Draconis: Hey everybody.
Kenshin: Huh?
Draconis: I know chapters have been a bit sparse lately. Sorry it's been taking me so long. Anyway.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 87
Dates with a Valkyrie.
Draconis: Begin!
(Start)
Kenshin and Rossweisse were sitting in the Lunar Cafe, drinking coffee. "So, let me get this straight. You asked me to be your boyfriend to lie to your grandmother?" Kenshin asked.
"I-I know...it's so shameful." Rossweisse said bowing her head.
"Hm?" Kenshin said. "What's shameful about it?"
"W-Well, I'm pulling you against your will to satisfy my own selfish desires." Rossweisse said.
"Huh? Against my will? Do I look like I don't want to be here?" Kenshin asked.
"Huh?" Rossweisse said looking up at him.
"Come on Rossweisse. Do you have that little confidence in yourself?" Kenshin asked with a smile.
"U-Uhm...w-well..." Rossweisse said with a shy look.
"I don't exactly agree with your reasoning, but after listening to you, I at least understand it." Kenshin said. "You want to show your grandmother, who cared for you for so long, that you were doing well for yourself, this including having a significant other." Kenshin finished with a laugh.
"Y-Yes..." Rossweisse said with a shy smile.
"Well, we're already on the right setting for this to become more believable...why don't we make this into a date for real?" Kenshin asked.
"Y-You don't mind? !" Rossweisse squeaked.
"No." Kenshin chuckled. "Come on, have more confidence in yourself."
"M-My self confidence isn't the issue, I-I just wasn't expecting you to go along with this so easily." Rossweisse said pushing her fingers together.
"Well, I'll have to wear these for the time being, y'know because you're technically my teacher at Kuoh." Kenshin said pulling his identity concealing glasses out of his pocket.
"Hm? Why? We'd just be out together." Rossweisse said.
"On a practice date." Kenshin pointed out. "We have to find out how we're gonna act together, because if we don't your grandmother's gonna know something's up."
"S-So, what you're saying is..." Rossweisse said as her face started to heat up.
"When you asked me to be your boyfriend, even if it was so your grandmother could see you with one. You might as well have just been asking for real." Kenshin said.
"...A...Aaauuu..." Rossweisse shivered.
"Come on." Kenshin said getting up and leaving the booth. They both walked up to the front counter where Hikari was waiting. "Couple of hot cocoas to go." Kenshin said handing her some money.
"OK." Hikari said. She went to the back and came back with a couple of tall cups. "Here you go, you especially bundle up Rossweisse." Hikari said, making the Valkyrie blush slightly as the two left.
"Funny that she says that, isn't the Aesir or Valhalla usually cold?" Kenshin asked.
"N-No, that's only Jotunheimr." Rossweisse said. "The rest of the territories in the Aesir vary from hot to temperate."
"Aah." Kenshin nodded. "So, what is Valhalla like anyway?" Kenshin asked.
"It's a very nice place." Rossweisse said with a fond smile. "The weather's nice, unless Thor-Sama gets into a fight with someone or someone upsets the Allfather."
"Must be hard to do given how laid back he is." Kenshin said.
"Well everyone has their own particular button." Rossweisse said.
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded as the two walked through Kuoh.
"All that said, we're not big on importing back home." Rossweisse said.
"Really? You'd think with the Alliance in place trade routes would be established." Kenshin said.
"It takes time." Rossweisse said.
"True." Kenshin nodded.
"That's why eventually I want to set up shop there. So people back home can get any good imaginable at a discount price." Rossweisse said.
"Sounds tricky." Kenshin said. "Not everyone wants their goods being sold in a discount store."
"I'll find a way." Rossweisse said holding her fist up with a resolute look.
"...Heheheheh." Kenshin chuckled.
"Wh-What's so funny?" Rossweisse said, feeling put on the spot.
"Nothing, you just looked good there, it's always nice seeing someone with an ambition." Kenshin said.
"..." Rossweisse turned her head away with a blush.
"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Kenshin asked.
"No, I'm an only child." Rossweisse said shaking her head. "My parents were often gone doing work for the Norse Gods, so my grandmother Gondul raised me."
"So why lie to her?" Kenshin asked.
"...Because..." Rossweisse glanced away. "Back at home. I was meant to inherit the position as head of my family, I even went through several ceremonies to claim the family crest...but for some reason. It just never took. I couldn't claim it, so my cousin was appointed in my place after they claimed it. Mother and Father were rarely around like I said, but my grandmother always supported me."
"..." Kenshin kept listening.
"To make up for my shortcoming. I threw myself wholeheartedly into my studies. I didn't even spend much time if any at all socializing." Rossweisse said. "I looked down on the others who rarely spent any time studying. I shot through grades and went to college really early. It also earned me a degrading moniker...'The Valkyrie that never had a boyfriend.'" She finished with a gloomy hang of her head.
"Why is it any of their damn business?" Kenshin snorted. "I mean no disrespect either, but it's not any of Odin's damn business what you do with your private life either and he gave you shit about it too."
"I know, right!" Rossweisse huffed.
"That said, it really is Rias Gremory's House for Troubled Beings." Kenshin mused.
"Huh?" Rossweisse asked.
Kenshin took a long sip of his hot cocoa. "Back before you joined. I had mused to Rias that her peerage was composed of people who all had some kind of difficulty in their past. From Akeno on down to Issei." Kenshin said. "Your past kinda plays into that." Kenshin said.
"...Hmhmhmhm!" Rossweisse covered her mouth as she started giggling.
"..." Kenshin glanced over at her.
"What?" Rossweisse said.
"You've got a cute laugh." Kenshin complimented.
"!" Rossweisse blushed at the compliment.
"Then again, you're pretty cute in general." Kenshin said.
"K-Kenshin..." Rossweisse stammered out.
"Anyway, changing subjects...What's he like?" Kenshin asked.
"Who?" Rossweisse asked.
"Thor." Kenshin said. "Is he like in the legends or the comics and movies?"
"I don't know, I've never met him personally." Rossweisse said.
"Huh, really? Even while you were Odin's bodyguard?" Kenshin asked.
"I've never spoken with him myself, is what I meant to say." Rossweisse said.
"Aah." Kenshin nodded.
As the two walked through town, Rossweisse felt compelled to ask Kenshin something. "Kenshin, you were often gone working with those Rikudou men early in your childhood, right?"
"Yeah? What about it?" Kenshin said with a curious look.
"Well...if working for them ate up a lot of your time, how did you come to fall in love with Negi-San?" Rossweisse said.
"..." Kenshin stared at her.
"...I-I'm sorry I asked, it's just been bugging me lately, because it didn't make much sense from my viewpoint, but it was insensitive of me to ask." Rossweisse said looking away.
"...No." Kenshin said. "It's alright. You're not the first person to ask, but...I've never been able to put it into words until recently." He saw a bench and went over and sat down prompting the Valkyrie to sit next to him. "...I...didn't actually get the Rikudou job until six months after I had arrived at the Welsh Magic Academy with my family. So I was basically loafing it there that whole time. My Dad would train my sisters and I, Mom would continue recovering from her time as Hottan's Vessel. Miyuki herself would study magic there as a way to pass time and Yukari, Miyuki and Negi grew to become friends...then there was me."
"Was it harder for you?" Rossweisse asked.
"No, it wasn't actually...and that fact confused me. I knew nothing about her, other than the fact that her village had been destroyed the year before, yet...I was able to talk to her and trust her like I'd known her for years." Kenshin said.
"Well, maybe it's because you never perceived her as a threat?" Rossweisse suggested.
"Rossweisse, back then I considered just about everyone outside of the people I knew Pre Megalo and my family as a threat." Kenshin said. "Yet, despite how off putting I could be back then...she never really shied away from me. I mean yes, she was shy at first. She would always seek me out when she needed someone to talk to when Yukari and Miyuki were unavailable. Soon I began telling her more about myself, and even told her some things I hadn't told anyone, except for maybe my father. She would always smile and say the secret's safe with her. I didn't believe her at first, but as we started getting closer. I realized she was telling the truth."
"..." Rossweisse kept listening.
"You know, you remind me of her in a way." Kenshin said.
"Hm?" Rossweisse said. "What do you mean?"
"She was always an avid learner. When she wasn't teaching at Mahora, training with Evangeline, or spending time with me or the others. She was usually trying to learn some new complex thing that would honestly make my eyes swirl." He said with a fond chuckle. "More than once I had to carry her to bed from her desk. I think you two would get along great if you ever met the real her, not the damn puppet Ialda's making her into." Kenshin said.
"She sounds like a very well rounded young lady." Rossweisse said.
"You're not that much older than she is Rossweisse." Kenshin said. "Anyway. The time soon came for me to start working with Rikudou...and with it came an unfamiliar feeling. I would be gone for days sometimes weeks at a time...and at the time, I didn't know why, but I felt an aching in my chest every time."
