Hey, there DxD fandom. This chapter was a bitch to pull off. Seriously, it took me so long, and my vacations and subsequent work didnt help at all. But at least I finished in time, and so, I have some sense of accomplishment for that. I hope this chapter turned out okay, despite all the things considered. I hope you all have fun. Good read, I hope.
ASs always, DxD doesn't belong to me~.
"So, Lisa-neechan's master's girlfriend, is it?" Salvatina said swinging from the swing set with me, as her 'haremmete' was also sitting on her own, but just looking at me funny. She's quite a little sucker just like her master, so we went on a date so we could talk in peace. The date itself is just a small walk in the park, so that I could talk to them in peace. I smiled for her little comment.
"You can say that. I mean, we're practically soulmates now, ever since we met." That's not far from the truth, he being the red one and with I being the white one. Salvatina's eyes then began to sparkle like little stars, followed by Suruga's immense blush. "I do have my own girlfriend(jk!), so for now, he's just my side-manwhore, for what's worth."
"I see! Since master Berolina is also his main, then I can say you're his side-whore too?" The purplehead jumped for that conclusion, and I could only laugh at how exasperated she was. So, I'm a side-whore as well, I'm quite okay with that. It's not like his ETERNAL RIVAL THAT CARRIES A CHAINED LEGACY BETWEEN THE OMNIPOTENT DRAGONS SEALED INSIDE OF US THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN AND FOUGHT OVER DOZENS OF DOZENS OF GENERATIONS will be the toughest enemy of his life, of course I'll try to change that.
"Sally-chan! You can't say things like that to others! It's so rude! She'll be sad!" The little dragon said with a pouting face and teary eyes, shifting her gaze between her friend and me. I simply waved my hand.
"Nah, don't worry about it, Suruga-chan. I'm used to this." I said that only to see her reaction, and as expected, she jumped. Maybe I'm going a little too far, but messing with people is funny. Come to think of it, they're also somehow quite exquisite. The good way exquisite. "So how about you girls? Going around all like your cute selves, what's up with that? Are you two dating or something?"
"Uhum! I wanted to show master my first haremmete!" The blondie said with a sparkling smile, jumping off her swingset and reaching for her 'new haremmete' to give her a big old hug. Sugura, despite her blush, hugged Sally-chan back. "Look at her! She's cute, and fluffy, and shiny, and she smells so nice! She's grade-A harem material, and I picked her first! I also helped her with her problems, so she's mine and mine only!"
"Really?" I wondered, bending my body a little on the swingset, looking at the hapless girl on the blonde's arms. I waved a small one at her, and she blinked at my direction.
"S-Sally-chan was my first friend in school, and she helped me have a lot of other friends. I... I'm so grateful for her, so if she wants me as her haremmete, I'll be... Her haremmete." Suruga-chan nodded and held her girlfriend tighter. Ah, how cute, kinda reminds me of Artie and me. "I also love her very much."
"Ah, I see, I see. Good for you, Sally-chan. If you continue to follow... Ichijou's advices, you'll have an harem in no time." I smiled at her, and she did the same, sitting back on her swingset. Again, again his name almost escaped from my grasp for some reason. Huh, I'm always dragged here, yet his name escapes my mind. I must've spaced out for a while, as when I snapped back, they were eyeing me strange. Oops.
"So, from where you know Ichijou-san, Lisa-san?" I turned now to the quiet Suruga, who was slightly swinging on her seat. Uuuuh~? Would it be too much to say I'm the white dragon? Since this girl says she's... His apprentice, better not risk it. Not because I don't believe I can't beat her, but kicking a middle-schooler's ass will leave a bad taste in my mouth. Plus, The dragon Tannin is also here, so things will turn really messy in anything happens.
"We... Kinda met. And I invited him to eat ramen. You can say we're somehow linked by fate." I said with a smirk, and both of them blushed. It isn't untrue, thanks to his BG and my DD; we're bonded by fate, and to think I can only wait for him to reach the same level as Issei-sama's. "And, to be honest, he kinda reminds me of a friend I had when I was little."
"Oh, really?!" Sally-chan's eyes sparkled at me. She's just too cute!
"Yep!" I said with a smile. Everything is kinda blurry in my mind, yet I remember a guy who was as a cutie pie as the sekiryuutei. "Too bad I couldn't get to known him better back then."
"Eh? But why?" Asked Suruga-chan, a little too shy to say out loud. I shrugged.
"Eh, I grew up in a boring house, in a boring world, with boring everything, and my boring parents thought boys would lead me to the 'sinful way'. That's why after some... Things, I ran away from home." I said, kicking the air like nothing matters in this world. Little did they know, the moment I discovered my Sacred Gear, I fled from that boring house I used to call home, and I regret nothing. I looked back at then, and while Sally-chan was star-eyed and bewild, Suruga-chan put herself standing up and came closer to hug my arm. I don't get it. "Suruga-chan...?"
"I... I understand you, Lisa-san. I'm so glad that you could escape." And for the first time, she smiled at me. Huh, this girl has a cute smile, she'll be quite the man-eater when she grows up. I flicked her forehead out of playfulness, and she wimped a bit, massaging that area. "A-ah! I'm sorry."
"No harm done, but I don't actually like people getting all touchy with me." I said with a playful smile, now picking and squeezing her little nose until she turned red. Hahahah! "Doesn't mean I don't like touching cute little girls myself, Suruga-chan. Heheheh..."
"Ah! Lisa-dono! Stop that!" And Salvatina-chan slapped my hand away, the sudden movement actually surprising me and letting me go of the dragon girl. After that, the little blonde hugged her girlfriend and pouted at me. "Whatever you are master's haremmete or anything else, I won't forgive you if you touch Suruga-dono in a way she doesn't like! I made this promise!"
"Eeedeeh~?" So she's like that, huh? She's indeed the apprentice of the Red Dragon, being all protective like that. I jus hope... She keeps her words, unlike the previous red dragon, that is. I lifted both my hands up the air in a defeated pose and flashed her a smile. "Okay, okay, okay. You won, Sally-chan. I won't bother her anymore. Geez, no wonder you're the apprentice of the red dragon, taking care of friends., you'll be quite the bombshell from now on."
"Master said he'll teach me how to make my boobs grow bigger!" I'm not surprised. I'm not even mad, to be honest. Damn, this one kinda made me self-conscious, so I stood up from my swingset and patted both girls on their heads.
"Well then, good luck for you. You'll need it, y'know. The world is kinda dangerous, but f you want a quiet life with everyone you love, you'll have to endure it. Not like me." I said with a smile, kicking the air a few times to get used to my new position, and stretching myself a little as well. I think I got nothing else with me, so whatever. "Unlike you, I like my life full of excitement and thrill! Makes me wonder why I even bother pairing up with homely Ichijou."
"It's maybe because opposite attract, Lisa-san."
"Those are for magnets. I'm a living being, Suruga-chan." I said with a shrug. I don't actually doubt they'll grow up to be beautiful young women; and let's be honest, anyone is bigger than me. Just kidding! Like I bother with things like that, I just want fight endlessly and make nii-chan proud. I turned back to them, and offered them my hands. "So, that aside, you all came to visit Ichijou, right? Let's go together then. It has been a while since I last visited him."
"Yay~! Master will be so proud of me to know I have a haremmete now!" Smiled the blond girl jumping from her position and now hugging her 'haremmete', while Suruga-chan blushed yet smiled faintly. Huh, the Sekiryuutei is sure to attract some interesting personnel, as expected. It's like not our existence is a common one, though, so not unexpected.
We walked side by side to the Sekiryuutei's home, throwing around small talk and having a good time. Uh, strange, my initial plan didn't include visiting him, I feel strangely attracted to that house, wonder why. Maybe it's because he's the red dragon and I'm the white dragon. Yeah, that must be it, and probably not some kind of bullshitty foreshadowing. Not at all...
"Here we are! Master's humble abode! I wonder if he's gonna let us bath in his hot springs!" Salvatina laughed, while me almost having a neck-ache by looking at the building in front of me which looks more like an hotel, plus these hot springs. 'Humble abode' my sweet hakuryuu ass, not even my room back in Ryuutenmaru is that big. Huh, what's with that nostalgia feeling?
