A.N.-I'm Back!

The Third King of Kuoh Academy

Chapter 20

My eyes suddenly opened again, and I had no clue where I was. I jerked my head from side and side, panicking. I had no clue where my girls were, what had happened after Riser knocked me out, or where I even was. All of a sudden, my surroundings hit me like a truck. Everything came into view all at once. And none of it made any sense.

I was standing in a burning forest, a huge black sword in my hand. My grey t-shirt and black jeans were torn and stained with blood. But it wasn't my blood. In fact, I felt better than usual. I could feel the sick, twisted smile on my face, but I had no clue why I was smiling. All around me was ash, fire, and destruction. And…bodies. The one right in front of me, at the tip of my sword, was Riser. His face was bloodied and his spirit looked broken.

The proud, blonde devil was pushed up against a broken tree, my sword against his throat. He didn't seem to want to fight and he even…began to beg. I couldn't make out exactly what he was saying, his words coming out muffled, but I could tell he was begging. Then, my body began moving on its own. The sword in my hand became alight with a mixture of black and blue flames and ancient carvings on the blade started to glow green. The Blackflame? But…how? I shouldn't be able to use it! Then I brought the flaming sword up above my head, like a lumberjack about to chop the day's wood. What am I doing…? A terrifying grin spread across my face as blood flew into the air above us. The red rain came down a second later, and Riser was dead.

I looked in front of me in horror, the evil, sadistic smile never leaving my face, as I gazed upon the devil that I'd sliced in half. Blood covered the edge of my blade as I drove it farther through his corpse. His crimson red blood spilled out onto the tree and the burnt, scared ground around us. What am I doing…Riser…? My arms flexed and I pulled the blade out of the corpse with a grunt, swinging it around me as I turned to clean off the blood. After I turned the scene changed and it made my heart leap into my throat and I could no longer breathe. "Girls…" I muttered from inside the body that appeared to be mine.

Before me was my peerage. Beaten, bloody, and all on the verge of death. I felt a burning hate grow in my chest, thinking Riser had done this to them and that he deserved what I'd done to him. But…a part of me suddenly felt…responsible. What if…this was the outcome of our fight? I wanted the body I was locked inside to fall to its knees, punch the ground, and scream. But I remained standing; just looking at the lifeless bodies of ten girls I loved more than the entire world.

Aria and Seraphin were both hanging off of tree branches, their limbs were limp and blood was slowly dripping from their mouths. Beneath them, at the foot of the tree, was Violet, surrounded by the little ones. The girl's once perfect black hair was now splashed with the others blood, her head lolled to the side, while the others lay around her. I wanted to close my eyes but my body refused. I was forced to look. All of them…Tera, Sara, Ella, Amy, and Jasmin…were all laying in a bloody heap around the Knight who tried to protect them from…me. This is what my rage caused. What if I'd actually fought Riser at full force in the manor? Where would they be? Where would…Brittany be? Brittany! I had no clue where she was. I willed the body I was inside of to look around, to panic like I was, but it refused to move. What is happening? Where's my best friend?! "You simply do not understand, do you?" A voice echoed throughout the battlefield.

"Who are you? What's going on?" I screamed towards the sky. My voice was finally leaving the body I was trapped inside. I could now hear how desperate and broken my voice sounded, not a big surprise considering the girls I love were now in front of me, covered in blood. "This is what will happen if you continue the path you are on my friend." The voice said again. As the last words echoed throughout the burning forest, an area in front of me began to glow. A red and black portal appeared and…I stepped out.

"So this is what I used to look like…disgusting." The form that looked like me said teasingly. "What is happening?" I muttered in disbelief. "I'm here to tell you…to show you…" he paused and looked over at the bloody bodies of Violet and the others, "what it will be like if you continue. You're becoming more and more like you used to be…the…wicked devil you used to be before Brittany and the others." He explained and stepped towards me. "I'm the version that the girls have made. The 'loving, silly master,' not what you have been recently. This anger you feel, even if I agree that it is understandable, it needs to stop." He finished and pressed a finger to my chest. "I…I know. Let me go back to my girls…" I muttered, defeated and knowing that I had to apologize. "Gladly." The good half of me answered and snapped his fingers.

