Bit of a time skip here, draws thing roughly in line with the canon timeline.
Several weeks had passed since the battle with Kokabiel.
Which also meant that several weeks had passed since Yuuji's first date with Rias, since Yuuji had found himself in a rather active relationship with both Akeno and Rias.
Luckily, their relationship was rumored, but unconfirmed at Kuoh Academy.
A single boy dating not one, but both of Kuoh's Great Onee-sama's might have been considered an apocalyptic event.
Yuuji, at the very least, would have likely never had another peaceful school day for the duration of his high school career.
Though, it wasn't as if Rias or Akeno kept their distance when at school, even if they kept things (barely) appropriate.
So perhaps the reality was that the ability of the average student to bury themselves in denial was formidable indeed.
Which was for the best.
The trio had their own problems to deal with.
Well, Yuuji did anyways.
There had been a brief period of friction between the two girls over sharing Yuuji, but the end result of the 'discussion' had been a very, very self-satisfied Akeno, and a Rias who couldn't meet her eyes (without blushing) for a week.
Yuuji decided not to ask, they seemed to have worked out a schedule that made all three of them happy, so he wouldn't interfere.
Rather, he had gone to someone else for help with his problem.
"Sensei, do you have a little time after class? I had something I wanted to discuss with you."
"After class? Yes, I'll be available, Kazami-kun."
A rather surprised Kalawarner affirmed, making her best effort to keep her smile subdued.
This was the first time Yuuji had asked for, well, anything of the sort, so she was quite pleased.
Admittedly, calling the boy 'Kazami-kun' felt a bit strange to her, but decorum was important.
After all, a teacher/student relationship where they were typically addressed as 'Kala', and 'Yuuji-sama' respectively would have raised many, many questions.
The lessons passed uneventfully, and Asia, Raynare, and Kiba, while a bit concerned, went home without their last classmate as Yuuji waved them on.
Thus, one nylon-clad leg crossed in front of the other as she sat on the edge of her desk, Kalawarner regarded Yuuji carefully as he leaned against the desk in front of her.
"Before we begin, Kazami-kun, may I ask, does this pertain to the curriculum, or is there perhaps a personal matter you wish to address?"
Kalawarner asked, after confirming that they were fully alone (and putting up the magic circle on the ceiling that would continue to encourage that).
"Personal, actually."
"Ah, then go ahead, Yuuji-sama. How may I be of service?"
An immediate shift in tone, as Kalawarner adopted her usual manner of speaking around Yuuji.
Yuuji, despite the offer, remained silent, frowning pensively at nothing in particular.
Kalawarner lifted herself quietly onto her desk, seating herself more comfortably as she waited for her student to speak.
"It's… Akeno and Rias."
"Oh, what about them?"
As Yuuji went silent once more, Kalawarner nudged things along a little.
"I'm well aware that they've recently resolved certain… issues."
Kalawarner began, faint pink dusting her cheeks.
Everyone in the dorm was aware.
Akeno would only smile and titter if asked, and Rias would only offer a feeble whisper of 'Yuuji is rubbing off on her'.
There was not a single resident of the dorm with the courage to inquire further.
"... So then, is there something else that I'm unaware of?"
"It's not them, it's me."
Another long silence, but she didn't really mind.
Yuuji just asking for advice was a huge step as it was, and Kalawarner was deeply honored that it was her he'd gone to.
She'd offer all the time he could possibly need.
"I… I don't know if I can do this."
"Clarify for me, please?"
She knew him well enough that a mere lack of resolve wasn't the issue.
"I…"
Yuuji trailed off with a frustrated sigh, struggling with the words.
Smiling gently, Kalawarner waited for him to continue.
It was important to let him form the thought himself, after all.
"I barely know how to keep myself happy and stable. How am I supposed to maintain a relationship with not one, but two other girls when I can barely maintain myself?"
"That's simple, Yuuji-sama."
A profoundly skeptical look was his response.
The beauty pushed on, unconcerned.
"You can't."
"... I'm supposed to be the pessimist."
"Indeed you are, but that is not the point here."
Kalawarner explained primly, accepting the boy's scowl with indifference.
"The point is, Yuuji-sama, that you are not the one responsible for 'maintaining' any part of your relationship, not alone at least. It's true that the potential for friction might increase as the number of involved people increases, but so to will the number of people who can seek a solution to said friction."
He knew this already, of that she was certain.
Kazami Yuuji was most certainly a pragmatist, one who could view any sort of problem with merciless neutrality.
The only flaw in this detached point of view was the unfortunate reality that the one he would always doubt the most deeply, always judge the most harshly, was himself.
In other words, it was not that his lack of knowledge needed to be corrected, more so that the knowledge needed to be offered from a trusted viewpoint.
"Attempting to do everything on your own will accomplish nothing. With that knowledge in mind, the heart of the matter, I believe, is that you view that as some sort of failure. Thus, a part of you doubts that you're equal to the task at hand."
Yuuji watched her intently, a glimmer of understanding in his gaze.
"Simply put, Yuuji-sama, that part of you needs to know that deciding whether you're 'worthy' or not is no business of yours."
Much to her sorrow, Kalawarner was fully aware that speaking more harshly than she'd prefer was not just something Yuuji could easily handle, but something vital for making her point.
She owed it to him to make the effort, no matter how uncomfortable it made her feel.
No, she owed him far, far more than that.
Yuuji drifted off into yet another long silence, but this time, she sighed an internal sigh of relief at how his demeanor presented this pause as a thoughtful one, rather than troubled.
"Sorry Kala, I think I'm just overthinking things."
She shook her head in gentle denial.
"No, while I think that perhaps you took those thoughts too far this time, I think that having these concerns in the first place speaks well of you."
Yuuji tilted his head in puzzlement.
"That you struggle with these thoughts simple provides evidence of the value you place upon your relationships. I have every confidence that the effort you put in will not go unnoticed, nor will it go unappreciated."
After all, she was certainly noticing.
She knew that she'd succeeded in her task when the tiny smile that crept across his face was not the casual half-smirk he was known for, but something far more rare and far, far more genuine.
That flutter in her heart was coincidence, surely.
"Yeah, okay. I think I needed that."
Unaware of the effect it was having, Kazami Yuuji smiled at the lovely woman before him.
"Thank you, Kalawarner."
"... Any time, Yuuji-sama."
Beyond Yuuji's struggles to come to terms with a practice frowned upon in most human countries, the weeks following the battle had been rather quiet.
Akeno had gotten over the worst of her phantom regression much earlier than expected, at least to the point where a wheelchair was no longer necessary.
Several days after that point, she even managed to convince Rias of that fact.
Spring uniforms were dug out of closets, or in the case of several of the household, fitted and ordered for the first time.
Akeno seemed oddly enamored with Yuuji's 'higher exposure rate' - short sleeves rather than a blazer.
When the Gremory Pawn took it upon himself to point out that this was still less exposure than she experienced on a regular basis, being that they slept naked, he was promptly told to stop being silly.
Though, truthfully Yuuji was a bit grateful that he could still wear short sleeves to begin with. His metal arm would be a bit awkward to explain if it wasn't glamered to feel and appear as if it were still flesh and blood.
Come to think of it, he might have to ask Akeno for a few more of those enchantments later on.
