I finally finished this chapter, yay. Now to start the next one.
Chapter 2: The Fighting Starts
It had been a few days since Anton was put on flyer duty. He was currently lying in a pile of boxes, groaning due to his muscles being sore.
"Oh my, have you finished handing out all the flyers?" Rias asked the lump on the floor.
"Yes." The lump groaned weakly.
"There were quite a few, this is impressive." The president added.
"I don't forgive you." Anton mumbled, he repeated it a few times before pushing himself up and getting to his feet. The teen stretched his back and yawned.
"Alright then, it's time for you to move on to the next step." Rias declared.
"You are forgiven." Anton mumbled, relieved he didn't have to hand out anymore fliers. In explanation, it was a simple task. In practice, it was a living hell. Having to hand out each individual flyer, to people who either took one out of kindness or flat out refused to take one, was equal parts exhausting and infuriating.
"Akeno, if you would." Rias asked.
"Very well." Akeno smiled as she stepped onto the magic circle in the clubroom, it lit up.
"Uh..." Anton released an unintelligible noise as he pointed at Akeno.
"She's making it so that you can use the magic seal." Rias explained and Anton nodded in response.
"It's ready for use." Akeno announced as she stepped away from the magic seal.
"Okay then. Anton, stand in the middle of the circle." Rias commanded.
"'Kay" Anton replied as he did as he was told.
"Using this magic seal, you can be summoned." The crimson haired teen explained. "So... do you remember the post-arrival procedure?" She asked.
"Form pact, grant wish, get paid." Anton counted each step on his fingers.
"That works, I suppose." Rias sighed. "Take care."
The magic circle began to glow and the light gradually consumed Anton, the teen felt a shift in his body. The teen assumed the summoning had worked and gave his greeting.
"Hello! Thank you for summoning me today! What can I help with...?" Anton trailed off as he realised he was still in the Occult Research clubroom. He received concerned stares from three of his fellow Devils; Koneko just gave him a blank look.
"It seems that you, unfortunately, cannot make the jump." Rias informed Anton. "You should have enough magic power, so why didn't it work?" The president pondered.
"Who knows?" The silver haired teen shrugged. "So how am I going to get there now?" He asked.
"You'll have to go on foot." Rias sighed.
"What Devil arrives at a summoning on foot?" Anton asked in disbelief. He wasn't amused when Koneko pointed at him. "Fine." He grumbled as he left.
The room was quiet for a few seconds.
"Who would have thought that he would give such a cheery greeting when summoned?" Akeno said, stifling a laugh as she remembered the scene.
Anton was nearing his destination and was still grumbling about how he would seem suspicious by visiting a person's home and saying he's the devil they summoned. The teen found himself standing before an apartment complex, he walked up the stairs to the second floor and looked at each nameplate. His destination was the apartment at the end of the block it seemed. Anton stood outside the door, ready for whatever was about to happen.
'Please don't be a creep, please don't be a creep, please don't be a creep.' He prayed in his head as he knocked on the door. "Good evening! I'm the devil you summoned!" Anton called out in his best attempt to sound cheery; he was anything but right now.
The teen waited a few seconds; the door opened just a crack. Anton found himself being stared at by a ruby red eye.
"You're a Devil?" A feminine voice asked, it sounded judgemental.
"Yes." Anton answered bluntly.
The door swung open and Anton found himself being yanked into the apartment. He quickly surveyed the apartment; it looked like every other small apartment in Japan. The boy turned around to finally meet his contractor face-to-face.
She was a woman, a very beautiful one at that. She was wearing a light brown business suit and skirt with a soft pink dress shirt, the black stockings didn't go unnoticed. Anton noted the beer cans that were lying around, then he noticed the light blush on the woman's face. She was drunk. This would be problematic, or headache inducing. Probably both.
The woman brushed some of her jet black hair away from her face, to no avail, as she examined Anton. "You'll do." She stated. The Devil didn't like that statement, it meant too many things.
Anton looked at the clock on the wall. It had been four hours since he arrived and the woman hadn't stopped rambling on about her problems. Anton was glad he didn't have to do anything annoying... or illegal, but four hours of one person's problems was getting boring.
