"Come on then Neptune" I taunted "I thought you were the main character"
"That's it!" She growled before covering the distance and began swinging her katana around like crazy.
Dodging and blocking her strikes I barely had time to register and put up a defence each attack before they landed.
"Now you see kids this is a example of 'Karma'" The Author chuckled
"And this is an example of a counter attack" I growled sidestepping and pressing the attack on Purple Heart managing to sneak a few blows in. Apparently she wasn't the best at blocking attacks.
Finishing my attack by slashing upwards I quickly jumped back and slammed the katana back into the sheath resting a finger on the trigger.
Purple Heart, having never seen me use the explosive charge before, took my sudden retreat as a weakness to exploit and shot forward; the tip of her blade scraping across the ground and just as she got within range I squeezed the trigger firing off the charge.
Gripping the hilt of the blade with all my strength I put everything I had into controlling it's direction and keeping a firm grip on it but Purple Heart had managed to kick back at the last second and avoid the full strike, the top of the blade just missing her chin as she leant back to avoid the blade.
Stopping the blade after the apex of its swing I held the position for a moment before standing up again. The muscles in my right arm were not too happy having to stop the full swing but it wasn't too bad.
"What in the Nep was that!?" Purple Heart exclaimed.
"A little ability of mine" I smirked.
"Well if that's how you're gonna play it" she growled "Cross Combination!"
This time I could barely register her attacks as she dashed around me, slicing away at me. The link to the girls stopping any permed any damage but I clearly felt each strike.
With a kick she launched me back causing me to roll on the ground. Mid tumble I managed to throw my katana ahead of me and, with a bit of careful aiming and luck, stood on the katana; the trench coat fluttering in the wind.
"Badass" I smirked "totally planned that"
"No you didn't!" Purple Heart replied.
"Shut up Neptune!" I retorted.
Jumping off I grabbed my katana and started sprinting forward when my instincts screamed at me that something hostile was coming from my left. Raising the katana I just blocked the blade from striking me, following along the blade to the owner I felt my body freeze up in shock.
"Noire!?" I gasped
"Sorry Thomas" she replied, her face looking somber "I needed to show that this hurt me too"
"Me giving attention to Iris?" I managed to say through gritted teeth. She was really strong.
"Giving too much attention" she replied, her eyes hardening. "And anyway I needed to test your strength out myself. The incident with Iris just gives me more of a reason to go all out!"
With that she pushed me back, swinging her sword as I back stepped out of her range.
Looking between the two girls I felt like a fox between two hounds or a wolf being hunted by men with guns.
"If you two wanna play it like that" I shrugged before deforming the katana and creating the twin swords. "Let's keep levels at mine though remember?"
"Don't worry we will. It'll still result in your hide being whipped within an inch of your life" Purple Heart smirked, drawing her blade across the floor.
"Well I guess there isn't any need for me to hold back either" I replied removing my trench coat and throwing it to the side. On my lower back say the jump kit from my armour and a rope went up and along my back before going into the vambraces on my arm.
"I'm gonna have a good time with this equipment" I grinned, rolling my shoulders before getting into a stance.
"A grappling hook and jump jets? Please" Purple Heart rolled her eyes before launching forward.
Ducking her first attack I used the jump jets to dash to the side, bringing my blades around to stab her in the back when Noire decided to join in causing me to abandon my attack on Neptune to avoid taking hits.
"This is still slightly bullshit" I muttered, just managing to block a swing from Noire and using the force from it to put some distance between us.
"This is what happens when you decide to date three goddesses at once" One of the Verts called out.
"Hey I'm not complaining I like a challenge but fighting just one of them would fulfil that criteria!" I shouted back "With the two of them this is like the Ornstien and Smough fight from Dark Souls!"
This gave me an idea but at a very bad time because just as the idea struck me the girls pressed their advantage, Purple Heart's fast and aggressive fighting style being covered by Black Heart's slower but stronger fighting style... Huh these two are like the more attractive version of Ornstien and Smough.
"Stop getting distracted!" Purple Heart shouted her sword just slipping by my defence and stabbing me in the arm.
I could almost hear my nerves scream out in pain as I backed away trying to shake off the familiar feeling of pins and needles spreading from where she stabbed me. Thankfully the barrier was still intact or I would of been down one arm and up one trip to the hospital again.
"Fuck it. Get over here!" I roared through the pain as the grappling hook shot out and attached itself to Black Heart. Before she or Purple Heart could stop it, she was dragged towards me; stumbling the last few yards as I started swinging my blades left and right, tearing into her as I pressed the short advantage I had.
Ignoring her cries of pain as best I could I noticed Purple Heart closing the distance between us rapidly so after swinging both of my blades across her chest I used the momentum to spin myself around to deal a hopefully devastating roundhouse kick to the side of her head before I had to start blocking and countering the wild swings coming from Purple Heart.
