The manor of the Pillar Gremory was basically a castle, which means that it was a good chance that there were hidden entries and pathways but you never found any of them... only because you didn't try! Obviously! You didn't have weaknesses... besides a good boss and King knows how to use the talents of all the members of their retinue, so when Jack's opened a hidden pathway just on the entry and your gut feeling told you to go fast there and avoid the danger.
Seconds after both of you entered and closed the secret entry, the sound of steps come from the outside so you paid attention.
"Hmm, I thought that the tracker said Kane entered the manor from here." Your mom, number 23: Gabriella,'s voice was confused, did they put a tracker on you!?
"We will see him later around the dinner, is his favorite there isn't a way that he could resist." Another of your moms, the number 31 Katsumi's voice was serious, how many tactics have your moms deployed against you?! You didn't do anything wrong... setting things on fire isn't wrong!
But you couldn't tell them that, because your mothers were hunting you! Without Jack, you wouldn't have time to prepare any of your excu-! Stories of gallantry and bravery, because you didn't do anything bad and just played around with Jack when both of you became friends inside the alleys of Dis! So you both, back to back, the master and the subordinate waited until your mothers retired before getting away from the hidden pathway of the manor.
"Good Jack." You head pat your first piece, and later you will gloat at Sirzechs that your Grayfia is better than his.
Jack seemed to enjoy her head pats, all while closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling in her little head but once you stopped her first reaction was to grab your hand and put it back in her head while her eyes had great expectations. What was this amazing power that you were feeling? What is this powerful influence over others? This was a power that must be mastered and used with responsibility, so you with a heavy heart... began head pat your Jack again with the intention of mastering your new powers, with much more attention than before checking any improvements on your technique, before stopping frozen as an idea passed through your mind.
"Why Kane stopped?" They will need to talk with your mothers about Jack's lack of vocabulary lessons.
But there were way more important things.
"Jack, what if I head pat you so much that you wouldn't enjoy it anymore!" You whispered to her with all the seriousness of the situation, or a worse what if.
The idea of Jack gaining immunity to head pats!
That realization also left frozen your Mini!Grayfia who looked at you with some sense of horror. "...Nooo..." The semi-long whisper and broken look in her face that almost made you want to keep the head pat but you resisted the temptation, you were better than that.
For you Jack.
"Is okay Jack, we just need to plan well so this scenario never comes into existence." You gave her a hug, this would be something hard to manage for the both of you. "Let's go, we have to reach my room, then we can plan what we can do."
Jack nodded, the fire returned to her eyes, and together will make sure of getting your Evil Pieces... because sadly you forgot to take them with you.
It was a very difficult challenge of the biggest difficulty, but the teamwork born from the experiences shared on Dis made you both use your talents in combination. Your knowledge of your home, gut feelings, and complete utter lack of restraint in tricking the butlers and maids around with your charismatic words to have distractions running around. Jack with her stealth, her powers of infiltration to discover temporal hideouts to use, and finally her cuteness that melted the hearts of others when you taught her to pout. Your combined forces made sure that you both reached your room without any of your mothers discovering them.
There were close calls. Even your combined powers need you to sometimes distract some servants before Jack put them on a sleeper hold and together hid the bodies in the hideouts... You will pay some bribes to those servants later when you don't are showing your important treasures.
"And this deck is an Exodia's one." One of your greatest treasures, you will always hate that buggy slimeball for what he did to Yugi's Exodia. "So-chan tells me that I can't use them so I keep them here as my greatest tool of duels." It was unfair, you crafted this deck and your other decks through many cards packs.
Jack was confused but was okay you will impart culture into her mind. After she joins your peerage obviously.
"Now this is also important." This was probably the most important moment of Kane Gremory's... of your life until now. As you brought out from the hideout under your bed the set of pieces made from Acchan's effort. Then brought the Mutated Knight out, the special piece that you had as all your experiences of your day alongside Jack were fresh in your mind, there wasn't a better piece for her who will save you as you will save her.
Your mothers taught you everything that you needed to do for this moment. So you kneed with a leg touching the floor and brought the piece to her.
"Jack, will you forever be at my side?" You asked her, your eyes looking at her.
"...You promise?" She was trembling with fear and hope as her body moved towards the piece.
"Always." They were Familia and what is one if they were always together. "I promise you to never be alone from now onwards." And then you inserted the Mutated Knight in her body.