"...And don't even get me started on my boss." Sachiko Ebihara, as Anton learned her name was, continued with her drunken ramblings. "He's always finding any excuse to dump his work on me, and what does he do when my back's turned? He stares at me with a lecherous look in his eyes! And to make things worse..." Sachiko kept running her mouth.
'KILL. ME.' The teenage Devil thought as he forced a supportive smile while seething on the inside. He didn't mind listening to other people's problems, he'd even help them to the best of his abilities, but this was getting ridiculous.
'She didn't even sign the form!' Anton's face found solace in his hands. After last night, where he had to go sleepless, he wanted nothing more than some time to himself. But school would begin soon, so he would have to struggle through the day. And get scolded by Rias and probably have to go back to Sachiko's apartment and listen to her ramble again and... he already felt like dying again.
"Ahh!" A voice screeched and a thud sounded soon after. Anton looked over at the source and immediately looked away.
'You saw nothing Anton Kurushima. YOU. SAW. NOTHING.' The silver haired devil thought, trying to clear the panty shot he was treated to from his mind. He looked back over at the girl and noted the clothes she was wearing. "A Nun." He whispered to himself.
"Oww, how did I trip?" The Nun asked herself.
"Hey. You okay?" Anton asked as he knelt in front of the girl, he offered her a hand and she took it. Anton pulled her to her feet. "I think this is yours." Anton said as he passed the nun her headdress that had fallen off from her fall, she took the headdress and put it back on.
"Thank you very much." The blonde Nun thanked with an almost blinding smile.
The Devil felt his heart skip a beat. Why had that smile provoked a reaction? How had this girl's smile instantly made him want to smile in turn?
"Umm... Is something the matter?" The Nun's voice snapped Anton back to reality. She looked at the boy in front of her in concern, before realising the state her luggage was in. That state being spread about the ground next to the suitcase it should have been in. The girl immediately started placing her clothes back into the suitcase.
"Let me help you with that." Anton offered nervously, picking up a few pieced of the Nun's clothing and handing them to her. It wasn't much longer before everything was back where it was supposed to be.
"Thank you for helping me." The blonde thanked as she stood up, Anton smiled at her as he stood up.
"No problem. Though if it's alright to ask... Are you on a trip or something?" The Devil let his curiosity get the better of him; luckily the answer wouldn't be detrimental to him at all... Or so he told himself since he was a Devil fraternising with a Nun.
"No, I've been transferred to the church in this town and was making my way there... but I got lost." The girl admitted. "And since I can't speak Japanese very well I've had a difficult time getting directions." She added. Anton remembered the Language ability Devils had and felt somewhat grateful for it.
"Well I happen to know where the church is. I can show you the way if you'd like?" The cobalt eyed teen offered with a small smile. Talking to this girl relaxed him for some reason.
"Really!? Surely this is guidance from the Lord himself." The Nun held out a cross as she offered a prayer in thanks.
Anton looked at the cross, a tingling feeling running through his body as he did. He clenched his hands into fists so tightly that he almost drew blood. 'God, huh? Right... they wouldn't know.' A pang of guilt hit the teen as he relaxed his hands.
"Shall we get going then?" The silver haired teen asked weakly as he pointed in the direction the pair would be heading.
"Uwaaaaah!" A cry resounded from nearby. The Devil and Nun turned to see a young boy crying over a scraped knee. The Nun hurried over to the boy and knelt in front of him.
'Humans...' Anton thought absentmindedly. 'So fragile and always complaining over the smallest of wounds. Of course, that's why their protected isn't it.' The teen was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed a green light emanating from the Nun's hands. 'Twilight Healing... this girl has it?'
"There, it's all better now right?" The Nun gave the child a comforting smile. Shortly after, the boy's mother arrived.
'A Nun receiving a Sacred Gear. And Twilight Healing out of all of them. Why were you transferred here of all places?' The suspender wearing student let his thoughts get away from him, until he heard a particular sentence.
"You shouldn't hang around weird people, they'll be a bad influence. Come on lets go." The mother demanded as she sent a disgusted glare towards the girl, then she pulled her son along behind her.
