Hey there folks, another chapter coming out as you can see. Real quick wanted to see if anyone would be interested in doing a reading variant of this story. I would love to see one, but if you are interested DM me and we can hash things out.
A lesser note, I will be placing the actual chapter titles on the site because for some reason I never did that, not that it changes anything really but since I already have chapter titles I may as well use them right?
Last note before the story. Sorry for a bit of a longer delay than intended on this one, I re-wrote a bit of it and the chapter itself ended up longer than I expected.
Now for the actual interesting bit, the story. Please Enjoy and Review.
Arc: Initiation
Chapter 4: Sweetest Sister
Kuoh
ORC Clubroom
It had been a week since Asia had been kidnapped. Seven full days of Naruto searching Kuoh top to bottom for traces of the Fallen Angels that had been sniffing around the area and he couldn't turn up a single clue. It was driving him mad.
With his failed search, and growing issues with Rias, not only the whole peerage but the entirety of Kuoh academy had noticed the severe change in Naruto's attitude. The usually friendly and playful first year boy had become visibly agitated, and often snapped at others if bothered even slightly.
This had begun to weigh on the others too. Currently Rias was educating her newest peerage members on more basics of their new life in the clubroom. Overall, the new additions were sliding well into their new rolls. Katase and Murayama were clearly happy to simply be part of the 'in group' even if they had to be devils to do so. Motohama and Matsuda had attempted to give Issei a hard time about trying to keep this all from them, leading all three boys into a pointless argument which the majority of the group simply ignored.
Akeno and Aika were getting along far too well. They had teased each other briefly but now were circling the poor second year boys of their group like a couple of harpies. Purposefully putting down Motohama and Matsuda about taking less pawns than Issei, before popping his inflating ego reminding him he couldn't even use the most basic of teleportation spells while the supposedly weaker boys could.
While all this continued on Koneko and Kiba continued their usual routine as best as possible with the knight finishing off some report for Rias after a contract and Koneko focusing intently on her snacks.
Rias herself was largely happy with everything. Outside of one piece of her peerage of course. Naruto was stubborn, she had known that since shortly after meeting the boy. Usually she was fond of that characteristic, stubbornness translating directly into determination. This however was proving to be the first time she had found herself hating it. Despite her punishments and orders Naruto had continued his search for the missing nun and had gradually worn himself down.
Today the boy had shown up to school with deep circles under his bloodshot eyes and his usually stylishly messy hair looked more like a bird's nest. His uniform was wrinkled and he hadn't even bothered with a tie or vest. He was almost late today as well, and was the last to join them in the clubroom for lunch. No doubt he planned fully to not even show up after classes as he had done the last few days.
Rias glanced around the room. It was clear by the flat scowl Naruto had on his face as he leaned up against the wall, far from her and the others that he had no intention in participating in any sort of initiation or guidance of the new members, at least until his mood had improved.
The other older members of the group, as well as Issei and Aika, looked at Naruto with sad and worried expressions. It was clear he wasn't usually like this. The new pawns all seemed to curl in on themselves slightly, especially the girls. Unlike the more senior members they couldn't be sure of his normal attitude, but picking up the changes from the rest of the peerage they felt partially to blame for whatever was going on with him.
The time spent together was as short as Rias had expected. Naruto hadn't even opened his mouth throughout the break and the others had all spoken quietly and shortly. She had hoped to be giving her new pawns a warm and welcoming introduction over their first days as devils.
"What a mess." Rias groaned as she dropped herself into her chair. Rubbing at her eyes as she glanced up to the only other two people in the room. Koneko and Akeno were quiet as the elder girls cleaned and the younger polished off her last snacks.
It took a moment to recall that today both the First and Third year homeroom teachers were having a meeting and so their classes were given a free study period to catch up on anything they needed to.
"What should I do about him?" She asked the two, surprising them slightly. It wasn't so much that her asking them was surprising. Just that a few days earlier Akeno had offered some advice to try and calm both Naruto and Rias down after a fight and had instead received a slightly overzealous punishment from Rias for insubordination. Though overzealous punishments from Rias were more in line with slaps on the wrist from another High Class Devil, so little had really happened. The message had still been conveyed. Rias was laying down the law with Naruto and the others were not to interfere. At least that had been the sentiment then. Now though she had no idea how to proceed with this situation.
"He should be doing as you said, Rias, but-" Akeno stopped for a moment as her best friend turned her eyes to look at her and listen.
"But what?" She asked.
"It's just something Naruto mentioned to me a week ago. I don't think I'm all on board with his little crusade for this nun, but he made a good point." She said as she sat down.
"Oh and what good point was that stubborn idiot making?" Rias asked with a faint growl. It held a lot less agitation and a lot more exasperation than she had earlier in the week or even day.
"Well, I had reminded him that you didn't want him having contact with the nun. I reminded him it wasn't our issue to begin with. He said that the same could be applied to each of us in your peerage too. He said with that logic you shouldn't have gotten involved with him and Koneko as they were just some yokai-" She sent an apologetic glance to the younger girl on the nearby couch. "Kiba was a cast off from the church just like the nun is, and…" The violet eyed beauty trailed off after that, thinking of her own circumstances made her not wish to continue. Not that she needed to with Rias' mind finishing the words for her.
"This is different. This entire mess could lead to a skirmish between all three factions, which could lead to sanctions and Maou knows what else against all of us. You know what a blow to my image could do if it got out I was picking fights with Fallen Angels over nuns." Rias gradually became more miserable as she spoke, the words coming out more like a moan of pain than anything else.
Akeno bit her lip slightly at the clear agony the situation was putting her friend in. Rias was conscious of her image in the underworld, as heiress to one of the most prevalent families and sister to one of their rulers it was a necessity. However while she might have enjoyed some lee-way in this situation normally things were not in her favor. It was an open secret she despised the arrangement she had with a son of the Phenex clan. That in itself was no issue as well. Most devil women were known to make disapproval of an arrangement for their hand widely known if they disliked it. The true issue came from the fact that Riser was a more established devil than she was, and her peerage of 'misfits' as some had come to call them, had been used to paint her as incompetent and weak.
In devil society being weak was worse than just about anything else. No doubt Riser was using that to increase how much power he would have once the arrangement went through should Rias fail to stop it. Already rumors about him being made a guardian over Rias' peerage once they wed had been spread. Something rare but not entirely without precedent. That thought alone truly drove Rias' worry and disstress.
Abruptly Koneko tore both the older girls from their thoughts as she stood up and started up her magical circle.
"Koneko?" Rias asked with a raised eyebrow as she leaned back up from resting her head on the desk.
"Going to help Naruto look for the nun." She said softly with no emotion causing both of the older girls to narrow their eyes in surprise and annoyance.
"Have you listened to a single thing I have said for the last week?" Rias nearly growled, causing Koneko to actually flinch slightly.
"Naruto says abandoning a comrade makes you worse than trash when we train." She simply replied before stepping into the circle and disappearing.
Rias and Akeno were silent for a while before Rias let out a faint groan plopped her face back on her desk.
"His idiocy is spreading." Her muted voice came out the curtain of red hair that draped over her.
Akeno fought off the laugh building in her as she gathered up the dishes from lunch and started back toward the clubroom kitchenette. Once she came back Rias was flipping through paperwork sent by her father to complete. Stopping only to look up at Akeno who had a knowing grin on her face.
"You don't have to say anything." The red head said with a roll of her eyes.
"I wasn't going to." Akeno chuckled.
"Yes you were, you were going to say something about how he gets to me or something." Rias shot back.
"Oh I would never presume that a younger boy would have such power over a lady such as yourself Rias." Akeno giggled out.
"You are supposed to support and uplift me as a queen you know." Rias said.
"Hmmm, I support your decision to totally give in to the demands of a young boy. Good for you." Akeno said again, twisting it into an innuendo.
Rias didn't respond, instead dropping her head onto her desk part of her wondering what she did to deserve such an insubordinate peerage.
Later that evening Naruto was in no better mood than he had been earlier in the day. He was happy at least one of his comrades was helping him in the search for Asia but Kuoh was a sizeable place, and the supernatural, no matter the faction, were all very skilled at hiding their presence, even from one another.
Now though Rias was calling both himself and Koneko back for some reason, and it pissed him off as it took more time away from trying to find someone, that for all he knew was already dead. He couldn't help but blame himself. He had been selfish wanting to say goodbye in person when he could have just had his clones escort her to the church. She would have been with others from her own faction then and in safer hands he was sure. Now, not only was she taken, but she was plucked right out of his own house.
Hurt his friend and Naruto would be pissed at you. He might even take that anger out on you. This was different though. Whether because of how completely innocent Asia was, the very fast bond they had formed, or because she had been essentially under his protection, Naruto was ready to burn the fallen and whatever hole they were hiding in to ash. That was actually being merciful with the chillingly dark thoughts that had filtered through his head over the last few days.
So thanks to a combination of his anger at his situation, and growing desire to get his hands on those responsible Naruto was ready to blow. Still he reeled himself in as best he could.
The whole peerage was here, well excluding Gasper of course. They were gathered outside a rundown warehouse, once more on the outskirts of Kuoh. Even out here in the street Naruto and Koneko could smell the blood and filth from the murdered humans inside. This stray, Viser, had recently moved into the area and already had racked up a kill count approaching the double digits. She was clearly off the deep end and needed to be handled. However she was also unusually weak even for a single pawn reincarnated devil. Unlike the more dangerous strays that killed members of their peerages to escape. Viser had just decided to never return from a contract and gone her own way.
Initially the underworld had practically ignored her leaving. She was weak, didn't seem to be causing any problems, and was simply not worth the effort. That changed over the last few weeks as she had begun cutting a path through the human population in this part of japan. Eventually landing herself in the shared Gremory-Sitri territory of Kuoh. It was a mistake she wouldn't live to regret.
