Chapter 34 I've missed you Shirone
The meeting between the Gremories and the rulers of the underworld, went on longer than it was expected.
By time that Sirzechs had said the last word and was in preparation to dismiss the gathering, night had shrouded upon the sky.
"Well then Rias, you may now return to the castle and be prepared for battle. But be on your guard. The enemy could strike at any time." Sirzechs said to his little sister who nodded to show she understood.
All of a sudden, shards of glass hit the carpet that everyone was currently standing on.
A huge gaping hole was left through the now human shaped gap in the window.
All eyes gazed in the location the disturbance came from and immediately shifted their status of standby to high alert.
"Koneko chan!" Issei shouted as soon as he noticed she was now in danger.
"Yo Sekiryutei. Ero princess." A voice said as they emerged from the shadows.
"Bikou?! What are you doing here? And what are you doing to a member of my household?!" Rias said beginning to revert to her title as the ruin princess.
"Put Koneko down this instant!" Kiba ordered as he drew his sword.
"Sorry guys no can do. You see I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm afraid Kuroka here is dying to see her little sister." Bikou said as he now gestured to the struggling rook within his grasp.
"Put her down right now!" Rias ordered as her irises shifted to their colour of rage and unease.
"Whoa scary. Scary. Well then I'll see you around!" Bikou said now holding a circular item in his hand.
"Don't move Bikou!" Rias said as he threw the item down hard to the ground.
All of a sudden, an enormous wall of smoke erupted from the small capsule and clouded the whole room with its white smoke.
As the Gremory members coughed due to the newly introduced inhaled gas, Bikou made his get away with his cloud he easily soared through the skies with.
The red dragon emperor was unaffected by this surprise strike and as a result, was able to focus on the direction that Koneko was taken in.
"Rias we have no time to lose! Grab a hold of me and I we will take off after them. Kiba I'll leave this gas to you and your sword birth. I'm counting on you to clear this and join us." Issei said as he placed his arms around Rias.
"Leave it to me Issei-Kun." Kiba said as he summoned his black hole attribute sword.
"Let's go Rias!" Issei said as he took flight with his master cradled within his arms.
Meanwhile, Koneko and Bikou had arrived at the drop off point. And Koneko was about to face the demons hidden within her past.
"Put me down you pervert!" Koneko said after she successfully drove her fist into his nose mid-flight.
"Pervert? That's a bit harsh don't you think?" Bikou replied as he placed her petite feet back on the ground.
"That's the thanks I get for reuniting you with your only family?" Bikou said with a grin as the branches behind began to rustle and blow in the wind.
It was after Bikou said that, that the temperature in her body took a sudden drop as that person's figure emerged from the shadows of the night.
Out from the tree's came a young woman with a voluptuous figure, long black hair with split bangs, and hazel gold eyes. Koneko began to shiver as soon as she saw that nostalgic black kimono and the golden beads that rattled as the wind struck them.
It was Kuroka her older sister…
It was only by her older sister's existence and knowledge alone, that Koneko was reminded of her first given name as she called out to her.
"Shirone! It's been so long!" Kuroka said as she immediately closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around Koneko in a loving embrace.
"Big sister Kuroka." Were all the words Koneko could at this moment in time say.
"It's so good to see you again my cute little kitten. Have you been eating alright? Have you made any friends?" Kuroka enquired showing no signs of hostility or malice as she kindly spoke to her sibling.
"Sister, why are you here?" Koneko said as she was prepared to hear the worst.
"Eh why am I here? Isn't it obvious? I've come to pick you up Shirone." Kuroka said making Koneko very still.
"What do you mean pick me up?" Koneko replied not expecting good news for what was to follow her question.
"I mean, that I have finally secured a home for the two of us. So you no longer have to hide your true self anymore." Kuroka said making Koneko want to run but her feet felt as if they cemented to the ground.
"Eh?"
"Come to think of it, where are your cute little white ears Shirone?" Kuroka said making Koneko a bit scared in reflection of her hidden power.
"I don't want to use that power big sis." Koneko said hoping that the topic would end with that.
"That doesn't matter Shirone, your big sister will train you how to use your Senjutsu and your Youjutsu. You'll be a Nekomata again before you even know it." Kuroka said grabbing her sister's hand.
Koneko remained on the spot when Kuroka tried to lead her away.
"Shirone?"
"I don't want to go with you big sister. I want to stay with President Rias, Issei senpai and my friends." Koneko said feeling a sudden build of courage inside her.
"Eh what are you saying Shirone? You don't want to come with me? I'll protect you." Kuroka said full of confidence.
"I want to stay." Koneko said again hoping her sister would receive the message.
"Shirone, do you want me to kill your master and your friends like I did our master?" Kuroka said making Koneko suddenly frightened.
"Because big sister will do it if you don't come with her right now Shirone. After all, I'm the only one who can protect Shirone and keep her safe." Kuroka said making Koneko suddenly take a step forward.
"I understand big sis. Please don't hurt them." Koneko said as she at that moment decided to comply with her sisters wishes.
"Good girl. Let's go home Shirone." Kuroka said suddenly feeling a tight grip on her shoulder.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Kuroka barked at the person putting pressure on her person.
"That's my question bishop of Vali's team Kuroka." A crimson haired lady said as her servant kept a tight grip on the black cat's shoulder.
"I'm taking my sister home with me. Please don't interfere this has nothing to do with you Rias Gremory." Kuroka replied forcing Rias' servant to grip tighter.
"Don't fuck with me! I would rather die than let you take away Koneko chan when she has such a sad look on her face!" Issei roared as he pushed Kuroka away from the now startled and awake Koneko.
"Oh looks like I was followed. As expected of the legendary Sekiryutei and the crimson princess." Bikou said with a grin as he sat idly on his cloud.
"I see, so you plan on preventing me from taking home my only family?" Kuroka said with a hint of anger and irritation in her tone.
"That's my line cat thief. Koneko Toujou is a member of the Gremory household. She is my servant and I won't allow you or her to make her go away so easily. You have no right to take her back after you almost sentenced her to death with your crime of killing your master." Rias shot back her arms now capturing Koneko in a warm hug.
"I am the only one who can protect Shirone! She is lying to herself while she stays with you people!" Kuroka snapped back showing hostility within her aura now.
"I took Koneko in when she was alone. I gave her a name and welcomed her into my family. She is a precious family member to me. And I won't let anyway take her away from stability and happiness!" Rias shot back feeling her own destructive power surface.
"Rias is right, we won't let you take Koneko Chan away! She is an important person to me as well! And I will be damned if I will let her be taken away so easily!" Issei roared as his boosted gear began to power up.
"President Rias…. Issei-Senpai." Koneko uttered with tears of joy.
"I see, then you have left me no choice. If you will not let me take Shirone peacefully, then I will take her by force!" Kuroka said as a huge amethyst circle appeared and left with its passing a purple gas in the atmosphere.
Suddenly, both Rias and the frightened Nekomata collapsed to the ground.
"My body it won't move." Rias said as she struggled to stand up.
"It's no use, with this poison mist, you will not be able to lift a finger as it restricts your muscles." Kuroka said suddenly deploying a circle as an armoured fist suddenly smashed through it.
"Don't drop your guard so quickly, I'm still able to fight!" Issei shouted as he prepared to attack.
"It seems my powers have no effect on the Sekiryutei. No matter, I will take you down personally and prove to Shirone that the only one she can rely on to protect her, is her sister!" Kuroka said as she summoned several balls of fire.
"Bring it on! I will show you first hand the power of the Gremory household!" Issei said as he once again boosted his power.
"Interesting. Then let's see that power you are boasting so much about!" Kuroka said as she summoned several blue flames around her.
The black cat Kuroka fired the fire balls she summoned simultaneously which exploded as soon as they made impact with Issei.
"Such a bore. What?!" Kuroka said when Issei emerged from the smoke completely unharmed.
"Is that all you have got? Dragon shot!" Issei said firing his red blast at the startled Nekomata.
Kuroka leaped to the nearest tree branch to avoid Issei's attack. Firing more magical attacks at Issei afterwards.
Issei raced towards the Senjutsu user and easily extinguished each fire attack that tried to touch his skin.
Issei suddenly closed in on Kuroka stopping his fist inches away from her face.
"Don't make my cute Kouhai cry ever again!" Issei said causing Kuroka to retreat backwards.
"As expected of the Sekiryutei. But how about this?" Kuroka said as she sprouted her black twin tail.
"So you're finally taking this fight seriously? Very well, then I won't disappoint you!" Issei yelled as he charged Kuroka.
