The Ikari Era: Part 4 (Updated)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"I'm no traitor," Okito said nervously, his eyes darting around the bathroom "I'm not going to go against one of our own."
"I'm not asking you to fight Ramiel," the Crown Princess assured him, using the sweet convincing voice she used any time she talked to a politician she didn't trust. "I hope for nothing more than to have them give up their misguided plan peacefully. But the point remains, what you've told me of his plan paints an image of something very inspired, but also very dangerous and very prone to failure. Ramiel's in over his head with this, and if he fails we're all in danger."
Okito was sweating nervously. "When you have the throne, you're going to do what's best for our kind? Assure that it's us on top and not the Lilin?"
Ria grabbed Okito by the back of the head. "When I'm on the throne, Japan will be the most powerful nation on Earth and it will be an Angel at the reins. You will have nothing to fear anymore. That I promise you."
It was incredibly, almost painfully hard not to roll her eyes at his weird Angel supremacist attitude, but she needed to convince him she was being earnest.
She removed her hand and took a step back.
"I joined Ramiel because I thought he was the best hope for our kind," Okito slowly admitted. "But I think that with you, things for us would be far safer. I'll support you as best as I can."
Ria was relieved. If he had refused they would be in a very dangerous position, killing him was far from ideal and if she allowed him to leave he would have been a threat to the nation.
"You're making the right call," Ria assured him.
He nodded, doubt still plaguing him.
"Now," Ria went on, "we need to leave separately, to avoid suspicion. I will leave first. I'll get in touch with you later. We can talk more about how to convince Ramiel then."
"Of course," Okito nodded.
She left, walking up to one of their guards.
"Hitoshi," she greeted him warmly.
"Your Highness," he replied
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor. We still have access to the wiretaps here, right?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
Hawaii was a government in transition. It had been the 'People's Union of Hawaii' until about three months ago. The new government wasn't exactly popular with the hardliners of the old one, meaning they didn't share all the secrets of their embassy. Which was very fortunate for Ria.
"I had a conversation I would rather not get into… well anyone's hands," Ria explained. "Nothing serious, but I don't want my personal life being used for blackmail. So if you could get me the tapes that would be awesome."
"Of course," he said evenly.
"Thank you, Hitoshi." She bowed slightly. "I don't know what I would do without you."
/
It was hours after the dinner when they had returned safety to the Palace when Ria informed her sister of Ramiel's plan.
"So, he wants to become Adam?" Kyoko asked as she sat at the foot of the Ria's bed.
"Sort of," Ria said as she sat at her desk. "It seems like he wants us to be like Tabris, really powerful but still human form. I mean don't get wrong, it sounds like a pretty sweet deal if it worked."
"Really?" Kyoko arched an eyebrow.
"Sure, I'd be all for it if I thought for a moment he could succeed and not ruin everything. Being an immortal God-Empress would be pretty awesome," Ria admitted.
Of course she wouldn't do unless Ramiel also did the same for her family, whoever she ended up marrying, any lovers she had, and any kids she had, adopted or otherwise. Otherwise it would just be a whole lot of grief. And the god part was a bit awkward.
"But there's no chance Ramiel will actually be able to go through with this?" Kyoko asked.
Ria shook her head. "Not in a way we would like at least."
Kyoko nodded in agreement. Too many Angels would want a shot at their parents and WILLE for that matter.
"So what do we do?" Kyoko asked.
They found themselves in a peculiar situation. They had a lot of power, but were handicapped in how they could use it without raising questions they didn't have answers to.
"We need to get in contact with Suzuhara and Dimitri again," Ria explained. "They could get in contact with the other Angels. The more we have on our side the better. Plus...we should start considering revealing the truth to our parents."
Kyoko looked at her, horrified and confused. This was something they had planned to take to their graves. But this wasn't a situation they had ever expected.
Ria sighed. "I don't want to, but let's face it. We try doing this sneakily someone will figure out sooner or later that we're up to something. And if we do nothing, eventually Ramiel's plans are going to hurt people we care about. This way we can do something to stop him and tell them the truth on our terms."
She didn't like it, but it seemed the best option.
Kyoko looked at the wood floor, dejected and sad.
"Nothing will be the same once we tell them," she said mournfully.
Ria got up, grabbing her sister in a tight hug.
"I know," Ria said as she let go, "but they won't stop being our parents."
"You're not going to do it right away though?" Kyoko asked.
