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'ITALICS'- THOUGHTS
'BOLD'- POWERFUL BEING/JUTSU/TECHNIQUE
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CHAPTER 1 FOR DETAILS
Lord Gremory, we're out of ramen!- For someone who brought about peace between the factions, Lord Gremory was weirdly obsessed with ramen.
Check out chapters 2, 3 and 4 for separate stories. That makes three stories total.
1
Rias Gremory was staring at the paper in front of her with an unidentifiable gaze. When her Bishop had delivered the news to her, she was not sure what to think. The redhead simply opted for asking the bearer of the report for insight.
"It appears that a student from our school has been killed, Kuroka?"
The one spoken to was Rias' Bishop, Kuroka Toujou. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and a matching black kimono. Her hazel eyes were twinkling with mirth, as they often did, accompanied by her teasing smirk. Kuroka also had two black cat ears and two tails, signifying her Nekoshou heritage.
"Buchou, they killed Issei because they saw him as dangerous. Should we be worried, nya?"
"I don't see any reason to be. He did not give off any kind of energy."
"Because he died in our territory, nya?" Kuroka asked confusedly, "Aren't you worried that there are rogue Fallen here?"
Rias just steeped her fingers and laid her chin in her hands. "I have been aware of them for a long time, my cute servant." She smirked, "I just needed to know where they were located, and now I do."
Kuroka blinked. "So… you used him as bait?"
"No. I didn't know that Issei was even a target, but it worked out. My parents would be disappointed in me if I actively bartered in lives like that."
"Why did you not scout him for your peerage then?" Kuroka tilted her head in confusion.
"And why would I?" Rias argued back, "I have no reason to scout members as of now. Papa has told me to concentrate on my studies and have fun!" She said proudly with a happy smile.
"Hmm, that sounds… boring, nya." Kuroka deadpanned as she stretched on the couch. "Nyaa~." Then she sat cross-legged and asked, "I thought that you would be in an arranged marriage you hate, and the new servant would save you gallantly like in those anime you like." Kuroka teased with a cat-like grin.
"Sh-shut up, Kuroka!" Rias snapped with red cheeks, "And for your information, I would be in a marriage contract right now if it weren't for Papa!" She huffed.
"Oh? With whom, Rias-sama?" A new voice asked, making the two look at the door. The one who had entered looked a lot like Kuroka, except for a shorter height and leaner build. She also had white hair instead of Kuroka's black. She was also wearing a Kuoh Academy uniform like Rias.
"Shirone-chan!" Kuroka cheered and glomped the shorter girl, "Give your big sister a hug, nya!"
Shirone simply giggled and returned her embrace, making Kuroka's tails wag. "Hi, nee-chan!"
Kuroka moved her so that she was sitting in her big sister's lap and started playing with her fluffy white ears. "Nee-chan! I'm fifteen, nya! Stop that!" She complained while trying not to purr.
Kuroka paid her no mind and continued stroking her hair with a dopey grin. Shirone just sighed and turned to Rias. "So, who would the contract have been with?"
Rias's good mood deflated instantly as she grimaced. "Riser Phenex." She said with the most disgusted look she could muster.
"That asshole-ow sorry!" Shirone winced as she was flicked on the ear with a cry of 'language!' from Kuroka. "That idiot? What happened?" Shirone was extremely interested to know how Rias dodged that cannonball.
Rias gained a proud smirk. "My father stopped it!" She declared and raised her chin haughtily. "The Phenex had gone to him before I was born, to 'forge a union for the good of Devil-kind'." She mocked while making air-quotes.
"And then?" Shirone asked, invested in the tale.
"Hmph! What else, Papa kicked them out the door! He said, 'My little girl will marry whoever she chooses, the 'good of devil-kind' does not take priority over her wishes!' And when they tried to get political, he showed them who's boss!" Rias pumped her fist in the air, eyes sparkling with pride.
"Uwaa~!" Shirone clasped her hands with stars in her eyes, "So cool!"
"Right? Right?" Rias nodded her head fervently. Her father was indeed very cool.
"As expected of Otou-sama!" Kuroka said happily, still petting Shirone's head.
When she heard this, Rias gained a tick-mark on her head. "Don't call him that! He's my dad, not yours!" She sniffed with supreme arrogance.
"Oya? Is someone getting possessive?" Kuroka teasingly jibed, making Rias flush, "But he told us that he considers us his daughters, right Sirone-chan?"
