We are more than our mistakes, but we are less than our regrets.
DxD does not belong to me~.
'You did nothing wrong. It is normal for a teenager to do as they please. A slip like that is normal, so no worries...'
...
Yeah, no matter how much I repeat that inside this brain of mine, what I did still feels wrong. And what I did? I slept with my wife's mother, the fox spirit Mutsumi-sama.
Shame. Shame fills my mind for that, but also, something else? Like some kind of accomplishment for finally checking my V-card, even though it wasn't as romantic as one would've guessed.
There is a part of me who does wanted my first time to be with one of the girls I'm the closest with instead of a complete stranger that is Mutsumi-sama. Maybe after a nice date, we talk about our feelings, get in the right mood, then we would've either rented a hotel room or go to a distant location via magic to then consumate our love and vow to each other, like in a romance flick. Like with Rina, or Yoko, or even Shiori-san or Luc-... Nah.
But on the other hand, what is the peak of romance than to lay with a beautiful, bountiful, older woman who knows her stuff? She guided me through it, allowed me to touch and frolic with her, no sudden movements or last-minute mood changes in uncertainess, she knew I was a virgin and took everything in spades, from my hesitation in touching her to a rather quick first shot, she even allowed me to come inside her. I tried my best, but in the end I couldn't win against the experience of a woman who probably laid with many others. Older women sure are dangerous...
I thought the romance within me was dead, but I guess it wrong once again. To allow myself to follow my typical teenage urges, plus the fact that I took one step further into understanding women and their mysteries, there is something of a split of what to feel about it.
I wish there was anyone who could tell me what I did was wrong or not.
"Ichijou, you still there? The cake won't eat itself, y'know."
"Hm?" And I open my eyes into the mental world of my Sacred Gear, this university classroom white and pristine as marble, and in front of me, there is cake. A red cake with a few candles lit, with the words 'Congrats on your first time' written in cream. One look up, and my spiritual adviser, Yagura Gremory, is there with a silly hat on her head and blowing a tickler in my direction. What the hell? "Yagura, what are you doing?"
"Pfft, you ask 'what I'm doing'. I'm celebrating your first time, silly dragon!" She jumps on the spot and shoves the cake onto me, almost spilling it all over me. A blow on her paper horn, and she twirls on the spot and dances a bit. "Yay, yay, yay~. After all this time, after all those 'almost's, our Ichijou finally became a MAN~! I thought of bringing some sake for us to celebrate it further but, eh, after last night, I think it's not the best to touch a still very open wound(also, you're underage). So, cake will have to do it!"
"Uh... Thanks...?" I said, taking the imaginary cake and biting a knack out of it, unsurprisingly, it is cherry-flavoured. As I munch in that piece of cake, idloe thoughts fill my mind, all regarding the devil woman in front of me. One look outside, and I see Ddraig with a silly hat as well peeking me back. He looks neutral to that development, although I still have my doubts. "Welsh dragon, your thoughts... Pretty please?"
[FORNICATION IS SOMETHING I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH, PARTNER.] I flinch for his choice of words. Oh please, don't say it like that, it makes everything sound so much worse. [IT FASCINATES ME HOW OTHERS TEND TO PUT AN ACT AS SIMPLE AND NATURAL AS BREEDING IN A HIGH PEDESTAL. BUT CONSIDERING MY PREVIOUS PARTNER IN REGARDS OF THOSE MATTERS, I SUPPOSE I SHOULD CONGRATULATE YOU IN DEALING WITH YOUR CHASTITY. I SHALL CELEBRATE YOU 'BECOMING A MAN', AS THEY SAY.]
"That's such an old man's saying, Ddraig!" Yagura waves a hand for the dragon outside the room, who huffs a chuckle. That's true, somehow he really feels like a cryptic old man that he really is. A round of applauses from the redhead. "Our Ichijou finally checked that V-card, with such a beautiful and sensual fox too! Few are able to experience their first time with that jackpot, so lucky you for that! Sure, her pussy might've been loose and smelly as a grotto, but hey, a win's a win, no?"
"Yagura..." I frown at her. I won't allow that slander against Mutsumi-sama, regardless of what I think of her, she's my in-law, after all! The dragon lady bows apologetically and then resumed her little victory spinning with a piece of cake in hands. Once the feeling of rage vanished, however, I sigh and deflate a little, getting a bit moody. Still. "But, uh... Yagura, aren't you... Disappointed?"
"Hm?" She stops on the spot, facing away from me, and her cheerful disposition vanishes just as quick. "Disappointed, you say? Why is that, Ichijou? Enlighten me, because there is nothing to feel down about... Right?"
"..."
"..."
"Yagura... You know what I mean." I force myself to say, turning my gaze elsewhere. "I did lose my virginity, but... Uh, I mean... Are you okay about... You know..."
"As I said, Ichijou, enlighten me." She asks once again, and for some reason, I feel like her words weight a ton out of the sudden. Her tone as well... Gh. But I need to come clean.
"I lost my first... To someone I don't know, a complete stranger." I lower my head, gulping a dry one in my throat. "I have so many girls around me... I know all of them love me... And I do... L-Love... All of them back... Yet... I gave my first to a complete stranger in the first opportunity... I still love them very much but... You know..."
