Welcome to the next chapter of DxD – The Last Amagiri, but before starting the story. Let's answer some reviews:
Weslyschraepen: I'm still considering it, there is still more time before the canon starts.
Rider126: Who knows what could happen, but if it does happen then some pompous asshole is going to regret everything they've ever done in life.
Robocoaster: I doubt that Kensei and the others would call themselves the Hagun Faction. I mean, Zane will be doing something with the techniques that he gained from Hagun Island and there will be a lot mentioned about what they're able to do. I think that Hades would view them as a threat, especially since a High-Tier Longinus is among them and since he is targeting both old and new Longinus users. I think that Old Satan and Hero Factions weren't as much of a threat since they lost due to overconfidence as the former. Indra's plan hasn't crumbled since it was more to prepare to fight against Shiva in the future.
Look2019: Thanks.
Evan: Here it is.
Cristian Njoroge: Well, here's the update.
New Life in Kibou
Three years have passed since the Hagun Island, Kensei Amagiri, now a thirteen-year-old in middle school still laid sleeping in bed with a smile on his face as he remained asleep. Since then, he grew a lot taller compared to before and his hair became a lot spikier with several short bangs covering his forehead. Inside his room, even a lot of the former memorabilia and posters in his room had changed after reaching his teens.
"Zzzzzz…."
Kensei continued to grumble in his sleep as a portion of his body became visible.
"Of course."
As soon as his bedroom door opened, Claire was revealed standing at the entrance placing her hands on both of her hips and sighing. As an eleven-year-old, she had grown a little taller, but she remained shorter compared to the sleeping teen; her hair had also grown a little longer, though it still didn't match the length from before being cut.
Claire started to approach Kensei who remained asleep in his bed and called out.
"Nii-san, you're going to be late for school if you remain asleep."
Claire mentioned as she was dressed in a school uniform, which seemed similar to that of a sailor uniform. After a couple of weeks after their liberation, those who were old enough to be admitted into school based on their appropriate age group with some of the older teens were admitted to either the middle or high schools in town.
"…nah…huh…zzzzz."
Claire narrowed her eyes believing that Kensei had already woken up, but was pretending to be asleep causing a serious look to appear on her face.
"…if you don't I'm going to pour water on you."
"…."
Kensei remained silent with Claire being unable to tell if he had heard her or not, but she shrugged her shoulders and held out her hands. She created a large amount of water above his 'sleeping' head using her demonic power and kept it suspended there. Claire didn't know if he could sense demonic power in his sleep, but she continued with her threat and started to count down.
"…3…2….1…."
Once she got to the last number, Claire released her hand causing the water to descend nearing towards his still-sleeping face. However, before it could make contact with him, Kensei's eyes shot open as he rolled off the bed perfectly landing on the ground. At that same moment, she stopped the water before a single drop of water could touch his bed and caused it to vanish.
"Hahaha," Kensei laughed as he stood up to his feet. "I almost didn't think that you were going to do it."
"Nii-san, do I look like someone who bluffs?"
"On second thought."
Kensei laughed nervously as he glanced toward the side noticing the look on her face before it turned into a genuine smile. Even before when living on Hagun Island, the three of them still acted like a family, but since the three were able to live in a genuine house, it became even more real compared to before. Claire became able to return to her original self and was even happier than before.
"Well, whatever. I'm making breakfast downstairs," Claire started before turning around. "Can you also please get dressed and wake up Alice-nee?"
"Fine fine."
He agreed as Claire walked outside his room closing the door behind her so that he could get dressed.
"*Yawn* Wasn't there a test that we were supposed to have today," Kensei questioned as he stretched out his arms and yawned before laughing. "Heh, seriously, I'm talking about school like a…somewhat normal kid."
He walked in the direction of his school uniform as he recalled all that occurred to all of them in two years, which now all seemed to be like a dream. His school uniform consists of a short-sleeved dark blue gakuran school blazer with the school crest on it, matching trousers, and sneakers.
After getting dressed for school, Kensei stepped outside his bedroom holding his backpack over his shoulder as he took a short step to the left. Since Alice's and Claire's bedrooms were adjacent to his, it wouldn't be weird for either of them to sleep in the same bedroom as him.
Knock Knock
"Alice. It's time to wake up."
He called out her name as he knocked on her bedroom door a couple more times, but Kensei didn't get a single response. It wasn't unusual for Alice to remain asleep like this.
"Hmm, I guess she's still asleep."
After coming to that conclusion, Kensei sensed in her bedroom and could tell based on the status of her aura that it was silent without being active in the slightest.
"Alright, I'm coming in."
He held his hand out turning her doorknob, which remained unlocked.
Having entered Alice's bedroom, he witnessed it being in its usual disorganized state as he noticed various hand-drawn pictures were either posted somewhere or even placed somewhere on the ground. This wasn't weird since everyone knew that Alice had an interest in art since she was a child, as it was all that she could do, while sick in bed. Arriving on Hagun Island, there was never the chance for her to draw once, but that changed after leaving and getting her bedroom.
"Seriously, you can at least organize things around."
Whenever either of them walked into her bedroom, both would see the same thing, drawing all over her bedroom without a single care in the world. Though there must've been some times when she did clean her room as when either he or Claire walked in her room would be clean at some point.
Kensei walked in carefully not to step on eight of her drawings as she put in just as much effort in them as he does in martial arts. His destination was the bed where there was a human-sized bulge, meaning that Alice was once again under her covers in more of an attempt to block out the sunlight.
"Alright, Alice. If I have to get up to go to school, then that means you too."
He had reached for the corners of the covers from the top and without the slightest bit of hesitance, Kensei threw off the covers causing them to fall toward the ground.
"Time to wake…huh?!"
As soon as Kensei ripped off the covers, his cheeks turned bright red.
Just as he had grown, the same could be said with Alice compared to three years prior, her blonde hair became longer compared to before, but it was in a disordered state due to being asleep. Her complexion has become far better due to the constant treatment that she received from both Hisui and Kensei using senjutsu. Though the thing that caused him to blush like that was her current state of dress.
