Cao Cao stood motionless atop the roof of the towering building as the harsh eastern wind swept across the city and battered against his coat, causing the dark fabric to ripple sharply behind him. In his left hand rested the True Longinus, the divine spear standing upright beside him in a silent vigil, a faint golden light flowed softly across its ivory surface.
His expression remained perfectly neutral, composed with almost unnatural blankness, yet his eyes were grim and distant as he stared out into the setting sun. Around him, the twilight air felt tense and heavy, even as a cold moon broke through the setting dark and dimming sunlight.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
He turned his head slightly as Georg came to stand beside him, the sorcerer crossing his arms and looking out into the dusky horizon just as he was. But Cao Cao turned back to the sky and its shifting hues, his mind unusually still as a single focus consumed his thoughts.
“Jeanne and her followers have returned,” Georg lightly commented. “It seems they encountered some minor resistance in Hungary. The táltos, the local shamans, have no interest in joining us. A shame, their healing abilities would prove most useful.”
Cao Cao let out a noncommittal hum. In truth, he wasn’t surprised that his offer was rejected. The vast majority of supernatural human tribes were more than content with lying in obscurity, staying to themselves. A point that had always irked him to no end.
Humanity’s inability to come together and meld their immense gifts and talents into a singular pool for the net benefit of their entire species was mindbogglingly infuriating. While he appreciated the need and desire to preserve and protect individual traditions and cultures; to do so to the point of stagnation and even decay was utterly asinine.
But that was his burden to bear.
Him, and the rest of the Hero Faction.
Those passionate few descendants of Humanity’s finest who had banded together to deliver a greater narrative, a grander future, where all of Humanity could take the next step as one, unified race. A step that would free them from the whims of the Undying and other supernatural races.
It was his dream; where every child born could touch magic and myth and know the infinite wonders of the supernatural world. Where they were unbound from the mundane and could touch every aspect of eternity unfettered.
Some, rightfully, pointed out that giving every Human on earth such power would inevitably lead to chaos and the collapse of numerous societies – but that is what Heroes were for: to protect and guide the innocent and punish and vanquish the wicked.
Humanity deserved to be as special as every other race, and he would make it so. Even if it meant he had to wage war against the rest of creation.
“You didn’t come up here to tell me about Jeanne’s mission though,” Cao Cao noted idly.
Georg seemed to pause for a moment, but then softly said, “No.”
The wind picked up, and the body of the sun fully dipped beneath the skyline, leaving its last rays of gold and fiery yellows to pinken the horizon as the nocturnal blues crept in.
“Satan is on Earth.”
His hand tightened over the True Longinus, his knuckles whitening under the sudden stress.
“I’m aware.”
How could he not be? All supernatural forces sent ripples through the fabric of mythic reality, but the Sins? Uncaring, chaotic and violent myths that they were – their ripples manifested as tyrannical waves, crashing through Time and Space and catching the attention of all those perceptive enough to read the ebb and flow of magic.
And even if Cao Cao weren’t perceptive enough… his eyes briefly flickered to the golden halo surrounding the Spear of Destiny, the quiet fire flickering in its radiance.
He could sense the slumbering Will of the Heavenly Father reacting to his ancient nemesis.
Slowly, Cao Cao turned to look his old friend in the eye, even as a rueful smile played on his lips. “Hypothetically, could you use Dimension Lost to isolate Satan in a pocket reality far removed from Earth?”
Georg gave him a wry look before answering in a tone drier than the sands of the Gobi Desert, “Sure. But then, hypothetically, Satan could inflict considerable damage on the Earth before being banished.”
Cao Cao looked away in thought. “…from what I understand, he’s still attached to his mortal family. Unthinkable that it is, for a Demon.”
Both of Georg’s brows rose sharply. “That’s an idea.”
“What is?”
“We could take his family hostage; use them to lure him into a trap?” he offered.
Cao Cao immediately frowned heavily. “That’s not very heroic.”
“No, but it is practical. Tactical, even.”
Cao Cao thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. No, he had no desire to use such lowly and cowardly tactics against Satan. Heroes weren’t supposed to kidnap teenage girls and hold them hostage. Regardless of whatever Kurosaki Ichigo was, his mortal family were innocent of that. It wasn’t their fault he had become a prodigal son who cast away his Humanity.
Not only that… his gaze once again went to the True Longinus and the warmth it poured into his blood. He could sense the disapproval of the idea from his Sacred Gear. Much like him, it did not appreciate such underhanded, craven methods.
Cao Cao still very much had his pride.
“Forget it,” he said shaking his head. “I refuse to sink to such means.”
Georg snorted in amusement. “What means? I thought we were talking hypothetically?”
He rolled his eyes, but, nevertheless, let out a quiet sigh. “Are you still so deadset against direct confrontation with Kurosaki?”
