So, here we are again, a new chapter.
Anyway, without further ado, here we go!
*Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credits go to Ichiei Ishibumi*
Chapter 5: Perse's Revenge! Shinji To The Rescue!
The sun was shining high above the cerulean sky, no clouds visible to the eye and the thought of a beautiful morning was clear to everyone residing in Kuoh.
"I keep telling you man, that boss is invincible!", a boy kept commenting to his partner as they walked down the street.
"You are just bad, that thing is pretty easy", responded his partner in a mocking way. Both of them were walking to Kuoh Academy, after the awkward contract Shinji had he slept like a log the entire night. That's how his last two weeks went by in his new life, that is fulfilling contracts that consisted of Lily asking him out or Yuuma messing around with him from time to time.
"You're just bluffing, as if it was that easy to you", Issei made a 'humph' sound with his mouth as he tucked his hands in his pockets. As they made a turn on a street the brown haired teen looked around him, "Looks like the people around here are happier than usual today", he commented.
"It's Friday, who wouldn't be?", said the reincarnated devil. It was true, everyone, including him who died and got reincarnated and started to work under the commands of a high class devil princess, were in a good mood today.
"Yeah, but I dunno, more than usual", commented his perverted friend.
"You're just imagining things", replied his friend. As he looked around and then to the blue sky he frowned while pouting, "Such a good day to be outside, ruined by school".
Issei chuckled a little at his comment. Even though Shinji was getting by with good grades he was a Grade A slacker, if he was capable of just skipping school and only going to do the exams handed to him, he would. "Then why don't we just skip it overall? We can use a free day".
The black haired teen tucked his hands in his pockets and sighed, "As if. I don't want to be on the verge of flunking an year again", his first year of High School was an academic disaster of catastrophic levels; since he and Issei were always joking around, arriving late to school and skipping classes on a daily basis just to go play videogames or buy a new manga, both of them were close to flunking that year. If it weren't because of Momo being there to smack his head to make him study and wish for a miracle to save his grades, he would be in a new school by now.
'Momo…', thought the teenager as he remembered the discussion he had with his friend and how she started to evade him every time he tried to talk to her. 'Dammit, why does everything have to be this hard?', he thought.
His friend quickly catching up with the teen's sad face turned to face him, "Yo Shinji, something's wrong?".
As he was trailed out of his thoughts he saw Issei looking at him curiously so he mustered a smile, "Nothing, don't worry about it". As they walked without speaking, the black haired teen tried to change the awkward subject from before, "Say Issei, how are you doing at school?".
The perverted teen slumped with an imaginary cloud hovering over him and he looked to his friend, "Let's just say I get along, okay? Don't need more nagging coming from you too".
'So your mom's been trying to smack sense into you again, eh? Still the same', he laughed as he thought of his friend's misery.
Just when they made a turn on a street, two shadows jumped from some bushes next to them, said shadows stopped them dead in their tracks and one of them pointing to the black haired teen. "There you are traitor!", he screamed.
"...huh?", Shinji was out of words as he was caught off guard, "What?". As he got a better view of the pair of strangers coming out of nowhere, he saw they were none other than the rest of the Perverted Trio, Matsuda and Motohama.
"You know what I'm talking about, bastard! You were walking next to Himejima-senpai the other day to school!", Motohama shouted his lungs out at the teen, everyone just gazing in their direction.
"Oh, that", he scratched his chin as he remembered the scene, he ended shrugging it off. "So? We were just walking man".
"You and Himejima….", as he turned to see his friend, the reincarnated devil saw Issei gazing at him, tears coming out of his eyes. "So the rumors about you walking next to Gremory-senpai must be true, too! You bastard! It wasn't enough to just get into the most exclusive club in the school with the hottest chicks, but you're also going at 'em too!", he pointed at his friend as if he had just deceived him.
Shinji just stepped back, the situation was starting to overwhelm him, "The hell are you talking about? It's just walking around, you idiot". Now he was losing it, it is well known when you get into a discussion with the Trio against you it just ends with you giving up, the bastard's are just way too annoying when they get jealous or angry.
"Walking around my ass!", Matsuda added his two cents to the situation. "It wasn't enough with you having Momo, you're also going for the whole Occult Club!".
"But it doesn't matter", before the black haired teen could even process the whole situation Motohama got ahead of him, adjusting his glasses a dark smile appeared on his face. "You think we would just sit around and see you having the party of your life full of hot chicks? Oh no, we won't".
"You see Shinji-", Matsuda continued after his partner finished his evil monologue, "-We created a plan for you and your dreams to crumble down, it took hours and hours of planning but we brought you down!".
"That's right!", Motohama exclaimed, pointing to the sky, "From now on you, Shinji Kouki, are in a boy-love relationship with Kiba Yuuto!".
.
.
.
"...what?", now that was something he wasn't expecting.
"That's right! It took hours, days even for it to get to every ear of the entire School, but from now on everyone knows you are deeply in love with Kiba! He is the reason for you to join his club!". Matsuda proudly bumped his chest, "If you were planning to have a harem with the Onee-Samas now it's all over Shinji, they might have heard by now you play 'sword duels' with your blonde prince!".
"You can't be serious…", Shinji's eye was twitching, "I thought Issei was stupid for this kind of things but you both take it to a whole new level". Even though he never cared about how his reputation was or how everyone saw him, this took it to a whole new level even for him. It was one thing for him to be accused of being a pervert just because of talking with his friend Issei, it was a completely different thing to have this problematic duo to shatter his image just because they feel jealous.
As Issei saw the entire scene unfold he was shut during the whole thing, he knew for sure once the black haired teen gets angry there's no turning back. "H-Hey Shinji, it must be a joke. Right Matsuda, Motohama?".
"Damn right it's not!", Motohama responded, "Now Shinji, kneel before us and this will stop or keep going and it might get worse!".
"It will get worse, for you that is!", Shinji snapped. Grabbing Matsuda by his collar he raised a fist with a little empowerment of his new demonic energy ready to knock his lights out. Even though Hagiwara told him to never use brute force against anyone there must be an exception for idiots that were looking for an ass beating.
