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FICTION

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Chapter 71: Worthy Reason

Things were going rather well in Kuoh Town.

It's been but just a day since Hoitsu had gone with Kunou to Kyoto and life was going easy and calm as usual.

...Or at least as much as Xenovia could bear with it.

Training was still a part of her life, her control over Durandal getting better and better as she had finally found some means to release the stress accumulated by her previous lack of progress. With Gasper being her first and best friend, and with some others joining the count, the girl was feeling quite happy with the life she had made in just the little time she had been in Japan.

Trustworthy people that brought out some interesting contexts to subjects she had long thought of having mastered, a genuine feminine touch given by her two new friends from the Kendo Club, Murayama and Katase.

They would spend some time together during the breaks when the kind Mayumi-sensei would give her a pause from assisting her. It was surprising to know that the woman that Irina had attacked was actually a sweet old lady.

Shocking but also confusing, something that her former partner would deflect with other topics much to her chagrin, but still she decided to ignore what had happened back then and focus on helping the lovely woman around when she required support.

The teacher was quite careful to not over-burden her, even though Xenovia was capable of taking multiple responsibilities at once, while also giving her some little homework despite the fact the blue-haired human wasn't a student at the Academy.

Nothing too difficult, but enough to leave her busy for some time in the afternoon before going for some sword-related training.

Her routine was definitively better than the one back in Italy, where missions would be a constant element to be aware of, especially as those weren't easy most of the time.

Mere months ago, Xenovia would have gone for all the requests, went to the place indicated by the Church's orders and accomplish the demands without hesitation.

But now that she was living the life of a 'normal girl', the blue-haired girl had found a new balance of things.

Something nice, something that kept her afloat after a moment in her life where doubt besieged her over her capacity to protect, exterminate and do her duty as a proper member of the Holy See.

It was a simple Sunday morning, one that Xenovia had wished to spend in a session of prayers to the newly-rebuild Church in the city, a humble habit the girl had picked after a few days spent praying at her 'mentor's house. She ended up noticing the distress she was causing to the Devils lingering around and thus settled with the decision of going to a proper place of prayers.

The girl was wearing a half-sleeved light-blue shirt, a pair of knee-long shorts and some sport shoes as she had planned to go for a some jogging after the praying session, maybe a little longer than usual to prepare for an even longer session of training.

She was half-way to reach the church when she found herself stopped by a living obstacle.

Yuuto Kiba, former Knight of the Gremory Peerage, was standing in her way, a blank expression that left no hints about his unexpected presence here, nor any emotions that could have granted her the chance of seeing if he was meaning well… or not.

"Xenovia Quarta." The blond stated with an empty tone, his blue eyes coldly fixed at her face. "You are the wielder of Durandal and member of the Church." He pointed out, a long sigh leaving his lips at the end of his strange words.

…

"Yes?" She replied with an uneasy but calm tone, still unsure about what was this supposed to mean. The boy blinked, confusion flashing just a moment before two wooden shinai appeared in his hold and… he threw one at her.

The girl caught it effortlessly with her right hand and glanced at it with curiosity. "So… you wish to fight or are you showing me you are good at making swo-!"

She lifted up the 'blade' just in time to clash with Kiba's, the young man having zeroed their distance in silent rage and the impact was enough to generate pressure everywhere.

The road was unoccupied, mostly because it was far too early and a very quiet day of the weak to truly see someone wandering around. Brown eyes narrowed in annoyance as the blue-haired woman felt irked by the brash attitude of the fellow sword-wielder.

"I didn't accept your challenge, Yuuto." Her tone was steely, her heart was even harsher as her pulse prepared for a quick-paced battle, one that she would have preferred to avoid that morning.

But the Knight didn't seem to care from the snarl now present where once his 'pretty' looks were.

Xenovia's knowledge of Knight-types was limited to her Mother's teachings and Hoitsu's own snippets about the Rating Games. One thing jumping several times in the explanations, the fact being… the pure speed those had.

