Draconis: Kenshin, what are you doing?
Kenshin: (dressed up as a butler.) Your tea ma'am.
Grayfia: Thank you. (takes a sip) You're getting better, but try again.
Kenshin: (bows) Yes ma'am.
Draconis: (blinks) Ummm...you two do remember that Kenshin fulfilled his end of your deal right?
Sirzechs: Yeah, I'm right here.
Grayfia: Oh I know, but I just wanted to find out what it would be like to have Kenshin as a servant.
Kenshin: I didn't have any problems with it.
Draconis: Hmmm... (wheels turning) I wonder...
Sirzechs: (narrows eyes) What are you thinking?
Draconis: Meh, I was thinking of a one shot where Kenshin survives the fight against Hottan, but you get killed meaning that Kenshin actually does become Grayfia's servant which is what I implied last chapter.
Sirzechs: (rolls eyes) Gee why don't you just kill me off in the story while you're at it.
Draconis: Oh Sirzechs calm down. It's just an idea I may or may not act on.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 34
Fantasy or Reality?
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Previously.
Kenshin flew up to where Hottan was as Rias and his clone flew away, his elemental power spiraling around him whipping both his hair and samurai armor styled Scale Mail around. "Hmm?" Hottan said with a callous smirk. "Just can't control those tears can you Kenshin?" He said seeing tears flying into the wind from Kenshin's eyes.
"I've been thinking...ever since last night, about all the pain and suffering you've caused everyone." Kenshin said. "Because of you...my clans, the Kuroshi and Tsuki are nearly gone, myself and my immediate family all that is left. You caused the Schismatic War, for no real good reason...just to try and erase this world from existence, using your own daughter Asuna to do it." Kenshin said. "Then...you kidnapped my mother and my sister...doing who knows what to them for the next ten years after that. Because of you, my students are dead, my friends in Rikudou were resurrected and used for means that perverted their original objective."
Kenshin went on. "Because of you...the Ala Rubra is gone...my father dead and then revived only to be killed by me again..." The elements around him grew in ferocity. "Then...you put Negi in a position where she had to make me kill her...now you're going to threaten the people who came to find me, and bring me back home." He began to snarl. "No...I will not allow it! Even if the power of the elements can't kill you, you will wish they could!" He took out Kuroi Jigoku and unsheathed it. "Whatever it takes..." He shot toward Hottan. "I WILL DEFEAT YOU, HOTTAN! !"
Kenshin and Hottan clashed. The Great Grand Master Key against Kuroi Jigoku. "Alright then Kenshin. It's time to raise some Hell!" Hottan said as the two separated. "Hahahaha, the last time we fought like this Kenshin, you were still a child...a child I left laying in a pool of his own blood...but even then I knew we would meet in battle again!" Hottan shouts with a smirk, as Kenshin's body shook with rage. "I hope you don't disappoint! Hahahahahahaha! !"
Kenshin appeared in front of him and punched Hottan in the face, however he did not budge. "!" Hottan forced Kenshin off of him and punched Kenshin in the chest, sending him flying away.
Kenshin got back to his feet. "Oh? I see you've gotten your heart fixed?" Hottan said.
"..." Kenshin scowled, saying nothing.
"Regardless, I've waited a long time for this Kenshin!" Hottan said relocating behind Kenshin.
Kenshin rounded, driving his elbow into Hottan's face, sending him on a tumble across the ground. "And you will get exactly what you deserve!" Kenshin shouts.
Hottan caught himself and fired off bursts of holy magic at Kenshin. "This is so much fun Kenshin! It's like hunting!"
"If that's so, you're the game!" Kenshin said dodging the attacks and finding Hottan charging in behind them. Kenshin stabbed Kuroi Jigoku into the ground and caught Hottan's fist, lining his forehead with Gnome's power and took the other fist and jumped up, driving his knee into Hottan's chin.
"Gah!" Hottan gasped in pain catching himself as he was knocked back. Kenshin collected Kuroi Jigoku and slashed it at Hottan's neck, Hottan blocked it with his key. A great force exploded from them, scattering dust everywhere. The two pulled back their weapons and clashed again, another force creating a crater beneath them. Kenshin spun their weapons around and flung them away.
"Eat this!" Kenshin said cocking both fists back and punching at him.
"I don't think so!" Hottan shouts returning the measure.
The two entangled in a flurry of fists. "Funny! I thought you were a Wizard type!" Kenshin shouts as he landed a glancing blow on Hottan's face.
"I am anything! The end all, be all, the God of Fantasy!" Hottan shouts with a smirk as he decked Kenshin in the jaw.
"It's time you got a heavy dose of reality you crazy old bastard!" Kenshin shouts slamming his fist into Hottan's face.
"Grh!" Hottan grunted, being knocked back for a moment before diving back into the fray. "You are defeated!" Hottan shouts as they continued their flurrying assault on one another.
"Prove it! Make my defeat a reality, Fantasy God!" Kenshin mocked as he drove his fist into Hottan's chest.
"Scream in agony for me Kenshin!" Hottan said with a wide smirk as he drove his fist into Kenshin's sternum.
"Not likely!" Kenshin shouts driving his forehead into Hottan's. "That's payback for earlier!"
Rias watched from a distance as the two dueled. "Kenshin..." She said.
"The real me will be fine, but he still needs your help." Kenshin's clone said as he focused on keeping the healing charms going.
"How am I supposed to know when to attack? I can barely see them move!" Rias said.
"Come here." Kenshin's clone said. "The real me left something with me that he wanted me to give to you."
Rias walked over to Kenshin's clone who reached over and placed his elbow on her "Mmn..." Rias let out a soft moan.
"My bad, I'm kinda focused on healing Sirzechs and Grayfia." Kenshin's clone said noticing he had pressed his elbow into her breast. "Element Transfer Level One: All!"
"Embrace!"
"Huh?" Rias said as the elements spiraled around her. "Won't Kenshin be weakened with this?"
"As long as he doesn't transfer the full Balance Breaker, he'll have the same intensity of elemental power, now if he were to transfer level one again to someone else, he'd lose the Elemental Overdrives. Thankfully the present battlefield allows him some measure of flexibility." Kenshin's clone said. "With Undine's power you should be able to track them easier, with Sylph you'll be just fast enough to attack. Salamander will increase your energy and intensity of your attacks and Gnome will make sure you don't get taken out in one shot. Now go. I'll join you once I've pulled these two out of the danger zone."
"Um...no offense, but what could a clone do here?" Rias asked.
"More than you'd expect." Kenshin's clone said. "Now go."
"Right." Rias said bringing out her wings and flying away. "..." She saw Kenshin and Hottan still going at it, but their flurry had ended. "He was right, I can see them moving a lot better than before now, but I still can't see it perfectly. I'll need to time this precisely." Rias thought.
"Trust yourself...when the time is right, you will hit him."
"!" Rias looked around wide eyed. "That voice..."
Hottan batted Kuroi Jigoku away with his keystaff, only to receive Kenshin's fist in his stomach, sending him flying further away. "Heheheheh!" Hottan chuckled madly. "Don't die on me Kenshin!" He said summoning up blunted staves to fire at him.
"The only one who will die tonight is you!" Kenshin said holding Kuroi Jigoku in a defensive position, while his other hand summoned his naginata to his hand. He then slashed Kuroi Jigoku outward firing off a Katensho to destroy the staves.
"Hahaha, you need to enjoy this a bit more!" Hottan said taking aim and firing a beam of holy magic at him.
"And you need to shut up and DIE!" Kenshin roared slicing the beam in half with Kuroi Jigoku. Kenshin put his naginata under his feet and surrounded the vacuum of wind around it, using the dual bladed weapon as a high speed hoverboard and took off toward Hottan.
Kenshin punched through Hottan or rather his image. Hottan appeared behind him and summoned up dark blades with his fantasy magic and took aim at Kenshin. "Tch!" Kenshin shifted his legs forward and kicked his naginata into a spin, shredding the blades to nothing, however some moved around and attacked Kenshin from behind. "? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as those were destroyed by a cloud of crimson magic. He looked over and saw Rias with her hand extended toward him. He nodded toward as if to thank her.
"I'll just stay back and wait for an opportune moment to strike." Rias said through a communication circle.
"I was going to suggest the same. You probably can't keep up with us." Kenshin said.
"Hahahaha, this battle has been fun." Hottan said with a smirk. "However all good things must come to an end...you knew this was coming Kenshin! Pillar of Hades!"
Kenshin's eyes widened as a massive pillar of brimstone roared out of a portal that came to life right in front of him. "Shit!" He held his arms out to catch the pillar as it drove him back. Hottan flew forward to pursue him and push the pillar himself.
"Only one of us is going to walk away from this! Luckily for you, it will at least be your body! !" Hottan shouts.
"I'll rip our your blind eyes!" Kenshin shouts.
"You put your neck on the line, and for what? ! People who would never repay the favor to you? !" Hottan said. "Your entire life is one long joke Kenshin!"
"You wouldn't understand what it is I do, even if I sent you straight to Hell!" Kenshin said.
