Hello, everyone! It's ArtLotus here! I'm here to bring another chapter of A Problem Devil, Born~ How awesome is that? Two chapters a week? That's awesome right? Anyway, if you have any questions that you want to ask because some of you might be confused, PM'd me. I'll answer those questions at the best of my ability. To some of you who might be wondering why I never done the chapter where the Gion Festival would be celebrated, it is because I never got to that part yet. Eventually I will, but for now I'm going for the present time.
~Daily Answer~
nanaminato: I apologize if you have to read this. Because I essentially want Izayoi to have a harem. I'm sorry if you wasted your time on reading this.
orangemen33: Thank you for your review. I appreciate it, but what I don't understand was the word BS.
shizumashin: Thank you for your review. I appreciate your support. I hope that you will continue reading this story as it is, although it may be slow for you but I will try to do my best in what's left of my free time.
Rei Ogami: Thank you for your review. I appreciate your patience and commitment. I hope you will continue to read this story.
Beast Mode92: Sorry that my words are too complex. But that's just the way I like to write. Furthermore, it makes me happy just to give an insight depth on the characters.
PersonaQeminod1: Thank you for your review. I appreciate it. I hope you will look forward to the next chapter.
ahsoei: Thank you for your review. It's been a long time since I last updated so I maybe I'm bit rusty. But I hope you will look forward to the next chapter. Oh, and about Issei's relationship with Asia. I'll think about furthering it hopefully.
enigma95: At the age of 15, Izayoi is literally a teenager. I know that he won a lot of hearts by just meeting them but what can I say? He's meant to have a harem.
End of Daily Answer
Anyway, without further ado I present to you A Problem Devil, Born~
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 43: Involvement
~Underworld~
~Forest~
Night
"Argh! Why can't we hit her?" Issei asked in frustration after seeing Kuroka phasing out from her spot and dodges his beam attack before appearing a few feet from her previous spot. Just as she appeared, an explosion went off far behind her.
"This is getting boring, you know? Do you actually know how to fight?" Kuroka mocked with a smirk phasing in and out from places to places.
"Issei-kun, stay back!" Kiba shouted as Issei jumped backwards behind his back before the blonde instantly stab his sword into the ground causing countless blades to pierce through the ground.
"Would you look at that?" Kiba's eyes widen as he spotted the black Nekoshou perch onto the branch she was previously on. "I thought the blades would catch me but sadly it didn't, nya!" Kuroka smiled in amusement, finding it slightly humorous to mess with her opponents.
Narrowing his eyes at the woman, Kiba retracts his sword from the ground which causes the blades to disappear into the ground. The blonde furrowed his eyebrows to think of a way to land a hit on his opponent. But after a few failed tries with the combination of Issei's help, it didn't work as he hoped it would be. The main cause of the failed attempts was the power the Nekoshou had; phasing in and out from place to place which acted as a huge disadvantage for them. He thought back to the plan where he act as a decoy of attacking Kuroka with his sword while Issei readies to hit with his dragon beam shot. But at the end, it wasn't fast enough to hit the Nekoshou nor was he succesfull of landing a hit on the woman much to his frustration.
Kiba glances at the corner of his eyes at his right side and saw Issei panting with beads of sweat visible on his forehead from using a large amount of energy for his attack. Regret started forming inside him and he was reassuring himself that it was for the best if they could get a result. A result of success. A result of defeating the black haired Nekoshou. Then, Kiba's eyes then met with Issei's. The two of them stare at each other for moment before the two readies their stance to fight once again.
Quirking an eyebrow at the renew determination of the two, Kuroka phased out from her spot on the branch and appears in front of the tree of the said branch. A small smirk spread across her face as she cross her arms over her chest. "So what do you have in mind this time nya? Will it be the same as last time because I admit that it was slightly fun." Kuroka smirked as Kiba immediately charges with Issei in tow. "Hm? Two against one? Isn't that unfair?" She asked before she lifts her right hand and started moving her finger around, which caused symbols to appear above her finger with each seals displayed by her finger.
Suddenly, purple gas smoke appears and envelope the area around them in the purple smoke. At the second the gas was released, Kiba immediately kneels down from inhaling the gas into his nose. He coughed violently catching Issei's attention as he rush towards his aid and kneels down in front of him.
"Kiba? Are you okay?"
"This gas..." Kiba mutters.
"Issei-senpai, Kiba-senpai." Koneko thought as she watch her seniors in the gas by her spot behind the tree a few ways from the two. Clenching her fist at seeing her seniors suffer, she tried to help by walking out of her spot and face her elder sister. But at the thought of her current weak form, she started to have second thoughts because she can't help her friends if she can't have the power. Gritting her teeth, Koneko look up in determination and step out from her spot as Kuroka looked at her in clear sight.
Koneko watch her sister looking at her before she watches her eyes followed something behind her. Then, a voice called out to which causes her eyes to widen in surprise, recognizing the voice.
Issei who was bent down right beside Kiba look up at the voice. "Asia-chan?!"
Noticing the expression on the brunette's face, Kuroka smiled in amusement. "Is the Red Dragon Emperor held affections for the girl? What a way to find out..." She hold up her right hand as a purple energy gathered on her palm. A symbol could be seen inside the forming purple sphere. Then, the purple sphere take on a white sheet of color as Kuroka held it above her palm. With her target in sight, Kuroka immediately shoot her hand forward shooting the white energy sphere towards Asia who had arrived at the area.
The blonde girl look at Koneko before she look forward. "Huh?" Asia look upon the white sphere that nearing her before she closed her eyes and shield herself. A loud scream breaks out as Asia immediately let her hands down at her sides and her eyes spotted Koneko standing in front of her. The front of her school uniform was shredded, leaving some upper parts of the uniform to stay intact and hide her chest from being seen.
"Shirone!" Kuroka shouted with wide eyes, never expecting her sister to save the blonde by throwing herself into the line of her energy sphere.
"Koneko-chan!" Issei shouted as he watch Koneko winced before falling backwards to which Asia caught her by the shoulders and steadied her. The brunette turns to Kuroka and glared at her. "You're gonna get it!" He said charging towards Kuroka.
"Koneko." Asia called out in worry as she accesses the damages done by the energy sphere on the white haired's body. She then hold out her right hand before a green glow envelope her hand and started healing the burn marks on her stomach while her left hand steadied Koneko's body.
"Take this!" Issei said as he punch his left hand towards Kuroka who only phased out in front of him before appearing behind him. Noticing her, Issei send a punch her way but it met air. The brunette then turn his head around as Kuroka phases in and out all around him, causing him to grit his teeth in frustration. "Argh! Who do you think you are to hurt your own sister?"
"Who do you think I am?" Kuroka questioned with a frown. "You should listen to yourself for once. She stood in the way to protect that blonde girl, nya. If it wasn't for her, she shouldn't be hurt in the first place." She stated to the brunette who takes a stealing glance at Asia that was healing Koneko. The brunette met eyes with the white haired and he saw the sad hue that took on the pair of orbs.
Clenching his fist, Issei started punching in every direction trying to land a single hit on the black haired Nekoshou who was still dodging his attack without too much of a effort.
"Issei-kun..." Kiba coughed as he look up with weak eyes at the brunette that was bent out to punch Kuroka for what she did. Gripping the sword in his hand, Kiba stands up weakly as his sword acted as support. Staggering himself to stand correctly, Kiba crouches down into a stance before he grips his sword with both of his hands. With a single shout, Kiba yelled out. "Issei!" He stab his sword into the ground.
Hearing his name being called out, Issei look at Kiba before his eyes widen and he instantly jumps out of the way from the line of blades piercing from the ground rapidly. Just as he left, Kuroka appeared in front of the blades that shockingly neared her, catching her by surprise.
"What?" Kuroka asked herself as her eyes spotted the sharp edge of a blade nearing her along with the other blades behind it. The black haired Nekoshou jump backwards but she didn't jump unscathed. When she landed, Kuroka look down at her right leg and noticed that a piece of her skirt had been sliced off from its fabric. She then noticed from the cut off part of her skirt, a thin trail of blood flowing down her leg. Looking up, Kuroka glared at Kiba who staggered to keep standing. "You'll pay for that, nya!" She then shoot out her white sphere to which hits Kiba directly at his chest, blowing him back to hit the tree behind him.
"Ah!" Kiba winced as his head connected with the bark of the tree and he slides down to the ground. The blonde look up at Issei who looks at him with wide eyes. Feeling himself slipping in and out, Kiba closed his eyes and hung his head down, unconscious by the effect of the poison gas combined with the force of the tree hitting the back of his head.