"Huh... Sally-chan, is me being here alright? I mean, big bro Rei kinda doesn't like Ichijou-san, and I think he doesn't like him too." Suruga-chan crossed her arms and pouted a little. Oh yeah, I remember that same smell, the smell of the dragon kings mixed together into that one weak guy I confronted back then. I came closer to her and patted her on the head in reassurance.
"Don't worry Suruga-chan, if the red dragon is anything like the previous one, he'll accept you like an idiot." I lifted a thump up for her, and Sally-chan did the same. "Besides, with Sally-chan with you, I guess you're on the safe zone."
"Suruga-dono have nothing to worry about, as Lisa-dono says! Besides, I think Kurama-sama is around, so we're all good to go!" Sally-chan snappily said with a jump, reaching for the doorbell and clicking it, causing a sonorous thunder to echoed from within. Noisy! After that, I heard someone saying 'coming!', following by increasingly loud steps. "Ah! I think that's master's mom!"
"Eh~...? Is that so?" Huh what a surprise, red dragon is so edgy, I always thought he was an orphan. Guess he's in that age, although he doesn't look older than me or anything. The one who got the door was a spiky brunette with green eyes and not that taller than me. Huh, she's remarkably like his son... Or maybe it's his sister. "Ah! Good morning!"
"Hello, mama! I brought a new friend!" Sally-chan jumped from her place and pulled the other loli into her embrace, bringing her closer to the adult that was now coming close herself.
"Ah, Sally-chan... With a new friend... And..." She turned to me. I can see the wrinkles on her pretty face and some bags under her eyes. Coming to his close i have doubts no more, she's his mother. She blinked a few times. "Huh, I have the feeling I already saw you, but still... You are...?"
"I'm a friend of your son. You can call me Lisa." I waved at her with a cute smile, the cutest I could muster at least, and dragon-mom blinked a few times at my direction, before opening a smile at me, an awkward one at that. "Ma'am...?"
"Ah, yes. Sally-chan... With a friend... And another friend Lisa-san... Ahahah... Ahahah...!" She laughed as it laugh was the most painful experience someone could have, and in a instant, she masked her face behind her face, so weakly saying some kind of mantra. "More girls... Yet more girls... More girls... Yet more girls~...!"
"Ma'am...?" Suruga-chan tried to reach for the distrusted mother by the other side of the wall around that house, but after some time praying her mantra, she looked at the little dragon, then to me.
"Oh sorry, you three. Ya see, it's just... It has been a while since some friends of Ichijou came here to visit, I just forgot how it use to be." So I was right, mr. Doom'n'gloom McEdgy has the social skills of a mule, since the forced smile dragon-mama is showing is letting me that much. Not that I am that different, but to be spot on is kinda depressing too. She dried the last drops of sweat from her forehead and genuinely smiled. "Sorry girls, but Ichijou is not here at the moment. He went on a trip with his club yesterday, so he probably will be out for the weekend."
"Aw~, meanie. Just now that I'd show him my new har-...!" I quickly shut Salvatina up with my hand on her mouth before she could say anything. I don't know how much mama-dragon knows about her son being a devil, but I like her, and I don't want her to be even more scarred than she already is. Mama-dragon tilted her head to a side.
"She's saying she wanted to show..."
"..."
"..."
"Ichijou...?"
"Ichijou! Her new friend: Miyama Suruga-chan!" Damnit, why does his name keep escaping my mental grasp! I just hope this isn't a foreshadow for things to come! Mama-dragon frowned her eyebrows a little, but in the end crossed her arms and turned to the little purple dragon by my side.
"Oh, so you are Sally-chan's new friend, eh? My name is... Tsukino Anzu, nice to meet you." She opened another cute smile, and Suruga-chan blushed and gasped by the surprise. After a while, she reached her tiny hand for the mama-dragon. "Eh, good girl, good girl~. I'm sorry, but Ichijou is not here today."
"It's okay, Anzu-sama, at least I wanted to followed Sally-chan." Suruga-chan made a face then smiled a trembling one, which was enough for mama-dragon to smile brighter too. Oh god, that's so mellow, it's kinda making me feel icky.
"Aren't you polite, Sally-chan? Nice girl indeed, how cute. Missed this feeling from politeness from Ichijou and his sisters." And she showered the purple dragon even more with praise and making her blush even deeper. Oh, 'sisters'? Does... ... Ichijou! Have sisters? Lucky bastard, surrounded by women since birth. But anyway, mama-dragon Anzu turned to us and opened the little gate. "Well, my son might not be home for now, but don't you girls want to come in and have tea?"
"Whaaaaay~! Mama Anzu's tea and snacks are always delicious! Let's go, Suruga-dono!" And the spirited blonde didn't lose any time calling for her friend while almost sprinting towards the said house with a smile. Suruga-chan followed her with a gasp of surprise due to the bold movement, but not before bowing politely to the owner of said house.
"Kids these days. To think they were exactly like that." Mama dragon scratched her head sheepishly, laughing out loud while turning back to me. I could see that her eyes scanned me for a while, only to give space for me again. "So, aren't you going to come in? Your parents might get worried, but leaving someone as pretty as you alone is dangerous. I have a phone for you to call them."
"Nah, I don't think they'll even bother." I said with a grin. Unknown to her, it has been a while since I last saw my parents, around ten years ago and, honestly, neither do I. They can stay with their own little safe space as long as they want for what I care, I'll be here enjoying this world and beyond! However, mama dragon flicked my forehead, a frown from her green eyes. "Oro...?"
"Don't say that, Lisa-chan. There are no parents who don't care about their children. That's what a family is." She sighed, crossing her arms and giving a pose like she's lecturing me. Tch, yeah right; being stuck-up and locking me away from the world is 'care'. I won't say that to her, so I'll just waved it away.
"You're right, Tsukino-san. I'll be more careful next time." I said with a cute smile and a wave, and she wilded her eyes for my statement. "However, is quite alright. I know how to defend myself. Ain't no thug strong enough to take on me, besides your own son I hope!"
*BAM!*
"Tsukino-san...?"
"Please! I'm a middle-aged woman! I don't know how to deal with this kinda shit people say anymore!" She almost open a crater on the wall gate after hitting her head on it, which made me jump out of scare. Wow, I'm starting to see the resemblance between the red dragon and his mama! After that, with a massive throbbing bump on her head, mama dragon clenched her teeth, and eyed me from the shadows casted by her bangs, hand oj forehead. "Even so, Lisa-san, at least stay here for a while, just so that you can walk Sally-chan or Suruga-chan out. You're with them, aren't you?"
"Are you... Really bothering with them?" I asked.
"Of course. I can't ever have enough of people in this house, anyway. So come on in, make yourself at home." She offered me, rather demanded, and opened space for me to come in.
Eh, what do I have to lose? It's not like he has some sort of abnormal family if he has a sacred gear, and therefore is a normal human-turned-Devil. And she said he went out with his club, so it's probably his own peerage. Ergo, this place is safe for me as it is. Who am I kidding, if she's offering me tea and snacks, of course I'll feel myself at home! Plus, I'll taste something other than Artie's black tea. Ugh. I dusted my clothes a little, removed my shoes and went in. Huh, maybe today ain't gonna be boring at al-...
*BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!*
"...?" What was that? When I took the first step, it felt like I passed through a soap bubble, and after that, the sound of breaking glass pierced my ears. What was that about? So weird. "Hey, Mama Anzu, did you hear that?"
"Huh? Hear what, Lisa-chan?" The taller woman said while tapping her ears a feel times. Maybe she's just old, or maybe something only people like me can feel and see. What do you think, nii-chan?
{Brat, you need to polish your senses to avoid those kind of situations. That was clearly a barrier lifted in this place; and you just broke throgh it.} Nii-chan scolded me from inside my head. Was that a barrier? But I felt nothing, like it wasn't even there to begin with. Seriously, how anti-climatic. I dusted some of the magical powder that remained lingering around, and nonchalantly walked in the house, this eastern-styled house. {YOU RATHER BE CAREFUL NOW, ELIZABETH. WE ARE ENTERING IN A ALIEN TERRITORY. STAY ALERT DURING ALL OF YOUR STAY HERE.}
Kyahahah~, Arubin, Arubin~. You're saying like if there's anything that can bring me harm!
