Hello everyone, I hope you're all well. It has been a while but this is faster than I would have guessed. The biggest reason why I took so long was due to the chapters that I have posted in the last few months. Anniversaries and all. But well, I am glad that I got so much support.
I also had a lot going on in the last few months like my job and all. Dad got sick, we stayed home and I got a few awesome concerts, especially in the months of December and January.
As for the numbers, I have 60 reviews. That is 12 more since last time.
With 449 followers, we are up at 90 more. I'm happy about that. And I have 387 favorites. 81. Not bad.
Part of this chapter was written on the flight to Turkey. The 26th of February. Not the greatest place as the tray table is shocking with every word that I type.
But well, you can't have everything.
I did learn my lesson from last time. Going above 15K in words is pushing it. And even that is a lot. So I should dial it down a bit.
It is also the reason why it took me a bit of time to upload this chapter.
I was waiting until I had the green light from the requester before I updated this fic. I had started at some ideas already but I believe it's better those are saved until the next chapter.
But I wanted to be sure and polite so hence the delays a bit.
Funny though. In a normal week, this wouldn't have been an issue but during the job, I got a boon in writing due to the amount of time I got.
Due to his job, it took him some time to get back to me hence why this chapter got an update on 07/03/2023.
For those who are wondering about the DxD side of things. DxD is going to be a part of this story and the storylines are going to be running next to each other.
This little bit of story, the Rating Game, and the aftermath is going to take at least three chapters. We're not going back to Shinto Teito anytime soon.
It is going to be important.
For those who are wondering about Jonas Kerevechko. See my fic "En Route to a better life." More is explained there. Or wait and see it on this fic.
Replies to guest reviews.
Guest on chapter 5 on the 24th of September, 2022. Sorry to say this but no, Kusano was better as a Bishop. I hope it's not doing too much o you.
Guest on chapter 5 on the 24th of September, 2022. I like what you are thinking of and you are making good points but you are missing a few of them. I'm not telling who is going to fill out the rest of his Peerage. You'll have to wait for that one.
Started on 11/02/2023
Ended on 26/02/2023
Minato met the blade that was coming through at him. The boy before him was well-trained and it appeared that Rias had found friends in weird places.
It had been clear to him that Rias had found some great places to find friends. From what he realized was that this Jonas was looking for a match. Not that Minato faulted him for a fight.
As soon Jonas had dropped the boy, Issei Hyoudou, on the ground, he walked up to Minato and looked him over.
The Devil knew that this young man was challenging him. Of course, in a civilization, as driven by violence and power, it was often accepted that fights would happen.
Or you'd back down from a fight. Minato was right at the tender age that backing down was seen as weak.
Of course, it hurt his pride when he had to. But Minato knew that fighting people like Riser Phenex or Diodora Astaroth wasn't a good idea.
Not this time though. Jonas had walked up to him and fished out two knives from his back. They were the type that Minato expected a soldier to carry.
The words had left Jonas's mouth before anyone else had a chance to say something.
"I want to test out this guy before we go with this idea any further."
Minato took up the blade. It was a good blade, a fact that he wouldn't deny but fighting with those knives was something that he rarely did.
But the cards had been dealt so he had no other choice than to take up the offer from Jonas and start the fight.
They made way for them and the soldier allowed him to get ready.
Minato even got tips from him.
"I am not going to tell you what to do but you really think it's such a good idea to fight me without anything on the upper body?"
The Devil ignored the comment but he kept his shirt on.
"We need an arbiter. Rias-sama, if you could." Minato asked and the red-haired bombshell nodded. She knew exactly how he ticked.
There was of course a morbid curiosity about the women that Minato had taken along. It hadn't escaped Rias or any of her Peerage that the ladies that Minato Sahashi had taken as Devils were extremely beautiful women.
There was still a bit of a line between the Peerage (and their guests) and the Sekirei of Minato.
The heiress of the Gremory clan wasn't the only one with questions. Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba had been stealing glances at Minato's Peerage.
"What is the rule for ending?"
"The first one to call 'Yield' has lost. How does that sound?" Jonas asked and Minato agreed.
"That sounds reasonable"
The two stood ready for the other and the signal.
"Begin." Jonas was the first to react. Minato had nearly guessed that the boy would fly but he just ran to Minato.
The sparks flew as the blades crossed. There was a certain power behind his hand.
Minato admitted that Rias was lucky to have this boy in her Peerage. But he wouldn't be outdone that easily.
Minato used his free hand to deliver a savage punch. By a hair's breadth, Jonas avoided that punch. It was answered by an upper kick that caused Minato to stumble back. The contact was broken but neither of the men backed down.
Immediately, they started again the fight as their blades met each other and there was a struggle.
Their eyes met and whatever they saw in the other, even in this, they liked it.
The soldier was the first to use another technique. A downward kick made Minato stumble again but he regained his footing faster and answered with a roundhouse kick. Jonas ducked and in that position, he reacted with a slash.
Only by falling back on his free hand and getting back up, Minato avoided the slash.
The spectators watched how the two fought. Minato grabbed Jonas's knife arm and prepared a sideways slash.
He was just 0,3 seconds too slow as Jonas delivered a vicious hook. For the first time in a while, Minato felt his face swimming by that devasting blow.
Koneko watched the whole thing unfold as she watched the fight.
"Nii-san has kept up his fighting." She dryly commented while looking over the shoulder. Asia was busy healing up Issei who hadn't come back from the fight.
"Nii-san?" Musubi asked as she wanted to glom the diminutive girl. It was only her instincts that kept her from doing that.
"It's the way how we refer to Minato." That voice belonged to the statuesque beauty who stood next to Rias.
"My Peerage and that of Sona were and are very close. Just like with hers, we grew up seeing Minato as an older brother figure." Rias answered as she kept her eyes on the fight. Minato had managed to knock Jonas on his back but he was faster on his feet than Minato would have guessed.
"Given our situation, it's how we call him. Koneko calls him Nii-san, I refer to Minato as Minato-nii while Akeno and buchou,"
"Yuuto, don't you dare." The warning was completely ignored by the blonde [Knight].
"Call him Minato-niichan. We needed a lot to prevent Sirzechs-sama to murder Minato-nii." Kiba answered which caused Kazehana to chuckle about that memory.
"Did that lot come in the form of Grayfia-sama? We have already met her. She is mighty fond of Minato."
The twinkling in the Wind Flower's eyes wasn't missed by anyone in the Peerage. Akeno especially. The Priestess of Thunder had no illusions that she and Kazehana would get along just fine.
"So because of our battle junkies, we haven't caught your names. So who might you be? Kaichou hasn't told us much from her visit to Shinto Teito." Rias didn't look back but she knew exactly what she wanted to talk about.
"I think it'd be more polite if we ask Minato to formally introduce his Peerage to us."
"Let's ask him. Minato!"
It was kinda funny to see their [King] on his back while he avoided the strikes from Jonas.
"What?"
"Is it okay if I introduce our Flock to these ladies?"
The Ashikabi was about to lose it from the question that Kazehana asked.
"Is this really the time to ask me?!" With an upwards kick, the soldier went airborne.
"I'll take that as a yes." Rias wondered how this woman became affiliated with a person like Minato.
"Something that we should tell you is maybe the little secret that we aren't part of the human realm or supernatural world. We are aliens." The Peerage of Minato kept quiet as they saw Kazehana as Minato's second in command.
"Aliens?" The words came from the others in the back. One that didn't slip the mind of any girl in Minato's Peerage was the energy that came from them.
They were different from the Devils. One looked closely like Akeno as she had similar hairstyles and eyes but she was a bit younger.
The other was a bit more mature with a nice rack and long blue hair that came through. The last of their party was blonde and wore a Lolita outfit which was a bit ridiculous as even her companions had changed into gym clothes.