Swim classes would start shortly, as the pool was outdoors, and he'd rather not have to choose between getting exempted from lessons, or coming up with a reasonable excuse for his bullet/knife scars.
Though, at least right now he was among friends, and didn't have to worry.
The swimming pool, despite how well-off Kuoh Academy was, did not, in fact, clean itself.
With that in mind, Rias had volunteered the ORC to take care of the task on the Student Council's behalf, an act of gratitude for their assistance during the attack on Kuoh.
That, and she'd also gotten the promise from Sona that after cleaning said pool, they could enjoy it freely for the day.
Which was probably the more important takeaway there.
The women of the dorm had all gone on a joint shopping trip to purchase swimsuits, and the looks they'd given him upon their return had made Yuuji very, very curious.
So that was the trail of events that led to him scrubbing the bottom of the pool, with a long-handled brush, not too distant from a smiling Kiba and a softly humming Kalawarner.
Their club supervisor wasn't really expected to get her hands dirty with her students, but Kalawarner had a soft spot for mundane tasks such as these.
In fact, she was the one who organized cleaning duties for the dorm, assigning as many as she could feasibly manage to herself, so in the end, no one had the heart to suggest she supervise like she was supposed to.
Yuuji, Kiba, Xenovia and Koneko had been assigned to join her in scrubbing the moss from the floor, while Rias, Akeno, Raynare, Asia, and Ruth were spraying down walls.
Suu was helping too, but being how she was capable of imitating a fire-hose whenever the fancy struck her, she had an entire wall to clean to herself.
She had cheerfully offered to 'make it all clean', but such a thing was sternly forbidden by an affronted Sensei, who viewed it as cheating.
The ORC had a good work ethic across the board, so not a single one of them had given voice to the fact that let alone Suu, at least half of them could complete the chore with a snap of their fingers.
Kalawarner had, however, relented to give Akeno permission to fill the pool itself with magic, as such a task merely took time, rather than effort, to complete in the mundane manner.
The pool was not so large that 11 people couldn't complete it in a timely fashion (regardless of whether said people were supernatural entities), so soon enough, a black-haired Nadeshiko stood poised on the tip of one of the small diving boards, one hand outstretched into the air.
With a sound just like waves crashing against a rocky shore, a deluge of sparkling clean water dumped itself from a sparkling yellow Gremory sigil, in the air above the pool.
Her task done, Akeno strut her way back towards the others as if traversing a catwalk, rather than a diving board, to the playful clapping of her fellows and a teasing catcall from Raynare.
A smiling Akeno, perhaps not ready to give up the runway vibes from earlier, was the first to saunter her way out from the girls change room, a playful swing in her hips and a gorgeous pink and purple bikini gracing her form.
Her chest was contained by slender triangles of fabric that wrapped around from below and reached up towards each other, bound together by a soft silver ring. Attached to the upper curve of the ring, thin strings reached their way up, to be tied together at the back of a pale white neck.
The bikini bottom followed a similar theme, but with an asymmetrical design, a silver ring connecting front and back on one side, while a slender strip of fabric rode high on her left hip.
Her widening smile when he offered his opinion, Yuuji felt, only served to make Akeno appear even more radiant than before.
A chuckle slipped out as Akeno seated herself beside him, eagerly awaiting the next entry with a twinkle in her eye.
"Didn't you already see them?"
"Hush you."
Rias was the next to appear, a confident smile on her face and heavy-lidded, azure eyes smoldering deeply into his own.
Her choice was a dazzling white string bikini, trios of slender golden rings linking the thin strings together.
Her sultry air was replaced by a girlish enthusiasm as Yuuji complimented her, before a hesitant voice drew his attention to the next girl to arrive.
Fidgeting and nervously trying to meet his gaze, Asia stood there in the navy blue of her school swimsuit.
More casual swimsuits had been too high a hurdle for the sheltered little Bishop.
"I changed as well, Y-Yuuji-san… does it look…?"
"Yeah, it suits you Asia. Very cute."
"Hehe~."
Asia's bashful laughter was accompanied with a beaming smile that Yuuji really felt should come with a warning of some kind.
So that he had time to prepare his heart.
From behind her, a slightly red-cheeked Koneko, also in her school swimsuit, had slipped out at some point, regarding him with one eye.
Not wanting to draw attention to the shy Rook, Yuuji simply smiled and gave her a surreptitious thumbs-up.
The red deepened in hue, but the tiny smile that accompanied it suggested his choice had been the correct one.
"Hey Yuuji-kun, how do I look?"
With a playful twirl, Raynare came out next, in a string bikini colored with the deep blue of the ocean.
Whereas Rias wore smooth fabric, Raynare's had a layered, ruffled design on the bikini top.
"Like you're going to slip and fall. Don't spin around by the pool."
"Ah, geez! That's not what I meant Yuuji-kun!"
Raynare puffed out her cheeks in protest.
"By the way, 'Yuuma'."
Yuuji continued with a smirk, as if he hadn't heard.
"You look beautiful."
Eyes widening just a touch, Raynare preened at the praise, swaying her hips as a giddy smile bloomed across her face.
"Having fun, are we?"
Kalawarner asked, smiling fondly as she stood with her weight shifted to one side, and a hand on her hip, a pair of sunglasses resting elegantly on her head.
Kalawarner had dressed herself somewhat more modestly than most of the girls, perhaps due to the fact that she was technically here as a supervising teacher.
That being said, this was Kalawarner. Modesty could only do so much for the most beautiful, and well-endowed, teacher that Kuoh Academy had ever seen.
Her tight, one-piece swimsuit was black with a pair of green racing stripes tracing from the bottom of the suit to the underside of her breasts.
From there, the swimsuit narrowed slightly as it reached up to the high collar, leaving the front of her cleavage fully covered, but a hint of the sides exposed.
In contrast to the high neckline, her swimsuit was backless, and at the bottom, rose high enough on her hips to leave them mostly bare.
When Yuuji met her eyes, she offered a small smile and shook her head gently.
Yuuji decided to acquiesce for now, knowing that she had wanted him to keep silent for propriety's sake, but also fully aware that she enjoyed being complimented on her looks just as much as any girl.
Well, he was good at waiting… and surprise attacks.
Kalawarner's eyes narrowed warily as the boy smirked in response, but in the end she said nothing.
"Yeah, just like that Koneko, keep it up."
Yuuji was currently holding Koneko's hands and slowly walking backwards in the water as she paddled her feet.
Koneko didn't know how to swim, and thus Rias had asked for Yuuji's assistance in the matter.
Asia couldn't swim either, and so some distance away, a gently smiling Raynare offered the same treatment.
"... Sorry for having you help me out, Senpai."
"I don't mind. The one you should really thank is Buchou though, for making her instructions clear."
Koneko stared quizzically at him for a moment before cluing in.
"How did you learn to swim, Senpai?"
"Air and water."
"... You were thrown in?"
"To a lake, yes."
"Ah, well I prefer this way."
"I can imagine."
"... Though I don't think Yuuji-senpai would have thrown me in like that."
"No?"
"No, Senpai is very gentle."
"Is he now? I'd like to meet this guy."
A pair of small smiles were exchanged as Yuuji's back came to rest against the pools edge.