As the piece was absorbed into Jack's body you feel a connection formed between both of you an everlasting bond as numerous Clouds began to fill a Sky that was without any elements but the boundless blue that can't be completely filled by only that, new life as formed into the Sky as the purple Clouds began to show other different shapes of what was going to form into the future, a Sky with so much fun chaos surrounding it. Constantly moving and changing in many shapes but was a world where everyone could be glad to belong, the Clouds even bringing to the perspective of the Sky what it would expect.
A Storm, so troublesome kid that would have a special place and would destroy every enemy that becomes a danger to them until nothing is left.
A Lightning, a protector a defender that would redirect and break the dangers. Always willing for this because it was a home that it protects.
A Mist, so shy and mysterious ever-changing in subtle ways never showing the true shape of this multi-faced element.
A Sun, so happy so bright, and charming bringing life by mere presence and making the world warm.
A Rain, that would clean away all his conflicts, smoothed over interactions of this world.
This... was what you wanted inside your peerage, in your Familia...
Your eyes open as the image was over too soon, but replaced by your Cloud/Knight's smiling face as tiny bat wings moved in her back. You knew what you needed to say now.
"Welcome home." You told her with a kind smile.
"Um! We are at home." Jack hugged your head after that, tears began to fall.
She used her traits of Knight to do it before you noticed or even began to rise up from your position she surpassed even your gut feeling, but it didn't matter at the end you hugged her tiny body no matter the smelly rags this was a moment that you wouldn't want to end.
*Ka-chick* *Ka-chick*
Your eyes widened at the sound, Jack put herself in position to fight with her knives out. All you could do is change your expression into pure horror as the context began to fill out in your mind as the image in front of you finally gets acknowledged by your brain.
Your biological mother was in the front line alongside many other moms all of them equipped with cameras and even one of them with a movie microphone. All of them recorded what you did with Jack in HD with many different resolutions as you forgot something very important that you always keep in mind on a normal day.
Your room had secret vigilance cameras since you painted Enki on orange and blame it on Beowulf, these cameras that you knew ways around but forgot because of your excitement.
"So Kane-chan, it seems that you had a very interesting adventure today." The kind smile of your mother never once filled you with such utter dread. "Come and tell you Kacchans, all of it." You weren't stupid enough to think that you had any other option.
"You are mommy?" Jack question ended with her trapped inside the bosom of your mothers as all of them began to squeal in delight.
Thanks, Jack your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
So now you and Jack were sitting in a seiza position while Satsuki-Okan keep an eye on both of you while the council of mothers discussed something that you couldn't hear because the wards around the table of motherhood, they had learned too well all your tricks and ways to get the things turned at your favor but they didn't expect the new ace card and winning strategy of OTK for all their plans and interrogations. Yes! You are talking of your great and powerful ally, someone so loyal, so smart and so completely experienced on the ways of the streets to help you over, your Knight and best servant ever made.
"So many mommies!" Jack was distracted by the sheer amount of MILF's energy. Her eyes shined with light as her head moved from a side to another looking from one of your moms to another. "Look Kane! There are so many!" Jack pointed at the table of moms.
...She wasn't going to help you here.
But your mind began to conjure plots and ideas to get away without end grounded, you knew your mother weakness [You didn't], you always were prepared for this day [You weren't], there is a way to turn this on your favor [There wasn't], the only thing that you needed was your partner help!
"So, Kane-chan how did you meet Jacqueline?" Like a complete professional your ninja mom paired the knife throw by Jack and then caught it with the other hand. "No, no, no, young ladies should throw things around like that."
Apparently, any of your mothers' disapproving gazes were powerful enough to even affect Jack.
"...Sorry." Jack looked like a kicked puppy.
"And you should." After chastizing your Knight, the kunoichi if you remember the word correctly gave her back the knife. "You need to put more technique on your wrist or it will lose speed in the air." The byplay was fun to see as the astonished face of Jack returned.
Damn it, you were distracted from a hard question. Jack was just a too-cute distraction that even affects you!
"You all forgot about the question?" Your mother smiled and was like an electric shot at your spine from the Dark Magician.
"Ah!" Thankfully Jack was here to answer that question. "We played with fire!" ...To fail to answer that question in a way that wouldn't ground them.
Gah! Jackie that was... You don't have words for why she did that?! Why do you look so proud!?
"Fire?" She narrowed her eyes, they were grounded completely and absolutely grounded!
