Chapter V

Well hello there everybody, it's time for the next chapter of Chaos Pawn of the Gremory. Hopefully you all enjoyed the last chapter and will enjoy this one. As always I'd like to thank my coauthor Bakuto Masaki for his help with the story. There will be a few more revelations in this chapter as with the previous, don't worry, the actual story will begin progressing soon, we've just got a few more bases to cover. So far no reviews on the last chapter, disappointing, so I guess we'll just get going on the actual chapter.

Kazuma and Kuroka sat in Kazuma's dining room as Kuroka began explaining her history to Kazuma.

Kazuma's eyes widened in shock as Kuroka revealed the reason behind her killing her master, what he had attempted to do to her sister Shirone.

Kuroka frowned sadly and answered, "He planned on using my sister to breed an army of Nekoshous…"

Kazuma's eyes widened as he heard her tell him, further enhanced by the lack of her usual verbal tick, he then clenched his fists angrily, and then sighed. "Unbelievable. To think there are monsters like that everywhere. What happened after you killed him?"

Kuroka sighed and then chuckled weakly. "Well, I was marked as a Stray Devil, nya. It's against the rules for a servant to kill their king under any circumstances, nya. And then those fools within the government of the devils attempted to execute Shirone out of asinine fears she'd become a 'monster' like me, nya."

Kazuma sighed again and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Hell…the devils have gotten squeamish since I was sealed. Back in my day they would've taken someone like you and just put you in one of the special forces units instead of just casting you out. Damn, now I sound like an old man…"

"Ufufufu, I think it fits you, nya."

Kazuma smiled wryly at Kuroka. "I'm…not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."

"How about a pointed compliment, nya?"

"I think the term is backhanded compliment."

"Whatever, nya!"

Kazuma and Kuroka then shared a light chuckle before Kazuma asked calmly, "What happened after that? If you don't mind."

Kuroka shook her head and continued, "I wandered on my own for a while after that, until I was discovered by the Khaos Brigade, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and mentioned, "You spoke about them earlier. Who are they exactly?"

"Understand I can't say too much, nya. Not yet anyway, nya. But the simplest part of it is…they're a group who are working to drive out Great Red, nya."

Kazuma looked at her plainly before grunting, "Huh?"

"You don't know who Great Red is…do you, nya?"

"Nope."

Kuroka sighed and then remarked, "Maybe I'll explain it to you some day, nya. But the point is the Khaos Brigade is a group that takes in those who are considered rejected in their worlds, nya. In addition to myself, there are devils, fallen angels, angels, Asgardians, and many humans, nya."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "That much makes sense. Although I didn't expect there to be Asgardians in your group." 'Wonder if Chang's one of them…'

Ddraig remarked, 'I doubt it. That berserker doesn't seem the type to follow someone else.'

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "At any rate, I've got one last question. Why were you sent to spy on me?"

Kuroka nodded and answered, "That's simple, nya. Some of our leaders sensed your awakening, nya. They figured that you were, well, you so they sent me to investigate you and solidify the claims, nya. The plan of pretending to be your cat was my idea, nya."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "I see. So, I assume you've been sending them reports?"

Kuroka thought for a moment and then nodded uncommittedly. "For a while, nya. After you discovered my true form I haven't sent them any, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "What for? Not that I mind, naturally."

"Simple, nya. With all the Hollow activity going on since then the devils have upped security, nya. I don't want to risk the messages being intercepted so I'll just wait until things die down, nya."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes for a few moments as he looked at Kuroka and then sighed and nodded. "Okay. One more thing, if you don't mind, what was Shirone like?"

Kuroka put a finger on her chin as she thought. "Opposite from me, nya. She was very withdrawn and calm and quiet, nya. She even had white hair unlike my silky black hair, nya."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. 'That sounds…just like…'

"Though I have no idea where she is right now, I hope to find her and get her help with our race, nya."

Kazuma blinked curiously. "Your race?"

Kuroka nodded in acknowledgement. "Yes, nya. The Nekoshu race of Nekomatas are almost extinct, nya. Shirone and I are the last ones, nya."

Kazuma's eyes widened mildly before he settled. "So…you're working with the Khaos Brigade to help bring your race back up in numbers?"

"Not as simple as that, nya. I want to find a strong mate for both Shirone and me, nya. It's more important to have a strong mate than multiple, nya. I want our race to get strong, and I'd heard there were strong people in the Khaos Brigade, nya."

"I see. I think I'll stop there, I could get answers I'm not interested in if I ask."

Kuroka chuckled and then added, "I haven't found a suitable mate yet, nya. Are you interested, nya? . If all what you said is true that is, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow in thought and then answered plainly, "Yup. Although I'm a little busy at the moment so I'm going to have to decline your rather appealing offer."

Kuroka just shrugged in response. "Don't say I didn't offer, nya."

"Don't worry, I won't forget."

Kuroka then sat back down and asked, "So what is it, nya?"

Kazuma blinked curiously. "Pardon…?"

"I can tell there's been something burning at the back of your mind this whole time, nya. What is it, nya?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "That obvious? Yes, it's been bothering me ever since I ran into this shouty little pipsqueak named Serafall Leviathan."

"Gah, nya!" Kuroka squeaked as she fell out of her chair.

"Erm…are you okay…?"

Kuroka sat back up and demanded frantically, "Y-y-you met…Lady Leviathan, nya?!"

Kazuma sweat-dropped in concern. "Erm…yeah…but she looks nothing like a Leviathan. Last time I checked they have dark skin and light hair. She was the reverse."

Kuroka blinked and then came a realization. "That's right, nya. You knew the original Four Great Satans, didn't you, nya?"

"Original?"

Kuroka nodded. "Yes, near the end of the Great War the Four Great Satans ended up removed from power, nya. This was partially due, to Forbesii Lucifer's death, nya."

Kazuma's eyes widened. "He…he died?"

"Or more specifically, he was killed in battle, a three-way battle with the Biblical God and the Captain of the Soul Society's Zero Division, nya."

"Zero Division? Erza never mentioned that."

Kuroka nodded. "It's something I only know about because I snooped around, nya. The Zero Division is the squad of Soul Reapers who directly protect the Soul King, nya. But that's not important, nya. After the three-way battle killed them all, the other three Satans lost their power without Forbesii as the leader, nya. This delicate balancing act continued for a few centuries until the Great Devil Civil War when two factions of devils fought each other, nya."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes and then sighed. "An actual civil war? So what exactly happened in it?"

Kuroka nodded and answered succinctly, "Essentially, a faction dedicated to keeping the bloodline of the original Satans in power called the Old Satan Faction and a faction devoted to democracy, by electing the new leaders called the Anti-Satan Faction, arose and fought roughly one hundred fifty years ago, nya. When it was all said and done the Old Satan Faction lost and went into hiding, taking the remainders of the Four Great Satans, minus all of Forbesii's sons, the Eight Demon Kings being the only remainders for various reasons, nya."

"So that means…that the original Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Asmodeus have also been driven out of power?"

"Yes, nya. Now those names are more of a rank than anything, seeing as the current Satans have no relation to the original clans, nya."

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "So then…what happened to the other-?"

At that moment Erza finally managed to make it through the door, her loud entrance interrupting Kazuma and Kuroka's conversation, after a busy day, breathing heavily.

"Oh hey, you're home late."

Erza sighed and collapsed on the floor.