{ELIZABETH!}
Okay, okay, jeez. I'm not that stupid. Besides, it's not like I won't try to get out of this situation without a more peaceful solution... Unwillingly.
"Mom! Is something wrong down ther-...?!"
"Huh...?" I turned my face where I heard quick steps and an alarmed scream; and soon enough, going downstairs, there was a strange girl around my age with an freaky eyepatch on one of her eyes, platinum short hair and wearing a kimono. Uuuuh~, I think I remember her from somewhere, but I can't put my finger on. {Wasn't she one of the individuals we've met when we invaded a subspace near Kuoh academy?} Ah, yes. I remember her now. Also... She has also a freaky aura around her. She wilded her only eye when she saw me, while oblivious of all, mama dragon supported herself on my shoulder.
"Ah, Yoko-chan. Lisa-chan came to visit us! She said she's friends with Ichijou!" Mama dragon said. Ah yes, his name is Ichijou! Better write his name somewhere so I won't forget it. "Since she's with Sally-chan, Lisa-chan will stay for a while. I hope you don't mind."
"I... I..." I heard her gulp down hard, and out of the sudden, she began to sweat buckets. I don't get it. This freaky aura is not like nii-chan's, so she can't be a devil. A youkai, maybe? I wonder if drawing this conclusion is racist in some way. Probably yes. In the end, she forced a smile, so well mama dragon didn't notice it's falseness. "I-I'm... Glad. Here, Lisa-chan, let's have a cup of tea..."
"..." Huhuhuh! Feeling others despair is kinda nice somehow. I opened a genuine grin this time, and walked in, passing around her and mama dragon. "So, if you excuse me..."
I'm in enemy territory now, and being so close to the blondie made me realize she's indeed a youkai. An youkai as a house pet? Good for you...
...
...
Ichijou! But... Huh? What's this feeling? How freaky. I'm not the sensitive type, but this scent, is strong... Very stron-...
"PAPA...!"
"Eh...?"
*BAM!*
*ROLL ROLL ROLL ROLL ROLL~!*
"Ah! Ginko-chan!" And I couldn't even react to the surprise attack coming from nowhere, Mama dragon's scream being my last warning! Before I knew it, that same freaky aura coming skyrocketed at my direction and tackled me to the ground! When I could tell left from right, I saw another lady wth silver hair and golden eyes. Are~? Aren't those kind of familiar? I blinked once, and I saw a shadow of someone... Someone who I remember somehow...
"{Kurobara?}" and I was forced to synchronize with nii-chan since his emotions are basically overflowing inside of me. Wow, that sounded wrong. But anyway! Once things calmed down, I noticed that even here I can feel this familiar aura from the lass above me. She's... Like nii-chan... Somehow. And he did say Kurobara, so... Kuroka-ane's descendant? "I mean... *CAHAM!*, hello...!"
"Ginko-san, get off her! We don't know what she'll do being this close t-...!" The blonde called Yoko helped me to get the cat girl off me, but before she could complete her sentence, she turned back to mama dragon, and gulped hard. "I-I mean... I know we don't see Lisa-chan for that long, but control yourself! Let's... Let's go back to Ichijou's room, then we can talk!"
"Okay, nyan. But she's indeed Papa, or someone close to him, nyan." The cat girl said, which forced Yoko to shove her away inside the... Elevator? Gosh, Ichijou's house is amazing! Yoko then turned to us; and then to mama dragon.
"Yoko-chan, are you okay? You seem so nervous..." Mama dragon reached a hand for the blonde's forehead, probably to check her temperature, while the only thing she could stare was me. Is she worried I'll do anything harsh? How cruel...
...
Let's do just that! I unfolded my [DIVINE DIVIDING], and then she jumped in place, now turning purple, mama dragon being oblivious to all of that since she was turned to her! Mama dragon also raised her tone, mildly exasperated.
"Yoko-chan, you're sweating too much! So you're really sick!" Mama dragon removed her hands from the forehead of that foxy girl, and quicker than quick, moved away and walked upstairs. Fortunately, I also took back my sacred gear before she knew it. "I'm sorry Lisa-chan, but I'll get something for Yoko-chan! Make yourself at home until then!"
"Will do! Thanks, mama!"
"Call me auntie!"
And with that last warning, mama dragon went away from our sight of vision, leaving me and this girl alone. She was still breathing so heavily, I thought she was going to collapse. Good, good. I don't actually that bad of a lady, but there's something funny about despairing people. Must be picking on Nii-chan's bloodlust. Just kidding, my own doesn't fall that much behind! {Don't act like that's something normal.}
"I'll make myself at home. I also like some snacks and tea." I said with a smile, walking deeper inside the Tsukino household and shrugging a little with the cute and comfy environment. There's no doubt that a big family lives here. How cute(I'm an only child, after all.). "Hey; Yoko-san, won't you come in a talk with old little me?"
"W-What are you... Doing here, Hakuryuukou?" She asked, talking a deep breath and removing her freaky eyepatch, revealing golden eyes to me, just like a fox's, which glowed in the darken corridor. By the way, I can feel the murderous intent towards me, I just don't care. Uhh~... Heads up, Nii-chan, Arubin! {She might be an youkai./DEFINITELY SOMETHING FROM THE EASTERN LORE. IS NOT THAT HARD TO FIGURE IT OUT WHEN YOU WERE MARRIED TO ONE./ Hush, Gwiber.}
"Arah? What's that white dragon?' I'm just a friend of Ichijou-san who didn't get to have a date with him who just met his little loli, and now is taking care of her. Pleased to meet you, Yoko-san~!" I said with a smile only a bitch could muster, and could feel both the killing intent and adrenaline running wild in front of me. I bet she thinks this is one of those moments when the big bad casually walks into the hero's house, his family without knowing a thing. But~... I'm not that kind of character, but I just want to mess with her. I bid her a goodbye and passed her. "Now, now. Let's talk and be happy! I bet my nii-chan will also like to take a look at that Ginko-chan~! So, for now, I'll go and eat some snac-...!"
*ZING!*
*PASH!*
"Well, well. So uncivilized." And in a blink of an eye, I slapped that assaulting hand filled with natural energy away from my face. I might not be able to feel presences that much, but I have pretty sharp instincts! Apparently, she wasn't expecting such awesome counterattack, so she wilded her golden eyes when I counter her attack, which natural sage art gathered there made a small burn mark on the ceiling. Neat. With that out of the way, I smiled once more. "I think I'll be going ahead. See you upstairs, Yoko-san:"
And she lowered her head, looking at the bruise I gave on the back of her hand, while I took the stairs to go up. I'm not going to do anything to his house or the ones who live here, but it's so funny to mess with people like that! Again, I guess dragons are only natural to attract strange people. Now now, let's meet ms. Silver-kitty. Are you ready, nii-chan?
{Huh, I do not bother much, brat.} He spoke inside my head. Liar, I know very well you're as excited as me! As always, life is never boring with those around...
.
~~x~~
.
"Rina, I'm starting to have some vertigo with all of that monstrous architecture..."
"It'd actually be easier to handle that by flying." Rina said stretching herself, while I yawned again. Here we are at the Phenex mansion, this place that smells like charcoal and aromatic candles, going to visit my friend Raven Phenex and eat some cakes. The rest of my peerage is here too, so this can only mean I'll have to control all of them somehow and avoid trouble with the Marquises of the immortal avian. Rina went ahead and stood against the massive door of Crimson iron and golden ring knobs. "I guess the visiting cards Rei-chan gave us wouldn't be all that necessary. But again, she might've forgot to say to her guards not shoot me on sight..."
"That's a bit... Rude." I said with a cold sweardrop falling my head. Again, they're Devils, so they don't follow normal rules or anything, but this kind of scenario is a bit too much for just a quarrel between friends! I turned back to her and she gave me a thumb up.
