Welcome to the next chapter!
Mastergab; Thanks! Yeah, it would fit quite well.
ThunderBasilisk; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, it certainly would do that.
Guest 1; Thanks, glad that you like it! Thanks for the vote. Akira will have some ties to Azazel as we'll see pretty soon.
Hiruka Lucifer; Thanks for the vote.
vergil uchiha; Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for the vote. They'd be cool.
MCRasengan; That would be an interesting contrast yeah.
The null king; Thanks for the vote.
qunbulah; Thanks for the vote.
Freddy8712; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, would be fun. Could be interesting if Millicas was. Yeah, they're possibilities.
beenjammin0421; Thanks! Thanks for the vote.
Benny Farr; If Akira wanted, he could reincarnate Vali. Thanks for the vote. Thanks for the peerage suggestions. Yeah, Issei could be.
shephawk; Thanks! Thanks for the vote. Iryuka could be yeah. Thanks for the peerage suggestions!
Longinus888; Thanks! Yeah, Strada's a good guy, being forced to do something he doesn't like to do. Glad you liked their introductions. Elmenhilde could be yeah. They'd be cool peerage members! Thanks for the vote. Thanks very much!
Sunfang193; I did consider that Longinus.
darkjason78; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, that is true.
Eternal Chaos Dragon; Thanks. Thanks for the suggestions.
BlackShadowStorm; Thanks for voting. Yeah, it certainly would shake things up.
HolyKnightX; Thanks! Glad you liked the interactions with Vali and Rossweisse. Thanks for the vote! Yeah, it surely would do.
Gaming Masters of The Wall; Yeah, it is a pretty cool Longinus. Yeah, it would be quite symbolic between the two halves of his powers. Thanks for the suggestions!
ShadowUzumaki55; Yeah, it's back! Yeah, they'll remain close. Glad you liked the introductions between them. Thanks for the vote.
DxD Family; Thanks! Yeah, we'll explore the relationship between Diehauser and Akira as the story goes on. Since we don't really know much about either yet, that's some reasons why I thought I wouldn't put them on the list.
Guest 2; Thanks! Thanks for the vote, and peerage suggestions!
TREMES; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, he could use Incinerate Anthem in pretty cool and dynamic ways.
Silver crow; He did save Rossweisse yeah. He would do with Rossweisse yeah. It represents both his Mother and Father. Diehauser's doing his best. Yeah, Akira isn't aware, but he's also a realist, so he knows it is a possibility. He learned from both his Mother and his Father. Akira's got a teasing side to him. Yeah, he's building resistance to holy items and objects. Well, right now he doesn't have a home, maybe when he gets to the Underworld he could do. Yeah, he's got some knowledge on Sacred Gears and the likes. Yeah, Zekram's wanting Akria dead is more about keeping the status quo than any real grudge against him. Vasco is yeah, we'll see how that goes. Diehauser and Azazel did yeah. Thanks for the vote. Those are interesting peerages. Thanks for the harem suggestions. I've got some plans for Vali. Yeah, Ophis could do. The Balance Breaker would have some similarities, but some differences based on Akira's preference. Gram and Caliburn could be cool. Yeah, if Canis Lykaon wins those stuff would be cool to cover. He's someone that fights when necessary, he enjoys the heat of battle, but he doesn't enjoy killing people. Yeah, he could meet them before canon starts up.
Guest 3; Thanks for the suggestion and vote.
Guest 4; Yeah, it's come out. Same as normal. Maybe it could be yeah. Isane could be a thing. Yeah, it could have that power.
Guest 66; Thanks! Thanks for the vote. Thank you very much.
Guest 5; Yeah, I'm sure they'd be quite shocked hehe. Thanks for the vote. Yeah, she'd be a nice fiancee for him to have.
Guest 6; Thanks for the vote. Valerie could be. Isane could be. Rias could be yeah.
Reviewer Requiem; Yeah, they'd surely be shocked if he did have something like that. Yeah, would be interesting to see its true power.
Guest 7; Thanks! Glad you liked it! Glad you liked how Rossweisse was introduced. Zekram is yeah, one day he might get what's coming to him~ Vasco is a very good guy, even when he's doing something that he doesn't want to do. Yeah, that would be a cool way to refer to them in the future, thanks for that! Thanks for the vote. Yeah, some ways it was used was a bit baffling. That would be a cool mini arc between them. Yeah, it would be cool to see some do opposite roles. Thanks for the harem suggestions!
Guest 8; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, could be Akira x Lavinia.
Guest 9; Thanks for the vote. I could see Vali saying that to Isane yeah.
Guest 10; I don't think True Longinus would be prohibited from being used, as other holy objects weren't in Rating Games, like Xenovia's swords. Thanks for the vote.
arun loa2015; Thanks! Thanks for voting.
Guest1a; She'd be cool yeah.
FinalFantasygamer2794; Thanks!
Bigguy45; Thank you!
synode; Thanks for the vote, and harem suggestions.
King of the Nothing; Thanks!
wtfstarftw1; Thanks!
Guest 11; Yeah, it would be interesting to write about it.
Neonlight01; Glad you're happy for this stories return. He did yeah. Thanks for the peerage suggestions and vote.
Guest 12; Thanks for the harem suggestions and vote.
asterotus; Yeah, it would be.
badclash04; Thanks! Glad you liked the fight scenes~ Thanks for the vote. Yeah, that would be quite interesting, thanks for the suggestions!
Guest 13; Thanks! Yeah, check out the bottom for more information about Isane. Yeah, she's a pretty interesting character, Iryuka seems fun. Thanks for the vote. Akira might know some stuff about the King piece, we'll see in the future what he does, and doesn't know yet.
Amazing Dymond; Thanks! Glad you liked the little teasing scene haha~ That would be a pretty cool peerage, thanks for the suggestions!
Lightwave; Thanks for the vote.
AlphaOmega; Rossweisse will be yeah. Thanks for the vote. Akira and Arthur could do yeah.
Guest 14; Yeah, he could be both.
haibara san; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, it could have a power like that. He'd be strong with either Longinus.
kurenai lui; Thanks.
Drake san; Thank you.
JakMaxters; Thanks! Yeah, it certainly would be that, thanks for the suggestion!
OceanMaster32; Thanks for the vote.
Sparxon1543; Thanks for the vote.
Crenin; Thanks for the vote. That would be pretty interesting to see.
Insert my name; Thanks very much! Thanks for the vote, and yeah Isane could be.
surge911; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, it would make him rather flexible.
Frost; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, they're pretty interesting characters.
Guest 14; Yeah, it's going to be quite the ride. Yeah, they could be.
