Yes, we're still here and strong! I apologise if it isn't up to the best of standards, and apparently at least one person didn't take to Rider too well, but I can just pull a 7th doctor and completely change her character partway through if it's really necessary. Anyway, let's go!

Super hero time!

Shuujin: Let's arm ourselves. Battles aren't going to be easy.

Issei: Shuujin, introduce your new members!

Shuujin: I'm always welcome to fighting with my friends.

Issei: It's mean to be 'I fight FOR my friends!'

S + I: Break the chains! Phone up the future!

"Is it just me, or this place way too huge for what it's going to be used for?"

"Don't you like it? It hasn't got as much stuff as I get, but I made sure you got everything you could!"

"Did that include the swimming pool of a bath tub?"

"I, do not mind it."

"Of course you wouldn't Ophis…"

While not in the main home that Kunou and Yasaka were honoured with, Issei's gobsmacked expression was surely enough to convey the extent of the kitsunes' grace. Silently flopping onto the leather sofa with his face in his palms, the student took his precious time preparing his thoughts; it wouldn't do to insult their gracious 'hosts' (contractors? Bosses?) by saying something directly.

'But how long do they expect to say here? I wonder what's going to happen when I don't turn up at school? Rias, Akeno and the rest… Were they informed that I was going with Yasaka? Well, there when I said I would take Kunou back…'

"Are, you alright father? You, seem deep in thought." Ophis asked, delicately sitting next to him, writhing hands in her lap.

"Oh yeah, just wondering about people at home. It's weird, since I've barely even been gone for the whole morning yet and I never really spoke to them much apart from that only meeting , but I feel bad for leaving without a word. I never even told Matsuda and Motohama." Issei remarked, Ophis nodding slowly while Kunou planted herself on the ground at his feet.

"Are these your friends? I know the devil people, but those last two I don't think I remember." The yokai stated with a hand to her chin, the serious expression upon her face absolutely adorable. "Well, if they were friends with you, they have to be cool too, right?"

"I'm actually extremely glad that neither of you met them." Considering that one proudly proclaimed himself a lolicon, Issei didn't want to think about all of the work he would have to deal with if he showed two cute small girls with him.

"If they're with you, whose parents aren't going over a single child and friends don't have children, they have to be our age! That means they're good game, right? RIGHT!?"

A sudden ringing, to the golden phone within his pocket of all things, brought his attention out of that bald hell, a swift movement having it pulled out to his ear. Perhaps it was her which granted him a second life, for the only other two on the phone were right beside him and had no reason to call.

"Hello?"

"Issei, that's you right!?"

"Rider? What are you doing? How are you able to call this phone? I didn't think it had a number to call in the first place, at least, she never told me one…"

"That probably explains why it was so much trouble to get into it, but that's not the problem here!" Rider hurriedly yelled down the phone, a small wince coming from the brunette; his ears were never going to be the same after this. "It's the Yuki Onna person! They're outside right now and banging on my front door!"

He was instantly on his feet, grey eyes attached to him before following his lead, Kunou giving a small groan of discomfort before eventually picking herself up.

"I was comfortable down there."

"Where are you now? You moved that weird cylinder thing somewhere else, didn't you?" Issei asked, dashing out of the door, the few passing servants dealing with the gardens hopping out of the way as the trio marched out of their abode. "Is it nearby?"

"Fairly, I'm only a couple streets down the road, you'll tell which I am by the CRAZY WOMAN KNOCKING AT MY DOOR!" came the shrill response. "You don't think the yokai leader would mind if I just tasered her a little, right?"

"Starway Rider, no tasering people when they're just knocking at your door!" Issei shouted down at the phone in return, his march rapidly changing into a run easily matched by the two girl by his sides, but that wasn't to say it was slow; some passing elderly man would swear that he could barely blink before they were gone from his vision.

He was old and no-one believed him.

The sound of vicious punching was actually much fiercer than Issei was expecting, nearly skidding to a halt as he looked on the snow white Kimono clad lady pounding away on what seemed to be a completely normal street toilet, the torn remains of card thrown to the side clearly making out the words 'out of order'.

"Um, excuse me miss? Are you alright?" Issei called out, the woman's short white hair violently swishing as she turned, narrowed red eyes piercing through him. She was a slender woman, the blue sash around her waist was drawn tight around her waist and as she slowly turned, a gentle movement, she quietly whispered.

"Who are you? You are not her." The woman commented with quiet tone, steadily moving away as far as her outstretched hand would allow while still letting her rapping upon the door possible. "But you, you are also special. All three of you are."

"Well I am the heir to the Yokai faction! Of course I'm special! And Ophis and Issei work with my mother, so they're also special as well!" Kunou proudly declared, closed eyes paired with a hum of content, until one cracked open, her mouth falling open in disappointment when she saw the woman studying Issei up close. Really close.

Oh, her breath smelt like mints. Nice.

"I cannot see what makes you special." The woman said in sadness, stepping back towards the door. "What makes you special?"

