Draconis: Yo Saji, you OK?
Saji: Huh? Yeah.
Momo: He should be, we put everything we had into healing him.
Ruruko: Yeah...
Kenshin: (places a bucket of ice with a bottle of champange in front of Saji and walks away)
Saji: Huh? Hey Kenshin, you forgot this! (ignored)
Momo: There's a card.
Ruruko: (takes card and reads aloud) You did well Saji, tough luck on the defeat, put the ice in bags to ice down any soreness. The three of you get sloshed on me. Yours, KTK.
Draconis: Huh, well if he's giving it to you, then enjoy. Anyway...
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 58
Reclamation Process
Draconis: The poll is now actually displayed on my profile, or it should be. Please go and vote. I'll be keeping it open for the duration of this arc. Begin!
(start)
A few days after Tiamat's defeat.
"So, Tiamat is on our side now, that's what you're saying?" Akatama said as the Knights, Cardinals, Serafall, Grayfia, Sona, Akeno, and Miyuki met with Kenshin and Alice. Akeno was acting as Azazel's rep and Rias' as neither were present.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "Where's Rias and Azazel by the way?"
"Azazel brought back some of the crap from the lab and he's doing personal research on it while he waits for his 'guys' to come and get the rest of it." Inutora said. "He left the report on this meeting to Akeno there."
"And Rias?" Sona asked. "It's odd that she'd miss the meeting."
"I stopped by her room, but there wasn't an answer. She wasn't there. I checked the room." Miyuki said.
"..." Kenshin furrowed his brow and went into thought. "It's...probably nothing, but...what is this pit of uneasiness I'm feeling in my stomach..."
"Kenshin?" Tamamo said. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "So, we've taken and successfully defended Grangold. With Lord Grangold's permission. We are using it as our new base of operations. Now, what do we do about the rest of the Gold Region?"
"Like I said, I am going to Murasaki Village to liberate it." Bureijin said.
"You aren't going alone." Kenshin said. "You will lead a force along with you, and Alma seeing as your race is also in trouble, you are going with him."
"Very well." Alma said.
"When this meeting is over you two go out and prepare, ask some people to go along with you and the force you take." Alice ordered.
"Yes Lady Alipheese." Bureijin and Alma said.
"Next, the violent youkai of Lady Village will need to be dealt with." Kenshin said. "Going along with Yukari's idea I believe we should only send women at them, but at the same time we can't afford to spread our forces too thin with Goldport still needing to be taken. They could flank us and take Grangold if we're not careful. Miyuki, inform Yukari that she's the leader of the assault group that heads to Lady Village."
"OK Onii-Chan." Miyuki nodded.
"I'll go with the assault group." Alice said.
"?" Kenshin turned to Alice. "Why?"
"They are actual Youkai, if it's reported that I am among the party coming to take the village, it could demoralize them and we wouldn't have to fight." Alice said. "I will let your sister Yukari lead. I am merely going to act as a threat. While I am gone, you will be in charge of the Headquarters."
"Tell Yukari that as well and to keep it in mind when assembling her team." Kenshin said. Miyuki nodded.
"I think I'll take the Cardinals with us by the way." Bureijin said. "That OK with you guys?"
"Yeah/Yes/Sure." Akatama, Jordan and Inutora all said.
"Alright, still on the board is Goldport and then we must meet with the Queen of the Northern Seas, Poseidoness if we are to cross the north seas to Hellgondo." Alice said. "The latter can be settled now, but only by a select few."
"I'll go." Erubetie said.
"Not alone." Kenshin said. "I've received word that Forbesii rebuilt the blockade, it's not near as powerful, but still, we don't know what could be lurking down there and they'll be expecting me to manufacture a powerful thunderstorm this time."
"I'll go with her." Tamamo said. "The two of us should be able to handle whatever comes at us. Poseidoness also knows both of us so she shouldn't react badly to us."
"Fine." Kenshin nodded. "Now, unless someone has something they'd like to bring up. This meeting is adjourned."
"Just one thing." Bureijin said. "Because Murasaki is running out of supplies, I want to take some with me."
"How long will it take to get there?" Kenshin asked.
"A half day's travel." Alma said.
"Then I'll send the supplies after you, we can't risk losing supplies because the homunculi destroyed them." Kenshin said. "They should be able to hold until then."
"I understand." Bureijin and Alma nod.
"OK. Anything else?" Kenshin asked. No one spoke up. "OK. This meeting is adjourned. Erubetie, before you leave send some clones out and inform everyone that I have been left in charge and if they need anything, they can bring their matters to me." Kenshin said.
"Yes." Erubetie said.
Everyone left the meeting hall. However Kenshin stopped Akeno. "Akeno."
"Yes?" Akeno asked. "What is it Kenshin-kun?"
"Do you know where Rias is right now?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, when I was coming to the meeting for Azazel, Asia-Chan got in touch with me." Akeno said. "She told me she saw Rias...well...with you."
"...?" Kenshin furrowed his brow in confusion. "Ugh..." Kenshin rubbed his temples.
"Are you OK?" Akeno asked.
"Yeah, it's just...my mind has just been going in like a hundred different directions." Kenshin sighed.
"You're just supposed to fight, aren't you?" Akeno asked.
"Ha! I wish!" Kenshin balked. "I have to attend the meetings for almost everything."
"I'm sorry." Akeno apologized.
"It's OK...and...I didn't mean to come off snappishly toward you." Kenshin said.
Akeno shook her head smiling. "It's quite alright Kenshin-kun. So, how is your training coming along?"
"It's coming..." Kenshin said as he took out a vial and uncorked it. A small bead of water was pulled out and he started twirling it between his fingers. "This is basically beginner level though. Akatama said if I couldn't perfect this I might as well give up."
"I get where he's coming from, watch." Akeno held her hand out and a sphere of water, roughly the size of a softball appeared in her hand that she began twirling around.
"..." Kenshin slumped. "You're better than me too...I'm literally just the Internal Dragon of the Elements."
"Ufufufu..." Akeno laughed in her usual way, but she smiled sympathetically at him. "You're just starting late. It was hard for me when I started."
"I get that." Kenshin said with a sigh. "It's just it's been four days and I'm kinda already getting sick of Inutora and Bureijin teasing me about it."
"It'll get better...I mean...it can only go up." Akeno giggled.
"..." Kenshin's shoulders slumped and a gloomy aura wrapped around him. "Now you're doing it..."
"..." Akeno smiled, leaning in and kissing Kenshin on the cheek. "Just so I could do that."
"..." Kenshin shook his head with a smile. "Alright, whatever you say. Alright, let's go find Rias."
"Follow me." Akeno said.
"Uhm...by the way...just so you know, I've been wanting to spend some time with all of you, not only her." Kenshin said. "I don't want to make it seem like I'm neglecting you, Yukari, Koneko, Ravel, Rossweisse and the rest."
"You're not. We understand Kenshin-kun. You do what you have to do." Akeno said.
"Thanks." Kenshin said.
Kenshin and Akeno walked to the cafe. From there they looked around until they saw a strand of crimson hair sticking out, connected a buxom woman. They walked over and Akeno tapped her on the shoulder. "Rias."
"?" Rias turned her head. "Oh! Kenshin, Akeno! What is it?" She asked smiling at Kenshin.
"Have you been spending time with a clone of mine?" Kenshin asked.
"?" Rias sent him a confused look. "Yes? I thought you knew? Don't you get the memories back?"
"No." Kenshin said.
"Oh. I see. Well would you like me to fill you in?" Rias asked.
"Mhn, as much as I would like to, I can't." Kenshin said. "What have you been doing today though? I have time enough for that."
"Oh. Well we just went on a walk through Grangold. Then we came here for lunch, of course the clone didn't eat anything. It felt kind of odd, but he told me not to worry about it." Rias said. "It felt just like I was with the real you." Rias said with a semi dreamy smile.
"I see..." Kenshin said while Akeno donned a pouting look. "Where is he now?"
"He went to the restroom to change out." Rias said.
"Well I'll go and do it myself." Kenshin said. "Say, Rias...aren't you supposed to be training with Rasai right now?"
"!" Rias' eyes snapped toward the clock. "Oh! Damn, you're right. Just tell him not to bother, I have to go!" She said getting up and taking off.
