Issei: We're back here again?
Draconis: I feel like finishing this up before I do anything else, what? Where's Kenshin?
Issei: I think he said something about needing a new book and went off to the book store.
Draconis: The interdimensional one?
Issei: (stares) There's an interdimensional bookshop.
Draconis: It's more of a thrift shop. It's located in a fantasy world, mainly inhabited by young women whose main pastimes consist of causing incidents, solving incidents, partying afterward and shooting each other with magic bullets. Other than that I'm not sure.
Issei: Why does that sound familiar?
Draconis: You figure that out, I just hope he doesn't piss off the gap demon he talks to in order to get there for his interdimensional knick knacks. I'd rather not have her pissed at me too. Eh...she's kinda hard to irritate anyway, what am I worried about? Anyway...
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 3
Attack on the Fallen Angels
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
"Grh..." Kenshin awoke in his mindscape where Sirzechs was waiting for him. "You know, if I was still a demon, I'd have been able to tank that spear easily."
"Why didn't you just use your Gnome card?" Sirzechs asked.
"...Fuck yourself." Kenshin said flipping Sirzechs the bird.
"Not my fault you forgot to do so in the heat of the moment." Sirzechs said.
"That reminds me, why the hell does Rias need a bodyguard like me?" Kenshin asked. "I literally watched her waste a stray devil with a flick of her wrist, and I could tell she could do a lot more damage than that to someone who crosses her. And Akeno, Kiba and Koneko can handle themselves as well."
"Remember me saying she's prone to being overwhelmed?" Sirzechs asked. "Imagine if her enemies threw more numbers at her than she and her peerage could handle."
"If she couldn't handle them, I doubt I could." Kenshin said. "I think you made a mistake bringing me here."
"Well that remains to be seen, You've only been here about a couple of weeks." Sirzechs said. "One flaw I find with you, is that you tend to try to be a one man army."
"It wasn't broken, why fix it?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, but your power is broken now." Sirzechs said. "You can't use some of the abilities you used to be able to, meaning you must now change your approach to battle."
"Once again, Yay..." Kenshin said unenthusiastically.
"Besides, you seem to be enjoying my sister and her peerage's company." Sirzechs said.
"..." Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Maybe I am." "At least tell me another reason why you brought me here. I can't help feeling like you're hiding something."
"Trust me, it'll become more apparent soon." Sirzechs said with a sigh.
"You're sure?" Kenshin asked.
"Positive." Sirzechs said. "Also, another flaw I find with you is, you dial yourself back most of the time in order to savor a fight."
"It's called being fond of fighting." Kenshin said. "Besides, sometimes our heat can't be controlled by the seals on our clothes, so we either work it out or fuck it out, and I doubt you're going to give my access to a harem just for that." He finished with narrowed eyes.
"You're right, I can't do that." Sirzechs said with a sweatdrop.
"By the way, you say Rias is vulnerable. I don't see it. She carries herself well." Kenshin said.
"Like with the other reason, that'll become apparent later." Sirzechs said. "Now it's time to wake up."
"Yeah, whatever." Kenshin said as he woke up.
"Issei, give me back control of my arm." Kenshin said noticing his body was already conscious.
"Kenshin! You're OK!" Issei thought. "Why just your arm?"
"Do it now." Kenshin said.
"Uh, OK..."Issei said.
Without warning Kenshin punched his own face. "Aaaah! What the hell? !" Issei shouts at the mirror in the room. Meanwhile, Rias, Kiba, Akeno and Koneko were confused.
"Don't you 'what the hell? !' me you dumb fuck!" Kenshin snapped back. "You know what you did! You finally call on your Sacred Gear, and you run? ! From a enemy wielding a spear no less? ! Idiot! I shouldn't have let you have control to begin with! Now switch!"
"F-Fine..." Issei said.
"Don't you think...that was a little harsh?" Akeno asked.
"Excuse me for being incensed that I almost died twice in a fortnight." Kenshin said walking past them.
"Kenshin, do not go after them." Rias ordered.
Kenshin stopped for a moment. "They mentioned something of a ceremony. Well, Raynare did anyway. I think they might try to extract Asia's Sacred Gear."
"What? But, extracting one's Sacred Gear means the user's demise." Kiba said.
"Not only that, they will have a gear, potentially capable of healing any injury." Kenshin said. "Like it not we have to go at them now. If not, they're coming at us." "Now, I'm going outside to blow off some steam." Kenshin walked forward. "And Rias...with you all or without you all, I'm going. If the thought of it vexes you, go ahead and take me down."
"You are really headstrong." Rias commented.
"I apologize for that, and I do enjoy working for you, but I won't compromise who I am to do so." Kenshin said before leaving the Occult Club Base.
"..." Rias watched him leave. "Contrary to what you might think, I actually like that about you." She thought. "The fact that you're not some drone who merely takes orders is something I appreciate in my pieces."
"Chief." Akeno said.
"Hm?" Rias said.
Akeno leaned over and whispered into her ear. "..." She nodded and turned to Kiba and Koneko. "I need to step out and do something very important. If Kenshin takes off, go after him and make sure he or Issei doesn't do anything reckless. I already told Issei about the pawn's abilities, he should be able to relay that to Kenshin." Rias said as she dressed before she and Akeno left the building.
Meanwhile, Kenshin was outside, high kicking the side of a tree. "Can I at least explain to you why I froze up and ran?" Issei asked.
"If you were going to run, you shouldn't even have brought your Gear out." Kenshin thought. "But in any case go ahead."
"The outfit she wore, was the same one she had when we went out, when she killed me." Issei said.
"So what?" Kenshin thought. "What's the big deal?"
"She even looked the same way." Issei said.
"Again, so what?" Kenshin said.
"It may seem weird to you Kenshin, but Yuuma-Chan was the only girl who ever gave me the time of day, much less a chance to go out with her." Issei said. "I was just a regular human before all this happened. Hell...all of this is still a lot for me to handle."
"..." Kenshin went silent for a moment as he stopped kicking the tree.
"Kenshin?" Issei said.
"...I guess it would be a lot to handle." Kenshin thought. "But Issei you have to realize. People like Raynare, are just going to kill you now, the Yuuma you knew never existed, it was all a lie."
"You say that, but I'm sorry. I'm not as emotionally detached as you are." Issei said.
"You'd be surprised how attached I still am, but at the same time. You should be thanking your lucky stars you're not." Kenshin thought. "People who are as detached as I am, are usually sociopaths like that priest."
"Soo..." Issei said.
"So what? I'm not apologizing for yelling at you, your dumb move still almost got us killed." Kenshin thought.
"I'll take it." Issei said with a sigh.
"Now, let's start making tracks toward the enemies territory." Kenshin said. "If what you told me about the pawn's abilities is true it could prove to be a great boon to my Sacred Gear."
"Mine too...if I can ever figure out what it does!" Issei shouts. "Hey before we go, can I ask you something?"
"What?" Kenshin thought.
"Who is Yukari?" Issei asked.
"What? How did you hear that name?" Kenshin asked.
"You were talking in your sleep yesterday." Issei said. "It sounded like she was tickling you."
An embarrassed blush shot across Kenshin's face as he facepalmed. "Unbelievable." He said. "Anyway, Yukari is the name of my twin sister."
"Twin?" Issei said. "Oh dude...a girl that..."
"We were half identical you jackass." Kenshin thought with an inward glare. "We didn't look exactly alike."
"OK, OK...fuck...no need to get all defensive." Issei said.
"Yeah whatever." Kenshin thought.
"Note to self. Yukari is a touchy subject for Kenshin." Issei thought.
Kenshin walked past Kuoh Academy when he realized he was being followed. "Don't try to stop me, Kiba, Koneko."
"No, on the contrary, we've come to accompany you." Kiba said.
"...Hah?" Kenshin said staring at the bishounen knight like he just grew a second head.
"Well come on, you maybe doing something reckless, marching toward certain death, but you are also my colleague. I can't just stay idly by." Kiba said.
"Certain death? Please." Kenshin said. "I've walked toward this same situation a lot, I know what I'm getting into."
"Yes, but this would be your first time as a devil, doing such a thing." Koneko rebuked.
Kenshin slumped. "You have a point. I gotta remember not to get stabbed by those damn spears. It felt like my damn energy was getting sapped out."
"You were experiencing a soul drain." Koneko said. "It happens to all devils who come into contact with holy objects."
"Upper mid class devils and up can touch them and get them away from their bodies though." Kiba said.
