Draconis: Alright, let them out after I start the chapter.
Yukari: You sure? (holding a banging door shut.)
Draconis No. 2: Yeah man this is gonna get violent. (Doing the same as Yukari.
Draconis: That's the point!
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 62
A Horrible Mistake.
Draconis: Begin!
Kenshin & Vali: Vali! !/Kenshin! !"
(start)
Previously.
"And...while I said I do not want to kill you, and that remains true, I still consider you a friend. You made my little sister cry." Kenshin said with a scowl. "I'm going to drag you back and you will apologize, even if I have to break every fucking bone in your body." He growled
"Let's see if you can do it." Vali said with a small smirk, eager to meet Kenshin's challenge.
"Fine!" Kenshin shouts. "You asked for this!" He took off at Vali
"I did, now shut up and fight!" Vali said taking off toward him.
Kenshin's Kuroi Jigoku met Vali's barrier and both of them uttered a single phrase.
"Balance...BREAK! !"
Kenshin growled as he cocked his fist, the elements surrounding it. "!" Vali's eyes widened under his helmet. "He's opening with that? !" He thought as he landed on the ground
"Four Elements Fist! Elemental Spica!" Kenshin shouts.
"Grh!" Vali powered up his barrier as Kenshin's fist collided against it. "Heh!"
"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"
The elements around Kenshin's fist weakened. "With the power I took from you, I can Divide the elements now, did you forget?" Vali asked.
"Not at all! Divide this then! Ninefold Rakshasa!" Kenshin shouts.
"Grh!" Vali grunted as his armor was damaged in several places. Vali kicked at Kenshin's head. Kenshin defended, casting away Kuroi Jigoku into it's seal. He stabbed his hands toward Vali's chest one after the other, both were blocked, but he interlocked his fingers with Vali's on one hand and made a handsign. He pulled Vali in and kneed him in the chest before knocking him back, using his hand to make a second handsign before jumping back.
"Hyomenka Suimon: Water Dragon Bullets! !" Kenshin shouts, spitting out large spheres of water shaped like dragon heads that screamed toward Vali.
"Tch!" Vali jumped back as they all missed him, but created large craters in the earth. "!" Vali's eyes widened as Kuroi Jigoku stabbed into the ground in front of him connected to a black strand. He looked up and saw Kenshin coming in hot, his leg pointed out to kick him in the face. Vali grabbed Kenshin by the ankle and swung him overhead slamming him into the ground.
"Guah? !" Kenshin gasped in pain.
Vali leaped over the top of him and punched at Kenshin's throat. "Grh!" Vali grunted as Kenshin caught his fist and held him back. Kenshin redirected his fist and drove his elbow into Vali's right temple, knocking him off of him.
Vali turned and saw he was now being pursued by two Kenshin's. He blocked and diverted each of their attacks, successfully attacking them both. Both Kenshins jumped back, but Vali held his hands out to both of them.
"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"
"Guh!" Kenshin fell to his knee while his clone dispelled. Vali walked up to him and lifted his head up before decking him in the side of the face. Kenshin struggled against his fist and glared. "Did you forget the power I took?"
"? !" Vali's eyes widened as the Boosted Gear appeared on Kenshin's left arm.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"Transfer it to what was lost!" Kenshin said.
"Transfer!"
Kenshin raised his fist and punched Vali in the stomach, making him double over. "Your Divine Dividing's power, even with the elements inside you, mean nothing to me!" Kenshin said grabbed Vali by the face and throwing him away. He moved in hot pursuit of the Hakuryuukou. "Did you know it took sacrificing my own damn life to kill Rizevim? !"
"Grh!" Vali caught his bearings and fired a large ball of demonic energy at Kenshin.
"Krh! Yume Shouheki!" Kenshin intoned, his eye barrier flaring to life.
"Tell me Kenshin! What would you know about how it feels to have your own family reject you? !" Vali asked. "You were loved by your family, I only had one person, my mother! !"
"Grh!" Kenshin growled.
"That bastard! My grandfather took that one person I cared about away from me! Then you took the kill that was mine! !" Vali roared.
"Haa!" Kenshin roared as he finally canceled out the blast, however when the dust settled, his eyes widened in shock.
Vali's Scale Mail had changed from white to silver. "You're finished." Vali said. "Compression Divider!"
"! !" Kenshin felt the space around him shrinking. "Ghh!"
"Hmhmhmhm...this is the same attack that erased the Ultimate Class Reaper Pluto if you recall." Vali said.
"Bastard...graah!" Kenshin felt himself getting smaller.
"It won't be long now..." Vali said.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"That won't work." Vali said.
"Guah!" Kenshin felt his body being crushed. "That's...what you...think! Transfer it!"
"Transfer!"
"Uuuuuooooohhhhh! !" Kenshin roared as he crossed his arms.
"? !" Vali's eyes widened underneath his helmet as Kenshin started getting bigger. "What is he doing...?"
"It's a shame that I saw this attack! For you anyway!" Kenshin shouts as he continued to pump out power.
"Grh!" Vali growled, holding his hands out to pump power into the attack.
"Grh!" Kenshin grunted. "You think...you can crush me...SO EASILY? ! !"
"!" Vali gasped seeing his Compression Divider continue to get pushed back.
"My Touki and my power of the elements...aren't something you can compress away!" Kenshin smirked. "Haa! !" Kenshin roared.
"!" Vali's armor returned to it's white hue.
"Haa..haa..." Kenshin panted. "!" He sensed Vali behind him, but wasn't quick enough to avoided getting kicked in the head by the Hakuryuukou. Kenshin tumbled painfully across the ground. "!" He looked on seeing several orbs of blue-white demonic energy roaring toward him. "Tch!" Kenshin threw his arms out at the side sending several flaming spears at Vali's orbs, stabbing through them and forcing them to go off prematurely. Kenshin shielded his eyes from the light. However the dust settled to reveal Vali, surprisingly to him, charging at him as a white dragon. "Juggernaut Drive? !"
"I may have sealed away the past possessors, but with my own power I can still use this form." Vali said. "You now face the combined might of Albion and I!"
Kenshin jumped back as Vali's fist caved the earth in. "Tiamat!" Kenshin thought. "She's the only one who can help me in this situation!"
Back with everyone else Tiamat had a communication circle open up. "Huh? Who is this?"
"Tiamat, it's me Kenshin!" Kenshin shouts as he continued to dodge Vali's attacks. "I need you here!"
"? !" Yukari, Rias, Granberia, and Alma all turned to the Dragon Queen.
"What's going on? You've been able to take on the Hakuryuukou before." Tiamat said.
"He's used the Juggernaut Dri- Fuck!" He shouts as he narrowly avoids getting his arm bitten off.
"The Juggernaut Drive? !" Rias said, recalling how Kenshin had fared before when Issei used his out of anger.
"I see. But Kenshin you should kno-" Tiamat was cut off.
"Don't give me that his Dragon rank is higher than yours crap. It's Vali using Albion's body, if I don't get at least some balance in this fight I'm screwed! The size of his body means the size of the amount of power he can divide away from me is bigger too!" Kenshin said as he flew backward, Vali in hot pursuit.
"Alright, I'm on my way." Tiamat said.
"The Juggernaut Drive...he's serious about this..." Yukari said turning toward Miyuki.
Kenshin landed on the ground as a large teleportation circle appeared underneath him. "!" Vali growled and swiped his claws at Kenshin.
(thwack!)
His arm was knocked back by Tiamat who appeared in her dragon form. She let out a roar as Kenshin jumped on her head. "Now the scales are a little more even!"
"Tiamat..." Albion said. "Vali, while I don't quite agree with your ambition to this end, this fight is going to get a whole lot tougher."
"Partner, the armor!" Yuurei said.
"Right!" Kenshin said.
The Tenrai Sesshou Yuurei fitted itself over Tiamat. "What's this?" Tiamat asked.
