Here we are in the Familiar Forest, which to no surprise was way too much fun to write.
"Does anyone else hear that tapping noise?"
"You're just imagining it, Yuuji. I don't hear anything."
"...That so? Well, I do think it's good to see how excited you are for Asia's debut."
"Of course I'm excited! She's such an adorable little thing, I can't wait to for Sona to officially meet my darling little Bishop!"
"..."
"Shut up Yuuji, let me have this."
" I didn't say anything, Buchou."
"...It's your debut too."
"Sona already knows me."
"Unofficially. Doing things in their proper order is important."
"If you say so. I'm terrible with names anyways so a refresher never hurts."
"Is… Is Buchou that excited to introduce Yuuji-san and I?"
A timid Asia had finally managed to interject in the constant back and forth between Rias and Yuuji.
Currently, the Gremory peerage ( with their Fallen Angel companions) were gathered to officially introduce their newest members to the other peerage on campus and their new members.
A peerage led by Sona Sitri, joint governor of Kuoh and Student Council President, with her household making up the other members.
Also a childhood friend of Rias, which led to constant competition that being young and ambitious High-Class Devils tended to foster.
Currently, one of those High-Class Devils was beaming at her adorable servant.
"Yes Asia, I am. You're both treasured additions to my family, and I'm so very proud of you. This is an opportunity to introduce you to your peers, but for me it is also a chance to share my pride and joy with those I respect."
Rias had been glowing with said pride since the moment she'd gathered them in here.
She was a Gremory through and through.
When the knock on the door was heard, her almost giddy aura of excitement slipped behind the elegant, aloof demeanor of a King, though her smile was still welcoming.
"We've been expecting you."
"Pardon the intrusion."
The slender young woman that opened the door had short black hair in a bob-cut, her stern violet eyes observing the room from behind black framed glasses.
Following behind her were six other girls and one boy, the other members of the student council.
As her servants stood behind her, Sona and Rias exchanged glances and Sona gave a small nod.
With the results of the wordless conversation, Rias spoke up first.
"While I believe you're already acquainted, this is my Pawn, Kazami Yuuji."
"Hello again, Sona."
"Hey, shouldn't you be a bit more respectful talking to Kaichou?"
The one who'd spoken was the blonde boy, the only male member of the student council.
"Kazami-san has been living abroad until recently, so his lack of honorifics can be excused… within reason."
The slight narrowing of eyes made the warning clear.
"If you say so, Kaichou. Man, so the Silent Prince of Kuoh is the new Gremory?"
"No, because I've never been called that."
An awkward silence filled the room, and Yuuji belatedly realized that everyone was staring blankly at him.
Everyone.
Even Asia.
Yuuji raised an eyebrow and waited.
Before the silence could stretch on any longer, Akeno coughed and decided to bring him up to speed, sharing a pleased smile with Rias.
"Ara, Yuuji-kun has had that nickname since the first week, and he didn't realize? You're almost as popular as Yuuto-kun."
"But 'Silent Prince'?"
"You don't talk very often, Yuuji-kun. There are several theories as to the sound of your voice."
Kiba smiled as he chimed in.
"...Not the worst rumors I suppose. Shouldn't we be focusing on more important things?"
Yuuji gestured to the little blonde at his side, whose eyes widened as attention shifted to her, shooting to her feet to offer a bow towards the visitors.
"I-I'm Asia Argento, Buchou's Bishop! Please take care of me!"
"Asia-chan, was it? I'm Genshirou Saji, Kaichou's newest Pawn. Pleased to meet you."
"Yes, pleased to meet you as well, Saji-san!"
The room brightened several degrees with her smile, so no one noticed Rias wiping away a happy tear.
No one willing to comment, anyways.
"I managed to take up four Pawns, which I hear is pretty impressive. Don't think it's a competition or anything like that though, Kazami."
Yuuji gave a blank look to Sona, who sighed softly.
'While I hate to burst your bubble, Saji, Kazami-san required eight Pawn Pieces, and was the one to eliminate Riser Phoenix from the Rating Game. He's also the primary trainer for Rias' peerage, among other things."
Saji's jaw dropped to the floor.
… By other things, Sona Sitri meant that she knew a great, great deal of arguably trivial information about Kazami Yuuji, and Asia Argento for that matter.
One of Rias Gremory's most admirable traits was that despite her pride, she wasn't particularly arrogant, and almost never bragged.
...About herself.
Her precious servants were always the first (second and occasionally third) topic on Rias' mind during their frequent chats.
Rias was not so much a 'typical Gremory' so much as a standard the rest of them could be held to.
Sona didn't mind all that much.
She was one of the few to bear witness to Rias' hidden despair at having her future and husband decided for her.
So she was also one of the few who could accurately attest to that secret melancholy's timely death.
Whether he'd ever find out was an entirely separate matter, but Sona Sitri was grateful towards Kazami Yuuji.
Asia Argento as well, as Rias' claim that Asia made a room a brighter, happier place with her mere presence could be now be verified as fact.
Sona didn't believe for a second that Asia was a 'former Holy Maiden', simply because she didn't entirely believe the 'former' part of that label.
"I'm already familiar with Kalawarner-san, but I don't believe we've met, do you prefer Yuuma or Raynare?"
Raynare gave a cheerful smile.
"Raynare is fine whenever we're in private. Thanks a bunch for letting us enroll here, Sona-san!"
"You're welcome. I was a bit hesitant to agree, but you're both integrating without issues and Rias vouches for you. As long as those two facts remain true, we'll get along just fine."
The two Fallen nodded in response, smiling.
"Kazami-san, Argento-san, it was a pleasure to formally meet you, please take good care of Rias. We have other matters that require our attention, but Tsubaki, I'll have you and the others go on ahead, I have one last matter to attend to here."
Taking the hint, Tsubaki, her Queen and Vice-President, a tall, black-haired girl with blue framed glasses, promptly began to herd the other Student Council members out of the room.
After their farewells had faded and the doors closed behind them, Sona moved on to her second, arguably more important task.
Her estimation of him rose a notch or two when Yuuji met her silent, somewhat infamous look of appraisal without wavering, merely raising his eyebrow in silent question.
She then looked him up and down, expressionless, before shifting her gaze to a (nervously) smiling Rias for a moment, then Akeno (who winked at her).
Once that was done, she turned her vision back to Yuuji and nodded once.
"Very well, I'll allow it."
The embarrassed stammering of her oldest friend as she turned and left without, another word did not bring a tiny, self-satisfied smile to Sona's face.
... No one could prove otherwise.
"Familiars, Buchou?"
"Yes, you and Yuuji don't have them yet."
"Hmm… so a familiar is a magical creature of some kind that assists a Devil right?"
"That's more or less correct, Yuuji."
"In that case, I already have something in mind."
Yuuji had pulled out a coin and clenched it one hand, before hiding it behind his back, shuffling his hand around out of sight.
The other occupants of the clubroom watched with bemused expressions, lost as to what he might be thinking.
"Pick a hand, Asia."
After a moment's hesitation, Asia picked the right hand. Yuuji displayed his empty hand.
"Ok, the coin was Ray, so Kala is your familiar now."
Asia's face was going through gymnastics trying to decide if it would display confusion or excitement, and for some inexplicable reason Kalawarner was flushed crimson and very, very still.
Rias dropped her head into one of her hands with a put-upon sigh.
"You can't make them into familiars, Yuuji."
"Why not?"
"Because-"
"Wouldn't that technically make them part of our Faction?"
A moment of utter silence.
"It doesn't work like that!"
"No, Buchou? Huh, Devil rules are weird."
"I think you're the weird one Senpai."
Before Yuuji could retort, a pair of slender arms wound slipped over his shoulders from behind, and something soft pressed up against him over the couch.
A soft voice whispered teasingly in his ear, still loud enough to be heard by all.
"Oh, but if Yuuji-kun wanted to treat me like a pet, I don't think I'd mind~."
Yuuji blinked in surprise to realize that the usual suspect for such things was still standing by Rias' desk, and even more surprised when his girlfriend gave an encouraging smile and a thumbs up to the culprit.
A soft cheek rubbed up against his as the hug tightened.
"Well Raynare, if that's what you're into I think Akeno has a collar you can borrow."
