We made it, just barely- two updates this month.
This one gets… trippy.
It was two days before Rias was discharged and allowed to return home, meaning that her 'summer flu' forced her to entirely miss the second week of school.
Sheltering everyone within her Garden of Ruin may have saved the lives of the entire group, but it had left her body so deprived of mana that, even though she could move around normally at a glance, the reality was anything but.
Aside from lacking the magical power to light a candle, Rias had been reduced to roughly the same physical ability of a healthy human girl of her age… which didn't sound so bad until one factored in that she'd been on par with an athletic adult male when she was five.
The end result was a strange state of affairs where Rias was left feeling completely helpless, yet suffering little to no inconvenience in her day to day life.
… And not allowed out of anyone's sight for more than a few minutes, even if that hadn't been explicitly stated.
On one hand, it showed just how much of a scare she'd given them, which stung, but on the other hand, Rias was feeling incredibly spoiled by all the extra affection and attention she was getting.
And everyone was alive.
Those she cherished were alive to scold and spoil and fuss over her.
That was more than enough, and no amount of pain could make her feel otherwise.
If they were fine, then so was she.
Razor blade arms tipped in razor blade fingers caught Yuuji, pulling him to pieces… but Yuuji had to keep moving.
"I really am okay," Yuuji admitted softly. "I'm not saying I was okay, but it's true now."
Perched on his back, Yuuji ripped out Yuuji's throat with his fingers, and he kept moving.
"Power like that must come at some price, though." she countered. "Please believe me when I say I'm not accusing you of lying, but…"
The shock of Yuuji pulling his leg out of its socket was too much for Yuuji, and he kept moving.
"-But even if you're fine now, will that stay true?"
Yuuji smashed the sword from his hands, and after he used the one in his own hands to smash Yuuji's skull in, he kept moving.
"... Yeah, I'm not just putting it off for later," Yuuji assured them. "Apparently, my compatibility with the Ghoul is pretty good-" he felt Lamb's unvoiced disapproval, but he was already shaking his head to correct himself. "No, not good, ridiculous was the word that came up the most. None of them can remember a better fit for the Ghoul than me."
Pierced again and again, Yuuji screamed. Left to bleed out on the floor, Yuuji went on to slice off all four of Yuuji's limbs, and then he kept moving.
"... I'm not really sure if that's reassuring, if I'm being honest."
Piece by piece, Yuuji tore Yuuji apart, laughing as he painted the walls with his soon to be dead body. When he was satisfied with his work, Yuuji left Yuuji on the ground to die, because he needed to keep moving.
"The Ghoul's not so bad once you get to know it." Yuuji shrugged. "It's just a little clumsy at times." Violence was the only question it knew how to ask, and the only answer it knew how to give.
Yuuji stood his ground and gave Yuuji the best fight of his life. It wasn't enough, and so he left Yuuji's corpse smeared across the floor as he kept moving.
They'd kind of just gravitated closer and closer, as if they could snuggle and comfort the answers out of him. It was nice… yeah, it was nice.
Yuuji trapped Yuuji in a metal cage of sins and grudges, but even that wasn't enough to keep him from moving.
"... Please, Yuuji." … Looking at him like that wasn't fair.
Even when his blood and bones were as much a part of the walls as his jailors were, Yuuji kept moving.
"It hurt, but that's all it did." He confessed. "I don't know how to say it in a way that will satisfy you, but… pain fades."
The white light burned and blinded until there was nothing of Yuuji left, and even then, Yuuji kept moving.
"... Okay… if you're sure. But please… if you are suffering, please don't keep it a secret."
Drenched and drowning in rust and blood, Yuuji dragged along his broken body with his broken fingers, back to the place he was meant to be. No matter how agonising it was, no matter how it threatened to drive him insane, Yuuji kept moving.
It was just pain.
And when he reached his destination, then, and only then, did Yuuji stop moving.
If they were fine, then so was he.
It was just the older members, including their newest addition, left in the room when Yuuji quietly excused himself. Gasper and Koneko were in his old room with Suu (who had recovered long before Rias).
… Yuuji hadn't been lying to them, she suspected, and he hadn't quite been trying to spare their feelings… leading Rias to believe that he had carefully shared what he knew of circumstances he had yet to fully process.
At least it was a start, even if not an entirely satisfying one.
And so in the bittersweet silence that settled in Yuuji's wake, Rias let her gaze drift, and it soon settled upon her newest and final Piece. Even though Rias didn't know her all that well, yet, it was quite obvious that she was wrestling with something, her icy blue eyes distant and clouded as the ghost of a frown lingered on her well-featured face.
"... Rossweisse?" Rias called gently. "Rossweisse, is something wrong?"
There was a flicker of recognition, but her Valkyrie did not turn her head.
"It's strange…" Rossweisse spoke as if no one else was in the room. "He carries the dead with him, with every step, and yet they don't weigh him down at all."
"I heard what sounded like a silver lining, but I take it that that's not the case?"
"... No," Rossweisse turned to look at her for the first time, shaking her head with a rueful smile. "Forgive me, Buchou, it's not that anything is wrong, per say… it's just strange."
"Strange how?" Raynare prompted, the Valkyrie's gaze turning her way.
"He's carrying so many of the dead with him, and yet… I could swear his steps are lighter than I remember?" Rossweisse admitted, tilting her head and tapping a finger to her chin.
As the words settled in, Raynare took a moment to admire further proof that Yuuji had great taste in women, the latest bit of evidence squirming in her seat as the Fallen Angel's look of appraisal changed in a way she couldn't understand.
Eventually though, all eyes turned one way, as it often did when Yuuji was the topic.
The subject in question (who had shuffled in her seat to take up the warm patch Yuuji had left, as if it were only natural), had her arms crossed beneath her bust and her legs crossed, one foot absently bouncing in the air.
And then, like the sun from behind the rain clouds, Akeno began to smile.
And then, Akeno began to giggle.
Before anyone thought to question, the Gremory Queen rose from her seat and strode across the room with clear purpose.
"A-Akeno-s-s-san!?" The exclamation was cut short as the one making it found their face buried in Akeno's bosom.
