The Holy Swordswomen gave Jon and company some distance as soon as the initial shock had worn off. As the mood quietly settled down and Koneko finally stopped crying, a wave of relief washed over them that turned into exuberant jubilation as it finally dawned on them what they had just done.
"I cannot believe we actually managed to survive that shit!" Sammy declared in exasperated relief.
Jon chuckled, resting next to Koneko while taking a long draw from his cigarette. "Too bad we're probably not gonna survive whatever punishment Rias and Sona have cooked up for us."
Sammy groaned before falling backwards onto the burnt out ground. "Don't freaking remind me. I'm getting the shakes just thinkin about it."
"Still. We did good for ourselves." Jon admitted. He suddenly frowned upon looking over at Irina and Xenovia, both of whom had excused themselves a few yards away. He thought maybe they just had Church business to discuss but they were just standing there, both of them looking so...lost. "It's just a shame we didn't manage to get all the Holy Swords back."
"I don't know why they're so gloomy all of a sudden, three out of four ain't half bad." The Sitri Pawn insisted. "Plus all the intel we brought back." He then patted his new Plasma Rifle. "Not to mention this little baby for my personal collection."
Jon rolled his eyes.
"I'm telling ya. Everything turned out okay in the end."
"Not for everyone…"
Koneko was with Kiba, who was still unconscious.
Jon frowned at him. "How's he doing?"
"He still won't wake up." She sighed. "Whatever Valper did to him it's rendered Kiba catatonic."
Jon placed a hand over hers gingerly. "He'll be okay. I'm sure."
She smiled up at him, a light blush creeping over her cheeks.
"Sorry buddy." He spoke to Kiba. "We'll get him next time, I promise."
"That's assuming you live long enough for their to even be a next time."
Jon and Sammy both turned white as a sheet as they slowly turned and peered at the malevolent voice that spoke. Rias, Asia, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki were all standing over them, the portal they used to get there still present in the background.
The expressions on their faces told the boys everything they needed to know. They. Were. Pissed.
"R...R...Rias…" Jon stammered nervously.
"S...S...Sona." Sammy added.
Rias and Sona's glares in particular were the strongest and most frightening. By the looks they were giving it was as if they were both mentally deciding exactly how they were going to tear both men to pieces.
"Now listen ladies." Jon slowly got up to his feet, as did Sammy. "I know we broke the rules but there's a very good reason why."
"Oh...we simply cannot wait to hear all about it." Rias seethed, her tone belying the murderous aura she was giving off.
Jon was petrified. This was bar none the angriest he had ever seen the President. Not only that, but even Akeno was giving off death glares.
For fucks sake even Asia looked pissed.
Sammy, meanwhile, was like a deer in headlights as Tsubaki proceeded to walk straight up to him and raise her hand up behind her head.
"Gyah! Not the face!" He flinched.
A twisted smirk formed on Tsubaki's features. "Very well."
She proceeded to nail him right in the groin with a magical fist. Sammy keeled over in pain before collapsing into a ball of hurt. She then very calmly proceeded to grab him by the scruff of his hair and drag him to the portal.
"We'll see you in the dungeon, Rias." Sona waved goodbye as she and Tsubaki took their pawn away.
"D...Dungeon? Why are we going to the-"
Before Jon could finish his question he felt a surprisingly strong hand grip his ear and pull.
"Jonathan Hyodo!" Asia huffed while stomping her little foot on the ground. "I am so so so upset with you right now!"
"Ack! Asia! Asia!" Jon pleaded as he tried to get free of her vice like grip. When did their Bishop get this strong? "I get that you're mad but this is hurting me!"
"Asia sweety." Akeno slowly approached. "Now that simply won't do."
He sighed in relief. At least one of his Treasures was still the voice of reason.
A twisted grin suddenly formed on Akeno's features as she not only proceeded to grip Jon's other ear but twist it until it damn near came off. "This is how you torque an ear."
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ju'kara why?!" Jon whined in pain.
"Sorry Master." Akeno apologized with a smile despite the cold dark gaze in her eyes. "But your Ju'kara is a bit upset with you too on account of you and Koneko scaring her half to death with your recklessness."
"You scared all of us!" Asia insisted. "Honestly, what were the two of you thinking?"
"Asia, Akeno." Rias calmly spoke up. "Please escort Mr. Hyodo to the Dungeon. I need to have a word with our Rook."
"With pleasure." Akeno spoke through gritted teeth.
"You are in big trouble, Mister!" Asia added. Talking to Jon as if he were a small child.
The two irate girls proceeded to drag Jon by his ears towards the portal.
"Wait! Can't we just talk about this?!" He asked desperately moments before vanishing behind the magic circle.
Rias approached Koneko who kept her head low in shame. For the longest time, the President simply stared at her. Finally, she sighed and shook her head.
"Honestly. I don't even know where to begin with you. I could see Jon pulling a stunt like this but I expected more from my Rook."
"I just…" Her bottom lip began to quiver as fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. "...I didn't want to lose Kiba. He's the closest thing I have to a brother."
After a moment, Rias's stern gaze finally softened. "Well, nothing to do for it now. Grab Kiba and let's go."
As Rias turned to leave, Koneko immediately spoke up again.
"Ms. President…"
She turned around. "Hmm?"
"It wasn't Jon's fault…" She kept her head bowed as she spoke. "He only came because I asked him to. Please...don't punish him too severely."
