"I've come all this way to see you, my beloved Rias." The man spoke in a tone that was in equal parts sophisticated and slimy.
Kiba and Koneko rushed into the clubroom to stand at Rias' side. Issei, somewhat shell shocked, followed suit.
Rias looked at the intruder with utter contempt. Akeno was nearby with a similar distaste painting her face. A third individual with white hair and painted lips, dressed in maid attire, stood to the side, stoically unimpressed.
Asia was also there.
"Okay, who's this Douche?" Issei adjured.
"This gentleman is Lord Riser Phenex. He is a pure blooded devil of noble birth, third heir in line to the house of Phenex." The white haired woman, Grayfia Lucifuge, explained.
"And that means what?" Issei questioned.
"He is also Fiance to the next head to the house of Gremory." Grayfia continued, indirectly answering Issei's question.
It was a peaceful day at the Hyoudou residence. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hyoudou enjoyed the morning silence, simply making small talk, with their son off at school.
"Did you see what happened on the news?" Mrs. Hyoudou spoke. "A tree fell on somebody's car out of nowhere in Tokyo."
"That does happen." Mr. Hyoudou replied, before taking a sip of his coffee. "Have to be careful where you park."
"That's the thing." Mrs. Hyoudou said. "There weren't any trees in the area. It just fell from nowhere, roots and all."
"Probably just some esoteric publicity stunt." Mr. Hyoudou guessed.
"I'm not sure what else it could be." Mrs. Hyoudou supposed.
There was a knock at the door.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting company." Mrs. Hyoudou said.
"I wasn't either, let's see who it is."
The guest knocked once more before the married couple answered. They opened their door to a woman with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a light blue sundress.
"Hello, is this the Hyoudou residence?"
"Yes, and who might you be?" Mrs. Hyoudou replied.
"Where are my manners?" The woman chuckled. "My name is Aine Byrne, my daughter goes to the same school as your son."
"Oh, in that case feel free to come in." Mrs. Hyoudou said. "I'll get some tea going, I'm sure you have a lot to say."
Aine graciously accepted, quietly following the Hyoudou couple into their living space. Mrs. Hyoudou disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared a few minutes later with three cups and a kettle. She poured a cup for everyone present, set the kettle down, and took a seat for herself.
A singular fly buzzed around the room. Mr. Hyoudou attempted to swat it away, but it simply veered out of range. It must have flown in when they answered the door.
"I wish I could say we don't already know, but what brings you to our home?" Mr. Hyoudou broke the ice.
"By the way, our names are-" Mrs. Hyoudou attempted an introduction only to be cut off by Aine.
"Your names don't matter." Aine bluntly spoke, losing any amiability in her tone of voice.
"Excuse me?" Mrs. Hyoudou replied, affronted. She had half a mind to ask Aine to leave then and there.
A flash of silver flew past her line of sight and the fly's buzzing was abruptly silenced.
Both Hyoudous slowly turned their heads to see a stainless steel scalpel embedded in their wall. On the ground were two halves of a common housefly, bisected from between its compound eyes to the end of its abdomen.
The couple slowly turned their heads with the realisation that allowing this woman inside their home was a mistake. The teacup before her levitated to her mouth for her to take a sip, then lowered back down to the table.
"Don't you just hate pests?" Aine asked. She received no response. "Speaking of which, your son has recently made my daughter quite uncomfortable." Aine shook her head. "She found him hiding inside the changing room locker, can you believe that?"
The Hyoudou parents slowly nodded their heads. Despite everything, that didn't come as a shock in the slightest.
"Now that just won't do. My daughter is so very precious to me; I couldn't bear the thought of her feeling unsafe at school." Aine spoke. "No parent wants their child unsafe, wouldn't you agree?"
Mr. and Mrs. Hyoudou nodded.
Aine stood up and walked to where her scalpel had been embedded into the wall, casually pocketing the surgical knife, then she strolled toward the door.
"I suggest you begin reigning your son under control." Aine turned her head to share. "If not, perhaps you should start trying for number four, Miki and Gorou Hyoudou."
The couple's blood ran cold as the sound of their front door clicking shut echoed like a gunshot. How could she know? How could she possibly know about that?
It took every bit of will the couple had to break through their frozen nerves before they scrambled to the front window, out of sheer desperation to keep that. That unholy woman within their sight.