Kazuma and Kuroka flinched as she fell, Mavis standing behind Erza.

"She's not really conscious," Mavis remarked. "She's surprisingly heavy."

One of Erza's eyebrows twitched.

"I suggest you shut up now Mavis," Kazuma warned.

Mavis nodded in agreement as she looked at him and asked, "Could you help me get her to her room?"

Kazuma nodded and walked over to Erza, picking her up in his arms bridal style. "I can take it from here."

Mavis nodded in agreement and flopped against the wall and slumped to the floor.

Kazuma made his way to Erza's room and set her down on her bed. "Well, hopefully you did what you needed to get done today."

The next day began as his time seemed to go on.

"Wake up! Wake up Kazuma! It's time for our rematch you jerk!" Kon shouted as he pound his little stuffed fists on Kazuma's chest.

Kazuma growled before grabbing Kon's head and throwing him against the wall.

Erza walked in as Kon hit the wall and bounced on the floor. "Oh, good morning Kon."

"Good morning Erza," Kon wheezed out.

Kazuma sat up with a groan and rubbed his eyes. "Geez, that's no way to wake a man up."

Erza raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's the problem?"

"The noisy sock puppet over there."

Erza looked down at the still dazed Kon and nodded again. "At any rate, you should be getting up anyway so it's fine."

Kazuma sighed and stretched and asked, "Why're you here? You don't normally come to wake me."

"I'm not here to wake you, but to warn you."

Kazuma stopped mid-stretch and then turned to her. "Warn me about what?"

Erza turned slightly red on her cheeks and answered, "Well…I wasn't able to wipe everyone's memories. Some of the students weren't there after we left."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow slightly. "Like who?"

"That red-haired woman Rias…"

His eyebrow twitched further.

"And I believe those two friends of yours…"

Kazuma sighed heavily and groaned. "Ah shit…"

"So will you be going today?"

"Yeah…but it's gonna be a shit storm…"

Erza nodded and then bowed and apologized furiously. "I'm sorry for this!"

Kon's eyes widened as he leaned over to see up Erza's skirt.

Kazuma threw a ball at the stuffed animal sending him away and then turned to Erza. "Don't worry. It's not really your fault. It's his fault."

Kon snarled at Kazuma. "You bastard!"

Kazuma sighed and got out of bed and began getting ready. "Guess I should wear body armor."

Kazuma, Erza, and Mavis made their way towards the school with the two girls looking at Kazuma annoyed.

Kazuma sighed heavily as he propped open his bag. "Is there really a reason you've come?"

Inside his bag, Kon popped his head out and shouted, "So I can be ready to kick your ass at any moment. That and so you'll have me by your side if you find a Hollow."

Kazuma sighed and then pushed him back in the bag. "Well look who's forward-thinking. For the time being stay in the bag and be quiet. I've already got enough of an issue with those two idiots."

"Is that why you brought these Chaos Lord books?"

"Yes. Hopefully those should appease them long enough to keep them quiet from what you did."

"Hey, I'm a hot-blooded man, you can't blame me for liking a good pair of tits."

"You're a stuffed doll."

"I was talking metaphorically!"

Upon arrival Kazuma sighed as Erza and Mavis walked ahead of him.

And as if on cue two blurs came out of nowhere and grabbed Kazuma by his arms and took him away.

Kazuma was slammed against a wall as Matsuda and Motohama stood in front of him and shouted in unison, "Explain yourself!"

Kazuma sighed as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Could you at least have not gotten me dirty first thing in the morning?"

"Explain yourself Kazuma!" Matsuda ordered.

"Could you be more specific?" he asked sarcastically.

Motohama adjusted his glasses and demanded, "Why were you so cuddly with Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima yesterday?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as he tried to remember exactly what he had been told happened and then sighed. "I had some bad food yesterday, it messed up my head a little."

Motohama looked at him unconvinced and turned to Matsuda then both looked at Kazuma. "What kind of food?" Motohama asked.

"Sushi with mushrooms."

Motohama stood silently for a moment while carefully examining Kazuma's expression before sighing. "While I can understand that, that doesn't explain Akeno…Akeno…mushing your head between those massive, luscious boobs of hers…"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow and clenched the side of his bag, the spot where Kon was, angrily. 'Well…shit…this really complicates things…' Sighing he then reached into his bag and pulled out two books. "That situation's a little complicated. Here, I'll give you these if you agree to keep quiet about it for a while." He then pulled the two books out of his bag, which were a dark brown color with gold-colored borders and lettering on them.

Motohama and Matsuda looked over the books curiously.

"So official," Matsuda remarked before opening the book to a random page. He read a few sentences and collapsed on the ground with a nosebleed.

Motohama looked at Matsuda in shock and then opened his own copy to a random page, same result.

After waiting for a few seconds Kazuma proceeded to walk away.

"You knew that would happen, didn't you?" Kon asked from inside the bag.

Kazuma slapped the side of the bag. "You're supposed to be quiet. But yes, I expected it would. Most normal humans who read that book faint from its contents."

Kazuma proceeded about his day normally before making his way towards the rooftops as usual, though he was somewhat apprehensive considering it's possible Ichigo and the others remembered the events of the previous.

However Ichigo remembering wouldn't be as much of an issue as the others.

Opening the door and entering the area as normal Kazuma noticed that only Ichigo and Tatsuki were on the roof. Though wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Which Kazuma discovered the moment he sat down.

"So, care to explain yesterday?" Tatsuki asked pointedly. "And don't even try to run away, I'll just catch you."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow in response. "So you remember too, huh?"

"Of course I do! How could I forget the sight of you motorboating one of the Two Great Ladies?"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow angrily. 'The more people talk about that the more I wanna smash that doll. It shoulda been me doing that…' He then sighed and asked, "How much do you know?"

"Just what I saw yesterday, and even now I'm confused."

Kazuma nodded with a sigh and glanced at Ichigo who just shrugged.

Tatsuki, however, noticed this exchange and looked between them. "Hey…what're you two hiding?"

Kazuma scratched his head and asked, "Think you can keep a secret?"

"I dunno. Depends on what it is."

"That does not make me feel comfortable telling you at all."

"Just tell me dammit!"

Kazuma groaned in annoyance and answered shyly, "I'm going out with Akeno Himejima…" Kazuma glanced at Tatsuki curiously, waiting for her response.

Tatsuki blinked silently for a few moments as she collected her thoughts and then responded, "Oh." She then proceeded to continue drinking her juice.

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief. "O-oh…that's it?"

Tatsuki shrugged in response. "So you're goin' out with two of the most popular girls in school. Not like it matters to me."

Ichigo nodded in agreement. "That's the same thing I told him when he told me about it. I think he's just worrying too much about it."

"Seems that way to me. Though considering the average level of intelligence in most of the student body, I suppose being concerned about peoples' reaction is understandable. Although…it's kinda insulting you lumped me in with them, thinkin' I'd have the same childish reaction as everyone else."

Kazuma sighed heavily. "Okay…well that makes me feel…a little better. Though there's still the problem of Orihime and the others…"

"I wouldn't worry about her, as energetic and single-minded as she is, Orihime isn't one to pry into your business unless she thinks you're in trouble. Plus, she doesn't seem to remember yesterday all that well. I think all those mystery meals she makes are screwing with her memory. First a sumo wrestler crashing into her house and then a crazy snake-armed man running around the school…I'm really getting worried about that girl…"

Kazuma couldn't help but chuckle. Both at the current focus of discussion but also his apparently overthought concerns about Tatsuki's reaction to his secret.