Rias gasped in surprise somewhat before considering her words and smiling. "Come. Let's go home."
Koneko grabbed Kiba and the computer before following the President through the portal. Off in the distance, Irina quietly stewed. Watching the way they all interacted with each other, her worst fears had been confirmed.
The way Koneko threw herself onto Jon. The way those three girls glared at him, not just in anger, but in worry. The way she used to do so very long ago. They weren't just members of his Peerage. They loved him. And by the looks of things, he loved them too.
"I should have known…" She bit down on her lip as tears formed in her eyes. "...God forgive me. I'm so dumb."
The last time Jon found himself in Sona's dungeon, he had Akeno tied up hanging from the ceiling by a long length of rope. It was one of his favorite memories from this place. Now, however, he was terrified.
Sammy wasn't kidding about Sona being vicious with her punishments. The poor Sitri Pawn had earned himself one hundred lashings on the cross for the part he played in their insubordination, and Jon was forced to sit there and watch. While the magic whip Sona was using didn't seem to be doing any lasting damage to his back, by the way Sammy was screaming it was clear it still hurt like a bitch.
What disturbed Jon even more was how unbothered Sona looked while whipping him. Akeno wasn't kidding about Sona being a hardcore Dominatrix if her skill with a whip and pure sadistic coldness was any indication.
It just begged the question. If this was Sammy's punishment. Then what the hell was he in for? Asia had scampered off to tend to Kiba. Who was recovering in the same bed he recovered in the last time he was rendered comatose. Leaving Jon to quietly wait out his penance alongside Koneko while Rias and Akeno silently glared at the both of them.
Finally, Rias stood up from her seat. Jon gulped as she slowly approached.
"Jon...Koneko…" She glared at them both sternly, her arms crossed.
Yep...I'm fucked alright.
The President proceeded to wrap them both up in a giant hug, a content sigh escaping her lips. "What is wrong with you two? Making me worry like that."
Realizing he wasn't about to get the shit kicked out of him, Jon finally relaxed, hugging her back. "We're really sorry, Rias. We didn't mean to scare you."
Koneko nodded in agreement and hugged the President as well.
"Oh what kinda bullshit-" Sammy lurched forward as another stinging lash struck his back. "Hyodo gets a damn hug while I get whipped?!"
"That's them." Sona calmly explained before cracking the whip against his back again. "This is us."
Jon had never been so happy to be Rias's servant than he was at that particular moment.
"Alright." Rias let them go and smiled. "Now it's time we decide on your punishment."
Jon's heart sank. "Aww come on!" He protested. "I thought we were just gonna let this one slide!"
She giggled at him and shook her head. "That's not how it works I'm afraid. I may be one of your Treasures Jon, but you are still my servant. The fact is, good intentions or not, you disobeyed a direct order. I simply cannot let that slide."
Jon groaned but otherwise nodded in understanding. "Fine just...get it over with."
"Wait…" Koneko spoke up, her voice puny. "Rias, I'd like to make a request."
Both she and Akeno turned their gazes towards her curiously.
"Whatever punishment you had planned for Jon, I'd like you to give it to me instead. In addition to my own."
"Koneko…" Jon was genuinely touched by the display. Especially considering she was the last person in the world he expected it from.
Rias frowned at her thoughtfully. "And why would you make such a request?"
"It's like I said…" She kept her voice low and her head bowed to the floor. "Jon only came along because I asked him to help me. He…he only disobeyed you for my sake." By her tone it was clear the guilt of that fact alone was eating up at her more than she cared to admit.
"I see…" Rias considered her words carefully.
"But you can bet your bottom dollar I'd have gone anyway." He interrupted.
Koneko gasped and peered at him with an open mouth.
"If Koneko's getting whooped then so am I." Jon insisted. "I'm just as comparable to this as she is."
"You're wrong…" The Rook shook her head vehemently. "Jon, this was all my idea. You can't-"
"Sorry, Kani." Jon smirked at Koneko, a reassuring look in his eyes. "But I ain't about to let you fall on the grenade like that."
Koneko's face lit up like a thermometer. "D...did you just call me…" Her whole body bristled from head to toe. "...Kani?"
Rias sighed before turning her gaze to Akeno who shared a knowing look with her President. The two of them snickered quietly to each other before their King Piece turned and looked back at them again.
"The fact is, you both disobeyed me. Which means you both get punished. End of story." Rias scolded gently.
They both nodded in understanding.
"Now Koneko. You're up first." She ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." She stood up and bowed her head pensively.
"For your punishment, Akeno and I have decided on one hundred spankings."
"I understand."
A wicked grin crossed the President's lips. "To be administered by Jon."
Koneko's face lit up as her whole body bristled. Jon lurched up from his seat, seemingly just as flustered.
"To be administered by who now?!"
Rias giggled at Jon mischievously. "You heard me. I don't want to hear any protesting from you two. You're being punished after all."
Jon glared at Akeno. "This was your idea, wasn't it."
She snickered devilishly while placing a hand over her lips. "And make sure you spank her the same way you do me. I'll know if you're holding back, Master."
"Oh come on!" He insisted.
"Just do it, Jon." Koneko replied pitifully before kneeling down on the floor like a feline and sticking her butt up in the air. "It's like Rias said, this is my punishment."
"But…" Now he was the one getting flustered. "...I mean, are you sure? I'm not gonna get my hide handed to me for this later am I?"
She shot him a sour, angry look. "Just get it over with already!"