Aine had already crossed the street in that time and looked directly back at them. Next to her was a man dressed in a very sketchy trench coat and fedora combo, also looking in their direction.
A bus passed before them and they were gone.
Aine and Dohnaseek reappeared in front of their home. Aine dipped herself back as if she'd finished a flamenco routine, holding onto Dohnaseek's shoulder for support. She let out a victorious laugh.
"That was perfect." Aine exclaimed.
"Was delaying the bus schedule just for that exit really necessary?" Dohnaseek questioned. "That was more difficult than you'd think."
Dohnaseek also considered how many potentially lost their jobs because of that play. He wouldn't lose any sleep over it, but the prospect didn't exactly leave a good taste in his mouth either.
"Of course it was." Aine assured. "The effect just wouldn't be complete without it."
"I'd assume alluding to confidential information and using your stand would be more than sufficient to shroud yourself in an air of mystery and menace."
"I am nothing if not thorough." Aine boasted.
"That you are." Dohnaseek acknowledged.
"So, shall we be off to the next part of our date?" Aine asked.
"Quite." Dohnaseek replied.
The Byrne siblings alongside their parolees sat with the kendo club leaders at their shared lunch table. Azalea was just finishing up her version of the tale of her and Raynare's meeting. Leaving out the involvement of certain individuals, as well as any supernatural aspect.
"And so I carried her off to safety." Azalea concluded to the gasps of Murayama and Katase, and Mittelt, despite her already knowing the true story. "And now we're dating."
"That was an oversimplified, and heavily romanticised summary." Brandon commented.
"I never took you for the knight in shining armor type, Azalea." Katase said, paying no mind to Brandon's remark.
"A real hero in the making." Murayama added.
"What can I say, I really lucked out with this one." Raynare said, wrapping an arm around Azalea.
"Brandon Byrne, please report to the student council office. Brandon Byrne, please report to the student council office, alone." The school's P.A. system sounded off.
Murayama and Katase looked at Brandon suspiciously.
"What?" Brandon questioned.
"What did you do?" Both kendo club leaders asked in sync.
"You think I keep track?!" Brandon countered, standing up to leave. "You're in charge of Mittelt now, Azalea can have what's left of my food."
Brandon made his appearance at the student council's base of operations and stood before Sona Sitri and Tsubaki Shinra. Considering they were the only people there, it was probably serious.
"So, what did I do?" Brandon asked.
"I didn't summon you over for a reprimand, Brandon." Sona said, steeping her fingers. "I would like to call upon the favor I am owed."
"Alright, go ahead and ask." Brandon said. "I'll decide whether or not I'm up to it."
"Rias has been fated into an arranged marriage with an arrogant womaniser by the name of Riser Phenex." Sona explained. "She plans to win her freedom in a ratings game, but I have my doubts she'll be able to succeed."
"The trauma you inflicted on Issei no doubt narrows their odds further." Tsubaki added.
"He got what was coming to him." Brandon shrugged without an inkling of guilt. "Why do you care, anyway? I thought you guys were done with each other."
Sona let out a sigh. "It's complicated. Rias and I may have had our falling out recently, but she's still a friend I grew up with. I don't want to see her forced into the role of a trophy wife in order to satisfy the egos of her and Riser's houses."
"So you want me to bust a wedding for you." Brandon surmised.
"Precisely." Sona confirmed.
"No."
"Brandon, you made an agreement." Sona said, coming the closest to losing her composer that Brandon's ever seen her.
"I said that I owed you a favor, not that I'd fulfill your any request." Brandon said, turning to leave. "Why should I bail out someone I hate?"
"Because if this marriage goes through, your household may be put in jeopardy."
Brandon stopped in his tracks, and turned back around.
"You have four minutes to convince me."
"If this marriage comes to pass Riser will gain charge of the entirety of Rias' territory." Sona disclosed. "This will be a detriment to all of us, not just Rias."
Sona now had Brandon's undivided attention.
"Your home may be just outside of the territory line, but Riser knows no boundaries. The moment he finds out there's a family including fallen angels regularly roaming his ground, he will likely take rash action." She divulged.
"And that'll destabilise the ceasefire between devils and fallen angels." Brandon surmised. "Which would drag my family into a war, with the town we live in as its epicenter."
"Correct." Sona confirmed.
Brandon closed his eyes, took a deep inhale, then exhaled. "Alright, you've convinced me. I'm in."
"Excellent." Sona said. "We have one week to form a course of action."
