Chapter XII

Hello all, I am back to the story. Hopefully you guys all enjoyed the last chapter, it seems at least a few of you did. I would like to thank my coauthors Bakuto Masaki and seeker of true anime fan fic, and the other guy TheLastNanaya. Still need a name for him. Anyway, I suppose it's time to move on to the reviewer response section.

Xenoguyver: Not yet. I am just getting a few characters introduced. There iss still a full arc and a half to go.

DarkPirateKing69: I suppose it is possible to see it that way.

Jose19: Glad you like it. Kazuma is a name I have always liked since watching S-Cry-Ed. I like to try and meld the elements together in an interesting way.

Master Attlon: Oh yeah, lots of conflict.

Chayner: Why yes, there are. Glad you like it, I do try to write things people enjoy. I see...I never really considered that with Soul Reapers. I just kind of figured he'd be able to still use because "magic" but I guess you make a valid point there. It is? I thought Kamui affected only objects the user was not touching at that time they activated it. Meaning if someone touches someone who has the intangibility aspect of Kamui that they would still be able to touch and be in contact with that person even if no one else can because they were touching that person before they activated Kamui. Anyway, thanks for the update.

I am glad it was funny, that was my goal. Yes, Kazuma has Fire Dragon Slayer Magic.

Yeah, he does tend to get caught in situations like that does he not?

No, Ichigo has Fullbring powers, that is what he will have throughout the story, no Soul Reaper abilities. Yup, that they did. The former. There is an explanation to that but I cannot say it just yet since it is spoilers. That he has. Hmm...that's actually an interesting idea.

Yes, that they have. Hopefully he can. Yup, Atalanta. You will see once you have caught up that is not who Assassin. She definitely was, especially after the Fourth Holy Grail War. They definitely will need to pick up the pace.

Oh yeah, Arturia is definitely the dominant of the two, in more ways than one. It is Uryu, what do you expect? He did awaken it, cannot remember the Spanish name they use in the actual show though. Not necessarily scare her, just confuse her. You will need to wait and see how she reacts though.

Yeah, it was just one big battle, was it not? Yeah, that's pretty much what happened. Yes, it does keep growing. I thought it would be a good twist. Yeah, bearable levels at least.

Hmmm...a very astute observation. Yep, they are going after Roa. He does need to learn when to stay dead. Keep reading to find out. Oh you have no idea.

Yep, Nrvnqsr is gone for good. They are very similar to Hidan's. She probably was. Yeah, Minaka's either stupid or he has a hidden ace, or a combination of both. You never know. There are many ways he could know it. It certainly will.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Go away.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

I said go away.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Grr...I said go-and now there are swords at my neck. Oh, it's you two. What a surprise.

"You should have been more courteous in opening your door."

Sorry Erza.

"She is right, that was quite rude of you."

Sorry, Arturia. Could you please put the swords away now? Thank you. Anyway, I assume there's a reason the two of you are here?

"Yes. We figured you would know where Kazuma was."

"Have you seen him?"

Uhm...no, not really. But, on the subject, what do you think of him?

"I am happy I am with him again. Though he is considerably different than before, which is a pleasant change. Though I do wish it was under better circumstances."

I see. Erza?

"He is insufferable. However, at the least he is good at his job. Though that will only last until I regain my powers.

Is that it?

"Yes, is that a problem?"

Nope. I'm good.

"Good. Come Arturia, we will need to find Kazuma on our own."

Phew, well now that they are gone, let us move on to the actual story shall we?

Kazuma stood across from Kalawarner in an alley where the two had just finished defeating a group of Hollows.

Kalawarner looked at Kazuma suspiciously. "You helped me, why?"

Kazuma shrugged. "I already told you, you were in trouble, so I helped."

"You are a devil, you realize I am the enemy, correct?"

Kazuma sighed in annoyance. "I just don't care about the allegiances made by the three factions. Look, if you're that opposed to it just tell your other allies you killed them and then we go our separate ways."

Kalawarner frowned before narrowing her eyes. "That power you used, it was the Power of Destruction, wasn't it?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yeah, it was. Look, I'm pleased to be talking to a pretty woman, but I don't think it's a good idea to talk to someone who's planning on killing me later."

Kalawarner huffed in derision. "Don't insult me. I'm not so crass as to kill someone who just helped me."

Before Kazuma could respond he heard a loud rumbling noise, causing Kalawarner to dip her head in shame. "Heh, heh, heh, hungry?"

Kalawarner looked to the side embarrassed. "Y-yes…"

Kazuma nodded and extended a hand. "I've got a place where you can get some food. Want to go?"

Kalawarner looked at him uncertainly and then sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Kazuma and Kalawarner made their way to the restaurant shortly thereafter, with Kazuma telling her to wait while he prepared a meal.

As he walked to the kitchen, Ayame stopped him curiously. "Kazuma, who is that woman?"

Kazuma sighed in response. "Just a friend of sorts. I'm going to be giving her some food."

Ayame frowned in annoyance. "You're not handing out free food now, are you?"

"No, no, just take it out of my next paycheck."

"If you say so." Ayame huffed in confusion and then shrugged her shoulders as she returned to the back of the restaurant.

After a few moments, Kazuma heard a familiar, energetic voice, and he wasn't happy about it."

"Kazu-tan!" Serafall shouted happily as she entered the restaurant.

Kazuma sighed as he took Kalawarner's dish over to her. "Ah, Serafall, need something?"

Kalawarner froze and turned around frightened as Kazuma talked to the girl. 'Th-that person is…Serafall Leviathan…? This is not good.'

"I'm here to get another free meal!" Serafall exclaimed.

Kazuma nodded in return. "Of course. If you'll take a seat I'll bring you a menu momentarily."

"No need! I'll take a triple-decker sundae!"

Kazuma nodded. "Then just take a seat and it will be out momentarily."

Kalawarner narrowed her eyes as he walked back into the kitchen. 'Hmm…he's good at hiding his personality. The way he's acting now is completely different from before.' Hearing her stomach grumble again the fallen angel sighed and proceeded to eat her meal.

As Kazuma cooked in the kitchen he turned to the side as his Thought Projection at the door opened it for Erza to walk in.

She raised an eyebrow at the multiple Thought Projections but then walked over to the original Kazuma. "Who is that woman you brought in?"

Kazuma turned to her as another Thought Projection took over what he was doing. "Someone I encountered earlier. She was hungry so I brought her here to give her some food."

Erza sighed in exasperation. "Do you have a pathological need to help every person you meet?"

"I've said it before, I can't stand by and not do something if I have the ability to do something."

Erza shrugged in response. "So be it. I will be returning to the dining room."

Kazuma nodded in return as she walked out.

After a short amount of time, Kazuma came out of the kitchen and walked over to the table Kalawarner was seated at. "How's the food?"

Kalawarner glanced up at him, still suspicious, but nodded in response. "It was palatable. Though I still cannot understand your logic."

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Doesn't bother me. So do you have any other plans?"

Kalawarner shook her head before standing up. "No. However, if you don't mind, I would like to get going."

"Do whatever you please."

Kalawarner nodded before leaving the restaurant.

Kazuma sighed as he and Erza prepared to leave the restaurant.

"Something wrong?" Erza asked.

Kazuma shook his head. "No, just annoying."

