Koneko
The tension in the house was unbearable for Koneko. Despite wanting nothing but to talk to Asia about what had happened the previous night, she couldn't bring herself to do it. It was a strange thing for the youngest nekomata, who had thrown herself fearlessly into battle for Rias and the Gremory family countless times, would be so scared of a simple conversation. Eventually, unable to cope, she left the mansion that had once been the Hyoudou family residence and departed for the forest nearby. Ever since she had begun to train with her sage powers, she had found a quiet spot in the forest where she could train. Even though she had embraced herself fully, she still found it difficult to use her nekomata form around the others.
It took her nearly an hour to reach the clearing within the forest, and that gave her ample time to think about the events of the past few days. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get the feeling of Asia's kiss off her lips, and because of that, no matter how hard she attempted to think about something else, anything else, her mind would always return to it. God, am I turning into Issei now? The thought was repulsive. She arrived at the clearing that had become her training arena. If I can't force the thoughts away like this, then I never will. Koneko reached within her, towards the sage powers she had avoided for so long. Her white ears perked up through her hair, and her tail extended from beneath her skirt. She felt the primal rush of her feline senses, her vision sharpening, the earthy scents of the moss and trees around her filling her nostrils. She cocked her head to one side and found that she could hear the individual footsteps of the ants crawling along a nearby tree. I've gotten so much stronger since we fought Kuroka. The palpable increase in strength gave her a moment of momentary pride, but then she remembered how Grendel had swatted her aside as though she were a gnat. I have to get stronger. If it weren't for Asia, I'd be dead. Finding her resolve, she began to train, harder than she ever had before.
It had been nearly four hours before her ears and tail retreated, her senjutsu powers having reached their limit. Koneko sank to the ground, completely exhausted. Twice as long as last time. She could feel her power growing, but her fear grew at the same rate. I won't be like Kuroka. I won't be like Kuroka. The thought resounded in her mind like the beat of a drum. She refused to go down that path, to succumb to the evil her sister had embraced. She focused on the pure innocence of Asia, and resolve bloomed within her. I can control this power, she told herself.
As Koneko was preparing to leave, the air around her snapped and crackled with energy. She stiffened her body and lowered herself into a fighting stance. I know this power. Out of the darkness of the surrounding forest, a familiar voice purred:
"Hello, Shirone."
A/N: This chapter is shorter than normal but with work and life keeping me as busy as it has I wanted to at least put something new out for those of you that continue to read. Thank you to everyone for the continued positive messages and support, and I'll continue to write as much as time allows me to.
-Nighthawk
