Welcome to the next chapter of DxD – The Last Amagiri, before starting the story. Let me answer some reviews:
Hellspam: Thanks, I'm happy that you like Alice's and Kensei's characters.
CrimsonDragonGodEMPEROR: I don't know whether or not I should add them.
Ran: Thanks.
Awayuki: I'm glad that you liked the fight scene.
Gabriel790: Thanks.
Yano: Thanks. Here is the next chapter.
Campione: Thanks.
Guest: I like both of your suggestions. The one with Mizore sounds like an idea that will drive Issei insane(since he has a habit of having his exceptions crushed whenever it came to female youkai appearing in the canon). And, the one with Akane Hiyama, there is no such thing as being kind of a Yandere.
Guest 2: I already have an idea of who to add to Kensei's harem. Though having a dragon maid is an interesting idea.
King: Here it is.
Guest 3: I don't know whether or not I should add a descendant of Jack the Ripper into his harem.
Maker of Annihilation
~One Week Later
"Geez, after all that time, it took me a full week to fully heal even with Claire's treatment and with me even using my ki," Kensei replied as he sat down on a couch that looked different from the one in his home. "It's a good thing those bastards gave us the chance to heal from our battles."
"I think that it's a miracle that you could heal in that amount of time. And besides, if those guys didn't give us at least that, then their fans wouldn't be pleased about some of us falling in the middle of a match due to an injury."
Inside the living room of another house, Kensei was talking with a black-haired foreign young man with darkish red eyes who looked to be the same age as him, he was dressed in similar light clothing as him that was granted to them and he had a collar around his neck. His name was Zane Wayland, the descendant of Wayland the Smith from Norse Legend. Zane is also the sworn friend and an ally to Kensei since their first meeting.
After seeing that more relaxed look that was Kensei's face, Zane let out a small smile and turned in his direction.
"You seem a lot calmer than you were before when you first started to fight in the tournament," he stated as Kensei stared at him with a bit of a confused look. "When we first met you did look to act all calm and collected, but I could tell that you were a bit too tense during your fights since you weren't fighting to the best of your abilities. So, it goes to show that you've practiced all your clan's techniques to the point where they've been naturally engraved them all your body."
Upon hearing his from Zane, Kensei couldn't help but smile a bit. If there was anyone that he was able to rely on in terms of tactical skills and reading a person, then the first person would be the one standing in front of him.
"You know it sometimes gets annoying when you do that sometimes," Kensei laughed a bit, but he couldn't disagree with him in that regard. "But, you're right, my mom made it her job to engrave all of our clan's ancient techniques into me and now just our sword skill…I mean every single skill that the Amagiri Clan had developed over the years."
"You do the Last Amagiri title justice. I can't imagine what you're going through, but I guess that I could somewhat relate. When I was at the age of five my grandfather made sure that I was used to the flames and sparks generated when forging a weapon along with using this heavy hammer. I can still remember how numb my hands would get after hitting the surface of an anvil."
"Let me guess you messed up your sword on the first try?"
Kensei said in a bit of a superior tone.
"No…kinda, only slightly," Zane replied after seeing Kensei staring at him with a bit of a skeptical look on his face. "Alright fine, it came out a bit deformed and a bit crooked a couple of times, but I did fix it using whatever magic that I knew at the time."
"Which reminds me, wasn't Wayland the Smith a legendary blacksmith?"
In numerous legends, various blacksmiths forged weapons, equipment, and even several items. And there some of them used a variety of methods during the process of making them that included imbuing them with a variety of different powers to make them more powerful. And Wayland the Smith was one of them.
"Yes, my ancestor forged various kinds of weapons and items that ranged from either holy or demonic," Zane replied as he recalled something that he heard from his grandfather who raised him. "I was told a lot of stories and informed about various accomplishments that Wayland succeeded in as a blacksmith, but that always came back to me no matter what. Nothing that my family made could ever match that masterpiece among demon sword known as the Demonic Emperor Sword, Gram."
After thinking about Gram, Zane felt as if it was an unspoken challenge to make a better weapon than even the strongest demonic sword.
"I want to make something that can either be just as great or even greater than Gram."
Kensei couldn't help, but feel hope for all of them. Despite everything that all of them were going through in the Gehenna Tournament there were still those who desired to make their separate own dream come. And for that to happen, all of them needed to be freed first.
"Though, for me to accomplish that. We all need to get out of here first."
"You just read my mind. So, did you come up with anything about these things?"
Kensei was referring to the bracelets and collars that were stuck on their bodies and keeping all of them from resisting their captors. After hearing that from him, Zane let out a bit of a sigh and he stared at Kensei with an almost defeated look.
"I don't know what to tell you, but I'm pretty sure you already know that we can't directly tamper with these things or else we'll end up like the last guy who tried to remove his."
After being reminded of that, Kensei grimaced at the memory. A couple of months ago, there was an older magician skilled in alchemy had attempted to remove his bracelet, but the moment he tried it reacted to the interference, then activated feedback that caused him to die as a result.
