Disclaimer: I do not own High School DxD, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Harry Potter, Naruto, Thundercats, He-Man, Rifts, Love Hina, and one additional intellectual property that will be listed at the end of the chapter.
Major AU: Do not expect this story to strictly follow canon for High School DxD.
Key: "Talking" 'Thought' [Sacred Gear] (Pailamancy or Telepathy) ~Communicator~ *Technique* {Magical Item}
Author Note: This took so long because of illness and preparing to move.
Do Know Harm!
"I am going to miss you so terribly." Rias Gremory was almost whining as she hung off her fiancé. It was behavior she wouldn't have exhibited even six years prior, but now that she had found a partner who could help shoulder her burdens Rias let herself act her age more often. "I won't be able to enjoy anything without you."
"You'll be too busy gawking at shrines and enjoying the markets to even notice I'm not there." Xander Harris-Hyoudou countered. While he was flattered over the last minute clinginess, he knew Rias was extremely excited by the trip to Kyoto. It was all she could talk about for the last week. "And it's just five days. You'll be back with me Saturday and showing me everything you've bought and all the pictures."
"Are you sure I can't convince you to sneak along? I can keep the chaperones from noticing you, Xander-koi." Despite her begging, Rias wasn't sure if she wanted Xander to cave in or not. While she would love to have him along, but he was right she would spend most of the day ignoring him. She also needed him in Kuoh keeping everything running smoothly.
"Oh, I am definitely tempted, my love." Xander leaned in and pressed his lips to hers for a long romantic kiss. More than a few witnesses gave catcalls and wolf-whistles but no teacher dared interrupt the display of affection. As usual it was need for oxygen that forced them to part, panting lightly. "But I have two exams and a project to finish. Otherwise I'd be waiting aboard the train. Remember, I am only a thought away, so you don't need to miss me so much."
"That's true." Rias smiled a bit as she remembered she could literally speak to Xander whenever she wanted. "Remember, you are in charge while Akeno and I are gone. Asia has the Authority Proxy so you can use promotion, but just in case if you are fighting Fallen Angels it's enemy territory and I approve promotion even if you are alone."
"Alright. I'd tell you I'll be on my best behavior, but that would just make you worry more." Xander chuckled. "Now go board the train before all the good seats are taken."
"Alright, but I need another one of these." Rias was the one to start the kiss this time. There weren't any catcalls as the only witnesses left were part of the ORC and quite used to the sight. "That should last me for a while."
"Finally, come on Princess, we need to board. They'll seriously leave us here and I don't want to hear you whine about missing this trip." Raynare Hyoudou started pulling on Rias' arm hustling her to the train. She was actually just as excited to be headed for Kyoto as Rias was. She wasn't a Japanophile like the redhead, she just had some friends in Kyoto she was dying to see again. "And I want to see Tsuruko-chan again so move it."
As Raynare was bodily dragging Rias, Akeno Himejima stepped up to Xander and offered a sweet smile. "I will miss you too, Xander-kun. Take care of the others for me." She said as she brushed some stray hairs behind her ear with her fingers.
"I'll miss you too, Akeno-chan." Xander smiled warmly at the young woman who had quickly become one of his better friends. Leaning in he meant to place a kiss on her forehead, only Akeno had moved at the last moment so their lips met. Instead of pulling away, Xander had let the chaste kiss linger for as long as Akeno wanted, which was only a few seconds.
"That was nice, but I think I want a real goodbye kiss like Rias got." Akeno was blushing even as she used her super flirty voice. Then her lips met Xander's as she initiated a full on passionate kiss where her tongue thoroughly mapped his mouth. It took a moment for Xander to respond and return the kiss, making sure to do the tongue thing that drove Rias wild. When Akeno pulled away, she was blushing a deeper red as she reached up to touch her own lips. "Now I don't want to leave."
"Well, if you try to stay, Rias-hime will and do you really want to be the reason she missed out on Kyoto?" Xander asked in a joking tone. "Go to Kyoto and figure out if you really want to have to share a man with Rias-hime."
