HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"Just answer me this. Why...Why would a Devil like you say stuff like this to me?"
"Isn't it obvious?... Because I care for you, Xenovia..."
Xenovia's Room
Night
"Naruto..." The blushing bluenette, her church uniform suit unzipped at the front, exposing her pink and blue bra, found herself on top of the equally flushed and shirtless Rook, straddling him as she grabbed his left hand and guided it to her right breast and letting him cup it.
"Xe...Xenovia?"
"This rapid beating heart...Please Naruto..." Taking off his glasses, Xenovia told him, "Make it beat even faster...", before leaning her face forward to claim his lips.
Xenovia's Room
Saturday (6/4)
Morning
Red in the face, Xenovia had a dazed expression on her face as she recalled the passion she had with the Naruto in her dreams, and how she pleasured herself on some of the nights where she had to leave Sif with Reia. Remembering the feel of the blond's hands on her body, she turned redder. Smelling herself and making a funny face telling her she needed to freshen up, she gets up to freshen up in the bathroom and dress for today. After leaving the bathroom fifteen minutes later Xenovia takes out her phone and earphones and plays a song from her library.
Xenovia heads over Reia's room to pick up Sif before heading to the laundry room, putting her dirty clothes in the washing machine with detergent before leaving it alone.
"Come on Sif, let's go to the kitchen." Xenovia figured she'd help out with making breakfast with the sisters (nuns) in the kitchen. Entering the kitchen, the bluenette is greeted by three sisters of the Church, each being two years younger than her.
"Xenovia onee-chan! Good morning!" said the long black-haired sister.
"Morning."
"What are you planning to make for everyone?" asked the short brown-haired sister.
"Hmmm...I want to try my hand on making an Eggs Benedict. Want to help me?" With a smile, the sisters nod in approval as Xenovia washed her hands before cooking.
The three loved to watch the bluenette work on cooking. Never in their dreams would they see the usually distant Xenovia work on her cooking skills than her sword swings. Grabbing, lemon juice, melted butter, and water, the bluenette mixed it with some egg yolks as the sisters prepared the chives, the bacon, and the English Muffins. For most of the eggs she didn't use for making the Hollandaise Sauce, Xenovia had the sisters poach them.
As she's mixing ingredients, Xenovia sings to her music. Taking notice, the third sister, having dark blue hair, told her she sang very well before asking her if she was going to perform at the concert tomorrow night.
"Oh, I'm not singing, but I will play an instrument." When the long black-haired sister asked what the instrument was, Xenovia played the air violin. Seeing this, the three sisters had stars in their eyes before they asked her if they could see her play it. Scratching the back of her head, the blushing bluenette told them to wait until tomorrow night before telling them to continue making preparations.
Once they were done with their roles, Xenovia masterfully puts them all together. One of the sisters tells her it looks delicious. With a smile, she lets them try it as she goes to prepare more for breakfast time. Finished, Xenovia waved goodbye to the three sisters before exiting the kitchen and putting her earphones back on, offering a plate of sausage and eggs for a patiently waiting Sif. On her way back to the laundry room, Xenovia feels a tap on her right shoulder. Turning around, she's surprised to see Keito waving at her. Pausing her music before taking her earphones off, she says good morning to her friend with a smile.
Laundry Room
"Mary went with Naoko to stock up on groceries for tonight. Are you planning to come over to help at my restaurant as planned?" Xenovia responds with a yes as she unwrinkled her clothes one by one and puts them in the dryer. "I appreciate it...How's your violin?"
"It's great. I made sure to memorize the notes for tomorrow night's concert."
"Oh? What music did she choose?"
"You know how she is. She likes to compile a list of her favorite music, give it to the organizers, and annoy them until they give in." Keito sweatdrops when Xenovia answered his question.
"She was never into classical music, even when she sings it so well," Keito comments, with the bluenette nodding her head in agreement. Finished setting up the machine to dry her wet clothes and bed covers, she tells Keito she's going to go visit the Church Forge Room. "There?"
"I...had the old man make me a gun a few months ago. He told me it would be done today last night," Xenovia told her friend. When asked what type of gun it was, she turned red and said, "A...A shotgun."
"Shotgun? I don't have a doubt in my mind that you can use a shotgun, but why tha-" Keito stops when he realized the reason for having the old man make her a shotgun. "So it's for "him" huh?" said the now amused exorcist, the blunette's face turning a darker shade of red. "How about we go together? That way I can kill some time."
"Sure...I don't mind," Xenovia responds before calling Sif over to join them as they made their way to the Church Forge Room. "...Hey, Keito?"
"Yes?"
"I've been thinking about this for a while now but...right after Griselda returns...I plan to go to Japan, with Sif." Keito's eyes widened when his friend said that. "By the look on your face, you must already know why..."
"I understand why...You want to find him...Naruto Namikaze." Hearing him say his name, Xenovia tells him how weird it was to call him by his actual name, instead of Hiro Yoko. "Indeed it is...What do you plan on doing? Once you find him?"
"That part I haven't figured out...I guess the first thing I'll do when I see him, is go over to him and punch him in the face," Xenovia told a now wide-eyed Keito as the former puts up her her closed right fist. "He deserves it for putting me through a lot."
"He definitely deserves it...Are you sure you want to go after him? I mean, he's a...you know what he is, right?"
"I know...but...I have faith that everything will turn out fine when Naruto and I finally see each other again. I don't know how, but...I just have a feeling." Hearing her answer, Keito understands. He made it work with Mary.
"In that case, once you arrive there, make sure to check up on Caren for me okay?"