Thankfully for Kazuma, the others didn't seem to remember the day's events or, in the case of Sado, Kazuma couldn't tell if he didn't remember or simply didn't care.

So after finishing up the last of his classes for the day Kazuma made his way to the exit of the school when he was, again, interrupted by Matsuda and Motohama.

Kazuma twitched his eyebrows angrily. "I thought we had a deal you guys…"

Motohama shook his head. "No, no, we're not here to pester you about that. We're just here to thank you."

Matsuda nodded in emphatic agreement.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "For…what, exactly?"

The two held up the books Kazuma had given them, with sly grins to match.

"These!" Motohama shouted excitedly. "We haven't gotten very far through but these books are wonderful. So much detail, so much sex…"

Kazuma sighed in response and chuckled, "Keep'em. If it'll keep you guys occupied for a while I'm willing to give'em up."

"Are there more?!" Motohama demanded excitedly.

Taken aback some, Kazuma answered weakly, "Er, uhm, y-yeah…why?"

"Once we finish these think we can get the others?!"

Kazuma grinned darkly. 'Hook, line, and sinker.' He then smiled kindly. "Sure thing. Just make sure to keep our little discussion a secret."

"Right, right!" the two agreed emphatically.

Kazuma then walked away and left the parking lot.

Like clockwork, Kazuma felt a light, familiar weight applied to his head. He looked up and saw Kuroka in cat form resting atop his noggin. "You been waiting here all day?"

"Not all day, nya. Just long enough to make sure I don't miss you, nya," she answered happily in her squeaky cat voice. "Though, I gotta ask, nya. Isn't home the other direction, nya?"

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it is, but I've got somewhere special to go. With all of the Hollow activity these past few days, not to mention dealing with whistle britches here, my armory of weapons has been getting low."

"Oh, nya? So you have a specific person you buy them from, nya?"

Kazuma nodded again. "Yes, I have someone who is specially trained to smelt and work with the taphus ore that makes up my weapons. She's actually one of the first people I met upon appearing in this world after breaking out of Amala."

"She, nya?"

"Yes. Murakami Yoshikuni. She's a sword smith at an old Buddhist temple nearby. Normally she makes tools and nails for the temple itself but, after my encounter with her three years ago, she's been making weapons for me as well. Under the table of course. It'd look bad if it was discovered a person who lives at a monastery is making weapons for a devil, current or former."

"Ohh, nya. She's skilled, nya?"

"One of the best. Legend has it her family actually forged one of the nine Holy Swords, Kurikara I think she called it."

Kuroka thought for a moment before saying, "Kurikara, nya? That name sounds familiar, nya."

"That so? Well it's not one I've heard of. Then again Excalibur and Caliburn are the ones I'm most familiar with."

Kazuma and Kuroka continued talking as Kazuma made his way to the shrine where Murakami was.

As he approached he looked up at Kuroka and asked, "Think you'll be alright? This is a holy place after all."

Kuroka tilted her head in thought before answering, "I should be okay, nya. I don't get the same feeling from this place that I get when I approach most holy places, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow but just shrugged and walked past the entrance. And considering Kuroka didn't start seizing he assumed she was alright.

The shrine itself was more like a small village unto itself with many large buildings, pathways throughout, and tall ornate walls all around. Kazuma easily wound his way through the different pathways towards his destination, however he was interrupted when he heard someone shout, "Look out!"

The next thing Kazuma was able to perceive was someone slamming into his side, hard. Knocking him, Kuroka, and his supposed assailant to the ground.

Kazuma groaned before sitting up and shouting, "Watch where you're going dammit!"

"Why don't you watch where you're going dumbass!" an adolescent boy with short, messy brown hair with a blonde streak down the middle, a small goatee on his chin, narrow black eyes, lightly tanned skin, and multiple piercings on his ears, and wearing a black t-shirt, purple jacket, dark blue sneakers, and jeans shouted angrily before realizing who he had run in to. Standing up he sneered to one side. "Oh, it's you Soryu. What the heck are you doing here?"

Kazuma stood up and silently put Kuroka back on his head, much to the confusion of the teen and his two friends.

The first was a teen with shorty, messy pink hair and red eyes wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts with white sneakers.

The second was a young teen with short, stubby hair, pale skin, and brown eyes with distinctively large ears wearing red glasses, and a monk's uniform.

Kazuma looked at the tallest of the three, the one who ran into him, and frowned. "Oh, it's you, Ryuji."

The now named Ryuji growled before shouting back at Kazuma. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Suguro!? I don't like you using my first name, it's creepy!"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh? Why's that, Ryuji?"

Ryuji grit his teeth and snarled, "Now you're just trying to make me angry."

The first teen tried to calm his friend. "Now, now, Bon, no reason to get so angry." He turned to Kazuma and bowed. "Sorry Soryu, Bon's just been agitated since this morning."

Ryuji turned to him and shouted, "Why are you telling him that, Shima?!"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow curiously. "Why's that?"

"None of your damn business!"

Shim chuckled weakly and answered, "He tried applying for True Cross again and got denied."

Ryuji sulked in a corner.

Kazuma could only sweat-drop in response. "I…I see…"

The third teen nodded and added, "Yeah, so he's been angry all day because of that."

Shima looked over and warned, "I'd be careful Konekomaru, Bon's glaring at you again."

The third teen, Konekomaru, winced off to the side in response.

Shima then turned to Kazuma and asked, "So, why are you here anyway? Going to see Yoshikuni again?"

Kazuma nodded in response. "Yes, I've come to get some more supplies."

Shima sweat-dropped and muttered, "It makes me wonder what exactly it is you do that you're always buying so many weapons…"

Kazuma grinned darkly and asked, "You really wanna know…?"

"Nope, I'm good," Shima answered flatly.

Ryuji finally collected himself and remarked, "Well if you're going to see Yoshikuni, I suggest you go now. Her family's got some kind of gathering they're doing later today so she'll be leaving early. So hurry up and get outta here."

Kazuma nodded with a smirk and ran off, adding, "Thanks for the info, Ryuji."

"Grr, you bastard!"

Kazuma made his way up towards the back of the temple and arrived at a small shack on the edge of a deep forest.

Walking up to the shack he knocked on the door.

"Coming!" a female voice inside yelled as footsteps tapped on the wooden floor inside. The door opened and a slightly short teenage girl with short brown hair that had one bang hanging longer than the rest tied decoratively and violet eyes wearing narrow, half-framed glasses and a loose-fitting kimono, hiding a curvy figure underneath that could be barely seen, looked out and smiled when she saw Kazuma. "Ah! Kazu, you're here!"

Kazuma chuckled weakly at her greeting, grunting, "Why is everyone calling me that…?" Shaking his head and getting back on topic he asked, "So, is that order I called in ready, Murakami?"

Murakami nodded and led him inside the shack, which was filled with large varieties of tools and weapons on the walls, hanging on different hooks and racks, with a large smelter at the back of the room.

Murakami went through a door to a room behind the main one as Kazuma sat down, Kuroka moving to sit in his lap as he did.

A few moments later Murakami returned with a large box in her arms, walking ungainly.

Kazuma frowned in concern and asked sheepishly, "Err, are you…do you need help?"

