Draconis: Alright.
Rias: What?
Draconis: ...Wait, you're not still mad over me giving Serafall the first lemon?
Rias: Oh I am, but I'm not going to just lash out at you for it.
Draconis: OK good.
Kenshin: Can we just get on with this?
Draconis: Alright, you walking time bomb.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 30
The View from the Bottom.
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
From where we left off.
The group entered the safehouse. Kenshin narrowed his eyes as the mess that was present. "Hn, times like this make me really appreciate the cottage and Hyoudou Residence." Kenshin said.
"Thank you for the compliment Kenshin-San." Chachamaru said bowing respectfully.
"Yup." Kenshin said. "Anyway, if you'd rather not live in a sty, I suggest you get cleaning. Azazel and I are gonna go lock up Dolnegus."
Everyone nodded and started cleaning. Kenshin and Azazel went down to the first basement and looked around. "Oh, it's a dungeon already, even better." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin walked over to one of the cells and threw Dolnegus onto the mattress. He locked the cell door and held onto the key and handed Azazel one as well. "We'll both take turns keeping watch on him."
"Right, but I gotta ask...why not just off him?" Azazel asked.
"He said he has a seal on his person that would alert the Confederacy if he flatlines, as much as I would like to, we don't need that kind of heat on us right now." Kenshin said.
"Alright. Now what's your beef with Sirzechs? I get that he didn't tell you things you would have liked to know, but what's the big deal?" Azazel asked.
"Azazel, think of it this way. I summon you, then neglect to tell you that I also summoned Barakiel and Shemhaza at some point after I summoned you. Along the way you come to realize that just about everyone you ever knew or cared about was dead." Kenshin said.
"..." Azazel sighed. "OK, I get it, but I still think you should try and mend things between you two sooner rather than later."
"Why?" Kenshin asked.
"Because Sirzechs was told by the council to give them a full report! He'll have to tell them that you beat him half to death!" Azazel said.
"Hmph...we'll see, for now in order to keep conflicts to a minimum I'm just going to try to avoid him like the plague." Kenshin said. "Come on."
The two came back upstairs and blinked in confusion. "...Wow, that was fast." Azazel said.
"No kidding." Kenshin said seeing the entire first floor was cleaned.
"What's going on over there?" Azazel said seeing everyone except Evangeline, Sirzechs and Grayfia gathered around Chachamaru. Kenshin shrugged and went over there with him.
"Oh, Kenshin-San your pawn has an interesting ability." Sona said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"Your pawn is able to determine the strength and abilities of everyone here." Rias said. "Want to give it a try Kenshin?" She asked.
"...Oh fine." Kenshin said stepping forward. "Go ahead and scan me Chachamaru."
"Hai." Chachamaru said taking a look at him before holding her hand out to create a screen. "You can take this and look at it."
Kenshin took it and looked it over. "What do the letter grades mean?"
"I felt they were more apt than using numbers as some people's numbers could be immeasureable." Chachamaru said. F is the lowest you can have, S is the highest, while some might be so high they could be registered with an X.
"Hmmm." Kenshin said.
"Strength is how hard you can strike without augmentation among other things. Dexterity is your agility and speed. Constitution is how much you can take both seeing and in manners of pain. Intelligence is Logic and Memory. Wisdom has to do with your magic as well as your social skills. And of course the last stat, Luck affects every little thing."
Kenshin's stats read as follows.
Strength- A
Dexterity- A
Constitution- X
Intelligence- B
Wisdom- A
Luck- F
Kenshin let out a dry chuckle. "Well, at least your stats are accurate." He said looking at his Luck stat. He looked at the section under his name. "What is this?"
"Oh, that is a title." Chachamaru said. "People have a title that they go by. It's purely cosmetic and once I've looked at you, I know every specific title people have ever referred to you with. I can change it if you like."
Kenshin's current title was 'Dragon of the Elements II' "No that's fine." He said.
"Interesting. Do me." Yukari said.
Chachamaru looked at her and produced another screen. Yukari took it. Her stats read.
Strength- B
Dexterity- S
Constitution- A
Intelligence- B
Wisdom- B
Luck- C
"Your luck is affected by being in contact with Kenshin-San for so long. His Luck grade is F." Chachamaru said.
Yukari furrowed her brow seeing her title. 'Tsundere Dragoness.' "Change the title to something else." She said.
"Of course. Which one would you like? 'Daughter of Crimson Dragon?' 'Feminine Assassin?' 'Brother Lover?'" Yukari rolled her eyes at that one. "Or Slayer of Ryuujin?"
"The last one." Yukari said.
"Done." Chachamaru said.
"Me next!" Issei said stepping forward.
Chachamaru scanned him and made another screen. She handed it to him. Issei's stats read.
Strength- B
Dexterity- C
Constitution- B
Intelligence- C
Wisdom- F
Luck- A
Note- Every stat can be altered with use of the Sacred Gear, Boosted Gear.
Issei looked at his title. 'Breast Dragon Emperor' "Uuuuoooonnnnn! !" Ddraig wailed.
"Ddraig..." Issei said with a bit of a sigh.
"I can do one more, this is a little exhausting given the strength of everyone I've scanned." Chachamaru said.
"I'll do it." Rias said. Chachamaru looked over and scanned her. She handed her a screen. Rias' stats read.
Strength- C
Dexterity- B
Constitution- C
Intelligence- A
Wisdom- S
Luck- B
Rias narrowed her eyes at her title. 'Switch Princess' "Change it." She said.
"Of course. Which would you like? 'Crimson Haired Ruin Princess?' 'Princess of Obliteration' 'Occult Research Club Chief?' 'Japanophile' 'Dragon Lover?' or 'Overly Possessive?'
"Who gave me that last title? !" Rias snapped.
"Yukari-San." Chachamaru said.
Rias turned to Yukari with a glare. Yukari stared back at her. "Just calling it like I see it." She said.
Rias grumbled under her breath and said. "Third one."
"Hey, just curious, what were Kenshin's titles?" Issei asked.
"Hmm..." Chachamaru said. "'Son of Crimson Dragon' 'Demon Child' 'Child Who Deserves His Fate' 'Absolute Killing Perfection' 'Path of Death' 'Assistant Teacher' 'Suicidal' 'Slayer of Ryuujin' 'Dragon of the Elements II' 'Lust Dragon Emperor' 'Last Son of the Kuroshi'
"Who gave Kenshin-kun the title 'Suicidal'?" Akeno asked with confused look.
"Well the Yonseirei do think he risks his life too often, but this title was actually applied to him when he was a child." Chachamaru said.
Everyone except Rias, Issei, Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari let out a gasp. They also noticed Kenshin had conveniently vanished. Everyone split apart and went back to cleaning, however Chachamaru stopped Issei. "What is it?" He asked.
"Could I ask you for a favor?" Chachamaru asked as she pulled him into a private room.
"E-Eeeehh? !" Issei said.
Chachamaru turned to him after locking the door and reached into her uniform and pulled out a twist key. "You know how to mold magic right?" She asked.
"Huh?" Issei said taking the key from her.
"Do you know how to mold magic? If not I'll ask someone else." Chachamaru said.
"Uhh, yeah I know how." Issei said.
"OK." Chachamaru sat in the seiza position in front of him. She brushed her hair aside, exposing a slot. "Insert the key in there and twist it while letting your magic flow in."
"Huh?" Issei said.
"I am a gynoid, or a female cyborg if you will, no matter how realistic I look, I can't produce my own magic." Chachamaru said. "I need to occasionally have my tanks refilled."
"Oh." Issei said inserting the key and doing as he was instructed.
"Mm...Mmmm!" Chachamaru pursed her lips shut, holding back a moan.
"...Is something wrong? Am I doing it badly?" Issei asked.
Chachamaru shook her head. "N...No...the ceremony of refilling my body with magic is meant to be a pleasurable experience...it...feels good." She said with reddened cheeks.