Erza raised an eyebrow and then widened her eyes when she noticed the slowly healing burns on his hands. "What happened to you?"

Kazuma sighed in annoyance. "When I helped that woman I used a sword I have called Clarent. Unfortunately for me it's a Holy Sword."

Erza sighed in exasperation. "Can you not do anything without getting hurt?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Maybe it's bad luck that's a result of crushing Aphrodite's skull."

Erza looked at him confused and then twitched an eyebrow.

As the two walked away from the restaurant Kazuma turned to Erza and said, "I'm going to see if Arcueid is at that park again."

Erza shrugged. "Do as you please. I will be waiting at the apartment."

Kazuma nodded and then disappeared into Kamui.

Kazuma reappeared from Kamui at the same park he'd met Arcueid, Arturia, and Medea. Kazuma looked around as he noticed no one around.

However, he heard a muffled sound behind him and turned around to see a young woman with dark skin, bright green eyes, and short, messy blonde hair with three braided locks, wearing a white blazer with a light blue undershirt and a black tie, a white, knee-length skirt, and white high-heeled shoes.

Kazuma gulped in worry and raised a hand weakly. "H-hey…there…"

The woman narrowed her eyes in thought at Kazuma. "Who are you?"

"Ah…Kazuma…Kazuma Soryu."

She raised an eyebrow. "I see. My name is Tier."

"Tier…?"

"I'd rather not say."

"Right…so uhm…what are you doing here?"

"Taking a stroll. As simple as that." She then turned and walked away.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then sighed. "Boy…that was tense."

'That woman…she gives me the same sensation as Mira,' Ddraig remarked.

'You mean…an Arrancar?'

'Possibly.'

Kazuma sighed before looking around once more. "Huh…she's not here." He then disappeared back into Kamui and made his way back to his apartment as the sun fell below the horizon.

Kazuma arrived back at his apartment and sighed. He noticed Medea in the kitchen preparing a meal. "What are you up to?"

Medea turned to him with a smile. "I'm just preparing a meal, that's all."

"Smells good."

Medea nodded happily as she returned to cooking.

Kazuma stretched his arm as he walked into his room. He then looked down at his school uniform. "This shoddy sewing job will only last for so long. Guess I should get one of the extras out of my closet."

With that in mind Kazuma made his way to his bedroom and opened the large closet at the back corner of his room.

He noticed some of his things were on the floor but paid it no mind as he grabbed another school uniform. A golden magic circle then appeared in front of him which he dropped his uniform into. "There, now I'll have a replacement to change into." He then walked out of his closet and closed the door. However, he stood silently for a moment with an annoyed expression and opened his closet immediately.

He looked at the pile of clothes on his floor and noticed the very strange lump that seemed to form.

He knelt down and poked it, getting a tired moan from underneath. That caused him to twitch an eyebrow. He then reached out and pulled the pile of his clothing up and demanded, "Alright, just who do you-gah!" He paused and fell back in shock as he saw a most unusual person sleeping in his closet, using his clothes as both bedding and blanket. Standing up with an annoyed sigh he shouted, "Arcueid! Why the hell are you in my closet!?"

Arcueid, who had previously been asleep in Kazuma's closet, sat up slowly and stretched, allowing to Kazuma to vividly see the fact that aside from his clothes that she was covered in, Arcueid was not wearing anything.

Kazuma sighed in annoyance.

Arcueid sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Ohhh…why'd you have to wake me so loudly?"

"More importantly why are you in my closet?!"

Arcueid looked at him confused. "I've been in here since I woke up and started hunting Roa. You're saying you really didn't know?"

"No! I didn't!"

Arcueid folded her arms under bosom as she looked at him annoyed. "Well that's not my fault."

"Yes! It is! You can't just live in someone's closet without telling them!"

Arcueid sighed as she stood up, causing Kazuma's nose to bleed some.

He then threw the clothes she had been using as a blanket at her. "Here, put something on!"

Arcueid tossed the clothes down and sighed before turning and grabbing her own clothes as Kazuma walked out of the small room.

After a moment Arcueid stepped out in her white turtleneck, brown boots, and black stockings, but this time with a purple, pleated miniskirt rather than her ankle-length skirt. "There, better?"

Kazuma sighed in frustration. "Yes. Now please explain why you are sleeping in my closet?"

Arcueid raised an eyebrow as she folded her arms. "I already told you, I've been in there since shortly after I started hunting Roa. I thought you knew already, so that's why I didn't say anything when I saw you at the park."

Kazuma sighed as he scratched his head in irritation. "I guess that somehow makes sense in your own head in some weird way. But for now, stop sleeping in there."

Arcueid raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Then where am I supposed to sleep?"

Kazuma groaned. "Last time I checked there are still a couple free rooms here."

"Nooo…" Arcueid moaned. "It's much more comfortable in there."

Kazuma lightly bopped a fist on her head. "I. Don't. Care. You're not sleeping in my closet anymore."

Arcueid sighed in defeat. "…Fine…I don't have to pay rent, do I?"

"No, I just need to try and explain this to the others. That'll be fun."

"That one with the cat ears already knows."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "Oh…does she now…?" he asked dangerously.

"I'm sorry, nya!" Kuroka shrieked in terror. "I thought it was supposed to be a secret, nya! Please stop hurting me, nya!"

Kazuma stood over her squirting her with a spray bottle filled with water. "This is your punishment for not telling me."

"I'm sorry, nyaaannn…"

"Next time if something like this happens, let me know."

Kuroka nodded with a pitiful expression.

Kazuma then turned to Arcueid with an equally annoyed expression, causing her to twitch.

Erza then intervened. "I believe that is more than enough. I am surprised you did not know about that habit of hers. Eventually Naruto merely set up a bed in his closet."

Kazuma looked at her in disbelief. "S-seriously…?"

Erza nodded.

"Good grief…anyway, I suppose this means she'll be staying here from now on, in her own room," that phrase getting an annoyed whimper out of the vampire, "so I hope it's not a problem with the rest of you."

The others shook their heads.

Kazuma nodded in acceptance. "So then as long as you stay in your own room you can stay here."

Arcueid nodded in begrudging agreement.

As the rest began to go back, Kazuma called out, "Hey, Mirajane."

The white-haired woman stopped and then turned to him. "You can just call me Mira if you like."

"Okay, Mira it is. I was hoping you could answer a question for me."

Mirajane tilted her head curiously but then nodded. "Certainly. What is it?"

"Well…two questions actually. The first one is, do you remember anything about your time as a Hollow?"

Mirajane put a finger on her chin in thought. "I remember bits and pieces. But not anything major. Why?"

"I was wondering if you remember anyone named Tier."

Mirajane put a hand on her chin and furrowed her brow deep in thought. "Hmm…the name sounds vaguely familiar but I cannot recall why. I'm sorry but I don't think I do."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "That's alright. I was just hoping for an easy answer to a question I got earlier."

Mirajane wondered, "What kind of question."

"It's a little hard to explain."

"That's alright. So, if there's nothing else it's probably best if we all get good night's rest."

Kazuma nodded in agreement.

Kazuma groaned in slight discomfort as he awoke the next morning. He noticed he felt heavy and had a sneaking suspicion as to the cause. Upon opening his eyes he sighed at his discovery. "My mornings always start me off well."