Suddenly, the cheek pressed up against him seemed very, very warm, and the only reply was a cute little squeak.
Akeno had a wide, sadistic grin, while Rias flushed and covered her face with her hands.
Mostly because Rias was the other person who knew for a fact that Akeno didn't have 'a' collar to be loaned out.
She had several.
The Familiar Forest was wreathed in a perpetual gloom, towering, ancient trees defying the sunlight with their dense canopies.
As the Gremory household stood its mouth, Rias stood some distance ahead and addressed her servants.
"We were a little side-tracked earlier, but now's a good time to introduce our familiars."
As she spoke, a crimson furred bat appeared on her outstretched hand with a small whumpf of air.
Yuuji had no idea a bat could look so regal, apparently it was taking notes from it's master.
"Here's my little one."
A miniature, blue-skinned oni popped into view, reclining on Akeno's shoulder with a smirk.
"This is Shiro."
A white-furred kitten was being hugged by Koneko.
"Ah, there you are."
From the empty air behind him, a small hawk swooped onto Kiba's shoulder. He smiled and stroked it's feathers.
Yuuji blinked, and apparently that was enough to miss some important developments, because several feminine voices gave high-pitched squeals at the quartet of small creatures now flapping around or crawling over a giggling, smiling Asia.
The tiny oni sitting on her head scooted around until it could meet Yuuji's gaze with judging button eyes.
After a moment, it crossed it's arm and gave an imperious nod of approval before vanishing, the other familiars following suit.
"Your first Familiar is considered a rite of passage for all Devils, they're a friend and companion that will be at your side for life. We'll be here all day, and I'm sure we'll capture the perfect Familiars for you two."
The way Rias said it, 'perfect' sounded like an inevitable conclusion rather than an aspiration.
Nothing but the best for her precious family.
However, when a young man with bright orange hair, a backwards ball cap and cargo shorts flipped out of the tree, Yuuji's eyes began to burn holes in to Rias.
When the odd newcomer introduced himself as 'Satooji of Madara Town', an aspiring 'Familiar Master', Yuuji blinked once and turned on his heel.
"I'm going home."
"Yuuji hold on!"
"Isn't it a King's duty to address her Peerage's concerns?"
"... Yes?"
"I'm concerned this day could get weirder."
"Get back here Yuuji."
"Fine, let's hurry up and find a dog, and something cute for Asia."
"A dog?"
"Haha! So our new Devil wants a dog does he!? Wonderful! Perfect! We have fire-breathers, three-headers, and I think I even saw the moon-eating wolf variety near the mountains!"
Currently, Satooji was right beside Yuuji, flipping rapidly through the pages of a truly gigantic grimoire as if it were a catalogue.
Given that the tome was filled with monsters, 'catalogue' was probably what he called it.
… Where had he pulled that from, anyways?
"Why the hell would I want a moon-eating… Buchou, no."
Rias' excited smile carried all the conviction of a proper King.
"Ufufu, a moon-eating wolf? That would be perfect for my Yuuji, yes it would."
"Buchou, your Yuuji would definitely die, you know? I think I'm a few tons below that weight class."
"Hmm… fine. We'll just settle for Cerberus."
Yuuji would have felt more guilty about the way she slumped in disappointment if she hadn't just been plotting his demise.
"I… I just want something cute and friendly."
Asia weighed in, poking her fingers together and not looking at anything but the ground.
"Cute and friendly, huh? Hmm and we'll need one who can protect a cute girl like you… Undine. Definitely an Undine."
Yuuji found himself wondering why the name 'Undine' was the first thing to give him chills.
They'd been walking through the Familiar Forest for about half an hour at this point, listening to the sounds of creatures moving just out of view.
At one point, they paused at a fork in the trail when something truly massive crashed it's way through the forest up ahead.
Satooji seemed to perk up in excitement, before he visibly deflated and scuffed the dirt with his shoe, muttering about how it was neither a dog, nor cute, unless you looked at it in the right light.
Yuuji was secretly glad Satooji curbed his urges, especially since Rias looked like she wanted to chase it as well.
Up ahead, a small shape hopped out of the bushes, eyeing them curiously as it meandered across.
Asia gave a muffled yelp as Rias grabbed her with a sharp gasp, shoving Asia's head into her full chest, twisting her body to act as a shield.
In sync as always, Akeno had done the same thing to Koneko.
With a split second delay, Raynare suffered the same pillowy fate at the hands of Kalawarner, who didn't quite seem to know why she was on guard.
Kiba had his sword out, but the way he was staring at the older girls in surprise suggested it was just reflex.
With his head tilted to one side, Yuuji examined the small critter, wondering what had set them off.
It was a small, white-furred creature that looked something between a cat and a rabbit, with round little pink eyes, two sets of ears (one upright and triangular like a cats, the others floppy and long like a rabbits), rings around it's lower ears, and a long bushy tail.
The tip of its ears and its tail were pink.
It sat on the pathway, staring at them and washing itself like a cat.
Then it gave a very human-like click of the tongue and scurried off.
The two Onee-Sama's and his Sensei were busy shielding the younger girls, so Yuuji turned to the Familiar Master with all the reluctance of a death row inmate taking his final walk.
"That was a Kyuubi. Incredibly intelligent, and said to grant incredible power to young girls, but they also have a dubious reputation as bringers of calamity."
"But it was cute…"
Rias had let the smaller girl breath, cradling her protectively as she pat her on the head.
"It's okay Asia-chan, we'll find you something cute that won't ruin your life."
"O-okay Buchou, I trust you!"
The forest had gotten brighter for a second.
... Yuuji was seriously beginning to wonder if Asia's smile could be considered a fuel-efficient light source.
Faster than anyone could react, something fell out of the tree and enveloped Asia's head.
Yuuji could still see her look of surprise, because the thing that had fallen on her was a translucent blue-
"Slime?"
Asia was still smiling, right until nothing but bubbles escaped her mouth.
Then she panicked trying to pull it off her head, but her hands simply sank into it with a wet squishing noise.
As Yuuji and the others moved to help, she raised her hands to it once more.
… And pulled it off her head with a plop and a cute expression, before hugging it to her chest, cooing happily.
Everyone stopped in place to stare.
After several seconds, Asia seemed to realize she was the center of attention, and bashfully ducked her head behind the (still translucent) slime in her arms.
"Asia… how did you manage to grab the slime?"
Rias began carefully, approaching slowly. Asia perked up immediately, smiling once again.
"Well… the first time I tried to grab her, I couldn't, so... I tried harder!"
Asia stuck out her tongue to the side with a 'teehee'.
"You tried… harder?"
"Mhm!"
Akeno peered at her carefully.
"Buchou, her hands are shimmering… I think her magic reacted to her desire to hug the slime."
Of its own accord, Akeno's hand leapt to her face to muffle what was certainly not a giggle.
Her valiant attempts to hide her mirth were still in the process of abject failure when the slime flowed out of Asia's grasp and lunged at her.
"Oh!"
Rather than envelop her head, the slime splashed and wound its way around Akeno's body, flowing between and across her breasts, constricting her pale thighs and slender waist like thick watery ropes.
"Ara, Slime-kun sure is advanced… Oooh!"
It tightened underneath her breasts, pushing them upwards, and that's about the point her clothing started to melt.
"A-Akeno! Satooji-san, what is it doing!?"
Rias turned to the Familiar Master who had remained silent until then, one hand on his chin.
"Your uniforms don't happen to be magically reinforced, by chance?"
"Yes, they're enhanced to be more durable than normal clothes so they can protect us and we can fight in them without wardrobe malfunctions."
Yuuji's shot her a look of pure disbelief.
"Buchou, you girls have wardrobe malfunctions all the time."
"But how often do we have wardrobe malfunctions and bleed?"
Rias was the picture of smug triumph.
"Well Gremory-san, that's a Mana-Slime. Rather than rely solely on water like an average Slime, they can also absorb magical energy. In a place like this, they can easily absorb ambient energy from the air, but a bunch of supernaturals wearing magical clothing is like a feast."
Akeno was starting to pant from the ceaseless caressing, but the rapidly increasing nudity seemed to only enhance the enjoyment on her part.
Yuuji was watching, after all.
