Author's Note: I've had a few people comment saying that Vali is wrong about how strong Sirzechs is. All I have to say is consider the point the story is at. Sirzechs' true power isn't known until Volume 12, and Ajuka's is only ever mentioned in an Afterword of Volume 13. We've only just started Volume 4 in my story. Everyone should keep that in mind when reading. Judge the facts presented based on what's been revealed at the time my story takes place, not the point you've read up to/seen in the Light Novel/Anime. That goes for everything, not just power levels.
Chapter 13: Heaven's Light
113, 114, 115, Tatsumi mentally counted off the reps as he did one-handed vertical pushups. It was a good exercise no matter how strong he got. It wasn't something that muscles alone could help you achieve, it was a balancing exercise and balance was actually something you could lose if you didn't keep working at it.
The morning found Tatsumi outside once more going through a series of exercises. The vertical pushups was his second exercise of the day, he'd just finish an hour of swinging his weighted bokkan. Thanks to Sona it now weighed close to six hundred kilograms. It was the limit that the bokkan could take before the bokkan itself started to break down, but thankfully it was enough.
Now the warm rays of the sun were just beginning to peek over the horizon, staining the sky a deep orange. It had the hallmarks of another nice day, and what made it a bit more enjoyable was that he wasn't alone this time.
"Nyan!" Koneko cried out as she crumpled to the grass next to him.
Tatsumi glanced over at the short girl and gave her an encouraging smile. She'd been joining him these past few days, mimicking Tatsumi as best she could. She didn't swing the weighted bokkan of course, but she had a different exercise that helped her strengthen her punches and kicks. Right now she was trying to do the vertical pushups like him and while to the casual observing would appear to be having a great deal of difficulty.
Not to Tatsumi. She'd already achieved in three days what had taken him three months! At this rate she'd have it in a couple more weeks, which completely destroyed his yearlong efforts to achieve it. It was like she was part cat or something.
"It took me awhile to get it as well, Koneko-chan," Tatsumi said encouragingly as he watched her scramble back into a handstand position. She didn't even seem to notice that in doing so it caused her shirt and skirt to flip upside down, putting her white and blue polka-dot panties and bra on display for the world. "It's a very good balancing exercise. Strength is all well and good, but you're not always going to have two feet on the ground. Being able to balance yourself regardless of your position will help you deliver a strong strike from anywhere."
"Could just fly," Koneko said quietly.
"And if you're indoors where there's no room to fly?" Tatsumi asked. "Or you've had your ability to fly disabled by some magical means?"
Koneko nodded and tried to balance herself on one hand once more. She managed to balance herself easily enough, but the moment she bent her arm to try and lower herself to the grass, she wobbled and fell with a cute cry again. A few moments later she was vertical and trying again.
Tatsumi continued to do vertical pushups, giving Koneko little tips along the way as he did. When he reached five hundred he changed to a different exercise and Koneko followed suit. It was remarkable just how strong being a Rook made Koneko. She was short and petite with a slim build at best. Yet packed within that body was a strength that had rivaled Tatsumi prior to his battle with Kokabiel. It taken some magically enhanced training weight to provide Koneko enough resistance for her to actually struggle.
What impressed Tatsumi the most however, wasn't her strength, but her resolve. Esdeath's taunting and the presumption that her weakness caused her to be unable to save Kiba had lit a fire under her.
It really was a strange feeling for Tatsumi. If someone had asked him not half a year ago if he'd ever help a devil grow stronger, he'd have laughed in their faces and called them insane. Yet here he was, training one devil and had another as a lover. Tatsumi had known long ago that the world didn't make any sense, he was just realizing now just how little sense it actually made.
It wasn't that he'd come to accept that devils were good people. He truly believed that most of their kind was not. That being said, Sona had proven a very good point through her own actions. Not all devils were evil. She wasn't, her sister wasn't, Koneko wasn't. Even Rias wasn't all that bad once he actually learned something about her. She was selfish, arrogant, and entitled, but so were most humans. She wasn't cruel or evil. She didn't torture or rape or bend people's minds. She was even willing to admit when she made mistakes and was willing to change.
Now that he wasn't blinded by hatred and could look at her objectively, she was better than many humans Tatsumi knew. He still didn't like her, but that was now entirely based on a dislike of her personality rather than because she's 'a devil.'
It was a very bitter pill for Tatsumi to swallow since it meant he'd have to admit he was wrong in believing all devils were pure evil. At least there were devils like Koneko and Sona that made it easier to swallow. Looking at them, it made it really easy to admit he was wrong.
I mean, how could anyone look at the short white-haired girl beside him, her clothes clinging to her sweat drenched body as she dutifully curled four hundred pound dumbbells, as evil? She was pushing her body to its limit in this early morning training for no other reason then so she could be strong enough to protect the people she cared about.
It was the same reason he trained. The only way to hate her for that was to hate himself.
"And that's two hundred," Tatsumi grunted out before setting his own dumbbells down upon the grass. They were only two hundred pounds, but like the bokken, Sona had placed a gravity spell on it to make them weigh a ton each. He glanced up at the sun, noting its position. "We only have an hour before school. Should be enough time to try my hand at some cooking."
"Cooking is good!" Koneko agreed as she let her weights drop to the grass with a loud thump. She looked at herself and picked at her clothes. "…sweaty and sore."
"There's a bath inside," Tatsumi said. He placed a hand on Koneko's shoulder and guided her back towards Sona's estate. "How often do you actually do physical training?"
She tilted her head to the side in that adorable way of hers. "Never?"
Ah, so she had basically relied solely upon the enhanced strength granted to her by the Rook Evil Piece. "Then this is good for you. If I'm not mistaken, the Evil Piece system really only multiplies the base strength of the individual. As a Rook, your strength and durability multiplier is much greater than the other pieces."
"Buchou says if I make more contracts and level up my magic I'll get stronger," Koneko said quietly.
Tatsumi nodded sagely, "that makes sense too. More magic basically means a greater multiplier. But it's not the only way to get stronger. The multiplier only enhances your base strength, it doesn't add to it. If you increase your base strength and durability, the multiplier has more to multiply."
