(SHIRO'S POV)
"GOOD GOD!" I yelled as I looked at the large building in front of me. "Public school looks terrible!" I hated everything about it. The fact that I had to wake up early every weekday morning and put on this wack ass uniform was terrible! I had to wear black pants and a grey dress shirt with a goddamn red necktie!
"Oh lighten up. You're being overly dramatic." Kyra said to me.
"Trust me. You'll know when I'm being dramatic. This whole school thing ain't for me."
"It'll be fine. I promise." She said as she patted my shoulder.
"Sure it will...Are we at least gonna all be in the same class?" I asked.
"Nope! Sorry Shiro." Gracia said with her upbeat tone.
"Damn...So where am I supposed to go?!" I asked.
"Aw don't worry sweetie. You'll make some friends. I guarantee it.~" Naomi said while hugging me from behind.
"Hehehe, yeah…" I said, dazed.
"Shiro, come with me. I'll show you to your first class." Kyra quickly snatched my arm and tugged me inside the dreaded building. She walked me all over the place, showing me the entire school. The place was huge and filled with other demons. The problem according to Kyra, was that I stood out like an idiot. I was that generic new kid who didn't understand squat about being dead let alone a demon. Whispers could be heard throughout the entire school as they all stared at me.
Anxiety washed over me and consumed me completely. I was sweating nervously, and hoped that this would all end.
Noticing my panicked state, Kyra rubbed my hand soothingly. "Calm down. It's just school." She said.
"They all keep looking at me! Why the hell can't I be in your class again?" I asked.
"I'm in the devil ranked classes. That's where all of the political leaders and diplomats in the making go. If I'm taking over Hell, I'm gonna have to take those classes. Naomi is with me as well." She said.
"So I'm stuck with the below average chumps…" I groaned as we got to the door of my homeroom.
"You'll be fine. The people of my branch are top tier. That applies to you too. You'll be enrolled in battle class. As my bodyguard, it's important for you to understand the countless enemies that demons have to face."
I sighed. "Fine…"
She quickly hugged me and smiled. "Be good and I promise, you'll be rewarded!"
"What does that mean?"
"Leave it to your imagination. Now, go and learn something." She said as she pushed me through the door.
The class stared at me and the teacher scratched her head with a confused expression. I had to give her credit though. She looked good with her curly, brown hair and her womanly body...Goddamn I'm gonna fail…
"Mr...Tatsugami, am I correct?" She spoke.
"Y...yeah…" I stuttered.
She nodded. "Why don't you come up here and introduce yourself to the class."
"Fuck…" I muttered as I stuffed my hands in my uniform pockets and stomped over to the front. "Hey...I'm uh...Shiro Tatsugami...I'm from Hazen Reach...You know...on Earth Realm…"
"..." The class went wide eyed and started whispering to themselves. The teacher looked at me as well.
"Did you just say Hazen Reach?" She asked me.
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
"N...no reason...Please continue."
"Uh, ok...Anyway...I'm Lady Kyra's personal bodyguard." I said to everyone.
"What?! You're Lady Kyra's bodyguard?! No freaking way!" Some green haired kid shouted. He yanked his earbuds out of his head and sprinted towards me. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me frantically. "Does that mean you live with her?"
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
"Holy freaking shit! Dude, you gotta tell me what her size is!"
"Her size...What do you mean?" I asked.
"Aw you know." He made hand motions on his chest. "What's the rack on her?! I bet she packin' a couple of Ds!"
I blushed and backed away. "Y...you mean her freaking boobs?! Dude, I can't tell you that! Especially not in front of the class!" I yelled.
"Come on bro! You gotta tell me! My dream is to die in between those lovely pillows!" He said happily.
"That's quite enough mister Doblé." The teacher barked at him.
"Damn…" He walked back to his seat with a disappointed look.
"Mr. Tatsugami, you may take any open seat in the first row, except for the last one." She said.
There was only one open seat left then… I sighed as I sat by the window on the left side of the green haired guy. He put on his earbuds and started drawing in his notebook.
I looked at him and then back to the desk in the back of me and wondered who sat behind me. My question would be answered quickly as a white haired girl busted through the door as soon as the bell rung.
"I'm SUPER sorry teach! I swear, I won't be late again." She said.
"Please don't make promises you can't keep miss Kingsley." The teacher huffed. "Go and take your seat."
"Sorry, again miss Quin." Gracia bowed and turned to walk to her seat. When she saw me, her eyes lit up with joy. "SHIRO!"
"Uh...Hey Gracia." I waved.
She sat down in the seat behind me and pulled out a small juice box. "Can you believe it? We're in the same homeroom! This is gonna be awesome!"
"Wait?! You now Gracia too?! Where do you get your luck from man?" The green haired guy asked.
"Oh shut up Dub. Shiro here is part of Kyra's crew so naturally he'd know me!" She said before sipping her juice.
"I wanna join! Four of the best babes are in the Aesma-Daeva branch!" Dub yelled quietly.