Alice was dressed in nothing but her underwear causing him to notice her already developing chest, which would cause some confusion due to her age. After noticing that there was a slight chill running across her due to losing her cover, Alice started to shiver.
"Hmmm…fa molto freddo."
In a tired tone, Alice said, "it's very cold" in her Italian accent.
Seconds later, Kensei noticed something from under her bed near the end and small creatures all picked up the covers, then jumped onto the bed draping the covers on their creator. Kensei just stared in confusion following all the small creatures as they retreated under her bed. He was left stunned by what just happened in front of him.
"You know in a normal situation, you would be scared of the monsters hiding under your bed," Kensei thought in his head. "Well, whatever. Alice, we need to get prepared for school."
"Don't wanna…just wanna sleep."
Alice replied retreating deeper under the covers.
"Come on, do you want Claire to come in here and pour water on you?"
"You're both meanies."
Alice removed the covers and sat up in her bed causing the strap of her bra to fall a bit as a yawn escaped from her mouth, causing Kensei to glance to the side with a slight blush on his cheeks.
"I'll be waiting outside near the stairs for you. We don't want a repeat of last time when you almost fell downstairs due to being too tired."
"…va bene."
Alice replied as Kensei stepped outside of the room.
As promised, he went toward the stairs further from their room waiting there holding his backpack. Soon enough, the door opened revealing Alice dressed in her school uniform, which consists of a dark blue sailor uniform, a red ribbon, a dark blue skirt that has a white stripe, long socks, and maroon shoes. Kensei noticed that she must have fixed her bedhead in the bathroom so that it was more respectable, as well as the natural beauty possible with no makeup being used.
"Well, I'm ready," Alice said letting a slight yawn escape from her mouth. "Huh? What?"
Alice titled her head noticing the looks that she was getting from Kensei, who glanced to the side with a nervous smirk on his face scratching the side of his cheek.
"N-Nothing, I just thought that you looked cute."
Once he said that Alice's cheeks turned a little red as she glanced to the side and flushed.
"Kensei, you know sometimes you can be a little too honest."
Alice replied under her breath as the two of them headed downstairs where Claire was standing there waiting in the primary school uniform that was similar to what Alice was wearing, but it had a lighter color.
"Well, I see that you two are ready."
Claire said before noting both of their cheeks still seemed to be a little flushed, which caused her to pout a bit.
"Did you two do something?"
""No.""
Kensei and Alice replied in unison, making a straight face, but Claire didn't continue to pursue it knowing that the two people in front of them wouldn't lie to her.
"Fine, let's finish up breakfast quickly and head off to school. I prepared bento lunch boxes."
""Yes, mom.""
Kensei and Alice once again replied in unison causing the three of them to laugh afterward.
Once the three finished breakfast, all of them prepared to leave for school, but not before Kensei prayed in front of the shrine he built in remembrance of his mother. As soon as they dropped off Claire at her primary school that she still had to attend alongside Iris who went to the same school, both Kensei and Claire continued to theirs.
"I still feel a little weird about Claire not being with us in school."
"Well, there isn't that much that we can do unless Claire skips a grade and at least she isn't alone. Don't forget Iris is in the same class as her."
Kensei replied to Alice who wanted all three of them to be in the same school as each other.
"Besides, I wouldn't want to imagine how that girl would react if there wasn't anyone she knew with her."
He was referring to Iris who became more open to conversing with them after three years, though she still didn't want to talk about where she came from before Hagun Island. Speaking of which, everyone who lived there was a lot more adjusted to living in Kibou Town since they were given a comfortable place to live compared to before.
"Ah, you're probably right about that."
Alice laughed lightly imaging how Iris would react around people she didn't know.
"Besides, it won't take long for either of them to enter the same school as us."
Kensei replied as their middle school reached their sights named "Seika Middle School", where multiple students boys and girls were walking through the entrance. Reaching the school entrance, both soon met a familiar face standing in front of the school entrance waiting for them.
"Good morning, you two."
"Yo, Zane."
It was Zane standing in front of them who had grown compared to three years ago, he carried around his backpack on his shoulder as he waved at them. Once the three of them met up, they started to walk together as a small group toward the school building. Neither of them said a single word as they continued to walk toward the school enhance as if expecting to be interrupted.
Soon enough, as if predicting it, multiple male students dressed in kendo uniform and other martial arts clubs had appeared in front of them with their arms crossed. All of them looked determined as the kendoist who seemed to be the pact leader pointed their shinai toward Kensei who didn't seem all that shocked about their arrival.
[This is the day where we defeat the scourge known as Amagiri Kensei, the Dragon Child!]
All of them said in unison as both Alice and Zane smiled wryly as Kensei smirked while cracking his knuckles as he approached the male students.
"If you have the guts to approach me like this, then you have the resolved yourselves to lose."
"Kensei, I think that it would be best that you didn't encourage them."
Kensei ignored the comment from Zane, who still smiled a little wryly as the students started to approach him.
Three minutes later, he left the students who challenged him to a fight on the ground exhausted, neither of them was injured with just some minors scratches. Though both Alice and Zane knew that if Kensei were to go all out, then it would have resulted in serious life-threatening injuries. Kensei stood in front of the piles of students who were in front of him resting the shinai that he stole from the leader as he smirked a bit.
"Ah, you guys all improved compared to last time, but still not enough to beat me."
Kensei praised as he dropped the shinai on the ground next to the group leader who laid in front of him.
"I…I promise that one day you'll end up tasting defeat by our hands."
The leader said as he pointed toward Kensei in an almost dramatic and cinematic manner as if he were staring at his immortal rival. Zane and Alice walked around the pile of defeated students as if not knowing what else to say while reuniting with Kensei who turned his back toward the student to proceed into the school.
"You know, you don't have to accept their challenge each time?"
