"" - Speaking
'' - Thinking
{} - Sparda
[] - Ddraig
...
Yukio rubbed his eyes free from sleep as he walked along side Asia as they headed towards school. He found it fair that Rias had called off morning practice although he's still gone through half of it on his own to stop thoughts about the previous night from surfacing.
"Are you okay?" Asia asked with a worried voice, Yukio giving her half a smile as he nodded as he spoke
"I just did more training then normal" Asia seemed to still look worried at him as they continued walking, Yukio felt slightly bad that he only came back for a quick breakfast before they started off for school.
"I thought morning training was cancelled" Asia asked as Yukio scratched the back of his head as he replied
"I figured I could still go through with it even if Buchou cancelled it"
…
"Buchou's problems? Maybe it has something to do with the Gremory household." Yuuto spoke to Yukio while the trio of Yukio, Yuuto and Asia were walking towards the old school building.
"Akeno-san would know, right?" Yukio asked, Yuuto nodding to the silver haired teen's question as he added
"Akeno-san is Buchou's most trusted servant, so she obviously would know." Yukio knew he wouldn't find anything out of Rias if he asked her directly given what had happened yesterday but he didn't want to go and ask Akeno behind Rias' back, as it was his crimson haired master's choice if she wanted to tell them what was going on.
When they arrived in front of the clubroom door, Yuuto noticed something, his face turning serious as he spoke "...For me to realise this presence, only when I came here..."
"Huh…?" Yukio asked as he opened the door without any concerns, looking into the room to see Rias, Akeno, Koneko and the silver haired maid Grayfia with her usual cool expression. Rias had a very disturbed face while Akeno was smiling like usual but Yukio could tell that she was serious. Koneko was sitting in a chair in the corner quietly, not seeming like she wanted to get involved with whatever was going on in the dead silent room which was only broken by Yuuto as he quietly said "This is bad"
The three of them went inside the room but it wasn't the type of atmosphere where anyone could talk to them. Yukio gripped Asia's hand as she held onto the back of his shirt with a worried face, hoping to comfort her as Rias spoke up after looking at everyone
"Looks like everyone is here. Before we start the club, there's something I need to tell all of you."
"Ojou-sama, do you want me to explain the situation?" Grayfia asked, Rias rejecting it with her hand as she continued
"The truth is..."
She was cut off by the magic circle on the floor glowed.
{Someone's coming here} Sparda spoke up, Yukio wondering who it could be as the symbol on the circle changed from the Gremory to something else
"...Phenex" Yuuto spoke quietly, Yukio's eyes widening as he thought
'Like the legendary bird?'
{Yes, there's a pillar which are like that…they share the legendary bird's traits} Sparda replied
The light shined through the room and a person appeared from the magic circle before flames started to pour out from the magic circle that ignited throughout the whole room. Yukio moved in front of Asia seeing that he was more use to fire then her but still found it hotter then he expected. There was the silhouette of a man behind the flames. When he spread his arm across to the side, the flames disappeared.
"Fuu. I haven't come to the human world for a while." The guy spoke, he looked young about early 20's if Yukio had to guess and was wearing a red suit which was missing the tie and the shirt was open till his chest.
'Doesn't look like a high class devil to me…'Yukio thought as the strange man looked around the room before smirking after finding Rias as he spoke
"My lovely Rias. I came to take you."
'So…he's who she's trying to get away from…I don't blame her…he looks like some sort of gigolo' Yukio thought, hearing snickering from Ddraig
Rias looked at him with her eyes half closed, not welcoming the guy who didn't care as he approached her as he added "Then Rias. Let's go and take a look at the ceremony hall. The date of the ceremony is decided so we need to check it before then."
"…Let go of me, Raiser." Rias retorted in a deep and serious tone, after Raiser tried to grab her arm. Yukio could tell she was angry at Raiser, who didn't seem to care about it. Yukio finding himself angry at his overall demeanour as he spoke clearly
"You are being rude to Buchou…I suggest that you start acting with the proper respect"
Raiser looked at Yukio as if he was some sort of trash before asking in a displeasing tone "Huh? Who are you?"