"Listen here you-" The Devil was cut off when the blonde Nun grabbed his arm and told him that it was fine. He let out a sigh before inquiring. "You didn't understand her right?"
"No, but those eyes... they're always the same." The girl looked down dejectedly.
"Thank you big sis!" The boy from before called back, the Nun looked up at the boy.
"He thanked you." Anton translated as he smiled at the display of good manners. The Nun waved at the boy as he was dragged off by his mother. "But what was with that lady. All you did was help her kid." The teen grumbled.
"People are usually uncomfortable around me. Besides, I'm used to reactions like that..." The blonde admitted.
"Well you shouldn't be." The words left Anton's mouth immediately as he began walking past the girl. "But that power..." He trailed off, hoping the Nun would answer the unspoken question.
"It's a healing power. Truly a miracle given to me by God." The Nun answered.
The silver haired teen clenched his hands into fists again, releasing them as he took a deep breath. "Let's go..." He said as he picked up the Nun's suitcase.
"This is it. Thank goodness!" The Nun beamed upon approaching the church.
Anton felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him as he looked at the building in front of him. How long had it been since he last visited a church? Years, far too many years. He had lost his right to visit such a sacred place, but old habits die hard. Harder when you're born with them as part of your reason for living.
'I doubt I even have a cross anymore.' The teen remembered. "Well, this is where we part ways." He turned to leave but...
"Please wait." The Nun pleaded as she latched onto his arm. "As thanks for bringing me here, at least let me treat you to some tea." The girl offered.
"Sorry, but I need to get to school." The male informed her. "But we can meet again if you'd like. I'm Anton Kurushima, but you can call me Anton." He introduced himself with a warm smile.
"I'm Asia Argento! Please call me Asia." Asia introduced herself in kind.
"See you later Sister Asia." Anton waved as he left.
"Yes! Let's definitely meet again!" Asia promised the retreating boy.
"You must never go near a church again!" Rias declared to an apathetic Anton. "I've told you that churches are considered enemy territory. Just by setting foot on its grounds you could start a war between the Angels and Devils."She explained. "Do you want another spear of light to come flying at you?"
"I think I've had enough of those already..." The silver haired teen mumbled as he placed a hand over his abdomen, a mixture of feelings bubbling inside of him at just the thought of another spear of light being used on him.
"You should also stay away from anyone that's affiliated with the church. Especially Exorcists, they're our worst enemies. Because of the blessings they've received from God, they have enough power to reduce a Devil to nothing. They can't come back." The president elaborated, emphasising her warning at the end.
"I get it." Was the restrained response from the newest addition to the Gremory peerage, clenching his hands into fists yet again.
"Sorry, I got a little too worked up." Rias apologised. "In any case, do be more careful next time."
Anton didn't give a response as he turned around and headed to the other side of the room, trying to calm himself down after certain thoughts had entered his head during the lecture. The boy hated remembering his past, there was too much of it that he'd like to forget. Yet at the same time, there was so many memories that he treasured. Talking about the church had brought up more of the former than the latter.
"Ara? Is the lecture over already?" Akeno asked with a smile.
"What is it, Akeno?" The crimson haired Devil questioned.
"We have been given request from an Arch-Duke." The Queen informed.
It was night-time when Rias and her peerage reached the targets location. They were after a Stray Devil named Visor, apparently she had betrayed her master and begun acting independently. As per the Devils rules the Stray needed to be taken down immediately now that she had been located. Especially since she had been devouring humans every night.
'So we're putting down a wild mutt.' Anton smirked internally as he stood with his arms crossed.
"I smell blood." Koneko informed the other Devils as they approached the door to the building. Anton sent a questioning look her way. How could she smell the blood already? The newest Devils attention was brought back to the building as Rias pushed the doors, said doors groaning as they opened.
As soon as they stepped inside, the silver haired Devil caught a whiff of the very same smell that his kouhai had mentioned previously. The stench was overbearing, it permeated every corner of the building. One part of Anton's subconscious wanted to gag or at the very least cover his nose and mouth, another part wanted to laugh like a madman. Instead he just stood there, unsure of how to react. The teen closed his eyes and shook his head, a grunt escaping his throat as he developed a small headache.