Zane pointed out as he glanced toward his best friend, though Alice guessed his response.
"Of course, I know that. But, if someone has the guts to challenge me to a fight despite knowing the odds, then I can at least accept it no matter who they are."
Kensei replied honestly as he glanced to the side noticing that all the students were standing up from the ground, then started dusting themselves off before rushing toward either their classes or clubs. He wasn't the kind of person who would turn down a challenge depending on the situation.
"I figured that you'd say that."
Alice started smiling a bit at his honest response.
"I still don't know why they keep calling you this Dragon Child."
In response to that confusion from Zane, Kensei smirked a bit as he glanced to the side scratching his cheek.
"Well, I kinda made it a habit of challenges martial arts clubs around different schools even inside the high school divisions when I was a kid. There were times that I even challenged other dojos. My mom said that I was going through a rebellious stage."
"Kensei, I believe you're still in the rebellious stage."
Hearing that blunt response from Alice felt as if he were just pierced through the chest by her words alone, which almost caused a physical reaction.
"But, why Dragon Child?"
"Well, based on the description of the instructions from the clubs that I challenged and teachers, I was stubborn, overconfident, reckless, combative, aggressive, and stronger than a normal child. And so, I earned the reputation around school as being the Dragon Child."
Kensei explained as if looking back about how reckless most of his actions were as a child, though that still didn't change even as he grew up, which both Alice and Zane knew full well.
"Despite not knowing much about the supernatural, the teachers and staff chose the perfect nickname. I believe that the 'Dragon Child' is the perfect way to describe you. Since dragons are pretty much like that."
"…shut up."
In response to Zane's teasing, Kensei glanced to the side with his arms crossed, causing his so-called friends to laugh at his reaction. This continued for a while until the three of them reached their class door, with Kensei being the first person to open the door. Though he still noticed that both Alice and Zane were still laughing about the nickname that Kensei was given in school.
"…seriously, you two have been laughing about this nickname for too…."
"Good morning, Ken Ken!"
The moment that Kensei opened the door, he was glomped by a familiar jade-haired nekoshou who wrapped her arms around him. It was, in fact, Hisui who had her nekomata parts hidden to appear human in front of others in school and inside of the room was Rui who also hid her animal parts. Aside from them, both Maria and Layla were in a different classroom.
"Good morning, Hisui."
Kensei greeted Hisui, while the jade-haired girl rubbed her cheeks against his almost like an affectionate cat. As Hisui continued to hug him, he reached his hand out, then started patting her on the head, which caused her to meow in a low tone. Though Hisui could guess that it was a sign from him to let go before causing a bit scene in front of the other students in the classroom.
"I see, Ken Ken is beginning to realize my feelings for him ~nya."
"Jeez."
Though she still played it off as such, as she moved from him placing her hands on her cheeks, while Kensei had laughed a little wryly. Hisui though winked toward him and moved over toward her desk, which was placed near Rui who smiled and waved at the group. The three of them returned the greeting and went toward their seats that were placed among the two youkai.
"So, there is something that I wanted to talk to you all about during lunch."
Zane said as he glanced toward the other four teens who sat in their seats, Kensei who crossed his arms behind his head turned toward Zane.
"Yea, same here. There's something that I need to do at some point."
Kensei added causing the others to stare at him in wonder about what it could be since there were things that not just one, but both of them wanted to talk about. Neither said another as the last of the students entered the class alongside their teacher. Afterward, the class started with the teacher giving their lesson to the students with a lot of them not paying that much attention. Their lessons continued on and as Kensei initially believed, there was, in fact, a test that all of them needed to do.
Afterward, their period soon ended and their lunch period started, with Kensei and the others from his classroom meeting outside underneath a tree. All five of them gathered forming a circle but leaving open spots for two people meant for Maria and Layla. Seeing that it was lunch, all of them pulled their respective bento boxes in front of them. Though Alice glanced toward Hisui noticing that there was something odd.
"Hmm, Hisui why do you have two bento boxes?"
As Alice pointed out, Hisui had two bento boxes with Rui taking note of that, then glanced to the side with a slight smile on her face.
"Well, I made this one for my favorite guy."
Hisui replied with a cat-like smile pointing the extra bento box toward the only person whom she could be talking about, which was, in fact, Kensei.
"Ah, you made a bento box for me?"
Kensei looked grateful for what Hisui had done for him and gladly took off her hands.
"You don't have to thank me," Hisui said placing her hands on her cheeks in a bashful manner. "This is expected for a girl cooking for the guy she likes."
"…I see."
Kensei was stumped by the forwardness of this girl, while Alice glanced in his direction with an odd look, then….
"Ouch, why'd you pinch me?"
He questioned as he felt Alice reaching her hand out and pinched him on his cheek, but it wasn't too hard since Alice wasn't the most physically inclined among them.
"It just feels like something that Claire would do."
Alice replied as she returned to her usual position as Kensei rubbed his cheek, while he placed the bento box he received from Hisui on top of the one that Claire made.
"Ah, well, it seems our little group has arrived."
The five of them turned around noticing that Maria and Layla had arrived as planned, then took a seat on the two spots that were left for them. Just like everyone else, the two of them had grown through their growth in the last three years as they took their seats around their close friends. Each of them also attracted different kinds of attention from both the male and female students due to their respective qualities, which was more so since the seven of them were in this grouping most of the time.
"By the way," Layla started off glancing toward Zane. "Where did you get that bento box? I wasn't aware that you were able to cook."
"Ah, I can't. I got this from Abigail's mother, Mrs. Clark."
After the "Hagun Island Rebellion", Abigail had made contact with her mother who had run an orphanage for the children without a place for them to call home. Afterward, her mother arrived in Kibou Town without wavering and found her daughter alongside a lot of the children who were under her care in the past, which resulted in a great reunion. Despite being in a place that went against her belief and most being children there who weren't humans or even full-humans.