"Don't worry though, they're harmless, your Queen is in no danger. Devils and most other supernatural's leak magical power, so the Slime is likely just siphoning off the excess... unless it's really hungry."
"Unless it's hungry!? How do we get it off her!? Wait, why is Akeno drooling!?"
"Well unless you can do that magic trick the little blonde did… oh yeah, definitely hungry."
"What's going on now!? Akeno are you okay!?"
"Buchou."
"Yuuji!? How can you be so calm!?"
"I recognize those noises."
"Recognize…?"
The Slime abruptly seemed to ramp up it's ministrations, coiling around each of Akeno's breasts and pulling them slightly away from each other, before a set of tendrils enveloped her mostly clothed peaks and began to wriggle and contract, wet slurping noises filling the air.
One more tendril poked up between her breasts, winding around to suckle on the side of her neck.
Akeno tensed and arched her back with a long moan, before dropping to her knees and slumping forward, her butt up in the air.
"Ara… Slime-kun is almost as good as Yuuji-kun~."
She lay there in that awkward position, chest heaving and legs twitching.
"... Did it just?"
"Every supernatural race radiates more magical energy when experiencing heightened emotions, and Mana-Slimes are a benevolent species as a whole."
Yuuji seemed somewhat impressed, and since Akeno had the same dopey-but-pleased smile she wore after their night-time bonding sessions, she was probably fine.
A breathy giggle slipped out.
Yep, juuuust fine.
"Pleasure, yes. Mana-Slimes go for a give-and-take sort of arrangement, so 'attacks' just happen when they get hungry. They don't really understand why someone wouldn't want to feel good, so the timing can be awkward."
"Think it's all done?"
The slime had resumed it's tear-drop shape, resting on Akeno's exposed back.
Now that they could get a better look at it, the slime was a pale blue, shifting to green near the top, and yellow at the tip of it's round antenna.
It even had two solid green shapes that were assumedly eyes.
"Nah, that's not what she should look like. In all likelihood, she will target the next nearest thing with high magical energy."
Yuuji took a half-step back, sharing a relieved look with Kiba.
"We're probably safe then, so that's good. There's no demand for that sort of thing anyways…. hang on, 'she'?"
Rias had just caught the implications of Satooji's words.
"Wait, I'm the only one with more magical energy than-"
Surprising no one, that was when the slime pounced.
Rias' scream degraded into a series of yelps and twitches as it flowed down and into her shirt with liquid grace, slipping in between the buttons and hugging Rias' torso in long, wriggly bands.
While most of those present averted their eyes, Yuuji watched with a clinical interest.
"Hmm, breasts of course, but Slime-san is also paying a lot of attention to the sides and inner thighs… taking more time to bounce things around than with Akeno… so that's where she…? This might come in handy, Akeno was right about Slime-san being advanced."
"Y-Yuuji! Stop grading it and help me! I'm s-s-starting to feel strange!"
Rias had already given up on trying to pull free, and had one fist pressed against her lips while the other was supporting her shaking legs, knees pressed together.
The dissolving process had begun, flashes of slime underneath her top now visible.
"Sorry Buchou, I'm not sure how to help you without hurting you or the Slime. You have any ideas?"
This question was directed to the large black dog sitting on its haunches by his side.
{"Can't say I do. Don't worry though, that child is very gentle, your master is in good hands."}
"That's a relief."
{"Looks like she's almost full too, so she should calm down after this."}
"Full? How can you tell?
{"Her body is becoming less transparent. See how your master's form is a bit blurred in places?"}
"Oh… yeah I do see what you mean. Stay strong Buchou, you're in the home stretch!"
Yuuji's rare words of encouragement were wasted on deaf ears. Rias clearly had less resistance than Akeno (not that he could help with that), and was squirming about on her back, once again vainly tugging at the Slime ( who took that as an invitation to suck on her fingers).
"Y-Yuuji! This isn't- EEK!? W-where are you-!?"
Whatever Rias was going to say was cut off by a sharp cry as she spasmed, digging her heels into the soft forest floor. Skin flushed to match her hair, Rias let her head fall to one side as she panted and twitched on the ground.
"I…*huff* can't *huff* believe… even Yuuto…"
She craned her head in her Knight's direction, tone vaguely reproachful.
Kiba's tone was apologetic.
'Sorry Buchou, you know the rules."
During that whole mess, Kiba had politely turned his back, busying himself with kneeling in front of Koneko to cover her eyes with his hands.
Meanwhile, the taller Kalawarner had stepped up behind the tiny girl to help cover her ears, and she too had her eyes closed, looking a bit flustered herself.
"Hang on, Kiba, we have rules for this sort of thing?"
"Hmm, no one told you, Yuuji-kun?"
"Don't look at me like I'm the strange one here."
Rias let out a squeak and shivered as the Slime flowed out from around her until it was gathered on her chest, and then 'she' flowed upwards, until a small, naked young woman with translucent blue skin and green hair (tendrils) was straddling her stomach, hands resting in front of her and yellow-tipped antenna bobbing happily.
A soft, dreamy voice filled the clearing.
"Thank… you… Chou!"
The little Slime-girl leaned forward to offer Rias a friendly pat on the cheek.
Then, she rose to a standing position and twisted to face the group in a manner no bones could replicate, bright, solid green eyes twinkling and a sunny, vaguely familiar smile on her face.
"Ufufu, was it good for Buchou as well?"
Akeno had mostly recovered by this point, so while her uniform was still tattered and wet, she had stretched herself out sensuously on her side, regarding the proceedings with heavy-lidded eyes and a small smile.
One slender finger idly drew circles in the ground.
That Rias' answer was mostly gasping brought a fresh set of chuckles to the black-haired Queen.
Before she could say anything else, the Slime-girl jumped once more, arms outstretched…
And was easily caught by a giggling Asia, who returned the hug with no issue at all.
"Hehe you're so cute! Buchou can I keep her?"
Currently the Devil and the Slime were rubbing cheeks together, the enquiry Asia's only pause in her laughter.
"I'm not sure... that's a good idea Asia. She's a bit too… forward."
Asia's arms tightened and her eyes began to water.
The Slime mirrored her.
"Oh, but Suu didn't mean it! She just lacks a bit of common sense, she just needs someone to teach her! Pleeease Buchou?"
Watching the scene with a smirk, Yuuji noted that, not counting the round antenna on her head, 'Suu' was exactly the same height (and proportions) as Asia.
Mimicry again?
"Pleaaase…. Chou?"
"Oh Maou, there's two of them."
Rias was noticeably struggling to keep her stern expression, with not one, but two pairs of watery green eyes glimmering at her.
"She's already named her, Buchou~."
"*Sigh* I'm aware Akeno… Very well Asia, but teaching her manners and keeping her well fed is your responsibility, am I clear?"
Rias had risen up to a sitting position, her lecturing tone at odds with the slight quiver in her legs, folded beneath her.
This put her at a good height to be bowled over as not one, but two green eyed girls dove at her, hugging her happily and rubbing cheeks (one very gooey) with the taller girl.
"Thank you so much Buchou!"
"Thank.. Much.. Chou!"
"Y-you're welcome… now let me up please!"
"Oops, sorry Buchou, teehee!"
"Sorry… Chou.. tee... hee"
The smaller girls pulled her back to her feet, and Rias had one hand folded in front of her chest, standing tall with an elegant expression, in an attempt to salvage some small piece of her dignity.
Akeno rose sinuously from the ground as well, drawing a daring line between flaunting and concealing her malfunctioning wardrobe.
"*Ahem* Now, I suppose we should address the elephant in the room?"
Rias appraised the newcomer, still sitting on his haunches at Yuuji's side.
"Pretty sure he's a dog, Buchou."
"...Yes Yuuji, I'm aware."
"There's no room either. We're outside."
"... Thank you, Yuuji."
"Anytime, Buchou."
"Hehehe, would you believe Issei-kun thought I was a boy this whole time?"
A girl with light brown twin-tails and violet eyes was sitting on a stone step, her white cloak bunched on the floor beside her as she kicked her legs about with an enthusiastic smile.
Her fit, slender body was covered in a tight, black, reinforced leather suit ending part way down her thighs, leaving her shoulders bare, and fingerless gloves of the same material covering most of her arms.
