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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Chapter 48: Realization, Fragmentation

Kuroka considered herself particularly relaxed until she walked to the living room's table that morning.

She had been quite responsible with the two young girls, keeping them from straying from the walk to the nearest restaurant, sadly a mediocre pick but one that had some affordable prices for food of various kind.

The return back to the house was uneventful, both Kunou and Shirone too tired from 'trying to explore' around much to the older Nekoshou's relief as she was starting to feel sluggish herself.

It was a late hour and the young woman certainly didn't need to face any particular issue right in that exact moment, thus once she had both girls dropped by the kitsune's room, she went swiftly to her room. It was initially set as a guest room, but some quick action saw it turning in a decent nest for the time being.

The dark-haired girl found sleep rather easily, the carefree tone of their current situation somewhat sleep-inducing if not sedating for her quirky personality.

It was a curious change, one that she didn't certainly like because of how slow things were going and how she felt aimless about the whole predicament, but not overly-annoying nor limiting for her needs.

Sure, Kuroka now had to accept the fact she couldn't spar with Akua just as few days earlier and even the vampire mentioned the fact she would be 'missing' fighting her, but it wasn't something anyone could do much about it.

At least she use this time to rest just a little and maybe get closer a little more with her little sister. Things weren't as bleak as they initially appeared.

At least that was the case until the unexpected wave of dread hit her fully.

Her keen cat-like senses were more than deafened by the immediate sense of fear she felt the moment she properly sat by the table. The young woman paled, eyes going wide as she felt her cat ears twitch in attention.

A quick look around the table was enough to discern the culprit of such a terrifying deed. Hoitsu's eyes were narrowed at the Nekoshou, a powerful glare that sent some cold chills down her spine.

She blinked, surprise painted in her face as the young man seemed quite angry at her.

Certainly not something she was aware of, or she wouldn't have trifled with a simple breakfast approach if she knew… what was going on.

"Kuroka." His voice was calm, terribly calm. Like the prelude of a mighty storm.

"Yes?" The young woman managed to catch herself from stuttering.

There was a brief pause, everyone at the table seemed to notice that something was off with the owner of the house… all except Akeno.

Speaking of the young girl that spent the whole night with Hoitsu, Kuroka was surprised by the somber glance she was given by the Himejima. She looked strangely… 'smaller' than usual.

Such an odd detail, the Nekoshou knowing full well, just like everyone else having the chance of endear such an individual, that Baraqiel's daughter was all but frail in a normal instance.

So… what was going on?

"Do you have anything to say… about yesterday?"

...And she was lost.

She didn't certainly forward any ambitious plan the day before, her full attention was 'selfishly' put on the two girls she was responsible for during their visit at the restaurant.

Did she give off anything that could be taken badly by both of them?

No, it had to be something… bigger. Her cogs were spinning but nothing was coming up at her right now.

"If I say that I honestly know nothing about what you are alluding to, are you going to get angrier or-"

His glare deepened. Yep, something did happen it would seem…

"There was a magical seal in the ceiling above my bed. Do you perhaps know anyone capable of concocting a Youjustu-based spell that causes some… lewd events in dreams."

Akeno flinched, Issei and Asia froze and finally gave attention to the matter by the way their eyes widened at the same time, Xenovia looked confused but interested altogether, Irina was merely listening to the situation in silence and…

Two young, but possibly incredibly guilty girls were fidgeting nervously, showing some hints of surprise and embarrassment.

And while the two unfortunate victims of what just happened were unaware of that development, Kuroka had her eyes already trained at the duo.

"Kuroka-" Hoitsu tried to bring her attention back to the subject, but the Nekoshou decided to intervene.

"I may or may not have taught some Youjutsu to Shirone-chan." The dark-haired woman's tone was calm, blank… slightly hopeful that it wasn't the case, that she was just being mistaken. "And I reckon a 'Dream Shifter' spell is pretty easy for someone starting with Yokai Arts."

The comments weren't lost and soon the two girls were turned in the subjects of everyone's attention.

"Ku-chan." There was a tense tone, gone was the anger... or at least subsided by how things had shifted to another different situation.

While the evidence until now could easily point at the dark-haired cat-girl, she wasn't certainly going to mess up things so easily. Admittedly, that plan could have been a good plan… for anyone that wasn't Hoitsu.