"Then make me understand your loathsome, self destructive efforts with your wrath then!" Hottan shouts.
"As you wish! !" Kenshin roared cocking his left fist back, surrounded in with the power of Sylph and Gnome. "Flash Bullet Fist! !"
A fissure tore through the pillar as Kenshin punched through it. Kenshin appeared over Hottan and dropped his heel on Hottan's head sending him to the ground. Kenshin landed on the ground across from him and glanced around. He was back where everyone else was, still under Hottan's Cosmo Entelecheia spell. "Damn, I'll have to be careful now." Kenshin said.
"I wouldn't suggest that, not with me Kenshin." Hottan said with a cackle at the end. "Gah!" He gasped as Kenshin punched him in the stomach and back flipped, a wall of flames appearing behind him. "Katensou Arashi!" He said firing off spears of flame at Hottan, stabbing through and around him. He landed with his back turned to Hottan, snapping his fingers, making the spears all explode. Hottan pegged Kenshin in the back of the head with a beam of holy light. Kenshin was dazed, but still dodged the next one, jumped into the air and turned toward Hottan grabbing his shoulders and slamming his forehead into Hottan's. He then cocked his fist back as he landed on the ground, surrounding it in Sylph, Salamander and Gnome's power. "Point Blank Crushing Flame Profusion!" Kenshin shouts driving his fist into Hottan's face.
"Grrh!" Hottan grunted as he staggered backward. "Grrraahhhh! !" He roared angrily and commanded the Great Grand Master Key to levitate behind him as he cocked both fists back.
"This again? ! For a Fantasy God you sure are unimaginative!" Kenshin said as they went into a flurry of fists again.
"When the bulk of my magic doesn't work against you anyway, what's the point in getting fancy? !" Hottan shouts.
"Well you aren't going to out brute force me Hott-? !" Kenshin was cut off as his left arm exploded in muscle tissue, bone and gore. "Wha? !"
"Heh!" Hottan smirked as he slammed both fists into Kenshin's face. "Did it ever occur to you that I might have been holding back against you this whole time."
"Actually, yes...I was counting on it!" Kenshin shouts driving his right arm upward for an uppercut, knocking Hottan into the air.
Hottan caught himself and levitated. He had an angry scowl as Kenshin regrew his arm. "You arrogant dual breed devil! I'll put you down for good!" He shouts as the air seemingly moved in toward him.
"!" Kenshin felt dread creeping up inside him.
"!" Rias who was flying in saw this as well. "That's a lot of mana he's drawing in.
"Prepare yourself Kenshin!" Hottan said creating three clones. "Blazing Heat in the Sky!"
"Thousand Thunderbolts!"
"The End of the World!"
"Tearing Earth!"
The strongest spells of the flame, lightning, ice and earth spell classes respectively roared toward him. "Damn, I have to contain the blast!" Kenshin said extending his own magic outward.
(booooommmmm! !)
"! !" Rias' eyes widened in dread as she saw the attack strike him. When it died down, she couldn't sense him. "No...no...KENSHIN! !" She screamed.
"?" Hottan turned toward her. "Aaah. It's you again." He said with a smirk. "Yes, I might have gone a little overboard there, ah well. I guess I can try and swipe that one Forbesii's after, then use it to kill him."
"No..." Rias said bowing her head, a pair of tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You shouldn't get so worked up. I'll send you to join him here shortly and your friends as well, as soon as I'm done with your world." Hottan said.
"...I will not let you die here alone Kenshin..." Rias said as her magic welled up in a furious vortex. "LifeMaker Hottan...How dare you, you monster. You think you can take what's mine? ! Threaten my beloved servants, my friends! Make my fiancee's life a living hell and you thought you would would get away with it? !"
"Hm?" Hottan said. "Oh how cute you're all angry. You remind me of Negi with how adorably enraged you are. Nothing can stop me...or my plan. Least of all a plucky, privileged devil girl." Hottan mocked.
"I don't give a DAMN about your plans!" Rias snarled angrily as she collected her magic in her palms. "I swear...even if this world's fate is to be destroyed, and every last drop of my blood boils away to nothing, I will strike you down in Kenshin's place...YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE! !"
"Heheheheh, strong words...but just try to back them up." Hottan said moving his hand forward, wrapping his magic around Rias' body.
So imagine his shock when that magic was repelled. "? !" Hottan's eyes widened. "What? !"
"Your Perfect World spell didn't work on me...what made you think anything else would? !" Rias shouts firing off wave after wave of destruction magic at Hottan.
Hottan relocated out of the way of all the blasts when he got a good look at Rias' face. "...!" Hottan let out a quiet gasp as he saw Negi's face overlap Rias'. "Krhh...so that's how it is. That foolish girl...a thorn in my side even from beyond the grave. Fine then, I've got no problems dealing with you with my own two hands!"
"Come on then!" Rias shouts. "Let's see if you can!"
"Someone's confident! Thinking they're ready to sit at the high rollers' table with the men!" Hottan laughed as he relocated behind her. "Except this game is rigged."
"Nice try." Rias said, her head turned toward him, her hand aimed up.
"Hu-? !" Hottan was cut off as destruction magic blasted him in the face. "Argh!"
Rias turned and flew backward, keeping her eyes on him. "Alright...I have to be careful about this. If he gets me a few good times I'm done for."
"Don't volley your magic at him."
"!" Rias' eyes widened slightly "That voice again." She thought "Hey! Is that you Negi-San? !"
"Yes. I was hoping you wouldn't need this, but now that you're using it, you've only got a limited amount of time." Negi said. "After that this gift I've given you will go dormant."
"What did you give me?" Rias thought.
"It has to do with Hottan, and Ragnarok Kuroshi's biological older brother." Negi replied. "Now focus and do as I say."
"Right." Rias said as she saw Hottan coming in hot.
"That was interesting girlie!" Hottan said with a small smirk. "However, do you really believe you can succeed where your beloved Kenshin failed?" He asked.
"Staves, He's using Tertium's Banshou Tsuranuku Kokkui no Enkan!" Negi said. "Create a defensive wall with your magic, reinforced by the earth spirit Gnome's magic!"
"Got it!" Rias said swiping her hands out in front of her, creating a wall of destruction magic in front of herself, reinforcing it with Gnome's magic. "This isn't harming you is it?" She asked the Earth Spirit.
"Gnomey says she's fine, and to just focus on what you're doing." Sylph said.
"Yes it will take more than a little destruction magic to harm us." Salamander said.
"OK, just wanted to be sure." Rias said.
"What's wrong Negi? ! Didn't have the courage to face me yourself, so you decided to let Kenshin and his new squeeze do your dirty work for you? !" Hottan shouts as he created a massive spear of lightning.
"Gungnir!" Negi said. "Just dodge out of the way at the right time!"
Hottan threw the large spear at Rias who dodged at the last few seconds available thanks to Undine's power. "Wow, I'm fighting the god of this world, I should be scared, but I've never felt calmer." Rias thought.
"Guuuhh..." Hottan grunted grabbing his head. "Damn...that destruction magic is the only magic I don't have immunity to...it really did a number on me." He thought.
"Alright, it's time to go on the offensive." Negi said. "I'm just going to tell you right now however, that you don't have the power to defeat Hottan."
"Damn, I'm the only one wh-" Rias thought.
"No you're not, think...if Kenshin were really dead, would you still be able to use the spirit's power that his clone gave to you." Negi asked.
"..." Rias sensed toward the deep crater that Hottan had put Kenshin into. She felt it...it felt like a great welling of elemental magic, one that she remembered feeling before. "..." A calm, confident smile appeared on her face. "Got it, I've got something in mind to attack him with, but I need to know my target."
"The weapon he's been using, levitating behind his back." Negi said. "The Great Grand Master Key. If that is destroyed, Hottan's Cosmo Entelecheia spell will lose effect and everyone left in Mundus Magicus will wake up, your friends included!"
"That means Hottan will lose all of his immunities, got it!" Rias said.
"..." Hottan narrowed his eyes as he noticed Rias flying toward him. "What is she planning?"
"Haaaaahhhh! !" Hottan was forced to dodge a stab and looked over to find Kenshin's clone smirking at him.
"You? !" Hottan said. "But I- DAMMIT!"
"Awh, what's the matter Hottan, suddenly decided you don't want a piece of this sweet ass anymore? !" Kenshin's clone mocked. "Well it's just too bad for you, I'm still breathing!" He turned toward Rias. "Don't worry about Sirzechs and Grayfia, they're gonna be just fine, still might need Asia to look them over when this is over."
"Alright." Rias replied. "!" Her eyes widened in shock as Hottan's hand tore through his chest.
"Just a clone, focus on your objective!" Negi said.
"Kenshin was very foolish to think a mere clone could match me!" Hottan said.
Kenshin's clone grabbed his hand and force it further in while his other hand grabbed Hottan's wrist, restraining both his arms. "You knew I was a fake, yet you still bit on me...you're the fool here Hottan." Kenshin's clone said with a smirk as he flipped Hottan the bird and exploded.