"You know I really don't like fighting you two" I managed to say through the pain of another of Purple Heart's attacks slipping through.
"Why is that?" She replied as she half hissed half cried out as one of my swords ran across her leg.
"Beside being a pain and you both are really good?" I grunted before raising my voice and shouting "I love the both of you!"
This caused her to immediately freeze up, her eyes widening like she had forgotten that.
Using the moment to my advantage I swung both swords at the underneath of her sword, launching it high into the air and threw my swords into the floor, before grabbing her and kissing her. Willing her to calm down and see that this fight was started by jealousy and it's doing nothing but hurting the both of us. Feeling a calm wave pass over myself I broke off the kiss and turned to face Noire who had just gotten to her feet and I assume had seen the kiss happen as she looked defeated and about to cry when I walked over and kisses her too. Willing the same thing to her as well. After the familiar calming wave pass over me I broke off the kiss and stepped back.
"Are we done now?" I asked.
"Yeah... I'm sorry for starting this fight I was just so jealous" Purple Heart replied softly before changing back into Neptune and walking over, grabbing one of my hands.
"Same... I was just so scared you were going to leave us" Black Heart spoke up before she too returned to her original form and took my other hand.
"Looks like Thomas won that fight" Blanc #1 spoke up.
"Indeed and it ended better than I thought it would" Vert #2 followed up.
Rolling my eyes at their comments I looked at Neptune and Noire. "You two need to understand I have to spread the love among three of you here and Plutia was just teasing you both. Sure maybe it got a bit out of hand but she didn't want us to fight"
Right on cue Plutia practically glomped Neptune with a string of apologies before she did the same to Noire which caused me to chuckle.
"You okay Thomas? I hit you a bit harder than I intended on your arm" Neptune asked, the worry in her voice was easy to spot.
"Ah I'm fine. The link stopped any real damage its just a feeling of pins and needles going through my arm which bothers me" I replied.
"Neptune!" A voice called out grabbing all our attention, looking over to where it came from IF was standing in the door way leading back into the Basilacom. "Now that you've finished your little lovers quarrel can you help us with D3ath? She has refused to talk at all"
"Well you girls better go and talk to my would be assassin" I shrugged as I walked over and picked up my trench coat.
"You're coming too" Blanc #1 replied coldly before anyone could reply.
"You know I would normally say 'make me' but I have a feeling I know how you would do that" I shuddered almost feeling her hammer hit me. "Let's get moving then no point in wasting time drawing out this chapter"
Taking the steps two at a time while ignoring Neptune muttering about how I'm stealing her job of breaking the forth wall I debated if I should to reflect on D3ath... Nah the authors going to do a time skip anyway.
-ten minutes later-
"Alright D3ath is in here, you girls better go in first and Tom you enter last" IF briefed us.
"Alright miss professional" I rolled my eyes before leaning on the wall beside the door.
"Miss?" IF looked at me raising an eyebrow in question.
"Oh sorry I didn't know the marriage between you and Vert had happened yet" I grinned as the two of the girls blushed heavily while the third looked between them confused. "Allow me to correct myself; Mrs professional. Or would Mrs Green Heart be better?"
"A Anyway let's get in there" IF hastily opened the door and the girls slowly entering the room, Neptune fist bumping me as she went in.
"She's probably gonna try and kill you when she sees you" the author spoke up absentmindedly
"I know and I'm ready for it" I replied shrugging "this bitch is gonna find out the hard way that I'm not gonna let her kill me"
"So. You bring the goddesses to help you this time? I told you I will not speak to any of you who do not need my attention" a cold voice spoke before any of the girls could say anything.
"Oh yeah? What about me then D3ath?" I asked as I turned the corner, crossing my arms with a goading smirk on my face.
D3ath was silent before the room's temperature dropped at a rapid rate and she tore out of her restraints and launched herself at me, I could see pristine teeth bared in a snarl under hood that obscured her features.
Moving forward I grabbed her and threw her into the wall with enough force to crack it thanks to my link with the girls. As D3ath hit the floor I drove my knee into her stomach resulting in a cry of pain from her before it was cut off as I place my recently formed pistol against her temple.
"Wanna have your name changes from D3ath to D3ad?" I spoke in the most intimidating voice I could muster, I'll admit the speed and sudden attack had still taken me by surprise but I wasn't going to back down. "if so try that again and hope that Lady Luck has decided to smile on you. If not stay still then nod twice"
There was a long pause before D3ath slowly nodded twice.
Getting up I held my free hand out to help her up while still holding my pistol on my other hand.
She looked at it for a moment before grabbing it and allowing me to pull her to her feet before looking at me for another tense moment before she pulled her hood down.
Her skin was a very unhealthy pale colour with her eyes colour was a deep and unending abyss of darkness and her hair was an extension of that abyss, no light seemed to shine on her at all. On her right cheek was a tattoo of the number 13 in Roman numerals. She practically screamed "edgy as fuck"
"You really put some effort into describing her there didn't you" I asked the Author while trying to keep a straight face.