"That's enough, all of you!", before things escalated to worse levels, a voice shouted in their direction. Three girls with a Kuoh Academy uniform and arm band present on their right arm were heading in their direction. These were none other than Momo and two more girls from the Student Council.
"Creating a ruckus while using our uniforms is against the school rules", a tall girl with chestnut hair and a ponytail going to her shoulders spoke, Shinji recognized her as Reya Kusaka, one of the members of the Student Council and Momo's friend.
Motohama was caught off guard from the pair of girls, quickly hiding behind his hands and pointing to the reincarnated teen that just released a pale Matsuda from his grip,"B-But he-".
"I don't care about excuses, and more so coming from someone as you, Motohama", Reya made her point clear using a more harsh voice.
Shinji just saw how the perverted duo tried to excuse their way out of it, he then turned to see Momo; she just looked his way for a second and then turned her head the other direction. The teenager just sighed in his head, this was harder than what he expected.
"So, is it true?", a voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he saw a petite girl with pony tails speaking to his direction, he recognized her as Ruruko Nimura, a first year student and a freshman in the Student Council. Watching how the teen was lost about her question she played with her fingers as a small blush appeared on her face, "Y-You know, about you and Kiba-kun dating".
As his jaw dropped to the floor and a sweatdrop appeared in his head, he noticed how the ruckus involving the perverted duo had finally stopped. Reya, having finished scolding the teenagers, tagged along with the rest of the girls, crossing her arms when she spotted the black haired devil. "And don't think I forgot about you Kouki, Hyoudou, you know this kind of behavior is not tolerable".
Shinji just sighed as he scratched his head and decided to play along, "Sorry Kusaka-san, I got a little carried away"; he apologetically said. As he saw the teenager bow, Issei scratched his cheek in confusion, "That's good and all, but I didn't do nothi-", at his stubbornness the Student Council members where glaring at him ready to strike and begin another lecture, the devil teen, faster than them, grabbed the boy by the collar and forced him to bow too. "Y-yeah, sorry about that".
As she saw the students bow, a smile appeared on Kusaka's face while regaining a more tame lecture pose, "Alright Kouki, I'll let this one slip just because you're Momo's friend. But don't get in any more trouble, okay?", she pointed a finger to the teen her eyes slowly narrowing to show somewhat of a threatening stance.
"We'll try, Kusaka-san", the black haired teen finally said. As the Student Council members finally started to walk away Issei sighed as he angrily glared at his friend, "Why do I always get caught up in your problems?".
"I should be the one saying that, those were your pals creating a ruckus", Shinji fired back at him. Even if he knows how to behave himself Matsuda and Motohama sometimes are able to get the best of him, there were several times he got in trouble because of the Perverted Trio or one of their antics, although Momo was the one to get him out of trouble the majority of times.
'Momo…', he thought as he saw the white haired girl walking out of sight, 'C'mon Shinji, you gotta man up and solve this thing, even though you don't know what happened there's a way out of this, right?'.
"Yo, bud", a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You alright there?", the perverted teen asked his friend.
"Yeah, I think...", as he looked to the side the black haired teen tucked his hands in his pockets, "Yo Issei, think you can do me a favor?".
Issei was quite taken back by the sudden plea of his friend, blinking a couple of times before responding, "Uh, sure. Ask away".
There was no turning around from this situation. If Shinji wants to settle the problems he and Momo have he must do them quickly before it gets worse than it already is, his plan for it was already being made in his head.
"I hope Issei does this thing for me".
As the breeze made its way to the teen, making him feel more cold than he would want to, Shinji was standing on the roof of Kuoh Academy. After classes ended he asked Issei if he could fetch Momo and take her where he is now.
Of course the reply was a 'No' faster than what he expected; the girl after classes fills her daily routine of going to the Student Council room and doing what she normally does. That place for any member of the Perverted Trio was as dangerous as a venomous snake bite, every time the door of said room was open for one of them it was only to hear the reprimanding and expulsion threats from the president of the Student Council, Sona Shitori. To even have the thought of crossing that line was just a death threat to him.
So Shinji used his trump card for this kind of situation, promising any porn DVD that his friend wanted in exchange for it, obviously it worked for him.
"I know he'll do it, the thing is if she'll come or not", mumbled the teenager as he started to walk around the roof. "What should I say anyway? I can't just go with the classic 'Sorry' response. I don't think it'll work this time".
As he got close to the railings of the roof, he looked down to see the school gate, some students standing there chatting or just waiting for their friends to walk home together. This reminded him of Middle School when he waited outside for Issei or Momo to walk home, most of the time accompanied by the white haired girl since Issei went to the city center to buy manga or video games.
"So, you are here", a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. As he turned around he spotted a familiar figure wearing the Girls' Kuoh Academy uniform. "Hyoudou told me to come to the roof, pretty bold of him knowing what happens when he enters the Student Council".
Shinji sweatdropped at her sudden statement, 'Damn. Not even doing anything you get scolded just because. I feel for you buddy'. He thought while he sent a prayer to his friend.
"Anyway, what do you want, Shinji? I've got Student Council paperwork to do", the white haired girl crossed her arms as she sounded quite irritated with her situation now. The boy's eye was twitching at her sudden burst, 'Even when I want to talk to you, you still want to just go at it..', he thought.
"Okay, uhh Momo. You see…", he scratched the back of his head as he was trying to find the words to tell his friend; Shinji wasn't actually hoping this plan would work out, and even if it did he was clueless at what he did to actually form any kind of 'sorry' speech about it.
"Look, I don't know how you actually found out I'm a devil nor do I care. I don't know why it's gotten to your head and started to shout at me, but I don't want to break our friendship because of it", he waved his hands as he spoke to emphasize what he was trying to tell her. "If there's something that bothers you about my decision just tell me so I can understand why".
"Because I know what's at stake for you to be reborn again…", she simply responded. As her gaze darkened her eyes were set on the floor below them, a sorrowful voice was the only thing emanating from her lips. "I know what you had to give in return for coming back. The only thing you possessed that no one else did, the most precious item humans have".
