Jon slowly descended back down into the building after having successfully defeated the Stray Devil. The gauntlets on his hands disappeared, as well as the metal boots on his feet. The horns receded back into his head and the mark back onto his hand. Finally his wings disappeared. Now back to normal, Jon quickly rushed over to Koneko to check on her. She was injured, but none of the wounds appeared to be life threatening.
"How are you holding up?" He asked worriedly.
"I've been better." She admitted while wincing in pain.
"Let's get you off the floor." As Jon reached down to pick Koneko up she suddenly squirmed away. "What's wrong?"
"My clothes…" She spoke softly, a light blush creeping over her cheeks as she tried to cover herself.
It was then Jon remembered she was practically stark naked. He coughed awkwardly and turned away. "Errr, right." He removed his jacket and used it to cover her.
"Thank you." Koneko quietly replied, her cheeks still burning.
Jon then proceeded to pick her up off the ground, cradling Koneko in his arms as he made his way outside. Her heart began to beat faster in her chest as they headed for the exit.
"Still holding up alright?" He asked sincerely.
"Y...yes." She squirmed a little but otherwise didn't protest to being carried. "I just didn't know you were so...soft."
He chuckled at her. "I guess I'll take that as a compliment."
Koneko finally seemed to relax into him. A small sigh escaped her lips as she began to drift off.
"Nyan…"
Jon quirked a brow at her. "Did you say something?"
Her body immediately went rigid and her face flared. Koneko quickly shook her head from side to side. "Nothing! It's nothing!"
He shrugged. "If you say so."
Jon carried her outside were Asia, Akeno, and Rias were all waiting patiently for him.
"You're back!" Asia rushed over to him. "Does Koneko need help?"
"Yes please." She replied weakly as Jon set her down.
Asia immediately got to work healing Koneko's injuries as well as using her other magic to repair her clothes. Meanwhile Jon went to check up on Rias and Akeno.
"What happened out here?" He asked while inspecting the damage to the surrounding area.
"We got into a slight disagreement with a Holy Sword User." Akeno commented coyly.
"Xenovia?" Jon guessed.
Rias nodded in confirmation. "Shortly after you killed the Stray Devil she took off. Popped one of those glass vial light grenades and bolted."
"What about Irina? Did you find her, Master?" Akeno asked worriedly.
He remained silent for a moment before a small smile enveloped his features.
"I did."
After Jon explained everything that went down in the building, Rias asked him what happened to Kiba. At which point he lead them to the side of the structure where they found the Knight pinned to the wall, Jon having tied him in place with a bent rebar.
"I wasn't sure what else to do so I put him here until he calmed down."
Kiba refused to even acknowledge anyone's presence. That same look of bitter resentment plastered on his face. Rias immediately walked up to him and slapped the Knight in the face.
"Think you've got it together now?" She growled at him angrily. "This is the second time you've deliberately disobeyed my orders. And what's worse, you put Koneko in serious danger."
"I'm sorry, Ms. President." He responded completely dispassionately.
"Your reckless behavior and complete disregard for the safety of your Peerage has been unacceptable." She lectured sternly. "As of this moment, you're suspended from any and all Club activities indefinitely. Until you get your head on straight, you'll be making deliveries and handing out fliers. Is that understood?"
He remained silent.
"You should be thanking her." Jon snarled at him. "It's a lot kinder than what I would have done." He got directly in the Knight's face. "What the hell has gotten into you? It's one thing to take your anger out on me, but this is your Peerage, Kiba. You're better than this."
"This has nothing to do with any of you." He responded flatly. "Just let it go. You're obviously not going to help me, so you may as well just stay out of my way."
Jon flared at him, his face turning red with anger. "I've about had it up to here with that attitude. Can't you get it through your thick skull that we're worried?"
"Worried?" Kiba chuckled at him, finally raising his head and looking Jon in the eye. "Why would you ever be worried about anything? You got your revenge. You got your life back. You won your fight, and you found love again." There was pain in his eyes. "You have no idea what it's like to lose. To fight so hard for yourself, and for those you love, to be feel so right in your convictions. And yet fail all the same."
"You think I haven't suffered?" Jon asked incredulously. "Kiba, I only made it this far thanks to you and the girls. I never would have been able to manage on my own. And you can't either."
"I'm not like you, Jon." Kiba continued. "I don't care about finding love or building a life. I follow Rias because she has the money and the power to get me my revenge. The only thing I have left to live for is destroying the legacy of the Holy Swords. It's the reason I fight."
He frowned at him. Jon understood this feeling perfectly well. After all, that's exactly how he felt back before killing Carlia.
"I used to think like that too." He spoke assuringly. "I obsessed over my vengeance because I thought I had nothing left to lose. But I was completely wrong."
Rias, Akeno, and Asia all frowned at him in concern.
"I've paid for those mistakes, Kiba. I'm still paying for those mistakes. But you don't have to be like me. You can still choose to let it go."
For the longest time Kiba remained silent. Finally, he looked back at Jon, a sour expression on his face. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to be grateful? You think I haven't heard this speech before?"
Jon frowned at him angrily. "You're really going to be like this? I'm trying to help you, you stubborn Prick."
"Save your self righteous sermon for someone who wants to hear it." Kiba responded dismissively. "You're just wasting your breath at this point."
He just silently stared at him, a look of disappointment on his face. "Fine…" Jon pulled the rebar away and let him loose. Kiba then proceeded to walk away from the group without a word.
"I mean, what the hell do I know, right?!" Jon shouted at him angrily. "I'm just your friend!"
Kiba stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and glared at him.
"I don't have friends."
The wind completely left his sails. Jon stared back at his Peerage Brother, shaking his head in complete disbelief.
"Kiba!" Rias scolded him like a stern mother. "You apologise to Jon right this-"
He raised a hand up to stop her. "You know what? No." Jon waved him off. "Let him go. He wants to be alone? Let him be alone." He then turned and began walking away angrily. "The fuck should I care for?"
