Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!

Yoga Pratama; Yeah, it is a possibility~

hellspam; It will be confusing for now and sometime in the future, but don't forget the things mentioned last chapter, and in this one too, it will be shown in the future what that means and what's going on. Kunou's gonna be in this chapter yeah~ Kiyome's quite weirdly cute, isn't she? Well, it might turn out that she would want to drink some of his blood in the future too~

DocSlendy; If you mean in DXD, then I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

Harem Master123; Thank you! Glad you like it! I know, he really has to watch out for her wandering hands huh. Well, she does care, that's why she said she'd hit Kiyome if she tried anything terrible. It seems so yeah~ And yeah, it just seemed like it wouldn't happen, considering that he was only checking on them after he heard a scream. Well, she could be, I dunno yet. Yeah, that would be quite interesting to see, wouldn't it? And thanks for the suggestions.

Blue Eyes Pendulum Dragon; For at least half a chapter, he gets some break yeah~ Well, she knows about someone anyway, if it is a connection to Makoto or not, it could be anything at this point. Well, I won't say who Makoto's parents are, if they are Oc's, canon characters, I couldn't possibly comment right now. I'll say to at least one of them, he does. It is indeed, his rival, kissing his younger brother, what's Ise going to think? Here's the next chapter!

Nivek Beldo; Yup, I was quite sick, though I am on the mend now. Yeah, don't worry, I am alright~ I think I'd like to wake up like that too. No one takes Princess' special area away from her. Well, he doesn't want to be in the spotlight, that's not who he is. Foreshadowing? Perhaps that it is. Makoto mentioned twilight to Elmen...didn't go down that well with her. Elmen explained some of her backstory yeah, showing the boy a little bit of her difficult struggle, though it seems hard to even talk about for her. Asia surely is cute when she's doing things like that, isn't she? Yeah, Asia is surely adjusting, and even showing that despite her being a Maou, Makoto only knew her as Leviathan, though that doesn't mean he'll always think of her like that. Millicas has her own thoughts going on yeah, wonder what's up with her? Aah, don't peep on the girls or Makoto's not gonna be happy about it. Kiyome has appeared...poor Makoto's sanity, he's surely gonna need some help in the future isn't he? Hehe, it was fun writing those kind of scenes, it was enjoyable~ Well, whoever it was, it will be revealed eventually about what's going on. He truly does want to know where he's from, even from the first chapter he gave hints, it's always on his mind. I mean, everyone would want to know, if they didn't have a clue, and it seems like there are some secrets afoot. Hehe, a plant creature has come, let's see how Makoto gets out of this huh. Maybe, but the Church accepting a Fallen Angel, even a hybrid, into the fold, I dunno. I'm not saying it couldn't happen though.

Justin D; This chapter was pretty hectic from last chapter. A stark contrast from two chapters ago huh. Ooh yeah, it will be revealed, eventually. Ah, I see. That would be, quite interesting. Maybe a gift from heaven or something. Since Ise's gonna get Ascalon, Makoto will be getting something too, just dunno what that is yet. Oh, he'll have a pact with Tiamat, eventually. Not right now though. She seems to know something, but she isn't spilling anything as of now. And yeah, happy 4th of July, for a week ago hehe~

Allan Von'Skoon; Another week yeah~ it was, something alright~ Thank you, it's lovely to read that. Yes, I am going to make a fully recovery, thankfully, though it was quite the thing when it happened. Ooh yeah, I do think of you loyal readers, and even the casual ones too. All of you guys, and girls, are important to me. Hehe, their relationship is picking up a little bit huh. Princess isn't going to allow anyone to touch her personal territory. Makoto feels quite complicated about it, he's not used to things like that happening to him. Any self respecting Vampire isn't going to like that, especially the likes of Makoto right now. Exactly, Elmen went through some hardships, and was worried, but Makoto assured her that she was going to receive kindness from him. Asia's always cute to do though, I think it is adorable anyway. That is quite the image huh~? Yup, let's wait and see what's gonna happen with Millicas huh. Well, he only saw it briefly, and Makoto knocked the sense into him, or out of him, whichever~ Ooh yeah, when it is someone Makoto cares about, of course he's gonna be pissed, even if he loves Ise very much. He surely is bonding with his growing harem huh. She is a very adorable girl. People dislike her because of it, but I love it when Asia's cutely jealous, it's usually more fun than others type of jealousy. Hehe, Makoto's still a guy after all, he's gonna want to see a hot female dressing up. Kiyome showed up, terrorizing the poor young boy. Exactly, it just makes sense that she'd know quite a lot, considering her background and such. I know, it ruins the images of what they should be huh. It was for the most part relaxing, but this also has two reasons why it happened like this, both displayed in this chapter. Yasaka surely seems to at least be aware of someone in Makoto's line, huh. Tiamat, is gonna be apart of something important, that's all I can say for the moment. Sorry, this chapter doesn't have a cliffhanger, not really. Though some questions are brought up here too. Answers for them shall be down the line. Aah, here's the end of the familiar arc, I guess you could call it, and yeah, it is going to be interesting~ And it was, thank you!

gundam 09; It surely is, I hope that it is anyway~

f1uffy5prinkles; Well, Yasaka's there for the Onee-sama type, Kunou's gonna be around Makoto's age, and such. And no worries, I ready every comment.

Tohka123; Aah, thank you! Yup, he got to see such things, lucky boy or what? Princess won't allow anyone to touch her special area, that belongs to her. I know, she really feels very strongly about that. Asia's adorable though, I always love writing for Asia, she's a cute character. All I can say that Millicas is going through something, can't say what, but it is about the overarching story. Don't look at Makoto's ladies, or he's gonna punch you one. I think any man wants to see her dress up, she's very attractive, even Makoto could see that. Kiyome entered, and Makoto wanted to exit, he surely was terrified of her, wasn't he? Aah, Makoto would've gone shopping with her anyway, it didn't matter to him. Yasaka has turned up, and revealing, things. Can't comment much on it or it would give it away. I know, he's really got many things to learn about his future, and past huh. Tiamat has her reasons, but they won't be fully explained for a little while yet. Yeah, last chapter was quite a bit about developing more of the relationships with one another. Yup! A girl, and the reemergence of a certain someone comes up. Aah, that's cool! And thanks! Here's the chapter!

Anime PJ; It surely was quite the ride huh. Really? Glad that it is~ They all seem to know something huh. Though what that is, wont be revealed just yet. It is gonna be kept under wraps for a little while, anyway. I can't say how long though, as it would give away something's. Yeah, I am thinking about it, and planning it out in my head and such where it could go.

Naroku; Thanks! Yeah, you're right there. Yes, she will be appearing in some form. And I'll try.

ShadowUzumaki55; Makoto, Yumi and Serafall surely share some interesting bedtimes don't they? Asia surely is, and she likes that position, his first unofficial member. Makoto looks at her through rose coloured glasses, and Asia does actually too, and Makoto's Mother as well. Only the people that Princess doesn't hate I guess. That's gonna be quite something, huh~? Those two together is quite scary, I can't deny that. Kiyome's very forward with her activities. Even Yasaka looks scared. That's Serafall for you, she usually does things like that. Oh, some of his past shall be revealed through these chapters, even in this one, though you'd have to wonder which part truly is the revealing part. Yeah, I think you might be right.

Vizard Issei; He never does huh, he's dragged into one thing after another, poor boy. Ooh she does in her own way, she understands it. Well, you've got a point there, everyone's got a little in them, no matter how they try and deny it, at least that's how I think about it anyway. It surely is getting hinted. Yeah, that was the correct word she used. Hmmm, you could be right, or it could be something else entirely.

UsagiAngelRabbit; Cliffhangers are there to keep it going sometimes, ya know~? Exactly, no pervy slime here. He can be more mature if he needs to be yeah, and Makoto can have moments of being adorable.

Primevere; I know, he's been attacked by quite a few things last chapter, huh. And thanks!

SmexyBananas; I don't think Ise's gonna have any problems with that.

Makoto; First of all, great name~ Well, I can't say what his birth is like yet, but it is still the same idea that I had all the way back in chapter one. If he was, I am sure that he would react in a different way to Gasper's Sacred Gear. No, he doesn't need it, he's got his own ways of becoming strong. Well, how their eventual fight goes, it is going to be interesting to see. And yeah, maybe he could wear something like that in the future.

Skull Flame; Exactly, Serafall is something of a wildcard. Oh, I couldn't comment on something like that. Maybe it's something completely different. You never know, he might need something like that if she carries on with her ways. I know, Serafall and Asia's sense of...beauty surely is quite, outrageous to say the least. I know, some big reveals there huh. It should be unexpected, and might not make sense for the time being, but it will do eventually. That will be answered in this chapter. And thanks!

Guest 1; Yeah, I probably would in that story.

ShadeAkami; It surely did huh~? That would be quite the dream huh. We're off to the forest, and then some stuff happens~ Well, actually, even in canon, she can leave for a short time. In volumes 12 and 21, she has been shown in places other than Kyoto. She can leave, but she has to go back eventually. They know something about him, but they aren't telling just yet. He surely is always getting into quite dangerous situations. No worries, I understand~

zeon480; He does have quite the bad luck, doesn't he?

Cf96; I am happy that you're interested~

Guest 2; Maybe they could do that.

Guest 3; Yeah, sounds great!

Well, with those reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!


A pact, and a shock part two!

Darkness…

It was very dark.

Makoto was lost.

He didn't know what was going on.

It felt like his body was suspended in darkness, and he didn't know what was going on. Even with his Devils eyesight, he couldn't see anything that was before him. He moved his hands above his face, and waved them. If he couldn't feel his hands moving, then he would be shocked that he wasn't actually getting anything like that done.

"Hello! Hello!"

Makoto didn't know if his voice was going to be heard or not…

He wished that he would be heard right now, but he wasn't able to do something like understand if he was going to be heard.

When he felt like he was gonna give up hope, a small light came into view…

It wasn't a large light, but it was a light regardless.

It was beautiful, the light that was.

It was tiny, yet dazzling at the same time.

Makoto felt overwhelmed with emotions, and he didn't know why that was.

He didn't understand why he was overcome with emotions, his eyes were leaking tears.

"W-What's going on…? W-What's happening!?"

He wiped his eyes as the world around him slowly broke down into a different world. A world that wasn't so overcome with darkness, it was a world of light but with the swishing of water that could be hurt. And the tiny light still was there. But now, it was a beautiful blue colour as opposed to just white.