"From what I can tell based on my knowledge and that from my "source", it is made using an ancient kind of contract spell utilized by the Old Devils before the Great War started. Its main purpose was to act as insurance to make sure that humans didn't break their pact with them, but as you can tell nowadays it isn't used anymore. These can also track us as long as we remain on the island, but it also keeps us from leaving the bounded field around the island."
"So our only choice is to use the teleportation circles that those bastard fans used to arrive here and leave?"
"That is an option, but those kinds of teleport spells work at a certain time and are always kept under guard by the Gehenna Guards. And obviously, they made sure that we couldn't use our magic to exit the island. I hate to admit it, but that Bastard Taro made sure to cover all his angles before he started this little operation."
"But, there's no such thing as an inescapable prison," Kensei stated with a confident smirk. "There is no way we're staying under these guys' control for the rest of our lives. I'm not losing Claire or Alice to no one."
Kensei proceeded to clench his fist tightly while narrowing his eyes. Seeing this caused Zane to smile with a bit of an understanding look.
"I can't say that I can know where you're coming from as I don't have anyone that I have that kind of attachment to. There is only one person on this island that I can call my close friend and that is you."
Zane said with a wide smirk causing Kensei to stare at him with a look of agreement.
"I feel the same way pal. You are my closest ally."
Without saying anything, both of them held their hands out and bumped fists with one another.
"But, I got to ask what is the source of yours," Kensei questioned with a confused look. "Despite all the times that I ever asked you, you would never tell me what this "source" was. I'm starting to think that you are just playing around with me."
"Sorry, but there is a reason why my "source" would like to remain hidden and if those guys found out about it, then they may take me off this island and experiment on me."
Zane said in a bit of a nervous tone.
Based on how long that he has known Zane, Kensei believed that he could trust him no matter what even with his own life if needed.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore."
"Don't worry, I'll tell you when the time comes. But, I don't think that you guys will get along if you two were to meet officially."
Zane started to laugh to himself nervously after thinking about it causing Kensei to stare at him in more of a confused manner.
OPEN!
As both of them talked with one another, the door to Zane's residence was slammed open causing both of them to jump slightly at the noise.
"Nii-chan! Zane!"
It was Claire who ran into Zane's home with an almost tired look on her face showing that she had run all the way there. Seeing how their house and his were far away from one another so it will take long even if someone ran all the way.
"What's wrong Claire?!"
"Alice-nee is about to start fighting! And―"
"Hold up."
Hearing Zane caused them to glance towards him, appearing in the living room was a holographic projection that displayed the image of the arena. After seeing what came into view, both Zane and Kensei widened theirs in shock at what they saw.
"Th-Those bastards."
"You've got to be kidding me."
[What an amazing addition to our wonderful tournament! Going against Alice Evangelista, one of our Gehenna Tournament's highest-ranked contenders is one of our Hagun Island's honorary Gehenna Guards…the Youngest of our Dynamic Duo Mason .]
In the arena were a red-haired hair and green eyes that looked at least three years older than Alice making him thirteen-years-old with a snide look and malicious intent behind his eyes. And unlike many of the other children on the island, neither of them had collars on them. Seeing them standing in front of Alice caused both Kensei and Zane to make a grim look as they knew exactly what kind of people those two were.
"Those bastards are going this far."
"They're using those traitors to fight this time around."
Amongst the group kept on the island to be fighters, some proved their usefulness to Taro, then they would be allowed some freedoms. Some of them would sell out their fellow captors. Do their dirty work no matter what it entailed. And other heinous acts. After all of that not only would they be allowed to have their collars removed, but they would be granted far better-living conditions inside of the middle of the city built in the middle of the island.
Even Claire knew the kind of situation that Alice was in, but she didn't want to believe it.
"Nii-chan, don't lie to me. Is Alice-nee in trouble?"
"The one advantage that we had when fighting against these monsters we that they acted in more instinct and barely followed any kind of thought," Kensei said as he tightened both his hands in frustration. "We may have lost the small advantage that was granted to us."
Meanwhile, inside the arena of the Gehenna Tournament changed its scenery into a scene, which looked like a forested area. It was an area that gave only Mason an advantage due to the nature of his ability. Alice was dressed in basic armor that was light enough for her to walk around with no issue due to her slightly weak physical body. She continued to walk around with an almost too bored look on her face.
"Where did he go?"
Alice questioned as she continued to talk forward aimlessly in the forest where she was. Moments after the match started, Mason hid inside of the forest and away from Alice's vision, as he viewed the matches that Alice had against various other monsters.
"As if I would be dumb enough to fight her in a head-to-head confrontation."
Mason thought. He knew the abilities of her Annihilation Maker that made it one of the strongest even amongst the Top-Tier Sacred Gears by creating near-endless creatures. Mason knew that fighting her head-on would be stupid, but instead fighting using long-ranged tactics.
"But, attacking her body would be smarter," Mason smirked in a sinister manner. "I did hear that she had a weak body."
