, 'Since most of these are Magic-based and Ki-based, I'll pass this to Serafall, Kuroka, and Medusa too for good measure.'
"So are you going to leave now?" Yoruichi asked.
"Yeah. After saying my goodbyes. Aika's preparations should be done too, though she won't really be using any of those when we go back."
Yoruichi looked him in the eyes and asked, "I had my suspicions, but are you planning to leave her there?"
Kisuke became silent for a few moments before answering, "That was supposed to be the plan and only take her back once she's ready and becomes more experienced with how the supernatural world works."
"Then what changed?"
"...I thought I should trust her a little more. I'm going to seal her abilities and senses and send her back to the secular world. Whether she truly wanted to continue this arduous and unforgiving journey or not, it'll be up to her."
Yoruichi also became silent and sighed. As they walked through the road she muttered, "Even I don't know what should be done so I don't really have an opinion about it. It's just that it's really surprising how we are treating her so differently compared to when we dragged Inoue and Sado to a war that they shouldn't have been part of in the first place."
.
.
.
At the top of the tower that Kisuke built, except for Medusa and Yoruichi who were busy with something, and Akeno and Irina, that could hardly stay awake for a few minutes each day since their souls haven't fully adapted to the changes within their bodies, everyone else had gathered to see Kisuke and Aika off.
While Kisuke was wearing his usual attire, Kisuke asked Aika to wear her school uniform and the latter didn't question it.
"Hestia-sama, Artemis-sama, please take care of things here for me."
Hestia pouted her mouth at her ever-so-busy child that he couldn't even make some time for her, "I'd do just that even if you didn't tell me."
Artemis, on the other hand, could only smile wryly, "Just promise us that you'll contact us every now and then."
"I promise."
Kisuke and Aika then proceeded to say their farewells to the rest of the crew. Sona wanted to boldly kiss Kisuke in front of everyone, but her sister's burning stare ultimately discouraged her from doing so.
After giving his reminders to the 'child' group since they were tasked in taking care of Akeno and Irina, Kisuke returned to Hestia and Artemis, "Hestia-sama, Artemis-sama. I would like to request the two of you to meet and mingle with the other Gods of the region, especially those who are sitting at the top of the power hierarchy."
"Why?" Hestia asked, because all this time, aside from Astarte and Astraea, they refused to meet other Gods because there's no real benefits in doing so. In fact, they'd only be putting themselves in danger because they knew how much worse the power struggle within this region was compared to that of Orario's. Despite the alliance looking good, it was striped with inner conflicts that each and every day, there would be small-scale conflicts within the shadow of Pandemonium.
"I want you to keep an eye on them and tell Yoruichi or Serafall your impression of them."
"You want us to gather information among the circles of Gods?" asked Artemis.
But Kisuke shook his head, "No. That would be too dangerous. I just want you to interact with them normally and just keep an eye out on their behavior without eliciting their suspicions."
"Since you're asking us this, there must be something weird going on. Shouldn't we actively gather information despite the danger?"
"No. Actual information gathering would be handled by Kuroka and Yoruichi. I just want you to give them your impressions of each notable God, because that's what they needed the most to make sense of the situation."
"That's easy! Leave it to us!" Hestia proudly proclaimed while striking her chest, "There will be a banquet hosted by Lugh three days from now on. We intended to ignore the invitation as usual but I guess this will be a good opportunity."
"That's great. With that said, always bring Serafall and Sona with you. If children are not allowed to follow you, Kuroka and Koneko will hide within your shadows as your guards. I won't allow any compromises on this."
It was a quarter of an hour later before Kisuke could finish his reminders to others that Aika couldn't help but comment, "Are you a mother!?"
With a final wave, Kisuke and Aika disappeared from the tower and arrived in the desert that became Serafall and Sona's venue for their training. Ensuring that his 'anchor' was functioning properly, Kisuke opened a rift in space using his cane, "Hold my hand tightly and never let go."
Aika did as Kisuke instructed and the both of them jumped into the void.
Editors:
28th00: Aika is pretty damn stubborn, being a dragon(Ophis approved even!) and all, so I highly doubt she’ll let Kisuke get away, chosen mate and all. Side note, Ophis has no more Mr. Hat to keep an eye on her! She’s got damn near FREE REIGN RIGHT NOW! This was the omen of many more towers popping up everywhere and anywhere in this poor world.
Goyya: Well, Aika was technically tortured to accept her reality and Mr. Hat here didn’t even consider that in the past. The subtle changes in his viewpoints are also biting his ass.