Nearby Rias had begun to explain the roles of her new members to them. They listened raptly, or atleast the Kendo girls did. Aika had a rough understanding already and the boys as usual were too busy ogling the redhead as she spoke. She really needed to work on controlling her body movement when she spoke if she wanted the three idiots to retain anything she taught them.
"Now, as I said each member of the peerage takes the place of a chess piece. As our rooks, Naruto and Koneko will begin by giving us entry." She explained.
The pair of Rooks nodded to one another and smashed open the door to the warehouse with a pair of punches. The metal door practically exploded off of it's hinges and sailed into the darkness of the building while Kiba joined Naruto and Koneko as they moved into the room.
"As you can see, the Rooks are given boosts to strength and endurance. This makes them excellent for close quarters combat." Rias continued as the pawns, even Aika looked surprised at the ease Naruto and Koneko removed such a massive steel door.
Naruto briefly froze as the sight of a family of four entered his view. Two little girls and a woman, likely their mother lay dead, directly behind the corpse of a man who appeared to have tried to shield them from something. If he hadn't been pissed already, Naruto would likely have been able to better control himself. Instead this was more of the icing on his cake of a shitty week.
"HEY Bitch, get out here and die!" He screamed out into the darkness surprising his peerage mates and causing Rias to hiss in anger at her Rook.
"Oh my, so loud. So foolish. You stink terribly too!" A voice called back. "I can't wait to make you smell just like these ones here. You'll fit right in." The origin of the voice came into sight causing the pervs to grin at the sight of her nude upper body, until she came fully into the light.
While her upper half was that of a young, nude woman, her lower half was monstrous, and soon her face took on more monster like characteristics as her smile grew too wide for a human face. Her teeth peeked through her stretched lips showing needlelike points that glinted in the dim light despite being more yellow than white.
"Yes, I think-" She started once more only to be silenced as a fist slammed into her body doubling her over. The fight, if it could be called that was very short.
Naruto slammed into Viser without mercy. He didn't use any of his typical shinobi grace, or hard earned strategic mindset that Rias and the others had come to expect with him. Just anger and strength. It wasn't like he needed anything else anyway. Viser really had been a weak piece only worth the effort to put down because of her murders of innocent humans.
The peerage grew more and more uncomfortable as the blond brought his fists down into the dying stray, again and again. The woman hadn't even screamed out during the ordeal. Gurgling faintly for a time, before the only sounds was the wet popping of the rook's fists as he kept beating on her.
"Naruto that's enough!" Rias shouted bringing him out of his brief stupor.
At first he rounded to shout at Rias only to freeze when seeing the group before him. The looks in their eyes held him there. The absolute disgust and fear from new members, and shock and again fear from Koneko and Kiba. Even Akeno held a disapproving look on her face though at least for her he could imagine it wasn't the act itself that bothered her, but the difference in his usual demeanor.
The worst though was Rias. She looked trapped between fear, anger, and grief from how he was acting and seeing angry tears built up in her eyes hit him like a bucket of cold water. She noticed his change immediately. As the boy stood and stumbled off the ruined corpse of Viser Naruto stammered out an apology to Rias and the others. Rias surprised him though. Instead of shouting at him or trying to lecture him as she had done all week she instead grabbed hold of him and teleported the two back to her home.
Once there she pushed him into a chair and disappeared briefly into the kitchen before returning with a couple of his favorite sodas and sat down beside him.
They were silent for what felt like hours. They had long finished off their drinks and simply sat by one another. The stress and exhaustion of the week finally catching up on both of them. After so long in silence though Naruto finally spoke.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly causing her sigh softly and relax into her seat.
"Just tell me what's going on with you. I've never seen you like this before. You never act out with hatred, but that was nothing but hate back there. Not to mention this whole week we have done nothing but fight. Over a nun of all things." Rias spoke softly, but there was some steel in her voice. She was getting her answers finally, whether he tried to avoid it or not.
"She's not just a nun." Naruto growled back quietly. The pair fell into silence again while Rias simply stared at the features of her rook.
"Okay, she's not just a nun. What exactly is she to you, Naruto?" She asked.
It was Naruto's turn to sigh and sink back into his chair. How was he supposed to answer that when he felt so confused by it himself. He knew a few years ago, before becoming a devil he would have shouted something about it being the right thing to do to save Asia, or how he made a promise. That was then though. Naruto was a different person now. At least he thought he was.
"That's not easy to answer Rias." He finally replied.
"Then just tell me what you can. I'm tired of fighting with you. My peerage is supposed to be my family Naruto, and I hate fighting with my family." She said with the mix of force and gentleness only she seemed to be able to pull off.
"I know, I've been acting like such a dick lately." Naruto chuckled morosely.
'Worse yet you have been acting like that Uchiha from your old team.' Kyuubi helpfully added in Naruto's mind causing the teen to twitch slightly at the insult.
Rias moved across the room and sat beside him pulling him into a hug. After only a moment of hesitation Naruto returned it and the pair embraced tightly. The boy couldn't fight the warm feeling that swelled in his chest at the gesture of the older girl. Rias was right. Her peerage was a family, and he had been pushing them away over a single disagreement. Granted a major one, but a single issue none-the-less.
"I just want you back to how you were. Just tell me why this means so much to you." Rias said into his shoulder.
The pair broke apart and Rias, instead of returning to her seat wedged herself in tightly beside Naruto in the same chair with a mildly playful look getting the boy to chuckle faintly at how stupid she was being at the moment.
The girl was a very handsy person when she was being affectionate. He doubted he would get out of arms reach from her for a while now that they weren't trying to glare each other into submission.
"She is like I was Rias. I think that's part of why it's so important to me." Naruto tried to explain, but the raised eyebrow from the redhead showed that she didn't quite get what he was trying to say.
"We never really talked about my life before coming to the underworld before. Just bits and pieces but most of it I just sort of left behind me." Naruto said getting a slow nod from Rias kind of seeing where this was going. "Asia was thrown out of the church in Italy for healing a devil did you know that?" Naruto asked getting a surprised look from Rias at that.
"If she was thrown out of the church why is she trying to get to the one here in Kuoh?" She asked him getting a shrug in response.
"I never asked. I just figured it was sort of like exiling her to a remote position. Like the dishonored nobles in the underworld. How they get sent to territories along the border with the Fallen Angels territory to exile them from higher noble's courts." Naruto replied causing her to nod.
"But like I said, she was like me. Something happened when I was born and my village wanted nothing to do with me because of it. They kept me separated from everyone else and...it doesn't matter anymore. It's in the past, but I was like her Rias. Not to mention, she is the kindest person I have ever met. You were more kind than almost anyone I have ever known when I met you Rias, but Asia is like she has no anger or hate in her at all. She is just…" Naruto explained as best he could while Rias' eyes softened as he told her a bit about his past.
She knew he disliked speaking about it at all. She was pretty sure that meant, like most of her peerage, his past was painful. Still the way he spoke about Asia caused an odd sensation within her. Rias wasn't certain what, but put that line of thought to the side as she thought about what he said.
"You said she healed a devil. How?" Holy healing spells and things like it wouldn't work on devils, only harm them further.
"She has a sacred gear. It can heal anything. I saw her heal a little boy with a scraped knee with it. She couldn't even speak with him or his mother but she healed him right up without needing a thank you." Naruto said with a small wistful smile.
Once more Rias was quiet. Her mind immediately going to the use of such a healing ability in her peerage. Plus it was clear Naruto, even after only knowing her briefly, was very attached to Asia. She sighed to herself in thought. Her mind had already been made up earlier in the afternoon. She knew what she would be doing.
"If my brother finds out I'll never hear the end of it. Worse yet imagine Grayfia learning about this." Rias said.
Naruto's eyes lit up with her words and his usual bright smile spread across his face. Rias couldn't stop her own smile either. Just seeing the boy revert back, even a little, to his normal happy self felt like a massive weight off her shoulders.
"I'll have everyone helping to find her, Naruto. We have to be quiet about this though, so that means you can't keep skipping class and acting so angry. If Sona figures out what exactly is going on, it won't be long before my brother and sister-in-law know." Rias explained getting nods from her rook before he tilted his head slightly in thought.
"Wait, why would Sona tell? You guys are friends." He said, a bit surprised.
"Yeah we're friends, well more like rivals, but it's Sona's way of trying to protect us. She's far too serious." Rias explained, enjoying the return to their more casual interaction.
"Oh, yeah, she's way too serious, not that you are all that much better when you feel the need to be all official." Naruto answered not noticing the twitch in his king's brow at his words.
"You know, really you both could use a chill pill. Maybe go to a spa or something. Relax for a day." Naruto was pondering aloud now, his mind for once off of Asia's situation. It was a nice break for him too to not be worrying about the girl.
He turned to speak more to Rias and opened his mouth before clicking it closed at the annoyed expression on her face. He wasn't quite sure what had happened, weren't they both happy a second ago.
The red head practically man handled the boy, despite him being physically more imposing than her as she began landing admittedly half hearted blows on him while demanding he take back what he said about her being too like Sona.
It wasn't long before the pair had devolved into giggling messes as they soon began play fighting. Both were very happy that things were back to how they should be between them.
The next day, the peerage as a whole met once again for lunch. It was even shorter than the meeting the day before though. This time orders were given, and using his transformation ability Naruto had all of his peerage mates memorize the look of Asia before they went out.
Another two days passed by and still the group had yet to find a lead on the nun. Still Naruto appeared far happier to have the backing and help of his family once more. With more hands and eyes involved, the search was a lot more organized now methodically sweeping the city in a manner that wouldn't alert anyone to them searching. It just looked like highschool kids out enjoying their free time.