"Before we start hammering our plan down, I want to know everything there is to know about Riser." Brandon insisted. "Judging by the name and based on what I've read in the Goetia I might expect a literal phoenix, but the modern devils I've met so far are a far cry from their ancestors. I mean, you're not exactly a winged panther man."
Sona blinked.
"Disregarding that last remark, you are correct. The Phenex of old did take the form of a Phoenix, however the current inheritors of his name are humanoid with flaming wings." Sona explained. "They do however maintain the natural proclivity for fire magic and most notably the regenerative ability of a Phoenix."
"Sounds like I have my work cut out for me." Brandon said. "Any exploitable weaknesses?"
"In spite of the angelic wings, he is still a devil. Even as a mid-class the same vulnerabilities apply and, if we're fortunate, should hinder his ability to regenerate." Sona said. "He's also extremely self confident, something I'm sure you'd be able to take full advantage of."
"Alright, I've got a better picture now." Brandon said, already forming scenarios of attack. "However, I have some conditions."
"I am willing to hear them."
After the school day had reached its end, Azalea found herself digging through the fridge for a snack. Her search ended when she discovered the egg carton.
Azalea looked to her left and right to make sure no one was watching, then popped one of the uncooked eggs into her mouth. She crunched the shell and swallowed before grabbing another.
"What are you doing?"
The nephilim entered a panicked state and shoved the second egg into her mouth before slamming the fridge door shut and putting her back against it.
The individual who'd raised the question was her girlfriend, Raynare, who still stood awaiting an answer.
Azalea crushed the second egg in her mouth and gulped the evidence. "Nothing, nothing. Just grabbing a snack."
"Were those raw?" Raynare questioned, with a raised eyebrow.
"… Please don't tell Mum." Azalea murmured.
Raynare eyed Azalea over and placed a hand to her own chin. Her expression remained impassive. Azalea on the other hand looked as guilty as could be, a drop of egg yolk sticking to her lower lip.
"I suppose I can overlook this." Raynare chuckled. "You're lucky you're cute."
"Thanks, you're the best girlfriend ever!" Azalea cheered, before indiscreetly opening the fridge door and snatching yet another egg.
Azalea paused for a moment to stare at the egg in her hand. She looked oddly contemplative.
"Raynare, could I ask you a question?" Azalea requested.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do we lay eggs?"
Raynare stood dumbfounded. They weren't birds, of course they didn't lay eggs. Did they? Sure she hasn't personally seen a fallen give birth, but she definitely would have heard if that was the case. Wouldn't she?
The sound of crunching eggshell snapped Raynare out of her train of thought.
"No." Raynare answered unconfidently. "I don't think we-"
"Azalea, are you eating eggs raw, again?!" Brandon entered, cutting Raynare off. She almost wanted to thank him for the out. Almost.
Azalea shook her head no.
"... Whatever." Brandon sighed. "Mom's out and I want to spar."
Azalea swallowed the last egg.
"Brandon, we agreed to stop play-fighting after what happened last time." Azalea warned.
"We aren't kids anymore, Azalea. And this isn't just for the hell of it. The world's gotten so much bigger since we left our hometown. There's going to be threats a lot bigger than Raynare out there and I want to be better prepared." Brandon maintained. "Besides, who says I'm getting hit?"
"How about I knock you down a peg or two." Raynare offered, forming a light in her hand.
"Thanks, but I'd rather fight an uphill battle." Brandon said.
Raynare hmph'd and allowed her spear to dissipate.
"Are you really sure about this, Brandon?" Azalea asked.
"Positive." Brandon said.
"Alright." Azalea sighed.
Brandon and Azalea stood across from each other in the destroyed patch of woodland behind their house. They'd been standing for several minutes.
"So, do you think she'll be back soon?" Azalea asked.
"She better." Brandon impatiently grumbled.
Several more minutes passed.
"Sorry I took so long." Said Raynare, returning holding a bag of popcorn. "I tripped over Mittelt. You can start now."
Brandon cracked his knuckles as Azalea squared up.
"Finally." Brandon remarked.
Azalea charged forward, aiming a punch at Brandon's ribcage. Brandon slipped to the side. Azalea curved her fist after him. Brandon hopped back.
"Getting a bit faster I see, Sis." Brandon said, spreading his arms out. His open hands became encased with Shattered Glass. "Problem is, you're oh so predictable."
