Draconis: Alright! Let's get started.
Kenshin: Huh, someone's chipper.
Draconis: Could be getting a job soon.
Yukari: Oh, awesome.
Draconis: If the updates slow down, it's because I'm working (Edit: Didn't get the Job)
Kenshin: Also, Drac would also like my to remind you all to please vote on the poll. We've probably got maybe two, three at the most left as far as chapters go.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 83
Trapped in Transylvania.
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Kenshin, Issei, Raynare, Irina, Granberia, Akeno, Kazumi and Koneko were all led to an ornate door. "This is where the Vladi leader is?" Issei asked.
"Yes." The maid who had led them nodded in affirmation.
"Thanks." Kenshin said as he and the group of eight walked in.
A pale skinned blonde man who looked to be in his early thirties wearing Middle Ages noble attire. Akeno steps forward. "Hello, we're the servants of Rias Gremory as well as Kenshin Kuroshi and a couple of his servants and a representative of the Angels and Fallen Angels each."
He looks up. "Ah, you must be here to talk about That...no about Gasper, correct."
"Yes." Kenshin said as he and Akeno sat on the couch across from him while the rest stood behind and around it.
"..." Issei narrowed his eyes at the man, but didn't say anything.
"Rias Gremory-Sama and I already talked about this. In fact I was summoned here during such a conversation. It's quite pathetic of me to say really." Lord Vladi said. "She seemed to be lured her herself using my son as bait."
"Hrm..." Kenshin grunted.
"That, as in?" Raynare asked.
"That...Gasper seems to be functioning as a Devil. I was quite shocked when Rias-Sama told me to be frank." Lord Vladi said.
"So Gasper-kun's mother is..." Akeno said.
"Dead." Lord Vladi said. "She died right after he was born."
"Hrm, the mortality rates for human women birthing vampiric children is moderately high." Kenshin said with sympathy in his eyes. "It's unfortunate and sad, but thems the breaks."
"No." Lord Vladi shook his head. "She was completely healthy and the mortality rate isn't as high as you'd think...she was going to live, but died due to the shock."
"What do you mean?" Irina asked.
Lord Vladi started wringing his hands together. Kenshin could feel fear coming off him. "What was given birth that night was...something enveloped in a frightening aura."
"Something?" Granberia asked.
"When That was born. Something black and creepy came squirming out of his mother's womb Something that wasn't human, vampire or even monster. His mother saw this with her own eyes and went mad...leading to her death. Then several of the nurses and doctors present died one by one." Lord Vladi said. "They must have been cursed to death."
"Cursed?" Kazumi asked.
"Yes, a curse he'd used unconsciously. He took the form of a normal baby, several hours after his birth, but his mother had already died at that point." Lord Vladi said.
"Does Gasper know about this?" Issei asked.
"No, he was never told about this. We never knew what could trigger him going into his true form." Lord Vladi said. "Close relatives of mine who found out about his Sacred Gear find it uncomfortable to be around, but those of us who know the whole truth about him, find his true form to be the most frightening. Servants of the Gremory, Lord Kuroshi and his servants and the angelic beings both fallen and not...we cannot consider that as a vampire or a human. We did treat him like a half breed and we don't even know if that was the right move, we made him flee to the outside world, despite not knowing about his true identity."
"...I don't know about his past, but he's a Devil now. He's our junior...even if he were to have his body tainted in darkness. He's still our comrade." Issei said.
"Gya-kun is my precious friend, the first one I made that's the same age as me." Koneko said.
"Didn't you all see his true form?" Lord Vladi said.
"They have, but that's not going to scare us off." Granberia said. "That boy isn't what you're describing."
"Yeah...he's...he's just as scared of himself as you are of him." Kazumi said.
"He's been frightened for a long time." Irina said
"Yes, we accepted him as one of us a while ago." Akeno said with a smile.
"I haven't been around these guys awhile, but that boy as he is now...wouldn't harm a fly." Raynare said.
