Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.
Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.
The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.
"Speech"
Time*
Chapter 59: I Live, Somehow
"Greetings, Amaterasu. I am Chikao Fukui." I said calmly, suppressing the instinctive urge to equip every Pathway in a desperate bid for survival. Even the thought of releasing a fragment of the Sefirot lingered in my mind, yet I dared not. The slightest slip could risk Amaterasu becoming tainted by their essence, and that was a burden the world itself might not survive.
"Hm. Yes…" Amaterasu's voice was unhurried. Her yellow eyes narrowed, a faint shimmer of divine heat flickering within them as she studied me. "I can't quite see what's so special about you, other than the fact that your body is shifting so much, I'm getting a headache trying to focus on you." She tilted her head slightly. "Tell me, what is the reason for your sudden visit to my secluded shrine? I doubt anyone has set foot here for hundreds of years."
"Would you believe me if I said I simply wandered here… and somehow found myself standing before you?" I offered Amaterasu a bittersweet smile, the kind that hid more unease than I cared to admit.
The air smelled faintly of burned cedar and ancient incense, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered whether this shrine, worn and half-consumed by creeping vines, was even real or if it was some divine illusion woven to deceive mortal senses.
"Wouldn't be the first time, nor would it be the last." Amaterasu murmured, a lilting hum threading through her words. Her vulpine ears twitched as her gaze sharpened. "Tell me, Chikao Fukui… would you like to form a contract with me?"
The grin she offered was too wide, too radiant, and far too dangerous. My Spirituality screamed in the back of my mind, flaring like a warning bell: one wrong move, and I'll die.
"And pray tell." I replied, keeping my tone measured even as a bead of sweat slid down my neck. "What is this contract you're offering?"
Inside, I was mentally ready to equip all Pathways the instant Amaterasu showed even the faintest intent to strike.
"Simple." She said with an almost childlike brightness, tails flicking lazily behind her. "Give me food, and I shall act whenever you need someone killed." Her smile softened, though her eyes still burned like twin suns. "You'll have my blessing."
A sweatdrop rolled down my cheek as my mind spun.
Great… just what I needed. An overpowered Alucard, but in the form of Amaterasu herself.
"And…" I forced a dry chuckle, fixing Amaterasu with a flat, deadpan stare. "What kind of food would you want?"
Please don't say humans. For the love of everything sacred, don't say humans…
Amaterasu's grin widened. She remained silent for several heartbeats, the quiet of the shrine pressing in until she spoke.
"Three bowls of rice." She began softly, as though reciting a sacred rite. "Plus salt, water, dried bonito flakes, sea bream, seaweed, vegetables, fruit…" Her eyes glimmered with mirth as her tails swished behind her slowly. "…and three cups of sake."
I blinked slowly—once, twice, then thrice—trying to process the sheer weight of her offer.
"And what does this blessing entail?" I asked, voice steady despite the unease prickling at the back of my neck. "Also… how exactly would you kill someone when I need you to do so?"
What was left unsaid and, more importantly, how would I remove such a blessing if it ever turned against me?
Amaterasu's golden eyes softened, though her grin remained sharp. "You become immune to fire itself, and you gain the ability to conjure the flames of the sun as a means to kill." Her tail gave a single, deliberate flick, scattering a faint shimmer of foxfire into the air. "Any other questions?" She tilts her head. "Before you go on your way and gather my offerings?" A pause. Then she leaned forward slightly, her grin widening just enough to bare the faint glint of fangs. "Oh, right… I expect to receive my offering every single day before sunset—delivered to wherever you currently are."
Every day… no matter where I am.
Does that mean that through her blessing, she'll be able to track me anywhere? Could she simply reach out and snatch me from whatever corner of the world I'm in?
Or… perhaps she expected me to perform some kind of sacrifice ritual at a distance—an offering cast through a thin veil of the spiritual. If so, that would complicate things further. I'll have to draft more contingencies… plans within plans, layered like folded steel.
And then there was the blessing itself. Once I've run it through Computational Divination, I'll find a way to remove it or convert it into something on the line of a Beyonder Weapon.
"There isn't." I finally said aloud, keeping my tone calm. "And I'll do so."
Amaterasu's smirk deepened, predatory yet amused. She lifted her right hand and gave a casual wave, as though dismissing a servant—or perhaps granting a reprieve.
In that instant, the world twisted. My vision warped as if the air itself rippled like heated glass. A rush of searing light flared, followed by the scent of fire and salt.
And then—
The next thing I knew, I was standing once more in the overgrown courtyard of the abandoned shrine.
I took a slow breath, scanning the courtyard with careful eyes, making certain no trace of her remained, no shimmer of golden light. Only when I was sure did I turn away, slipping through the forest path that wound its way back toward civilization.
As I head back to the school.
But my mind refused to rest.
Wouldn't I be able to overthrow Amaterasu's domains once I reach Sequence 0: Sun?