He directed his hand towards Alice as she continued to walk forward towards a clearing inside of the forest as staying in the dense forest would be asking to be blindsided. The same moment, that she took a step forward, Mason's hand started to shine with an ominous green glow. As if following an unspoken command, the grass and ground around Alice's feet started to move as if it were alive and the plants started to wrap around her feet.
"Che Cosa?!"
Alice shouted [What] in Italian as she fell forward with whatever trick that Mason used.
She looked forward noticing that there were small spikes made out of wood that started to shoot up out of the ground under her with their sharp points close to piercing her face and body. Through, just as it was about the pierce her, Alice's shadow started to expand outwards causing a sudden chill to run down the spine of Mason. Coming out from the shadows were black tentacles that wrapped around Alice's limbs stopping her from falling forward before the spires could touch her.
"That was a close one."
Alice let out a sigh of relief wiping out away some of the sweat that formed on her forehead, then he controlled the shadows that came from our shadow and granted them bladed edged to cut apart the plants that wrapped around her.
"If I remember correctly his Sacred Gear is called [Arbor Field]."
The Arbor Field grants its wielder the ability to create various kinds of plants with various kinds of attributes and even controlling the plant-life around him. If it is mastered enough, then the user is capable of creating various unique kinds of plant life.
"So, being in this forest would be a horrible idea."
Soon enough Alice's shadow expanded again and coming out from it was a black wolf with deep red eyes and large enough for Alice to ride on top of. Alice later jumped on top of its back grabbing onto it so that she wouldn't fall off.
"Let's go! Head towards the clearing that is up ahead"
"Ooooo!"
It let out a howl and proceeded to head towards the center of the forest that had no trees around it, but surrounding it in a circle. That would be the best kind of place for her to escape to.
"As if I'd let you!"
Mason called out as he started motioning his hands towards Alice who was escaping on top of the wolf-like creature. All around her the plants started to move as if they were alive, from the trees the wood the trees started to break apart and started to be launched towards the escaping Alice and her wolf. Reacting to the attacks to protect its creator, the wolf started to move around dodging all of them using speed and reflexes that could be called god-speed.
Soon enough, the ground under the wolf's feet started to vibrate causing it to respond by jumping into the air and landing on the branch of a tree.
Crack! Crack! Break! Break!
Coming up from under the ground where they stood were numerous thorny vines started waved all around in the air and moved as if they were alive. All of the vines directed themselves in the same direction as Alice who continued to escape on top of her wolf by jumping from branch to branch. A number of the vines chasing after them started aiming at her like whips. Once some of the vines wrapped around the branches that the wolf at just jumped from they wrapped around them until it broke into pieces.
[What an amazing chase, Mason is giving our little Alice trouble! I wonder how this little fight will end! Will the loser be the Maker of Annihilation or our little Forest Hunter.]
"Of course, it'll be me."
Mason replied in a cocky tone as he began to chase after Alice who continued to head towards the clearing that standing before her. He reached into his pocket and his hands started to shine with a green light before fading out.
"I'm almost there."
Alice said as the wolf took a single leap outside of the forest and landed on the ground without any kind of aftereffect. It continued forward until stopping in the middle of the clearing. Once it did, Alice had it turn around to face the direction of where the attacks started from, but she couldn't see Mason anywhere behind her.
"From what I recall these brothers love sneak attacks. Come forth."
Alice's shadow continued to expand outwards again and various adult-sized humanoids came out with dense skin meant for more defense rather than just pure offense. All of them started to form a circle around making sure that no one would come from.
Alice made sure to stay on top of her wolf just to make sure that she could get away in time just in case something happened, but nothing happened.
"Where is he?"
Drop. Drop. Drop.
Alice thought she heard something falling from the skies and glanced towards the ground after she narrowed her eyes. Laid around Alice were several seeds placed all around her.
"Seeds?"
Alice questioned in confusion as she continued to stare at them until something very odd started happening to each of them.
Shine!
The seeds started glowing all around her giving out a faint pale green glow and―
Dooooooooooon! Dooooooooooon! Dooooooooooon!
All the seeds around her started exploding causing a great shock to come from the crowd who all watched as the match occurred.
[Look at this! Mason has brought out a new trick.]
"Alice-nee!"
Claire who watched the match with both Kensei and Zane let out a shocked sound as she watched the seeds around her explode on the verge of tears.
"Kensei?"
Zane who had an idea of what just happened glanced towards Kensei who narrowed his eyes.
"Tch. All living things including plants have that unknown part of them and by using an ability like Senjutsu, a person can make use of them in various ways. But since his Arbor Field is can control all plant-life in his area and through the personal training that those two went through, he found out how to use those parts to accomplish that kind of feat."
The three children watched as Alice came out of the explosion and rolled around the ground, then started to breathe heavily from the impact.
[What a thing! Alice came out of that explosion with relatively no injuries at all.]
"How did she get out of there?"
Zane question, but as the smoke cleared, both he and Kensei noticed the human-sized creatures saved Alice from the explosions, while the wolf threw her away from the explosion. They acted on their instincts to protect their creator.