As usual Medea and Sheele were wrapped around his arms while Kazehana held onto one side of his waist, Arcueid on the other.

He attempted to sit up and move but felt the four girls' grip tighten on him. He twitched an eyebrow. 'Hmm…this could be problematic…'

Kazehana slowly awoke and smiled up at Kazuma as she crawled up his torso to him. "How about a good-morning kiss and give you a hand?"

Kazuma thought for a moment and then nodded with a smirk. "I don't mind."

Kazehana snickered happily before leaning down as the kissed deeply, Kazehana's wings spreading out from her back once more.

Erza made her way over to Kazuma's room with annoyance and had almost reached his door when it burst open and a powerful gust of wind blew Arcueid, Sheele, and Medea out of the room. Erza blinked curiously as she saw the three piled against the wall dizzily and looked into the room to see Kazuma in his uniform as Kazehana stood in a paper-thin nightgown, her hand outstretched and a smirk on her face. Erza looked at the two incredulously and asked, "Do I even want to know what is going on in here?"

As he walked out of the room, Kazuma rebutted, "Probably not."

Erza merely sighed in defeat as Kazuma prepared to cook breakfast.

After breakfast was finished and preparations were complete, Kazuma, Erza, Mavis, and Medea made their way out of the apartment and to the school.

They arrived swiftly enough, Kazuma yet again arriving after the others as planned. However, as he walked up to the front gates he narrowed his eyes in thought.

Kazuma arrived in his classroom as usual and sat down, only to be approached by Sakura. He looked at her curiously. "Need something?"

She bowed and asked, "I was wondering if you'd accept this." She then extended her hands to him, a lunch box wrapped in cloth being what she held.

He raised an eyebrow and accepted it, then looked up at her. "Sure, don't know why you made it though."

"You've been so nice to me since I transferred to this school and even introduced me to Ichigo and the others. I just wanted to return the favor."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "Sure, not a problem."

Sakura bowed once more before sitting back down in her seat.

Motohama and Matsuda walked up behind Kazuma somewhat annoyed.

Kazuma sighed in annoyance himself. "Well you two certainly look pissed."

"Well first off, why did Matou give you that lunch she made?" Motohama asked.

Kazuma looked at it and then looked back up at them. "I helped her with a few things a while back and she was thanking me for them."

"Is that so? Why did she also say you introduced her to Ichigo? I assume she meant Ichigo Kurosaki."

Kazuma sighed in response. "Well…I guess you two were bound to find out eventually."

The two looked to each curiously and then to Kazuma, Matsuda asking, "Find out what?"

Kazuma explained, "Meet me on the roof at lunch time. I'll explain everything there," before turning around.

The two perverts looked at each confused and then gulped.

At lunch time, Kazuma signaled Sakura to go on ahead of him, though she was perplexed she did so, before he turned to Matsuda and Motohama. He walked over to them and said, "Well, I said I'd show you, so come with me."

The two stood up and walked behind him as he made his way to the roof.

After reaching the rooftop he opened the doors and his two perverted friends gaped in shock.

Sakura, Orihime, Tatsuki, Erza, Rukia, Medea, Mavis, Aika, Ciel, Ichigo, Sado, Saji, and Yuuto all sat in the area eating and conversing as Kazuma closed the door.

Erza noticed Matsuda and Motohama with Kazuma. "Why are they here?"

Kazuma shrugged. "I thought I'd be nice and introduce them to everyone."

Rukia nodded in understanding and waved to the two. "Good to see you."

Aika adjusted her glasses slyly with a smirk. "So you decided to bring them here? How fun."

Motohama and Matsuda walked over, using one hand to cover their important areas.

Ichigo looked at them incredulously. "What the hell are you two doing?"

Kazuma sighed and answered, "Motohama believes that Aika's able to see a man's jewel size just by looking at them."

Ichigo gaped at the two in disbelief. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Tell them, not me."

Motohama adjusted his own glasses. "Well it makes sense, I can see a girl's measurements just…by…looking…" Motohama began to pale as the girls present, even Sakura and Orihime, scowled at him.

Kazuma scooted to the side some.

Down on the ground, several students looked up as they heard screaming before Motohama impacted the ground, dazed.

Kazuma looked down with surprise. "Wow, he survived a punch from Tatsuki and a four-story fall."

Tatsuki folded her arms in annoyance. "Geez, I didn't believe it when Orihime told me you were friends with these two."

Kazuma shrugged as he turned to a frightened Matsuda then back to Tatsuki. "All told they're not bad people. Just stupid."

Tatsuki sighed in annoyance. "At the very least they could keep a limit on it."

Matsuda nodded in agreement as he proceeded to eat his meal. He then looked around and noticed Yuuto sitting in the group. He narrowed his eyes and asked Kazuma quietly, "You're seriously friends with the White Prince?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow curiously. "The what…?"

As if on cue Yuuto got up and said, "Oh, by the way Soryu, Pres wants you to come with me to the clubroom after school's out."

Kazuma looked at him curiously. "Pres…? Oh…right…"

After finishing lunch for the day, Kazuma began making his way back to class when he tensed and then smirked.

After arriving back he sat through the same classes for a period of time until he heard a commotion begin to stir in the classroom. He looked around confused until he decided to stand up and investigate. He watched as the students began collecting over by the windows, with the male students muttering perversely.

"Wow, who's that?"

"She's hot."

Kazuma noticed the phrases and walked over to the window and twitched an eyebrow.

On the ground below was Arcueid, in her miniskirt no less, looking around until she looked up and saw Kazuma. She waved happily and called out, "Hey! Kazuma!"

Kazuma sighed in annoyance as the other students looked at him suspiciously before he bolted down to where she was, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her out of view.

After getting around the corner Kazuma snarled, "When I told you to meet me I didn't mean like that!"

Arcueid frowned in confusion. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

"Yes! Showing up at my school and shouting like that! I'm trying to keep a sort of public image around there!" Kazuma then sighed heavily, "Hhhaaa…but with recent events that's proving more and more difficult."

Arcueid nodded in understanding. "I apologize. But you said you had something important to talk to me about."

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yes. Before I went to school I sent a Thought Projection out to Shinto Teito's public library to look up old newspapers and obituaries. I eventually found out about the death of a young boy from ten years ago named Shiki Tohno. Unfortunately the newspaper held little actual info on his death and most of it seemed like lies. However, through a complex series of scenarios that my Thought Projection had to go through I did eventually find one thing: the Tohno family used to have three children, two boys and a girl. However the oldest boy mysteriously disappeared after Shiki's death."

Arcueid narrowed her eyes in thought. "If he was locked away somewhere on his own it would provide the perfect chance for Roa to take control of his mind. Did you find anything beyond that?"

Kazuma shook his head. "No. Beyond that I couldn't find any major connection between Roa and the Tohnos. So it seems they ended up being a dead end."

"Unfortunate. I suppose all we can do now is to try and hunt him down. Going after the Dead Apostles and Ghouls he's created in his killings."

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "That seems like our best option. I'll think of a few things to get started, but for now I need to get to class and hope that I don't get grilled upon entry."

"Right, byyye!"

Kazuma just sighed as he walked away. "Haaa…what a pain."