Murakami, grunting as she carried the box, responded, "No…I do…not," she finished as she dropped the box on the floor. Checking for a moment to ensure she didn't crush her feet she smiled happily and flopped down, sitting in front of Kazuma and opening the box.

'She's a weird one alright,' Kazuma thought in confusion.

Pulling open the box, Murakami remarked, "Just as you asked, kunai and shuriken, about forty of each." Handing one to him, she asked, "So, is that quality what you wanted?"

Kazuma inspected the kunai for a few moments and answered with a smile, "Naturally. I expect no less than perfection from your smithing. Precisely the reason I've come all the way to this temple for tools, the best smith in Japan."

"Aww, flattery will get you everywhere."

Kazuma chuckled and then asked, "So how much do I owe you for this order?"

Murakami nodded and pulled a calculator out from her kimono, Kazuma was sorely wishing he was that calculator at that moment, before adding up different numbers on it and handing it to Kazuma.

Kazuma flinched and then slumped his shoulders. "…Naturally the best smith in Japan reflects that with her prices…"

"Yup!" Murakami chirped.

Kazuma bid farewell and left the temple to return home after Murakami had cleaned him out.

Walking home from the temple, bemoaning his current lack of funds, Kazuma decided to cut through a park to get home quicker as the clouds overhead were turning an eerie black color.

"I've never seen this park before, nya," Kuroka remarked as he walked through with her on his head.

"I've never come through here since you started spying on me," Kazuma responded with a small bite.

Kuroka lightly patted him on the head in a fake punch, "You're mean, nya." Kuroka then perked up and looked over to the side, "Kazu-nya, look over there, nya."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and followed where Kuroka was pointing. He saw what looked like a person lying against a tree motionless. He noticed that the person seemed strangely familiar, though he also noticed that the person seemed to be hurt. Making his way over to the tree, Kazuma was able to get a better look at the person.

The person in question was a woman wearing black and purple robes that covered most of her body, including a hood over her head, however Kazuma could see several locks of light purple hair hanging down.

However, as Kazuma looked over, his eyes widened in shock. "Medea!" He bent down and held up the woman's head, pushing back her hood to reveal waist-length purple hair with braids down the sides, parted bangs, pointed ears, and tired violet eyes.

The woman, Medea, slowly opened her eyes and looked at Kazuma. She expressed what little surprise she could in her weakened. "A…braxas…"

Kazuma's eyes widened further and he demanded frantically, "Medea! What the hell are you doing here?! How are you here?!"

With a weakened voice Medea answered, "I…don't have enough time…to explain. Please…you must become…my Master…"

Kazuma looked at her puzzled and bewildered. He then shook his head determined. "No, I could never call myself your master, you don't deserve-!"

Medea stopped him by placing a finger over his mouth. Weakly she requested, "Please, agree to be my Master…I can explain it all…later…" Medea's body began to feel lighter as Kazuma noticed her beginning to fade away.

Gritting his teeth Kazuma nodded. "Alright, I'll be your Master, but you need to explain everything."

Medea nodded with a smile as Kazuma flinched when he felt a burning sensation on his right hand.

He looked at it and noticed an intricate, red, ornate, glowing mark form on the back of his hand. He also noticed a sensation of energy being drained from him. 'My mana…is this…a Tether?' Kazuma then looked back to Medea and smiled happily as her complexion returned to normal. He then hardened his expression in confusion. "Medea…why…how…? I saw Typhon kill you…how are you-?"

Medea lightly put a hand over Kazuma's mouth and shook her head. "Not here. Do you have somewhere you live? It will be safer there."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then nodded, picking Medea up in his arms as Kuroka slid forward off his head onto Medea's stomach and curled up.

Medea noticed the "cat" curl up on her and giggled lightly, stroking Kuroka's back as Kazuma made his way back to his apartment.

Upon arrival, Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then sighed. He then looked down at Kuroka and requested, "Kuroka, could you open the door?"

Medea looked at him puzzled as Kuroka jumped down and transformed into human form, startling the violet-haired woman, before taking Kazuma's keys and opening the door to let him and Medea inside.

As Kazuma walked over to his couch and set her down, Kuroka giggled in amusement.

"Ufufu, you didn't mention her in your story, nya."

Kazuma sighed and turned to Kuroka. "Her name's Medea. She's one of the people I met while trying to stop Prometheus."

Kuroka nodded in thought as Kazuma turned his attention back to Medea.

"Medea, what's going on? How are you here?"

Medea sat up weakly, her strength slowly returning, and began to explain. "I don't remember all that happened, but what I do remember is that my soul was pulled into the Holy Grail after the fight with Typhon. I…cannot be certain how much time passed between then and now, but I assume it has been a long time."

"About a thousand years," Kazuma interjected.

Medea blinked curiously and asked, "Then…how are you still alive?"

"Remember Forbesii?"

Medea nodded slowly.

"He sealed me inside of the Tower of Amala since he thought I was becoming too powerful. I spent about a thousand years in there before waking up roughly three years ago."

Medea nodded in thought. "I suppose I am not too surprised by that. He always was a coward."

"Yeah, well now he's a dead coward."

"Wh-what?!"

Kazuma sighed and explained shortly what happened after Medea's death and before he found her.

To say Medea was surprised would be understating.

Medea nodded as she took in what he told her. "I must say I am quite surprised."

Kazuma nodded and redirected, "Now, could you explain what you were doing out there in that park? And how you ended up there in the first place?"

Medea nodded and winced slightly. "The Holy Grail War."

"Holy Grail War? That sounds…bizarre."

"It is. It seems that it was started two hundred years ago. I do not the specifics, but what I do know is three clans fought to obtain the Holy Grail, but then could not decide who should ultimately keep the Grail. So they decided to fight over it with the clandestine Holy Grail War. The simplest explanation of it I can provide is that the Grail appears to choose seven people around the world to be 'Masters'."

Kazuma nodded in understanding and asked, "So am I one of those Masters then?"

"Not officially, as the Grail only chooses humans to be Masters. At any rate, after the Masters are chosen they perform a ritual to summon a Heroic Spirit, the soul of a famous or well-known person from history. The Grail apparently considers me among them."

"Do you know who else are Spirits out there?"

Medea shook her head slowly. "None of them were people I recognized. I do remember hearing talk of Heracles being a Berserker in one."

Kazuma blinked in curiosity. "Heracles? So he's been dragged into this at some point as well?"

Medea nodded again and continued her explanation. "The Heroic Spirits are divided into seven classes called Servants. Archer, Lancer, Saber, Berserker, Assassin, Caster, and Rider. Each one receives special skills called Noble Phantasms, provided by the Grail and based on our abilities in life."

Kazuma sighed once more as he thought over what she said. "So you're saying that people like you are being resurrected from the dead to fight in some war? What's the point of this all anyway?"

"The point is simple. The seven Masters all wish to obtain the Holy Grail, it selects those who have the strongest desire or need for it. The Masters then compete by having the Servants fight each other to the death, and the Master whose Servant is the last one standing is the victor." Medea braced herself, already knowing what Kazuma's reaction would be.

She was surprised however as he merely clenched his fists and grit his teeth momentarily before letting out an angered sigh. However his anger was evident as he asked, "So seven regular people are selected at random to resurrect heroes from the dead pit them against each other in some stupid fight for the Sephiroth Graal?"

Medea looked at Kazuma surprised for a moment before nodding in thought. "Yes…that is essentially the basis of the Holy Grail Wars."

