Chapter 36

Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.

-With Koneko and Natsu-

Koneko dropped to her knees as the strange purple mist that Kuroka released surrounded her. She tried to get up and continue her assault but realised she was unable to move.

'What is this," Koneko asked as she tried in vain to regain her movement.

"My dear Shirone, this is a poisonous mist that restrains all those who it comes in contact with, but you don't have to fear I toned done the poison, so you shouldn't die. Unfortunately, you don't want to come willingly so I might just have to knock you out," Kuroka said as she crouched down in front of Koneko.

"I will never join you, I'm going to live my life with Rias and Natsu and the rest of them," Koneko said as she looked at Kuroka with defiance.

"We will see about that," Kuroka said as a dark look took over her face. Kuroka stepped back and gathered a ball of her aura in her hand.

Kuroka launched the aura bullet at Koneko who was unable to dodge as it hit her shoulder. Koneko let out a shout in pain as Kuroka readied another aura bullet.

"I hope you changed your mind because the next few might sting a little more," Kuroka said as the aura bullet in her began to glow brighter as its power increased.

"It seems like you have hearing problems, I said that I will never join you," Koneko replied with a pained voice yet her voice was full of determination.

"Fine, I'll have to change your mind later," Kuroka said with disappointment in her voice.

Kuroka fired off a barrage of her aura bullets that barrelled down on the prone Koneko.

Koneko looked at the barrage approach her with a brave face but it was clear to see the fear in her eyes. A flash of gold and black intercepted the aura bullets and the thing crashed into the trees at the edge of the clearing.

While relief flooded over Koneko's face because she wasn't hit by the attack, confusion flooded Kuroko's expression. She looked over to where the thing went that intercepted her attack.

Kuroka's eyes widened as she saw who it was that had intercepted her attack. While she had her eyes rested on the interceptor she felt a chill running down her spine.

Kuroka wanted to turn around and find out what it was that sent a chill down her spine but for some reason, she physically couldn't move. It was as if there was something that was keeping her in place. The only thing she could currently do was move her eyes.

She felt a hand resting on her left shoulder and as she glanced over to it fear invaded her eyes as she saw a clawed hand resting there.

"Now this is not how you should treat your dear sister," a demonic voice said from behind her.

Kuroka's eyes fell back on the burnt and beaten form of her comrade. Bikou was half-covered in his golden aura and half-covered in black flames that didn't seem to be dying out.

"What did you do to him?" Kuroka asked in an uncharacteristically shaky voice.

"Nothing much, I was just playing and thinks might have gotten too rough for him," the demonic voice said, this time coming from her right instead of behind her.

Kuroka's eyes hesitantly glanced to her right before they widened in fear at what she saw. A face covered in dark red scales, blood-red eyes that pierce your soul, large canines visible in the demonic grin and a set of horns protruding from the mop of pink hair.

"I think we should give Koneko, or as you call her Shirone another chance, don't you agree?" the demon asked.

Kuroka could feel something crawling over her feet and when she glanced down the fear she already felt doubled.

Black flames were flowing over the ground as if it was water. It didn't register with Kuroka just yet that the flames didn't burn her or anything around her for that matter.

As Kuroka watched the flames creep towards Koneko her fear increased even more. She wouldn't admit it but she was so afraid that her sister might get hurt that she completely forgot about her own predicament and would have jumped to protect her if she could move.

Koneko just watched the flames approach her with an indifferent look on her face towards it. She knew Natsu had unimaginable control over his power, and that was one of the reasons she confided in him and knew that these flames won't harm her.

The flames surrounded Koneko and she felt a warm and secure feeling. Then she realised that she could move. She stood up and smiled towards Natsu.

"How are you able to stand?" Kuroka asked Koneko as she saw her standing. The poisonous mist should have completely immobilized her and she was sure she didn't dispel it.

"Because someone who actually cares for me," Koneko smiled, even though she wasn't sure what exactly happened she knew that Natsu kept his word when he said that he would interfere only if he saw it needed but he would leave the confrontation up to her as much as he could while also keeping her safe.

Koneko truly appreciated what Natsu is willing to do for her, the only other time she could remember someone being this kind and helpful was when Rias took her in.