"..." Kenshin watched her leave before heading to the rest room. He entered and found one of his substitution stencils on the lid. He picked it up and rubbed his chin pensively. "Hmn..."
"Kenshin-kun?" Akeno said seeing Kenshin exit, still looking at the stencil.
"..." Kenshin didn't respond.
"What is it?" Akeno said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said. "Oh...it's nothing." He put it away. "Come on."
"You can feel it too, can't you?" Kenshin thought.
"The abundance of magic in it? Yeah." Undine said. "It's..."
"It was never activated. Maybe...I'm just overthinking it, but...why would my clone's stencil not be emptied of it's mana when I find it after use?" Kenshin thought.
"...Something fishy's going on here." Sylph said.
"I agree...I need someone to keep tabs on Rias, but...they'd have to be unassuming." Kenshin thought.
Akeno and Kenshin left the cafe and bumped into Yukari. "Oh, hey." Kenshin greeted.
"Hey." Yukari said. "I'm just making my rounds to recruit people. Who isn't available?"
"At this moment? Tamamo and Erubetie. They're going into the Northern Sea to visit Poseidoness." Kenshin informed. "Akeno here's available."
"Hm. Want to come with me on this job then?" Yukari asked.
"If it's what you think is best." Akeno nodded.
"Cool. Go get ready." Yukari said. Akeno nodded and left. "Alright..." Yukari turned to Kenshin. "Why is Alice all the sudden coming with me on this?"
"She wants to help prevent a fight by standing as a powerful threat. I mean yeah we haven't seen her really fight, but the Demon Queen has to earn her right to the throne in battle just like the King does."
"I guess." Yukari said. "Now...are you sure you want me to lead the charge?"
"Of course. You know what you're doing." Kenshin smiled. "I know that better than anyone except you."
"..." Yukari closed her eyes and let out a calm laugh. "I see. Well then if you're putting that kind of faith in me. I'll have to produce results then."
"I'm counting on you." Kenshin said.
"I know, I won't let you down." Yukari said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. She walked away afterward. "I'll send a message letting you know who's all coming with me." Yukari said.
"OK." Kenshin said. He turned and walked back to the castle.
Meanwhile as Kenshin was returning to the castle, Bureijin and Alma approached Rasai. "Hey, Rasai." Bureijin said.
"Hm?" Rasai said.
"We've been mobilized to go and clean things up at Murasaki Village. You're coming with." Bureijin said.
"Who is all coming with?" Rasai said.
"The Cardinals, Alma here, Issei-Chan and Kiba-Chan so far." Bureijin said.
"Was thinking about asking Saji-Chan if he wanted to come with, but he still needs a rest from Tiamat." Alma Elma said with a carefree smile.
"Wait, then where's Kenshin going?" Rasai said.
"Kenshin-Chan is in charge here at the headquarters while Alipheese-Sama goes with Kenshin-Chan's sister to Lady Village." Bureijin said.
"And who is going with her?" Rasai asked.
"It's a women only party so..." Bureijin shrugged.
"Yup." Alma said.
"..." Rasai thought about it. "I have to turn you down."
"Hm?" Bureijin said. "Why?"
"I am Rias' trainer with Destruction Magic, being the only one here other than her who can use it." Rasai said. "Kenshin will probably want to keep his fiancee with him here in Grangold."
"Hm? What would Kenshin want to do?" The three turned to find Rias approaching them.
"I'm trying to get Rasai here to come with Alma and I to Murasaki Village." Bureijin said. "He said you would need him to continue your training, and that Kenshin would prefer you to stay here with him."
"Oh, well...Rasai if you need to go, we can take a short reprieve from training." Rias said.
"That's quite alright, I don't necessarily need to goahh!" Rasai was pulled away by Bureijin and Alma.
"Come on, you heard the woman you can take a break from training her to help us." Bureijin said.
"Thanks Rias-Chan!" Alma waved.
"Son of a bitch! This is my best, possibly only chance to get Kenshin alone so I can kill him!" Rasai fumed mentally.
"He...seemed pretty upset." Rias said.
"Yeah no kidding." Rias turned and found Kenshin walking up to her.
"Kenshin?" Rias said.
"Clone." Kenshin said.
"Oh...could you...maybe keep Kenshin posted on what we do? It's...kind of depressing that he doesn't remember any of it." Rias said.
"Uhm..." Clone Kenshin said. "Sure."
"Hm?" Rias said. "You...hesitated there for a second, is everything OK?"
"I was busy thinking of things we could do together. I was kinda caught off guard by the question." Clone Kenshin said.
"Oh." Rias smiled. "Well...thanks, but I think I'll take a rest today."
"Very well, as you wish." Clone Kenshin said.
Rias started to walk away from him, when she stopped and thought to herself "Well...with how busy the real Kenshin is, I might not get the chance to for awhile." Rias turned to Clone Kenshin and walked up to him smiling.
"W...What is it?" Clone Kenshin said.
"Why so nervous?" Rias giggled. "It's just...it's been a little while since we've shared a kiss."
"I see..." Clone Kenshin said.
Rias put her hands on Clone Kenshin's chest, grabbing his jacket and tugging him downward. As their lips were about to touch Rias stopped, waiting for him to close the gap.
"..." Clone Kenshin was looking around.
"...Kenshin?" Rias said.
"Fuck it!" Clone Kenshin thought grabbing Rias by the face and crushing their lips together, ducking into an alley.
"Mmhn!" Rias moaned into his mouth, her legs turning to jelly at the fierce, passionate kiss. Clone Kenshin backed her into a wall and lifted her left leg up, stroking his hand up and down her inner thigh while his tongue dominated hers. His other hand reached over and started caressing her right breast roughly.
"Mmu! K-Kenshin...what's gotten into you?" Rias moaned into him.
"Nothing...that hasn't been there this whole time..." Clone Kenshin said.
Finally Rias had to stop him. "Kenshin, please...not here." She said.
"Hmn, alright then." Clone Kenshin said. "You seemed like you were enjoying it."
"I-I was, but...it's just the location." Rias said. "Oh my lord, I was...is that weird?" She thought. "No...not when the person you're enjoying it with is someone you love like I love him."
"Very well." Clone Kenshin said. "I'm going to make a round then I'll probably dispel."
"OK." Rias said. "Thank you for today by the way."
"Of course." Clone Kenshin said.
Rias smiled and left. Clone Kenshin left the alley and walked toward the inn and occupied a previously unoccupied room while the innkeep was out. He took out a bottle of mouth wash and knocked it back, swishing it around in his mouth before spitting it out the window. "Ullgh..." He shook his head and closed the windows and drew the shades. When he did, his form pulsed and his red hair began to shift in color from red to purple. His eyes also changed from blue/gold to both red. He looked in the mirror and who looked back...was none other than Luka, the Betrayer.
"Haa..." Luka sighed as he walked away from the mirror and locked the door before flopping on the bed. "It's bad enough I had to betray Alice to initiate my plan, but having to spend an exorbitant amount of time, romantic time at that with some woman I don't care about...damn it." He sat up and moved a hand through his hair "But still, she is my best way to get Kenshin's attention...however. Knowing I had to leave a substitution stencil behind I had no time to activate it and deactivate it before he showed up. I had to quickly make myself scarce. Now Kenshin is no doubt suspicious and will be having Rias watched."
Luka walked back in front of the mirror. "The Revolution is still here, the bulk of it anyway. I hold no delusions that I could take all of them on myself as well as Kenshin himself one after the other...no...Kenshin maybe a big inspiration to the troops morale, but the Youkai Revolution still follows Alice. Losing Kenshin would be a huge hit to morale, but they would fight on, as he would want."
He let out another sigh. "Just a bit longer...and this will all be over."
(break)
Half of a day later.
Bureijin's platoon and Yukari's strikeforce came upon a fork in the road. "Which way?" Yukari asked.
"Both." Alma said. "Bureijin and I head left."
"You and your strike force head right. It will allow you to go around Murasaki which is about to become a war zone and head to Lady's Village." Akatama said.
Yukari's strike force was as followed, not including her. Alice, Miyuki, Reya, Evangeline, Akeno, Asia, Xenovia and Kuroka. "Right." Yukari nodded.