“Considering we’re planning on assassinating Ajuka soon?” Georg asked sardonically. “Yes, very much so. Fighting two Sins back-to-back would be beyond stupid, even for us. We need to be in top condition for our plan to work. You said it yourself; the Evil Piece system has to be removed from existence.”
“And so it will,” he said firmly. Because yes. Ajuka Beelzebub’s Evil Piece system was an affront to Humanity, a direct mythical robbery of their heritage and potential for the perfidious needs of the Devils. Destroying Ajuka and his abominations was paramount for the future the Hero Faction was seeking to build.
Nevertheless…
“Ignore Kurosaki,” Georg said sharply, and Cao Cao scratched his chin bashfully as his mind was so easily anticipated by his closest friend. “He’s not a priority, not yet. We can kill him once we’ve removed Ajuka from the equation.”
$%@!^*
Fret the hour that marketh Beelzebub’s ascent: Incanter of Phenomena and Noumena. Thou seek him removed?
How delightful be the boundless ambitions of mortality.
Doth thou see, meddlesome Red Other? O’er an eon, the same tired cry. Thy freedoms granted art more links added to their chains perceived.
But no matter, I shall spur thee on, o’ humanity. Burn bright and deliver upon thy immortal watchers entertaining delight. All myths are temporal, and time doth move ever on.
Ah.
But I have divined thy heart’s discontent, claimant hero.
Claimant I say, for what is a Hero but a proven myth? And thou hast proven naught. Why else wouldst thou desire to cast thyself ‘gainst the grain of Adnyeus’ get? For he hath claimed the siege of Hero long ago, his tale writ upon the annals of hist’ry. Savior and Villain. Conqueror and Defender. All this and more.
What grand theatre! What merry subversion! E’re he remains the character of uncounted affections, my fractures included. Yet thou hast garnered none.
To be less of a Hero than Satan.
Come now, do not frown. Have not I granted thee a moment and moment?
But mortal, remember this -
I AM OPHIS
I AM AFTER ALL ENDINGS
&^%*!#
Cao Cao collapsed heavily onto one knee, his right hand gripping tightly against the rooftop beneath him as violent tremors coursed uncontrollably through his body. In his left hand, the True Longinus blazed with brilliant golden radiance and continuously poured waves of holy strength into his flesh and soul in an effort to steady him, yet even with the strongest Sacred Gear’s support he still could not find the strength to stand. His legs felt numb and insubstantial beneath his own weight, while his breathing came shallow and uneven as if his lungs were on the verge of falling apart.
Slowly, he turned his head toward Georg, only for a cold unease to tighten painfully within his chest at the sight of his oldest friend crumpled across the ground. Georg’s face had gone deathly pale, and his body shook violently against the concrete while blood streamed heavily from his nose, his wide and unfocused eyes filled with naked panic.
Cao Cao himself struggled to gather coherent thought as fragments of memory, sensation and incomprehensible emotion churned violently through his frayed mind. The sheer presence they had felt moments ago lingered inside his consciousness like a wound carved directly into his soul, something so vast and alien that every instinct within him recoiled from attempting to rationalize it.
But under the steady healing influence of the True Longinus, realization slowly pieced itself together within his thoughts and brought with it a deep, festering outrage.
The Void Come.
Ophis’ mere attention had nearly reduced both of them to comatose vegetables.
His trembling fingers slowly tightened against the rooftop as anger steadily eclipsed the lingering fear within him, because this was exactly what he was fighting against.
Humanity could not afford to remain helpless and weak while eldritch abominations prowled the outer edges of their world. One day, no matter what trials or sacrifices awaited him, Cao Cao swore that he would grant his race the tools they needed to break free.
=======
Akeno flew hard through the storm-filled skies with Diana close behind her, both women wreathed in violent yellow lightning that illuminated the darkened clouds around them with repeated flashes of thunderous light. The air itself trembled beneath the sheer density of elemental power being hurled back and forth as arcs of electricity burst from their wings, their hands and even the thunderheads above them, each of them drawing upon raw arcane energy rather than formal spellcraft.
She then thrust both hands forward and unleashed a barrage of crackling bolts toward Diana, but the older woman calmly answered with streams of lightning of her own that burned brighter and denser than Akeno’s attacks. Their power collided repeatedly amidst the clouds in deafening detonations of thunder, yet every clash ended the same way as Akeno’s lightning managed to resist for only a fleeting instant before collapsing beneath Diana’s superior control and output.
Akeno’s breathing became harsher with every passing exchange as frustration slowly seeped into her concentration, and the moment her emotions began to spiral, she felt the familiar conflict inside herself rear upward once more. Her demonic energy and inherited Fallen power ground violently against one another beneath her skin, disrupting the natural flow of her magic and causing the lightning gathered around her body to flicker erratically out of rhythm.
Frantically, she tried to reassert control, but it was too late and her handling had already slipped away from her.
In the next instant, a massive bolt of golden lightning tore through the storm clouds and struck Akeno directly across the chest.