"...I don't follow", responded the boy, he was lost now as to what she meant.
"Your soul, idiot!", Momo shouted to him, it was obvious she was mad at him, again. "You sold your soul, the only thing that made you different from the rest, your essence, without that you are not more than an animal!".
"Why are you still bringing up my soul to this topic?", he started to massage his temples, this girl was wearing him out each time they discussed. "Look Momo, I'm back. I'm speaking to you now because of it, it's not a thing that bothers me to have done".
"It should", the girl countered. "What was the price for that? You gave up freedom just to speak to me again?".
"And why do you keep coming back to the 'freedom' thing? I'm not a slave you know", he started to raise his voice, this was getting out of hand already.
"Yes you are Shinji", Momo lowered her voice, her gaze firmly looking at the teenager. "You are tied to your master, you don't have a voice on the matter rather than shut up and follow orders".
"I'm not a slave Momo", Shinji stepped forward, raising his arm to his chest. "I don't care what you've heard about me being a devil, I won't let anyone decide over me".
"Sadly, you already did", she countered. "Tell me Shinji, haven't you felt you were doing what your master told you lately?"; as the white haired teen saw how the boy was lost at her question she decided to continue, "Since when do you join a club, knowing you always said you thought of these things as a waste of time? By the looks of it you also made contracts, haven't you?".
As the teen remained silent she continued, "What about your job? Are you working every day as you used to, or you've been skipping days to cope with your master's orders?".
As Momo stopped the teenager looked down, every word she spoke making sense. Since he became a devil his life took a complete turn, he joined a club, following what Rias told him to do without even having a single 'but' in the matter. He even had to ask Hagiwara some days off because of missions or contracts assigned to him lately.
'Damn it', it was the only thing he thought.
The girl stood where she was, putting her hands on her hips as she thought of how the argument was over. "So, you think reincarnating as a devil was a good idea now?".
"I don't know, but it was my choice and no one else's to be here", Shinji raised his head, a firm gaze looking at his friend. "It was my choice to talk to you again, not a devil's".
As she was taken back by his sudden declaration she got frustrated just by looking at him, "Are you that much of an idiot to be like this Shinji!? It doesn't matter what happened in the past, you don't have a voice in the matter now. Haven't they told you what happens to Stray Devils already?".
"I don't care about the devils society and all their crap", he countered while placing a hand on his chest. "I'm still me and that's what matters".
"It doesn't matter anymore", she simply whispered.
"Yes it does. Why are you so upset with this freedom anyway Momo? I already told you what my choice was", having thought he turned the table to his favor with his exclamation and sudden question.
"Because you don't know", as she lowered her gaze she softly spoke. "You don't know what it's like to be born in a place without a voice, what it feels like to always be dragged around to what it's the 'best option' and to never have a say in the matter".
As Shinji was caught off guard with Momo's sudden snap, he couldn't even form a word, only watching as her hands turned into fists and her body trembling as she continued. "You don't know what it's like to see everyone doing what they want and you don't even have a chance for it, you don't know what it's like to become just a pawn to strengthen your family's bond with their partners".
"Momo..", as Shinji was at a loss for words, he watched as his friend was slowly shedding tears in front of him. Not even capable of forming a single sentence to try and comfort her.
"You know what? Forget it. There's not getting through you", she simply said in a low voice, turning around and walking out of the rooftop they both have been discussing.
As the black haired teenager was left still in the same place where he witnessed his friend's breakdown, he remained silent looking where she left.
"Idiot", a sudden voice spoke.
"Momo-chan look out!", a feminine voice snapped her out of her thoughts. As a white haired teenager looked up she saw several spear-like objects flying at her; jumping back she evaded them in time before they pierced the ground.
"That was a close one, thanks Tomoe", she turned her head and thanked the girl next to her, said girl is Tomoe Meguri, a second year student at Kuoh. She's a beautiful girl with reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. On her right hand a katana was held, said katana was emanating a blue-ish light. "Don't mention it", she simply responded.
"This is not the time to be talking girls, we need to defeat this Stray", a sharp voice spoke as it got closer to them. Walking next to the pair was a tall girl with hair that seemed to flow all the way to the floor, her glasses shining as they laid on the creature in front of them. "Right, Fukukaichou!", the girls said in unison.
"I'm getting quite annoyed with the devils resssiding here", as the dust was starting to fade from the impact of the spears sent to the girl, a figure was beginning to be visible to them, two yellow eyes staring right at them as if playing with them, a tail swirling as if enjoying playing with her prey and a malicious smile taunting the trio.
"Stray Devil Perse, I see Rias peerage wasn't able to defeat you", Tsubaki taunted her opponent as she stepped in front of Momo and Tomoe, covering them.
"Ahhh, quite a mouthful we have here", the Stray spoke as her tail raised her higher than the girls. "I can sense your power, far greater than the two behind you", she chuckled as a smile showed her sharp fangs, "You must be the Queen aren't you?".
"Queen or not we'll bring you down", as the Sitris queen changed her stance, a naginata materializing itself on her right hand. "Alright girls, we must buy time until Sona-kaichou and the rest arrive".
"Okay, let's go", Momo said. As she started to walk forward to face the stray, a hand blocked her path, looking to her right she saw Tsubaki with a stern look. "Not you Momo, you're the only mage here that can't fight hand-to-hand. I will go with Tomoe, you stay back and provide support from a distance".
As if coping with what her superior said, a brown haired girl jumped next to her and patted her back, "Don't worry Momo-chan, we've got this".
As a reassuring smile appeared on her face, the white haired teenager nodded in response, "All right, I'm counting on you two. I'll help you any way I can".
As her friend did as told, Tsubaki turned around to face Perse. "Alright, here we go".
At her command Momo jumped back, propelled by her wings and her devil traits she gained enough distance to cast her magic and have enough time to evade anything the Stray would throw at her. As she closed her eyes and spoke in a strange language a blue crest formed beneath her, blue light covering her body as it engulfed their surroundings, as the light faded she opened her eyes again, looking where her peerage members were standing, "Bounded Field ready, she won't go anywhere".