"Okay okay, fine!" Jon knelt down next to her and lifted up her skirt, in much the same way he would do to Akeno. "You uh...you ready?"
Koneko's cheeks flared again and her body bristled but she otherwise nodded before closing her eyes and bracing herself. "Go ahead…"
He lifted his hand up before shooting Rias and Akeno one last do I really have to do this? look. When they both nodded their heads he sighed and proceeded to bring his hand down sharply against Koneko's bottom. She arched her back and her eyes went wide as an indignant little noise escaped her lips. He brought his hand up again and repeated the motion. And then again. And again after that. Though he was worried it was starting to hurt her, Koneko appeared to be more embarrassed than in pain. Likely, this was Rias and Akeno's intentions. Not to hurt her, just place her in a somewhat humiliating position as a means to humble the poor girl.
Those two really were sadists. In retrospect, a whip might have been kinder.
"Alright, that's enough." Rias declared.
Jon and Koneko both looked up at her in confusion, the Rooks bottom now visibly red.
"But that wasn't even fifty."
The President nodded. "Koneko, I think you've reflected enough on your actions. The fact that you understand what you did was wrong tells me all I need to know."
"I…" Koneko quietly nodded in understanding, holding her emotions back this time. "...thank you, Ms. President."
Jon smiled. "That's our Rias for ya. Stern and cold one second then warm and kind the next."
She smirked at him angrily. "Nice try, Jon. But I haven't forgotten about your punishment either."
He sighed glumly. "Well, it was worth a shot."
The air was cool that night. Autumn had taken hold at last and the leaves were falling around campus. Jon had been relegated to the outside of the Honor's house while Rias and Akeno discussed his punishment. Knowing those two, making him wait around while they talked about it was probably just as much punishment for him as the actual punishment was going to be. Christ, his Treasures were ruthless.
With nothing else to do, Jon popped a smoke in his mouth and lit up before deciding to take a little stroll. As he left the Honor's House, however, he spotted Sammy with yet another girl by a nearby tree. Upon closer inspection he realized it was…
"Tsubaki?" Jon spoke quiet enough to where they wouldn't hear him.
Sona's Queen appeared to be arguing with Sammy. She suddenly slapped him across the face before glaring at him coldly. Jon winced.
"Trouble in paradise…"
Sammy appeared to be trying to calm her down but she proceeded to push him up against the tree. Her eyes looked...hurt. Finally, after Sammy whispered something into her ear she just stared at him again. After a moment of quiet, the two embraced in a passionate kiss.
Jon quirked a brow at the sight. "Then again."
Tsubaki seemed to regard the Pawn warily for a moment before kissing him again and then heading inside. She blushed slightly upon seeing Jon, realizing he had been watching, but otherwise regarded him politely and made her way inside. Sammy, meanwhile, sighed and leaned against the tree, staring up at the sky.
"Everything good?" Jon asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. Tsubaki was just giving me a piece of her mind regarding my 'reckless behavior'."
"She obviously cares about you, at least."
He snickered devilishly. "Yeah? What gave that part away?"
Jon chuckled. "Okay, smartass."
They both laughed quietly before Sammy winced in pain and rolled his shoulder.
"How's your back?"
"Stings like hell, but no real damage done." He assured.
Jon winced. "Sorry man."
"Ah, trust me. It could have been way worse. So what about you?"
He shrugged. "Rias and Akeno are still deciding on my punishment."
"Bummer." Sammy commented somewhat taciturnly.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"So how's Blondie?"
Jon sighed in a melancholy tone. "He's in a coma. At least that's what Asia told me. We don't know what Valper did to him but he may not wake up for...awhile."
He genuinely frowned at that. "Is Koneko doing okay?"
"She is." Jon assured. "All things considered, she's just happy he's alive and home. And so long as he's not waking up, we don't have to worry about Kiba scampering off to get himself into anymore trouble."
Sammy chuckled. "I've had about as much trouble from him as I can stand, if I'm honest."
"Me too."
Again, they stood in silence. Neither one wanting to be the one who said it.
"So the thing is I wanted to apologize for-" They both spoke in unison.
"Ah, hell. You go first." Sammy insisted.
Jon chuckled. "Fine. I'm sorry I've been such a territorial dickhead."
He snickered at that. "Eh, it wasn't like I was making it difficult for you to hate my guts." Sammy sighed, a somewhat shameful look in his eyes. "Truth be told...I hated ya guts even before we met."
The Gremory Pawn gave him a confused look. "You did?"
The Sitri Pawn nodded. "The first time I ever heard your name get mentioned was shortly after I'd been converted. Sona wouldn't shut up about Rias's newest pawn." Sammy's expression darkened somewhat. "And the more she found out, the more she wouldn't shut up about you. Didn't matter what I did or how much stronger I became, everything you did just seemed to impress her more."
Jon felt a pang of guilt hit him. "Oh…"
"The truth is…" Sammy's eyes looked genuinely hurt as he spoke these next words. "...I think she still regrets not getting to you before Rias."
He remained silent. There was nothing Jon could really say to make things better after all.
"She ain't imprinted to ya, I can all but guarantee that." Sammy assured. "But...you're strong Jon. You're a hell of a lot stronger than me. That much became clear after tonight."
"You're insanely strong yourself." Jon assured. "Strong enough to join the Green Berets."