"Jon. Jon wait!" Asia quickly ran after him worriedly.
"Master!" Akeno quickly followed suit.
"Kiba…" Rias spoke to him, her voice full of concern. "...why are you doing this? Why are you pushing us away?"
He didn't respond, instead, Kiba simply began walking in the opposite direction.
"Go be with your Dragon, Rias. We both know that's what you really want."
Rias scowled at him angrily before huffing and turning sharply in the other direction to join the other girls. Koneko continued to watch, still wrapped in Jon's jacket, as Kiba walked away from the others. Finally, with a heavy heart, she too turned and left him behind to go join the group. Leaving the Gremory Knight alone, just as he wanted it.
Irina laid back in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Completely lost in thought. Over in the next room, Xenovia was giving a full report to the Arch-Bishop regarding the catastrophic failure of Jon's assasination. Despite her Partner's assurance to the contrary, Irina couldn't help but feel like this was entirely her fault. She told herself over and over again that she wouldn't let her feelings for him interfere with her mission. And yet despite her failure, Irina wasn't terribly sad. If anything, she now felt hopeful for the future. She and Jon had reconciled their differences...or at least they sort of did. At the very least, she knew she didn't hate him anymore.
But there was still one major problem. Dragon or not, Jon was still sided with Hell's forces. He was still, as far as her order was concerned, an enemy. What was she supposed to do now, knowing that?
Sitting in her bedroom and sulking over her conflicted feelings wasn't getting her anywhere. So she decided for now the best option was to talk to Xenovia about it. Irina sat up from her bed and walked out to the main service room where her Partner was pacing back and forth, a phone up to her ear.
"I still don't get why you felt the need to keep this information from me." Xenovia spoke into the receiver, her voice sounding slightly irritated. "Not only is Asia Argento still alive, but she and Jonathan Hyodo have both aligned themselves with Hells forces, your Holiness." She tapped her foot impatiently as she listened to the Arch-Bishop drone on. "I understand the information is on a need to know basis, Sir, but nevertheless we were taken completely off guard. The Red Dragon Emperor has gained far more power than you lead us to believe. I'm not sure the two of us can…" She sighed wearily before rubbing the bridge of her nose. "...yes Sir, I understand that we're under a ceasefire. No, I haven't forgotten what our primary objective is." She crossed her free arm across her chest and scowled in annoyance. "Yes your Holiness, I understand. We'll get back on track."
She then hung up the phone and tossed it aside. "Dick…"
Irina slowly entered the room and smiled at her nervously. "Everything going okay in here?"
Xenovia slumped into one of the pews. This was the most stressed out Irina had seen her in awhile.
"Just dealing with bureaucratic nonsense. The usual."
She took a seat next to her and nodded in understanding. "So...what's our next move?"
"For now, I suppose we have to put aside our secondary objective and redouble our efforts on tracking down Freed."
Irina sighed in relief, which Xenovia immediately picked up on.
"You seem pleased by this development."
She went rigid in her seat before turning red in the face. "Wh...what?! No no! Not at all! Whatever gives you that idea?" Irina chuckled nervously.
Xenovia regarded her warily for a moment before casting her gaze away worriedly. "Can I be honest with you for a moment?"
She peered at her curiously but otherwise nodded her head. "Of course."
"I'm getting really tired of this."
"What do you mean?" Irina asked in concern.
"This." She insisted, motioning towards the barren, lifeless shell of a Church that once offered Holy Protection. "Seeing our faith crumble around us. I'm sick of our battle being a constant struggle against the tides of darkness whilst seeing no clear view of the light at the end of the tunnel."
"Are things really that bad?" Irina asked her worriedly. "I still believe in God's plan. If evil's shadow is cast longer than the light can reach, it's only a test of our faith. Is it not?"
"Of course it is." Xenovia insisted. "But...are we really so certain that this Shadow was not our doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is...the Church's influence is slowly beginning to wane. People...people just don't need us anymore. The world has moved on, and our inability to adapt to the changing social climate could threaten to undermine everything that we've worked so hard to accomplish."
"Are you saying…"
"We're losing this war, Irina." Xenovia's voice was grim. "No one wants to admit it. We go on praying for God's salvation whilst turning a blind eye to the wickedness that is slowly consuming the Earth. Today was just another reminder for me of how powerful our enemies have become." She clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "I can't help but feel that we are to blame for this. The Shepard is nothing without his flock. But we have continuously pushed our own flock away by rigidly enforcing ancient teachings that do not conform to modern society."
"You mean the Bible?" Irina asked disbelievingly. "But that is our doctrine. The words of Christ our savior put to paper."
"Perhaps…" Xenovia spoke, knowing full well she was treading on shaky ground. "...but if I can ask a candid question to you. Do you not ever find the Testament to be...slightly frustrating?"
"In what way?" Irina asked, curious as to where exactly she was going with this.
"I've read through the Holy Scriptures numerous times. In English, in Russain, in Japanese. I've deciphered versus written in Latin. I've done so much research into the meaning of Christ's words. Yet so much of what the Bible espouses seems to...contradict itself."
Irina felt her stomach churn. "This is...very close to blasphemy Xenovia. Are you feeling alright?"
"Should I be dishonest about how I feel?" She challenged. "I've studied our text more thoroughly than some members of the Clergy, and I can only speak to what it is I see. One minute it espouses that we should love and respect each other without question, the next it calls for stoning homosexuals to death. For every passage of wisdom I read in our scripture, it feels as if there is another passage almost immediately afterwards that espouses the exact opposite. It's as if our Holy Text had two different authors attempting to write the same book. With both of them having very different ideas on what exactly the Church should be."
She was trying very hard not to feel anxious about this. After all, hearing the text of her faith brought into question was always a sore spot for Irina. Especially considering she had this very same discussion with Jon many times before. And look how that turned out.
"What is it you want me to say, Xenovia? Ours is not to question, only to believe and follow the divine plan."