TheHikariRe; Thanks for voting.
Crestowl; Yeah, it would be interesting to use. Thanks for the vote.
OechsnerC; Thanks! Thanks for voting.
Zhany; Thanks for voting.
Akeno fan; Yeah, he'll be meeting Vasco very soon, we'll be seeing how that goes. Lemons could happen at some point. Thanks for the vote and harem suggestions.
Fire; Yeah, seems so. Thanks for the vote.
Guest 15; Thanks for the vote. If it comes from his Longinus, he'd be able to hold the light blades. The Balance Breaker would have some of his abilities, but some would be replaced with ones that would fit Akira more. She'd be a cool peerage member.
Shadow; It would be quite the slap in the face to the Church. Thanks for the vote.
Luna; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, it could take the form of a sword.
Lord of Prospero; Thanks for voting. Yeah, Sacred Gears change according to the feelings of the user, so it could easily become a sword. Gram would be cool yeah.
Guest 16; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, they'd be cool peerage members.
Demon lord digimon; Thanks for the vote. I wouldn't see why True Longinus couldn't be used in Rating Games as other holy objects and Longinus' are, even people with a Longinus and Holy Sword can use both. He wouldn't need these two Longinus', added with his Worthless power, either Longinus would make great weapons with what I've got planned for them. He could be named like that ueah, thanks for the suggestion.
With those reviews out of the way, please check the bottom for more details, and it's time to start the chapter!
The hunted Vampire!
"Kill her!"
"She's the last one!"
"She has to die!"
Standing within a mostly abandoned town, a young girl with a doll like face and appearance in general, long wavy blonde hair, and piercing blood red like eyes accompanied by a very pale skin tone, looks over at those that she would once call her comrades.
Now, they were all deceased.
Having been slain by hunters that would go after her kind.
Vampires.
The girls name is Elmenhilde, and she watched on in abject horror as the Vampire hunters cruelly turn towards her, brandishing their weapons towards the young Vampire girl, looking ready to take her out completely.
She pulled backwards, moving faster and faster…
Until she felt something hit her back.
She turned, seeing that a Vampire hunter swung a blade for her body.
"Aaah!"
She let out a cry, and ducked under the blade, narrowly avoiding said blade, before she raised her hands up, and summoned bats.
"What the hell!? Get them off!"
The Vampire hunter waved his sword in front of his face, trying to stop the bats attacking him, while Elmenhilde tried running away.
However, an arrow came flying towards her, and pierced her right shoulder.
She let out another cry, but she was able to turn her hand towards the enemy, and released a small pulse of darkness. It held enough concussive force that the Vampire hunter went flying back, and landed harshly on the ground.
Elmenhilde took this chance to run away, but was acutely aware that she was being followed...
It had been a few days since Akira and Vali managed to get away from the area, and put a great distance between them. Vali realized as they did, Akira was covering their tracks, something that she had to admit was rather smart for him to do.
However, a thought came to her.
"By the way, Akira."
"Hmm?"
"We didn't get to finish speaking about the Longinus', before we were interrupted by those idiot Exorcists."
"Aah right, where do you want to start?"
"Hmm...well, go with my own first."
Akira didn't mind, so he began explaining.
As he did, Vali listened intently as they kept moving through a woodland area.
Thinking about the power of the Longinus', made her all the more intrigued to find out everything that she could do. What kind of abilities they would have, and if they could stack up to the one that she had, how her powers would play off against them.
Even Akira had to admit that he felt the same thing, that he wouldn't mind fighting against Longinus wielders in the future either.
"...And it's said that those that own your Sacred Gear, Divine Dividing and the Boosted Gear, are destined to be those that fight one another."
Akira explained, with Vali becoming interested upon hearing of this so called rival that she could be having in the future. She did hope that it would be someone that would be capable of pushing her power further and further.
"So, there's this Boosted Gear, and the owner of that, is going to be a rival to me?"
Akira nods, and begins explaining.
"According to what I've read, and legends, the Sacred Gear holders of Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing usually end up fighting one another. Some say rivals, some say enemies, though maybe one day they can be friends, it's the Dragon's inside of them that have a rivalry with one another, and according to what my Dad said, it took all three Factions to come together, to stop these two Dragons from fighting."
"The three Factions...right, the Heaven, Devil and Fallen Angels sides."
Akira nods his head as they keep going.
"Exactly, they came together, and stopped the Dragons, they eventually found their way to become housed in the Longinus' Divine Dividing and Boosted Gear. Also, those that hold your Sacred Gears, draw people to you."
"Like how?"
"Enemies, rivals, friends, lovers, people are subconsciously attracted to Dragon powers. I've heard that people that possess Dragon powers are destined for lots of different situations. People wanting to befriend them, people wanting to fight them, things like that."
Vali let out a small laugh.
"Haha, that's how it is. Good, because I want to become stronger, and stronger."
"You too, huh?"
Akira casually says, his eyes glancing towards the young silver haired warrior.
Vali pauses, turning her head fully to Akira.
"You also want to become strong?"
"Ooh definitely, I want to go and fight even God."
Vali wore surprise on her face.
"Why God?"
"Why not? I've always wanted to see who the strongest guys are, and see where I would stack up to them, if they're stronger, if I am, I'd like to become stronger. Plus, because it would be God, I think that would be a challenge. Fighting someone that created the Sacred Gears, it's something that I've always found to be very fascinating~"
When he said it, Vali saw that he had stars in his eyes, which she found to be rather endearing.
At that, Vali adopts a small smirk.
"I am glad you said that. I've seen your power, one day maybe even we could fight one another."
Akira tilts his head, then smiles softly.
"For sure, when we finally get to a safe place, we can. But for the time being, we really should try and find a place to make some money."
"Money?"
"Yes, during my travels, I've had some chances to go into villages, and perform exorcisms, and the likes. Not been able to stay in one place for too long, but when people are out of the way and have no one to rely on, being able to perform exorcisms, not only helps them, but also helps me grow stronger. Even if it is only a little money, it accumulates, and eventually be able to afford some stuff like proper food."
"So, that's how you made money huh. Alright, makes sense, we'll have to find a place to make some money."
"Great, lets get to it!"
Akira smiles out, with Vali following after him as they casually walked together, and spoke some more.
As they did, Akira was glad to finally have someone to speak to. A comrade, even someone that could consider a friend perhaps.
Around the same time, Diehauser finally had picked up the location, and saw the destruction around. It seemed that it was a hard battlefield for a child to be on, that's how Diehauser thought about it anyway.
Akira wasn't there, Diehauser knew this to be true.
