Chapter 8: Blades and Marriage

(Last chapter)

Suddenly an orange blur descended in front of the princesses in a combat position. All three aliens were surprised at Rito's sudden appearance.

Chapter 8:

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Rito asked in a cold and serious tone as he looked over Zastin.

Zastin has greyish hair and hetrochromia eyes (blue on his right eye and black on his left). His clothing consists of grey somewhat pointy armor, covered by a blood red cape. On his belt is a large and green energy sword, ready to slay anything in it's path. He also has a tail, but unlike Lala or Momo, Zastin's tail is thin and very scorpion like in appearance.

"This guy has a tail just like Lala and Momo, meaning they are from the same planet." Rito thought inside his head.

"Move along earthling, this matter does concern you."

"Oh this concerns me alright," Rito started. "Two of your men are currently tied to my arm chair taking a nap. They came into my house and ambushed us and nearly destroyed most of the furniture in my room. So yes! This matter does concern me. So I ask again! Who are you and why are you here."

"He couldn't have took on my two bodyguards, he's just an earthling, it must've been Lala or Momo who took care of them." Zastin thought.

"Very well earthling, I am Zastin, Lala's personal bodyguard and the best swordsman on Planet Deviluke. I am here by the order of Lala and Momo's father, KING Gid Lucione Deviluke, to take the girls back home for an arranged marriage." Zastin explained.

"Is this true Lala, Momo?" Rito asked the two girls as they nodded at him sadly.

Rito then turned his head to Zastin, looked him dead in the eye and spoke softly, but sagely. "Marriage is reserved for someone that you love and wish to cherish your life forever. You can't force marriage, 'King' or not. It is just plain wrong. Marriage happens out of love. Put yourself in their place, what would you do if you were them?"

The two Devilukean Princesses could only blush as they thought about the boy that was currently defending them. "He talks as If he actually wants to marry us. Hmm….. I wonder… " Momo thought as naughty images of her and Rito ran through her mind.

"Though I agree with you, earthling, I cannot disobey the commands of my lord. I must take them with me, and exert force if I must. So let me repeat, move, or suffer." Zastin said and unleashed his energy sword and pointed it at Rito.

In response Zastin's threat, Rito calmly walked over to Lala and took the white hoodie (Desmonds form AC3). He took his school jacket off, revealing his dual hidden blades on his arms for the very first time, then quickly put his hoodie on and pulled up the sleeves. Rito sunk into an aggressive hidden blade stance and stared at Zastin.

Zastin, understanding now that the kid wishes to fight spoke up. "Well kid, you have guts I give you that. Sigh… your funeral I guess." He said as he unclipped his cape and let it fall to the ground. Rito simply pulled his hood over his wild orange hair.

"Goodbye kid." Zastin said simply as he rushed towards Rito and brought his blade down in a downwards diagonal slash (from top left to bottom right.)

"Now let's see if five weeks of training have paid off." The assassin-to-be said inside his own mind.

Rito waited for the very last second and unleashed his left hidden blade to counter attack that was aiming at his face. He position his hidden blade at the side of his face and to everyone's surprise, Zastin's sword was blocked. Zastin's eyes widened.

"Nows my chance" Rito thought as he moved in and attempted put his other hidden blade inside his enemy's throat whist using his left hand to grab onto Zastin's sword wrist, preventing him from using his sword. Zastin saw the blade coming for him and used his other hand and grabbed Rito's wrist. Now they were stuck, one holding onto the other person's wrist.

"How are you match me on physical strength earthling!?" Zastin asked in amazement as he struggled to keep Rito's hidden blade back from his throat.

Lala and Momo, now watching from the battle from the side lines, are stunned beyond belief.

"This earthling boy is actually matching Zastin, how dreamy." They both thought as they watched Rito slowly pushing Zastin down onto the ground.

Suddenly Zastin, with incredible strength, gave a short cry and swung Rito over his head to a nearly tree. Rito expertly recovered in midair with an aerial spin and landed on a tree branch in a crouching position.

Zastin gave a look of rivalry and respect at Rito. But Rito lowered his head, his hood shadowing his face.

"How is it that an earthling such as yourself possibly match someone like me?" Zastin once again asked with a hint of arrogance in his voice.

"You have your secrets, and I have mine." Rito said dangerously. Zastin's tone reminded of Azenda, and he's beginning to lose control of his hatred.

"Come on! You can do it! Show him what you're made've! " Lala and Momo shouted at Rito. Hearing those kind words of encouragement, Rito burst out of his own bubble of hated and focused back on Zastin, stood on the ground, as if ready for any attack.

Without warning Rito reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out a small knife, similar to what Uncle Sam had, and hauled it at Zastin with so fast that it was nearly impossible to be seen by the naked eye.

Zastin quickly reacted and used his energy sword to deflect the small blade. Just as the swordsman is occupied with the tiny knife, Rito leaped off the branch into crouching position in midair with his left hand extending in front of him and the other hand bended up behind him with his hidden blade activated (Like Altair did in the trailer) as he slowly descended onto the royal knight.

Lala and Momo staring at Rito with heavy blushes, frightened and mesmerized with Rito's graceful movements. To them, the hooded boy looked like an angel of death, a very attractive angel of death.

But this time Zastin wasn't able to react in time and Rito was on top of him in a flash. Zastin briefly closed his eyes and felt a small stinging pain across his cheek as they both landed on the ground, with Rito sitting on top of the swordsman's stomach.

"NO! DON'T KILL HIM!" Rito heard Lala yell out.

Rito briefly glanced at Momo and Lala's direction and saw that her face was full of worry for both Zastin and himself.

"I'm not a man accustomed to murder Zastin, but know this," He whispered to Zastin. "Lala saved your life. I expect you to repay her." Rito finished and got off the man.

"Lala and I have decided to stay on Earth with this boy for the time being and figure out what to do, and that's final Zastin. Tell that to my father."

For a full minute Zastin was confused as to what he should do. He knew he had to carry out the orders of his king, but his mind pondered on the words that the hooded boy said about marriage. "Marriage is reserved for someone that you love and wish to cherish your life forever. You can't force marriage, 'King' or not.". Zastin was now moved by Rito's words and decided to return to planet Deviluke and explain the current situation to his majesty.

"….fine. I'll tell your father that you girls have decided to remain on earth with this….. Earthling. Hopefully Gid will be able to solve this situation that we are in right now. In the meantime, earthling, it is now your duty to protect them from harm's way. " Zastin reluctantly said to the three teenagers.

The girls shouted in glee as they rushed towards the swordsman and hugged him tightly. "Thank you Zastin! You're the best!"

"What have I gotten myself into?" Rito asked himself.

"Lala, Momo, lets head back to the house. You too Zastin, your henchmen are still tied up." Rito said as he helped the armored man off the ground.

"Peace?" Rito asked Zastin

"Peace." Zastin answered as the two males smiled at each other, each harboring new found respect for each other. And with that, the four slowly walked their way to Rito's house.

To chapter 9

AUTHOR: So that's chapter 9 for ya! As always, there's still more chapters to come.

Review are greatly appreciated, be it good or bad. Criticisms are also accepted.