Makoto's body suddenly dropped down to the new ground, and he hit his face…but oddly, he didn't feel any pain. He didn't feel anything other than the sensation of the ground that was below him, and even then it seemed weird to him.

But he felt, wet…

He felt like he had just fallen into water, and he didn't know why that was.

It was confusing, weird…yet he knew this wasn't real.

He knew that this wasn't real due to the fact that it didn't make sense. He had been a Devil for a little while now, but he didn't think that thus would be real.

Yet, he had all of his faculties, he assumed that it wasn't a dream that he was having right now.

But if it wasn't a dream…then what was he having?

He wasn't sure…

Just then, he saw something in the water…he saw someone's body within the water, standing up, and carrying another body, of a girl. She couldn't be that old, probably in her teens, yet she was…lifeless.

Her head hung over the other persons arms, and dipped into the water.

"What is this…?"

His voice was echoing in the abyss that he was in.

[This is another's life…]

Makoto was on high alert, and looked around for the source of the voice, but he couldn't see anyone.

His eyes scanned over everything that he could see, but besides the person in the water, he couldn't see anyone. And that person was looking down at the dead girl, he presumed she was dead anyway. It was very weird if he had been speaking to him, but no…he wasn't speaking to him at all, and he was left wondering what was happening.

"Another's life…w-who's life is this exactly? W-What's going on!?"

Makoto pleaded for an answer, but he didn't get any.

All he saw was the girls face, and he couldn't make out the other. Despite it being so bright, it was like the other persons face was shrouded in shadows, and it made him feel complex…

But then he saw it.

A single tear drop falling off the persons face, and landed in the water. It rippled through the open water, and travelled all the way to him. Makoto himself looked at the water, and picked it up with his hand…the water was black.

It was definitely water, but it was so black that he could barely see through it.

He looked at the young girl again, and witnessed her being dropped into the water. It was weird, as she sank down into the water, falling into the darkness of the water, and disappeared from the light.

"W-What's going on…? W-What's happened…?"

Makoto's voice sounded so distant, even to himself.

Like he was trapped in a world that had barely any sound, and it didn't make anything right, or had it any sense at all.

[In time…you'll understand…my liege.]

Suddenly, the world turned even brighter and his entire world had changed into a beacon of light around his body that wouldn't disappear for anything at all.


"Please…Please be okay…"

"Ugh…"

Makoto groaned…

He didn't know what happened…

He felt a harsh pain coming through to his head.

It was throbbing, he felt like his head was splitting.

His eyes slowly dragged open, and his vision was blurry.

He didn't know what was going on, the rocky formation around him seemed to be blending into everything and nothing at the same time.

But then a face came into his vision…

It was the face of a young girl.

His vision became clearer, and he saw a young girl. It was a cute young girl, probably around his age. She has blonde hair, almost golden, with fluffy ears coming out of her hair. Behind her, nine tails came out of her, and they looked fluffy too.

When seeing his eyes on her, the girl scampered away.

"H-Hey, don't run away. It's okay, I'm not a bad person."

"T-That could be false! Y-You're after something, right!?"

He didn't have a reason to blame her for being suspicious.

Despite the dark, he could see her face, she didn't move that further away from him.

"Hey, please don't be so worried. You don't have to worry about something like that. I won't hurt you, I promise that I won't hurt you. If you don't believe me then…don't worry about something like that. I will make sure that you're not hurt."

"…It's difficult to believe a stranger."

Seeing like he wasn't going to get her to trust him so easily, he had to take a gamble, and said it with a slow, yet comforting voice.

"Kunou…san, is your name right?"

Since it looked like a mini Yasaka, and that's how he pictured Kunou, he guessed it was Kunou.

The young girl jumped in surprise, and held a hand to her mouth.

"Y-You know Kunou? I-I'm Kunou! H-How do you know Kunou!?"

The newly revealed Kunou had wide eyes like she had been shocked.

Makoto groaned and sat up, his head throbbing.

"Uugh…yeah, I know you…it's your Okaa-sama, I k-know who it is…y-you're Yasaka-sama's daughter, yes?"

To hear that gave Kunou hope, and she moved back towards the embers that were near Makoto, though he didn't know where that was coming from.

"Y-Yes! Yasaka-kaa-san is my Okaa-sama! Kunou is relieved! Kunou thought that she was going to die! Kunou was worried that she wouldn't ever see anyone ever again! Kunou is just so relieved that Kunou has found someone! And that knows Kunou's Okaa-sama too!"

The way she spoke was very cute.

It was like a cute girl that had an adorable personality. And while she was similar to Koneko in body size, he wasn't bothered, and just smiled, but then winced when he felt a sharp pain that came to his head.

"Owwwwww…w-what's going on…? W-Where are we, Kunou-san? If you don't mind telling me that is?"

He watched, and saw that she was…slowly trusting him.

Perhaps due to the fact that Makoto was mentioning her Mother, and wasn't appearing threatening. If he was going to get out of there, he needed to work together with Kunou, and come together with Kunou, and help each other.

"Kunou doesn't know. Kunou was dragged down by these weird vines. When Okaa-chan was being attacked, Kunou suddenly was ambushed by these naughty vines that wrapped around Kunou, and then dragged her down here. Kunou then was released, and dropped into this weird cavern that doesn't have much light. There was some wood, and rocks, so Kunou made a campfire."

Makoto saw the campfire Kunou was talking about.

He then looked around and saw that there pretty much was no light. Above them, was just a rocky surface. And around the circumference, it was just rocks, save for a wall that looked like it was made up of vines.

"I see, so we're stuck then…"

"Y-Yes, Kunou tried burning them with her foxfire, but they wouldn't burn. Kunou tried it again and again, but Kunou wasn't able to do something like that. Kunou wasn't able to do something like that. Her fire was too weak. Kunou's scared that she won't see Okaa-sama again…"

Seeing how the girl was adopting some tears, Makoto leaned towards her, and petted her head. Somehow, the pat on her head made her feel good inside of her body, she felt like she was being petted by a kind person.

"Your Okaa-sama isn't going to abandon you or anything Kunou-san. She's going to come for you, trust me."

"B-But, how do you know?"

"Because, she had the eyes of a kind Okaa-sama." Makoto explained, giving her head another pat. "Someone who shows that much concern wouldn't simply leave. She'll find us, and my Master, my Devil Master will also find us too. She's a Maou-sama after all."

"Maou-sama!? You're a Devil too?! Kunou didn't know! Kunou thought you were a creature from the forest!"

"Hey, that's not nice. I am not a creature from the forest."

Kunou giggled nervously, but then looked to see Makoto's smiling face, despite his pain.

"Kunou's sorry, she didn't know what you were. But, then you fell down from up high when the vine things dropped you down here. You almost flattened Kunou! Kunou had to run around and move out of the way before anything else happened!"

Makoto could only become happy at her weird sense of humour, but appreciated it all the same, and just allowed a kind smile to appear on his face at the same time.

"It doesn't matter about something like that Kunou-san. You don't have to worry about something like that. I'm sorry that I almost flattened you, I didn't mean to do something like that."

"Hehehe! It's okay! Since you know Okaa-sama, Kunou thinks it is alright~"

Makoto lightly smiled, then leaned closer towards her.

"You're quite brave, aren't you? You've been down here for a while now, and you haven't cried much, have you?"

"H-How did you know?"

At her doubt, Makoto put his fingers towards her eyes, just pointing towards them.

"In my life, I've cried often too, so I know when someone has cried, and hasn't cried, and usually how much they have cried too. I can tell by your eyes, that you've been a brave girl, and haven't done anything like lose yourself…ooh, by the way, I haven't introduced myself, have I?"

"No! What is your name?"

Makoto nodded, and sighed openly.

"That's right, my name is Hyoudou Makoto. You can call me Makoto if you like?"

"Makoto…that's a really pretty name~ Makoto-nii~"

"M-Makoto-nii?"

Makoto was surprised considerably that she would call him something like that, he honestly didn't expect it. But Kunou looked happy about it, and nodded her head while putting on a cutesy expression.

"Yup! Kunou thinks that would be good! Can Kunou call you that too? Makoto-nii?"

"W-Well, eeeh…s-sure…wait, how old are you anyway?"

"Kunou turned 15 this year!"

"So…you're 15…and I'm 15 too…a-and you still wanna call me that?"

"Yes! Kunou thinks it would be for the best!"

"T-Then, you can call me that if you wish. I wouldn't mind."

Kunou looked happy, and swayed her body left and right.

He continued to look at her for a few more moments, but then he recalled something…he was trapped.

He was trapped with Kunou God knows where. Or Maou knows where. And if the Maou he wanted to know where he was, then he wished Serafall was around right now.

"She'd know what to do in this moment…" He thought to himself, worried on what was going to happen. "If Sera-tan was here, she'd definitely just go forward with that usual energy she has, and just blast her way out of the area. Yeah…she'd definitely do something like that…but me…? What can I do…"

Makoto didn't know what to do.

He was still new to this world.

He didn't know if he would be able to handle it all…

But then he looked at Kunou, and how scared she was.

Because she was scared, he couldn't stand it, he couldn't stand Kunou being like that.

Though he didn't really know her, she was still a young girl, and he couldn't have her be like she was now. Trapped, and wanting her Mother. That, was the last thing in the world that he wanted for the young Kunou, and he wasn't going to just stand around now.

He couldn't stand around and do nothing.

If Serafall, and the others didn't know where he was, then he was going to get himself out of the area.

He, wasn't going to be a victim, and wasn't going to mess around with anything…Makoto was ready to fight now.

"Okay. We can't stay down here, we have to get out of here now."

Makoto was ready now, and caught Kunou off guard.

"B-But, where are we supposed to do now?"

Kunou didn't know what was going to happen, she didn't know what she was supposed to do.

Makoto stood up on shaky legs.

Due to what happened, Makoto felt like he was going to fall over, and felt sick to his stomach. But, he couldn't do something like that. He couldn't fall over, since he had to get Kunou back to her Mother…he wouldn't be able to do something like that.

"We're gonna get out of here Kunou-san. Let's not wait around to be rescued, I've never been good at waiting. And these bars aren't light based. I, won't lose someone else ever again. Asia-chan died because I wasn't strong enough. This time, I will get you out of here Kunou-san, and get you back to your Okaa-sama."

Kunou's eyes welled up with some tears, as Makoto walked over, and offered his hand.

Kunou looked at his hand hesitantly.

However, she then looked up towards his eyes, and saw that he looked…strong.

She didn't know how else to say it, but that's what she did look like.

"Kunou will believe in Makoto-nii now."