Bureijin's platoon other than himself, Alma and the ranks and files consisted of Issei, Irina, Kazumi, Sextum, Rasai who of course was still pissed about being dragged along, Kiba, Tsubaki, Yura, Hikari, Azazel, Akatama, Jordan, Inutora, Bikou and Chachamaru. "Are you sure it's wise that you take the strategist AND our best healer?"
"Cassandra is not someone to be trifled with." Alice said. "If we end up fighting we'll need them both."
"Um, Alice-Sama, may I respectfully ask you a question?" Xenovia said.
"What is it?" Alice asked.
"You're the strongest youkai in Makai, wouldn't it be more prudent to flex your muscles so to speak and take down Cassandra yourself?" Xenovia asked.
Yukari turned to Alice. "I have a feeling I know your answer, but please, if you want to go ahead." She said.
"We are already trying to overthrow a tyrant." Alice said closing her eyes. "I don't want to become like that, and I refuse to lay a hand on my cute little subordinates unless I absolutely have to." She opened her eyes and glanced at the two of them. "Does that answer satisfy you?"
"Yes." Yukari said.
"So...you don't want to take too much of a direct approach." Xenovia said with a nod.
"Yes. Part of ruling is deciding when you should intervene, and when you shouldn't. A ruler cannot be depended on for every little thing, you have to learn to grow on your own." Alice said.
"Of course this doesn't stop you from hoarding Kenshin." Yukari drawled mentally. "Seriously? I might have to contend with the Queen of Demons for Kenshin's time?"
Back at Grangold, Kenshin sneezed, popping a snot bubble that was hanging from his nose, drawing attention from the delegates, Lord Grangold and Lady Ari who he was currently in a meeting with. "Uhm...s-sorry...what were we talking about again?" Everyone sighed as Kenshin chuckled nervously.
Back at the fork. The two sides split. "Kazumi-San, send a drone ahead to scout for us." Akatama said.
"Right." Kazumi said. "Hmn..." She said as her drone advanced.
"Anything?" Inutora said.
"...Doesn't their formation look a little...lax to you?" Kazumi said.
"Hm?" Inutora said looking over her shoulder. "...What the hell?"
"What's up?" Bureijin said.
"Look at this." Inutora said stepping to the side.
"..." Bureijin stared at the screen. "The fuck?"
"See? That defensive formation...it's too easy to break through." Inutora said.
"...Krh." Bureijin growled.
"It has to be a trap." Azazel said approaching them.
"I know, but I have no choice. If I don't move in my people will die." Bureijin said.
"..." Chachamaru walked past them to the front of the formation.
"What is it Chachamaru?" Kazumi asked.
"The mana levels...they are unusually high." Chachamaru said.
"This is Makai though, aren't the mana levels always unusually high?" Hikari asked.
"I mean unusually so for Makai." Chachamaru said.
"Aah." Hikari nodded.
"Can you pinpoint where it might be coming from?" Jordan said.
"..." Chachamaru shook her head. "No. It's blanketed over the area, it's equivocally high. It's impossible to trace the source."
"Damn." Jordan said. "Alright Bureijin this is your operation, what's the call?"
"Listen man, let's hold here and let me scan the area. I could find out what the mana's being used for at least."
"..." Bureijin narrowed his eyes.
"You should do as he says." Hikari said. "We should be prepared for an eventual trap."
"...Fine. Alma, Jordan. Run along and tell the men we're holding position for now." Bureijin said.
"Got it." The two said.
Bureijin sat down with a glare on his face. Issei approached him. "You're...pretty worked up about this huh?"
"Yeah, I am..." Bureijin sighed. "I'm just worse at hiding it than Alma-Chan is."
"You and her are so damn flirty and playful sometimes, it kinda makes me forget that you two are leaders of youkai races." Irina said walking up next to Issei.
"Hahaha, yeah. That's just how our races are." Bureijin said. "But, when push comes to shove. We will drop the pretenses and get serious."
"...I don't know, I can't see Alma-San being serious about anything." Kiba said approaching from the side.
"Her mother...well let's just say that she was a huge stickler for traditional Succubus behavior, but trust me, if she had to, she'd beat the brakes off all three of you, together."
"..." Kiba stared at him. "In...what manner?"
"Hand to hand combat. She's a master martial artist." Bureijin said. "I know this, because I trained alongside her."
"So her mother didn't get onto her about it?" Issei asked.
"She did, and she stopped training until her mother died a few years later. Though...I suspect the same enthusiasm was lost to her at that point." Bureijin said. "She did always want to become a great Succubus Queen."
"Well, being in service to Kenshin will probably make her embrace that side of her more." Kiba said. "The fighter within her."
"Yeah, even after we leave here, it's not like Kenshin can take his Rook, Knight and Pawn Pieces back." Issei said.
"Or his Queen piece that he used on Tamamo-San." Irina said.
"I'm sure Alice-Sama would understand if they needed to go with him." Bureijin said. "She'd have us to rely on."
"Hm, what are you four over here talking about?" Alma Elma asked walking up to them.
"Nothing much, just shootin' the breeze." Bureijin said.
"Well, while we're here, do you guys wanna know why the Village is named Murasaki?" Alma asked.
"Why is it?" Irina asked.
"Well every century the village is bathed in purple moonlight." Alma said.
"This special light forces our instincts into overdrive and the entire village descends into an orgy. I would assume that even people with a little of our kind in them blood line would be hard pressed to resist it." Bureijin said.
"Like Yukari-Chan and her family?" Alma asked.
"Yes." Bureijin said.
"Wait...Kenshin, Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari all have your kind's blood in them?" Issei asked.
"Yahuh, we can sense our own kind, no matter how little of it there is to sense." Bureijin nodded.
"It would explain the lust problem more in depth." Kiba nodded.
"What do you mean?" Alma asked.
"Kenshin can only resist a years worth of heat cycles before it affects him." Irina said. "I don't know about his sisters and mother though.
"Huh? That's strange, a youkai of his strength should have no problem resisting more than that." Bureijin said.
"..Well..." Issei sweatdropped. "It's not exactly as easy as you think. Chief, Akeno-San and others are almost always trying to stimulate him in someway."
"Aaah." Bureijin nodded. "That makes sense. Gets even harder when you've got the sex queen herself over here doing the same."
"Ufufufu, you make it seem like he's my only target." Alma said with a coy smile before licking her lips and turning to Issei and Kiba. "So how about it boys, wanna find a quiet spot and get right to it?"
"E-Eeeeh? !" Issei and Kiba exclaim.
"Hey!" Irina snapped.
"Back off!" Tsubaki blurts out from closeby, before slapping her mouth shut with her hand.
"Hahahaha, alright Alma come on, we don't have the time." Bureijin said. "Yo Azazel-San, you figured it out yet?"
"Just about, I need you to come here though, you and Alma." Azazel said.
The two walked up to him. "What is it?" Alma asked.
"Let your magic flow into my arm here." Azazel said. "It's mechanical so it will be able to analyze your mana and compare it to the abundant mana out there."
"Huh?" Bureijin said.
"Wha?" Alma said, her curiosity piqued as they both did what was asked of them.
"Hmn...yep." Azazel said. "The mana out there is of the same nature as the two of you."
"Really now?" Bureijin said. He turned out toward the field and inhaled. "...Yep. I guess you're right, but this much?"
"It's a lot, what's going on?" Alma said.
"Well no matter, if it's natured like ours we can counteract it." Bureijin said. "We move in."
"Alright." Azazel shrugged.
The platoon moved toward Murasaki Village, but upon arriving. A massive seal array appeared over the sky. "!" Bureijin looked up wide eyed.
"H-Hey? !" Rasai and Sextum shout seeing the rank and file youkai all fall to the ground.
"What the hell? !" Azazel said.
"Get to cover!" Kiba shouts seeing multiple attacks screaming toward them.
"Shit!" Inutora slashed his scythes down toward the ground and raised his hands, making an earth wall grow from the ground.
Bureijin cursed. "What the hell is going on? ! All the men and women besides the Cardinals, Alma and the Devils are all down? !"