Kazuma put a hand over his face and sighed as he brought it down. "This is ridiculous. These bastards are treating human beings like they're toys. I don't know who started these wars or why, but I refuse to let anyone toy around with people's lives like this."

"Unfortunately…that would require you to participate in the wars, otherwise the Grail will send a Ruler after you."

"A Ruler?"

"Yes, an eighth class of Servant summoned directly by the Grail to pursue and destroy anyone and anything acting in a way that is against the rules or the Grail's will."

Kazuma ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Unbelievable. So this was all set up because a bunch of humans got greedy?"

Medea nodded.

"Wonderful. Is there a Holy Grail War going on right now?"

Medea shook her head. "I do not know. I remain from the last one, or rather, what should have been the Fifth Holy Grail War, although it seems not all of the Masters were chosen and it did not occur."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes angrily. "So that means…you were summoned by someone else to be their Servant…?"

Medea's expression shadowed somewhat. "Yes…and that is the reason you found me where you did. I killed my previous Master, and without his mana to sustain me in this world I was returning to the spiritual realm within the Grail."

Kazuma clenched his fists and asked with trepidation, "Did he…?"

Medea brought a hand close to her chest as he asked. "…He tried…that is why I killed him…"

Kazuma sighed and wrapped an arm around Medea. "I'm sorry you had to go through that again…it's like Jason all over again…"

Medea pushed him away softly and shook her head. "No, you need not apologize. Besides, I was capable of dealing with him and nothing came of it." She then gave a slight smile. "In the end, I was able to see you once again, Abraxas."

Kazuma pulled back and smirked. "It's good to see you again too, Medea. Also, my name is Kazuma Soryu now. I'm trying to distance myself from the name and identity I used to have."

Medea nodded as she stood up unsteadily. "I understand. Then I shall call you Kazuma."

Kazuma nodded in return and the two closed in for a hug.

The two were startled by the sound of an object hitting the floor at the edge of the room.

Kazuma turned and saw Mavis and Erza standing by the doorway with shocked expressions. He grunted in annoyance as he had been so caught up in seeing an old friend again he had forgotten that he'd have to explain the situation to Erza and the others.

"Uh-oh, nya," Kuroka said playfully.

"Shut up," Kazuma retorted dryly.

"Ka-zu-ma…" Erza growled angrily.

Mavis tilted her head in confusion. "You know her too I guess…?"

Kazuma sighed in defeat.

Medea merely blinked in bewilderment.

After calming down the raging redhead, Kazuma finally managed to sit her and Mavis down to explain the situation.

"Remember what I told you about Forbesii sending me to stop Prometheus' Crasis?" he asked.

Erza and Mavis nodded.

"Well along the way I met Medea. If you've read modern mythology you'd know her from the story Jason and the Argonauts," Kazuma explained, spitting the name of the myth like poison.

Erza raised an eyebrow and then frowned sadly. "So she's…?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yes, to put things simply, she's the woman Aphrodite controlled to help Jason. After everything that happened to her, we found her wandering through Greece and she joined us." He looked at Medea sympathetically and put a hand over hers. "You don't mind me saying that, do you?"

Medea shook her head. "No. They have a right to know."

Kazuma nodded and then turned back to the other three. "One thing I didn't tell you is that Prometheus almost succeeded in reviving Typhon, so I and those who were travelling with me had to fight and kill it." He lightly squeezed Medea's hand as he added, "Medea is one of the ones who didn't make it."

Erza blinked in confusion and then turned to Medea. "So…you died in that battle?"

Medea nodded. "Yes." She then frowned sadly, "If you do not mind, I would rather we not talk about this further."

Kazuma turned to the others and they nodded in understanding.

Erza put a hand on her chin and pondered, "I've heard of the deceased being brought back with different jutsu during my own time, but nothing quite like this. I'm certain that something like this is most assuredly against the laws of the Soul Society, so I will need to explain it to them upon my return."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes tensely.

Erza shook her head. "Don't worry, I have no intention of trying to return her soul to whatever seal it was in."

Kazuma nodded slowly.

Erza then sighed and looked between Kazuma and Medea. "So I suppose she's staying here?"

"That is why you had the apartments renovated with so many rooms, right?"

Erza twitched an eyebrow in response. "…I…suppose that's true…"

Medea smiled and leaned over to Kazuma.

Erza put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be in a separate room."

Medea looked at her annoyed.

Kazuma sighed and then remarked, "One more thing, you can't go out in that outfit, so we'll need to find something else for you to wear."

Medea nodded in agreement.

Erza turned to Kazuma accusingly and asked, "Do you plan on helping her shop?"

Kazuma looked at her puzzled, "That was the idea."

Erza looked at him doubtfully. "How about I take care of that?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow curiously. "If you say so. Also, I think she should try and get integrated into the world, don't you Medea?"

Medea shook her head. "No, the Grail gave me all of the modern information and understanding I need."

"Is that so? That could be useful."

Medea nodded in agreement. "Although…one thing I think would be fun is attending school."

Kazuma looked at Erza who nodded with a small smile. "I think we can get it worked out," Erza added.

Kazuma nodded in agreement. He then turned to Medea and asked, "What made you decide you wanted to do that if you don't mind me asking?"

Medea nodded and responded, "The Grail gave me images and thoughts of being at school, though I know they were all false. I would enjoy experiencing them authentically."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "I can see that. Okay then, I can see if I can get you in the school."

Medea smiled and nodded happily.

Sighing Kazuma stood up and stretched. "Well, with that said, I think we should get to bed now, we can figure that out later."

The others nodded and Kazuma made his way to his room as Medea stood up, only to be grabbed by Erza.

"I don't need to hear that."

Medea whined sadly as Kazuma disappeared into his room.

Kazuma awoke the next morning to a surprisingly familiar feeling.

His body, especially his arms, felt heavy and he couldn't move them, besides his fingers.

Cracking open his eyes he looked to one side and saw Kuroka, with little besides her hair and her tail covering her, wrapped in around his left arm. He gulped, summoning every ounce of self-control he had as her round, doughy breasts formed around his arms and as his hand was dangerously close to her womanhood.

Turning to his left side he saw Medea pressed up against him with his arm wrapped around her. This had the effect of pressing her breasts, which her hidden by little more than the silk negligee she wore under her robes, right against his side as her legs were intertwined with his own. Fortunately for his own self-control she still had underwear on. However Kazuma had forgotten how particularly well-endowed Medea was, a thought that momentarily entered and then left his mind as he tried everything he could to keep himself from getting busy with the two lovely ladies on his sides.

Gulping he decided on a last resort. Activating his Mangekyo Sharingan he then used Kamui to phase through the women safely.

Standing up and stumbling away he sighed. "This…was a wonderful waking up…" he then smirked weakly, "too bad I can't fully enjoy it." After sighing he left the room and began getting ready for school that morning.

Kazuma left the apartment with Erza and Mavis towards Kuoh Academy.

Fortunately for him, no one accosted him that morning, however he did notice he was beginning to get odd glances and murmurs about him by the other students.

Flowing energy to his ears, he listened in on their chatter.

"Did you hear the rumors about Soryu?"

"No, what are they?"

"Apparently he's really close to the Two Great Ladies."

"And now he's close to those two new transfer students too."

"They're in danger."

Most people would frown at hearing that but Kazuma smirked as he heard it.

'What are you so happy about?' Ddraig asked?