"Aah! I see, well then just sit tight Chachamaru-San, I'll have you filled back up in a moment!" Issei said with a grin as he kept turning the key.
"Mmmmmm! !" Chachamaru covered her mouth, trying not to cry out.
Meanwhile Irina walked into one of the rooms and saw Kenshin reading a book. "Oh...Kenshin-San."
"What?" Kenshin asked.
"..." Irina said nothing.
"If you've got nothing to say, could you please leave?" Kenshin asked.
"Did you really try to kill yourself as a child?" Irina asked suddenly.
"..." Kenshin glanced at her before closing his book and getting up. "What does it matter?"
"Because...I just can't see...why a child would want to end his own life." Irina said.
"..." Kenshin let out a dry laugh. "Well what can I say? My childhood sucked ass. You see there was no deity watching over me, except for maybe a piece of the Infinity Dragon Goddess Ophis, but she couldn't do anything."
"What about your family?" Irina asked.
"My mother and twin sister were kidnapped when I was born, my little sister was born during that captivity and I was separated from my father at age six." Kenshin said. "I was all alone."
"..." Irina stared at his back.
"If you want to know more, I'm not at liberty to say. Besides aren't you interested in Issei? I'd expect this question from someone interested in me." Kenshin said.
"I...I am interested in him, but..it's my job to care about everyone's wellbeing." Irina said. "As an angel."
"...Yeah well I was a demon, angel and demons were always at odds." Kenshin said.
"Not anymore they're not." Irina said with a small smile.
"..." Kenshin approached her and pet her head. "Y'know...Issei's lucky to have a friend like you, but..what you heard is in my past."
"OK." Irina said. "Thank you for answering my question."
"Yeah Yeah, now get outta here." Kenshin said.
As Irina was about the leave, the door swung open. It was Sona who looked gravely worried. "Kenshin-San, come quick!"
"What is it?" Kenshin said.
"Just come quickly!" Sona shouts.
"So-tan, what's the matter?" Serafall asked having followed her sister, before Sona ran with Kenshin behind her.
(break)
Just Earlier.
Rias, Akeno and Sona were walking downstairs. "So, why are we doing this again Rias?" Sona asked.
"Before Kenshin knocked out that man and took him in. He said something about his most precious wares were in the second basement." Rias said. "We might want to see what it was."
"Why? We aren't staying in this world long enough to make anything of it." Sona asked.
"Yes, but maybe Kenshin-kun would know what to do with it." Akeno said as they walked down the first basement steps to the second basement.
They came up to a door. The only one in the entire level of the structure. Just as Dolnegus said, there was a key hanging on the wall next to the locked door. Rias took the key off the wall and grabbed the doorknob. When she did, they all heard a scattering sound come from behind the door. "...Rias." Akeno whispered.
"Yes?" Rias whispered back.
"I sense a lot of underdeveloped mana signatures behind this door." Akeno said. "...You don't think?"
A pit of uneasiness welled up in Rias' stomach as she inserted the key and opened the door. "...!" A quiet gasp escaped her lips as she saw what was behind the door.
"!" Sona saw what was behind the door and immediately ran upstairs.
"..." Akeno said nothing, staring wide eyed at what was before her.
In the room was people, boys and girls dressed in tattered clothes. Some of them as old as Rias and Akeno, while others were about as old as Sirzechs' son. Rias tried to find the words to say, but...everything inside her was frozen on the spot.
Soon Kenshin came down with Sona behind him. He looked in the room. "..." He let out a sigh and pushed Rias gently to the side and entered the room.
The children all started whispering while the teenagers looked at Kenshin fearfully. "...K...Kenshin Kuroshi...wh-what are you doing here?" One of the boys asked.
"You know who I am?" Kenshin asked.
"Y-Yes...th-that's why some of us are trying not to cry..." One of the girls said.
Kenshin sighed. "I'm not here to hurt you. As a matter o' fact, I'm retired. Dolnegus is in my custody. He won't be able to hurt you ever again."
All of them looked at Kenshin both in surprise and relief. "R...Really?" One of the younger girls said.
Kenshin smiled. "Really." He noticed chains on all of them. "Stand still." He said before slashing his arm out, a burst of cold wind slashing the chains to pieces. "Now, are you all hungry?" He asked. A collective stomach growling was heard. Some of them looked away embarrassed, but Kenshin laughed. "Don't worry, we'll get you all fed, it'll just take an hour or so. Until then." He produced a small sack. "The oldest of you come over and divide these snacks up evenly between you all." A young man approached him. "Now remember, the bigger teenagers might need more food, but don't over extend, the kids need it too."
"I know, thank you sir." He said.
Kenshin nodded and walked out of the room, he grabbed Rias' hand and guided her upstairs. "Akeno, Sona, go up and tell anyone who can cook to get the kitchen ready, I'll be up in a moment."
"Yes, OK." Sona and Akeno said moving upstairs as Kenshin and Rias stopped in front of the first basement door where Dolnegus was jailed.
"You've been trying to say something since you opened that door. Take a breath and say it." Kenshin said.
"...Ken...Kenshin...I overheard what that man said to you...that his most precious wares were down there..." Rias said with a shocked look still on her face. "Th...That man...was selling lives for profit?"
Kenshin looked over at the cell door Dolnegus was locked in. "Yeah. His occupation is as a business man, but he's also a kingpin on the Mundus Magicus slave trading market."
"S-Slave trading market? !" Rias said with wide eyes.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't some of the nobles with peerages refer to their pieces as slaves and trade them?" Kenshin asked. "I'm by no means defending that bastard's despicable actions nor am I implying that the elder devils are as bad as he is, if I had it my way I'd go into that room, slash Dolnegus' throat open and watch him slowly choke to death, but I can't do that."
"Why?" Rias asked.
Kenshin sighed. "A seal on him will alert the Confederacy if he flatlines. It will probably bring the Confederacy's armed forces here. We don't need that kind of heat on us here."
"So, one of the world powers here actually supports this?" Rias asked with incredulous eyes. "Who knows what could have happened to them! Especially the children!"
"They do." Kenshin said. He looked into her eyes. "The world isn't so nice when it's looked at from the bottom, instead of from the top, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Rias asked.
"Rias, I really care about you, but...you are a noble back home. Part of the reason this has you so shocked is because you've never seen it before." Kenshin said. "This...is just how cruel the world can be."
"..." Rias bowed her head.
Kenshin sighed. "...I'm sorry...I know it's not what you want to hear." He said turning and walking away. "We could use your help making the dinner, so come on." He said.
"...I could do it." Rias said.
"What?" Kenshin said turning back to her. He looked down and saw Rias' magic flaring to life in her hand.
"...I could kill him." Rias said taking aim at the door. "No, I want to...Kenshin, go downstairs, and tell those children to cover their ears." She said scowling at the door.
"..." Kenshin walked over and embraced Rias tightly. "Don't."
"Why not, he deserves it." Rias said, an angry inflection in her voice, her crimson destruction magic shining behind her eyes.
"..." Kenshin shook his head. "Rias, you'd be killing for pleasure." He pushed her hand down.
"..." Rias said nothing, letting her magic dissipate.
"I have no intention of letting him go." Kenshin said. "But right now...with the children here...now's not the time."
"I'd be killing for pleasure?" Rias asked.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "...Doing in like that, it's gradual, but it changes you. It always does in the end. Before you only killed out of a sense of duty."
"...OK." Rias said. "It can wait." Kenshin nodded and let her go.
"Now come on, we need to get the food ready." Kenshin said.
(break)
Later.
Everyone had eaten, they were sitting around the large table in the main room. They had all been down to see the children and teenagers locked down below at this point to serve the food to them. "So...it's like that huh?" Sirzechs said.
"Yeah." Azazel sighed.
"Well, it's good that we got here when we did. At least they won't be hurt anymore." Serafall said.