"..." Nothing this time, and once again, I wish the earth could just swallow me.
Was it the alcohol, the romance calling, or the typical urges of a teenager? I don't know what made me simply say 'yes' to Mutsumi-sama's offering for sex, but I did so. I slept with a beautiful and mature older woman, the imagery and feeling of her soft breasts, her glittering and good-scented skin and her welcoming and warm core still fresh in my body and mind. But not that the did is done, I feel so... Conflicted.
All the girls around me, who love and cherish me, who offered their own bodies and souls to me, yet I chose neither and went for a complete stranger... It wasn't because she was beautiful and alluring, nor she had something others lacked, so why...
I love them all so much too. And maybe that's why I did so, I guess? The romance of a first time, ruined because I lacked further knowledge on the subject. To turn my first time into a nightmare with a loved one, all because I lacked some regards of it. To hurt them, to insult them, waste my first into a bad memory. That's why I chose an older, more experienced and impartial wopman for my first. She guided me, didn't judge me, and gave me some tips while also turning my first into such a dream. But do I feel so bad about it?
"Yagura, please answer m-..." I feel a shadow lurking above me, imterrupting my words as I shot my head up to face Yagura's golden stare, deeply into my soul. I bite my lips, waiting for her response, whatever it is, yet nothing but silence. However, after an eternity, the Gremory girl inside my head smiles... Then puffs her lips and then...
"Pffft... HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH...!" She spits on my face with that blow and opens a laughter as loud as a roar, trembling my mental world to the core. This left me confused as hell, specially since I didn't hear her laughing this much since my 'incident' with Berolina from a time ago. Yagura holds her stomach and retches as if lacking oxygen in her system. This one always have the most confusing and punchable reactions. "REEECK... REEECK~... Oh my Lilith, you're always such a blast, red dragon...! You never fail to make me laugh...!"
"..."
"Hahahaha...! Oh, you serious?" She stops to look at my frown... Then smiles yet again. "Allow me then to laugh more: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...!"
"Yagura, I'm serious...!"
"And that is why is so funny!" Not a single moment, and she already disarms me with that, leaving me speechless. She coughs one more time, then with a graceful twirl, she turns to me and winks and blows a kiss. "Like I always say, Ichijou: I cherish and love you, so so much. I'm literally the closest person you have alongside Ddraig, and I know from where you're coming from. I'm also the right person to say thus: What you did was not bad. I mean, it's wrong in a few ways, but not in a bad way."
"..." Hwut?
"I worded that weird, right? Let me try this again: If you think what you did was bad, perish the thought, because no one thinks that." She waves a hand at me, not reassuring me that much, but at least I see her point of view in the matter. "Yeah, you slept with a sexy fox woman, so what? It's not like one would refuse that! I know that you love your little harem, and the reasoning behind choosing that one instead of either Rina or Yoko makes perfect sense to me. We would've a problem if you did it out of malice, but that's not the case. Your mind was elsewhere when you rammed into that fox, so no worries."
"..." I purse my mouth and bite my tongue a bit. It feels still a bit off.
"What is done is done, anyway." She comes closer and kisses my cheek, a light slap there to wake me up from the trance. "It's cute that you think that way, but don't worry. Your girls won't think less of you for that. In fact, as long as your heart is with them, there is nothing wrong with frolicking a little, right?"
"I-I gu-..."
*BASH!*
"What are you ingraining into this poor boy's mind, Miss Yagura!" And out of nowhere, I see a light-coloured tuff of hair coming from nowhere to bash my inner redhead with a chair to the head, making it slide all the way to the wall! I blink and notice that the offender of that move was none other than the angel of heavenly link, Ophelia-san. She looks... Embarrassed and disappointed. "Adultery is unacceptable no matter how much you say otherwise! Do not stray him even further into the degenerate path that will hurt his loved ones even further!"
"Y-Yagura...!" I reach a hand for the fallen Gremory, but I feel a pair of hands land on my shoulders and force me to look at Ophelia-san. This is the first time I've ever seen her so... Assertive.
"And you! My dear Ichijou, I'm so disappointed in you!" The angel woman pouts cutely, not enough muscles to pull a convincing angry face, although I can sense that she is a bit affected by my actions. "What you did was wrong! You've spent so much time building and caring for your loved ones, why did you decided to do something so foolish?! Didn't you think that could've hurt their feelings?! They love and cherish you so much! Imagine how they'll feel now once they find out!"
"O-Ophelia-san..." I gulp. I knew it, there is some base to feel this way. All those girls that love me... And I do something like that with a flimsy excuse. I'm no better. "I-I'm... I'm so sorr-..."
"They will feel almost nothing, that is certain!" And then Yagura reappears to push the angel away from me, freeing me from her grasp. One light push and now the two were standing face-to-face, a grin on Yagura against Ophelia-san's pouty mouth. "He's a devil, they're all devils, remember? Harems are a thing, so why bother about one or two skips on the fence? It's not like he will invite that old lady for the harem..."
"Even if he follows the devilish culture, it is always wrong!" I see some steam coming from the angel's ears, as if she's trying to sound angry and failing miserably. She's such a nice person. "All those girls love him so much, he shouldn't take their affection from granted! Imagine how hurt they'll feel, how they'll react!"
