Chapter 6

"Thanks again for helping me with this. Really, I appreciate it." I thanked Vergil for the umpteenth time as we walked through the shopping district of Kuoh.

"It's no trouble at all, Master Miquella." Vergil replied with a smile. "If there is one thing I am confident in other than fighting, it's style. How you present yourself can have a lasting impression on your peers. For you to come to me in your time of need is an honor I cannot and will not fail you in."

I begrudgingly agreed with a nod. It wasn't the fact that his style of clothing was particularly the reason I had chosen him. It was just that, out of the options I had available, his was the most 'appealing'. Ruby's style closely resembled goth lolita, which was far too eye-catching for my tastes. Edelgard's wardrobe only consisted of her school uniform and gym clothes, so I highly doubt she could be of any use to me. As for Malenia...the dress I was wearing was proof enough that I didn't need her input.

Looking at the Son of Hitler did well in reinforcing my decision. Say what you want about his fedora, but that suit, those rose-like patterns, slick slacks, color scheme, and cane made him look more like Slickback than the pimp himself. The looks of admiration we got from both men and women alike as we passed was further proof I had chosen right.

As for me...

I constantly reminded myself that no one knew that I was a man in this dress. Seeing myself in the mirror for the first time was a mind fuck of an experience.

I was HOT. Like, if I saw me walking down the street in this dress and sandals, then even I would have taken a moment to secretly admire the view.

I looked like a doll. Everything from my face to my waist was perfectly proportioned. My legs, though short, were not without shape. Hell, even my FEET were cute! There wasn't a masculine source to be found other than my dick, and it was BULLSHIT! Cutting my hair short and putting it into a ponytail did absolutely nothing to increase the manliness I didn't have.

So my last hope was my choice of clothes, which is where my servant would come in clutch.

"This is the place," Vergil declared.

The building we stopped at was fancy, to say the least. The display on the window had many male models in suits and ties with the word 'Ebony's Ivory' in English and Japanese scrawled on the window seal. I've never heard of the store before, but it looked expensive—a fact I voiced.

"You sure about this place? Looks expensive." I pointed out, to which he gave me a knowing look.

"Trust me, when it comes to fashion, you'll find no better place in the world." Was his reply as he pulled the door open, allowing me to enter first and take in the majesty of the establishment.

I'll be honest, it looked very nice.

No, it looked IMMACULATE.

Blue was obviously the main theme of the establishment, being the dominant color in both the floor and wall tiles. There were a lot of black, white, and gray colors going around. The displays on the walls showed different suits and stylish shirts, while the mannequins dressed in the finest silks and the shelves were stacked with rows upon rows of designer shoes from Gucci to Allen Edmonds. The place smelled of cologne, and the music playing overhead was that of soft jazz, the kind that would have the old heads back in my world reminiscing on the 'good ole days'.

At the front of the store, there were three women and two men standing behind the counter, each wearing a tailored blue suit and eyeing me as Vergil and I entered. The first was a young Asian woman, and though she was pretty, it was nothing compared to model-worthy German girls next to her. As for the men, one was African American while the other was Caucasian, both with bald heads and sharp features with a muscular physique so impressive it would make Major Alex Louis Armstrong cry tears of joy.

Almost in perfect sync, they bowed at the waist, greeting us as if we were important.

"Welcome back, Vergil-sama." They spoke together, to which the Devil Slayer nodded in acknowledgement.

"Thank you, gentlemen, ladies. My companion and I are here to browse today. I trust we will receive the same exceptional service as always."

"Of course, Vergil-sama!" They all spoke in unity once again.

"Very good, then please prepare some of our finest ware. And close up while you're at it. We wish to not be disturbed."

"Of course, Vergil-sama!"

I blinked rapidly as the five disappeared to do exactly as they were told. My head turned from the workers to Vergil several times as I tried making sense of what the hell was going on.

"You look lost." The albino commented in my stupor, his smug, stupid smile present.

"Explain," was all I demanded of him.

He chuckled before he began walking forward, my legs instinctively following behind. "I run several businesses on the side to fund our organization. It is where most of our household income comes and how we are able to live in such luxury. Malenia mainly helps with the finances while I maintain the business portion of things. This particular store happens to be one of the first I opened and is quite the money maker. You could say it is the flagship."

"Huh," was my intelligent reply.

"As for the employees, each of them were handpicked from the supernatural, meaning we can trust them implicitly."

"Huh," once again, was my intelligent reply.

We stopped at the back of the store where two doors sat on either side of the room with a sign above it reading 'Changing Room'. I guess it was time to receive my new wardrobe.