"Kiba." Issei thought looking at the blonde who went unconscious. He then looked at Kuroka before glancing at Koneko and Asia who was still healing the injured white haired. Gripping the soil beneath his palm, Issei went to continue his assault but a shout cuts him from doing just that.
"Asia!" Rias shouted as she, Akeno and Serafall arrived on scene after following the trail left by the blonde nun. The red head look up and her eyes widen, seeing the injured Koneko being heal and held on by Asia. Rias then look at her left and saw an unconscious Kiba lying against the bark of tree. After that, she look up ahead and her eyes spotted the outline of the black kimono and the familiar black haired that she known. Her eyes widen in surprise as she caught sight of Kuroka's face looking at her with shock.
"Kuroka-chan?" Serafall questioned in shock standing beside Akeno. "What..."
"Kuroka, is that you? Why...are you here?" Rias asked as Kuroka look away in slight shame, avoiding eye contact with both Rias and Serafall.
Watching the apparent behaviour that was displayed by her elder sister, confusion littered Koneko's mind. She did not expect her sister to react the way she was in front of her eyes. It look strange to her seeing as she never showed this new side of her before. The vulnerable form of her before. The only time she ever saw that was when she shed tears for her blonde senior when he saved her along with Rias and Serafall. Other than that, that was all that she could remember.
"...Are you associated with Khaos Brigade?" Rias asked as a frown curve downwards on her lips, hoping inside that her statement wasn't true. While she waiting for the answer, she was unaware that her question had caused Serafall to look at Kuroka in shock with a hint of sadness.
But instead of answering, Kuroka stayed silence. After a few moments, she speak up.
"...I...I'm one of them." At the answer, Serafall's eyes widen in surprise while Rias's frown deepen. "Yes. I'm with them. It's the truth." Kuroka explained as she glances up and caught sight of the frown greeting her, much to her sadness. Clenching her fists, she tried to ignore the nervousness creeping up on her but she can't seeing as she had been caught by both Rias Gremory and Serafall Leviathan. Both of which she called them, her friends. After all they've been through, she allowed herself to call them that because for the duration they waited for Izayoi to recover; they've bonded. In whichever way, they bonded by talking about the small things they've like over their years. And also about their past which involved meeting with a certain blonde. After the time they spent together, she was grateful to herself that she had friends that she can finally trust and had fun with. But now, she doesn't know if she deserved to be call theirs.
"Does..." This time it was Serafall that started speaking. "Does Izayoi-kun know about this? Know about you being one of them?"
At the question, Kuroka freezes. Her body turns rigid from hearing the words with her ears. Her eyes widen in surprise before her eyelids slightly drop. "...No. He-Izayoi-kun doesn't know." She answered staring at the ground in pure sadness when speaking about her lovable blonde. "He doesn't know anything about it. Till the day we met, he never did know." She explained with a sad tone as she hug herself. "...I can't tell him. How can I tell? If I did, what would happen, nya? No, I don't want to take a risk if he knows..."
"Kuroka..." Serafall mutters as she stared at the black haired Nekoshou.
"Since...Since when did you allied yourself with them? Are you with them all this time? When we were together at Kyoto? You were one of them?" Rias asked as Akeno look at her best friend and noticed the sad tone she used when she spoke up.
Kuroka cringed at the mention of Kyoto. Her eyes glances up to meet with Rias's. "...Yes. I'm one of them still. At the beginning, I was with them." She answered as her cat ears drop slightly.
"If you're one of them, then you surely you know their purpose on coming here at the gathering of young devils. Loki, the Norse god admitted in front of everyone that he allied himself with your faction. If he is involved, I can't possibly doubt there is nothing that Khaos Brigade would want to be here." Rias stated as she narrow her eyes but she can't help the frown on her face as she stare at Kuroka.
"...I can't tell. I-I'm sorry, Rias-chan." Kuroka tighten her grip around herself as Rias and Serafall saw the tears that fall from her eyes. Their eyes widen at the Kuroka they knew in front of them and they can't help but express the sympathy they've held for her.
"Kuroka onee-sama?" Koneko thought as she watches her sister genuinedly cried in front of her eyes. At the sight, tears started to appear at the corner of her eyes. From unknown reasons, she doesn't like to see her sister cry.
"Koneko-chan?" Asia asked as she felt liquid hitting her arm and she saw herself that the white haired shed tears. Frowning, the blonde tried to coax her by gently rubbing her shoulder in comfort. Meanwhile, Issei who was standing in between Koneko and Kuroka, held a confused look. While he held some sort of sympathy for the black haired Nekoshou but he had heard her reason for coming. She wanted to recruit her little sister to join Khaos Brigade thus leaving the family she had already joined and cared for.
"...That's why..." Kuroka started as everyone look at her. Suddenly, a purple magic circle appears behind her as white energy spheres appears around the circle. "I can't let you live any longer." Kuroka said looking up and everyone could see her eyes narrowing seriously but with hint of sadness hidden behind them. The black haired immediately lifted her hands and shoot a circle of the white spheres towards Rias and the others.
"Akeno!" Rias shouted as Akeno nodded and she summon a protective magic circle in front of them. But to everyone's surprise, a lock of brown hair appeared in front of the protective magic circle.
"Issei!" Rias yelled as the circle of white spheres hit the brunette directly, causing an explosion to go off by the contact.
When the smoke receded, Rias and the others look in front of the protective magic circle. Their eyes trailed off the form of the brunette before they noticed his uniform reap and shredded on some parts; mostly his sleeves and undershirt. They watch as the brunette stagger on his feet before he straighten himself to stand.
"Issei-san!" Asia said as she tried to rush to his aid but knowing that she held Koneko in her arms, she withdraw herself to stand up from her sitting position.
Looking at the look of hurt crossing the blonde's face, Koneko look down in slight shame and regret, knowing that it was her fault that resulted on the brunette getting hurt. The white haired then look at her right, seeing the form of the unconscious Kiba lying against the bark of the tree helplessly. And then she withdraw her sights to see her brunette senior that was standing protectively in front of her. With a frown, the white haired stands up from Asia who look at her in surprise.
"Koneko-chan?" Asia called out as she reaches her hand out towards the white haired but she acted too late as she saw Koneko walking towards Kuroka.
"Koneko?" Rias asked as she saw the white haired pass by her before stopping in front of her.
"Onee-sama, I will go with you. You can stop now." Koneko stated as Kuroka look at her sister for a moment.
"Koneko, what are you saying?" Rias asked in surprise while recounting the words the came out of her servants' mouth.
"Can't you see, Buchou?" Koneko asked as she look over her shoulder at her surprised Master. "If I stay here any longer, you'll be hurt. Look what I have done by staying here. Kiba-senpai and Issei-senpai, they're...hurt because of me. Because of my existence that they were hurt." Koneko explained as Rias shakes her head at her.
"No, you can't go. Koneko, you are my servant and a member of my household! I won't allow you to do what you want!" Rias stated seriously.
"I already told Issei-senpai and Kiba-senpai about this. But, Onee-sama's power...I know it more than anyone." Koneko stated as her body shakes. Rias stare down at her before her eyes soften.
Two arms wrap themselves around Koneko from behind, taking her by surprise. "I know. I will protect you."
"...Do you think you know Shirone's power more than me?" Kuroka asked as she stared at Rias. "I know it more than anyone else. Come here, Shirone. I'll make you top-class in the sage arts." She said as she stretche her hand forward towards Koneko.
"No. I don't need power like that. I don't need power that brings misfortune to others." Koneko hung her head down low as fresh tears fall down at the corner of her eyes.
"Kuroka. When you were drowning in your own power, you left a scar on her that will never disappear. When you left after killing your master, this girl saw hell. When I first met her, she didn't have any feelings left inside. Koneko was betrayed by her only family. She had no one to turn to and the others devils hated her, to the point she was almost disposed of. This girl has seen many painful things." Rias explained to Kuroka as she held Koneko in her arms.
"Rias-Buchou."
"And that's why..." Rias look down at Koneko. "I will show her many wonderful things."
"...I don't want to go. Kuroka onee-sama! I don't want to go with you! I am Tojo Koneko!" Koneko announced loudly at her elder sister. "I am going to live...live together with Rias-Buchou!"