"Oh, me? I'm not exactly sure. Apparently I'm good enough to be given special treatment, but beyond that, I'm none too sure." Issei remarked in reply with an awkward smile, though it faded slightly at the silence coming his way.

"No, there's something special, I just need to bring it out… How do I bring it out? He is unlike her, his treasure is not so obvious…" the woman's ramblings were near mute, but for some reason, Issei heard perfectly clear, just like his two companions.

"Father, she aims to hurt you." Ophis stated monotonously, but the small frown sent his way was flawless proof in his eyes. Unlike the gothic lolita's more subtle warnings though, Kunou was not to be so easily discrete, poking the woman in the hip and looking up, fire in her eyes.

"You're going to do something stupid aren't you?" she accused, the woman recoiling slightly, but no words deigned to leave her mouth in disagreement. "You're going to attack him, aren't you!? You can't do that!"

"Now Kunou, you can't just accuse people of aiming to attack- " Issei's scolding would have to be put on hold as a freezing blast had Kunou on ice, her frozen expression of surprise unmoving as the cube held her tight awkwardly, Issei flipping open his phone without hesitation before looking down at the buttons.

"I never did try out what would happen if I used her, did I?" Issei asked to himself, quickly followed by a shake of his head. "That sounded better in my head."

CALL!

NUMBER ZERO – eRrOr!

CALL TO ARMS!

"Error? Why on earth does it refer to her as an error? I would've thought she would at least include herself properly." Issei spoke aloud, no time to ponder as a blade of ice fell down on his previous position, the deep gouge left behind a sign of the deadly fate it would've brought him as Ophis stepped to the side. There was no need to take part in the battle that was to ensue; might as well melt the kitsune.

There was only a slight flash of light to signal the appearance of a strange bracelet upon his left wrist, its design ready to hold something in its grasp. The sole reason the student even noticed it in the first place was a single punch to the woman's stomach, shoving her away at the cost of near frostbite at the tips of his knuckles. The small amount of shaking wasn't enough to get rid of the pain, but at least blood continued to flow; there was no doubt what would happen if that somewhat stopped.

"Oh never mind, what on earth is this?" he said as he held up the odd looking accessory to his eyes, the sound of Kunou's groans entering his ears as his arm twisted and turned, inspecting every inch. "Wait, it's phone shaped, I have a phone, got it."

It seemed relatively simple, placing the device onto its new stand with little difficulty, but there was no response at all, no matter how he attached it on and the woman was slowly advancing once more.

"So that is what makes you special… is it technology? Is it fighting skill? What could it be?" the whispers began afresh, the wine red eyes as firmly attached as the phone was to the bracelet, at least until Issei opened it back up with a steady glare at the buttons.

"Come on now, what is it I'm missing?" he muttered, slapping the machine to no effect. "There has to be part that's not being used, some sort of activation effect; I'm pretty sure her special ability is not jewellery!"

"I don't hear her at the door right now. I'm coming out!" Ichigo's voice was muffled but it was loud enough to be heard by all, the creak of a door being followed by the revelation of red eyes, a pink ponytail swinging as the girl poked her head around the door. "Oh, so you're still here, hehehe… Hi?"

"You show yourself again, tell me, why do you not show me what makes you special?" the woman asked once more, her hands lashing out to grab onto the mulberry shirt, only to be met by the intensity of a flamethrower directly to her stomach, one quick blast that had her stumbling back to Rider's awkward laugh.

"Sorry, but I don't like to be touched." She cheekily taunted, though that superior smirk quickly disappeared at the tears that welled within the white haired woman's eyes as they turned onto the technophile. "Um, are you actually okay?"

"Why…? I just want to know…" she whispered, the weapon in Rider's hand trembling. "Is that too much to ask…? No, I must learn! Show me!" another blast of snow was sent her way, a frosty wonderland born from its berth, a frozen door being all that remained after the fierce cloud dispersed, Rider panting next to Issei.

"Thanks, this has been happening way too much!" the pink haired girl moaned, a single finger pointing to the woman. "Can you see why I'm kinda scared right now? It's like dealing with flies with a fly zapper: it works, but there's always a time where they pop up again!"

"Well don't worry, I think I have an idea… potentially." Issei whispered in reply, fully aware of the gentle footsteps growing louder every second. "I've managed to get this bracelet and it's clear that something's meant to happen when the phone is placed it, but something needs to be done before it works. Any ideas?"

"Are you using me as tech support right now?" was the harsh whisper that came in response, a moment spent firing the flamethrower forward buying them a few more seconds. "is there nothing you can do quicker? I'm used to being able to take times to do my investigations."

Tech support. Tech support… that seemed like it meant something, but what on earth would such an inconsequential job mean in a deadly situation? He was going against a folklore creature known for being able to manipulate ice, with nought by his side apart from his phone and the weird bracelet that they've confirmed wasn't able to do anything that was worth anything unless they could get it to work. So why was tech support such an important word!?