"...So we'll use this as a chance to get you used to Devil battles, okay?" Rias finished explaining something, Anton hadn't even registered that she had been speaking.
"Uh, yeah." Anton nodded as he recomposed himself. So far, this day had given him constant reminders to memories he preferred to repress. He hoped this job wouldn't take too long.
"Then we'll start with the traits of each servant." Rias decided. "Are you familiar with chess?" She asked.
"It's been a while since I last played, but I remember the rules and what the pieces do." Anton answered honestly, though he was curious as to where the conversation was going while they checked each room of the building.
"Good, that makes explaining easier then." The crimson haired beauty commented before moving on. "Do you remember when I explained The Great War?" Rias questioned her newest servant.
"It was a three-way struggle between the Angels, Fallen and Devils. There was no clear winner as all three factions lost significant portions of their forces. The Devils took a considerable blow since they lost many Purebloods and became unable to lead their troops." The cobalt eyed teen recited the most relevant information he was given on the subject.
"Excellent, you have a good memory." Rias praised. "This lead to the birth of the Evil Piece system." She added. "The Evil Piece system is similar to chess. There's one King, one Queen, two Knights, two Rooks, two Bishops and eight Pawns, each piece has its own traits." Rias paused as she checked to make sure Anton was following along, he motioned for her to continue with an attentive look on his face.
"Similarly, by granting a piece to a servant they take on the traits of that piece. This gives the Purebloods a way to demonstrate their strength, even if their numbers are few." Rias finished explaining before moving straight onto the next part. "This has since led to the rise of Rating Games, fights between the Evil Pieces of a peerage. Rating Games are especially popular among Houses since they can decide your rank." The Club President finished her explanation and gave another quick look over to Anton who seemed to be thinking about something.
Rating Games were worthless.
That was the conclusion Anton had drawn from what he had been told. What was the point in proving the strength of one group of people compared to another? Such things only ever led to more conflict, it couldn't possibly be an effective system.
Knowing he was probably in the minority with that mindset, Anton decided to keep his opinion to himself. Deciding to ask a simple question instead.
"What piece am I?"
"Oh! You're..." Rias trailed off as she focused on something within the room she had just entered. "It's here." She stated as she glared into the abyss like darkness of the room.
The stench of blood grew stronger as something moved about in the darkness. The smell only served to make Anton's headache worse, he had to resist grasping his head as a spark of pain flared for a second. Whatever was in that room needed to die so he could get to his bed and rest for the evening.
"Stray Devil Visor, we're here to exterminate you!" Rias called into the void.
There was a second of nothing before something shot towards the group. It was a corpse, the top half of a corpse. Fresh blood seeped out from the tear in the body. The sickening smell once again reached Anton's nose and furthered his headache. It was really starting to piss him off.
Anton's attention was diverted from the corpse and to the figure that emerged from within the darkness. It was tall and hideous... and nude, with the lower half of a beast and two lances in her hands. Oh, yeah. It was definitely a her, it had breasts.
"Smells good." Visor drawled. "I wonder if your flesh will be as red as your hair." The Stray mused. "I wanna eat you up."
"That line's wasted coming from a small-fry like you." Rias taunted.
"Why you!" Visor shouted as she thrust one of her lances forward.
"Yuuto!" Rias ordered.
"On it!" The blonde boy replied as he leapt into action.
"Let's continue the lecture." Rias stated as the group watched Yuuto dodge an attack from Visor. "Yuuto's a Knight and a Knight's main trait is speed." She explained to Anton as Yuuto dodged one of the lances again. "And Yuuto's greatest weapon is..." As Rias continued her explanation, Yuuto stood still as Visor swung one of her lances at him. The attack passed straight through him, but there was no blood. And Anton understood why when he noticed Yuuto in the air while the other Yuuto, his afterimage, disappeared, the blonde boy was now wielding two swords.
"...Thanks to his blinding speed and expertise in swordplay, he can deliver high-speed sword attacks." Rias finished explaining as Yuuto cut off both of Visor's arms, the Stray howled in pain.
"You little pest!" Visor screamed as she went to slam one of her paws down on Yuuto as he landed, Koneko jumped in and pushed the Knight out of the way as the paw came down on her and kicked up a dust cloud.