It was almost heartbreaking for him to have to think about, but it was something that Diehauser had experienced before, so he wasn't someone that was stopped by it for long, and kept up his search for his little nephew. He hoped Azazel could get some information.
"Akira..."
As Diehauser said it, he suddenly felt a new presence.
His eyes widened and he turned towards it, to see that an Exorcist was approaching.
Not only an Exorcist, but one that he recognized immediately.
It was Vasco Strada, the same man that he knew was one of the strongest humans in the world.
Because Diehauser saw him and knew of his power, his immediate thought went to Akira, and why out of everyone, the Church was sending Vasco Strada to go after Akira.
As Vasco approached him, Diehauser got into a defensive position as did some of the other members of his group.
Vasco himself clutched his blade, peering at Diehauser.
"...So, you're the so-called Champion of the Underworld, am I correct?"
"Correct, and you're Vasco Strada." Vasco slowly nods. "So, what's one of the Churches strongest Exorcists doing here?"
Diehauser hoped he wouldn't be after Akira...
But his hopes were dashed.
"I've come to search for a boy, I would like if you didn't get in my way."
Vasco's words were on point, leaving no room for error.
"And that boy is?"
"I hold no obligation to explain my orders to you."
Diehauser thought he'd say something like that.
"Don't go after him."
Diehauser warned.
He knew he couldn't reason with Vasco.
He was a man that was on a mission, and he knew if Vasco came across Akira before him, then the boy was dead.
He wouldn't be able to win at all.
"So, you're after the boy as well? I'm sorry Champion, but that child has been deemed a risk-"
"He's a child, he isn't a risk to the Church, he's only defending himself from attacks your group is doing. Strada, I want to keep that boy safe, so I'm asking you to not go for him. You're high up in the Church, you can deter others going for him."
Vasco paused, and saw Diehauser's determination.
Understanding Diehauser's plea, Vasco exhales slowly.
"If you find him first, then you can keep him and I wont pursue. However, if I find him first, then I'll have to slay him. He is the Exorcist Slayer, I have to do my best to slay him, for my side."
Diehauser was initially perplexed why Vasco said it in the way that he did.
But as Vasco walked off, Diehauser believed he understood.
"His heart isn't in killing Akira. He doesn't want to, but he will for his faction. Though he is my enemy right now, it seems he does have honour, and doesn't want this to happen to Akira. Alright, I have to redouble my efforts, I hope Azazel's found something about them...this Vali, and my Akira...come on Akira, you can stay alive for a little while longer, I'm coming for you...Strada, if he does get his hands on Akira...even if it is something he doesn't want to do, he will kill Akira..."
Akira was on his mind as Diehauser set off to go and find Akira once more.
He hoped, he wouldn't be too late.
Moving from place to place, now with a companion, was better for Akira and Vali. They could have someone watch their backs as if they're attacked, and they were getting better and better at coordinating attacks, and making their abilities bounce off of one another very well, to the point that even Akira was happy to see that they could work so well together.
It had been over two weeks since they had first set off on their travels, and Akira was becoming increasingly concerned. He felt like that the enemy was approaching them more and more, so he did his best to throw the enemy off of his and Vali's tracks.
Eventually however, Akira and Vali found themselves in a remote town, that didn't have many people. Akira presented a cross for Vali, who gave it suspicious eyes.
"Why are you giving me a cross? You remember I'm half Devil, right?"
Akira gave bemused eyes.
"Really? I had no idea~"
Vali surprisingly snorted.
"Funny. So why the cross?"
"Don't worry about the cross, it isn't a real one, it looks real enough to fool people into believing we're people of the Church, and helps hide our demonic power from other sensors for a short time, a trick my Mom showed me to hide in plain sight just in case, just modified with the crosses. Less questions asked that way if we ask about things pertaining to exorcisms and such."
"I see, makes sense." Vali took the fake cross, and put it on. "Now what?"
"As long as we don't reveal stuff about us, like your Longinus, or my Worthless ability, then we can pass for normal Exorcists in training. I'll do my best to keep our auras out of sensors range, should be good for a little while. It isn't perfect, but to survive its the best I've got." Akira looked over the town. "Lets go and ask around. I can sense some disturbances in the town. Some dark presences are here."
"I can't easily destroy things though without my demonic power."
Akira pulls out a light gun, giving it to Vali.
"Here, use that. Doesn't use your power, just pull the trigger and fire light bullets."
"Right, if there's any fighting ones..."
"I'll leave it to you~ I can de curse items and other things like that with what my Dad taught me without using my demonic power. Lets see what we can get, and meet back here by this fountain in...maybe two hours?"
"Yeah, we're in a town without an Exorcists that I can sense so we shouldn't have to worry about being attacked."
Akira nods.
"Same, can't sense any, it's a perfect chance to get some money, and gather information."
Vali this time nods, and walks off from Akira, who turns and goes into the town.
For the two hours, both Vali and Akira managed to acquire some money. Akira managed to de curse some items, and Vali used the gun to exorcise some demonic beasts causing trouble for the town. Akira also managed to use what his Father taught him to assist the town with building crosses for them to have, and other Exorcist duties.
He was glad that while earning some money, he could also help the lives of those that seemingly didn't have much anyway. Even if the rewards Akira had weren't much, adding them together did give both Vali and Akira enough to buy some supplies.
Though because they were still kids, some didn't trust them to get the job done, so some they couldn't do. But the ones they could do, it was good for them to finally get some money for themselves.
As Akira was finishing up his duties for the town, he felt a cold sensation run across his skin.
He knew it was abnormal because the weather that day was rather warm, even though there were large clouds in the sky, blanketing the town a good deal. Akira himself looked left and right, moving his eyes to see if he could sense the disturbance that he felt inside.
Moving more through the town, going towards a desolate area, Akira calmly kept his wits about him as he felt that he was being followed.
He didn't want to cause the townspeople distress, so he went to an area that he would be alone in.
Akira also saw that mist was coming around him, blanketing the small area.
"So, this feeling inside of me, and the fact that the mist is gathering around despite the warm weather. It has to be the presence of a Vampire."
Akira noted to himself, as he saw a shadow moving through the mist.
Taking his blade, he turned it towards the mist, and moved forward, slicing through the mist, he didn't use Worthless, as he didn't want to draw attention to himself right now, Akira however was able to get through the mist, and saw a girl wearing a dress coming for him.
Bats sprang out, and shot for Akira, who twirled his blade, and cleaved through the enemies bats again and again. Moving as if he was dancing, the boys movements were hard for the Vampire girl to read.
"An Exorcist...hunting me are you boy? I'll show you!"