Agony exploded throughout her entire body with such overwhelming intensity that it felt as though every inch of her flesh had been plunged into fire, and her scream vanished beneath the roar of thunder as the scent of burnt skin filled the air around her.
Her wings convulsed violently from the impact before collapsing entirely, and without any means of stabilizing herself, Akeno plummeted helplessly from the sky and crashed hard against the jagged rock below, the crunch of her flesh and bones going hollow against the ground.
Akeno let out a low, pained groan as she slowly rolled onto her back against the fractured stone, every muscle in her body throbbing painfully while distant thunder rolled across the skies above her. Staring upward into the violent storm clouds, she felt a sharp flicker of irritation cut through the haze of pain as the familiar frustration resurfaced once again.
The hardest part of her training, so far, had been the ridiculous difficulty of trying to keep her corrupt Fallen light and malignant demonic magic in balance. It was proving to be… infuriating.
The two kinds of energy were naturally antagonistic towards one another, and keeping them stable required both great strength of Will and incredible concentration. Two things she, apparently, sorely lacked.
Her ‘cousin’ landed a few feet away, pristine and insultingly not even out of breath. The older reincarnated Fallen gave her a cheeky smile and said, “Damn, that looked like it hurt.”
Akeno glared pure venom. “It fucking did.”
And as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Akeno fell into a coughing fit. Even now, electricity ran rampant through her body, causing her limbs to spasm and the muscles in her face to twitch involuntarily.
Diana then gave a small clap and smiled wider. “Let’s take a small break.”
Akeno blew away a few stray strands of hair from her face and protested, “No, I don’t want to take any breaks. I can’t afford to.”
“Yes, you can, and yes, you will,” Diana said happily. “You’re annoyed and frustrated and that’s only going to keep you off balance. Take a moment to steady yourself and calm your powers. A huge part of victory in battle is keeping a cool head, after all.”
Akeno gave her another glare but let out a sigh of defeat. She was right.
She slowly closed her eyes and focused on the sound of her own breathing as she lay motionless against the stone, forcing herself to inhale deeply and exhale slowly while she tried to quiet the turbulence within both her mind and her magic. Little by little, the chaotic sparks of demonic might and Fallen lightning inside her began to settle.
After several moments, she opened her eyes and gazed calmly at the sky, her thoughts drifted towards the rest of her peerage, towards Rias. Were they also going through similar tribulations? How were they faring? Was Rias stressing herself over the oncoming tournament? Her King did have a tendency to overthink things at times. Was Kiba pushing himself to the point of desperation? That boy had a horrible one-track mind to his own detriment unfortunately.
What of Koneko? Their sole Rook often forgot to eat, and she and Rias had to frequently remind her to do so. And sweet Asia, what trials was she enduring? A demure girl like that, despite her intense resolve, did not belong on the battlefield. Gasper; was he scurrying from shadow to shadow in anxiety and duress? She’d have to make him a calming cup of tea next time she saw him and allow him to cry his heart out.
And Issei… sweet Lucifer, Issei. Sincere and oddly sweet that he could be, Akeno earnestly hoped the boy’s mile-wide perverse streak hadn’t managed to get himself arrested, or worse, killed.
But she was broken from her concerns over her peerage as Diana’s curious gaze rudely blocked her view of the sky.
“What?” She asked a touch acerbically.
“So…”
“So what?”
“So, you and Lord Ichigo… you fucking?”
Akeno began to splutter and choke, her entire body convulsing with coughs as her mind spun hysterically.
“What?” she half-shrieked half-squealed.
“You and Lord Ichigo.” And Diana made a circle with one hand while driving the index finger of her other through it.
“No!” Akeno yelled. “What in Hell would make you think that!?”
Diana shrugged. “I dunno, it looked like you two were on a date when I showed up.”
Hah! I knew it! It was totally a date!
“It was not a date,” Akeno said firmly.
“Hmm.” Diana briefly looked away in thought, but then she looked back at Akeno, her expression turning sly and provocative.
“Are you trying to fuck?”
“No,” she responded with a derisive snort.
Maybe.
Akeno wasn’t stupid, she had enough self-awareness to admit her crush was rapidly spiraling towards something deeper. Because, fucking Hell, that man understood. He understood her pain; he understood what she had gone through because he had gone through the same. The similarities between her and Lord Ichigo were downright astonishing.
Right down to both of them being reincarnated by one of the Gremory siblings.
She couldn’t even put into words the kinship she was beginning to feel with that man… as well as those other feelings whenever his warm and kind eyes fell upon her with that boyish grin of his.
Just thinking about that face now… she had to fight down her blush.
“Are you trying to?” She shot back.
“Pfft!” Diana waved both of her hands. “My darling Ruval is all the man I need! Besides, I’ve heard those rumors about what that Dragon King of his does to women who get too close. I ain’t suicidal.”
