Flashback

Doragonzu speaking

(Ddraig speaking)

[Albion speaking]

Author note

Chapter 8 - A temporary alliance

Kuoh town, 9:23 AM GST, Ryūno's POV

"There, I did all I could." Said Ryūno, finishing bandaging Kuroka's wounds.

"Don't worry, I'm grateful, nya."

"Just try not to move too much, the bandaging is really poor, it won't hold up for long if you move around so much."

"Nya, so you're telling me I have to sit in this bed for hours?" Kuroka said a bit sadly.

"No, just don't run around, and don't stretch your muscles too much, they're already pressured enough as it is."

"Okay, got it. What are you gonna do now? Are you gonna stay with little old me, nya~?" Kuroka teased.

"I've gotta return to classes, Sona is already angry at me for beating up a bully, so I gotta serve my detention. I'll have to clean Rias' club room after, might as well just get it over with."

"Your power far exceeds hers, and yet you're cleaning for her, nya?"

"Exactly, partner! Just kill her and be done with it, why are you serving her? That child deserved it, anyway!"

"Seriously, Doragonzu? You're actually siding with her?"

"She's making far more sense than you are!"

"To be fair, I did break a few of his rib bones, any other kid would've been expelled for that, I'm actually getting a lucky break."

"Nya, I love your relationship, It's so cute!" Kuroka added.

"No one asked!"

"No one asked!"

Doragonzu and Ryūno said at the same time. Kuroka shut her mouth at that.

"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it, and when I come back, do you want anything to eat?"

"You know what I want, fish, nya!"

"...Okay, I guess that makes us both, I'll also go get some sake."

"Eh? You're not old enough to drink it."

"Yeah, but that's kind of what makes it so fun."

A/N - Please, don't drink if you're underage, it doesn't look cool. That being said, if you enjoy a regular drink once a month, or it's your birthday, go for it.

"Trying to get your girlfriend drunk already, partner?" Doragonzu also teased.

"Ufufufu, you don't need that to get me, ya know, nya~" Kuroka replied.

"You're both nightmares. I'll see you after school Kuroka, that is...if you're not being attacked by fallen angels again." Ryūno said as he was walking out the door.

"You're so mean, nya." Kuroka faked a pout.

"Get some rest, you need it. See you in a couple of hours."

"Yeah, I'll see you later, nya."

Ryūno nodded and proceeded to walk out of the bedroom door.

Ryūno sighed as he looked at his backpack.

"Well, better go before Sona gives me another earache." Ryūno said to no one in particular.

As he said, he walked out the front door, locking it from the outside. Putting his keys in his pocket, and putting on his coat-cape, he walked towards his bike, and proceeded to drive to Kuoh-Academy.

Scene change, Kuoh Academy.

No one was outside, meaning there was currently an on-going class. Ryūno walked towards the gate and towards the entrance of the school.

"I wonder if I should stop by the student council first, maybe I'll be able to excuse my 3 absences."

"I think you should go, partner. No point in going into a half-finished class."

"Yeah, you're right, let's head over there."

Ryūno proceed to walk to where the student council was, he sensed 4 people in there.

"Hmmm, devils, two high-class, one mid-class, and low-class. Let's see who's in there."

Ryūno proceeded to knock on the door as a respect of privacy.

"Come in!" A female voice was heard behind the door.

Ryūno opened the door, the devils were a bit shocked to see him there.

In the room, Ryūno saw Saji sleeping on the couch, Tsubaki attending business at Sona's desk, and Rias sitting on the opposite of Saji's couch.

"Saji's hard at work as always, eh?" Ryūno asked.

Tsubaki could only giggle at that and nod.

"Yes, but what brings you here, ?" Tsubaki asked.

"Well, I'm here to discuss my punishment."

"Oh right, for beating up that boy, Nate."

"Yeah. You said I'll have to clean Rias' clubroom later, right?"

"Yes, you can do that after school." Sona replied.

"Oh my, you'll be cleaning my clubroom? Thank you very much, Ryūno." Rias said as she giggled.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm only serving my punishment. I'm not trying to help you." Ryūno retorted.

"Yeah, I get it. That being said, there is something I'd like to discuss with you back at the club room, we can talk as you clean, It's rather important and I'd think it interest you."

"And why's that?" Ryūno asked.

"Well, I'll be frank with you. One of my peerages members were kidnapped by fallen angels, again, her name is Asia, and-"

"No."

"What?"

"I'm not going to help you, just because you lost one of your peerage members due to your incompetence."

"But It's Asia! She's a sweet little girl, who doesn't deserve to be in disgusting fallen angel hands!"

"And yet you let her get captured." Ryūno retorted.

"I...but, I thought you hated fallen angels, what gives?!"

"Yes, I do. But I don't hunt them. If they attack me, they're dead. If they stay out of my way, I stay out of theirs."

...

"Please, Ryūno-"

"I have spoken."

"...Okay." Rias said as she looked down at the ground.

Ryūno went towards the student council door.

"I'll see you after school is over, Rias." He said as he walked out.

"Sorry, Rias. Looks like you're going to have to do without his help. You'll be fine though, you have strong friends to back you up." Sona comforted her best friend.

