Chapter 30: City of Love, City of Sin (Part 1)

Berne

(2 years 30 weeks after Valefor Massacre)

"Dude, relax. You do your part of the deal, and we do ours. Nice and easy, smooth as feebreezy."

I resist the urge to just whip out Shaver and put an end to the paranoid nutjob in front of me as he hysterically asks, "Y-you promise?! I-I can't do this if I have to worry about my fam-"

"Ok, third times the charm…your family is going to be fine. We've already sent them an eviction notice-not that it really matters in a place as sucky as this, but whatever-and they now have a nice, cozy home in Crocell territory while your wife has a steady line of work set up as a maid-in-training and the kids are enrolled in school. Sounds about right?"

The jumpy-as-all-Hell-Human-panic-attack-in-the-making finally seems to ease up a bit, letting out a shaky breath and stuttering back, "Y-yeah…that's right."

I roll my eyes before dryly telling him, "Ok, and just to make sure you know you're side of the bargain…"

I hold up a crimson object that looks a bit like a fish scale…but the ominous air surrounding it tells a different story.

"Eat the Demon Scale once this building comes under attack, clearly think about the fact that you want to kill whoever's attacking…and all's well that ends well."

The guy who's name I never learned takes the thing with shaking hands-don't drop it dumbass-and nods, swallowing thickly.

"Cool! Well, that's about all I've got to say, toodles and good luck, break a leg! Preferably not yours though…"

My bit said and done I leave the area, heaving an exhausted sigh as I go.

…Sweet aching balls of Buddha, arranged murder by proxy is not my style. I'm more of a stab-you-in-the-face kind of guy.

Like that blonde Fallen from a few years back! Hoo boy, I don't think I'll be able to control myself enough to keep her alive for after the fight…and despite what I said, I ain't into necrophilia. That was more my pumping blood talking…oh well, King's orders are King's orders. Gyer is cool enough to let me do what I do best as an honest-to-Buddha's-balls career. How many people can say they got that under their belt?

…

Still though, the night's young and I'm bored! And I'm a shitty Mage, I don't have a way to remotely view the fight about to go down in that warehouse…

Oh well, guess I'll head back to EDEN and find a place to get drunk, maybe end up in a friendly brawl or two. Wait, didn't the Exotic get a new girl a few years back? A real cutey of a Vampire who acted all haughty and stuff?

What was her name…Selest? Estina? Shit, I can't remember…ah well, guess I'll visit and see what the rumor mill is all about.

King's paying for my 'business' expenses and all, be a shame not to take advantage of that!

Caine

Final tally? Eight mooks total, five on the second floor going through the various crates and boxes that were pilfered from the Black Wings two days ago, three in a room adjacent to it playing cards.

Ordinarily having a shipment of stuff stolen from one of the gangs isn't that big of a deal. Strays, desperate citizenry, rival gangs…there's no shortage of interested parties out there that would covet the stuff we transport. Usually a few members get sent out to track the stuff down when it's inevitabley found, make an example out of the people who took it (unless it got taken to a Tartarus Pit, then we stay well the fuck away) and carry on like normal.

I sure as Hell don't get involved.

But this is a little different.

Aside from the more mundane contraband like Spirits, Drugs and crud like that…these Sons a Bitches somehow had the luck to nab a shipment of Demon Scale.

That was something I immediately took notice of. It stinks to high Hell like Crocell interference…

Idly shrugging to myself I continue my Shadow Walk around the room-the sporadic and intermittent lighting making the task easy-trying to identify what I'm up against in more specific terms.

Three Devils, two Fallen, one Yokai or Demi-human with antler like appendages and two Humans.

Easy enough. Time to get to work.

Shifting back to where the card players-the two Humans and one Devil-are at it I gently create a few Shades, preparing to get the jump on them.

In three…two…one-

Six coiled lengths of Shadow snap out at the unaware group, each mook finding one appendage wrapped around their ankles and the other around their throat.

And then I pull.

Three pairs of eyes bulge as their bodies abruptly stretch, hands scrabbling for their throats in a gut reaction that dooms their chances of actually getting out of this alive.

Devil's are naturally resistant to things like asphyxiation, the brain able to survive without air for a long time…but my Shades have that covered. With most types of garrote wire it's a delicate balance between cutting off the airways and making sure you don't cut into the trachea itself. Sure, cutting the throat will likely cause the target to bleed out…but now you have an enraged, dying person clawing at your eyeballs.

My Shades can put a lot of pressure on the neck…but don't have to worry about cutting skin, since I can control their density and to an extent, sharpness.

Not only do I cut off air, I keep blood from escaping the brain entirely, creating a nasty backlog that does bad things to the organ sitting inside their skulls.

And a very delicate brain is one thing Devil's have in common with Humans.

One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, four-one-thousand…

The Humans go limp, the Devil raising up a shaky hand to no doubt try some last bit of Magic-

-and slumps forward as well, eyes going glassy and the room starting to stink with voided bowels.

I keep the chokehold up anyway.

I'd been surprised by someone faking to be dead by pissing and shitting themselves once before and took a knife in the back of my knee for it.

I've learned.

…

...

Ok, definitely dead. On to the main event…

Jumping through my shadows I return to the five remaining mooks, still blissfully unaware of my presence and their dead buddies…but all in clear view of each other, no broken sightlines.

Silent assassinations are out for me.

So instead I slip out of the shadows directly above Antler head-

-and a quick application of Toki to my right foot has his head smashing through the floorboards in a wet crunch, his skull not as durable as I'd presumed it would be.

Definitely overkill.

The two Devils and Fallen-foes who's capabilities I'm well aware of-whirl to face me, lightspears snapping into existence and Magic circles flaring to life.

Half-a-second too slow.

One Fallen has time to blink in shock and then my Weiji-do enhanced blow catches her right in the face, liquefying her skull and an odd wrk noise emanates from her throat.

Not missing a beat I flip her corpse around and plant it in between me and the other three-

-and they hesitate for the briefest of moments, their comrades odd jerking movements as her body receives conflicting signals from the destroyed brain giving the illusion of life.

All the time in the world.

A bullet takes one of the Devils directly in the forehead as I whip out one of the many different handguns I've collected over the years, an old Smith and Wesson revolver that drops him like a puppet with it's strings cut.

Finally seeming to recover their balance the two remaining mooks take to the ceiling, four wings apiece sprouting from their backs as they channel power.

I'm already moving.

"[Shock Bolt!]"

A corkscrew of lightning hits the unsuspecting Fallen directly in the face, jolting him-haha I'm punny-and causing him to briefly fall to the floor below. The Devil gathers energy into the focal point of his circle, obviously aiming to hit me with pure Demonic power alone-

-and ends up abruptly face planting into the floorboards as my Shades grab his legs and do their thing of smashing things against other things.

