Draconis: No votes.
Kenshin: So, what're ya going to do.
Draconis: Ah hell I'll just skip to the end of the Rating game.
Rias: Where would be a good starting point then?
Draconis: Probably after Kiba gets eliminated, y'know just before Issei confronts Raiser with you and Asia. Anyway.
Dragon of the Elements.
Chapter 6
High Risk, High Reward.
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
During the Rating Game.
Issei walked into the main building of Kuoh Academy. The school ground itself was chosen as the arena and a replica of it was made in a pocket dimension. "Damn, I can't believe I let Kiba get taken out, and Koneko-Chan too!"
"It's fine, You've taken out almost all of Raiser's peerage, except for Ravel, his bishop and that Yubeluna woman, his Queen." Kenshin said. "It bites that Akeno got taken down before she could recover fully though. That second ability revealing itself when it did really was helpful."
"Maybe we could use it to our advantage some time, I gather power, transfer it to you, and you kick some ass." Issei thought with a grin.
"Maybe, but focus. Rias didn't look like she was doing so well back there." Kenshin said.
"Do you really think you can beat Onii-Sama?" Issei turned around to find Ravel leaning against the wall.
"You're still here? !" Issei said. Kenshin took control of his right arm and held a mirror up.
"Yeah, I sad she was one of the ones left. Grayfia didn't announce that two bishops bit the dust." Kenshin said.
"Hm, communicating through a mirror, you're just full of surprises aren't you Kenshin-San?" Ravel asked.
"Hmph, you haven't seen all the contents of my bag of tricks young lady." Kenshin said.
"Well regardless, I have something to tell you, about what Onii-Sama said." Ravel said.
"Rain check." Kenshin said.
"Huh?" Ravel said.
"We really don't have time for this right now." Kenshin said. "Sorry, but can it wait?"
"Fine." Ravel shrugged. "But still, even with that gear, you won't be able to beat Onii-Sama. You can't exploit the same holes Kenshin-San did."
"Don't care." Issei said walking ahead.
"You and Rias have no energy and no more moves left what can you possibly hope to do?" Ravel asked.
Issei turned around and pointed the Boosted Gear at her. "You'd better keep quiet, or I won't hesitate to strip you of that dress." He threatened with a glare.
Kenshin held up the mirror again. "You'd better do as he says. He'll probably do it for the thrill alone."
"!" Ravel covered herself with her arms as Issei walked away. He walked up a flight of stairs.
"This should be the promotion zone. Promotion Queen!" Issei called out. "Nngh!" He nearly was floored by the increase in power. "Damn, power doesn't equal stamina huh?" He said.
"Kuh..." Kenshin grunted.
"Are you OK?" Issei thought.
"Yeah, I'm...fine..." Kenshin replied. Issei nodded and continued toward the roof. "...Please...not now...!" He muttered to himself.
"Hyoudou Issei reporting for duty!" Issei said bursting through the door.
"Hm?" Raiser said. "Ravel let one slip by? Huh I guess she wasn't kidding about not helping me for what I did ten days ago."
"Issei! Issei-San!" Rias and Asia both said in relief.
"Raiser-Sama, shall I take care of this one as well?" Yubeluna asked.
"No, I'll handle this, this way they'll finally learn to respect their betters."
"Grh, Fuck you!" Rias shouts firing a blast of magic at Raiser's head.
"Give up Rias..." Raiser said as his head regenerated. "If this keeps going you're going to make Sirzechs and your father look bad."
"Shut up, Raiser!" Rias yells. "I won't give up, so long as I am still standing!"
"That's right, this isn't over!" Issei said moving in front of her and Asia who began healing him. "Asia, when you're done, get back."
"That's not happening." Yubeluna said pointing at Asia, a dark light on her index finger. A circle appeared underneath Asia.
"E-Eh? !" Asia said.
"Shit!" Kenshin said.
"Sorry, but the longer you prolong this, the more pitiful it makes you look, I won't allow you to recover." Raiser said. "Do it Yubeluna." He ordered.
"Yes." Yubeluna said.
"Damn!" Issei said throwing himself on top of Asia as an explosion of fire hit him in the back. "Kuh!"
"Damn!" Kenshin said. "Not...good!"
The smoke cleared, Issei was still standing, but Asia was knocked unconscious. "Issei, are you OK? !" Rias asked in worry.
"Hah...hah...hah...I'm fine." Issei said. "Kaah...Kenshin, our chest feels like it's burning up, what's going on? !"
"Please no...!" Kenshin said gathering magic around his chest. "Try not to get hit!" He said.
"Right!" Issei said. "Come on Boosted Gear!"
"Burst!" It said.
"Huh? Kaah!" Issei said before he spat up a large volume of blood.
"Hahaha, it seems you've been using that thing a little too much." Raiser said. "Sacred Gears deal damage to their users with each use. You should probably know that."
"Grrh!" Issei said. "Come on Chief!" He said dashing right at Raiser as his gear vanished.
"Hmph!" Raiser moved out of the way of his punch and punched him in the stomach in return. Rias blasted him with her magic to give Issei a way out.
"Damn!" Kenshin said as his magic flow was disrupted. "Issei! Switch with me!"
"But!" Issei thought.
"Our lives are in danger right now!" Kenshin said. "I've been trying to heal it, but my body is going into the first stages of cardiac arrest!"
"Cardia- You mean we're having a heart attack? !" Issei thought.
"Yes, I need to be on the front to control my magic more effectively!" Kenshin said.
"Fine, go for it!" Issei said.
"Thanks!" Kenshin thought.
"Kuuuhhh! Haaah! !" Kenshin's magic exploded out of his body and condensed around it before vanishing. "Alright...I just have to avoid getting hit again." Kenshin thought.
"Oh? Am I to assume that your appearing here means that you were about to die, Kuroshi?" Raiser said with a smirk.
"Fuck off." Kenshin snarled with a glare, panting softly.
"Kenshin...?" Rias said. "Wh-What's going on? Kenshin's magic signature...feels so weak..."
"Card Equip Sylph, Undine!" Kenshin said, but only the Sylph card disappeared into him.
"What? !" Kenshin thought. "What's going on? !"
"Your body can't handle the strain of two of us at once right now! So we figured Sylph's power would be the most useful!" Undine said.
"At attention, you filth." Raiser said punching at Kenshin's face.
"!" Kenshin rolled his head out of the way at the last moment and grabbed Raiser's arm and slammed him into the roof
"Guh!" Raiser grunted and kicked Kenshin in the temple.
"Nngh!" Kenshin stumbled backward. He tried to focus, but his mind was in a daze. "Damn! Doublevision!" He cursed as he dodged to the left, but was struck from the right in the face.
"Hahaha! What's wrong Kuroshi? ! You seem lost!" Raiser said kicking Kenshin in the chin sending him skyward, Raiser appeared above him and punched him right in the chest sending him crashing to the roof below.
"Krgh? !" Kenshin struggled to his feet.
"Stay down Kuroshi..." Raiser said with narrowed eyes. "You look pathetic, not even worth my time anymore.
"Grrrhhh!" Kenshin scowled hotly. "I'll take you down you bast- aghh!" Kenshin's knees gave out as he grabbed his chest, coughing violently, blood filling his palm.
"Kenshin? !" Rias yelled, gravely concerned.
"Kenshin! Are you OK? !" Issei said.
"No...honestly Issei...we're probably going to die..." Kenshin thought struggling back to his feet.
Meanwhile Raiser had walked toward Rias when Kenshin said. "...I didn't...give you permission to leave the battle..."
"Hm?" Raiser said looking back over at him, seeing Kenshin pointing his naginata at his(Raiser's ) head. "..." Raiser scowled. "I've run out of patience with you..." He appeared in front of Kenshin, who immediately cut him in two, he pieced himself back together and grabbed Kenshin by the throat.
"Kulh!" Kenshin choked, seconds later he lost grip on his naginata and it stabbed into the roof. He scowled weakly at Raiser. "I'll...never...surrender...!"
"? !" Rias gasped. "Is he going to fight against him until he dies? !" She thought tears welling in her eyes.
"Fine, you will die with what little honor you have intact, you Kuroshi filth." Raiser said gathering flames into his hand. He moved to thrust it into Kenshin's chest when Rias threw herself onto Raiser forcing him to let go of Kenshin and cancel his attack. Kenshin landed on his feet and moved to run Raiser through the face with his claws when...