Her reason for standing was to practically pounce on Rossweisse, it seemed.
"Ufufu~ … Ufufu~!" Akeno laughed delightedly. "Ufufu~ oh you clever girl, you!" Ehehe~!"
"... I'm both immensely curious and immensely hesitant to have my curiosity indulged," Rias admitted, looking a little disturbed.
"Also, I'm pretty sure Ro-chan needs to breathe," Musashi chimed in.
Rossweisse gasped as her face was suddenly freed from the fleshy ocean she had been drowning in, cheeks burning and senses reeling as a beaming Akeno instead took her cheeks in both hands, just as if she was about to-
"Hmm? No, I guess I shouldn't." She had in fact been about to kiss the Valkyrie senseless, but she wasn't certain if Yuuji had done that yet and didn't want to steal a march.
That didn't mean she was going to release Rossweisse though… The way she could feel her cheeks slowly heating up beneath her palms was too cute to pass up on.
Instead, warm violet eyes met cool blue, and Akeno's smile softened, even as gratitude seemed to further illuminate the radiant beauty of the Gremory Queen.
"That was the missing piece I couldn't quite figure out," Akeno admitted gently, her words mainly for Rossweisse but her voice just loud enough to be heard by all. "Yuuji needs to feel like he's being useful to someone. We may have managed to… soften the requirements, let's say," he'd accepted on some level that just being a part of their lives was 'useful', "but that remains a part of him, and likely always will. So don't you see?"
Akeno turned her head this way and that, meeting the curious gazes of everyone else.
"... He's finally figured out that apparently, the dead need him, too. It wouldn't be so easily accepted by anyone else, I suppose, but for Yuuji it just means that, even if we end up far apart…"
They finally could make sense of what had made Akeno so giddy- a deep, almost effervescent sense of relief.
"-It just means that, no matter what, Yuuji will never be alone again."
It did not, could not understand.
Its task was done.
It had risen from its slumber and done its duty… it had achieved its mission, and yet…
"Hey, are you really satisfied with just that?"
And yet the Ghoul dreamed through his eyes.
The Ghoul dreamed of a warm, vast sky of a colour it had never learned the name for, and of a peace that was not death.
The Ghoul dreamed the strange dreams he shared with it, and cherished every single one.
She had naturally insisted there was no rush, but her new Master had had little interest in waiting, and had been cleared to conduct the ritual (small though it was) in short order.
When reincarnating an individual into a Devil's Peerage, the King's current condition was not taken into account- only the current size of their 'container' so to speak.
Rossweisse had read somewhere that it was a safety feature of sorts, allowing Devil's to conduct reincarnations in states of emergency, allowing battlefield reincarnation for an immediate boost to fighting forces, for example.
And thus, the same day Rias was released from the hospital, she had gone ahead with reincarnating Rossweisse as her second Rook- her final Evil Piece.
Rossweisse supposed that she should have felt a little ashamed for falling to the temptations of the Devil in under an hour (she'd still been sitting on the trolley Yuuji had rolled her in on), but Rias Gremory had read her heart and mind like it was an open book, and said all the right words.
Bewitching phrases such as 'paid vacations' had rolled off the Devil's tongue, and a once proud Valkyrie had sold her soul in a heartbeat.
And second thoughts were given no chance to linger- being familiar with the stories of how affectionately servants were looked upon by their Gremory master's was one thing, almost immediately finding herself as evidence to the claim was another.
It was as if the moment the Rook Piece sunk into her breast, Rias had claimed her as family.
… She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so welcome, and even if Rias and the rest of her peerage were very patient and gentle about the whole thing, it was still more than a little overwhelming.
In the best possible sense of the word.
To make it even better… or so she thought, but what was she supposed to do!?
Rossweisse had found herself with a perfect inroad to her first crush… except that if she messed up, she could sour a relationship that would last for centuries!
If Yuuji rejected her, or even if by some miracle she did have her feelings returned, he then later dumped her for any number of possible reasons, it wasn't as if they could go their separate ways!
… She was such a fool, what was she supposed to-
"Huh, so you're one of those girls who can make a grumpy face look classy, good to know."
Rossweisse straightened up abruptly, going rigid at the amused little quip.
Woodenly, she turned her head to find one of the Fallen Angels, Raynare, leaning with one elbow on the railing not even a few feet away from her, watching her with a tiny little grin.
"H-h-h-h-!?"
"How long have I been here?" Raynare guessed, her grin widening as Rossweisse gave a jerky little nod. "Since about the point where you started talking out loud."
She had been talking out loud!?
"Hehe~" Raynare shifted herself, leaning more comfortably on the rooftop railing and looking out over the city, giving the flustered Valkyrie a chance to regain her wits.
Eventually, Rossweisse managed that, adopting her habitual, somewhat formal posture with her back straight and her hands clasped in front.
"W-was there something I could help you with, Raynare-san?" She tried.
A violet eye flicked her way briefly.
"Hmm~ nope." Was the lackadaisical reply. "I do wanna talk and get to know you better, but as for the reason I'm up here right now, well…"
Raynare gave a little hum.
"Buchou is already bragging about how well-learned you are, so… would it make sense if I told you my former Sphere was Love?"
It did- what the Fallen meant was that she was a former Angel of Love, meaning that she retained an uncanny sense for certain 'emotions', and while they shifted more towards Lust when they Fell, the Angel would still retain a keen sense for the presence of strong… romantic…
… Rossweisse offered no verbal answer, but the way her bangs covered her side profile, as she ducked her head, didn't do a very good job of concealing the hot pink burning its way across her snow white cheeks.
Raynare inhaled through her nose, not trusting herself to open her mouth even the slightest bit.
It just wasn't fair when a cool beauty like that started acting all demure and stuff, it made it hard to remember that her purpose there wasn't just to tease Rossweisse.
"It's nice that I can skip explaining, so I guess I'll just go straight to asking- have you talked to Yuuji-kun yet?"
"A-about what?" Rossweisse hedged, trying not to fidget.
Raynare turned her head to look at her fully, and just stared at Rossweisse for a long moment.
"... No." Rossweisse murmured ashamedly.