"Good", the Sitris's queen said as she adjusted her glasses, naginata on her hand. "Tomoe, we'll go at her from different sides, I'll take the right, you go to the left. We won't let her attack the other that way".
As a katana reappeared on the sword freak girl's hand she nodded at her queen's command, "Got it Fukukaichou, she won't know what hit her".
"Three against one is not a fair fight, you know?", the Stray commented as her nails started to glow a greenish light. "But it doesn't matter, trash is trash and you'll have your meaning as my appetizersss!".
As the monster snake launched itself to the pair, both Tomoe and Tsubaki jumped to evade it. One on each side they started to coordinate their attacks.
Perse turned to attack the Queen but she was received by a slash on her back, turning around she saw Tomoe quickly jumping back to evade a direct hit from her tail; the brown haired girl using her Knight traits launched herself to the right, evading another direct attack from the Stray since she got her attention.
"Never leave your back wide open, Stray", commenting Tsubaki as she surprised the devil with a direct hit on her back, opening several wounds from her naginata's power and devil magic strengthening it.
"You cursed devils..!", the Stray shouted in pain. As she used her tail to send an attack to the Queen she turned around to face Sitris's Knight head on, 'I'll have to deal with them separately and keep my distance', she thought.
Tomoe evaded her attack with a jump propelled by her speed; although she was quick to it she wasn't prepared for Perse's fast recovery, invoking spears and launching them at the knight's head. Using her katana she blocked the ones sent straight to her but a second attack was coming, the monster launching herself to finish off her prey with tremendous speed, "Damn!", she cursed.
As the girl tried to use her katana to block the incoming attack, a blue seal was conjured in front of her. Unable to stop in time to evade said seal Perse went straight to it, thunder came as a response from the monster's contact with it.
"Gaaaahh!", the Stray screamed as she was sent back by the shock received from the attack. With a hand on the burned marks her face got from the shield's crest she turned around to where a certain white haired devil was standing far away from her reach. "You won't get to my friends that easily", Momo commented.
This wasn't looking good for the Stray, with a Queen and a Knight attacking from separate sides she didn't have enough time to block every attack and take one of them out; and what's worse they had a Bishop standing in the distance providing support each time the pair needed.
'Looks like I'll have to use more of my energy to destroy this nuisances', the snake monster thought, as she closed her eyes green light started to emit from her body, her powers increasing severely. As the Valad's son reincarnated her, Perse was assigned the Queen piece by him; her strength as the daughter of Echidna combined with the traits of a Queen Piece made her an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. But corrupted by her lust for power she went berserk and slayed her master before escaping.
Of course this didn't come without consequences, without her master restoring the energy she used in battle, she found out she was getting weaker each time she tends to use any of her mother's traits, her body extremely worn out by the continued use from it. So she started to seek the life energy coming from the humans around her, leading her to Kuoh where a city with a big population was.
"This is bad, her power seems to be growing", Momo commented as she stepped back.
As Tomoe jumped back, the Stray turned around to face her. Glowing eyes meeting the young devil ones. 'I can't move!', she thought.
Perse launched herself to her, no hesitation to end one of the trio. As she got closer another crest appeared in front of her, this time she was prepared and jumped back to evade it, ceasing her eye contact with the Knight's. "Tomoe! Get out of there!", she heard a girl shout.
As she got out of the trance her body was in, the brown haired girl jumped back with all her strength, gaining all the distance she could from the snake woman; but not being fast enough Perse was able to get a hit on the devil girl. Wincing from the pain while grabbing his arm she heard the Stray chuckling, "What's the matter little one? Afraid of me? You were so confident jussst now".
"Tomoe, are you okay?", as Tsubaki called back to regroup with her comrade she saw a wound open on the girl's left arm. "You're hurt", she quickly added with a concerned look.
The brown haired girl turned her head to where her friend was, "No biggie, just a scratch", she said while smiling. The Sitri Queen closed her eyes as she heard her friend's comment, "Okay, if you say so".
"Alright Tomoe, she's stronger than before. We'll have to change plans", the Queen soon started to give new orders to her peerage members. "I'll be the one facing her, can you draw her attention? You're fast enough with your Knight traits to evade her attacks".
Tomoe gave her a thumbs up, "Sure Fukukaichou, I can do that". As the black haired girl nodded, she turned around to face Momo, "Momo, you keep providing support on the back". A 'Roger' was all she needed to hear.
As Tsubaki launched herself to Perse, Tomoe dashed with the speed of a bullet and appeared in front of their enemy, making a small slash on the creature's tail to draw her attention. The plan seems to have worked when the Stray turned around, facing her and ready to strike again; just right then a cry of pain was heard as a naginata cut through her torso, blood coming out of her once smooth skin.
Tsubaki was glad, her plan working as she thought. With Tomoe's speed she had enough time to evade anything the Stray would throw at her and she would have her back wide open to attack. It was a matter of time before her King and the rest of the peerage arrived so they could finish off this monster.
As the serpent-like woman recovered from the blow, she turned around to see the Sitris's Queen; she jumped back to gain enough space between them. Turning around she saw the other girl doing the same thing and the other one far behind looking ready to support her friends at time's given.
'Bothersome brats!', Perse thought. 'I've had it!'. She launched herself to the Queen again, the same strategy repeating itself; Tomoe making a small cut on her tail to draw her attention and Tsubaki channeling her power to the naginata she was holding.
But this time she was prepared, as she turned to face the Knight she threw her tail straight to her. Sharp as a sword the tail was aiming straight to her chest, only for the attack to be halted as a blue crest appeared in front of the girl, clashing with the tail and preventing the attack.
A grin appeared on the snake's face as she turned around, her plan was correct when she saw the Sitri Queen jumping to attack her again, 'Not this time'. She launched herself to her.