He manages to push himself upright with his arms…and gets no farther as I elbow drop him through the floor in a flurry of dust and splintering wood, the Toki and Weiji-do enhanced blow shattering his body like a poorly made China plate.

And for the finale…

The last Fallen has time to see my foot approaching his face at what no doubt seems like terminal velocity before it caves in, a healthy amount of blood and teeth shooting forward as he skids backward.

…I win.

"Everything all good down there?!"

"Yup, we're good Boss! And I think you're girlfriends found what we're looking for!"

I roll my eyes at the answering shout that came from where I bashed the Devil through the floor, dropping through it even as I debate the merits of protesting that only Kuroka is my girlfriend, not Shirone.

…

It probably wouldn't matter.

"Any injuries or deaths, Syrie?"

Syrie, a pink-haired and irrepressibly cheery Fallen Angel, turns to me and offers a gazillion-megawatt smile in response.

"Nope! I guess everyone was upstairs and the two sentry dudes outside were knocked cold by your Girlfriends."

…Still not sure whether protesting would be worth it.

"Oi, Caine! You might want to take a look at this!"

Speaking of…

I give a short nod to Syrie that she correctly interprets as an order to start rummaging around upstairs, her three Black Wing buddies flying up through the hole while she takes up sentry duty near the main entrance.

Heading over to where Kuroka and Shirone are glaring warily at an unadorned box I ask, "Well? Is that it?"

Kuroka shoots me a 'well duh' look and wryly replies, "I dunno, does Demon Scale smell like madness and violent death? Or is that just weed?"

"Nah, that's catnip you're thinking of."

I smirk at their simultaneous eye rolls and carefully undo the lid, a variety of security seals and other stuff that Ferdinand had told me how to deactivate disappearing in quick succession as I ply my craft.

All right, let's see, there should be six in here…and voilà.

Bright crimson in coloration, appearing for all the world like an innocuous fish scale with interesting vein-like substances on it…Demon Scale would be unremarkable, if it weren't for the vaguely uncomfortable feeling all Supernatural beings can no doubt practically taste surrounding the damn things…

…

Wait a second.

My eyes dart back and forth, a cold feeling settling in my gut as I count only five Demon Scales.

Raising my voice I frantically shout, "Shit! Oi, everybody keep your eyes on a swivel, one of the Demon Scales is-"

Squelch!

I freeze.

I know that sound. The sound of flesh being squeezed so hard that it rips, resistance be damned.

I spin on my heel-

-just in time to see Syrie fall backward onto the floor with an anti-climactic thud, arterial jets of blood painting the floor from the ragged flesh where her head used to be attached to her neck.

And then it walks in.

Stark naked, with odd spike-like protuberances and scales like a Dragon's intermittently growing across it's dark red flesh…it's a nightmarish fucking parody of a Human body, beady yellow eyes spastically whirling in it's sockets and rasping breaths emanating from it's throat.

And in one taloned head is Syrie's head, a mildly surprised expression still adorning her features.

"Main floor, Scale Junkie!"

My warning echoes around the building, hopefully cluing in the rest of the Black Wings to stay away as the Scale user lets out some kind of rattling moan-

-and leaps towards me with crazy speed, sheer physical power-just one nasty trait of Demon Scale-destroying the floorboards behind him and taloned hands reaching towards my neck, Syrie's head long since dropped and forgotten.

I duck beneath the clumsy but fast blow, gather as much Toki as I can into my right fist, channel a Weiji-do strike directly into where it's heart would be-

-and choke out an agonized cry, my arm shattering on contact and a spurt of bone punching through my elbow, the Scale user's skin being WAY fucking harder than I expected it to!

Which then leaves me in a horribly exposed position, with a crippled arm and stretched out directly in front of the marauding psychopath about one second away from tearing my face off.

Thankfully I have two very special people watching my back.

"Duck!"

Instinctively following Shirone's rare instance of using a raised voice I hit the deck, the Nekoushou's Senjutsu fire-clad fist impacting on the Scale Junkie's face with a resounding CRACK-

-that causes her to wince, fingers clearly broken as she lands in front of me, the drugged out berserker barely even flinching from the blow.

…Well, she did better than I did.

Reacting more on instinct than I am on conscious thought I wrap a Shade around Shirone's waist and yank her backwards, her tiny frame bumping up against mine and barely getting her out of the way of a wild swing that very well might have killed her.

Which doesn't really help, since the freakazoid is now bearing down on us again while we're lacking a working pair of arms-

-and it runs right by us, swinging at nothing and letting out a guttural growl as it does so, it's claws tearing through a brick wall like it was paper.

I give brief nod of my head to Kuroka, the eldest Nekoshou shutting her eyes tight in concentration as she no doubt works her Youjutsu illusions.

"Everyone, we're leaving! Grab what you can and get out of here! Meet at the safe point!"

I hear three pairs of feet start pounding out a frantic tempo up above as the Fallen grab every bit of contraband that isn't nailed down, taking to the skies above Kalichi with their spoils.

Time to do the same.

I direct all ten of my Shades to grab as many boxes and crates-the Demon Scale one in particular-as I can, sending one appendage to gather up Syrie's body and head.

I try not to wince at the vague sensation I get from having my Shade pick up the decapitated corpse.

"Kuroka, can you move?"

"…Yeah, on three. One…two…three!"

She and Shirone instantly shift into their cat forms and leap onto my back, their claws digging into the fabric of my shirt and I instantly hightail it out of there, Shades winding along in my wake with their respective burdens.

No way in Hell am I fighting a Scale Junkie in an enclosed space.

Clearing the doorway I snap open my wings and take to the skies, crates trailing behind me like some sort of kleptomaniac squid even as the Demon Scale user breaks free of Kuroka's illusions and howls bloody murder.

But by then we're already gone, the sounds of the breaking masonry fading away as the berserker shifts it's anger to something more tangible, now that we're out of the way.

That's the thing about Demon Scale.

Massive boost to your everything…at the cost of anything resembling rational thought or planning. Not to mention you burn out pretty quick, a few minutes at the max.

…

Fuck my arms hurts! And flying across the city at high speeds isn't doing me any favors…

Thankfully within a minute I'm at the meeting point, the three Black Wings already scanning the area with wary eyes as me and my cargo come in for a hard landing.

"Everyone alright?"

"Yeah Boss, we're good. What about Syrie? Did she…come…"

The Black Wing who's name I don't even know goes pale as he sees the body, his expression looking as if the world just got pulled beneath his feet.

"…The Scale Junkie got her?"

I can only wordlessly nod, the Fallen's features-young even by their standards-twisting into a rictus of anguish…

…Before he heaves an enormous sigh and meets my gaze.

"Thanks, Boss…for bringing her back."

Somehow his gratefulness twists my stomach more than any accusing glare ever could.