Kazuma arrived back at the school and noticed that the area seemed to have calmed down some. However, he noticed that school had already ended by the point and was preparing to return to his classroom to get his things when Yuuto walked up to him. He raised an eyebrow. "Need something?"

Yuuto sighed in response. "Remember? Pres wanted to see you."

"Oh, right." After a few seconds a Thought Projection appeared and made its way to Kazuma's classroom.

Yuuto looked at him surprised.

"I'll explain later, let's just go see what this Pres of yours wants."

Yuuto nodded in agreement.

Yuuto took Kazuma to the old school building on the edge of the property that was hardly used by anyone. Kazuma could tell immediately why, as a demonic barrier had been placed around it that would instill fear in non-devils and those not strong enough to resist its effects. Fortunately for him he was neither.

Yuuto took him inside the building and through several hallways, passing an odd room covered in yellow caution tape, and eventually to a room at the end of a long hallway.

After opening the door, Kazuma found himself in a large room with little on the back wall where the doors sat, a small number of windows on the left wall with the curtains drawn, several simple paintings on the far wall, and multiple more paintings on the right wall with a door in the far corner, along with a large, red rug on which a wide table and large chair at the back wall of the room and an elliptical red table with two couches on either side of it sat.

However, Kazuma's attention was drawn to those who were in the room rather than the room itself.

In the desk at the back of the room sat Rias, Akeno standing to Rias' left at the end of the desk. Koneko, meanwhile, sat on the couch to Kazuma's left, Yuuto making his way to the opposite couch.

Kazuma folded his arms in thought and then asked, "This isn't a hit, is it?"

Rias shook her head in amusement. "No, that's not what this is at all. I'm simply introducing you."

"To who?"

"The rest of my peerage."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Peerage?"

"That's the name given to the collective group of devils who serve under me, including you."

Kazuma looked at her thoughtfully. "Wait…so you're saying I'm your servant then."

Rias nodded in agreement. "Precisely. That's not a problem, is it?"

Kazuma scratched the back of his head in thought. "I guess not. Though I'm not going to do any cleaning or cooking for you."

Rias giggled in amusement. "You needn't worry, I wouldn't have you do anything that is common for familiars to do."

"Right…so how does this work then? I mean how did you even make me into one of your servants?"

Rias nodded in understanding. "I'll explain all of that in time. But first a few introductory items."

Akeno then interjected, "Pres, we can skip the formalities. I can already tell you Kazuma knows all about the Great War and the tension between the three factions."

Rias raised an eyebrow curiously but then nodded. "I suppose as you're a Soul Reaper that would make sense."

"Not a true Soul Reaper," Kazuma corrected, "I'm a Substitute Soul Reaper. It's essentially a deal of all the risk with none of the reward. But in a sense you're right."

Rias smirked amusedly. "You have quite the wit about you. But I suppose I might as well explain things to you then since you know all of the basics. I reincarnated you as a devil using the Evil Pieces. Chess pieces that turn any other living being into a devil and provide various boosts to their abilities in return. King, queen, rook, knight, bishop, and pawn."

"I see. It seems rather well thought out. But I don't see why it was created."

Rias nodded in understanding. "After the Great War the populations of all three sides were greatly reduced. So, after a time, some of the higher-ranked devils devised a solution. Rather than try to produce more pure-blooded devils we would increase our numbers by creating artificial half-devils by changing another living creature into a devil."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "So essentially a temporary solution to the problem."

"At first. But then it became fully integrated into our society. Part of how a devil's rank is determined is based on the size and power of their peerage. In other words, the more, stronger members a devil has in their peerage the higher their rank is."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes incredulously. "Wait…so you're saying a devil's rank isn't determined by the devils themselves, but by their servants."

"More or less. Why do you ask?"

Kazuma put a hand over his face in exasperation. "Unbelievable…" He then shook his head in disbelief. "It just seems a little backwards to me."

"Perhaps in some ways. A devil with a strong, large peerage is proven capable of leading powerful people in stressful situations, thus they're more tuned for leadership in our society."

"What kinds of stressful situations?"

"I'll tell you some other time. But first, you have your first task as a devil to complete."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as Yuuto walked over and handed him a stack of fliers. "What…the hell are these…?"

"Fliers. We use them to form contracts with humans. A human is able to summon a devil through that flier, and then the devil performs some sort of service for the human and that human then gives a payment of some sort in return, be it money, goods, or their own services."

Kazuma frowned uncertainly. "For some reason there are so many ways I can see that going bad."

"Regardless, your first task is to hand those out to people, putting them in their mailboxes."

Kazuma looked at them curiously and then turned to leave, throwing the stack on the table. "No thanks."

Rias gaped. "Hey! You can't just leave!"

Kazuma turned back to her. "I'm not going to do a job better suited for a trained monkey."

Rias sighed in annoyance. "It's merely common practice. Normally the familiars hand out these fliers but we have newly minted devils do so in an attempt to prove the value of their familiars to them."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as he turned and noticed his book bag behind him. He turned and grabbed it before walking over to the table and pulling Kon out of his bag.

"Hey! Let me go you jerk!" the stuffed lion shouted.

"Oh shut up you stupid beanie baby."

Rias and the others looked at Kazuma in shock as he set Kon down in front of the fliers.

Kon looked at them curiously and then turned back to Kazuma. "What the hell am I supposed to do with these?"

"Deliver them to peoples' mailboxes."

"What?! Screw you!"

Kazuma smirked in response. "I could let Mavis play dress up with you again."

Kon blinked in thought and then walked out the door, hoisting the fliers over his head.

Rias looked at the act in shock and then sighed heavily. "Kazuma, what was that just now?"

Kazuma answered plainly, "That was Kon."

Rias twitched an eyebrow.

"Oh, that was a Mod Soul I put in a stuffed doll."

Rias raised an eyebrow. "Mod Soul?"

"It's a long story. Anyway, is there anything else to do tonight?"

"Uhm…no…I suppose not."

"Good, then I'll be going." Kazuma then immediately disappeared into Kamui.

Rias weakly reached out to stop him and then sighed heavily before massaging her temples. "Akeno, tell me again why we scouted him in the first place."

Akeno smiled in amusement. "Because your father Lord Gremory sensed a great power in him."

Rias sighed heavily and then muttered, "Next time let's just ignore him."

Kazuma appeared out of Kamui at the edge of the school and prepared to leave when a voice called out, "Soryu."

Kazuma sighed and turned to see Ciel behind him. "Ah, Ciel. Need something?"

"I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you. How about in the Tea Ceremony Club?"

Kazuma looked at her curiously.

Ciel led Kazuma to a room decorated like a room in a traditional Japanese house. As the two sat down Ciel asked, "Tea?"

"Ah…sure."

Ciel poured him a cup of tea and asked, "So how is it coming?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow.

"Your own hunt for Roa."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "Slow. I looked for a few clues concerning the death of the Tohnos' son Shiki but it turned up little I could use so I dropped that avenue of investigation."

"I see. Unfortunate. So how will you look for him now?"

"I'll just go around looking for the results of his activity. Other Dead Apostles and Ghouls. Eventually if I find and kill enough of them Roa will show his ugly head just to try and stop me. Then I'll kill his sorry ass for good."

"You certainly seem confident about that."

"Why wouldn't I be? I've killed him once before."

Ciel's eyes widened in surprise. "That shouldn't be possible. His last reincarnation, at least, as far as I heard, was thirty years ago at least."

