Bootstrapping Book 1

by Tersin22

An insert wakes up on the first day of her new life in a world of magic, with none of her own. No advantages, no starting place, knowing nothing but that she's out gunned at every turn and power is out there to grab. One way or another she'll drag her way to safety and arcane power, over the bodies of everybody in her way if she must.

52. So close

"...the hunt continues for the terrorists responsible for the incendiary explosives set off in downtown Kuoh. Damages are estimated in the billions of Yen, and even now, two days later, bodies are being pulled from the wreckage. Survivors of the initial..."

I turn away from the TV playing in the front window of the shop I'm passing. I refuse to be so much of a cliche as to brood in front of a storefront TV like that.

I'll brood while walking, thank you very much.

A statement that is very accurate. Just because I'm not standing there doesn't mean that the subject matter isn't sticking with me. I'd gotten out of the... disaster area, more easily than I'd thought I would. I pretty quickly discovered that getting to the street wasn't going to happen. The building that I'd finished Riser off in was on just as much fire as anywhere else in the area. Up was a valid option though. A high arcing flight and judicious use of glamor got me home without having to use any of my, frankly terrible, explanations for why I was naked.

I spent a few minutes getting laughed at by Mia, and fussed over by Cait, before calling Sona. And that's when things started going down hill. The devils were already looking into what had happened, but with my report they moved from investigating to actually dealing with the problems. In the end Sona and Rias decided that the best cover up would be a minimalist one.

They repaired nothing, and did the minimal amount of memory editing necessary to remove anything blatantly supernatural. Otherwise they told pretty much the truth. Unknown terrorists had attacked and destroyed a large part of Kuoh for unknown reasons. Which was also pretty much true.

It's just that we knew who the terrorist had been, Riser.

Why...

That's where I start having problems. Hundreds dead, more hundreds injured. Many of those that managed to survive would spend the rest of their lives crippled or covered in horrible scarring.

Nothing like this had happened in canon. Which means it had to be something I did. What I can't figure out is, what was the thing I did? What did I do that drove a son of the seventy two pillars, one of the ultimate supernatural 'haves', to screw up this badly? Is it something I said? Something I did? Was it even something I didn't do?

But then it gets even more complicated. It could have been something I'd done prior to ever meeting Riser. Is it because I killed that high class devil that tried to alter my memory? Is it because I agreed to train Kiba and Shirone? Maybe even further back and stopping the yokai coup butterflied something?

Or maybe my simply existing was enough. Somehow just my presence was enough to alter things enough to ruin the lives of thousands of people who would never know why it happened.

I try to tell myself that no matter what I did, Riser's choices are solely on himself. That no matter what I had inadvertently changed, in the end he's still the one that decided that burning down a mundane town was a good idea. As much as I tell myself that though, and as much as I know it's true, the knot of guilt in me just won't go away.

At some point I'll probably have to talk to Pua about it, and she'll probably easily get my head screwed on straight. The thing is, I don't really want her to. That little, or not so little, seed of guilt tells me that I deserve to feel this way.

Worse still, there's nothing I can do. Since I realized how bad the situation is I've been filled with a sort of manic energy. A need to do something, anything, to fix what I'd obviously broken. And for some reason, that I can't bothers me more than any of the rest of it.

I can't help Sona. She and her peerage are neck deep in paperwork and coordinating everything as she and her peerage take point on the situation. I have no doubt that she'd make time for me if I showed up, but she really can't afford to. Kiba and Shirone don't have another lesson with me for another few days, so I can't distract myself with that. I have no idea what Rias and the rest of her peerage are doing in all of this, and frankly I don't want to. Mia took off as soon as she heard me giving my initial report to Sona, to report to Yasaka and help with whatever the Yokai are going to do with this. And Cait can clearly tell I'm agitated and keeps looking at me in a way that makes me think she's going to turn into a giant cat, hold me down, and lick me until I feel better. Which is... sweet, but really not what I need right now.

I've written emails to Kunou, my human mom, Pua, and Ku. I actually managed to get Sarah on the phone for a few conversations over the last day or so.

In the current sort of chaos my combat focus has left me with nothing to contribute that isn't already being done by somebody else better than I ever could. I guess I could go to work on my other projects but even I can only beat my head against a wall for so long before I need a break. In all the time I've been working on it the best I've managed to do for a Script to let things survive the Gap is have them decay slower. I had one wooden rod that lasted a couple of seconds longer than the others. Which isn't really enough time to do anything. That's all the progress I've made working in every spare moment I've had for months. At least my project to let me come back at some point is working better.