"He had no idea what he was doing." Kenshin said shaking his head. "Gasper...he's always been scared of other people, his own powers...and from what you're saying...he must have been scared of himself too...but we've been trying to give him reasons to let go of that fear."
"...I see.." Lord Vladi said bowing his head with a smile. "Rias-Sama and Miss Evangeline said similar things."
"If he isn't a human or a vampire, then he is a Devil. I made him into a devil with my own hands. No matter what his true form is, he will always be a Gremory Devil."
"He's obviously scared of himself and what he could do. This much is obvious. No matter. I'll work that fear out of him. Otherwise the runt won't ever truly be happy."
"Hmn." Kenshin let out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah, that sounds like them."
"This is an emotion I can't quite understand, but...I believe he might have been saved by you all just a bit." Lord Vladi said. "I am at the point that I can no longer call myself his father." He said. "So, take care of him in my stead."
"Don't worry about it." Issei said.
Everyone exits the room and another maid approaches them. "Issei Hyoudou, Koneko Toujou, Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi. You have been summoned by her highness, Lady Tepes."
"So now it's an invitation from Gasper's savior." Issei said.
"Lead the way." Kenshin said.
They were led to an indoor garden. "..." Issei and Kenshin narrowed their eyes seeing Crom Cruach leaning against a wall behind Valerie who sat at a table with Rias and Gasper.
"..." Crom opened his eyes, glancing at them both, before closing them again.
Kenshin, Issei and Koneko all sat at the table. "No, thank you." Kenshin said politely refusing the cup of tea placed in front of him.
"You want to just take her by force? Ok. Who stays here and dances to the death with Crom and Rizevim then?" Issei recalled Kenshin saying to him while they were trying to figure up a plan of action.
"It was just a thought." Issei remembered grumbling.
"Oh, I believe you met that man there earlier, he's Crom Cruach-San, my bodyguard." Valerie said.
"So, I had Rias-Sama tell me about the lifestyle Gasper had in Japan, I hear that Japan is quite the peaceful country. Hyoudou Issei-San."
"Y-Yes. Japan has quite a variety of delicious foods and entertainment, Valerie...er! I mean your highness." Issei said.
"Hmhmhm...You need not speak to me so formally Hyoudou Issei-San. I'm also asking Rias-Sama to talk to me casually as well, just call me Valerie." Valerie said. "You as well Kuroshi Kenshin-Sama."
"Yes, you should do as she asks Issei, Kenshin." Rias said.
"Yes, I understand Valerie." Issei nodded.
"Well if you say so." Kenshin said.
"Ufufu, thank you." Valerie giggled.
"..." Kenshin stared at her. Her smile and laugh was obviously hollow and fake. Valerie turned to Koneko.
"I hear you like sweets Toujou Koneko-San." Valerie said.
The conversation proceeded, talking about casual things. "Oh, Kuroshi Kenshin-Sama. Gasper and Rias-Sama here tell me you enjoy a good fight against stout opponents."
"Err, yeah?" Kenshin said glancing at Rias and Gasper.
"Well I don't know a terrible amount about him, but Marius said that Crom-San enjoys a good fight too." Valerie said. "Would you be open to sparing with him."
"?" Kenshin glanced at her, then to Crom who was looking right at him. Before he could answer Crom cleared his throat.
"Now is neither the time nor place for a fight." Crom said. "The fight could level the castle if we're not careful."
"Oh my, we certainly don't want that." Valerie said. "Well how about a contest of strength then?"
"Hn?" Crom and Kenshin glanced at her.
"Oh I know, how about an arm wrestling match." Valerie said.
"Uhhh..." Kenshin said.
"Neither of us are interested in giving each other an edge on the other." Crom said.
"Respectfully, he's right. Despite the setting, tall, dark and handsome back there and I are technically enemies." Kenshin said.
"The cute and cuddly Dragon of the Elements is right." Crom stated amusedly.
"Oh ho? Are you trying to flirt?" Kenshin asked.
"Trying, but you're not making it easy." Crom said.
"Well maybe we should dance a bit, you tall drink of a dragon man." Kenshin said.