Akeno had to suppress a wince. Right… Tiamat…
The Dragon King’s battle with Kokabiel would forever be seared onto her mind. And according to the Welsh Emperor, she wasn’t even fighting at full strength. Whatever lightning she and Diana had conjured in this sub-space paled in comparison to the sky-shattering storm the mightiest Dragon King had unleashed when she had slaughtered an entire legion of Fallen Angels by herself.
Rias even claimed that Tiamat’s human form was the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes upon. Which was saying a lot, given the number of supernatural beauties they’d both seen in the Underworld.
It was well known that vying for Lord Ichigo’s affections was a near futile endeavor.
“So, if you’re not trying to get with him, is he trying to get with you?”
Akeno rolled her eyes. Lord Ichigo? Trying to seduce her?
As if.
She wasn’t Issei, who was so oblivious to Asia’s flirting that it was nearly painful to watch. If the Crown Prince so much as hinted at wanting a relationship with her, Akeno was certain she’d have already offered her virginity to the man on a silver platter. Especially after…
“Oh honey…”
Akeno blinked as she looked up at the knowing gaze on Diana’s face.
“What a load of bullshit you fed me, you’re down bad for him.”
Akeno scowled fiercely. The polite thing to do would have been to go along with her bullshit. “Just shut up and help me stand so I can blast your face,” she growled.
As Diana offered her hand, she laughed and said, “Sure! We’ll just pick back up after your next crash and burn!”
“Urgh, you’re such a bitch!”
“The baddest!”
=======
It was an awkward breakfast to say the least.
After getting chewed out by both of his younger sisters for rudely interrupting their morning sleep – and how was it his fault they decided to go to sleep at three in the morning? – he quickly dashed down the stairs to find his mildly perturbed father and a very amused Tiamat sitting at the dining table.
Also, his Tiamat eating cereal? His gluttonous, arrogant as Hell, nose-upturning, spoiled palate of a familiar eating something as mundane as cereal?
How bizarre.
Sapphire eyes fell on him, a dangerous glint shining behind her amusement.
‘Are you thinking ill of me, beloved?’
‘Me? Never.’
His father broke the silence as his spoon clinked against a bowl, causing Ichigo to look away from Tiamat’s gaze.
“So…” his father’s gaze flitted nervously between him and Tiamat. “If memory serves me correctly, you said your other, err, paramour is named Yasaka?”
Paramour… Yasaka would throw a fit if he called her that - wife was the bare minimum as far as she was concerned. Soulmate, divinely ordained love of his life, the Kushinada-hime to his Susanoo… to name a few of the titles Yasaka used to describe them. And, while quite melodramatic, what else was he to expect from a four-hundred-year-old theater kid?
“Yeah…” he said cautiously.
His father then slowly turned to Tiamat.
“And… you’re aware of this other woman? You approve?”
Dear Lucifer, he had never seen his father looking so uncertain and skeptical in his life. As if the man expected Tiamat to burst into tears and denounce him as some sort of cheating scum taking advantage of multiple women and leading them on for his own depraved pleasure.
And, while there was certainly much depraved pleasure involved and, depending on technical definitions of the word, some cheating - Ichigo never led either Tiamat or Yasaka on! There was no deception of any kind on his part, thank you very much!
Satan need not hide his marital affairs.
Nevertheless, Ichigo found himself quickly reaching under the table for Tiamat’s hand. And the moment he grasped her fingers in his, well… suffice it to say, he did not like the sudden predatory spark in her eyes.
“I bear his infidelities with patience” she said, averting her eyes from his father, as if she were admitting some great shame. “I do not wish to lose him, and I know I would if I forced him to choose between myself and Yasaka. But do not blame him!” And she suddenly turned back towards his father with her voice wavering with just a hint of pleading. “It is mine own fault for being enamored with him beyond sense and reason.”
Slowly, painfully, his father’s neck craned in his direction, and he leveled Ichigo with the most severe, judgmental glare he had ever seen from the man. For his own part, Ichigo could not help the slow twitch at the corner of his eye.
Because he could very clearly sense the laughing gurgle of water in his head.
“You.” And horrifyingly enough, his father’s eyes colored with his spiritual energies as outrage and indignation erupted from his soul.
“Wait! No! Dad!” Ichigo raised a hand in defense, desperately switching between gazing horrified at his father and sending imploring looks in Tiamat’s direction.
“You no-good, scoundrel of a son!” His father said loudly as he slammed his hand against the table, causing all the bowls and silverware to jump and clink against the wood. “How dare you act so despicably! Taking advantage of women? You even dared to lie to me last time, saying you had a mutual understanding? I didn’t raise you like this! What would your mother say!”
Ichigo flinched; that last point hit a little too close for comfort.
“I cannot believe that - ”
But his father was cut off mid-tirade as Tiamat abruptly said, “I jest.”
“Eh?” His old man looked at her in surprise.
Tiamat let out a small, musical laugh and then reached up and gently patted Ichigo’s hair.