Kunou took Makoto's hand and helped her up to her feet…


"Ma-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

That's what Serafall screamed as she looked at the sea of trees.

Millicas, Elmen, Yasaka, Kiyome, and Asia looked on worried as Serafall ran around like a frightened child. Tiamat also looked on, and sweatdropped when seeing Serafall on the ground, balling her eyes out about what happened to Makoto.

"Serafall-san, screaming like that won't do any good."

Yasaka advised, but Serafall just shook her head again and again.

"Ma-tan has disappeared! It's all over! My Ma-tan is gonna get molested by the creatures in this damn forest!"

"I believe it too! Makoto-kyun is gonna get molested! It isn't going to be funny! Makoto-kyun! Onee-sama is sorry that she didn't get to have fun with her Shota-kun! I'm never going to be able to have ecchi fun with my adorable Makoto-kyun! I won't even be able to have sexy fun time with my Makoto-kyun ever again!"

"Get ahold of yourself woman!"

SLAP! SLAP!

Elmen grabbed Kiyome by the shoulders, and slapped her twice across the face, knocking her to her senses.

"Oh, thank you…"

"No, thank you." Elmen smiled as she looked at her hand, and how good she felt with slapping Kiyome. "Thank you very much Abe-senpai, that was a good thing to do. So, just get yourself together, and make sure that you don't have to worry about anything else, okay?"

Kiyome hiccupped, nodding her head.

"R-Right, you're right. Panicking now wouldn't be able to do any good. Makoto-kyun will just be worried about something else if we worry. We have to think calmly, and grab that Shota so we can hold him tightly, and touch his cute tight body."

Millicas, and Elmen share a worried look.

"If I was Makoto-san, I'd stay away from her…"

"Most definitely."

Elmen agreed as Asia looked sorrowful.

"We have to go and rescue Makoto-san before anything happens to him…"

Elmen places a hand on her back, and strokes gently.

"Don't worry Asia-san, Makoto-kun is strong. He won't die so easily, especially in a forest like this. He's smart too, he knows how to get out of a bad situation if something was going to come up. He has his Sacred Gear too, he should be able to come up with ways to use it too. He's been practicing after all. While he isn't anywhere close to mastering it, he shouldn't be so bad at it either. I wouldn't worry until it becomes necessary to worry about something of this nature, you know what I mean Asia-san?"

Though Elmen was trying her best to sound cute, and wanting to make sure that he was going to be okay, Asia still was worried that something was going to happen to him, and wanted to go and find him to make sure his safety was confirmed.

"I don't know what to do now…"

"We've got to go and find him, that's what we've got to do now." Millicas summized, and made a clear looking face. "We've got to go and make sure that Makoto-san is okay…but, since we can't sense him, we need to go and find him somehow…b-but, how are we gonna do something like that…? I don't know what to do now…"

She started off confident, but in the end, she turned weak, and didn't know how to respond to anything else, she was just worried that she wasn't going to be able to do something like find him and make sure that he was safe.

Tiamat watched over everything, and then released a sigh.

"I know where he fell."

Everyone gasped, relieved that she knew.

"Tiamat-chan! Why didn't you say anything before!? That's my most adorable Queen, you know!?"

Serafall wasn't exactly angry, she was just displeased that she had been kept in the dark about Tiamat not telling her where her Queen boy was.

"Well, I meant to say that I knew where he was. His scent has disappeared from the world above, I cannot smell him. But, I can smell where he was before, I shall take you over in that direction to make up your minds. Because it is Serafall, I shall do this one task, then that will be the end of it."

"Ooh! Thanks Tiamat-chan! Let's go everyone! We've got to save Ma-tan, and this cute Kunou-chan too before anything happens to them! I only just got my Queen, I am NOT going to lose my Queen to anyone now!"

[Yes!]

Responding to the Maou girl, they all set off to go and find Makoto and Kunou before anything was going to happen to him.


Back in the cave with Makoto, and Kunou, they went towards the vines that blocked their paths and Makoto put his hand against it.

As soon as he did…he felt heat.

He could feel heat of the vines, like they were body heat.

"I'm not a vine expert or anything, but should a vine feel this hot?"

"Kunou didn't understand that either. Even before Kunou's flames touched it, Kunou felt the vines, and they were warm. When they were hit by my heat, it looked like it was absorbing the heat at the same time too. Isn't that weird?"

Makoto couldn't argue against something like that.

"Yeah, that is pretty weird. It shouldn't of happened, I've never heard of something like that. Then again, this isn't something that I am used to yet. This whole Devils world and all, I don't know what is supposed to happen with regards to that. but either way, we need to get out of here."

Makoto tightened his fist, and aimed it at the vines.

"Makoto-nii? A-Are you strong enough to break through the vines?"

Even Makoto didn't know the answer, he didn't know if he could or not, but he wasn't going to just stand by and do nothing. He, was going to fight for what he needed to do, and that's what he was going to do.

"I don't know, but I am a Queen of Maou-sama's peerage. I will fight to the best of my ability, and that's what I am going to do now. So, please take a stand back, and allow me to try this with my fists first before anything else."

"Y-Yes, I believe in you."

Makoto didn't know whether she meant to truly say that or something else, but he smiled all the same. However, he then sharpened his eyes, and pooled his power into his head, ready to fight against the wall before him.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Putting his strength into his fist, adding to that with the Rook power, his fist collided with the wall of vines. From his fist, the impact caused a small opening in the vines, about the side of his fist, and shook the other vines greatly.

"Yes, Onii-chan did it!"

Kunou praised as Makoto smiled, then he noticed something that he didn't want to notice.

But they didn't lose their shape, and the small hole that Makoto created closed within seconds.

"Damn, it was like it regrew itself…"

"Seems very strong, Onii-chan. Even using your strong fists didn't seem to do the trick. What are we supposed to do now Onii-chan?"

"That's a good question…"

Makoto spoke his thoughts, and searched his brain for an answer.

Since he couldn't use his strength to do it, the only other thing he could use, was his Sacred Gear…

But that, he didn't know if it would work.

Yes, it was an ice bird, but could he cut through them all at the same time, and get Kunou and Makoto through them? Would the blade be able to cut through it all? Or, would the bird be able to shoot off many blades of ice to dice the vines, and get Makoto through along with Kunou at the same time…

But then, he recalled something…he recalled that his bird was basically ice. It was able to also freeze things. More than just cut, the bird itself was something that was made from very cold temperatures, and if he could use that, the freezing ability, then he would be able to do something amazing.

"Sacred Gear!"

Makoto summoned his Sacred Gear.

From his shoulder, a bird or something was made. Actually, it looked slightly different than last time. The face looked less bird like, and more, something else. He wouldn't say it had an evil look, but it didn't look exactly like a bird either.

He didn't have time to notice that, and put his hand outwards.

"Fire!"

The creature of ice responded, and opened its mouth. From the mouth, a small cold air came out, and then daggers of ice was shot forward. They looked sharp, and if stabbed by them, most would suffer a bad wound from them.

However, the daggers simply stabbed it, before breaking apart, and the vines fixed the holes themselves.

"Ooh! Onii-chan! It didn't work!"

Makoto regretted that it didn't work either.

"Yeah, I thought that ice would be…wait, ice…"

Makoto searched his brain for the answer.

Since he was under stress, and still felt a little dizzy from the trip to wherever they were, it was still a little worrying that he wasn't able to think as clear as he usually would have, and probably would've come to the answer by now.

But then, he recalled something…he recalled that his bird was basically ice, and ices basic power was to freeze things. It was able to also freeze things, if it can shoot off ice, it should also be able to freeze things, like he has done before, not to this scale, but if he tried his hardest, then he would actually do something like that freezing this itself. More than just cut, the bird itself was something that was made from very cold temperatures, and if he could use that, the freezing ability, then he would be able to do something amazing.

Making up his mind, Makoto knew what he was supposed to do.

"Ooh! How can I be so freaking stupid!?"

"Onii-chan? I don't understand."

Makoto put a hand to his forehead, and released a large sighing sound.

"It's simple. The thing that is before us is a plant. Well, is a vine a plant…it should be if it isn't. Either way, you'd associate vines with trees, and plants and stuff. And plants, as far as I am aware, aren't easily able to defend themselves from the cold. Heck, in winter, trees loses their leaves, and other things happen. So, theoretically, even if these are living vines, I should be able to use my Sacred Gear's ice powers, to freeze the damn living technical solid, and use that to shatter the damn thing, and get out of here!"

"Wow! Onii-chan could do that?"

Makoto didn't know if he could, but it was worth a try at least.

"I can't have this thing stop us, so we have to do something together."

"Onii-chan is right, we can do it together! I believe in Onii-chan!"

Makoto stuck out his hand, and readied it with his open palm.

"Sword form!"

Responding to his command, the bird twisted into a sharp looking katana. The katana itself was a bluish colour, like the bird itself, and shone with the campfire behind it. It looked quite beautiful actually, and while he wasn't an expert swordsman, he had taken one or two lessons from Yumi…so, he wasn't completely inept about it all.

Kunou looked on as Makoto took a stabbing position, and readied himself.

"Freeze it to death!"

With that command known, Makoto thrusted the blade forward deep into the vines that blocked their paths.

The sword penetrated it easily, and due to the sheer cold that the blade produced, it began spreading around, the vines. From the point of entry, ice was formed, and then it slowly spread across the vines, freezing them into nothingness.

The vines attempted to move, but they were overcome by the freezing power of the ice. It spread all across the vines, none of them were without exception, since they were all connected with one another. It was simply impossible for it to escape.

When it was frozen, Makoto dislodged the blade, and called "Hammer form!" which turned the sword into a large hammer. It was easily bigger than Makoto himself, but he was able to use this to swing and deal massive damage, and due to his Rook strength, he was able to hold it with ease.

"Crash!"

Swinging the large hammer with all his might, Makoto unleashed the heavy attack on the frozen wall, and smashed right through it. Because of the width of the hammer itself, it brought down all of the frozen vines, leaving nothing but a clear path.

"Here, Kunou-san. We should go."

Makoto switched the hammer into a sword form again, so it was easier to carry.

"Makoto-nii did it!"

Kunou came rushing over, and clung to his body.

He smiled gently, petting her head.

"Let's go, Kunou-san before anything else comes about this."

"Okay! Also Onii-chan, can Kunou hold your hand? She's worried that she's going to be attacked again, Kunou doesn't want to be attacked again, it was already scary the last time that it happened, she can't handle it again."

"Sure, I don't mind. Here, my hand."