A pulse of darkness came from her hands, but Akira avoids, and shoots forward.
Using his natural strength aided by his Devil side, the young girl was shocked as Akira crossed the distance, the girl let out a cry and jumped backwards, firing off several pulses of darkness.
Akira avoids them, and then cuts into the last one, using the light blades power to divert the darkness, and flicked it to the ground before the Vampires body, which exploded before her, knocking her down to the ground.
The next thing she knew was that a blade was being held to the girls neck, she stopped, and shivered.
"...So now that you've caught me, you're going to kill me, are you? Humans are all the same after all."
The girl spoke up, with Akira's eyes looking over the girl.
He could see the wounds on her body, the fear in her eyes despite the fact that she was trying to keep up a front of superiority and strength.
Looking over her again, she looked to be rather weak, in the sense that she hadn't drunk blood in a while. Based on her appearance, that's what the feeling Akira felt from her, so he pulled back, and kept the blade by his side.
The girl looked surprised, as Akira bent down.
"You're hungry, right?"
"...I wont have to say to a human."
Akira adopts a small smile.
"You have quite the fiery attitude."
"I am from the Karnstein family, it is a rather important family within my faction so of course I am, Exorcist."
She asserted herself, with Akira lightly chuckling, and petted her head, the girls face puffed out as she stared up at him.
"Okay Princess-chan, how should I address you?"
"You may call me Elmen. My name is Elmenhilde."
"Right, you're called Elmen-san huh? My names Akira."
"Akira...the Exorcist."
Akira shrugged.
"Not really, long story. I'll share a bit if you share with me? I'll even let you have some blood~ What do you say?"
Elmenhilde coughed into her hand, as her stomach rumbled.
She looked back towards Akira, and rubbed her cheek.
"W-Well, if you're offering, then I really shouldn't refuse..."
"Great then lets get inside before the sun comes back out. It is an enemy to you, right Elmen-san?"
Elmenhilde gave a small nod, before they walked into an abandoned farm house.
Sitting inside, Akira casually held out his arm, and whispered "You can bite me, be gentle." with a hint of a playful tease in his voice, Elmenhilde was surprised by the tone, but she could feel her stomach rumbling.
She took the plunge, and bit his arm.
When she did…
"Mmmmmmmm~!"
A melodious and excited moan escaped her lips, as her teeth sunk into his arm, drinking deep of the well that was Akira's blood. Enjoying the feeling of his blood, her head felt cloudy with the new feelings filling her entire being.
It was different to humans blood she tasted.
It had two different kinds of feelings flooding her system.
As she groaned at drinking his blood, Akira watched her reactions, and how she seemed to be becoming stronger by the second.
When she finished, she pulled back, licked his arm of the small trail of blood escaping the bite marks.
"Did you enjoy drinking from me Elmen-san?"
Elmenhilde blushed at the playful tone of his voice, turning her head away.
"...I-It wasn't bad." She admitted, her eyes looking towards Akira once more. "You're strange, you aren't a human, are you?"
"Technically, I am, at least part of me is, but that's neither here nor there. What happened to you? It is a bit odd that you're out here in the middle of nowhere. You hail from Romania, don't you?"
Elmenhilde nods and explains.
"I cannot say why I was out here, because that's for my faction to know of, but yes, I was out here, doing something for my faction, when we were attacked by those Vampire hunters. They...They killed my guards, and I was able to escape. But they've been tracking me ever since."
Akira noticed when she spoke of her convoy's demise, her tone turned depressed.
"Why did they attack you? Did they have a reason?"
"On this occasion, we had nothing to do with the humans there. We were only passing through. I don't know what they have against us. I know...as humans, they probably were scared, but we made it clear, that we didn't want anything to do with them, that we didn't want to attack them or anything."
"Fear...it can drive people to do many things. I'm not excusing them of trying to kill you, but they could be afraid of your kind."
Akira posed, Elmenhilde lowered her eyes.
"Does fear, justify murder?"
Akira leaned closer, placing his hand on top of Elmenhilde's head.
The girl looked up, and saw the kind eyes of Akira.
"I think it's very complicated, there's always circumstances behind what people do. Their actions. People wont change because you tell them. You can't tell people that their feelings aren't justified, because we don't know what their experiences are in life. But I don't think it's right to take out your fear, on innocent people. Like right now, from what I can see about you, you're afraid, aren't you?"
"I-I am not!"
She rejected, but Akira peered into her eyes.
By the second, her bravado looked like it was falling.
"Fear isn't a weakness, it is okay to be afraid. I've been afraid before. The point is, you don't have to be scared to admit that you're afraid. But you also don't have to allow that fear to rule you, you can use that to help you live, overcome that fear, and become even stronger."
Elmenhilde was surprised.
As a Vampire, she wasn't ever taught that fear was acceptable, that she was superior to other people.
Being afraid, admitted that she was inferior to others.
But what Akira said, also made sense to her as well.
As she thought about his words, Akira gained her attention.
"Your Vampire faction, you haven't contacted them?"
Elmenhilde nods.
"I have, but I have to keep moving. I'm sure that my faction might eventually figure there wouldn't be much of a point to trying to help me out."
"Sounds harsh."
"Vampires can be, but that's my faction and one that I am immensely proud to be apart of."
Akira raised a brow at that, and saw that Elmenhilde did look serious.
"I see, then you get to stay in one place, and we can send you home?"
Elmenhilde gave him a strange look.
"Why would you help me? You don't even know me. I'm a Vampire, you're not. I attacked you."
Elmenhilde found it odd, someone that wasn't even a Vampire, was offering to help her.
"Because, you want to go home, right?" Elmenhilde nods. "I can relate. That's why, we leave this village, and we go to a remote area. We wait for your Vampire friends to come, and if the Vampire hunters come, then we can put a stop to them. I don't want anyone else to be in danger. This town is innocent, so lets make sure they aren't involved, okay?"
Elmenhilde looked down at herself, and then towards Akira.
She did find it indeed quite odd, but she also didn't mind it either, this feeling inside of her that was bubbling up to the surface.
"W-Well, if that's your decision then I certainly wont stop you."
"Haha, right. Wait here, I just need to meet up with my friend, and speak to her. Since the suns out, it's best if you stay here for the time being."
"...Okay, I'll wait here."
Akira nods, and quickly takes off, leaving behind a perplexed Elmenhilde.
A small time later, having parted from Elmenhilde for a few moments, Akira felt good about the conversation. Though she did have a bit of arrogance, he could tell there was a sweet girl underneath.
When Akira and Vali met back up, Akira brought some food with him, while Vali looked rather confident.