"They look like they all just got brought to climax simultaneously." Hikari said, her face scrunching up as she noticed some of the ecstasy filled looks on their faces.
"Chachamaru-San, can you scan that array up there? !" Tsubaki said.
"Scanning..." Chachamaru said.
"What's going on? Why aren't we affected?" Issei said waiting for the timer on his Boosted Gear to tick down to zero.
"Anything?" Kiba asked.
"Bureijin-San, what do you know about the Great Barrier of Babylon?" Chachamaru said.
"? !" Bureijin rounded on her. "You mean that's what that thing is? !"
"Yes. Tamamo told me a bit about it, but nothing really in depth." Chachamaru said.
"Oh hell!" Bureijin fumed. "No wonder there was so much damn Succubus and Incubus magic here!"
"What is it?" Azazel said.
"The Great Barrier of Babylon, it's an ancient level Succubus Art that layers an area in an aura where those targeted are brought to the peak of sexual excitement." Alma stated. "Though, it's strange."
"What is?" Azazel asked.
"Why aren't we affected? This is a preferred spell of the Great Ancestor Minagi-Sama herself." Bureijin said. "It should bring everyone except Alma and I to their knees in lust."
"Hmn, shot in the dark, maybe Sacred Gears and special weapons are protecting us." Azazel guessed.
"That still doesn't explain those who don't have them." Bureijin said.
"Maybe the caster isn't THAT powerful?" Issei asked.
"Hmn...good point." Alma said.
"Hey, you guys done making a plan over there because I can't hold this wall together much longer!" Inutora said.
"Right, shit! Plan!" Bureijin said. "Anyone got one?"
"I got one." Issei said.
"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!"
"Attack." Issei said taking off past the wall.
"Wait, Issei!" Xenovia said following after him with Sextum and Irina in tow.
"Hey wait for me!" Bikou shouts.
"He does have a point, we're the only ones left here." Inutora said. "If we distract them, they won't attack the downed youkai back here."
"Right." Bureijin nodded. "Alright, how do we advance because we'll still get lambasted out there at the moment."
"Allow me." Kiba said, already forming his Glory Drag Troopers.
"Right, behind the troopers, magic users pepper them with your spells!" Bureijin said as the Troopers started to advance.
"Promotion, Bishop." Chachamaru invoked. A sniper rifle appeared in her hands. She stuck the barrel between two of the troopers and took aim, firing a round that tore through a line of Homunculi.
"Whoa!" Kazumi said. "Hey I got an idea! Jordan take Chachamaru to a high structure and let her lay down that sniper fire!"
"Right. Hang on." Jordan said grabbing Chachamaru with his talons and flying upward to one of the roofs. "I'll stay here and guard you, let me know when you need to move and I'll move you."
"There's no need, I can leap to buildings if need be." Chachamaru said.
"Very well." Jordan said flying downward.
"Try not to advance too far." Rasai said chucking small orbs of destruction past the troopers. As homunculi past by them they exploded in a short burst of destructive magic, creating a small crater.
"I'm going!" Yura said leaping over the troopers. "Twinkle Aegis!" She called out, a bright shield of light surrounding her front. "Haaaa! !" She sent it forward as fire and lightning surrounded it, cutting into the ranks. "? !" She barely had time to breathe before she was being bore down upon by homunculi from the sides.
"Watch out!" Issei said landing behind her. "Take one side, I'll take the other."
"Yes." Yura said turned to her left while Issei took the right. She dove into the fray punching her fists, kicking her feet through homunculi rank and files while Issei leveled his off with a Dragon Shot.
"You good?" Issei said after Yura came back.
"Yes, thanks for the assist." Yura said.
"No problem." Issei said taking off.
Kiba took his Blade Blacksmith sword and handed it to Kazumi along with it's sheathe. "When it's time to cast them off, sheathe the blade." He instructed as the troopers formed a shield around her.
"Right." Kazumi nodded.
"I'll stay back and help guard her." Rasai said.
"Alright boys and girls lets move!" Azazel said leaping over the troopers and taking off toward the homunculi with Bureijin, Alma, Inutora, Jordan, Tsubaki, Kiba and Akatama.
"Issei behind you!" Sextum called out, throwing an ice spear through a homunculus trying to get the drop on Issei.
"Eh? Oh hello." Issei said seeing a large group of them. "Alot of you huh? Well...I've got friends too."
"Haha!" Bikou laughed, batting away most of the group with his staff while Irina appeared in front of Issei.
"Want me to mop up here Issei?" Irina said.
"They're all yours dear." Issei shrugged.
"Ufufufu! Then prepare to feel the divine wrath of Heaven, Amen!" Irina said diving into their formation, slashing her holy sword and firing holy arrows along her other hand. She turned her head only to see an ice spear go through a homunculi trying to attack her. "Thanks!"
"..." Sextum nodded.
Back on the ground Azazel and Hikari stood back to back. "Why don't you just make one of those extra large spears and take out a good chunk of these guys?" Hikari asked.
"You wanna see my extra large spear? Oh Hikari I didn't know you were that forward." Azazel grinned.
Hikari haymakered the back of his head. "Not that you idiot!" She said with a faint blush and glare.
"Honestly, Bureijin asked me not to. He could stand the buildings being destroyed, but the ground they sit on?" Azazel said shaking his head.
"Well still, if these things keep coming, we're going to be overwhelmed soon." Hikari said.
"Getting tired?" Azazel asked.
"Not now Azazel I'm working!" Hikari said diving into the fray.
"That does bring to light an interesting point though." Azazel said as he carved up homunculi with light swords. "Most of what we've seen have been these rank and file homunculi. Is Forbesii keeping the more powerful ones close by or is he merely planning to exhaust us by throwing expendable body after expendable body at us." Azazel thought. "Have yet to see anything other than rank and files.
"Hey Mister~!"
"Hm?" Azazel turned and found a white haired young woman holding an extra large syringe dressed in a black nurse outfit. Faster that Azazel could react the syringe was stabbed into his arm "Agh? ! What the...hell...?" His body heated up in an instant.
"Uhuhuhuhu! How do you like it?" The woman asked.
"Wh...Who the hell are you...?" Azazel grunted. "Dammit! I got careless!"
"I'm called Naccubus." She said with a carefree, yet salacious smile.
"Ghh..." Azazel winced as the heat built. "What the hell did you just shoot me up with?"
"Well I am a Succubus so take a wild guess." Naccubus said licking her lips.
"Erg, if I wanted to get laid, I didn't need to be drugged up." Azazel groaned as he fell to his knees. "Fuck...this is some powerful shit..."
"Obviously. It was created by a Maiden of Lust after all~!" Naccubus said sauntering up toward him.
"Oh crap...she's coming for me and there's no way I can resist." Azazel said. "She'll drain me dry and I won't even protest...well...there are worse ways to go."
As Naccubus got up to Azazel and started to work his clothes off, a hand slapped down on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw Hikari smiling down at her, the Magia Erebea active and dark fire flickering all around her. "...Just what the hell do you think you're doing young lady?"
"..." Naccubus started to sweat. "U-Uhm...g-getting a bite to eat?" She answered.
"Ah huh...and don't you think right now is a little bit inappropriate?" Hikari asked.
Azazel narrowed his eyes at Naccubus. "...!" His eyes widened. "Hikari, watch out! This one's a homuncu-!"
Azazel was cut off as Hikari laid her flaming fist into Naccubus' chest, sending her flying through several buildings. "I already know. I met the real one just a bit ago, she was hiding in one of the buildings these homunculi were crowding. That punch had enough heat and force to break the core."
"I see, that's good." Azazel said
"...!" Hikari's eyes widened as she felt a pair of hands groping her chest. They quickly closed as a vein in her forehead bulged. "...Azazel...just...what the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"That homunculus shot me up with an aphrodisiac." Azazel said. "Sorry...I can't help myself."
"You...careless son of a..." Hikari turned around and punched Azazel in the stomach, driving the wind out of him and knocking him unconscious. "That's what you get." Hikari huffed with a blush. She then thought to herself as she carried him off to where she found the real Naccubus. "Wait...what the hell am I going to do when my heat cycle comes in? I've been lucky to ignore them so far, but...oh fuck me..." She sighed.