Makoto stuck out his hand, which Kunou grabbed.

Together, they walked through the cave that they presumed led to an exit.

They didn't know if it really did or not, but Makoto had to find out if it did or not. He was worried that he wouldn't be able to do something like be able to get them out of there. However, he didn't want to allow Kunou to be worried or anything, so he kept a brave face on, all for the sake of making sure Kunou wasn't going to be worried.

"Onii-chan, why are you here in the familiar forest anyway?"

"Oh, just to get a familiar…is there another reason why someone would come here?"

"Kunou came here with Okaa-chan to visit her friends."

"Well, that's also a reason then. Leave me red faced."

Kunou giggled as they continued walking along the basically a corridor.

As they walked, Makoto could see that vines were appearing on the walls. Makoto could see that they were moving but weren't coming after him and Kunou. Though Makoto himself was very wary on what was going on, and clutched his ice sword as tightly as he could.

"Onii-chan, there's something up there."

Kunou's ears twitched as she pointed forwards.

"You can tell?"

"Kunou can smell, and sense what's up there too. Because, Kunou is a Youkai, she can sense such things. It feels like the vines, yet stronger, like they are clumped together. Kunou has a bad feeling Onii-chan. If this thing captured us, maybe it wants to hurt us too?"

Kunou displayed her worries fully, and Makoto could hear it in her voice too.

He stopped his advances, and bent down towards her.

"Are you scared Kunou-san?"

"Y-Yes, Kunou is very scared."

Her answer made Makoto smile sadly, then he raised his hand to the top of her head, stroking it gently.

"You know, when I am afraid, scared, and alone without a hope. You know what I do?"

"N-No? What does Onii-chan do?"

Kunou had a clueless face which was obvious since she didn't know Makoto at all really.

Makoto adopts an even wider smile.

"I sing."

"Sing? Is singing powerful?"

"Ara, yes. That's right. Singing is very powerful. I think that if you sing, you can forget your worries while listening to songs. I know that when I'm upset, or scared, I put on a song, sing a song that I like, and it helps me move onto a better place than I was before. Though, I don't sing depressing songs as that would defeat the purpose of singing."

"Wow, Kunou never thought of it like that. Kunou never thought that a song could be so strong."

Makoto ruffled her hair, as Kunou's face turns a little red.

"It can be for me anyway. I don't know about others but for me, I quite like it, it helps me through difficult times."

"Ooh, then if Onii-chan thinks it is like that then Kunou can't complain…yes! Kunou also wishes to sing! Does Onii-chan know the song Super Special from Chaos Head?"

"Aaha, I quite like that anime actually, though the visual novel was better…but yeah, I know that song. So, does Kunou-san watch anime too?"

"Yes! Kunou watches much anime!"

Makoto's eyes shined brightly like a thousand suns, hugging Kunou tightly.

"Kunou-san! You love anime too?! Then, you are a very good person Kunou-san! Anime is awesome, it is justice, it is an escape from reality that you can immerse yourself in! Anime, is a way of this life, and the next too!"

"Hehehehehe~ Onii-chan's actually really excited!"

A titter escaped Makoto's mouth, and his eyes continued to shine. Kunou was mesmerized by his sudden change, but she was excited to see something like this.

"Of course! Anime is justice!"

"Anime is justice!"

Kunou chanted along with him, the two gaining a friendship from anime, and then they walked onwards while Kunou sung to herself.

As she was singing, Makoto was happy for her, that she was able to make herself feel better, by using his technique.

However, that soon stopped when Makoto and Kunou came to the opening at the long end of the hallway that they were in, and saw before them…a monster.

The monster was tall, and had a Venus flytrap like head, but it was coloured a purple colour. It's body easily dwarfed a three story house, and possibly could be double that. It had many different tentacles waving around, Makoto couldn't even see its eyes if it had any. The large body was deep rooted into the ground, looking stationary.

Along the walls, were different creatures, like they were in cocoons or something similar. Makoto didn't know most of the creatures, but he could see that they looked to be in pain, their faces being shown.

"Onii-chan…t-this thing is…"

"I don't know what this thing is, but it clearly isn't a very friendly creature. Don't worry Kunou-san, I will definitely take care of this thing, and then get us all out of here. Ugh, and I thought that I was finally going to have a normal day…"

Makoto knew that it wasn't going to happen, he wasn't ever going to have a normal day. He always was going to be punished for…God knows what, he just wished that all of this shit was over with now, he just wanted to go home.


Meanwhile, Serafall, and the others arrived at the place that Makoto fell under the guidance of Tiamat, since she saw where they went. Though, when they got there, they didn't even see a trace of Makoto at all.

"Are you sure this is the place Tiamat-chan?"

Tiamat had a lazy look within her eyes as she stretched her massive body of a Dragon.

"My eyes do not deceive me, and nor do my nostrils either. I, smelt that boy coming this way, and he should be around here somewhere-"

"MAKOTOOOOOOOOOOOOO-KYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"

Kiyome lost everything, and just shouted, cupping her mouth with her hands in an effort to extend her sound reach, but it was right down Elmen's ears, and it made Elmen cringe at the sound, and due to being a Vampire with her hearing…it wasn't good.

"Geez, shouting like that isn't going to get anything done right."

Elmen gave harsh eyes, but Kiyome didn't listen and continued to shout, the same with Serafall who joined in, and then Asia got involved too, shouting for "Makoto-san!" again and again, but none of them were able to get any answers.

"This is kinda stupid, we won't be able to find either my daughter or Ouji-sama if we just shout around like this."

Yasaka sighed out, not liking she wasn't getting any closer to her daughter, Millicas nodding in agreement.

"He's clearly got to be here somewhere, he couldn't have just vanished off the face of the familiar forest."

"But, if he isn't here, where the heck is he? He could be anywhere in the familiar forest, and we can't just search everywhere. We have to narrow down the search somehow. M-Maybe if this is the place that he did fall down, then maybe he left a trail or something?"

Elmen gave her thoughts, since she thought that this would be for the best.

Millicas allowed her head to bob up and down in agreement.

"Right, you're right there Elmen-san."

"Uuuu, if this is the place…Makoto-san has to be around here, yes?"

Asia came into the conversation as the calling really wasn't getting anywhere, but Serafall, and Kiyome didn't give up, yelling again and again as loud as she could.

"Well, he's somewhere, and so is Kunou."

Yasaka theorized correctly as they looked around.

Tiamat who was nearby just looked on, wondering why…

Why they were so determined to get back this boy.

She could understand that Serafall would want to get her Queen back. But the others…she just couldn't understand why they would want to get him back. She just didn't understand what was going on right now with all of them.

She could smell the Vampire, human, Devil, and even Youkai. She didn't understand why Makoto had gathered these people that cared so much that they'd even just shout for him to be safe, and the same for Kunou too.

Tiamat thought about it fondly, then looked towards the ground, and saw a suspicious looking vine.

"Hmmmm…"

"Something wrong Tiamat-chan?"

Hearing Tiamat humming, Serafall stopped shouting and questioned her.

She pointed towards the lone vine on the ground, and then gave her thoughts.

"Because of that vine, something within my memory was triggered. If I remember right, then there has been suspicious activity with a carnivorous creature that is underground, snatching weaker creatures, and devouring them."

"What?! My Ma-tan is gonna get devoured?! This can't happen! Ma-tan!"

Serafall's eyes became teary as did Asia's and Kiyome's. Millicas, and Elmen though had serious eyes, and so did Yasaka's too.

"Don't start crying. I know the entrance towards the creatures lair. Actually, it is the opening that it blocks with its body. I suppose I could show you. But after that, I have to get back to my duties, I can't be hanging around like this."

"Eeh! Sure! Let's go Tiamat-cha-"

"Iyaaaa~!"

Suddenly Asia let out a little cry when she felt something land on her shoulder.

Looking towards her, they saw a small Dragon landing on her shoulder, a blue Dragon at that and had crackling lightning around its mouth.


Back with Kunou and Makoto, the pair look towards the creature that wasn't speaking. Neither knew if it could speak or not, but they weren't going to take the chance, and Makoto walked forward with his ice sword out in front of him.

"Onii-chan, I will also-"

"Please stay back Kunou-san, allow me to handle this."

Makoto cut her off, and pushed her behind him.

"B-But, Onii-chan can barely walk or anything…"

Though it was true, Makoto willed his body to move as much as he could, and walked several steps forward as the creature slammed its vine like whips against the ground, causing the earth to shake immeasurably. But it didn't make Makoto fall down, he stood as strong as he could, since he had Kunou to protect this time.

"Kunou-san has been through a lot, you don't have to worry about anything like that creature there. I will deal with the creature, I will fight against this thing. Since I have the power to freeze with my Sacred Gear, I think that I have the best chances of fighting against this person…thing, whatever. Don't worry, I will slay this thing, definitely."

Kunou didn't know what she should do, but Makoto was determined, and went forward anyway, running with his sword outwards. He didn't have swordsmanship like Yumi did, nor her speed, but he was a Queen, so he did have a decent amount of speed, and had some training with Serafall.

The creature released a howling sound, and thrusted one of its sharp looking vines towards Makoto.

Kunou gasped and was about to intervene, but Makoto announced "Shield Mode!" which changed the sword into the shape of a large shield. The vine hit against the shield, successfully blocking the attack with the shield, and because of the Sacred Gear's power, it began freezing the part that the vine hit.

"Sword mode!"

Makoto changed the shape into a sword, and sliced through the vine, it dropping to the ground where it froze solid, then shattered into nothingness. Seeing his opportunity, Makoto rushed forward, slashing around wildly as vines came for him.

Though he wasn't skilled, his sword did bat away some of the vines that came for him, slightly freezing them as it came into contact with the sword.

"Argh!"

Makoto didn't see it coming until it was right beside him, a vine slapped him from the side. Though it was just a vine slap, he felt like it was a truck that had hit him, blowing him off his feet, and slammed him down onto the ground.

"Onii-chan! Please be okay!"

Kunou shouted from the side with teary eyes.

Makoto took his throbbing head off the ground, and gave her a small smile.

Kunou felt relieved that he was like that, but that stood when the vine wrapped around Makoto's body, and pulled him off the ground.

"Onii-chan! I will help-"

Before she could do anything, Makoto raised the sword, and cut through the vine. Due to the sharpness of the blade, it was easily able to slice through the vine, and it dropped him to the ground, though he couldn't stay on his feet, and fell down to the ground.

"Don't worry Kunou-san, I'm gonna be okay. Just stay back, and leave this to me."