But really, I need something else to do, just for a little while. Something that will take my focus off of obsessing about how my confronting Riser went so horribly wrong.

Maybe I would go visit Sona. She'd been working nonstop as well for the last few days, and if I know her, she hasn't paused once. She could probably use a break for the same reasons I do.

Yeah... I'll go and stick my head in the door to check with Shinra. If Sona's queen waves me off, I'll find something else to do. But if Sona's been as much of a workaholic, I know pot meet kettle, as I suspect, then a chess game or two would probably do the devil king some good.

Justification firmly in place, I head for the school.

I've been sort of wondering around the edges of the cordoned off area while thinking. Since Riser had been headed for the school when I caught up with him, Kuoh Academy isn't too far away from me, easily in walking distance.

It only takes me five minutes to get in sight of the front gates of the school. Thanks to my enhanced eyesight, I can pick out the details of two girls of about high school age themselves, standing just to the side of the gate. The two stick out like sore thumbs. Both of them are wearing odd cloaks that have a turtleneck like collar that covers them completely down to mid-shin. Below that point they're wearing what looks like skin tight... something. Given where I am, I'd bet good money that the rest of their outfits are just as form fitting.

The taller of the two has short blue hair and a surly expression. On her back is a long cloth wrapped bundle that I can easily recognize because I have the same thing across my back. The difference is that her sword is as big as she is and probably weighs as much as she does as well.

The shorter has a much more reasonable hair color of light brown done up in the twin tails style that seems so popular for some reason. It looks completely ridiculous in my opinion, like they've got reins attached to their heads or something...

I think I just got an idea as to why the style is so popular, and I feel dirty for thinking of it. It would fit the world though.

I refocus on what's going on in front of me. If I listen carefully I can just make out their conversation from where I'm standing.

"...not our job. We're not doctors, or any kind of aid workers!" That's the taller one.

"It's our duty as Christians to help those in need. These people are clearly in need! We have to be able to do something!" The shorter one, she sounds a bit desperate. Or maybe frustrated. I wish I could catch a scent at this distance.

"We can, we've reported the situation to our superiors. They'll do what can be done. But we have our own mission, one given to us by Michael himself! That takes precedence over anything else!"

"Surely..." I stop listening to the conversation there.

Crap.

I think I know who these two are, and that fills me with apprehension, excitement, and relief.

Relief because this is something I can do something about.

Excitement because at last what I've been waiting for is here.

And apprehension because I know what, or more importantly who, is coming with in a day, two at most.

Just to be sure, I close my eyes and focus my mana sense on the two. Sure enough, each of them has a well of golden light inside of them. That light is almost completely drowned out by the gold power shining from the taller one's blade, and something about where the shorter one's upper arm should be. But buried within that brighter light is the faintest taste of inevitability, of the raised voices of thousands of soldiers, of victory against all odds.

I hadn't really taken the opportunity to get a feel for the last Excalibur shard I'd collected, something that I really should have now that I think about it, but I'm pretty sure what I'm detecting are the fragments of the True Excalibur at the core of the holy Excalibur swords.

With that determined, I pull out my phone and dial Sona's number. It takes far longer than normal for anybody to pick up, and I'm kind of surprised that I actually get Sona on the line. "Ericka as much as I like y- hearing from you, now isn't the best time..." Subtle Sona, real subtle.

"Are you aware of two Exorcists in Kuoh?" I would normally let her finish her kind of adorable rambling, but like she said now isn't the best time.

"What?" I wince slightly at the faint tinge of despair in her voice.

"Two Church Exorcists, carrying what I'm pretty sure are two shards of Excalibur, are standing right outside the gates of your school at this very moment." It worries me that I can hear her grinding her teeth through the phone. Devil or not, that can't be good for her.

"Ericka," Sona almost whines, "why is it that whenever you call me, it's a disaster of some sort?"

"Because when I have good news or it's just a social thing I usually don't call. I text to make sure you're available and then just show up." I point out reasonably.

Sona huffs, "Fine. FINE." She takes a deep breath, "I'm not dealing with this. I'm officially declaring this Rias' problem. I'm cleaning up after the mess her ex-fiance made, she can deal with the church." She takes another deep breath and I can almost hear the tension leaving her as she exhales, "Hopefully I'll be able to make our regular chess game next week Ericka. I'll see you then."