Before he could begin to turn them around for another lap, Koneko interrupted his train of thought with a soft admonishment.
"Grip is a little tight, Senpai."
Her casual tone suggested the powerful Rook wasn't really inconvenienced by that fact.
"Ah, sorry… looks like it's stuck. Mind giving me a hand?"
A small nod in response.
What Koneko was referring to was his metallic right arm, which seemed to be acting up.
As Yuuji released his grip on Koneko's hand with his left hand, he dropped it around her waist as Koneko reached over to the other arm.
Normally, Yuuji would pry his own hand loose, but Koneko was too short to touch the bottom of the pool.
A quick, gentle pull freed the tiny Rook's hand, and Yuuji smoothly transitioned to scoop his arms under her shoulders, Koneko letting out a surprised little 'eep' as Yuuji seated her on the pools edge, before twisting to prop himself up beside her.
"Sorry about that, take a little break and I'll be back in a few, alright?"
"Sure, Senpai."
"You okay, Yuuji-kun?"
Raynare called over her shoulder, closer to the middle of the pool with Asia.
"Yeah, arm's just a little stiff."
Akeno had taken note as well, having slipped off the pool chair she was reclining on, and beginning to make her way over.
Rias had paused on the diving platform she stood on, watching him in concern.
When Akeno reached him, he offered his King a nod before stepping away.
Content the matter was handled, Rias dove beneath the waters surface with barely a ripple.
As usual, she was having too much fun with this.
To be fair though, compared to the robe she liked to wear for the 'ritual', Akeno's swimsuit actually offered better coverage, due to not being transparent.
"Hmm, think I'm good now. Thanks for that, Akeno."
With a contented hum, Akeno let his finger slide from her lips, running her tongue across them while gazing deeply into his eyes.
Offering his other hand, Yuuji pulled her off her knees and to her feet, a motion which Akeno continued until she was sitting on his lap, straddling him and draping her bare arms across his shoulders.
"Mm, thanks for the treat."
"I don't really get the appeal of sucking on a piece of iron, but as long as you're happy?"
"It's the most Yuuji I can have at school without being scolded by Sensei, so I quite like it. And it's something that just you and I can do, so that's a big bonus too."
"Can't Rias do the ritual as well?"
"Mhm, she can, but it's not as efficient that way."
Yuuji cocked an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Has to happen more often if it's her, haven't you noticed?"
Yuuji frowned off to one side, trying to recall.
"*Sigh* no, I suppose you wouldn't. It's not a matter of skill, it's a matter of affinity. Metal conducts electricity, no? By that same logic, Metal is easy to convert into Lightning, just like, for example, Wood absorbs Water. So the high compatibility of our elements provides the best possible results. Rias is a little different, since her Destruction isn't precisely an element."
"When you put it that way, it kind of makes it sound like I'm your own personal lightning rod."
That was the right thing to say, because a set of beautiful violet eyes lit up with excitement and a note of happiness slipped from between smiling lips.
"Ooh… now isn't that a lovely image~. Oh, but it seems that metal isn't the only hard, stiff thing around here."
"You say that, but something tells me you're at least as turned on as I am."
"At least~."
"Down girl. The teacher on duty throws light spears instead of erasers."
"I'll keep my voice down?"
"That's an entirely inappropriate use of fluttering eyelashes."
"Hmm, but I could have sworn I just felt a little twitch."
Yuuji shrugged his shoulders, not even bothering to deny the words of the beautiful girl subtly, slowly grinding on his lap.
Rather, he offered her an inviting smile, and coated the tip of an iron index finger in a thin layer of frost.
Just as a pair of plump, full lips were leaning in to heat things up a little further, Yuuji ran his finger up a length of exposed skin, tracing the soft bumps of a delicate spine.
The shriek that was heard by all brought a smug smirk to Yuuji's face.
Akeno's adorable pouting face was just icing on the cake.
There was a certain irony to be found, he supposed, in the fact that he'd successfully defused a boiling mass of sexual tension, only to end up with a woman moaning underneath him anyways.
Not that Yuuji was intending to complain, because applying suntan lotion was a valid reason for pretty girls to remove their tops, for reasons that wouldn't draw Sensei's ire.
Kalawarner had been a good sport about it too, ignoring the fact that Devils and Fallen Angels were immune to sunburn, in favor of joining the queue.
Yuuji, being well-trained, had naturally included a massage in the process of applying the lotion, and after leaving Akeno and Rias in boneless, blissful heaps one after another, had moved onto his Sensei.
Most of Kalawarner's back was exposed to begin with, while her collar, at the back of the neck was where the swimsuit was fastened, with a trio of subtle clips.
Yuuji appreciated the easy access, in more ways than one.
If asked if he was sorry for what he was about to do, the answer would have been a resounding 'no'.
It really was for a good cause, but he'd be lying if he said the immoral edge of doing 'that' to a teacher didn't appeal to every sadistic bone in his body.
Which were all of them, for the record.
"Hey, Sensei, could I ask you a favor?"
"Hmm…? Go ahead, Kazami-kun."
"Ah, thanks Sensei."
Yuuji knew full well that that was permission to ask, rather than act, but close enough.
"See, after playi- helping with Buchou and Akeno-san, I've noticed that Devils seem to have quite a buildup of tension right around where their wings unfurl. Since Fallen Angels have larger wings in proportion to their bodies, I imagine the problem could be worse. So I need a volunteer to help out with…"
"... Kazami-san?"
Came the hesitant inquiry.
"This."
Yuuji pushed down with both thumbs, just between the shoulder blades.
A slender hand snapped over Kalawarner's mouth to muffle the long, sensual moan that slipped out.
"Ahh~ Y-Yuuji-sama… that… n-not-"
The jolt that coursed through her cut off what she was about to say.
"Sorry Sensei, what was that?"
The muffling hand slipped down from her lips as she twisted her head his direction to glare reproachfully up at him.
That was the plan, at least.
"Huh, yeah, you're really stiff Sensei. Could be bad if we don't get all these knots out."
Yuuji continued on in an even tone that carried not the slightest hint of mercy.
This wasn't exactly a premeditated act.
Yuuji had simply noticed that Rias seemed to have less tension back there than Akeno, and he didn't think the difference was bust size, even if Akeno was bigger by a few centimeters.
That, and the tension in Akeno's back was slightly lopsided.
Her left wing was the one with the feathers, and by Akeno's own admission was heavier than the Devil wing on the right.
Coincidentally, she'd had to work harder than most to master flight.
So he really was serious when he said that the heavier wings of the Fallen Angels were a concern of his.
It's just that his concerns, and his 'mild' sadistic tendencies were entirely separate matters.
The fact that Kalawarner had the sexiest voice out of any woman he knew was also probably irrelevant.
Meanwhile, the quivering woman beneath him had quickly abandoned protests or admonishments in favor of muffling a voice she no longer had any control over.
Truthfully, despite the fact that Yuuji was seated on her lower back, Kalawarner could have easily freed herself had she the presence of mind to do so.
She was a lot stronger than he was, after all, and it wasn't as if he was trying to keep her pinned.
"You know, I can stop if you'd like."
From beneath the hands (she was using both of them now) that covered her mouth, Kalawarner managed to grit out.