"Too bad. You're apart of Lady Theta's branch. No switching." Gracia teased.
"Who's Theta?" I asked.
"Only the cruelest, meanest, most heartless witch in Hell!" Dub whispered.
"She's the daughter of Hades. She's in Kyra's class." Gracia explained after letting out a heavy burp.
"Oh...Makes sense."
Once homeroom ended, I started walking to my first block class. Gracia and Dub tagged along given the fact we all shared most of our classes together. As the classes went on I soon learned more about Dub. His real name is Deuce Doblé. He was a pretty cool guy and shared similar tastes to yours truly.
We all went down to lunch and ended up separating into different lines. Once I got my stuff, I met up with Dub. I saw the table with the rest of my branch and grinned as I started walking over to them. I noticed Dub head in a different direction so I decided to stop him.
"Yo Dub, why don't you come sit with us?" I asked.
"Nah, I probably shouldn't…"
"What? Why not? You seem cool enough." I told him.
He grinned at me. "Because Theta will castrate me…"
"Oh...Well, I guess I'll see you around then." I said as I dapped him up and headed over to Kyra's table. "Hey guys."
"Hello Shiro."
"Hey sweetie.~"
Kyra and Naomi said respectively. I plopped down in between the two of them and grinned. "Looks like we all have the same lunch. That's cool."
"Everyone eats lunch at the same time, you dimwit." Helena said to me.
"Oh...Well still. It beats eating lunch all alone." My eyes widened when I saw Gracia come back with an enormous tray of food. "Holy shit!"
"Yeah...Gracia tends to eat a lot." Kyra muttered.
"Where does it all go?" I wondered. Her body still was able to look so good even after dumping pounds of food into her system. It was kinda disgusting how she ate but I wasn't really one to talk.
"So how are you liking your first day so far?" Kyra asked as she neatly ate her food.
"Hmm? Oh, well I guess it's alright. Kinda boring though…" I would much rather be kicking BattleBeast ass or pissing off Clyde. Then I ended up thinking about them. My old crew. The friends that I made. Regardless of how me and Gabby were now, she was still my friend. Izzy was like the best person to talk to and Clyde...As much as I hate to admit it, he was one of the closest friends I've ever had. He motivated me to get stronger and without him, I would've never gotten this far. I was slowly starting to miss them. Eliza's brutal training, Tatsu telling me shit that happens and how I'm gonna be a badass...Damn…
"Yeah, it gets like that. Don't worry though. There's only two more classes left in the day. You'll be fine~" Naomi said as she hugged my arm. Goddamn hormones...
I noticed Kyra glance at Naomi with a certain look. It was a quite bitter one at that. She quickly grabbed my hand tightly and turned my head to her. "So...are you behaving yourself Shiro?"
"Y...yeah…"
"Good. Don't forget what I told you, ok." She said the a wink.
"I...I won't." I really wouldn't.
"Good." She simply said.
"What did you say to him?" Naomi asked as she pressed her chest even closer against my arm.
"Oh nothing. Just had a little chat with MY bodyguard." Kyra said defensively.
"Hmph! Fine, be that way. It's not like it'll matter anyway."
"And what is that supposed to mean?!" Kyra shot back.
"Oh nothing.~" Naomi dismissed the topic with a smile.
"Grr...Watch it Naomi." Kyra growled.
"So...What does everyone have next?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"O...oh, we all have Phys Ed." Olivia muttered.
"Oh really now? Seems like a pretty solid class then."
"Yeah! It's like SUPER fun! You'll love it!" Gracia said after swallowing her food.
"Right…"
-Twenty Minutes Later-
I was currently in the boy's locker room putting on a set of gym clothes. Dub came up behind me with a fat grin.
"Shiro my man! I believe I need to show you why PE is the best time of day."
"It's just excessive workouts…" I muttered.
"Please come with me my friend. You have much to learn."
I followed Dub to the right corner of the boy's locker room.
"Whats going on?" I asked.
"Shh…" He slide a wooden board on the wall to the side and showed me and opened air vent. "Alright dude, come on in."
"Uh, alright…" I crawled inside of the vent and moved forward.
"Keep it moving. We only gotta go forward."
Well, I did in fact keep going until I saw a bright light. Once I got to the other locked vent opening I stopped and looked at Dub.
"What the hell is over here?" I asked.
"See for yourself." He said with a grin.
I looked through the metal vent door and I almost passed out. My eyes widened and I couldn't control my now leaking nose. Dub led me to the girl's locker room where I was able to see ALL of the girl in my branch, Dub's branch and two others stripping down into NOTHING.
I looked back with a wide smile. "This is the greatest day of my life!" Titties, ass! Ass and titties! It was all just too much. I was drooling on myself.
"Yep. I hang here every day before PE starts and good lord is this amazing or what?"
"Dude, they're actually naked, and I get to see them naked! IN THE FLESH!" A tear of joy rolled down my face.