Sadly not all their time could be spent searching for Asia. They still had to complete contracts and go to school so as not to alert their fellow peerage in Kuoh or the kidnappers that they were on the hunt.
Finally on the third day of helping with the search something would turn up. Sadly it wasn't exactly how the group wanted to catch a lead. Let alone was it even intentional being that it started with three unfortunate pawns responding to a contract from someone who had been a regular for the peerage.
Things were odd as the trio entered the house, thanks to Motohama making a teleportation circle just strong enough to carry both himself and Issei. The furniture was overturned, slashes and burn marks covered the walls, and the strong smell of blood filled their slightly enhanced noses.
It took a few seconds for their brains to catch up to the sight before their eyes. Just beyond the big couch that filled the center of the clients room lay a disgusting sight. The bloody mockery of a church altar sat into a ruined wall. Their client's remains, as it could hardly even be called a body, was stretched across the wall like a hellish art piece.
"Oh, they actually came. See what did I tell you!" A slightly deranged voice shouted in glee.
"No kidding, Freed is going to be happy we get to cut up actual devils for a change." Another added.
"Oh, look they must be newbies too, look how pale they got." A third voice cackled causing the boys to finally turn to the left of the macabre altar and see the gathering of men before them. Each of the three men carried weapons of various kinds though most noticeably knives and small hatchets which were nearly as sharp as the grins plastered across their faces.
"Haha! Look they're about to wet themselves!" The largest called out, however his smile shifted to surprise by the sudden movement of the middle boy.
Issei didn't think. He already cursed himself for hesitating as long as he did, but still he dove headfirst into the three smiling monsters in front of him. It was a poor plan, well really it wasn't a plan at all. Without missing a beat the man swung his axe catching Issei in the shoulder spraying himself with the boy's blood.
Shocking, more to himself than the murderers, Issei didn't simply drop from the injury, instead landing a fist right in the man's nose with a satisfying crack. Only then did Issei fall, rolling backward away from the three stunned men before him.
"You little shit!" The man bellowed, clenching at his broken nose.
"You've done it now devil!" one of the others shouted however they stopped themselves from attacking as another man stepped into the room from the opposite direction.
"I can't believe you let him hit you, Medetev. I thought you were better than those two slackers you haul around." The new man said. His hair was silver and hung to his shoulders, he was also more bloody than any of the other three including the one that had planted his axe in Issei's shoulder.
"He caught me by surprise, Freed that's all, plus look at them. These are some actual devils to cut up. Just like you wanted right?" The now named Medetev said as he popped his nose back into place with an ease that sent shivers down the three devil boy's spines.
"You make a good point, but you know I prefer the first cut. At least you saved the other two for me. That weakling looks like he'll bleed out before I can have any real fun with him." Freed said with a relaxed demeanor.
Motohama and Matsuda glanced at their downed friend and saw that the man's words were true. Issei looked like he was already on the cusp of passing out, and he definitely couldn't use his arm at the moment.
"We have to get Issei out of here." Motohama whispered, causing the four rogue exorcists to roll their eyes. They could easily hear the boy.
"Yeah, I'll buy you some time. Aika and Akeno taught me how to put a weapon in a pocket dimension so I'll do what I can." Matsuda said with determination, summoning up what looked like a simple aluminum baseball bat.
"Yeah, no. You three are my guests. Don't worry we are going to have a great time together. Well, I'm going to have a great time." Freed smiled sadistically before they were all interrupted once more by a bright flash of red light.
"Exorcists, no Rogue Exorcists. This month just keeps getting more annoying." Rias said flatly as she glared the four men down.
"I don't like that kid all that much, but you're gonna pay for hurting him, I can tell you that." Naruto said with a snarl beside her after glancing at Issei's unconscious form. He was a bit impressed actually. Issei couldn't teleport, but he could use his connection to the peerage to signal for backup, and he had been practically screaming through the link since he had showed up at the house. Smart of him to know he was outmatched. THough he definitely lost points for jumping head first into an axe.
'Hypocrite.' Kyuubi whispered in his mind, causing Naruto to get even more pissed off. Really the fox just knew how to push all his buttons and these four morons were about to get an opportunity to be Naruto's anger management for a bit.
"O-ho! More shitty devils to play with boys!" Freed hollered getting vicious smirks from his comrades.
"The four of you don't stand a chance against my peerage scum." Rias growled out. She, Naruto, Koneko, and Kiba moved in front of the newer members of the group. Motohama and Matsuda had already drug their friend back behind their fellow devils with Katase, Murayama, and Aika gathering together. Akeno was nearby too, ready to teleport the newest, and weakest members of their group out in an instant.
"The four of us, she says." Freed mocked. "Kristoff, get that bitch out here and drop the barrier!" He shouted and before long a large european man entered the room dragging a thin chain. With a heavy tug yet another person slid into the room with a whimper.
Time seemed to freeze briefly for Naruto as he took in the appearance of the girl being drug behind a leash like some kind of pet. She was clearly roughed up, a busted lip and black eye as well as ratty clothes.
Taking a step forward Naruto was ready to tear the men apart to rescue her, but Rias caught his arm and gave him a look. Confused and angry he nearly yanked his sleeve from her grip before he felt it too.
Asia's appearance had distracted him. Now though, thanks to Rias he was focused again. He could sense what she was trying to warn him of. There were not in fact only these rogue exorcists, there was actually far closer to fifty or more all ready to pounce on them. Adding on to that were the signatures of several fallen to bolster their strength. Normally, the peerage would likely come out on top. However they needed to protect their weakest members still. They weren't ready for battle, and one of them was already severely wounded.
Short on time, and having to protect their comrades meant the peerage was already at a disadvantage. With the numbers and advantage light had over devils innately, things were most definitely not in their favor here.
"Asia." Naruto called, making the girl tear up in surprise at seeing her only friend.
"Naruto we need to leave." Rias said tugging at his arm. They were at disadvantage.
"Not without her Rias, look. THey put a fucking collar on her." Naruto snarled.
Freed laughed before shoving the one called Kristoff out of the way. Yanking at the small girl's leash she stumbled into the room and directly into the rogue exorcists arms. Then the man turned his eyes to lock with Naruto's as the pair stared each other down. One filled with rage and the other madness.
"So you must be the filthy devil who had her at his house when the Fallen Angels picked her up, huh. I mean I know this whore was tainted, she was cast out and everything, but I didn't know she was giving herself over to weak little devils like you." Freed mocked. Seeing the clenching of Naruto's fists and increased glare he couldn't help himself as he continued.
"Hey, devil, you think she'll let me in too? I mean she might be a bit younger than I usually go for, but she isn't the youngest I've had. I bet she cries too, I love it when they cry." He said rubbing his hands up and down the terrified teen in his grasp. The madman laughed when he saw the boy's eyes fill with pure hatred.
"Oh, what do you think guys? Would you like to share thi-" The exorcist began only for his words to be cut off when he briefly glanced to his fellows. There had been a burst of smoke and the room, and in fact the whole area had turned to chaos.
Two of the exorcists were already dead, Medetev crumpled to the floor bleeding out while Kristoff barely held the wrist of one of Naruto's clones far enough away to keep the kunai from embedding itself into his throat.
As for the original Naruto had replaced himself with Asia in another of his basic abilities and begin to swing his knife for the man's throat. As the sudden fight broke out other exorcists as well as fallen swarmed into the house to attack the peerage. Far too many. Akeno and the pawns thankfully took the small window of the other fallen forces attacking to flee and teleported back to the clubhouse using Akeno's larger reserves.
"Naruto! You have to leave her, something is preventing teleporting her with us. I think it's because of some blessing from the church or these exorcists!" Rias shouted as she tried to teleport herself and the remnants of her peerage as well as Asia away.
"I'm not leaving her!" He called back. Struggling against the two more skilled Exorcists from the group. Rias blasted some of their friends as they entered, turning them to dust but narrowly avoided the spear of light from a child like fallen angel girl who tore a hole in the roof.
"We can't be arguing about this now!" She shouted back just as Kiba prevented her from being shot from behind by a well placed exorcist. The man howled as he collapsed to his knees bleeding stumps where his hands had been.
"We need to leave there are too many." Kiba said with gritted teeth as he locked blades with an above average bladesman among the rogues.
Naruto glanced around the room and grimaced at the situation. He wasn't about to let them take Asia back though. Not when he had just gotten her away from this man. He wouldn't let them hurt the innocent girl any further.
"Rias, go! Go, I have a way to catch up. I promise." Naruto shouted as he kicked the couch into Freed sending both through the wall nearby and taking several of the rogues with them.
Rias hesitated only a moment before she shot a mild glare toward her ever reckless rook. He was most definitely getting punished for this, but as usual she would put her trust in him.
"I am going to yell at you when you get home!" She shouted before teleporting herself, Kiba, and Koneko from the room leaving Naruto and a handful of clones battling against the swarm of Rogue Exorcists and Fallen Angels.
Despite the situation naruto couldn't help the small smile on his face at both Rias' odd choice of words and the fact that she was proving just how much she trusted him. It filled him with warmth to know that. However now was not the time to dwell on that. Instead it was time to go back to the classics.
"Hold on Asia." Naruto said to the frightened girl in his arms. A small nod was his only answer but it was enough.
With a massive cloud of smoke, enough to completely blanket and thereby blind the fallen and their lackeys, Naruto and Asia, as well as roughly a hundred clones made to look like the pair, raced out of the large holes made in the house both from him hurling Freed and a couch through the walls as well as Rias' emotionally fueled Power of Destruction attacks.
While the group managed to clear the smoke quickly, and only a very few of the clones escaped. None paid any mind to the transformed pair of squirrels racing away in the opposite direction of clones.