"But is this really God's plan?" Xenovia asked sincerely. "Is this really the future he had envisioned for mankind?"
They both sat in silence for a moment, until Xenovia breathed a melancholy sigh and spoke again.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to alarm you. My recent failures have just had me on edge as of late. I feel as though I am letting the Lord down."
"They're my failures too." She insisted. "But what we have to remember is that God made us Human. Where we are weak and ignorant he is enduring and all knowing. Whatever his plan for us, it is far grander than anything we could possibly hope to understand." Irina frowned and cast her gaze away. "I can't claim to fully understand it all either. When I lost my Father, I truly did question for awhile if God cared about me." Her frown disappeared as a small smile enveloped her features. "But then...I met Jon, and I became a Hunter. And since then, I've lived my life every day knowing in my heart that, despite all the darkness around me, so long as keep strong to my faith, I will see the light at the end of the tunnel one day."
"And it's really that easy for you?" Xenovia asked curiously.
Irina clutched at the Silver Cross around her neck thoughtfully. "No. It isn't. I struggle with the pain of these losses every day. But if anything, I guess I just choose to keep going."
She considered Irina's words carefully for a moment before a realization came over her.
"You still have feelings for Jon, don't you?"
Irina gasped in surprise before turning her head away sharply. "No! What on Earth would give you that idea? I already told you that I-"
"You just mentioned how the two of you met a moment ago." Xenovia challenged. "You said it like it was still a blessing."
"That...that doesn't mean I-"
"Irina, you're blushing." She insisted. "There's no point in hiding it. Did you even try to defeat him?"
She shot up out of her seat angrily. "Of course I did! Xenovia, I swear to you it was not my intention to let him go free!" She sighed wearily before slumping back down in her seat. "But...now that I know Jon was never strictly speaking Human...how am I supposed to compare him to my own standards?" Her frown deepened. "Jon's a Dragon. He was always a Dragon. Though I may not approve, Dragon's have never bound themselves to the will of God. I understand that now, and have come to terms with it."
"And because you've forgiven him, now you can't kill him." Xenovia surmised.
"I'm so sorry." She insisted, shame in her eyes. "I've failed you. And I've failed the Church as well...I'm weak."
After a moment of silence, Xenovia sighed wearily. "You're no more weak than I. After all, you said it yourself. We are only Human."
Irina nodded in agreement. "That we are."
"Which brings me to my next question."
"Hmm, what's that?"
Xenovia peered at her severely for a moment.
"When I go after Jon, are you planning on standing in my way?"
Her stomach lurched and her skin turned pale. "I thought that…we were focusing on Freed for now."
"Irina." Xenovia shook her head emphatically. "We cannot choose to overlook this. Faith aside, I'm still a Holy Swordswoman, and Jon is still a traitor to our Order. I may question our doctrine from time to time, but make no mistake, I'm still loyal to my Kinsmen."
"But-"
"You can't claim to be strong in faith and yet weak in resolve." She insisted sharply, rendering Irina silent. "You espouse that we are meant to follow God's plan and yet you too seem to be clouded by doubt when it comes to Jon. You can't have it both ways."
She stood up and began walking towards her room.
"I won't fault you for not wanting to kill your old Mentor." Xenovia cautioned. "But make no mistake, if you try to stop me from doing my job, I won't hesitate to cut you down."
With that she left, leaving Irina alone to ponder on the gravity of her current situation. She was so conflicted, and so unsure. Not knowing what else to do, she bowed her head, closed her eyes, and clutched at her Mother's Cross.
Dear Lord, please...give me a sign. Show me the path I'm meant to take.
After the debacle with the Stray Devil, the members of the ORC retired back to the Honor's House for some much needed rest and recuperation. Akeno took Jon down into the Dungeon to work out his frustrations with Kiba. "All the emotions you feel right now, Master, take them out on me." She insisted. Ultimately he didn't go that far. They had a normal session of playtime, where Jon familiarized himself with more of the equipment. While it didn't relieve all of his anger, the session did give him a chance to vent, as well as connect with Akeno on a deeper level.
That night, she pulled out a new toy for them to use. After stripping her down and providing some much needed aftercare, Akeno surprised him with a platinum leash to go with her collar. "Walk me naked to your room, Master." She requested. When he asked why, she explained that she no longer felt the need for modesty about what she was. She had already asked Sona and Rias both if it was okay for her to be more public about her Submission to her Dragon, and they both agreed it was time.
Which was why, after their session of aftercare, Jon attached the leash to her collar and, as requested, lead Akeno in all her stark glory back to his room. The girls in Sona's peerage he passed by along the way all seemed to be relatively understanding, some even smiled. Something he attributed to Sona's own kinky nature. Sammy was the only one who seemed visibly shocked, though if Jon had to guess, that had more to do with the sight of Akeno's gorgeous naked body than anything else. Something he found particularly amusing.
Upon reaching his room, Jon found Asia and Rias waiting for him. Since the Holy Swords Women had been effectively dealt with, at least for the moment, they finally had time to all be together again. Though seeing Akeno naked and on a leash was a bit of a shock to Asia, the former Nun did her best not to comment, as she was trying to be more accommodating to...that sort of thing.
"So...you really like being walked around like that?" She asked curiously.
Akeno nodded happily while Jon disconnected the leash and guided her by her hair to a mat near the foot of his bed. "It makes me feel secure. Like my Master is protecting me from anything that may try to do me harm by keeping his Treasure physically connected to him."
Rias smiled at her. "Sort of like how we feel when we're cuddled up in his arms. I know it's very different from what you're used to, Asia. But to Akeno, this is just another way of expressing love and affection."
Jon guided Akeno onto the mat, upon which she knelt down on her haunches and placed her hands in her lap. He kissed her sweetly before walking over to his desk and rummaging through one of the drawers.
"I see you sitting like that all the time." Asia observed, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Is there some meaning behind it?"