Her legs were covered by thigh high boots of the same material. Wrapped around her right arm, just above the bicep was a white ribbon, and a silver rosary dangled around her neck.
"A boy, really? How'd he manage that, Irina?"
Beside her sat a girl in similar clothing, though her leather suit was a unitard that left more of her legs uncovered, opting instead for short sleeves.
Slender still, but taller and more developed than her friend, she had chin-length blue hair and a green fringe, with brown eyes.
Irina stuck out her tongue with another laugh, tapping one fist to her head in a silly gesture.
"I was a total tomboy when I was little, so I always wore boy clothes 'cause they were easier to play in! I bet we still would have been best friends if we met that early, Xen-chan!"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
Xenovia sat calmly beside her more upbeat friend, one hand idly fiddling with the wrappings covering a heavy, cross-shaped object beside her, it's length reaching all the way to her ribs if she stood.
"Issei's been working hard all these years, he was pretty dumb when he was little but now he studies sooo hard, I couldn't believe how smart he is now! His parents say he's pretty popular with the girls, but he has no idea! Which is good, I don't want any of those floozies taking advantage of a sweet boy like Issei!"
Irina's expression shifted into an incensed scowl as she talked about other girls, but turned back into a smile so quickly that no one but Xenovia would be able to keep up.
"Hoh, a good student eh? You could learn something from him."
"Hey, I'm a great student when I pay attention!"
"There's a 'when'? Guess I don't pay enough attention either."
Xenovia actually looked a bit troubled at having missed that.
"Hey! Xen-chan you bully!"
Irina puffed out her cheeks.
"Sorry, sorry. So, which school does Issei go to?"
Irina went rigid, eyes going wide, and her hand flying to her side, as Xenovia silently cursed her lack of tact.
Irina stared at her for a moment, pale, almost unconsciously digging her fingers into her left side, just above the hip.
Dammit, she shouldn't have asked that-
"I… I…"
"Irina-"
Xenovia reached a hand out to her, but immediately recoiled as Irina threw her hands up into the air.
"I totally forgot to ask! I'm such a dummy!"
Wailing comically, Irina rubbed both hand furiously through her hair.
Relieved, Xenovia let out a soft sigh, smiling once more.
"You forgot to ask?"
"I totally forgot! Mama Hydou distracted me with Issei pictures! Aggh I can't believe it, Issei was so adorable! That's cheating!"
As Irina crossed her arms in a pout, Xenovia scooted closer, lifting one hand to tenderly brush her friend's hair back in place.
"Well, I'm sure you'll get another chance. You'll have to wait though, the Devils probably know we're in Kuoh now, so we'll need to meet with them tomorrow."
"Yeah, I know. I don't want the Devils knowing that I have a friend here right under their noses, Issei doesn't know about the supernatural, and he doesn't know I'm an Exorcist. I don't want him dragged into any of this, but I'm sure the Lord will keep him safe! He still has the rosary I gave him, so I bet he prays all the time!"
"The one that matches yours? He must like you a lot."
Irina blushed and ducked her head shyly and poking her fingers together.
"Well, I'm sure when we're done our mission here, you'll have another chance. And I promise, if they do find out about Issei I'll help you protect him. If he's your friend, he's mine as well. I won't let anyone hurt the people you love."
Irina shuffled closer, closing the remaining distance and laying her head on her companions shoulder.
"Thanks, Xen-chan, that means a lot. It was really nice of you to go ahead and set things up while I visited Issei-kun."
"... Anytime, Irina."
Irina couldn't see it now, but Xenovia wasn't smiling anymore.
"I-in the name of Asia Argento, I order you! Become my familiar, and r-respond to this contract!"
"Yay…!"
Yuuji wasn't sure if that was the correct response, but the warm green magic circle that Suu was standing in shone brightly, the light washing up her body as she threw up her hands enthusiastically.
Akeno was supporting her with the ritual, as it was her first time, but Asia was talented enough that she just needed a little nudge here or there.
Akeno seemed relieved, the little blonde and her Familiar seemed very excited to complete the ritual, so it going off without a hitch was a welcome sight.
{"It's nice to see the children grow up. Suu will have a good home with Asia."}
The soft, firm voice wasn't coming from audible, rather drifting through the heads of those gathered directly.
"Yeah, she's in good hands."
The dog at Yuuji's side was huge, to the point where sitting on his haunches like he was, he was eye-level with Koneko.
A wolfhound, with pitch-black fur and red eyes, his tail longer than he was, drifting and flickering in the nonexistent wind like a dark ribbon.
Rias wiped a happy tear from her eyes, watching the girl and her Slime hugging each other and giggling.
"It's nice to see the children grow up."
In a very human-like gesture, the dog raised an eyebrow and looked up at Yuuji.
{"I can tell she's the master to most of you, but isn't she a bit young to be the bright one's mother? I know it's hard to tell with Devils, but they don't smell that different in age."}
"Ufufu, my servants are my precious family, so it's- h-hey you just said the same thing about Suu!"
{"Yeah, I'm Suu's guardian, so of course I'm happy for her. Guess the bond is the same with you? Haven't met a lot of Devils like you, so I apologize if I spoke poorly."}
"There's nothing to forgive, Ulysse-san was it? What brings you here, were you just keeping an eye on Suu?"
{"Partially. Making sure Suu finds a good home was important, but I also wanted to ask this one for help."}
"Yuuji? Why him?"
{"His scent is familiar, though we've never actually met. That and he's a dog person."}
"A dog person? Well I can understand that now, but how did you know?"
{"We can tell these things."}
"What did you need help with Ulysse?"
Yuuji crouched down to bring himself closer to eye-level, though with Ulysse' height they just switched who was looking up at who.
{"Something unpleasant slipped it's way into the forest and is preying on the little ones. It can go places I can't, and doesn't leave a proper scent trail, so I haven't been able to catch it."}
Frustration leaked out in his tone.
"So you need help bringing it down?"
{"I need someone to ground it long enough for me to get my teeth around its neck."}
His words drifted out beneath an audible snarl.
"Well I'm in. You don't mind, Buchou?"
"Satooji-san, were you not aware of this?"
"Yeah, the commotion in the north end just reached me, whatever this thing is sure being sneaky. But it wouldn't be the first time something strange slipped it's way into the forest, it must be able to fly or climb if it can give a Black Grim the slip. If you're willing to lend a hand, Gremory-san, I'd be in your debt."
"If Yuuji wants to help, I see no reason to refuse. But as this is a request from our Black Grim-san here, you do understand what making a request from Devils entails, yes?"
{"Yeah, I do. I'll help your Pawn here find a suitable Familiar."}
"And if he decides that you're a suitable Familiar? It's not often a Fey as famous as a Black Grim seeks you out of its own accord."
{"... I have my own circumstances. Sorry, I know it's rude when I'm asking for help, but there's a reason I can't leave."}
Yuuji shrugged.
"I don't mind, but I don't suppose you know any other canines who are less tied down?"
"Yes, Yuuji was interested in the rumors of a moon-eating wolf."
"Buchou, stop trying to get me killed."
{"Did you anger your master?"}
"She hasn't said, but I'm fairly certain. Women are like that sometimes."
"I just want the best possible Familiar for my darling servant, is that so hard to understand?"
{"She's definitely mad. You have struggles of your own, huh?"}
"I do my best."
"I'm still here, Yuuji."
Twitching eyebrow and all.
"You're right Buchou, we should get moving. Lead the way, Ulysse."
Boy and dog walked past the crimson-haired Devil, pointedly not looking at how she tapped her foot in growing irritation.
Akeno let slip an 'ufufu'.
As they walked ahead, Yuuji turned his head to look down at the dog by his side.
"So what was the other reason you asked me for help? You know, the real reason you decided to trust me over the 'Familiar Master'? Was it just the scent you recognized?"
Everyone moved just a little closer, curious.
{"Yeah, like I said, your scent is familiar, so you and I have something in common I suppose."}
"Which part is that?"
{"Your sadness has the same scent as mine."}
… No one spoke for a while.
She was sulking by the river again.
After all this time, were they still…?
Oy, Isabel.
What's wrong, did they make fun of your hair again?
"It's not like I can help it that I have carrot-colored hair, or eyes the color of weeds. God made me this way."