"Are you ready?" Vergil turned to me and asked with a smile, a sign I should have paid more attention to in hindsight.

"I mean, as ready as I'll ever be." I said, to which his smile grew.

"Then here comes the fun part." With the clap his hands, the two muscled employees appeared next to me, both taking a firm grip on my dress.

Then, without warning, they pulled, and the dress exploded, leaving me frozen in nothing but a pair of white briefs.

For a split second, I was so flabbergasted that I didn't process what happened. When I did, I moved my hands with lightning speed to cover whatever I could, my two extra transparent arms coming out to instinctively do the same.

"The HELL!" I exclaimed, yet went ignored.

"Excellent work. Now, please take Lord Miquella's measurements."

"RIGHT AWAY, VERGIL-SAMA!" The two shouted before they each took a hold of my arms and lifted me off the ground while two of the women began touching my body in areas that I found completely unnecessary.

"Hey! HEY! Get your goddamn hands off of me! What the fuck happened to consent?! Help! HELP! I DO NOT CONSENT! I DO NOT-GAAA! WHY ARE YOU MEASURING THAT?!" I protested, the embarrassment and confusion nearly making me lose my mind.

All of that went right out the window the moment I saw Vergil casually drink tea, which I could only assume he received from the missing woman currently standing patiently next to him. A hot boiling rage surfaced within me and I made sure to make my anger known through curses, threats, and profanity.

"There's no need to be so tense, Master Miquella. They are professionals."

"I'LL SHOW YOU PROFESSIONAL WHEN I STICK MY FOOT UP YOUR-wait WAIT GODDAMN IT! Th-the changing room! Let me go to the changing room if you're gonna take it off!"

"No need to worry, Master Miquella. To create the perfect wardrobe for you, it is easier to do so without anything getting in the way. I'm sure you understand."

"I SWEAR WHEN I WILL HAVE YOU WRITING UNTIL YOUR HAND FALLS OFF YOU COCKWAFFLE!"

(•∆•)

After what felt like hours of having my rights violated (against my consent, I might add), I was finally free. My arms were tired from being held up for so long, and my knees nearly buckled at the sensation of a solid floor beneath my feet again.

Regardless of how I felt about their services, I could not say I disliked the outcome.

Currently, I wore black jeans with a black shirt, a blue jean jacket and white sneakers. For accessories, I had a black and silver watch, a chain with dog tags, and a silver ring in the shape of a wolf on my index finger. Nearly everything was tailored to fit me, and despite my best efforts, it was impossible not to look down and remove my eyes from the mirror.

"How do you feel?"

Vergil's question caught me off guard, and I looked at the reflection of the devil slayer over my shoulder.

"It's not bad. It's... actually kinda cool." I admitted, and for the first time since entering the store, a genuine smile came to my lips. "I have to admit, you do have an eye for this sort of thing."

"Of course, Master Miquella. Fashion is the perfect outlet for an individual's personality. One's clothing can be as unique and expressive as the person wearing it." He said, a proud smile on his face. "Your new wardrobe consists of both the common and formal, allowing for flexibility should the occasion call for it. I'll have it all personally delivered to the mansion tomorrow morning."

I looked up at the demon hunter, admiration now in my eyes compared to the hate 2 hours ago. "I've changed my mind. You are now my second favorite."

"Oh? Not number one?" He jokingly feigned hurt.

"Malenia will always be number 1."

"Hmmm, I suppose it is too much to ask to be over the one who warms your bed."

"Don't push it."

Vergil chuckled before he gestured to the door. "Shall we head out? There's a restaurant I'm sure you will take a liking to."

"You had me at 'rest'."

We made our way to the door, the employees making a line on both sides of the door while bowing at the waist.

"It is always a pleasure, Vergil-sama! Please come again!"

Back on the streets of Kuoh, the sun was setting. The nightlife had begun, the street lamps beginning to light and the shops already starting to close up for the evening. Nearly every building was now glowing with lights and projectors, and the streets were filled with just as many people as they were earlier. I know I've never been, or even heard of Kuoh in my past life, but the majesty of it should be told in catalogs around the world.

Vergil led me through the streets and through an alleyway, an action that I normally would have been skeptical of if I didn't know from experience that most of Tokyo's hidden gems weren't in the open.

At the center was an ordinary shop that could have easily been overlooked. Its outside had no neon sign or fancy decorations, nor did it have a fancy doorman or an exclusive guest list. What it did have was a sign that read 'Mamoru's Ramen' in Japanese with a few customers exiting the establishment.

"This is the place," Vergil announced as we walked through the entrance.