"This is how I like making a living."
Akira snickered.
"Destroy some beasts?"
Vali inclines her neck.
"Yeah, though it was annoying using the gun, adapted pretty quickly to it so it didn't become an issue. What about you?"
"I managed to get some stuff done yeah. Got us some food, which will last us. The canned stuff lasts a good while, and I managed to get some herbs and spices that will make the food taste super good."
"Hmm, well I've always wanted to try ramen, got any?"
"Ooh, I didn't know. I could make us some ramen with the stuff I've got."
"Good, then we're set to leave?"
Akira shook his head.
"Actually, there's someone that I've met, that I'd like to help."
"Who?"
Akira inhaled, before he began explaining.
Once he was finished, Vali looked mildly surprised.
"...So you want to help this Vampire, right?"
"Yes, that's right. You don't have to become involved if you..."
"Yeah, right. It doesn't bother me, if it is an enemy that can make me stronger then I'll fight." Akira gave a soft smile. "Besides, you must have your reasons."
"Yeah...she might seem rough, but I can see in her eyes, she's scared, and doesn't have anyone else to turn too. Like we didn't either Vali-san."
Vali shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah, if that's what you want, then I don't have any objections."
Akira smiled, and went to speak, when he felt something.
It was humans, with power, approaching.
But it wasn't an Exorcist, as far as he could tell.
"Vali-san, we've got company."
"Tch, Exorcist...no, they don't have any holy power in them, but they still have powers. Albeit, seems less honed."
"Vampire hunters."
Akira retorted, Vali folded her arms.
"Right, then we get into it."
Akira nods, and rushed off towards Elmenhilde.
Meanwhile, with the Vampire herself, she could see the humans coming for her, so she was going to leave, when the door busted open. She fell back, seeing that the attacker was someone that held a large blade.
The blade itself looked ready to cleave through her, she let out a small cry, and avoided the strike, but the pressure of the swing was more than enough to drop her down to the ground, she let out a small cry at the feeling.
"No...leave me alone..."
Elmenhilde pleaded, but the man stood tall, and pointed the blade towards her.
"Sorry, but I can't let you get away."
Elmenhilde shook side to side, as the man approached her.
She cupped her hands together, releasing a blast of darkness for him, only for the man to repel it with his sword, before swinging for her.
Elmenhilde's eyes widened, and saw the blade coming closer and closer.
However, before it could reach her, Akira appeared before her, blocking the blade, and forced back the enemy, Akira's blade leaving a notable crack within the man's sword, while Vali got beside Elmenhilde, and pointed her gun forward towards the enemy.
The man looked between them as more and more Vampire hunters came before them all. Wielding weapons, albeit with less finesse than what Akira would expect from an Exorcist, showing that they aren't as trained.
Akira looked at their eyes, and saw something that was wicked.
Enjoyment.
They all looked as if this was a pinnacle of excitement.
Killing Vampire's, and anyone that got in their ways.
The evil intentions they had was quite clear to Akira, these people didn't hunt Vampire's to protect themselves, they hunted Vampire's for the sheer enjoyment of it. He didn't know about Vampire society as much as he'd like to, but when he looked at Elmenhilde, he could see that she didn't deserve to be attacked the way that she was being.
"Kids?"
"Vampire's too?"
"Who cares! Lets get them!"
The enemies made their intention known, so Akira, and Vali looked at one another, before nodding.
"Take the left."
"Yeah, lets do it."
Akira dashed forward as a bunch of Vampire hunters came for him. Like a tornado, he began spinning around, and moving forward. His blade began cutting into the flesh of those that tried attacking them, all the while Akira used his skills and strength to fire off the Vampire hunters that had been disabled, hitting them against other ones and forcing them down to the ground.
At the same time, Vali dashed forward, and though it wasn't her expertise, they didn't want to reveal themselves as part Devils, so they shot off several bullets towards the Vampire hunters, hitting their upper bodies, and sent them flying down to the ground.
One came for Vali from the right, so she kicked up, breaking through the wooden handle of the weapon, and reached his body, sending him flying back with such strength that Elmenhilde was surprised at.
She kept watching as Akira expertly began cutting down those that came for him. His movements, like Elmenhilde saw herself, were like a dance. He was able to cut, and cleave his way through the enemies, and drop them down to the ground.
"What are these kids?!"
"They're strong!"
"No, we can't lose!"
Akira and Vali heard the enemies call, as they kept up their attacks.
Akira and Vali managed to cut and take down the enemies before them.
The leader, the man with the large sword, felt worried about what was going to happen, so he took his sword, and came for Elmenhilde.
She clutched her body, and grit her teeth.
She went to dodge, when Akira came in, and sliced the man's arm, going from his shoulder, and running all the way down his arm, stopping short of his wrist, blood spurted out of his wound, and his arm became unusable.
"You little shit!"
The man yelled, and aimed his sword forward, swinging it for Akira, who parried it again and again.
"You hunted this girl, a defenceless girl, that couldn't fight back. You gained pleasure of inflicting pain on her, I can see it in your eyes. You didn't have to hunt her like this."
"Vampires aren't people, they're menaces!"
The man argued, Akira looked on with a strong will.
"I can't speak of your interactions with Vampire's, but this girl couldn't fight back. From what she told me, you targeted her. She might be a Vampire, but she wasn't a threat to you."
"All Vampire's are the same, there's no difference. All of them are arrogant power hungry disgusting creatures that look down on everyone." His eyes shifted to Elmenhilde who flinched under his gaze. "That girls no different. She'll become the same as other Vampire's, using people for their own devices, she'll kill anyone she deems unworthy, which means all other beings in this world. She is a menace, I'm saving others by killing her."
Elmenhilde looked down at herself, and her eyes looked towards the Vampire hunter.
Though his words were cruel, she could understand why humans would say such things about her.
"You don't know how she'll turn out." Akira spoke up, surprising the man, as well as Elmenhilde. "You could be right, she could turn out like that. She could be exactly like every Vampire you've probably ever met. Or maybe she'll be different. You don't know. But your argument becomes invalid when you enjoy hunting Vampire's, you become the very same monster you perceive this girl to be. You loved the idea of hurting her, you loved the idea of her being unable to fight back. I can see it in your eyes. Inflicting pain on her made you feel superior."
"You're damn right, it's kill them for being abominations."
Akira could see the hate in his eyes, his determination to kill anything that got in his way. He could understand fear of Vampires, but he looked excited to kill Elmenhilde, and even Akira himself.
"If you go for her, then I'll have to stop you."
The man's hands twist on his blade, rushing towards Akira.
