A Nascent Kaleidoscope. Chapter 65 - 64 DxD

Ti flew by rather quickly, but not much actually happened in the few days I spent just hanging around the Clock Tower.

Truthfully, I didn't really have the will to do anything worth rembering. I kind of wanted to sit in on so lectures that were open to anyone, but I just couldn't find it in to go.

Maybe I just didn't want to deal with anyone outside of my imdiate circle right now?

"You're moping."

I turned to look at Zelretch who was sorting through so things in the library while I had an open book infront of .

"I'm not moping." I replied.

"Mhmm." He just humd idly.

"I'm not."

"Sure."

"Stop it, I know what you're doing, I do that!"

"Alright."

"Fuck off." I finally scowled.

"Oh, hello Saber." Zelretch turned his head. I followed his gaze, only to see no one. "And you imdiately brightened up when you thought she was there." He chuckled.

"I hate you."

"Mhmm."

Gods dammit.

"So what if I'm happy to see her, it proves nothing." I snorted, going back to my book.

"Because, you're moping unless she's near by, well, you seem to be happy around Rin too and I hope you're not thinking about my precious student in that way."

"Rin is...." I chose my words carefully. "An objectively beautiful woman and soone I enjoy being around, but I do not posses the slightest romantic inclinations towards her." I would very much like to not make this ambiguous.

He just continued to hum nonchalantly, making my scowl deeper. He knew I didn't feel about Rin that way, just poking at more. Gods he can be really infuriating sotis.

"When do you plan on leaving?" He finally asked.

"Why, getting tired of ?"

"Just curious, I want to try and get a ti fra of when I need to finish up several projects." He said calmly. "I did narrow down a few dozen world-lines that may serve your purpose as well."

Holy Grail.

It had been on my mind for awhile now, and it looks like he's getting close to finding a good one so I can just take it without any major issues.

I just sighed, setting my book down. "Alright, I am moping." I admitted. "It's just hard to find the energy to anything right now."

"Well, it's good to admit it, just keeping it bottled up is never healthy." Zelretch nodded. "Why don't you set out?"

I just blinked for a mont. "Just like that? Open a portal and pop back to my birth world?"

"Sure." He shrugged. "It's not like you have anything tying you down here."

"That's not—"

"Let rephrase, you have nothing demanding your imdiate attention." He corrected himself. "And you're making assumptions that you can't just pop back over whenever you want."

Oh.....I really am stupid sotis.

I wanted to facepalm but I held myself back. This wasn't like back in Skyrim where I was missing so important things, nor like the Land of Shadows where I was stuck for training. I can literally co and go as I please.,..

Zelretch looked at , a pleased smile on his face. "It often requires soone else stating the obvious to us." Clearly knowing my thoughts.

I ran a hand through my hair, thinking about my birth world again. I already decided to head back, but it felt like this huge hill to climb, yet it was as simple as snapping my fingers.

"Fine, I'll check back in within a few days I guess." I decided, standing up. I would rather not give myself any more ti to think excuses to not go at this point. "Lets see, anything in particular I need to grab before I go?"

I still have a significant amount of rare minerals, gold, jewels and the like. I doubt my mundane currency will be...usable, mostly because it ca from another world. Lets not get any governnts on my ass because of 'counterfeit' money.

I have a nice array of potions available as well.....a lot of things for ergencies like food-stuffs.

Oh, I need to pick up so my alcohol, I'm basically out....but I guess I can do that over there.

Talismans? I have a...large amount, but that's sothing I could always use more. In fact....why don't I head over to Japan, specifically the center for Japan's supernatural community, Kyoto. No doubt I can pick up so decent materials over there for my purpose.

And no one would really give a second look considering I am Japanese on my mother's side.

Perhaps I should go check up on Artoria and Rin....but I think Rin is deep in her research right now and I don't want to disturb them.

h, I'll check back in a few days anyways, no big deal.

"Alright, I'm convinced, and I seem to have everything I'll need already....do you by chance have that world simulated yet?"

"Only so small things, why, any specific place you want to go?"

"Well, I could probably eyeball it, but so specific location would be appreciated." I didn't want to co back right into Kuoh again....that would be awkward.

"Sure, sure, where do you want to go?"

"Kyoto."

"Hmm, nice choice, I've been aning to take a look at the Youkai there, such an interesting group." He muttered, flipped his hand, allowing a portal to form.

"Well, guess I'm off then" I said, sowhat surprised at the small bit of excitent I found swelling up in my chest.

Without anymore lingering thoughts, I jumped through the portal.

***

I felt many things coming back here, my tick almost made run my hand through my hair again, but I caught myself before doing so. I started my calculations imdiately, perhaps so part of paranoid and still.....self conscious about this whole thing.

