Dance With the Devil

Kyoto Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I own none of the series involved, for if I did there would be a lot less cock-blocking going on.

Maybe I shouldn't have posted the last chapter on Superbowl Sunday?

Also, why is the Neptunia series so damn fun and addictive?

Vld: It was meant as a joke to show that Sona has some bad luck with electronics, especially her phone. Who knows what Saji had in his hands at that time.

Thrythlind, this chapter's for you.

The next day, in Hell...

Walking through a stereotypical lab, Nabiki would have wondered what to expect, but Azazel had assured her that the boys in the lab wouldn't harm her. "Over here, Miss Tendo." One of the Grigory said to her as she walked over to the chair.

"Looks like a dentist chair." Nabiki said as she sat on it. "So, what are you... Okay, hold up, is that Cerebro?"

One of the Fallen blinked in surprise. "You know that series? We've only seen the animated versions, but it was so cool that we had to design this project after it."

"Then this should be a wheelchair!" Nabiki protested loudly. "Preferably a hovering wheelchair! I want a wheelchair for this!" The internet was wonderful for many things, including finding American animated programs that were awesome. Plus the first animated version of that series had gotten dubbed into Japanese and was one of her favorite shows when she was younger.

The Fallen Angels around her laughed in amusement. "Sorry, we don't have any wheelchairs around here. No one gets crippled enough to warrant one."

"Drat! And here I was hoping I could get a picture and post it to 2chan or something." Nabiki snapped her fingers. "Oh well."

"Please don't." One of the Fallen said as he lowered the helmet onto Nabiki's head. "This isn't information that should be in the hands of normal people."

"I'm not stupid." Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Please tell me that there's a portable version of this."

"Of course." One of the other tech heads said. "This is the test version, we want you to use your Balance Breaker and we'll see if this works like we hope it does."

"We'll be monitoring the data over here." One of the Fallen said at a computer. "If it works like we hope, we'll download everything into a portable version that we can attach to your body so you don't have to worry about your brain getting overloaded again."

"That would be great." Nabiki sighed. "Is it on?" When they confirmed it, she closed her eyes. "Balance... Break."

The Fallen Angels watched in amazement as several screens formed in front of Nabiki, allowing them to see what she was seeing...

...Which was surprisingly not much as all of them were blank.

"Is that it?" One of the Fallen asked, a little disappointed.

Nabiki tapped her chin, maybe this was blocking all the information from flooding her head at once, so maybe she needed to... "Can you show me all of the meteors in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter?"

*AFFIRMATIVE*

The screens were all suddenly lit up with every single piece of rock, dust, debris and speck of ice that was between the two planets.

"Okay, that was cool..." Nabiki muttered to herself. "Show me how Stonehenge was made." The screens revealed how that was done and Nabiki nodded. "Okay, now show me who wins every major sporting event for the next thirty years." She shrugged at the looks she was getting. "Hey, I want to make sure that I have all my bases covered."

"Well, regardless, it looks like it was a success so far." The one who put the helmet on Nabiki nodded. "However, you said that after awhile your head gets overwhelmed by information? Let's keep this on for a bit longer."

"Nah, easier way to find out." Nabiki waved him off. "Tell me, can the portable version that they're going to attach to me keep information overload from happening as it is now?"

*AFFIRMATIVE*

"Well then..." Nabiki grinned at them as she turned off her Balance Breaker. "Let's get it on."

"Very well. I warn you, you'll have a headache for a few days when we put this on you." The lead tech head said as he removed the helmet. "Oh, and we're putting a tattoo on your body."

Nabiki tapped her chin. "...Fine, but I get to decide where."

"Very well." The tech head nodded. He could agree to that.

Nabiki knew why they did that, it was to announce to anyone who was looking that the Grigory had worked some technology into the person. She didn't understand it, but a tattoo was a small price to pay.

Besides, she always wanted a butt tattoo.

(-)

Kunou yawned as she woke up. She and Ranma had spent far too long out at that wicked pervert's place, but if the plans they made could save her mother, she was all for it. Groggily, she got dressed and walked out of her room.

"Ah! Good morning, kiddo." Ranma smiled at her as she came down to the main area. "We got some vistors."

Blinking, the small fox girl looked around the room and saw other leaders of the nearby Youkai branches that were sitting in the area, followed by two people she didn't recognize. "Um..."

"So you're Lady Yasaka's daughter?" The man asked, getting a small nod from Kunou. "My name is Azazel, Governor General of the Fallen Angels. And this woman next to me..."