"Thanks? I'm the one who-"

"Boss, it happens. You know this city isn't a bed of roses. Syrie…saved me from most of it, but I know enough and she taught me the rest over the years. She…she was always so damn happy though, she wouldn't have-"

His voice becomes choked up and he falls silent, one of the other Fallen-an older Woman-quietly rubs his back and fixes me with a patient look.

"You can head on back, Boss. We'll get the rest of the stuff delivered, you tell Tiana what happened. And no offense, but you should probably get your arm healed while you're at it."

I glance down at my ruined appendage and can't help but feel that experiencing the same pain twenty times over would have been a deal, compared to hearing the young Black Wing take shuddering breaths of grief in a failing attempt to control himself.

Compared to knowing that, despite his words and basic rates of attrition in Kalichi…I was more or less responsible for his loss.

A hand gently squeezes my undamaged shoulder, Kuroka quietly saying, "C'mon, Caine. I fixed Shirone's hand, but that arm of yours is gonna take a bit more work. Let's go."

I heave out a quiet sigh, nodding slightly as both cats give me worried looks and glance back towards the three Fallen-

-only to have the woman send me a short nod, obviously agreeing with the sisters.

…

"You took on a responsibility, a responsibility that allows you to dictate how we do things. And in return, you have to prove to us that you actually have a head on your shoulders worth following."

Galeran's words from years ago hit me full force and I push aside the sudden bitterness that climbs up my throat.

He and the other Gang leaders-as well as the lower end of the totem pole, apparently-would say I've proven myself over the past years, readily following my orders without anything more dissenting than bits of advice.

…

One last glance at the now silently crying Fallen makes me wonder if they're right.

The years after I'd reunited the gangs had been…busy.

With there being an unofficial declaration of war between me and Gyer Crocell things had turned ugly, albeit weird.

Gyer couldn't just outright bring down the metaphorical hammer on the gangs-and by extension me-for a number of reasons.

Our 'unknown' Fallen backer, the fact that the Gang's keep their routes and suppliers close to the chest…never mind that drawing enough resources to completely stamp us out would be like shooting up a signal flare for people to start asking questions.

No one on the up-and-up devotes more time and attention to Kalichi than absolutely necessary, after all.

Thus, he'd turned to the forces he did have on hand, or that no one would particularly care disappearing if need be.

Rival gangs that wanted to replace the big three, EDEN guards that were bored and wanted to fuck around (standing watch in a place of privilege apparently makes you a thrill-seeker), mercenaries that were looking to make a quick buck…and let's not forget the wild card of them all, the Stray Devils that propagate in the Tartarus Pits and occasionally burst out like some nightmarish plague.

…I said things were weird though, and they are.

Gyer can't just cut off and destroy our shipments of contraband and stuff, that'd piss off too many people that he doesn't want to alert. And said shipments travel through EDEN before being sent on their way, thus a bizarre sort of neutral ground where both sides glare at each other but can't really do anything had cropped up.

The whole episode today with the Demon Scale had been an alarming escalation since it was way too well engineered to be anything other than an attempt on our lives.

…More specifically, my life.

Crocell had obviously been hoping that by causing the gangs no shortage of grief upon my assumption of leadership they would either abandon me, if not outright do the deed themselves.

...

He was wrong.

I can understand why, though.

Crocell is a Pillar Devil, one who was raised in a life of privilege…not too different from my own, if I'm being brutally honest with myself.

Once upon a time, I would have assumed that killing people who worked and socialized with each other-as well as it being clear the reason they're all dying is because of a newcomer who decided to one day crown himself King-would have convinced them to 'depose' of said King on the pronto.

I've learned since then, and I imagine Gyer has as well.

Kalichi has a different set of rules.

There's a thousand and one ways to die in this place. Stray Devil's, rival gang members, desperate junkies, opportunists, opposing factions working out old grudges…some down-on-his-luck loser with a knife that likes your boots.

Death is normal.

And when death is normal, it's other factors that take precedence.

Had I just been hiding it out on the sidelines, giving orders from afar…no doubt the gang's would have knocked me off, with or without Gyer's prodding.

But I haven't.

Since day one of this on-and-off war I've been trying to be as active as possible, making as many appearances and taking part in as many fights as I can with the various gangs.

I think today marks the 50th time I've done so, and it makes all the difference.

I'm willing to fight and die right alongside your average gutter scum…and that's good enough for them.

"Caine?"

I slowly flex my newly healed right arm, my mood still bitter and subdued.

Tiana had been too understanding for my liking, even going so far as to help Kuroka and Shirone fix my injuries in a rare showing of sympathy, more-or-less telling me what the Fallen male had…that I went above and beyond what was expected of me in bringing back Syrie's body.

"Hey, Caine?"

…

Maybe it's because I wasn't raised in Kalichi that I feel so…upset at how they all seem to absolve me of any guilt.

Like I'm not the one responsible for these deaths.

…Fuck, I know they're right in saying that they could all too likely die even if I wasn't throwing a wrench in the works…but they should be angry. Angry that I'm killing their friends and comrades and lovers for goals that aren't theirs.

...

He thanked me.

Thanked me, for bringing back a headless corpse.

It's just too fucking sad…

"Caine!"

"Wuh?"

I belatedly realize Kuroka and Shirone are worriedly staring at me, ears and tails nervously flattened.

…Dammit, did I let myself get that distracted? I didn't even notice us leave the Black Wing's home…

"Sorry, you two…just thinking is all."

"Thinking so hard you didn't even notice you were about to walk into a wall?"

"Huh?"

I blink once and why yes, I was about to faceplant directly into a bit of cement construction.

"…It was very deep thoughts."

"Yeah, I'll say. C'mon, Caine…is this about earlier today?"

I break eye contact with Kuroka and continue walking, both her and Shirone perfectly matching my stride on either side of me.

"…Sort of."

The raven-haired Nekoshou sighs and dryly says, "Don't tell me, let me guess. Everyone saying that it wasn't your fault made you feel even worse, for whatever reason."

Unable to stop the aggrieved snort that leaves me I darkly mutter, "What am I, some open book?"

"To us. And you're our bo-I mean, friend."

Shirone's brief verbal stutter catches me off guard for a split-second, since I don't think she's ever flubbed a word before.

…Then again, she doesn't talk much. And as shitty as it may sound, that gouge on her lip could very well mess with the occasional word.

"Yeah, like Little Sis said! C'mon, let's swing by Chow's place and pick up something good, I'm starving!"

Shirone's enthusiastic nod has me sighing in defeat, unable-as always-to say no to her.

Guess I'll be having a conversation with the grouch of the world soon…

"Eeeyyy, Little Bastard! Long time no see! You been all busy and stuff last two weeks, no time for training or Stray killing! Make me feel unappreciated yeah?"

Once upon a time that sentence-and everything it implies-would have scared me.