"Hai, nee-chan!" Shirone nodded, making her short hair bob from the motion. "He told me he loves me, that he'll always protect me…" She trailed off with a beaming grin. It felt really good to know that someone loved you unconditionally and had your back always.
Rias was shooting her a death glare, which Shirone ignored as she went into happy memory-land.
Kuroka also lost all sense of teasing and gained a soft smile on her lips. "I still remember when he found us on the streets. He carried us home in his own two arms, fed us, cared for us, and loved us." She remembered fondly, "I don't know where we would be without him, nya." She looked Rias dead in the eye, with all the emotion a homeless, scared girl could have, "If that's not a father, I don't know what is."
After hearing those words from the heart, Rias' glare lost all heat. She just settled for pouting adorably at the cat sisters. Why did her father have the habit of adopting every lonely kid he came across? Her position as his little girl was in danger!
She then scoffed to herself; who was she kidding? Her father would always love her, without a doubt. He loved their whole family deeply, and his taking in children in need was one reason he was the best dad in the world. She could make do with a couple of adorkable siblings if she had such an awesome dad.
"Ara Ara~, are we talking about Gremory-sama?"
Rias stiffened as she looked at her Queen, who had entered. Akeno Himejima had the most innocent smile plastered on her face, a smile which screamed danger to anyone who knew her.
"I also owe my life to him, Buchou." Akeno tilted her head, "He is the reason my mother is alive, and I am on good terms with my father, after all." Akeno also had many good memories of Rias' father. "He was the one who found us in time to save my mother and me, and he is very important to all of us." She then smirked at Rias, whose pout had only increased. "Ufufu, is Buchou jealous? Ara ara, you're such a daddy's girl, Rias!' She cupped her cheek with her palm and swayed slightly.
"Muuuu…" Rias's cuteness was reaching critical levels, where she would probably have killed a lower-ranking being with sheer moe. She huffed in embarrassment, crossing her arms with a cute pout.
Seeing her plight, Akeno decided to change her subject. "What's this about a student dying?"
Rias showed her the paper and told her the plan to deal with the Fallen. "Have you contacted Azazel-sama, Rias? The alliance will want to know about this."
"I have, but they are rogues anyway. We have the all-clear to wipe them out." Rias said. Even though the supernatural world was in a Golden age of peace, such conflicts and rogue cells popped up from time to time.
"Alright then. We shall deal with them." Akeno nodded, "Where are Yuuto and Gasper?"
Shirone piped up, still in Kuroka's lap. "Oh, they're sparring, nya! Gaspie needs to fight without relying on his sacred gear, so he is learning kenjutsu."
"Understood. Call them up. We move tonight."
"So, please work with us on this; the alliance has decreed as such."
Rias and her peerage looked at the two exorcists that were seated in the ORC room, Irina and Xenovia, along with a nun. They were here to retrieve stolen Excalibur fragments, which were stolen by the Fallen Angel Kokabiel. The man had been branded a traitor by the alliance but had fled before being tried for his crimes.
Rias looked at her Knight, who was standing beside her with a blank look on his face. It must be difficult for him, with his history with the Excalibur. She was about to ask him to leave, when-
"I agree, Buchou. Let us do the needful." He said seriously, surprising Rias.
"Are you sure, Yuuto?" Rias asked hesitantly, "With your his-"
"I need this, Rias-sama." He cut her off, "I have realized that revenge is not the answer, and I need closure." He clenched his fist and stared at her with resolve.
'Dad must have spoken to him sometime. He's really matured.' she mused. "Alright, as you say."
Akeno pointed at the small nun sitting next to Irina. "Ano, who is that?"
The nun jerked upright in shock and poked her fingers together shyly. "A-Ah, apologies! My name is Asia Argento. I am here as support for my friends and to heal them if they get hurt!" She blushed brightly when Irina patted her on the head.
"Asia has the Twilight Healing sacred gear, which is vital for a mission like this one." Xenovia said, making Rias nod in understanding.
Kuroka had a question, however. "You would even heal us, nya?" A nun willing to heal a devil? Now she'd seen everything.
Asia nodded fiercely, determination in her eyes. "Of course! We are all allied now, it is natural!" Since the three factions were in a formal alliance, such joint operations were pretty commonplace.
Rias decided to steer the conversation back to the topic. "Anyway, let us plan a course of action."
"How convenient for both Devil heiresses to be in one place! I shall slay you with haste!" Kokabiel cackled maliciously as he stared at the group of downed devils with all the hatred he could muster. "Soon, the world will be bathed in the flames of war!"