Church Forge Room
"Here it is..." said the old man, placing the weapon on the desk in front of him. "I've designed this model based on the revolver. This Sawn-off now holds 8 rounds in a revolving chamber. Both it and the barrel is made of titanium, with the steel triggers from the original being kept intact. The wood I used for the handle is Australian Buloke. The wood wasn't easy to obtain but I managed. That gun there may be one of my best works." Picking it up, she thanked the old man for making it for her while keeping some of the pieces from the original.
"One last thing, I made these for you, for helping out last week." The old man surprised the bluenette and Keito when he presents her with a pair of custom-made IWI Jericho 941s.
"I can't accept these," said Xenovia, waving her hands in front of her as she said it. The old man insists since she finished some of the high-value orders for him while he was out of the shop.
"I won't take no for an answer." With help from Keito, the old man convinced Xenovia to take the guns. "One last thing. Whoever you're giving that shotgun to, I'd like to see him." Xenovia smiles and tells him she'll keep it in mind. Exiting through the front door, Xenovia hears Irina call her name as the twin-tailed girl ran towards her.
"Esdeath's back, we have to go pick her up." Hearing the woman's name, Keito frowned.
"She's back?" asked the bluenette, sounding surprised. "As expected, she finishes her missions fast. Sorry Keito, but do you think you can watch Sif while I'm gone? And grab my laundry? I'll be sure to-"
"Of course..." As Xenovia and Irina go off, Keito heard Sif whimper. Smiling, Keito pets him as he assures the wolf that Xenovia would be back.
Unnamed Airport
"Welcome back, Esdeath," said Irina as she and Xenovia bow their heads.
"Irina...Xenovia...How've you girls been?"
"We're doing very well," said a smiling Xenovia. Seeing her smile, she wondered what she had missed while she was away on missions for the Church. She had expected to see the bluenette with the same eyes as before. This...This wasn't "her" Xenovia.
As Esdeath waits for her luggage to appear, Irina decided to go check out souvenirs at a shop, leaving the Ice General with Xenovia. Esdeath asks her fellow bluenette how her training was going, regarding her projection magic.
"I'm halting my training with projections for a while until Griselda comes back. I'm planning to ask her to help me," said Xenovia. This didn't put a smile on Esdeath's face as she continued conversing with her fellow bluenette. "For now, I'm working on improving my Reinforcement Magic, and I'm practicing my swordsmanship as usual. I've also taken some time to get back into archery to improve my accuracy."
"Hehhhhh..."
"...How've you been, Esdeath?" asked Xenovia. The Ice General told her she was a bit tired at the moment, otherwise, she was doing well. "The missions the Church gave me are too easy. I swear, the enemies I fight no longer interest me."
"I understand the feeling. But...it's not bad being the strongest. After all, you have the strength to save and protect people. That enough is a victory in its own way..." Esdeath puts on a smile when Xenovia compliments her strength.
"What are your plans for tonight, Xenovia?" The young bluenette tells her she planned to help out at Mapomine's. "I've never tried the food there. Is it good?"
"It's very good. Maybe you can come over and try some. Mary's signature mapo tofu is the best." Esdeath tells Xenovia she couldn't since she had to go handle some paperwork and meet up with her new recruits for the Jaegers.
"...Xenovia?"
"Yes, Esdeath?"
"Tomorrow, would you like me to help you train? I think it'd make your progress go up a lot faster if-" Esdeath's eyes widened when Xenovia tells her, "It sounds good. But I have to pass."
"Pass?"
"I am glad that you helped me unlock my circuits, and showed me what I can truly do, but...it was all for revenge. Because of my selfish need for vengeance, I said so many bad things to Griselda...All because I was angry and hurt... Right now, I want to train on my own, at my own pace, until she gets back. I want to apologize to her, for the way I acted, and ask her to help me. That's why...That's why I'd like to ask to resign from the Jaegers, starting now."
"You want out of the Jaegers?" Xenovia answers with a yes.
"I can still help out here and there, just not as a Jaeger. I don't want to make it sound like I-"
"Very well," said Esdeath, putting her right hand on Xenovia's head as she gives her an understanding smile. "I accept your resignation. Though I will miss having you around."
"Thank you for understanding," said Xenovia as she bowed her head, just as Irina regroups with them.
Mapomine's
Nighttime
5:30 pm
[Shokugeki no Soma OST - Every time, Anytime, My Daily Life]
"Hmmm...You look very cute with the maid dress on," said Mary as Xenovia turned red in the face.
"I-Is this really necessary for me to wear...something like this while cooking?" she asked the Assassin-class Servant. She tells the bluenette it wasn't, but since she has it on, it'd be a crime to have her take it off. "Eh...Ehhhh..."
"I even had something made for Sif, our wolf butler." Entering the room, Sif had on a butler's outfit. "He looks so cool right now. He'll be very popular with the kids." Sif frowned at the Servant as Xenovia told the wolf to bear it before Naoko came upstairs, surprised by Xenovia's maid costume.
"You look so beautiful right now, Xenovia!" Hearing Naoko tell her that, Xenovia's face turned a very bright shade of red as Mary agreed with the red-haired girl just as Keito came up and told the three girls, and Sif, that the customers have arrived As Keito, Sif, and Naoko handled taking orders, Xenovia and Mary cooked the meals.
"One mabo ramen, 2 mapo deluxe, 3 mugs of beer, and a side of edamame." Xenovia handles cooking the orders as Mary handled the edamame and the beer.
"Hey Keito, I'm...Oh, Xenovia hey!" Turning her attention towards the entrance, the bluenette was surprised to see Ritsuka enter.
"Oh, Ritsuka, it's been a while," she told him. Ritsuka tells her it has, having been busy with his duties as an exorcist, telling her he got promoted to the rank of Cause earlier. "You did? I wish I was there to see it."