"This is the pose that represents me waiting for instructions from my Master. But it's also my time for self reflection. It's sort of like meditation." Akeno explained with her head bowed and her eyes shut. "I use it as a chance to clear my mind and let go of worldly troubles."
"Akeno's been practicing this particular form of meditation since before she became my Queen." Rias added. "She's become so adept at the technique she can even draw in magical energy with it. Meaning she never has to sleep."
"That's impressive." Asia admitted.
"It's a technique rooted in Buddhist practices." Akeno continued. "But I've added my own little twist to it."
Jon returned with a blindfold and set of noise canceling earphones. He placed the blindfold over her eyes along with the earphones before turning them on.
"Sensory deprivation." He explained. "These particular headphones cancel out all surrounding noise, no matter how loud."
"So she really can't hear a word we say?" Asia marveled.
Jon nodded in confirmation. "This is her time to be at rest with her thoughts." He explained. "If I have need of her for something, then I'll simply give her the appropriate signal."
"Well look at you, Jon." Rias beamed at him pridefully. "You've really committed yourself to becoming an excellent Dominant for her."
"I may not really understand it." Asia admitted. "But I agree with Rias. You really seem to know how to take care of her."
Jon shrugged at them. "I've been trying at least." He walked over to the bed and took a seat next to Asia while Rias sat in his desk chair. "Truth be told I really like the structure that comes with the role of Dominant. It gives me something to keep my mind occupied."
Rias frowned at him. "How have you been feeling, Jon?"
He blew a breath through pursed lips. "It seems like I solve one problem only for another one to spring up. I've made peace with Irina but…"
"But at the cost of Kiba." Asia finished, a sullen look on her face.
"I still can't fucking wrap my head around it." Jon responded angrily. "Whoever that jackass who stormed away from us is, he's not Kiba. That ain't my Peerage Brother."
"As much as I hate to say this, Jon." Rias spoke up mournfully. "I'm afraid that what you saw was the real Kiba. The calm and collected Knight that you know is a facade masking a boy with very very deep emotional issues."
He took a breath to calm himself down and let his anger subside. "Well you know what? He's officially used up his last favor with me."
"What are you saying, Jon?" Asia asked curiously.
"I need to know what it is that happened to him." He insisted. "And since he's too stubborn to tell me himself, I'm gonna have to ask you Rias."
She frowned at him. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." He insisted. "I tried my damndest to respect Kiba's privacy, but at this point, nothing's going to change if I don't know the full story."
Rias brought one of her slender legs up to her chest and thought for a moment on where to begin. "As you already know, Holy Swords are considered to be the strongest weapons the Vatican possesses against our kind. Simply touching one can burn a Devil. But being cut by one...well, you've seen for yourself the devastating effects those blades can have on us."
Jon nodded in understanding. "Irina gained tremendous power from hers. And from what you've told me about Xenovia, it sounds like she's even more dangerous."
"She is." Asia replied nervously. "I'd never seen Rias and Akeno pushed to their limit like that before. It was worse than even the Rating Game."
"If it wasn't for your Twilight Healing, that battle could have ended disastrously for us." Rias admitted.
"Okay, but what does this have to do with Kiba?"
"I'm getting to that." She insisted. "You see, as powerful as the Holy Swords are, they do possess one glaring weakness."
"Which is?"
"Individuals who can actually wield them are incredibly rare. There are over a hundred Holy Swords catalogued within the Vatican's Arsenal. But only about fifteen to twenty people alive capable of actually wielding them."
"That few?" Jon asked. "I mean, I knew their numbers were sparse, but still."
Rias nodded in confirmation. "It's not something that can be taught. Like with the Sacred Gears, the ability to tap into a Holy Sword's power is inherited through genes. In the hands of a normal Human, those swords are little more than sharp metal. Men have gone to great lengths in the past to increase the number of Holy Sword Users. Some of the measures they used were...quite drastic."
They both remained silent, allowing the President to continue.
"They even went so far as to try to artificially create Holy Sword Users. While most of these were monumental failures, there was one attempt that bore some semblance of results...Project Sanguinum Sanctorum."
"Project Holy Blood?" Asia quirked her head at Rias. "The Church must have kept this super secret because I've never heard of such a thing."
"Me neither." Jon admitted.
Her expression turned grim. "There's a good reason for that. But to understand it, we have to go back in history a bit." She took a deep breath before continuing. "It was during the time of the Second World War. While the Axis and Allied powers fought for global supremacy, a very different conflict was taking place among the Three Factions."
"What influence did the Three Factions have on World War Two?" Jon asked curiously.
Rias sighed in a melancholy tone. "More than we should have, less than you think. Officially, due to the ceasefire, none of the three factions were supposed to get directly involved in the conflict."
He quirked a brow at her. "And unofficially?"
"Many of us saw the war as an opportunity to bolster our Faction's influence over the planet. The Fallen Angel's used the chaos of the conflict to expand their network of criminal cartels. We Devils invested heavily in the War economy. And then there was the Vatican..."
"I was always told the Vatican maintained a strict policy of neutrality during the War." Asia nervously observed.
"On the surface, yes they did. However, the same cannot be said for the Order of the Saintly Knights of Michael."
"Tell me you're joking." Jon implored in disbelief.
Rias shook her head solemnly. "I'm afraid not. Several of the more overzealous members of the Order saw an opportunity to expand their influence...by allying themselves with the Axis powers."
Asia clasped her hands over her mouth. "That can't be. The Order would never-"
"Yes they would." Jon cut in bitterly. "As much as I hate to admit it, I know about this."
"The decision was not unanimous." Rias assured. "During the war, the Order had effectively split into two different factions. On the one side was the Papacy, who wanted to maintain the policy of neutrality. On the other, however, was an extremist group lead by Archbishop Valper Galilei."
"I know this man." Jon admitted. "The Church called him the Genocide Priest. He was the head of a Rogue Militant Group known as the Holy Aryan Brotherhood. They dabbled in Occult Magic and ran a rather successful gun smuggling operation for many years."