"So you two are coming with me? Won't this be going against Rias?" Kenshin asked.
"She told us to accompany you." Koneko said.
"...Wha?" Kenshin said.
"Well come on Kenshin, if she wanted to stop you she would have, even if she had to tie you up." Kiba said.
"She'd need some pretty strong rope to tie me up." Kenshin said. "Either that, or I'd switch with Issei and let him enjoy the bondage play."
"You're awesome!" Issei said with a nosebleed.
"And you're pathetic." Kenshin thought. "Seriously, the willing lapdog act might get you in the door, but from there you gotta step the game up."
"So, Kuroshi-San..." Kiba stopped as Kenshin stared at him.
"If we're gonna be allies in this, drop the San, or just call me Kenshin." Kenshin said.
"OK." Kiba and Koneko both said.
As they approached the church they felt a sense of foreboding. "Hm?" Kiba looked up.
"There's a large amount of holy magic up there." Koneko said.
"I can tell." Kenshin closed his eyes. "Hm...there's at least...fifty."
"Fifty?" Kiba said. "Whew." He whistled. "Sounds like we got our work cut out for us."
"Not necessarily, their fighting forces has been split in half most likely, half outside and half inside." Kenshin said. "I guess Raynare isn't as dumb as I thought."
"Well, in any case we need to plan this out." Kiba pulled out a blueprint.
"...How?" Kenshin said.
"One of Yuuto's regular summoners works for a architect company." Koneko said.
"Aaahh..." Kenshin nodded. "So...say I wanted to prank the hell out of someone and needed a way to set it up, I come to you?"
"Well, it would just be in Kuoh." Kiba said with a sweatdrop. "That and you'd owe me a favor."
"Cool." Kenshin said.
"Anyway the church itself isn't that big, it's more or less the grounds around it that are going to be trouble." Kiba said. "Here's the sanctuary and behind that is the living quarters."
"Neither could be an ideal place for a ritual. The front is too obvious and the back is too crowded." Kenshin said. "Does this place have more than one floor?"
"Why yes. It does have a basement." Kiba said.
"Then that must be where the ritual is being held. It's big." Koneko said flipping the front page over, seeing the layout for the basement.
"Hm..." Kenshin said. "Fifty in the front, fifty inside...if we take them all on together, we'll just wear ourselves out...that and I smell that psycho priest in the vicinity."
"Thankfully I'm pretty sure the exorcists surrounding the church, as well as inside it are pretty weak. Just have to be careful." Kiba said.
"Yes, but on the other hand we are still prone to being overwhelmed." Koneko said.
"Hm...then let me handle the ones outside." Kenshin said walking ahead.
"What?" Kiba said. "But Kenshin-kun you're still..."
"Relax, I've got this." Kenshin said turning back to him with a grin. "Just watch."
Kiba and Koneko moved to the roof overlooking the church as Kenshin approached the church grounds. "Kenshin-kun really knows no fear..." Kiba said.
"If it gets too rough for him, we should jump in." Koneko said.
"Agreed." Kiba said.
"Alright...I'm in enemy territory, Promotion! Queen!" Kenshin thought.
"..." Kenshin stood there. "...Nothing happened." He thought.
"That's funny...Chief said that we should at least be able to feel a power upgrade." Issei said.
"Alright then you try it." Kenshin thought.
"Alright, Promotion! Queen!" Issei said. "...Whoa! That is a lot of power!" He said.
"Huh...that's weird." Kenshin thought.
"Wanna switch?" Issei offered.
"Nah, even if I can't promote, this is nothing I can't handle." Kenshin thought pulling out one of his cards.
"Oh...wait, that picture in the corners relates to the sense you lose right?" Issei asked.
"Yeah, so?" Kenshin thought holding his Undine card.
"Then won't this...?" Issei asked.
"Make me blind yes." Kenshin thought. "Tell you what, if it turns out I can't handle it, we'll switch and you can call for backup. Deal?"
"Deal." Issei said.
"I sacrifice my sense of sight to activate Undine, the Serene Slime Mermaid of Water." Kenshin said as the card vanished as well as his sight.
"Hey, I can still see." Issei said.
"Yeah yeah, now shut up." Kenshin said. He walked toward the church grounds tapping his naginata's blade along the ground.
"Hey, who the hell are you? !" One of the fallen angel's flunkies said.
"It's the red haired devil! The one Sir Freed mentioned!" Another said.
"..." Kenshin stood still for a moment. "I wonder...can I still use that?" He thought as he gathered his magic and focused his mind.
"What?" Issei said.
"If it works, you'll see." Kenshin thought closing his blinded eyes.
"What's he doing? Preparing himself for death? Hahaha! Then let's give it to him!"
"Serene Conqueror!" Kenshin said, his eyes snapping open, his expression becoming fierce as his magic exploded outward.
"? !" All the exorcists froze in place as they felt the oppressive wave of magic wash over them.
"I can feel it...it worked." Kenshin thought with a smirk.
"They all stopped, and they look terrified." Issei said.
"It's an intimidation technique, designed by my father to scare off those who weren't worth the effort in fighting, but this one was imperfect, it seems they'll start moving again at any moment." Kenshin thought as he strode up to the fifty man force at a slow, deliberate pace.
"He did something to them." Koneko said.
"But what? I didn't even see it." Kiba said.
The defense force readied themselves as Kenshin picked up speed. Some of the weaker willed ones gulped, or began to sweat. "Here he goes." Koneko said.
"He's running right at them, and vice versa. We should...!" Kiba said.
"Wait." Koneko said as Kenshin started running through the exorcists popping a few into the air as he batted them away.
"Whoa..." Kiba said.
Kenshin stopped, laying his fist into a exorcist's chest knocking him to the ground, breaking a few ribs in the process, he spun, kicking another in the head. He sensed one of them rushing in behind him with his spear and ducked, turned and punched him in the chest, the force of which sent him careening into the dirt.
"?" Kenshin turned and kicked another exorcist in the face, and used him as a stepping stool, jumping further into their formation. He landed hard, popping several of them into the air, He grabbed one of them and threw them into the other while knocking two others out cold.
"How can you know when they are coming?" Issei asked.
"The card heightens my perception, and being blind makes my sense of hearing better." Kenshin thought as he dodged, blocked and repelled every attack coming his head darted back and forth, sensing and anticipating any more oncoming attacks. Finding none he took off toward his left, taking down more fallen angels.
"Wow..." Kiba said.
"It's like he's dancing." Koneko said.
"Still, this is a lot of power for a pawn." Kiba said. "I don't even think he promoted."
"He's using his Sacred Gear." Koneko said. "I saw him holding one of his cards before he charged in."
Kenshin slashed one of the exorcist's across the chest, killing him. He turned, blocking a spear stab at his shoulder and buried his fist into the man's solar plexus cracking his spine. Four exorcists charged in at him one after the other and all were slashed deeply into their sides for their trouble. One finally wised up and threw his spear at Kenshin's head. Yet, Kenshin grabbed it turned and threw it into his chest killing him.
Kenshin charged forward, cutting at least seven more exorcists down. He grabbed the arm of an eighth one, twisting the limb until it snapped and slammed him into the ground. He sensed two more coming in to run him through and split kicked them both, snapping their necks in the process. He grabbed his naginata, leaping into the air and threw it through a force of fifteen taking each of them down. He landed ahead of the weapon and caught it, raising it overhead into a spin as ten more rushed in to stop him. Most were cut down, while one was sent flying away.
"That's thirty five." Kiba said.
"What about the one that was sent flying?" Koneko asked. "It's around forty five by the way...funny it seems like there's more than we thought..."
"He won't come back." Kiba said. "It does...maybe he's taken more out than we thought.
Kenshin grabbed an exorcist by the neck as used him as a shield to block another's spear and pinned them together, running him through on his own spear. Kenshin turned and stabbed another through the heart and turned slashing two more across the throat. He grabbed the final one by the arm. "You want to dance too?" He asked before throwing him into the ground head first. He didn't move.
"Card Cancel." Kenshin said before falling to a knee panting heavily.
"Hey!" Issei said. "Are you OK? !"
"Gaah...using those cards for extended periods of time is exhausting right now. I need to work on getting my mastery with them back up." Kenshin thought. "Add into that, I touched a few of their blessed weapons...that was dumb...it worked, but it was dumb."
"Let me switch with you then." Issei offered.
"How do I know you won't take off when you face Raynare? Add into that you'll have to contend with that priest before getting to her." Kenshin thought.