"I am the servant devil of Rias Gremory-sama. I'm the "Pawn", Hosokawa Yukio." Yukio introduced himself to Raiser, curious of what the rude devil would say next
"Hmm. Ah, okay."
"Who are you then?" Yukio asked, Raiser seeming a bit surprised by his question as he turned to Rias
"….Ara? Rias, you haven't mentioned me to your servants? I mean, are there guys who don't know me? A reincarnated devil? Even so."
"I didn't tell them because there was no need." Rias replied coldly
"Ararara. Harsh like always. Hahaha..." Raiser started to laugh as Grayfia spoke up
"Hosokawa Yukio-sama, this person is Raiser Phenex-sama. He's a pure-blood high-class devil, and the third son of the Phenex Household and he is the husband of the next heir of the House of Gremory."
{Bingo…} Sparda spoke up as Yukio mentally agreed as Grayfia added
"He is engaged to Rias ojou-sama."
'I figured as much…I can see why she wants to get out of it now' Yukio thought to himself
…
"The tea made by Rias's "Queen" is superb." Raiser spoke although Akeno seemed to be giving off a slightly scary feeling to Yukio as she spoke
"Thank you very much."
Rias was sitting on the sofa; Raiser was next to her carelessly and was holding her shoulder although Rias kept shaking his hands off of her. Yukio found himself more annoyed at how Raiser kept disrespecting her.
"Stop it already!" Rias' angered voice echoed through the room as she got up from the sofa and glared sharply at Raiser who was smirking like usual as she shouted
"Raiser! I told you before! I will not marry you!"
"Yeah, I heard that before. But Rias, that won't do, you know? I think your house is in a rush to evade the crisis."
"That's none of your concern! If I'm the next heir for the House of Gremory, then I will choose who will become my husband! Also it was a promise that I will be free until I graduate from university!"
"That's right. You will be free. You can go to university and you can do whatever you like with your servants. But your Otou-sama and Sirzechs-sama are worried. They are afraid that your house will become extinct. We lost a great number of pure-blood devils in the last war. Even if the war has finished, our rivalry with the fallen-angels and God isn't finished yet. It's not rare for a pure-blood devil to get killed, which leads to the household becoming extinct because of the worthless battle against them. So for pure-blood devils that are also high-class devils getting together would be the best solution to fix this situation. A pure-blood high-class devil. Even you know that these children will be important from now on, right?"
Yukio started to curl his hands into fists as he kept himself calm as he listened on as Raiser continued "The newly produced devils. The ones like your servants, the reincarnated devils, are expanding in terms of strength but that would make us, the pure-blood devils, lose place. There are old nobles who get close to the powerful reincarnated devils. But that's alright. The newly produced devils are important for the future as well. But we can't allow the pure-blood devils to go extinct right? We were chosen in order to prevent the pure-bloods from going extinct. I have my older brothers in my house, so my house is safe. Then there would only be you, Rias, who can inherit the house of Gremory. If you don't take a husband, the house of Gremory will go extinct with your generation. Are you trying to crush the house that has been in history since ancient times? Because of the past war, there is not even half the number of devils who are referred as "72 pillars". This marriage has the future of the devils on the line."
"I'm not going to crush my house. I will take a husband." Raiser made a big smile after hearing Rias say that as he spoke
"Ahhh, that's it Rias! Then let's..."
"But I won't marry you, Raiser. I will only marry the one I'll want to be with. Even the devils who obey the old rules have the right to choose." Raiser became very unpleasant after hearing that. His eyes became sharper and he even made a noise with his tongue before he started to speak
"...You know Rias. I'm also a devil who holds the name of Phenex behind me. I can't let that name get scratched. I didn't even want to come to a small old building like this in the human world. Actually I don't like the human world. The fire and wind in this world is filthy. For a devil like me who symbolises fire and wind, I can't stand it!"