"Pretty cool ain't it? Don't you just want jump out and grabbed them?" Dub asked.
I stared at Kyra's bare chest as she slowly put her gym shirt on. I then looked at Naomi as she covered her sweet ass with those super short PE shorts. Gracia was still taking her bra off, Nyne was looking pretty damn good too. Once those glasses came off, she looked like a whole new woman. My eyes slowly drifted around and I even saw Olivia and Helena getting changed.
"I hope this never ends…" I sighed happily.
"Yeah...Dude check out Theta over there! Geez, witch or not, she's got a freaking goddess body!"
I leaned forward to get a better look which was a pretty bad move on my part. "Which one is her dude?"
"She's sitting on the back bench with Tara and Ushala." He said.
"Who are they?"
"The other girls in my branch dude! C'mon, you gotta be able to see her sexy ass from here!" Dub said as he pressed my head to the vent. Mistake two...
"Hmm...Oh wait, I think I see her." I said happily.
"Geez that shit is fat…Move over dude. I need a better look." Dub said.
"What? Dude, there isn't enough space!"
"Sure there is. Plus I only need a few seconds to paint a mental picture." He said.
"I don't think that's a good-"
~CREEEAAAKKK~
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" I started to panic as the vent bent downwards slightly. Dub slid into the vent door and fell through, landing in the middle of the girl's locker room. Multiple screams could be heard. I tried to hold myself in place, but that was becoming a real difficult chore for me as my heart practically fell out my ass. "No, no, no, no…" I muttered as my grip was slowly slipping.
"Really Dub?! That's the third spot this month!" Theta snapped at him.
~CREAK~
"God...Please…" I silently begged.
"Ladies please! It was a sign of flattery. I had to admire your lovely bodies!" Dub said defensively. A red head chick stomped on his chest and glared.
"You are getting real annoying Dub!" She yelled. Meanwhile, Gracia was cracking up, still not fully dressed.
~CREEEAAAKKK~
"...USELESS MOTHERFUCKER!!!" I yelled as I spilled out of the vent and landed right on Dub.
"SHIRO?!" Kyra yelled.
"Oh my~" Naomi giggled.
Gracia somehow ended up laughing even harder. Nyne and Olivia quickly covered themselves. Helena on the other hand was cracking her knuckles. A vein pulsating on the side of her forehead.
"...I have a very good reason for coming out of that vent…"
"I'd love to hear it!" Kyra barked back at me.
"...I uh...I was just…" I sighed. "I crumbled…."
"Damn right you crumbled!" Helena hissed as she and Kyra stepped forward with angry looks.
"Please work...TRICKSTER TECHNIQUE!" I shouted in hopes of teleporting like Tatsu. When it didn't work I simply just let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry…" I mumbled as I closed my eyes and prepared for impact.
(CLYDE'S POV)
"I...I just can't get it right!" I yelled with anger and exhaustion. I stared at Xeto, hoping for an explanation.
"You're so used to using your flames Clyde, that I'm afraid that learning cryomancy is gonna take a bit longer for you. Remember that you have to change your mana flow completely in order to master it." Xeto said.
"Damn…" I muttered.
"COME ON GABBY! SHIRO DID BETTER THAT! HOW YOU ARE LOSING IT NOW!" Eliza yelled at Gabriella as she attempted to land a single blow.
"Shut up!" Gabby yelled. She threw a jab, only to be flipped onto the snow.
"Pathetic! Is this the best you can do? Tazorac wouldn't approve of your current skill level!" Eliza said.
"Shut up!" Gabby yelled as she climbed to her feet and glared at Eliza.
Meanwhile, Amora and Isabel were levitating in the air. Amora was yelling multiple different things at her.
"FIRST TAZORAC, NOW SHIRO?!"
"I...I couldn't do anything…" Isabel sobbed.
"No! That is true only if you believe it to be true! You have the ability to help and you constantly do not! Tendencies like that will only get those you love killed! Aren't you sick of watching others getting hurt and you sitting on the sidelines? You are powerful Isabel. You need to show it!"
"I know...I...I want to…" Isabel's tears tugged at my chest but I knew that she needed more confidence in a fight. She rarely ever does join in, even when she's the best choice in certain situations.
"What happens if Gabby dies? Or if I die? Or even when Clyde dies?! You'll be alone! You won't ever see them again!"
"I know…"
I sighed and refocused on my training. I had to master this in order to learn the form of magic. I wouldn't move on until I did!
(TATSU'S POV)
The Realm of Time and Space...It's been a while since I've been here. I had a job to do and if I didn't complete it, I wouldn't be able to fix what Metagenesis did to my world.
I stood in between several opening and closing portals that traversed across multiple different universes. I'd be able to travel through each and get what I'd need to erase the plague on my timeline. The only issue was that I had no idea where any of these portals would take me and once I get there, I'd only be able to stay for one singular trip, never to go back to the universe again.
I looked around and then closed my eyes. "Ward of Time: Freeze Frame!"
