A New Beginning

"Hey Mom Kiyo and I are heading out. Will you and dad make it to my track meet in time?"

"Don't worry Kino, your fathers train will be arriving in twenty minutes. I'll pick him up at the station, then we'll meet you and Kiyo at the school."

"Hurry up Kino."

"Alright I'm coming."

"You two be safe."

"Bye mom."

As the twins step through the door the peaceful neighborhood they grew up in suddenly explodes in a blinding light. As the light fades away their vision slowly returns to them. They are now in a strange place that's all white and sitting before them are three men.

The first man on their left is sitting on a high back throne with an oak tree behind it. Up in the branches sits an eagle staring back at the twins. The man himself is wearing a white toga that is only covering him from the waste down, leaving his upper torso exposed showing off his well toned body. His gray hair is shoulder length, his beard is bushy and also gray.

The man in the center is seated on a high back throne with two ravens perched on either side of the throne, and two wolves on either side of his feet. The man is dressed like a viking warrior ready for battle. He has a full length gray beard, and has one eye with a patch over it.

Lastly the man on their right is seated on a golden throne. Most of him is covered in an all white toga except for the right portion of his chest and right arm. He's holding a staff in the shape of a lighting bolt. He too has a long gray beard and hair.

"Welcome Kiyomaro and Kino Kurosaki to Shangri-La. I am Odin. To my left is Zeus, and to my right is Jupiter."

"Odin, Zeus, and Jupiter. Do you really expect us to believe that you are Gods?" Asks Kiyomaro.

"We are." replies Zeus.

"You look more like a bunch of dirty old perverts." Kino remarks.

"Watch your tongue child you are addressing The Counsel of Gods!"

"Counsel of the Gods that's the dumbest name ever."

Kino unable to contain herself starts laughing.

"You insolent brat how dare you!"

"That's enough Zeus please calm yourself."

"No Jupiter I will not calm my self! This brat needs to be shown how to respect her elders!"

"Bring it Zeus, I'll kick your ass!"

"Kino, you need to apologize." This comes from Kiyomaro.

"I'm sorry Zeus please forgive me."

"Hmph, I'll let it go only because you two were brought here for a reason."

"So then why are we here?" Asks Kiyomaro.

"First you should know your world was destroyed."

"WHAT! How the hell did that happen?" Kino shouts at them.

"The core of your planet exploded." Explains Odin.

"The core of are planet just exploded for no reason?"

"The reason is still unknown even to us."

"Then what do you know Odin?" Kino asks.

"Only that another God or Goddesses was involved." Replies Jupiter

"You don't know who did it do you?"

"There are a great number of Gods and Goddesses to look into. But not all of the Gods and Goddesses reside in Shangri-La. This is something that will take time to investigate."

"So everyone we knew is dead?"

"Sorta."

"What do you mean sorta you are either dead or not dead! Stop talking in circles Jupiter!" Kino shouts at him.

"They were reincarnated that I can say for sure."

"So what makes us different?"

"Your fates have changed Kino."

"Are fates have changed how so?"

"Not sure yet. We only got involved because Moirai, Shait, Yu Qi, and a few others that know the fates of mankind asked us to save you two. This has never happened until now."

"You still haven't answered my question Jupiter?"

"We can't give you an answer Kino."

"The only thing we know for sure is that you two needed to survive and be sent to a new world." Replies Zeus.

"Kiyomaro can I ask you something?"

"Sure Odin ask away."

"How have you remained calm and level headed all this time?"

"Lets review the facts. One seconded we're leaving the house and the next we're here. That tells me some of what you're saying has some truth to it."

"But you still have doubts don't you?"

"Of course I do. You say we're here because a bunch of Gods foresaw are fates change in such a way it forced your hand to intervene and you don't know why. Our home world is gone because one of your kind, and again you don't know why. So now we're being sent to a new world. Did I forget anything Odin?"

"No, I think you got it."

"So are home is truly gone?

"It is."

"Alright, then send us to this new world with all of our memories so we won't forget who we are and where we come from. You can make that happen can't you Odin?"

"Not only will we grant that request. You'll be given the ability to understand all languages both spoken and written. We'll even give you weapons forged by a God that are well suited to your fighting abilities and anything else you can think of.

"How would you know what weapons to give us?" Asks Kiyomaro.

"We were told what to give you." Answers Zeus.

"All right then I'm in." Kiyomaro replies.

"What about you Kino?" Odin asks.

"Hell yeah I'm in!"

"Are you sure?"

"Look, the one thing I love more than my family is my love of travel. So going to a new world sounds like a blast, So hell yeah I'm in!"

"Wow talk about a mood swing one minute you're yelling at us and now all is forgiven all because of your love of travel."

"Keep talking shit Zeus and I'll shove that staff up your...."

"Kino."

"I'm sorry Zeus."

"Very well. Athena come in here."

Upon hearing her name, Athena appears before them wearing the aegis over a long light green dress. She is crowned with a crested helm. While holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

"You called Zeus."