"Don't worry Ichijou. I can handle this!" She said, smiling confidently with a star shining besides her eyes. "This is my redemption arc, and since I'm not a bad guy, I'll be a-okay!"
"You know very well those type of quotes are what raises death flags, Rina." I sighed. I already left my own anti-confident self, but to make such statement is asking to be shot. By our back, the rest of our evil pieces were looking at us funny.
"Uh~... I-Is this kind of conversation normal between them? What are they talking about?"
"Normal stuff. Don't mind."
"Still not impressed!"
"Please, not here."
"Well then, let us go! Open sesame!" Rina went ahead and picked the massive ring knob to knock the door with it a few times. *BAM! BAM! BAM!*, the sound of metal against metal echoed even by the other side of the door, and even this side vibrated by the sheer force of impact. Impressive! After a few seconds of silence, we heard steps marching the way here, with such synchronization and force, similar to the previous knock. In an instant, the door opened by the inside, and from within, some Devils clad in black showed up, lining up in front of us. Despite their size and number, Rina didn't seem fazed at all. "Good afternoon. I'm here to speak to Miss Raven Phenex!"
"Visitor, please identify yourself." One of them said, lifting a axe that looked more like a club due to its massiveness, himself standing quite tall from the rest of us. Devil security for devil nobles, I see. Rina ruffled her little nose upwards with an arrogant attitude, and smiled.
"Certainly. I'm here as Berolina Gremory!"
"Very well then..."
*BAM!*
"GYAAAAAAAAAAH...!"
...
"Oh... And guests."
"For fuck's sake, Rina! YOU AND NEMESIS-SAN ARE SISTERS ALRIGHT!" I recomposed myself after that blunt hit on the head which crashed me on the ground and destroyed the axe! Shit, I can feel the blood running from the wound. Fortunately, Tasha went ahead to heal my head. Didn't stop the headache though, I just my luck.
"Away away, men. Rest at ease." Another voice came from the insides of the mansion, which was too rough and hoarse to be Rei-chan's. Coming from the shadows, there was a tall, handsome and roguish man with dirty blond hair, awesome goatee and an cape over one of his arms, a X-shaped scar in the middle of his eyes. Ah! I know him! "Ah, the Lord Lucifer's daughter came to visit."
"Good afternoon, Lord Raiser. Huh~... Can Rei-chan come out and play?" Wow, two days in a row, Rina blew up her introduction epically two days in a row. I elbowed her stomach for her to recompose herself, and after a quick nudge, shakes her head and bows properly now. "I mean! I came to pay a small visit for lady Raven Phenex! I hope I won't be a nuisance during my stay in here, or I did come in an inappropriate time."
"..."
"..." Ah! Too much, too much formal, you period-head King! We said nothing to her little display of (too much)formality, only staring and silently judging her, while Rina was with her head down, waiting for an answer. After a minute or two, she lifted herself and scratched her now blushing cheek with a finger. "Err... Too much, may I ask? Uh. Ōshitsureishima-su. Watakushi-su wa Rei-chan no Tomodachi-su. Kono Rāizā-sama-su no magō-su wa doko desu ka-su? Hanashite kudasai-su, onegai shima-su."
An? Nani, sono Kyoto-ben de wa...?
"I'm not sure what shocks me the most: the fact that the resembles between you and your mother are uncanny, or seeing a Gremory this discomposed facing yours truly." The frown Riser-sama shot us was enhanced by the scar in the middle of his eyes, as he sighed and hid his eyes behind a mask of shadows formed by his only hand. Rina started to touch her tips of her pointer fingers in frustration, and I have no words about how awkward this situation is. In the end, the Phenex male looked at us again. "You're looking for Raven, is it not? Very well, she's at the living room with her siblings. Make yourself at home, Gremory and peerage."
"Ah! Un, Arigatou gozaima-su, Rāizā-sama-su. Dewa-su, Shitsureishima-su..." She's still speaking like her sister, what the hell. I flicked her ear so that she could tune back to us, and soon enough, after a few seconds of reconnection, she shook her head and bowed politely. "I-I mean... If you excuse me, Lord Riser..."
"Not at all. Welcome to the Phenex household, Berolina of the house of Gremory." Riser-sama grinned and opened space for the Gremory girl to come in. I grunted seeing how nervous she was while at it. I blinked once, and noticed the tall man staring back at me, at us. "You're all welcome as well, Peerage of Berolina Gremory."
"~..." So this is Riser Phenex-sama, one of the many rivals of senpai and the first one at that. He's... He's really handsome, and this hot aura around him makes me want to go away and hide. The power of the Phenex, the immortal clan. Might be his natural heat, or I'm blushing just by standing next to him. He's... Imposing. "I-It's a pleasure to meet you, Riser Phenex-sama. I'm Tsukino Ichijou and I'm... The new Sekiryuutei."
"..." Ah, was I too rough? Too straightforward? He continued to stare at me with judgmental eyes for a while, and finally supported himself on the frame of the door, opening an amused smile on his face. "Tch, to think I'm used in people being all hostile towards me in first encounters... That's a new one."
Wait, what?
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come in, Berolina's peerage. Welcome to the Phenex household." He said with a grin, landing a hand on my shoulder, where I could feel the intense heat just by touch, and getting a little too close to me. "A little warning, though: don't touch anything without permission, and this includes the hosts of such. Was I clear?"
"Y-Yes, Riser-sama! I'll... I'll comply." He blinked once after my quick answer, and removing his hand from my shoulder, he sighed and shrugged off with his only arm. What now?
"Look at that. I can't deny you look a lot like him, but that attitude of yours is extremely different. I think I can rest at ease with you around, Sekiryuutei." Is he reaffirming me? Or insulting me? I dunno, but no matter how imposing he looks, his stare is starting to piss me off. Of course I won't say that out loud. He snickered. "Oh, there it is. There it goes, that stare... It's a passable one, Sekiryuutei."
"Eh...?" I blinked once, and only now I noticed my frown towards him. Damnit! Damnit! I screw it up! Before I could say anything, he gave us space and signed for us.
"Come in now, Sekiryuutei and peerage. Do not make Raven wait, she can be quite unpleasant after waiting too much." And with that, he left us be, the gaurds following him soon after.
Riser Phenex, Senpai's oldest rival, the genius of the Rating Games and now a member of the Rating Game managers, Rei-chan's grandfather. He's... Strong. Just standing here makes me tremble a little. He has indeed an aura of an elder Devil, and that's quite thrilling, honestly, scary even. Senpai's first rival, no wonder. I want... I want to see others too.
"Ichijou-san...?"
"Eh...?" I snapped out of my stupor with Tasha waving right in front of me, while Ryuubi-sensei and Kan'u were already entering the house. Whiswain, who was by my side tugging my sleeve was eyeing me with a worried look. I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. Again, again I'm losing my tracks of thoughts. "Ah, don't worry about it, Whiswain. I just had a reverie, just that."
"It's because of Lord Riser? He has a really scary aura around him! Not as much as Lord Cohen, but too scary...!" She said in a trembling voice. A waved a hand out of instinct just to whoosh away those thoughts.
"It's not like that, Whiswain... Or at least part of it, it isn't. It's just he's Senpai's oldest rival and stuff. To think he stood up against him..." I bit my lower lips a little, and covered my mouth with a hand. He's way stronger than me, and senpai is even stronger. This puts a new lot perspective about power for me, and to think I was... *PAFT!* Ouch! A burning slap hit my back in a instant, like a hot frying pan, and I turned around to see the Lancer of the three kingdoms with her hand on the air, eyeing me so contemptibly! "Kan'u, you fucker! What gives?!"
"Stand tall, Red Dragon. One more of those shows of weakness, and I'll eat one of your eyeballs." She licked the tip of her fingers and slapped my back one more time, with so much for I almost lost my balance, before walking forward into the mansion of the flaming birds. Owowowow, what a bitch. She's strong, I won't deny that, but one of those days I'll make her cry, and it won't be pretty for both of us. Ryuubi-sensei helped me to get up, and also walked inside the mansion, but not before turning around and lightly bowing.