She still requested if she could open up an orphanage where she'd be able to take care of them, which wasn't even difficult considering the amount of money that they came across. Speaking of which, since neither of them had experience with dealing with money, using it was left under the total management of Abigail's mother.
"I swear that the mother and daughter pair are the definition of saints. Some believers would scoff at the idea of taking care of devil children or hybrids."
Maria pointed out as she opened her bento box, then started to eat.
"I believe that her mother ran an orphanage where some of the kids turned out to be either sacred gear users or another kind of special power user. Though most of them were either scouted to become exorcists for the church or taken by another group like Hagun Island."
Rui added with an honest look toward her friends.
"Abigail did mention once that the old home that she ran was attacked," Hisui added. "Her Kaa-san must've been depressed based on her reaction after seeing the children she raised again. Don't you guys think?"
Hearing that the last question caused each of them to agree after recalling the reaction from her Abigail's mother.
"Well, her help is needed since Abigail-san can finish school and not concern herself for once."
Kensei replied as he opened the first bento that Claire made, which caused Hisui to pout since he didn't eat what she had made first.
"This is her last year as a third-year, right?"
"Yes. Next, she'll be entering college."
Zane answered the question from Alice who also opened her bento box.
"I wonder what she'll end up doing shortly. Her mother said that Abigail made some great grades in all her classes so she…."
All seven of them continued talking about different things that different concerns for a while until all of them had finished their lunch.
"Ah, both you and Claire made a delicious lunch."
Kensei said as he laid down on the grass with his hands behind his head as Alice remained sitting next to him, as all their empty bento boxes were either in their bags or moved to the side.
"Really, would you say that mine was better?"
Hisui questioned with Kensei turning his attention in another direction.
"Even I'm not going to touch that subject."
Kensei replied causing her to once again pout in response to hearing it, which caused Zane to laugh.
"And you used to say that you couldn't understand woman," Zane stated with Kensei thinking, 'I don't need to that much information to know that would be a mistake to answer'. "Well, I think that our annual meeting between the Seven Rebels starts."
"When did we agree to our group having a name?"
Layla questioned as she stretched out her arms.
"You didn't, it was just something I came up with after a while."
"Group names aside, what did you want to talk about in class?"
Rui questioned, but Zane was the first person to speak up after noticing Kensei gestured that he could be the first person to speak up.
"This is about our three-year peace without contact from our main enemies," Zane bluntly pointed out in a more serious tone catching their attention. "Not that I'm complaining, but it has been too quiet considering that we took down an entire underground ring that multiple people were dealing in."
"I did think the same thing after a year of silence. All of us did leave a lasting impression on them, Kensei should be the most notable since he took down a renown mercenary and the leader of the Gehenna Guard."
Maria pointed out as well as sharing her thought.
"Especially, since Amaterasu-sama informed me that all the magic circles leading to Hagun Island were sealed off almost hours that we left. And due to the barrier around the island, it is still almost impossible to locate it again."
"Well, we were just focused on getting rid of the signal that linked our bracelets together. We didn't have all that time to locate where the barrier was being maintained," Zane pointed out as he looked toward everyone. "All of us have enjoyed the three-year peace that we were able to grasp after the tortuous time spent on that island. I doubt that it will last long. Especially, since Hayashi left you some terrible last words."
Kensei narrowed his eyes as he recalled the last words from the person who took his mother's life, which was broadcasted to everyone else.
"Well, though we stopped fighting aside from the usual demons. I don't believe that either of us stopped training a moment to prepare a fight with even the Church."
Maria pointed out knowing she was around the kind of people who wouldn't just remain in peace without at least training or practicing to keep themselves sharp and prepared.
"You don't have to concern yourself, Maria, I've been learning more about senjutsu from Hisui. But, I think that it'll be a lot better if I went to a different teacher."
Rui pointed out giving a wryly smile.
"Huh, you're not happy with me as a teacher, Rui?"
Hisui questioned with a hurt expression on her face as she seemed to also tear up.
"Well, I could do without you being too direct and playful."
Rui tried to be as subtle about the situation as possible, but it didn't seem that it was helping as Hisui looked a lot more hurt about her best friend not wanting to be helped by her. Without saying a word, Hisui went over towards Kensei and laid her head on top of his chest causing him to react after feeling the pressure of her head on top of his chest while being a little flushed about their closeness.
"Well, Ken Ken loves my direct and playful side."
"Yea, it's endearing."
Kensei said smiling nervously after noticing the look that Alice was sending in his direction, but if Claire involved, then it would be a lot more intense. Though as soon as Kensei showed signs that he was about to sit back up from off the grass, Hisui also moved off his chest so that he could do so.
"Well, onto what I wanted to talk to you all about."
Once those words left his mouth, his six friends glanced toward him with a curious look on their faces.
"I'm sure that all of you are aware of the barrier placed around this town that keeps demons and evil spirits of a certain level from entering here as well as detecting those who did pass the barrier," Kensei said which caused six of them to nod their heads after being informed of such a fact after their arrival. "It was the job of the Amagiri Clan to locate and defeat the demons who passed the barrier, but since the clan was massacred the barrier that is weaker compared to before when the Amagiri Clan were still active meaning that a lot more demons can enter this town."
All of them also knew about this as most of them had to fight against several different demons who entered the barrier to assist Kensei in protecting the town, which became their home.
"Well, there was a suggestion from the magic users in town that we strengthen the barrier around town, but all of us found it difficult. The barrier that Amagiri Clan covered this town is strong enough to last this long without none of the onmyōji from the clan maintaining it, but it was different from the ones that either of us can create. After we got your permission, we went through the main shrine of the Amagiri Clan, but we couldn't locate the documents that contain their techniques."
"I believed that to be the case. I didn't put that much concern into it since I had an idea of where they could be and that there wasn't much need to retrieving them. But, considering the potential danger from various sides, I can't at all put off getting them back anymore. This brings me to what I needed to say."
"And that is?"
Rui questioned.
"On the weekend, I'll be going on a trip to somewhere special."