Flames started to surround Raiser as he continued "I will take you back to the underworld, even if I have to burn all of your servants."
Yukio could tell he was serious about it as he moved forward; no one was getting killed while he was around as he started to use his reiatsu against the arrogant high class devil
"No one is dying as long as I'm about…and no one is forcing Buchou into anything" Yukio declared seriously, his body covered in the red aura as he took a ready stance, activating his Boosted Gear, Rias seemed surprised at Yukio's words as she looked at him before Grayfia spoke up
"Yukio-sama, Raiser-sama, please calm down. If both of you were to continue, then I won't be quiet about it."
Raiser made a serious face after hearing Grayfia's intense voice, Yukio calming himself in response aware that Raiser was scared of the silver haired maid as he calmed his flames while making a sigh.
"...To be told that by the "Ultimate Queen", even I would be scared... I definitely wouldn't want to fight the people from Sirzech-sama's group, which is said to be made up of monsters." The red aura faded from around Yukio as he wondered how much strength Rias' brother had, not feeling any killing intent from her at all but still keeping his Boosted Gear on his arm as Grayfia continued
"Everyone such as the master, Sirzechs-sama and the people from the house of Phenex knew it would become like this. To tell you the truth this was to be the last discussion meeting. Everyone knew that it wouldn't be solved, so they decided to make a last resort."
"Last resort? What do you mean Grayfia?" Rias asked surprised
"Ojou-sama, if you wish to push your opinion forward, then how about you decide it by doing the "Rating game" with Raiser-sama?
Rias seemed lost for words, Yukio curious on what a Rating game was as Sparda spoke up
{It's a game that is played by the devils with peerage, and they compete by making their servants battle…Gremory-hime explained it before}
'Oh yeah' Yukio mentally replied as Grayfia spoke up
"Just like Ojou-sama knows, "Rating game" can only be played by mature aged devils. But if it's an unofficial match, then even pure-blood devils who haven't reached mature age can participate. But in this case..."
"It usually involves the family and household problem, right?" Rias continued to talk while making a sigh.
"In other words Otou-sama and the others chose to make us do the game as a last resort when I was to decline, right? ...What nerve do they have to keep on controlling my life...!" Rias seemed really angry now as she spoke, not liking the idea of being controlled as Grayfia asked
"Then Ojou-sama, you are saying you would also decline to participate in the game?"
"No. This is a chance. Alright then. Let's decide this by the game, Raiser." Raiser smirked after Rias challenged him.
"Hee, you're accepting it? I don't mind. But I'm already a matured devil and I have already participated in the official game. Right now I have won most of the games. Even so, you still want to play, Rias?"
Raiser replied back with a challenging tone. Rias made a smirk.
"I will. I will make you disappear, Raiser!"
"Fine. If you win, do whatever you like. But if I win, you will marry me immediately." Both of them glared at each other, they were both glaring at each other with scary eyes, Yukio smirking at the idea of getting a chance to beat down the pompous devil.
"Understood. I, Grayfia, confirm both sides opinion. I will be in charge of the game between the two sides. Is that okay?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
Rias and Raiser both agreed to Grayfia's approval.
"Okay. I will inform the two households then."
Grayfia bowed her head after confirming, Raiser looking at Yukio and then smirked at some hidden joke as he asked
"Hey, Rias. Would the ones here be your servants?"
"So what?" Raiser started laughing after Rias answered him.
"Then this match will be a laugh. Only your "Queen", the "Lightning Priestess" can fight on par with my servants."
When Raiser said that he clicked his fingers, the magic circle on the floor glowed, shadows starting to appear from it.