"Gaah!" Hottan shouted as he flew backward. "? !" He sensed Rias behind him, a large sphere of destruction magic levitating in her right hand. "No, that was her target! It's too lat-!"
"Extinguished Star! !" Rias shouts, throwing her hand forward, sending the sphere into Hottan's back, sending him crashing into the ground.
She hunched forward, sweat dripping from her brow, gasping for much needed breath. "That...was so exhausting...I need to...work on that attack a bit more...no...maybe just my stamina..."
"I wouldn't...worry about that for too much longer you little bitch."
"!" Rias watched as Hottan flew back up to her level, his mage cloak in tatters.
"Because you're going to die, right here and right now! !" Hottan roared firing off a large burst of holy magic right at her.
"!" Rias froze in fright. "I-I can't move, this is it!" She thought.
Suddenly the burst of holy magic was knocked away. "!" Hottan's eyes narrowed with rage as he saw the real Kenshin standing in front of her. His Scale Mail gone, the jewels fused into his skin.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Hottan, this form takes me some time to set up, but I see my fiancee's taken to entertaining you in my place." Kenshin said with a smirk. "Where's your key? I'd hate to beat on an unarmed man." Kenshin asked.
"I destroyed it." Rias said.
"? !" Kenshin's head turned toward her. "You destroyed the Great Grand Master Key?" He asked.
"Yes." Rias answered with a smile.
"..." A small grin appeared on Kenshin's face. "Rias, I owe you BIG time when this is over." He said as he turned to Hottan. "Seems that thanks to Rias and your own hubris, you've lost your only means of defense against me Hottan." He said, his grin turning into a smirk. "Now your ass belongs to me!" Kenshin said appearing in front of Hottan in a burst of wind and punching him in the face.
"Guh!" Hottan grunted. Hottan caught himself and turned to find Kenshin standing directly behind him. "!" He jumped back only to get Kenshin's elbow in his face. He caught himself again, scowling ruefully at Kenshin as everyone around them began stirring. "I am still the LifeMaker, you will not defeat me! !"
"I already have." Kenshin said throwing up a handsign as he lofted Kuroi Jigoku skyward. Strands of shadow connected Hottan to the ground and pinned him there as Kenshin came back down to the ground with him. The elements in Kenshin's body transferred to Kuroi Jigoku. "You see Hottan, in this form I'm currently in, the Vessel of the Elements I don't have to waste time setting up and controlling the force of this next attack, I'm already controlling it within my own body!"
"! !" Hottan's eyes widened in dread as Kenshin shot toward him.
"Quadruple Giga! !" Kenshin roared slashing Hottan down the front, his attack flinging off his blade.
"Aaaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh! ! !" Hottan roared in agony.
"..." Kenshin panted heavily, his Sacred Gear reappeared in his hand. Hottan was still standing in front of him, but Kenshin could plainly see the multiple cracks running along his body, growing in length and number.
"...My core...you've...destroyed my core...!" Hottan gasped out.
"That's right, you will not be able to hurt anyone ever again." Kenshin said with a scowl.
"Hmph..." Hottan closed his eyes, smirking wearily as he raised his left hand upward. "I'll see you...in Hell...Kenshin..." He snapped his fingers as his body broke away and crumbled to nothing.
"..." Kenshin stared on ahead. A plethora of emotions storming through him. He had finally done it. His friends and loved ones that had died in this world, could finally rest in peace.
"Kenshin! !"
He turned to find Yukari, Miyuki, Kiba, Koneko, Akeno and the other running toward him with the exception of Issei, Azazel, Evangeline, Hikari and the Vali team. "..." Kenshin turned to them with a tired smile. "Fuck...I'm so exhausted. That Quadruple Giga and Vessel of the Elements wasn't even perfect and I'm tired...!" Kenshin's eyes widened as a tear in space opened behind him it began sucking him in. "Wha? ! Is that the Dimensional Gap? !" He said as his feet came off the ground.
Sirzechs dove in front of the portal and grabbed Kenshin's wrist. "Kenshin, hang on I'm going to pull you out!" Sirzechs said.
"..." Kenshin glanced back at the tear in space.
"Don't you dare let go! !" Sirzechs shouts.
"Kenshin!" Yukari shot forward grabbing his other hand. "Hang on!"
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. "Sirzechs, I just want to tell you, what I said earlier about forgiving you, I meant it." He said
"Don't talk, just focus on getting out of there!" Sirzechs said.
"I...can't move anymore, and I can already feel my arms tearing off..." He said as he pulled his hands back against their grips. "There's no sense in you two getting sucked into the Dimensional Gap with me."
"Kenshin! Don't do this, please! !" Yukari pleaded.
"...Dammit...I guess in the end, that bastard still beat me." Kenshin said as he finally wrest his hands free. "Later..." He said as he was sucked into the Dimensional Gap, the portal closing shut before Yukari could dive through it.
"..." Everyone was frozen in shock.
"Wait, so you're telling me, even after all Kenshin went through to come here and beat him, he still gets the last laugh? !" Issei shouts.
"...If I knew where he was, I could possibly go in there and get him, but...there's just no telling, and he was weakened already due to his fight..." Arthur said.
"Even if we did, he could be swallowed by the void before we got there." Vali said.
"If you can go to the Dimensional Gap, let's go already! I'll come with you!" Yukari said running up to Arthur.
"I will as well!" Akeno said.
"There's no telling where Hottan sent Kenshin with his last breath, the margin for error is too big." Vali said.
"He has a piece of Ophis inside him doesn't he? ! Call her up and ask her!" Yukari berated.
"You can't just get in contact with someone this far away from home." Arthur said. "I'm sorry, but...it's up to Kenshin himself to find his own way back if he can."
"..." Yukari scowled. "You...You!" She seethed with tears in her eyes.
"What if we just opened a gateway-nyaa?" Kuroka suggested. "We wouldn't have to look for him, but we could just pour our power through it and create a beacon for him to follow."
"..." Yukari turned to her.
"He helped me start my reconciliation with Shirone, this is the least I could do." Kuroka said turning her head toward her.
"Very well." Arthur said. "It's worth a shot, everyone get ready!"
Meanwhile Kenshin was floating through flames, then a strange green atmosphere before he found himself floating through what seemed to be water. "Where am I?"
"It looks like you were already swallowed up by vortex of the Dimensional Gap." Ddraig said.
"Huh, where's Ophis when you need her?" Kenshin said. "I bet she could get me back..."
"I don't know." Ddraig said. "I'm not all that sure what will even happen to you."
"Gee, don't sound so easy going about all this eh?" Kenshin said with a tired grin.
"Hm?" Ddraig said as they reappeared in empty space. "Looks like that guy is coming."
"Huh?" Kenshin said as a massive portal opened up right next to him. He forced himself to a standing base as something came through the portal. "? ! !" His eyes widened in shock as he saw a massive red dragon flying right by him. "Unholy shit...Great Red." He said. "The Dragon of Dragons..."
"Dragon of Dreams...I'm not sure what kind of passing whim this is, but I suppose he'll show us the way." Ddraig said.
"I see...Sylph, Salamander, Undine, Gnome...I want you to go ahead and head to Yukari...in case I don't make it out of here." He said.
"What? !" Sylph, Salamander, and Undine shout.
"I might not make it out of here, there's no reason for you to sill be here, chancing getting swallowed up by the Dimensional Gap along with me." Kenshin said.
"..." All four spirits went silent before surprisingly Gnome spoke up. "If this is...truly your final hours, let us remain by your side until then. We will be fine, the Dimensional Gap won't affect us."
"Do you agree with her?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes/Yeah/Uh huh." Undine, Salamander and Sylph answer.
Kenshin closed his eyes as he felt himself being pulled into the second portal Great Red made. "Alright then, I won't argue."
Kenshin stood on a beach and looked around. "Whoa..." Kenshin said looking at the sky above, seeing shooting stars. "!" His eyes widened as he saw the members of the Ala Rubra standing on the beach with him.
"..." Some of them smiled, others grinned widely. Two fellows wearing business suits with matching glasses and stubble approached him.
"Takamichi and Gateau..." Kenshin said.
"Thanks to you, we can finally rest." Takamichi said.
"So, when you get home, learn to enjoy your life a little more eh?" Gateau said walking by him. The two vanished.
A man with long dark blue hair tied into a ponytail wearing a beige mage's cloak came up to him next. "Hello Kenshin, it's been awhile.
"...Hahaha, indeed it has Uncle Albireo." Kenshin said with a quivering voice.
Albireo smiled and placed his hand on his head. "One last passing gift." He said.
"!" Kenshin felt all of his injuries and even his mana heal and replenish. Albireo faded away.
Rakan came up to him. "You did good kid, damn good!" He said with a loud laugh.
"Yeah...but now I'm stuck here." Kenshin said. Rakan slapped him on the back.
"Don't worry about that, you'll find your way out." Rakan laughed. "Just keep kicking ass for the rest of us when you do! Wahahahahahaha!"
"Heh, will do." Kenshin said. Rakan nodded and walked by Kenshin and disappeared.
