Author's Note: I've heard a few comments about Sona not getting enough screen time. This is actually true of every character, save Bennia. Highschool DxD has a LOT of characters, even more when you throw in a second Universe. It's even further compounded by Sona not being a part of Night Raid. Sona does show in the future, and there will be more interactions between her and Tatsumi. I can assure you of that. However, she, like everyone except possibly Bennia, will have periods where several chapters will go without any mention of them at all.
Chapter 24: A Tearful Reunion
((I really think you should wear something a bit fancier)) Bennia said as Tatsumi eyed him up and down.
Tatsumi just rolled his eyes. This was like the third time she had brought it up, in the past ten minutes. "There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing."
It had been awhile since he'd worn something like this. Not since he swore that oath back to Mine in the old world. A nice, beige colored sweater vest over a black t-shirt and black pants. The coat and combat boots he had worn with this outfit would be left behind. Aside from the strange looks he knew the coat would bring, it was way too hot to wear it. The white sneakers he wore were simply much more comfortable than the boots.
((You're going on a date! You need to look sharp and respectable!)) Tatsumi bonked Bennia on the head. ((Ow! What was that for?)) She cried as she held her head like he'd actually hurt her.
"It's not a date, I'm just showing Hikaru around Kuoh City," Tatsumi said as he picked up the short blade that had once served as Incursio's key. He threw the sheathed blade around his shoulders. "If Hikaru is going to be living here city then she needs to know where everything is. I even intend on popping by the school at afterwards to show her around."
He had a little surprise planned for Hikaru at the school. One he was certain she was going to like… or at least she'd like it after she got over hating him for doing it to her.
((You're even taking your sword! How unromantic are you trying to be?!))
Tatsumi rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to be romantic. I can't summon Murasame anymore so I take this big knife wherever I go," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the hilt. "No one is even going to give it a second glance. Everyone knows who I am and what I do."
Bennia flopped over and let out a long groan. ((Tatsumi… are you deliberately trying to deprive me of my moresome?))
Tatsumi just sighed. "I'm not trying to add to my harem, Bennia." He appreciated a nice, healthy set of breasts, but burying his face in every single pair wasn't an all-consuming goal for him like it was for Issei. "There needs to be that emotional connection."
She stared at him looking utterly bewildered for a few good solid seconds before she finally managed to find her voice. ((How can you say that after everything that's happened recently?)) she let out a pitiful sob. ((Now I know you're doing this just to spite me! Just go enjoy your date and I swear if you even try to turn her down when she starts ripping your clothes off, I'll tie you to the bed and rip them off myself!))
He rolled his eyes. Bennia was being dramatic again. He had little to worry about. Hikaru wasn't a nymphomaniac like Bennia was.
A loud knock on the door pulled his attention away from her. That was probably Hikaru letting him know she was ready. He had intended to meet her at her room but Bennia had kept him overly long.
"That won't happen, we're just friends," Tatsumi assured her. He grabbed the door and opened it. "That's all—" the words died in his throat.
Hikaru stood before him wearing something he'd never seen on her, a gorgeous dress. The sleeveless dress hugged her body almost like a second skin, flaring out only slightly as it went past her hips and ended just above her knees. The neck was a deep V, cut low past her breasts, exposing the gentle valley of her breasts. The shimmering fabric looked so soft he just wanted to reach out and touch it, and her. She hadn't done much with her hair, honestly Tatsumi didn't think it needed anything, but she had applied just a touch of makeup to her face, accentuating her already beautiful features.
Bennia sidled up next to him and snickered behind her hand. ((Right, friends… I bet that status lasts until she brings you home tonight.))
Tatsumi coughed and roughly cleared his throat. "Just ignore Bennia, Hikaru, she can be—"
"Whatever happens, happens," Hikaru interrupted him quietly. Tatsumi felt his pants grow a little tighter as the room grew hotter. She probably just misheard Bennia or something. That had to be it. Her eyes flickered to his shoulder left shoulder. "We're taking our swords with us?"
"Ah, always need to be prepared?" Tatsumi said lamely.
She let out a sigh of relief. "That's good, I wasn't sure," she reached to the side and pulled into view her katana. She had the sheathed blade attached to a long, thin black string that she pulled over her shoulder much like Tatsumi had his.
((You as well?!)) Bennia boggled at Hikaru. ((You two are seriously perfect for each other!))
Hikaru flushed lightly, "I will take that as a compliment."
Maybe he should have worn something a little nicer, if only so that Hikaru didn't look like she was escorting a bum. "Sorry about the clothes, I thought we were doing casual."
((I told you so! You should have dressed better!))
"It's fine, I would have dressed casually if I had anything casual to wear," Hikaru said softly. "I either have my battle clothes, or the extravagant dresses Gregorious bought for me. Perhaps we could stop at a place and pick up something a bit more casual?"
"We can do that," Tatsumi said, relieved that something normal happened.
((That means bras and undies too Tatsumi! And she'll need you to give your opinion on them as well!))
"I—"
"Hmm, I hadn't thought of that, but that is a good idea," Hikaru said. "I haven't had time to catch up on current fashions." She bowed low, nearly exposing her breasts to him. "I will be counting on you Tatsumi-san."
"Ah, right…" There was absolutely no way he could refuse her now. The phone in his pocket vibrated. He pulled it out and checked the notification. Their ride was ready. He quickly stepped out of the room and gently pushed Hikaru on ahead down the hallway. "Shall we get going? Tirade has finished preparing our ride." The sooner they left the sooner they could be away from Bennia and her ideas.
((Maybe you could go to the—))
"You've helped us quite enough, thank you Bennia," Tatsumi called back over his shoulder. He picked up the pace. Hikaru quirked an eyebrow at him and let out a little laugh as she let him usher her through the estate and out the front doors.
There was a short limousine, the color of night, waiting for them outside, the windows tinted black for privacy. The back door was open and Tirade stood beside it, immaculately dressed as always in his black butler outfit, awaiting their arrival. He would be their chauffer for the day which saved them a lot of headaches. Tatsumi hadn't even known he had a driver's license, let alone the permit required to drive a limo, until this morning.
He hadn't even known they'd owned a limo before today. It had apparently been stored in the back of the underground garage that Tatsumi had little reason to ever visit.
The limousine was opulent, way beyond anything Tatsumi had any experience with. Cream colored leather seats, a TV embedded into the wall separating the driver from the passengers and a small little bar fridge just beneath it. Atop the fridge was a small basin with several glasses firmly secured. There were a pair of extra seats on either side of the TV facing the back that could be folded down to accommodate a couple extra individuals.
"You really have moved up in the world," Hikaru murmured as Tatsumi settled beside her on the back seat. Her eyes were darting all over the interior of the limousine, picking up all the details.
He really couldn't refute her, what with this, the estate and everything else. "It's been an interesting ride, that's for sure."
Bennia floated up to the side of the car and pouted. ((How come we never go out on any dates?))
"You don't have the patience for it, you just want the intimacy," Tatsumi pointed out.