Tsubaki halted her attack, evading by mere centimeters the monster's spear-like nails. Landing on the ground she wasn't prepared when the Stray attempted to attack her again, faster than the last time. 'So fast!', she thought as she casted a barrier in front of her to protect herself from the attack; said barrier shattering under the massive strength Perse made while smashing right through it with her Queen's mighty traits, meeting the monster head on and receiving a powerful slash coming from her.
As Momo shouted her name, Tsubaki was sent flying backwards by the sheer force of the Stray's attack, smashing on the ground beneath her and cracking the floor. Slowly recovering herself and trying to stand up, she collapsed again and coughed large amounts of blood.
"Tsubaki!", Tomoe shouted as she saw how her Queen was. Kneeling in pain as she was grabbing where the Stray slashed her. Her clothes were torn in several places and a large wound open on her stomach, blood leaking out of it.
Her shock was interrupted as she heard the Stray laugh, raising herself by her tail to gain enough altitude to be above the girls. "What's the matter, brats? Weren't you defeating me just now? You stand no chance!". Perse launched herself to the brown haired girl, the latter only able to jump to the side to merely evade the slash from the monster's tail.
"You're fast, that Knight traits are clearly showing off. But-", as Perse turned around, her glowing eyes met the young ones, paralyzing her where she stood. "-You're foolish to think you can take me alone!".
There was nothing she could do, when the Stray launched itself to attack her she couldn't move; her eyes widened in realization when she was paralyzed, 'No! I can't move again!'. Pleading was all but in vain as the monster got closer to her, mere centimeters away from a certainly death strike.
Only for the attack to never occur, as the Stray was right in front of her target a white blur appeared in front of her. It was a matter of seconds when a blue crest was formed between Perse and Tomoe, a loud clash heard as she collided with something as hard as a wall.
There stood Momo, both her hands extended as a barrier appeared in front of her, "I told you I won't let you touch my friends". As she charged the crest with magic, it started to glow brighter each second, exploding and sending the Stray flying back, hitting a wall by the sheer power that emanated from it.
"You lousy brat..!", Perse grunted as she recovered from the sudden shock of the white haired girl. "I forgot about you, I'll make sure that won't happen again".
"Okay, Fukukaichou we nee-", as Tomoe tried to walk forward a hand stopped her on her track, "M-Momo?".
"You're wounded Tomoe, I'll buy time until Sona-kaichou comes. Protect Tsubaki", she ordered her friend. 'This is bad, c'mon Sona we can't hold much longer', the white haired girl cursed their bad luck of facing this Stray without their King.
"N-No", a voice suddenly interrupted the pair. "Momo, I told you to stay behind and provide support. You can't fight", Tsubaki commanded the girl as she started to get up, only to fail again by the damage he suffered from Perse's attack.
It wasn't the fact that Momo wanted to protect her friends that made Tsubaki mad about her trying to fight the Stray, it was the fact that she's extremely weak when going head on against an enemy. Unlike the Knight Piece that has extreme speed and stamina or the Queen that has the quality of every piece below the King, the Bishop Piece has magic prowess but lacks defense. Her going so close to someone as dangerous as Perse was nothing more than a death wish.
As Momo still stood in front of them without obeying her commands, Sona's queen started to grit her teeth. "Do as I say Momo!", Tsubaki shouted again. "You'll die if you keep disobeying me!".
'You think I can leave you, Issei, Kiryuu or anyone else like that because my gut was telling me!?'.
As the white haired girl closed her eyes she remembered those words, the same words a certain boy told her one day as they argued; reopening them there was something different in them, conviction. "Tomoe, grab Tsubaki-Fukukaichou and step aside. You need to heal yourself", she turned her head and told her friend. Turning around to face the monster she chuckled a little, 'Dammit Shinji, it always comes down to you being my problem'.
Since day one of High School he was nothing but problems to her, most of the time putting her being on the Student Council the reason he was still in school and yet, every time he was in problems, she jumped to defend him. Momo sighed, why did she care so much for this guy? 'He's an idiot, a blockhead, a good for nothing, a troublemaker, lazy, he's immature, has the mind of a child…!'. The more she thought about it, the faster her heart started to beat. 'He's thoughtful of others, he cares about everyone, he's always funny to tease, he's cute when embarrassed, he was the only one that spoke to me in Middle School, he always protects his friend even though he's a leecher'.
Yes, Shinji was the only one that spoke to Momo in Middle School, since she comes from a renown and wealthy family no one dared to even look at her from hate, envy or just because of feeling lower than her. She also has her peculiar way of talking, being that of reprimanding anyone that made a mistake, she was known as the 'Ice Queen' because of it and as a pun to her white hair. Yet the teenager spoke to her, not because of needing something from her or just to flirt, he was having a hard time with math one day and asked her for some advice. Later that day he found out they lived somewhat close to each other and asked her to walk together because it was more fun that way.
Yes, that easygoing attitude he has is what caught her attention, how he treated her like an equal instead of someone of the elite, how every time she felt sad because of something he always listened to her problems and tried to offer a solution, how he always stood up to his perverted friend antics even though he's been cataloged as a pervert because of it too. That's why when she found out he had transferred to Kuoh Academy, she felt joy because of being with him again.
"Ufufu, ssso someone is trying to play hero", Perse commented watching the scene in front of her unfold. "I already had one foolish boy try that against me, but unlike last time it won't work again!".
As the monster launched herself at the girl, Momo rolled to the side to evade the attack, 'Dammit, she's faster than what I took her to be..!'. There was no escape from her now, Tsubaki and Tomoe were hurt and needed time to recover so she must stall the stray enough until the rest of the peerage arrives.
"Tch!", another shield was casted as spear-like objects collided with it, leaving big trails of dust around the girl. Of course the plan was easier said than done.
"What's the matter little one?", she heard a voice as dust was starting to fade away, "Are you feeling ssscared?".
"As if", the white haired teen retorted back. "I'm not scared of a lizard freak", she taunted her opponent.
That comment seemed to strike right at the Stray, because all that was heard was a grunting, "Quite the mouthful you are watching how you can't win!". She launched herself again, Momo casting fast enough another shield to defend herself from the attack. Only to shatter by the sheer force Perse possesses.