"Alright, what did the two morons to aggravate Koneko-chan this badly?" Xander was now experiencing the one major headache of being considered Koneko's guardian pro tem. While ninety-nine percent of the time the tiny girl was an ideal student, there was the one percent of the time where she inflicted property damage and injuries on fellow students. The saving grace was that it was always on perverts who were literally caught in the girl's changing room. Well, almost always as this time it was out in the courtyard, thus why he was being dragged in front of the Student Council for a disciplinary hearing.
"Actually, Motohama-san and Matsuda-san were only two of the students that Toujou-san hadn't rendered unconscious." Saji Genshiro was leading the Student Council in the absence of Sona and Tsubaki. "Toujou-san allegedly attacked the Gridiron Offensive line and… well… none of them are likely to be playing for the next year. Three of them are likely to never sire children."
Xander pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off the worsening headache. 'I almost regret teaching her Krav Magra.' Taking a few deep breaths he turned to Koneko and saw her usual blank expression. Xander knew better than to believe she didn't feel anything. He wasn't sure what happened, but the girl just refused to show much emotion or weakness. "Alright, what did the moron jocks do?"
"The fools were setting up pass plays so that the receiver would knock down a cute girl then they would feel her up while helping her to her feet." Koneko Toujou stated in her usual monotone. "When the Perverted Duo confronted them and tried to get them to stop, the fools started beating them. I decided to give them a taste of their own medicine."
"I see." Xander nodded as he got the story. "Well, then this is a case of defense of others, covered in the school guide. That is if the two perverts confirm the facts."
"If it was just me, I'd take your word that she isn't lying as all the evidence I need." Saji was quick to state his feelings on the matter. "However, I have to go by procedure given how the boosters are threatening to sue. Toujou-san will face a two week suspension… if Motohama-san and Matsuda-san' recounting of events differs significantly. If they corroborate her story, then the punishment will be rescinded. Regardless I wish to impress upon the both of you that you are supposed to find a teacher if you witness this kind of bullying."
"Yeah, and the teachers do nothing. They are as useless as tits on a bull. If they did anything then Koneko and I wouldn't have to." Xander groused. "Regardless of how I feel about that, since I am acting in the stead of Buchou-chan, I have to punish you, Koneko-chan. We're doing the Waygu Tomahawk steak challenge tonight."
"That isn't a punishment at all!" Saji shouted.
"And we're taking the perverts with us. If they fail it, the cost comes out of your pocket." Xander continued.
"That blows." Koneko groused as she considered how she would deal with an unexpected 50,000 yen bill.
"Oh my… I can see why Rias-nee loves this so much." Asia Argento cooed out. She was sitting in the bath with Xander while the latter was washing her hair. Ever since she heard that he did this for Rias, Asia had wanted to experience it. The former Nun wasn't orgasmic over the experience like the Gremory Heiress, but it was still sinfully good in her opinion. "I might want to do this again."
"Yeah, that might be a little difficult. If you start, you know Akeno-chan will want a turn. Then Koneko-chan will probably want one." Xander sighed as he continued to massage Asia's scalp. There was still a part of Xander that felt as if he was cheating on Rias, despite the fact she actively encourage Xander to accept the affections of three female members of the Peerage. The fact that Rias was so accepting made it easier for the parts of him that wanted multiple mates to squash the tiny monogamous part. "As much as I like bathing, two hours of baths a night would get a little tiresome."
"Well, couldn't you use the *Shadow Clone* spell you devised?" Asia said after a moments. "Since Rias-nee is your fiancé she gets the real you, while you let the rest of us have clones. I know it takes a lot of magic to use and maintaining the Boosts so you don't lower your natural abilities, but wouldn't that be like training?"