It just felt odd as well. He and Bennia were beyond that point, or at least that's the way it felt like to him. Going out on a date now just seemed like a cheap, superficial way of acknowledging what the two of them already knew. If she liked to eat at a nice restaurant and then take a long, relaxing stroll along a beach, that'd be one thing, but Tatsumi knew, after being by her side for the past thirteen years, that'd she'd much rather just laze about at home while Tatsumi… pampered her in various ways.
About the only part of a date she had any interest in was the food, and they ate out plenty as it was.
Bennia paused, her mouth half open to protest. ((You know, you're probably right. Why go through all that hassle when I can just skip all the boring stuff and get right to sucking your d—)) Tatsumi slammed the door shut, muffling whatever else Bennia had been about to say.
"She's quite the interesting Grim Reaper," Hikaru said as she stared at the closed door. "I've met a few in the past three years but they've all been dour, grim and boring. She's the complete opposite."
"That she is, and I'm glad she is," Tatsumi said honestly. Hikaru made all Grim Reapers sound like Akame, which was bad because Tatsumi didn't like seeing Akame the way she was now.
The limousine shifted and a moment later a voice came over the speaker. "Where to first, Tatsumi-sama?"
Tatsumi leaned forward and pressed what looked like the intercom button to reply. "Let's find a nice place to eat."
"Very good, I know just the place."
~o~
Soft grunts of exertion echoed quietly through the training room beneath Night Raid's base of operations. It wasn't unusual for someone to use it, as new as the room was it was already starting to bear the scars of training and battle. What was unusual was its current occupant.
A small, blue-haired Grim Reaper whirled about in mid-air, lashing out with her foot at an enemy of her mind's creation. She continued her spin around, bringing her enormous scythe down upon the mental image of her foe, cutting it in half. She landed without a sound, spinning on the ball of her left foot. More mental enemies came to mind and her scythe whipped out creating a cyclone of steel, a tendril of darkness, death incarnate, trailed behind the tip of her scythe.
With the enemies dispatched she stood and threw a quick glance over at what appeared to be a hole in the fabric of space time, hanging in the air nearby. All pantheons had a means of looking down upon humankind without being seen, the Eye of God was merely the way the Angels did it. That hole was how the Greeks did it, how Hades did it, and how all Grim Reapers that were sufficiently powerful enough did it.
How it was created was irrelevant, magic was the common response given. What mattered was that it was a one-way mirror that displayed any place in the world. It could be stationary, or attached to something.
Bennia had it attached to the man she loved. Hikaru and Tatsumi were even then exiting from the limousine to go eat at a very nice restaurant.
She'd loved to have gone and watched Tatsumi in person, possibly even from the dining room floor since she did want to sample the food there. Unfortunately, Tatsumi was too observant for her to follow that closely and she didn't want to ruin his date with Hikaru. It was a date, no matter what Tatsumi thought. She wanted that to go well. Not only was Hikaru powerful, and Tatsumi needed powerful people around him now more than ever, but she was pretty as well. She was very serious about tying him up if he pushed Hikaru away. Bennia didn't want her and Tatsumi hook up just for his sake.
Being bisexual was something Bennia very much enjoyed.
All that aside though, the most important reason was Ophis. Why was it on the move? It didn't make any sense. There should have been no reason to attack Hades and the Grim Reapers, and yet it had. Until Bennia knew exactly why Ophis was getting its hands dirty, she was going to heed her father's advice and watch over Tatsumi.
Not that she hadn't planned on watching over him in the first place. There was just a bit more urgency to it now.
She returned to her training, jumping, dodging, flying, and whipping about the training room fighting off imaginary monsters and entities. If Ophis appeared, Bennia had no illusions about whether she'd live or not, but if she was a little bit stronger, a little bit faster, perhaps she could buy Tatsumi the time he needed to survive.
Another spinning flip, her scythe buzzed through the air like a saw. She landed on her feet, softly, silently, and brought her scythe to a halt, the tip hovering a hair's breath above the tile floor.
There were other reasons to train hard. Other threats that weren't Ophis that could threaten Tatsumi in the future.
A deep frown furrowed Bennia's face as one particular individual came to mind. The next time Esdeath showed up, Bennia wasn't going to pretend to be a weak middle-class Grim Reaper.
Her eyes flickered over to the hole in the air. Tatsumi and Hikaru were seated now, appetizers had arrived as well. They both seemed to be enjoying themselves, probably catching up on old times. That brought a smile to her face. At least that was going well.
Her gaze shifted back to her scythe but before she could begin another round a familiar presence made itself known, slowly descending from a set of invisible stairs. No, not just one. Two. There was a second divine being, this one much weaker, following closely behind.
"I am surprised to see you so enthusiastic about training," Gabriel said as she stepped off the stairway to heaven. A few moments later her apprentice, Xenovia, became visible as well.
Bennia ignored the jab at her laziness and fired back a quick grin. ((Tatsumi likes sweaty women. I intend to be very sweaty for him when he comes home!))
"Oh my, really? I didn't know Tatsumi had such crass tastes," Gabriel said, sounding surprised. "That's not good for him, or for you! You should make sure to wash up first."
Bennia stared at Gabriel suspiciously. Was she feeling alright? She was playing the part of the naïve… oh, right, Xenovia was here. That was why Gabriel was playing the part of the 'perfect' Messenger of God. Innocence, playfulness, wholesome light and all that.
She'd still be her usual self, she'd just hide the barbs beneath the mountain of sugar she'd pile on each word.
((Maybe I will!)) Bennia said cheerfully. ((With luck I can pull Hikaru into the bath with Tatsumi and I! That promises to be lots of fun.))
She watched as Gabriel's eyes flickered to the hole in the air. A frown marred the Seraph's face for the briefest of moments before she was all smiles again. Whoops. Bennia had forgotten to close that when Gabriel arrived—
Oh what did it matter anymore? Hades was dead. Her mission for him, which she never really had any intention to fulfill, was over. There wasn't any further reason to hide what she was. It didn't matter if Gabriel found out Bennia could create a rift in time-space that only Greek Gods and Goddesses were capable of forming.
"My, are we spying on Tatsumi?" Gabriel asked mildly. "Does he know?"
((Need to make sure Hikaru and Tatsumi don't have any sexy time without me!)) That actually was a reason why she was spying on them, even if it wasn't the most important one. ((So why are you here? Tatsumi isn't here and it's strange for you to be about the mortal world without a reason.)) The sooner she was gone, the sooner Bennia could get back to training.
"Oh yes!" Gabriel gasped loudly as if suddenly remembering why she had come down. Bennia didn't believe her for a second. "I was just bringing Xenovia home and found a strange miracle occurring here. It was so abnormal I completely lost myself! My apologies!"
Yup, the barbs were still there. Bennia could do the same. Xenovia looked positively demure beside Gabriel, like she had attained an inner peace as an Angel she never could as a human. Just looking at her set Bennia's teeth on edge.
Bennia gave Xenovia a toothy smile. ((Oh! You're an angel now? Congratulations.))