"It's fine...I mean...Mash came with me," he told the bluenette, red in the face as he turned away.
"Oh? She went with you huh?" said Naoko, sounding amused. "I recall Xenovia telling me how she told Irina how you and Mash would make a great couple."
"It's not like that," said the blushing exorcist.
"If you say so..." said a smiling Naoko. "Now, please take a seat, and we'll be with you shortly."
[Music End]
10:30 pm
"Thanks for all the hard work Xenovia," said a grateful Keito, the bluenette telling him "You're Welcome" as she helps wash the dishes while Mary cleans the counter and tabletops.
"...How's Esdeath?" asked Keito.
"She was tired when Irina and I went to pick her up, otherwise she's doing well...I uhhh...I resigned from the Jaegers." Keito's eyes widened in surprise when she informed him of her resignation.
"You did?"
"Yeah. I am grateful to Esdeath, for helping me with some of my training, but I figured it was time. Also..."
"Also?"
"It's...hard for me to look Kurome in the eye...after I said so many things to her in the past. I tried to apologize to her for saying those things, but..." With a smile, Keito assures the bluenette that, with time, Kurome will get better. "Thanks for the assurance, Keito."
Jaeger Headquarters
Training Room
Esdeath practiced her rapier skills alone, having Xenovia on her mind. She recalled the first time she found out about her. She was a skilled and formidable fighter at such a young age, like her. When she found out the young bluenette had the natural ability to wield holy swords like one of the Excalibur fragments, and Durandal, coupled with her impressive magical circuits, she couldn't believe that a talent like Xenovia's was under her nose. Recalling the moment Xenovia accepted her offer to join the Jaegers, she remembered the bluenette's eyes when she accepted her off to join the Jaegers. Hurt, angry, filled with revenge...Now, they were no longer there in those eyes of hers.
"What happened to make you that way, I wonder...I should correct it as soon as possible. However...I'll have to take care of Kotomine as well. But how will I go about it..." With a mischievous smile, she figured she'd figure it out in the morning. After all, tomorrow night was the concert. That would be the perfect time to strike.
Sunday (6/5)
9:27 am
"You're not coming to the concert?" Xenovia asked Keito while having breakfast with him, Sif, Irina, and Naoko. "Mary's going but-"
"Sorry Xenovia. It's...Today's "that day." Upon hearing why, Xenovia had a look of sadness on her face, as she understood. Seeing this, Irina asked what today was.
"It's the day Keito and Caren's mother died," said Xenovia. Now aware of this, Irina and Naoko apologize to Keito for not knowing.
"It's alright. I don't tell just anybody so it's understandable. I'll try to make it in time to see the second act, maybe the third," Keito assures them.
"I hope I can make it there as well," said Xenovia. "I forgot to order my white dress for the concert, and I need to go pick it up later at the shop. I may miss a bit of the first act." Irina told her she was supposed to order it last night before asking her if she was pulling an all-nighter playing video games.
"N-No...Maybe a little...I thought I'd have time after."
"Uh huh..." Putting her hands together, she asked Irina if she could bring her violin over to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia for her. "Of course. But in return...Put up an amazing performance, okay?" With a smile, Xenovia nods.
Jaeger Headquarters
Command Room
Seryu Ubiquitous, Three Beasts Leader Liver, Three Beasts member Nyau, and former Wild hunt member Suzuka. These people made up a part of the Neo Jaegers, a new group Esdeath made during her time away from the Church. The ones absent were Hybrid Theory God Serena (Out on a mission), former Wild Hunt member and leader Syura (Out on a mission), Wave, Kurome, Run, Esdeath, Dorothea (Clone. The one Naruto killed was the original, but she had a perfect clone made in case she died), Mest Gryder (Yes, he's evil. What he did in Fairy Tail, where he fucked up the peace talks with August in Chapter 488 is very unforgivable. Sure he did it for the guild, but it doesn't excuse him), and two unknowns. There were more members of the Neo Jaegers, but they were killed by Firebrand and a few members of Night Raid (Deleted/Extended Extras Part 5) during missions. After 5 minutes of waiting, the Neo Jaegers hear the door open. Turning their attention towards the entrance, Esdeath and Mest enter.
"Where's Dorothea?" she asked them. Seryu tells Esdeath she was occupied with her experiments and couldn't make it. "Well, I guess she won't be needed."
"Needed for what, Lady Esdeath?" asked Liver.
"Xenovia...My precious Xenovia has been changed. She's not the girl I know, and it worries me. I need help getting her back to the way she was, and that requires some...extreme measures."
"Extreme how?" asked Seryu.
"You'll know when the time comes...First, we need to get rid of a nuisance."
Trevi Fountain
Near the largest Baroque fountain in the city, Esdeath meets up with a disguised Hoshikari.
"It's a surprise you and your Fallen Angels found a way to infiltrate the city without setting off the alarm." Hoshikari tells Esdeath they managed to find a way to mask their energies before infiltrating. "As promised, some of my men are stationed from each Church holding the Excalibur fragments Nightmare, Transparency, and Rapidly, and I made sure that some of the Fallen Angels got invitations to the concert..."
"To think, we're doing this all for one man (Valper Galilei) who couldn't wield the Sword of Promised Victory..." Hoshikari comments, sounding annoyed.
"I don't mind, just as long as we benefit from this. Besides, we'll dispose of Valper once he's outlived his usefulness..." Curious, Kokabiel's son asked Esdeath why she would want a Second Great War. "Isn't it obvious? I love fighting. I will do anything to feel the rush of battle, even if it means inciting one from within the Church, even if it means using others to accomplish it."
