Here is the next chapter!
Hope you guys enjoyed your Christmas and New Year, because I sure as hell didn't. My family problems just got even worse, and I didn't got a December break in our class.
I tried taking out all of my piled up stress into playing mobile games, but it just got worse, thanks to our internet connection getting worse as time passes.
It doesn't even help that I tackled the writer's block when I'm writing this chapter. I just pushed myself further to write this chapter because it's been 3 weeks(?) since my last update, and I can't help but feel uncomfortable.
Well, thanks to your constant support of Following/Favoriting my story, I managed to get this out, somehow.
For the reviews on my last chapter, this is my answer:
shob-vce-zloby-zdoxli: Don't worry, I will try my best to not cross that line. For the reviews, they make me feel motivated for my day Everytime I see them, you see. it also indicates that someone is truly enjoying my work enough for them to leave a review.
Tyrant Overlord Killidia: Yep, what I'm going to do is just like what you're saying, my friend. Although about Issei getting the floating harem palace(?), Skíðblaðnir, was it? I don't think that will appear in this story. As you can see in the previous chapters, I'm trying to tone down his perverseness, so some of his abilities that he accidentally got because of it will also not appear, most likely.
As for the last part of your review, if you're thinking about the part where Rias starts training her Peerage before the Rating Game, then I'll try to consider your opinion, I actually have a plan on that part, so I'll try if I could mix them both and create a new plot. Also, thanks for your constant review in this work of mine. I really, really appreciate it.
Guest-Questioner: You truly hit that saying there, my friend. Nice one. (thumbs up) About the part where we will join/reveal himself in the underworld, it will be on the later chapters. there will be a part where he will be forced to help/join temporarily, but he will manage to hide his true identity until the peace summit.
P.S.: I fixed something in the last chapter, like the flashback part. I didn't managed to italicize them all, and another apologies for that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Highschool DxD or any of the elements of the other animes used in this fanfic. I only owned the OCs and my own plots.
With that finished, Let's go on to the story.
"Hello" - Speaking
'Hello'- Thoughts
Hello- Flashback
Hello- Skill names
[{Hello}]- Inner beings speaking
(3RD PERSON P.O.V)
-Timeskip, 1 week-
"You want to get us a familiar?" Asked Asia, who was now wearing the school girls uniform of the Kuoh Academy. She was enrolled after the day Rias revived her to join her Peerage, in which the blonde simply agreed, as long as she was able to stay at Issei's side.
Back to the topic, Rias had finished explaining her the basics of what the devils in this age do, which surprised her quite a lot. But one thing got her the most.
About them getting their own familiar.
"Yeah. Familiars are something that you can call as your servant, partner, or even a pet. They take on many forms, some took on a monstrous appearance, while some have an appearance close to that of a human. There are also those who took on the shape of an everyday animal you can see everywhere, but have some subtle differences to it. Then, there are those who had a form that of an animal or a monstrous appearance, but can still on a human appearance." Explained Rias, making both Asia and Issei nod in understanding, while Zen just stared at them as he leaned on the wall just beside the window.
"Koneko, please." Called out Rias as the white-haired little girl went to their side and summoned a blue magic circle on both of her hands.
"This is an example of a familiar." Said Koneko, as the magic circle slowly dissipated. Within its place was a petite little white cat, sitting as she licked her right paw before looking at the people in front of her.
"She's so cute!" Said Asia, as she made a cute expression on her face.
'No. I think you're even cuter when you have that kind of expression, Asia-chan.' Said Issei in his thoughts after seeing her expression.
"This is Shiro." Said Koneko as she then hugged the cat in her chest, making the said cat snuggle at her.
Upon seeing this, Zen went closer to them, taking a closer look on Koneko's familiar, not just because that it was the same race as the white-haired girl, but also he was fond of these petite creatures. Yes, you heard it...
Zen likes cats.
It was also one of the reasons why he took Kuroka in his house, after all.
"So your familiar is cat, huh? A Nekomata, perhaps?" Asked Zen, making Koneko flinch a bit on what he said, as both Issei and Asia rose an eyebrow, oblivious to the term Zen said.
"Nekomata?" Asked Issei towards Zen.
"Oh, right. You're still new to this supernatural stuff, right?" Issei sweatdropped on Zen's statement. While he was new to this stuff, Zen explained him the history of the Great War between the Three Biblical Factions, but he didn't explain him the other things part of the supernatural world.
"Well, to put it easily, Nekomatas are a kind of Youkais that almost have the same appearance as the humans, but can also shapeshift themselves into cats. In their human form, they can be distinguished easily because some of the cat traits are left in their appearance, mainly the ears and the tails. But, they can also hide it by using illusion magic that almost never be seen unless they want to or the decipher is strong enough." Explained Zen to Issei, who perked up after understanding what Zen said.