She barely blinked as she saw the boy turn in a blur, the practice sword preparing to hit her on the side and missing only because the girl managed to spin quickly enough to avoid it. The human was terribly disadvantaged, her strength being… strength and her weakness being the lack of proper mobility with her power.

Their blades collided once more, the blue-haired Exorcist going for a 'jab' by his left armpit. Disabling him, even bringing his speed just a minuscule step down was her priority at the moment and… she failed.

A yelp was drowned quickly as pain flared from her leg. Her knee tanked the counter well enough, yet the stinging sensation was enough to bring up once more the terrible issue she was having in fending off the silent attacker.

Yuuto seemed distracted, but also focused on her as his hits were precise but gaining damage from the speed behind the swings' pace.

She jumped away, trying to dismiss the Knight's pattern and… Xenovia's eyes widened as he gave chase swiftly. She barely ducked away, missing an attack directed at her neck.

Finally her Shinai, her hand gripping tightly at its hilt, slammed with vigor on the boy's exposed chest. His eyes went momentarily wide in pain, before narrowing once more at her, the fury behind his strikes increasing even more.

A groan left her lips as they clashed once more as their feet touched ground again, the pressure starting to get quite troublesome to face this frequently. Her body was limited, humanly so, while Kiba's enchanted abilities were giving him the edge in that 'spar'…

That was a spar, right?

She would have asked, but her attention was completely taken by the swings coming for the openings now present in her stance. She was losing her footing and Xenovia was quite certain that another hit was going to dignify a painful defeat for her.

Unacceptable, her prideful self called out in anger, she was a proud warrior of the Church.

Her resolve returned compact once again and her eyes sparkled in determination as her pace increased with the blond's. The boy's eyes widened just a fraction at the sudden improvement from his opponent and… he saw something familiar in her.

That posture, that strength and… that face.

It's been a while now that her appearance had started to leave him with troubled thoughts. Nothing that attracted him to her, but there was something oddly nostalgic in her face, in her mannerism and… her bravery.

He blocked another attack, she was roaring in anger as her emotion dripped from the edges of her Shinai. The Practice Swords had been reinforced with magic, making them capable of sustaining the duress they were both putting them against.

Bash, roll, strike and retreat. Xenovia was in clear disadvantage against his swift stance and yet she wasn't budging an inch from her strong resistance, the blue-haired human actually giving me some reason to truly focus on the battle rather than 'ridicule her'.

There was nothing humiliating as her form was flawless and her balance was as graceful one could ever hope to get. She was strong, but still a human being and thus easy to overpower with accurate attacks.

Her breathing was starting to show the signs of fatigue, her swings losing momentum and almost giving him an easy victory. He paused, trying to understand if he should concede to the fact he couldn't exactly get any 'revenge' from someone this virtuous or not.

Yuuto had thought that this woman was a zealot of the Church's ways, a fervent believer of the horrible means to reach the divine and… she was actually sporting a genuine and somewhat fun demeanor in the fight.

Crack

That pause costed him a little more than a mere weakening hit, Xenovia roaring again in renewed vigor as her practice sword crashed with utter might onto the side of his head. His eyes went wide and…

He blinked in pain, his feet getting him away from the mad swinging that the little girl was throwing at him.

"Don't stop, Isaiah!" Her face was hidden by shadows, his mind failing to grasp her identity. He ducked away from another attack, rolling away as he felt tears starting to swell.

They were in a small room, two doors at the two extreme sides and several small beds all around.

"N-No, stop please!" He tried to calm the aggressive child down. He was small too, tinier even, but the girl barely seemed to care about it.

"I'm know it hurts, Isaiah," She mentioned strongly. "But you need this to defend yourself by the bullies."

But what if he didn't want to fight the bullies? What if he wanted to go and draw butterflies? What if he wanted to look at flowers- His little faux sword was pushed back on his trembling chest as the girl claimed victory by rushing against him.