It was like if your base strength was quantified at ten units, and the multiplier was ten, you'd end up with a result of one hundred units of strength. If Koneko gained more magical strength, enough to boost the multiplier to say twenty, the end result would be two-hundred units. But if Koneko were to also train her base strength to twenty, the result would be four hundred.
There would come a point where increasing her base strength and durability would yield more returns than bolstering her magical reservoirs. Considering how strong she was now, and how little base strength she actually possessed, she must have enormous amounts of magical energy swirling around in that little body of hers. Which meant any gain in actual physical strength would yield enormous returns.
The trick was utilizing weights and training extreme enough to push her past the limits of what her magically enhanced strength could handle, and force her muscles to work to exhaustion.
"How do I know if I'm stronger?" Koneko asked quietly as the two of them entered the house.
"You could always try punching Issei when he goes all perverted on you," Tatsumi offered helpfully. "If you knock him clear through the wall, you've improved."
She nodded her head. "Will test today."
Was that a testament to her eagerness to figure out how much stronger she'd become in just three days or an indication of how often Issei made perverted moves, gestures, or remarks towards Koneko?
"There's more to being strong than just physical strength," Tatsumi added. The short white haired girl tilted her head to the side, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "The strongest fists, the sharpest blades, and the most durable shields are all useless if the Will isn't there. It doesn't matter if you're the strongest person in the world if you're a coward. It doesn't matter if you're the greatest swordsman in the world if you're afraid to take risks. The strongest shield becomes brittle and weak when held in the hands of the unsure. The truly strong are those capable of pushing themselves ever onward, even as their bodies fail around them."
"Mew?"
Koneko had the most adorably confused look on her face. Tatsumi just shook his head and chuckled. "What I'm saying is don't give up. No matter how much it hurts, no matter how hard or insurmountable the task may appear, never give up. So long as you don't give up, a way to succeed will appear."
"…I can do that."
Tatsumi smiled and rubbed her head playfully. She let out a warm purr as a smile came to her lips. The warm atmosphere disappeared the moment the two of them entered the kitchen. They both froze and just stared. Sona was already there ahead of them, standing by the kitchen counter mixing some ingredients together to create lunch for the day. By the looks of it, she'd decided to include Tatsumi and Koneko as well in her efforts.
It wasn't all that strange to see Sona in the kitchen cooking. She'd been in there the past two days as well preparing lunch for herself while he had Koneko taste test his attempts at reproducing his mother's cooking. What was strange was seeing her standing there preparing the lunches in nothing but an apron.
"Pervert?" Koneko asked. She sounded really confused. Sona was the last person she'd have labeled as a pervert, and Tatsumi would have readily agreed with her.
"I'm not sure we can really call her a pervert in this situation," Tatsumi said gently. "This is her home, and her kitchen. If she wants to walk around naked or… in just a cooking apron. It's not really our place to tell her she's wrong."
Koneko gave him a curious, almost innocent, look. "Oh… it's fine if it's in your home?"
"Yes it is," Sona said without turning around. She quickly used an egg beater to mix some liquids together before pouring them out into three small little containers. Sauce for their meals. "In the privacy of your own home, one is allowed more freedom in their choice of attire."
"Oh, alright," Koneko said, accepting her word. The way Sona put it made it seem completely reasonable. Like they were the weird ones for thinking her attire was inappropriate. "Naked aprons are fine in your own kitchen."
"Yes."
She was still refusing to turn around. Was she that absorbed in preparing their lunches or was she trying to hide something? Whatever the case was, there didn't seem to be any reason to prepare lunch this morning.
Tatsumi gave Koneko an apologetic smile. "Sorry Koneko-chan, looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow to do more cooking. Sona has taken it into her own hands this morning."
"Oh," Koneko seemed to wilt for a brief moment, until she sniffed the air and perked up again. "Smells good."
"I will make lunch for the three of us. I am fairly confident in my cooking," Sona said causally. "You should go wash up Koneko. The bath on the second level has already been prepared for you and has a change of clothes since I know you've forgotten to bring one."
Koneko looked at him in askance and he nodded. "I'll be back soon," the adorable mascot of Kuoh Academy said before she left them.
Tatsumi watched her leave before heading over to Sona by the counter. "What's the occasion?" he asked as he came up behind her. Even before he touched her he knew that she was very aroused.
"There is no real occasion," Sona said, giving him a little look over her shoulder before turning back to the preparation at hand. "Rias did mention how wild wearing just an apron sent Issei and I was curious if that was an affliction that affected all men."
"Depends on the woman," Tatsumi said, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace with a pleasant sigh. "With someone like you, the only men that wouldn't become wild are those only interested in other men, and even that's not completely certain."
"Well isn't that nice to hear." She gave him a hot, lidded look. "But words are cheap, Tatsumi."
Ah. He kissed her on the lips. "They are, aren't they?" he said as let his fingers trail down her stomach and then up beneath the apron. "If my Sona desires more than just words, then I suppose I have to deliver."
~o~
Tatsumi let out a soft sigh as he walked through the gates of Kuoh Academy flanked on either side by Sona and Koneko. He stared up at the majestic building, admiring the architecture once more as an idle thought flittered across his mind.
What was he still doing coming here?
That thought made the joy from pleasant activity from the morning disappear like fog under a warm morning sun.
High School had really only been something he'd done to appease his parents, his mother in particular. He needed an education to obtain a proper job, or at least a proper job in his parents' eyes. With them both dead now, it didn't matter. He was going to lead Night Raid until it killed him, or it was no longer needed but that last condition was a dream he didn't dare consider seriously.
The stares and looks he got from the students made him feel uncomfortable at best. The looks of awe, adoration, lust, and everything else. To them he wasn't Nakimori Tatsumi, he was something to worship. An idol to place up a crystal pedestal and stare at from afar. Was this what Sona had to deal with all the time? Being placed upon a pedestal and everyone but her peerage too afraid to approach her? And then there were all the parents too….
Wait a minute.
"Why are there so many parents here?" Tatsumi asked as he looked this way and that.
"Ah, right, things have been so hectic with you lately, I am not surprised it slipped your mind," Sona said. She laid a gentle touch upon his arm and gave him an apologetic smile. "I probably should have asked you to stay home. Today may be a little rough for you."
"School Visitation day," Koneko said in that soft, quiet voice of hers. She gave him an understanding look. "I don't have parents either."