"This girl is Rias Gremory's rook, Toko Koneko! She is a treasured devil of my household. I will not allow you to lay a finger on her!" Rias exclaimed defiantly.
"...You..." Kuroka speak up as her face was shadowed by her hair. "Do you think you know everything that happen that day? You don't know that filth of a master that took us under him. You don't know how that filth tried to do to Shirone...You don't know anything to begin with!" Kuroka look up as Rias flinched from the cold glare she gave. "If that's what you think, then...die." She stated as she draw out her finger and the same symbols appeared in front of her finger. Suddenly, the same purple smoke of gas polluted the whole area as Rias kneels down along with Koneko. After them, Akeno, Serafall fell to the ground on their knees. Asia who was on the ground at the moment, coughed at the gas that she inhaled.
"This is!" Koneko said as Issei look at the white haired and the rest.
"Koneko! Buchou! Asia!" Issei shouted in surprise, witnessing the same trick that the black haired Nekoshou had done to Kiba.
"It works so well with devils and spirits. But I guess it really doesn't work on dragons." Kuroka said as Issei look up at her who was perching on the tree previously.
"You!"
"I weakened the poison, so they won't die immediately. I'll kill you all slowly." Kuroka said to everyone.
"Kuroka-chan." Serafall muttered as she coughed at the poison entering her lungs.
"Ddraig." Issei said as he look down at his gauntlet.
"What is it, partner? Do you want to achieve Balance Breaker?"
"It is possible, right?"
"As I said, you cannot reach Balance Breaker without a drastic catalyst."
"Drastic..." Issei said in thought as he tried to think of the said word.
"The rest is up to you."
"Even if you tell me that the second time, I still don't know what to do!" Issei shouted at his partner.
"So the Red Dragon Emperor will die without activating his Sacred Gear?" Kuroka asked as she hold up her right hand as a white energy sphere appears above her palm. "But I'm still going to attack!" Kuroka said as she shoot the white energy sphere forward and Issei took the hit to the chest simultaneously protecting both Rias and Koneko behind him along with Akeno, Serafall and lastly Asia.
"Issei-san!" Asia said as she stands up and rush towards him. But as she arrived near him, she suddenly collapsed to the ground, alerting the brunette.
"Asia!" The brunette rush to her side as he help her to sit up. Just as the blonde sit, she started coughing as she limply look up at Issei.
"I don't feel too good..." Asia admitted as her weak eyes stared into Issei's worried ones.
"Asia, you can't move! Either of you can't move or the poison will spread. Kiba had inhale it before."
"Kiba-san." Asia glances at the unconscious blonde near the tree. Suddenly, Issei's scream cut her off as Asia look at the brunette that took a few energy spheres at his back.
"Issei-senpai. Please stop."
"So weak! This is Vali's rival? Did he really make Vali retreat?" Kuroka stated to the brunette disappointedly.
"Shit! I'm always like this! Where is Izayoi-senpai where you need him? Ugh, I helped Asia? No." Issei said in thought as he stand up and turns around to face Kuroka. "Everyone praises me, but that's not the case! That's not the case at all! I let Asia die, once! And I don't want to lose anyone after that. How can I save them all if I'm a legendary dragon?! I can't bring out my power until after someone gets hurt. There's no meaning to a power like that!" Issei thought as tears started falling down his cheeks at the disappointment in himself.
"Even if you're her big sister, I can't forgive myself who makes Koneko cry!" Issei shouted at Kuroka, who frowned.
"I feel bad for Shirone. Saying that, just covered in mud and blood, it'd just creep a girl out. So gross."
"Issei." Koneko called out.
"Koneko, even though I have a legendary dragon in me, I can't do anything. I'm a useless devil with no talents."
"I have heard that Red Dragon Emperors often drown with power. My sister is the same. Even if they're powerful, they go berserk if they have no kindness. I think you are the first kind Red Dragon Emperor in history. So even if you lack some power...Please become a kind Welsh Dragon." Koneko said as a smile spread across her face.
Seeing this, Issei look at her in surprise. "Koneko, I..." He trailed off as Ddraig's words appeared in his mind. His eyes widen in realization as he understood the meaning behind his partner's words. "I see! So that's what it means!"
"You finally realized it!" Tannin appeared flying in the sky still.
"Buchou! I think I know what I'm missing!" Issei said as he turns around to face Rias, who look up at him. The red head watches as the brunette turns to kneel in front of Asia. "I think I need Asia's power to reach Balance Breaker, Buchou."
"What is it, Issei?" Rias asked in curiosity as Asia look at the brunette.
"...I-I'll do anything, Issei-san."
"Please let me poke your boobs, Asia!" At the statement heard by the blonde, Asia didn't know what to reply as her cheeks turned red. Meanwhile, Rias can't help the amusing smile playing on her lips at the brunette's statement.
"Oh my, did Issei just said what I think I heard?" Akeno asked with a slight amused tone while Serafall hide the amused smile spreading on her lips.
But as the black haired Satan wanted the moment to last longer, her thoughts were jumbled all over at the moment. Out of the corner of her eyes, Serafall glances at Kuroka and stare at her for a while.
"Why, Kuroka-chan? Why do you have to do all of this?" She asked herself as she can't help sympathize with the black haired Nekoshou she'd grown to known and care of as a friend. From the time the two made up, Serafall had grown accustomed to the Nekoshou and she was proud of herself for calling Kuroka her friend. But she didn't understand how all of that changed in just one day after the tragedy that had struck Kyoto. Just by seeing the Nekoshou, she knew that she was upset that they found out her identity as one of Chaos Brigade much to her surprise and shock. But knowing that fact, she can't let herself believe that the Kuroka she knew had changed for the better.
To her, the Nekoshou she is now wasn't the one she knew and it didn't suit her as much as the Nekoshou from before. To her, she picked the Nekoshou from before if it means getting her best friend back. "Huh?" Serafall asked in thought as her eyes met with Kuroka's but her eyes didn't respond with hatred much less rage. Instead, it revealed sadness.
"Kuroka-chan..." Serafall look at her sadly before the Nekoshou move her gaze away from her. Serafall then look at the direction Kuroka's eyes were directed and she look ahead to see Issei kneeling down in front of Asia.
"...If that's what you want, Issei-san." Asia said as she shyly opens her buttons to reveal her small breasts.
"I'm going to poke your boobs. I'm going to push them in. Are you sure, Asia?" Issei asked as Asia look down shyly before looking up in slight determination.
"If that's what you need to do to win, then you can do it, Issei-san. I trust you."
"What are you doing in the middle of the battle?" Tannin asked looking at Issei in confusion.
"Old man! Fend them off while I poke Asia-chan's breast!"
"Poke her breast?! You're going to poke her breast?! What are you trying to do in the middle of battle?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's so I can reach Balance Breaker!"
"Was my training with you useless? Are you really that stupid?" Tannin asked the brunette who lifted his left hand and approaches Asia's left breast. Suddenly, Issei's eyes widen and he look up at Tannin.
"Old man! This is terrible!"
"What is it? Did something happen?!"
"The right boob or the left boob? Which should I poke?!"
"You idiot? They're the same! Just poke her breast already!"
"Don't joke around! There's no way they're both the same! This is important! This is my first time pushing the buzzer! Lives are at stake! Answer me seriously!" Issei said before turning to look at Asia. "Asia-chan? Which do you suggest I should do?"
"Issei-san, y-you can poke them at the same time if you like!" Asia blushed as she look down in slight embarrassment.
"At the same time?! What an amazing piece of advice!" Issei thought as he lifted his left hand and his gauntlet instantly disappears. "Here I go!" He said as Issei lifted both of his index fingers and slowly moved in near Asia's breasts. "If I push them, they cry out! If I push them at the same time, they cry out even more!" He thought as his fingers pokes Asia's breasts before he pushes them slowly.
"...I-Issei-san..." Asia stuttered as she tried keep herself from moaning out of pleasure. But as Issei's fingers pushes themselves further inside her breasts, Asia threw her head back and moaned out. "More..."
At the revelation of her sweet moan ringing in his ears, Issei's eyes widen in happiness as his left arm glowed green brightly. Issei step back as he look down at his glowing arm while everyone look on in awe.
"You've reached it! You've really reached it!" Ddraig stated as Issei's eyes widen at the red flames engulfing his whole body. "Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!"
"You're the worst. A perverted Red Dragon Emperor." Koneko said with a blank look.
"Balance Breaker Boosted Gear, Scale Mail!" Issei announced as he took on the form of his scale mail once again but with an addition of red dragon wings on his back. "I have come forth after poking Asia's chan's breasts!"
