In Parley to Everything that had Come

Sky, still blindingly red. In a way, flowing richly with arcane energy.

Yuuki, still donning Toru disguise Ohto made for him. A Liminal, a being that is not a human, they cannot feel emotion and cannot lie. Then what's worse is that they have something else human doesn't have, a magic, a power that is outside the realm of science.

Both are a case of causation, a usage arose from where the dim would bore themselves. Finally, with the sky this rich in arcane, they can purify the stone to their liking, appraising to what they promised to the client.

Thus, they put their gear in overdrive. They navigated their way to their base of operation, the school's science lab. To say, purification of the stone required flowing arcane energy, incantation and medium that can accept it.

The stone, he had hid it, beach stone — mostly pumice — from a particular volcanic spot on a box stored with the lab cabinet. Purified stone also stored in separate box, tucked neatly as not to be discovered easily.

But since the cult had broken it and there is no way to sell those, they need to remake one. He had prepared a written incantation with multiple stone surrounded by glass pebble.

Another factor would be for the incantation to actually goes off, that would be the job of Ohto. Who had been sitting intently, as he shut his eyes, whiling away the times on his eyelid.

"If I may put my two cents, you should've accepted the offer. I'm sure we could find way to finish the job."

Yuuki stopped with a discernible groan. "Yes, I aware, I just can't decide without you."

"Ought to put yourself first, sir," he said, eyes slightly turned. He watched as his friend worked to fulfil the client request.

But something tug him, he turned to the doorway. Where he saw the afterimage of someone. Certainly not human from what's happening.

"Who's that?"

He tutted as he turned to face Yuuki, "just your imagination, my liege."

"Why, my liege?" he asked, genuinely curious why he suddenly called him that. It was very sudden, but, Oh, "well, I won't prod if you don't. Let's finish this first."

"Yes, be it then."

Standing, Ohto tried to look closer toward Yuuki. Yuuki charged his face in behind, then stood up from where he was squatting. The sigil is like what he had witnessed from time to time they've been together.

He put his hand above it, indeed the sigil glowed, with another sigil appeared hovering above the stone. Then Yuuki palm cusped him. Yuuki isn't someone who had affinity for such thing, but he's the only who learn how to purify stone. Thus, only him who know where to direct arcane energy, to sand or polish the stone.

Or would it purify from the inside, then something bulging and destroyed the outside rink. If controlled, the whole will be converted with no loss. It may look like a crystal, but it was more apt to be described as a stone or a pebble, like those man-made stone found ashored.

The assortment of it had to combine, moulded into something larger, then shrink like they had been concentrated. It was first glowing bright, like ewe's cheese with high fat.

Then it subsided, revealing that indeed the stone is blustering gleam of muted pink colour, like a flower, mauve as one would call. It was pretty, the prettiest they had ever made. So pure, not a single speck of stone was trapped inside, it wasn't cloudy either. It bordered to crystal, straight into single grain crystal with how ridiculously clear it was.

It invited a certain amazement to them both. Who had not, never, even imagined making such thing. Theirs was set on just pure stone, never imagined such dare beauty.

The ground shook beneath them. They quickly scrambled to hide their work. Looking outside to see a tentacle growing from the bay. It was very dark, that outline was visible against the dimly lit building.

--§--

"You sure okay leaving them both?" The dark-skinned man said.

"It's okay. Their choice for not following us." Shimizu followed with explanation, "This altar, they might watch it. But it doesn't matter really. As long as one would be culled, they will be happy."

She graced the water surrounding the altar. It was set in the middle of the gulf, about 500-600 meters off the coast.

"How the Saintess concerned"

"She said she awaits the communiquer person."

"As expected of her." She exhaled. "We cannot break this chance. As dubious as Nozomi is, she's the only one capable and willing to do create the environment for us."

Then she took a stride forward, followed by Marius. To where tentacle had grown from the bay, reaching high into the sky, visible even from the mountain across the water. Each tentacle was made of mist-mass with an unknowable gale churning within it, crawling to occupy the hollow bell of calling.

And there was the Saintess, as expected. She has been walking slowly, flanked by 2 robed figures.

The mist, it coiled, truly, of ever steps She made. Its shape, like countless thousands of gossamer-thin limbs in and about. Fingers curled, splayed, stretched, grasped and responding like a manic to Her ultimate presence. The air around felt too thick, but also thin in a way it tasted like 10-yen coin left to rot in water then bite one's teeth into.

The mist drew back from Her path, perhaps to give way for Her out of respect or just pure fear. And despite the distance, whispers reached even across the beach: a low droning hum braided with a thousand wailing cries.

"Ohto, what's that?" A person, an onlooker who peeks from that beach, asked another peeping tom.

"A spirit of sorts… I can't fathom what they're trying to do…!"

Those gibberishes by the lowlands reached Her. She smiled, knowingly, like She had foreseen them. Like it was a primordial instinct to such thing.

Her breath came in controlled multitudes. Her hand reached toward the appendages that kept drawing away from Her touch, recoiling like living things.