"Athena this Kiyomaro and his sister Kino."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Athena the Goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy, and handicrafts. You're that Athena?"

"Yes Kiyomaro."

"I have a question."

"What is it Kino?"

"Can we pick what we want to know?"

"Sure, but why if you don't mind me asking?"

"She wants to learn it all first hand, and the best way she can do that is by traveling around." Kiyomaro answers for his sister.

"Yup that's right it's more fun for me that way."

"Are you fine with this Kiyomaro? Asks Athena.

"I am."

"Very well then. What would you like to know first?"

Kiyomaro ponders this for a moment. "We'll be given the ability to understand the language. So how's about giving us an understanding of currency, current laws, and proper etiquette when dealing with nobility."

"Very well it shall be done."

With a wave of her hand information floods through the minds of the twins.

"Well how do you feel?"

"Fine." Answers Kiyomaro.

"Same here." Replies kino.

"What else?"

Kino then asks for combat skills, knowledge for planning out battle strategies, survival skills, and knowledge on handicrafts.

"So things I specialize in."

"Of course your knowledge will be a great help."

"Done, you both now have everything you've asked for. Anything else?"

"Nope I'm good."

"I think we can figure out the rest." Responses Kiyomaro.

"All right then. I shall take my leave then."

"Hephaestus, come in here with the weapons for these two!" Shouts Zeus.

Just like Athena. Hephaestus appears before them with a donkey in tow. He slowly makes his way over to the twins moving like an old man crippled by time.

"Yes, Zeus."

"Please show Kiyomaro and Kino the weapons they'll be taking with them.

"Alright lets start with Kino."

"What do you have for me Hephaestus?"

"These are the Sandals of Hermès. I modified them a bit so a human can use them without compromising the abilities they give you."

"Why would I want someone else's used sandals?"

"They are not used!"

"I think I'll just keep my current shoes."

"Well if you don't want speed like Hermès to help you explore your new home that much faster then. Then I'll just keep them."

"Wait what?"

"You heard me."

"I'll take'm, but can you make them look more like the pair of running shoes I'm wearing now all black with a pink designs and pink shoelaces?" Kino asks.

"That's a simple task." With snap of his fingers it's done.

"I'm also calling them the Shoes of Hermès."

"Fine, call them what you want. Now for you Kiyomaro."

"I don't want shoes or sandals."

"No, for you I have The Twin Blades Onyx and Snow. Onyx is an all black blade katana with a silver scabbard, and black hanging cord. The handle is also black with a silver cord wrap and guard. Snow is an all white blade wakizashi with a dark blue scabbard and white hanging cord, the handle is white with a dark blue cord wrap and guard."

"The Twin Blades Onyx and Snow. These are beautifully made masterpieces. Just by holding them I can tell both of these blades are well balanced in terms of strength, sharpness, and durability. Thank you Hephaestus."

"Glad you like them Kiyomaro."

"Are two ready to go then?"

"Yes Jupiter I think so."

"I'm set, let's go."

"Very good. Janus please come in here and introduce yourself."

This time a door appears and in walks an older looking man with two faces.

"Hello I'm Janus the God of beginnings, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings."

"Wait, you can control time!?" Asks Kino.

"No I don't control time."

"But you just said!"

"If you thought I could turn back time you are mistaken Kino."

"Seriously!"

"Yes."

"Alright fine forget I asked, let's just go then."

"Very well just step through here."

As Janus steps aside a different door appears before the twins. Kiyomaro and Kino look at each other then back at the door as it swings open. They don't move at first a bit hesitant, then they step forward through the door to the new world and their new home.

—Afterwards

"Wow that was exhausting. Who knew that teenage girls had such mood swings."

"Anyone who has a daughter."

"I was being rhetorical."

"Yeah fine. Anyways, how long do you plan to impersonate Odin and the others anyway?"

"How long are you going to impersonate Janus?"

"I'll change when you do."

"Fine."

And with that said all three Gods transform into Loki. And then two of them disappear.

"Happy?" Asks Loki.

"Yes."

"Now you."

"Janus now transforms into the spider Anansi."

"So now what?" Anansi asks.

"We wait and see what those two do. As well as help the boss out of course."

"Of course."

"I do have a question for you Anansi?"

"What's that Loki?"

"How did you come up with these images of how us Gods appear to earthlings anyway?"

"Earthlings have this thing called oooogle. I just typed in the names needed and like that they came up. It had images, descriptions of us, and a bunch of other stuff."

"You know how to use human technology?"

"Yes Loki I do."

"Why?"

"Why not? It helps to kill time. Plus it was fun impersonating Athena, Hephaestus, and Janus. How long has it been since they've been here?"

"I don't know. But more importantly what do they say about me?"

"Well Loki, you're apparently British and you live in this place called the Narvel Universe."

"British, sounds interesting. Tell me, am I good looking?"

"Go look for yourself."

"I think I will."