Ah, so that's what it was. This was the day everyone's parents came to watch their kids do work at school. "My mother had been looking forward to this day," Tatsumi murmured. It hurt, a pain deep inside his heart. He could still remember that excited smile on her face when he brought the announcement home for her to read. "I guess that's something she won't be able to do now."
"It's alright Tatsumi," Sona said gently, "I'm sure she'll—" she suddenly gasped loudly and backed away from him, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at something behind him. Even Koneko squeaked loudly and darted behind Sona when she noticed whatever it was behind him.
"Ah, Koneko, Souna, should I be worried or not?" Tatsumi asked, almost afraid to turn around. Those were typical reactions he expected out of the two of them.
That was when he felt her familiar presence and everything made sense.
"There's no need to be afraid, children," a warm, gentle voice said from behind him. It was a soothing voice that stripped away one's worries and enveloped them in a warm blanket. It also felt so strange hearing that from someone Tatsumi was so used to kicking his ass day in and day out. Gabriel laid a soft hand upon his shoulder as she came up behind him. "Today is Class Visitation day, is it not?"
It really was his Sensei. Tatsumi couldn't believe that she'd come to his school. In fact, this was only the second time he'd ever seen her away from her Sanctuary, the first being at the café with Serafall.
She didn't have on her usual white ninja outfit, nor was she wearing that white dress that resembled flowing light. Instead her attire resembled that which the Catholic Pope might wear, albeit modified to account for her enormous bust and clung tightly to her curvaceous figure. There were a few other differences as well. Whereas the pope's habit was pure white, Gabriel's had golden accents and instead of a silver cross, hers was made of pure gold. The zucchetto the Pope wore atop his head was also missing, instead replaced by her circlet, the same one she had loaned to Tatsumi for his battle against Esdeath.
Sona swallowed hard and nodded her head. "It is, Gabriel-sama, may I ask what brings someone as esteemed as yourself here today?"
Tatsumi supposed their reactions did make some sort of sense. They were devils, Angels were typically their arch enemies. And to see the most powerful female angel, one of the four Great Seraphs, Gabriel herself, standing before you must be quite the shock. This wasn't an individual that her sister would be able to save her from if things went downhill.
"Is it not obvious?" She asked in that soft, kindly voice that try as he might Tatsumi just could not properly associate with her. It had that rich, smooth note to it that made it feel like he was listening to liquid light. As strange as that thought was, it was the only way he could describe it. "Tatsumi has suffered greatly recently in part due to my own negligence. He has done so much good, that it's time for Good to do something for him." The smile she gave him was so breathtaking it caused his heart to skip a beat, several beats. "The souls of the dead are not normally allowed to look upon the mortal world but an exception is being made for this occasion. So long as I am here beside you, Tatsumi, your parents will be looking down upon you, along with your sister Mira."
Tatsumi went stiff with shock. What did she just say? His parents and Mira were watching him right now? His sister? He nearly got whiplash looking everywhere, hoping he'd at least get a glance at some sort of wispy spirit or form that would indicate they were really there. "Where?" It was a stupid question, but he had to ask it.
"They're here, watching. You have my promise." They were? He couldn't see them anywhere. He really wanted to see them one last time. Her smile became tinged with sorrow as she read his eyes. "I'm sorry Tatsumi, but I'm already providing one miracle, please don't ask for a second," Gabriel said gently.
"No, it's alright," Tatsumi quickly assured her. Honestly, it was far more than he ever thought possible. His parents, and even Mira, were watching him? He didn't know what to feel. They were dead, gone, and he'd never see them again but… just knowing they were up there, happy, together, and looking over him. It filled him with such emotion he didn't know what to say.
So instead his eyes spoke for him.
Tatsumi briskly wiped the tears away. "Stupid eyes," Tatsumi muttered, his voice was so thick with emotion he barely recognized it.
"The tears are a symbol of how much you cared," Gabriel said gently, "here and now, they're not something to be ashamed of. Be proud of them and show your family how you're doing. Mira is quite curious as to what sort of mischief you've been up to since she passed on."
Oh god, when she says it like that! Argh! He felt like he was going to explode. If she was watching… she could hear him, right? There was so much he wanted to say.
Tatsumi turned his face up to the sky, his voice came out thick as he put all his heart and soul into his next few words.
"Mira… I'm sorry."
Gabriel bopped him on the head, driving him to his knees. "There's nothing to be sorry about, idiot!" His head snapped up to the Seraph as shock ripped through him like a thunder bolt. That wasn't Gabriel's voice! That had been Mira's! Even her eyes were different! No longer were they a piercing blue, but Mira's familiar brown. "You weren't too weak! I was too weak! Hit him once for me though!" She punched the air for emphasis.
Then the brown eyes faded back to blue and Mira was gone.
Tatsumi could only gape up at Gabriel. Had that really happened? Had he seen and spoken to his dead sister for a few brief moments? It had to be. Even Sona and Koneko were staring at Gabriel in shock, wonder even. They were both well aware of the magnitude of what just happened, and the hoops that Gabriel must have jumped through to allow it to happen.
"Was that really Mira?" Tatsumi asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Gabriel said softly, feigning ignorance. "You poor things, did you eat something bad this morning? Something that may have caused you to hear or see imaginary things?"
Oh, so that was the game we were playing. Tatsumi let out a little laugh and just shook his head as he got back to his feet. He'd let her have her way without a fuss. Just hearing her voice again after all these years… it was like a soothing balm on his soul.
"I'll hit him twice for you," Tatsumi promised.
Gabriel just smiled and laid a gentle hand back on his shoulder. "I think class will begin soon? There are those who are eager to see how your school life is progressing."
"Of course," Tatsumi said, smiling widely for the first time in a long time. He gave Sona and Koneko a little wave. "I should get to escorting… my guardian around." He probably shouldn't use her real name here at school.
"Of course, Tatsumi," Sona said quickly. "There won't be the usual lunch time chess match. Today is a special day as you know so we have events planned for lunch instead. It's why I made your lunches for you, something I know you'll be able to eat while still participating. I will also be very busy with Student Council duties. The influx of parents won't leave me much time to relax."
That made sense. Today was going to be a very busy day for her. Koneko might end up being a little lonely though. She didn't have any parents here either.