Unlike his previous trips, the journey through the void this time was a lot more stable due to the countermeasures that he'd prepared, 'This is my fourth time going through this. I'd be ashamed if I still couldn't figure out how to travel safely even after having all of that data.'
Kisuke estimated that it wouldn't be too long until he's able to develop a stable pathway between the two worlds, 'But before that can happen, I first have to get Chaos' permission or take him out. I don't know which one is easier, though.'
When they arrived, Aika looked around with a puzzled face, "Where are we?", she asked after seeing the sci-fi-themed room. She thought that they went back to the tower, but she clearly remembered going through the void and she didn't recall a room like this within the tower she'd explored multiple times.
"Before I answer that, take this." Kisuke tossed her a small candy.
Although confused, Aika popped the candy into her mouth without a second thought, "What's this for?"
But before she could hear his answer, a massive headache attacked her consciousness and she almost fell to the floor from dizziness, "...W-what?" The confusion further clouded her mind as she tried to make sense of what was happening while holding her head in pain.
Before she completely lost consciousness, she heard Kisuke's voice echoing as it fades, "Slowly but surely, it'll all return to you... Until then, enjoy your life and I'll wait for your decision..."
Aika tried to fight back the drowsiness and struggled to open her eyes, "...N-no....." But as much as she wanted, she couldn't resist the call of darkness.
Kisuke caught her and carried her towards one of the rooms of the facility before he went out to prepare the rest of Aika's normal life, "Let's see... Explaining it to her parents, creating a backstory for the lost memories, and enrolling as a third year. I guess that should do it."
Leaving the Mars facility that was built by automated bots through teleportation, Kisuke returned back to Earth with an urgent goal of meeting Aika's parents and accepting their wrath.
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.
.
In a normal house in the corner of Kuoh town, Kisuke was facing the Kiryuu couple in the living room. After the people of the supernatural world investigated them due to their interest in their daughter and finding out that they have nothing to do with their world aside from Aika possessing a 'failed' Sacred Gear, the couple were left alone.
Of course, that didn't mean that someone who had no pride wouldn't take advantage of their relationship with Aika to lure her out, so extensive security from the shadows was arranged by the Belial House and Grigori for their safety.
Sitting in front of him was a middle-aged man with a large build, tanned skin, short black hair, and black eyes looking sternly at him, expressing wrath and discontent. He was Aika's father, Kiryuu Haruto.
Aika's mother, on the other hand, had a very mature build, light skin, straight long brunette hair, and golden eyes which her daughter had inherited. From the kitchen, she asked, "Is barley tea fine?"
Contrary to her husband, Kiryuu Honoka had a gentle smile plastered on her face, but Kisuke could feel similar emotions hiding behind that smile as her husband's. In fact, it was much more intense than Haruto's, only it was contained.
Kisuke nodded while keeping his hat to the side, "That would be fine. Much appreciated."
For the next minute, only Honoka's steps and the sound of cold barley tea trickling were heard for a minute or two.
"Thank you." Kisuke expressed his gratitude and was about to take a sip on the offered drink when the father suddenly stopped him from reaching out to it, "Wait for a moment."
"Yes?" Kisuke looked up and saw a fist bearing down his face. Of course, the moment Haruto had these intentions, Kisuke already detected it as they are only normal people. To him, Haruto's fist moved at a snail's pace, but he didn't do anything about it and just waited for it to reach his face while relaxing all of his defenses.
The fist landed and Kisuke tilted his head to the side to avoid breaking the man's fist.
"Honey!" Honoka immediately reprimanded her husband.
But Haruto ignored her and took his fist back. Seeing that he couldn't even leave a mark despite dislocating his fingers, because it felt like he'd hit a concrete wall, he could only sigh, "I already heard about you and what you can do from your mother, but to think I can't even scratch you..."
Kisuke slowly turned his head back and replied, "You can continue hitting me and I won't say anything if that's a way that I can placate you. But I highly suggest against it, because you won't be doing any harm to me."
"Then what do you suggest we do to you?" Haruto asked while Honoka sat beside him.
Kisuke became silent for a few moments. Strangely enough for him, he couldn't seem to find the right words for this occasion. He could try explaining himself but that only felt like running away from his responsibilities so he refused to do so, "...There's actually nothing. I can only apologize for all the things that have transpired."
Bowing his head, he continued, "I ask for your forgiveness."
Editors:
28th00: Aika is gonna be pissed when she recovers from whatever Kisuke drugged her with.