"Goodness, that's awful." Asia clutched at her chest nervously.
"The roots of that organization began with the Nazi Party." Rias continued. "Valper was one of several members of the Papacy who became enthralled by Hitler's promise of a world dominated by Christianity. But the Pope was adamant that the Vatican maintain its neutral standing. So he, along with several neophyte Hunters, stole one of the five Holy Excalibur Swords in the Church's possession and fled to Germany."
"Where they began the Project." Jon surmised.
"Yes." She responded quietly, a pained expression on her face. "Valper and his neophytes wanted to create Holy Sword Users capable of wielding the Excalibur Blades so they could be used as weapons for the Axis Powers. They set up a laboratory in an underground bunker beneath Auschwitz before collecting test subjects. War prisoners, Jews, Orphans, pretty much anyone who possessed even a modicum of Holy Sword potential." Rias shook her head in disgust. "The experiments they performed on those prisoners were hideous. Even by the standards of the Nazi Party."
Asia began to turn pale. Jon held her hand assuredly.
"In the end, the Project was declared a failure. As the tide of the war began to turn in the Allied Powers favor, Valper decided to close up shop before proceeding to execute all remaining test subjects...all save one."
"No…" Jon shook his head in disbelief.
Rias nodded sadly. "One lone boy managed to escape. By the time I found him he was nothing more than skin and bones, nearly dead from Hypothermia. I knew he didn't have long to live, so I made him an offer."
"Oh Kiba…that poor boy." Asia buried her face in Jon's chest as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "It's too cruel. How could anyone be so monstrous and still call themselves a man of God?"
Jon held Asia close to comfort her. This...was a lot to take in. But it still didn't answer the big question.
"Why the swords?"
Rias peered at him questioningly.
"If what you've said is true. Then Valper is the one responsible. Why is Kiba dead set on destroying Holy Relics and pissing off the Church?"
"When I first made a Pact with Kiba, I promised him we would find Valper, kill him, and destroy his research. After the Axis Powers fell, the Church had him excommunicated and placed at the top of their most wanted list. He fled with his followers before forming the Militant Group you're familiar with, where he continued to work on the Holy Swords. It took us over forty years to finally track him down but by then…"
Jon felt a pit form in his stomach. He knew how this story ended.
"By then what?" Asia asked, finally looking up from Jon's chest.
"The Church got to him first." He answered for her. "They sent a battalion of Hunters to his compound with a kill order. No one was left alive."
"And Valpers research fell into their hands, along with the missing Excalibur Sword." Rias finished. "Rather than destroy his research they refined it. Making the Holy Swords more accessible to their Hunters. To this day they still work to refine the technique so that more Holy Swords can be used." She frowned sourly. "All of their success has been built on the blood of those victims at Auschwitz."
"And Kiba was robbed of his vengeance…" Jon was floored. "It all makes perfect sense now."
"What does?" Asia asked.
"The reason why Kiba is so bitter at me in particular." He answered.
She peered at him questioningly.
He sighed in a melancholy tone and shut his eyes. "The man who led the raid on that compound and Killed Valper…"
"Jon, no." Rias stopped him. "You can't blame yourself for that."
"I don't." He assured. "But I'm not so sure Kiba doesn't if his behavior is any indication."
"Wait, I'm confused." Asia spoke up again. "What are you talking about?"
"The Hunter who lead the Raid on Valper Galilei's compound was Jon's Father." Rias explained. "He seems to think that his Peerage Brother is holding that against him."
"You can't seriously believe that, can you?" Asia asked him worriedly. "Kiba is just upset from being reminded of his past. He doesn't blame you for this."
Jon remained silent as he mulled over everything he had learned, causing Rias to breath a weary sigh.
"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted. I think it's time the three of us went to bed."
Rias stood up and proceeded to strip away her shirt, shoes, and blouse. Revealing the lacy black and purple bra and panties she was wearing underneath.
"So, is there a reason you're stripping in my room?" Jon asked with a slick grin.
"You know I can't sleep comfortably unless I'm completely naked." She insisted teasingly.
"Is it that time already?" Asia began stripping down as well, removing her skirt to reveal white cotton panties with pink borders and a matching bra.
Both ladies then unhooked their bras and dropped them to the floor, allowing their gorgeous breasts to spill out in full view for him.
"Now fair is fair, Asia." Rias lectured while brushing her hair aside. "You already got him once today, now I get a turn."
Asia pouted adorably, pushing her arms together and perking up her breasts. "Well okay, just don't keep him for too long."
"Don't get me wrong, I want you here." Rias grinned wickedly at her. "Give me thirty minutes with him while you warm yourself up, Love."
"Eep!" Asia squeaked before heating up like a thermometer. "W...warm myself up?"
"You know what I want." She retorted with lustful eyes. "There's no need to be coy, Asia. Not after what Jon told me you said on the quad."
The poor girl went wide eyed before turning completely scarlet. "He told you?!"
"Sorry, Asia." Jon scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "She cornered me. I had to spill it."
"Honestly, such a vulgar mouth on you young lady." Rias retorted while pretending to be offended. "What on Earth am I to do with you?"
"Be nice to her." Jon insisted with a smile. "She's still learning."
"I know she is." Rias pressed a finger up to her lips, her breath heated. "And I find it simply adorable."
She whined plaintively, placing her hands up to her cheeks and shaking her head. "Why do you always have to embarrass me like that, Rias?"
The redheaded beauty giggled at her while sticking her tongue out in a silly manner. "Now then." She removed her panties and splayed out on her side at one end of Jon's bed while caressing the other end with her hand, a sultry look in her eyes. "Don't make me wait, Cowboy."
Jon unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside before walking over to her. Rias got up on her knees and undid the buckle on his belt while unzipping his pants, biting her lower lip at him before sliding his jeans and boxers down.
"Asia and I have been practicing." She whispered lustfully into his ear. "I won't ask you to compare, but I am curious to see if you'll notice a difference from me this time."