He yelped in fear as he fell backward… only to be caught by his opponent's hands, pulling him in a sudden embrace. His eyes widened and he felt immersed in a somewhat familiar and 'trustworthy' wave of warmth melted him away from his worry.

His eyelids slowly turned heavier and he abandoned himself at the softness of the hug.

"I'm sorry." The girl's voice had turned cautious, quite apologetic. "I-I know it hurts but… but they will never stop if you don't start defending yourself, Isaiah."

He blinked back to reality, only to duck at a furious attack following the one that had put him in that… little flashback. Yuuto blinked in confusion, What did just happen?!

His earliest memory was part of the painful set related to the Holy Sword Project. He had partly thought about finding out about before that particular part of his childhood, but his mind had always been fixed over his present.

And now that he was recovering this much from… a completely unrelated fight!

He felt anger rising once more, this time his thoughts scrambling because of the concussion he just received keeping him from properly thinking about everything that was happening around him.

The odds were now even, he realized with minor surprise as his reaction-time had been messed up by that freebie he allowed to pass. A scowl and chiding himself wouldn't be enough to keep up with the mad assault of the young woman.

It was so odd how she could easily fight with a sword.

He blinked, W-What?

That moment of distraction once more provided the girl a golden opportunity. His shinai flew out of his hold at the umpteenth clash, this one his hands giving too little strength in keeping the practice sword still and Xenovia capitalized on it.

With a last yell, the girl pressed a kick on his stomach, spit and some blood thrown out of his lips as he fell on the ground.

She held the edge of her shinai near his throat, pressing menacingly to his frail state. "It's over, Yuuto. No more games." Her voice was terribly serious and leaving no space for interjections.

He gulped nervously, having underestimated the proficient sword-wielder way too much than planned. He sighed as the girl threw the sword away and started to walk away in the direction she had tried to go through, the church being her objective.

She was going away, completely unaware of the silent plight surging within the young man's chest. He felt a strange pain, a specific question rising as…

…

Mayumi-sensei said that she was an orphan too.

...

"W-Wait!" He groaned in pain, turning to stare at her and… the blue-haired human actually stopped.

"What do you want, Yuuto?" He flinched at the annoyed tone but still… he had to know.

"Y-You are an orphan." He blurted without thinking, panic rising at the insinuations he just caused as the girl fully turned around and looked incredibly enraged by that. "A-And you-"

"I will not play these games, Yuuto." She interrupted coldly. "First you attack me, then you try to talk about my past. End this at once, I don't have time for this stupid trick-"

"Isaiah."

Cold entered his veins as her eyes widened in shock and… realization.

"My name is-"

"Isaiah?" She interjected, taking a step towards him. She blinked. "Y-You- You look like- No, he died and- but-"

Another step.

"Y-You- how do I know that- that you are him!" Xenovia suddenly lashed out. "I-I know that he was killed by some bad organization-"

"There was a time when you… you used to tell me tales before going to sleep." He said with some embarrassment. That was certainly not a good way to prove things but… yes, he could remember those moments now.

Always the same story actually, he would ask only one from his big sister.

"Pinocchio." He concluded with a sigh. "I would always ask for it-"

"Because you thought that the reason you weren't getting a family… was that they thought you were a pretty doll rather than a real boy." Her eyes lowered to the ground. "You… you were rather feminine back then… Isaiah."

He frowned. "I-I wasn't- Uh?!"

Yuuto didn't have the time to react as the tackle train struck true against him, making him fall on the floor once more. "X-Xenov-"

"You were always worried that people would pick on you." She whispered as she hugged him closer. "You were always asking to be taken around because you trusted only me." She added with a melancholic note.

There was silence… the good kind of silence. He blinked, he felt tired and… he sighed.