I'm almost glad when she hangs up without waiting for a response from me. I don't know what I would tell her, since I'm pretty sure that next week I'll have left Kuoh behind for good.

That makes me feel guilty too.

Just what I need.

I look down the street at the two Exorcists still arguing. Now what?

...Sona said this was now Rias' problem. She's going to call Rias right? Except that even if she does I'm still going to have to get in there so I can be a part of this cluster fuck from the word go. Which means I'm going to have to call Rias.

And be in the meeting that I know is going to happen.

Which means I'm going to be in an enclosed space with two Church Exorcists and a bunch of devils, all of whom are teenagers.

Worse I'm going to be in an enclosed space with two Excaliburs and Kiba.

Fuck, I just hope they don't blow up the building.

###

The call to Rias goes remarkably quickly. Rias isn't quite sure how to deal with me since I killed Riser. I guess it's one thing to be told second hand that I killed a high class devil and made it look easy, it's another to have it happen on your doorstep.

Shirone hasn't changed at all since it happened. There's only been one meeting in the last two days, but she still climbed into my lap, and at least pretended to sleep through the whole thing. Which is unsurprising since she saw me off the devil in Kyoto. None of this is new to her.

As far as Kiba is concerned, I eliminated a threat to his king. The collateral is tragic, but I still did the right thing. He actually thanked me for killing Riser.

Issei doesn't really have the context to have any idea of what my killing of Riser means. So he's just as confused and lecherous as normal.

Akeno seems to be torn between being wary of me and excited by the whole thing. She keeps looking at me like I might be delicious, or I might be poison, and is trying to decide if the chance is worth it. I don't know if she's ever considered women before, but she's thinking about me now, which is frankly just creepy.

Rias though. Rias seems to have realized that she's essentially been poking me with a stick since we met, and I might actually be dangerous enough for that to be a bad idea. She's been... subdued, I guess, the few times I've seen her. I have no idea what this might mean long term, but I'm glad that things seem to finally be coming to a head and I probably won't have to stick around to find out.

For now, though, the year I've spent in Kuoh is about to pay off, as Rias has asked me to lead the Exorcists to her club room.

Given how the two girls are still arguing after my phone call, I assume the two were probably doing so for a while before I got here. Since a twenty minute argument likely means that they're arguing in circles, I ignore what they're saying as I approach them. Taking a position close to the two, I wait for a pause in their spat or one of them to notice me.

As it turns out the one with the blue hair does reasonably quickly.

Instead of responding to her companion's argument when she finishes, blue hair turns to look at me fiercely. I can see her eyes catch on Sclamhaire's case over my shoulder and come to the same conclusion I did about her own wrapped package, and then dismiss that conclusion just as quickly. My guess is that she's had some level of training in sensing energy, and can't feel anything from the case. Normally this would mean that whatever is in the case is mundane, thus not a threat to the shard of Excalibur she's got on her back. But Sclamahaire doesn't radiate energy like other powerful weapons. She just consumes, and only gives to me.

After a moment, the twin tailed Exorcist catches on that the argument is done and turns to see what has caught her companions attention.

Another moment or two of silence, blue hair speaks up, "Can we help you?" Her tone turns the usually polite question decidedly hostile.

I raise an eyebrow, "I was actually going to ask you the same thing. The two of you have been arguing in front of a high school that you're not students of, for quite some time. I assume your business is here, otherwise you would have argued while you walked to wherever you were going."

Blue hair narrows her eyes at me while twin tail blushes slightly. It's blue hair that responds though, "What do you care? You a teacher?"

I cock my head to one side, "Sort of. I do teach a few students here swordsmanship and unarmed combat."

Twin tail immediately perks up, "Oh good!" She's got a much better bedside manner than blue hair, "Maybe you can help us then. I'm Irina Shidou, and this is Xenovia Quatra." Irina bows somewhat stiffly like she's out of practice, Xenovia doesn't even bother to try, "We're Exorcists for the Church." She says it proudly and like it'll change how I view her. "Do you know where Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri are? They should be students here."

Do I not register as anything special to whatever they use to detect things?

I'll take it.

"Yeah..." Well, if they're going to make it easy for me, "Yeah. This way." I start past them and wave them after me as I pass through the gate onto the school grounds.

The silence between the three of us lasts for maybe thirty seconds before apparently Irina can't stand it, "Do you know Gremory or Sitri at all?"