"I admit that will sting a bit, but so what?" Yagura shrugs. "Besides, he didn't do it for the sake of it! You want him to traumatize one of those girls so that he could be 'romantic' or 'charming'? You know how he reacts, I don't want him vomiting on every chick who screams a decibel louder or cries a single tear after a cherry popping!"
"it doesn't justify it, miss Yagura!" The angel shakes her hands up and down. "If he's willing to sleep with anyone, whether or not love is involved, then everything that transpirred was meaningless, pointless! There should be love in it, otherwise what's the point?"
"Oh, here we go with that stuff! The angel who thinks sex is all about love and affection, yadda-yadda-yadda!" The redhead claps her hand and rolls her eyes mockingly, making the angel more and more exasperated.
"I'm just saying what dear Ichijou did was wrong! He is smarter than this, and shouldn't have acted like that!"
"Acted 'like that' how?! 'Act' like the teenager that he is?! Which I may add, is mild compared to what his antecessors and peers do every day!"
"Act like the feelings of his loved ones mean nothing! Do not appeal to nature like that, I know Ichijou is better than this... At least I thought so!"
"Don't you dare imply he did it just because. You think I would defend him if he just wanted some hole to screw and nothing more; you're very, very wrong."
"So please don't encourage this behaviour even further! I know sex is more than just love, but shouldn't be treated so casually either! Devils might be beings of impulses and desires, but I know they have feelings too! Feelings that can be hurt!"
"Devils can also ratiolize, they can also think! What, you think they'll pull a knife once they hear about it instead of just sitting down and talk about why he did it?"
"Would you?"
"Fuck you, I asked it first!"
"Then allow me to ask it first: what if the opposite happened? What if Berolina or Yoko or any of those girls decided to lay with another man behind his back? Forsake their purity out of 'a moment' situation?"
"Oh, that's the game you wanna play now?! Create a thousand and one 'what if's just to justify your point? Nevermind two of them flat-out said they're okay in not being his first as long as he loves them and have their turn, nevermind he has done so much for them, virginity means jackshit at this point! That's the game you wanna play!?"
"If he would've felt hurt, then hurting the feelings of others is just as unacceptable!"
"Stop implying that everyone is a puritan like a goddamn saint!"
"Then stopping implying everyone is a inconsequential degenerate!"
*DOOOOOOOOOOOOOON...!*
"Kh... Ddraig, what the hell...?!"
"Lord Ddraig, what in the world...?"
[PARTNER, IF YOU PLEASE...]
"Huh...?" I snap back after hearing Ddraig's booming voice directed at me. I blink once, twice, and back to reality I am, feeling hot trails down my eyes and a stinging sight. Those two, also the most important people in my life, fighting because something I did. I just wanted them to stop, just stop, and with that taken care of, I clean the tears down my eyes and stand up from my seat. I turn to the red dragon and nod. "Thank You, welsh dragon. As for you two, please stop fighting."
"..."
"..."
"Yagura, you're right." I turn to the redhead devil, and hearing my response, she grins while the angel gasps. "What I did was a spurt of the moment, a call for the romance, and as I teenager and a devil, I shouldn't feel ashamed of that. I mean, I know I could hurt someone's feelings, but even so, I think they will understand after I come clean."
"Hah!"
"H-Hm..."
"But Ophelia-san is not wrong either." I turn to the angel woman, and in a flashing Yagura's victorious grin vanishes, alongside a gasp from the former. "I know how those girls act and behave, but to leave them in the dark and act like there is not even the slighest chance of them to not accept what I did is... Condemnable, to say the least. I should feel blessed to have them, and I will not toy with their feelings or faith ever again. I can only push so far until I really hurt them, and I rather avoid that..."
"Mhm!"
"Gh..."
"..." I hum something pensively, scratching my cheek to blow off some steam, and the welsh dragon outside sighs a puff of flames, clearly tired of this whole idle discussion in his mental domain. I slap my cheeks a few times and come clean of my intentions. "So, whatever. I did what I did, and whether it was wrong or not, it's not for me to decide. I had my intentions, I went through with my actions; now, to wait for the consequences of them, either good or bad or... Nothing else. I shall accept anything, as a man, and as a devil. Even if they end up hating me... So please, Yagura, Ophelia-san, don't fight, you're both right."
"..."
"..."
"..."
...
"Well, I guess I might've lost my head a bit back then." Yagura coughs, trying to recompose herself, a single eye peeking to Ophelia-san's direction. "I shouldn't have pulled all those low blows on you, angel. Hell, I never even had a boyfriend before Ichijou came along, so what I say didn't come from experience, they are worthless compared to what you have."
"I should apologize as well, miss Yagura." The angel claps her hands in a prayer, a sigh to also gather her mind and patience. "My sight was blurred by the creeds and teachings of my Lord, and my moral compass might've gone stray, completely ignoring the bonds Ichijou constructed to this point and the behaviours of his loved ones. He is still... So young, as well."
"So... What, we cool?"
"Yes, miss Yagura. We 'cool'." The two figures who live inside my head extend a hand to each other and seal the deal with a warm handshake, sharing smiles and laughs as they silently agree that, both were right... And somehow also wrong regarding me. "Hoohoohoo~..."