…

It still does-not being scared of Chow is like not being scared of spiders, a complete impossibility-but that fear is tempered somewhat by two years of on and off abject terror.

I'm used to being frightened.

"Hey, Chow. Sorry, I've been busy. Can we have the usual?"

"Can do, Little Bastard. Hey, Skanky Cat and Scarred Cat! Still wasting time with loser Little Bastard over there?"

Shirone is too busy staring and drooling at the trays of steaming food to care, leaving it up to Kuroka to chuckle and reply, "Yup, you bet we are. Life's never boring around him, I can say that for certain!"

"Hmm…you go back to Tartarus Pit soon, Little Bastard. I still have family gift and not getting any younger. Seriously, I so old I could die any moment."

"…I can make it in three days, I'll probably have time then."

I don't miss the frowns both cats suddenly send me but stick to my guns.

…

Not that I expect to succeed this time or anything.

Over the course of two years I've never managed to kill more than three Stray Devils before having to leave the Pits due to a variety of reasons.

Sometimes it's been poison or some other debilitating effect that's forced me to leave, other times an injury that I couldn't really afford to have handicap me.

Sometimes it's been a Prime Stray that does me in.

Prime Strays…in retrospect, I really should have expected something like them to exist. There's simply not enough Devil's with Peerages to account for all of Kalichi's Strays, so where do they come from?

Breeding.

Sometimes two Strays will stop murdering each other long enough to fuck and conceive a child, said child immediately being thrown to the wolves as soon as it can walk.

And they grow up in a Tartarus Pit, a Darwinist wet dream on steroids.

Prime Strays make normal Strays look about as threatening as newborn bunnies. I'd run into a Prime Stray once…that one time had been enough to convince me to stay the fuck away from them.

And sometimes…sometimes just the general madness of the Tartarus Pits-the smell-had broken my nerve and I'd run away. I'd witnessed some of the more insane lairs and what happens to the victims inside…those are the bad ones, the ones that had left me unable to sleep, only Kuroka and occasionally Shirone or Vallia's presence relaxing me enough to rest without horrific nightmares.

…

No reason to expect that track record to change anytime soon…

"Ok Kitties and Bastards, here food. Thank you, come again! Don't die!"

…It never cease to boggle my mind how some run-down, beat to Hell, slowly collapsing hut made of concrete and meanness manages to feel like home…but it does.

Even the Church doesn't have this comforting a feel and that's probably way safer than this dump.

Regardless, Val and the Fallen are out of Kalichi for the moment and none of us had felt like traveling back to the Church, instead deciding to visit the old hideout I'd first woken up in what feels like a lifetime ago and enjoy a night together, just the three of us.

…Predictably, Shirone had eaten her fair share of things and then conked out on the bed, leaving me to sip on a Root Beer and get lost in thought on the couch.

At least until a pair of arms drape around my shoulders and a chin lays itself on my head, the familiar scent of dirt, smoke and black licorice announcing Kuroka's presence.

"You know, you weren't very convincing earlier when you said you were in 'deep thoughts'. You're beating yourself up again, aren't you?"

This time I don't try to fight and lean back into her, eyes closed as I tiredly reply, "That whole mess was obviously the Crocell's trying to off me, and it got someone killed. Someone who meant something important to another."

"…At the risk of sounding overly callous, that's what leadership-heck, life-is about. Live until you die and other stuff like that."

"Yeah, I do actually understand that bit…but I can't help but wonder. What if it hadn't been Syrie that had died because of this...but you? Or Shirone? Or what if one of you was killed while I was following someone else's instructions? I doubt I'd be all that level-headed about it, to put things mildly…and I was forgiven. Like it was nothing."

She quietly walks around the couch, sitting down next to me and gently taking one of my hands in her own.

"What are you trying to say, Caine?"

A bleak laugh escapes my throat.

"I don't know. It's all just so fucked. I got a blank check of 'not your fault' when it was my fault. It shouldn't be so easy. There should be some kind consequences, some kind of punishment for doing shit like this!"

Kuroka doesn't bat an eye, soothingly replying, "Have you ever considered that no one is blaming you because it's obvious you're doing a pretty good job all on your own?"

"…What?"

Her golden eyes are sad as she explains, "Look at yourself, dumbass. Here you are, flipping your lid hours afterwards, holding yourself accountable when no else is. You don't need someone to tell you you fucked up. You've got that down pat all on your lonesome."

…

"I…I guess I never thought of it that way…"

She chuckles and playfully says, "Course you didn't! That's why you keep a smart kitty like yours truly around!"

I can't help it.

I laugh.

A laugh that's suddenly cut off as she pushes me back, her waist straddling mine. A provocative position…but her tone is still consoling as she continues with, "You're tired, Kiddo. You've been at it these past few weeks like there's no tomorrow. First the war with Rose Eater's gang, then the whole Stray Devil spillover…and now the Demon Scale mess, with you headed out to the damn Tartarus Pits in just a few days."

Her lips brush against mine, fingers gently trailing across my cheek as she whispers, "You need a break, Caine."

…

I take a long look at the Nekoshou, considering her words.

The past two years have been…good, to her.

Now standing at 157 centimeters-although she's noticeably shorter than my own 169, dad's genes in full force-and possessing an even larger bust than before (which I guess is possible, somehow) as well as a slim torso and wide hips, she has a body most would kill for.

But it's her face that has the most allure for me.

The single scar on her cheek, the more mature features that still can shift into ones of playfulness or seduction…and her long, beautiful black hair that she usually let's hang loose, falling to just even with her plump rear.

…I'm a lucky man.

And the fact that she has a good head on her shoulder just seals the deal.

"…What did you have in mind?"

Smirking in satisfaction she lets her head drop onto my collarbone, explaining, "Well guess what's happening in three weeks and one day?"

I rack my brains for a second before a small grin appears on my face.

"Shirone's birthday?"

"Yup! My super cute Little Sis is gonna be turning thirteen! You better have a killer present lined up, she doesn't have a clue that I've been planning this for awhile…"

"Ever the doting sibling, aren't you?"

"Damn straight! So you better take it easy till then, miss the party because you got injured or something stupid like that and you will be answering to me."

…Something about the faux cheerfulness of that last statement makes me shiver in dread.

"…Will do."

"Good! Now, as I previously stated, it has been a couple weeks since we've had some time together…"

Her words coincide with a sensual licking of my throat, my brain helpfully confirming that yes, it has been awhile since Kuroka and I have had the opportunity to do anything fun…

"Not that I'm-ugh-complaining…but isn't Shirone just in the next room?"

We've been keeping the sexual side of our relationship away from the white-haired Yokai's eyes thus far, so this is uncharacteristically bold of her…

"No worries, I put a bit of Senjutsu power to work and have her in a very peaceful slumber…we can be as loud as you want~."

Her licking shifts to nibbling and I release a shuddering grasp, my body already shifting into 'excited' mode.