"You're damn right I am." He insisted confidently. As soon as that confidence came back it was gone just as quickly, however. "I'll always be grateful to Sona for giving me a new life after I tried to destroy my old one. But…" He sighed morosely. "...I'm always gonna have to live with the fact that I was her second choice."
After yet another moment of silence, Jon joined Sammy in his stargazing and spoke up.
"I don't believe that. Not for a second."
The Sitri Pawn cast him a curious look.
"It ain't about who's the strongest. It's about how well you connect with your Peerage." Jon insisted. "Fact is, Sona and I would have never worked out. Not if what I just saw was any indication." He turned and smiled at Sammy. "I'm sure your Master knows that. So why the hell would she take you for granted?"
Sammy seemed to consider his words for a moment.
"Don't count yourself out just yet." He continued. "Could be now that Sona has you, she couldn't imagine any other man being her Pawn…" A slick smirk crossed his lips. "...or her Dragon."
After taking some time to let Jon's words sink in, Sammy took a deep breath and smiled before chuckling dryly to himself. He then sat up from the tree and turned to head inside.
"You're alright, Hyodo."
Sammy patted him on the shoulder and went back inside. As he watched the Black Dragon King head back into the Honor's House, the text alert on Jon's phone suddenly went off. He smiled upon pulling the phone out of his pocket and checking to see who it was who messaged him.
"Irina."
Jon walked to the main quad of campus, just like Irina asked him to do in her message. He hadn't really had a chance to speak with her after the battle at the underground lab, and was really anxious to hear about where her head was at. A lot had happened in a very short span of time, after all. Just as was promised, Irina was waiting for him in the middle of the quad.
She was not smiling.
"Irina." Jon ran up to her in high spirits. "Look, sorry about disappearing on ya like that. Rias and the girls weren't that happy that we...that we…"
His voice trailed off as he finally noticed the spiteful look she was giving him. A pit formed in his stomach. This was all too reminiscent of the look she had on her face shortly before attacking him at that old abandoned building.
Something had happened.
"Irina...what's wrong?"
After a moment, her spiteful glare turned into one of detached indifference. She sighed and shook her head. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." Irina reached into her robe and pulled out a small flash drive before tossing it to him. "Here."
Jon caught the drive, looked at it for a second, and then looked at her in confusion. "What's this?"
"It's all the information we got from the facility's server room." She explained before turning to walk away. "Consider it a thank you from the Vatican for your support in helping us reclaim three of the lost Holy Swords."
"Hold on." Jon called out to stop her. "So what happens now?"
She shrugged, not turning around to look at him. "What do you mean what happens now? We report to the Vatican and return with what we have. Our mission is over, Jon. I'm going home."
And just like that she was leaving. At first he thought maybe she was joking around, but no she was being serious. What was with her all of a sudden? Why was she being this cold?
"So what, that's it? That's really all you have to say after everything we just went through?" Jon replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Thanks for helping me get the swords, Jon. Really did us a solid there, now see ya later."
"What did you expect?" She turned around sharply, that spiteful glare in here eyes again. "We come from completely different worlds now, Jon. You have your side, and I have mine."
"I thought we were past that." He insisted, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
She frowned woefully, her eyes sinking to the floor. "I thought we were past it too. But then I figured out the truth."
"The truth about what?"
She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. "When were you planning on telling me? After I almost kissed you on the quad? Or were you planning to surprise me the moment you managed to lure me back to your little den of iniquity?"
"What the hell are you talking about, Irina?!" He asked desperately.
"The other girls, Jon!" She growled in a sharp, biting tone.
He was rendered silent.
"I know the truth." She continued, her voice still sharp. "When you said those girls were your family you meant they were your lovers didn't you?"
"Did Xenovia tell you?" He asked quietly, no longer looking her in the eye.
"She didn't have to. I figured it out on my own." She seethed.
"Irina, whatever it is you're picturing, I promise you it's not what you think." Jon tried to assure, a hint of panic in his voice. "I didn't-"
"Are you, or are you not, in a relationship with multiple women right now?" She asked plainly.
"I mean…" He tripped on his words. "...yes? Technically. But it ain't what you're picturing. We're not-"
"What exactly should I be picturing?" She challenged impatiently. "Is this...is this what you were picturing our relationship would be? Another addition to your little pile of Treasures?"
"I keep telling you that's not it!" He insisted, growling in anger. "Would you just let me explain-"
"There's nothing to explain here, Jon." She cut him off bitingly. "What you're doing goes against everything I believe in and I want no part of it."
Hearing that cut Jon deeper than he thought it would. He'd been preparing himself for the very real possibility that Irina would be pissed when she discovered the nature of his relationship with the other girls. He just wasn't expecting her reaction to be this...visceral.
But in hindsight it made perfect sense she would feel this way.
"Look...I get what you're saying, alright?" He responded in a hushed tone. "You want me to back off, I'll back off. Just say the word and I'm done." Jon sighed. "But Irina, you're still like family to me. Even if we ain't bonded that way, can't we at least go back to the way things were?"
"You don't get it, do you?" Irina shook her head at him. "Jon...I can't be associated with this. I can't be associated with you. Not so long as you continue to mock the very concept of love with these base antics."
Jon scowled at her angrily, he'd officially had enough. "Is that really what you think I'm doing? That's really all you see me as?"
She was about to speak when he cut her off.
"Oh who am I kidding?! Of course it is! Because I forget that, at the end of the day, whatever I do with my life doesn't mean a damn thing unless I get approval of it from Mr. Big Guns upstairs first!"