Akira exhales, before vanishing from sight.
The man's eyes widen as Akira appeared before him, and cleaves through the sword the man had. Dropping half of the blade onto the ground, the blade of Akira's continued, and ended up cutting into the body of the human, dropping him down to the ground.
Elmenhilde looked on, and thought about what had just happened, with what Akira said, and his actions as well.
"His words, weren't exactly wrong."
Elmenhilde spoke up, Akira turned towards her, as Vali finished up with the rest of the Vampire hunters.
"What do you mean?"
"He had every right to believe that I was like other Vampire's. I've always been taught that Vampire's are superior, that humans are weak."
Akira didn't deny that he could see that within her.
"Yes, I saw that in your words."
"Then why did you help me?"
"Because, I also saw something else."
Elmenhilde tilted her head.
"What's that then?"
"I saw the care in your eyes, when you mentioned your guards being killed."
Elmenhilde paused when she heard that, her eyes going towards his own in surprise.
Akira then continued, pulling closer.
"If you were so arrogant, and twisted like he made you out to be, then why would you care if your fellow Vampire's died? Their deaths shouldn't bother you, they were only your guards, they weren't your family, they weren't people that really matter, right? But you did care. Even if you don't say it, your eyes give a lot away. Between you, and that man, you had more care in your eyes, all I saw in him was his desire to kill Vampire's for his own satisfaction. Even as his people got defeated, he only wished to cause pain and suffering to people like us."
Elmenhilde placed a hand on her chest, as Vali walked over, having a satisfied look on her face.
"That was interesting."
Akira lightly smiled, hugging Vali.
"Have fun then?"
"Yeah, wasn't so bad. Though we should think about leaving here."
"Yeah, we had a fight, though we didn't use our powers, we could draw others to us." Akira turned towards Elmenhilde, offering his hand to the young Vampire girl. "Come, we can contact your people later. For now, we have to go."
Elmenhilde looked at his hand.
Then she looked towards Akira's face, seeing a gentle smile placed there.
She looked at the hand again, before she took it, and pulled herself closer.
"Right...let us go."
Akira nods, and together, the trio leave the area, with Elmenhilde being rather surprised.
Even though she was travelling with a human Devil...something she thought that she would look down upon, she couldn't help but believe that because of his act of compassion, it began making her think of what he was saying.
A week after those events, now being three weeks since Akira and Vali came together, and over that time, they kept growing closer and closer to one another. They had grown rather close. To the point that they felt like they had been together for a good long time, longer than a month.
Though that was something thanks to the constant attack.
It bonded them together, and brought them closer and closer.
Right now however, they were under the stars together with snow falling from the sky. To the right hand side of them was what looked like an abandoned log cabin, so they had taken to having that as their unofficial base for the time being.
Vali sat with her back to a large fallen tree, Akira was laying on his back, his head on the same tree that Vali had her back on, staring at the stars in the sky. Elmenhilde was casually sleeping away within the cabin located at a distance. They tried contacting the Vampires, but so far, no joy. So Elmenhilde stayed with Akira, and was becoming more attached to him as time went on.
"It was lucky that we found that abandoned cabin, wasn't it Vali-san?"
Vali shrugged her shoulders.
"I suppose that it was yeah, was beginning to get too cold to sleep outside."
Vali leaned back, and stared at the stars in the sky.
They sat in silence, though Vali then suddenly brought something up.
"When you find your family, what are you going to do?"
"Hmm, what do you mean?"
"I mean, we can't travel together then."
Vali said it as if she was dismissing it as an afterthought to not make Akira wonder more.
However, Akira could sense that there was a subtle shift to Vali's tone. Difficult to detect, but he did detect it and turned to face Vali.
"You're worried about us not being together anymore?"
Vali huffs, shaking her head.
"That's not what I said."
Though she said it in a dismissing way the same way that she had spoken when asking the first question that she had, Akira knew Vali had grown accustomed to having him around, and he did feel the same thing as well.
"Well, when I find my family, I was thinking, you could come and live with us."
He said, as he felt a small redness coming to his face.
Akira's words made Vali pause.
The very idea of living with Akira, that was something that she hadn't expected for him to even say at all.
"...Come and live with you?"
Because she was surprised, her voice came out in barely above a small noise.
Akira became more happy, leaning up so they were face to face.
"Yeah. We could live with my Mom and Dad. We could eat Mom's food everyday, she's the best cook. And then there's my Dad, he's always up for training, he could teach you some stuff I'm sure~"
"What else would we do?"
Vali asks with genuine curiosity, with Akira smiling even more.
"We could do anything, we could go anywhere. I'm sure that we can't go back to Kuoh after what happened, so we can go anywhere we want. I wouldn't mind living a secluded life with my parents again. That's what we basically did beforehand anyway. So, we could be together, in a remote area, Vali-san."
Vali did like the sound of it.
She also thought about what they'd do together.
How they could train together.
How they could simply live together.
It was an existence that Vali hadn't really contemplated before, due to her past.
But this made it all the more interesting to say the least, the idea of simply living a normal existence.
As that was being said, Elmenhilde happened to wake up, and her ears could hear their conversation. She kept quiet, and listened in.
"So, we'd go around and do as we like? Living, and being anywhere in the world?"
"Yup, that's what we'd do Vali-san. I'd like for us to do that...I mean, I really like having you around."
Vali looked at Akira, and saw his smile going towards her.
She couldn't help, but feel something deep within her chest that also made her think of her Mother at the same time.
"...It isn't so bad that we're together I suppose. Though, I also wonder about other things. Like your family, your Mother, and your Father, I am more interested in hearing about them. Tell me more about them Akira."
Akira smiled at that.
He could speak about his Mother and Father all of the time.
Akira kept wondering about her family, since he said a bit about his own. However, he didn't want to cause her any worries or concerns, so he tried to speak as delicately as possible, while also making sure that Elmenhilde couldn't hear, because he knew that Vali wouldn't want to share it with anyone other than who she deemed to be allowed to know.
"Vali-san, during our time together, you haven't mentioned your family once. I want to ask, but I also don't want to make you feel uncomfortable either. So if you wish to not say anything, then I'll understand..."
Akira soothes, but Vali shakes her head.
"You've told me a lot, you've opened up to me, so I should do the same. It's difficult to speak about, but my Father, he is someone that I want gone."
When she said it, there was no room for error on how she felt about her Father. She hated him so much.
"He hurt you...didn't he?"
Akira whispered sadly, feeling more and more for her as she clenched her small fist tightly.