"That's not always an guarantee, but...anything's better than being under that man's thumb." Hikari said with closed eyes.
"So what are we doing letting him stew in that prison? He needs to be punished!" Xenovia shouts.
"Really? How?" Yukari asked.
"We could think of something!" Xenovia shouts.
"No, we can't." Miyuki said. "Think about it. If we kill him or let him die. The Confederates are going to be alerted. Their army numbers in the millions, if not the hundreds of thousands." She said.
"So you suggest we just sit back and do nothing then?" Kiba asked with a glare.
"Listen here blondie, I don't like it anymore than you do, but we can't go up against the Confederates and not lose some people of our own!" Miyuki shouts. "Sirzechs, Serafall, Azazel and Kenshin can't protect us all when we inevitably fall to our knees in exhaustion!"
"Everyone, calm down." Sirzechs said trying to defuse the situation.
"Still, to just let him sit there is too good for him." Koneko said.
"We realize that, but we have to wait for now." Sona said. "Besides, we couldn't do it tonight."
"I have to agree." Rossweisse said.
"I have to agree with Xenovia, Kiba and Koneko. A slave trader is a despicable person, who deserves what's coming to them." Hikari said.
"If we're doing any punishment, I volunteer to hand it out." Akeno said with a neutral glare.
"Now now, come on we need to calm down." Serafall said trying to ease tensions.
"Yeah, I mean he is despicable, but..." Irina's voice was drowned out as everyone began shouting. Rias was being oddly quiet, while Issei was a little confused and Asia was trying her best to drown it all out, as was Gasper.
Finally a hand slammed down on the table, silencing everyone. Everyone turned to Kenshin who had a neutral glare on his face. "Everyone, quiet down. They can all probably hear your bickering." Kenshin said. "For the time being Dolnegus will be left to stew in his prison with Azazel and I checking in on him. Now you all had better stop this fucking arguing right now." Kenshin said getting up out of his chair. "It's probably scaring them."
"..." Everyone went silent as Kenshin scowled.
"Kenshin."
He turned to Issei. "What?"
"I...I get that he was a slave trader, but...why were some of those held here so young?" Issei asked.
"..." Kenshin sighed. "Issei, think about that question a little more, and you'll probably have your answer."
"Oh...Ohhhh..." Issei said with a downcast look.
Kenshin nodded. "Alright." He extended his hand, expelling several sets of blankets and pillows. "Akeno, Yukari, Kiba. Go downstairs and distribute these among them. Tell them they might have to bunch up."
"Right." Akeno, Kiba and Yukari all said.
"While they're doing that, some of you clean this place up a bit more." Kenshin said. "In the meantime, Serafall, Koneko. Come with me." He said exiting the safehouse.
"Where are we going Kenshin-Chan?" Serafall asked.
"I need to go do something that could benefit those children. I could use the company." He said.
"Kenshin-Senpai." Koneko said.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked turning to her.
"..." Koneko grabbed his hand. "...Your soul feels like it's crying out in pain." She said. "Do you need me to heal you?"
"...No offense Koneko, but I don't think it'd be of much help." Kenshin said. "It's something I have to deal with alone."
"..." Koneko bowed her head. "I-I see."
(break)
The next day.
The children were gathered out front of the safehouse with the devil group standing at the entrance. Yukari approached them with a large sack. "Here." She said handing it to the eldest male.
"What's this?" He asked.
"It's money. Drachma." Yukari said. "Kenshin went out last night and took some money out of one of our organization's caches. This should be enough to buy you all a home, or find one that's abandoned somewhere as well as keep you all fed for awhile."
He turned to Kenshin who was leaning against the door frame. "...I...I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything then." Kenshin said.
The younger children of the bunch walked over to Issei. "That thing you did with that red armor was funny." One of the girls said.
"What did you call it again?" A boy asked.
"U-Uhm...well..." Issei assumed his Balance Breaker. "I am the great and mighty Oppai Dragon! I roam the lands searching for Oppai to protect!"
Kenshin rolled his eyes as did some of the older girls in the group. One of them looked around. "Where is that Satan Red person? He was kinda handsome."
"Ah..hahahahaha, well he said he needed to go back home." Sirzechs said with an uneasy laugh.
"What about that Pink one? She was and acted pretty cute." One of the older boys said.
"Tehe..." Serafall giggled.
"Yeah, but what about the yellow one though? It's as though she exuded beauty and elegance." Another of the boys said.
"Hmhm." Grayfia laughed to herself.
Everyone of the captured children turned to Kenshin. "Kenshin Kuroshi...we always thought you were evil, because that's what the world thought. However...we see that is not the case." The eldest boy said. "I don't know...how we can ever thank you for what you've done."
"..." Kenshin pushed off the door frame and turned to them. "You want to thank me?" He asked. They nodded. "When people ask how you escaped from Dolnegus. Omit me from your stories. Do not tell them I was here."
Everyone except Kenshin's peerage stared at him. "Kenshin, but...why?" Rias asked. "You saved these children, why would you have them act like you didn't?"
"Trust me, you'll save yourselves a lot of head and heartache." Kenshin said.
"...We understand." The eldest boy said with a slow nod.
"If you do, I wish you luck." Kenshin said walking into the safehouse. "Yukari could you teleport them to a nearby town?"
"Of course." Yukari said.
Everyone followed Kenshin inside. "Kenshin, why would you ask them to not tell them about you?" Issei asked.
"You should already know the answer to that Issei." Kenshin said. "Chachamaru tell me when you've got a lead on Dragon and Jack Rakan. I'm gonna go out to train." He teleported away.
Miyuki and Hikari followed suit, leaving to train themselves, while Evangeline and Chachamaru went up to the former's room. Azazel went down to the basement to make sure people didn't try to mete out their own brand of punishment. Rias and Sona went upstairs to the latter's room to play chess to take their minds off of things. Kiba and Xenovia followed Kenshin's example and went to train. Koneko went up to her room to meditate. Kuroka had told Kenshin that one of the steps to getting in tune with Senjutsu was meditation. Before you could think of taking in the world, you had to first have peace with yourself. Kenshin had to agree there. Undine's power worked in a similar fashion.
Rossweisse went to her room with a book on magic in this world that Kenshin had given to her. Serafall, Sirzechs and Grayfia went to Serafall's room.
"So, you want to tell me why Kenshin-Chan seems to want to punch you into next week every time I see you two in the same room?" Serafall asked.
Sirzechs sighed. "...I suppose he holds me partially responsible for all his friends' deaths here, and now for putting everyone in potential danger."
"He holds you responsible? !" Grayfia balked. "That's not..."
"Grayfia, I took him from here, without any idea of what could happen when I did." Sirzechs said.
"Not only that, you were keeping certain things from him, thereby placing the Underworld in potential peril." Serafall said with an accusing look. "You're just lucky he keeps his eyes on the source, that being you."
"What do you mean?" Grayfia asked.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I've seen this before, because I haven't, but just think if Kenshin-Chan had a more destructive personality." Serafall said. "He could go on a tear against Sirzechs-Chan, granted he and we both know that would end in his demise, but think of the damage that could come of it?"
"...I know." Sirzechs sighed.
"Just because Sirzechs wasn't more forthcoming with things Kenshin would have liked to know?" Grayfia asked. "I find that hard to believe."
"Grayfia, Kenshin hold me partially to blame for what happened to not only his friends, but of the one known as Negi as well. A woman he loved." Sirzechs said. "Because I took him off the proverbial chess board here. He probably feels he could have done something, anything to prevent it."
"..." Grayfia closed his eyes. "Maybe he's not just angry at you then..."
"What do you mean?" Sirzechs asked.
"Last night, I happened to run into Kenshin coming out of his room. He was bleeding from the forehead." Grayfia said. "I asked if he needed healing, but he refused saying, and I quote. 'I don't deserve it, not after what I've done.' At first I had asked him if that was about what he had done to you, but he said no and walked away. I peeked into his room to see if I needed to clean up any blood when I saw that the mirror was broken near the top...suggesting someone had their head driven into it."