"Yep, we're Sekirei. Aliens that came from a universe far beyond. It's a long story. But the short of it is that we have bound our lives to Minato. What we didn't know was the fact that he is also not a human being. Anymore. When we figured that out, he gave us the choice to get reincarnated as Devils."
It was the short, condensed version. The ones that Kazehana gave to strangers.
"And how exactly did you bind your lives to our surrogate brother?" Akeno's eyes shined at Kazehana who shared a similar smirk.
"Through an exchange of DNA through mucosal contact." While the comment was made with the intention of hiding it, it became clear that the Devils knew exactly what Kazehana was talking about.
Rias, Koneko, Akeno, and Kiba blushed while the reference blew right over Asia's innocent head.
"By kissing?!" Rias was nearly embarrassed for Minato's sake and this is how Asia found out what she meant.
She joined in the blushing of her seniors
"That is what some call it. Most of us have the nasty habit to get winged as we call the process, and then getting reincarnated." Kazehana replied.
"And if you are wondering. I'm his [Queen]. Girls, I think it's polite that we introduce ourselves in order of being winged."
The Peerage thought about the proposal and all made their refusal known.
"I think we watch Minato defeat that guy first," Benitsubasa answered as there was a part that enjoyed the nasty kick that Minato received from Jonas. Right in the jaw
"That'd be more polite." Yume joined the [Pawn].
The rest of the Peerage gave similar grumblings that made Kazehana clear on how it would go. And they received support from an unlikely source.
"That would be the most helpful, Kazehana-san. If Grayfia has sent you here to help us, I believe that Minato can help me with training my Peerage. He will make sure that we all know the members of his Peerage. But that is only after he manages to stop this fight."
The girls on the side barked a laugh.
"Get real, Red. I doubt that this will end in the guy's favor."
The Peerage got quiet as they didn't know what to think. Yes, Minato was a well-trained man who had spent a near decade getting his body in top shape, and from the looks of the Sekirei, they had been fighting under their [King] as Devils.
And in most cases, that would be enough to take a human being down.
If that human being was normal. And Jonas was anything but a normal human being.
Within the last few weeks, he had shaken their ideas of humanity to their very core.
And from the looks of it, Minato was now also feeling what Jonas had to offer. That or he was under the assumption that Jonas was a Devil in Rias Peerage.
It would explain why he wasn't holding back on the fight.
They blocked, parried, avoided, punched, kicked, and looked at each other. But Minato found that Jonas had enough fun to enjoy this.
He was somewhat even impressed that Jonas hadn't fallen down from the fight. For a juvenile Devil (in his mind), Jonas was very well trained. Most likely, he would have seen some experience already.
When Jonas stopped a blow from above, Minato used the lower end of his arm to come from below. The soldier dropped his own knife, grabbed Minato's wrist, and twisted it just enough to stop the attack. A savage kick on the knees made Minato stumble.
Jonas twisted the wrist even further which made the Ashikabi wince in pain as Jonas pulled the other arm asides.
The soldier's forehead nearly broke the nose of Minato but he wasn't done yet. As Minato wasn't focused, Jonas took the knife out of his hands and pressed it against the throat of the Ashikabi.
"Yield." Minato's eyes flickered from the knife to Jonas who stood ready and more than willing to continue.
With his knees, given out, his nose bleeding and his vision blurred, Minato hadn't gotten such a good beating in a long time. In the eyes of Jonas, it was clear that Minato couldn't fight anymore and that he had lost. But he wanted to be sure.
The fight wasn't over until one surrendered or died.
The soldier pulled down his cloth and the small smile made it all too clear that he wasn't looking to argue.
Minato put his hands up and breathed in.
"Yield."
The soldier removed the blade from his throat and tucked it in its sleeve on his back. Then he offered the Devil a hand.
"Good fight."
Minato looked from the hand back to Jonas and then understood what Jonas meant. Grabbing the wrist, Jonas pulled him back up.
"You are impressive. Rias-sama has a good eye." Jonas cocked an eyebrow when he heard Minato talk.
"Come again?"
Minato blinked two times when he looked at the soldier who looked a little amused by the question.
"Eh, you're one of Rias-sama's Peerage, right?"
At that question, the black-haired boy shook his head with a bemused smile.
"No. I'm not one of her Peerage members."
The eyes of Minato flickered to the Fallen Angels. Surely, Rias must have gotten his loyalty some other way.
"You must be the leader of the Fallen, right? How did you swear your loyalty to Rias-sama? Must be hard for a Fallen."
On the second question, Jonas actually chuckled.
"Wrong again. Or better half correct. I'm the boss of those Fallen Angels, yes but I'm not one of them. I'm not a Devil. I'm not an Angel." Jonas pumped a thumb, at his vest.
"I'm a human being."
It had the effect that the soldier was hoping for. Minato's mouth dropped open when he heard that word.
"You're a human? Impossible! What kind of human is capable of fighting a Devil?"
"The kind of human being that didn't have a normal upbringing."
At that point, Rias clapped in her hands. The two fighters turned to her while they waited and hear her talk.
"Okay, that is enough, you two. You have tested out Minato, Jonas. What is your verdict?"
At that point, Jonas nodded to the red-haired bombshell.
"He's cut out of good wood. If they are going to help us train, we are going to have a good chance of winning this game."
Minato smiled as he looked at the soldier.
"Are you telling me that we have to listen to another pretty boy who has a harem, filled with hotties? Life ain't fair."
An unfamiliar voice echoed over the grounds. Rias had a regretful sigh while Jonas pinched his nose. Minato noticed that most of the group had a similar reaction.
The Devil saw the boy that Jonas dropped off, was now fully awake and crying tears as he realized that the boy must have been the Dragon that Grayfia talked about.
"Is he the Sekiryuutei of this generation?" Minato pointed at Issei and to his horror, the mercenary nodded.
"Yep, we're SOL and JWF, right?"
"Eh?" Minato had never heard of those acronyms.
"Shit out of luck and jolly well fucked, right?" At that point, Minato couldn't agree anymore with Jonas. Issei didn't look at the part that he was to play.
Scene skip
"Alright, I think that I should introduce my Peerage to you all. Kazehana has already told you what the Sekirei are, right?"
Rias spoke as the [King] she was.
"Indeed, she did. You have been in interesting situations, Minato." The others egged her on to call him by the name that she usually spoke with.
"Nii-chan. Kazehana-san announced she is your [Queen]. But the others haven't. I do believe you're going to assign your Sekirei to help us train against the upcoming Rating Game."
"She is right. She is the first Sekirei and my first member of my Peerage." Minato looked over the group and the soldier passed him by. The soldier smiled back at him.
"We have also been asked to train but if you take over, I and the Fallen Angels can help out in a supporting role. You're more than likely better with that." The mercenary plopped down next to the Angels. Minato didn't miss how the black haired put her hand on the shoulder of Jonas.
"Well, we can make that work, Jonas. Sorry, what's your full name?"
"Jonasavo Ietljo Kerevechko. But just call me Jonas. Makes it easier. Faster."
Minato nodded to him and he looked the group over. His eyes settled on Akeno.
"Akeno, we're going to spoil you a good bit. Kazehana, I'd like you to take her and Hikari and Hibiki along for a training match. They are two [Pawns] but just for the record, they are relatively new. So I'd like it if you could take it easy. They can also match your powers. Oh, and I would appreciate it if you could teach them some tricks on Devil Stuff. As Rias-sama's [Queen], you're the senior Devil."
The Yamato Nadeshiko smiled at Minato.
"Ufufu, I can do that, Minato-niichan." The Ashikabi wasn't done yet.
"Jonas, you said that I can order your Fallen Angels as well, right?"
The soldier voiced his agreement but he also wanted to make it clear to use the names.
"Their names are Raynare," he pointed at the raven one sitting next to him, "Kalawarner," his head moved to the bluenette behind him "and Mittelt." His left thumb went to the Lolita blonde.