Xenovia glanced over at Gabriel who simply smiled and nodded. "Thank you." She threw her cloak off and clasped her hands together before her. A bright pink symbol of a Queen shone through her gloved hand. Golden light spun above her head, forming a halo even as two pairs of wings, white as freshly fallen snow, erupted from her back.
"I am Gabriel's Queen," Xenovia said warmly, joy radiated from her voice. "I will give my all in serving her."
Bennia's toothy smile became a wicked grin. ((Oh, also, congrats on remaining celibate for the rest of eternity!))
Xenovia's demure, inner peace fractured and for the briefest of instants her wings flickered to black. Whoops, looks like that inner peace of hers didn't go very far beneath the surface. There truly was a sexual deviant buried beneath all that light and prayer. Bennia didn't have any intention of pushing it any further though, no need to give Azazel more girls.
And from the look on Gabriel's face, Xenovia's façade wasn't the only thing that fractured. Gabriel's smile was the same as always but the look in her eyes had become just a tad bit dangerous. Perhaps making her newly raised angel fall the day after she was raised wasn't such a great idea.
((You started it)) Bennia said lamely.
"Start it? Whatever could you mean?" Gabriel asked lightly, too lightly. "Xenovia, dear, would you mind sparring with Bennia here? She does seem to be in the mood for some training."
"I would be honored, Lady Gabriel," Xenovia said as she held her hand out to the side. A large blue sword with a golden edge erupted from a series of golden symbols. She grabbed the hilt of Durandal and the chains that bound its power shattered, allowing her to whip it out and hold it out in front. "It will give me the chance to test my strength."
Bennia felt her brow twitch in irritation. Was Gabriel seriously going to have Xenovia spar with her? Didn't she know what Bennia was capable of now from their spar just recently? She'd seen what Xenovia could do out there during the peace conference. She was so far beneath her it wasn't even funny.
She gave Gabriel the best smile she could, which wasn't very much. ((I think you're going senile if you think Xenovia can beat me.))
"She may surprise you," Gabriel said as she took a few steps back to give the two of them room. "She took very well to being raised."
Her brow twitched again, more violently this time and with it her emotions started to churn.
This was not what she wanted to be doing right now. She wanted to be left alone, not dealing with all this!
It was too much. Everyone had a limit.
Anger and worry bubbled up inside her, mixing together, creating a storm of unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings inside her. Anger at Gabriel and her hubris in her charge. Worry over Tatsumi's future. Anger at her father for screwing up her reincarnation. Worry over what Ophis being on the move meant, and whom she would kill next.
And so much more.
There was no outlet for it. Champ hadn't been satisfying enough to relieve any of it and she didn't want to burden Tatsumi with it. It was tearing her up inside.
"If you're not going to attack than I will!" Xenovia shouted aloud, falsely assuming Bennia's inattentiveness was something she could exploit. Bennia just stared as Xenovia barreled towards her, Durandal stretched out like a spear. Her movements were so pitiful it was like watching someone moving in slow motion. Xenovia had strength in her arms and the power of Durandal… but absolutely no ability to bring any of that strength to bear. Right, left, up, down, there were countless openings from every direction. Xenovia had absolutely no technique!
This was what Gabriel thought would serve as a decent training partner? This is what Bennia's time was being wasted with?
Bennia snapped.
Gabriel must have noticed something was wrong because in that single moment she made to stop the battle.
It was far too late.
Her epithet surged from deep with, a power she hadn't used in over seventeen years. A power she had hoped she could live this entire life without using. Life was never that easy. An instant before Durandal struck a black wall of negative energy sprang up between the two of them. A sound like lightning ripped across the vast training room, deafening everyone within. The coppery scent of blood filled her nostrils as Xenovia went hurtling across the room at hyper-sonic speeds.
Gabriel caught her a split instant before she slammed into the far wall with enough force to break every bone in her body.
Xenovia's right arm bounced off the floor a hundred paces to Benna's left, the hilt of Durandal still firmly clasped in its grip.
((Retribution comes to all those that let hubris cloud their sight)) Bennia said in a cold, dead voice.
"Reflection…" Gabriel's whisper echoed across the room. The Seraph raised her hand and Xenovia's severed arm whipped across the room to her grasp. A golden light sprang from her hands as she quickly reattached the arm before Xenovia could loose too much blood. "You turned her attack back against her." She shook her head. "No, not reflection. This isn't like the Mirror Alice…" Gabriel carefully set the unconscious Xenovia against the wall and stood. "It wasn't Xenovia's power that did this to her." The Seraph started towards her in a slow, measured pace. Even as she did her beautiful white gown disappeared and in its place, was her golden battle armor. "It was my power that did this to her. The Bennia I know isn't capable of something like this."
((You mean the Bennia I let you know about,)) Bennia fired back. She tossed a quick look through the portal, their entrées had arrived now. It irritated her that she wasn't there with Tatsumi. She didn't want to replace Hikaru, no, she just wanted to be alongside the two of them. She returned her attention to Gabriel. She wanted her gone. ((I'm not in the mood right now for your games, Gabriel. Unless you have some meaningful reason to be here, go put Xenovia to bed and get lost so I can get back to training. I only hope it'll be enough to buy the first man I've ever loved the time he needs to run if Ophis ever shows up.))
Gabriel stopped, frowning, her head tilted to the side as if deep in thought. "The love is there, it is genuine. These feelings you have for Tatsumi… they are Bennia's and yet this power of yours. This presence leaking from the depths of your existence…"
((Does it matter?))
Gabriel closed her eyes and after a long moment she slowly shook her head. A soft, warm smile came to her lips. "No, I suppose it doesn't. Mortal or immortal, human, angels," her eyes opened, "and even Goddesses can love and worry." So, she figured it out. Whatever, it didn't matter anymore. With Hades dead there wasn't any reason to remain incognito. Bennia went on guard as Gabriel summoned to her hand a long spear of light. "I, too, have found myself rather stressed recently, for a variety of reasons that include Ophis as well. I haven't been able to find a worthy sparing partner to work that stress out. No one in Heaven is willing to fight me seriously." She raised her spear and pointed it at her. "How about it, Nemesis?"
Bennia flicked a little lever in the center of her scythe and it broke in half. A second blade popped out of the lower end of the now separated hilt. She slid into an old stance and held the twin scythes at the ready. ((I suppose this is a meaningful enough reason, there's only one thing.))
"Oh?"
((I. Am. Bennia!)) she shouted and charged forward to meet the strongest woman in Heaven.
~o~
"Thank you, Tatsumi."
Tatsumi turned and gave Hikaru a warm smile as she walked out of the book store behind him. There was a happy smile on her face as she carried a plastic bag filled with books. Tirade had offered to carry it like he was everything else, the man stood silently nearby with his arms laden with purchases, but she'd declined. This was something she wanted to carry.
"It's not a problem. Your smile is worth the price." Now where had that comment come from?
The way her eyes went wide with surprise and joy made it worth it. Somehow her already beautiful smile became even more breathtaking. "I'll find some way of paying you back," she promised.
"You don't need to." He hadn't gotten her those because he wanted to be paid back. He glanced down at the plastic bag she held. "Still, I took you more for a novel sort of person, not manga."