Her dress folded beneath her, Isabel stared out into the water with a sullen expression she should never have to wear, but often did.
I'd love you no matter what color your hair was.
I wish they could see the Isabel I see, sister.
Hmm, what to do, what to do.
Oh, a rabbit. Maybe that will cheer her up.
Rabbit always cheers me up.
... An easy catch.
What do you say Isabel, isn't your brother pretty cool?
...She laughed at me.
Heh, that's fine.
Her laughter is the kind of laughter that makes the world brighter every time you hear it.
... I wish she did it more often.
I'll just work harder then.
I'll just love you more then.
Your sadness has no place here, so I'll chase it away as often as I need to, until it loses the way back.
.
.
.
I wonder where Isabel has wandered off to today? I'd better find her.
"Hey, that cart hit that girl!"
Isabel?
Isabel where are you?
What's wrong with your-
Isabel!
What's wrong, wake up!
Father, she's not waking up.
That's not her bed Father, why is she sleeping beneath all that dirt?
Will it help her get better?
No, I'm not going home.
Isabel will be lonely if she wakes up and no one is here.
So I'll wait until she does.
.
.
.
Hey, what's going on?
This isn't our village.
...Huh, even that didn't wake you up, Isabel?
Well, you always were a heavy sleeper.
Just wake up soon alright?
… I get lonely too.
"A cemetery? Satooji-san, can you explain this?"
The peerage were currently standing in the center of what should have been a massive forest clearing, but was instead dominated by row after row of tombstones in various states of disarray.
"Well Gremory-san, I'm sure you're aware that on certain nights, the boundary between the natural and the supernatural wears thin?"
"I'm aware, don't tell me-"
Rias trailed off, staring about the cemetery in shock.
"You have the right of it. Usually it's just people, but sometimes places with enough spirit to them slip through the boundaries as well, which is how you end up with a late eighteen hundreds village cemetery in the Familiar Forest."
Not quite able to digest an entire location simply falling into another world, Yuuji decided to focus on the little things, while Rias, Akeno and Kalawarner were abuzz about the significance, and the rarity, and other things that were probably important to them or something.
"Is that how you ended up here?"
{"Yeah, not just me though, Isabel is here as well."}
"Isabel? Is she…?"
{"My sister. She's further in."}
"Further in?"
Asia was the one who asked, a clear tremor in her voice. A concerned Suu wrapped gooey arms around her shoulders.
{"Yeah, she's been sleeping under the dirt for a while now."}
Yuuji let out a sharp inhale.
"Oi..."
{"Yeah, I could tell. You're waiting for your sister to return as well. Don't give up on her."}
Yuuji flinched as a pair of arms wrap gently around one of his, Akeno pulling close with worried eyes.
Only then did he realize how silent the clearing was.
"Yuuji?"
"I'm okay Akeno. I'm just not as over it as I thought I was."
"I can understand if you want to wait, but…?"
"Yeah, we'll talk later. Thanks Akeno."
{"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. Just now, you understand why it was you I went to."}
"Yeah, I get it."
"Umm, Ulysse-san… Is your sister, well is she?"
Asia had stepped forward timidly. Yuuji immediately took pity on her.
"Is your sister a dog as well?"
"YUUJI!"
Several people groaned along with Rias' reprimand, and Akeno looked up at him reproachfully, her arms tightening ever so slightly.
Ulysse let out a huffing noise that was probably the canine equivalent of laughter.
{"No, she's human. I didn't realize I wasn't until some time after I woke up here. We slipped through while I was dozing off, but Satooji found me a little while later. I don't really understand why I turned into one of these 'Black Grim', but Satooji suggested that the transition between worlds might have had something to do with it."}
As several heads turned his way, Satooji gave a slight, sad shake of his head.
Before anyone could quite gather their thoughts, Satooji suddenly perked up, with a wide grin and an odd shimmer in his eyes.
"Not just any Black Grim, show 'em!"
"Show them what? You mean this?"
Everyone's heads whipped back towards the dog, as this time, his voice had been as audible as anyone else's.
Standing in the dogs place was a slender young man with wavy black hair, tanned skin, and red eyes.
A black, old-fashioned jacket was buttoned up to his neck, and he had black pants and boots.
"Ulysse?"
"Yeah, apparently I spent so long thinking I was human, that when I was turned into a Grim the magic made that a little more true. Satooji gets really worked up over it, so it seems that's not something normal."
"Not normal!? Not normal he says!? There's never been a case of a Black Grim with shape-shifting, the species is a rarity among Fey because they can't."
Satooji was waving his arms and hopping excitedly about.
"Yeah, he gets like that every time. I'm going to go ahead and change back now, I've only had this form for a month or two so I'm still uncomfortable on two legs."
As he shifted back in a shadowy swirl, Yuuji tilted his head to one side.
"A month or two? So you haven't been here that long?"
Satooji gave a suspicious cough, but Yuuji was pretty sure he heard 'dog years'.
{"Something like that. The light is always the same, so it's hard to keep track."}
"Yeah, this place is weird."
"Say, Ulysse-kun, how do you know Suu? Is she one of those little ones you mentioned?"
Raynare had stepped up, hand behind her back as she leaned forward a bit.
"Ulysse... keep… safe!"
Nodding emphatically, Suu waved her hands around in the air with a big smile, splattering slime everywhere.
{"That's the gist of it, actually. Her and some of the smaller folk living around here took notice of me and poked their heads in. They were a bit scared of me at first, since I have a tendency to chase small things, but once they realized I didn't mean any harm they relaxed a bit.. I've been keeping them safe from some of the larger predators."}
"He says 'larger predators' in a casual way, but I've seen the bite marks on full-sized Oni that tried to throw their weight around."
Ulysse responded in a firm tone.
{"Isabel was bullied a lot, so I don't have any tolerance for it. Besides, the little ones are very welcoming, so I'm sure they'll be good friends for her once she wakes up."}
"Yeah... I'm sure they will."
Raynare smiled sadly.
{"I was only that far away from her because Suu wandered off. She roams a lot when she's hungry."}
"Sorry… Ulysse."
Suu's antenna drooped a bit.
{"It's okay Suu. You're not going to be living here anymore though, so be careful not to wander that far from Asia, alright?"}
"Kay!"
She perked up immediately, smile wide once more.
"Company."
Koneko was stiff as a board, eyes wide and fists clenched.
{"Yeah, it's watching us. Don't look now, but it's in the branches behind us."}
"What… is that thing? It's smells wrong. There's too many scents jumbled together."
{"I don't know either, I've never gotten a good look at it. But it's not something that should exist."}
Yuuji had slipped a small mirror out of his pocket, angling it backwards subtly while hiding it in his palm.
Slowly, to get a glimpse of what they were facing.
Stitches.
Stitches and fur and white, spindly limbs and…
Long, flowing hair the burnt orange of autumn leaves.
"Buchou, what's the plan?"
"If Ulysse-san needs us to ground it, then we need to drive it somewhere suitable and keep it there. Any ideas, Ulysse-san?"
{"West of here is a high cliff with a steep overhang. If you can drive it to the foot of the cliff, it won't be able to escape. Not fast enough, anyways."}
"Will it follow us?"
{"Probably, it can smell your Familiars. Keep them as close as you can."}
Asia hugged Suu tightly, who returned the hug with a watery smile that suggested she didn't quite understand the significance.
"Yeah, you're probably having such trouble finding a Familiar because of how big your group is. More outgoing types like Slimes don't mind numbers, but for something like Kazami-san wants, they'll avoid big groups."
Satooji had moved to the front of the group, flipping through his massive book as he lectured those present.
"Well, I don't like it, but we'll have to split up. Groups of two, spread out and see if you can catch wind of anything interesting. I don't want any of my precious servants going home without a Familiar."
"Yes, Buchou!"
The group split off, going their separate ways.
A pair of dull green eyes watched from the shadows above, sizing up each separate pair before making it's choice and crawling off .
Focussed as it was, it missed the golden eyes watching it in turn.
The little Slime Girl walked along, swinging its arms with exaggerated movements and making watery hums, oblivious to the sticks and stones it would brush against, and subsequently take along for the ride.
Beside it, the little bright haired Devil was huddled in on herself as she walked, flinching and jumping slightly at every strange noise from the undergrowth, clearly uncomfortable away from the larger group.
