Draconis: Ugh...being sick sucks.
Asia: I could...
Draconis: I appreciate the offer, but no you couldn't.
Kenshin: Well get to work. Chapter ain't gonna write itself.
Draconis: Piss off, anyway. If I took awhile with this chapter, you now know why. Take some time to vote on the poll on my profile if you would please.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 82
Onward to Vampire Country.
(break)
"Haa!" Yukari stabbed Kazeken at Xenovia who blocked by holding Durandal broadside and let the shot of wind carry her off. Irina took Yukari's side and slashed down at her, only to be kicked back by Miyuki.
"Not today!" Miyuki said, cocking her fist back, preparing to launch a Thunderous Dragon Fist at Irina, only to have to dodge Raynare's spear throw. She and Yukari jumped back as it exploded, making a small crater.
"Man, I know she blunted those damn things because she's not trying to kill, but they still pack a punch." Miyuki said.
"No kidding. Kenshin was able to beat her when he first got here?" Yukari said.
"Well I was weak back then. When I was first reborn I was trained hard at the Grigori Institute. It was the only thing I could leave my apartment for at first." Raynare said creating another red spear. "I'm far stronger now than I was then."
"I can see that." Yukari said. "Maybe one day they'll unfreeze Kokabiel so you can hand him his ass."
"Tchahahahahahaha!" Raynare threw her head back laughing. "Oh man! I gotta suggest that to Azazel-Sama sometime!"
"Well let's keep going." Yukari said as two sharp tendrils of water shot toward Raynare.
"Excalibur Ruler!" Xenovia shouts, leaping in front of the tendrils and making them collapse.
"Wow, you've gotten better at that, still..." Miyuki took their back. "Elemental Spear!"
"Haa!" Irina launched numerous arrows of light at the spear, knocking it off course as it was thrown.
"Che." Miyuki said.
"Hmn..." Akeno watched from above, a dark cloud forming above her with very little effort. She smiled and directed her lightning at Yukari.
"!" Yukari looked up as she saw the cloud and the lightning brewing. "Oh fu-!"
Before it could strike her a fan cut between them, spun around rapidly and deflected all the lightning around her. Akeno looked over and saw the fan fly back to Tamamo's hand, who stood in her true form. "You've gotten better, but no." Tamamo said. "I'm not letting you get a sneak attack in." She said fanning herself with a smile on her face.
"Ufufufufu~!" Akeno giggled sultrily. "I've always wondered what it might sound like if you were to start crying out." She said as the bracelets on her wrists glew and six fallen angel wings sprouted from her back.
"Hahahahaha." Tamamo laughed merrily. "Well, let's see if you can do it. The only person to ever pull off the feat was Minagi."
"Oh? Your sister? How lewd, ufufufu." Akeno giggled.
"Hahaha, I know you're just playing when you say that, but the man you love practices incest with his sisters and two. Minagi, if you ever meet her is one lustful bitch. Morals mean absolutely nothing to her, seriously. She tried to horn in on a sex session between Mom and Ragnarok for fuck's sake."
"She seems interesting, I should meet her sometime, get a few pointers." Akeno said.
"Meh, she'd tell you to carve your own path." Tamamo said. "Everyone lives, fights and fucks differently she used to say, that...or she'd make Kenshin scream herself while you watched."
"Well forget it then." Akeno said, licking her finger before it started to crackle with lightning magic.
"Hmn..." Tamamo extended her hand forward with a smile, flames igniting in her palm.
"Haa!" They both shouted as fox flame and lighting clashed in the sky.
"Lightning magic isn't the only thing I can do, ufufu." Akeno said as twin tendrils of both flame and ice shot toward Tamamo.
"And you're kidding yourself if you think a magician type is all I am!" Tamamo said elongating her claws and slashing the tendrils to bits when they got her.
"Ufufufu, you seem like a jack of all trades type, I need to avoid getting into close combat with you if I'm to have any chance of winning against you." Akeno said.
"True." Tamamo said. "Though...I can attack you from a distance as well. Kitsune Cannon!" She shouts launching one of her signature attacks at Akeno. "..." Tamamo turned around only to find Akeno behind her, thrusting her hand forward. "Hn? !"
"Raikouryuu!" Akeno shouts, blasting Tamamo with a dragon made of lightning.
Tamamo appeared a distance away, dusting off her kimono. "Interesting ploy."
"Why thank you." Akeno giggled.
Meanwhile, in a rather peculiar twist Hikari and Granberia were fighting. "So, this is the power of a war hero in the World of Magic." Granberia said, grounding her sword against Hikari's Ensis Exsequens spell.
"I might be one of the weaker ones here, but that doesn't mean I'm weak period." Hikari said, kicking Granberia's leg out from under her, her fist shooting forward and punching Granberia in the face.
"Heh..." Granberia smirked, grabbing her wrist. "Indeed." She slashed her Ares upward, slicing the Tsuki Matriarch's arm off.
"Hngh..." Hikari grunted as she jumped back. "Ghhh!" She grunted as she grew it back. "Fucking hell, I don't get how Kenshin freakin' does that so regularly, it hurts like hell." Hikari said with a wincing expression.
"At least we agree on something, I don't understand it either. I'd rather keep my limbs than expend energy regrowing them." Granberia said.
"Yeah." Hikari said before firing several youki shots at Granberia who slashed them apart and charged forward
"Death Sword Chaos Star!" Granberia shouts, slashing wildly at Hikari.
Hikari surprised her by diverting all of the slashes. "Why so surprised. I help Yukari and Miyuki train in my spare time, I've gotten used to seeing Serene Mind movements."
"Heh." Granberia smirked. "Let the battle continue then!"
Meanwhile Alma had Yura in an armlock. "You're pretty strong physically, but not much else." Alma noted. "I noticed this when we were in the maze."
"Hnn..." Yura rolled forward, flinging the Succubus Queen off of her. "Maybe so, but I'm made to fight as part of a group, not as a stand alone." Yura said.
Alma heard a gun clicking and dodged out of the way as Chachamaru fired at her. "Nice try Chachamaru-Chan!" Alma shouted.
Everyone had duels amongst themselves, Kenshin and Issei themselves had decided to abstain. They looked over to see Sextum and Erubetie dueling magically, trading shots of slime and ice. Rossweisse was reading about spells from a stack of books. "Everyone's really gotten better." Issei said.
"Yup." Kenshin said as Ophis sat next to him, eating donuts.
"Though I'm surprised you're not fighting." Issei said.
"Because you said no." Kenshin said. "I'll spar with Xenovia some other time."
"Ah." Issei nodded.
"Well as long as you're not busy could you come here Kenshin-San?" Rossweisse asked.
"..." Kenshin turned toward her and walked over. "What's up." Kenshin hanging over her shoulder, his head next to hers.
"..." Rossweisse blushed a bit at the close proximity but voiced her issue nonetheless. "Right here." She said pointing out a spell. "This spell is in a different language than the others."
"Hm?" Kenshin looked where she was pointing. "Oh, that's because it's a King level spell from Mundus Magicus."
"But why is it in Ancient Greek when the others were in plain Latin?" Rossweisse asked.
"I'm not quite sure. I mean the Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens is a reference to Zeus for cripes sake, why isn't that in Greek?" Kenshin stated offhandedly.
"Strange." Rossweisse said.
"Also did you know the better that you are with a spell, the shorter you can make the incantation?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh? I didn't know that." Rossweisse said. "Uwah? !" She yelped as Kenshin pulled her onto his lap. "Wh-What are you- !"
"What? I'd like to read through some of these with you." Kenshin said poking his head out from under her left arm. "It's been awhile since I thumbed through the spell books and you looked like your back was starting to ache from discomfort."
"W-Well..." Rossweisse said before relenting. "OK."
"Uuu..." Issei moaned in jealousy as he sat down.
"..." Ophis got up and sat down on his lap.
"O-Ophis-Chan?" Issei said.
"Kenshin says I don't spend enough time with you, I agree." Ophis said, still eating her donuts.