Time around me stopped. I couldn't have a portal close on me as I entered it. God forbid half of me get through and I ended up missing my legs.
I looked around and decided to jump through a portal in front of me. I landed in the middle of some huge place the was nothing I've ever seen before.
~BANG~
"Shut the hell Milton!" Yelled a guy with blonde hair talking on a phone. He bumped into me and looked up with wide eyes. "Uh...I'm gonna call you back...No dude, your not gonna believe this shit…" He hung up and stared at me.
"...Yeah...Wrong portal…" I muttered.
"So what's your gimmick? You got an Arsenal too or are you just some freak is a suit?" He asked.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"New York…"
"Yep! Definitely the wrong portal! I'm gone!"
"Who the hell are you?!" He asked.
"Be careful kid...That arm of yours doesn't last too long…" I said before teleporting.
Once I got back to the frozen room of portals, I looked around and tried another one. This time, I landed in a huge futuristic city. I looked around for anyone in hopes of getting a clue about what was going on.
"Holy shit! No freaking way! You're him! You're Shiro Tatsugami?!" Yelled a lavender haired teenager that was oddly familiar to Clyde.
"Uh...Yeah…"
"Dude, you're even in your vengeance suit! So awesome!" He said.
"...Sleep punch!" I yelled before jabbing him in his gut. He dropped to the ground and passed out.
"This ain't a good enough place either…" I sighed as I went back. "This is gonna take forever…" I looked at the next portal and jumped through it. I was greeted by a graphic sight. I looked around and glared at the countless dead bodies. Rubble was everywhere. In the distance, I saw what looked to be a nearly destroyed tower. "Oh my God…" I decided to see what became of this place. "Ward of Time: Time Skip Rewind!" As I flashed back in time I noticed something that looked all too familiar. I realized that I was in an alternate future. This was one of the places that I needed to be. One of the nine outcomes that could flow from the string of fate. "Suppression!" I said as I went invisible. I walked over to the scene and saw a chained up kid. A shady looking man in a red suit looked at him.
"You failed. You're one purpose has been eradicated. You are now the next vessel for me to take hold of." The man said.
"Please...just kill me…" The boy say in a broken, emotionless voice. He had shackles around his bloody, torn apart hands.
"Oh no...I couldn't possibly kill you now. Not when we're having so much fun!" The man banged a steel pipe against the back of the boy's skull. The child didn't flinch. He just took the pain. "Say it…"
"I am an abomination…"
~BANG~
"What else boy?!" The man asked.
"I'm a tainted soul…"
~BANG~
"Go on…"
"...I'm scum...I'm worthless trash that deserves eternal loneliness…"
~BANG~
~BANG~
~BANG~
The man, mercilessly beat the child face in with the steel pipe before discarding it.
"Good...You know that you're nothing but filth. You caused this plague! You're nothing but a useless wretch!" The man grabbed a dagger and stabbed the kid in the chest repeatedly. "Trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash, TRASH, TRASH, TRASH, TRASH, TRASH, TRASH, TRASH!!!"
The boy sat there, blood dripping down his carved chest. His tissue was slowly healing, preventing him from dying and escaping this nightmare. "Please, just...kill me…"
The man stuffed a hand into the boys chest and tasted the blood himself. "No. I don't think I will kill you yet boy."
"Why? Just end this…"
~SMACK~
The man slapped the boy with a bloody hand. "Learn you place you piece of filth. It's your own fault for being a worthless demon! You only have your miserable self to blame you dirty half breed! Your mother perished because she wanted to fall for Satan! She made a grave mistake that costed her, her own life. Now her bastard son will die too!" The man summoned a bright sword and aimed it at the little boy. "Now, say it one last time so I can savor it."
The boy's black hair soon turned blood red and his wounds completely healed. He looked at the man with cold silver eyes. "I...I'm an abomination...I'm a tainted soul...I'm scum...I'm worthless trash that deserves eternal loneliness...but above all else...I'm Haruka Blade...and I'm a devil!" The boy ripped the chains from the wall and and tackled the man.
"FILTHY DEMON!!!"
"I told you to kill me...You didn't listen…" The boy thrusted his hand through the man and started ripping out his organs.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP THIS NOW!!!"
"...Why don't you make me you son of a bitch…" The boy said in his broken tone.
The man tried to reach for his sword but failed to do so. The boy stomped a foot on the man's chest and picked up the sword. He slit his palm open and wiped the holy blade with his blood. The sword turned from blue and gold to red and silver.
"God will llsmite you boy! You will not get away with such blasphemy!" The man yelled.
"Shut up and die already…" The boy said before taking the sword and stabbing it down into the man. The boy huffed and turned in my direction. "You shouldn't be here." He said to me.
My eyes widened and I dropped my invisibility. I stepped out and looked at him. "Hey Haruka...Do you...know who I am?"
"No...I don't…I'm leaving now." He said as he got ready to leave.