Azalea prowled just outside the perimeter of Brandon's range. "Maybe I'm just trying to give you a false sense of security."
This time Brandon was the one to lunge forward. A blunt ended glass spear formed near instantly in his hands. His target was Azalea's stomach.
The spear hit its mark. But Azalea was barely phased.
"Boo." Raynare jeered.
Brandon was hit on the side of the head with a handful of popcorn.
Both Byrne siblings turned to Raynare. The interruption had instantly taken out of the moment.
"What are you doing?" Brandon questioned.
"Showing my support for Azalea." Raynare answered.
Brandon was hit with another handful of popcorn.
"Awww." Azalea cooed. "I'm touched."
"Don't encourage her." Brandon sighed, bringing his hand to his face.
"Fine." Azalea rolled her eyes, before stepping up to Raynare. "We can hardly spar while you're pelting my brother. Besides, the food flying everywhere is a lot more distracting to me than Brandon."
"Okay, I'll stop." Raynare said, without a hint of shame.
"Thank you, Sweety." Azalea said, before leaving Raynare with a quick peck on the cheek.
Brandon and Azalea returned to their starting positions and squared back up. Brandon's glass gloves remained.
Azalea rushed forward once more, throwing a punch at Brandon's chest. She was caught in his glass encased palm instead. Brandon's fingers closed around Azalea's fist.
Azalea aimed her free hand at Brandon's face. A glass barrier the size of a hand mirror interrupted the blow. Brandon swung his free hand at Azalea's stomach, landing a second hit.
All ten of Azalea's wings sprouted from her back. They swung at Brandon simultaneously. Unable to block all ten at once, Brandon let go and lept back.
Now free, Azalea threw a flurry of punches forward. Shattered Glass walled off each blow. For each attempted hit a new section of barrier was formed.
Brandon was thankful he could read his sister like a book, otherwise the speed of her punches would make blocking impossible. He was also thankful she hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings.
Shattered Glass hadn't just appeared in front of Azalea. The shards formed to her left, her right, behind her and above her. As she tried circumventing the shards that blocked her fists she completely neglected to notice the ones interconnecting around her forming a mosaic cage.
The only connection to the outside was an arm wide hole for her to see from. Brandon took two paces backward, then decided two more may be necessary.
"Looks like I win this round, Sis." Brandon said.
Azalea narrowed her eyes and sunk down. Brandon could hear the sound of scraping just behind the semi-opaque wall. The scraping got faster as if performed by a cacophony of limbs, before being muffled out.
For a minute things were quiet. It became clear that the dome no longer contained its occupant. Brandon stood on edge.
Azalea burst from the ground. Brandon flipped back just fast enough to narrowly avoid her.
He figured that he couldn't keep her contained for long. Aside from a coating of soil that looked especially caked at the tips of her wings, Azalea was still no worse for wear.
"I'll give you this Azalea, you're relentless." Brandon gave credit where credit was due. "But now it's time to fix the odds."
Glass shards began enveloping Brandon beginning at the ends of his limbs moving toward his center.
"Shattered Glass: Hol-" Azalea interrupted Brandon with a hit to the solar plexus, moments before the shards could cover it. Brandon crumpled to the ground. Shattered Glass faded.
"Are you okay, Bro?!" Azalea panicked.
Brandon gagged and coughed, holding up his index finger to communicate 'one minute.'
"Talk about a one hit wonder." Raynare commented, stepping up.
Brandon's index finger was switched out for his middle finger.
Brandon finally caught his breath. "Okay, yep. That didn't go as planned." He sputtered out, voice ragged. "Damn this hurts."
"I'm sorry Brandon." Azalea apologised.
"Don't be." Brandon said, forcing himself to sit upright. "You were holding back a lot, weren't you?"
Azalea nodded.
"Can I try healing you?" The nephilim requested.
Brandon nodded.
Azalea placed her open palm on Brandon's back. The healing crackle of hamon began trickling under his skin. Two vertebrae misaligned by the blow popped loudly back into their proper places. Brandon found breathing easy once more.
"Thanks." Brandon said.
Azalea stood and reached her arm to help Brandon up. Brandon stood shakily, relying on his sister for support. Even with Azalea's healing, he was sore as all hell.
"Same time tomorrow?" Brandon asked, through coarse breath.
"Are you serious?" Azalea questioned.
"Can't get better if I quit every time I take a punch to the gut." Brandon remarked.
Azalea rolled her eyes. Her brother was just fine, or he would be after some rest.