'With everyone still thinking of me like I'm one of the Perverted Trio, I should still be okay for a while.'

'You sure seem to like having people despise you.'

'…Maybe…people disliking me makes it a little easier on me. I don't like having to keep up a persona that garners attention.'

'…Uhm…isn't that what you're doing already?'

'…Sh-shut up…'

After having his logic soundly beaten, Kazuma made his way to class, ignoring both the insults and murmurs of his contemporaries and the circular logic Ddraig had presented him with.

Eventually Kazuma made it to his classroom, where he saw his two friends dutifully reading the material he provided, though he was astonished how far they were into it. As he looked around the room randomly he noticed one student that seemed out of place.

An attractive young woman with elbow-length violet hair slightly darker than Medea's styled with one bang hanging down longer than the rest on the right side with a red ribbon tied in the left side of her hair, fair skin, and seemingly lifeless, featureless, violet eyes, with a slightly above average bust wearing the standard Kuoh Academy uniform with the open vest and no shoulder-cape.

Kazuma looked at the girl puzzled, primarily because she gave off a strange sensation that troubled him.

However, he managed to suppress the feelings when the teacher, Taiga Fujimura, a young woman with short, light brown hair and matching eyes wearing a green dress with a yellow and black striped t-shirt underneath and plain white shoes, entered the room and called the class' attention to her.

"Alright everyone, pay attention! I'm pleased to announce the entry of a new student into our classroom."

The girl Kazuma had noticed stood up and walked to the front of the classroom and stood next to the teacher.

"Please, introduce yourself."

The girl stood up in front of the class with a mild, almost expressionless face and bowed before saying, "My name is Sakura Matou. It is good to meet all of you."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes further in thought at the girl as she stood up straight.

As she did she happened to glance over at him and noticed he was staring at her, which made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

Kazuma noticed this and sighed before looking out the window as Sakura back down, naturally the class started babbling about Sakura after she sat down, the girls being particularly venomous to her.

"Geez, so frail."

"Yeah, and did you see how Soryu was leering at her?"

"Who wouldn't? She looks so weird."

Kazuma snarled in annoyance at the ramblings and then smirked before looking out the window abruptly. "Whoa! Why's Yuuto not wearing a damn shirt!?"

Suddenly the window was plastered with every single girl in the class glued to it to try and find the elusive shirtless Yuuto.

Sakura blinked curiously and looked at Kazuma, who only grinned happily at her, before a barrage of books flew at him.

"Soryu you idiot!" the girls all cried in unison, angered at Kazuma's fib.

Kazuma twitched limply on his desk.

Sakura looked at him puzzled before the edges of her mouth turned up in a small smile.

Most of the day was rather normal after his first meeting with Sakura, however Kazuma was left constantly curious what the feeling he was getting from her was.

He eventually got his chance during the midday break.

As the rest of the class was filing out to go to their desired areas to eat, Sakura remained in the room and silently ate a meal of her own by herself.

Kazuma rested his head in his hand, hiding his right eye behind his fingers, closed his left eye, and activated his Sharingan. As normal, he saw the flickering blue chakra that made up a person's body on Sakura's visage. However, his eye widened when he noticed something else. Multiple, smaller chakra signatures of a sickly pallor littered throughout her own chakra, and they were moving. Deactivating his Sharingan he got up and made his way to the roof, using the time between places to think.

'Those chakra signatures…they certainly weren't human. But…what were they?' he asked himself as he walked to the roof to meet with Ichigo and the others.

Ddraig interjected, 'They could be parasites.'

Kazuma raised an eyebrow curiously. 'Parasites? Most parasites aren't visible to my sharingan though as they don't have chakra. Although…I suppose it wouldn't be the first time I've encountered energy devouring parasites.'

Ddraig gave a verbal nod. 'Yes, they seem similar to the Magatama. Except whatever those were she had multiple of them, and they seemed to be different in nature to the Magatama.'

Kazuma nodded in agreement once more. 'Yeah…that's true. Question is…what are they…where did they come from…and who implanted her with them?'

'You'd better not go sticking your nose in this Abraxas, don't forget what happened the last time you got involved with something you shouldn't have.'

Kazuma twitched an annoyed eyebrow. 'Yeah, yeah, though I don't see how my…misgivings with those eight have anything to do with this.'

'Right, since you sticking your nose in the private life of a pretty girl because you're worried has nothing to do with you sticking your nose in the private life of a pretty devil girl because you're worried.'

'You're being a real asshole today…you know that…?'

Ddraig elected not to respond and merely went back to sleeping.

Kazuma just sighed.

However his inner thoughts were interrupted when something slammed into him from the side at high speed.

"Kaaazuma!" an energetic voice shouted as he and his "assailant" slammed against the wall.

Kazuma grunted as he lifted his head to see who had barreled into him. He raised an eyebrow and then sighed as he realized who it was. "Mavis…what are you doing?"

Mavis stood up and dusted off her skirt happily as Kazuma stood up as well. "I was bored sitting in that classroom. Based on all the books and comics I read I thought school would be a lot more fun than this."

Kazuma scratched his head with a sigh. "You've only been here a few days, give it time. Have you actually made any friends yet?"

Mavis folded her arms in annoyance. "Hmph! Of course I have…well…a few…"

Kazuma sighed in defeat. "I'm guessing none…"

Mavis turned away with waterfall tears streaming down her face. "Shut up!" she whined.

Kazuma put a hand over his face and sighed in frustration. "Maybe if you stop acting so crazy they won't avoid you. Although, knowing modern teenage girls, the reverse might also be true…geez, women were a lot easier to figure out a thousand years ago."

Mavis raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You sure? Last time I checked you still had as much of a hard time figuring us out then too."

Kazuma scratched his head and shrugged. "Getting to understand Arturia wasn't too difficult. Though I suppose crossing swords with someone is the best way to get to know them. That and a Direct-Tether but most humans can't do that."

Mavis blinked dumbly. "Wha…?"

Kazuma shook his head. "Nevermind, I'm going to head for lunch, I imagine you should too, I'm pretty sure Gigais need food as well."

Mavis watched him leave curiously before her stomach started to grumble.

Kazuma soon made his way to the roof to eat his meal with the others as usual, however, Kazuma noticed shortly that someone appeared to be missing. Looking around he asked, "Where's Saji?"

The others stopped and looked around as well, Tatsuki remarking, "Huh, I never noticed he was gone."

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief. "You…can't be serious? I noticed something was off at least."

"Things seemed a little quieter at least," Yuuto added.

"That's still the same issue!"

Yuuto merely laughed his insult off. "Regardless, I'm certain he's fine. Though I did see Sona Shitori talking to him earlier."

Kazuma lowered his head and put his hands together. "May he rest in peace."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Tatsuki shouted.

Kazuma returned to his classroom shortly after lunch ended, and still found his mind concerned about Sakura's "passengers" or if she even knew they were there. Though with nudging from Ddraig and no small amount of self-control Kazuma managed to wrench his focus away from her.

After classes Kazuma made his way back to his apartment and proceeded to the restaurant, however he was accompanied by someone unexpected on his way.

"Is there a reason you wanted to come, Erza?" he asked as she walked beside him.

"Not one in particular, I merely don't trust you and Medea, you admitted the two of you were lovers in your past," she answered pointedly.

Kazuma sighed and answered, "Medea's not even here. And besides, why are you so concerned about my sex life?"