"Don't be… mean… Yuuji-sama."
" I see, I see. Well, might as well finish things up."
"W-wait a moment-!"
Slipped out the panicked voice in the instant before Yuuji hit the sweet spot.
At the muffled wail, several heads snapped their direction, and Rias let out a groan of protest as dark wings unfurled and knocked her onto her side.
A bit of drool slipped from between clenched fingers before Kalawarner slumped, panting raggedly as her wings dropped limply to the ground.
"You'll get weird tan-lines if you leave those out."
"*Hah* *Hah* Is that… all you have to say for yourself…?"
"Sorry, might have gone a little too far there. Didn't plan to make your wings pop out."
"You… knew how…?"
"Let's just say I've experimented a little, but maybe not enough."
Kala didn't know about Akeno's half-Fallen heritage, and it wasn't his place to tell.
"To a… teacher…"
"Rest for now, Sensei. I'll be gentle."
After all, leaving a job half-finished wasn't something that Kazami Yuuji did.
He'd just try not to stimulate any more erogenous zones while he finished his job.
That day would mark the first time that Kazami Yuuji began to wonder if he was turning into a playboy.
Akeno and Rias were still sunbathing alongside Kalawarner and Raynare, and with the exception of Kalawarner (for the time being), had dozed off in the warm sun.
Koneko and Asia, worn out from the swimming lessons were sleeping beneath the shade of a parasol.
Koneko was using a chair, Asia was using Suu, the Slime doubling as a water-bed and a cuddle-buddy.
Freed from the valiant struggle that was keeping Suu from distracted from molesting any of the wet, scantily clad women, Ruth, in his human form, was swimming laps in the lane beside Kiba.
Yuuji was sitting some distance away from the sleeping girls, and had been reading a book in the shade.
That was until Xenovia came down to quietly sit beside him.
She'd taken longer than the other girls to change, never having worn anything like the skimpy green and gold bikini currently adorning her athletic form, and had then spent the bulk of her free time swimming laps.
Yuuji had the distinct impression she had something to say, but hadn't the faintest clue as to when she was going to say it.
"Put me in the queue."
"No, even if you say it with such conviction I'm still not going to get it."
"I was just going to take the chance to seduce you while I was wearing my swimsuit, but I think that would cause more problems than it would solve."
Xenovia 'clarified'.
Kalawarner, now fully awake, choked on air and pushed herself upright, forgetting in her surprise that she was still topless.
"Thanks for the treat, Sensei."
Yuuji said, giving her a thumbs up.
A few puzzled seconds later, the Sensei in question slowly turned away, head twisted to conceal reddened cheeks and avoid eye contact, and arms crossed in a largely futile attempt to conceal her assets.
"... Anyways, what was this about a queue?"
Xenovia, who had been observing their antics patiently, nodded once and continued her explanation.
"Akeno has things quite well-planned out, and I feel like messing up the order will make a lot of people angry. I'd prefer to do get things out of the way as soon as possible, but we have plenty of time as Devils so I can afford to wait a month or two."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"No?"
Xenovia tilted her head to one side, looking as confused as he felt.
Crossing one arm under her breasts and resting her chin on the fist of the other, Xenovia sat with a soft frown on her face, silent as she pondered.
"... Oh, that should work."
"I can't wait."
Yuuji grit out, eyebrow twitching.
"I want to have your babies."
Kalawarner, who by now, had recovered both her wits and her modesty, was struck with another inexplicable coughing fit.
"Hah?"
"Yes, I've decided I want to succeed as a woman, since I can no longer succeed as an Exorcist."
"Which means babies."
Yuuji clarified, as the twitching intensified.
Xenovia nodded vigorously, a pleased, almost smug smile on her face, and her arms crossed.
"Yes, and since I want children, it only makes sense to have strong ones, and you're the strongest male Devil I have yet to meet."
"... Your sample size needs work."
A puzzled frown appeared on Xenovia face.
"You think so? I considered looking for a Longinus, but reliability is important as well."
"Your sample size really needs work."
As a much confused Xenovia tried to puzzle out Yuuji's meaning, and the boy in question gripped the bridge of his nose to ward off the headache he felt coming on, Kalawarner cleared her throat, cheeks still a bit rosy.
"I believe, Xenovia-san, that your timing could be better… though I appreciate that you at least showed some level of restraint."
"Thanks, Sensei. I don't suppose you understood what Yuuji was trying to say."
"I think the point was that you might be rushing things a little… And what was that about 'waiting a month or two'?"
"Oh, do you think it will take longer than that? I was trying to estimate based off of the gap between Akeno and Rias forming a relationship with Yuuji. I did try to factor in the possibility of a shorter time frame, assuming no emergencies or obligations rear their heads."
"... I see the logic."
Though it sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Oi."
"Yes, Yuuji?"
Xenovia dutifully turned her attention back to him.
"It's been less than a month since I carried you through town over one shoulder. And now you want to skip straight to the baby-making phase?"
"Ah, so it is too soon. I didn't really expect that, we'll have to give the timeline more thought."
"... Yeah, I've got nothing. Sensei, help me out."
"There are some requests you shouldn't use that title for, Yuuji-sama."
With a tired sigh, Kalawarner shifted into a sitting position on her recliner, crossing one leg over the other.
Xenovia tucked her legs beneath her and twisted around to face the Fallen Angel, sitting seiza on her own recliner.
"Xenovia-san, while I don't find any fault in your choice of partners, I still believe you are rushing things rather excessively. You've been a Devil for less than a month, and I'm sure that there have been more than a few drastic changes to your life, even without taking your former profession into account."
Xenovia conceded the point with a shrug.
"So I would sincerely advise against making any life altering decisions so quickly, especially when you have, with luck on your side, several millennia to make such decisions, rather than the several decades a human woman would remain fertile for."
"Is that how long Devils live?"
Xenovia inquired, Yuuji leaning forward curiously as Kalawarner adopted a lecturing tone with her students.
"No one knows for certain, but it's not unheard of. Do understand, whether Devil, or Fallen, or Angel, there has never been a death from old age. Barring a violent end that I deeply hope neither of you fall victim to, there is simply no way to tell if growing too old is even possible."
"Huh, I never really thought of that."
Yuuji commented, aware that his teacher had shifted to addressing both of them.
"Indeed, and it is not likely to be something you need ever concern you. The point being, that you have ample time to consider what it is you want from your new life. I am not suggesting that each decision you make must be agonized over for years on end, but please, do not try to rush things. It would be all too easy to form regrets that will last you centuries."
As she finished her lesson, Kalawarner's expression grew distant, hazel eyes staring at a faraway vision that only she could see.
The trio sat in silence for a while, each alone with their thoughts.
"Ah, but do not misunderstand. While I do wish you would consider the long term to some degree, there is a certain charm to acting young and impulsive."
Almost as if by coincidence, one of Kalawarner's slender arms crossed underneath her chest, forcing it upwards with an impossible to ignore bounce.
Yuuji wondered if he was supposed to say 'thank you' once more.
"Excuse me, Yuuji-san."
A hesitant little tug on his sleeve accompanied the faint words, in the classroom a few days after their poolside escapades.
"What is it, Asia?"