"So in other words, Nekomata are humans with cat ears and tails, is that what you meant?" Asked Issei, sparkles reflecting through his eyes as both Zen and Koneko sweatdropped at seeing him like this.
"Well, you can put it in that way." Confirmed Zen, as Issei immediately jumped in joy.
"OKAY! I'll also find a Nekomata and make it as my familiar!" Said Issei, pumping out his fist in the process.
"And what will you do to it after you've made it as your familiar?" Asked Rias as Asia looked towards him, while Zen didn't said anything but was anticipating his answer.
After thinking his reason of why did he chose that, he spoke, slowly.
"Well, thanks to Kuro- I mean, Zen's cat comforting me at that time, it somehow occurred to me that I liked cats. They are a bit adorable and can be a dangerous one if trained properly, so.." Said Issei, as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, almost telling them the identity of the said cat as he forced out a laugh in his mouth.
At seeing this, Zen patted his head as he ruffled his hair a bit softly, giving him a small smile in the process, which made Issei also smile, albeit a small one.
"Hey, just let that pass. There's no use on pondering something that won't come back to you anymore. Looking back into your past with just hurt you more." Said Zen, encouraging him on what had happened yesterday.
If he knew this was going to happen, it was better if he didn't let him meet her so-called girlfriend. But at some point, he knew that it will come back to him in full force if he didn't let him face her yesterday, but he still regretted the outcome of it.
"Well, choosing a Nekomata as a familiar isn't a bad choice, since they are basically an expert sensor type, as well as having an abilities such as Touki to increase their fighting capabilities, but they are very rare outside their territory, and asking one of them to be your familiar within Kyoto, I doubt there will be someone who would agree." Added Zen, changing the topic quickly as Asia came to the brunette's side, hugging him on his chest.
Thinking for a minutes as Zen comforted Issei on the meantime, Rias realized that the way Zen defined the Nekomata was like someone who met them, or even made friends with them.
Maybe his student's profile isn't as nonsense as they thought.
"Hey, Zen." Called out Rias, immediately gaining Zen's attention as he looked towards her. While she felt comfortable to him right now, her growing hate towards the stoic man had only just slowed down, it didn't disappear completely.
There was no way he would let him go that easily, after he insulted her brother that was respected by the whole devil faction itself.
"Hmm? What?" Asked Zen towards the redhead.
"The way you explained what the Nekomatas are. Did you perhaps, met them or maybe made some friends with them?"
"WAIT! Zen, you met some Nekomatas!? Can you introduce me to some of them, please!?" Said Issei as he went down to his knees and looked up to him, only for him to meet his beloved handchop that he hadn't met for a few days.
"Don't do that." Warned Zen, as he narrowed his eyes dangerously towards Issei, which made the said brunette trembled with his gaze and fixed his posture immediately.
"On your question, Rias. Yes, I met some of them and even made friends with them. Not only that, but also-" Zen was suddenly cut off when they heard something screeching in the window.
When they took a look on the said window, they saw a black cat wearing a greyish bracelet of some sorts covering the whole right forearm with a small red gem on its center, its left hand scratching the glass window as it makes a screeching sound that was bad for the ears of the devils, who had an enhanced hearing.
"Well, speak of the devil, as they say..." Said Zen as he deadpanned, while going to the window, picking up the black cat sitting on the outside, obvoiusly knowing who it was.
As for the said cat, she was making her signature cat smile as she looked at Zen who was closing to her.
As he opened up the window, he just forced himself to not just push this cat out of the window and walk away, like nothing happened.
"Nyaa~" Exclaimed Kuroka, as she sat upright, while Zen just stared down at her, before letting out a small sigh and went to pick her up to his chest as she then snuggled to his chest in the process.
She just let out a satisfied meow on what he just did to her.
"Umm, may I ask how did she find you here?" Asked Rias, knowing what was this cat and clearly dumbfounded on how did she find her way here somehow.
"That's what I wanted to ask. But somehow, it doesn't surprise me. Considering that I'm suspecting this one as a Nekomata." Revealed Zen, patting Kuroka's head as he talked towards them, surprising everyone present at the room, mostly Koneko.
Issei also knew it, if the way he saw her human form had any indication, but decided not to talk about it. Especially, in front of Koneko. From what Zen had told him, the both currently don't get along right now and it'll be bad if Koneko found out that the cat in Zen's arms was actually her own sister in blood.
"And why just suspect it and by extension, what is that bracelet around her arm?" Asked Rias, pointing a finger towards Kuroka's right arm, where the bracelet was located.
"Because this one is hiding her signature perfectly that even I couldn't recognize it completely if it is that of a Nekomata or just a normal cat that found her way here by just her sense of smell, I think. Either way, I don't really know myself." Explained Zen, making an excuse to convince them, somehow. Especially Koneko, who knew that her sister's cat form was black, and it'll be disastrous if they were to think he was hiding a criminal within his house.