"Do you find it strange?" Hikaru asked softly. The plastic bag rustled as she lifted it up to peer inside. In there was a number of slice-of-life romance manga.
"Strange? Yes, but that's not necessarily bad. We're all strange in Night Raid." More than a little strange. If liking that type of manga was the weirdest Hikaru became, it would be a refreshing sense of normality in this otherwise crazy world. "Where do you want to go next?" He asked, glancing about the mall.
He didn't want to stay standing out in the main concourse for long. It would only be a matter of time before—he was momentarily blinded by the flash of a camera. Tatsumi rolled his eyes and sighed. Too late. He did his best to ignore the giggling of the group of girls standing next to a bench as they tossed desired filled glances his way.
And dark, nasty ones towards Hikaru. They wouldn't confront them, no one would.
Who knew wearing their swords in public made everyone think they were out and about hunting the big evil monsters that lurked in the night? Tatsumi had received just as many 'go get them!' as he had pictures and requests for selfies.
He'd received a few 'go get her!' too. Those ones were definitely not about hunting monsters.
"Somewhere without an audience," Hikaru said, noticing the giggling girls as well. She grabbed his elbow and pulled him close, nestling his arm between her breasts. The dark looks the girls were sending her way became darker. "How about there?" she asked, pointing to a lingerie store. When she raised her voice Tatsumi knew it was specifically meant for those girls. "I need some lingerie and I want your opinion."
If looks could kill, Hikaru would be a pile of goo on the mall floor. Hikaru didn't even glance back at the girls, she could feel their looks. Tatsumi knew she could, the smirk on her face was too out of place for her not to.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"I have standards, Tatsumi," Hikaru said. She reached behind her back with her free hand and adjusted her katana. "Standards some people will never be able to match." Again her voice was needlessly loud.
The group of girls suddenly decided they'd rather be somewhere else.
"Ah ha… shall we go?" Tatsumi didn't wait for a response. He just started for the lingerie shop Hikaru had pointed out. It had to be better in there than out here.
With luck the two men that had been following them since they entered the mall wouldn't follow them into the lingerie store.
Stepping into the store felt strange to Tatsumi. It was like he stepped through a barrier. Not one of magic or science, but of perception and thought. It was a world not for men, but for the fairer sex. A world for girls and women. The world inside the glass walls of this store was vastly different from any other place he'd ever been. A distinct sense of unease and discomfort settled across his shoulders.
It was only Hikaru's comforting presence at his side that kept his feet moving. It was like she was a key, or permission. With her here he was allowed to enter. It was alright.
The girls and women here didn't give him weird looks or shoo him out. They didn't berate him or look down on him like he was a pervert. They just took one look at Hikaru clinging to his side and turned away, knowing smiles coyly playing across their lips.
The whole experience felt rather surreal.
"So, what do I do?" Tatsumi whispered to his friend.
She released his arm as she looked around the room. Her eyes seem to light up as they caught sight of something. "Right now, just follow me. I'll let you know when I need your opinion on something." She tugged on his arm and started for whatever it was that caught her interest.
Tatsumi simply followed behind. Hikaru seemed to know what she was doing. Despite being in the Underworld for the past three and a half years, she seemed almost at home here. Her hands darting out to grab this and that from the racks. He didn't keep track of what she was doing, trusting her to guide him safely through this strange, alien world.
"This way," Hikaru said, gesturing with her head for Tatsumi to follow. She had several different sets of lingerie in her hands. There were so many styles and colors he couldn't process them all.
Tatsumi obediently followed Hikaru through the store to a small section at the back that was tucked away out of sight from the main store. A female employee standing at a counter next to the entrance gave them a curt nod before letting them through without question.
The fitting room beyond was circular with a round, cushioned sofa in the center. A velvet colored carpet covered the floor, a stark contrast to the severe tile from before. Forming a circle around the room were eight fitting booths with a curtain the same color as the carpet that could be drawn across it. All eight curtains were open at the moment. They were the only one's here.
Tatsumi peered into a booth, there wasn't much inside, just a chair, a bench built into the back wall, a mirror on each wall, and some oddly placed metal bars. One at around waist level and one above his head. "Where's everyone else?"
"There are two sets of change rooms here," Hikaru said softly, "most use the other ones."
Ah, he hadn't even noticed the other change room. He hadn't noticed much of anything. He'd spent most of his concentration trying very much not to focus on anything at all.
"Give me a moment," Hikaru said as she stepped into the nearest booth and pulled the velvet curtain closed.
With nothing to do but wait, Tatsumi sat on the round cushioned seat in the center of the room as he tried his best to not focus on the sounds of Hikaru undressing behind that curtain. The curtain didn't quite extend all the way to the ground so he noticed when her black dress pooled around her feet and again when a pair of simple white panties landed beside it.
Tatsumi adjusted his pants and did his best to swallow the lump in his throat. He should be used to this. Bennia and Sona, he'd been with women before. He was not a stranger to lingerie. A part of him even enjoyed it and wanted more. He recognized that part, the instinctual part of his being. The part of him that was made up of the original Tyrant.
It didn't help him feel any less self-conscious and nervous. That was an old friend on the other side of the curtain. A friend and a rival with whom Tatsumi shared many of the same interests. Tatsumi wasn't as oblivious to the signs as he had been back in the old world, not with the experience he had now and Bennia all but hammering him over the head with it at every moment.
Hikaru was interested in being more than just friends and rivals. What he needed to sort out was whether or not he wanted the same.
Well, whether the Tatsumi part of him wanted the same. The Tyrant was all but urging him to just join Hikaru on the other side of that curtain and take her right there. Could he feel that way about Hikaru? For so much of their past he'd always thought of her as a he, a male friend like Lubbock. Could he throw away all those misperceptions that still clung to the vestiges of his thoughts and feelings?
"Tatsumi." Hikaru's voice snapped him from his thoughts. He looked up and saw that her feet were pointed towards the curtain. "I need your opinion."
Tatsumi swallowed another lump in his throat and slowly got to his feet. They carried him the couple steps to the curtain. He paused. "Are you sure? I saw mirrors—"
"I want your opinion," Hikaru said again, stressing her words.
Tatsumi took a deep breath and steadied his nerves. Why was this so difficult? It was just Hikaru! His old friend. He'd seen countless naked women before now. Hikaru wasn't even naked! At least she shouldn't be.
His nerves finally steeled Tatsumi pulled back the curtain a little and poked his head inside. In that singular instant when his eyes landed upon Hikaru, those misperceptions from before, all thoughts of her still being a him in his mind, were blown away like so much smoke on the wind. His eyes trailed down her body, following the soft contours of her body. They lingered on her full breasts, cupped in a black lacy bra, transparent save for the decorative shapes woven into it that teased at everything, yet covered the most important of places. Down his eyes travelled, across her stomach to where they lingered once more upon her hips, dancing across the matching panties.
Hikaru was all woman and there was nothing for his lingering misconceptions to cling to.
"How do I look?" Hikaru asked as she artfully posed for him, seeming not to notice his eyes lingering overly long where most would consider inappropriate.
