Fate: Bonds Beyond Humanity

by Apprentice of Life

In a world where all can be real, what does it mean to be human? What is the meaning of humanity? A meeting between a human and a devil will have them discovering the truth while chasing their dreams. My take on the combined worlds of Fate and DxD with characters from other franchises if they can be adapted to it. Harem.

33. Chapter 33

Fate/Bonds Beyond Humanity

…..

33- New Normal, Old Problems

…..

Over the last few days Shirou's routine had changed, even waking up was not the same thing anymore as the first thing he noticed wasn't the sun or an alarm, it was that he was alone.

Waking up fully Shirou can immediately tell that he was waking up a little later than his previous usual, just after the sun rose if he wasn't mistaken. Previously in his life he was up with the sun or even a little before the star hit his little corner of the world. That changed because certain night activities kept him awake for longer than he should and he needed a little more rest.

Getting up from the futon which was big enough for a couple of people, Shirou began to fold it up to get it washed later. It was a new addition to the routine since now, despite the environment spells making the room's temperature comfortable, it always needed to be washed after the night due to lots of sweat but he had more than one so it wouldn't be missed.

Once he was done with his first activity after waking up, the magus then began to stretch his muscles as he made a mental list of things he had to do during the day. There wasn't much to do really as things were slowing down after the Rating Game but EMs still needed to be produced even if in only a small scale compared to the original plan.

To make sure that neither he or Asia kept a steady pace on their work it was decided that EMs would be made only three times a week while making as many as they were willing. It was a compromise that no one had any problems with as it allowed both the magus and Bishop a good amount of freetime for other projects and only a couple hundred descent ones were needed to be made, not the thousands that were planned before the Phenex fully surrendered.

It was still a process that may take years or months depending on their pace but neither Asia or Shirou were bothered, the two didn't mind each other's company and Shirou liked to think of Asia as a friend. She may be a little too innocent all things considered but she had a strong will and was a hard worker so it was never boring having her around.

After finishing his stretches, going to the bathroom to brush his teeth, doing some chores and taking a quick shower, Shirou began to make his way towards the kitchen. He knew that there was already someone there making breakfast.

As silent as he could, Shirou approaches from the side and hugs that person from behind. "Good morning, Rias."

"Good morning, Shiro." The redhead devil said back with a smile as she kissed his cheek. She was dressed casually with small shorts that exposed her legs and a loose red shirt just in case someone else walked in the kitchen with a pink apron thrown in for good measure.

Rias moving to his house wasn't something that Shirou saw coming but it wasn't a surprise in highsight. When they got back from the Underworld the girl made sure everyone else was in their own homes before asking him straight out of the gate if she could move in with him.

He didn't take much time to say 'yes'.

The residents of his home didn't protest or question his decision; Koneko was happy that Rias was around while Liz and Medusa were both impartial for what he could see. The little goddess even stated that "It is your home. You can invite whoever you want."

Much like Shirou did for Medusa, he found a room where Rias could be comfortable in and gave it to her to arrange it as she wanted. In the end the devil decided that she wanted some bookshelves for her collections that she got from the Underworld and her apartment in Fuyuki and a huge comfortable couple's bed.

And Rias had yet to sleep in her own room.

From the very first night since she arrived the redhead devil didn't waste a moment to just sneak into his room, take out her clothes and ask if there was any problem with them sharing his futon with a whisper in his ear.

The next morning Shirou managed to wake up early enough to see her dressed in one of his shirts before kissing his forehead and telling him to sleep as she took care of some of the morning chores.

Only later that day they talked more in detail and it was an open secret that Rias was sharing his bed but no one questioned it and Shirou wasn't going to complain about the company.

Picking a little of food in a spoon, Rias offered it to him. "Taste test?" Shirou took a bite and let it simmer in his tongue for a bit and Rias gave him a couple seconds before asking, "What do you think?"

"It is good." Shirou replied honestly as he stepped away and began to prepare his own corner of the kitchen to cook lunch for later.

"And what does it need to improve?" Rias knew that Shirou was the better cook of them both and every new dish she made she asked him opinion.

"No, it is excellent. You don't need to change anything." Rias stopped what she was doing and turned around to take a good look at his face. "Something wrong?"

"Testing to see if you are just trying to be nice." And as Shirou's face doesn't present any ticks, Rias returns to making breakfast as he prepares their school lunch.

"I wouldn't dare after the last time you complained about it." Shirou admitted with a little embarrassment.

Giggling a little at the memory of an event that happened just a few days ago, Rias comments, "You would, we both know it." She begins to hum a song as the both work on their dishes while from time to time helping each other.

That was another addition to Shirou's routine, he wasn't the sole responsible for meals in his house any longer. Similarly to their time during the training for the Rating Game, Rias took upon herself to take care of the morning meals allowing Shirou to sleep a little more after their nightly activities. Even if the two sleep at the same time, as a devil Rias always managed to get up earlier than him and that wasn't something he could dispute.

In reality he could try but it wasn't something that either him or Rias wanted. There were spells and methods that Shirou could employ to control his sleep and help him get up any time he wished. Rin was someone who used such methods 'for the sake of efficiency' and was a coffee addict to the point that Rias wasn't willing to let her lover try for the sake of his taste buds and to not have another addict of the black gold as the Tohsaka called it.

The Gremory Heiress already warned Rin more than once that if she showed up at school high on coffee or beyond exhausted she was going to organize an intervention and cut her coffee supply.

Seeing Rin struggle with her situation pretty much convinced Shirou that he can give up the kitchen for the mornings, he has enough time to make lunch and the evenings are still his so he was happy with the actual arrangement.

"Need some help?" Shirou asked after a couple of minutes separating the lunch boxes.

"No, it is fine. Also, are you sure that Kuro is coming back today?" Rias asked curiously after cleaning her hands a little before moving to cut some carrots. "I know you said to make extra but so far she didn't show up."

"She always drops by for breakfast… I don't think that is going to change." At least Shirou hoped it wouldn't but he would understand if it did. "But you should be getting ready for school as well."

"You aren't in uniform either." Rias pointed out to Shirou who had a blue shirt and black pants.

"These are the pants of my uniform. I am just missing the rest." Shirou watched as Rias pouted before speaking again. "Go get ready, I can finish things here today."

Throwing the carrot pieces in a pot, Rias made a magic circle above it to control the temperature. "Nah, most of it is done and is just a matter of finishing cooking." Taking off the apron, Rias approaches Shirou and kisses his cheek again. "I will change while you set the table."

"Fine by me." The magus collects the plates and walks to the living room only to notice Medusa already sitting in her place. "Good morning Medusa."

"Good morning Shirou." The little goddess was reading a book but placed it on the table for a moment to collect some of the plates. She didn't even need to ask as he gave her some of his burden and they started to set everything up. "Did you actually manage to sleep yesterday?"

To most people who would fall for the innocent face of a young girl, they wouldn't notice the teasing in her voice or how her small smile had a hint of mischief. "Yes, I did. We are settling in a rhythm at this point." Shirou replied with a little blush. "And you? Did the boundary field manage to keep the noise out this time?"

"Oh, I didn't hear Rias moaning this time but I could swear that the floor was shaking once in a while." His attempt to tease Medusa backfires as she doesn't even look bothered by the question. "But it wasn't anything that bothered me. Just not hearing you two screaming each others' names is enough."

'Trying to stop the teasing from someone that had two older siblings that were better at it than me? Am I an idiot?.' Shirou finished placing the last plate in its place. "I will… go get the food."

Medusa sat down again. "Is Rias' today again?" Shirou nodded in reply. "Pity she can't use Reinforcement." The purple haired girl doesn't bother to hide who she believed was the better cook

"But her food is still good." Despite the lack of direct use of magic, Rias' meals are all of good quality in Shirou's opinion.

"I suppose it is unfair to compare the two of you. Different approaches and such." Medusa admitted with some reluctance. "I still look forward to dinner."

"Fair enough." Shirou spoke with acceptance as someone else made their presence known. "Good morning Koneko."

"Morning." Koneko was already fully ready to go to school as she took her place on the table. Her face showed that she was already hungry but that wasn't anything new. "Did sensei arrive yet?"

The question was new for the white haired devil, only a couple of days old. Before the training camp when Yoruichi left, Koneko wouldn't ask nor mention the nekomata's departure or return.

Now Koneko missed the woman and was fully willing to admit it, something that warmed Shirou's heart and he couldn't help but pat her head. "I think she is coming back today but if she isn't I will try and call her." Koneko nods in gratitude as he steps back into the kitchen to check the food.

Understanding that his relationship with Rias may change Yoruichi's attitude towards him wasn't a problem, Koneko's acceptance however was another thing. For months the pure nekomata worked to get the little devil to open up and if Yoruichi left just after Koneko started to show a little more emotion, Shirou was going to have some harsh words to say to her.

He was completely willing to reach a compromise of some kind for Koneko's sake. Even if Yoruichi upon reflection decided that now she hated him, Shirou was willing to bear it for the white haired devil.

But there was nothing he could do without Yoruichi present and later on the day Shirou can only hope that she will answer her phone.

"Good morning~" Rias enters the living room ready for school and in a good mood. Her uniform is the summer variation without sleeves, the same kind Koneko was using.

A few minutes later and the table was set, food was spread around and with its smell the last known resident of the house made herself known. "Morning." Liz sounded still half asleep and her steps were slow but she still managed to find her place to sit.

"Morning." "Good morning Liz." "Good morning."

Another round of greetings passed and everyone got ready to eat but people refrained. Koneko would usually be the first to thank for the food and take the first bite but after Shirou gave her rice she looked to the empty place at the table and everyone noticed. Even Liz stopped to look at the small girl who was clearly a little sad.

"Oh good! I thought I was too late for breakfast!" The familiar baritone startled everyone a little but Koneko couldn't help herself but smiled as Yoruichi entered from the door of the garden. "Did you guys miss me?"

"You bet we did." Shirou pats Koneko's head who was showing how happy she was by the nekomata's arrival.

Standing up from her place, Koneko bows respectfully. "Welcome back, sensei."

"It is good to be back, little kitten." Youruichi declared with gentle eyes and a smile before glancing at Rias with some irritation.

She may be regretting having not paid attention before entering, months of treating Shirou's home as her own made Yoruichi drop her guard and just walk in without much thought. The fact that the boundary fields did an excellent job of keeping Rias' energy hidden inside the mansion didn't help.

But just a quick look at Koneko and the small smile that escaped the little devil's lips at her presence helped her to stay strong. There was also the fact that if she left now it would only raise questions from the Heiress of Gremory, questions that she knew would raise the pureblood suspicion about her true identity.

"I was afraid you would be too busy to come." It was a small confession from Shirou who was worried that Yoruichi wasn't coming back, he just refrained from saying it in full because of Koneko.

Yoruichi still got the message. "A lot of paperwork to do, nothing much." She noticed the empty seat but hesitated to jump in it. 'Rias moved in. Great. I didn't see that coming.' She couldn't keep out some of the sarcasm in her mind and just jumped in her seat.

The event was odd for most people on the table that were used to Yoruichi changing to her human form around the house or at least for the meals. Rias saw the confused reaction on Koneko's face and the concern on Shirou's. She was already connecting some dots on her head about a sneaking suspicion she had for sometime but refrained from saying anything for the moment to see what Yoruichi would do.

"Shirou, I will need you to prepare the food for me." The nekomata request was surprising but not new. Yoruichi never showed her true form around the ORC but she still ate with everyone else.

"I will go get one." Shirou prepared to get back to the kitchen but stopped when he heard a question

"Why don't you change into your more human form, sensei?" Koneko's voice was barely a whisper but it was one that managed to be heard by every resident in the house and even Shirou stopped to see the kind of excuse that Yoruichi would give.

In reality Yoruichi had none. Every single time Yoruichi ate at Shirou's house she did so in her true form, not fully as a yokai as she didn't let her tails or cat ears be exposed but fully human that one could only tell she wasn't one if they paid close attention to her eyes which glowed in the dark.

For a second Yoruichi thought about lying but quickly changed her mind. Koneko's question was a thoughtful one and she didn't want to betray the trust she worked so hard to earn.

"I am just in the mood to stay as a cat today." It was the best that Yoriuchi could come up with without giving a proper explanation that would expose her true identity.

Rias, realizing what was happening, began to smile and when Shirou began to move again to collect a proper plate to serve the nekomata he felt Rias hand holding his shirt. "You don't need to trade the dishes, Shiro. I think that Kuro is just being shy and we should convince her to transform and eat properly."

"What?" Shirou could only ask in shock and Medusa can only shake her head at noticing Rias' face.

'That is the same expression my sister had when they had an idea for a prank.' The goddess shrugged, deciding to take a bite of her food and watch. She was always in the mood for good entertainment.

"Why that suddenly, Rias-san?" Yoruichi asked politely but nervously. "You never requested that of me before."

"Hmm, true. You never showed us your true form either. At least in school. But by Koneko's reaction, you do it normally here." Rias looked around to make sure nobody was going to contest her words. "So please, don't let me bother you."

Rias was bringing up the fact that the only thing different that day was her presence, something that may imply she was offended.

Yet Yoruichi can see that she wasn't, if anything Rias was amused. "As I said, I just feel like staying as a cat today."

"If you are sure about that, lady Yoruichi." Rias takes a sip of her tea silently.

"Yes, I am… what?" Yoruichi managed to stop herself from talking as even Koneko was looking between her and her King in confusion.

"I don't like repeating myself, lady Yoruichi. If you are sure about staying as a cat, go ahead." Rias then looked at the nekomata with her amused smile still in place. "Is there something wrong?"

Yoruichi gave Rias a once over before letting out a sigh as her body grew and she revealed herself in her human form in her favorite outfit of orange and black. "When and how?"

"I had my suspicions for a while that 'Kuro' was someone important from Kyoto. I mean, I consider myself a generous employer but even I wouldn't just give Akeno half a month of vacation every month like you had." Rias informed casually as Shirou sat down in his place.

"I am sure I sent a request to have someone, a nekomata designated 'Kuro', stationed here for further investigation." Yoruichi made sure the request had gone through the proper channels too.

Rias already expected that to be brought up. "But neither Kuoh or Shirou's home weren't the centers of the 'curse' and even observing him alone was a little odd."

Yoruichi had thought about that too. "I could be doing more and you just didn't notice."

"Without sending either me or Sona reports of your findings or even news about the 'curse'?" That was one of the things she found odd and Rias could justify that argument with Sona being the one receiving those reports.

When Yoruichi facepalmed everyone knew that she had been caught. "I was counting on neither of you talking with each other about the reports." She lamented her laziness in keeping her cover but could only accept that it happened. "For a moment I thought that Akeno had talked." Rias raised an eyebrow at the mention of her Queen but said nothing for the moment. "I still doubt that it was the lack of a report that gave me away. That could be chalked up as incompetence."

"Oh, it wasn't. Honestly it was the little things that ended up adding up to a picture that was odd at best and suspicious at worst." Rias then begins to count up with a hand. "Your 'off days' activities were already weird but so was your proficiency. The whole training camp experience was a big hint now that I think about it. You were just too skilled and powerful to be a nobody that no one ever heard of." Which was true since Yoruichi does have a reputation in Japan. "There is also the fact that nekomatas are a rare type of yokai these days, there are too few of you for someone so powerful without shapeshifting back to their stronger form to be an unknown." Transformation magic wasn't something exclusive for yokais even if they are more proficient than most beings in certain aspects of it, her brother also could do it but he always ended up so weak that it wasn't worth transforming. "The biggest clue you gave me just now, your unwillingness to show me your human form. There aren't many reasons for you to do it and I could only think of a few motives. Except that everyone else here had seen it already which left only one."

Yoruichi could recognize Rias' thought process, she was always dropping hints that she was powerful and influential but the devil never could be fully sure who she was until Yoruichi hesitated to transform just because of her presence.

"Why did you lie?" Once Rias finished her explanation, Koneko asked the question to try and understand her mentor's reasons. The white haired devil looked distraught but Rias patted her head in a similar way to Shirou's to calm her down.

"That is because she was trying to avoid getting me and herself into trouble." Rias told her Rook gently, getting Yoruichi to raise an eyebrow. "The leader of a Faction just hanging around in a city not their own attracts attention. People can wonder either if said leader was negotiating an alliance or spying on foreign soil." Rias decided to try and go for the most simple explanation she could. "Despite the fact we are in Japan, Fuyuki belongs to the Devil Faction and while we can't stop people from entering it, a leader from another Faction is a whole different business." She smiled at Koneko before looking back to Yoruichi. "None of that means that she is here for anything malicious. Right, lady Shihoin?"

"Okay, no. That is a bit too much. Please tone down the formality already, Yoruichi is just fine." The nekomata replied with a small forced grin before looking at Koneko. "I never had any intention of lying to you little kitten, I just couldn't risk you telling Rias my true name."

Koneko looked confused and a little distressed so Rias placed a hand on her shoulder. "Understandable." The older devil told the small girl delicately. "Koneko, you must understand that if you had whispered her name, even by accident, to the wrong people, an investigation would need to be held to determine the reasons why she was here. Yoruichi is just that important to the yokai community."

Not wishing to confuse the former nekomata, Yoruichi lowered her head in repentance. "I am sorry that I didn't tell you who I really was but I promise that, nothing I ever told you was a single lie." Koneko looked at the nekomata with forgiveness but then she looked at her King.

Regardless of her new attitude towards Yoruichi, Koneko's loyalty was first to Rias before anyone else and the white haired devil felt relief when her King nodded reasuredly. "She was doing her best for you while trying to keep her cover. I also can confirm that she wasn't doing it with any malicious intent so you don't need to worry about that."

Looking back to Yoruichi, Koneko smiled. "I understand, sensei."

There was no mistake that Koneko wasn't upset with Yoruichi and that allowed the nekomata to breathe a sigh of relief before asking, "What now?"

Rias smiled a little. "Now you sit down properly and we eat."

"That is it? Not even an interrogation for why I am here or what are my intentions?" Yoruichi raised a skeptical eyebrow but Rias wasn't bothered.

"I already said that I believe your intentions are pure." Rias replied with her smile still in place. "You don't need to worry about Sona. I won't tell her or anyone else that Shihoin Yoruichi has been the yokai watching our territory, it doesn't bother me one bit." Then an idea came to her head to help ease the older woman's concerns. "I will even say that any report you had made was sent in my direction, this way in case Sona or somebody asks around I can just say that you had nothing important to report."

"Really? Are you sure? I admit that I haven't been investigating as much as I could-"

"Shirou is the last person affected by the curse alive, correct?" Everybody noticed how the magus flinched at the reminder but said nothing. "Then you are keeping him safe and that, for me, is enough to give you a free pass." Rias opened her arms wide, almost asking for a hug. "Welcome to Fuyuki, where strange things happen more often than we would like."

"Nyahahaha! That is bold, Rias! Really bold!" Yoruichi said with humor and even got up and both women did end up hugging. "If you are sure then I will do my best to enjoy your hospitality."

"Of course I am sure." The two step away from each other. "You helped my friends and myself more than once. As far as I am concerned, you are always welcome." Then Rias turned to Shirou. "Although someone else was already welcoming you to his home way before."

Shirou smiled nervously at the accusation. "Well, she is a dear friend."

"Did you hear that, Rias? I am just a 'dear friend'." Yoruichi commented with a chuckle.

"Oh I heard it alright. Don't worry, I think we can teach him proper manners. But maybe we can talk a bit more later during tea? I think I never had the chance to entertain you like that before." A chill ran on Shirou's spine before both of the women sat down back on their places.

"It will be my pleasure." Yoruichi accepted easily as she started getting some food for herself.

