This chapter might seem short but I will upload a longer one tomorrow to even my personal length requirement.
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The television murmured in the background.
Makima sat cross-legged on the couch, a porcelain cup of soba-cha resting between her fingers as thin wisps of steam curled lazily into the air.
Her golden eyes remained fixed on the screen with a sharp focus. Meanwhile, the screen displayed aerial footage of Kyoto, wide shots of ruined streets and buildings, framed by news anchors who chose their words more carefully.
"It is yet to be determined who is responsible for the casualties in Kyoto," the news anchor said evenly. "However, the Japanese government has officially classified the event as a terrorist attack."
Makima didn't seem particularly interested in the broadcast anymore. Her attention drifted away from the television and toward her dogs, specifically, the Siberian husky resting against her thigh.
"Cream Puff…" she called softly.
"Arff…"
Cream Puff lifted her head slightly before letting it settle against Makima's thighs again.
Makima set the teacup aside and leaned forward a little. She ran her fingers through the husky's fur, slowly and gently.
"You're not feeling well today, are you?" she asked quietly.
"Woof…"
This time, Cream Puff nudged her nose against Makima's hand, asking for more.
Makima's hand paused for a brief moment, then resumed.
"I'm sorry," she said. The words were gentle, though the apology itself lacked any real empathy. "I've been busy lately."
The dog let out a soft whine.
Makima sighed.
"I know. That's not an excuse."
She brushed Cream Puff's fur back and looked at her for a moment.
"You've been a good girl," Makima added. "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
"Arf!"
A small smile tugged at Makima's lips as the husky's tail thumped lightly against the couch.
The television continued murmuring in the background, but for now, Makima's full attention remained on the dog.
To her, spending time with her dogs was more valuable than watching some fabricated lies on television.
The Japanese government had officially declared the Kyoto incident a human-led terrorist attack.
The supernatural world, however, knew better.
Roughly fifty-seven thousand civilians had lost their lives. Entire districts were reduced to rubble, and yet, most culturally significant sites had been spared, all except one.
Makima remembered Amaterasu's fury when the goddess descended upon Kyoto in a mortal form. Yasaka had been summoned to answer for her "disloyalty."
Of course, Yasaka was affiliated with Amaterasu. But the goddess had been busy, far too busy to respond to pleas for aid. This was evident when the Sun goddess didn't even offer her help to get Kunou back.
In the end, almost everything had unfolded exactly as Makima had initially thought.
The blame was placed squarely on Kurogami, the four-armed fierce god who was painted as the mastermind behind it all. He was the one who had allegedly manipulated Yasaka and coerced the Youkais of Kyoto into compliance.
All of it was based on Yasaka's testimony.
And in the end, Yasaka became a victim.
She was not exempt from punishment, of course. Even if her sentence was light, the Shinto Pantheon would not let the matter pass without consequence.
Makima's lips curved faintly at the thought.
And the funny part?
Heaven had taken the bait completely.
Gabriel and Eliora had vanished without a trace. Not even their bodies were found. There was nothing left for the angels to trace back the Seraph and her guardian.
Left with no other explanation, Michael reached the only conclusion available to him.
Kurogami must have killed them.
After all, Gabriel had Eliora with her. Only Kurogami was powerful enough to accomplish something like that, or so the leader of the Angels believed.
Makima gently scratched behind Cream Puff's ear as the dog let out a pleased little sound.
"Mm… there you go," Makima said softly.
Her fingers slowed and then stopped.
A faint smile formed on her lips as she thought of a particular city.
Kuoh City.
She lifted her teacup and took a small sip while her eyes remained unfocused.
"That's where everything gathers, isn't it?" she murmured. "Devils. Angels. Fallen Angels. They can never resist meddling in each other's business."
Her half-younger sister, Rias Gremory, lived there with her small peerage. Makima felt no attachment to her. To her, past blood ties were irrelevant once their usefulness had ended.
Cream Puff shifted, pressing closer to her.
Makima glanced down at the dog. "If they meet," she continued quietly, "they won't do it in Heaven."
She smiled again.
"They'll choose Earth."
Earth functioned as neutral territory.
No pantheon or supernatural faction possessed legitimate authority over it, making it the most suitable location for negotiations between hostile forces.
Which was precisely why Makima had already begun preparing.
She had not been idle. Eliora's words still lingered clearly in her mind.
I can send people to the Aging World. But I cannot bring them back.
Only one being possessed that authority.
Archangel Michael.
Makima's fingers curled slightly into Cream Puff's fur.
"You're very good at running away, Michael," she said gently. "Always so careful."
Then her smile thinned.
"But you can't stay above forever."
Cream Puff let out a quiet whine.
"With the way Kuoh is unraveling… another war looming… while a Cadre stirring things up…" she continued. "There's a ninety-nine point nine percent chance they'll call for a Three Faction meeting in Kuoh City."
She exhaled softly.
"And when you finally step onto Earth…"
Makima's eyes darkened, just slightly.
"I'll bring you a gift."
Her gaze drifted toward the far corner of the room, as if picturing it already.
"A silver platter," she said calmly. "With a head so beautiful that even angels won't look away."
She leaned back against the couch.
"Shock makes people careless. And grief opens the door so easily." Makima added.
Cream Puff whimpered again.
Makima looked down at her, and her expression softened, but only for a moment.
"It won't take long," she said. "Just one command."
Her fingers tightened.
"And then…"
She closed her eyes as if imagining all her happiness coming back.
"…I'll be able to bring Aleks-kun back."
Five days.
It had been five days since Makima last had any contact with Aleks.
She remembered his promise, how he'd said he would come back… even claiming he had "something" that would help him return. Talking as if being trapped in the Aging World was merely an inconvenience.
And yet…
A day outside meant two years inside that dimension. By now, Aleks had spent ten years in there.
Alone.
Without her.
Makima's fingers remained buried in Cream Puff's fur. The husky shifted slightly against her lap, and for a second Makima's hand slowed.
"Ten years…" Makima murmured, voice soft. "What a cruel joke."
She wasn't the type to worry about anyone. Even if it was Aleks, she was not worried about him, not because she didn't care.
She did. She really, really did. If she didn't, then everything she had done to him..for him… it would've all been meaningless.
Makima inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
"I know you're alive," she said quietly, as if he could hear. "I can feel it."
Because she could.
Through the poison she had inflicted on him, and as the trigger, Makima could instinctively discern his current status. She didn't need any confirmation.
She just knew.
So there were only two possibilities.
Either Aleks was facing complications in the Aging World…
…or he was intentionally trying to avoid her.
Makima's hand stopped. Cream Puff let out a small whine.
Makima's expression didn't change, but something in her eyes did.
"If it's the latter," she whispered, almost tenderly, "then I'll make sure you learn."
Her fingers resumed stroking the dog, slow and careful.
"Don't misunderstand, Cream Puff," Makima said, as if explaining it to the husky. "I'm not angry because I miss him."
She paused for a second.
"I'm angry because he's mine."
Cream Puff blinked up at her.
Makima's smile was faint.
"Being ignored…" she continued, voice calm,
"is the one thing I can't forgive."
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Author's Note:
This was a short chapter to throw some light on Makima, the aftermath and what she had been up to. Next chapter will come out some time tomorrow. I'm in the process of finishing my draft.