"Not only one without parents," Koneko said softly. "I'll be fine."
"One final thing," Gabriel said, she was looking at Sona now. "I'll be enrolling someone here at Kuoh Academy come the new term after the summer break."
Sona adjusted her glasses on her nose. "I see, and who might this be?"
"You've both already met her. Dear, young Xenovia Quarta. I've found myself in need of an assistant capable of doing tasks that would cause my other assistants to fall. I visited the Pope in person. He was quite willing to lend her to me indefinitely."
The sweat drop rolling down the back of Tatsumi's neck probably matched the size of the one rolling down Sona's. He could only begin to imagine how that encounter went. How would the Pope have reacted when the Gabriel, the messenger of God, personally visited him? He probably would have all but thrown Xenovia at her in his haste to comply with an order that most likely appeared as if it came straight from God himself.
Tatsumi wouldn't be surprised if Xenovia was nominated for Sainthood before the end of the year.
"I see… I'll keep that in mind," Sona said carefully. She was having as much difficult processing all the shocking turn of events as Tatsumi was.
"Thank you," Gabriel said kindly. She turned her smile on Tatsumi and gestured towards the school. "Shall we begin, Tatsumi? Mira really is quite interested in a tour of your school. She's really quite pushy."
Tatsumi laughed softly, that sounded like Mira alright.
~o~
It hadn't taken Tatsumi long to show Gabriel, and by proxy his family, around Kuoh Academy. While the place was certainly big, it was easy to navigate once you knew your way around, and one classroom was the same as all the others so he really had only needed to show them all the common areas such as the lobby, cafeteria, gymnasium, and the various club rooms.
Now he was in his class, sitting next to Ieyasu as usual. The first period had been rather boring, despite the teachers attempt to spruce things up for the sake of the parents watching in the back. Tatsumi was certain that a Seraph had better things to do than patiently watch over Tatsumi as he listened to the teacher drone on. The look on her face was strange though, patient and almost caring. Looking at her now he could actually believe she truly was an Angel.
Especially since she managed to ignore the perverted looks tossed her way with the patience of a saint. The male students and husbands alike couldn't keep their eyes off her, and by her Tatsumi meant her breasts.
Thankfully English decided it wanted to really change things up.
"Class 2-B is doing clay sculpting as well and we, as Class 2-A, won't fall behind them," the teacher said as he made his rounds handing out a lump of sculpting clay to each of the students. "Now, I'm not going to make a pretense that this has anything to do with English, but Class Visitation happens only once a year so let's make the most of it!"
Everyone cheered happily. Sculpting clay was far more entertaining than practicing English words over and over again.
As Tatsumi sat there thinking of what he wanted to try out, Ieyasu leaned over to him. "Yo man, I heard about your parents but that woman… is that your Sensei back there?" he whispered conspiratorially.
Tatsumi just nodded his head, "don't say anything."
"Trust me, I won't, if I go to heaven after I die I don't want you-know-who waiting to smite me."
"She wouldn't do that." Not to him anyways. She had no problem smiting Tatsumi when they trained.
Their teacher spoke up once more. "If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, just envision something important, a family member, a friend, a comrade, or perhaps even a place or pet. This is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Don't stress out about it."
Don't stress. When was the last time Tatsumi wasn't stressed? He couldn't remember. Tatsumi closed his eyes and breathed deeply, letting the tension drain from his body. Now that he was calm there were so many important things to him, most of what he'd lost. Mira and his parents. Sona and Bennia. Gabriel and Serafall, and others.
Even as his mind moved from memory to memory, person to person, his hands began to work the clay. Pulling, pinching, manipulating it this way and that. It was like they were being moved by some sort of divine hand. Tatsumi got lost in his memories as he let his hands mold the clay into that one, perfect, forgotten memory.
"Holy shit dude!" Ieyasu's surprise snapped Tatsumi out of his memories. "How did you make that?"
Tatsumi's opened his eyes and stared at what he had created. His hands had moved with a purpose he now understood. What he had on his desk before him wasn't Gabriel or Serafall. It wasn't Sona or Bennia or even his family.
It was Night Raid. The original Night Raid. Everyone was there. Tatsumi knelt in the center with Incursio planted into the ground. Bulat towered just behind him with Sheele beside his imposing figure. On either side of Tatsumi were Mine and Akame, both of them smiling widely as they leaned into him. Mine had Pumpkin raised to the sky while Akame had Murasame drawn. There was Chelsea, Lubbock, Susanoo, Leone and even Najenda. It was that picture perfect representation of Night Raid in its entirety.
"You're quite talented at this," the teacher said as he came up to Tatsumi's desk. "They look so realistic it feels like they could come to life at any moment."
"My, I didn't know you had such a skill, Tatsumi, you really shouldn't have kept something like that from us," Gabriel said as she stood behind him. Her eyes weren't on him though; she seemed to be memorizing every single detail of what he had sculpted.
"I'm just as surprised as you all are," Tatsumi said. He really was. His hands had just moved on their own, bringing back a long-forgotten memory, or memories really. Sheele and Bulat had both been killed before Chelsea and Susanoo had joined the main Night Raid team. "It brings back some very old memories…"
The words slipped from his lips before he could stop them. Ieyasu and the teacher gave him strange looks at that comment.
Gabriel just smiled.
~o~
The rest of the day passed uneventful. Each teacher tried to do something a little different from usual, something more exciting for the sake of the parents visiting for the day, something that would make the students actively participate instead of yawning their way through the classes like normal.
It did make them a little more interesting, but there weren't any further bouts of genius skill on Tatsumi's part.
Tatsumi felt exhausted as he stepped out of the last class of the day, chemistry. He hadn't done anything particularly intensive, but having one of the Great Seraphs judging your every action and knowing that your entire family was looking on as well was very stressful.
He wouldn't have traded it for anything else.
"So glad that's over," Ieyasu muttered, "can we go home now?"
"It wasn't that bad," Tatsumi said. He may be tired, but it was the good sort of tired. The type of tired he wished he had more of. He wasn't quite ready to part ways with his family just yet. "I could go for a few more hours."
"I couldn't," Ieyasu muttered as he shot an annoyed look at someone coming out of the class room.