"Hahahah!" They chuckle, and I draw an awkward smile. Female friendship is something that always baffles me, and seeing the sweatdrop and frown from outside the window, I figure not even a nigh-omnipotent dragon emperor can understand women in the long run. I figure that the discussion didn't end there, and I'm all in for it, for I will face them head on, and act accordingly, regardless of the outcome. In the end, they let go off each other, and the redhead turns to me with a half-hug. "But, in all seriously Ichijou, congrats on your first time. Not even dad checked his this early, if what he said is to be believed. With a nice fox lady too, lucky you~!"
"H-Heheheh..."
"But I'm serious about that too." And her aura becomes darker, and the half-hug, tighter, almost too suffocating! "Don't play with those girls's hearts. Harems are a thing, but if you try to screw for the sake of it, I'll bite it off."
"Y-Yes, I understand."
"That's the spirit, miss Yagura!" And Ophelia-san cheers for Yagura's threats, not unwelcoming of course, I rather die than to become like my father in that regard. I'm... Better than this, better than him... I hope.
"Hahah..." I laugh it off, like I always do. One moment of lucity, and then I snap back to more important matters... Huh, how odd to say that. I turn a gaze to Yagura, and blink once and wave a hand to call for her attention. "But, hey Yagura, I forgot to say it. I'm sorry about... Yasaka-sama. I can only imagine how you feel about her, and honestly, you have my condolences, and I mean it, truly."
"..." Her smile drops a bit, and for some reason, her expression softerns, letting go off me to turn around and shrug to herself. A moment, no one speaking, and in the softest voice, she turns to us and smiles, bitterly. "Ichijou, when you live as long and as intensely as I do, as I did, to expect people around me, even the closest ones, to die is inevitable. The fact that I'm talking to you in here, of all places, just shows that, after all."
"Yagura..."
"Kurenai, Airi, Zen, Shirayuki, Helmwige, Grayfia, father and mother, mom Asia, mom Akeno, mom Xenovia, mom Shirone, uncle Vali, uncle Bikou, grandpa and grandma... All countless others, they lived their lives, and that is what we should celebrate, remember?" She scratches her eyes, she's clearly getting a bit emotional, but this time, her smile and front are genuine. I can feel it, she's not putting a façade or faking it, she just accepts it. "Same for mother Yasaka. She lived a fulfilling life, no? A leader, mother and spouse, I bet she was satisfied. So I don't mind, she was... She was happy."
"Y-Yeah, you're right." I nod, also using my sleeve to dry the stinging eyes and a bit of tears, I guess her emotions are contagious as always. One blink, and the redhead comes closer, touching a finger on my chest.
"Now, my turn: What are you going to do with that?" It took me a while to process and understand from where she was coming from, and once I realize that, I bite my lips. "Relax, I won't take over and just throw that urn in the river. I knew something about that Mutsumi chick since she was close friends with mom Yasaka, and if she said to deliver those ashes to that temple, I can't object it... But still, your guest is also good as mine, Ichijou. Can you trust that fox lady?"
"I mean, I'm also a bit icky about being entrusted something as precious and important as Yasaka-sama's ashes. But Mutsumi-sama's possession of them is not enough to at least put some faith in it?" I lower myself a bit, tilting my head to a side to sign I also have my doubts about it, but regardless, Mutsumi-sama's vow of confidence is enough to back me up, if only a little. "Plus, she must have her own reasons as to not tell anyone, not even Yoko or maybe Kunou-sama. For now, I will trust her... If just a little."
"Puss was that good, huh?" Yagura sheepishly smiles, and in a moment I feel a mix of anger and shame spread all over my face, boiling me from inside. Ophelia-san feels a bit bolder, so much she flicks the redhead on the ear, but she turns to me just as quickly.
"Unnecessary comment aside, Ichijou, Miss Yagura's statements are also just as valid." Ophelia-san nods, coming closer to hold me by the hands. "She might be your in-law, and first partner, but please reconsider a bit. You barely know her, so you have no idea what she might be plotting. Don't be... Don't afraid to pull out if things get tough."
'Hah! That's what she said!'
[LADY YAGURA, FOR THE LOVE OF...]
"Thanks for worrying about me, Ophelia-san. But this is not a request only from Mutsumi-sama, but also Yasaka-sama." I point. Indeed, I would still have my doubts regarding Mutsumi-sama's intentions, and they would weight a lot more if it wasn't for the fact that it was also Yasaka-sama's requests before her passing. To her ashes to be carried all the way to Gion in a certain temple. As the red dragon emperor, a holder of senpai's will and my own, this is not something that I can simply decline, no matter how shady or dangerous it seems. "Therefore, there is no way for me to refuse. Sorry, but please bear with this stubborn, unflexible and cowardly dragon a little longer."
"Lord Almighty, you always have ways to convince me no matter what. Such dangerous power..." She sighs, but regardless opens and smile and kisses the back of my hand, another vow of trust between us. "But okay, Ichijou-san. I will trust you... One more time. But don't worry, I don't resent you, and whatever happens, I won't hesitate to assist you either."