"Our friend's life is at stake this time...and letting you go in right now wouldn't be any better, it might even be worse." Issei said. "Besides, we have Kiba and Koneko with us."
"Right." Kenshin thought. "Good luck, I'll only need a little while."
"Thanks." Issei said as they switched.
He turned to find Kiba and Koneko coming up to him. "Nice work Kenshin-kun."
"Kenshin needs to take a breather, this is Issei." Issei said.
"Oh." Kiba said. "Alright come on! We should have been discovered the second Kenshin began." He said as he Issei and Koneko dashed forward. They can into the sanctuary and found no one.
"There's no one here." Issei said.
"Strange." Kiba said.
"Over there..." Koneko said pointing at one of the pillars in the back.
"Oh my, splendid work." Freed said as he walked out from behind the pillar clapping his hands. "Yo! It's a reunion, sure is heartwarming."
"Hey Issei, say this." Kenshin said.
"Well well well, if it isn't the shitty priest himself, tell me Freed. Is that really your name, or did you start calling yourself that after you left the psyche ward?" Issei asked.
"Oh ho ho...you're soooo FUNNY! !" Freed said with a wide smirk. "So you're here to save Asia-tan? It would be better for a bitch like her, who would have the gall to heal devils to die!"
"Shut up." Issei said with a glare. "Your voice is like nails on a chalkboard, now where is she?"
"Woo hoo hoo...look at the balls on this guy." Freed said. "She's down here under this altar, there's a staircase leading to the basement."
"Huh, that was straightforward." Issei said.
"Why shouldn't it be? I'm gonna kill ya all anyway." Freed said wiggling his tongue at them.
"You sure are a composed one." Kiba said.
"Sacred Gear!" Issei said as the Hand of Dragon appeared on his hand. "Don't take us so lightly, you might regret it!"
"Go get crushed..." Koneko said lifting up one of the church pews.
"K-Koneko-Chan? !" Issei said as he and Kiba dove out of the way.
"That won't work twice!" Freed said slicing the pew in half.
"There!" Kiba said slashing down at Freed.
"Tch!" Freed snarled. "Cheeky piece of shit!" He said kicking at Kiba's head. He started shooting at Kiba. "Dance, fucker dance!" He said.
"Krh!" Kiba grunted as one of the bullets grazed his cheek as he knocked one back. Koneko moved in front of him and took one of the bullets to the head.
"Koneko!" Issei said.
"Ah shit! Not good!" Kenshin said.
Koneko looked back down showing just a scratch on her forehead. "That hurt a little..."
"Oh yeah, the special ability of the rook is defense." Issei thought.
"What a relief." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"You sure are tough for being so small!" Freed said with a nonchalant grin.
"Small..." Koneko said before throwing pew after pew at Freed.
"Hahaha, keep it coming!" Freed shouts.
"...Hey Kenshin." Issei thought.
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"We should avoid saying small around Koneko-Chan." Issei thought.
"Agreed." Kenshin said.
"Forgetting someone?" Kiba said appearing behind Freed and knocking him off balance.
"Krh! This ain't bad, it's been awhile since I've had a heated battle...I'll slice you to pieces!" Freed said.
"I should get a little more serious here. Take this!" Kiba said as his sword turned dark.
"Haaah? !" Freed said jumping backward as his sword's light vanished. "The fuck? !"
"Holy Eraser, it's a sword that draws in and eats holy magic." Kiba said.
"Fuck, you're a Sacred Gear user as well, I was hoping to end this quickly so I could kill that Kenshin fucker." Freed said.
"Sorry, but we're covering for him." Kiba said.
"Now's my chance!" Issei thought.
"Sacred Gear Activate!" Issei shouts.
"Boost!" The gear shouted.
"Hah? ! You think me to be unarmed! Get real!" Freed said shooting his pistol at him.
"Promotion! Rook!" Issei shouts.
"Promotion? ! This fucker's a pawn? !" Freed said. "Even the exorcism bullets are bouncing off, but lets see how long you can keep up!"
"You must not have heard, the other power of the rook is...monstrous strength!" Issei said driving his sacred gear fist into Freed's chin, or rather the hilt of his sword.
"Are you shitting me? ! I was actually hit by a shitty devil? ! I'll ki-..." Freed looked around and took account of his situation. "Huh...oh...oh...ohhhhh...shit..." He said realizing it was three against one and he was without his sword. He dropped a smokescreen bomb and hopped up into the rafters.
"Kah!" Issei said.
"Hyoudou-kun are you OK? !" Kiba asked worried Freed might have gotten the jump on him.
"I'm fine." Issei said.
"Aaahn...so you're called Issei Hyoudou-kun right? I think I've fallen in love with you." Freed said with a smirk. "I will definitely kill you! Yes, definitely! I will chop you to bits and make you regret punching me, bye bye!" He said hopping out the window.
"Easy to talk a big game when you're fuckin' runnin'!" Issei shouts.
"Neh heh heh...you got yourself a gay stalker." Kenshin snickered.
"Didn't you kick him around too? !" Issei thought. "And isn't he after both of us because of our situation."
"Hey he used your name, not mine." Kenshin said.
"Hyoudou-kun, come on, we don't have time to chase him." Kiba said.
"She's definitely down here, I can smell her." Koneko said moving the altar, exposing stairs. They made their way down and came up to a door.
"I've almost recovered, if you don't think you can handle it, I'm free to switch." Kenshin said.
"Thanks, but I want to at least try to face her." Issei thought.
"Alright." Kenshin said.
"The rest of the exorcists are probably back here with the Fallen Angel." Kiba said. "Are you two ready?"
"Yeah." Issei said.
"Yes." Koneko said.
"Alright." Kiba said pushing the door open.
"Hm?" Raynare turned from the ritual altar she had Asia pinned to. "Oh? So it was you I felt earlier, welcome devils."
"Asiaaaa!" Issei shouts.
"Shit! They've already started! We gotta act fast!" Kenshin said.
"Kenshin...-San? No...Issei-San?" Asia said.
"Yeah! We've come to save you, Asia!" Issei said.
"This is a heartwarming little meeting, but you're too late." Raynare said with a demure smile. "The ceremony is just about to end." She said touching a seal on her chest, the same seal lit up on Asia's chest and made her cry out in pain.
"Asia! !" Issei yelled.
"There must have been more outside than I thought, there's not that many exorcists in here, that'll make things easier!" Kenshin said.
"You won't interfere, I will destroy you here and now, devil!" One of the exorcists yelled charging at Issei wielding a light sword.
"I won't let you..." Koneko said driving her elbow into his chest.
"Large numbers against small, I shall not hold back either, leave this to us Hyoudou-kun." Kiba said.
"Right!" Issei said.
"Aaaahhh! !" Asia cried out as an orb of light was ripped from her body.
"!" Issei and Kenshin's eyes went wide with shock.
"This is it! The moment I've been waiting for! If I have this Sacred Gear then I will be loved!" She brought it to her chest and moaned as it began fusing with her body. "It's coming...inside! Aaahhn!"
"Krh!" Kenshin growled.
"Fufufu...Finally I got it! The ultimate power! With this I'll be able to make those who made fun of me eat their words!" Raynare laughed
"Leave the followers to us, just go!" Kiba said.
"Got it!" Issei said running past all of the exorcists and up the stairs. Raynare did nothing to stop him.
"Go ahead, say your last words to her." She said.
"Asia!" Issei said ignoring Raynare. "We've come for you, Me and Kenshin both! Now just hang on, it's gonna be alright!"
"It's no use." Raynare said. "Don't you know that Sacred Gear users die when they have theirs ripped out?"
"Then give it back!" Issei shouts.
"Ahahaha! Not fucking likely! I even tricked my superiors to pull this off!" Raynare said. "Besides if I gave it back now, then I would die!" She winked at him with a smile. "I'll be sure to destroy you all as well, and leave no traces, Okay?"
"Shit...even if it is Yuuma-Chan's appearance, she's still detestable to me." Issei said.
"That's good! Now don't let her get in your head!" Kenshin said.
"You know it was fun for me, right Issei?" Raynare said with her eyes closed. "Yes...I was your first girlfriend after all...an innocent...-ish boy who doesn't know much about women is fun to toy with...I decided back then that I would cherish you...ufufu...you sure protected me when I needed, coming at a moments notice...did you know I only acted weak because I thought your panicked look was amusing?"