"I surrender!" Rias declared, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"? !" Kenshin stopped his attack, the next second his knees gave out again. Rias turned and caught him. He felt the pain in his chest fading. He cracked open his eyes feeling a drop of liquid hit his cheek. He saw the tears cascading from her eyes. "R...Rias...?" Kenshin said reaching his hand up toward her face. Rias grabbed his hand and held it tightly.
"To get this far on pure will alone...and to fight against your own body's limitations for my sake...thank you...Issei, Kenshin..." Rias said. "Thank you as well...Kiba, Akeno, Koneko, Asia...you four went above and beyond for a coward like me."
Kenshin felt his consciousness slipping. His last thought was. "I failed...again..." He thought.
(break)
Kenshin and Issei came to in a black space. "Kenshin?" Issei said.
"Issei?" He looked down. "Why the hell are we stripped?" Kenshin asked.
"No idea." Issei said. "What happened back there?"
Kenshin closed his eyes. "I have a condition known as Cardiac Arrhythmia. Long story short, my heart beats out of rhythm. I had thought it was dealt with when my body reincarnated, but I guess not. I usually surround my heart in a shell of energy or Gnome's power to keep it from spazzing out, but I didn't have much to spare when I took control."
"S-Sorry." Issei said hanging his head.
Kenshin shook his head. "It's fine, I should have mentioned it when we fused anyway."
"I see." Issei said.
"Well, that is unfortunate." Kenshin and Issei looked up to see Ddraig overhead.
"Crimson Dragon Emperor." Kenshin said. "I assume there's a point to you bringing us here."
"Just to speak with you two." Ddraig said. "These spirits would like to have a word with you too afterward."
Kenshin nodded. "Alright, go ahead."
"What's up?" Issei said.
"You are the one who possesses my spirit inside that gear. You shouldn't be so pathetic, the white one will laugh at all three of us." Ddraig said.
"The white one?" Issei said.
"Who is that?" Kenshin asked.
"He shall appear before you two sooner or later, he and I are destined to fight after all." Ddraig said.
"Well, I think it's foolish to expect so much from this one so soon. He was merely a normal human before he was thrown into all this." Kenshin said.
"Regardless, he will need to get stronger." Ddraig said.
"Somewhere we agree." Kenshin shrugged. "By the way, the ability to transfer power to another, was that your doing?"
"Hey yeah, that happened almost out of nowhere!" Issei said. "It even changed how it looks!"
"Indeed. I was the cause of that, as it was the wish of the white one and myself." Ddraig said. "Remember, what does not kill you two makes your stronger, this is one of the mantras you lived by right?" Ddraig said to Kenshin.
"Yeah, if they don't kill me when they have the chance, I make them pay dearly for it." Kenshin said crossing his arms.
"You two must not lose your next fight, and keep on winning, eventually he will come." Ddraig said.
"What will happen to us?" Issei asked.
"You shall know it when it does happen, but at that time, you will pay a great price...you both must decide what to sacrifice." Ddraig said as Issei's Boosted Gear flared to life.
Kenshin awoke, snapping upright. He looked over and saw Grayfia. "Grayfia?"
"You're awake. Do you remember anything that happened?" Grayfia asked.
"Yeah, I remember it clearly...where is everyone?" Kenshin asked.
"Ojou-Sama is being forced to attend the engagement party, Raiser might even have the wedding there as well." Grayfia said. "Kiba, Akeno and Koneko are her escorts, the only ones here are you, myself and Asia Argent."
From the mirror Issei said. "Asia didn't go?"
"No, she decided to look after you with me. By the way, your heart condition...if you let me I could heal it for you sometime, I'd just need to see you everyday for a few months." Grayfia said.
"I'll keep it mind, but I don't have time for it right now." Kenshin said. "Besides, I've managed pretty well with it anyway."
Grayfia nodded. "So, are you going to do what I think it is you'll do?"
"By which you mean, crash the wedding? Oh hell yeah." Kenshin said sitting up on the edge of the bed. "I should have just cold cocked that bastard when I was released from the Shinigami's possession."
"I agree, I won't let this happen! Chief obviously doesn't want this! I won't let it happen, We won't let it happen!" Issei said.
"Fufufu...you two are certainly the most interesting pair I've met in quite some time." Grayfia said with a humored smile. "Now I'm beginning to see why Sirzechs-Sama brought you here. You have a seemingly indomitable will." She said to Kenshin.
"Hahaha...so how do I get to the Underworld Capitol? I assume that's where this shindig is occurring?" Kenshin asked. Grayfia nodded and held out a piece of parchment with a intricate seal drawn on it. "Sirzechs-Sama says...'If you want my sister, come crash this party and take her'."
"And that's what I'm gonna do." Kenshin said.
"OK, but before you get ready to go, I have something for you to look at. It might interest you." Grayfia said holding out a document.
"The treaty between the Kuroshi Clan and the Gremory Clan?" Kenshin said. "Grayfia...I've already read this. Rias gave me her copy to look at."
"Yes, but when she requested it, her father omitted some information as to not upset her. This is the full document, to be given to you at Sirzechs-Sama's request." Grayfia said.
"Hmm..." Kenshin took it and started thumbing through it. As he did he got in contact with the spirits. "Hey, can I ask a couple of questions?" He said.
"Go for it." Salamander said.
"Why couldn't I use two of you earlier?" Kenshin thought.
"You were in the middle of recovering from going into cardiac arrest, our power would have put undue stress on your body, that could have put you back at square one." Undine said.
"I see, so you were just looking out for me, Thank you." Kenshin thought.
"You're welcome." Undine said.
"Second, what is Elemental Overdrive?" Kenshin asked. "Before I slipped into my memories I heard you talking about it."
"...Elemental Overdrive...well how do I put this..." Salamander said. "It would be like giving you the same amount of prowess that Ragnarok had over the elements."
"Ragnarok huh?" Kenshin thought. "So I don't have that now?"
"No, back then Ragnarok didn't have us to regulate the elemental powers storming through him, as a child and throughout most of his teen years he couldn't control them very well...it earned him the label of an outcast as a child." Undine said.
"Yeah, remember that vacuum effect you had around your fists when you were fighting that Phenex guy?" Sylph asked.
"Yeah?" Kenshin asked. "It felt incredibly strong, like it might start cutting my hands if I had less control."
"Well, in Wind Overdrive that would be applied to your entire body and you'd get a greater speed boost than usual." Sylph said.
"Basically if you can control it, you can stand on the same level of strength as your ancestor, who not only stood against the two Heavenly Dragons, but against the gods themselves." Salamander said. "If I had to call it anything, it would be your Balance Breaker."
"Balance Breaker?" Kenshin asked. "What's that?"
"Well, it's as it's name implies, it breaks the balance of the world flowing through your body. It's the ultimate state of activation of a Sacred Gear. Even allowing, if you are a devil which you are, to interact with holy objects for the time it's active."
Kenshin's eyes lit up at this. "Oh ho? Well well well, I know what I'm training for now." He thought.
"I knew you'd say that." Undine said with a humored tone. "But first you need to learn how to use all of us at once first. Then we'll move on to the Balance Breaker."
"Yes." Kenshin nodded. "Alright that's all, thank you."
He had been paying attention to what he had been reading, but nothing was different. "Hmm..." He flipped another page. "Hm?" He lifted it up and read it. "What the...?"
"Whoa! Are you serious? ! Your ancestor Ragnarok had a something like that put in? !" Issei said. "That's...That's..."
"Perfect." Kenshin thought with a smirk. "Issei, you ready to go party crashing?"
"Oh you're fuckin right I am!" Issei shouts.
Asia opened the door and immediately threw herself on Kenshin, crying. Saying she was so scared he was going to die, and that he should be resting. Kenshin smiled and pet her head. "Shh, calm down Asia, we're A-OK." Kenshin said. "Now, we're going to where Rias is, Issei and I both."
"Yeah, but we have a favor to ask of you." Issei said from the mirror.
"What?" Asia asked.
"Hm?" Kenshin said. "What's up Issei?"
"Could you come in here with me for a moment Kenshin?" Issei asked.
"Sure, hang on for a moment Asia." Kenshin said.