"I see. What's the issue?"

"I suppose you must be older than you look then."

"'Bout time you figured that out. If you don't mind I'll be skipping the specifics."

"That's fine."

"What about your end, made any progress yourself yet?"

Ciel nodded. "Yes, most of the people whose deaths coincide with how he kills have been in Kuoh."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "You mean the school?"

Ciel looked at him incredulously. "I've only been here a week or so and you know less about this city than I do?"

"Call it lack of concern."

Ciel sighed and then explained, "Shinto Teito is divided into four Districts. Kuoh is the northern district where most businesses are based. To the west is the mostly uninhabited Fuyuki district. To the south is the True Cross district where the more wealthy members of society live. To the east is Karakura, where the general population lives."

Kazuma nodded. "I feel like I've heard that before but didn't pay attention."

"I'm not surprised."

Kazuma frowned at her. "Anyway, so you said most of the people killed by Roa are in the northern section of the city, right?"

Ciel nodded. "Yes. There are few places to live here so it's unlikely he's squatting in a home. Which means he's likely living in an abandoned building. Unfortunately I haven't found anything more specific than that."

"I see. Well it's still enough to go on. At any rate, I need to get going so I'll see you later."

Ciel nodded as Kazuma disappeared.

Kazuma made his way to the park where he had originally met Arcueid and found her waiting for him there. "Sorry I'm late."

Arcueid shook her head. "Not at all. It's fine."

Kazuma paused for a moment as a Thought Projection appeared beside him and then vanished into Kamui. "I'll send him in my place to the restaurant while I help you look for Roa."

Arcueid nodded as she turned around and looked around. "So, where do you think we should start?"

"We should probably stick with the northern district of the city."

Arcueid turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, and why's that?"

"Most of his victims have been centralized there."

Arcueid thought for a moment and nodded with a smile. "Then let's get going."

Kazuma nodded in agreement and followed behind her.

It did not take terribly long for the two to reach the Kuoh district, and Kazuma was already getting confused at Arcueid's actions.

As they wandered through the area, she looked around amazed and curious about every little thing, pointing out numerous places and objects, asking Kazuma what they were and what they did.

As they walked around performing this same action he raised an eyebrow. 'What is going on with her? We're supposed to be hunting for Roa and his thralls and yet we're doing a simple sightseeing tour. I suppose there are worse ways to spend my nights.'

Eventually Arcueid stopped and looked across the street perplexed.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and looked to where she was staring. A movie theater. He turned back to her curiously. "Something wrong?"

Arcueid turned to him and pointed at the building. "What is that place?"

Kazuma sighed and scratched his head. "It's called a move theater. You know that big flat box that has the moving pictures I have in my living room?"

Arcueid nodded.

"It's got many giant versions of that."

"Wow…" Arcueid said breathlessly. "Can we go?"

"They're closed right now so no. Besides," he stopped as he bopped a fist on her head, "We're on a mission."

Arcueid puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Fine. Where should we go next?"

Kazuma folded his arms and closed his eyes as he pulsed energy throughout the area. After a few seconds his eyes snapped open.

"Did you find some?!"

Kazuma nodded. "Yes, there are three Ghouls not far from here."

The two rounded a corner and saw three young men in Kuoh uniforms standing at a street corner. Their eyes widened as they saw the two and took off running.

Kazuma leaned forward and then vanished in a burst of speed, Arcueid bolting forward at the same time.

Kazuma appeared in front of the three in the center of a deserted park.

Arcueid ran up behind them.

The three teens' appearances began to change as their nails and teeth lengthened and sharpened, their sclera turning black before the charged at their two assailants.

Kazuma smirked as a golden magic circle opened over his shoulder. Clarent's handle stuck out and he grabbed it, wincing momentarily in pain, before pulling the sword free and charging at the first of the Ghouls, slicing it in half, turning it to ash.

The other two charged at Arcueid. She lunged forward, grabbed the first one and twisted his head around swiftly, killing it instantly. She then rammed her fist through the other's chest, also killing it. Arcueid sighed as it fell lifeless, turning to ash as well.

Kazuma looked around and pulsed energy. He then vanished instantly.

"Kazuma!" Arcueid called.

Kazuma appeared in a dark alleyway and found himself opposite a young man with short, messy blue hair and red eyes with pale skin wearing jeans and a black hoodie, his body covered in bandages.

The man smirked maniacally and said, "How good to see you again, Abraxas."

Kazuma grit his teeth angrily. "…Roa..!" He charged forward in a burst of speed.

Roa grinned reached his hand forward. "Striking Shadow Snake!" Three serpents then appeared from his sleeve and lashed out towards Kazuma.

Kazuma swept his hand in front of his body sending out blades of wind that sliced Roa's snakes and then himself into pieces, only for his body to melt into mud. "I see you're still skilled with that ninjutsu of yours." Kazuma glanced up and saw Roa standing on a wall above him.

Roa smirked as Arcueid ran to see what was happening. "As much as I would like to continue our bout, I do have other works to attend to." He then seemed to melt into the wall before disappearing.

Arcueid narrowed her eyes angrily. "Well, we at least now know where he is." Arcueid glanced to the side and then pulled Kazuma against the wall as an object flew past them and embedded itself in the wall.

Kazuma turned and saw the object. 'That's one of Ciel's swords.'

Kazuma and Arcueid turned as Ciel, now wearing a black robe that reached to her wrists and ankles with white cuffs, black, armored boots, and a white collar walked up to them. "I see. So you're working with her."

Kazuma raised a curious eyebrow. "You two know each other?"

Arcueid looked at Kazuma and then to Ciel. "You haven't told him yet?"

Ciel narrowed her eyes.

Arcueid turned to Kazuma and said, "Ciel was Roa's previous host."

Kazuma's eyes widened before he turned to Ciel.

Ciel sighed as the blades of light on her weapons disappeared before she tucked them away. "Yes, what she says is true. My body was Roa's last vessel. But that is the reason I hunt him."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as Ciel clenched her fists.

"As long as he still lives I can't die."

Kazuma looked at her puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"His soul is connected to mine. So long as he lives I will be cursed to live eternally."

Kazuma frowned in thought and then sighed. "I see. I understand what you mean."

Ciel looked at him surprised.

"If you want to help Arcueid and I hunt him down all three of us working together will be more efficient than feeling around on our own."

Ciel frowned in thought and turned to Arcueid.

Arcueid turned to the side. "I don't care."

Ciel then turned to Kazuma. "Are you sure, even after I tried to kill you?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Hey, the woman I love most in the world tried to stab me in the heart."

Arcueid blinked and then turned to him incredulously. "I never tried that."

Kazuma began to sweat heavily. "Oh hey, look at the time, gotta go!" He then disappeared into Kamui.

"Hey! Get back here!"

Kazuma sighed as he reappeared out of a sudden Kamui. "Phew…that was close."

'It was also your own damn fault,' Ddraig scolded.

'Oh shut the hell up.'

"Kazuma!"

Kazuma blinked and turned around, seeing Hibiki and Hikari behind him, breathing heavily. "H-Hibiki, Hikari, shouldn't you still be at work?"

Hikari pointed at him and shouted, "What about you?!"