An hour later and the peerage was in high spirits despite the chaos and stress of the situation earlier. Not only had they all escaped, with Asia's liberal usage of her sacred gear Issei and the boys were back to fighting fit and the group couldn't help but celebrate in a minor fashion. Naruto, the overprotective boy that he was, hadn't been more than three foot from Asia since returning to the clubhouse and with a little help from Aika had made sure Asia was patched up from the rough treatment of her captors as well as had gotten her some new clean clothes to wear even though it was little more than a snug pair of shorts and a tube top the girl had in her bag.
"That was crazy. What were you thinking Issei?" Motohama asked his friend.
"What do you mean?" He asked back.
"He means why the hell did you throw yourself into those guys like that? They could have killed you! They would have killed you if it wasn't for Asia-chan healing you up!" Matsuda shouted.
"I dunno, as soon as I smelled the blood I started signaling Rias and it just sort of happened.
"It was brave." Katase said, but Murayama added her two cents right after.
"But really stupid. Baldy is right. You could have died." She said.
For all of them things were just beginning to sink in about the realities of their new lives. Yeah they had been killed by those witches, but they didn' remember much of the event. The fight with that stray had been very brutal but also very short and they hadn't ever felt in danger. This time though all they could do was flee.
"We need to train." Matsuda suddenly said catching the attention of the others, and not just his fellow pawns he had been talking with either.
"Yeah." Issei simply replied, remembering for a moment about killing the witch not too long ago. He didn't feel bad about it per se. More he felt sad that he had to resort to doing it in such a way as he had.
"We want to be of use to our King after all. Beyond just our bodies of course." Aika said getting eye-rolls from the other devils but severe blushes from the kendo girls and nosebleeds with perverted giggles from the perverted trio.
"Don't worry, once all this mess is finished with, we can get back to business as usual, which means we can start training again." Naruto said getting slightly pale faces from the older members not that he noticed leaving the new pawns all very confused.
The group settled down and ate, enjoying a meal, primarily made by Akeno. For Asia, it was arguably the most enjoyable time she had ever had outside of the afternoon spent with Naruto. It was a very natural feeling to laugh and participate with the others. The new pawns also finally saw the usual side of the Rook. He laughed right alongside them, enjoyed the food, and even openly apologized for how he had acted during the last week. In a span of only a few hours Rias watched her peerage start forming into something she had only dreamed of.
By the time the majority had slipped off to bed, the group having decided remaining in the clubhouse for the time being was the best choice, Naruto, Asia, and Rias had found themselves slightly separated from the others near the Gremory Heiress' desk.
"It is nice to really meet you after all Asia." Rias said. After letting her bias against the other factions go and getting to know the sweet blond girl Rias couldn't stop the urge to keep her. The knowing smirk on Naruto's face said he could tell too.
"You too. I've had so much fun with everyone. It's like how I always imagined friends were like." The girl softly replied while brandishing her pure smile.
'Oh, that should be illegal.' Rias thought at the purity that practically radiated from Asia. Even as a creature of darkness, a literal devil, she couldn't help but want to protect the sweetness that was this girl. Now she got at least some of why Naruto was so hard pressed to rescue her. The thought of someone ruining this girl made her blood some how run cold and boil simultaneously. She needed to focus on why she had pulled them aside first though.
With a glance toward Naruto, who's smile simply grew as he attempted to fight back an eager nod at her, Rias sighed before turning to Asia with a small kind smile.
"Asia, I presume you know of the evil pieces system?" Rias asked though she was a bit surprised by the nun simply nibbling at her lower lip in thought.
"Not exactly. The church keeps most of that sort of thing from the majority of members in the worry that those with unsavory ambitions might try and use the information for personal gain. All they tell us is that the evil pieces make people into slaves for devils." Asia responded, somewhat worried saying so would anger the older girl. She was getting along so well with everyone the prospect of angering them made her chest ache.
"Ah, that actually makes sense." Rias commented before sighing once more as she realized she would have to explain the system again. She had been doing so much in regards to educating her new members lately, even with the others helping that she was growing a bit annoyed by it.
"Well the short version is, the pieces are used to create a peerage that some of the less honorable devils use as slaves, however Rias here uses them differently." Naruto quickly explained getting looks from both girls. Asia nodded in understanding though turned to Rias to explain what exactly her fellow blond had meant by using them differently.
"Oh, yes, Naruto is right. I use my pieces to instead create a family. My hope is to have a close friendship with all of my pieces and, like I said, live like a family." She explained getting wide eyes from Asia before she again nodded.
"I see, but why are you telling me this?" Asia asked suspicious but still a bit confused.
"That is the question isn't it." Rias said with a small chuckle. "Well, you see each piece has different things that make it unique. Technically I am the king of my peerage, Akeno is my queen so she has received reinforced strength, durability, speed and magic. Naruto is a rook so he has received reinforced strength and durability. Kiba who you met earlier is a knight which makes him more agile and fast, and then there are the pawns which are most of my peerage which become devils like all the rest getting the basic enhancements that come with it."
Still not having had her question answered Asia just nodded as the older girl explained.
"The piece I left out is this." Rias said as she showed a bishop. "The bishop piece. This piece boosts the magical strength of it's recipient, I actually very nearly used it on Aika, however her magic is more offensive similar to my other bishop and a great many peerages incorporate their greatest healer as a bishop to make it easier to heal the group as a whole."
Now it was clear for Asia what Rias wanted from her, however she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted for herself. She wanted terribly to remain with the group, and especially Naruto. She hadn't felt so happy in the whole of her life.
"You want me to become your bishop then?" Asia asked with a bit of hesitation.
"Yes, I think you would make a great bishop and you would be a part of our family." Rias glanced at Naruto again before locking eyes with Asia and taking the girl's hand. "Naruto told me a little bit about what troubles you have dealt with, like being cast out of your home."
The pair of devils frowned slightly at the flinch from Asia. It was clear the memory still stung badly for her.
"So I want to offer you a place with us here. You can be happy here and have a new life." She gently rubbed her thumb against the other girl's hand to try and comfort her from her earlier thoughts, and to show her that she would be safe with them.
The trio was quiet for a while. Naruto and Rias watching as the girl thought about her decision. For her part, Rias was surprised by her own nervousness at the prospect of Asia turning her down. Part of it was definitely her natural greed, wanting her as the perfect bishop healer for her peerage. Her magic reserves were surprisingly large, no doubt from years of healing for the church, and her sacred gear made her even more perfect for the role. However the 'true' Rias. The one that simply wanted to bring her newest friend into her group also craved a positive answer from Asia. Naruto really was a good judge of character. After only a few hours, Rias could already feel herself thinking of Asia much the same way she did Koneko, like a younger sister. Not even her new pawns, Aika, Katase, and Muryama had tugged at her heart the way this girl did so naturally.
"Can I think about it for a while?" Asia asked while once more biting at her lips in worry of upsetting her newest friends.
"Of course you can. No doubt you are tired so why don't you go sleep on it?" Rias offered and the girl nodded following a freshly made clone of Naruto as he guided her into a room across the hall.
After the pair of devils watched the girl follow her guide out of the room they finally sagged into a pair of chairs beside the desk and relaxed briefly. For Naruto so much weight had been lifted off him, it was like coming up for air after nearly drowning. For Rias she just wanted this month to end. Technically things had been looking up across the board but it had been so stressful she was stunned her hair hadn't turned a solid grey.
"Do you think she will say yes?" Rias asked after a while of simply enjoying the quiet.
"Most likely. I hope she does, but I won't try to make her." Naruto replied.
"You know I wouldn't ask for that." She chided back.
Again the pair sat quietly for a time simply enjoying the sounds of the wind outside and peaceful nature that the clubroom typically provided. It was moments like this that showed just how perfect of a sanctuary Rias had carved out for herself.
"You know we need to be proactive now." Rias said getting a nod from the rook.
"I was planning on taking Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko to hunt down a few exorcists and collect some information, like where they are basing themselves at. Asia was kept moving and the only times she was there was with a hood on her head in case she escaped I guess. We need information before we can hit them." Naruto answered.
"That works well. I will ask Asia and Aika to make sure everyone else heals and rest tomorrow morning. I have to talk to Sona, after last night there is no more hiding this mess from her. I'm surprised she hasn't kicked my door down wanting to know why a house in the middle of Kuoh was ripped apart last night. She has already been getting nosy with our fight earlier this week." Rias said.
Naruto grimaced slightly. Sona was a good friend of Rias', even if both girls refused to call each other anything other than rival. Despite that though, Sona was a bit of a nosy girl and Rias was an 'independent spirit' in that she liked her group to be private from not just the public eye but even those not in her in group. Thanks to the ongoing fight about her engagement, that in group had shrunk to only her peerage.
"Maybe if you play it that you are trying to keep it from escalating on the devil side so it remains a small skirmish, we can buy time to get rid of the group here and the rest of Grigori will sweep it under the rug to try and hide the fact they got so badly thrashed by a bunch of children." Naruto said.
Rias giggled slightly at the thought. It was actually a good idea and she would probably go with that. Still while Sona could buy it, for Rias the notion that the Fallen Angels would just sweep them taking out what she assumed was some sort of advanced party for a larger incursion, was dubious at best. What she really expected to happen was Azazel to more or less shrug his shoulders and ignore Kuoh after something else caught his eye. The Fallen Governor General may have turned his faction from a scattered group of victims to arguably the most outwardly powerful among the three, but he also cared more about getting into a woman's bed or one of his experiments than actually advancing the Fallen's position. He had also been the main proponent for peace at the beginning of the cease fire during the great war. If this was his doing Rias suspected this was more of a test than anything to see where everyone stood. It wouldn't be the first or last skirmish between factions for that exact reason.
"We should get some sleep as well. We have a lot to do." Naruto suggested as he stood.
"Hmm, yes. Come with me, I still hate sleeping alone and you have avoided me for a week." Rias pouted slightly getting Naruto to chuckle.