"O-OK." Asia said wiping her eyes.
Issei and Kenshin appeared before Ddraig. "What is it, brats?"
"You said earlier that we both had to make the decision on what to sacrifice. What did you mean by that?" Issei asked.
"You no longer have a physical body to sacrifice anything from partner, so the Dragon of the Elements will have to pay the price for your power." Ddraig said.
"!" Issei gasped. "D..Dammit...I can't possibly as-!" He watched as Kenshin raised his left arm up. "Kenshin?"
"Take it then." Kenshin said. "I know Issei's chomping at the bit to wreck Raiser's shit just like I am, and I'm feeling generous." He said with a smirk.
"Heheheh. Generous indeed, very well I'll take up to the elbow then." Ddraig said as his magic surrounded Kenshin's limb.
"Hrn..." Kenshin grunted as his arm as ripped off and replaced with the Boosted Gear. "I still can't use this can I?" He asked.
"Nope." Ddraig said in a simple tone.
"Ah well." Kenshin shrugged.
"Kenshin, I don't know what to say." Issei asked.
"Then say nothing, just do me a favor." Kenshin said as he walked by Issei. "Save some energy for me this time. If for some reason he's still standing after you've burnt out. I'll have to step in."
"R-Right!" Issei said.
(break)
Meanwhile.
In the Grand Hall of the Underworld's Castle.
Rias walked around the Grand Hall. Ignoring the compliments of people saying how beautiful she looked in her white wedding dress. "Most of you are just here for recognition anyway..." She thought.
She took a breath and focused. She looked for her brother's magical signature. She found it on the left of the Grand Hall and approached him. "Brother."
"Oh, hello Ria-tan." Sirzechs said. "How are you doing?"
Rias sighed. "Horrible. I don't want to go through with this."
Sirzechs nodded. "I know, but...my hands are tied. I'd help you if I could." He said. "But still, You do look beautiful tonight."
"S-Stop it, you're my brother and you're already married." Rias said glancing away.
"Hahaha, I'm just calling it like I see it." Sirzechs said. "Besides, she knows I'd never cheat on her."
"I suppose." Rias said with a smile.
"You know...I think Kenshin and that Issei fellow would agree with me." Sirzechs said smiling at her.
Rias felt her face heat up at the mention of Kenshin and Issei, mainly the former. Issei was eager and honest...and she loved his dedication to her, but...Kenshin was the one she had really gotten to know..and who had gotten to know her in return. "I'm sure they wold love it as well." She said glancing downward with a smile.
"..." Sirzechs patted her on the head. "You love them don't you?"
"..." Before she could answer Raiser appeared on the main stage to applause from his peers. Rias rolled her eyes at him.
"Thank you, Thank you everyone, now...could my darling fiance come up here with me." Raiser said as a magic circle appeared under Rias' feet. She appeared next to him, only she was clutching something under her dress. "!" Raiser's eyes widened as she pulled a sword on him. "What the? !"
"Huh?" Sirzechs looked down and saw his sword was missing. "That sneaky little..." He remarked with a smile.
"Don't you dare call me that, I refuse to marry you." Rias said with a scowl.
"Come on Rias, I already beat you in the Rating Game, you have to do this now or it'll shame your family." Raiser said.
"If that's the case then I'll renounce the name of Gremory!" Rias said glaring hard at him( 1). "...Please don't call my bluff." She thought.
"You're kidding?" Raiser said with narrowed eyes.
"I'm not. If that's what it takes. I'll do it." Rias said shocking the entire crowd.
It was dead silent, no one could hear anything...save for a slow clapping. Sirzechs glanced upward. "Hm, better late than never."
"Huh?" Raiser said looking in the direction of the noise. He scowled. "You! You have no right to be here!"
Rias looked at the person doing the clapping. "...Kenshin?" She said.
"Yo." Kenshin waved with his left arm showing off Issei's Boosted Gear. "Quite the party you've put together Raiser." He said lighting up a smoke and taking a drag off it. "I sincerely thank you." He said with a smirk.
"Thank me...what are you going on about Kuroshi? This is my engagement party!" Raiser snapped.
"Really? This treaty I have here between my Clan and the Gremory Clan says different." Kenshin said flying over to the stage. He smiled at Rias. "You look amazing Rias-Sama." He said before covering his mouth and whispering. "Just for the crowd I'll be referring to you like this."
Rias nodded, smiling at him, relieved he was here. "Thank you...Kenshin, Issei."
"Get to the fucking point!" Raiser shouts.
"Simmer down Raiser, I'm getting there." Kenshin said taking out the treaty documents and flipping to the last page. "What I have in my hands here is the complete alliance treaty between Ragnarok Kuroshi, the Elemental Dragon Emperor and Head of the Kuroshi Clan, and the then head of the Gremory Clan. Allow me to give you a quick rundown of it.
"First, the Kuroshi would guard the Gremory's while they both mourned and buried their fallen after the War of the Three Factions." Kenshin said. "Second, the Kuroshi would come to the assistance of the Gremory whenever they requested it and vice virsa."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Rias asked, wanting to know where Kenshin was going with this.
"I'm getting to it milady give me a moment." Kenshin said. "Now, Before Ragnarok would sign the treaty, he pushed for a special provision, you see, way back when the Kuroshi left, they had to return to their world and had to continue fighting their own war." Kenshin said. "Ragnarok feared that one day his clan would be in the same predicament the Gremorys were facing."
"Wait...are you telling me that...?" Raiser scowled.
"Third, if the Kuroshi clan found themselves dying out, or the Gremorys found themselves dying out. The Clan Heir or Heiress of the Kuroshi Clan would be arranged to be wed to the Gremory Clan's Heir or Heiress." Kenshin said handing the documents to Rias.
"H...He's right!" Rias said with wide eyes. "K-Kenshin where did you get these? !"
"That, my dear is a secret." Kenshin said his head turned to her, batting his eyes at her brother.
"Brother...di-did you plan this?" Rias thought glancing over at him.
"Now, not only are both provisions actually met, I'm actually the Last Son of the Kuroshi Clan, I'm the only one who can carry on our name." Kenshin said. "So you see Raiser, I have as much right to be here as you do." He said crossing his arms with a smirk.
"My arrangement was acted upon first!" Raiser snapped.
"Mine was drawn up first. I believe that trumps any acting upon anything." Kenshin said.
"Well well...it seems we're at an impasse." Both turned to find Sirzechs walking past Rias. "Kenshin T. Kuroshi, will you be acting upon the provision in your clan's treaty as well."
"I will, I certainly won't be letting some flaming bird steal a treasure that belongs to the dragon." Kenshin said looking right into Rias' eyes.
"A..Aahh..." Rias' cheeks darkened considerably, not only from what he said, but from what he did while he said it. "K-Kenshin, th-that's so embarrassing it's making my heart race!"
"Then we really are at an impasse." Sirzechs said.
"Sirzechs, is this the reason you brought the Kuroshi back here?" Rias' and Sirzechs' father asked.
"Oh no, I'm not that petty. I merely wanted to give the Last Son a decent shot at life. What he does with it is his choice." Sirzechs said. "If he finds out about our treaty with us and wants to act upon it, that's his choice as well. This shouldn't affect any of the Gremory's relationships, even Raiser's father will agree that this is legitimate."
"Maybe so, but I'm not letting this bastard ruin this occasion. Even you have to admit that our two clans joining together is for the good of our race." Raiser said.
"There he goes busting out that apocalypse movie relic again." Kenshin said.
"Well then, what say you all? !" Sirzechs asked. "Would you like to see the duel between the Dragon and Phoenix to decide this matter once and for all? !" He announced.
Everyone voiced their agreement. "Well, what do ya say Raiser. You wanna trade shots with me again? Or are you scared I'll beat your ass...again!" Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Hang on, last time I had to put this up and you said you'll stop screwing with me if you lost. This time it doesn't seem like you stand to lose anything." Raiser said.
Rias went to protest when Kenshin rose his hand and waved her off. "It's OK Rias-Sama, he's actually right. I did put something up which was pissing him off, something I enjoyed doing, somewhat miniscule compared to what he was putting up, so I'll match it completely this time." Kenshin said. "How does this sound Raiser, if we win, and we're going to, Rias comes back with us. If you win...then I'll give up my freedom and become your family's servant."