"Well, if you're not busy, that is…"
Asia squirmed nervously, her head ducked as she peeked towards him.
Raynare, Kalawarner and Xenovia were all watching him, from their respective desks, as if carefully waiting for his answer.
"Breaks almost over, but I can make time if I need to."
Asia shook her head from side to side.
"N-no… it's for after school if you're not busy… could you…?"
"Come with you?"
He guessed.
Asia gave a tiny nod.
"Please. W-we're ready."
Yuuji kept his silence, gazing blankly at her as he waited for her to speak.
"We're ready to… say goodbye."
Nothing more than a timid little whisper.
That was enough.
"I'll go with you then, if you want."
"Please."
He couldn't quite be sure, but Yuuji didn't think Asia's was the only voice asking.
The bell rang, signalling the end of the day, and an increase to the heaviness in the air.
"I'd prefer to walk if that's… okay?"
" I don't mind, Asia."
Kiba, rather than head over towards their desks like normal, gave Yuuji a small nod and an understanding smile, sparing the girls a lingering glance before he rose from his seat and left.
Raynare rose slowly from her seat, stepping over to gently clasp one of Asia's hands, helping the girl stand with a soft smile on her face.
Xenovia stood as well, placing one hand on the little Bishop's shoulder, a small frown in place of her normal blank expression.
The four of them filtered out the classroom, Kalawarner waving them on as she finished arranging the stack of papers on her desk.
Waiting for them at the gate were the other Devils of the ORC, and before any words were exchanged, Rias stepped forward to gently embrace each of them in turn.
When it came to Yuuji's turn, she whispered softly in his ear.
"Take care of them, please."
"Count on me."
Shortly after, Kalawarner joined them at the gate, quietly slipping in beside Raynare.
Due to Kalawarner's position at the school, Rias settled for softly clasping hands with the older woman, her warm smile tinged with a melancholy air.
The Fallen Angel teacher, with a brief nod, offered a subdued smile of her own in return.
While Akeno was following a similar pattern, Yuuji reached out through the Familiar Link.
{ Hey, Ruth. Mind bringing Suu and meeting up with us?}
{"On it. Anything I should be worried about?"}
{ The girls are ready to say goodbye.}
{"Ah… see you soon, then."}
His task done, Yuuji tapped Akeno on the shoulder, allowing the Queen to begin breaking the group hug that had formed.
While the younger girls untangled themselves, Yuuji let his eyes drift to the woman standing stoically off to the side.
Kalawarner nodded once, and away they went, leaving Rias, Akeno, Kiba and Koneko behind.
Idly, Yuuji wondered if a sunny day was supposed to be fitting weather.
Their end destination was an old abandoned church, the one where he and a few others had first encountered Valper Galilei and Kokabiel, what seemed like so long ago.
The building was missing an entire wall, and much of the roof, due to the battle that had followed said encounter, but the inner sanctum was still free of the elements.
Kneeling before the dusty wooden altar were a quartet of beautiful young women, their heads bowed and their hands clasped.
With arms around the little blonde girl near the center, a girl with a translucent blue, gooey form, and a bright yellow raincoat, sat quietly, watery green eyes focussed solely on the girl in her arms, confusion and worry evident in her troubled grimace.
Sitting in guard of the silent women was a dark haired young man, one hand resting on the head of the great black hound seated at his side.
Thank you God, for watching over me. Thank you for bringing me to people who love me, and cherish me.
Thank you for Raynare and Kalawarner. Maybe they're not the kind of Angels You normally send…
But they're more than enough for me.
Thank You for Rias, who gave me a new life.
Thank You for Akeno, who fills the room with happiness, even when she doesn't feel it herself.
Thank You for Kiba, who always has a smile, just for me.
Thank You for Koneko, who always offers comfort, without even a word.
Thank You for Ruth, who chases the sadness away, wherever he finds it.
Thank You for my dear Suu, who even now wraps around me to make everything okay.
And thank you for Yuuji, dear Lord.
Thank you for the one who gave me, gave us a home and never asked for anything in return.
Please, oh Lord.
He doesn't know how to ask… and probably wouldn't if he did.
But please. Watch over him, and help him find the happiness he seeks.
And… thank You for everything.
I don't think I'll ever be ready to move on completely, and I wish more than anything that I could meet You one day…
But, God…
I'll be okay.
A single tear trickled down a pale cheek, and a watery blue cheek pressed up against it.
{ "Asia… Okay?"}
A worried voice rippled gently through her head.
"Yes Suu…"
Came the faint, barely audible whisper, as she lifted her arms to return the embrace.
"I'll be okay."
Most of us never get to see Your face.
Guess we're no different from the humans in the end, huh?
Even still, I miss You, so, so much, even if we never met.
Part of me wishes You were at least around to watch when my wings dyed black, and Home was lost to me forever.
Maybe I just wish You kicked me out Yourself.
… I found a new home now, and a new family.
I've also found...
… Wherever You are, I just wanted You to know.
That I'm sorry.
That I'll be fine without You.
… That I still love You, Father.
A single tear trickled down from a violet eye.
How much of my life was a lie?
How long did I fight for something that didn't even exist anymore?
We were told that only You had the right to judge…
But You were gone long before I ever picked up a sword.
So who did the judging?
Was it the people I followed…
Or is that just the excuse I tell myself?
I don't know, and maybe it doesn't matter.
But I don't blame You.
I still believe in the world You created.
Even if the Heaven You left behind is further from reach than ever.
I'll keep fighting.
I'll find something new to fight for.
I'll find new things to believe in.
But I'll never forget You.
Not even for a second.
I think that…
Maybe, I have a new family now.
… Is that something You'd be proud of, Lord?
Another tear fell.
I don't know what to feel.
Perhaps it doesn't matter.
Perhaps it never did.
I know who I am, I know what I've done.
I failed them, I failed You.
I'll bear the mark of that failure forever.
But…
I found them, Father.
Children who need me.
A family that needs me.
I was rescued, I was saved just when I was ready to give up on everything.
Perhaps the cause was the blood on his hands, but he hardly noticed the blood on mine.
He reached out to someone that no one else would.
Is that how You used to do it?
Is that how they see You?
I suppose I'll never know.
But there's one thing I do know.
I'm home, Father.
And no matter what it takes…
I'll never fail them again.
One more tear fell, and a set of great black wings enveloped kneeling forms and drew them close.
A quiet sniffle prodded against the silence, and soon the silence shattered beneath once buried grief.
Before long, a single, mournful howl bared a grief of its own.
The one who brought them together, and watched over them even now, observed in silence.
Perhaps one day, he'd discover how many of the prayers were for him.
"Akeno-san, Akeno-san."
"Yes, Yuuji-kun?"
"What is Buchou doing?"
"I believe that's referred to as 'worrying'."
"Ah, that explains it. Thank you, Akeno-san."
"Anytime, Yuuji-kun~."
"I can hear you two, you know."
"Ufufu~."
"So Rias, what's got you all worked up?"
Yuuji inquired dutifully, sitting up in bed.
"Classroom visits are tomorrow!"
"... And?"
"Onii-sama's going to be here!"
"Oh yeah, the Sis-con."
"Isn't there- No, no that's probably the important thing to remember, isn't it."