Xander stared at the back of Asia's head for a few moments, completely stunned by the simple brilliance of the idea. The more a caster practiced with a spell, the more efficiently they could cast it. He'd noticed that when he'd practiced *Tree Climbing* and *Water Walking*. In the beginning the spells took a far bit of power to initiate and maintain; now they only marginally slowed his recovery rate. "Hmm, I will have to see if perhaps I can maintain a few levels of *Boost* without manifesting the Gauntlets, otherwise I'd have to create a clone for Rias as well."
"Such a feat is possible, Partner." Ddraig's voice echoed in the bathroom as the gems manifest on the back of Xander's hands. "Two of my previous hosts could boost themselves twice before they had to deploy the full [Boosted Gear]. Elisha had a talent for manipulating my power that only Belthazar rivaled. Perhaps you will surpass them, Xander."
"See, if someone else can do it, you should have no problems." Asia stated as if it was just fact. The former Nun had nothing but faith in Xander. "Perhaps you can practice tomorrow. While you head to classes, send a clone to create tomorrow night's summoning schedule."
Xander almost argued against the idea, but in the face of Asia's belief in his abilities he couldn't back down from the challenge. "Alright, I will give it a try. Maintaining a single *Boost* during School Hours will definitely be a challenge. I don't think I've kept one up for more than an hour. This will be pretty brutal."
"How did you get here so quickly?" Kiba Yuuto was a bit puzzled. One of his fangirls had stolen his underwear out of his gym locker, so he'd used a bit of knightly speed to zip over to the ORC clubroom in order to snag one of his spare sets. He had seen Xander in the locker room just fifteen seconds prior. Now it looked like he had been sitting in Rias' chair doing the paperwork for quite some time. "Weren't you just getting ready to shower?"
"Oh, you're talking about the Sarge. Yeah, he should be done with P.E. now." The Xander clone behind the desk said. "I'm a clone. He's got me working on the Summon Schedule. You know the whole 'Work smarter, not harder' shtick. Since I transfer memories when I dissipate, he'll remember doing the work."
"I see." Kiba nodded as he retrieved his bag of spare clothes. "Perhaps I should look into learning that technique. I could use the clone to study while I train physically. Or perhaps I can finally accept some of the invites from the ladies and send the clone."
"We'll have to train you in spotting mickeys before sending a human clone out with any of the Kuoh Academy girls." Xander clone chuckled. "Pretty sure you'd like your first time to be with your real body."
Kiba paused for a moment, his mouth open to refute the idea that any of the ladies of Kuoh Academy would do that, unfortunately for his arguments reality sunk in. While most of the girl population reviled the Perverted Duo, they weren't much better in most ways and actually much worse in some others. "That is a skill I should develop anyways. I imagine many Devils would attempt something questionable to sabotage Peerages in the Rating Games."
"Most of it is observation. Treat any time that someone else is handling your food or drink as a combat situation. It doesn't matter if you trust them implicitly or not." Xander clone stated simply. "The only person I trust with my food is Rias, and that's only since the mental link solidified. The girls don't know this, but I am constantly sniffing what they offer me for hidden drugs. Not because I think any of them would poison me, but because you can never tell when they've been lied to, brain washed, or being impersonated. Most of the time, I can see through the last one, but I am not perfect. As for Rias, I can instantly sense if something is off with her, but I'd be blindsided if she slipped me something for 'my health'. That would slip under my radar unless I was looking for it."
"That's a rather paranoid way of looking at things." Kiba shook his head. "But it's probably better to be a bit paranoid then dead."
"Damn straight." Xander clone nodded before turning back to the paperwork
"No. No. No. No. No. No!" Xander Harris-Hyoudou stopped dead in his tracks and started uttering the refutations the moment he spotted her. That wasn't quite true, at first he refused to believe his eyes. He'd assumed he was hallucinating. While he was immune to illusions and deceptions, his own hallucinations were still issues. Then he realized she was real. Standing in the middle of the Kuoh Academy courtyard was Harmony Kendall. "Anyone but her! I'd take Illy with all the posturing over her."
