THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS TRAINING DEMONS

[crouching_sin]

Who: Naoya and Atsuro
Where: Cherrygrove City!
When: 1/20
Summary: The student has become the teacher. Kind of.
Rating: PG? Possibly higher later...


Naoya had done fairly well with keeping his Spiritomb well-fed and in shape. The creature had started to win more and more fights, and Naoya had grown more and more confident with it. He hadn't seen any Pokemon worth adding to his collection yet, but the two of them seemed more than capable of taking on whatever faced them. And it wasn't as if camping was something he hadn't done before, even in the snow, though he'd taken to wearing his extra set of clothing on top of his normal clothes, adding the haori afterwards.

But now Naoya sat in the Cherrygrove Pokemon Center, waiting for Atsuro. He'd told his student he was here, his Spiritomb out to watch the people. Or was it 'former student' now? The boy certainly had grown, and he was sure that he'd find out just how much soon.

Comments

[crouching_sin]

He let out a short breath as he stopped, almost amused. So things were different... that did explain some things.

"Unfortunately, things didn't go as well in mine. Yours we could work with. Following Him... no. That's a disaster."

He shook his head a bit, before starting to walk again. "I suppose that makes things more complicated... ah, well."

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro slowly walked after Naoya, before he quickened his pace to catch up.

"Yeah, I can imagine. I know what kind of risks my plan will bring and talked about it back home, but for the whole Messiah thing... It'd last as long as he lives, right?"

If the Messiah died, Atsuro can only imagine how the power structure will end up. With human control, it's easy for him to imagine human folly and temptation. But with the angels and God, it's a bit much for him to handle.

"But yeah. Whenever the others were here back then, all of us were from different timelines. I know at least three different timelines based on his decision. The rest were from before he make his choice."

[crouching_sin]

"It's unclear as to if he can die... though I imagine he could. It's not exactly like anyone's going to let me near him to run tests."

He let out a long sigh, tilting his head towards Atsuro to watch him. He'd grown. And the 'others'... he'd seen people come and go here. People who forgot him, and he had to start again. Not in the same way... but... well.

"Interesting. Well, I suppose a moment like that would have so many possibilities that finding someone from the same timeline might not be as easy as you would think. Though I... have to ask... what exactly happened in your version of events? Did you learn anything particularly notable?"

[babel_hacker]

"I can imagine. Other than whatever powers he get from being the Messiah, I doubt the angels would just let him die."

Given what Atsuro heard and inferred from, Kazuya's a special case to be a Messiah. He turned his gaze forward, watching where they're walking. It felt almost...a relief, being able to talk about this topic and anything related to it with Naoya. There's really no one else in this world who can understand the context, even if he told them.

"I'd count myself lucky if someone did show up from my timeline, hahah..." Atsuro paused for a moment, as he think back. "Did I learn anything? Well... After he decided to go with my plan and told Remiel, he'd reveal Babel's location to us if there's a guarantee for my plan's success within the time limit. While I'd love to do it myself, I knew I wasn't good enough at the time to handle it fast enough. So we gotta secure your help. I knew that you'd come to us to try and convince Kazuya to come over, so we meet and we overcome your challenge."

There's a pause at that. While that was rather annoying, something seemed to come up in his mind.

"...I don't quite know what it means, but after we beat your challenge and get you to agree to help us, you did say something weird."

[crouching_sin]

"Interesting... well, the three of you did seem to pick up battling quite quickly. I suppose showing up here was somewhat of a natural fit, if you could overcome a challenge I set for you."

In that situation, a simple challenge like they'd done before wouldn't do. It would have been a more complicated one... but what Atsuro says after that intrigues him.

"Oh? What was it?"

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro was quiet for a moment, before he looked over his shoulder at Naoya.

"You said...with the angels on our side, you can't escape, and that you'll get another chance if you wait about 1,000 years."

The numbers just seemed odd, and almost generous in the context of humanity having control over demons. It stood out in Atsuro's mind, because no matter how he look at it, no human can possibly live that long. Not unless they're immortal or special in some way, like being the Messiah.

"In fact... I kind of remember you saying something about watching mankind for ages before we take on your challenge."

Atsuro stopped and turned around to fully face Naoya. It felt like he have the pieces of a puzzle, but he's not getting the full picture.

"What's with that? I can get the angels, since you're upholding your end of the deal, but I feel like...I'm still missing the full story behind your words."

[crouching_sin]

So that was how things were. The boy in front of Naoya wasn't a boy anymore, and the years since he'd been here... he'd had enough time to think on it. It wasn't like he disliked being honest, but... well. Most people couldn't handle the truth. But with all he'd seen, and all he'd experienced... at this point Atsuro had won the right to it. Naoya stopped, his expression grave.

"What I'm going to tell you stays between us, do you understand? If I find out that you've told someone else before I've told them, I'll ensure your silence. Permanently. This isn't a joke, it's not a puzzle, and it's not a trick. This is something that others haven't been able to handle, but... well. You're my most promising student in a very long time. But don't think that I won't keep secret the things that I need to keep secret by whatever means I need to use."

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro almost froze at the threat. Something like that would be impossible, because he knew that death was not permanent for people like them. But on the other hand, if it's Naoya, he would just think of another method or find a loophole to secure his silence.

Even when Atsuro wasn't the type of person to spill his words. But his heart felt like it lightened up at Naoya's praise. His most promising student. He always brag about being the best to people, but to hear it from Naoya himself...

It means a lot to him.

"...Yeah, I understand. I promise I won't tell anyone unless you're okay with it."

He gave his word and now Atsuro knew, he personally sealed it. The one person who might get around it wasn't even here.