"From Kane's hands?" The answer was filled with doubt like she was asking your mothers why they didn't know.
Wait! Yes, you can work with this, Jackie that was pure genius! Your best minion was a genius like you, she gave you the best opportunity the opening that you needed to go for the killing, to save both of you to be unjustly grounded for reasons that didn't need to be mentioned.
"Kane!" One of your mothers panicked and began to check your hands, many others came too by going out of the table to check with their own eyes. "You don't have burning marks." And Jack was too cute and proud of herself to be a lie.
"She means this." A small orange flame formed on your hand, it let you tired and can be snuffed easily... maybe you did too much today. "We spend the day melting candy and using it as sauce for different snacks." You didn't lie that was exactly what happened, come on puppy eyes do your work!
Your mothers looked at each other after checking the Sky Flames, the most knowledgeable ones had their theories formed and ideas moving inside their brilliant minds waiting for their turn to talk.
"Levi options." Venelana Gremory put on her commander cap and gave orders, this is why she was your biological mom and you inhered her leadership talents.
"It looks like colored fire but the heat emission doesn't reach the level of causing burn and isn't consuming oxygen on the air." The mom that lived most of the time in the library said in her revision. "In other words, this looks like fire, feels like fire, and moves like fire but isn't fire."
"It doesn't look strong too so it would take more of Kane considering the speed of spread in the news." Another mom who apparently made the calculus about the destruction in Dis showed a few schematics that you couldn't read but gut feeling.
"There is a chance that is only a trick of the fire." This mom was going to touch your flames! You don't want to hurt her. "Checked, doesn't burn." Ufff, good fire, and again your faith in it grew into newer proportions.
"So Kane is innocent." Someone amount the moms voiced out.
There was a moment of silence while all your mothers began to get awkward expressions on their faces mixed with some guilt for believing that you caused the fire in Dis, well you did but you aren't going to admit it.
"I am sorry, I... we are sorry for doubting about you Kane-chan." Mom hugged Jackie and you, feeling regret over her actions. "We saw the news and knowing that you would be there... we just expected it to be because of you... are you." Why do you feel proud about it?
"To think that the same child that burned the books that his tutors made him read." Hey! Those books deserved it! They were evil! Just plain pure evil!
"To think that Kane, who in the past tried to set in fire the tv with the power of his mind." In your defense Weevil just tricked Joey that day and Sirzechs teach you that with enough will anything was possible, so why not set that bug bastard on fire?
"To think that our baby who used to run around the manor with a torch in hand..." So-chan challenge you! She said that you couldn't burn a statue without magic.
...You are a damn lucky pyromaniac, they had proof, they had all zones where the fire originated, and even to get the motivation for it after checking your accounts. You underestimated your moms, their powers are beyond a child's comprehension... and you still managed to get out smelling like roses! You and Jack were good, but them? They are on a whole different level. Only because of Jack's words and overthinking of your mothers that you managed to not get grounded today because Sky Flares really are very effective at burning stuff.
"Is okay, I meet Jack and we had fun together." Smile but don't ruin it Kane, you just managed to bullshit your way out.
"Don't worry Kane-chan, it will take more time for us to get used that you being more mature and responsible than we expected." With that said, you could see a new fire forming in the eyes of your mothers. "We compensate you for this, I promised it."
So you are basically going to get extra desserts? Nice.
"But first..." Why does everything feel cold?
It took some seconds to realize that you were now naked except for his trunks, Jackie was in a similar status and didn't have her rags anymore... it was an interesting set of underclothes.
So that is where she keeps her knives... wait, she has thrown more than seven knives and so, but you had a theory for that and it was that she isn't a fan of mathematics so she managed to mess with the reality in some manner to screw with them.
"Both of you need to get a bath and fresh clothes." The next part of the evil plan of your mothers was clear now.
You looked at your partner in the crime and beyond, your mind was telling her the newest plan that you made in just nanoseconds, a plan as simple as it was effective.
"Run!" Then both of you got out and tried to use the closest exit of the room.
But failed because and crashed into each other because the seiza ended getting your legs sleepy! They planned for everything!
"Ara Are~ Did you really through that it was going to be easy Kane-chan?" This was a reminder that your progenitor was a genius beyond imagination, how many sides is she looking at while planing for this? "We can multi-task very well." So it was because of teamwork, this lesson will not be forgotten.
Your mothers may have an entire army, but you have a Grayfia that is almost equal to three Sirzechs or more and in the future many more for your super team that would help you in these situations.