"They protected her."
"Of course," Kensei replied to Claire's statement as watching portions of the creatures blown apart and started to regenerate. "Alice is the kind of person who views everything that she creates as a living work of art that is apart of her, the same thing applies to the creatures that she creates using her sacred gear. As they're part of her, they reacted to the fear that came up within her and acted. From the looks of it, the explosion caused them to become stalled and from the looks of it Alice is incapable of handling another hit like that."
Kensei stated as he stared at the holographic scream.
"Alice did mention that she was born with a weaker body than most people her age and she used to get a lot sicker than normal. This is turning more and more into a one-sided fight if things continue like this."
"I wouldn't say that."
Kensei said causing both Claire and Zane to stare at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Alice is a weird girl," Kensei replied without the slightest bit of hesitation. "Claire remembers how she always told us that she loves art more than anything and how she found that no inspiration at all whenever she fought against monsters. I could only interpret that as Alice finding no interest in a creature that made the same movements, but when up against a human who acts by using several tactics, then I think that could change in this fight."
Lying on the ground, Alice had covered her eyes using her hands and started breathing a bit heavier due to the movements that she wasn't at all used to. Her heart started beating at a fast rate within her chest and suddenly a smile started to form on her face.
Alice looked through the cracks of her hand coming into view was a long shadow that hovered in the air. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed that it was Mason who held vines wrapped all around his body and attached to huge leaves acting as wind letting him fly―no gliding in the air.
"So, this is how it feels to fight a human. I can already feel different ideas coming into my head."
Alice said to herself as she started to stand back up.
As Mason continued to float towards the ground, he reached into his pocket pulling out three much larger seeds.
"Let's see out she deals with these."
Mason replied as he threw them towards the ground.
The moment that the seeds landed on the ground, they reached into the soil and started to open up using the unknown source within the plant-life. Born from one of them were numerous amount of thorny vines that all attempted to wrap around Alice; the other was various wooden spears that looked like they could pierce through steel; and a giant flytrap that had sharp teeth.
"Alright, then I'll call forth my Guardian."
Saying that with a fascinated look for the first time and caused her shadow to expand outwards, then what came out of it was a shadow. Instead of the usual creature that would come out from her shadow, it was a teenager of average height carrying a Japanese-styled sword in its hand. At the same time that it took shape, the other creatures that Alice had made came back together.
"Rip her to pieces."
Before Alice could give out an order, all of the vines and wooden spears started shooting outwards towards her from all sides, but before either of them could reach her. The adult-sized humanoids stood in front of the vines using their bodies to catch the thorny vines and wooden spears. Despite all of Mason's attempts none of them could be pulled out from their bodies.
"Fine, attack her!"
Calling out a command, the enormous flytrap shot towards Alice opening its wide mount in an attempt at eating her whole. Though, before it could even reach out, the creation that Alice called her "Guardian" moved at god-speed brandishing the edge of its sword cutting off roots of the plant in seconds causing Mason to become shocked.
"Wh-What the hell?!"
"Nothing that you can make can defeat my Guardian," Alice said as she stared at all of the moves that her Guardian started making similar to that of a skilled swordsman and she smiled brightly as it continued to move to protect her from the giant flytrap. "My Guardian is someone who will do whatever he has to protect me and the girl who I too view as my precious little sister."
Based on how Alice talked, it sounded as if she were talking about someone else instead of what stood in front of her. Before long her creatures started to tear apart all the plants that Mason made causing him to stare at her with an annoyed look.
"You bitch! I'm going to make you suffer!"
Reaching into his pocket, Mason pulled out a much larger seed that had various glowing lines all across it. At the same time that he threw it towards her, the wolf started to move. The moment that the seed landed on the ground, an abnormal thorn-riddled vine shot out from the ground and went in the direction of Alice as if it had a mind of its own. Before it got any further, the wolf opened up its jaws gripping the vines in its mouth causing them to slow down slightly, but it continued to move forward.
Sensing the inner danger of its creator, one of the humanoids who stopped the previous fines had stepped in front of Alice using its body as a shield. Alice let out a slight sigh as the entirety of the vine had stopped in its tracks, but her eyes widened as it started to extend forward again. Alice somehow reacted to it on time and moved her head out of the way with only a scrape that caused a small wound to open.
"I almost became worried there for a moment."
At the same moment, her Guardian had made its move and arrived in front of Mason with its blade pointed directly at the young man's neck. Seeing that he had no other option, but to surrender.
"I give up."
Mason said as he held both his hands out and admitted defeat.
[Mason has admitted defeat! The winner is Alice Evangelista! Now will everyone, I ask that you all await as the next match that will start in the next five minutes!]
After hearing the arbiter let out that announcement, the crowd started to yell causing their voices to resonate across the arena. A mischievous smile formed on Mason's face as he started to walk in the direction of Alice with a faux smile.
"That was a good fight, Ms. Alice, I can see why our employers hold you in such high regards."
Mason held his hand out in a gentle manner, but Alice narrowed her eyes towards him and started to walk away out of the arena after it returned to normal.