Ria shook her head. "Yeah it will be a little while. I need to figure out how to do properly."
Her sister sighed in relief.
"Now get out of here," Ria said as she motioned towards the door. "I need to do stuff."
Kyoko smirked as she walked out, her fear evaporating.
"Is it an email to Cho~?" she teased.
Ria said nothing.
"Well, admittedly I do think an apology letter is needed for the two left feet she showed tonight," Kyoko went on.
Ria started glaring at her.
"Though considering how often you chat with her I imagine she's starting to realize how clingy you are~," Kyoko sing-songed.
"Get. Out." Ria said, torn between frustration and amusement.
Kyoko stuck her tongue out at her, and left, giggling.
/
Ramiel listened to the recording. Iruel had been wise to track Sachiel so closely.
The Angel of Thunder sighed regretfully. Okito was a naive fool, but he had been a friend. And now he had been talked out of their plan. He had underestimated the Crown Princess. Ramiel had expected her to either support the plan or angrily reject it. He had not expected her to be so manipulative.
Well, what's done was done.
"So what do we do now?" Iruel asked.
Ramiel buckled his mask, securing it to his face. "What we've always done, look forward to the future."
The two marched into the Vladivostok City Council Chambers. The Chambers were a pit in both senses of the word. Ramiel and Iruel stood on the edge, looking down at the layers of descending rows of seats. The center was the lowest layer, with a large, ornate wooden table sitting at the very center of the room.
Dozens of men and two women stood around the desk, arguing loudly. They looked like vermin fighting over a piece of cheese from where Ramiel stood. Still, they would have their uses.
"Gentlemen," Ramiel said loudly as he slowly and purposefully walked down the stairs. "Gentlemen, why are you arguing? The city is ours. We've gone from the brink of defeat to holding the Capital. Is that not something to be proud of?"
"'We'?" one of the men huffed "I didn't see your lightning out there when we took the city, boy."
The Council knew what Ramiel was. None of them liked it, but at the time they had been too desperate to turn away his aid.
"Yes, but were it not for my good friend Iruel over here, the city's defense network would have not turned against the Communists," Ramiel pointed out. "Was that not a key advantage?"
The council muttered, some nervous, others angry.
"We are not ungrateful for your assistance," one of the women said, "but you have promised much and demanded quite a lot. We were wondering-"
"You promised us you could move mountains," a younger man interrupted. "So far we've seen nothing that a more respectable ally could not have brought us. Many of us are starting to... reconsider our agreement."
"Look at the history books, Emil. I don't move mountains, I melt them," Ramiel replied evenly.
He shrugged, his masked head bobbing up and down. "But you want results, more than just Iruel's aid and my small contributions? The assassinations I provided, the car bombs I insured would never be tied to you, the sabotage of the Pacific Fleet, to name a few."
The council was stone faced. There was little Ramiel could do to shame them.
"I understand, I do," Ramiel admitted. "I'm asking a lot, but I also intend to give you a lot. Let me ask you a question; what do you want this country to become? Not today, not tomorrow, but long term. Where do you want to see this nation, when you're old and grey and on death's door?"
The council muttered, some staring at Ramiel in annoyance, one or two pacing around the table, finally one of them, a young man with a shaved head and thick mustache, spoke up.
"I want a united Russia. A nation we can be proud of again. A nation stronger than the old Empire and Soviet Union ever were."
Mutters of agreement echoed through the Council room.
"I can give you that, and the power to ensure the new Russian state survives. But you have to be patient. If the world knew-"
Ramiel was interrupted by a large serrated knife being shoved into his back. One of the council members, a older man with a thick salt and pepper beard, had snuck up behind him. Another member pointed a large pistol directly at Iruel's head. Several other council members recoiled in shock.
Ramiel gasped, the air being forced out of his lungs.
"We will never be strong as long as we listen to children who think themselves gods," the attacker said angrily. "This foolishness is at an-"
Ramiel's AT-Field flared, throwing the man violently into a nearby empty desk, smashing the wood apart.
Ramiel leveled his arm at the man holding a gun to Iruel's head. The arm rapidly transformed until it resembled a crystal-like sword. The tip began to glow. The man, terrified, dropped his gun.
With casual ease, Ramiel pulled the knife out of his back, his shirt coated in blood.
The council could do little to hide it's shock.
"Cute," Ramiel said with disdain, lifting his mask slightly. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and smiled. "Now, where was I? Oh right, the future."