Oh, Tatsumi could understand it from his perspective. Gabriel was a very attractive woman, probably more attractive than any woman most of these people had ever seen in their lives. Ieyasu's father has had his eyes glued to Gabriel's chest for the past five hours. He hadn't even noticed his son. The same could be said for every father that didn't have a wife there to jerk their eyes away.
Gabriel just accepted it all in stride and didn't even seem to notice. She simply stood at Tatsumi's side, that gentle, understanding smile ever present on her lips. Today it hit home that his Sensei, Gabriel, truly was an Angel. There wasn't a human woman alive that had the level of tolerance and patience she did.
Tatsumi didn't know any woman that wouldn't have turned around and decked Ieyasu's father by now.
"Hey Ieyasu! Tatsumi!" Sayo's voice echoed down the crowded hallway. The two of them looked up to see the girl rushing towards them with a smile on her face. "I'm so glad this is over! I can't believe Rias-senpai would actually let Issei-san touch her like that! You should have seen that sculpture he made of her!"
"Tatsumi isn't unskilled either," Ieyasu said, nudging him. Tatsumi pulled out his own sculpture, that of Night Raid.
"At least everyone there is clothed," Sayo murmured, "and it does look cool! Like a bunch of action figures posing together." She gave him a sly look. "Had to include yourself did you?"
"Well, you know, everyone wants to be a hero, right?" Tatsumi returned easily.
"But few actually become one like you have, Tatsumi," Sayo said, smiling happily. Tatsumi started in surprise, was that how she saw him? A hero? His words aside, he didn't really feel it. He just did what he had to, what he could, and sometimes that meant society was safer, and other times it meant super-powered Fallen Angels devastated entire neighbourhoods.
"Ah, you must be Sayo, one of Tatsumi's friends," Gabriel said softly.
Sayo started in surprise as if noticing Gabriel for the first time. A strange look came across her face until the cross she always wore beneath her Kuoh Academy uniform suddenly jumped. A look of understanding swept across her face and her eyes began to shine with pure adoration. She clasped her hands together and Tatsumi could almost hear a prayer being fired off inside her head.
Gabriel just winked at Sayo causing his friend to start vibrating with excitement. Tatsumi supposed being brought face to face with a major symbol and proof of your belief could do that to a person. "Tatsumi hasn't been causing you any trouble, has he?" Sayo asked eagerly.
"Of course not," Gabriel assured her, "Tatsumi has had a rough life recently. I am simply doing what I can to ease that pain and suffering."
Sayo nodded vigorously, eating up her words like they were taken from the bible. Considering who was speaking them, they probably held more meaning than anything taken from the bible.
"We should be going, Sayo, Ieyasu," Tatsumi said to his two friends. As much as he wanted this day to go on forever, he could only imagine the strain it was placing on Gabriel. "And don't tell anyone."
"But!" Sayo protested.
"Please?" Gabriel asked.
"Of course!" Sayo said, doing a complete turnaround in her view. "To the grave!" She grabbed Ieyasu and shook him roughly. "Promise as well!"
"Alright! Alright! I don't think anyone would believe me anyways," Ieyasu managed to get out while having his teeth rattled.
"Thank you," Gabriel said kindly as she turned her smile on Tatsumi. "Shall we head for the exit then?"
"Yes," Tatsumi agreed.
He waved farewell to Ieyasu and Sayo, Ieyasu had to kick his father in the shins to stop him from following Gabriel, before escorting the Seraph through the busy, crowded halls of Kuoh Academy. Kuoh Academy was always busy at this time of day, but the number of parents made it feel cramped. People did make way for them, although Tatsumi didn't know if it was so they could stop and stare at Gabriel, or because they were being kind.
"Sensei… thanks for what you did for Sayo back there," Tatsumi whispered quietly, certain she would hear him. "Although I thought you said you weren't able to visit the faithful on a whim."
Gabriel just smiled. "I'm not. I wasn't here to visit her. I was here to help you. She just so happened to be your friend and came to greet you. It would have been discourteous of me to ignore her."
"Another one of those loopholes?"
"There are always loopholes. Sometimes I think He left them there on purpose."
"Maybe he foresaw his own death and wanted his Angels to be able to grow and adapt to an ever-changing humanity without him here?" Tatsumi suggested off handed. It was several steps later when he realized Gabriel wasn't following him any longer. He stopped and glanced back at her. She was just standing there with a startled look on her face. "What?"
"It's… nothing," Gabriel said. She shook her head lightly and quickly caught up. "Just realizing that one can never be too old to learn something new."
Wasn't that obvious? You only stopped learning new things when you were dead. Until then, the universe would always make sure something new or interesting would find its way into your life. In Tatsumi's case it was usually accompanied by a lot of pain.
Tatsumi continued escorting Gabriel through the halls and eventually they made it back to the ground floor of the main lobby of the Academy, just in time for Tatsumi to get bowled over by a panicking Sona. Tatsumi had just enough time to wrap his arms around her protectively before they went tumbling to the ground.
"Whoa! What's wrong Sona?" Tatsumi asked as he stared at his girlfriend. Her face was beat red and there were tears coming from her eyes. This was not like her at all.
"Please! Tatsumi I have to go!" Sona said quickly as she struggled to her feet.
"Soooonnaaaa-chan!" Serafall's cutesy voice echoed through the halls of Kuoh Academy and around the corner Tatsumi saw the pink whirlwind of magical girl and sparkles come charging towards her. In one hand she had her magical star wand and in the other an identical outfit to the one she wore, only this one was a pale blue.
Now Tatsumi understood. Serafall was terrorizing her sister, again. It wasn't so bad at home, there wasn't anyone to see it there so Sona could tolerate it to some degree. But here at school? It would be unbearable for Sona. Tatsumi quickly stood up and hid Sona behind him. She was only all too willing to hide behind his back, a testament to the torment her sister had put her through over the course of the day.
"Oh my, it seems Serafall is up to her usual childish antics," Gabriel said softly. Her voice felt as kind and gentle as ever, but the words held a sharp edge to them.
It brought the powerful magical girl skidding to a halt just short of them. "Does Gaby-tan want an outfit as well?" Serafall asked all cutesy. She pulled out an identical yellow one from seemingly nowhere. "I can arrange to have her changed right here!"