"So… you are a Devil?" She asked curiously. "Can you-"

"I will tell you, I promise and..." He smiled a little. "I think I took too much from your time for your early morning's praying-"

"Nonsense." The girl interrupted once again. "Why shouldn't I be… happy of having-" She stopped, her eyes dropping once more. "I should have tried to do something against them. They did seem odd back then, those that took you away-"

"You were a child." He pointed out. "We were children." He then reiterated. "And you should be going now. I think we need time to… think."

She nodded, helping him up standing. "I agree and..." Without hesitation, she slapped him on his face.

The blond's eyes went wide and… he frowned at the sudden attack, but the girl giggled and turned back on her steps. "That's for attacking me without reason, piccolo Isaiah!" Another giggle and… she ran away, leaving a confused and somewhat annoyed Knight alone in that desolate street.

He sighed. He did get something out from that 'spar' but now it was going to be even more difficult trying to get it fixed too…

Breakfast was an awkward affair for some good reasons.

Yasaka was staring silently at Kuroka, the young woman trying her best to appear… calm and collected while in the presence of the leader of the Yokai faction of Kyoto.

While someone like the Nekoshou wouldn't normally be impressed by the formality behind these titles, the black-haired beauty knew very well that the fact that she had been part of a kidnap attempt towards the blonde's daughter not too long ago.

Times had passed and allegiances switched, but forgiveness for that act was hardly going to be dealt with a simple talk. It didn't help that the woman discovered her presence while checking on me the day before, half an hour after lunch.

Her intentions were good but her discovery couldn't be considered that much from her side. Peeking her head from the doorstep, her golden eyes widened at seeing Kuroka and I sharing the same bed… with our clothes thrown all over the room.

The fact that the sheets were barely covering our bodies, coupled with the 'scent' she caught with a mere sniff in our general direction, was enough to get the woman in a diplomatic silence for an entire day.

Kunou was also surprised to see Kuroka still here, greeting her amicably while also pointing out the pungent smell coming from the two of us and… the bite-mark that she spotted during dinner.

Suspicions, curiosity and a newfound reason to pester around proved to be quite a difficult obstacle for the rest of the day but...

No proper answer was provided, something that both the two women and me agreed to not give to the 'impressionable blonde'.

Which is silly, considering that she did receive Sex Ed back in Kuoh, she knows about the 'Talk'-

But we are not going to give her any strange ideas! What if she decided it is 'fun' and-

Are we talking about the same Kitsune? The girl will not do that. Cease with your senseless nagging.

Yet it was in that morning that something curious happened as Kunou, still curious and intrigued by the situation, decided to go for an unexpected attempt.

"By the way, Niichan," She started with a normal tone, almost getting me unaware for the silent plan she had developed that morning. "Can I sleep with you and Kuroka today?"

Suddenly, the temperature of the entire dropped to a glacial cold, Yasaka looking rather fine and smiling, but I could recognize the aura of someone 'promising murder at any wrongs done'.

Something that, even as her surrogate soon, was susceptible for and the woman knew that as she directed it all against me.

I gulped nervously. "K-Ku-chan, Kuroka-chan doesn't have a sleepwear. I don't want you to… get embarrassed. Do you understand why I have to refuse?"

The girl instantly deflated, as fast as her mother's simmering anger did, but then as she pouted in annoyance at the response… her eyes widened and she stared first at me and then at the Nekoshou.

She smiled giddily. "So that means that you both did 'that'?" Kunou asked cheekily much to my immense chagrin.

If before that the temperature had hit a glacial level, now we were close to actually burn at the blunt comment from the young blonde and… Yasaka stood up from her seat, my eyes widening in panic at the action.

"Ku-tan, did you send me a letter about you being given the 'Talk'?" She asked calmly, way too soothingly for my tastes, but the girl nodded and… the woman sighed tiredly. "I thought so." She admitted before returning to her previous seat.

...What?

I think that she just pranked you.

…WHAT?

"Yasa-haha, not that I wish to sound disrespectful, but… did you just mess with us until now?" My tone was soft, but my own anger was rising.