In reality, he knew who she was and by extension, Kalawarner and Issei. They also knew that she was a criminal in the underworld and was the reason why they were so tight lipped about her. They didn't want someone to be falsely executed when they knew she did it in order to save her family. She must have thought about it thoroughly before doing it.
"As for your other question, it's some artifact that I managed to create with my magic power. Her arm's bones was broken completely that she can't use it to walk around the house. I made this for her so that the artifact can be the catalyst to hold the bones together and thus, making her use her right arm until it heals properly." Explained Zen, as he grasp her right paw. Now this was somehow true, since her right arm hasn't completely healed yet and couldn't use it properly Everytime they were eating. He realized it and created the bracelet just for her.
But, the true reason he created this for her was to hide both of her youkai and demonic signatures from her pursuers and to Rias's peerage. As for Sona, there was no need to hide it to her since she already knew that Zen was hiding Kuroka's whereabouts from the underworld, and was also the cause why there was no pursuers of the wanted youkai at the moment.
"I see.." was all Rias could respond to his explanation. She was going to ask him how in Lucifer's name did he managed to create something with just his magic power, an artifact no less. But, decided not to ponder about it.
It was probably something confusing or something only he can do.
"Back to your question, Issei. Like what I said to Rias, Yes. I met some Nekomatas when I'm still living in Kyoto but after I left the place, some tragedy happened that got some of their numbers lessen, and they are extremely rare to be seen right now. I've also heard that their the Nekoshous are the ones that got hit very hard." Said Zen, as Issei then started to ask Zen another question.
"Nekoshou?" Questioned Issei.
"Basically, they are a special breed of Nekomatas that have superior abilities than what a normal Nekomatas have. Because of a certain ability they have that while powerful, was a risky one, they had been wiped out a decades ago." Explained Zen, as Koneko, although no one noticed it except for him and the cat on his grasps, frowned her eyebrows at what she just heard.
Upon seeing this, Zen stopped his explanations here, for it was still a sensitive subject to her. Add to that her current thought of Kuroka who was falsely accused just because of the negative effects of the Senjutsu. He was currently making his plan on how he will prove Kuroka innocent, in which he knew thanks to the training he was giving on her and Issei.
"Well, enough of that. I'll explain it to you in some time, Issei. But, I think we're getting further from the topic." Stated Zen, with Kuroka starting to climb to his head again as he then realized some familiar signatures getting nearer towards the door of the ORC.
"It seems like you have some guests, Rias." Rias was suddenly confused on his comment, but then disappeared when she saw Zen point a finger towards the door, along with the redhead hearing a knock on the said door.
After hearing the knock, the door then opened as it revealed Sona and the members of her peerage entering the room, making Rias think on what was the reason why Sona came in her clubroom when she was the one who suggest they went their own ways.
"Sona? What are you doing here?" Asked Rias.
"I just wanted to say something to you and while we're at it, introduce you my new peerage members, since they met on the church last week." Replied Sona, as she fixed her glasses.
Rias thought for a moment as she took a look on the students behind the stoic president. From the looks of it, She had completed her peerage, it seems.
"That's fine. I also wanted to say something to you, so you came just in the perfect time. But let's introduce our new members first." Said Rias, as she let both Issei and Asia introduce themselves to the Sitri Heiress.
Issei was lost in his thoughts pondering what he will do to his familiar if he ever got one, until Zen cleared his throat, taking the brunette's attention as he then understands what Zen meant when he saw the attention of Sona's Peerage was on him.
"Um, Nice to meet you all. I am Hyoudou Issei, Rias Gremory's Pawn." Issei tried his best not to make a pervert remark, in courtesy of Zen's one-eyed glare he was giving him as he introduced himself.
"Huh, so you're the pawn in Rias-senpai's Peerage. My name's Genshirou Saji, Sona-Kaichou's pawn." Introduced the short blonde-haired man on Sona's Peerage as he extended out his hand for Issei to shake, in which the brunette returned the gesture.
"By the way, I took 4 evil pieces. If you didn't know, I am a pretty big deal so you have to respect me, Mr. Pervert." Remarked Saji, giving Issei a cocky grin as he squeezed the brunette's hands a bit tighter.
Issei couldn't help but grow a tick or two on his forehead. Just because he absorbed many pieces doesn't mean that he was strong. Hell, he even absorbed more pieces than the blonde and this guy's grin wasn't even helping him holding down his anger even just a little bit.
Normally, he would just shrug it off his shoulders when called as a pervert but somehow, he hated being called by that now that he was being trained by Zen, which he felt like it was toning down bit by bit, along with him growing stronger each time Zen was training him and Kuroka.