"Uh Kenshin...?" Issei said with a weirded out expression.
"What? We can't fight I'm just having fun with him." Kenshin said.
"Oh...I thought you were serious. Playing with my emotions." Crom said with a mock hurt expression.
"Sorry, Heavenly Red and his rival are enough man for me." Kenshin snickered.
"Hahahahahahaha." Crom laughed. "OK that's enough. This is starting to get weird."
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
Issei glowered at Kenshin. "No kidding..."
"I see, it was funny though. Changing subjects I am actually the reason Gasper dresses like a girl. I played with him, by making him wear it when we were little. He was against it at first, but he suddenly started wearing them." Valerie giggled.
"G-Geez! Valerie, you can't tell them that!" Gasper complained.
"Oh, by the way did you ever fix that habit of yours where you couldn't go to sleep without holding a doll." Valerie asked.
"Th-That..." Gasper said.
"I don't see the problem. She can't sleep unless she's in the same bed as me most of the time." Kenshin said pointing at Rias.
"K-Kenshin!" Rias complained.
"Well cuddling with your lover can be addictive." Valerie said with a smile. "The feeling of their warmth, the closeness and their scent. You get used to it rather easily."
"Hm?" Issei looked over seeing a familiar figure approaching Crom.
"Huh? Time to change shifts?" Crom asked.
"Yes..."
"!" Kenshin turned his head finding Negi talking to Crom.
"Alright. Valerie, Negi's watching you now." Crom said as he left.
"OK." Valerie said.
"..." Kenshin stared at Negi.
"Kenshin." Negi stated blandly.
"...Ialda." Kenshin said with a cross look.
"So you know then." Negi Ialda said. "Good."
Kenshin nodded and turned away. He saw Valerie talking to a spirit. He jabbed it on the head with the butt of his sword and sent it back to the Pure World. He saw the same thing that happened earlier with Valerie happen again.
Koneko leaned over to him as he sat back down. "There is a negative spiral of ki in the direction Valerie-San was talking toward. "Senpai, Gasper and maybe Chief won't be able to see them, but I can sense it due to it's presence." Koneko whispered. "For that matter, Negi-San also have a rather large spiral of negative ki around her too."
"..." Valerie looks down before looking over at Rias. "So...Gasper has seen the sun before?" She said.
"Yup, since I have the power of a daywalker. The same should be true for you Valerie." Gasper said.
"You're right, but...I can't leave here, I'll never be able to. Even just once would be fine. To be able to drink tea under the sun with Gasper. Picnic is a fun leisure is it not?" Valerie asked with a faint smile.
"Well if that's the case, let's have one together sometime. Let's go to the Japanese resorts with the members of the Occult Research Club, my future husband's peerage and you, Valerie." Rias offered with a smile of her own.
Light flickered in Valerie's eyes. "That would be wonderful."
"Yeah, we should definitely do that. Right Issei?" Kenshin asked.
"Definitely! Gyasuke. You know a lot of good spots in Japan too right? You gotta take Valerie out and show them to her!" Issei grinned.
"Y-Yes! He's right Valerie! Let's go to Japan together, it might be difficult seeing as you're a queen, but once this entire ruckus settles down, you might get some free time. No, I'll come and get you. Japan is filled with many kind people and delicious food and the four seasons there are always fascinating."
"Quite a bit of enthusiasm there." Kenshin chided, patting Gasper's head.
"Yeah, who woulda thought we'd see it from the shut in Gasper." Issei snickered.
"Aah! Geez Issei-Senpai, Kenshin-Senpai! Don't tease me~! I-I'm suggesting this to Valerie really seriously here!" Gasper complained.
"Yeah, almost like you're asking her to come live with you." Kenshin chided again.
"Senpais, Gya-kun is asking for a date from his crush for the first time in his life so teasing him is not allowed." Koneko stated offhandedly.
"Aah!" Gasper stopped his face going bright red.
"Ufufu." Rias giggled.
"Good girl Koneko." Kenshin chuckled.
