Draconis: I have a question.
Odin: What's up?
Draconis: Thor, is he like the Thor in the comics or the one in the movies?
Rossweisse: Th-There's been movies and comic books made about Thor-Sama?
Draconis: Yup.
Odin: That hammer wielding...I'm gonna have a talk with him after this!
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 24
The God of Mischief
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Odin was sitting in the VIP room when Azazel came in. "Yo, Geezer. The meeting is starting soon. Our preparations are going according to plan as well." He said.
"Oh, Azazel-boya...didn't realize you were there." Odin murmured.
"What's up? You're putting on a rather serious face." Azazel asked.
"You tried to have the Element-gaki lift Mjolnir earlier right?" Odin asked.
"He said he wanted to try, see if he was worthy of it." Azazel said.
"That replica is keyed into the Sekiryuutei who just needs the strength to lift it. It won't let anyone else lift it at all." Odin said.
"I see. Well I'll have to tell Kenshin not to seem so disappointed that he couldn't pull it off. Now what's up?" Azazel asked.
"Ah, nothin' I'm just thinking my ways of governing have caused trouble to those in my homeland and to the youngins here." Odin said.
"Meh, to tell you the truth geezer. I didn't care much for the Norse and their draconian ways of thinking, but then you came out. The Chief of the Norse. The AllFather. You're actually trying to cooperate and make peace with the other factions." Azazel explained.
"Eh, what can I say. I am a geezer. You get tired of all the fighting eventually. It's high time we did our jobs as elders and created a new path for the youngins here, at my home and everywhere." Odin shrugged.
"Heheheheh. Damn straight. We'll all have to work to make that future a reality, not just a possibility." Azazel said with a grin.
"I know that even if you don't tell me, come on, you and I...and maybe that Element-gaki are going out drinkin'" Odin said.
(Break)
The next day.
"I wish for an Oppai maid cafe!" Issei declared.
Kenshin smacked him over the head. "I knew I shouldn't have asked you."
"Rejected." Rias said with a sigh.
"Besides, won't other people be able to see everyone's breasts if we did that?" Kiba suggested.
"Ku...damn, that means no Oppai haunted house either." Issei moaned, disappointed.
"You even thought of that, Dosukebe-Senpai." Koneko said with a slight glare.
"If any of his ideas get accepted, I'm quitting the club." Yukari said with a scowl.
"Same here." Miyuki said with a sigh.
"Would that be because you're flatchested Miyuki-Chan?" Irina asked.
"!" Everyone rounded on the angel girl. Miyuki glared at her with a smirk. "Irina..."
"W-What?" Irina said, starting to sweat.
Miyuki's staff appeared in her hand. "Run."
"Aaaaahhhhh! !" Irina whined as Miyuki ran her down.
"Why do you have such big ones? ! You're an angel! The second you do anything lewd you'll fall!" Miyuki shouts.
"I'm sooooorrrryyyyy! !" Irina whined.
"Uhm...well while Miyuki's trying to maim Irina. Does anyone have any other ideas?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh! Oh!" Gasper waved his hand around.
"Hm?" Kenshin turned to him and pointed. "Yes?"
"How about an election to find out which girl in the Occult Research Club is most popular." Gasper suggested.
"?" Everyone turned to him. Miyuki and Irina even stopped running and turned to him.
"U-Uhm...w-well I always wondered which of you is the most popular." Gasper said with a shy squeak.
"That's a great idea Gasper!" Issei whooped.
"Well obviously it's me." Rias and Akeno said at the same time. The two glare at each other smiling.
"Ara? Chief did you say something?" Akeno asked.
"You too Akeno, didn't you just say something I cannot ignore?" Rias replied.
"Well then, maybe you should ask Kenshin." Issei suggested.
"Good idea!" Rias and Akeno said turning to where Kenshin was only to find a smoke outline. "Huh? ! Where did he go? !"
Kenshin walked around downstairs. "I am way too hungover for that...fucking Odin and Azazel forcing me to go drink for drink with them." He felt his stomach turn. "Oh fuck...!" He covered his mouth and broke away for the nearest restroom. Asia happened to be walking by the restroom when she heard a retching sound.
"Eh?" Asia said. "I-Is everything alright in there?"
"Y-Yeah...I'm fine...jus...buuulllohhhh!"
Asia winced as she heard the clear as day sound of someone losing their lunch. "O-Onii-Sama...do you want me to come in there and heal you?" Asia asked.
"N-No! I-I'm fine!" Kenshin said as he flushed the alcohol he had just puked up. He cleaned himself up, using mouthwash to get rid of the putrid taste and exiting the restroom. "...Ugh...I'm gonna kill those two fuckers."
"H-Here." Asia said placing her hands on his stomach, a green glow entered his body and cured his ailments. "Do you feel better?" She asked with a shy smile.
"Y-Yeah." Kenshin said. "Thanks."
The two went back upstairs where Azazel had just quieted an argument. He turned to Kenshin. "Having trouble keeping it together?"
"You're the one who forced me to go out drinking with you and Odin." Kenshin said with a snort.
"You're the one who said he could drink us under the table." Azazel said.
"I was right though wasn't I?" Kenshin asked with a glare.
"At what cost though?" Azazel shrugged.
"None to me, you're the one who had to foot the bill for all the sake we drank ya lightweight." Kenshin said.
"Meh, I would have paid you back if you went down first anyway." Azazel said. "Anyway...it's about dusk isn't it?"
"..." Everyone put on a serious expression.
"It's too early for a Ragnarok. You guys, we're going all out." Azazel said.
"Right!" Everyone shouts.
(break)
That night.
Everyone stood on the roof of a five star hotel. Vali's team stood a little further away. Azazel had to work as the middle man for the meeting so replacing him was Barakiel. Also participating was Rossweisse. "It's time." Rias said looking at her watch.
Kenshin glanced toward Yukari, then to Miyuki each giving them a nod. He turned to Hikari. "Are you ready?" He asked.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Hikari said. She subtly jerked her head toward Kazumi. Kenshin nodded and approached her.
"Kazumi." Kenshin said.
"H-Huh?" Kazumi said.
"Is everything alright?" Kenshin asked.
"Y-Yeah...j-just a little nervous...I mean...we are fighting a god..." Kazumi said bowing her head.
"I know." Kenshin said. "Kazumi. I want you to stay next to me while this is going on. I'll be able to protect you if nothing else."
"A-Alright." Kazumi said. Kenshin nodded and turned to walk away. "U-Uh Kenshin?"
"Yes?" Kenshin turned back to her.
"I-I'm sorry for what I said..." Kazumi said. "I-It wasn't fair and you didn't deserve it."
Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. "It's quite alright."
"A-About my artif-...er...my Sacred Gear. I can make more than one of them." Kazumi said. "Several actually."
"Oh? Well then I'll definitely need you next to me then." Kenshin said. "I'll need you to keep an eye on everyone."
"O-OK!" Kazumi said.
"That's the spirit." Kenshin said as he walked forward.
"Hm...no tricks huh? You have my respect." Vali said with a bitter smile.
"Funny, I expected more cunning from the God of Mischief." Kenshin said.
"Huh?" Issei said. "What're you guys...?"
The space above the hotel started to break until a giant hole was formed as the space distorted. Out stepped Loki and Fenrir. "Aaah, I see we have a warm up battle before I take Odin's head. But first I need to take care of something." Loki said holding up a handsign.
"Hn!" Kenshin grunted as his chest lit up faintly. "Heheheh...the jokes on you Loki. I won't be using the elements tonight. I'm merely acting as the safety net." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Oh...hahahahaha...if only your friends back home had that safety net, they'd probably still be alive." Loki taunted.
"..." Kenshin lost his smirk and scowled, clenching his fists tight enough to make them bleed.
"Misson Start, Begin the spell." Barakiel said into his communicator.
The Gremory group. Kuroshi group, Vali team, Barakiel, Rossweisse, Fenrir and Loki were encased in a barrier. Loki sensed this and did nothing to stop it. A bright light blinded everyone and they were teleported away.
They all appeared in a spacious rock field. "So you aren't fleeing..." Rias said with sarcasm in her tone.
"There's no need. The location of the battle means little, after I am done here I'll go back to the hotel and do away with Odin." Loki said.
"You are wrapped in dangerous thoughts." Barakiel said with a scowl.