"Apologizes, Hong Long. Please bear with her a little longer. I'll make sure she'll eventually respect you." She spoke with a uncharacteristic smug smile and a silencing finger in front of her lips. That actually just turn plain weird, Ryuubi-sensei to be this smug. Again, I felt a pair of soft plums touch my back as they pushed me towards the door, together with Whiswain. Ugh; here
We go again...
"Liu Bei, planning something. Lost opportunity. I said for you to do it." The purple witch known as Tasha said on my nape, and soon enough, the guards behind us also entered the place to close the door. "So... This is the Phenex mansion. Typical."
"Yeah; that's devil nobility for you." I said looking around, the whole place decorated with flowers that were perpetually on fire, grandiose yet comfortable atmosphere with all the expensive-looking furniture and large rooms with several servants everywhere. I'm having that vertigo sensation all over again, so Tasha had to put me in place so I wouldn't fall due the dizziness. "S-Sorry, I'm not used to all of those places..."
"Don't be. It's only normal for you to react like that, Tsukino-chin." Tasha spoke, looking on me on the eyes and giving me a ghost of a smile. What's that, now? She's always so mysterious, I wonder what half of things she says mean, since the other half are half-assed sex jokes. "You should pay a visit to the Campbell house, someday. It's the same, anyway."
"Eh...? Really?" Now that I think about, we should really start digging up Tasha's backstory. She's so odd sometimes, and those vague hints don't help in the slightest. As for now, she's only the 'cute fire Oppai witch psycho', and I'm kinda okay with this. But despite that I'm kinda curious. "Okay, Tasha. Maybe one day... We'll pay a visit for the Campbell house. Same with those two, although I don't want to know about Kan'u, at all."
"You keep saying that." She pinched my cheek, and walked away forward, leaving me alone with Whiswain. Uh, this is really getting on my nerves. I turned to Whiswain, and she quivered with my stare. What about you? Ms. Cute-grim-reaper-hybrid-single-child?
"I-I don't want to make Raven-san w-wait! W-We should be going, Ichijou...!" She walked forward to the direction Riser-sama went, and I followed suit, walking into a small hallway leading to a common room. "Also... Please, get along with Guan Yu-san. I don't like to see you two fighting."
"..." I clicked my teeth, and she jumped and bowed in apology. Getting along with Kan'u... Not happening. I don't bother, neither she, so for now, we will hate each other on equal terms. Still, she doesn't need to get tangled with our problems, so I sighed and shrugged. "Okay, alright. I'll try... To get... Along with... Kan'u, Whiswain. No promises, though."
"Ahyuu~. What a relief. I'm sorry if this sounds like a demand, I'll be just glad if you two stop fighting." She smiled, taking a deep breath and holding her hands together. Eh, no. Sorry Whiswain, but I just said that so you could stay happy. There's no way for me to get along with that bitch. But I'll try anyway, anyhow... Somehow. "Thanks Ichijou-san. I'll also try my best."
"No problem." I scratched my cheek in embarrassment, and Tasha again squeezed her boobs on my back. This is really getting out of hand, I need to retain control as soon as possible! Or else history will repeat itself... I looked forward and actually saw the rest of my peerage peeping from a small opening at a semi-open door. "Eh? Rina? Ryuubi-sensei?"
"Shhhh~! This is gold, Ichijou!" Rina said with a finger in front of her lips and a muting sound, waving for me to come closer and look at it. Huh... She do know that we're at foreign terrtory, and even the maids have the power to make shish-kebab out of me, right? She looked back inside, and muffled a giggle with her hand, Ryuubi-sensei doing the same. Damn, now I want to watch what's going on! I bend over a little and approached the said door, peeking inside with my own trio. "There! There! Kahaha~, this is gold~!"
"Eh...?" I peeked again inside of the room, and I saw a blushing Rei-chan making a pose in front of a small crowd of pretty women, another blond with drill hair(not drill pigtails mind you. Oh no, a drill PONYTAIL!) clapping at the former. Oh, weren't those pieces from Riser-sama's peerage? What is that? A rehearsal?
"'B-Berolina Gremory and peerage! Welcome to the Phenex...' Mansion? Household? Uh~... What do you girls think?" And when she was doing some poses and saying some lines, Rei-chan stopped on her track and turned to her small audience, all of them shaking their head.
"Honestly, it'd be better if you just say 'my house', Raven." The one blonde with ponytail lifted a hand and left her two cents, as for this Raven pouted and started to scream while shaking her fists. Oh, she's angry! "C'mon now, little bird. Aren't they your friends? Loose it up a little, you tightass."
"R-Robin-oneesama, that's so simplistic! What kind of host would I be if I talk just like your lazy self?!" Raven shouted, and the other blonde went from grinning to a frown of a true devil! Everybody around, however, started to discuss that matter and actually back the latter, Robin apparently. Rina giggled again, and I couldn't help but smirk. "I know they're my friends... Somehow... But to look this casual in front of them... I'm not a kid anymore."
"Nor you're an adult, Raven. It's not like we don't know and love you for what you are, right guys?" The eldest one, Robin as I heard, turned to the crowd, and all of them nodded in agreement, only to turn back at the youngest and flash her another grin. Rei-chan pouted even more, and crossed her arms.
"This... Might be true, but if I put down my foot and shine some respect, they might forget that I'm a high-class Devil, specially Ikkun and that Black-haired bitch of the spear." Haaaaaah! Even she thinks Kan'u is a bitch~! Hahahahah! I looked at our 'black-haired bitch of the spear' and as expected, she was livid, rage blinking from her already Crimson eyes! Before she could jump in and probably either turn into Chinese food or excel Rei-chan's healing factor, Ryuubi-sensei stopped her on track with a quick pinch on the nape.
"Guan Yu, we're in enemy territory. Be calm and don't act harshly; otherwise we might break a quarrel between the families." Whispered the general of the three kingdoms, which make her subordinate frown, pour and cross her arms.
"Very well. For thy sake, I won't act, mistress Liu Bei." And as always, the beast was tamed by the once calmer member of our peerage. She stopped, and so we resumed our little peek inside Rei-chan rehearsal. "My Jade dragon is not a spear, is a guandao..."
"Whatever floats your boat..."
"Raven, don't you think you should, instead of trying to figure how to greet our guests, you greet our guests?" The one with the ponytail said, laughing, while Rei-chan again frowned. "I mean, it has been a while since they knocked. Grandpa Riser probably just shown them the entire house!"
"Uuuuuh~! Shut up, onee-sama! Don't rush me~!" Rei-chan started to slam her foot on the ground, for the amusement of everyone presented, including the crowd and apparent to her older sister Robin. Even so, I'm starting to think she's cute like that. In the end, she stopped the tantrum only to blush and start touching the tip of her fingers. "Berolina and I are friends again, so of course I want to leave a good first impression again. We're not kids anymore, I must regain my respect."
"Well, you won't by letting them waiting this long." Said the older sister with a shrug, which only received a defeated sign from her little sister.
"Or making such a show with them watching."
"Wait, wh-... Whoa!" And it happened! An unknown voice called that last sentence, and before we could react, the door which we were supporting ourselves gave up and opened, making us lose our balance and fall to the ground, right inside the room! Silence, we looked around, and yes, everybody there was bewailed by our new presence, specially, SPECIALLY, Rei-chan. I turned to the door, and a handsome, tall; blond young man who looked more like a younger Riser-sama with one arm more(terrible joke.). I tried to call him things, but the sudden heat in the room got me turning to that direction, where she was. "A-Ah, Rei-chan...!"
"Peeping... Peeping on me... On such disgraceful manner and moment...!"
"A-Ah, Look, Raven! I-I mean...! Ahahahah...!" Rina jumped off from on top of me and balanced her arms frenetically, trying to explain herself! I jumped and did the same, while the rest of our peerage was still on the floor, being helped by the elder sister! Shit, they know Raven only wants us! "R-Raven, c-calm down...!"
"Calm... CALM...!" And her blond hair was set on fire, shinning like a Sun that doesn't exist here, while berserker tears were running from her eyes and lips trembling so frenetically I thought she was having an attack! Her hands suddenly caught fire, and she took a step, her body emanating so much heat she actually sank her foot there! Ah, we're fucked. "Rina... Ikkun... I... I...!"