"That date...I thought about it, up and down the entire day before! I planned everything!" Issei said.
"Hahahaha! Oh fuck! Seriously? ! It was too damn old fashioned for my tastes! It was extremely boring!" Raynare said. "And this gift at the game center, I hated it." She said dropping a keychain decoration on the floor and crushing it beneath her foot.
"Raynare! !" Issei shouts.
"Don't use my name so lightly you shitty brat!" Raynare shouted.
"Issei! Don't let this bitch get under your skin!" Kenshin said. "She's trying to wind you up!"
"I-Issei-San..." Asia said.
"Hyoudou-kun! It's difficult to fight in here while protecting the girl!" Kiba said.
"We need to get moving." Koneko said.
"Damn..." Issei said scooping Asia up into his arms as the two opened a path.
"I won't let you leave." Raynare said appearing to their right.
"Go on Hyoudou-kun, we'll hold them all off and buy you some time!" Kiba said.
"But!" Issei said.
"Go! Now!" Kiba ordered.
"Dammit! You two are acting too cool! And call me Issei from now on! We're friends right? !" Issei said taking off up the stairs. He set Asia on one of the pews. "Alright...now hang on! I'll go and get it back for you!"
"Wait..." Asia said with a pant as she grabbed his shirt, stopping him from leaving. "Even though...it was just for a short while...Issei-San...Kenshin-San...you two became my friends...I feel so happy..."
"Wh-What are you saying...?" Issei said digging into his pocket and pulling out a picture he had saved from their session in the picture booth. "Remember this? We took this picture together, next time I'll let Kenshin be in control when we go out."
Asia took the picture from him. "If I were to be reborn...would you two...be my friends again...would we play together again...?" She asked, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Ha ha..." Issei falsely laughed. "What are you saying? We'll go to a lot of fun places, like that game center, karaoke and even bowling...!" Issei said as tears slipped down his cheeks as well.
"No...Dammit!" Kenshin cursed. "I've let another person die!"
"...You're crying for me...I'm...glad I meant so much to you...in such a little time...I don't need anything else..." Asia said. "Thank you..."
"Issei...switch with me." Kenshin said sensing a presence walking up the stairs. As Issei unconsciously begged God to return Asia's life.
"What? Why? !" Issei said.
"I've seen people I care about die before! I know how to cope with it better than you do!" Kenshin said. "I can sense that angelic bitch coming this way! She must have gotten by Kiba and Koneko!"
"My my...a devil praying in a church, is this supposed to be repentance?" Raynare said.
"...You bitch..." Issei and Kenshin both snarled.
"Take a look at this, it's a wound made by the knight's knife just a while ago." Raynare said showing a wound on her arm. She raised her other hand to it and healed it with Asia's Sacred Gear. "See? No matter what wound it is, it heals, this Sacred Gear is amazing! With this I'll be of great use to Azazel-Sama and Lord Samyaza!"
"Like we give a fuck." Issei and Kenshin said. "Even though all she wanted in life was to live in peace...you pieces of shit...!"
"She wouldn't have been able to do it." Raynare said waving him off.
"Go on Issei, do it! Show this bitch you and your allies are not to be fucked with!" Kenshin said.
"Right! !" Issei thought.
"Give her back..." Issei said.
"Hmm?" Raynare said.
"I said...give Asia BACK! !" Issei yelled as his Sacred Gear glew brightly, he charged in after her only to be tripped up.
"Ufufu...you're so lame..." Raynare said with a dismissive smile as Issei charged in again. "Like I said, your power might have increased a bit, but..."
"Gaaah!" Issei grunted as one of her spears tore through his right leg. "This thing...!" He recalled Kenshin ripping the one that was in his stomach out and did the same with this one.
"...Hmm...interesting..." Kenshin thought.
"Gaaahhh!" Issei stood back up. "Come on! Sacred Gear! Just give me some power, any power! Just let me move and land one single hit! !"
"First that other man inside you, now you're pulling out my spears? ! What the hell? !" Raynare said.
"Boost!"
"Fine! I'll blow off your head!" Raynare said throwing her spear at Issei's head only for him to swat it down. He lunged forward as Raynare tried to backpedal away from him and grabbed her wrist. "Like I'd let you get away! Now Fly you shitty angel! !" He said punching her through the front door.
"Good job Issei." Kenshin said.
"No...she's still out there...I can't..." Issei thought.
"Let me stand in from here." Kenshin said. "You did what you could, it's time to tag out."
"...Alright...thanks for letting me do this Kenshin." Issei said.
"It was your business...I really didn't have any right to interfere." Kenshin thought after they switched places.
"Hrn!" Kenshin charged his youki and magic and healed the leg wound. "Hmm...just as I thought." Kenshin well...thought.
He walked outside the church and saw Raynare climbing to her feet. "Well well well, did the rookie get ya a little hard there?"
"!" Raynare scowled. "Oh...it's you..."
"Hmhmhmhm...that's right...Issei couldn't finish you off, so it falls to me to bring ya to release, Nephalem." Kenshin said as Issei's Gear vanished and his naginata reappeared in hand.
Raynare looked around at the littered bodies. Kenshin smirked. "Like it? This is my handiwork. Every last soul here is dead. The price to be paid for challenging a dragon, or a tiger if you prefer." He said twitching his ears.
"Th...There was at least sixty to eighty exorcists here!" Raynare said with wide eyes.
"And I'm an ex-assassin." Kenshin said. "I excel at the taking of another person's life."
"Well, at least your body is...What the hell? ! How did you heal so quickly? !" Raynare said.
"It seems your spears lost a bit of their bite when you took Asia's Sacred Gear." Kenshin said. "It makes sense...after all Asia was still merely a human."
"What does her being human have to do with it?" Raynare said with a scowl.
"You didn't know? Humans are neither purely light, nor purely dark." Kenshin said. "In short...both magics can exist in them...and they do."
"That's...not possible! She was raised in a church until..!" Raynare was cut off.
"Until she was cast out for healing a devil...but tell me...if she was purely of the light...then how was she able to do this? Wouldn't the devil have logically died from her trying to do so?" Kenshin asked.
"? !" Raynare stepped back. "No, you're lying!"
"Am I?" Kenshin said taking out his Gnome Card. "I sacrifice my sense of touch to activate Gnome, the Silent Girl of the Earth." He said as the card vanished. He raised his hand at her and gestured toward himself a couple of times. "Bring on the spear, if I'm wrong, it should tear right through my hand regardless of the defensive buff I just applied to myself."
"Tch!" Raynare scowled. "Cocky bastard...Know your place! !" She shouted throwing her spear at Kenshin.
"Hrn!" Kenshin reeled his fist back and punched the weapon of light, sending it skyward until it stabbed into the ground at Raynare's feet. All Kenshin nursed was a heavy scratching on his hand.
"? ! !" Raynare stepped back, looking at him with shocked eyes.
"Hmhmhmhm...you fool. You weakened yourself by taking in the magics of a Sacred Gear, held by a human." Kenshin said shaking his hand around. "I may not have been a devil for very long, but I do know one thing...Holy and Dark Magics never mix well, they're like oil and water. The only ones that have a shot at it are humans and demons as both are born with the ability to be pure or impure, and I used to be a demon...I should know. Angels, Pure or Fallen and Devils can never attain such a thing."
"That's right, after all...the Kuroshi displayed this irrefutable fact."
"? !" Raynare turned around to see Rias walking toward them with Akeno.
"Hello Rias. I trust you didn't have much trouble with those Fallen Angels over there?" Kenshin asked making Raynare's eyes go wide with shock.
"Oh? You noticed that?" Rias asked.
"I have a keen eye for battle...I could sense yours and Akeno's magic flaring up." Kenshin said.
"Aaaahhh." Rias nodded with a smile.
"What about you?" Akeno asked mirroring Rias' smile.
"I let Issei take a crack at her and Freed after I laid waste to the exorcists out here." Kenshin said. "He handled himself quite well, but the Nun...she is dead." He said glancing at the ground.
"That is fine, get her Sacred Gear back, I'll bring her into my peerage." Rias said walking by him.
"Excuse me...I am still here..." Raynare snarled. "How conceited...making victory plans before the actual victory! I still have this Sacred Gear, with it you cannot kill me, and I shall kill you and that bitch over there!" She said pointing at Rias.
"We'll just see about that." Kenshin said. "After all...what if I can make the wounds faster than you can heal them?"