"Thanks, Ophelia-san." I smile back. I guess she's not mad at me anymore, and I can only feel blessed and relieved for that, also vowing myself to do and be better, like always, for her smile. I turn to the red dragon emperor and raises a fist for him, a blink from the red shine looking at me. "You too, welsh dragon. If just one more time, lend me your strength so I can do something lethally stupid again."
[GYAHAHAHAHAHAH! AT THIS POINT, THOSE SITUATIONS HAVE BECOME NORMAL FOR YOURS TRULY! VERY WELL, PARTNER. WHENEVER, HOWEVER, THIS DRAGON WILL LEND HIS POWERS FOR WHAT LIES FROM THIS POINT ON.] Laughed the red dragon, and despite his mocking, I can't help but to also smile at his words, his trust in me being as genuine as it is out of his own amusement. [DO NOT DISAPPOINT ME, PARTNER. I WILL BE SEEING THOSE EVENTS UNWIND THROUGH YOUR SIGHT, SO GO FORTH.]
"Appreciated." I nod, and with a final goodbye to the trio inside my head, I turn to the door and walk away from the Boosted Gear room, ready to face what happens in this trip on. I open the door, face the light, and then, back to the normal world I go. I still have... Some business to attend that can't be done here, anyway.
...
"So, you guys wanna bet who's going to taste the dragon D next? After that little stunt, I'm thinking he'll stuff that Phenex chick like a holyday turkey next."
"M-Miss Yagura...!"
[IF I MAY, THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SPEARWOMAN THAT INCLINES ME TO BET ON HER.]
"Atta dragon!"
"Lord Ddraig, not you too!"
"It won't count if it's an orgy, deal?"
[DEAL.]
"H-Honestly, you devils..."
Light once again, here I am in the material world that I also belong, slowly opening my eyes to face another day, with a mission in mind and a urn of ashes in my possession. I yawn, I scratch my eyes, and blinking a few times to get used to the light, I see myself now... Sitting on a bench of the bus station, so lazely laid on the cold surface, as if I was a drunkard of a sorts.
But I'm not alone, oh no. The first thing I see once waking up were the stares of half of my peerage, curious ones from Whiswain, annoyed ones from Kan'u and amused ones from sensei. What the... I don't remember sleeping here at all. I yawn once again.
"Hey, good morning, girls." I scratch my eyes some more. No response, only confused and angry groans. "Uh... Where are we?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Uhhhh...
"W-Where... Where are w-...?"
*PUNCH!*
Again, no response.
Vocal, that is: Kan'u came and punched me square in the face.
Ouch.
After that rude wake-up call, I ended up recollecting the series of events that transpired: The day after the funeral of the fox spirit Yasaka-sama, mother of us all, a night well-rested at my grandparents's humble abode was all we needed to regain our moods and strengths, and with good spirits, I decided to honour Yasaka-sama and Mutsumi-sama's last request and, with her ashes in hand, took the earliest bus to Gion, my peerage following suit, fully aware of it as well since hiding that from them would be a dick move, and I'm quite tired of those after yesterday... Hah!
Turns out, the stop we were suppose to stop on... Was hours ago. I forgot that my mental trips do not have the Hyperbolic spirit-time chamber temporal inertia, therefore while I was talking out the intricacies of my supposed first time, everybody waited me to guide them to our destination until we reached the last stop, in which the conductor asked for everyone to leave and sensei had to carry me outside and wait for me to come back, like a comatose victim. Talk about a gaffe...
"You know, you didn't have to punch me that hard, you bitch general..." I hold my black eye in pain nas we now walk to that Gion temple, with me leading the way and being followed by four girls. I turn to said general, and her red stare only furrows.
"Be thankful I was considerate enough to allow you to be aware of it, Hong Long." She spits at me, and for that, my brow twitches. This one is always tickling me at the worst times, I swear. "We are not your servants to be under your whims, specially when you are the one to address this new location."
"But colours me surprise, truly. For Yasaka-sama to request such odd wish, specially since... I am unaware of any interest she could've had in Gion." Observes our pink Rook, adjusting her glasses, and taking step further next to me to take a quick look at the silver urn carrying the last remains of the great fox spirit. One gaze at it, then to me. "Mayhap she has some unfinished business in there, or the exorcism on that scale required is exclusive of that temple? Considering the prideful nature of Youkai, we shouldn't discard the possibility."
"Master Liu Bei is right~. That urn, even sealed, exhales an obscene amount of negative miasma, it's scary~!" The bishop reaper moans, her being the furthest from us as she possibly is the one with most awareness of the power behind the ashes, the remainings of a powerful fox spirit. Myself can feel a powerful weight on them, as if I'm carrying powdered iron instead of ashes, so I have no idea what she might be seeing or feeling, another reason as to why trying to hide will be rended useless, we should start using her hyper-awareness in a fight. "I don't think even the youkai are prideful enough to hold it and just wait to be attacked by evil ayakashi~!"
"I have my doubts about that." I chirp. Specially Kyoto folks, those are some nasty arrogant people, doubt they wouldn't hold to stupid pride until death. Nothing against it, it's pretty normal, but the line between it and just stupidity is very blurred. I lightly tap the lid of the urn, this ornamental jar with silver colouration and golden flowery details, and nod for it. "But anyway, what Mutsumi-sama gave me was more than a request, from Yasaka-asama, and I will do it regardless. I can't call myself the red dragon emperor if I can't fulfill the final wish of a fallen friend."
