Alright, so I've been on a roll with updates. I'm almost at an end with high school and will be updating a lot more. Hopefully, I'll be able to update my other stories.
Now, lets get to the replies.
Killerbeats359: Well, you'll have to keep on, and soon, the truth will be revealed.
ReaperXStalker: I plan to go beyond Max, and I'm glad you thought well of the little changes I did for Mina.
SaiyaStyles: Thank you, and I've been pumped with fresh ideas for this story, so I've been working relentlessly on it.
Damian: Thank you.
Alright, here's Chapter 29
"Achoo!" Around three hours past midnight, Kurai abruptly woke up and suddenly sneezed. He wiped hs runny nose and scratched the back of his head. "How long was I out?"
Recently, Kurai had trouble sleeping because he would always have the same recurring nightmare that he was trapped in a town fire. He always woke up sweaty, parched, and with a mild headache.
And with the threat of the Dragon Slayer Faction, he stayed in the living room all night while the others slept. Ascalon was sheathed and hanging over his shoulder. It was easier and quicker to draw, and did not discomfort him in the slightest. The only thing that discomforted him was the fatigue and heaviness in his eyes as he tried to keep himself awake. He reached with his right hand, and stabbed his hand with a small knife. Kurai gritted his teeth leaving it in their for a few seconds as the heat and pain rushed through his hand. He easily slipped it out and his wound soon healed itself in an instant. And just as he was jolted, his eyelids would immediately grow heavy again. "Damn."
"Kurai-chan?"
He looked to his right and was surprised to see Akeno.
"Akeno? Sorry, did I wake you?"
She shook her head and turned off the light switch just as she was walking in. Kurai slightly gulped seeing the daring outfit that was her pajamas. It was a button up white shirt that was undone on the chest. Her long creamy legs and black hair was flowing freely all the way down. "What are you doing up? I woke up a few minutes ago and saw the lights were on. Are you alright?"
"It's fine," Kurai quickly lied before taking a better look at what she was wearing. "Is that my shirt?"
"All mine are in the laundry, so I helped myself to one of yours." She took a seat right next to him as he sat back sighing. "Can't sleep?"
"I can't sleep. More like, I don't want to sleep." He replied.
"Nightmares?" She asked.
"Yeah, the same one over and over, it's driving me out of my mind." He made a loud yawn and drooped his head. "I'm really tired though."
"I see, you won't be able to do anything exhausted." Akeno smiled and patted her thighs. "Why don't you take a few minutes and close your eyes?"
Kurai saw the way she gestured to he lap and immediately caught on. "I'm fine, the company isn't bad though."
Akeno closed her eyes and chuckled. "Ufufufu, then, I know just a way to pass the time."
Kurai turned and backed to the end of the sofa, blushing as Akeno crawled towards him on all fours, a seductive look in her deep violet eyes. "A-Akeno, what are you doing?" He frantically whispered as the temptress wiggled her body through his legs and wrapped her arms around his shoulder, supporting herself with his body. "Kurai-chan, I've been thinking." She rested her head on his shoulder. "You're really cute when you make that face of yours." She nibbled on his earlobe.
"Akeno-"
"I love it when you refer to me by my name," She looked up at him and the both of them were face to face, able to see each other through the darkness via night vision.
"Do you like it when I refer to you as Kurai-chan?"
Kurai sighed a hah and placed Ascalon the side. "Actually, what I've always wondered was why you suddenly started calling me that?"
"The reason why you refer to me and even Rias by just our names. You grow closer to someone, and you realize just how much they mean to you. I always thought you were cute. I still do, but I also acknowledge how handsome you are." She gently placed a hand on his cheeks and drew her face closer to his. "Kurai-chan, I love you."
The both of them blushed towards one another as their lips were only inches apart. Kurai couldn't deny her looks.
"She's so beautiful."
Both of them twisted their heads as they kissed each other, taking in the feeling of their lips and fully enjoying it. Akeno pushed her tongue past his lips and dominated his mouth for about a few seconds until Kurai took over, his hands drifted from her shoulders, to her butt and gripped each of her cheeks with his hands, catching her by surprise. He too was caught off guard realizing she was commando. Suddenly, his body was slowly starting to go limp, his muscles felt heavier, and his eyelids started to drop. "Akeno?"
"Sorry, Kurai-chan, but I wouldn't feel right if you didn't sleep. I slipped a sleeping spell on my lips before we kissed. Sweet dreams Kurai-chan."
Kurai's head fell back and his eyes closed as he was knocked out cold. Akeno sat up and placed his head on her lap. He brought his legs closer and crouched them in a comfortable position.
However, Akeno didn't realize the fatal mistake she made, part of it was Kurai's fault for not telling her the whole truth.
What Kurai failed to tell her, was that Torafusa told him not to go to sleep.
The sky was dim red, as if streaked in blood.
Kurai scowled to himself as he was standing in the world deep within his head. However, this was no dream, it was the opposite.
A nightmare.
Kurai was running in the middle of the village. It was the same village from his dreams, the one that was set ablazed. However, he found himself running from the aftermath of the tragedy.