"Watch it, Jon." She warned severely.
"Or what?!" He challenged. "I'll get sent to Hell?!" Jon chuckled spitefully. "Guess what? I've already been there! And it ain't nearly as hot as people keep saying it is. If anything, I was a little chilly my first time down. The second time I went, it was raining! Hell has weather, Irina! It was lovely down there!"
"Oh sure, Jon. Make jokes, and completely blow off the situation like you always do."
"I'm not joking." He growled. "Everything you think you know about me, about my Peerage, about my allies, none of it is true. I've seen enough to know that much at least."
Irina remained silent.
"It just makes me wonder. What else is the Church wrong about?" He continued.
"Stop it." She insisted.
"Why?" He challenged again. "Worried you'll hear something you don't want to? I may not be perfect Irina, but at least I don't leave myself in willful ignorance like you and Father Kyle did!"
Irina gasped, clutching her hand to her heart as it broke for the second time that night. "You...you never believed...did you."
"Of course I didn't!" He roared. "How the hell could I believe a word of that insipid book Father Kyle tried to cram down my throat all those years. When everything I've seen has contradicted it in every way possible! You say I'm going against everything you believe in?! That's fine! You're the delusional one here! Not me!"
Silence fell over the main quad. Irina shook her head at him in disbelief before slowly backing away.
"We're done here. Goodbye, Jon."
Realizing what he had just done, Jon quickly ran after her.
"Irina! Irina wait, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"
She turned back around and stared at him with hurt, tear stained eyes.
"I love you, Jon."
That stopped him dead in his tracks. He wanted to respond but just...couldn't. Hearing her say it out loud was too much of a shock.
"It's the truth." She continued. "I love you. I've been in love with you since you and Father Kyle brought me back to the Monastery."
"Irina…"
"I don't need you to share my beliefs, only understand them." She wiped her face on the sleeve of her robe. "Jon, you've gone down a path I cannot follow. Even if my heart is screaming at me to do it, my resolve won't allow it."
"But…"
"My love for you is strong, Jon." She cut him off again, raising a hand up before he could approach. "But my faith is stronger. So long as you are what you are, then we cannot be together. Not as lovers, or as friends."
"So...this is really it then? This is goodbye?" He asked, his voice low.
She smiled at him. "It doesn't have to be. You could come back, Jon. You could come back to the light were you belong."
His heart broke in that moment. Not because of what she said, but because of what he knew his answer would be.
"I'm sorry." He smiled at her, his eyes welling up. "But I made my choice already. My place is here now. My family is here now. And that's not going to change."
Her smile slowly faded as fresh tears fell down her face. "Then I release you, Jon. With a heart full of love…" An angry scowl covered her face. "...for the man you once were."
"Irina please-"
"Don't!" She stopped him from approaching again as her bottom lip began to quiver. "This is goodbye, Jon."
She turned and walked away before stopping and glaring back at him.
"You should be happy. We don't always get to say goodbye to the people we love before they leave us."
He said nothing as she turned and left. Jon stood there, watching as his former pupil walked away for what he knew in his heart would be the very last time.
"Jon…"
He slowly turned to see Rias and Akeno staring at him with concerned eyes. With somber, downtrodden steps he turned away from them and began walking back to the ORC Headquarters.
"Should we still punish him?" Akeno asked, a woeful look in her eyes.
Rias shook her head, her heart breaking for her servant. "There's no need now. She just did it for us."
Irina slammed the door to the old church shut and pressed her back against the wood, slowly sliding down to the floor as the emotions she'd been keeping pent up finally spilled over. She curled her knees up to her chest and rested her head in her arms as she proceeded to silently bawl like a small child. It had taken every ounce of strength she had not to break down in front of Jon. The pain of saying goodbye to him for good was almost more than she could bare yet she held strong to her faith and did it.
But this ache in her heart wouldn't be going away any time soon. Of that she was certain.
"You bastard." She seethed angrily through her pained sobs. Irina would never forgive Jon for forcing her to do this. Never.
"Bad night for you too huh?"
Irina gasped, temporarily knocking herself out of her depressed stupor as she lifted her head up and regarded Xenovia in confused shock. Her partner was wobbly on her feet, her face red and her words slightly slurred. In her right hand was a half empty bottle of wine.
"Xenovia?" She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up, her expression turning to one of concern. "What's happened to you?"
The Holy Sword User shrugged apathetically before wobbling backwards and collapsing down onto the steps of the altar. "Nothing really." She took another swig of the wine. "I've just been lamenting the loss of everything I once believed in."
"Are you drunk?" Irina stood up and glared at her in disbelief. "Where did you even get that wine from?"
She pointed behind her towards the underground passage under the altar. "There's a communion cellar down there. The wafers have all gone bad but this…" She hiccuped. "...this is still good."
"I can't believe you." Irina stormed up to her and snatched the bottle from her hand before inspecting it. "How much have you had?"
"Enough." She replied, still slightly wobbly despite having sat down.
"What in God's name possessed you to do something like this?" The turmoil she was suffering from a moment ago had subsided in lieu of the utter shock and disappointment she now felt for her partner.
"Do we even truly know who God is, Irina?" Xenovia questioned, a desperate look in her glassed over eyes. "Or is everything we've been told just one giant lie?"
Irina could not for the life of her believe what it was she was hearing. "Xenovia...this is blasphemy."
"Is it?" She hiccuped. "The documents we found in Valper's servers seem to indicate otherwise."