"I'll keep those names in mind. Would you three ladies be so kind as to help my three Sekirei?" Instead of following his order, they looked over to Jonas who nodded at them.
Before they could leave, Jonas shouted after them.
"Civility goes a long way! I expect that from all of you!" Minato found that was a good way to handle it.
"Just before you leave. I'd like to assign my other fighters. That way, you also know, Akeno, who my Pieces are. A bit of patience, please?"
She had gotten men weak from fluttering her eyelashes but on Minato, it proved not to have any effect. Must be because the Ashikabi grew up alongside her.
"Koneko-chan, you're also getting a few more playmates as [Rook]. Musubi-chan, Yume-san, Benitsubasa, I would like to train with her. Koneko-chan, Musubi-chan, and Yume-san are [Rooks] like you but Yume-san has a mutated Piece. Came when I reincarnated her. Long story that I don't want to tell. Benitsubasa is a [Pawn]. If things work well, Yume-san, I'd like you to train with Kiba as well."
The three Sekirei agreed to that proposal.
"I still stand by my point, nii-san. You turned into a pervert." Minato clutched his heart.
"That hurt me, Koneko-chan. Just there." He made a miraculously fast recovery and looked over at Kiba.
"I'll go a bit easier on you, Kiba. You get just one partner. Haihane. So far, I only have one that suits you as [Knight]." The silverette stood up and walked over to the young man.
"We're going to have fun."
"Keep each other pure, please. I'd like you two to stay like that." Minato commented as he winked at Kiba. The [Knight] saluted to him.
"Haihane is a [Pawn] but she is the only one that fights with weapons that I have."
Kiba looked over at his partner.
"I was hoping, Minato-nii, you could fight with me. It is always nice to have some battle partners." At that point, Minato got reminded of a fact that he had hidden. It had been a long time ago since he had a need for it.
"You're right. I should probably get back to sparring with it." At that point, he summoned a weapon that had been unfamiliar to the Sekirei.
A rapier formed at his hips that shined through.
The Ashikabi made a real sheepish face when he realized that he hadn't been using a gift from his own teacher.
"Thank you for reminding me. I'll tell you all the story tonight." That was a promise for his Sekirei on that little bit of his past.
He looked over at Rias and then at the two unfamiliar faces in the group.
"Rias, how far have you been training those two?" He motioned at Issei and Asia.
"Asia-chan is a [Bishop]. She won't be fighting in the Rating Game. But that doesn't mean that teaching her magic would be lost. Also, given our training, her [Sacred Gear] Twilight Healing is also invaluable to us all."
Minato couldn't argue with that one.
"You're right. Still, I'll assign one of my own [Bishops] to her. Akitsu-san, can you help her out with magic?" The Yuki-Ona nodded to her Ashikabi.
"Kuu-chan, you will be watching and helping us out later. For now, you can take it easy. She is my other [Bishop] by the way."
Looking over at Issei, the Ashikabi knew exactly what to do.
"Issei Hyoudou, you'll be training with me. Or better said, I'll oversee your training with Jonas." The mercenary knew there were reasons to like the Ashikabi even more.
"Now, there is one last person that we are going to train. Matsu-san, I'd like to teach Rias-sama about tactics and challenge on the thinking scale. Rias-sama, I don't see you as a buffoon but one can always grow. Matsu-san is seen as the smartest thing alive. Well, in regards to the human scale, I don't think you're wrong. So there is a lot to learn from my [Pawn]."
The organette stood ready for that.
"That is fine by me, Mina-tan but first."
The Ashikabi rolled his eyes at his hungry Flock who stood ready for him to get their boost-ups.
"You are one lovely bunch." Before the Devils could ask, Minato's Sekirei lined up for a kiss that boosted their power and lifted their spirits. The light show was a nice touch for all those who were watching.
Issei nearly gnashed his teeth into dust as he watched the Ashikabi work through the Flock.
It wasn't fair. Where was his harem of super-hot babes that he could kiss, suck and fondle whenever he wanted?
Luckily though, he did keep those thoughts to himself as he realized that Rias and the others were very fond of the Ashikabi and the same could be said for Jonas who watched the scene with a hint of amusement.
Scene skip
On Minato's request, the group had scattered around the place. It gave them all room to maneuver and fight without worrying about getting in each other's way and causing hurt to the other.
The [Queen] of Rias Gremory looked over the women that her older brother had gathered. Her eyes flickered a bit to the twins. For some reason or another, they got to chat with the Fallen Angels that had been saved.
Why, she would never understand, that Rias agreed to let Jonas keep those around. But she was a servant and she couldn't question her master on those things.
She decided to talk to the other woman that wasn't interested in conversing with the Fallen.
"So Kazehana-san, how long have you known Minato-niichan? A while, I suppose?"
The Wind Flower smiled back at Akeno who could see so many different things that colligated with herself.
"For a while now. Maybe a month or two. That niichan of yours is pretty heroic. Saved me from a few assailants and after we told each other what we are, he agreed to wing me if he could pass for Todai."
Given the way how Kazehana acted, it was clear that the Ashikabi had gotten in on his first try.
"That is a manly promise. What made you decide to be his [Queen]?"
Kazehana smirked back at Akeno.
"We live in a boarding house. Lovely place and I know the owner. But unfortunately, she is a woman which is the living embodiment of prude. If we were to share the room, Minato had to reincarnate me. Not being able to snuggle up to my beloved was a torture I couldn't stand for."
Akeno had a hard time not laughing when she figured out that snuggling was very important for her as well.
Koneko wasn't a fan of it but Rias rarely made an issue of it. It was truly mysterious why Minato agreed with Sirzechs and Grayfia that after the girls turned 12, it would no longer be appropriate that they would snuggle in his room while they slept together.
"I see. And for the most part, has Minato-niichan been an excellent Ashikabi?"
Kazehana would have answered most favorably but she found her answer cut off by one of the Fallen Angels.
"If you two are done, talking about that guy, we might start training her. Which are you know, the reason why we are here."
The Lolita had talked and from the looks of it, she was the last person who wanted to be here. But from the looks on their faces, Hikari, Hibiki, and the other two agreed that it was best if they started to train.
"Very well, washboard. Now, I don't know exactly how I deal with this and as I am an inexperienced [Queen] myself, I'd say that I wait before I ask for you to help out Akeno-chan. Minato did tell me about Fallen Angels. Would two of you be so kind as to show me how you fight?"
The other two stepped forward as they were asked. Unlike other Devils or those who grew up in a household, they could live with the way how Kazehana handled her. Plus, they made a promise to Jonas.
Friendly, yet firm.
"As you wish, Kazehana." The bluenette said.
"You just tell us when to stop." The other, Raynare asked of Kazehana.
Kalawarner summoned a yellow lighting spear that was round and full while Raynare had one made of pink.
The Fallen took a bit of distance from the other.
"So what do you suggest, Raynare?"
"We'll see where we get." Before Kalawarner could ask for more, Raynare had raced to her. The bluenette didn't wait for an answer and threw her spear right at the incoming bullet. Raynare avoided it though by rolling, mid-flight. When she got close enough to Kalawarner, the two clashed with their weapons.
Breaking it off was easy enough for the older woman and she answered by throwing a small axe at her comrade.
It wasn't done in a malicious way as Raynare could avoid it. With another clash, they did show some promise in fighting but Kazehana could clearly see how they would fight.
It seemed though that Minato was right in thinking that the Thunder Twins were a copy of Fallen Angels. In fact, the more Kazehana saw from them, the more she found it to be clear that the Twins were Fallen Angels in Sekirei disguise.
They did know how to use their lightning as a weapon and how to match them against others. There were many things here to learn.
Before another clash could happen, Kazehana clasped her hand.
She had seen the fights and now understood why Minato had assigned so many fighters to Akeno. The Priestess of Thunder had the same faults that he had been trying to hammer out of her and it appeared that this would be a perfect time.
"Okay, that is enough. Close-quarters fighters with some ranged fighting. That works for me. Now, you can take it a bit easier. Hikari, Hibiki. You two can start on Akeno-chan. As for our guest, I'd say that you buff up. This can hurt a bit."
The Thunder Twins clasped their hands together and from it, electricity ran as they watched Akeno's reaction.
Just like the Fallen, she was just a bit surprised at the way how they fought.
"Have fun with her." The Twins didn't hold back about the attacks and sent lighting towards Akeno who had barely the chance to get away.
But they wouldn't just let her skip out. The attacks followed up, rapidly and harshly which gave the [Queen] a bit to get away.
Meanwhile, Kazehana was going to talk to the three Fallen Angels for a bit. The Lolita had clamped up so the Wind Flower didn't try.
Raynare and Kalawarner seemed a bit more open to it.
"Need something from us?" Raynare functioned a bit like a lieutenant for Jonas as Kazehana herself was one for Minato.
"Yes. Your cooperation. My Ashikabi and [King] has asked me to help her out. While I don't doubt those two on ranged attacks," her thumb went right behind her to see how Akeno had tried to answer back with her own attacks but she barely had the time to react with her own attacks.
Spells could barely be spoken.
"I want you to switch between attacks when my sister-wives are done. I want you to keep that in mind."
The Fallen Angels found that they could work with Kazehana. There were a lot of things they could live with.
And if they were just the tiniest bit honest, it would be pleasurable to a degree to work Akeno over like that.
The image of Rias [Queen] being smashed into the ground was also a nice image to see how she was struggling and sputtering as the Twins managed to land her down on the ground.
Before they could even continue with their attacks, they heard Kazehana's voice.
"That's enough, girls! Our idea is to train the poor lass. Not to maim her."
The [Queen] cut the twins off who were all too ready for another barrage.
Akeno, on the other hand, was sputtering and coughing as she realized that she was leaps behind those two.
"Now, I'd like to see a few more things but first," her eyes shined at Raynare and Kalawarner.
"Given the fact that I don't trust the washboard to step up, so you ladies hit it."
Their weapons transformed into their hands and it was all they needed to get after Akeno.
For once in her life, Akeno appeared to be looking like a kicked puppy who had been through a bad day but Kazehana appeared not to care much about that. The Fallen attacked from two sides which the only thing she could do about was to avoid.
While she did manage to send out some works of attack their way, given the stress she had been through, it wasn't exactly effective. Raynare avoided the attack but she allowed Kalawarner to get close.
The older one had a good idea of how to get close. And just like they had expected, Akeno didn't have a good defense against a close-quarters fighter.
That wouldn't do any good for her health.
But it wasn't just Kalawarner. With her focus away, she didn't see Raynare coming from behind. And the Fallen Angel would have gotten her grievous harm, were it not for Kazehana who blew away the Fallen Angel.
She held back enough to get her off Akeno but not enough to hurt Raynare. Something told her that there would be merry hell to pay and it wouldn't come from the Fallen.
"That is enough. I would tell you that you don't have to maim the poor lass." Raynare turned over to Kazehana who seemed to be commanding the wind.
"Damn, didn't expect you to do that."
The coy smile was a bit infuriating but there was something that held Raynare back from seeking retaliation.
Kazehana had blown her off Akeno, not smashed against the trees.
The [Queen] walked over to Akeno and with a friendlier smile, Kazehana helped the girl to her legs.
"I think we are going to have a chat somewhere away from this. Would you ladies just wait for us around here?"
Kazehana didn't wait for an answer as she knew she would get one. The twins sauntered over to the Fallen Angels. They didn't miss the suggestive stares they were getting.
"So any reason why you dress up like SM workers?"
Hikari actually laughed at that joke while Hibiki just looked annoyed.
"Ask the perverts in MBI for this one. We didn't make that decision. Although, we have learned to live with it." The eyes went over Raynare who had shifted into her fighting outfit. Neither did she mind the stares.
"I should probably get a change on that clothing. Jonas keeps telling me that I am too exposed and that he is fine on that in a bedroom."
Crossing her arms under her sizeable bust, Hibiki asked a question that was plaguing both their minds.
"Yeah, I have been meaning to ask. What is the deal exactly between you three and the Devils? Last I heard, you didn't get along too well."
Kalawarner answered that one.
"We are prisoners. Jonasavo-sama is the one who made a deal with Rias and Sona for our protection. In return, he has to help them. So we are basically his property. Just like Rias is the master of the other Devils."
The Sekirei were used to the idea of binding their lives but it was what their biology dictated. It would be different for free creatures like them.
"Before you ask why he did that, Jonas and I met, about a decade ago, in Africa. I had never guessed that we would ever meet again. And well, being his slave is a better option than being dead. I know for a fact he is very thrifty with his possessions."
There was a dreamy look on Raynare's face when she said that.
"So that guy is your lover or what? You got peculiar tastes." Hikari's dry chuckle brought Raynare back to the earth.
"I could say the same about your guy. What do you ladies again? Ashi-what the?"
"Ashikabi. That is what we call him. He's the one who has bound our lives to."
Hibiki answered with Hikari following her right up.
"Him being a Devil didn't really change much. Only the fact that our lives have extended. Now, would you two be so kind as to explain why both our guys are so focused on that perv?"
Scene skip
Kazehana was aware of how she was looked at and she was judged. But there were many, many qualities that she had besides being a living wet dream.
Motherly, caring, open-minded, forgiving to a fault, and sharp on others made her a perfect fit for a talk with Akeno.
"Where are we going?" The younger girl asked as Kazehana remained quiet. There was something she was looking for.
A nice, gentle atmosphere would be the best place to talk about this.
The lake she was looking for, was a nice place where they could sit and talk for a bit.
"I was looking for a place like this."
Kazehana placed her delicious behind down and patted the grass to signal to Akeno to join her.
The [Queen] followed her example. She got close enough to be respectful but not too close to be in any danger of intruding on Kazehana's personal space.
But when she felt a slender arm, sneak around her back, without even noticing that said arm and pressing her close to Kazehana's body.
Akeno knew she swung for guys but something in her shook. Especially when the woman had an even bigger rack than she had.
But she had a few more years to grow so she hadn't lost all hope.
"Just relax a bit. Take it easy. You're too stiff." Akeno half wanted to get away but she felt another soothing presence around her.
"Any reason why you brought this defenseless maiden here? Or is that your usual tactic, Kazehana-san?"
The woman just giggled at that question.
"You're not defenseless. But Akeno-chan, there is a question that I have been pondering about."
Kazehana felt her body tense and looked down at the eyes. Normally, Akeno had her eyes closed in a pleasant matter or those violent orbs would be half-lidded open with teasing.
Now, they were glaring at Kazehana. For the first time she met a Devil (and the two she did meet were impressive), she felt afraid.
The eyes of Akeno were the eyes of a woman who could give a serious fight if she wanted to.
"Did Minato-niichan tell you something he shouldn't?"
When she heard her talk, Kazehana felt her own jaw tighten.
"Before we continue, Akeno-chan, I want you to know that Minato hasn't told us anything. If you decide to threaten my Ashikabi, you'll find me in your way. He has told me many things about you. And about the others. But nothing that was something you wouldn't like, I assure you."
It did enough to calm Akeno down.
"I figured out that there is something inside of you. Something you are hiding." Kazehana knew that she had to play this cool and gentle. If Akeno clamped up, it wouldn't do anyone any good.
"I don't know what it is but there is a hunch I have. I won't spell out what it is as I can guess it."
Placing her left hand on Akeno's bust, she looked right into the eyes of the young maiden.
"What you have in you, is yours. You might have been born with it, you might have earned it. You might despise it, you might hate it. Whatever it is, it is yours."
Looking down at it, Akeno felt tears stinging in her eyes. The woman in front of her was breaking down the barriers and walls that she had kept up for so long.