"Seems a little..." I paused as the smell hit my nose, "...normal, for your tastes."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Master Miquella." He said as he sat on an empty stool, me following his actions and sitting on the empty one next to him. The menus were already sitting in front of us, which was a convenience.

"Well, I'll be damned! It's been a while, pretty boy!" I looked up at the woman who addressed my servant, and my eyes nearly bugged out of my skull at her appearance.

Dark skin, golden irises, and long waist-length purple hair put up in a ponytail with chin-length bangs framing the sides of her face. From what I could see over the counter, she wore an orange shirt under a white apron that read 'Let's feed you fuckers' in bold black letters. Her form was slim yet athletically fit and well endowed from what I could see. Of course, she was taller than me, but that is to be expected, especially since I knew her. There was no way in hell I wouldn't recognize that face.

Shihouin Yoruichi, my waifu, my goddess. God, if you're hearing me, I thank you wholeheartedly for this second life.

"It's good to see you too, Yoruichi." Vergil greeted back, a smile present on his face that was a little more friendly than I was used to.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to visit more often, or even give me a call. For a time, I thought you'd finally removed that stick in your ass and found yourself a nice girl." She replied, leaning over the counter with her chin in a palm.

"I've actually been busy of late. Emergency at home had my attention for quite some time. Besides, I'd think you of all people would know my 'tastes' by now." Vergil retorted, making me blink as his hands intertwined with his elbows on the counter and his chin resting atop the laced fingers.

"Hmmmmm, don't know. You've been coming less and less lately. Hard to satisfy a man with commitment issues."

"Oh, please. I've always been consistent, and loyal. I wouldn't have otherwise come crawling back."

"Just means my reason for getting you back is better than my competition."

"In many ways, my dear."

My head shot back and forward from the two complete opposites in shocking disbelief.

They were flirting! By God, they were FLIRTING! The eye contact, those looks, the smiles, the suggestive words! THEY WERE ACTUALLY FLIRTING! RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! MY GODDESS! THIS BASTARD!

...I take back what I said. There is no God.

"So, are you going to introduce me to the kid?" Yoruichi's voice called back my attention, now looking at me instead of the devil.

"Ah, of course." The traitor said as he jestered towards me. "Yoruichi, this is my superior, Miquella. Just Miquella."

"Hi," I said as flatly as I could. Though I was still excited, I had to crush it down considerably considering she was likely taken. No matter how I felt, men don't go after other bro's girls (let's just completely forget about the fact I was already spoken for).

"Well I'll be. A girl at your age above this old man? I'm jealous, honestly." Yoruichi commented with a wink, and it took everything in me not to visibly react.

"First off, I'm a guy. Secondly, I'm older than both of you." I retorted, taking satisfaction in the way the woman's eyes widened in surprise.

"Like hell you are! My employee is 17, and you look both younger and cuter than her!"

I grinned cheekily while shrugging. "Guess God does have favorites."

"Or just a sick sense of humor." She said, a clear dig at my looks and gender. "Well, enough of that now. What can I get you?" She asked, her body no longer leaning over the counter but instead standing with a pad and pen ready.

"Two Miso Ramen with a side of gyoza, please."

She snorted in amusement at something funny. Not even writing anything down, she turned her back to yell at the back. "Oi, brat! Two Miso Bowls on the double!"

A female voice responded. With that, she looked at us one last time, asked us to holler if we needed her, and left to the back—leaving us to our devices.

I immediately looked over to the devil hunter, leaning on a fist with a grin so smug it was devilish.

"So, when were you going to tell us?" I questioned, to which the devil smiled innocently.

"It is nothing romantic, if that is what you're hinting. We've known each other for years. Truthfully, I'm the only friend she has around these parts."

I hummed, not at all believing the man after what I'd witnessed. The mouth can lie, but the eyes cannot. I know what I saw, and 'platonic friends' wasn't it.

About 5 minutes later, Yoruichi returned with two steaming bowls of ramen, two plates of gyoza, and three bottles of Asahi.

My eyes practically transformed into stars upon seeing the dish and beer.

"Bon appetit! Two Miso Ramen and Gyoru on the house!" Yoruichi announced as she grabbed one of the free glasses of Asashi and cracked it open.

"I knew I liked you, Yoruichi-chan!" I thanked the woman with a smile, the woman simply rolling her eyes before taking a sip of her beer.

Returning to my bowl, the delicious aroma of ramen nearly had me drooling. The pork was perfectly charred, and the noodles were fresh. Even the vegetables were perfectly cooked. A perfect meal for a demi-god.

Clapping our hands together in prayer, Vergil and I let out an 'Itadakimasu' before diving into the bowls.