"Hi!" She smiled at Kunou. "I'm Serafall Leviathan, one of the four Devil Kings, I hope we didn't wake you. Ranma was saying you were up late last night."

"I'm fine, thank you." Kunou said as she sat next to Ranma. "I remember hearing that you were going to be coming here."

"Yeah, but it looks like now isn't a good time." Azazel commented. "We've been briefed about what happened. Believe me, we don't want your mother in the hands of whomever captured her."

"Before we go any further, Lord Ranma said he had a plan?" The Tengu asked, getting a nod from Ranma.

"Yeah, I've got some stuff set up that might throw a monkey-wrench in the plans of whomever captured her." Ranma frowned heavily. "I don't get it though. If they wanted to destroy Kyoto, it would have been easy to do now that Yasaka's in their possession. No offense to you two," he said to the other Youkai leaders, "but she's the strongest Youkai in the area. If someone could capture her..."

"Perhaps they want something else?" Serafall asked, getting a nod from the others. "But what?"

"Whatever it is, it can't be good." Azazel sighed and pulled out his phone as it buzzed. "Hello?" He nodded as the person on the other end filled him in on the details. "Alright, thank you." Hanging up the phone, he rubbed his eyes. "...Lovely."

"What?" Everyone looked at him.

"Seems that whoever kidnapped Lady Yasaka was part of a group." Azazel narrowed his eyes. "I think it's safe to put this down as the work of the Khaos Brigade."

"Daddy..." Kunou tugged on his sleeve. "Can we save mother?"

Ranma ruffled her hair. "I promise. We'll find her and save her, okay?"

"That reminds me..." Azazel trailed off. "Lilith said something about you being her father, but you're too close in age for that to happen naturally, so..."

Ranma sighed and shook his head. "Listen, I'd rather not explain this more than once, how about we get everyone who needs to know over here first and then I can explain what happened almost four years ago." He smiled as he felt Kunou hugging his side. Raising an arm, he hugged the little girl back.

"Please bear with us." The Tengu leader said to Azazel. "It's something only Lord Ranma, Lady Yasaka and Lady Kunou can speak about, the rest of us can only add small details."

Serafall nodded "Very well, shall we get the others?"

"Nah." Azazel shook his head. "It's still early in the day, let them enjoy seeing Kyoto for a few more hours. Speaking of which, Ranma, you should go see your classmates."

Chuckling, Ranma got up and nodded. "Sure." He sighed when Kunou whimpered. "I'd take you with me, but there's normal people who don't know about Youkai, kiddo."

"Oh!" She let go of him and sighed. "It's just, the last time you left me... I didn't see you again."

Ranma ruffed her hair. "I'll be back later, okay? I promise."

Kunou sniffled but let go. "Okay."

(-)

As Ranma made his way out of the temple, he stopped and looked around, frowning. "...Who's there?"

"C.. .ou .e.. me?"

"Yes! You!" Ranma yelled at no one in particular.

"Can y.. he..?"

Ranma sighed and closed his eyes, seeing if there was anyone nearby that was hiding. When he didn't feel anything, he sighed and walked off. 'Who was that? That voice sounded like a woman's voice, but...'

"Can you..."

Ranma looked around in confusion as he stood on the stairs. "Okay, this is getting weird, I know I'm hearing something, but whoever it is isn't speaking clearly. LISTEN! I CAN HEAR YOU! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

When he didn't get an answer, Ranma sighed and shook his head. "I must be going crazy." It wouldn't surprise him.

(-)

"Well, look who finally showed up." Aika Kiryuu smirked as she adjusted her glasses. "I don't know why the teachers decided you could be away from us overnight, but don't do it again."

Ranma raised an eyebrow at the slender girl. "What? You worried about me or something?"

"Or something." She jerked a thumb as Lilith, who was walking up to them. "Your servant's been all mopey all morning without you."

"Master!" Lilith brightened up as she saw him. "So what's going to happen now?" As she ran up, Aika walked off to hang with her other friends.

Ranma waved her off. "Nothing much, Azazel is going to discuss things with Serafall and the Youkai association." He kept his voice low. "We may have other problems than just the big tittied Fox MILF disappearing."

Lilith's eyes widened, that didn't sound good.

(-)

Meanwhile...

"You know," a male voice spoke up and Jedah turned to see Rizevim walk into the room where he kept Akane Tendo. "You could do so much more if you forced her to make more than she is."

Jedah snorted at the son of the original Lucifer. "This is just the test phase." Looking at the gauntlet on his left arm, he grinned. "For the most part, I've kept her to making a few weapons, crystals and some other small trinkets."