Kokabiel was and always had been a warmonger. Peace among the supernaturals just didn't sit right with him. What was life without conflict and strife? The Grigori had gotten complacent under that fool Azazel, and they were dallying and making friends in the name of peace.
Unacceptable! The Fallen were the strongest faction, and he would prove it. He would usher in a new age where they reigned supreme, and Kokabiel himself would lead them towards this glorious goal.
"Though I have to admit, you were stronger than I had expected. Not a match for me, of course, but still." He snarked arrogantly, looking at the corpses of Freed and Valper.
When he had initially thought that he'd win easily, it had not been so. The Sitri Girl's peerage was normal, but the Gremory girl's peerage had proven to be very meddlesome. The two cats were capable of Senjutsu. The Queen was able to use Baraquiel's Holy lightning. The Bishop was in possession of the Forbidden Balor View, and the Knight was a formidable swordsman with Sword Birth, which had even attained Balance Breaker. Even the redhead herself was proficient in the Power of Destruction.
Kokabiel had only been able to win by sacrificing both his underlings. But he had won. The pests were all on their last legs, and it would take but one attack to exterminate them.
Rias glared at him with intense hate while clutching her broken ribs. "It's because we've been training extensively with our abilities. There are no shortcuts to being strong!" She declared resolutely.
Kokabiel just laughed mockingly. "And that is where you're wrong, girl. Power comes only to those blessed by fate, to those with talent! For however hard you might train, you still fell short of my might!" he boasted.
Akeno limped towards Rias, just as injured. Luckily, due to Asia's help, there had been no casualties, but they were all pretty battered. "I still don't understand why you told me not to contact your brother, Buchou."
Rias just looked away, clenching her fists. "It's because I'm tired of being the princess or the damsel in distress, Akeno! I am tired of always needing someone to save me!" She screamed, making Akeno's eyes widen, "I wanted to prove that I can look after myself, that I can protect everyone on my own!" She yelled angrily, with tears in her eyes.
Akeno looked at her King with concern and sadness. "Rias…"
Their moment was interrupted by Kokabiel. "How foolish!" he mocked, smirking maliciously, "If you had called for assistance, you might have won. Your pride will be your downfall!" He shouted as he summoned a large number of light spears.
As the Devils and exorcists looked on helplessly at their inevitable death, Rias glanced at the necklace she was wearing and gripped it with resolve. It was a keepsake given to her by her father, with a unique seal engraved into it. She remembered what he'd told her while giving her the charm.
"I know you want to prove yourself, but I'm your father, ya know? So don't be afraid to call me whenever you have no way out. I trust you, Rias. I know that you'll only use it after you've given it your best shot. I will always protect you, believe it."
Smiling at the memory, Rias clutched the necklace tightly in her hand and channeled her magic into it, hoping desperately that she wasn't too late.
Shirone watched in horror as the hail of spears descended onto them like a personification of death. Her life flashed before her eyes, and she found that she had no regrets. She had an awesome big sister and an amazing family with whom she had spent the past years happily. Shirone closed her eyes as she resigned herself to her fate, awaiting her death.
When no such death came, she was surprised. She opened her eyes, only to be blinded by several rapid flashes of red. Shirone watched in shock as each spear was systematically destroyed by a corresponding flash.
When the flashes of light died down, she was greeted with an unusual sight. There, standing in between Kokabiel and their downed forms, was a single figure. The person had their back turned to them, but Shirone recognized him instantly. Not many people she knew had such deep crimson hair, after all.
'Otou-sama…'
It seemed that everyone else had also taken note of the newcomer and had various reactions.
The exorcists and Sona's peerage straightened up in respect, bar Saji, who was new and didn't know the man.
Kuroka, who had appeared at her sister's side to check on her, also had a happy smile at seeing the redhead.
Akeno, Gasper, and Yuuto sighed visibly in relief, a heavy burden off their shoulders.
Rias had tears in her eyes as she clutched her necklace tightly, grinning and crying at the same time from all the exertion. "Papa!"
The most telling reaction, by far, was from Kokabiel himself. The man's pride and arrogance had bled out of him completely, and he was staring wide-eyed at the newcomer. "Y-y-you!" He pointed a finger, positively trembling with fear. All semblance of bravado gone, the Fallen could only look in shock as he desperately tried to gain his composure.
The man who had appeared was a tall man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, with a muscular build to emphasize speed over strength. He had spiky crimson hair, sparkling azure eyes, and three faint whisker-like marks on his cheeks. He was wearing a formal black suit.