"Hey might as well" I could almost hear him shrug in response.
"So who are you?" IF asked. Her question was met with silence as D3ath continued looking at me.
"So who are you?" I repeated casting a glance at IF, she looked more than a little frustrated.
"D3ath. That is who and what I am" she replied, she didn't even blink when she said that.
"So you're the... What? Physical embodiment of Death?" I asked trying to stay professional and stern. This girl had every hair on my body standing on end.
"Yes and no" she replied before she finally blinked "I am physical embodiment of your Death"
"What?" I asked confused.
"Everyone's death looks different and we all act different depending on the person" D3ath clarified.
"Right" I replied looking to IF for help but she simply shrugged.
"That explains you look different from when you were last sighted" IF mused "Can you promise you won't attack Thomas again?"
D3ath looked to me and I gestured for her to answer.
"No, I am his D3ath so I cannot promise such a thing" she replied sounding annoyed.
"You're really going to try and kill me again?" I wasn't too shocked I guess but it was still kinda hard to brush it off.
"If you show me weakness then yes. I am your D3ath, why should I follow your rules and promises?" She glared at me with her lifeless eyes.
"I beat you twice" I shrugged. "Anyone who can beat their Death should surely command deaths respect?"
"The first time was a fluke nothing more" D3ath looked away as her cheeks seemed to turn slightly gray. "This time I had no weapons to fight you with"
"Masochist" I rolled my eyes before shrugging. "Whatever try killing me again I'll still put you on the floor"
"And this time we will help" Noire followed up, crossing her arms under her chest as she glared at D3ath.
There was a brief pause as everyone stared at D3ath, D3ath glared at me and I narrated the scene.
"Well then I'd say this investigation is over" I shrugged walking over to the door.
"No way is it done!" IF shouted.
"Well you go ahead and continue questioning her. I'm tired!" I shouted back. "Fighting two jealous but adorable goddesses is rather draining ya know?"
Leaving with a short wave I got into the elevator, pressing the button to go up to the guest floor. Fighting those girls took way too much out of me to deal with D3ath. Or should I say my D3ath now? That sounds kinda kinky. I'll have to debate on that while I slept.
After entering my room I locked the door first as I wouldn't be surprised if D3ath tried something while I was asleep so hopefully this'll work as a early warning. I don't doubt for a second that she'll kill me if given a chance and I'd rather not strain this link I have with Neptune and Noire. I have no idea how much strain it'll put on them if I take some serious damage.
After removing my top and getting changed into my sleepwear (I'm not telling you what I wear to sleep for any of you hopeful lot. This story shall stay as a Teen!) I fell into my bed, falling asleep almost immediately. How am I narrating this? Um... Fourth wall breaking to the extreme?
-4 hours later-
Jerking awake my eye darted around the room, looking for anyone. I know someone is around here. The room is dark, barely any light shone through...
Slipping out of my bed quietly I decided against pulling a top on and instead I pulled the combat trousers I was wearing before back on while still glancing around.
"Where are you..." I muttered looking around the place. As I turned to look behind me a knife suddenly rocketed towards me from the darkness, it's blade was almost as dark as my surroundings while a pale arm held onto the blade tightly.
Reacting on instincts I formed a cross guard with my arms to catch the arm; a split second after it had landed I grabbed the just above the wrist, so my arm was out of reach of the blade, while my other hand snaked out to where I assumed the head was. Grabbing it I pulled them around so they were in front of me and their head was lowered; bringing my knee up sharply I heard a sharp cry of pain and they dropped the knife before I repeated the action resulting in a similar but higher pitch sound.
Reaching down and locking my hand under their chin and pulled their head up and back sharply while firmly planting my foot behind their legs causing them to trip over. As they fell I managed to get a glance at their pale face, their eyes were black while their cheeks were a dark grey. Still not done I gripped their arm and used it to pull them onto their chest and after twisting their arm around so I had them in another arm lock I placed my knee into their lower back resulting in another cry of pain.
"From the brief descriptions I've been given between the grapple we've just had I know it's you D3ath" I grunted with dissatisfaction.
"I'm... Going to kill... You..." She panted rather heavily, squirming under my knee.
Shrugging I drove my knee into her back harder causing her to gasp sharply and stop squirming.
"You really are a masochist" I mumbled embarrassed. "You're really pushing the boundaries of this story being a teen. Heck after this chapter the author may have to make it a mature story"
"W what?" She asked confused still panting slightly.
"Nothing. Look go have a shower for as long as you need then we need to talk" I replied letting go and backing away.
D3ath got up and looked at me for a moment before she walked into the bathroom as silent as a mouse. After a while the sounds of a shower could be heard and while that happened I decided now would be the perfect opportunity to put a top on. Next chapter is going to be fun talking to D3ath after that