"Raynare can you help Brandon get to the house?" Azalea requested. "I'm gonna stay out here for a bit."
"I suppose." Raynare drawled, allowing Azalea to rest Brandon's arm over her shoulder. "Let's get you inside, princess."
"Make sure he lays down." Azalea urged.
"Don't worry, I've got this." Raynare replied.
Azalea watched the two disappear through the back door. She was alone now. No one stood between her and the floor popcorn.
The nephilim crouched down began plucking the kernels from the ground piece by piece until she'd gathered enough to swallow by the handful.
"Your method could use more efficiency." Came a voice Azalea recognized.
Azalea swiveled her head to see a child-like figure emerge from behind a tree. She stood straight up immediately.
"You're The Lost Child from the forest!" Azalea accused.
The Lost Child chuckled. "So that's what you've deemed to call me."
"I, uh, never really got a name from you." Azalea rationalised, scratching the back of her head.
"The moniker you've chosen is more than adequate." The Lost Child said, smiling as though amused by some great irony.
"Sooo, what was that you were saying about efficiency?" Azalea asked, still unsure what to make of the being before her.
"Have you not considered there are other ways to utilise hamon than simply healing and harming?" The Lost Child asked. "When in flight you used hamon to repel the air below you. It stands to reason that it can also attract."
Azalea thought for a second, considering how she halted her fall the other day. "What are you getting at?"
"Focus your hamon through your hand." The Lost Child instructed, holding out an open palm.
Azalea followed along, holding her hand in the same position. Hamon flowed between her fingertips and palm.
"Now what?" Azalea asked.
"Hold it over the ground."
Azalea shrugged and did as she was instructed, moving her hand just centimeters above the dirt. A piece of popcorn was drawn to her hand alongside a couple small dry leaves. Azalea gasped.
"It's like a static cling." Azalea said.
"Excellent." The Lost Child clapped. "You've taken to life magnetism overdrive swimmingly."
Azalea swiped her hand over the ground, picking up as much of the popcorn as she could. She then shoved the collection into her mouth with zero regard for the leaves and twigs that followed along.
"Although those eating habits leave much to be desired." The Lost Child deadpanned.
"So who or what are you, anyway?" Azalea asked, finishing her snack. "Are you some kind of fae? And what are you doing in Japan?"
Azalea attempted to discreetly catch a glimpse of The Lost Child's shadow, checking to see if the knees bent the wrong way. Something they picked up on instantly.
"I can assure you, I am not of the fair folk." The Lost Child said. "I am simply here following my own whims."
"That really doesn't tell me anything." Azalea said.
"Such is life." The Lost Child replied, before disappearing behind a tree. Azalea was left on her own.
"Wait. There was something else I wanted to ask." Azalea called out, trying to see where they disappeared to.
"I suppose I could spare a moment more."
Azalea jumped at the voice coming behind her and quickly turned. The Lost Child was standing just a meter away.
"... Are you a boy or a girl?" Azalea questioned.
"No." The Lost Child answered matter-of-factly. They then disappeared just as Azalea closed her eyes to blink.
"How do they do that?" Azalea pondered. Alone again.
Azalea's thoughts quickly switched tracks. Hamon was capable of attracting organic matter. She wondered what else she didn't know it was capable of.
The nephilim held her palm open and allowed the sparks to dance. She looked to her left and right, making sure no one was still watching.
Hoping she was truly alone, Azalea brought her palm closer to her face. She attempted to lick it. The resulting shock nearly knocked her to the ground. Apparently her saliva made an excellent conductor.
"Okay, not my best idea." Azalea admitted out loud, sounding mildly disappointed.
Azalea took a moment to ponder.
Out of sheer curiosity Azalea placed her crackling palm to her stomach. The energy caused a strong reaction with Azalea's stomach acid. The nephilim coughed out a mouthful of bile at an unfortunate sapling.
The substance immediately ate through the young tree and the ground it took root in. Azalea gasped and ran back to the house.
Brandon was finally feeling like he could stand on his own again after resting on the couch Raynare unceremoniously dumped him off at. Regardless, he wasn't planning on getting up anytime soon. He was more or less spent.
"Brandon, Raynare, You Need To See This!" Azalea ran inside, shouting.
Just his luck as of late.
The stand user sat up with a groan. "What is it, Azalea?"
"You've gotta see!" Azalea reiterated.