Hikari couldn't lie to herself, she was mildly attracted to Azazel, similarly to how she was attracted to her master before she knew it was actually Kenshin, but at the same time. If that hundreds of harems shtick was actually true she didn't want to be apart of that. She was used to being in a monogamous marriage and could probably handle being in a singular harem like what Kenshin and Issei had. "Well, if it does end up being true, I guess I have options." She thought.( 1)
Meanwhile, The Cardinals, Alma, Tsubaki and Kiba were advancing when Tsubaki was tripped up by a rope. "Hey! Tsubaki-San are you OK?" Kiba asked.
"I'm fine, just took a bad spill." Tsubaki said getting to her feet. "What the hell was that about?"
"Hey guys we got a couple!"
"Huh?" Kiba said looking over to see one overly excited young girl wearing an incredibly skimpy pink outfit with a band binding her nearly impossibly huge breasts. "...Too bad Issei-kun isn't here..."
"No...I think that's actually a good thing..." Tsubaki drawled. "Seriously...she's about the size of Koneko, but with the chest size that rivals Akeno or Hikari-San."
"...Are you jealous?" Kiba asked.
"Absolutely not!" Tsubaki snapped.
Kiba winced at the outburst before turning to the girl who by now had two other girls around her size without the massive bust. "Excuse me."
"Huh? What do you want?" She asked.
"Why did you trip us up?" Kiba asked. "What are your names?"
"Oh, I'm Rami." The large breasted blonde said.
"Remi..." The purple haired girl dressed in dark colors said with a nervous expression.
"Rumi..." The white haired girl dressed in white with red trimming said with a yawn.
"OK, why did you trip me up?" Tsubaki asked crossing her arms under her chest.
"Well your mana feels like that red haired guy's did. He was real friendly with us and played when he could." Rami said.
"Red haired guy? You mean Akatama-San?" Kiba asked.
"No. A different red haired guy, he wore a black coat and had mismatched eyes." Rumi yawned.
"...Kenshin?" Kiba and Tsubaki shared a look. "That doesn't explain it though." Tsubaki said.
"Well, we thought you were the same as him...and decided to play a prank on him like we did every time we met him." Remi said. "He never got angry."
"D...Do you not realize this is a battlefield?" Kiba asked.
"What's that?" Rami said with a curious tilt of the head.
"Come on!" Tsubaki shouts grabbing Rami and Rumi's arms pulling them away.
"..." Kiba let out a sigh. "How weird..." He turned to Remi. "Come on, I won't hurt you."
"O-OK..." Remi said.
Kiba got in touch with Bureijin. "Uh listen, Bureijin-San. Tsubaki-San and I are pulling back. We found these three girls that wandered into the battlefield."
"Heh?" Bureijin said. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well they were three girls that seemed to resemble succubi." Kiba said.
"...Ugh." Bureijin sighed. "Did you sense for cores first?"
"Yes, I didn't find any." Kiba said.
"Alright, those are imps by the way or youngling succubi or incubi." Bureijin said. "Thanks for this."
"Yes." Kiba said.
With the Cardinals and Alma, Bureijin cleared his throat. "Alright boys and sex queen. It's just us now. We got Issei and the three that went with him keeping homunculi off us so we just need to find the one powering this seal."
Alma turned to a large house and sniffed the air. "Woo! This must be it." She said. "There's a lot of concentrated circulating in here."
"...!" Akatama's eyes widened. "Scatter!"
Alma, Jordan, Bureijin and Inutora jumped away from Akatama who narrowly avoided a downward strike from a succubus dressed in black. "Eva." Bureijin said with narrowed eyes.
"Well hello there Incubus King Bureijin, Succubus Queen Alma Elma." The black haired succubus said batting her ruby red eyes at the two of them, brushing some of her raven black hair to the side as it hung down to the middle of her back.
"I banished you years ago. What are you doing back here?" Bureijin said.
"Ah, but that power is not yours to use." Eva said with a small smirk.
"I am the one who rules this village." Bureijin said cracking his neck from side to side. "Alma has no interest in doing so. You were banished because..."
"Because what? I decided to do what we were born to do? What we were bred to do?" Eva said with a predatory smirk.
"Such foolishness." Alma said.
"And why is that? Wasn't your mother similar to me in that respect?" Eva said.
"And why is it you think we were relegated to this area, our kind almost starved out until we reached an accord with Grangold?" Bureijin said. "Alma's mother was a great Succubus, but a terrible ruler."
"Agreed." Alma said crossing her arms under her chest.
"So a few men died with me, so what? !" Eva balked.
"If it was just that we could play it down as you being inexperienced and how sleeping with one of us carries it's risks, but the problem was your sheer nonchalance about it. You didn't even seem guilty about killing them." Bureijin said.
"Because I wasn't." Eva said giggling softly. "We should assert ourselves and take the power that belongs to us."
"You-!" Bureijin said.
"Are you the one running the barrier?" Alma said.
"I am commanding it to be run by a hypnotized Lilim and Lilith." Eva said.
"Ah, I see. Well...seeing as I am sick of hearing you talk and the fact that you are no fun at all. I'll deal with you." Alma said throwing her mantle to the side.
"Oh ho ho? That's a first, the free spirited Alma Elma taking an on hands approach with someone?" Eva said.
"I don't like being violent, but honestly...you deserve it." Alma said moving forward, her palm slamming into Eva's chest.
"Guah? !" Eva was knocked backward by the sheer force. "What...the hell? !" She thought.
"You aren't going to let me end this with just one strike? Are you?" Alma asked.
Akatama glanced at Bureijin who nodded in his direction. "Come on, let's get inside and see if we can destabilize the barrier." Bureijin said in a low tone.
Inutora, Akatama, Jordan and Bureijin made their way toward the house, only for a wall of slime to cut them off.
"Hn? ! Get back!" Akatama said as the slime stretched outward, attacking them.
"Ufufufufu..." A voice giggled as the Grand Cardinals jumped back.
"Hm?" Bureijin glanced over to see a group of four women approaching them.
"A slime mermaid..." Akatama said.
"A dark skinned woman with equally dark flames surrounding her..." Bureijin said.
"A human sized fairy that's controlling the wind?" Jordan said with narrowed eyes.
"A taciturn dark skinned girl who controls the earth." Inutora said.
"Hello there, you may not know us, but we are the new Four Spirits. I am Grandine." The slime mermaid introduced.
"...Gnomaren..." The silent girl said, wearing black version of what Gnome wore.
"Gigamander." The dark skinned flame woman said with a smirk.
"Zylphe." The human sized fairy said.
"Hmn. So you're the fake spirits Forbesii created." Inutora said.
"So if we destroy you, he'll lose power." Jordan said.
"Sorry, it doesn't work like that, he made more than one set." Gigamander said.
"Besides, what exactly makes us fake? The fact that our creator is not the Dark Goddess?" Zylphe scoffed.
"No, what makes you fake is the fact that your creator is a fake demon." Bureijin said. "Now, I'm only going to say this once. Leave. My. Village."
"Sorry, still doesn't work like that. See I have to go through here to claim my home." Gigamander said.
"Hmph, thank you." Bureijin said lunging toward Gigamander.
(clench!)
"Nice strength. OK then!" Gigamander said holding Bureijin's wrist kicking at Bureijin's head.
"Here, I'll give you a hand sis." Zylphe said moving toward them only to get blown back by a burst of wind. She turned to Jordan who was walking toward her.
"Did you expect me to do nothing?" Jordan asked lowering his left wing.
"No, but did you expect her to not do anything either?" Zylphe said.
"!" Jordan's eyes batted backward seeing Gnomaren baring down on him.
"Digging Mantis!" A hole tore through the ground and Inutora appeared behind Jordan, blocking Gnomaren. "Don't worry about this one, I've got her."
"Right, thanks." Jordan said. "!" He glanced to Inutora's left to find a tendril of slime launching toward him. "Look out!"
(Splash!)
"I don't think so." Akatama said with narrowed eyes as he held a gourd of water in hand, the water extending forward and wrapping around the slime, holding it back.
"Very well then, but don't blame me if you end up getting killed." Grandine said with a haughty smile.
"Likewise." Akatama said as the two retracted their 'extensions'.