As ridiculous as it is, I still can't shake the feelings I buried deep down. Logically I know they don't make much sense, but they still shake .

But I'm much better than I was years ago. They're more of an echo of what they once were, and I am in a much better place, even if my heart is still in tatters over other matters.

Going from my ho back to my birth world, there were many things made clear right away, like the state of the mana in the air.

Even though it's a 'modern' world, pollution and all that running rampant, the world seed much more...vibrant with magical energy.

I guess having so many godly beings with nature authorities does wonder for the planet.

Hmm, what to do now. The old man was kind enough to literally drop inside the little 'pocket dinsion' that is supernatural Kyoto, I think its called – Urakyoto.

West Kyoto and East Kyoto. They were ruled over by two powerful Youkai, one of them a Nine-tailed fox, and Miko for Amaterasu. From what I recall, she also watches over the imnsely powerful ley-lines for the area. On the opposite end, is a rather famous Youkai – Nurarihyon.

There is this weird coexistence between all the parties, East and West Kyoto, then all the major human families that practice various exorcism and Onmyoji arts. The board is surprisingly sturdy for so many factions existing within each other, not threatening to tip over at nearly any point.

I headed towards the nearest looking bar, sowhat western the based on the décor, it would suite my needs perfectly.

Walking in, there were only a couple 'people' none of them humans. I was only given a cursory glance, but from what I could see so far, humans weren't 'uncommon' and I doubt my heritage made anyone annoyed.

Setting down, the bartender gave once ago. "Whatcha want kid?"

I couldn't see what species of Youkai he was imdiately, he seed pretty good at blending in.

"Give sothing strong." I set a couple gold coins on the table.

He hesitantly picked one up, inspecting it and giving a nod. "What else you want?" He asked, pulling sothing up from the back to start pouring.

Well, he has good sense, knowing I overpaid for a reason. "Been out of country for awhile, so information would be nice." I set a few more coins down, he didn't even do a double take before sliding them off the table. "So place to get so money for gold would be appreciated, and maybe so news from the past few weeks."

Surprisingly, most magical communities and supernatural species stuck to human currency. Frankly, it just made everything easier of them, for the most part. There were also supernatural authorities who monitored the stock market and such for any magical abuse. Not to ntion Arica literally has a whole section of governnt dedicated to the supernatural with several Sacred Gear users.

The fantastical side of the world surviving to modern day, so really strange things seed to evolve from necessity.

"Few blocks down, on the right, you can't miss it. They take anything for trade and offer almost any kind of human money if you want." He said bluntly. "As for news....." He thought for a mont. "Odin was making a ss of things around here not too long ago, the Shinto gods were getting a bit displeased."

Odin.....I thought back to what happened it the Land of Shadows and clenched my fists.

I won't be put in that situation again.

"Oh, the Church lost so of their little toys, been all in a tizzy over that, heard they started to poke around even here." He snorted, obviously dislike for the Christian institution. "Hmm, oh and we got a celebrity back in town." He gave a small laugh. "Okita Souji was around, he's usually down in hell serving his King."

I blinked at that last one. "Okita Souji?"

"Mhmm, one of our 'heroes' I guess. You know about him, kid?"

"I know about his legend, I suppose." Among other things.....

"Ah, well, he got turned into a devil by the big man himself, Lucifer. Serves as one of his 'knights' or sothing. Even with our strained relationship with the devils, it seems like most people still like the forr Shinsengumi."

Yeah, pretty much what I thought.

Well, this is interesting, I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled then. I doubt this has anything to do with ....is what I would like to say, but it's only been a couple weeks in this world since I've left.

"Thanks for the info." I gave him a final tip and finished my drink.

"Thanks, kid." He waved off, clearly satisfied with his haul.

I guess I should go get so money, perhaps I should buy a house here as well? I wanted sowhere permanent, and that idea of overlaying the place on multiple world-lines keeps popping up in the back of my mind.

***

Not super exciting, but hey, we're back in DxD. Sorry for no chapter yesterday, but on the bright side, i finally found a place! It's just I had to be quick to snap it up, so moving had been a bit chaotic trying to do everything so quickly.

On a side note, I enjoyed reading everyone's predictions, and no i wasn't using it as a way to think of a next world, I already had one chosen weeks ago. But hey, a couple people guessed it correctly....and no it's not kuroinu. And several more future worlds were guessed beyond just the next one, but i guess when i made the MC obsessed with grabbing nice swords, so things beca obvious.

Anyways, if you want to support or read 5 chapters ahead, visit my pat /Astoryforone