"Is it something that'll be gone if we put it on hold?" Brandon asked.
"Well, no."
"Is it something you're planning on showing Mom, too?"
"Well, yes."
"Then it can wait until Mom gets back." Brandon concluded, falling back to his lying position.
"Fiiiine." Azalea relented. "Spoilsport."
About an hour later Aine and Dohnaseek arrived back home. Azalea wasted no time herding the entire household outside to witness her new trick.
"This better be good." Mittelt said.
"Oh, it will be." Azalea assured. "Just make sure you step a couple meters back first."
The witnesses took heed to Azalea's advice. Azalea turned away from them and locked her eyes onto a medium stone just two meters away.
"Watch and be amazed." Azalea said, with a flourish, pointing her open palm to the sky.
The nephilim surged her hand with hamon and brought it to her stomach. Without further warning she projectile-regurgitated a dark green mixture of bile and stomach acid that sparked with hamon. The rock fizzled and was eaten away within moments.
"Jesus Christ! That…" Brandon brought hand to his chin in consideration. "Might be useful, actually."
"Wow, that's really… something." Raynare attempted to sound encouraging, despite feeling mildly sickened.
Dohnaseek opted not to comment, but his expression said more than words could.
"Huh, just like a sea bird chick." Aine stated, entirely unphased.
Mittelt looked about ready to vomit herself.
"Neat right?!" Azalea asked, with unwavering enthusiasm. "Now I have something to cover for light spears!"
"Just don't do that around the house." Aine encouraged, stepping up to pat her daughter on the head.
That night Brandon resumed his exercise routine. He'd be facing off against a nigh insurmountable threat soon enough, he needed to remain sharp. The routine began with the usual set of pushups.
"Like, what are you doing?" Mittelt questioned, looking down at Brandon from her bed.
"Getting back on track." Brandon replied between repetitions. "I've been putting, my routine off, because I was still, coming to terms with, sharing my home, with you guys.
"You look stupid." Mittelt said.
"And you look like a haunted doll." Brandon countered.
"So strength wise, he's somewhere between Raynare and Azalea." Brandon surmised.
"Closer to Raynare's end, but his regenerative ability may put him above your sister in terms of general threat level." Sona explained.
"I'm working out a plan for that, but most importantly I need to be able to remove strength entirely as a factor from the fight." Brandon said. "Stand user or not, I am still human."
Brandon and Azalea gathered out back once more. This time Mittelt joined Raynare in the peanut gallery, eager to watch some bloodshed.
"Ready?" Azalea asked.
Brandon took a deep breath then nodded. "Ready."
Azalea reeled back for her assault.
"Shattered Glass: Hold Me!" Brandon called out.
Glass shards began coating Brandon's body, starting from his center and working their way down his limbs. Brandon completely enclosed himself within a protective layer of his stand.
Azalea threw her punch at Brandon's chest to zero effect. Brandon took the window of opportunity to land an awkward, stilted uppercut against his sister. Movement within Shattered Glass: Hold Me would take getting used to.
"That's hardly fair." Azalea commented, putting a bit of distance between them.
A muffled sound came from within the glass armor that Azalea could only assume was a quip out of Brandon's mouth.
The glass suit squared back up. Azalea circled it, searching for a weak point. There was no opening whatsoever.
Suddenly Brandon threw a kick at Azalea, hitting her at the side of her ribs. It didn't particularly hurt so much as give her a start, like getting bitten by a small animal that can't quite break the skin. Regardless, she jumped back.
Brandon at this point shifted to the offensive, refusing to let Azalea make room between them and throwing a rush of punches. One blow managed to connect with Azalea's lip, giving it a small cut against her tooth.
Azalea tasted her own blood and glared.
The nephilim threw an instant straight punch. Its force created a shockwave as it connected to where Brandon's face would be. The edge of Azalea's sleeve singed from the friction. Brandon stopped moving forward.
Azalea immediately worried that she may have actually gone too far. A muffled noise came from the head area. It didn't seem like speech. It was too repetitive. She realised Brandon was laughing.
Azalea stood straight and crossed her arms. Was he trying to goad her further on, or was he just that self assured he was invincible now?
She didn't have time to consider, her brother collapsed before her. Shattered Glass faded, leaving Brandon unconscious on the ground.
"Brandon!" Azalea called in concern, as she rushed to him.