But to think that rule-stickler Shirone and Kunou would be responsible for that annoying circumstance? The Nekoshou was sure that it would explain the weird nervousness both girls sported the day before.

And yet, as the two sweated nervously at how things turned on them, something akin to a protective sense swelled within Shirone's older sister.

For now staying her hand was the best decision, but if she caught anything… unpleasant about the punishment then she would merrily help her Imouto.

It was Kunou that snapped first. "I-I thought it would just give you good dreams. Romantic dreams." The kitsune corrected herself quickly, her partner-in-crime having her eyes going wide as the blonde shouldered the blame. "Ko-senpai mentioned about this spell a-and I thought it would have been a nice thing to do. A gift and-"

"I'm the one that messed up the spell." The silver-haired girl interrupted, her tone like steel as she didn't pause even an inch. "Ku-kohai's intent was legitimately good, I should be punished for causing this harassment-"

"No, I-" The kitsune tried to interrupt only to receive a stern look from her surrogate brother.

"You both are getting punished." Hoitsu declared calmly and resolutely. "Since you two were evenly splitting the fault, you shall both deal with a proper punishment."

He blinked glancing at Akeno. "And I think I've the thing that could work." His smile promised much, but of course nothing too light for the two girls.

"Akeno-chan, are you free today?"

The Himejima blinked in surprise at the sudden question, eyes wide open, but she then frowned.

"I have to visit Gasper before lunch, but I should be free after that..." She blinked. "Can I ask you what are you planning?"

His eyes slowly turned at the two panicking young girls. "Well, there is this section of the house that requires some cleaning and I've been planning for a while now to work on it- but since this situation happened, I thought why not have this two willing hard-workers dealing with the task?"

"N-Niichan, surely that is too much-"

"The seal was siphoning natural energy from the area it was placed." He interjected calmly, both Kuroka's and Koneko's eyes widening before the eldest frowned at the youngest, Koneko now sporting a mortified look.

"If Akeno and I didn't break from the spell in time, we would have woken up with the weakened ceiling that could as well collapsed on us." The young man finished.

"W-What?" Irina was the one to express the utter confusion she shared with Xenovia.

"I-I might not know how Magic works, but that sounds… wrong?"

"It's actually a simple misconception." Asia muttered quietly, cheeks reddening as the Exorcists (ex-Exorcist for Xenovia's case) looked at her for an explanation. "People that aren't much knowing of Magical Arts are prone to believe that a draining Magic Seal absorbs unused energy first rather than focusing in complex figures, either organic as living beings or inorganic as furniture and… the ceiling in Hoitsu-nii's bedroom."

"It's actually the opposite." Issei helped up much to the former nun's relief. "Seals prioritize large energetic concentrations than simple units."

"Thus rendering life-threatening this whole ordeal if the two hadn't woken up in time." Kuroka added, eyes lecturing quietly her sister, a strong scene from someone that is known to go easy on the silver-haired girl. "This punishment… is a fine price in my opinion."

"Good." Hoitsu nodded. "Akeno-san, you will be left to monitor those two after lunch. Their task will be to clean up the left-side of the first floor."

The Himejima blinked, yet one could easily see something snapping within her soul. "I-I have to monitor them." Her voice was unsure, but not of the requirements of the task. No, Kuroka was certain the issue was elsewhere.

"Just punish them if they are really misbehaving and with some moderation in those occasions." Her smile widened even at the limitations imposed on her 'power', the girl nodding happily.

"I-I will make sure they complete their work without any issues."

Kunou and Koneko shivered in dread at the fact they have been assigned… possibly the worst warden. And not only was Akeno going to have some capacity in punishing them if they tried to ditch the punishment, but she was also one of the very victims of this occasion.

Their fate was sealed!

Just as the breakfast came to a close, the 'worst' for now over, Hoitsu turned to stare at Kuroka once more.

"By the way, Kuroka, I would need an experienced Magic user to help me with the lesson with Xenovia and Irina-"

"An apology." The young woman interrupted with a small smile.

The teen sighed. "I'm sorry for doubting your innocence, Kuroka-sama- Uh? What?"

He stopped the moment the dark-haired Nekoshou started to shake her head in disappointment.

"'Kuroka-chan'." She corrected the young man with a mirthful smile.

… He sighed.

"I'm sorry for doubting your innocence, Kuroka-chan."

"See? It's not difficult." She said, pulling out from one of the pockets in her kimono a small phone. "And that is going to my little treasury."