As Momo was sent flying back from the explosion of the shield, she kneeled and coughed. Although there was no serious injury her body felt numb by the strength of the stray.
"You should have listened to your friends, girl", Perse turned to face the young devil. "Now you'll die because of your foolishness".
As the Stray launched herself to finish the girl off, a body jumped in front of the monster. Using the back of her naginata she smashed the monster strong enough to send it flying back, taken by surprise by the sudden attack.
"Fukukaichou!", Momo shouted as Tsubaki landed on the ground. Part of her clothes were torn and grabbing her naginata with one hand, the other one holding where the Stray wounded her.
"I...told you to stand back…", she said; breathing heavily because of the damage she received.
"Don't worry Momo-chan, Tsubaki-Fukukaichou is just happy you're okay", Tomoea appeared next to the white haired girl. Although she wasn't as heavily wounded as Shinra, her body was showing clear signs of exhaustion from the battle.
"I'm having it with these interruptions", a voice interrupted the girl's thoughts. "I can feel someone else coming, I'll deal with you all now!".
Momo sighed, 'She must mean Sona and the others. We just need to keep this up a little more'. Of course it was easier said than done, both Tsubaki and Tomoe were badly hurt and she wasn't the best to go head to head against the devil.
"But-", she stood up, helped by her friend next to her. "-If we go together, we may have a chance". A plan forming in her head.
"Fukukaichou!", she shouted; the black haired girl turned to face her only to find Momo nodding to her. She smiled and nodded back.
As Perse charged at the Sitri Queen again, Momo casted a barrier to protect her from the attack. "Now, Tomoe!", she shouted; her friend nodding and jumping to strike the now shocked stray.
As the Greek monster recovered she tried to get a payback from the brown haired devil, only to be received with a slash from Tsubaki's naginata on her back, falling down by the force of it.
"Gaaah!", the creature screamed. As she launched her tail straight to the Sitri Knight, Momo already prepared for that as she casted a barrier in front of her friend; reusing said barrier to launch a burst of magic to the creature. Sending it back and giving her friends enough time to gain distance from the Stray.
This pattern kept repeating, one girl covering the other and not giving the Stray time to recover.
Momo was satisfied, her plan was working with her and her friends stalling the monster while waiting for her King to arrive. It was just a matter of time for this to be over.
"Tch!" Tsubaki suddenly kneeled, emitting a painful grunt as she did so.
"Tsubaki!", Momo shouted. Watching her friend she saw how she was breathing heavily, her naginata falling to the floor and disappearing, sweat dripping from her face as she clutched where the Stray wounded her.
"Gah!", another crying pain, this time coming from Tomoe. Turning around she was like her Queen, sweating hard while clutching where their opponent hurt her.
"Ufufu, it took longer than usual, but it happened", suddenly a voice snapped her out of her shock. "You...what did you do to them!?", the white haired girl shouted to the snake shaped woman in front of her.
"Only venom flowing through their veins, paralyzing their muscles and slowly taking them out", as Perse extended her hand a drop of a liquid substance dropped from her long, sharp nail. "Play with sssnakes and you'll get bitten".
'No, it can't be. She never bit any of them, when did she-", as Momo thought how the Stray poisoned her friends she realized it. Her nails, that drop that fell off just now; 'When she wounded them, that must have been when she poisoned them'.
"It's over little girl, you can't win without your friends", as she extended her arms, Perse's hands began to emit a greenish light. "Now say your prayers and die!".
As the Stray launched herself, Momo casted a shield. Shattering and casting it again one after another the white haired girl tried to defend herself against an opponent who was clearly superior to her.
"M-Momo..", as she turned around she saw Tsubaki looking at her, her breathing heavier and her pale face showing how the venom took a toll on her body. "Run...Get out of here".
She widened her eyes as realizing what her Queen said, glancing where Tomoe laid she saw how she passed out, her face down on the floor. "Tch!", a small crack appeared on the crest protecting her.
"I-I'm not leaving you behind..!", she screamed. Transferring all her magic to the shield, trying to hold all she can, 'C'mon Sona...hurry up!'.
"You...you can't win", Tsubaki told her, her gaze darkening as she lowered her head. "She's far stronger than what we thought...run and save yourself".
Another crack, this time bigger than the last one, Momo slipped a little from the pressure she was feeling, "Stop saying nonsense Tsubaki!".
"Stop...stop disobeying me Momo!", Sitris Queen cried to her friend, "Do as I order you and run…!".
'You think I can leave you, Issei, Kiryuu or anyone else like that because my gut was telling me!?'.
'Grr..!', Momo gritted her teeth.
'I'm not a slave, Momo'.
The shield the white haired girl casted was getting brighter, she gave everything she got to it; "Don't-".
'I won't let anyone decide over me'.
"Don't tell me what to do, Shinji!", suddenly the girl shouted with all her might. The shield no longer able to hold the extended pressure of the Stray and the girl channeling magic to it exploded, sending her flying back, crashing against a wall that broke under the sheer power of the impact and ended up flying to another room from where they were.
Dizzy.
Her head was a mess as she hit the floor, trying her best to get up. She kneeled and looked around at her surroundings, coughing and tasting iron in her mouth.
Dust, there was dust surrounding her. The explosion of her shield broke more than a wall and made a mess of debris and dust, leaving her unable to see.
"Dammit", she cursed under her breath. Forcing herself up she started to turn in every direction. "Tsubaki! Tomoe!", she started to call her friends for a response.
Nothing, not even the smallest sound of breathing could be heard, only her heart pounding hard against her chest and small debris falling to the floor.
"Shinji".
Suddenly a voice resonated from the dark, the girl turning around to where she thought it came from.
"Where have I heard that name before".
Again, the same voice spoke from the darkness she was in, turning around only to be received with nothing to look at.
"Was it from a victim? Or from someone I met before?".
"Don't fuck with me!", the white haired teen shouted. "Where are my friends!?".