"WAIT!" I yelled.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"...I'm sorry about this kid." I opened my palm out and reached into a portal. I pulled out my Hanzuname Dragon Blade and pointed it at him. "That sword...I need it!" I said to him.
"Tch...You want it? Come and get it…"
(SHIRO'S POV)
Well, school ended...and my face looked like a dropped cake courtesy of Helena and Kyra. When Vauz heard about it, he was in tears. Everyone was sitting in the living room either reading or doing homework. I was intentionally trying to avoid it much to Kyra's annoyance.
"C'mon Shiro! You gotta at least try." She said.
"No way! I'm a fighter! I don't need demonic algebra!"
"Oh, c'mon Shiro. I'll tutor you personally if you want." Naomi whispered in my ear.
"GREAT!" I shouted happily.
"No! Nice try Naomi!" Kyra growled.
"Aww...Worth a shot~" She winked at me. I shook the redness from my face.
"Am I missing something?" I asked.
"Nope." Both said.
"Right...So do I still have to do this?"
Yes! I'm still mad at you!" She yelled.
"Damn…"
"Serves you right you sick pervert!" Helena shouted at me.
"It was Dub's idea! It just so happened to be a brilliant one with poor execution."
"Only a couple of perverts like you would think that." Helena barked back at me.
I groaned as I banged my head on the coffee table. "This is terrible!"
"I know right! Homework is the worst!" Gracia yelled. "Hey Vauz, is dinner almost ready?"
"Yeah. Just give it a minute! Geez…" He grumbled.
"Hey Shiro!" Yelled the small black haired boy as he came running out towards me with a grin.
"What is it Francis?"
"I found something really cool in your room!" He said.
"And that would be…"
"A PUPPY!!!"
"REALLY?! I WANNA SEE!!!" Gracia yelled happily.
"Holy shit! Vizeron!" I said as I ran upstairs and into my room. I busted through the already opened door and saw him frantically running in circles on my bed.
"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap,oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!" He yelled with panic.
"Viz!" I shouted with a smile.
He stopped his running and looked at me with big, wet, puppy eyes. "B...Beta Male!" He jumped up and tackled me. "Holy shit, man! It was all dark! There was just bleak nothingness. Then I heard Haruka's voice and then I started dreaming, then I woke up here! W...where the hell are we?!"
"Welcome to Hell." I said with a shrug.
"HELL?! But I was such a good boy!"
"Don't worry. We're in the cool part. Now, I gotta introduce you to a few people." I said.
"Wait, so are we still dead?" He asked.
"Yep."
"Oh...So no more of Ms. Izzy's cooking…"
"Don't worry. Vauz is pretty damn good too." I told him.
"Who?!"
"C'mon and I'll show you!" I said. I carried him downstairs and to the rest of the Aesma-Daeva branch. "Guys, I want you to meet Vizeron. He's my partner and one of my best friends!"
"He's so CUTE!!!" Gracia yelled as she scooped him up from my arms. "Hi little guy!"
Vizeron blushed a bit and barked happily. "Sup!"
After getting Viz acquainted with everyone, we all decided to sit and have dinner.
"You were Haruka's partner?! That's awesome!" Vauz said.
"Trust me...It hurt…" Viz muttered.
"You two must've had so many adventures." Naomi said.
"Well, there was that time Shiro, Clyde and I fought that bard...Then we joined in on a vampire vs werewolf war. Shiro got married!"
"Shut up Vizeron!" I hissed
"Married huh? Who was the lucky girl Shiro?" Naomi giggled.
"T...that's not important! It didn't last long anyway…" I muttered.
"What else...Oh yeah! Shiro also got his butt whooped by Clyde in the finals of a magic tournament." Viz smirked. I glared at him and had to resist the urge to strangle his little ass.
"I was close!" I yelled.
"It's ok Shiro~" Naomi said in order to reassure me. It didn't work.
"This Clyde...Is he strong?" Jryo asked.
"He's stronger than Shiro." Viz spoke.
"...Don't kill him Shiro...You just got him back…" I huffed out to myself.
"Alright everyone! Dinner is served!" Vauz said as he and the the other servants brought out multiple plates. "A wide assortment of meats, pastas and freshly baked biscuits."
"YES!!!" Gracia and Viz shouted happily.
We all began to chow down and it soon became apparent to me that this place was now like more of a home to me. I was comfortable and it made me feel at ease.
Once dinner finished, Viz and I started walking towards our room talking about our current situation in Hell. It was an odd adjustment but the people here at the Aesma-Daeva estate were surprisingly kind to us and treated us with the utmost respect.
Viz and I made it to our room and I opened the door. Viz wasted no time jumping up on the bed. Before I could go inside, Kyra tapped my shoulder.
"Huh? What is it Kyra? Are you ok?" I asked.
"Yes Shiro. I'm very much ok." Her face seemed to grow pink as she fiddled with her tight, red shirt.
"So what's up?" I asked.
