Name's not Rumiko, and I understand Romance isn't just about the girls flashing the boy their tits.
For those with ATP questions, I have the next chapter vaguely outlined, but I am waiting until Mordreek and I can communicate on a set schedule before promising I can get the next chapter out. At that point, work will proceed quickly, but I am in no position to promise anything.
For August's poll FILFy Teacher won again, if barely. Here on fanfic it brought in 593 votes, gaining a total of 1719. The second story in the small (Splinter voice: Hahaha, I tell a funny) story was not, alas Stallion of the Line as I had hoped. Instead Gods and Devils and Wild Horse with a total of 1707, though it only brought in 275 votes here on fanfic. So here it is.
I apologize that I am getting this out a day later than normal, and that it is quite a bit shorter than most of my works, but I had family issues - still being people's chauffeur for the most part over this last week. And considering it was also the work of literally like… ten hours total, I figure it isn't that bad LOL. It at least deals with the repercussions of the semi-cliffhanger from the last chapter and sets up the next big problem. Now without further ado...
No one has looked at this but me, which means that there will no doubt be issues. Hopefully not enough to stop you from enjoying the chapter though.
Chapter 9: Diplomacy Doesn't Live Here
"So let me get this straight. First you come up here to take a shower. Then someone else who you describe as a…"
Ranma interrupted Rias helpfully at that point. "An asshole rapist who dresses like the worst rich-boy wannabe gangster in existence."
"Right, yes, that. He attacks you, you defend yourself then before you can actually 'kill' him, he disappears." Rias said slowly, her lips twitching spasmodically as she fought to keep a wholly inappropriate giggle from escaping. "And, and judging from that description and what you said he was saying before you fought him off, that must have been Riser. My unwanted fiancé who you just scared off like a dog running with its tail between his legs."
At that point she lost control and hurled herself forward, grabbing Ranma in a glomp to make all previous glomps look like child's play. Ranma found her head pressed into the taller redhead's chest, Rias's softness enveloping her head lightly to either side as she was forced to breath in the heady smell of Rias's body after her recent exertions. Beyond that Ranma found herself lifted straight off the floor as Rias danced around. "Ranma you are my FAVORITE person right now! Oh, I would kiss you so hard if I didn't think Saeko would take my head off!"
"Ara, so glad you remembered I was here," Saeko said tartly, causing Rias to release the blushing Ranma just slightly from her chest. Before Ranma could think of whether she should be thankful she could breathe again or scared of the two fighting over him, Saeko pressed into the shorter girl's back, her arms going around Ranma's waist. "Mine," Saeko said bluntly.
"Hmmf!" Isn't that something he needs to decide for himself?" Rias asked sweetly, looking down at Ranma's blushing face and making no move to release her fellow redhead from her hug.
Nearby, Akeno giggled, the sound coming out as usual somewhere between cute and sadistically disturbing. "FUFUFUFU, Ara, there's so much fun to be had here, teasing and watching, it's like having my cake and eating it too~." She glanced sideways at the last person in the room and giggled again. "Oh my, fufufufu."
Kiba on the other hand was feeling very odd. ON the one hand, this was his king he was looking at, and he knew he shouldn't be thinking such thoughts about the young woman who had saved his life so many years ago, who had never, not once seen him as anything but a friend. ON the other hand, his male libido just could not ignore the fact that there were three extremely attractive girls in front of him basically in a group hug which mashed all their breasts against one another in such a way as to be very distracting. In the end he couldn't quite turn his head away, and continued to watch out of the corner of his eye as he blushed a rosy apple color.
"Ara Kiba-kun, it looks as you're about to have a moment there. Would you like some tissues?" Akeno teased, leaning over to whisper the words in the blond boy's ear, causing him to shudder and yelp, flinching away. "Mm… your innocent reactions always make me want to tease you more~."
Seeing this out of the corner of her eye Rias sighed and let go of Ranma, causing her to fall back lightly against Saeko's chest much to Rias's chagrin. "Akeno, leave him alone please. Ranma, we do need to talk seriously about this. I can see Riser being 'allowed' to come and see me by my parents which would have been a complication in and of itself. But you're attacking him, and so effectively too, will cause further issues. The Phenex clan might take this as an assault on him, and actually attack you…"
Just as Rias said those words the teleportation array on the floor of the clubroom started to glow. IT was a deep Crimson color, with the image of the Maou Lucifer shining in the center for a moment, along with the image of a pawn piece underneath. "What? Why is Nii-sama sending one of his peerage here?"
Still somewhat jumpy about what had occurred earlier, Ranma whipped out the Gekkaja once more and stood poised for violence. When he saw the creature who appeared in the circle, his eyes widened in surprise, but it did nothing to alleviate his concerns. "Rias, what the hell is that?"
"'What'? That's rather rude young lady," the creature rumbled, shaking his head. "I am Enku, pawn of my lord Sirzechs Lucifer."
Enku stood about six feet five inches and looked almost horse-like save for the fact he had red scales and the face and neck of a dragon with long snout, intelligent looking eyes, long whiskers and expressive lips over large perfect looking teeth. He also spoke in a rather erudite manner, each word and sentence correct. "Lady Rias, am I to take it that this uncultured young lady is part of your peerage? She looks like she could be a long lost relative on your Gremory side."
"I suppose that's better than you thinking she's me. I mean come on," Rias groused, gesturing between herself and Ranma. She's shorter than me by a good six inches!"
"And you're bustier," Ranma replied, her eyes glancing first to Rias's chest, then Saeko's . "Riser saw just my ass, legs and hair, and that was enough for him, the fucker."
"I was supposed to arrive behind him by only fifteen minutes!" Enku groused. "And he actually attacked a member of your peerage Rias-sama?"
"I'm not a member of her peerage, just a friend," Ranma replied, taking the tea kettle from Akeno, where she had earlier been getting them all tea as he described what happened to Riser. We'll just ignore the blushing and the heavy breathing she had going on when she was listening, that way lies madness.
"And I ain't a girl at all." The next second he dumped the now lukewarm water of her head, triggering the change and going back to his normal body, causing Enku to gasp and back away so hard his back hoof nearly went through the wall behind him. "I'm a guy. Names Ranma, dragon-looking dude."
Despite sounding friendly however both Saeko and Rias noticed that Ranma had not in fact let down his guard. The Gekkaja was still in his hand and his entire body seemed tense like a bowstring.
"Ranma?" Saeko said hesitantly, reaching out to grab his hand in hers. "I don't think he's a threat."
"It's alright, Enku really is one of my Nii-Sama's family, I recognize him." Rias said quickly.
"Let's just say I've had issues with dragons before this, and anything that looks like one is going to get my back up. Including their containers or whatever. I still haven't gotten back at Issei for siccing his perverted friends on me. That, plus I'm still on edge from being attacked." Ranma growled, but then he subsided, and Gekkaja disappeared into his weapons space before he used the hand that had been holding it and took Saeko's hand, squeezing. "But if you vouch for him that's good enough for me."
"My word, that was a most astonishing piece of magic. I would assume it was some kind of magical curse? But the impact of it, a full body transformation, that is very odd." Enku murmured. "And I fully understand how you might have trouble with dragons, they tend to be aggressive, literally fiery, and very irritating if intelligent, and mindlessly aggressive if not. My great uncle Orochi is a perfect example of that last type."
"Yeah, yeah he is, also big and dumb." At everyone's look of surprise Ranma shrugged. "I met him once in that preserve he lives in, the water there has some kind of forgetfulness magic on it, but I do remember that fight."
"Indeed, you must tell me about it some time, but for now, please tell me about this attack you were talking about." Enku asked. "If Riser did indeed try to assault you out of the blue that is a major issue, one which House Gremory would be well within its right to seek redress over, part of Rias-sama's peerage or not."
As Ranma explained what had happened Saeko sidled up to Akeno and Rias, the Queen having moved to stand beside her King. Kiba on the other hand had faded somewhat into the background. "Are you going to tell Enku-san about what brought you and Akeno to our house last night?"
Twitching slightly at the 'our' statement there Rias shook her head. "No, Enku is smart, but he's not a real magic user, he wouldn't know what to do with it. Plus, he certainly isn't a neutral party when it comes to me or my being affianced with Riser. My Nii-sama has never been shy about telling everyone and their Mother he hated it. No, for that I need to wait for the right time."
Nodding thoughtfully, Saeko put aside her growing rivalry with Rias for Ranma's affections, squeezing the other girl's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll be here whatever happens."
A moment later, Enku finished listening to Ranma's story and nodded his draconic head. "Very well, yes that will amount to a great deal of egg in the face, especially if your response was so violent you made the man fear for his life." Ranma hadn't said anything about his weapon stopping Riser's healing ability from working on him, so that was doubly impressive. "With this information, I will return to my master and mistress."
"Isn't most Devil peerages just the one king?" Ranma asked.
"Normally yes, but there is actually a big debate among the rest of Sirzechs's on which one is the King in the relationship really, both in and out of the bedroom." Enku replied with a chuckle.
"Ugh too much information." Rias groused, before shaking her head. "Thank you for your help on this matter Enku-san."
"Of course, Rias-sama. Have a nice day, and if Riser comes back for revenge for his humiliation, please call for me with your familiar and I will arrive forthwith." Enku replied, with a smile on his long snout. An instant later the teleportation circle flared, and Enku was gone.
Kiba had been silent throughout this confrontation but now stepped forward, bowing slightly from the waist. "Buchou, now that this current issue is dealt with, might I be allowed to go and find those church-goers?"
"No, I think not Kiba-kun," Rias said with a sigh. "They should be returning here soon enough to formally meet with Sona and me." She looked at her Knight sharply. "And I don't want you out of sight just yet given certain issues, completely understandable ones admittedly, you have with the Church and those that serve it." When Kiba looked to want to object, Rias asked. "Do you still have Mousse?"
Kiba scowled but nodded stiffly. "Very well Buchou. As for Mousse, yes I still have him in a cage. I took the initiative to knock him out again, and to tie his wings down. That should hopefully keep him from using any of the hidden weapons skills Ranma has mentioned he has."
"Maybe, but I'd prefer we have an eye on him. I can't count the number of times he escaped from the old ghoul after she put him in a cage." Ranma said with a shrug, then smirked and patted his stomach as he looked at Akeno. "Unless o'course, ya got some chains or something?"
OOOOOOO
As he walked his old friend Irina, the cutey Asia, and the three exotic beauties who had arrived with Irina around town, Issei suddenly sneezed, nearly doubling over.
"Are you alright Hyoudou-kun?" Asia asked solicitously.
"Erm, yeah, I guess, though I wonder if someone is talking about me." He then suddenly shivered as a felt chills go down his spine. Gh, and it's not a hot girl for certain, or if it is, she's into some freaky stuff. I feel like someone just walked over my grave.
"What do you mean?" Gabriel asked, cocking her head to one side in a gesture that should have been cute confusion.
In her case though, it became more insanely, if innocently, sexy than just plain cute. Seriously, there should be a limit to the amount of sex appeal someone so, so good should be able to create. "Um, it' it's a Japanese folklore kind of thing. If you sneeze, it means someone is talking about you."
"Perhaps the angry mutters of all the women you have sullied with your thoughts are finally getting through to you?" Xenovia asked dryly.
"Oh please you two, not now," Irina pleaded, moving between them and looking back and forth. "Can't we just get along for another few hours?"
As the two of them subsided, Asia turned back to Gabriel returning to their previous conversation. "Leningrad sounds fascinating, I'm afraid I don't really know much about Russia outside of history class, but their architecture certainly sounds beautiful."
"Indeed it was. I greatly enjoyed it, and their plays are something to be seen as well. They have also produced quite a lot of singers, although…" Gabriel paused, looking a little sad as she tried to choose her words with care. "I am not so very happy about how much the dawn of communism impacted the Faith in Russia. Since then I believe it has had something of a revival, but it is still too malleable to political concerns."
She then brightened up, clapping her hands. "Oh, but I've heard the prayers of the most darling nun from Russia named Masina. You and she would get along very well I think."
"Oh, that would be nice. I'm always happy to make new friends. But what is the food like in Russia?" Rias asked.
"Not very good I'm afraid." Gabriel said sadly. "At least not from what I remember."
"Italy and Greece are definitely the places to go for food, with France a distant third. And if you go to the United Kingdom, go to one of the places that serve foreign food. They have many good cooks, but much of their home-grown food is an acquired taste. They are something like Norway in that." Irina said authoritatively. "I've been to all those places thanks to my Father, and believe me, Italy is by far the best place for good food."
Looking down at the far shorter blonde, Gabriel asked, "But you are happy with your family Asia, with Ranma and the others? I have no complaints about Ranma as a defender, and indeed I have seen enough of him to think that even if he does not consciously follow the tenets of the Faith he follows enough of them to be a good man. But do you enjoy living with him?"
"I like it a lot!" Asia said with a smile and throwing her arms wide. "They do not follow the Faith as I do, but they are loving, kind, and protective. I… do not think I would call Ranma a very peaceful person," she said, causing Gabriel Issei and even the two exorcists to laugh at that as Asia went on, her face actually glowing with how happy she was. "But he's always been kind to me, treating me like a sister, which I have greatly enjoyed. Kasumi is frankly amazing and having a Mother is all I could have imagined!
"Saeko and I get along well as well" she added almost as an afterthought. There were times that she was worried about Saeko, and how much she likes violence, but the same could be said for Ranma as well and that was no reason to speak ill of her.
Remembering how Ranma had so easily disarmed her that morning Xenovia scowled and perhaps it was because of that anger that she muttered "A witch staying with heathens, it's fitting."
Irina gasped and smacked her shoulder hard scowling at her, while Gabriel simply shook her head sadly. "Stop that Xenovia," she ordered. "Yes, Asia healed a devil, but she did so without knowledge of his demonic origins. It was an honest mistake, and one that her higher-ups should've realized. I have said so before."
"Further," she said, reaching out to gently poke Xenovia in the forehead. "You need to stop with this hatred towards those who are different than you. There is no room for hate like that in those who willingly serve Father. You need to reserve your contempt and scorn for those who do evil knowing it is evil, knowing it will hurt others. For those, there is no restitution, only retribution."
As she said that Gabriel carefully did not look around at an elderly man who had just come out of a store behind them. He was currently hiding his face behind one of those masks that the locals wore when they had colds so as to not spread disease. He was also staring at them in shock, his thoughts racing madly as he recognized Lady Gabriel. What is an Archangel doing here?! Did the church, could they have called her in for the theft of Excalibur? I must tell Lord Kokabiel about this, we cannot possibly fight her as well as the Devils already here!
Gabriel had of course noticed him, though she hadn't made any sign of it. She was easily one of the best archangels at spotting auras, even in crowds and that old man's was as vile a thing as she had ever seen, though there was no sign of the demonic about it. Combined with the magical energies she could feel within him That could only mean one thing, that he was connected to the Fallen in some manner.
And Gabriel, despite being rather scatterbrained did not believe in coincidence. That man had to be connected to their reason for being here: it only remained to be seen how. So she had hit him with a small tracking device spell the instant they passed, and then promptly ignored the man entirely, making no sign that she had noticed him and making certain that the others kept moving, so that they too had no chance of even spotting him physically, let alone trying to detect anything odd about them via their limited senses.
Now even as she went back to a pleasant conversation on where they should go next, Gabriel thought darkly (at least for her), run away little fish, and show me the way to your master.
Soon it became time to meet up with Kasumi at an ice cream store Kasumi and Asia had recommended that morning both as meeting place and for its actual ice cream. "I've never tried ice cream," Gabriel said with her ever-present smile. "The last time I was physically on earth, it wasn't all that well-known or widespread. But I understand that the Japanese have some incredibly unique flavors they add to their ice cream?"
Asia nodded emphatically as she led the way into the store, smiling and waving at Kasumi, who was standing nearby and moved to join them. She and Gabriel exchanged a light hug before Kasumi led the way to a nearby table as Asia expanded on Gabriel's question. "I would recommend lychee or kiwi flavored ice cream, or if you're into chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate brownie, or cookie dough ice cream."
"I remember those!" Irina said with a grin on her face. "We weren't allowed any though while we were being trained up, so this'll be a real treat. And nowhere else I've ever been has lychee ice cream."
As they walked behind Kasumi, Xenovia looked over at the pervert who was staring at Kasumi. She deliberately trod on his toes for a moment asking, "What would you recommend, pervert?"
"Ow, you just," Issei scowled but then stopped as Xenovia's eyes narrowed. "If, if this is your first time having ice cream, I wouldn't recommend anything too heavy or chocolatey, it might be too much. But they give these little samplers out if you ask for them, just keep asking for samples until you find a flavor you like."
"Is that not taking advantage of the good vendor's hospitality?" Gabriel asked innocently.
Kasumi nodded agreement. "It is, and I would personally recommend either vanilla, or mint chocolate chip for you, if you don't enjoy fruit flavors. I think the more natural and soothing taste would fit your palate better Gabriel-san."
At their comments Issei shrugged his shoulders. "I'm already at devil, so why do I care if it's evil or not?"
Eventually all of them were sitting down a large table, with the girls happily digging into their ice cream. As Irina raised the first spoon to her mouth, she let loose at a loud moan, which immediately made Issei blush and a certain part of his anatomy coming to attention almost instantly as he stared at her.
Gabriel then followed suit, and began to blush, her chest heaving in such a way that Issei and every other man in the ice cream shop could only stare at. The sound she let loose nearly made Issei cream in his pants. "Oooh my! That, that is amazing! How do humans manage to pack so much flavor into a simple frozen dairy product?"
Kasumi shrugged her shoulders. "I've tried my hand at homemade ice cream before, and I found the process a lot more trouble than it was worth. But it is quite tasty isn't it?"
In reply Gabriel let loose another moan as she chomped down on another spoon of ice cream, and it was only with a lot of difficulty that Issei pulled his attention away from her That, and the fact that Irina had grabbed a chunk of his thigh and started to twist and pull at it. The pout on her face and the glare on Xenovia's made him blush further and turn to his own ice cream.
That's good partner, better part of valor there. You're a long ways from being able to fight any of these ladies in a stand up match. Ddraig's voice rang in his mind.
Shut up, I know that already, Issei replied. Now stop interrupting me in my happy place, this moment is just too good not to try and burn into my brain!
Kasumi and Gabriel immediately started to chat about this and that, mainly about the Heaven's Calm and what Kasumi could do with it, places Gabriel had seen in her lifetime, and Japan's culture. The two of them had become firm friends that morning, and saw no reason not to continue their friendship. This left Asia, Issei and the two exorcists to talk, and to the two local's astonishment Xenovia noticeably mellowed as they ate their ice cream, actually becoming somewhat friendly and teasing both Asia and Irina, though she still seemed leery of Issei.
After about thirty minutes they left the ice cream shop, intending to head first home to drop off Kasumi and Asia, then back to school. However, halfway to the Saotome home, there was a shout from one side of them as they passed intersection. "There you are my arch rival, false princess Gabriel! This time, magical girl Levia-tan will leave no one in doubt as to who the strongest woman alive is!"
The group around Gabriel turned, with Xenovia and Irina actually moving forward to take up protective positions in front of Gabriel. In front of them stood a girl who looked in her late teens save for her short stature, she stood a little shorter than even Asia. She had black hair tied into twin tails to go with light pink eyes and was dressed in a magical girl costume, something Issei immediately identified as coming from Magical Girl Milky Spiral Seven.
He also recognized with some delight that she had a great pair of oppai on her, nearly as big as Rias and Saeko. Oh my oppai! Oppai that size on a girl that short, it so magnifies the effect. An oppai loli!
The girl posed as the people around them started to pull out their phones and snap pictures as the girl who had just called herself Levia-tan posed, pointing a magical girl's wand at them, the sparkly heart on the top glowing and sparking. "Prepare yourself!"
Ignoring, or perhaps not even noticing the crowd, Gabriel stepped forward with a happy smile on her face as she moved Xenovia and Irina's to one side. "Hello Sera-chan, it's good to see you again."
That phrase took both all of her listeners a back, who were not yet used to Gabriel, but Kasumi, mindful of the audience stood up and whispered into Gabriel's ear. Now the blonde Archangel looked around and said the lines Kasumi quickly fed her. "A, ah ahah, have you come here to once more challenge me? You should know my powers make me immune to your magic! The only way to, to free the hearts and minds of my followers is to, to beat me at my own games of chance, which I will have stacked against you! Are you brave enough to take up this challenge again?"
All the others stared first at Gabriel then to Kasumi, who blushed faintly. But Thankfully for her, Levia-tan took her cue quickly. "Yes! We'll see who's brave enough after I beat you at your own game whatever you do! I, Magical Girl Levia-tan, will fight through your diabolical mind control and free the people!"
As more photos were taken, Kasumi turned to the others and asked, "Can you do something to stop them from taking further pictures now?"
"Of course, all of us can use some generic mind control magic to hide our presences or to cover up anything supernatural we do." Irina said, and began to move her fingers to form a glyph behind her back. Xenovia quickly followed suit.
An instant later even as Levia-tan kept on posing the people around them suddenly lost interest and turned around. The magical girl noticed this, and huffed, before marching up to the group, waving her wand around. "That was mean, I was having fun! Still, I suppose if we're going to have it out right here, throwing up a pocket dimension spell would keep So-tan from getting angry at me later."
Gabriel smiled brightly and moved forward again. "How are you Sera-chan? You're addressing yourself as magical girl, so does that mean you've actually begun those shows you wanted to create the last time we met? I'm so happy for you."
Pouting a little, Levia-tan glared at Gabriel. Once I'm in her presence it's just so hard to stay mad at Gabi! Gabriel was just a generally likable person, and not at all like a prick like some of the other Archangels Levia-tan had interacted with. Moreover, she had none of the hang-ups about Devil-kind that most of them did. Oh, there were a few among Devils that Gabriel didn't like, and a short number of devils that she would attack out right if she ever met them. But she didn't tend to start fights like that.
I did, and soon I'll be even more popular among all three of the factions than you! Even the Church goers and your fellow angels will admit that I am the prettiest and strongest woman within the Factions, me, Serafall Leviathan! So saying Serafall calmed down a little her narrowing her eyes. "But why are you here? You better not be here to make trouble for my So-tan!"
"No, were not here to cause trouble for your sister, although I have already met her today and we will be having a formal meeting and discussion this evening about the reason why I am here, and why I might request her and Gremory-san's aid." Gabriel said as she and the others continued their talk, with the other girl falling in with them.
"G, Gabriel-sama, who is this woman?" Irina said, while Xenovia's hands trembled in an effort to not reach for her weapon space. "She, um, she just called herself…"
"Ah, I'm Serafall Sitri, the Maou Leviathan," Serafall replied with a bright smile. "I'm also Gabriel's rival for the position of strongest and most popular woman among the three factions."
By this point they had gotten away from the crowd enough to continue to talk without spellwork covering them, which was something of a relief since both exorcists had just lost the ability to concentrate enough to hold the spell. "But, you, you know one another?" Xenovia said.
"Oh yes, we have met several times since Sera-chan took over the Leviathan position." Gabriel said with a smile, though it turned into a slight moue of incomprehension as she went on. "Though I've never understood why being the most popular or strongest mattered so much to her. It's not like I really try to be popular or any such thing."
Growling, Serafall made to launch herself at Gabriel, but Kasumi intervened, stepping nearby and suddenly any kind of battle fled Serafall's mind. "Hmmf, that's part of why I don't like losing to you! Ugh. But still, you're here now and so am I, so let's decide how we'll compete if we aren't going to fight. How about a swimsuit competition?"
This caused Issei to gasp, staring at them both as his face began to resemble a tomato. I think I've died and gone to heaven. Wait, is that even possible for devils?
Gabriel shrugged and agreed to that, as well as a few other competitions, but stopped the discussion about them in order to introduce her compaions. Serafall nodded at Kasumi then concentrated on Asia. The older girl's Sacred Gear was interesting, and though subtle quite powerful. But it was not one that would help a peerage get any stronger. Asia on the other hand, her healing ability was a great resource. "I don't suppose you've ever thought about becoming a devil have you?" she wheedled, pulling the shorter girl into a hug.
"A, ano, I'm afraid not," Asia said softly. "I might no longer be part of the church, but I still have my faith, and I've heard that saying the word God hurts devils, so I would rather not feel that thank you." She giggled then and beamed a smile at Serafall. "Although I will say that most of the devils I've met certainly haven't lived up to their reputation."
Gabriel and Levia-tan both laughed, though Levia-tans. "Mmhm, both Rias-chan and So-tan are amazing and good and nice and sexy! I would've loved you to be part of my little sisters., But I'll respect your wishes."
She then quickly turned to scowl at Issei. "And I've heard of you too, perverted dragon! You better not even dream of touching So-tan! My little sister's sexy, trim body is all mine!"
Issei blanched, then blushed as the images of what he'd just heard made their way into his mind. "I, I would never, that is…"
"Good!" Serafall replied, turning around once more to look at Asia. The boy seemed somewhat more normal than she had feared since Tsubaki had passed on a description of him, but he certainly wasn't powerful enough yet to interest her. And no way would So-tan be interested in any boy so silly looking. "Are you sure," she wheedled, looking at Asia. "Come on, isn't So-tan like the best King you could ever have? You'd get along I'm sure!"
"I do like Sitri-san, though I will say I spend more time with Rias than with her," Asia said, then looked over at Kasumi. "Speaking of, do you think Rias and Akeno will start to live with us now? Given how they showed up last night I mean."
Levia-tan frowned at that. "Wait, what? Why would Rias-chan move in with you? Who is 'you' in this case anyway?"
Kasumi shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't hear all that they told Ranma, but Akeno and Rias-san were seeking shelter with us last night, with our family I mean." She briefly explained about Ranma and his being a martial artist who had saved Asia, and who had befriended Rias and her peerage, then how the two of them had dropped by last night unannounced because Rias and Akeno had found some odd spells on them.
That caused Serafall's eyes to widen, and she looked quickly at Gabriel. She shook her head with a shrug. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about that. We arrived this morning, and hadn't even realized that Rias and Akeno where there until we knocked on the door."
"I'll talk to her later about that then. For now, you said you were talking to them tonight? I'll sit in on that meeting I think, and then ask Rias about whatever that was about later. For now," Serafall said pumping one fist up into the air. "Let's go find some bathing suits for the swimsuit competition!"
That was enough for Issei, and he flew backwards as blood sprayed from his nose. As he flew backwards his last thought before his consciousness left him was, I am so happy I became a devil!
OOOOOOO
Down in Hell, Enku stopped speaking as his king fell out of his chair, howling with laughter and smashing his fist down on the ground as he tried in vain to stop laughing. Around him the other members of Sirzechs's peerage were also laughing, except for Grayfia of course, who was simply standing there stoically, staring at Enku.
"Are you telling me," said one of them. "That not only did Riser attempt to molest someone thinking that she was Rias, but it was actually a boy who could turn into a girl!? Whereupon the girl kicked his ass and made him run for his life? That's the best example of adding salt to a wound I've ever heard!"
Rolling her eyes, Grayfia pulled out a large metal fan and began to smack her king upside the head with it. Normally in a Japanese comedy, it would have been a paper fan, but Grayfia was not a comedian and her king was not human so she didn't see the point of that even though she did rather like the fan itself. Rias had introduced her to the concept of them when she was young. "You have had your fun," she ordered between blows. "Now it's time to get serious. Or as serious as you possibly can be anyway."
"Well my parents idea definitely backfired there!" Sirzechs said, rubbing at his now sore head somewhat. "Although this redhead's curse sounds familiar to me." He looked at Grayfia questioningly. "Isn't that one of those odd humans who live in Nerima?
"…I believe so yes, which means that could be the reason why Rias and Sona were researching Nerima someone from there moved out and came to Kuoh for some reason." Grayfia actually shuddered as she brought that thought to its logical conclusion. "That means that they might be involved with some of the people there. Which could lead to, to that little, little creature showing up…" Grayfia, composed, serene, normally utterly in control Grayfia, actually began to lose control of her powers at the thought, ice beginning to creep away from her in every direction as her face turned into a snarl of rage not seen since the civil war ended.
"There, there," Sirzechs murmured, pulling her into a hug and kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Don't worry, if Happosai ever shows up you'll have me around to help you kill it." He turned his attention back to Enku his lips twitching again as he fought the urge to grin, asking, "But what was your impression of this young man this girl changed into? Is he a good friend of Rias-chan? Do you think he'll join her peerage?"
"Doubtful for the second, most definitely for the first, they seemed very close. And, this could been my imagination, but I think Hime-chan was quite a bit stronger than she was before." Enku replied. "More experienced and more certain of herself certainly."
"That's an interesting development," Sirzechs said thoughtfully. "Maybe she found someone who could help train her and her peerage in combat?" "They've all been well trained up to a certain point, but they lack experience, and in particular against opponents who are stronger than them and actually trying to hurt them."
There was a knock on the door to the office, and all three turned in that direction, watching as one of the Sirzechs's other pawns stuck his head in. The young man named Beowulf, the descendent of the original hero of the same name. "My king I hate to interrupt, but I thought you might like to know that Lady Phenex arrived and is currently yelling at your parents for some reason."
"Interesting, I wonder if they're going on the offensive about this whole being attacked thing?" Sirzechs mused, pushing himself to his feet and nodding at his other pawn. "Enku, you did well. Write up a formal report about the incident from beginning to end as you understand it, I might need that as fuel later on. Grayfia, if you could come with me, the rest of you can make yourselves scarce for now."
Wordlessly his wife and queen fell into step behind him, her eyes lowered demurely as befitted a maid. Sirzechs chuckled at that, remembering her attacking him earlier with her fan before leading the way out of the room and downstairs. Soon they could hear the voice of a histrionic sounding lady Phenex shrieking at his parents. "And I'm telling you, your little girl attacked my Riser! Attacked him with some kind of weapon that is stopping him from healing, and if you don't do something right now I'll.."
Wondering if he had heard that last correctly, Sirzechs interrupted quickly. "Lady Phenex, Mother, Father, I believe I can shed some more light on this incident. You see, the attacker was not actually Rias, nor was he the one who actually began the fight."
"How do you know that son?" Lord Gremory asked Looking up at his son his eyes narrowed slightly.
In suspicion, Sirzechs thought. And well he should be suspicious he thought irritably. He knows how much I've been against this whole enforced marriage crap.
"I had feared an outbreak of violence when I heard that you had allowed Riser to press his suit on Rias-chan, Father, Mother," he said coolly, stepping off the stairs to join them in the main Hall. "So I sent one of my pawns to keep the peace. He arrived about 10 minutes after Riser had left, and questioned everyone involved."
He looked at Lady Phenex and frowned angrily. "It seems as if your son came upon a young woman who vaguely resembled Rias in the bathroom at her place in the human realm." He then looked over at his parents, his eyes still sharp and cold. "Apparently believing that she was Rias, Riser felt that it was his right to assault the young girl in question in the bathroom."
Both of his parents looked a little uncomfortable at that, and even lady Phenex scowled but none of them questioned Enku's word, though they didn't even realize who it was he had sent. Such a thing would have been like questioning Sirzechs's own word, and while easy-going, this young, mostly laidback-seeming man was the strongest devil alive, and the king of hell.
"After being accosted, the woman a young human by the name of Ranma apparently, was able to fight Riser off. I understand she did some damage to him, but surely with the Phenex regeneration, he should have been healed by now."
"That's what I'm saying!" Lady Phenex said, scowling angrily. She wasn't happy with her son trying to accost a woman like that, and if that had really happened there would be hell to pay. But she was still worried about Riser's very life at the moment, so her control was somewhat tenuous. For some reason, the wounds are not healing! We're keeping him alive via a stasis spell that stops the bleeding from getting any worse, and we've prepared magical blood transfusions and other steps to keep him so, but if we cannot somehow figure out why those wounds aren't healing, they will eventually kill him no matter what we do."
Sirzechs's eyes widened as bad as did everyone else's. A weapon that can cancel out the Phenex's ability to heal? That was worrisome. "In that case, I think we need to talk to the young lady who wielded that weapon," Sirzechs said thinking quickly. "If she has such a weapon, perhaps she has a way of negating the effect."
And this way I have a valid excuse to go see my sister! He thought happily, ignoring Grayfia's glare at the back of his head with some difficulty, his wife's ability to understand what he was thinking being rather scary.
"Now wait a minute," Lord Gremory said scowling openly now. "It should be me as head of house that speaks to Rias about this. A member of her peerage to wound Riser in such a way as he isn't able to heal is beyond the pale regardless of circumstances."
"As I understand it Ranma isn't part of her peerage, simply a friend who was using her facilities for the moment," Sirzechs replied with a shrug. "Further, this weapon feels like it I've heard of something similar before. And besides, Rias wouldn't be very happy to see you. Unless my memory is playing a trick on me? The last time she parted ways with either of you, she wasn't in the best of moods since you insisted on this idiotic marriage to Riser."
"It is not idiotic!" all three older devils said as one. "It is a necessary thing, to bind our families together, and to make certain that our families remain pure."
"Yes and Rias thinks that so much dreck so she'll have scant sympathy for you or for Riser at all. I'll have to couch it as a necessary thing to stop a diplomatic incident between our families." Sirzechs replied.
'And because of that, that should come from me," Lord Gremory said. "It's a purely family matter at this point."
"Not if the perpetrator isn't part of Rias's peerage it isn't," Sirzechs said with a sigh. "Very well, I think we should all go, but first I want us all to head to our respective libraries and look up any kind of weapon that could cause this as well as to make certain we're right that she might be able to reverse the process. That could be necessary to make this young lady help us heal Riser after his assault on her."
"She's a human, why can't we just force her?" lady Phenex asked haughtily.
"She is from Nerima," Sirzechs said simply. "That means she is not a normal human by any means, and could have quite a few tricks that could even possibly make her dangerous. Will your son pass away if he is kept under status for a day?"
Lady Phenex shook her head reluctantly. "Then in that case," Sirzechs went on, "waiting a day won't hurt anything."
He noticed the scowl his parents exchanged of that, and went on smoothly, some sixth sense telling him something odd was going on here beyond his Father's urge to make this marriage face go smoothly. "Further Father, Mother, this will give you time to prepare some kind of peace offering for Rias. Perhaps you can use this incident as a way to bury the hatchet. But I would think that going up there empty-handed and only to remonstrate with her friend would not be the best foot forward."
No one there could gainsay anything he said, but from the look on his parent's faces, they wished to do so anyway. But under his gaze they both simply nodded, and his Mother smiled sweetly at him. "That's an excellent idea my son, I think I will go to the kitchen and order the maids to prepare a cake for her, while I then search her room for a few books she might be missing."
"I suppose I'll think of something too," Lord Gremory said, moving off.
As they moved off the two of them exchanged a telling glance and Zeoticus whispered, "I'll contact Lord Phenex and a few of our other allies. If they make a fuss in some fashion that keeps Sirzechs here tomorrow we can then head to Earth ourselves to deal with this."
Biting her lip Venealana nodded slowly as she kept walking down the hallway with her husband. "I suppose that will do, but this is getting a bit dangerous now. We might have to figure out a way to cover our tracks even more than we already have. You know how Sirzechs dotes on her. If he even gets a hint that someone tampered with Rias, our being his parents might not matter."
Lady Phenex stared after them, her brows furrowing somewhat, and Sirzechs realized with a start that she had noticed the odd looks his parents were exchanging too, and didn't know what to make of it. But then again, lady Phenex hasn't been involved with the betrothal contract between the families before has she. She's always concentrated on the clan heir, Ruval.
"If it comes to it," she said quietly now surprising and somewhat uneasily. "I would be fully willing to agree to whatever price this young human girl asks for, be it monetary or something else. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to return to my son, and I'm certain you have other things to do than seeing see me out."
Sirzechs nodded at her, and as the woman turned away he did the same to address Grayfia. "On my orders, have our two bishops lock down the teleportation connection between Hell and that area of earth Then I want you to look into what servants were on duty here in the mansion the last time Lord Phenex was meeting with my parents. I would love it if someone had overheard something of that conversation."
"I will do so, but why? Locking down that link is a big step, even if no other Devils have any interest in the area, you're showing you don't trust your parents very much." Grayfia cautioned.
"At the moment, I don't," Sirzechs said grimly. "There's something off going on here, and I want to get to the bottom of it!"
OOOOOOO
"So-tan, you're as squishy and sexy as ever!" Serafall shouted, pulling the taller and far less developed girl into a hug, showering her face with kisses. "Mmm it's been too long I seriously needed my So-tan fix! Hmmm and you've started using a new shampoo and ooh those are pretty panties!"
"Gah, p, please, Onee-sama act your age please!" Sona blushed trying to push her sister away with scant effect. "Please, please don't tou…, darn it that's enough Onee-sama!"
Watching all this, Ranma cackled, leaning back with a grin on his face. "Is this sort of like what Shampoo used to do with me? If so, damn it's funny from this side of things."
"From what little interaction of the two of you I saw, I and what you've told me, somewhat yes. Though I do not think that Levia-tan is all that serious about the sexual overtones as she seems to be," Saeko said dryly, leaning lightly against Ranma as the two of them sat on the sofa, much to the chagrin of Rias. "You'll note that the rest of her peerage however has left the area. Even that young boy, Saji, got out of Dodge quickly. It was almost a practiced response."
"It was," Akeno said, giggling to one side as she finished putting the final touches on dinner. The lot of them were in a larger meeting area on the floor above the regular clubroom, with a somewhat long table set in the center, and its own kitchen, a far larger one than the clubroom had. "Tsubaki and the others who have been with Sona-sama for any length of time have been exposed to the Levia-tan experience many times. Much like we have been exposed to the Onii-sama experience. "
"Yes well, we can't help our siblings or our family," Rias said with a shrug and a glint of seriousness in her eyes.
"True enough," Ranma said with a grin. "I certainly would never have chosen my old man if I had a choice."
Rias nodded to that, then stood up and moved towards the two bickering siblings. "Leviathan-sama, I have a present for you if you'd like it," She said interrupting the goings-on.
"Ooh a present!" Levia-tan said, actually clapping her hands as she released Sona from her hug. "What is it?"
At his King's nod, Kiba took a step forward, and presented Serafall with a cage, with a red ribbon around it. Peering inside, Serafall cocked her head thoughtfully and was about to ask why she would want a duck, when she first noticed that said duck had a pair of glasses on its head. It was also quacking at her, had a very odd magical aura she could sense and its wings tied behind its back.
She blinked at it, then looked over to Ranma comparing the two before she giggled. "OH, you two are from Nerima aren't you?"
"Wait, you know about Nerima?" her sister asked, trying to act as if the last five minutes hadn't happened even as she straightened her clothing and pushed her glasses up her nose, ignoring the snickers from Akeno, Ranma and Saeko.
"Oh yeah, all of the Maou and various faction leaders know about that place! But it's too damned chaotic for any of us to want to mess with, even me!" She shook her head. "That, and there's this little perverted immortal that lives there called…
"Happosai," Ranma and the others intoned as one as Ranma groaned, covering his eyes with a hand.
"Oh?" Serafall said blinking. "You already told about them about him I take it? But how do you know him."
"That old fart thought he was my master at one point, and tried to make my life a living hell," Ranma muttered not taking his hand away. "And it doesn't surprise me that he has made an impression on you lot either. He's attracted to gorgeous girls, and since I met Asia I haven't seen a single girl that that doesn't describe."
"Awww, You're going to make me blush," Serafall said with a laugh while Rias and Akeno both blushed while Saeko smiled and leaned up to kiss Ranma on his cheek "But it's true. He's had a few run-ins with some of our people over the centuries, including…"
Serafall looked at Rias then giggled. "Now, that's not my story to tell. Is dinner ready yet?" she asked instead, looking over at Akeno.
She smiled at them all, then waved them to the table. As they sat down Koneko and Sona's peerage appeared from the opposite direction leading Asia and the others who had been going around the city with Gabriel. They had been getting a tour of the campus while Serafall 'met' with Sona. She had meant to ask Rias at that point about the spells, but seeing her sister after so long had completely derailed the Maou Leviathan.
Now they all sat down, with Serafall refusing to sit at the front of the table instead sitting next to her sister and her queen, exclaiming about how good the food looked, and telling her sister to "Eat up, eat up you're all skin and bones, how do you expect to grow big and sexy like me if you don't eat!?"
Sona twitched at that. She was actually more than a bit taller than her sister, but it could not be denied that Serafall had a figure that was far more sexual than her own in certain areas.
For a time as they all ate, Serafall questioned the others about the duck, learning his name and why, after which Serafall cackled. "So he transforms into a handsome but blind boy? Heheheh, I can so work that into my show! I could either make him a tragic tale of a boy turned into a duck to keep him from his love, or ooh, a spy, a servant of the Dark Queen Sexy Witch turned into a pet duck and sent to spy on the innocent magical girls!"
To one side Ranma leaned over to glance at Mousse, who was eating with his bill at a small dish that had been placed within the cage for him. "What do you think, first or second one?"
Mousse seemed to think, and then quaked once, then a lot more times and Ranma rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know you'd rather we let you go, but you've glomped one too many girls around here thinking they're Shampoo Mousse. Just play along for a bit, you'll escape like you always do I'm sure."
That caused the duck to settle down and nod before going back to eating while to one side, Saeko smirked at Ranma. "I worry for your sanity that you think talking to a duck is normal. But then again, he talked back to you, so I would say normality seems to have given up on you entirely."
"Meh, go big, or in my case go crazy, or go home." Ranma said with a shrug.
"Giggling at that, Gabriel coughed. "As fun as this has been, I think we need to talk about why myself and my companions are here now, and what it might have to do with the recent Fallen and exorcist attack here in Kuoh."
From there, she told them about what had brought them there,: the attack on the Vatican and the theft of the three Excalibur fragments. She described how it had been done, the clues she had found, and why the church had been able to trace the thieves to Japan, where Gabriel and the two young exorcists found the trail once more.
Rias in turn filled both the Serafall and Gabriel in on the fallen activity. "We're concerned that they we're working for someone far higher up the food chain, and there is a chance it might be connected with your own issue. A single person trying to start trouble between our factions, leaving pawns to take the fall, makes far more sense than these incidents being separate, with your own just happening to lead back to Kuoh."
"I may wish to speak to this Raynare fallen that you have captured after this is all over," Gabriel said. "I think I remember the name, and it is always sad to see one of our own fall to darkness."
"Even if we're currently taking food and eating with members of an even darker group now?" Xenovia muttered, still not exactly at home with how open Gabriel was with these Devils.
Sitting with Kiba and the Saeko where he had been going over a discussion on sword styles, and how the different types of swords had affected this style they had to be used with, Ranma spoke up now. "If it's searching the area, my aura reading ability could be a major help, and we might want to talk to the police. They might've noticed an uptick in crime in certain areas, unusual reports, and of course they'll have a list of buildings that have been abandoned or are set for demolition, the kind of places that bad guys always seem to favor."
"I agree," Rias said with a nod looking over to Sona, who also nodded. "Will you be staying around for this, Serafall-sama?"
"No," Serafall said with a shake of her head. "I'm just here to compete with Gabriel, and So-tan won't grow stronger if I'm always around to take care of her problems for her. I also need to get back to my show before my producer threatens to commit suicide again."
A lot of people their sweatdropped at how blasé she had said that line, but Serafall went on, looking at Rias intently, her voice more serious. "I do want to talk to you for a bit though and I think you should keep a portion of your peerage here given what you said happened earlier." She pouted a little. "Politics suck, but you have to make allowances for them."
"What happened earlier?" Sona asked quizzically not having heard about how Ranma had been attacked. Ranma no filled her in, and Sona groaned. Then she looked up sharply. "Wait, you said you wounded him Ranma. I'm not so stupid as to think you wouldn't notice if he was healing as you are hurting him. So why didn't he stay and fight you off?"
"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked.
That caused Rias and Serafall both blinked and turned to stare at him. "Wait, you just said you attacked him, you didn't notice he was healing from your attacks?"
"He wasn't," Ranma said simply. "Why, was he supposed to be?"
"I, I thought he ran because you had cut off his boy bits!" Rias exclaimed. "even with the Phenex regeneration that kind of thing would leave an impact. She frowned, staring at Ranma. "Can you take out that weapon of yours?"
Ranma did so, and set it on the table in front of them. Kiba looked at it closely, while Xenovia and the other exorcist backed away rapidly. "That thing is a powerful demonic blade," said Irina, scowling angrily at the weapon.
Ranma shrugged. "I don't notice anything like that, but then again it is mine, so maybe the wielder doesn't feel that, who knows?"
May I?" Kiba asked, his hand hovering over the hilt of the odd looking sword. When Ranma nodded the Knight picked up the Gekkaja and scowled instantly. "The balance on this is horrible! The design is bizarre, the weapon is horrible, but… the edge is incredibly good and the metal seems to be over very high quality, maybe even the equivalent of Wootz steel. Very strange."
Serafall hopped up from where she had been sitting and moved to examine the sword herself, followed by the others who crowded around it as Kiba laid it on the table again. "I've seen this weapon before in history books she said thoughtfully before looking at Ranma sternly. "It's a devil weapon, from one of our families I think, maybe even the Phenex themselves. It could have some kind of magic on it to stop wounds from closing, though it would have to be incredibly powerful to overcome their rejuvenation magic. And it will bring you a lot of trouble if you keep it. What would you say if I asked you to pay restitution for the attack in the form of this weapon? Just to keep the peace."
"I'd say you can go screw yourself Ranma said instantly causing several gasps from around the table, though admittedly in Gabriel and the exorcists case it was due to his language rather than the fact he was saying it to a Maou.
Serafall laughed though. "Sorry that's not one of my kinks." She replied, causing blushes all around save from Gabriel, who simply pouted in confusion. "Although, unless you want to start a blood feud with the Phenex you might have to heal Riser at the very least."
"Maybe the touch of Its counterpart, the Kinjakan, will cancel whatever is keeping him from healing," Ranma replied with an uncaring shrug. "If it doesn't, I have no idea what how to go about that. But would I really have to?" he whined. "I still shudder remembering how he tried to attack me as he did."
"You'll have to," Serafall said with a sigh. "Although if it happened to my little sister, I would've cheerfully helped you neuter the bastard. But politics are always irritating."
"I think we need to get a little more organized here," Sona said with a sigh. "How long do you think it will take the Phenex to respond?"
"How badly did you hurt him?" Serafall asked bluntly looking over at Ranma.
Ranma shrugged. "By this point he should've bled out," he said callously. "They might be keeping him alive using your magics though I don't know how."
Everyone there winced at that, but slowly all of them started to get over it. "All right if they haven't shown up already by this point, it means they're putting it off for some reason. Pride most likely, or someone else interfering," she said teasingly looking over at Rias and pushing her shoulder lightly. "That means you all might have time tonight to take care of this whole stolen sword business."
Ranma nodded, and instantly turned making for the door but stopped as Kiba said sharply. "Before that however, I request a spar with these two," he said pointing at the two exorcists, a blade appearing in his hand as he did. "If I win, I want their swords."
"Why would you want our swords, it's not like you would be able to use them devil-san," Irina asked somewhat respectfully.
"They are Excalibur blades Are they not? Holy Swords. I want to destroy them," Kiba said grimly.
"I call next!" Ranma said with a laugh, putting an arm around Kiba's shoulders and giving him a squeeze that looked friendly, but also was a little harder than the swordsman was comfortable with. It served as a warning to calm down, and Kiba subsided slightly, not wishing to try to break the other man's grip. "However, I think we should postpone that until after we've searched the area for these possible thieves, okay?"
"Indeed," Saeko said with a smile. "Actually, we could make a full tournament of it, all of us taking turns a spar against one another. I think that would be quite a lot of fun."
Kiba growled angrily and now took the opportunity to pull away from Ranma, but a glare from his King stopped him from speaking for a moment.
At the same time Xenovia stood up, her sword appearing. Despite having become somewhat mellow after sharing ice-cream with the pervert and the witch, she was still very on edge here, and wanted to strike out at these devils who were not acting at all as they should be. The sword in her hand was a massive thing, as large as a swiehander or larger, with an equally large hilt protected by a guard that looked like a pair of axe heads. The sword was also thick, coming to three points rather than the normal one. It looked very dangerous as she pointed it over the table at Kiba. "As if a Devil like you could ever be strong enough to break one of our Lord's creations! No matter how weakened, a Holy sword is still a holy sword!"
Rolling his eyes Ranma leaped over the table flipping in midair. Xenovia immediately tried to cut at him, it was so automatic she didn't even think about it, but Ranma dodged around her sword grabbed her extended arm and then pulled it behind her twisting and causing her to drop the blade before he pushed her down face first onto the table. "You know, I might not like Kiba and how angry he is towards you two, but I don't think wavin' your sword in his face is the appropriate response."
Irina made to get up but stopped as Gabriel let loose a sigh. "Xenovia, Ranma might be a little too forceful, but he is correct. This is a diplomatic meeting, and as such both you and Kiba are in the wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right."
As Xenovia sighed, and then blushed lightly as Ranma actually ruffled her hair with his free hand though he made no move to let her go just yet. Instead he held her body against his, her sword arm caught between them.
As he did this, Gabriel looked at Kiba sadly. "The holy Swords Project, was it not?"
Kiba twitched, but that was enough of an answer for Gabriel and she got up from her chair, moving around the table to him. taking both his hands in hers, she looked deeply into the younger man's eyes. "I see. The man who was in charge of that project, the false priest Valper Galleli, and those who followed him. He was a vile soul who tried to cloak his very vileness in the mantle of a holy man, and one that should never have come to power. I will apologize to you on the behalf of the church, but please, do not take your anger, no matter how righteous, out on the individuals who we have chosen to wield these blades."
As she finished speaking, Gabriel looked at Kiba who did not seem convinced by her words, and she sighed. "Still, if you require a match against them to get over his anger at my companions personally then I will allow it. But only if you agree to set your hatred towards them and the weapons they wield to one side." Kiba stiffened, but Gabriel went on inexorably, looking over at Rias even as she continued to hold Kiba's hands. "He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves is a human saying we should all be familiar with."
"I agree." Rias said firmly. "Kiba, I know you have issues with them, but right now, working with these two is the lesser of two evils. We need to be aware that someone very major could be behind the stolen Excalibur, and that means we might need all the help we can get. So if you want to spar with them fine, but you must be willing to work with them afterward."
His eyes twitching from his king to Gabriel and then to the exorcists Kiba took a moment to think before replying, letting the sword in his hand disappear and squeezing Gabriel's hands back. "Very, very well Buchou, I will agree to that. So long as they agree that, if I win I will be allowed to destroy their blades after this crisis is dealt with."
"Um, can you let Xenovia go now Ranma-san? I doubt that she will attack you again." Gabriel stated, looking over at the most reactionary of her two companions. Really, Xenovia's temper is not a pleasant thing to deal with, but I know it comes from her own feelings of inadequacy from being given her holy blade. I can understand it in that case, and the fact that both of them are not as well-traveled as they should be. Still, intolerance to corruption is one thing, intolerance to those who are simply different is another.
Ranma nodded and stepped back Xenovia up, not noticing the bright blush that Xenovia was sporting in favor of the glare she sent his way. "Sorry about that but I've never been one to talk to other people once they have actual swords in play. I coulda use some rope from my ki space to tie you up if you would've preferred."
To one side Irina actually blushed at that, while Akeno began to chuckle darkly, her own cheeks flushing as she began to breathe heavily. Ignoring all this however Xenovia simply glared once at Ranma then turned to bow from the waist toward Gabriel. "If you wish it Gabriel-sama, although I would request that you be the one who informs our higher ups if it comes to that."
Smiling Gabriel nodded, though she doubt it would come to that. Kiba still looked incredibly angry, and angry out of control people were never able to fight as effectively as they would if they were able to think clearly. Such a pity, besides this current issue, the young man seems to be rather nice for a Devil.
"Ooh, I want to spar against the one he's not fighting then," Ranma with a grin. "I want to see if these Holy swords are all that, once I let ya actually hit something with 'em anyway."
"I don't think so," Saeko said, cutting in quickly. "If anything, you've already proven you would learn nothing by taking part in such a lopsided match regardless of the power of their weapons, unless they can make them faster than a Devil Knight?" Gabriel shook her head and Saeko went on. "You see, the weapons will not matter if they are too slow to hit you with them. No, let them fight one another and then the other devils here if need be."
Saeko had been rather amused by the blush the slightly shorter Xenovia had when Ranma had ruffled her hair, but had no intention of letting the two spar. In such a spar, they would obviously have close contact, and such could lead to more body contact such as what had just occurred. And I really don't want to deal with another girl going after Ranma, either to kill him or flirt with him, even though I don't think either of these two would know how to flirt if it came to that.
"Boo!" Ranma hissed, then sighed and nodded. "Fine, then I'll head out to talk to the police now and then start patrolling the city. I'll call you if I find anything. Saeko, you want to come with me?" As Saeko nodded, Ranma turned and left by the most expedient route, that of hopping out a nearby window into the trees beyond, followed quickly by Saeko.
Kiba turned and marched toward the door shouting over his shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you where we can have our match." Xenovia, Irina and Koneko followed him, joined quickly by Issei at Ddraig's internal urging.
"I believe I will go and officiate as a neutral party. Onee-sama, until next time," Sona said, getting while the getting was good. Her peerage all followed.
But for once Serafall made no move to follow her little sister. "Aren't you going to go and watch?" She asked Gabriel who had not moved to follow her so-called protectors.
"I think not." Gabriel said with a sigh. "I can already tell how both of those matches are going to go. Kiba is too angry to fight effectively, but perhaps a fight will at least let him get some of his anger out enough to be effective later at any rate."
With that she stood up, smiling at everyone. "Instead, I think I will avail myself of Kasumi and Asia's offer to spend more time with them until Ranma-san calls in. Until later, Rias-san, Sona-san. Sera-chan, I will see you tomorrow for the first of our contests, alright?"
"Heh!" Serafall hoped to her feet pointing at Gabriel dramatically. "Oh I'll be there! I'll be there, and I'll beat you, false princess Gabriel!"
Gabriel giggled at that, and then left the room the same way Ranma had, leaping out the window.
A moment later, Serafall was alone with Rias and Akeno, and she turned to them questioningly. "So, you said you wanted to ask me about something?"
Rias turned from where she had been watching Saeko disappear after Ranma and took a deep breath before speaking, her voice unwantedly formal. "Serafall Sitri, Maou Leviathan, I, Rias Gremory ask for your neutral arbitration on a matter of utmost importance to me and to my Queen, Akeno Himejima."
Her eyes widening Serafall looked at Rias in shock then her eyes narrowed. "Mou, so this is something serious huh? I heard from Asia-chan that you had found some spells or something on you?"
"Exactly. We, we have some evidence to show you, but first let us walk you through how we discovered the geases we were placed under." Rias said her tone nearly dead as she leaned back in her chair. She looked over at Akeno, who wordlessly pulled out the copies of the readings from the magigraphometer they had used on themselves earlier, placing it on the table in front of Serafall, who looked at it, then began to flip through the images one after another.
As Serafall did that, Rias began to explain. "You see, I had recently begun training in martial arts, basically to give myself another means of combat, and to teach me more imaginative ways to use the Power of Destruction…"
Serafall listened intently, then as Rias began to talk, started to become very, very angry. Someone was going to pay for doing this to her little sister's best friend, no matter who it was.
End Chapter
This is perhaps the least Ranma-centric chapter I have written for practically any story I've read with him as the main character. In fact, this chapter was mostly about the ripples of his being around continuing to create more ripples than anything else. However if you can't figure out what Ranma's going to run into out on his own, you don't know his ability to find trouble very well.
Things with Rias's family is coming to a head, and will soon explode, while Kiba is going to have to work through some of his issues while Ranma has possibly met the first dragon-like being he didn't immediately have issues with.
In the next chapter Ranma is Ranma, finds trouble, gets in over his head, and pulls in everyone else, including Gabriel in after him as Serafall goes to beard the bastards in their lair and Sirzechs considers patricide.
As always, please review, and watch out later today for the poll for September to be uploaded.
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