Akeno mused, absent-mindedly rubbing one bare leg against Yuuji's as she laid beside him.
"... Huh. Do you think I should have told JB?"
"You should have, yes, but no one expected you to so I told her weeks ago so she could book the time off."
Akeno patiently explained, while Rias continued to pace and fret.
"Weeks ago?"
"You weren't even out of the hospital."
"That so? Thanks, Akeno."
"You're welcome, Yuuji."
"..."
"..."
"The part of me that wants to tell her to stop pacing is being overruled by the part that's never seen pacing done in the nude."
Yuuji admitted.
"Right!?"
"I can still hear you!"
Rias exclaimed, ceasing her pacing in favor of stomping her foot, unwittingly making the show even better.
Yuuji and Akeno both suppressed twitching hands and the urge to applaud.
"... Rias, calm down. We'll be just fine."
"Calm!? How can I be calm!? I have to keep my stupid Onii-sama from putting recordings of 'Ria-tan's first words' on the PDA!"
… How exactly was he supposed to respond to that?
Akeno lifted herself up to whisper in his ear, just loud enough for Rias to catch.
"Freshman year, first time anyone's had to hypnotize the entire student body."
"They should have hypnotized me too!"
Rias cried out, gripping the side of her head in frustration.
Akeno giggled, and Rias swooped past the bed long enough to grab a pillow to throw at her.
"... A visit from family huh? Sounds kind of nice."
Yuuji mused, neither paying attention to the pillow-fight that ensued, nor realizing that he was musing out loud.
Belatedly, Yuuji tuned back into the world around him to find both women staring at him and shifting about awkwardly.
"What?"
"Oh, fancy meeting you here, Rias."
"O-O-Onii-sama!?"
The members of the ORC had just entered the old school building, and entered the clubroom, only to find a handsome red-haired man who looked remarkably similar to Rias, if a bit older, sitting on one of the couches, with a beautiful silver-haired maid standing behind and off to one side.
Before they'd opened the door, he'd been happily chatting away with the lovely, smiling blonde woman in a suit and skirt combo.
The man in question held out his hand to stop them before they could drop to a knee, and-
"Hi Hi, Yuuji-kun!"
The blonde chirped, waving enthusiastically at Yuuji.
"Oh, hey Grayfia, what are you doing here?"
"-Gah!? Ignored!?"
The blonde slumped in her seat as if dealt a fatal blow.
"Greetings Kazami-sama. Maou-sama wished to meet with your King, and so we've been waiting on your arrival. Pardon the intrusion."
"Oh yeah, Sirzechs is here too."
The man in question chuckled merrily, not at all minding being snubbed.
"I'll seriously cry you know!?"
JB took things a bit worse.
As Rias was still recovering from her own shock, Yuuji slowly turned his head to the pouty blonde and smiled.
"It's good to see you, JB."
"Hmph."
JB puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away, but not quite far enough that Yuuji couldn't see the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"To what may I owe the pleasure, Lucifer-sama?"
Rias asked coldly, arms folded as the rest of the group trickled past her, Akeno and Asia detouring towards the side-kitchen.
"Ah, Ria-tan is mad at me. What should I do, Grayfia?"
"Call ahead before you visit?"
"But her surprised face is so cute."
Sirzechs protested, as if Grayfia was being unreasonable.
Rias stomped her foot angrily, her cold veneer discarded in favor of acting her age. With a huff, she strode across the room and took a seat, arms crossed in irritation.
"Classroom visits are tomorrow, so I thought it would be wise to touch bases and confirm the schedule. Also, doing it in person allows me to skip paperwork."
Calmly, Grayfia shifted so that she was standing directly behind him, and began to tug harshly on both of Lucifer's cheeks, her eyes closed in a silent display of irritation.
"Ouch Ouch! N-no it was a joke, I mean I wanted to visit early! The paperwork is done!"
The room winced as the Satan's cheeks were released with an audible snap.
Grayfia smiled primly, as if she was unaware of what had just occurred. With expert timing, Akeno appeared then with Asia at her side, serving tea from silver trays.
"Ah, thank you Akeno-chan."
Sirzechs accepted the tea with an easy smile, the redness on his cheeks rapidly fading.
"But hang on! You're a Maou! You can't spend so much time on a single Devil, even if she is your sister!"
Rias exclaimed, sounding just a little desperate.
"Actually, my business here is the business of the Underworld. The classroom visits just happen to make things easier. Father doesn't have that excuse, but then again, he doesn't need it."
"Otou-sama as well? And what's this about Underworld business?"
"We're considering the school as the location for the peace conference."
"... Peace conference?"
Someone asked.
"Yes, between the three Biblical factions. This place is one of the more high profile locations for our factions now, after all. Not one, but two siblings of the ruling Satans, Fallen Angels attending and even teaching peacefully among them, along with the wielder of the Holy Sword Durandal. This place, furthermore was the site of the event that served as the final wake-up call."
"Kokabiel…"
Rias muttered, a blue eyes taking on a glacial chill.
"Indeed, if he had succeeded in his insanity, the result would have been a war that likely none of us would survive. Even for those lucky enough to do so, we are far from the only power with an interest in the human world, or the Underworld for that matter. We can no longer afford to keep old grievances between us."
The room went quiet, pondering the implications.
Yuuji, for his part, allowed his gaze to fall on the only pair of Fallen Angels in the room.
Yeah, peace was probably better.
"With that in mind, I intend to inspect the location ahead of time, as well as gain the cooperation of the overseers responsible. I'll be consulting with Miss Sitri as well. I also wished to meet some of the new additions face to face, if it's not too much trouble?"
Sirzechs swept his gaze across Raynare, Kalawarner, and Xenovia in turn.
"Yes, to think that the wielder of the Holy Sword Durandal had found a place among my sister's peerage. In any case, it is a pleasure to meet you, Xenovia Quarta."
"Lucifer, is it? Never thought I'd meet a Satan on friendly terms."
Blunt as always, Xenovia still managed to look faintly disbelieving of the words slipping from her own mouth.
"Understandable. Truthfully, I doubted my eyes when I first read the report."
"It doesn't quite feel real yet, belonging to the side that I've been killing until now. Sometimes I wonder if I made the choice to become a Devil too soon, and sometimes I don't even know why I made it. Even for me, it was quite the bold and impulsive mood. Maybe I was desperate?"
Deep in thought, the rest of the room already forgotten, Xenovia crossed her arms, staring at the floor.
Privately, Yuuji considered marking this day down on the calendar, as serious introspection from the headstrong Knight seemed noteworthy in and of itself.
"Well, whatever your reason may be, I'll be relying on you to keep Rias safe."
"Yes, of course. I won't go back on my word."
"That's more than enough then. Thank you."
Sirzechs smiled then, the resemblance between him and Rias stronger than ever.
Xenovia averted her gaze with flushed cheeks.
"Ah, and Kalawarner-san, was it? I've heard nothing but good things about your tenure here, is the position to your liking?"
Kalawarner straightened, nodding politely in agreement.
"Certainly, Maou-sama. My time here has been most fulfilling."
"Wonderful. I look forward to hearing more of the same, then."
Sirzechs adopted a more formal tone than he had used previously, his aloof smile lending a regal air to his words.