"It's the armor I'd usually clad over my Juggernaut Drive dragon body, but that dragon is permanently out of commission." Kenshin said. "It will allow any move you want to make. So use it."
"Very well, you have my thanks." Tiamat said. Vali tackled himself into Tiamat's body, flying toward a solid stalagmite. "Not likely!" Tiamat said turning them around and using Vali's momentum against him.
"Guoh!" Vali groaned out. "Grrh!" He extended his head forward and bit at Tiamat's neck. Kenshin jumped off of Tiamat and flew downward
"Katensho!" Kenshin shouts slashing Kuroi Jigoku downward.
"Grhh!" Vali growled as the attack laid into him. "Get back here!"
Tiamat grabbed Kenshin and flew back letting Vali up. "Try not to make a habit out of that." She said.
"I'll try not to, but when I see an opening I can exploit I'll try to let you know." Kenshin said. "We aren't connected like my dragon body and I were."
"Got it." Tiamat said.
Vali flew in at them. "Kenshin, Dragon King Tiamat, do you really think you can defeat a Heavenly Dragon?"
"We'll just have to find out, won't we? ! Tiamat now!" Kenshin said.
"Right!" Tiamat said exhaling a breath attack right at Vali.
"Gh!" Vali shielded himself and cut through it. "Norse Lightning!"
"Guh!" Tiamat grunted as the lightning crackled up and down her body. "You arrogant hatchling!" She said punching right at Vali as he landed.
"Haa!" Vali roared, mirroring her pose.
The force expelled from their punch alone tore the earth beneath them. Kenshin pulled back as did Vali, the two stared in each other's eyes. Kenshin felt a vision wash over him, as did Vali. Kenshin found himself following a running child that resembled Vali. He looked back and saw the home the Lucifers were secluded to, in flames. "Is this...?"
Vali meanwhile was in a metropolis, he saw a young red haired boy running away from an mob of angry humans. "Is this...?"
Time sped forward for them both. Kenshin saw the child he was following lying in the dirt, a dead look in his eyes. "Those eyes."
Vali saw the red haired boy he was following laying in a pool of his own blood in the human metropolis. His arms and legs cut off, and slowly growing back. The same dead look in his eyes. "..." Vali looked down at him. "The same eyes..."
"The eyes of someone who has nothing." Kenshin and Vali said.
On the outside, both Kenshin and Vali let out twin roars as they battled all over the plain, tearing the earth beneath them. "Kenshin calm yourself, you're getting worked up." Tiamat said as she tried to keep up with the Dragon of the Elements.
"Take to the skies!" Kenshin shouts.
"Wha?" Tiamat said.
"Take to the skies! !" Kenshin repeated.
"? !" Tiamat turned to find more lightning roaring toward her. She did as Kenshin ordered and twisted and spun herself out of the way of more arcs of blue lightning. "What now?"
"I'm going to give you some of my power, don't bother with a breath attack. I assume you know how to use magic internally." Kenshin said placing his Boosted Gear hand on Tiamat's scales. "Element Transfer: Wind, Earth!"
"You're right." Tiamat said as she felt herself speed up. She flew down at Vali and crashed into him, however Vali was able to catch her, holding one of her wrists.
"Infuse the elements I gave you into your other hand!" Kenshin said.
"Right!" Tiamat said cocking her fist back.
"Dragon Flash Bullet Fist!" Kenshin shouts.
"Guah!" Vali growled as the fist laid into his cheek knocking him back. He crossed his arms and defended against another breath attack before taking hold of both her wrists.
"Gh..." Tiamat grunted.
"What's wrong Kenshin? How much longer are you going to play at this defensive retaliation?" Vali asked.
Tiamat grabbed his tail as Vali started flying away and slammed him into the ground. She opened her mouth and focused another breath attack to be fired at point blank. However Vali slammed his palms into her chest, a powerful amount of Norse lightning blasting through her. "Guah!" Tiamat gasped in pain.
Vali knocked her off him and took the skies. Tiamat and Kenshin turned toward him. "If you don't fight to kill me, you're going to die." Vali said. "Don't insult me with a subpar fight."
"I told you already, I'm not going to kill you." Kenshin said glaring hard at Vali. "I'm not letting you off easy! You will apologize to Miyuki, and you will not go into solitude intentionally! Because I know what it's like...and I can't let that happen!" Kenshin extended his hands outward, two lances appearing next to him.
"Hn?" Tiamat said.
"Grab them and fly!" Kenshin ordered. Tiamat nodded and flew at Vali, lances in hand.
Vali closed his eyes and focused a massive ball of demonic energy out in front of him. "Come!" He said flying at Kenshin.
"Destruction Lancer!" Kenshin shouts.
"White Dragon Lucifer's Light!" Vali shouts.
(boom!)
"? !" Yukari, Rias, Granberia and Alma all looked out toward the south seeing the massive explosion.
"Will you shut up already?" Vali asked as he and Kenshin found themselves standing in front of each other.
"..." Kenshin stared at him.
"Truth be told." Vali said walking to his side. "What I did to Miyuki...I'm going to regret forever."
"Then why do it?" Kenshin asked.
"Because, it's not like I'll ever be there." Vali said. "Regardless of whether or not both of us make it out of this fight, or even if this fight ever happened at all. I will continue wandering the world, whether it was with or without my team."
"All she wanted to do was to give you a home to come back to." Kenshin said pointing at him. "Even I had that."
"I know that much, but now that this has happened. It was going to hurt her either way." Vali said. "It's easier to just be the villain than to defend wanting to kill you to her."
"The thing she's feeling for you was the same feeling I had for another person." Kenshin said. "She just felt like she had to help you...just like I felt like I had to help Negi."
"So you're saying she loved me?" Vali asked.
"I think she was falling for you...she never knew much love as a child." Kenshin said closing his eyes, shaking his head. "So...when it was given to her after I beat Hottan and freed my mother. It was easy for her to get used to, a pleasant feeling like that."
"What's that got to do with me?" Vali asked.
"The other side of that is...she falls in love quickly." Kenshin said. "It was the same with a canine youkai we met in Wales named Kotarou, it was the same with me after our father passed. Now it's the same with you."
"..." Vali went silent.
"I don't think it's a bad problem to have, but...it makes it easy to have her heart broken." Kenshin said.
"..." Vali let out a sigh. "So then, what about you? Why are you so hellbent on beating me to make sure I don't walk into solitude?"
"Because I'm returning the favor to a friend. You helped me before, now I'm doing the same." Kenshin said.
"And what does a friend mean to you?" Vali asked.
"Hmn." Kenshin went into thought. "You'll just have to beat it out of me."
Kenshin and Vali found themselves back on the battlefield and backed away. "Kenshin, this armor's got a lot of damage clocked on it." Tiamat said.
"Tell her I'm on it." Yuurei said.
"Oh, there we go." Tiamat said as the armor restored.
Kenshin looked around. Parts of the ground were on fire, the crater underneath them was filling with water and the wind whipped around them. He looked up at Vali.
"That's not nearly enough to defeat me Kenshin." Vali said.
"Hn..." Kenshin grunted. "You talk as if I'm finished."
"You might not be, but I am." Vali said as the White Dragon began to glow brightly.
"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"
"His Sacred Gear? What's he dividing?" Tiamat asked.
"!...!" Kenshin looked outward to see the fires dying out, the water level lowering in the crater. Wind and earth dust whipping around and toward Vali. "No..." He said banefully
"I'm already the strongest user of Divine Dividing." Vali said. "So, while I have the power of the Elements, why don't I become the strongest Dragon of the Elements while I'm at it?"
"Khhh...!" Kenshin growled.
"Unbelievable..." Undine said. "He's actually using pure elemental magic like that."
"He took my power in Mundus Magicus." Kenshin thought.
"But still we've been blocking him since this fight started." Salamander said.
"He still has your power in his body, he can divide the elements around us and add it to his own power." Kenshin thought. "!" Vali disappeared from Kenshin's sight. "Tiamat to the right!" He shouts.