"Ah, w-well…there…should be a…me…there…"

Hibiki frowned in annoyance. "Do you think we're stupid? We could tell that…thing, wasn't actually you."

Kazuma gulped and stepped back. "Y-you could…?"

Hibiki frowned in pain and insult. "Do you really think we'd be unable to tell the difference between…you and a…fake…?"

Kazuma blinked curiously as he noticed the two started acting strangely. Both of them began taking short, shallow breaths, their eyes became half-lidded, and their faces flushed.

Hikari took a step towards Kazuma and placed her hands on his shoulders. "When you…didn't show up at work we got…worried…" She looked up at him as Kazuma feel the heat radiating off of her body.

Kazuma widened his eyes in response. 'Her body…it's on fire…!'

Hikari then did something Kazuma didn't expect, she leaned up towards him and placed her lips against his in a kiss.

He felt a drain of energy from his body before a Sekirei Crest appeared at the base of Hikari's neck before a set of bright, jagged, purple wings formed from her back.

As Hikari pulled back Kazuma widened his eyes. 'Y-you're kidding me! She's a Sekirei!? Then that means…'

As predicted Hibiki then claimed Kazuma's lips for herself, the same wings bursting from her back as a Sekirei Crest appeared on her back.

Kazuma blinked curiously before sighing. "What…just happened…?"

The two girls looked at him with light blushes of embarrassment.

Hibiki then explained, "Well…you're our Ashikabi now."

"And we're your Sekirei," Hikari finished.

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "Well this is getting complicated."

Hibiki looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

Kazuma turned to them in thought. "Well you two are my second and third Sekirei."

Hikari looked at Kazuma incredulously. "Hold on, you mean you have another Sekirei?"

Kazuma nodded in return. "Yeah. Is that a problem?"

The twins frowned at each other in thought and then turned to Kazuma and said in unison, "No more Sekirei!"

Kazuma sighed in response. "No guarantees…"

Erza stood in the doorway to Kazuma's apartment, looking at him incredulously. "You must be joking."

Kazuma sighed in response. "I'm not. These two are now my Sekirei."

Hibiki raised an eyebrow. "Is she your other Sekirei?"

Kazuma shook his head. "No, she's a friend."

Hikari frowned at him. "People outside of the game aren't supposed to know."

"It's a long story, I'll explain it a bit when we get inside."

The twins nodded in annoyed acceptance as the three disappeared into Kazuma's apartment.

The two girls gaped when they saw the other guests in Kazuma's home.

"Holy crap. Just how many people do you have living here?" Hikari asked.

Kazuma chuckled weakly. "A few. Hey, Kazehana."

Kazehana then walked over to the small group.

Kazuma motioned to her. "This is Kazehana, my first Sekirei."

Kazehana bowed lightly to the two. "I'm No. 03 Kazehana."

Hibiki reciprocated. "No. 12 Hibiki."

Hikari also introduced herself. "No. 11 Hikari." She then turned to Kazuma. "Are you sure it's alright to reveal our identities in front of these people?"

Kuroka walked over amusedly. "Don't worry, nya. We all already know, nya. We were here when Whitehead called, nya."

The twins looked at her curiously. "Whitehead?" Hikari asked in confusion.

Hibiki nodded in slight understanding. "I think she means the professor."

Kuroka nodded in agreement. "Yeah, nya. His name's too complex for me to remember, nya."

Kazuma interjected, "Why not just tell the truth that you don't care enough to remember his name?"

"Hmph, I was trying to be nice, nya."

Kazuma shrugged and then turned to the twins. "So you guys have been Sekirei this whole time?"

The two nodded.

Hibiki then explained, "Yeah, we didn't just magically turn into Sekirei."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. He the scratched his head in thought. "Weren't you two given that special MBI card?"

"Hurk!" the two grunted as they flinched before laughing uncomfortably. They then slumped their shoulders and moaned in defeat in unison, "We lost it…"

"I see…well I guess it's not that big of an issue. I refuse to accept help from those bastards."

Hibiki looked at Kazuma confused. "What do you mean?"

Kazuma huffed in anger. "That should be obvious. Setting up all of you Sekirei and forcing you to fight in some stupid conflict they have the gall to call a game. It's just as bad as that Holy Grail War."

"The…what…?"

Kazuma sighed before he explained the basics of that particular conflict to the two.

Hibiki and Hikari looked at him confused as he finished the explanation. "You…get involved in a lot of deadly competitions, don't you?" Hibiki asked.

Kazuma sighed in annoyance. "Yeah, sure seems that way." After another grunt in annoyance he turned to them. "So, will you guys keep staying at your other home?"

Hibiki looked at him confused. "I assumed since you're our Ashikabi we'd be living with you."

Kazuma nodded in understanding before turning to Erza. "Do you remember how many spare rooms we've got?"

Erza folded her arms in thought. "I believe we've only got two left."

Kazuma sighed as he scratched his head. "Well this place is certainly getting full. It might be a good idea to try and look for a new house."

Erza nodded in agreement. "I imagine that your landlord is probably getting frustrated as well."

Kazuma groaned in frustration. "That old fart can go impale himself on a flagpole."

"You…don't like him much, do you?" Hibiki asked weakly.

"I don't like many people very much. But he's a special kind of asshole. Anyway…I suppose we should probably bring your things to this apartment tomorrow, right?"

The two nodded in agreement before Erza showed them to the room they would be sharing.

Fortunately for Kazuma, he had a day off from having to go to school the next day, so taking advantage of that fact, he went with Hibiki and Hikari to collect their things from their old apartment.

Once they arrived, Kazuma looked at the building in surprise. "For a dual waitress' salary, you two can live in a pretty fancy apartment."

Hibiki nodded in agreement. "It helps most of the apartments in True Cross are owned by MBI, thus the owners know that we're Sekirei."

"Really? That's surprising."

After lightly explaining the situation to their old landlord, Kazuma, Hibiki, and Hikari collected the Twins' possessions, Kazuma confusing and surprising them with the use of seals that he knew, and then made their way back to his apartment to put the items where they needed to go.

After accomplishing that task, Kazuma sat in the dining room going over several things in his head.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Arcueid tapped him on the shoulder.

Kazuma glanced over to her curiously. "What's up?"

Arcueid smiled at him. "I want you to take me on a date."

Kazuma looked at her bewildered. "You…can't be serious."

Arcueid frowned in disappointment. "Why not? Do you not want to go on a date?"

Kazuma sighed as he stood up. "No, that's not quite what I meant. Whatever, if you want to go on a date then we will. It's not like I have any other pressing matters getting in the way."

"Great!" the blonde vampire chirped.

After explaining the situation to the others, Kazuma and Arcueid headed out of their apartment into the city.

Kazuma asked as they started walking, "So, anywhere special you want to go?"

Arcueid put a hand to her chin in thought. "Ooh, how about that movie theater place?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Sure, why not."

The two arrived and Kazuma showed her the different films playing. "So, which one do you want to see?"

Arcueid looked at the posters and then said excitedly, "Ooh! This one!"

Kazuma laughed weakly. "Really…? A vampire movie?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No, that's just kind of like me choosing to watch a movie about 'demons'."

"Then let's go, come on!" Arcueid then tried to drag him inside but he wouldn't budge. "Hey, let's go!"

