A/N: Just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the follows and favorites I've gotten so far! I know it's not much but for my who disappearing act with every other story it really gives me hope. I'm currently writing chapter seven and I'm having a bit of a writer's block which, at that point, would cause me to stop and write something else. But I've gotten some notice and I really appreciate it. So I'm gonna push through it!
xoxo
KurakiChan

o3: Intimate Strangers.

Blue eyes stared down at the old book lying open with a curious indifference. On one of the pages was an old painting of a young looking girl, large black wings spread open wide. At her feet were creatures who looked similar, and angels. He had, of course, heard of the legendary valkyries; but who was that woman in particular?

"Ranka's Rebellion," he muttered the image's title. "Now why would the Winchester boys want you?"

Over the last few days he had caught wind of the two brothers trying to find information on valkyrie, Ranka in particular. It had been centuries since anyone even thought about the old creatures, so what exactly were they trying to accomplish?

"Sir," came a dark haired man donning a suit whose black eyes flashed to brown, "we have found more information on the woman."

He sat on a couch with the old book and gave the demon a look as if to say, 'well tell me before I kill you for wasting my time'.

"She was once the strongest valkyrie Odin had compared to all of her sisters. At one point, though, she began to wonder why her species and the angels were at war over humans so she injured them all and fled." An eyebrow quirked. "Since then she's lived on Earth among the name Ranka Rosencrantz."

"Does she still have her power?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Is it true that a valkyrie's blade can kill an angel?"

Slowly, the demon nodded. "And hers are even stronger, sir...she created her own weaponry…"

A smirk crossed his face. "So," he drawled, "she could kill me? Or anyone with her sword?"

"J-just her...she's the only one who can wield her blade…" the demon was getting concerned for his own life.

He stood and looked out the window. "That must be why the boys want her, hm? She can kill an archangel?"

"It appears that way, sir; yes."

"Hm...I wonder who's side she'll take. Guess we'll have to bring the little valkyrie out of retirement."

"What do you propose we do?"

He tilted his head towards the demon with a sly smirk. "Go fight her. I want to see how strong she is."

The demon's eyes widened in horror. "B-but sir! She will annihilate us!"

"That's the point you moron."

Ranka sat on top of a large pile of old old cars in the Singer Salvage Yard while the brothers and Bobby talked. It was already decided that the trio of women would stay, so Eir was fixing up the guest rooms and Lethia had gone to a bar downtown. She sensed them immediately and stood atop of the cars, looking around.

"Lady Ranka of the Valkyrie!" called a demon below her. "We come for you - dead or alive!"

Guess times have changed if even demons want me now, she thought. Aside from the one calling her out, she sensed four more demons nearby. Only five total? This isn't an ambush if they know who I am...this is child's play.

"You'll need more backup if you want to even scratch me," she told the demon, holding her right arm up across her chest with her hand open. "Do you still wish to challenge me?" When the demon didn't back down, her eyes blazed a bright blue and a large, silver sword appeared in her hand as she jumped down.

Fear was evident in the demon's eyes and Ranka was faster than his escape attempt. As she landed on the ground, a loud clap of thunder emitted from the sky and one swing of her blade killed the demon. The other four jumped in and the three men ran outside with Eir close behind. Ranka's fluid movements with her blade were near perfection as she slayed the demons one by one.

"She's not at full capacity," Eir told the trio on the porch. "She is still in her human clothes."

"What's that s'posed to mean?" asked Bobby, still catching up with the whole 'valkyrie' thing.

"Ranka has three power levels - this is the first; her eyes are ablaze and sword in hand but the swings don't cause too much damage. In the second, which was her norm way back when, she is in the traditional valkyrie dress with wings outstretched. She is much more lethal and one swing could have wiped out half of this property." Their eyes widened. "The third she nearly used when she rebelled, but she didn't."

"Why not?" asked Sam.

"It's called 'Transcendance' - the full capacity of her power. If she went into that, she might have been able to protect somethings, but that blast would have obliterated everything in its path: valkyrie, angels, humans, demons, anything it touched. She is the only one with that power."

When all five demons laid dead on the ground around her, Ranka's sword vanished and her eyes returned to their normal blue. She looked up at the four with a hard expression. "Someone knows I'm here and is testing me."

"How would you know that? You just got ambushed." Dean rolled his eyes.

"Five is nothing for me," she replied rather arrogantly as she approached them. "That was a fucking joke," she spat, causing Dean to take a step back. "An ambush would have to be thousands. Underestimate me once more and I just might consider allowing you pitiful sacks of water to fend for yourselves."