"The mirror was broken?" Sirzechs said with a curious look.
"Yes, I think Kenshin might be as disgusted with himself as he is with you." Grayfia said. "The question is what is it about?"
"Maybe I could ask him?" Serafall suggested.
"It won't work, whatever it is, Kenshin's been playing it pretty close to the chest." Sirzechs said. "We'll have to wait for now."
"Yes, but at the same time, this situation between the two of you needs to be mended soon. This cannot come back home with us." Grayfia said.
Sirzechs nodded. "I know."
Outside, Xenovia was wandering through the nearby forest when she saw Kenshin holding Kuroi Jigoku over head. She noticed that Kenshin's shirt was off and he was in the Balance Breaker, he looked pretty battered. "What's he doing?" She wondered.
"Sylph!" Kenshin called out.
Xenovia felt a breeze heading to where Kenshin was, circling around his blade. "Hm?"
"OK...Gnome!" Kenshin called out again.
"A Twin Element attack?" Xenovia whispered as earth particles gathered around Kuroi Jigoku. "Wait, Kenshin's sword...it's trembling."
"Come on...!" Kenshin said. "Undine!"
"Three elements?" Xenovia whispered as water condensed and spiraled around his blade. "The trembling's getting worse..."
"Grrrhhh...!" Kenshin growled. "Alright, Salamander!" He shouts as flames sparked to life along his blade.
"An attack using all the elements in unison, I can feel the power coming from it, it's stifling." Xenovia whispered with wide eyes.
"Grrrhhh!" Kenshin growled. "Quadruple Giga!"
Kenshin slashed his sword downward, flinging the elements surrounding his blade outward. Xenovia shielded her eyes from the ensuing blast. While Kenshin was flung backward from the force of his attack and slammed back first into a tree. "Guuhaaahh!"
Xenovia uncovered her eyes and saw Kenshin slumped against a tree. "What happened?" She whispered. She looked out across from him and let out a gasp. The forest in front of Kenshin was gone, replaced by scorched earth and cut down soggy trees. "What in the...?"
"What the hell happened now?" Kenshin groaned as he got to his feet.
Xenovia looked over and saw four figures standing around Kenshin. A fairy, a tan skinned girl, a slime mermaid and a woman with flaming hair and no clothes. "Are those the spirits?"
"Your control over the four elements isn't up to snuff yet." Salamander said.
"Yeah! You have a hard time holding your sword by the time you call on Mandy!" Sylph said.
"All in all, I would give your scores as a seven out of ten." Undine said. "By the way, if you think you're hidden, you're wrong."
"Who?" Kenshin said looking around.
Xenovia came out from the brush. "Sorry, I was just wandering around, looking for a suitable training area when I happened along here." She said.
"When you noticed him trying to master his new finishing move." Salamander said.
"Finishing move?" Xenovia said looking out at the path of destruction the attack carved. "I'll say. But what do you mean when you say his scores are a seven out of ten?"
"Well, I guess we could remind Kenshin." Undine said. "Think of the maximum power of the elements as numbers for a moment. When he calls one to his blade. It has a perfect score of ten. This is nothing to write home about as one element by itself is not that hard and Kenshin's been making progress. The challenge is, keeping that score of ten up, while adding in the other three, while also keeping a score of ten on all four of them."
"So, a ten would be the maximum potential of your max power?" Xenovia asked.
"Yes." Undine nodded.
"So...it would be ten times four for forty?" Xenovia asked. "For the total multiplier on Kenshin's strength in the attack?"
"No." Salamander shook her head. "It would be ten to the fourth power for ten thousand."
"!" Xenovia looked back out at the destruction before her. "Wow...that...actually makes a lot more sense. Kenshin seems like he'd be capable of a whole lot more than that."
"Yes, but the problem is that while I'm prepping it, it leaves me as a sitting duck." Kenshin said.
"That's why you have to prepare to use it before hand, or have people around to cover you." Salamander said.
"Like Xeno-Chan here!" Sylph said.
"X-Xeno-Chan?" Xenovia asked.
"She comes up with all kinds of cutesy nicknames for everyone." Kenshin said. "Now. I kinda want to test the other max power technique."
"The Crimson Dragon's Fist? No. Your body is in no condition for that." Undine said.
"Also, because you said you were going to use it differently than how your father used it. With the cannons of elemental pressurized air that he used. I think you should give it a different name." Salamander said.
"Hmm...How about Vessel of the Elements?" Xenovia suggested.
"Huh?" Kenshin and the spirits said.
"Well, I happened to overhear a conversation between Kenshin and Ragnarok-Dono about this technique. He would basically be taking the force of that Quadruple Giga attack into his body. So...hence Kenshin would be a living vessel for your power."
"Wow...that...is actually an apt name." Salamander said.
"I'll take it." Kenshin said holding out a small stack of yen notes to which Xenovia refused to take.
"Alright, if that's all, we'll be heading inside now." Undine said.
Gnome waved at Xenovia as they reentered Kenshin. "I noticed she didn't say anything the whole time." Xenovia said, referring to the earth spirit.
"She doesn't talk much." Kenshin said.
"I see." Xenovia said.
"Well, I can't really train anymore. My body probably can't take getting slammed into a tree at mach freakin' three again." Kenshin said. "You can have this area."
"Wait, you were clearly in your Balance Breaker while using that technique. Wouldn't you be alright?" Xenovia asked.
"No. The Quadruple Giga requires me to take all my elemental prowess and surround my sword with it." Kenshin said. "My body at that point is unaugmented."
"...Ouch..." Xenovia said.
"Indeed." Kenshin said. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Kenshin, one more moment please." Xenovia said.
"Hm?" Kenshin said.
"You seem...really wound up." Xenovia said. "Like you're thinking about twenty or thirty different things at once."
"..." Kenshin said nothing.
"Is there something bothering you?" Xenovia asked.
"I'm fine. It's just I'm just concerned with getting everyone back home." Kenshin said.
"Including yourself right?" Xenovia said, noticing how he worded his reply.
"Of course." Kenshin said.
"I see..." Xenovia said approaching him. "Well...if you're feeling stressed out." She stopped in front of him, reaching up and cupping his cheek. "Feel free to use my body to relieve that stress." She said before pulling Kenshin into a kiss.
"Mm? !" Kenshin let out a surprised moan into her.
Xenovia pulled away for a moment. "I told you didn't I? As long as you give me a child, I do not care what you do." She said before moving back in for another kiss. She moved her hand from his cheek to the top of his head and started rubbing his ears.
"Mmm!" Kenshin moaned again.
"Hmm? !" Xenovia was surprised when Kenshin grabbed her, and backed her into a tree. "Mmm!" She let out a moan into his mouth as his hands groped her chest roughly. "Ohhh...did I trigger something in him?" She thought as she pulled him in closer before helping him in taking off her shirt.
Kenshin took his lips off of hers and started to lick and nibble on her neck. "Oh...Oooh..." Xenovia let out a couple of soft moans. "You're...so fierce...I love it..." She sighed out.
"!" Kenshin ripped himself away from her, panting.
"...Wh...What is it?" Xenovia asked.
"We can't do this." Kenshin said shaking his head. "Not here."
"Do you prefer a bedroom, or a more private setting?" Xenovia asked.
"No...I mean we can't do this here...in this world." Kenshin said.
Xenovia understood what he was getting at. They were technically at risk, but she couldn't help asking. "Am I not good enough?"
Kenshin sighed. "It's not that. You are very much 'good enough' but I don't want to take any chances right now."
"I see...so if we were back at home you would have continued?" Xenovia asked.
"I don't know, probably?" Kenshin said. "Depending on if anyone showed up to stop it from happening, if I am as wound up as you say."