"What has you so upset, Xander-kun?" Asia Argento had been enjoying walking to school with Xander and receiving a bit more of his attention. Most mornings Rias took up about half of Xander's time and attention all by herself. It made Asia more than a bit jealous and that resulted in her feeling guilty. Today had been different as Xander had been splitting his attention between herself and Koneko. So the morning had been pleasant, until Xander reacted to sight of a pretty blonde girl in the quad. "She looks a little familiar."
"You have got to be kidding me?" Koneko Toujou piped up as she saw the same girl Xander did. The stoicism faded a bit as she recognized the girl and made an assumption. "Who would cosplay as her?"
"Uncle Xander!" The rather buxom blonde who had been speaking with Matsuda and Motohama literally launched herself at Xander the moment she spotted him. "I've been looking like everywhere for you. I totes need your help."
Of course as the blonde was saying all this she had successfully bore Xander to the ground. Luckily his back and head landed in the soft grass, not the concrete pavement. Not that he would have been hurt much considering he was wearing the {Hitai-ate of Gremory}. It just meant that none of the normal witnesses would expect him to be injured.
"Oh my! Xander-kun are you alright?" Asia immediately reacted, squatting down next to the prone form of her friend.
"Well, that's not a reaction I expected." Koneko raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the actions of the girl she thought she recognized. "I thought she hated you, Senpai."
"I really don't think this is Harmony." Xander stated as he tried to pry the girl off of him, but his efforts were for naught. The blonde was deceptively strong, much stronger than even a Master Vampire. Xander gauged that it would only take two boosts to be stronger than her, but there wasn't a silent way to do that or to take a promotion to Queen or Rook, for that matter. "Mind letting me up and introducing yourself."
"Oh, my bad. I like totally forgot that we hadn't met. I've like heard all about you from Mom and got excited." The girl responded as she finally decided to release Xander and rise to her feet. "I'm Harmonia Concordia. I believe you know my parents, Aphrodite and Hephaestus."
"Man, how come all the new chicks know you, homie?" Matsuda groaned in irritation. "First it was cute Asia then the fly-ass Raynare, and now this honey Harmonia? It just ain't right."
"Then there's the fact that Akeno and Koneko are always hanging out with you and you're dating Rias. Come on, tell us your secrets!" Motohama pleaded. "Did you sell your soul to the Devil or something?"
"No… just his body." Koneko mumbled under her breath.
Xander settled down into Rias' chair behind her desk and glanced over the forms that his *Shadow Clone* had finished. He had the memories of preparing the schedule, but he operated by the saying: Trust but verify. It only took a once over to confirm everything was alright. He then turned his attention to the rest of the ORC and their guest Harmonia. He didn't need to be told what domain she presided over, it was in her name. Sitting right next to Asia was the Goddess of Harmony and Concord. In Xander's opinion she was one of the most important deities in existence despite being what would be called a Lesser Power. While she wasn't the Goddess of Peace, she made Peace and Civilization possible because without her large groups of people couldn't even tolerate each other long enough to consider either.
"Harmonia-dono…" Xander started only to be interrupted.
"Just Harmony-chan, please." Harmony said rather seriously. "Like, you are so going to be one of my Uncles soon enough."
"Uncle?" Asia and Kiba echoed each other as they both asked the question. Koneko would have joined them, but she'd been enjoying a Charleston Chew bar.
"It's what I call the men who my mother has children with other than Daddy." Harmony stated with a wide smile. "Mom wants a child to compensate for intervening with Artemis over the Love spell. Like what was the Witch thinking invoking the celibate Goddess of the Hunt for a Love spell? Was she trying to get you killed?"
"Considering I was blackmailing her, it might have been a subconscious desire." Xander shrugged before continuing on. "I'm actually more afraid of your Dad's reaction. I earned whatever Artemis-dono has in store for me." He still wondered what he'd actually been thinking during that whole incident. It was easily one of his most boneheaded moments, beating out even the walking away from the wedding. "I know I wouldn't react well to Rias-hime sleeping with someone else, let alone planning to have their child. The man in question would likely find himself spread across the landscape."