"? !" Tiamat turned to the right only to get knocked to the ground. "Guah!"
Kenshin glared up at Vali. "You want my power now? ! You want what I have? ! Have a taste then!" He threw his hands out.
"..." Vali looked around as he was encompassed in a sphere of flaming spears.
"Sensatsu Katensou! Hunter's Moon!" Kenshin shouts crossing his arms.
"..." Vali watched as every single one of the spears shot toward him, detonating once they all stabbed into him. When the dust settled he was relatively unharmed and saw Tiamat and Kenshin charging right at him.
"Urrrouuughh! !" Tiamat roared both her arms brought back, hands clenched into fists. Vali saw Kenshin charging his elemental magic into Tiamat to empower her. Both of Tiamat's fists shot forward and collided against Vali's chest and face. Vali was unfazed and knocked away Tiamat.
"Hm?" Vali said seeing Kenshin charging right at him alone, twin collections of the elements swirling around his left and right.
"Twin Elemental Cataclysm!" Kenshin roared throwing both of them, one after the other.
"Hmph." Vali said batting the two attacks harmlessly away from him.
"Grrhh!" Kenshin growled and cocked his fist back flying right at Vali's throat. "Four Elements Fist! Elemental Spica!"
"..." Vali was still unfazed and reached for Kenshin.
Kenshin backflipped over Vali's hand and shot back down at his chest. Kuroi Jigoku slashing outward. Devastating Gale! Flash Kill!"
"Grh!" Vali growled and reached for Kenshin again, this time the Dragon of the Elements slid underneath his grip and uncased his wings, jumping before flying right at him. "Ninefold Rakshasa!"
"You pest!" Vali shouts.
"Heh!" Kenshin smirked as flames coated Kuroi Jigoku from the start of his attack. On the final slash of Ninefold Rakshasa, he let his momentum carry him and went into the Heavenly Demon Revival, using it to cast the Dragonic Asura.
"Haa..haa..haa..." Kenshin panted. "!" He didn't have time to react as Vali's hand grabbed him.
Vali emerged from the smoke unharmed. "Those attacks were mere annoyances. Now you're mine."
"...Heh...So you think." Kenshin smirked as his body glew.
"!" Vali threw the Clone Kenshin into the sky as he exploded.
Tiamat at this point had gotten back up and was charging him from underneath. She drove Vali skyward. Tiamat drove her fist into Vali's head knocking him to the side and flew back.
"That was an interesting ploy, attacking me with a clone infused with all your power, if only you had more power." Vali said. "You can't defeat me now Kenshin."
"Tch." Kenshin growled.
"Now, this is the end!" Vali said raising his hand, the elements condensing above it in a blue-white light before condensing around his hand.
"Kenshin, what do we do?" Tiamat asked.
"Wait for my signal. I noticed it while he was attacking, he's having quite a bit of trouble controlling the elements in his body, it's only because of Divine Dividing and the fact that he claimed my powers previously that he can even take them in, they're only making him stronger." Kenshin said as the Boosted Gear activated. "When I give the signal pool as much power as you can in front of us."
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"Transfer it to my Touki!" Kenshin thought.
"Transfer!"
"Grrrhhh! !" Kenshin growled as the strength of his Touki increased exponentially.
"!" Vali watched this go down. "His Touki just skyrocketed...the Boosted Gear." He growled.
"Let's do this, Tiamat!" Kenshin shouted, throwing his hands forward pooling his elemental powers and his Touki out in front.
"Right!" Tiamat shouts doing the same with her own power.
"So, you've decided to cut your losses with me?" Vali said with what Kenshin could only assume was a smirk.
"You know Vali. We've changed drastically, from those two lonely boys we used to be." Kenshin said. "And it's shocking...how easily our paths could have been reversed."
"..." Vali stared at him.
"When I found out about you, and saw how strong you were. I made it a goal to beat you straight up in a fight where both of us were fresh." Kenshin said.
"Then come! Let's end this!" Vali shouts.
"As you wish! !" Kenshin shouts. "Seeing as it's my touki, Tiamat's power and the elements, it should be strong enough to do damage to him." He thought.
"Supreme Spear, Carnwennan!(1 )" Vali said punching forward, a white spear flying out of his fist.
"Sextuple Omega! !" Kenshin roared countering with the orb of power he had amassed.
Tiamat, Kenshin, and Vali were all obscured in a brilliant, devastating storm of power and elemental magic.
"!" Yukari, Rias, Granberia and Alma all saw it clearly from their vantage points.
"Unngh...What happened?" Issei said as he sat up. He looked out toward the storm. "Whoa? ! What the hell's going on over there? !"
Yukari and Rias saw everyone other than Miyuki getting up. "A deathmatch." Yukari said.
"Between who?" Alice asked.
"Kenshin and Vali." Rias said.
"Excuse me? ! Just how many of the people he brought here are currently scheming to kill him? !" Alice asked.
"Just Rasai and him!" Yukari snapped.
"I'm not even trying anymore!" Rasai snapped.
"Then was Vali the one who incapacitated us-nya?" Kuroka asked.
"Yes." Rias said.
"How did he get us?" Grayfia wondered with Serafall and Alice nodding.
"I would guess that because you weren't expecting it, the Serene Conqueror was able to incapacitate you because your guards were down. Your guard has to be fully up for it not to affect you." Yukari said. "People with the elements were unaffected, though I'm not sure how Rias was unaffected."
"So a sudden, intense burst can incapacitate even us without proper preparation." Grayfia said with a thoughtful look.
"It was weird, I was awake then I wasn't." Serafall said with a curious look.
"Hrmn..." Alice glowered.
"So why aren't we going over there?" Issei asked.
"Kenshin summoned Tiamat over to him, because Vali was using the Juggernaut Drive." Yukari said.
"So...does anyone wanna fill us in on just why Vali is trying to murder Kenshin?" Bureijin asked.
"Well..."
(break)
Back with Kenshin and Vali.
Kenshin and Vali were laying on the ground, the latter having dropped out of the Juggernaut Drive. Kenshin glanced over and saw Tiamat, back in her human form, her body showing heavy damage, but she was still breathing. Kenshin got up and walked over to her. "Are you OK?" He asked.
"I'll...live..." Tiamat said. "That was too much...I'm afraid I'm going to have to tap out."
"Of course, thank you for your service Tiamat, I owe you one big time." Kenshin said, using his magic to send her away.
"!" Everyone gasped as Tiamat appeared in front of them.
"Tiamat!" Yukari said.
"Hang on!" Asia said running up to her and beginning to heal her.
"Ghh..." Tiamat groaned.
"How is Kenshin doing?" Rias asked.
"He's alright, the spirit and I shielded him from most of the damage, but he still took his licks." Tiamat said. "Vali is also no longer in the Juggernaut Drive."
Back with Kenshin and Vali. The former turned to find the latter on his feet. The white Scale Mail he was wearing was in pieces, just the shoulders, arm and shinguards remained. "Partner, my power is tapped. I won't be able to assist anymore in this battle."
"That's fine. I doubt he's got enough power left for another Compression Divider or a Juggernaut Drive." Kenshin thought.
"Norse Lightning!" Vali shouts
"!" Kenshin crossed his arms before batting the lightning away.
"Tch...I need more than this, I need to divide the elements again." Vali thought.
"Vali sto-!" Albion tried to warn.
"Nngh! !" Vali grunted grabbing his chest. "No...I've used too much of my mana, I can't bend them to my will now!" "!" His eyes widened as he saw Kenshin leaping above him, slashing downward. "Heavenly Demon Revi-? !" Vali was stunned when Kenshin vanished from his view and Kuroi Jigoku's hilt was driven into his chest, driving the wind out of him. Kenshin took his side and thrust his palm into Vali's side, sending him tumbling across the ground. Vali got to his feet and turned, swinging his arm into Kenshin's left temple and kicked him in the stomach.
Kenshin caught his bearings and gathered the elements around his fist. "Huuaaahh! !" Kenshin charged Vali, but Vali leaped over him and punched Kenshin in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. Vali kicked Kenshin onto his back and got over the top of him, punching him in the face over and over again until he couldn't lift his arms anymore.
"Haa..haa..haa..." Vali panted. "Stay...the..hell...DOWN!" He shouts punching Kenshin one more time.
"You fuckin' wish! !" Kenshin shouts grabbing Vali by the face and them punching him in the stomach, knocking him off. Kenshin got up and drove his knee into Vali's face, knocking him away. "...haa...haa..haa..."
"What...the hell keeps him going? !" Vali thought.
Kenshin spit out blood and raised his fists. "As long as I don't give you a chance to divide my power...this fight is mine to win."
"That's what you thin-? !" Vali was cut off.
(Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!)
"Hn?" Kenshin glanced over and saw a figure at the outer rim of the crater.
"Bravo you too, you played your parts wonderfully, but now is where it ends."
"! ! !" Vali's eyes widened in anger as he instantly recognized the voice.
"...So..." Kenshin growled. "Not even for sacrificing myself...was I able to kill you, Rizevim."
Sure enough Rizevim Rivan Lucifer walked down the crater to greet them. "Of course not, we Super Devils are made out of sterner shit. Though having a couple of Phoenix Tears on hand does improve survival rates."
"So what are you doing here? I was under the impression that you and Forbesii were fuck buddies. You being here means that Forbesii lied to Vali to set him against me." Kenshin said.
"..." Vali's head bowed forward. "...I've made...a horrible mistake..." He thought.
"Well, Forbesii and I have had a falling out. He wouldn't give up the booty anymore as it were." Rizevim joked coyly.
"Shame, you two would have gone so well together, you're both pieces of shit." Kenshin said.
"Oh ho! Is that how you want to be talking to the man that's about to kill you...again!" Rizevim said with a smirk.
"What part of sacrificing myself don't you get?" Kenshin asked. "You didn't kill shit."
"Allow me to rectify that, after all...you've overused your power. Those little animist sluts can't save you this time." Rizevim smirked.
"Krh." Kenshin growled.
"You...WON'T DO A DAMN THING! ! !" Vali roared taking off in a blind rage at Rizevim.
"VALI STOP! !" Kenshin shouts in vain.
"Hmn." Rizevim raised his barrier as Vali's fist collided against it. "I don't need the Canceler for this, he's no threat." He thought.
"How much are you going to take from me before you're satisfied? !" Vali yelled.
"Are you still in a tizzy over getting separated from Mommy?" Rizevim said punching through his own barrier.
"Guoh? !" Vali doubled over, spitting up blood, Rizevim grabbed Vali by the scruff of his shirt.
"Vali!" Kenshin shouts taking Rizevim's back and cocking his fist back with the elements surrounding it. Rizevim reached out and caught Kenshin's fist, before kicking his leg back, nailing Kenshin in the stomach. "Guah!" Kenshin spat up blood. Rizevim grabbed Kenshin by the throat.
"I'll get back to you Kenshin." Rizevim said turning back to Vali. "So tell me, my darling, worthless grandson, what did I rip from you this time? Was it a dear friend...a valued compatriot...or...maybe even someone you held attraction to..."
"Krhh..." Vali growled, gripping Rizevim's wrist.
"I really hope it's that last one...because that would just be precious...a filthy half blood like you, muddying up your blood even more by copulating with one of the lesser devil families...or even one of these ignoble youkai." Rizevim said with a smirk.
"Bastard...!" Kenshin choked out. "Kuah!" He gasped out as Rizevim gripped his throat tighter.
"You hang there in agony and wait your turn Neo Ragnarok!" Rizevim shouts.
"You...leave them...out of this...!" Vali growled.
"Oh! So it IS someone! Gyahahahaha! ! How adorable! So tell me! What's their names? ! I'll be sure to keep you alive long enough to kill them in front of you." Rizevim laughed.
"Fuck...you!" Vali seethed.
"You...aren't killing...anyone!" Kenshin said calling Kuroi Jigoku to his hand and slashing it at Rizevim's torso. "Zero Kyori Katensho!"
"Guah!" Rizevim gasped in pain, forcing him to release Kenshin and Vali. Vali leaped over, grabbed Kenshin and leaped away.
"Good thinking." Vali said.
"Yeah...(cough!) (cough!) But that only pissed him off." Kenshin said with a weary smirk.
"I know..." Vali said with a baneful glare as Rizevim emerged relatively unharmed. "Kenshin...I'm sorry..."
"Don't worry about it." Kenshin said. "I don't hold a grudge with most people who try to kill me. If I did, I couldn't have my own life. Miyuki's the one you need to apologize to."
"I know but I might have damaged my connection to her beyond repair." Vali said.
"Well still, even if she never has the interest she had in you again, you still need to at least say it." Kenshin said. "Then again...this conversation will all be for nothing if we don't get out of here alive."
"And you're not." Rizevim said with a smirk. "It's time for you both to die."
"Krh..." Vali growled.
"But, before I take you both to the proverbial pound town. I'd like to let my grandson there on a little secret."
"Hrn?" Vali scowled curiously at him.
"When you were banished from home by your father, who then proceeded to ignore your successful attempts to break in and see your mother...it wasn't an act of hatred, no...it was an act of compassion and love...huhuhuhu...how foolish he was...he was willing to send you away from my wrath, and take it on himself...if it meant the child he had with his beloved, but human wife was able to survive some how."
"Krrrh! !" Vali growled.
"I never let him show it, but that man loved you dearly." Rizevim said stroking his chin in amusement. "I'm sure he told his wife as much...though I was never able to get her...after I realized you were both gone...I cut my losses and killed him." Rizevim said.
"How despicable."
"Hm?" Rizevim said turning around to find Alice, Grayfia and Serafall. "Aaah, the Queen of Demons, the Leviathan and my traitorous former servant. How do you do?"
"Hmph...when we heard Kenshin had fought you of all people, Sirzechs and I could scarcely believe our ears." Grayfia said. "Yet here you are."
"Here I am." Rizevim said with a smirk. "Only because Sirzechs was too foolish not to hunt me down. Tell me, was being his loyal whore really worth it?"
"It's far better a life than serving a madman like you." Grayfia scoffed, scowling at Rizevim.
"Who is this?" Alice asked.
"This is Rizevim Rivan Lucifer. A member of the Lucifer clan in the Underworld. Same as Vali." Serafall answered. "He was cast from his family's status as a Satan after the War of the Three Factions."
"In the Underworld Civil War." Rizevim said. "Serafall, still as deceptively cute as you always were."
"I don't want to hear such things from you." Serafall scowled.
"Hmn." Rizevim glanced between the three. "A Satan, the wife of another Satan and the Queen of Demons. Even if I were a hundred percent, that would be a mite difficult. So I will be taking my leave."
"Wait, Forbesii said that Kenshin killed you, a lie to set Kenshin and Vali against one another." Alice said. "So what gives?"
"Forbesii and I had a falling out. So I felt like dicking him over before I went home." Rizevim said with a coy smirk. "He figured either these two would tire each other out so he could recover, or Vali would kill Kenshin, removing the only piece on the board that he believes can beat him. Yet Vali couldn't even do that...pathetic." He glanced back at Vali. "I'll see you soon."
"You aren't going anywhere! !" Vali said charging forward, just barely missing him as he attacked.
"Alice...I know you want to punish him." Kenshin said as he walked forward. "But...this was a personal matter between the two of us. Let it be that. He's got enough to worry about."
"..." Alice stared at him. "Well..."
"..." Vali looked up at the Demon Queen.