"Well when you put it like that…"

I let my hands wander downwards, squeezing her amazing ass through her jeans and grinning like a loon.

"I just can't say no, now can I?"

"Like you would anyway. Less talking, nya~!"

Acquiescing to her wishes-and the blood boiler that is her 'nya'-I shift my hands to her lower back, encircling her tail and push her body into mine, reveling in the way those incredibly soft boobs mash up against me, kissing her full on the lips and drinking in her taste as she eagerly replies in kind.

Yeah…a few weeks really has been awhile.

Breaking the kiss with a wet smack I quickly undo her pants' button and pull them off, revealing her pale legs in all their sensual glory and the rapidly moistening black panties that the Nekoshou rips off herself, obviously in the mood.

"Whoah, skipping the foreplay?"

Not immediately replying the eldest Toujou Sister shucks her t-shirt and jacket, letting me undo the clasp on her bra before getting right in my face and purring, "Does it look I need any, nya~?"

The last bit of her underwear falls away, letting her breasts spill out and causing me to lecherously grin, my right hand slowly tracing a line down her taut stomach, brushing past the slight patch of pubic hair to her moist lips and gently rubbing the hot flesh, slippery liquid coating my fingers as Kuroka shudders and enthusiastically bucks her hips up against said appendage.

"C'mon, now you, Big Guy~…"

Even as my hand gently strokes her slit she undoes the buckle on my own pants, yanking them down and letting my cock spring free…already with a bit of precum dribbling down it.

Guess I'm no better than her…

Her purring resembling a car's engine more than it does a noise a cat would make she pushes me down on the couch, already lining up her sopping cunt with my rod, golden eyes gleaming with a heady expression.

And then, with a cheshire grin, abruptly drops her hips.

I enter her with one go.

A ragged gasp escapes me and my back instinctively arches, a cute mewl escaping my girlfriend as short growls emanate from her mouth, tongue rapidly licking her lips.

I'm never going to get used to this sensation…on paper it sounds so simple.

Put piece of body in other body, there, that's sex.

But it just feels so good.

Even the brief flare of pain as my dick had entered Kuroka-not all of it lubed-had a strange pleasure to it, the hurt fading as quickly as it came and seamlessly shifting into something hot.

The sensation of being inside her, of feeling such a sensitive part of my body surrounded by pulsating warmth and pressure…it's enough to drive a boy mad.

My hands reach up and latch onto her heaving chest, a pleased whimper coming from the horny Nekoshou as I begin to massage and knead, her breasts giving way beneath my grip and my calloused palms rubbing against her taut nipples.

Feeling plenty enthusiastic she raises her hips-

-and slams down onto my pelvis, drawing a gasp from me at the motion and my hands instinctively convulse around her tits, causing her to moan and put even more force into her next thrust…a cycle that keeps building and building on itself, bringing me to the edge in barely a minute.

Heady on pure arousal I move to please Kuroka even more, manifesting a Shade and wrapping it around her whipping tail, squeezing and lightly pulling the appendages which drives the Yokai into a panting frenzy, bucking her hips faster and faster and causing a buildup of pressure in my groin that heralds the first orgasm of tonight.

A Nekomata's tail isn't necessarily an erogenous zone…but it is sensitive and a full tail massage can definitely add it's own spin to things.

"K-Kuroka, I'm going to -"

"Let it out, nya~! All inside~!"

I meet her next downward thrust with an upward one of my own-

-and I feel the end of her snatch bump into my cock's head as I grit my teeth and release, harshly panting and twisting her boobs the hardest yet, Kuroka moaning in such a sexy way that it makes me instantly want to take her all over again as her walls convulse around me, the heat and everything about her creating a violently intense orgasm.

We stay locked together for a few seconds, bodies tensed and stiff as we ride out the high of our climax-

-and then with two simultaneous sighs we relax, my dick gently sliding out of her as we tenderly kiss.

"…Enjoyed the first round much, nya~?"

I chuckle and gently run my fingers over her chest, watching the angry red marks from where I'd been grabbing her slowly fade away.

I'd felt bad the first time I realized how tightly I was grabbing her…until she'd complained the very next round that I was being too gentle.

…Hey, everyone has a kink.

"Absolutely, Kuroneko. Give me a few seconds and I'll be raring to go again…"

She purrs and wraps her legs around my waist, lightly licking my nose as she murmurs, "Ooh, I like the sound of that…I want you to fill me up good~."

…

Funny thing about Nekoshou. Totally sterile most of the year, not receptive in the slightest to any kind of baby-making material…until their mating season.

...

In Kuroka's own words, 'I could just smell jizz and probably get preggers!'.

Yokai can be weird sometimes. Or maybe that's just the Black Cat.

"Ok, Big Guy! I think you've rested on your laurels long enough. Now fuck me."

I smirk and lean forward, now pushing her onto her back as I bend low and slowly lick the scar adorning her cheek, lovingly whispering, "Uh oh, someone is being a naughty kitty…"

"She sure is~…maybe you should punish her."

That does it for me, halting my foreplay (what little there was) and lining up my cock to enter her at an angle-

"Caine? Big Sis?"

Our heads ratchet upwards, meeting the confused gaze of a hazy-but very much awake-Shirone, knuckling her eyes and slowly drinking in the sight before her.

…And at one very specific part of our anatomy.

There's an extremely awkward silence…

…And then a crimson blush appears on her face, one that would have made Uncle Sirzech's hair look white in comparison.

"S-s-s-s-sorry!"

Turning on her heel and practically teleporting out of the room I'm left in the now compromising position of being rather soft, the mood effectively coming to a screeching halt.

…You know, under another circumstance-any other circumstance-I might be laughing hysterically at the typically stoic Nekoshou losing her cool so violently.

Kuroka's eyes and my own meet and there's a number of things that I could say right now-

"So much for that deep sleep, right?"

Go figure I aim for snark.

Pinching the bridge of her nose the oldest Toujou sister mumbles, "Guess I should be proud of her fighting off my Youjutsu so easily…"

We simultaneously start gathering up our clothes, a wordless agreement that the moment has LONG passed dictating our actions even as I ask, "So should we ask her about this, or what?"

Kuroka shakes her head in the negative, idly replying, "Nah, I'll field this one. Heck, she might not even make a big deal out of it!"

I think back to the atomic blush Shirone was sporting.

"…Well, nothing wrong with being optimistic…"

"Morning, Shirone!"

"Eep!"

With a startled squeak the tiny Yokai slams the 'bathroom' door shut in my face, her voice shaky as she replies, "G-g-good morning?!"

…

Ok, this would be amazing if it didn't come at the cost of her sanity.

Heaving out a sigh I head to the living room, Kuroka yawning as the blood-red light of Kalichi's mornings starts filtering through a glorified crack in the wall that serves as a window, fixing me with a sleepy stare.