I hesitate. So far they think I'm just a private teacher or something. How much can I admit to knowing without turning into the enemy?

"Well... I play chess with Sona once a week or so. More often if we can both find the time. Rias... we don't get along as much."

"Why not?" Xenovia actually sounds like something other than irritated for a change.

"That's complicated. And not something I'm willing to discuss with strangers." I glance back at them, "No offense."

"None taken!" Irina chirped. We got about halfway through the campus before the shorter more cheerful girl spoke up again, though not to me and not in Japanese, "Xenovia, when we get in there, let me do the talking." I think it's Italian, it can be hard to tell through Allspeak. Every language feels like the one I was born speaking, so picking out somethings can be hard since it can feel so natural. I make sure not to react beyond glancing back at them quickly. Enough to show that I've heard them talking, but no sign that I understand what they're saying.

"Why? Why are we even talking to these filthy devils? Just tell them what we're doing and if they object the Church will crush them." Xenovia grunted. She's a lot more blatant in her... calling it prejudice seems wrong given how many devils justify the attitude. Institutional dislike? Whatever it is Xenovia is a lot more blatant about it.

It's kind of ironic given that in the original timeline she'd become a devil. Talk about a heel face turn.

"We're talking to them because we were ordered to not make waves. These are the younger siblings of two of the Great Enemies after all." Irina patiently explained to her companion, "So we'll just explain why we're here, ensure they stay out of the way, and do what we came for. And I'll do the talking because I'm far less likely to start a fight than you are." That's all the conversation that they have time for before we arrive at the old building that houses the ORC.

"This is the building that houses the Occult Research Club." I explain as we head for the stairs, "Rias Gremory is the president of the club and can be found here... just about any time she's not in class, actually." The two Exorcists nod quietly. Their attitude has quieted down significantly, both becoming more tense and wary as we climb up to the fourth floor where the ORC room is.

...I wonder what the rest of these rooms are used for. This is an entire four story school building, there have to be more than a hundred classrooms in it. Having seen the ORC room I'll call that two rooms with the walls between them knocked down, and one more for that overly luxurious bathroom that Rias is so fond of. So that's three rooms, that leaves at least ninety seven rooms for... what? Storage? Just empty collecting dust?

I'll have to ask Sona...

I'm probably not going to have the opportunity to ask Sona anything. I'm pretty sure Kokabiel kicks things off tomorrow, and I have too much to do tonight to get ready for it to visit

Sona. I might not even get the chance to say goodbye to her or Shirone and Kiba, depending on what I have to do to get the Excaliburs at the end of all of this.

I find I don't really enjoy the thought. I still don't like Rias all that much, and no more Issei will be fantastic. But Sona and Shirone I'll miss. Hell even Kiba has grown on me. He's not bad once I got him to relax a bit.

This is depressing...

Fortunately for me I have no more time to dwell, as we've arrived. I push open the door to the ORC room and then hold it open waving the two Exorcists in. Rias is seated behind her desk with Akeno just behind her right shoulder, the two of them back lit by the wall of windows behind them. Issei is leaning up against one wall with Shirone right next to him, probably to keep him in line. Kiba is noticeably absent. Probably a good move given his general antipathy to holy swords and Excaliburs in particular. I wonder what excuse Rias used to get him out of here?

I take up a position against a wall opposite Shirone and shoot her a quick smile, which nets me one from her in return.

"Issei?" Irina's shocked voice jerks my eyes back to the two humans aside from myself in the room.

Issei, being the genius of social interaction that he is, stares blankly at the cute church soldier and blinks, "Um... Yeah that's me. Do I know you?"

The look of betrayal and disappointment on Irina's face lasts for barely even a moment. Before I'd stolen so much from all the tengu I'd never have caught it. And a quick glance around the room tells me that nobody else has.

Irina looks away from him and instead focuses on Rias, "Heiress Gremory," the Exorcist inclines her upper body slightly in a manner that if one was being generous, could maybe be called a bow. If you squinted. "I am Irina Shidou, and this is Xenovia Quatra." The taller girl doesn't even pretend to give lip service to a bow, and instead continues to glare like she had been since the two entered the room, "If we could speak to you... a little more privately." She glances in my direction indicating who should be giving them that bit of privacy.

"Rhostana-san is plenty aware of the supernatural, you may speak in front of her." Rias tells them, which causes the two to turn sharply in my direction in surprise.