"And how goes the project of making a body for the part of Ophis you stole from her?"

"It will take a couple of months. Considering the amount of power that I'm working with, if I rush it, things could blow up and all that power could return to Ophis." He looked at the older-looking Devil. "Tell me, do you think that you could handle an angry, full powered Ophis, oh son of Satan?"

Rizevim snorted. "Just keep doing what you're doing to keep her powers suppressed." Looking at the dirty human, he watched, interested as a familiar-looking spear popped out of the kettle. "That is..."

"A replica of the True Longinus, yes." Jedah smirked as he picked it up. "Excellent, I can feel the raw power of this thing."

Rizevim grinned as he looked at it. "Excellent, we should..." He trailed off as Jedah walked over to the kettle and threw the spear back in. "What are you doing?! Think of the things we could do with those!"

Jedah gave Rizevim a look. "That was merely me testing what she can make, nothing more. And you're an idiot, if we had that many True Longinus, what's to stop someone from stealing it and using it against us?" Tapping his chin, he looked at Akane. "Can you create a living being from that?"

"I do not know." Akane's voice was soft, flat and monotone.

"Then try it." Jedah grinned. "Create a Dragon, whatever comes to mind."

"What are you doing?" Rizevim hissed at the tall, blue Devil. "I merely tolerate you because..."

"GRAWR!" Rizevim and Jedah both looked as a small Dragon that was pure white with a long head, sharp fangs and blue eyes floated around Akane.

"I take that back, how pathetic." Rizevim snorted. "A tiny Dragon like that couldn't hurt anything." Seeing Jedah's annoying smirk, he walked over to the Dragon. "Allow me, I'll just..."

"GRAWR!" The Dragon screamed and fired a blue-white blast of energy from its mouth that sent Rizevim flying across the room and into the wall.

"GAH!" The elder Devil coughed up some blood. "The fuck?!"

"That is why you shouldn't underestimate what she can do." Jedah chuckled as he cut a hole in space, reached through it and grabbed the Dragon. "Now what can I do with you, hmm?"

"GRAWR!" The Dragon hissed before gears formed behind Jedah.

"None of that." He smirked as the Dragon became docile. Chuckling, he had an idea. "This could be very... Interesting." Idly, he wondered where Akane had gotten the idea to create a Dragon like this.

If Jedah knew that Akane had based the Dragon off of a manga she had read once, he would have laughed at the absurdity of it.

Seeing Akane sweating and looking pale, he sighed. "Go get some rest." She nodded and dispelled her Balance Breaker before walking over to her bed and flopping down, passing out.

"You're too soft on her." Rizevim said to Jedah as he clutched his stomach. "You could easily make it so that she could create an army of those little Dragons!"

"Doing so would break her, and I have no need for broken servants."

"And I should care if she's broken ...why?" Rizevim growled.

"Such a spoiled brat you are," Jedah sighed. "Only thinking of what you want now, never the future."

"You ass-"

"Because if you do think of the future," Jedah spoke over him, "you would realize you need troops in the future, soldiers to die for you in whatever endeavor you wish, when your current war is finished. What good is your empire if the soldiers to guard it are a sliver of the power of those that made it?" Jedah threw his arms to the side. "I'll tell you. It is the soldiers who work for Nero, not those of a God."

As Rizevim departed, rubbing his injured midsection, Jedah sneered. The elder fool... Did he think no one could read him?

During that war, he didn't hide for fear. He hid so he could kill whoever won and cause chaos in reality. The plan failed when those who won were stronger together than him came together.

He was also a piece of insanity who thought of only how much cruelty and destruction he could bring to those around him.

Lucifer's so-called son was nothing but a spoiled brat, who cared nothing of the future. He felt if anyone stood against him, then they deserved to die, and if they kept challenging him, he'd wipe everything out.

"And that was supposed to be a Super Devil," snorted Jedah, as he returned to his lab. That was no Super Devil, merely a babe with a lot of power, who no one had taught the purpose of it.

But Jedah knew. Akane would survive, perhaps one day, be made immortal, if only to fuel his war machine.

Heaven, Hell, Earth, Makai... These would fall before him, become his to command.

Of course, none of that was his true goal, when he obtained that, nothing else would matter.

And then? Then, he would find new worlds to conquer, perhaps one day need more powerful soldiers to take them.

"...I've changed my mind," Jedah chuckled. "Perhaps the brat does have a use..."