"U-Uh...we-well." Issei said before relenting, letting Ophis do as she pleased.
Rossweisse flipped a page, her face still red, but...a small smile tugging at her lips. "This is...indecent, but I..don't care, it's also comfortable." She thought.
(Break)
With Rias.
Rias was laying in a bed asleep at Tepes Castle, asleep. There had been a coup and Rias, Kiba and Evangeline had been detained. Rias had to convince Evangeline not to fight back or them even being here would have been rendered completely meaningless.
However she was currently walking a white expanse in a supposedly dreamless sleep. "Where am I? Why aren't I in the Tepes castle, still under lockdown."
"Simple, you're still there."
"? !" Rias rounded to find a man with short red hair, blue eyes wearing a black trenchcoat, a white shirt and black jeans. "Who...?"
"You don't remember? I was one of the four that needed to be killed in order for Kenshin to get to Hottan back at Mundus Magicus." He said crossing his arms.
"...You're not a woman...you're too thin to be that ape Rakan...!" Rias' eyes widened. "...You're Kenshin's, Yukari's and Miyuki's father..."
"Oh, look who's right. Ryuushin Tsuki Kuroshi by the way." Ryuushin introduced with a wave.
Rias was a bit put off as Ryuushin started giving her a once over. "E-Excuse me, what the hell are you doing?"
"My, he certainly knows how to pick 'em." Ryuushin said. "I applaud Kenshin's taste in women."
"..." Rias glowered at Ryuushin.
"Relax it's all innocent." Ryuushin said waving his hand with a small grin. "It's just this is the first time I've formally met you. I was also taking stock of your power."
"I suppose. So why are you here?" Rias said.
"Well one reason is that I wanted to meet the girl my son fell so deeply in love with that he wanted to tie his life to hers...in matrimony of course. Not in the sense that he literally grafted his life force to yours." Ryuushin said.
"I figured." Rias said with a laugh at his hasty add-on.
"Heheheh." Ryuushin chuckled. "The other reason is that I wanted to check in on him, but without the baggage of actually meeting him or his sisters."
"..." Rias glowered at him again.
"I know what you're thinking, but...breaking through the veil, it's taxing on the soul without being resurrected by that puke Yama." Ryuushin said. "When I return to the pure world it's likely that I'll pass out and I can't chance doing that here, I can't defend myself in this state as it is."
"I see...so you wanted to get an update, without using time to talk to them...but...do you want to?" Rias asked.
"Of course." Ryuushin sighed. "They're my children. I want nothing more than to speak with them."
"I noticed you left out Hikari-San...why?" Rias asked.
"..." Ryuushin gazed off to the side with a forlorn smile. "Hikari and I...we've said all that we need to say to one another. She was the first one I ever visited in this way...almost immediately after my second death while Kenshin was unconscious."
"I see..." Rias said.
"So, how are they?" Ryuushin asked.
"Well, I'm not around them right now." Rias said.
"I noticed, you've been using Phantasmagorias to train with Evangeline. Smart, an irritable woman though she might be most of the time, she does know her shit when it comes to fighting and magic." Ryuushin said. "Her Aikido could suit someone like you well. If it helps, the last thing I remember seeing before I went to sleep was Kenshin shouting to numerous men and women not to give up the fight."
"Oh! The Youkai Revolution. He acted as Vice Commander to Lady Alice to defeat the Demon King, Forbesii. Which he did." Rias said. "Though...it was a fierce battle...it took everything we had to defeat him."
"I'm not surprised. Demon King Forbesii is a fierce opponent." Ryuushin said. "Though he resorted to some under handed tactics to eventually kill me."
"A poisoned dagger...Kenshin mentioned it to me. That the poison was made with Lady Alice's venom." Rias said.
"And does he blame her for that?" Ryuushin asked.
"No." Rias shook her head.
"Hmn...Good." Ryuushin smiled. "He still remembers what I taught him."
"Kenshin...he...you were his hero...he's said so himself." Rias said.
"Yeah...I know..." Ryuushin said.
"Ryuushin-San...you're the only one in this world or the next that really knows what Kenshin was like...before his pain." Rias said. "It probably won't help, but if you don't care...I'd like to know a bit about him."
"It's pretty much like he told you." Ryuushin said. "He was a shy, near introverted boy. Because we were always on the move...he didn't have much time for friends, but I still made sure he had a few. Setsuna Sakurazaki, Konoka Konoe, Princess Theodora...but he was rarely able to spend a lot of time with them."
"Why?" Rias asked.
"Because I was looking for Hikari, who had been possessed by Hottan. For his sister who was more or less his prisoner...and Miyuki, the daughter whom at the time, I didn't even know I had. It was more important to me to get my family back together...though...part of me regrets it even now."
"Because your dogged pursuit caused Kenshin's introversion to amplify, because he felt people were just walking in and out of his life?" Rias asked.
"...Yes." Ryuushin said. "Even I was eventually ripped from him...the one person he didn't want to be without."
"...He didn't blame you for it, he never did." Rias said.
"Still didn't stop him from being angry with me about it." Ryuushin said with a smile as the scenery began to change.
"? !" Rias looked around.
"Relax, I'm letting you see one of my memories." Ryuushin said.
Ryuushin disappeared and reappeared walking up to the figure of a boy with short red hair, a slash going down his left eye wearing what Kenshin usually wore. He petted the boy's head and smiled. "...You look so peaceful like this...I...I wish I could take away the pain you went through..."
"How many times are you going to do this?" Ryuushin froze, as did Rias who was watching, only to find the exact same boy standing behind Ryuushin, glaring as Ryuushin turned around. "Well...Dad?"
"Kenshin...I..." Ryuushin said.
The child Kenshin laid his fist into Ryuushin's cheek. "I don't want to fucking hear it!" Kenshin stood over his father. "Why? ! Why did you keep these secrets from me? !"
"I..I couldn't tell you that I destroyed an entire village outpost out of rage!" Ryuushin defended.
"Why? ! Because you thought I'd accidentally sell you out? !" Kenshin shouts.
"No! You...You were just too innocent! I-I didn't want to taint that by telling you that!" Ryuushin said.
"Well that obviously worked out soooo well for you, I ended up losing that innocence to a four year torture in Megalomesembria!" Kenshin shouted, before gasping for breath.
"Kenshin...I know...I know you must hate me for this...y...you can kill me if you want to, if that will appease your anger, but...I never wanted you to be harmed like you were."
"? !" Rias gasped
"!" Kenshin held Kuroi Jigoku pointed at Ryuushin's chin, but cocked his fist back and punched Ryuushin in the face. "You fucking idiot! !"
"Are...you not mad...?" Ryuushin asked staring at him.
"Of course I am! But it pisses me off even more...that...that you'd actually suggest that I'd kill you!" Kenshin said with his eyes squeezed shut. "What would I tell Yukari and Miyuki if I did that, huh? ! Not to mention Mom! Did you think about that? ! Huh? ! You fucking moron!" Kenshin shouted with tears streaming down his face.
The memory ended. "From there...we reconciled and I helped train him." Ryuushin said appeared in front of Rias.
"Can I ask you something?" Rias asked. Ryuushin nodded. "Kenshin, Yukari, Miyuki, Hikari and Tamamo all tell me you were an elemental master and one of the Dragons of the Elements to boot. Why didn't you teach Kenshin how to use them?"
"By then the poison had spread far...I had already annulled my contracts with Sylph, Gnome, Undine and Salamander." Ryuushin said. "...I would have loved to teach him myself. Then Yukari and Miyuki after him."
"I see..." Rias said.
"Do you remember this night?" Ryuushin asked as the scenery changed again. This time it was a forested meadow at night. Rias looked over only to see herself hugging Kenshin, his head buried in the crook of her neck.
"...This is the night Kenshin killed that slave trader Dolnegus...when we found out about Negi's death." Rias said.
"Yes." Ryuushin said. "Also the day I died again."
"Well I didn't want to state the obvious to you." Rias said. "...I realized just how bad he was hurting, how great a length he was going to conceal it and his fear of losing everyone."