"And Raynare-san, how are you enjoying life as a student?"
Raynare froze in place like a frightened rabbit at being addressed, but as Kalawarner slipped a hand into her and squeezed it in reassurance, she shook her head as if to clear it, smiling ruefully.
"Hehe, sorry. Yeah, it's super fun, I'm really happy!"
"Haha, that's wonderful. Truly, I'm glad for you both."
"Thanks!"
Raynare chirped, a sunny smile on her face.
Beside her, Kalawarner let out a small, relieved sigh.
"Well, I imagine I've kept you all long enough for now, I look forward to catching up to everyone later. With that out of the way… Rias?"
"Y-yes?"
Rias asked, a little startled.
"I was wondering if we could impose upon you for a night, Rias. You have spare rooms in the dorm, do you not? Grayfia has been anxious to inspect things and ensure they're up to standards."
"Hehe no fear of that."
Raynare chuckled under her breath, Kalawarner's stoic demeanor adopting a smug edge.
"Yeah, and it's a long drive so I decided to come the night before as well. Thanks for filling me in, Akeno-chan!"
JB chimed in, Akeno nodding politely in response.
Rias, for her part, looked faintly horrified.
"O-Onii-sama spending the night? I don't think that's a-"
"Oh, that's a wonderful idea, is Grayfia-san staying too!?"
Akeno cut her King off, a delighted (and mischievous) smile on her face.
"If it's not too much trouble."
Grayfia requested, a small smile blooming on her lips.
"Then it's settled!"
Akeno and Sirzechs said at the same time, winking at each other.
"Yep! Got space for me too?"
JB asked.
"Indeed, there are several rooms available. Take your pick, Harudera-san."
Kalawarner offered, taking over in her role as dorm supervisor with a knowing smile.
Rias slumped in her seat, dazedly muttering something about 'mutiny'.
"You'll be rooming with Yuuji-kun then I take it, Harudera-san? Mind if I borrow him for a bit beforehand?"
Sirzechs spoke up, directing his gaze towards JB.
"Sure, sure, you go ahead, Lucifer-san."
JB said with a casual wave of her hand.
"Perfect!"
Sirzechs exclaimed, clapping his hands together.
"I'll be borrowing Yuuji-kun then, if he doesn't mind?"
"Sure, why not."
Yuuji replied, ignoring the betrayed looks that Kuoh's Great Onee-sama's shot him as they realized they'd be Yuuji-deprived.
"Excellent, I've been meaning to speak with you, so this will be a good opportunity. We'll be borrowing him for the night then, Rias, Akeno."
"I'll stay in the young mistress's room then, will you be joining us, Akeno-san?"
"Sure will~."
Easily mollified, Akeno's sunny smile was accompanied by an odd twinkle of the eye.
"I feel like I've lost control of my life."
Rias gave a tired sigh that carried a faintly bewildered edge to it.
"Lucifer."
Koneko, as if it explained everything.
To be fair, it probably did.
Softly, gently, Asia put the final nail in the coffin, offering a guileless, soothing smile and a comforting pat on her master's shoulder.
"Umu, sleeping on a futon seems fun. I'm looking forward to this."
Sirzechs smiled happily as he unrolled the futon, opting not to use the spare bed furnishing the unlived-in dorm room.
"Hehe, Rias didn't even tell me about the classroom visits, she gets easily embarrassed that way. On top of being my Queen, though Grayfia manages the schedule of the Gremory Household, so we all knew well in advance."
"Yeah, Rias was a little panicked. The face she makes when she's pouting really is the best."
"You're a man of discerning tastes, Yuuji-kun."
"Lucked out on my end though. Akeno passed things on to JB a while back."
"Oh, is Yuuji-kun the easily embarrassed sort as well?"
Sirzechs asked with a sly smile on his lips, though his sharp gaze suggested his motive for asking was more than simple whimsy.
"No, no. Just didn't quite make the connection."
"That classroom visits might be something that 'involved you', I presume?"
Sirzechs asked carefully.
"Something like that."
"I see, I see. Harudera-san was rather excited to be attending, so make sure to put your best foot forward, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Now, if you don't mind I'll excuse myself, I don't often get a chance to visit the members of Rias' peerage either."
"Don't let me keep you then." Yuuji turned on his heel and headed towards the door.
"Have a good night then, Yuuji-kun... ah, wait a moment please."
Yuuji stopped and turned back with one eyebrow raised.
"I never did thank you, did I? Thank you, Kazami Yuuji, for bringing my sister and her family home once again."
"I don't think I did that much... you're welcome, I guess?"
Realizing the surprised Satan wasn't liable to add anything else, Yuuji took his leave.
"Haha... nothing much, says the man who crippled a Cadre. What an interesting you man you've found, Sister."
When he entered his room, Yuuji found JB seated in the chair that went with his study desk, blazer removed and one largely bare leg crossed over the other.
"All done consorting with Satan?"
The blonde asked, smiling teasingly.
"For now, I suppose."
A smirk of his own naturally slid in place.
"..."
"I did change the sheets, if that's what you're wondering."
"I… I was definitely wondering that, yes."
Nodding wisely, Yuuji wandered over to the edge of his bed, laying across it with his feet still on the floor.
A comfortable silence fell, JB kicking one leg absentmindedly as Yuuji stared at his ceiling.
"I'll have to send Akeno something nice."
"She likes sex toys and herbal tea. Not necessarily in that order."
"I'm not sending your girlfriend a sex toy."
"She prefers green, by the way."
"... I'll keep that in mind."
"Sorry, by the way."
JB went silent, waiting for him to clarify at his own pace.
"I probably should have realized that would be important… I'll do better."
"No, I shouldn't have really expected you to. As long as you understand."
"Yeah, I'll definitely tell you the next time something like classroom visits roll around… if Akeno doesn't beat me to it."
JB giggled.
"She's really too good for you, isn't she?"
"Not a clue what she sees in me. Might just be after my body."
"Obviously."
Came the sarcastic drawl.
"Or my skills in bed."
Yuuji grinned to himself as JB choked on her next quip, mentally drawing himself a point on the scoreboard.
"Is it working?"
JB asked abruptly.
"... Working?"
"Dating two girls."
"Apparently. I don't get it myself."
"Do you have feelings for both of them?"
"Yes."
No hesitation. JB nodded to herself, partially pleased and partially…
" I can smell that awkward silence, JB."
"...Why does that sound normal when you say it!?"
Yuuji didn't respond.
Out of sight, JB let her head drift towards the ceiling, drawing into herself as her blue eyes grew distant.
After a moment, she took a long, quiet breath and regained her composure, a well-practiced smile pasted on her beautiful face.
Yeah, no need for that.
Yuuji was happy, he didn't need-
"Stop beating around the bush, idiot."
-He was sitting up, and glaring at her in annoyance.
"Whatever do you mean, Yuuji-kun?"
Came the cheerful, fragile singsong.
Yuuji gave a firm nod, and rose from his seat.
Confused, JB watched as he went over to the door-
... And locked it.
"Worried about burglars?"
"A Devil can soundproof a room with a wave of their hand."
"Sounds useful?"
JB responded, somewhat nervously, as Yuuji traced a glowing symbol in the air that merged with the door.