"You probably missed her." Rossweisse said.
"I did. There's no 'probably' about it." Kenshin said. "This feeling got steadily, but slowly worse each time I left her. It got really bad when I turned thirteen." Kenshin said. "But being who I am, I pushed it down and did my duty. Looking back it's so obvious." Kenshin said. "She was like a flame, and I a moth, inexplicably drawn to her."
"..." Rossweisse stared at him.
"She was mistreated by Mundus Magicus like I was, but less so. Still...she didn't deserve the shit that happened to her. Having Wilheim and his organization summoned on her village by the Confederate Senate, petrifying everyone in sight. Her sister Nekane, and friend Anya the only other survivors...yet...even after all that...she still somehow maintained a positive outlook on life." Kenshin said. "She always managed to see the good in people. She even spared Wilheim's life after she defeated him in a fight...she even saw the good in someone like what I was back then. I...I wanted to know...I wanted to know what her secret was."
"Kenshin..." Rossweisse said.
"She was everything I knew I could never be." Kenshin said. "I didn't want her life, but..I guess I also just wanted to know what it was like to live without the whole world hating your guts."
"..." Rossweisse went silent again.
"Over time...I guess it just happened, I just couldn't fight it anymore. I wanted to protect her, but it was more than that." Kenshin said. "I just wanted to be with, or around her always. Even if we never got together like we did. That would have been fine with me. Negi and I were in different worlds. Anything we had was doomed to be strained anyway. I...I felt like if I could just protect her. Then I would have finally done something right with my life."
"Kenshin." Rossweisse said.
"...Ultimately...the reason I think that I loved her...was that she was the first person outside my family, after what happened in Megalo...that made me feel like I belonged, that made me feel loved...that made me...happy to be alive." Kenshin said.
"I see..." Rossweisse said
"Sorry...I know we're technically on a date." Kenshin said.
"No, it's alright. I'm the one who asked after all." Rossweisse said. "I think I understand now."
"Yeah. That's why I feel so horrible." Kenshin said.
"What?" Rossweisse said.
"If I never handed Hottan Ialda's soul to Yama. Negi wouldn't be in the damn predicament she's in." Kenshin said. "Yeah, I'd be the one dealing with Ialda's blasted Resonance, but at least we could free her from Yama's control and maybe she could figure it out. In short...what's happening to her right now, it's on me."
"We'll figure something out. Don't think you're in this alone." Rossweisse said, her hand on Kenshin's back.
"You're not the first person to tell me that either." Kenshin said with a small laugh.
"That's good." Rossweisse smiled.
"Come on." Kenshin said getting off the bench. Rossweisse followed after him. "Thanks."
"Hm?" Rossweisse said.
"That's been sitting there for awhile. I didn't have the words for it until recently, but it's nice to get it off my chest." Kenshin said.
"Of course. What are friends for? I mean you listened to something I haven't told many people before too." Rossweisse said
"Hmn." Kenshin nodded with a smile. "So, changing subjects. I assume you didn't live right in Asgard, so what was your home like?"
"Oh, it's a nice little place out in the countryside of Valhalla." Rossweisse said. "Sure you could see Asgard in the distance, but it was basically just my grandmother and I, and a few neighbors scattered about the countryside. The view is especially beautiful when the sun sets."
"Hm, sounds nice. I'd like to live out in the country myself...away from all the noise." Kenshin said.
"Well why don't you get in touch with Rias-San's father and see about getting your home actually built." Rossweisse asked.
"I haven't exactly had the free time." Kenshin said. "Besides I'm trying to get him and Lord Sitri together so we can all work something out. I mean I'm allied with them both. It's a sign of good faith if ask them both for input."
"True." Rossweisse said.
"Hm?" Kenshin looked over, seeing a pair of familiar figures in one of the shops.
"For the last time no."
"Ah come on Hikari it's a nice set."
"It's a skimpy set Azazel! I have one at home!" Hikari snapped.
"Really?" Azazel said with a curious look.
"Ugh, there you go, thinking with your mini head again." Hikari said with an annoyed look.
"Agh...fine." Azazel said putting the set of lingerie to the side before letting out a yawn.
"Is something the matter with you? You've been sleepy for...a few days straight now." Hikari said.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just been up late working." Azazel said rolling his shoulder around.
"Well don't overwork yourself." Hikari scolded lightly. "Don't make me have to put you to sleep myself."
"Heheheh, Yes ma'am." Azazel chuckled, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger.
"Alright, come on I need to go put in a few orders to restock the cafe." Hikari said.
"Huh? You don't remember?" Azazel said. "I already took care of it."
"?" Hikari turned to him with a curious look. "You did? You got everything on the list I made yesterday."
"Well you've been busy training so I figured it was the least I could do." Azazel shrugged.
"..." Hikari smiled and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. Hm, how about we head home and you can give me a hand with dinner for tonight."
"Are you sure you want that? I'm not that great of a cook." Azazel said.
"Neither is my son, but he helps me from time to time." Hikari said as they exited the store.
Kenshin and Rossweisse had already left, but were watching them leave from a distance. "They look nice together." Rossweisse said.
"Mrn..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes before turning away.
"Is something wrong?" Rossweisse said as they walked away.
"It just...feels weird seeing someone getting cozy with my mother." Kenshin said. "I mean I'm happy for her, but it still feels strange seeing her with anyone but Dad."
"Hmn, I think that's something any child whose mother or father finds another spouse after the death or loss of the previous one." Rossweisse said. "It's normal."
"I suppose." Kenshin nodded.
They kept walking only to have a run in with Saji, Momo and Ruruko. "Oh, Kenshin. What brings you out here?"
"I'm just taking a leisurely stroll, mulling things over." Kenshin said.
"I had nothing to do, so I figured I'd join him." Rossweisse said.
"What are you three up to? The love hotels are on the other side of town you know." Kenshin said with a wiggle of his eyebrow.
"E-Eh? Aaauu..." Ruruko stammered.
"Oh come on Kenshin we're not doing that, it's the middle of the day." Saji said with a laugh.
"That makes a difference?" Kenshin asked.
"If you must know, we're shopping for clothes for the Academy's open house." Momo said with a huff.
"M'row!" Kenshin hissed jokingly, scratching his hand in the air. "Relax, I'm just having a little fun."
"Yes, but that's enough." Rossweisse scolded lightly.
"Yes Yes." Kenshin said.
"So, do you already have your outfit in order?" Saji said.
"Yes." Kenshin nodded. "You?"
"Momo-San and Ruruko-San do, I'm still looking for something." Saji said.
"Yes, we must be going." Momo said. "Come on Saji." She said taking his hand.
"Yes, come on, come on!" Ruruko said as the two pulled him away.
"Hahaha, alright alright I'm coming." Saji said as the group of three left.
"People are getting close." Kenshin said.
"I see that." Rossweisse said.
The two kept proceeding through Kuoh, but eventually they came to a stop on the hilltop overlooking Kuoh. "..." Kenshin looked over the horizon.
"Hmn.." Rossweisse brushed her hair to the side as the wind blew. "This view is lovely." She said.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "...Y'know. Rossweisse...there is one more thing we have to do before your grandmother arrives, otherwise she'll likely see through the both of us."
"What?" Rossweisse said.
Kenshin turned to face her. "Well, she might ask us to-"
"O-Oh." Rossweisse said, a deep blush on her face as she cut Kenshin off.
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "If we don't like the feeling, then your grandmother is sure to see that."
"I-I understand i-it's just..." Rossweisse bowed her head forward. "...m-my first."
"I see." Kenshin said. "Well, we don't have to right now, at this moment if you don't want to."
Rossweisse's head snapped up and wavered back and forth. "The sooner the better." She said.
"Alright, let me lead." Kenshin said.
"..." Rossweisse nodded mutely. "!" Her eyes widened slightly as Kenshin slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close.
"...Calm yourself. You won't really know how you feel about this if you're all jittery." Kenshin said.
"Y-Yes." Rossweisse said, quietly swallowing a lump in her throat. "He's so warm, his scent is filling my nose. His gaze is so intense!" She thought, her heart starting to pound in her chest.
"She really is quite a beauty." Kenshin thought. "But I have to wonder. Why me? She doesn't seem like the kind of woman who'd like being in the romantic situation I'm in."
"You mean having a harem?" Yuurei said. "Eh, she obviously thinks enough of you to pick you, why question it ?"
"I guess..." Kenshin thought.
They moved closer to each other, their lips about to meet when...
"Kenshin..."
"!" Kenshin and Rossweisse's eyes snap over to find Ophis. "O-Ophis-San?" Rossweisse stammered out.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"Hungry..." Ophis said.