"Now as I said before, I want you to face her in battle. She has trouble accepting her past and even though she might not defeat you here, her standing up for herself like this will help towards her accepting her true potential," Natsu said before retracting his hand and walking over to the beaten and burning Bikou.

"Now I have some other things to do today so I would appreciate it if you finish this up before long, and remember that I will be watching, so play nice," Natsu said with a smile that sent a chill down Kuroka's spine.

Kuroka tried an experimental twitch of her and was pleasantly surprised to feel that she regained movement.

"One more thing," Natsu said as he turned to Koneko. A bright golden flame covered his hand before moving towards Koneko.

"This will allow you to fight on more even grounds," Natsu said with a smile.

"I said I wanted to do this on my own with my own power," Koneko said softly with a bit of disappointment.

"The power you wield is yours, I just awakened it for this moment," Natsu said as he sat down on top of Bikou who let out a pained grunt.

Koneko looked down to her hands and clenched and opened her hands as she felt the power resounding within her.

Koneko's eyes snapped towards Kuroka and the older Nekoshou could tell the difference in power between the girl standing before her now compared to the one who had just attempted to land a blow on her a few moments ago.

'Whatever that demon did it released her untapped potential. Just who is he?' Kuroka thought as she stared at the man sitting on her comrade with calculating eyes.

"Your fight is with me Kuroka, so you better pay attention," Koneko yelled as she connected her fist blow on Kuroka since the older Nekoshou started using her powers.

Kuroka connected with a tree due to the blow and for the first time, she felt the blow having a lasting effect.

"I won't go down so easily," Kuroka said as she got back up, and covered her hands in the white aura she used to create her aura bullets.

Kuroka launched herself at Koneko. Kuroka threw a powerful punch at her sister who raised her hand to block the blow.

Koneko was pushed back due to the blow before being forced to block anther one coming from Kuroka.

'Koneko should learn how to deal with opponents who either match or exceed her strength, be it by pure power or superior technique,' Natsu thought to himself as he spectated the match with keen eyes, taking in every detail.

Kuroka used her better knowledge and experience with the power a Nekoshou possesses to her advantage and it was becoming clear.

Pillars of earth would occasionally ram into Koneko while she is blocking a blow from Kuroka, or small sinkholes forming below her feet to allow Kuroka to easily block or redirect Koneko's blows thanks to the slight change in the environment.

The power Natsu unlocked within Koneko allowed her to keep up her offence and land damaging blows on her sister but she knew she was losing the fight.

Kuroka managed to turn the flow of the battle after she took advantage of Koneko after she stumbled due to another hole beneath her foot. Kuroka grabbed hold of Koneko's hand and pulled her past her, using her own momentum to add power to her throw.

Koneko tumbled into a tree, splintering it. Kuroka took the opportunity and charged up a mass of her aura in a sphere of power.

"Guess I can't defeat you just yet, but once I know how to use this power I will show you how to control it," Koneko said as she admitted defeat seeing the powerful attack Kuroka was charging up.

Natsu stood up from his half-burnt seat and walked up behind Kuroka. Kuroka was not aware of the demon behind her and she launched her devastating attack. She purposely only put enough power into the attack to render her unconscious.

Once again the attack was intercepted but this time the thing that intercepted it didn't fly past. This time the interceptor stood in between them.

Kuroka watched in utter disbelief as she looked at the demon who effortlessly caught her powerful attack.

'How is that possible,' Kuroka though in horror as she saw the demon engulfing her attack in black flames. This demon then dispersed his flames along with her aura attack all while keeping his eyes on Koneko.

"Admitting defeat to your past, but gaining confidence to surpass that past is the first step you have taken to gaining control of who you are," Natsu said as he offered Koneko a smile.

"I couldn't defeat her on my own, and the power I have is not enough," Koneko said with a downcast expression.

"The main difference is experience and I will work with you so that you can obtain the power you were born with, and control it," Natsu said before he turned to Kuroka.

Kuroka flinched as his blood-red eyes landed on her. Kuroka felt uncomfortable under the demon's gaze but for some reason, she couldn't' sense any aggression from him, only pity?

"Your friend has been dealt with so you might as well leave," Natsu said in a monotone voice.

"Even though I only came here for Shirone, it aids our goal by keeping you here," Kuroka said with a sly smile.

"Clearly you don't understand what I meant. When I said your friend I mean that Norse trickster you sent," Natsu replied with a grin.