"Welsh Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
"Vanishing Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
Issei and Vali both assumed their Balance Breakers and Loki seemed almost giddy at the prospect. "Splendid! The two Heavenly Dragons will join forces to defeat me! My heart have never raced like this before!"
Issei and Vali pursued him. The latter from the sky, the former from the ground. "It must be a good day for me, to be the first one to experience a fight like this!" Loki said as he made a wide array of defensive magic circles around him.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes as he saw this through Kazumi's Sacred Gear. "Mandala barriers? Hn...did Loki learn that from Hottan, or did Hottan learn them from Loki?"
Loki fired off sashes of light at Vali and Issei, the former flew around them acrobatically while Issei tanked his way through them. Issei smashed his way through Loki's barriers with boosted up speed and Vali came in behind him and fires off a powerful demonic attack at Loki.
"Huh?" Issei said seeing a equation in Vali's hand. "Is that the Norse Magic he learned? Wait...FUCK! !" He thought as he dodged out of the way of the attack.
"It connected." Vali said simply.
"Yeah, well wait for me to clear the blast area you dick!" Issei snapped.
Kenshin appeared behind Issei and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Gift." He said.
"Transfer!"
"Aah, thanks Kenshin!" Issei said grabbing Kenshin's arm and throwing him back toward the crowd. Kenshin gave him a two fingered salute as he tucked and rolled for a landing.
"Stay ready, I doubt that did it." Vali said.
"Fuhahahahahahaha!" Loki laughed as he emerged from the blast unharmed.
"You're kidding...he wasn't even fazed by that?" Issei said. A sliver of worry going through him.
"Of course. There's only one thing that will put him down for the count." Vali said.
"Right!" Issei said grabbing Mjolnir from his waist and pumping some power through it to increase it's size.
"...Mjolnir..." Loki said. "No, Thor doesn't lend his weapon out...the replica then, even so that is still a dangerous weapon you have there, damn Odin, do you really want this meeting to succeed that much?"
Issei screamed toward Loki with boosted speed, holding Mjolnir overhead. "Come out, Lightning that can slay even a god!" Issei shouts swinging the hammer downward.
Loki dodges, a crater results from the force of the swing, but the lightning doesn't come out. Issei swung it again and again, but still no lightning. "What! The! Hell? !" Issei shouts.
"Fuahahahahahaha! Don't you know Mjolnir can only be wielded by someone very strong and very pure of heart? ! Also I hear that in truth it's practically weightless! Fuahaahahahahaha!" Loki threw his head back and laughed.
"Are you kidding me? ! Even perversion counts as an...oh what am I thinking of course it counts as an impure feeling." Issei thought.
"Alright then, enough humor..it's time for me to seriously attack." Loki said. "Fenrir! Etch true horror into their minds!"
"Not so fast!" Rias said raising her hand upward.
"Nyan~!" Kuroka said smiling as magic circles activated around her and a large, thick chain shot out and toward the charging Fenrir.
"Fuahahahahaha! Useless! I thought you would use Glepnir and I already-!" Loki was cut off as the Glepnir chain wrapped itself around Fenrir, who howled in pain.
"You were saying?" Kenshin asked. "No No, come on now."
"Fenrir, captured." Barakiel said into the communicator.
"You fool..."
"!" Kenshin turned around finding Loki behind him. Kazumi gasped and hid behind Kenshin. "Bastard!" He slashed through Loki who merely had his image distorted.
"Hahahahaha, how many times are you going to fall for that?" Loki asked with a smirk.
"An illusory image." Kenshin said. "Great, what do you want?"
"Look." Loki said pointing at the real him.
"? !" Kenshin rounded to find distortions on either side of the real Loki. Two ash gray wolves appeared, around the same height as Fenrir.
"What? There's more? !" Issei shouts.
"Hmhmhm...I changed a joutunn woman into a wolf and had her breed with Fenrir." Loki and his image said. "Their specs are a bit lower than their father's, but the fangs are the same, which is what is important. Now go! Skoll! Hati! Rend those fools who captured your father to bits!"
The two wolves charged forward. Kenshin moved to help intercept them when Loki called out to him. "You know there's nothing you can do now, Kuroshi Kenshin."
"I'll show you!" Kenshin said.
"Hmhmhmhm...you know...they all kept praying that someone would come save them...that you would appear and save the day." Loki said.
"!" Kenshin stopped cold in his tracks.
"Especially your childhood friend...what was her name again...?" Loki said.
"Krrggghhh..." Kenshin growled turning toward the image.
"Kenshin! Kenshin! ! Wake up!" Kazumi said shaking Kenshin around, who had a entranced look in his eyes.
"What's wrong? !" Rias said.
"It's Kenshin! I-I think Loki has him wrapped up in some kind of trance!" Kazumi shouts.
"Damn..." Rias cursed. "Without Kenshin we can't be powered up. No matter! Stick to the plan!"
"Haaah!" Miyuki yelled out, slamming her staff into the earth breaking it into pieces hurting child Fenrir's footing.
"Haaah!" Irina threw a light spear at it, it emerged with no damage.
"Hn!" Barakiel took to the skies and launched lightning at both the offspring Fenrirs.
"Katensho!" Yukari called out hitting one of them, but not doing much damage.
"It's interesting! You were able to learn Norse Magic so quickly Hakuryuukou!" Loki said as he launched an array of rainbow colored magics at them. Vali moved in front of Issei and enlarged his wings.
"Are you planning on taking that head on? !" Issei shouts.
"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"
"Hn, so I can still do this despite you being a god, it just costs more." Vali said. "Hnn..." He repaired the damages to his armor from attacks that got through his divisions.
"Alright! Goooo! ! !" Issei shouts firing a boosted Dragon shot at Loki. "If I can't hit him with Mjolnir, this is my next best option! Come on Kenshin, wake up soon! !" He thought.
Meanwhile, Kenshin remained glaring at Loki. "Why would someone like you, from this world...help Hottan?" He snarled out.
"He offered to help me with the Ragnarok when the time came, it was a fair trade all things considered." Loki said.
"Krrgh...you piece of shit!" Kenshin shouts. "Those girls you helped to kill were innocents!"
"Huhuhuhuhu." Loki chuckled darkly. "Were they now? I highly doubt that."
"They didn't deserve to die!" Kenshin yells.
"On the contrary...they deserved their deaths...merely by being associated with you." Kenshin rounded to find a man wearing an all black robe, the hood taken down revealing dull blue eyes and long blonde hair tied into a braid. Kenshin's eyes immediately narrowed into a furious scowl at the sight of him.
"HOOOTTTTTAAAAANNNNNN! ! !"
"Huhuhuhu, hello Kenshin...I see you've met my associate. It's a shame about those friends of yours from that academy. They could have led such bright lives...if only you had never been born."
"Where's the real you? ! I'm gonna kill you! ! KILL YOU! !" Kenshin roared venomously.
"All in due time...there are others who would like to see you suffer first." Hottan said as he and Loki vanished. In their place appeared a young woman with long black hair wearing an outfit similar to a white mage's.
"! !" Kenshin immediately froze, his mouth opening and closing, trying desperately to speak. "...K...K...Ko...Kono...ka?"
The young woman, now known as Konoka opened her eyes. She immediately glanced at him with disdain. "Kenshin..." She said. Her tone like lead, smashing into his heart.
"K-Konoka...I...I." Kenshin tried to speak.
"Shut up." Konoka said. "You have no right to speak to me anymore Kenshin..."
"W-What? I-I..." Kenshin was cut off again.
"Where were you?" Konoka said, her voice laced with venom. "Why didn't you come back...?" She asked.
"I-I couldn't! I was taken from home by-!" Kenshin was cut off.
"Don't make excuses for yourself!" Konoka yelled. "I cried for you! I prayed that you would come back...yet...when I needed you most...you...weren't...there...why weren't you there?"
"..." Kenshin felt a quiver running through his body, unable to come up with anything to say.
"Ojou-Sama was not the only one..." Kenshin's eyes widened and turned to find another young woman with short black hair tied into a side ponytail resembling a wing wearing a maid outfit, wielding a nodachi. "You were our friend, our closest friend...someone we thought we could rely on."
"S-Setsuna, I..I would hav-!" Kenshin was cut off again.
"Have what?" Setsuna asked, giving him a scathing look. "You were gone, your work as a mercenary always had you on the run...you never cared about us...you only cared about yourself...and your safety...if you could, you would have sold us to the wolves...and you did."
