Hey guys sorry for the delay on this chapter but here it is now so enjoy!
Gremory Mansion, Underworld
After the events with Riser Phenex in the clubroom Kuru now found himself sitting rather nervously on a plushy couch in the mansion of the Gremory family. Sitting next to him was a just as nervous Rias while standing behind them was their respective [Queens]. What the two of them were really focused on however was the certain individuals sitting across from them.
These individuals were none other than Rias' parents and brother along with his wife/[Queen] Grayfia. Kuru could barely bring himself to look at what he considered to be his second family. The Cerbures and Gremory's had always been the closest of friends that they had practically been one House after all.
"But how? We were told that every Cerbures member was killed so how can you be so sure he is Kuru-kun?" asked Lady Gremory in denial as she stared at Kuru in shock. Having been a second mother to the boy the news of his and his families death was hard to grasp and she would honestly say that she still hadn't gotten over it.
Lord Gremory laid a hand on his wife's shoulder in order to try and comfort her but in truth he was having the same thoughts as her. Kuru had been like a second son to him and while he didn't show it as much as his wife the families death had deeply affected him as well.
While this was happening The Lucifer Satan was studying Kuru intensely. He already knew that despite his parents reluctance that the one in front of him was without a doubt his little brother in all but blood without a doubt. The reason he was looking at him so intensely however was not because he doubted Kuru's identity rather because of the power that he could sense coming from him despite how hard Kuru tried to hide it.
"Why are you here Kuru-kun? Why come back now after all these years?" asked Sizerch's out of the blue and surprising everyone at the rather blunt question.
Kuru's eye's momentarily widened at the Satan's question but knew he had to answer. However he also knew that by the end of this conversation that he would have to tell them everything, things that his family had kept secret for a reason.
*sigh*"Alright. The reason I've decided to come back now is because I feel that I am finally ready to settle the score as it were. After my families death I knew that coming to you would only send these bastards after you guys as well. The only way to stay alive I figured was to go along with my apparent death until I felt I had the means to defend myself when they return." answered Kuru honestly as he felt weary just telling them that much but a comforting hand on his shoulder from Olivia helped him feel more at ease if only slightly.
"We could have protected you! Why didn't you come to us when you needed us most!?" yelled out Lady Gremory as she couldn't help it anymore. Just from hearing him speak she could no longer deny that the youth before her was anyone but the Cerbures heir now head.
"I lost one family already, I couldn't bear to lose another right after. These guys aren't like the usual rabble that are our enemies. They are not angels, fallen angels or even devils! These guys are on another level that would make even Great Red and Ophis hesitate to challenge." I say with a slight shiver at just the memory of those... monsters.
"Who are they then and why did they attack your family? You never did tell me or Sona." asked Rias desperate to know who these beings were that could wipe out an entire house and were apparently stong enough to make even the usually calm Cerbures show a bit of fear.
"You have never even told me Master and I have been with you practically since the beginning. I admit I am curious to know as well." stated Olivia. Even after all these years of knowing him he had never told her what exactly what they would be up against and that upset her a bit at the fact that he may not trust her enough to tell her.
Kuru listened with closed eyes as he tried to gather his thoughts on what exactly he was about to reveal. What he was about to tell them would no doubt scare them especially when he finally revealed his families secret. It was the latter that really made him nervous as it could potentially drive them all away from him if they took it the wrong way. Right now though he could only pray that it didn't come to that.
"Tell me, what do you know about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?" asked Kuru as he looked at everyone's now confused faces.
"The Four Horsemen? Their just figures made up to embody the coming of the end aren't they?" asked Rias wondering where he was going by asking them about imaginary figures.
"Hehehe, you would think so? In reality they are much more than simple means of symbolism Ri-chan. While they may not exist in the same sense anymore I can assure you that they are very real. How do I know this? Because three of them are the ones that basically made my family extinct." I say coldly as everyone's eyes became dinner plates.
The entire room was as quiet as a graveyard for a few minutes as I allowed everyone to take in my words. It was understandable that they were trying to come to grips with what I said since I had a hard time believing it the first time I was told as well. They would accept it though, they had to.
"W-w-what!? How is that possible!? More importantly how do you know this for a fact!?" declared Rias disturbed at the mere possibility of such figures actually existing.
"I have to agree with Rias on this Kuru. How do you know this and more importantly, why would such prominent figures come after you and your family?" asked Sizerch's with narrowed eyes. As a Satan he needed to make sure that if these legendary figures did in fact exist that the Underworld wasn't at risk of being attacked by them. Yet he also caught on that Kuru had said that only three of them had attacked his home making him wonder where the fourth had been.
"No going back now I guess. Before I get into that however I need to tell you exactly how the Horsemen came to be so better get comfy and get some tea cause it's quite the story." said Kuru getting nods from everyone as Akeno left to prepare some tea along with Olivia and Grayfia.
short time later
After the three [Queens] returned with refreshments and some snacks Kuru was finally ready to begin his little tale. Thankfully he had a good memory and his father saw fit to tell him the story so often that he practically had it memorized line for line.
"Alright it all started when God had sealed away the Trihexia. Before it was sealed in a last bid for freedom Trihexia released a good bit of it's power and separated it from it's main 'body'. This power then formed into four entities each symbolizing something to prelude the end of the world. The weakest of the four was named Famine since wherever he went every being that came in contact with him starved and all forms of sustenance perished in his wake. The next was Pestilence since wherever he went he left diseased corpses in his path, some diseases which are still around even today. Down the line came the brother named War as he brought forth a wave of anger and hatred that drove men to kill each-other by the hundreds all the while feeding off of the bloodshed he caused by merely existing. Finally was the strongest brother who inherited most of Trihexia's power, Death, he who simply by willing it could cause thousands to die and then use their souls to feed his power, the true embodiment of death. These four 'brothers' were given one purpose, to weaken the seal that held their forbearer and then release them upon the world once more." said Kuru taking a moment to sip his tea as the others took a moment to take in the Cerbures head's words.