My surroundings flew away in a single moment leaving me in a plain, white world. My feet were still on ground and I wasn't awake, but at least I was back in control and away from that horrible burning forest. "What…where am I now?" I muttered, looking around worriedly and patting myself to make sure everything was still there. "You're with us silly." A familiar voice said happily from behind me. I turned around to see my ten servants, looking exactly as they had before I left them, standing behind me and grinning at me. Brittany was standing in front with her hand outstretched towards me and a huge, sweet smile on her face. "Now let's go home." She told me and I felt a tear slide down my cheek. "This is our world Varian. Let's all go be happy together." Aria chimed in and Ashlen, standing next to her, nodded. "You're not getting rid of us that easy." Amy and Violet called at the same time and glared at each other. I couldn't help but laugh and step forward, taking Brittany's hand. "I love you all so damn much. Let's please go home." I whispered happily and Brittany let go of my hand and moved in for a hug. Her lips hit me head on as her arms moved over my shoulders. I could hear her in my head…Where ever you are, that's our home. Now wake up stupid.

I shot up in a soft, king sized bed and gasped for air. "Oh thank Lucifer. Finally back in the real world." I said loudly as I took in my surroundings. I was in, again, a soft dark red king sized bed in a large bedroom. The room was dark and had a slight red tint to it, which symbolizes nighttime in the underworld. From what I could tell, I was still in the Gremory Manor and…this room was slightly familiar. I threw off the sheets and my bare feet hit the cold, polished wood floor. "Such a familiar sensation…" I muttered groggily and began walking around the room. Even the smell of the room was familiar, it smelled like roses. "Wait…" I stopped in my tracks when I noticed a picture on the nightstand next to the bed I'd slept in. The picture showed a younger version of me with a huge black sword and a dumb, confident smile on my face. Next to me, with his arm around me, was the crimson haired devil king. "Sirzechs. How long has it been?" I asked reminiscently. "Too long my Queen, far too long." The kind hearted voice of Satan whispered from behind me.

I turned around and smiled to see my old master standing there with a far off look on his smiling face. "Oh how times have changed. I used to be taking a knocked out you to bed." I said teasingly and the devil lord laughed. "Yes, I remember it very well. How do you feel?" He asked, already knowing the answer, but making sure. "Like I just slept for a hundred years. Now where are my girls and Riser? I think we need to figure the details of our rating game." I asked confidently and Sirzechs smirked. "So your opinion of this game has changed then?" He asked and I nodded slowly. "I may not be your sister's biggest fan, but I don't want her to be stuck with him and frankly, the house of Phenex deserves to be knocked down a few pegs." I answered and we both nodded in agreement. "And you are no longer angry? You scared your servants, you realize that don't you?" He asked and my face darkened as I nodded solemnly. "I realize sir. That's why I need to go see them. I've come to terms with my attitude and my actions," I paused and smirked, looking back up at my old master with a confident grin, "and I need to accept their punishment before we go fight that proud blonde ass." I explained and Sirzech's gave a hardy laugh. "I'm so proud of you Varian; you've really grown up since I watched you leave that day." He complemented and moved out of the doorframe. "I trust you remember how to get to the main hall?" The devil lord asked mockingly and I nodded. "I could never forget master." I responded and walked out of the bedroom, grabbing my old red and black jacket from my teen years.

I crossed the building in no time, walking from the top bedroom floor down to the entry hall. I made it to the stairway and gulped when I saw a few servants patching up the huge hole I'd made in the wall. I offered an 'I'm sorry' before I headed quickly down to the main part of the manor. After taking a few turns and walking down extremely well decorated red and gold hallways, I made it to the main hall's door. I could hear raised voices inside, a few of them I recognized immediately. "I leave for a few hours and look at what happens." I mutter to myself and smile. "Whelp, let's get this show on the road."