"No. Now I remember", the voice continued to talk, without caring to respond to the girl's question. "She said that name. That day".
Just when she thought she traced where the voice was coming from, she shot a magic blast through the dust. The noise of a wall being pierced was the only response.
"Ufufufu, what'sss the matter little one? Can't see?".
She lifted her head, a small ray of light piercing through the darkness coming from the broken ceiling, but dim enough to just show where she was standing.
"That name you said before, it was him".
A loud noise was heard as something landed on the floor.
"He who had the audacity to defile me".
Momo walked backwards, slipping and falling to the floor.
"The one I mossst long for to devour".
She quickly got up, from somewhere not too far away she could hear many voices calling each other, one of them ordering the rest.
"And if you know him, you'll have your use once the time comes".
As she felt something coming her way, Momo turned around and was received by a sharp tail, making one small cut on her legs. Falling to the floor she was met by two green eyes staring right to her. Suddenly the body launched itself to her, unable to protect herself or run.
"Shinji!", a scream was heard as the dust settled.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
"Alright, alright. Shut up already", a voice grumbled as it removed the sheets covering his body, turning off the alarm buzzing his ears.
As Shinji started his daily routine before going out, he turned on the tv to watch something to distract himself a little; the news channel was the first thing that popped up, they were talking about a recent chaos that happened last night.
"Yesterday several neighbors repeatedly called the police after they heard loud explosions at an abandoned building", the news reporter described the scene. "It is unknown if it's linked to the Midnight Murderer case or not but investigations have already started".
The boy's expression turned serious, "So, you're still going at it again, huh?". Thinking he already saw enough and was getting late to a meeting Rias told him to be, so he decided to turn off the TV and head out. "I'm leaving", he said to no one as he closed the door of his apartment.
As Shinji walked by the school gates towards the Occult Research Club he looked around as Kuoh Academy was nothing but a desert place on a Saturday morning. "Can't believe she got access to school on weekends. Being the Chairman's daughter sure has its benefits", he commented.
'Tell me Shinji, haven't you felt you were doing what your master told you to lately?'.
As a familiar voice resonated within his head, Shinji's eyes furrowed. "Dammit Momo, stop lecturing me".
She was right, waking up early and going to school wasn't what he would actually call normal, it was just that Rias asked him to be there and he had to cope with it. Since he became a devil his life consisted of doing what the red haired girl told him to do or say.
"Since when have I become like this?", he tucked his hands in his pockets as he thought out loud. 'Thinking about it, Momo never responded to my messages'. He thought it was weird his friend didn't even read his messages, even if they had a discussion yesterday; 'I'll go and check on her later to see if everything's okay'.
As he got close to the ORC's room, the door suddenly opened and two figures got out of it.
"I'll hold on to your word, Rias", one of the figures spoke. As she turned around Shinji recognized one of the girls to be Sona Shitori, the president of the Student Council, next to her Tsubaki Shinra, the vice president of said club.
"Ah, good morning Shitori-senpai, Shinra-senpai", Shinji bowed as he got close to the third year students, surprised by their sudden appearance. "I didn't think you'd be here, knowing it's Saturday and all".
"I take you are Shinji Kouki, the new member of the Occult Club", Sona responded as she greeted the boy in front of her. "I heard good things about you from Momo, although you get involved sometimes with the Perverted Trio antics".
As the black haired teen scratched the back of his head as Sona mentioned his perverted friend, he spotted how Tsubaki's gaze darkened at the mention of the white haired girl's name. "Is there any problem, Shinra-senpai?".
The Sitri Queen was taken back by how she was the eye of attention now, she quickly dismissed anything the boy thought, "N-No, just a little headache, that's all".
"All right, I think we overstayed long enough, there's Council paperwork that needs to be done today. Let's go Tsubaki", Sona ended their conversation. Both of the Student Council members passed by the boy and left the building.
Having nothing else to do or say, Shinji opened the doors to the ORC. To say the entire place felt odd was a misunderstatement, Rias speaking to Akeno not paying attention to anything else, Koneko lost in thoughts with a bag of chips on her hands and Kiba that was resting on a nearby wall; saluting the teenager as he was the only one to recognize his presence.
"Hey guys, morning", Shinji finally said as to break the sudden tension from the club.
"O-Oh, good morning Shinji", Rias turned around as she was surprised by the black haired teen, saluting him while remaining seated on her chair; Akeno bowed her head as she was standing next to her King, also caught off guard by him.
"What's with the bad vibes you guys are giving? Something's wrong?", he bluntly asked his peerage members, curious as to what happened.
"No...Well, yes. Actually a lot", Rias sighed as she massaged her temples. "Say Shinji, have I told you about the devils residing here?".
"Not that I remember", the teenager admitted, taking a seat on one of the couches. "I thought it was only you guys and one or another out there here in Kuoh".
"Well, you are correct in a certain way", Rias admitted. "But there are more of them, closer than what you think".
"You see Shinji-", the red haired girl started to explain before the teenager could interrupt her, "-Some of the High Class of devils have decided to stay here in Kuoh to try a change of pace from the devil cities and society, two of them to be more exact".
"You are one of them I guess?", the black haired teen thought out loud.
"Correct, I came to terms with my family to have my high school life here in a Japanese city", the devil princess admitted. "However I was not the only one. You see Shinji, one of my closest friends decided to come along and try a peaceful life in the human world too".
"You already know her, she actually left this room just a little while ago", Rias finished explaining.
"'Little while'...wait, Shitori-senpai and Shinra-senpai were the ones that left just now", pondered the teenager.
"Correct, you are fast to catch on", responded the girl. "Sona Sitri, although she changed her last name while being here she decided to come here with me".
"Sitri...wait, Shitori was just made up? Why?", as Shinji tried to connect the dots to what her King was telling him, questions kept popping up in his head.
"She has that knack to be enigmatic everywhere she goes", Rias admitted as she sighed to her friend's antics, "She used that as a cover up while forming her peerage".
"So she's making a peerage here like you?", the boy asked.