"Congratulations, partner!" Ddraig congratulated him. "But truly terrible. At this rate, your actions will truly make me cry with sorrow."He added with a hint of disappointment evident in his tone.
"All things aside, you're finally achieved it! Such a powerful energy signature!" Tannin commented.
"How interesting." Kuroka smirked. "Then let me welcome you with a mix of sage and demon arts!" She said as a purple magic hexagon appeared on her back before white magic spheres begin to appear on all sides of the hexagon. Immediately, the spheres begin to rotate clockwise and combine each spheres to form a white energy circle that flew towards Issei and hit him directly, causing blue smoke to engulf him.
Kuroka allow herself to smirk before her eyes widen in surprise.
"That's all?" Issei asked flying in the air after being hit by the white energy circle to which he was left unscathed. The brunette then fly down towards Kuroka, who lift her hands forward.
"Don't get such a big head!" Kuroka shouted as she shoot several white spheres towards the brunette to stop him. But to no avail that the spheres didn't slow him down and instead hit the air veil that had started to form during Issei's charge. When the brunette's fist was slowly nearing Kuroka, an explosion instantly goes off sending rocks away. Smoke and debris immediately filling the entire area.
After a while, the smoke clears and everyone look up to see the the result.
"Nobody will make my junior cr-?!" Issei was cut off as his eyes stare at a pair of purple eyes. His eyes then trailed off from his fist to the palm that grip around his fist. "Izayoi-senpai?!" After he finishes, Issei felt the power in him drained instantly and his eyes widen as his armor exploded into tiny little pieces, leaving him without any parts of his armor left on him. Issei look down at himself before he look up at the blonde standing before him who was in front of Kuroka. "Izayoi-senpai, y-you're here! Why are you..."
"I-Izayoi-kun?" Kuroka mutters in surprise at his sudden appearance before her.
"It's a good thing I made it in time, huh?" Izayoi asked with a smirk as he glance over his shoulder at Kuroka who was speechless to reply back. "What's with that face, Kuroka? Did a cat literally got your tongue on the way?" The blonde smiled amusingly at the black haired Nekoshou.
"Y-You're here, Izayoi-kun nya." Kuroka speak up with wide eyes but she didn't make any attempt to jump on him at the prospect of meeting him again after weeks. "Wh-Why are you here?" She asked. "Why now?" She added in thought.
"Why? I think you can answer that yourself, don't you think Kuroka?"
"...Izayoi-"
"Izayoi-senpai." Issei called out as Izayoi turns to the brunette standing in front of him. "Stay away from her. She's the enemy. She's with Khaos Brigade all along." He explained seriously. "She admitted it herself. So we have to-"
"Have to what?" At the blonde's sudden counter, Issei quirked an eyebrow in confusion but he still answers his question.
"We have to pay her back for the things she's done for Koneko-chan all those years ago. Even if she's her big sister and is the only family member she has, she abandoned her and scarred her for life! She also made Koneko-chan cried." Issei explained fully staring up at the blonde.
"You know, you shouldn't jump into conclusions based on those facts only." Izaypi casually answered which surprises everyone nearby.
"Izayoi-senpai? But she-?!"
"Save her sister from being scarred for life by her dead master all those years ago." Izayoi stated as Issei's eyes widen in surprise with a hint of confusion at his spoken statement.
"Izayoi-kun..." Kuroka frowned as she look at the back of the blonde's head.
"You can't torture yourself any longer, Kuroka. You know that you can't hide it forever without them finding out. Anyway, you still care for your sister, right?" Izayoi asked glancing at her over his shoulder. A smile could be seen from the corner of his lips as he finishes his sentence.
"What does he mean, Rias?" Akeno asked as she stare up at the red head who look at Izayoi in surprise.
"I don't know, Akeno, I never heard anything about their master except that he took care of both Kuroka and Koneko under his care. There was no reports about the said master being abusive towards them or anything of the sorts. If it did, it didn't reach the Underworld for them to be heard." Rias explained as Koneko gazes her elder sister with a confused expression.
The white haired didn't understand the statement voiced out by her blonde senior mostly because it mentioned her sister saving her in the process. At the mention of that particular saving part, it baffled her greatly. If she did remember correctly, her Master before Rias had taken care of them good enough for her. One of the examples was that he made her sister stronger by using two of his Bishop Evil Pieces and made her a part of his peerage which lead the both of them to a great life. As far as she could remember, her master wasn't bad and the only thing she had heard from him last was his scream wailing in her ears. At the recollection of memory, Koneko shut her eyes and focuses her attention back to her elder sister, wondering about the truth that had originally been hidden from her ever since.
"Is that him? Is that the Hero that saved the Underworld?" Tannin asked himself as he took upon himself to inspect the blonde young man closer with his eyes. Upon close inspection, his eyes widen. "He's a human?!" He thought in shock.
"What?" Bikou asked as he stop himself from chasing Tannin and instead focus on the new arrival. At the mere sight of him, he grins as he fly straight down towards him, abandoning his attention on fighting Tannin which he found boring as he always had to chase after him.
Looking up from her position on the ground, Serafall's eyes widen as she saw Bikou flying straight down towards Izayoi. She look up straight at the blonde and shouted with all her might, ignoring the poison that went inside her lungs.
"Izayoi-kun!"
At the shout, Izayoi glances at Serafall before looking up at the fast approaching Bikou riding on his cloud heading towards him. A smirk spread across his face as Izayoi clench his fist.
"Son Goku, huh? This is an interesting way to meet." Izayoi stated before he watches Bikou jumping off from his cloud and swinging his staff downwards towards him.
"The blondie that had destroyed Vali completely with just a punch. Hah, it's nice to finally meet you!" Bikou shouted as he extend his staff and swings his staff downwards as hard as he can. Suddenly, a hand grip around the other end of his staff catching Bikou by surprise as the blonde easily stop his attack with his bare hand and bringing him to stand still in the air.
"Same to you too!" Izayoi replied with a smirk as Bikou look at him in shock. But then, Bikou sense something behind to which he look over his shoulder at the approaching fireball heading towards him. The hot degree could be felt under his skin. Eyes widening, Bikou tried to pull his staff at his side but to no avail as Izayoi held a tight grip on it, preventing him to go with it.
"Just my luck..." Bikou mutters before he was envelope by the fireball and send spiraling towards the ground before an explosion went off as the fireball made contact with the earth.
Looking up at Tannin flying over the skies, Izayoi smiled. "Former Dragon King, Tannin. I think we never met before."
"Likewise. About the monkey, thank you for your help."
"Don't mention it." Izayoi replied before watching Bikou's staff which he held shrinks into its regular size. A smirk appeared on his face as he witness the scene before him. Twirling the staff in hand, the blonde stab it into the ground. "Is this really Son Goku's staff? Ruyi Jingu Bang. I thought it was heavier than this..." Izayoi stated observing the staff while Tannin accessed the blonde from where he stood. After a quick nod of acknowledgment, Tannin speak up.
"Sakamaki Izayoi. That is your name is it not?" He asked as Izayoi look up at him. "The individual that saved all of Underworld by fighting the Three-Headed Dragon. That's what I heard mostly."
Nodding at the statement, Izayoi smiled up at the former Dragon King.
"I can't hide the truth as long as the truth spreads like wildfire. And it seems it did if you gotten a word about it."
"I apologize for my absent on the day that monstrosity came into this world. I never expected the details of the Three-Headed Dragon from Sirzechs once I came after I gotten word about your heroic act of battling against the Three-Headed Dragon that took out the combined forces of Four Satans. I wanted to meet the proclaimed Hero of the Underworld that everyone had decided to call him." Tannin smiled. "And so, with my deepest respect as a Former Dragon King, I appreciated what you did for the sake of the Underworld and its inhabitants. I truly am." Tannin bowed his head in respect for the blonde.
"Thanks for that. It took quite a while before that lizard got teleported to another world. Let's just hope that it wouldn't escape from there. It would be a pain if it did. Fighting that lizard took a whole lot on me." Izayoi admitted with an amused smile as Tannin smile back.
"So I've heard." Just as he finishes, a shout voices out as Izayoi look ahead.
"Serafall-sama!" Akeno shouted as she grip onto both of Serafall's shoulders, preventing her from falling earlier due to poison spreading all over the forest.
Narrowing his eyes at the visible purple gas of smoke lingering around him, Izayoi frowned. "Kuroka."