Hoitsu facepalmed. "You got to be kidding me..."

She giggled but nodded. "I will be your second teacher for those two rookies over there." Her smile widened, sending some chills to both sword-wielding specialists. "It's going to be a unique experience, that's for sure!"

Regret was easy to perceive in the gloomy bunch of emotions that could be used to define how wrong I've been in having Kuroka to help me up with this lesson.

We should have seen that once coming.

Seriously? We are talking of a very old movie-

A classic! A classic is never too old, you fool!

Despite having promised Xenovia that the training was going to be based on improving social skills, I also got from her the promise of having her improve with her magic. I could perceive her reserves and, compared to Irina at least, the blue-haired girl needed to get her magical core expanded at once.

The abandoned baseball camp nearby home was the best place to hone the usage of magic, the perfect place to meditate and-

"Listen up, you two cute morons." The Nekoshou barked with a stern tone. "Today shall be the first day of your new life. A life of hardships, of growth and most of important of them all, a life away from the inadequacies of being a moron!"

The young woman stood right in front of the brunette. "Let's start with you, lovely one. What's your name?"

Irina was shivering a little at the tone, panicking at the sudden question but mumbling something out. "I-Irina- I-I mean, I-Irina Shirou, M-Ma'am."

"Slow, you are going to be Meek Snail until this day is over!" The Nekoshou proclaimed leaving no room for protest.

The newly-named 'Meek Snail' deflated at the nickname but Kuroka seemed far from over with her act.

Xenovia tensed up as it was her turn.

"Oh? Do we have ourselves a Tough Cookie? I think that name fits well, what do you think, Tough Cookie!?" I almost facepalmed, the perverted remix of Sergeant Hartman's acting style wasn't lost to me. Full Metal Jacket is now ruined for me-

"Cookies are delicious and I'm tough, Kuroka-sensei!" The former exorcist replied with the same energy shown by the 'instructor', causing the young woman to grin happily.

"Good! Then I suppose you will be able to deal with simple 'Strings', aren't you?"

Xenovia barely managed to move quickly enough to catch the flying book mid-air and I glanced at it with some curiosity- Wait, isn't that-

"Indeed, Hokkun, that is your first book about magic." The Nekoshou nodded my way, never once losing her momentum. "She is your student- well, both unofficially are, but they might need some help by following their teacher's steps."

...That's actually considerate of her. That book DO help early on.

We would have risked some unnecessary explosion without it.

I guess we were- Wait, 'Hokkun'?!

"Hokkun, Kuroka-"

"Also remember that I will give two chocolate cookies to the one who manage to get Hokkun all tied up." The young woman happily set this challenge, causing Xenovia to look confused at the reward while… Irina rushed through the book, almost tearing some of its pages in the process.

I think I was sold for… two cookies?

Chocolate ones are delicious.

And… Irina is the one going for it? Why?!

I blinked back to reality, just in time to dodge a… Silver Lining coming from the brunette.

The girl was sporting a child-like smile, calmly advancing towards me. "Hoitsu-san, I need those cookies."

That's the worst reason to attack someone-

I ducked and avoided two more strings, Irina now rushing towards me with abnormal determination for the reward promised. "Hoitsu-san!"

Without hesitation, I spun around and proceeded for my merry way. "Nigerundayo!"

I've to admit that the girl proved to have some insane drive behind her actions, a devotion second only to a bunch of people as she managed to keep up for a good twenty minutes of intense chase before I managed to lose her in some of the town's corners.

Fierce but also utterly mad for… goddamn cookies.

A cookie-monster! What are the chances?!

I decided to sit down, having taken refuge in the roof of one of the few small buildings around Kuoh, trying to get a grasp over my current plans.

Tomorrow was going to be a big day. Monday was going to be filled with getting the new headquarters operative in Kuoh Town, having to meet up with Azazel to discuss the cooperation with the Four Satans and-

And…

AND!

My eyes widened, blood draining from my face as I saw him, staring from afar but… his eyes were on me!

T-This is not happening! Not again!

'H-His power! What is he?!'

This is so bad! We need to move before he-

"So I was right back then." The cloaked figure smiled as his cloak parted to reveal an infinite numbers of wings. "Not-Helel!"

He soared majestically, like a powerful comet-

Two weeks before Chapter 1…

Another day at school, another day spent dealing with Issei and preparing him a little to face the approaching storm.