Oh God, she hit him in the head! Why wasn't she thinking?! She could've snapped his neck! But there wasn't so much as a bruise? Did she give him a concussion?! Azalea's mind jumped into panic.
Brandon was heavily breathing.
Raynare and Mittelt approached.
"Okay, what happened?" Mittelt questioned.
Brandon rubbed his head and opened his eyes. "How long was I out?"
"I'm so sorry, Bro." Azalea sobbed.
Raynare got closer and placed a hand on Azalea's back.
"What, you didn't do this?" Brandon replied, attempting to clear the misunderstanding.
"But the punch, the shockwave." Azalea sputtered.
"Didn't feel a thing." Brandon assured. "I was completely covered. Air tight."
"Then, like, what happened?" Mittelt questioned further.
"Like I said, air tight." Brandon repeated.
Realisation struck Raynare. "You suffocated yourself."
"Bingo." Brandon said, pointing to Raynare. "I was so focused on defense, I neglected to consider the little fact that I needed to breathe."
"You asshole." Azalea cursed, still misty eyed. "I thought I killed you."
"I'm sorry, Sis." Brandon apologised, guilty he put his sister through that stress.
"How did you make such a dumbass move?" Mittelt asked. "That's like something Raynare would totally do."
"Ouch." Brandon replied.
"Oh, fuck you both." Raynare snarled.
"Okay, so my Shattered Glass: Hold Me needs fine tuning." Brandon admitted.
"I'm honestly astonished." Sona shared, now considering the prospect of a backup plan for her backup plan.
"What even was your thought process?" Tsubaki questioned.
"I needed complete coverage." Brandon explained. "If Riser surrounds me with fire, I'm cooked."
"Have you considered spiracles?" Sona suggested. "Setting small holes at your side that can open and close at will, like the respiratory system of an insect, should prevent you from suffocating."
"Again." Tsubaki added.
Brandon took a moment to consider how he could make a system like that function with his stand.
"I suppose I could hinge a couple smaller shards for that effect." He said. "I'll have to see how well that works in the next spar."
"While we're making comments on the design of… 'Shattered Glass: Hold Me,' I feel the face is lacking."
"Not sure how that's important." Brandon said.
"The strategy you employ involves psychologically weakening your opponent, correct?" Sona put. "Perhaps the facial area should reflect that, provide an air of menace as well as mystery."
"That's, actually not a bad idea." Brandon said.
"If I may, I have some suggestions."
Brandon continued his sparring matches with Azalea and daily exercises throughout the week. Right up until the final day before the battle. Not only that, but Brandon and Sona had finely tuned their plan of action. There was only one key role that remained before the main event.
Aine and Dohnaseek both lounged on the couch overlooking the television. The TV was on, but the two only paid minimal attention, moreso enjoying each other's company, basking in the calm uninterrupted stillness of the moment.
Brandon jumped over the staircase's railing only to create his own steps from his stand.
"Hey Mom, could I borrow Dohnaseek for a bit?" Brandon requested, making footfall on the living room floor.
"What for?" Aine questioned. A sentiment Dohnaseek shared.
"Little revenge scheme, you know how it is." Brandon nonchalantly answered.
Nothing suspicious there.
"Alright then." Aine accepted without further question. "Don, would you mind giving my son a hand?"
"I suppose I do owe him that much." Dohnaseek accepted, begrudgingly standing up from the couch and cracking his back.
"I won't take too long." Brandon assured, taking the lead through the front door.
"Have fun, you two."
Dohnaseek followed Brandon halfway down the block, before he made a stop.
"Where are we going, exactly, and what are we doing?" Dohnaseek questioned.
"Warp us to the school and I'll explain from there." Brandon said.
Dohnaseek's suspicion only increased. Just who was Brandon set for vengeance on anyway? Nevertheless, he complied with the request.
In a blink of an eye Dohnaseek and Brandon were at the school grounds, where Sona Sitri had been patiently waiting.
"How kind of you to arrive, Brandon, Fallen Angel Dohnaseek." Sona curtly greeted them both.
Brandon pinched the bridge of his nose and crouched low to the ground, letting out a dry heave.
"Give me a minute, that was my first time teleporting." He communicated, catching himself. "I think there was a change in altitude."
"Is there a reason you're having me trespass Sona's territory, in front of her?" Dohnaseek questioned, looking down at the recovering Brandon.
"I assure you, you have my blessing." Sona assuaged. "I personally requested your assistance."
"Assistance with what, exactly?" Dohnaseek questioned.