"? !" Rias stared at Kenshin's back in shock.
"Your freedom?" Raiser said.
"Think about it Raiser. The hand of the woman whose constantly scorned you, forever yours in marriage, and the last remaining son of the clan who shamed your own in the past, doing whatever your family wanted of him until the day he died." Kenshin said staring hard at him.
"Hmm.." Raiser thought about it, until a female voice shouted out. "Take it!" He glanced outward and saw it had come from his sister.
"Well, if I had to choose which of your family I had to serve, she'd be high up on the list." Kenshin said with a laugh.
"You're on then." Raiser said with a smirk. "I know your weak point now...so you're screwed, but just earlier you said 'Us' and 'We'. What the hell does that mean?"
"The wielder of the Boosted Gear whom you faced earlier, didn't get a fair shake at fighting you last time." Kenshin said. "So I'm letting him have first swing."
"Hahahaha! You idiot, you'll be beaten before you can get a turn at that rate!" Raiser said.
Kenshin merely smirked. "Don't you dare underestimate him...he'll make you pay for it."
"Very well, I'll prepare the stage." Sirzechs said.
"Make it somewhere with plenty of brush." Kenshin requested.
"Very well." Sirzechs said as Kenshin and Raiser vanished. They reappeared in an arena with towers overlooking a forest meadow.
"What's this? Are you planning on using the arena to hide while you boost up?" Raiser asked.
"Nothing of the sort, I'm not sure why Kenshin requested this setting either." Issei said.
"Ah, so it's you again...do you really think you can beat me?" Raiser asked with a smirk.
"I'm not just going to beat you, I'm going pulverize you in ten seconds!" Issei shouts.
"Ten seconds huh? You talk a big game like that Kuroshi bastard. Very well, I'll kill you both in five!" Raiser said summoning up his fire.
"Chief! I might not be talented with swords like Kiba, or a genius mage like Akeno-San, insanely strong like Koneko-Chan, I can't heal like Asia, and I'm certainly no jack of all trades like Kenshin! But if it's for you, I'll gladly defeat even the gods! We both would!" Issei declared
"Aah..." Rias gasped softly.
"Shine! Overboost! !" The Boosted Gear shouted.
"Crimson Dragon Emperor's Boosted Gear, Balance Breaker! Scale Mail!" Issei called out as his form was encased in armor.
"I! Am! Iron Dragon!" Kenshin said in a sing songish type of voice.
"Ten Seconds, Remember that's all you can handle at this point." Ddraig advised.
"I know!" Issei thought.
"Armor? ! You manifested the Crimson Dragon Emperor's power as armor? !" Raiser shouts.
"That's right, and I'm gonna use it to kick your flaming ass!" Issei shouts punching his glowing right hand at him shooting off a massive burst of magic at Raiser causing him to avoid by flying into the air. The Boosted Gear counted Ten.
Issei flew in after him, trying his attack again this time using his body. Raiser barely avoided him as it destroyed one of the four towers. "Damn!" Raiser thought as Issei walked out from the rubble.
"You're a monster the way you are now, sorry, but I'm not going to hold back on you brat! Now die in front of your beloved Rias!" Raiser said flying right at him.
"Take the hit." Kenshin said. "Use the opening to deliver one of your own."
"I'll never die to a weak flame like yours!" Issei said charging at him. Raiser punched him in the face while he laid his fist into Raiser's chest as the Boosted Gear counted down to eight.
"Kuh.." Issei said.
"The flames of a Phoenix can even scratch the scales of a dragon, try not to take too many hits." Ddraig said.
"Hahahahaha! Look at you, you're scared aren't you? If you didn't have that armor you'd have been vaporized! If people like you didn't have Sacred Gears you'd be common garbage!" Raiser shouts.
"Maybe so, but...some valuable stuff often gets thrown away!" Issei said as they traded blows to the face. Raiser was knocked back and started screaming in agony. Issei smirked and held out his left hand which had a cross dangling from it. "I borrowed this from Asia."
"What? ! But Crosses bring intense pain to Devils, you shouldn't be able to...wait...did you give your arm to the dragon? !" Raiser shouts.
"You can thank Kenshin for this little number, it was his arm that had to be given!" Issei shouts.
"It won't change back you realize that right?" Raiser said as the boosted gear counted down to five.
"I'll use Kenshin's words from when I asked him about it on the way up here. He said. 'One arm to the elbow in exchange for me having the power to help get Chief back? That's no steep price, that's a bargain!" Issei said.
"Heh...you two certainly are fearsome, I'll have to destroy you with all my power now!" Raiser said
"Just try it!" Issei shouts as the gear counted to four as a bright light obscured them both and a great force tore the earth leveling some of the trees to the ground. When the light died down. Raiser and Issei both revealed on opposite sides of the smoke.
"Oh damn!" Kenshin said. "Issei your armor is gone!"
"What? !" Issei thought.
"This is all you're capable of right now, with insufficient training." Ddraig said. "However I left some of my power in the jewel on the Boosted Gear, do with it, what you will."
"Alright...Issei switch with me, you've done more than enough." Kenshin said. "Be proud of yourself, other than me, you're the only one who has wounded that asshole."
"Yeah, go ahead Kenshin, it's all up to you now." Issei said.
"Your energy is depleted, Dragon of the Elements." Ddraig said. "My partner using the Balance Breaker took it all up."
"Then we know what to do with that energy you left us, don't we Issei?" Kenshin thought as he took out his cards.
"You know it, just press your left hand against your chest." Issei said.
"Right." Kenshin said.
"Boosted Gear: Gift!" Issei called out.
"Transfer!" The Boosted Gear said.
"Hnn!" Kenshin grunted as his energy replenished. "Whoa, that felt amazing!" He thought.
He heard Raiser approaching him and equipped Sylph and turned around and decked him in the face, knocking him to the ground and blowing away the smoke simultaneously.
"Gah!" Raiser said as he tumbled backward. Kenshin smirked down at him.
"Come on, get up...you aren't going to let me end this all with just one punch, are you Phoenix?" Kenshin asked. "You're not looking too good either, damn Issei fucked you up worse than I did."
"Bastard...what sort of game are you playing? ! Answer me now!" Raiser said.
"What game am I playing...Really?" Kenshin asked, amused by his anger. "No, this game is all yours Raiser...I'm just better at playing it than you are. Hell Issei's better at playing it than you are."
"Krrgh!" Raiser scowled.
"Earlier you called us fearsome..well it's time I told you that if you cannot defeat what cowers you, you cannot truly ever become yourself. So...if you're ready to show me what you're made of...then come on!" He said cracking his knuckles. "Show me what you've got!"
Raiser got to his feet and jumped back as Kenshin punched down at him leaving a tiny crater where his fist hit. "Shit I need to time this right, and even then this is going to hurt like a bitch!" He thought.
Kenshin charged in after him and punched at his chest. Raiser grunted in pain as he split himself apart to avoid. "Hm? !" Kenshin said as Raiser kicked at his head knocking him to the ground.
"O-Onii-Sama?" Ravel said.
"How did he find out how to evade Kenshin again." Rias said.
"He managed to pull himself apart by focusing his wind control onto one side of his body. And pulling it away from the other." Ravel said. "The problem with this is that it's very painful to do as you're literally ripping yourself in two."
Kenshin meanwhile sweep kicked trying to trip up Raiser as he got up, Raiser pulled himself away from his legs and Kenshin grabbed his fist as the Phoenix punched at Kenshin's chest. "You're not looking too good." Kenshin said with a smirk. "I can hear you wanting to cry out in pain every time you do that you know."
"Whatever it takes Kuroshi, whatever it takes." Raiser said smirking right back at him.
"Well then, mind if I do the same?" Kenshin said shoving him back and disappearing from sight as Raiser punched at him. Raiser turned to find Kenshin behind him holding a card in hand.
"What I'm about to do, will seem very foolish, but the way I look at it, it's high risk...high reward." Kenshin said. "Card Equip: Salamander of the Inferno."
"Of the Inferno...tch...ahahahahaha! Idiot! I'm a Phoenix, that's the worst move you could have made!" Raiser said. "You mean to heal me now? ! I gladly accept your gift!" He said charging at Kenshin.
"Heh." Kenshin vanished again. Raiser looked around as Kenshin began speeding around the battlefield at a blistering pace
"So fast..." Rias said with wide eyes.