It didn't seem to understand what the silencing of the forest meant, and the Slime was too busy humming to hear.
But the Devil did seem to realize something was very, very wrong.
And it was right.
A seething mass of dark fur and grasping pale limbs pounced on it from above, bearing it screaming to the ground.
A pair of jaws opened far too wide, ready to rip and tear, and closed with an awful snap.
... Full to the brim with leaves and loam.
"As if we'd let Asia wander off, idiot."
A cacophony of sharp cracks filled the air and shredded the earth, shrapnel flying everywhere as the creature hurled itself airborne.
It reached out a pair of long, slender limbs to grasp the thick branch and pull itself into the trees, only to fall with the wood grasped in its hands as it was neatly severed by something that whirled and glinted through the air.
"I can't exactly blame you for your choice of targets, but I think I'll be a little selfish and do it anyways."
It landed on all six limbs, spinning to face its attackers.
The young male Devils from before, one dark of hair and eye, the other as pale as its intended victim.
The female and the Slime were nowhere to be found.
Getting a full view of it for the first time, Kiba blanched, even as he summoned another blade.
Someone had taken a massive, hairy arachnid, and removed it's limbs and head.
Crudely stitched in that heads place was the pale, bare torso of a woman, with a young, ginger-haired girls head stitched onto that.
Each leg hand been replaced with several segments of human arms, bent in the mockery of a spiders and ending in filthy, delicate white hands which someone had taken the time to paint the nails a sickening, rosy red.
"Someone has a shitty hobby."
"Poor taste indeed, Yuuji-kun."
"Let's get this over with so we don't have to look at it anymore."
"Agreed."
Blades and bullets tore through the clearing, driving the monstrosity back.
Westwards.
"Ara ara, Monster-san, I'd be hurt if you stood me up."
A crack of lightning cut the crawling horror off as it attempted to spring into the trees once more, but when it reversed its momentum to spring in a new direction, a sapling clipped it and sent it spinning to the dirt.
"Heads up?"
Koneko already had her hands on another log.
It scrabbled away on all six limbs as a line of dark pink light-spears drew a line behind it, making noise for the first time with a strangled mixture of hiss and groan.
"Hmm, it doesn't seem to like the light. Raynare, Kalawarner, you take point."
"Roger!."
"Understood."
Everywhere it went, someone was there, cutting it off, forcing its ungainly body to scuttle along the ground, gangly pale limbs working furiously and stitches straining.
From the start it had been in Rias' trap, as their 'splitting' of the group was little more than basic illusion magic and ventriloquism.
Whatever this thing was, 'smart' wasn't it.
Eventually, it found itself at the base of a towering cliff that rose above the treeline, hemmed in by its attackers.
It tensed and reared, waving spindly limbs in a threatening gesture.
This gave the girls in the group their first clear look at it, and they recoiled from the wretched thing, even as they tensed in readiness.
Rias gave a sharp hiss while Asia huddled behind Kalawarner, trembling behind the taller woman as she stiffened in disgust.
"What kind of monster makes a Chimera like this? What use could it possibly…?"
"It's already dead, Buchou."
Koneko's terse voice was muffled, the shaking little girl having clamped one hand over her nose.
A sharp tearing nose cut her off, as the stitches on one side of its neck gave way, causing the pale girls' head to list awkwardly to one side like a broken doll.
Without warning, the Chimera sprung into the air, trying to find purchase on the uneven rock, but crackling lightning and seething crimson light destroyed the stone above it, sending it the the earth with a shower of stone.
Something squelched and cracked as it hit the ground, and Raynare twisted away from the group, joining Asia on the ground retch on hands and knees.
Koneko was huddled up in a shivering ball, eyes screwed tightly shut, while Kiba stood pale-faced watch with blade at the ready.
A long, low growl echoed off the stone, as a huge black dog stalked forward, the group parting around him like waves.
The creature twisted and thrashed its way upright to meet the new threat.
Glassy green eyes seemed to brighten in recognition as the Grim froze in his tracks, every hair standing on end.
{"... Isabel?"}
Ulysse began to shake his head from side to side, as if trying to dispel the vision before him.
{"No. No. Anything but this-"}
A very human-like scream of despair spiked sharply into the heads of those gathered, hands clapping over ears in a futile attempt to drown out the noise.
This time, the words carried vision with them, little snapshots of a black dog and his owner, a pale girl with hair the color of autumn leaves, and eyes like glittering emeralds.
Several choked sobs slipped out from behind him, but Yuuji paid them no heed.
Instead, he stepped forward, face as blank and disinterested as always, to run his hand through thick black fur.
As if unaware of the dogs distress, Yuuji's clear voice rang out in a tone more suited to talks of the weather than stitched up abominations.
"That's not Isabel."
"She's gone."
Several pairs of eyes fixed on him from behind, snapped out of their grief for just a moment.
"Isabel is not coming back."
"So, what are you going to do about that thing that's trampling all over her memory?"
The back beneath his hand stiffened.
A long sigh drifted through their heads like an autumn breeze.
{"That's enough Isabel. This time, sleep as long as you want."}
An odd shudder passed through the Chimera, as while the body bared its nails aggressively, the head offered a soft, almost relieved smile.
That smile vanished from sight as a dark shape tore the human torso right off its body.
Red orbs loomed above the pale girl on the ground, a girl who seemed much smaller without her monstrous grafts.
A shaking hand lifted towards Ulysse' face as bright green eyes glittered with concern.
{"I'll be okay, Isabel. Rest now."}
He leaned into the soft hand that brushed once across his cheek before falling limp.
Warm green eyes drifted closed with a contented sigh.
A long, mournful howl echoed for miles around.
"No luck, huh? Well, Asia made a friend and we were able to help you out, so I'd say the trip was worth it."
{"Sorry. I'd go with you if I could, but after what happened I can't leave the little ones unprotected."}
"Nah, I understand. Be sure to introduce me to all your dog friends next time."
{"Sure thing."}
Several small rustles were heard from the trees and underbrush, snapping the group out of its quiet melancholy.
"Ussee!"
"Ulysse!"
"Uusee!"
Several adoring coos rang out in response to the dozens of small creatures that had hopped, crawled and fluttered their way out of hiding.
Rabbits with unicorn horns, tiny walking mushrooms with big button eyes, and petite winged children that were obviously Fey of some kind.
{"E-everyone?"}
"Ussee go!"
A tiny oni just like Akeno's pointed an imperious finger, which was prompted a dozen others to imitate.
"Ussee have fun!"
Several waved.
"Ussee visit!"
More waves, until all the little ones gathered were following suit.
{"But I can't just leave-"}
"We can take them all with us."
Rias spoke with the absolute conviction of a King and an odd glitter in her eyes, her Queen and Rook nodding empathetically along.
"That won't be necessary, Gremory. Though the offer is appreciated."
A honeyed lilt drifted through the clearing, drawing attention to the elegant, bewitchingly female form draped across a high branch.
The woman offered a sultry, inviting smile, one hand languidly playing with pale blue hair as a set of heavy-lidded, burning pink eyes glittered down at them.
She was wearing a small blue dress and little else, and her curving horns and long, reptilian tail that wove in the air above were a dark, bluish-green.
{"Tia? You're awake already? Usually you sleep for more than a month or two."}
Ulysse' voice carried a not of confusion.
"Hmm.. Yes. I just woke up from my little nap and noticed that your corner of the forest seemed all astir. So I thought I'd come check and see if you were alright?"
'Tia' seemed faintly amused by something he'd said.
{"I'm fine, Tia. Thanks for checking."}
The woman's eyes narrowed searchingly for a moment before she seemed to relax, smiling once again.
"So I see. Now if that little Devil over there is the one who helped you out, why don't you do what you want to do and thank him properly?"
{"But I can't-"}
"Oh, but you can. Ddraig hasn't surfaced for a while now, so I think that lazy lizard has skipped a generation. Albion will pout I'm sure, but it means I should have a century or two to watch over these little darlings. Besides, hanging around that won't do you any favors, so run along now."
The dismissive 'shooing' gesture was marred somewhat by her gentle smile, and the numerous cute things now playing on her back.