"Of course. Put the kicked puppy look away, you know I wouldn't say no even without it." The blond said as he let her lead him to her bedroom and shut the door behind them.
In the morning the groups split apart. It was decided to let the newest pawns sleep as the injury and stress of the previous night, as well as the few hours spent truly getting to know one another had taken a lot out of them. Aika and Asia quickly hit it off, though Aika was as overly handsy as normal with the poor girl. The two of them remained to watch over and provide any additional healing for the others should the need arise. Meanwhile, Naruto, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko changed into what Naruto had termed their mission gear.
The clothes remained normal enough to easily pass for common wear to not arise suspicion among the people of Kuoh, however underneath the average looking t-shirts and pants were full sets of mesh armor copied from Naruto's own set that he came from the elemental nations with. The armor truly wouldn't add much in the way of protection against a spear of light or a blessed blade or bullet, but it would give a slight amount of resistance to hopefully lessen the damage taken. Not to mention the clothing was surprisingly light so even the smallest added protection without losing their typical speed and agility was worth it.
Rias for her part was meeting with Sona in the academy's student council room, hopefully everything would go well on her side of things. It was far more simple for Naruto's team at the moment because he had unintentionally prepared himself for this exact task.
"This way." Naruto said as he and the other slowly made their way down an alley in the admittedly worst part of Kuoh.
"How are you so sure, most of these exorcists are no more powerful than a normal human. THe blessing is what gives them their strength and we can't sense them that way." Akeno asked. She had very high levels of magical sensing herself and was confused how her junior could pick their prey out from the mass of the whole city.
"Eh, well normally I couldn't find them, they just blend in too well and the fallen have been good about suppressing their signatures, not that I could pick them out across the city in the first place. Thing is I can find myself though." Naruto said with a grin getting confused stares from the others.
"Stop being dumb, just explain." Koneko said in a deadpan getting Naruto to frown. What a little kill joy, he would need to tease her for that later.
"Take all the fun out, why don't you. I can sense the general area of my clones no matter how far away. The closer I get, the more accurate to their exact location I can sense. That big guy called Kristoff is not really very perceptive." Naruto explained.
"Oh so you slipped another clone on him during the fight?" Kiba asked.
"Yeah, it was kind of too easy really. I had been worried it might be another ambush that's why I didn't teleport straight to the clone. As far as aI can tell though there are only four people in the building in front of us." Naruto said.
"Good thinking. You're right about how many are there as well. Four, all just barely more powerful than a normal human. No doubt they have blessed weapons though so be on guard everyone." Akeno ordered as she prepped a spell aimed for their entry point. A second story window.
"Remember we need at least one of them alive. Try to capture instead of kill." Naruto added getting nods from his fellow devils.
With a blast and shattering of glass the four devils swept into the room at speeds no human could match. Even the slowest among them, Koneko was on her target before the exorcists could react.
Due to taking the fools completely off guard while sleeping and their speed, there wasn't even a fight. The strikes to knock the waking men right back into unconsciousness. It would take over an hour before they woke up a second time, after being drenched with ice cold water courtesy of the impromptu interrogators, Naruto and Akeno.
"W-what? Oh Shit!" Kristoff said in terror as he realized his situation.
"Being as you were hauling my friend around last night, I'm gunna guess that makes you relatively high up in the crow's pecking order of fodder. So I won't be starting with you." Naruto said in an even and quiet voice to the man before him.
"Instead," Naruto continued as he walked over to one of the others who was bound and gagged. "I want you to watch. We're going to hurt this one. No reason why him instead of the other two, just luck of the draw. Anyway, you watch and see what will happen if you don't answer me when I get around to asking questions. Let's get started."
What came next had Kristoff in tears, and he hadn't even known the other's names. The duo of Naruto and Akeno slowly tore their victim to pieces before his eyes. Naruto stone faced and stoic like it was any job, Akeno appearing as though she was about to climax all while smiling as broadly as her lips could without tearing.
By the time the poor bastard was dead two hours had passed and not only the torture victim, but each of the other exorcists had soiled themselves. Finally the pair of demons turned toward Kristoff and stepped closer causing him to try and back up in his chair, only to go nowhere as they encroached on him.
"You know, I actually hate doing this sort of thing. It isn't me you know. I don't mind beating someone to a pulp in a fight, or even really killing to be honest, but torture just rubs me the wrong way. Akeno-chan though, well just look at her. She's practically glowing. She might need a few minutes to herself after we get done here to...relieve her pent up urges." Naruto said with almost a friendly tone.
"That all being said, I might not enjoy it, but when it comes to threats against my family and friends, well I am far less merciful than even she is. I won't laugh while it's happening but I will do things to you that made what we did to him look like some rough bedroom playing. Do you understand what it is I am trying to express to you mister Kristoff." Naruto, by the end of his little speech, had sidled up beside the man and forcefully angled his head to look at the ruined corpse in front of them.
"Y-yes." Kristoff whispered.
"That's good but you will need to answer louder when I ask you questions. Wouldn't want to mistake what you said as trying to avoid my questions right?" Naruto asked as muffled cries from the other two filtered over as Akeno began giving them small shocks of electricity.
"Just ask me!" Kristoff suddenly shouted, terror in his voice.
"Great, so first question. Why is it you all seem to want Asia-chan so badly hmm?" Naruto asked as he moved in front of Kristoff, pulling a chair of his own up.
"I dunno, I swear to god I don't know!" Kristoff said, panic rising as he realized he might not be able to answer some of the questions. Naruto grimaced slightly at the usage of God's name causing him mild pain.
"Well, you really aren't helping me out here man. I mean it's like you want me to torture you." Naruto grumbled as if he was pouting.
"No-no-no, It's the truth, I swear it's the truth. They haven't told us the point of the girl." The man was on the verge of tears at the thought of Naruto not believing him.
"Look, just because they didn't outright tell you doesn't mean you have no idea right? What did it look like they were planning huh? Give me something Kristoff it's literally life or death." Naruto said, as if he was honestly worried for the man.
"An altar, there is this altar in the basement of the old church on the edge of town! I don't know what the plan is but they built it so they could chain her down for some kind of ritual!" Kristoff told him everything he knew.
"That's much better. Now tell me, how many Fallen are there?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know." Kristoff said, only to flinch as a wet pop followed by the muffled sound of a blood curdling scream came from behind him, where Akeno was 'playing'.
"You are not good at this are you?" Naruto asked in a deadpan.
"Um, at least four maybe more. That's the truth!" Kristoff said getting a nod from Naruto.
"Good, now what about human followers? What kind of weaponry, and what numbers?" Naruto asked raising a hand to stop Kristoff when he opened his mouth.
"Don't say I don't know, tell me your best answer even if exact numbers aren't something you know." Naruto said.
"Uh, at least sixty, maybe more. They all have blessed weapons too. Blades, guns, some even have actual swords and shit." The man explained.
"That's great to hear. Thank you." Naruto said meanwhile he mentally noted that there was more than there was last night.
"What can you tell me about the fallen leading you guys?" Naruto asked. He had a decent amount of information now. Plenty enough to act on anyway but more details wouldn't hurt.
"They keep separate from most of us except Freed. But he's a freak, I mean I know we don't necessarily fall into the normal crowd but that guy." Kristoff said with a slight shiver. That guy Freed was a true madman. They all took pleasure form the killing and power they got but Freed was a psycho no and or about it.
"That's fair. One final question before we're done alright?" Naruto said with a comforting smile getting the man to nod back eagerly.
"Tell me about the church. Defenses, layout, everything you got."
"They have a barrier. I don't know what it does other than hide them though. They put it up so they didn't have to suppress their presence there. The church is one level, just a normal abandoned church, but the basement is much older. I think it's a really old christian site before Fallen corrupted it. Now it's like a ritual area with a big altar. The Fallen sleep down there too." He said racking his brain for anything else.
"What do you mean an old christian site?" Naruto asked. He was a bit worried about the church and angels getting involved.
"I dunno, way older than the actual church though. Maybe a couple hundred years old?" Kirstoff explained relieved at the nod from the blond.
"You've been very helpful Kristoff so we're done here." Naruto said as he stood up.
Kristoff let out a relieved sigh until her heard a pair of muffled screams followed by wet slicing sounds. Sounds he recognized from his line of work very well. In front of him Naruto drew his own knife clearly intent on giving his prisoner a quick death.
"No Wait! I told you everything you asked for!" Kristoff screamed as he again tried to back up in his chair.
"I know, that's why I am going to make this painless. You still hurt Asia and are still a threat man. It sucks but that's the way the world works." Naruto said as he slowly stepped toward the man.
Kristoff was surprised by the genuine sorrow and pain Naruto seemed to feel at the prospect of killing him, but he was still going through with it.
"Wait! There's more! They are going to attack today to get the girl back!" Kristoff yelled making Naruto stop short.
"Explain or suffer." Naruto said with a cold tone.
"Vow on your word you won't kill me! You devils are bound by that shit right? I'll tell you if you promise to let me go." Kristoff replied.
"I'll cut the bindings off you immediately if you tell me." Naruto responded.
"Not good enough. Say the words! Vow you won't kill me if I tell you." Kristoff said. Naruto could give him the fact that was smart thinking. He saw right through his plan to cut through him and the binds.
"Fine. I Naruto Uzumaki, Retainer of the Gremory Household and Rook of Rias Gremory vow on my soul that I will not kill you if you tell me the plans to attack my King's peerage and kidnap Asia Argento." Naruto said with gritted teeth feeling the faint magical pull on his being as it bound him to his word. Kristoff sighed in relief and nodded his head.
"Alright, today at noon, they plan to hit your clubhouse at that academy. They are going to burn it down and attack in the confusion while kidnapping the girl." Kristoff explained.