Nighttime
Dillia Diserta
"Hmph, this fits perfect," said Xenovia, as she came out of the dressing room in a white dress, twirling once to get a good feel of it. Xenovia exits the shop as soon as she thanked the owner and paid her. Looking at the clock, she smiled to herself. She would be able to make it to the first act after all. Taking out her phone, she called Irina.
"Hey Xenovia, what's up? Are you on your way?"
"Yes, turns out I might be able to make it before the show starts," she told the twin-tailed exorcist. "Have the guests arrived yet?"
"Yes, everyone's slowly coming in and filling the theatre. Oh, and I brought your violin to Reia as promised." With a smile, she thanks Irina before telling her she will be at the musical institution soon. Hanging up, Xenovia makes her way to the tram station, wondering how Keito was.
"The nearest tram station is about ten minutes from where I am. I should-" Xenovia stops him her tracks. Across the street from her was Naruto. Seeing him, her eyes widened. "Naruto?" What was he doing here in Italy? Was he on another mission. Deciding to chase after him, Xenovia texts Irina, telling her she "missed" her ride and had to wait for another one before going after the Agares Rook.
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Irina lets out a sigh as she read Xenovia's text. As she puts away her phone, Mash asked her what was wrong.
"Xenovia's going to be a bit later than she said she'd be," said Irina. Ritsuka cheers her up, assuring her the bluenette will show up in the second and third acts. "I hope so..."
"By the way Irina...Why is Sif in here? I thought pets weren't allowed here." Irina tells him Reia got permission to bring the wolf in as long as he behaved. Sif happily barked at this as Mary arrived for the concert.
"I'm so excited to see Xenovia play the violin," said Mary. "I remember when she first played for us, it was-"
"Wait, she played it for you!?" asked a surprised Irina. "When was this?"
"When Keito's sister came to visit," Mary responds.
"I knew I should've gone to eat at your restaurant, but I wanted to eat pizza that time..." As Irina sighed, Mary had a strange feeling at the back of her head.
"Is it just my imagination, or..."
Rome Cemetery
"Hey Mom, it's me, Keito. There's been a lot that's happened, both for me and my friend Xenovia. I won't give you a lot of details about what Xenovia went through, but I will tell you that it involves someone she's fallen for. Me...My restaurant's doing well. Mary, my Servant and girlfriend, is doing great as usual. She's been pushing me to marry her and...I'm thinking about proposing during my birthday, as soon as I can get consent. I'm sure she'll be very happy, and I'm sure you'd love her...Caren...She's also doing well. She visited me weeks ago...She still has dad's personality..." Placing flowers on his mother's grave he goes on "talking" to her.
"I don't know anything else to say, other than Caren and I are doing fine, and we miss you...and we wish you were here," Getting up, Keito puts his hands together as he prays for his mother. Finished, he turns around and prepares to go to the concert. As he's walking out, his ears twitch as he noticed two presences. Preparing to fight, he finds himself up against Seryu and Suzuka. Seeing Seryu, this meant one thing: Esdeath has made her move on him. But why? As he prepared to fight, Keito realized why they were here.
"Don't tell me-" Before he could finish, Suzuka rushed at him as her nails grew. Thrusting her right hand forward, she had hoped to pierce Keito's chest. To her surprise, he caught her hand before he sent her flying back with an elbow strike and got into a fighting stance.
"I may be rusty, but-" Keito avoids a downward punch from Koro then knees the muscular Teigu in the face, enhancing his strike with his magic circuits before enhancing his arms and throwing him at a tree. He then avoids a volley of bullets from Seryu before throwing a yellow jewel at her that produced a blinding light, stunning her as he got close and spun kick her. Before he could finish her, Koro knocks him away from her, causing him to crash into and break his mother's gravestone. Seeing her destroyed grave, Keito gets angry as he prepares to fight them again.
Colosseum
Following Naruto all the way here, Xenovia stopped as he stopped at the center of the large arena.
"Naruto!" Turning around, the blond said nothing as he looked at her. "You're...You're here...I've been wondering when we'd see each other again. It's almost..." Xenovia stops as Naruto turned into an expressionless, 8-year old girl with short yellow hair, and brown eyes. On her head was the Teigu, Omnipotent Five Sights: Spectator.
"Mission complete. Target lured. So says Mika," said the young girl.
"Who...are-"
"Next, incapacitate the target for master..." The girl, known as Mika (JP: Maria Naganawa, EN: Erica Mendez), rushed at Xenovia, fist ready. Putting both hands forward, the bluenette caught the punch.
"For a little girl, she's strong..." Xenovia thought to herself. Looking at her chest, Mika said something that caught the bluenette off guard.
"Those balls on your chest, what are they? So says Mika."
"What!?" shouts the surprised Xenovia. As the little girl goes for another punch, the bluenette quickly knocks her back with a small concussive blast of magical energy. To her surprise, the little girl lands on her feet before revealing she too could utilize magic circuits. As she prepared to fight the girl, Xenovia sensed ten Fallen Angels surrounding her.
"Fallen Angels? How did-" Xenovia quickly avoids three light spears before bringing up her fists. One of them tries to swing his sword down on her, only for the bluenette to avoid it at the last second before grabbing his head, using her left hand, powered by her Magic Circuits, and smashing it into the ground then avoiding a Gandr spell from Mika. As she tries to strike down the Fallen Angels, the bluenette found herself fighting off the girl, having a hard time since she couldn't find it in herself to hurt a child, giving the Fallen Angels a small advantage.
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
"The first act is almost over," said Mary.