"…She's still acting all shy?"

"Yeah, it's kinda weird though."

"What makes you say that?"

I scratch my head and reply, "Well since when is Shirone the type to get so, well…flustered? She's seen more bizarre things than a naked person before and dealt with it in seconds, what's the deal with it this time?"

She shoots me a glare that clearly says, 'wow, could you be any more stupid?', causing my eye to twitch.

"You're giving me that look again."

"Only because you deserve it! Sheesh, I'll go talk to her. You keep your blockheaded skull out of this."

"I take offense to that!"

She just turns up her nose and gives a haughty-yet mildly playful-sniff as she walks past.

Jerk.

Shirone

…This isn't good.

I tried to forget about last night and act like nothing happened…but I guess I wasn't as good as I thought I was at pretending. Once I'd seen Caine…my brain had shorted out and I sounded like an idiot…

"Oh, Little Sis! Just who I was looking for! Mind if we talk for a little bit?"

…Damn, of course Big Sis would try to talk to me now of all times. I can't let her know how much I was really affected…

I put on my best attempt at a relaxed smile-

-and wince as Sis' eyes immediately narrow.

"Ok, who are you and what have you done with my Little Shirone? Because my little white ball of sassiness doesn't smile for anyone that easily, not even her awesome Big Sister!"

…Crud. I forgot pretending to be happy doesn't really work with me.

"It's nothing, Kuroka…what did you want to talk about?"

Ok, that was pretty convincing, right? Now as long as she-

"Forget whatever it was I was going to ask you about, this is more important! What are you trying to hide, Little Sis?"

Stupid meddling older siblings…

"I'm not hiding anything."

"Yes, you totally are! Is this about last night? Because I can explain the intricacies of what me and Caine we're doing-"

My face goes red and I aggravatedly hiss, "I know what you two perverts were doing!"

The little smirk on her face makes me want to punch it.

"Oh, you know? Has my cute Little Shirone finally hit that age where she's interested in, shall we say…'grownup things'?"

Don't get embarrassed, don't get embarrassed…

"No. That's you you're thinking of, Pervert."

I turn to walk away-

-and find myself wrapped in Big Sis' arms and dragged to a nearby couch, scowling at being treated like a little kid.

"I'm not a child anymore, Kuroka."

"Obviously not, if you know what sex is and get all hot and bothered by it~!"

My jaw locks.

"If all you want to do is talk about perverted stuff, then leave me alone and find someone else to talk with."

There, now leave things as they are and don't-

"C'mon, Little Sis…something's obviously eating at you. What's going on?"

…I can't talk about this.

"Drop it, Big Sis."

"Is it about me and Caine? I know we occasionally go off to do our own thing but I definitely don't mind spending more time with you!"

…That hits too close to home.

"For the last time, Kuroka…I don't-"

"I get that you might be jealous but I'll tell you straight up, if it comes down to choosing between you and Caine he doesn't even come close-"

"It's not just jealousy! Yes, I wish I had the same thing you do, but I don't want to take away anything! Your whole life you've looked after me, centered your happiness around mine…and the first time you find something outside of your Little Sister, she ends up wanting it too! It's not fair of me to do that! It…it's not fair, and it's confusing…"

…Sudden tears wet my eyes and I angrily rub them away, my outburst catching me off guard and creating what feels like a chilly silence-

-and then Big Sis starts soothingly rubbing my back, one hand scratching my ear and I instinctively purr, nostalgia and comfort mellowing me out a bit.

"…How long have you wanted to be more than friends with Caine?"

I wince, terrified that Big Sis will be angry or wary-

-and instead, when I meet her eyes, she just has a small smile and that 'Big Sister' look to her, like she's more than ready to make all the bad feelings go away.

"I…I don't know…three months ago? It was little things, at first. I wanted to be petted more than usual, wanted to talk more…I kept thinking about how he and I could go to the Amusement Park again, just the two of us. I thought it was normal for friends to do that…"

I shift uncomfortably, Big Sis slowly scratching my ears in a comforting gesture.

"But then…I started to react to his aura whenever I tried sensing him with Senjutsu."

Kuroka just makes a small 'hmm' noise before asking, "Little Sis, when you say 'react', what do you mean by that? Describe his aura to me."

I think back on it-

-and again blush, annoyed at my own obviousness.

"It was…dark. But not black dark, like the 'shade of a tree on a hot day' kind of dark. It was cool, soothing…but tinged with blood and sweat…it, well…'tasted' raw and natural. I…I kept finding myself wanting to experience more of it, like some sort of primal call."

Big Sis is quiet for a few moments-

-before squeezing me in a hug and happily whispering, "Well, my Little White Sound, I think it's safe to say you found your mate."

…My mate?

"W-what does that mean? And how do you know if that's what's happening to me?"

Smirking, Big Sis playfully says, "Because if you were just reacting to him on a purely physical, purely sexual level…his aura would have appeared-tasted-differently. Mom explained a little bit of this to me when I was just starting to 'mature'. A 'mate' for a Nekoshou isn't something that just happens overnight, it's a process formed by both emotional investment and attachment…never mind compatibility."

I listen to every word with rapt attention…and a growing sadness.

"If you had just been attracted to Caine on a merely physical level, his aura would have appeared more…attractive, I guess? But you experienced a far more intimate and honest version of it, a sure sign that the bond is more emotional than it is sexual."

She purrs and rubs her head against mine.

"Mom said that it can take a long time for us to find a 'mate', so aren't you the lucky little kitten~!"

I don't reply to her happiness, feeling more tired and depressed than before.

"Shirone? You don't look, well…happy?"

I probably sound extremely bitter right now.

"I can't make him my mate then."

"Huh?! Why not?! Shirone, this is-"

"Because you're already with him! Isn't he already your mate?"

A confused look makes it's way onto her features as she replies, "Well, yeah, but-"

"Then why would you want me to also be in a relationship with him?! You have something, something in your life that makes you happy, that doesn't revolve around me! Kuroka, I love you and how you always look out for me first…but I don't want to take away one of the first things in your life that's about you."

…Tears make my vision blurry and I have to scowl before wiping them away.

I hate crying.

"Shirone…"

I painfully swallow-

-and blink in surprise as Big Sis leans her head against mine, softly saying, "Heh, I really lucked out in getting the best Little Sister in the world…"

"…Big Sis?"

I feel more than a little surprised as she lays a kiss on my forehead and confidently says, "My Little White Sound, I could never be angry with you, or think that you're intruding of all dumb things…nothing would make me happier than if you found someone truly special to you, someone that can make you smile just as easily as I can. You said that by forming a relationship with Caine you might mess up things on my end?"

She gives me a scowl that isn't entirely fake.

"You haven't exactly had an easy time of it yourself, Little Missy! Are you still going to say no if I tell you I want you to go after your mate?"