"Didn't think so," Raynare said, nodding as she relaxed her gaze. "You probably have your reasons, but I'm just going to tell you straight out that Yuuji is much less complicated than you think he is."
"... What do you mean?"
"I mean that if you sort out your feelings and honestly confront Yuuji-kun with them, everything will turn out okay." Raynare said bluntly.
She didn't really believe it, if she was being honest, but the words Rossweisse actually spoke aloud were "I already know what my... Is… is it really that simple?"
"Really really." Raynare said. "You can spend days or weeks agonising over this if you want, but he's gonna make up his mind and commit in an instant and the longer you wait the more you're gonna wanna scream about it later."
"... Are you speaking from experience?"
"Nah I cried a whole bunch instead- musta gone through pounds of Kleenex."
"... I'm sorry?" Rossweisse offered on reflex.
"Don't be." Raynare shook her head with a lopsided grin. "I'm happy now, so I can only shake my head at all the time I spent waiting. And I mean, if you're worried about there already being multiple girls in Yuuji's life, well…"
Raynare trailed off with a coy smile.
"Hmmm~ nope, I'm not gonna spoil the surprise."
Rossweisse wasn't sure what to feel about that, but one thing she was sure about…
It was Raynare's turn to go rigid as Rossweisse turned to face her with a warm smile.
"Your teasing aside, my thoughts do feel much clearer now after having spoken with you, Raynare-san. Thank you, truly."
Rossweisse wasn't entirely sure why the until-then relaxed Raynare left so quickly after that- the Fallen Angel was muttering something about 'cool beauties' being unfair that she didn't really understand.
Nevertheless, it had… helped.
She was well aware of her own tendency to overthink things, and…
She had missed enough opportunities.
"Y-Yuuji-san, may I have a moment of your time?" A fidgety Rossweisse asked him, rather formally.
"That's convenient, I actually had something I wanted to ask you too."
"O-oh? Then go ahead, mine is not u-urgent so you may as well start, if you'd like?" Yuuji recognized that as more pleading than politeness.
"I guess you're going to need some time to settle in since there's been a lot of changes for you"- she'd changed species and professions (she was going to be their new Civics teacher), "but after that, save me a date."
"Of course, of course I would be happy to," Rossweisse answered politely.
Yuuji didn't give a reply, and for good reason.
There was a moment of silence, followed by another, and another, and then Rossweisse flushed very, very red as the implications of his words set in.
"D-d-date!?" She stammered, pointing at herself. "M-m-me?"
"That was the reason I asked you, yeah." Yuuji blankly admitted.
"D-do you… do you really want to? You're not just saying that, are you?"
"Someone has low self-esteem, don't they?"
"F-forgive me, it's just… y-you see?" Rossweisse floundered.
Much like Raynare, earlier that day, Yuuji said nothing, and just stared at her.
"I-it's just they're… you know?"
"'They' who?"
"The other girls!" Rossweisse blurted out.
"The ones I'm dating?"
"Yes! Them!"
"What about them?"
"They're gorgeous!"
"True."
"And I'm-!"
"Someone who doesn't own a mirror, apparently."
"... Eh?
"... In case you forgot, the first words I said to you were 'you're beautiful'." Yuuji pointed out.
When Rossweisse flushed and tried to turn her head away, Yuuji didn't let her, gently cupping her cheek and turning her gaze back to meet his.
Like a mouse trapped by the gaze of a serpent, the Valkyrie froze.
"Don't overthink it. I have more than enough reason to want to get to know a girl better when she's attractive, smart, reliable and fun to bully."
Blunt! He was t-t-t-too blunt!
"… No wait, what was that last one?"
"Not important," Yuuji cut her off. "The point is, I'm interested in you because what little time we've spent together has me looking for a reason to spend more time with you, and so I'm asking you out on a date."
Rossweisse didn't say anything in return, pulling away the hand clasping her cheek and gently wrapping both of hers around it as she looked away.
Yuuji kept his silence, letting her sort her feelings out.
"O-okay," she murmured, barely audible. "T-truth is, I was looking for an excuse as well, so…"
Rossweisse met his gaze with an embarrassed, but warm smile.
"So I'll look forward to our date, Yuuji."
Though she was still a little worried about Rias-nee-san, overall, the school week had treated Koneko pretty well.
It was nice for things to be getting back to normal, peace was the best.
A sleepy grin with big eyes nearly shut bloomed across her face as her Nee-sama woke her up with a gentle word and a kiss on the forehead, though she still gave a little grumble as the warm blankets were rolled aside.
Rolling out of bed with a big yawn, after sharing a hug, Koneko obediently let her big sister lead her into the attached bathroom, cat ears drooping as she sat herself on the stool.
Having not quite convinced her eyes to open fully, Koneko sat quietly on the chair, listening to her sister hum a gentle tune as Kuroka ran the brush through her silver locks.
After several slow blinks, Koneko opened her eyes fully as it belatedly clicked in that her Nee-sama was in her bedroom, helping her get ready for school.
Kuroka's reflection in the mirror was smirking at her, but those familiar golden eyes were tender.
"Good morning to you too, Shirone~"
In the bathroom mirror, the white-haired reflection began to smile too.
Kuroka hadn't quite arrived solely for the purpose of getting to wake up her adorable little sister- she'd been properly escorted to the human world by Grayfia.
They'd kept it a surprise for Koneko, but after Kuroka and Rias both had distinguished themselves against the Khaos Brigade in the last big conflict, Sirzechs had taken advantage to finally push through something they'd been working towards behind the scenes, since before the summer.
Rias was now qualified to act as Kuroka's parole officer- meaning that Kuroka was naturally 'forced' to move to Kuoh.
… They'd secretly snuck all of Kuroka's things into her new room during the night, when Koneko was asleep.
It was a big responsibility for Rias (allegedly), thus, for the first six months, both she and Kuroka would require weekly check-ins with a senior Devil.
… Sirzechs had shamelessly assigned Grayfia to that role.
While it was a bit much to call it good fortune on their part, the fact of the matter was that Kuroka's crimes (proven or otherwise) were completely overshadowed by the looming threat to all three factions that the Khaos Brigade represented.