/
I'll probably do one more Omake (Maybe Ikari Era, maybe something else) before getting back to BW.
"I'm not asking you to fight Ramiel," the Crown Princess assured him, using the sweet convincing voice she used any time she talked to a politician she didn't trust. "I hope for nothing more than to have them give up their misguided plan peacefully. But the point remains, what you've told me of his plan paints an image of something very inspired, but also very dangerous and very prone to failure. Ramiel's in over his head with this, and if he fails we're all in danger."
Okito was sweating nervously. "When you have the throne, you're going to do what's best for our kind? Assure that it's us on top and not the Lilin?"
Ria grabbed Okito by the back of the head. "When I'm on the throne, Japan will be the most powerful nation on Earth and it will be an Angel at the reins. You will have nothing to fear anymore. That I promise you."
It was incredibly, almost painfully hard not to roll her eyes at his weird Angel supremacist attitude, but she needed to convince him she was being earnest.
She removed her hand and took a step back.
"I joined Ramiel because I thought he was the best hope for our kind," Okito slowly admitted. "But I think that with you, things for us would be far safer. I'll support you as best as I can."
Ria was relieved. If he had refused they would be in a very dangerous position, killing him was far from ideal and if she allowed him to leave he would have been a threat to the nation.
"You're making the right call," Ria assured him.
He nodded, doubt still plaguing him.
"Now," Ria went on, "we need to leave separately, to avoid suspicion. I will leave first. I'll get in touch with you later. We can talk more about how to convince Ramiel then."
"Of course," Okito nodded.
She left, walking up to one of their guards.
"Hitoshi," she greeted him warmly.
"Your Highness," he replied
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor. We still have access to the wiretaps here, right?" she asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
Hawaii was a government in transition. It had been the 'People's Union of Hawaii' until about three months ago. The new government wasn't exactly popular with the hardliners of the old one, meaning they didn't share all the secrets of their embassy. Which was very fortunate for Ria.
"I had a conversation I would rather not get into… well anyone's hands," Ria explained. "Nothing serious, but I don't want my personal life being used for blackmail. So if you could get me the tapes that would be awesome."
"Of course," he said evenly.
"Thank you, Hitoshi." She bowed slightly. "I don't know what I would do without you."
/
It was hours after the dinner when they had returned safety to the Palace when Ria informed her sister of Ramiel's plan.
"So, he wants to become Adam?" Kyoko asked as she sat at the foot of the Ria's bed.
"Sort of," Ria said as she sat at her desk. "It seems like he wants us to be like Tabris, really powerful but still human form. I mean don't get wrong, it sounds like a pretty sweet deal if it worked."
"Really?" Kyoko arched an eyebrow.
"Sure, I'd be all for it if I thought for a moment he could succeed and not ruin everything. Being an immortal God-Empress would be pretty awesome," Ria admitted.
Of course she wouldn't do unless Ramiel also did the same for her family, whoever she ended up marrying, any lovers she had, and any kids she had, adopted or otherwise. Otherwise it would just be a whole lot of grief. And the god part was a bit awkward.
"But there's no chance Ramiel will actually be able to go through with this?" Kyoko asked.
Ria shook her head. "Not in a way we would like at least."
Kyoko nodded in agreement. Too many Angels would want a shot at their parents and WILLE for that matter.
"So what do we do?" Kyoko asked.
They found themselves in a peculiar situation. They had a lot of power, but were handicapped in how they could use it without raising questions they didn't have answers to.
"We need to get in contact with Suzuhara and Dimitri again," Ria explained. "They could get in contact with the other Angels. The more we have on our side the better. Plus...we should start considering revealing the truth to our parents."
Kyoko looked at her, horrified and confused. This was something they had planned to take to their graves. But this wasn't a situation they had ever expected.
Ria sighed. "I don't want to, but let's face it. We try doing this sneakily someone will figure out sooner or later that we're up to something. And if we do nothing, eventually Ramiel's plans are going to hurt people we care about. This way we can do something to stop him and tell them the truth on our terms."
She didn't like it, but it seemed the best option.
Kyoko looked at the wood floor, dejected and sad.
"Nothing will be the same once we tell them," she said mournfully.
Ria got up, grabbing her sister in a tight hug.
"I know," Ria said as she let go, "but they won't stop being our parents."
"You're not going to do it right away though?" Kyoko asked.
Ria shook her head. "Yeah it will be a little while. I need to figure out how to do properly."
Her sister sighed in relief.