"C-Calm down, Rei-chan...!"
"RAVEN, HAVE MERC-...!"
"I HATE YOU TWO, BAAAAAAAAKAAAAA...!"
[And that was the tale of the sekiryuutei Ichijou and his peerage.]
[THE END]
...
...
[Nah, just kidding.]
"Here, munch this up, but don't swallow just yet." The big sister, Robin Phenex, put a bunch of leaves on my mouth and said as much, and I did just that with those bitter-tasting leaves, she commanding and passing the same for Rina by my side.
After all of the commotion that happened in Rei-chan's room, including second-degree burns on both Rina and I, we're here in the common room with our peerage, Raven and her siblings. Even with all the red marks all over my body, I still had the power to share tea and snacks with the Phenex siblings, as Rei-chan's sister passed me some healing herbs for the burn marks.
"Raven, don't you think you should apologize for your rudeness? I know they were peeping and I understand your rage, but as you said, you should properly greet your guests, right?" The elder sister said. Rei-chan stuck her tongue out, and turned away from us, instead talking to Whiswain. Robin-san sighed, but then smiled towards us. "Well then, nice to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Robin Phenex, the second daughter of Rhea Phenex and granddaughter of Riser Phenex. And this by my side is Rondoc-niisama, our dear older brother."
"S'up." Don't 'S'up' me, you asshole! It's because of you we end up like that! Sure, peeping is kinda the reason why, but still! He went closer, and grinned at me. "So, you must be Ichijou-san, the new Sekiryuutei! Intriguing. Raven talks a lot about you."
"Really...?"
"... At night, of course."
*BAAAAAAM!*
"NII-SAMA, BE QUIET!" And the lad in front of me got half of his handsome face blown up by a fireball, courtesy of the youngest sibling, who again had her golden hair on flames. She kicked the headless body away, who nonchalantly had his arms crossed, and grabbed both me and Berolina by one shoulder each. "RINA, IKKUN! DO NOT BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD OF ONII-SAMA! HE IS A PERVERT WITH A HAREM SINCE HE ENTERED HIGHSCHOOL! EVERY SINGLE WORD THAT COMES FROM HIS MOUTH IS CURSED NONSENSE! DO NOT BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD OF HIM!"
"A-Are...? What are talking about, Rei-chan? I mean, I didn't hear a thing. Right, Rina?" Is shook my head negatively while both my arms up in a surrender pose. Rina did the same and soon enough, fortunately, Rei-chan calmed down a little, her hair no longer on fire.
"Y'know Raven. Just because we can regenerate from it, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt." And the headless body stood up, dusted its clothes and adjusted his tie as little by little the flames that were where his head used to be were creating a new one. Soon enough, a new face with a grin sprouted from where it should be, and he flicked Rei-chan's ear. "C'mon, Little sister. Can't you take a joke?"
"Nii-sama, it's not the joke that mostly concerns her, but the ones who are hearing it." This older sister has such a soothing aura, not unlike Nemesis-san's, or rather, it's actually calmer than hers. Once the older brother was fully regenerated, Robin-san pulled him away to the nearest door and bid is a goodbye with a smile. "Well then, it looks like you and Berolina need some time alone. With that, I bid you all goodbye, but don't hesitate to call me for other fun activities. Farewell."
"Tch, Robin-neesama and Rondoc-niisama..." Pouted the youngest of the siblings, taking a angry sip of her tea. I see, so she's also a younger sister, figures. Her eyes wandered around the room only to land on us, and again she clicked her tongue in disgust. "Watcha looking at? Yeah, I have siblings, so what? Doesn't mean I forgive you, you peeping toms! Traitors! Eavesdroppers! Doodoo heads with wax-filled ears!"
"Oh no, flowery insults, that's even worst than the second-degree burns we got." I said with a huff and to make matters worse, Rina slapped me right on the burn mark! Holy shit, that hurts! I teared up a bit, but crossed my arms and bit my lips. Owwww~...
"I'm so sorry about it, Raven-san! We should've stopped when we saw you talking with your sister! Please forgive us, we're really sorry!" Whiswain pouted and shook her hands with a desperate expression. Again, she's making quite the scene, and I don't think she realizes she's slowly floating away from her seat. Rei-chan exasperatedly picked her back on her seat and landed her hands on Whiswain's shoulder.
"Okay, okay. That's okay. I'm not that mad anymore! Just... Calm down." She sighed, and Whiswain shook her head positively, peeking at the Phenex with the single eye not covered by her bangs. The Phenex sighed in relief, but then arrowed us. "At least some Devils have the decency to apologize for their actions."
"One more insult and I'll show you true hell, Raven from the house of Phenex." Spat the ever-so-blazing Kan'u, picking Rei-chan by the hand and squeezing it back. Rei-chan frowned even more, not giving up on the aggression. Ah-ah! This is bad! I went ahead and held that bitch by the wrist!
"Kan'u, stop! If you hurt Rei-chan, I'll be really mad!"
"Don't tell me what to do, you red dragon of sh-...!"
"Ei...!" And before she could finish her sentence, Tasha came by her back and lightly squeezed Kan'u's nape. Suddenly, her entire body went awry, and she fell onto the couch, unconscious. Wow... Wasn't that a thing? We all turned to Tasha in disbelief, and she lifted a hand, which had a small glow in it. "Cold flame. Thermic shock, quick and painless."
"Sigh. Rina, you sure picked the weirdest servants. I think it's fitting." Rei-chan spoke still spoiling Whiswain, and for that Rina laughed in a nervous tone, scratching her cheek. After a few seconds of silence, and we putting the knocked-out Kan'u to rest on the sofa, our unwilling hostess touched her forehead. "So? You all came. I'm glad for that."
"Teehee! I'm a Gremory! Tea and snacks are something I don't back down!" Smiled my redheaded King, reaching for the cup of tea only to twitch her hand in pain, and shine us an awkward smile. "although I would rather have them without the second-degree burns next time."
"Humph!"
"That aside, it's good that we could finally visit you here, Rei-chan." I said, taking a quick sip from my tea and munching on some brownies. Rei-chan looked at me, blushed and looked away.
"Likewise, Ikkun. At least we're far away from the evil matriarch that is Alice Gremory." Rei-chan bit her fingers a little, and again nervously laughed. So that's the reason why she wanted us to visit, so auntie Alice wouldn't buzz in and do something stupid to embarrass us. Can't complain...
.
~~[ELSEWHERE]~~
.
"A-Atchoo!"
"Darling, I did say if you wanted me to help you spy on Rei-chan, you should've bring a scarf."
"Don't worry, Cohen honey, I'm made of steel! Now fly higher so I can see Ichijou and Rei-chan better."
"Hey look, isn't that Rhea-don-...?"
.
~~x~~
.
"Did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"No... Nevermind." Huh, I did hear something like a Hollywood explosion, but I think it's just the wind. With that said, soon we ran out of things to complain, and silence befell upon us. However, Rina then snapped her fingers.
"Hey, Raven, why don't we play some video-games? You still play Smash bros., right?" Oh-hoh? That's actually a pretty good idea, playing some video-games. But for that, Raven turned her head away and started to sweat buckets.
"W-What do you mean; Berolina? Like I would play those kiddy video games." She said between her teeth, trembling lips and hand gestures. Yeah, no. I don't buy that. There's clearly a Wii-U remote on the table, and the TV is right there! "I mean, I'm an adult now! I play more adult games! Like The Last of Us or Valkyrie Drive!"
"Raven, those are the last type of games you should put together!" I spat in disbelief! Really? Really really? What kind of dissonant hell she passed that thought through?! But she was still with her arms crossed and denying that! Ryuubi-sensei then lifted a hand!
"Yours truly have a suggestion: why don't we play the games Mistress Raven has togeth-...?" And fortunately, Tasha shut Ryuubi-sensei up with a hand before that idea could come complete.
"If you're suggesting that, then we shouldn't play them in front of you, master Liu Bei." The witch said. We were still banging heads with Rei-chan, so we returned our attention to her!