"What documents?"
"I was curious…" Xenovia admitted. Her vacant expression belying the hollow emptiness she now felt. "Try as I might, I just couldn't get what Valper said to me out of my head. While you were gone, I got on your computer and started digging around in the files. Irina...everything he said was true."
"What?!" She shook her head incredulously at Xenovia. "How can you possibly say that?"
"There's no denying what's been laid right in front of you." She pointed towards Irina's room. "If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. I've got it pulled up."
"Got what pulled up?" Irina insisted.
"The truth!" She wailed. "The truth about everything…"
Though she feared her friend had lost it, Irina was at least curious to see what could cause Xenovia to go off the deep end like this. She placed the bottle down and ran to her room. Sure enough, Xenovia had indeed pulled up several different documents from Valper's server room. It appeared to be some form of translation research conducted by Valper regarding various interpretations of the Holy Text. As Irina scanned through the files a pattern began to emerge.
A pattern than made her sick to her stomach.
"It's all there." Xenovia, who was now propped against the doorway, wine bottle in hand, shakily pointed at the laptop. "All the evidence needed to confirm what I had suspected for so long. The Church has been doctoring the Holy Bible."
Irina gazed at the information on the screen at a complete loss for words. If what these research documents were claiming was true, then large portions of the Holy Text had been drastically altered or outright omitted over the course of what had to be centuries.
"This...this can't be real, can it?" She asked breathlessly.
"Irina, do you think I'd have let myself be fooled by forged documents?" Xenovia took another swig of the wine before slumping down on the bed. "Everything you see in Valper's findings coincides with my own research into the Holy Text. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament have been heavily edited by outside hands." She pointed towards a document Irina had clicked open. "You see that one? That's a piece of the original gospel first written down by Paul himself. One of several artifacts believed to be locked away in the Vatican's private repository. I confirmed that it was authentic."
"But...if this to be believed…" Irina was shaking her head in denial of what she was seeing. "...then the condemnation of homosexuality was never mentioned at all in any of the original Testaments."
"It makes sense if you think about it." Xenovia slurred. "How many of the Holy Bloodlines do you think have gone extinct because their descendants were born gay? Not to mention the Pagan Artifacts that might have endured had there been children to continue the bloodline." She began to quiver in rage. "How many innocent lives have been put to the torch so that the Church could preserve its weapons?"
The changes only became more and more convoluted from there. Vast swaths of information and scripture found within their version of the Bible simply did not exist when it was first compiled if these documents were to be believed. In addition, there were entire sections mentioned in the original text that appeared to have never found their way into future iterations. The changes would have had to be subtle, and made over the course of centuries, yet there they were all the same. Severe inconsistencies and incongruencies added for the sake of garnering more and more power for the Church.
The words of their Lord had been tainted by the lies of man.
"But…" Irina slumped backwards in her seat, in total denial of what she was seeing. "This can't...it's not…"
"Irina…" Xenovia bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. "...I considered every possibility for how these documents might have been forged...but try as I might I could find nothing. They're genuine. Every single one."
After a moment Irina shook her head and shut the laptop. "Xenovia...we can't afford to fall apart right now. The Holy Swords-"
"Don't you get it, Irina?!" Xenovia cut her off angrily while tossing the wine bottle against the far wall. "The mission is over! Our Superiors have been lying to us!" She collapsed backwards into the bed. "The Church has been lying to us. Our faith, our prayers, they've manipulated the Lord's faithful for the sake of maintaining power."
She sighed before standing up and sitting next to her partner. "Our mission is not over, Xenovia. We are servants of God, not the Church."
"But we don't even know what that means anymore." Her partner insisted woefully. "So much of what we believe is tainted by lies and there's no way to discern the truth without access to the Vatican Archives."
Irina placed a reassuring hand on her knee. "This is just a test of our faith. Like everything else that's come before."
Xenovia gazed up at her incredulously. "How are you so calm? I'm falling apart and you're still this sure we're on the right path?"
She nodded assuredly, a bright smile on her face. "It's like you said. There's no way to tell how much of the Holy Text has been tainted or to what extent. But the words we have must still have meaning, or they would not continue to ward off evil forces as they have done for countless centuries."
Xenovia quietly gasped. She hadn't considered that.
"God is still listening to us." She insisted. "Even if the Church has strayed from his path, that doesn't mean we have to. Together, we can rediscover the truth." Irina took a deep breath. "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times."
Her partner smiled at her. "I'm...not familiar with that passage."
Irina shook her head. "It's not one. Martin Luther King Jr said that." She helped her partner up. "We are still God's Champions. Which means we still have a job to do."
"I cannot in good conscience bring these divine relics back to the Church. Not now. Not after all I've learned." Xenovia insisted.
"We may not have a choice. The Holy Swords cannot stay here. Not in a city overrun with Devils and Fallen Angels."
She remained silent.
"What's wrong?"
"I just remembered…" Xenovia's skin began to turn pale. "...there was something else I found in those documents. Something...disturbing."
Irina gave her a worried look. "More disturbing than evidence our faith is tainted?"
She nodded, that same vacant look in her eyes. "Much more."
Jon sat at the foot of Rias's bed, the picture of him, Irina, and Father Kyle in his hand. He'd been staring at it for at least an hour, still lost in his own thoughts. Which was why, despite his heightened senses, he barely registered the knock on the door that came while he was still withdrawn. No doubt Rias, Asia, or Akeno coming to check on him.