"Uh..." Kenshin looked at his watch. "Oh man it is getting close to dinner."
"Well let's go then." Rossweisse said.
"I guess we'll have to try this again some other time." Kenshin said.
"Y-Yes." Rossweisse said with a blush, looking away.
(Break)
The Next Day.
Training was done for the day, more of the same for everyone. Now Issei and Kenshin were in the VIP room after getting cleaned. "Yo Kenshin you feelin' alright?"
"Yeah? Why?" Kenshin asked.
"Well you seemed pissed leaving this room yesterday." Issei said.
"Oh, just some personal stuff. I'm fine." Kenshin said. "So, I hear Seekvaira's gonna be at the open house for Sona's academy. Got anything planned?"
"Wha? She is?" Issei said.
"..." Kenshin shook his head with a laugh. "You really didn't know?"
"No this is the first I'm hearing of it." Issei said.
"Well, I guess just spending time with her would be enough. Tell her what you've been up to lately and ask her what she's been doing." Kenshin said.
"Yeah." Issei said.
"What are you going to be doing anyway Kenshin?" Xenovia asked as she and Irina were cleaning the other side of the room.
"Probably make my rounds and chat a little with everyone, Sona probably wouldn't mind me helping a bit with the guests as well." Kenshin said.
"Hey, Issei-kun, what about me, are you gonna spend sometime me too?" Irina asked.
"Oooh, Avarice." Kenshin chided.
"W-Wha? ! Th-That's not avarice! I just want to spend time with him!" Irina huffed.
"Then it's clearly lust." Xenovia stated. "Tell us more O' Pure Angel of Lust."
"Mrrrmmmnnn..." Irina narrowed her eyes into a childish glare at the two.
(Whack!)
"That's enough you two." Issei said as two welts grew on Kenshin and Xenovia's heads.
"Heheheh." Kenshin and Xenovia chuckled and high fived each other.
"Thanks Issei-kun." Irina said embracing him from behind.
"Ehehehehe..." Issei giggled pervertedly, but quietly.
"I wonder if Asia and Ravel have finished those cookies." Xenovia said.
"Eh, if they have. Ophis has probably already beaten us to them." Kenshin said.
Akeno walked into the room. "Our guest has arrived."
Everyone nodded and made their way down to the teleportation room. The circle began to glow as the Kuroshi and Gremory peerages waited. "I hadn't gotten a chance to tell you two this, but our guest that is to be arriving is actually Rossweisse's grandmother."
"Eh? Really?" Issei said.
"Crap, I thought we had more time." Kenshin thought.
The magic circle turned blue and glew brightly before dying down, in the middle of the circle was an elderly woman wearing deep blue robes. She had a fearless look on her face, she stood straight and was rather slim. Her height was also around Rossweisse's as well. She looked around before smiling. "Hello everyone. I am Gondul of Valhalla. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
The group makes their way to the VIP room. Akeno and Yukari set out tea and snacks. "I notice your peerage only half here." Gondul said to Kenshin.
"Ah, right. My mother tends a cafe here in town and the dinner rush just started. My knight Granberia is currently training saying she wouldn't understand this conversation anyway while my Queen and Rook are with the Demon Queen who is out in town." Kenshin said. "That said. If I receive an alert from them, I'm afraid I will have to leave, though I'm sure that won't happen."
"That's quite alright." Gondul waved him off. "One must keep their obligations."
"So, to start there will be an assembly for magicians in the Agares' territory, that Gondul-San will be participating in." Rias said.
"So we're off to Agares' country again? Haven't been there since the end of the Youth Devils Tournament." Miyuki said.
"This also has something to do with things we can't tell anyone yet, but lately there have been increasing numbers of those in each faction with knowledge of ancient or forbidden spells turning up missing." Rias said.
"Sounds like terrorist work." Kenshin said.
"The Maverick Magicians or the Qlipploth." Yukari said with narrowed eyes.
"This is also information which hasn't been leaked outside, but for this meeting, we are considering sealing the research theme we are investigating about, in other words, the information of the spells we're experts in." Gondul said.
"So you're going to seal your magic?" Ravel asked
"Basically it is better to seal it off, until the incident gets resolved rather than having someone we don't know use our magic knowledge that we spent our whole life improving upon. The Fallen Angel's organization the Grigori has plenty of research for anti magic. So for these incidents that are currently happening, we will depend on them to seal our research." Gondul said.
"Why not just seal it yourselves?" Erubetie asked.
"They would be able to break it with hypnosis. If we use the aid of other magicians, there's always the concern that our research will be stolen. So the Grigori is a good common ground for us all." Gondul said. "However, before we seal our powers we decided to trade opinions. There are certain spell casters that rejected participating, but will attend anyway because of the valuable discussion that will take place. In the meantime, I was invited by Sona Sitri-San to be a lecturer at her new academy."
"Well don't worry. We at the Grigori take pride in our research same as you." Raynare said. "They will be safe with us."
"So that's how it is, Gondul-San came to visit us due to the Magicians' assembly and to spread her own knowledge at Sona's academy. She will be here for the next week and we will be going with her to the assembly." Rias said. "She is also a valkyrie like Rossweisse."
"Oh, is that right? So Rossweisse-San became a valkyrie because of Gondul-San's influence then?" Issei said.
"Despite my misgivings." Gondul said with her eyes closed. "I've told her many times that she wasn't suited for it because she is clumsy." She took a sip of her tea and glanced at Rossweisse. "Rose, there is only one reason why I came here specifically. You know what that is right? There are two gentlemen in this room, it is OK to assume that one of them is the person you mentioned, yes?" Gondul looks over at Issei and Kenshin.
Rossweisse stands up and inhales. "Yes that's correct. The taller of the two is my boyfriend. His name is Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin."
"Hello." Kenshin waved with a casual smile.
Gondul turns back to Rossweisse. "Rose, you left the house of your own accord, you turned into a Devil of your own accord, and you started working as a teacher in the human world of your own accord...you sure are a bad granddaughter for making me worry this much."
"..Ugh...that's because..." Rossweisse said, but faltered. Rias came to her defense.
"Well that was also because I invited her, so please don't only blame her Obaa-Sama." Rias said.
"You misunderstand me, Princess of Gremory. It's not that big of a problem...well it is, but I need to scold her for changing the way she lives without so much as consulting me first." Gondul said.
"Whew...that makes me feel like I'm getting my ear pinched back at the Vatican all over again." Xenovia mutters while munching cookies.
"Ahem..." Gondul coughs lightly, realizing she was letting her tone get a little too strong. "Well anyway that should be fine. I also told my opinion about how Odin-Sama forgot about you and left you behind, so I won't blame you for that."
"Wait, so you chewed out the Allfather?" Kazumi said.
"In a simpler way of speaking, yes." Gondul said
"Tchahahahahaha, that's hilarious." Evangeline laughed.
"Oh don't get me wrong, Thor-Sama also got on him. It's not like I went in alone." Gondul said. She turned back to Rossweisse. "I'm worried about you, even though you're good with studies and magic, you are clumsy, so it worries me that you can even take the role of a teacher in a Far East country like this without causing trouble. That's why I always told you I would feel better about it if she had a spouse and then she tells me she does."
"I see..." Kenshin thought.
Rossweisse walked over to Kenshin, sitting down next to him and grabs his arm. "Kenshin-kun is a man I can depend on. He's also the Dragon of the Elements, a descendant of Ragnarok Kuroshi himself. He has a bright future since he's already a Lord of a Devil Clan."
"Well, thanks for that Rossweisse." Kenshin said with a smile while glancing around the room. Rias looked fine, but Akeno walked out of the room saying she'd bring new tea with a painful expression on her face.
"I-I'll go and help Akeno-Sama!" Ravel said.
"Heheheh, this feels so awkward and for once it isn't on me." Issei snickered mentally.
Yukari and Miyuki looked fine as well. "Master, your body temperature's colder than usual" Chachamaru said
"Is it? Well then I could use a bath to warm up. Go tell Gasper and Valerie to meet me in the bath hall." Evangeline said walking out of the room, the air around her getting colder.
"Uh oh, she seems upset." Yuurei said.
"Gee ya think? !" Kenshin thought.
"So how long have you two been seeing each other." Gondul said.
"T-Three months!" Rossweisse said.
"...So that means it is OK to assume that you two have already done what a man and a woman would do then?" Gondul said.
"I-It's not like we are married yet or anything. B-Besides! My strong protection for my chastity is something I learned from you granny, I mean grandmother!" Rossweisse said.
"I never said you could join with someone in that sort of congress before marriage. I merely wanted you to not get caught up by bad boys and give yourself to them unnecessarily." Gondul said.
"E-Even I want to do erotic things with a man!" Rossweisse said, her voice taking on a country accent.