He wondered what Sacred Gear he could have Akane make ... using that Super Devil's pathetic soul.

"As for that Dragon..." Jedah trailed off and grinned as the replica of Boosted Gear formed on his left arm. "Yes, this will work nicely, won't it?"

(-)

Meanwhile, in Kyoto...

It was later in the day when Ranma, Lilith, Issei, Xenovia, Asia, Irina, Rossweisse found themselves meeting with the Youkai Association leaders, Azazel and Serafall.

Atsuko and Mittelt were with Kiba, making sure to watch out for any unpleasant nasties that couldn't be handled by the local Youkai.

"Thank you for meeting with us." The Tengu leader said as everyone sat down on the mats forming a square. Kunou and Ranma sat across from Issei, Irina, Xenovia and Asia with Lilith right behind them. On the sides, Azazel and Serafall sat across from the other leaders of the Youkai Association.

"So what have we learned?" Ranma asked Azazel, who sighed heavily.

"It's as we feared." Looking at the others, he cleared his throat. "It seems that a few days ago, the leader of the Kitsune faction of the Youkai Association was scheduled to go to a meeting with the leaders of the Tengu faction. However, she never made it there."

Serafall continued for him. "From what we've been told and have been able to gather, it seems that several people were able to ambush the Youkai leader and kidnap her. When the area was investigated, the Youkai assumed that the culprits were still in Kyoto and were on the look-out for anyone who looked suspicious."

"And that's why they tried to attack you all yesterday." Azazel finished. "Luckily we have someone that the Youkai know and trust." He turned to look at Ranma. "I asked about you and it seems that you're held in quite the high regard around here."

"Not for the best of reasons." Ranma replied to him.

"Lord Ranma," the Tengu leader said as he looked at the teenager. "While you went through a traumatic experience no doubt, you did a great boon for all of Kyoto, none of us can ever repay you for what you did."

Ranma sighed heavily and saw the curious looks on the faces of those who didn't know. "I suppose I can tell. It was... About four years ago, right?" He looked at Kunou. "You're about to turn twelve then, aren't you?" She nodded at him and hugged his arm. "Anyway, pops, myself and Lilith were passing through the area and a large Youkai appeared to the North of the city. We were going to leave, but..."

"But?" Azazel asked.

"Master spotted a large group of people standing around with above-average powers and a bunch of other people near them on their knees and looking terrified." Lilith continued on. "Kunou was one of them."

The little girl screwed her eyes shut and trembled, the memory was so bad. "They... They trapped me in a clear barrier box and I had to watch as they... They..."

"The people in question," the Tengu leader spoke up, "were a group of extreme Devil Hunters who hate all things non-human."

Ranma bit his lip as he recalled what happened next. "It wasn't pretty, they started by executing a four year old." Everyone who didn't know looked on in shock, even Azazel and Serafall, veterns of the Great War were disturbed what they heard. Irina and Asia had their hands over their mouths in shock while Xenovia and Issei could only stare, their mouths open. Rossweisse's face was grim, this wasn't something that she enjoyed thinking about, but had been exposed to in her life. "The three of us against all of them? It wasn't easy."

"Master, myself and Genma did drive them off, though Master learned the skills that those Hunters were using." Lilith didn't want to think about what happened as much as possible. "Little Kunou was put into a cube and was nearly killed, thankfully Master broke her out of the barrier she was placed in."

"Lord Ranma, his father and Lilith managed to deal with the vast majority of the Hunters." The Tengu leader addressed the group. "When the Youkai of Kyoto converged on the scene, we took care of the few that remained."

Issei looked at Ranma and Kunou and saw the looked they shared. "You were twelve?"

"Thirteen. And it wasn't the last time I ran into those guys either."

"Lord Ranma?!" The Tengu leader looked at him in shock. "What do you mean? There wasn't a single one that escaped, was there?"

"There were at least three that escaped." Ranma told him. "I met up with them in China a few months ago. I took care of them."

"I see, I shall have to send an order out to the other Youkai in Japan and in the Orient to make sure that no others got away."

"Daddy..." Kunou hugged Ranma tightly. "It's okay."

"So, um..." Issei scratched the back of his head. "I know this is going to sound a little unusual, especially after everything else you shared, but how are you Kunou's father?"

Ranma sighed and slumped while the elder Youkai in the room laughed at his discomfort. "It's... Kind of embarrassing."

"Anything to lighten the mood after that somber story." Azazel said as he grinned. "So, out with it, how did you end up that little girl's father?"