"But you're human! You said you were a teacher here!" Xenovia exclaims.

"No, I said I teach a couple of students swordsmanship and unarmed combat here." I gesture at Shirone, "Unarmed combat. And my sword student isn't here at the moment, but he's a member of Gremory-san's peerage as well. And yes, I am human."

"Probably one of their 'contracted' sorcerers." Xenovia spits.

"Nope. I learned everything I know about magic in Hawaii." It's not true strictly, but I'll never get tired of the flinch the islands get out of the biblical factions.

"But... but why would you consort with this filth?" Now the tall Exorcist just sounds confused. Neither of the human girls have looked away from me during this conversation so they don't notice how every devil in the room tenses at her words.

I sigh, and take Sclamhaire's case from my back and set it next to me at my left hip. At this point I'm sure that this is going to devolve into violence at some point, and I want my sword easily accessed for when that happens, "I don't see them as 'filth'?" I shrug, really I feel no need to justify myself to them, but as much as I'm sure violence is inevitable I have no desire to be the one to set it off.

Xenovia looks like she's ready to keep going, but thankfully Rias interrupts, "Somehow," Her voice is dry like a salt mine, "I doubt that you have invited yourselves into my territory to question Rhostana-san's choice in friends. Why are you here?"

The two Exorcists drag their focus back to Rias, Xenovia looking like she'd much rather be attacking the redhead devil king than listening to her. As they had discussed, it's Irina that speaks up, though given how she keeps on glancing in Issei's direction I'm not sure how well that will work out for them anymore.

Really, it's clear that I'm missing something there, and it's only slightly comforting that Issei seems to be as lost as I am.

"We are here to retrieve several items that have been stolen from the church. We believe that these items have been brought to Kuoh." The shorter Exorcist explains evenly.

"And what items might these be?" Rias asks. I haven't had the best impressions of Rias since I got here, though I have to admit that she's clearly in her element now. I can smell the scent of anger slowly filling the room and hear the tension in her voice, but I'd bet nobody else can. Visually Rias doesn't look anything but completely relaxed and in control.

"Like you don't know." Xenovia snarls.

Rias does an excellent single eyebrow raise, "Why would I ask if I knew?"

Xenovia growls and starts to say something that would no doubt have been unfortunate, but Irina kicks her in the shin, and stops her. Instead, speaking up herself, "Does it really matter? They are holy objects that you would have no interest in. We merely wish to retrieve them and then depart... your territory." It sounds almost physically painful for Irina to acknowledge that the devils have any sort of claim on anything.

Rias stares at them for a long moment, then leans back in her seat, "Very well then. I'll send a couple members of my peerage with you while you search."

"No." Xenovia growls, "We need no help from filthy devils." The feeling tension in the room ratchets higher as she speaks, "You will stay out of our way as we perform this holy task given to us by the messenger of our Lord God." Every devil in the room flinches.

Rias pans her gaze from Irina to the taller Exorcist, "You seem to misunderstand." Rias' previously neutral tone of voice is now entirely gone, replaced by something much colder, "I am not going to let two exorcists wander around my territory unsupervised. If you wish to retrieve whatever it is you're looking for, you will be watched while you search." At her words Akeno tenses next to her, Shirone pushes off the wall and even Issei seems to be getting ready for something to happen.

"We weren't asking for permission!" Xenovia's hand goes to the hilt of the sword over her shoulder. Which leads me to gripping Sclamhaire's hilt inside her carrying case, "You will be given no chance to cover up your involvement!"

"Xenovia!" Irina hisses under her breath.

"And now you accuse us of involvement with whatever this is." Rias scoffs, "Do you have any proof? Or are you just trying to start something now?"

"The Ex- holy objects are in your territory, aren't they?" Xenovia isn't quite shouting, but she's close. Her face is still red with anger so we're not quite to the point of violence just yet. It's coming though.

"So you claim." Akeno's voice is filled with doubt, "Bucho, do we really have to listen to these fanatics' wild claims? They're looking for an excuse."

"As an official of the holy church I do not lie!" Irina cut in indignantly. And there goes the voice of reason.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." Rias looks amused at the very idea for a moment before her voice turns hard, "My Queen is right about one thing though. We do not have to listen to wild and baseless accusations. Either allow observers, or leave Kuoh. I'd prefer the latter."

Irina looks like she's about to continue the argument but Xenovia's face has gone pale, blood flowing away from her face into her limbs in preparation for violence. I push off the wall drawing Sclamhaire, at the same time the taller Exorcist pulls her fragment of Excalibur over her shoulder in an overhand swing. The wrappings it had been contained in unravel seemingly on their own. The blade itself is... well it strikes me as a little ridiculous. It's point is a tri-pronged arrangement that looks almost like the top of a crown, really it just looks like it makes stabbing impossible. The guard is a double headed ax. The damn thing has to add ten pounds to the blade. Assuming it's balanced at all it would have fantastic point control, which the tip of the sword makes mildly useless, but it would be really hard to swing.

None of that seems to matter though as Excalibur Destruction arcs over Xenovia's shoulder. The utter lack of holy energy building up in the blade makes me think that this isn't actually supposed to be an attack of any sort though. Just more posturing. Doesn't mean it's not dumb or that I'm going to let it slide.

Sclamhaire's blade catches the descending Excalibur bringing it to a halt with a suddenness that would have been jarring for Xenovia, if my wonderful sword hadn't just removed all the kinetic energy it contained. Kinetic energy which provides an almost unnoticeable bit of mana.

The room has gone completely still and silent in shock, except for me. I grip the double ax head guard and pull forward, at the same time I kick the Exorcist lightly in the stomach. Lightly compared to how hard I could have kicked her, but more than hard enough to send her staggering backwards. And coincidentally leaving the Excalibur piece in my hand.

"You," I point Sclamhaire at Xenovia, "need to calm down." My voice slips a bit but I don't really mind. I'm actually hoping that a little bit of compulsion slipped in there, I'm all for anything that makes an actual fight breaking out here less likely.

"How?" Xenovia squeaks.

"I've been training for as long as you've been alive, and I'd bet money that my teachers are better than yours." I tell her flatly, "Since you've proven that you can't be trusted with this," I wiggle the Excalibur in my hand, "I'm going to hold onto it. You can have it back when you leave." Giving it back will be almost physically painful, I can feel my promise to Vivain tugging on my soul. But the knowledge that giving this one back now makes it far more likely that I'll get five tomorrow when the dust settles quiets the tugging down. "Now can we talk about things without yelling or brandishing swords at each other?"

Xenovia looks to be in shock, though Irina manages a small nod. Both of their eyes are locked on Sclamhaire, and honestly the looks on their faces are hilarious. I'm careful to keep that inside though, laughing at them probably wouldn't help anything right now.

I glance over my shoulder at the two devils behind me. Akeno looks somewhat maliciously amused, while Rias has an expression I choose to interpret as, 'oh, so that's what it looks like from the outside'. I actually give her a small smile before I head back to my patch of wall.

After several moments of silence Rias coughs, "Well then. Why don't you tell us what's actually going on, as I don't believe that the church sent you here with instructions to not tell us anything." She paused for a moment in thought, "And my previous statement stands, either accept oversight, or accept that you won't be completing your mission." Rias leaned forward in her chair, "And before you consider forcing the issue, I'd like to point out that we've just rather conclusively proven that you'd lose that fight.

The two exorcists glance in my direction. Sclamhaire is leaned against my shoulder, her hilt in my right hand, while my left is resting on the Excalibur's pommel, it's points resting on the ground. The two then look at each other and have a momentary silent conversation. At the end of which Xenovia slumps slightly and Irina doesn't look especially happy either.

"Three of the Excaliburs were stolen from the church by unknown Fallen Angels." Irina sounds resigned as she explains. Like she knew this was coming, but isn't happy to see it happening anyway, "We managed to track them to Kuoh. It was suggested that their destination might be because you are collaborating with them."

The room is silent. After what feels like much longer than it could possibly have actually been, Rias sighs, "Well then. I think it best that we help you with this. It will allow us to keep an eye on you, and prove that we had nothing to do with taking them in the first place." The redhead leans back in her chair, "Yes, much better for both the truce and getting the Excaliburs out of my territory as quickly as possible."

I let out a quiet sigh of relief. That went about as well as I could have possibly hoped. Nobody started a war, and best of all we got the whole thing done before Kiba got back from whatever piece of busy work Rias found for him.

...

I should not have thought that.

The door of the ORC room opens several seconds after Rias finishes speaking. We all turn to see Kiba standing in the doorway, a demonic sword in each hand and a look on his face that's a mix of manic excitement and psychotic rage.

Well, fuck.