"Here is something that I haven't even told Minato, you know. I hated my powers too. For a while. Do you know why? They reminded me of a love that I held for a man. A man who I adored, cherished, and loved with all my heart. But he didn't love me. He couldn't even open his heart to me. It gave me endless pain."
Akeno wondered why Kazehana was telling her that.
"Sekirei, Akeno-chan, are beings that run on love. Our feelings are the things that fuel and drive us. Our powers grow with our love. It is what drove me to Minato. Do you understand what Minato has done for me?"
Akeno began to follow where Kazehana was going at.
"I don't think it'll be that easy. I want to help Rias win this."
"It's why I will drive you for this. Open up to what you want to use. You are Rias-chan's strongest Piece, right? Then let's make sure she gets that."
Akeno's spirits lifted a bit from that and the two walked back. The conversations that they heard from the twins and the Fallen Angels made Kazehana wonder about it.
"Say, Akeno-chan, do you have a person you like?"
Akeno giggled when she began to think about that person. He certainly was rising in her opinion.
"No, not yet. But I think I can start again."
Kazehana clapped in her hands which caused ten eyes to turn to the two [Queens]
"Break is over. Let's get this started again."
Akeno loosened her neck. She was more than happy to start this fight again. And she would leave her thanks to Grayfia for asking Minato to help.
Scene skip
Yume watched how Musubi and Benitsubasa were matching against Koneko. The little [Rook] proved to be a powerhouse that neither Musubi nor Benitsubasa knew how to handle correctly. She was stronger than they would have taken her for. Not only was she incredibly strong, but she was also resilient and could withstand quite a few knocks.
The Sekirei of Fate didn't participate in the fights though as she found that she could let her juniors handle it.
She was there to watch over the progress. And despite their bickering and talking, her little sister began to work well with her Flock mate.
A Flock shouldn't argue and fight or settle them in a warm and good fashion instead of beating the crap out of each other without regard for those around them.
What she also admired in her Ashikabi's training was the fact that Minato kept in mind speed and agility.
It appeared that Koneko was lacking in those areas.
Would a week be enough to correct that? Yume began to doubt that. But she would keep those thoughts to herself. Talking about them would only upset and demoralize their hosts.
But she remembered the promise that she made her Ashikabi.
"Girls, I'm going to check up on Haihane. Play nice, alright?"
Yume would take the primal grunts as notices of acknowledgment and agreement. So it was with that, she took off to look for the pretty boy [Knight] and their own [Pawn]. µ
So Yume took off while she walked down the path. She knew where she had to look for the two.
When she got closer, she noticed the clashing of metal. Haihane's claws were looking the part but compared to the two swords that Kiba wielded, it was lacking. But for her part, the [Pawn] tried to incorporate the lessons that Minato had been hammering into her.
She was avoiding the strikes from Kiba who she could see was getting a bit frustrated.
It appeared that Haihane was somewhat even bullying the [Knight]. He had gotten used to the blows and made it possible for her to react as she used her slender body to get away from incoming attacks.
Yume remained at a distance while she watched the fights going on.
"Won't deny, blondie. You're good."
"I can say the same about you, Haihane-san." Even in fights, he didn't forget his manners. It impressed Yume.
Not as much as when she realized that when he got a sword knocked out of his hands, he could make a second one from thin air.
Yume hadn't used swords during her time in the Discipline Squad but she had learned a few things from the times that she watched over Karasuba. There was a wonder in her head when she thought back about her former squad mate.
She would probably go see her when this was over.
"You got another one, blondie? Where do you put all these?"
"I don't. I can make them out of my hands. It's my [Sacred Gear] that I got. It's called [Sword Birth]!"
Haihane didn't need any time to figure out what that term meant and how Kiba was capable of keeping her guessing to fight.
She would have continued the fight were it not for Yume who clapped in her hands.
"That is enough, Haihane-chan. I think we should give Yuuto-kun some rest for his fights." The two fighters turned to see Sekirei Number 8, standing ready for the match.
"Hello there, Yume-san. Shouldn't you be watching over Musubi-san, Benitsubasa-san, and Koneko-chan? It'd be unwise to leave them to their own devices."
Yume had an innocent smile while she shrugged at Kiba's legit question.
"Oh, don't worry about it, Kiba-kun. Something tells me that they'll be just fine. I wanted to join you two a bit. I just heard you telling Haihane-chan about your abilities. What is the limit of your weapon creation?"
Kiba's sheepish smile made the two women rejudge their ideas of this young man.
"It's limited by my creative mind and my imagination. Of course, I can't pour them all out of the ground."
"In that case, I have a request for you. Can you make a Japanese-styled sword? A katana? Or a nodachi?" Kiba began to wonder about what Yume had asked of him but he obliged.
Summoning a sword from the ground, Yume found that the blade was simple, well-made, and nicely balanced. It lay well in her hand.
"I didn't take you for a sword fighter, Yume-san." The eyes of the [Knight] functioned as well as ever when he watched how Yume was using the sword.
"I have many secrets, Yuuto-kun. And I would be more than capable of showing you what I can do. Up for a quick match?"
The [Knight] wouldn't be amiss for it.
"If you two are going to clash, I'm going to take it easy for a bit. Have fun, Yume-senpai." Haihane walked to the trees at the end of the place and sat down. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep in a remarkably fast fashion.
Must have looked up some ways to do that.
So when she stood ready, she waited until Kiba made the first move. The [Knight] moved faster than most beings would be able to spot.
It was like zipped out of existence but Yume knew better. In this scenario, a warrior had to rely on their other senses and she could block the sword from behind her back.
Turning back, she saw his face and she could see the extreme focus. Throwing him off her, Yume watched how Yuuto ran back to her. His attacks were fast, calculated, and vicious. Yet, she managed to keep him at bay with ease as Yume managed to match him strike for strike.
There was something hidden inside this young man. Darkness, fury, and a cold fire burning inside of him.
He did it well enough but Yume had been around Karasuba for long enough to know what a monster in (human, or human-like) skin looked like.
And she wished that whatever was going on with this young man, wasn't going to happen to Karasuba.
She had gone off the deep end and with her being, well, dead (or in Musubi), she did realize that her old friend had most likely taken a turn for the worse.
Yume wished she could have stayed behind and looked after Karasuba as she usually did.
But she knew that wasn't possible.
And from what she guessed and thought off, she realized that during this fight with Kiba, this [Knight] was the same. Or he would be if he didn't get taught that the course had chosen, was nothing more than a path to disaster.
She hoped that he could be averted from those mistakes. And by showing how much he really had to learn, she grabbed the [Knight] by his forearm and smashed him over in the ground.
Kiba couldn't believe how much his arm yanked and how fast he had become. What he also didn't expect was Yume taking up his sword further and twisting it around.
The [Knight] had no choice but to drop his sword. When that happened, Yume had basically gotten him to kneel while he was catching his breath. When the Sekirei was sure, she let his arm go. Walking in front of him, she lowered to his level.
Her fingers went under his chin and Kiba didn't think that a woman like Yume could make a face like that.
Her eyes settled on the young man and she looked right into those eyes. It felt like he could stare into her soul.
"Whatever you carry with you, it's either important enough to go for this or it's a horrible secret. But if you don't keep sure to keep it down, there'll be nothing for after it. So if I were you, I'd let whatever it is you keep hidden, only out when you are sure, you really have it. Keep that in mind."
Yuuto had no idea how this woman had figured out what he had in his body. But he kept that hidden.
"And if you don't want to lose what you have, or regained, keep that in mind. Because I know how this path goes. And unless death is what you look for, I'd like you to keep thinking about that."
With that done, Yume walked away from the [Knight]. Meanwhile, Yuuto remained floored by the way Yume talked.
The [Rook] woke Haihane up from her nap.
"You can take over again, Haihane-chan. I'll be watching over the fight from now on."
She sent one look over her shoulder to watch Kiba getting back up. Yume wondered how hard it would be to get Kiba off his path.
Scene skip
Jonas and Issei both got Minato as a teacher for overseeing the training. The mercenary had found that a great agreement.
The [Pawn] not so much as Jonas had thrown him over his shoulder and hammered him away.
Despite their radically different upbringings, there was one similarity that the two older men shared. Their training could be described as inhuman. It would be one thing if Minato considered the fact that he wasn't a human.
But even so, he wanted to oversee this as Jonas was a real fighter. The man was an animal of a soldier. As soon as Minato had given the order to start punching and fighting Issei, Jonas had done so.
Both had agreed that Issei's inexperience in fighting came from the fact of actual combat. Sure, Minato would teach him how to use his Pieces and the Promotion that came with them. But from what Minato knew of the [Boosted Gear], it required that the host had to be really strong to handle the power.
As Issei didn't have much experience in fighting, Jonas had taken up the mantle of a teacher.
Or torturer. There really wasn't much difference at this point.
Issei's eyes flickered over to Minato in the hopes that his fellow [Pawn] would stop Jonas.
Minato did not do that for two reasons.
One. Jonas wasn't beating Issei to beat him but different fighting styles, in the chance Issei would fight back.
Two. Minato had not forgotten the way Issei talked or looked at his Sekirei and he could never give out the smacking that he found that Issei would require.
Jonas was more than happy to give that beating by proxy. Even if he didn't know that.
With another punch, Issei came crashing down on his knees while clutching his stomach.
The mercenary would have finished him off, right then and there but he knew better than to go after Issei while Minato was watching.
The Devil had gotten closer to the fighters and he put a hand on the shoulder of Jonas.
"That is enough, Jonas."
The Soldier held his hands up and watched Minato talk.
"You're the boss. I'm just following your orders."
Minato nodded at him while he looked down at Issei.
"Now, in case you wonder why I am letting Jonas beat the crap out of you, be happy that it's just him."
Issei coughed and felt the iron taste of blood in his mouth.
"How… Guh? How.. pft, how is that good?"
"If I would fight, it'd be a lot worse. Jonas is a human man. Extremely well trained and dangerous but still human. I have been a Devil for nearly ten years. I would have done so much worse."
Minato was stone cold as he talked to Issei while his eyes didn't have the same warmth. He was not impressed by Issei's nature.
And if he was the upcoming Sekiryuutei, he would have to be in better shape than what they had now.
The words did perk the interest of Jonas.
"You were reincarnated? I believed you were a [King]. Or rather, you are one, right?"
The college student nodded at Jonas.
"I am. I was taken into the house by Serafall Leviathan-sama. She took me in as a child. But we owe more stories to the rest later."
Jonas was curious to a healthy degree. It had often led to ways to survive.
"That name doesn't sound familiar. Just wondering though. Do we know a person that has an affiliation with her?"
Minato was happy that Rias and Sona got such a sharp, strong, and capable guy like Jonas. He could leave those two to him to watch over.
"One person you might know that is related to her is Sona Shitori-sama. You don't know this from me but Serafall-sama is Sona-sama's older sister."
Jonas would keep that in mind for later.
"Now, your body is recovering. It is time to learn other things. I don't know how many pieces you have, so I'll ask Rias for a bit. In the meantime, Jonas, can you make sure that he is capable of following lessons?"
Jonas saluted Minato as he looked over at Issei. A slight bit of him enjoyed that.
The Ashikabi walked back into the house where he knew where he found Rias sitting on a desk with Matsu. The Sekirei of Wisdom seemed to have a hell of a good time by playing several board games.
If Rias had expected to win against Matsu in chess, she was in for a rude surprise.
Scythe, Risk, Stratego, Root, Wingspan, Ticket To Ride, Go. Matsu had fun, summoning boards while going with it.
The rules were explained and then played and from the looks of it, Matsu really enjoyed it.
Minato would pity the girl as she was now forced to play as her head was tolling.
"Oh, you nearly had me, Rias but alas. I win." Matsu grinned as she ended the map of the world. While there was much fun to be had, Matsu began to actually worry for Rias and her way of thinking.
While intelligent and methodical, Rias had a tendency to be emotional when things didn't go her way. Keeping her cool was the most important thing to have on the battlefield. All too often, Rias forgot that as she was being pushed back.
The Sekirei noticed her Ashikabi walking into the room.
"Hello, Rias-sama. Matsu-san. How is she doing?"
The bird was all too hungry so a kiss was pressed on his lips as she felt the energy in her body, boosting her.
"She has a long way to go, Mina-tan. Do you want something from us?"
"Rias-sama, you told me that Issei Hyoudou is a [Pawn]. How many Pieces did you use for him?"
The crimson-haired princess turned around and she almost looked guilty when she squeaked out.
"Eight."
Both Minato and Matsu were shocked from hearing that news.
"Eight? All of your [Pawns]? Inside him?" Minato was flabbergasted by hearing that news. Rias got ticked off by hearing that note.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The deadpan look of Minato was giving enough information away from what he was thinking about the fact that Rias had reincarnated Issei Hyoudou.
"Okay, point taken. But what do you expect, Minato? He is the Sekiryuutei."
Minato just continued to look at her, in disbelief.
"Jonas was right. We are SOL and JWF. Either way, how many Pieces did you release in him? He's a juvenile Devil. I doubt he'd be able to handle all that power."
Rias was looking very sheepishly when Minato pointed out all the setbacks that came with Issei.
"Just one."
"So not even my level. Just great." With the door closed, Matsu hadn't seen Minato at that level of frustration.
"What is his problem? I didn't ask him to help us. He should be glad that he is allowed to."
Matsu sighed when she looked at the heiress. There was maybe some truth that they were a bit too spoiled.
So someone should set her straight.
"Did you ever consider what would happen if you lost this game? Grayfia-sama has asked him to help us. While I don't think that Minato is angry with you, he is a bit frustrated that your ace in the hole is far from that. Because I guess a ton hinges on him. Only trouble is that he isn't sure about it. Plus, Minato might not be the biggest man on the block but no good man would like it when another guy ogles his women."
Matsu's tone was stating facts as clearly as day and using a level voice. Rias hadn't considered that part and she was being unreasonable. Plus, she might have to do something about Issei's perversions.
Outside, Minato found that Jonas had taken up training again. The soldier had taken up some knife fighting while Issei lay on the floor exhausted.
Minato was glad they had Jonas to work with. At this point, he was too frustrated to really fight well so he was glad that he got Jonas for that.
"Jonas, that is enough. I'm going to teach him some tricks. When he's back up." Minato pressed him closer and whispered something in his ear.
"I would really like it if you ask Rias to reincarnate you. If it's just them against Riser, I don't see their chances high."
Jonas switched up and whispered back.
"Sorry, genius. Not going to happen."
Minato was about to ask more of Jonas but with Issei grumbling back awake, they had to cut their conversation short.
"So what are you going to teach me, pretty boy?"
Minato knelt down to his height and grabbed the Dragon by his shirt.
"I have a name. Minato Sahashi. Call me anything else and I'll be the one who kicks the shit out of you. You know what Promotion is?"
The young [Pawn] nodded to Minato as the Ashikabi let him go.
"Good. What can you handle?"
"Until [Rook]." That was more ground than Minato would have pegged him for so there was a plus.
"Good. In that case, you're going to work with me until you can promote to [Queen]. Which is going to require a ton more focus."
Issei's face went white as a sheet. He already had enough from Jonas and now, this as well. It wasn't his week. That was for sure.
"Minato, not to complain but what do you want me to do?"
Jonas didn't like to have anything to do when others were busy. Having something to keep him entertained was just what he needed.
"So far, I have nothing for you, Jonas. I doubt it'd be interesting for humans to watch this."
The mercenary's face made it clear that Minato was right.
"That is fine by me. Genius, I'm going hunting. After that, I'll be preparing dinner. I mean, if I have nothing to do, I can do that now."