"Still, what is he thinking? No matter how you look at it, fire heals us." Ravel said.
"What's the matter Raiser? Am I moving too slow for you? I can go faster if you like!" Kenshin said.
A few moments later Kenshin stopped. "Hah...Card Cancel Sylph, Card Equip Undine." Kenshin said.
"Hh!" Raiser saw three explosions go off close to him, but he couldn't suck away the fire. The next moment he doubled over, with Kenshin's left fist in his stomach, the same one that held the cross. "Kluh!" He jumped back glaring at Kenshin. "How? I couldn't use my wind control at all!"
"? !" Ravel, Rias and her parents all shared a quiet gasp, while Sirzechs merely smiled.
"There's more than one way to extinguish a blaze." Kenshin said. "The way I just used is most humiliating to you." He said as he snapped his fingers while charging at Raiser making three more explosions go off around him, just out of his reach. This time Raiser was backhanded in the temple by Kenshin for his trouble. "Have you ever seen an explosion go off near another existing fire?" Kenshin asked as he snapped his fingers again, this time burying his fist in Raiser's chest after three explosions went off. "Can you tell me what happens?" Kenshin asked.
"How the hell would I know? !" Raiser said roaring toward Kenshin. Kenshin responded by again snapping his fingers. Four explosions this time going off around them as Kenshin cocked both his fists back and punched Raiser in the stomach, knocking him back.
"Well I'll tell you...the first blaze goes out." Kenshin said. "The explosion sucks away all of the air and snuffs it out." Kenshin said with a smirk. "Of course normally a new blaze would be constructed from the explosion, but my explosions are fuel less like your Phoenix flame...flaring to life then going out in a second, they can't ignite the grass as you and Issei took the liberty of ripping it all up and I'm not igniting the trees you downed either."
"! !" Raiser growled angrily. "You just have an answer for everything don't you?"
Kenshin shrugged. "I'm just surveying the situation, and planning accordingly like I learned to do while playing chess with Rias. In any case...it's finished."
"? !" Raiser scowled. "What do you mean by that? ! "
"..." Kenshin stared at him, remaining silent.
"You said it's finished, what do you mean? !" Raiser shouts.
"You've hit your limit and your power is falling fast." Kenshin said. "I can sense it, the point is...I just don't see the reason in fighting you anymore. I've proven to be your superior in battle, I've even turned your own element against you...and to make it all the worse..." He smirked. "You were beaten by a reincarnated devil AND a piece of Kuroshi filth. Heh, so now you know what it's like to honestly fail. Anyway, it's time to give up, like I said it's finished. I'll be taking Rias back with me now...you can skulk off wherever you like...I don't really care." Kenshin said turning around ignoring Raiser's building rage and walking away.
"You...You bastard...I never gave you permission to leave!" Raiser said gathering blazes around his body and firing them off at Kenshin forming a giant bird. Kenshin jumped out of the way, suffering some moderate burning to his right arm in the process. He watched it crash into the forest igniting it and spreading rapidly. "Ahahahahaha! Now this entire area is my domain! Prepare to die Kuroshi!"
"We'll just see about that." Kenshin said flashing through handsigns at a blistering pace.
"? !" Raiser looked around as four massive circles flared to life and shot out flames that went skyward. Almost instantly the skies began to cloud up and darken. "What the fuck?"
"Healthy trees have an abundance of moisture bound in their wood that was just released into the atmosphere, humidifying the air. Your Phoenix flames which burn anything proved to be a boon to me." Kenshin said as he regenerated the arm he ripped off while Raiser was distracted. "The four flame missiles I fired into sky just now were to create an ascending air current, the result...the thundercloud you see above our heads, it should start pouring, right about...now." Kenshin said as rain began to fall. "Card Cancel: Undine. Card Equip: Gnome."
"Come on then, let's finish this!" Raiser said as the two flew at each other, their fists meeting. "I can't split apart at all now? !"
"Haha! It seems your flames can't come out and play in the rain!" Kenshin said as he kicked Raiser in the temple, sending him back to the ground. Kenshin landed back on the ground as well. "It seems you burnt off the holy burning to your spirit, but you can't split, only heal now. So then...let's see which one lasts longer, your regeneration or my stamina!"
"Gladly!" Raiser said as the two meet again trading blows, each more unsuccessful as the last. Occasionally landing a glancing blow here and there.
"Hahahahaha! See how fun it is when you fight someone yourself, the feeling of your blood rushing as you pit your will against another's! We flame dragons crave this sort of thing!" Kenshin said with a wide smirk.
"Hah! You're just a battle maniac!" Raiser scoffed.
"Maybe so, but who is kicking whose ass right now? !" Kenshin said as both kicked each other in the head and landed back on the ground, Raiser lunged forward and uppercutted Kenshin, who pushed his fist down with his chin and drove his elbow into Raiser's ribs. The Phoenix responded by driving his fist into Kenshin's face making him stagger backward, however this was a feint as Raiser lunged in and received a kick to the chin making him fly backward. He landed on the ground and stared across at Kenshin.
"Heh...heh...heh.." Kenshin panted softly, smirking at him. "I retract the statement I made about overestimating you, I haven't had this much fun in quite some time."
"You...crazy...fucker..." Raiser said. "Enough! Phoenix Talons!" He said as flames encircled around his fingers forming makeshift talon. "I can't keep this up for long, but it'll be enough to end this!"
"Heh!" Kenshin said as they met again. This time Raiser started getting the upper hand on him. Every time they traded blows Raiser cut into him with his claws. Kenshin punched him in the face, Raiser responded by clawing up Kenshin's chest. However, as they traded blows, every time Raiser clawed into him, or knocked him down, or punched and kicked him in the face. Kenshin was right back up, smirking and laughing at him.
"Why...why does he keep getting back up? ! Why is he laughing, and smirking like that? !" Raiser thought. "He's the one getting cut to ribbons right now, he's the one losing this fight! D-Damn you!" Even though he knew what he was about to say could hurt him, he couldn't stop himself from roaring out. "DIE GODDAMMIT! !" As he stabbed his hand past Kenshin's neck to the left., slicing into it and jumping back. Kenshin didn't move as blood squirted out of the wound. He looked up as the rain began letting up.
"!" Rias covered her mouth, gasping as she saw this. "Kenshin!"
"Aaah..." Kenshin said placing his hand on the wound and moving his neck to the left. "...If I keep this up...I really am gonna die." Kenshin said. "Aaahh...I don't wanna go and break her heart by dyin'. And I don't suppose you'll give me the time I need to heal this wound." Kenshin said as his Salamander card and Gnome card both canceled. He called his naginata to his side. "Alright Raiser, I'll give you to the count of three to give up...and kneel before me in defeat." He said as he took out his other two cards.
"Heh...heheheh...hahahahahaha! Kneel? !" Raiser shouts.
"One!" Kenshin said sliding all four cards into their slots.
"All at once? I thought you couldn't do that?" Issei said.
"I can't, but this blade was given to me by the Yonseirei, it can control the four elements at once...it's just time consuming to set up." Kenshin thought. "It's the equivalent of a final attack."
"Now, that's something I didn't expect for you to say...you've got to be kidding me!" Raiser said smirking wide at him, summoning up his flames.
"Two!" Kenshin said as the blade began to gather the elements around it, starting with wind, then earth, then water. At this moment Kenshin took out a bottle of holy water with his left hand and poured it on the blade, and finally flames gathered around it.
"You use an attack with all four of your elements, Fine I'll just siphon off the flames and do away with the rest and kill you!" Raiser said.
"Three! !" Kenshin said as he reeled his hand back, controlling the spinning shining elemental blade.
"Prepare to die, Kuroshi Kenshin! !" Raiser said.
"Your fate is sealed!" Kenshin shouts throwing the spinning blade at Raiser. "Elemental Cataclysm!"
"Great Phoenix Missile!" Raiser shouts firing off a large column of flame that morphed into a phoenix to meet the attack.
"..." Kenshin said nothing, holding his hand out at his attack.
"I'll take your flames and kill you with them!" Raiser shouts.
However, to his and everyone else's shock. Kenshin's attack sliced the phoenix in half and roared toward Raiser.
"No...NO! He didn't add holy water when I saw him take out that vial did he? !" Raiser thought, panicking.