"Now get out of here," Ria said as she motioned towards the door. "I need to do stuff."
Kyoko smirked as she walked out, her fear evaporating.
"Is it an email to Cho~?" she teased.
Ria said nothing.
"Well, admittedly I do think an apology letter is needed for the two left feet she showed tonight," Kyoko went on.
Ria started glaring at her.
"Though considering how often you chat with her I imagine she's starting to realize how clingy you are~," Kyoko sing-songed.
"Get. Out." Ria said, torn between frustration and amusement.
Kyoko stuck her tongue out at her, and left, giggling.
/
Ramiel listened to the recording. Iruel had been wise to track Sachiel so closely.
The Angel of Thunder sighed regretfully. Okito was a naive fool, but he had been a friend. And now he had been talked out of their plan. He had underestimated the Crown Princess. Ramiel had expected her to either support the plan or angrily reject it. He had not expected her to be so manipulative.
Well, what's done was done.
"So what do we do now?" Iruel asked.
Ramiel buckled his mask, securing it to his face. "What we've always done, look forward to the future."
The two marched into the Vladivostok City Council Chambers. The Chambers were a pit in both senses of the word. Ramiel and Iruel stood on the edge, looking down at the layers of descending rows of seats. The center was the lowest layer, with a large, ornate wooden table sitting at the very center of the room.
Dozens of men and two women stood around the desk, arguing loudly. They looked like vermin fighting over a piece of cheese from where Ramiel stood. Still, they would have their uses.
"Gentlemen," Ramiel said loudly as he slowly and purposefully walked down the stairs. "Gentlemen, why are you arguing? The city is ours. We've gone from the brink of defeat to holding the Capital. Is that not something to be proud of?"
"'We'?" one of the men huffed "I didn't see your lightning out there when we took the city, boy."
The Council knew what Ramiel was. None of them liked it, but at the time they had been too desperate to turn away his aid.
"Yes, but were it not for my good friend Iruel over here, the city's defense network would have not turned against the Communists," Ramiel pointed out. "Was that not a key advantage?"
The council muttered, some nervous, others angry.
"We are not ungrateful for your assistance," one of the women said, "but you have promised much and demanded quite a lot. We were wondering-"
"You promised us you could move mountains," a younger man interrupted. "So far we've seen nothing that a more respectable ally could not have brought us. Many of us are starting to... reconsider our agreement."
"Look at the history books, Emil. I don't move mountains, I melt them," Ramiel replied evenly.
He shrugged, his masked head bobbing up and down. "But you want results, more than just Iruel's aid and my small contributions? The assassinations I provided, the car bombs I insured would never be tied to you, the sabotage of the Pacific Fleet, to name a few."
The council was stone faced. There was little Ramiel could do to shame them.
"I understand, I do," Ramiel admitted. "I'm asking a lot, but I also intend to give you a lot. Let me ask you a question; what do you want this country to become? Not today, not tomorrow, but long term. Where do you want to see this nation, when you're old and grey and on death's door?"
The council muttered, some staring at Ramiel in annoyance, one or two pacing around the table, finally one of them, a young man with a shaved head and thick mustache, spoke up.
"I want a united Russia. A nation we can be proud of again. A nation stronger than the old Empire and Soviet Union ever were."
Mutters of agreement echoed through the Council room.
"I can give you that, and the power to ensure the new Russian state survives. But you have to be patient. If the world knew-"
Ramiel was interrupted by a large serrated knife being shoved into his back. One of the council members, a older man with a thick salt and pepper beard, had snuck up behind him. Another member pointed a large pistol directly at Iruel's head. Several other council members recoiled in shock.
Ramiel gasped, the air being forced out of his lungs.
"We will never be strong as long as we listen to children who think themselves gods," the attacker said angrily. "This foolishness is at an-"
Ramiel's AT-Field flared, throwing the man violently into a nearby empty desk, smashing the wood apart.
Ramiel leveled his arm at the man holding a gun to Iruel's head. The arm rapidly transformed until it resembled a crystal-like sword. The tip began to glow. The man, terrified, dropped his gun.
With casual ease, Ramiel pulled the knife out of his back, his shirt coated in blood.
The council could do little to hide it's shock.
"Cute," Ramiel said with disdain, lifting his mask slightly. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and smiled. "Now, where was I? Oh right, the future."
/
I'll probably do one more Omake (Maybe Ikari Era, maybe something else) before getting back to BW.
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