He snapped his eyes upwards. "You look amazing," Tatsumi said quickly, the words tumbling out before he could even consider what he was saying. He wouldn't have taken them back even if he had. He meant every word.
A little knowing smile came to her lips. "Thank you, Tatsumi, but I meant the underwear, how does it look on me?"
"I don't know, I'd have to see the others to—" he clamped his mouth shut before he could stick his foot in it. That was about to sound very perverted.
Hikaru just laughed and smiled. "I'll be happy to show them to you…" the smile slide off her face with a sigh. "It'll have to wait until afterwards."
Tatsumi opened his mouth to ask why when it hit him. There was a hint of bloodlust and killing intent in the air. It was faint, but growing stronger every second. He didn't want to think what that meant, but it could mean very little else. The two men that had been following them the past little while weren't content on following them any longer.
He sighed, "sorry about this, Hikaru."
"It's fine," she said as she unsheathed her katana. "Neither of us are simple humans anymore. Simple lives and simple dates are a luxury we can't afford."
"I know but—" he was cut off by a scream outside the change room. There was a loud crash as if someone had been knocked away into a rack of clothes. Tatsumi turned around just in time to see a seven-foot ogre with red skin and a large horn jutting from his forehead smash his way into the change room.
Tatsumi just sighed and reached inside himself for the power Gabriel had taught him just the other day. It came easily, surging through his veins like fire, invigorating him. For a brief moment he was intoxicated by the power it brought, blinded by the sweet vigor, but it was gone almost as quickly and he regained his senses.
He blinked twice. For some reason his vision was still blocked, only this time by four massive red fingers. He hadn't even noticed he'd been hit. Before the Oni could pull his fist away, Tatsumi grabbed the wrist and jerked him forward, throwing the seven-foot, four-hundred pound monster off his feet.
Tatsumi went low and slammed his palm upwards into the Oni's chin, much like he'd been on the receiving end of from Gabriel any number of times. The Oni didn't fair as well as Tatsumi usually did. The head snapped back, sending a sharp crack echoing through the change room. Tatsumi surged once more, slipping down and around behind the monster. Even as he fell forward from Tatsumi's initial tug, Tatsumi grabbed his now backward facing head, and twisted it violently so he was facing the ceiling when he finally hit the floor.
"Hikaru!" Tatsumi called out as he shot a look towards the booth. It was empty.
"I'm done here as well," Hikaru said from behind him.
He whipped around and stared out the entrance of the fitting room. Hikaru was slowly making her way back inside, wiping the edge of her katana off on a piece of cloth she'd taken from the clothes of the person she'd killed. Another Oni, although not quite as big as the one Tatsumi had brought down, was slumped against the wall with a precise surgical cut in his chest just above the heart. She still wore the black lace lingerie she'd put on for him. Miraculously she hadn't gotten a drop of blood on it.
"We were attacked by Oni," Tatsumi said, shaking his head. "I knew coming out and stating Night Raid's intention to the world was going to attract unwanted attention from certain quarters but…"
"It's always good to hope, Tatsumi, but I know you're too much of a realist to not know something like this would happen sooner rather than later," Hikaru nudged the Oni he killed with her toes. "If anything I'm surprised it was only two, and weak ones at that."
"Considering where we are, I'm not that surprised," Tatsumi said. "A large scale attack would draw the attention of two very overprotective Satans." The next attack would be either a full-on invasion the two Satans couldn't handle alone, or more assassins like these, only more powerful.
Hikaru nodded. "That makes sense."
"Looks like we're going to have to come back another day for the rest." He really did want to see how Hikaru looked in the other lingerie, especially if she looked this good in what she had on now.
"I have no problem with that, I enjoyed today," Hikaru said as she stepped past him and into the booth. "Attack withstanding of course."
Tatsumi chuckled, "we may have to bring Bennia along with us. If she'd known we were going to eat out she may have followed us."
"Perhaps we can actually convince her to wear something," Hikaru added. Tatsumi blinked, she didn't mind having Bennia along? "I've noticed that Grim Reaper of yours doesn't believe in wearing underwear."
Bennia was better off without any, but he couldn't say that in front of Hikaru, or anyone else for that matter.
Any further conversation about that had to wait as the store manager quickly rushed inside, her eyes wild and fearful. She froze in her tracks when she saw the corpses along with both him and Hikaru unharmed.
"Sorry about the mess," Tatsumi apologized. "We didn't know it would devolve to this." If he had, he would have confronted them sooner, in the open, and without people nearby. "Is the lady outside alright?"
The store manager regained her composure and roughly cleared her throat. "Yes, she's fine. A little bruised and shaken up, but fine." She shook her head. "Never mind that! What about you Tatsumi-san? Are you alright?"
"You know me?" Sure he'd held a press conference and all that, but how many people actually watched that?
She nodded her head vigorously. "Everyone knows you!" She stepped around the large Oni Tatsumi had killed and quickly reached out to him, touching him on the arm. Her eyes practically glowed with adoration and worship. "I'm the one that must apologize. Thank you so much for dealing with these monsters! It's so reassuring to know that you're here protecting us."
"Ah, he's fine," Hikaru said as she politely, yet firmly, removed the store manager's hands from him.
"And she is?" the store manager asked suspiciously.
Tatsumi smiled and wrapped an arm around Hikaru's shoulder. "An old friend, and a member of Night Raid." He nodded to the second Oni. "That was her work."
The suspicion in her eyes disappeared, replaced by stars and sparkles. "You're part of Night Raid as well? Oh, you're so lucky!"
Hikaru smiled up at Tatsumi. "I really am."
"Anyways, we should be going," Tatsumi said, "it's probably going to take awhile to clean this up."
The store manager stepped back and fidgeted anxiously, casting glances past Hikaru into the booth and the pile of still untried lingerie. "Ah, why not just take it? It's free, on the house."
"I don't understand." Tatsumi was all for free stuff, but this was sort of coming out of nowhere.
"Consider it our apology for ruining your experience," the store manager said hurriedly. She gave Hikaru a wide smile. "Please, we insist. I'll ring you out myself to ensure everything goes smoothly."
Hikaru glanced at him and shrugged before she headed back into the booth. "Why not Tatsumi? I can just try them on for you at home."
If the store manager was willing to do it, and Hikaru was willing to accept the gift, who was he to stand in the way?
"Alright, we'll take them."
~o~
The training room was utterly devastated. No part of the room, save for a tiny area around where Xenovia rested, was unscathed. The tiles were torn up, shattered, and thrown about in places where they hadn't been outright destroyed and a crater formed in their place. Pillars were cracked and crumbling, some had even been totally destroyed. The far corner of the room had completely collapsed and water trickled down from hot spring above. Water had cascaded down when it first collapsed, filling the craters and leaving behind a thin film of water across the surface of the training room.
It was a miracle that more of the upper levels hadn't collapsed.
Bennia just couldn't bring herself to care as she laid there, naked upon the floor, her pale skin slick with water, sweat and her own blood. She was beaten, battered, bruised and bloodied… and it had been years since she felt so refreshed.