"You can't bluff your way out of this," Kuroka said, a bit of uncertainty invading her mind.

'Could Loki already be driven off even though our spies mentioned that the Satans would be tired after a show match?' Kuroka thought, wondering if their information was wrong.

"I can't detect Loki's presence, I think we should leave," Bikou said as he got up with great effort.

"Ready for round two, maybe I will try something new," Natsu said while giving Bikou a demonic grin. Honestly fearing for his life Bikou turned tail and fled into the forest, not caring that he was leaving Kuroka alone with that demon.

"Why don't you go back to Rias and the others and I'll make sure they don't come and cause more trouble," Natsu said to Koneko in a tone that told her not to argue with him on this.

"See you back at the party," Koneko said as she walked off in the direction of the venue.

"Why send her off alone when there might be more of us left?" Kuroka asked the mysterious demon.

"If there were more of you lot around I would have dealt with them on my way here, but that doesn't matter now. I want to ask you a few questions," Natsu said as his eyes narrowed.

-With Koneko-

'Was that really my own power Natsu unlocked?' Koneko wondered as she approached the venue. When she entered the venue, still in thought she was quickly embraced by Rias.

"Are you okay Koneko, what happened?" Rias asked with a voice filled with concern.

"She was there, but Natsu helped out. I don't really understand what happened myself, to be honest," Koneko answered.

"We can worry about what happened later, I'm just glad you are okay," Rias replied with a smile.

"Seems like you had some fun here as well," Koneko commented as she saw the rubble that was scattered around the centre of the venue along with the blood splattered over the floor.

"Yeah, Loki came here and he is working with the Khaos Brigade," Rias said as she surveyed the damages.

"She is in league with them as well, that Bikou guy was there with her," Koneko said, remembering the time the Khaos Brigade attacked the school grounds.

"Let's go tell Sirzechs about this. If Loki was the only one here then there shouldn't be any more trouble today, but if there are more members beside the group you encountered we should stay on guard," Rias said as she made her way towards her brother with Koneko following.

"Where is Natsu?" Akeno asked when she saw Koneko here, but she couldn't see Natsu anywhere.

"He told me to leave and said that he would clean up, but the way he said it told me there was something more behind it, but I didn't stick around to ask," Koneko answered.

"Why wouldn't you ask him why?" Akeno asked, wanting to know what her lover was up to.

"I will not risk getting glorious snacks just to ask a question I can ask later," Koneko said in a tone that cemented her love for Natsu's cooking.

Rias and Akeno couldn't hold in their giggles at the small devil's obvious love for Natsu's cooking but Akeno realised Koneko knew nothing, not as if she would necessarily understand what went through Natsu's mind even if she would have told them what he was planning.

'I hope he comes back soon, I want to tell him how we handled that mutt,' Akeno thought with a giggle.

-With Natsu-

"Now that Koneko is away and we are alone I have some questions for you," Natsu said with an intense gaze.

"Why do you think I will answer your questions?" Kuroka asked. She wouldn't just give up information that would hurt her goals to just anyone.

"I don't care about the Khaos Bridge or whatever group you are part of. I want to know why you killed your previous master," Natsu said, never taking his eyes off of Kuroka.

"What do you care, you'll just hand me over to them anyway so that I can get my so-called punishment, for breaking those stupid rule, they don't even know anything," Kuroka said with a huff as she turned around, ready to leave.

"I couldn't care less about what the devils think, I want to know why you did it because as far as I can tell you didn't do it because you went drunk with power like they say," Natsu said.

Kuroka was honestly surprised. Ever since that day whenever she was spotted she was chased and the only place she could find people who didn't want her head was in the Khaos Brigade. But now this demon, who she still thought was some servant of one of the Satans or something, told her he wanted to hear the truth.

'Maye he will listen,' Kuroka thought as she had an internal argument with herself.

Here you go, chapter 36. In this chapter, I didn't focus too much on the fighting between Kuroka and Koneko, mostly because this is what I planned as a start for Koneko and Natsu to get closer through overcoming Koneko's past. Anyway, as I said before my uploads will be less frequent until my exams are done. My last test is on the 2nd of December but the following week is when supplementary exams are, so until then I can't promise weekly uploads. If you have any questions or remarks please leave me a review to let me know what you thought. See ya next time.