The woman hummed as she took some more rice with her chopsticks. "About Ku-tan's knowledge of the adult anatomy? A little." She paused as to finish the food in her mouth, gulping it carefully as to not choke. "About what you did in your room with Kuroka-tan?" Her smile grew sickly-sweet once more. "Maybe not."

I blinked and, while I wanted to press for more, my common sense reminded me that a wrong word could get be in that situation once again. And I didn't need to get my ass handed by the woman.

I mean, I could easily beat her with Twilight Joker but… then I would have to explain to Azazel, Sirzechs and others why I'm using it so easily and without a proper training area.

As much as the one provided by Amaterasu could hold up with Yokai magic, I doubted it could have handled well Draconic- and Demonic-energies as it did with the previous case.

"Still, isn't this a good thing, Mama?" Kunou chirpily commented about. "With Kuroka having gone with the big step, now it's Akeno's and Aqua's turns!" She added and… the room fell quiet once more, Yasaka's face darkening even more than before.

This time I was seriously feeling the dread about this situation.

"Ku-tan, did you perhaps forget to tell Mama about Hoi-bou's suitors?" Her left eye was twitching, the girl frowning and thinking about it and… she sported a sheepish smile.

"I did." I think at this point a collective Anime's face-faulting would have made things the best but… I decided to use this situation to actually defend… the four of us.

"Yasa-haha, the girls and I aren't rushing anything and we have spent much time together-"

"A polyamorous relationship isn't some joke, young man." The woman chided back, stopping me before I could truly explain. "I know you are smart and very caring, but that is something not many are capable of keeping up to. Mostly because of the immense emotional burden it could force upon the members."

I frowned my eyes directed at the table and… goddammit, I was behaving like a naughty kid being lectured now. Just as I was about to resume the defense, Kuroka decided to jump in.

"Yasaka-sama, I wish to have the chance to actually explain why us girls decided to go forward with this." The dark-haired Nekoshou bowed her head respectfully and waited to obtain permission before returning to her normal position.

The older blonde blinked, staring quietly at my 'mate' and then she sighed tiredly. "You may explain."

A nod preceded her words. "Thank you, Yasaka-sama." The young woman sighed. "This agreement wasn't formed out of lack of thinking, nor without bringing some truthful and serious responsibility over the matter. The girls and I were at first hesitant of even thinking of sharing him but… we both found things in common." She paused a moment, her eyes growing absent as she was possibly thinking about the moment they were talking about it.

I was quite unknowing of the true story that led to that deal, only that it did happen and now… we were here.

"We all came from situations were we faced the lost of someone, one way or another and… we all want to have a proper chance at having a good life after the hardships we had to endure." Kuroka's voice cracked a little, making me frown at the sudden emotional moment as it was quite uncharacteristic and unique of hers… especially for the occasion. "Hoitsu is the one that brought us out from that decadence, that gave us hope, love and understanding. He helped up to stand up and… I know it might sounds offensive but..."

Her eyes narrowed on the Yokai leader. "I love him, we love him. And we will fight for our love with our dearest lives if it did came to that."

…

If Yasaka and Kunou looked shocked at the determined declaration, I…

…

I was floored. Stomped, utterly deafened by the unexpected passion held in her tone with the words that she relayed with such conviction.

"An impressive display… Kuroka-tan." The blonde mused quietly, still recovering from that proclamation. "But I find myself asking… what would you do if said threat was forwarded towards your love." Her tone grew serious. "How would you fare against someone hell-bent in making sure you are separated from him-"

I slammed my fist on the table, cracking it a little and making everyone look my general direction. Even the uneasy guards staring at the scene with a nervous look.

"Yasa-haha," My voice was slow-paced and incredibly calm, but there was strength lingering and hiding behind my composure much to the woman's surprise. "While I understand that you are concerned with what could happen if we mess things up, I can assure you that we are giving our greatest effort to make this eternal." I replied with utter determination.