Erza turned a very luminescent shade of red from his equally pointed answer and blurted out, "Y-you can't just say that in public!"

Kazuma sighed again in frustration and asked once more, "Still, why are you so concerned?"

Erza looked at him puzzled momentarily, her embarrassed blush still slightly present, before looking off to the side. "Well…I…can't…have you…getting distracted because of something she does, that's it."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes incredulously at her.

Erza slinked off to the side concerned. "Wh-what? Is there something on my face?"

Kazuma shrugged in answer. "No. Your answer just seems odd, I still don't see why that has any bearing on anything but whatever."

"There is one other thing."

"Hmm?"

"I'm curious how you actually met those two, Hibiki and Hikari, if you don't mind."

"That's their story to tell, not mine. Ask them if you want answers."

Successfully dodging her question Kazuma made his way into the restaurant as they approached, Erza right behind him.

Kazuma waved to her and muttered, "I'm heading to the back, see ya."

Erza nodded unconvincingly as she looked around for the twins. She eventually found them and was about to speak to them when a loud and shrill voice filled the restaurant.

"Helllllloo! Serafall Levia-tan is back!"

Erza turned around in shock at the rather high-pitched shouting of the person directly behind her.

In the kitchen Kazuma also heard her shouts and twitched an eyebrow. "Damn it."

As Serafall pranced inside a second person, Koneko Toujo, entered the restaurant as well. Koneko looked up and saw Erza, the two studying each other momentarily in curiosity.

Koneko elected to merely bow slightly in silence and make her way to a booth.

Erza gave a slight nod before making her way over to the twins.

Hibiki finished up taking an order when Erza approached them.

"Excuse me," Erza said politely to the two.

Hibiki turned around annoyed and saw Erza. "Huh? What the hell do you want?" she asked rudely, only to receive a light chop on the head from her sister.

"Hibiki! Just because a customer is standing up doesn't mean you have the right to be rude to them," Hikari snapped before turning to Erza. "I'm really sorry about that, she didn't get much sleep last night. If you wouldn't mind taking a seat we will get your order shortly." She then noticed Erza's uniform curiously. "Wait…you're from…"

Erza shook her head. "I'm not here to order, I was actually hoping to talk to the two of you."

The twins looked at her confused.

"Hey Kazuma, we're gonna be busy for a few minutes, think you could take over getting orders for a little while?" Hibiki asked, poking her head through the door into the kitchen.

"Sure, I can handle that," Kazuma answered plainly.

"…I don't see how but thanks," Hibiki answered simply.

Hibiki and Hikari sat down in a booth at the corner of the restaurant opposite Erza.

"So, what did you want to talk about Miss…?" Hibiki began.

"Erza Scarlet. I was wondering something concerning you two and Kazuma."

The twins gained a light tinge of pink in response.

"O-our relationship with Kazuma! Why does that matter to you!?" Hikari argued.

Hibiki put a hand up to calm her. "I feel the same as Hikari, why do you want to know?"

Erza sighed and responded in annoyance, "I asked him out of curiosity and he refused to answer and told me to ask you."

The twins looked at each other with a matching look of annoyance and sighed. "Sounds like something he'd do, that idiot," they remarked in unison.

As the three spoke, they were unaware of the two sets of eyes keeping occasional tabs on them, said eyes belonging to Serafall and Koneko.

Serafall narrowed her eyes scrupulously as she listened to the three of them. 'Fufu, this is interesting. I get to hear about my queen's past. Well, future queen.'

Koneko merely observed them silently, parts of her hair twitching occasionally.

Hibiki began with slight shame in her voice, "Well, it's not exactly the most endearing of beginnings but…we met before Hikari and I started working here, he's actually the whole reason we started."

"He is?" Erza asked intrigued.

Hikari nodded. "Yeah, we wandered in here with no money one day and decided to take on one of those insane food challenges."

Hibiki sighed in embarrassment. "Two, actually. I took on the Insane Death Bowl and Hikari decided to try the Heart Stopper."

Erza blinked curiously. "Uhm…the what now?"

"Kazuma is more than just an employee here, he's also effectively a co-owner with Miss Ayame. And one of the things he did is set up a series of food challenges with different rewards if someone can beat the challenge. And, naturally, most of these revolve around free food for a period of time. So Hikari and I attempted these challenges to reap the rewards."

Hikari slumped over and buried her head in her arms, mumbling out, "It didn't go well…"

Erza blinked and asked, "Wh-why…?"

"We failed completely and ended up sick afterwards," Hikari explained mortified. "But then, after we left, Kazuma stopped us before we got too far away."

Hikari's cheeks reddened slightly as she recalled, "Even though he'd just watched us stuff our faces and then pay the penalty of same, he still recommended us as waitresses for the restaurant."

Erza looked between them puzzled. "Why?"

Hibiki answered, "We had explained to him that part of the reason we took those challenges, and failed, was because we were completely poor. So we started working here shortly thereafter."

Erza nodded in understanding. "So you two attempted those challenges because you didn't have much money and failed regardless, and after hearing your troubles Kazuma got you waitressing jobs here?"

"That's the simplified version. I'm guessing you were hoping for something a little more romantic than that, huh?"

Erza shook her head. "No, that sounds perfectly fine to me. It also seems that with as much as Kazuma talks about keeping a persona that pushes people away he's very quick to help people."

Hibiki couldn't help chuckling in response. "Yes, I suppose you're right. As much as Kazuma tries to act in a way to make people dislike him, saying having many people like him is a pain, he has a nasty habit of helping people in need."

Hikari added with a similar chuckle to her sister, "I still remember his reasoning when we asked why he helped us. 'If there's someone in need and I can do something to help but don't, I could never forgive myself.' Although, shhh, don't tell him we told you that, his air of indifference is his most prized possession."

Erza couldn't help laughing at the twins' response. "Yes, he does make a big deal out of keeping his public perception of being unlikable. So you need not worry, the secret is safe with me."

At that moment, both Koneko and Serafall thought, 'But it's not with me.'

Kazuma, who was busily cooking in the kitchen turned away as he sneezed. "Shit, hopefully the Thought Projections won't-" a chorus of sneezes erupted, "well crap."

The Twins nodded in agreement before Hikari leant in close to Erza with a smirk. "So, why are you so curious about Kazuma's past, Miss Scarlet?"

Erza looked at them slightly confused and with a light pink to her nose, "Well because…we're friends and we live in the same apartment."

"What?!" the Twins shouted as they fell over. "You live together!?" The two then looked around and turned fluorescent red from the stares, before clearing their throats to divert attention.

Hibiki slapped a hand over Hikari's mouth before she said anything and asked, "So you two are living together? Why? How? When?"

Erza felt confused as the questions from the Twins bombarded her. "Ah, well…that's a little…complicated…"

Hibiki and Hikari stared at her intensely, letting her know they were waiting for an answer.

Erza began to sweat heavily as she tried to think on her feet for a lie to use.

The moment was interrupted when Kazuma exited the kitchen with a large platter of food, only to trip over a customer's extended foot and fall flat on his face, also spilling the food all over the floor.

Hibiki, Hikari, and Erza could only watch in confusion and amazement as Kazuma simply fell to the floor.

"Ooowww…" Kazuma moaned as he lie on the floor.

The Twins sighed and then turned to speak to Erza, only to realize she was gone.

After cleaning up the mess he made and doling out the dishes requested, Kazuma was finally given the orders he was fearing.