The plan Alpha-B-0001 was a failure but someday you two would win.
...
...
The bath with good company was quite nice, maybe you would consider growing your hair a little more. Jack's hands did feel nice on your hair, almost feels like multiple arms were at it but probably was the speed boost of her Evil Piece, truly you gave her the best possible piece that you could have.
After that was dinner time, and your mothers' words were true and proper, they gave you and Jack some extra desserts. The face of Sirzechs and Grayfia when they saw Jack was hilarious, as you could hear things of 'Now there are you of them', 'The history repeats', and something-something about maid outfits. It was hilarious seeing how Jack managed to hit Beowulf and even more when Beowulf didn't notice the bleeding or the knife stuck on his head through all the dinner.
Jack just loved hugs and liked sleeping in your room... or maybe this was her room too now? Questions for the future, it was a day filled with discoveries.
Introducing Jack to your family was a work in progress in the next few days, mainly because she is understanding the perks of having many mommies and abusing the perks to the point that she is the daughter that they always wanted and while that is fun and all, also means that you had memorized completely the shape, form, and then the bouncing off from that very notable butt... for some reason that you don't understand all your existence is shouting to you to never look away, and you didn't for some reason it was too hypnotic. And all of it was caused because your mothers wanted to put her on a skirt and constantly ended in failure.
The other members of the household like your brother and father... they didn't know much about her because Jack spends all her time with your moms. But Beowulf likes her because of the knife in the head, apparently, which means that your first member has spunk and would be a great woman when she growths up. But the rest? Many servants just fear her because of what you did order her to do when you distracted them and looked at you like you two were made for each other.
Maybe it will fix itself in the future or not, but you ended accompanying her on the female bonding and got three different tea parties. Sirzechs being the unhelpful brother that he was just told you that it was something that you would get used to and in the future rewarded greatly for it, your gut feeling told you that Sirzechs was right... it does remind you that he has been saying the same thing when you cosplay as that guy that does basically nothing on Sailor Moon?
So-chan! You forgot about her! How could you!?
Now she will forget the pecking order and your dominance over her! Truly, Jack was very fun and interesting but you can't forget about your best friend. That seems wrong, you should visit So-chan and show her your adorable Knight who was made of pure greatness while also showing the best Knight of existence who she wouldn't be capable of top... ever.
"Jack!" You called for your Knight and she basically materialized in front of you.
Beowulf and Sirzechs would lie and say that the first time that it happened you screamed but it was a lie you always feel her coming into you... but for some reason, they began to laugh soon after and Souji's keeps telling you to change the wording.
"Yes?" Jack has some crumbs on her face, did she was eating sweets? You will have to tell your moms that too many are bad.
You still want to keep in secret what both of you did while on a sugar rush.
"Let's visit So-chan." You declared plans made to visit your BFF were in progress.
"What is a So-chan?" Jack cutely moved her head to a side almost making her cute beret fall.
"Too many questions we have to go!" You commanded and Jack... just followed you out.
Naturally, your plans weren't that easy to accomplish, as you had to get at least one of your parent's permission, and with how much your mothers were loving to spoil Jack it needed to be your father who gives the approval to visit the territory of the Sitri. It will be a hard conversation filled with so many different arguments and tactics to convince your progenitor that it was a good idea.
"You want to visit Sona? Yeah sure why not." Zeouticus Gremory gave his approval and prepared the magic circle that was installed on the true paperwork room and not the 'paperwork' room.
"Thanks, dad!" Let's not say that you aren't grateful for those that help you.
"Bye, dad." Jack followed into the magic circle without any trouble, you both had more than enough mana to make it work.
...
...
Zeoticus looked at the now-empty teleportation circle and then activated a secret circle inside his desk.
"The kids are out bring the melted chocolate and strawberries." He said in a hushed tone. "I repeat the kids out of the manor." It was a message that all the members of his harem heard clearly.
It was good to be a Pillar head. Having his youngest out in the world making his harem was what will allow him to compensate for the lost time.
The house of So-chan and Sera-nee was easy to describe. It was cold and completely boooring. Seriously, Ms and Mr need to find a new interior decorator, all the halls looked the same... except for the different dungeon entries that Jack and you found, they smelled like fish, and your gut feeling told you that So-chan wasn't there so they were avoided but the weird thing is that some entries had many different weird items including the head of a costume of Sonic the Hedgehood but that needed to be cleaned, with fire if it was possible as your instincts go crazy in form of 'don't ask questions' alongside 'Suppress! Suppress! Suppress!'.