Kensei replied causing the six of them to become even more interested in where this 'special' place was.
"Though, I am curious about where this place is," Alice pointed out as she suspiciously glanced toward Kensei. "But, when you say 'you're' taking a trip. Don't you mean that 'we'll' be taking a trip?"
"Of course. I wasn't planning on just leaving you and Claire behind. I was kinda pushing back this trip because of something that might cause me some issue."
Kensei replied as he started to scratch the back of his head in a nervous manner, which caused Alice to look at him with a surprised look. She had known Kensei for a long time, but this was the first time that he had appeared to be this nervous about something to the point where sweat was dripping down his forehead.
"Is there something that happened at this place?"
"Huh, nothing like that," Kensei waved off the question, but he still looked nervous. "I love the place that I plan on heading to since I've had some fun there. It's just that there's something…well, someone there that might cause Claire to kill me if they were to meet."
Kensei replied as the six of them stared at him wondering who this person might be. Though when the subject of Kyoto came to question, Hisui could already guess as to who this someone was based on the location, but she kept it to herself as Kensei seemed to be too nervous for the meeting between this certain someone and Claire.
Once their Lunch Break ended, the seven of them returned to their respective classes and eventually finished the school day. Because almost all seven of them lived in different houses, all of them had to split up after walking together for a time. Though Kensei, Alice, Maria, and Layla remained together since they had to pick up both their 'little sisters'.
"How long will the three of you be gone?"
Maria questioned after they started to head toward the direction of the school.
"I don't know. It won't be all that long since I'm just reuniting with two people and receiving some things."
"Well, you don't have to concern yourself with this town, because we'll protect him until you all return."
Maria said in a reassuring tone even showing him a genuine smile, which caused Kensei to return the very same kind of smile.
"I'm not concerned with that since I know that you guys can take care of things even when we're not here for just a couple of days."
Kensei replied showing his confidence in all his friends and allies, which both Maria and Layla to feel grateful that he had that much faith in them. There were a lot of capable older teens who had more experience in dealing with things of this nature and could handle watching over everyone.
"Well, of course, all of us were skilled enough to handle fighting monsters, to begin with."
The confidence that Layla displayed in herself and the others caused the three of them to let out a slight laugh as soon as the words left her mouth, which caused the light blue-haired girl to become slightly flushed.
"Geez, you didn't have to laugh."
"Hahaha, I'm sorry, but I just didn't expect something like that from you."
"Same here," Maria said in a slightly teasing manner as she glanced towards Layla. "In a normal situation, you'd never speak out like that, but I believe that this side of you is adorable."
"Y-You don't have to be so embarrassing, Sis."
Layla's face became flushed after realizing the words that came from Maria, which became broader as the three of them continued to laugh at her reaction. All four of them soon arrived in front of the school entrance where kids were leaving school through either walking home on their home or parents picking them up. Among the groups of children standing in front of the entrance, Claire and Iris were talking together with other students who seemed to be in classes.
Neither of them took another step forward and just stood there staring merrily as their 'little sisters' were talking to their classmates like normal children. In their initial encounter with them, neither of them talked much to either of them until a certain period. But, soon warmed up to them despite the harsh situation that all of them were trapped in for a long time and it made them happy to see that they were enjoying themselves.
Noticing their presence, both Claire and Iris waved toward their friends seemingly saying goodbye, while the two walked toward Kensei and the others. Both the younger girls gave their greeting to them and bowing their heads in front of them, which the teens returned with a kind smile on their faces.
"It's good to see that you guys are enjoying yourselves in school."
Maria pointed out as the six of them started walking down the street heading toward their respective homes.
"So, did anything eventful happen in school today?"
"It was usual. But, Iris made an impression during gym class."
Claire replied instead of Iris who seemed to blush after the incident was mentioned.
"Y-You don't have to tell everyone, C-Claire."
It seemed as if Iris was almost pleading for Claire to keep that a secret from them, but Claire merely laughed in a joking manner placing her hand over her mouth. Claire has been able to grow close enough to Iris to where both of them could be considered close friends as noted in a number of their previous conversations with one another. The entire group continued to walk toward their homes until stopping at an intersection, both Maria and Layla had turned to face their direction with a curious look on their face.
"So, is it your turn to go out on patrol?"
"Yes, we got it covered."
Kensei replied as he, Alice, and Claire waved their hands toward them, which the three of them returned with the same smiles on their faces.
Hours passed, the red skies from the sunset turned black with the streetlights turned on lighting the darkness that cloaked the night. At around this time, there were still people running around town in the streets, but there weren't that many people in some more barren locations. In one of those barren locations, there was a man who appears to be intoxicated as he staggered down the street with his cheeks being flushed.
"…gah….another day….being alone."
He even sounded intoxicated as he sadly walked down the streets, seemingly sad about him being alone.
However, the man stopped after hearing the sound from a musical instrument that reached his ears, which seem to be from a lute. He felt intrigued about the music and his intoxication made him unable to think straight about a sudden decision such as this. He continued following the direction where he heard the music feeling more drawn toward the notes being played.
"…huh?"
The intoxicated man soon stopped walking noticing an unbelievable sight in front of him.
Standing under one of the streetlights performing on a traditional Japanese lute was a beautiful young woman at least in her twenties with black hair and perfect white skin dressed in a pink yukata that has flowers designed on it. The man was mesmerized as he watched the woman nimbly move her fingers maneuvered around the strings on the lute-playing music that continued to attract the attention of the drunk man.
"Hmmmm~ Hmmmm~ Hmmmm~"
Her hums sounded well alongside the musical notes being played aloud, which caused the man to walk close in the direction of the mysterious woman. It almost felt as if he were sobering up causing his mind to also become a lot clearer compared to before. Despite arriving in front of the woman, she continued playing the lute without resting for a single moment.
"H-Hello."
The man sounded nervous in his initial attempt to converse with her.
"…."