He was far from his initial perverted self, having mollified a little after some 'good incentives' from my part. The Council's duties were easy to manage and the part-time jobs weren't terrible to deal just after school.

I yawned, my eyes half-closed as I was ready to hit the day and catch some rest for the following day.

Sleep, school and maybe some training for tomorrow.

I nodded, I needed some extra-time to fully refine Silver Linings, but I felt more and more close to reach some breakthrough. I needed some… more practice, yes.

And while the 'support' spell was going to require more attentions, I was proud of the fact I could perceive some energies pattern already. Nothing too precise, just enough to catch big ones like… Rias, Akeno and most of the Devils at Kuoh Academy.

There was nothing that hinted at Fallen Angels, either because they weren't in Kuoh Town or because they knew how to hide their patterns… which would make my life rather difficult.

I sighed, pushing away those troublesome thoughts for later, when my mind wasn't as tired and spent as it was now at least. But just as I turned the core, I felt a sudden wave of cold wash over me.

Ba-dump.

A heartbeat?

I felt it just once, a moment that was drowned by… utter silence.

I blinked, stopping for a moment while looking around with some confusion and… caution.

I was fairly sure that there had been some people around there just as I was turning the corner and yet this part of the city felt… empty.

No, it wasn't just that part of the city. I-It was the whole Kuoh Town!

I couldn't feel anyone, not Rias, not Sona and…

My eyes fell at the cloaked figure calmly walking from the opposite direction I was going. His face was… covered by shadows?

It wasn't an effect created by the cloak, it was literally shadows covering his identity.

I stood my ground, tensing up as I felt no ill intent from the figure, nor any energy.

I-It was like I was staring at nothing!

"W-Who are you?!" I yelled at him, I was graced with more silence as he continued forward, uncaring of my aggressive tone.

Then he suddenly stopped and… the world started to move quicker than before.

I blinked, my mind realizing several instants later that I've crashed onto some building's wall, pain surging just after realizing I was attacked. My leg, it was bent all to the left, my bones shattered.

It went limp, completely limp. I screamed, my first pain in this world was excruciating.

It was burning but also cold, scorching and freezing.

My surviving back wobbled before I fell on the ground, finally noticing that this wasn't the same cemented side-walk. It was… dirt.

I blinked staring up and… noticing some trees. I was… in a forest. Staring deeper at the path in front of me I saw… a distant city.

Very distant, I would say… 20 kilometers at best-

No.

Nonono.

My arms were trembling, but the adrenaline was finally beginning to assuage the pain, just enough for me to slowly get up from the floor and… stare at the clearing all around me.

I turned to look behind and yelped at the sudden appearance of the cloaked figure. He didn't say anything at first, not even as I fell frightened on the floor once more, this time a silver string forming in my hand.

I was in pain, my Magical Core burning in desperation as the arm holding the string was reinforced, the strong pull tearing off the ground the slim tree and sending it flying against the monster in front of me.

He didn't move, letting the trunk shatter as it impacted on his waiting fist.

I blinked, hopelessness reigning as he crouched, silently touching my mashed leg while sighing.

"Not enough?" He questioned softly, drawing just a confused frown by me as I felt my body's fatigue removed and my leg's pain slowly forgotten as it started to recompose itself back.

My magical energy was restored too and… I wasn't able to formulate anything at this insanity happening with me at the center of it.

I should be feeling something around me, yet I could see nor hear any of the animals of this forest.

Everything… was too silent.

"Again." A quick signal, I brought my arms up to guard just in time as I felt flying again, this time my brain accustomed to this surreal predicament. Instinctively, I reinforced my whole body, straining once more my Core as I crashed onto something.

Metal gave away as I found myself thrown inside an empty… factory? I would say a steel-focused one by the absurd number of steel beams lying unused all around.

I merely glimpsed at the large hole that my body created, the brief sight of a blur approaching was enough to get me to act quickly.

Hundreds of Silver Linings formed, my mind overriding the aches of my Magical core as every single steel beam was now a weapon to use against this monster.

He was almost there, I could see him coming and- The strings pulled the steel at an unforgiving speed, all towards the incoming fiend.

He didn't move away from the dangerous objects flying towards him, merely slamming into those and bending them with his body. I was breathing raggedly, my eyes wide open at my attacker.

"W-What are you? W-Why are you doin-"

I was sent flying at the sound of words that felt like 'Not enough'.