Kenshin smirked as he saw no route of escape for the Raiser. "It's...over." Kenshin said.
Raiser crossed his arms as the attack collided with him. "Aaaarrrghh!" He howled in pain.
"Onii-Sama!" Ravel shouts.
"I know you're new to being a devil, but this marriage is important to the future of devil kind! !" Raiser shouts.
"If it was, then you should have treated Rias better!" Kenshin shot back. "If it is really important, you behave on your level best and ensure that the woman your planning to marry likes you, you did the opposite, even making her cry!"
"But!" Raiser said.
"But nothing! If you were good to her, this wouldn't be happening to you right now!" Kenshin shouts.
"NNNNNOOOOOOO! !" Raiser shouts as he was blasted backwards crashing painfully into the ground. When he stopped tumbling, he was unconscious. The Elemental Cataclysm shot upward and exploded brilliantly in a shower of the elements.
All the cards floated back down to Kenshin who grabbed them and put them away. He cast away his naginata and strode up to Raiser. Ravel appeared in between them. "How much more time do I have? I know I can only hold back the exhaustion from using you for so long Salamander." Kenshin asked.
"About twenty seconds." Salamander said. "You'll collapse after that."
Kenshin nodded and he gathered flames into his hand and crushed them down into a tiny sphere. He walked toward Ravel and placed it in her hand. "Here, slip this into his mouth with something to drink later, it should energize his spirit."
"Wait!" Ravel said as he started walking away.
"Hm?" Kenshin said.
"About what Onii-Sama said, it wasn't him." Ravel said clutching the flame sphere.
Kenshin nodded. "I know, after having some time to think about it, it didn't add up. He doesn't seem old enough to have lived back then, but who did?"
"It was one of us, but as soon as we found out about it, he was executed. There are ways to kill a Phenex so they won't come back." Ravel said. "But...when you stopped yourself in the first fight...why did you bring special attention to me?" She asked, with an embarrassed blush.
"Well, I have two sisters of my own." Kenshin said with a smile. "I know they wouldn't want to see me die in front of them, and I figured you were the same, and your idiot brother and I had to have something in common."
"..." Ravel's blush darkened as she approached him and placed something in his hand. "Here. For you wounds."
"Isn't this?" Kenshin said seeing it was a small vial.
"Phoenix Tears...as thanks for sparing him, Cyclical Rebirth takes a very long time to complete, I was scared I wouldn't remember him if I saw him next time." Ravel said.
"Hahaha." He reached over and pet her head. "Don't worry about it, now get your brother outta here."
Ravel nodded smiling at him as she took off. Sirzechs nodded. "That's enough, it's over." He said snapping his fingers.
"Wh-Whoa!" Kenshin said as the arena began crumbling. "Aah?" He gasped as he felt faint. "...aah crap...the exhaustion's setting in." He said as he began free falling.
He felt his descent halt. "Huh?" He glanced over and saw Akeno, he raised his head and saw Kiba. "Oh, thanks Koneko." Kenshin said with a tired grin.
"You're welcome, and here you go." Koneko said lobbing him away.
"Wh-What was that foooorrrrr? !" Kenshin yelled out.
He felt himself being caught again, as well as arms wrapping around him. "Kenshin, Issei...thank you!" He looked up and saw Rias' smiling face.
"Heh...you're very much welcome." Kenshin and Issei said as one.
The two landed on the balcony where Akeno, Koneko and Kiba were waiting. Rias saw the vial of Phoenix tears in his hand and took it, pouring it on his forehead. "Eh?" Kenshin said as he rose up. "It not only healed me, but some of my energy came back as well. Neat."
He was helped up by Akeno and Kiba. "That was simply amazing you two." Akeno said with a smile.
"Haha, thanks Akeno-San." Kenshin said with a grin.
"Aw you're makin' me blush." Issei said taking over for a moment.
"I have to spar with you some time Kenshin-kun." Kiba said.
"Sure, just let me recover first." Kenshin said.
"Of course." Kiba said.
"It seems you're not only proficient in swordsmanship, you're quite the unarmed fighter as well." Koneko said. "I can't help feeling Issei has improved as well from what he showed us."
"He has." Kenshin nodded. "He likely could have beaten Raiser himself if I wasn't around." "That vial of holy water was originally for him to use in combination the cross and this." Kenshin said raising his left arm. "Oh! Rias, I can't help but feel there's something more in this." He said holding out the parchment Grayfia give him. "But the seal is unfamiliar to me."
"Oh, let me see it." Rias said taking it and pumping in a second amount of her magic. In front of them popped out a griffin. "A griffin?"
"It looks like Sirzechs-Sama left it to you to abscond with his sister on." Akeno said.
"Gee, the way you say it, makes it seem like I'm eloping with Rias." Kenshin said.
"You mean you're not?" Akeno and Rias asked.
Kenshin face palmed laughing. "Shoulda seen that one coming a kilometer away."
"Anyway, let's not waste this chance." Rias said. "Kenshin do you mind flying it?"
"Nah." Kenshin said hopping up onto the saddle. He extended his hand to Rias and pulled her up onto the saddle with him. "You three going to be alright getting out of here?" He asked.
"We'll live." Kiba said.
"Oh how sweet, but we can handle it." Akeno said.
"We'll be OK, go ahead Senpai." Koneko said.
"Alright then. Hyah!" Kenshin said kicking his heels into the griffin's sides making it take off.
Meanwhile, watching the two leave was Lord Gremory and Lord Phenex. "Lord Gremory, it was a good marriage proposal between two pure blooded devils, but...in the end I believe we simply desired too much." "Both of our houses already have grandchildren. Yet we still desired more." Lord Phenex said.
"I am also guilty of imposing my desires on my only daughter. To the point she had considered renouncing her name." Lord Gremory replied.
"That young man's name was Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin wasn't it? To think we'd see another one in this world after hearing of their massacre." Lord Phenex said. "Sir Ragnarok told us after he beat our former leader, that we relied too much on our house's ability. None of us really took it to heart, feeling too much shame over the defeat." "Now this one comes along, with the help of the Crimson Dragon Emperor and does the exact same thing, and the thing is, I don't think either of them really needed the others help to beat Raiser. That Issei fellow can interact with holy objects which negate our abilities and Sir Kenshin can pick us apart at his leisure using his elemental prowess.
"And if what Kenshin said about Raiser is true, maybe he was never ready to have a wife." Lord Gremory said.
"Indeed. I'll have to discipline him once he heals." Lord Phenex said.
"The Dragon of the Elements and the Crimson Dragon Emperor. I expected one to side with us if he or she ever appeared, but the other as well? Even soon the White Dragon Emperor will make his appearance." Lord Gremory said.
"Well in any case, consider our marriage arrangement canceled. Just Raiser learning this much from fighting them is enough." Lord Phenex said as he walked away to deliver the news to Sirzechs.
As they flew across the sky. Rias caressed Kenshin's cheek. "Hm?" Kenshin said.
"You are such an idiot." Rias said with a smile. "You went through all of this just for me?"
"It was all worth it in the end." Kenshin said. "I got you back." "Oh, Issei wants me to say WE got you back. Sorry."
"It's OK, I'd imagine we're both really tired." Issei said.
"You two succeeded this time, but what if another talk of engagement comes along." Rias said.
"If I have to it's the right arm or an eye." Kenshin said. "Issei and I are both in agreement on this."
"Kenshin...Issei?" Rias said, touched by their resolve.
"Like I said, it was a bargain." Kenshin said.
"But it won't ever change back you know." Rias said.
"Let me try something." Kenshin said focusing on his left arm. It morphed back to a regular hand only for the image to shatter in a second. "Whelp, False Image Illusion doesn't work" He said.
Rias sweatdropped. "If Asia sees this, she'll probably cry."
"She already did, who do you think we got the cross and holy water from?" Kenshin asked.
"I see." Rias said. She glanced away, blushing. "Um...Kenshin, did you really mean it when you said I was a treasure that belonged to you?"
"Uhm...well...I didn't mean it like you were a possession or something, I meant it like I treasured you as someone important to me." Kenshin said in an awkward tone. "If you don't want to marry me that's fine, I'll still beat away anyone you don't appro-!" Kenshin was cut off by Rias grabbing his head and bringing their lips together. "Mm...Mmm..." Kenshin wrapped his right arm around her waist and kissed her back.