She slowly went down on Jon, taking his fully erect member into her mouth while placing her hands in her lap and locking eyes with him. He tilted his head back and let out a satisfied growl, flaring puffs of black smoke from his nostrils. Sure enough, Rias's technique had gotten noticeably better.
After about a minute of sucking she pulled away from him before casting two heated eyes at Asia.
"I thought we agreed you would warm up, Love." Rias giggled at her before licking up his shaft.
Asia's breath became heated. She pulled down her underwear and took a seat in Jon's chair. "Like this, Rias?" She panted through erotic moans as she slowly spread her legs and began playing with her slick little folds.
"Atta girl." She praised while stroking Jon. "Keep your eyes on me, Love. Let Jon and I treat you to a show."
Asia nodded her head, her eyes locked to Rias as she played with herself, panting in heated pleasure. Rias stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Jon passionately, still stroking him with her hand. She then turned around and pressed her back against him before pulling them both down onto the bed. The Crimson Queen of Kuoh laid on her side with Jon directly behind her before raising her leg high in the air. Jon gripped her thigh before pushing himself inside her all the way to the hilt. Rias let out a small gasp of surprise followed by an overtly erotic moan of ecstasy as he slowly started thrusting.
Asia watched as Jon fucked Rias on the bed, rubbing her little clit faster and faster with each passing minute. Eventually, the redheaded beauty began switching it up. First by raising herself up onto her knees and posing like a feline, keeping her eyes permanently locked to Asia.
"Mmm, I think she likes it Jon. You like watching me get taken from behind don't you, Love?" As coy as she was trying to be it was becoming increasingly hard for Rias to keep her moaning in check. This was slowly becoming too much for her. "God Jon, you never let a girl lead, do you?"
He swatted her on the ass, eliciting another erotic moan from his crimson locked princess. "Sorry, did you say something?"
She sat up and pressed her back against him, reaching back and placing a hand against his neck while kissing him passionately. He brought his hands up to cup her breasts while she completely melted into him.
"Jon, I haa I'm going to haa dammit, how are you haaaa!"
She bit down on her finger hard and came. Jon chuckled in her ear as she convulsed against him.
"Having a hard time?" He teased her playfully.
"Well aren't you pleased with yourself." She panted, still coming down from her orgasm. "But I'm not letting you off the hook that easy, Jonathan Hyodo. Now it's your turn."
Rias turned around and shoved him backwards before straddling his lap and slowly lowering herself down onto him. Jon gripped the sheets in both his hands and she slowly began to ride him. Her hair and breasts bouncing in perfect time with the movement of her hips.
"Still enjoying the view, Love?" Rias brushed her hair aside and offered Asia a perfect view of her backside.
Asia was breathlessly moaning in pleasure as she furiously played with her aching heat. "Rias...I...I ahhhh!" She shut her eyes and arched her back as she rode a wave of pleasure.
Rias tsked her before pumping her hair up with her hands and gyrating her hips. "What a little mess you are. Goodness, what are Jon and I to do with you silly girl?"
"Fuck!" Jon barked out before slamming his fist into the covers.
Rias arched her back and grinned down at him victoriously as he filled her insides. "Glad I could even the score. Now we better let Asia in before she permanently stains your chair."
"Yes please…" Asia whined pitifully.
She giggled at her before waving with her finger for the blonde beauty to join them. Asia beamed before eagerly hopping up and joining Rias on the bed. The two ladies kissed each other tenderly.
"I'm not quite done with the little Dragon here." Rias commented while grinding her hips against Jon. "Why don't you make him put that tongue to use for something other than snarky comebacks?"
Asia giggled. "Okie dokie!"
Jon rolled his eyes at Rias. "Don't pretend you don't love my quips."
"You hush." She pressed a finger up to his lips. "Asia, he's all yours."
The Blonde Beauty slowly straddled his head before sitting on his face. Jon wrapped his arms around her thighs before greedily beginning to lap at his Treasure's heat. Asia squeaked in surprise before slipping back into a haze of pleasurable huffing.
"Well done, Love. I think you just woke him up again." Rias observed, not referring to Jon. Slowly she began to ride her Dragon again while Asia curved her backside and braced herself on his pecks.
The fiery redhead and the golden locked beauty's moans of pleasure reverberated off his room before being silenced as their lips made contact. Two loving Treasures, and their beloved Dragon, coming together as a single presence once more.
It was raining out. Just like the night he arrived at Auschwitz on the train. Ever since his run in with that Holy Sword User, Kiba found himself being constantly reminded of the past everywhere he went. Jon was lucky. His nightmares only appeared in his dreams. He could never understand the constant torment of one's own memories haunting you at every waking moment.
The screaming, the screaming never stopped.
Kiba leaned against a lamppost and clutched at his head. Why? Why did it have to be like this? Was he ever going to know peace? Or would his life be this constant never ending torture of seething hatred and self loathing? As he tried desperately to reign in his thoughts, his mind wandered to the words Jon last spoke to him.
What the Hell do I know, right? I'm just your friend.
Anger gripped his heart. What right did Jon have to try to make him feel guilty? Kiba had enough of that in his life already. He had no time for family or friends. That was all in the past.
Back when he still had hope for the future.
"Such a curious thing. Your Peerage doesn't seem terribly concerned that one of their own is out here all by his lonesome."
Kiba turned his head sharply to see Freed leaning against the wall of a building wearing that same psychotic grin he always had plastered on his face.
The Knight scowled hideously at him before summoning his Holy Eraser. "I'm in no mood for this, Freed."
"Woah woah woah now." The Stray Hunter raised his hands up defensively, chuckling in amusement. "No need to blow your load just yet, Princess. I'm not here to fight you."
"Save it." Kiba insisted, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. "I've got no interest in whatever words you wanna say to me. Now if you're not going to fight then just get out of my way."
"Look, you've got the wrong idea, Dibshit." Freed snarled at him angrily. "I'm not the one who wants to talk to you." A devious grin covered his face. "It's my Boss who does."