Proving her to be an asset was enough for anyone who mattered to look the other way, and by the time the dust had settled, it would be too late for any serious action against her to gain traction.
With good behaviour, good sponsors and a little luck, Kuroka was expected to be pardoned before the year was out.
Which gave Kuroka the leeway to enjoy the dream-come-true that was living with Shirone, and her crush, as well as other fun little opportunities, such as…
"Nervous? I promise I'll be gentle."
"I'm not nervous… precisely."
"Oh, well that's good, cuz I'm only after your body."
"... Is that supposed to be reassuring?"
"When the one saying it is as cute as me? Of course it is, nya~"
It was true that 'nervous' wasn't precisely the emotion she was feeling, and it wasn't as if Rias felt any shame about having her body on display in an intimate setting.
… It was just that it was an intimate setting, with a woman she didn't know that well, who was going to be rubbing her own soon-to-naked and noticeably fantastic body against her own.
… One who had no qualms about admitting how keen her interest in Rias' body was (which was flattering), but had that same glint in her eyes that she would see in Yuuji's or Akeno's…
It was very flattering.
… Extremely flattering.
… Ah, perhaps she was just feeling uncomfortable because the temperature in the room was a bit too high, but Kuroka seemed rather comfortable, so she supposed she would just bear with it…
"Take off your robe, and lay down on your stomach, Rias." Kuroka said softly but firmly, and Rias was halfway through completing the instructions before it really registered that they'd been given.
And then the soothing but heady scent of incense filled the air as Kuroka began soundlessly making her way around the room, lighting the small burners she'd positioned at each of the four corners, one by one.
"You'll acclimate better for your first time, with gradual exposure like this," the Nekoshou answered the unspoken question, a faint smirk on her lips.
Oh… oh…
Rias took advantage of the pillow to hide her burning cheeks.
Kuroka's mildly suggestive words had caused her thoughts to flickered back to the two people in her life that she loved rather… intimately… as the pieces fell into place.
Kuroka was pressing many of the same buttons, even though the Nekoshou had yet to touch her.
Oh Maou, she really was a-!
Koneko was in the dining room, keeping Yuuji and Akeno company as Yuuji helped Akeno prepare dinner.
Her fur stood up on end as without warning, the air shifted, and something about their little smiles turned… dangerous, even if they themselves didn't seem to notice.
Quite suddenly, Koneko felt like she was the mouse, rather than the cat.
"S-senpais are scary."
"Hm? What was that Koneko-chan? Ara ara, you seem rather pale, are you alright?"
While her opinion didn't actually change, Koneko did relax a bit when Akeno-nee-san decided to feed her.
The irony of the situation was steadfastly ignored.
Rias found control of her body slowly but steadily being wrested from her as Kuroka's smooth hands roamed, teasing away tension she hadn't even been aware of.
"Usually, I'd start by opening up your meridians," Kuroka was explaining in a low, hypnotic purr, "but you're a Pure Blood Devil, so we can skip that, even if what's flowing is Demonic Power and not Qi. So mostly, this is just getting you accustomed to my touch- works better if your guard is lowered for me."
That made sense, typically the mana in one's body would repel foreign elements-
"The rest is just extra service."
Rias couldn't help but wonder who the extra service was for.
"Nyahaha~" that was the only warning she received before the masseuse got to work on her glute muscles.
Being clinical about it helped keep Rias from embarrassing herself.
Unfortunately for Rias, Kuroka had been looking forward to Rias embarrassing herself.
A smooth back arched as Rias let out a throaty moan, and Kuroka gave her butt another squeeze, watching with keen interest as those beautiful curves resisted the press of her fingers with surprising firmness.
"Don't you think you're enjoying this a little too much?" Rias complained shakily, throwing a look over her shoulder that came across as more pouty than scolding.
"It's not my fault you're a work of art, nyaa," Kuroka refuted calmly.
"And besides, we haven't even gotten started on the front." As she said that, Kuroka reached out, and blue eyes widened as Rias abruptly found herself flipped onto her back.
Rias blushed and covered herself reflexively, the colour of her cheeks darkening as Kuroka, who had been standing beside the bed, abruptly got on top of it, swinging one leg over to straddle Rias.
Kuroka pressed a single finger down onto Rias's stomach, and for a moment, the only motion was the heaving of the redhead's bosom, her breath coming in heavy from between parted, glossy lips.
"But we'll stop the massage there, nyaa," Kuroka said gently. "I think you're plenty used to my touch, and if we keep going, neither of us are going to stop."
The way she said it left no room to argue.
"Fun as playtime has been, a cat can never have too many naps, and you haven't been getting enough rest, have you?"
"... I can't complain." Rias denied, her expression giving nothing away.
"But you probably should." Kuroka retorted. "And the best healing happens when you sleep."
Rias wasn't aware of what Kuroka did next… perhaps she had grown a little too relaxed.
Her eyelids felt so very heavy, too heavy to keep open.
Eyes closed and consciousness fading, Rias felt herself being rolled onto her side and a soft warmth moulding against her back, slender arms coiling around her waist-
Kuroka gave a little sigh of relief as she settled in more comfortably against Rias, feeling an odd, warm sense of intimacy as their heartbeats and breathing synchronised, as if there was only one rhythm in all the world.
Nuzzling her face into that crimson river of hair, Kuroka let her own eyes fall shut as she too drifted away.
Rias woke up feeling… fluffy, was the first word that came to mind.
Still weak and aching, but…
In a way that felt proper.
Like she'd really gone all out the day before, and was feeling the sort of lingering soreness that echoed the efforts she'd put in.
She also felt like it was time to get up- she hadn't quite shaken off the pervasive restlessness that had been another constant companion the past few days.
Rias suspected it was something to do with the powerlessness she had been feeling, both practical and metaphorical. It was objectively true that no matter how hard she pushed herself, she was, at the moment, simply capable of much, much less than normal.
There was no sense in dwelling on it, though- she could already tell that Kuroka's Senjutsu had done its trick.
It was the second noticeable 'improvement' of sorts.
The first was discovering that there was one form of 'duty' she could still adequately perform.
… Which was her duty of being a good lover.
… Well, Yuuji had done most of the work, and she may have passed out, but she could tell he was satisfied so it still counted!