"And these are my cute servants." Raiser declared proudly as the fifteen shadows formed as fifteen different girls, Yukio sighing as he rolled his eyes and thought
'I wonder how much he paid for them'
[Probably a lot…] Ddraig replied with a laugh, Yukio smirking to himself as Sparda spoke up
{Now, now just cause he looks like a gigolo doesn't mean he can't get his own servants…although I agree with Ddraig} Yukio stifled his laughter, only turning his attention back to the room as Raiser spoke
"He...hey Rias... This servant-kun over here he's ignoring my servants" Raiser looked at Yukio, seeming freaked out as Rias smirked
"He's not like most guys…"
"No fair…"
"Raiser-sama, how can he ignore us?"
Raiser's girls made a surprised face as they looked at Yukio who then yawned into his hand, nonchalantly.
"Don't say that, my cute girls. He must be gay that's it" Raiser replied in an attempt to make them feel better.
"I just have a lot more respect for girls then most anyway you probably paid for your servants…only way I can see them hanging around with someone like you" Yukio retorted calmly as Raiser started to fume.
"How dare you!?" Raiser shouted annoyed as Yukio added
"You will never be good enough to be with Buchou…Yakitori" Raiser made an outrageous face at Yukio's provocation.
"Yakitori!? You low-class devil! Don't get ahead of yourself! That's not the way you talk to a high-class devil! Rias! You have to educate your servants!"
Rias just ignored his claim and said "Like I care".
"Mira teach him some respect" Raiser spoke, the girl with the staff spun it for a moment before speaking
"Yes Raiser-sama"
'Ddraig' Yukio mentally asked as he slipped into a fighting stance
[BOOST!] He felt the increase in power through his body as Mira charged, Yukio moving to the right to avoid her thrust with her staff before throwing his gauntlet clad, fire covered fist into her gut, launching her back across the room and into Raiser.
"Who's next?" Yukio asked as he looked over the rest of Raiser's servants as he expected another one to try something as Raiser stood back up as he spoke
"The one who you just defeated is my "Pawn" Mira. She's the weakest out of my servants" Raiser put his hand on his chin and thought about something before adding
"Rias, how about we have a match in 10 days? We could do it now, but that wouldn't be interesting."
"...Are you giving me a handicap."
"Are you against it? Is it humiliating? "Rating Game" isn't something simple that you can win with only your feelings. If you can't use your servant's power to the fullest, then you will lose immediately. So it's not weird for you to train with your servants for your first "Rating Game". No matter how much potential you have, no matter how much power you have, I have seen devils who lost without using their power to the fullest countless of times."
Rias kept quiet and listened carefully to what Raiser had to say. Raiser put his palm to the ground and it started to glow.
"10 days. If it's you, then you should be able to improve your servants." He then looked at Yukio as he continued
"Don't be a disgrace to Rias, Rias's "Pawn". Your hit is Rias's hit."
Yukio rolled his eyes he already knew that from Sparda's training as Raiser continued "Rias, the next time we meet will be at the match."
After he said that, Raiser disappeared in the magic circle along with his servants.
…
Yukio lay on his bed as he thought, club activities had been cancelled and Rias and Akeno went deep inside the old school building and never came out, probably discussing a plan for training for the Rating Game and even for the actually battle.
{It's a good thing that he doesn't know about Amonusen…means we've got ten days to build up your reiatsu to a suitable level} Sparda spoke up, Yukio agreeing as he realised he had to fight against eight Pawns and seven which were stronger then the one he'd already defeated.
'Will be quite the surprise when I use it against them' Yukio thought as he picked himself up messing with his hair as he decided to go have a bath. Entering the bathroom he looked around in an attempt to see if Asia had beaten him to it, Keiko was still at work so he only had to worry about Asia.
Knocking on the door Yukio decided he call out just in case "Asia! Are you in there…?"
Yukio listened at the slightly panicked movement inside as he sighed before shouting "Let me know when you've finished…"
He was about to leave only to find Asia had grabbed his wrist, Yukio keeping his gaze forwards as she spoke up "Will you have a bath with me…Yukio-san?"