"That is the same fake smile that the guys who brought me here gave me," Alice answered in a cold tone. "I have no intention of being allied with either of you people."
After saying that last response, Alice left the felt, but as she was walking away, she started to feel sudden wave drowsiness that nearly caused her to tumble over. Once she regained herself, Alice thought that it was just an effect from the battle and continued to leave, but the smile that formed on Mason's face made it all the more ominous.
"See," Kensei finished watching the match with both Claire and Zane who both let a breath of relief escape from their mouths. "I told you that Alice would be alright."
"I can admit when I'm wrong, but man you do know Alice more than I do."
Zane had stated with a slight smile being grateful that he didn't see another one of his friends that was brutally injured or killed during this tournament. Seeing that Alice left the arena, Claire began to head in the direction of the front door so that she could meet her at the entrance leading to their residence and congratulate her in person.
"I'm going to meet up with Alice-nee, knowing her she won't be capable of making it home on her own without passing out on the ground."
"Alright, I'll join you," Kensei replied just as he was prepared to walk outside, but he was stopped by Zane who held him by the back of his shirt. "Is there something wrong?"
"There's something else that I wanted to talk about."
"Oh, what would that be?"
After seeing that Claire had already stepped outside and began to run to meet up with Alice at the entrance, Zane glanced towards Kensei with a bit of a serious look.
"It's actually about Claire."
Once he heard that from Zane, Kensei stared at him with a bit more of a serious look and stood in front of his friend/ally.
"What about Claire?"
Claire walked outside and she started to head in the direction of the entrance in front of this area's resident. As she was heading there, she started to see all the other children who were around her age brought on the island against their will. Amongst all of them, there was a single spectacled girl that had come up to talk with her.
"Hey, Claire-chan."
"Ah, hello. Rui-san."
In front of her, was a girl who looked to be at least a year older than herself with peach blonde hair and brownish-red eyes; her most notable features were the animal dog-like ears and a raccoon-like tail. Due to the lessons from her mother and Kensei, Claire knew that Rui was a Tanuki, a kind of Japanese Youkai similar to that of a Kitsune (Fox Youkai).
"Hmm, what's with this Rui-san," Rui questioned as her ears started to twitch. "I thought that I said that you could call me Rui-chan."
Claire started to feel almost overwhelmed by the older girl's insistence by Rui, if she were being a bit paranoid, then she would have thought that Rui was using her race's unique abilities almost by instinct and not through intent.
"Th-Then Rui-chan."
Claire replied in a nervous tone, but it caused Rui to smile energetically and wrapped both of her arms around the gray-haired devil-hybrid. As Claire was being hugged into the budding bosom of the full-blooded Tanuki causing her to make an almost uncomfortable look on her face.
"Uh, Rui-chan. Can you let me go?"
"Hmmm, okay."
Rui replied in an energetic manner causing Claire to move from her letting out a couple of breaths out of relief. Seeing that Claire wasn't with neither Kensei nor Alice, that caused a bit of curiosity to well up in the chest of Rui.
"So, what're you doing," Rui inquired as she stood in front of Claire with a single hand placed under her chin. "Why is it that you would be away from your precious "Nii-chan" and "Alice-nee"?"
"You know in the Human World, there is an expression that says curiosity killed the cat."
"But, I'm not a cat," Rui replied as she pointed at her animal ears and tail that twitched the moment that she pointed at them. "I'm a Tanuki, a raccoon-dog."
"I know that," Claire replied letting out a slight sigh. "It's a proverb that means, being inquisitive about other people's affairs may get you into trouble. And to answer your question, I'm going to where Alice-nee is coming in from. Didn't you watch her match against Mason?"
Hearing her response caused Rui to stare at her with a surprised look, but she soon started to nod her head in understanding.
"I didn't watch it, I was kind of avoiding my roommate. So, I kinda hid somewhere where she could not find and even hid my ki."
Rui replied nervously, but it caused Claire to nod her head in understanding, while she made a look of distaste.
"Yes, that Nekomata who's trying to take away my Nii-chan."
Claire's tone matched her expression and complete with crossing her arms while turning away.
"Wow, you don't like…."
"Oh, Alice-nee!"
The same time that Claire turned away, she noticed Alice walking in their direction, but she could tell that Alice was a bit shaky on her feet.
Claire started to run in her direction causing Rui to follow after her. As both of them continued to get closer and closer to Alice, they started to notice that her face was a lot paler than it normal and both her legs were shaky.
"A-Alice-nee."
Claire called out in a worried tone and her expression turned grave as Alice fell forward landing on the ground almost motionless.
"Alice-nee!"
Claire let out a desperate cry and ran in the direction of her downed adoptive older sister with Rui following behind her.
Inside Zane's House, both he and Zane stood in front of one another with both their sights being locked on one another.
"Are you sure about Claire?"
Kensei was in a state of confusion about what he was just told by Zane who continued to stand in front of him with the same expression from before on his face.