He'd been less gentle than she expected, but he'd known what she didn't- his unrepentant comment of 'isn't that what you wanted?' had been accurate, even if she hadn't been aware of it beforehand.
… Speaking of attractive things, Kuroka really was clinging to her rather firmly, wasn't she?
Rias wanted to get up, but also felt it would be a little ungrateful to rouse Kuroka in the process.
In the end, it took her a solid fifteen minutes to extricate herself from Kuroka's admittedly pleasant embrace without waking the catgirl.
Quietly slipping on her robe, Rias carefully approached the bed once more, and leaned over, planting a soft kiss on Kuroka's cheek in lieu of a verbal display of gratitude.
Slipping from the room in silence, Rias failed to notice that the place where her lips had touched was slowly beginning to warm and redden.
Privately, Rias was forced to conclude that she was feeling a rather self-absorbed sort of gratitude, at the moment.
Fully dressed once more, she had made her way up out of the basement (the massage parlour was on the first level of said basement) and almost immediately bumped into Asia, who clearly needed someone to talk to.
So it was a rather selfish thought, but it was nice to know that she might still be able to be of some use, whether as a King or a friend.
And so the two of them were sitting on Asia's little-used bed in her bedroom, and Asia was fidgeting and trying to get her thoughts in order.
"There's no rush, Asia." Rias gently reassured her. "You can take as long as you need, and if you decided you don't want to talk now, that's alright as well, understood?"
"Mhm… uhm…" The fidgeting died down a little, at least. "I-it's… it's about… him."
Something about the way she said it immediately alerted Rias to the fact that the 'him' being referred to was not a pleasant one, which left only one answer.
"Diodora, right?" Rias offered carefully, eyes narrowing minutely as Asia gave a little wince.
"Then before you say anything more, I want you to understand that no matter what it is, no one else needs to hear, and no matter what it is, I won't think any less of you."
That flicker of uncertainty had business being there, and so Rias reached out and took both of Asia's hands, pulling them into her lap as blue eyes locked firmly onto green.
"... O-okay… s-sorry, Rias-o-onee-sama i-it's not… well," Asia squirmed restlessly. "Um, it's me I'm doubting and n-not you, if that makes sense?"
Too much sense, but what Rias said instead with a tender smile was "I understand Asia, there's no need to apologise."
After a moment, Asia gave a shy little nod, and Rias offered another smile in return, soothingly rubbing her thumbs across the back of Asia's small hands.
"I-I… um… 'him' I… I wanted…"
Asia took a deep breath.
"I think I wanted to kill him."
Asia's words were completely unexpected.
… As was the reply Rias gave.
It took a single glance for Kalawarner to break out into a fond smile- whatever it was that had happened must have been something truly special.
"Kala-san~!"
Asia's smile was radiant.
"Oh my~" upon catching sight of the Fallen Angel, the delightedly smiling blonde took her by the hands, spinning the two of them around in an impromptu little dance.
"Well, isn't someone happy?" Kalawarner beamed down at her. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to share what has put you in such a lovely mood?"
"Rias really is a Devil, isn't she?" Asia declared joyfully.
Kalawarner missed a step in their dance, but her dear student only giggled.
"Y-yes?"
… Well, if Asia was happy then it must be fine?
Spoken aloud at last, Asia's confession hung heavily in the air.
… Which was why she was more than a little baffled by how the first thing Rias did in response was sigh in relief.
Her body language freed of tension, Rias went to say something, and then stopped with her mouth still open as she noticed the look Asia was giving her.
"... I think I owe you an apology, Asia," Rias said, taking her turn to fidget awkwardly, "I… I understand that this is bothering you and I'll do anything I possibly can to help, but… I don't really understand what the problem is?"
"W-what do you mean!? Did… didn't you hear what I said?" Asia exclaimed, before reining in her volume with a wince as Rias flushed guiltily.
"Yes, but… and it's not as if I don't understand and appreciate how gentle you are, but… he was your enemy, wasn't he?" Rias said hesitantly, as if she was being asked to point out the obvious but didn't understand why.
"..."
She had never really thought of it, but… but that was true, wasn't it?
Diodora Astaroth was the absolute enemy of Asia Argento.
"... Yes… yes, he was." Asia whispered.
Rias was silent as she watched the revelation sink in, and then she sighed softly.
"Asia, I understand that the differences likely aren't as great as imagined, but you do remember that I'm a Devil, right?"
"Y-yes?"
"From the beginning, I mean," Rias clarified. "I've never been anything but a Devil."
"... Uhuh?"
"Asia, the idea of killing an enemy is completely normal to me. Enemies are something you're meant to destroy." Rias said firmly. "'Mercy' is for an enemy who's more satisfying to leave alive, or, in the case where the affection you have for the one who has wronged you, outweighs the wrong they've done you."
Asia stared with wide eyes.
"Ask any Pure-blooded… no, any naturally-born Devil, and that's what they'd tell you, in one form of another. That is the normal way for us to think."
Rias offered an apologetic smile.
"I don't mean to scare you, Asia, I just want you to understand that though I'm trying my best, it's hard for me to understand where you're coming from." Rias explained. "I truly love how kind and gentle you are, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I believe I just assumed that you'd just never really acknowledged anyone as an 'enemy' yet?"
Devils believed that names carried weight, and 'enemy' was no exception.
After all, it wasn't necessary to consciously label someone as an enemy to fight against them. To start with, Asia's method of fighting was to support the ones who did so in more direct fashion.
"I-I see… um, I'm sorry to put you on the spot like that, then," Asia apologised, more than a little overwhelmed by it all.
The grip on her hands tightened briefly, bringing her focus back to her ruefully smiling King.
"Forgive me for making this more complicated when all I should be doing is helping you." She said, "but I think the intention is important. Diodora was your enemy, and you felt like you wanted to kill him, yes?"
Asia nodded, ashamed.
"... But you didn't?"
"... Huh?"
"You had him at your mercy, Asia." Rias pointed out. "You're the one who struck him down," Rias gave her a pointed look when she wilted, "but you deliberately did so in a non-lethal manner. You took the perfect opportunity to defeat Diodora, and yet barely left a bruise when you did."
"U-um I guess?" Kalawarner had made a point to inform Asia that she hadn't spilled even a drop of Diodora's blood.
"When I made the decision to have him killed, no one would have begrudged you the right to do the deed yourself, had you been firm," though they might have talked her out of actually doing the deed, "and yet the thought never crossed your mind, did it?"
"W-well no, but I…" it was true that when Rias had made that decision, doing it herself hadn't occurred to Asia, but…
"Asia, I would never have let Diodora leave alive." Rias declared in a tone that brooked no argument. "It is true that I did not do the deed," and that Asia wasn't blaming anyone else went without saying, "but even had no one else had stepped forward, I would not have spared him even if you begged me."
That part was a lie, naturally.
Rias was fully aware that she would have caved immediately if her cute Asia insisted.
And her darling Bishop knew, it too- her hand still occupied, Asia whipped her head away in a futile attempt to muffle her little giggle.
Rias let out a brief chuckle of her own, not minding in the least if Asia's mood improved a little, even if it was at her expense.
"But do you see the point I'm trying to make? Your actions outweighed your desire, however brief it may have been- you wanted your enemy dead, but when you had the opportunity, you stayed your hand. Why was that? It wasn't fear, maybe of him, or maybe of getting your hands dirty, was it?"
"... No." She had been afraid of Diodora, but… Asia knew exactly when her fear had burned away.
"No," Rias repeated as if it was only obvious. "And when it was time to end his life, why did you turn away?"
"I… I just didn't want anything more to do with him."
"And that's what I mean, Asia." Rias slipped her hands from Asia's and dropped them onto her shoulders instead, gripping firmly but not unkindly, as if she was trapping Asia in place for her next words.
"You did not spare your enemy out of weakness, Asia." The Devil declared. "You spared him because you were strong enough to choose."
"S-strong? M-me?"
"Ufufu~ you're the only one who ever doubted that, Asia." Rias snickered mischievously. "There's more to strength than just being able to win fights, you know? That's something that every intelligent Devil agrees on too, even if we prioritise certain types of power over others."
"I-I see?"
"But," Asia stiffened as the air turned solemn once more, "never forget that I am your King, Asia Argento." Rias commanded.
Asia let out a little squeak as Rias suddenly and fiercely embraced her, dangerous words drifting into her hearing like embers on the wind.
"Make no mistake- if there ever comes a time in your life when you would raise your hand against your enemy from a place of weakness, I will stop you." So the Devil declared.
Asia couldn't even manage a nod, her hands frozen woodenly in mid-hug.
"And then I'll kill them myself for putting my sweet Asia in that position, teehee~"
"T-teehee?"
"Did you already forget, Asia?" A sweetly smiling Rias pulled away just enough so their eyes could meet.
"I am a Devil."
The bath had a few new bodies in it, which made everything more fun somehow.
The bath was huge anyways, so it wasn't as if they lacked space.
… Well, that and Rias had a newfound appreciation for being in the company of gorgeous, naked women.
She hadn't been aware that corrupting a Devil was possible, but Akeno had made it possible, it would seem.
"Y-yes, we planned our date for next month," Rossweisse was saying, ripples spreading as she squirmed in her seat. "A month from today to be precise, which should give me enough time to settle into my new job, and Yuuji had also brought up that he had a few other commitments to take care of."
It was a near thing, but she managed to keep her gaze from giving away those 'other commitments', who happened to be sitting side-by-side in the bath.
"Ufufu~ having something to look forward to should make that first month easier, I bet," Akeno said. "Good for you, Rossweisse-san."
"It will also be nice to have another teacher in our ranks," Kalawarner added in. "I can't always sneak away to join the others during lunch, so I'd appreciate the company if that's acceptable for you?"
"I would have asked if you didn't," Rossweisse admitted with a smile. "I'd welcome the chance to get to know my fellow Sensei better, and I was looking forward to having a friendly face among my fellow faculty."
""Less reason to skip lunch breaks too."" Rias and Raynare both said, directing a knowing look towards Rossweisse and Kalawarner respectively.
It took them a second to make sense of why their words echoed, but when they did, they met each other's eyes with a snicker.
Being outed for their workaholic tendencies had the positive effect of already starting the two women off on growing solidarity, which soon became three because Grayfia knew she was just as bad.
"Mhm, progress is good, so only a matter of time," Akeno said quietly to herself.
With three exceptions, everyone in the room was Yuuji's woman, or soon to be.
Though, speaking of the one who wasn't…
The target of Akeno's mischievous little smirk realised the implications too late, and flushed red as the dark-haired beauty sidled up to her, draping her arms around bare, damp shoulders.
"So, Musashi-chan~" Akeno cooed. "You've gone on a few dates with Yuuto-kun now, so when are you going to take the next step, hmm~"
Musashi was a step slow on catching her meaning, and so Akeno leaned in further and whispered it in her ear.
In detail.
Akeno took responsibility for Musashi passing out in the tub, naturally.
… By dumping the supple and athletic body of his girlfriend in Kiba's lap while said girlfriend was clad in nothing but a towel, but it still counted.
Then she managed to make it back down just in time for her next target.
He supposed it was only a matter of time.
Yuuji wasn't avoiding her or anything like that, because doing that would be stupid, but…
There was no denying the fact that he'd wronged Asia, and felt guilty for it.
And he wasn't really that good at hiding new emotions.
So it was only a matter of time before she noticed, and he didn't expect that she'd simply ignore it, but…
Asia had asked to speak with him, had led him to her room, and was currently hugging him around the waist.
She'd just gotten out of the bath, too, so her body was a degree or two warmer, and the lingering, subtly floral scent of shampoo still clung to her.
"I'm very sorry, Yuuji-san," Asia murmured quietly, the side of her head resting against his chest. "But if it's something I can help you with, please tell me."
Caught, huh?
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Asia," he replied, wrapping his arms around her slim body in return. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad, it's just a bit complicated."
How were you supposed to apologise for a topic better left unspoken?
"Is it about something that happened, back in the temple?"
"Why did that come to mind?"