Xenovia nodded with a small smile. "I see. Well if that's all it is. I'll restrain myself for now."
"Thank you." Kenshin sighed.
(break)
The next morning.
Kenshin walked out of his room and down into the main room. He saw that he was the only one awake. He raised his right hand and looked at it. He clenched a fist. "...!" His eyes widened in shock as he began seeing his sword clenched in his hand, dripping with blood that spilled onto his hand. He looked up and saw a hand reaching for him, it cupped his cheek.
He heard a voice, no higher than a whisper. "Goodbye...Kenshin..."
Kenshin bolted for the sink, turned the sink on and started washing his hand. "..." He panted raggedly as he tried to wash away blood that was no longer there. His eyes stung with tears that threatened to spill out, silently wishing for the vision to stop when a voice called out to him.
"Kenshin."
"!" He glanced over to see Evangeline. He turned his head and wiped the tears out and turned off the sink. "What?" He said looking at the wall.
"Well, you were standing there washing your hand for a good five minutes." Evangeline said.
"Yeah, what about it? I was getting the dirt out of my nails." Kenshin said.
"Your hand was facing down." Evangeline said.
"Big deal." Kenshin said turning away from the sink and starting to walk away.
"You know, if you didn't leave. She'd still be alive." Evangeline said.
"..." Kenshin stopped. He turned to Evangeline with a glare on his face. "You know...I've just about had it with your bullshit. It's been two or three goddamn days since I reincarnated you and you haven't let up with the fucking blame game."
"So? You were gone, you let your so called friends suffer and you exp-" Evangeline was cut off as Kenshin pinned her to wall.
"I'm only going to warn you one time Evangeline." Kenshin said. "I never intended to leave. When I vanished at the festival, I originally was shot forty years into the past with Yukari...twenty years later, after the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans were decimated, and I mentored my own parents. I was being brought back to my original era, being returned to my original age at that by the Goddess of Time, when I was taken...that was it. I could barely move when it happened. I was pretty much brutalized by the Sixteenth Demon King of Makai before hand."
"..." Evangeline stared into his eyes with an impassive gaze. "Did you even try to come back at all?"
"I didn't even know how I was brought there." Kenshin replied. "Not only that. I was told that my soul not only split when I was coming back to this time. That it was restored completely when I was reincarnated."
"Tch." Evangeline said.
"Yeah, make that noise and scowl all you want Evangeline, but as it stands now. You owe me." Kenshin said.
"How do you figure?" Evangeline snapped.
"You lost your magic when I beat you. The orbs on Hottan's ten Grand Master keys were tucked into your body to control you, and he tied them to your magic. I could have left you powerless." Kenshin said. "Also, you should know that because I was able to reincarnate you as my bishop, that means I'm stronger than you now."
"Tch." Evangeline said. "How do you figure that boya?"
"I'm the king of the peerage you're in. You're my bishop, you've heard of the phrase 'No head higher than the king's' right?" Kenshin asked. "That's a real thing as far as these things go. Can you move out from under your king's shadow? Sure, after you've started building your own peerage."
"Grrh." Evangeline growled.
"So you better eighty fuckin' six this little blame game you're pullin' here with me." Kenshin said. "Because I'm not afraid to discipline a brat that's asking for it." He let her go and turned and walked away. He stopped for a moment. "I could swear you didn't care about them anyway. So what does it matter to you if I didn't come back?"
"..." Evangeline scowled at his back. "You're wrong..." She said.
"Oh really? Well, look who grew a heart just in time to shovel shit on me for stuff I already feel guilty enough about." Kenshin said. "Tell everyone I went out to train. I don't know when I'll be back." He said leaving the safe house.
"..." Evangeline looked over at the sink. She let out a sigh. "I know I was blaming you for what happened to them, but the one death you shouldn't blame yourself for is Negi's." She said to herself. She turned to the staircase. "You're horrid at hiding you know that?"
Sirzechs came down the stairs. "My apologies. I happened to come down just before he pinned you, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It'll take more than some rough handling to hurt me." Evangeline said.
"I see, good." Sirzechs nodded.
"You know, since Yukari told me about you and that insufferably cutesy girl Serafall. I've gotten curious. You have to submit a full report to your council when you get back to your home, the Underworld if I recall?" Evangeline asked.
"Yes." Sirzechs nodded
"You're one of the Four Great Satans, taking the place of the original Lucifer, an archangel that God himself cast into the pit." Evangeline said. "Comically enough, that makes him a fallen angel, and you were warring with them, and the angels."
"What are you getting at?" Sirzechs asked.
"I just want to ask. Who is really in charge of the Underworld? The council or the Satans?" Evangeline asked.
"The Satans of course." Sirzechs said.
"Ah huh...so why not just tell the council when they ask for the report, to take that request and stick it where the sun don't shine?" Evangeline asked.
"..." Sirzechs went silent for a moment before sighing. "The original Lucifer, Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Asmodeus ruled with an iron fist. Serafall, Ajuka, Falbium and myself don't want to become like them. We're trying to steer our people toward peace."
"Admirable, but at the same time, you do not want to let them walk all over you. Take it from someone who knows." Evangeline said.
"...You know I'm well over a century old right?" Sirzechs asked.
"Really? Congratulations, I'm several centuries old." Evangeline complimented snidely. "Now...nothing is wrong with taking an iron fisted approached sometimes. It lets the people know who is in charge, but at the same time, you have to decide when it's most appropriate. Over my long life. I've witnessed tyrants, but I've also witnessed figureheads. Right now, it seems you lean to the latter...let me guess...a war hero?"
"Huh?" Sirzechs asked.
"You're a war hero, aren't you?" Evangeline asked.
"Oh, Yes, back during the civil war between devils." Sirzechs nodded.
"Ah huh...then it makes since that you lean toward the latter." Evangeline said.
"How so?" Sirzechs asked with narrowed eyes.
"War heroes, they're great at following orders already, so why not take them and put them on a pedestal as one of the 'leaders' then?" Evangeline rhetorically suggested. "They get leaders that everyone already adores, and the council gets the perfect figurehead leaders to order around some more." She shrugged. "There have been some aberrations to be sure, but right now you don't seem like one. Now you can take offense to this if you like, but I know what I'm talking about here." Evangeline said. "It's up to you on what you want to do with this information."
"..." Sirzechs went silent as Evangeline walked by him. He spoke up. "Wait."
"What is it?" Evangeline said glancing back at him.
"Kenshin, you said that while you had been holding him partly responsible, that the one death he shouldn't be blaming himself for is Negi's...what do you mean by that?" Sirzechs asked.
"I won't say what happened, but...Negi, she was my disciple. I taught her everything I knew." Evangeline said. "Something's she didn't take well to, but at least she tried. The reason Kenshin shouldn't blame himself for her demise is because...she chose her own fate."
"Yes, but he did love her, didn't he?" Sirzechs asked. "Not blaming himself for it one thing, but losing someone you loved...that has to hurt."
"Well, think about if you lost that woman dressed as a maid. Grayfia was it?" Evangeline said.
"Yes, but...how did you know?" Sirzechs asked as he walked over to the sink and filled a glass with water.
"I can sense very latent amounts your magic inside her, and hers inside you. You see copulating is not only a transfer of procreation fluids. It's also a transfer of mana. As a matter 'o fact it's nearly unnoticeable, but that cutesy girl Serafall has a miniscule amount of Kenshin's mana inside her.
"PFFT!" Sirzechs did a spit take.
"What?" Evangeline said. "It was probably because Kenshin was in heat."
"R-Right." Sirzechs said.
"Now, if you will excuse me. I'm going to take a nap. Have Chachamaru wake me when something comes up."
Evangeline passed Rias on her way up the stairs. "..." Evangeline glanced at her.
"What?" Rias said with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing." Evangeline said as she walked to her room.
Rias stared at her with narrowed eyes for a moment before walked downstairs. "That woman..."
"What is it?" Sirzechs asked.