Minato didn't know what Jonas meant by that but it would keep him busy.
"That's fine. It's getting near noon. And we'll have to work through lunch. Make sure you're going to catch something good."
The soldier nodded as he went to his truck. Taking out a Mosin Nagant, Jonas walked into the forest and just went out.
"Will do." And with that said, Jonas walked off while Issei looked back at the soldier.
"Now, as for this. You have permission from Rias so let's get this started."
The next lecture caused Issei to focus on his nature while he felt starved, hungry, and delirious.
Those were definitely not fun times for Issei Hyoudou.
Minato Sahashi would have more sympathy or respect for the Dragon but he'd keep this grudge for a few days.
Scene skip
Others in the house had a better time training.
Akitsu felt she had a good pupil in Asia. The blonde [Bishop] had a great handle on magic and just like the Yuki-Ona, she could greatly adapt to the nature of magic.
It was clear that she worked things through just fine in regard to that. While both were newly reincarnated, she was doing just well on the magic.
Asia had a great aptitude for magic and she clearly knew how to use her [Sacred Gear] well. But what she did lack however was her will, her drive to fight against those who were out to hurt others.
The girl was too scared to fight and get others hurt.
Despite her own powers, Akitsu figured that Minato would not appreciate it if she were to hurt Asia in this.
Besides that little bit of training, Asia got her own training by patching up the wounded members of the party.
[Twilight Healing]. That was the name of the [Sacred Gear] that she had received from the system and that she used to heal her teammates and Minato's own Peerage.
It was good to have her on standby as neither two group knew how far to push.
Asia had a tough time holding back laughs when she saw the hairs of Akeno, Hikari, and Hibiki. It was a good thing that she could do something about that hair as it was going everywhere. It turned out that the lighting that the [Queen] used was a type different from the Thunder Twins.
But there were more grievous injuries like Koneko's broken legs or Haihane's cuts. Despite Kiba's apologies, the [Pawn] waved them away as she understood what he had done and she didn't blame him.
It was a good thing that Kusano got bored of watching and played with Rias and Matsu. Eight years old and yet, a danger in her own right. Good nature and gut instincts threw it even further for the poor [King].
The night had begun to fall and not a moment too soon either. Seventeen exhausted, famished, and dirty individuals made their way to the house.
Minato hoped they had enough room for all his Devils or they could make some room as no one would care as long they had a bed to sleep in.
Issei lay on the ground and the only thing keeping him awake was the sheer hunger that ragged through his body.
When Minato turned, he saw the different groups returning.
Kazehana walked in front while the Fallen Angels trailed behind her. Akeno was carried by Kalawarner as she had lost all feeling to move. Hikari and Hibiki couldn't stop giggling when they saw her.
Asia was also carried by Akitsu as the cute [Bishop] was too exhausted to move with all the extra work that she had to do.
Kiba supported Haihane who had shaken off her claws. Too tired to move, she was just dozing off.
Koneko walked back to the Inn but Yume had to support Musubi. Unlike Benitsubasa, she was too damn tired to stay awake.
And the last person to walk home did so on his own.
Jonas had made his way back to the house as he was carrying bags of meat. He had shot a few boars and taken the most nutritious parts of the beasts with him. He was the first to reach the house. As he passed by the Devil, Jonas saluted to Minato as he showed the bags of meat.
Without even a word, Minato nodded to the soldier but he stopped the man. He saluted back to Jonas. The younger man smiled and nodded.
Cooking fell on Rias and Matsu who saw no argument as the rest was too tired to move.
When Jonas was also done with his delivery, he sat back on the chairs. Minato didn't expect him to look like it but he was exhausted from the training.
The Ashikabi had Issei along as well.
It looked like he was burning frustration by going out for a hunt
"What a day this has been." Minato softly muttered while the rest of the Devils gathered around.
Kazehana had pushed him into a chair and pressed a loving kiss on it.
Despite the fact that they could feel their Ashikabi, they were all too exhausted from the training to see it as some energy drink instead of the rest they longed for.
Of course, Kazehana opened the floodgate for the other Sekirei who joined in for a quick kiss. Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko looked with a sense of endearment (and some pride) at the scenes while Asia covered her eyes while her face could be used for a fire tower.
Kalawarner and Mittelt just went to sit on the table while Raynare climbed into Jonas' lap who was also glad to have her around. She pressed a kiss on his lips while Jonas just enjoyed the good stuff. He was too tired to say anything else.
When Minato was done with his kissing, he looked them over.
"Now, I'd love to hear what you girls think about the training but I believe we all are in need of some food. Because believe me, you are not the only one who is starving."
The boars were done with a side of rice and vegetables which was eaten eagerly and gratefully while not even discussion was needed.
Rias gulped when she saw what the group did to the amount of food that was being devoured. Issei and Koneko were one thing but the way Musubi, Benitsubasa, and Hikari ate was impressive.
Matsu hadn't overestimated the amount they cooked.
When they were done eating, Jonas and his Fallen Angels began to clean up the dishes and put them through the washer.
There was some good ethic in him though.
"Now, ladies. I am not the one who you should be reporting though. Rias-sama. If you could be available."
She nodded to Minato who stood back and let his Sekirei go talk to her.
Kazehana was the first one who talked and she had begun to take over some manners from Grayfia and Akeno.
"If I can be blunt, Rias-sama. Akeno-chan has a lot to learn. Sure, her magic aptitude is good and she has great power in her. That being said, actual combat experience is a bit more important in a fighting zone. Like dealing with several foes, prioritizing your targets. Besides that, Minato-kun has also taken up the [Rook] and [Knight] Piece of a [Queen] Piece. That is something she has to keep in mind."
Rias nodded and then turned to the other girls. Unlike Kazehana, they weren't used to the Devils just yet.
It was Akitsu who stood up.
"Asia knows her [Sacred Gear] well and she has good reserves. But she gets exhausted quickly. I'd suggest that she has some basic training to keep her going on a battlefield."
With the ice broken, Yume jumped in.
"Koneko-chan hits like a truck and she does know how to handle herself. But she can be slow compared to others. Plus, stamina isn't exactly close to her either."
Haihane looked back at the [Knight] and shrugged.
"Same thing as my seniors. Not used to a real combat situation plus, too honorable to be good. I'd say he would become a bit dirtier in fighting."
The last person to talk was Minato.
The Ashikabi looked at Rias and sighed.
"If I can be perfectly honest, Rias. I'm not impressed by Issei Hyoudou. Sure, he might be the Sekiryuutei but so far, his fighting is nihil. He has no way how to handle himself in a fight, plus, his [Sacred Gear] is taxing on his body. So far, Issei isn't exactly keeping up. Asides from that, he doesn't have a good handle on promotion. He'll have a lot to learn."
That … was not the news that Rias Gremory was hoping for. She had hoped Minato Sahashi would praise her Peerage and how far they had grown.
And yet, she found that despite the good points, all of them, even Akeno, was too far from what they had hoped for.
Issei, she had expected but the rest of them. It turned out that the Sekirei were better fighters. And it showed.
Jonas was the one who broke the tense silence.
"Look, we got a few more days before that Game. If we pour ourselves into it, we'll see where we end. A lot can happen in a few days. But before, we take a bath. Genius. I heard you also use a sword. What is that about?"
Minato thanked the Maou for having Jonas around the group.
"Nothing slips past you, does it, soldier?" Jonas shook his head as he crossed his arms.
"When I was a bit older, Serafall-sama has me as a performer in her shows as a side character."
"That is right. You are playing the part of the Masked Gentleman in Serafall-sama's kids' show. Ratings are very popular but no one has figured out who you are." Rias pipped in as Minato shrugged.
"Incredible what a set of clothes, mask, and attitude can do."
"Not that is all interesting but what the fuck does that have to do with your weapon?" Jonas argued back which caused the entire group to send him a death glare.
The soldier just raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Do you mind your language? Children are present." His eyes shifted to Kusano who was luckily asleep. The mercenary sighed.
"I'll try to. Grown-ups around me said viler stuff to my face when I grew up. You don't die from a couple of cuss words. Now, spill it."
Minato decided that was the best answer he would get from Jonas.
"Serafall-sama gave me this blade." Minato summoned a simple but well-kept rapier.
The other Devils were mesmerized by it while the Sekirei admired the weapon as well.
It was Haihane who spoke the question though.
"Minato, why don't you use that sword for training with me?" This time, it was Minato who looked sheepishly.
"I kinda forgot. Plus, it's a gift from my master. I'd like not to use it for fights. But thanks to it, I got really good at using swords. That is why, I'll be helping you with some training as well, Kiba."
The [Knight] looked eager to hear that news.
"That is all for tomorrow," Rias announced.
"We have a bath outdoors and I think we can all use one."
It did uplift the mood of the group. Especially with how tired, beaten, and ragged they all were.
Scene skip
The huge open-door bath felt a bit more crowded than the day before. If you added all the Sekirei to it, that wasn't a big surprise though.
Ten more beings turned the normally spacious bathroom open into a big party. Not that it bothered anyone. There was plenty of movement to roam around the bath.
The Sekirei could find their way. Even Miya's Inn couldn't offer the luxury that the bath had.
As before Asia Argento felt even more inferior.
The chests of Kazehana, Musubi, Yume, Hikari, Hibiki, Matsu, and Akitsu were even more nefarious for her self-esteem.
Luckily for her though, she wasn't sharing alone in the misery. Benitsubasa was even further gone to see the envy of the others.
Unlike her partner, Haihane didn't care much about it. It was nice to be pampered by her seniors. And despite the rocky start, Hikari and Hibiki got Raynare and Kalawarner to wash their hair. It worked out pretty well for them.
On the male side, Issei was feeling even more down. After being rejected by Koneko and Raynare, the pervert had the threat of his torturers/trainers that he couldn't take a peek in the bath.
Minato had his own fun by seeing Jonas, walking around. The mercenary didn't want to but he was showing off his muscles and scars that he had grown.
The Ashikabi still found this was a pretty good day.
So with that done, the bath didn't take long.
There was still a slight issue where Rias would put the new residents of the house.
Scene skip
Minato had assumed that he would sleep alone but bunking with Jonas wasn't an issue for him. Jonas and he agreed they took a bed and they would just sleep.
His Sekirei was spread around the place. Rias had a good rule that she could distribute.
Those who wanted to share could have a bed, the rest would have to make do.
Kazehana and Kusano were bunking in Rias and Akeno's room. The extra bed was easily given to them in their room.
Koneko and Asia got Yume and Musubi as neither seemed to have an issue with being apart. They would have to ask Minato what the deal was with the two [Rooks].
Hikari and Hibiki were sleeping with the Fallen Angels. They actually volunteered for it and the three didn't find one issue that they would sleep in the same room.
Matsu and Akitsu preferred their privacy so they got dibs on the sofas in the living room. With a blanket and a good pillow, just good enough for them to rest.
Benitsubasa and Haihane had to sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. They didn't want to have each other and were too late for the sofas.
Grayfia should have foreseen that one if they were to stay over but unfortunately, the Ultimate [Queen] had not foreseen that Minato would have that many Sekirei winged.
Scene skip
Training remained as harsh and brutal for the Devils in the days after Minato had arrived.
It could be argued that they actually cranked up the dial-in during the matches.
Minato and Jonas were pushing Issei every day to go even further but it just showed how much Issei had to go and that time wasn't a luxury. While it could be argued that the Dragon was growing and learning, it still wasn't enough for Minato to consider him well-trained.
Kazehana had overseen the training with Akeno and just like her Ashikabi, she found that was lacking in her training. When she was through on her reserves, that was it. And with five to tear her down, it showed that Akeno had that. Plus, when it came to physical attacks, it showed that in the decade that Rias had taken Akeno in, she had neglected to learn with the [Rook] and [Knight] Piece.
It explained to Kazehana why Minato was so deadset on training his own [Queen] on that.
As for the others, Koneko had trouble using the speed that Musubi had seemed to possessed and despite her experience in close-quarters combat, her slower reactions showed that much.
While Yuuto had also sparred with Minato when he wasn't needed for Issei, the [Knight] had another issue. Namely, the fact that, unlike Akeno or Koneko, he couldn't take a hit. It showed when Haihane or Minato gave him an injury.
Asia was the last one and she had a similar issue compared to Akeno. Namely, her reserves were too small. Plus, as she refused to hurt others, it just made it harder for the group.
When they were five days into the training with Minato, there was a last thing that they were going to do.
Minato announced it in the morning before training.
"Rias-sama has asked me for a favor. We are going to have a mock Rating Game in the woods."
"Rating Game?" Musubi asked, in a curious tone. The rest of the Flock shared that same feeling. They heard the term before but Minato hadn't explained it to them that well.
"Rating Games are matches between Devils. It's akin to the matches of chess where two [Kings] face each other. It's how we are based on the chess Game and how your Piece reflects your power."
Minato explained and Rias pipped up after the explanation.
"The big reason for our training is for a Rating Game. I have to face Riser Phenex in a Rating Game. My older sibling and father saw him as a fit partner for marriage but I refuse to partake in it. Hence why I challenged him to a fight. In four days, the Game is supposed to happen."
Minato nodded to the group.
"Last night, Rias-sama and I had a discussion about our training. We believe it would be beneficial for all parties to fight in this. We will use the forest as our battleground. Unlike official Rating Games, where Pieces are taken out in combat, we can't afford that. Therefore, those who are no longer able to fight, are the ones knocked out or taken down by their foes. I ask all of you to hold back in the fight. That goes for my own Sekirei as for you four."
For Koneko, Kiba, and Akeno, it just showed how much further their surrogate older brother had grown.
"Soldier." Jonas snapped to the attention of his nickname.
"Genius."
"As neither you nor your Fallen Angels are participating, in the Rating Game, would you be so kind to function as a referee? I understand you can't be everywhere at the same time and you don't have screens. Therefore, could you three watch over the groups and contact him in case there is an issue?"
Jonas saluted to the order and then went to his truck.
"I knew I did well to take these along." Grabbing out four walkie-talkies, he handed one to each of his Fallen Angels.
"It's a good thing you mention that." Rias opened her palm and showed a few glowing orbs.
"We use these to communicate on the battlefield. We'll hand you one as well so we can talk to you. Plus, it allows you to announce what we see. You can act better like a referee."
The mercenary nodded as he took one in. it would be annoying to have this if two talked at the same time.
"In case, something happens, you can use these to call me in." After that, he looked at Minato.
"I'll try to make do but this won't be easy, Minato. Just keep that in mind."
"In case, one of us yields, we are using a time limit. Three hours from now and forty minutes to prepare. All of you, have to answer that. Rias-sama's base is the house. Ours will be the mountain nearby. Jonas, do you perhaps have two more of those walkie-talkies?"
Jonas shook his head when he heard that but then figured out something.
"In case of surrender, the loser has to use a fire spell and fire it up in the sky. That way, we can see who lost. It'll make things a bit easier on all of us."
The idea got well received and from then on, the Devils of Minato began to make their way to the assigned base. Jonas tasked Raynare and Kalawarner to keep watch over them. He would be the one who announced the start by firing in the air.
He hoped that Rias would win this game. It would be a good prediction of the game between her and Riser.
I was thinking of continuing the mock Rating Game on this chapter but I kept the comments in mind that I got last time.
The chapter would become too big so that is why I cut it off here. Better like this and have different focuses on the chapter.
The Mock Rating Game might most likely end up with its own chapter and then the official one.
Asides from that, I had fun during this chapter but things got busy in between. So that is why I took a while.
I'll see you in the next chapter.
And don't forget that I'm also on AO3.
Saluut.