Naruto froze as he glanced at the time on his watch and seethed internally. It was five past noon already. With a nod to Akeno he left to gather the others. As for Kristoff, his relief at being spared would be short lived with a single sentence from a sultry voice behind him.
"There is always a loophole." Akeno said to him before finishing him off with a clean swipe. Sadly she couldn't take the time to enjoy playing with the exorcists as much as she wanted. Rushing off after Naruto the group teleported back to the clubhouse only to find the worst before them.
Rias, singed slightly alongside Aika heaved heavy breaths as they looked over the badly burned set of pawns beside them. They would all need healing again. Behind the group the clubhouse was a pillar of fire as Sona and her queen tried to douse it with water to at least keep the flames from spreading beyond the engulfed building.
"The newbies just can't catch a break." Naruto grumbled, though his attention was most definitely focused on the fact that yet again Asia had been simply taken from a place he had put her for protection. Rage coursed through him at the thought.
"I should have left clones." Naruto said with a frown as he helped the group get the injured pawns to the infirmary.
"It wouldn't have done much Naruto." Rias said beside him as she began stripping to her underwear alongside Akeno to heal the pawns.
"Yeah, the building was engulfed in seconds. Asia and I were so focused on trying to get the others up and out that we didn't notice the Fallen until they had grabbed Asia. I think they put a sleeping charm on the others too. Even when they got burned, they didn't wake up." Aika explained as she joined the other two magic users.
"Still maybe-" Naruto began before a poke in the side from Koneko got him to shut up. The raised eyebrow from the girl got him to nod. He did tend to blame himself a bit much. Though he wasn't sure how he understood what she meant from a raised eyebrow alone.
"It will take a while to patch them up and remove the sleeping spell. We should probably remove the spell after they are fixed though. I don't want them waking up covered in burns." Rias said as she climbed into the bed beside Katase.
"Rias and I will fix the girls up and then help Aika a bit with the boys. She needs the experience if we are going to keep getting into fights like this." Akeno said while playing with the limp arms of Murayama.
"That's perfect then. Me, Koneko, and Kiba can hit the Fallen while they think we're down and out then." Naruto said getting looks from Rias and Akeno, both clearly disliking the idea.
"Not happening. You're waiting for the rest of us." Rias said with steel in her voice.
"Rias, it might be too late then. You all can back us up after you take care of this. We'll even save some for you." Naruto attempted to joke.
"For someone always talking about working as a group, and friendship and all that you go off on your own quite a lot." Akeno said with reproach.
"He won't be alone this time though." Kiba said, stepping up beside his fellow blond getting a smile.
"I wanna punch something too." Koneko said with a shrug. The flat expression coupled with her words caused small grins to quirk on the other's faces as well.
The group was silent as Akeno and Rias shared a silent conversation with one another.
"Fine, but if you are outmatched you retreat. Just be careful, We'll be there as backup as soon as possible. Sona would help but the whole clubhouse is engulfed now, her peerage will be dealing with that for a while." Rias caved.
"We have the drop on them this time. It'll be a piece of cake." Naruto said as he, Koneko, and Kiba disappeared in red flashes of light.
Appearing a short distance from the barrier created by the fallen the trio of devils readied themselves for a fight. Hopefully with surprise on their side, and the fact that they were superior to any individual enemy of the group they could do enough damage and rescue Asia before rejoining the majority of devils to finish the targets off.
"Are you guys ready?" Naruto asked his friends.
"Of course." Kiba said with a small determined smile. Koneko simply nodded as she adjusted the gloves on her hands.
"Alright, we need to make quick time from the barrier to the building itself, I don't know if it will alert them when someone passes by." Naruto created a clone that picked Koneko up. At her glare he chuckled lightly.
"You're faster than most rooks Koneko-chan but we need to be as quick as possible. Plus I'll let you break down the door to make up for it." Naruto said as he situated the girl on his clone's back.
Koneko simply nodded as she tried to hide her small blush.
With that the group sprinted forward. Kiba was slightly in the lead sword at the ready with Naruto behind him and the clone carrying Koneko just behind him. Surprisingly there was practically nothing in outward defenses.
"They sure are arrogant." Kiba said as they stopped once reaching the closed doors of the church.
"Yeah, though something is wrong, there is only a few people inside. Maybe twenty tops. All rogue exorcists. Except one." Naruto said with a frown.
As soon as Koneko was set down Naruto's clone transformed into a bug and flew through one of the busted windows of the rundown church. After a few minutes it poofed and Naruto grinned broadly.
"What is it?" Koneko asked.
"These guys are way too arrogant. They think that they have us running scared from the fire. Plus Asia managed to escape because they just locked her up in a cage without a guard I guess. The rest of the fallen and most of the exorcists are chasing her down now, no doubt they will catch her, but for now there is no-one really stopping us from taking this place." Naruto explained getting nods from his friends.
"Koneko, will you do the honors?" Kiba asked as he nodded his head toward the door.
The small rook stepped forward and swung a tiny fist back before slamming it against the center of the large double doors knocking the aged wood right off their rusty hinges.
With that the three devils raced into the room and set upon their newest prey. For the men inside they were enjoying idle chatter and drinking when the front doors exploded into the room smearing a pair of their comrades across the floor.
By the time the exorcists could react the devils were among them. Naruto's fists and knives cleaving a bloody path down the center while Koneko smashed her way down the left of the room and Kiba hacked apart the few on the right. As with most of the rogues they had fought over the last couple of days, these men were not up to par when facing three mid-class devils of someone of such standing as Rias Gremory.
The only exception was the fallen angel man at the back of the room. Unfortunately for the exorcists he had been situated away from the rest of the group and was not fast enough in reacting to really do anything to help them. Unfortunately for the devils, he was too far to immediately engage in the trio's area of expertise, close range.
Prepping a set of light spears the fallen angel cackled as he hurled them at his enemies. Naruto's clones swapped out with Koneko and Kiba in the last instant while the original simply dodged around the spear and the three rushed in close to the angel.
The man continued to laugh as he danced around the three teens in surprising agility. The four of them all seemed unable to get a strike against each other before they broke apart slightly to try and find a better way to attack.
"We really underestimated you devils. To think just three of you could kill all those soldiers with such ease. Then again they were pretty much cannon fodder." He mocked.
"Yeah well, being a peerage of the House of Gremory, a certain amount of power and skill is expected." Naruto said clearly.
"Oh-ho, so this is Gremory territory. I thought that was the Gremory seal I saw when you all turned tail and ran." The Fallen Angel pushed.
"Yes. So I am going to say this once. I am Naruto Uzumaki, Rook of Rias Gremory, Heiress to the Gremory Clan and lord of this Territory. Surrender yourself to me and be spared or die for crimes against the Noble House of Gremory." Naruto said. Internally he grinned, he loved getting to sound all official like that.
"How boring. I think I'd rather just kill you and that Gremory Heiress honestly." The Fallen said with a smile.
"You know attacking a High Class Devil in her own territory will lead to war right?" Kiba asked.
"Kid, if it wasn't obvious we were fine with that outcome when we set up shop here then let me state it clearly now. We don't care if the devils and Grigori go to war. Our master would probably prefer that to be honest. It doesn't matter in the long run, I'm tired of talking to a bunch of brats about shit they won't need to worry about in a few minutes. Just fight." With that he launched another light spear at the group but was shocked when they exploded into a cloud of smoke and the three real devils slammed into him from above, having hidden in the shadows of the ruined ceiling while Naruto's clones distracted him.
"It's over. You crows have been awfully arrogant." Naruto said as he and the others picked themselves up. The crumpled form of the angel taking in his final breaths below them.
"Ye-yeah." He groaned out. "Seems that way. It doesn't matter though. We'll get what we came here for or die for it. Master would kill us for failure." He said as he struggled for air.
Naruto frowned at that. Just like shinobi back home. This man was just another soldier following orders to his death. Honestly he should be used to it, but the prospect of someone throwing their life away like this still bothered him.
"Why follow him if he would kill you for following him?" Naruto asked.
The man stared at Naruto before scoffing. He shook his head with great effort before chuckling at the idea of a devil wanting to understand him. Dohnaseek had his pride though. He wasn't about to make nice with some little upjump devil teen.
Naruto frowned as the Fallen Angel simply stared at him and chuckled until taking his final breath.
"I guess even in another world some things never really change." Naruto whispered to himself, only heard by his fellow yokai who looked at him in confusion, though he clearly meant no-one to hear it so she would wait for him to bring it up if he ever wanted to talk about it.
Once finished with checking their opponents the trio investigated the rest of the church. Just as Kristoff had stated, there was a basement with a sizeable altar. The purpose of the altar was easy to understand too. Shackles to hold a victim in place for whatever ritual was set to occur. At least it meant they were not going to harm Asia too badly, whatever it was they planned would need her to be in decent enough shape for the ritual to take place in the first place.
It was roughly the shape of a cross and had brutal chains and shackles to hold it's victim in place. Not something Naruto planned to allow to be used even should he and the other's fail to rescue Asia. Thankfully, outside of whatever inscribed markings to give it's activator the ability to perform whatever it was the fallen planned, the thing had practically nothing to make it sturdy beyond the basic stone and metal work that it was composed of.
Tearing the thing down and smashing it to rubble felt almost as good as braining the exorcists on the floor above.
So it was by the time Naruto, Koneko, and Kiba had finished investigating the church, destroying the altar, and removing the dead bodies Rias and the others had arrived. They were initially surprised by the fact that the enemy wasn't present, or rather that only a few had been present. After explaining everything they had learned to the others Rias, Naruto, and Akeno gathered together to discuss the new plan to handle the threat.
The new members meanwhile mingled with Koneko and Kiba while trying to ready themselves for the coming battle. Aika and Issei were slightly more prepared, having had slightly more experience with the supernatural than the others, but still Issei had only been a devil for a short period and despite having killed someone already he knew he and the others weren't truly ready for this sort of thing yet.
