Chapter 4: Strawberry

“What the heck? Where… where am I?” A girls voice asked

She looked around, and it was all just void. She was floating.

“Yo. You know the tropes, right? I’m god. Call me Evan. I don’t have enough power to stop a transfer, and you only got here by pure sheer luck. Both of the other main souls in this dimension are currently dying repeatedly, so it drew a new one. As it always is, was it a truck, maybe?” Evan asked, popping up out of nowhere

“Huh? Wait. The stories are true? So, I’m going to another world? Also....yeah. It was a truck.” She asked

“Hm. One sec. let’s see. Hm. Strawberry, huh? Hello, ichigo. The answer is yes. But it won’t happen again. Alright. So, currently there is one other person who reincarnated from… around your area, actually. You guys lived quite close to each other. Know anyone who got hit by a truck or died around, what, 9 years or so ago?” Evan asked, tapping a clipboard

“Uh. Yes. Wait, is it Asami?” Ichigo asked

“Hm. So that’s a yes. Cool. You guys know each other. Well, I’ll be with you occasionally down there, keeping track of things as best I can with my limited power. So. A power. Right. Choose one.” Evan said

“Wait, hold on. You’re god? That’s pretty cool. What’s it like?” Ichigo asked

“Hm? Oh, I’ll talk to you in the other world. Right now, keeping you here is straining this place. But I can’t give you power on the other side. So is there anything you want?” Evan asked

“Is Magic okay?” Ichigo asked

“Sure. I can just train you.” Evan said

“Good enough for me, lets go.” Ichigo said, stretching

“Right, you will be a child, a baby, so try not to freak out.” Evan said

“Why worry. Every little things gonna be alright, right?” Ichigo asked, zoning out a bit.

“Right. Let’s go.” Evan said, snapping his fingers

They disappeared from the void

Ichigo opened her eyes.

“Huh? Where am I?” Ichigo asked

“You’re a baby.” Evan said

“I know that much, I meant in the world.” Ichigo said

“Hm. Well. Massive coincidence.... You’re Asamis’ younger sister.” Evan said

“A girl? Darn. Thought maybe a guy would be more interesting.” Ichigo said

“I didn’t really think to ask. Not that I could change it easily right now. Sorry. If it's a large problem, let me know. I should have enough power in a few days to fix it.” Evan said

“It’s fine. I just thought it would be cool, I don’t care about that stuff.” Ichigo said

“Well, I guess I don’t have to worry about it, then. That’s good. Well, you asked me something earlier?” Evan asked

“Ah. Yeah, what’s it like being god? Have you ever wanted to become human?” Ichigo asked

“I am human. God isn’t a species, it’s a title. I’m worshipped across a near infinite amount of realities and infinite dimensions. The god and the demon. That god is me. Kinda.” Evan said

“Hm. What’s it feel like? Do you ever get bored?” Ichigo asked

“Well, not really. Mostly I just hang out, it's kinda what Evans like to do. Otherwise, I’m helping to stabilize dimensions. Technically, I’m not the full original me. I’m a small part of god who was sent to this world to rule it. I'm a dimensional overseer for one of the lesser dimensions. Unlike the main ones, such as the magic world, which is used as a dimensional hub, lesser dimensions are literally just dimensions that aren't in the web of the main dimensions. I had to fix a tear in our dimension recently, so I used up a lot of power. It will be back in a few days, hopefully. Also, since I’m a god. I’m not exactly a natural existence, so I do actually care about people, unlike reality itself. So I’ll probably be around to talk pretty often. By the way, I'm basically given no rules except 'don't let the dimension break', so I’m allowed to do whatever I want to. So if I want, I'll just occasionally mess with the world. It’s fun.” Evan said

“So, what kind of story is Asami in?” Ichigo asked

“That…. I forgot the category name. It’s where she is getting all the guys. It’s annoying her, though. Tsk tsk tsk, nobody I meet is normal. Ichigo, are you interested in men or women?” Evan asked

“Either. Peoples people. Gender doesn’t really mean much. At least, not when it comes to influencing my decisions about people. Gender equality because remembering what the difference is is a pain. There’s thousands out there that I would have to remember otherwise. That’s a pain, I have a small brain.” Ichigo said

“I see. Makes sense. I guess. I’m god. I don’t get into that kinda stuff much. Genders haven’t really mattered to gods since pretty much the beginning. We can just change. The only reason it matters for me is because of my wife. She feels the same. Well, kinda.” Evan said

“You mentioned her before, you have a wife?” Ichigo asked

“Me? Yes, but actually no. Have you read The god and The Demon?” Evan asked

“Oh. Yeah. Wait, so, the demon is your wife?” Ichigo asked

“Yup. I met her before I became god. Loved her ever since.....well.....If I was the real me, at least. I don't have a Lime to love.” Evan said sadly

“So, god man, exactly what am I supposed to do? I’m a baby. Do I just sit and cry?” Ichigo asked

“Hm. Yup. I guess so. Honestly, I’ll just go talk to Asami. Might make it a little easier on you.” Evan said

“Okay.” Ichigo said, falling asleep

“Wow.” Evan said

“Wow, what? Why are you over my baby sister's crib, Evan?” A girl asked, walking into the room