"She takes one look at me, and I'm pretty certain it was in disgust." Rias said with a glare.
"..." Sirzechs said nothing for a moment. "Well...I guess not everyone's going to like you. I mean...she didn't seem too fond of Kenshin or myself either. Maybe she just doesn't like anyone."
"Who knows." Rias said with a sigh.
"So, what's up Ria-tan?" Sirzechs asked.
"Yukari isn't here and I've not been able to get in touch with Miyuki or Hikari, so I thought I'd ask you." Rias said. "Would you happen to know what's wrong with Kenshin?"
"What do you mean?" Sirzechs asked.
"Well it's just ever since we found him, he's been...distant." Rias said. "He just seems like he wants to be left alone."
"..." Sirzechs sighed. "I see."
"Akeno's flirted with him from time to time, Issei's even tried getting perverted with us, and aside from a smack over the head when took it too far. Kenshin just walked away from him without saying anything." Rias said. "...Even when it was me."
"He's just got a lot on his mind." Sirzechs said. "I mean, until this Hottan is dealt with, none of us can go home. I tried the spell after Kenshin told me, he was right."
"What do you think he's thinking about, what is he feeling?" Rias asked.
"Well...he's angry at me, Hottan and himself because of his friends' deaths. Saddened because Negi Springfield is dead. Worried because you all are here. Guilty because he feels responsible for Negi's death at least and at least three other things.
"No one can possibly feel all that at once..." Rias said with slightly widened eyes.
"That's why I think Kenshin's trying to keep to himself while just trying to do what he's always done." Sirzechs said.
"You think he's just going through the motions?" Rias asked.
"Yes..." Sirzechs said.
"Why would he be angry at you and guilty over Negi's death?" Rias asked.
"I took him away from this and his friends all died because of it. There's no telling what could have happened if he were still here, but he feels he could have made a difference." Sirzechs said. "Also...do you know what he told me when I tried to leave flowers on Negi's grave?"
"What?" Rias asked, feeling uneasy.
"That he thought it should be him in the ground instead of her." Sirzechs said.
"!" Rias gasped, tears stinging in the corners of her eyes. "Onii-Sama...do you think he...regrets being brought to our world?"
Sirzechs shook his head. "No, I don't think he does, but...I think Kenshin's in a lot more pain than anyone realizes, but...he just won't let anyone see it, and help try to ease it. I think...he feels he deserves this pain for being gone so long."
"He was only at Kuoh for a few months." Rias said.
"A few months at Kuoh amounts to a long time here." Sirzechs said. "Did you forget that?"
"..." Rias glanced away.
"No one's going to be able to get him to talk about it, not now." Sirzechs said. "No one except maybe you and Yukari."
"Yukari I can understand, but me? I..I wouldn't know how to ease it out of him." Rias said bowing her head.
"Despite everything that's happened, I don't think Kenshin feels any differently about you." Sirzechs said with a smile. "He's just not showing it."
"...I see." Rias said. "Well...thank you Onii-Sama."
"Of course." Sirzechs nodded.
Meanwhile. Kenshin was on his way to a training spot when he bumped into Yukari. "Kenshin?" Yukari said. "Where are you going?"
"Training." Kenshin answered simply.
"Really? Maybe I should come with." Yukari suggested.
Kenshin shook his head. "It's Balance Breaker related. No offense, but I don't think you being there would make a difference."
"...If you say so." Yukari said. Kenshin nodded and started walking away before stopping. "Kenshin?"
"Yukari." Kenshin said turning back to her. "Do you ever have any regrets?"
"About?" Yukari asked.
"Constantly getting tied up in my messes." Kenshin said. "I mean...helping me was basically a full time job."
"..." Yukari said nothing.
"Go ahead. Your answer won't offend me." Kenshin said.
"Why are you asking this now? After all the shit we've been through together?" Yukari asked.
"Because...I basically prevented you from having a life of your own...like Miyuki did." Kenshin said.
"...I see." Yukari said. "Well...the answer...quite honestly is no...I don't."
"...?" Kenshin stared at her curiously.
"Come on...you remember what childhood was like for me. Being one of Hottan's servants from the time I could walk. That half a year I spent with you and Dad when he rescued me from all of that before Hottan just took me back after nearly killing Dad." Yukari said. "To be honest...I don't want to think about where we'd both be if I never stayed by your side all these years." She admitted with a smile.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "I see."
"Is something wrong?" Yukari asked. "It's kind of sudden for you to be asking a question like that."
"No." Kenshin said. "I want to give you something. I should have told you, Miyuki and Mom this awhile ago, but...I don't think I can relive that again." He said. He assumed his Balance Breaker for the technique he was getting ready to use. "Seishin Boido."
"Huh? ! Hey!" Yukari said as he took his hand and moved it toward his head. She watched Kenshin's hand go inside his head and come back out clutching a small blue orb.
"Here." Kenshin said holding it out to her. "Use a memory viewing spell on this."
Yukari accepted it gingerly. "...This is how Negi died...isn't it?"
"Yes." Kenshin said turning away.
"Kenshin...I'm sure it wasn't your fault that she's..." Yukari was cut off.
"Yes...it is." Kenshin said before vanishing in a burst of wind.
"..." Yukari lowered her arm that had extended toward Kenshin and looked at the orb. "...Maybe I should wait until I'm with Miyuki and Mom before I look at this."
"...Oh Kenshin..." Yukari heard a voice in the wind and started looking around wide eyed.
"Negi? !" Yukari shouts. "I...Is that you out there? !"
"It wasn't his fault..." Negi's voice said.
The voice faded away and Yukari sighed. "Negi...just what happened with you two...?" She said looking at the orb.
Yukari teleported back to the safehouse and walked inside. She bumped into Issei who was on his way upstairs. "Yukari-San?"
"Huh?" Yukari said.
"What's up? You seem really out of it." Issei said.
"...Oh nothing. I'm just kinda tired." Yukari said.
"What's that?" Issei asked pointing at the orb.
"One of Kenshin's memories." Yukari said. "He said it was when Negi died."
"He couldn't just tell you?" Issei asked.
Yukari sighed, shaking her head. "No...I'd imagine he feels about it, like how you would feel if nobody saved Asia."
"..." Issei bowed his head. "Oh...I see."
"Yeah." Yukari said.
"Have you looked at it yet?" Issei asked.
"No. I was going to wait until I was with Mom, Miyuki, and Kazumi." Yukari said.
"Could you show it to everyone then?" Issei asked.
"?" Yukari looked at him curiously.
"I...I know it's a private matter, but...everyone's really worried about him. I figure if we knew more we could all help him." Issei said.
"..." Yukari smiled and tapped the back of her hand against Issei's cheek. "You know, you're pretty likeable when you're not busy being a pervert."
"Aaahhahahahaha." Issei laughed. "Still wouldn't be able to make you a part of my harem if and when I ever get one though right?"
"Not a chance." Yukari said with a grin.
"Good to know." Issei said with a laugh.
"Anyway...I guess it wouldn't be too much trouble to just show everyone. I was already going to ask Rias if she wanted to look at it anyway." Yukari said. At Issei's look she sighed. "Yes, she may annoy me with her possessiveness, but I can tell she cares for him like I do."
"Ah." Issei said. "Well, go ahead and get some rest."
"Will do." Yukari said walking to her room.
Issei meanwhile headed to Sextum's room and knocked on her door. No answer came, so he decided to peek in. "...!" Issei's face flushed seeing Sextum standing in front of a mirror, looking considerably more mature than she was before, dressed in only lingerie. Issei lost his balance and fell through the door.
"!" Sextum rounded on him. "..."
"U-Uuuhh!" Issei said as he hurried to his feet.
"..." Sextum glowered at him and started freezing his feet.
"W-W-W-Wait!" Issei said. "I-I was just coming in to-"
"Peek on me?" Sextum said.