"Hey…"
It was Koneko. Jon slowly turned to see the small white haired girl staring at him with concerned eyes. Truthfully he might have been a little surprised were he not so completely numb to everything. For a solid three minutes, neither one of them said anything to the other. Jon simply continued to stare at the photo, still so completely lost in thought.
"She was never boring." He finally commented.
The Rook nodded in understanding. "The girls told me what happened. I'm sorry, Jon."
"Can I ask you something, Koneko?" He spoke to her while still staring at the photo.
"Of course." She nodded.
"Do you ever feel like you're dead, but no one's bothered to tell you?"
She quirked a brow at him. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Just this feeling. Like the man in this photo ain't around anymore."
Koneko frowned before slowly walking over and hopping up on the bed next to him. "Maybe because he's not."
Jon remained silent.
"But...is that such a bad thing?" She asked, looking up at him with curious catlike eyes.
"It ain't that." He assured. "I'm grateful for what I've got, make no mistake about it. I'm a lucky man, I know that. I've gained so much in these past two years. More so than any other man can rightfully ask for."
"But it feels like you lost something along the way." She finished for him.
He nodded. "I've given up so much to become what I am now. And while I don't regret all the good I can do as a Dragon, I feel like I really failed when it came to being a human."
She sighed in a melancholy tone. "Maybe…" A slight smirk appeared on her face. "But if it's any consolation, I think you make a way better Dragon than you did a Human."
Jon sat up and quirked an intrigued brow at her. "How do you figure that?"
"Because you try harder." She explained honestly. "Whereas before you were so dead set on acting like you weren't trying at all."
He thought about her words for a minute while she continued.
"No one's life is perfect, Jon. Not even yours. Dragon's are capable of making mistakes, just as Humans are." She smiled. "But the difference is, where a human might use their imperfections to justify their failures, Dragons don't do that. They consider their failures to be, not an unfortunate inevitability due to their flawed character, but a constant reminder of their unwillingness to act. Where men often languish in their flaws...you grow stronger because of them."
"How do you know this? Has Rias been talking to you?"
She shook her head, a light blush forming on her cheeks. "No, it's just an observation I've made...from watching you."
He remained silent.
"There were so many times you could have given up on Kiba." Her eyes began to well up. "And you would have been perfectly within your right to. No one would have blamed you if you had just let him destroy himself." She gripped the comforter in her hands until her knuckles turned white. "But you risked everything to bring him back." Slowly, she turned her gaze up towards him.
"But...that's not all you managed to do."
The look on her face at that moment took Jon's breath away. That glimmer in her eyes. The curves of her lips. Truly, whenever Koneko smiled, really smiled, it was one of the most radiant things he could imagine. What Jon wouldn't give to see her always smiling like this. Just the way she was now. Forever.
Deciding to take a chance, he gently placed his hand over hers. She didn't move away.
"What else have I done?"
"You helped me realize something." She explained, a suggestive look setting into her face.
"What?"
"That I don't want to be like Irina." Koneko scooted just a bit closer to him. "I don't want to run from my feelings just because they scare me."
He could feel her small heart skipping in her chest.
"Can I ask you something, Jon?"
"Of course. Ask me anything." He insisted while getting further and further lost in her catlike eyes.
"Earlier, when we were being punished, you called me Kani. Why?"
He coughed awkwardly. "Well...Koneko is Japanese for Kitten, so I thought calling you that might be too on the nose. Kani just...felt right, I guess?"
She considered his words for a moment and smiled again, her face breaking out in a blush once more. "It's funny...normally I'd be considering socking you in the jaw for saying something like that."
Jon laughed nervously. "You're uhhh, you're not gonna do that this time, right?"
She shut her eyes and shook her head, still smiling as she did so. "No...I've got a better idea."
He gulped. "Well…" Jon sighed in weary resignation. "Ah, fine then. I guess I earned it."
She nodded. "Yep. You most certainly did."
"Imma just close my eyes and...you do what you gotta do."
A mischievous look gleamed on her face. "Oh trust me, I plan to."
Jon reluctantly shut his eyes and mentally prepared himself for whatever came next. Upon which, he felt two silky soft lips make contact with his. The sensation didn't last long. Just a few seconds at most. Yet it was perfect all the same.
When he slowly reopened his eyes, Koneko was no longer looking at him. She had her head turned away and appeared to be quite flustered. More flustered than he had ever seen her before. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her face was the deepest shade of crimson Jon had ever seen on her before.
"I know we've...kissed before." Her words were nervous and unsure. "Twice already. But...that was the first time I've ever kissed someone and...meant it."
"Kani…"
"I know it wasn't very good." She continued while biting her lower lip nervously. "We've been out in the cold all night so are lips are chapped and dry. Neither one of us have bathed yet since we got back, so we both stink. But…"
Jon placed a tender hand on her cheek and turned her gaze back up towards him before using his other hand to brush a strand of hair out of her face.
"Doesn't matter." He assured in a soft, loving tone. "It was real. So it was perfect."
Now it was his turn. Jon pressed his lips to Koneko's and held them their a fair bit longer this time. When they finally pulled away, they did so slowly.
"Well?" He asked. "Still dry and cold?"
She nodded, her mouth slightly ajar as she slowly lost herself to him. "A little...let's try again."
He kissed her again. This time, he could feel her leaning in further into him before they pulled away, their foreheads still resting against one another.
"Again." She requested, her features softening completely.