"Yes." Ryuushin said. "Kenshin...his time in Megalomesembria made him very hesitant to accept help outside his family and in certain situations, even from us. Some had tricked him, in order to trap him in Megalomesembria." He let out a sigh. "It even extended far beyond the time he left, as a subconscious mental trigger. It's not his fault that he tries to take on everything alone...it's just how his brain is wired now."
"..." Rias closed her eyes.
"This of course led him to harden his heart. He eventually grew to think...that if he didn't react to the pain...didn't show it...that he wasn't letting them win." Ryuushin said. "This stuck with him when he left...and continues to stick even now."
"Then..."
"However." Ryuushin said cutting Rias off. "If he's with someone he knows he can trust...that he cares for...he'll let this guard down."
"..." Rias turned toward the vision of her and Kenshin.
"Like he said...being in your world, when compared to the life he was leading...was like a dream for him." Ryuushin said. "The best part of that dream...of course being you."
"!" Rias turned to him.
"You were a complete stranger...and you saved his life when you first saw him." Ryuushin said. "Yes, your brother asked him to watch over you, but you still didn't know him."
"Well, it's not like my intentions were pure." Rias said. "I was..."
"Planning to use him to break your marriage contract, by having him take your virginity." Ryuushin said. "I can think of plenty of worse ways to be used." Ryuushin stated blithely.
"Ah...ahahahahaha..." Rias laughed nervously with a blush.
"You were pretty up front about everything else, and even apologized for that one instance, but what really stuck with him, even after he was falling deeper in love with you after that night that you gave him your first kiss...was this." Ryuushin pointed at the vision. "You had been getting nothing but the absolute worst of Kenshin, all of you had...yet you still stuck by him...and didn't leave. Now sure, this would be nothing new if it was say Yukari, Miyuki, or Hikari. They're blood to him...but the rest...no. That stuck with him more than you all ever realized."
"I would never abandon him, not even if he told me to." Rias said with a hardened gaze. "I don't think any of us would. He's done so much for us, we could never abandon him."
"..." Ryuushin smiled. "Then I approve."
"Eh?" Rias said.
"As Kenshin's father. I approve of your want to marry him." Ryuushin said. "I'd be happy to call you my daughter in law if I were still alive."
"..." Rias stared at him for a moment. "...Th...Thank you, Ryuushin-San."
"Please, just Ryuushin." He chuckled.
"..." Rias smiled. "OK, Ryuushin."
"Though...I can't lie...I am kind of disappointed he's going the harem route...I get why, but still." Ryuushin said. "There's a certain charm to being able to say you love one woman."
"...Ah..hahahaha, then...you might not like who is moving in on your widow." Rias said.
"Huh?" Ryuushin said. "Who?"
"The Fallen Angel Azazel...he stated himself that he's had hundreds of harems in the past." Rias said.
"..." Ryuushin glowered. "I think a haunting's in order."
"Hmhmhmhmhm." Rias giggled. "Though he's also stated that a lot of those are pretty much defunct."
"Whatever." Ryuushin said. "Anyway...I have one last thing to say."
"What is it?" Rias asked.
"The reason Yama revived Negi, it isn't good, not at all." Ryuushin said.
"Well, I kind of figured that." Rias said.
"You don't know how bad it is though." Ryuushin said. "Kenshin...he loves you, that much is certain..but..."
"...I know." Rias said. "When we found him after you took him to Mundus Magicus. He told my brother that it should have been him in the ground instead of her."
"Yes...killing her...it almost destroyed him. The only thing that held him together was his desire to kill Hottan." Ryuushin said. "Then you put him back together again."
"Why...I get that he loved her, but you make it sound like he would choose her life over his even now." Rias said.
"That's what Yama's hoping for." Ryuushin said. "...I don't think Kenshin has it in him to repeat what he feels was his most unforgivable crime. He's hoping to break Kenshin. Tell Yukari this."
"Alright." Rias said.
"Now, I must be going." Ryuushin said as he started to fade away.
"W-Wait!" Rias said. "Before you go you should know that-!"
"I already know. Kenshin is going to be a father soon." Ryuushin said with a smile as he fully faded away.
"..." Rias watched him fade away before waking up. She turned her head to find Evangeline drinking a glass of wine while reading a book.
"What?" Evangeline said.
"Are the headaches any better?" Rias asked.
"They weren't headaches, I was remembering some shit I left buried deep in my mind and I was wondering why I was remembering them and it was getting on my nerves." Evangeline said.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Rias asked.
"Not really no." Evangeline gruffly stated.
"OK fine, whatever." Rias said.
"...Still..why was I remembering Kenshin of all people, these memories were from before I even met him...it's so weird..." Evangeline thought. "That bitch Dana was there too."
Her phone went off and she pulled it out of a pocket. "Hm?" She saw a text from a Daddy Long Legs. "..." She narrowed her eyes. "That couldn't be...'her' could it?" She thought.
"Seems you ran into some trouble Evangeline." The text read.
"..." Evangeline stared at it. "I thought you were dead." She texted back
"Ha, very funny. They might have been my friends, but I wasn't going down with them." Long Legs texted back.
"Wow, that's cold." Evangeline said. "Even to me."
"In my line of work, you need to be at times to survive." Long Legs texted back.
"So what have you been up to since we last saw each other...Mana?"
(break)
Back at Dana's.
Kenshin was walking along the terrace of Dana's castle when a communication circle appeared next to his head. "Kenshin."
"Sona?" Kenshin said. "What's up?"
"You and the party that was sent along with that Dana woman need to return to Kuoh, I know it's only been a few days, but you're needed here." Sona said.
"Alright, but...a few days?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes? A few days have passed." Sona said.
"..." Kenshin went silent. "How long have we been here?" He thought.
"About a month and a half." Yuurei said.
"Kenshin?" Sona said.
"Right, we'll be back shortly." Kenshin said before turning his communication circle's frequency to get in touch with everyone. "Everyone, meet me at the front gates of the castle, we've been called back to Kuoh."
Kenshin appeared at the front gates. Dana and Ophis were waiting for him. "So, you're heading out?" Dana said.
"Yup." Kenshin said.
"What do you think it is?" The three turned to find Issei walking up to them.
"Well Sona wouldn't call us back unless A, Kuoh was being attacked, and she sounded calm so that's out...or B..." Kenshin was interrupted.
"Something went wrong in Romania?" Issei said with a worried look.
"Unfortunately." Kenshin said.
"What are you doing in Romania?" Dana asked.
"We WERE trying to get the Vampire Factions there to join the Alliance, but they can't stop fighting each other and..." Kenshin was interrupted again.
"And are isolationist by nature." Dana finished. "Fun, you're heading to Wallachia. Place just hasn't been the same since ol' Dracula died."
"You knew Vlad Tepes?" Kenshin asked.
"Indeed. He really knew his way around." Dana said with a fond smile.
"Hmn, I didn't know the Impaler was into women like you." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin, that's kind of rude to say to someone that can kill you." Issei said.
"What? This has nothing to do with her full figured body Issei, I was referring to the fact that she's fucking crazy." Kenshin said with an eyeroll.
"And he wasn't?" Dana asked with a bored look.
"...A fair point." Kenshin shrugged.
"As for my body I choose to look like this to avoid getting lusted after and it's a good go between for my forms, nothing's more annoying than weak men horn dogging after you." She paused as her body shrunk and slimmed down until she was as tall as Kenshin with an hourglass figure, her face still looked relatively the same, merely having lost most of the baby fat.
"Whoa! She may have lost some size on the Oppai, but man she's hot!" Issei said.
(Wh-ch!)
Dana smacked Issei on the ass with a whip. "Neh heh heh." Kenshin snickered.
"I'd hit you, but we did enough wailing on each other a couple of days ago." Dana shrugged before she shrunk further, becoming as tall as Koneko or Gasper with a more lolish appearance.
"Huh." Kenshin said. "So you transformed to suit his fancy then?"