Kunou looked reluctant, she didn't think that she would be able to just stay back, and do nothing.

Makoto raised his body from the ground, only to be shocked when a vine came from up above, stabbing downwards. It looked like a large spear that was coming down for his body, and he felt shocked.

"No way!"

Makoto pulled away with his reflexes of a Knight, and then aimed his sword for the vine that stabbed into the ground. This was a chance for him, so Makoto sliced through the vine, cutting it off, and went to stab upwards, hoping that he would be able to spread cold throughout the creatures body, but the stumpy vine managed to pull away before Makoto made his attempt at stabbing.

Makoto watched as it readied some more of its vines, and he had to think how to get out of this.

"I can only cut it apart…I have to think." Makoto dodged to the side as it stabbed that way, only to duck when that same vine swung towards him, it passing over his head. "I have to think of a way out of this. If I could freeze it, then I think that would stop it. It is a living organism, so it should be weak to cold, and should freeze. Nothing has suggested that it is anything other than a large plant creature."

Makoto paused his thoughts as that same vine came for him again, this time he slashed it inexperiencedly, slicing its attack off him, but couldn't freeze it within the second that the sword was in contact with the vine.

Releasing a breath, Makoto took up a mediocre stance again, readying himself.

"I need to get close enough to stab it, or make sure that the attack hits its main body. If I can do that, then I should be able to freeze it…but even then, getting close to the creature is going to be very difficult, I don't know if I am going to be able to get close enough…but, I have to try, before anything else happens, I have to do it."

Making his determination, Makoto ran forward.

"Onii-chan, please be safe! You're going to be hurt if it comes after you!"

Makoto knew that, but he didn't stop, and continued running forward, turning the sword into a gun, and shot off a very strong condensed ball of ice in the shape of a bullet, which was slightly enhanced by the Rook power, Makoto hadn't figured out how to fully use the Rook's strength to channel it into the bullet itself.

"I know, but don't be worried Kunou-san! I've got a plan, I won't lose to this creature!"

Makoto watched as the vines came together, and swung around at the bullet, smashing it apart. The ice fell down to the ground like snow flakes. Makoto gritted his teeth, shooting forward a few more icy bullets.

"B-But Onii-chan…"

Kunou was still worried, and didn't know what she was going to do.

She could only watch the ice bullets fall into the same situation as the first one. The bullets were all smashed apart with the vines. The vines themselves were like bulldozers, and smashed those bullets apart with its strength alone.

Knowing that it wouldn't work, Makoto turned the bird into a sword around, jumping upwards towards a vine that shot for him.

"Hah!"

Makoto slashed forward, but the vine stopped just short of the swords reach. The sword passed through the air, missing the target, and the vine continued, hitting Makoto in the chest with enough force for him to cough up some blood.

"Onii-chaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Kunou obviously was distraught, but she didn't know what to do, she wanted to help, but she didn't know how to help. Her fire didn't seem to do anything to the vines before, when she thought that they would since plants burn easily. She was scared for Makoto, and that he was going to die before she could've gotten to know him more.

"Don't worry Kunou-san, I've got this!"

Makoto however, took this chance, as he was about to be hit away, he grabbed the vine and pulled himself up it.

The vine itself was just wide enough for Makoto's feet to fit on it, so he stabbed it and ran forward. The ice of the blade went into the vine, freezing it completely from where it was running, making it impossible for Makoto to be hit from behind.

"Try this you son of a bitch!"

When Makoto got near enough, he dislodged his sword from the vine of the creature, and dragged his sword upwards, as he lunged for the creatures body!

This was it!

This definitely was it!

He was going to do it this time! He was going to stab this creature through the body, and stab out this creature from existence, he definitely was going to murder the creature that was before him, since it was aggressively attacking him…

Or that was the plan.

"Iyaaaaaaaaa! G-Get off me you idiot pervert!"

The creature suddenly stopped, and grabbed Makoto with a single vine around his waist, but it attempted to slide down his body.

Makoto wasn't going to have that, slicing through the vine easily. However, Makoto was about to land on the ground, but two vines came up from above, slamming the young boy down into the ground, causing Makoto to cry out in pain.

"Onii-chan! Please don't get hurt so much! Please!"

Her cries made Makoto go on…

He couldn't have Kunou be in pain either.

He didn't know her that well, but he knew her enough to be an innocent girl.

It was the same with Asia…

He failed Asia, and he wasn't going to fail Kunou either.

He couldn't fail her, he didn't want to ever fail someone again, and end up them dying on him, or something equivalent. He, wasn't going to fail her now, he was going to protect Kunou, no matter what.

"I've got this, no problem."

Makoto pooled his power again, and took to his feet.

Though he felt dizzy, tired, he wasn't going to stop now.

From the crashing before, and his body going across the ground wasn't the best experience, it made him feel sick, but he wasn't going to give up now. He definitely wasn't going to give up, and was going to make sure that everything was going to be okay…he was going to win the fight.

When Makoto recovered from being slammed down onto the ground, taking to his feet, in that instant, one vine came from the left, Makoto jumped upwards and then turned his sword downwards, stabbing right through the vine, pinning it down to the ground.

"This is it…"

This was what Makoto had to do now, and how he was going to get out of the situation, he knew what he needed to do now, and readied himself, the swords icy powers responding to Makoto's heart, and began producing an eerie glow.

Kunou watched on as the glow became a little brighter, and brighter.

"Freeze!"

Makoto commanded, and the sword responded.

Ice slowly spread across the vine, freezing it inside and out. The creature released a howling pain as it tried to retract the vine itself, but Makoto's stabbing power proved to be more than expected, channelling his Rook strength through the sword itself, to keep the target pinned down.

The ice itself spread further and further, freezing it in and outside of it. The layers of ice turned it into a block of ice itself. In some ways, it looked quite beautiful with the sun behind the creature reflecting off the ice itself.

"HIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

It released a horrible sound, and opened its large mouth.

Makoto was flabbergasted on what he saw next.

The mouth itself had a fluid inside of it, the teeth looking sharper than they should do. Makoto watched as a little sphere of fluid spewed out of its mouth, and hit the ground. However, it didn't stop there.

Like it was melting…no, that's what it was doing. The stuff was acid, and melted the ground. It slipped through the ground, and continued going downwards. Makoto cringed, and pulled away at the same time that it released a spew of the acid stuff.

Makoto jumped away as he was in the pain, having to release the creatures vine and make distance. The acid burned through the vine itself, making a cut off point, leaving it was a stump. Makoto looked at the stump and thought that some kind of secretion was going to come out…but it didn't.

Nothing came out of the stump, and then it began moving on its own, the stump.

"W-What is…"

Makoto and Kunou were both baffled as it moved on its own. Then, slowly, something began coming out of the stump. Some weird green liquid. However, it wasn't corrosive like the acid mouth juice itself.

Actually, it seemed to be forming something, Makoto and Kunou watched on with worried eyes. Then, they saw that the thing had regenerated. The vine itself had regenerated, Makoto sighing very heavily, even Kunou felt frustrated too.

"Onii-chan! This thing can regrow limbs!?"

"Seems quite unfair, doesn't it?"

Kunou couldn't help but agree strongly, and hated that it was doing something like that, wishing that she would be able to help, but she didn't know what she was going to be able to do at this point, she really didn't know what either of them were going to do now.

Makoto thought about attacking but that was soon stopped when the creature spit forward a ball of acid towards him.

"S-Shit! Shield!"

Makoto forced the gear to turn into an ice shield, which it did. The shield itself was sturdy, and always kept him safe from attacks. This time however, when the acid hit the ice, it didn't freeze. Instead, the acid began melting the shield…and then he heard something within his mind…

Cries.

It sounded like a cry was in his mind.

He looked towards his Sacred Gear, and something inside of him knew that it was the Sacred Gear itself.

He couldn't explain why he knew that, or how he knew that.

He just knew that it was the Sacred Gear itself that was crying out in pain.

He couldn't stand seeing his Sacred Gear to be in pain, so he jumped away rather than allow the Sacred Gear to suffer like that, and changed the creature into a sword form. As soon as he did that, the sword seemed to be okay again, he didn't feel any crying, and he couldn't hear it either.

"I'm sorry Arctic Regal Avian…I won't allow that to happen again…"

Makoto conveyed his thoughts verbally to the sword while petting it sweetly...and realized what he just called it.

That name...he didn't know why, but it fit...

He felt like it was transmitted to his mind, the name of his Sacred Gear.

Arctic Regal Avian.

That, was the name, Makoto blinked a few times as he was happy, finally finding the name that always was with him deep inside, but couldn't access it for some reason. Now, that had been lifted, the fog of his mind, and now he knew what it was called.

[…]

For a split second, Makoto thought that he heard something.

He thought that he heard something from the sword.

But, how would that happen?

He didn't know.

He didn't think that the sword or bird, or whatever it was, had conscious…did it?

Though Makoto always felt a strange feeling when the bird looked at him, and he always thought that deep down, it had some intelligence, but he wasn't ever sure. Now, he was slowly coming to the realization that he was coming too that it did have intelligence.

Makoto didn't have much time to think about it however, as the creature spat out spheres of the acid type attacks.

Gritting his teeth, Makoto announced "Hose mode!" which responded to the sword changing into the shape of a hoses nozzle. Though he hadn't practiced much with this form, he concentrated the best that he could and help up the nozzle.

"Freeze it with a beam!"

Commanding it with his voice, Makoto unleashed a pure beam of ice.

It wasn't strong enough to freeze the creature in its glory, but it was enough to cancel out the acid attack. It didn't freeze it completely, but the freezing property was enough to counteract the corrosive power of the acid, putting them into a stand still.

"Yay! You go Onii-chan! Freeze that thing!"

With encouragement from Kunou, Makoto smiled and directed the ice blasts towards the other acid attacks as he took off running. Since he had a means to attack, and defend at the same time, he managed to freeze off the acid and keep himself safe from the attacks coming for him.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!"

Makoto dodged the multitude of attacks released from the vines as he froze the attacks of the acid. It was good. This was Makoto's chance, he was doing the best that he was going to do. He needed to get closer to the creature, and that's what he intended to do.

However, he stopped when he saw something…

From the left, a vine completely bypassed himself, and instead, it headed for Kunou's body instead.

"Kunou-san! Move out of the way!"

Makoto stopped his assault on the creature, against his better judgement since he wasn't going to make it in time anyway, and turned towards Kunou's body, running as fast as he could, tapping into the Knight's speed. He wasn't nearly as fast as Yumi was, but he was going to do his best to avoid the attacks.

