Kenshin: So Draconis, how are you doin'?
Draconis: Meh, I'm doin' alright. Why?
Rias: I wanted him to ask.
Draconis: Ah huh...so in other words he couldn't care less.
Kenshin: (shrugs) Pretty much
Draconis: OK (inhales) Oh Mil-tan!
Kenshin: Shit! (runs off)
Rias: (giggles) You were right, he really will take off if you threaten to call him here.
Draconis: Haha, I know right? Anyway. After getting into PM's with one of my readers who will remain anonymous. I've decided that I will not take suggestions on who goes into Kenshin's peerage. Not that they aren't appreciated, it's just I've got people in mind already. Also, there is another crossover, albeit slight in this story. I own nothing but a copy of that. If you know what the second crossover is, feel free to point it out.
Yukari: And the poll standings?
Draconis: No one else has voted since chapter fifteen. Voting will be closed when I post the chapter after this one so if you have an opinion on it, let me know now.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 17
Balance Broken
Draconis: Begin!
"Hooorrryyyaaahhh!" Issei roared as he charged Ragnarok only to get kicked in the right temple.
"Haah!" Yukari shouts out, stabbing at Ragnarok's chest only to be sent over to where Issei was, the momentum of the blow Ragnarok had hit her with turning her around. "Guh...!"
"A-Aaaah? !" Issei yelped, his face in Yukari's chest as a result. "S-Sorry!"
"Don't apologize you idiot, it's not your fault." Yukari said pushing herself up.
Meanwhile, Miyuki and Kenshin were in the air in pursuit of Tannin, who flew away from them, while exhaling bursts of fire at them forcing them to weave in and out of the paths the shots took. "Miyuki!" Kenshin shouts extending his arm.
"Right!" Miyuki said grabbing Kenshin's arm with both hands and spinning him around picking up speed as they did. She finally launched him as he held his naginata in hand, flames spiraling around it.
"Crimson Hurricane!" Kenshin shouts throwing the spinning blade at Tannin
"Hrmph!" Tannin said swatting it away with one of his hands.
"Boosted Gear: Gift!" Issei said placing his hand on Yukari's shoulder.
"Hnnn!" Yukari bit back a moan and charged Ragnarok. "Hellfire...FLASH!" She roared stabbing Ryuuga at the Kuroshi clan founder.
When the flames died down, Ragnarok was gone. "Hey, you got him!" Issei whooped.
"No..." Yukari said turning to him. "Behind you!"
"EH? !" Issei yelped finding Ragnarok smirking down at him.
"Too bad." Ragnarok said slamming his fist into Issei's stomach.
"Damn it!" Yukari shouts catching Issei as he flew back over to him.
"Miyuki, watch out!" Kenshin shouts tackling her out of the way of a fireball.
"Heh!" Tannin said flying at them launching one of his fists at Kenshin's back.
"Onii-Chan look out!" Miyuki said throwing Kenshin off of her and crossing her arms, bracing for impact as Tannin's fist connected sending her crashing into the ground
Kenshin landed behind Yukari as Ragnarok tried to take her out. Tannin landed in front of Yukari. "Leave Issei, unless you plan on using him to hit one of these two with." Kenshin said noticing Issei was unconscious.
"Easy for you to say, your right arm ain't lookin too good." Yukari said.
Kenshin had burned his arm pushing Miyuki out of the way from an earlier fireball. "Don't you worry about it...let's just dust these two!"
(tweeeeettt!)
A whistle went off and Kenshin, Ragnarok, Yukari and Tannin turned to Azazel. "We're done already?" Tannin asked.
"Yeah, this was a nice idea, getting the four of them together, but it kinda leaves something to be desired with Kenshin and Issei Balance Breaker-less. You two are just too powerful for them." Azazel said.
"Hey Miyuki, are you alright over there?" Yukari shouts.
"Yeah...might have cracked a few ribs, but I'm fine!" Miyuki said.
Kenshin tore his right arm off and regrew it. "That fast?" Ragnarok asked.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "My regenerative abilities are pretty good."
"I'll say, they're better than mine were." Ragnarok said with his arms crossed.
"Well that's what happens when you have literally millions of people trying to kill you." Kenshin said as he walked over to Issei and nudged him with his foot. "Come on Issei, get up."
"So...many...Oppais..." Issei said with a lucid giggle.
Kenshin crouched down and pulled out a stick and broke it waving it under Issei's nose. The effect was instantaneous as Issei bolted upright covering his nose. "What the fuck was that? !"
"Hahahahaha, it's always funny seeing someone get woken up by smelling salts." Yukari laughed.
"Well, we've gotten to the point where the Red Dragon Emperor can hang with me for a whole day, but...maybe it was wrong to put him on the team that went after Ragnarok." Tannin suggested to Kenshin.
"We can't have him getting too used to fighting just you Tannin." Kenshin said.
"He brings up a good point." Ragnarok said. "Not only that though. The youngster has packed on some bodily armor so to speak."
"Yeah, you're finally starting to look like you train often." Miyuki commented seeing Issei's jersey top was been torn to shreds exposing his torso.
"Yeah, but it's not as good as his." Issei said pointing at Kenshin.
"Ten plus years is a lot more than ten plus days Issei." Kenshin said. "Just keep at it, and you'll get there."
"You're making progress Kenshin, Issei...however training will end tomorrow." Azazel said.
"With that in mind you're close to it Kenshin, but you need something to push you over the edge." Ragnarok said. "Your Sacred Gear may be a fake one created by beings outside this world's rules, but it still follows most Sacred Gear rules."
"Yeah I know." Kenshin said with his arms crossed. It was August twentieth. The preparations for the Rating Game had started and was to officially be held on the twenty fifth.
"Man, it sucks that I won't achieve it before the Rating Game. Kenshin's gonna make minced meat outta me." Issei said drawing on the ground with a stick.
"That's provided you even get to him." Yukari said with a grin. "You will have to get by me, Mom and Miyuki first."
"Don't rub it in!" Issei cried out comically.
"Neh heh heh." Kenshin and Yukari snickered.
(break)
Later.
"Well, I'll also be attending the Satan sponsored party, so I'll see you all later." Tannin said as Kenshin, Issei, Yukari, Miyuki and Ragnarok hopped off his back.
"Hm...I gotta say, training was relatively short today." Kenshin said.
"Well we can still rumble if you want." Ragnarok said with a smirk.
Kenshin stepped back with an uneasy grin. "I-I'm good, Besides...I don't think the Gremorys would appreciate us doing our training right in front of their house."
Ragnarok shrugged. "True."
"Anyway, I'll come by to pick you all up for the party." Tannin said as he flew away.
"Sweet, thanks." Issei said waving him off.
Kenshin turned to Ragnarok as his sisters walked into the house, and Issei had a conversation with Ddraig. "Kenshin, about that attack you mentioned to me." Ragnarok said.
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"I would not use it unless as a last resort after you've achieved the Balance Breaker." Ragnarok said.
"?" Kenshin arched his brow. "My father invented the Crimson Dragon's Fist, and he was able to use it just fine."
"Actually no he wasn't." The two turned to see Hikari approaching from behind Ragnarok.
"What do you mean?" Kenshin asked.
"Kenshin, you left after he used that attack on the Sixteenth Demon King. He was able to ignore it for a short while, but after you left he fell unconscious and was greatly injured. He was unconscious for a few days." Hikari said.
"Yes. Such an attack involves taking in the max power of the elements into your body all at once, even for someone like me that was dangerous for most of my life." Ragnarok explained. "The fact that your father was able to accomplish such a feat more than once without dying is nothing short of impressive. Out of all the demons that gained the power of all four elements, barring you and your sisters because your training was never complete. Your father was likely the closest person to achieving my level of power."
"I see." Kenshin said.
"Because of how dangerous it is to take in that much power at once, is the reason I developed what would eventually be known as the Quadruple Giga." Ragnarok said. "I just don't think your body would be able to handle that much power without sufficient mastery."
"I see..." Kenshin nodded. "But I thought that when I achieved the Balance Breaker I..."
"You would achieve my level of prowess, that being how much I could use." Ragnarok said. "You can have all the prowess in the world, but if you can't control it, it means nothing. It becomes harder...or easier because of the system I put in place. I'm gonna go with easier, my daughters seem to like you."
The Sylph card flew out of Kenshin's jacket pocket. "Dad! Jeez!" Sylph's voice said, filled with embarrassment.
"Hahaha." Ragnarok laughed and touched his finger to the top of the Sylph card. "There there..."
"Mmmrrnnn..." Sylph pouted.
"They can feel that?" Kenshin asked moving to his side.
"Sure." Ragnarok said. "Wouldn't suggest it for anyone other than Sylph though."
Kenshin poked Sylph's head. "Aaahh! K-Kenshin-Chan!" Sylph whined.
"Heheheheh." Kenshin chuckled. "Alright Sylph I'll quit." He turned to Ragnarok. "Back into the scroll?"
"Yup." Ragnarok said. Kenshin nodded and got the scroll ready and he flew into it.
"That is really weird." Hikari said.
"It is." Kenshin said as they walked into the house with Issei, who had finished his conversation with Ddraig and was waiting on Kenshin to finish up. Upon entering they found Kiba and Xenovia in the foyer. While Kiba complimented Issei on his training Kenshin approached Xenovia. "What the hell?"
Xenovia was covered head to toe in bandages. She looked like a mummy. "I hurt myself training and was I bandaged myself."
"Ugh...come here." Kenshin said pulling her to the side and walking into a nearby room. "Strip down."
"Oh? Are we going to..."
"No! I'm just going to bandage you properly, we aren't making a child!" Kenshin cut her off.
"Oh...what's wrong with my work?" Xenovia asked with a curious tilt of her head.
"Unless you're covered from head to toe in wounds and bruises and what not, this much really isn't necessary." Kenshin said. "You aren't covered that much in that sense are you?"
"Well, no." Xenovia answered.
"OK then." Kenshin said. "Now strip so I can wrap you up."
"Alright." Xenovia said stripping her clothes off.
"You aren't wearing a bra?" Kenshin said with an arched brow.
"No, It started to hurt to wear one." Xenovia said. "I still had my clothes from when I was an exorcist so I wore that."
"I see." Kenshin said as he started undoing the bandages.
Outside of the Issei watched as Rias came down the steps into the foyer after talking to Asia who requested he go changed. "Issei? Where's Kenshin?"
"Uhm...he pulled Xenovia into that room over there." Issei said pointing to his right.
"? !" Rias turned toward the door in question. "In there? !"
"Y-Yeah?" Issei unsurely said.
Rias ran toward the door ignoring Hikari who tried to tell her what Kenshin was actually doing in there with her knight.
Meanwhile Kenshin had undone the bandages and was working to reapply them. "See, you don't bandage yourself, because you often can't get the right angle for it and your body's twitching in response to the tightness around it will also throw you off."
"I see." Xenovia nodded. "Hmm...tell me Kenshin...does the sight of my exposed body please you?"
"Heh? W-Well...please isn't exactly the right word." He said with reddened cheeks. "Rather when I see it, I have trouble controlling my urges."
"I see..." Xenovia smiled at this. "Hikari-San told me that one of the keys to conceiving a child was to make sure your chosen mate was attracted to you. Hearing this..satisfies me."
"I think you might have misinterpreted her." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes. "Mom, just what the hell have you been teaching her?" He thought.
The door swung open and Kenshin turned with a roll of bandages being held by his lips. "Hm?" His eyes bulged. "EH? !"
"Aaah...Xenovia...I can't trust you to be alone with my fiancee can I?" Rias said holding a ball of destruction magic in her left hand.
"Rias, wait I was jus-!" Kenshin was cut off by Durandal appearing over his head as Xenovia wrapped an arm around his neck.
"I want a child fathered by the Dragon of the Elements." Xenovia said with a resolute glare.
"I see...I see." Rias said as the magic in her hand intensified. "And that's all you want him for?"
"Wh...What's that supposed to mean?" Xenovia asked with a slight blush.
"Tch, I can't explain the concept of love to someone who lived in service to the Lord for so long." Rias said as she took aim at Xenovia. "It's just if you want a child from the Dragon of the Elements, you could always try asking Kenshin to ask Ragnarok-Dono."
"WHAT? !" Sylph, Salamander and Undine shout while Gnome just blinked in confusion.
"Ragnarok-Dono is too old for my tastes." Xenovia said.
"Aaah, so there is something there." Rias said with a small smirk. "In any case...I won't let you have him, Xenovia.
"Then I'll fight you for him." Xenovia said her glare from before returning.
"E-Eh? ! N-No, wait!" Kenshin said only to be ignored as the room they were in exploded and he came flying out the door, sliding face first across the floor. "...Issei..."
"Yeah?" Issei said with a grin.
"Whhhhyyyyy..." Kenshin said with a comical whine.
"Call it payback." Issei replied, his grin turning into a smirk.
"Oh really...well here's my return!" Kenshin said grabbing Issei's arm and flinging him into the catfight room and shutting the door behind him. "Hah..hah..hah...heheheheheheh..." Kenshin cackled to himself.
Later, after the catfight had been broken up by Grayfia Issei glared at Kenshin. "You're a dick."
"I know." Kenshin said with a grin.
Meanwhile, Rias walked with Hikari behind them as well as Kiba, Xenovia and Asia who walked behind Kenshin and Issei. "You look like you got something on your mind, spit it out." Hikari said.
"Well...Hikari-San what do you think of mine and Kenshin's engagement?" Rias asked.
"...?" Hikari stared at her curiously. "Why do you ask?"
"Well...when we got engaged not even Yukari was there...and you are his mother..I feel I have to win you over to feel right about the whole thing." Rias answered.
"Hmm...well mind if I ask you something?" Hikari asked. Rias shook her head. "How do you see your relationship with him?"
"Well...he obviously likes me a lot, but we've yet to take the next step." Rias answered.
"Well that's a problem you'll have to figure out yourself, but...do you love him or do you just admire him for saving you from an engagement you absolutely didn't want." Hikari asked.
"What are you talking about, of course I love him." Rias said staring into Hikari's eyes.
Hikari closed her eyes and nodded. "Very well, then I approve."
"That easily?" Rias asked.
Hikari stared at her son's back. "Rias, my Kenshin has led a rough life...and lost a lot, if he can be happy with you or whomever else, I won't stand in the way."
Rias nodded with a smile. "I understand."
"Well you have one thing that I can see over Negi." Hikari said.
"What's that?" Rias asked.
"You let Ken-Chan have his privacy...well as far as any issues he has anyway. If he doesn't feel like talking about it, you let it be." Hikari said. "I loved Negi like one of my own, but she was nosy."
"Does being too nosy annoy him or something?" Rias asked.
"Well let's just say if you were to pry too much without him telling you of his own volition, there would most certainly be trouble in paradise." Hikari said with an uneasy laugh.
"I...I see." Rias said. "Huh...good thing I waited." She thought.
(break)
The Next Evening
Kenshin and Issei were walking around in the parlor. "Huh, you know with your Rating Game only days away, I didn't think I'd see you two together." They turned to find Saji walking up to them.
"Well, it's not like we're talking about the Rating Game." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, it's not like I'm grilling him for his strategies." Issei said.
"Not that he'd get them anyway." Kenshin said with a shrug. "Hell, I'd probably feed him a bogus strategy which he would then debate on whether or not to give to Rias."
"You...You wouldn't really play that dirty would you?" Saji asked.
"Ahh, Rias would know." Kenshin said. They sat down and a servant approached them. "Huh?"
"Will you be needing anything?" He asked.
"Uhh..." Kenshin thought about it and decided to ask for something outrageous. "Triple shot of vodka and a mug of ale and some juice for these two."
"Right away sir." The servant said walking away.
"D...Did you just successfully get alcohol?" Saji asked.
"Looks like it." Kenshin said.
"Wow." Issei said. "I know you have some on you, but to actually have a request granted for it."
"Now that I think about it, I kinda missed an opportunity to screw with him." Kenshin mused.
"What else were you gonna ask for?" Saji and Issei asked.
"If he could get Serafall to come over here and pose for me in a string bikini." Kenshin laughed.
"E-EH? !" The two exclaimed with matching blushes.
"D-Dude aren't you engaged? !" Saji said.
"Yeah, and I'm faithful to Rias, don't get me wrong, but with how much I get teased and whatnot, eventually I'm gonna tease back." Kenshin shrugged.
"S-Still, she's a Satan!" Saji said. "And she's Kaichou's elder sister!"
"Eh, it's harder to swing, but I wonder if I could get a sisters package." Kenshin mused.
"A-Aaah?" Saji gaped at the mental image.
Issei grinned lecherously. "Kenshin, you are one glorious bastard!"
"Heheheheheheheh." Kenshin chuckled. "Just because I'm not as bad as you Issei doesn't mean I don't have a perverted side in me."
"So you're going to perv on one of the Four Satans?" Saji asked.
"Hey, she pervs on me, seriously. Just yesterday she grabbed my ass while Rias had her back turned." Kenshin said. "Eventually I'm gonna start pressing her buttons."
"Well...anyway. Kenshin, do you remember the devil's meeting last month?" Saji asked.
"Yeah, remember I chewed out the other devils?" Kenshin said.
"Well...I wanted to say thanks for sticking up for Kaichou." Saji said with a small smile.
"I wasn't." Kenshin said. "I was just speaking my mind on the matter. If anyone sees it that way, then whatever. Sona doesn't need me to defend her, I just prevented you from doing something stupid."
"You knew I was going to yell?" Saji asked.
"You're her newest servant." Kenshin said. "At least I assume so...she's probably told you her dream...and you decided you wanted to be a...teacher I'm guessing?" Saji nodded. "Well, a verbal lashing like that means a lot more coming from a high class devil like myself, even if I am reincarnated. I've never held much love for elitists, and I get a kick out of showing them how stupid they are, besides I did tell Sona that I'd lend her a hand with it, if she needed it. My old girlfriend Negi was a teacher."
"E-Eh? K-Kenshin, you dated a teacher?" Issei asked.
"I was her assistant teacher." Kenshin clarified. "She was a mage, and being a teacher was her training mission before she received the proper certification."
"S-So, you could give me pointers on how to teach?" Saji asked.
"Sure." Kenshin shrugged. "Pointer One, Every student is different. Some may be great physical fighters, but others may have an amazing aptitude for magic and don't stereotype either, just because Rooks are known for their physical strength and durability, doesn't mean they can't be mages as well, you would be surprised."
"What kind of class did you and this Negi teach?" Issei asked with narrowed eyes.
"English." Kenshin answered. "Saji's going to become a teacher at a Rating Game school, so I figured I'd give him a pointer geared toward that."
"Oh." Issei said.
"Oh? Even Saji came along?"
"If I came Rias, of course he did, all of my peerage came."
The three turned to find Rias, Akeno, Asia, Xenovia, Koneko, Gasper, Sona, Yukari, Miyuki, and Hikari had entered the parlor, dressed up for the the event that would take place tonight. "...Wow." Kenshin said.
"Amazing!" Issei thought.
"K-Kaichou?" Saji said with flushed cheeks.
Sona adjusted her glasses with a slight flush of her cheeks. "Yes, aren't you three going to get dressed."
Kenshin snapped his fingers and he was dressed in a full dress suit, black in color. "I had this one prepared since this morning."
"Aaaah! Crap Saji we need to go get dressed!" Issei said grabbing Saji's wrist and pulling him out the other exit.
"I already have an outfit prepared!" Saji complained.
"Neh heh heh." Kenshin snickered.
Later, everyone was flying on the backs of Tannin and his family. "Thanks for the lift Tannin." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, you're really helping us out here." Issei said.
"Where's Ragnarok?" Tannin asked.
"I asked him if he wanted to come, but he said he wasn't really interested in these things." Kenshin said.
"Sounds like him." Tannin said.
"Aaah, it's been so long since I've experienced this view." Ddraig said.
"Oh yeah...you did used to have the body of a dragon." Issei said.
"So Tannin, are there more dragons like you?" Kenshin asked. "Except you know..not reincarnated."
"I understand what you're asking." Tannin said. "I'm only one of three left. The other two being Ophis and Tiamat, the rest have either been sealed, killed like Ragnarok was, or have retired. Yu-Long and Midgardsormr never come out to the surface anymore and Ddraig, Albion, Fafnir, and Vritra have been sealed into Sacred Gears."
"That reminds me, you're a Dragon so why become a Devil?" Kenshin asked.
"I wanted the Dragon Apple." Tannin said.
"The Dragon Apple?" Issei and Kenshin questioningly said.
"It's a fruit that grows here in the underworld, but most dragons are abhorred in the underworld, the Kuroshi clan being one of the lone exceptions." Tannin said. "A certain race of dragons needs to eat that fruit to survive, so along with wanting to fight again, I rose through the ranks and earned a plot of land of my choosing from Sirzechs-Sama." Tannin said.
"Aaaah." Kenshin nodded.
"Also, when I got the land, I began successfully researched how to artificially make the Dragon Apple." Tannin said.
"Pff..." Kenshin stifled a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Tannin asked.
"Nothing, just imagining you crammed into a lab coat." Kenshin snickered.
"Hahahahaha, now that you mention it, that is a pretty funny image." Tannin laughed.
"Ossan really is a nice dragon." Issei noted.
"Gahahahahaha, a nice dragon? ! Well, it's the first I've heard that, it's nice to hear a compliment from the Red Dragon Emperor." Tannin laughed.
(break)
The dragons landed outside of a highrise hotel that would serve to be the meeting place. The area they landed in was a sports arena. "Thanks Ossan!" Issei waved.
"Thanks, Tannin." Rias and Kenshin said.
"Take it easy you all." Tannin said as he and his family took off for another area of the party grounds.
Everyone was picked up by a limo and transported to the hotel. Asia sat next to Issei, while Rias and Yukari sat next to Kenshin. Rias reached over and adjusted Kenshin's collar before combing his hair. "Huh...aah." Kenshin grunted.
"Oh come on Kenshin, it can't hurt that badly." Issei said.
"Easy for you to say, I've never had to comb my hair all that much." Kenshin snapped as Rias started to explain what would be happening.
"There are facilities around the hotel and the army is standing by around the area." Rias said.
"Huh, I figured Azazel would be coming with us." Kenshin said.
"He decided to come with Sirzechs." Hikari said.
"?" Yukari turned to her mother. "Since when are you so chummy with him?"
"I can't have a friendly relationship with a man that at least looks my age?" Hikari asked.
"Th...That's not what I said." Yukari said with a sweatdrop.
"Isn't it kinda weird that we're going to this party together, when we're literally gonna be at each other's throats in a few days?" Miyuki asked.
"Well, we're trying not to think about it for now." Kenshin said. "Trust me Miyuki, Rias and I have been preparing for a month straight, if we prepare anymore, we're gonna lose our minds." He finished with a grin.
"Yes...but this whole party thing bugs me, by the time we get there, the adults will probably already be drunk." Rias said with a sigh.
"Really?" Kenshin asked with a curious look. Akeno and Kiba also gave bitter smiles at this.
They soon arrived at the hotel and went to the top floor where the party was being held. Rias turned to Kenshin. "Come on, we have to make our rounds."
"You mean I have to introduce myself to everyone here?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes..." Rias sighed.
"That bites..." Kenshin muttered as he took Rias' hand and went around the room. "Well...I guess it isn't so bad, I mean I get to spend some alone time with you."
Rias closed her eyes and smiled, leaning on his shoulder. "You have a point there."
"You look really beautiful Rias, heh...last time I saw you look this good, I was getting ready to kick Raiser's ass." Kenshin said.
"Aaah fond memories." Rias said with a giggle. "The...near end part I could have done without though."
"Yeah, I've been meaning to apologize about that." Kenshin said. "Sometimes I just get too excited and forget that I'm being wounded."
"It's OK, you're still here and that's all that matters." Rias said tightening her hold on his hand.
"Hmm..." Kenshin said as they neared the first people they'd introduce themselves to.
"What is it?" Rias asked.
"I kinda wanna make our game more interesting, but I don't know what to name the terms as." Kenshin said. "It's been awhile since I've bet anyone."
"Oh, so you wanna bet something against me?" Rias said with a coy smile.
"Well, I bet I win." Kenshin said with a small grin.
"Hmhmhm, but Kenshin...to do that you have to hurt me...you don't wanna hurt me do you?" Rias asked giving him her best soulful look.
"No, but you won't be able to take out my whole peerage." Kenshin said. "Or maybe just me and Yukari. You'd be forced to give up."
"Oh ho? You're awfully confident for someone who routinely loses to me in chess." Rias goaded.
"That's chess, Rating Games are more like a battle...and in battle...I am the more experienced between the two of us." Kenshin said with a small smirk.
"Well that may be, but I'm not going to lose to anyone...not even you." Rias said crossing her arms under her chest.
"Haha, we'll see my darling fiancee, we'll see." Kenshin said. "But for now...let's not worry about it, we can hash out our bet later." He said as they leaned in and kissed each other on the cheek.
"True." Rias said taking his hand again.
Later Kenshin hunched over holding his left hand. "Jeez, now I know how a world leader feels during their annual get togethers." He said shaking his hand around trying to get feeling back in his hand.
Xenovia was behind them holding a large number of dishes skillfully. "You know, I could help you." Kenshin offered.
"It's quite alright, I don't mind handling this much." Xenovia said as they approached the table Rias and Kenshin's peerages were going to sit to eat, everyone was waiting. Xenovia sat out all the plates with Yukari's help. Kenshin was about to eat when a voice called out to him and Issei.
"Oh, if it isn't the Dragon of the Elements and the Red Dragon Emperor." Kenshin and Issei turned to find a young blonde woman wearing a pink dress. Kenshin had a piece of shrimp in between his lips.
"Oh, if it isn't Ravel Phenex." Kenshin said.
Ravel scrunched her face up. "Please don't talk with your mouth full."
Kenshin opened his mouth and ate the shrimp. "It wasn't full, I hadn't even started eating when you came up."
"EH? ! It's the Yakitori bastard's sister!" Issei said.
"Didn't you meet her first?" Kenshin asked.
"...and like that I'm already liking him more." Ravel said pointing at Kenshin.
Kenshin turned back to her. "So how are ya? Last I saw you were carrying your brother off, as I was damn near passing out."
"I'm alright." Ravel said. "My brother can't say the same."
"Oh? Is he here?" Kenshin said looking around. "I'll go say hi, see how having some humility beaten into to him is treating him."
"He's not here, ever since you beat him, he's been in low spirits." Ravel said. "He won't leave the house."
"Huh, now I kinda feel sorry for the women in his peerage." Kenshin said. "Are you still a part of it?"
"No, I've actually just finished the trading. I asked my Mom if I could join hers." Ravel said.
"Trading?" Issei asked.
"Wait...this has been bugging me for awhile, can anyone get a peerage?" Yukari asked.
"Once you ascend to the ranks in the high class category, you get a set of evil pieces with which to make a peerage, although you still have to compete in your master's Rating Games, as you will still be his or her knight." Ravel explained. "Uhm...who are you three by the way?"
"Yukari Kuroshi Tsuki." Yukari introduced. "Kenshin told me about your clan. No hard feelings."
"Miyuki Kuroshi Tsuki. Nice to meet you." Miyuki introduced with a smile. "Yukari and I are Kenshin's sisters."
"Nice to meet you." Ravel greeted with a smile of her own. "I'm Ravel Phenex."
"And I'm Hikari Kuroshi Tsuki, I'm Kenshin's mother." Hikari said.
"And you're in his peerage?" Ravel asked. "Wow...you must be pretty strong Dragon of the Elements."
"There's...extenuating circumstances involved there." Kenshin said. "Hm...hey Ravel, do you mind if we dance for a little bit?" Kenshin asked taking her hand and pulling her out onto the dance floor.
"A-Aaah? !" Ravel blushed. "G-Give me a chance to accept!" She said.
"...What's he up to..." Rias said with narrowed eyes.
Kenshin turned to Ravel and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, I wanted to talk to you privately without Rias hearing. If you don't want to dance, I understand."
"N-No, it's alright...you just startled me is all." Ravel said as she placed her hands on his shoulder and in his outstretched hand. They started dancing. "Wow...you're pretty good...at least you're not stepping on my feet." She said with a slight laugh.
"Thanks." Kenshin said with a grin. "Lady Gremory, Rias' mother has been teaching me. You look pretty cute in that dress of yours. Even though I saw you in it the first time I fought your brother."
"U-Uhm...th-thanks." Ravel said with a blush. "I hadn't realized the Dragon of the Elements was such a flatterer."
"Hahaha, just callin' it like I see it." Kenshin said. "By the way, just call me Kenshin."
"H-Heh? It's alright for me to call you by name?" Ravel asked.
"Sure." Kenshin said. "Treat me like you would anyone else. It feels more genuine that way."
"I..I'll keep that in mind." Ravel said. "You know, I met the Red Dragon Emperor first, but he seems a lot less impressive now that I've seen him in person."
"Aah, that's only because I've got more training under my belt than he does." Kenshin said.
"A-Anyway, I'll oblige and call you Kenshin-Sama." Ravel said.
"Please don't, it feels uncomfortable being referred to with the -Sama suffix." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Oh...well, what did you want to talk about?" Ravel asked.
"Well, I assume your mother doesn't play this Rating Game?" Kenshin asked.
"No, she doesn't." Ravel said.
"Well, would you like to give me a hand?" Kenshin asked.
"You want me to join your peerage?" Ravel asked.
"For at least this Rating Game. No matter how experienced we are at battle, we're still outnumbered by Rias's peerage, by two to one, even if Asia doesn't fight and to an extent neither will Gasper." Kenshin said. "I could really use a pure cleric on my team."
"Hmm...I see." Ravel said. "Well come on, we'll go talk to my Mom." She said.
The two went to the other end of the room where they found a mature looking woman with blonde hair, resembling Ravel. "Oh? Ravel you didn't tell me you were bringing your boyfriend over here."
"M-Mom!" Ravel exclaimed out of embarrassment.
"Uhh..." Kenshin said.
"I know I know." Lady Phenex said. "You're Rias' new suitor. Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin, the Dragon of the Elements. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise Lady Phenex." Kenshin said bowing toward her. "For what it's worth, I apologize for your son's current situation."
"Oh, don't worry about it." Lady Phenex said waving him off. "From what you mentioned during the fight, Raiser didn't treat women very well at all, he will need to be re-educated on how to act with women. So what brings a man like you to me?"
"Well, as you probably already know, I have a Rating Game against Rias coming up. Now, I'm pretty much covered as far as fighting goes, but..." Kenshin trailed off.
"But you need a healer for when the going gets rough huh?" Lady Phenex asked.
"Yes." Kenshin nodded.
"Well, Ravel do you mind helping Sir Kenshin out for a bit?" Lady Phenex asked. "Or permanently if he decides he wants to keep you at his side?"
"Well, I don't know about permanently, she seems like she'd like to stay within her family." Kenshin said.
"Of course." Lady Phenex said. "So, you want to temporarily trade with me?"
"That would be good." Kenshin said. "If it's OK with her."
"I don't mind." Ravel said with a shrug. "It'd be nice to be able to play in the Rating Game again."
"Alright. I'll transfer her over to you." Lady Phenex said.
Kenshin nodded and took out his set when Lady Phenex held up her hand. "Huh?"
"As this is temporary, you don't need to give me your spare Bishop piece, you just won't be able to use it until my daughter is returned to me." Lady Phenex said. "If this becomes permanent, then I'll require your Bishop piece."
"Alright." Kenshin said with a nod. He turned to Ravel. "Well, I'll see you then." He waved.
"See you then Kenshin-Sama." Ravel said with a wave.
"Urk." Kenshin said as he walked away. He noticed Rias and Issei leaving and heading toward the elevator and went toward one of the windows and jumped out.
"W-Whoa!" Ravel said.
"Hmhmhm, hopefully he lands safely." Lady Phenex said.
Meanwhile Rias and Issei had just made it outside when Kenshin landed in front of them. "Wh-Whoa!" Issei said.
"How did you get down here so fast?" Rias asked.
"I jumped out a window, what's up?" Kenshin asked.
"Koneko left the party, Issei noticed her leaving while you were talking to Ravel." Rias said. "What did you want to talk to her about anyway? "
"You'll see." Kenshin said. "Come on, let's go find Koneko." He said scooping Rias up into his arms.
"K-Kenshin!" Rias said out of embarrassment.
"Sorry, but trying to run in that dress is just going to slow us down. Point us in the right direction." Kenshin said.
"Oh...well go that way." Rias said pointing at the way her bat was heading. "I sent it out one of the windows to track Koneko. It must have found her."
"Right. Issei let's go." Kenshin said.
"Right!" Issei said as they both took off.
"Hm?" Kenshin said as he noticed Issei was keeping pace with him. "Interesting, you're actually keeping up with me at half speed."
"Haha, that's what running from Ossan will do for ya." Issei said with an awkward grin.
"Eh...I probably got you beat in the stamina department though." Kenshin said.
"Focus." Rias scolded.
Several minutes passed. Kenshin peeled his eyes and saw Koneko ahead. He turned to Issei and pointed up. Issei nodded and they jumped onto a branch of a nearby tree, with plenty of foliage to hide themselves in. Kenshin set Rias to his side and they observed Koneko.
Koneko's head darted back and forth until an unfamiliar voice called out to her. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"
"?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes as Koneko looked up to see Kuroka lounging on a tree branch. "Who is that?" He thought.
"K-Kuroka-neesama?" Koneko said.
Kuroka smiled. "Aah, it's nice to see you still remember your big sister after all this time."
"So that's her big sister?" Kenshin muttered.
"H-Hey Kenshin, if that's her older sister, will Koneko-Chan grow up to one day look like that." Issei said with his usual pervy glee."
Kenshin face palmed. "Issei, not now..."
"Ara...I'm surprised all it took to get you out here was this little black cat that snuck into the party nya..." Kuroka said gesturing toward a cat sitting in front of her.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes sensing someone coming. "Stay here." He said to Rias and Issei as he descended from the tree.
"What's this all about Nee-Sama?" Koneko asked with slight anger in her voice.
"Hahaha, don't make such a scary face, I had just been taking care of minor business. I had heard that the devils were having a party near here, and I wanted to check it out Nyaann." Kuroka said with an alluring smile that made Issei start gushing and Rias pinch his cheek.
"So I take it you're a part of the Gremory group?" Kuroka asked.
"Why yes she is." Kuroka looked ahead to see Kenshin entering the clearing.
"K-Kenshin-Senpai?" Koneko said turning to him in surprise.
"Humm...the Dragon of the Elements nyan...what brings you here?" Kuroka asked smiling at him with a seductive look.
"Keep tryin' that Kuroneko...It ain't my heat cycle yet." Kenshin shrugged. "As for why I'm here, well I'm just keeping things even."
"Oh?" Kuroka said her face falling in disappointment. "That is unfortunate." She said with a slight pout. "But keeping things even, I'm the only one here."
"Who are you tryin' to bullshit?" Kenshin asked with a smirk. "You really think Bikou can hide himself from me?"
"Hahaha!" Bikou laughed appearing in front of the tree Kuroka was perched on. "You say that, thinking your allies can hide themselves from me."
"I knew they couldn't." Kenshin said waving his hand forward. Issei and Rias appeared at his sides.
"Issei-Senpai, Chief Rias?" Koneko said.
"So tell me Bikou, how's Vali doing since he was served that piping hot ass whooping?" Kenshin asked.
"Hahaha, he's doing just fine, although now that you're here, he wanted me to ask you a question." Bikou said. "You said he couldn't divide your elemental powers, but he was able to divide the attack you dubbed the Heavenly Fire Strike. How is that possible?"
"The Katensho is a energy based attack mainly, I knew it before I was acquainted with the Four Elemental Spirits. It just has a fire element added onto it. With little to no energy the fire goes out as there's nothing to sustain it. He can divide those kinds of attacks, but not ones purely elemental in nature." Kenshin explained.
"Heheheh...you're pretty forthcoming with the information." Bikou said.
"Because it doesn't matter if he knows this or not." Kenshin said with a shrug. "It changes nothing."
Bikou nodded and turned to Issei. "Well, Red Dragon Emperor, you got stronger."
"Eh? You can tell just by looking?" Issei asked.
"I'm a senjutsu expert, I can tell your aura has strengthened a bit since the last time I saw you." Bikou said with a shrug.
"Uh...what's Senjutsu by the way?" Issei said.
"Senjutsu, is different from magic as it stresses the importance of something called Chakra, a great original power the flows into one's spirit and soul and turns it into a constant current. It's different than the magic used by devils and the light power used by angels. It's direct destructive power can't match that of magic or light energy, but it's good for making use of the unknown part inside plants, animals and people, for example, if one learned Senjutsu they'd excel at reading the flow of someone's spirit and be able to grasp the movements of a faraway target to some degree." Rias explained.
"We can also control the flow of the spirit and reinforce the interior or exterior of our bodies nyan, or disturb the them, like with these trees, we can make the bloom or wither." Kuroka said. "Senjutsu affects the flow of life, we can affect an opponent's life force by cutting it if we wish, because the methods for repairing wounds to the life force are so limited for devils, angels and magicians, it almost always results in death nya..."
"So basically your Senjutsu is like my power of the elements." Kenshin shrugged. "Just about everything you and Rias described I can do with the spirits inside me. I can reinforce my body, read the flows, launch my current out as attacks and intimidate my foes into unconsciousness."
"You can't kill with it though." Bikou said.
"Oh I can, but it's just a lot more cruel to do it that way." Kenshin said. "Some people can have their hearts stopped by intimidation alone, it's a lot more merciful to just plunge a sword into their heart than it is to give them a fear heart attack."
"So what are you two doing here? Are you going to cause an terrorist attack?" Issei said as the Boosted Gear appeared on his left hand.
"No, we've already completed our job, we were just given a standby order from Vali. Nothing foul." Bikou said. "We're off duty, so Kuroka insisted we come here."
"Bikou, who is this boy? I remember you doing the observing for him." Kuroka asked as she sat up.
"The Red Dragon Emperor." Bikou said.
"Oh, so this is the breast loving Red Dragon hm?" Kuroka asked.
"Well...if that's how they described him to you, you're not wrong." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Well come on Kuroka, we can't attend the party so we really have no further point here." Bikou said.
"Yes, but I'm taking Shirone with me, once Vali and Ophis see that we share the same power they should be convinced." Kuroka said hopping down from the tree.
"Jeez, why don't we try and nab the Dragon of the Elements while we're at it, seeing as Ophis has been interested in him ever since Vali came back from fighting these two." Bikou said.
Kuroka's eyes sparkled with a lustful glint. "I wonder if she'll let me go a round with him."
Bikou approached Koneko who stepped back, only to be punched back by both Kenshin and Issei. "K-Kenshin-Senpai, Issei-Senpai?" Koneko said, surprised that they acted.
"Heh..." Kenshin clenched his fist and stared at Bikou as he got up. "You didn't really think we were just gonna stand idly by while you absconded with our friend did ya?" "Card Equip: All!"
"Fat chance of that!" Issei shouts.
"She is an important member of the Gremory group, I won't just hand her over." Rias said.
"That's awfully brave of you, do you really want to make enemies out of us." Bikou said getting back to his feet.
"You're not any stronger than the enemies I've faced so far Bikou." Kenshin said holding his sword at the ready.
"This girl is my servant, I won't let you take her." Rias said.
"Ara? She's my little sister, I have the right to love her, a high class devil li..." She trailed off hearing a chuckle. She turned to Kenshin.
"The right to love her eh?" Kenshin asked. "If you truly believe that Kuroka...then just where have you been all this time hm?"
"..." Kuroka went silent, glaring into Kenshin's eyes. Finally she spoke. "I was on the run, why drag Shirone into a life like that?"
"Right, because what happened to her after you left her all alone, was soooo much better." Kenshin said his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"So you think I should have just subjected her to what I experienced? Being hunted down for killing my master who was a lot sicker of a man than most realize?" Kuroka asked.
Kenshin glared back into her eyes. "It didn't matter, she was subjected to it anyway for being related to you, just like I had been when I was younger, merely for being related to my father who led a similar experience as you did, after you killed your master as he laid to waste an important outpost that belong to one of the two major powers in my homeworld."
"!" Koneko stared at Kenshin's back. "So...that's it...that's what he meant."
"It's not as easy as you'd think!" Kuroka shouts gathering a wheel of blue flames and launching it at Kenshin.
"Kenshin!" Issei shouts as it exploded after making contact.
"Relax Issei I'm fine." Kenshin said as the smoke cleared, revealing Kenshin to be unharmed. He raised Kuroi Jigoku, blocking a staff strike from Bikou. "You two are gonna have to handle Kuroka, I'm gonna have my hands full with this monkey."
"Heheheheh! I've been itchin' ta fight you ever since Vali told me about you!" Bikou said.
"Then let's dance Son Goku!" Kenshin shouts batting him up into the sky before going airborne himself.
"Kintoun!" Bikou called out as a golden cloud appeared under his feet.
"Hmph." Kenshin took out his naginata and surrounded it in wind magic before placing it under his own feet.
"Extend, Nyoi-bo!" Bikou said pointing the end of his staff at Kenshin.
"Heh Nice try." Kenshin said moving out of the way of the staff's extension and moving toward Bikou who drew it back, still extended and moved it horizontal and swiped it at Kenshin who jumped off his blade, vaulting over the staff and kicked his naginata at Bikou who blocked it with his staff. However Kenshin charged in, flames coating his fist. "Crushing Flame Profusion!" Kenshin shouts.
"Gaaaah!" Bikou exclaimed as he was engulfed in the flames.
"Wow..." Issei said with wide eyes. "Kenshin got pretty good with his power."
"He's still nowhere near Ragnarok's level." Ddraig commented.
"Eh? Ragnarok was that powerful?" Issei asked.
"Kenshin may be inventive with them, but Ragnarok exuded the raw power of the elements." Ddraig said.
"Hahahahaha, that was pretty damn good Elemental Dragon!" Bikou said with a laugh, his armor and clothes burned.
"Heh." Kenshin smirked as his naginata flew back under his feet. "Finally, a physical fighter like myself...no bullshit like being an exorcist or a flaming bird or a Fallen Angel leader to worry about." His smirk widened. "I'm going to enjoy this!"
"Heheheh...likewise." Bikou said returning his smirk as the two traded blows that sent out explosions of power across the sky.
"You're lost here, the pervert may not be much to look at, but being the Red Dragon Emperor counts for something, and his master is with him." Kenshin said.
"You're mistaken if you think Kuroka and I are pushovers!" Bikou laughed.
"No, I just think it's unfortunate that Issei's opponent is a woman." Kenshin said.
"Haaah, I guess it's a good thing I set up the barrier when I did nya..." Kuroka shrugged. "They'd alert everyone at that party with all the power they're throwing around."
"So tell me Bikou, are there more like you?" Kenshin said.
"Hah! Please, the rest of my kind are all conservative! I like things that are fun!" Bikou answered. "So no, there are no more like me!"
"Hn, how unfortunate!" Kenshin said thrusting his legs forward, putting his naginata between them and kicking the blunt side of it, sending it into a spin.
"Hrn!" Bikou grunted as Kenshin drove his naginata toward him.
"Haha, it's a good thing we're here in the underworld, I'll immediately be able to dig your grave." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Hah! Little overconfident are we? !" Bikou shouts with a smirk of his own.
"Nyan..." Issei and Rias turned to Kuroka who gave a bewitching smile as a dark aura permeated over the area.
"...Nee-Sama, I'll go with you, just please overlook these three." Koneko blurted out.
"? !" Issei turned to her. "What are you...?"
"Koneko, what are you saying? !" Rias shouts. "You're my servant I won't let you do as you please!"
"No one knows Onee-Sama's power like I do, her power rivals that of an ultimate class devil, and she excels in youjutsu and genjutsu." Koneko said. "Even with Kenshin-Senpai's help I don't think you could capture her."
"Even so I won't hand you over to her!" Rias yelled. "To this person who didn't even help you when you cried so much!"
Kuroka smiled at Rias' anger. "A youkai can't help another youkai, right now I just want Shirone back because I desire to have another piece under my control...!" She ducked as Bikou sailed over her head. "What the? ! Bikou watch where you're flying!"
"I can't help it that is asshole's pushing the fight this way!" Bikou said as he and Kenshin traded blows a short distance away.
"Is that all you want her for then Kuroka, then I've got no qualms trading opponents!" Kenshin said knocking Bikou upward and grabbing his leg, swinging him into a tree.
"Gaaahh!" Bikou grunted.
Kenshin shot toward Kuroka. "Serene Demon Sword!" Kenshin shouts cutting through the black cat woman.
"Hm?" Kenshin turned to find Kuroka to the side of him.
"Hmhmhm...you're so cute when you're angry nya..." Kuroka said stroking Kenshin's cheek.
"Hrn...an illusion." Kenshin said taking aim at the tree next to him, he fired a ball of fire into it, toppling it. Kenshin charged after a disturbance in the scenery. Bikou leaped at him, forcing Kenshin to evade.
"Kuroka, your illusions ain't gonna work on him remember? His twin sister is a genjutsu specialist." Bikou said.
"Well you'd be right, she tested out every one she mastered on me, so I gained a resistance." Kenshin said.
"Kuroka, this girl is Toujou Koneko, you might have been her sister once, but you've lost the right to call yourself that when you abandoned her, she lost a future to rely on, despised and abused by other devils to the point that she was going to be disposed of, she saw many awful things, so I'll show her the opposite. She's my rook and I won't let you lay a single finger on her!" Rias declared.
"Chief!" Issei thought, weeping with joy.
Next to her Koneko was also crying. "I don't want to go, I am Toujou Koneko, Kuroka-neesama I want to live with Chief Rias, to live!" She said.
Kuroka smiled bitterly and laughed derisively as a purple mist flooded the area causing Rias and Koneko to fall to their knees. "Then you can die...Rias Gremory."
"What the? !" Issei said looking around.
"Ara...you and the Dragon of the Elements aren't affected." Kuroka said approaching Issei. She reached over and caressed his cheek. "You are awfully cute Red Dragon Emperor and you seem more agreeable than he is."
Issei's face lit up as she caressed him. "A-Aahh?"
"Hrn!" Rias fired at Kuroka who disappeared.
"Hahahaha," She reappeared on a tree branch. "Making clones is child's play with my illusions."
"Flash Bullet Fist!" Kenshin shouts burying his fist into Bikou's stomach. "Sorry, I've run out of time to play with you. We'll have to pick this up later." He said firing Bikou as far away as he could manage. He reappeared next to Issei. "Yo, your gear's not working, what gives?"
"His Sacred Gear is at an important crossroads...between being here and attaining the Balance Breaker." Ddraig said
"Eeeh? !" Issei shouts. "The Balance Breaker? You mean I'm being held up by that? ! Can't I postpone it? !"
"It could take months possibly years to reach this point again." Ddraig said.
"Hmmm..." Kenshin leaned over to Issei. "What is it you want to do more than anything right now?" He whispered.
"You should know that, I wanna poke some nipples!" Issei whispered harshly.
"Of course." Kenshin said with an eyeroll.
"So can I ask Chief if she'll let me poke hers?" Issei whispered.
"Hell no." Kenshin said. "You're already in hot water with me over being perverted with her Issei."
"Come on, Kenshin this could mean getting me to the Balance Breaker." Issei complained.
"Hmm...tell me, does it really matter who's nipples you poke?" Kenshin asked quietly, glancing at Kuroka, who leaned over, giving them a generous view of her cleavage.
"Well...no, not really. I know I have no shot with Chief...as much as it pains me to admit it." Issei sobbed.
"Hmm..." Kenshin grinned. "When I say 'Now' you come toward me with both index fingers ready to poke."
"Come toward you? How will that help? The nipples I wanna poke have to belong to a busty woman." Issei whispered with an eye roll.
"Trust me...there will be a nice set of boobs in between the two of us." Kenshin said with a grin. "Now to knock that cat from her perch!" Kenshin said throwing his wind enhanced naginata through a nearby tree, toppling it. He saw a disturbance land close to it and charged after it. The Kuroka perched on the tree disappeared and the real one appeared in front of Kenshin. "Lightning Sword Flash!" Kenshin shouts, stabbing past her.
"Ufufufufu, you missed." Kuroka said with a giggle as she turned to him.
"Did I really?" Kenshin asked slashing Kuroi Jigoku downward.
"? !" Kuroka's eyes went wide as her kimono tore to shreds, leaving her in her birthday suit. "Oh, how naughty Dragon of the Elements...I hadn't realized you wanted to give into your lust right this moment.
"Now, Issei!" Kenshin said.
"Hyyyaaahhhh!" Issei shouts rushing Kuroka from behind.
"Hm?" Kuroka turned to Issei. "It's useless you can't attack me." She said raising her hand to ready some fire.
"That's not the point." Kenshin said with a grin.
"Huh?" Kuroka said turning her head to Kenshin.
At that moment Issei's fingers made direct contact with her nipples. "? !" Kuroka turned toward Issei.
"Hehehehehe." Issei giggled perversely as he squished them in.
"Nn! Nyahh!" Kuroka gasped pleasurably. "W-What are you d-doing? !" She said.
A green aura surrounded Issei's body as he stepped back. "Wh-What's this? !" Issei said.
"You've attained it! You've attained the Balance Breaker!" Ddraig shouts.
"Hahahahaha! God I've been waiting for the chance to do that!" Kenshin laughed. "Powering up the idiot through his perversion is so funny!"
"What? ! Through his perversion? !" Kuroka shouts at him.
"Welsh Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
"You're the worst...what a lewd Red Dragon Emperor." Koneko said with narrowed eyes.
"Hahahaha." Kenshin laughed. "It's alright Koneko. If it gives him power, let him be as perverted as he wants."
"Thanks for letting me poke your nipples Koneko-Chan's Onee-Chan." Issei said as he started to assume the Scale Mail. "Thanks to you, I have attained the Balance Breaker!"
"Mrrnn!" Kuroka glared at him as she used magic to repair her kimono. "Aaah! It felt too good!" She thought inwardly panicking.
"Alright partner, you can sustain the Balance Breaker for thirty minutes, and doubling shaves off five minutes...but I swear you are terrible! I'm going to start genuinely crying soon!" Ddraig said.
"Good to know." Issei said. "Now..."
"Stick out your hand." Ddraig instructed.
Issei nodded and did as asked, a red sphere fired outward and barely missed Kuroka. Who responded by gathering up two different surges of magic and fired them out at Issei who charged at her. He punched his fist at her, stopping just short of her face as the area around them experience an explosive pressure that cleared away all of the poison mist.
"!" Kuroka froze in fear.
"Don't make our cute Kouhai cry..." Issei said.
"Tch!" Kuroka jumped back. Kenshin appeared behind her and grabbed the back of her kimono as a tear in space opened up. He vanished with Kuroka in tow.
Bikou arrived to find a familiar face. "Huh? ! Aren't you Vali's attendant?"
"You two are taking too long...where's Kuroka?" Said a blonde gentleman who stepped out of the tear asked.
"I...I don't know." Bikou said.
"Kaah, that troublesome cat." The blonde said.
Meanwhile Kenshin landed in a remote area of the forest and set Kuroka in front of a tree. He stood in front of her with a hand above her head, resting on the tree. "Don't bother trying to fight me, you're too frazzled to concentrate on your magics."
"Krh...what do you want?" Kuroka spat with a glare.
"Answers." Kenshin said.
"What business is it of yours? Why do you care so much about what I did?" Kuroka said crossing her arms under he chest.
"Because I care about Koneko." Kenshin said. "I went through the same shit she did."
"Well if you think I left behind because I wanted to you're sorely mistaken." Kuroka said. "I had no choice."
"I don't believe you." Kenshin said.
"Well you should! I tried to get to her, but when I got to the place I left her at she was gone! That bastard probably had someone kidnap her and drop her off somewhere that I'd never find her!" Kuroka snapped.
"That bastard?" Kenshin asked.
"...Seeing as you won't let me go, I'll tell you." Kuroka said. "My former master was a power hungry fool who made all of his servants go through crazy power ups, even at great risk to their bodies and souls. He intended to do the same to Shirone to test a Nekomata's power, and I wouldn't allow it...so I killed him to protect Shirone."
"I see..." Kenshin said.
Kuroka looked down at his chest. "When...I heard about what happened to Shirone after I was forced apart from her...words can't describe how awful I felt. I knew it was my fault she had endured such hardship." She said.
"But you said earlier that you just wanted to have another piece under your control." Kenshin pointed out.
"When no one believes you, why bother telling the truth?" Kuroka asked.
"Good point." Kenshin said.
"My power did not corrupt my mind like everyone said, I just killed my master to protect my sister...who I loved more than anything." Kuroka said glancing away.
"...I see." Kenshin said lowering his arm and backing away. "Go."
"Huh?" Kuroka said.
Kenshin turned and started walking away. "I just wanted to know if I was right about you."
"Right about me?" Kuroka asked with a curious look.
"One theory I came up with after hearing about this was that you went nuts from having too much power, that was obviously wrong. The other was that you got desperate to protect Koneko and did what needed to be done." Kenshin said. "Maybe not desperate, but you wanted to protect your sister and that I can respect, so go."
"You might get labeled as a rouge devil just for helping me." Kuroka warned.
"Well then if I do, I'll come and find you." Kenshin said with amusement in his voice.
"...Thank you..." Kuroka said as she vanished.
Kenshin walked through the forest and met up with Issei, Rias and Koneko. "Kenshin? ! Where did you go?" Issei said.
"Eh, nowhere special." Kenshin said.
"What about Kuroka?" Rias asked
"Eh, she blasted me in the face with a fireball and got away." Kenshin shrugged.
"But...you're not showing any signs of battle, well...other than your fight with Bikou." Issei said.
"Cleaned my face off on the way here." Kenshin said.
"Well...OK." Rias said. "Come on Issei."
"Right Chief." Issei said as the two of them walked in front of Kenshin and Koneko who hung in the back.
"...You didn't really fight Nee-Sama, did you?" Koneko asked.
Kenshin glanced at Rias and Issei who were talking about Issei's Balance Breaker. "Nope." Kenshin answered quietly.
"I see." Koneko said.
"..." Kenshin glanced over at her.
"...Did you really go through something...like I did?" Koneko asked.
Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. "Yeah."
"Then...how can you smile?" Koneko asked.
"It took practice...when I was reunited with my family...I was just an empty shell of the child I used to be. I felt that my family would grow worried about me sooner or later...so..I practiced smiling in the mirror so that even when I was in pain, I would be able to smile through it, and I wouldn't worry people around me as much." Kenshin said. "You know...I can relate to how you act sometimes...because...I used to act the same way."
"What about when you told me...that it was your fault that there wasn't many people like us left?" Koneko asked.
Kenshin smiled again. "That's a story for another time."
"Kenshin-Senpai?" Koneko said as Kenshin glanced away. "...Just now..I saw nothing but pain in his eyes."
"You know, you may not believe this, but your sister...when you two split up. She was trying to protect you. She had no idea what was going to happen afterward." Kenshin said.
"What do you mean?" Koneko asked.
"She told me that her master was power hungry, subjecting his servants to painful experiments, I assume even Kuroka herself was experimented on." Kenshin said. "He was going to do the same to you, when Kuroka killed him."
"N...Nee-Sama did...?" Koneko asked.
"What's the last few things you remember before you and Kuroka got split up?" Kenshin asked.
"Well...hmm...Nee-Sama was doting on me a lot...and telling me everything would be alright...then she said she'd be back soon, and I fell asleep." Koneko said. "I woke up...and I was alone."
"She said she tried to come and get you, but you were gone when she went to place she left you at." Kenshin said. "Look Koneko. You don't have to forgive her if you don't want to, it's perfectly understandable. I think even she thinks that what's been done can't be made up for."
"Well...I'll need some time to think about it..." Koneko said glancing away. Her legs gave out and Kenshin caught her. "...H..Huh?"
"You must be exhausted from all of this." Kenshin said. "Go ahead and get some sleep."
"...OK..." Koneko murmured as Kenshin cradled her in his arms. He walked up to Rias and Issei.
"Eh, wh-what's wrong with her?" Issei asked, concern in his voice.
"Shhh..." Kenshin said. "She's just sleeping."
"..." Rias smiled and pet Koneko's head. "Poor girl...she's been through a lot."
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
"So, Kenshin...I got my Balance Breaker now. Not such a sure thing that you'll beat me now is it?" Issei said with a grin.
"Well, it certainly makes things more interesting to be sure...but Issei...I fought Vali in his Balance Breaker...and he's stronger than you." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"R...Right." Issei said. "Yup...still screwed."
(break)
Later
Azazel and Hikari were standing in the hotel grounds. "So, after an SS class criminal is turned back by Issei and my Ken-Chan, along with that Son Goku fellow and someone wielding the strongest of the Excaliburs, we're just supposed to go back to what we were doing previously?" Hikari asked.
"Well, the party's been canceled. Sirzechs' sister and her Rook endured some poisoning, but thankfully it's already working it's way out of their systems. An added benefit is that Issei ended up achieving the Balance Breaker." Azazel said.
"I can't believe Kenshin actually went along with his perversion." Hikari said shaking her head.
"He knew what would help Issei power up, shows that he pays attention to details." Azazel said with a shrug. "Shame though...we never got to share that dance."
"You're under the assumption that you'd get it." Hikari said shaking her head with a smile. "I'm not like the other women you've picked up on Azazel."
"And I said I liked a challenge." Azazel said with a grin.
"And I said if you tried to add my mother to a harem of yours, I tear your testicles off and stuff them down your throat." Azazel and Hikari turned to find Kenshin walking up to them.
"Hahahaha, always so serious ain't ya Kenshin?" Azazel said.
"If my mother was interested in being a part of a harem, she'd have let my Dad build one." Kenshin said.
"Alright Alright." Azazel said waving him off.
Suddenly a presence appeared that left almost everyone dumbfounded, except for Kenshin and Hikari who turned to find an old man wearing an old looking hat, an eyepatch, a luxurious looking robe and holding a staff. At his side was an armor wearing woman.
"So...youngsters like you can't greet an old man eh?" He said.
"Odin..." Azazel said.
"Huh, so this is the Norse Allfather." Kenshin said. "And the attractive looking white haired woman must be a Valkyrie."
"Well well well, if it ain't the old geezer from up north." Azazel said.
Odin rubbed his beard. "Huh, how have things been Fallen Angel Brat? You're getting awful intimate with people who used to be your enemies."
"Well, we've decided to band together for the greater good." Azazel said with a shrug.
"Or decided to lose together." Odin said with a laugh.
"Oh yeah, far be it from them to want to preserve the race that they had left." Kenshin muttered with an eyeroll.
"I can't help, but laugh at something like this a play meeting between the three factions." Odin said.
"Yeah and I can't help, but scoff at you eying up my chest you pervert." Hikari muttered.
"Damn, if this keeps up we won't be able to come to a settlement." Azazel thought.
Odin turned to Sirzechs who approached him with Serafall. "Aah, Sirzechs...I came here as you requested in the invitation, but you seem to have had it hard lately. The descendant of the original Lucifer went rouge and he's a part of the Khaos Brigade. Your race's future isn't gonna be easy." Sirzechs simply gave a smile in response. Odin turned to Serafall. "What's with that getup?"
"This is a magical girl costume." Serafall cheerfully informed while striking a pose.
"Oh? Dressing to woo someone, or just being a tease?" Odin asked as he looked down at Serafall's panties and legs.
"Little of both." Serafall grinned.
Kenshin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sirzechs, I'm starting to give serious consideration to asking Rias for a mulligan on this engagement so I can go deal with my excess lust."
"Oh? Why?" Sirzechs asked with a smile.
"Every person I run into that's the same gender as me seems to be perverted, why should I be any different?" Kenshin asked.
"She's never let you." Sirzechs said, grinning at him.
"Then I hope she doesn't mind walking with a limp for a week if the deflowering night should come on my next heat cycle." Kenshin shrugged.
"Hahahahahaha!" Azazel laughed. "Finally starting to give in, eh Kenshin?"
"Might as well..." Kenshin sighed.
"I could give you a hand." Serafall said licking her lips.
"I'll keep that in mind Serafall." Kenshin said rubbing his temple.
"Oh? Who is this?" Odin asked taking notice of him.
"This is Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi. Ragnarok's direct heir." Sirzechs said.
"You mean the snake fucker?" Odin asked.
"Pfft!" Kenshin covered his mouth to stifle his laughs.
"And who is this?" Odin asked looking at Hikari, or more accurately her chest.
"Hikari Kuroshi Tsuki...I'm Kenshin's mother and Bishop..." Hikari said with a tick mark forming on her temple. "He's the Norse Allfather, just ignore him...don't hit him..." She thought in a mantra.
The Valkyrie stepped in front of him. "Odin-Sama, you mustn't do such indecent things, the reputation of Valhalla will cry!" She scolded.
"Geez you're so stuffy, no wonder you can't get any heroes for a boyfriend." Odin said to her.
"That's rude." Kenshin said.
The Valkyrie broke into tears at these words. Odin turned to him. "If you think so, maybe you should deal with her then. You want a concubine you little bastard?"
"I'm not even married yet you dusty old codger." Kenshin said with a glare. "Tell me, do you perv on everyone, because ya just can't get it up anymore?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Azazel laughed loudly.
"You're a bit too young to go barb for barb with me, you scale shafted brat." Odin said with a smirk.
"Whatever you say limp dick." Kenshin quipped. "Least my shaft can go up without the help of a pill."
"Stop it! Stop it! You two you're gonna kill me!" Azazel laughed.
"Hahahahaha." Odin laughed, soon joined in by Kenshin. "You're alright kid."
"You're not so bad yourself." Kenshin said with a grin. "Still, there's someone out there for everyone, even a strict woman like her."
"Eh, true but she just seems like man repellent right now." Odin shrugged. He turned to Sirzechs. "You really are a devil. Making your dear sister go against her beloved fiancee, the man who saved her from her previous engagement."
"If she can't do this much, her dreams as a devil won't go very far." Sirzechs said.
"Eh, I'm just in this to fight someone she has in her peerage." Kenshin shrugged. "Aside from that, I couldn't care less about the game itself."
"Well, who do you plan to have taken out first then?" Odin asked.
"That's none of your damn business and I'll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs." Kenshin said as he and Hikari left.
(break)
August 25th
The preparations were done, and the Rating Game had begun. Rias' and her peerage were situated at the base of a mountain while Kenshin's territory was on the other side of said mountain. "Well, here we are, what do we do Chief?" Issei asked.
"I'm not sure..." Rias said.
"Well one thing we can pretty well assume is that Kenshin-kun will probably not send anyone directly here." Akeno said. "He has no active pawns."
"Yes, but the fact that he corralled a second bishop for this game is a little worrying." Xenovia noted.
"Ravel is probably his support while everyone else fights." Rias said.
"I think Kenshin-Oniisama doesn't seem interested in this game, maybe we can ask him to surrender." Asia suggested.
"No, Kenshin doesn't surrender." Issei said shaking his head.
"Well...maybe we should scout the area and look for him or Yukari-Senpai, Miyuki-Senpai, or their mother." Koneko suggested.
"That's about all we can do...alri-" Rias said only for someone to cut her off.
"Hey ladies and gents, whatcha talkin' about?"
"Oh nothing Kenshin." Everyone said. "!" They rounded to find Kenshin stand a short distance away. "KENSHIN? !"
"Yo." Kenshin waved.
"K-K-Kenshin-kun, do you not understand the point of this game? We're trying to take you out." Kiba said with a stunned expression.
"Feel free to try." Kenshin shrugged.
"How did you get over so fast? The game just started!" Rias said.
"I flew." Kenshin said simply.
"Ufufufu, Kenshin-kun thinks he can take all of us on alone?" Akeno asked with a smile.
"How do you know if I'm alone?" Kenshin asked with a grin. "Then again...how do you even know if I'm really here?"
"Tch...that's right, Yukari's a genjutsu specialist." Rias cursed. "So...what are you doing here, if you are really here?"
"Powerblocking Issei." Kenshin said.
"E-Eh? !" Issei said. "Shit! That's right as long as he's here, there's no point in going to the deep end of his territory and I can't promote!"
"And everyone else has already vacated my territory too." Kenshin said. "So really there is no reason to go onto my territory. Now...to the person about to be attacked...I apologize." He said putting everyone on edge.
"!" Kenshin vanished from sight. Everyone started looking around. "Where is he? !" Rias asked.
"I don't know, I can't sense him at all!" Akeno replied.
"Move close and search for him!" Rias said. "Issei, Koneko, Xenovia, Kiba you scout ahead. Akeno, you stay by me. Asia, stand by to heal, and Gasper..." Rias turned to the half vampire as everyone moved into place. "? ! Gasper behind you!"
"!" Gasper turned to find Kenshin with a flame coated fist flying toward his stomach.
"Crushing Flame Profusion..." Kenshin said as the fist made contact, the flames exploding outward.
Gasper flew backward, Issei caught him. "Aaaahhhnn...s-sorry...everyone..." Gasper said as he vanished.
"Rias Gremory's Bishop, Gasper Vladi has been retired."
"Roar, Thunder!" Akeno shouts striking Kenshin.
The smoke cleared to reveal nothing. Everyone turned to find Kenshin clapping, standing where he had been previously. "Nice effort Akeno. That actually hurt a little and I'm using Gnome. I've been forced to beat a hasty retreat for now."
"You came all this way just to take out Gasper?" Rias asked.
"Of course. To me, he's the biggest threat because he can stop time...well biggest threat other than you Rias, but if I had you taken down, the game would end." Kenshin said. "I do hope he doesn't hate me for picking him off like that. I know what you might be thinking...'why didn't I take out Issei before he could assume the Balance Breaker?'...the reason for that is simple...I want to fight Issei man to man." Kenshin said with a smirk. "However before we can have our fun you must first figure out where I am hiding. My sisters and mother have each been given a location, each one different from the other. Only one knows where I really am."
"What about Ravel?" Akeno asked.
"She's with me." Kenshin said. "I needed her help with healing. Now then...happy hunting!" Kenshin waved with a cheerful smile as he disappeared.
"Tch...he got us...and he could have gotten more than just Gasper if he wanted. He could have taken out Asia as well." Rias said. "He's right...when it comes to the battefield...he is the more experienced."
"H-Holy crap...K-Kenshin wants to fight me?" Issei said.
"Issei, calm down." Rias said. "Akeno, take everyone out and scout the area, if you find one of Kenshin's sisters or his mother, you are clear to engage them. Everyone except Issei and Asia, both of you stay by me. We'll scout in our own way."
"Right." Akeno said. "Everyone follow me, we'll decide who goes where in a bit."
Koneko, Kiba and Xenovia went with Akeno as Rias, Issei and Asia stayed behind. "So that's what Onii-Sama meant...he really doesn't care about winning, except maybe to win our bet." Rias said.
"Eh? You made a bet with Kenshin?" Issei asked.
"Yes, but what we set the stakes is really none of your concern." Rias said. "Still...he never told me what he wanted if he won."
"W-Well...I-I'll do my best to make sure you win Chief!" Issei declared nervously. He immediately went to his knees. "Oh man, Kenshin's gonna crush me! I can only hold the Balance Breaker for thirty minutes and it takes two minutes to transform now that my body has adjusted to it!" He whined.
"I-Issei-San..." Asia said with a sympathetic smile, patting him on the back.
Rias went into thought as Asia comforted Issei. "Hm...how strange. Kenshin implied that he wasn't really here earlier, but if that is true. How was he able to hit Gasper? Certainly Kenshin can't hide his presence that well. No one was able to sense him when he vanished, and I have to assume he has given cards to Yukari and Miyuki, so him using his Undine card is out of the question, as Yukari likes to use it."
She took a step forward. "Asia, Issei, come. While everyone tries to find Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari, we'll be looking exclusively for Kenshin."
"E-Eh? !" Issei said.
"F-For Kenshin-San?" Asia said.
"Yes. I'd rather not wait for Akeno and the others to defeat his family and give us potentially bogus locations." Rias said. "Besides, I'd like to pay Kenshin back personally for Gasper."
"Whew...so I won't be fighting him alone..." Issei sighed in relief as they proceeded.
Meanwhile on the outside Odin, Sirzechs, Azazel and Serafall watched. "Huh...that is..unorthodox." Azazel said.
"Seriously, the point is for the other pieces to go on the offensive while the King hangs in the back. He's crazy!" Serafall said with a laugh.
"Crazy like a fox." Odin said. "If that kid's power really was to stop time, then it's impertinent that Kenshin get rid of him. It turned out to be a brilliant strategy and threw them off."
"..." Sirzechs gazed at the screen. "Hm...Rias is a great chess player and a good tactician, but in the battlefield things are different, it'll be nice to see how she reacts if and when things go awry, and Kenshin's probably the perfect person to make it go awry."
With that thought in mind Sirzechs leaned back and watched the match play out.
(chapter end)
Gasper: You're mean Kenshin-Senpaaaaiiii!
Kenshin: (sweatdrops) Uhhh...I'll take ya out for ice cream later, my treat.
Gasper: (whines) Noooooo!
Kenshin: (furrows brow) You can bring the paper bag.
Gasper: (instantly cheers up) Yaaayyy!
Draconis: (Sweatdrops) Uuuuhhh, OK.
Anyway The Rating Game has begun. Also, Harem update time!
Kenshin: Same as before.
Issei: Asia, Irina, Kuroka.
Kenshin: Huh, hey Issei you got Koneko's sister!
Issei: Eeeeehhh? !
Draconis: Someone requested it and I didn't see a problem with it.
Also, Ravel being in Kenshin's peerage is purely temporary...and something I came up with on the fly. Anyway, I'll see you all later.
Draconis678 out