"Dare I ask?" Zabuza cocked an eyebrow at the scene before him.

Issei was laid out on the couch, head in Asia's lap as the remainder of Occult Research club stood around their president, staring down the pair of cloaked figures. The clubroom had seen better days, with scorch marks and charred carpet.

"We just want to say." Two-Horn spoke up as he turned on his heels to face Zabuza.

"It wasn't our fault." One-Horn finished as he too turned, bowing his head slightly.

Rias watched as her fellow King nodded, tossing a paper bag to Two-Horn, while holding out a WacDonald's drink to One-Horn, who took it with a small thank you. Eventually he turned to look at the red-head.

"Phenex?"

She simply nodded, allowing the Gaap Peerage to pile in to the clubroom.

What's up with them? Rias wondered as she noticed Zabuza's three pawns seemed unwilling to meet his gaze, and were doing their best to imitate the color of her hair.

"Haku won't be joining us?" Akeno asked, curious as the noticeable absence of the queen piece. If anything the three pawn's faces grew even brighter, with Mittelt bursting into a fit of giggles. Kalawarner stopped her with a quick smack to the back of her head.

"Haku." Zabuza began as he took his seat in the center of the couch, One-Horn and Two Horn not even hesitating to take the place by his side. "Is too..."

He choose his words carefully, as Akeno enjoyed the rising blush on the Trio's face. "Tired to attend. Besides, if in the event Phenex was stupid enough to attack me. I have these two idiots to deal with morons like him." He said as he stretched his arms out to rest on the couch.

"See, told you he loves us." Two-Horns said as he looked through the bag like it held untold treasures.

"The constant insults and abuse just prove it." The smirk could be heard in One-Horn's altered voice as he snuggled up close to the uniform wearing assassin, drawing the jealousy of not one, not two but three former angels.

"Boss is such a Tsundere."

"Agreed. Probably left Haku in a pile of pleased mush."

"Boss will also kick you two smart mouths out on the street for the night if he hears another wise crack. You two are almost as bad as Haku." Zabuza let out a long suffering sigh as he gave the twins a half-hearted glare. In response they just took off their re-breathers to enjoy their snack.

Mittelt hid a giggle behind a discrete cough, as the former angels took their seats on the couch. Raynare and Kalawarner sat next to One-Horn and Two-Horn respectively, while Mittelt was pushed to the floor for trying to sit in Zabuza's lap.

The Occult Research club's reactions to the conversation was mixed. Rias ignored the chatter, anxious to get down to business. Asia was too busy fussing over Issei to care, while the pawn did his best to not think bout a naked Haku. He didn't have any definitive proof of what Zabuza would do to him if he allowed his mind to wander, but it wasn't going to be something as easily walked off as the beatings from the Kendo club. Kiba kept up his polite smile, as Akeno seemed to be bouncing in place wanting to hear some dirty details. Koneko just stared at the cloaked twins, watching them with interest.

"Tsundere~" The twins said in their distorted tone before Two-Horns started picking at the fries, while One-Horn drank the shake.

"And you are late because you stopped for lunch?" Rias asked, her tone laced with ice. Zabuza just shrugged it off.

"Blame it on the poor service industry." Zabuza shrugged off the reprimand with ease. "But enough screwing around. Time to talk business."

"Without introducing us to your companions?" Kiba asked.

"Gozu." One-Horn raised a hand in greeting at Zabuza's clipped introduction. "And Meizu." Two-Horn flipped Kiba off with his free hand as he continued to snack, prompting a small smack to the back of his head from Zabuza. "Be polite. They are customers."

Or in other words, Suckers. Zabuza thought with a hidden smirk.

"Getting soft there boss, that one barely even stun-" Meizu was cut off by a second smack, as Gozu quietly drank his shake. At least Gozu was wise enough to keep quiet and listen to orders the first time.

"If you are done?" Rias was starting to wish that Zabuza's subordinates were as professional as the man himself.

"Mm.. now. How long do we have until the match, where are we training and finally, we have to talk payment."

"I was under the impression that we'd already discussed payment." Rias could feel her face heating up as memories of the last night came back to her, only to fight the embarrassment back down.

"Yes, we did. But I have an alteration to the terms. I help you win. I get my payment, and fate willing, that is the end of our business together. We go back to being nothing more than classmates for a week or two, till something else happens to force our interaction."

"You make it sound as if we're stuck with each other..." Rias thought the reworking of the agreement over for a moment. So far all of Zabuza's requests had been weird but fair. The least I can do is hear him out."What do you want as payment?"

She realized she'd walked into a trap the moment she met his eyes. They'd gone from relaxed, to the cold, calculating look that so unnerved her.

Zabuza cracked his neck as he leaned forward to stare into Rias's eyes. "Two small things. Nothing expensive, or even time consuming. You are friends with Sona Sitri, correct?" Rias just nodded, not sure what her childhood friend had to do with anything. "Then for the first payment, I want you to talk to her about her sister. Find out as much as you can bout Serafall and her peerage. Nothing special. I don't want techniques, or weaknesses. I just want names, favorite food, regular hang outs, anything that you are willing to give."

"And if she isn't willing to give me those details."

"Your problem, not mine." Zabuza shrugged. "As for the second part. It's rather similar to the first-."

Rias could see where the conversation was going as she interrupted. "You want details on my brother's peerage as well, don't you." The red-head couldn't see the actual smile, but she knew it was there under the scarf.

"Yes. That is my price. Rather reasonable don't you think? A bit of info for a fan of Satan Pink and Satan Red and you get your freedom."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I'll enjoy the chance to buy Haku and the rest of my peerage some new formal wear. I've never been to a wedding before, but I hear they are quite fun." Zabuza's thoughts echo'd her own. Without his assistance she was doom.

"Fine." Rias said with a sigh, cursing herself, Zabuza and in particular Raiser for forcing her into this position. At least big brother is strong enough that giving a few things away won't make too much of a difference. As for Sona.. I'll talk to her tonight. There was something in the back of her mind that was screaming at her. That from the start all Zabuza had been asking for was seemingly inconsequential bits and pieces, was just so suspicious, she couldn't get a read on his intentions.

Zabuza leaned back on the couch. "Good, now what is your plan?"

"Uuugh.. why must these packs be so heavy..." Mittelt whined as she struggled up the mountain path. The Occult Research club had arrived the day before to get a head start on their training, while the Gaap peerage by Zabuza's order took a day off to regroup and rest.

After all, in his own words 'The only one who'd be enjoying the next 13 days would be him'. The damn muscle bound sadist... The petite blonde thought as she put one foot in front of the the other to make her way forward.

"This thing's as heavy as Raynare's fat ass.." She'd barely made it another ten steps before the next complaint spilled out, a bit louder than intended.

"Better my perfect ass, than your washboard of a chest." Raynare shot back. The girl's had come a good distance under Zabuza's training regiment, but climbing a mountain in the hot sun, wearing not only the arm and leg weights, but with packs filled with what might as well be bricks, they were quickly going from tired to exhausted.

Even Kalawarner, the unofficial muscle of the trio was starting to wish they could just fly to the rented house, instead taking the hike. The bickering between her fellow pawns did little to improve her mood. She had kept her mouth shut for the passed two days, since saying anything might bring her grievances with this plan out into the air. She had to remind herself that she was just a pawn, and regardless of what she thought Zabuza made the decisions.

It was this lack of concentration as she wished her partners would quiet down that nearly sent her face first into the dirt path, saved only by Zabuza's quick hand grasping her shoulder.

With an embarrassed flush, Kalawarner righted herself and turned to thank her king, but he beat her to the punch.

"Raynare, Mittelt." Zabuza called out to the pair that had gotten slightly ahead. Both stopped as soon as they heard their names in Zabuza's deep tone. "Drop the packs, and run along ahead with Haku. You are no use to me half-dead from heatstroke on the first day." He commanded just loud enough for them to hear.

Without any more instructions needed, the two pawns tossed their packs to the ground and took off with a smiling Haku.

"So.. Boss.." Kalawarner started, not sure what to say as they walked in silence. Gozu and Meizu had disappeared in the morning, Zabuza having given them their orders. Now she was stuck

"Zabuza."

"Pardon?"

"Only the idiots call me Boss. So just Zabuza is fine." More awkward silence followed, as Zabuza tossed the discarded packs over his shoulder. At his outstretched hand, Kalawarner gave hers over as well. She wasn't going to complain, but the lack of weight on her back was definitely an improvement.

It was after all the first time she'd ever spent with Zabuza by herself. Normally they were training, or had Raynare or Mittelt, at the very least Haku to hide behind.

"Bo-.. Zabuza. Can I ask you a question?" Kalawarner gathered up her courage after the awkward silence began to get on her nerves.

"I believe you already did, but seeing as we got nothing else to do." Zabuza shrugged, though in the back of Kalawarner's mind she noticed the ease with which he carried the packs.

Thinking bout his rippling torso can wait for later! Wait, why would I be thinking bout it? No, wait, shut up me?! The navy-haired pawn chided herself. "Why are we helping Gremory and her peerage? Especially after..." Kalawarner trailed off at the end, not needing to complete the sentence for Zabuza to know what she was talking bout.

"Simple. They have information I want, and it's a good chance for my debut." Zabuza said with disinterest, though he kept his attention on Kalawarner in the corner of his eye.

"Debut?" The info I can understand, but a debut?

"Kalawarner, prior to coming to the Human world, I was a notorious recluse who barely left his family home. Very few devils know anything about me besides my name and the rumor that I didn't inherit the Gaap bloodline. I'm rather proud I've managed to keep the information to myself for so long." Zabuza chuckled at Kalawarner's look of confusion. "I plan on using this fight to show them that I am not something to be ignored."

"Still doesn't explain why we are basically giving people who'd already tried to kill us another knife to do so..." She mumbled only to feel Zabuza's hand on her shoulder, stopping the pair in their tracks.

"Kalawarner." She frozen under his gaze. "In the future, if you have any misgivings. Just tell me. For us to work properly, we need to trust each other, and that won't happen if you are scared to talk to me. As for giving Gremory a weapon to stab us with later. I don't think that'll be a problem. She's too soft. Unless we betray her first, we'll be fine."

It's the sun, the heat. Nothing else. You are not blushing. You do not like him. He's your boss, nothing more. Kalawarner screamed in her own head as she nodded.

"Good, now come on. The others are probably wondering where we are." Zabuza took his hand off her shoulder to readjust the straps of the three packs he was now carrying.

Inadvertently, the thought of Zabuza carrying her pack brought her back to memories of her King walking around shirtless and so the pair continued on in silence, one of them contemplating the best way to humiliate Phenex, while the other did her best to not imagine herself being cuddled up against Zabuza's broad chest.

"Zabuza." Kalawarner finally broke the silence as the house they'd be staying in came into view.

"Hm?" Zabuza glanced at his pawn out of the corner of his eye as he gave his short reply.

"If, hypothetically we were to turn against Gremory's group. Can I deal with the priest bitch?"

"Hypothetically speaking, I'd be willing to give you Gremory and Akeno to finish off if it makes you happy. Like I said, I take care of my own."

Kalawarner's face split into a wicked grin as she saw the rest of the peerage waiting for them, Mittelt waving with a large smile on her face. "Well, that is good to know. Hypothetically speaking of course."

"Of course." Zabuza chuckled, but even Kalawarner could hear the dark edge to it.

And just when I thought today was going to suck.

AN: Well, !^&*##$. FF screwed me over and lost the original ending for this chapter, which pissed me off to no end, so meh. Next chapter will mostly be training for the Gaap Peerage and character interactions, sooo that'll be a thing. Then after that we'll finally have the Phenex barbeque. Will the blonde idiots goose finally get cooked? Will Kalawarner admit her feelings for Zabuza? Will I ever write a chapter that makes some damn sense? Fuck if I know.

To bring us back to Naruto (in a manner as smooth as high grit sandpaper), I'm still a bit conflicted bout the ending and as I've yet to see the Movie. As usual, I don't give a damn bout the shipping for various reasons (NaruHina or SasuSaku were both ships I couldn't care less bout for more reasons than I feel like listing). I just want to know where the fuck the villages are getting the money for things now. Also why are they even training new shinobi now that Jesu- Naruto, now that Naruto's effectively brought world peace. What the heck happened to all the Missing-nim as well, are they just going to sit back and let things happen, and more importantly, what are the Daimyo doing now that their military has effectively staged a coup?

And most importantly, why the fuck did Mei step down!? She's in her early forties or so probably, she's got tons of time, so why the fuck did she relinquish the title of Mizukage to Pear boy?! She'd still be kicking ass, so why is she sitting around doing nothing?! I don't give a damn that Sasuke keeps pulling Karma Houdini moments out of his ass (or had the balls to name his daughter Salad.. How the fuck Sakura agreed to that, I don't even what to know), or that Naruto uses a damn Apple Mac (as well as being an oddly strict father). Just what happened that Mei, a woman who's equal parts Person of Mass Destruction as she is beautiful that caused her to step down.

I think I'll stop myself here before I get to down the rabbit hole of my own insanity... any more and I won't stop.

Anyways~ Closing thoughts, next chapter will probably be of the longer variety, as will chapter after that (And don't be afraid to check out my other works that I am shamelessly promoting.) As usual, thank ya for the view, comments, concerns and the like are all appreciated. Hope you have a good day and I look forward to seeing ya next time~ :)