"Understatement." Koneko muttered beneath her breath.
"Except Grandma, the Greek Pantheon aren't wired for jealousy over things like that." Harmonia shrugged. "Well Daddy is a bit, but only when it comes to Ares-baka. I think that has more to the do with the fact that only recently has Grandma shown any affection to Daddy. I mean he never had a problem with Uncle Hermes or Uncle Dionysus, and certainly none of the mortals, even Uncle Adonis."
"Well, that is a slight bit of relief. Now I just have to survive Rias-hime and Artemis." Xander chuckled causing everyone else to do so. "Now that we have small talk out of the way, why are you here?"
"Couldn't I have come to see my future Uncle before he gets super popular?" Harmony replied simply before she took a sip of the tea that Kiba had just poured. Seeing the clear look of disbelief in Xander's eyes, she sighed as he put her cup down. "I didn't think you'd buy that."
"Then why did you try it, Harmony-chan?" Asia's question was laced with concern. She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but she knew something was worrying the goddess.
"Because I am half-afraid that you'll refuse to help me just like every other group I've approached." Harmony replied seriously. "Someone has been trying to kill me. Normally, I wouldn't be worried, but the last near miss was like really close. An arrow smeared with Golden Hind blood."
"Maou!" Xander muttered darkly as he snapped the pencil he'd been fiddling with. Seeing the curious looks of Koneko and Kiba, Xander explained. "Golden Hind blood is deadly to Olympian Gods. To me or you it's pretty harmless, but if Harmony-chan had been struck she would have died screaming in agony. It would be like if I added a few *Boosts* to Holy Water and injected it into you."
"That sucks balls." Koneko muttered softly.
"And not in the fun way either." Harmony nodded solemnly. When Koneko arched an eyebrow, Harmony just smirked. "You might have forgotten who my mother is. My sisters and I had extensive training in such things."
"Oh my!" Asia squeaked as she imagined what that had to have been like. 'Aika-chan is a bad influence on me.'
"The family bonding aspects of the Olympian Gods aside, Harmony-chan's death would have devastating effects around the world." Kiba spoke up at this moment. "While there are other Deities of Cooperation, they would suddenly have to bear her portion of the load. Social Animals of all kinds would find it much more difficult to work together. Petty arguments and squabbles would end up blown out of proportion and escalate into violent conflicts. Eventually the Deities would adjust, but by then War could break out."
"Shit. Then the Cooperation would be funneled towards keeping the Armies of the world functioning." Xander swore as he completely Kiba's explanation. "And it wouldn't just be humans, but the supernatural and mythological worlds as well."
"Wouldn't God just step in and take some of the burden?" Asia asked after a moment. "I mean he wouldn't want to end the ceasefire. The Three Faction War wasn't good for any side."
"The last attempt on my life happened while I was speaking with the Pope." Harmony replied with a shrug. "While I am sure it was not performed by the Heaven or the Church, it brings into question how willing Jehovah is to act to save me. After all, He was the one who started the War in order to wipe out the Devils. Even after the ceasefire He hasn't stopped harming Devils who pray to Him. It's something I haven't been too pleased with Him about. He never even tried to live and let live."
Asia opened her mouth to refute Harmony that the God she knew was a Loving Father, but quickly closed it. The point about not letting Devils to pray hit home in a way that made her heart clench. Then there was the fact that the Bible was full of passages where God released his wrath on those who earned it. While Asia would say the Gremory Peerage did not deserve to be hated, she wasn't naïve enough to believe all Devils were like her rather remarkable King.
"He likely saw that you'd survive and thus did not act." Xander could see Asia's shoulders slump and guessed what it could mean. "After all, why waste energy deflecting a failed attack? Still, I can understand your concern. Since you were likely deep in Holy Ground you assume your attacker was not a Devil, and you are aware that we're the Faction that has the most to lose if war breaks out."