Kazuma then pulled her over to the kiosk at the front of the building. "We need to buy tickets first."

Arcueid groaned in annoyance as she waited for Kazuma to buy the tickets.

After purchasing the tickets and then snacks to go along with it the two made their way into the actual movie itself.

As the movie progressed, Arcueid frowned in confusion as the story developed. She turned to Kazuma to address her confusion. "Is that really what humans think of True Ancestors and Dead Apostles?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Some do. Though most people don't know about the different types of vampires. Most people only really have legends based on the Dead Apostles."

Arcueid nodded in confused understanding and then turned to Kazuma again. "I don't sparkle like that, do I?"

Kazuma sighed in exasperation. "No Arcueid, you don't sparkle."

Arcueid nodded with a small smile. "Good. I wouldn't want to be walking around looking like I'm covered in glass."

Kazuma rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

After the movie ended the two of them walked out of the theater.

"So what did you think?" Kazuma asked in mild irritation.

"I thought the story wasn't too bad but whoever wrote it really needs to learn more about Dead Apostles," Arcueid answered.

"That or get a brick to the skull. Anyway, how about lunch now?"

Arcueid nodded happily in agreement. "That sounds great!"

Kazuma took Arcueid down the street a small ways to where they found a small restaurant that served traditional Japanese food.

Kazuma pointed at it curiously.

Arcueid nodded happily in approval.

As they began eating their respective meals, Arcueid turned to Kazuma curiously. "Kazuma, what's it like?"

Kazuma looked at her confused. "You're going to have to be more specific."

"I mean school. What's it like attending a school and being out amongst all those people?"

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "I would assume being in a social setting like that would be fairly commonplace for you, wouldn't it?"

"Hmm…I suppose so. But I've never had a chance to socialize in the modern era. Plus the closest thing to a school when Naruto was around was a school that trained children to be ninjas, so nothing I was interested in."

Kazuma sweat-dropped. "S-seriously? They trained children to be ninja? That's just weird."

Arcueid nodded in response. "Yeah, it was actually kind of cool. But what about the school you and the others go to?"

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "Well…to me at least it's kind of annoying. I'm spending most of my time working on stuff that really has no practical use. Or, if it does, not a kind I care for. Other than that I get the chance to talk with a few humans who don't annoy the crap out of me like most of them do."

Arcueid tilted her head in confusion. "Then why are you going? Wouldn't it be easy to just not?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "It could. But when it's not being annoying my time there can be pretty amusing too. So it balances out enough for me to keep going."

Arcueid nodded in understanding. "It must be fun."

Kazuma shrugged again before raising an eyebrow. "You know, I could take you there tonight so you can see it."

Arcueid smiled happily. "Really?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yeah. I don't see any reason why not."

Arcueid smiled brightly as they finished their meal.

As they were preparing to leave, Arcueid offered, "I'll pay for it."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any money?"

Arcueid nodded in response and Kazuma watched as there was a small flash of light before several bills appeared in her hand.

Kazuma frowned angrily and held her hand down. "I'll get it." He then paid for the meal before they left.

As they walked out of the restaurant, Arcueid turned to him confused. "What was that about? All I did was create some money to pay with."

"Yeah, which is illegal."

Arcueid looked at him incredulously. "Since when have you cared about laws?"

"I know that, but in this modern age it's more trouble fighting against law enforcement than it's worth. Plus right now I don't have my immortality so I can't fight as effectively."

Arcueid sighed in response and then shrugged. "So be it. So, how about we head to that school?"

Kazuma nodded in agreement as they made their way there.

After they arrived, Arcueid noticed the tall gate in front of the building and asked, "How do we get through?"

Kazuma put his hand over Arcueid's and activated his Mangekyo. He then surprised her as they both walked through the gate as though it was not there.

"I'd never seen you use that ability before."

Kazuma sighed heavily. "Yes you have. Remember when I killed Ogre?"

Arcueid put a hand to her chin in thought and then nodded.

"I used the same ability. Now, let's get going. I should show you the main few rooms first."

"Right!"

They swiftly made their way to the second-year classroom Kazuma spent most of his time in on the third floor.

Arcueid looked around the room curiously. "It's so big. And so many chairs. Are there really this many people in here every day?"

Kazuma shook his head. "Not quite, there's usually two or three empty seats."

"I see," Arcueid said offhanded as she wandered the desks looking at them. "Which one's yours?"

Kazuma pointed to one in the back corner.

Arcueid looked at the seat and then to the window. "This gives you perfect view to the school grounds."

Kazuma nodded in agreement as he walked over to her. "Yes, it does. That's part of the reason I chose it. That and having just one human beside me is enough, I don't need two."

"You really don't like humans much, do you?"

"I don't particularly dislike them either. Most of them simply annoy me. Since the nineteen twenties, which I think was about two hundred years ago, there have been five wars noted as being World Wars."

"Really? I hadn't actually noticed. Most of the time I usually wake up for about a year or so, just long enough to hunt and take out Roa's newest reincarnation, and then go back to sleep. The last time I woke up was thirty years ago, I believe the year was 2160."

"I see. At any rate you can probably see why I find them tiring at times."

The two stood silently for a few moments as the moon shone down into the classroom.

Arcueid then began giggling quietly to herself.

Kazuma glanced over to her in amusement. "Oh, what's so funny?"

Arcueid looked to him with a smile. "Nothing really. I just remember that it's been so long since we simply talked like this."

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yeah. And at that time…" his face then morphed into a frown, "…at that time Angra was still with us…"

Arcueid frowned sympathetically to him and then leaned her head on his shoulder. "Hey…Kazuma…"

"Yeah…?"

"After this is over…after we're finally rid of Roa…you know I'll go back to sleep again…right…?"

"Do you really have to…?"

Arcueid nodded slowly. "Yes. After I first bit Roa, my vampiric impulses awakened. I can only suppress them so much for so long, my will beginning to fade over time. The only way they're truly kept under control is when I'm in my slumber."

Kazuma wrapped his hand around Arcueid's, Arcueid curling her fingers around his in return. "You can drink my blood then. It suppresses your impulses, for quite a while as well."

"That's true but…even that is only a temporary solution. What happens the next time you're gone for a long time, or what if you…?"

Kazuma sighed heavily. "Yes…I know…but…I say for now we take things one step at a time. We can figure out the more complex issues later. For now, let's just focus on finding and stopping Roa."

"…Agreed."

After looking over the rest of the school the two returned to the apartment.

"So, did you enjoy your time out?" Mirajane asked as she cleaned in the kitchen.

Kazuma nodded in return. "Yeah, it was pretty fun."

Arcueid then sped over to Medea. "Will you be cooking again tonight?"

Medea nodded. "Yes, if you don't find it a problem."

"Not at all!"

After dinner finished up, Kazuma was busy putting the dishes away when Kuroka walked up behind him. "Oh, Kuroka. Need something?"

She nodded. "I was wondering if you could explain what's going on with Arcueid, nya."

Kazuma turned off the faucet and dried his hands before motioning to the table.

"What do you mean exactly?" he asked.

Kuroka sat for a moment in thought, her ears twitching occasionally as she thought of the best way to word her question. "Well…who exactly is Roa, nya? I heard that he used to be someone named Orochimaru, but that person wasn't a vampire, was he, nya?"