Brandon rose back up. "Writing a contract."
"What?" Dohnaseek asked, no less confused than he was moments ago.
"We need to create a binding contract, devoid of loopholes." Sona explained. "I'm aware your primary role in the Grigori was paperwork."
"I suppose I'm savvy enough to lend some aid." Dohnaseek said. "But how in the hell do you know what I did at the Grigori? And who are we binding?"
"Lower ranking Grigori agent files are public access." Sona explained. "Have you heard of a devil by the name of Riser Phenex?"
It took them several hours, but the contract was inescapable. Every loophole accounted for, devilishly worded, and fine print only visible through a microscope. All that was missing was the target's signature.
"It's perfect." Sona uttered in reverence.
"Absolutely airtight." Dohnaseek added.
"Excellent." Brandon said. "I think I'll leave it with you until it's time."
"Mhmm." Was Sona's only reply as she stared into the legal document.
"Sona?" Brandon questioned.
"That's great Brandon, second exit to the left." Sona replied, paying no mind to what had actually been said.
"Uh." Brandon began, raising his hand, until he felt Dohnaseek's hand on his shoulder.
"Perhaps we should leave her be." Dohnaseek suggested, before warping the both of them away.
The same night, Brandon called upon Azalea to the forested spot behind their house.
"So you need some of my acid?" She questioned. "Why?"
"Just a little project I'm working on." Brandon said. "I'll share the results with you once I'm finished."
"Okay, but this better not be for anything nefarious." Azalea stipulated.
"Parish the thought." Brandon replied, gesturing the sign of the cross.
The household gathered that Saturday to the living room at Azalea's behest. There was a tokusatsu marathon that day, and she insisted they all watch it together as a family.
The nephilim was enthralled, only occasionally sipping from a cup of tea at commercial breaks. Raynare had fallen asleep on her shoulder. The remainder of the household had varying degrees of interest, mostly on the lower end of the scale. But Azalea was happy, and that's what mattered.
"So, Dohnaseek." Kalawarner teased. "What's it like being Aine's boytoy?"
Azalea almost spat out her drink.
"Exhilarating." Dohnaseek answered without hesitation.
"Ahh, I'm flattered." Aine giggled.
Brandon's phone began ringing.
"Oh would you look at that, I've gotta go." He excused himself. Apart from Azalea, who hadn't noticed, the rest simply assumed Brandon was looking for any excuse to skip out.
Through a blue magical circle, Brandon was summoned to Sona's office.
"Isn't this the reverse of how it's usually supposed to go?" Brandon commented, seeing the irony of a devil calling upon a human.
"Irreverent as always, Dumbass." Tsubaki retorted.
"I try my best." Brandon replied.
"I trust you have taken all of the necessary preparations." Sona said.
"Done and done." Brandon confirmed. "Got the contract?"
Sona reluctantly produced the rolled up paperwork, which Brandon promptly snatched out of her hand.
"Commence Operation: Heart of Stone."
Aine takes her childrens' wellbeing deadly seriously, and she has access to information the general public shouldn't. Perks of her profession?
(Side note: my sister absolutely hated the "perhaps you should start trying for number four" line, so I'd like to ask my readers if you felt that it was too cryptic or nonsensical.)
With a little persuasion Sona has convinced Brandon to help put a stop to Rias and Riser's arranged marriage. He couldn't care less about Rias' freedom, but no way is he letting his home be affected.
Another appearance from The Lost Child. I wasn't originally planning to include them in this chapter, but I figured a reminder of their presence couldn't hurt.
Azalea can now projectile regurgitate a mixture of bile, hamon, and her stomach acid. Lovely. It's what she'll have for range in place of a light spear. Like Aine mentions, this is based on the defense mechanisms of certain seabirds, such as the fulmar. Given Azalea can digest practically anything, the mixture is highly corrosive.
I got my first negative review. I suppose that's a milestone in its own right. I'm not entirely sure what the individual's issue was (best guesses are Brandon picking that fight with Akeno, the mechanics of Shattered Glass, or Brandon's stand cry), either way props to the reviewer for sticking out five chapters before making the decision to jump ship, and best of luck finding a fic that better suits their tastes.
What is the perfected form of Shattered Glass: Hold Me? What is the contract's purpose? What is Operation: Heart of Stone? And will Brandon defeat Riser? All will be revealed in the next chapter, but feel free to give your best guess.