"...Thank you..." Rias said with a smile. "But, I think we'll wait on something like that I want to enjoy moments like this...a little while longer." She said laying her head on his chest.
"OK then." Kenshin said.
"You know...now that you're my current suitor though...I could give you my virginity if I wanted to now." Rias said glancing up into his eyes
"Ah...w-well..." Kenshin said.
"Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!" Issei shouts.
"Shaddap!" Kenshin thought.
"Well...if you want to, you know how to find me." Kenshin said.
"Indeed, because I have a surprise for you." Rias said. "From now on, I'll be living at yours and Issei's house."
"Jackpot!" Issei gushed.
"M-My place?" Kenshin said. "Well alright, but gimme a few days to clean up, who knows what could have happened when I get back."
"Of course." Rias said. "I'll need time to prepare myself, after all I need to get closer to my servant and my newest suitor."
"OK." Kenshin said. "...Rias."
"Hm?" Rias said.
"...Thank you." Kenshin said.
"Huh? For what?" Rias asked with a curious tone.
"You know a good sized chunk of my past, I never felt like I belonged anywhere, but you Asia, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko actually made me feel like...I finally had a home." Kenshin said staring off into the distance with a smile. "So seriously thank you...from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
Rias closed her eyes and snuggled up into him. "Of course...anytime."
"Hey, what about me? !" Issei asked.
"Hahaha, yeah yeah you too Issei, it'd be boring without your brand of perversion invading me every now and again." Kenshin thought. "Plus...it is kinda my fault you're in this predicament."
"Aah, don't sweat it, I feel everything you feel anyway, so it's like we're the same guy. No big deal really." Issei said with a grin.
"Heh, thanks." Kenshin thought.
"I must say, this is a beautiful horizon." Kenshin said.
"It is...Kenshin I'm sorry for putting you through this." She said placing her hand over his left hand.
"Hey, don't worry about it. You did what you thought was right." Kenshin said. "I'd probably be freaking out too if you collapsed, started coughing up blood and then Raiser tried to roast you." "But it's all in the past now." He turned his hand over and cupped hers. "So, don't worry about it, I'm fine you're back with us and that's all that matters." Kenshin said.
"Yes." Rias said. "Just promise me...that you'll never let that happen again, OK?"
"I can't really say that it won't ever happen again, but I can work hard to ensure that it doesn't." Kenshin said.
"Well, you can't see into the future so, I can live with that." Rias said.
Kenshin nodded. "Now...um...how do we get home? Neither me or Issei have ever been here before now."
"Hmhmhmhm." Rias giggled. "Alright, just listen to me and we'll get there."
(break)
Days later.
Kuoh Academy.
"Remind me again why I let you idiots talk me into this shit? !" Kenshin shouts as he, Matsuda and Motohama ran from the kendo club girls.
"Aw come on Kenshin, you know you were enjoying the view!" Motohama said.
"Besides, you owe us after the Mil-tan incident!" Matsuda shouts.
"Like fuckin' hell I do!" Kenshin shouts. "Alright now split up! We'll be able to shake 'em if we're separated."
"Right!" The perverted duo said taking off away from him. Kenshin jumped up into the trees and made way for the Occult Research club.
"Remind me to kick your ass for that." Kenshin thought.
"Aw come on." Issei said. "It was nice wasn't it?"
"That's beside the point." Kenshin thought.
He heard the window open and looked up. He saw Rias standing in it and narrowed his eyes with a smile. "You know...with my few friends back home...I found a temporary peace, but here...I feel like that peace, might actually be permanent."
"Yeah, so long as we're with her and the others, it makes it all worthwhile." Issei said.
"Yeah..." Kenshin thought.
She turned her head and noticed him, smiling almost immediately. Kenshin smiled back and waved. "You got anything for Issei to do today?"
"Not really." Rias said. "Can you come up here?"
"Sure." Kenshin said. He walked into the club room and Rias walked toward him. "What's up?"
"Oh nothing, I was just hoping we could play another game." She said gesturing toward the chess board.
"Alright...is everything alright?" Kenshin asked.
"Of course." Rias smiled. "It's just with how hectic things have been the past few days I've grown to miss our chess matches."
"...You just miss schooling me." Kenshin said crossing his arms, grinning at her.
"Oh come on, you're getting better." Rias said as they walked over to the chess board.
As they made their moves Kenshin brought up something that had been bugging him. "Hey Rias, I was training with Undine a couple of days ago, when everyone else was in here and I sensed an extra signature. I didn't recognize it, did you have a guest over? I'm not familiar with someone like your mother or father's signatures so I figured it might have been them."
"No, what you were sensing was likely my other bishop, what did it feel like?" Rias said.
"Well, if I had to describe it in one word...vampiric." Kenshin said, at her look he shrugged. "I knew a shinso vampire back home, really strong little lady too."
"Oh I see." Rias said with a nod.
"How come I've never seen this other bishop of yours?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, they had a Sacred Gear that they couldn't control, so I was ordered to seal them up until I had the power to help them control it." Rias said.
"I see." Kenshin said.
"I might have had to do the same to you if you ended up killing Raiser." Rias said.
Kenshin nodded. The spirits explained to him in further detail a few days ago that Elemental Overdrive was something he could achieve right now, but it was beyond his ability to control right now. The element would just be wearing him like clothes at this point. "Well let's just be glad it didn't come to that."
Rias nodded. "Indeed." She looked back down at the chess board. They were currently at a stalemate. Both their queens and and all of her pawns were gone, Kenshin however still had one that was two lines away from promotion. Rias was moving her knights on his king while Kenshin had advanced most of his back pieces forward. Kenshin took one of her bishops with his rook. "..." Rias rubbed her chin in thought. "He has his Bishops placed on either side of the board, but their positions if he moved them on my King would be one space on either side. But I have to take out that pawn." She thought.
It would take a couple of moves, but she moved her rook away from her king, which was in front of it to the side of the board. However in her haste she failed to notice the knight to the left of it until it was too late. "Damn!" She cursed.
"Neh heh heh." Kenshin snickered as he took her rook out.
"Mrrnnn." She glared at him with a pouty expression.
"Hahaha come on Rias, you're still doing alright." He said after she moved her other rook to the same side as his pawn, defending her king, however Kenshin then moved his bishop in and took it, to which she responded by taking it out with her king. Kenshin moved his pawn forward while Rias moved her king back to it's original point. Kenshin moved and promoted his pawn to Queen. "Check." He said.
"Hrn..." Rias moved her king forward. Kenshin responded by moving his Queen into attacking position on one of her knights. Rias glanced around the board. She only had her king and two knights left as well as a bishop. "...Hah..." She tipped her king over. "I concede."
"Hm?" Kenshin said. "Giving up so easily?"
"Once you promoted your pawn it was all over for me." Rias said stretching back into her chair. "You've gotten better."
"Well you can chalk that up to having an excellent teacher." Kenshin said propping his head up on his fist smiling at her.
Rias smiled back and leaned toward him, Kenshin mirrored this action and their lips met in a short kiss. They parted and Rias got up and walked toward her desk. "I had another reason for calling you in here." She said digging around in her desk drawers. "Ah, here it is."
Kenshin saw her walking toward him with a small case. "What's this? You're getting me a present now?" He asked with a small grin.
"Not exactly, although I'll have to keep that in mind to thank everyone for what they did for me." Rias said. "My brother wanted me to give this to you, but we've been so busy I never had the chance."
Kenshin accepted the case and looked inside it. It was a set of chess pieces, black in color. "Are these my evil pieces."
"They are." Rias nodded. "As a 'King' you can make your own peerage now."
"But my King piece was red when I got it." Kenshin said taking it out of his album. "Huh What the, it's black now."
"The pieces change colors depending on their king, Brother figured black fit you, because my family is already using crimson." Rias said.
"Aahh..." Kenshin nodded. The king piece sunk into his skin. "What the?"
"It's becoming one with you again, you subconsciously called it out when you figured out you weren't a member of my peerage, and was still a devil I suppose. Watch." Rias said as she laid her hand over her chest and pulled it back holding a crimson king piece.
"I see." Kenshin said as he stored the pieces into the seal on the back of his right hand.