"Asia…having a bath together…erm…it's not something normally done"
"But...Everyone told me about the rule when you have a bath in Japan…I heard that there is the thing called having a bath together…You get to know each other by having a bath together…" Asia replied as Yukio arched his eyebrow as he asked
"Who told you that…?"
"Kiryuu-san told me…" Asia spoke shyly, Yukio shaking his head at the glasses wearing girl's antics as he decided to clear up Asia's misunderstanding
"That rule only applies to those of the same gender…most girls don't want to bathe with guys…"
"Oh…" Asia spoke slightly sad, letting go of him as Yukio decided to leave the bathroom quickly.
…
Yukio looked up at the large set of steps for them towards where they would be staying for there training, Rias, Akeno and Asia were ahead as the crimson she-devil called "Hurry, Yukio"
"...I will help as well." Asia spoke concerned
"It's okay. Yukio can only get stronger this way." Rias replied, Yukio smiling at Asia wanting to help him as he decided to make his work with the heavy pack of luggage on his back easier as he activated his Boosted Gear.
[Boost!] Yukio felt the weight on his back lighten as the wave of power travelled through his body.
"Buchou, I gathered some herbs. Let's use it for the meal tonight." Yuuto spoke normally with the huge piece of luggage on his back as he walked without breaking a sweat.
"...See you later." Koneko said as she walks past Yukio, carrying a larger amount of luggage then him, who marvelled at the power that the Rook had as he started after them as he called
"Wait up…"
"Seems like you're handling this easily" Yuuto spoke with a smile as Yukio signalled to his gauntlet as he spoke
"Well this does help…"
When Yukio reached the top he looked at the wooden mansion before him, surprised at its size as Rias spoke "It's normally hidden from humans by using magical powers"
Entering Yukio put the bags away in the living room rolling his shoulders before having a drink of water, the girls having gone upstairs to get changed
"I will also go and get changed." Yuuto spoke before heading into a room located on the first floor carrying a blue jersey.
Yukio decided to get changed in another room before finding everyone was already gathered in the living room, Rias smiled after seeing him before speaking "Then let's start our training."
…
Yukio dodged another punch from Koneko as they sparred before going for a low sweep which she jumped over as she threw a punch at him. He barely managed to hop back before her fist hit the ground, a small crater where she'd hit as Yukio gulped before slipping back into his sideways stance.
Koneko nodded to herself about something before slipping into a stance before Yukio before she started to push him harder into defending and dodging the barrage of punches and kicks she was throwing at him.
…
Yukio clashed wooden swords with Yuuto, the former finding it different to when he swung around Amonusen against Sparda although he knew the major difference was that he now wasn't holding a sword that was as tall as he was.
"You've had practice at this…" Yuuto spoke as they paused for a few moments as Yukio smiled as he replied
"Sparda's been training me…although it's odd not using something the size of Amonusen…" Yuuto nodded in response as he charged at Yukio again, clashing wooden swords again
…
"Keep going, Yukio!" Rias spoke from her position sitting on the large rock that was tied to the Pawn's back with Amonusen's clothe sealing. Yukio felt his legs getting numb as he forced himself to continue the laps up and down the steep mountain.
"Okay, we are done with this. Next is muscle training. We will go with push ups."
"Yea...h." Yukio replied as he moved straight into starting doing push ups with the rock still attached to his back, Rias speaking as she took her seat on his back again
"Then three-hundred push ups. Let's start."
…
"It's delicious" Yukio spoke as they sat down for dinner, Rias had caught a boar and fish which had been cooked for the meal along with the herbs Yuuto had found earlier. Finishing his bowl of rice he was surprised when Akeno handed him another bowl full as she spoke
"Araara, we still have more food left so eat as much as you want." Yukio nodded as he started to eat his way through the bowl, most of the things that had been inside the luggage was equipment used for cooking which made the training worth it. Yukio noticed Koneko was eating a lot of food quickly and a part of him couldn't blame her, training had been draining for him and he figured she'd been working her hardest to get stronger for the Game.