"Indeed." Dana said before reassuming her normal form. "And he did the same for me."
"Wait, so did you..." Issei asked.
"Sire an heir for him?" Dana said. "No. We were just fuckbuddies."
"Uhhh.." Kenshin said glancing over at Ophis. "Guys can we not? I don't want to have to explain that to Ophis."
"What's a fuckbuddy?" Ophis said tilting her head.
"Gaah! Damn it!" Kenshin cursed.
"Someone you meet for...'relations'" Dana said using air quotes.
"Oh..." Ophis said. "What are relations?"
"What Kenshin-boya does with his red haired fiancee." Dana said.
"...How?" Kenshin said.
"Looked into your past." Dana stated offhandedly.
"...Oh." Ophis said.
"Seriously though, she became no more aware of what people do since I last saw her..." Dana said with an exasperated sigh.
"Probably because she never cared to..." Issei said with a sweatdrop.
Everyone came up to them. "What is it Kenshin? What have we been called back for?" Yukari said.
"Sona will tell us when we get there." Kenshin said taking out one of Great Red's scales.
"Hm? Where did you get those?" Dana said.
"Great Red." Kenshin said.
"Hm? ! How did you meet him exactly?" Dana said with an interested look.
"Well when Issei and I died awhile back he and Ophis there rebuilt our bodies out of his flesh." Issei said.
"...Come again?" Dana asked.
"Yeah, Ophis even supplied our bodies with mana that was converted into our own." Kenshin said.
"..." Dana just stared at the two.
"What?" Kenshin and Issei asked.
"...Nothing." Dana said closing her eyes before turning and walking away. "Unbelievable! I've lived here for centuries and I've not seen the Dragon of Dragons once, and these two had their bodies built out of his flesh? !"
Kenshin narrowed his eyes curiously as Dana vanished. "Well...anyway...Kuoh City, Hyoudou Residence VIP lounge."
A portal opened up. "Alright everyone in." Kenshin said. Everyone nodded and entered before Kenshin himself leaped through. He landed in the VIP lounge. "Was the leap really necessary?" Yukari said with an eyeroll.
"Oh hush." Kenshin said with an annoyed look as he opened communications with Sona. "OK Sona, we're back at the house, grab the Heaven rep, whoever it happens to be today and come over here."
"Got it." Sona siad.
(Break)
"Kiba, Chief and Evangeline-San have been what? !" Issei shouted.
The room was filled with the three peerages, Griselda, Dulio, Irina, Raynare, Sextum and Alice while Azazel stood in the center via hologram. "Yeah, I'm afraid so, they've been detained." Azazel nodded.
"Do you know if they're OK?" Kenshin asked.
"Knowing Rias, she probably took steps to assure that they went peacefully, so while I can't say for sure, I can at least hope they are." Azazel said. "But the real issue here is how it happened."
"What do you mean Azazel-Sama?" Raynare asked.
"Well, long story short, there was a coup on the Tepes side." Azazel said. "The Tepes lower ranks, the Carmilla faction as a whole, they don't know what's going on."
"A coup de'tat..." Koneko muttered.
"...No..." Gasper was with a stiff posture, his face frozen in fear.
"..." Issei and Kenshin glanced over at him.
"Apparently the Leader of the Tepes Faction has been changed." Azazel said.
"So it was a successful coup then." Erubetie said.
"It would seem so." Granberia nodded.
"Do you know who the knew leader might be?" Alice asked.
"Still, for the leader to flee, something big must have happened to make him take such an action." Akeno said.
"No, not right now Alice-Sama." Azazel said.
"Hrm, I see." Alice said.
"Hrm...I'm guessing the Khaos Brigade slipped in and intervened due to the rumors of the Holy Grail. It's logical to assume that the Tepes Faction is being controlled by the Khaos Brigade." Sona said.
"Sadly." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes thinking of how Rias, Evangeline and Kiba were all in potential peril, about another potential run in with Heinrich, and lastly, Negi, who for all he knew was possessed by the first LifeMaker, Ialda Baoth.
"This seems to be the fate of those who place themselves too highly and make protecting their pride their top priority...typically the Tepes and Carmilla avoided contact with each other, but there is always a part of a group that alienates themselves and that gave the Brigade their chance to slip in unnoticed." Azazel said. "Anyway, I'll be heading there myself soon. In the meantime, you need to start heading here yourselves. Kenshin, I know your peerage just got back from training, but I would advise against taking the whole group. You were just attacked yourselves there in Kuoh and you won't be able to return as easily as you did from this Dana person's castle."
"I hear you." Kenshin nodded. "Alright...Mom, Alma, Erubetie and Tamamo, you all stay here. Also Sextum you stay as well."
"What? Why?" Sextum said with a glare.
"Because you still owe me for that loan. Get to work." Kenshin said.
"Alright." Sextum sighed.
"Fine." Alma said with a shrug.
"Sure." Erubetie said.
"I could use this time to catch up with Alice, see how the kids are doing." Tamamo said.
"Fine, I've missed running the cafe anyway." Hikari shrugged.
"Wait, the Queen of Demons has kids?" Dulio asked.
"Is having." Tamamo corrected.
"Oh, congratulations then." Griselda said with a smile. "Who is the father if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh he's standing in the room with us right now." Alice said, smiling over at Kenshin.
"..." Griselda looked between the two. "Oh, I see. Well Kenshin-San, if I may, do be careful with how you handle your relationship with Lady Alice. If for whatever reason it sours, we'll lose the Youkai Faction."
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Yeaaahhh, because I'm just going to go and start pissing off the mother of my children." He drawled.
"Just making sure you're aware of your position." Griselda said before smiling. "That said, I wish you good fortune with your impending fatherhood."
"Thanks." Kenshin said.
"...So are they going to be boys with snake tails for legs or female dragon youkai with purple skin?" Dulio asked.
"...Dulio." Griselda said with a tick mark on her left temple.
"Yeah?" Dulio said.
"Shut up." Griselda said.
"Ahem." Azazel cleared his throat.
"Right, Anyway, I'll be bringing Yukari, Miyuki, Granberia, Chachamaru and Kazumi with me." Kenshin said. "And of course Rias' peerage is coming along."
"No kidding, you might be her fiancee, but we're the one's responsible for guarding her." Xenovia said.
"Yes, that's right." Akeno said with a smile.
"We're ready to leave whenever." Koneko said.
"..." Gasper was silent.
"Besides, someone's savior over there might need saving themselves." Kenshin said.
"!" Gasper turned to Kenshin with wide eyes.
"Right?" Kenshin said with a grin directed at him.
"R-Right!" Gasper said resolutely.
"Heheh." Kenshin chuckled.
"Well in addition, take Bennia and Rugal with you. The field experience should do them some good." Sona said. "I'll handle Kuoh's defense with the people you left me."
"In addition Dulio, Griselda and Slash Dog Tobio will help reinforce the defense." Azazel said. "Sorry to trouble you both like this."
"Don't worry about it." Griselda said.
"You know, I could just head to the Tepes headquarters and lock them in by causing bad weather right?" Dulio said before Griselda smacked him over the head.
"Are you trying to botch up the relations between Heaven and the Vampires?" Griselda asked.
"Anyway, if you're heading there yourself soon, I assume you already have scouts in place." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, Vali and his team are with me." Azazel said. 'Though they're off doing their own thing."
"Cool, Granberia can squeeze in a spar with her new found infatuation while we're there." Kenshin stated offhanded only to get cracked over the skull with the broadside of Ares.
"Shaddap!" Granberia fumed.
"Also, Ravel you stay behind as well." Azazel said.
"Bu-!" Ravel was cut off.
"I agree." Kenshin said. "We don't have the luxury of an army to look after you this time and we've already let you fall into their hands once. I'm not risking taking you to a live battlefield this time."
"I understand." Ravel said with a sigh.
Kenshin looked out the window. "Do we have to take the long way or did you prepare some fast travel for us? I don't want to take any longer than I need to."