"N-No! I just came to talk!" Issei exclaimed.
"So you decided to just look in and stare as I was getting changed, after having just taken a shower?" Sextum said with a neutral glare.
"I-I didn't mean to stare. I was checking if you were asleep. All I want to do is talk, really!" Issei said.
"..." Sextum sighed and freed him. "Turn."
"Right." Issei said turning around.
Sextum got dressed in her blue suit. "OK." Issei turned back around. "What do you want?"
"Well, first I was going to ask how you're doing, but now I wanna know what happened to you? Before you had a body similar to Koneko-Chan's, now I wanna say you're closer to Xenovia's body."
"That previous form is just a form my brother and I like to wear to catch people off guard." Sextum said. "This is what I really look like. My brother has a form similar to this. Usually results in unwanted female attention."
"Oh...well..both forms look really nice." Issei complimented. "Uhh, yours I mean."
Sextum's face heated up and she glanced away. "Thank you...I guess." Meanwhile she was thinking. "Why am I getting all hot and bothered by this person? !"
"Alright...so uh..how are you feeling? Nervous, concerned, what?" Issei asked.
"Why do you ask?" Sextum asked.
"Well, Azazel-Sensei's busy so he wanted to know, but I was also curious." Issei said.
"Ah...well...I'm fine I guess. I want to find my brother." Sextum said.
"I'm sure he's fine. We may be enemies, but Vali doesn't seem like the type to kill unnecessarily." Issei said.
"My brother can handle himself." Sextum said. "He's the strongest out of us."
"Got ya." Issei nodded. "So...you served this Hottan guy huh?"
"Yes." Sextum said. "Just as my parents before me."
"Did you do it willingly or...?" Issei trailed off.
Sextum sighed. "Hottan has a way of making you do what he wants regardless."
"I'm sorry..." Issei apologized.
"For?" Sextum said.
"Huh?" Issei said.
"You apologized, for what?" Sextum asked.
"...How long was she serving that bastard?" Issei wondered.
"Well?" Sextum asked.
"Well...it's just something people say when they hear something sad about someone's past." Issei said.
"...I see." Sextum said. "Well, it's not like your sentiments will bring my parents back, before they fell under Hottan's control."
"I know, but...aaah...I can't explain it." Issei said.
"I think I understand where you're coming from." Sextum said. "Thank you..."
"Hey, how about after this is all over, you and your brother come back to our world with us?" Issei offered.
"...Huh?" Sextum asked, feeling put on the spot.
"Well, I can't imagine there's going to be much left for you here. You two could come and live new lives in our world." Issei said with a grin, with his eyes closed. So he completely missed the red streak painted across the female Averruncus' cheeks.
"Well..I guess we'll see." Sextum said.
"Yeah." Issei said. "You seem like a nice person." He said walked toward her when his foot slipped and he fell into Sextum who fell into the floor.
Issei opened his eyes to see Sextum's face, cheeks dyed red. It didn't take him long to realize where his lips were. He ripped himself away from her. "I'm sorry!" He shouts running out of the room.
"..." Sextum sat up and touched her lips with her fingers. "That...felt good..." She thought.
A few hours later everyone received a call from Chachamaru calling them to the main room. "What is it Chachamaru-San?" Sona asked.
"I've located Jack Rakan." Chachamaru said before looking around. "Where is Kenshin-San?"
"He's still not back from training I suppose." Evangeline said.
"Well I suppose we could take care of this for him." Rias suggested. Evangeline started laughing. "What?"
"It won't work." Evangeline said. "If you're thinking of trying to overwhelm Jack Rakan, you're out of your fuckin' mind."
"Well, what exactly are we goin' against if you think overwhelming him won't work?" Issei asked.
"You know that broken video game character that everyone either loves or hates? That's him." Evangeline said. "The cutesy girl over here tried taking him on, go on and tell everyone how that little adventure went for you."
Serafall started grumbling. "Nothing I hit him with worked."
"The only ones here that could have a chance at taking him are myself, Yukari, Miyuki, the blunette, the guy Kenshin hates right now, and you." She said pointing at Issei.
"Eeeh? ! Why me!" Issei said.
"You have the potential to be just as broken." Evangeline said. "Then of course there's Kenshin himself. The rest are just a minor distraction for him. Especially when most of you are women."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Grayfia said with a glare. "Besides, Yukari-San, Miyuki-San and Xenovia-San are female as well as yourself."
"Yukari and Miyuki have fought this man before, they know how he is, and I can tell that Xenovia over there is rather shameless as well as myself." Evangeline said. "As well as being one of the Mundus Magicus' strongest fighters, Jack Rakan is also one of it's biggest perverts. Cutesy over there knows what I'm talking about I'm sure."
Serafall sighed. "She's telling the truth. Not only did nothing I tried work, he kept perving on me and swiped my panties right off my body. I think he'd even give the Sekiryuutei a run for his money."
"Sekiryuutei?" Evangeline said.
"What they call Issei." Kazumi said.
"Ah." Evangeline nodded.
"Wait, give Issei a run for his money?" Just about everyone said looking over at Issei. "...No way!" They all shout.
"Anyway, that's just the basics. Chachamaru, give them a stat sheet." Evangeline said.
"Hai, Master." Chachamaru said as a screen appeared in front of her which she read aloud to everyone.
Jack Rakan
Title- Thousand Blades.
Strength- S
Speed- S
Constitution- X
Intelligence- A
Wisdom-B
Luck-B
Note 1- Jack Rakan possesses an artifact. Ho Heroes Meta Chilion Phospon. Allows him to recreate any weapon in Mundus Magicus.
Note- Constitution stat is immeasurable due to the technique 'Willpower Defense' or Kiai Bogyou. It is even higher than Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi's.
"..." Everyone donned a grim expression.
"There's only a few people present here that can put a dent in Kenshin-kun's armor when he's fighting seriously and at full power, and this man is tougher than even him?" Kiba asked.
"It would seem so." Xenovia said. "Why am I one of the people that has a chance to beat him."
"That sword you were using against Kenshin when Hottan got to him. I sense a lot of power inside it." Evangeline said.
"Whoa whoa, I'm feeling a little discounted." Azazel said with narrowed eyes.
"Same here." Grayfia said with a similar expression.
"Don't know much about either of you, despite being on or around the same level as him." Evangeline said jerking her thumb at Sirzechs. "We'll stick you in the unknown category."
"That's better." Azazel and Grayfia said.
"And why are the rest of us discounted?" Rias asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because you're not strong enough. Trust me Red without the ones I mentioned, Rakan wouldn't even take you all seriously. Maybe Hikari because they have a history together, but that's it. I've seen this man decimate entire armies with his bare hands."
"Alright Alright. So where is this man at?" Sirzechs asked defusing the situation before it could get serious. "Shouldn't be that difficult to cram a destruction orb in him."
"Hahahahaha." Evangeline laughed.
"What?" Sirzechs said with narrowed eyes.
"You might find your endeavor to be harder than you think." Evangeline said. "Anyway, go ahead Chachamaru."
"Yes." Chachamaru nodded and took out the map and set it on a nearby table and pointed at the western part of the map. "He's here, at Free Trade City Granicus. He's been there for a couple of days now and shows no signs of moving."
"...Funny." Yukari said.
"What?" Akeno asked.
"It almost seems like he's waiting." Hikari said.
"Likely." Chachamaru said. "When Serafall-Sama and Kenshin-San got trapped inside an avalanche, Kenshin-San had mentioned it was caused by the Dragon of Truth. Dragon probably told Jack Rakan that Kenshin-San's been rather dogged in his pursuit of them both."
"And if there's one thing Jack likes. It's a good fight." Miyuki said.
"T-This guy sounds sccaaaarrryyyy..." Gasper whined.
"It'll be OK Gasper-kun." Koneko said.
"So, we go and try to take out this Rakan person for Kenshin-San?" Rossweisse said.