As he was going to retort for what the blonde said to him, Issei was cut off when Asia introduced herself to Sona's Peerage.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Asia Argento, Rias-senpai's Bishop. I hope that we can get along." Introduced Asia, as Issei suddenly felt his squeezed hand loosen up, only to see that Saji was now holding both of Asia's hands with his own.
"Ah, Yes! It's also a pleasure to meet you too, Asia-chan and I hope we can get along together."
"U-Umm..." Asia started to look around, flustered when Saji suddenly grasped her hands while stroking it softly.
Upon seeing this, Issei can no longer sit around and watch them both. He immediately went in front of Asia as he took Saji's hands to his own and squeezed them tighter than what the blonde did to him.
"Me too! I hope we can also get along, Saji-kun!" Said Issei sarcastically as he violently shaked Saji's hands, in which the blonde found it irritating, scowling at the brunette but didn't said anything further as he forced a smile on his face.
Seeing how introducing their new members turned out, Sona spoke before it gets out of hand.
"Stop it, Hyoudou." Saji then gave Issei a victory smug upon hearing his King scold on the brunette, but then disappeared after he heard the continue of it. "And by extension, You too, Saji. Before you make a fool of yourself."
"What do you mean by that, Kaichou?" Asked Saji, confused on his King's statement.
But instead of Sona answering her pawn, Zen beat her to it.
"Because, while it's commendable that you are worth 4 pieces, the brunette you're calling a pervert-" "Hey!" Issei suddenly retorted when he heard what Zen called him. "is worth 8 pieces, you know." Commented Zen, making some of Sona's Peerage, especially Saji widen their eyes in realization.
Before Saji could even speak, Zen continued.
"You probably didn't even know that your sacred gear houses one of the Dragon Kings, Vritra, right?" Another bomb fell on Saji. And it got even worse when Zen finished it with an even bigger one. "Well, Issei here can already communicate on the dragon residing within his sacred gear, Ddraig. You probably know him if Sona told you the history of the Great War." Said Zen.
Saji was speechless. The man he called as a pervert can already communicate with his sacred gear, while he only knew the powers of his sacred gear and didn't even know where did his sacred gear based on.
No! There's now way the pervert was better than him! He was personally recruited by Sona herself to reincarnate him into a devil. This guy must have only been reincarnated out of pity, or maybe even just for his powers by Rias. With a thought like that caused him to feel good, even for a little bit.
But then, a thought passed through his head.
"And how did you know about us? I can tell that you're a normal human because I can't feel any demonic power within you. Hell, I can't even feel your aura when we're coming here!" Remarked Saji, pointing a finger towards Zen as he made a cocky grin on his face again.
But, he didn't expect that Zen hasn't shown any signs of getting affected to the things he said to him, much to his annoyance. He was going to continue, only for Zen to cut him off...again.
"Ah, don't mind it. I'm just trying my best to hold it off, or else you might be groveling on the ground right now." Said Zen sarcastically, but Rias, Sona and Tsubaki didn't buy it.
As for Issei, he just sweatdropped at how he said his statement.
"Heh. You don't need to hold it off. I can totally take it head-on just fine." Said Saji.
"Really?" Zen went to Saji's front and looked at his eyes.
"Yeah. So just go an-" Saji was cut off when he suddenly felt a dread creeping throughout his body. He took a glance to the SC and ORC, who were looking unaffected on what he was feeling.
"Hmm? Saji, Is there something wrong?" Asked Sona, raising an eyebrow upon seeing the state of her pawn was on.
Saji didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at the man who was still in front of him, and the reason if why he was feeling this dreadful...feeling was finally answered.
The dead-like crimson eyes of Zen's was now having a bluish glow that screams of one thing.
Death.
"What? I haven't even done anything yet and you're already groveling? Where's that spirit earlier?" Asked Zen towards the blonde pawn in an emotionless voice, which made Issei frown just by listening to it. But, It snapped Saji out of his stupor and found that he was really groveling right in front of him.
Saji then scowled at the stoic man who had a cat sleeping above his head as he immediately stood upright. He was going to speak to him but once again, cut off when Tsubaki, of all people, smacked him behind on his head.
"Saji! Stop antagonizing Zen and by extension, Hyoudou-san, If I were you, for Kaichou's sake!" Scowled Tsubaki at the blonde pawn, who was busy rubbing the bump of his head, because of how hard she hit him.
"My Apologies. Saji's still new to the supernatural thing which explains his cocky-like personality. I hope you'll forgive him for his naivety." Sona turned towards Issei before looking at Zen, a little tint of pink appearing on her cheeks, memories of a day ago appearing on her mind.
"Don't mind it. But like what I said earlier, I just hope that we can get along, as a fellow pawn." Replied Issei as he extended out his right hand once more, while Zen just gave her a nod.