"No!" Kenshin yelled out desperately. "Y-You and Konoka...you mean-!"
Setsuna took her nodachi and rammed it through Kenshin's chest. She twisted it in. Kenshin felt no pain physically, but mentally, emotionally was a different story altogether. "We meant nothing to you...we thought you were dead...Negi-Sensei clung desperately to the chance that you were out there somewhere, and you were...you were here...leading a peaceful life while we all suffered! !" She screamed.
"No...No...I..I..." Kenshin said, his quiver now a full on shaking, he bit his lip trying to hold his tears in.
"If you truly cared about us...why weren't you there?" Konoka and Setsuna both asked.
"Why weren't you there...?" Kenshin looked all around he saw the girls that he and Negi used to teach. All with the same scathing look in their eyes. All repeating the same line. "Why weren't you there...? Why weren't you there...?"
It got louder and louder making Kenshin cover his ears. His knees buckled and he lurched over, screwing his eyes shut. "Make it stop...!" He desperately said.
"Why weren't you there...? !"
"Make it stop!" Kenshin shouts.
"Why weren't you there? !"
"Make it stop! !" Kenshin cried out of desperation.
"WHY WEREN'T YOU THERE? ! !"
"MAKE IT STOOOOOPPPPPP! ! !" Kenshin yelled out.
Back on the outside. Vali was fighting against Fenrir's jowels, having been released by one of his children. Yukari and Miyuki led the charge against them, but they were getting exhausted. "Damn! We can't keep this up for much longer!" Yukari said dodging as Koneko threw balls of blue flame at them.
"Hn!" Rias lobbed volleys of destruction magics at mass produced Midgarsormrs that Loki had brought out to this fight. "This is insane...! This is what it's like to fight a god...?" Rias said.
"Raikou!" Barakiel shouts striking Fenrir with holy lightning.
"Grrrhhh!" Fenrir growled.
"Hmhmhm...the Dragon of the Elements' mind should be just about broken." Loki said with a satisfied smirk.
"? !" Issei turned to him. "What are you doing to Kenshin? !"
"Hmhmhm...he may have a strong body, but if you know how his mind works...and Hottan does. He can be tortured mentally." Loki said. He glanced over and saw Bikou, Kuroka and Arthur use a combined attack to knock one of the child Fenrirs down, restrict it's movements, and carve out one of it's eyes and it's claws and fangs. "Those three are really annoying."
"Whoa...so those are Vali's comrades." Issei said shaking his head quickly. "Wait! Leave Kenshin alone! He's not your opponent! I am! !"
"I was asked to break Kuroshi Kenshin's psyche by Hottan." Loki said. "What he wants him for, not even I know."
"!" Issei glared daggers at Loki. "You bastard!" He turned around. "Chief! !"
"Issei?" Rias said turning to him, having just blasted more mass produced Midgardsormrs away. Hikari appeared behind her.
"I got your back. Go ahead." Hikari said pressing a button on her staff making the top shoot off of it. She started to carve up the Midgardsormrs.
"What is it? !" Rias asked.
"Loki's torturing Kenshin's mind! He says Kenshin's close to breaking!" Issei said.
"!" Rias, Hikari, Yukari and Miyuki all let out a short gasp. Miyuki and Yukari gain their second wind and attack the same child Fenrir together.
"Focus on the Midgardsormrs!" Yukari said to the others. "Rias! Get to Kenshin and try to snap him out of it! We need his help here! !"
"Right!" Rias said flying over to where Kenshin is.
"Oh no you don't!" Loki shouts only to be forced back by Issei.
"I am your opponent!" Issei shouts.
Rias landed and turned to Kazumi. "What could Loki be torturing him with?"
"I...I think it might be with the memories of my friends and I, from the academy he used to teach at." Kazumi said. "Some of us were really close to Kenshin."
"...I see." Rias said walking in front of Kenshin and placing her hands on his temples and pressing her forehead against his. She saw him on his knees trying to shut something out, multiple young women around him. She also heard them saying.
"Why weren't you there? ! !"
And Kenshin saying.
"Make it stooooopppppp! ! !"
"...I'm going in for a couple of minutes. If anything gets close to us, pull me away from Kenshin." Rias said.
"Right!" Kazumi said bringing her camera drones around her to watch the immediate area.
Rias locked eyes with Kenshin and sent a pulse of magic through them. Her eyes went dull. She found herself in Kenshin's mind. Meanwhile, the girls had vanished, but Hottan had reappeared.
"Hahahahaha, you're pathetic Kenshin...truly...utterly pathetic." Hottan said. "You left those poor innocent girls out to rot. You deserve to die."
"..." Kenshin said nothing.
"And you want to know what else? The same fate awaits those devils, that angel, the Valkyrie and the fallen angels, even those two dragon avatars and the white ones lackeys." Hottan said with a smirk .
"No." Kenshin said scowling weakly at him.
"Hahahaha, it will...you know why?" Hottan said. "Because of you...and your presence, and your entire despicable existence. Someone like you, is better suited to serving me. A puppet on the end of my string."
"I will never serve you! I WOULD RATHER DIE! !" Kenshin roared.
"That can be arranged." Hottan said taking aim at Kenshin. "Once I kill you in here Kenshin, you'll be brain dead...so really we both get our wish."
"Stay away from him! !"
"Huh? !" Hottan shouts as he was blasted in the face with destruction magic.
"? !" Kenshin turned his head, seeing Rias running up to him. She helped him to his feet.
"Are you OK?" Rias asked.
"I...I'm fine..." Kenshin said.
"Heheheheheh..." Hottan chuckled darkly. "Aaaah...so you're the new Negi eh? Nice to meet you, I am the LifeMaker Hottan."
"You are not welcome in here, get out!" Rias said charging up another attack.
Hottan's image crumbled. "Very well. I've tortured Kenshin enough for today. But I will warn you girlie, if you value your life...leave that man as soon as possible." He pointed at Kenshin.
"Never...No one decides when I perish but me! I will remain with Kenshin forever!" Rias declared.
"R...Rias?" Kenshin said with wide eyes.
"Heh...your funeral." Hottan said as he crumbled away.
"Well, now you've met Hottan." Kenshin said bowing his head. "..."
"Don't...he's wrong about you. I could never believe anything like that about you. I know that's not who you are." Rias said with a smile.
"..." Kenshin said nothing, only giving her a small smile. They turned to walk away when a voice called out to Kenshin.
"Ken-kun."
"!" Kenshin rounded to find Konoka and Setsuna again. This time however, they were smiling. "S-Secchan...K-Kono-Chan?"
"It's OK Kenshin...what you saw earlier, that wasn't really us...it wasn't any of us." Setsuna said.
"..." Tears shimmered in Kenshin's eyes. "I...I always thought about you all...in the back of my mind...I was always worried about you."
"We know, Ken-kun." Konoka said. "It's OK..we're just glad knowing you're alright."
"Give everyone my best for me." Kenshin said wiping his eyes.
"Yes, Goodbye Ken-kun!" Konoka said.
"We'll make sure to tell everyone. Sayonara, Kenshin." Setsuna said as the two disappeared.
Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. "Alright. Let's get out of here."
"Yes." Rias said, holding his hand.
Kenshin and Rias snapped back to reality to find multiple Midgardsormrs charging in at them, some of them had Kazumi wrapped up. "Haaah!" Rias destroyed the whole lot, sparing Kazumi.
"Haaah! Sorry, they were so fast! I tried!" Kazumi said.
"It's OK." Rias said helping her to her feet.
Kenshin stepped forward looking around. Yukari and Miyuki were still fighting the the child Fenrir. He saw the Vali Team had the other one pretty well handled, but everyone else was having trouble with the mass produced Midgardsormrs. "What the hell happened? Why is Fenrir free again?"
"One of those pups pulled Glepnir off." Rias explained.
"...I see..." Kenshin said. "Vali looks fucked up...wait, he's in Fenrir's mouth, no shit he's fucked up. Issei can't hope to fight Loki alone..." He turned to Rias. "I'm sorry, but..."
"No...you said you would if things went south...and they have most certainly went there." Rias said bowing her head. "Good luck."
Kenshin nodded and tossed her his jacket it and took down his shirt. "If I don't make it out of this..."
"Don't talk like that. You're going to make it!" Rias and Kazumi snapped.
"...Heh...alright then, I'll say what I was going to say another time." Kenshin said with a smile. That soon vanished as he focused. "Alright, I know you're in there Ophis...let's do this." He thought.
"I knew you would come around eventually." Ophis said with a haughty tone. "Just so you know, this is going to hurt."
"I don't care, just do it!" Kenshin thought.
"Alright then! Here we go!" Ophis exclaimed.
"!" Kenshin was almost floored by the pain that hit him. "Grrrhhh! !" He grunted. He lurched forward the Ouroboros mark on Kenshin's back glowing brightly.
He could feel it, the feeling of his body trying to rip itself in two, but at the same time, he could feel his power returning and not only returning, growing ever stronger. He regenerated his tearing muscles over and over again growling loudly in pain as he did. "Come on! Come on! !"
Yukari and Miyuki both glanced at him. "Kenshin!" They said moving to help him.
"Stay back! ! If you abandon that Fenrir, he'll come over here! !" Kenshin shouts.
"Hm? !" Loki said. "What is he doing?"
"Kenshin!" Issei shouts. "Do it! !"
"Haaaaahhhhh! !" Kenshin straightened his body out and flung his arms out at his side. "Say the words Kenshin and it's yours!" Ophis said.
"Balance...BREAK! !" Kenshin shouts.
Kenshin's body was obscured in a black light that condensed around him. When it cleared, he was revealed wearing a set of samurai armor, black in color. There were two brown jewels in the chest. He had armguards on each with two red jewels over his hands, on his legs were shinguards with two green jewels in the middle and finally on his head was a plated headband with two sea blue jewels on it. His hair had grown past his waist and was tied into a single thick, spiky tail while two thick bangs framed his face. This was followed by the speaking of four words, by four voices speaking as one.
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive! !"
Kenshin vanished and suddenly the child Fenrir the Vali team was fighting was sent into a small rock formation roughly twenty meters away. In his place was Kenshin. "...Whoa..." Yukari said in shock looking back at it. "I...I...I could barely see him move..."
"So strong..." Miyuki said in amazement.
"We had that pretty well handled Nyaa..." Kuroka said.
"Meh, It'll probably get back up. I just wanted to flex my muscles a bit" Kenshin said. "Now for the big dog."
Kenshin appeared next to Issei. "Whoa? !" Issei said. "Dude! I didn't even see you move!"
"What the hell's wrong with Mjolnir?" Kenshin asked.
"I don't know!" Issei said. "I'm trying to figure that out!"
"So Kenshin Kuroshi, you've finally attained the Balance Breaker." Vali said.
"Want me to bust you out of Fenrir's mouth?" Kenshin asked.
"No. I will kill this parent Fenrir myself." Vali said.
"Fuhahahahahaha! You're on the verge of death! Won't acting strong lower the name of the Hakuryuukou? !" Loki laughed.
"Don't you dare underestimate me..." Vali glared as the jewels in his armor glew brightly with a rainbow color. "I, the one to awaken..."
"They will be blasted away! They are most certainly going to be blasted away!"
"I am the dragon who had the principles of domination stolen from everything." Vali chanted.
"The Dream will end, the Illusion will begin!"
"I envy the infinite and consider the dream." Vali continued.
"Everything! Give us Everything!"
"I will master the path of the Domination of the White Dragon, and I shall lure you to the utmost purity!" Vali finished.
"Juggernaut Drive! ! !"
"Kuroka! Teleport Fenrir and I to the allocated place!" Vali said as his body began to transform.
"As you command nyaa." Kuroka said raising her hand toward Vali and Fenrir, moving her fingers around as she did.
Vali and Fenrir both vanished along with the Glepnir chain. "Juggernaut Drive, that was my first time seeing it." Issei said.
"It certainly is a thing to behold." Kenshin said.
"Akeno! !"
"? !" Kenshin and Issei hear Rias screaming and look over to find Yukari and Miyuki on the ground, exhausted while the child Fenrir that they were fighting bore down on Akeno. "Oh no you don't! !" Kenshin shouts as he and Issei take off like a pair of bullets toward it.
"Do you really think I'll let you? !" Loki said firing his magic at their backs.
Rossweisse and Hikari move in to intercept. "Back off!" They shout.
"Damn! Even with my upped speed! I won't make it!" Kenshin cursed as the Fenrir neared Akeno. They heard teeth tearing through flesh it wasn't Akeno's, but it was Barakiel's. "!" Kenshin roared forward and kicked it in the side, sending it flying into another rock formation making it release Barakiel.
"Asia!" Issei shouts.
"H-Hai!" Asia said creating a green aura in her hands, sending it toward Barakiel.
"...Why?" Akeno asked, staring wide eyed at her father, who bled heavily.
"...I...couldn't...lose you as well..." Barakiel said.
"!...!" Akeno froze, everything in her froze up. Kenshin and Issei landed next to her.
"...Snap out of it Akeno, the battle is still going on..." Barakiel said.
"..." Kenshin looked over and saw Loki having his way against Hikari and Rossweisse. "She's too panicked..." He said taking out a stencil cut in the shape of a man. "Charm-San, Charm-San, Please take my place." He chanted. A clone of Kenshin appeared and placed his hand on Akeno's head. "Issei, come here and see if you can help." Kenshin said forming a half dome of earth around them.
"OK, but what are you going to do?" Issei asked.
"I'm going to fight Loki." Kenshin said walking away, taking to the skies. "I'm the only fresh body left here."
"Do you think you can beat him?" Issei asked.
"Probably not, I'm still new to this Balance Breaker." Kenshin said. "I'll stall him." He took off, screaming by Hikari and Rossweisse. "Earthly Armament! Right Fist!"
"? !" Loki's eyes widened as Kenshin's fist tore through his barriers and connected with his left cheek. He caught himself and rubbed his cheek. "You...you dare lay your hands on a god?" Loki snarled.
"You paid such special attention to me this whole time...I wonder why." Kenshin said cracking his knuckles. "In any case...I have the Balance Breaker now. Let's see which of us is stronger, shall we?"
"Kenshin, Kenshin-San!" Hikari and Rossweisse said.
Kenshin turned his head. "Thank you for distracting him for me, but I don't need you here right now. Yukari and Miyuki have had it, they've done well against powerful opponents, but they're finished, and who know who else needs help right now. Go to them."
"Right, good luck." Hikari said taking off.
"...D..Do you really believe you can win?" Rossweisse asked.
"..." Kenshin smiled at her. "If I didn't think I could make a difference, I wouldn't be here right now. Run along now Valkyrie-Chan."
Rossweisse's face lit up a bit before she nodded and took off. "Even with the Balance Breaker, without Mjolnir, you stand no chance of beating me." Loki said.
Kenshin turned toward him and walked calmly up to him. "I don't care."
"He walks in mid air? Using wind magic to make platforms?" Loki thought.
"I may not be able to kill you, but..." A smirk grew on Kenshin's lips. "Beating the living shit out of you until I can't lift my arms anymore...that's good enough for me."
"!" Loki's eyes widened as Kenshin vanished. He looked around. "Where is he? !"
"Psst..." Kenshin's voice rang behind him making him go stiff. Loki slowly turned around and found him smirking still. "Hey, your back's wide open. Then again, everything about you is." He said moving his fist faster than Loki could track and punching him in the face.
"Guuh!" Loki grunted. "How does he keep breaking through my defenses? !" Loki thought.
Meanwhile Issei and Kenshin's clone were having no luck breaking through when suddenly a voice ran in their heads. "I am not Himejima Akeno's breast, I am the spirit of all breasts."
Kenshin's face fell. "Seriously? Why can I hear you?"
"Because you are attached to the person I am speaking through physically. I am a servant of the Chichigami." The Breast spirit said.
"U-Uh, Kenshin, which mythology does the Chichigami come from?" Issei asked.
"How would I know? !" Kenshin snapped. "Focus dammit and stop talking about this stuff before Barakiel decides to fry us both for talking about his daughter's chest!"
"E-Eeeehhh? !" Issei said seeing lightning sparking around Barakiel who was glaring at Issei.
"Listen to the real thoughts of this miko and receive divine protection from Chichigami-Sama. She is very merciful and gives divine protection to all who seek breasts." The Breast Spirit said.
Kenshin knelt down behind Akeno and closed his eyes. Issei did the same, kneeling down at her side. Their consciousnesses were sucked into Akeno's mind.