"Wh-why are you here, Naruto Gremory!?" Kokabiel shouted, trying to appear strong, "Have you come to be cut down by me as well!"
Naruto simply looked at him, looked hard. Kokabiel started sweating in nervousness, fearing his response.
The redhead simply ignored the fallen and made a beeline straight for Rias and the others. Reaching the downed kids, he was immediately tackled in a flying glomp by three multicolored blurs. He looked down to see Kuroka, Shirone, and Rias hugging him tightly, sobbing into his chest. Even Akeno joined the group hug with a smile.
"I thought I was going to die!" Shirone wept as she clutched his suit tightly.
"You saved us, nya!" Kuroka said as she, too, hugged Naruto.
"Foolish!" Kokabiel shouted as he readied an attack, but he found Naruto looking at him over his shoulder. One of the redhead's eyes was deep crimson with a slitted pupil, and it looked wrong. Kokabiel found himself rooted to his place in fear, unable to move a muscle. 'Such power! To freeze me with but a glance!'
Naruto looked at his daughter, who was hugging him but looking away from him. Gently tilting her head to face him, Rias still averted her eyes.
"Rias-chan, look at me."
His fatherly tone only served to bring more tears to Rias' eyes. She was disappointed in herself. She had failed to protect those who were precious to her and had to rely on her father to bail her out, again. She was a failure! She didn't deserve to be the heiress!
"I'm sorry, Papa!" She cried as she clung on to him for dear life, "I couldn't beat him, I couldn't protect everyone!" Rias bowed her head in shame. She was a failure, a disappointment. She had trained so hard, sacrificed so much, yet she still couldn't protect her family with her own power. If her father hadn't appeared when he did, they all would've died.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a hand pat her head. She looked up to see her father smiling softly at her.
"You did well, sweetie. I'm proud of you."
The simple words brought immense happiness and relief to the young girl's mind as she bit her lip to quell the fresh tears that had started falling.
"You sit back and relax, okay? Let your father take care of this one!" Naruto grinned, poking Rias' forehead. The girl weekly nodded and went towards her peerage to recuperate.
Naruto turned to where Kokabiel was flying, and his smile turned into a snarl. The Fallen flinched at the sheer rage emanating from the redhead until he felt it.
DEATH
Kokabiel froze in midair as the overwhelming presence of dread washed over him. He had only felt such intense bloodlust once in his life before, when he had faced this very man in combat.
'This killing intent…. Overwhelming!'
The spectators, who were all children, had dropped to the ground from the sheer weight of the pressure, even though it wasn't directed at them.
"W-who is that guy?!" Saji shouted, trembling in shock.
Sona pushed up her glasses and looked at him, sweating mildly from the pressure. "That guy, as you crudely referred to him, is Rias' father. Lord Naruto Gremory, the head of the Gremory clan." She said, making her Pawn pale in fright.
"But why is Kokabiel so scared of him?"
"Lord Gremory is the most powerful devil in the world." Xenovia cut in. As an exorcist, it was her duty to be familiar with key figures of each faction. And Lord Gremory was one of the most famous. "He can defeat Kokabiel with ease."
"Wait, the most powerful devil?" Asia shyly said, "Then why isn't he a Maou?"
"That, I do not know."
Akeno glanced at Rias, who was looking away in embarrassment. "Buchou?"
Rias looked at the group with a red face. "He's not leading because he wants to spend his life traveling the world with my mother and eat every kind of ramen in existence…" She mumbled, burying her face in her hands. For all the power her father held, his reason for not leading the underworld was lame. Very lame. "B-But he advises the Maou from time to time!" She retorted weakly, trying to save face.
While this conversation was taking place, Naruto was having one of his own. "So, Kokabiel." He drawled, picking at his nails. "Why are you doing this?"
Kokabiel went on a long tirade about the 'Glorious war', but Naruto was somewhere else mentally.
"Finally! A decent fight!" Kurama roared in his mind. "Years of your ramen tours and cutesy talks with your wife have made me sick!" He grinned menacingly.
Naruto just gave the fox a flat look. "I could always summon you out, ya know? You could go play with the dragons in the mountains!" He clapped his hands gleefully.
"As if!" Kurama scoffed, "Those lizards are weak!"
"And you think THIS guy is strong?"
"Well..."
"Thought so."
"How insufferable. Even when you reincarnated, I am stuck with you." Kurama huffed. "I've grown bored after centuries of peace."