"Same for me. Just make sure to fix that attitude of his, or it will be the cause of his demise." Added Zen after nodding at the stoic president, before going back to where he was earlier.
Hearing that, Sona turned her head towards Saji, giving a glare to her blonde pawn which made him avoid her gaze as he shook Issei's hand.
"Right."
Sona just let out a small sigh, as Zen went to speak to Tsubaki.
"You don't have to do that, you know. I could pretty handle that myself."
"Yes, I know. But since he is part of Sona-Kaichou's Peerage, it's better if someone in our side were to take care of it."
"I see..." With that, Zen ended his conversation with Tsubaki and was going back to his spot, but not until he took a look on the present he gave to her a day ago.
'Looks like she liked it more than I thought, huh..' Zen gave her a small smile, his serious gaze softening, making her blush after seeing it.
Upon seeing the vice-president's blush, Akeno suddenly had the urge to tease Tsubaki, and it doesn't even help when she saw both Sona and Tsubaki wearing new accessories.
"Ara ara~. Tsubaki-Fukukaichou, Sona-Kaichou, I see that you have some new accessory. Did something good happen?" Asked Akeno, as she saw that Tsubaki now had adifferent glasses with blue colored temples, making it obvious that it was new, while Sona was now wearing a bracelet with a violet gem on the center part, which was rare for her since she almost don't wear things like accessories.
"Oh, it's something that we got on a friend. It was his way of thanking us for everything we did to him ever since he entered this school, or so he said." Explained Sona, as she tried to keep her normal composure, while Tsubaki turned her head away from the occupants of the room and try to fight off the blush reddening her face.
To say that the members of the SC, aside from Saji, was now stupefied was an understatement. They knew what their Kaichou was meaning when she said 'friend', but to think that just by mentioning made Tsubaki a blushing mess, they weren't expecting that.
They were confused for the reason why Tsubaki, of all people, reacted that way when they went to that topic. But then, Akeno said that they were now wearing new accessories, so it means only one thing.
'Did Zen took them both to a date!?' All of the members of the SC, except Saji thought the same thing.
While they were thinking that, Sona and Rias were discussing something, both having their respective Queens on their side, as Issei and Saji were still bickering to each other.
"So, how's the flier distributing duty, Mr. Pervert?" Issei scowled at the way the blonde calls at him, once again.
"Oh, it has been a pretty good experience. But, I don't have to worry about that any longer, since I'll be getting my own familiar." Issei spat out, sarcastically.
"What a coincidence. I'm also going to get my own familiar too, you see."
The two pawns then head-butted each other, as both Rias and Sona had new questions towards each other.
"So, you're also going to the familiar forest too, huh?" Asked Sona.
"Yeah, There will be a full moon in the coming Monday, which is the best time to get a familiar." Replied Rias.
"You're right. But, this is a problem."
"Only one Peerage can go towards the familiar forest at a time, after all."
Seeing the two think hard about what will they do, Zen decided to go over them and try to help them for what will they do.
"Then, how about you settle it down in a match?" Proposed Zen to the two Heiresses, making them confused on what did he mean by that.
"Match? You mean, a Rating Game match?" Asked Rias towards Zen. Although as much as she hated to admit it, There was a possibility of her losing it, for she was outnumbered in terms of Peerage members, even though she wants to accept such a match.
Add to that she even sealed one of her members because of how she couldn't control him, due to her not strong enough to do so.
With thoughts like that, She then remembered what Zen said to her when she was trying to recruit him into her Peerage.
"You are not strong enough yet to control me." She grimaced at the thought, being told by something like that brought back the memories of how powerless she was when her sealed peerage member's powers ran out of control.
she could ask him to make her stronger, along with her Peerage. She try to ask him later, after all of this finished.
"I didn't mean it something like Rating Game. I'm talking about how you settle this in sports match. Winner will go to familiar forest this coming Monday. So, what are your thoughts about it?" Corrected Zen, making Rias snap out of her thoughts as Sona took a thought on his proposal.
"That seems fine, but I have one question?" Asked Sona towards Zen.
"Ask right away."
"Will you also participate if it came to a team match?" Zen took a thought for a moment before answering Sona's question.
"No. Since I'm essentially not part of Rias's peerage, I think I'll pass."
Upon hearing this, Saji jerked up towards Zen.
"What!? You're not part of Rias-senpai's Peerage!? Then, what are you!?"
"Someone who is aware of the supernatural a lot longer than you."
"And what do you mean by 'a lot longer'?" All of the occupants in the room got their attention towards the stoic man, upon hearing the question the blonde pawn asked to him.
"Well..." Exclaimed Zen, making them even more curious.