The thought flickered in my mind like a dangerous spark. A Domain was not lightly challenged, yet the very nature of a Sequence 0, especially one that ascends me into godhood.
And another thing… would having her blessing bind me in subtle ways?
I frowned, feeling the hum of Spirituality.
Would it limit my access to certain Beyonder abilities beyond Sequence 9 of the Sun Pathway? Or worse… would it brand me as her agent, twisting higher abilities into something she could influence?
40 minutes later*
Back at the school infirmary, the first thing I noticed was the silence. No one here, which means they had long recovered and woke up, then left on their own. The room had been fully repaired, not a trace of the previous chaos left behind. Even the faint cracks in the walls were gone, replaced by smooth plaster and fresh paint.
The furniture was new, polished to a faint sheen. The medicine cabinets had been restocked with supplies that were far more expensive than anything the school usually procured. But the part that really made me narrow my eyes.
New hidden cameras.
Yeah. That seemed about right.
I let my gaze wander casually, but my senses swept every corner—behind the light fixtures, beneath the bed frames, even inside the vents. Not just mundane surveillance; through Coin Divination. I've located a few of these that had been planted by supernatural hands, masked by cloaking spells, sigils etched on their surfaces so subtly they'd fool most people.
I sighed through my nose. Switching my set of Pathways over to the Pathways: Justiciar, Black Emperor, and Chaos Mist.
A faint curl of gray smoke coiled around my fingers as I summoned a trace of the Sefirot: Nation of Disorder. The smoke hissed softly as it drifted outward, seeking the hidden devices like a living thing. One by one, their enchantments unraveled, and the cameras—mundane and magical alike—blinked out, sparks fading as the smoke devoured them.
When the last one fizzled into ash, the room felt lighter. Cleaner.
I brushed the remains from my hands and glanced around the infirmary once more.
Good. Now, no one's watching.
I switched back to my previous set of Pathways.
For a moment, I simply stood in the quiet infirmary, listening to the distant murmur of students in the halls. School hours still had a while to go. Technically, I was supposed to stay until the last bell rang before heading out again.
I paused, fingers drumming lightly against the edge of the desk.
Or… I could just leave now.
The thought lingered. The worst consequence? Administration might fire me, shuffle me to another position, or slap my wrist for "abandoning" my post. Hardly a threat. My current duties were nothing compared to the missions of the Order.
And let's be honest… I'm not exactly here because I wanted to be a nurse.
I glanced at the neatly arranged medicine cabinets.
This isn't about dressings and fevers. It's about maintaining a presence, observing, and acting when needed. The badge and uniform are just a cover.
Honestly, acting like a nurse or doctor would be required later on due to some specific Sequences.
Still, the logic spun circles in my mind. Leaving would be easy. Staying might avoid questions.
I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the counter, weighing the scales once more. A mission is a mission, but nowhere does it say I have to play nursemaid while doing it.
Outside, the bell rang faintly, signaling the end of a class period.
My lips curled into a thin smile.
I really need to stop doing an inner monologue so much.
I rub my forehead.
Time slips through my fingers whenever I start overthinking.
The thought barely finished before the infirmary door exploded inward.
"Chikao!"
Momoyo barreled through like a human typhoon, ripping the entire doorframe off its hinges as if it were made of paper. Wood splintered, the door screeched against the floor, and she tossed the wreckage aside with one hand as though clearing clutter. Her grin was wide and bright, eyes sparkling with barely contained energy.
"I want to go have fun before we go home!" She declared, hands on her hips.
I stared at her, a faint dread creeping down my spine. "And that would be…?"
With Momoyo, fun could mean anything from karaoke and street food to rooftop fistfights with local gangs.
My mind flashed through possibilities—most of them chaotic.
Yet, as her grin softened into something mischievous, I couldn't help but wonder if—just maybe—she had something different in mind this time. Or maybe… she really could surprise me.
"Let's go to this one place I know that lets you play with cats!" Momoyo announced, practically bouncing on her heels, her eyes gleaming with unrestrained excitement.
I blinked at her, caught off guard.
Of all the things she could've suggested… cats?
For a moment, I just stared speechlessly, processing the sudden whiplash from door‑wrecking chaos to feline therapy. Then I gave a small shrug, lips tugging into a faint, amused smile despite myself.
"Alright." I said, sliding my hands into my pockets. "But I've got to buy a couple of things first."
I stepped toward the window and glanced out. The sun was still hanging in the sky, golden light spilling over the rooftops.
I need to gather the offering for Amaterasu.
The thought tightened my chest. The last thing I wanted was to discover—through pain or disaster—what would happen if I failed to deliver her daily demand before sunset.
"Give me a few minutes." I added, turning back to Momoyo. "We'll head out after I take care of something important."
She tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes, but that bright smile never wavered. For once, her idea of fun might actually be… normal.
Well, better to get Amaterasu's offerings before sunset.