A man with short black hair, sharp eyes wearing a black sweater and matching slacks. "Kenshin..."
"Eishun..." Kenshin said with a distant look. "...I'm sorry about Konoka and Setsuna."
"It wasn't your fault." Eishun said. "Just do me a favor, never forget about them."
"Never." Kenshin said with a nod.
Eishun nodded and walked by him patting him on the back before vanishing.
Arika and a man wearing a tattered beige mages cloak, black shirt and matching pants walked up to them. "Nagi, Arika."
"You did good Kenshin. Now we can all finally take our rest again." Nagi said with a grin.
"Yes." Arika said with a smile.
"Negi, she was forced to have me kill her..." Kenshin said.
"We know." Nagi nodded.
"It was her choice to make." Arika said. "If nothing else, she got to choose her own fate, something you've always respected, right?"
"Yeah, well I just wish she didn't involve me in deciding that particular part of that fate." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, just...live a full life for her." Nagi said.
"And us." Arika said.
"You have my word." Kenshin said.
Nagi and Arika nod and walk by him, vanishing. Kenshin narrowed his eyes solemnly as the final person came up to him, his father Ryuushin. "Dad..."
"Hello son." Ryuushin said with a calm smile.
"...I...I..." Kenshin said.
Ryuushin held up his hand. "It's OK son. It is not your fault I am no longer here." He said.
"..." Kenshin bowed his head.
Ryuushin grabbed his hand and placed something into it. "The one who allowed us to come and visit you allowed me to give you something before I returned. Accept this, and give it to someone yourself."
Kenshin looked at his hand. It was a ring with a moderately sized diamond on it. "...Is this..?"
"The ring I proposed to your mother with, yes." Ryuushin said with a smile.
"..." Kenshin nodded. Ryuushin started to walked by when Kenshin placed his hand on his chest. "Dad." He said.
"Yes?" Ryuushin asked.
"I...I just wanted to thank you for everything that you've done for me." Kenshin said. "You were the best father that a reckless, problematic, former introvert like me could have ever asked for." He said.
"..." Ryuushin placed his hand on Kenshin's shoulder with a smile on his face. "Kenshin...no matter what happens, I will always be proud of you, you and your sisters. You take good care of them now you hear me?"
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "Count on it."
A single tear slipped down Ryuushin's face as he started walking backward, his body glowing a faint white. Suddenly a pair of wings shot out of his back, but they were not dragon wings like Kenshin would expect, but a pair of angel wings. "..." Kenshin stared at him, unsure of what to say.
Ryuushin hopped into the air and took off, disappearing after a short distance.
"Well...that was a first. A demon with angel wings." Kenshin looked over to find a woman who resembled Ophis, in a more mature body, wearing her usual outfit, fitted to her new form. She looked to be around early adulthood.
"Ophis?" Kenshin asked.
"If you're wondering about the form. I'm just trying things out." Ophis said.
"I see, uhm...can you get me out of here?" Kenshin asked.
"Doubtful, I'm not even sure where we are relative to where you came from." Ophis said.
"So in other words, with his last breath Hottan basically bombed me into a random part of the Dimensional Gap." Kenshin said.
"Well it's not all bad." Ophis shrugged. "At least it's quiet and the view is nice."
"I guess." Kenshin said. "So...wait am I not in any danger here?"
"From getting swallowed by the gap? Not with me here, no." Ophis shook her head.
"Aah huh..." Kenshin nodded. "So would you care to tag along while I look for a way back? Give you a chance to get around your old home."
"Also gives me equal chances to run into that big red bastard." Ophis muttered.
Kenshin chuckled uneasily with a sweatdrop. "I-I'll lend you a pair of earplugs?"
"Won't work." Ophis said. "Hm?"
"What is it?" Kenshin asked noticing her looking up.
"Ugh..." Ophis sighed. "Too late."
"Wha? Whoa? !" Kenshin shouts as a massive figure crashed into the beach. "...Oh shit..." He said with wide eyes, seeing the figure turn out to be Great Red. "Oh fuck!"
"You are not supposed to be here." Great Red's voice boomed, glancing over at Kenshin.
"And you need a breathmint the size of a mountain." Ophis jabbed.
"Ah Ophis, again with the jabs." Great Red said.
"Always, home invader." Ophis snapped.
"You left home, as far as I'm concerned the estate was abandoned." Great Red shot back.
"Ummm..." Kenshin said.
"You! You are not supposed to be here!" Great Red repeated.
"Right we've established that." Kenshin said.
"For your intrusion you will be punished!" Great Red shouts.
"Wh-What? ! I don't want to be here anyway!" Kenshin shouts.
"What? Are you saying my home isn't good enough for you? !" Great Red shouts.
"I didn't say that at all!" Kenshin yelled.
"Any home occupied by you is automatically ruined." Ophis stated blithely.
"You're not helping!" Kenshin said with a comical glare.
"In fact we're going to kick you out right now." Ophis stated with a smirk.
"Oh? ! That would be a great trick!" Great Red laughed.
"Ophis can you please keep your murderection in under your dress please?" Kenshin asked.
"You can't tell my murderection what to do Kenshin." Ophis said with a dull look. "I am throbbing with rage!"
"Aggh! If we get killed I'm going to jam my murderection that I still have from killing Hottan so far down your throat!" Kenshin snapped.
Ophis turned to him with a vexed look. "Oh I'd love to see you try!"
Kenshin stomped toward her. "Come over here and I will, you doppelganger goddess!"
"..." Great Red watched as the two began to bicker amongst themselves.
"I'm going to make you regret those words." Ophis said with a glare.
"Uh huh, is this before or after Great Red eats us? !" Kenshin said assuming his Balance Breaker.
"Eats you maybe!" Ophis shot back walking up to him.
"Oh no Ophis, if I'm becoming chow for this big red fucker I'm dragging you down with me!" Kenshin snapped.
"Umm..." Great Red said.
"Alright that's it. We're going to have it out the winner fights this idiot!" Ophis said cracking her knuckles. "We begin on three, got it? One, Two.
"Three!" Kenshin shouts as they both turn and punch Great Red in the nose.
"Argh!" Great Red shook his head around.
"OK...running!" Kenshin said sweeping Ophis off her feet and taking off.
"What are you doing? ! Get back there and fight! It's not like you'd be fighting alone!" Ophis said.
"I know that, but that didn't even hurt him, I need to back away to activate the Juggernaut Drive." Kenshin said.
"...Oooohhhh." Ophis said with a nod.
"Ngh, that was annoying." Great Red said before glancing around. "Where did you go? !"
"Over here you big red bitch!" Kenshin shouts flying in on the Black Dragon of Destruction.
"You know you seemed fearful when he first arrived, why the sudden change?" Ophis asked with a curious look.
"Tch, as if I'd give you the satisfaction of lording it over me that I ran away from something with my tails between my legs." Kenshin said with a smirk. "Even in death!"
"Ha! If there's one thing I've always admired about you it's your boundless courage. Always staring death in the face and laughing." Ophis said.
"You're serious about this huh? Well then I'll make you pay for gawking at me!" Great Red shouts flying at him.
"You're pissed at me because I was staring at you? !" Kenshin snapped.
"He's an idiot." Ophis sighed.
Kenshin flew forward on the black dragon while Ophis launched a pillar of snakes at Great Red that slithered around and restrained him. "Kokuryuu Taihou!" Kenshin shouts slashing ZanRyuu forward. Kenshin's attack flung off his sword and slammed into Great Red.
"..." Ophis said.
"Did we get him?" Kenshin asked.
"...Not even close." Ophis said seeing Great Red emerge from the dust unharmed.
"Fuck..." Kenshin said with a wry smirk.
"My turn." Great Red said as red energy pooled in front of his mouth. "Apocalypse Shot!"
Kenshin's eyes widened. "Shit!" He said as he braced the black dragon for impact, applying Tenrai Sesshou Yuurei and Earth Guard.
"What are you doing? ! Dodge it!" Ophis said.
"There's no telling where Mundus Magicus is in the Dimensional Gap, I'm not taking any chances!" Kenshin said.
"Aggh!" Ophis yelled as she placed her hand on Kenshin's back, over her mark pouring her power into it.
"Gh? !" Kenshin said. "Ophis?"
"I can't have you getting killed, between you and Vali, you two are my best shots at getting rid of him." Ophis said.
"Awh, you do care." Kenshin teased.
"Whatever." Ophis rolled her eyes.
The Black Dragon caught the ball of dark red energy and held it there. "Hm? !" Great Red said.
The ball was shrinking before him, upon further inspection Great Red realized that Kenshin was actually squeezing it, compressing the Apocalypse Dragon's attack. "Grrrhhh!" Kenshin growled. "Come on! COME ON! !" Finally Kenshin was able to crush the ball down to nothing.
"..." Great Red stared at the much smaller Black Dragon.
"Heh...who's staring now you schmuck." Kenshin said with a weary. yet wild smirk. "Is that all you got? !"
"Kenshin?" Ophis said with a curious look. "He truly isn't afraid anymore...even though Great Red at this point would utterly destroy him." Ophis thought.