"Hey! Look on the bright side, at least I got red hair this time!" Naruto boasted as he ran a hand through his magnificent crimson locks.
"What an imbecile."
Naruto just ignored his tenant and focused on the Fallen, who was still mid-rant. He stared blankly at him and then shouted. "Hey, idiot!"
Kokabiel balked at the crude statement and looked fit to retort but then remembered who was speaking. "W-what?"
"You made two mistakes, ya know?" Then Naruto vanished in a flash, leaving the spectators to look around wildly.
Naruto appeared behind Kokabiel, with a punch aimed at his face. "Mistake one- You attacked my kids!" The blow connected with the weight of a falling star and Kokabiel had no room to dodge. He was sent crashing down to the earth, where a huge explosion accompanied his arrival.
He tried to get up, but Naruto was upon him again, his foot on Kokabiel's back. "Oof!" He struggled, unable to move.
He looked up at Naruto, who was glaring down at him. "And mistake two- your timing could not possibly be any worse." Naruto hissed angrily.
"You know what I was doing before Rias called me?" Naruto asked, only to receive no reply from the scared Fallen. "Do you!?" he thundered, making the poor Fallen shake his head meekly. "I'll tell ya!"
Naruto then cupped his cheeks dramatically, swaying from side to side. "My darling Vene-chan had made ramen for me~!" He trailed off, a bit of drool escaping from his lips. Then his expression turned murderous again. "My beautiful, amazing wife had made special home-made ramen with her own hands!" Naruto stomped his foot down, making Kokabiel's spine crack. "For me!" Another stomp, another cry of pain. "And you're the reason it's all cold now!" Naruto stomped his foot again, confusing Kokabiel a lot, even in his state of excruciating pain.
The spectators had different reactions.
"What?" Tsubaki muttered, not entirely understanding the situation.
"He's screwed." Rias' entire peerage deadpanned simultaneously.
Naruto looked at the downed Kokabiel underneath his foot. "Bakabiel," he began, causing some of the kids to giggle, "I was planning on flexing a bit since the kids are here, ya know?" Naruto then materialized a Truth-seeking Orb and smashed it downwards.
"But you're not worth it. Kurama will have to sit this one out." He whispered coldly as the Fallen Angel disintegrated before his eyes.
The spectacle was observed by the Devils, shocking them tremendously.
Sona looked wide-eyed and turned to Rias. "He destroyed Kokabiel in an instant! What technique was that?!" Her thirst for knowledge was acting up, eyes practically sparkling in excitement. "Such power! Such destruction!" she gushed, breaking her composure momentarily.
Rias just stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Secret~!" she smirked.
"Spoilsport." Sona grumbled as she looked away.
Saji just gulped and stepped back, glad that this monster hadn't heard his earlier disrespect.
By then, Kokabiel was done away with, and Naruto turned to the devil kids. With a grin and a cheery wave, he greeted them.
"Yo!"
The Gremory peerage and Naruto were sitting in the ORC room two hours after the incident. Since it was all sanctioned, there had been no legal complications to speak of. They had repaired the school, and the exorcists had gone off to report to their superiors.
Naruto was sitting on the couch next to Shirone, petting her head as she slept. The kids were all exhausted, and Shirone and Gasper had conked out, being the smallest of them.
"Naruto-sama, would you like some tea?" Akeno chirped from beside him, kettle in hand.
"Yep!"
Naruto blew on it tenderly as he drank the tea, eyes widening at the flavor. "This is amazing, Akeno-chan!" He patted her head as well, making her sputter in embarrassment.
"Na-Naruto-sama!" The normally elegant Queen squeaked with a red face.
"What?" Naruto grinned cheekily, "You kids are just so cute, ya know!" He stroked Shirone's hair softly, making her purr in her sleep. "Adorable~!" He enjoyed teasing the children immensely.
Before Akeno could be further embarrassed, a jealous Rias cut in. "Papa!"
"Yes, Rias-chan?" Naruto looked at her, smiling.
"Umm, well..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say. She had just interrupted to get his attention but had no plans on what to do with it.
"Otou-sama, are you coming to the Open house?" Kuroka asked from across the room, saving Rias. She was also lying down on a couch by herself.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "I wonder what chaos everyone will cause together under one roof, Uhuhuhu~!" He giggled with gleaming eyes.
A/N-
Open house in the next chapter. More characters including Venelana will be brought in then.
For different personalities, duh? Everyone has different pasts this time, after all.