"Are you dead?" A voice called down from above. Bennia blinked and shifted the focus of her attention from a particularly large crack in the ceiling to a pair of concerned crimson eyes staring down at her.
Akame.
((Not yet!)) Bennia said cheerfully. She wanted to add a fist pump to it but she was just way too tired. ((Did we scare anyone?)) Now that she thought about it, her 'spar' with Gabriel had become rather violent.
"Ravel is hiding in her room and refusing to come out until the shaking stops," Najenda said from across the room. Judging from where the voice was coming from, she was probably tending to Gabriel. "Mine is using the earnings from Tatsumi's mission to buy herself some clothes so she wasn't here and you know where Tatsumi and Hikaru are."
((Ow)) Bennia complained as Akame helped her up into a sitting position. ((I suppose that's true… are you dead Gabriel?))
"Not quite," the Seraph said, her voice dripping with exhaustion. When Bennia managed to muster enough strength to turn her head enough to look at the woman, it was easy to see why.
Her golden armor was missing, Bennia had ripped that from her chest early in the fight. What remained of that was embedded in a wall. The dress she wore beneath that was missing as well, along with every other shred of fabric she'd been wearing before. It was interesting to note that, while it was well-groomed, angels did not shave down there. At least Gabriel didn't.
That didn't really matter to Bennia as much as her condition. Gabriel's naked body was as sweat covered and dirty as Bennia's and the bruises from her strikes were starting to form across her body.
Gabriel wasn't as roughed up as she was, but Bennia had gotten a few good hits in. Well, more than just a few.
((Maybe I should make the viewing hole two-way so Tatsumi can see the great Gabriel naked!)) Bennia teased.
"I wouldn't mind that as much as you might think," Gabriel said tiredly. With groan she rose to her feet, causing a sliver of irritation to surge through her. For someone that never had sex, damn did that woman have a lot of stamina. "But I don't think you have the strength for that."
She was right, Bennia didn't. It was still tempting though. No man had ever seen Gabriel naked, that was a first Bennia wouldn't mind letting Tatsumi steal.
((Oh, is Gabriel starting to fall?))
"Hardly, no man or woman, mortal or immortal, is allowed to come between me and my duty," Gabriel took a deep breath and started for Xenovia. "That doesn't mean I can't enjoy things that don't hinder my ability to do my duty." She stumbled and nearly fell before Najenda caught her and lent her a shoulder.
"You really should be resting," Najenda said. There was a sharp, speculative look in her eyes that Bennia knew meant she was seeing much more into this situation than what appeared on the surface. "You're exhausted."
"They both are," Akame said as she poked Bennia's cheek. Bennia didn't even have the strength to respond.
"I need to see Xenovia to her room, after that I don't mind laying down for a while to regain my strength," Gabriel said. She touched her lip and wiped away a bit of blood. "There will be questions I'd rather not answer if I return looking like this."
"We have more guest rooms than we know what to do with," Najenda said as she helped Gabriel over to Xenovia. "Let me help."
"What about you?" Akame asked Bennia.
Bennia tossed a glance up at the viewing hole that spied up Tatsumi's date with Hikaru. There'd been an unspoken agreement between her and Gabriel not to disturb it. They both wanted to watch over him. Through it now she could see Tatsumi and Hikaru meeting Sona and her sister, Serafall, at the front gates of Kuoh Academy.
She let the viewing hole close. There wasn't anything more for her to do. If Serafall couldn't protect Tatsumi, Bennia wasn't going to be able to do much in her state.
((I could use some sleep so I'm ready to ravage Tatsumi when he comes home)) Bennia said, trying to make herself sound wise.
"It's always about sex with you," Gabriel admonished her.
((You're just jealous you can't have any!))
Bennia couldn't help but smile as Gabriel's brow twitched in annoyance. The seraph may have won their little spar, but Bennia got the last jab in.
~o~
There was a smile on Tatsumi's lips as he followed Sona and Hikaru out the door into the school yard. Sona was explaining all there was to know about the school in her usual clear, crisp voice and Hikaru interjected at times with questions of her own. It was nice to see that the two of them hit it off so well.
He lifted his face to the sky and let the warm rays of the later afternoon sun wash over his features. This really was a good idea in more ways than one. A relaxing way to end their outing, for him at least. It would turn out to be rather emotional for Hikaru before it was all over.
"Looking forward to the end of the tour?"
Tatsumi cracked his eyes open and tilted his head to the side. Serafall was there, walking in step with him dressed in her usual pink magical girl outfit. There was a huge grin on her face as she stared after her little sister. She knew what he had planned.
"I am, this is the last stop, isn't it?" Tatsumi asked as they neared the kendo club building.
"Yes it is!" Serafall whirled around and waved at someone behind them, "hurry up Lily-tan! You can practice the spin when we get home!"
"…r-right!" There was the rapid pitter-patter of footsteps as a young girl rushed up to Serafall's side. Lilian was dressed in a magical girl that was identical to Serafall's in every way save for the color, yellow instead of pink.
That was one person Tatsumi was glad they managed to save.
"This is the Kendo club building," Tatsumi heard Sona say as the two girls stopped in front of the door. She pulled out a small key and unlocked it the door before opening it and stepping inside. She waited for Hikaru to follow her inside before she continued. "Tatsumi and Nijo Ieyasu provided some useful advice on how to improve the club room when they first joined. I'm hoping you might be able to provide some insight in areas where they don't have much knowledge."
"The main floor is all that matters," Hikaru said as she tested the wood. "And this seems to be very nice. Beyond that it's simple management of the equipment."
"I see," Sona said. "Well, since you've already decided on Kendo as your club of choice, if you have any requests or concerns, bring them to me, especially if it comes to fortifying the women's change room against perverts."
Hikaru gave Sona and then Tatsumi a confused look. "Is that a major issue here?"
Tatsumi let out a weak laugh. "I want to say no but…"
"We have a trio of individuals here at the school that make it their top priority to spy on women changing as often as they possibly can," Sona said, disgusted. "One of them has improved, a little, if only because he has… other women to lust over."
That would be Issei.
Hikaru's eyes went flat, showing how little she cared about that thought. "I'll keep that in mind." Somehow she made her soft, quiet voice sound as cold and hard as steel.
"If you catch them peeping feel free to punish them as you see fit." Sona said. "Just don't kill or permanently cripple them. I don't want their parents filing a police report." She adjusted her glasses on her nose and glanced back towards Tatsumi and past him to the school building beyond. "That's it for the tour of Kuoh Academy, what do you think?"
"It's better than my old school," Hikaru said. "A lot nicer in every way. I'm looking forward to attending school again." Her eyes found Tatsumi's. "Will I be in Tatsumi's class?"
"His class is full but I should probably arrange something," Sona said thoughtfully. "If for no other reason than to not give Issei another girl to ogle. He's already getting someone new."
"New? Who?" Tatsumi asked. He knew Xenovia was probably going to end up coming to this school. There was someone else as well?