"If you're not going to move I will!" Kenshin said flying around Great Red, hopping off of the Black Dragon and stabbing ZanRyuu into the Apocalypse Dragon and running along in a spiral as the Black Dragon breathed down flames behind Kenshin. When Kenshin hopped back onto the Black Dragon. Ophis turned to him.
"...You won't be able to beat him." Ophis said. "That probably just tickled him.
"Heh." Kenshin smirked. "I don't really care anymore." He said. "I just want to leave a lasting impression on this bastard."
"Well then, I have just the way you could do it." Ophis said. "That Quadruple Giga attack, use the dragon to launch it."
"...Hm...Ophis if I wasn't so sure I'd get a snake down the throat I could kiss you right now." Kenshin said with a laugh as Great Red turned his massive frame over to face them.
"Hm?" Great Red said seeing the Black Dragon glowing brightly.
Ophis was behind Kenshin, her arms around his chest, hands gripping his shoulders. "This is a one time deal, you'll be able to control this perfectly with my help." Ophis said.
"I understand...you know though...this actually feels kind of nice." Kenshin commented.
"..." Ophis didn't reply.
"What is he planning?" Great Red muttered.
"OK it's ready, launch it now!" Ophis and the spirits shout.
"An attack like this deserves an alternate name." Kenshin said. "Now, go Quadruple Omega! !" The Black Dragon of Destruction opened it's mouth and shot out a large blast of elemental energy at Great Red before vanishing. Ophis held an exhausted Kenshin in her arms as the attack slammed into Great Red.
However when the dust settled Great Red emerged relatively unharmed. "...Hahahaha, damn..." Kenshin laughed.
Great Red flew up close to them. "You know boy I wasn't actually trying in this fight." Great Red said.
"I could tell..." Kenshin grunted. "Still...just because you're the Apocalypse Dragon, doesn't mean I'm just gonna roll over when you provoke me."
"..." Ophis said nothing, glaring at Great Red.
"Oh quit being all protective over your boy toy and land on my head." Great Red grunted. "I found his home while he was fighting me. I'll even keep quiet, just for you!" He mocked.
"Fuck you." Ophis snapped as she landed on Great Red's head.
"By the way here." Great Red said pushing a miniscule amount of power into Kenshin.
Which was enough to restore him completely. "Huh?" Kenshin sat up as they went through a portal.
"Kid you remind me of Ragnarok Kuroshi. He came to me asking for help to kill the Goddess of Light after his beau the Goddess of Darkness sealed herself off. He even fought me trying to curry my favor by proving he was capable." Great Red said. "Of course this was futile and I sent his ass packing."
"Seriously, just how freakin' much am I gonna have in common with him?" Kenshin said.
"You'd be surprised at how much you have in common with him." Great Red said. "By the way, earlier you mentioned the name Hottan did you not?"
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"That human still lives huh? Even after I bestowed Fantasy Magic onto him." Great Red said. "I thought for sure he'd get himself killed when it didn't work on someone."
"You gave Hottan his Fantasy Magic?" Kenshin asked with a glare.
"He was a sad foolish man who was losing his wife to an illness. He found a way to summon my consciousness and begged me to give him anything to help him." Great Red said. "I suppose I felt sorry for him, so I gave him a type of magic that would help him make all his dreams come true, I always figured the magic would corrupt him eventually."
"According to his daughter the corruption didn't set in until he was killed by a Shinigami and reborn as a homunculus." Kenshin said. "I think the Fantasy Magic corrupted the homunculus."
"Do you sympathize with him now, knowing this?" Great Red asked.
"Absolutely not. No matter what happened in his past, it doesn't excuse what he did to me and just about everyone I've ever known." Kenshin said.
"Exactly." Ophis said.
Great Red stopped as they found a tear in space. "We're here." He said.
"This is Mundus Magicus?" Kenshin asked.
"Should be." Great Red said.
"Wait...hang on. Before I go I need your word that this was just the equivalent of a sparring match." Kenshin said.
"Yeah yeah, that's basically all it was." Great Red said.
"Alright, come on Ophis." Kenshin said.
"Fine." Ophis said. "This isn't over Great Red, I will have my sil-"
"Yeah Yeah Yeah, you will have your silence, if you keep hanging around that guy you may come to like the noise." Great Red said as Ophis and Kenshin dove through the portal.
"? !" Everyone turned toward the tear in space as they felt something coming.
"Luci, I'm home!" Kenshin called out as he walked through the portal with Ophis close behind.
(smack!)
Yukari shot forward and slapped Kenshin across the face. Kenshin turned back toward her. "I deserved that."
"You're damn right you did!" Yukari said with tears in her eyes.
"I'll make it up to you Yukari, to all of you." He said looking around. "But first...does anyone have anything to eat? I could seriously debone a fully grown deer right now." Kenshin said with a sweatdrop.
"Probably because all the energy you've used lately has put a strain on your metabolism and you finally have no energy to burn." Ophis said.
"What else have you been doing?" Vali asked out of sheer morbid curiosity.
"Well, I had my energy restored after meeting some long lost friends, then I got clowned by Great Red." Kenshin said.
"? !" Everyone who knew about Great Red rounded on him. "Great Red...the apocalypse dragon, the dragon from the book of Revelations. That Great Red?" Azazel asked.
"The same Great Red that I want to defeat." Vali said.
"Uh...is there another one?" Kenshin asked.
"Ugh...why did you fight him of all people?" Sirzechs said with a facepalm.
"He wanted to fight me for whatever reason! I didn't challenge him, but I wasn't going to just run the hell away in a place that I had no idea where I was going. I acted in self defense!" Kenshin said.
Sirzechs sighed. "I guess."
"So...is this really over...can we finally move on?" Miyuki asked.
"Yes." Kenshin said. "Hottan is finally...finally gone."
"How do you feel Kenshin-Chan?" Serafall asked.
"To be honest...I feel...free." Kenshin said.
"Free?" Akeno asked.
"I know what you mean." Kiba said walking over and placing his hand on Kenshin's shoulder with a smile. "Like you're finally free from the pain of your past. Like you can finally move on."
"Yes." Kenshin nodded.
"..." Issei turned away and looked up at the sky.
"Yo Issei, can I talk to you over here for a moment?" Kenshin said pointing to his left.
"..." Issei followed after Kenshin. "...So I guess you're pretty steamed at me huh?" He asked.
"Nah not really, frustrated with your lack of common sense maybe, but I'm not angry." Kenshin said.
"I...I didn't know that guy was connected to Hottan. I didn't." Issei said.
"It's alright Issei, I just wanted to ask you something." Kenshin said. "Do you really want to be apart from me that much?" He asked.
"..." Issei said nothing.
"Go ahead, your answer won't offend me." Kenshin said.
"...Yeah." Issei sighed. "Kenshin, I appreciate you saving my life, but...I miss actually having my own life."
"That would be kind of rough." Kenshin said. "Well then, this little set up we've been using since I ended up here can be used on a full time basis." Kenshin said. "It obviously works. I'll just need you to come in every few days so I can keep the rings filled."
"S-Seriously? !" Issei said.
"Sure, why not?" Kenshin asked. "Be nice to have it remain with only women being in my head." He said with a grin.
"Hahahaha!" Issei laughed and the two fist bumped.
Kenshin left and Issei went off to tell everyone the good news. Kenshin approached Sona. "Hey Sona."
"Hm? What is it?" Sona asked.
"When we get back, can you push paperwork through to have Issei readmitted to Kuoh Academy? I'm just gonna let him stay out full time now." Kenshin said.
"I see. It shouldn't be a problem." Sona said nodding toward his question.
A communication circle appeared next to Kenshin's head. "Huh? What's up?"
"Uhhh...K-Kenshin, we've got a lot of company, a bunch of ships are headed our way from the north." Kazumi said.
"..." Kenshin turned out toward the north and walked that way. Everyone followed suit, Rias standing next to Kenshin with Yukari on his other side.
Suddenly thousands of people warped in. Everyone with Kenshin tensed up when Kenshin walked forward. "Everyone, take it easy." He said as three people walked up to them dressed in the garb of nobles, thick horn like protrusions wrapping around their heads like crowns. They had tanned skin and platinum blonde hair, save for one who had white hair. There was two females and a male.
"Hello Kenshin." The male said.
"Emperor Daiken." Kenshin said as he went to lean forward in a respectful bow when Daiken raised his hand. "?"
"Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi...I will not have you bow to me." Daiken said. "In fact, it is I who should be bowing to you." He finished, bowing toward Kenshin. "Noka, Theodora."
"Yes my dear." Noka, the white haired woman said.
"Of course father." Theodora said as she and her mother bowed forward.
Kenshin looked out, eyes wide with shock as not only did the three nobles bow to him, but everyone behind them followed suit. "Lord Daiken sir, I...I'm not.."
"You are most certainly worthy Kenshin." Noka said as they rose back up.
"Because you have freed us all." Daiken said. "Starting now you will always be revered as a hero within our borders and welcome to stay in my empire."