"There has been a teleportation circle prepared in the Carmilla Faction's base. You can use the one you have there to come." Azazel said.
"Excellent. Everyone going on the trip to Romania, take a couple of hours to get ready and meet at the teleportation circle." Kenshin said.
"Right!" Everyone said.
(break)
Almost Two hours later.
Kenshin was standing in his room in his boxers. He had just gotten out of the shower. He was reaching for the clothes he had laid out on his bed when a magic circle appeared on the floor of his room. "Hm?" He looked over at it.
Grayfia appeared in it's place. "...Oh? I wasn't aware you were in the middle of changing." She said.
"Well, we've seen each other in less." Kenshin said.
"...Huh? When did this happen?" Grayfia said with a curious look.
"Shortly before I left for Makai. You were drunk." Kenshin said.
"..." Grayfia slumped. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Kenshin shrugged. "So what brings you here?"
"Well, I came first to ask you where you've been." Grayfia said.
"Sirzechs didn't tell you?" Kenshin asked.
"I've been so busy I haven't been able to check in." Grayfia sighed.
"I was on a training excursion." Kenshin said.
"For a few days? Short excursion." Grayfia said.
"A month and a half passed while I was there." Kenshin said.
"Aah, so time flowed differently." Grayfia nodded. "Also, can I ask you something?"
"Yo?" Kenshin said.
"Have you thought about expanding your wardrobe at all?" Grayfia asked.
"Well I'm off to a potential battlefield Grayfia. This is the outfit I feel most comfortable fighting in." Kenshin said. "That said, I have no sense of what looks good, only what's comfortable."
"Well maybe when you and Ojou-Sama get back you two could go shopping. You seem to live in that outfit." Grayfia said. "Like I'm concerned you might try to wear that for the wedding."
"...OK, did my Mom send you here?" Kenshin deadpanned.
"Hmhmhm, no it's merely a suggestion is all." Grayfia said. "Though you could just keep your battle outfit in your seals to be switched out at a moment's notice. Observe." She snapped her fingers and she switched from her maid outfit to her battle outfit.
"...Are you planning to distract your enemies with your body?" Kenshin asked.
"What do you mean?" Grayfia asked.
"That outfit is basically spandex, it leaves nothing to the imagination." Kenshin said. "Hell, I try not to lust at will and I'm having a hard time trying not to size you up right now."
"..." Grayfia went silent, but Kenshin could see a very faint blush on her cheeks. "Well, it's so that the enemy can't grab hold of me through my clothes."
"Doesn't your thickly braided hair kind of defeat the purpose? I'm mean there's just so much to grab on to, potentially in the sexy way." Kenshin pointed out.
"Well this outfit allows for maximum movement." Grayfia said.
"That's better, that it does." Kenshin nodded.
Grayfia snapped her fingers and changed back into her maid outfit. "So what are you doing?"
Kenshin nodded back and put on his shirt before putting on his pants, tucking the shirt into them before fastening the pants and buttoning the shirt. "Now, mine and Rias' peerages are headed to Romania." Kenshin said. "Azazel has requested our assistance."
"Yes, I hear things have gone bad there, and Ojou-Sama could be in trouble." Grayfia said with a nod.
"Yup." Kenshin nodded. "So, has the council stopped pestering you?" Kenshin asked.
"The investigation is in it's final stages." Grayfia nodded.
"That's good." Kenshin said.
"Having said that." Grayfia walked up to him. "I also wanted to thank you."
"You're welcome." Kenshin said.
"No, seriously." Grayfia said, stopping in front of him. "Knowing Euclid was alive again, stirred up memories I had left buried. It meant a great deal for us to have those chats. I needed to have my mind taken off of it, or it was going to drive me up a wall."
"Like I said, it's not a problem. I mean we are going to be in laws when Rias and I get married. It's what family does." Kenshin said with a smile.
"...Indeed. If only my family realized that, Euclid and I might not be the only ones left." Grayfia said before leaning in and kissing Kenshin on the forehead.
Kenshin watched her step back and smile at him. "Look, you know if I meet him again. I'm likely gonna have to go all out, He's sure to have the Evil Dragons with him."
"I know, and selfishness plays a part here, but try to take him alive if you can." Grayfia said.
"I'll try, but that's dependent on him." Kenshin said.
"I understand." Grayfia nodded. "Well I must be going."
"See you around." Kenshin said before Grayfia teleported away. He made his way up to Issei's room and knocked on the frame before walking in. Issei was talking with Saji. "Oh, Saji I figured you would have headed out with Sona and the others." Kenshin said.
"Nah, I got summons work to do and one of them is rather close by." Saji said.
"Ah." Kenshin nodded. "So what are you guys talking about?"
"About what Chief, Kiba and Eva-San were doing in Romania. Saji didn't know." Issei said.
"Yeah, and from her last report, it seemed like the negotiations with Vladi were going well." Kenshin said. "Well we're moving on to go and get them now."
"Still you guys just seem to be a magnet for trouble." Saji said.
"This would have happened regardless of Rias, Evangeline and Kiba being there." Kenshin said. "Valerie Tepes has a Longinus Sacred Gear, Sephiroth Graal otherwise known as the Holy Grail. They'd have tried to move on her regardless of our presence. The only question is...what do they want it for?" Kenshin said. "I still can't wrap my head around that."
"Well, you'll figure out more when you get there I'm sure." Saji said. "Changing subjects, did you guys know that Kaichou's school's going to be built soon?"
"Huh, really?/ Yeah I already knew." Issei and Kenshin said.
"How do you know Kenshin?" Issei asked.
"Clan head." Kenshin said. "I was at the meeting when we decided to approve it's building. Serafall brought it up at a meeting, cue elders laughing, Sairaorg stood up, having been standing in for Lord Bael who was sick and threw his support behind it. Lord Bael might not like it, but I think Zekram approves and will override him, then I put the final nail in it by saying we were in a war with the Khaos Brigade, that Rating Games were basically battle simulation and if the mid class and lower class devils knew how to fight and lead better, we could spread our military force to other places of need."
"I...don't like how you put that." Saji said. "I want to be a teacher at the school, but I don't like the imagery of training people to fight in wars."
"You have to put that kind of spin on it in this case Saji." Kenshin said. "Stupid though it maybe. The other heads still see it as an affront to their pride for mid and lower class devils to get the same societal advantages as high class devils. What I said made them see how it could benefit them, just to get them to shut up about it once and for all."
"I guess..." Saji sighed.
"Besides, you're not teaching them to fight in wars. You're teaching them to fight in Rating Games and fight in general. If we find ourselves in a war again and they decide to use the skills taught to them at Sona's Academy to help the war effort, then that's their choice. Nothing you can do about it."
"Huh...well that makes me feel a lot better about it." Saji said.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Saji. "(sniff) (sniff sniff)" Kenshin smelled the air around him.
"Kenshin, what are you doing?" Issei said with a weirded out expression.
"Seriously. What's the deal?" Saji said.
"Ah, that's what that is." Kenshin said. "You got laid yesterday didn't you?"
"Huh? !" Issei and Saji said. "How did you know? !" Saji shouts.
"Nose." Kenshin said. "Heightened sense of smell."
"Ugh..." Saji slumped. "Wait." Saji looked over at Issei's luggage. "Issei, you don't need that over there do you?"
"..." Kenshin furrowed his brow seeing a porno magazine hanging out of his luggage. "Issei, why are you lugging porn over there?"
"Why are you lugging erotica over there?" Issei said.
"Doesn't mean I'm going to enjoy it while I'm there." Kenshin drawled.
Saji slipped out of the room while the two argued.
(break)
Rias' peerage, Kenshin, Yukari, Miyuki, Granberia, Chachamaru, Kazumi, Irina and Raynare were all standing in the teleportation circle. While Sona, Saji, Ravel, Griselda, Kuroka, Le Fay, Alice, Tamamo, Erubetie, Alma and Ophis were there to see them off. "Well, we'll be heading off then." Issei said.
"I'll try to keep you posted." Kenshin said.