"It's probably the tram schedule," said Ritsuka. However, Irina, sensing Fallen Angels, outside and inside the room, yelled for everyone to get down as five Fallen Angels shed their disguises and start their assault. Quickly reacting to the danger, Mary takes out some throwing knives she concealed and throws them at the five Fallen Angels, killing them. As everyone wonders what's going on, they sense more Fallen Angels arriving. Irina tells everyone to get to safety as the ones who are capable of handling the rest.
As more come in at full force, One of the Fallen Angels attempts to hit Mash with a light spear, only for Ritsuka to push her down to the floor with him, his face landing on her cleavage. Looking up, the blushing magus asked Mash if she was okay.
"Y-Yeah..." Ritsuka tells Mash to stay low as he gets up and throws a red jewel at the Fallen Angel that attacked them, making it explode in his face, killing him.
Irina cuts off the arm of the Fallen Angel she was clashing swords with before beheading her. Following that, Mary throws a knife at a Fallen Angel that was about to attack her from behind. Thanking the Servant, Irina tells Mary to watch out as a Fallen Angel lunged at her. Quickly, the Servant disarms the Fallen angel and takes off the glove on her right hand, touching his face as Zabaniya activates.
"What's going on? How did the Fallen Angels sneak in undetected?"
Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola
Several exorcists guarding the Excalibur fragment stored in the Church they swore to protect lie dead as Hoshikari sheathes his katana.
"Oh, how I love a good massacre! What about you, Hoshikari?" The Fallen Angel says nothing as he looked at Freed. "Would it kill you to be excited?"
"Just shut up and help retrieve Excalibur Rapidly before backup shows," said an uninterested Hoshikari as he and Freed casually walk into the church.
Rome Cemetery
With a punch, Keito destroyed Seryu's right mechanical arm before spinning his body counterclockwise and kicking her in the face, knocking her down. Noticing Koro coming from behind, he enhanced his left hand with his magic circuits and formed a knife-hand, spinning around and bisecting the Teigu with it.
Keito turns to his right and crossed his arms in front of him as the fingernails in Suzuka's right hand grow and stab into his left arm. With his right hand, he karate chops the large fingernails, breaking it, to Suzuka's surprise. He then knocks her into a tree with an elbow strike and, appearing in front of her, putting his hands on her chest, sending a powerful force of energy through her, destroying her heart as the tree behind her explodes. Suzuka's dead body drops to the ground as Keito pulls her fingernails out of his left arm. As he prepares to finish off Seryu, he finds himself stuck in place.
"If you wanted this guy dead, you should've waited for me." Moving his eyes, Keito sees a boy his age approached him (JP: Daisuke Kishio EN: Erik Scott Kimerer). He had short, black hair combed to the right, red eyes, and wore a grey business suit. "Lucky for you Seryu, I came before he killed you." With just the movement of his right hand, Keito was sent flying into multiple gravestones and old trees, before being dragged along the dirt. Once Keito's in a half-dead state, the boy brings him closer to him.
"By now, your friend's memories are being altered. She will be the perfect weapon Esdeath has always wanted..."
"You...You bastards...Why are you doing this?"
"Instead of asking, how about feeling what's going on..." At first, Keito didn't understand what the boy was telling him. Following this, Keito's eyes widened when he starts sensing several Fallen Angels out in the distance.
"The Fallen Angels have infiltrated Rome!? How-"
"Thanks to the Takumi incident involving Firebrand, Esdeath figured out a way to cheat the barrier's system and made a deal with Kokabiel. As I crush your body, the Fallen Angels and stray exorcists are in the process of stealing the Excalibur fragments..." said the boy.
"Dammit...Dammit all!" Keito struggled with freeing himself from the boy's powers as he felt his bones cracking.
"It's useless to fight my psychic powers. Just forfeit your life...At least you got to visit your mother before this." Letting out a sigh, Keito concentrates as he used a Command Spell to enhance his magic and released it in a quick burst, breaking the hold the boy had and sending him flying into one of the gravestones. Dropping to the ground, Keito groaned in pain before looking out at the distance.
"I can't fight like this...I can't prevent the Fallen Angels from taking the fragments...and I won't make it to Xenovia." Getting up, he forms takes some of the blood from his lip and formed runic symbols on his left arm as he recites a teleportation spell that would take him to his sister's church in Japan. If he screws up his concentration...
"I have to warn my sister...I need to bring reinforcements now...and save my friend...Come on Keito...Concentrate...Concent-" Before he knew it, he felt a bullet pierce him in the gut. Turning around, he saw Seryu, her mouth open, revealing a gun installed in it. Clutching his gunshot wound, Keito fell backward as Seryu prepared to fire again. To her annoyance, she only managed to hit his left shoulder before Keito teleported.
Colosseum
5 minutes earlier
Catching a slight spear before it hits her, Xenovia threw it back at the remaining Fallen Angel, hitting him in the chest and killing him.
Despite her tired state, Xenovia narrowly avoided another Gandr spell from Mika. For a kid, she displayed incredible mastery over her magic circuits, using it with her Teigu and incredible fighting capabilities to fight on equal terms. She wanted to call for back up, but Mika had smashed her phone during the fight with the Fallen Angels. As Xenovia prepared to go on the offensive, she heard the sound of a recorder playing that started sapping what little energy she had as she fell to her knees. Trying to resist, Xenovia found her arms and legs trapped in water.
"True objective to tire out target complete. So says Mika," said Mika as Xenovia struggled to get free. Every time she did, she felt her strength leave at a rapid pace. Looking up, she saw Nyau playing his Teigu, Military Music Dream: Scream as Liver used Water Dragon Possession: Black Marlin to hold Xenovia in place.
"Who...Who are you guys?" asked the weakened Xenovia.
"They're the newest members of the Neo Jaegers..."