They found themselves in a garden of a one story house. They saw a little girl, which they both figured was Akeno playing with a ball while singing to herself. "Akeno? Are you out here?" A mature sounding voice said.
"Kaa-Sama!" Child Akeno said running toward a mature looking woman who resembled her greatly.
"That must be Shuri." Kenshin said.
"Shuri?" Issei asked.
"Akeno's mother." Kenshin answered.
"It feels like she's going to disappear..." Issei said.
"Kaa-Sama, When did Tou-Sama say he would be back again?" Child Akeno asked.
Shuri smiled. "Ara? Are you and Tou-Sama planning on going somewhere today?"
"If he comes home early today, we're going shopping together by bus!" Child Akeno said excitedly.
"...I was lonely..."
Kenshin and Issei looked around as the scene changed. "That sounded..." Issei trailed off.
"Like Akeno's voice. The present Akeno anyway." Kenshin finished. The scene stopped to reveal Barakiel and Akeno taking a bath together.
"I don't hate Tou-Sama's wings, they're very black and silky like Akeno's!" Child Akeno said referring to herself in third person.
"I see. Thank you Akeno." Barakiel replied.
The scene changed again, this time the Child Akeno was having her hair braided by Shuri. "Hey Kaa-Sama, does Tou-Sama like Akeno?" She asked.
"Of course he does. He loves his darling Akeno." Shuri replied.
"It would have been good if Tou-Sama was around all the time...I could only see him sometimes...and then..." Akeno said.
The scene changed to reveal the main room of the house. It was a mess. Shuri and Child Akeno were surrounded by the Himejima clan jutsuha. "We will have you hand over that child of that evil and hated black angel." The leader said.
"Absolutely not! She is my precious daughter and his precious daughter" Shuri shouts.
"I see...you have been defiled by that black angel, it can't be helped then." The leader drew out a katana and cut Shuri down.
"Kaa-Saaaammmmmaaaa! !" Child Akeno screamed.
The scene progressed. Barakiel had arrived and was covered in blood, the jutsuha laying dead around him. "..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "So this is what really happened, huh?" He said. "I guess I can't blame them for not wanting to re-live this. Maybe I shouldn't have been so nosy."
"You were only trying to help Kenshin." Issei said.
"Don't touch her!" Child Akeno shouts.
"..." Barakiel didn't move a step further.
"Why? ! Why couldn't you stay with Kaa-Sama? ! We always waited for you...if Tou-Sama were here, Kaa-Sama wouldn't have died! !" Child Akeno shouts.
"..." Barakiel said nothing, knowing she was right.
"Those people said that Tou-Sama is a black angel, and that you're evil. They said I was a bad child because I had these black wings! If we didn't have them...then...then Kaa-Sama would still be alive! I hate it! I hate you! I hate everyone! ! I hate them! !"
"...I knew it wasn't Tou-Sama's fault, but if I didn't think that...I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did...because I was...am..weak...and lonely." Akeno's voice said. "I just wanted to live, just with the three of us."
The scene died away, but left the frozen images of Barakiel and Akeno. "Akeno...whatever happens, please believe in your Tou-Sama, it's true that he's hurt many people in the past, but..." A spirit appeared and embraced them both. "It's also true that he loves Akeno and I...that's why...please love him too Akeno."
Issei and the images of Barakiel and Child Akeno vanished. "? !" Kenshin looked around. "Hey! I need to be let out of here!"
"So you're the one my Akeno's fallen in love with." Kenshin turned to find Shuri in front of him, a peaceful smile on her face.
"Yeah..." Kenshin said. "Still, I wasn't able to do much for her here, as a matter o' fact. I kinda feel like I screwed up."
"Hmhmhm." Shuri giggled softly. "This wasn't your place to help, but you cared enough about her to try, and you didn't know anything about Barakiel when you met him, only going on what Akeno had told you."
"..." Kenshin nodded.
Shuri placed her hand on Kenshin's face. "Please continue to care for my Akeno."
"Yes. You have my word." Kenshin said as he disappeared.
He came to, to find Akeno crying in Barakiel's arms. He figured they must have reconciled and smiled He looked around seeing black flames everywhere, restraining the Midgardsormrs while everyone that could, attacked them. "What the?"
"Saji came in here like that...I don't know what's going on." Issei said before a magic circle lit up next to his head. "Huh who's this? Shemhaza? Sensei's frien- O-Oi! Kenshin what's wrong? !"
"Gghh, my real body's running out of power." Kenshin said having fallen backward. "Without the Balance Breaker I can't hold this clone up. Hurry up and run that God Class power into Mjolnir." He said as his clone turned back into a stencil.
While Issei and Kenshin's clone viewed Akeno's memories. The real Kenshin continued to fight Loki. He punched Loki in the face sending him flying away. He flew above Loki, changing directions and moving downward, until he was directly behind Loki and drove his elbow into Loki's back. "Guhah? !" Loki spat out blood as Kenshin's elbow drove into his kidney.
"I can't let up! I won't let up! ! To let up is to show mercy and he deserves none!" Kenshin thought. "Not after what he did!"
Loki caught himself and put all the power he could into a single barrier. Imagine his shock when Kenshin's hand tore through his barrier and received an earth powered smack across the face for his troubles. "What is this power? ! The Elements shouldn't be able to harm me like this!"
Loki replaced himself with an illusion of himself and hid himself behind a rock to recuperate himself. Kenshin stopped in front of the fake Loki and changed directions coming after the real Loki. "You cannot hide from me Mischief God! Your tricks will not work against me!"
"!" Loki barely dodged another earth powered fist only to get a flame empowered one right to his stomach.
"Crushing Flame Profusion!" Kenshin shouts uppercutting Loki high into the sky.
"Grrrh! !" Loki growled. "Enough!" He shouts making Kenshin stop as he got to the same level as Loki. "I am a GOD you dull creature, and I will not be beaten by-!" Loki was cut off by a fist planting itself into his right temple.
"I don't care what you are! You will pay for the shit you've done!" Kenshin shouts as he sends Loki flying away.
"Whoa..." Yukari said with wide eyes as she sat up. "Kenshin won't let up." She said.
"Onii-Chan's attacking so viciously..." Miyuki said mirroring her sister's expression.
"He's going to exhaust himself sooner or later, why doesn't he conserve his energy?" Rias asked.
The Salamander card flew out of Yukari's hand. "This is Kenshin's first time using the Balance Breaker. He can feel it. The power he is using, it won't last much longer. That's why he's trying to incapacitate Loki before he burns himself out." Salamander said.
Kenshin rushed forward, placing a hand onto Loki's stomach and jumping back. He flashed through handsigns. "Raimei Juumon!"
"Grruh? !" Loki grunted as electricity crackled through his body. "Thunder magic? !"
"Heh and there's more where that came from!" Kenshin said throwing another charm at Loki who dodged while Kenshin flashed through handsigns again. "Bakahatsu Aikyou!" (A/N: Detonation Charm)
"Gahh? !" Loki said as the charm exploded as it flew by next to him. "What the hell? ! How many of those do you have? !"
"Thousands." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Oh, you think you're being cute!" Loki said. "I don't see them!"
"Bitch I'm adorable." Kenshin said throwing another charm at Loki, who lifted his arm to dodge. It applied to the rocky plateau behind him.
"You missed." Loki said with a smirk.
"Or did I?" Kenshin asked flashing through handsigns again. "Daichi Guntou! Pillar Upheaval!" (A/N: Daichi Guntou means Stone Saber)
"Hn? !" Loki's eyes widened as a large pillar hit him in the back and sent him roaring toward Kenshin who cocked his fist back. "Oh no!"
"Earthly Armament! Left arm!"
"Gulllhhh? !" Loki grunted loudly as he was driven into Kenshin's fist and sent tearing through the plateau. Loki flew back out glaring venomously at Kenshin. He looked at Kenshin's fists and saw a familiar equation on both of them. "You...you know Norse Magics as well? !"
"Heh, I'm not as proficient as Vali, nowhere near, but I did manage to pick up a couple of them." Kenshin said. "In case you wanted to know how I've been shattering your barriers, your defenses so easily."
"And you didn't fight me yourself until now because? !" Loki shouts.
"I still needed to be strong enough to hurt you, until now I was not." Kenshin said.
"Grrrhhh! !" Loki growled. "You think you can hurt me, a god? !"
"That blood on your bottom lip says I already did." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"That's it! This farce ends now!" Loki said as the area behind him distorted.
"Heh." Kenshin unsheathed Kuroi Jigoku and slashed it out to his side, the air behind him igniting in a brilliant flame. "Come on you son of an ice giant!" Kenshin shouts with a smirk.
"Grh!" Loki snarled. "DIE! !" He roared sending thousands of ice spears at Kenshin.
"Bad move." Kenshin said pointing Kuroi Jigoku forward. "GO! Sensatsu Katensou! !" (A/N: One Thousand Killing Spears of Heavenly Flames)
"What? !" Loki said as Kenshin met his spear attack with it's contrasting element. He covered himself in his strongest barrier as the spears of flame cut through his own and struck him.
"Hnh? !" Kenshin lurched forward panting heavily. "No...not yet..." Kenshin protested as his samurai armor crumbled to nothing.
"I'm sorry Kenshin, but this is your first time using the Balance Breaker, this is the most time we can give." Undine said.
"S-Stay safe Kenshin-Chan!" Sylph said.
"Haaah...haahh..haaahh..haaahh..." Loki emerged from the smoke, the top of his robes burnt off. "...I admit, you might not be as proficient with Norse Magics as the Hakuryuukou, but...you are certainly physically stronger than he is. It's almost a shame that I have to kill you now...almost!" Loki took off after Kenshin.
"Shit..." Kenshin thought. "Hm? !" He felt something. A powerful force, a god like force gathering power. "That power...it's coming from...Issei! He extended his arms outward. "Alright then! Come and get me God of Mischief! !" He said with a wide smirk. "You're the only one who can take me out! What with Saji and his Sacred Gear appearing earlier to restrain your wolves and your mass produced dragons! !"
"What? ! Kenshin hang on! You can't hope to withstand an attack from him like you are now!" Yukari shouts.
"Kenshin!" Everyone except Akeno, Issei, Barakiel and Saji who was out of control at the moment shouts in worry as they took out the Midgardsormrs and the Fenrirs.
"Very well!" Loki shouts.
Kenshin's smirk widened further. "That's right...keep your eyes on me..." Kenshin thought.
Suddenly a thunder attack struck Loki. "? !" Kenshin turned his head seeing Akeno and Barakiel with their hands extended toward him and Loki, while also holding hands. He smiled at this. He brought his right hand to his mouth. "Come on Issei!"
"Right! I was just talking to Saji, helping him get his consciousness back!" Issei said.
Kenshin appeared above Loki and dropped his heel on Loki's head, the Norse Spell applied to his heel and sent the god to the ground where Saji restrained him. Issei came up next to Kenshin. "Do it." Kenshin said.
"Yeah!" Issei said roaring down toward Loki, accumulating boosts and transferring them to Mjolnir.
"Take this! For torturing Kenshin, Yukari-San, Miyuki-San, Kazumi-San and all of their friends! !" Issei shouts swinging Mjolnir downward, firing a powerful blast of lightning at Loki. When the dust settled, Loki was unconscious.
Barakiel put his hand to his ear. "Loki has been defeated." He said.
Kenshin and Issei landed on the ground. Kenshin took out a pair of cuffs Odin gave to him to put on Loki to seal his power when Loki was beaten and put them on. "..." Kenshin unsheathed Kuroi Jigoku and started to point it at Loki's chest.
Issei put his hand on Kenshin's wrist. "Kenshin..."
"Even if you could kill him Dragon of the Elements, that would not bring your departed friends back." Ddraig said.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes and sheathed his blade. "You're right...there's someone else out there who deserves my blade through their heart even more anyway." He reached down and grabbed Loki, slinging him over his shoulder. They flew out of the crater and walked toward Saji who had reverted to his normal form. "The hell was that Saji?"
"They...gave me...all of the Vritra type Sacred Gears...he woke up and I had to fight him for control." Saji asid.
"I see." Kenshin said.
Asia came over and healed Saji while Rossweisse came up to Kenshin. "I'll take Loki from here."
"Alright." Kenshin said slinging him off his shoulder and standing him up so Rossweisse could apply more seals just in case Loki still had more power to spare when he awoke.
Rossweisse then applied a chain to the cuffs and smiled at Kenshin. "That will be all."
"Alright." Kenshin said and she left.
"So, we won?" Saji asked.
"Yeah, each of us had a hand in this victory. You did good...for being out of control that is." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Well, thankfully Hyoudou was there to talk me down." Saji said as he struggled to his feet. Kenshin and Issei pulled him up. Kenshin took out a phoenix tear and poured it on Saji's head. "Aaah, thanks." He said.
"Asia, could you tend to others first. I'm fine going last. I wasn't that dinged up." Issei said.
"I'm just tired. I'll be fine." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin." Rias said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
Rias looked over at Akeno, who was trying to carry Barakiel. "I don't think Akeno's strong enough to support that frame by herself, could you give her a hand?"
"Sure." Kenshin said. He walked over to Akeno and Barakiel and slung the fallen angel leader's other arm over his shoulder. "Come on big guy." He said
"Lust Dra...er...Kuroshi Kenshin." Barakiel said, a tone of surprise in his voice.
"I'm not a wanton womanizer." Kenshin said. "I go with the flow a little too much maybe, but I don't just blatantly sleep around." He said with a grin.
"Y-Yes, you're right...you don't seem like that kind of person." Barakiel said with an embarrassed tone.
"Hehehehehehe." Kenshin snickered to himself.
"What's so funny?" Barakiel asked with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing, I'm just excited that I finally attained my Balance Breaker. I've been at it for awhile." Kenshin said with a wider grin.
"I see...uhm...My daughter Akeno...do you like her?" Barakiel asked.
"What's not to like? She's a compassionate, lovely, reliable lady." Kenshin said with a smile.
Barakiel nodded, apparently satisfied with his answer, while Akeno was currently trying to hide her face. The two left Barakiel with his comrades who came to warp everyone out. Akeno turned to Kenshin. "D...Did you really mean that?"
"Hm? Why wouldn't I have meant it?" Kenshin asked.
"..." Akeno leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Anytime." Kenshin said
(break)
Later.
Sirzechs and Azazel were debriefing the battle against Loki. "I hate to say it, but my family was saved by you yet again Azazel." Sirzechs said.
"Yup, it seems the Oppai Dragon and the Dragon of the Elements saved the day" Azazel said.
"Yeah, but what on earth is a Chichigami?" Sirzechs asked.
"I don't know, but it's good that Kenshin finally achieved his Balance Breaker. Now he can keep increasing his strength again, I can't help but feel though that Ragnarok will put him through the wringer even more now." Azazel said with a sweatdrop.
"On the other hand. I'm being pressured to promote a few names." Sirzechs said.
"Let me guess. Issei's one of them?" Azazel asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to wait awhile before promoting him. Kiba wields an irregular holy sword. Akeno is Barakiel's daughter. Issei is the Sekiryuutei. Hell some are even asking me to promote Kenshin to Duke."
"Man, Kenshin's just skyrocketed up the ranks since becoming a devil." Azazel said. "I don't think he'd agree with the promotion though. Not right now. He, in his words said he was pretty much useless for half the fight."
"Well, I can tell them he refuses the post right now. Now, as he hasn't done so yet, the Tsuki clan is a separate clan that merely shares ranks with the Kuroshi clan, as such Hikari-San is technically the matriarch of that clan so I'm going to go ahead and promote her to Baroness." Sirzechs said.
"Eh, I don't think she cares about ranks." Azazel said. "Also...the Sacred Gear possessors that were under my watch were all found dead. The cause of death is...unnatural."
"All of them are dead? !" Sirzechs said.
"The cause of it was Ophis' snakes." Azazel said.
"I see...so try drank it like we thought?"
"No, It wrapped around their Sacred Gears and pushed their powers to the limit until they went into Burst mode. I don't think I have to tell you what happens if they should break in that state." Azazel said.
"Should we be concerned that Kenshin got help attaining his Balance Breaker from that same person?" Sirzechs asked.
"No. What Kenshin used was a Blessing from Ophis, not her snake." Azazel said. "Besides, Ophis hasn't really bothered him other than just trying to get him to use it, and he has. So I believe Ophis might leave him be now. Well other than maybe pestering him."
"It seems like things will become messy now. What would be more annoying than anything is if a Sacred Gear had variant types of special abilities." Sirzechs said.
"No kidding." Azazel said.
(break)
Next Day.
"Haaaahh..." Kenshin flopped down on the couch, ice on the back of his neck. When Ragnarok was told Kenshin had attained the Balance Breaker. Ragnarok had instantly upped his training. "Fuck..." He thought. "Everything hurts..."
"Well that's the price you have to pay for using an alternative way to get more power." Salamander chided.
"By the way." Kenshin thought as he pulled out his cards. "Why did I get new cards?"
"Well, four cards split between three people is kinda stupid don't you think?" Undine asked. "We went ahead and made a separate set for Miyuki as well seeing as Yukari is close to unlocking that fourth slot of power inside herself. We just felt it was dumb to have you split the powers up when we've supported three elementalists before."
"I see." Kenshin thought. "Your pictures changed though, the last ones were...a little cartoony..."
"We thought it was time for an image update." Sylph said. "So our images are more how we really look."
He lit up a smoke and looked to his left and saw the church trio. Irina, Asia and Xenovia arguing about tastes in underwear, leading them to ask Issei for his opinion. He couldn't help saying. "Irina, I don't think Michael would care about your tastes in underwear. Wouldn't he be technically thinking an impure thought by thinking about it?"
"Aaah! Y-You're right!" Irina said with an aghast expression. "It would be horrible if Michael-Sama fell!"
"Well what do you think Kenshin?" Xenovia asked as she turned to him opening her shirt and raising her skirt.
"They look fine, but if you think you need something better that's up to you. I'm no fashion judge." Kenshin said. Xenovia nodded.
"This is horrible!" Kenshin looked back, finding Rossweisse curled into a ball, crying. "O-Odin-Sama is so horrible! He left me behind! I'm fired! I have to be fired!" She whined.
"That damn geezer." Kenshin sighed. "Has anyone gotten in touch with that crotchety AllFather yet? !"
"Rossweisse-San, please stop crying and have a seat." Rias said sitting in the chair across from the couch.
Rossweisse took a seat next to Kenshin and Rias placed a document in front of her. "Look through it, see if there's any problems you might have." Rias said.
"...Wow, Devils get this much insurance, and are paid so well? Even the tax refunds are great!" Rossweisse said in amazement. "Much better than the ones in Valhalla!"
"..." Kenshin stared at Rias with a grin. "You're totally bribing her."
"All a part of the job Kenshin." Rias shrugged.
"Uhm, don't you have an offer for me as well?" Rossweisse asked Kenshin.
"Meh. I didn't know Rias was gonna do this now. Had no time to have the contract drawn up." Kenshin shrugged. "Otherwise I totally would."
"You could be a teacher at the school and receive all the benefits from being a part of the Gremory clan if you accept." Rias said placing a crimson rook piece in front of her.
"Eeeeh? !" Issei said. "That's Chief's last piece!"
"I had heard that your clan had their household promoted to a Satan and that the specialties go for quite a bit." Rossweisse said.
"You could even start a business of your own in the future." Rias suggested.
"About that, uhm sorry I don't mean to interrupt, but Kenshin I've been meaning to ask you something." Hikari said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said with an arched brow.
"Now that we have some cash to throw around. I was wondering if I could open a restaurant." Hikari said.
"..." Kenshin blinked owlishly. "Have...you already gotten your ideas for it in order and...we are technically in hers and Sona's territory, did you clear it with them?" He asked pointing at Rias.
"It's OK with me." Rias said.
"I was there when she cleared it with Sona." Miyuki said.
"Alright, shoot me an estimate later." Kenshin shrugged. "Now, back to this." He said gesturing his finger to Rias and Rossweisse.
"Right, not only could you start your own business, but you could also become a magic cannon by attaining the position of Rook." Rias said. "I just hope it will be possible with one Rook, if not then I'll let you speak with Kenshin about this."
"Huh?" Kenshin said. "Wouldn't it not work with me if it doesn't work for you?"
"It's been recently announced that the unused pieces also grow in relation to the master's strength." Rias said. "You were training with Ragnarok-Dono and I forgot to tell you."
Kenshin takes out his evil piece set. "Huh...I don't want to make assumptions, but I think a few of them mutated."
"Let me see." Rias said. Kenshin turned his evil piece set over to her. She blinked owlishly. "Hmm...the only one I can clearly tell that has is your Queen."
"Huh." Kenshin said closing the case. "Alright, what will it be Rossweisse?" He asked.
"Hum...well I think this might have been destined from the start, when I met you in that hospital." Rossweisse said. "I accept." She takes the rook piece and holds it to her chest. A crimson light fills the room and a pair of devil wings shot out of her back. She stood up and walked in front of everyone. "I have reincarnated, please take care of me." She said with a bow.
"And now I present to everyone, my second and final Rook, Rossweisse." Rias said.
"Huh, so now Asia and I aren't the only ones to join from another religion." Xenovia said.
Kenshin got up and walked toward the kitchen, passing Rossweisse who was giggling under her breath. "Ufufufufufufu, next time we meet Odin-Sama...I won't forgive you, OK?"
"..." Kenshin sweatdropped. "Old man, if she gets stronger because of this...I'd watch out when you come back..." Kenshin thought.
Kenshin bumped into Akeno who was heading toward the kitchen as well. "Oh! Kenshin-kun I have something for you." Akeno said walking into the kitchen and coming back with a bento. "I was making a bento earlier and had some leftovers. Here." She handed it to him.
"Hm?" He opened it and found Nikujaga. "You know, lately I've been eating your cooking more than either Rias' or my mother's." Kenshin said with a chuckle as he took out a spoon and tried some of it. "Mm? Oh wow Akeno, you did great." Kenshin said with a smile. "Who did you make this for?"
"Uhm...w-well..." Akeno glanced away with a blushing smile.
"Aaah, Barakiel." Kenshin thought. "Uhm...is that the bento you were supposed to give him?"
"Yes, I was wondering if I could trouble you to deliver it to him before he leaves." Akeno said.
"It's not any trouble at all." Kenshin said with a smile. "I could use the fresh air."
"OK, thank you...oh your lips." Akeno said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said. "Did I get some of this on them?"
What happened next was a surprise to Kenshin as he felt the soft sensation of Akeno's lips against his own for a moment. "...?" Kenshin stared at her curiously.
"Kenshin?"
"...Kenshin..."
"Senpai..."
"Care to explain that to us?"
Kenshin turned his head with a baneful expression as he saw Rias, Yukari, Koneko and Xenovia all with scary expressions on their faces. "U-Uuhhhh...Issei...a little help?"
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Issei said with a curious look.
"Traitor!" Kenshin shouts.
Akeno embraced Kenshin from behind, giggling as she did. "Kenshin, I love you...Ufufufu."
"Mou! Kenshin! Akeno! I won't forgive you today!" Rias said.
"Neither will I!" Yukari said with three elements spiraling around her.
"Uhhh! Hey Akeno, this is the bento right? ! Alright I better get to delivering it! Gotta go bye!" Kenshin rushed out the door with the bento in hand.
Hikari sweatdropped with a smile. "Aaahh...he certainly is your son Ryuushin..." Hikari thought. "Brave on the battlefield, but when it comes to women..."
"Uhm...Issei-San." Issei turned to find Kazumi approaching him.
"Huh? What's up Kazumi-San?" Issei asked.
"W-Well, when you beat Loki...why did you bring attention onto me? I-I mean Kenshin and his sisters I understand, but..." Kazumi trailed off.
"Well, because you're my friend." Issei said with a grin.
"Huh? We've only know each other for a few days." Kazumi said with a curious expression.
"We'll be having extended contact for awhile, at least as long as Chief and Kenshin are together." Issei said. "Besides you seem like a really fun person to be around."
"Don't worry about this idiot's motives, he's really earnest." Ddraig said.
"Aaah, Ddraig..come on don't call me an idiot right in front of her." Issei said.
"Hey, you like breasts right?" Kazumi asked.
"Does Kenshin like money?" Issei asked.
Kazumi giggled. "Good point. Well, I wanted to show you this." She said taking out a scrapbook. Issei accepted it and flipped through it.
"!" Issei's eyes widened as he saw it was filled of pictures of girls in the locker rooms at Kuoh, Kazumi even took pictures of the club members. "You took all of these?"