"W...well, I...Nevermind!" She said quickly before turning around and hiding her face in her hands.
"What is it?!" I was growing more and more confused by the second.
"I just wanted to...Stay in your room…" She muttered shyly.
My face heated up instantly. "You wanna come in MY room?! But why me?"
"Well you ARE my bodyguard. Plus, you're probably the best choice." She said
"Best choice?"
"I mean that of everyone here, you're most likely the one who's willing to go through with me sleeping with you."
I almost toppled over. Did she really just say that?! "B...but I thought that I was still in trouble…"
"Oh you are. Which is why I have something planned for you." She smirked.
"What would that be?" I asked nervously.
"I wouldn't worry about it. Now may I come in or not?" She asked cutely.
"Sure. I don't think that I have any right to tell you no."
"Good. Just give me a minute. I need to go and change into my nightwear." She said with sudden happiness as she ran next door, into her room..
"...Oh boy…"
(CLYDE'S POV)
I laid down on my mattress inside of Xeto's place with Isabel and Gabby. I sighed with exhaustion. It was a long day a grueling training for all three of us. We were all feeling it deep down and it kind of sucked.
"I can't feel my arms…" Gabby muttered.
"I think my self esteem is now nonexistent. I didn't think Amora could be so mean." Isabel mumbled sadly.
"My mana is completely gone." I groaned.
"Geez, What the hell Shiro! What did Eliza and Tatsu make you do?!" Gabby asked with a pained gasp as she attempted to move.
"...I still can't believe he's actually dead. It's so weird to think about. The fact that he isn't here with us is...just so unsettling…" Isabel said.
"Yeah...We finally all come back together and he's the one stuck in Hell. I hate to think that maybe I should've just pushed through my loss of mana and fought anyway! He shouldn't have died!"
"I'm not exactly glad that he died either, but I can come to terms with it." Gabby said.
"Come to terms with it?! How can you say that so easily?!" I snapped.
"Shiro fought hard. Zero saw him as a threat so that's probably why he forced his actions. You can't say that Shiro wasn't warned prior to the fight by most if not all of us. He knew what he was getting into."
"Are you even a little upset that he's gone?" I asked.
"No shit Clyde! I miss that big idiot...but regardless of if I miss him or not, I'm not gonna say it wasn't partially his fault. Either way, it's not exactly like we're never gonna see him again. I'm pretty sure that Tatsu ended up in Hell before and he made it out somehow so maybe Shiro can too." Gabby said to me.
"Yeah, that's a good point." I spoke.
"Plus, he's probably getting stronger down there. Isn't Hell supposed to be a cruel place?" Isabel asked.
"Yeah...I guess he will be strong. That only gives me more reason to master cryomancy."
(TATSU'S POV)
"What the hell happened to you?!" Eliza asked with a glare.
"Relax. I'm fine! I just had some trouble with a few places…" I spoke vaguely.
"Trouble?! Your right arm is bent the wrong way! You've got slashed across your now exposed chest and you're left eye is bruised!"
"Heheh, those two kids from dimension 1-03 were no joke. They punch harder than most people I've seen and that damn magical staff that they had was pissing me off. Then there was Haruka..."
"You need to go sit on the couch and wait for me to treat your wounds." She said to me.
"Why not just get Amora to do it?"
"She went somewhere with Xena…" Eliza said briefly.
"Oh...Where are the kids?"
"Upstairs sleeping." She grabbed a medical kit and sat down in front of me. "You mind doing something about that arm…" She said with a disturbed look.
"Oh yeah…" I grabbed my wrist and thrusted it upwards.
~CRACK~
My bone snapped back into place and I moved it around in order to relieve some of the pain.
"The fact that you can do that with little to no hesitation is disgusting."
"Gotta do what you gotta do." I shrugged.
"Right…" She opened the medical kit and pulled out some antibacterial spray. "Um, this might uh...sting a little."
"C'mon Eliza! I'm a grown man that fought countless monsters and faced off against the ultimate pinnacles of unspeakable evil. Some little spray isn't gonna sting."
"...Ok." She quickly sprayed down my wounds which caused my eyes to water.
"Oh shit! Goddamn! Stop, stop! FUCKING STOP!!!" I yelled.
"Seriously? Big grown up Tatsu can't even handle a little spray?" Eliza taunted.
"Not when you spray me like that!" I hissed.
She took a wet rag and wiped the blood off of my skin. She then pulled out a thread and needle. "I'm gonna stitch you up now. Is that ok?" She asked.
"Took the cuts, so I'm pretty sure I can take the stitches." I said.
She placed her hands on my chest and poked the needle through my skin. She started looping the thread in order to close my wounds. I winced a bit but tried to play it off to no avail. Eliza must've noticed my discomfort. "Anything on your mind?" She asked.
"You mean besides you?"
"Nice one jackass." She winked at me and grinned.