"That voice..." Looking up, Xenovia's eyes widened when she saw Esdeath descend to the ground in front of her, using her control over ice to mimic flight. "Es...death? What's...What's going on? Is this some sort of test you decided to put me-"
"This is no test, but if it was, I must say I am disappointed. I was hoping you'd use your projection magic to fight off the Fallen Angels and Mika, but you didn't. A shame that you have powerful magic, but refused to use it...You also held back fighting Mika. If you went all out you would've won...The old you would've done it...At least with a little push. As for what's going on...You...You're what's going on, my Xenovia. You've changed, and not in a way I'm happy to see. I wonder what made you...Who made you that way...Mest?" In the blink of an eye, Mest appears next to Esdeath as she tells him to show her the bluenette's memories. "First, Najenda changed, became my enemy. You...I don't want you to be my enemy. Not like her."
Placing his hand over Xenovia's head, Mest casts a magic spell that allowed them to see the bluenette's memories. She saw her interactions with Naruto before he killed Takumi, their battle after Naruto assassinated him (Takumi), the mission in Oolacile, her attack on Syura, her finding out who the Agares Rook was, and her intentions of going to Japan. Xenovia's eyes widened when her secrets were exposed for the Ice General to see.
"So this is who...Naruto Namikaze...Also known as Firebrand...The Devil who's been killing my men, and it seems you're in love with him." Esdeath laughed to herself as Xenovia looked down at the ground. "You have found yourself in a very interesting position, my Xenovia...I've been meaning to go after him for some time. But I didn't know who he was. Now...I WAS planning to kill him myself, but I think it'll benefit me if I had you kill him instead."
"What...What are you-"
"Mest...Can you erase her memories from her the day after Takumi's death up until now?"
"I can't. I don't have that kind of power. However, I CAN alter certain parts of her memories and give her commands." Her eyes widening, Xenovia realized what Esdeath was planning to do with her.
"Remake the memories from her last mission (Oolacile) and alter some of the memories after it, but keep her knowledge of Firebrand's identity intact. Oh and...give her the command to kill Naruto Namikaze once she meets him again (Yes, Mest has that power. Check out Fairy Tail 488)." Having said the last part, Esdeath formed a large grin on her face.
"No...You can't do this! Please, don't...Don't do this...Please Esdeath..." said the now-crying Xenovia.
"As you wish..." said Mest. Before she knew it, the teary-eyed Xenovia felt several intense jolts in her brain, screaming at the top of her lungs as she had her memories re-written. She could feel the pain of "that night" return as she struggled to free herself from the magic.
"For a girl with not much energy left, she's a strong one...I may not be able to rewrite some parts of her memories due to her attempts to resist my power," Mest informed the Ice General. Esdeath tells him to try harder and to remake it as much as his magic reserves would let him as Xenovia continued to scream in pain.
Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola
Mary sliced off four fingers from the Fallen Angel she was facing, using the knife in her left hand, before switching it to her right and slitting his throat. At the same time, Sif defends Mash and kills another Fallen Angel by biting down at its neck, just as Irina finished cutting down the last one. Looking around, she asked if it was the last one. One of the exorcists tells her it was before looking at seven of the exorcists who lost their lives. "How did they enter, and why were they here?" As everyone pondered their thoughts, they're interrupted by the arrival of the Mage's Association.
"The Mage's Association? What are they-" Ritsuka stops talking when his former teacher, Lord El-Melloi II, enters. "S-Sir!?"
"Oh, Ritsuka? It seems that you were able to defend yourself well," he told his former pupil.
"Yes, however...a few exorcists lost their lives..."
"No...Not a few Ritsuka...Several exorcists outside of this institution, the ones guarding the Excalibur fragments...have been killed by the Fallen Angels and former members of the Church." Hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in horror. "What's worse, they've stolen three of the seven Excalibur fragments."
"Three!?" Irina shouts.
"Yes..." Taking a cigarette out of his pocket, the professor tells them to get back to the Church as the Mage's Association handles the rest until they figure out the next move and find a way to cover up the incident from the media. As they leave, Mary sensed Keito using his second Command Seal to call her to him.
"Guys, I have to "go home." With a nod, Irina thanks her for helping out and tells her to get home safely. As she walked home, she stops by at an alley and walks into it before teleporting to Keito's side.
Colosseum
"Xenovia...Xenovia...Wake up." Opening her eyes, the bluenette finds herself resting on Esdeath's lap.
"Esdeath? What-" Getting up, she looked around and saw the dead bodies of the Fallen Angels she killed being burned down by the Mage's Association and asked Esdeath what happened.
"You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
"You sensed the presence of Fallen Angels and followed them to the Colosseum, where you attempted to stop them from planning an attack on one of the churches. You passed out after using up too much energy fighting the "leader". They would've butchered you, had my Neo Jaegers and I not arrived in time."
"I would've lost my life if it wasn't for you guys...Thank you."
"However...They weren't the only Fallen Angel Groups. I just got word from the Mage's Association. Several exorcists who were guarding the Excalibur fragments, have been killed by other groups, who've somehow infiltrated the Church from under our noses, and stole three of the seven fragments." Xenovia's eyes widened when she heard it. "Irina, Naoko...Are they okay!?"
"They are fine..." Esdeath told her.
"I should head back to the Church. To see if Irina and the others are okay." As the bluenette prepares to leave, Esdeath calls her name. Turning around, she wondered what Esdeath needed.
"There's more...Seryu...She told me...Firebrand was here and...he killed Keito." Xenovia's eyes widened when she heard it. "What?"
"It's true...He attacked him while he was out visiting his mother's grave. He never stood a chance." Xenovia teared up as she clenched her fists.
"He...How could he!?"