"Yes, although they were all humans before being reincarnated she used her cover here to start her peerage. The club she's in charge being their hideout for it", she explained
"Her club...you mean the Student Council?", he asked. "But Momo's there, does that mean she's a-".
"-A devil, yes", Rias finished for him. "Since becoming one of Sona's peerage members she was assigned to be part of the Student Council".
'I'll have a word with Momo because of hiding this stuff from me..', the teenager thought. "Okay, but what does this have to do with all of you acting weird?"
Suddenly everyone's gaze darkened, clearly something from the topic was the problem at hand.
"You see Shinji-", Rias started to explain, "-yesterday multiple spots appeared in the city where Perse was last seen, traces of magic active throughout Kuoh".
"As we were recovering from our last encounter with her, Sona was dispatched to seize the Stray, they separated and covered them out one by one, out of luck as they kept clearing them out".
"But it was at the last one-", she bit her lip, "-A small group of her peerage was ambushed by her and had to encounter her, trying to stall the Stray enough until Sona appeared. They were merging victorious each passing minute...but then disgrace suddenly happened".
"What happened?", Shinji asked as the red haired girl suddenly stopped.
"You see Shinji, when Tsubaki and the rest were defeating the Stray, she…", Rias backed off.
"She took Momo with her and disappeared", suddenly Koneko spoke from the side, her eyes concentrated on her bag of chips while a saddened face was present on her.
"W...What do you mean she took Momo with her?", the teenager thought out loud.
"Just like Koneko said, Shinji", Rias spoke again. "When she tried to finish Momo with a last strike, she casted a shield and protected herself and her friends from the Stray. An explosion was the result and Tsubaki thinks that's when she took advantage of it and kidnapped the girl".
'You know what? Forget it. There's not getting through you'.
That sight, the state she was in, how tears felt from her eyes, how her body was shaking, how he was unable to do anything but watch the state she was in.
'It can't be..', he thought. 'It can't be the last time I see her to be like this'.
"We must do something! We need to track that Stray and save Momo!", Shinji screamed, his friend was in extreme danger and time was ticking.
"We can't", Rias responded. "The Maous ordered us to remain out of the situation while they send reinforcements to take out the Stray. We already know we can't take her down".
"So we're just gonna sit still and let her die!?", the teenager burst out. Unable to see how Rias was so calm with the situation right now.
"It's an order from our superiors Shinji", Rias responded, grief present on her voice as her face saddened. "We can't disobey what they said, we just have to wait and hope for the best and-".
"-Fuck the best Rias! We are talking about a person, my friend here!", he countered back. Looking at how the teenager was already raising his voice and walking forward towards the red haired girl, the rest of the peerage stood up; not moving but waiting for any movement to neutralize the black haired teenager if he tried to pull a reckless stunt against her.
"It was an order from our Maous, and that order is absolute, Shinji", she remained seated while glaring at the boy's outburst. "This matter ends here and you'll do what I say".
He remembers what Akeno told him about the Maous, the ones ruling the devil world. After the war of the Three Factions where the original Maous passed away, new ones were assigned to fill their space and guide the devils to a new peaceful era.
'You are tied to your master, you don't have a voice on the matter rather than shut up and follow orders'.
"I'm not your puppet Rias", the teenager responded. This seemed to catch the girl off guard as her eyes widened to her junior's insubordination.
"You are not my puppet but you are a member of my peerage. And as such you'll do what your king says"; she stood up, her stance resembling a king or an emperor ordering his subordinates.
"My 'king'?", the teen snorted, "What kind of king lets their people die as it is!? Stop thinking about the damn devil society and use your head Rias!".
"The one that takes care of his people, not risking everything because of a battle that's already lost. My orders are absolute and you'll stick to them Kouki, like them or not", her eyes fixated on the boy, her stance firm, her voice strong enough to command an army. She was no longer the caring Rias Shinji knew, this girl was Rias Gremory, the daughter of a High Class devil family and King of her own peerage.
"That's your final answer?", he mocked. Watching as everyone in the room was already on Rias's side, "What about you all, do you have a voice in the matter or you just let her decide over you?".
No answer came from either Akeno, Kiba or Koneko as they remained staring at the boy, all of them ready to defend the red haired girl if the time's given.
"...we follow Buchou's orders, it's for the best", the petite girl spoke as she looked firmly at the teenager.
"You can't even think for yourself", he laughed a small, sad laugh. "And to think I wasted my time here, what a joke".
He turned around and grabbed the door handle, everything in this room was already said and done.
"Wait, Shinji! Stop disobeying me!", Rias shouted.
"I'm done wasting my time on someone as selfish as you, Rias. You and your group can do what you please, I'm done wasting my time here", he turned his head slightly only to see them.
"Shinji Kouki", as he opened the door Rias called his name in a menacing way. "If you cross that door you'll be considered a Stray Devil from now on and will be dealt with as such", the Gremory heiress left no 'ifs' and 'buts' in-between, she dealt an ultimatum clear enough that even his new peerage member can understand.
He stopped, his gaze darkened as he thought of the words, as Rias thought that she won the argument she relaxed her already tense body. "Then be it", suddenly the boy spoke, her eyes widening while glancing at black haired teen; "I'll save my friend with or without you and deal with that later".
As he closed the door and walked through the hallway of the old school building there was no time to wait. "Stray or not, I don't care. Momo, wait for me". He ran out of Kuoh Academy, his mission was clear.
Without help, with the whole devil society now targeting him as an enemy, Shinji will do anything he can to save his friend from Perse.
Author's Note
And here we go! Another one in the bag.
I'm already thinking about how the next chapter will be and I'm already excited to start it! (Although with my lazy ass getting interested in other stuff and leaving the story to collect dust it wouldn't surprise me to have it finished two weeks later as of lately).
Anyhow, the Prologue Arc to the DxD plot is almost over and the story will go smoothly from there, just a minor correction here and there and it's good to go!
Anyway guys, that's all for today. See you soon!
Chapter 6: Surpass Your Fears! Perse and Shinji's Final Showdown!