"Due to the nature of my "Source", I could tell that Claire held an abnormal aura around her when I always around her," Zane replied in a serious tone as he opened and closed his right hand as if an unknown presence started to seep out. "There's not a single doubt in my mind that is the presence that I sensed."
"Hmm, I knew that Claire had potential, but―"
Open!
"Kensei, we have trouble!"
"Rui? What…Alice?!"
Once he and Zane turned around with a look of seriousness on their face, but it soon turned into a pale look almost as if all the blood has drained from them. Kensei noticed Rui carrying Alice on her back with the paleness of her face becoming more apparent and her breathing becoming more and more erratic.
"What happen?!"
"I don't know," Rui replied as she walked inside of the house placing Alice on Zane's couch so that they could get a better look at her condition. "I joined Claire to meet up with Alice, but when we all saw her, Alice started acting weird and just passed out."
Hearing the explanation from Rui, Kensei placed his hand on her forehead and felt her starting to get colder and colder by the moment. Once she felt the warm sensation from his hand on top of her head, Alice opened her eyes a bit, then glanced towards Kensei who knelt next to her.
"Th…This scene depicts the princess who has fallen ill due to the act of an evil botanist," Kensei as he heard Alice speak softly at a volume that he could hear stared at her with a blank look. "And, so with her final moments at hand, her prince…."
Yank!
Kensei tugged softly at Alice's cheek, but not hard enough to cause any actual pain. Though, since it was Alice, then it hurts just around who it usually would, but Kensei stared at her with a look of sympathy being painted on his face.
"Rui, where did Claire go?"
"Claire went to your house to see if she could find any medicine that can help, but we don't even know what caused this to begin with."
"What caused…."
"…this…."
Both Kensei and Zane glanced towards one another before looking towards the side of her cheek, which still had the found the wound that was still on her cheek. The wound was caused during the last moments during her match against Mason when she got scratched by that last thorned vine.
"The wound that Mason caused using that last vine must have been poisonous."
"I'm going to kill the son of a…."
Kensei tightened his fist with an angered look on his face, but before he could finish Claire ran into the living room with a tired look on her face and began to breathe heavily with a pained look on her face.
"I-I couldn't find anything. There is no kind of medicine out our house that can help Alice-nee," she replied with a saddened look. "I don't know what else we can do."
As everyone in the room made a grave look on their face, but Kensei let out a sigh causing the ones around him to glance towards him.
"There's one thing that we can do."
"What's no matter what it is, we have to save Alice-nee."
"We have to ask Hisui for help."
Hearing his response caused both Claire to stare at him as if he had two heads, but he continued to stare back at her with the same look on his face.
"I'm sorry, but it sounded as if you wanted to ask that Nekomata for help."
Claire replied almost dangerously as a faint blackish-blue demonic-aura started to wrap all around her body as if speaking out her distaste for this idea.
"Claire, I know that the two of you have your unique ways to express yourselves, but we have to do this for Alice," Kensei gave her a response that caused Claire to cease her defiance about asking this Nekomata for help. "There are a lot of people who are capable of healing certain wounds and not toxins, but a person who can use Senjutsu can rid the poison inside of her body and heal her injuries. And Hisui is one of the Nekomata on the island who can use both to the level to achieve our desired treatment."
"I know that, but…."
Hearing both of them talk caused Alice to raise her hand.
"Uh, don't I have a say in this? I mean, I'm the one who got poisoned," Alice added in with her usual blank look, but it was a bit blanker due to the poison running slowly in her body. "I have lived most of my childhood sick due to this weak body that I was born with and had to spend some days away from school in bed with either a fever or a cold. And no illness that I have had in the past can match to how terrible I am feeling now."
All of them around her couldn't help but feel sorry for her due to that statement alone. One due to how none of them knew how it felt to be that sick all the time; and second because of how used to it that Alice was as none of them could see the slightest look of discomfort on her face.
"That's…just depressing."
Rui added with a sad look.
"Alright fine, we'll go to see Hisui."
After Claire agreed to it, Kensei went to Alice and held her in his arms in the princess carry causing her to gain a faint blush.
"Ah, the Legendary Princess Carry," Alice sighed as if she were dreaming. "The sick princess dying from an illness in the arms of her chosen princes shall die happily in his arms."
"You're not dying. So stop trying to think of the scenario for a painting," Kensei replied dryly as he began to walk out through the front door. "I'll see you later, Zane."
Zane nodded his head in agreement with what the two of them talked about coming back into his head, but Kensei wanted to worry most about Alice's care first. Seeing how the three of them were heading to her home, Rui followed after her.
In a different residential area on Hagun Island near the forested area, in front of a certain house, Rui arrived in front of a house and opened the door using her key. On the way there, Alice is seen currently being carried on Kensei's back after Claire started showing some discomfort with someone other than herself being carried around like a princess.
"Welcome to the home of Hisui and Rui!"
Rui called cheerfully as she directed all of them inside of their home and coming into the living room. Though it didn't look too different from theirs or the other homes on the island, Kensei could tell that it shared the same feeling as both of its residents.
"This place certainly has the same feel as you and Hisui."
Kensei replied in a gentle tone.
"Rui-chan," a soft voice came from inside the lone room inside the house. "Finally, you came back, I can't believe you ran away after one little incident."
"A 'little incident', really," Rui replied in a mortified tone. "I don't think you "playing" with my body is a little incident."
Kensei, Alice, and Claire looked shocked by what came out of her mouth knowing and some knew full well what that meant.
"Oh, come on. I was just playinnng~"
Walking into the living out of the lone room was a green-haired young woman whose hair looked a lot like jade with light green eyes; she looked to be at least around the same age as Kensei, but the most striker was the matching green cat ears and tail. She is the Nekomata named Hisui and is one of the surviving Nekoshou.
"Behave yourself Hisui we have guests."
"Oh, so we have guests," Hisui danced in the room but stopped after she noticed a specific person standing in front of them causing her to gain a cat-like smile. "I see, I understand."
"Oh, so you already understand the―"
"Give it a second."
Hearing Claire mumble that in an annoyed manner.
"You've finally come to profess your love for me, Ken Ken!"
Hisui proclaimed out loud as she jumped towards Kensei like a cat pouncing at its prey.
She later jumped towards Kensei causing him to nearly fall backward together with Alice, but he remained steady on his feet. Hisui started to rub her cheek affectionately against his with a look of affection look on her face.
"You finally defeated to abandon your dreams of being with that stuffy little sister of yours."
"I'm standing right here you horrid insufferable woman!"
Claire cried out loud as she directed her attention towards Hisui who continued to have her arms wrapped around Kensei's arm.
"I don't think that this is a conversation that a little shrimp should get involved in."
"Shrimp! Listen to me you third-rate―"
"Okay, before both of you start raving at one another again," Kensei sighed getting in-between both of them. "Hisui, Alice was injected with poison during her match with Mason and so I wanted to know…."
"Say no more," Hisui replied after stepping away from Kensei. "You want little ol' me to remove all the toxin from the body of our little Alice-chan. Well, since that isn't a relatively difficult thing for me to do, I could do it in a single night and with adding other kinds of treatment for the body of our little Alice-chan. But, there is one tiny little thing that I want from Ken Ken."
"…."
"What do you want?"
Instead of Kensei asking, Claire asked for him with an irate look on her face, while Hisui stared at him with her cheeks turning red.
"Say you love me and mean it~"
Snap! Something inside Claire snapped with a demonic aura started to wrap around her body with both Kensei, Alice, and Rui to direct their attention towards the nine-year-old who had a dark smile on her face. Since Kensei started using his ki again, he has started to become a bit more sensitive and aware of what was around him. After sensing the aura that covered her body, Kensei couldn't help but notice her potential.
"Nii-chan saying that he loves someone other than me first," Claire said in a bit of a dangerous tone. "You're asking for more trouble than you thought possible Hisui."
"Oh my, if Claire-chan is going to get serious," Hisui replied in more of a dark tone with a presence different from Claire's demonic-aura. "Then, I will have to get serious."
The aura that wrapped around Hisui was a bit more potent than Claire, but she didn't care about it, she had no intention of giving up. Their glances remain locked on one another with their auras starting to become more apparent. Seeing the expression that was on her face, Hisui narrowed her eyes a bit, but it later returned to her usual playful look.
"Just~ Kidding~"
Hearing that caused the expression on Claire's face to turn dumbfounded, while both Kensei and Rui had almost face fault on the ground after all that build-up. Hisui waved her hand wearing a mainly nonchalant look on her face.
"What made you think that I want to fight Ken Ken's precious little sister? I'm a lot of things, but I would never harm a little girl that was younger than I am. Though, teasing them always warms up my heart."
Rui sighed after seeing the antics of her roommate, but she later glanced at Alice who looked as if she were starting to get worse again.
"Why don't you guys leave Alice-chan here with us for the night so that Hisui can deal with all her injuries," Rui suggested as she glanced towards them. "Don't worry about dinner, I can handle that."
"Does that sound alright Alice?"
Kensei questioned the blonde who leaned her head against him showing that exhaustion that had started to overcome her. To answer him, Alice nodded her head in agreement. Seeing her response, Kensei started to walk in the direction of their couch and laid her down comfortably on her back.
"We'll come back tomorrow and check on you, Alice."
"…Okay."
Alice replied in a slightly weak tone.
Kensei later leaned forward pressing his lips against her forehead causing a faint blush to appear on her cheeks, while Hisui stared at what he did with a look of shock.
"Ara, do I get a forehead kiss if I do a good job, Ken Ken?"
"Maybe," Kensei replied in a soft tone. "Come on, Claire."
"Okay."
Claire replied in an almost saddened tone, but it later stopped after feeling a familiar sensation on top of her head. Once she looked up, she noticed that Kensei had walked in front of her and placed his hand comfortably on her head, then started to pet her head.
"Let's go home, okay," Kensei said in a gentle tone. "You don't have to worry about anything, Alice will be alright."