"Puss was that good, huh?"
"Go to hell." I shoot a nasty look at my knight, my odd choice of words making the rest chuckle. "Like I said, you have no reason to follow me through with it. Go join Kyoto and the surroundings, delivering a piece of urn won't kill me or something like that..."
"And as stated beforehand, we won't leave you for whatever reason, Hong Long." Sensei nods back, a few slaps on my back to reassure her position. "Be easy or not, we will follow you to the depths of any world. This grim request, moreover, will be a bit more bearable with our bunch, no? Giving our last honours is a must as well."
"I see. Thank you." I nod. Carrying an urn with the ashes of senpai's late wife, one of them; I kinda forgot how morbid this whole situation is, and to think the dark aura leaking even with the magical seal can attract unrested ayakashi and spirits, feels like the plot of an horror film. I take a deep breath, trying to remain composed. "Geez, thank you for remiding me of this whole 'taking the ashes of the deceased', Ryuubi-sensei. Now this weights a lot more."
"The pleasure is mine, Hong Long." The taller piece laughs. A moment of levity, something I can appreciate in this walk, the Sun slowly descending as we approach our destination.
"Y-You want me to carry it?" Whiswain offers her hands, but I shake my head negatively. I should be the one to do it, plus the burden of it might be too much for our grim reaper girl, she's already trembling just by being near it. "Okay... B-But if you think it's... Too heavy... Then I can carry it a little... Maybe do something about the miasma..."
Ryuubi-sensei was right, bringing them along was not a bad idea. Not at all...
...
"I need a moment, if you excuse me..." But even with that, there is just something poking the back of my head that won't let go unless I do something about it. No matter what they say, it's still something I have to do it on my own. I take the lead for a few steps, turn astray a bit and picked my phone. Is this actually a good idea? Of course not, but I'll do it anyway. I turn it on, dialed a certain number and let it play for a bit. One second, two seconds, a bit too much, no? Then, she picked up. Oh God. "H-Hey... Yoko..."
'Good afternoon to you, husband.' And she still has that groggy voice for herself, as expected after the amount of alcohol she drank the past few days. But her disposition seems to be a bit brighter, that's a good start. 'I assume you still taking your little vacation in Kyoto? 'Tis such a pity we won't be able to communicate that much, for I have business back in Tokyo after...'
"Y-Yea, I understand. No problem, I'll take you to meet my grandparents other time. You do you." I reassure her about her last minute dip from Kyoto, and considering all the stuff she has to deal with in the meantime, I'm glad she's sober enough for that, myself suffering my first hangover ever and having a hard time with it. I shake my head to focus, and take a deep breath. "S-So, uh, Yoko! How... How are you holding up? Is... Evertyhing alright... On that end...?"
'MOthEr ended with a few bruises after we... Discussed some unpleasant topics, but that aside, everything is quite fine, thank you for asking.' I flinch, her voice cracking a bit talking about Mutsumi-sama, and that alone makes me be taken back a little. I shake my head to clean my head of any lingering thoughts. 'As for me, a bit on the headache due to the hangover, but nothing I can't manage. I had it worse, anyway. Judging by your actions, I can assume you're fine as well, no? Good to know.'
"Y-Yeah, everything fine on my end. I got no problems for me."
'Indeed. Oxytocin is a hell of a pain reliever.'
"..." I'm making a face after that. Not in the nose at all, and that is what hurts the most. I needed a moment to think straight yet again, but like I fish I open my mouth and close it soon after since she was the one following on that.
'If you called to say you're sorry or something, I want you to know that it's best for us to talk about it face-to-face.' I hear a sigh by the other side. That one cuts deeper than any knife. 'Or mayhap you wanted to hear if I'm angry or disappointed at you? Yes, maybe it's that the reason, you're not that much of a coward despite what happened back home. At least, I hope you're not. You want to face me to know what to say when you finally say you're sorry or something, right?'
"..."
'I'm your wife, Ichijou. For less than a year, but I'm still your wife.' Her voice sounds so... Soothing. 'I know you wouldn't call me just to avoid looking me in the eyes and say you're sorry and expect everything to work out. Instead, you want to know how angry or sad I am and then sort things out from there. You're not that of a coward, nor that cruel.'
"..."
'You still there, no? Ichijou...?'
"..."
'...?'
"Caham... Well, thank you for the attention Yoko."
'Anytime, dear.'
"So... Are you..."
'OF COURSE I'M MAD, YOU DOOFUS!'
"Eeeek!"
'TCH! TO THINK YOU OF ALL PEOPLE, TCH!, WOULD FALL FOR THE CHARMS OF THAT OLD USED GOODS HAG, TCH!, WHEN YOU HAVE SHOWN PATIENCE AKIN TO A BUDDHA WITH ME AND, TCH! WHAT, ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS TO ASK NICELY FOR A NIGHT, IS ROMANCE DEAD TO YOU OR SOMETHING, TCH! I SWEAR, TCH!, OF ALL THE MOMENTS YOU HAD TO CHOOSE FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, TCH!, COULDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR ME TO SOBER UP AND, TCH! WITH MY OWN MOM'S ROTTEN SPASM CHASM, TCH! DO YOU THINK THIS IS A KOREAN DRAMA OR SOMETHING, TCH! - It's not my fault that your pussy game is WEAK! (Mutsumi) - STAY OUT OF THIS, MOTHER! TCH! TRULY, ICHIJOU, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!'