Then I turned to look at Kuroka, her eyes nervously directed at the table and I cupped her cheeks with my hands. She tensed, looking quite surprised by the action as I turned her too look at me.

She was blushing, the situation being indeed a little embarrassing, but I was past the little nervousness and already basking in the passion she instilled with her words.

"Kuroka-chan," I tilted my head closer to hers and smiled even more. "Thank you for giving me this much trust and strength. You and the girls are… my world. I love you all and… thank you." I pressed forward and captured her lips.

Her tension burned out as she went to hug me deeply, her hands pressing me onto hers as she wanted to feel my caring warm. I could feel tears falling and… yep, she was crying.

So are you.

Oh, shut up!

The kiss lasted for four strong minutes and we slowly pulled out from each other, almost unwilling to part ways and-

"That's so cool!" Our attention snapped at Kunou, the girl sporting a massive smile on her face. "That means that Ko-senpai… will now truly be Ko-Neesan!" She cheered happily, causing her mother to frown in confusion.

"Ko-senpai? You mean the little Nekoshou that you wished for me to know?" The woman questioned, getting a quick nod from the younger blonde. "Then I can only guess she is Kuro-tan's little sister… I guess that makes her another surrogate daughter."

...Wait, what?

"You mean that-"

"I would never obstacle a bond as strong as you both are showing. If this is only a fraction of your true connection, then I will be more than happy to support it." Yasaka admitted with a giggle, then her golden eyes turned to Kuroka.

"I found your little speech not only familiar, but also heart-warming. While I still… have some minor grudge about what you did back then when you were part of the kidnapping force," The dark-haired woman looked away for a moment, causing the blonde to giggle once more. "I think you mean well, not only with your words, but also with your genuine behavior. I suppose that means that you are going to be my daughter-in-law, little Kuro-tan."

I blinked and I noticed that the Nekoshou was now blushing madly at the kind words and the kiss she was still trying to 'understand', but then the discussion shifted to another point.

"It also means that… I will have to spend a night with you and Kunou to see how you act like in a normal situation. Nothing formal, just some cuddles and some talking before going to sleep." The woman proposed much to my immense surprise.

We are going to sleep alone with that!

Maybe it was painted in my face, or maybe the woman was expecting me to think weird of it as, turning back at me with a little mirthful smile, Yasaka asked. "By the way Hoitsu, do you wish to join us too?"

To cuddle or to not cuddle, tis' is the dilemma!

If I go, I will be 'labeled' a pervert, if I don't go, I will be spending the night alone… in that cold bed.

I think you are starting to get dependent at having someone to cuddle with before going to sleep. It will make the Couch's punishment quite powerful in a few years from now.

"Why not, Niichan? It will be nice and- we can talk about names!" Kunou pointed up with the giddiest display ever. Seriously, did someone put too much sugar in her food or what?

Then I realized the last bit and frowned. "Names, Ku-chan?"

She nodded. "Names about nephews and nieces!"

With the crap I had to endure until now, with how things had escalated and… everything else…

Thud

Sleep, here I come!

AN

I'm incredibly tired! Today was a super-duper-big day, from the fact I updated the 'Blues of the White Sun' (Pre-WW2 Self-Insert), had to help my sister with some homework about Hamlet and Shakespeare and I managed a 'thicc' chapter today compared to usual.

About the first section: Yuuto did live in an orphanage in Italy, same for Xenovia. It isn't stated in the Canon if there could have been a connection but I decided to exploit that. Yes, Xenovia is now the Hoitsu to Yuuto's Kunou (Sounds odd, I'm working the kinks even now).

About the second section: we finished the family fluff, next chapter will be a little more serious. Hoitsu and Vali will share a talk (super-secret stuff I can't talk about) and someone will finally shine once more! (But who are they?!)

Future milestone 1: 1000 Followers and Favorite.

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin