Draconis: Well, I got my first flame review for this story. I didn't keep it though.
Kenshin: What did it say?
Draconis: It was a guest review labeled Sigh. It read "Yes, fighting against a demon king and reincarnated by a teenage girl who isn't even one of the stronger young devils, referring to Rias. Get your shit together, this premise sucks!" This was a chapter one review so I don't know if he read on further.
Rias: Hmph.
Kenshin: Ignoring the fact that in this story, Issei's body was disintegrating when I tore his soul out, and it's revealed in chapter four that she reincarnated Issei with her pawn pieces and reincarnation affected my body too. What? Are the body changes supposed to affect only him even though he doesn't have a physical body anymore? That devil wings are supposed to shoot out of my back instead of my dragon wings?
Draconis: Besides, you got owned by Demon King Forbesii! Even in Redux if you were to fight him in the next chapter of that, you would get beaten down! I thought the first flame would be about you being overpowered Kenshin, which really you're not. I'm just having you use your head.
Yukari: And ignoring the fact that right now you're using the anime to keep with the story and haven't gotten around to reading the light novels yet.
Draconis: Whatever. Anyway, guest reviewer I'm sorry you think the premise sucks, but it's my fanfic I'll write it however I damn well please. If you don't like it you can stop reading simple as that. Whew. Alright sorry about that everyone. Just needed to vent that out.
Kenshin: Don't sweat it.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 12
Gasper, the Crossdressing Vampire
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
"So he's in here?" Issei asked as Kenshin held up his mirror.
"Whose in here?" Yukari asked. Kenshin leaned over and whispered in Yukari's ear. "Ooohhhh..." She nodded.
"My counterpart's in here?" Asia asked.
"The seal breaks at night, and he's allowed to walk around." Rias explained. "However, he refused to do so every time."
"So he's a shut in?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, but he is making the most money out of all of us thought." Akeno said.
"Oh really?" Kenshin and Yukari asked.
"He makes special contracts via the internet." Kiba said.
"You said he was sealed up because he was too powerful right?" Xenovia asked.
Rias extended her hand and a large seal appeared and shattered apart. The caution tape as well as the lock and chains all disappeared. "I'm opening the door." She said.
Kenshin and Yukari covered their ears as a loud girlish scream filled the air. "Damn..." Kenshin winced. "Your bishop's got some lungs Rias."
Everyone walked inside. "Good evening." Rias said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you are doing well."
"W-Wh-What's going on? !" The same voice said in a panic.
Rias walked over to a coffin and knelt down next to it. "Your seal has broken. Now come on out, I want you to meet some friends of mine."
"No! I wanna stay here!" Said a young looking person with short blonde hair. They wore the Kuoh Academy uniform for girls. Kenshin narrowed his eyes curiously as Issei took over. "Another girl? ! Do we only have blonde bishops? !"
Kiba stifled a laugh while Yukari turned away covering her mouth to cover her own laughter.
"Heheheheh...Issei...this is a boy." Kenshin said from the mirror.
"...What?" Issei said.
"He's right, this is a boy." Rias said. "He looks like a girl, but he's actually a boy."
"Yeah, he has the scent of a male." Kenshin said. Yukari nodded in agreement.
"Eeeeehhh? !" Issei and Asia said.
"He likes to crossdress." Akeno said.
"Aaaawww he's soooo cute!" Yukari said with a wide smile.
"His name is Gasper Vladi." Rias said embracing the now named Gasper.
Kenshin knelt down in front of him. "Hello." He greeted. "I'm Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi, nice to meet you."
"And I'm Issei, Rias Gremory's pawn." Issei introduced from the mirror.
"?" Gasper looked at it for a moment with a curious expression.
"He was a half vampire, half human before he was reborn." Rias informed.
"A vampire?" Asia and Issei both said.
"Well, in that case." Kenshin said biting his thumb. "You thirsty Gasper?" He asked holding the bleeding digit out to him.
Gasper quickly shook his head. "No, I hate blood!" He said.
"Eh?" Kenshin and Yukari both said. Kenshin chuckled and retracted his hand healing the self inflicted wound. "Man, you would not last two minutes with Evangeline kid." He said with a grin.
"Evangeline?" Rias asked curiously.
"That vampire friend I mentioned. She's a hardcore vampire, but I'm sometimes don't know if she's evil anymore, or just likes fucking with people." Kenshin said. "So Gasper, Issei won't shut up unless I ask this, so...why are you wearing girl's clothing?"
"I-I-I look cuter this way." Gasper said with a blush.
Kenshin shrugged. "Good enough for me."
"Aaaah! Quit acting like a girl, aaaahh! I was so imagining about a pretty, blonde bishop duo!" Issei lamented.
"Neh heh heh." Kenshin snickered.
Rias let Gasper go and knelt down next to Kenshin. "Gasper, let's go outside."
Gasper shakes his head. "No!"
Kenshin smiled. "Come on, Rias is asking nicely." He said placing his hand on Gasper's shoulder.
"No!" Gasper said as his eyes glew and he vanished.
"!" Kenshin looked around. He found Gasper in the corner of the room. "A time stopping ability?" Kenshin wondered aloud.
"Don't be mad at me, please let me stay here!" Gasper said with tears in his eyes.
"Forbidden Balor View. His Sacred Gear which has been dubbed the Evil Eye of the Inert World." Akeno said.
"When he's distressed he can stop anything in his sight for a short time." Koneko explained.
"Ah, so it's not stopping time, just freezing people and teleporting away." Kenshin nodded.
"Because he couldn't quite control that power, Sirzechs-Sama decreed that he be sealed in that room." Akeno said as they all walked into Rias' office.
"It also turns out that the power refills itself naturally over time." Rias said. "It gives it potential to be a Balance Breaker."
"A Balance Breaker eh?" Kenshin said. "Well, somebody has a lot of potential power." He said turning to where Gasper was. "Eh?"
"I don't want people talking about me, I don't want attention." Yukari turned to find a moving cardboard box. She giggled in response.
"Get him out of there." Issei said.
Kenshin walked over to the box. "Gasper, come on you can't hide in there, it's not even a good hiding place, I bet you barely fit in there."
"I can live in this box!" Gasper shouts. "This will be my dragon guarded castle." Kenshin snickered in response
"Chief, it's almost that time." Akeno said.
"Oh, right. Akeno and I have to attend the preliminary meeting for the leader's conference." Rias said. "Yuuto, my brother would like to know more about your Balance Breaker, so please come with me."
"Do I have to go?" Kenshin asked.
"No, but could I borrow Yukari-San for the time being?" Rias asked.
"What for?" Kenshin asked.
"My brother would like to know how she's adjusting and how she lost the ability to use the elements herself." Rias said.
"Alright, Yukari go with her." Kenshin said.
"Alright." Yukari shrugged as she got up and went over to Rias.
"Also Kenshin, could I pester you to train Gasper while I'm gone?" Rias asked.
"Train? !" Issei said.
"Sure." Kenshin said with a smile. "Wouldn't be my first time training someone."
(break)
"Go! Go! Keep running!" Xenovia shouts as she ran after Gasper.
"Noooo! !" Gasper whined.
"You'll meet my Durandal if you slow down!" Xenovia shouts.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "She looks like a vampire hunter rather than a training coach." He said watching Xenovia chase Gasper around with her sword in hand. "Why did I agree to this? Oh right, because she'd try and force herself on me if I didn't."
Gasper sat down as Xenovia let him take a break. "Why are you doing this to me?" Gasper complained.
"A wholesome spirit can only exist in a wholesome body." Xenovia said.
Kenshin grinned snidely. "Yeah, you've been trying to force that wholesome body of yours on me for the past couple of days now." He sniped as he walked toward her. "Xenovia, while I agree that he needs some stamina. You're just scaring him, when you're scared your stamina lowers because you have to compensate more oxygen due to your racing heart. Besides, you look like you're having too much fun doing this. He's already tired."
"Well what do you suggest we do?" Xenovia asked.
"Gya-kun...these will give you some energy." Koneko said holding out cloves of garlic.
"Nooo! !" Gasper cried out in fright as he ran away from Koneko who chased after him. "I hate garlic!"
"...Or not..." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Koneko-Chan seems to be enjoying it too." Asia said with an uneasy smile.
"She's actually teasing someone?" Issei said with a surprised look.
Saji peeked his head around the corner. "Yo, Occult Research Club." He greeted.
"Heya Saji." Kenshin waved.
"I heard about your recently freed ward." Saji said.
"Yup, that's them over there, being chased by Koneko." Kenshin said
"Ah? ! A pretty blonde girl? !" Saji said looking at Gasper.
"It's a boy in drag." Kenshin said with a grin.
Saji fell onto his hands and knees dramatically. "No, this can't be happening..."
"I know how you feel Saji." Issei said as Kenshin's tail held up a mirror.
"Hmm? It seems the Satan's family is out playing games together."
"!" Kenshin turned, laying his hand on Kuroi Jigoku as he saw Azazel leaning against a tree.
"Yo Elemental Dragon Emperor, Red Dragon Emperor." Azazel said. "You seem well."
"Azazel...what do you want?" Kenshin asked.
"Kuroshi, what's...?" Saji said.
"Did you say Azazel?" Xenovia asked.
"I did." Kenshin said.
Koneko ran around behind him as Saji summoned his Sacred Gear. The Boosted Gear also formed on Kenshin's left hand. "Alright, I'm accumulating boosts now." Issei said.
"Boost!"
"You can all gang up on me, but only Kenshin has a chance at leaving a scratch because of the Holy Canceler. You're so close to entering the high ranks by the way, you just need that last element." Azazel said.
"What do you want?" Kenshin repeated.
"I'm just taking a walk around." Azazel said. "Is that guy with the Holy Demonic Sword here?"
"He's not here, and if you're after Kiba, I won't let you leave this place without a fight." Kenshin said with a glare.
"I see, that's a shame. Relax though I'm not here to fight." Azazel said. "So he's not here, hey vampire." He called out
"Uu!" Gasper, who was hiding behind a tree froze.
"Forbidden Balor View...Sacred Gears like that are dangerous if the user is too weak." Azazel said before turning to Saji. "Ah, that must be the Dark Dragon Vein or Absorption Line. If you're training, connect it to the vampire and absorb his power as he uses the Sacred Gear. There won't be so much power that he'll control it better."
"Absorb his power?" Saji asked.
"You didn't know? That Gear contains the power of Vritra, one of the five Dragon Kings. He was known as the Prison Dragon or the Dragon King of Evil." Azazel said. "It can absorb and negate the power of whatever it touches."
"My Gear can do that?" Saji said looking at it.
"There is a quicker way though, by drinking the blood of a powerful dragon like the Red Dragon Emperor or the Dragon of the Elements." Azazel said.
"So, my blood huh?" Kenshin said.
"Vampires are supposed to drink blood, Well give it a try and see how it goes." Azazel said as he walked away.
"Hold it!" Kenshin shouts.
"Hm?" Azazel said.
"Why did you hide your identity and approach me. You even offered me your soul in one instance." Kenshin said.
"For my hobby of course." Azazel said. "Ja ne."
"The leader of the Fallen Angels...I doubt we'll ever know what he's up to." Xenovia said lowering Durandal.
"You ain't kiddin'." Kenshin said relaxing his stance. "Gasper."
"H-Hai? !" Gasper said.
"Come on. We're going to begin the real part of your training." Kenshin said. "Issei, you'll be helping out with this part."
"Got it." Issei said from the mirror.
(break)
Issei watched as Gasper came out onto the volleyball court wearing the girl's gym outfit. "Alright Gasper get ready. Kenshin wants you to freeze this ball before it hits you, Saji connect your Absorption Line to him."
"Hai Hai." Saji said.
"By the way, why can't you do this?" Issei thought..
"He has to feel threatened, but if I try to threaten him this way, I might give him a concussion." Kenshin said. "I don't wanna upset Rias by hurting her bishop."
"Alright, here we go!" Issei said throwing the ball at Gasper.
"Aaah!" Gasper gasped as he disappeared.
"Ugh..." Issei sighed.
"Well, never said this was gonna be easy." Kenshin said.
"No kidding, just getting him to train is a hassle." Xenovia said.
"He was running off again." Koneko said walking onto the court dragging Gasper behind her.
"Maybe his power is still too strong." Kenshin said. "Saji, could you up the absorption a bit?"
"No problem." Saji said.
"Aaaahhn? !" Gasper gasped loudly.
"Thanks for the help Saji." Issei said.
"Hey, this is helping me too." Saji said waving him off.
"Azazel said something about him drinking our blood didn't he Kenshin?" Issei said.
"Yeah, but Gasper said he doesn't like blood." Kenshin said. "Weird I know, but still why?" He asked Gasper.
"I-I don't like the smell." Gasper squeaked.
"Then pinch your nose and tough it out you're a crossdresser, but you're still a male." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
(break)
"I tried, trust me I did, we all did." Kenshin said as Rias and he walked up to Gasper's room. "But he kept using his Sacred Gear to avoid it, if not for Saji I probably would never have found him."
"It's OK, I expected this." Rias said as they got to the door. "Gasper, please come out, I'm sorry to keep dragging you out here."
"Sorry Chief, I didn't want to interrupt your meeting, but Kenshin and I are racking our brains trying to think of something." Issei said.
"It's OK, you two and everyone else are doing all you can." Rias said.
"I don't want to go outside!" Gasper whined.
"Hah...we did the exact opposite of what we set out to do." Kenshin sighed.
"There's a reason Gasper is like this." Rias said.
"What's up?" Kenshin and Issei asked.
"Gasper's father was a renowned vampire, but his mother was a human. Vampires value pure blood more than Devils do." Rias said. "Due to this, Gasper was shunned by his family."
"..." Kenshin stared at the door.
"Humans called him a monster and he even had the ability to stop time." Rias said.
"So it is an ability to stop time?" Kenshin asked. "I thought he was just freezing people."
"No, from what he told me, time stops moving when he uses it." Rias said. "Because of his ability and what he was, he was loathed. If someone stops time on you, he can do whatever he wants to you. Nobody wants to be close to a person like that."
"I see, so he was the same as Asia." Issei said.
"Of course we know that Gasper wouldn't do that to anyone." Rias said.
"I don't want this power, everyone stops, everyone hates me." Gasper said clutching a stuffed animal against his chest. "I hate it, I don't want to see my friends' frozen faces anymore!"
"..." Rias bowed her head. "I don't deserve to be a King."
"Hey, don't say that." Kenshin said placing his hand on her shoulder. "Listen, leave this to me and Issei, we'll figure something out OK. He's our underclassman after all. I'll talk him out of there."
"..." Rias closed her eyes and smiled. "Alright, I'm counting on you."
"Count on us, Chief!" Issei said.
Rias nodded and teleported away. Kenshin sat down against the door and unsealed some food he had sealed away. "Gasper, I'm gonna sit out here until you come out. So if you don't like me, get ready for the most annoying night of your life." Kenshin said with a grin.
Hours passed and Kenshin hadn't moved. "Hey Gasper...Issei fell asleep so it's just us. Can I ask you something?"
"..." No answer.
"Do you fear your power and us?" Kenshin asked. "Issei has an 'all powerful' dragon inside him, and I come off as intimidating myself. Xenovia's really rough around the edges, but she means well. Asia means well, and well...you know everyone else." "Issei puts on a front, but I can see how scared he gets when he's uses his power." He said with a small chuckle.
"...What about you?" Gasper asked. "A...Are you scared of anything?"
"..." Kenshin placed his hand over his album necklace. "I guess you can say I do, but it's more intangible than anything." He said with a smile.
"What is it?" Gasper asked.
"...Alright I'll tell you, but you gotta button your lip about it. I think the situation I'm in might exacerbate if they knew." Kenshin said.
"Umm...O-OK." Gasper said
"I suppose my one fear would be...being left completely alone." Kenshin said.
"Completely alone?" Gasper asked.
"Yeah, to be left completely alone, would mean that I failed to protect what I held dear." Kenshin said as he lit up a smoke. "I've already failed numerous times, but I still have something to hold on to."
"I...I see. S-Sorry for asking." Gasper said.
"Hahahahaha, don't worry about it." Kenshin said. "One of these failings happened recently, but I was able make up for it."
"What was it?" Gasper asked.
"Well, I'll just say this. I never want to see Rias cry again." Kenshin said. "Issei agrees with me on this." "Our allies went down one after the other in a Rating Game and Issei and I were the only ones left. I was afflicted with a heart attack due to a heart condition I have and almost died trying to protect her from someone."
The door opened slightly. "I remember that battle, but I was locked up in here though." Gasper said with a sorrowful tone.
"Hahaha, no need for the guilty feeling." Kenshin said with a grin. "You were sealed up in here until very recently, but you're free now."
"But...I'm just going to hold everyone back..." Gasper said.
"You're not gonna hold anyone back." Kenshin said. "You know...when I was a child of five...I acted a lot like you do."
"You?" Gasper asked with a surprised look.
"Hahahaha, yeah." Kenshin said. "I was so shy it bordered on introversion. When my father left with his friends to do work, I would almost always cry and plead with him not to go...but...I guess this isn't something you'd want to hear coming from the parentage you came from."
"No, it's...OK...I know everyone's parents are different." Gasper said shaking his head. "So...what happened to you?" Gasper asked peeking this head out of the door.
"..." Kenshin smiled with a solemn look in his eyes. "I...grew up."
"At five?" Gasper asked.
"Well, six, but yeah." Kenshin said. He turned to him. "Listen, if you don't want to feel like you're going to be a drag on everyone, you have to train." Kenshin said. "It's gonna be hard, but I promise you. No one is gonna hate you for your power. You're a friend to everyone here in Rias' and my own peerages. If anything terrifies you, Issei and I will take of it." He said with a small grin. "Besides, if you drink my blood you could..."
"I'm scared." Gasper said shaking his head. "I'm scared to drink the blood of living things. I can only force myself to drink from a blood bag."
"Alright, I'll put my blood in a bag and plant it in your room." Kenshin said with a wider grin.
"B-But, my power is already frightening, what will I do when it gets stronger?" Gasper asked.
"That's what the training's for." Kenshin said. "No one's good at something right away unless they're really talented, and from looking at you, you don't have the talent in controlling your power. Besides your power actually makes me a little envious." Kenshin said.
"I..It does?" Gasper asked.
"Hell yeah!" Kenshin said smiling widely at him. "I could stop time, go through my entire training regimen and unfreeze to take a nap, and no time would have passed except the hour I used to take a nap! I could get all the chores Mrs. Hyoudou gives me done in a flash, and I could prank the unholy hell out of Issei's two perverted friends!" Kenshin said as he started giggling like a mad man. "Oh the implications and possibilities and that's not even taking into account what I could do with it in battle!" He noticed Gasper was staring at him intently and took a breath. "Sorry, got a little carried away there." "Also I know Issei would love your ability, he could do all sorts of perverted things with it, like...y'know what? Nevermind." He said. "I won't corrupt him by telling him what Issei would do."
"...You're very nice...no one's ever told me they envied my powers before." Gasper said with a small smile. "I thought people only hated my power."
Kenshin placed a hand on his head. "Listen, we were given these Sacred Gears for a reason. So, we might as well make the most of them, nothing is accomplished from just sulking about it." Kenshin said. "One day, you won't be able to hide and will be forced to call upon your power...so wouldn't you rather learn how to use it instead of letting it dominate you?"
"You can just carry on, knowing that your power could hurt someone you cared about?" Gasper asked.
"Of course." Kenshin smiled. "Because I won't let it. Absolutely not."
Gasper smiled at him. "You have a strong will Kenshin...I can feel it. Like you earnestly believe that you can do anything you set your mind to."
"So can you, the problem is you need to set your mind to something." Kenshin said.
"Like what?" Gasper asked.
"Well...I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm kinda ambitionless right now. But Issei, he has the ambition to do really perverted things to Rias' breasts." Kenshin said. "Along with building a harem."
"Eeeeh?" Gasper said.
"Well I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't admit to kind of wanting something like that myself." Kenshin said. "Hell, I'm a step ahead of him, this right hand already got to feel on Rias' chest." Kenshin said.
"Y-You felt the breasts of a high class devil?" Gasper asked.
"Not only that, I've kissed her too, a lot." Kenshin said with a smile.
"Y-You did? !" Gasper gasped in surprise. "B-But she's always being tied up in arranged marriages!"
"Well I kind of suggested it and she went along with the first one, but now I'm her current suitor." Kenshin said.
"And...you don't mind I-Issei-San d-doing stuff like that to her?" Gasper asked.
"We share this body, so it's not like it's somebody else doing it." Kenshin said.
"So...Rias-Sama has kissed you before?" Gasper asked.
"She says she likes doing it." Kenshin said. He chuckled. "Y'know her brother actually tried to give me an idea to use Issei's Boosted Gear to try and make Rias more voluptuous?"
"R-Really? Her brother thought to do that?" Gasper asked. "Using a Longinus type Sacred Gear to do something like that...aaah! H-He truly deserves his position as a Satan!" He praised.
"Well I don't doubt that, I'd like to see the person that got passed over or ignored for him though." Kenshin said.
Somewhere around Kuoh, Vali sneezed. "Hah? Is someone talking about me?" He wondered to himself. "Must be the Dragon of the Elements trying to plan for me." He said. Well...close enough.
"Yeah, Issei said Sirzechs earned all of his respect right then and there." Kenshin said.
The door opened and Kiba walked in. "Nice job Kenshin-kun."
"Oh? Is the meeting done?" Kenshin asked.
"I believe so." Kiba said. "So you're already getting closer to Gasper-kun."
"Yeah. Issei's kinda bugging me to suggest a plan where he gives his boosted up power to Gasper, he stops time and Issei goes around groping chests like a mad man." Kenshin said. "He says it's a way to have the men of the Gremory Household work together."
"...How would I fit in?" Kiba asked with an awkward smile
Kenshin holds up a mirror. "We could get attacked while doing it, so we'd need you to use your Balance Breaker to cover our backs." Issei said.
Kenshin facepalmed. "Issei, if time is stopped we can't be attacked, nothing can move except us!"
"Besides, I'd help you, but...can we think of our futures here?" Kiba asked.
"Shut it Prince Charming! You and Kenshin have looks on your side, girls used to wash their eyes out after seeing me!" Issei shouts.
"Well maybe they wouldn't have if you weren't such a damn super pervert!" Kenshin shouts glaring at the mirror before turning to Gasper. "...Why are you back in the box?" He asked.
"S-Sorry, I just feel more comfortable talking to people like this, don't worry the top's staying open." Gasper said with an sheepish smile.
"Well, can I at least get you a bigger box?" Kenshin asked.
"Ah, d-don't worry about it, this one is just fine." Gasper said waving his hands in front of him.
"Well regardless, you can't stay here. Especially since your seal's been broken." Kiba said.
"B-But." Gasper said.
The door opened again and Xenovia, Asia, Koneko and Yukari walk in. "What's up?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, we don't think you should be the only one getting closer to Gasper-kun." Asia said with a smile.
"Then why didn't you sit in front of the door with me?" Kenshin asked. "Eh, nevermind."
"Well, we were thinking about ways we could help him." Xenovia said.
"H-Help me?" Gasper asked.
"You're a part of our family." Koneko said. "Here's a present." She said throwing cloves of garlic into his box.
"Kyaaaa? ! G-Garlic!" Gasper yelped coming out of the box.
Yukari threw a paper bag over his head with eye holes cut out. "Eh?" Gasper said. "I...I feel safe...huh, huh? I like this..."
"What's going on?" Kiba asked.
"It was Asia-Senpai's idea." Koneko said.
"Really?" Kenshin and Issei asked.
"W-Well not exactly. It's just I don't like talking to people I don't know either, so I mentioned it helped to hide my face." Asia said with a nervous smile.
"So I remembered these and thought to put something on his head." Xenovia said holding condoms between her fingers.
"!" Kenshin snatched them. "You still had those?" He muttered.
Gasper walked around like a zombie, saying how much he liked this. Yukari giggled at him. "I didn't think that'd work at first, but he seems to like it."
"Still he has a looming presence..." Kiba said with a nervous smile.
"It's like a pervert's coming after you." Xenovia said.
"So you're coming after me?" Kenshin asked her.
"..." Xenovia gazed over at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"Maybe this will help me become a full blown vampire!" Gasper said.
"I doubt it." Kenshin murmured.
"Thank you so much everyone!" Gasper said bowing toward them.
(break)
Next day.
Kenshin and Asia were walking around Kuoh Academy's halls on the way to class. "Man, I'd like to have Gasper not have the bag on his head when he comes here, but if he doesn't get punished for it, I guess it's a moot point." Kenshin said.
"Yes, I guess you're right." Asia said.
"Hm?" Kenshin said seeing Rias and Akeno walking by. They turned to him and Asia. "What's up?"
"Good timing." Rias said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"We'd like you to come with us after school." Akeno said.
"Just me?" Kenshin asked.
"Well it's more for Issei-kun, but yes." Akeno said in a low tone.
"Aaahhh." Kenshin nodded. "Tell me where to be and I'll be there."
(break)
"We're going to a shrine?" Issei asked as Kenshin held up a mirror with her tail.
"Don't ask me, Akeno-San told me to come here." Kenshin said. "Speaking of which, she's a devil right?" He asked.
"Yeah?" Issei said.
"So how does she pull off that miko outfit?" Kenshin asked.
"No idea...makes her look great though doesn't it?" Issei asked with a grin.
Kenshin chuckled. "You ain't kiddin'."
"Haha! I knew you liked it as much as I do!" Issei laughed.
"Just because I'm not as open about it as you are, doesn't mean I don't have urges and admire beauty." Kenshin said.
"Point taken." Issei said.
Akeno stepped out as Kenshin made it halfway up the steps. "Sorry for making you come out on such short notice, Kenshin-kun, Issei-kun." She said.
"Ah don't worry about it. I was thinking of having a cheat day on training anyway." Kenshin said waving his hand. He looked around. "So where's Rias, or is it just the three of us?"
"She'll be here when she finishes her final meeting with Sirzechs-Sama." Akeno said.
"Don't you need to be there?" Issei asked.
"I have to welcome someone else." Akeno answered. They got to the shrine gates.
"Hurrmmm..." Kenshin said.
Akeno giggled at him. "Don't worry, it's safe to walk in. We have ways around this sort of thing."
"Well if you say so." Kenshin said as they proceeded inward.
"It was abandoned after the last priest died, Rias held onto it for me." Akeno said.
"?" Kenshin stared at her curiously. "Did you used to live here?"
"..." Akeno said nothing
"I see." Kenshin said. "Sorry for asking."
"Oh, so is this Sir Ragnarok's heir, and the Red Dragon Emperor?"
"? !" Kenshin looked up at the cloudy sky. "Who's there?"
A bright light shone over head and a figure with ten golden wings appeared, levitating downward. "Golden wings?" Issei said.
"I am Michael. Leader of the Angels." He introduced.
"!" Kenshin reached for his sword only to be stopped when Akeno grabbed his wrist.
"You reach for your sword in my presence? Why?" Michael asked.
"Well, the last few times I've met a holy figure, I've ended up fighting it...so...yeeeaaaahhhh." Kenshin drawled out.
"Hmhmhm, worry not I'm not here to do battle." Michael said with a disarming smile.
"..." Kenshin lowered his hand.
"Let us go inside." Michael asked.
Kenshin and Michael stood across from each other, not saying a word while Akeno giggled at them. "So...you're one of the three leaders." Kenshin said.
"I am." Michael said.
"Nn..." Kenshin grunted. "What the?"
"Oh, that would probably be this." Michael said as a light shone between them.
"Ok seriously enough with the light I'm gonna go blind!" Kenshin shouts.
When the light died down, a sword was in front of him. "This sword is for Hyoudou Issei-kun. It is the Dragon Slayer, a holy sword that can end a dragon's life, the Ascalon." Michael said.
"Eh?" Issei said as he took over. "It kills dragons?"
"Dragon Slayers are people who hunt dragons for a living. This is the equipment they used." Michael said.
"Gee, I knew 67 million dragon slayers and none of them used things like that, and they had no problems tryin' to kill me." Kenshin thought.
"I'm sorry to hear about your childhood experiences Kuroshi Kenshin-kun." Michael said.
"!" Kenshin held up a mirror. "Di...Did you just read my mind?" He asked from it.
"Hm?" Akeno glanced at him curiously.
"It's nothing..." Kenshin said as he lowered the mirror.
"Anyway, Hyoudou Issei-kun. I'd like to give this to you." Michael said.
"Eh? But it's a holy sword." Issei said.
"You should be able to merge it with your Boosted Gear." Michael said. "Since you're said to be the weakest host in history. I believe it would give you a nice boost in power."
"The weakest huh?" Issei said with a gloomy expression. "I'm doing the best I can for being stuck to Kenshin you know. But why help me?"
"There have been no large scale battles since the end of the Great War." Michael said. "But as you recently just found out. Skirmishes between the three have occurred from time to time. If this continues, the three factions will one day come to ruin. Or even before then, some other faction may take the opportunity to attack."
"Another faction?" Issei asked.
"Issei, the three factions are the largest known mythical factions, but it's foolish to think that there are not others." Kenshin said from the mirror.
"Yes, this conference should be a great first step toward putting a stop to all the fighting." Michael said. "But that can't happen unless the Three Factions agree to work together. Like we did before."
"When you teamed up against the Dragons with the help of Ragnarok Kuroshi and his clan." Kenshin said.
"Back then I put a charm on you so we'd meet again." Michael said.
"Please accept his gift Issei-kun." Akeno said.
"Ah, i-if you say so Akeno-San." Issei said walking toward the Ascalon. "I'm meant to merge with a Holy Sword? Is that possible?"
"A Sacred Gear answers to the will of it's Master." Ddraig said. "If you have the will to do it, it shouldn't be a problem."
"If I have the will?" Issei said.
"Just focus on your Boosted Gear as you grab Ascalon's hilt." Kenshin said.
"Right." Issei said grabbing Ascalon's hilt.
"Synchronize your energies, make them the same." Ddraig said.
Soon the hilt of Ascalon absorbed into the Boosted Gear. "They fused?" Issei said, surprise on his face.
"Yes, this is all I came here for." Michael said. "Although I do have a question for you Kuroshi Kenshin-kun."
"What is it?" Kenshin asked as he and Issei switched places."Issei, head into the Phantasmagoria and do three hundred practice slashes, one hundred vertical, one hundred horizontal, and one hundred diagonal. Get a feel for Ascalon."
"Right." Issei said.
"When you came across the Holy Canceler, you didn't have to meld your energies with it, you were able to immediately use it against Kokabiel. Why is that?"
Kenshin crossed his arms. "As you know, Ragnarok Kuroshi is long since dead. His powers live on in the Four Spirits dwelling inside my body, and his swords have been passed down throughout the ages. I was already Kuroi Jigoku's wielder when Yukari returned it to me. I lost it before I came to this world. She must have found it."
"Well I must be leaving." Michael said.
"Hang on, I want to ask you something." Kenshin said.
"I'm afraid I have no time to spare." Michael said. "I'll see you again during or after the conference, ask me then."
"Alright." Kenshin said with a nod. "Till then."
"I'll see you then." Michael said with a smile as he left in a flash of light.
"And I'm seeing spots." Kenshin said rubbing his eyes.
"Let's have some tea." Akeno offered.
"Sure, that'd be good." Kenshin said.
"So...you and Michael brought that sword here?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, we performed a few rituals to alter Ascalon's properties." Akeno said. "Where is Issei-kun anyway?"
"I sent him to my mental training area to practice with Ascalon." Kenshin said. "Just some practice slashes."
Akeno smiled. "Ufufufu, I thought you said you were taking a break, a cheat day if you will."
"Well I wasn't expecting to meet the leader of the Angels and for Issei to get a sword either." Kenshin said with a chuckle. "...Uh, can I ask you something Akeno-San? It...could be kinda personal."
"Go ahead." Akeno said.
"During the fight with Kokabiel, he said...you wielded the power of Barakiel." Kenshin said.
"Un..." Akeno lost her smile and stared at him.
"You got really angry and he went on to call you Barakiel's daughter." Kenshin said. "Is that true?"
"Yes." Akeno said. "I am the product of a union between Barakiel, one of the leaders of the Fallen Angels and a human. My mother lived at a shrine somewhere. She found Barakiel wounded and nursed him back to health. I was conceived as a result of that union."
"...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried."
Akeno got up and turned around, taking down her top and bringing out her wings. "!" Kenshin stared as the one on the left was a Fallen Angel's wing. "So, it's true. There's no denying it."
"Yes, I have both a Fallen Angel's wing and a Devil's wing." Akeno said. "It was in hopes that I could lose this wicked wing of mine, that I met Rias and became a devil, but alas, it remains, making me an abomination with one of each."
"..." Kenshin walked up to her and glided his hand along the fallen angel wing, then her devil wing. "If you're an abomination then so am I." Kenshin said.
"Eh?" Akeno said. "What're you?"
"I have the properties of both a Neko Youkai and a Dragon Youkai. Something that until thirty years ago, was taboo in my clan. In Makai, the Demon world and my ancestral home. Would I not be looked at as an abomination?" Kenshin asked as he rubbed the base of her angel wing with his finger.
"Haa..." Akeno let out a quiet gasp. "Don't you and Issei hate Fallen Angels?" She asked.
"A few yeah." Kenshin said. "Like Kokabiel and Raynare, but not all of them."
Akeno turned to him. "Both Issei and Asia had their bodies and hearts scarred by them."
"So? Is that supposed to make us hate you because you turned out to be half of one?" Kenshin asked. "Did you attack Issei? Did you attack Asia? Did you try to kill me, and did you try to destroy Kuoh?"
"Well no, but..." Akeno said.
Kenshin placed his hand on her shoulder cutting her off. "Our opinion on them as a whole may be sour, but..that doesn't mean we hate them all before getting to know them. After all, we like you just fine." He said with a smile. "It doesn't matter who your father is. I was just curiously seeking confirmation is all. What matters is who you are Akeno-San."
"..." Akeno smiled at him. "What if I told you, the reason I've been pursuing you so aggressively is so that you wouldn't hate me when I did reveal this to you."
"Hahahaha." Kenshin laughed. "If you're going to pursue me Akeno-San. Make sure it's because of something in here." Kenshin said pointing at her chest. "Not just up here." He said raising his hand to point at her forehead. "...I can't say Rias will be too thrilled about it though." He said with a nervous laugh.
"Ufufufu." Akeno giggled at him. "I guess I really am a witch."
"No, I don't think so." Kenshin said shaking his head. "You've been nothing but nice to Issei and I since we first arrived. You even helped me adjust to living in this world when Rias was too busy to do so...What I'm trying to say is, no matter what happens. You'll always be the same person the two of us have always known."
"Ah...aaahh?" Akeno stared at him.
"So don't worry so much about things out of your control, and continue to just be you." Kenshin said with a smile. "Issei and I like you just fine."
"..." A tear slipped down Akeno's face.
"Akeno-San?" Kenshin asked, seeing it.
Akeno wiped it away with a smile. "You just stole my heart...Kenshin-kun...what more can I do, but love you now?" She said as she pushed him to the floor, taking herself with him.
"A-Akeno? !" Kenshin said.
"I've made my decision." Akeno said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"I made my decision." Akeno said lifting herself up. "I don't mind being second, or third or fourth if that thing you have with Yukari-San is still there." She said with a smile. "Plus, it feels like we're having an affair, it's so thrilling."
"Yeah, it's really gonna be thrilling when Rias starts hurling destruction magic at both of us." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Maybe, but...ask anything of me Kenshin-kun and I'll do it." Akeno said.
"Heeeh? !" Issei said having just come out of the Phantasmagoria.
"If Chief Rias won't let you, you can rest on my lap instead." Akeno said. "Kenshin-kun...could you please continue to call me by just my name, like you did just a few minutes ago?" She asked.
"..." Kenshin smiled. "All you had to do was ask, Akeno." He said.
"Aaah! Thank you Kenshin!" Akeno said embracing him tightly.
"Ah..hahahaha..." Kenshin laughed as he hugged her back. "Alright, I'll start calling you by name alone from now on."
"Mm." Akeno nodded. She got up and pulled Kenshin onto her lap.
"Aaah?" Kenshin said.
"It looks like I've infringed on some of Rias' exclusive rights with her fiancee." Akeno said. "Well, you're a far better man than her previous suitors." "This feels so scandalous."
"Yeah, but I'm already preparing to get blown away when Rias get here." Kenshin said. "By the way your boobs are out." He said.
"I know." Akeno said.
"What about when Rias gets here?"
Kenshin sprung up and saw Rias in the door way. "Go ahead, I deserve it." He said. "Just tell me which limb you wanna blow off."
"?" Rias stared at him. "He knows I'm upset with what's just happened and is offering himself up for punishment?" She shook her head. "Well...did you get the sword?" She asked.
"Issei did." Kenshin said.
"And Michael?" Rias asked.
"Gone." Kenshin said.
"Then there's nothing more to do here." Rias said turning around.
"Ara ara...I wish I was furthest up the list, but a lady can dream..." Akeno said.
"..." Rias said nothing and walked away.
Kenshin followed her. "See you Akeno." He waved.
Kenshin and Rias were walking down the steps when Rias stopped. "Hey, Kenshin?"
"Huh?" Kenshin asked.
"Akeno will always be Akeno, won't she?" Rias asked.
"Well, yeah." Kenshin said.
"We call her Vice Chief, but she's still Akeno right?" Rias asked.
"Yes." Kenshin nodded.
"Well then, what about me?" Rias asked.
"...Um...well you're Rias." Kenshin said.
"Yes, but everyone except you calls me Chief." Rias said. "...I can't be the furthest up..." Rias whispered. "I'm the furthest away...especially with what Yukari told you...when Yukari said that Negi person was dead...you looked almost heartbroken."
"..." Kenshin walked up next to her. "...Yeah..." He said bowing his head. "I did love her and part of me still does."
"..." Rias said nothing.
"However." Kenshin said. "If she really is gone...then I'll have to move on." He said. "That's why...I'm glad I met you. You make it easier to bear the pain."
"..." Rias glanced away. "I don't want to be the one who repairs your heart for someone else."
"And you're not." Kenshin said. "I didn't put myself up to be your next suitor just to keep idiots like Raiser away from you, y'know." He grabbed her hand and placed it against his face. "I did it because I really like you Rias."
"Just like?" Rias asked.
"Well, we've yet to go on a single date together." Kenshin said cupping her cheek with his hand. "Sure we spend a lot of time at school or at the club building or at home, but we haven't had the opportunity to spend a day doing something together, that has nothing to do with any of that."
"...Well...I suppose you're right." Rias said.
Kenshin surprised her with a quick kiss on the lips. At her look he smiled. "You've been doing it a lot. I gotta get a couple in myself to even it out."
Rias closed her eyes and smiled. "I guess so."
Kenshin took her hand and they continued walk down the steps. "What do ya say we go out together after this conference?" Kenshin asked. "Just the two of us."
"..." Rias looked away, still smiling. "I highly doubt it will be just the two of us." She said.
Kenshin sweatdropped. "Probably not."
"Besides, what do we do about Akeno? Now she's totally in love with you." Rias said.
"S-Sorry, but...y'know I kinda can't help it." Kenshin said. "She told me all of that and I just kinda said what was on my mind, what I thought about it. Y'know...Negi once accused me of having a heart of gold. Ha, imagine! A hit man with a heart of gold!" He said with a laugh.
"Well...considering the kind of person you are with your friends and allies...it's kind of an apt description of you." Rias said laying her head on his shoulder. "I can see why she said that."
They got to the bottom of the stairs. "The conference should be held tomorrow, what will you be doing?" RIas asked
"Well, do you need any help preparing?" Kenshin asked.
"No, I don't believe I will, but the thought's nice." Rias said.
"Then I'll be training Gasper." Kenshin said.
"Alright, then I'll see you later Kenshin." Rias said kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you." She whispered.
"Of course." He replied.
(break)
Later that night.
"Keep going." Kenshin said as Gasper levitated a ball suspended in time. "Keep going...annnnnd stop."
"Haah..." Gasper slumped as the ball fell to the ground.
Kenshin scratched Asia's familiar Rassei under the chin and walked toward Gasper. "Hey, why doesn't he electrocute you?" Issei asked.
"Maybe because he can tell I'm part dragon." Kenshin thought. "Naturally anyway."
"You're getting every one in twenty now." Asia said.
"Yeah, you're making progress." Issei said as he took over. "Alright Asia, next one!"
"Hai!" Asia said as Rassei handed Issei another ball.
"Get ready Gasper!" Issei called out.
"H-Hai!" Gasper said taking a ready stance. The ball Issei threw pegged him in the face. "Issei-Senpai...I'm tired..." He said.
"You're going to be so tired from defending yourself with it, that you can't think straight, but your enemy won't let up not even for a moment." Kenshin said from the mirror. "Now keep going."
"R-Right!" Gasper said as Issei grabbed another ball. He went to hit it toward Gasper when the crossdressing vampire froze his hand.
"Although...I guess a short break couldn't hurt." Kenshin said as he took over again. "You're getting better. When we started you froze me completely, but now it's just an arm."
"I'm neither a complete devil nor a complete vampire." Gasper said bowing his head. "So I never get anythin-"
(thwack!)
"Ow!" Gasper said rubbing his forehead.
"Break over." Kenshin said as he flicked him on the forehead again. "Don't think about anything like that, I like you just fine kid, so does Issei, and Asia and everyone else, and thoughts like never getting everything right destroy one's self confidence."
"Wh-What am I supposed to be doing? !" Gasper whined.
"Freeze my fingers." Kenshin said as he flicked Gasper on the forehead again. "I won't stop until you do."
"Eeeeh? ! A-At least let me put on the bag to power up!" Gasper said.
"It's in your head! Now focus!" Kenshin said.
"Why is he being so strict with him all the sudden?" Xenovia asked as she, Koneko, Kiba and Yukari watched from the club building.
"The way Gasper acts reminds Kenshin of how he was as a child." Yukari said. "Aren't you gonna help him?"
"For whatever reason Gasper cries when he sees my face." Xenovia said with a shrug.
"Probably because you chased him with Durandal to work on his stamina." Koneko said.
"..." Yukari stared at Xenovia.
"What?" Xenovia said.
"...idiot." Yukari sighed.
"Hah..." Kenshin said after awhile of Gasper only being able to freeze Kenshin's fingers for a split second. "Alright. That'll be enough for now. Perhaps I'm too strong for you to freeze at the moment."
"Haaaaiiii..." Gasper whined.
Kenshin knelt down and rubbed his forehead. "Hey, just be glad I'm not using Gnome's power."
"Yeah..." Gasper said.
Meanwhile in a halfway constructed building Azazel and Vali were sitting and standing respectively on one of the beams. "Azazel, do I really have to go to that conference?"
"Of course. You're the Emperor of White Dragon, if the Emperor of Red Dragon and the Dragon of the Elements are going to be there you need to be as well." Azazel said.
"Azazel, do you think they're really won't be anymore wars?" Vali asked.
"Heh, I've heard that quite a few times from previous dragon hosts. You won't live long." Azazel said.
"Don't care, I don't have to live long. I'm just disappointed to have been born in this era. It's a Godless world and I wanted to kill him." Vali said.
"Now that's something the Emperor of White Dragon would say." Azazel said.
"I've got no interest in this bland world." Vali said
(break)
The next evening.
Kuoh was encompassed in a barrier after school hours. Kenshin looked around. "..."
"What is it Kenshin?" Yukari asked.
"I don't know...I kinda don't like the idea of Koneko-Chan and Gasper being left here alone." Kenshin said.
"What is it?" Rias asked.
"That's just it...I've just had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach since this morning." Kenshin said. "It's only gotten worse since then."
"I see..." Rias said.
"Do you need a bathroom break before we leave Kenshin?" Kiba asked.
"No." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"Alright. Gasper you be good while we're gone, OK?" Rias said.
"Hai." Gasper nodded.
"I don't want your powers running wild if anything happens. If something does happen, try to remain calm. We'll come right back here, OK?" Kenshin asked.
"OK." Gasper said.
Kenshin walked up to him. "Issei wanted me to lend this to you." He said handing Gasper a handheld gaming system. "And here ya go." He said popping the paper bag on his head.
"We'll leave Koneko here to keep you company." Rias said. "We'll see you later."
They soon arrived at the conference room. They entered to find Sirzechs, Serafall, Grayfia, Azazel, Michael, Irina, Sona, Tsubaki and Vali. "Well well, seems we have a who's who of the three factions for this little get together." Kenshin said.
"Allow me to formally introduce them." Sirzechs said. "This is Rias Gremory and her peerage, and her fiancee, Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi and his knight and sister Yukari Kuroshi Tsuki. They performed admirably in the fight against Kokabiel."
"We appreciate your efforts." Michael said.
"Sorry about that." Azazel said. "My guy got a little outta hand."
"A little?" Kenshin muttered.
Xenovia glanced over at Irina who glanced away. "..."
"All the representatives are here, let's begin." Sirzechs said.
Rias gave a report on the encounters everyone had faced and Sona verified them. "Alright, I would like to hear the Governor General of the Fallen Angels response to Rias' report." Sirzechs said.
"There's nothing much to say, Kokabiel acted of his own accord." Azazel replied.
"It had nothing to do with you?" Michael asked.
"I was merely waiting to see what he was up to. He never expected me to come to this city personally." Azazel said. "That said, I like this place." He said looking over at Kenshin.
"Please stay on topic." Sirzechs said.
"Well I got the White Dragon Emperor to take care of it, but I hadn't expected the Dragon of the Elements to have Kokabiel halfway beaten to death by the time Vali got there." Azazel said. "Right now, he's frozen for all eternity, he won't be coming back."
"Yes, but our concern here is Kokabiel's objectives, not Kokabiel himself." Michael said. "According to the report Kuroshi Kenshin-kun had to fend off one hundred low ranked fallen angels, by intimidating them away from him to be dealt with by his sister." "Kokabiel was not content with your decisions so we're concerned there are more like him."
"Yeah, he was pretty pissed when I decided to pull us out when we were on a roll." Azazel said. "Especially after the thrashing Ragnarok put on him. I've got no interest in war anyway."
Vali stared at Azazel saying nothing. "So he was an unstable individual was he?" Serafall asked with a serious tone.
"I've heard a lot about you guys as well." Azazel said.
"That has nothing to do with this conference." Sirzechs interrupted. "The conference is about..."
"Yeah, enough small talk. Let's just sign on the dotted lines and get this over with." Azazel said. "You guys were getting ready to do that anyway."
"..." Kenshin's premonition got worse as he walked past the table and toward the window.
"Kenshin-kun? What is it?" Sirzechs asked.
"Haaa...haaa..." Kenshin took a few breaths to calm himself. "Don't mind me, I just..felt like taking a look out the window is all. I'll still be listening."
"?" Rias, Yukari and Akeno stared at his back curiously.
"What's wrong Kenshin? You seem really worked up." Rias thought.
"Kenshin-kun seems really worried about something." Akeno thought.
"Kenshin...the only time I've seen you this worried is when you sensed someone like Hottan, but...I can't sense him." Yukari thought.
"Hey Lady Gremory." Azazel said. "Go over and stand with your fiancee, maybe he'll calm down. He seems agitated."
"..." Sirzechs narrowed his eyes at Azazel.
"What, it's for all our peaces of mind." Azazel said.
"...Fine, Rias go over and stand by Kenshin." Sirzechs said.
Rias nodded and walked over by Kenshin. "What's wrong?" She whispered.
"..." Kenshin kept his eyes outside.
Rias grabbed his hand only to realize it was shaking. "...Are you scared?"
"No." Kenshin said his gaze hardening. "I'm angry." He said.
"..." Rias tightened her hold on his hand. "Just please don't do anything rash right now."
"I won't." Kenshin whispered.
"Alright, back to business. We all know the stand off we're in is nothing, but bad news for our world." Azazel said. "Don't you think?"
"The ones who started it, God and the Satans are all gone after all." Michael said.
"..." Irina glanced away while Asia glanced at the floor.
"Irina..." Xenovia thought. "So he told you...I guess it was unavoidable."
"Well that's why we have three guys here, while not part of the standoff, have the power to change the world." Azazel said.
Kenshin and Rias turned around as Vali closed his eyes. "The Red Dragon Emperor, The White Dragon Emperor and the Elemental Dragon Emperor." Azazel said. "I'd like to hear your inputs on this."
"Tsubaki." Sona said.
"Hai." Tsubaki said using her magic to create a mirror next to Kenshin, which moved over to affix itself to the wall.
"I just want to fight the strong." Vali said.
"Well you don't need a war for that." Azazel said.
"Figured you'd say that." Vali said.
"What about you, Red Dragon Emperor?" Azazel said looking over at the mirror.
"Aaah, well...uh...that's a little sudden of a question." Issei said.
"Well let me put it this way." Azazel said. "If we're at war. You will most certainly be required to help out as will Kenshin. If we're at war. You can't see all those nice breasts you loves seeing so much. For months, possibly years all you'll know is combat and bloodshed."
"He has a point Issei." Kenshin said.
"However, if we declare peace now. You'll be free to pursue your ambition of building a harem. You would be almost expected to as we shift focus toward re-population. You could be making babies with them every night." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Azazel. "Damn he's good." He thought
Issei had his answer within moments. "I vote for peace!" He declared.
"...Pervert..." Yukari muttered.
"Ehehehehe..." Asia giggled awkwardly.
"He just read you like a fucking book." Kenshin sniped at Issei with an amused smile.
"Well...he's calmed down some." Rias thought.
"And what about you Elemental Dragon Emperor?" Azazel asked Kenshin.
"What about me?" Kenshin asked. "I was off in my world doing my own thing before Sirzechs brought me here. I fail to see how I factor in on your peace talks."
"Well, that's simple. You may have been brought here by Sirzechs, but you've already had an impact on this world. Starting with breaking up the marriage between Rias Gremory and Raiser Phenex and continuing when you stood against Kokabiel. Face it, you're a part of this world now, entrenching yourself in the flow of it, if you will." Azazel said.
"OK..." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"Not only that, you're engaged to marry the heiress of the Gremory clan. I've seen how you two look at each other." Azazel said.
"Have you been spying on us?" Kenshin asked with narrowed eyes as Rias glared at Azazel.
"No, just occasionally seeing you together. I get out a lot." Azazel said. "Now, if we were at war. You would be shipped out to the front lines after your wedding which happen almost immediately after war was declared. You would be asked to make a baby with her that night and you would have a high chance of dying, leaving her to raise your child alone."
"Nn!" Kenshin stared at him for a moment before glancing away.
"However, if peace is declared. You and Rias Gremory could take your time, decide whether or not you love each other, and if you do, have the wedding, and raise a child together. Also, you could be asked to build a harem of your own to help with the re-population and you could even reform your clans entirely." "So I ask, what is it you want?" Azazel asked.
"Well, if I had to put it into words. It'd be an odd fusion of both Vali's and Issei's. As I was born a dragon with the flame element before I became the Elemental Dragon. My fighting spirit always craves a strong opponent to pit myself against, yet as I was born as a part feline type youkai there are days when I almost have to get laid." Kenshin said. "So building a harem would satisfy that, but I realize my fiancee might not approve. But both needs are fulfilled with peace so, peace it is."
"Ah, so it's settled." Azazel said.
"I have to say though, you really are good at exploiting people through talk alone Azazel, reminds me of the Demon King from my world." Kenshin said.
"Oh really well it's nice hear a comparison to someone you hold in such..." Azazel was cut off.
"I hate the Demon King of my world." Kenshin said. "He was the guy I was fighting just before Sirzechs brought me here."
"OK, Elemental Dragon Emperor." Michael said. "You mentioned wanting to ask me something yesterday."
"Ah, right." Kenshin said. "Issei and I were both wondering this since we had our little run in. We want to know why you exiled Asia. She was so faithful, it almost bordered on being a fanatic."
"Ah? !" Asia gasped.
"Kenshin." Rias said placing her hand on his shoulder.
"It's OK Rias, I just want to know why." Kenshin said.
"Well, after God died, only his system remained and I am just barely holding it together, you could call it a force that controls protection, mercy and miracles. So...I had to remove everyone who could cause it to malfunction."
"So because she could heal Devils and Fallen Angels. She could cause it to go outta whack?" Kenshin asked.
"We are maintained by devotion from our adherents. We have to what is necessary to stop our system from being harmed." Michael said.
"So, if an adherent were to be accidentally told that her Lord was dead, she would also be at risk?" Xenovia asked.
"I suppose she would." Michael said. "We had no choice but to exile both you and Asia Argento to prevent any damage. I do apologize. If there was anything else I could have done, I would have done it."
"!" Irina stared at Xenovia. "S-So she wasn't a traitor?" She thought.
"There is no need for that. Living most of my life as a devout believer. I had some regrets, but as a devil I'm happy with my life...and I apologize to the other followers of the Lord present in the room." Xenovia said.
"Same here." Asia said walking up next to Xenovia. "I too feel happy with my life. I've found so many great people here."
"I can't thank you enough for your forgiving hearts." Michael said closing his eyes.
"Oh yeah, I also heard one of my girls killed that former nun over there." Azazel said.
"Hey! Don't sit there and act like you don't have an indirect hand in this!" Issei shouts.
"Hm?" Azazel said.
"That Fallen Angel woman killed Asia in service to you. To get the Twilight Healing Sacred Gear for you." Kenshin said as he turned around.
"Well, I am responsible for what my subordinates do, so I'll pay you back by doing something only I can do." Azazel said.
Before Azazel could go on a pulse of magic was felt by all in the room before everyone inside the barrier except Rias, Xenovia, Kiba, Sirzechs, Serafall, Michael, Grayfia, Irina, Azazel, Vali, and Kenshin were frozen in time.
Rias who had her hand connected to Kenshin's looked around. "Did someone stop time?" Kiba wondered aloud, asking what was on everyone's minds.
"? !" Kenshin turned toward the window and sensed outward.
"It seems anyone with great power was spared, and we have our dragons and spirits...and those three were protected by holy swords." Vali said looking last at Irina, Xenovia and Kiba. "The Ruin Princess was also spared by being in physical contact with the Dragon of the Elements and the Red Dragon Emperor."
"We got company." Kenshin said seeing cloaked figures pouring out of a large magic circle. "From the look of them, they're mages."
"Hey, I'm the magical girl here." Serafall pouted.
"Serafall, not now." Sirzechs said.
"What caused them to stop?" Michael asked.
"They probably got a hold of the half vampire kid and forced his Sacred Gear into the Balance Breaker state." Azazel said.
"You mean they got Gasper? !" Issei shouts.
"Very few possess the ability to stop time." Sirzechs said. "We have to assume that he's in their hands now."
"Rrgh...there's nothing more insulting than having my family used by some terrorists." Rias said with a scowl.
"What's more because of it, your guards are absolutely defenseless." Kenshin said as he watched them get taken out.. "And I can't teleport back to the club room to deal with this."
"He's right." Rias said. "They're jamming our teleportation abilities."
"Damn, they got us good." Azazel said.
Kenshin turned to Vali. "What?" Vali asked.
"..." Kenshin stared him down. "He has something to do with this, I just know it, but I have other problems to worry about other than grilling him." He turned back to the window.
"If Gasper-kun is left unattended to, even we will be frozen." Sirzechs said.
"He's that powerful?" Kenshin asked.
"He's a mutation piece." Kiba answered.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"It's a piece that can cause all sorts of anomalies." Rias said. "The bishop piece I used for Gasper can contain the power that would normally take many pieces to store. He had unfathomable potential so that's why I had to seal him away."
"Wow." Kenshin said.
"Anyway we gotta take care of him, we can't fight back with his power on the loose." Azazel said.
"Onii-Sama, I left an unused rook back at the club building." Rias said. "I'll go handle this."
"You're going to castle?" Sirzechs asked.
"Yes." Rias said.
"I'll go too then." Kenshin said. "I left my evil piece set back there."
"OK." Sirzechs said.
"Hold on." Vali said approaching Kenshin.
"?" Kenshin turned to him. "What?"
"You know you cannot be everywhere at once on the battlefield. What if a situation presents itself where you and the Ruin Princess have to split up and she gets frozen and killed?" Vali said.
"I assume you have an ability that can make it possible for that not to happen?" Kenshin said.
"Of course." Vali said placing his hand on Kenshin's chest as a white gauntlet resembling Issei's Boosted Gear formed over it. "Divine Dividing: Soul Division!"
"Hn? !" Kenshin grunted as he felt unbearably cold. His body glew brightly and became two separate entities. When the light died down Kenshin spoke up. "Man that felt weird!" Kenshin said.
"No kidding!" Issei said. "Eh?"
Kenshin turned to him. "So...this is that technique Ddraig mentioned."
"Holy crap! I have my body back again! !" Issei whooped. "Alright! !"
"For one hour." Vali said. "And you lose the ability to overshadow the Dragon of the Elements for the next twenty four hours afterward."
"A...Awww..." Issei slumped.
"One hour's plenty." Kenshin said turning away.
"You owe me a fight." Vali said with a calm smile.
"You name the time and place." Kenshin said walking back over to Rias.
"Good luck against that interloper we've both been sensing." Vali said.
"..." Kenshin said nothing.
"Vali, you seem bored, go fuck up those idiots outside." Azazel said.
"Fine." Vali said as he jumped out of the window and activated his Balance Breaker. The mages tried to take him out, but Vali's barrier prevented it.
"That easily? I had to have Kenshin give up his left hand just to do that for ten counts." Issei said looking at his Boosted Gear.
"He's been doing this a lot longer than you have." Azazel said.
Vali gathered a bluish white light into his palm and cast it out killing a great number of the mages with blue lightning. "Heh." Kenshin smirked. "Fighting him will be fun." He turned to Rias. "But we have a job to do. Let's go Issei."
"R-Right!" Issei said
"Hold up, one more thing." Azazel said walking up to them. He held out two armbands. "Put one of these on the vampire, and one on yourself. They'll control the kid's Balance Breaker and you'll be able to go into your own, but only one time."
"Alright." Issei said. "Let's go."
Rias grabbed Issei's hand as they teleported away leaving behind a red rook piece and a black rook piece.
They reappeared in Rias' office. "Koneko-Chan, Gasper!" Issei called out only to be silenced by Kenshin.
"Shut up, this place isn't empty." Kenshin said. "Let's search the other rooms."
"I agree." Rias said as they left the office. She glanced at Issei. "So this is what you really look like? I had forgotten since I didn't see much of you before you died."
Issei slumped. "I know..."
"Issei, whatever you do, don't use that Balance Breaker bracelet yet." Kenshin said.
"Hey, why don't you take it Kenshin?" Issei asked.
"No, I don't know if it would be a help for me to use it." Kenshin said.
"It's a Balance Breaker." Rias said. "It would help."
"I don't know if I'd be able to control it though." Kenshin said.
"What do you mean? You seem pretty on the ball using the elements regularly." Issei said.
"I never fully mastered using them before becoming a devil. To become an elemental master, you had to go to Makai, meet the Yonseirei personally and pass their trials, but now that they're in Sacred Gear form the rules changed. I'm not sure the elements would continue to adhere to me if I went into a Balance Breaker and gained the same prowess as Ragnarok, who didn't have the spirits to help control his power. I'll explain what I go through using the spirits in greater detail later."
"I see." Rias said.
"That sucks." Issei said.
"Indeed. You know what your Balance Breaker can do, so it's better you use it." Kenshin said. "But, assume that you'll exhaust yourself as quickly as last time."
"Right." Issei said putting the armband on.
"? !" Kenshin looked out in the direction of the conference hall. "The Satans, Azazel and Michael just got attacked."
"What? !" Rias said.
"Don't worry about it now, we free Gasper, they can handle it fully. They can take care of themselves just fine and I'm sure they'll protect everyone that's frozen." Kenshin said. "Come on. It seems like Azazel's stepped in anyway."
"Who is he fighting though?" Issei asked.
"It feels like...Katerea Leviathan." Rias said. "Why is she...?"
"I thought the Leviathan was killed along the other Satans, that's why they brought in a being from another clan." Kenshin said.
"The Devils were in disarray after the war, so much so that to continue it put them at risk of extinction. However the descendants of the Old Satans wanted to fight until their last breath, so they were sent to the edges of the Underworld." Rias said.
"So she's one of them? A descendant of the old Leviathan?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes. But we can't focus on that, we need to free Gasper." Rias said. "Issei, promote yourself to Queen."
"Right!" Issei said.
Rias destroyed the door in front of them and they ran in. Kenshin ran the first mage he saw through the heart and they broke into nothing while Issei cold cocked the second one.
"Gasper, Koneko." Rias said.
"You're gonna be alright kid." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, just wait, we'll get you out of there!" Issei shouts.
"Chief Rias...Issei-Senpai, Kenshin Senpai." Gasper strained out. "I'm sorry."
"Don't, I'm just glad you two are alright." Rias said.
"I don't know what kind of shit you pulled to get here, but you move one inch and..."
"Chief...please just kill me..." Gasper said hanging his head.
"Idiot! What are you saying? !" Issei shouts.
"You're just better off with me dead and my power is just causing you trouble!" Gasper cried out.
Kenshin moved his hand behind his back holding a card in hand while slicing his index finger open with his claw. "Don't be silly." Rias said. "I told you when I made you a part of my family."
"..." Gasper thought back to it.
"Live for me...and find a life that will make you happy."
"You're my servant and family. I'll never abandon you." Rias said with a smile.
"Chief...Rias..." Gasper said.
"Besides Gasper...it's about time you sucked it up." Kenshin said appearing in front of him. "And had some blood!" He said jamming his bleeding index finger into Gasper's mouth.
"!" Gasper's eyes widened as Koneko appeared next to Rias.
"Huh?" Koneko looked around.
"How did he stop time? ! We sealed his Sacred Gear!" The mages shouts.
Kenshin smirked. "Sorry, but his powers get stronger when he ingests the blood of the Red Dragon Emperor or the Elemental Dragon Emperor...and I happen to be the latter."
"So that's how you were able to move so fast!" One of them said shooting at Kenshin's head only to be blocked by a hand made of dark magic.
"Thank you Gasper." Kenshin said. "Do us a favor and deal with these weaklings for us?"
"Of course." Gasper said as bats flew around the mages, attaching the dark magic to them.
"It's sucking our blood! Our power too!"
One tried to get away only to be kicked back by Koneko. "Whoa..." Issei said.
"This is part of the power sealed within him." Rias said.
"Part of?" Issei said with an awkward grin.
"Yes, Kenshin's blood brought it out, but where did you get the idea?" Rias asked.
"Azazel told Issei and I to try it. I'm just faster than Issei is." Kenshin said. "Card Cancel: Sylph."
"Hey look out!" Issei said as the mage he punched tried to shoot Rias in the back he moved to take the hit, but it froze in place. "Huh? Just like with the volleyballs." Issei said.
"It's useless...I can see your every move..." Gasper said "Issei-Senpai, finish them!"
"Right!" Issei said running up to all of the mages and applying magic circles to them after Gasper froze them.
"Ugh, you're not seriously gonna do that are you?" Kenshin muttered.
"What? Just gonna...Dress Break!" Issei said snapping his fingers.
All their clothes were destroyed. Kenshin shook his head and Rias facepalmed. "This is what I have to deal with 24/7." He said to Rias.
"I see that." Rias said
"It's like a showroom full of awesome nudes!" Issei gushed. "We're invincible together Gasper!"
"Hai! Issei-Senpai!" Gasper said in a joyful tone.
"Don't even think about it." Kenshin said as Issei was about to dive at the frozen nude mages.
"Gasper come out here. We need to give you something." Rias said.
"OK." Gasper said as the bats gathered in front of her to form him.
Issei walked over and put the other armband on him. "There, that should keep your Sacred Gear under control."
"Thanks!" Gasper said. "Um, Issei-Senpai, you look different."
"I temporarily got my own body back." Issei informed.
"Agh, no good, I can't get in touch with Sirzechs." Kenshin said. "Hopefully us doing this shut down the time stop on everyone."
"Then for the time being, let's get a move on!" Rias shouts as they run out the front door and back toward Kuoh Academy.
"Issei, are you ready to fight Vali?" Kenshin asked.
"Eh? Why?" Issei asked. "Isn't he on our side?"
"I don't trust him, not one damn bit." Kenshin said. "I think he helped set this shit up."
"Really?" Rias asked.
"Think about it. Who was close to one of the leaders? Who could have had access to the barrier to set up a summoning circle under it? Who wants to fight the two of us?" "I highly fuckin' doubt Irina or Grayfia set this up." Kenshin asked. "Maybe I'm wrong and he didn't set anything up, but he sure as hell isn't any ally of ours."
"What about what he said to you...good luck with the interloper we've both been sensing?" Rias asked.
Kenshin was about to answer when a blonde haired girl wielding two kodachis attacked him driving him to the right. He unsheathed Kuroi Jigoku and slashed her away. Rias, Issei, Koneko and Gasper ran up behind him.
The girl wore a pink and white frilly dress and black leggings and dress shoes. She adjusted her glasses and smiled at him. "Aaahn, I finally found you Kenshin-han."
"The sadistic excommunicated Shinmeiryuu swordswoman Tsukuyomi." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes. "A fellow mercenary who sold herself to Hottan's Organization because it let her kill indiscriminately."
Tsukuyomi's body jerked upward and her eyes went dull. "Ufufufufu...you act like you aren't quite the indiscriminate killer yourself Kenshin."
"? !" Kenshin's eyes narrowed further into a furious scowl as the holographic image of a man wearing a black mage's cloak with the hood up appeared over her. "...LifeMaker...HOTTANNNNN! !" Kenshin snarled.
"? !" Issei and Rias stepped back, preparing themselves for a fight.
"Hahahaha, I see you still seethe with hatred at the very sight of me." Hottan said using Tsukuyomi's body.
"Get over here and fight me yourself and you'll find out all about my hatred first hand!" Kenshin shouts calling for his naginata.
"Hmhmhm I would, if just to show you how hopeless it is to stand against me now, but alas I am prevented from traveling to that world. The Dimensional Gap is merely too big between us." Hottan said. "But I do have a bit of a parting gift for you."
Two crystals appeared to the left and right of Tsukuyomi. "? !" Kenshin froze.
In the one to the left was a young woman with purple hair, cat ears, wearing a tattered vest and tank top, black in color with matching pants and battle boots. She had a quarter staff on her back. In the crystal to the right was an older looking woman with long red hair, cat ears wearing a red chinese button up shirt and matching red pants. Their eyes were open wide, but they didn't move.
"Miyuki...Mom!" Kenshin shouts.
"? !" Issei, Rias, Koneko and Gasper turned to Kenshin.
"His sister and mother? !" Issei thought.
"No wonder he's so shocked..." Rias thought.
"Let them go!" Kenshin shouts.
"Hmhm gladly. I have no further use for them." Hottan said. "All you need to do is defeat Tsukuyomi here and they're yours."
"..." Kenshin hardened his gaze. "Issei, take Rias and the other and get back to the Satans."
"What? ! You're gonna fight her alone? !" Issei shouts.
"She can use demon slaying arts, against Devils they're extremely dangerous!" Kenshin said.
"That's all the more reason for us to help you!" Rias rebuked.
"If Vali does end up being the rat I think he is, then everyone could be in serious danger!" Kenshin shouts.
"But!" Issei said.
"Issei, where should you be right now?" Kenshin asked.
"With...the Satans?" Issei unsurely said.
"WITH THE SATANS! !" Kenshin shouts. "Now get out of here, I can handle myself just fine! Honestly she might try and take one of you as a hostage."
"R-Right!" Issei said taking off with Koneko and Gasper.
Rias remained behind for a moment. "...Come back to me, you hear me?" Rias said.
"I had no plans of doing otherwise." Kenshin said.
"Aaahn..." Tsukuyomi moaned excitedly. "You'll be my strongest opponent since Setsuna-han." She said licking the blade of one of her kodachis.
"I'll also be your last!" Kenshin shouts taking off after her with Sylph, Gnome and Undine active.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Kenshin I'm not having you fight Hottan yet so get that damn glint out of your eyes.
Kenshin: Finnneee..
Vali: So, already don't trust me hm?
Kenshin: When someone comes up to me wanting to fight, I automatically don't trust them.
Anyway, next time. The Dragons Clash.
By the way, in case I forgot last chapter, I do not own Negima, it is owned by Ken Akamatsu
See you all then.
Draconis678 out