"Let's just say that I'm a lot older than you all." All of them face faulted at what he said. They were a fool to expect him to spat it out to them.
With that, all of the members of the student council left the room, preparing on how they will settle this into sportsmanship.
As they left, Saji went to ask his King about Zen.
"Hey, Kaichou?"
"What is it, Saji?"
"Don't you think that Zen fellow is being suspicious?"
"What do you mean by that?" Sona frowned her eyebrows at the statement of her own pawn.
"I mean, he knew too much of our world for being just a human. From the way he said about my sacred gear and the dragon residing inside it. Hell, I couldn't feel anything on him, but his eyes..."
"What about his eyes?"
"It's... Different. I know that he is an emotionless person, but the way he stared at me that time... I don't know if I'm just imagining things or not, but... It's like his eyes...changed color, and... Every single bit of my instincts starts to scream to me to..."
"To?" Sona totally knew where this was going. From the way her pawn describe it, it's like...
"To run away... Away from that man, and before u realized it, I lost my feelings to my legs and grovelled to him, as what you saw.." Yes, it was the same feeling she felt when she saw him at the underground of the church that night.
"Kaichou, I think he's dangerous. For a human to do something like that without even battering an eye is strange. He is not a normal human, he is a mons-" Saji was cut off when Sona suddenly spoke.
"I know that, Saji."
"Huh?"
"I already know that he isn't a normal human. In fact, what you saw in the church that night was doing, after all." All of the members of the student council's eyes got widened at the revelation.
"See, Kaichou!? Even you already know and I don't even need to say it but I will. He is a mons-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Saji." Sona glared daggers at her pawn, which was unlike those glares she gave to him when she was pissed on him.
This one truly means business.
Before Saji could say something to Sona, the amber-color eyed president went to walk faster than her peerage can follow. Saji then realized that he may have pissed his King more than usual and tried to follow, when Tsubaki went to speak to him.
"Don't assume something when you didn't even see who they really are, Saji. Even more so with that man. I don't know what you are talking about Zen had his eye change color, but I know that look he usually give when he thought there was no one looking at him."
"Then, what is it?" Asked Saji.
"..." Tsubaki stayed silent for a few moments until she decided to answer Saji's question.
"...The way his eyes stare at distance whenever he thought someone wasn't looking, it's the same to the eyes of the elders of my family. The look that simply said that one was tired of everything, the look that went through countless wars and saw living hell with his own very eyes, and the look that says that one had suffered so much that normal person would be broken if it was someone on his place." She stopped for a few moments, remembering Zen's posture when he was not interacting with them, as well as the expression in his face, she couldn't help but hate that emotionless face of his.
It was much like the face she used to have when she was a kid, only a bit worse than what she had.
"It's also the look that I got sick on seeing towards someone as kind as him." Continued Tsubaki as she stared at the distance. Saji was speechless on how the Queen of the SC Peerage spoke towards the man he was starting to call a monster.
"Although I didn't know that much, Kaichou probably knew him more than what we know about him. While you are gone taking some rounds around the school, Kaichou was always calling him towards the office, you know." Said had his eyes widened at what Tsubaki said to him, while the others already knew, since he helped them out sometimes when he had a time.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I haven't seen Kaichou being pissed off that much, so they must have gotten that close. He also might not have been exaggerating when he said that he was a lot older than us. That's why, don't you dare something like 'monster' in front of Zen's face, or else..."
"Or else..?" Saji gulped down the saliva piling up in his throat. Whether it was due to the nervousness Tsubaki was going to say to him, or facing the wrath of his Kaichou later, no one knows.
"It might spell your end.." finished off Tsubaki as she went ahead them, with the other girls following her.
Saji's was stupefied for a moment, standing on the place before snapping out of it and followed them immediately.
Inside his thoughts, he was thinking really hard on what Zen did to him earlier. He was humiliated, in front of his own master, even. The way he looked down on him when he was groveling to him, it made him grit his teeth just at the thought of it.
Basically, he didn't heed Tsubaki's warning.
'Even with what you said, Tsubaki-Fukukaichou, there's no way that we could let our guard down on someone like him. If he joined either Rias-senpai's Peerage or Kaichou's Peerage, then it's a different story, but he literally didn't have any affiliation! There's no way I could trust my back on someone like that, even more so if he is the one who caused that massacre inside the church!' Saji then remembered what Zen did to them when they were still in the ORC clubroom, and it made him clench his fist and grit his teeth just by thinking of it.
He was never humiliated like that before.
And Zen was going to pay.
'I will pay you back for this humiliation you gave to me, Murasaki Zen!' Screamed Saji internally.
o-o
As for the ORC, Rias was now thinking what Sport will Sona pick? Since she was the Student Council President, She will be the one to organize which sports they will use for their match. It was easier for that way.