"Iyaaaa! Onii-chan!"

Kunou made some fire in her hands, and shot it forward for the vines. The vines batted away the fire easily, and continued for Kunou's body.

"Don't worry, I'm coming Kunou-san!"

Makoto formed the sword of ice again, and saw one of the vines going for Kunou. Seeing that he was near enough to it, he changed directions, and sliced through one of the vines about to penetrate her body, despite her moving around on her hands and feet, like a cute fox.

The vine dropped to the ground, just as it was about to stab her, saving Kunou from certain death.

But more kept going for her, and threatened to kill Kunou.

"Onii-chan! I'm sorry I'm useless!"

Kunou cried out her apology, but Makoto shook his head, as he sliced through another one that headed for Kunou's body, as he took off running towards her again, in order to protect her body from the attacks.

"You're not useless! Don't ever say that! I'll protect Kunou-san! Don't worry! I won't leave you alone!"

Kunou's face turns more red as Makoto slices through some more vines that was going for her, until he reached her body completely, standing in front of her with his sword right before him in a defensive position, crossing it over his body like he had seen Yumi do before, though he could feel his fatigue coming over his body.

He turned to Kunou and smiled gently.

"Don't worry Kunou-san, I'm going to keep you safe now."

"Onii-chan…"

Kunou couldn't contain her happiness that Makoto was defending her.

Even now, he was swatting away vines the best that he could, slashing them apart. Kunou admired Makoto, despite being so tired as he was, he was still protecting her. His sword was able to keep them safe, and he managed to dodge the acid attacks, or freeze them by turning it into the hose mode as he dubbed it.

However, suddenly, Makoto didn't see it to the last second, that two vines with very sharp points were coming for him and Kunou. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to get them both out of the way at the same time, he used his Rook strength to push Kunou out of the way, and turned the bird into a cushion for her by attaching it to her back, saving her from getting harmed.

STAB! STAB!

"Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

He spat out blood as two holes were made in his legs. The vines stabbed deep within his legs, blood gushing outwards. The pain and anguish couldn't be described by what he was feeling right now. Surging like water, the pain circulated his entire body.

"Onii-chan! W-Why!?"

Kunou didn't understand, but Makoto just smiled, and called his bird back over to him.

With pain very real to him right now, he turned the bird into a sword, slicing through the vines so they'd leave his legs. But that also forced more blood to erupt from his body, his legs, and he almost fell down to the ground.

However, at the last second, the bird changed back into its default bird mode, and went to his legs. Slowly, it breathed out, and ice formed at the wounds that he had, stopping the wound from becoming more dangerous to him.

"T-Thank you…"

Makoto thanked the creature from the bottom of his heart, but felt pain ripple through him regardless.

He wasn't going to win like this, he knew that he wasn't.

Makoto needed a plan, and he needed it now.

He needed to end this creatures life for everything that it had done, not only to himself, but what it tried to do to Kunou, and what it also did to the other creatures on the wall, he couldn't stand it anymore, and wasn't going to have the creature try anything else.

"Iyaaaaaaaaaaaa! Onii-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Kunou let out a scream, Makoto turning towards her, and saw that the creatures vines had wrapped around her. He didn't know when it did it, but it somehow snuck by his sights, and caught Kunou in its trap.

"Kunou-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Makoto brought the hose form out, and shot it for the vine that captured Kunou, hoping that it would freeze so she wouldn't be hurt. However, vines came to block his ice beam, only freezing some, and regrew others that Makoto had frozen.

It was endless, no matter what Makoto did.

He cut them, they'd regrow. He froze them, and it would melt them, and regrow anyway.

He couldn't do anything, he simply wasn't strong enough to take it out in one fell swoop.

He couldn't do that…but then he had an idea.

He didn't like the idea, but it was the only thing that he could do, so he turned towards the monster, and charged.

"Onii-chan!?"

Makoto didn't answer, and just jumped towards the mouth of the creature, balling his fist as the bird was on his shoulder.

The monster sent vine attacks towards him, but the bird responded, and shot off quite large spears of ice towards them, cutting right through them, saving him from certain capture.

"I'll fucking kill you, you bastard!"

Makoto's fist tightened even more, as tight as it could go, and went to smash his fist right into the creatures face…but unexpectedly, the creature suddenly opened its mouth, and enclosed it around Makoto's body.

"Onii-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Kunou struggled with the vines binding her, but she couldn't get free, she was stuck.

Kunou began crying as she saw Makoto being eaten.

Tears flowed down her face, and she couldn't stop crying.

She simply couldn't stop the tears that were flowing down her face, she couldn't stop.

Seeing how Makoto tried his best for her, and now that he was dead, she was shocked beyond belief, and just kept crying.

She hated that she couldn't do anything, and that he took damage for her.

He didn't even know her…yet risked everything to protect her.

She didn't know if he was insane, or just a very kind guy…

But whatever he was, he wasn't anything anymore.

He was gone, he wasn't going to be coming back now. The acid probably melted him away, and Kunou couldn't take it, she just couldn't take it at all, and ended up weeping uncontrollably for the boy that had protected her with everything that he had.

The vines however, suddenly felt different…

She felt cold.

She looked at the vines, and saw that they were stiff.

"What is…"

Kunou was confused, and didn't know what was going on…

Until she saw a shining light from the centre of the creatures body.

"FREEZE BITCH!"

Suddenly, ice came from the centre of the body, and erupted all over the creatures body, spreading from the centre of the creatures body. It was caught in a motionless state, and it couldn't do anything. It wriggles the vines it had, but they all froze. Even the one that had captured Kunou froze solid, but strangely Kunou didn't freeze either.

The entire body was frozen. It wasn't just captured in ice, it frozen to the core of the body. Not in a block of ice, but literally frozen on every level that it could be frozen with. Even its head was frozen, and the brain (if it had one) was frozen too, killing it.

"Onii-chan…?"

That was the only plausible explanation, but how could he have been alive…?

She didn't know…

But she desperately wished for it to be true…

She didn't want him to be dead, and hoped that somehow, he was going to be alive somewhere…

"Haaaaaaaaaaah!"

From the centre of the creatures body, an impact sound surrounded the area, and the ice broke from the inside out.

Stepping out, was Makoto himself, retracting his fist with the bird on his shoulder.

"Onii….chan…."

Makoto looked at Kunou who looked down at him while blushing brightly.

"Don't worry Kunou-san, I'm okay…" He saw her massive blush, and was confused. "What's wrong Kunou-san?"

Kunou's bottom lip trembled, as her blush darkened. It spread across her face to her foxy ears, and even some blood came out of her nose. She eyed up Makoto from head to toe, and looked bashfully towards him.

"Onii-chan…y-your body is…y-your thingy is…"

"My thingy…?"

Makoto didn't know what she was talking about, until she looked down…

He was naked.

He was completely naked.

His clothes had been melted off from the acid inside of its body. Though his body mostly was undamaged save from a few light burns, even his shoes had been melted off too.

Makoto's face burned red as he shyly covered his crotch with his hands.

"I-It wasn't my fault that I was stripped! Waaaaaaah! This is super embarrassing! I'm sorry for this indecency!"

He apologized while bowing his head, Kunou's face turning upwards as happy tears came out of her eyes.

"Onii-chan! I thought Onii-chan was dead!"

Makoto giggled as he used the bird to slice off the ice containing Kunou, shooting off a spire of ice. Kunou fell down towards the ground, but Makoto appeared, and caught her in his arms, where she hugged him around his neck tightly.

"Don't worry Kunou-san, no need to cry now. It was my plan after all."

"It was?"

He nodded and explained.

"I couldn't get to it any other way. My rate of freezing wasn't working on the outside, so I took a gamble and hoped that I could survive the burns long enough to freeze it internally. As I was sliding down its throat, I froze the acid's the best I could so I wouldn't be burned. Though it seems my clothes suffered a worse fate than that huh."

"I'm just glad Onii-chan's…"


CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Makoto and Kunou suddenly heard the sound of clapping.

Stopping their talk, Makoto with Kunou in his arms turned towards the clapping, putting Kunou down by his side, which she clung too, unintentionally groping him from behind, making him suppress a groan while covering his crotch, he saw a young man…

He couldn't make out features, he was covered head to toe in something else.

But he saw him, just clapping away.

"Hello…who are you?"

Makoto was being friendly, but he felt dangerous vibes in his body.

The bird went to his shoulder, and had an aura around itself, ready to defend its master should anything happen.

"Oh, don't worry about me. But, it seemed like you defeated this creature, huh. Well done, it was quite strong, wasn't it?"

Kunou didn't like the way that he said it.

From the voice, it was clearly a boy, but beyond that, neither knew who it was.

"Well…thanks, but again. Who are you?"

The boy looked towards Makoto, and didn't answer right away.

Instead, he stuck out his hand, and a sphere of black water appeared around his hand. Makoto felt cold from seeing that, and so did Kunou. The pair watched as the boy released a violent wave of black water, dissolving the iced creature immediately, digging into the ground, and not leaving a spec there, surprising both Makoto, and Kunou.

"I wanted to see you again, you know?"

"Again…?"

The young man leaved forward, Makoto watching carefully as he twitched his body.

"Well, that's not nice. Forgetting like that. It kinda makes me angry…no, in fact, it makes me fucking furious with you!" Makoto pushed Kunou behind him as he made the bird form a sword. Seeing that, the young man chuckled darkly. "Awwww, are you going to be fighting me? No offense, but you currently don't have the power to fight me."

"Then, why are you here? We haven't gotten anything for you, so why don't you take your leave right now?"

The man clicked his fingers, and snickered.

"I wanted to meet you personally, to see if the rumours were true."

"What rumours?"

The boy just chuckled, and twirled around.

"Wouldn't it be nice to remember such things?"

"Don't speak with the hypno crap, I have had a hard day. Just tell me what's going on. Who the heck are you anyway?"

"You're horrible, cruel~" He was singing, but his tone was anything but playful. "How naughty, not even remembering me when I remembered you so hard~ Speaking of hard…" His eyes went towards Makoto's crotch, who covered his hands over his special area. "Fueeee, not gonna reveal it to me?"

"Sorry, don't swing for guys."

"I see, then that's how it is. What makes you so sure that I'm a dude?"

"Because of your voice. It sounds like a males."

Makoto answered as Kunou clung to his torso tightly.

Seeing that, the mans eyes changed, and put his finger towards the young fox girl, black water gathering at the tip of his finger.