"Tch, we'll see about that...if I can just kill you, I'll be able to retreat and get back up." Raynare said. "The higher ups will certainly agree that the Gremory Heiress and her peerage need to be dealt with."
"You kill one of my friends, harm my comrades and threaten my master and you expect me to let you live?" Kenshin said with a smirk. "Come on then. Show me what you've got!"
"Will you be needing any assistance Kenshin?" Akeno asked.
"No. If you two wish to stay here and watch then by all means." Kenshin said.
"I would, but I need to hurry if I'm going to revive that nun." Rias said. "Good luck Kenshin." She said as both she and Akeno left.
"Tch...I talked up a big game, but those things are still going to be somewhat of a nuisance if my card wears off. And it's going to at some point." Kenshin thought. "I'll need to finish this quickly."
Raynare took to the skies as Kenshin darted toward her, slashing down at the area she previously occupied, creating a small crater with the impact of his slash. "!" Raynare stared at it, flabbergasted for a second. "Calm down!" She thought shaking her head. "As long as he can't hit me I'm going to be fine! He has to run out of steam sooner or later!"
"You think you can outrun a dragon in the sky?" Kenshin said uncasing his wings and chasing after her, slapping the Sylph card into it's slot. "Kazerin!"
"Hrn!" Raynare threw her spear at the spinning blade, knocking it off course. "Heheh...? !" Her eyes widened when it veered around and struck her from behind, giving only seconds to avoid. A gash opened up on her right arm as the blade returned to Kenshin. "A sentient blade?" Raynare said as she began healing her wound.
"That's right, and no healing allowed!" Kenshin shouted throwing his blade at her again.
"!" Raynare dodged and watched the blade veer around again. Meanwhile Kenshin rushed her, his hand reeled backward to strike.
"Keep your eyes on your opponent Nephalem!" Kenshin said.
"Shit!" Raynare said moving to her left, out of the way.
Kenshin caught his blade, but Raynare threw a spear at his leg. He moved his hand to take the blow when it tore through his hand. "!"
"Ufufufu...looks like your defense just ran out!" Raynare said rushing toward him, grabbing him by the face and planting him into the ground.
"Tch!" Kenshin jumped out of the hole and batted a second spear away as Raynare landed back on the ground. "I guess it takes more for me to recover from using Undine for so long like I did, than I thought."
"Are you alright Kenshin?" Issei asked.
"I'm fine." Kenshin thought taking out another card and putting the other two away.
"You haven't used that one yet." Issei said.
"I know." Kenshin thought.
"Oh? Another one, well go right ahead, it won't make a difference in the end." Raynare said as Kenshin ripped out the spear lodged in his hand.
"We'll see about that, but I'll tell you this, if you can outlast this card, you'll be able to kill me." Kenshin said. "I activate Salamander of the Inferno!"
Fire erupted from and around Kenshin's body before moving inside him. "If I cannot defeat you with this, I will suffer extreme exhaustion to the point I won't be able to move, this happens a minute after it deactivates."
"Good to know...get him boys." Raynare said.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes as the exorcists that had guarded Raynare earlier charged in after him. He held his hand out as it sprayed fire in front of him. "You idiots, the moment you challenged me, your lives were forfeit." Kenshin said slashing his wind empowered naginata horizontally in front of him. A great burst of wind split the fire into many tiny arrows. "Gouka Ame!" (A/N: Hellfire Rain)
"!" Raynare watched as her exorcists all crumpled and burned away into ashes. Kenshin charged forward his naginata in hand. "He took them all out...so easily! Just what is this man? !" She thought as she threw a spear at him. Kenshin slashed it down and brought the blade level with her neck.
"Demon Decapitation!" Kenshin shouts.
Raynare hastily jumps into the air to avoid being beheaded. Kenshin directed his naginata in front of him and had it spin as he held his hand behind it. He poured flames into the rotation and they shot out toward Raynare spanning a wide area. "Contract!" Kenshin ordered.
The swirling flames began closing in on the Fallen Angel. "Oh no! I can't escape from this in time!"
As soon as they made contact with her, the flames exploded brilliantly. "Nggh!" Kenshin fell to a knee panting.
"Hey! Kenshin!" Issei yelled.
"That took more out of me than I thought it was going to..." Kenshin thought getting back up. "Hm?"
"Oh...how cruel you are...attacking a woman like me in such cold blood..." Raynare said landing back on the ground. She had used her wings to guard at the last moment, they were heavily charred as were her legs.
"I'm not Issei Hyoudou, I'm not as nice as he is...if you make an attempt on my life, or on someone close to me...I will show you no mercy." Kenshin said. "That, and when you enter the battlefield...you are no longer a man, woman or even a child..." He smirked wearily. "T'is such a cruel rule, that I've lived with all my life."
"How unfortunate for you, even more unfortunate when you consider this is your end!" Raynare said throwing a spear right at his head.
"Heh!" Kenshin grinds the spear to dust with his spinning, wind empowered naginata and encases it in flames. "This will be my last shot, better make it count!" He thought charging in after her.
"Oh no you don't!" Raynare said pegging Kenshin in the arm with another spear.
"Grh!" Kenshin grunted, but was ultimately undaunted as he continued charging forward. "Eat this!" He said throwing the spinning weapon into Raynare's chest. "Kurimuzonhariken!" (A/N: Crimson Hurricane)
"Guh!" Raynare gasped as the attack drove her back. "Aaaaaahhhhh! !" She screamed as it took exploded, damaging her greatly.
"Nnh!" Kenshin fell onto his hands and knees. The Salamander card appeared in his hand. "Shit...if she survived that...I'm done for..." He said with a weary smirk.
"Aaahh...nnnn..." Raynare laid on the ground, her injuries slowly healing with Asia's Sacred Gear. "Hahaha...if I hadn't taken this, I'd be dead." Raynare said forcing herself on her feet. "That said...this is it's limit it seems..." She said shambling toward Kenshin using a spear for balance.
"...Are you...fucking kidding me...?" Kenshin said. "Uggh..." He fell forward.
"Hey! Kenshin switch with me! I can handle this from here!" Issei said.
"It's no use Issei...the exhaustion I'm getting ready to feel is physical...but still...I can do this..." Kenshin said calling for his naginata and forcing himself upright. "Only...fifteen seconds...left..." He takes off after Raynare who smirked weakly in response.
"Alright, come on and run yourself onto my spear." She said.
"Hrn!" Kenshin stabbed his naginata into the ground and ripped it out, showering her with small sharpened pieces of rock. She dropped her spear and hit the ground.
"Dammit...why can't I beat you...I even got my backup killed fighting that damned leader of yours..." Raynare said crying tears of frustration
"Because...you fight for no other reason than your own selfish desires...I've been fighting to survive and protect..." Kenshin said. "No matter how close I come to death...I could never lose to someone like you...Urrgh..." He fell onto his back and looked up at the sky. "It's done...you can't heal anymore...and I can't move..."
"I have...one question before...your allies come over here and kill me..." Raynare said looking up at the sky with dull eyes. "How did you attack me just now?"
"I moved my Gnome card into it's slot when I called my blade over...From there it was a simple matter of tearing the earth out and propelling it toward you with my Sylph card's ability." Kenshin said.
"Heh...heh...heh...maybe I should have tried taking your Sacred Gear as well." Raynare said. "I must admit...I overlooked yours, as I never heard of it before..."
"That's not the only one you overlooked." Kenshin turned to see Rias, Akeno, Koneko and Kiba walking up to him.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Raynare said with a weak glare.
"Issei's Sacred Gear is not the 'Hand of Dragon' as you referred to it as, it is actually called the Boosted Gear, the Crimson Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet." Rias said.
"Boosted Gear...you mean to tell me that St. Longnius' Sacred Gear dwelled with in that person? !" Raynare shouts.
"It did...it's power...as according to legend is to boost it's wearer's power by double every ten seconds. If it's mastered it could even butcher the Gods." Rias said. "And Kenshin's is nothing to scoff at either. A Master of the Four Grand Elements could prove to be very fearsome indeed and he's only begun retraining himself with those abilities."
Kenshin, who had been helped up to his feet by Koneko and Akeno looked at his cards. Meanwhile Issei took over for a moment. "So wait...with this gear I could really become a legendary devil?" He asked.
"Idiot." Kenshin said. "No one's gonna sit around and wait for your power to keep doubling."
"That's right." Rias said. "But still it is very interesting, as expected from my dear servants. I'll love you more and more!" She said stroking Kenshin's cheeks.