Behind Her, the 2 robed figure stepped forward once more. Her gaze never left the mist when She spoke, "Nanoka, a beauteous name. Ichiha, she is proud for thee."

Nanoka feet had been dangling on herself. She wasn't sure if she had made the proper choice.

The Saintess sighed. "Many things are, which byway I would not provide out of principle; wherein thou seekest to act of thine own discretion as befits a child."

Shimizu butted in to explain: "Are you sure that you will be in good term?"

"That, I must…" Nanoka responded.

"O, my, the apostle hath followed us hither," the Saintess quipped. Then Her mouth followed, "tis place doth what sayest she? In sooth, mine station is to ensure happenstance becometh a happy one. In one wish, I give help to finish. Nay — the one most contributing is but my sister and thou, Nanoka."

Shimizu smiled, better keep it up. "You will soon found the truth about your family." A declaration of promise was let out.

But did it not quell any of Nanoka uneasiness. It also in a way was a fragile upbringing. Her gaze fixated, screening across the room: Marius, Shimizu, the Saintess, herself and Ichiha, her daughter. They all share the same stare.

Like they wanted to affirm something.

She would be the sacrificial lamb.

A new member to the cult, suddenly thrusted to be one culled.

"No!" A hand, not mist, not black. An indubitably peach-colored human hand reached from one corner of the ritual space. Someone was forcing his way through the barrier.

"Ah," the Saintess clasped Her hands together. "A rascal ought not intrude upon this sacred rite."

Her dominant arm raised slowly, which is both. That is when a sudden limb spurt from behind her, launching to the intruder.

"Don't you said you will not disturb us!" Ichiha stomped the ground furiously, making the limb withered away. Her neck glow in response, so bright it cast into the robe within, and something similar diffused within the chest area of her mother, where her heart are, in a way, synced. Both eyes are bright pink, with Nanoka was maddening silence respoise, while Ichiha with scoungeful one, both face wasnt like theirs anymore.

"Now, my child. Let not anger be wrought through thy being."

Ironic, he snarled.

"No! I never said that! Ichiha, please understand me!" Yuuki shouted, his face visibly red and strained.

"Toru, please. This is what I choose to be…" Ichiha's voice became small and quivering, her face tilted down so the robe's hood shadowed it completely.

What it become was a silence, unable to reach for words. His face just strained, like downing black tea.

Then footsteps announcing arrivals. "I found someone snooping around," Nozomi said, dragging with her Ohto.

Yuuki tutted, Ohto got captured, meaning their plan failed, whatever it was. He needed something to save her.

But why was he even trying to save her?

He didn't have feelings. Not as a human would. He was something else, something hollow where emotions should be.

Yet something deeper than feeling urged him forward. Not out of love or duty. Something older, buried beneath the absence where his heart should beat. An instinct that predated thought itself. It would turn the body forwards before the mind understands why.

His hand was still reaching through the barrier.

He couldn't stop it.

He didn't want to stop it.

Whatever he wasn't — whatever had been carved out of him — this one thing remained: the need to pull her back from the edge, even if he couldn't name why it mattered.

Or why does and when it mattered.

How it is now, what he need to do.

"Run!" Ohto shrieked.

Then his feet move, passing from barrier Ohto help lowered. Maybe, maybe, Ichiha is his friend, in a way friend would help each other. Innately a mutual benefit that goes beyond the conscious land. It must fuelled his muscle that it feel so exhilarating. Smog of limb trailing behind him, trying to stop him, but was falling off.

"Ichiha!!" He screamed.

Nozomi and others were quick on their feet. The Saintess erect a barrier, while those who were important for the ritual guided toward their accord.

Nozomi blade found its mark on the air before him. She was quick on her feet to reclaim by his spot. Wind generated pushing her forward toward him, although slightly hindered by the limb who was trying to catch him.

Annoying!

Then water almost hit her way, it was from Shimizu who also trying to keep him at bay.

"Fangirl, please, this is my prey!"

Shimizu heed to the request, while also shaking her head.

While Yuuki launched his fist toward the barrier, though no dent to be made. More because it was made of thousands of appendages than it is strong. But it did send him away. Which she capitalized by intercepting his way.

He quickly recovered and move midair making her miss him by a grain. Then come a hollering sound from below, where robed figures had starting to pour in. Multiple if not tens of beast who Ohto had faced before, grown from the earth.

Seems that both in perils, where Ohto had been cornered.

"Ohto!" Yuuki shouted. He controlled his body to launch toward the gorges of crystal creature below him, barely missing Nozomi.

It create crater of waterbed from where the stone break.

"Ah, you made it at last!" One shouted, with sounds similar to the robed figures Ohto had faced before.

"Now, now… that alas, you won't make it more than that!" Another declared with arm wide in the air. Those same arm motion toward him like a leader of fireteam: "Fiend, make sure they're ravaged for good!"

Shrieking sound can be heard as they're reassmbleing to the former shape they had, as they had once destroyed by Yuuki fist.

"Really, annoying," Nozomi huffed from above. She quickly land before the robed figures.