"Well then, let's be on our way. After all today is the day I move in with you." Rias said with a giggle.
"Haha, yeah." Kenshin said. "Well, let's get a move on."
Kenshin and Rias made their way out of the Occult Research clubroom. "Hey Kenshin, can I ask you something?" Issei asked.
"You just did." Kenshin thought.
"Seriously?" Issei said with a disinterested glare.
"Hahahaha, alright alright. Go ahead." Kenshin thought.
"You said my power equaled yours now right?" Issei said.
"In the ten seconds when you use your Balance Breaker, you'd actually be able to lay a beating on me." Kenshin thought. "That's assuming I let you though."
"Right." Issei nodded. "But what I'm trying to say is...you beat the Dragon God right?"
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"Could I beat him?" Issei asked.
"..." Kenshin went silent.
"What?"
"PAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !" Kenshin kept his laughing in his mind. "Oh...Hoo! Oh man, No! You can't!"
"...You don't have to be such a dick about it." Issei grumbled.
"Oh...Oh...I'm sorry, but Issei. I was able to use all four spirits simultaneously, use holy objects, AND I had a partner, and I still only barely beat him." Kenshin thought.
"Oh. Well...now I see why you thought it was so funny." Issei said with a shrug. "You were a lot stronger then."
"Indeed." Kenshin thought.
"Is everything alright? You looked like you were about to lose it there for a moment." Rias asked.
"It's nothing." Kenshin said shaking his head.
"Oh, well OK." Rias said.
They got to Kenshin and Issei's house and found a large amount of luggage sitting out on the front lawn. Kenshin slowly turned his head to Rias with an incredulous stare. "You've seen how big this house is right?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh we'll find space for it all." Rias said.
"Whatever you say." Kenshin shrugged.
The two walked inside after Rias summoned her familiar to watch over her things. "Hey when do I get one of those?" Kenshin asked.
"Soon." Rias said.
They walked into the living room where Asia and Issei's parents were sitting. They took a seat. "Uh, Auntie, Uncle." Kenshin said. "Man I still can't get used to that." He thought.
"What is it?" Issei's Mother asked with a smile.
"Rias would like to live here with me." Kenshin said.
"E-Eh? !" Asia and Issei's parents said.
"K-Kenshin, your girlfriend wants to live here with you? Did I hear that right?" Issei's Mother said.
"You did." Rias said with a nod. "I hope it's not too much trouble. It is after all more marriage practice for him."
"..." Kenshin glanced away, face flushed scratching his cheek with an awkward grin. "Considering that Rias and I could actually get married now...that's not far from the truth."
"Aaahnn, what should we do Papa? Now we have two daughters now." Issei's Mother said.
"No doubt! It's a man's dream to have a lot of women! I was sure Issei could have fulfilled my childhood dream, but now you can in our place Kenshin-kun." Issei's father said crying tears of joy.
"...Now I can definitely see the family resemblance Issei." Kenshin thought.
"No doubt." Issei replied.
Kenshin felt Rias place her hand over his left hand and turned it to cup hers. It looked like a normal hand again, but that's only because the Ddraig's energy that was running through it had been extracted. It was a process that had to be repeated every few days by Akeno and Rias...sometimes just Akeno.
"Ufufu, in a sense you giving up your arm turned out alright for you." Issei said.
"...Well...I can't argue that." Kenshin thought.
"Of course you can!" Issei's mother said. "You can room with A-"
"You might as well let her room with me." Kenshin said taking a drink of tea. "She's probably just going to sneak into my room and climb under the sheets with me anyway."
"Hai, I can't sleep unless he's in the bed with me." Rias said with a smile doing the same.
"Oh, well...she can, but she should room with a fellow girl." Issei's mother said. "Now Kenshin. I know you're a growing boy and all, but do try to control yourself, but on the off chance you can't do so, do use protection." She said.
"Or not, we could use a grandnephew or niece." Issei's father said.
"Pfft!" Kenshin and Rias both did a spit take. "Uncle, come on! We're not ready for that sort of thing yet!" Kenshin said.
"Hahahaha! Relax I'm only foolin'!" Issei's father said.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes and got up. "Alright, let's go move her stuff in." He walked outside and gaped. "Did this hill of luggage become a mountain? !"
"Ah, yes I guess it all didn't arrive yet." Rias said. "That should be it."
Kenshin stared at her incredulously. "There's no way I can fit it all in this house." He said.
"Oh, you let me worry about that." Rias said with a smile.
"Alright." Kenshin shrugged. "But I do this and I get anal." He said making Rias blush scarlet. "Haha, that's right I don't care how messy the house is, you gotta clean it you little pervert."
"..." Rias blinked owlishly until it hit her. "Oh! It's a play on words, right. Hahahaha."
"It's also a joke." Kenshin said. "I just wanted to see your reaction."
"Did...you just hold a grudge?" Rias asked with narrowed eyes.
"Maybe." Kenshin said.
"Here, I'll help you." Asia said.
"That's OK I can handle it." Kenshin said, but Asia ignored him grumbling about Kenshin and Issei being someone with multiple wives and how it was against the lord's teachings."
"You do remember you're a devil right?" Kenshin asked. "And they apparently allow polygamy...wait do they?" He asked Rias.
"It's becoming more common, but it doesn't happen that often." Rias said with a shrug.
"OK, I was just wondering is all." Kenshin said.
"Sweeeeetttt!" Issei said.
"By the way Kenshin. When this is over you're going to need a bath, I'll be joining you." Rias said. "I'll even help you wash your back."
"Seriously?" Kenshin asked with a mild blush. "Well, if you want to, I guess that's OK. You'll need help washing yours too."
"Aaah! Geez if you're going to be bathing together I'm joining too!" Asia said forcefully. "Don't leave me out Chief, Kenshin-San!"
"Huh? !" Kenshin said raising a box over his head as the two got close to him.
"Is that supposed to be a war declaration Asia?" Rias asked
"I don't want to, but I also don't want to lose my love." Asia said with a pout.
"The more I find out about women, the less I understand them." Issei said.
"Welcome to manhood." Kenshin thought.
(break)
That night.
Kenshin had just finished reading his book that he kept in a seal on his wrist. "Wow, I didn't know you were into erotica Kenshin." Issei said.
"It's a good book." Kenshin thought. "You ever hear of the saying 'Come for the porn, stay for the plot?'"
"No." Issei said.
"Well anyway. I'm getting sleepy." He thought with a yawn.
"Same here, I only stayed away because I was getting sucked into that book." Issei said.
"Yeah, night Issei." He thought.
"Yaaaahhnnn...night..." Issei said.
Kenshin was about to doze off when he heard the door open then shut. Next he heard clothes shuffling around before he felt the bed space behind him sink, and a pair of soft globes of flesh press into his back.
"He's so warm..." He heard a voice shudder in delight.
"Someone feeling cold?" Kenshin said with a coy tone.
"Kenshin? You're awake?" She asked.
"I just finished reading a book." Kenshin said. "So, are you going to be laying with me again Rias?"
"Of course." Rias said. "But...seeing as you're awake, can you turn around?"
"Sure." Kenshin said turning around to face her. The next moment, her lips were on top of his.
She pulled away and giggled quietly. "I like doing that."
"I bet you do." Kenshin said.
Rias leaned in and set her head on his shoulder, wrapping herself around his arm. "Good night."
"Good Night." Kenshin said as she nodded off. Kenshin was getting there himself, but he had one last thought.
"I never thought I'd actually think this, but...life is good."
(chapter end)
Draconis: And down goes Phenex!
Kenshin: (slurring words) Wha? I won?
Rias: Yes, now come on. I need to get you over to Asia before you succumb to alcohol poisoning
Draconis: Could someone come over here and pick up this K. Firebird? (points at Raiser.)
Ravel: Yeeeesss. (Carries Raiser off)
Sirzechs: So what's next?
Draconis: Next...I suppose I'll do the in between stuff that only appears in anime form. And go do the familiar thing. (Nice sounding grammar right?) Before moving onto the next arc or Highschool DxD New.
Footnote
(1 ) This was actually an idea suggested to me by Kaore Ryu. Like I told you I didn't know how that would work as I think if she renounced her family name. She'd also lose her Rank and by extension her Peerage. But I decided to use it as a threat.
Anyway, I'll see you all next time.
Draconis678 out.