Kazuma folded his arms as he thought for a moment. "No. Originally he was a human. One with very inhuman characteristics and abilities, based on what I've heard, but a human nonetheless. However, he ended up tricking Arcueid into drinking his blood. This had two effects. It turned him into a Dead Apostle, and awakened her bloodlust. So after that happened he began transporting his soul from body to body, building up power and skills as he went, in the hopes to become a god. However, each time he picks a new host, Arcueid kills that host and then returns to an eternal slumber that she only wakes from to kill Roa."

Kuroka frowned sadly. "That's pretty sad, nya. She's only ever awake to hunt and kill that Roa guy, nya. Then she goes back to sleep, nya."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "Yeah…I know it is. Unfortunately it's the only real method right now."

"What do you mean, nya?"

"To control her vampiric impulses, that almost addiction like need to drink blood. Through sheer force of will she can suppress those impulses, but that has a drastic effect on her abilities and her power to do so wanes the longer she's awake."

"But why, nya?"

"Well aside from the fact that it results in the death or turning of those whose blood she drinks, as I've said before, she's a True Ancestor, a type of vampire that has no true need for blood, but their body and mind crave it like a drug. But if they give into that impulse and drink even a little blood, they lose their minds and become mindless beasts, killing and draining every living thing that they can sense until there's none left. After a short time they then revert to normal."

"Yikes, nyan."

"It is true though that dragon blood has the reverse effect, it calms their impulses to drink blood and also acts as an aphrodisiac, however those effects only last so long. After that blood has run through their system they're back to how they usually are. So the only way for that to be a viable option is if she were to have a near constant supply of dragon blood. And unfortunately, despite me being almost twelve hundred years old I spent roughly a thousand years of that time sealed away."

"You mean in the Tower of Amala, nya."

Kazuma nodded. "Yes. So unfortunately it would be foolish for her to rely on me to always be around to control her impulses."

Kuroka nodded slowly in understanding. "So what will you do, nya?"

"For now, focus on Roa. Once he's out of the way, then I'll come up with a more permanent solution."

The next day, Sunday, Kazuma was busying himself with a full day's work at the restaurant.

Ayame took notice how Kazuma was acting far more casually with the Twins than usual, though only she noticed it.

While he and his Thought Projection were cooking in the kitchen she stepped into it and went over to the real Kazuma. "You seem to be getting along well with Hibiki and Hikari."

"Oh…is that so…?" Kazuma responded weakly with a smile.

Ayame smirked slyly at him and asked, "Did ya do it?"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow and then flicked her in the forehead. "No, idiot. They've simply moved into my apartment."

Ayame blinked curiously. "Really? So does that mean it's getting serious?"

Kazuma grumbled in annoyance. "Would you stop putting it like that?!"

Ayame shrugged dismissively. "How else am I supposed to do it?"

Kazuma just sighed. "Did you come here just to tease me or was there a reason?"

"I was mainly bored."

"I see."

The Thought Projection by the door then alerted, "Oy, Boss, Ciel's here."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "How the hell does she know I work here?" He then sighed in frustration. "Just let her in if she comes back here."

The Thought Projection opened the door as Ciel then walked in and saw the numerous Thought Projections in the room. "Oh my, you sure do use a lot of them."

Kazuma nodded as a new Thought Projection took over what he was doing. "Yeah, how in the world do you even know about this place?"

"I know things."

Kazuma groaned in annoyance. "Fine. What do you want?"

"I was hoping we could get a chance a talk, and possibly a spar or two."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then shrugged before turning to Ayame.

She shrugged as well. "As long as you keep these guys workin' I don't care."

Kazuma nodded and left the restaurant out the back door with Ciel.

She ended up choosing the large park in the Kuoh District, completely on the other side of the city, for the location to spar.

Kazuma looked around and asked, "So what will we spar with?"

Ciel tossed him two wooden swords.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then looked at her. "Why two?"

"I happened to see a bit of your battle with that vampire in that hotel the other night. You seem fairly skilled at dual-wielding swords." Ciel then picked up six wooden sword, tucking one between each of her fingers. "I want to see your true level of skill without the handicaps of that holy sword of yours."

Kazuma nodded as he leaned over into a dual-sword stance.

Ciel also raised her arms slightly in a stance fit for her own blades.

Kazuma smirked before asking, "So how much power do you want me to use?"

Ciel nodded. "Remember, even if you were to smash my body into little pieces I'd regenerate in seconds, so feel free to go all-out."

Kazuma nodded and then stood up. "Then let me do one thing so I'm not hampered." A golden magic circle then appeared in the air in front of him. He placed one of the wooden swords inside of it, dropping it inside, then the other.

Ciel raised a curious eyebrow. "What was that just now?"

Kazuma smirked and explained, "It's called Requip Magic. It's something an old friend taught me a long time ago. It allows me to store all of my clothing and equipment inside of a pocket dimension that I can instantly pull them from at any moment. Took a long time to really get good at it though." Two Requip circles then appeared in the air behind him, over his shoulders. He reached his hands up, crossed, as the handles of the sword appeared, and then pulled them out swiftly.

Ciel chuckled in amusement. "So dramatic. I give it six points."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "Stingy."

The two then laughed in mutual amusement before resuming their combat stances.

Ciel then charged off of one foot and dashed at Kazuma.

Kazuma quickly dashed to the side, hoping to catch her off balance, but Ciel instantly corrected and kept on him. She swept her alignment of three blades up at him but he leaned back enough that they didn't hit him. He then swept his right-hand sword, hoping to knock her off balance but she made back flip over his strike, kicking him in the jaw as she did.

Kazuma stumbled back and then scowled at her. "You didn't have to hit me in the jaw!"

Ciel snickered as she prepared to strike. "Well I had to direct your eyes up as I flipped somehow."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. He then smirked as his two swords vanished. "You said you wanted me to go full out. You got it." He then smashed his fists together, shouting, "Boosted Gear!"

The gauntlets appeared on his forearms, the voice inside shouting, "Dragon Booster!"

He then recalled his blades and dashed forward in a burst of speed.

"Whoa!" Ciel exclaimed in surprise. She managed to raise swords in her left hand swiftly enough to block a downward strike from above, but lost her balance when he suddenly vanished again. She gasped when something struck the backs of her legs and caused her to fall to her back. She gulped when she opened her eyes and saw the tip of a wooden sword in her face, Kazuma grinning.

Kazuma dispelled his swords and helped her up, Ciel sighing in defeat as he did.

Kazuma then gave a close-eyed, toothy grin. "Oh, by the way, Ciel…"

Ciel looked at him curiously. "Hmm?"

"Light. Blue."

Ciel looked at him confused before her eyes widened cartoonishly, her face turned bright red and shouted, "YOU PERVERT!" as she kicked him between the legs.

There is the end of the chapter. Hopefully you guys all enjoyed it. If so let me know in a review and if you have anything you do not understand be sure to ask and I will do my best to answer your questions. Until then, see you next time. Sort of.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Oh please don't be Erza. And...it's Erza. What do you want now?

"Do you have cake?

Uhm...yeah...

"Good, I need some. As well as some for Arturia."

Wait, you can't-sword at the neck, I understand.

"Cake. Now."

Coming up.

"I apologize."

It's okay. Damned redhead sword woman. Flying swords?! I'm going I'm going!