"Yeah, thanks, Sona." Rias smiled as she got up from the couch, and went to her classes as well.

Time skip to end of classes.

"All right, It's finally over. Might as well pack up, and- Oh...right. I still have to clean Rias' club room." Ryūno said as he was walking with Kiba.

"Sorry if it's a bother, the club room is already fairly clean, so you shouldn't take that long."

"Yeah, I just hope Rias doesn't bother asking me for help again."

"You know, we could really use it. We'd be really grateful to you if you helped us."

"Sorry, but I can't get involved with devil matters like this. Besides, don't you think this will be good for your pawn, Hyoudou? This could be training for him, preparing him for the rating game."

"...I guess when you put it that way, it does make sense. Still..."

"You'll be fine, you'll get your precious peerage members back, fallen angels aren't even that strong in the church, you'll be able to take them down."

"Thanks for the encouragement, Ryūno." Kiba genuinely thanked him.

"No problem. It looks like we're near the club room."

Ryūno said as both him and Kiba walked towards the clubs entrance.

"I'm telling you, we have to just launch a frontal assault on those bastards, they took Asia from us, they deserve it!"

Ryūno and Kiba just looked at each other.

"No one's gonna do that Issei. I want to get Asia back too, but we have to be smart about this, we could lose another member if we're not careful."

"Yeah, president, you're right. Sorry."

"It's fine, Issei, we all miss her."

As if on cue, Kiba and Ryūno walked in.

"Hello, president, I've brought Ryūno."

"Thank you, Kiba. We were discussing about how we can get Asia back."

"I'll be listening in on the conversation, I guess." Ryūno said as he picked up the cleaning equipment and started cleaning the walls of the club room.

"Thanks for doing this, seriously, this time." Rias said to Ryūno.

"Yeah, no problem, Ichigo."

"Hey, man. Please, could you help us? We really need you. You're strong as hell! You could probably kill all those fallen angels in one strike!" Issei asked and praised Ryūno at the same time.

"I could, but why would I?" Ryūno asked as he continued cleaning.

"We need to rescue Asia from those fallen angel bastards!"

"You need to rescue Asia, there is no we, got it?" Ryūno put him in his place.

Issei shut his mouth after that.

Rias sighed and continued talking to her peerage members.

"Akeno, you're our heavy hitter. You'll be striking from the outside, as me and Issei, along with Koneko walk into the church and try to find Asia, Kiba, you'll be on defense, make sure no one leaves with her, got it?"

"Yes, president."

"Good, now, Issei, you'll have to ready your sacred gear, can you summon it?"

"Yes, president. I've recharged, so I should be able to boost now."

"How many times can you boost?" Ryūno asked Issei, interrupting their conversation.

"Uh...about, three times?" Issei said sheepishly.

...

Ryūno just looked at him with a disappointed face.

"Seriously? Three times? That's it? That's beyond pathetic, even by your standards."

"What did you say?!" Issei got angry.

"You heard me, previous hosts of the Welsh Dragon were far stronger, I suggest you train harder, maybe rescuing Asia will help you achieve a greater power, who knows."

"What would you know of hard training, huh?"

Ryūno turned around to look at him.

"I've gone through hell and back to get to the point where I am, Issei. You're gonna have to eventually as well, someday."

"Alright, enough you two." Rias broke them up.

Issei didn't say anymore.

"Despite all of that, I wish you all good luck in getting your friend back."

That was something that surprised Rias, she didn't expect him to be this nice.

"Thanks, handsome." Akeno said, which Ryūno could only mentally raise his eyebrow at that.

"Well, putting that aside, we know that Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittlet took Asia, to try to extract her sacred gear once again."

Ryūno heard that second name all too well.

"Kiba, what did you say? Can you repeat the second name?"

"Uhh...I said Kalawarner, she's a fallen angel that works with Raynare."

Ryūno remembered that name...

"It's a shame that Kalawarner got the kill, who the hell does she think she is?"

"...What does she look like?"

"Huh? Well, she's got brown eyes, long navy blue hair, her outfit is usually a maroon, a trenchcoat-like top with a wide collar, a matching miniskirt, complimented by black heeled shoes."

"And you're meaning to tell me she's with the church, and she kidnapped your friend?"

"Yes, but...why are you so interested in her?" Akeno asked.

"...We are at an impasse. I will help you retrieve your peerage member, Asia, in exchange for letting me meet Kalawarner."

"Wait, really?! Thank you so mu-" Rias was stopped.

"Don't thank me yet, Rias."

"O-oh, right. Ahem, well. Thank you for siding with us, Ryūno, I really appreciate it."

'Kalawarner, I cannot wait for my revenge...I'll make you suffer, as you did to him.'

"Uh, Ryūno?" Rias asked a spacing out Ryūno.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm here. In any case, we can launch a frontal assault tomorrow. We'll wipe them clean, and we'll get your friend back."

"Hmmm, with you on our side, that doesn't sound like a bad idea anymore, who knows...maybe we can become great allies." Rias said as she smiled.

Ryūno finally finished cleaning the clubroom, he turned around to Rias' and looked into her blue eyes.

"This alliance...is temporary, have no delusions otherwise."

To be continued...