In response to his voice, the woman ceased playing for a moment and the man noticed that a smile had adorned the face of the beautiful woman. She soon turned in the direction of the man revealing that she was wearing red lipstick, which went alongside her white skin.
"…hello."
Even her voice sounded melodious despite her lute not being played.
"W-Well, what're you doing out this late?"
"Ufufu, well I thought that tonight was a beautiful night for music."
The woman stood up on her feet, then turned in the direction of the man who approached her, which was where he noticed that her yukata was faltering on her shoulders showing off her decent-sized breasts. Noticing her two noticeably soft orbs caused the cheeks of the man to turn bright red. She laughed lightly after realizing where his eyes were being directed toward. Without hesitation, the woman had reached her hand out grasping the hand of the young man and placed it on one of her breasts causing the man's face to turn bright red at the softness.
"Ararara, I didn't think that you would be so forward."
The woman said as she pressed his hand deeper into her cleavage as a smile adorned her face.
"I-I didn't think I would meet someone as direct as you."
"Ararara, I didn't think that I would meet someone so delicious," once she said that last part the woman sensually licked her lips. "Y'know, I have a lot of people…other men waiting for me back where I live. And I want to know if you wanted to join us and have some fun."
The man's cheeks flushed even more at the suggestion that the woman was saying right now.
"A-Are suggesting that we all…?"
"I've never taken a lot of men before, but I'm interested in doing it at least once."
The woman's voice was like sweetness for his ears as he was starting to consider the idea of being together with this beautiful woman despite there being a lot of other men involved.
"I-I…."
The man couldn't even speak all as he felt too much excitement building up within him enough to feel as if he'll explode at any moment. Smiling oddly, the woman placed her hands on his shoulder stepping before him as her breath started to become haggard as if unable to control herself.
"I-I cannot control me anymore. I want you right now."
"R-Really, r-right here at night. W-What if someone?"
"Shhh, don't be concerned about that. I'll make it quick. I just need a fix after all this time."
"A-Alright."
The man stopped feeling the woman turning him around and pressed him somewhat hard against the wall behind him enough to cause noticeable pain. But, ignored it and felt the grip she had on his shoulders started to tighten causing him to wince a little more.
"Haaah, you look so delicious. I can't wait anymore."
The man became shocked as he noticed that all the woman's teeth sharpened to the point and multiple eyes had started to open on her forehead, which caused him to become frightened. And soon enough eight legs, which all seemed akin to spider legs sprouted out from her back.
The woman was, in fact, a Jorougumo, a spider youkai able to shapeshift into a beautiful woman who leads men into her trap using her beauty and other tactics.
"A-Ahhhh! What the fuck?!"
"S-Shhhh, don't be so loud. We don't want those naughty people to hear us," the woman continued putting on the act as she opened her mouth wider than that of a normal person. "I'll make it quick."
The Jorougumo leaned forward preparing to bite into the man's neck and devour him but stopped after noticing a bright white light shining in the distance. Soon enough, something came flying toward her at high enough speeds to where a normal person wouldn't be able to follow the path. However, the Jorougumo was fast enough to avoid it by moving back from the man who slumped to the ground confused as a light arrow pierced the ground.
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue after noticing Claire who landed near her and the surprised man using her bat-like wings, which sprouted from her back. Claire stared in the direction of the Jorougumo without a clam look on her face as a mysterious white bow in her hands. In her hands, was a brilliant white angelic bow that has blue lines that were traced across it without the usual bowstring.
"Ah, so are you the little one in charge of this town?"
"No, I'm just the imouto…and future wife."
"Ah, I didn't think that someone as plain-looking and boring as you would be into that kind of relationship."
The Jorougumo laughed in a mocking manner placing her hand in front of her mouth, which caused Claire to smile in a faint almost cold manner.
"Well, I was thinking the same thing about you."
Claire countered as she realized the irritated look that appeared on the Jorougumo's face.
"You little bitch."
After being enraged the Jorougumo started to shapeshift causing the man to shiver in fear realizing that the former beautiful woman he was hitting on turned into a monstrous spider at least three times larger than that of even an adult man.
"I'll rip out your insides and stain this ground red in your blood!"
The Jorougumo released thread toward Claire who remained standing in the same position.
Claire positioned the bow forward toward the Jorougumo, which caused a bowstring made out of light to appear in front of her eyes. She then pulled the string back causing a light arrow to be loaded into the bow and released it in the direction of the web released toward her. The light arrow pierced through the web and continued toward the direction of the Jorougumo.
"Tch!"
The Jorougumo clicked her tongue again avoiding the arrow but started being hit multiple times as Claire fired off a multitude of light arrows toward her. Each of them caused wounds to appear on her transformed body.
"You damn bitch!"
After shouting out loud, the Jorougumo released an odd noise from her mouth, which caused the man to cover his ears. Seconds later, massive spiders started to appear from the shadows crawling towards the direction of Claire and the man who was still freaking about the incidents that occurred in front of him.
"Ahhhhh!"
The man screamed as the spiders started to approach the man with flames being showed released from all their mouths causing Claire to glance in his direction. In response to Claire glancing away from her, the Jorougumo had laughed out loud, then started to run away from her.
"Hahaha! You can either chase me or the meal that I lost!"
Just as the Jorougumo left the scene, multiple light arrows were fired in the direction of the fire-breathing spiders, which approached the man killing them without resistance. She soon raised a barrier that covered the man as the spiders continued to converge on the defenseless man. Claire continued firing off light arrows and she even released demonic blasts at all the spiders that came at both of them.
"Well, that's all of them."
Claire said as she finished off all the spiders around the area with their dead bodies vanishing from the area and then began to approach the man who remained on the floor. After taking another step forward, a magic circle meant for communication appeared near her.
[Claire, did it escape?]
Alice questioned on the other end of the magic circle, then nodded her head despite her not being there.
"Yes, she is headed toward your direction as planned."
Claire replied as she made it in front of the man who moved away from her out of fear.
[Alright, Kensei and I will find her base of operation. Will you still head in our direction?]