Meanwhile Eva thrust her palm, striking Alma in the chest, knocking her to the ground. "No I will not let this end with one strike."
"Good." Alma said getting to her feet. "It would really say something if the village got taken over by a little dog, barking her head off.
"Grrh! Silence!" Eva shouts, roundhouse kicking at Alma's head.
Alma grabbed Eva's leg and swung her into a wall. "You're weak. Are you really the best Forbesii could provide?" Alma asked.
"You...You bitch!" Eva shouts getting to her feet and charging Alma in a rage.
"Haa.." Alma sighed and lunged forward with her knee. "Dragon Knee!"
"Guh? !" Eva gasped as the wind was driven out of her.
"...I don't like doing this, please don't make me break your spirit." Alma Elma said with an uncharacteristically neutral tone.
"Like you could!" Eva shouts driving her elbow into Alma's temple.
"Knockout Palm." Alma said driving her palm into Eva's chin.
"Gah!" Eva jumped back rubbing her chin.
"Impressive, you managed to withstand it." Alma said. "But...remember this as the next part happens."
"..." Eva narrowed her eyes as Alma closed hers.
"You brought this upon yourself." Alma appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye. "Diamond Plated Fist!"
"!" Eva raised her arms to block and was knocked to the side.
"Killing Flow!" She said slashing her left leg out vertically, Eva just barely avoiding the violent burst of wind that cut through several buildings.
"Damn..." Eva said with wide eyes.
"Fool, focus on your opponent. Palm of Pure Violence!" Alma said driving her hand into the right side of Eva's torso, spinning her around to face the sky. Alma appeared over her, stomping her right foot downward. "Violent Stomp!"
"Guah!" Eva gasped out, blood filling her mouth as she hit the ground.
Alma was on top of her and grabbed her arm and swung her into the ground again, twisting and bending it into a vice like grip. "Do you concede?" She asked.
"Ghhh! !" Eva's eyes screwed shut in pain.
Alma twisted her arm around more. "Say it and the pain stops."
"Aaah! Yes! Yes! I give up! Just please stop! !" Eva cried out.
Alma released her grip. "Just so we're clear, if you go back on your word, it's right back in that hold, and I won't stop until your arm pops out of socket."
"Y-Yes..." Eva said bowing her head.
"OK!" Alma said reverting back to her usual mood. "Lets go get this barrier shut off shall we? It's been awhile since I've seen Lilim and Lilith, I wonder how they're doing."
Eva stared at Alma's back. "...Someone so cheerful...is capable of such violence and strength?"
She questioned her about this as they walked into the house. "Why don't you fight like that full time?"
"...Because I'd be disqualified as the Queen Succubus...if it were found out that I prefer physical combat to physical pleasure." Alma said.
"Well you don't, do you?" Eva asked.
"No, but it's just...it takes years to develop martial arts techniques, it takes much less time to develop pleasure techniques, especially when your mother was the former queen." Alma said with a slightly bitter tone.
Meanwhile, the Grand Cardinals were fighting to stalemates with the Artificial Yonseirei. "Damn..." Akatama said retracting his water whip.
"No matter what..." Jordan said.
"The hell I try..." Inutora said.
"She just has a counter for!" Burejin said as he tried to pin Gigamander down only for her to kick her legs up and under his arms, throwing him to the ground. Bureijin rolled out of the way of a stomp from the artificial spirit.
"Suijinheki!" Akatama shouts raising a wall of water as Grandine sent torrents of slime at him.
"You defend with my element...you're not very smart are you?" Grandine said mockingly as tendrils of slime tore through the wall with ease.
"Shit!" Akatama said pulling out his bladed polearm and started hacking the tendrils apart. He jumped away from the remnants after he was done.
"Grh!" Inutora growled as two earthen limbs came to life and grabbed his scythes as he slashed them at Gnomaren.
"..." Gnomaren's face was impassive as a third rock limb punched Inutora in the stomach.
"Guoh!" Inutora groaned.
"Haa...haa...haa..." Jordan panted as he stood across from a giggling Zylphe.
"What's the matter Harpy Chieftain? Can't keep up?" Zylphe asked.
Red communication circles appeared next to the Grand Cardinals' heads. "Hey are you guys OK down there?" Issei asked on the other end
"Just...running into a wall..." Jordan said.
"Do you need me and Bikou to come and help?" Issei asked
"Hell no, no offense kid, but we have our pride to consider here." Inutora said. "You guys aren't going to be around forever."
"Well, can I at least give you a bit of advice then?" Issei asked.
Seeing no harm in it Akatama cleared his throat, keeping an eye on Grandine who swirled water around her. "What is it?"
"Well Kenshin's filled you guys in on my Triana promotion right?" Issei asked.
"Yeah...?" Bureijin said.
"Well when I was first developing it, Kenshin was able to immediately poke holes in it. Saying that whatever form I was in, he would immediately start playing to it's weaknesses." Issei said.
"So?" Inutora said.
"So, you guys should probably start playing to THEIR weaknesses." Issei said.
"...Oh my god." Jordan said slapping his right wing against his forehead.
"Why the fuck didn't we think of that?" Akatama grumbled.
"Because we're idiots." Bureijin sighed. "I swear, this whole operation's just been one giant wash."
"Well?" Inutora said.
"Right, Irina, give them a hand would ya?" Issei said.
"Right-o!" Irina said firing a light arrow at the ground between the Cardinals and Artificial Spirits while Inutora raised a wall. The arrow exploded brilliantly, blinding the four artificial spirits.
"Alright, we're gonna have to make this quick, we're all pretty tired." Inutora said.
"Right. Inutora you and Jordan swap and Bureijin you and I swap." Akatama said.
"Got it." Jordan and Bureijin said.
The wall lowered back down and the Artificial Spirits saw different opponents before them. "Hm? Running away are you?" Grandine said to Akatama as she extended her slime toward him.
"Not today!" Bureijin said shooting a fire bullet at the slime, causing it to retract.
"Grh..." Grandine growled and turned to Bureijin. "Stay out of this manwhore!"
"No, don't think I will." Bureijin said before firing multiple shots of fire around Grandine, using the flame spots created by it to make a ring of fire. "You fell in...to a burning ring of fire!" Bureijin said in a sing song voice as he command the flames to shoot toward Grandine.
"Aah? !" Grandine tried to fly away, but the flames wrapped around her mermaid tail. "Agh! How? !"
"You're not as good at this as the original Undine-Chan." Bureijin mused. "I know because I've fought her before...needless to say...I got crushed. No matter what I did, she had an answer. No matter how much I heated her body up with my slime she had a way of cooling down and evading me...you need to really learn what it means to take over the role of the Great Elemental Spirit you're trying to be."
"Aaahhh! !" Grandine let out a scream as she melted away.
"Grandine? !" Gigamander said. "Bastard!" She shouts shooting toward Bureijin.
But in her anger, she did not see Akatama's pole arm slashing toward her until it was too late. "Guh? !" She gasped as she was cut in two. "Y..You..."
"Fool. The original Salamander would never leave herself that wide open." Akatama said. "Now..." He held up his gourd and the water came out of it. "Drink up." He said, commanding it to enter the flame spirit's body through her nose and mouth.
"Gulaah!" Gigamander choked out.
"Now...spikes!" Akatama said as sharp little bumps ran across the water extending from the gourd as it got deep enough inside. "Freeze!" The top layer of water froze. "Spin!"
"Guah!" Gigamander let out a gasp as her core broke. Akatama pulled the water out after unfreezing it.
"This isn't over..." Gigamander coughed out. "We'll be back...!"
"We'll be waiting." Akatama said as he put away his polearm and corked his gourd.
"Yaaa..." Inutora yawned as Zylphe attacked him from all sides.
"Grrh!" Zylphe growled. "Stop just standing there and fight already?"
"Screw that, I'm tired." Inutora said rubbing his eyes. "And your blows aren't really affecting me."
"I know you're just playing around you annoying mantis!" Zylphe griped.
"And? Isn't the Wind Spirit supposed to be playful? That's what Alma always said." Inutora said with a nonchalant look.
"You!" Zylphe shouts rushing at him.