It took him at least twice the time it would have taken almost anyone else in the peerage, but the result was satisfactory.
"H-hey, Yuuji-kun?"
JB called out to his back.
"Hmm?"
"What are you-"
JB cut herself off with a little squeak as Yuuji whirled suddenly, striding towards her and-
Leaning forward, trapping her with his hands on the armrests of her chair.
Silently, he stared at her, endless black boring into ocean blue as if he was trying to steal the light from her eyes.
Try as she might, JB couldn't look away, the pretty blonde growing more and more flustered as her ward continued to stare.
"Yuuji I-"
"It's okay, JB."
Her jaw snapped shut.
"I still need you, you know. And maybe this is just me being selfish, but I kinda hope you still need me too, Julia."
JB flinched back, a motion rendered entirely unsuccessful due to the position they were in.
"...Jerk."
Finally, she managed to pull her gaze away, squirming uncomfortably as rooms heat made her cheeks burn.
Yeah, she'd go with that.
"I know. Sorry, Julia."
Woodenly, awkwardly, Yuuji looped his arms around her shoulders and haltingly pulled her in close.
JB lifted her own arms and tightened the embrace.
.
.
.
"My shirt's getting wet. Strange."
"Shut up, you jerk… let me have this."
"Sure, sure."
Yuuji allowed, gently rubbing the quivering back beneath his hand.
"Take as long as you need, Julia."
"So… what does this mean?"
Julia asked, without any preamble.
"That I need to change my shirt."
Came the flippant reply.
JB released her grip on his back in order to slam a fist into his ribs.
"Oi."
"Quiet hellspawn, I know you can take it."
"You should probably clarify, or I'll just keep teasing you."
"I was trying to avoid this, you know. When a woman resolves herself, the proper response is not to drag answers out of her."
"I'll remember that."
He would also ignore that, but he imagined JB knew him well enough to guess that.
"So, what are we, what am I to you now?"
JB murmured against his chest, giving up entirely on being subtle.
"My best friend/big sister/mom/handler/sex slave?"
"What was that last one!?"
"Ah, I forgot."
"THAT JUST WORRIES ME MORE!"
JB exclaimed, pushing Yuuji to arms length.
"Don't sweat the small stuff JB, you'll get grey hairs."
"Every single one of those will be your fault."
"You're welcome."
"... That wasn't a compliment."
"I like to look on the bright side."
JB's jaw fell open in utter, total disbelief.
He wasn't sure who that first snicker came from, but it was enough to break that last little edge of tension, and soon they were both laughing helplessly.
"Hehe... ahaha… Yuuji- pfft- bright side- hehe..."
JB gave up trying to speak, and just continued to laugh.
Eventually, they recovered, JB wiping tears from her eyes as she gasped for air.
"... Are they really going to be okay with that?"
"Yeah, they knew what they were getting into. Oh, and you should be careful in the future."
"Explain."
"Ah, it's nothing major."
Yuuji waved his hand dismissively.
"I just think it's fair for you to warn you that Akeno is bisexual and really, really likes to experiment."
"..."
"And she thinks your hot."
"I'm flattered, but… whose harem is it again?"
"Akeno's? Possibly co-owned, but I'm not really sure?"
Yuuji's tone suggested he had no clue what she was asking.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
JB let out a long sigh.
"Everything will work out probably maybe."
"... This is the part when you're supposed to be decisive, you know."
"Oops."
Whatever she was going to say was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Yuuji-kun, you still awake?"
Came the tentative call, muffled slightly by the wooden barrier.
Yuuji turned back to JB with one eyebrow raised.
Smiling softly, the blonde lifted one hand in a gentle shooing gesture.
With a nod, Yuuji made his way over to the door and found Akeno, with an almost conservative violet nightgown (that she'd probably never worn before tonight) and slightly damp hair.
"Hope I'm not interrupting, just wanted to say goodnight. Rias is just drying her hair, so she should be along soon."
"Nah, we're good."
Akeno leaned around Yuuji, smiling politely at JB, who offered a cheerful wave in response.
"We left you a towel set in the bathroom, Yuria-san. It's the yellow set."
"Thanks a bunch, Akeno-chan~."
"Oh yeah, that reminds me."
Yuuji interjected, looking back over his shoulder with a smirk that instantly wiped the smile from JB's face.
"Akeno."
He turned back, regarding the beauty in the hallway with an air of utmost gravity.
"Yes, Yuuji-kun?"
Akeno enquired, smiling sweetly as she tilted her head to one side.
"I just wanted you to know-"
"Yuuji don't you dare-!"
Came the panicked voice from behind him.
"JB thinks you're sexy."
A vision of elegance swept its way through the ruin and wreckage, breathtaking violet eyes weeping gently across the destruction that stretched out in every direction.
Short flaxen-hair that shone softly even in the dim light graced the head of the impossible beauty, clad only in a soft white dress and delicate slippers.
A smooth, slender white hand drifted into the air, the picture of indifference as she lightly caught the stray projectile that hurtled towards her face, never stopping her gliding steps towards the heart of the carnage.
Curiously, the beauty spread the object with both hands, regarding it with gently pursed lips.
Quite tasteful, but no, the color would clash with her eyes.
Dismissively, she discarded the offending article into a pile at her side and continued on, reaching her destination.
Patiently, she drew to a halt, the soft cloth adorning her fluttering to rest with nary a whisper.
Watching with keen interest and a mysterious smile, she waited patiently for the raging beast before her to take notice of her presence, listening carefully to it's call.
"Gah, no that's too casual- Is it supposed to formal!? Ahh, what if I overdress!?... No, no way that's way too conservative! I'll look boring and Shirone will hate me! Nyaa this is so frustrating!"
Unable to stop herself, Venelana Gremory covered her mouth with one hand and giggled.
Kuroka screamed and leapt away with catlike grace, flinging clothing in every direction.
"Nyaaaa! Gremory-san you scared me!"
"Ufufu, my apologies, Kuroka-san. You were being so adorable I just couldn't help myself."
Kuroka flushed, one black-furred ear flicking bashfully as the Gremory matriarch calmly regarded the recently-purchased clothes flung carelessly in every direction.
"Having a bit of trouble deciding what to wear?"
Venelana asked mildly.
"Y-yeah… I d-don't go to things like this…"
Ever.
"I finally might get to see Shirone face-to-face and I can't even figure out how to dress without embarrassing her. I'm a failure of a big sister."
"I'll hear none of that, Kuroka-san."
Venelana stated firmly, the motherly sort of tone that made anyone stand up a little straighter.
"You would have suffered a lot less if you really were a failure of a big sister. Perhaps it's time you gave your sister a chance to judge for herself?"
Kuroka flinched and wilted under her stern tone, tails limply draggig on the floor.
"M-maybe… I'm just…"
"I understand, but fretting about it now will only make things more difficult."
Venelana relented, smiling encouragingly.
"Now come over here and let me have a look at you. It's well past time that darling Koneko see how beautiful her big sister is."
Slowly, hesitantly, like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, a smile began to creep its way across Kuroka's face.
With a determined stride, the lovely young Nekoshou approached Venelana.
She had to look her best for Shirone, after all.
Had intended to make it to the classroom visits, but certain things took longer than initially intended. Mostly the fanservice