After seeing the look that was on his face and hearing the calm words that came out of his mouth, Claire softened her expression into one that was normal for someone her age and smiled brightly.
"Okay, Let's go, Nii-chan."
Claire replied like any little sister, then grabbed Kensei's hand, while she stuck her tongue out at Hisui who still had her nonchalant look. Both of them later walked outside of Rui and Hisui's home, while holding one another's hands.
"Okay," Hisui called out in an almost too energetic manner "If I want that forehead kiss, I'll have to get to work immediately. So, Rui-chan gets started with dinner."
"Alright, but I won't promise much."
Rui replied as she went into what was called the kitchen in their home and started a fire, then she began to fill a small metal pot with water and proceeded to cook with what ingredients that they had.
As she continued to do that, Hisui held her hand out towards Alice's body, the latter noticed that a bluish-white aura starting to cover her whole body. Based on what she heard from Kensei, one of the powers that Hisui could use was Senjutsu:
It was different from magic and sorcery, the main difference is that it allows one to control the power that flows in one's spirit, then turns it into a constant current. It allows the user to make use of the unknown parts of living things such as plants and animals. Those who practice it can grasp the presence of others, as well as manipulate ki, reinforcing their bodies and healing others. There were little to no methods of defending against senjutsu using magic.
Alice started to feel a warm yet comfortable sensation wrapped around her body and she could feel that her condition starting to become a lot better.
"How're you feeling?"
"I'm feeling a lot better."
Alice replied in a more energetic tone.
"Good, I'm currently controlling your flow of ki and removing whatever toxic substance remaining inside of your body," Hisui replied with a bit of an ecstatic look on her face. "Though, I have to say that manipulating the ki of a Longinus wielder certainly is an interesting experience."
"I got the slightest chill after you said that," once Alice heard how excited Hisui got once she said had caused the blonde to become a bit scared. "I hope that you're not planning anything."
"Of course not, I would start to feel bad if I did that to someone Ken Ken asked me to help."
Hisui replied in an honest tone but is also caused Alice to stare at her with a bit of a confused look on her face.
"Why is it that you like Kensei so much?"
"Huh? Where is this coming from?"
Hearing Alice's out of the nowhere question caused Hisui to almost stop her treatment, due to how sudden it was.
"It's not that odd as to why Claire and I like Kensei as both of us had been living with him for almost over two years now. Though it did take me a bit longer than Claire to start noticing what affection I have towards him, for you, it was almost at the moment that you met him. So, I wanted to know what is your reasons for liking him so much."
Again, hearing her response caused her a bit of shock. As she never expected that Alice who had never shown any kind of interest in anything was able to notice that much detail in someone.
"I'm surprised, I didn't think that you of all people would ask me that," Hisui let out a bit of a laugh out of surprise. "Well, how exactly can I put this? …I was kind of love at first sight."
"Eh, is that all?"
"I'm probably sure that you know that as a Nekoshou are the strongest species amongst cat-type, so our species we can master both Youjutsu and unlock Senjutsu," Hisui replied. "Since childhood, I was always sensitive to the ki of others, and growing up I always felt disgusted by the evil intent that lied deep within some of the humans that I met. Though, I never got that feeling from Kensei the moment that I met him. Even after all that happened, there wasn't the slightest hint of malice in him no matter how deep that I seemed to go."
Alice started at Hisui who currently at a flushed look on her face after saying that last line.
"Uh."
"What I found inside of Ken Ken was something that I've never sensed before from other humans that I still get giddy thinking about."
Hisui replied as she placed both her hands on the side of her cheeks and started moving around her body with a goofy look on her face. Hearing her response caused Alice to stare at Hisui with a look of understanding. Alice could think of several reasons as to why she liked Kensei more than just a friend and she could guess why Claire carries the same feelings as her.
"I see."
Alice replied in an understanding manner.
"Well, let's continue your treatment."
Hisui said as she continued to wrap Alice in Senjutsu while controlling her flow of ki.
A/N: And there goes the third chapter of DxD – The Last Amagiri, I apologize that it took so long to update this story. I went through a lot of stuff in a while that kind of slowed down my progress, but I think that I can get back on track. In this chapter, met a couple of new characters in the form of a friend/ally of Kensei named Zane and both talked about various ways of escaping, but they appear to be stumped for now. Claire runs into the room stating that Alice was called in for another match and instead of another monster, it was against another sacred gear user who decided to side with their captors. In this chapter, we got to see what Alice could do in a fight using Annihilation Maker and we got a close look at another kind of sacred gear that controls plant life.
Two more new youkai characters were introduced, one being a Tanuki (A Raccoon-Dog Youkai) and a new Nekoshou. Zane also revealed that he felt someone odd about Claire, but neither he nor Kensei has revealed what that feeling was. All of them (except for Zane) took Alice to be healed by the Nekoshou named Hisui who Claire seems to have some disdain towards. The chapter later ends with Alice receiving her senjutsu treatment.
So, until next time.
Kensei's Harem: Alice, Claire, Hisui.