Spoiler alert: it tasted just as heavenly as it looked. Every bite had me humming in pleasure, the warmth of the broth, the texture, and the flavors all melding together in the perfect combination. I've eaten many bowls of ramen, but absolutely nothing can beat ramen from the motherland itself.

"Drinking on the job?" I heard Vergil inquire.

"What can I say? It's a slow day, and I've got a capable assistant." Yoruichi dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Besides, only regulars frequent these parts at this time of night, and they know what they're getting." Yoruichi took another sip of her beer, her relaxed demeanor making it clear she wasn't concerned with formalities.

"You know, if the food wasn't enough to keep me crawling back, that attitude definitely does," Vergil teased, twirling a noodle between his chopsticks.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Vergil," she replied with a playful smirk, but there was a warmth in her eyes that spoke of a long-standing camaraderie.

"I can leave if you two wanna lock lips. Rather not be the third wheel and all." I said while swallowing down the remains of my food. If they were going to force me to listen to this, then I was going to at least try to embarrass them.

Unfortunately for me, my remark was met with Yoruichi bursting out laughing and nearly spilling her beer, while Vergil's laughter was more contained. "I like this kid! You should bring him by more often!" She said, giving me an amused look.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind." My servant answered for me, which I wasn't entirely opposed to. Disregarding the fact I could see my goddess regularly, I could also get free food? Well, call me a bass because I was definitely hooked!

It was as that thought passed that the strangest thing happened.

Both devil and unknown suddenly shot their heads to my right. I did the same thing, hoping to find whatever it was that had suddenly caught their attention.

I was further confused to only see a wall.

Looking back to the two, they were both smiling once more, yet even I could see that it was forced compared to their previous easy-going demeanor.

"Say, you were just about ready to close up, right?" Vergil cordially asked the woman, to which she nodded.

"Yeah, was thinking it was getting late." Yoruichi said, her tone agreeing, yet there was something in her eyes that said she was on edge.

"Excellent. Then how about we walk you home? I've heard there are unsavory sorts walking about as of late. Wouldn't want them to accidentally end up on the other side of your fist."

"Oh, such the gentleman." She said before removing her apron. "Just let me clean up first and tell Misaka we're closing early."

"Shouldn't we walk her home too?" I asked, even if I still didn't understand what was going on.

"There's no need to worry. Her brother picks her up around this time, so I'm sure they will get home safely." She reassured. "Oh, and while you're waiting, mind taking out the trash? I wouldn't want to break a nail."

"Of course. Mind helping, Master Miquella?"

I nodded, going along with things while being completely lost.

I followed Vergil out of the restaurant, both of us with a trash bag in hand and heading deeper into the alleyway to deposit the garbage safely into the dumpster. Once I was no longer encumbered by the load, I finally popped the question.

"So, wanna finally tell me what that was about?"

Silence was my answer.

My mouth opened to ask again to talk but stopped dead at the sound of footsteps. I turned along with Vergil to find two guys wearing suits now blocking our way back to the restaurant.

They were ordinary, to say the least. One was taller than me, but not by much. He bore a scar across his right eye while his face was twisted into a nasty scowl. The other was more average, a fedora on his head and a confident grin compared to his friend's frown.

Looking at them closer, I realized these were the guys who had left the establishment just before we had entered. I didn't know what we did in that time to piss them off, but something told me they would have confronted us regardless of what our actions.

"You two certainly work quick." Vergil spoke, his tone calm despite the situation. "I have to say, the barrier you put up is of high quality. It even evacuated the nearby residents without a trace. It speaks volumes of your skills."

"Can't be too careful these days." The shorter man retorted. "Humans tend to stick their nose into matters that don't concern them."

"But you two aren't human, aren't you?" The taller one followed up.

"An astute assessment. Truly, I must commend you for figuring that out." Vergil said, his tone calm but his words mocking. "Well, now that we know you aren't lacking in intelligence, care to share what it is you want with my friend?"

At that, they both grinned.

"The woman is a Nekoshou. They're rare to find nowadays. So rare that they would sell a pretty penny to the right family." The fedora one said.

"We just can't let something that rare sit out for someone else to take. You understand, don't you? Being one of us." The shorter one asked, talking about Yoruichi as if she were an antique and not a living, breathing person.

It brought a frown to my face. The beginnings of anger slowly began to fuel within my stomach, and despite the revelation of the supernatural, I wanted to punch them in the face—regardless of the outcome.

"Oh? Seems someone is getting worked up." Fedora said, no doubt noticing my irritation. As he said that, wings appeared from their backs, closely resembling those of bats and causing me pause.