I feel the briefest moments of elation-

-and immediately squash it, morosely replying, "It's not just you, Kuroka…what about Caine's wife, Ravel? I can't just add another complication to something that's already gonna be complicated…"

"Pfft, so what? We'll burn that bridge when we get to it! Besides, I-"

"And what about my friend? We know Vallia has a crush on him…what do you think she'll say when I decide to form a relationship with him? Before her?"

Big Sis looks more thoughtful about that and slowly replies, "I don't really have anything against Dragon Girl…I guess I'd be ok with sharing…as long as she knows who's in charge…"

I can't help the small smile that appears as Big Sis yet again tries to one-up Vallia.

"That's not what I was talking about, Kuroka."

"I know, I know…look, you're her best friend, right? All you really can do is talk to her, tell her your situation and be up front with her. I don't think Dragon Girl is the type to give you shit over this, do you?"

"…No. I still feel bad though…like I'm undercutting her or something…"

"And that's why you're talking to her beforehand. Now, any other reasons you're trying to deny yourself happiness?"

"…What about Mittelt? She's-"

"Ok, now I know you're grasping at straws! Can't believe I'm saying this, but blondie is a big girl. She'll sort out her own feelings just fine on her own...if she ever tries to stop killing our resident Devil long enough to act on them. C'mon, Little Sis…stop stalling and give me a yes or no answer. Do you want to be happy or not?"

…

I…I guess I can do this…

"…Yes."

An earsplitting squeal nearly deafens me as Kuroka gathers me in a back-breaking hug, rubbing her head over me with wild abandon, blabbering, "Ooh, I'm so excited~! Me and my adorable White Sound, both in love with the same mate, doing all sorts of things together and the bedroom is just going to be-"

My everything turns red and I frantically hiss, "I'm not a pervert like you!"

She turns an alarming grin on me and purrs, "Oh~? So is that why you got so cutely embarrassed when you walked in on us last night? Because you weren't interested?"

…Damn pervert.

"Damn pervert…"

She just snickers and whispers, "Call me a pervert all you want, Shirone…but once you've had a taste of the fruits of my training? Oh he will make sure you feel real good~!"

Another full body blush as I remember last night…and the sight of Caine, naked and bent over Big Sis-

-no! Bad Shirone! You are not a pervert like you're dumb Big Sister!

Desperate to change the subject, I turn to a different topic…one that suddenly makes me feel less sure of myself.

"I…how do I tell Caine? I…I don't know if he feels the same way as I do…"

I pout as I look down at myself.

"And why would he be attracted to me when he has girls like you or Vallia after him? Or his wife that he's said is super beautiful?"

It sucks to admit…but I don't have anything to beat the other two. I'm not busty like Big Sis, and Vallia is…well she's not very big either, but she is super beautiful, slim and ethereal…not 'small' like me…

"Oh don't you worry, Little Sis…phrase it the right way, in the right situation…and he won't be able to say no. Hell, you practically already have him wrapped around your finger. And why do you think he won't be attracted to you in a physical sense? That's a baseless fear if ever I've heard one."

She thoughtfully strokes her chin and my hair sticks on end. I know that look.

"Tell you what, you're birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I'll make it a very special occasion for the two of you. You'll have time to explain things to Dragon Girl, think of what you want to say to the Devil and he'll buy you the best present ever! Also…"

She tickles behind my ear and I giggle-

-before my tail sticks out straight at her next words.

"We need to buy you a birthday dress for the night you two will have ahead of you~!"

…I have no words.

Instead I just sigh and mutter, "Are we making things too difficult for him? He's already married to a Pillar Devil…what will people say when he comes back with two Nekoshou? Two girls who come from nowhere?"

Big Sis shrugs and smirks.

"Now believe it or not, Shirone…as the last remaining member of his family, a Pillar Devil is expected-in some cases required-to take on mistresses or cicisbeo, in order to continue their bloodline. Trust me, we're all clear in that regard, nya~! I read that in one of those books Ferdinand has lying around…"

"You can read?"

"Shove it, Whitey."

I purr and lean into Big Sis, my mood having taken a much better upturn than it had before.

…Things might work out ok after all.

Caine

"Hey Ferdinand, you wanted to see me?"

The coordinator/mastermind behind the Kalichi gang's operations-a bit of an upgrade from his previous title as liaison-sends me a brief wave of welcome, distractedly replying, "Sure did, take a seat over….well, wherever there's a seat available."

I chuckle and glance around the room, a mess of scattered documents, empty beer cans and half eaten MREs.

"You know, you can always ask the gangs to send someone over to clean this place up. They already have guards and everything…"

Recently, what with the upswing of violence between us and the Crocells, the gangs had created a rotating guard of people to watch over Ferdinand just in case they got ideas, something I'd asked them to jump on.

Maybe I should have them send some maids as well…

"Wouldn't matter, it'd just get disgusting in a few hours anyway. Anyway, I got a business proposition for you."

I raise an eyebrow and carefully reply, "You've got my attention…but the last time you said you had a business proposition I embarked on a quest to take over Kalichi that left me deader than most multiple times in a row. So, yeah…cautious optimism here."

"Why 'cautious'? You became King of us gutter scum, didn't you?"

I roll my eyes and snort in amusement before sitting on the edge of a chair with a few manilla folders stacked up against it, a precarious and not entirely comfortable position.

What catches me off guard is when Shirone hops onto my lap-in her Humanoid form, no less-and immediately grabs my hand before placing it on her head, a clear signal to get scratching.

…Huh, she got over this mornings awkwardness quickly enough.

…

And why is Kuroka smirking at me from where she's sprawled out over one of the free couches?

I know that look, she's plotting something.

I resist the urge to sigh and instead start gently tickling Shirone's ear, her quiet purrs echoing throughout the room as I do my best to ignore the chair's edge now digging into my ass with extra force.

"So what's the deal, Ferd? Something I'm gonna like?"

"I'd be surprised if you didn't enjoy it. I found out where Gyer Crocell's personal office in EDEN is located."

My hand halts in it's ministrations for a second before resuming it's task, my lips parting in a toothy grin a shark would recognize as I whisper, "Now that is interesting…"

Ferdinand must have seen something on my face as he quickly adds, "Don't bother trying to assassinate him, Caine. His office is on the 92nd floor of Skyhook, inside of EDEN. Any attack or ambush would have security and who knows what else on you before you could even finish the job. And no, planting a bomb won't work either. That's happened enough in the past that wards specifically geared to detect that have been planted all over the place."

Scowling darkly I instead ask, "How'd you find this stuff out?"

"Had a member of the Black Wings 'bribe' a member of the hotel staff, obviously. Just a concierge, so I don't have really detailed info…but we've got all the basics. Movements of Crocell and his Peerage, floor plans, tentative ward and security locations…the good stuff."