"Please don't blow up the school," Tatsumi pleaded.
"We would never do that," Gabriel assured him. "There are no issues between us you need to worry about, Tatsumi." Gabriel said as she picked Sona up off the ground. Serafall looked as if she was about to kick down the gates of Heaven themselves until Gabriel handed a horrified Sona to her. Then she was all smiles. Sona let out a horrified shout as her sister glomped her tightly. "I am simply here to support you Tatsumi, as I am sure Serafall is here to do the same for her sister."
"Sona-chan would make a great magical girl!" Serafall declared happily.
"Onee-sama! No! I can't do my job as the Student Council President if you—"
"A magical girl can do anything!" Serafall cut her off and started dragging the hapless Sona away.
Tatsumi just gave Sona an apologetic smile. Sorry Sona, but he wasn't getting between Gabriel and Serafall. There may be problems with his life right then, but he wasn't making Serafall and Gabriel one of them. He had to admit that he did want to see what Sona looked like dressed in the same outfit that Serafall was.
"You'll take pictures?" Tatsumi called after them.
The look of utter betrayal on Sona's face was priceless. Her sister whirled around and gave him a huge smile. "Lots of pictures! I'll share them with you afterwards Tatsumi-chan!"
"Oh, and Serafall." The smile cracked as Serafall turned to regard Gabriel. "I have everything I need now. You need to make your final preparations."
"I will!" Serafall said. She waved cheerfully to Tatsumi before disappearing around the corner with her sister. The last look Tatsumi saw on Sona's face looked more fitting on someone headed for death row.
"What was that all about?" Tatsumi asked his sensei as the two of them continued their way out of the school. "Are you two going somewhere?" It seemed like a very bad idea to Tatsumi. He didn't know exactly what it was the two had going on between them, but it didn't seem particularly healthy for anyone who was nearby.
"I need a moment," Gabriel said as they stepped outside. Her eyes closed and for a few seconds Tatsumi thought he could see her glow. When she opened her eyes again she felt different than before. "They're gone now. I had to send your family back. Truthfully I held them on longer than I really should have."
"Oh." His family was gone again. Tatsumi gazed up at the sky, staring into the heavens. He yearned to have them back. "It was nice knowing they were there watching and that they're happy together in Heaven." He was grateful for what she did. How many people could say they were able to hear their deceased loved ones, or know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were looking down upon them? It was a gift for which no price could be placed. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome Tatsumi," Gabriel said quietly. She gave him a small smile. "As for your earlier question… I can't go into specifics but our training is going to be put on hold for a short while," Gabriel said quietly. "Serafall and I have somewhere we need to be. Take care while we're gone Tatsumi and be careful where you tread. There won't be anyone to save you if you get in over your head."
Tatsumi wanted to say that they hadn't really been there to save him but that wasn't completely true. They'd killed Kokabiel so the Fallen Angel couldn't finish what he started and Tatsumi was now certain it was Serafall that had chased away Esdeath that second time.
"I'll try not to. It shouldn't be too hard. There haven't been any requests for Night Raid's services recently." It was very possible that the Devils and Fallen Angels were simply wary of starting anything in the vicinity. From what Tatsumi had heard from Sona, Serafall and Gabriel had obliterated Kokabiel rather brutally and in full view of a great number of powerful individuals from all three factions. "I might have to start expanding our range of influence."
"If I were you, Tatsumi, I would hold off until we return." It looked like she was hiding something from him, and on purpose to. Like she had a gift she wanted to get him before he did anything.
"I can do that," Tatsumi agreed. He still didn't have any means of reliably getting anywhere quickly if it wasn't Kuoh City, although the Shroud of Longinus did make things a bit easier. "I can't promise I won't do anything though. If a devil or fallen angel starts causing trouble I'm not just going to sit back and let it happen."
"That will be enough," Gabriel assured him. "This place will be quiet for at least the next few weeks, I can assure you of that. And any trouble that does arise will be resolved long before you're ever aware of it."
The way she put that made it seem like there was some sort of security being temporarily put in place around the area. But what was the reason? Unfortunately, if she hadn't told him outright what it was, she probably wouldn't tell him if he asked.
"Trying to put me out of business?" Tatsumi asked instead.
"That should be your goal, Tatsumi. You should be trying to put yourself out of business. That would mean you've succeeded in the goal you've set out for yourself." They stopped as they left the school premise and stepped out onto the street. "This is where we need to part ways, Tatsumi, but try to stay positive. Things will get better."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Tatsumi said blandly. Every time something seemed to go his way, life slapped him in the face. Still, these past few days had been nice, even if the death of his parents still hung across them like a pallid malaise.
Gabriel gave him one last encouraging smile before she departed, heading back to towards her Sanctuary. Tatsumi did the same, heading in a different direction towards Sona's estate.
He felt cold and empty on the way back. Gabriel's very presence had been enough to warm his heart. This day had ended up being a wonderful experience, a taste of what he had lost, of what life had taken from him.
Tatsumi stared at his hands sadly. "I've fallen pretty far, haven't I? How much more will life take from me before it's satisfied?"
~o~
Tatsumi found himself in an odd state as he entered his room at Sona's estate, a place he rarely used and never actually slept in since Sona always insisted that he sleep with her. It was a strange state, a feeling he hadn't had in forever.
He was bored.
Now, for the first time since arriving here in this new world he found himself without anything to do. He'd done his training and exercises for the day. There were no club activities to do on account of Class Visitation, Sensei was gone somewhere with Serafall, and there wasn't anything to do related to Night Raid since everything was so quiet.
With nothing to do Tatsumi actually found himself sitting across his bed with his back to the wall as he watched TV of all things! Tatsumi hadn't watched TV since he was just a baby when his parents had insisted he sit with them. The TV flipped on to TIN, Tokyo International News, a channel that focused on world news and reported it in Japanese either with subtitles or a voice over.
Tatsumi was about to change it when he realized what it was reporting on.
"…came down from the ceiling through some divine symbol!" a young Italian woman was shouting excitedly. She was holding her silver cross tightly in one hand. "It was her! The Great Seraph, Gabriel! Oh she looked even more divine that I could have imagined! If Gabriel is real! God is real! Our faith will be rewarded!"