This time my new destination wasn't a building or a natural place, but… I was dunked in some water.

It was salty, my hands were by my mouth and nose as I felt panic rising the more this madness unfolded. I- Kuoh isn't nowhere near the sea a-and I was so deep in that… that ocean.

My mind might have lost faith in my survival, but one thing I was noticed the more this 'fight' continued.

Everything… Everything was dead!

There were no animals, no people-

It was a sick game between this being and me.

But why me of all people? Thi-This wasn't normal, even for a Self-Insert!

I blinked, my eyes burning at the salty water and I had trouble keeping myself from letting go of the limited air I had when I found myself staring at the shadowed face.

NOT ENOUGH!

A powerful command, I didn't react much as he took me by my neck and lifted me up.

I was drenched and the chilling wind that only one sent up above the clouds could feel was… not good for my poor body.

I sneezed, I was freezing up and then… I noticed that I wasn't free-falling to my death.

He was there once more, in front of me. There were… so many wings.

It was beyond a hundred. All of those… feeling familiar somehow.

"Helel." The figure finally spoke. "You… promised."

He started to fly closer. "Y-You promised that to me."

I was panicking once again, this wasn't alright. THIS WASN'T NORMAL!

He paused, his posture assuming some confused tone.

"He is not him."

"He is him."

"He has to be him! He is the only one that could be him!"

"Maybe, but he is not~!"

"Liar. He is him."

...Was he talking to himself? His lips moved, but the voices were three different ones.

"Ask him then!"

"I will ask him."

"Yes! Ask him!"

Oh for fuck's sake, couldn't I just be left alone?

"Helel?"

… "W-What?" My throat was hurting a little. The issue of dealing with being for a while under the sea for Gods' know how many meters deep.

"You are Helel? You are Helel."

He sounded… insecure?

"I-I'm not… Helel."

L-Let me go!

He paused, so noise, no sound… nothing. He was stuck there, waiting for something and then… he nodded.

"Not… Helel." He said slowly, his lips testing the two words. "You are Not-Helel."

...What the fu-

GAH!

A sudden sharp pain hit my head, I felt my mind exploding in utter fire and soon I was free-falling to my death.

Blood poured out of my lips, drops of it flying out in a parallel pattern as my body as I slowly felt my consciousness sleep.

Was this… the end?

I coughed, I couldn't properly think and… soon my eyes closed as I waited for my last breath to come-

"I will see you later, Non-Helel."

White engulfed me and…

BZZZZZZZZZZT!

I jumped in surprise, the sound of the alarm causing me to fall off the bed and…

…

W-What just happened?

I slowly got off from the floor, a small headache still incapacitating me from making full thoughts and…

Uh…

Why I couldn't… remember what just happened?

I felt like it was important, it was important, but I couldn't pinpoint what…

Oh shit.

I stared at the clock and swore under my breath at the late hour I did end up waking up to. I was going to be late for school and… Sona was going to bring more paperwork in.

Whatever just happened, it had to wait. If something like that just eluded my remembrance, it shouldn't be anything that much important…

Right?

AN

Nightmare fuel much? Eh, tried to bring the worst out of our newest Villain.

Some extra explanation will be given in the next chapters, there is a lot of complex details to give and Azrael is… not even the 'main' antagonist of this story.

Brace yourself! Things are going to get pretty crazy over here!

Future milestone 1: 820 Followers and Favorites.

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

People with pitchforks and torches against Kuroka: You just activated my trap card! (and it ain't Gasper!)

Guest (Chapter 47): I know, been having some RL issues and… something will happen this Monday, I promise.

Illusion of Time: I'm trying to juggle stuff up, I'm sorry if things seem quite frail (explanations and MC's backstory), those will be majorly improved in this Volume as I do intend explore… everything now. Volume 3 was a build-up and Volume 4 is the proper consolidation.

Kirosyamcha: Asia was pretty naive and without anyone, so help was taken when granted. Issei crushed on Asia since day one (this is actually canon). Issei's parents are just like that, it is never explained how they just roll with some stuff… but they do. The reason they didn't need any mind magic was because they weren't 'forced' to take her in, they were helpful because Asia was both a good person to help with the chores and also a good deterrent for Issei against pervy stuff. This last reason is because they want him to marry and have lots of kids cause they never had the chance to have a big family (several miscarriages before Issei's birth and all).