“Yes, admittedly, I would greatly prefer to have him to myself,” she said with laughter in her voice. “But I existed long before humans even had a word for marriage or a concept of monogamy. I no more resent him than I do Yasaka. Loathe that I am to admit, I may even be growing fond of his fox.”
His father’s mouth fell open, but then he quickly pinched the bridge of his nose and let out long-suffering sigh.
“Damn near gave me a stroke,” he muttered.
Ichigo let out a sigh of his own. “Welcome to the club,” he said dryly. “She’s been driving me nuts ever since I met her.”
“And you would have it no other way,” Tiamat said smugly.
And no, he wouldn’t. She did drive him crazy, and he loved every second of it. Ichigo would be bored out of his mind without Tiamat constantly challenging him and pushing him to the edge. That tug and pull between them is what helped light the fires of passion between them.
Briefly, he raised their enjoined fingers and kissed the back of her hand.
With another sigh, his father said, “And is it safe to assume that this Yasaka of yours would say much the same?”
Ichigo gave a nod as he said, “She would. The three of us had a very long conversation about where we all stand, multiple ones at this point. In fact, we were just together yesterday, before Tiamat and I arrived here.”
His father leveled him with a gaze before jutting his chin in Tiamat’s direction. “Is she also prone to handing out heart attacks like this?”
Ichigo let out a chuckle. “In more ways than one.” Yasaka certainly had her own mischievous side, though she was much more subtle about it than Tiamat was. Yasaka would insert unseen wordplays and double meanings whenever the mood struck. She was a lifelong career politician, after all.
“Strange it may seem,” Tiamat then said, her voice dipping kind and soft, “your son has stepped well outside the traditions of the human world. But fret not, he retains the considerate and compassionate nature he has always held at his core.”
His looked between the two of them before folding his arms and leaning back. “No, I get it. Trust me, I grew up amongst the high nobility of Soul Society. It’s not of the ordinary for powerful nobles to have concubines or multiple spouses.”
He then gave Ichigo a flat glare. “But you damn well better treat them right! If I even catch whiff of you harassing these poor girls, I’ll beat you into an early grave myself!”
Ichigo snorted, poor girls his blasphemous ass! One of them was the mythical empress of the entire country they lived in and the other was a millennia old primordial dragon!
“You and what army?” Ichigo shot back. “But yeah, you don’t need to tell me. They’re everything to me; I’d do anything to keep them safe and happy.”
The older Kurosaki gave him an approving nod. “So, when can I meet this Yasaka of yours? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you mentioning she has a daughter of her own. How does she fit into your relationship?”
“Kunou’s an absolute delight,” Ichigo said without hesitation. “She’ll charm your heart right from under your nose, I guarantee it. As for when you can meet them…” Ichigo trailed off as he scratched his chin and considered certain things.
He didn’t want to tell his father about his marriage to Yasaka just yet. Chiefly because he wanted Yasaka to be there herself when he did so, that was a conversation they should have with his family as husband and wife. It would be beyond disingenuous, not to mention disrespectful, for Ichigo to unveil that secret with Tiamat by his side and Yasaka miles away in Kyoto.
The second reason being Ichigo knew his father too damn well. The man would, understandably, kick up a storm and drag him all the way to Kyoto to forcibly be introduced to his sudden daughter-in-law and step-granddaughter. And, unfortunately, Yasaka had enough trouble on her hands without the melodrama that was old Goat-Face.
“Yasaka is actually in the middle of a lot of stuff right now,” Ichigo said. “She works for the government and has an incredible number of responsibilities.”
Another half-truth, but, again, the full introductions would best be done face to face. Yasaka would want to make the absolute best (read grand) impression that she could. Spoiled princess that she was…
“By the way,” Ichigo said, deciding to change the subject from his love-life, “we’re going to need to have a different conversation very soon.”
One of his father’s eyebrows rose curiously. “What kind of conversation?”
“The kind that involves Hat-n-Clogs.”
His father’s expression immediately fell. “Oh. Joy.”
His sentiments exactly. But with the Shinto pantheon inching closer and closer to civil war by the day, Ichigo wanted his friends and family in mortal Japan to be as safe and secure as possible. He trusted his father and Urahara to keep Yuzu and Karin safe, but still, there was no need for them to be caught by surprise. Ichigo would fill them in on all relevant information. Amaterasu would not begrudge him that, of that he was certain.
Especially with the Soul King restored to his pinnacle strength and the threat of the failing barriers between the living and the dead no longer existing.
“When do you want to do that?”
Ichigo shrugged. “I was thinking tonight? I’m taking the girls to the beach once they wake up though.”
His father scratched his chin. “Oh yeah, they did mention that you said something like that. But sure, tonight is fine. How long are you staying for?”
“I’ll be returning tomorrow.”
His father looked surprised. “So soon?”
Ichigo nodded even as he gave a tired sigh. “As it is, I’ve also got a pretty packed schedule. Lots of things going on in the Underworld these days. I just stopped by for a quick vacation and to keep my promise to the girls.”