[crouching_sin]

If there was one thing about Atsuro that Naoya knew, it was that the boy was honest and loyal to a fault. He wasn't the type to break his promises or turn his back on those who he cared about.

... Something he thought he could expect from his cousin, but apparently not. Still, he let out a deep breath, trying to figure out how to frame this the best possible way.

"I'm... old. Very, very old. Physically, no - but I remember my reincarnations, unlike everyone else in the world. My memory goes back to the beginning of things for humankind. There's a reason my cousin is His favored child at the moment - he has a shard of His original favored child."

It was hard, so hard, to keep his expression neutral. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he pressed on.

"And I recognize it, because I was the one who shattered that soul originally. The first murderer. You know who that is, correct?"

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro's silent for a while as he listened carefully to Naoya's words. And it was almost unreal, but after everything he experienced, what wasn't?

"The beginning of mankind and reincarnations..." It felt like there's something familiar about it. "As in...the farmer and the shepherd, out in the field? With the blood?"

He frowned as he try to remember. It's been years, but he knew he saw something similiar to that. A scene of a bloodstained field with Naoya...

"So you're..." He didn't really read up on religion that much, and his parents weren't religious at all, but he might've read this somewhere before. "...that farmer? You're that farmer who killed him and remembered everything?"

It's frustrating, really. The last time Naoya was truly here was years ago, and they never have that talk after that incident. His memories of that time was mostly faded away like a dream.

[crouching_sin]

"Cain and Abel, yes. I'm Cain. Kazuya... has a fragment of Abel. The Bel of the human world."

And a horrible, horrible pun. He'd suspect God of having a sense of humor if everything else He did wasn't so terrible.

"... In addition to that, and more relevant for here, I suspect that Grass types won't work well for me. I was additionally cursed to never have the earth bear fruit for me again."

That part he could deal with. It was more of a shock initially, but he'd figured out ways to cope with it.

[babel_hacker]

He almost groaned at the pun. Like sure, his English was rather bad back home but really, he knew enough to spotted that pun.

"It does fit the naming scheme..." Beldr, Belial, Jezebel, Belzaboul, Belberith and now Abel. Really, what's next?

"I guess when it comes to making your team, I'll keep that in mind. Just grass types, or does that include Pokemon that look like grass types, but they're not?"

Atsuro didn't have a Sudowoodo, but he do have a Flabebe in his care.

[crouching_sin]

"I have no idea." The thought hadn't occurred to him, but of course there were ones here that looked like grass types but weren't. "And I think I've got the hang of the type strengths and weaknesses here... I should be able to cover for it."

Adaptability has always been the name of the game for him. This is just another system he has to learn and adjust to. It shouldn't be all that difficult... and he's doing all right, all things considered.

[babel_hacker]

"Well, I have a Flabebe with me. Maybe hang out with her and see how it goes? Unless it applies to you directly taking care of grass types as their trainer."

Although he doesn't have her with him at the moment.

"As for the types, that includes the fairy type as well, right?"

[crouching_sin]

"I have no idea."

He frowns a little at that, but then shrugs.

"It's just a matter of memorization, isn't it? That won't be a problem for me, I expect. Though I suppose I should build up my team a bit, first..."

[babel_hacker]

"Right. Just that since the fairy type is new to us and we're still learning everything about them, I dunno if you learn about them yet."

He gives a grin.

"If we're going to stay in the Johto region, I can suggest some Pokemon in the earlier routes like Mar..."

Atsuro trails off, as if realising what he's about to suggest. Uh, right.

[crouching_sin]

Naoya just stares at Atsuro for a moment.

"... What were you going to say?"

He could probably use a laugh, honestly.

[babel_hacker]

Yeah. He can't really lie to Naoya like this or hide it.

"...Mareep. An electric type sheep Pokemon you can find near Violet, which have the flying type gym."

[crouching_sin]

"..." He snickers for a moment. "Well I can't say it would be a terrible addition to my team..."

Loki would probably laugh his ass off, let's be real.

[babel_hacker]

"Hahah, yeah..." Atsuro just give a sheepish smile. "It's a good early electric type to find in Johto, unless you go to a breeder to get a different Pokemon. I didn't raise one since Antec covered my electric type needs early in my journey."

His smile turns fond as he think back on his earlier days.

[crouching_sin]

"Antec? But hm. I don't know much about Pokemon breeding... I suppose I should start studying up. It sounds... complex."

Which is good, since he could use a challenge.

[babel_hacker]

"Antec! He's my Lanturn and my starter. As a water/electric type, he's pretty flexible in battle and is one of my strongest battlers!"

Let him gush about his Pokemon, teacher.

"Unfortunately, I'm a trainer, so I don't know that much about breeding. I know that you can pass down moves to the baby and there's hilarious breeding compatibility."

[crouching_sin]

"Interesting. That seems like an... odd type pairing to have, so he sounds very useful."

He nods a bit at the next part, too.

"I'm sure I can find a lot of people here who know... and probably a lot of literature here, too. It seems like the sort of thing that a lot of people would write about in this world, doesn't it?"

[babel_hacker]

"Yeah. I think the Chinchou line is the only water/electric type you can get normally."

There's the Rotom's Wash form, but otherwise...

Atsuro nodded.

"Right. You'd get a lot of books focusing on Pokemon and their roles in this world's culture and development. Honestly, it's kind of hard finding something without any Pokemon in it, except for scientific and some technological topics."

[crouching_sin]

"Hm."

He shrugs a little. "It doesn't really bother me. This is a different world. People shouldn't expect it to be the same as the world they came from."