"C'mon, Raven. Even adults play Mario Kart or Mario Party sometimes. Lord Azazel used to play those all the time!" Rina said, picking the Wii-U remote and turning it on. Rapidly, Rei-chan snapped it from her hand. Rina pouted. "Moh~! I can already see the remote; Raven!"
"Those are Robin's! M-My own games are in my room, and even so, I don't even play them that often! I have better things to do!" And them they proceeded to have a pouting fight, despite the fact of how ridiculous that is. But, to my surprise, Rina actually sighed, turned around and, despite still with her swollen cheeks, she shrugged. Rei-chan blinked, was that a victory?
"Hmph! Whatever, then. It looks like the heiress of the Phenex is indeed mature for her age. Can't blame her, after all, The Phenex are one of the wealthiest families in the underworld." She spoke, as Rei-chan blinked even more confused, just like the rest of us. Rina turned back to us, flashed a smug half-smile, and winked. "What a pity, then. I so wanted to play the sequel of Subspace Emissary campaign. But guess I'll ask Robin next tim-..."
Wait, what?
"Hah! Jokes on you! There's no Subspace Emissary campaign! It's only in Brawl, stupid Rina!"
"..."
"...?"
"..."
"Ah..."
"Teehee..."
"Y-You...!"
This new Rina... Is scary.
Finally defeated, Rei-chan's Pride forced her to install the Wii-U back on he TV, and soon enough, with Rina, Rei-chan, Ryuubi-sensei and I, we started playing some Smash Bro's. The big room actually got emptier since we gathered in a single line in front of the Tv on the way, cushions on our feet looking at the screen, kinda like when I gather with my sisters to play my own video-games. The only difference? I know neither Shion or Futaba are here to throw their controllers at my head...
"Haw-Haw-Haw! I won against Raven-chan! What a day to be alive." Laughed Rina for a sinking Raven on her own cushion, jumping up and down. I had nothing to say since Rei-chan had the lead controller. Soon the match started, and Ryuubi-sensei was the first to go down. She faced this with a prideful, yet crying face.
"Forgive me, master Berolina. For I have forsaken the pride of the Gremory by neglecting myself the proper controls for this trial!" And with no one to bother her anymore, since Kan'u is passed out cold on the sofa, Ryuubi-sensei actually came back to her hammy self. I'm actually glad for that, but again, she was making a big deal out of something so small! A gave her a friendly thumb up with a chuckle.
"Don't worry, Ryuubi-sensei. I don't think the Jade Palace would have this kind of training." I chuckled it up, but Ryuubi-sensei still had some more speeches to share. I mean, I understand she's upset, but there's no way for the Jade Palace on up sky, the home of Gods and Goddesses, would have prepared for that, right?
"The gods really don't! All of their knowledge is limited to MMORPGs! How could we be so narrow-minded is beyond me in the war of the consoles!"
"..."
"Probably it's because of Master Sun Wukong's recklessness since he apparently stole a satellite for ourselves not long ago..."
"..."
I know there's a joke in there somewhere. Can't put my finger on it, though...
"And GAME! You're sharp as ever, Raven." And the match ended with yours truly in third, Berolina in second and Rei-chan as the champion, even though she didn't want to celebrate this, she was too busy brooding her own personal defeat to care. Rina on the other hand turned around and extended her own controller. "So, does any of you want to play it?"
"Ah! Me, me! I want to play, Berolina-san!" The one who lifted her hand the most was, to my shock, Whiswain, jumping on her place excitedly and shaking her hand. We all were kinda freaked out by that, and took her a while to realize that, sinking into the sofa in shape and hiding her face with a cushion. That's actually kinda cute. "Hiiiih~! How embarrassing! I'm so sorry~! Please forget what happen, please~...!"
"Okay... Here, you can play it." And Rina snapped back from the shock and passed the controller to Whiswain, who held it with a certain glee on her face again. Tasha also changed places with Ryuubi-sensei and again, a new match started. Whiswain is actually pretty good at this game, and Tasha is even better, since both Raven and I had to be sharper to match them.
"Didn't know you like this kind of game, miss Whiswain." Rei-chan spoke for me, since she was as equally as impressed. Without even taking her eye from the match, we heard a giggle.
"Heheh... Actually, this is the first time I play with someone else. So this is exciting for me!" She smiled, and while everyone was confused, it came to me not much later. She's an only child, so she had no one to play with her.
"Eh? Really?"
"Um-hum! I don't have any siblings, and mama and papa are always away working, so I never got to play with anyone since I don't know how to play online either." That's kinda sad. Maybe that's the reason she's so shy. We played some more. "Sometimes, I wished I got some siblings to play..."
"Tch, trust me, having siblings can be a real pain sometimes." I snarked. Yeah, yeah, 'sharing is caring', 'older sis is always right and wiser than you', 'beat me up to tough me up', 'centipedes will help with my earwax problems', the wonderful life of a younger brother. I was being sarcastic, by the way. Rei-chan hummed a curious tone and turned her eyes to me.
"Eh? Really? You have siblings, Ikkun?" Raven asked. Oh right, she doesn't know that.
"Four, in fact. Four older sisters, three of them from different mothers." I said matter-of-factly, and Raven was so surprised she walked her character into a ledge. I grunted, remembering my sisters. The homely Satsuki, the false Shion, the dramatic Minatsu and the delinquent-wannabe Futaba. Growing up with them... Since I was six... Was a pain in my ass, and again, I got the X-Ray of my fucked-up joints to prove it. "And trust me, having siblings is not as good as it sounds."
"Sigh. Here, here." Raven patted my back with an emotionless pout, as I think she's trying to cheer me up. Who else got elder siblings? Raven, Rina, me... Yoko? "Rondoc-nisama and Robin-neesama ain't the only ones I have to deal with. Do you know how many cousins I have? At least Robert-niisama is always there for me. Not to mention, they're my older siblings, but they can be so immature...!"
"Robert, eh...?" I heard that name somewhere, but can't put my finger where. "Is that the reason why you want to be the mature one? So that your Robin-san and Rondoc-san are not so bad in comparison?"
"That's none of your business..." And she pouted. Her face turned purple, and she pouted, grunting nervously. "Besides, what would others think if they see that Riser-ojiisama's offspring, the ex-playboy of the Phenex clan, are a bunch of lazy weirdos? If I don't do anything, they'll associate me with them, too."
"..." I can actually relate to that. It's almost scary to think about it. So, we're like the only normal people in a line of weird siblings, and that's scary in some way. I patted her back too, and returned to my game. "Well, maybe having weird siblings can be helpful somehow. Otherwise we would end just like Rina..."
"Hey!"(Berolina)
"How about you, Tasha-san?" Asked Whiswain since we accidentally left her out of our conversation. The witch gave us a bored aside glance, and unleashing her special move back in the game, she shrugged.
"Four younger brothers and four younger sisters. Big family." I spit-take to that! Big family indeed! Really?! Is her family really this big?! What were her parents taking?! And she never bothered to share this piece of information with us?! What the hell, I thought she said we were family! "What's the matter?"
"Why the matt-... TASHA! You could tell us that!" Berolina screamed. Since the match was over, our redhead Gremory King went ahead and started to shake the witch by the collar, who couldn't bother less about it. I'm a little upset as well! I knew she had a mother, but this many siblings?! "I thought you were alone in this world?! Doesn't that bother you?! Doesn't your family care?!"
"Eh... Alone. Since twelve. Challenging other warlocks and stuff." She spoke with a pout, letting go of the controller to put her hands in a surrender pose. "Campbell tradition. Nothing more. Just like me, they're probably doing the same."
"What?" Rina gave that a question mark, but I can understand part of that... Kinda. So she abandons the house to kill and find they own worth. Siblings probably doing the same. Rina stayed quiet for a few seconds, and sat next to us, arms and legs crossed. "Tch, next time we get a servant, I want everyone making an interview with him or her! No more mysterious pasts or crippling traumatic experiences left unchecked!"