"Are you sure?" A reporter, an Japanese male asked, "it seems a little far fetched that the Messenger of a fictional being would just appear in St. Peter's Basilica during a mass. Where have they been all this time?"
Wait, Gabriel had showed up during a mass?! Tatsumi just boggled at the implications of that! There had to be rules against that or something! Wasn't there? Tatsumi honestly didn't know. Every time he turned around Gabriel was exploiting this or that loophole. It was like she was stretching the very limits of what she was, and wasn't, allowed to do!
Another person quickly jumped in, a male this time, "Are you daft man!? How can you not believe! Those twelve wings sprouting from her back! That gentle voice! That warm, soothing presence! Those enormous tits!" Tatsumi deadpanned. He was certain now. It was definitely Gabriel they were talking about. "It had to be her!" There were dozens of others around them shouting their agreement, especially the tits part.
How typical of this world.
"It could be a mass hallucination," the reporter suggested, still sounding dubious. Tatsumi would have been skeptical as well if he didn't know the truth. "Or maybe a trick? They sell white wings just down the street at a cosplay shop. A nice dress, a wire contraption and some wings and you could fool—"
"Are you crazy?!" the first female shouted at the reporter. "You dare doubt the existence of God with such proof in front of you?!"
"But there aren't any pictures or videos of her appearing!"
"That's just more proof!" A second woman shouted excitedly. "All the electronics in the room just shut down! Phones, cameras, everything! She obviously only wanted to reveal herself to us true believers!"
"Death to the non-believers!" a shout picked up in the distance. That shout was quickly picked up by the crowd. "Death! Death! Death!"
Tatsumi started to sweat bullets and he wasn't even there. The reporter, sensing that the crowd was about to turn on him, quickly started running in the opposite direction. The camera man was quick to follow, the camera bouncing with every step. Bottles and rocks started bouncing off the ground all around them.
That was probably why the Seraphs don't normally reveal themselves… "I guess I'm not the only one that screws up." That could end up being bad. Any atheist in or around Vatican City had best be somewhere else for a while.
The feed cut and he was staring at an anxious Japanese woman sitting behind a crescent shaped desk. A news room. "We have lost video feed with our reporter on scene," the woman said nervously. She swallowed hard before continuing, her nervousness beading on her forehead. "We're going to do our best to get them out of there safely." A hand came in from off camera and slid a piece of paper across the top of the desk. The news anchor pulled the page before her and read it. "While the truth is still being determined as to whether or not it truly was the Great Seraph, Gabriel, that visited the Pope at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, there is no doubt that something happened there. Devoted Catholics and Christians from across the world are making pilgrimages to Vatican City to bask in what is being declared the most holy of holy Churches in the world." She cleared her throat and an image appeared on the screen in the top right corner. It was a picture of Xenovia looking demure in the same holy robes Tatsumi had seen her wearing when they'd first met. "What is also know is that this woman you're seeing here, Quarta Xenovia, has been hand picked by this Gabriel to serve and attend to her. Information about her is sparse at the moment, but rest assured we'll inform our viewers whenever more becomes available."
"Gabriel… I think you just turned the world upside down." What possible loophole could she have used to allow her to visit the Pope of all people, and in public during such an event?
"...only makes sense that she exists." Tatsumi blinked when he realized the scene had changed and there were several people debating. "We've seen proof here in Japan that Fallen Angels exist. Everyone has seen videos of that Esdeath with her black wings fighting Nakimori Tatsumi above Kuoh City. There are far too many eye witnesses and that battle was caught on camera, multiple cameras in fact. We can deduce from that event that Fallen Angels indeed exist. If Fallen Angels exist, then so do Angels. After all, they have to come from somewhere, right?"
Tatsumi changed the channel, he really didn't want to hear any more on that. It was strange that no one had bothered to interview him about that incident. Journalists were usually the first ones on the scene to get the information. He wasn't complaining by any means, but it made him wonder if there was some sort of power out there dissuading them from thrusting their nose into his life.
Before he could find some decent to watch he heard thumping echoing through the house. It was rapidly approaching his room and Tatsumi braced himself for whoever it was. He didn't expect to see Sona burst through the door, panting and out of breath.
Her face was a mixture of outrage and embarrassment and it didn't take a genius to figure out why. Serafall really had changed her into a magical girl. She wore an identical version of Serafall's magical girl costume, albeit this one was a pale blue. It was even complete with its own matching magical wand. For some reason she had a death grip on her magical wand.
He turned the TV off and gave Sona a smile. "I take it your sister finally let you go?" Tatsumi asked as he admired Sona. She looked really good in that outfit, better than he would have thought.
Sona's face flamed with embarrassment. "Not before she put me on display in front of Rias, Sirzechs-sama, my entire peerage, Rias' entire peerage and half the school! I've never been so mortified in my life!"
"That's unfortunate," Tatsumi said sympathetically, "I wanted to help, really, but if I tried I risked being dressed up myself."
Her eyes flared dangerously. "You suggested she take pictures!"
So she hadn't forgotten about that comment. "We both know she'd have taken them anyways."
Sona blew out a long sigh. "You're probably right." She made her way over to his side and held out the wand. "Take it."
He tilted his head. "Why? Just drop it."
"I can't!" Sona hissed. "Onee-sama enchanted everything! I can't take any of it off, you have to do it!"
Tatsumi blinked. Seriously? He let out a little laugh causing Sona to glare at him. "Alright, alright." The long metal wand glowed with a blue light the moment he touched it. With an audible sigh of relief Sona dropped it to the floor with a clank. "Want me to help you with the rest of it?" He asked, gesturing to her outfit.
"That would be nice, yes," Sona said.
He chuckled as he got to work removing Sona's magical girl outfit. Like they staff each piece glowed when he touched it, allowing for them to be removed. Sona couldn't be rid of them too quickly and all but tore them from her body the moment they stopped glowing.
After helping Sona out of the embarrassing attire, Tatsumi settled back down on the bed like before. Instead of leaving Sona joined him, nestling comfortable against his chest as she stretched out between his legs.
"Not getting dressed?" Tatsumi asked. He didn't mind having a panty clad Sona cling to him.
"In a bit," Sona said as she wrapped her arms around his chest. "Today was a nightmare. Right now I don't want to do anything." She cracked an eye open and glanced at the TV. "I didn't take you as someone to watch TV."