"Well, this may seem weird, but I'm worried about my younger self. He's different from how I was. I'm not entirely sure on how well he'll do in this world. He's just so much more...brash...irresponsible...He lacks the experience that he'll need in order to become a true warrior. He's much too driven by emotional turmoil." I told her.
"Isn't that how you were?"
"That was how I lost you in my timeline. I had the experience, but in order to get this powerful, I had to give up a lot of stuff. Truth is, I'm wrong no matter what I do."
She finished the stitches and put the bloody needle in the trash. "Turn around. "She ordered. I did as I was told. She wrapped the bandages around me and sighed. "Shiro is very motivated. Then again, you guys lost your home. I was raised by heartless thieves so I wouldn't know much about having a family or raising a kid or anything like that. I guess that's why being with the other mentors and their apprentices was kinda like a family for me. It was nice. Now, it's starting to crumble."
"Yeah…" Clyde, Izzy...Gabby, Zero...Eliza...Vizeron...I lost them all. To think that one being could be so powerful. I'd hate to imagine what would happen if he jumped timelines. I wouldn't be able to stop Metagenesis. Not yet. I still needed to regain my lost abilities. He has destruction magic and his corrupted soul energy is now raw chaos energy. I can't fight against that. It's too dangerous.
Eliza finished up her bandaging and hugged me softly from behind. "Tell me something Tatsu…"
"What is it?" I asked.
"Do I ever fall in love? In your timeline, before I die."
"...I don't know. If you did then you never showed it. You were much more seriously involved with protecting us all. I admired that part of you. You were what made me into who I am…" I told her.
"So is it wrong for me to love my first apprentice when he's all grown up?" She asked me.
I turned my head to her while trying to hide my growing blush. "Eliza…"
She buried her face into my back in order to hide her burning face. She tightened her hold on me. "I just can't help it. The way you talk about me...your attitude, your confidence...It's all too much. You're so strong and yet I still feel like I have to protect you. I'm in love Tatsu. It's so new to me. I've never felt this way before. Once you showed up, everything changed. I love you and part of me can't stand it."
I was taken back by her words. She really just said that?! I mean, we flirt and mess around a lot but to actually love me...It was so strange to me. Did I love her? I forgot what love really felt like. Was this it? Eliza, my mentor...The one in the past is the woman that falls for me.
"R...really?" She nodded against my back.
"Tatsu...Do you plan on going back. To your timeline I mean."
I turned around and faced the navy haired woman and gave her a deep look. "...Yes. I have to. I need to kill him before he finds a way to travel to different times or dimensions. I have to-"
"Stay! Please Tatsu!" She begged. "Just stay here and let that bastard rot in that timeline. You have so much for you here. I promise that I won't ever leave you again. Please Tatsu. I can't stand the thought of you dying. The fact that I left you in the future kills me inside. Please just stay here."
"You know I can't do that. My reason for being here was to prevent the cycle from continuing and to hopefully regain my lost powers so that I can challenge him again." I said to her.
She grabbed my face and stared into my eyes with her fierce yet delicate ones. "Then take me with you. I'll help you so long as you don't just leave me."
"I'm not gonna let you do that Eliza. You need to stay here in the timeline you belong in. I'm the one who shouldn't even be here…"
"No…" She muttered.
"What?" I asked before she kissed me deeply. I was left in a shocked state. I was NOT used to this. It had been so long since I really felt someone kiss me like this. It was by no means a soft kiss either. It was rough and desperate. A plea for me to stay.
She pulled away and pushed me down onto the small sofa. She lifted her shirt off and left me speechless. Her dark red bra was left as the final barrier between me and her breasts. I was nervous and felt unsure. "Tatsu...No...Shiro." She said, using my actual name.
"What are you doing?!" I asked.
"I can't take it anymore. I need you to understand." She placed her hands on my chest and kissed me again. While I was still shaken up, I moved my hands to her hips anyway. I kissed her back. After everything I'd been through...I need some form of release. As odd as it was to kiss my former mentor in the past, I didn't care. She was a beautiful woman that looked out for me. Now she wants me to stay. That must've meant something. It had to have.
I snaked my arms up her back as she moved her head to look at me. "Eliza, I don't want to leave."
"Then don't. Stay here and enjoy your life. You're 28 now. You've spent your whole life struggling and fighting. Just stay." She fondled with my belt strap and unzipped my pants. I made no move to stop her. Maybe she was right. I wasted so many opportunities because I was put into life ending situations countless times. This gorgeous woman on top of me cared enough about me that she was willing to go back to my destroyed world just to stay by my side. I needed someone like her. So many motivations were lost in my life. She brought some of them back. She gave me new hopes and dreams for my own future. The thought of being able to settle down one day and not stress over who'll die next. I wanted that reality.
I leaned up and flipped our positions. "I love you. I want you! I need you!" I said with a serious expression. "I don't wanna die with any more regrets. My mind is made up. I'm going back to kill Metagenesis, and when I do...I'm coming back here. I want to stay with you Eliza."