"Naughty foxy girl shouldn't manhandle the Prince~ I simply don't like it when others touch him, so get your grubby little hands off him you scummy little bitch."

Like a pistol, he shot the small orb towards Kunou without hesitation.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

Makoto ordered the ice bird to fire off spires of ice towards the bullet, but it just melted upon contact…it dissolved into nothingness. Makoto was shocked, and stood in front of Kunou, where the water hit his body, and it felt like his flesh was melting, and he released an unholy scream.

"Onii-chan!"

Though Makoto was in pain, he did his best to smile, and show that he was okay, even if he wasn't.

The young man hissed angrily, not at Kunou, but at Makoto.

"What are you doing!? Why did you defend that lower form of life!?"

"She's not a lower form of life! She's my friend, and I'm not going to let you hurt her! If you want to fight, then you fight against me! You leave her out of this!"

The young man stiffened his posture, and held himself upwards.

"Hmmmm, seems like you're defending her, what a thing. Aah well, seems like that I'm not going to be able to kill her without taking you out. And if you don't remember, it's as good as if you're dead. Don't worry though, I still have my former feelings for you, I won't make it hurt. Though, it seems like you killed our creature that we made...seems like it would be quite bad if this continues on though."

The man stepped forward with black water circulating around him. Like a torrent, it surrounded him, and extended into the air like a pillar.

Makoto knew this…

This boy was on a different level.

Without even fighting him, he could feel the waves of power coming off him. It was even stronger than the ones coming off the Fallen Angels. This was on a level that he couldn't comprehend, it was a very scary power that he had, and Makoto knew that he wouldn't be able to win.

But even then, he took up arms, and made a stance against him, even with his body wrecking with pain. He wasn't going to stop the fight, he had to protect Kunou after all, and that was more than anything that he had within him.

"Ma-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Ma-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Ma-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Serafall's voice…

They all heard her voice, and the young man suddenly stops his black water, and bows his head.

"Well, seems like our time has come to a close. Even I wouldn't fight a Maou-sama. I'm not that insane…well, it would be interesting if I could beat a Maou-sama wouldn't it? But, I don't feel like fighting her, and ooh, is that Yasaka too? My, I think that would be bad if I fought those two, I wonder how I would turn out if something like that was to happen?" He clicked his fingers, and a circle appeared under him, a teleportation circle. "But, don't worry, we will be meeting again, and next time, we won't be interrupted. Oh, by the way, say "Hey!" to Chelia for me."

The name didn't sound familiar to Makoto or Kunou, as a light washed over him.

When it died down, the young man had disappeared, leaving no trace of him.

"Who's Chelia-san?"

Makoto shrugged his shoulders, not aware of who that was either.

At that moment, Serafall came rushing in with the others.

"Ma-taaaaaaaaaaaan!"

"Makoto-san, we're here!"

"Makoto-kyun!"

"Makoto-kun, don't worry, we've come!"

"Makoto-san is safe, relief!"

"Kunou! Ouji-sama!"

Serafall came running in with Asia, Kiyome, Elmen, Millicas, and finally Yasaka.

However, they stopped when they saw Makoto in the buff, Makoto's hands leaving his manhood due to shock.

Immediately, Serafall's face turned lewd, as Asia gained a huge blush. Elmen put a hand to her face, and gushed at the side, while Millicas was blushing madly. Yasaka averted her eyes, and as for Kiyome herself…

"Wow!? Makoto-kyun is naked!? And look at the size of that thing!? That's supposed to go in a woman's body!? Ooh my God! To think that he would actually use that on someone like me!? Ooh yeah, that's good, b-but to think that a thing between his could…t-the heat is rising within my body and simply cannot be contained anymore, I can't contain it! N-Noooooooooo! It can't be contained anymore, I am going to burn up from such over exposure to the male gender's penis! T-That's the penis of a Shotaaaaaaaaaaa! I can't hold on anymoreeeeeeeeeeeee! This is going to take everything I have inside! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

The others looked frightened as Kiyome's face heated up to a large amount, her body swayed around as she touched her own breast. Even Serafall looked disgusted by the lewd faces that Kiyome was making.

"Are you okay dear-"

"EXCALIBURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Kiyome's nose erupted in blood, slamming her down into the ground, and knocking her out before Yasaka could ask her the question.

"Why did she just shout about a holy sword?"

Millicas giggled nervously while blushing mad red.

"M-Maybe Abe-senpai has connections to the holy sword?"

Yasaka smiled weakly at Asia's guess, patting her on the head.

"I don't think it was that literal dear."

Asia held a question mark above her head, displaying her confusion as Elmen giggled to herself sweetly.

"Wow, such a reference to Haganai right there~"

Elmen grinned as she thumbed up, blood coming out of her own nose at seeing a naked Makoto.

Makoto chuckled awkwardly and didn't know what else to say, he was just super embarrassed.


"How is it?"

Asia, was healing Makoto outside.

After the embarrassing situation that happened before, Asia healed the now dressed Makoto of his wounds. Elmen supported her, and Millicas supported Makoto. Serafall, and Yasaka stood off to the side, as Kunou talked with her Mother. Kiyome herself was on the ground, giggling and kept mumbling "Makoto-kyun's member~" again and again to herself like she was in a feverish dream, or Makoto's nightmare.

Makoto had told the others on what happened, barring what happened with the young man. He didn't even know why he did something like that. But he explained what else happened, and Serafall was extremely pleased with him.

Though, he was told about Tiamat helping them find him and Kunou. He wanted to thank her for that, but he was also told that she took off before they entered the area they were in. The people the plant monster captured where released, and thanked Makoto, among others.

"Aah, thanks Asia-chan, your healing is amazing."

Makoto felt relieved as his wounds disappeared.

"Hehe, no worries. If it is Makoto-san, I will definitely heal all of his wounds!"

Asia was peppy, because Makoto was back again.

"So, Makoto-san really beat some vine monster then?"

"Yeah, froze it from the inside out." Makoto explained to Millicas, and the others. "Went inside of its stomach, and froze it from a place it couldn't just regenerate."

"Cool, that's quite tactical thinking Makoto-san." Millicas expressed a joyful face. "To think that Makoto-san used such things like that. It was a bold move, but it paid off in the end. Since you couldn't get close enough, you actually allowed yourself to be swallowed, that takes some guts."

Makoto rubbed under his nose at the praise she gave him.

"Difficult I would have to say but it was well worth it if I could protect Kunou-san."

"But damn, you know that thing was supposed to be like High Class Devil level power, right?"

Elmen dropped the bomb like that, shocking Makoto immensely.

"Y-You what?"

"Yeah, Tiamat-san was telling us before. She didn't think it would cause this much trouble so she didn't bother killing it herself. Apparently, it came to the forest a few months ago, and had caused a little bit of trouble. But now, it is dead thanks to Makoto-kun freezing the crap out of that thing. Hehe, I wish I could've seen it…and it explains why you were naked too, huh."

In Makoto's thoughts, he was…happy.

It meant that he was becoming stronger. Though he had to take a gamble, and nearly died, again, he managed to beat something on a High Class Devil level power. Though he knew that luck played a part in the actual way that it was handled.

"Yeah…that's right. My clothes melted. Oh, thanks for giving me new clothes Millicas-san. Sera-tan didn't want me to be dressed for her own…weird thing, she wouldn't give me anything."

"No worries! I just did what I was supposed to do!"

Makoto was grateful, patting the young girl on her head.

Once she had finished healing, Makoto was hugged by Asia, Millicas, and Elmen, not letting him go. Makoto was shocked at first, and didn't know what to say, but then he hugged them tightly. He was relieved that he was able to do this again, he thought that he might've been killed by that monster thing.

"Are you sure Kunou?"

Yasaka was bewildered, but Kunou nodded, gaining Makoto's, and the others attention.

"Yes! Kaa-chan, I wish to enter such things!"

"Well, since it is Ouji-sama, I don't think it would be a problem if you entered a relationship like that…"

Makoto didn't know what was going on as Kiyome's senses tingled her body, and her eyebrows twitched, the girl slowly recovering from being bombarded by Makoto's member, her senses that were, and her eyes were filled with new, and interesting ideas.

"Yes, that's what Kunou wants."

Yasaka just nodded her head, giving her the consent.

Kunou, then walked over to Makoto, and dipped her head.

"Makoto-nii, you're still looking for a familiar, yes?"

When he was called that, there was a slight jealous pout forming on Millicas' face.

"Aah…I didn't get to find one, that's right."

Kunou put a hand to her chest, and smiled very cutely.

"Then, would Kunou do Makoto-nii?"

[…]

Not just Makoto, but everyone was bewildered beyond belief.

It was shocking.

They found out who Kunou was to the world, and she was the Princess of Kyoto. However, she just said that she wanted to form a pact between the two of them, Makoto was still unsure of what the heck just happened.

"K-Kunou-san, that's…"

"Because Makoto-nii protected Kunou, she also wants to help Makoto-nii too. If it wasn't for Kunou, Makoto-nii would've found a familiar. Though Kunou cannot become a normal familiar, Kunou wants to form a contract with Onii-chan and enter a give and take pact with Makoto-nii."

"A…give and take?"

As if responding to the confusion itself, Kiyome shot up, and winked.

"That's right Makoto-kyun. It's different to a familiar. While having a familiar, is making that person or monster your servant, a give and take pact is just that. You give Kunou-chan something, and she takes it, and does tasks for you once you call her to your side that is. Of course, if there's a disagreement, then it can be broken anytime, but I think that's not going to be a problem with this."

"W-Well, that's great…b-but, Kunou-san, y-you want to do something like this? Is it fine?"

Serafall bounced over to Makoto, and hugged him around his neck as she kissed his cheek.

"Yes! This is good! This is great Ma-tan! It will also get you in with the leader of Kyoto too!"

"B-But, is it really fine to do something like that if she's that important?"

Yasaka chortled to herself and walked closer towards Makoto, putting a hand to his face, and stroking it gently, his face tinging pink as the ladies all turned their dark eyes towards her.

"Fufu, if it is Ouji-sama, I will be happy with Kunou doing this. Since it is a pact like this, like a friendship between the two of you, and possibly more, then this would be fine. Becoming a true familiar of you might be impossible, but this is basically the same thing. And, if you want to give Kunou children, I wouldn't mind."

"C-Children!?"

Naturally Makoto was shocked, but Kunou surprised Makoto by making a very cute face.

"I-If Makoto-nii wants it then…Kunou would do it when she's ready!"