"I know it's hard. We lost lots of good people today...all in one night..."
"I...I think I should go home..." said Xenovia, Esdeath nodding her head as she dismissed the bluenette. As Xenovia left the Colosseum, Esdeath thought to herself, "That's the Xenovia I know..."
St. Peter's Basilica
Arriving at the Church, Xenovia sees Irina and the others waiting for her. Voicing how glad she was that she's (Xenovia) safe, Irina goes over to hug her friend. However, the bluenette moves away, confusing her.
"Xenovia, what's wro-"
"I just found out that Firebrand was here...right under our noses...and he killed Keito," she interrupts.
"Firebrand...killed Keito?" said Ritsuka. "That means-"
"Mary's..." Xenovia nods yes, confirming Mary's "return to the Throne of Heroes" to Irina. "No...No way...Mary's gone..." Putting a hand on the weeping Irina, Xenovia assures Irina that they'll make the Fallen Angels pay for the many deaths they have caused, and make sure that Firebrand pays for killing Keito and making Mary "disappear".
Xenovia's Room
Picking up the "Sleep Well?" letter from her drawer, Xenovia looks at it once before finally ripping it up, a cold expression on her face. Seeing this, Sif whimpered as the bluenette looked down at him and told the wolf, "Don't worry Sif, I'll make sure he pays..."
Jaeger Headquarters
Command Room
"Mission was a success. So says Mika," said Mika as she tends to the psychic boy's wounds.
"Xenovia's memories have been warped to what she once was, at my side once more. And she'll help in killing that devil Firebrand," Esdeath adds. "And with the theft of the three Excalibur fragments, all Kokabiel and Valper have to do now is kill the future heads of both the Gremory and Sitri clan, and I- no...we can have our war."
"I just wished that I had killed that Kotomine when I had the chance, give him a quick death..." said the psychic named Tetsuo Aono, forming an angry expression on his face as he clenched his teeth and fists.
"With the wounds Seryu gave him, he's as good as dead..." Esdeath assured. "And with his death, his Servant is gone as well. A shame...I really wanted to make her mine...Good job, you all did well in your respective tasks. Now get some rest." Nodding, one by one, everyone leaves, until Mika is left with Esdeath.
"If you don't mind me asking...Why do you desire her so much? Why go through all this trouble for her? So asks Mika," asked Mika.
"Hmmm...Of all the people I know, you, Xenovia, and Kurome are the only people I want at my side. Because of that, I will gladly tell you why. However, promise me, no one else but you must know...even if you're close to them." With an assuring nod from the girl, Esdeath whispered something in her ear that makes her eyes widen. "That is why I need Xenovia to stay at my side...She belongs to no one, but me. Her body...Her soul...Everything she is and ever will be."
Monday (6/6)
St. Peter's Basilica
Courtyard
"Is there a reason why you've summoned me here, Lord El-Melloi II?" Irina asked as the professor lights a smoke.
"Yes, and it's very important. First, let me commend you for doing your best to protect those people from losing their lives." With a small smile, she thanks him. "Now...the reason I've summoned you here is that...we know who's responsible for the attack. It was the Fallen Angel Kokabiel and his son Hoshikari. They weren't acting alone, Freed Sellzen was also a part of the attack, under the orders of Valper Galilei."
"The Genocide Bishop!?"
"Yes..." Throwing away his cigarette, he tells Irina that his sources have found Hoshikari and his father heading towards Kuoh Town. "My bet is that they plan to go after the future heads of the Gremory and Sitri clan to incite a Second Great War. You and Xenovia are to head there later and retrieve the fragments. You're to be given the Excalibur Mimicry, with Xenovia given the Excalibur Des-"
"Wait, why us? Why not ask the more experienced-"
"Because they're either out on a mission still, or perished when the Fallen Angels attacked." Hearing his answer, Irina looks down, sad. "If there was anyone else who was capable of accomplishing that task, we would've asked them, but you two are our best shot at retrieving those fragments right now."
"I see...I will tell Xenovia about it right away."
"Please do..." Lord El-Melloi II told Irina as he walked away.
Xenovia's Room
Hearing a knock on her door, a tired Xenovia gets up from her bed and opens it to see Irina waving at her with a smile.
"Morning, Xenovia...Are you okay?"
"Just...tired is all..."
"Probably stayed up playing-"
"No...I just didn't get any sleep was all..." Xenovia interrupts.
"...Can we talk privately?" Curious, Xenovia allows her to come in. Sitting at the side of her bed, Irina asked her friend how she was feeling. "One of my friends died last night Irina, at the hands of someone I hate. Right now, I'm very angry." At this point, Xenovia teared up.
[Fate/Grand Order OST 「色彩 雪花の盾」]
"I thought I could forget it...All those weeks trying to forget the pain he put me through,...Forcing a smile and happy smile on my face to mask the pain...Now...Now he's hurt me in a way I've never been hurt before. Keito...He was a good person. He had someone he loved...He helped others when they were hurt...He helped me when I needed guidance...He...He never did anything wrong in his life...and Firebrand, he shows up, while we were all busy fighting off the Fallen Angels...and killed him. Now...the nightmares have come back and they're worse...I can't see any other way of coming back from this other than running my blade through his heart."
"...Maybe you'll have your chance," said Irina, as she clenched her fists.
"What do you mean?" Irina tells the bluenette she had a talk with Lord El-Melloi II earlier and that, since several of their best exorcists were either busy with missions outside of Italy, or have perished during the attack last night, he had asked her and Xenovia to head to Japan and retrieve the stolen Excalibur fragments. Hearing this surprised Xenovia.
"Japan? We're..."
"Yes...The Fallen Angels were spotted heading towards Kuoh Town..." Irina adds. "We're to go at night."