Kiba slowly lowered his sword. "Your...your boss wants to speak to me?" He immediately raised his guard back up. "Why the Hell should I trust you?!"
"Oh right, sorry." Freed apologized insincerely. "My bad. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was giving you a choice in the matter." He drew his Excalibur Rapidly as a surge of Holy Energy enveloped his being. "Now come along Devil Scum. My Boss is not the sort of man who likes to be kept waiting."
"Like Hell!" Kiba roared before casting tendrils of shadow from his sword at Freed's Blade. The shadows wrapped around Excalibur Rapidly before promptly sputtering into harmless vapors.
"That was cute. Nice try." Freed mocked mercilessly before giggling in psychotic glee. "You win some, you lose some. Am I right?"
"Stop toying with me!" He shouted angrily before charging.
Freed disappeared in a flash before reappearing directly behind Kiba. The next thing he knew, the Knight felt a sharp pain in his arm followed by the familiar sensation of his strength draining away.
"Now there's a tone of voice I wouldn't have expected from you." Freed observed, clearly intrigued by the wild look in the Knight's eyes. "Maybe he was right after all."
Kiba clutched at his wounded arm before dropping to his knees. "Dammit…"
"That was just a little nick on the arm." Freed explained. "If you'd like I can make the next cut deeper." He then raise Excalibur up to Kiba's neck. "Or you can stop flailing about like an imbecile and come with me. The choice is yours."
It killed him to admit this, but Kiba had no choice. If he died here, he'd never have his vengeance, and all the suffering he had endured would have been for nothing. For now, his only option was to play along.
The Knight put away his sword and silently nodded his head, a dour expression on his face.
"Atta boy." Freed cackled with delight. "Now then, right this way."
As Freed guided Kiba down the sidewalk towards a quiet intersection, a pair of catlike eyes watched from a nearby back alley. Koneko peered around the corner and glared at them as they walked off.
"I need to follow them."
Freed lead the hapless Knight to a small road behind the building. There, a stretch limo with the Virgin Mary as a hood ornament awaited them both. A grim looking man wearing a chauffeur's outfit and holding an umbrella stood at the very back door. As Kiba approached, he opened the door and silently ushered him inside.
"Well go ahead." Freed insisted, still pointing the business end of his sword at him. "No need to be shy."
Kiba glared back at him hatefully before slowly entering the limo and taking a seat.
"Say." Freed spoke to the driver. "You think you got room for one more in there? It's a little wet out here."
The door slammed shut and locked before Freed could enter. As Kiba's eyes adjusted to the near pitch black darkness, he could make out three figures sitting opposite of him near the driver's side window. On the left was a boy who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, he was decked in Gucci and sported a septum piercing and a vape in his right hand. On the right was a girl who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, wearing similar apparel. Her eyes were glued to the smartphone she held in both hands and she would occasionally smack on a piece of gum in the back of her mouth.
Finally, sitting in the middle in the seat directly behind the driver window, was a tall man with long raven black hair, dressed in a tailored two piece suit.
His lip curled into a sinister grin as he spoke in a deep powerful voice. "Welcome. So glad you could join us."
Kiba knew he was in trouble. These were Fallen Angels he was sharing a limo with. And by the feel of things, ridiculously strong ones too. It wasn't the fact that he could feel any sort of tremendous power that gave it away.
It was the fact that he couldn't feel any power at all that let him know these were not people to mess with. Even Humans gave off an energy signal no matter how weak. Only a being with ungodly levels of magic could shut off their auras to such a degree as this so effortlessly.
"Who are you?" Kiba asked cautiously, not letting his guard down for a second.
The man chuckled in amusement, power echoing through his voice. "Who am I? That depends who's asking." He straightened his posture and spoke. "The Church knows me as Kokabiel. I suppose that one will do."
Kiba felt his stomach bottom out. "You...you're the Angel of the Stars?"
Kokabiel simply continued to grin at him maliciously, answering his question. This was bad, Kiba was sharing a limo with a Ten Winged Angel. A being with powers comparable to that of a Satan Class Devil.
"These are my children, Tamiel and Ramiel." He motioned to the two teenagers sitting on his left and right. "Say hello you two."
"Hey." Ramiel nodded his chin up at Kiba before taking a hit off his vape.
"Sup." Tamiel replied disinterestedly, her eyes never once leaving her phone.
The Chauffeur, having returned to the driver's seat, rolled down the back window to which Kokabiel simply nodded. The window rolled back up and the limo began a slow drive down the street.
"May I offer you something to drink?" Kokabiel waved to the open bar. "We have an exquisite selection, I assure you."
"Just don't touch the last sprite." Tamiel commented, her eyes still glued to her phone. "It's mine."
"What do you want from me?" Kiba demanded, trying his best not to look as intimidated as he felt.
"Straight to business then." Kokabiel relaxed back in his seat. "Very well. Ramiel, I'll let you take it from here."
Ramiel blew a perfect smoke halo up into the air while twirling his vape pen through his fingers. "Right, so let's cut the bullshit and just get to it. You've got information we want and we're willing to make you an offer." He took another hit before continuing. "And by offer what I really mean is ultimatum. Fuck with us or try to leave and you're gonna have a bad time."
"I'm not in the habit of making deals with Fallen Angels." Kiba seethed. "So why don't you do me a favor and drop me off at the campus before my Master-"
"Tamiel, hit him." Her brother ordered.
Without any warning whatsoever, Kiba was violently knocked across the face by...something. He had no idea what, all he knew was that it felt like a brick punched him in the jaw. The bewildered Knight slowly lurched up after taking the hit, rubbing the wound while staring in shock at the young girl still typing away on her phone. Having seemingly not moved an inch.
"Now see." Ramiel pointed at Kiba with his pen accusingly. "I just said don't fuck with us. What you did just now was fucking with us." The more he talked the more violent his voice became. "So how about we stow away with the attitude before I have my little sister here fucking kill you."