{"... Thanks, Tia. That's a big relief."}
Ulysse lifted his eyes to meet Yuuji's.
{"Still on the market?"}
"You're in luck, we were just about to close down shop for the day."
"Take good care of him, little Soldier. Though… I suppose if you can look at me without quivering you must have some promise."
It was Yuuji's turn to look at her in confusion.
"Quivering? You're obviously not here to hurt anyone so why-"
Yuuji whipped his head back to discover that every Devil and Fallen Angel in the clearing were pale-faced and trembling (though he was pretty sure Satooji was from excitement).
When he turned back, nothing remained to mark the woman's presence but drifting, sultry laughter.
Unseen by all, a pair of pink orbs had locked onto a pair of startled, supposedly concealed gold, but offered nothing more than a playful wink before she vanished.
Yuuji looked down at Ulysse.
Ulysse looked up at Yuuji.
They both shrugged.
In the shadows of a high branch, their golden eyed observer rose from its perch and stretched the shivers out, casting one lingering glance over the group below.
A lingering glance over the golden eyed figure she'd come here to see.
The group took some time to recover their wits before the Familiar ritual.
Apparently, Ulysse' friend Tia was something called a 'Chaos Karma Dragon', which sounded like it was probably a big deal.
The names she had dropped apparently belonged to something called 'Heavenly Dragons' which might be like Angels or something if they were heavenly?
It wasn't really important, because they were clearly Dragons and not dogs.
Yuuji hadn't quite figured out what all the fuss was about, but he didn't care enough to ask.
Akeno had just finished set-up, since Yuuji had such a low amount of magic, she'd be helping a lot more than with Asia.
His girlfriend gave him a nod, and he stepped forward as Ulysse padded into the glowing circle, that faded into a dull grey as it synced with Yuuji.
"In the name of Kazami Yuuji, I order you. Accept this contrast and become my Familiar."
{"A name is required, one that you give me."}
Yuuji thought long and hard, before calmly blurting out the first name that came to mind.
"Ruth."
The ritual concluded, Yuuji unheeding of the strange looks he was getting as he scratched behind his Familiar's ears.
"Congrats… Ru!"
Suu offered a slightly gooey hug, which Ruth leaned into without complaint.
{"Thanks, Suu. Guess we'll be together a while longer."}
"Yay!"
Tearing her eyes away from the heartwarming scene now that her work was done, Akeno asked a question that had been on the mind of her and several others.
"Satooji-san, how long was 'Tia-san's' little nap really?"
Satooji scratched his head for a moment.
"30 years, give or take?"
The sun had sunk beneath the horizon by the time the Gremory group had returned home, new familiars in tow.
Most of them had decided to turn in at that point, but Yuuto had found himself still antsy for some inexplicable reason, and had decided to go for a walk before bed.
Which was why Rias was currently sitting in the common room in her red negligee, almost halfway through an essay not due for several weeks.
On nights when her peerage were taking requests, Rias was always the last one to go home, patiently waiting for each of her little family to return before returning herself.
Now that they all lived under the same roof? Rias found herself unable to even think about sleep until she knew everyone was, if not asleep, at least home safely.
Which was why the dread creeping up her spine was creeping higher and higher.
Yuuto had been gone an hour.
Late night walks like this were actually a fairly frequent pastime of her Knight, Yuuto valuing his alone time far more than one would expect from the most popular (and probably socially apt) boy in school.
A quick text five minutes prior had so far gone unanswered
. Not unusual, but she was feeling a little more paranoid than normal.
A necromantic Chimera, and a run-in with the strongest Dragon King could do that.
Sure, Satooji was following up with it and they were a long way from the Familiar Forest, but that was neither here nor there when it came to maternal instinct.
Five more minutes and then she would call. Maybe Yuuto was just stuck in his own head again.
He had a habit of withdrawing inwards when he thought no one was watching, but she had yet to uncover any more despite the constant prodding over the years.
Yuuto put far much effort into not giving her cause to worry for her to not worry about him.
It was a lovely night.
Not a cloud in sight, and a cool breeze that whispered to those willing to listen.
Kiba wondered if the Exorcist in front of him appreciated a nighttime stroll as much as he did.
No, probably not.
A shame, really.
Good thing Freed was dead though, or Kiba would have thought the snow-white hair and the clothes to be a dead giveaway, mask or not.
Freed would have not so much killed the mood, so much as killed it, done unpleasant things to the corpse, and danced a jig on what remained.
"How do you do, Exorcist-san? Anything I can help you with?"
"Yeah, you could help me test this out. Mind keeping me company, Devil-san?"
Kiba might have noticed the vaguely familiar tone of voice if it weren't for the fact that the Exorcist had begun to unwrap the object he was holding.
The wrapping fell to the ground, and his instincts as a Devil screamed at him to flee.
Not that he would listen.
Not when there was a fragment of that wretched thing right in front of him.
Blue eyes hardened into flecks of ice.
"Where… did you find that sword?"
... Speed dial it was. Yuuto was number 3.
Answering machine.
Rias left a message, not seeming to realize that the pen in her had was drawing nervous circles on an essay page she would have to start over.
Another minute, another text, another call.
Nothing.
This had happened once before, when Yuuto had found himself sitting in an out-of-the-way park and dozed off.
When she found him, Rias had taken a break from yelling at him long enough to give Akeno a turn, and Yuuto hadn't been allowed to sleep at home that night (week), because his home was well out of arm's length from her.
Akeno.
She needed Akeno, and Yuuji too.
They were probably in the same room, so that made things easier.
Small mercies.
Demonic steel hissed through the air, only to be deflected by sacred steel once again.
Kiba leapt back to regain distance, and once again the Exorcist let him.
Kiba threw aside the useless hump of metal, and once again the Exorcist let him.
This was the third of such exchanges.
Kiba's swords could only handle a handful of head-on collisions before the holy aura of that thing, that Excalibur fragment dulled the edges too much to be of use.
If Kiba was his usual self, he'd simply have minimized direct clashes.
But he wasn't, so instead he let out a mirthless chuckle that bared far too many teeth and stretched his hand out to the side.
Something dark thrashed and coiled where his heart should be, and leaked an unseen poison that made the air around his hand crack and wither.
"I've been saving this for a special occasion, but allow me to throw your words back at you. I want to help me test this out, mind keeping me company?"
The space around his hand continued to seethe and twist in agony. Kiba's voice hissed out a cruel incantation.
A foul curse that made the skies tremble.
"This is the sound when dreams falter."
The veins on Kiba's hand darkened, inky black on pale skin.
"This is the sound when hope dies."
Then they ruptured, spilling blood and rust into the air in obscene, twining tendrils.
"This is our… Angelic Howl."
And then they wove together into a single sword.
Angelic Howl had no blade.
Filthy orange rust and hardened crimson blood wound together endlessly as if rusting, pulsing, blood-drenched barbwire had been finely woven into the shape of a sword.
The gaps in the weapon were empty and dark, as if refusing the entry of any light at all.
As if that wasn't foul enough, the blade began to moan and sob in a very human agony.
The Exorcist watched in morbid fascination as the 'hilt' stabbed its way back through the Devil's hand, macabre tendrils stitching themselves to him.
Blue eyes stained with red flicked back open to regard the masked figure, a smile stretching far too wide as he drew himself back up, unheeding of the blood and rust that dripped from his hand.
"This is just a little something I came up with. To bury anything and anyone who has anything to do with those swords."
Whatever the Exorcist was going to say was cut off by the sound of Angelic Howl screaming its way through the air.
"Rias? What's going on?"
Yuuji groaned and sat upright, Akeno making half-formed noises of protest at his side.
"Yuuto's missing."
At the breathless explanation, Akeno seamlessly transitioned from 'half-awake' to 'half-dressed', violet eyes alight with worry.
"What do you mean missing?"
"It's been an hour and a half since he left for his walk."
"Is that a long time?"
Yuuji asked, quickly pulling on the clothes a fully dressed Akeno had tossed his way.
"For him to not respond to a single text or call? Yes. He's always been prompt."
"Should I wake the others, Buchou?"
"Not yet Akeno, he could just be in a dead zone or have forgotten to charge his phone. Let's not put the whole house in an uproar quite yet. I'm still hoping that my worries are for nothing."