"Yuuji-san is very gentle, so I thought that maybe you were trying to be considerate about something, and that's the only thing I could think of."
"The problem is that I'm the exact opposite of gentle."
"... You're gentle to us… to me, though," Asia said, shifting to look up at him with her big green eyes. "I know it's not always true, but it's true when it counts."
"Is that so?"
"Mm," Asia nodded. "I know what happened while I was… elsewhere, but… were you worried about what I would think? I-I know I'm not very good with stuff like that, but I know you don't do stuff like that without a reason, you know… killing people?"
She was aware that Shalba Beelzebub and his entire peerage had died at Yuuji's hands, and it wasn't as if she liked that fact, but it wasn't as if she'd judge Yuuji for it.
Sometimes bad people needed to die, and so the thing she disliked most was that it had once more fallen upon Yuuji to do the deed.
She'd much rather he didn't have to fight anyone, much less kill them.
"... Even if I used you as an excuse to do it?"
Asia froze.
"... Eh?"
"I still don't really get why you have so much faith in me, but truth is, I was looking for an excuse to snap." Yuuji explained in that toneless way of his. "It was going to happen sooner or later, but… that 'safety' of mine was restraining something that couldn't be kept contained forever, it seems."
Yuuji and the Ghoul had been of one mind.
Let simmering rage boil over and explode.
Awaken the slumbering malice, and set it free.
Yuuji had not thrown himself into battle.
Yuuji had embraced the blood-soaked catharsis of the massacre.
And. It. Felt. Great.
That was why he didn't know how to apologise to Asia- he regretted dragging her into it, but he didn't regret a single one of the terrible things he'd done.
Because both Yuuji and the Ghoul were monsters, and that was why they got along so well.
… If Asia was being honest, Yuuji's grin was a little scary, though she suspected that he didn't know he was wearing it.
She had meant it when she said Yuuji was very gentle, but… and she would never admit it…
Asia was also aware that Yuuji could be a very bad person at times, too.
She didn't think he was an evil person, and it broke her heart a little to know that he probably didn't agree, but the fact of the matter was, Yuuji had grown to suit a life he had never asked for.
Kazami Yuuji was an assassin, a killer, and she…
"... Hmmm, so what?"
And she didn't care at all.
Yuuji stricken speechless was such a rare and adorable sight that, even if it was a little mean of her, Asia couldn't help but laugh.
… And while she didn't laugh, she did feel just a little smug about what happened next.
It was always his eyes keeping hers prisoner, instead of the other way around.
"You needed that, didn't you?" Asia whispered, a question that wasn't really a question. "You're always holding back, always afraid of what will happen if you let your self-control slip, aren't you?"
Questions usually needed answers, after all.
"If you need an excuse to let go, then I'll be your excuse as many times as you need." Asia promised. "Because I trust you, even if you don't trust yourself."
"... Asia… I…"
"Shh… it's okay," Asia said. "And if you need me to forgive you, then I'll do that too… as many times as you need."
She ended her oath with the warmest, most sincere smile that she could muster, and was rewarded with getting to watch a little bit of his darkness fade away.
"... Okay. I won't apologise anymore, then." Yuuji said eventually.
"Instead I'll say, thank you, Asia."
"Mm!" Asai felt her heart soar in her breast as Yuuji finally smiled back.
His real smile, the furtive, awkward expression that always gave the impression that it never quite knew when to make an appearance.
Asia let herself get lost briefly in those dark eyes that reminded her of dusk- a time for the sun to rest in safety.
She wasn't entirely sure which one of them had moved, or it was both, but the distance between them seemed to shrink.
A happy sigh was muffled as their lips met.
It was a gentle kiss, at first.
… And it quickly became apparent that it just wasn't enough for either of them.
One kiss crashed into the back of another, and tripped over the deeper kiss that was to follow.
A slim, lovely shape trembled as tongues tangled.
When they broke for air, Asia was gasping, and it had more to do with a depleted supply of air.
Even though there was no distance between their bodies at all, Asia tried her best to press even more of herself against Yuuji, as if they could do away with the boundary between one person and the other entirely.
"Don't you want to do more?" The words were spoken in a raspy, alluring voice that she couldn't recognize at all, her vision strangely misty as she gazed up at the man she loved.
"It's going to be hard for me to stop if we keep going," Yuuji admitted.
Stop?
… Stop?
Why should he stop, when she wanted him to…
Asia had always appreciated how Yuuji was careful with her.
… But sometimes she wished he was a little less careful, and, after the rollercoaster of emotions the day had been, a surge of unreasonable feelings left her feeling angry at him for it.
Yuuji quirked an eyebrow, passion cooling somewhat as Asia puffed out her soft, flushed cheeks, her body quivering in his arms once again, though he imagined the reason was a little different.
"You know Yuuji-san, you've been nothing but kind to me," it sounded like an accusation, somehow. "But you should also know that I-!"
Asia's skin went from 'flushed' to 'burning' in an instant.
"That I-!" She tried again, to similar results.
"That you…?" Yuuji tried prompting.
It worked, and the words she'd failed to say tore from her lips in one mighty outburst, giving voice to the phrase Akeno had told her to say but that she had never expected to have the courage to speak aloud.
"That I get horny too!"
Any and all movement in the room utterly ceased.
Moments of mortified silence turned into minutes, and a tremor shook their joined bodies.
… Asia was not the source.
When she found her voice again, her embarrassed wails were drowned out by laughter that the entire dormitory could hear.
Completely out of breath, Yuuji was lying on the floor, grinning up at the ceiling as the aftershocks of his chuckling faded.
Asia had chosen the bed.
… And was huddled in the corner of it against the wall, wrapped in a blanket and sulking, occasionally shooting reproachful glances at the man on the floor, who couldn't see them because the bed was blocking his low line of sight.
Sitting up and letting out one final 'heh', Yuuji turned his head to find Asia glaring cutely at him.
"Hmph, Yuuji-san is mean."
"And Asia-chan is cute."
"Hmph!" Asia averted her gaze.
… That was a mistake.
Despite the fact that she should have felt the mattress move, when Asia turned her head back to peer at Yuuji, he was on the bed with her, his face inches from her.