Now that my mind wasn't clouded by anger, I finally came to the sinking realization that I wasn't in my normal body that could take hits, nor were they human. If they were like Vergil, then that meant they were Devils—which meant I wasn't dealing with ordinary humans.

I suddenly became very aware of my own weaknesses, which made me significantly less confident in my skills. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were completely out of my league with my current strength. It was a humbling feeling.

Something being placed on my shoulder had me jumping, as embarrassing as it is to admit. Looking to the hand, then to the one who placed it there, I found my servant, his eyes still locked onto the two Devils, and his smile still present. It calmed me considerably.

"Master Miquella, are you familiar with the Fatal Flaw of Devils?" I paused at the question, not expecting it nor having an answer for it. "It is a curse passed down to every last Devil in this world, one we inherited from the original Lucifer when he was tossed out of heaven. Each devil bears a different curse, but each carry two of the Seven Deadly Sins. For me, I was born with the sin of Pride and Greed."

I listened intently, and even the two devils seemed intrigued.

"As a result of my Pride, it is nearly impossible for me to accept loss. As a result of Greed, it is nearly impossible to be satisfied. Of course, it can be controlled with distractions and will, but it is nonetheless a flaw that leads Devils to make decisions that would otherwise go against what humans would call 'moral'—hence why it is called a Fatal Flaw."

He stopped to gesture at the two in front of us.

"These two are a prime example of those who allow their sins to rule their rationality. Short-sighted, arrogant, blinded mongrels that give a bad name to devils as a hole."

"The fuck you say/Who the hell do you think you are?!" Both strangers shouted, their faces now scrunched up into that of rage.

Meanwhile, he took a step forward, his aura flaring.

"Master Miquella, mongrels such as this are nothing but dogs. In the future, when you are stronger, I ask that you put them down." He said, and in a motion I should have saw coming sometime in the future, held his cane out horizontally before slowly pulling.

A hidden katana revealed itself, its edge scraping against its sheath as it was drawn to its full length. It reflected ominously in what little light was in the alley, spelling doom for anyone and everyone unfortunate to be on the other side of its edge.

"I will not deny that I am proud of my heritage, yet the mere notion that you would assume yourselves superior, not just to me, but my master, is laughable. You insult my very existence by calling yourselves Devils."

"Kill him!" The taller one shouted, and they both rushed forward, magic circles appearing over both of their hands as they leaped towards my servant.

What happened was far too fast for my eyes to follow.

From what my eyes could see, Vergil's arm blurred, his blade held out to his side while the other two devils passed him completely before stopping altogether—their magic circles shattering into the ether. The former Son of Sparda then twirled his blade before slowly, agonizingly, pushing the blade into its sheath. With a *click*, the sword was completely sheathed.

And before my very eyes, two Devils turned into tiny pieces before a pillar of fire engulfed them both, reaching higher than the buildings around them and burning so hot I had to move back a few feet and cover my eyes less I go blind.

When it finally subsided, I removed the arm from my face and glanced back at where the pillars of fire had dissipated.

In short, there was nothing left, not even ashes. The only proof that they were even there was the fedora casually falling from the air. One that was plucked from the air by the same man who had turned its previous owner into a statistic.

"Well, at least one of them had good taste." The words registered, yet I was still too flabbergasted to comment. Never had I been so awed, satisfied, and terrified at the same time.

I suddenly had a newfound respect for both him and Miquella. Him for not being the Son of Sparda I wanted, yet still being just as terrifyingly stylish and badass. And Miquella, for claiming this gem before anyone else had a chance to.

I was now oddly aware that I needed to watch how I talked to the man from this day onward. I may not be educated, but I didn't need a college degree to know pissing off a man who could turn you into sashimi as easily as flicking his wrist was bad for my health.

"Shall we, Master Miquella?"

"O-o-of course," I stammered.

I did not miss the smile on his face, nor did I have any illusions that he knew exactly what I was thinking.

From this day forward, I swore to get as strong, if not stronger than that bastard. I absolutely refuse to be a damsel, nor the support for this party.

A/N: Been nearly a month since I posted the first 5 chapters and now have over 100 follows? I thank every single one of you and hope you stick around for more!

Just to let everyone know, there are three others who will join the party. Two are undoubtedly already decided, but I am willing to negotiate if you guys want to see one of these four characters

Velvet Crow (Tales of Berseria)

Karasuba (Sekirei)

Mirajane (Fairy Tail)

Nico Robin (One Piece)

This is subject to change.

As always, thanks for the follows, favs, reviews, and have a DAMN good day!