"Akeno-san this tastes amazing. Whoever becomes your husband will be lucky"
"Ufufufu. You are embarrassing me." Akeno smiled while putting her hand on her cheek, a small part of Yukio admitted that she looked good in the Japanese apron as he caught a glimpse of Asia's sad face as he turned to ask.
"Can I have some of the soup please?" He noticed the happy look on Asia's face as she handed some over which he drank before speaking
"It's good Asia. Can I have some more?"
"It is!? I'm so glad... now I can also be with...Yukio-san..." Asia replied as she refilled his bowl, her cheeks red as Yukio wondered what she'd mumbled at the end before Rias asked
"Now, Yukio. From today's training what have you found out?"
Rias was drinking green tea as Yukio put his chopsticks down and answered her seriously,
"...I need a lot of training"
"Yes. That's for sure." She replied before continuing
"Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko have lots of battle experience even though they have not participated in the game, so they can fight if they get used to it. But you and Asia basically have no experience yet. Even so your "Boosted Gear" and "Amonusen" and Asia's healing ability can't be ignored. Even the enemy knows that. I want you to have at least the power to run away from the enemy."
"Run? ...Is it that hard?" Yukio asked confused, he'd expect he'd need to be able to fight more then that. Rias nodding as she answered
"Running away is also a part of the strategy. Retreating to form a new formation is also a professional way of battling. There are ways to win a match like that. But running away with your back facing an enemy is something very hard. If it's an enemy with roughly the same strength as you, it is easy, but showing your back to an enemy who is far superior to you is basically saying please kill me. So running away from an enemy like that is also part of the strategy. So I have to teach you and Asia the timing to run away as well. Of course I will also teach you how to fight the enemy head on."
"Right"
"Yes."
Asia and Yukio replied to Rias. Yukio felt bad that Asia would be involved in this fight but since she had become a member of the Gremory Household, he'd resolved himself to protect her.
"Let's take a shower after the meal. It's an outdoor bath so it's wonderful." Rias spoke as Yukio decided to wait till they went before he could go and train some more.
"I'm not going to peek, Yukio-kun." Yuuto joked to him smiling.
"Erm…ok…" Yukio spoke confused before he shivered at Koneko's tone
"...If you peek, then I will hold a grudge against you forever."
The girls left before Yukio sighed as he forced his tired body up, noticing that Yuuto was still there as he started to walk outside
"Aren't you going to bathe?" Yuuto asked as Yukio shook his head as he smiled back to the blonde boy as he answered
"Nah…I need to do a bit more practice myself before that"
…
Yukio panted as he stood with Amonusen and his Boosted Gear active, preparing to practice with the sword as he held the clothe covered cleaver sword in both hands by his right side, taking a deep breath in as he focused his reiatsu into his weapon as he swung it horizontally as he called "Getsuga Tensho!"
The attack blitzed forwards, not even reaching six feet before it petered out, Yukio sighed at how he still couldn't use the attack outside of the inner world. His ears twitching as he heard movement behind him turning to see Rias stood there in her jersey, tapping her foot as she looked seriously at him "You won't get stronger if you keep pushing your body when its already tired"
Yukio sighed as he rested the tip of Amonusen in the ground as he spoke "I can go on a little longer, Buchou… don't worry I just want to practice an attack…you should go enjoy your bath"
"I will once you decide to head inside" Rias replied as she looked at Yukio's back as he lifted his sword over his head, taking a deep calming breathe as he started to build up his reiatsu into his weapon.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Yukio called as he swung the blade down, the red spiritual pressure launching forwards destroying the trees before him along with making a large crater from where he stood.
{Guess you need to learn some more control with your reiatsu…} Sparda spoke up as Yukio mentally agreed, turning back to see that Rias was still standing there before figuring he should call it a day as he turned to face her
"Alright, Buchou I'm coming in now"
…
Author's Notes
Not sure what else I should have Yukio learn, so suggestions are welcome, although trying to work out what other sorts of sword attacks he could learn in the future.