Anton got ready to join the fray himself as he summoned his Sacred Gear, though he dismissed it as Rias put her arm out in front of him and shook her head. Looking back to the fight as the dust cleared, the silver haired Devil did a double take when he realised that Koneko was holding the paw still, without struggle, above her.
'Right, she's the Rook no doubt about it now.' Anton confirmed for himself as he thought back to the boxes of fliers she had carried the other day.
"Don't worry, Koneko is my Rook. And a Rook's traits are..." Rias began explaining as Koneko pushed the paw back, only to get smacked away by Visor's tail. "...Abnormal strength and defense." The President finished her explanation on the Rook as Koneko crashed into the wall and proceeded to get up as if nothing had happened.
Koneko then launched herself at the stomach of the beast half of Visor, her fist sank in before sending Visor flying across the room. The white haired girl landed as the Stray Devil crashed through the wall and into the next room over.
Anton just stared at Koneko in shock.
'It just doesn't look right that a shrimp like her has that much strength. And yet somehow it does.' He felt conflicted between being amazed and calling bullshit. The boy flinched slightly when Koneko suddenly glared at him as if he had vocalised the shrimp comment. 'Note to self: Don't talk about Koneko's height.
"How could this happen... they're just brats." Visor told herself as she lay on her back in the middle of all the rubble.
"And finally, Akeno." Rias said as she turned to her friend.
"Ufufu. How should I go about this?" Akeno wondered with a cheerful smile on her face as she approached the Stray Devil with her hands pressed together.
"Akeno is my Queen." Rias stated as Akeno stopped a short distance in front of Visor.
"You will regret this." Visor warned in a weak voice as Akeno looked down on her.
"Ara? It seems you still have willpower left." The Vice-President noted. "I wonder how long it will take to break it?" Akeno questioned as she raised her hand, lightning crackling around it before it focused on Visor and came crashing down as a singular bolt.
"Pawns, Knights, Bishops and Rooks. Our unrivalled Vice-President combines their power." Rias explained as Akeno continued her onslaught of magic.
"Oh my! You're still alive? I wonder for how much longer though?" Akeno asked as she squirmed slightly.
"I'm feeling two very conflicting feelings right now." Anton whispered to himself as he looked away for a second and rubbed his hand over the lower half of his face.
"What makes Akeno truly threatening though..." Rias began to add as Akeno licked her lips before preparing another lightning spell. "...Is that she's the ultimate sadist."
"Don't worry though, Akeno-senpai is very kind to her allies." Yuuto told Anton reassuringly. Anton looked at Yuuto for a second, then looked over at Akeno as she continued her magic assault on the Stray Devil.
"That tells me otherwise!" Anton exclaimed as he pointed to the display of power in front of him, worried for his life that that might one day be turned on him.
"That was refreshing." Akeno stated as she approached the others, Anton stiffened somewhat as he turned to face her with a shaky smile. "I thought I'd leave the final blow to you President."
"Any last words?" Rias asked the Stray Devil as she approached it.
"Kill me." Visor pleaded in a defeated tone.
"Very well then." Rias nodded as a ball of crimson demonic energy formed in her hand. "Vanish." She demanded as she unleashed the ball of power on Visor, consuming the Stray and leaving nothing of it behind.
'She destroyed it that easily... she could have done this by herself.' Anton realised. 'They're all so strong.' He thought as he looked over the Occult Research Club. 'Perfect.'
"Good work, everyone." Rias praised the others that took part in subjugating the Stray Devil.
"Um, Pres?" Anton called out to get Rias' attention. "You never answered my question from earlier. Which piece am I?" He asked again.
"Right. Anton, you're a Pawn." Rias told the latest addition to her peerage.
"So I'm the strongest?" The silver haired teen mumbled to himself.
"Anyway, let's get going. We still have school tomorrow after all." Rias reminded her peerage.
And with that, they left the building and returned to their respective homes.
As Anton laid down on his bed he stared at the red gauntlet on his left arm.
"Will you wake up already, I have so much I need to discuss with you." He told the green gem that rested on the back of his hand. The teen dismissed the gauntlet and closed his eyes as he drifted off to sleep.
"Be careful what you wish for."