"Issei's childhood friend, Irina, is joining as well." Sona let out a long sigh. "With Xenovia, that makes two angels… I really hope this school will survive." For some reason Tatsumi wasn't surprised that Irina was raised as well. "But let's be off, we have one more stop before finish here."
"The tour isn't over?" Hikaru asked as she followed Sona out the door. They all waited for Sona to lock up first before they started back towards the school proper.
"The tour is, yes," Sona said as she took the lead, "but there is some paperwork I need you to fill out before the new semester starts. You're here now so it's as good a time as any to finish it."
Hikaru seemed to accept that easily enough. It was even true to some degree. Tatsumi knew exactly what sort of 'paperwork' Hikaru had to fill out. It had nothing to do with Kuoh Academy… but it was required for her to attend.
They continued on in silence, quickly crossing the school yard and back into the main school building. Sona's steps were long and purposeful, making poor little Lilian have to jog to catch up at times. Sona probably didn't want to give Hikaru the time she needed to think of what paperwork Sona had meant. After all, Tatsumi hadn't been required to sign anything to attend Kuoh Academy. He just had to send back the acceptance offer with a confirmation on it.
As they neared the Student Council room Tatsumi noticed Tsubaki standing patiently just outside. The long-haired beauty was wearing her school uniform, just like Sona, despite it being summer and school out. Had they adopted it as their unofficial uniform or something?
"Has there been any problems?" Sona asked as they neared.
"None, Kaichou," Tsubaki said as she stepped across the hall and gestured towards the open door. "They've been patient."
"They?" Hikaru asked, sounding confused. She made to step into the student council room and froze, her eyes going wide with shock.
"Yes, they," Tatsumi said. The room wasn't empty. There were two individuals sitting anxiously at the table closest to the door. An older gentleman with dark hair that was just starting to show signs of grey and a beautiful middle-aged woman that looked strikingly similar to Hikaru. "Your parents."
He pushed her inside.
"No!" Hikaru whirled around, her eyes wide and panicked. Her normal composed self nowhere to be seen. "I'm not ready… this isn't… I can't!"
"Hikaru-chan... is that really you?" the older woman asked as she slowly stood. She took several steps towards Hikaru and reached out, her fingers ever so gently touching Hikaru's shoulder. Hikaru flinched and slowly turned back around. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared into her mother's eyes.
"She looks just like you did twenty years ago," Hikaru's father said as he stood as well.
Tatsumi could see Hikaru start to tremble, "hello kaa-san… tou-san…"
The older woman's fingers lifted to Hikaru's cheeks. Her voice trembled with each word she spoke. "This voice… this face… your eyes…" Tears started streaming down her cheeks. Before Hikaru could react or pull away she threw her arms around her. "My Hikaru-chan! I have my Hikaru-chan back!"
That was all Hikaru could take. Her arms came up around her mother as she broke down as well, sobbing into the shoulder of a mother she hadn't seen in years. All the emotions and stress, all the fears and pains and worry she'd been forced to endure for years came pouring out in the comforting embrace only a mother could provide. Hikaru's father brought his arms up protectively embraced the both of them as well.
Tatsumi blinked and wiped at his eyes. It was getting misty in here for some reason. Serafall passed him a damp handkerchief to use. Her eyes seemed to be a little watery as well. He couldn't see Sona's face, her back was to them.
It was quite some time before anyone could find words to speak.
Hikaru slowly lifted her head and turned back to them. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. "What about the papers I'm supposed to sign," Hikaru asked softly, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Society thinks you're dead," Sona said matter-of-factly. Her back was still to them but she had her glasses in one hand as she rubbed her eyes with the back of the other. "We need to correct that before you can attend Kuoh Academy. There are papers you need to sign, papers necessary to reintegrate into human society."
"This'll give you time to catch up with your parents as well," Tatsumi added as well. He continued before Hikaru could even begin to protest. "Cherish the time with your parents. We don't all have that luxury." Hikaru flinched as if struck. She knew his parents were dead and gone. After those words there was no way she could push her parents away. "I'll be heading back with the stuff we bought today. Go out and spend time with your parents. Have dinner and talk things over."
"Thank you," Hikaru whispered.
"Yes, thank you so much for bringing my Hikaru-chan back," Hikaru's mother said. Her smile was as beautiful as Hikaru's. If that was what Hikaru was going to look in twenty or thirty years, then he only had to look forward to her becoming even more beautiful.
"If there's anything we can do to help you Tatsumi-san, you or Night Raid, just ask," Hikaru's father added. "I'm not sure what we can do, but we'll try."
"Thanks, your sentiments are enough," Tatsumi said. "Just be here for Hikaru, she's had it rough these past few years, but I know I don't even have to ask that." He waved farewell and started off down the hallway.
It wasn't until he reached the lobby that the others caught up to him.
"Wait, Tatsumi, there's one more thing," Sona said as she quickly caught up to him. Tsubaki, Serafall and Lilian were all with her.
"What's up?"
Sona took a moment to catch her breath. "In two days I am leaving for the Underworld with my peerage. Rias is doing the same. There's a big event happening down there."
"The Young Devil Gathering!" Serafall said cheerfully. "All the major and important upcoming young devils will be there."
"What does this have to do with me?" It might be good to go just to get information on what sort of people he may be dealing with in the future, but he wanted to know why Sona and Serafall were bringing this up.
"I want you to be there," Sona said. "Each of us, Rias, myself, Sairaorg and the others, will be required to state our dreams and goals in front of the elders of our society." There was a firm look on her face as she stared him directly in the eyes. "I will present my dream then. My answer to the dilemma you posed."
"You're not giving it up, are you?" Tatsumi said.
"No, I don't have to," Sona said, smiling. "I simply needed to think outside the box. In a way, your constant failure to use Gasper's box to be funny gave me the inspiration I needed. I also know why you refused to tell me."
"It has to be your idea," Tatsumi said. "If you don't believe in it, no one else will."
"Exactly."
"Well, I was going to ask you to come as well Tatsumi-chan!" Serafall said cheerfully. "His presence has actually been requested by the elders. They want to see first hand what this Night Raid is all about."
Sona rounded on her sister, her eyes wide with surprise. "I never heard anything about this onee-sama!"
"I know!" She said cheekily. "I think destroying Gregorious Abaddon has made those old farts nervous!"
Sona sighed and gave Tatsumi a sympathetic look. "Sorry Tatsumi, guess you're not going to be just watching. Be careful around them. Most of them still remember the 'good ol' days' when the original Satans still ruled. Some of them may end up being your enemy in the future."
"And they want to get a close look at what their future enemy is and can do," Tatsumi surmised. Well, that could go both ways really. He intended to learn as much about them as they did about him. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Lilian fidgeting nervously. "Ah, Serafall, I think your sidekick as a question."
"What, really?" Serafall asked as she spun around to face Lilian. The little girl jumped in surprise and cast nervous looks between him and Serafall. "What is it Lily-tan?" The little girl gripped the hem of her magical shirt and twisted anxiously back and forth. "It's ok, I'm not going to get upset."