"Oh! Saintess' Grace, sorry that I—"

"No need."

The robed figures stand frozen, while Nozomi gaze lingered on Ohto.

Yuuki instinctively blocked her vision with his own striking gaze. They both can see their own reflection amid the dim sky. Nozomi face snarled, seeing Yuuki valiant effort.

He charged first. Followed by her, twirling her scythe.

Her faster speed allowed her to meet him in instant. He remembered and managed to riposte one of her attack with a shield magic.

Ohto helped to supply him with incantation, which he used to enhance the strength of his punch. Which hit Nozomi abdomen caused a blood to come off her mouth. Then a slash kick into her upper body and an upper cut into her chin.

She got launched, but she laughed. Bruise and tattered clothing, they regenerated back to the original state.

She's vampire dang it! Yuuki cursed.

Unbenknownst to him, the wolf had drawn in and bites Ohto. He looked back into Ohto who yelping pain of cries.

Then swing, swung. Followed by appendages tossing him around, to say he was bleeding is an understatement. Only bone was keeping him intact, no flesh connected. Just disintegrating between each slash.

Ohto watched it, mind arose bitter from his bitten hand. His mouth was now gaping open, to see his friend brutally mutilated in macabre show of death.

Nozomi land beside him, having finished said work: "That's what you get if you made foray against me." She spat blood. "You, will be a prisoner of war, I think."

It was drones for him, his mind racing back and forward. Cradling toward the the rumination of his friend's breath, who breathing softly, despite having basically no flesh.

Nozomi sighed: "If you can't bear your friend death, then a death for you will make you close again."

"You've done enough, Nozomi." Shimizu finally said. "With that, please return at once, we need your presence."

Nozomi spat again at the ground before Ohto.

--§--

Shimizu and Nozomi entered into the inner of the monster, where red moving gossamer of thin making the shape of iris gazing into every figure in this room.

It closed its eyes just as they entered. While the Saintess stood at the centre of the circular room. Robed figure surrounding her.

A humdrum can be heard, harmonising to each other. Two figure made itself known. Nanoka and Ichiha, the newly minted member of the church. The purest of them. With their bright pink eyes, that is unique.

A perfect fit for life beyond. A world where she finally found her calling. Nanoka, the only mother to a child called Ichiha. She who had devoted her life to be a good parent to her. Sought to always make her happy.

Ichiha, a daughter whom she loved so much. The happiest ever she had. But also whose cast the most grievest into her heart, simply because she saw herself unfit.

Both make a unit, Momiji family.

And soon they faced their god. An arm made of throngs of smaller limb. The Saintess, the apostles, the cardinals, the dean, bedight with their respective robe, delight the nightless sky, and drowned in befitting tears of theirs.

Soon found its awe in a play of both hopes and fear. The hand, they writhed, writhed and writhed amid the mimic rout. But see for the crawling shapes had intruded into the very central by design.

Ichiha hesitated, like a girl that she was.

But Nanoka, a: "smile dear"

It was a coming. A sacrifice that was worth it, welcomed with every waking of an open arm. The limb, from nowhere but everywhere, every once and every time, every thing to in between. It was truly a god, an omniscient being that ravages the liminal world. Indeed, they are revered, a reminder that whatever it is: Liminal, Child, the bearer of Child, ghost, weaver, and the hosts. They are a psychosis effect of mind in derilium.

Then.

A large monstrous hand grown from the smog, grabbing her, drawing open her sacrificial robe. Dozens of smaller thousands smaller limb grown, touching every exposed skin and into her nerve, like it ought to examine her. Seeing the presence of what to be assumed as a present, sacrificial lamb once willed.

But she, the offering, smiled. She felt like she, in parley to everything that had come, reached the true path.

A certainty utmostly free, at last. To whatever came next, whatever this is, it will soon take her. And to see which is to her, a daughter, namely Ichiha, happy.

Indeed, her daughter smiled in return, in resolution. As she watched her mom becoming one with the creature. The only attachment that she is her mom is the beautiful pink iris she had. Which slowly covered by the black mist of the creature.

Her mom smiled in return, a joyous cry, of frustration, a sadness.

Then a flail, a wail and a scream, and it shouted a horror. Her mom hark back agony that echoed throughout the dominion.

Ba dump.

"MOM!"

She ran toward—

No, she stayed, she couldn't move her leg. Why is she helping a stranger. No, that stranger is her mom!

No!

No!

Wasn't she?

A construct of mom is someone who gives birth to you, who care for you through most of your life. Nanoka, yes, she's Ichiha's mom. She needed to help her!

Why is she helping her mother? She's the one making her lonely! She's the one killing her father! Not only that, but she's the worst mother she ever had!

Or is she the one that help her find a friend? That accompanied her despite being a single-mother? That help her, teach her everything: riding a bike, ordering a cup, speaking to friends?

Why is she… blank?
What is she thinking about?

Mom… right…

Who are you, O, mom…?
What are you…?

I don't…

No…
No……

Mom, please…
please, Ichiha need to remember…

…