"Because they give the obvious answers most of the time!" Issei's sudden outburst was enough to freeze the two woman in their movements as they turned to him halfway through the opening of the phone, a brilliant smirk upon his face.

"Excuse me, is that an insult to me?" Rider sad, turning away. "Using me as tech support and then saying they could only give obvious answers, how mean…"

"No, not at all, but I understand why it wasn't working!" the student clarified, a terrified Rider near screaming as he picked he up and spun her around, pressing the buttons on the phone once more.

CALL!

NUMBER TWO – KITSUNE!

"Hey Miss, I should tell you something important!" the woman's head was lifted as he spoke, curiosity mixing into those tears of hers. "What makes me special is nothing big, no amazing talent or powerful item. My super perviness isn't what made me special, nor was it the phone, I wouldn't have been picked if I had already received it! No, what makes me special is that I'm more stupid than the others, my grades will tell you that! Which is why I'm willing to use the stupid options, to go with what everyone else would dismiss from the get go!"

"What was that speech for, what have you discovered?"

"Yes, what is your treasure, what makes you special?"

A broad grin was firmly plastered onto Issei's face as he closed the phone up, the small pulsing noise it made continuing even in its shut position one hand had it lifted over the bracelet before a firm push had it latched on, a single question spoken with its answer.

"What is the first thing tech support tells you to try if you've the machine isn't working? Using the phone meant it wasn't active right now; I had to switch it on in the first place!"

CONNECT! KITSUNE!

CALL TO ARMOUR!

A newly defrosted Kunou leapt to her feet as a fresh burst of power flowed through her very veins, a sudden intense desire flooding her as she leapt towards Issei with grey eyes watching with un-displayed curiosity.

"Issei!" the kitsune called out in a song like tone, a leap having her in hurriedly held out arms, her own wrapping around his torso as the blonde's eyes closed. "I like you so very much…"

A bright flash was born, eagerly attempting to blind all that came across it's grandeur, completely hiding those within. Rider, gun acting as a light guard from its held position, let out a small gasp, the woman's hiss of pain following, though not a word escaped from Ophis, typical of the black haired girl. as the glow dissipated, the sight was not any one of them were expecting, least of all Issei, as he looked at his hands in sheer wonder.

"Woah, it's like I can fly! Issei, what are y- is that my face?"

Unseen to all but the brunette, Kunou's disembodied floated around in awe as she studied the armour Issei had donned.

Wait, what?

Replacing every inch of Kunou's body upon Issei's person was pure steel, painstakingly carved to hold every detail of her feature from her head to her toes, near literally. Her actual head was like a single shoulder guard, her torso acting as a kimono styled chest piece while her drooping legs acted as protection for his right leg, the other unprotected areas forced to deal with non-coloured basic metal instead. Letting his arms drop needless, Issei looked towards the Yuki Onna, her frightened scuttling backwards fully indicative of the unfiltered fear that took over her movements.

"Honestly, I could expect worse at this time." There was nought else he could say, flexing his hand as he held it out to a completely confused Rider. "Could you care to pass me that? I feel like I might need it."

"Um, sure. Go ahead." A single toss had the still bulky weapon held in that lone hand, Issei letting the vertical pillar of fire speak for itself, its roar being his battle cry.

"Come and get some!" several blasts had a circle burnt around the Yuki Onna, her unspoken worry told through only the terrified yelps as the stream came a little too close. A blink had the boy inside her personal bubble, if not popped by his present, then forcefully so by the ferocious kick wreathed in fire of its own that dug deep into her stomach, her limp body sending her through trees and crashing onto the asphalt that made up the roads.

"Thank goodness the yokai decided to build their base so close to the main city." The boy sighed as he looked down on his ground, the black spot left beneath his foot not exactly a good sign. "It's going to be a devil to clean up." Walking casually over and hoisting the body onto his shoulder, the right naturally; he didn't want to give Kunou a face full of breasts, before whistling, Ophis appearing like a dog to the call of its master.

"Well then, now that we've dealt with that, where's your little ship thing, the cylinder?" Rider's held back chuckles weren't too good for his liking, but Issei let the girl speak.

"It's right in front of you silly, can't you see?" she asked, holding her arms wide at the row of houses that lined the street.

"But, there's nothing there."

"Exactly! It wouldn't be a good disguise if you could easily tell which one was my Starway rider!" the pink haired girl chided, beckoning the two into the basic house on the end of the row, a flash know having Kunou resting upon his other shoulder in confusion.

"Wait, wasn't I flying? Noo! I want to fly again!"

"I'm sure there will be an- Oh, I see." The technologically astounding interior was exactly the same as it was before, only the door changing to mimic that of a normal house with Rider cheerfully standing at the console.

"Now, let's go see what Miss Yasaka thinks about all this!"

Let's put that on hold. Okay, so I'll have to get on those changes when she starts getting more involved. What the hell could that error mean? What shall they do with the Yuki Onna? When is all of the exposition going to come!? Please stay tuned and thank you for continuing to read.