"Or maybe just break every bone in your body." She commented taciturnly.
"One or the other." Ramiel glared at him venomously. "Either way, I'll say it again. Don't. Fuck. With us."
After taking a moment to let the ringing in his right ear subside, Kiba quietly nodded his head. "Got it…"
"You're working for Rias Gremory, correct?" He asked impatiently.
Kiba glared at him coldly for a moment before answering. "I am."
Ramiel nodded before taking a hit off his vape and blowing another perfect smoke ring. "What the fuck is Ddraig doing here?" He asked, completely shifting gears.
Kiba's mouth hung open in shock. "How do you know about-"
"Tamiel." Her brother called again.
Another strike to the face by a force Kiba could neither see nor detect.
"I'm the one asking the questions here." Ramiel stated impatiently. "Now the Red Dragon Emperor's got to have a plan. He wouldn't be with you otherwise. So what's his plan?" He blew yet another smoke ring. "What's the game plan man?"
"There's no plan." Kiba insisted, still shaking off that last hit. "Rias found him, not the other way around."
"How auspicious for her." Ramiel commented completely disinterestedly. "It's cute that she really thinks that's how it works. Now don't make me ask again. What is Ddraig up to? Why has he joined forces with the Devils?"
"Rias made him an offer." Kiba responded. "Same as the rest of us."
He shook his head vehemently. "Dragon's don't make deals, and they don't pick sides either. Not without a damn good reason."
"I'm telling you, I don't know."
Ramiel blew a cloud of smoke into the air before glaring at his father. "So then why the fuck are we wasting our time here?"
"Give the boy some respect." Kokabiel lectured in a stern fatherly voice. "After all, this one's an individualist, just like him." The Angel of Stars leaned forward in his seat, seeming at that moment to be as tall as a mountain. "I understand that. I really do. Unfortunately, that's not the way the system works anymore."
"Ddraig is history, a fossil from a bygone era." Ramiel insisted. "Forgotten and just…" He shivered in disgust. "...just so fucking old. He should have just let his extinction happen, instead of languishing in a time period he doesn't belong in."
"He's still better looking than you." Tamiel teased him, a malicious grin spread across her face as she continued to type on her phone.
"Really? That's your thing?" Ramiel asked her disbelievingly. "How backwater of you, Little Sis."
"Nothing wrong with a Southern Gentleman." She insisted. "Society's depiction of the American South is so needlessly crass."
"Enough, you two." Kokabiel lectured before turning his attention back to Kiba. "If I may speak with you directly for a moment here. I really do feel the need to insist on your cooperation with us. We are the ones in control here now. Not your Master."
"But why are you here?" Kiba insisted.
"We're here to bring about change." Kokabiel explained. "One that will break us all free from the shackles of this tedious power struggle."
"We are the future. The shifting paradigm." Ramiel spoke up pridefully. "The Three Factions? The Great War? We don't give a fuck about any of it anymore. As far as we're concerned, they're all consigned to the dumpster. The Human race is a virus, the Church an operating system, and Prayer? Well that's just so much fucking spam."
"A new war is coming." Kokabiel spoke up insistently. "One which will shake the foundations of the established order. As the old is buried under the new." A sour frown covered his face. "But that relic from the past, the Red Dragon Emperor, could prove to make things...difficult for us if we continue to let him gain power at such an expedient rate."
"He's gotta fucking go." Ramiel added. "Your pal needs to take a one way trip to dirtnap city, and buddy boy, you are just the man for the job."
"You want me to kill Jon?" Kiba asked incredulously. "Why would I do that?"
"Because we have something you want." Ramiel explained before pointing up three fingers. "Three somethings actually."
He went wide eyed as his heart began beating out of his chest. "The Holy Swords…"
"Ding ding, we have a winner." Ramiel commented while taking another hit off his Cape. "The Holy Swords are really just a side project for us. Getting rid of Ddraig is our top priority right now. So we'll trade you. His life, for their destruction."
"We can offer you so much more than that." Kokabiel added. "I can get you unbound from your Master if you so desire. You'll be free to do whatever you want, without having to become a Stray. Hell, you can even join my organization. You'll have more power and prestige than you know what to do with."
"But...to kill a member of my own Peerage…"
"Oh come on." Ramiel groaned in annoyance. "You can't seriously still be hung up about that. What have those ingrates done for you lately, huh?"
Kiba frowned, casting his gaze away as the anger returned.
"Correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't Ddraig fucking your Master?" Tamiel asked before sending another text message then checking her email.
"More like the entirety of his Peerage." Ramiel laughed in amusement. "Word on the net is he's got every single one of those girls parting the pink for him at the snap of his fingers."
"That's gotta be tough." Kokabiel surmised, while he was trying to sound empathetic, something about it didn't come off exactly right. "Constantly playing second fiddle to the Dragon and his Harem of Harlots."
His silence was all the answer the Angel of Star's needed.
"I want to give you something." He continued. "Ramiel, give him the vial."
Ramiel reached into his pocket and pulled out a glass jar containing a mysterious white powder before tossing it to Kiba. The Knight inspected the substance curiously.
"That little darling is my specialty." Kokabiel's son stated pridefully. "It's officially known as Compound 2-12. But I prefer Wicked Grace." He explained. "It is odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is deadly enough to take out even a Satan Class Devil. It is my magnum opus, what you're holding is a concentration of the compound that took centuries to acquire. Nothing can cure that dosage."
"So...you want me to poison him." Kiba surmised.
"Just something to think about." Kokabiel offered. At that moment, the limo came to a halt. "Ah, we're here."
The door to the limo opened up.
"Give it some thought." He continued, that same wicked grin plastered on his face. "We'll be in touch."
"That means beat it." Tamiel insisted, her eyes never having once looked up from her phone.
Kiba quickly got out and shut the door. The limo drove away and he was left standing at the entrance to campus, poison in hand, and a lot of conflicted thoughts on his mind.