"Mount Everest./Mount Everest!" both Koneko and Serafall announced in unison.

Kazuma sighed as he returned to the kitchen.

As expected, both Serafall and Koneko downed the treats with relative ease.

Looking over the two, Kazuma asked incredulously, "This isn't going to become a weekly act is it?"

Koneko nodded and Serafall gave a comedic salute.

"Why me…?"

After sending the last of the customers home, including Koneko and Serafall, Ayame began closing up for the night as Kazuma and the Twins packed up.

Ayame walked over to Kazuma and remarked in amusement, "You know, we may need to change the rules for the Mount Everest. At this rate, those two will never pay for a single meal."

Kazuma sighed in defeat. "Yeah, I know. And based on what they said they're guaranteed to come and get their feel each week. What a pain."

"Heheh, I wouldn't say that, you have two pretty girls coming to this restaurant just to see you."

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief. "Have you forgotten the whole reason I picked a restaurant so far from my school?"

Ayame waved a hand. "No, no, just teasing you. Go on home, there's not much left here."

Kazuma nodded in agreement and dried his hands before leaving.

Upon exiting the restaurant he found Erza waiting for him outside. "Oh, Erza. Waiting long?"

"Ever since I left," she answered plainly.

"That so? Well, ready to head home?"

Erza nodded in agreement, then asked, "You did that on purpose didn't you?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're referring to. Now, let's get home, it's getting dark, and I certainly don't feel like running into any Hollows right now."

"You do realize that makes no sense as Hollows aren't nocturnal, don't you?"

"Right, right."

Kazuma and Erza arrived back in their apartment complex and were making their way back to their apartment when they noticed a particularly peculiar visitor outside their door.

Kazuma blinked curiously and confused. "K-Kazehana? What are you doing here?"

The well-endowed drinker stuck out her tongue playfully. "Hope you don't mind. My landlady wasn't too keen on how often I've been staying out, nor that I've been drinking her sake. So…I don't have a home right now." Bowing and putting her hands together she asked pathetically, "Do you mind if I stay here for a few nights?"

Kazuma folded his arms and closed his eyes in thought, before opening one eye to look at Erza.

Erza huffed and put her hands at her side. "Whatever. No matter what I say you're going to do whatever you want anyway."

Kazuma only grinned.

Taking her inside, Erza sighed when she remembered Kazuma's other current houseguests, Medea and Kuroka, as both were sitting at the dining room table drinking.

Seeing this elicited a twitching eyebrow from Erza.

One which only enhanced when Kazehana gasped happily and ran over to the two, asking, "Ooh, mind if I have some?!"

Erza gained a tic mark and growled as Kazuma attempted to calm her down.

'Oh boy…this looks like it's about to get real noisy,' he thought as he suddenly realized he had Kazehana, Erza, Medea, Kuroka, and Mavis living in his apartment.

After the three drinkers finished their partying Erza ensured they were each shown to and stayed in their individual rooms before retiring to her own as Kazuma did the same.

In his room, Kazuma sat down on his bed with a sigh. "Geez, I was trying to establish a relatively normal way of doing things here, and now I've gone and got myself involved in this crap." Looking at his hands he attempted to concentrate mana in them, though to no effect. Sighing he remarked, "Damn, guess I really did lose Masakados. Getting turned back into a human in the process. At least now I've got the limited measure of power being a Soul Reaper offers me. Though if those three were any indication even they have limits." Lying back on his bed he pondered, "I suppose I should head back to the Island of Amala at some point then. Hopefully Masakados is still there." With one last sigh Kazuma closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The next morning Kazuma grunted as he noticed that same feeling as before. Sighing he looked to his sides. As expected, Medea was on his right, still cuddled close to him. Remembering how he had met her to begin with he couldn't find himself to be too annoyed with her, so he tightened his hold somewhat. An action he's not sure was the right as the woman proceeded to snuggle closer to him, which should've been impossible given how close she was already. 'Oh boy…this isn't good…'

Looking to his left he saw his newest houseguest, Kazehana, wrapped around his arm.

'Is there a reason they do that…?' he thought to himself.

'To test your limits?' Ddraig wondered aloud.

'Well I'm not too far from my limit at this point. I need to get up and get moving before I decide to resume my activities with Medea.' That thought in mind Kazuma deftly moved to escape the grasp of his two bedmates, although he had to pinch himself as this resulted in the two snuggling against each other. 'Okay, clean thoughts, clean thoughts,' he repeated to himself as he exited his room hoping Erza wouldn't be there to see his reaction to the appealing sight.

Fortunately he was able to prepare for the day safely, though that didn't prevent his jumpy response to Erza surprising him from behind at one point, so he, Erza, and Mavis made their way to Kuoh for the day, Kazuma heading off to the headmaster to check on Medea's situation in being accepted.

Slamming the door behind him with his foot, Kazuma growled angrily as he walked away from the headmaster's office. Scratching his head furiously he snarled, "Damn bureaucratic red tape. Shouldn't be that hard just to give her a uniform and what not. Whatever, nothing I can do about it." He then thought, 'Though I could use Tsukuyomi to mess with his mind a little bit…no that's probably not a good idea…'

Upon arriving in class, Kazuma flopped down at his desk only to overhear a conversation between a few other students, specifically Tatsuki and another student.

The other student asked, "Tatsuki, are you in the art elective?"

Tatsuki nodded plainly, "Yeah, I am. Why?"

"Have you done the 'future me' assignment?"

Tatsuki nodded with a smirk, "Yup."

"Can I see it? Mine's not all that great."

"Sure." Tatsuki then pulled out a painting showing her self standing in a boxing ring holding the champion's belt.

Kazuma looked at her work curiously.

"Someday, I'm going to be the Vale Tudo champion!"

Kazuma sighed as he listened. 'What does that even mean?'

Tatsuki then looked at Orihime and asked, "So, what's yours like Orihime?"

Orihime smiled happily and pulled out her own painting, happily remarking, "Here, this is mine, I'm really proud of it."

Tatsuki and the other student looked at her painting in disbelief.

Kazuma twitched a disbelieving eyebrow.

The image shown was a human-machine amalgamation involving tank treads and missile launchers, with Orihime happily describing, "Future Orihime has a top speed three hundred eighty kilometers an hour, flames that spew out at twenty thousand degrees Celsius, and special destruction lasers from the eyes."

As her friends looked at her in shock and confusion, a nearby student busily continued his needlework.

Tatsuki chuckled and ruffled the orange-haired girl's hair. "That's why we love ya Orihime."

At that moment Ichigo walked into the classroom and Orihime got his attention and greeted, "Hey Ichigo."

Ichigo nodded with an uncharacteristic smile as he responded, "Hey Orihime."

The other students looked at him puzzled.

Tatsuki thought for a moment and then leaned over to get Kazuma's attention. "Hey, Kazuma, what's the date?"

Kazuma glanced at her and answered, "June sixteenth, you know what that means."

Tatsuki nodded in understanding and then explained to her friend, "I know what's up with Ichigo. That's not a face Ichigo makes when he's happy, it's when he's tense. And he won't be coming in to school tomorrow."

Orihime and their classmate looked at her puzzled before the bell rang and classes began.

Well, that oughta do it for this chapter. As usual hope you guys enjoyed and if you did post a review if not, I don't know...find something you enjoy? Either way hope you like it, leave a review of what you think and wait for the next chapter.