"Kakun!" A wild magical girl appears! What will you do? "Look at me! Isn't this a cute dress, my Mahou Shoujo level increased once again~" And she did make a cute spin with her feet ending with an eyed wink and peace symbol aiming to her to the eyes aiming for a bigger cuteness factor!
It looks like So-chan improved once again her costume too, much better than version 1.0 where all that was used was a Japanese school swimsuit, a skirt, and a towel as a cape. Truly this was an overall upgrade and completely filled with dreams and hopes... or at least that was what your gut feeling was telling you about the open belly of this style. It was amazing how much her powers increased in such a short amount of time, part of you couldn't help but be marvel at the sheer amount of effort put in improving herself in such a short amount of time, if this continues she will go into the specials of Sera-nee and let you out biting the dust!
But you had a trump card, someone that can put the balance in your favor again!
"But you are too late Mahou Shoujo So-chan!" You boasted, you knew that this victory would be hers if you were alone. "Look! The fruits of my efforts!" But you weren't and showed Jack who was just too awestruck by So-chan.
You heard something break but the direction of it alluded to you.
"Who. is. the. skank?" For some reason, you feel some danger coming from So-chan and her words didn't help.
"I don't know what that word means but Jack is the first member of my Familia." You said with absolute pride in your voice, you were quite lucky on finding her. "Isn't she cute?" You feel very proud of how adorable Jack looked, it was you who choose this outfit.
"Yes. cute." The smile of So-chan was different from usual. "How did you meet? If I can ask you Kane?" ...Where did 'Kakun' go?
Okay, this is turning a bit weird. But still, you genuinely answered her question and explained with a very edited version of the situation without leaving clues about how Jack and you had fun by burning Dis, let no give proof to the protector of love and justice about your misdeeds that makes them more powerful... and she could tell your family if you make her angry, you know it because it would put a point in her side, is a tactic that you had used too.
"I see, I see." The magical girl nodded with a hand in her shin. "So this 'Jack' is your Rook? She looks like it would fit her." So-chan gave a side-eye glance at Jack as she said it. But this was expected of your rival, she had a good eye and perception to notice the sheer amount of talent that Jack has.
"She is my Knight, I used my Mutation Piece on her because I got the feeling that Rook wouldn't be enough." And your trusted gut feeling has proved itself too many times since you obtained it.
There was a slight movement in So-chan's eyebrows, it was hard to hide your smile and gloat about your luck. This was why Gremory was the best pillar can now flex at the others how easily we can find the best of the best for our retinues... sure McGregor was an exception but not all the time Sirzechs can be a winner.
"I also got my Pillar trait." You helpful said, it was by burning a pedophile.
"Really?!" No the reaction that you expected but a happy So-chan was still a victory.
"Look." A flex of your Will and Ambition formed the Sky Flames in your palm and a difference of yesterday the potency was on a whole different level as the warm and welcoming feeling spreads through the hall.
"Is beautiful..." So-chan was hypnotized by the flames that danced in your palms. "But your trait isn't the Power of Destruction?" So-chan curiosity was always her best trait.
"That is what my brother has, I am an Everlasting Sky instead of a brutish destroyer." You corrected your best friend, after all, you think that this fits you way more than the power to destroy anything on view. "I also found that I can mix and make new snacks with it!" Your powers were too immense!
But apparently, Jack didn't like being ignored and hugged you from your back to get your attention back.
"That is amazing..." So-chan didn't realize it because her mind was in the realm of candies but then something made her react as she looked at Jack. "Why you!? Kakun look what she is doing!" At So-chan shout, you turned and saw...
A completely normal face of Jack.
Okay... you are beginning to think that you are missing something here. But apparently, both your best friend and your best minion aren't getting along as you expected. So you need to think about a good tactic to use so the three of you can become the Tres Amigos and have fun today before returning home but you know that if you call dad he would allow a slumber party with the Sitri and maybe that would do the trick, then again anime is the answer to many troubles of your life unless they get into rival genres!
Come on Kane, you can do this but the question is, how will you do it?
Trait Gained: Twilight Charisma.
Through some incredible luck, you managed to gain an aura similar to your flames that feels like you are completely honest about your intentions, many won't doubt your words or actions. Your very lifeforce expresses it so normal means can't detect dishonestly from your body.