"Well," Ranma shook his head, "it was a few days later and Yasaka was helping me with some paperwork to get me registered as part of the Youkai Association." The others looked at him in interest. "I'm a freelance member, anyway," he waved his hand to dismiss the questions they may have had, "we didn't pay enough attention to all the paperwork and when we turned it in, um... Well..."

"Lord Ranma and Lady Yasaka are officially married." The Tengu leader said, much to most people's shock. "Though no one takes it seriously..."

"Daddy's married to mother, therefore he's my daddy." Kunou protested, getting a pat on the head from Ranma.

"So, to sum it up, you were filling out paperwork, filled in some extra blanks by accident and turned it in and were declared married?" Azazel had an amused look on his face. "That is the most hilarious way to get married."

Serafall pouted softly, he was already married? That sucked. Then she remembered the video and pictures that she had seen and decided to ignore it.

"There was no ceremony nor did Master take her on a honeymoon." Lilith muttered in annoyance. She didn't care if Ranma was married to other women. But Yasaka was a scary bitch! 'Why does master have to be married to her?! WHY?!'

"You know, in a way, it's pretty romantic." Irina said, causing everyone to look at her. "Think about it. After saving her daughter, Lady Yasaka couldn't help herself and ends up marrying the man who did such a great thing for her."

Serafall giggled. "Enemy of all Magical Girls, a Hero of Kyoto, married to the head of the Youkai Association and who knows what else? You sure do have an interesting life."

"Anyway, as amusing as this all is," Azazel spoke up, "we still don't have any idea as to why she was taken, but from what we can tell, it was the Hero Faction of the Khaos Brigade."

"So what should we do?" Issei asked.

"For now," Azazel spoke up, "go back to the hotel tonight and relax, okay? Kunou here offered to act as a tour guide for the group tomorrow, okay?"

"Right!" The teenagers nodded.

"As for the Khaos Brigade," Serafall spoke up, "just keep your eyes open and keep safe. We'll inform the others who know so that they keep themselves protected in case there's an attack."

"Daddy..." Kunou hugged Ranma's side. "You'll save mother, right?"

Ranma smirked at her. "Between me, Lilith, Issei and the rest, there's no way we can't save her." Seeing her face light up, he ruffled her hair. "So don't worry, we'll save your mother."

"Anyway," Azazel stood up, as did everyone else, "I know that you want to spend time with your father, but I'm worried that you'll stay up too late and miss the chance to be a tour guide tomorrow."

"Right." Kunou said as she stood up and bowed. "Goodnight everyone, I'll see you tomorrow."

The others gave their goodbyes, though Ranma was the last one in the room. "Hey, Kunou..." She looked at him. "I promise you, those guys who took your mother... They'll pay." She nodded as he turned to leave.

"Daddy..." The little fox girl whispered to herself. "Please be safe."

So that's how it went down.

Also, I really, REALLY hate Vali's grandfather's name. It is *SUCH* a pain to remember how to spell. I have to keep a freaking tab to the DxD wiki open just so I can spell it right.

And now for an Omake by Innortal that has nothing to do with the above chapter.

"Do you wish to go to the Familiar Forest as well?" Rias offered.

Ranma merely pointed his thumb behind him, at the waving Lilith.

"So ... she is your familiar?"

"No clue," Ranma shrugged. "But with my luck, I'd probably walk out of there with a dozen sex-themed familiars."

"LEAD ME THEN!" begged Issei.

"If you merely studied those booklets I gave out, you could do it all on your own," Lilith stated. "And Master, you should go! Humans seem to have made sex demons out of a lot of birds for some reason, and the less said about manatees being mermaids, the better for the myth of smart sailors."

"Besides, what would I do with a familiar?"

"Well, they have their uses."

"I bet, but I mean..."

"...Is there something you're not telling us?"

"Rias, considering that Lilith and I have broken ever rule in the Moonlight World that we all thought were iron clad, what do you think would happen if I got a Familiar?"

"...It couldn't be that bad."

"Well, I actually did try to get a familiar once, and it went... Poorly."

Rias blinked in confusion.

(-)

"...HOW THE FUCK IS GODZILLA YOUR FAMILIAR?!" Everyone yelled at Ranma.

"...I don't know, but for some odd reason it feels fitting, like no matter what I try to summon, I'd end up getting him."

(-)

Azazel sweat-dropped heavily as he listened to the story.

"And that's why I don't have a familiar." Ranma said, as the others in the room nodded.

Ah, reference to Innortal's Time Loops that I once wrote for is fun.