"Heheheh." Issei patted Gasper on the head.
"Hm? What are you all so excited about?" Everyone turned to find Marius approaching.
"Oh nothing much brother. We were just having a conversation." Valerie said.
"Oh? Am I a bother?" Marius asked.
"It's your castle. You're free to come and go as you please." Kenshin said, taking a sip from a flask.
"What's that you're drinking there?" Marius asked.
"Aged vodka." Kenshin answered.
"Aah, a Russian vintage I take it?" Marius asked.
"I don't know. I aged it myself." Kenshin said.
"E-Excuse me!" Gasper said approaching Marius.
"What is it Gasper Vladi?" Marius asked.
"...Can you please release Valerie? I will do anything if it is something I can do. So please! Don't make her suffer anymore than this."
"Hmm..." Marius stroked his chin in thought before smiling. "Very well. I will release her."
"!" Kenshin schooled his features to not show anything, but underneath he was surprised and disturbed.
"Except please give me some time. The political power just changed so having Valerie who just reigned as Queen step down right away would be a bad look. If you give us a bit of time, then I'll hand her to all of you." He turned to Valerie. "Valerie, you may go to Japan. You may live over there peacefully with Gasper Vladi."
"But the Holy Grail is..." Valerie said.
Marius put his hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to worry about it. You don't have to use it any longer. You did fulfill a lot of your duty. So you may be released from the Holy Grail.
"I-Is that true? Oh my Gasper. It seems I can go to Japan with you after all!" Valerie said.
"Yes! I'm so glad! This is great news!" Gasper said.
"..." Rias, Issei, Koneko and Kenshin all shared a look. Kenshin thinking what they were all thinking. "He's bullshitting us."
(break)
A couple of days later.
Issei, Kenshin, the church trio, Rossweisse, Granberia and Yukari were walking around in the village outside the castle. "Huh, this is unexpectedly normal." Issei said.
"Well they do have a community." Yukari noted.
"Sometimes communities in Makai are no different than communities elsewhere as well." Granberia said as the church trio and Rossweisse chatted ahead of them.
"Kenshin, I think my idea of skirting off with Valerie is sounding more and more like the one to go with." Issei said.
"I hate to say it, but I'm starting to agree. There's still the issue of the guards changing shifts. Crom's the strongest and Heinrich and Negi are no slouches either." Kenshin said.
"What's Negi-San got that makes her so dangerous?" Issei asked.
"Magia Erebea." Yukari answered with a whisper. "She absorbs the Thousand Thunderbolts spell amplifying her speed exponentially. She's basically an inhuman lightning bolt."
"Are you serious?" Granberia said. "How are we supposed to deal with that?"
"According to Miyuki her power is limited in that form. The lightning speed is only available when she decides to use it." Kenshin said. "If you plan accordingly you can catch her off guard."
"I told Miyuki if it comes down to it. I want to take a swing at fighting her." Yukari said. "It would give me a chance to get a closer look at the apparatus."
"I see." Kenshin nodded. "I've got to absorb Heinrich again and all so I can't do it."
"Yeah." Granberia said. "You were right. He was holding back in Kuoh."
"Hrm." Kenshin nodded.
"Why are you guys hanging back? Come up here." Irina said.
"It seems they know we're outsiders." Xenovia whispered seeing the looks from other.
"Well it is still a country shut out from the rest of the world outside. It's really no different when we went to other countries during our missions, right Xenovia." Irina said.
"You have a point." Xenovia nodded. "This is the challenge faced by those raised in the Church, having to deal with the cultures of the countries they went to." Xenovia said.
"Yes, I was confused myself, because there was so many things I didn't know about Japan when I came there." Asia said.
"The Church does things a little odd for my liking." Yukari said. "In Rikudou we didn't go anywhere until we knew what we were getting in to."
"Well Yukari that was Raynare and her Fallen Angels taking command from Kokabiel..." Kenshin said before he glanced around.
"What is it?" Granberia asked in a whisper.
"Nothing, I just don't like being followed by enemies." