~ 14 ~
The 'Ball tournament' is approaching so we're mostly training for that. We were informed to head to the club room after lunch, since it would be our last meeting. I'm currently in the classroom, finished up my meal. With that done, I walk to Asia who's sitting next to another girl wearing glasses. Kiryuu Aika.
"Asia, finished lunch? We'll have to get to the club room soon."
"Asia, your boyfriend is calling." Kiryuu said wearing a lecherous face.
"B-b-b-boy friend!?" Asia responds flustered. This is a first for either of us. I suppose any girl would be if someone calls her close male friend, 'boyfriend'.
"What? I'm wrong? I thought the two of you were going out because you're always together with him. Though now that I mention it. Yuuma is close to the two of you as well. By any chance are you three having a thing?" at this point you're just speculating.
"T-t-that's...Auu..." her face turns crimson. I look back to see most of the guys still peeved as always.
"Hmmm. Is that so? You guys look like a couple. Always together and get along well, quite the combination. You're also living together without any parent's supervision, right? A young man and girl living under one roof. That will be...Mufufufu." well she isn't far off if I know what's she thinking. Though she'll need to dial it down considerably. "By the way, I was the one who told her about 'bathing together'! So?! Did you enjoy it?!" my eye twitched.
"So you're the influence that convinced her to do that!? You know well enough I can't do something like that to Asia!" I'm suppose to be protecting her, not taking advantage of her!
"Hmm. That's weird. Asia li... Mugah!" Asia stopped her from continuing by covering her mouth with both hands.
"Please stop, Kiryuu-san!" she turns even more red if that's possible...eyes were watery. Is there something Kiryuu knows about Asia that doesn't want me to find out? ...eh.
"Anyways. Asia, we need to get going." I walk for the door, and waited for her a bit.
"Okay!" still yet to calm herself. Given her background as someone raised in a church, something like that would be too stimulating for her. I would be too if someone went running their mouth about her being my girlfriend in front of me. That being said, keeping her safe is my priority when around her. While walking to the club room, we run into Raynare who was heading there as well.
"Hey Takeo, Asia-chan." she greets happily, and we return a greeting. "Did you hear about the rumors flying around about you?" I look at her deadpanned, she sighs. "It's been going around that you're a wild beast, toying with beautiful girls. Considering how it's been back home, I can see where the rumors are going." I pinch the bridge of my nose where the scar was. "Not that I mind, since I'm one of those girls."
"Yuuma-san!" Asia shocked again.
"What? You're in on it as well." Raynare turning this on Asia. She goes back to being a nervous wreck. Poor girl. Having a friend that's loading her head with perverted ideas, and another convincing her to go through with it. Dammit Kiryuu and Raynare! She's suppose to be my innocent little daughter! Even if she is a Devil you don't go changing a person's identity like that!
"Oddly enough, the rumors received positive feedback from the girls." how is that possible? "You were expecting it to be negative?" spotting my confusion, I nod. "Well. You're hailed as a rebel yet a gentleman. Putting the two together made for an interesting combo; add in the bad boy charm and rumored sex drive to have girls, plural here, surround you." she breaks down my persona in the school to simple mathematics.
"Where did I get the charm from?" I didn't do anything that would classify as 'bad boy' material in school.
"It was that one morning where you had the kiss marks." my eyes widen at the memory. I thought I covered those up! "Some of the girls noticed it in class, and they went rampant with the story of who could have left those." hopefully they don't connect it to Rias. "So they try to narrow it down. Starting from Rias," crap! "to Akeno, Asia, Koneko, me, Kiba..."
SLAM!
I face plant the floor faster than dropping dead. The two girls look concern at my inert form. It took a second to get back up, brush myself off and continued walking as if nothing happened.
"I think that's the same list of names used with the recent rumors." oh come the frak on! I don't mind the other parts so much, but the part with Kiba is another thing! I don't swing that way!
"So I'm guessing the guys tried to set this up to make me fall?" Raynare nods at the question. "Then I think I know who it is then." I'll get to those two bastards later, for now we're nearing the club room.
~ Time Skip: Ball Tournament ~
"Asia...why...are you wearing bloomers?" all I could do is let out a breath of exhaustion, pinching my brow while shutting my eyes.
I just got done from a couple of matches. My class did baseball and we won. I ran substitute for someone in a soccer match because of an injury. So they just picked me out randomly; became the MVP of that match which only added more fuel for the boys' and girls' opinion. Now we're about to head into the dodge-ball tournament for our club. Before the start of the match, Asia took off some place. When she got back, I see her wearing a pair of bloomers.
I don't know if I should be irritated at knowing who convinced her to do this or slightly aroused at seeing...white...legs...why does her legs have to be so nice?! I'm not suppose to be having these feelings for someone I deeply care for!
"...Ummm...I heard from Kiryuu-san. That the proper uniform for dodge-ball is bloomer... An...and also that Takeo-san will be happy if I wore this..." Asia wriggles while bashful. Frakking Kiryuu! "You don't like it?" she asks shyly while looking up at me. Should I? I feel conflicted here.
"It's...it's great, Asia." it was all I can manage while placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Alright everyone! Raise your spirits up and concentrate on winning!" Rias sounding energetic even from her tennis match with the Student Council. You can guess how that turned out if you recall the time they competed for dibs on the Forests of Familiars. Explosive. She's wearing the ORC headband I made from before. In fact, we're all wearing it for the match.
"Yes, Buchou!" everyone cheered except Kiba. He's still acting weird. I go to him and nudge him lightly. That grabs his attention for a bit.
"...Win, huh. Yeah... Winning is important." sounding as if meaning something else.
[Members of the Occult Research Club and Baseball Club. Please gather at the ground.] the announcement called for us. We move out together for the match.
Well this can't possibly get any worse! Here we are playing dodge-ball with the baseball team. The objective is simple.
Kill Takeo. What, you were expecting something else? Nope, the baseball club's mission right now is to take down Takeo. Why only me?
Rias. One of the 'Two great Onee-sama'. Popular school idol. Can't hit her.
Akeno. The other Onee-sama. Just as beautiful as Rias. Can't aim for her.
Asia. Angel and number one beauty of the second year. Blonde. Sacred territory, better not try, unless invoking my wrath or Raynare's.
Raynare. Number two beauty of the second year. Dark haired brunette. Why would you even bother?
Koneko. Loli who is our school mascot. You'd die of guilt from hitting her.
Kiba. Enemy of males, yet the girls will tear you apart if you lay a finger on him. So he's a no go.
Then there's me. The other enemy of males, also loved by the girls. Yet they need someone to hit so they settle on the lesser of two evils of hitting the guys. I swear I could feel the intent to kill from them.
"Kill Takeo!"
"Asia-chan! Bloomer's are the best! Takeo, die!"
"Take down Mugetsu! For Rias onee-sama and Akeno onee-sama's sake!"
"Bring Yuuma-chan back to the good side you bastard!"
"There should be only one loli-con in this school and that's me! Kill him!"
Geez, all the guys are telling me off. The girls are infuriated at them, but the males didn't pay them any mind. They just wanted to see me die pretty damn bad.
"All of the balls are concentrated on Takeo! In terms of strategy, this would be a 'sacrifice'! Takeo, we will honor it!" Rias you can't be serious...no wait she definitely is.
"Crap! I'm getting tired of just running around!" with all the balls gunning for me. I could only handle catching one or two before beset upon by another assault. Those get caught by Koneko who uses it to take down the attackers. I follow that up with the ball I have for a take down as well.
"Shit! I don't care whether I get hated! You damn handsome!" One big-build baseball member aimed for Kiba. Talk about enough hatred to forgo opinions of others. He fires at Kiba.
"What are you doing standing about for!?" I make a dash for him while shouting. He just notices me only a few feet away from him.
"...Ah. Takeo-kun?" don't you give me that reaction! I make it in front of him as the ball curves to a fork ball...
SMASH!
"..."
Well...I caught the ball. Only it came crashing into my family jewels... All I did was stand here, staring at the culprit who would do this dead in the eye. He shrinks back when I smirk menacingly.
"I hope you enjoyed the one free shot at me." coldly cutting through the silence. "Cause now you're about to get a taste of what you dished out." I bring my arm back with the ball, and threw with enough force to send him back a feet. Right where he struck me. The boy falls down and passes out from the strike. I go down on both knees, barely holding in the pain. Who in their right damn mind would hit someone there in a ball match?! "If you guys don't mind, I'll sit this one out." I get back up with help from Koneko.
"You did well, Takeo. Asia can you heal him behind the building?" Rias calls for Asia who nods. "Now it's time to avenge my cute Takeo!"
R...Rias... you sound as if I just died. It feels like it though. Koneko helped me walk as Asia tries to assure me it'll be fine. Oh, dear Asia.
As we head behind the gym, Rias rouses the others to win. I suppose without three members, they'll do fine. When we get to a spot where there wasn't sight of anyone, I sat down on the ground. ...God it still hurts.
"Takeo-san, I will start healing. Please show me the place you injured yourself." ...! Maou why...?
"...Can you just...use your powers around my hips...? You wouldn't want to know where I was injured." hoping if it's just by proximity it'll heal as well.
"Are you sure? If I have a better idea of where the injury is I could heal it faster." Trust me Asia, you don't want that. Sadly you're still pure, so you won't know what I'm referring to.
"I'm sure..." she looks slightly sadden, but nods. She activates her Twilight Healing and places the light on my hips. ...Aaaah. I let out a relieved breath of air.
"...A situation I can't describe by words." Koneko sighs. I know Koneko, I know. I rest against the wall for a while.
[The Occult Research Club wins!] music to my ears as I close my eyes for a bit.
~ Time Skip: After School ~
SLAP!
A resounding smack tears through the void. I look up from resting on the couch in the club room. Rias just slapped Kiba.
"Did you wake up yet?" She sounded angry. We won first place in the ball tournament. After recovering, Koneko, Asia, and I went back to win with the team together. Though Kiba did nothing most of the time during the match. Rias got pissed a couple of times during the match, but Kiba just kept being silent and indifferent. Even if getting slapped, he still didn't make an expression or talk. Then he makes his usual smile.
"Are you done now? The ball tournament is finished as well. We won't be practicing anymore so can I take a rest until it's night time? I'm a bit tired so I'll take a break from the club activities. I'm sorry for my behavior this noon. Seems like I didn't feel well today."
"Are you feeling alright, Kiba?" I asked him.
"It's none of your concern." now he deflects the question coldly while smiling.
"Bullshit it isn't. I'm worried about you as a comrade and friend."
"Comrades...friends..." he makes a sullen face. "...Takeo-kun, lately I started to remember the basic things. The reason why I am fighting."
"Did it have anything to do with the Holy-sword I mentioned in the photo?" he nods slightly before taking a face of strong determination.
"In a way. I'm living so I can seek my revenge. Holy-sword Excalibur. Destroying that is the reason why I am living." for a moment I thought I saw past his usual demeanor. And looked into the eyes of someone who lost everything because of the Holy-sword. A face of grief and anger.
~ Time Skip: Evening ~
"Holy-Sword Project?" Rias nods at my curiosity.
"Yes. Yuuto is a survivor of that project." Rias, Asia, and I returned after finishing club activities. The two went into my room, and she started to tell us about Kiba. "There was a project several years ago inside the Christian Church that aimed to make those two who can wield the holy-sword Excalibur."
"...This is my first time hearing this." Asia didn't know about it. It was suppose to be kept under wraps from the public ears, especially one who was the holy-maiden.
"Holy-swords are the ultimate weapons against Devils. If we touch the sword, then we will burn ourselves. If we get cut by t, then we will be terminated without a trace. The ultimate weapon for those who believe in God and see Devils as an enemy." explaining about outcome if coming into contact with a sword.
To think as kid I used to hang around with someone who's father had one. Good thing they didn't know I was part Devil by blood.
"Yuuto received artificial treatment to adapt to the holy-sword, particularly the Excalibur."
"But he couldn't, could he? Him and any other subjects that went through the same treatment?" she nods at this as well. "What happened to them?"
"The people of the Church decided to view the ones who couldn't adapt to the holy-swords as 'defective products' and dispose of them." Dispose...you can't be serious. "Most of the people experimented on were killed including Yuuto. Only because they couldn't adapt to the holy-swords..." I smash a fist against the table.
"...It can't be. It's not an acceptable act by those who serve God." Asia took this the hardest. They turned their back on her before, I wouldn't blame her for the feelings of betrayal from believing in them so much and continues to do so.
"The people of the Church, calls us Devils an evil existence. Though I think the bad intentions of the humans are the greatest evil in this world." Rias says this with sadness in her eyes. "When I reincarnated Yuuto into a devil, that boy was swearing for his revenge even in a critical situation. Because his talents were being used for holy-swords since he was born, I wanted him to use his talents as a devil. Yuuto's talent at using swords would be a waste for only using holy-swords."
The mockery of it all. Rias is a devil, but she doesn't act the way regular humans perceive them to be. She wanted to save Kiba by turning him into a devil because of his miserable past with holy-swords. That isn't the sign of someone cruel. That's kindness for another being, regardless of who they were.
"That boy wouldn't forget about it. The holy-swords. Those who were involved with the project. The people of the Church..." the reason he detests priests with a passion. His obsession with information regarding holy-swords. They played with life and killed him afterwards. I'd hold a grudge against them as well. I sort of do with the priests too when they took Asia from me. She breaths a big sigh. "Anyway I will just watch over him for now. His head's full of feelings he has towards the holy-swords. But I hope he returns to his usual self."
"I hope so as well." voicing my concern for my friend. "Even if we dwell on it now, it's not going to change at the drop of a hat." I get up from my chair and lay on the bed. Memories of the sword the girl's father had flicker in my mind. Auntie Raven said something about the person in charge of the area before disappeared without a trace. Wonder if he had anything to do with it. I cast the memories aside when...
"...R...Rias? Why are you stripping off your clothes?" cold sweat ran down my neck at the sight of her almost done unbuttoning her shirt.
"Why? You know I can't sleep without being naked, Takeo." Maou, she's topless!
"I know that part already. I mean why are you taking them off in my room?" I held the pillow in front of my face. Please don't say it while in front of Asia, please, oh please...
"Because I'm going to sleep with you." answering as if it was obvious. Oh Maou...
"Then I'm sleeping here as well! I'm also going to sleep with Takeo-san!" God Gorram it!
"Asia, no! Rias, she already has enough bad influences. I don't need to add you to the pile." Rias frowns at my words.
"Bad influence? That's a little harsh to say, even if you're looking out for her, Takeo. You know I sleep naked, right? You even slept with me a number of times." at this point I'm losing this battle.
"...Slept together a number of times...? No...Takeo-san and Buchou-san...?" Asia begins to shake while getting teary eyed because of the shock. This will not be good.
"Asia, hand over Takeo for the night."
"I don't want to... I think I have the right to be spoiled by Takeo-san as well. I also want to sleep with Takeo-san!"
I grab the pillow and yell into it. For the love of Maou this isn't happening! I peer out to see Asia's face written with determination. She won't back down, neither of them will. The two glare at each other for a moment and sparks fly between them.
"Then let's make Takeo decide." No! Don't make Takeo decide! She looks at me, eyes demanding me to choose her. If it was any other time, I probably would've.
"Takeo-san. You will sleep with me, right?" Asia asks with brimming eyes. She isn't acting this out. What now, Takeo? The person who gets left out will hold a grudge against you. I go back into the pillow and groan.
"...Whew." taking a breath after drinking down a bottle of water in the kitchen.
Well I couldn't really chose either so...I chose both. I made it so Rias had to at least wear something in bed for the night to prevent Asia from doing the same. If this keeps up, my adorable daughter will end up being erotic like the other girls. I don't want that! Please stay dad's little girl! When I got up from bed, the two flanked my sides. Sounds like a dream, but nope. It's one step away from something getting blown up out of proportions. I couldn't take the pressure, so I went downstairs to the kitchen. The two are sound asleep.
What am I going to do? I can barely restrain myself from taking it further with Rias. There's going to be a day when Asia walks in on that and she'll want to jump in as well. I walk into the living room for the armchair when Tiamat appears out of the corner.
"Rough night?" she ask. I sink into the cushions and sigh. "That bad huh?" she takes the couch and lays there.
"The price I pay as the Dragon Emperor. Attract strong allies, formidable enemies, and the opposite sex." she chuckles at my groaning. "I don't mind, though a little peace and quiet goes a long way."
"You sound a little resentful there, kid."
"I'm not actually. It's just sometimes I can't catch a break with you girls."
[Ddraig]: "Most wielders of either Albion or I had to deal with it as well, partner. Though you're the first to not jump with joy at the thought. Instead you have an interest for one particular girl."
"I don't have much interest for having a harem because I can't get that one girl out of my head. I think everyone is great, it's just right now I can't even think straight because of her." and I'm not even going into my own self-loathing at the moment. "If I can't get one girl to fall in love with me, then how am I suppose to work with a group?"
"If it's that one girl who I think it is, then you don't have to worry about it so much."
"Maybe, but at some point she's going to have to find someone. Why would she want me?" even if Akeno said those things at practice, that crushing ache still lingered. The thought of another man touching her that way...
[Albion]: "You're over thinking it like Noctis said you would. You have to realize she adores you deeply..."
"That's just it. I'm not even sure if anything will move past that. I want it to be more than just a deep adoration, especially past the lusting."
"The way I saw you two that one morning, your relation might be past both." she winks mischievously.
—! right, I forgot about that. Well...maybe. At first it started out with signs of affection towards me, even in front of people. Then it starts simmering slowly...like that one morning.
"...You really think I might have a chance?"
"If it was me, we'd be having kids already." heat flush my face as I look away. "Speaking of kids..."
"You're not going to offer are you?" looking at her warily.
"Well I never told you about that story from when we first met." she scratches her cheek that was blushing. Wait... Kids plus Tiamat's reason for hating Ddraig plus her current demeanor...ERROR.
"Ddraig and I were together for sometime. Before he was...well, sealed in the Boosted Gear. The two of us wanted to settle down together...maybe have some kids." she looks down while talking silently.
...
"Ddraig you poor bastard." I pat my left arm. "I don't know if I should be peeved for the fact you were together with Tiamat and you forgot about it, along with that promise. Or be saddened you never got to have little child Ddraig and Tiamat juniors running around." or flying around in their case.
[Ddraig]: "I...I realized it was bad... But I didn't think it would be that... Tiamat...I'm...I'm sorry for the grief I gave you. For not keeping that promise and forgetting everything."
"It's fine. No need to dwell on it anymore. Things turned out well. We got to meet each other again, I also got to meet Takeo here." she smiles warmly. "Though at some point I want to revisit that promise."
[Albion]: "H-How? ...Unless you're..."
"Albion...please shut up." already connecting what happened prior and to now.
"Well that's something I can wait on until you get you're own affair straightened out. Anyways I'm getting some sleep. Night!" she pulls on a blanket to cover herself and laid out on the sofa.
"Night, Tiamat. Think about how many kids you want." I say after sighing and pushing away from the chair. I walk up the stairs when Ddraig asks confusingly.
[Ddraig]: "What did she refer to about revisiting that promise. Also why did you cut off Albion in that conversation?"
"Albion can explain that to you while I sleep." still can't get over the fact that Tiamat just propositioned me to have kids with her. She doesn't seem to mind me having feelings for another woman. Saying she'll wait for me to get my problems worked out. I think this probably added to the problems unintentionally. I can only imagine everyone's reaction if they found out.
Author's Comment
So I don't have a reason to why this came up later than it should *looks at Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix game case*.
In all seriousness, I did run into a writer's block about what else I can do to spice up the story. General story-line, additional chapters, an entire arc dedicated to crossing into another anime, maybe one or two games, who knows. Those things are sort of established. It's just I had this one idea of adding in a character that's a rival of Takeo in school; vying for Rias's attention. Though I can't make anything concrete to make him a persisting character in the series. If anyone wants in on this creation, I'm open to suggestions.