At her name being called, Kuroka look up at the blonde with a hint of nervousness.
Sensing her looking, Izayoi asked. "Can you get rid of this poison gas?"
Hearing the question, Kuroka look from the corner of the blonde's shoulder, seeing one of her friends suffering from the poison gas that she produced. Regret filled her mind as she slowly lifted her hand to dispel the gas. But before she could, she top midway. "...No. I-I don't want." Shocked by her own answer, Kuroka look up at the blonde who turned around while letting go of Bikou's staff to look at her with a look mixed with confusion and curiosity.
"Why's that, Kuroka?"
"...I don't want to. If I did, they'll..." Kuroka hesitated which was noticed by Izayoi. "They'll...Including you...You'll never want to meet me again because I'm one of them. I'm your enemy and enemies aren't supposed to side together...ever." When she finishes, she caught movement and she watches Izayoi moving towards her. She then closed her eyes tightly as fear started to take over her mind. "I should have never met you in the first place...It was a mistake...We're supposed to be enemies, we're on different sides." She explained with closed eyes as she senses the blonde stood over her.
"Are you telling the truth? Did you believe every word you said just now?"
At the question, Kuroka frowned. "No." She thought. "Yes." She answered the blonde as she bit her lips.
"Do you believe we should never have met in the first place all along? Because for all I care, it doesn't matter. I don't regret the day that we met at all. I'm grateful actually." Immediately, Kuroka look up at the blonde with wide eyes as tears started to appear at the corner of her eyes. "Who would have thought that I met a woman who likes to be soak in the rain? That's rare as it is." Izayoi smiled as Kuroka stare at him in surprise, "So, do you still regret that we met because I don't."
"...I...I..." But before she could continue, a voice sounded out amusingly out of nowhere.
"Oh, I can't believe it. I thought that dragon would have already take you to the other side by now. But imagine my surprise that you're still alive as it is. What good news it is for me." At the familiar voice, Izayoi narrowed his eyes before he and Kuroka look behind her, seeing a lone white haired boy walking out from the shadows of the forest.
Recognizing the boy, Izayoi walk up to stand in front of Kuroka who look at him in surprise of his action while curiously questioning his involvement with the white haired boy. But just by seeing the look on the blonde's face, Kuroka knows that the boy isn't good news.
"What are you doing, gaki? I thought I'd kicked your ass before. Do you come for more?" Izayoi asked with a hint of amusement.
"Maybe. But I came for another reason also. If you'd like to know, I sided myself with Khaos Brigade. Temporarily." His Highness answered with a smile.
"Khaos Brigade? He's one of them too?" Issei asked looking at the white haired boy. "But he's just a kid? What can he do?"
"He can do much more than you expected, Issei." Izayoi answered the brunette who looked at him in curiosity. "If he can summoned that Three-Headed Dragon from another dimension then he isn't some ordinary boy anymore."
"He summoned that dragon?!" Rias asked as she, Serafall and Kuroka looked shock by the information, seeing as they clearly knew the dragon nearly killed them if it weren't for Izayoi's sacrifice that saved them but it almost cost his life in the process.
Smiling ruefully, His Highness answered the brunette's question. "I have my comrades that took part in the process of the summoning," He explained before turning towards Izayoi. "Yes, you're right. I summoned that dragon. But it wasn't on my own accord that summoned that dragon from our world to here. Without the others, the dragon wouldn't terrorize this city in the past and you would continue your daily life in peace including you, Sakamaki Izayoi." He said as Izayoi narrow his eyes, not knowing how the boy could have known his name.
"If what you said is true, then where are they?"
"They?" Highness raised an eyebrow.
"Where are your so called comrades? Shouldn't they introduced themselves to us first?"
"Oh. Well, they are busy for the moment, they can't attend with me to meet you all especially you." Highness said to Izayoi.
"Why are they busy?" Izayoi asked feeling uncomfortable about the mention of the word since it brings a sense of bad feelings to him that he doesn't like. "Shouldn't they atleast introduce themselves before the party begins?"
"Oh, the party will begin. It will arrive but in the meantime, you should look out for the last vampire of Little Garden. I think she has a huge part in this." His Highness stated which confuses everyone but Izayoi knew better than to be confused. The blonde stare at the Highness while he thought about the last vampire of Little Garden. Suddenly, someone came to mind and he look at Highness with narrowed eyes.
"Leticia. What are you going to do with her?"
"I think you should ask, what are you going to save her?" His Highness smiled. "It was nice to meet you from the dead, Sakamaki Izayoi. But sadly, I'm not here to fight. Yet. Next time, we'll meet on the battlefield. We were destined to since the beginning. We are the nexuses that are destined to clash from opposite sides." He kept his smile before he turns around and walked away. "I bid farewell. For now. But we'll meet on the battlefield for sure." He voices out before his presence disappeared along with the darkness of the forest that envelope his body.
Looking at where the white haired went, Izayoi immediately thought about the involvement of one of his maids in all of this.
"What are you going to save her?"
At the question ringing in his mind, he look back and looked up at the form of Sala flying towards him. He then watches as the red head lands down in front of him and Kuroka.
"Sala, where's Leticia?" Izayoi asked at the red head who looked surprised by him.
"How did you know?"
"Sala." Izayoi said her name to which causes Sala to compose herself. "Where's Leticia? Wasn't she with you?"
"She was. But she took a break to the restroom and I never heard or seen her ever since. I already searched for her in the women restrooms that are available in the building but there were no signs of her anywhere." Sala frowned as she explain all that she knew to the blonde, "I deeply apologize-" She was cut off as she saw the blonde holds up his hand in dismissal.
"No. It's not your fault. It was someone's doing to start with." Izayoi exclaimed surprising Sala. "I'm certain they're still working on something. But the important part of this is Leticia. They sounded like they needed her, and she's a big part to all of this." Izayoi explained.
"They?"
"An unknown group. I met one of their members; their leader." Izayoi stated knowing that the white haired boy was the leader behind the group. "He and his group are starting something. And also, they're with Khaos Brigade."
"Khaos Brigade? If they sided themselves with them, we wouldn't be able to tell how powerful they are now." Sala stated crossing her arms over her chest.
"We might be able to find out their plan." Rias voices out as Izayoi look at her along with everyone else. "We just need Kuroka to tell us what it is. We might be to sum up their plan in no time." She said as she stands up, feeling better that the poison gas wasn't in her lungs like before. The red head smiled at the surprised Kuroka who gaped at her. "She can help us. I know it."
"Buchou, how are you standing? The poison..." Issei asked in surprise.
"Kuroka had already dispelled the spell. It was a good thing too. If it were a second too late, Serafall would have passed out from the density of the air." Rias look over her shoulder to see Serafall supported by Akeno who just started standing up. The red head recalled the time when everyone else was focused on the white haired's appearance that she almost didn't notice Kuroka secretly and quietly dispel the poisonous gas from lingering over the forest anymore thus saving them from the torture of breathing into the poison gas. Looking at the black haired Nekoshou, Rias smiled in appreciation at her. "Thank you, Kuroka."
At the sudden appreciation, Kuroka glances away. "Don't mention it. I did what Izayoi-kun told me to do."
"Right, but thank you anyway. Without your help, I don't know what will happen to us next."
A frown curve downwards on her lips as Kuroka look at her. "Why? Why are you being good to me all of a sudden?" She asked at the red head. "If you hadn't noticed, I tried to kill you moments ago. Don't you care about that?"
"But in the end, you saved us Kuroka-chan." Serafall stated with a smile as she stood without any help from Akeno anymore.
"Yes, you tried to kill us but you didn't do it out of hatred for us right, Kuroka? You did it out of force."
"...I don't know what you're talking about, Rias."
"You do know. You just won't let yourself tell the truth. Kuroka, we don't hate you for what you did. You didn't mean for all of this to happen and we know." Rias explained as Serafall nodded along.
"H-How...How do I know you won't hate me?" At this, both Rias and Serafall look at each other before addressing their friend.
"Because we're your friends, Kuroka-chan. We've always have been since spent all those good times we had back at Kyoto!" Seradall exclaimed excitedly as she walk to stand in front of the surprised Kuroka. "We're not the type of friends that would abandon each other. And you're no exception. So will you be our friend again, Kuroka-chan?" Serafall asked as Rias came to stand next to her and smiled at the Nekoshou who looked at the two in shock.
Then, a hand came onto her back as Kuroka glances behind her to see Izayoi smiling at her in amusement.
