Their New Future | BOOK 2 OF THE ANOMALY SAGA

CHAPTER 10

[Time: Unknown. Location: The Holy Apostles Church, Athens, Greece.]

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Ms. Maka and Mr. Kanjiro. Mr. Suzuki had told me to contact you if something were to happen to Mr. Kurokawa. Was your journey safe?" Alden greeted the two Yakuza, who were both a bit unsettled. They were both criminals standing in front of a priest on holy grounds, but so was Father Alden.

...Technically.

"U-uh, yes, thank you, Father. Is the uh... boss doin' okay?"

Alden only nodded his head toward the basement.

"They've been unconscious for a while, but it seems the gods have answered in their favour. I hope you can keep them safe until they can be on their way again."

"The god's favour? What do you mean?"

They entered the giant underground lake, garnering the same reaction from the two that Ryū had.

"WOAH!" Kanjiro exclaimed a bit too loudly and earned himself a sharp jab in the rib.

"Be respectful." Maka sighed, her dark layered hair that sat shorter on her shoulders started to elongate, her daemon form coming out. She scratched at her chin and paused. Looking down at her hand, claws had started to grow and panic settled in, breaking her tight facade.

"WHAT THE F-" She screamed, jumping out her skin. Kanjiro only raised a brow before looking at himself, another scream rang out, followed by a loud bonk against the ceiling and another yell.

Alden shook his head, finding the interaction entertaining. He waited for them to catch up before they walked to the marble gazebo, where Ryū was covered by a peach, silk cloth, dyed crimson with blood.

Ryū, still in their daemon form, was covered in sweat, but it could've been water. It was hard to tell as their expression shifted from pain to comfort every couple seconds.

Alden carefully lifted the cloth, showing the two the gruesome scene.

"What the fuck?" Kanjiro covered his mouth, almost gagging at the sight of their boss' leftarm, which was regrowing at an alarming rate. The bones had regrown, nerves and muscles expanding and elongating as they moved into place with veins slowly growing across from their shoulder. Their leg however, kept spasming, as if it was being electrified as the muscles cramped visibly in their calf.

"Are... what's happening?"

Alden pursed his lips in thought as he covered their body again out of respect, as they weren't exactly modest.

"It seems they struck a deal with the gods above."

"Must've been a hell of a deal then... wasn't the injury because of a holy artefact? Excuse me if I'm uneducated on this, but... I thought a daemon could never recover from an injury from one of those artefacts?"

"No no, you are quite correct. I suppose this was Ryū's final hope to recover, but it must've come at a great cost to repair such damage." Alden frowned to himself as he rubbed his forearm, looking back at the two Yakuza who only looked remorseful.

"The gods must have a great use for them if they agreed to even talk to them."

"But what could they have possibly traded for something like that?"

.Before Maka and Kanjiro's arrival.
Ryū inhaled a sharp breath as they woke in the water, looking around in a panic until the voice returned.

YOU ARE A BEING THAT IS NEITHER GOOD, NOR BAD. YOUR FUTURE IS ROUGH BUT PROMISING. FOR YOUR STRENGTH IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE ABLE TO LIVE ON. THOUGH... IF YOU REMAIN ON THIS PATH OF DESTRUCTION, YOUR VESSEL WON'T EVER HEAL.

SO WE WILL RESTORE YOUR BODY AND MIND.

BUT ONLY FOR A COST.

THE COST OF YOUR MEMORIES AND WORTH.

Wait!

Do you not wish for this, my child?

No, I... which memories?

Those that have caused you the most grief. Those painful experiments. Your life as Yūta Tachibana and Ryū Kuromiya. Even that cursed half daemon, Yua Miyazaki. We intend to remove them for your benefit.

Wait! But... my son, he deserves to know when he grows up. I... You can remove them from me, I can't think of her, just make sure that... that i'll have a way to tell him when he's of age.

...

Your kin? Now that is a powerful soul indeed. Not as intense as your own, but he is quite gifted. Alright, we have agreed to your terms.

...

YOU WILL NO LONGER BE REMEMBERED BY THOSE OF YOUR PAST IDENTITIES, INCLUDING THE ACHIEVMENTS YOU HAVE MADE. WE WILL ONLY SPARE YOUR IDENTITY AS RYŪ KUROKAWA AND ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH THAT IDENTITY. IT WILL BE A FRESH START, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.

Is there anything else?

I... Please, I ask that you don't let Tetsurou be in pain. He doesn't deserve it. Let him be happy. I will raise him proudly, just please let him grow up strong and happy. That's all I ask of you.

You are quite bold for someone who is talking to a god. We make no promises.

We will restore your body and mind, stronger than before. We will protect your kin to an extent. But we will take your memories and previous identities and past memories people have of you.

You will remain as Ryū Kurokawa, Founder of the Guardian Daemon Association and Sixth chairman of the Kogoshi clan.

Descendant of the Guardian Daemon God, Fūjin.

What? Fūjin? Wait, what are you talking about? Who are you talking about-

You must work for your happiness.

Do we have a deal?

...Yes. We have a deal.

We wish you a prosperous life... Fellow God, Ryūjin.

Fellow God?

word count: 941