"Alright, here's what's going to happen." Alice said. "You." She points at Kenshin. "This Vali Lucifer here is your responsibility, if he steps out of line, it's on you...and you." She turned to Vali. "If you'll help us restore peace to Makai, I'm willing to forget this day ever happened. If you step out of line again, you will be placed under arrest and your fate will be left to my council after the war ends. Understood?"
"I understand what I've done would warrant a near capitol punishment, I'll clear my name." Vali nodded.
"Fine, I'm willing to accept those terms." Kenshin nodded.
"Very well...but something he said bothers me." Alice said.
"Rizevim?" Grayfia asked.
"Yes. He said part of the reason Forbesii set Kenshin and Vali here against one another was so that Forbesii could recover. What is that supposed to mean? The entire time we've been fighting him he's been able to regenerate even faster than Kenshin."
"..." Kenshin went into thought.
"Could it be that even a homunculus' regeneration has a limit?" Serafall asked.
"I don't know." Alice said. "Nonetheless...Kenshin when the time comes, I'm counting on you to take him down."
"Leave it to me." Kenshin said.
The group walked back to where the others were. Alice cleared her throat. "Alright, here's the decision I've made. We will inform the higher ups of his actions." She points at Vali. "However, it is to be a closely guarded secret at Kenshin's request."
Kenshin nodded toward his peerage who nodded back. "Alright." Issei said with Rias and the rest of her peerage doing the same.
"You've given us no reason to doubt you." Sona said.
"Thanks." Kenshin said. "Come on, let's go."
The group moved on except for Vali...and Miyuki. "..." Vali stared solemnly at her.
"So...Rizevim ended being alive anyway, didn't he?" Miyuki guessed.
"...Yes..." Vali said.
"..." Miyuki closed her eyes.
"Miyuki...I...I don't care if you never forgive me, but...I want you to know that I...I am sorry about this." Vali said bowing his head.
"..." Miyuki walked by him before stopping. "Vali...right now...I can barely stand to look at you. You might be sorry, but the fact remains that you still tried to kill my brother...despite my pleas..." She said with a shaky voice. "Part of me's glad you're still alive, but...another part of me...wouldn't have been upset if Kenshin had killed you...I know...we didn't spend much time together, but...I thought...I thought I meant more to you than this."
"..." Vali said nothing.
"Come on...I'm done talking to you." Miyuki said. (2 )
"..." Vali stared at her back. "This was the result to be expected after what's happened. I was even prepared for her to come after me herself, but...somehow this hurts more." He thought.
(break)
Days later.
Grangold.
"Lady Alipheese, how went the excursion?" Reina asked.
"It went fine, as you can see the Vice Commander is back among our ranks." Alice said.
"I see.." Reina said before sidestepping Kenshin and rubbing against Issei. "Hello..." She cooed.
"E-Eeh?" Issei said with a flabbergasted look.
"I'm more a fan of the...honest with themselves types...if you know what I mean." Reina said licking her lips.
"Holy crap the Harpy Queen's rubbing herself against me!" Issei thought.
"Mrrrnnnn!" Irina, Sextum, Asia, Sheena and Kuroka all glared at the Harpy Queen.
Kenshin shook his head at the Queen Harpy's antics. He felt Rias hugging his arm and smiled at her. "Hm?" He saw Yukari hugging his other arm and looked at her curiously.
"W-What?" Yukari whispered with a blush. "I...I wanted to try this for awhile..."
"Hmhmhm...don't worry about it." Kenshin said kissing her on the cheek.
"Hmm..." Yukari nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder.
"Mou, Kenshin-kun, what about me?" Akeno said hugging him from behind.
"Ey..." Koneko said hugging him from the front.
"Ehe...eeheheheheh..." Kenshin chuckled seeing a few other, envious eyes looking on.
The rest of the group left while Vali was left behind with the Grand Cardinals. "..." Vali stared at them.
"If you weren't Kenshin's friend we'd have already beaten the shit out of you." Inutora said.
"I hope you..." Jordan trailed off.
"Remember that." Akatama finished with a scowl.
"Hmph...I was able to hang with Kenshin at his best. I'm not worried about the likes of you." Vali said walking by Akatama before stopping. "However...I owe Kenshin a debt, you need not worry about what I will do."
"..." Inutora and Jordan went silent.
"Good." Akatama said. "Because Kenshin isn't the only male Dragon of the Elements around here." He said as the elements spiraled around him.
"Aah, so you're the last male Kuroshi youkai then. That's good, it would be a shame if Ragnarok's youkai line came to an end when Kenshin became a devil." Vali said as he walked by Akatama.
Kenshin ran into Azazel. "Kenshin, could I get a moment of your time?" Azazel asked. "It's about the research I've been doing with the stuff we raided from the lab."
"Sure." Kenshin said. They walked toward his room and sat down at the table. "OK, before I start, is there something going on with Vali and Miyuki? The latter seems to want nothing to do with the former now, they were spending a lot of time together before you left."
Kenshin let out a sigh and explained what happened. Azazel closed his eyes. "I see, to be honest Kenshin, I never bought that you killed Rizevim to start with. I remember him being stronger than that."
"I had my doubts too." Kenshin said. "But...a despicable piece of shit like him...I wanted to hope we were rid of him before he became a problem."
"Anyway." Azazel said handing him a folder. "I made a copy for you, so just follow along." He opened his folder. "Alright, what I learned so far is that homunculi are created by gathering the materials the body is made of and synthesizing them to make a body, but even then, the body is still a blank slate. So they would take out some DNA they gathered from a random person and add it in. However...there's no way to stabilize the body like that. There's internal organs, but no blood, you notice how when you slice one of their limbs off, it either grows back, they reattach it or it turns to dust?" Azazel asked.
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"That's where the core comes in." Azazel said holding up a sphere. "This is one I pulled from one of them. It's inert so it doesn't work anymore. It stabilizes the body and regulates the mana, if it's compromised the homunculus will soon perish."
"How? There's still no blood to make the organs function by ferry both mana and oxygen?" Kenshin asked.
"In this case, the homunculi only need the mana flow to be regulated, they don't need blood like we do." Azazel said.
"Ah.." Kenshin nodded. "...Wait, Hottan back in Mundus Magicus rammed a core into my Dad's corpse, how did that work?"
"Well it reanimated his body and treated it like a homunculus, the only difference was that he had blood, the only fatal blow that could be struck on him however was the destruction of the core which you did." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin went into thought.
"...I'm sorry Kenshin, but no." Azazel said shaking his head.
"?" Kenshin looked up at Azazel.
"You were thinking about asking me to manufacture cores when this is over...and taking them to put in the bodies of the Kuroshi and Tsuki clan members buried in Mundus Magicus." Azazel said. "You're not the only one that's thought of doing this." He slid a notebook over to Kenshin. "I found this with your master's journal."
"..." Kenshin took hold of it.
"The latest anyone ever tried to do it was five years after death...and that was with perfectly preserved remains." Azazel said. "Anything after that never worked."
"What about just making new bodies then? With their DNA?" Kenshin asked.
"Same problem I'm afraid, once they cross that threshold they're lost forever." Azazel said. "I'm sorry."
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. "Well...it was worth a shot at least."
"Poor guy..." Azazel thought. "He thought this might be a way to correct his mistake...and part of me wished it could be true, but...too much time has passed." He thought.
"Well Azazel thanks for this, maybe when this is over, we can get some people back on their feet if Alice wants." Kenshin said. "I'll be going now. You keep these." He slides the notebook and extra folder over to Azazel
"Yeah." Azazel said as Kenshin left.
Kenshin walked to where Alice was, who was conversing with the Grangold King. "What's up?"
"It's Goldport, supposedly the Gorgon's Eye has decided to give up." Lord Grangold said.
"...Huh, that was easy." Kenshin said. "...Too easy...could it be a trap?"
"No, I don't think so, they know when we come through, we're bringing the entire army with us. They can't trap that many of us." Alice said shaking her head. "However this comes with a catch."
"What?" Kenshin asked.