Suddenly, Kuroka used a trait of her Youjutsu power and created several copies of herself.
"You think this illusion will stop me? I won't need to find out who is the real you. I'll take you all down at once.
Issei concentrated his magical power and began to create a dragon shot in both of his hands.
"Take this! Crimson dragon cannon!" Issei roared as a huge explosion of crimson light lit up the blackness in the sky.
When the light vanished, Kuroka was nowhere in sight.
"Did she retreat?" Rias said as she observed her surroundings.
"You're wrong! Issei-Senpai look out!" Koneko yelled after she opened her eyes.
"Touki." Kuroka using the power of her Senjutsu, strengthened her physical power and smashed her fist through Issei's armoured abdomen and pierced through his flesh.
A huge hole appeared on Issei's skin when Kuroka extracted her hand from the wounds entrance.
Issei's body suddenly felt lifeless as he began to plummet to the ground after Kuroka retracted her hand.
"Crap I let my guard down." Issei said as he fell to the ground.
"Issei!"
"Issei-Senpai!"
The two girls rushed over to Issei whose armour had now been deactivated and a pool of blood leaked onto the floor where he his body fell.
Issei with all his strength sat himself up and now stared at his opponent who playfully licked the back of her hand.
"What did you just do to me? I can't summon any magical power and I feel so weak." Issei said as he struggled to remain conscious.
"It's simple really, I was reading your inner ki whilst we fought and once I managed to understand it's flow, I was able to manipulate it's flow and reverse it." Kuroka said as Issei began to fall unconscious.
"Damn it I was careless." Issei said as he suddenly fell unconscious.
"Issei! Hang in there Issei." Rias said as she cradled his body in her arms.
"Now it's time to finish the job. This is your punishment for getting in my way Sekiryutei! Kuroka said as she prepared to deliver the final blow.
Just as Kuroka was about to strike, she found herself being pushed back by a tremendous force.
When Kuroka regained her balance, she finally discovered the strength that blew her away.
Koneko's fist still extended out as the Gremories rook panted.
"So you intend to fight me Shirone? Do you really think you stand a chance against me without using your Nekomata power?" Kuroka said making Koneko nervous.
"I'm not done yet… I won't let you take Koneko Chan away. Even if you are her sister!" Issei yelled as he unconsciously walked towards the black cat with blood still exiting the wound.
"You can still move? Very well then I will finish you!" Kuroka said as she charged the life threatened dragon wielder.
Koneko did the unexpected which stopped both Issei and Kuroka in their tracks.
Issei felt a huge pain in his stomach when Koneko delivered a powerful punch to the already wounded red dragon emperor.
"Koneko Chan." Were Issei's last words before he collapsed in Koneko's arms.
"President, please take care of Issei-Senpai, I will fight Kuroka." Koneko said as she positioned her hands for combat.
"Koneko, you don't mean you're going to?" Rias said being cut off by Koneko.
"Don't worry, I am not afraid anymore president. After you and Issei-senpai worked so hard to protect me, I no longer see any reason to reject this power. I will accept it and protect you both." Koneko stated as she now stared down her sister.
"What's that? You plan on fighting me head to head Shirone?" Kuroka asked playfully.
"I know how strong you are big sister and yes I don't want to use this power that I fear so much. But, after Issei-Senpai and President Rias have risked their lives so many times to protect me, I have decided, that this time I will protect them! I will use this power and this time, I will master it and use it to protect Issei-Senpai and my friends!" Koneko said as a white tail and cat ears appeared upon her body.
"I love that look in your eyes Shirone, you have really grown. But it's true, if you master your Senjutsu power you may be able to save the Sekiryutei's life. That wound isn't too severe, but if you don't fix his Ki within 24 hours, his life will be over."
"No way, Issei will die?" Rias said now cradling Issei in her arms.
"But first you have to defeat me. Otherwise I'm taking you back with me. Show me your bonds you care so much about Shirone" Kuroka said as she summoned a purple magic circle behind herself as she prepared for battle.
So Issei has been taken by Kuroka's unique power of Ki and space manipulation! Who will win this battle between the Nekomata siblings? Will Koneko save Issei and return to the Gremories? Or will Kuroka overpower Koneko with her superior Senjutsu and Youjutsu abilities? Find out in the next chapter! Chapter 35 Cat fight! The Nekomata sibling's battle.