"..." Ah shit, I knew it, of course she'd be angry, although the reasons behind it are completely unexpected on my end. Once she stopped to catch her breathe and the ringing on my ear ceased, and decided to talk. "Should've known you'd be mad. Please, don't take it on Mutsumi-sama, Yoko. It was all my fault, and I'll be willing to accept any punishment for this little escapade of mine, anything for you to forgive me."
'...' A hum by the other side. 'Don't assume I'm mad at you(that much), husband of mine. Of course, I'm mad that I wasn't the one to take your virginity... But like I said, if that was for nothing, then I'll be solely angry and disappointed in you.'
"..."
'Did you become wiser, Ichijou?'
"Yes, I did."
'Good.' Another sigh, and for some reason, I can assume she's smiling considering I heard a chuckle by the other side. 'Also, perish the thought I'm blaming you. If anyone has any blame, is this old hag who thinks she still got game despite the grute between her legs. - Like you're any better, you pretty lovey-dovey-wifey wannabe. - Who am I to dictate with whom you sleep with?As long as I have a knack in your heart, I won't say a thing... With moderation.'
"Yoko, I...!"
'Do you want me to be mad at you instead?'
"I... I... Hm..."
'...?'
"No."
'I really love that about you. You care too much.' She chuckles at me, and why do i feel like I'm dancing right on her palm? This conversation is reaching unfanthomed levels of savagery. 'A bit too much. If your mind is clearer, and you've become wiser, I can only say I'm satisfied, if a bit vexed. There is a relief knowing that you took a step further into maturity, even if it wasn't with me.'
"..."
'I gotta go now, you do you back there, and if I have time, I'll go there and get dear grandparents's blessings.' She blows me a kiss, and I still can't say a word. I really hate this feeling, this feeling that I can't figure her out like she does with me. If she's masking everything or is being genuine, none being the best option, but for now, I should accept it. 'If you have any more doubts, we shall discuss it later, face-to-face, like a couple. Greetings and goodbye...'
"H-Hey, Yoko...!"
'Hm...?'
"I... I love you."
'...'
"..."
'I know.'
*CLICK!*
...
Siiiiiigh~... I have an amazing wife.
I wish I was a fraction of that of a husband for her.
"Closing some loose ends with Lady Kurama?" I turn to my little group, and approaching me comes Ryuubi-sensei with a calming smile, trying her best to not startle nor be too abrupt on her end. I sigh once again, put my phone down, and smiled. "If you wish for a moment alone, we can wait."
"No need." I lift a hand. "We still have a lot to talk about, but for now... That'll have to do. Once again, she proves herself to be too good for me... For now."
"Glad to hear that, Hong Long." She smiles, ruffling my hair a bit.
"K-Kyaaaaaaaaah...!"
"What the...?!" And the serenity was cut short as we heard Whiswain's scream, and once spotting her, we saw her losing her balance and falling on her behind on the floor, her single eye trembling and tearing up. We came to her rescue as soon as possible. "What's wrong, Whiswain...?!"
"A-Ah! Undead souls! Lots of them, around us...!" She gasps and tries to stand up, and from moment to another, we saw ourselves surrounded by a dark matter that seemingly was sprouting from the floor. A black mass of foul yet untangible darkness, soon taking the shape of sillhouetes and then of people, humanoids naked and hairless figures with hollow eyes and mouths, akin to moribunds than real people. The bishop jumps and runs to my back to shield herself from them. Don't tell me, is this one of the effects of Yasaka-sama's ashes?! "H-Heeeeeh~...!"
"Seriously, the only one who can solve their struggles, and she's useless." Kan'u complains, sooner to summon her crescent moon blade and preparing herself for a possible clash with the undead. I adopt a better position and was ready to pull Ix myself as the spirits turn to us. "Very well, foul spirits of the unrest, prepare to come back to the earth against my blade."
"Shit, they're after the ashes, no doubt!" I conclude, my arms itching and ready to strike the first possible threat as we saw ourselves surrounded by those hollowed, foul spirits. To think even sealed, the ashes could bring so many of them, shouldn't have doubted the power of the late Yasaka-sama. Well, I won't fail on my mission, not without a fight! "You want them? Then come and get it, if you can!"
And then... Nothing. The unrest spirits simply looked at us with their hollowed eyes for a moment, and then turned away, facing all the same direction and, ever so sluggish like zombies, started to walk themselves to... Somewhere. No threats, no harm, they seem to ignore us.
"What the..." I lower my stance and decide to not summon Ix, as Kan'u does the same and unsummons her dragon spear, we all content in just look at the spirits walk in a single direction in a organized file, no disruptions nor chaos, as if following something or someone. Some bump into us, some walk next to us, but all ignoring us. What the hell? They're not even looking at us, at me, the one carrying the ashes. What's more: they're walking to the direction we are suppose to take. I gulp a dry one, and decide to follow them instead, my group following next.
Some protests and doubts, but eventually we decided to follow the undead parade since it was the same path we would've taken. A deserted road, some rock stairs, to the peak of a mount, where at the top rests a small shrine, unseen by anyone else. As we ascend the stairs, the unrested souls stop, go down on their knees and clap their hands as if in a prayer. head down and hands in the air, a typical buddhist praying. Eventually, all of them stop to kneel and pray, leaving a single file for us to follow at the top of the mount, a dimly-lit shrine waiting for us. I don't remember ever seeing one of those in Gion, and a buddhist temple, of all things.
"What is all of that? Some kind of ritual?" I wonder to myself, receiving of course no answer from my peerage. I hear mumbles, from all directions, and then I notice that the undead started to... Pray? Mumbling mantras with their agap mouths too low for me to hear clearly, but they sounded like prayers. Now, that's getting a bit too dangerous. "Guys, stay close, I have the feeling something is not right..."
*TING! TING!*
Is that a bell? No, the ring is too clean for a bell, but still... The moment that sound reaches my ears, like dust, all the unrest zombies around us are blown to the wind. No sound, no movement, they simply vanish like if made out of sand, nothing but a sigh that seem to reflect relief from all out us. The steps of the stone stairs leading to the temple, before filled with ghastly foul ghouls in rows upon rows of praying lines, now has nothing but our group in it, lingering black dust of what once was an undead vanishing in an instant.
"What... What's going on...?!"
"The Gion Showa bells rings the impermanence of all things; Twinned sala flowers, white in full bloom, reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proudful does not endure, like a dream on a spring night; at last, the mighty falls, as dust before the winds."
"...?!" Strong words, with a strong voice to recite them. My attention shifts to the top of the mount, and step by step, I feel like an earthquake approaches. My eyes trail up, and coming down the stairs, there was a new figure: a tall, bald, pale buddhist monk wearing dark robes but a golden kesa adorning his shoulder and midsection. Despite wearing white socks and sandals, it was from his every step that the quakes come from, and once he comes close enough, I now can see how tall he is, even sensei is a head smaller than him! He waits for a moment, and then opens his eyes, showing us dark silver orbs.
"May I help you all with something, devils?" He says in that powerful voice, a serene but sagacious stare at each and every one of us. There is no doubt, it's him, the one Mutsumi-sama said to look for once we reach this temple.
The high priest Ookami Muten.
Hello there, DxD fandom. A bit of an hiatus after the polarizing last chapter, a new turn of the year, plus my attention shifted to the GxG amoung other things IRL. But a new chapter for this fic, the first in this year... After two months. I know, I know.
TBT, after the last chapter, I decided to lay down on this fic and just wait in GxG until I had the right mentality as to how write an aftermath in the events of last chapter, and truth be told, despite my typical idisioncrasies, I tried to be... Sensitive regarding the whole topic, in-character as all sides and try to find a better middle ground without straying from character nor making everybody in the wrong. Also, the funny bit between the shoulder devil and angel, this time with literal beings like that, poor ddraig caught in the crossfire. But the semi-conclusion was thus, and I guess that's, as for the events that will transpire, is enough for now.
The whole topic is not near closed, btw, but for now, the red dragon and his companions have better things to deal with. Now, up for the plot. I hope you all liked reading this chapter, discuss if the closing was satisfying so far, and I apologize for the small hiatus, I'll try to keep it more consistent. But for now, R and R and have a nice day. Greetings from Houki Minami~.
The ANE: Aria Argento
- The Queen of Nemesis's peerage, descendant of the Red Dragon Emperor and his wife Asia Argento. She's 22-y/o and her birthday is December 25th. She's the second oldest of the current DxD children (Akio is the eldest)
- Her full name is Aria Hyoudou-Argento. Although, Aria abolishs the Hyodou apart as she appreciates the alliterative appeal of her alias.
- The big sister figure among the younger characters despite being a single child, she is very known for causing trouble during parties and was quite a prankster as a youngster. Nowadays, she calmed down and became Nemesis's kinda secretary.
-She was raised alongside Nemesis in the Gremory manor. Her parents are currently travelling throughout the dimensions fighting interdimensional threats(It won't become a plot point, I swear).
- She met Nero when he was introduced as Nemesis's new knight, and fell in love with him after a year or two, also losing her virginity to him. She was the one who pushed Nemesis to also become his lover since she loves her just as much. She's the harem caretaker in her spare time and manages it for him, baring Ixis Vassago from it.
- At first, she was quite skeptical, but grew to admire and root for her little brother Ichijou to become a great sekiryuutei of the new world. BTW, she still has cross-shaped scars on both arms and legs from the time at Mt. Issei.
- A strong dragon lady, she's good with children. Once Nemesis takes over the Gremory clan as head, she wishes to become a kindergarten caretaker. Trying to avoid suffocating kids with her tits is a different matter altogether. She can also become an ultima-class in a year or so, but chooses not to.
- How come everyone close to the MC happens to be blond?
- Doesn't show much, but dislikes Lucrezia because she thinks she has ill intentions towards Nemesis. Has no problem with her former nanny Noin though.
- A strong, powerful, well-endowed, cute, beautiful, wise and patient onee-san character, the whole package!