"Shiro...Y...your hair." She ran her fingers through my messy hair. "...Your eyes…" I didn't know exactly what she was talking about so I looked at my reflection in the coffee glass table. White hair and glowing purple eyes. I hadn't seen myself like this in a long time.
I felt something inside of myself. It was as if something was growing inside of me. "I don't know what's going on with my body, but I really don't care. I really do love you Eliza and I wanna show you."
"Then show me jackass! I'm sick of waiting!" She said before pulling me into her lips.
(SHIRO'S POV)
"Oh God... What am I gonna do?! I can't just sleep with a girl I met for like two days!" I said as I paced around the room frantically.
"Will you shut up! I'm tryna sleep!" Viz said from the couch.
"Shut the hell up Vizeron!" I yelled back at him.
"Tch...I was just saying...Geez, I'm tired." He grumbled.
I was in my PJs which was just boxers and a t-shirt. I stopped my pacing when I heard a knock on my door. I sighed and walked over to it. When I opened it, Kyra stood there in silky red nightgown that was somewhat see through. I looked away so that she wouldn't get mad at me again.
"Are you ready Shiro?" She asked me.
"YEP!" I said quickly.
"Oh my~ What's going on you two?" Naomi asked with a sly smile on her face. She had been walking towards her room and saw Kyra at my door.
"None of your business!" Kyra yelled.
"...Uh…" I stood there awkwardly.
"Why so defensive Kyra? You spending the night with our newest member?" Naomi asked.
"My business with Shiro has nothing to do with you. You can return to your OWN room now." Kyra growled.
"Aww, why so mean? Fine. It won't matter anyway. I'll get my time with Shiro eventually." She said to Kyra before turning to me. "Goodnight Shiro."
"Goodnight Naomi." I said before shutting the door. I turned around and saw Kyra looking and at me from the bed. I stared at her ruby colored eyes and her smooth long black hair.
"You just gonna stand there?" She asked. I gulped and walked over to the bed and laid down on it. There was a good foot between us. I tried not to cross any boundaries but God was she making it hard with that damned nightgown. She then laid her head on my chest.
"So…" I started awkwardly. I unconsciously tried to sneak a hand down to her waist.
She slapped it away and glared. "No touching! This is your punishment."
"What?! How am I supposed to let a hot girl lay in bed with me and not touch her at all?! That's just outright torture!"
"Maybe next time, you'll think before climbing into a vent and watching other girls getting changed." She said to me.
"...So I get to watch YOU get changed?"
She brought her lips to my ear and smiled. "Only if your good."
"Holy shit!" If that was all it took then I would've tried harder.
She rested her head back down on my chest. "Your heart is racing Shiro. Are you nervous?"
"W...what? Hell no!" I lied.
She giggled. "Good. I think I like sleeping here. There's only one problem that I have with this."
"What?! Is it my breath?! I brushed!"
"No dummy. It's just really hot in here." She said.
"...You want me to fan you or something?"
"That won't be necessary." She said as she quickly took off the nightgown. I wiped my nose vigorously in order to clean the blood. Her bare chest hung free in my face. I had also just noticed her lack of panties.
"Oh my god!" I shouted as she clung to me.
"Remember what I said. No touching." She winked with a small blush.
"O...oh my god…" I stuttered.
"Goodnight Shiro…"
"Uh...Y...yeah...Goodnight…"
A/N: This is a list of the current levels in the story this far.
Shiro Tatsugami:
(Base)- Level 46
(Hunter)- Level 56 Rouge
(Gilgamesh Grips)- Level 70
(Soul Resonance 1st stage)- Level 62
(Soul Resonance 2nd stage)- Level 79
Clyde Yukio:
(Base)- Level 53
(Flame Charge)- Level 64 Pyromancy
(Phoenix Rebirth)- Level 78 Pyromancy
(PR Full Power)- Level 85
Gabriella Vasquez:
(Base)- Level 49
(Sword Stance)- Level 54 Warrior
(Maiden's Rage)- Level 75 Warrior
Isabel Yang:
(Base)- Level 55
(Oracle)- Level 65 Healer
(Royal Bloodbound)- Level 89 Vampire
Zero:
(Base)- Level 80
(Frost Elemental)- Level 91 Cryomancy
(Koriju Fused; Two Heads)- 96 Cryomancy
(Koriju Fused; Four Heads)- 110 Cryomancy
Eliza:
(Base)- Level 89 Rouge
(Full Power)- ???
Xena:
(Base)- Level 92 Mage
(Full Power)- ???
Amora:
(Base)- ???
(Full Power)- ???
Xeno:
(Base)- Level 780
Xeto:
(Base)- Level 789
Haruka:
(Base)- Level 999,999,999,999,999
Tatsu:
(Base)- 1,823,943,779,021
(Vengeance)- 121,923,004,329,998
(Angelic Sun Style)- 513,676,223,395,107
(Full Power)- ???
Metagenesis:
(Base): Unscaled