“Oh. Asami. Yo.” Evan said

“That’s not an explanation, that's a greeting. Where the heck have you been? It’s been months!” Asami said

“Well, I was dealing with the serana girl I told you about. And your sister is a reincarnated person. Also, there was another huge ass tear in the dimension. So I've been quite busy.” Evan said

“The first and third ones make sense, but what do you mean by the second one?” Asami asked

“This is Ichigo.” Evan said, pointing

“That's not a strawberry. That’s a child.” Asami said

“I meant the name. Her name is Ichigo. You guys used to live in the same neighborhood. Apparently.” Evan said

“Ichigo? Oh! Really? But I prepared for an actual sister.” Asami said, disappointed

“Yeah, I do have to do something about her soul, give me a sec.” Evan said, snapping his fingers.

Time split, and instead of one child there were now two

“There. Your sister and your other sister.” Evan said

“That was...trippy.” Asami said

“Yeah, but now you have Ichigo and a normal sister. It would be wrong to deprive a soul their intended body. Oh. That took a lot more power than I thought.” Evan said

“Jeezes, think about what you do, before you do it!” Asami said

“I am not your savior…I’m god. Not Jeezes.” Evan said, dizzy

“Over exerting my power makes me feel a bit dizzy.” Evan said

“Yeah, I know. Like how you were spinning after you fixed a different tear in our dimension a few years ago. How in the world are you our omnipotent god?” Asami asked

“I’m not. I’m a dimensional overseer. We are basically god, but less powerful. And tied to one dimension.” Evan said

“Considering everything, you must feel trapped here. Though, you are the god of our main religion. What’s with the other gods, though? They gave you a harem.” Asami asked

“I don’t know. I only love two people. Normally. This me is free to settle down with normal people and basically do whatever. I don’t have a lime. So I have to find my own here. That’s probably why. The real me can only have lime and Reina. But there’s only one goddess of love and beauty. And only one Reina. Then there’s one god. And infinite dimensional overseers based on god. Lime thought it would be cruel to deny us the ability to enjoy ourselves with a family of our own, so she convinced Evan to make us stop loving her.” Evan said

“But...you’re still crazy about her.” Asami said

“Of course I am. But it’s at the point where I can accept more than just two people in my heart. Something the real Evan can never do. So I can fall in love with a normal mortal, or another person. In some ways it’s cruel. But it’s nice to have family.” Evan said

“That’s kind of her.” Asami said

“Yeah. Lime is the best. The greatest. The Perfect.” Evan said

“Jeez, sit down. You’re still dizzy.” Asami said

“Ugh. I need to talk to livvy about something.” Evan said

“Livvy? Have you met her recently? How is she? Does she remember me?” Asami asked

“Of course she does. But, livvy is the next saint. I’d recommend not jumping in a giant pit of inescapable poisonous and acidic lava/liquid nitrogen like that. It’s seriously a bad plan. Same with you choosing to die earlier today.” Evan said

“Hmph. I wanna see livvy! Also, for the record, I did have a good reason for dying.....” Asami said

“I’ll ask the current saint I guess. It’s technically up to her. Try not to die again while I'm gone.” Evan said, poofing away

A few minutes passed

“He’s gone you know. It’s fine.” Asami said

“No. Shut up.” Asami said, shaking her head

“Why? What’s the point. We share the same brain, the same soul. You should know.” Asami said

“Yes, but…..no, I’m ignoring you. Your existence itself is wrong. Just shut up. Go away.” Asami said

“Why? I’m you. You may not be me, but I’m you. I know how you feel. I’m just the only one of us who has the guts to do it. You can’t even say it.” Asami said, mockingly

“Shut up! Just SHUT UP ALREADY! I… get it. But… he already found out that we were dying once. You know he’ll instantly notice, right? This is pointless, anyway. I became immortal. I can’t die. And I don’t want to, either! What’s wrong with life?!” Asami yelled, pacing back and forth rapidly

“Do you remember why we died the first time?” Asami asked

“Yeah! You took over and threw us in front of a truck!!” Asami screamed

“That was you. I’m just another part of your thoughts. I’m a part of you.” Asami said

“No! You are not real at all!! Shut up! I want to LIVE!” Asami said

“Are you sure? I’m not saying that you don’t. But ask ourself. Do I want to live, or do I want to die. I’m the result of your rejection of the truth. Just think. Calm down, and think about it, Asami.” Asami said

“No! I….I have no idea what I want. I guess… now that you asked, I think I know. You’re right. Like always.... But what do we do? What can we even do in the first place?” Asami asked, slowing down her pacing

“We can become one again, and think together.” Asami said

“Huh? Oh, al-wait! No! STOP IT! You always do this! Stop controlling me! I don’t want this!” Asami yelled, slamming her head against the wall

The pain seemed to help her think clearly. The cloudy voice in her head disappeared again.

“Ah. There we go. I really need to talk with Livvy. She always has the answer to this.” Asami said, dizzy

The blood that had been flowing from her head had already stopped, the injury already healed.

“Livvy….” Asami called out, going to sleep on the floor