The place went from the inferno red he has seen, to a grim black and gray place that was charred beyond recognition, lacking any form of prosperity or beauty. It was a true vision of horror.
Kurai sprinted from his pursuers, gray, humanoid blobs that were probably the villagers who were killed along with their village. Their expressions were bland, and their numbers were countless.
Kurai occasionally turned and ran backwards, firing a barrage of his magic to kepp them at bay. None of his attacks worked at all. They would either regenerate destroyed limbs, or any that fell would be swarmed by more.
"Black Dragon's Roar!"
The dark fire that shot out of his mouth kept them at bay, but didn't stop them in their tracks.
Kurai backed away until he reached the edge of a cliff that suddenly appeared. "Crap."
He knew it was just a mere dream, but couldn't shake off the fear. He knew, he didn't wanted to be grabbed by those things. Tensing, he threw his body weight and jumped down the cliff, into the red ocean.
Although now, he would have rather took on the creatures then fall into the demonic water.
First reason, whatever this water was, not only kept him from swimming, but felt like falling into a vat of acid.
'I'm being dragged, damn, I can't move.' The second reason, whatever was in the water, something dragged him down, with the intent of drowning him. Like a big clawed hand that grabbed him by the torso, and dragged him despite his struggling. He couldn't breathe.
'What is this?' Everything felt to real to be a dream. And for a second before losing his complete conciousness, he wondered whether or not he was actually dreaming.
"Kurai, please wake up."
The heart monitor beeped, IV lines delivering nutrients in his body. Kurai was lying in a hospital bed, a blank, faraway look in his eyes, void of anything. His hand was grasped by Asia as the latter shedded tears, constantly praying for his recovery. Kiria stood on the other side grasping his other hand.
Earlier morning, Rias found him asleep on Akeno's lap. At first she was angry, and then concerned when he didn't wake up, or respond to her attempts to wake him up. After a while, his eyes opened, but they were blank and hollow. That was when everyone started to get worried.
They immediately had him taken to a hospital within the underworld that specialized in magic related injuries or illnesses. They were currently waiting for the result of his diagnostics, the deathly silence other than the beep of the monitor and the ticking clock agitated them from waiting.
"It was all my fault." Akeno blamed herself. She realized that this was part of the reason he didnt want to sleep.
"He'll be fine, Akeno-san." Yuuto assured her.
Kiria turned to Rias. "Rias-san, do you think the Khaos Brigade was responsible for this?"
Everyone had looked towards one another nodding. "They were dead set on capturing him, whatever they did, this makes it easier for him to be taken." Xenovia commented. "In this state, he can't defend himself at all."
"Rias-sama?"
Everyone turned as a middle aged male doctor with black hair walked inside the room, a clipboard in his hands. "We finished looking into Kage-san's condition. His vitals are normal, and his pulse his steady. Physically, he's as healthy as possible."
"So what is it, doctor?" Rias asked.
"Well, how should I put this?" He scratched the stubble on his chin and then the back of his head. "Any regular doctor would've said that he is in a coma, or in a vegetative state. That's only half true. After running tests on his body, we took a look into his mind. Well, there's no other way to say this but, Kage-san's soul is gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Koneko asked.
"Well, gone. That's it. We don't know how such a thing is possible. The only possible theory was that it was removed from him, which would explain his current status. Without his soul, his body still works, but..."
The doctor stifled and Asia finally looked up at him. "What's going to happen to him?" She pleaded.
The doctor sighed before delivering it to them straight and to the point.
"Without his soul, he might never wake up again."
All of their faces paled and they looked down at his blank eyes, trying hard to keep themselves from breaking down in tears. Kiba, Xenovia, and Kiria however scowled, swearing whoever was responsible would pay.
At that moment, a sudden male voice entered the room. "Please excuse us."
Everyone turned and saw both Sona and Tsubaki. However, what really caught everyone's eye, was the middle aged man with blond and black hair. Everyone had tensed at the presence of the Fallen Angel's leader. Both Rias and Akeno had serious looks on their faces while glaring daggers at him.
"Sona, what are you doing here?" Rias asked. "And with him?"
"I heard about what happened, Akeno told me. He had already wanted to meet with us before hearing what happened." She turned to the doctor and gave a small smile. "I'm sorry I failed to tell you this, but I was afraid you would refuse meeting him. Do you mind if we talk, Rias, Akeno?"
"In private," Azazel advised. "Everyone will have to wait outside."
"Whatever you have to tell me, you can say with my servant's present," Rias replied.
"Please Rias, do what he says," Sona told her.
"Then excuse me," The doctor had showed himself out bowing. One by one, everyone walked out. Asia was the last as she gave Kurai a kiss on the forehead before rushing out. As soon as they knew they were alone, Tsubaki closed the door.
"I wanted to give you my condolenses." Sona told Rias. "I hope he gets well."
"He's alright, but he won't wake up, no matter what we try." Rias told him.
Azazel poked the boy's chest a few times trying to get a response, only to end up with jack. "The lights are on, but nobody's home."
"Put another finger on him, and I will kill you," Akeno threatened.
"Please, I lost half my body for this kid, he owes me," Azazel replied casually.