"Thanks Zen for suggesting that. If you didn't do that, then we don't know if we can even enter a conclusion." Said Rias towards Zen, who was back on leaning to the wall beside the window, his hands crossed on his chest, the black cat, Kuroka, still on his head, with her tail (the other one hidden with illusion magic) resting on the top of his left ear.
"Don't mind it. I'm also interested on what familiar Issei and Asia will get if you won the match." Replied Zen.
"About that. If we ever win the match, will you also with us on the familiar forest?"
"No, I think I'll pass once more. I don't even think if you can even teleport me there, after all." Zen waved his hand in disapproval.
"Huh? Then, how did you know about it when you can't even go there?" Asked Rias towards Zen, but somehow starting to regret it when she saw the look in Zen's face.
Zen grimaced when she thought back to the time he went to the familiar forest, tagging along with a blonde-haired woman, having a captivating green teal eyes looking towards him with a smile on her beautiful face, wearing a violet-colored princess-like outfit, with a silver tiara on the top of her head, violet accessories on the side of the said tiara, both of them walking in the forest full of familiars, giving a serene vibe around the two. (AN: You probably know this character right now, if you ever watched the anime. I literally gave out her appearance, only from what I saw to her.)
But, even with the sadness he was feeling right now, he couldn't help but show a small smile, albeit a sad and a hurt one, for reminiscing his happy yet sad past.
Rias, after seeing this, felt like she had to apologize. It looked like she made him brought back bad memories.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would bring back some bad memories to you."
"No. No need for apologies. It's just that... I went along with someone when she wanted to get a familiar." Akeno suddenly had a question in her head when she heard him say the the person he went along with was a woman.
"Is this person the same one on what you said to us before? The one who was bedridden, I mean.." Asked Akeno, but she got even more confused when she saw Zen chuckle a bit and show a small smile towards them.
"No, That one is my...Fiancee. You may also say she is my wife, since we're...close to getting married, if not for her incurable disease. This one is a..." He suddenly stopped, thinking whether to tell them what was his relationship to her, in which he decided to say a half-truth of it. "A close friend of mine, that's all."
They were confused on why did Zen suddenly paused, but still had their eyes widened when they realized that the bedridden woman he told them was actually his Fiancee/Wife.
Akeno then realized what she did, as she then felt the atmosphere in the room got colder.
"I'm sorry." Zen then sweatdropped, even with him still keeping his emotionless face. Why were they apologizing when they felt the mood got ruined?
"No, Don't be. It actually helps me from remembering them. While the two of them are already not in this world, the time I spend with them is something I don't ever want to forget." Said Zen, showing a small smile on his normally stoic face.
After a moment of silence had passed inside the room, Issei decided to try to lift up the atmosphere.
"By the way Zen?" Zen rose an eyebrow when he saw Issei raising a hand to him.
"What?"
"About this close friend of yours, Did she had a big oppai and a sexy body?" Zen felt like he grew a tick or two on his forehead, and it doesn't even help when Issei gestured like he was grabbing something on his chest, and was cupping it like it was bouncing on purpose, and it didn't help Zen calming down himself after seeing Issei said that in a serious face. Even after all of the things he did, it seems that his brother-like friend's perverseness hadn't gone down a bit.
No, not even a bit of it.
"Why is it always oppai here and oppai there inside your head, you perverted hermit?" Zen scratched the side of his head in annoyance, making Kuroka wake up because of the shaking of his head caused by his scratching.
Issei laugh sheepishly as Rias and Akeno chuckled behind the back of their hands, while Kuroka frowned that she was woken up forcibly.
As a retaliation, She slapped Zen's face with her tail for a few times and let out a satisfying "Nyaa~" as a sign of her satisfaction.
Having a long tail is really useful, Kuroka thought.
Before she even realized, Zen grabbed her tail as she let out a surprised Yelp, while Zen looked up and gave her a glare. Just a glare.
Kuroka knew this because the usual bloodlust was missing on those eyes of his, but she still couldn't help but tremble at his gaze.
It made her feel hot, if she was going to be honest.
"Hey!" Growled out Zen, While Kuroka retorted with a "Nyaa!" while smacking her arm who was wearing a bracelet on his head continuously, making the occupants of the room raise an eyebrow on what she said, including Zen.
"She said, 'Its your fault for waking me up, nya!'" Koneko translated to them in monotone, making Issei rose an eyebrow once more on how did she able to understand that, but then realized that it was maybe one of the perks of having a Nekomata as a familiar.
Although no one knew or saw it, Kuroka internally gave Koneko a thumbs up, while Zen just let out a small sigh. He forgot that he was also going to ask this cat why did she went in this school.
But, he was going to do that later when he got back home.
"Hey, Zen?" He was suddenly out of his thoughts when Issei asked him once more.