"By the way...I'm faster than you think." Inutora said as his fist laid into the artificial spirit's chest, her own momentum driving it through completely.
"Gulh? !" Zylphe let out a strained gasp as her body began crumbling.
"Your strikes are too weak to dent my rock hard body." Inutora said. "See you soon." He said flinging her off as she crumbled completely.
At the same time Jordan was effortlessly dodging the earth limbs that Gnomaren sent at him. He took her back and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and slammed her to the ground. "...I don't like fighting children, so I'll make this quick..." Jordan said driving a talon through her chest, breaking her core.
"..." Gnomaren didn't respond, or even acknowledge that anything had happened as she crumbled to nothing.
"...Poor Girl." Jordan said with his eyes closed.
"Hm?" Bureijin looked up to see the barrier gylph fading away. "Awesome. It's over."
Everyone walked back to the eastern side of Murasaki Village where the men and women were getting up. "Attention!" Jordan said.
"Sir!"
"You were under the effects of a debilitating barrier. That barrier has fallen. Comb the village and take out any homunculi you find!" Bureijin ordered.
"Sir!"
(break)
That night.
"You have our thanks for the assist Lord Bureijin." A woman wearing a red witches' outfit complete with red hat.
"Of course." Bureijin said. "How are my men doing that stayed here, Eri."
"They're fine. Some were injured trying to fight the homunculi, but we made sure they didn't succumb to their injuries." Eri said waving him off with a smile.
"Lord Bureijin!" Bureijin turned to find an incubus running up to him. "A large shipment of supplies just came in from the east bearing the crest of Grangold."
"That must be the supplies Kenshin sent for." Bureijin said. "Tell the men to open it up and distribute it."
"Yes." The incubus nodded and took off.
"Kenshin? You're following another man, dear?" Eri asked.
"Yeah...I know I swore all that off and was only intending to protect my people after Forbesii showed his true colors, but...I dunno, this Kenshin guy seems alright." Bureijin said. "Oof..." He let out a small groan as Eri sat on his lap.
"Well, whatever you think is best, we'll follow it." Eri said. "But now..." She licked her lips, staring into his eyes.
"Ahaha...someone's been getting antsy huh? Well lets go grab a third partner and get started." Bureijin said.
"I know just the man, I think you'll like him." Eri said grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
"Uaah!" The two heard a gasp and turned to find Issei being chased by two blonde haired, tan skinned succubi with blue eyes, one voluptuous, the other more slender.
"...I take it Lilim and Lilith have taken a liking to that devil over there?" Bureijin sweatdropped.
"Well when they woke up, he was the first face they saw, I had sent him in to check on him." Eri sweatdropped.
"OK." Bureijin said. "Uh, before we get started, how about we go check in on my son?"
"Sure." Eri smiled. "It's been awhile since you've seen him, I'd imagine you're worried."
Bureijin smiled back at her. "Thanks."
(Break)
Meanwhile.
Tamamo and Erubetie swam through the ocean moving deeper and deeper into the water. "Are you sure your body can handle the pressure?"
"Please." Tamamo said. "I've felt more pressure than this."
"OK." Erubetie said.
"So, I noticed you've been cozying up to Issei." Tamamo said. "Well...in your way I suppose."
"And?" Erubetie said.
"Well, it's strange considering that Kenshin's the one who cleaned the spring up." Tamamo said.
"Undine loves him. I'm not getting involved there, besides...the affinity for fighting kind of turns me away." Erubetie said.
"I guess you got a point, but he at least knows when to turn it off." Tamamo shrugged.
"True." Erubetie said. "I don't know, I wanna say it's the other slimes in my colony that like that Issei fellow, but at the same time, he seems so earnest."
"Yeah that's Issei for you." Tamamo laughed. "You should spend a little time alone with him, see if there's really something there."
"Huh?" Erubetie said glancing at Tamamo.
"Erubetie, you've been relatively alone since you made yourself into a colony. I have a sister like you, who kept to herself...at least until it was time to eat." She sweatdropped.
"You have sisters?" Erubetie said with an arched brow.
"..." Tamamo went into thought. "Erubetie, I'm going to let you in on a secret, but please don't tell Alice."
"?" Erubetie gazed at her curiously. "OK?" Tamamo whispered into Erubetie's ear. Erubetie rounded on her in shock. "You...one of the six...You? !"
"Yeah." Tamamo said.
"...If you were one of the Six Ancestors, why have things like this been happening?" Erubetie said.
"One person can't prevent everything Erubetie, and there is equal chances that I could have made things worse." Tamamo said. "And I can only escape the effects of the seal for a short time."
"..." Erubetie stared at her before closing her eyes. "I understand, you've tried to do all you can recently, but it's rendered no results."
"Yes." Tamamo said. "We're here." She said as they came up on a shrine.
As they entered. "Wait, so then what about you and Kenshin?" Erubetie asked.
"Huh?" Tamamo said.
"You seem close to Kenshin." Erubetie said. "Like you've already cozyed up to him, so to speak."
"I've known him all his life." Tamamo said. "It's hard not to be close to someone like that."
"I don't know, the way you look at him when he's training..." Erubetie said. "It's almost like you admire him."
"So? He's a diligent fighter, I think he's worthy of it." Tamamo said.
"Yes, but at times...it seems like it's deep admiration." Erubetie said.
"What the? How would you know? You've only watched him train with me one time!" Tamamo griped.
"Well it's just what Alma says anyway." Erubetie said.
"That damn..." Tamamo grumbled. "Sorry for yelling at you."
"No need for apologies." Erubetie said.
They came to the main hall of the shrine. A large figure dove down before them. She looked up at Tamamo and Erubetie before shrinking down to a mostly human figure with red tentacles for hair, six horns sticking out from her head bending downward and her legs while human looking resembled the shell of a crab. "Lady Tamamo, Lady Erubetie, what brings you here?" She asked.
"Thank you for coming out of your attack form Poseidoness." Tamamo greeted. "We are the real deal here."
"I can tell." Poseidoness said. "Hm?" She noticed a fish swimming up to her with a piece of parchment in it's mouth. "..."
"What is that?" Erubetie asked.
"It's from Kraken. I guess she must have thought you would come here later." Poseidoness said.
"We felt it was more prudent to come talk to you now, what with the Homunculus Brigade over your head." Tamamo said.
"Quite." Poseidoness nodded. "But, a few weeks, nearly a month ago there was a great storm to the west that sunk ships to the depths."
"That was our Vice Commander, he apologizes if the sunken ships have been an inconvenience to you." Erubetie said
"No need, there were no bodies on the ships, it's just wood and cloth that I had torn away. They won't harm anything down here. In fact he might have merely given a few wayward octopi a home." Poseidoness said.
"Oh, well that's good." Erubetie said.
"By the way, have either of you been in contact with Lady Laura, the Mermaid Queen?" Poseidoness asked. "Ever since this mess started she's kept to herself, her and her people that weren't in Port Natalia. It's something Kraken wished to ask, but Her Majesty Alipheese was already gone when it came to her."
"No. It is weird, she would at least give a report to Alice, but nothing." Tamamo said.
"Well, could you request that Her Majesty and her Vice Commander look into it then?" Poseidoness asked.
"Sure, but it probably won't be right away." Tamamo said. "Alice is away from the Headquarters at the moment and we will probably beat her back to Grangold."
"Now, will you align with us when the time comes?" Erubetie asked.
"Of course. I never liked Forbesii." Poseidoness said. "Let this Vice Commander know that I will support him and Lady Alipheese."
"Thank you." Erubetie nodded.
"We'll see ourselves out." Tamamo said.
"Please do, I must prepare." Poseidoness said.
Tamamo and Erubetie left the shrine to inform Kenshin of the good news.
Speaking of Kenshin. The Vice Commander was currently sleeping in the inn, telling Lord Grangold that he felt the inn was more homely, but like a relatively short time ago. He was having another strange dream.
(flashback)
Kenshin found himself standing outside of a locked room. "Mother, Mother! I'm so sorry! Please let me out!" A girl's voice pleaded.