I lean back in my chair-at least I try to, fucking folders-and switch to petting the Nekoshou on my lap absentmindedly, mind running a mile a minute.

"…Handy stuff, but what do you want done with it?"

Ferdinand grins maliciously.

"What else would I turn to a Valefor to? Theft, obviously. We've mostly been reactionary these past few years, responding to Crocell's moves instead of the other way around. I want to change that. Anything on physical record in his office-plans, receipts, addresses, names, his favorite brand of mints-anything and everything I want on my front table. Hopefully we can work out what his plans and such might be from whatever we gather."

…I like the sound of this.

"Playing Devil's advocate for a moment here. What if we do all that and get nothing?"

I resist the urge to call out Kuroka's pun of Devil advocacy-just to annoy her, since I call it out every time-and reply, "Then we either alert him that we have the ability to break into his inner sanctum-which sucks-or he doesn't realize it and no harm no foul."

Ferdinand nods before adding, "Not to mention he's been in this city for years at this point. If he doesn't have anything of use in his office now, then I doubt he ever will."

Kuroka doesn't look entirely mollified but falls silent, obviously resigned to the fact that I'm doing this whether it's a good idea or not.

"Ok, next question. How am I-"

"We."

I glance at Shirone, her head tilted directly back so that she's looking at me upside-down, before shrugging.

"How are we going to get inside EDEN? The shipments of contraband are carefully examined and checked, so that's out. And the Wards around the place are good. Trust me, I've asked around and checked them myself. That's stuff from the days of the Great War, not your average set of protections."

"Why, yours truly will be lending a hand!"

I look to the stairs as Linus ambles down it, a friendly grin on his face.

"Ferd asked me to scope out said wards a few weeks back and I'm pretty sure I can open up a hole in them for a few seconds. Just long enough for a few enterprising individuals to slip through, yeah?"

A smirk pulls my mouth upwards.

"Think Kaleidoscope Eyes can handle something of that level?"

"Think? Pfft, I know it can!"

I chuckle before finishing with, "All right, last major question. Corcell is sure to have security wards and stuff in his office. My specialty is avoiding wards altogether, not breaking them. You can't exactly 'avoid' something the size of a filing cabinet, got any ideas on that?"

It's Linus that provides an answer, a snap of his fingers signaling something to start clanking down the stairs-

-and it must have missed a step, because the steady pace is suddenly turned into a frantic tumble of metal smacking onto wood, some kind of round object with spindly legs that reminds me of a dorky looking Scarab bouncing down the stairs until it skids to a stop near Linus' feet.

…

What an entrance?

"Say hello to Robo Spaggiari! While I suck at stealth and sneaking, R.S. here can crack through most standard wards-even some pretty advanced ones-just as well as I can! Say hello, R.S.!"

The little automaton gets up on it's thin little legs, scrabbling for traction on the hardwood table-

-and it promptly flings itself off and into a wall, collapsing into a twitching heap on the floor.

"…He's still a little 'buggy'. I'll have that fixed before you start your little heist."

Kuroka skeptically raises an eyebrow, but quite frankly I'm more interested in how Linus made the thing.

"I didn't know Kaleidoscope Eyes could make something that can work around wards as if you were there. Isn't this, like, extremely revolutionary?"

He sheepishly scratches the back of his head and admits, "It's still a prototype, unfortunately. One of the biggest issues is that it's a Magic energy hog, I wouldn't count on it being able to break through two or more layers of protection before needing a recharge from one of you."

That causes me to frown.

"That could be an issue. While Shirone and Kuroka have pretty large amounts of raw Magic power, I don't...and that was before my reserves got cut by a tenth. And I guarantee you there's going to be more than two itty bitty wards…don't get me wrong, Linus, having my own personal R2-D2 is pretty fucking awesome…but it might need to be a little more…efficient…"

I trail off and draw everyone's gazes.

"Well? Got a solution, Caine?"

I chuckle at Ferdinand's question and idly reply, "Oh you bet I do…let's just say the energy issue is a non-factor now. How soon can we get started?"

The older Devil just shrugs, Linus gathering up R.S. and leaving without another word as his housemate says, "Pretty much anytime. According to my source Gyer always leaves his office after 5 p.m. Lucky Bastard gets to have normal work hours…"

"Ok, that works out just fine. We can do this in a week, at the earliest."

Shirone twists her head to look at me in confusion, asking, "Why a week?"

I smirk, already anticipating the fun ahead of us.

"Because a certain Longinus Wielder-one who can halve something's energy and add it to their own-is coming back then. And I just know she'll be eager to back us up."

The little Yokai's eyes widen in recognition, even as I bask in the anticipation of the coming heist.

I love me a good bit of thievery!

Next chapter is an Ocean's 11 escapade!

...

I kid, but it is going to be one heck of a heist, I promise that much.

More than that we explored Caine's leadership role of the gangs and some of the ways it can wear on him as well as a rundown of the past few years.

And he's got another girl to pound yet another nail in the harem coffin. Best of luck, o creation of mine :D

On a slightly less jovial note, updates will probably come even slower than they already are. College started up again and in between fluid mechanics, civil and computer design classes as well as looking for a new place to live once my lease is up and searching for summer internships...I've got quite the mess on my plate. Hopefully I can crank one out every month...but no guarantees.

Until next chapter!

Kenshin135: The King Piece is one of the more...'original'(?) bits of skullduggery and unusualness that I've been playing around with, alongside help from Lunarodyssey. I don't have any trouble admitting that it's not going to just offer a power-up and nothing else...in fact the function is going to play heavily into a facet that I've spent upwards of 200,000 words expanding on, once we get to it :D

And yeah, probably could have put some more spit and polish on the previous chapter in regards to 'grounding' but I was sleepy and wanted to keep to my upload schedule...which isn;t really an excuse, especially since I just stated above that the prior schedule is out the window, lol.

Dark White Fang: If you're looking for some of my inspirations when it comes to humor, check out Old Man's War (novel), Shatterpoint (novel) and Airplane (film). You don't necessarily have to read or watch them all the way, but a few snippets from both really does go a long way in giving a basis for what I think counts as humor (especially dark humor).

And I hear you about Rias. Maybe it's unfair of me to expect some grand adventure of Shakespearean writing from a Light Novel...but I feel like a MASSIVE opportunity was lost with her. After her marriage dispute with Riser is settled, her entire personality seems to devolve into, 'take care of my Peerage'. I feel like SHE could have been the one taking over Sona's role as a spearhead of social change, or the two of them taking steps to right things together. Instead she just seems ok with the whole deal, never taking any real meaningful action even though she bemoans the whole system.

I dunno, that's just me. And I've never actually played Golden Sun, so I can't say that he does, sorry XD

Tohka123: At the risk of making a cringey wordplay joke (oh who am I kidding, that's what I'm good at) she's going to be a real firestarter!