"Hmm, what? I hope that it's not a dumb question like the one earlier.."
"Can you say something about her to us? Like, who she was, or what was her likes and dislikes, or something like that. You know, just to know what kind of people the one who loved you for who you are." Said Issei to Zen, making him smile a little at his reasoning.
Issei didn't know that he was related to this person, and Zen was going to say it to him, but decided no to. He would meet her when he was strong enough, after all.
"She's... a kind-hearted person, much like my fiancee, but I met this one long before I met my fiancee. She was a princess in a certain kingdom, in which I couldn't remember its name, and She was hailed as their strongest warrior, to the point that she was called as their 'trump card'." Described Zen, making Issei and some of the others had their mouths in awe.
"I think in every people you met and said to us, you all call them the strongest, Zen." Issei sweatdropped at his brother-like friend on how he describes the person he met in his lifetime.
Zen just let out a small chuckle. "What can I say? They are all called the strongest in their time, you know." Retorted Zen, as he shrugged off his shoulders, when he got an idea of giving Issei another riddle.
"By the way, Issei." Issei looked at Zen confusingly. "This one is related to you, you know." Said Zen, emphasizing the related word.
"On what part?" Asked Issei, but as evil as how the underworld described Zen was, he left it at that.
"Well, that's for you to realize the answer, my friend." Issei frowned on Zen. Great, another riddle he gave to the brunette. Before Issei could try to say something to him, Zen beat him to it.
"Maybe, if you got strong enough, I'll say it to you, though." Issei immediately had fires in his eyes that surprised the occupants in the room.
"Really?"
"Really."
"...Okay. Promise?" Issei extended out his pinky finger, as Zen went to grab it with his own pinky finger.
"Promise." (AN: Had to admit it, I got bored on this part of conversation, please forgive me for this part.)
The two then just smirked at each other, or in Zen's case, just a small one, as Issei then remembered something that bothered him earlier.
"Oh right, Zen."
"What again?" Zen was now starting to get annoyed, with Issei's relentless questions, but still put up on it.
"About Sona-Kaichou's pawn, That Saji fellow. I think he is pretty wary of you." Remarked Issei.
"That's only right. With what I did to him earlier, he probably thought of it like I humiliated him in front of his master, I guess."
"But still, I don't think it will end on what you are expecting, Zen. Just try to be careful." Now the ORC are stupefied on what Issei said. Someone of his stature was worried on someone strong like Zen. Just what was the relationship of these two? They just hope it wasn't like that.
"Heh? You're worried on me? I'm thankful to see that there's still someone who cares for me but, You know that I'm not into that, right?" Said Zen, as he made a small smirk that got Issei grow a tick or two.
"Hey! I'm also not into like that!"
"Is it? Then, can you tell me what was that rumor about you and Kiba?"
"THE GIRLS JUST MADE THAT UP! I'M NOT INTO THAT, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Shouted Issei, as he went to clutch his head for saying the old man's name, when he was now a devil.
"Well, there's no need for you to be worried, I can take care of myself. The only problems is, I don't think I can get along with him properly for the meantime." Stated Zen, making Rias frown her eyebrows worriedly.
"I just hope that nothing happens."
"Well, enough of that. I think you should perpare for what's to come tomorrow. I know that I'm not going to partake on what you are going to do, but I wish you the best of luck." Said Zen, making the members of the ORC smile at his statement, not long before Zen went to tease Issei again if he was having hots in the same gender, in which the brunette angrily refused.
The rest of the ORC just chuckled at their antics while some of them thought.
If only things were going to stay like this.
After that, It was the time of their dismissal as they all went to their respective homes, all of them expecting what will happen tomorrow and what will tomorrow give to them?
They can only anticipate for what's going to come.
That's the end of the chapter.
Sorry if the chapter is a bit shorter than the normal. if you realized in the way i said earlier, I'm not feeling very well, you see.
I've been Insomniac for these past few weeks, since the first week of the December, add to that these stresses piled up within me. To be honest, I'm not even surprised if I suddenly went insane right now.
As you can see, I cutted short the chapter, and I don't want to say the reason once more. Although, I'll try to post the next chapter when i start to feel better, but I don't think it will be next week like how I normally post new chapters.
Also, sorry if I made Saji a bit antagonistic in this chapter, but it will get better as the chapter progresses. I don't plan on making this story as dark as my life. jk
I'm sorry for those who are waiting for the bext chapter of this story of mine, but you'll have to wait for a little bit longer, and i promise to you that when i feel better than what I am feeling right now, I'll try to post the next chapter right away.
Anyway, Stay safe, be healthy, be happy, and live happily. That's all I ask for you lot out there. Don't become someone like me who is depressed for these past 3 years just because of that one mistake in our family.
With that finished, I'll see you on the next chapter...