"Um..." Kenshin said gesturing toward Raynare.
"Oh, of course...it's time for you to disappear..." Rias said. "Naturally I'll recover the Sacred Gear as well."
"Go ahead...nothing you could do would compare to what my superiors will do to me if I were to return...you do me a kindness..." Raynare said.
"Very well...accept this kindness then." Rias said charging her magic through her palm.
Kenshin closed his eyes as Rias reduced Raynare to nothing. "..."
"Hm?" Rias glanced over at him. "Why close your eyes, I thought you were used to death?"
"I might be, but Issei isn't." Kenshin said. "That and despite her being our enemy, I don't think he wanted to watch her get wasted like that. If that's the case...I wasn't gonna make him do so." He reached over and grabbed Asia's Sacred Gear. "Was she resurrected?"
"Yes." Rias said. "She's my new bishop, she's just resting."
"OK...then...get this to her..." Kenshin said tossing it to her as he fell forward.
"!" Everyone stared at him surprised.
"Fuuuaaahhhh..." Kenshin yawned. "Don't worry about me...I've been feeling the aftereffects of my Salamander Card for quite some time now. I'm just exhausted."
"Oh." Rias said with a relieved smile. "Koneko."
"Hai..." Koneko said lifting Kenshin onto her shoulders.
"Ehahaha...sorry about this...if I could walk myself right now I would." Kenshin said.
"It's fine...it's no trouble at all." Koneko said.
The group of five, six if you count Issei made their way back into the church. Koneko sat Kenshin down leaning on a pillar. "Alright...now to give this back to her." Rias said pushing the orb of light into the former nun's chest.
"...huh?" Asia's eyes opened up and sat up looking around. "Who...? How am I...?"
"I've revived you as my bishop and also as a devil, I am Rias Gremory, your new Master." Rias introduced.
"Welcome." Akeno said with a smiling, waving at her.
"Always nice to have another friend with us." Kiba said smiling at her.
"Nice to meet you..." Koneko said.
"I...I'm a devil now?" Asia said glancing around fearfully.
"Well look at it this way Asia...you were already excommunicated for healing a devil...it's not like they were taking you back anyway." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin-San? Wh-What happened to you? !" Asia said running up to him.
"Ahahahahaha...Just a little beat up and really, really tired." Kenshin said.
"Yeah no kidding, you say I need training. Looks like I'm not the only one." Issei said.
"Yeah Yeah..." Kenshin said.
"Here, let me..." Asia said healing him.
"Hey, just get rid of the wounds and give me enough energy to walk. If you try to heal me completely you're just going to wear yourself out." Kenshin advised.
"OK..." Asia said.
Kenshin wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her in close. "K-Kenshin-San? !"
"Now we can fulfill the promise we made to you." Kenshin and Issei whispered in unison.
"Ah..." Asia narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Yes...thank you..."
"Don't mention it..." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, it's our pleasure." Issei said.
(break)
The next day.
"Are you decent?" Kenshin said. "...You know what screw it I'm coming in." He said walking into the clubroom.
"You ask me if I'm decent, and then just barge right in? How lewd..." Rias said with a demure smile.
"Judging by your expression alone...I don't think you'd have cared so long as I didn't throw myself on you like Issei would have...and did..." Kenshin said
"Hey, that was one time!" Issei said.
"Hmhmhm..he is enthusiastic I'll give him that." Rias said. "I just wish the same could be said for you..."
"Di...Did you just chastise me for not being a pervert?" Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"Hahahahahahaha!" Issei laughed.
"Well it would help to know if you were interested or not...it makes me feel like I'm just wasting my time when you don't respond." Rias said with a mock hurt look.
"Nnn!" Kenshin said. "It's not that I'm not interested I'm just not as desperate as Issei."
"Hey!" Issei said.
"What? I've felt the touch of a woman before." Kenshin thought.
"Whaaat? !" Issei said.
"Oh...so that's why I don't seem to have much of an effect on you." Rias asid.
"Yeah? Big deal, it just means I know what the hell I'm doing." Kenshin said.
"Good to know!" Rias said clapping her hands together with a smile.
"..." Kenshin stared.
"Hm?" Rias said.
"If you're wanting that...you're going to have to come out and say it. I'm not a mind reader like you apparently are." Kenshin said.
"..." Rias turned around so Kenshin couldn't see her face lighting up. "I'll...keep that in mind...so anyway how are your injuries?"
"Well, they're actually all better now." Kenshin said. "That Sacred Gear of Asia's really is convenient. I've gotta hand it to her. With it her healing ability is really top notch."
"Yes, I see...that also means we'll have to deter more attacks from fallen angels." Rias said.
"Eh, we can handle it." Kenshin said with a grin.
"Well you did take out a lot of their exorcists." Rias said with a shrug. "That has to deter them for the time being, so you and Issei can get some training in."
"Oh, speaking of the pervert king." Kenshin said. "He spent his time today training and can't overshadow me anymore so he wanted me to ask you something."
"Oh? What is it?" Rias asked.
"An evil piece set has a total of 15 pieces, not including the king which is what you are." Kenshin said. "There are eight pawns right?" (nod) "OK, so is there six or seven more spots available? I could train them myself if there is."
"No, you and Issei are my only pawns." Rias said.
"Uuuuwwwaaahhh!" Issei gushed. "It's like she's saying we're the only ones for her!"
"Will you keep quiet!" Kenshin shouts.
"..." Rias stayed silent as she watched the two have an inner dialogue.
"Yeah well at least I can promote!" Issei shouts.
"Oh fuck you!" Kenshin thought.
"Hm? Kenshin you weren't able to promote?" Rias asked.
"Ah...no.." Kenshin said. "I walked onto the church grounds before taking on all those exorcists, tried it. It didn't work so I used my Undine card and was able to anticipate and counter their attacks."
"Hm...Maybe you actually needed to be in the church." Rias said.
"That is oddly specific." Kenshin said with a shrug.
"Well it makes sense, you were basically standing on their first line of defense. Where the pawns would go." Rias said.
"I guess." Kenshin said with a shrug. "...But wait a second, I had Issei do it and he said it worked."
"How would he know at that point?" Rias asked with narrowed eyes. "He didn't fight anyone at all after that did he?"
Kenshin and Issei both sweatdropped. "She has a point."
"Yeah, I know." Issei said.
"Hmhmhm..." Rias giggled. "Well then, now that, that is settled. Is there anything else you want to know?"
"So, you have six more pawns?" Kenshin asked.
"No, I had to use them all to resurrect you two." Rias said.
"...I...don't understand." Kenshin said.
"Depending on their abilities and potential one might have to consume more than one evil piece. You two consumed all eight pawns I had." Rias said. "In the world of chess, there's an adage that goes like this. A Queen is worth Nine Pawns, a Rook is worth five and bishops and knights are both worth three."
"Huh." Kenshin said leaning back into the couch.
"Similarly, the depending on the power of a person, the pieces used varies. I think Issei might have actually needed more pieces than you Kenshin, because you were an unknown." Rias said.
"I get that." Kenshin said with a nod.
"You also have to be prudent about this, as not only can you not put two different pieces into one resurrection target, the pieces you do use do not come back, even if that person dies again."
"I see." Kenshin said.
"I could have tried to using my spare bishop which has now been used on Asia-San, my spare knight or rook, but I don't think they would have matched your powers or abilities." Rias said. "I gambled on you, and it paid off."
"Huh." Kenshin said with a shrug. "Hey Rias, what if Issei took all of the pawns, and just stayed in my body?"
"That would be strange." Rias said rubbing her chin in thought. "Although you bring up a good point. Issei didn't have a body to call his own anymore. At the same time that would be cruel to you as you would not be able to promote at all. I do believe you could still participate in Rating Games as Issei is contained within you, they couldn't just say you couldn't as Issei could easily burn out his time in control."
"Right." Kenshin said with a nod.
"Anyway, for now just aim to be the strongest pawn, if it's you two I know you'll be able to do it, because you're my cute little servants." She said cupping his cheek with a smile. "The Crimson haired Ruin Princess, the Crimson Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet and the Crimson Dragon of the Elements...all fitting titles for us, wouldn't you agree?"
"Heh...Yeah I guess so." Kenshin said.
"Here...this is a good luck charm." Rias said leaning into him.
"Is she...?" Kenshin thought.
"She is! We're totally going to get a kiss from Chief Rias!" Issei thought.
"You two must become strong...not just for me, but for yourselves as well...one day you will venture out and create peerages of your own." Rias said after kissing Kenshin's forehead.