"I may need to tell at least Akeno about you so she can make the tea. Or maybe not, I can ask for a little extra just before she leaves for her contracts. That will not give her enough time to ask any questions."

The plan was good and Yoruichi felt a bit bad about raining on Rias' parade. "Ah, Akeno already knows."

A pause and then Rias looked at Shirou who quickly raised his hands in defense. "I didn't know that."

"Is there anyone else in our group that knows? Besides the ones that should like Setsuna, Liz… anyone else?" Rias was already planning to have words with Akeno after that little revelation.

"Rin knew too." Yoruichi helpfully informed Rias with a feline smile.

"Everyone on the Rearguard Incident I can understand. I also remember seeing Rin flinching or hesitating to talk about you from time to time." Rias read those reports more than once, the moment she figured out Yoruichi's identity she knew Rin had to know.

"Then that is all." Yoruichi took a bite of the food and immediately her smile grew smaller. "You made this?"

"Yes…" Rias replied with some reluctance.

"It 's good. Better than at the camp." The redhead devil was excited by the praise when Yoruichi's smile grew wide again. "But Shirou's still better." She returned to eat but Rias just shrugged.

"That is why he makes the dinners." Rias sat down again and after a quick gratitude from some of the table everyone began to eat.

'Pity. I expected more entertainment.' Medusa thought with a shrug before turning on the TV.

'I just hope that was the worst of the day.' Shirou knew he was deluding himself. His luck wasn't that good.

…..

School was normal for the most part, while the ORC had to catch up with homework and some school work they had no real troubles. The exam period wasn't there yet so nothing important happened there on those ten days.

What happened after was a different story. "So you guys already told everyone that you two are in a relationship?" Yoruichi was sitting in Shirou's lap during the car ride. Rias had a small frown on her face when she saw the nekomata just jumping there but she could do nothing from the backseat. Without destroying the car. "Damn, I wish I was there for that conversation."

"It wasn't much, really." Shirou tried to shrug it off but it was clear he was lying.

"Yeah, no one is going to believe that. Can someone give me the highlights so I can judge that for myself?" Yoruichi asked the rest of the car and for the first time the whole day Rias looked upset.

"Setsuna didn't like the news." Liz was the first to speak, her eyes still ahead as they stopped at a traffic light. "She looked sad."

That almost damped the mood of the whole car but Medusa felt that they should keep going. "Rin hit her forehead hard after going into a rant about how Shirou 'used his pact to get on Rias' pants'." Some chuckles and smiles later, the goddess continued. "Luvia hasn't been back in the clubroom for a couple of days."

"I talked to her, she said she was busy with other things." Shirou frowned when he remembered the conversation. "She still shows up for lunch but usually she is gone like a flash." He joked while patting Yoruichi's head.

"So not that much upset. What else?" Yoruichi leaned on his touch while Koneko spoke.

"The pervert looked ready to have a heart attack." The bluntness of her tone showed no concern whatsoever for that fact.

"You don't need to call Ise like that, Koneko. He earned his spot on the team." Rias patted the head of the girl at her side.

"He is a member of the team and I can trust him in a fight." Koneko stated confidently. "But he is still a pervert."

"Good enough I suppose." Rias knew that was the best she was going to get. "As Koneko was saying, Issei was surprised by the news but congratulated us with Kiba and Asia."

'Something is fishy about that statement.' Yoruichi noticed with a smile. "And Akeno? What was her reaction?"

"Oh, yes… Akeno's reaction." Rias grumbled under her breath and Shirou blushed hard, making Yoruichi realize she hit the nail on the head. "She…"

"She declared she wasn't going to give up on Shirou and pretty much declared war on Rias." Medusa was very amused that day. "She even said that now that Shirou was in a relationship with Rias just made her more determined and that 'taking a taken man sounds too exciting to pass up'. After that she kissed him on the cheek and teleported to a client."

"That sounds like Akeno alright." Yoruichi commented with a small laugh, also noticing Rias' sour face. "Hope you weren't too upset with her."

"No, no, no. Just a little frustrated." It was clear that Akeno managed to get under Rias' skin. "I mean, why is she going after another woman's man? Wasn't there supposed to be a code against that?"

"Would a devil even follow said code?" Yoruichi asked with legitimate curiosity.

"We at least have the concept of asking permission first… " Rias couldn't deny the open nature of most devils' relationships.

"Anything else anyone wants to add?" Yoruichi was having too much fun to stop now.

"Shirou and Rias are sleeping in the same room every night."

"Medusa!" Rias sounded upset by the 'revelation'. She was trying to be sensitive to Yoruichi's feelings.

"Oh, so we are having company then?" The nekomata asked with a smile that had Rias glaring at her.

"'We'?" Rias didn't like the implication of that word.

"Yes, I was sharing Shirou's futon way before you arrived at his house." Yoruichi knew that compared to what Rias did to Shirou that night in the forest, or even over the last few days if she was reading the situation properly, she pretty much did nothing but the shock on Rias' face was gratifying. "So technically you are the newcomer in our bed."

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Rias made an effort to at least try to not fall for the provocation. 'It is just teasing Rias. No reason to get annoyed or upset. Just breathe.'

After a beat, Yoruichi was the one who asked, "Are you alright, Rias?"

"Yes, just dandy." The pureblood devil replied with a smile.

"You sure? Because I think I saw a shade of red aura around you for a moment?" Yoruichi pointed out.

"No, I am fine." Rias continued to smile.

"I believe that if she was really losing control then the car would have already blown up." Medusa was glad to change the subject considering that even if she saw no aura, Rias' smile was starting to bother her.

"I wouldn't do that. I care too much for the people in the car." Rias said with confidence as her face relaxed and her smile turned gentle. "Yoruichi, I have no problem with sharing a bed with Shiro. You are someone that I respect and I owe you a debt I can't repay." Silently she added. 'More than one really.'

"Thank you?" Yoruichi was surprised by the change of attitude.

"However I ask that if you are going to do something with him, something more adult, that you please at least talk with me first." Rias spoke with all the dignity of a noble and Shirou was blushing even harder now.

"About my sleeping arrangements… Do we need to change anything?" Yoruichi probbed gently, respecting the fact that Rias indeed was in a more physical relationship with Shirou.

She didn't know if it was respect or gratitude that made her reply as she did but Rias surprised herself when she said, "No, I think I don't mind you sleeping with him during your stay. He certainly will wake up early to make breakfast which is a plus for everyone."

"Rias, are you sure about this?" Shirou made sure to turn to look his lover in the eyes but she wasn't detained. Despite that he was still concerned about what she was really thinking. "If it bothers you-"

"I would have said it out loud. You don't need to worry about that." Rias was happy that Shirou was trying to make sure she was fine with everything. "I think we all can agree that I am getting better at expressing myself when something bothers me."

"That she is. She wouldn't have demanded you two to go on a date otherwise." Medusa was having so much fun by watching the reactions at her words; Shirou blushing, Rias now more confident as Yoruichi was something between shock and acceptance but she was keeping an eye on Shirou with some suspicion.

Even Liz, despite her face giving nothing, was clearly paying attention to every word as her hands threatened to rip off the steering wheel.

"Out of curiosity, how was the date?" Yoruichi could tell that there was something up when Shirou stopped petting her and Rias actually blushed.

"They are perverts." Koneko quickly slapped her hands over her mouth but the words were already said.

"Koneko!" Now Rias' whole face was as red as her hair as Yoriuchi connected the dots.

"So in a hotel or in the open?" Yoruichi knew that Koneko's senses were good because of her heritage and the implication was clear.

The nekomata looked to her assured ally in this conversation as Medusa was happy to indulge in the cat's curiosity. "After they came back around the afternoon their clothes were a little wrinkled and Rias looked really satisfied for some reason." The goddess spoke slowly, getting some sadistic pleasure at how all of Rias' blood was going to her head. "Then Koneko took a good look at them, blushed and ran to her room."

"Medusa, please stop." Shirou pleaded with the goddess and she just smiled slightly before relaxing on her seat. She already had her fun.

"And they came back in the middle of the afternoon?" Yoruichi asked for clarification and she didn't need a reply, the couple's face telling her everything. "Not even a hotel room? How bold."

"It is not your business where we do our thing." Rias tried to come up with something better to defend her dignity but she just couldn't.

Not that would help much as Yoruichi already had made her mind and began to laugh at the implication. Rias and Koneko both blush further at the nekomata's laugh, Shirou had to struggle a little to stop Yoruichi from falling but she wouldn't have minded with just how much fun she was having with the whole thing.

"Can't wait to talk with Akeno about this, nyahahaha." Yoruichi finally managed to say.

"Don't you dare." Now it was without a doubt Rias had an aura of power around her, the promise of destruction filling the car at the potential of more teasing.

"Fine, fine. I won't." Yoruichi was still laughing a little but Rias quickly calmed down.

"Good, because if word gets out to Akeno somehow, I will withhold Shirou's food for a week." Rias declared with a small smile, she knew she won the moment that Yoruichi flinched.

"So cruel, Buchou." Koneko's comment earned nods from Medusa and Liz who were in full agreement.

"Good. Better if everyone remembers their proper place." Rias crossed her arms, feeling secure in her position.

"Rias, that is not fair with Yoruichi." But there was still someone who could challenge her and Shirou wasn't going to let someone starve for his food in his home.

"Shiro… are you going to let Yoruichi tease me?" Seeing her lover ready for a discussion, Rias immediately changes tactics and makes herself appear innocent.

"What? No but she isn't-"

"She was going to tell Akeno, Shiro. Can you deal with more of her advances combined with her teasing?" And Rias knew exactly which buttons to press with her magician turned lover.

It wasn't that Akeno bothered him, quite the contrary, Shirou was flattered by most of her actions towards him. They were never invasive and were full of care. Akeno may not be as outspoken as Rias with her feelings at the moment but she made sure that Shirou always knew she appreciated him.

Even after the explanation, Akeno refused to back down from her passion and Shirou was left in a spot he didn't know what to do. Rias didn't like Akeno's teasing or her process but saw it as mostly harmless and didn't forbid her Queen from doing it.

But with Yoruichi on the fray, Rias was quick to mark a line on the sand for the nekomata to not cross because she knew something about Akeno, something that someone could only learn after years of knowing each other; the Queen couldn't resist provoking or teasing someone, it was just her sadistic nature manifesting in small ways.

"But she won't." Shirou said decisively, turning to Yoruichi to make sure they both were on the same page.

"Does Akeno know that you two-"

""Yes."" Both Shirou and Rias said at the same time. "But she doesn't need to know the details." Rias insisted a moment after with a blush and looking to the side.

After a short deliberation, Yoruichi made up her mind. "I still get to sleep with Shirou while here?" Rias nodded her head. "Then I won't be giving her any details." The pureblood devil looked very relieved at the concession. "Especially not how you two had a tussle in a park."

"How do you-" Now Rias was the one closing her own mouth with her hands as everyone looked at her with mixtures of shock and amusement.

"Really? It was a shot in the dark. Nyahaha!" Yoruichi's admission only made Rias feel worse as Shirou facepalmed weakly.

"We arrived." Liz's announcement silenced everyone but Shirou noticed something odd.

"Liz… we are still outside of the school." The magus' words made the white haired adult look ahead and blink in surprise.

"I see." She turns the ignition and the car begins to move again. "My apologies."

"It is fine." Shirou found what happened weird but with everyone more calm now he could only breathe a sigh of relief. 'I can only hope for a normal school day after all this.'

…..

Shirou found himself relieved because school was the same as always.. Friends talked, people complained about classes and things were mostly normal. The most active teacher, the Tiger of Fuyuki, was running to her classroom, managing to arrive seconds before she was late.

During lunch everyone from the ORC joined together to welcome Yoruichi back. There they also talked about the Rating Game and some of the consequences about it. It was noted that Luvia remained busy most of the time with her cell phone in hand as she was making calls constantly for the last few days.

When somebody asked why she was so busy, the Finnish magus just smiled and said 'family business'. That quickly was followed with a side comment that unnerved Tohsaka and both of them were butting heads.

Yet some still noticed that soon Luvia's focus returned to her phone and her eyes were determined. More than once people asked what kind of family business she was conducting but she always dismissed everyone with her usual laugher.

Even Shirou was unable to get anything from her and when lunch ended, Luvia did as she had been doing for days and rushed off to her classes. Once the school day was over she would jump in her limousine and quickly leave the premises.

Most of their group decided to respect the blonde's magus privacy, Rias even joking that Luvia was somehow planning to buy Fuyuki from the devils so she could kick Rin out of town, much to Tohsaka's horror.

The normality of the day helped Shirou settle down and forget about the scare he had during the morning.

"Kiba, no. Enough is enough." It was only after school activities were over that Shirou's blood pressure started to go up again.

"Come on, Shirou! Just one more time." Kiba almost begged as he and the redhead were on the outside of the ORC.

It was time for training, a normal activity for them in all accounts but some things had changed, for the worse in Shirou's opinion.

Standing in front of the club with Shirou and Kiba were a nervous Issei and a silent Setsuna. Those were the ones who trained almost everyday with each other, Issei being a new addition. After the Rating Game and his performance, everyone agreed that the actual Red Dragon Emperor didn't need the 'kids gloves' anymore and that he was strong enough to train with the main fighters of the group.

Koneko usually trained with them but with Yoruichi around the little girl opted to train with the nekomata and Liz usually doesn't train at all, prefering to rest and relax during the training hours.

Rias and Akeno did start to train with them as well but they mostly trained with each other on certain days, much like Rin and Luvia only on a greater scale, to avoid the risk of leveling the forest and potentially the school as Shirou even had to stop them one time.

Shirou and Rias still manage to get one on one sections in his home both in strategy and meditation almost everyday which the redhead knew was going to change with Yoruichi around and his training in touki.

That wasn't even close to the magus' mind at the moment as his main problem was his friend who really wasn't listening to his concerns. "Kiba, we have been sparring with each other every day for weeks and you always ask to fight Bakuya. Get some rest." But Shirou knew at this point that his words fell into deaf ears.

"But I am close, Shirou. Just a little more and I will be able to make a sword stronger than that Noble Phantasm." Kiba's words were sincere as the Knight of Gremory really believed them.

Problem was that Shirou had already heard them once yesterday and the day before. "How close do you need to be from dying before you take a break?" What bothered the magus more was that he was the one almost killing Kiba every day. "Just yesterday Asia had to spend an hour putting your arm back in place."

"You aren't trying to kill me." Kiba pointed out. "And unless you bring the original Bakuya here and lend it to Setsuna, you are the only one that I can fight to finish my new sword."

"I can't believe they are at it again." Issei commented on the side as he and Setsuna watched the interaction. Looking up to the club he could see that Rias was also watching with a shake of her head and a disappointed look. "Buchou also doesn't like Kiba acting like this. Why doesn't she do something?"

"I don't know." Setsuna admitted with a frown as the situation had become routine for them. "But maybe she agrees that this is the best way for the best."

"Or maybe she is trusting Shirou because they are banging." Issei commented with a chuckle and some jealousy only for a shadow to cover Setsuna's eyes. "Ah, sorry. I'm gonna shut up now."

[Smooth partner. Smooth.]

"But you are right. Lovers tend to trust more in each other." And now Issei was hoping that Shirou would manage to convince Kiba to change training partners for the day because by the look Setsuna was giving him, she was not going to offer mercy.

[You should be more careful to not run your mouth, partner.] Ddraig commented on Issei's head, after the Rating Game he also revealed he could talk through the Boosted Gear but this way was more private and safe for his host. [Someday, someone will try to kill you for real because of it.]

'I know, I just couldn't help it.' Part of the reason why was because Issei couldn't help but envy Shirou's situation.

The Pawn wasn't one to lie to himself and in his opinion Rias was one of, if not the most, beautiful woman he had ever seen. Either born of lust or real interest, Issei more than once dreamed of her and could admit, at least to himself and the dragon who shares his soul, that if he had the chance he wanted to have a relationship deeper than that of a Pawn's and his King.

But now she was in a relationship with Shirou and Issei already understood that it was the kind of relationship that neither side was willing to let go.

Shirou was the more subtle of the two and anyone who didn't pay attention would say that his attitude didn't change at all. But everyone on the ORC could see that he was paying more attention to Rias; an extra touch, an extra care, how his words gained a gentleness when talking to her.

They still had a discussion once during the week after the Rating Game and Issei watched as that didn't seem to change much as the two were still unable to do something about Kiba's new attitude. Rias had said they would discuss at home and the next day Shirou was more tolerant at the blond's advances to fight against his new Noble Phantasm.

Koneko had confirmed to the others that the two of them had a heated discussion about Kiba in their house and that Shirou decided to relent, agreeing with Rias' side of the argument. But the next day nobody could tell he had lost the debate as from time to time he would hold the pureblood devil's hand gently, something Rias clearly adored.

However Issei's eyes were always on Rias for the most part and he could see the changes on her everytime she was in Shirou's presence, her eyes were full of love that she wanted to give Shirou were enough to spark envy on the brown haired Pawn's chest. It was a love without measure and it was all for the magus alone.

Issei knew that Rias loved her peerage, every single one of them, but the looks that she has for Shirou was on a whole other level. She was just more bright when Shirou entered a room and much like this day, Issei could notice her paying more attention when Shirou was training or not.

Once when Rias didn't have much to do she just moved to his workshop and, from what Issei heard from Liz, just sat there and talked to him while he worked. He didn't know what the conversation was about but just the fact that Rias was willing to ignore the heat of the place to just stay close to Shirou told him that where Shirou was would always be comfortable enough for her.

[Don't worry that much about it, partner. There are 'plenty of fish in the sea' as you humans like to say.] Ddraig spoke in support but his attention was still on the discussion between magus and Knight.

'I know. I just, kinda, wish that I had someone that cared for me like Buchou cares for Shirou.' Issei couldn't help but be jealous of the attention that the redhead magus was getting. 'Seriously though, besides her, Shirou also has Koneko-chan and Liz-sensei living at his house! It is like he is trying to get a harem or something! That is not even talking about the others in the club!'

Issei wasn't that dumb to noticed why Setsuna was frustrated with the present situation and if Akeno's teasing wasn't a clear indication of what she wanted the Pawn was going to eat his own shoe.

[You are just upset that he is getting your dream first. Effortlessly I might add.] Setsuna noticed how Issei's shoulders suddenly dropped in depression but her gaze moved back to Kiba still trying to convince Shioru. Meanwhile, Ddraig was laughing inside his host's head. [You shouldn't be rushing such things. You are a dragon! And my host! Keep working in your strength and one day you are going to have women falling all over you!]

'I'm a devil, not a dragon.' Issei pointed out but Ddraig decided to ignore it.

[Besides, doesn't that nun look at you with a similar adoration?] Ddraig's reminder of Asia made Issei nervous.

'What? Asia? No, she cares about everyone and is just nice in general.' Issei commented as he turned back towards the discussing pair where Shirou was massaging his temples while Kiba kept making arguments to fight against Bakuya.

[That sounds weak, partner. Really weak.] Ddraig almost sounded disappointed. [Every partner that I ever had before was more confident than this. That is what you need! Confidence!]

'Don't I need to act more like a dragon?' Issei asked sarcastically.

[What is more confident than a dragon?] Ddraig played straight and asked back instantly. [You aren't denying that she cares for you.] Ddraig pointed out seriously. [So why don't you try and talk with her about it? If she likes you then you have nothing to fear.]

'Ddraig, I get that you are trying to help-"

"Will you die for me?"

"-but I don't think Asia likes me like that, she is just being nice." Just talking about the subject was enough to unnerve Issei and the dragon paid close attention to it.

The original Red Dragon Emperor thought deeply about what his host just said and decided to let it go for the moment. [As you say partner, as you say.]

"Just one more time, Shirou." Seeing as the magus wasn't about to relent and that night was arriving, Kiba was starting to grow desperate. "After today I promise to not ask you to train with Bakuya ever again."

Shirou could see by Kiba's expression that the blond once again looked more desperate than he ever saw before and started to rub his chin. "You aren't going to ask for it again?"

"I won't." Kiba replied but Shirou wasn't believing him. There was a mania behind the Knight's eyes that bothered the redhead.

Looking at his other friends, Shirou noticed Setsuna not meeting his eyes and sighed. Things would be easier if the girl was willing to train with him but he couldn't blame her.

The hanyou never hid her feelings for him and Shirou's new relationship with Rias wasn't exactly received warmly by her. Sure they act normal around each other but Shirou could see how much Setsuna hesitated to talk with him or request anything.

Like training together. With the situation he was in with Kiba, Shirou hoped that Setsuna would bail him out on the first day but she hesitated to train with him and with the Knight only wanting to train with him and no one else, Shirou felt he was stuck.

In reality he wasn't stuck, Shirou could reject Kiba or ask Issei to be his training partner for the day but he also had Rias to consider. His lover asked him to indulge Kiba after she told him the story of how his friend became her Knight.

It was the sympathy with his friend that pushed Shirou to try and help him, first by accepting the challenges and then to try and convince Kiba to stop. Shirou knew that fighting Bakuya was helping Kiba in a way, the Knight always leaving their confrontations middle satisfied even if exhausted.

Yet he also knew that it was just superficial. After Rias told him the origin of Kiba's issue, Shirou grew concerned that they were not really solving the problem but just masking it as his friend grew frustrated with every failure in his attempts of truly surpassing Bakuya.

Unfortunately Shirou can't see a permanent solution, regardless of how much he wants to help. 'Rias, I swear that sooner or later I will end up knocking Kiba out for some peace and quiet. Even my patience has limits.' Because the redhead was sure that Kiba wouldn't be able to keep his promise. "Fine."

It felt like a surrender to Shirou but Kiba looked happy as he took a few steps back from Shirou to prepare.

Looking towards his other two friends, Shirou noticed that Setsuna was already stepping away and Issei was following right behind. Another thing he noticed was that the girl hadn't been using the naginata he had given her this whole time.

'If I ever get the chance to meet whoever said that time heals all wounds I am cutting them in half.' Shirou sighs again and takes a deep breath to focus himself. 'I hate this.'

Not even Shirou himself knows what he was complaining about; the situation with Setsuna or Kiba insistence on facing Bakuya. Neither situation was easy for different reasons and he didn't need the confusion right now.

Training with Kiba used to be something Shirou could call fun, both could create swords with different powers and they could use them in hundreds of ways which always made the fights interesting.

Not anymore as Kiba summoned his gray sword, a sword that Shirou has grown really familiar with for the past week and a half despite its inconsistent appearance. "Have you thought of a name yet?" He asked the blond while holding back a groan.

"Not really.." Kiba was pleasant enough to be around for now but Shirou knew that was about to change.

Looking back at the sword, Shirou tried to use Structural Analysis on it for the hundredth time but the information he received was some sort of a blank. He could read the material and see that it was a blade born from Sword Birth in a moment of rage and despair and that was about it.

Nothing else came to Shirou's mind besides the impression of those emotions and a feeling of dread that always unsettled him but the Guardian of Medusa knew that the worse was still to come. "Any idea what it can do?" Shirou probed his friend and the Knight looked a little bashful.

"Not yet. Didn't you get anything when I lend one for you to study?." Kiba lifted the sword to look at it as Shirou shook his head.

"It is a strong metal but not really that different from the others from Sword Birth that you let me study before." Shirou watched as Kiba took a few experimental swings. "I suppose it hasn't changed since last time?"

It took a moment for Kiba to reply but he eventually did. "Same weight and shape without a doubt." He took a couple more experimental swings. "Definitely this is its last iteration."

Shirou nodded with a frown at the sword and Kiba's obsession with it. "I am starting to hate your sacred gear." Kiba chuckled at Shirou's confession. "Even you have no idea what that thing can do. Talk about annoying. No other sword ever gave me this much headache, even if some gave me nightmares." The last part was a mumble that Kiba couldn't hear. 'My dreams have been weird and all over the place lately. The pegasus looks to be closer to the ground and feels a little different.'

Unaware of his friend's thoughts, Kiba focused on his sword. "When I used one of them in the Rating Game it had an aura that was stronger than anything that I had before. But since then ..." Holding the sword vertically, Kiba's hand slowly studies the blade, sliding on its smooth surface with interest. "It was a more simple sword too."

"That it was." Shirou remembered the shape it had during the Rating Game but ever since they returned to Fuyuki and Kiba started to train with it the sword started to change apparently on its own.

He couldn't tell if it was Kiba unconsciously making alterations as he gets used to the weapon or if it had some other reason for its new form but it was more defined and unique than from the first time the Knight created it.

Now the gray sword was bigger than before, not by much in reality but it was now almost as taller as Kiba himself. Instead of a bastard sword, Shirou would call it a huge scimitar but there were too many things that made it different from any scimitar he ever saw.

The blade was long, some of the blade even passing the handle somewhat, its blunt side wouldn't cut its owner but the weapon would protect him from any attempts of getting to his fingers while also capable of attacking anyone who got too close.

All in all Shirou would describe the sword almost like a dark moon, complete with curves and everything but an ability neither he or Kiba had any idea how to use.

'Doesn't have its own name, looks more dangerous than any sword Kiba ever made before, can't forget that it was born from rage and despair. Everything about that sword screams 'cursed'.' Shirou observed carefully, his eyes turning to the side to regard Rias who was still observing from the window. 'She is also concerned about it. Not that I blame her.'

Another sigh escaped Shirou's lips as he prepared. With a flick of his wrist Bakuya appears without fanfare, the mana of his circuits practically jumping off his body to form the sword, a phenomena that Shirou can't properly understand but wouldn't complain as the white blade was now firmly on his right hand.

The reaction was immediate as Kiba's whole posture became rigid and his eyes gained an edge that was already familiar to Shirou and he didn't even bother to hold back another sigh.

'And this is with a sword whose aura resembles Holy. I don't even want to see how Kiba will react if a real Holy Sword shows up around here.' Shirou saw that Rias noticed that too and was shaking her head in disappointment. 'We need a better solution than just indulging him.' Shirou assumes a proper posture with his body to the side and Bakuya in front of him. "Remember your promise."

"Don't worry, I will." Kiba was holding his sword with both hands. The handle was big enough that he could do it easily with plenty of space left and the weight of his sword wasn't much of a problem. "Because I will defeat it today!"

'And here we go.' That wasn't the first time Kiba declared his victory or charged at Shirou indiscriminately. The redhead already expected all that and Kiba's attack didn't impress him as Bakuya easily intercepted the sword coming from Shirou's left.

Already showing how much he was growing used to his unnamed sword, Kiba goes to push Shirou back and the magus refuses to challenge the heavier weapon.

Kiba then proceeds with fast swipes with his sword, Bakuya intercepting every single attack without much effort from the magus' part. Shirou knew that was an illusion, Kiba was purposely hitting the traced Noble Phantasm with gusto and the redhead can at least admit to himself that the sacred gear's sword was probably the best blade Kiba ever made.

However Bakuya wasn't a weak weapon and Shirou was a better user than Karlamine. Despite him being on the defensive, Shirou made sure his arm was firm as every impact was followed by a loud sound and the air was disrupted by their hits.

If it was any other of Kiba's swords most would have already broken against Bakuya but the gray blade remains steady despite Shirou Reinforcing his arm for every clash.

After a few more seconds Shirou looked at the swords between them, still just using just one arm while Kiba was trying to push him back with both. "You done?" The redhead questioned not with malice but impatience. Not getting a response, he placed his other hand on Bakuya. "My turn."

Shirou pushed Kiba back with his whole body and the Knight had to scramble to stop a cut from the side. It was the part of the blade above the handle that stopped it but Shirou was already expecting that result.

He had allowed it to happen.

Without commenting or changing his expression, the redhead pushed Bakuya by the side of the unnamed sword until he arrived at its center. Then Shirou quickly hit the center of the sword twice like if the Noble Phantasm was a hammer and he was working in the forge.

Cracks began to form and Kiba placed his hand on the back of his sword to try and push Shirou back with a steadier grip. The redhead allowed him to push Bakuya just enough to make Kiba lower his guard as he moved the Noble Phantasm to the side of the gray sword and then pushed it with all the strength of his Reinforced arm as he forced the weapon to the side.

Not being given a choice, Kiba abandoned the giant sword as it flew away from him and got stuck in a tree. 'Are you going to use another sword now?' That was Shirou's hope, he didn't want his friend using that cursed thing but words weren't working. They haven't in a while.

Kiba wasn't detained and another unnamed gray sword was already in his hands as he kicked a tree to jump back in Shirou's direction. The redhead would have sighed again but was too busy with the white Noble Phantasm clashing against the gray sword. The Knight was getting really good at using its weight to his advantage.

Shirou was back at using only one hand to hold Bakuya, it was how the sword was meant to be wielded and while he lacked another sword to complement it the Noble Phantasm reacted better this way.

'I really wish you played with others a little better.' Shirou half jokingly criticized his weapon before turning his focus back on the fight as he deflected Kiba attack and jumped to the side to evade the follow up. 'He really isn't suited for that sword.' The thought showed up just in time for Shirou to block another attack.

From what Shirou could recall it has been a week since he told Kiba that his new sword didn't mesh well with his fighting style only to be completely ignored. He didn't know if it was the negativity on the sword or Kiba's own stubbornness but his suggestion of at least modifying the sword purposely was completely shut down.

That was why Shirou was sure that any change was unconscious from Kiba's part, because he wasn't willing to change it himself.

A few parries later and Shirou deflected the sword to the side and pushed Kiba back with his shoulder which gave him enough time to look at the blond's eyes. 'This really isn't working.' The thought only served to make him sad as he took a few steps back to give the Knight time to recover. 'He looks so afraid.'

It was the thing that really bothered Shirou, despite Kiba's gray sword being one born of rage, the only emotion that the Knight was displaying was fear.

The first day Kiba showed everyone the sword without name he was proud of it and determined to master the thing. Not that Shirou could help much, the information he got from the sword never changed even if it did and the Knight himself had no clue on how to use the aura from the Rating Game.

As Shirou blocked another attack and kicked Kiba's leg to throw him off balance, the redhead tried to remember when fear became the most prominent emotion in their spars; it was in the second day.

Much like now, Shirou had used Bakuya against Kiba at his request. At the time the magus didn't really know how to use the Noble Phantasm properly, it was the kind of weapon that worked better with another sword but refused to work with any other weapon that wasn't its destined one.

Shirou tried every other weapon he could imagine; spears, maces, staffs, daggers, whips, chains, halberds, naginatas, shields and even to use another copy of Bakuya. The white sword repealed all of them, some in ridiculous ways like once when he used a whip to tie a dummy and the sword changed direction to fully avoid cutting its target.

But Bakuya didn't reject the owner, only other weapons. So Shirou decided to put all the training with Liz and Yoruichi to good use and started applying martial arts with it. He could use his two hands on the sword but the Noble Phantasm itself wasn't made for that fighting style as he could barely get a couple of swings like that before his balance got ruined.

He was still not as good as any of the two specialists, or even Koneko who was becoming one, but if there was one thing that his spars with Kiba were helping Shirou with was working with his legs and hands.

Every memory of the sword, every prominent one at least, was one of it being used with one hand so that was how Shirou began to practice. That was how he won against Kiba every time.

Jumping back to allow the devil to recover his balance, Shirou noticed the determination entering Kiba's eyes. The problem was the fear, it was still there, hidden but there.

Kiba charged once again and Shirou deflected the first attack, letting the Knight pass by him before hitting the blond on the back with an elbow. His own speed became a weakness as Kiba had no means to stop himself from hitting the ground.

'Don't get up.' Shirou didn't say it but he didn't want this fight to continue. His wish was denied when Kiba abandoned the sword to do a flip to get some distance while making a new one of the same type. "Do you still want to keep going?"

Hearing the gentleness of Shirou's tone only made Kiba laugh with self pity. "I am not done yet." Kiba charged again but this time he didn't collide with Shirou, choosing to run around the redhead. "I just need a good hit."

"You know that is a lie. The one that needs a good hit is me." Shirou warned despite the fact it was the last thing he wanted to do. 'At least I am getting better at not cutting him by accident.'

It was the complete wrong way to fight with a sword. Every instinct, muscle and training wanted him to use the edge of Bakuya or at least the side to take Kiba down. Shirou tried the blunt side once, the huge purple wound on Kiba's back was enough for him to not try it again.

The worst part for him was that Shirou didn't know if that was all because Bakuya was just that strong or Kiba was that weak against it. 'Even in the Rating Game Bakuya was doing less damage. But that Knight didn't know how to use it either.'

And despite the fact that Shirou had only one of the Married Blades, he already understood Bakuya much better than Karlamine so his use was undeniably superior.

But Kiba wasn't helping him with his desperate, almost suicidal charges. Shirou was sure that if this was a real fight, his friend would already be dead. Afterall, Shirou already came close to killing him at least five times if he was taking this seriously.

As Kiba attacked again, part of Shirou wanted to scream, to shout at the Knight for his mistakes and his suicidal tendencies. Rias had complained about her Knight's attitude on the second spar they had, Shirou lost his patience on the third and the rest of their group had expressed their grievances many times after that.

Shirou just didn't have any anger on him any longer, all he did was swipe his leg against Kiba's and have him hit the ground again before delivering a kick that sent the blond back without his sword.

Only for another unnamed gray blade to show up a second after with no effort at all.

'Yet things could be a lot worse.' Shirou reminded himself as Kiba took a more defensive posture. 'Funny how he is still afraid, only not of me.' A glance at Bakuya reminded Shirou why he was doing this. 'But with his story, I can understand. At least while he is focusing on trying to beat me he isn't doing anything stupid.'

That was the main argument that Rias had, to keep indulging Kiba until he let everything out of his system or until he couldn't fight anymore. Unfortunately for them, Kiba was persistent and just kept going and going until he couldn't move.

Even when Shirou called quits the Knight pestered him while completely neglecting the job or school and the magus had to give in for his sake. At least after a day of fighting Kiba's mood improved the next day so both redheads agreed that was the best solution at the present.

Looking to the side, Shirou noticed Rias again, her expression was a sad one and he couldn't blame her. She agreed with him that wasn't a proper way to live but no one had any idea how to help Kiba.

Deciding that just letting Kiba have the initiative wouldn't help, Shirou looked at him with a frown before he began to charge. Kiba had no trouble following his movements but the response was still too slow.

Shirou was used to Kiba being the fastest of the two but with the much heavier sword compared to the Knight's usual fighting style he could barely react as Shirou punched him in the face.

Bakuya moved quickly on its owner's hand as Shirou did a little spin with it while his palm was hitting Kiba in the chest. The white sword then pulls the gray one back as Kiba was forced to let it go because of a knee on his stomach. The magus shows no mercy as he follows up with two fast punches on the blond's face.

Falling down once again, Kiba was already making another unnamed sword while not even thinking about anything else. This time Shirou was pursuing him and once he saw the gray sword again he attacked, Kiba barely on his feet when the swords collided.

"I am still on my first one." Shirou said in reference to Bakuya.

"I know. But I am close." Kiba said, determined as Shirou let himself be pushed back so he could get up. "I am so close to breaking that sword!" With that declaration, the Knight of Gremory began to push back as the two sides clashed.

Noticing the smile on Kiba's face, Shirou kept his focus on making the fight at least descently hard while not giving his all. 'Is this really the best solution?' The magus gave a half thought as Bakuya blocked the gray sword and Kiba dodged a kick. "You say you are close but I think you are mistaken."

"No, I am close! I can feel it!" Kiba throws an overhead swing that Shirou easily dodges, Bakuya coming close to cut the Knight in half before the tip handle hits his chest instead of the blade, sending the devil back.

"Your 'close' is more like a chasm between mountains." Shirou commented, knowing that his words were not going to work.

"You will see… I will break that sword." Kiba standed up, fear back in his eyes but buried it with his determination. Shirou glanced at the unnamed weapon and saw no change.

'It is almost like the sword itself is incomplete.' Shirou almost couldn't comprehend the thought that popped up in his own mind but it made too much sense to him. "Give me a Noble Phantasm anyday. I swear sacred gears are just needlessly complicated." Hearing his friend's words just made Kiba smile as the confidence in his sword grew and he charged for a new attack.

But its power remained the same, it was still just a sword born out of anger and even if Bakuya couldn't just break it, Shirou could still easily deflect it and kick Kiba back.

Getting up again, the Knight declared to the heavens. "You will see. My sword will surpass your Noble Phantasm! It will surpass any weapon!"

"Your fighting style with it is still crap." Shirou spoke honestly.

"But I am getting better." Kiba replied, unnamed sword ready again.

"Arguably." The redhead chose to say. "You are growing more used to it but you but that sword is far away from challenging a true legend." Kiba took the criticism with a smile and attacked again but wasn't Shirou's done. "You know that won't just happen, don't you?"

"Why wouldn't it? You, a human, managed to challenge a god. Why can't I, a devil, surpass a legend?" Both swords clash again two more times before Shirou locks them in place, his hand on the back of Bakuya.

"Not with how you are fighting." Shirou was sure of that at the very least. "That sword just doesn't fit you, Kiba. Not only that but it gives me a bad feeling."

"It is a demonic sword. If a human liked its presence then I would be worried about their mental health." Kiba pushes Shirou back but Emiya backhands him on the exit, forcing the Knight to retreat more.

"You know it is more than that." Shirou had already said all that but he tried again for the sake of his friend. Not bothering to really pay attention to Shirou's words, Kiba attacks again and the redhead has no choice but to block. "You are neglecting everything else, Kiba. Just focusing on that sword is making you weaker."

Finally Kiba showed a different reaction as he glared at the magus. "It is making me stronger." He said with a grunt but Shirou didn't move despite his efforts. "Besides growing in power I am also getting stronger in body. Creating this sword time and time again is making me quicker with my sacred gear and every time I create it I use less mana than before."

"That is true." Shirou admitted before beginning to push Kiba back and then kicking his leg to force the Knight down. Bakuya was on his neck an instant later. "But that is all it is doing." Both stared at each other for a moment before Shirou asked, "Have you created any other sword besides this one in the last few days?"

"I don't need any other sword." Kiba tried to get up but Bakuya got closer to his neck. Both knew a cut from the Noble Phantasm like this would probably be fatal. "It is my strongest sword. I don't need any other, just to master this one." Jumping to his feet, the Knight knew that Shirou was going to take Bakuya out of his neck and took the opening to try and get the magus only for Bakuya to stop the attack again. "Once I figure out how to use this sword I will defeat you. Just wait and see."

"I would love that but you insist on fighting me with Bakuya everyday." Not holding back his impatience, Shirou made sure Kiba could see it. "Every single day, Kiba. And you still can't get that sword to work."

"It will work!" Kiba declaration came with a lot of anger and suddenly a gray aura was covering him and his blade. "It will work! I will destroy IT!"

Shirou could feel a bigger weight and oppressive aura coming from the blade and had to Reinforce his whole body to hold it back. "Look at that, you finally did it." There was no praise in his voice as Shirou held the sword back with Bakuya.

"I did?" Kiba was shocked by feeling the aura around himself before it suddenly disappeared together with the feeling of oppression it was exuding. "No, wait!"

The Knight focused as much as he could to try and hold the aura but it was to no avail. Shirou just watched as it diminished quickly like a flame just running out of fuel despite Kiba's best efforts. Everything ends with the devil sticking his sword on the ground with a depressed face.

"I was so close." Kiba lamented and Shirou decided to let him do it for a couple of moments. The only sounds around the forest besides Kiba's complaints were from Setsuna hitting Issei and the pervert struggling to last in their spar.

After a while Shirou took a deep breath. "Come on, Kiba. Get up."

"But I was so close, Shirou." Kiba glared at the sword but there was nothing in his eyes besides sadness. "It was here, I managed to summon the aura. Why did it disappear so fast?" He then looked at the magus and Shirou felt pity. "Did anything change with it?"

"It is still a sword born of anger and despair." Shirou mentioned with a frown. "You know that your other swords can improve too, right? This one can be the blueprint so the others can grow stronger."

"The others didn't survive Bakuya, this one did. I almost won that fight." Kiba said in remembrance but Shirou remembered something different.

"You were winning before this thing showed up. Just before the Bishop appeared you were about to take that Knight out without a shadow of a doubt." Shirou placed a hand on Kiba's shoulder but the devil didn't react. "In a fair fight, that was your win."

Still holding his sword firmly, Kiba shrugged Shirou's hand off with a frown. "But I wasn't beating the sword."

"So what? You were winning." But Shirou knew that wasn't the problem.

"It doesn't matter. It wasn't enough." Kiba took a couple of steps and prepared again.

"Is this because Excalibur?" The magus could see Kiba flinch at the question but that didn't stop him from pressing the issue. "Defeating Bakuya isn't going to help you with it. Even if both are legendary weapons, you can't consider them equal."

Looking to the side, Kiba gritted his teeth. "Doesn't matter. If I can defeat one, that just means I need to train more and I can defeat the other."

"So you are after just affirmation?" No reply came at Shirou's question. "Kiba, Bakuya already can kill you easily and it isn't even a Holy Sword. You can't compare it with the greatest of them all." When the Knight stayed silent, Shirou saw it as a chance to approach a topic they both knew he wasn't going to like. "Besides, it is just a sword. You can hardly blame it for what it happened-"

"If that thing didn't exist everyone would still be alive!" The forest grew silent at Kiba's declaration but Shirou just shook his head.

"You know that isn't how things work." The redhead looked at Kiba with pity but tried to be gentle in what he was going to say. "Excalibur isn't a sword that consumes lives, it is not cursed neither it can influence people to make evil acts. You can't keep blaming it."

Kiba glared before replying. "Just by existing, it can corrupt people. That is the kind of sword that Excalibur really is." The Knight then charged at Shirou, forcing the magus to stop the attack. "Now are you going to help me train or not?"

"You shouldn't blame the sword for what happened!" Shirou pushed back but faster than he could blink the gray sword was against Bakuya again, the aura flickering right before the redhead's eyes. "I know that you suffered, that you lost a lot but you can't just blame a thing that can't even act on its own."

The gray aura began to grow more and more around Kiba and Shirou found himself surprised at the presence it was emitting, it was less negative but still demonic in origin..

"What do you know?" Kiba didn't notice the aura, he could only feel his anger and nothing else. "You can't compare what happened to me with what happened to you. You can't even remember who you were before while I have to deal with it!"

That was a step too far with Shirou who was now upset himself. With a flicker of his wrist, Bakuya sends the unnamed sword to the ground but Kiba refuses to let it go.

That was fine with the redhead because he just wanted to grab the Knight by his shirt and, with a considerable amount of strength, Shirou made sure Kiba couldn't escape as he pushed the devil on the ground.

Kiba was ready to escape, ready to keep going when he felt a bite on his neck and looked down to notice Bakuya there. Feeling his blood flowing from a new wound, the Knight knew that there was no escaping, any move he made would literally be his head as Shirou's eyes showed that he was playing around anymore.

"Do you think not remembering helps?" Shirou was almost screaming but his tone stayed even as his breathing normalized. Kiba was shocked by the new attitude and by the rage behind Shirou's eyes. "Do you think that I like not remembering what happened? That it makes things easier? Don't you think I ever wondered who I lost that day? Who died so I could live? Or worse, who did I leave behind?" The fire of Kiba's anger was snuffed out and his aura disappeared. "I can't remember anything before that hell but I can remember every detail of it. I can remember the faces of every person that I passed by and didn't help, the destruction, the blood and the fire all around us. I can remember the faces full of despair and the smell of death. I can never forget them, even a single detail." The magus let Kiba go and slowly stepped away from him.

"I am sorry." Kiba knew he had gone too far and slowly he got up enough to sit down.

"I made peace with it." Shirou offered Kiba a copy of EM that the Knight easily accepted. "I learned to live with what happened and how to value the people I have now."

"It is different." At a raised eyebrow from Shirou, Kiba continued. "I am not saying that your pain is smaller than mine or that you suffered less. But I know those responsible." Stabbing his hand with the EM helped the Knight to focus. "I remember when they would tell us about how one of us would one day be the Excalibur's wielder and that we would save the world and protect the Church."

"Then you should hate the people that told you those things, not the sword." Emiya was holding back his own emotions as he disagreed with much of what Kiba was saying. But Shirou could see that screaming or letting his feelings take over wasn't going to help. "You can't keep doing this to yourself Kiba. It isn't healthy."

"What would you do if you knew who caused the Fire of Fuyuki?" The surprise was written all over Shirou's face. "What if you knew exactly who was directly responsible for it? What would you do?"

"I don't know." Shirou took a few moments to watch Kiba's surprised face. He didn't laugh but it came close. "I would like to say that I would keep a cool head and wait to hear their side and what happened but odds are that I might stab them in the gut before they can justify whatever created that mess." And he would love to know that. "But that is the best answer I can give you; I don't know what I would do if that person, if they exist, was in front of me." The two were silent for a moment as Kiba looked down with a little shame. "You should stop using that sword."

"What?" The sudden change of topics startled Kiba a little and Shirou raised his hand to show Kiba the burn on it with a small strange cut that came from nowhere.

It had been a long time since Shirou got burned with anything but he could never forget the sensation and his hand had second degree burns around it and a small trickle of blood coming from the strange cut that Kiba was sure he wasn't responsible for.

Noting that he had his friend's attention, Emiya tried to use logic for his argument. "The power of that sword comes from anger, from blind and unrestricted fury. Not only that but the aura around you managed to burn my skin despite the fact you only had it for a second or two after I grabbed your shirt." Letting Bakuya disappear, Shirou stabs the burn with EM. "That kind of power… those kinds of emotions are not healthy. Using them obviously will have a negative effect on you."

"But it is my strongest sword." Kiba said weakly, his eyes on the gray sword for a moment before going back to the burns on Shirou's hand which were slowly disappearing. Feeling guilt of what his attitude caused, he tried for a compromise. "I won't use it to train anymore."

That wasn't enough. "It doesn't matter how strong the sword is, if you are lacking as a swordsman then it is just a big piece of metal." Kiba closed his fist tightly and Shirou was happy his words were heard. "Maybe it would be better to train other things? There are other ways for a devil to grow stronger after all."

"What do you mean?" The idea of growing stronger was enough to make Kiba curious.

'Finally some progress.' Shirou then suggested something he began thinking about over the past few days. "Ever thought about trying to raise your demonic power?"

"Train my mana? That isn't what a Knight does." Kiba didn't sound offended but it was close. "We are trained to fight fast and to overwhelm our opponents. To hit and run before the enemy even knows what happened."

"Yes, I read that book too." Shirou said with a roll of his eyes. "But I think Rias' own experience of thinking outside the box would be a good inspiration to you, wouldn't it?"

Stopping to think for a moment, Kiba can't deny his King's success when she started to apply concepts that were beyond what was expected from her. "I mean, my application of mana is… bad."

"How bad?" Now that he thought about it, Shirou never saw Kiba using mana to anything other than his sacred gear.

"'Issei's second week' bad." Kiba admitted with a chuckle.

"Hey!" Said Pawn protested the use of his name only to be hit by a punch in the face.

"Pay attention!" Setsuna demanded. The pair was eavesdropping on the conversation but they were also still training.

"That bad huh?" Shirou commented with a shrug. "Well, we don't have a ten days deadline anymore and you are already training like a madman. Why not shift your focus a bit." Now Kiba looked unconvinced. "I mean, have you ever seen Excalibur?"

"No." The Knight of Gremory admitted temptatively.

"But you know how powerful it is supposed to be, right? The Sword of King Arthur, the Ultimate Holy Blade, the Sword of the World." Shirou knew some other names but those were the ones on the top of his head.

"What is your point?" Kiba was already frustrated since they were talking about Excalibur but after burning Shirou's hand he was more hesitant to express it.

Shirou decided to not delay things any longer. "Excalibur is a Noble Phantasm, their power grows with their story and legend." Interpreting a raised eyebrow as a sign to 'get on with it' the magus stopped stalling. "The more names and legends a Noble Phantasm has, the more powerful they are. If you think a single sword born of a sacred gear can destroy it then you are sorely mistaken."

"I guess you are right." With the resident expert on Noble Phantasm telling him something like that, Kiba couldn't just disagree. "To break all the fragments of that sword, to destroy it completely, I must grow much stronger."

'Fragments?' Shirou felt he was missing some context but decided to shake it off. "Then stop just trying one thing and start branching out. Learn how to channel mana with your swords properly without depending on your sacred gear. Then, like what happened with Asia, you are going to get better at using it." His friend looked almost convinced and so Shirou decided to finish with a more positive note. "Kiba, you are a devil. You are going to live for centuries and the odds that you are just going to come across with Excalibur are almost nil. Train, grow stronger and then when you see it, you are going to be ready."

"You are right…" Kiba realized with wide eyes before jumping to his feet. "You are right! I shouldn't be rushing this! I can get better! I can prepare! Make all kinds of swords that can defeat Excalibur, not just one!"

Shirou was happy to let Kiba bask in the revelation, looking to the side and noticing how Setsuna was trying that she was not hearing, Issei practically just taking the punches. When he looked towards the ORC he saw Rias smiling at him. She was happy that Kiba finally was taking steps towards healing and offered him a small nod of appreciation with a look that said everything that needed to be said.

"Shirou, thank you." Kiba got his attention again with the words of appreciation. "I am sorry I have been distracted lately and with that sword stuck on my head."

"Hey, it is fine. When I heard that the cause of the Fire was still around I joined an investigation to find it and almost died." Shirou said with a chuckle, happy his friend was back to normal.

"But what I did, what I said, was inexcusable." Kiba looked at the redhead's hand but Shirou raised it up to show it was already fully healed.

"If you are talking about pestering me on training only with Bakuya don't worry. I needed to get used to it anyway." Shirou completely ignored the wound, in his mind it wasn't a big of a deal and he also recognized emotions were high before. "So… Do you want to keep training?"

"Yes! Let's keep training!" Kiba called for a different sword this time, a more simple one that was made of normal steel.

"'The Knight's Sword'? Kinda simple isn't it?" Shirou asked with a smile, already guessing Kiba's intentions.

"Simple is better in this case. If I am to learn how to use my mana on my swords then I need them to be as normal as possible." Kiba pointed out while holding the double edged sword that was an exact copy of Holy Eraser, sans the powers, in front of him. "Sure it is still a demonic one but I am a devil anyway. It suits me."

"Well, I see no reason for you to use any other sword." Shirou then traced one of his creations, watching to see if Kiba would object. "Whenever you are ready."

"Sure." Kiba then realized something and before they could begin the Knight picked up the last of his gray swords and moved it closer to a tree where another was stuck.

The blond devil stood there for a moment, looking at his swords that managed to survive facing Bakuya dozens of times. Kiba still believes that they are the best swords and that he should be training with them.

And Shirou noticed that. "Those swords need anger, Kiba. That isn't a proper emotion to train, much less to really fight."

'That is his opinion.' Kiba didn't say anything, he just stuck his sword on the tree and returned to his friend with a smile. "You are right."

Shirou frowned but said nothing as both sides got in position. "On your mark."

It didn't take long for swords to clash again.

…..

Night had arrived and it was the time for the devils to work and make pacts.

Rias made sure she wasn't going to be summoned that night and instead focused on making sure that everybody else, including Akeno, had work to do.

Afterall, Rias had a meeting planned for the night and she wanted some privacy.

Rias' office had changed over the last few weeks, the structure wasn't any different in reality but now she really felt that the office was completely hers thanks to some small adjustments.

After the Rating Game Rias took her manga collection out of its hidden spot and placed it on her book case. She also had thrown away some but not all books of Rating Game strategy, having chosen the ones Sona had said were the best. She also had her peerage fill some spaces with their favorite books so everyone could read if they wanted.

Besides that she also added a computer to the place, a small laptop to help her with her work. That addition had Rias working less hours in reports and it just cost her a little money, for her, to make sure the equipment wouldn't be disrupted by the heavy mana in the area.

Rin was supposed to have one too but she blew it up in less than a hour and almost caused a fire. At that point everyone agreed that she should stay strictly on paper and even Tohsaka didn't fight on that. Some stuff needs to be done by hand anyway and while her brother and Clan wouldn't mind how she got the reports done, giving that particular job to Rin made the girl feel better.

At the moment there were just Rias and Rin in the main office, Akeno, Kiba and Asia had already teleported to their jobs while Issei took his bike since his clients prefer it that way despite the fact he usually arrived late because of it. Shirou was also experimenting on his workshop, Medusa and Liz staying in his waiting room at Rias' request.

Sitting on her desk the Heiress of Gremoy was finishing her work for the day. As the Second Owner she receives daily reports about many activities in the city and things that she had to investigate from time to time. There was also a need to approve or reject any moonlit world inhabitant that wanted to pass or settle in Fuyuki and she needed to check them either directly or through her family's agents.

The computer helped a lot as it made things easier for her to receive reports and have them organized. Gone were the days of paperwork messes and as a bonus Rias got a pair of glasses that helped keep her vision rested while she worked on the screen.

Magic could help but Rias liked using glasses anyway so she was both preventing future problems and having some fun. The fact that she planned to play a sexy librarian with Shirou at least once was also an added bonus she was sure going to do it, maybe when the club was a little more empty.

Those changes gave her more time to work on pacts, spend more time with her peerage, mostly Gasper who she was now working on getting him ready to leave his room as she received permission to break the seal after the victory against Riser, expand her relationship with Shirou and to train, something she was learning to like more and more now that she has a Stand.

With only two people working around the office clearly things were mostly silent. Monotony had Rias stop working for a moment to look around with some irritation in her eyes.

Of all members of the ORC only Setsuna had really left the club at that hour and looking at the empty space where the hanyou usually practices her violin had Rias thinking about her. 'She should be more open about her feelings.' The pureblood devil and half yokai already had a conversation about their change of dynamics and Rias had already realized that she wasn't the one Setsuna needed to talk to. 'At least I am not the only one who placed most of her emotions in a box. Now if only I can convince her to be more honest about it.'

Rias tried to talk to her while Shirou worked on Kiba, it was only fair in her opinion and even her lover agreed and tried to talk to Setsuna himself only for every conversation ending with their purpose unfulfilled.

'I used to think this was a problem that needed a little 'girl talk' but Setsuna's issue is that she is too shy.' Rias shook her head and got back to work. 'If I can think in a situation that I can force her to deal with the issue while Shiro is around then I think things will get better… Maybe prepare a boundary field around the school and have them fight? It worked for me. It more than worked for me.' Rias licks her lips at the memory when she had a realization. 'Never mind. Sona is going to have my skin if the school ends up demolished because of a fight.'

Accepting that there was little to do on that front, Rias got back to work. Tomorrow was Saturday and while everyone was going to spend most of their day in the club for many reasons, she wanted to finish her quota so she was free to do whatever she wanted.

And time was running short as the door was suddenly open with Yoruichi striding inside with an exhausted Koneko on her shoulder. "Does the little kitten need to work today? Because I don't think she can move."

A flabbergasted Rin jumped to her feet at the sight of the yokai in her true form . "Yorui- I mean Kuro- I mean…" She looked at Rias in a panic as the redhead looked back with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't know anything!"

"Oh, you mean you didn't know that one of the leaders of the biggest Japanese Faction was around and you had no clue despite the fact you worked together on the Rearguard Incident?" Rias asked rhetorically and Rin sat down again, horror written all over her face. "So you aren't denying that you hid the existence of a potential spy or at least a foreign diplomat that chose to not reveal herself?" Rin was sweating so much that both believed that she could start filling a pool. "In that case, are you ready for my judgment?." A nod of the magus' head later and Rias was giggling at the reactions. "You are forgiven." The Head of Tohsaka almost fell down in relief but her eyes didn't leave Rias, a question clear on them. "I am not mad, Rin."

"You aren't?" Rin was obviously confused as Yoruichi placed Koneko on the couch, making sure she was laying down comfortably.

"Nyah, your boss is cool like that." After making sure Koneko was comfortable, the tall woman made her way to sit down in front of Rias' desk. "But oh man, you should see your face. It was hilarious."

"You just showing up without warning actually helped." Rias giggled a little more while Yoruichi chuckled. Rin could do nothing but let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't in trouble as her boss turned to look at Koneko. "Is she alright?"

"Her body is still too weak for proper training. Conditioning it properly without her using Senjutsu is just hard." Yoruichi confessed as Rias placed a cup of tea in front of her and began to fill it. "She will wake up in a few minutes but let her rest a bit."

"When you girls didn't show up for dinner I was a little worried." Yoruichi nodded her head at the devil's confession.

"I sneaked into the kitchen and Shirou got us something. Don't worry, we ate our fill during training." Taking a sip of her tea, Yoruichi immediately knew it was Akeno's work. "But does she have any clients today? I could try and do the work if necessary."

"That would be against the law, only devils can take pacts." And Rias wasn't going to give her brother more troubles than necessary. "She had one schedule for today but everything is going to be alright if she wakes up in the next few hours."

"Ah, that is fine then. She will be up much earlier than that." Yoruichi was clearly relieved to not be making problems neither for Rias or Koneko.

"Hold on a minute. Since when does Buchou know you are… you?" Rin's brain had finished rebooting after the scare that was Yoruichi's reveal and the possible consequences of hiding such a secret from her financial backer and technical owner of her soul. "And since when has your training been that exhausting for Koneko? The training camp had her falling down but not that much! She always could eat and was conscious by the end of the day!" Hundreds of questions ran through Tohsaka Rin's mind but if there was something she was always good at was keeping her priorities straight. "How, in the name of the Root, did you run a gauntlet so hard that a Rook, the most resistant kind of devil, ended up like that?"

Both noble women look at each other and Rias shrugged, admitaly curious as well. "Well, she doesn't want to learn Senjutsu so we are trying to figure out ways to separate her mana from her ki. Not easy mind you." They technically started that during the training camp but it never got off the ground because of the Rating Game. "It would be easy if she was willing to at least try Senjutsu, so easy. I can swear to you Rias, it is like Koneko was born to use ki."

"Really?" That was new information to Rias but she wasn't going to disagree. "That is both good and really bad."

"That is why she is so exhausted; she is trying to get access to her mana while not using Senjutsu, blocking her own ki." Yoruichi raises her hands and begins to make a circle. "But the two are so interconnected that so far it has been impossible. Her connection with her ki is so good that when she starts to use too much mana her body instinctively tries to use ki to split the workload and make things easier."

"Which Koneko doesn't want." Rias observed with a frown. "I suppose it is a good thing she isn't a Bishop."

"Don't even joke about that. That would make things hundreds of times harder." Yoruichi facepalm gently just imagining that scenario. "If her body wasn't as strong as it is, she would probably refuse fighting outright on principle." She wanted to hit her head on the desk to forget that possibility. "That would even make things harder in the separation. With her actual mana reserves at least things are manageable and she can stop herself before things go horribly wrong most of the time." The nekomata counted on her head how many of those were throughout the day. "And those times she can't, I can stop her. But the mental effort alone is absurd; she is trying to separate the energies, trying to hold herself back, trying to use mana. If she wasn't exhausted I would say she was on drugs."

"Why? Why is she doing all this? Why are you letting her?" Both nobles turn to Rin who looks confused and concerned by all she was hearing. "Why Koneko-chan doesn't want to use her ki? What is going on?"

Rias looked at her employee with sad eyes, not even bothering to hide how much the situation depressed her. "It is complicated, Rin, and deeply personal." She looked at the white haired devil with the same eyes. "Suffice to say, Koneko has her reasons."

"Buchou…" Rin didn't know what to say and she knew she was the only one lacking the context as Yoruichi said nothing, just resting her head in her hand with her elbow on the desk. "Is there something I can do to help?"

With a small smile, Rias looked at the magus for a moment. "You are a good person, Rin. Let no one say otherwise."

Before anyone could say anything else, Koneko began to move and all attention was on her as she sat down and began to stretch in a cat-like manner. Noticing where she was, the former nekomata turned to the noble ladies present. "Buchou, sensei, Rin."

"Do you want to take a break for today, Koneko?" Rias asked immediately only to receive a shake of the white haired devil's head.

"No, I'm good." She jumped to her feet and looked at her hand with frustration. "Just annoyed."

"That was your first serious day trying that kitten, give it some time." It was an example of how much Koneko respected Yoruichi as she took her words seriously and nodded in appreciation. "Any headaches?"

"No."

"Exhaustion? Cramps?" Yoruichi got up and took one of Koneko's arms, having to knee to compensate for the difference in height.

"No, sensei."

While Yoruichi checked the devil's body, Rias decided to talk to both distract the little girl from possible uses of Senjutsu and because she was still clearly tired. "Are you sure you don't want to rest for the night? You can take another nap or I can prepare something."

"No. I'm fine, Buchou." Koneko's reply was dry and so Rias focused all her attention on her Rook to try and make the small girl show some sort of weakness or discomfort. If she did then the Heiress of Gremory wouldn't hesitate to send her home for the night.

But Koneko didn't flinch or crack, her eyes indicated that she was fully awake and from what Rias could observe her condition wasn't bad either. "Are you sure you want to work tonight?"

"Yes. My client today likes to try cake recipes." That explained a lot.

"Okay but anything happens, you feel tired, start to get sleepy, give me a call. If things change today and you are hungry just come back and I will prepare something." Rias stated her condition to let Koneko go.

"But Buchou, I'm always hungry." Yoruichi laughed hard at that statement but Rias just shook her head in amusement. "I will be fine. I promise."

"Okay, if you say so." Rias accepted with a smile as Koneko began to walk towards the magic circle. "Make sure to come back a little earlier today anyway. If you are going to start training with Yoruichi like that, it is for the best that you rest properly, even if tomorrow there are no classes."

"Roger." Koneko even threw in a salute as her form was taken by the magic circle.

For a moment none of the three women present said anything and Yoruichi took the chance to sip more of her tea. After the cup was empty she went to get some more but Rias was already moving with the pot on her hand and offering to pour it for her which the nekomata easily accepted.

"About Koneko-chan…" Rin didn't know how to approach the subject. To her the small girl always looked like she had no problems other than her King's problems or when it was the next meal.

Both nobles looked each other in the eye, a silent debate between them. It lasted only a few seconds before Yoruichi shook her head but waved to Rias to do as she pleased.

In the end Koneko was her servant and Rias was the King, if she felt that it was better for the Rook that Rin knew her story then it was Rias right to tell it if she wished.

"Rin, why don't you go home for the day." However Rias saw no need and did respect the privacy of all her peerage, she wouldn't tell Koneko story without reason.

"But…" Rin also realized all that and when she looked at Yoruichi she could see the golden eyes showing that the yokai approved of Rias' decision and was insisting that the magus didn't ask any questions. "Fine. By your leave."

Understandably frustrated, Rin departs the club to her home and Rias couldn't help but sigh. "I hope she doesn't get too upset."

"You did the right thing." It was the only consolation Yoruichi could give and the only that she felt it was needed. "The little kitten already has enough problems without everyone knowing what is really happening and unless her… sister decides to show up, any extra information isn't necessary."

"If she does, I am probably putting a bullet on her head." Rias let her aura show and Born To Be Wild floated behind her, ready to take any enemy out.

"Only after I claw her eyes out, if she deserves it." Yoruichi managed to get Rias looking at her with astonishment but that didn't bother the woman. "Don't look at me like that, some of that investigation was fishy and if you checked the records, you know that."

"She still abandoned Koneko." Rias was quick to point out and the nekomata couldn't really deny it.

Yoruichi decided that it was safer to change the subject. "So, I want to finish the conversation in the morning, Gremory-dono?"

"Oh don't you even begin with formalities." Rias took a sip of her tea to calm down and quickly refilled the cup. "What do you want to know?"

"What have you been doing to help Koneko with her problem?" Yoruichi decided to go straight to the point which Rias had no problems with.

"All I could." Rias confessed with a sad expression before she drank all her tea in one go and refilled the cup again. "I did all I could and all I could think of."

"Forgive me for doubting but it doesn't look like it." Rias' glare didn't even phase Yoruichi. "You can't blame me for suspecting that you didn't do enough. Koneko's reaction to Senjutsu, the fear she has, is just too much. She is literally rejecting a part of herself."

"Don't I know it?" Rias asked sarcastically, drinking more of the tea but stopping just before fully finishing the cup, looking at her small reflection in depression. "The problem was just too big for me and I haven't been able to resolve it since."

"'Too big', that doesn't sound good." Yoruichi coached Rias to talk but it wouldn't take much.

"Do you know how Koneko ended up in my care? How did she join my peerage?" Rias needed to know how much of the story she needed to tell.

"From what I manage to find out your brother 'gave' her to you." And the word 'gave' has some connotations that Yoruichi really didn't like.

"Right, it is more complicated than that." Rias finished her drink and moved to pour some more only to notice that there was no longer any tea. "Shit."

"Careful with that potty mouth. Us nobles need to act dignified at all times." Yoruichi could tell that the subject was bothering Rias, the swear was more than enough proof, and decided to try and relieve the tension.

"Sorry for drinking everything." Rias wasn't really bothered by it, just that the tea was over.

"Anything stronger around here? Maybe in that secret compartment to replace your prize collection?" Yoruichi suggested while wiggling her eyebrows while pointing to Rias' manga collection with her thumb.

"This is still a school." Rias looked to the sides with a little fear. "And I don't think Sona would like it if she knew I was smuggling wine."

"Boo." Yoruichi was a little disappointed by the news. "Do you want to stop?"

"No, no. That little distraction was enough." Or at least Rias hoped it was. "I will try to keep the story short." Covering her face with her hands for a moment, Rias took a deep breath before sliding her hands to her hair and then placed them on the table. "Kuroka, Koneko's sister, abandoned her surrounded by the bodies of every single devil of her former master's peerage whose body was unrecognizable. The blood and the damage of the crime scene, a laboratory where all the equipment was also destroyed, indicated that Kuroka had attacked her master and his peerage tried to stop her." Rias took a second to breath, regretting having drank all the tea already. "Kuroka, as you already know, was a nekomata reincarnated as a devil. She had consumed two Bishop Pieces and by the time of her attack she was already far stronger than her master. She killed him, his peerage, her companions, and was just shy of getting caught before escaping." Yoruichi kept her silence, not even bothering to touch her tea. "And the worst part? Koneko woke up on the tail end of the confrontation. She told me that she saw the ending with her sister killing her King. She saw Kuroka giving her a scary look before turning around and running as other devils poured into the castle. One of the members of the Naberius Peerage who died soon after managed to send a signal of alert to the authorities."

"So she just ran when the devils were coming…" Yoruichi could understand the situation; Kuroka had just killed her King and considering they were in the Underworld her sentence was clear. "She was trying to escape a death penalty." Rias nodded as it was a fact that both could agree. "But do you have any idea why she killed them?"

"No.".

"Then she may have had a good reason." Yoruichi deduced but Rias shook her head.

"What good reason could she have to leave her younger sister, a child, surrounded by bodies and blood." Rias could see that Yoruichi wasn't convinced and then she decided to tell her more of the tale. "What do you think the Elder devils thought when they heard this story? Or better yet; what do you think Koneko had to suffer because of it?"

"I have the feeling I am not going to like it." Yoruichi said with a somber look and Rias gave her an equally somber expression that made the nekomata think the worse. "Please tell me they didn't think Koneko was conspiring with her sister." Silence was the only reply she received. "Goddamned!"

The cup on Yoruichi's hand was destroyed by the strength and energy that the older woman was letting out. Rias wasn't intimidated however. "During the investigation they kept her looked up with the minimum of food and water for three days. They told me that Koneko didn't know what was happening, she only called for her sister and in the mind of some devils that only made things worse."

Rias also was clearly furious just thinking about it and she wasn't the only one once the whole thing blew over. Her brother promised her to make sure the guilty party for Koneko's poor condition in the government would be punished but in the redhead's mind, someone that also deserved punishment escaped.

"That is what Kuroka left Koneko to; isolation and guilt. She was expected to take the fall regardless of age. Yes, that wasn't the way that the Underworld should treat children but her sister did leave her to the 'wolves'." Rias got out of her seat and moved to the window of her office. She was desperately needing fresh air. "Later, after the whole thing, my brother told me that some of the responsable were arrested themselves but in general the Elders didn't see a real problem with it. 'A pureblood was killed' they said, 'the investigators must use all necessary resources,'' they said." Rias' own aura showed how angry she was. "Only luck stopped things from getting worse. Luckily my brother learned of the situation and immediately moved to help Koneko as much as he could. If it wasn't for luck, Koneko would be dead." She remembered those days vividly. "He was furious with what happened with Koneko and so she was temporarily moved to the Gremory Castle, pending judgment."

"Of a child?" Yoruichiu really wanted five minutes with the person responsible for that, they probably wouldn't live that long.

"She never saw a trial. My brother is the actual Lucifer after all and everyone could see that Koneko wasn't guilty of anything. It was just that devil's family wanting to punish someone for his death." Rias couldn't blame their anger, she could blame them from where they were placing it. "That Clan wanted Koneko back using the claim that 'she was the last servant of their lost child and it was their duty to take care of her'." Yoruichi couldn't see the scowl on Rias' face but she knew it was there. "Everyone could see they were just after revenge, Koneko wasn't even a devil at this point and I… I wouldn't let them take her." Looking to the night sky, emotion began to pour heavily on her voice. "She was dead inside, Yoruichi. Everything that happened was too much for a child to take."

"I can't even imagine." The nekomata didn't even want to try. "To have watched her sister killing people, people that took care of them." Rias looked at her from the corner of her eye. "I told you I read the reports. I don't know if it was propaganda or not that you devils were doing but it was blatantly stated that Kuroka's former King found them on the streets."

"It wasn't. Koneko confirmed that much." Rias turned around to look at Yoruichi. "Surrounded by bodies and blood, alone without her last family member, only to be dragged around like a criminal as a child. When she arrived at the Gremory Castle, she was left in my care. Akeno and I were closer to her age than anyone else so my brother thought that maybe we could help."

"You were also children. Damn, at that time I was just a teenager. Why were you supposed to deal with complicated stuff?" Yoruichi even blamed herself despite the fact she had no way of knowing something like that was happening. "How bad was she?"

"Do you really want to know?" Rias asked with a sad expression and when Yoruichi nodded the redhead could only sigh. "Not eating, not talking, not doing anything really. She was almost like a doll, she would go wherever you wanted her to but besides that she was just there. Therapists from the human world were called to try and help her but they just didn't know where to start. All of them agreed the trauma was just too much for her and that only time and love could help her recover."

Deciding to get away from the worst, Yoruichi tried to look at the positives. "But she ended up recovering."

Rias was happy to continue even if there were still some heavy things to talk about. "It took us a while to even get her to speak, to really speak, with us. The main problem was that we were doing something she started to hate and we only figured it out later." She could see the question in Yoruichi's eyes but the older woman didn't dare to interrupt. "She started to hate her true name, Shirone."

"Something to do with Kuroka." Yoruichi immediately realized. "They are sisters. Nicknames, playful tones and even jokes with their names may have approached them more." It wasn't something that needed to be really said, both the women had siblings, one was the older and the other the younger but both knew the love that can bloom from that relationship. To the nekomata even more as the devil at least had the rest of her family. "She truly hates that part of herself." Lamented the raven head. "When did you figure it out?"

"Akeno noticed her flinching when I was speaking about the meaning of her name." Rias was already a fan of Japanese culture and couldn't help but point out the meaning of Shirone 'white sound'. "It was supposed to be a joke, something to help us relate… Akeno managed to notice how she reacted, that she actually reacted to something. When I asked why and even promised to never speak her name again, Koneko confessed to hating her own name."

"I had no idea that it was that bad." Rias threw in a sarcastic laugh at Yoruichi's comment.

"It was bad, it was awful and that is why if I ever see Kuroka, especially close to Koneko, she better be ready to die." Rias declared firmly with murder in her eyes.

"And the name Koneko? You can see how… degrading it can be to an extent, right?" Yoruichi attempt to take Rias out of her murderous thoughts worked as the redhead's expression became soft.

"You are the one who calls her 'little kitten' all the time. You only call her name when things are serious." There was no heat on Rias' comment as Yoruichi just smiled and didn't deny her point. "Believe it or not, we picked that name together. We started the process during that whole mess, I would bring her a couple of names and would ask her if she liked any of them. I remember that Kiba eventually joined in after I found him… But that is another story." But she could see the curiosity in the nekomata's eyes, she wanted that story too. "I tried to stall for as long as I could before reincarnating her, that should be something she wanted and not forced but she asked me to do it while saying she didn't want to be alone again." At that moment a younger Rias couldn't say no. She then raised her hands with some grandiosity. "On that occasion we gave her a surname too, I wanted to call her Gremory but the Elders would never allow that so she became a Toujou for she is my Rook, my castle, the foundation of my defense, and Koneko for that was the name we chose, the name she wanted and my first gift to her." The day Koneko joined her peerage was a happy one full of smiles and a party with all they could eat. "Things got better after that, Koneko opened up to us and started to be more expressive."

Yoruichi noticed the sadness in the last part. "But not completely."

"Nobody goes through what she did without losing something." Rias moved to sit down again, her legs almost failing her.

"I can understand that, I think you did the best you could." Yoruichi saw Rias' surprised face and chuckled. "What? You were a kid, someone that had no idea what to do in that situation and still managed to help the little kitten open up to the point she is now fiercely loyal. That isn't a small feat." Then her face grew somber. "I understand why you hate Kuroka, maybe Koneko does too and I can't blame her. But as one of the few nekomatas around I must figure out why she did what she did."

"What she did, regardless of the reasons, traumatized Koneko." Rias managed to control her anger, with everyone else in the building isolated in Shirou's area or Gasper's room she didn't need to fear anything.

But she wasn't someone to direct her rage to someone innocent and Yoruichi was just expressing her opinion. "I don't know why she did it so I can't agree or disagree with it." She said camly, not blaming Rias for her small outburst. "Regardless of her sister's misdeeds, Koneko is only alive and aware because of you. Thank you."

A little surprised but not that much confused, Rias replied politely, "Why are you thanking me? Koneko is a part of my peerage, of course I take care of her."

"We both know she didn't start like that. You didn't need to adopt her or anything. Yet you did. The time you spent on helping her and the care that you show, proves you are a person of character." Yoruichi complimented the redhead who felt a little uncomfortable by the praise.

"I didn't do that well. You managed to help her accept herself." That was something that Rias never could manage to do and she knew it even if it wasn't completely. "I didn't know how much connected to her ki Koneko's power was and I never could get her to try it. I was afraid that..."

"You were trying to not push her." Yoruichi said quickly to not allow Rias to think otherwise. "On the contrary, you were there when Koneko needed you, you took your time, talked with her and found part of the problem." All that was impressive to Yoruichi who knew how much work it was to take care of the needs of someone younger, even with servants and friends to help. "I think that if it was anyone else, Koneko wouldn't have gotten as far as she did. She now has friends, favorite foods, hobbies and a bunch of other stuff instead of just being traumatized."

"But she is still traumatized." Rias said with guilt before looking at Yoruichi with gratitude. "Only with you here has she managed to make some progress these days."

"I wasn't the only one helping, you were there too." Yoruichi replied in kind, even extending her hand to touch Rias' in solidarity. "Even when she was inert or even the times she tried to reject you, you still gave her your love. You didn't need to do that, you are not a nekomata, she wasn't a devil, she wasn't your family and yet you chose to help her of your own volition."

Rias held the other woman's hand firmly. "She was just so small and didn't deserve what happened. When she became my Rook I promised myself that no matter where life takes us to, I would always be there for her if she needed me." Blue eyes met gold. "That is why I could never kick you out of Fuyuki; you are helping Koneko accept a part of herself she always rejected, something that I, a pureblood devil, could never do." Her other hand came to hold Yoruichi's as well. "That is why I am the one that must ask; please, for Koneko's sake, don't leave. Keep helping her as much as you can."

"I always intended to." Their eyes continued on each other and it was then that Yoruichi realized the deep love that Rias had for her peerage. 'It is a different look than the one she gives to Shirou's but it is full of love all the same.' The whole thing was making Yoruichi embarrassed and she was the first to take her hands off. "Say, what if I make you some tea and we continue this talk?"

Rias gave her a dry look that would make both Koneko and Liz proud. "Shiro told me the kind of person you are in the kitchen. His words were and I quote; 'an unmitigated disaster'. And I am sure he was trying to be gentle."

"Ouch. Can't even disagree with that." Yoruichi said in amusement before getting up and walking to the kitchen. "That may be true for cooking but I will let you know that I am an excellent tea maker."

"Shiro never said anything about that." Rias pointed out with a little amusement herself.

"Of course he wouldn't, I never made tea for the house because it is too much work." Moving as fast as she could in an enclosed space, Yoruichi hopped in the kitchen for a few seconds before coming back with a pot, water and some herbs. "I was taught the traditional way to make tea and I don't really have the patience to always do it." With magic she heated the water as the herbs were quickly mixed and then she picked a pencil and began to stir it.

"That is similar to a tea art ceremony." Rias pointed out before looking up to a feline smile. "Only a bit more crude and rushed."

"You know that us, nobles, have a responsibility to preserve tradition." While Yoruichi was talking, her movements were cautious and perfect. "I bet you had a tradition or two you didn't want but had to learn."

Rias nodded with understanding. "Most of the traditions of the Underworld either came from Europe or were the inspiration for them, depending who you ask." She watched Yoriuchi's movements with a little wonder. "I don't know if it was because the original Lucifer liked the place or influenced it a little bit as it was one of the centers of many wars but that is how the Underworld is." Deciding that telling something that she doesn't like was only fair but Rias chuckled when she realized something. "I had to learn how to dance, sing, paint and play some instruments. All that on top of politics. Most of those I learned to like later but only because I had no choice but practice."

"Yeah, I get what you mean." Yoruichi nodded gently and Rias could already imagine the woman with an elegant orange kimono doing the proper ceremony just by her moviments alone. "But there must be something you can't even look at."

"Let's just say that if I never have to play the violonchelo again it will be too late." The two women laugh at the comment. Then, as the laughs diminished, Rias began to ponder. "You are going to stay, right? I know that you also have feelings for Shiro but I don't want you to leave."

"Because the little kitten needs me." Yoruichi finished mixing the tea and poured a cup for Rias, only now remembering that she broke her own. "Wait a bit." In a second she had gone to the kitchen and returned. "You were saying?"

Taking a deep breath, Rias prepared to go with her offer. "While you are here, I will restrain myself from showing Shiro too much affection." Yoruichi was surprised by the sudden declaration but the Heiress wasn't done. "I will also not sleep on his bed if you don't want me to, I have my own room in his home that I can use anyway. I will not interrupt any time you want to spend together with him or if you want to go out with him you have my full permission."

"You are serious?" Yoruichi asked incredulously and Rias nodded respectfully. "Does Shirou agree with this?"

"He will agree, you know that, and not just for Koneko." Rias took a sip of the new drink and found herself liking the taste. "This is quite good."

"Hey, don't change the subject." Yoruichi was still a bit shocked at what Rias was proposing. "Are you sure of what you are offering? You are practically stepping away and telling me to do whatever I want with your boyfriend."

"'Boyfriend', such a weak word to describe us." Rias was speaking with such a way filled with love that Yoruichi couldn't deny the redhead devil. "I think we are more than that. I like to call him my 'one and only beloved' if you don't mind."

"And yet here you are, offering to keep distance from your beloved." Yoruichi drank a little tea herself, wishing it was wine or something stronger. "And don't say that Shirou will just agree, he would never cheat on you."

"Who said anything about cheating?" Rias' amusement was on full display in her smile as Yoruichi blinked. "I will just say that if you want to pursue him, I won't have any troubles with it."

"Are you for real?" Yoruichi couldn't believe her ears. "And you are just… What? Giving him to me?"

"I am not giving you anything other than my promise that I won't make you uncomfortable." Rias clarified but Yoruichi wasn't satisfied.

"And all that for Koneko's sake?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "You don't need to worry about me that much. I recognize that I missed my chance and that Shirou chose you."

"Weren't you saying a few weeks ago how he was 'worth privileges that even high class devils have'?" It was a good thing that Yoruichi wasn't drinking her tea yet or she would have spit on Rias' face. "I remember a certain smug cat saying that Shirou was worth it."

"And you are fine with the idea?" Yoruichi still couldn't believe it.

"You are right, if I ask, Shiro probably won't look at any other women like that ever… and that may cost me some good friendships." Rias confessed with a shrug. "It is not just you; Akeno is still determined to become his mistress even after all that and Setsuna is mildly depressed with our change of relationship. Sharing solves a lot of problems."

"And you are fine with the idea?" Yoruichi asked again.

"Are you?" Rias decided to ask back if only to not have to repeat herself. "If you do mind, we can talk with him. If you are ready to move your relationship to the next step, great. If not then nothing needs to happen." She took another sip of her tea before continuing. "I just want Koneko to keep getting better and I also don't want to see Shirou anymore disturbed because the friends that had feelings for him are now avoiding talking to him."

"Well, I suppose since harems aren't uncommon for devils you would see less problems with it." Yoruichi spoke with a bit of wonder.

"So… What do you want to do?" Now it was Rias' turn to ask questions. "Do you still want to pursue him? To be his lover? I will tell you now that I won't give up on him, ever. So if you plan to use this as an opportunity to steal him it won't work." She gives the nekomata a considerable strong glare. "I won't let it work."

"I wouldn't do something like that." Yoruichi said with a smile. "But if I wanted to have sex with him today, would you have a problem with that?"

Rias took a deep breath before nodding to herself. "We would have to talk to him now and it would be up to him to accept you but I wouldn't have any issue."

"Even if I let you say no and that I will come back for Koneko regardless?" That surprised Rias. "What? You really thought that I would abandon one of the last nekomatas, devil or not, because of a boy? I may like Shirou, maybe more than I should, but I ain't leaving a little kitten hanging by herself." Yoruichi told her with a grin. "But the question remains, despite knowing all that, would you have any problems with me pursuing a relationship with you 'one and only beloved'?"

"No, I wouldn't." Rias' reply was so quick that Yoruichi was about to offer her to think about it but she raised a hand to stop the nekomata. "I love him." The declaration was sudden but had not a shred of doubt. "I love Emiya Shirou in a way that I never loved anyone before. I know I love my family but it is another kind of love. I know I love my peerage and would die for them but if something happened to Shiro… I don't think I could live without him."

The confession astounded Yoruichi a little but she recovered quickly. "That is a lot of love." She recognized with a smile "So much love that you just want him happy."

"Absolutely. I want him to be happy, maybe more than anything." Rias then smiled. "Don't think I am going to offer it to every girl under the sun either, if they don't have a connection to Shiro, or I find them unworthy then I will send them packing."

"Oh so I am worthy?" Yoruichi asked cheekly while already expecting a response related to her heritage or position.

"Yes. You care about him, you are a good influence on Koneko, I could tell how happy she is just from having you around." The reply wasn't what Yoruichi expected at all. "You are also a good person and took your time to help me when I most needed, in a way I feel that I owe you a favor or something similar." Rias gave her a grin of her own. "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't even be with Shiro in the first place. Who knows how long it would take for him to realize what I needed to hear if it wasn't for your training. Jeez, I may even be married to Riser right now, unhappy and wishing to jump from a bridge."

"I can see you are decided." Yoruichi recognized, closing her eyes and thinking for a moment. 'But do I want this?' She needed to think. "I will sleep with him today. Nothing much, I just like to stay close to him as a cat."

"Of course." Rias had no problems with that. "We will talk with him later today if you want. You don't need to do anything but I want to make my intentions clear; if you chose to keep pursuing him, I won't object. To me you are a great woman and I would like to call you a friend."

"Regardless of what happens I promise to still be around for Koneko." Yoruichi declared, having no intentions of abandoning the girl regardless of any other decision. Then she took a deep breath. "That was some heavy talk don't you think?"

"At least it was with great tea." Rias complimented with a smile. "You should make more sometime."

"Sure, just don't ask me to follow proper tradition." Yoruichi started with a chuckle, filling her cup again. "But damn, after hearing the little kitten story I have to say that the other members of your peerage must have been much easier to manage." Noticing that the other noble was silent, Yoruichi looked to her face to see a depressed look. "Oh come on! Who else had that much trouble before becoming a devil?"

"I think it is easier to say who didn't… arguably." Rias recognized with a chuckle. "I honestly don't even know who had it worse?"

"You mean Kiba?" With her more advanced hearing, and a little trick with Senjutsu, Yoruichi did hear his fight with Shirou. "From what I could understand he is a survivor with an encounter with the sword and hates its kind. But compared to Koneko's past…"

"It is more complicated than that. Much more complicated." Rias sounded so defeated that Yoriuchi was surprised.

"Care to share?" The offer surprises the younger woman. "Just between us, nobles. I can understand the difficulties of having to deal with a subordinate's baggage."

Rias managed to chuckle a little. "Yoruichi, every member of my peerage has a bad backstory that varies between depressing and frustrating." She was surprised by her own confession but the devil found every word to be true. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you can compare any of them."

The frustration on Rias' voice and how she ended up hitting her forehead on her own desk proved to Yoruichi she wasn't joking. "I mean… it can't be that bad right?"

Turning her head to look at Yoruichi, Rias wasn't holding back how hard the situation was. "Just between the two of us? Not leaving this room ever unless with my permission?"

"I am willing to sign a contract." Because Yoruichi realized how much Rias needed to talk about some of her peerage's circumstances, if not about all of them.

"No need. I trust you." After all they talked during the night, neither woman really doubted that. "But I will omit some parts in respect to my peerage's privacy. If you want more, you have to ask them." Yoruichi had no problems with that and nodded resolutely. "I only told Shiro a little more than what I am about to tell you but please remember that I am skipping or oversimplifying most details."

"That is all right, this is more for you then for me anyway." Yoruichi was curious but this wasn't the same thing as Koneko where she felt a need to do something.

This was a case where Rias just needed an ear to unwind, someone that could understand her situation. Shirou was a good listener and offered advice when she revealed to him some of the problems their friends had.

But he wasn't a leader, he could offer advice but it was undeniable that he didn't know enough how it was to have people under his command that depended on his decisions to stay safe or help them to improve from their situation.

"I will start from the most recent one and go back from there." Rias decided with barely any thought. She wasn't going to tell Yoruichi everything anyway so it wasn't really a problem. "You already know about Asia and Ise but I will remind you that Asia was kicked out from the institution that raised her for healing a devil, which she didn't even know was a devil in the first place, while Ise, poor Ise who was so hopeful to find love ended up tricked and almost killed by a fallen angel." Rias let out a sigh. "I still blame myself for that."

"You were trying to avoid a war. I would do the same in your position. Anyone with some common sense would." She didn't want to interrupt but if Rias started a pity party then Yoruichi would end up fetching some wine and joining in.

"Thanks." Rias appreciated the attempt of cheering her up if nothing else but considering the actual topic of conversation, she knew things weren't going to get better. "You already know about Koneko but, as I indicated before, Kiba joined us a little after. I found him dying in the snow after all his friends were killed by one branch of the Church dedicated to creating Holy Sword users."

"Excaliburs to be more specific." Yoruichi realized where the hatred came from. The nod from Rias only worked to confirm her suspicions. "All of his friends?"

"His potential brothers and sisters. We were on a vacation close to Scandinavia at the time to try and get Koneko in a new environment to help her." Rias remembered the days playing in the snow, the white haired nekomata looked to be having fun on those times. "I found Kiba on the snow, dying from bullet wounds and the cold. From what he told me the only reason why he survived was because the older victims of the experiments died to try and buy the younger children some time for them to escape." Shaking her head, Rias didn't need to say there were no more survivors. "I picked him up and rushed back to the house where my family was in, all our servants spread around the area to try to find anyone else. All they found were bodies and more bodies of children from 7 up to 11 years old."

"I never heard of something like that…" Yoruichi whispered under her breath but Rias heard her.

"Japan is relatively isolated, that is no surprise. Suffice to say that a lot of people were angry about the whole thing, Heaven even declared the responsible for the Project, an old Archbishop called Valper Galilei, a heretic on the spot." Rias was told by her parents who were told by her brother that every angel on the planet was up in arms about the tragedy and some even fell because of the incident. "The man managed to escape custody before his execution and no one has heard about him since."

"I think I remember hearing about that guy, the so called Archbishop of Genocide." It was something Yoruichi received because she was the main leader of the Intelligence Department in Kyoto but she was still young and learning the ropes to remember a small detail from a report about another Faction. "But Kiba hates the sword, not him, because of the expectatives of his siblings."

"Maybe, maybe it is another thing entirely." Rias spoke in a way to not give too much, that was for her Knight to do when he was ready. "After he woke up he cried for days and was depressed for a while. For a few days like that, when he recovered enough, I told him that I had to reincarnate him as a devil to save his life. For a while he was stunned by the information but then he promised to be a good Knight to repay the debt for the life I had saved."

"Sounds like him I suppose. Kinda in line for someone who heard too many legends about King Arther." Yoruichi could see a younger version of the blond making promises of honor or something similar. "But he just accepted things like that? After all that happened? No, wait. Dumb question." The nekomata answered her own question. "Considering his anger and temper about Holy Swords he really has some unsolved issues."

"I didn't know he had correlated Bakuya with a Holy Sword, if I did know then I would have Shirou hide it or just throw it in a vault on the Gremory territory." There was no way for Rias to know the negative reaction Kiba had to that blade and nobody had time to tell her. "Another reason to hate the Phenex for."

"They were just an annoyance to you weren't they?" Yoruichi then saw Rias smiling with a considerable degree of malice.

"Oh but I had my revenge on them. In fact, if you check my bank account you will see that I am still enacting it." It was bragging a little but it also was one of the things Rias was most proud of over the last month. "They won't trouble us ever again, not if they want to stay as nobility in the Underworld."

"I will hold you to that." Yoruichi let Rias bask on her satisfaction for as long as the redhead wanted. Considering some of the stories she heard today she actually didn't want to hear anymore.

But Rias was willing to talk and even if she was unaware she needed to vent a little. "Gasper was next, the second member of my peerage in fact."

"Really?" Yoruichi could already tell there was another tragedy on this.

"His and Akeno's stories are actually similar; Gasper's father is a noble vampire and he pretty much isolated his son for being a dhampir. Luckily for Gasper he had a friend on those days and they both tried to run away." That was when the devil's face really looked depressed. "They managed to escape the territory but ended up separated. I found Gasper when I was in the area with my brother on business. When I saw an innocent child being attacked by hunters I just snapped and attacked them while Akeno and my brother helped him." Rias really didn't want to dwell much on that. "He was about to die so I reincarnated him as well, something he was grateful for later but then his sacred gear showed up and things got complicated. That and the problem that with him being around people just gave me no choice but to seal him." Something that Rias did regret doing but that was the best option, his power was considered too dangerous even by her brother and Gasper needed to stay close to her as a member of her peerage and for his safety. "But he has been getting better and with my new power I can actually help him. Sure Gasper still doesn't want to leave his room, let alone go to school, but we have been making steady progress with training and he can talk with almost everyone in the club without issues."

"But you still don't want to rush him. Both for his sake and to avoid accidents" Yoruichi could neither agree or disagree with it. "I can help train him too if you want."

"That would be appreciated but you should focus on Koneko. Gasper problem is more… Mundane in a sense." The admission bothered Rias because it was another problem she couldn't just solve as it was something Gasper himself had to deal with. "He already walks around the club by himself when no one is around." Rias informed Yoruichi with a little shame. "But everytime we arrive he goes to hide in his room or his box. He still is unwilling to step outside despite how many of us can resist his sacred gear."

"Who can't just yet? I will beat their asses into shape." It wasn't a threat but Rias was sure that some people would take Yoruichi's words as such.

"Ise, Asia, Rin… I am not sure about Luvia, I don't think she met Gasper yet." Rias shook her head in resignation. "Anyway, he is getting better. Let's just give him a couple more days to see how he does before we start his training to control the Forbidden Balor View."

"I think in this case you are being too nice. Sometimes people do need a little push to improve, you should know that more than most." Both knew exactly what she was referring to.

But Rias had the perfect retort. "Can you drag a little boy, who is dressed as a cute girl mind you, out of his room and force him outside knowing that he is going to be crying most of the time?" She challenged with a raised eyebrow and she could see Yoruichi flinch. "Because if so, go ahead, I dare you."

"Okay, we give him more time." Yoruichi accepted the suggestion easily, she didn't have the heart to do something like that, especially after hearing some of Gasper's story.

'One more to go.' Rias told herself, already knowing that this would be the shortest. "Don't mention Akeno's father." That sudden statement made Yoruichi blink in surprise. "Don't research him, don't look for him, don't comment about him or make any implication about him, at all."

"He did something he shouldn't?" Yoriuchi's first instinct was to hunt the man but Rias shakes her head to dissuade the yokai.

"More like he didn't." Rias covered her face with her hands for a second before hitting them on the table. "Well, we are done. Thanks for listening."

"Wait, that is it? You tell me to not go poking about Akeno's father and just, what, cut the story before starting?" If curiosity really killed the cat, Yoruichi could only hope she had nine lives because she felt she was going to need them.

"Yep. Remember that I told you I wasn't going to tell everything. That was the main one." Every story was somewhat edited but Akeno's was one that even describing had the risk of creating problems. Her Queen is also her best friend so she wasn't willing to talk much about it. "Remember you promised."

"Yeah, yeah, I won't poke my nose on that." Yoruichi really regretted that promise at the moment but she was going to keep it. "Out of curiosity; how much does Shirou know?"

"More than you but not everything, he also respects everyone's privacy." Rias spoke with a smile that turned into a frown a second after. "But I told him everything about Kiba's situation. It was only fair."

"Fine by me." Yoruichi decided that she didn't want to hear anything else. "Damn, we really should have gotten something stronger for this. I could have hopped in a store and bought some sake. This was depressing."

Rias chuckled at that. "No thank you. I don't need Sona on my back because of alcohol in our school."

"But still, that is quite the motley crew you got saddled with. Most of them had a crisis going on and you had no choice but reincarnate them. Almost like Fate itself was moving to have you all together. Or maybe someone." Yoruichi quickly waved her hand to dismiss the thought. "I don't mean to offend or anything but it is just odd. You can't deny that some of your findings may be more than just luck."

"Who would do something like that and why would they be so bad at their job if that was the case?" She wasn't offended by the implication, if anything the devil was amused. "Most of my peerage is not special just by who they are if you go for that kind of conspiracy theory." Rias said with an honest smile. "Akeno is the only one that you could argue is honestly powerful by herself with little effort. In fact you could say that if she was willing Akeno could have won all of the Rating Game against Riser by herself."

Yoruichi didn't bother to hide her surprise. "Wait, you are serious?" After a nod from Rias, there was just one thing the nekomata felt she could ask. "Then why didn't she walk over them? If she was already so powerful and you two are best friends, why didn't she just beat Riser by herself?" Rias remained silent for a moment, just enough for Yoruichi to find an answer to her own question. "Her father… Her real power comes from her father."

Nodding slowly, Rias replied calmly. "I never saw what she really could do but even my brother assured me that Akeno could actually hurt him if she really tried. Unfortunately she isn't willing." It was one of the things that Akeno was actively uncomfortable with talking about or doing, a landmine even Rias had to be careful to not step in. "Like Koneko, Akeno hates that part of herself. Unlike Koneko, it isn't manifested as any form of trauma or sadness but true hatred to the point that she rarely even acknowledges that it is there."

"But you are her best friend. You could have asked her to use that power to win." Yoruichi was happy that Rias won but what she was being told at that moment was starting to make her believe all the training was worthless.

Rias' next few words broke that notion completely. "I would never force Akeno to do something that she hates so much. Never."

"Even if it costs your life?" Yoriuchi asked in disbelief.

"Even if it costs my freedom." It was something that Rias considered even more valuable than her life. "Akeno's power is for her to use how she pleases and I always knew she couldn't use it. It was why she trained so hard to develop her own branch of magecraft. Anything was better than depending on the power of her lineage."

Yoruichi started to massage her temples after that information, she even needed to take a deep breath to calm herself before saying anything. "Koneko was also too traumatized by her experience to develop by herself and the Underworld had no specialists in Senjutsu to help." Rias nodded but was ignored. "Kiba's sacred gear is a common one, not very powerful without training, Gasper's sacred gear can't stop the time of anyone stronger than him and Issei also needs training if he is to use his own properly. Considering everything, only Asia's Twilight Healing has any value in the short term, which was the opposite of what you needed both against Riser as the Heiress of your House." Recognizing all that, Yoruichi came to a single conclusion. "My apologies for bringing that notion up. I thought someone manipulated events to try and get you a better team but it was the opposite, without external factors the reality was that you were quite unlucky."

"'Unlucky'? On the contrary, I think I am the most lucky girl in the world." Rias said back with a huge smile. "Sure they all have their problems, I have my own baggage as well even if it is not the others', but I would never trade them for anything in the world." And Rias did receive some offers from people trying to fall in her good graces or who wanted Akeno or Koneko for their own goals. "To me they are my cute and precious peerage. Yes, the conditions that I met most of them weren't ideal but I never will regret meeting every single one of them." Looking at her hand and smiling gently, Rias made a small magic circle. "Most people think that the Power of Destruction is the strongest Power, the gift from the stronger family and the greatest thing I inherited from my parents." She made the circle disappear. "I disagree. To me, the devil who was lucky to be born with two Powers, it is my Luck that it was the greatest gift I could ever receive. It allowed me to be there when the people I came to love needed me most and to save them."

"I see." Yoruichi could only smile at that. "Good to know the training wasn't worthless but do you have any idea how to help Akeno with her problem?"

"I doubt a fallen angel will be able to convince her to love herself more, that is a fight she has to fight on her own." Rias said with a frown but Yoruichi kept her smile.

"Then we help her grow in other ways until she is strong enough to face herself." Then the nekomata facepalm. "That sounded so cheesy."

"Cheesy but I like it." Rias admitted with a smile as a real friendship blossomed between the two noble women.

…..

Traveling by ship can be a dangerous endeavor even in the modern age. Despite the advancements in radar technology, navigation techniques and radio communication that helped midgate the dangers of the night waves they were not enough to protect every vessel at night or in certain parts of the world.

The same could not be said about any vessel from the moonlit world.

Ever since the ancient times when traveling by boat was starting, those that had the right protections did not need to fear any waves or pirates. Only those similar to them, with the same or kind of protections, were actually a threat to those that could call upon the help from gods and magic.

These days, the waves can still be ruled by the followers of the gods of the sea, some followed Poseidon while others followed Njord or even Abzu despite the disappearance of the last one, there were gods everywhere ready to accept offerings and protect their followers. Some just asked for the help and protections of spirits and nymphs as well when they feared the gods in question.

Hundreds of gods were patrons of travels and ships, it all depended of the region, of the goal of the travelers and what they were willing to offer in return for protection or the activity that they were traveling for; trade or war, there was a god for everything always willing to send winds to sails and calm tumultuous waves.

With the dawn of the modern age, most of humanity stopped relying on deities or spirits, the ocean, in a way, became more treacherous since they didn't like being abandoned but for the most part humans were allowed to fend for themselves if they wished.

But gods were not the only source of protection and for those with neither gods or spirits, magic was the solution. A big enough ship could be covered from deck to bottom with the most nasty curses against invaders and protections for the crew that boarding the wrong vessel was always a death sentence.

One of these vessels was slowly approaching the port of Fuyuki, it was a cargo ship for those were the ones that were easier to use as a disguise. Around it there were men dressed in cloaks and heavy armor complete with steel helmets in patrol and constant vigilance; they knew about the moonlit world and that the distance from the coast offered no real protection against their enemies.

However there was one man who was just sitting in a chair on the deck while reading a book that feared nothing, be either waves or future adversaries; he was a tall gentleman with angular features and long black hair, his clothes despite their simple appearance of a black fully button up long sleeved shirt, black pants and black shoes were actually from one of the most expensive brands of the world.

Despite his clothing and his lack of vanity the man believed he should dress his best for the job he took upon himself. If everything goes as planned he shall be done by the next day.

"Sir, we will be arriving at the docks of Fuyuki first light in the morning." One of the cloaked men, one without a helmet, informed the man in black respectfully. He was taller than the black dressed man and his face was sharper with blue eyes and blond hair which came close to covering his eyes.

"Excellent news, we are precisely on schedule." It wasn't the elegant man who replied but an old man close to him on his own chair. He truly looked his age with the appearance of a wise old grandfather and a soft smile that gave him an air of innocence.

Unlike his companion who was well dressed in fine expensive clothing, the old man was more dressed like a priest, complete with a hat to help cover his balding head where only tuffes of white hair remained to the sides. He also had a small pair of round glasses on his face to complete the look of a kind gentle grandfather.

The tall man in the cloak didn't fall for the meek apparence, he knew who that old man really was and just being in his presence was enough to have his skin crawling and his blood boling. If the blond man had his way he would cut the old man's head to get the world rid of him.

But his mission was his priority and so he refused to look at the elder, his eyes remaining on the younger looking man whose red eyes never left his book.

"I see." The baritone from the reader was strong and carried an authority so great that one could mistake him for a king. "That is indeed good news, Sir Gawain." He closed the book to recognize the man's existence properly. "Are your men in the city ready?"

Gawain nodded excitedly. "Of course sir. We already managed to establish our presence at the docks and the proper officials were bribed. No one will know about the arrival of our ship. Inside the city itself we have our traps prepared and made contact with… his associate."

The blond had said in reference to the priest who took the opportunity to ask about something he was dying to know. "And what about the Fragments?" The older man was almost lost in his excitement, which actually managed to damp Gawain's mood.

For a few seconds the blond stayed quiet before the black haired man chuckled. "Answer the Archbishop. I think he will have a stroke if you give him bad news."

'That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.' Keeping his thoughts to himself, the blond placed an armored hand over his chest and made sure to bow to the younger man while making sure his eyes couldn't see the much older looking one. "The fragments are already in the town and the bait was already sent. Our agents confirm that two Exorcists with the last two fragments were sighted getting into a plane to Japan. They will be arriving tomorrow."

The black dressed man nodded while placing his book on the arm of his chair. "You should thank the Archbishop for such a feat. It was his allies in the Church who made sure that part would go smoothly."

"Things would be more smooth if we actually managed to recover all the fragments at once." The old man said with a shake of his head. "What a pity it was that the members of your organization failed to complete the task, Sir Gawain."

"You shut your mouth you murderer." The blonde's hand was on his cape and from it he pulled up a broad sword as tall as his arm and pointed to the old man's neck. "Your intelligence was flawed, the two swords keepers proved to be actually competent when you assured us that no user from the Church would be able to use them properly. Five of my best men were caught for nothing."

What really irritated Gawain about the situation was not only that he had to depend on the intel from someone whose actions he found despicable but that his men had been captured as ambitious thieves instead of knights on a holy mission.

Not that the old man cared. The fact the knights were caught only meant their timetable needed to be sped up further and only the fact preparations were underway was that saved their operation.

Gawain was sure his men wouldn't talk or would only feed the Church lies that would buy them sometime and the other men with him knew it as well.

Didn't change the fact that his sword and honor demanded the blood of the elder before him. Only the possibility of completing his organization's millennial purpose kept his sword away from the man's jugular even if just by inches.

The old man was surprised by the new information but shrugged completely unconcerned. "Some of my friends lied. It happens." Such callousness with his men's lives only irritated the blond further.

With two fingers on one of the edges of the blade, the black haired man gently pushed it away from the old man's neck who didn't even look disturbed it was there or relieved that the sword left. "Sir Gawain, you must calm down. Losing your head like that brings shame to the name you inherited from that valiant knight." The man in black said with some fondness.

Opening his cape and revealing his full plate armor, Gawain sheaths his sword slowly. He turned to his most recent benefactor.

"My apologies sir but working with this worm is not something neither I nor the founder of my Order would ever approve of." The blond made sure to throw the old man a glare but he cackled as if to mock the notion.

"Why good knight? Is it not because of my work, my deeds that the mission of your Order is so close to be accomplished?" The old man asked with a chuckle and it was clear that Gawain was just getting more upset. "Of course it is. Believe it or not, I want the same thing you do. Our methods just diverge a little."

Gawain looked at the old man with a silent fury. "Killing innocents and using mad dogs isn't something a true knight will ever approve of."

"You don't need to call young Freed like that, Sir Gawain. He may be a little unhinged but his heart is in the right place, a warrior ready to defend the innocents against the supernatural." The old man rose to the defense of the Mad Priest but noticed the glare still stuck on the knight's face. "Or it is because he is the only agent we have that can actually use Excalibur."

"That is irrelevant. He is just a temporary holder for the Holy Sword." His face showed exactly the contrary.

"Of course he is. Doesn't mean that you didn't want to be you to hold the soon to be resurrected complete Excalibur." The old man spoke gently but the knight could tell the words had barbs.

"Will it be really complete?" The man in black asked curiously. "I know you said you didn't need the last fragment but…"

"It won't be fully complete but that is fine. Excalibur was always supposed to be a single sword. Once we have the main body, the last fragment will be easy to find." The old man replied with as much respect as he could muster. "But things would certainly be easier if we had the last Fragment in our hands, I will admit."

"The heir of that family took it when he left." Gawain said with scorn. "It wasn't that we didn't want to collect it, we just didn't know where to find him."

"More's the pity." The old man lamented before smiling warmly. "But cheer up my friend, once we have a more complete Excalibur, it will guide us to the last piece."

"Don't you dare to call us friends. We are just allies of convenience." Gawain turned all his scorn to the old man.

"But we are in a glorious quest together. Isn't that how true friendships are born?" The man in bishop's clothing then looked at the knight with some pity. "If it is about using the sword then only Freed can really do it since he received the proper procedure to prepare his body for the task." Then he smiled. "But if you wish after we finish our mission we can apply the procedure on you. You are still relatively young and strong, I am sure your body can take it."

"I would never submit myself to that travesty." The only reason Gawain didn't raise his voice was to not show his men dissidence in their ranks.

"It will only hurt a little in the beginning, Sir Gawain. Someone like you can take the pain for his King… Can't you?" The old man's words managed to make the knight hesitate.

"Gentlemen, please, stop this senseless discussion. We are all allies here and we have a job to do." The man in black steps forward and passes between the two men before looking to the sky. The moon was half full and the stars ruled that night. "And Valper, stop provoking Sir Gawain. He clearly doesn't like your methods and you should respect that fact."

"Of course my lord." Valper Galilei offered a deep bow in apology despite the man in black preferring to look at the stars.

"Sir, if I may ask a question about the operation?" The man in black turned slightly to look at Gawain who bowed his head. "We managed to prepare locations and traps just because all of us are human but… How will you enter the city, sir?" Gawain raised his head only to notice that the man in black was looking at the sky again. "The defenses around Fuyuki are weak but the detection of great powers is considerable. Not only that but the devils' outpost in the town is heavily guarded. If you enter Fuyuki, they will detect you and our plan will be ruined."

"That is indeed true, my lord. If they detect you before our plans come to fruition, any hope of reforging Excalibur will crumble into dust." Valper's agreement made Gawain's skin crawl but he didn't show it, they had more pressing concerns.

"True enough. I suppose I can't just stay and relax on our 'cruise'." The man in black commented with a small shrug of his shoulders, his eyes still looking up. "How long until the ship arrives in Fuyuki?"

"It will be close to dawn, sir." Gawain didn't have an exact estimate but that was what his men told him. "We still have a couple of hours and the barrier is on the city limits. If you wish, we can keep our ship away from the port and have our troops drop down by boat."

"That will just delay the whole thing." Valper made sure his words didn't sound like a complaint but Gawain glared harder.

The man in black wasn't upset. "You shouldn't hurry, Valper, we still need the two Exorcists to arrive with the swords. And he is also right, Sir Gawain, your men need to be in position. A trap is only good when ready to be sprung." He chuckled in amusement at the impatient and upset face of his audience. Not that their opinions mattered to him. "Did our men confirm the location of the devils' command center?"

Surprised by the question, Gawain quickly paraphrased some of the report. "They are confirmed to stay on one of the Gremory buildings, both theirs and the Sitri entourage at locaded there on the previous defined address-"

"Good." The man in black stopped Gawain from reciting the full details of the report. "Gentlemen, look at this beautiful sky, admire the moon and the stars as they are now." He pointed up and the two did as instructed. "Tomorrow, in a sky much like this one, there will be the dawn of a new world, a new age. Admire it now, gentlemen, for tomorrow this won't be the same sky."

Black wings, as darker than the clothes the man was wearing, appear on his back. They were ten in total and appeared to be perfectly symmetrical in five pairs that fit perfectly on his back and enhanced his presence.

Everyone on the deck could see it happening, the guards all watched the majestic set of ten wings revealing all of their magnificence. They all knew the man wasn't showing his true power, only giving them all a taste of his celestial form.

"Now, for our mission to be successful, we cannot allow the Maous to realize what is happening until we are ready." The wings began to spread, towering the boxes on the ship it used for its cover but never appeared to tower over the man himself, their shadows spreading in every inch and corner of the vessel. "For that, the guardians of the heiresses need to be disposed of." His intentions were clear and neither of the other two disagree with him.

Without warning his wings suddenly became smaller and almost as if the shadows they made were nothing but an illusion they retracted as the man's set of wings, each now barely bigger than an adult's legs, stayed on his back or covered his shoulders as he opened the top buttons of his shirt to reveal the white color of an undershirt.

"You will have to move fast, sir, or else the boundary fields of the guardians will alert them of your presence." Gawain spoke respectfully but with a scowl on his face. "I don't know why this must be the city we use to rebuild Excalibur."

"Every city with a decent ley line has guardians of some kind. This is just the one with the weakest set." Valper spoke offhandedly and the knight's attention was immediately focused on glaring at the old man.

Before things escalated, the fallen angel intervened. "Our plans must remain hidden until all the Fragments but one are collected and the time is proper." With that Gawain's attention was back with the angel. "The two Exorcists will be alone in enemy territory without possibility of reinforcements. While the devils may try to intervene out of curiosity, I trust they won't be a challenge to you and your knights."

A salute and look of determination predicated the commitment of the blond man. "All the main force is already in Fuyuki. We, the Four Great Knights, will guarantee that the Fragments are taken. I swear to you, in the name of King Arthur himself, that the Order of Pendragon shall not fail." Gawain declared proudly as he bowed deeply.

The fallen angel just smiled with amusement, if anyone looked at his face they would think he heard the greatest joke in the world. "See that you do not. The sword must be fixed." The tone was paternal but the face was not but the knight couldn't see it. "For now, I must depart. This is the last sky of this age and I will enjoy it to the fullest."

With a hand on his chest, Valper offered the man a bow of his own. "Good hunt, lord Kokabiel."

Kokabiel smiled, thinking of the words of a man he met long ago in his life who was also a rebel ready to start a war. "'Let the die be cast'." And then he took flight, his wings carrying him in the direction of his target.

…

After Rutal's exile a year ago his residence in Fuyuki was returned to the Gremory but Rias refused to use the hotel he once lived in even when hostilities between the Clans weren't in the open at the time.

As an olive branch because of the circumstances of that moment, her father saved no expenses to have it completely fixed, refurbished and equipped with anything that anyone would desire for a residence .

But the heiress still refused to step her feet there and so, after the Rearguard Incident, the other devils of Fuyuki moved in there for both a better position at the center of the town and for comfort.

Now the top of the hotel was the headquarters for the operation of protection of the Heiresses of Gremory and Sitri. There were at least fifty devils staffed at all times to make sure no big threat would enter Fuyuki.

To make sure their future leaders are sharp and ready for combat, they had orders to allow strays of a certain level entered Fuyuki unimpeded and sent a warning to younger devils, pretending their numbers were much smaller, they believed they had only a spotter or two outside the towns perimeter, than the fifty guards posted to protect them from bigger threats.

They also got to live in the most expensive apartments in all Fuyuki as a nice bonus but while they had times and schedules to make sure they could relax, there were always some in position to any emergency, by it mundane or fantastical.

The place was full of seals and crystal balls connected to the boundary fields and familiars around Fuyuki. Thanks to the suggestion of Lucifer's magician, the place also was technologically prepared to detect any threat with computers displaying specific images from cameras in key parts of the town or a screen full of data from the people that entered the city officially and sometimes unofficially.

Despite all present being devils, the time they could relax the most was at night when the Heiress were more active. They still kept an eye out for any threats but all of them stayed inside the building to make sure that none of them could be detected by their future leaders by mistake.

At the moment they were in their usual routine, not much different from a normal office where everyone had to work to keep things on schedule. Some of them were even sleeping despite being night but none of the devils complained, their assignment may be important but it was mostly an easy one.

One of the devils, a man with combed black hair, blinked as something showed up on his computer which was connected to a radar to keep an eye on any unidentified flying object before he blinked and it was gone. "Uhm, sir?"

"What is it Francis?" His immediate superior, a man from the Gremory house with short brown hair and suit, approached the station.

"Something just popped on my screen but it just disappeared." Francis told his boss with a frown.

The leader of the Gremory devils looked to his Sitri counterpart, a thin devil with purple hair, who shrugged. Francis was a Gremory and so not his subordinate, he was willing to let the Gremory's side make the decisions and take the fall if they don't pay off.

"Maybe a plane flew too low?" The older devil asked with a smile since it was possible.

Before agreements or disagreements could be voiced a woman with long orange hair barged in the office.

"Commander! A high power level was detected on Fuyuki!" The woman's declaration was enough to put everyone on high alert.

As a leader, the commander of the assignment didn't let himself be shaken. "How powerful?"

Before the woman could respond an explosion was heard on the side of the floor they were in.

Despite not knowing the full situation or even communicating between each other, all the devils on station began to move towards the explosion. Everyone was on high alert and moving quickly, the whole floor big enough that the fifty of them could move without impediment, some even had enough skill to fly in the hallways for more speed.

While the Gremory and Sitri squads knew each other, they never really needed to fight all together before. That didn't mean they weren't a force to be reckoned with as they were two full peerages together with a couple of specialist devils for boundary fields or trained to deal with technology.

They all had confidence in their capabilities and that was why they all moved to the main hall where the roof now had a hole leading to the outside, some water from the pool on the rooftop of the hotel was still falling as a dark figure became visible right at the center surrounded by debris from its entrance.

In that moment every single devil present knew fear, the kind of fear born from being before a predator and having no means of running or hiding. The dark wings were already a give away for the possible identity of the attacks but it was their number that truly frightened most of them.

Seeing the ten wings on the fallen angel's back set all sets of alarms on every devils' head but they were trained warriors and refused to show any sign of the growing panic that threatened to sharter their spirits. Instead of shouting or showing fear, every devil with two exceptions raised their hands and pointed magic circles in the fallen angel's direction.

Kokabiel wasn't surprised, these were the devils chosen to protect the Heiress of two of the 72 Pillars, there was no way any of them would be incompetent. His red eyes moved to the two Kings loyal to the Gremory and Sitri who stood in the center of their group and he smiled.

"Good evening." The words sounded soft and as non threatening as they could be for it was an angel who talked and he sounded as paternal and kind as a parent or an older brother.

The greeting didn't put anyone at ease and only discipline born on the battlefield kept the metaphorical trigger fingers in check despite the fallen's presence filling their hearts with dread. Only two devils, the Kings of their peerages who were old enough to have fought the Great War, had felt his power before, long ago in a distant battlefield.

Both Kings shared a glance and the Sitri one stepped forward, it was agreed previously he was the more diplomatic of the pair. "May I inquire why you are here, Cadre Kokabiel?" The fallen gave him an amusing smile but the Sitri King didn't lose his nerve. "You know what your presence here implies, do you not? You are in devil territory without permission, I can only hope this is some kind of misunderstanding."

"Oh, but I know what it implies and I can assure you, it isn't a misunderstanding." Kokabiel spoke calmly and gently but that only served to put the devils even more on edge.

For his part the Sitri King couldn't believe his ears. "Are you really implying you want to start a war?" The devil hoped it was a mistake.

"Yes, I am." Kokabiel's reply shattered his and any other devil's hope. "Actually, I suppose that is not exactly correct." The fallen angel rubbed his chin in thought.

"What do you mean by that?" The Gremory King asked with some caution.

"This alone won't start a war. I mean, it is part of it but any of you dying isn't enough." The words only made the devils more nervous and the Kings were starting to sweat as even they were shaken by the Cadre's words and the power he was letting out made them tremble as they knew this wasn't a fight they wanted to take. "This is but a prelude."

Nobody acted, fear had settled in and no one wanted what was about to happen to be true, nobody wanted to die. "'A… prelude'?" The King of Sitri tried to process the meaning behind the words but he didn't need to bother, Kokabiel was happy to explain.

"Yes, a prelude. You see, for the next events to take place, I can't have the actors showing up before all the pieces are properly positioned for the play." Kokabiel moved his arms, as if to show the devils around despite him being the invader on their residence. "And so, I can't let the Maous know what is happening until it is too late. To keep things going on a schedule, all of you will have to die." His tone remained gentle, despite the fear now clear on all the devils' faces. "Nothing personal really, you all are just unnecessary setpieces that need to be disposed of."

Francis was a relatively young devil, he never fought in a war and wasn't part of any of the peerages posted in Fuyuki, he was just a run of the mill devil that was born from low class parents and because of his low magic power he ended up joining a program to learn how to better use human technology.

His dedication and efforts ended up netting him a considerable comfortable job as one of the protectors of the two Heiresses in Fuyuki. With his skills it was easy, the pay was good and he liked the company.

But compared to many of his companions, Francis wasn't a real warrior. As a devil he had to be one but that wasn't who he really was in his heart of hearts. In fact he was there to compliment the fighters with information and to be one of the extras in a squad with two peerages.

He wasn't a soldier, he never wanted to be a hero and so he was the first one to lose his nerve.

A single lonely ball of mana flew in Kokabiel's direction, hitting the fallen angel right on his chest. The former resident of Heaven even looked down in amusement as many of the devils looked at him in horror.

"To be fair, I was planning to give you all a free shot." He said in jest but his arms were open in invitation. "You can all attack now, I will allow it. Or have you all already made peace with death?"

At the challenge the two Kings immediately jumped back as their subordinates, mildly spread around but mostly in a single direction, open fire with all the magic they had. Fire, water, lighting, pure mana, anything the devils could use to attack they did.

Their attacks were even stronger than normal because of the fear and panic. They knew their opponent wasn't like the criminals or strays they were used to hunting, those that had the fortune to survive the Great War knew exactly what they were facing and they didn't dare to think all they had was enough.

The leaders didn't join the attack immediately. They traded glances and nodded to each other as the Sitri King turned to race towards one of their offices. In there he would find a magic circle directly connected to Serafall Leviathan, the only devil he personally knew that could challenge the Cadre in their base.

Meanwhile, the Gremory King created a magic circle and prepared to join the others when he saw a flash of gold and a spear of light escaping the smoke covering the fallen's form. For a second the devil thought he was going to die without even throwing a proper attack, then he felt the heat of the spear pass by the side of his head and he knew he was safe.

His companion wasn't and many of the devils, the members of the Sitri Clan mostly, stopped attacking to watch as their King and commander fell down impaled from behind. The huge spear didn't even stop and kept going until it hit a wall, blowing it up.

The Gremory King shivered, despite knowing he shouldn't be surprised by the power of his opponent he couldn't help but let the fear finally take hold of him even if just for a moment as he looked to the fallen angel once again as the smoke and dust around him settled as the shock made all the devils stop their attacks.

"Ah, I should have mentioned that I will immediately kill anyone trying to escape. I can't let you leave and spoil the play before it begins can I?" Kokabiel announced to the devils, once again making his intent of killing them all known.

While they heard the words, most of them were just too stunned that one of their leaders was so killed easily. Only the other commander wasn't surprised and once he recovered his composure he focused on trying to solve this situation.

With a small smile, the man realized that there was no escape. Kokabiel was, much like himself, a survivor of the Great War but that didn't mean they were on the same level. Truly he was promoted to a high class devil after much effort and dedication but that wasn't the same as a high class being which Kokabiel was.

The title of High Class devil could be an indication of the kind of power a devil had and it was true that the King of Gremory was powerful, he knew for a fact he was much stronger than the average devil and he was the strongest devil alive in the room.

Against someone like Kokabiel that meant nothing, the now deceased leader of the Sitri contingent was pretty much his equal and he was easily killed so the Gremory King already knew his fate was sealed.

That didn't detain the man as he created a magic circle below his feet and began to accumulate demonic energy. "That is more like it! Fight! Fight until your last moment!" Kokabiel egged the Gremory King on but he didn't focus on the fallen angel, his focus was on his subordinates.

Kokabiel was a Cadre, a high being that was once a direct servant of the God of the Bible. From eight wings to twelve wings were the angels that could be called the Strongest Guardians of Heaven, some said to be as strong as gods.

Even if Kokabiel was relaxed and not revealing his full power, the Gremory King knew his adversary was someone as strong as a minor deity of a big pantheon, a hard feat to accomplish for the majority of devils even after hundreds of years living, training and bleeding for power.

Only Ultimate Class devils would dare to compete with such a existence but even many of those fell short against the legendary Kokabiel, an angel created by God and one of the leaders of Grigori.

But he knew devils that surpassed that power, that were stronger than Kokabiel and the King of Gremory shouted his last orders to try and bring one of them to Fuyuki. "ESCAPE! CALL LORD LUCIFER AT ALL COST!"

Almost nobody understood what the Gremory King was doing, Kokabiel did and he even threw in a small smile. "Ah! A fellow veteran!" The fallen angel greeted with some respect. "Tell me something; do you believe you have enough power to actually take me down?"

"I can only try." The King could feel his blood vessels bulging and his body complaining about his actions. With this particular spell his power had raised to a level that never had reached before. And even then, deep down on his soul, he knew it wasn't enough, that it never was going to be enough.

"No one is moving." Kokabiel told the man about to die and the King didn't need to look back to know the fallen angel was right. "Any last words?"

"RUN YOU FOOLS!" The man shouted, his body covered in a dense aura of demonic power as it started to crack and blow apart.

It was one of the spells developed in the days of war, a suicidal attack that the new generation of devils didn't need to learn about but the old guard, those who seved under the original Maous, knew all too well. It was one of the reasons why the number of devils was so low after the war itself.

Everything the devil had was put in a single attack and the man himself knew it would be a powerful one that was capable of taking down dozens of angels. But it had its limits.

Even trading his life away, even as his flesh broke apart to become more energy for his last stand and he made sure it was completely focused on the fallen angel the man knew that the attack could only be five to ten times stronger than himself.

And even if all was channeled against Kokabiel, the Cadre was much stronger than just ten times of the devil's power.

But the Gremory King's goal wasn't to win, it was to unbalance the man, to blind him, to hurt him enough so that someone can escape. That was the best way he could find to stop another war, to call for the only man he knew could stop Kokabiel before it was too late.

Even now the last memory of the King loyal to the Gremory Clan was from that man with long red hair stopping him from using that same attack in the Underworld Civil War. He remembered being talked off using it by a man that could kill him one hundred times over even before the attempt was complete.

A magic circle began to form in front of the devil as he had his last thought. 'I am sorry, Sirzechs. I can protect your sister no longer.' A cracking fist punched the circle and from it a gigantic blast of mana flew in Kokabiel's direction.

The fallen angel didn't move, he was still fully open and soon the attack hit him, fully covering his form in light before it exploded.

The boundary fields around their hotel floor were excellent ones, they were so good that the devils from Gremory and Sitri could train and live there as they saw fit and no one would detect them. They were the only things stopping the explosion from escaping the place even as it was mostly demolished by the blast.

The King of Gremory's body was still standing but the man was no longer alive. The cracks had expanded but there was no blood, even that was used on his last desperate stand. Everything he had was used and only an empty husk similar to stone remained but not for long.

Nothing would remain of the man since the huge explosion he unleashed disintegrated whatever was left of his body, the blast itself demolishing the whole area.

Despite that many devils didn't let themselves fall or be thrown around. Those that serve the Gremory Clan more than the Sitri saw their King's death as it was, an opening. Most were still shocked by all that was happening but six devils, a Queen, two Pawns, a Knight and two Rooks, all from the Gremory clan, began to fly as fast as they could to the opening on the roof.

Kokabiel's entry point would be their exit.

When the rest of the peerage of the King of Gremory saw what was happening they all prepared more magic circles and began attacking the fallen angel once again, many of the others following their lead with the goal of killing the fallen angel or keeping him down while the rest completed their King's last orders.

Other devils saw the actions of their companions who didn't lose hope with the deaths of their commanders. They saw the determination and duty in their eyes and started to get up to offer their full support.

Only for six spears of light to fly off the cloud of smoke and dust to hit the six devils trying to retreat. Every single one of them hit the members of the Gremory clan on their hearts and there was nothing they could do, even the Queen's and the Rooks' defenses were useless against the power of the fallen angel and the light which made his weapons secured the kills.

It was so fast that nobody had time to react, the fallen angel was surrounded by dust and smoke, taking magic attack after magic attack when he suddenly killed six devils while in the middle of a bombardment of mana.

There was surprise and horror on the faces of every devil watching as their last hope, some of the strongest devils they knew, were pierced without ceremony and their bodies began to fall, gravity taking hold once again as dead devils couldn't contest it.

The spears of light had already disappeared when the bodies hit the ground, only holes remained in the place of their hearts.

As the dust settled, everyone could see that the sacrifice of the Gremory King was for nothing as Kokabiel stood there completely unharmed. The biggest damage visible was that his clothes looked to be a little burned, clearly a consequence of not putting much resistance against the previous attack despite his natural aura being enough to still protect his suit.

The fallen angel looked fine, even the damage just gave him an air of danger that enhanced his image and settled firmly on their minds that none of them could win.

"I did warn I was going to kill anyone trying to escape." Kokabiel reminded them all with a smile but there was no reaction. "Is there anyone else among you with some other trick up their sleeve? This is your chance. I won't stop you if you need to make some preparations." Once again he saw no reaction other than fear and resignation. "Really? Nothing?" Kokabiel's smile was gone and in his face was a frown of frustration. "Maybe the devils of old were made of sterner stuff."

Some of the devils reacted to that, their pride demanding them to stand up. These three were young by devil standards but they all were warriors who fought many battles as both humans and devils.

They understood that their friends may be dead but they weren't and so they flew up and began to prepare with as much magic power they could muster in their triangle formation.

Kokabiel's smile returned as he watched a magic circle being formed inside the triangle. As promised, the fallen angel remained still and didn't interrupt the preparations attack despite the seconds it was taking, if he was fighting seriously the trio would be dead already.

But he wasn't planning to attack and the three devils, two Bishops from Sitri and one from Gremory, took full advantage of it.

In some Rating Games, the teamwork of two Bishops can be enough to take down many of the opposing Pieces, Kings and Queens alike. And this trio, together with the other Bishop who was too shocked by the events to move, talked about the concept of many Bishops working together at once to surpass a greater foe.

They had the same assignment and many times the four Bishops had free time together, that was when the idea took hold, that was when they started to train together to work as a single unit.

Even with one of its parts missing, that was also considered in their training and so they could attack as three since fights can get messy and people can be separated.

So just three of them are enough for one single attack as the mana between them grows in intensity and the magic circle begins to glow in an intense color similar to wine but deeper and more darker.

Kokabiel never lost his smile, not even when the attack was launched with the three Bishops shoulting together. """DARK TRIANGLE!""" He observed curiosity that the attack did look like a triangle despite the fact that it was coming from a circle but had no time to comment as it slammed on him with its full power.

The triangle of mana covered the fallen angel completely, its energy finished destroying the side of the floor where the King of Gremory had made his last stand. Behind Kokabiel, there wasn't a single room that hadn't been demolished in the last few minutes.

Yet the trio of devils kept their power going for as long as they could. They could feel the oppressive aura from Kokabiel, still strong as ever despite its subdued state. The three already understood that brute force alone wasn't going to defeat him.

The trio decided to exhaust his defenses instead by keeping the spell going long enough to wear out his natural resistances and force Kokabiel to actively protect himself. Once the fallen angel started to do that then they were going to keep pushing until the Cadre was exhausted and the other devils could secure the kill once their energies were spent.

Working together as a result of many hours of training, the trio worked in sync to reduce the weight of spell on each other by adjusting the distribution of mana between the three of them; one would rest a few seconds to gather more mana while the others picked their slack and then they would trade until they hit their limits.

It took a full minute of constant blasting Kokabiel for the spell to start to lose strength before the three noticed it and sent everything they had for a last desperate rush to the finish.

As the light diminished, the three Bishops fell to the ground in exhaustion, they were so tired by the effort that they couldn't even fly any longer.

"Better." Kokabiel praised the three, much to their horror as they noticed that his suit was missing its top with his white shirt slightly damaged but otherwise the man didn't look even bothered. If anything, Kokabiel looked happy. "The power was good and the teamwork was excellent. Looks like I will have to reevaluate the modern devils." His words were to cheer them up, to show he recognized their effort. They only succeeded in making the devils fear the ten winged angel even more. "Now that is done, is anyone else going to try something?"

Red eyes patiently glanced at every devil present, some looked to the Queen of Sitri for guidance but she was as confused and terrified as them. Nobody else moved and Kokabiel let out a sigh before looking to the three Bishops that impressed him.

"First or last?" He asked sharply, with some disappointment but a little respect. When Kokabiel saw the devils didn't understand what he was asking, he decided to elaborate. "You want to die first, before your weaker friends or do you want to go last to get some time to try something else?"

The reply disappointed him. "First." One of the devils said immediately, his spirit broken as he took what Kokabiel offered as mercy.

"You-" His companion didn't have time to protest as Kokabiel killed him with a spear of light before using it to decapitate the other two devils. In his mind, when one of them surrendered it was pointless to keep the other two alive so he killed them practically at the same time.

With a spear of light as tall as himself, Kokabiel looked towards the devils who took the gruesome sight of their recently dead friends and began to prepare for their turn. A grin appears on his face, his teeth now all sharp like a shark's as the fallen angel's true nature begins to shine.

Kokabiel took flight towards the devils; if they weren't going to him, he was going to them.

It would be easy for an angel of his caliber to just make more spears to kill the devils at a distance or make a huge one to incinerate them all at the same time.

Instead Kokabiel transformed his spear into a wider form with more energy to make it harder to break and threw himself right into the middle of the devils, giving them a few seconds to react.

Some prepared magic spells, others drew swords and spears. Only two turned to run, Kokabiel decided they would die first as his spear destroyed one of the runners heads as a devil tried to take his head. He completely ignores the sword on his neck as his spear spins on his hands before the Cadre throws it, killing a devil preparing a magic circle and straight into the other runner.

Barely the spear had left his hands that another was already there to cut the devil closest to him in half from the waist. Blood started to cover Kokabiel's body as he smiled and punched another devil on the chest, crushing heart and lungs.

'This! This is where I belong!' Another devil was impaled as Kokabiel smiled like a child in a candy store. 'Not in some stuffy office! Not running tireless drills for a battle that will never come!' He turns to cut the head of another devil as the thoughts run freneticaly on his mind. 'A battlefield! That is all I need! A place to fight and an enemy to kill!'

Two more devils threw themselves at him and Kokabiel smiled at their bravery before cutting them to pieces and charging to another behind him that was preparing a magic circle.

Suddenly Kokabiel felt someone pulling his wings but he was not detained as he killed the devil in the back before lifting his wings and revealing the devil trying to stop him. The man's eyes only had despeair and Kokabiel was delighted once the light left them.

'This is the best!' The fallen angel kept going and no devil could challenge his light or his might. 'More! Give me more! Come on! Give me a challenge!'

He kept killing them, never stopping despite any resistance or attempt to hurt him. He kept killing them despite the blood, none of which was his own, covering him from head to toe.

Kokabiel killed all of them despite the cries of mercy and didn't even notice when some begged for their lives.

'Huh?' The fallen angel snapped back to reality once the last devil had perished, a spell disappearing from her hands as her eyes became empty. "Is it over already?"

Looking around the area Kokabiel could only see the blood and bodies of the dead. Not a single devil remained on the floor as Kokabiel killed them all, some standing and dying fighting while others were on their knees, remnants of tears barely visible if he bothered to pay enough attention.

"That was quick." Kokabiel commented with disappointment as he looked out a broken window and saw it was still night. "And now all I have to do is wait."

Turning around towards the bodies the man took a look at the carnage he inflicted on the devils with boredom and debated destroying the bodies just to clean up the place. With a shrug, the fallen angel decided it was not worth it.

"I need to take a bath." He looked at his once pristine suit and realized it was now both worthless and evidence of his actions. "I should have picked something cheaper today." Rubbing his chin in thought, Kokabiel began to march to find a bathroom. "I hope some of them had clothes my size. If I know devils, I am sure one of them must have something good to use today. Maybe a long cape with shoulder pads. It would be in poor form to start a war badly dressed." Then he realized, "I also need something to do while I wait. Maybe they have a library around here somewhere.

Kokabiel was in no rush, dawn was still an hour away and it could take all day for his allies to do their work and preparations to be finished. He would take his time to find something to do, if only to hold his anxiety back.

"Soon we shall bring the end of an era." Kokabiel could barely contain his excitement as he let out a huge smile that revealed all of his sharp teeth.

…..

I was going to post a more relaxed kind of chapter but so many people asked for the Excalibur Arc that I decided to just do it. Not that I didn't use the material anyway since some of the conversations on this chapter were references to what that chapter would be about. Oh well.

Also many can already notice that there are a lot of changes to the Arc compared to the LN or anime, the reason? Worldbuilding. No kidding, if a sword like Excalibur was up for grabs or could be stolen then there would be an army of people or organizations that would try to do it constantly.

Also yes, in the DxD cannon the Excalibur Ruler, the last fragment, was only found later by Arthur with Vali's help… better to just give it to the family to secure some loyalty since the descendents of the Pendragon family seem to have an affinity with Holy Swords.

Also about the comments, Shirou doesn't have Rule Breaker… the whole point of the last part of that chapter was to show Zekram taking it and keeping it on his person to let it be ambiguous if he has some plan for it or not.

But to be frank, despite Rule Breaker being one of the weakest Noble Phantasms, combat wise at least, it is one of the most, pardon the pun, broken Noble Phantasms ever conceived.

I invite anyone who disagrees to a thought experiment if they wish; imagine any world where magic is the law, contracts are essential and knowledge is power. Did you do it? Now insert Rule Breaker on it and watch the fireworks.

To help, let's use the Fate universe itself and another to try and give people a clearer image.

Those more familiar with the Clock Tower of Fate and know how cruel that place can be try to imagine what would happen if a rumor spread that Rule Breaker existed in a material form and a family, which no one knows what family is that, has it.

The place would erupt in a civil war in less than a week because contracts there, much like here, are some of the things that keep enemies from killing each other and enforce some modicum of peace between factions that would be killing each other otherwise.

All that with just a rumor because if someone actually had it then they would brag, magi there are a prideful bunch for the most part but there are exceptions, would be assassinated and the thing stolen. Also because Rule Breaker needs Medea in that world and that opens a whole can of worms but hey, this is just an example.

Now lets go to the world of Rising of the Shield Hero which has a system of slavery in place that with a stab of Rule Breaker would easily free any slave. Just give them to one of the warriors of the coliseum, yes I am avoiding spoilers but lets face it, every society with slaves has some form of coliseum, and count the minutes before they topple a goverment.

And that is before the Heroes are summoned, by just inserting Rule Breaker on that world you transform it completely because you would break one of its pillars. Easily.

Rule Breaker is pretty much an 'I win' button depending on how it is used that can make or break countries if the world has magic. Of course Zekram wouldn't give a magician, regardless of who, the chance to study it and use it against him.

"Then why have it here?" Someone is going to ask and again the answer is worldbuilding.

With a conceptual Noble Phantasm that could only exist with the Heroic Spirit Medea showing up It makes clear that no Noble Phantasm is off limits, creates a way for the Phenex to be an actual threat not only for Rias but for the balance of the Underworld itself which forces Zekram to act to show the kind of person he is since he is all always on the backstage doing a thing or another, it is a tool that many would want and pay fortunes for while also becoming either a red herring or a chekhov's gun that may or may not be relevant later.

Until next time.