"Wait a sec, if that were the case then why weren't the factions aware of these beings? Surely someone would have been made aware of their presence." stated Rias getting agreements from the others.
"It wasn't as hard as you think. After all the Great War was still in full swing leaving little room to go hunting for powerful entities. The Horsemen used the war to their advantage to spread their influence among humanity. However now and again there was the occasional surprise meeting between one of the brothers and one of the factions. Such as the case with the previous wielder of Excalibur, how do you think the sword was shattered in the first place if not by an unnaturally powerful being." I say with a smirk hidden by my cup as I take a sip taking a kind of pleasure in seeing their stunned faces.
"Alright moving on with the story, while the first three brothers were all on board with following through with their purpose the fourth was a bit more open minded. He figured out that if they were to release Trihexia then the being that spawned them would no doubt absorb them back into it's being making it as if they never existed. Though when he tried to pose this idea to his 'siblings' they turned against him. Being the strongest of the four of them he was able to fight all three of his brothers on even ground. Despite being a being of death however he could not bring himself to kill the only family he had ever known. So instead he ripped out their 'souls' as it were before imprisoning their bodies somewhere no one would be able to find them on accident or otherwise. As for their 'souls', he turned them into physical pieces effectively creating the first ever Sacred Gear's. It was soon after this that the Great War had come to a close leaving Death on his own. Eventually he met a devil and after a few years things happened and Death was steadily written into nothing more than a myth all the while no one would know that the Horsemen was actually hiding in plain sight among devil kind." explained Kuru hoping that those around him got what he was trying to say without him actually saying it. He was already awkward enough telling him what he has so far and still has to explain.
At first everyone was confused by the rather vague ending of Death's story. Then realization struck Grayfia as for a rare moment she dropped her calm persona and was gazing at Kuru in absolute shock as she shakily pointed a finger at him. Her actions not going unnoticed by the others as they wondered what was wrong with their resident maid. When she spoke however they instantly got what she was thinking.
"Your father? Yami Cerbures was the Fourth Horsemen?" she asked almost not believing her own words. But Kuru's nervous smile was proof enough that her words wee true.
"Surprise. Trust me I was a little shocked to but it is the truth." Kuru said while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Wha-? But how di-? WHAT!?" screamed Olivia as she was having a tough time coming to grips that her love interest was the son of a devil and the living embodiment of death. How does one even take that kind of news!?
"Now hold on a second there. Do you mean to tell me that all this time since I've known your father that he was one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and no one but your family knew?" asked Lord Gremory in disbelief before receiving a nod from Kuru. Lady Gremory had already fainted while Akeno and Rias looked as if their brains were still trying to reboot.
"Hmm it would explain why your mother wanted to keep as much about a secret as possible. Yet that still leaves some questions unanswered. For one how were the three Horsemen able to escape their imprisonment and attack your home and second, why wasn't your father able to defeat them like he did before?" asked Sizerch's his words managing to snap Akeno and Rias out of their stupor as they all now listened for Kuru's answer.
"Alright well here's where things get a little stupid. You see when God was creating his own Sacred Gears and released them he accidently managed to mix those threes Gears into the mix meaning like the others they gained hosts who they promptly took control over to try and exact revenge. For the first few times it happened my dad was able to easily put them back down however that was before I was born. Naturally being born from a devil and a being that was created rather than born there was some complications. In all reality I shouldn't be here but because of my old man he was able to save me. Needless to say is that I was born with so much power that my body was tearing itself apart from the inside out. To remedy this my father transferred nearly all of his power into my being which helped develop my body to where it could contain my power while also giving me a major boost in said power as well. Basically my father passed on his powers and title as a Horsemen to me. So when this late generation of the other rider's came my father was unable to defeat them which lead up to the events happening now." finished Kuru waiting for the others response. Truthfully he was not looking forward to their responses.
To his surprise however he soon found himself wrapped in a tight hug by Rias and Olivia. Hesitantly he returned it while the others smiled fondly at the sight. After hearing Kuru's story and what he really was they were a bit apprehensive at first but then they realized that no matter what, Kuru was still Kuru no matter what he technically was or what title he held.
"We're mad that you didn't tell us sooner Kuru-kun, but we understand why you did it. Just make sure to tell the others when we get back. They have the right to know." said Olivia as she buried her slightly blushing face into Kuru's neck making the Cerbures heir smile down at his [Queen].
"While I am angry you didn't come to us and made me think you were dead for so long... I can understand you only did it to protect me and my family. But never do that again or else." said Rias as she glared up at Kuru making him sweat nervously but nod nonetheless.
The tranquil and heartwarming moment however was broken by one very sadistic shrine maiden who was unable to resist her teasing nature.
"Oh President so forward, keep that up and you'll have Kuru wrapped around you finger in no time." said Akeno with a giggle drawing a round of tick marks from Kuru, Rias and Olivia as they all glared at Akeno.
"DAMMIT AKENO!" the three yelled in unison.
"My, my so scary!" replied Akeno with a giggle.
While this was happening the four adults in the room were sharing serious glances that all made one thing clear, Once word of Kuru's survival comes out the remaining horsemen would come for him and by association them. They definitely needed to be prepared for when that happened but for now they would let Kuru have his peace as soon it would be violently shattered.
Yeah this is more of a filler chapter but now you have a better idea of the future enemies that will be coming after Kuru and his peerage. But that isn't the end of the surprises I have in store though. Review and/or PM me!