"..." Kenshin wiped his eyes and smiled. "Thank you for that, Emperor Daiken, Empress Noka, Princess Theodora...but I don't think I can accept that second offer."
Daiken looked over at the people behind Kenshin. "...I see." He said with a smile. "You have found yourself a home have you?"
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
"Well, I can't very well try to keep you from that." Daiken said.
"Well before I leave tomorrow, I suppose I could give you something." Kenshin said pulling out a flier and handed it to Daiken. "Since we've last seen each other, I've become a devil. This flier is basically a summoning circle, if you have a request you could summon me or anyone in my peerage."
"I see." Daiken said.
"Well...I guess I'll be going." Kenshin said as he turned and started walking away. "!" He felt the familiar twinge that he was being summoned and turned back and walked up to Daiken. "What do you want then?" He asked.
"There is only one thing I want from you Kenshin. For you and your family to live long and in peace." Daiken said extending his hand toward Kenshin.
"And may your rule be long and prosperous, my former emperor." Kenshin said shaking Daiken's hand. "Now, Devils never fulfill requests for free so what do you want to give me in return for my service?"
"Well, I suppose my empire's allegiance would be hard considering you're going to be in a different dimension entirely." Daiken said. "How about amnesty for those two Averruncus back there?" He asked.
"I'll take it." Kenshin said. "And with that our deal is complete."
"Now then, we'll be going, We merely wanted to greet the man who saved us all." Daiken said.
Daiken and his people vanished and the ships turned back flying to the north. Kenshin walked toward the ground. "So what do we do now?" Issei asked.
"Well, Vali you and your team are welcome to hang around for one more day, but you might want to take your own way back home." Kenshin said.
"Hmm..I believe I'll accept your offer." Vali said.
"Sure, we've got nothin' better to do." Bikou shrugged.
"It will give me more time to cozy up to the Sekiryuutei-nyaa..." Kuroka purred.
"I'm sure Le Fay can wait a little while longer." Arthur shrugged.
"Le Fay?" Kenshin asked.
"My little sister." Arthur answered. Kenshin nodded.
"Alright, now before I eat and crash the hell out, I want ask the people among us that were close to the angels something, mostly you Irina." Kenshin said.
"Huh?" Irina said with a curious look.
"What is it Kenshin?" Xenovia asked.
"Is everything alright Kenshin-Oniisama?" Asia asked.
"Yeah, I'm just curious about something is all." Kenshin said.
"Well go ahead, but I can't guarantee I'd be able to answer your question." Irina said.
Kenshin nodded. "All I wanted to ask is...would it be possible for demons to get into Heaven?" He asked.
"?" Everyone looked at him.
"Um, why do you ask Kenshin?" Azazel asked.
"Well, when I was in the Dimensional Gap, I met the deceased members of the Ala Rubra, their cleric, Albireo even healed me somehow, but the last person I talked to was my father." Kenshin said. "When he left, he flew away, but not with dragon wings, but with angel wings." He said.
"That's...strange." Irina said. "Uhm...I honestly don't know Kenshin."
"Don't know, or won't say for fear of offending me? If it's the latter, don't worry. You'd just be confirming something for me." Kenshin said.
"I genuinely don't know." Irina said. "That sounds like a question for one of the Seraphs."
"Well, could you see if Michael would be able to see me when we get back?" Kenshin asked.
"Sure, but it may or may not be awhile." Irina said.
"That's fine." Kenshin said. "Now, someone direct me to the food, I'm starving!"
"Ufufufu, right this way Kenshin-kun." Akeno giggled.
(break)
The next day
Everyone was getting situated and ready to leave. "What are you going to do when you get home?" Yukari asked.
"Sleep." Kenshin said.
"Again?" Yukari said with a slight balking laugh.
"I'm tired. I might actually take a week off training and just enjoy my damn self." Kenshin shrugged.
"Onii-Chan's going for a cheat week? Never thought I'd see the day...er days." Miyuki said.
"Speaking of...I never thought I'd see the day I'd be able to tease you for crushing on someone." Yukari said with a grin.
"I-I-I have n-no idea what you're talking about!" Miyuki protested with a blush.
"Oh come on Miyuki I saw you making eyes at Vali as he was leaving earlier!" Yukari said slapping her on the shoulder.
"O-Onee-Chan! I was not!" Miyuki complained. "I was just making sure he wasn't going to over do it as he was leaving. I was working hard to heal him all by myself!"
"Oh ho? All by yourself eh?" Hikari said with a cheshire like grin.
"It's not like that!" Miyuki shouts.
"Now now you two, if she says she's not crushing on Vali then she isn't, but if she is, I'm gonna have to start watching the interactions between the two like a hawk." Kenshin said.
"Not you too Onii-Chan!" Miyuki whined.
"Hey Kenshin." Yukari and Kenshin turned to find Rias, Akeno, Sona, Koneko and Issei walking up to them.
"What's up?" Kenshin asked.
"I was just wondering, don't you have a heat cycle coming up?" Rias asked.
"Rias do you really have to ask about that while I'm here?" Sona asked with narrowed eyes.
"I'm just wondering." Rias said. "It could get dangerous if left unattended to."
"Hey, yeah you are coming up on twelve aren't you?" Yukari asked.
"Um...well..." Kenshin scratched behind his ears. "Not anymore."
"Huh? !" Yukari, Rias and Akeno all exclaim.
"Yeah well...it came while Serafall and I were alone...and well she offered to take care of it." Kenshin said.
"W-Wait, Onee-Sama did?" Sona asked.
"Yeah, I was trying to not ask her, but she basically cornered me and asked what was wrong and when I told her she said she didn't mind helping me." Kenshin said.
"Come here." Sona said grabbing Kenshin's wrist and pulling him away.
The two walked until they were alone. "Kenshin, you did know Onee-Sama was a virgin right?" She asked crossing her arms.
"Uh...not until it was too late." Kenshin said with a nervous look.
"She didn't tell you?" Sona asked.
"No." Kenshin shook his head. "In fact she went out of her way to hide it from me."
"Really?" Sona said with a curious look.
"Why do you ask?" Kenshin asked.
"Kenshin...Onee-Sama is one of those people that was saving her first for someone she loved." Sona said. "Unless that's changed..." She trailed off.
"...I-I see." Kenshin said.
"Yes..." Sona said with a slow nod.
"So like a lot of women then?" Kenshin asked.
"Huh?" Sona said with an arched brow.
"A lot of women want to save their first for the one they love, granted Serafall possibly feeling that way for me is a surprise, but wouldn't you want to save yours for the one you loved?" Kenshin asked.
"...Uhm...w-well." Sona glanced away with a nervous look, cheeks tinted pink.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you." Kenshin said.
"I-It's fine." Sona said.
Kenshin nodded and walked away. He soon ran into Serafall who was talking to Sirzechs about something. Sirzechs walked away and Serafall turned to him. "Oh! Hello Kenshin-Chan." She said with a wide smile.
"Serafall." Kenshin said.
"Moouu...we're alone now just call me Le-" Kenshin cut her off.
"I want to ask you something, that's why I used your name instead of the pet name." Kenshin said.
"Oh?" Serafall said. "What is it?"
"Um...well..er.." Kenshin searched for the words when he decided to just come out and ask it. "Serafall, do you love me?"
"!" Serafall stared at him, her face dyed red in embarrassment.
"...Hahaha, well I managed to embarrass both of you now." Kenshin said. "I got Sona earlier, who brought this up to me."
"You told about what we did didn't you?" Serafall asked.
"Well, they were going to find out in a few weeks when I'm not as worried about my next heat cycle." Kenshin said. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's alright." Serafall said shaking her head. "Uhm...as for your question..I'm not really that sure, but what I feel for you certainly is leaning that way." She admitted with a smile.
"Uhm...might I ask why?" Kenshin asked.
"Well you certainly feel and act like someone I could love." Serafall said. "But the main thing is what you said to me after we actually did the deed."
"..." Kenshin nodded. "I see, well if you really feel that way I suppose I can't argue against it." He said with a smile of his own.
"OK." Serafall said with a wider smile than before. "Now, I asked Ria-tan if it was OK and she approved, so would you mind if we went on that date we never got to go on?" She asked.
"Sure, I suppose." Kenshin said before what she said processed through his mind. "Wait...you asked Rias first?"
"Yahuh." Serafall nodded. "She said she didn't mind."
Kenshin blinked owlishly. "...Wha...?" He said. "We are talking about the same Rias right?"
"Unless there's a different Rias Gremory running around." Serafall giggled. "Now run along. Sirzechs-Chan said he wanted to speak to you after he set the spell up."
"Alright." Kenshin said.
Before Kenshin could get to Sirzechs he literally bumped into Sextum who had luggage packed. "Sextum? Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Kenshin asked.
"Well...I...I was gonna ask if I could...come with." Sextum said glancing away.
"..." Kenshin stared at her for a moment. "What about Tertium? He said he was staying."
"He said he wanted me to do what I wanted...and what I wanted was to come to this world you were staying at." Sextum said.
"..." Kenshin allowed a small grin to crawl up his face. "Ahaa...you just wanna be close to Issei is that it?"