"Azazel, just how are you alive?" Rias asked. "Weren't you severely wounded during the Peace Treaty?"
Azazel laughed. "Yeah, that bastard Vali ditched and left me for dead. I had the boys down at Grigori fix me up, but enough about that."
"Sona, why exactly did you bring him?" Rias wasn't even in his presence for even a minute and she was already at her wits end.
"He has some information that's valuable to us. The thing is, Saji went missing." Sona told them.
Both Akeno and Rias were surprised hearing that. "What?"
Tsubaki answered for them. "He hasn't answered his phone, and no one has seen him since last night. He never went home."
"We believe the Khaos Brigade is responsible. Recently, they made a wide scale attack on two of the three factions." Azazel told them. "A few days ago, the Grigori institution was attacked, as well as the Heavens. It was only a matter of time before they decided to piss off the Devil faction. Taking the servants from the daughter's of two Devil Kings. That's what I believed at first. However, that wasn't their intention."
"What are you going on about?" Rias demanded for an answer, scowling at Azazel's smug smirk.
Back in their HQ, Draco was walking through the corridor. Walking next to him was the second in command of the Dragon Slayer Faction, and the leader of the Eight Draco Riders. A young boy with green eyes, and spiky black hair. In his hands, was a light blue cube that pulsed in his hand like a heart.
"I'm amazed at how fast you were able to retrieve his soul, Damian-kun." Draco tapped his chin looking up. "Or do you prefer Kagitsume Shonimi-kun?"
Sho scowled, a tick mark popped on his head. "Tch, you know how much I hate being reffered to with -kun."
"Is that really, Kage Kurai's soul?"
"Mm-hmm. I was able to take the fight out of him while he was dreaming. But if Mimi and Saizo can't get his body, it might be a delay."
"No matter, how is Kayna-kun?" Draco asked.
The two walked down the corridor and stopped at one of the glass panes that allowed them to see into one of the medical rooms. They saw the blue head thrashing on the operating table, while several doctors held him down, and tried to inject him with anti-drugs and serums but with little success. Kayna's strength was on par and subdued a few of the doctors, even smashing one of their heads against the wall, killing them.
"The drugs he used are taking longer to wear off than normal."
"The brat won't accept that he's human," The both of them turned to Oyako as he exited the room, his lab coat tainted in blood. "I warned him, the drugs are for emergencies only. They strengthen the dragonic DNA in his body, as well as his instincts. It seems the syringe he took was more than the what he could handle, even his instincts heightened to where he became no different than a wild beast." Oyako's sight drifted to the cube in Damian's hands, where his eyes widened on sight. "That is-"
"His soul." Draco finished for him. Oyako suddenly grabbed the cube from Damian's hands and gripped it. "Kurai-kun's soul. That brat was able to attain Dragon Force after implanting the Lacrima I had that bastard Sirzechs give him. Ooh, I could harness his magic and create puppets out of bits and bits of this little thing. Puppets strong enough that they could fight a person as strong as Kokabiel."
"Absolutely not," Oyako paled hearing Draco's calm voice. However, he could feel the intense killing intent in the room. "Oyako, you are not to so much as touch it, Mimi-kun and Saizo-kun should be returning with the rest of his body."
"Geez, scary as always." Oyako tossed the cube and Damian caught it. "Oh well, at least I can experiment on that Devil brat with Vritra-"
"Oyako, let me make myself clear," Draco's killing intent increased towards the scientist as he gave an extremely angry look. "You are not to touch the two, and that is that."
"Tch," The scientist scowled and stormed off, leaving the two to their own affairs.
Late into the night, after visiting hours ended, Kurai was completely alone in the hospital room, hooked to the equipment. Everything from the inside out was blank.
Noise erupted from the outside. It was a combination of screams, explosions, and the occasional splat. The room's door opened, and two people walked inside. A young girl with hot pink hair, and a muscle bound young man with dark skin. Both his fists were covered in blood.
"Geez, they didn't put up much of a fight. Pity." The girl walked over to his bed and kneeled on the side of his bed. She squinted her eyes getting a better look at him. "This boy-" She remembered bumping into him a couple of days ago. "I literally walked past my target. That's a new one." She ran her fingers through his hair and stroked his cheeks, blushing slightly. "He is a cutie, I'll give him that much. Would you like to come home and be my toy?"
Saizo walked towards Kurai's bed, and hefted the latter's limp body on his shoulders with ease.
"Target apprehended," Mimi reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a small silver object. She pressed the top with her thumb, and the top of it blinked a red light.
It didn't take more than a few seconds before they heard a large whirring noise from outside, and saw a gigantic airship appear from outside. This was the HQ of the Dragon Slayer Faction.
Housing an entire faction of over a few thousand members, the airship was very large in size: it consisted of a main hull that looked like a navy battleship, on either side were propulsors the size of planes, acting as the wings and rotors.
The hatch to the main hull opened and lowere a bridge for them to cross.
The both of them made their way into the hull, and the large ship, disappeared instantaneously, leaving behind no trace.
There's the end of chapter 29, and a break in this hard hitting story. And I will warn you, things will only get more and more better.
Ciao!