Asia jerked back a little, and Yuuji followed the motion, planting a quick kiss on her lips.
Asia reddened, and Yuuji did it again, leaning and putting his arms on the wall by either side of her head, trapping her between his body and the wall.
"Do you really think you can kiss it better?"
"Yes."
"Well you're right."
So Asia said, but she was the next one to initiate a kiss.
"But I'm serious, Yuuji-san," Asia said between kisses. "I want to do more… I want you to touch me more."
Yuuji looked into her eyes for a long moment, and then a hint of a smile appeared as he sat back.
"Then let's get this blanket out of the way, yes?"
"Mm." The blanket fell around her hips.
"Go sit on the edge of the bed, both feet on the floor." Yuuji commanded softly.
Cheeks flushed, Asia obeyed.
When she was in place, Yuuji slid in behind her, hugging her gently from behind and framing her legs with his.
Asia squirmed a bit, rubbing her body against Yuuji more by accident than intent.
She'd changed into her thin, but modest white nightie before meeting with Yuuji, and much of her dainty white legs were bare.
Naturally, Yuuji took advantage, and Asia shivered as a cool, calloused hand settled onto her exposed thigh and slowly slid upwards, the palm of the hand making the hem of her nightie slowly peel back.
And then he switched hands, and did the same with the other leg, exposing more of her without truly 'exposing' anything.
"The way to make someone feel good vary from person to person," Yuuji explained in a low voice, tickling her ear with hot breath, "but something that I find always remains true-"
Asia felt what she could only describe as a 'warm bolt of lightning' racing up her spine as Yuuji ever so gently nipped her ear.
"Setting the mood is important."
Yuuji's hands began to drift, one moving while the other would rest wherever it stopped.
She had expected he would touch her breasts or her… that he would touch somewhere more intimate, but Yuuji defied her expectations, and somehow, Asia could tell without looking that he was enjoying every moment of it.
Her legs, her arms, her sides and her stomach, those big hands slid slowly as if to map her body out.
He was definitely teasing her, but it was a different kind of teasing.
It felt… like it was just between the two of them, like it was something that only Yuuji could do, and only to her.
That must have been why the heat of his touch lingered so strongly, that even when she let her eyes drift shut, Asia knew exactly where his hands had been.
It felt like she was melting, like Yuuji was melting her.
It felt perfect.
"Lean to your left." Asia obeyed the quiet command without really registering the words, and felt an arm hook up beneath her left, wrapping around to gently clasp her chin.
Asia's eyes opened as her head was turned to the right, and the moment she did, Yuuji kissed her.
Deeply, with a measured sort of fierceness that denied her any control without feeling overwhelming.
A muffled moan echoed through their joined mouths as Asia discovered that, mysteriously, Yuuji's other hand had found itself inside her clothing, the thin garment hiked up past her belly button, where Yuuji's hand was pressed.
The kiss intensified, and Asia was distracted until his hand moved once more- this time, with fingers trapped between the waistband of her panties and her bare skin.
Vaguely, Asia was left wondering why it felt like her underwear was… sticking to her, somehow.
Finger tips slid lower, and lower…
Yuuji broke the kiss, and smirked as his finger curled.
Asia found Heaven in a way she never would have imagined.
And so the Devil kissed her again.
He could feel the heat of her cheek against his chest- Kiba doubted he was in any better of a state.
"Didn't you say they use magic to, y'know, keep the noise down!?" Came a thoroughly embarrassed hiss.
"They must have forgotten," he murmured back awkwardly.
The next thing he knew, Musashi was on all fours, straddling him.
"I've never… y'know!" The furiously blushing swordmaiden whispered, steely blue eyes swimming.
Kiba went to reply, but didn't get the chance as Musashi rushed on.
"But we're going to make out." She informed him.
"Aggressively."
Well, it wasn't like he had planned to argue.
Asia felt the strange urge to giggle.
Everything felt… fluffy.
But a gooey kind of fluffy, like a melted marshmallow.
Savouring the feeling, Asia leaned back against the sturdy frame holding her secure, giving a tiny, blissful little sigh.
Then, without warning, Asia exploded into motion, twisting around in Yuuji's arms so that she was facing him, one knee on the bed and her other foot still on the floor.
With no words to say, Asia settled for kissing, and then kept going because making out with Yuuji didn't involve 'settling' for anything.
… She really loved the feeling of his arms around her waist.
They fell back onto the bed, and then it was Yuuji who decided on 'sudden' motion, and Asia was left staring up at him as he leaned over her, his mouth set in a neutral line but his eyes glimmering darkly with joy.
"How do you feel?" He asked, but already knew.
She still managed to surprise him though, when she answered with a single word and a cute little grin.
"Naughty."
"Sure sounded like it." Yuuji replied without missing a beat.
Asia flung her arms up, linking her fingers around the back of his neck.
"Don't you want to hear those sounds again?"
"Well, now that you mention it…"
A hand found its way beneath her skirt once more, resting gently on the slim, but pronounced curve of her hip.
"Asia."
"Y-yes?" There was something different and serious about his tone.
"I know how you think about yourself, in comparison to the others."
Asia winced, but the way his dark eyes raked up and down, as if exposing every inch of her, brought back that fluffy sense of heat with a vengeance.
"You're not going to believe that by the end of the night."
Yuuji set out to prove it, the moment he had Asia out of her clothes.
And done.
It's true I have a general rule about writing the first sex scene for a character in detail, but… it just didn't feel right with Asia.
So I didn't.
Even still, Asia featured rather heavily in this chapter- her first experience with malice, of genuinely desiring the ruin of another living thing. Rias tried her very best to be sympathetic, but…
She really is a Devil, you know?
Despite that, there's much less trouble in Paradise than one might expect- the Ghoul carries a bitter, bitter price for its power, but the price is paid upfront.
It may have been disorienting to read, so let me make this clear- for every kill made by Yuuji's hands while he wore the mask of the Ghoul, he was both the victor and the victim.
Every death he caused, he got to experience as if it were his own.
And yet, to Yuuji…
It was just pain.
He hid many details, but told no word of a lie.
Because sometimes, when something shatters, it takes on a new and recognizable shape, even if entirely by coincidence.