"Then do it already!" Gondul snapped, her own voice taking on the same inflection. She closed her eyes. "What I mean to say is...I will permit relations between you two."
"Oh sweet, you just got permission to tap that fine Valkyrie-Aah!" Yuurei yelped as Gnome smacked him. "OI!"
"Good Girl Gnome." Kenshin thought with a grumble.
"...Huh?" Rossweisse said with a dumbfounded tone.
"It isn't 'Huh?' I said I will allow it, you have already shared your feelings with a man you fell in love with now, right? So go for a date next time." Gondul said.
"W-Wait, b-but!" Rossweisse said.
Gondul cuts her off, staring hard at Rossweisse. "I will come to you about this more in detail when I next see you. To both you and your boyfriend. Thank you for today. I will be taking my leave now." She got up and left the room.
"Did she really have to have that conversation in front of all of us?" Yukari asked.
"Well, she's probably in a hurry." Miyuki said with a weary sigh.
"Jeez..." Rias said with a sigh of her own.
"I'm sorry...I-It's only for a short time, so please cooperate with me." Rossweisse said with a blushing face holding Kenshin's hand. "There is no more turning back for me."
(Break)
The next day
"Haaaaa!" Kenshin shouted out as he rushed Sun Wukong who leaped over Kenshin and swung his Ruyi Jingu Bang at Kenshin's head. Kenshin, without even looking back reached back and caught it.
"Oh?" Sun Wukong said.
"Heh." Kenshin smirked and jumped up, going into a spin before throwing the monkey to the ground, keeping hold of his weapon.
"Nice anticipation, you're getting better, but..." Sun Wukong said.
"Oh shit!" Kenshin said as he was planted on the ground by the Ruyi Jingu Bang grew in weight.
"T'was a mistake to keep holding my Ruyi Jingu Bang." Sun Wukong said approaching him.
"Heh, you say that." Kenshin said with a smirk as he reverted into a stencil.
"Hm? !" Sun Wukong felt Kenshin's presence behind him.
"Nngh!" Kenshin grunted as he was frozen in place as he tried to slash down at the Monkey King.
"Did it not occur to you that I'm also a master of youjutsu?" Sun Wukong asked as a dark mist surrounded them.
"Haa!" Kenshin said firing a Katensho from his stilled blade.
"Oh my!" Sun Wukong said as he was engulfed by the youki blaze.
"It had, I just needed to get you close!" Kenshin said jumping back.
"Indeed." Sun Wukong said as he leaped out of the flames, jabbing Kenshin in the chest with his Ruyi Jingu Bang. "Extend!"
"Guah? !" Kenshin said as he was sent rocketing backward. "Hrrghh!" Kenshin growled and punched the staff off him and caught his balance. He held Kuroi Jigoku defensively and blocked Sun Wukong's next strike. "Let me ask you something. You train with Vali and Issei and neither of them can land a hit on you, yet I can. Are you holding back on me?" Kenshin asked.
"That would be because of your usage of the elements. You may not be using them now, but even then it's easier for you to connect to the world than it is for most others. This effects you even when you battle without your Sacred Gear. Using Undine's Serene Mind technique has improved your battle sense. So at times I can't avoid taking a hit."
"I see." Kenshin said as the two separated. "Hrm!" He threw Sun Wukong backward and collected Youki in front of his fist before rushing forward. He punched at Sun Wukong, meeting the Ruyi Jingu Bang. "Haa!" He stabbed Kuroi Jigoku under the staff. Sun Wukong moved his head out of the way, but Kenshin turned his Kuroi Jigoku toward Sun Wukong's face."Point Blank Katensho!"
"Hrm!" Sun Wukong grunted, blocking the attack with a barrier, before burying his fist into Kenshin's stomach, sending him flying to the ground. He appeared above Kenshin and pointed the Ruyi Jingu Bang at his face before the Dragon of the Elements could get up. "It's my victory."
"So it is." Kenshin said with a nod.
Sun Wukong retracted his weapon and let Kenshin get up. "You're certainly getting better. There's no doubt about that. You are making sure to keep up on the other aspects though, right?"
"Yes." Kenshin said. "I've even been meditating an hour a day."
"Good." Sun Wukong said. "So I hear you have a date today."
"Y-Yeah..." Kenshin said glancing away with a sheepish look.
"Well, can't give you much advice about women." Sun Wukong mused.
"I don't need it." Kenshin shrugged. "I'm at least confident in that department."
"Really? Why did that Shinso and the Lightning Priestess seem so upset yesterday?" Sun Wukong said.
"Urk!" Kenshin slumped.
"Well it was more the latter than the former, but it felt weird taking a cold bath last night." Sun Wukong said.
"Gonna lose a lot of blood next time Evangeline wants some." Yuurei said.
"Y-Yeah..." Kenshin thought.
"Hey Kenshin-Sama!" Ravel called out. Kenshin turned to find Ravel, Issei and Le Fay running up to him.
"Oh, Ravel. Finally get the contracts hammered out?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes. Le Fay is now Issei-Sama's summoner for the next five years." Ravel said.
"Is that right? So Issei how much are you paying your new free agent Magician." Kenshin said.
"D-Don't make it seem like this was some kind of a sports signing." Issei said with a sweatdrop.
"D-Don't worry Lust Dragon-Sama, I'm being well compensated." Le Fay said with a nervous look.
"Don't you need to be getting ready for your date with Rossweisse-San?" Ravel said.
"I was gonna go hop in the bath just now." Kenshin said.
"Mmrrn...Going out with Rossweisse-San may be something you need to do in order to deepen the relation between the Kuroshi and Gremory groups, but you also need to pay attention to Rias-Sama and Akeno-Sama! You really do!" Ravel lectured.
"..." Kenshin felt like he was an inch tall as Ravel laid into him.
"Not only that, but I can tell Yukari-Sama and Miyuki-Sama have been getting lonely lately!" Ravel said.
"Why? Have they said something? !" Kenshin said out of concern.
"N-No, but I can tell they're miffed that you're not spending much time with them." Ravel said.
Kenshin slumped, turning away crying anime tears. "I'm tryinnnngggg!" He thought.
"Ravel, you're just making that up." Issei drawled.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"If Yukari-San and Miyuki-San want to spend time with Kenshin, they know he will if they ask." Issei said. "They're more bummed out that everyone keeps crowding Kenshin."
"I-I guess." Ravel said. "But still you should go on a date with all of them sometime."
"I-I know." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"...A-And I also want to go shopping with you, Kenshin-Sama." Ravel confessed poking her index fingers together."
"Y-Yeah, we'll see if we can't carve something out." Kenshin said.
"I, shall also go shopping." The group turn to Ophis who had her hand raised.
"H-How long have you been there?" Kenshin and Sun Wukong said with matching sweatdrops.
"By the way, Issei-Sama don't you need to think about where you're going to take Raynare-San on your next date?" Ravel said.
"Huh?" Kenshin turned to Issei. "You really asked her out, huh?"
"W-Well. I wanted to take another swing at it, and she's been waiting on the chance." Issei said.
"Not to mention, dates with Irina-San, Seekvaira-San, Kiryuu-San and the Imps." Ravel reminded.
"R-Right." Issei slumped.
"Man, you seem to be as swamped as I am." Kenshin said before leaving the room. He washed himself off and went up to his room. He threw on a grey dress shirt and black jeans, before throwing on his black jacket. He combed his hair a bit before going down stairs. He noticed a pair of long boots at the doorway. He recognized them as the pair Rossweisse was usually wearing. He felt he had arrived early so he took Kuroi Jigoku out and started polishing it's edge. However as he got the supplies out. He heard footsteps coming downward.
"..." He turned his head to find Rossweisse wearing a short skirt that hung down to knee level, a coat that was left open, and a black and white striped top that was low cut, exposing a generous amount of cleavage. He stared at her.
"P-Please don't suddenly act so strangely, it will make it harder for me to do this. Though...even I will dress in a fashion like this." Rossweisse said with a shy look.
"S-Sorry." Kenshin said awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "Shall we be going...?" He trailed off seeing four people in his sight. Rias, Akeno, Yukari and Miyuki.
"I just wanted to tell you that you both need to be back by night time. We will have a meeting before we head out to the Underworld." Rias said.
"Right." Kenshin and Rossweisse said.
"Alright. I have told Xenovia and the others not to pester you two." Rias said. "Not even the four of us will follow you."
"Yeah I mean come on, she's the one letting you have the harem." Yukari said jerking her thumb at Rias.
"We've been in this situation before." Miyuki shrugged.
"However. You should at least go on a date with Akeno and I." Rias asid.
"And Miyuki." Yukari added.
"Wh-What about you Onee-Chan?" Miyuki said with a blush.
"I've had one already. Your turn." Yukari said.
"Sure, whenever you want." Kenshin said.
"Ufufufu~ Going on a date with Kenshin-kun." Akeno said with a brightened expression. Kenshin and Rossweisse nodded and left the building, hopping a train to Tokyo. They arrive at the Shinjuku station an hour later.
"I wonder if she's a model from overseas...?"
"She is amazingly beautiful."
"..." Rossweisse bowed her head in embarrassment.
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked.
"If I wore either my jersey or my suit, then I wouldn't have found myself in this situation." She mumbled.
"Eh, I don't know about that. You'd have probably still stood out, being as cute as you are." Kenshin said with a grin.
"..." Rossweisse's blush got worse.
The station they arrived at was a bit out of the way from Tokyo itself. The building itself was rather large, as the couple walked through. Kenshin soon realized it was a department store and one of the floors was a floor where everything was a one hundred yen shop. "..." Kenshin glanced over at Rossweisse who had stars in her eyes as they stopped in front of one in particular. "Th-This is the huge 100-yen store for women that I've been dreaming about! The 'Bella'! It means beautiful or a beauty in Italian, and this brand only has fashionable items for women all lined up! It's famous for having a high grade item that really doesn't look like a 100 yen item just by the look of it, oh look! This plate looks very fashionable! Oh, that penholder has a beautiful shape, with no flaws! Oh, this has an amazing amount of storage space even with this size."
"...E-Eheheheheh..." Kenshin snickered with a sweatdrop as Rossweisse entered what he and Issei both dubbed 'Economizer Mode'. He glanced at the jewelery case and looked back at Rossweisse who was well good and distracted. He happened to noticed a bracelet with a beautiful jewels decorating it in the image of roses, white in color. "..." He glanced back at Rossweisse again who was still distracted. "Ahem, excuse me." Kenshin said quietly.
"Hm?" The store clerk, a woman in her late twenties with platinum blonde hair approached him. "What is it sir?"
"How much for this bracelet?" He asked pointing at the bracelet he was looking at.
"Oh, my apologies sir, everything on the floor is one hundred yen except the jewelry. We have to gauge our prices somewhere." She said with a smile.
"That's OK, Money isn't an issue." Kenshin said. "Just make it snappy, it's only a matter of time before she realizes I'm not looking at stuff with her."
"Hmhmhm." The woman giggled. "Right away sir."
"Thanks. I'll be back some time in the future to look at other stuff." Kenshin said. "Just hand it to me when we check out in whole. Put it in a gift box." He said setting the payment down.
"Oh, I look forward to your business sir." She smiled and pulled the bracelet from the case taking the money.
Kenshin walked back to Rossweisse. "Please take a look at this Kenshin-kun, this, this and even this costs 100 yen, There isn't even a single product which will cost 200 or 300 yen!" Rossweisse said, still in Economizer Mode.
"Yeah, except the stuff in the jewelery case." Kenshin said with a wry grin, but wasn't heard.
Soon the two exited the Bella. "I couldn't help but spend ten thousand yen for my shopping. To be expected from Tokyo's 'Bella' Terrifying indeed."
The two came to rest at a terrace cafe. Rossweisse started rifling around in her purse. "You know that means you bought like one hundred things right?" Kenshin asked, the bracelet he bought safely tucked away in his pocket, given to him while Rossweisse was checking out. Too distracted to notice.
"D-Did I bore you? I-I'm sorry for finishing buying things while I was the only one all happy about it." Rossweisse said with a shy, but slightly morose expression.
"Don't worry about it. It was actually kind of refreshing and fun to see you acting like a girl your age." Kenshin said with a smile.
"..." Rossweisse paused to drink some of the coffee she ordered. "Now that I think about it, this is my first date." She said.
"Is that right?" Kenshin said. "Well I should work to not make it boring then, but I have to ask...you know I have multiple lovers. So are you really OK with me?"
"I-If I was asked to choose one person to date among the men around me. Then I would have chosen you regardless Kenshin-kun...B-but please don't misunderstand me! It's 'If!' If someone asked! This is merely a 'what if' story."
"Yeah like if I wasn't engaged to Rias I might be King of Demons." Kenshin snickered.
"..." Rossweisse drinks more of her coffee and looks down with a gloomy expression. "I know I talked about this before, but I want to go into a little deeper detail. Now..." She paused to take a breath. "I just simply studied while I was living in Valhalla. The War Maidens, the Valkyrie that were around me were having a heated discussion about amazing heroes that turned into the warriors of Valhalla, Thor-Sama included. While my classmates were wasting their time with the opposite sex. I simply gave it my all at studying in order to get closer to my aim." She pauses to look out at the horizon. "I was able to become a Valkyrie due to putting all my time of youth into studying, but now I look back on it thinking that I should have played a bit back then."
"There's nothing wrong with the path you pursued." Kenshin said with a smile. "If I'm being honest...in a way we're alike, I've spent my entire youth training. Thought you are right about one thing. We both could stand to relax and play a little during our youth, or just act like youths...so we can remember we had a 'youth.'" He went on. "I mean honestly. How many of them could say they were able to handle being that crotchety Allfather's bodyguard?" He asked. "That's like something to put on your resume for a job in the future." He laughed.
"He still left me behind." Rossweisse said
"He's an idiot for doing so." Kenshin responded.
"..." Rossweisse's cheeks burned hot for a bit, but she reached into her pocket and pulled out a crest. "This is the crest of my family...that I failed to inherit. Even though I'm the eldest daughter...I still couldn't."
"..." Kenshin stared at her.
"I don't have any siblings like I said before, so my cousin, a distant cousin inherited the emblem in my place. They completed the rituals completely...I was originally bad at using the magic that is the expertise of the ones in my family. I don't know whether to say I had bad compatibility with it, but I still can't get used to spiritual magic seiz- style. I learned how to use rune style and gandol style, but what shocked me the most was when I got used to the Valkyrie's offensive magic which was for battle purposes. Now I have become the user with the most powerful offensive magic in my family, among my family who have been using all three of rune, gandol, and seiz...I was the only irregular. I did get good compatibility with magic that my family barely used after all...I was fortunate enough to become a Valkyrie, but the results that I made are nothing compared to my grandmother's during her prime." Rossweisee said hanging her head.
"Hmn..." Kenshin closed his eyes and grabbed her hand. "Rossweisse, there's nothing wrong with that. So what if you're purely offensive in battle nature. I mean...until I met the spirits I was pretty much purely offensive myself. That's mainly why I trusted my back to Yukari, because I didn't necessarily want to take too much damage."
"Well...Spellcasters from my family had been good at communicating with the fairies and to using spiritual magic. However I was exceptional since I starte to learn offensive magic like a sponge...so I started to become brighter than before since I became capable of improving my performance and reserving my energy. My parents response surpassed that of praise and instead became that of shock."
"Well you learned defensive magics when you returned to your homeland right? When Issei and I bought the farm...and then subsequently sold it for new bodies?" Kenshin said.
"..." Rossweisse couldn't help giggling at the way he put it. "Yes, that is true. In short, my power diverted away from the power my family possessed. I had a vague though of inheriting my family's tradition when I was a child and to becoming a Valkyrie...just like my grandmother was something that was natural to happen. Those around me also had high expectations for me, but that didn't happen. What was supposed to happen didn't...Even up until this day...I don't even know what to become and what to do. I had a sense of anxiety for my future. So I did the job assigned to me properly and start to take money as a serious matter.
Rossweisse took a breath while putting the emblem away. "None of my parents, the people of my clan and my grandmother blamed me, and they still treated me normally...my family came to accept my situation right away, saying 'Well, there will be times when a child like her appears among a clan. That does make me happy, but I may have been able to have a different lifestyle if they even gave me a single criticism...no, this lifestyle I'm living now might have been different too...I was really happy when I was chosen as Odin-Sama's escort you know...he was troublesome, but I really did feel like it was a job worth doing...even if he left me behind." She bowed her head. "I do also feel like I should apologize to my mother. I don't think I ever lived up to her expectations."
"..." Kenshin went silent at this.
"I'm sorry. I spoke so long about my life to you Kenshin-kun." Rossweisse said. I try to avoid talking about this even to those closest to me...I guess I wanted to share it with someone due to my grandmother's arrival." She said. "I never regretted becoming a Devil you know. Their world's welfare program is structured properly and my salary is more than enough to live on. The Gremory group...and your group as well as the environment I'm currently in is also wonderful. Well the two groups in question are both full of surprises since we all get dragged into many situations, but having a lifestyle of being a teacher at Kuoh academy is more worthwhile than I originally thought."
"Is it really that fun?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes. I never thought teaching would be so fun." Rossweisse said.
"Honestly...I'm happy you trust me enough to tell me about your past in further detail." Kenshin said. "Honestly...I never felt like my mother and father approved of what I was doing with my life either, being in Rikudou. I just felt I had to...to keep them safe by hiding my existence from the world. In addition to what I felt with Negi...I also felt a considerable amount of guilt from what I felt my parents thoughts would be about my time in Rikudou."
"..." Rossweisse stared at him.
"That said, will you take up Sona's offer then?" Kenshin said.
"I'm still thinking about it. I'm hoping to come to find my answer by observing there. In the meantime I will also come to discuss with you if something happens. So please feel free to discuss anything with me even if it's some complaints you have." Rossweisse said.
"...There's not a single thing in which you are inferior to your grandmother in."
"!" Kenshin and Rossweisse looked around. Kenshin's eyes rounded to find the figure of Euclid Lucifuge sitting behind him.
"Ahh, how do you do Kuroshi Kenshin, the Dragon of the Elements and the former Valkyrie Rossweisse."
"Euclid...what do you want here you puppet?" Kenshin said. "If it's a fight, you're fuckin' on Let's take this to the wilderness."
"I haven't come today to see just you Kuroshi Kenshin. I have business with both of you actually." He extended his hand toward them both. "I will be straightforward. Kenshin, Rossweisse...will you come to our side?" Euclid said.
"!" Kenshin and Rossweisse's eyes widened.
"The fuck? ! Didn't that idiot Rizevim give him the memo? !" Yuurei shouted.
"Why us?" Kenshin said. "I know I'm a Primordial and my fate is malleable until if and when Trihexa is released, but what do you what with Rossweisse?" Kenshin said with a scowl.
"Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is a number of a man, and the number of him is six hundred and sixty six." Euclid said before putting a hand on his forehead. "It is a line from Apocalypse." It sure does give a headache to a Devil if you say a line found in the Bible." He narrowed his eyes at Rossweisse. "I had also heard that you wrote an essay when you were still a student in Asgard, and it's title was 'Regarding the Beast of the Apocalypse."
"Wh-What? !" Rossweisse said with a shocked expression. "I submitted a different essay because I could never come up with a conclusion to that one.
"Wait...so that's why she was reading books related to the Bible?" Kenshin thought.
"Hrm." Euclid smirked wickedly. "We are the ones that are gathering every single piece of information regarding Trihexa." Even if it's an essay that had been disposed of in the past, we will go and pick it up even if that place is at the end of the earth." Euclid said.
"! !" Rossweisse began to quiver fearfully as she heard that. "I talked a bit about that essay to my roommate back then, don't tell me you...!"
Euclid shrugs. "We helped ourselves to search through her memories, but we only obtained a fraction of the information. That's why we changed our method to recruit you directly.
"You...You assaulted her! You scum! I will take you down right here and NOW!" Rossweisse said with a greatly infuriated expression.
"Oh my. I do apologize for causing a scene. I will be taking my leave. Do remember that I didn't take her hostage. ...Except."
"!" Kenshin turned to find Euclid behind Rossweisse stroking her long white silver hair..
"I want your ability. You are exceptional, more than you think...and this beautiful white silver hair. It's almost exactly like-!" Euclid disappeared as Kenshin stabbed at him with Kuroi Jigoku.
"Farewell Kenshin, Rossweisse. Let's meet again. Please decide on the answer before then!" Euclid said before vanishing into the crowd.
"...Grrhh..." Kenshin growled softly.
(Break)
"...For him to appear in Tokyo...I was careless." Rias said after the two had arrived back in Kuoh.
"Yeah." Kenshin grunted.
"...Man, he seriously appeared in front of you so daringly?" Issei asked.
"He did it, because he knew ultimately that I wouldn't do anything. I bared my sword at him, but that was only when I knew humans were nowhere around us." Kenshin said.
"I agree. He knows what he's doing. It's scarily similar to what we did in Rikudou." Yukari said.
"They are clearly different to the supernatural being that have caused terrorism till now. The Qlipploth seems like that have no hesitations in leaving influence to the human world and causing casualties." Irina said.
"... Kenshin, don't let it get to you. They are terrorists with powers they could have appeared just about anywhere if they thought about it and having him appear and confront you during your private time was something none of us ever anticipated." Rias said.
"That said, it was a risky move for them to make too." Akeno said.
"No kidding. Tokyo's supernatural sects will be buffing their security now." Evangeline said.
"They approached Rossweisse-San, even to the extent to take that risk...I presume this shows how much they value the information in Rossweisse-San's essay." Ravel said.
"Judging from his words, it's natural to think that there is a high chance for it to have so much value to them. Anyway, Azazel should be calling any time now, so let's here what he has to say. Rossweisse will you be able to talk to him about it?" Rias asked.
"I'll be fine..." Rossweisse said with a stiff nod.
Azazel's image appeared before them. Kenshin and Rossweisse told him what happened. "I see so not only you are being targeted, but Rossweisse as well." He said.
"Why do they want Kenshin to join them? I mean Kenshin-Chan would obviously rather beat Rizevim into a paste than fight alongside him." Alma said.
"They seem to want to take the Primordials off the board so they won't oppose them. I imagine that's another reason why they kept Ophis around, and now Lilith as well." Kenshin said. "That's my thinking anyway."
"Yes. Anyway there's also Rossweisse's reason and in actually coincides with what we found out here at the Grigori." Azazel said. "There is a similarity between the incidents of the magicians vanishing...in that they were all researching Trihexa."
"Hrm...guess all the pantheons needed to know about it, if it's a looming threat." Kenshin said.
"So basically they're kidnapping any magicians that know about the number of the beast. Trihexa." Rias said.
"You can imagine what kind of seal has been been used if you know about the content of the Apocalypse and about the God from the Bible. I did however conclude that there are 23 different powerful seals those guys may have difficulty breaking. We're having a conference over here and are calculating how much time we have left until Trihexa gets released, by calculating from that information. We have have no intentions of letting those idiots bring back Trihexa, but we have to prepare for the worst."
"If that beast gets brought back and fights Great Red, will what Kenshin said really come to pass?" Issei thought glancing at Kenshin.
A figure warped into the room. Kenshin, without even glancing at her said. "Thanks for coming Mana." He said.
"This technically affects me as well as my interests. For that reason I won't be charging you this time." Mana said.
"Thanks." Yukari nodded.
"Alright. Now I'll ask you something Rossweisse. How did you try to encode the number 666?" Azazel said.
"...I researched it by using the number 616 which has a different approach. I used that number to compare it with the document and incidents that occurred within each force as I made a numerical formula and technical formula." Rossweisse said.
"616?" Miyuki said.
"When many of the researchers of Apocalypse were focusing on the number 666...one portion of the magicians apparently used the different approach of using 616 to research about it. The ones that had been abducted for this incident all used this method." Azazel said. "I wonder, did God make his seals against Trihexa by using the number 616 to try and ruse everyone away from Trihexa? Anyway I need you to copy what you can remember about that report and send it here."
"I've already been doing that." Rossweisse said placing a pile of reports with difficult looking magic symbols and formulas written on them on a small teleportation circle and send them away. Azazel glanced over and saw them on the desk next to him.
"Man, you sure are amazing. For you to research the same thing as your grandmother naturally. I guess families are alike." Azazel said
"Yes..." Rossweisse said.
"..." Kenshin looked over at her. "She's worried...that much I can tell."
(break)
The Next Day
Agares Territory.
The Gremory and Kuroshi groups as well as Alice, Irina, Sextum, Ravel and Tertium were being guided through the watchtower of a small town named Auros which was within viewing distance of Agreas, the Agares' sky city.
"So what's the deal here?" Granberia said. "Sona-San's building her school here?"
"Yes." Koneko answered.
"Why?" Granberia said.
"Because the elders pissed and moaned because Serafall openly supported it." Kenshin said with an exasperated look. "Also because having the school in Sitri territory would probably lead to more support for her house over most others...and we can't have that. It's coincidentally why Rias couldn't help her more either, because her words could be misconstrued as Sirzechs' opinion."
"Then why were you able to help Kenshin? I remember you saying you argued for this pretty adamantly." Issei said.
"Because I know and they know Sona's academy could only do good for the Devils." Kenshin said before grunting. "It's times like that, that I wished I already owned land. I could have stepped in and offered it up. My clan could use the backing anyway and I'd be helping a friend."
"I don't know Kenshin. The elders could have still threw a fit over it because you're Sirzechs' pawn." Tamamo said tapping her fan against her cheek.
"I'm only in his peerage for certain jobs. For everything else I am a free man." Kenshin said. "Thankfully Lord Agares stepped in and offered a compromise, and so here we are."
"What I want to know is why are you two here?" Hikari said looking over at Tertium and Alice. "I mean no disrespect Alice, but wouldn't you be safer at the house in your condition?"
"If the Hellas Empire wants to join this alliance of yours I might as well familiarize myself with the territory." Tertium said.
"I was getting stir crazy." Alice said.
Tertium glanced at Alice before leaning over to Sextum. "Two Questions." He whispered. "Why is the Queen of Demons here and what condition does she have?"
"One, she gave her youki to her ancient predecessor and it's taking awhile restoring in part because of two, She's pregnant." Sextum answered.
"..." Tertium blinked curiously. "...Huh. Who's the man that laid with her?" Sextum points at Kenshin. "...Seriously?" Tertium said out of surprise.
"He led the war effort against the now Former King of Demons, naturally over time Alice-Sama became smitten with him." Sextum said.
"...Could you two please quit talking about me like I'm not here." Alice deadpanned.
"!" Sextum froze for a moment while Tertium cleared his throat.
"Our apologies and congratulations on winning your throne back and on your impending motherhood." Tertium said.
"Thank you." Alice nodded.
They were greeted at the bottom of the tower by Saji. "Hey everyone and...oh, Alice-Sama I wasn't expecting you." Saji said.
"I'm a visitor here, don't treat me any differently." Alice said waving him off.
"Well come on, I'll show you guys around." Saji said as they all walked into town. "Nice place huh? A country town of the Underworld. Though that doesn't mean it isn't famous at all. I heard there will be presentations in this town in order to allow the magician's assembly to commence. Apparently the first mayor of Auros liked holding these sorts of things so this place became known to a certain group of people. Also, you can see the huge Rating Game stage up there Agreas nearby here. So you can call this environment as the most suited place you can come up with."
"Yes...I wouldn't mind building my home in a place like this." Kenshin mused.
"Yes I agree. I would like to do cropping in a place like this." Asia said.
"I agree, maybe since devils lives are so long maybe I could forget about being a swordsman for once and do something peaceful like this." Xenovia said.
"Hmn, maybe I should live in the countryside in the future, though it seems difficult for an Angel to live in the Underworld, so I guess it will be interesting to help Issei-kun and Asia-San when I get a job that brings me here, since they'll obviously like to live together."
"Everyone, it's too early to think about what you'll do during retirement." Rias said with a soft laugh.
"Eh, it's always nice to muse upon it." Yukari shrugged.
"I suppose." Akeno nodded.
"Besides I was tossing around ideas on a good spot to build my clan's home." Kenshin said.
"Hey." Kazumi poked Kenshin in the arm. "Is Mana here too?"
"She is, mainly to keep watch on the area. I already obtained her paperwork and whatnot and handed it to her." Kenshin said.
"OK." Kazumi nodded.
Issei noticed she had her Sacred Gear active. "Is something wrong?"
"Wha? No I'm just getting a layout of the place as a hobby. I've been making maps in my spare time." Kazumi said.
"?" Sextum turned to Kazumi. "You're going into cartography?"
"Eh, just as a side business when news cycles are running dry." Kazumi shrugged. "I'm hoping to detail them as much as possible so that tourists won't get lost."
"Hmn..." Kenshin glanced at her. "When you complete one come talk to me. I want to show you something."
"Eh? Uh..O-OK?" Kazumi said with a curious look.
"Gonna teach her one of the things Vesper did to our documents so people we didn't want reading them couldn't?" Yukari asked.
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
The groups arrived at a newly constructed building upon arriving at the southern part of town. "Huh." Kenshin said his brow going into his hairline.
"Oi oi." Issei said.
"We're still in the Underworld right?" Evangeline said.
"Scans confirm that we are indeed still in the Underworld Master." Chachamaru said.
"That was a rhetorical question!" Evangeline snapped.
On the gate of the school which looked like a smaller scale replica of Kuoh Academy, but not by very much, written in devil lettering was the name 'Auros Academy'. "Slick Sona, let them say shit now." Kenshin snickered as the gates opened and they walked in.
"Hm? Looks like everyone's getting a good workout in." Alma said as they all looked around.
"Huh, Sairaorg's peerage is helping out too." Miyuki said.
"Yeah the Bael group has been helping out regularly." Saji said as they approached the entrance where Sona was waiting. "Kaichou, I've brought Kenshin and Rias-San's peerages as well as Irina-San, Ravel-San, Sextum-San and her brother, as well as Alice-Sama."
"Oh? I wasn't expecting you, Lady Alice, but your presence is appreciated." Sona said. "Thank you Saji, Please head back to your charged location."
"Yes." Saji nods and leaves.
Rias approaches her childhood friend and holds out her hand. "Let me say this again, congratulations Sona."
"Yeah, been better if the elders weren't such foolish idiots." Kenshin said.
"Thank you Rias, This is still only the first school and the opening of this school is still far away, we have been able to organize the experience day." Sona said shaking Rias' hand. "And thank you for your support as well Kenshin." Sona turned to Alice. "Though I have to ask. I doubt this is just an outing, holed up in Kenshin and Issei's house or not. Is there a reason?"
"Well I guess another reason would be that if this alliance is truly built to last. Then Youkai children could benefit by coming to learn here or places like it." Alice said. "Some youkai parents don't have the time to teach their children themselves, or some of them might be dead or have orphaned their children."
"I see." Sona nodded.
They looked around, seeing a lot of parents walking around with their children, in and out of classrooms and in the halls themselves. "How many of them are there?"
"Well this is an experience day where people simply heard from rumors or from other people, but the number that came was more than what I had imagined. The children alone number at one fifty, but if we add in their parents or elder siblings then the number of people here will exceed four hundred."
"Sounds like you need more teachers in the future if the interest is that large." Kenshin said.
"Which is why I'd appreciate it if you accepted my offer, even on a part time basis." Sona said.
"I'll think about it. Remember, we are all busy." Kenshin said.
"Right." Sona nodded.
They passed the gymnasium where Sairaorg was teaching children.
"Listen up! In order to do a punch, you would need to bend your hips and release your fist directly forward as if you are punching with your whole body." Sairaorg said.
"That's right, ." Kenshin said approaching the group. However, if you're going for a punch combo, exhale in short, explosive bursts for explosive short punches "
"It's the Lust Dragon." The children murmured.
"Oh, the Lust Dragon. Is the Oppai Dragon with you?" Sairaorg said.
"Heh." Kenshin jerked his thumb as the group
(break)
Kenshin, Issei and everyone put on an Oppai Dragon show at Auros Academy "Whew...that was exhausting." Issei said.
"It's not often that I agree with you, but you're right." Kenshin said as they both slumped next to a fountain.
"Kenshin, Issei."
"Huh?" Kenshin and Issei said seeing Sairaorg approach them with Sona and Tsubaki.
"Thanks for entertaining the children. So how is it, what do you think about this school." Sona said.
"Well you already have my thoughts Sona." Kenshin said with a smile, prompting the Sitri heiress to smile back.
"Yes, it's a nice place, the children that came to have a look are full with spirits and more importantly the environment of this place is peaceful and it's honestly terrific." Issei said.
"Yeah. Seeing it in person only affirmed my opinion on how much good this place could do for Devil kind." Kenshin said getting up and extending his hand to Sona. "I wish for great fortune for this place." He said.
"Thank you." Sona said shaking his hand.
"So, Tsubaki, you planning on dressing up for Kiba sometime tonight?" Kenshin said.
"Wh-What are you...?" Tsubaki said.
"Oh come on Shinra, you're obviously head over heels with Rias' knight!" Sairaorg laughed.
"He knows this, but can't tell his own queen is hopelessly in love with him." Issei sniped quietly.
"Right?" Kenshin said.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Sairaorg asked.
"Nope." Kenshin and Issei said. "So what were you doing here anyway?" Kenshin asked.
"I was teaching them how to fight hand to hand. It can be strength. I'm teaching the children that have come for this experience day. Thought it's my first time doing something a teacher would do. I'm teaching them while reading a book which shows me an example of how to do this." Sairaorg said.
"They are taking this really seriously. Each child is throwing a punch seriously." Sona said.
"I also felt such when they threw their own punches." Sairaorg said.
"No offense to Sairaorg, but Sona...you should think about hiring a few masters of a few different arts both hand to hand and not in the future. A lot of hand to hand and weapon forms can't be learned by reading about it." Kenshin said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Sona nodded.
"No offense taken Kenshin. Though I have been thinking that this huge ugly fist of mine was something I trained to come this far. Though I was teaching hand to hand combat to the children. I think I finally came to realize it. That I who was born without the Power of Destruction was born to teach them this. I may be exaggerating, but I felt I was blessed to find out that my fist has such value."
Issei gets to his feet. "I'll also stir up the tension here."
"Kyaa~!" Everyone heard.
The children and parents began to gather at the front of the Academy. "Wait is that...? !" Issei said.
"Seriously? !" Kenshin said.
"Yup, that's Emperor Belial." Sairaorg said with an amused grin.