"Well, it would be doing him a favor. Then he could focus all his strength on Dragon, who seems to know the ins and outs of the Yonseirei's power." Azazel said.
"Then again it almost seems like we should seek this Dragon out and take him down." Grayfia said. "It would make sense to send someone as tough as this Rakan at him, and that is Kenshin-San."
"I've not been able to find Dragon." Chachamaru said. "It's like he's found a way to hide himself from me."
"Well, if there's no other course available to us, we might as well get a move on." Sirzechs said.
"Before we leave. You should all know that Free Trade City Granicus is completely abandoned. So do not bother holding back against him to that end." Chachamaru said. "By the time people come there to rebuild we should be long gone."
"Right." Rias said with everyone else nodding.
"Alright. I'll teleport us in close. Chachamaru, I trust Kenshin filled you in on the Pawn's abilities, right?" Yukari asked.
"Yes." Chachamaru nodded.
"Alright, well when we find him, promote to either a Rook or Queen." Yukari said. "While Kenshin's gone he left me in charge."
"Whatever." Evangeline said.
"What?" Yukari said with narrowed eyes.
"From a strategic standpoint, he should leave me in charge. I'm both stronger and smarter than you." Evangeline said.
"Yeah well that's what happens when you get on your master's bad side." Yukari said leaning over to whisper in her ear. "You are the only here...that is blaming Kenshin for being gone...and quite frankly I'm sick of it."
"Yeah, well you aren't the only one princess." Evangeline whispered back. "Kenshin himself is sick of it too."
"So then fucking cram it already." Yukari whispered before backing away.
"Alright. Everyone get ready." Yukari said.
Everyone was teleported away. At the same time Kenshin was laying face down in a destroyed meadow. "...OK...that was a bust..." He said pushing himself up.
Salamander and Undine appeared next to him. "Kenshin...I think you should pack it in for the day." Salamander said.
"Yes. The Vessel of the Elements is like taking the Quadruple Giga into your body remember? First you would need to master the Quadruple Giga to..." Undine was cut off.
"I know Undine, but if I make headway on the Vessel of the Elements, that means I'm also making headway on the Quadruple Giga doesn't it?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, yes...but remember what Dad said?" Salamander said.
"Such an attack would be taking in the max power of the elements into your body, even for someone like me, that was dangerous for most of my life." Kenshin recalled Ragnarok telling him.
"You're basically trying to do something that not even Dad was able to do until near the end of his life." Undine said.
"I know that, but if necessary I'd like to have it controllable if not mastered by the time I go to fight Hottan in a few days." Kenshin said. "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."
"True..." Salamander said. "Just, think about taking a break soon OK?"
"Don't worry, I will." Kenshin said as he resumed his training.
(break)
Meanwhile.
Yukari's teleportation spell landed them along a forest path. "I thought we'd be in an abandoned city." Azazel said.
"Rakan would be on top of us in a heartbeat." Hikari said.
"We have to hoof it the rest of the way." Yukari said.
As the group walked Asia happened to look up. "Eh?"
"What is it Asia?" Xenovia asked.
Asia pointed. "A ball of light is coming down."
"Hm?" Yukari looked up as it stopped in front of her. "It doesn't feel harmful..." She said touching it. It flashed, blinding everyone momentarily. When the light died down everyone looked around. "What did it do?" Issei said.
"I don't know." Yukari said looking around.
"Who are they?" Koneko said pointing at two figures coming toward them.
"Wait...is that Kenshin?" Rias said. "What is he...Kenshin!" She called out.
They were ignored as Kenshin and a white haired young man walked toward them. The young man wore the dress black uniform of an army official. "!" Yukari's eyes widened slightly.
"What is it Yukari?" Grayfia asked.
"That white haired fellow...I know him." Yukari said.
"Who is it?" Gasper asked. "Is...Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes, his name is Shirota Mesa, he was the former head of the Interrogation division of Hellas." Yukari said.
"Was?" Akeno asked. "What happened?"
"He died." Yukari answered. "That explains it. This is a memory of Kenshin's."
"I thought Kenshin seemed shorter..." Issei said.
"Right...in this memory...I wanna say he's thirteen." Hikari said.
"So what did the guy know?" Kenshin asked.
"Nothing too much, just that Ariadne was being goaded by the Confederates into attacking Hellas with them." Shirota said.
"Idiots." Kenshin said with an eye roll.
"So, Kenshin have you given any thought to getting back together with Theodora?" Shirota asked.
Kenshin sighed. "Not this again. Shiro can you stop asking me about this? Yes I still like her, but with me around she'd be in danger."
Shirota let out a sigh. "Alright, but...the princess hasn't been the same since you left."
"Trust me I know that, but...you know she is the Princess of the Hellas Empire." Kenshin said. "And I'm a criminal, world renowned at that." He lit up a smoke.
"Should you really be smoking those?" Shirota asked with a wincing smile.
"Aaah, fuckin' Daniel got me hooked on 'em." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"..." Shirota narrowed his eyes. "Kenshin."
"I feel it." Kenshin said.
Suddenly a figure cut in between them and knocked them away from each other. "Wait shouldn't Kenshin have seen that coming a kilometer away?" Issei asked.
"I'm guessing this is before Kenshin-kun met the Four Spirits?" Kiba asked.
"Yes." Yukari nodded.
The scene changed and they saw Kenshin surrounded by armed assailants. Kenshin looked around. "Sorry boys, I'm not into guy only orgies." Kenshin spoke blithely, making most of the women watching the memory blush.
"Such a smart mouth on you..." One of them said.
"Lemme guess, the leader of the Hellas Tracker Division sent you guys to kill me?" Kenshin asked. "Well, there are two hundred of ya. Add in the roughly eight hundred other attempts I've already turned back, that brings the grand total to roughly a thousand."
"Haaaaahhhh!" One of them charged Kenshin.
"Wait you fool! !" The leader shouts, but it was too late as Kenshin cut him down.
"Boys, that brings your total down to one hundred and ninety nine. Let me know when you decide to start trying." Kenshin said.
The memory played out, Kenshin killing the two hundred assassins, in an efficient manner. He went to find Shirota when he was surrounded again, by another hundred or so assassins. "Hey boss, we found him. Let's ice him like we did the last guy."
"Last guy?" Kenshin said.
"Yeah, that chump with the short white hair. He managed to down a good handful of us, but we killed him in the end."
"I see...so that's what that was." Kenshin said unsheathing Kuroi Jigoku while holding a sheathed kodachi at the ready.
"So, are you going to come peacefully to your death, or are we gonna have to do this the hard way kid?"
"Neither..." Kenshin said as his aura surrounded him. "...I WILL KILL YOU ALL! !"
Everyone watched as Kenshin more or less butchered the remaining forces. "Such..violence." Xenovia said.
"This was both to protect himself...and for his own anger." Yukari said as the memory came to an end. "You may not have been able to tell, but Shirota was like an older brother to Kenshin. One of the few people that knew Kenshin before and after his time spent in Megalomesembria. The capitol of the Confederacy."
"...Wh...What happened there?" Asia asked.
Yukari shook her head. "That's not a story for right now. Besides two of you already know that story." Rias and Issei shared a look. "Alright. Let's keep moving. Granicus isn't that far out."
Everyone nodded and continued onward. They had a fight to pick with one of this world's strongest after all."
(chapter end)
Draconis: I know this is mainly a talking chapter. Sorry if you were expecting more action.
Issei: Are you planning on pairing me with Sextum and Chachamaru?
Draconis: Considering it.
Rias: Kenshin...why can't I just kill that slave trader?
Kenshin: Already explained it. Don't need to again.
Draconis: Anyway. Next chapter will be almost all fighting if you couldn't tell so I hope that makes up for the lack of action in this one.
Kenshin: You had me acting different that usual.
Draconis: The reason for that will be revealed soon.
Anyway. It's been fun See you all later.
Draconis678 out.