"?" Kenshin turned his head finding a mature looking lamia wearing similar garbs as Alice except her chest was bigger and the skirt was longer. She also wore two large golden eye plates on said skirt and and veil over her much larger horns. The plant in her hair also extended to roughly her mid back. Her gloves also had red eye insignias on them and she wore a red eye necklace around her neck, or was it a jewel affixed to her body. Kenshin didn't know. It was the same with the Alice he knew.
"..." Kenshin stared at the room. "This room is layered with several powerful barrier magics. It would take a lot of force to tear it open."
Just wait here for awhile and behave yourself. You won't be able to destroy the barriers with your powers." The mature lamia said.
"..." Kenshin stared at her.
"Alice...you must live." She said.
"...Is this...a memory?" Kenshin wondered. "Then...could this be Alipheese the Fifteenth?" He asked.
She gave one last look to the door before hurrying away. "He'll be here soon." She said.
Kenshin followed after her. He soon found out that he was in a large mansion, eastern in décor and build. As the lamia proceeds through. She finds herself cut off by a single nine tailed kitsune.
"Tamamo?" Kenshin said seeing his kitsune Queen and companion.
"Stand aside Tamamo." The lamia said.
"I cannot, Alipheese the Fifteenth." Tamamo denied.
"I must meet with him." Alice XV insisted.
"He comes to take your life! Do you not realize that? !" Tamamo shouts.
"That is precisely why I must meet with them. Have you lost faith in your Queen's power?" Alice XV said with a disarming smile.
"There is no one equal to you, not since Shin Tatsu left to become Ryuujin those few short years ago." Tamamo said shaking her head. "But...if the Demon Queen was intending to offer up her own life as a sacrifice, that is an entirely different matter!"
Alice XV sighed then smiled. "I would expect nothing less from a friend that as watched over me since I was young, you've seen right through me."
"!" Kenshin glanced at Alice XV in surprise.
"That's why I won't let you pass, trying to appease him, and his thirst for vengeance with your own life is madness!" Tamamo protested.
"Tamamo, look into my eyes." Alice XV said. "Do I look like someone walking toward their demise?"
"But-!" Tamamo was cut off.
"Eyes of Sleep!" Alice XV said, her eyes flashing momentarily.
"...Da...Damn...it...No...you can't...!" Tamamo said as she collapsed in a deep sleep.
Alice XV smiled forlornly. "Please, you have to live for the sake of the future...and please support my daughter, please...protect her. She will need your guidance after losing her mother at such a young age."
"..." Kenshin watched this with a somber look.
"Sorry, but I won't be coming back this time..." Kenshin recalled his father's last words before his first death in Kyoto and their hidden meaning. "So...I leave everything to you."
Tears shimmered in his eyes that he blinked away. He noticed Alice XV moving forward and followed after her. He found himself in the mansion's garden. Soon a young man came up to him, wearing a black shirt and tan combat pants. "!" Kenshin's eyes widened as he immediately recognized this person. "The silver hair, the skin complexion, the eyes...Forbesii!"
"Hello Forbesii-kun." Alice XV said with a casual smile.
"Alipheese." Forbesii said. "So you dragged this to your husband's mansion. To Shin Tatsu-Shishou's mansion..." He drawled impassively.
"Rashoumen is not the place this needs to happen." Alice XV said losing her smile. "I know why you're here."
"And if you know why, then you know what's going to happen next." Forbesii said.
"I don't believe Shin Tatsu did it, why can't you see that? He loved you like his own son." Alice XV said.
"He was standing in the destruction, his sword in hand! WHAT OTHER EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED? ! !" Forbesii shouts.
"? !" Kenshin, having never heard Forbesii raise his voice before was surprised to hear the shout.
"He also reactivated the Homunculus Project and had the scientists create the homunculi you had programmed into your core when you were first created so you wouldn't feel so lonely. Why would he destroy that? Why would he destroy the family he gave you?" Alice XV asked. "Add into the fact that he lost his sister pretty close to that time. Why would he hurt the only other family other than myself that he had left?"
"Enough..." Forbesii growled. "Lets just finish this!"
Kenshin watched the two fight, unable to do anything to stop them, being a mere ghost to them. The fight ended with Forbesii standing over Alice XV who laid in a pool of her own blood. "That's it...it's over..." He said.
"...Please...Forbesii..." Alice XV gasped out. "Don't...make Makai...suffer...for something you feel...Shin Tatsu did..." She pleaded.
"..." Forbesii pulled his sword away and left the garden.
"..." Kenshin turned back to Alice XV to find her staring at the sky. Suddenly a figure approached her, a male figure. "...Shin?" Kenshin said with a curious gaze.
Alice XV's eyes glanced toward him. She smiled tiredly. "Aah...Tatsu...my love..." She said. "Still looking for dear Iris-Chan are you?"
"..." Shin Tatsu gazed at her pensively. "I followed the natural scents you two share from being in contact for so long, and the scent of blood."
"Ah...I see...are you disappointed that she is not here? I know you are, our scents are still the same after all." Alice XV said with a morose smile.
"...I knew it was you, and only you." Shin Tatsu said. "My only regret is that I arrived too late..."
"...It's OK, I don't blame you for it." Alice XV said, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes. "In fact...I am happy that my last sight in this life will be the man whom I will always love." She said.
"..." Shin Tatsu went silent as Alice XV sighed out her final breath. He turned around, but his head bowed. "Khh...!" His teeth gritted against each other, a look of anguish on his face as he vanished.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes solemnly. He then heard a fast paced slithering rushing toward him. "!" He turned to see a much younger lamia, that greatly resembled Alice.
"Mother...?" She said with wide eyes.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes solemnly.
"Mommy...Mom...wake up..." She said shaking her mother's shoulder.
"..." Seeing this reminded Kenshin of when he was six. When Hottan still had possession of his mother's body...how he nearly killed his father with it, and how he and Yukari found them as he closed his eyes.
"Mommy, please...wake up! Please!" The younger Alice cried out.
(clench)
"Let it out. " Tamamo said holding her from behind. "It's OK...I'm here, you're safe."
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh! !" The younger Alice let out a long, mourning wail to the heavens.
(flashback end)
"!" Kenshin's eyes snapped open. He noticed that while he was asleep Tiamat had wandered into his room and was sitting on the floor, in a meditative pose. "Nngh..."
"Everything alright?" Tiamat asked cracking an eye open.
"Yeah...why are you here? It's still not a very good idea for you to be here." Kenshin said.
"I felt your mana spiking, I thought something might be happening to you." Tiamat said.
"No...I just had a strange dream..." Kenshin grunted.
"Is that right?" Tiamat asked.
"Hey, Tiamat...do you ever have weird dreams...that seem to be like the past...but at the same time have nothing to do with you?" Kenshin asked.
"From time to time." Tiamat nodded. "Dragons at times...tend to have prophetic dreams about those close to them. This can apply to both the past and the future and it can also be important or mundane. Case in point the Oppai Dragon could soon have a dream about what pair of breasts he might grab next."
"But my sisters are dragons...half anyway like me. They never seem to have them." Kenshin said.
"They probably don't have very important ones." Tiamat said.
"I see." Kenshin said getting out of bed and walking toward the nearby desk.
"What are you doing?" Tiamat asked.
"I can't sleep after what I just saw, I'm going to thumb through my master's journal for a bit." Kenshin said.
"I see, well as long as you are well, I'll take my leave." Tiamat said, teleporting away.
Kenshin placed Shin Tatsu's journal on the table and opened it. "Alright Shin Tatsu...let's see if what Azazel thinks about you holds true..." Kenshin muttered.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Man I really let this one take awhile.
Kenshin: Well you were trying to flesh out other characters while advance a subplot.
Alice: Such things can be difficult at times.
Draconis: I guess. Anyway there is a footnote. Also and edit note. I wrote Irina as part of Yukari's group, then proceeded to write her into the Murasaki village recapture, this has been changed to reflect Irina being apart of Bureijin's group. Goofed...dun goofed I tells ya.
( 1) Looking back at how I've written Hikari to this point. I've reached an impasse on who to pair her with, if anyone. Azazel having hundreds of harems makes me think she would be turned away romantically by that, having only really loved one man. I might still pair the two in some context, but for now she's in the undecided list.
Undecided: Evangeline(leaning Kenshin), Granberia, Hikari(Leaning Azazel)
Draconis678 out