"Totes. I approached the Phenex family because they owed me a favor, but Riser is in a total funk." Harmony nodded in agreement with Xander before then explaining her trials in finding someone to help her. "The Glasya Labolas heir recently died in a freak accident. His replacement is an arrogant twatwaffle. The Bael heir is on some sort of training trip. The Agares Heiress is super busy hunting down the Strays that aren't going on rampages…"
"Wait… I thought they didn't hunt down Strays that weren't killing?' Xander interrupted as that last bit was contradictory to what he'd been told.
"The Agares clan has a knack for convincing non-violent Strays to return to the Underworld either to a King or serve in the Armies." Koneko decided to explain for Xander. "About a quarter of all Strays are just running away from Peerages they really don't fit into. It'd be whack to kill them all."
"Oh…" Xander nodded as he processed that information. Turning back to Harmony, he couldn't help but notice how nervous she was. 'Well, I can't blame her. She nearly died in Rome.' "So you've come to me, hoping I wouldn't turn you away, right?"
"Y-yes. I've seen the shows and read some fanfics, especially the ones by HaremKing2003. I know you can protect me." Harmony was proud of herself for not just breaking down and begging. Despite the façade she had been portraying, she was scared out of her mind. Her fellow Olympians were refusing to come to Earth until her assassin was dealt with. She didn't blame them as even Zeus could be killed with Golden Hind Blood. The other Pantheons were not on the best terms with the Olympians. Heaven seemed unwilling to help. She didn't dare trust the Fallen Angles. The Devils were her last hope, but she could not appeal to the Satans as that could trigger another Great War. Xander was literally her last hope. "Please, Uncle Xander, I don't want to die."
(You should protect her, but make a pact and demand a payment.) Rias's thoughts on the matter came to Xander's mind. She had been listening in from the moment that Harmonia had introduced herself. (After all she is dragging you into deific affairs.)
"Alright, I will help you… for a price." Xander stated simply. "Devils don't do anything for free."
"Oh, I was quite ready to pay for your help, Uncle Xander." Harmony replied. "I may act like a ditz, but I am nothing like that character my great-great-great granddaughter played."
Rias Gremory was having the time of her life in Kyoto. Raynare's friend turned out to be knowledgeable about the supernatural and agreed to be their guide. Their group consisting of Sona, Akeno, Raynare, Tsubaki and herself were shown all the typical Kyoto sights before being led into the Yokai districts. Despite being Devils and a Fallen Angel they were welcomed everywhere. The only thing Rias would have changed was being able to have Xander physically there with her. Despite all the fun she was having, the Gremory Heiress was not blind to the fact that their guide seemed distracted at times. She was about to ask when Raynare did so.
"So has the boy Motoko-chan likes noticed her yet?" Raynare was enjoying visiting Kyoto again. She had never toured the city so much of this trip was still new to her. However, the best part was reuniting with one of her few human friends. They kept contact over the internet, but that wasn't the same as in person. "Cause if not I am willing to help play matchmaker."
"No, he is exceptionally dense." Tsuruko Aoyama sighed as she shifted the Nodachi she carried. Normally she wouldn't carry even that while meeting a friend, but she was half afraid he ex-husband would find out she was escorting devils. Not for the first time she cursed the organization for twisting a good man into something else. "It probably doesn't help that he has six ladies pursuing him and that Motoko-chan is a bit of tsundere."
"Thank Maou that Xander-kun/koi is no longer that dense." Akeno and Rias both muttered at the same time and blushed.
"It took a lot of work to beat the denseness out of that head if his. If we didn't have Asia-chan there to heal him he'd be in a coma." Raynare chuckled. "So, does Motoko-chan want tips on how to come out on top?"
"Please don't corrupt my imouto, Ray-chan." Tsuruko chuckled softly. "Kitsune-san is bad enough an influence." Pausing for a moment she let out a long sign. "She wouldn't accept the help. She's decided to let Naru-chan win Keitaro-kun's heart. I am just worried she's going to regret it."