"Count on it." Kenshin said
"Just our forehead huh? Well I'm not complaining!" Issei said.
"Well, if I keep adoring you here, I'll be envied by our newest member." Rias said, winking at him.
Kenshin turned to see Asia standing at the door, wearing a Kuoh uniform. She had a strained smile on her face. "Kenshin-San..." She said.
"Asia? Are you...OK?" Kenshin asked.
"I-I see...Chief Rias is quite pretty, that's why Kenshin-San also fell in love with her." Asia said.
"Wha?" Kenshin cluelessly said.
"Hmhmhmhm." Rias giggled underneath her palm.
"No, No this isn't good. I can't be thinking of such things, Oh Lord please forgive me for my sinful heart, pya! !" Asia gasped as a sharp pain hit her head.
"Tch hahahaha." Kenshin chuckled rubbing his temple.
"Why do I suddenly have a migraine?" Asia said rubbing her head.
"It's obvious that if a devil prays to God they're going to take damage...even my head is throbbing." Rias said rubbing her temples.
"Uh...is that so...so as a devil I can't face God anymore?" Asia asked.
"Do you regret it?" Rias asked.
"No, Not at all." Asia said with a bright smile. "As long as I can be with Kenshin-San and Issei-San I'm happy, Thank you very much."
"Eh?" Kenshin and Issei both thought.
"I see, well from now on, you will do as they do and work as my servant, I trust there are no objections?" Rias asked.
"None at all." Asia said. "I'll do my best!"
"Hey by the way, that uniform, are you attending Kuoh now as well?" Kenshin asked.
"I am...does it look OK on me?" Asia asked doing a slow twirl. "The skirt's a bit short and it's kind of embarrassing."
"Let's take a picture as a keepsake!" Issei said after he saw her panties.
"Uggghhh..." Kenshin thought resisting to urge to facepalm.
"Well in any case she's in your classes so it's up to you to take care of her." Rias said.
"Got it." Kenshin said. "Um...well I don't really have very many friends here, I just started a week or so ago. I guess I could introduce you to Issei's two frie...no...bad idea." Kenshin said shaking his head.
"That's fine, I'm sure we'll be able to make more friends together Kenshin-San, Issei-San." Asia said smiling at him..
Kiba, Koneko and Akeno walked into the room and the six of them, seven if you count Issei decided to have a party to welcome Asia into the peerage. Kenshin was talking to Asia who then walked away saying she needed to step out for a moment. He turned his head and saw Rias sitting in the corner of the room with a downcast gaze. "?" Kenshin stared at her curiously before approaching her.
"Rias." Kenshin said.
"H-Huh?" Rias said being snapped from her thoughts and looking up at him.
"Are you...Ok?" Kenshin asked.
"I'm fine, why?" Rias asked with a forced smile.
"...Rias I can't read minds, but I can read people quite well." Kenshin said. "Come on." He said grabbing her wrist and pulling her out of the room as Asia reentered from the other side.
"Aaah! Where did all the cake go? !" Asia whined.
"Kenshin-Senpai ate two slices for him and Issei-Senpai, you got one, I got one, as did Kiba-Senpai and Akeno-Senpai." Koneko said.
"There wasn't that much." Kiba said.
"But it was so good..." Asia pouted.
"Ara Ara...then shouldn't there be two more? One for Chief Rias and another that's up for grabs?" Akeno asked.
"Hmm...come to think of it, where is Chief Rias?" Asia asked.
"Not only that, where's Kenshin-kun?" Kiba asked.
Meanwhile Kenshin and Rias were seated at a table in Rias' room, the chess set Kenshin had bought for her in between them. "Mm...I really outdid myself with this cake." Rias said finishing off her slice. "You're sure you wanna keep playing me for the last one?" She asked.
"Eh, it's no big deal." Kenshin said.
Kenshin and Rias had been playing while she was eating. Kenshin had lost his queen, a rook, a bishop and half his pawns, while Rias had lost just half her pawns and a rook. "You're good in battle, but you're not that hot at a game of strategy like this." Rias noted. "Check." She said moving her bishop into position to take his king.
"Eh, I'm more of an on the fly strategist." Kenshin said with a grin as he moved his king next to one of his knights. "Such a thing doesn't really translate well to the chess board. This could actually come in handy if I ever need to step back and survey a situation."
"I see." Rias said as she used a rook to take said knight. "Check."
"Damn..." Kenshin whispered. He could take her Rook with his King, but that would move him into taking position by her Queen. He moved his King forward and out of range.
"Still how did you take down an enemy base like you said, surely they could plan for you." Rias said moving her rook behind his king.
"I had a partner. She was on the fly like me, but she could survey a situation better than I could." Kenshin said seeing his spare knight in position to capture the rook and did so. "That and I could use powers that I can't really use now."
"Oh? You mean the reason your body was swathed in god magic?" Rias asked moving one of her pawns forward two spaces from it's starting point.
"Yes, it must have happened after they left here, but my clans, the Kuroshi and Tsuki made contracts with the God of Dragons and the God of Death to use their power." Kenshin said moving his bishop to the edge of the board, with a rook behind it. Sure Rias could capture it with her Queen, but then he could capture the Queen with his rook.
However Rias moved a knight in and captured the bishop instead. Kenshin facepalmed at his blunder while Rias giggled at him. Kenshin retaliated by moving his rook to capture her knight, but Rias responded by moving her queen in to capture his king. Kenshin moved his king away, but was then put in check by one of her bishop.
"Hmhmhm..." Rias leaned back in her chair as Kenshin analyzed his situation. He sighed and knocked over his king. "Give up?"
"If I move in any direction, you'll put me in checkmate." Kenshin said with a shrug. "Here." He said handing her the cake slice.
"..." Rias took it and started eating. "So...your partner, was she close to you?"
"She was my twin sister, half identical." Kenshin said.
"Ah." Rias said.
"What about you? You have family you have issues with?" Kenshin asked.
"Sadly." Rias said with a nod. "My parents are obsessed with how our kind is in such dire straits that I've been the target of arranged marriages in the past. None of which wanted to marry me for me..." Rias said glancing downward
"That sucks." Kenshin said.
"?" Rias glanced up at him.
"Well come on, it's your future, you should certainly be allowed to choose your own suitor." Kenshin said. "Like even if it was someone out of your own peerage, that's no one's business but your own."
"..." Rias wiped her mouth and smiled softly at him. "I agree. It should be my final say on the matter...but what you've just said..." She leaned toward him. "Are you trying to put your own name forward...Ken-shin..." She said.
"..." Kenshin's face heated up. "U...Um...well..."
"Hmhmhmhm..." Rias laughed softly. "Relax, I'm not being serious about that last part. I just wanted to rile you up is all."
"..." Kenshin stared at her before rolling his eyes. "What a tease..." He muttered.
"Oh I'm sorry Kenshin." Rias said smiling at him. "I just like seeing your reactions."
"Whatever." Kenshin said getting up. "Listen, if you ever want to talk to someone, you can call on me if you've not already sent me off. We can talk, or you can kick my ass in chess again You know, whenever you're feeling down."
"..." Rias approached him. "Thank you...I'll keep that in mind." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before leaving the room. Kenshin watched her leave, touching the spot on his face where she kissed him and smiled.
"How do you do it?" Issei asked.
"It's called being considerate." Kenshin thought. "I'm usually nice to women who haven't done me wrong. And I don't perv on them either."
"Aaaaiiighh, you're never letting that go are you?" Issei asked.
"Nope." Kenshin thought as he left the room .
(break)
Underworld
Phenex Household
In a posh looking room inside the Phenex Mansion sat a blonde haired male wearing a red-violet blazer and pants, as well as a white dress shirt. He was gazing at a picture of Rias.
"Raiser-Onii-Sama, the tea is ready." Said a girl seated behind him wearing a pink and white dress with frills at the bottom. She had the same color hair as her brother and it was tied into twin drill tails.
"Ah, Ravel." The male, now known as Raiser said.
"Are the preparations for the ceremony going well?" Ravel asked.
"..." Raiser said nothing.
"Ah..?" Ravel said.
"Heh, like there will be any problems." Raiser said setting the picture aside with a smirk.
(break, again)
Early Next Morning
Kenshin found himself standing at the end of an aisle. "Huh?" He looked himself over. "What the...why do I look like I'm about to get hitched?" He wondered to himself. "Issei, did you do something stupid while I was asleep?"