“I see… is everything alright?” His father asked, a touch of concern entering his voice.
“Honestly?” Ichigo said with a bit of ironic humor. “No. But things are under control. At least as much as they can be. I’ve got a good support group down there, and I’ve recently made a really cool friend.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” Thoughts drifting towards Set, Ichigo recalled how calm and collected the ancient divine was. Even his touch of dry wit and humor. “I think you’d get along great with him; like I said, he’s really cool.”
“You’ll have to introduce me someday then,” his father said lightly. “After I’ve met Yasaka.”
“Oh, definitely after.” Yasaka would strangle him otherwise.
“Anyways, I’m glad we had this talk, son.” And then he turned his head and gave Tiamat a respectful bow of the head. “You as well, Tiamat-sama.”
“Sama?” Ichigo repeated incredulously.
His father gave him a pointed glare. “She is the mother of Lord Ryūjin; I’m damn well giving her the respect she deserves, you unfilial brat.”
Tiamat let out an amused purr. “Well, we can confidently surmise your irreverence does not stem from your father, beloved.”
Which prompted his father to snort. “Oh no, that’s his mother through and through. She mellowed out in college, but she was a bundle of sass and cutting bite when she was a teenager.”
Ichigo rolled his eyes, but at the same time, felt a pang of satisfaction in knowing his father saw his mother in him. He always assumed he was nothing like the woman in his memories.
“When are you thinking of heading off to the beach, by the way? The girls won’t be up for a couple more hours and it’s an hour’s drive to the ocean,” his father said.
“Actually, since we’re on the subject, I thought I’d stop by and visit mom while I’m in town.”
His father paused momentarily, but then a warm smile touched his lips. “Yeah, you go do that. It’s good you’re visiting her more frequently, she’d appreciate it.”
Tiamat squeezed his hand briefly, and Ichigo sent her a loving gaze.
“Anyways,” Ichigo said, “Tiamat and I will be back soon. Shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
And as the two of them got up from the table, his father called after them, “Bring flowers!”
=======
Ichigo stood silently before his mother’s grave while a gentle wind stirred at his back, carrying with it the scent of earthen rain from the heavy storm clouds that circled the distant horizon. Yet, strangely enough, the skies directly above the cemetery hill remained clear and blue, allowing the warmth of sunlight to spill softly across the grass and stone. And the Sun’s touch felt gentle and comforting on his shoulders as he stood there, somber.
Several paces behind him, Tiamat stood in silent vigil. It was a false semblance of privacy, given that there was no such thing between them, melded as their minds were, but still: he appreciated the sentiment behind her actions.
Absently, his gaze moved from the carved characters of her name to the thin trails of smoke rising from the lit incense. As it drifted lazily upward, his eyes slowly followed the trail until he looked past the back wall and its neatly cut grass; and he found tall blooms of pale asphodel flowers swaying gently in the drops of drizzle the wind carried.
A faint smile touched Ichigo’s lips then, small and yet profoundly evocative.
“Hi mom,” he said quietly to her. “It’s been a while.”
The wind picked up and whipped gently around him, carrying down the air warmed by the sun’s radiance.
“It’s been a few months since my last visit, but honestly it feels like a lifetime. So much has happened since I was last home, so much has changed. I, uhh, met your Quincy ancestor. Our ancestor, I should say.” And golden eyes with four pupils each flashed through his mind. “What a rollercoaster that was. He’s… not what I imagined. You know, in a weird way, he kind of reminded me of you.”
Ichigo briefly looked towards the sky, staring directly into the sun and its blinding radiance, before casting his gaze back down onto the earth. “He cares. He cares a lot… about everyone. And he’s willing to sacrifice everything about himself if it means protecting everyone.”
A petal from the asphodel flowers came loose and drifted through the wind, landing briefly on his shoulder before being carried away into the sky.
“Just like you,” Ichigo said so quietly, the sound was drowned in the whispers of the wind. A heavy moment came, and for a brief second, everything became still. But then Ichigo took a deep breath and let it out, and the world seemed to move again.
“He’s been shouldering everything for so long, by himself, without a complaint or asking for anything in return.” And Ichigo gave a small, humorless laugh. “He’s strong in the ways that matter. Stronger than anyone else I’ve ever met. But… between you and me, he also seemed kind of lonely. I mean, you’d have to be: spending eternity unmoving, watching all of time pass you by as you held everything in place. That being said, he’s one of those changes I was talking about. He’s changed. And everything around him by consequence.”
Ichigo fell silent once more as his eyes dimmed while his thoughts drifted toward the terrible cost that accompanied the Soul King’s restoration. Though the Shinto afterlife was finally balanced and set firm for the first time since Izanami’s demise, that salvation came at the cost of the inevitable annihilation of Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, where every soul dwelling within those realms would be stripped back to their most primal state and robbed of the identities they had spent decades to centuries forging.
It was the spiritual equivalent of a genocide.
And it was inevitable, axiomatic.