"Of course."
After their conversation was finished, the magic circle vanished and Claire turned her attention toward the man.
"A-Are you going to kill me?"
"No," Claire replied as kindly as possible not to frighten him any more. "As a matter of act, this is all going to seem more like a terrible nightmare tomorrow."
"I-I doubt that."
"Well, I guess you'll have to just believe me."
Claire replied as her eyes began giving off a silvery shine as she started using her demonic power erasing all of the memories of the incident.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the forest, the Jorougumo started to jump from branch to branch as she headed in the direction of her base of operation. She continued thinking about all that happened beforehand and started to become angrier as time passed.
"That damn miniature bitch! I swear, the next time that I see her, I'll make her experience the true definition of torture!"
She continued to become heated as she landed in a deserted area where a multitude of webbing covered all the trees and close areas to where it seemed like a makeshift threaded base. In front of her, there were several human-shaped cocoons similar to what actual spiders would do to their prey. Their numbers measured into at least higher double-digits.
"Tch, I believe that a midnight snack might be what he needs to quell my anger."
She spoke about her intentions to devour one of the humans captured in the cocoons, but she stopped noticing the slight noise from what seemed to be a twig.
"Well, this scene appears to be inartistic."
It was revealed to be Alice who walked behind her, then started surveying the area around her using her hands, but she soon crossed her hands.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"There isn't much artistry or flare to it at all."
Alice ignored her and continued looking around the area and noticed all the human-shaped cocoons that were all placed around them.
"There appears to be at least twenty of them."
"Did you come all the way here just to die?! Are you with that miniature bitch?!"
After hearing the term 'miniature bitch', it didn't take Alice long to realize that there was just one person who had come across the Jorougumo.
"It's not nice to talk about someone's little sister like that."
Alice appeared more miffed after hearing the Jorougumo refer to Claire in such a manner and there was a hint of a scowl on her face.
"Huh? Little sister? Neither of you even appear to be related! How's it possible that you call her your little sister?"
Hearing that question from the Jorougumo caused Alice to tilt her head in the other direction.
"I'd like to think that just sharing something as simple as blood is enough to classify oneself as being their relative sibling or parent otherwise. Kensei and I adore that girl as our little sister. And…."
Alice raised her presence causing her shadow to move as if it were alive and expanded it outwards, soon enough a pack of wolves and humanoids wielding swords appeared from them. This sight caused the Jorougumo to stare at the creatures who surrounded the young female teen with a shocked look.
"If someone refers to her with a term such as 'miniature bitch', then that person will need to be erased."
Alice said in a cold tone that shocked even the actual monster standing in front of her.
"W-What the hell is this?! It doesn't matter."
The same as before, the Jorougumo let out a high-pitched sound that traveled across the forest, which caused the sound of multiple spiders crawling in the same direction. Soon enough, Alice was almost completely enclosed by spiders who had larger numbers and sizes compared to the ones that went after Claire. All of them breathed out a stream of flames from their mouths.
"Hahaha, those creatures don't seem so tough. I'll just have to tear you apart."
"I'd like to see you try."
At that last taunt, the spiders all rushed toward Alice at high speed, some of them aiming spider thread toward her. In response to this, the sword wielders appeared in front of their creator slashing the thread before either of them could reach her. More and more of the spiders continued to rush toward Alice in an attempt to kill her, then the wolves jumped forward opening their mouths and singing their fangs on their bodies or using their claws to tear them apart. A large fight between Alice's monsters and the Jorougumo's spiders continued with some spiders almost reaching the former.
"Hah, I'm impressed that a little brat like you can handle fighting against my little pets. But, I believe that you are overlooking something."
"What would that be?"
"There's no creature better at stalking and stealth than a spider!"
From behind, there was a group of spiders who sneaked behind Alice without her knowing, then released flames in the direction of Alice. Though two of the sword-wielding monster stepped in front of her and acted as her shield as the other monsters fought the remaining spiders. However, the smile on the Jorougumo turned broader to a far eviler manner. At the same moment, a group of spiders dropped on the side and without missing a beat, each of them aimed their webbing toward Alice.
"Ugh!"
Alice felt panicked as she was pulled in the direction of the spiders, which she couldn't resist since she didn't at all have the same kind of physical abilities as either Kensei or Claire. Though she continued to pull back as much as possible seeing as how the monsters around her were still fighting back the other spiders. Just as one of the spiders was about to make one final yank and pull Alice toward her, there was a light bullet that sailed towards the spiderweb that was wrapped around her arm and freed her.
"Ah!"
Having been pulling back against them with as much strength as possible and the line being suddenly severed in such a fashion caused Alice to stumble backward a little. She regained her footing just as Claire arrived nearby her wielding a light gun made using her sacred gear.
"Are you alright, Alice-nee?"
Claire looked worried as she noticed Alice holding her wrist, which seemed bruised caused by behind pulled by the spiderweb.
"I'm fine."
Alice smiled in her direction with a reassuring look, but the Jorougumo glanced toward them with an assumed look on her monstrous face.
"Hahahaha! Well, I guess that my pets will get to have a feast with both of you," she laughed causing an echo traveling across the forest. "I, on the other hand, will step back and enjoy my feast."
"What feast?"
Claire questioned with a coy smile.
"Huh, are you blind? I'm walking about them…huh?"
The Jorougumo looked upward noticing that all the men who she gathered and wrapped in cocoons were all gone where she left them. She turned around realizing that some of the spiders who were watching them were also all dead with wounds that seemed to come from some kind of blade.
"What the hell happened to them all?!"
"Ah, I believe I stole them back."
Kensei arrived and landed in front of the Jorougumo after jumping from one of the threads that she had laid out in her general direction.
"Y-You are…."
"Yo, my name is Kensei Amagiri. And I believe that you've been kidnapping people in my clan's territory."
Kensei gestured toward her with his hand with a smirk on his face, while the nameless sword he received three years ago from Amakuni rested on his side.