"The leader of the Gorgon's Eye wants you to meet with him personally." Lord Grangold said.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Wilheim wants to meet with me? The hell?" He thought.
"Kenshin-Sama!" Kenshin turned to find Ravel running up to him with a panicked look.
"Easy Ravel, what is it?" Kenshin asked.
"The...the...!" Ravel gasped for breath. "Haa!" She exhaled. "The Phoenix Tears we made, they're all gone!"
"What? !" Kenshin said before turning to Lord Grangold. "Have your men search the city, look for bodies or any sort of disturbance or just something that shouldn't be there! Tell them to enlist the help of our soldiers, that it's a direct order from the Vice Commander!"
"I'm on it." Lord Grangold said running down the hall to find the closest knight or Ant Demon.
"I'll go and spread the order, this is alarming that no one noticed this, yet the cure all's we had made are suddenly missing." Alice said as she left.
"(sniff) (sniff) I'm so sorry Kenshin-Sama, you trusted us with that job..." Ravel said wiping her eyes.
"Hey, relax Ravel, it's not your fault." Kenshin said with a comforting smile. "But if you don't mind, could you explain where it was you put them?"
"W-Well, Onii-Sama and I asked a couple of the soldiers to keep watch on our room while we were going to come see how things were going." Ravel explained. "But when we got back, the Tears weren't where we put them."
"Hm..." Kenshin opened up communications with Alice. "Alice."
"Yes?" Alice said.
"Have the men ask around for who kept watch on the Phenex siblings room. If they're still alive, have them brought to me, I want to question them."
"OK." Alice said. "You there-!" She said as she cut the connection.
"You did the right thing Ravel, these things just happen sometimes." Kenshin said. "Such is the unpredictability of war."
"OK..." Ravel said.
"OK, now I'm going to help look around. You just go wait in your room for me." Kenshin said leaning in and kissing her on the forehead.
Ravel's face lit up and she turned around so Kenshin couldn't see her blushing. "O-OK, I'll be waiting." Kenshin chuckled and the two went their separate ways, about ten minutes passed A communication circle opened up next to Kenshin's head.
It was Tamamo. "Kenshin, you're going to want to see this."
"I'm on the way." Kenshin said. He tracked down Tamamo's signature to find her in an alleyway with Irina, Issei and Asia. They were standing over a pair of dead bodies. "..."
"The guys all say these two were the ones asked to watch over Ravel and Raiser's room." Issei said.
"One fatal slash, quick, quiet, and efficient, judging by the lack of blood trailing behind them. I would venture to guess that they were teleported here after death." Kenshin said. One was slashed down his chest, while the other had his throat cut so he couldn't raise an alarm, but what I want to know...is how he got here without anyone noticing." Kenshin said.
"He?" Tamamo said.
"Both slashes, the flesh around them has been burnt. The only a handful of people I know of that can pull that off would be Yukari after activating the Katensho Seals on Kazeken and Ryuuga, and Granberia after wrapping her Ares in flames, but not only were both away, neither had a thing to gain from this. Azazel is a borderline pacifist and you, Irina were with us, or Issei's group rather. So that just leaves one person."
"You think these are holy burns?" Tamamo asked.
"I know they are, and I can prove it." Kenshin said. "Irina, hand me an orb of your angelic mana."
"...Um...OK?" Irina said doing as requested.
Kenshin took hold of it and immediately grunted in pain. "Grh!"
"O-Onii-Sama!" Asia said.
"I'm fine, it's just some topical burning." Kenshin said. He tossed the orb back to Irina who cast it off. "Now, compare."
"..." Tamamo looked at Kenshin's burnt hand, and the wounds on the two soldiers. "Hrm...How indeed."
"Who was it?" Irina asked.
"Forbesii." Kenshin said. "He must have slipped in, killed the two guards and slipped out, but still how the fuck did he know about the Phoenix Tears?"
"...He was in the Dimension Lost with us." Issei said. "Maybe he's done his research on certain devil families and what they can do?"
"He was also in league with the Khaos Brigade which has a black market stream of the stuff." Tamamo said.
"We need to move out soon." Kenshin said.
"Don't you think you should rest?" Issei asked.
"I'll have plenty of time to rest when this war's over." Kenshin said.
(break)
Days later.
Kenshin was walking through Gold Port, it was a quaint harbor town. It almost didn't even look like it was home to an organization that helped cause conflict. He walked toward an old run down building. Next to him was Alice, Rias, Akatama, as well as one of Kazumi's camera drones. "Kenshin." Alice said.
"What?" Kenshin said.
"Are you sure you want to do this right now? We only just got here, the army is still getting situated for the boat ride." Alice said.
"We need to finish this as soon as possible. We don't need anymore distractions." Kenshin said.
"..." Alice closes her eyes.
"...She can tell too." Rias thought. "Something's weighing on Kenshin's mind, but he's just not saying it. Yes, the Phoenix Tears are gone, but there's nothing that can be done about it."
Kenshin approached the building. "I have business with Wilheim Josef Von Hermann, where is he?"
"Who the fuck are you? Our leader doesn't have time for some pissant like you. Beat it." The guard standing at the front said
"That...pissant as you called him, is my Vice Commander, now move, or you will be moved." Alice said.
"T-The Demon Queen!" He said in fright.
"..." Kenshin reached forward and gripped him by the collar of his shirt. "Kuroshi RyuuTaisho's grandson has come to meet you, tell him that."
"!" Alice and Akatama both glanced at him.
"R...RyuuTaisho's...fine I'll tell him!" The guard said running inside the building. A few moments later he came back up. "He said to come to him. He's in the back."
Kenshin didn't respond and walked past. Alice, Rias, Akatama and Kazumi's drone followed. They found a older looking man with pale blue eyes wearing a fedora, trenchcoat and black combat pants. He turned toward them, his face showing a graying beard and short messy hair. "Aaah. Kenshin. I was wondering when you'd arrive."
"So you knew I was RyuuTaisho's grandson." Kenshin said.
"How could I not? We were friends for years." Wilheim said. "Since the old days as children."
"In any case, I haven't seen you since Negi beat the brakes off you." Kenshin said.
"Haha...well she was certainly talented, though I hear she's leaps and bounds stronger now." Wilheim said.
"She's dead." Kenshin grunted.
"Oh, well...my condolences." Wilheim said placing his hat over his heart.
"Funny...all I've heard about you here is that you were the head of this here terrorist organization, that took advantage of the recently ended gender fissure because it fed into your hatred against females." Kenshin said.
"Female youkai." Wilheim corrected. "I have no problem with human women."
"Not all female youkai are like Cassandra Nerenid." Kenshin said.
"Oh, you heard about that did you?" Wilheim asked.
"From both RyuuTaisho and Alice here." Kenshin said.
"?" Alice and Akatama glanced at him.
"Now that's interesting. RyuuTaisho died before your time." Wilheim said.
"I was able to commune with his spirit, but that's not how I learned." Kenshin said. "In that class of girls I taught with Negi, some of which you abducted, one such student name Chao Lingshen was mine and Negi's granddaughter." Kenshin said. "But...in that amount of time I had been alive to that point, me having a granddaughter would have been physically impossible...as she was around the same age as I was, but she was my granddaughter."
"Well then maybe she was lying to you." Wilheim said.
"No. She was from a full century in the future." Kenshin said.
"Hooo? So someone down your bloodline discovers time travel then. Then you inevitably get blown into the past yourself. Am I wrong?" Wilheim asked.
"You're not. That's exactly what happened." Kenshin said crossing his arms. "Both my sister Yukari and I were blown backwards forty years."
"? ! !" Alice and Akatama stared at Kenshin's back in shock.
"Souka, Souka..." Wilheim said. "So then...have you come for revenge then?"
"Revenge?" Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"For your family." Wilheim clarified.
On the other end of Kazumi's drone. Yukari, Miyuki, Hikari, Issei, Sextum and everyone else stared at the screen confused.
"What?" Wilheim said with his eyes narrowed curiously. "You don't know? Ah dammit...I thought for sure you'd come for payback."
"The hell do you mean? My family was banished by Forbesii and then killed in Mundus Magicus." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, that's the official story, but there's more to it than that." Wilheim said with his eyes closed. "You're just as foolish as he was."
"...What do you know?" Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"I know that I'm the one that actually committed the action that got your clans banished in the first place." Wilheim said with a smirk. "Under RyuuTaisho's guise of course."
"! !" These words slammed into Kenshin.
"You?" Alice said. "RyuuTaisho was your friend, why?"
"Because he betrayed my trust." Wilheim said.
"Kenshin?" Rias said looking up at him. His eyes were wide and his breaths were coming out shaking. Rias looked down and saw a cold sweat had developed on Kenshin's hands.
"Hey now Kenshin...don't look at me like that. Wouldn't you have done the same to someone who betrayed your trust?" Wilheim said.
"..." Kenshin didn't respond.
"What do you mean he betrayed your trust?" Rias asked, seeing as Kenshin was in no condition to reply
"When I started my crusade against the female youkai, RyuuTaisho helped me with my work from time to time. I thought I could trust him, but I couldn't have been more wrong." Wilheim said.
"He was trying to make sure you didn't get yourself killed." Alice said crossing her arms. "I asked him why he helped you, even as he was preparing to marry the heiress to the Tsuki clan, Aki, he helped you."
"Aki..." Wilheim sneered. "I always hated her, and she hated me right back. It's only because we both cared about RyuuTaisho that we kept the fights we had away from him. But I thought for sure he was on side of things when you attacked us."
"..." Alice closed her eyes.
"Alice-Sama?" Rias asked.
"That...wasn't one of my proudest moments." Alice said.
"Indeed it wasn't. You attacked and nearly killed us...just because we unknowingly pointed your mother's murderer in the right direction? !" Wilheim said pounding his fist against the wall.
On the other end of the camera. Alma noticed something. "Kazumi-Chan, back away from Kenshin-Chan a bit."
"OK." Kazumi said.
Not much was different, but Kenshin's hand which previously was cold and sweaty, was now balled into a shaking fist. "This isn't going to end well..." Evangeline said. "Chachamaru, scan."
"..." Chachamaru stared at the screen. "I can't find any anomalies in Kenshin-San's system. Not even heightened elemental magic use. His vitals are just displaying signs of impassionment."
"Wha?" Issei said with a curious look.
"He's pissed off." Inutora said. "He might not be showing it right away, but he is."
"I became fury incarnate, causing chaos where ever I went, but...RyuuTaisho...he lost himself after Alipheese here crippled him." Wilheim said.
"Lost himself? He found peace!" Kenshin said.
"He went insane! Instead of desiring revenge against this bitch, he tried to mend things with her from his own end! He started trying to help mend things in Makai, even though it's impossible to do so!" Wilheim shouts.
"Impossible? The fissure is over you idiot, nearly all youkai are working together, regardless of gender or anything else." Akatama said.
"That's only because they have a common enemy, half elf." Wilheim said. "Trust me, the second this war is over the things will return to how they used to be, and it's not like this do nothing queen will stop it."
"Krrhh..." Kenshin growled under his breath.
"The violent, unruly youkai will always find a way to fight amongst themselves, it will start again among the two genders of youkai, who will always try to overpower the other, if not that, then something else will trigger it. That is the truth." Wilheim said.
"Wouldn't the youkai race die out if one killed the other?" Rias asked.
"Have you ever heard of enslavement? I mean obviously you have, that's what Devils do these days. Those you call friends aren't really your friends, they are your servants, nothing more." Wilheim said. "That's the end result for the youkai...screw that, I'm not gonna be anyone's bitch!"
"You're a fool." Akatama said.
"Am I half elf? You're strong, the Grand Cardinals are strong, but what about the weaker youkai...the ones who can defend themselves against the strong? Like I was." Wilheim glared.
"Not every youkai is like Cassandra, what part of that aren't you getting? !" Kenshin said.
"Same to you Kenshin, you're ignoring the plight of the weak, because you're the mighty Dragon of the Elements! How are the weak supposed to live with such a threat hanging over their heads!" Wilheim shouts.
"That doesn't have to be the..." Kenshin was drowned out.
"Huh? Speak up, I can't hear you!" Wilheim said.
"You're wrong." Alice said cutting him off. "You're the one ignoring reality
"Hn?" Wilheim said.
"Your line of thinking holds some merit sure, but Kenshin does have a point, it doesn't have to be the only way." Alice said. "It's natural for some youkai to fear others. Just like it's natural for some devils, some fallen angels, some angels or some humans to fear one another. However, Luka and I, now Kenshin and I have been all over this world with the Revolution and his devil, angel and fallen angel compatriots. The youkai in those towns, the war is the furthest thing from their minds once peace has been restored, they're getting along just fine."
"How long will that last I wonder?" Wilheim mocked.
"You called me a 'do nothing' queen earlier, but you've never been a leader of a world. You don't know how dependent people become on you once you help them too much." Alice said. "You've also never had to deal with the other half of the monarchy and their atrocious actions overruling you."
"Making excuses are we? The woman who put the tyrant in charge." Wilheim said.
"..." Alice said nothing.
"Enough!" Kenshin said. "Wilheim, I get what you're trying to say, but do you really hate them all that much? To the point that you'll reject the things that are happening all around you?"
"I don't deny that they exist boy, I just refuse to believe it will last." Wilheim said with a scowl.
"Are your doubts really justification to cause all this violence and bloodshed? !" Kenshin asked.
"How many times must I repeat myself before it gets through that thick head of yours?" Wilheim asked.
"Then was it worth getting my grandfather, the man who looked at you as his brother in all but blood banished? !" Kenshin shouts.
"He betrayed me, that was his fate as a traitor!" Wilheim said.
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdive! !"
"You...You PIECE OF SHIT! !" Kenshin shouts points both Kuroi Jigoku and the blade of his naginata at Wilheim's throat.
"Kenshin? !" Rias said.
"Hey! He and his organization's already laid down arms, you can't do this Kenshin!" Akatama stepped toward Kenshin.
"Alice, I request your leave to execute this FILTH for the acts of terror he has wrought!" Kenshin said.
"..." Alice didn't reply.
"Yes, that's right Kenshin, the person who caused the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans fate is standing right in front of you, come and reap your vengeance." Wilheim smirked. "Prove my point."
"You're going to die without admitting how wrong you are? !" Kenshin shouts increduously.
"I will die for my beliefs! That there will never be peace in this violent world!" Wilheim shouts.
"!" Kenshin felt himself being pulled into his mind.
"..." Kenshin found himself standing in front of a familiar face. A male with long black hair wearing a black battle kimono with a golden dragon coiling up until the dragon's open mouth was at the collar along with black hakama pants. His eyes were narrowed to the point of being almost shut. "...RyuuTaisho..." Kenshin said with a distant look.
"Hello Kenshin." RyuuTaisho said with a calm smile.
"Why did you bring me here...no...how are you here?" Kenshin asked.
"I was watching from the afterlife, but...I couldn't let this happen...and Wilheim is too far in his own misery for me to talk to. You're guilty of being impassioned right now, but you can be talked to." RyuuTaisho said.
"Watching from the afterlife?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, Ryuushin and quite a few of your friends are there too." RyuuTaisho said.
"But...the Archangel Michael said he brought Dad to Heaven." Kenshin said.
"Not exactly true, but not exactly false. The afterlife I'm referring to is a meeting place for the good departed souls. What he likely showed you was what happens when we souls dream." RyuuTaisho said.
"..." Kenshin stared at him for a moment. "But what do you mean you can't let this happen? Wilheim just admitted he got you and our family banished." Kenshin said. "That he's partly responsible for..."
"I knew it was him the entire time." RyuuTaisho said.
"? !" Kenshin stared at him in shock. "You...knew? !"