"You can say that... My Mom and I...were under his thumb, he was a terrible person who hurt my Mother and myself, I couldn't take it in the end, and I left. I didn't want to be that man's punching bag anymore. I didn't...want to have my Mother suffer anymore. I protected her, the best that I could."
Akira lowered his face.
Hearing that, made him feel deeply for her.
Protecting her Mother from her Father, it sounded like a terrible existence, something that he wouldn't wish on anyone.
"Ooh Vali-san..." Akira pulls Vali close, and allows his arms to wrap around her, surprising her as she had her head guided to his chest. "I'm so sorry, he shouldn't have done that."
Feeling the softness and comfort of his body with hers, it was an existence she wasn't used to having.
The only time she could recall receiving affection, was from her Mother.
However, this felt different to that.
But it also was equally comforting at the same time, something that she did indeed really like to feel.
"No...he shouldn't. Him, and my Grandfather, they both, I want them gone. After what they've done to me, my Mother. They're both evil, Akira. I want to become strong enough to take them both down for their cruel and evil ways."
Akira nods slowly, placing his hand on top of her own.
"I'm sure one day you will get that chance. I'll help you do it Vali-san."
Vali looked up from his chest, her eyes going into his own.
"Why?"
"Because I care about you, Vali-san. I want to help you. I want to be here for you. Besides, us hybrids stick together~"
Vali didn't quite understand.
Rather, at first she wouldn't have understood why this would be the case.
She only had her Mother ever care about her.
But hearing and seeing Akira's actions over the past month.
How they looked out for one another, and fought together.
Had food together.
Enjoyed one another's time together.
Laughed together.
Whenever he told a weird joke, or he casually teased her in a playful way, whenever she would get her own fun back at him.
It all cultivated into something that Akira and Vali really liked at the same time.
"Yeah...that would be good. Though, you never told me, about you and your circumstance of being out here. Since I've told you about my Dad, can I ask about...how you separated from your parents?"
Akira hugs his knees, his eyes going to the sky, and he adopts a sad look on his face, as Elmenhilde peaked out of the door, not having heard Vali's past, but now she could hear Akira speaking.
"My Mom...and my Dad, we were having an ordinary night. Nothing strange happened. I was, being tucked into bed after having a bath, and finishing some of my Mom's delicious food. My Dad finished reading me a story, my Mom...she kissed my forehead, wished me goodnight, and then I soon drifted off to sleep."
"But then something happened?"
Akira nods slowly.
Thinking of the night was difficult, but he felt like he had grown to trust Vali.
That he could be more open, and vulnerable with the young girl.
Like she did with him.
"Yes...at around midnight or so, I suddenly heard yelling. I woke up, and didn't know what was going on. The area around me suddenly felt hot, my house was on fire. I heard battle cries coming from outside of the window, so I went to look."
"What did you see?"
Vali asks with Elmenhilde quietly listening, so Akira explains.
"I saw my Dad, fighting Exorcists. They were coming for my Dad, and he fought them off. The next thing I knew, my Mom came bursting into the room. She looked desperately at me...she looked afraid as she rushed over to me. She hugged me tightly, and quickly threw some stuff together for me. She then told me some stuff that I might need to know...she told me that she loved me, and that...the Exorcists were here for us. I knew why...they didn't like that my Mom and Dad, were together. Humans and Devils being in love, isn't something out of the ordinary. But, my Dad was from the Church, and my Mom was from the Devils side. I was a product of their love."
"So, they came to exterminate you."
Akira bows his head down, the pain of that night filled his mind.
He felt his eyes beginning to fill with tears.
Akira controlled them to tell the story.
"Yes...that's right. They came to kill us. They didn't even let us live a secluded life...they saw something wrong, and they were planning to kill us all. So that's what they did. They came for us that night..."
Akira began explaining about the circumstances, with his Mother and Father fighting off the Exorcists.
Akira wished to do the same thing, fighting beside his parents. But his Mother had asked him to get out of there and to get help.
"...We had a special teleportation circle near our house you see, so we can go to and from the Underworld, to my Uncle's house whenever we wanted. A backup for situations like this. My parents knew that this could eventually happen, so they prepared me for this as well."
"So your Mother asked you to go there?"
Akira nods his head.
"Yes...I didn't want to leave her, I was scared...I wanted to stay with my Mom, to protect her. But she told me to run, to get help...and that as long as I lived, then she'd be happy with whatever happens next. She also said, that she loved me with all of her heart. She gave me this pendant around my neck, a picture of us three together, and hugged me tightly. It was the last time I saw my Mom."
"Sounds like my Mother...she said stuff like that. She would have done anything to protect me, and keep me safe."
Akira adopts a soft smile.
He was glad Vali had at least one loving parent.
Especially hearing how her Father and Grandfather had treated her in the past.
"Even though it was hard...I hated it so much, but I wanted to do the best thing for my Mother and Father, so I thought if went to go and get my Uncle, then he'd be able to save them. My Uncle's very strong, so he would be able to make a difference. So I went towards the circle, but as I did, I was attacked. One of them, had brown hair, and he did this to me."
Akira pulls his shirt up.
He turns around, and on his back, Vali saw a very nasty looking scar running across his back, that looked like a cross.
Elmenhilde also looked, and winced when she saw it, it looked rather painful.
"Damn...he really did that to you?"
Vali asks, Akira nods.
"Yes, he wanted to kill me. I remember his face, his eyes... He is one of the faces of those that attacked me and my family. From how the others acted, I believe that he was the one giving orders, they mostly deferred to him and his words."
"So he's the leader of those that attacked you. That guy, he's still alive?"
Akira shrugged.
"I don't know, and if he is, then one day he wont be alive."
Vali understood that.
She felt the same about her Father and Grandfather.
"So, then what happened? Did you fight him off?"
Vali asked once more, with Akira shaking his head, and explaining about what happened.
"My Dad saved me...and he fought off the attackers. He looked at me...and said that he loved me. He said he had no regrets about anything, that his love...for me, and my Mom..." Akira's eyes began to produce tears, as he thought about it. "...He said he'd always love us...that was the last time I saw my Dad..."
"...So in the end, both your parents loved you."
Vali murmured, Elmenhilde looked down at the snow, and thought about what she was hearing.
"Yes...that's right, they both loved me. I wanted to save them, but knew on my own...I couldn't. So I ran, and after fighting through some Exorcists, I got to the teleportation circle. However, rather than take me to the Underworld...it took me to somewhere I didn't know."
"How…?"
"My guess is...the Exorcists had tampered with it, and it transported me somewhere else, with many Exorcists waiting for me. It was clearly a trap, they came at me, but somehow I managed to win. I was nearly killed...but I won, and I tried to get back...but I couldn't."