"Yup! Looks good right?" Kazumi said with a wide grin. "I take some pretty good pictures."
"I...I think I'm in love..." Issei said with hearts in his eyes. "You're amazing Kazumi-San!"
"I-Issei-San!" Asia whined, having heard him.
"Issei! Don't be so impure!" Irina whined.
"Heheheheh." Kazumi snickered.
(break)
Kenshin tracked down Azazel and Barakiel. "Huh? Kenshin I said I didn't need anyone to accompany me." Azazel said.
"I'm delivering something." Kenshin said walking up to Barakiel. "Here."
"Hm?" Barakiel took the bento Kenshin held out.
"...Ah fuck...I knew I was forgetting something." Azazel facepalmed.
"It's a bento made by Akeno." Kenshin said.
"..." Barakiel opened it and saw what was inside. He took his chopsticks and started eating. "...Nikujaga..it tastes just like Shuri used to make. He started wolfing it down, tears in his eyes.
"...Speaking of Shuri." Kenshin said. "When Issei and I were in Akeno's head. Her spirit visited me."
"? !" Barakiel and Azazel looked at him surprised.
"What did she say?" Barakiel asked in a shaking tone.
"She thanked me for caring about Akeno and asked me to continue to do so." Kenshin answered. "Her time on this plane, and my time in Akeno's subconsciousness was short so that's all she said."
"...Souka..." Barakiel said.
"I'd like you to entrust her to me as well." Kenshin said. "And whenever you like, you're welcome to come and visit."
Barakiel got to his feet and and took off his gauntlet and extended his hand. "I'd like that." He said
Kenshin nodded and gripped Barakiel's hand firmly and shook it. "Enjoy your meal. I'll see you around." Kenshin said walking away from the two.
"He seems like a good man." Barakiel said.
"He is rough around the edges and sometimes he comes off as a really sarcastic prick, but he means well most of the time." Azazel said.
"H...He doesn't really sleep around to gain strength does he?" Barakiel asked.
"Hahahahaha. No man. I was just screwin' with you." Azazel said.
Barakiel nodded and went back to eating. Azazel nodded at him a smile. "Ahh, the meal made by the woman he loved, that he thought he'd never taste again." He thought
He looked up at Kenshin's retreating form. "Kenshin, Sirzechs told me about your past...a bit of it anyway. I guess that awkwardness around women is just the part of your childhood that you subconsciously could never let go. A shy young boy..being subjected to something like that...it's a damn shame." He thought.
"You and Issei saved a lot of people. Hell...in a way..I kinda feel like even I have been saved by you two idiots...seriously though what kind of dragon makes people happy using tits? !" Azazel thought.
After Barakiel left Azazel decided to walk home rather than warp. He bumped into Kenshin who had bags in hand filled with groceries. "...The Dragon of the Elements, reduced to an errand boy..." Azazel said with a grin. "How far you've fallen."
"Yeah yeah, shut up." Kenshin said. "Mom called me and asked me to pick up some things for dinner."
"Oh? Hikari's cooking?" Azazel asked.
"Yeah, she also wants to open a restaurant soon." Kenshin said.
"Oh really? I'll have to frequent it." Azazel said with a grin.
"Please, like you didn't help her pick out a location." Kenshin snorted.
"...about that." Azazel said. "You and your sisters all seem annoyed with me and your mother lately."
"Because you're getting too close to her." Kenshin said walking away.
"So you don't like the thought of that eh?" Azazel said catching up to him. "Don't wanna lose your dear Kaa-Chan to anyone?"
"It has nothing to do with you." Kenshin said. "Our father died fairly recently in our world."
"Huh...I see." Azazel said. "Wounds still fresh?"
"In a way." Kenshin said. "Now if that's all, I'm out of here."
"Alright. I'll be by to get a bite to eat later." Azazel said. Kenshin said nothing and walked away.
(break)
Later that night.
Kenshin was staring out the window of his room, enjoying another smoke, like he had been a day earlier. "..."
He felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. "Something on your mind?"
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "A lot of things, Rias."
"Want to talk?" Rias asked.
"...hn..." Kenshin shook his head.
"I see." Rias said. "Well, that's alright."
"I'm sorry Rias, I'd rather not bore you with my incessant rambling." Kenshin said turning to her.
"It wouldn't bore me. If you need to confide in someone, I'll be glad to listen." Rias said with a smile.
"..." Kenshin smiled back. "I...was just thinking about what I saw back during the fight against Loki."
"Oh." Rias said. "...I did see the tail end of what you saw...I just needed to know what you were seeing."
"I understand." Kenshin nodded.
"You...looked like you were in a lot of pain." Rias said. "Are you alright?"
"I am now, but...I was in a lot of pain when it happened." Kenshin said glancing away. "...You know, no matter what happens, I'm always going to feel guilty over their deaths. I just can't help thinkin' that if I was there, I could have done something...anything to stop it."
"It's an understandable feeling." Rias said. "But..they don't blame you if what those two said is any indication. That should help lift some of the guilt you feel."
"Not as much as you might think." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"I know." Rias said grabbing his hand. "At the same time, I think your friends would want you live on, happily."
"..." Kenshin reached over and cupped her cheek. "You're probably right, thank you Rias."
"Of course." Rias said. "By the way. What were you planning on saying to me before you invoked Ophis' blessing?"
"..." Kenshin looked out the window. "Aaah...to be honest with everything that happened, I forgot."
"...?" Rias stared at him.
"What? It happens." Kenshin said with an embarrassed look on his face.
"I see." Rias said. "Well that's OK. It's not that big of a deal."
"So...I think Kazumi and Issei might be getting along really well." Kenshin said.
"I see that. Considering your history, I thought for sure she'd be after you." Rias said with a relieved smile.
"Well, I think if I run into anyone else from my world...they might not be too fond of me and as far as that goes, it's fine with me." Kenshin said.
"It's not your fault though." Rias protested.
"They won't accept that so easily." Kenshin said. "It's fine Rias, I can take it."
"Well, OK." Rias said. "Come on, let's go lay down."
"I'll be over in a minute. I'm just gonna finish up." Kenshin said. "You just go get ready."
"Alright." Rias said walking toward the bed.
Kenshin nodded toward her and looked out the window again. "...You're getting really aggressive Hottan...What is it you're trying to do?" He thought.
"It's annoying not knowing what could happen next huh?" Ophis asked.
"Ophis, seeing as you piped up. I want to ask you something." Kenshin said going into his mind and appearing in front of her.
"What is it?" Ophis asked.
"You're the leader of the Khaos Brigade..." Kenshin was cut off.
"One of them." Ophis said. "In fact, I'm suspecting that the rest of them are going to try to oust me soon."
"Hm..." Kenshin said. "Well anyway. Hottan...have you been recruiting his men?"
"No." Ophis said. "This is the piece of me I absorbed talking, but I never liked that man. Who ever keeps acquiring his help is not contacting me about it."
"Hn...I see." Kenshin said seeing no deceit in her. "Alright. Thank you Ophis."
"Uh huh." Ophis said as Kenshin left. Kenshin's eyes refocused on the outside and he flicked off his ashes and put out his smoke. He then turned toward the bed and walked into it, climbing in where Rias was waiting for him. "You're still awake?"
"Come on Kenshin, you know I can't sleep without you in bed with me." Rias said with a demure smile.
"Haha, of course, of course." Kenshin said.
Rias snuggled up to him. "Good night Kenshin."
"Good night." Kenshin said. Rias nodded off, but Kenshin remained awake with one final thought.
"If Hottan moves on me...will I be able to protect my new home?"
(chapter end)
Draconis: Loki, thank you for coming.
Loki: Whatever (storms off)
Thor: But father, they came to me! I didn't go to them!
Odin: I don't care! You stripling, you notify me of things like this!
Draconis: Uhh...hey Rossweisse, want to ask Kenshin and Azazel if they wanna go out for drinks? They could be at this for awhile.
Rossweisse: (looks around between the two bickering gods) (sighs) Oh why not...
Alright, next chapter we start on Volume Eight. Also before I forget. Harem update.
Kenshin: Rias, Akeno, Xenovia, Yukari.
Issei: Asia, Irina, Kuroka, Seekvaira, Kazumi.
Issei: Eeeh? !
Kenshin: You have more than me now...huh..
Anyway, that's all for now.
Draconis678 out