"..."
"Issei! Hello? !" Kenshin thought.
"Don't look around so restlessly, Kenshin..." A familiar voice said.
"Huh?" Kenshin turned around only to lose his words at the sight before him. "...Aaah?"
Walking in his direction was his Master, Rias dressed in a wedding dress. "...W...Whoa...could Rias and I really be...I only mentioned it as a possibility and I coulda sworn she said she was teasing!" He thought.
"Come on, do it without hesitation." Rias said taking his arm into hers and walking with him down the aisle.
"Damn that fierce looking pretty boy! Why's it him that gets her hand? ! This has to be some kind of mistake!" Matsuda and Motohama said.
"Kenshin, your first child should be a girl!" Issei's mother shouted. His father echoed his wife's sentiments.
"What the fuck? ! Don't say that!" Kenshin thought. "But man...this really is a wedding ceremony huh? To top it all off, it's between Rias and I." He thought. "Aaah man...this is bad...she looks so beautiful in that dress...I can't keep my eyes from wandering."
"Hm?" Rias said glancing over at him with a smile. "Oh, we've arrived."
"Huh?" Kenshin looked up. As soon as he did he gaped. "Haaahhh? ! Is that a hotel! Are we already on the honeymoon part of it? !" He thought. "Shit I thought I'd be conscious for my own wedding!"
"Alright, we're going in." Rias said.
"R-right." Kenshin said.
The two walked up to their room and Kenshin sat on the bed as Rias showered. "S-So...it's come to this...this has to be a dream! Why would I be marrying Rias now? ! I've only known her for a short while!"
"Kenshin..." He turned around to see Rias sitting on the bed. All she was wearing was a pair of tie on panties. "Come here..."
"..." Kenshin took it all in as he thought. "...If this is a dream...it's the best damn one I've had in awhile!"
Kenshin leaned in. "So...shall we begin, my dear?" He asked with a smile.
"Of course...now do as you like, just first...please kiss me..." Rias said cupping his cheeks.
"With pleasure." Kenshin said
"...Are you two getting robbed a bit, you shitty brats." Kenshin caught himself as he fell forward. He saw Issei on the ground and helped him up.
"Where are we?" Issei wondered.
"I dunno, looks like you were having the same dream I was." Kenshin said noticing Issei was wearing a tux just like his.
"You were married to Chief Rias too?" Issei said.
"We're in the same body now Issei, ya might as well get used to the thought." Kenshin said with a shrug.
"Kukuku..."
"? !" Kenshin's eyes snapped from left to right, up to down, back to front. "Whose there? Come on out!"
"Come out you say? I am right beside you." The voice said as a massive scaled hand slammed down next to them.
"Uwaaaahhhh! ! Dragon!" Issei said falling back on his ass.
"..." Kenshin stared him down. "So you're that voice I've been hearing in the back of my head since I became a devil." Kenshin said.
"That's right, but I wasn't trying to talk to you, I was trying to speak with him." The dragon said gesturing toward Issei.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Your voice sounds like you're supposed to be a man, wearing a floral pattern shirt under a red suit, wearing a white navy coat with the word justice printed on the back while your main occupation would be flinging magma at pirates."
"..." The dragon turned to Issei, ignoring Kenshin. "Finally at long last I can appear before you."
"What is it, what do you want from me? !" Issei yelped in fright.
"More importantly, how were you able to form a phantasmagoria?" Kenshin asked.
"Huhuhu...you noticed that did you?" He said.
"You're shacking in my body with this pervert, you thought I wouldn't notice?" Kenshin asked jerking his thumb at Issei. "Issei, this must be the Crimson Dragon Emperor, the being your Sacred Gear comes from."
"Correct you are, I am called Ddraig. Considering you aren't quivering like my host here, you must not fear me." Ddraig said.
"I've fought and defeated bigger than you as a demon." Kenshin said rolling his eyes. "My name is Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi."
"Aaah, you're connected to that man who was hailed as a Dragon Emperor himself, despite being only a demon. The Dragon Emperor of the Kuroshi, Ragnarok."
"So the first elementalist was a part of my clan huh?" Kenshin said.
"So you must be here to succeed his title as the Dragon of the Elements." Ddraig said.
"Never heard of it, am I supposed to care?" Kenshin asked.
"You're a cheeky little brat aren't you?" Ddraig said
"I was brought here by the current king of the devils." Kenshin said. "Aside from that I don't know much about this world. Now why are you here?"
"Relax, I just came to greet my new partner." Ddraig said. "Besides, it's not like you don't have visitors of your own."
"Huh?" Kenshin turned around only to have a fairy crash onto his nose. "?" He pulled her by the dress and lifted her off of him. "Sylph?"
Sure enough the one depicted in the card Kenshin held was in his hand. She shook off the dizziness and smiled brightly. "It's not just me!"
"Hello Kenshin, it's been awhile." He looked up and saw Salamander.
"Uuuwwwaaahhh!" Issei gushed. "Complete Nudity!"
"Ugh..." Kenshin pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Sorry." Kenshin said to Salamander who had an unamused expression on her face.
"It's not your fault he's an unfocused pervert." Salamander said.
"Well what do you expect when you walk around wearing nothing all day?" Kenshin turned and saw Undine.
"Anatomically incorrect, but still sexy!" Issei thought.
"OK dude, seriously quit gushing over there." Kenshin said with a scowl.
"..." A hand of earth uppercutted Issei.
"Ow!" Issei said as he and Kenshin saw Gnome walking up to them.
"Good girl." Kenshin said flashing her a thumbs up. Gnome responded by waving him off.
"What the...does she not talk?" Issei asked.
"Not that I know of." Kenshin said. "She'll talk when she feels like it." Gnome nodded in response.
"I see." Issei said. "Well looks aside, the penalties kinda suck for using them. The slimy mermaid in particular."
"The penalties are Kenshin's punishment for being a suicidal bastard." Salamander said making Kenshin grumble about it being necessary this time. "With enough experience he can remove them, and stand on the same level as Ragnarok." She rounded on Kenshin. "And you quit grumbling over there. You always think it's necessary."
"I was fighting a god, and got ambushed by the Maou of our world! I wouldn't have been able to just run away!" Kenshin shouts in annoyance. "You make it sound like I purposely hunt for death!"
"Sometimes I wonder." Salamander said crossing her arms.
"That's high praise, you really think he can pull it off?" Ddraig said. "Ragnarok's strength was legendary, able to stand on the same ground as a Heavenly Dragon like myself."
"He has experience with us already." Undine said. "He just has to remember to use us more than one card at a time now."
"Yeah! Soon he'll be able to use three, then all four of us again!" Sylph cheerfully said.
"So my limit is two right now huh? I thought it was one." Kenshin said.
"No, you used Sylph and Gnome before to use Flash Bullet Fist, remember? Against that psychotic priest?" Salamander said.
"...Oh yeah...I did." Kenshin said.
"Anyway this Phantasmagoria will remain here, Come in and use it to train whenever you like." Ddraig said. "The mental training will transfer to your body slowly however."
"Fine, but I'm editing it." Kenshin said snapping his fingers. The scenery changed to a beach overlooking with a jungle behind it. Large floating rocks were scattered across the sky. "Aaah my old stomping ground."
"Looks pretty neat." Issei said looking around.
"We won't be able to use it as much as we might like, but we will make use of it when we can." Kenshin said. "Right now we need to wake up."
"Right, we will meet again partner." Ddraig said as he faded away.
"We'll be in touch." Salamander said.
"Stay safe." Undine said.
"Have fun!" Sylph said.
Gnome merely waved as they awoke. Undine turned to Salamander. "So you really think Kenshin can stand on Ragnarok's level?"
"Certainly, he has the drive, he's fearless and he's not adverse to putting in massive amounts of effort to achieve something." Salamander said.
Undine sighed. "I just hope he doesn't share his fate."
Salamander closed her eyes. "You aren't the only one."
"Yeah..." Sylph said with a downcast gaze while Gnome closed her eyes.
The spirits faded away, waiting to be called upon by their master at another time.
(Chapter end)
Draconis: It kinda feels like I'm swinging for the thirty page mark every time I write something for this.
Kenshin: Seems like it.
Issei: Well as long as you get it done, it shouldn't matter, right?
Draconis: Yeah, but I kinda feel like I let this one drag on too long and I relied to heavily on the anime/manga at one point. Oh well.
Anyway, see you all next time
Draconis678 out.