"W-Wha? !" Sextum said with a blush.
"Yup, thought so. Come with me." Kenshin said grabbing her wrist and walking toward Sirzechs. "Hey Sirzechs. I got one more to key into the spell."
"Hm?" Sirzechs turned toward him. "She wants to come with?"
"Yup, Sextum here has a-" Kenshin's mouth was frozen shut by Sextum.
"I would just like to come with." She said. "Would that be alright? I'll do what I need to clear my name if need be."
"That won't be a problem, you just leave it to me." Sirzechs said as he wrote Sextum's name into the formula.
"Very well." Sextum said as she walked away.
"Kaaah!" Kenshin said finally prying his mouth open.
"Kenshin, I guess Serafall told you to come see me?" Sirzechs said.
"I was going to anyway." Kenshin said.
"I see." Sirzechs said. "...Kenshin I just want to apologize for keeping things from you, you should have been told about them when they happened or when you got here."
"Don't worry about it. Besides, your council's probably going to deep fry me when they read your report anyway." Kenshin said.
"No, don't worry about them. I'll handle it." Sirzechs said. "I might summon you to the council chambers during the meeting however."
"When I addressed my problems with you, I wasn't looking at you as a Satan, I was dealing with you as a man." Kenshin said. "Tell them that if you want."
"Yes." Sirzechs nodded. "By the way, when you say Great Red clowned you, what did you mean by that?"
Kenshin turned and walked away while saying. "Pretty much what you'd do to me if you ever took me seriously." He said.
"I don't know, that Vessel of the Elements form of yours is pretty damn terrifying." Sirzechs said with a wince.
"Taking me seriously Sirzechs. If I ever got into that form against you, you weren't taking me seriously." Kenshin said.
Sirzechs sweatdropped. "I suppose that's true."
Kenshin looked up at the sky. "Well, this is goodbye I suppose..." He said.
"You haven't gone to visit Negi's grave?" Ophis asked.
"You're still here? Anyway, I did it early this morning." Kenshin thought.
"Ahh, I see." Ophis said. "Anyway, I never took my blessing away from you, so here I remain."
"I see." Kenshin thought. "Eh, I guess it would feel a little empty in here without ya."
"Hm?" Ophis said.
"What? I've gotten used to having you around." Kenshin thought. "Besides, you've been good to me, I should start returning the favor sometime."
"OK, if you say so." Ophis said.
"Is Ophis-Chan blus-" A black snake crammed itself in Sylph's mouth.
The next moment a bright light shined over the area and everyone disappeared.
(break)
Luciferd
Lucifer's Castle.
Everyone reappeared in courtyard. Kenshin looked around. "So...I'm back." He said. "Well not here, but..."
Rias reached over and wrapped her arms around his own. "Of course. We're home."
"Ufufufufu..." Akeno wrapped her arms around his neck. "Welcome back."
"Yes, and you owe me a spar some time soon." Xenovia said.
"Still a date." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin-Senpai, can we go out for sweets when we get home?" Koneko asked.
"Sure." Kenshin said with a grin.
"Alright, make yourselves at home." Sirzechs said. "Serafall, Grayfia we need to be going."
"Awww! I wanna take a break I just got back!" Serafall complained as the three warped away.
Kenshin walked a short distance away and sat down. "You all go on ahead. I gotta take care of something." They nod and walk into Lucifer's Castle.
Kenshin appeared in his mind. "Where does Ophis have it?" Kenshin asked
"Just follow the mud dolls." Salamander said.
"Be careful Kenshin-Chan." Sylph said.
"I'll be fine." Kenshin said.
"Still." Undine insisted.
Kenshin nodded and followed the dolls till he found Ophis standing in front of a door. "You asked them to keep him isolated, well I stepped in so they'd be free to help you in a fight." Ophis said.
"Right, just stand out here." Kenshin said entering the door.
"...Hello Kenshin."
Kenshin closed the door behind him. "Hottan." He said with narrowed eyes.
"You seem surprised that I am here, this is after all how I survive death itself." Hottan stated blithely.
"I know this is the real you Hottan." Kenshin said. "The homunculus is dead."
"Indeed." Hottan said.
"Just so you know, I don't feel sorry for you, not even a little bit." Kenshin said. "You've fucked me over too many times for me to feel even one iota of sympathy for you."
"It's understandable, but what will you do now?" Hottan asked. "Eventually I will be reborn."
"No, you won't." Kenshin said as a figure walked up behind Hottan. "He's all yours."
Hottan looked behind him and couldn't help laughing. "The Shinigami, Yama...I was wondering when you'd come to reap me."
"Hmhmhm...I will always find you eventually." Yama said. "Now you're mine."
"Remember our deal Yama, you get him and you leave my body for good." Kenshin said. "This single piece of you can easily be defeated by me now."
"Hahaha, very well." Yama said as he placed his hand on Hottan who turned into an orb of light that Yama stashed away. "However, before I go, there is something you should know."
"What?" Kenshin said turning his head toward him.
"You aren't the only one I'll be after when the time comes." Yama said. "I'll be after that cute little red head you've come to adore so much."
"!" Kenshin scowled. "No, you will not lay a single finger on Rias, if you do I will tear your skull out of your head! Why would you even want her anyway? !"
"Because of what your darling Negi did in order to help her, help you take down Hottan. She's connected to me." Yama said.
"How? !" Kenshin demanded.
"When my foolish younger brother Ragnarok, my biological younger brother died by my hand. He managed to tear my soul in half." Yama said. "That half reincarnated, and has been reincarnating for ages, one such reincarnation was Hottan, and another such reincarnation was Negi Springfield."
"!" Kenshin scowled.
"When Negi passed on some of her power to that girl Rias Gremory, the part of Negi that tied her to me went to her as well." Yama said. "Shouldn't affect her, the piece of me is far too diluted at this point."
"Krrhh..." Kenshin growled.
"Don't worry though. It will be quite a long while before I make my move on you." Yama said with a smirk. "Ta ta for now." He said vanishing into the wind.
Kenshin walked out of the room. "What are you going to do?" Ophis asked.
"For now, nothing." Kenshin said. "I've got no way of getting to Yama's City of Souls and I doubt I'd be a match for him anyway. For now I guess I just sit back and wait for him to make a move."
"OK, by the way the luck pawn of Sirzechs' is trying to get your attention." Ophis said.
"!" Kenshin's eyes opened on the outside. "Enku? What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"Your presence is requested at the council chambers." Enku said.
"That was quick." Kenshin said. "Alright let's go."
Enku warped Kenshin to the council chambers where he was stood in the center with the Four Satans sitting a short distance away. Sirzechs got out of his chair and walked toward him. "There, he's here, despite my protests on the matter."
"Yes, well understand son, we need to determine whether or not he's still trustworthy." Lord Gremory said.
"Answer me something before you all throw me to the deep fryer. Who is really in control here, you or the Satans?" Kenshin asked as he lit up a smoke.
"..." Everyone narrowed their eyes curiously.
"Well?" Kenshin asked.
"The Satans, obviously. It has been that way since the original Satans were in power." Lord Sitiri said.
"Right, so when Sirzechs said he didn't want me brought here, you refused and had me brought here anyway. Wouldn't that be a form of treason?" Kenshin asked.
"Well Ajuka Beelzebub and Falbium Asmodeus requested it." Lord Bael said.
Kenshin turned toward the aforementioned Satans. "Alright then. Shoot then."
"When Sirzechs came and found you his report says you beat him like a drum, is this true?" Ajuka asked.
"I want to preface this by saying first that I do not bear any ill will toward the Underworld nor the Trinity Alliance." Kenshin said. "Now that I've said that, I will confirm that part of Sirzechs Lucifer's report. I did indeed do that."
Murmurs went through the council chambers. Falbium cleared his throat. "How and why were you able to do that?"
"How, well Sirzechs and pretty much anyone not in my peerage had to take time to let their bodies adjust to the abundant mana in Mundus Magicus." Kenshin said. "He came after me before this and at the time I was angry enough at him to quote 'Beat him like a drum'." Kenshin said.
"Why were you angry with him?" Lord Gremory asked.
"Because he had not been forthcoming with information pertaining to me, and why I was brought here." Kenshin said. "I was actually coming to Luciferd to ask him about those things when my father jumped me."
"He is one of the Satans, he shouldn't have to be forthcoming with anything." Lady Agares said.
"That's where you are wrong Lady Agares." Kenshin said. "Until very recently I wasn't a part of any of this, I wasn't even a devil, thereby out of your jurisdiction. He brought me here and I was inadvertently reincarnated as a devil when his little sister Rias reincarnated Issei Hyoudou whose soul was resting in my body, the reincarnation affecting me in the process. I am Sirzechs Lucifer's responsibility because he brought me here to begin with." Kenshin said. "Besides, beating him about all I did."
"Yes, the rest of the report details this." Lord Phenex said.
"How's your daughter Ravel by the way Mr. Phenex?" Kenshin asked.
"Fine, why do you ask?" Lord Phenex asked.