"Yes, we'll be waiting to hear good news. Bennia, Rugal, I leave their support with you." Sona said.
"Roger that. Sure..." Bennia and Rugal said.
"Kenshin-Sama, Issei-Sama." Ravel said.
"Hey, don't worry. We're definitely going to bring everyone back." Issei said.
"Yeah, we didn't spend the last month and a half training for nothing." Kenshin grinned.
"That's how much time passed there? Interesting." Sona said with a thoughtful look.
"..." Ravel stepped forward. "Do you two have your handkerchiefs and tissues with you? And you might be asked to sign a document or signboard so make sure you carry a pen on you. Also be sure to carry mints and toothbrushes on you. Fresh breath and clean teeth are important for celebrities You both have hard schedules so use your time wisely and-" Ravel was cut off.
"Easy there Phenex girl." Alice said with an amused smile. "They're heading to a conflict zone not to some celebrity gathering. I'm sure they'll be able to handle it."
"I know, but still..." Ravel walked up to Issei and held out a parcel. "These are Phenex tears. Onii-Sama sent them. He made them after he got wind that you two were headed to Romania."
"Wha?" Kenshin said.
"What is it with guys trying to raise our impressions of them?" Issei said with a sigh.
"We are talking about the same Raiser right?" Kenshin asked with a furrowed brow.
"Anyway..." Issei looked over at Kuroka and Le Fay. "I leave this place in particular to you."
"Nyahahaha~! Leave it to us." Kuroka laughed.
"Say hi to Vali-Sama and Onii-Sama if you happen to see them over there." Le Fay waved.
"When did you get back anyway?" Kenshin asked.
"They showed up a short bit after you all left. I was training with Onee-Sama." Koneko said.
"Oh, neat." Kenshin said before seeing Ophis walking up. "What's up?"
"Kenshin, Issei, the Evil Dragons are persistent." Ophis said.
"I know." Kenshin said patting her on the head. "What do you think we've been training for?" Kenshin asked.
"Yeah, we'll be ready for them this time." Issei said.
"We're ready to leave." Akeno said.
"Alright, we'll be heading out. See ya later." Kenshin said as the room flashed and they vanished.
(break)
Carmilla Faction Base.
The two peerages, Irina and Raynare appeared in a spacious room. Azazel walked up to them. "Ah, glad you could make it on such short notice. We're heading out right now. I'll explain in the vehicle. Elmenhilde, please guide us toward there." Azazel said.
"Ah, thank you for coming, I'll lead the way though we only needed Gasper Vladi." Elmenhilde said offhandedly.
"Wow...I soo believe that you're thankful." Kenshin drawled.
"No kidding." Granberia said with an annoyed look.
They were led up to vehicles. It was snowing as they got in. "Hrm..." Kenshin glanced at Rugal.
"What?" Rugal said impassively.
"What are you?" Kenshin muttered. "The Vampires seems shocked and I've felt something strange about you since we met."
"..." Rugal said nothing.
"Well, no matter. If Sona trusts you, I'll trust you as well. She's a good judge of character." Kenshin said. "You feel like a friend of mine did anyway."
"Alright, now let me explain the situation." Azazel said.
"Valerie Tepes is the leader of the Tepes Faction? !" Issei said.
"V-Valerie." Gasper said with a panicked expression.
"Hm, the vampire faction which values men and pure blood chose a female dhampir as their leader. How odd." Akeno said.
"...No." Kenshin said. "You've said before that Vampires value pure blood even more than some Devil clans do old man. I doubt the Tepes, who are descended from Dracula himself chose a dhampir as their leader."
"You'd be right in assuming such. The anti government faction which Valerie leads sought assistance from the Khaos Brigade. They wanted to obliterate their weakness with the Holy Grail, but at the same time, I don't think Valerie herself willingly sought them out. That's why we're heading there ourselves to investigate." Azazel said.
"Hrm..." Kenshin grunted.
"So anyway. We're going to speak with Valerie and going to get Rias and the others back." Azazel said. "Thankfully she didn't cause much of a scene when the coup happened. I think it took her by surprise as much as it did us."
"Then why are we here?" Kazumi asked. "I mean I'm sure we're all eager to see how Rias, Eva-Chan and Kiba are doing, but..."
"Because we might have to fight and a certain someone Kenshin fought before he died awhile back might be involved here." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin furrowed his brow. "Rizevim..." Kenshin thought.
The station wagons they were riding in go past a bridge before stopping at a gondola station in the Tepes' faction land. Kenshin glances over at Xenovia who was holding a notebook. "What are you doing?" Kenshin said looking over her shoulder.
"Hm? Oh I'm studying difficult Japanese characters." Xenovia said.
"Doesn't the devil's language magic make that a moot point?" Kenshin thought. "Were your marks on the last test that bad? I could give you a hand if you'd like." He said.
"That marks weren't bad, I just have difficulty with the language is all." Xenovia said.
"Ah huh." Kenshin said.
"She's become keen on school events, so she's enjoying her time as a student." Asia said quietly.
"Ah." Kenshin nodded. "Well, nothing wrong with that."
"Ufufu, if you're alright with me, I could teach you the Japanese language Xenovia." Irina said.
"No, you've proven that your knowledge of Japan is suspect. I could learn more from asking Chief Rias, Vice Chief Akeno, Kenshin or his family." Xenovia said.
"How rude!" Irina huffed.
"What? Last time we had an assignment, you made a mistake in idiom compounds by saying 'survival of the fittest' was your right to eat barbequed meat regardless of being strong or weak. Apparently that was wrong you know, and you claim to be born from here, self proclaiming 'raised in Japan'
"I was born in Japan! I just had a simple misunderstanding due to the parody of barbeque dishes!" Irina griped.
"Got it, Ace of Barbeque dishes." Xenovia said offhandedly.
"Ueenn~! Issei-kun, Asia! Xenovia's picking on me!" Irina cried out.
"Well um, let's study the Japanese language together sometime Irina-San." Asia said.
"Well if you need help, I'm usually pretty good at it." Issei said.
"Not you too!" Irina said in shock.
"Heheheheheh." Kenshin snickered.
"Oh, Kenshin-kun, did you know Sona's school is going to be built?" Akeno asked, having been sitting next to him.
"Yes, had this conversation with Saji and Issei earlier." Kenshin said. "Apparently Rossweisse has been offered a teaching position there."
"I have." Rossweisse said. "I'm still considering it. What about you Kenshin-San? I hear Sona-San offered you a position as well."
"Yeah, but I'm probably gonna turn it down and tell her I'd be open to being a guest speaker at times, but I don't know how busy I'm going to be in the near future." Kenshin said.
"So, the land of the dead is like that huh?" Azazel said talking to Bennia.
"Yeah it's something that my shitty father and Hades-Sama would come up with." Bennia said.
"What about you Rugal? What's going on in your world?" Azazel asked.
"I haven't heard anything from them, I'd assume they'll just keep quiet and observe..." Rugal stated blandly.
The gondola came to a stop as it passed the mountains and they all exited. Several vampires showed up to greet them. "Former Governor Azazel, Gremory and Kuroshi group I assume. Come with us, Rias Gremory-Sama waits for you at the castle."
As they got onto another wagon Kenshin noticed Bennia and Rugal missing. "Huh, they managed to slip away without anyone noticing. Well best of luck to them."
(break)
The two peerage groups, Azazel, Raynare and Irina all entered the castle the wagon took them too. Apparently the Vampires took notice of Rugal and Bennia's absence and got in touch with their superiors about it. They were instructed to bring the group to them anyway. At the moment everyone was waiting in the front of the castle, just past the gate. Azazel approached Kenshin. "Kenshin, you got a minute?"
"What's up?" Kenshin said only for Azazel to walk away, prompting Kenshin to follow.
"I wanted to tell you that I bumped into Negi a couple of days ago." Azazel said.
"...Oh really?" Kenshin said. "What happened? You don't look like you were in a fight."
"I wasn't. She just wanted to talk." Azazel said. "She told me that the apparatus on her person wasn't for her. That when she spoke to me, the-"
"Ialda. We already figured out the point of the apparatus, now we just need to find out how to take it off." Kenshin said.
"I see." Azazel nodded.
"So what did Negi say?" Kenshin asked.
"..." Azazel went silent. "Should I tell him that Negi anticipates Kenshin killing her again?" Azazel thought.
"Azazel?" Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
The doors of the castle opened. "I'll tell you later, go greet your fiancee." Azazel said.
Kenshin stared at him for a moment before sighing and walking back to the crowd. Rias, Evangeline and Kiba were talking with everyone. Rias noticed Kenshin and approached. "Hmn..." Kenshin looked her over. "Seems nothing happened to you, that's good." Kenshin said with a smile.
"Yes, we just got swept up in this, we didn't know what was going on." Rias said.
"Coulda been out of here if you just let me do what I needed to do." Evangeline said with glancing away with a huff.
Kenshin approached Evangeline. "Well it's probably for the best that she didn't." He reached over and patted her head. "Good to see you're well too Evangeline."
"!" Evangeline's hand reached upward, gripping his wrist, glaring at him with an embarrassed blush. "Don't...do that."
"Heheh." Kenshin snickered.
"What the hell? ! Now I'm definitely remembering seeing him a long time ago! What's the damn deal? !" Evangeline thought. "And not a younger Kenshin either, this Kenshin! The one right in front of me!"
"Oh, and Kiba. Tsubaki said she anxiously awaits your return." Kenshin said.
"Uuhhh...OK?" Kiba said with a confused look.
"Heheheheheh..." Issei snickered.
The maid that brought Rias, Evangeline and Kiba out led them all inside. Kenshin and Yukari looked around as they entered the audience chamber. "Few numbers..." Kenshin muttered.
"...I don't like this." Yukari said quietly.
The group walked toward the throne. Seated there was a young blonde woman, next to her was a young man with a doll like appearance. There were also several vampires dressed in the clothes of medieval nobles like the young man.
"..." Issei got a good look at the woman, he would have originally ogled her, but her red eyes seemed dull..lifeless. "Kenshin.." Issei whispered. "Take a look at the woman."
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "...What's going on here? It's like I'm looking at a homunculus here." He whispered.
The woman speaks. "Hello everyone. How do you do? I'm Valerie Tepes. Um...it was decided that I would be the head of the Tepes clan as well as the Queen. Pleased to make your acquaintance from now on." She said in a light voice before turning her eyes to Gasper. "Oh, Gasper...you've gotten bigger."
Gasper bows his head, knowing what was going on with her as well as the rest of the group. He smiles forcefully. "I wanted to see you Valerie." Gasper said.
"Yes, I wanted to see you too." Valerie said. "Come closer."
"..." Gasper turned to Rias, who nodded. Granberia glanced around as none of the vampires around them moved to stop him. "Should we be concerned about this?" Granberia whispered to Kenshin.
"Stay on guard." Kenshin whispered. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Valerie stands up and embraces Gasper. "...I'm glad you're doing OK." She said.
"Yup...even though I became a devil, I'm doing fine." Gasper said.
"Yes, I had heard. Seems they're taking good care of you over there." Valerie said.
"Yes, I'm not alone anymore." Gasper said.
Valerie looked up at the group. "Oh, you're all Gasper's friends then...ara?" She glances over at a blank space and starts talking for a couple of minutes in a language that the group didn't recognize.
"Sensei, what's going on?" Issei asked.
"This is what happens with Sephiroth's Graal is overused and it possesses the user. You come to see things that you should never see...Kenshin?" Azazel said as he saw Kenshin approaching Valerie, holding Kuroi Jigoku sheathed and pointed forward. "What are you..?"
"Relax." Kenshin said as he stopped next to Gasper and Valerie.
"Excuse me, what are you doing sir?" Valerie said.
"My Job." Kenshin said as he jabbed the butt of his sword forward at the space Valerie was previously looking at.
"Aah..." Valerie let out a short gasp.
"?" Gasper looked up at Valerie. "Her eyes...they flickered back to normal for a moment." He thought.
"Hrm...I see." Kenshin thought, having noticed the same thing.
"What did you just do Kenshin?" Azazel asked.
"I sent the spirit Lady Tepes here was speaking with back to the Pure World." Kenshin said as he walked back to the group. "What people know as the 'Good Part' of the afterlife." I can see the spirits she sees, but I cannot communicate with them like she does. My job is to guard the principle of life, not to interfere with it."
"How do you know this?" Azazel asked.
"It's one of the things Ragnarok told me when he revived me." Kenshin said.
"I see." Azazel said with a nod before turning to the male vampire. "You...you've got her trained pretty well. Still what's the ploy then? Why are you using her if you're the ringleader."
"If that is what you wish to call me, go right ahead. Before we continue introductions are in order. I am of the Tepes royal vampire family, fifth in line for the succession, Lord Marius Tepes. Currently I am the temporal mayor of the temporal government as well as the chief adviser of Sacred Gear Research. Though if I'm being honest I'd rather be doing the latter. I've also stepped in to see how my cute little sister here who was saddened by the news of the Tepes' fate would go about changing that fate by standing next to her." Marius said.
"You are aware that we have been in contact with the Carmilla Faction, are you sure it's OK to let us in like this." Azazel said.
"To be honest I don't care much for politics. I leave those matters to my comrades here who agreed to the coup. Though Queen Valerie here wanted to see you all and I admit to some interest as well. Especially in you, Dragon of the Elements. I've heard the rumors about you all from those who supported us." Marius said.
"So why did you stage a coup if you don't give two fucks about being King?" Yukari asked.
"It's quite odd to be sure." Raynare said.
"Tell me, is that scum sucking bastard involved here?" Miyuki asked.
"Because I wish to create an environment where I could experiment freely with the Holy Grail here, Valerie's Holy Grail is a masterpiece. I can never get bored of it. I've already done so many experiments with it, and I plan to do so much more. It's really the only reason behind any of this. My father and brothers were in my way so I made them leave and by that 'scum sucking bastard' do you mean that person? But this was a solo action of our own doing."
"...I see." Kenshin said. "So really you're just a selfish prick."
"Just obeying my vampiric nature." Marius smirked.
"You're quite the mouthy bastard, you really think we're just going to stand by and let you use Gasper's savior like tha-!" Issei was stopped from moving forward by Kenshin. "Kenshin what are you...?"
"So, you can't give up Valerie to us then? If we want her we'll have to take her by force?" Kenshin asked.
"Obviously." Marius said.
"And with an Evil Dragon backing you, the odds are against us." Kenshin scowled.
"Oh? You noticed him?" Marius said with an amused look.
"He's a pretty big disturbance on the flows." Kenshin said.
Marius snapped his fingers and a wave of pressure hit everyone. "Che...!" Issei growled.
"Wh-What the hell? !" Raynare said with wide eyes.
"This pressure is dragon in nature." Chachamaru said with a slight strain.
"Damn. What power..." Evangeline growled.
"Hrm..." Kenshin looked up seeing a man with blonde and black hairs, clad in black. One eye black, the other gold. He leaned against a pillar "The Crescent Circle Dragon. Crom Cruach."
"Seriously?" Yukari said looking at her brother's back.
"When I wasn't training. I was cracking the books on those fuckers." Kenshin said. "Crom here is one of the strongest Evil Dragons, if not THE strongest."
"Yes. Avoid fighting that guy at all costs. With the exception of Kenshin and the former governor and they only have a chance. None of you can beat him." Ddraig said. "Though the chances for a Kenshin victory increase if he was alone."
"Hrm..." Kenshin grunted seeing a pair of figures behind Crom, in the shadows. He felt dark mana and elemental magic. "Heinrich and Negi...No...Heinrich and Ialda Baoth or Negi Ialda." He thought with a glower before shrugging. "Well then, looks like you've got us licked." He said.