"Kunou-san, that's…"

When he was going to say something about it, Serafall came into the conversation.

"Ma-tan! Don't be cruel, and be with me first! You're my Queen! You can do ecchi things with me, I wouldn't mind!"

"Hey! I knew him longer! Don't take that away from me!"

Elmen was going to make a stance, but Serafall just smiled at her, causing her to back down. Kiyome, Asia, and Millicas did the same, slinking away from her as Serafall petted his face sweetly, Yasaka continuing to do the same thing.

"Don't worry, Kunou will be taken care by you, I know that she would."

"A-Ah…that's…" Looking towards Kunou, he saw how big and innocent her eyes were, and he hated it, but he was suckered in by innocence, and wanted to protect that innocence. "A-Ah, if Kunou-san thinks it would be for the best, then I can't complain. Kunou-san, wanna become my pact partner?"

"Yes! Kunou will do her best!"

Serafall giggled as did Yasaka, the latter of the two looking on with serious eyes.

"So, Kunou. What are you going to ask for a requirement of your new Onii-chan?"

"Erm…Kunou doesn't know. Kunou doesn't want much really. Eerm, maybe Kunou could gain hugs from Onii-chan?"

"Hugs? Is that all?" Kunou nodded at Yasaka, who giggled sweetly. "Well, that's something cute too. It can be changed, the pact I mean. At any time Kunou, you can ask for anything else, like a kiss, or something else entirely. It would be fine like that, wouldn't it?"

"Kunou's changed her mind! Kisses will be good!"

"Aah! Erm, w-well, that would be…"

Makoto wanted to persuade her out of it, but Kunou seemed determined, Elmen and Asia looking on with mad, and sad, respectively, eyes. Millicas herself continued to pout adorably, while Serafall's right eye twitched again and again.

"Nope! Kisses Onii-chan!"

Makoto smiled nervously, as Serafall, along with Kiyome made a circle, aided by Yasaka herself.

"Now Makoto-kyun, please go inside the circle with Kunou-chan here, and we'll begin."

Makoto nodded, and stepped inside of the circle with Kunou, who swayed her head adorably.

"I order you in the name of Hyoudou Makoto! As an ally of mine, respond to the call of the contract!"

At the centre of a large magic circle for making a summoning contract, Makoto and Kunou began the ritual for the contract. This was different from the contract that would not require a price, as Makoto was entering a give and take contract right now. …The price, which was also placed in the centre of the magic circle, Makoto himself, began to emit a glow. The magic circle projected a golden flash of light, and then returned to a calm state.

The summoning contract was now complete. Makoto and Kunou now had entered into the contract.

He was actually surprised by how quick it was.

It didn't take more than a minute or so. He thought something so important would've taken longer…but no, it was relatively quick to do something like that, but he was glad all the same, he was ready to go home.

"Yay! I'm Onii-chan's pact partner now!"

Kunou jumped at Makoto, who caught the young girl in his arms, and held her tenderly, missing the pouty face that the young Millicas was making.

"Well Ma-tan, you've got a cute contracted partner now!"

Serafall grinned as she showed a thumbs up towards him.

"Y-Yes, it seems so." He looked down at Kunou who smiled up at him. Raising his hand, he gave the young girl a pet on the head. "But, there's Asia-chan to worry about too."

"Ooh no, don't worry. When you were gone with Kunou-chan there, Asia-chan found a cute familiar."

"She did? Where is it?"

Makoto looked around but he couldn't see anything.

Serafall then pointed upwards.

When he looked…there was a blue-scaled baby Dragon floating in the air.

"Sprite Dragon." Kiyome announced, confusing Makoto. "It is a baby Dragon, but it is also strong too. It will grow strong and also become something good for Asia-chan. It won't leave Asia-chan's side, so everyone thought that it would be in the best interest if she took the Dragon as her familiar. Yeah, on the way here, the Dragon wouldn't leave Asia-chan alone. We thought that it would be good for her to make a contract with him."

Kiyome explained as Asia nodded shyly.

"Aah, that's great Asia-chan! I'm happy for you!"

"Hehe, thank you Makoto-san."

Makoto smiled as he looked up at the Dragon.

A blue lightning starts running through the baby Dragons body.

"Eh? Don't tell me that its…"

Makoto had a feeling that it was going to shock him, so he moved as a pale blast of lightning rained down from the Dragon.

"Raito! D-Don't be a bad Dragon-kun!"

Asia did her best to discipline the Dragon, but the Dragon just looked cockily towards Makoto who glared right back. Asia stood in front of Makoto, so he wouldn't be shocked, as Kunou's eyes changed darker.

"Sprite Dragon only gives electric damage to those who it acknowledges as its enemies. So, it must have thought that Makoto-kyun as an enemy. Though, because it is a male Dragon, and Dragon's are said to hate the same gender as themselves, and take a liking to opposite genders of different races, it had taken a liking to Asia-chan, and saw Makoto-kyun as a threat."

Kiyome, who is beside Makoto, explains it to Makoto who had dark eyes.

"It will see a threat if it wants to have a fight…"

"I hear that Sprite Dragons open up to those with pure hearts. It seems like it really is attached to that girl."

Kiyome once again explains. So that means it completely attached itself to Asia, because the girl had a very pure heart.

"It makes sense that Asia-chan would have such a Dragon following her. She's got the purest heart ever."

"Normally the Sprite Dragon is a Dragon who won't pledge to a Devil, but it seems that girl has a very pure heart. Something like this has never happened before, but it seems like the contract ceremony was finish safely."

Kiyome says that.

"Hmm, so Asia-chan has succeeded in catching a rare Dragon in a rare way huh. She is amazing after all. She was able to make a familiar out of a Dragon, when I wasn't able to even get Tiamat-san to talk to us."

Makoto thought to himself, and was quite proud of Asia.

Perhaps wanting to make Makoto jealous, the baby Dragon flew to Asia and started to play with her.

"Ufufu. You are tickling me. Raito-kun."

"Raito-kun?"

When he became curious about what seems like the baby Dragon's name, Asia answers him directly.

"Yes. He is a Dragon which uses "Raigeki" and I also used Makoto-san's name as well. Even though he uses lightning, I want him to be lively like Makoto-san. …Would it trouble you?"

"Aah, I'm actually blessed that Asia-chan used my name. It must mean that it is a sign of good luck or something?"

When Makoto tried to approach it, its body started to glow in blue….

"Raito-kun! Don't harm Makoto-san!"

Like an older sister, or even a parent would, Asia scolded the baby Dragon the best that she could, and it seemed to listen to her words, putting on a completely expression and just rested on her shoulder, while glaring daggers at Makoto.

"Aah well! this was good! Ma-tan got a cute foxy-chan familiar…pact, whatever, and Asia-chan got a cute Dragon familiar! Hehe, didn't even need the familiar master after all! Kiyome-chan did a good job after all!"

"Ooh, thank you Serafall-sama…an-and the aforementioned payment…"

Serafall nodded, and took some photos out.

"As per our arrangement."

Kiyome took the photo's, and examined them while blushing.

"Ooh yeah baby~ Awww, that's simply adorable~"

"What are you looking at?"

Makoto was curious as where the others.

Kiyome pulled away, and kept them to herself.

"No worries Shota-kun, I don't have anything bad."

"I somehow don't believe you, so could you give me the photos?"

"No!"

Kiyome's sharp reply made Makoto sigh, so with his super speed, he snatched the photo's out of her hand, and looked at them, becoming shocked by what he saw as he went through the photos.

"Sera-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

"What is it Ma-tan?"

Makoto's bottom lip stuck out as he thrusted the photo's forward, revealing that they were pictures of Makoto as he was asleep. Some were with him only in his underwear, some where him cuddling a teddy bear, Princess, and some in awkward positions that showed off his teen body.

"Y-You can't just give people photos of me like that! I didn't even know you had these!"

"She needed payment, and I offered these. I didn't take them for myself, I used them to get Kiyome-chan to help out. It worked, didn't it? I mean, she helped out in the end, didn't she Ma-tan?"

"That's not the point!" His eruption just made Serafall smile, so he pointed at her while blushing. "B-Bad Sera-tan, I'm gonna have to punish you for this."

"Punishment?"

Makoto nodded seriously as he ripped up the photos, Kunou burning them away with her foxfire ability.

"You cannot ever sleep in my bed again."

""NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!""

Serafall and Kiyome screamed, for different reasons.

Kiyome because her 'precious' pictures were destroyed, and Serafall because she was denied the basic necessity for her to 'survive', Kiyome falling backwards and unconscious, the shock of it being too much, and Serafall clung to Makoto's leg, her eyes brimming with tears.

"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! PLEASE! I WON'T DO IT AGAIN! I LOVE MY MA-TAN! I CAN'T HAVE HIM DENY ME SEXY FUN TIME! I WOULD DIE MAAAA-TAAAAAAAAN! I CAN'T HAVE IT ANYMORE MA-TAN! PLEASE DON'T ALLOW ME TO NOT HAVE YOU BY MY SIDE ANYMORE!"

"B-Baka! D-Don't cling to my leg!"

"MAAAA-TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"

She cried and cried, but Makoto just looked down at her defiantly. Elmen, Millicas, Asia, Yasaka, and Kunou shared a giggle, seeing the Master actually begging her servant to sleep in the same bed when usually, it would be the other way around for servants, and such.

As they were having a good time, they were unaware of a pale blue haired young woman with a figure that even Akeno would kill to have was spying on them from behind a few trees, killing her presence.

"Could it be that he really returned now…? But why…and as a Maou-sama's servant…just what is your plan…"

The woman just watched as Makoto swayed around with Kunou in his arms, gushing over her form and cuteness.


End chapter!

So, Makoto has Kunou as his pact partner, and a new mysterious enemy has made itself known, somewhat anyway, and seems to have a fascination with Makoto himself. But, who is this person, and what could they want with Makoto? Answers shall be revealed in time! Also, he left the familiar forest without making a pact with Tiamat...for now. They'll be meeting again, their little, saga I guess, isn't over just yet, she'll eventually become his partner.

Next chapter will begin volume two of the original LN's, and some old characters return! Until next time!

Issei; Rias, Yura, Aika, Bennia, Jeanne, Walburga, Xenovia, Mittelt, Reya, Mira. (WIP)

Makoto; Serafall, Yumi, Millicas (fem), Irina, Gabriel, Asia, Koneko, Kuroka, Rossweisse, Kalawarner, Ravel, Kunou, Tiamat, Akeno, Vali (fem), Sona, Le Fay, Elmenhilde. (WIP)