"Just curious." Kenshin shrugged. "Anyway, Sirzechs and I already hashed all of this out and moved on."
"Can you swear by that?" Lord Sitiri asked.
"I can." Kenshin said with a nod.
"Besides, if you need an extra measure of trust, you can place it in me." Sirzechs said. "As I am his new master."
"Yeah, because he's my...wait what?" Kenshin said turning toward Sirzechs. "When?" Kenshin asked.
"While you were sleeping last night. You cost four Mutation Pawns." Sirzechs said.
"Huh, how bout that." Kenshin shrugged. "Hey Grayfia we're on the same team now!" He said.
"I see that." Grayfia said with a small smile.
"Now, I know we are not the best leaders you could ask for, the four of us." Sirzechs said. "But we are your leaders and you will respect that. We will protect the Underworld from all threats, foreign..." He trailed off and glanced around the council room. "..and domestic."
"Are you accusing us of betrayal?" One of the councilors asked.
"No, I'm just reminding you once and for all, that just because we are graceful and allow you to do as you please, do not mistake that for weakness." Sirzechs said.
Kenshin smiled coyly. "Zechsy I get all tingly when you take control like that."
"Shut up Kenshin." Sirzechs said.
"Yes sir." Kenshin said crossing his arms behind his back.
"Very well son, we understand where you're coming from, some of us have very well overstepped our boundaries a few times." Lord Gremory said. "Some of that may have very well given rise to the devil faction of the Khaos Brigade."
"Eh, so you made a mistake." Kenshin said. "No one's perfect."
"Very well, we shall trust your judgment Lucifer." Lord Phenex said.
"I also would like to move to promote Kenshin to King." Sirzechs said. "One rank a piece for the two actions he performed in the line of duty. One being that he brought an end to the Cosmo Entelecheia organization and their leader Hottan who was assisting the Khaos Brigade, and that he completed a contract for a world leader. The Emperor of the beast man empire of Mundus Magicus, Hellas."
"I move to have one of those promotions revoked." Kenshin said. "Hottan was my problem, if I wasn't here he wouldn't even have bothered with you. So I don't deserve promotion for cleaning up my own mess."
"Agreed on both counts." Lord Sitiri said with everyone else nodding in agreement.
"Very well, Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi is hereby promoted to Duke." Ajuka said.
"Congratulations Kenshin-Chan!" Serafall said.
(break)
Later.
Kenshin was walking through the Gremory Manor after Lord Gremory had invited him and everyone else, the Satans included over to celebrate Kenshin and Serafall's safe return. Some strange things had happened, but nothing really out of control. He walked by Rias' room and found the door open and that she was standing on the balcony. He entered her room and went to the balcony
"?" Rias heard a knock on the wall and turned to find Kenshin walking toward her. "Oh, Kenshin...I figured you'd be off in bed, sleeping off all the drinks you and Onii-Sama had." Rias said with a smile.
"Eh, I sober up quickly when I want to. Usually just have Salamander burn the booze out." Kenshin said.
"I see." Rias said. "So, we're finally back home."
"Yeah." Kenshin said with a laugh. "...Part of me still doesn't know what to do now."
"I'm sure you'll think of it soon." Rias said.
"Yeah..." Kenshin said. "So, you gave Serafall permission to ask me out?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes." Rias nodded. "Not just to her, to everyone after you."
"?" Kenshin glanced at her curiously. "Why? I could swear that the thought of that made you want to pull your hair out."
"I spoke to Negi, and asked her why she let you have multiple lovers, although it was limited to Yukari and your two childhood friends. She said that it was her way of thanking you." Rias said with a smile.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes solemnly. "Is that right..."
"Then I got to thinking, and well...I owe you a lot as well. Without you here, I'd probably be married to Raiser or worse, dead...because Issei wouldn't have been there to help me either." Rias said. "But know this. I am the number one woman, you got that?" She said squeezing his shoulder.
"Of course. but please don't think you owe me anything if you want to thank me for what I've done then fine, but don't feel obligated to do it because you feel you owe me one." Kenshin chuckled. "Actually...I wanted to give you something." He said taking her hand.
"?" Rias looked at him. Kenshin took the ring Ryuushin had given him and placed it on her finger. "!" She looked at it. "Wha...?"
"It's customary to give a ring to the woman you plan on marrying." Kenshin said with a smile. "And we are still planning on getting married right?" He asked.
"..." A smile grew on Rias' face as she closed her eyes. "Of course Kenshin...of course we are."
Kenshin tipped her head up and kissed her. "Mm..."
The kiss ended shortly after it began. The two stared into each others eyes. "Let's go lay down." She said.
"Agreed."
(break)
The Next Night.
Kuoh.
Kenshin was walking around the streets late at night after completing a contract. It started to rain. "Aw man...and me with no umbrella."
"Why don't you just warp back?" Salamander asked. "Seriously it's cold now!"
"Oh you big baby." Undine said.
Kenshin would have broken them up had he not felt the earth shake under his feet. "? !" Kenshin looked up at the sky, there was no lightning, it was a normal rain shower. "That was not natural." Kenshin said. "Undine."
"Right." Undine said as Kenshin activated her power. "...It's faint, but there is a mass of youki to your left, about a kilometer out."
"Got it." Kenshin said taking off in that direction. When he got to the source of the youki mass. He saw a woman with blonde hair, clutching a fan in her hand, wearing a kimono with a purple sash with gold lining going across it and a decorative pattern. The top of the kimono was white with black borders while the bottom was purple. She opened her eyes revealing a teal color, however the most striking thing about here were her nine fluffy tails. "..,Hnn...Kenshin...or...Ragnarok...?" She said before she went under again. Her body shrinking down to a loli form.
"...?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes curiously. "Know her?"Ophis asked.
"Yeah, this is...this is Tamamo." Kenshin said. "Leader of the Kitsune tribe of Makai. But why would she mistake me for Ragnarok?"
"Now might not be the time Kenshin, she's fading and fading fast." Undine said.
"Shit!" Kenshin said scooping Tamamo up into his arms and teleporting away. He reappeared at the Hyoudou Residence and ran up to his room ignoring the surprised shouts. He laid her on his bed. He started pumping youki into her. "Tamamo, hey Tamamo wake up!"
"..." No response.
"Shit..." Kenshin glanced over at the scroll and unfurled it. Ragnarok popped out.
"!"
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Why the hell did he bristle just now?" He wondered.
"How did she get here?" Ragnarok asked.
"I'm not sure, all I know is that she's going under, big time." Kenshin said.
"...then she's dead." Ragnarok said. "No one here has the magical talent to bring her back from the brink."
"Are you sure?" Kenshin asked. "..." Kenshin took out his evil piece set. Ragnarok shook his head. "What?"
"I don't think that will work." Ragnarok said.
"Still have to try." Kenshin said taking out his queen piece and pressed it against Tamamo's chest.
"..." Ragnarok stared as he went into the chant. "If this works, then Tamamo has been without her full power for a very long time."
The Queen piece disappeared and Tamamo's eyes cracked back open. "Huh...?"
"Heya Tamamo, looks like the reincarnation was a success." Kenshin said.
"Reincarnation?" Tamamo asked.
"Yeah, I'm a devil now and I reincarnated you as one to save your life." Kenshin said. "...Sorry, but I couldn't ask your permission."
"Hmmm...It's OK." Tamamo said. "Explain all of this to me later..." She said before turning to Raganrok. "..." Without warning she uppercutted him into the ceiling.
"!" Kenshin stared in shock. "T-Tamamo? !"
The door swung open and everyone rushed in expecting a fight. "Huh? !" Tamamo said.
"Ugh, saw that one coming." Ragnarok said as he landed back on the ground. "I'm going back in the scroll." He vanished.
"Everyone stand down!" Kenshin shouts. "She's friendly!"
"Then what was that noise?" Yukari asked.
"She slugged Ragnarok into the ceiling for whatever reason." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin-kun, who is this?" Akeno asked.
"Well..." Kenshin turned to Tamamo. "These are my friends and family Tamamo, you've met a few of them before."
"Yeah like that blonde vampire woman back there." Tamamo said.
"Nngh!" Evangeline grunted.
"And everyone this is Tamamo, the newest addition to my peerage. My queen." Kenshin said.
(chapter end)
Draconis: With this, the Hottan arc is over. I'll probably write a bridge chapter with the specials and OVA from BorN that got released recently before moving on to the next arc. Now, for an update.
Harems.
Kenshin: Rias, Akeno, Xenovia, Yukari, Koneko, Serafall.
Issei: Asia, Irina, Kuroka, Seekvaira, Kazumi, Sextum and Sheena.
Sheena: Going to go ahead and pair me up with him eh?
Draconis: Might as well make a decision and make preparations for it now rather than later.
Sheena: True.
Draconis: Also, aside from Sextum and Seekvaira, who should Issei's first lemon be with?
Sextum: Um, not that I'm complaining, but why am I left out?
Draconis: Nothing's really there yet. At least with Sheena I have sort of a cop out measure. Anyway I'm thinking of writing the lemon next chapter.
Anyway. I'll see you next time.
Draconis678 out.