Tatsumi shrugged and pulled Sona tight against his chest. "For the first time in years I actually have time to sit back and do nothing. I figured I'd see what's happening in the news."
Sona closed her eyes and buried her face into his neck. "Anything interesting?"
"Not much… you know that Gabriel paid the Pope a visit. Apparently she did it in St. Peter's Basilica, during mass"
Sona was silent for a time. "How did that go?"
"Probably about as well as you suspect," Tatsumi said. Sona was smart enough to understand the implications of that encounter. "People are going crazy over there. Not a good time to be an atheist."
"Shouldn't there be rules against that?"
"And who's going to tell her no?" Tatsumi asked. "God's dead after all."
He felt Sona grow still between his arms. When she tilted her head to look up at him he saw a look of disbelief in her eyes. "He's what?!"
Tatsumi blinked. "Erm… you didn't know?" She shook her head. Really? Tatsumi would have thought it was common knowledge. Why would they keep it from the younger generations though? Shouldn't that be a badge of honor for them to be proud of? "Um… oops? Forget I said that."
Her face went deadpan. "Tatsumi… if you killed God…"
"You seriously think I'm capable of that?!" Tatsumi gaped at her.
"With you I'm willing to believe just about anything."
"I had nothing to do with this!" Tatsumi quickly assured her. "He died at the end of the Great War. It was one of the reasons the Angels were so willing to adopt that uneasy truce they have now." There was a little smile on Sona's lips. Tatsumi realized that she'd just been playing with him the entire. "You're not funny."
"I enjoyed it," Sona said as she closed her eyes and nestled her face into the crook of his neck once more.
Tatsumi just let her have that little victory. Serafall really had done a number to her sister today. Sona was normally uptight but right now she was so wound up it felt like she was about to pop. Her flustered entrance aside, Tatsumi could feel it in the muscles of her back. He dug his fingers into her back, doing what he could to ease her muscles.
It was an impromptu massage, and one that Tatsumi was certain would fail to pass any standard it was put up against. It was enough for Sona, as she let out soft, pleasant noises each time he worked out a knot in her muscles.
An hour later Tatsumi silently made his way from the room, leaving behind a much more relaxed Sona sleeping softly atop the covers of his bed. She had a really squishy body when her muscles weren't pulled taut from overuse or stress. He wanted to join her but he wasn't tired yet. Today had been the most relaxing day he'd ever had in a long time, for Sona it had been the exact opposite.
He was surprised to find Bennia waiting for him outside.
"You could have come in," Tatsumi whispered quietly as he headed for the kitchen.
Bennia tossed a quick look at the door to his room before she quickly caught up. ((Even I could see how stressed out she was. She needed that.))
"Any news?" Tatsumi found he didn't really like being bored. "Things can't be this quiet."
((They are)) Bennia said, sounding as surprised as Tatsumi felt. ((But there is one thing.))
"Which is?"
Bennia pulled out her phone and handed it to him. ((Check the most recent pictures. I had a job to spy on the Phenex's for Hades and saw someone I recognized on my way over there. At least I think I recognize her. You spent more time with her than I did. You'd know better.))
"Why were you spying on the Phenexs?" Tatsumi asked as he unlocked the phone.
((They know I'm spying. I actually just ate lunch with Ravel and her parents. They fed me some information to feed Hades and I fed them information about Hades and that part of the Underworld. Hades is happy, Lord Phenex is happy, my stomach is happy, everyone is happy. I like this arrangement.))
Tatsumi just gave Bennia a long look. She was like a triple agent or something. A spy spying on their spy master for the target of their spying. "Just don't get in trouble. I don't want to lose you too."
((You won't!)) Bennia said happily. ((I think Hades knows that they know. It's all just a game they're playing. I'm probably just there to let Lord Phenex know that Hades is watching. I'm probably being spied on as well, and so is the spy spying on me.))
That seemed needlessly complicated. "I thought you took dead souls to heaven."
((I do! But there are lots of Grim Reapers and there aren't always enough souls to go around.)) She poked his shoulder. ((Check the picture I took))
Tatsumi did just that, opening up the picture folder. He stopped in his tracks the moment he saw who Bennia was referring to. "It can't be…" he trailed off, not finishing that thought. He was wrong, it very well could be. He didn't want to consider the possibility, but it was there. In fact, the more he thought about it the more plausible it became.
((Is it really her?)) Bennia asked.
'Her' was a girl Tatsumi's age with shoulder length black hair and deep brown eyes. She wore steel reinforced black leather boots that came up to her knees and wore a stretchy latex body suit similar in style to what Irina and Xenovia wore. However, over that bodysuit she had a decorative silver breastplate that seemed to emphasis her bosom, which Tatsumi guessed to be about the same size as Xenovia's. A pair of elbow length black gloves covered her arms along with a pair of steel vambraces over her forearms. Belted to her side was a katana the same length as a shinai.
Despite the longer hair and the breasts she didn't have last time he'd seen her, there was no doubt in Tatsumi's mind who he was looking at. The face, while a bit more mature, was the same. Then there were the eyes. That was what truly convinced Tatsumi. He could never forget them. He had stared into them more times than he could count. That strong, determined look wasn't something he'd ever mistake.
"It is her but… the last time I saw her, she was male."
((I knew it! I was confused at first because she was definitely as flat as me the last time I saw her.))
Tatsumi became grim. "I don't know how it happened, or why, but I intend to find out."
There was no one else it could be. It was the first real friend he had outside of Bennia. The one that had kept pace with him in Kendo throughout the years, the one he had faced in the finals on that fateful day he had lost his sister.
It was his best friend, Hikaru…
And she was a devil.
Author's Note: What did you think of the chapter? Leave a review and let me know.
Note on Hikaru: You didn't actually think I'd introduce and develop someone as much as I did with Hikaru in the first chapter just to toss them away? Mira may have been killed, but she's played a significant role ever after. Hikaru is going to do the same. This is something that's been planned from the very start, before I ever started writing. It's why I choose a gender-neutral name for him/her.
Note on Gabriel: As you can see, she kept her promise to Tatsumi. She's making for the mistake she made earlier with Kokabiel and she's not done yet.