"You know you can't refuse them right?" Izayoi asked in a whisper as Kuroka let out a small smile to grace her features.
"I heard that Izayoi-kun!" Serafall pouted as Izayoi shrugs his shoulders.
"What? You can't blame me for convincing her, right?"
Hearing the logic of it, Serafall look up thoughtfully before realization dawned her. "Mou, Izayoi-kun...Why are you always right?" She pouted as Izayoi smiled. At the sight of his smile, it immediately lit up a smile to cross Serafall's face. The Satan then turns to the Nekoshou in question. "Kuroka-chan? What do you say? We can be best friends again!" She exclaimed smiling widely.
Watching the excitement in her eyes at the mention of being best friends, Kuroka couldn't help but agree more in her mind. If it meant getting rid of the sick feelings that she had for hurting both her friends, then it was better than anything she could ask for. Other than that, she could repair her relationship with her sister. At the mention of her sister, Kuroka glances at the corner of her eye to focus onto Koneko, who was watching her. When both sisters made eye contact, Koneko was the first to shy away while Kuroka let out a smile at the scene. Turning around to face Serafall, she smiled warmly. "I would like that very much, nya." She answered which causes a pair of arms to hug her body as Kuroka watched in surprise as Serafall hugged her.
"It's nice that you're back, Kuroka-chan." Serafall said over her shoulder as Kuroka heard the words from her right ear. Hearing the said words made Kuroka forget the negative feelings in her and instead was replaced by a good sense of familiarity. The same familiarity she felt when she spent her time with her friends at Kyoto. And it make her feel good inside to which she like.
"Me too, Serafall nya." She replied before she reluctantly continued. "But I have to go now."
"What?" Serafall asked pulling back from the hug to look at her in surprise. "What do you mean you're leaving? You can stay here, Kuroka. You can stay with us."
"As much as I would want to, but I can't. Vali will notice if I don't go now. Anyway, Loki's presence is gone. So we don't have to worry about him. He willingly wanted to crash the party while we did the dirty work for him. How unfair is that? I mean, I wanted to crash the party too, nya." Kuroka smiled as Serafall wore a sad smile from hearing that her best friend was leaving but seeing the radiant smile on her face, it was enough for her. "Anyway~" She murmured as she turns around and wraps her arms around Izayoi's neck while pushing her breasts up against his chest. "I wanted to continue our session that you left out on, Izayoi-kun. You know it was so lonely without you to fill me in, nya?" Kuroka said seductively while staring at Izayoi's eyes. Leaning in, Kuroka captures his lips for a moment before pulling back, liking the feeling of kissing the blonde again. She doubt she would never get bored kissing him.
At that thought, Kuroka pull back and a purple magic hexagon appears beneath her along with a tiny hexagon underneath Bikou's staff. "Don't worry, Izayoi-kun. We'll continue after this, alright nya?" Kuroka smiled before looking behind her shoulder at Rias and Serafall. "Don't forget now, you two. I already reserve Izayoi-kun for myself, so you two should wait your turn." She playfully said as Rias and Serafall smiled back. "We're friends right? So friends should be considerate, right nya?"
"Somehow I don't like that we have to be considerate..." Serafall frowned in mock sadness. "I want Izayoi-kun to do me tonight!'
At the exclamation, everyone look at her in surprise. Issei who had heard the statement flew back with a nosebleed while Koneko shakes her head in disappointment of her senior's perverted mind. Asia who had witnessed the brunette fall rush to him and started to heal the injuries that he had sustained over fighting Kuroka.
"Ara ara, that's not fair, Serafall-sama. You should wait your turn. You have to know that there are other women that Izayoi have to please in bed other than you." Akeno smiled playfully as Serafall look at her and stuck out her tongue before smiling triumphantly.
"As if I let you in bed with Izayoi-kun, Akeno, I have no doubt that you will scream in pleasure but for your sake, control yourself."
"It seems like I have to settle this obstacle all by myself." Akeno smiled challengingly as Serafall smiled back. "I do hope that you will not use any dirty tricks at your disposal for this, Serafall-sama. That will not be a nice thing to do."
"Yeah, since you passed out in the second round. I think the girl will do better than you did, Serafall." Kuroka teased as she lightly laugh at seeing Serafall's red face. "Anyway, I'll be going now. It's nice to meet all of you again. It really is." Kuroka said particularly to Rias and Serafall who turned to look at her. "Especially you, Izayoi-kun." She said as she turns her head to look at the blonde. Leaning up, she casted a kiss on his right cheek, "Bye, Izayoi-kun." With that said, she disappears out of thin air along with the purple magic hexagon, including Bikou's staff that disappeared at the same time as her.
Looking at the spot where the Nekoshou disappeared, Rias casted a smile over her lips. "I hope that we will meet again soon, Kuroka." She thought.
"After all that I came. It was for nothing." Izayoi's annoyed voice cuts her thoughts as Rias look at her husband. "You know, I thought this outfit would serve a purpose in the gathering but it's just a waste of time since the party's over." He stated looking over his suit as Rias smiled reassuringly.
"But it's not. You look quite dashing in that suit, Izayoi-kun. The right outfit for the Gremory Prince." Rias explained with a smile as Izayoi hold her right hand and lifted it up between them.
"Thanks. If you hadn't kept this outfit in the changing room, I wouldn't have been able to go out with an entrance earlier. Somehow, I kind of figured that you would be a part on matching our outfits." Izayoi finished with a kiss on her knuckles before looking up at the red head.
"Whatever do you mean, Izayoi-kun? I did not do such a thing." Rias smiled while hiding the amusement in her voice. Letting go of her hand from her husband, Rias speak up. "Anyway, we should get back. Even though the party is over, Sirzechs would undoubtedly want to talk about what happen on my side of the story." Rias explained as Izayoi nodded in acknowledgment.
"I can't argue with that. But Leticia..." Izayoi trailed off in deep thought before Rias cup his face in her palms, breaking him from his thoughts.
"She can take of herself just fine. All of your maids are not the weak types to just give up." She reassured the blonde.
"Our maids." Izayoi corrected with a smile as Rias nods.
"Yes, our maids are not ones that easily give up and they know that. In the meantime, we should rest. I presumed that you had a long day from the training you went through right, Izayoi-kun?" Rias asked with a knowing smile as Izayoi smiled back while everyone look at the two with smiles on their faces.
"Well, I can't lie about that."
"You surely can't."
~Time Skip~
~Gathering Hall~
"So, Kuroka is friends with you again but decided to leave in accordance of Vali's sights. I understand." Sirzechs said before a frown appears on his face as a new problem arises in his mind, "Other than that, one of your maids disappeared without as much as a single trace. Hm, this is quite strange. Who would kidnap her?"
Frowning in unison with her brother, Rias replied. "Sadly, that's the problem. There is a new group that had allied itself with Khaos Brigade."
"What?" Sirzechs look at her sister in shock.
"We don't know the full details but we had just met their leader in the forest. He stated that something will happen and Leticia is a big part of the whole scheme."
Putting a hand under his chin, Sirzechs adopt a thoughtful look. "If that is so, I'd no doubt that they will try and rescue Loki from Ajuka's seal. Or worse, if Loki is released, they will step in at that time." Sirzechs finishes as he look over his sister. "But aside from that, there is no telling their action. But if Leticia is in their clutches, then there is no choice than to wait it out for their arrival."
Frowning in unison as her brother, Rias replied. "I don't like the fact that we can't do anything while Leticia might be suffering from wherever she is right now." Rias explained as she crosses her arms before Sirzechs pat her head, causing her to look up.
"Don't worry, you will find a way to get her back, Rias. I have faith in your ability and Izayoi's. And by the events that transpired today, you've grown wonderfully as a master of your household." Sirzechs assured as Rias lit up at his compliment. "Speaking of which, where is the girl?"
"She's relaxing with the others in the bathing room." Rias answered as Sirzechs nodded before the two turns around to greet their newly arrived parents.
"Rias." Venelana said spreading her arms wide to capture Rias in a hug much to her happiness. "I'm glad that you're safe."
"I'm sorry that I worried you, Okaa-sama."
"Don't apologize, it's a normal process for the parents to feel about their children." Venelana smiled as Rias smiled back before the two pull back from the hug. "Where is your husband, Rias? I thought he would be with you."
"Izayoi-kun will be here soon. He said he wanted to take a walk and familiarize himself with the setup of the building. But I have some doubts that he will be lounging around in our room and gotten a nice rest." Rias smiled.