"Keitaro? Naru? You mean Keitaro Urashima?" Rias blinked rapidly. "Oh Maou! Are you trying to prank me Raynare-san?"
"Noo." Raynare dragged out the negation for a moment. "I prefer physical pranks like spring loaded pies in lockers."
"That was you?" Akeno's face lit up in delight as she heard that. "Arigato, Raynare-san. Junichi-baka was not taking any of my hints. I'd rather the school not know about my S side."
"What do you know, Gremory-san?" Tsuruko's attention turned to Rias as she attempted to subtly intimidate the girl. Tsuruko was an expert at projecting her anger while looking completely innocent and pleasant. It was a skill she learned from a highschool friend.
"Don't try parlor tricks like that with me. My sister-in-law is far scarier than you are." Rias brushed off the attempt at intimidation with ease. She wasn't exactly lying. Grayfia could intimidate almost any Devil when she wanted to. However, it was Xander who taught her how to ignore such attempts. She was surprised to learn the secret was to fake it. "Keitaro is my nephew of sorts. His mother is one of my half-sisters. Technically he can have as many wives as he wants."
"He's a Devil?" Tsuruko uttered out of disbelief. "I never sensed that about him."
"You wouldn't have been able to sense him." Rias started to explain. "Your training opens your senses to Devil Power, and Keitaro-san has practically none. The fact he is half-human muddies the water even further. Aside from his extended lifespan and his supernatural durability you wouldn't know he was anything but an ordinary human."
"It likely does not help that several of the Hina Inn residents are not human. Mitsune-san's nickname is not given just because she is mischievous. Kaolla-san is of the Molmol royal family. Finally there is something about Naru-chan's recent displays of superhuman strength that is vaguely unsettling." Tsuruko noted as she contemplated the new information she learned. It was interesting to her that Keitaro was immune to the *Rock Splitting Spirit Sword* which should have been impossible for a Devil. The again the technique was meant to destroy evil and spare everything else.
"That's interesting." Rias smirked as she compiled some mental lists. "If Keitaro-kun could forge a relationship with Molmol and the Shinmei-ryu, Father would likely insist on him accepting a set of Evil Pieces for his wives."
"If any other Devil Family suggested something like that, I would slay the emissary on the spot and declare a Blood Feud." Tsuruko stated in the same pleasant manner she would compliment a garden. "However, the Shinmei-ryu have never quarreled with the Gremorys."
'Nothing like Harmony Kendall my pale white ass!' Xander Harris-Hyoudou couldn't help the uncharitable thought about Harmonia. While the Goddess was not cruel or stupid, she was just a hyperactive fashionista shopaholic. He only just barely managed to convince her to stay in the ORC Clubroom during class. The price had been that he would be her escort as she partook in retail therapy. Xander had witnessed true horrors when it came to women and shopping with Cordelia, Buffy, Dawn, Anya, and Harmony, either individually or in pairs. Harmonia was like shopping with all five of them at once. Despite being a hardcore shopper, the goddess was nearly as sweet and nice as Asia, which made the situation worse as Xander could not refuse her without looking and feeling like a heel. "I can't just try that on. I'm supposed to be protecting you, Harmony-chan."
"But it would look so good on you!" Harmonia pouted as she held up the black t-shirt for him to see. It was emblazoned with Tim Burton stylized caricatures of Buffy, Willow, Giles, Spike, and Xander himself. "They manage to make you look like a badass but still capture your funny side."
"I'll admit I want a few, one for each of the ORC, but I can't try it on." Xander repeated his stance on the issue. "What if you're attacked while I am changing?"
"Oooh, I so totally spaced on that." Harmonia nodded in realization. "Well, we'll just get it in extra large for each of them. And then we'll get the Big Johnson Contractor shirt for you too. Mother's orders."
"Sure, fine. While we're at it I want the Martial Arts too." Xander knew he could have argued against it, but there was little point. Then an idea struck him. "Get the Kendo one for Kiba. Might as well spread the love."