"Ah, I thought that no one was guarding this place anymore since that pesky little clan was wiped out. I guess the one that survived the massacre was you… a little boy. But, how did you get past me without me even being able to sense your presence?"
"It's because of a little thing that I learned called senjutsu. I hid so that you wouldn't be able to sense me. I hope that you don't mind, but I killed all your spider pets and freed all the guys that you kidnapped," Kensei said in a faux apologetic tone. "Y'know, I once met a spider woman like you before and our last talk didn't end well. If you don't mind could you please leave here and take your spiders along with you, since the three of us are going on a little trip."
"Hah, do you think that I'll leave if a little brat asks me?"
The Jorougumo leaned forward so that her face was in front of Kensei, showing a threatening smirk that didn't at all frighten Kensei who returned a single smirk.
"Nope."
As soon as the Jorougumo opened her eyes, Kensei had thrown a straightforward punch infused with touki, which caused the female spider to be flung back to the strike. She remained on her feet despite the impact, but a large amount of blood leaked out from her mouth and nose.
"Y-You little bastard! Y-You punched me in the…!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Kensei jumped forward and launched multiple touki-infused punches and kicks at different spots on the Jorougumo causing various kinds of injuries that caused blood to spill. Unable to handle it, all the spider legs of the woman were aimed in the direction of Kensei with the intent to pierce him. Though none of the legs were able to deal with a single wound as the young teen continued to dodge as if dancing around.
Kensei reached toward the sheathed sword and then unsheathed it, causing flames to coat the blade
"Amagiri-ryū – Enzan."
(Heavenly Mist-Style: Flame Cut)
He slashed the flame-covered sword and sliced through half the spider legs of the Jorougumo causing her to land on the ground due to losing her support for a moment. Before landing on the ground, Kensei placed both his feet on the abdomen of the spider woman and jumped backward using enough force to push her back a bit. As soon as he landed on the ground, Kensei stood in position and prepared to take off running.
Kensei took off toward the Jorougumo, then covered himself in touki and started letting out a barrage of punches into the abdomen of the spider woman, then aimed a strong punch in her solar plexus sending ki directly in that spot causing blood to spit out of her mouth. He moved behind her skidding on the ground using his legs, but his attack didn't end there. Kensei rushed toward the Jorougumo from behind, twisting his body around, then he launched a consecutive total of three kicks.
"Amagiri-ryuu – Rouge Boukou."
(Heavenly Mist-Style: Wolf Fang Assault)
Kensei landed on the ground as the Jorougumo staggered around unable to move correctly or even think.
"W-What…the hell…?! Y-You…are a…."
"Amagiri-ryuu – Zanmaken."
(Heavenly Mist-Style: Evil-Cutting Sword)
In the final strike, Kensei coated his sword in ki causing a bright white light to cover it, then he slashed his katana upward causing a deep wound that was able to end her life. The Jorougumo landed forward on the ground without a single sign of her reacting again. After their master had died, the large spiders all started acting oddly and all of them vanished in black smoke.
"Well, this fight is done."
"Another success fight, Nii-san."
Claire arrived in front of him wearing a smile on her face.
"Yea, things ended without either of us getting seriously injured," Kensei stated as he glanced in the direction of Alice who was staring at her bruised hand. "Here let me see your hand, Alice."
"Uh, yes."
Alice directed her hand toward Kensei after arriving in front of him, then placed his hand on the bruised area and covered it in a bluish-white light, which caused a comfortably warm sensation that traveled across her body. And soon enough, the small bruise vanished without a sign that it was there, to begin with. If it was a wound like this, a single treatment using senjutsu would be enough to deal with it.
"Thanks, but are most of the people rescued still alive."
"Well, all of them are alive for the most part. But, even if we erase their memories of this incident there might be some lingering fear of spiders remaining."
Kensei tried to joke, but he started looking around the area noticing that the thread seemed to remain, and sighed out loud in a nervous manner.
"I'll need to get rid of this stuff before someone stumbles onto it," he nervously scratched his hand. "I think that it would be best if you two free those guys from those cocoons and erase their memories, while I get rid of these spiderwebs. Good thing that wasn't a strong Jorougumo, since dealing with her and later these webs will end up being even more difficult. I think that I'll use a controlled burn."
As Kensei started thinking about a method to get rid of the spiderwebs, he noticed that Claire was smiling happily as she moved from side to side, which Kensei and Alice noticed.
"What're you smiling about?"
Alice questioned causing Claire to glance toward her with a smile on her face.
"Because all three of us are going on a trip and it's to a place that I've always wanted to go to."
Both Kensei and Alice smiled themselves after noticing the excitement that was rolling off the young girl standing near them as she even started giggling to herself.
"Well, we can think about that later. But, first, let's free these guys."
"Okay~"
After being urged by Alice, Claire started walking alongside her toward the cocooned men that Kensei placed on the ground further from the recent battle. Kensei smiled noticing how excited Claire was about being able to on a trip together like this, but there was another reason for that smile, which was anticipation.
"I'm kinda looking forward to this trip too since it's been a long time since I was last there."
Kensei stated scratching his cheek, but soon stopped and started working on clearing out all the spiderwebs that lined up the area using fire as planned.
A/N: And there goes the fifteenth chapter of DxD – The Last Amagiri, this is the official start of the third volume with Kensei and the others all enjoying the three-year peace without a single incident occurring. I believe it was nice for them to have some time to return to their somewhat normal lives and act like kids their age without being trapped on an island for most of their life. Not much happened aside from seeing all of them enjoying their school lives, but I believe that those who've read stories like this. I believe that their peaceful lives won't last long. Kensei and his two favorite girls (at least for now) will be going to a special location. I wonder where that will be.
So, until next time.
Kensei's Harem: Alice, Claire, Hisui, Kunou, Yasaka, Lu Lingqi, Mirana, Sarah, Minako, Koneko, Kuroka, Ravel, Amaterasu, Brynhildr.