"If they are, you'll have to scold our darling little brother lots, won't you?"
"You're damn right I'm going to scold him for making me worry."
"Ruth?"
Yuuji turned to the dog sitting a the foot of his bed.
{"Yeah, leave it to me."}
The trio of Devils ran out the house on his heels, the heightened senses of a Black Grim painting a scent trail so distinct you could almost see it.
The masked Exorcist gave a slight hiss as another slight miss became a glancing, tearing blow, the hideous weapon the Devil swung contorting and reaching out as it hissed past in a vicious thrust, as if the sword itself was actively seeking to harm him.
He did manage to cleanly duck the attempt at separating head from shoulders, and leapt back before the follow up could splash any of his guts onto the concrete.
"Huh, what a scary sword."
"Scary, is it? Are you sure? Maybe you should take a closer look before you judge."
"I'll pass. That's enough playing around for now."
"Oh, what tricks does Exorcist-san have up his sleeves? Don't think it will help, but I'll be polite and wait."
The Devil grinned at him.
"You're not the only one with a scary sword. Do you know the name of this particular fragment?"
"Can't say I know, or care."
"Well, it's called Excalibur Nightmare."
.
.
.
When nothing seemed to follow the unneeded proclamation, Kiba took a step forward, scowling.
He stopped cold at a small tug on his sleeve.
"Isaiah?"
Another tug.
"Hey, Isaiah?"
No.
No.
Dear God no-
"Isaiah?"
Unable to bear it anymore, Kiba slowly turned his head, trembling at the insistent voice.
His vision led his eyes down to the tiny figure reaching up to tug his sleeve.
"Hey, Isaiah…"
"Why did you leave us to die?"
The masked Exorcist calmly walked up to the Devil, and with an almost gentle motion, drove the sword into his side.
The Devil didn't notice.
He was too busy screaming.
The second Ruth announced the tang of blood on the air, Rias put on a frantic burst of speed, running faster than she ever had before in a flash of pure, blind panic, Yuuto's name tearing hoarsely from her throat.
Unheeding of her servants warning, completely unaware as Akeno kept on her heels, Yuuji and Ruth fanning out to keep watch and intercept if need be.
Rias skidded to a halt in front of a dark smear upon the sidewalk.
Silent for the first time since her panicked sprint, that was when she heard the sobbing.
She found him in an alleyway, curled on his side in the fetal position.
Whimpering and sobbing in a pool of his own blood with delirious, bloodshot eyes fixed on a sight that no one else could share.
But alive... her precious little brother was still alive.
Rias dropped to her knees, heedless of the blood and filth marring legs suddenly too weak to support her weight, and drew Yuuto up into her arms, cradling him against her even as her limited healing magic struggled to close the smoking, narrow hole in his side.
Her sobs intermingled with his as he weakly returned her embrace, not quite seeing her but still seeking comfort.
She shuddered as a teary-eyed Akeno splashed down at her side, softly glowing hands pressed against Yuuto's side, dimly aware of Yuuji's phone call to rouse their healer.
The wound hissed and smoked, and the combined efforts of both Rias and Akeno served to just barely stem the flow until Asia arrived.
By the end of the night, it had taken enough Twilight Healing for Asia to keel over from exhaustion, and a blood transfusion from Yuuji, that he completed with Kalawarner's help, to bring Yuuto out of danger.
No one was quite sure what to make of the tattered, gruesome holes in his right hand, but at least they were a little easier to heal.
She would have remained by his side all night if she'd been allowed.
Yuuji had other ideas.
"That's enough Rias. We're all here with him, so you and Akeno need to go get cleaned up."
Rias shook her head vehemently, breathing still fast and shallow. Before she even realized what had happened, he had firmly guided them both from the room.
"That's not important he-"
Yuuji filled her vision, dark orbs staring deeply into hers.
"Rias, you're scaring them. Please."
"Scaring... them?"
Her hands were cold. Why were her hands so cold? Why were they covered with blood?
Yuuto's blood.
A strangled sob mingled with the pounding in her ears.
And then she saw it out of the corner of her eyes.
Saw her out of the corner of her eyes.
Quivering beside his bed, one tiny hand grasping his.
Staring at her with wide golden eyes, hunched so low that she couldn't get any smaller.
Koneko.
Slowly, she turned her head to see Akeno trembling at her side, eyes puffy and a dark patch of red where she'd bit clean through her lip.
A frowning, paler than normal Asia, passed out at Yuuto's bedside, with blanket and a concerned Suu draped over her shoulders.
Up the hall, Raynare and Kalawarner stood guard at the top of the stairs, but even from here she could see the shaking in the smaller Fallen's knees.
The world snapped back into focus as she realized just how distraught her family was. Rias closed her eyes and drew a deep, long breath.
"I'm okay now. Come, Akeno, let's get cleaned up. Koneko… will you stay?"
The little Rook stiffened, but upon seeing Rias' calm face, visibly relaxed and gave a mute nod.
"Yuuji, keep them safe."
Eyes narrowed into thin, cold slits, Yuuji gave a nod and stalked off, briefly bringing her back to the night he had sworn to save her.
Ruth rose up out of nowhere, pacing at his side with the same quiet menace.
"Good. Come along now, Akeno."
"Yes, Buchou."
Quietly, Akeno followed her as she walked down the hallway.
At the top of the stairs, she paused briefly at the side of the two Fallen Angels, who were sitting on the top of the steps with the older cradling the younger to her chest.
Raynare hadn't been able to take anymore, and without trying to speak over the muffled sobs, Kalawarner offered her a compassionate gaze and a slow shake of the head.
Rias had made it to the first landing and around the corner before she started to give out.
"Akeno."
Her whisper was enough, and her best friend pressed against her, and arm looping around her waist as her own slipped around the shorter girls shoulders.
They leaned there for a moment before they were ready to move.
It took them a long time to get to the baths, and a longer time to get themselves clean.
For some reason, the blood just wouldn't wash off.
Kiba screamed himself awake at the break of dawn, jerking the occupants of his crowded room awake.
Rias, who had been passed out with her upper body draped beside his, caught him in her arms and held him close, one of his hands still wrapped by Koneko's.
Akeno crawled onto the bed and sat against his other side, hemming him in with warm, protective bodies.
Voice shaky, Kiba relayed the events of that night.
When he got to the part where the Holy Sword's name had been revealed, his breath hitched and his voice dropped to a deadened whisper.
The girl's grips tightened as they came to realize his shaking was no longer fear or pain.
Yuuji stormed into the room then, eyes cold and cruel.
They lightened briefly upon seeing Kiba awake, but hardened again as he strode forward and handed Rias a rolled up, wax sealed missive.
She broke the seal and read the short message over quickly, knuckles whitening as her grip tightened, the contents only confirming the worst.
Fragments of Excalibur had been stolen, and the Churches representatives sent to her town to retrieve them had requested a meeting.
Rias took a vindictive moment to seriously contemplate the value of murdering the representatives and mailing their ashes to the Vatican out of spite.
From the knife-edge tension in the room, she was far from the only one.
That chapter just kept growing and growing, but I'm pretty satisfied with the result.
Our Familiars are Suu from Daily Life with Monstergirls, and Ruth from Ancient Magus Bride.
The fluff little bringer of misfortune was Kyubey of Madoka Magica, and the 'moon-eating wolf that Rias was so enamored with was a reference to Hati, a great wolf who pursues the moon-chariot in Norse mythology.
The golden-eyed observer that only Tiamat managed to notice is no one at all, and in no way relevant to the story.
Next time, the Church and local Devils will meet peacefully and uneventfully to cordially discuss their mutual issues.
By the way, Kiba's Angelic Howl is a reference to one of the darkest chapters in Fruits of Grisaia. And while the crossover never happened, but definitely should, the weapons form was somewhat inspired by Silent Hill.
Expect a bit more of a wait between this chapter and the next, the doctor tells me that all the cool kids wear wrist braces, also for tendonitis but mostly for style, and it's the Christmas season so I'll probably be a bit tied up. Safe to expect the chapter in the earlier half of January, but I'll publish sooner if I can get away with it.
Hope you enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment if any questions or criticisms come to mind. I always take the time to reply.
PS, the major inspiration behind this chapter title was mostly sarcasm.