"Yeah, seriously. Lady Rias could've saved a lot of trouble if that was the case." Rei-chan clicked her tongue to that remark, and for that I actually chuckled a little. Heheh, yeah, typical harem hijinks, wonder if there's any therapists in the underworld. Probably not. Tasha passed the controller back to Rina, and stayed sit next to me and Raven, and I passed mine to Ryuubi-sensei, still sharing the cushion. "Siblings, eh? They must've been pains in the ass for you, Tasha Campbell."
"Being a big sister is hard. Don't care much about them. Still love them." She spoke. Wasn't that a bit contradicting? Whatever, new match and stuff.
"Eheheh... But, even so, having siblings sound nice." Blushed Whiswain, gripping her controlled former. Rina smiled to her, since apparently she's the only one who has a sibling who's worth a damn... Besides my College-level sisters. Ryuubi-sensei, however, patted her on the head and smiled.
"But it's even nice to have allies to accept you as you are, is it not? Whiswain-dono." That line made the grim reaper blush like mad and drop her controller a little. She tried to escape, but Tasha had already her head on Whiswain's shoulder, making the latter blush even more. "I'm glad that I've joined the army of Berolina Gremory for the simple fact that they love me as much I love them! The same feeling I used to have... With my other oath sisters. Don't you all agree?"
"..." I bit my lips. I do... Like to spend time with these girls. It took me a while to realize how bright and fun my days have become ever since... Ever since I met these girls. I don't feel lonely anymore. I was never alone. My toys, mom and that shitty dad of mine, my stupid sisters and... Nina-chan and Julia-chan. But ever since them, I was never alone... But I was always lonely. Not anymore... Huhuh... Huhuhuhuh... As long as it lasts...
"I... I like being with Ikkun and Berolina." We all turned to Raven, who was hiding her blushing face behind the massive controller. Oh, another declaration today. What is this, a soap opera? Can't say it isn't nice. "I always liked to play with Rina-chan when we were kids, and to think we can be friends again... This makes me happy. Today you made me angry, a lot, but... It's been a fun day."
"Raven..."
"Ah, look what you made me do! I'm losing my concentration just by talking about feelings! This is so distracting!" And she pouted again. Her character jumped the ledge, and it was game set, with Ryuubi-sensei scoring first. Huh, again, she's shown she's the descendant of the ultimate general. Rei-chan let go of her controller, sighed, and turned to us, her face blushing wild and doing a pout. She's looking at us straight in the eyes, so she's really serious. "But no matter what I say or do... I'll always treasure what we have. So... Even if I blow up stuff in rage because of you, I want you to know, I'm glad that you're my friends... And I hope you all get that, because... I won't say this again, ever!"
"Aww~, I love you too, Raven Phenex." Said my king who went ahead to hug the fried chicken,who didn't even bother to defend herself, only sighed and smiled. I also went ahead to rest my head on Ryuubi-sensei's shoulder. It's warm... I like this. I really like this.
The rest of our evening wasn't that much eventful, we played games, we ate tea and cookies, we had fun, and soon enough, my peerage and I left the Phenex household, with a small souvenir in a shape of a small golden coin with a image of a pretty lady printed on it. Apparently, it's Drajeena-sama, Rei-chan's mother. Go figure.
"It's always good to see how much our own presence is worthy, isn't it?" Said the warlord, who had to carry her own problematic general since she was still out of commission. Even so, she didn't seem bothered, as she was still mesmerized by our little gift.
"Probably." Said Tasha, storing her own coin into her cleavage and yawn a little. For that, I yawned too, I'm just tired of playing video-games too.
"Raven-san is such a good person, too. I'm really happy that we're friends!" the secretly-gamer grim reaper smiled brighter than ever before, letting her own coin shine the moonlight and hug it tighter. "Eheheh~. I thought all the Phenex were kinda scary, but Raven-san is like Ichijou-san."
"And what do you mean by that?" I think that one came out wrong since she lost her cheerful disposition in an instant and hid behind Rina, trembling like a piece of straw in the wood. I sighed and shrugged. "But yeah... I guess it's a good think, to have friends, I guess..."
"Now that's something I didn't think I would hear from you, mr. King-beater." Rina giggled and pinched one of my cheeks. My answer to that was a flick on her ear.
"Shut up, Rina."
"Kahahahah~!"
But yeah, it's good to have friends... I guess.
"And we're home, everybody!" Rina opened the door to the Gremory household, and like always, a full line of butlers and maids was there to greet us. One in particular, Lucrezia-san, came to us and bowed.
"Welcome back home, lady Berolina and peerage." She said with a bright smile, and then she noticed the asleep troublemaker on Ryuubi-sensei's back. After a few seconds, she practically slid all the way there and hummed a curious tune. "And what happened here? Miss Guan Yu seems to be awfully tired for someone as volatile as her."
"Guan Yu had to be put out of commission for her misdeeds, Lucrezia-dono. Don't pity her, because that's the result of her actions." Ryuubi-sensei said, yet I could see some sadness dripping from her eyes. The maid hummed in understanding, and offered her own hands to carry the asleep general. Once on her back, she smiled at us.
"Well then, I better... Take care of her so that she won't be a problem once awaken. Do not worry..." She says this, yet I saw a glimpse of total malice in her orange eyes, which made me shiver. Before I could say anything, she escaped from our sight in a flash, and the only thing left was my hand extending to her. Wow, Can't believe I'm saying this, but is she going to be okay? Eh, suddenly my worries disappear since this is Kan'u we're talking about, and so I shrugged to that, we all did.
"I wonder what's for dinner. I hope it isn't much, cookies and Tea are already filling my tummy." Rina said with a hand on her mouth. Really, one can only drink so much tea and eat so many cookies. Before anything could be said, the maids and butlers opened space, and coming from them, we saw anther figure appearing. A massive figure which was... Completely black and scorched. "Father?"
"Yo, Rina. Good afternoon for you and your servants." Said the demon lord of lucifer, lifting a hand which was on fire! He soon noticed, and waved the flames away like it was nothing. But still, what the hell.
"Father, what happened to you?" Asked Rina, tilting her head to a side. Cohen-sama darted his eyes everywhere only to smile at us.
"I... Fall down some stairs at Mary's house."
"But you're covered in burns."
"The stairs were on fire."
"..."
"..."
"Okay."
"Good! Good!"
"..."
You might be wondering if I fell for that. The answer is no. Because I already used this excuse countless times myself. Good times...
"You might be wondering what I was doing there, right? Well, aside from my usual stuff to discuss with her, I bring something you might like a lot!" Lord Cohen smiled to the unasked question, and we didn't had time to say anything, since the Lucifer pulled his cape to show from under it... A little girl? A little girl with silver hair and golden eyes. "Here she is! Say hi to her!"
"Father, what?" Yeah, what is that? Who is that? Another daughter of an affair? Hey, Shii-nee is one, yet my shitty dad married two more times. Anything is possible!
"You might be wondering if she's a daughter of my and an affair. I would never cheat on my beloved Alice, so that guess is wrong." Wow, he did read my entries! But seriously, who is that girl. Her little eyes were wandering around the house for a bit, only to land on me. Then, she continued to stare at me for a bit. Uh, should I pat her head or something?
"Uh... Nice to meet you, however you are. My name is...!"
*ZING!*
"Gah! What the...!" That sensation again, that sensation of dread and despair I felt not long ago! What's going on, my left arm reacted violently the moment I tried to reach for the little girl, I didn't stop since! I heard a laugh, and turned to Cohen-sama, himself patting the head of the little girl.
"Kahahahah! So, even with her power subdued like this, the red dragon still reacts. How magnificent. I wonder, is this due to her link to the previous White Dragon, her Lucifer lineage or her raw power alone." Wait... Did he said... Previous white dragon? Lucifer? We all gasped to that news, as he again patted the little girl on her back, and turned back to us with a confident grin. "Behold, servants of Berolina. Feast your eyes upon the new bodyguard of the demon Lords, Evelyn Lucifer."
"Evelyn..."
So, she's a Loli, now. I can live with that... I think.
Nothing much to work on, but trust me, with evelyn around, thing will definitely get more rounded. Plus, guess what?, next chapter is going to be a lemon! wish me luck! I hope you all had a good read, and as always, greetings~.