"...Alright, let-" Before Xenovia could get up, Irina stops her. "Irina?"
"I know our mission is to retrieve the fragments, and..." Struggling to speak at first, Irina musters the courage to as she tears up. "I know how hurt and angry you've been feeling inside, and I'm glad that you made an effort to smile and be happy for us but...What you're feeling it...it scares me. It's like you're becoming...You're becoming someone you're not. I'm fully aware of your intentions, and I will support your decisions, but...promise me...promise me, after this mission, that you'll return to who you were before he...before Firebrand hurt you...I don't...I don't want to see you like this! It just hurts to see you like this! So promise me!" Hearing what Irina had to say, Xenovia, a sad expression on her face, tells her, "I promise..."
"Double Promise?" asked the crying twin-tailed girl as she cried in her friend's arms.
"Double Promise..." said Xenovia.
[Music End]
Airplane to Japan
10:30 am
With Excalibur Destruction in hand, both Xenovia and Irina take their seats as the plane's about to take off.
"Hey Irina?"
"Yes Xenovia?"
"...Thanks...for the talk...I don't know how this mission will end, but...I hope I can go back to the way I was as well..." With a smile, Irina told her to pinky promise her. "Pinky Promise?"
"Of course."
"Didn't we Double Promise?" asked Xenovia, with Irina telling her the Pinky Promise was absolute. With a sigh, the bluenette said, "Okay..." as she entwined her pinky finger with Irina's as the plane took off.
"In 15 hours, we'll be in Japan...By the way, are you sure Sif will be fine with Mash? And are you sure it's safe for Mash to stay in your room?" Xenovia tells Irina it was okay since Mash would sometimes stop by and play video games with her, also adding that the wolf was very friendly towards her. "...You play video games with Mash?" As the girls had their conversation, Xenovia hoped she could return to the way she was as she sees the dark manifestation of Naruto waving at her from the empty seat behind Irina, a dark smirk on his face. Unknown to the two exorcists, Mest and Mika were tasked by Esdeath to follow them and make sure the bluenette took care of Naruto, and keep watch over Xenovia in case her (true) memories return.
[ED Special: Aimer special concert with Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra "ARIA STRINGS" Aimer special concert with スロヴァキア国立放送交響楽団 "ARIA STRINGS" - broKen NIGHT]
Post Credits
Monday (6/6)
Akashiya Residence
Guest Room
6:30 pm
"Mary?" Turning around, Mary saw Moka enter the room to give her the bandages needed to nurse Keito's wounds. When Kokoa was getting bandages and rope yesterday, Keito abruptly woke up from his unconscious state and tried to get out of the house to find his sister, only to nearly pass out from his untreated wounds. Before he passed out, he managed to used his second Command Seal to summon Mary to his side. It was a shock for Moka to see another Servant appear. Archer had almost cut Mary's head off, and would've, if Moka hadn't stopped her, after seeing Mary hug Keito. While he'd live, the attack from Tetsuo and Seryu did a number on him. He was in a coma from all the magic he used, coupled with two gunshot wounds, moderate brain trauma, and loss of blood. To even move before he lost consciousness was something both admirable and crazy.
"Oh, thanks..." said a grateful Mary as she nurtured Keito's wounds. "...Thank you...for...for helping us. Even if you don't know us. And thanks for not tying up my boyfriend."
"No problem," said Moka. "Still...How did he get those wounds?"
"I don't know...but whoever did this to him...I will make sure they pay for hurting him." Moka sweats a bit when Mary told her her vows. "S...Sorry, I-"
"It's fine...If you don't mind me asking, how does he still have two Command Seals? I'm sure he had one left after-"
"Oh, one used seal returns every 24 hours." Moka had a look of surprise when Mary said that.
"They do!?" Mary simply nods yes to answer her question."...How interesting...Anyways, you're welcome to stay as long as you like, Mary Kotomine." Mary turns red when Moka says her name with Keito's surname at the end of it.
Things that happened:
1. Three of the seven Excalibur fragments have been taken.
2. Xenovia's memories have been re-written a bit, though not completely due to her struggling to resist Mest's memory manipulation, and she's been given the command to kill Naruto. Mest will definitely receive punishment. How? It's not pleasant. The idea came from Charlotte Pudding's power in One Piece and the Memory Alteration Spell in Fate/Zero. If there was another way I could have done this, I'd have a female OC who's based on Medea bind her hands with magic as she erased the bluenette's memory. She'd also start groping Xenovia's breasts and finger her nether regions in order to break her resistance. However I considered it too much and I decided to scrap it in favor of Mest.
3. We find out how Keito gets injured and, due to his many injuries received from Tetsuo (OC) and Seryu, he's been put in a coma. He'll wake up in time to help. When is...out there somewhere.
4. The Neo Jaegers are introduced. There's more, but you'll have to wait and see.
5. Xenovia and Irina make their way to Japan (FINALLY!), and they're being watched.
6. There's something a bit off with Hoshikari.
OC Characters
Mika - A Designer Baby made to be a weapon, the expressionless and curious Mika displays amazing magic and combat prowess and strength, and has a habit of mostly saying "So says/asks Mika" at the end of every sentence. She is also 8-years old and wields the Teigu known as Omnipotent Five Sights: Spectator. Inspiration came from Kanna Kamui, Platelet, MISAKA, and Arale.
Tetsuo Aono - A member of the Neo Jaegers who possesses powerful psychic abilities. He's somewhat arrogant and has been known to lose his cool when someone manages to hurt him. Has been known to possess torture skills that are on par with Esdeath. Inspiration came from Mob Psycho 100, and some assholes in anime that are calm but break when something happens.