"Ahh good, you're not as suicidal as he said you might be." Marius said with a smirk. "We have prepared your rooms so do please stay here for awhile everyone. Also the head of the Vladi clan is in the basement so you might want to meet him."
"Stand down everyone." Kenshin said glancing back, his eyes landing on Miyuki in particular.
"..." Miyuki nodded.
(break)
"I'm having trouble believing that guy is a vampire." Azazel said.
"Why?" Kenshin said.
"Because he's acting to satisfy his own personal greed over his blood and pride." Azazel said.
"Well you're still subjectively young...stereotype breaking will happen more and more." Kenshin said.
"Are you defending him?" Rossweisse asked.
"Not in the slightest. He's still a prick." Kenshin said.
"So what was Valerie talking to earlier?" Evangeline asked. "I've been wondering since Rias, Kiba and I met her, it's not the first time she's done it."
"A spirit from the other side of the veil." Kenshin said.
"Breaking through the veil is taxing on the soul without being resurrected..." Rias recalled what Ryuushin said to her days prior.
"Then how was she able to communicate with it? I mean we couldn't understand what she was saying." Issei said.
"It's the Holy Grail or Sephiroth Graal." Azazel said. "When she comes into contact with the principal of life she is forcefully told about life and the soul, what they are and how they are made. The more she uses Sephiroth Graal. The more information she takes in about the concept of the living, the dead and various other things. Numerous thoughts and feelings of the dead enter her heart where corrosion occurs. It's only natural that she has become broken."
"Then she is..." Rossweisse said.
"She is no longer in a normal state. The fact that she is seeming to enjoy talking to the dead is a sign that the corrosion is vast. Especially seeing as the Sephiroth Graal has the ability to revive the dead which is how the Evil Dragons are back among us."
"Hang on." Kenshin said. "When I sent that soul she was talking to back to the Pure World. Her eyes flickered. I'm sure Gasper noticed it too."
"Yes! Valerie's eyes didn't look shallow and lifeless when Kenshin-Sempai did what he did!" Gasper said.
"Hrm...interesting." Azazel said. "Maybe he removed the corrosion of that spirit and slight though it might have been, Valerie's true self was able to peek through for a moment...!" Azazel's eyes widened as he looked to his left.
"Nn!" Kenshin scowled turning and looking in the same direction. "Grh...you...!"
Standing in the door way to the room, wearing the same Satan attire as Sirzechs usually wore, was Rizevim Rivan Lucifer.
"Kenshin...is that...?" Rias said.
"So it is you that's behind this after all!" Azazel spat.
Everyone was immediately put on guard. "Yes." Kenshin said. "This is the last guy I fought before I croaked in the Dimensional Gap. The person your brother defeated in the civil war."
"Ahaha~! Such scary faces. You should relax Uncle Azazel, Kenshin. You'll grow old if you don't." Rizevim said.
"For those of you who still don't know. This is the Son of the original Lucifer and Lilith, the mother of the Devils." Azazel said. "He is also Vali's grandfather."
"V-Vali's grandfather? !" Issei said.
"Grrhh..." Miyuki growled, gripping her polearm tightly. "Because of him faking his death, Vali and Kenshin almost killed each other."
"He's also the new boss of the Khaos Brigade." Kenshin said.
"As if we needed a reason to be on guard." Yukari said.
"In the past when the kins of the previous Satans ruled the Underworld. Rizevim Rivan Lucifer was counted among the Super Devils along with my brother Sirzechs and Ajuka-Sama." Rias said.
"He disappeared at the end of the Devil's Civil war after it became apparent his side was going to lose. He stayed gone until Kenshin had the unfortunate luck of running into him after Forbesii got the drop on him." Azazel said. "There's no way he'd have any kind of the same opinion as Sirzechs and Ajuka."
"Hyahahahahaha! Well really I had returned because Forbesii strongarmed me with the Sword of God, but now I have something I want to do." Rizevim said with an easygoing, but creepy laugh. "I hear you're trying to make peace with all the factions. Well I'd like to support you in that Uncle."
"Are you going to take this seriously or just stand there acting like a daft cunt all night?" Kenshin asked.
Rizevim ignored him and turned his gaze to Rias, incensing Kenshin further. "You there, crimson haired missy. How's ol' Zechsy doing these days?"
"...Do you have ill will toward my brother?" Rias said with a scowl.
"Well I can't deny it. We do share the name Lucifer, even if he is using it fraudulently." Rizevim said. "However that's not important. I'll be seeing him soon enough anyway. So say hello to him for me in the meantime could you?" He said.
"!" Rias and everyone got ready to fight only for Kenshin to raise his hand.
"Everyone stop." Kenshin said. "We're not in allied lands or even enemy lands. We throw blows here we can kiss any treaty we wish to make with the people here goodbye."
"Yeah..." Azazel glowered. "You're Marius' benefactor through false identities aren't you."
"That's right. I'm the investor for Marius-kun's research." Rizevim said with a shrug. "So I'm obviously treated as a special guest by the temporary government here. It wouldn't be wise to lay your hands on me here. No matter how badly some of you want to." He said glancing over at Issei, Rias, Miyuki, Yukari, Azazel and Kenshin. "Though I'm surprised Kenshin-kun. You normally give in to your battle lust."
"I'm not a fool." Kenshin scowled. "But the second you leave this country, I'm gonna be on your trail."
"Ohohoho~!" Rizevim laughed. "It seems I have a handsome stalker!"
"Grh.." Kenshin growled.
"Well, you should know that I have no intentions of losing or breaking even with you again Kenshin-kun." Rizevim said as shadows appear around Rizevim followed by a familiar figure.
"O-Ophis? !" Issei said seeing an Ophis lookalike with her hair in a different style.
"What the hell? !" Kazumi exclaims.
"We had Cao Cao steal seventy five percent of Ophis-Chan's power if you remember. We turned it into this. Meet Lilith, the Uroboros Dragon and Co Primordial of Nothingness. I found out about the Primordials from my newest ally Yama-kun." Rizevim said. "He asked me to ask you where you're keeping the Sword of God by the way."
"Tell him he can get fucked." Kenshin said.
"Hyahahahahahaha~!" Rizevim laughed. "Well then, I'm sure he'll be amused to hear it. Anyway I was just passing by and thought I'd pop in. This is a home of vampires after all, fighting is no good, but if you should want to fight me. Just know Lilith here is always protecting me."
Azazel called out to him as he started walking away. "Vali is after you."
"Is that right? If I recall you took him in after he was chased from home." Rizevim said. "Did he get any stronger since we bumped into each other in Makai? I sure hope so. Otherwise he's still worthless."
"He's going to take your head one day." Kenshin said. "I'll make sure he gets the chance."
"Heheheh, well then. I look forward to it." Rizevim turned to Issei. "The Sekiryuutei, the only one in existence at that, having a premium grade for having a body carved from Great Red's flesh and Ophis' mana acting as your own. I already know Kenshin won't and he's the same as you, but what do you say? Wanna join my side?"
"Fuck no." Issei glared.
"Very well then. I can take no for an answer." Rizevim said with a laugh as he walked away.
"Che..." Kenshin scowled. "This is bad...Crom Cruach, the other Ophis and Rizevim himself...anyway you slice it we're up against a wall here."
"Yeah..." Azazel said.
Kenshin turned to Miyuki. "Do what you can to figure up a plan. Azazel, Evangeline. Give her a hand would you?"
"Got it. Fine." Azazel and Evangeline said.
"Stay on guard. We aren't safe here." Kenshin said to everyone.
"You should go and see Lord Vladi while you have the chance." Rias said. "I'll stay here with Gasper."
"Man we really stepped in it this time." Raynare said.
"We'll see what happens. For now we've got no choice but to bend to their will." Kenshin said.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Abrupt
Kenshin: No kidding.
Rizevim: Guess who's back (Punched) Aaah? !
Kenshin: Outside the chapter, fucker.
Draconis: Take it somewhere else.
Anyway next time. The Kuroshi and Gremory peerages try to figure a way out of the mess in Tepes Country. See you all then.
Draconis678 out