"What can we say? He's been through a lot lately. He deserved some rest." Venelana stated as Rias nodded in agreement. "Anyway, are you okay Rias?"
At the question, Rias instantly reminded herself of the strange headache and the need to vomit suddenly. But when she saw her mother adopt a worried look, she smiled reassuringly and shakes her head. "No, I'm okay, Okaa-sama." She assured but Venelana didn't look convinced, even more so as her daughter look worried about something for a second before reassuring her of her own worries. But before Venelana could have time to continue thinking about the subject, a voice breaks her out of her thoughts.
"Are we having a family meeting here?" The playful voice that was owned by Izayoi voiced out as he came into view under the stairs that lead to them.
Seeing the blonde, Venelana smiled, "Yes, we have. Why don't you join in also, Izayoi?"
Answering her question with a smile, the blonde climb up the stairs and stand in front of them. But just as he stood, he was hugged by Venelana.
"Welcome back, Izayoi." Venelana exclaimed as Izayoi hug her back with one arm around her shoulders.
"It's nice to be back." He responded before Venelana pull back from the hug and look at her son in-law. She smiled as she look at him and Rias standing next to each other before noticing that their attires matches, much to her delight inside. "It seems like fitting is a right word to describe the two of you this evening, is it not?" She asked amusingly before Lord Gremory and Sirzechs smiled, noticing the couple wearing matching attires.
Noticing the stares upon them, Rias's cheeks flared in embarrassment before a hand wrapped around her waist and pull her closer. Looking up, she was greeted by a smiling Izayoi.
"We are 'fitting' this evening, right?"
"More like 'perfect'." Rias smiled warmly at her husband as Izayoi smile back. Meanwhile, Venelana and Lord Gremory smiled at the wedded couple along with Sirzechs and Grayfia who let out a small smile to grace upon her features.
~Women's Bathing Hall~
"Today was a crazy day. Relaxing like this seems so unreal." Xenovia smiled as she sits upon the edge of the pool while Asia sit in the water next to her. Both of them were naked.
"Irina-san seemed to be doing well." Asia added as Xenovia nods in agreement.
"So how are you feeling, Koneko?" A naked Akeno asked as she looks at the naked white haired sitting a few meters next to her, "Your sister isn't our enemy anymore."
"I...don't know how to feel about that." Koneko answered looking down with a thoughtful look before a small smile spread across her face at the thought of staying with Rias and the others instead of joining with the other faction. Looking back at that time, she regret to say that she would join the said faction without a single approval from her Master. And now, she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulder and she could smile more frequently than before, and it was thanks to her Master. "I can't erase a bond made of blood."
At the logic of the sentence, Akeno frown a little before closing her eyes. "That's true."
"That's why..." At the continuation, Akeno open her eyes in surprise. "I've decided not to worry about it. Also, I will become stronger."
"Ara, ara. That's very reassuring." Akeno commented with a smile before she look upon her reflection in the water. "Koneko, about Izayoi-kun saying about your sister...That he knows the truth behind the tragic event that happened years ago that separated the two of you. Do you, want to find out about it? The truth?" Akeno asked glancing at Koneko for her answer while in her mind, she was thinking about the truth that revolved around her own past.
"The truth?" Koneko asked herself as she look down, the smile that had made itself known on her face seconds ago had been replace by a frown.
"It is okay if you don't want to answer, I understand." Akeno smiled reassuringly once she saw the frown before her eyes. The black haired then look at the bathing hall and noticed that everyone aren't here. Her mind then recalled about the strange and sudden disappearance of Leticia leading up to the white haired boy's appearance in the forest. A smile of reassurance appeared on her face as she think about the three others that were worried about the blonde's disappearance the most. At the thought of the three, she was unaware of the voice that greeted her and the others.
"Can we join in?" At the voice, Akeno looks at the entrance of the bathing hall in front of her and she allow herself to smile back, seeing the smiling Asuka standing across the pool with a towel wrapped around her chest. Behind her were Sala, Shirayuki-Hime and Pest with towels that covered their nudity.
"You're welcome to join in." Akeno stated as Asuka smile widens, unaware of the conflict that started inside Koneko's mind.
A single question warp around the white haired's mind as she thought about the truth that causes the drift between her and her elder sister.
"Do I want to know the truth...?"
~Time Skip~
~Gremory Prince and Princess's Room~
Night
Slipping onto the white nightgown, Rias stared at the red dress visible on her master bedroom. With a smile, she walk out of the room and headed towards the girl's bathing hall, knowing the other girls were waiting for her.
But just as she closes the door to her and her husband's room, the red head look around the hallway trying to find the whereabouts of her husband.
Right after the two of them had their family moment, her brother had called out to the blonde to wait before reassuring her that it wouldn't take long. The red head agreed to her brother before heading out to the room shared with her husband since he has come back. But thinking back upon the subject, she questioned herself if the conversation between her husband and her brother would be this long as she was getting ready to bath.
Frowning lightly, the Gremory Princess wandered alone across the hallway to search for her husband while thinking about the events that transpired prior to Loki's arrival. Squeezing the towel situated in her hands, the red head was regretful to not ask for her mother when she needed it the most. She was entirely confused and curious on what was happening to her since it never occurred to her before.
Touching the area where her stomach is, Rias felt it was important to tell her mother about it since she would know better and also she might have experienced something like this before. She hope her mother did, or not she will be stuck on figuring out what happened to her. And she did not want her husband to worry if he ever saw her having the symptoms she had before. It's a relief that the symptoms didn't come back to bite her right now. It was an important phase she was in, where danger is arising much to her disappointment.
"Why is this happening to me?" Rias asked herself in a whisper as she continued walking along the hallway without caring if she was going the right way to the girl's bathing hall. She, at the moment was preoccupied with her thoughts and was unaware of the blonde standing in front of her. The red head look down at the floor as she think to herself but when a pair of black shoes came into sights, her head immediately bump into something which causes her to look up and was greeted by a pair of purple orbs. "Izayoi-kun." She called out.
"Surprise to see me? Anyway, what are you doing here?" Izayoi quirked an eyebrow as Rias look around at her surroundings, finally noticing that she's been walking around without any direction.
"...I was going to the girl's bathing hall but I got myself thinking about something on the way, and ended up walking nowhere." Rias sheepishly smile.
"I can see that. Anyway, you should go bath. I think you smell." He said which earn him a slap to his arm, causing him to smile.
"Izayoi-kun! I do not smell."
"Says the Gremory Princess." Izayoi teases as Rias smiled lightly, loving the light conversation the two were having.
"If you know where I'm going, would you mind telling me where you're going?" Rias peered her eyes to meet her husband's.
"Sirzechs invited me to a meeting after what transpired recently." At the statement, Rias frown lightly, reminding herself of the evil Norse god ruining the gathering. "Seeing as I'm the Gremory Prince, Sirzechs said that I should hone responsibility? Somehow, I doubt it very much." The blonde said with a hint of annoyance in his voice, causing the red head to giggle from his predicament.
"...Anyway, may I have your company for a walk along these hallways? Until you have to go, that is." Rias extend her right hand for him to take.
"I may be able to extend some time if the Princess allows me to." The blonde takes hold of the offered hand.
"She allows it so."
"Glad to hear it." With that, the two walk along the hallway with Rias's head gently resting upon Izayoi's shoulder.
Sighing blissfully, Rias let her mind wanders to the time where she met the blonde who is now her husband. The memories of the encounter was brief but it held a meaning. Because she remembered it clearly. Then, as time passes she was married to the same blonde that met her naked that day, much to her embarrassment. But she could tell that it was worth it, and worthwhile.
But then, a frown smeared on her face as she recalled the tragedy that befallen Kyoto. She steals a glance at her husband, "Does he know?" She asked herself before recounting Shiroyasha who would tell the tragedy to the unfortunate blonde. The red head wondered how well the blonde took it since he had shared a wonderful relationship with the nine-tails fox, Yasaka and her daughter, Kunou. Imagining the blonde running amok across the boundaries of Kyoto makes her shiver in thought but she calmed herself from thinking just that since she knew the blonde would never let his emotions run better of him. After that, she thought about the training he had granted from Shiroyasha prior to the tragedy.
In a state of curiosity, Rias look up at the blonde.
"How is your training, Izayoi-kun?" Rias asked peering up at her husband as she held onto his right arm in both of her arms. "Did it go well?"