"I would feel better with Sona and those others with us." Issei said as he kicked around some broken pieces of wood from the remnants of a rotten pew.
"Yeah, but there is a reason they didn't come. What if some of the fallen and their followers broke off to attack the academy. We already will be feeling pressure with the destruction of the clubhouse, if the rest of the academy were to be damaged we might just be forced back to the underworld." Kiba tried to explain to the other boy.
"That makes sense I guess, but still, the way you guys made it sound we're going to be fighting a whole lot of people pretty soon and I don't really see how most of us can help. We're not trained for fighting like you guys." Issei countered.
"Don't underestimate how much stronger becoming devils has made us Issei." Aika cut in.
"Yeah man, have you seen how much stronger we are now? I mean I know the rest of you are a lot stronger than us but I barely felt it when Katase-chan was stomping on me for trying to take her panties earlier today." Matsuda said getting a pair of hard punches to the back of the head.
"Did you feel that Baldy?" Katase growled as her and Murayama glared at the boy cradling his head.
"Hey now, cut-it out unless you two want to help me rub on his head to make him feel better later." Aika said with a giggle as she licked her lips.
The group devolved into lighthearted bickering while Koneko and Kiba watched them.
"I hope they can handle this." Kiba said with a sigh.
"Perverts are tough." Koneko said with a shrug getting a laugh from the knight at her joke. Not that she meant it as a joke.
"Still, I'm more worried about Katase and Murayama. Aika has her magic to rely on, and like you said Issei and the other two are tough. The two of them though have good skill with kenjutsu, but they aren't to the level of a trained exorcist." Kiba said with a frown.
"Good thing they won't be fighting fully trained exorcists." Rias voice called out causing the peerage turn to their leader and two closest confidants.
"What do you mean Rias-sama?" Murayama asked.
"Just what I said. We have come to learn this group is most definitely a rogue group. The fallen aren't with the rest of Grigori even so hardly any of these 'exorcists' really deserve their title. Most may have attempted to become exorcists, as it's one of the few routes in the church that actively hunts and kills those they see as enemies. Only a couple seem to have actually received training though. As much as I hate to admit it, the church usually has a decent vetting process for it's recruits. Plenty still slip through as the numbers are the largest of any faction or group, but the fact remains most that would turn on the church to join a group like this, never make it to the actual combat training." She explained.
"Yeah, no doubt when you give the girls a couple of your swords, Kiba, they will do just fine against these idiots." Naruto said.
"That being said, all five of you, I want to stay close together throughout the fight and focus on smaller groups of the weaker enemies. Leave the angels to myself, Akeno, and Naruto. Koneko and Kiba will focus on the harder to defeat exorcists and you five will be responsible for the mob." Rias said causing the group to tense up.
"But that's so many." Motohama whispered out, but it was plenty loud for the rest to hear.
"Yeah but I will be using clones to distract them and split them up into smaller groups for you to take out bit by bit. Don't worry, we know what we're doing." Naruto said. This actually wasn't all that different than some of the bandit extermination missions team 7 had completed back in the elemental nations.
The strategy back then had been for Naruto to use his clones to confuse and isolate small groups of bandits for him and the other genin to take out while Kakashi took out any with higher skill such as missing-nin. It was surprising just how many missing-nin were genin who weren't even in the bingo book but had cobbled together small forces of bandits as makeshift armies. Even a genin was far and above the average human so it was extremely commonplace.
"That being said, Matsuda let me see your bat, I have an idea." Naruto said.
When the boy handed Naruto the metal bat Naruto and Akeno eyed it carefully before stepping away to start working on the thing. Soon after a few small flashes of light, and a blur of complicated looking hand signs from Naruto as well as use of a paintbrush of all things they returned the bat to the boy who glanced at it and back to the other devils.
"Not as good as I would like but more than enough for today. Akeno and I added some seals and runes to it to help you out. Just put a little bit of magic into it when you hit something and enjoy the show." Naruto said with a mischievous grin.
"Okay?" Matsuda said, holding the bat slightly away from his body as if it might burst into flames.
"So we have a general idea of the plan now, but now we need to better prepared for the coming fight. I'll go make our own barrier that will give us a bit of an advantage, Naruto you and Koneko see about lifting some of the broken stones from downstairs up here to use for some better cover and Akeno fix the door up, I don't want them to suspect a thing until they are in here." Rias ordered and the group each began working to prepare the battlefield for the coming fight.
It wasn't quite an hour later that the peerage hid themselves as best they could in the nooks and crannies of the church, using the growing shadows from the late afternoon light to help conceal on top of Rias' pair of barriers. The first hiding the group of devils from the returning enemy. The second acting like a one way door. Once inside, no-one was leaving till the barrier came down, or Rias went down. This whole series of skirmishes ended here, one way or another.
"Remember, my clones will isolate small groups for you to pick off, so try to stay on the outside of the fight as best as you can and help each other out. You guys will all do fine." Naruto reassured the pawns before rejoining Rias and Akeno in the rafters of the church. They needed to be able to drop on the Fallen wherever they might be.
As the group sat silent, some confident, some anxious, the group of rogues returned in high spirits. Naruto had to clench his fists and teeth to keep with the plan at seeing a clearly roughed up Asia. The poor girl was being mocked and humiliated by several of the exorcists as the ruined remains of her clothes left little to the imagination, and a mix of mud and bruises showed just how bad her afternoon had been.
At the head of the group the three Fallen looked on with bored expressions and disgust, more at the weakness of Asia than the actions of their subordinates.
"I can't wait to get this over with. I'm tired of being around these scumbags." Raynare scowled.
"We could step in you know, if it bothers you." Mittelt said while picking at her fingers.
"No, she needs to know the price of trying to escape. I won't let them do more than shame and beat her a bit though. She has to be pure for this ritual to work, otherwise I have to wait for a blood moon to do it I think." Raynare responded as she turned back to focus on the state of her temporary base.
"Where is Dohnaseek and those other idiots?" She suddenly asked causing the other fallen to turn as well and look around.
"Someone is here!" Kalawarner shouted just as the last of their group entered the church and the walls seemed to flash with a faint red light.
"It's a damn trap!" Mittelt screamed as she and the other angels began making spears of light.
The slower of the exorcists looked shocked and hadn't even reached for their weapons. The majority of this group however were aware enough to jump into action at the words of their Fallen masters.
The fight was on immediately. Naruto dropped straight toward Raynare narrowly missing with his opening attack as the pair began fighting while flying circles around one another. Kalawarner was less lucky as Rias managed to land a glancing hit with her Power off Destruction on her wings causing her to scream in pain and drop to the ground. However the fallen angel was the second strongest of her group and wasn't about to be finished with that alone. Mittelt also took a hit from Akeno, however, while the power of destruction ruined the blue haired angels ability to fly, Mittelt simply screamed in pain from the bolt of electricity before she engaged Akeno in combat, both dodging around each other's spells launched at them.
With a roar dozens of Naruto's clones seemed to simply appear among the exorcists as the pebbles and debris of the room transformed back into their true nature. The surprise caught many of the enemy off guard and it cost them with their lives, others managed only small injuries before destroying the fragile clones. Among the rogues though a group of five including Freed completely avoided the ambush. Each of them were clearly at least partially trained by the church for battle with the supernatural.
"Koneko! Kiba! There!" One of Naaruto's clones called out pointing at the group of five. The rook and Knight pair nodded before rocketing forward to engage their targets. Kiba was immediately caught off guard with just how skilled Freed was. The pair locked blades and fought for dominance over the other. Koneko sadly found herself surrounded by four exorcists with a decent amount of training. It was more thanks to her durability than her skill that she kept in the fight against them, however without support she would be in a tough spot.
The Pawns set about doing their job with admirable skill. It was clear they were not trained or really ready for battle, but with the support of Naruto's clones and by following the plan set aside for them the group began picking off any exorcists that got separated from their comrades. Motohama, Matsuda, Katase, and Murayama all handled their first kills well. Hesitating afterward only briefly as they followed Issei and Aika's lead, the pair of pawns showing a surprisingly efficient side in combat. Isse, unlike when fighting the witches had managed to reach a level of control over his sacred gear to at least summon his gauntlet and had shown three separate exorcists, why it was a bad idea to let him land a good punch with it. Aika, hadn't mastered her fire spells yet, however mastery over a gout of flame wasn't truly necessary in these conditions, and much like a living flame thrower she had burned several unlucky enemies to death.
"You guys are doing great!" One of Naruto's clones said as it freed a shuriken from a dead exorcist's throat.
"Yeah keep it up, you guys are showing just how valuable you are to your new family ya know!" Another clone said as it finished off another by slamming down a cinder-brick with Rook level strength.
The pawns swelled with pride at the blond's words. Engaging with more passion than they already had the five of them dove into their work. Katase and Murayama handled their gifted blades from Kiba with skill of those who had practiced with a blade for years. They shocked themselves with how much more skilled they were than a few of their victims. Motohama had little in the way to really arm himself with beyond some kunai given him by Naruto. The boy hadn't really had the training to properly use a sword but had shown decent ability with a knife in the time they had to prepare. While he would need to find something that truly suited him, for the moment he handled himself as well as he could, staying close to the Kendo girls to ensure their opponents stayed down and no-one got behind the group as a whole. Matsuda showed just how athletic he actually was, not to mention the surprise added to his bat by Naruto and Akeno had made itself known with bloody results as his bat seemed to not only impact it's victims with greater strength than he felt himself swinging with, but also gave it's targets a random additional bite of magic, from burning them to shocking them, or even just soaking them in water. The only trouble he had was that using his magic was tiring him out and he would need to pick and choose when he activated the new abilities of his bat if he wanted to keep from dropping from exhaustion.
Akeno and Mittelt continued to fight near the center of the room, both completely careless of the exorcists caught by their missed attacks. Akeno was actually having a good time, this Mittelt looked like a weak little girl in a gothic dress but she took hits from Akeno's spells like a champ. Mittelt on the other hand was growing furious by her inability to land a single blow on the devil she could tell was beginning to toy with her. This simply added to Akeno's enjoyment though.
"Thank you for such a good time filthy crow, I never imagined you would provide such an enjoyable evening." Akeno said with a suspiciously demure voice.
"Shut up and die demon bitch!" The fallen responded launching a new pair of light spears one of which pierced an unlucky exorcists shoulder after popping through a Naruto clone and quite literally attached the man to the church's wall.
"Such a dirty mouth on a child. You need a spanking I think!" Akeno said with a giggle as she landed a physical blow for the first time in the fight bouncing the smaller woman off the floor with her strike.
"I wish I had more time, but Naruto-kun and Rias-sama won't be very happy if I toy with you too much. I'll just have to play with the pawns a little later to make up for it." She said as she finished off the fallen angel with a large blast of lightning leaving only the charred remains of feather and bone behind.
With that Akeno took stock of the other fights of the room before jumping in to give Koneko a hand against her three remaining opponents.
For Rias, her fight was going similarly. Kalawarner had been at a disadvantage from the start now that she could no longer meet Rias in the air to battle. Instead it had turned into a game of cat and mouse as Rias chased after the blue haired woman as she dove behind cover, both that of stonework and her cannon fodder soldiers.
Neither woman had spoke to the other since the fight began. Rias wanting to simply kill this little crow that had wandered into her territory and then get back to caring for her peerage however was needed. Had Kalawarner been able to fly, she might have put up some fight, but even then it was clear Rias had a massive advantage over the fallen angel. Truly all these fallen seemed to be little more than throwaway soldiers, similar to how the exorcists were for them.
That having been said, both Raynare and Kalawarner were smarter than the average crow. Kalwarner knew she had no chance of winning and from the onset had cared only for escape. Sadly, when she finally reached the window nearest her, it became quite clear that Rias' barrier would take a truly focused magical attack to break through, and Rias was dead set on not letting that happen.
"Just give up and I'll make it painless." Rias finally said as she hovered above the Fallen angel hiding behind a ruined pew.
"Azazel-sama will avenge us you know!" The blue haired woman said trying to buy herself time.
"Not likely being as you are in not only a high-class devils territory but the Gremory Family's territory." Rias responded as she prepped a larger blast of power of destruction intending to take the fallen and her cover out.
"Wait, Gremory territory? So the Lucifer's family?" Kalawarner said in shock. She hadn't known precisely who it was they were dealing with here. There was no chance at all of backing from fellow Fallen then. Nothing but death waited for her. She wasn't about to go out without a fight though. Or perhaps, she might be able to do something else.
Glancing past her cover, Kalawarner eyed her closest friend and lover. Raynare, had never been a violent girl until the last few years. Then Kokabiel had convinced her into this whole mess. Now Kalawarner could only suspect Dohanseek was dead and Mittelt had been turned to a black mark on the floor a moment ago. With two of her friends gone for good, only Raynare and herself remained.
'Please let this count.' She silently prayed.
Just as Rias was about to attack the Fallen woman she jumped from behind her cover and made a bee line toward the opposite side of the room, surprising Rias. What exactly could she hope to achieve? It didn't matter she supposed, the fallen was as good as dead. She took aim and launched her spell.
Then she saw it, the Fallen had been preparing her own attack as well, but she was in no position to hit any of her peerage. Instead she launched the attack directly toward the apparently empty doorway to the church, just past Naruto and Raynare's fight.
"Raynare! RUN!" She cried out just as her attack landed and caused Rias' trap barrier to flicker and fail.
Raynare watched in horror as her lover was destroyed by the infamous power of destruction. However she also heard and responded to her, now late, lover's words. Abandoning the fight Raynare shot toward the doorway to try and escape.
Sadly for her, Naruto wasn't about to let this woman escape again.
Just as she made it to the door, a shadow shifted from around the corner revealing a waiting shadow clone with a rasengan swirling in hand. Raynare's last thoughts centered around joining her friends in whatever came next for Fallen who had passed on.
Shoving the corpse of the Fallen Angel aside Naruto's clone ran directly toward it's target and snatched up Asia, who had done her best to conceal herself beneath a stacked pair of pews.
Pulling her into his arms, the clone put her in a princess carry before bolting past the fights and instead of out of the door, ran into the basement stairs of the church where they waited for the last of the fight to finish up.
Naruto and Rias joined the few remaining clones and pawns in finishing up the exorcists however, having seen their fallen leaders be killed the morale of the exorcists was broken and as a whole they scattered. Several more died as they fled but plenty managed to escape as the exhausted Gremory Peerage thought better of pursuing them.
Taking the time to finish off the few wounded exorcists the bloodied and tired peerage all but collapsed into the remaining seats in the room as Asia and the clone carrying her rejoined the group.
Manic smiles adorned nearly every face as the group rode out the high of battle. The weight of their killing of the enemy would come in time but for now they couldn't help but feel like celebrating.
"I can't believe we did it." Motohama said with a broad grin as he adjusted his glasses.
"You pervs are surprisingly good at fighting." Murayama said with a faint smile toward the boys getting broad grins in response.
Naruto had taken off his shirt and draped it around Asia as she clung tightly to him in a hug. The others couldn't fight the smiles at finally seeing this ordeal over for the poor girl. It was also clear just how much Naruto cared for the girl as he returned the hug tightly.
"I can't believe a kid younger than us is so much luckier with girls than us." Issei groaned as his two pals nodded along.
"Oh, now no need to feel jealous. You three have plenty to offer right?" Aika said as she draped herself over the boys while pulling Katase and Murayama along with her getting yelps from the two girls.
"Well, yeah, but I mean all girls like is Naruto and Kiba type guys. I mean you're the same right?" Matsuda said fighting the nosebleed back from feeling Murayama pressing into his back.
"Perhaps, then again while Kiba's swords were great for battle I have no doubt your swords a better for other things." Aika whispered seductively into the boy's ears causing all of her fellow pawns to light up in blushes at the bold words.
Koneko who was nearby and close enough to hear the girl physically twitched at the innuendo.
"Trying way too hard." She said with a disgusted look before stepping closer to her fellow senior members of the peerage.
While Aika toyed with her fellow pawns and the rest of the group caught their breath Asia wiped the tears from her eyes as the largest smile she'd ever had stretched across her face.
"I knew you would rescue me again Naruto. Thank you." She said softly, so happy to have a friend like him.
Naruto smiled down at the shorter, though older girl and tightly hugged her back once more. He wouldn't let this sort of thing happen to her ever again. He vowed it.
"Of course I did Asia-chan. You're one of my precious people now ya know?" He replied just as softly, causing the girl's already broad smile to stretch even more.
Turning to the others who had gathered around Asia flashed them her smile and continued to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Thank you all for helping me. No-one has ever been willing to do something like this for me in the past." She said.
The others simply smiled or waved off her thanks. Issei, Matsuda, and Motohama were a little more aggressive, trying to give the girl hugs of their own only to be held back by Aika and the Kendo girls.
Rias stepped forward and hugged Asia gently surprising the younger girl though she returned it simply happy to have made so many friends.
"You are precious to Naruto, which means you are precious to me Asia. Don't forget that." Really Rias wasn't telling that that wasn't all of the reason she wanted to help the girl. The blonde was cute as a button, similar to Koneko, so it was very hard for Rias' true nature to not burst free and simply squeeze the life out of Asia.
"Thank you Rias. I wanted to answer your question from yesterday too." Asia said.
Rias was a little surprised by that, though internally she was giddy at the prospect of getting her new bishop, she tamped down her excitement with the possibility she would be turned down. Rias actually wouldn't blame her if Asia wanted nothing to do with the supernatural after everything she had been through.
"I expected you to take a bit longer to decide. Did what happened with the fallen make your answer for you?" Rias asked.
"No, well not entirely. It was more that you all came to save me. I never had the chance to have real friends before and you have all already done so much for me. I want to join your peerage to return the favor." Asia said with a smile.
Naruto spoke up though. "Asia, you don't need to return the favor. It's just what friends do neh? Whether you join or not it doesn't change that we are your friends now."
Rias gnawed on the inside of her cheek at her rook's words. She adored how noble he was, but her devil instinct was to exploit the feeling Asia had of owing her something to get a powerful healer for her peerage.
"I know, but still I want to join. I want to be part of your peerage Rias-sama, and I want to be part of you family like you mentioned." Asia said, becoming more timid with the second half of her statement.
Rias smiled down at the girl before nodding and waving her hand to summon her remaining bishop piece. This would no doubt supercharge her already impressive healing powers and with training Asia might become the greatest healer in the underworld with the help of her sacred gear.
"I promise you now Asia Argento, you won't regret becoming my bishop." Rias said in a reassuring tone with an official air.
"I know." Asia said as she glanced up at the blond rook beside her. She had no doubt this was the right choice.
Ah so the end has arrived finally. A bit longer than I am used too, but rather than split the chapter up I wanted to go ahead and wrap up the dealings with Fallen Angels. I know some of you suspected I would keep Raynare or possibly others alive, but I never intended too. The addition of some humanizing elements for at least Raynare and Kalawarner was more simply because I hate the idea that all the villains are purely evil for evil's sake. I mean they have to have loved ones and the like too right? Well most of them some, are just too crazy but for those that aren't it feels more right that they have some form of bonds with others just like our heroes.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed and would love reviews and like I mentioned before if you are interested in doing a reading for this story please PM me and we can discuss specifics.
Until Next Time.