Vali closed her eyes briefly.
Digesting the situation that Akira was in, she could understand why he would want to have a friend.
Being cut off from everything that loved him.
She only had her Mother, and her leaving her home was something good.
Akira was the opposite.
Leaving the place he grew up, wasn't something good.
His entire world had been turned upside down, having to fight for his life constantly.
It was a cruel reality.
Even Elmenhilde thought that as she quietly listened in, her face becoming slightly wet as she felt fresh tears on her cheeks, even surprising herself that she did cry.
"So, yeah, that's my story...I don't know if my Mom and Dad are alive...but, I'm not stupid either...I know that my parents, could be dead. I could be futilely thinking they're still out there, waiting for me. But it's the only hope I have now. If they're gone..."
"If they are gone, if that day they were killed...then you can go on, and get justice for them. It's not ideal...and I do want your parents to be alive for you...but, if they aren't...then you can keep going."
Vali finished off as she let some of her emotions come through her voice, with Akira adopting a semi happy and semi sad smile, he really did appreciate her words.
"Yeah...I hope they're alive...but...if they aren't, then those responsible will pay. We were only a loving family, we didn't cause harm to anyone...my Mom and Dads only crime, was that they fell in love and had me. I have good memories with them. We had a good life together, it was simple, but I was so happy, with my Mom and Dad. I could have lived like that forever, I didn't really care if the Underworld or Heaven didn't want me, my parents and I had a good life, we loved each other...but now, after so long...I just want to go home, to my Mom and Dad...even if now, it's only a dream."
When Akira finished, Vali sat in silence.
However, she took his hand and held it tightly.
Akira looked down and then looked towards Vali.
She didn't face him, but he felt happy inside.
That he did have someone like Vali around.
It made all of the sadness and pain that he felt, ease.
It wasn't completely gone of course...but being with Vali, being with someone that could understand the pain of having to constantly fight to survive, it was comforting.
Vali also felt the same way, the feelings between them growing even more thanks to this evening of opening up to one another. Because they did, they became even closer that night.
Elmenhilde looked back towards him, and she looked down at herself.
"Despite everything...he's still positive, yet also isn't stupid either...he saved my life, even though I was rude...and attacked him...I don't really understand this boy...he's so different to many people I've ever met...but, even though I'm a Vampire, and he's a Devil and human...he accepted me right away. He didn't turn me away, and he gave me his word, that he'd help me. And he has done that...I might get to go home soon...but, he might not even have a home anymore...yet, he's so bright and warm..."
Elmenhilde sat in silence as she watched Akira from a distance.
Unexpectedly, she felt something erupt from her being, and it felt good.
Hearing Akira's words, made her think more about herself, and how she had acted, and how she wished to be as well.
As the night drew in, Vasco was alone as he searched for Akira. Single minded focus is how he had to approach this, or he wouldn't be able to focus. All he could think about was the meeting with Diehauser, and how desperate he looked when he was searching for Akira, even though he kept trying to convince himself this was the best thing, even if in his heart of hearts, he didn't think like that at all.
"This boy, if nothing else has amazing ability to stay off of the radar. When I get a grasp of him, he's able to throw me off the scent. He's been trained very well, very resourceful, and intelligent."
Vasco mused in his mind, continuing his trek through a woodland area.
As he walked however, Vasco finally, after so long of searching, caught the tracks of Akira.
So well hidden that many wouldn't notice it, but Vasco with his immense Exorcist skills, and his time at tracking down Devils, finally did get a grasp of Akira. It was something that even Akira wouldn't be able to avoid, he hadn't done anything wrong at all, but because Vasco was that good, he had unfortunately found the young boy.
"...So they're this way…and close. Boy, you did nothing wrong with the way you have evaded me, it has taken me a good long time to track you down, even with all of the information I received from the Church and how they tracked you down. You should be proud of your abilities young one. I wish it was different, I would want to see your skills in the future. But I'm sorry, it seems that your time, has come to an end."
Vasco wasn't happy.
The idea of finding Akira, didn't make him feel good at being able to complete a mission.
He didn't feel joy.
He, if anything, felt torn on what he was going to do.
However, there was no escaping it now.
Since he has found Akira, he had to fulfil his duties as an Exorcist.
Come soon, Vasco was going to have to exorcise Akira...
End chapter!
So, this chapter focused on the growing relationship between Akira, and Vali, becoming closer and closer to the point they felt comfortable enough with sharing parts of their lives with the other, they also met Elmenhilde who was being chased by Vampire hunters, but Akira and Vali managed to save her, even giving her some perspectives on certain things.
By the end, Vasco has finally found them. It took someone as great as Vasco a good while to hunt them down, but he finally has, so we'll see what happens with that next time!
Now onto the vote with the Longinus', first of all, thanks to everyone that voted either through PM's or reviews! It seems to be quite the split between True Longinus, and Canis Lykaon, being very close.
Some said Akira at heart is a swordsman, which is true, but he could adapt to using a spear or True Longinus could have a sword and spear form via True Longinus being a sub-species like in the case of Siegfried's Twice Critical or Valerie's Sephiroth Graal having it in their base forms, like some had suggested, giving Akira the ability to switch between the two different forms depending on the situation at hand.
Canis Lykaon speaks for itself how Akira would use it, combing his power with its variety of abilities, the curse flames it has, and travelling through shadows among its incredible blades that can cut many things.
However, there was this one thought I had as I went through your suggestions and comments. Instead of those, I thought that perhaps Akira could be someone that collects, and uses the various Holy and Demon blades within the series which would fit with Akira's person as a swordsman and a curious person, like the Holy King Sword Caliburn, Daisleif and others, along with having a pact with Tiamat, combining with the weapons similar to like how Akira's Dad Masaomi had his blade host the soul of Yamata no Orochi or how Azazel did it with Fafnir via his Artificial Sacred Gear, and creating Holy/Demonic Dragon armour. Of course he'd receive other power ups as the story goes on so he'd not fall behind those with Longinus', maybe he could be seen as the Devils answer to someone like Vasco using blades and his skills to become a powerhouse, and surpassing Vasco as the story goes on, I thought that would be interesting.
So yeah, it's between True Longinus, Canis Lykaon, and Akira wielding Holy/Demonic Swords.
Finally, one that has been suggested to me for the peerage, something I think that would be pretty cool, would be a female Issei/Isane to shake things up a bit, if she did, then I know who would replace her in Rias' group. The first confirmed peerage members will be Rossweisse, Elmenhilde, and Irina, I'll begin posting the peerage and harem list next chapter.
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!