"Well? The only thing I can tell you about it, I had fun." Izayoi smiled before looking at the amused smile playing on his wife's lips.
"How fun is it?"
"I nearly died." At the answer, Rias's eyes widen in surprise and she immediately stop walking. Noticing her expression, Izayoi stop and continued. "I can't hide it any longer than it already is. Sooner or later, you'll know the truth. And I don't want to take any chances of telling it any longer than it should." Izayoi explained to the red head who stare at him in pure shock.
"Izayoi-kun...You almost died?" Rias asked the blonde. "But, how? Who?"
"By a ball of fire made from the Phoenix Princess."
"Phoenix Princess?"
"She's from Little Garden, and she's one of the Demon Kings in that world. She along with another Demon King were my opponents for the entire two weeks."
"You fought with two of them?" Rias looked at him in surprise, not expecting the blonde to fight with both of them seeing as one of them nearly killed him. Recalling what the blonde had said earlier, Rias speak up. "Izayoi-kun, how did you..." She trailed off but the blonde knew what she meant by that.
"We made a bet. If I won, I'll steal her virginity. If she won, she'll kill me. During the battle, the other Demon King knocked me down without the use of my limbs. He didn't cut off my limbs. He practically made my limbs useless." Izayoi explained glancing away in slight annoyance of the memory. He then steal a glance towards his wife and saw that she didn't move her gaze towards him but instead cast a worried look at him. "After that, she decided that she would finish me there and then. So, she conjured up a huge ball of golden flames that could incinerate any living things, and throw it to me while I'm lying helplessly." Izayoi let out a smile and chuckles, to which caused Rias to look at him in slight confusion, "I was surprised. I didn't know that I had seconds left before that thing hit me and nearly burned me to death if not for your help and the others." He stated as he look down at his wife, who held a confused look. He then pull out his Gift Card from his pocket and show it to Rias. "Without this, I would never have survive and I'm grateful that I did survived. Feeling that kind of helplessness again...it goes to show that I'm careless, huh?" He casted a smile over his lip as Rias stare at him before speaking up.
"What can I say? You didn't know how strong they are nor do you know how they can overpower you easily. If the title Demon King is anything to go by, I guessed that you're really lucky to survive." Rias explained grabbing the Gift Card in both of her hands before resting her hands on top of the blonde's outstretched hand, cupping his hand. The red head roam her eyes at the card, silently thanking the card that exist. Looking up, Rias smiled up at the blonde. "But your carelessness did saved me along with Serafall and Kuroka. You ignore that you would risk your life in the process if you save us. That is careless, Izayoi-kun but your carelessness saved people. You didn't know how strong that dragon was and you intent to fight him even though it was stronger than you. But you saved thousands upon thousands of lives by carelessly choosing to fight. Although, I'm mad at that fact that you nearly died but I can't seem to stop it since you loved to fight people stronger than you. But at the same time, I'm also sad." A frown replaced her smile as she stare at her husband's eyes. "I almost lost my husband, again. What do you think I feel when I heard that? I don't want to feel that again but I can't stop it, neither I can't ignore the fact that I'm not going to leave my husband after this. I know the consequences that follows my judgement but that goes to show that I'm careless too, right?" Rias stated with a warm smile as Izayoi's eyes widen in mild surprise at her explanation.
Grasping Rias's cupped hand with his free hand, a genuine smile appeared on Izayoi's lips before he leans down and swiftly captures Rias's lips with his. "I love you." He muttered under the kiss.
Rias's smile widen under the sweet kiss that they finally shared after he got back. The red head relish the lips that was on her before she felt him pull away and she look up at the blonde. "I love you, too." She replied before her eyes glance at the Gift Card. The Gremory Princess slowly release her hands from the blonde's hand and pick up the card by her right hand. She then proceed to lay the card upon the blonde's opened palm and covered it with her other hand. "You better keep it with you, alright? I won't hear any excuses coming from you." She exclaimed smiling at the blonde, who nods.
"At all times." Izayoi replied as Rias let go of her hold on the card and wrap her arms around the blonde's right arm once again, and let her head rest upon his shoulder just as the blonde pocketed the Gift Card. Smiling at his wife, the two resumed their walk.
Just as the two walk for a while with nothing but comfortable silence, the two noticed that they arrived at their room.
At this, Izayoi look down at his wife. "I think this is as far as we can go, my Lady. I sincerely apologize for the brief walk." The blonde smiled playfully before bowing his head at her.
At the realization of the blonde's meeting, the red head nods in return. But then a pout form over her lips as Rias look up at the blonde, letting go of her hold on him. "Do you have to go?" Raising his head to meet the pout on his wife's lips, Izayoi chuckles.
"If anything, I think it's better if I go. Don't wait up for me, alright?"
"But you're the one who needs rest the most..." Rias mutters under her breath before a pair of lips kiss her forehead and she look up to see the blonde hovering over her head while kissing her forehead tenderly.
Pulling back, Izayoi look at Rias. "And I will rest. But not this time around." Izayoi assured her before watching the frown on his wife deepen. But then a smile stretches its way on his lips as an idea pop up into his mind. "...Why don't you change?"
"Change for what?" Rias asked looking down at her nightgown before looking at her husband who wore his red collared, buttoned up shirt with the sleeves folded up to his elbows.
"To the meeting." Izayoi answered smiling as Rias's eyes widen in surprise before a smile sets off her face. Nodding towards her husband, the red head quickly enters their room and change while the blonde waited outside. Thinking about the possible consequences of bringing her to the meeting, the blonde ignored it seeing as he had the right authority to bring her. If he is the Gremory Prince, he might as well bring the Gremory Princess. Plus, he didn't want to upset his wife any longer by sleeping in first alone, on the day that he just arrived.
Restraining the urge to smirk, the blonde heard the door being open before a smile stretches his lips at the sight of his smiling wife.
~Meeting Hall~
"Is everyone currently present?" Ajuka asked as he surveyed the room for any missing people that are beneficial to be present. Meanwhile, the people that were already present scan the room.
"I think everyone is already present." Odin stated to the green haired who look at him.
"No, we're just missing one." Sirzechs voices out to the room as everyone look at him in question. "Since he has the privilege to be here, I hope that you will treat him with the upmost respect."
"Upmost respect? What did he do to gain our respect?' Odin asked in curiosity as Sirzechs smiled at him.
"Watch it old man. You should learn to sometimes respect your young'un." A voice replied to Odin, who look up in front of him. Just the old man set his sights on him, an amused smile appeared on his face while a surprised look dawned upon Rossweisse's.
"Well, well, if it isn't the boy that saved the Underworld. I heard some tales about you for quite some time from Sirzechs, Michael and Azazel. Although, the question is who is your company for this evening?"
"Sakamaki Izayoi at your service. The Gremory Prince and my company is the Gremory Princess, Sakamaki Rias Gremory. I hope you all wouldn't mind her joining because she gets stuffy sleeping alone." Izayoi smiled amusingly at the people in the room while Rias look at her husband in surprise, noticing that he added his surname to her name for the first time. Seemingly to notice her expression, Izayoi winks at her to which cause her to stare at him for a while before she smiled widely.
"You're married? At such a young age too." Odin commented brushing his beard.
"Yeah, but there are other girls that seek for my attention. So you could be sure that there will be other wives besides my wife." At this, Serafall waves her hand towards the couple.
"A Harem?" Odin asked witnessing the exchange between the Satan and the couple. "Hm...Interesting. I like you, kid. You really sparked my interest."
"Unfortunately, old man. I'm not gonna teach you anything to get girls because I don't want to be a mentor to a pedophile. That would ruined me. You wouldn't mind, right?" Izayoi smirk with a raised eyebrow.
"A kid with a sharp tongue and doesn't care to voice out his mind. You sure to be quite a good kid." A smirk appeared on Odin's face.
"My mother teaches me everything that she could." A smile spread across Izayoi's lips as Rias smiled up at her husband from her position by his side.
"He's doing well, Canaria. He's alright now."
To Be Continued...
That is the end of Chapter 43 of A Problem Devil, Born
I hope everyone has been patient up until now because I seriously apologize for the late update. Assignments keep piling up, I have to study and the task of writing with an empty mind tortures me.
Anyway, I hope that you'd like the chapter after two weeks of its previous chapter. If you do like and love the chapter, Review on it.
Leave a Favorite and Follow. And also, be patient for the next chapter. And also, if you are confused by the chapter, PM'd me so I can clear up any confusion you have.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!