Unless he took the Soul King’s mantle.
But then, what were the consequences of Satan becoming King of the Dead? Of joining the Shinto pantheon? What of the Crown Princes and the afterlife they wished to create with their own apotheosis? An afterlife for the Devil race finally freed from the clutches of Hell. How could he be all of that? How could he keep the two mythos separate?
Does that not mean the myths of Satan can change too?
Ichigo let out a slow breath as Set’s words rang firm in his mind.
“I made a new friend,” he said to his mother’s grave, and he sensed Tiamat stir from behind him. “Well, I’ve only actually met him once, but I’d like to think of us as friends. In fact, I have this feeling we’re going to be good friends in the future. We seem to have a lot in common. And he’s given me some really great advice.
“Do you remember when you used to read stories to me, Yuzu and Karin? How, sometimes, you made small twists and changes when reading the same stories, and then we’d get excited and say ‘That’s not how the story goes!’ and you’d laugh and ask us, ‘What if?’”
Ichigo reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette. Putting it in his mouth, he lit its tip with a small flame from his fingers and took a long drag before exhaling black ash into the clear sky above. The odd and unnatural smoke quickly scattered in the watery winds and the bright rays of the sun, but then Ichigo reached out with his magic and grabbed all the scattered motes. He pressed them into an ashen shape and set it drifting solid through the sky.
“I think I’m going to make some edits and changes to the story mom: I’m going to ask my own what ifs and write the answers at the same time.” Ichigo gave an amused chuckle. “Sorry if that sounds a bit presumptuous, but hey - who’s gonna stop me?”
Ichigo took another drag of his cigarette before casting an apologetic look at his mother’s name. “Dad said you’d probably kick my ass if you ever saw me smoke. For what it’s worth though, it’s not like they can kill me. But, either way, sorry for turning out to be a smoker, mom.”
He then checked the position of the sun and saw that it was creeping towards high noon. Ichigo let out a sigh and ran one hand through his hair. “Sorry, but it looks like it’s time for me to go. I promised to take Yuzu and Karin to the beach, hopefully they’re awake now. But I’ll be back soon, bye mom.”
With one final, longing gaze, Ichigo turned around and strode away from his mother’s grave, his long strides carrying towards a patient Tiamat who stood with a hint of sorrow in her expression.
Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight hug, burying her head against his chest, and he responded with an arm around her waist and planting a firm kiss against her hair.
Gently rubbing her back with one hand, while holding the cigarette far away to avoid dropping hot ash on her, Ichigo gently said, “Come on, let’s head back.”
=======
As both Ichigo and Tiamat returned home, they found his two sisters eating a late breakfast at the dining table in a similar fashion to how he, Tiamat and his father had just earlier in the morning.
“Good morning, onii-chan!” Yuzu greeted enthusiastically. “Would you like some breakfast?”
Shaking his head, Ichigo said, “No thanks, we already ate.”
“Where did you go?” Karin asked in between mouthfuls.
“I went to see mom,” he said honestly, causing both of his younger sisters to freeze in place for a moment.
Karin blinked at him for a second before her brows furrowed. “You should have told us, we’d have gone with you,” she muttered quietly.
“You were knocked out cold,” he responded dryly. “Besides, I’m leaving tomorrow and wanted to make the most of what time I have. We are still going to the beach, yeah?”
“You’re leaving tomorrow?” Yuzu asked with a heavy frown, dejection coloring her voice.
Ichigo nodded helplessly. “Unfortunately, yeah. Too much to do at work, things keep piling up these days. But never mind that. It’ll be noon soon; we should leave for the beach once you’re done with your breakfast.”
Karin looked at him suspiciously for a long moment, and Ichigo had to withhold a snort of amusement because he knew his sister was perceptive enough to pick up there was more to his story than just work. Karin had inherited their father’s good eye. Nevertheless, Ichigo felt comfortable spinning half-truths to his family for the time being, especially with the Devil Empire embroiled in a civil war.
Again, he was certain that his father, Urahara and the other Shinigami and Visored residing in Karakura could protect the town adequately, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take any precautions. Before leaving, he’d weave a few magical protections around the house and the twins.
“How are we going to get to the beach?” Karin then asked. “If we’re taking a train, we’ll have to take one line to Tokyo and then another separate one to the coast. Unless you’re paying for a taxi, which would be incredibly expensive from here to there and then back.”
Ichigo stared blankly for a few seconds, his mind grinding to a halt.
Oh.
He hadn’t thought about that at all. He had become so accustomed to teleporting that he had utterly forgotten about human forms of transportation. The trains would take too long, especially since they’d have to wait in Tokyo for route that went towards the coaster areas. And, rich as Hell he may be – pun intended – he was not about to burn needless cash on a back-and-forth ride.
Huh, quite the conundrum he found himself in.
“Uhh… I’ll drive us there?”
Both Yuzu and Karin gave him puzzled looks.
“I didn’t see your car parked in front of the clinic, onii-chan,” Yuzu said with confusion.
“I parked down the street,” he said, the lie coming smooth and easy. “I didn’t want to take up any space dad’s patients may need. Speaking of which, is he in clinic right now?”
“Yeah, since it’s a weekday, he has his entire day booked,” Karin said. “Most of the neighborhood comes to him since the wait times at the hospital keep getting longer.”
Ichigo nodded to her even as he sighed inwardly, his attempt to change the subject succeeded flawlessly.
Not wanting to risk any other potential holes in his visit, Ichigo quickly said, “Anyways, we’ll be in my room. Let me know once you guys are ready to leave.” And with that, he grabbed the silently laughing Tiamat by the hand and all but fled up the stairs.
As he closed his bedroom door behind him, he turned around to see his Dragon smiling knowingly.
“What?”
Tiamat let out a dark chuckle as she tilted her head, her white mane pooling to one side in the motion. “It is impressive how easily they can unnerve you.” She then reached out and tapped a condescending finger against his cheek. “My mythical tyrant wound around the fingers of two young girls.”
He scowled immediately. “They don’t unnerve me.”
She raised a challenging eyebrow. “But they have you wound around their fingers then?”
He rolled his eyes, having no response to her accusation because, yes, they did. Ichigo was self-aware enough to admit he had a very difficult time saying no to either of his sisters. Even in his younger years when he purposely acted gruff, he could never truly deny them anything when they asked him sincerely.
The same was true even now.
Tiamat picked the thought from his mind and laughed. But she then turned towards his bed and opened the large window in his room, allowing the fresh air to breathe through his personal space.
“I shall stretch my wings for a moment; I have missed the skies of the Earth,” she said over her shoulder.
Ichigo frowned and said, “Hold up there, beautiful. No thunderstorms. Yuzu and Karin have been looking forward to this trip for several weeks now and I don’t want to ruin their day.”
She gave him a patronizing look. “I shall behave, beloved.” And with that, she launched herself into the sky even as she made herself invisible to mortal eyes and instruments.
Ichigo silently watched as her glinting cerulean scales disappeared over the horizon in an instant. He then took out his phone and made a quick call to Meril.
In a single ring she answered. “Greetings, my Prince.”
“Hey Meril,” he answered. “I, uhh, promised my sisters I’d take them somewhere and I need a car for mortal roads and cities.”
“Of course, my Prince. Would you like a sedan or an SUV?”
Ichigo paused for a moment as he thought about it; they might need the extra trunk space for umbrellas and coolers. “An SUV please, Meril.”
“Very well, it shall be in front your father’s clinic within the minute.”
“Wait, no!” he said quickly. That would skewer his earlier lie. “Have it parked down the street.”
“Of course, sire. Will you require anything else?”
“No, thanks Meril. You’re the best.”
“I live to serve.”
And with that, Ichigo promptly hung up and put his phone back in his jeans. He then took in a deep breath of the fresh outdoor air, a hint of ozone wafting into his nose, no doubt the lingering presence of his soaring girlfriend.
Feeling rather tranquil, Ichigo lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. He’d take a quick nap while Yuzu and Karin finished their breakfast and then went to get ready and pack for their road trip. Honestly, he needed the down time. He had to admit to himself that he’d been working overtime these last several weeks. Not just fighting on the frontlines but also managing his territory and personally giving guidance to Sona and Rias and their respective peerages.
He was wearing a bit thin these days.
As the minutes passed, Ichigo found himself drifting closer and closer into the realm of dreams. Maybe he should pay a visit to Set? He’d like to get to know the ancient immortal better, and not just for the incredible wisdom and knowledge he candidly offered. Ichigo genuinely liked the Egyptian.
However, just as his mind began drifting away from the physical world, a sudden but soft weight pounced onto his chest and Ichigo’s lids immediately snapped open… only for him to find himself peering up into a pair of large, yellow eyes.
“Hey there, kiddo,” a distinctly masculine voice said.
And Ichigo smiled wide.
“Hey there, Yoruichi.”
=======
A/N: Not much happening here, very slice of life chapter. We'll get back into the swing of heavier topics post-Beach fun when Ichigo sits down with Urahara, Isshin and the rest. The most pivitol part was Ichigo speaking to Masaki and admitting to her he's not content to follow the patterns of the past and is willing to change and rewrite the myths of Satan. Which is a stark contrast to Cao Cao who is entrenched in the classic roles of Heroes and Demon Kings. Ophis with them burns though...
Fun fact, Asphodels are the sacred flowers of Hades. Obviously, Tiamat was there physically, but also reflected in the wind and weather, Amaterasu/Yasaka were present metaphorically/spiritually in the warmth of sunlight falling down on Ichigo and Masaki's grave. The Asphodels were symbolic of Hades and the Soul King and the positioning of the flowers was their silent encouragement for Ichigo to look past the grave.
Yoruichi is back! Beach episode with Yoruichi and Tiamat?