"but… I…" she trembled and stared down at her feet like she didn't want to see, or even hear, Serafall's response. "…can I… can I see my momma and poppa too?" she trembled like she was afraid she was about to get hit for daring to request something so outrageous.
Serafall froze as she tried to process Lilian's words. Tatsumi could see hesitation in her eyes, and he knew why.
It was a difficult request. Serafall would probably be overjoyed to have Lilian meet her parents but… did they still live? That was the major question. None of them knew. Did she say yes, and get Lilian's hopes up only to see them dashed if they turned out to be dead? Or gently let her down so that hope never blossomed at all until they were able to make sure she still had parents to meet?
And if they were still alive, would they demand Lilian's return? Would they reject her? So many unknowns that could cause so many new problems.
"We can look for them," Sona said for Serafall, he tone was cautious and careful, "but we have no idea where they are, or if they're even still alive."
"Exactly as my So-tan said!" Serafall said as cheerfully as she could. She embraced little Lilian causing the girl to jump in surprise. "We'll do everything we can to find them and even if they are dead I'll just invade heaven and grab their spirits for you!"
"How about we just ask Michael-sama instead of breaking the peace treaty weeks after it got signed?" Sona fired at her sister.
Tatsumi chuckled, drawing their attention to him. He had one piece of advice for the little girl, something from his own experiences. "Even if they are dead, you're not alone," Tatsumi said. "My own parents are gone, but I have those I care about all around me. They help me through each day. You have two right beside you now, and I'm sure Hikaru wouldn't mind being your friend." There it was, a small hesitant smile on her lips. He gave her a smile in return as he took a couple steps back from them. "I should go and it seems you two are going to have your hands full with Lilian tonight and tomorrow."
"And the Young Devil Gathering?" Sona asked again.
A thought occurred to him. "I'm not forced to go, am I?" She shook her head, confirming what he thought. He wasn't a devil, nor was he or Night Raid directly connected to devil society. They couldn't force him to show up. "I'll go, but only because I'm interested in hearing what your answer is."
Sona looked relieved. "Thanks Tatsumi, and good night."
"Good night." He gave them a wave and walked outside. The limousine was parked on the side of the street just outside the gates. Tirade was waiting next to the limousine. He opened the back door for Tatsumi as he neared. "Let's go home, Tirade, Hikaru will be awhile."
"Of course, Tatsumi-sama. Home it is."
~o~
Tatsumi rubbed the towel through his wet hair as he stepped out of the bathroom with a soft green bathrobe drawn about him. He felt refreshed after a very long day. It had started peacefully enough, almost normal, had a little bump with an attack, smoothed out and then became a misty-eyed water-works festival.
Tatsumi would have been satisfied if it had been left like that. Unfortunately, when he returned home…
"Those two… seriously… how did they manage to do that much damage?"
What should have ended on a feel-good note ended up becoming a hectic, fast paced construction repair job to fix the damage caused by Bennia and Gabriel's little stress relieving session. He didn't know what that all entailed but they'd completely trashed the bottom two sublevels of the estate and nearly caused the upper ones to come crashing down.
He'd just finished helping a number of devils, angels and fallen, including the maids and butlers, fix the damage done by those two. Michael had taken Gabriel off somewhere to talk about something. He didn't know what it was, but Gabriel looked like a chastised little puppy as she followed along behind him.
Bennia was still unconscious. According to Akame she was out like a light the moment she was put to bed and hadn't woken up since.
Well, whatever the cause had been, the damage was fixed and there wasn't any lasting harm done to anyone. Bennia was going to have to explain herself though. Night Raid may have been given the estate for free, but repairs weren't. At least Michael had been kind enough to foot half the bill since half the responsibility fell upon Gabriel's shoulders.
How he intended to do that when Heaven didn't have currency, he didn't know and didn't feel like it was his place to ask.
His eyes wandered to the window. Night had fallen and the moon was out, illuminating the yard with its soft glow. It made him wonder how Hikaru was doing. Would she stay here at his estate or would she move back with her parents? It wasn't very likely seeing how they stilled lived in Tokyo and it would completely ruin every plan they've made since rescuing her, but it was still a worry.
Family was the most important thing in the world.
A soft knock on his door broke him from his thoughts. He turned from the window to regard the door. "You can only come in if you're not here to tell me something else has been broken!" Tatsumi called out.
The door opened to reveal Hikaru in her revealing black dress. She said nothing as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Then she locked it.
Tatsumi gave her a smile. "Hikaru, how did everything go with your parents?"
She took a couple steps towards him. "You… you…" her soft words trembled. Her muscles were clenching and unclenching, like she was trying to hold back an incredible desire. It was her eyes that concerned him the most. They were ablaze, filled with intensity.
"Ah, Hikaru?" Tatsumi asked, worried. That was a really intense look she was giving him. It brought back words from this morning, words Bennia had said. "Can I help you?"
"Yes," she said stated firmly as she stomped across the room towards him. Her eyes blazed with so much emotion Tatsumi took an involuntary step back. She didn't let him take a second. She grabbed his head and captured his lips in a deep, passionate kiss. "Marry me," she whispered breathily into his ears.
"W-Wha?!"
Those two words caused his mind to slam into a brick wall. Things got even worse as a moment later, Hikaru's dress slid to the floor. Her underwear lasted a whole half-second before the torn fabric was sent flying across the room. She ripped his robe from his body and threw him onto the bed.
He laid there, stunned as he stared up at her naked body. His body reacted, standing at attention as desire raced through his veins. Tatsumi had no idea what was going on, but the Tyrant in him knew exactly what it wanted, and what this beautiful woman was offering.
"You have done so much for me without asking for anything in return. I could look my entire life and never find another man as kind and generous as you." She climbed atop the bed and mounted him. "I'm not even going to try. I'm not letting you get away."
Behind her, floating through the ceiling was Bennia, upside down grinning at him with a victorious smile on her lips. She had some rope and a knife in her hands. Tatsumi had no doubt she really would tie him to the bed and let Hikaru have her way with him if he pushed her away.
There was no getting out of this.
There was no need to. It didn't take Hikaru very long, or much effort, to convince all of Tatsumi that this was what he desired as well.
Note about Tatsumi in the lingerie shop: For the record, that was me imposing my own sense of awkwardness upon Tatsumi. That's how I feel whenever I walk into a lingerie shop, even when I have a legitimate reason to be there. I can't help but feel I'm really out of place. I don't know if that's how Tatsumi would actually have reacted, but it's the only realistic reaction I know how to describe.
Note on Tatsumi's Harem: That's number 3! Hikaru! And yes, she was planned from the start. I do want to add one little caveat to the 'harem' bit. Individuals in the harem are girls Tatsumi will eventually marry.
That doesn't mean he won't end up in bed with other women that don't become part of the harem either because they can't, aren't allowed or simply wish to be friends 'with benefits.'
Author's Note: Anyways, the interlude stuff is all done! Hikaru is firmly entrenched in Night Raid, everything set up, so I can shift focus to other characters. Anyways, let me know what you think! As was mentioned in this chapter, the next one begins the Young Devil Gathering, only from the perspective of Tatsumi, and not Issei.
Leave a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter.