Chapter 42: Pier 16 (Part 9)

"Aww, you're being just so sweet to me~! Is this VIP course or do you treat everyone this way?"

"Can you please stop talking? Just because I healed you doesn't mean you're in any condition to act normally."

"Well that's a little mean…"

"Nah, I'm with the Fairy. You should really stop trying to open your mouth, nya."

"But this is the first time my cunt has been properly situated and not flopping about. Can't I show a little gratitude?"

Rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes as he approached the room Felicia was being kept in Cayman resisted the urge to sigh as the pink-haired Vampire was causing a variety of expressions among the gathered crowd. Till looked as if she wasn't sure whether to be sympathetic or annoyed while Kuroka and Shirone just appeared equal parts wary and bemused.

It made for an odd sight, considering the Vampire was swaddled under a bevy of blankets while Till floated overhead, both Yokai perched lightly on their chairs in preparation for any kind of funny business.

"You know, I never expected the big bad daughter of Edwin Black to end up as the damsel in distress in any kind of scenario. What happened, nya? Finally bit off more than you can chew?"

To Cayman's surprise Felicia didn't have some snappy comeback or mildly unhinged bit of indifference, clicking her tongue before bitterly responding, "I didn't think it'd happen either. Jokes on me, for a change."

Electing to hang out by the doorway for the moment as the conversation ran its course the Vampire further added, "Sure didn't expect to be saved by a pair of crooks, either. What's the world coming to, am I right~?"

"Rich, coming from you."

"Eh heh heh, I was never a part of society to begin with, so technically I'm not a criminal if I was never a citizen."

Deciding to make his entrance Cayman fully strode inside, Felicia's ruby eyes locking onto him with open curiosity and intrigue as she mused, "Well look who it is, my knight in shining armor. Didn't think I'd ever be the princess in that particular fairy tale, always thought of myself as the dragon, you know?"

"I can see that. Normally this is the part where I inquire after your health but I imagine that would be in poor taste."

"What tipped you off?"

Merely shrugging in response the Surveyor pulled up a chair, the Vampire musing, "Although you must be a pretty big name in the underworld - the crime one, not the actual one - if you have these two very bad kitties working for you. They're in pretty high demand, you know?"

She sent bedroom eyes the Nekoshou duo's way, teasing, "They are pretty cute, after all."

"I'm all for compliments and everything but from you they feel a bit like bathing in cold vomit. Just doesn't really do it for me, see what I'm saying, nya?"

"Perverts suck. Which means you suck."

Felicia merely grinned at the rebukes…and promptly unleashed a couple coughs, weakly settling into the bed while grumbling, "I feel like shit."

Cayman couldn't help but agree, since the perpetually peppy and occasionally homicidal Vampire looked drained and exhausted to a fairly alarming extent. Certainly not the kind of aura he'd expected from her, that was for sure.

"Well I might just be able to fix the feeling like shit part. And in the interest of full disclosure I'm not a criminal in the conventional sense, seeing as I'm a Surveyor in Sanctuary's employ."

Felicia blinked, staring at him in open confusion for a few seconds…before releasing a titanic groan, squeezing her eyes shut and grumbling, "You're telling me I got saved by the freakin' fun police? Ugh, just my luck to go from one prison cell to another."

"Now now, there's plenty of opportunity here that doesn't automatically land you in hot water. Mostly because I'm always looking to recruit and you just so happen to fit the bill of personnel I'm interested in having on my side."

Cayman allowed himself a moment to revel in the bewildered expression Felicia sent his way, Till appearing resigned as she floated down to his shoulder while Kuroka and Shirone just quietly grumbled.

"So you seem to know who I am and what I can and have done…you seriously want me on your side? Gee, maybe you're not as smart as I thought you were."

"Hold up a moment, the main thrust of this deal is who I'm currently trying to hunt down. An organization called the Khaos Brigade, who the Incubus King and Creusery Asmodeus just so happen to be a part of."

He gave the stilled Demon a knowing look.

"Interested now?"

Some of the madness he'd expected from the girl began to dance within her crimson eyes.

"Well you certainly have my attention…go on, I take it there's more to this offer?"

"There is."

Kuroka groaned, complaining, "This is such a bad idea. Have I made it clear this is a bad idea? Because it's a bad idea."

Ignoring the Yokai Cayman continued with, "The overall scheme is this. You follow any orders I give and when we eventually track down the Incubus King you get him all to yourself for an appreciable length of time before the official decision comes through to execute or turn in for trial or whatever it is people do around here. After that you can go your own way or stick around, whatever suits your fancy. And by 'go your own way' I mean I conveniently forget to keep track of your whereabouts for a couple days then report you as AWOL so that I don't come across as totally incompetent, just mostly."

Felicia arched an eyebrow, casually remarking, "That seems like a pretty vague deal with not a whole lot of reassurance that I get what I want. And besides do you really think I'll just listen to whatever you tell me to do?"

"Not at all. I believe I'll have to make you want to listen to whatever I tell you to do."

"Well well, guess you're back to being smart after all."

+5 REP with Felicia [15/100]

The Vampire took a moment to look around the room, taking note of Kuroka and Shirone's sour expressions and Till's wary intrigue…and let a teasing smile grace her lips, chirping, "Okay, it sounds like a lot of fun~! I'm in, we can work out more of the details or whatever later."

"You definitely don't want to be a part of this. It's a lousy deal that comes with no benefits and no pay."

Shirone fervently nodded in agreement with her sister's words, Felicia drawling, "Ehh? But when you tell me no my body just wants to say yes!"

A despairing groan left the raven-haired Nekoshou while Shirone loudly grumbled, "Shit," as Cayman curiously looked at the mismatched trio, asking, "Okay, there's obviously some history here and I find myself incredibly fascinated by it."

"It really isn't. We had a job to steal an artifact called the Sovete Cherrie from some guy that had more money than sense and she just so happened to also be guarding it. We fought, kicked her ass and generally had a miserable time of it."

The Vampire didn't look happy in the slightest at the recollection, protesting, "I thought it was some kind of really fancy ice cream that was going up for auction! If you speak with that really dumb accent that guy had it sounds a lot like Sorbet Cherry, right?"

Till began to snicker, Shirone dryly asking, "So you had those dumb shadow monster things of yours try to eat and rape us because of some ice cream?"

"Oh c'mon, I just said that out loud so I would fit in with the rest of those idiots! You two are way too cute to ruin like that!"

The Surveyor raised a brow as Felicia continued with, "Besides, that guy was a loser weirdo who thought he was all that. Kept trying to fuck me or have me fuck that Chimera pet of his to get his rocks off. Thanks for killing it, by the way. I mean I don't mind a little bit of bestiality to spice things up but it stank like old tuna fish."

Kuroka sent Cayman - who was clearly entertained by the tale - a sullen look, asking, "Is this really who you want working with us?"

"Don't be so mean, Whitey already punched my head off back then so we're technically even! Like I said, I'd way prefer to have you two as my mistresses or lovers rather than my slaves or whatever. We could go on dates, dinners, beat up and kill a bunch of people that annoy us…"

"Wow. So romantic."

"I dunno, Shirone. Sounds like a match truly made in heaven if you ask me."

Both cats sent him predictably unhappy stares as he further stated, "Alas, as leader I have to make the hard decisions. Felicia? You're free to court the cats however you wish. Kuroka and Shirone? You won't be hauled up in front of HR if her advances get a little unwanted and summarily dealt with, sounds good?"

"Can we just not deal with the perv at all?"

He gave Shirone a not at all apologetic smile.

"Sorry, but as leader I have to make the tough decisions and this is one of them."

"Not to interrupt or anything, but do I have to be the one to point out that our guest is still recovering and really not in any shape to be chatting like this?"

Till's words put a bit of a damper on the whole back and forth they'd had going, Felicia sighing before making her exhaustion rather apparent as she mumbled, "I don't normally need much in the way of blood but I don't suppose one of you is willing to donate? Kitties? Truce?"

"Well you see the thing is I would rather rearrange my guts with a cactus than I would get you back up to speed."

"Well tell me how you really feel then."

Chuckling at the cat's dismissive response Cayman scooted his chair closer, rolling up his sleeve before commenting, "Sounds like you don't have a bevy of ready or available donors. Can't imagine my blood would taste anywhere near as good as theirs but if you want it feel free to have some."

The pinkette immediately began running her tongue over obviously dry lips, remarking, "Honestly I'm not in any rush to complain if someone's offering. And the boss himself, offering to personally help and care for the employees? Aww, aren't you sweet?"

Extending his wrist towards the Vampire he was met with an arched eyebrow, the girl complaining, "Really? The wrist? How unromantic is that? C'mon, treat a lady right!"

"This is a bad idea."

"Yeah, I sort of agree with Kuroka, Cayman…"

Airily waving a hand and disregarding the warning from Kuroka and Till the Surveyor replied, "Don't worry about it, we'll be fine. And if she starts to drink a little too much Shirone will just punch her head off again, right?"

"Don't count on it."

Despite the dismissive words the white-haired Nekoshou kept her gaze trained on Felicia with nary a blink in sight, Cayman slipping a hand underneath the Demon's back and bringing her to an upright sitting position close to his neck.

"Here you go, straight from the tap."

"Then don't mind if I do~!"

Words thrumming with a primal sort of need the pinkette darted forward, sinking her fangs deep into Cayman's flesh…and the gamer had to admit he wasn't really expecting the sheer sensation that came afterwards. Brief moment of stinging pain not too dissimilar to a needle piercing flesh, a quick sense of unnatural confusion as his blood went from inside his body to outside…and then a warm, contented sleepiness as whatever juice or magic Felicia was using during the process took hold, Cayman sighing in drowsiness as a pleased hum escaped the Demon.

"Damn. And here I figured having a Vampire drain you would have been a nasty experience. Or maybe that's just Fate and DxD Vampires. Or just a personal thing?"

Feeling far too at peace to care about such meandering thoughts - as if he'd just taken a serious hit of antidepressant meds - Cayman instead watched Felicia as she slowly changed from eager to downright hypnotized as she drank greedily from his veins, throat bulging and flexing as vitality seemed to return to her body, arms lacing around his neck and back as whistles of desperate air left her nose, steady thumping of bloody droplets hitting the sheets below as he distantly heard Till warn the group about something-

-and he blinked himself back to cognizant thought as Shirone separated them with a concerned frown, rebuking the Demon with, "So much for not drinking too deeply."

Felicia didn't seem to hear her, instead shuddering with delight as crimson dripped down her chin, neck and body as she all but moaned, "Oh now that is delicious. Can't quite place the flavor but…mmm, I think I could get used to that…"

+50 REP with Felicia [65/100]

While he would have liked very much to marvel at the massive REP boost right off the bat the Surveyor instead said, "Kuroka? Could you be a dear and run down to the kitchen, grab me a bag of cookies and some OJ? Also we might have leftover steak or something equally as rare in the fridge, that would also help."

"Gee, just ask me to make you a sandwich while I'm at it, why don't yah?"

"I wouldn't say no to peanut butter and honey. Thanks."

Rolling her eyes good naturedly - and giving the starry eyed pinkette a suspicious glare while she was at it - Kuroka took her leave, Shirone watching the pair of them with hawk-like intensity as her tail curled and twitched with poorly concealed agitation.

"You drank too much! Even after we told you not to!"

Till was quick to voice her displeasure to a completely unapologetic Felicia, the Vampire salaciously licking her lips clean as she purred, "But it was just so tasty. Why, it's hard to stay a good girl looking at that delicious red…why don't I show my appreciation by helping you clean up?"

Without asking for further permission the Demon darted forward, licking the slowly leaking holes on his neck clean, smacking her lips as Cayman woozily reflected that she cut quite the alluring figure, even with all of his juices marring the front of her bare body. Or maybe that made it even hotter? He was fairly certain he was a liter short of a full tank right about now and that was never conducive to thinking clearly. Especially not when the frisky Demon went from clotting his bite wound to planting a playful kiss on the lips, smirking with a flirtatious air that would have made a Succubus jealous.

"As much as I appreciate the gesture I'm a little out of it right now, try doing that again when I'm packing enough blood to run both heads at once."

"Don't mind if I do. Now then~!"

She promptly threw herself flat on the bed, uncaring of the scattered droplets of red still coating her body as she sleepily mused, "That was a good meal and I think I need a power nap. Wake me up if something fun happens."

Till slapped a hand over her face, grousing, "Cayman, why do you keep being so nice to people that don't care about the fact that you've been nice to them?"

"Hey don't think I don't appreciate what you did, little Fairy. Besides, this place seems pretty cool, I'm in~!"

Shirone just heaved a resigned sigh as the Vampire patted the bed next to her, stating, "Come on in, I like to cuddle and you look like you could use a nice, long rest."

"Yeah, I wonder why that is. Unfortunately no can do, as soon as Kuroka returns with the goods I need to take a look at the other questionable soul we retrieved alongside yourself. Mostly because she should be dead."

A scowl instantly dominated Felicia's expression, the Vampire growling, "If you need to torture some answers out of her I'm very interested in joining in. I bet I can make her talk."

"Not that kind of questionable. She was actually a comrade of ours who was killed not long ago. I'm assuming the Incubus King and whoever else is in the Khaos Brigade got ahold of her head and grew a body for it, using some kind of mind control or whatever."

While some of the vitriol left her expression Felicia nonetheless snorted, dismissively stating, "I'd forget it, then. I know a bunch of Taimanin that fell under the King's influence and they aren't about to jump ship anytime soon."

Allowing himself a smug smile - slightly ruined by his shaky and pale complexion - Cayman irreverently replied, "Well then you're welcome to watch as I try out a possible solution."

He collapsed into a chair with a cold sweat on his forehead.

"A solution that comes after a nice, healthy meal of sugars."

As if summoned by magic Kuroka showed back up, drinks and baggies in hand as Cayman nodded his thanks, digging into the treats with gusto as he quickly began to feel better.

"Appreciate it, Kuroka."

"Happy to serve as a waitress, nya."

"You'd look good as a working girl."

"I'm not working now?"

Felicia ignored their interplay adnd seemed to think over his words for a moment before nodding to herself, remarking, "Okay, I'm down to watch whatever it is you do. If only to see you crash and burn or for that Incubus asshole to eat shit and lose out to some new guy."

She raised the blankets once more in clear invitation, ruby eyes alight with excitement as she said, "There's room for one more if you all want to join~!"

"Venus flytrap if ever I've seen one."

"Yeah, I'd rather not have to worry about being molested in the middle of a nice nap. I'm the one who does the touching around these parts."

Shirone and Kuroka shut down the offer pretty quick, Felicia pouting at their response before complaining, "I already said I wouldn't do that! I just like to cuddle with cute things!"

"Uh huh."

Setting aside the interplay for the moment Cayman went through his current checklist, deciding that for the moment there wasn't anything pressing he had to do or was capable of doing. Mai had already sent Gosha Academy advance notice of Natsume's rescue as well as the fact that she may have been compromised along with all the information she possessed, said Taimanin currently under watch and unconscious as he decided that if he was going to do this he really did need a short nap, no point in trying to undo a bit of potent brainwashing when he was fucked six ways to Sunday.

"Alright, scooch over. If I wake up with my throat torn out or something like that be sure to avenge me."

Both cats gave him a look that perfectly encapsulated just how much they were washing their hands of the current situation as the Vampire protested, "I already said I wasn't going to do any of that! Cross my heart and hope to die! Or not die, however it goes."

Shirone just remarked in total deadpan, "Your funeral," before following her sister out of the room, Cayman flopping down on the bed next to the pinkette and tired enough to not particularly care about the blood on the sheets or his sleeping buddy's body.

"...Wow, they look really good in those suits, don't they?"

"You have good taste."

"I know, right~?"

Releasing a titanic yawn as he pulled up the blankets over them Felicia eagerly latched onto his arm-

-and a soft thump coincided with Till placing herself between them on the pillow, the Fairy sternly stating, "I'll be right here the whole time to make sure you don't try any funny business with him, just to let you know."

"For the last time, I wasn't going to-"

"Don't bother, my little guardian angel doesn't take no for an answer. Think you can wake me up in an hour or two, Till?"

"Of course!"

Releasing a disgruntled sigh the Vampire was mollified as Cayman pulled her close, enjoying the lithe and silky body providing a pleasant bit of warmth as she remarked, "By the way, you can call me Feli. Sweet dreams~!"

The Surveyor was already dead asleep, much to the Vampire's surprise.


"Sister Asia? You have a, erm…guest?"

A doe-eyed gaze met the immensely nervous and uncomfortable one of her fellow soup kitchen worker, Asia tilting her head as she asked, "A guest?"

"...Yes. A guest."

"Okay, I just need one more moment-there! All right, you should be all better now~!"

A wide-eyed child gazed up at the beaming nun, his parents staring with something approximating worship at the tiny slip of a girl who had just performed what could only be described as a minor miracle, a missing and poorly scabbed finger regrown as if it had never been lost.

"Our little secret, remember?"

Slow, disbelieving nods were her only response as Asia quickly rose to her feet, offered a friendly smile and quickly walked to where her fellow had pointed out her mystery guest, breathing a quiet sigh of relief as she passed the quiet and mostly orderly line for receiving their daily bread and soup.

Twilight Healing was a wondrously powerful gift from God but it had it's limitations, one of which was that it behaved somewhat inconsistently with wounds that congealed and scabbed. By the third stage of healing when things began to grow back it tended to be far more weak and incapable of properly removing the damage, if not failing to activate in the first place.

She shook her head clear of those grim thoughts and instead removed her hat and glasses, smiling proudly as the disguise was replaced with her nun's habit. She was fairly certain her friends would be proud of her adopting the disguise when acting in public, after all ninjas were supposed to be sneaky, right?

"Then again, considering their attire perhaps stealth was of…lesser consideration?"

The blonde felt her ears burn as she remembered the rather scandalous 'armor' Yukikaze and Jinglei had adorned. And for that matter even Caren had been rather liberal with her dress, which seemed odd for a woman of the faith. And Cayman's Fairy companion, Till, had also been rather brazen with her-

"Father Strada?!"

Coming to a stop as she realized she had mistaken her guest for a rather tall bit of furniture the hulking man stared down at her with a kind smile, remarking, "Lost in thought, sister?"

"Erm, my apologies, I meant no disrespect."

"None taken. If I may ask, what had you so deep in thought? Or why you were wearing glasses?"

Flushing at the titan of a man's questions Asia meekly responded, "I was just thinking of some friends I made during my last journey outside the Vatican's walls. The glasses were…based on advice?"

Not one that she'd gotten specifically but the nun was quick to ask, "Not that it isn't an honor to meet you once again, Father Strada, but is it really alright for you to spend so much of your time speaking with me? Surely there are more important matters that your attention requires, no matter your retirement?"

Humanity's one time strongest warrior gave her a doting grin, rumbling, "Trust in me to have a valid measure of what is and isn't worth my time, little one. That said my visit today isn't entirely to whittle away the hours but to impart to you details of a new assignment."

A wolf's grin parted his lips.

"One that took quite a bit of effort on my part but was ultimately successful. Longtime enemies and new ones alike have elected to join hands and it seems the men and women you worked alongside scant weeks ago are in the middle of it…do you like the idea of returning to them and broadening your horizons once more?"

The blonde didn't need to think twice about such an offer. After she'd gotten over her initial shock, granted.


[You seem almost excited about this.]

"Oh? Did I give off that impression?"

[You did. You added quite the number of cutting remarks as opposed to a scant few when informed of this next task.]

"Well they are quite talented and accomplished in their heresy, so much so that they are almost admirable in that regard."

[Your plane ticket and luggage will be available for pickup at the closest house of God to the airport, the usual process. May God watch over you, Sister Hortensia.]

The line hung up as Caren allowed a mild frown of rebuke to manifest upon her features, musing, "Always in such a hurry. Has the concept of manners deserted the faithful so?"

She decided to think on the subject later - she wouldn't - and instead enjoyed a nice cup of tea and breakfast at the local diner, smirking around the cheap mug.

She was almost looking forward to reuniting with her previous team of irate Taimanin, adorable nun, smug Surveyor and little Fairy.

"Now now, lies to oneself are second only in despicability to lies to the lord. I am most certainly looking forward to this."


"Remind me again why I got roped into this?"

Ignoring Su's predictable complaint as she tried - and failed - to study for the physics exam a few days from now Yukikaze instead smirked as she saw a couple of subs pop up on her screen, all of them asking for her to get her usually taciturn and confrontational teammate on the stream and not hang out in the background.

About 12,000 yen's worth, actually.

"She's always good for bringing in the dough. Not sure why though, since she's always in such a perpetually bitchy mood."

"Su, stop pretending to study and pull up a chair. It's co-op and someone finally decided to be a good developer for once and add splitscreen."

"We have a test, Yukikaze. And you're not going to pass it if you insist on playing video games all night!"

"Neither are you if you have to listen to me play video games all night."

There was a moment of silence from Yukikaze's roommate…and with a disgruntled huff she threw aside her textbook, plopping down into the gaming chair Yukikaze had been magnanimous enough to buy for her in cases just like this as she passed off a controller to her grumpy friend's hands.

"There you go, guys~! I now have a proper handicap so that I don't dominate the leaderboard!"

"Do you want me to be involved with this or not?"

The tan-skinned girl merely smirked, snuggling into her chair and making sure her sweatshirt was open enough that it showcased her tanktop and chest. Sure, she may not be the most stacked girl around but she had some boobage to flaunt and that brought in donations.

"Don't be such a stick in the mud and say hi to all of our adoring viewers, we-"

Both her and Jinglei's phones chimed at the same moment, the Taimanin slowly turning to face the offending devices.

Their 'work' phones as well, not their personal ones.

"Sorry guys, just need one moment here to check the ol' phone…huh?"

The duo sent each other perplexed looks, not entirely happy about what they had just been informed of but not exactly upset either, straddling the line between irritation and anticipation.

Naturally, Yukikaze took the opportunity to earn a few extra bits of sympathy from her viewers, asking, "So who wants to sub and hear about the most insane coworker me and my roommate have ever had the displeasure of working with?"

While the Taimanin aspects would have to stay quiet the young woman was confident she could fudge the details just enough to stay true to the story, money and donations rolling in just as she'd hoped.

Streaming really was the best.


I was going to make a Yukikaze OnlyFans joke then realized considering the universe they live in OnlyFans is probably about as tame and unmemorable as you can get.

On a completely unrelated note if any of you decide to one day take up putting together puzzles I would NOT recommend starting with one of a time-lapsed night sky.

IT'S JUST FUCKING LINES.