"I did." RyuuTaisho said with a nod.
"And you still considered him your brother even after that? !" Kenshin snapped. "What the hell Gramps? !"
"Kenshin..." RyuuTaisho said. "Remember how you said that you couldn't deny another's love for you, because it felt to you like you were denying it's existence? That's only part of it."
"What do you mean, and what does that have to do with anything?" Kenshin asked.
"In a bit." RyuuTaisho said. "It's also that, you were denied love for so long during your formative years, that...you just don't have it in you to do that to someone else."
"..." Kenshin stared at the ground.
"I was similar, after I was crippled...and Her Majesty apologized for what happened to cause it. I realized...I didn't hate her for it, I didn't have it in me...to hate anyone." RyuuTaisho said. "I knew Wilheim did what he did and got me banished, but...I also knew that he had been hurting for a long time, never feeling he was good enough...always living in fear...my only regret was that...I never was able to show him, that there was nothing to fear from our female youkai counterparts. That the woman who scarred him was just one of few like that."
"..." Kenshin looked up at him. "I...I understand, but...I still...I still can't accept what's happened..."
"I understand, it could be said that us getting banished started a domino effect that led to the life you led." RyuuTaisho said. "However...Kenshin, has it really been all bad?"
"..." Kenshin went into thought, thinking of everything that happened to him, all the people he had met.
"Yes, if we never got banished, your life wouldn't have been near as painful, but...would you have really met those you care so deeply for out there watching you about to do this?" RyuuTaisho asked with a smile.
"So you're asking me to be thankful for the pain?" Kenshin asked.
"Not at all, just...don't deal in absolutes." RyuuTaisho said. "What you're feeling right now, it's natural after what you've been told, how Wilheim provoked you, but..this pursuit of vengeance you're on against those who wronged us...you will never get out of it alive."
"..." Kenshin went silent.
"From now on Kenshin, please just live for yourself. Don't tie yourself down to the past." RyuuTaisho said. "You and Yukari both."
"Alright...but...I'm not letting Wilheim off easy." Kenshin said.
"That's fine." RyuuTaisho said with a grin. "He can take a punch pretty well."
Kenshin was ejected from the mindspace and found Alice had approached and was pushing down his arms. "...Is she pushing my arms down...or am I lowering my swords myself...I don't know anymore..." He thought.
"Hn?" Wilheim jumped back. "Fine then, you want to finish your job then Demon Queen? !"
(clang!)
"Huh?" Alice said as Kenshin dropped his swords and started walking toward Wilheim.
"Kenshin?" Rias said.
"..." Kenshin didn't respond.
"Hn?" Wilheim said. "What the hell are you doing boy? If you're going to kill me you'll need one of those swords."
"I'm not going to let you be a martyr." Kenshin said.
"Well then...you can die!" Wilheim said extending his fist forward. "Petrification Beam!"
"..." When the light died down everyone saw that Wilheim's attack had hit Kenshin's Yume Shouheki instead. Kenshin stepped forward cocking his fist back as he got to Wilheim. "HuuuuRRRAAAAHHHH! !" He roared punching Wilheim dead center in the face, sending him through a wall. "Hrah!" He exhaled and glared. "Take him into custody and seal his powers." Kenshin said turning his head toward Akatama.
"Right." Akatama said turning to leave to get the men and equipment necessary.
"And tell the ship captains and the men to prepare to leave for Hellgondo within the next twelve hours." Kenshin said.
"Ignore that second order." Alice said.
"?" Kenshin turned to Alice as Akatama nodded and left.
"Kenshin, we aren't leaving for Hellgondo right now." Alice asked.
"And just why is that?" Kenshin asked.
"Wilheim was trying to provoke you on purpose. He wanted you to kill him." Alice said.
"I know that." Kenshin said.
"Why?" Rias asked.
"I would guess...he's regretted what he's done since he heard RyuuTaisho had died." Alice said. "He'd been going through the motions since and torturing himself...I think he didn't even think it was worth it...and living with himself was becoming too painful for him."
"..." Kenshin glanced at the hole in the wall.
"He wanted to be judged and dealt with by a relative of RyuuTaisho's." Alice said.
"And do you think I did what I did only for you? We wanted to be judged and dealt with only by another Kuroshi and Tsuki." Kenshin recalled what he had told Ryuushin and Hikari, shortly before the final battle of the Schismatic War in Mundus Magicus.
"And why aren't we leaving?" Kenshin said.
"Look at yourself...your mind is still in shock from everything that's happened." Alice said. "Your face looks horrible. Certainly not the face of a Vice Commander. You need to take a rest."
"I'm fine." Kenshin said. "I'll have time to rest when..."
"No, she's right." Rias said. "Kenshin...you need to take some time to breathe and think about everything that's happened."
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes.
"Hellgondo and Forbesii aren't going anywhere." Alice said. "Come with me."
"Where will you be?" Rias asked.
"Just somewhere away from all the noise." Alice said.
"Just outside of town then. OK, I'll let everyone know not to bother you two." Rias said turning to walk away.
"Us two?" Alice muttered curiously.
Rias, having heard her glanced at the Demon Queen. "You're probably the better one to talk to him about this right now." She whispered.
"..." Alice nodded as Rias walked upstairs and left. Alice tugged on Kenshin's arm. "Come on."
Rias walked up to everyone else. "I take it you saw everything?" She asked.
"Yeah." Issei said.
"I wonder what made Kenshin lower his weapon without a fight?" Vali asked. "He was ready to decapitate him."
"I'm not sure." Arthur said rubbing his chin in thought.
"It's probably better that he didn't-nya." Kuroka said.
"Onee-Sama, what do you mean?" Koneko asked.
"Kenshin's soul was screaming when he activated the Balance Breaker-nya." Kuroka said.
"That was probably connected to his mental shock." Yukari said before letting out an angry sigh. "I can't blame him, but at the same time, I'm kind of glad he shook off his lust for vengeance."
"Would you have done the same Onee-Chan?" Miyuki said.
"...I don't know." Yukari said closing her eyes.
"Everyone for the time being stay here." Rias said.
"I'm surprised." Grayfia said. "I figured you'd be one of, if not the first person trying to comfort him."
"Alice-Sama and Kenshin have a history with that man. She's the best person to talk to him about this right now." Rias said with a sigh.
"Poor Kenshin-kun...I hope he's OK." Akeno said with a concerned look.
"Yeah." Xenovia nodded.
"Mhn..." Koneko nodded.
"He'll be fine." Tamamo said fanning herself. "He just needs to let some things out and rest."
"I agree." Serafall said with a bubbly smile.
"I hope so." Sona said with a sigh.
"Same here." Rossweisse said.
"...Kenshin." Vali thought closing his eyes. "You were able to ignore your lust for vengeance..yet I was not...your fortitude is stronger than mine is...that much is certain."
(chapter end)
Draconis: Kind of abrupt, but whatever, everyone's busy so I'll just get on to the footnote.
Kazumi: Not everyone...
Draconis: (winces) S-Sorry...and I call her one of my favorite Negima girls too...
(1 ) I looked up the name and it's the name of King Arthur's Spear. I was just looking for a good sounding name for Vali's attack.
(2 ) This is why I am kind of backing off pairing Miyuki with Vali. She's interested in him, but she still loves Kenshin, at least in a sibling sense so naturally she would react very negatively to Vali trying to kill him. I have ideas on both for them to work it out and just be friends, or lovers, but I'm unsure of which path to take. The good thing is I'm not even close to finished with the story as a whole and can start build up on pairing Vali with someone else if I decide to go the former route. Who you ask? That would be Granberia. Sharing a common interest in a love for battle, if I decide on the latter route with Vali and Miyuki. I will start building a pairing between Granberia and Issei. Kenshin already has a couple of sword wielding, battle loving women in Xenovia and Yukari.
Anyway tell me what you think I should do. See you all next time.
Draconis678 out.