"That's the spirit, Uncle." Harmonia's face lit up with a megawatt smile as she grabbed the shirts in question. "So, any sign of EEEP!"
Harmonia's sudden shriek of surprise was from seeing a blood-covered quarrel not three inches from her face. Her millennia long life flashed before her eyes for a moment until she realized that Xander was holding it in a gauntleted fist. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the young devil had literally caught the missile in mid flight. She watched in a bit of amazement as it disappeared before Xander started flashing through a few strange hand signs.
"Secret Dragon Jutsu: Omega Breath!" Xander called out before exhaling a crimson beam of light that zigg-zagged through the store before going through the open door turning twice before striking a bald man reloading his crossbow. The force of the impact caused the man to accidentally break the crossbow. "Well… fuck."
"*Boost*" The [Boosted Gear] announced as Xander prepared for a second attack. He wasn't fool enough top leave Harmonia's side until he was relieved by Asia.
Outside the shop, Koneko Toujou and Kiba Yuuto closed in on the assassin. As usual Kiba was in the lead, in his hands was the {Sword of the Betrayed} which flashed with crippling intent aiming for the man's right arm. Only the blow was stopped short with a loud metallic clang of sword striking sword. The assassin had drawn a wickedly curved short sword in the blink of an eye and parried Kiba's blow. The Knight of the Rias Gremory strained mightily to push {Sword of the Betrayed} towards the assassin's throat, but even his whole body seemed to be no match for the man's one arm. Kiba found that his own blade as well the jagged sword of his enemy was being steady pushed towards him. Just as the assassin was about to press {Sword of the Betrayed} against Kiba's carotid artery, he was sent flying thanks to a haymaker to the gut from Koneko.
"Suck it!" Koneko muttered as she watched the man tumble across the mall corridor floor.
"Thank you, Koneko-chan. He almost had me." Kiba breathed out as he readied his sword again. "He's stronger than he looks."
"No probs." Koneko nodded to Kiba, but never took her eyes off the assassin. Kiba's assessment was not easing her worries as the man looked pretty strong. The fact that he was able to hold on to his sword despite the half-power strike Koneko delivered was not a good sign. "Balls."
The assassin kipped up to his feet, still holding the wickedly jagged shortsword in his right hand. With his left he grabbed the left shoulder of his trench coat and tore it off to reveal himself. Wearing only a sandals, a pair of leg greaves, a pair of manica, and a loin cloth, the assassin looked every bit the gladiator. It was at this point that everyone could see that his skin was pale and caked with ashes.
"You fight well, for putrid Devils." The figure smirked as he drew a second jagged short sword. "But you are no match for me."
"*Boost*" Ddraig's voice echoed from the [Boosted Gear] as Xander stepped out of the clothing shop. In his hand was {Rosenberg} and it was clear he was ready for heavy combat
"Promotion to Queen!" Xander called out and for a moment his form was super imposed with a crimson Queen piece. "I've been told things like that my whole life. I'm still here, they aren't."
"HAHAHA!" the assassin threw his head back as his laughter boomed in the mostly empty corridor. "You remind me of myself, Alexander. It's too bad you are a putrid devil. We could have been friends. Step aside and let me kill the Bitch and I will spare you for now."
"Not going to happen." Kiba stated simply as he switched from a two handed grip on {Sword of the Betrayed} to a one handed style, then a second {Sword of the Betrayed} appeared. "Stand down and we won't be forced to maim you."
"Try to hurt her and I'll rip your arm off and beat you to a pulp with it." Koneko deadpanned as she cracked her knuckles.
"Even if I was inclined to allow you to hurt Harmony-chan, my friends seem intent on stopping you." Xander shrugged. "So I'll just have to help them kick your teeth in." The former Watcher grinned ferally. "Just for my report later, what is your name?"
"I am known as Kratos, not that you will have the chance to write your report." The now self identified Kratos responded with calm confidence. "Know this… You could have lived, but now you won't."
Evil Cliffhanger
No, I do not own God of War or Kratos...