As they kissed for the third time, he cupped her cheek in his palm, his fingers tangling in her silky soft hair. They held the kiss for far longer this time before breaking away once more.
"Again…." This time, she didn't wait. Koneko wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and fully leaned into him as they kissed deeply. His free hand grabbed her waist and pulled her in tight. Once they were done, they didn't pull away. They kissed again after that. With each kiss that followed, the ice around her soul began to melt a little more.
Rias, Asia, and Akeno slowly made their way upstairs, being extra careful to keep the casket they were towing from hitting the walls or scuffing the floor.
"So explain to me again what this thing is? Because it sort of looks like we're going to bury Kiba." Asia commented nervously as the three girls used magic to float the giant casket towards the chained up room in the back of the dorms.
Rias chuckled in amusement. "I know that's what it looks like, but this casket serves a very specific purpose."
"Kiba's body has endured a severed amount of magical trauma." Akeno explained. "Between the light magic that poisoned his body and now this, he's endured more than can be healed by conventional means."
"His body has entered a state of hibernation while he heals. It's known as a Torpor."
"A Torpor?" Asia blinked in confusion. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"It's essentially a type of trance." Akeno explained. "A method of healing the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously."
"So this will heal him?"
She smiled encouragingly. "No, Asia. It will make him stronger."
Rias nodded in confirmation. "Not only is Kiba's body and mind being healed, they're also adapting to the injuries that he has accrued. Once he's out of this casket, he should be far more resistant to the magics that Koneko mentioned."
"That's wonderful!" Asia beamed. "Why is it we've never done this before?"
Rias and Akeno both looked at each other and frowned gravely.
"There is...one major drawback to the Torpor." Rias admitted. "While the sleeper rests, he enters a dreamlike state where he must overcome nightmarish visions of the suffering he has endured. Until he does this, he cannot awaken. He will remain asleep...indefinitely."
Asia's skin paled. "In...indefinitely? How long do these normally take?"
"It really depends." Akeno admitted solemnly.
"Depends on what?" She insisted.
"On the strength of the sleeper's spirit. On how much physical, mental, and emotional trauma they've endured. There are a lot of factors to be considered, and no way of truly measuring how arduous the dream journey will be. It could take days, months...years." Her voice trailed off.
"Years?" Asia asked nervously.
They both remained silent, confirming her worst suspicions. It could very well be a long time before they saw Kiba again. But the Gremory Knight was strong, so she was hoping that, with a little luck and enough prayers, it wouldn't be too long before they had him back in their fold.
"This is it." Rias declared as they approached the chained up room with caution tape over it. "Asia before we go any further, I need you to promise me something."
"What is it, Rias?"
"Whatever you see in that room, you have to swear to me that you will not speak a word of it to Jon."
Asia squeaked quietly in surprise. "Y...you want me to keep it a secret?"
"Swear to me." She insisted, a severe look in her eyes. "What you are about to see is not for Jon's eyes or ears."
She gulped nervously but otherwise nodded in understanding.
Rias then turned to her Queen. "Akeno, do it."
She nodded before raising her hand up and casting a magic circle. The chains around the door receded into the walls as did the caution tape. Rias then produced a small key and unlocked the door before turning the handle and opening it.
The first thing Asia noticed upon entering the small room was the sudden temperature drop. She could see her breath in the air for how cold it was in the room. There appeared to be boxes of various shapes and sizes along the walls but otherwise it appeared to be a storage room and little else.
That was until her eyes caught the object resting on the back wall. There, among stacks of boxes, was a casket that looked eerily similar to the one they were transporting Kiba in.
Asia's blood ran cold. "Rias...who's in that casket?"
"It's not important." The President insisted. "Let's just find a spot on the wall to put this down and leave."
"But…"
"I told you, it's not important." She insisted sharply.
"Rias…" Akeno lectured in a motherly voice. "...it's Asia. It's your Bishop, your love. You can trust her."
The President sighed. "I know I can, Akeno. I know that. It's just…" She bit her lower lip as guilt seized her heart. "You have to understand. That casket represents one of my greatest failures as President of the ORC."
Okay, now Asia had to know. Her curiosity wouldn't stay silent for this.
"I promise you, Rias. I won't speak a word of it to Jon." The golden haired beauty assured.
Rias took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay...I'll tell you." A somber look enveloped her features as she peered over at the second casket again. "The one in that casket is a young man named Gasper. He's...my other Bishop."
Asia damn near dropped the casket as she quickly clasped a hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide with shock. "You...you have a second Bishop?!"
She silently nodded, her expression grave.
"How come you never told me?"
"Gasper has been in a Torpor for years. Healing from a grievous injury incurred by a very deadly Hunter." Akeno explained.
"That doesn't explain why you never felt the need to tell me." Asia sounded almost hurt by the fact that the President had been hiding this from her.
"Whatever you may be thinking right now, Asia, I promise you I didn't hide this information from you without reason." She assured, another depressed sigh escaping her lips. "Truthfully, I had wanted to tell you for some time now. Everyone else in the Peerage besides you and Jon knows about this place. But...I couldn't risk him finding out."
"Why? Why is it so important that Jon doesn't find out about this?"
Rias and Akeno exchanged nervous looks with one another before finally nodding.
"That deadly Hunter that Akeno mentioned…" The President swallowed back the rest of her reservations. "...it was him. Several years ago, Heaven's Revolver very nearly killed my Bishop."