Sairaorg and Sona approach Diehauser Belial and shake his hand. "Diehauser-Sama, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your visit here today."
Diehauser smiled and looks around. "This is a nice school. It also seems talented students were gathered around here." The children responded by chanting his title.
"Whoa...it's amazing to see the Champion himself to come for a visit." Tsubaki said with wide eyes.
"Probably here on a PR visit." Kenshin snorted.
"He's on his way to Agreas where he will be filming a movie as the lead role." Sona said.
"Figures." Kenshin said.
"I will also help as much as I can. Having game players with potential appear will be a wonderful thing." Diehauser said moving to shake Sona's and Issei's hands.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes as Diehauser approached him.
"Lord Kuroshi...would you like to have our match now?" Diehauser asked.
"Hmn." Kenshin smirked and looked up into Diehauser's eyes. "And give you a look into my power in person before an official Rating Game? No thanks. After all you're the Emperor of the Rating Game, I'm not even ranked. I must take every advantage I can get."
(Break)
"-So that was my performance as a Pawn." Issei said after dropping his transformation, showcasing his various transformations.
"Oppai Dragon-San, thank you for your performance. Like this, the trait of a Pawn is used for promotion and..." The lecturer went on as Issei left the stage.
"..." Kenshin stepped onto the stage drawing Sona, Tsubaki's, Diehauser who decided to stick around for a bit and Sairaorg's attention. "Excuse me. I'd like to say something myself."
"Oh, Of course Lord Kuroshi." The Lecturer said.
"Ahem." Kenshin cleared his throat. "I just want to say one thing." He said. "I stand here before you all as some mighty dragon devil, but really growing up, strength wise I'm no different than you all."
"My advice to you is...find something worth fighting for and hold onto it. Make it your reason for improving. It could be something miniscule, like showing up a friend, or something major like protecting someone dear to you Your reason can be anything you want it to be. Don't let it go and never give up on it. Because if you relent on that reason. You might start giving up on other important things in your life." Kenshin said. "Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
"Oh that was too quiet!" Kenshin said.
"YES!"
"There you go!" Kenshin laughed.
Kenshin stepped off the stage and bumped fists with Issei. "Sorry, I just felt you were forgetting something."
"Yeah, thanks." Issei grinned.
Sairaorg approached Kenshin as Rossweisse stepped onto the stage and began giving a lecture on magic. "Kenshin, I want to ask you again. Will you reconsider and become a teacher here?"
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "My answer remains the same Sairaorg." He let out a sigh. "I just don't think I'll have the time right now. Sometime in the future, sure, but not when the academy officially opens at this time.
"Oh my, this is a surprise." Everyone looked over to see Gondul entering the room.
"Granny, er...Grandmother, you were here?" Rossweisse said with a surprised look.
"I did promise to be the special lecturer for this event. It sure will become a good leisure before the assembly tomorrow." Gondul said. "It will be a good leisure activity before the assembly tomorrow."
Rossweisse stepped off the stage as Gondul took her place and Saji pulled everyone away to see the rest of the academy.
(break)
Later that Night.
"Aahh..." Kenshin said as he knocked back a dish of sake. It was nighttime and they were still at Auros Academy, testing out what would be the dorm rooms for the students, and they even had separate baths for boys and girls. He and Issei were in here talking about the academy in general, Kenshin pointing out the things it could do for the reincarnated devils and the more trustworthy purebloods that had just become high ranked. Issei then had left while Kenshin said he wanted to soak a little while longer.
He heard the door opening again as he went to take another sip of sake. "You forget something Issei?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh, it's you Kenshin-kun."
"!" Kenshin blinked as Rossweisse walked into the bath hall. "...H-Holy hell." He thought. "Her figure is amazing!"
"Better than your fiancee's?" Yuureii chided.
"Not answering that." Kenshin thought. "Uhh...this is the boy's baths." He said.
"I-I know, but the hot water is out in the girl's dormitory." Rossweisse said with a shy look, her hands in front of her large breasts and covering her maidenhood. "They told me to come here because no one would be here."
"Well...I can leave if you want." Kenshin said.
"N-No you're OK." Rossweisse said as she walked over to the showers and began washing her hair. "Just please don't stare too much."
"I'll try not to." Kenshin said as he looked away, drinking more of his sake.
"You're drinking?" Rossweisse asked.
"Eh, I'm just doing it to relax myself." Kenshin said. "I squeezed in a light spar with Sairaorg earlier."
"Oh." Rossweisse said.
Kenshin heard the shower turn off a few minutes later, he expected Rossweisse to leave, but was mildly surprised when he heard the water displacing instead. He glanced over to find Rossweisse sitting at the far end of the bath. "You can wash your hair that quick?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes? Why?" Rossweisse asked.
"No reason, it's just there's so much of it. I figured it would take awhile." Kenshin said.
"Hmn, I've had it at this length for awhile. So I've figured out how to clean it quickly." Rossweisse said.
"..." An uncomfortable silence laid over them.
"T-The bath of the Underworld isn't bad." She said.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "Gah...it's hard to talk if she feels so uncomfortable like this."
Kenshin cleared his throat. "The magic lesson sure was popular." He said.
"I-It sure was, I couldn't take a break since we didn't have enough people." Rossweisse said.
"Yeah, but the kids were having fun. That makes it worth it." Kenshin replied.
"...Well...there was one child who couldn't do the very basic magic which I'm worried about." Rossweisse said.
"You mean Lirenkus? Hmn...I wonder if he's both having a hard time understanding it all and if he has above average mana stores." Kenshin said.
"Huh?" Rossweisse said.
"The more the mana the harder it is to control it." Kenshin said. Another silence fell over them, but this time Kenshin broke it. "Rossweisse...why were you researching Trihexa?"
"Kenshin-kun, you might be aware of it, but the existence of Trihexa was only stated and never really confirmed flat out. However, Great Red who appears in the same Apocalypse exists. That's what moved me to research it. Finding it was something impossible, but I wanted to find out what kind of entity Trihexa is, so I used the number 666 and 616 to research documents about it." Rossweisse paused to show a bitter smile. "Though I didn't get any answer...but maybe the answer behind the calculations and formula that I couldn't solve has a secret that those people are after."
Kenshin recalls asking Ophis about Trihexa with Issei, but Ophis saying she'd never met it.
"...Kenshin-kun..." Rossweisse said looking down at the water.
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
What Rossweisse said next stunned Kenshin. "If I ever get used by them...will you please kill me?" He got up and approached her as she went on. "If I was to be used by them to hurt my friends and cause trouble to this world...I would choose death. I won't be able to endure everyone dying for someone like me."
"No...I won't." Kenshin said kneeling right in front of her and grabbing her hand. "I won't let them have you and if on the off chance you get captured by them. I'll come and get you, just like I did with Ravel, just like we all did."
"..." Rossweisse looked up at Kenshin. "But if I get caught by Euclid Lucifuge I will definitely be used by him."
"If he even tries making a move on you he's in for the beating of a lifetime." Kenshin said. "I won't hand you or anyone else over to him."
"!" Rossweisse's eyes widened as her cheeks burn red.
"I'm tired of losing people I care about. If I can help it...It won't happen again." Kenshin said letting go of her hand.
"..." Rossweisse's shocked expression eases. "Thank you Kenshin-kun, but I..."
"It's gonna be OK, so try not to worry so much." Kenshin said with a smile.
"..." Rossweisse looked down before taking a breath and slipping her hand behind Kenshin's neck, pulling his head toward hers. Their lips meeting for a few seconds.
"!" Kenshin was surprised by this action, not expecting it from the shy Valkyrie.
"...We never did get to see how we'd feel about doing that." Rossweisse said. Her cheeks now a dark red, her eyes barely open and shimmering a bit.
"Are you OK?" Kenshin asked.
"Y-Yes...I...I must be going." Rossweisse said getting up and out of the baths before leaving the hall entirely.
Kenshin sat down in the baths again, looking down at his reflection. "So, why didn't you tell her how you really feel?" Yuurei asked.
"Really Yuurei we're going to that? So I'm attracted to her. What's the big deal?" Kenshin thought.
"There isn't one, I just wanted to strike up a conversation." Yuurei said.
"Whatever." Kenshin thought.
"Well, we could try the phantasmagoria sometime." Kenshin thought. "You're supposed to be a good fighter, right Salamander?"
"Oh ho? Looking for a sparring partner eh?" Salamander said with a smirk.
"Yes, but not right now." Kenshin thought. "I'm getting tired."
Kenshin got out of the baths and went to the dorms to sleep, concerned about what might happen in the coming days.
(Chapter end)
Draconis: Fuck...You...Writer's Block
Kenshin: Jeez, been hitting you a lot lately.
Issei: Something.
Draconis: I'll keep this short and sweet. See you all next time.
Draconis678 out.