I pushed open the two massive wood doors and stepped into the Gremory manor's largest hall. Devils from all parts of the underworld were gathered around the hall, all of them looking towards the middle where ten very attractive girls were, just like always, causing trouble. "How about you take what you said back or we go ahead and end this rating game right here?" Aria yelled at one of Riser's rooks, the one with the blue and gold ceremonial dress and the two white buns in her hair. The black haired rook simply giggled and turned her back to her, "Go pick your master up out of his bed and carry his weak ass out of here and we will let you off the hook." She declared and a few of her fellow servants laughed around her. Other devils in the crowd were beginning to take notice of the debate and I could tell each one of them would side with Riser's peerage. Well, might as well make an entrance.

"Who you calling weak you Chun-Li rip off? I've been up and ready to fight for awhile now, I'm just waiting for you to go too far and watch my girls beat the snot out of you." I called across the hall and everyone turned to see me standing in the doorway. My red and black hair blew slowly in a breeze I had no idea was coming and my blue eyes sparkled from the light coming from the massive chandeliers above. My long red and black cloak I inherited as a servant of the Gremory house drug across the ground as I walked into the center of the hall. "Or perhaps you want to wait for the rating game for that? There will be a little less public embarrassment for you then, right?" I teased and walked up to join Aria and Seraphin, who were ready to throw down right then. The two looked up at me with wonder and relaxed a bit. "I appreciate it, but can you two please not cause a scene right now? Besides, I don't want your dresses to get ruined." I whispered and the two girls immediately blushed and stepped out of the middle of the hall. Wonder when they changed into dresses, eh at least they were hot.

"So the weak servant finally woke up I see? Good, now we can settle this rating game." Riser's voice echoed throughout the hall as the circle of guests around us parted and allowed him to enter. He approached me, dressed in a maroon jacket and a low cut white dress shirt over his maroon slacks and black dress shoes, and stopped a few feet in front of me. His smug grin widened as he looked me over. "Are you going to run at me again boy? Let's see what you're made of." Riser teased and begged me to attack him again. I smirked right back at him, stuffed my hands in the pockets of my cloak and relaxed. I know I can't let him get to me again. "Sorry Riser, but I don't feel like fighting like this. You got me angry last time, but I'm calm now and ready to settle this little dispute once and for all." I announced. However, Riser seemed unaffected by it and shrugged. "So be it, I'll allow for your embarrassment to be broadcasted over the rating game. Now, where is Sirzechs so we may discuss the details?" He asked and looked through the audience around us. "Here I am Riser." The Devil Lord's voice echoed through the hall as he appeared in between us from a dark red portal. He always knew how to make an appearance.

"Oh, look at fifty cent rolling in here." I commented and smiled at the crimson Devil Lord. "Now then, what are the terms you two?" He asked and Riser and I locked eyes. "I wish for the hand of Rias Gremory and to be and heir to the House of Gremory." He declared and everyone fell silent. Sirzech's merely nodded, completely ready to sell his sister to this over privileged brat. "And Varian?" He turned to me, expecting me to prove him right. "I do not require the hand of Rias Gremory. In fact, if I win, I want her to be able to chose her partner. She may not be my favorite person but she is a friend and I know just how much she despises you, Riser. Also, I want everyone to know the truth of my fall from grace, if my Master will allow it." At my last request, everyone, even Sirzechs, looked terrified and confused. "Varian, are…are you sure?" The Satan asked and I nodded. "I am. I think everyone should learn." I answered confidently and Sirzechs couldn't help but smile and nod. "Well then, now that we have reached a full agreement, let the rating game BEGIN!" He yelled and threw his hand towards the sky. Two huge red portals appeared over Riser and me and suddenly everything went black…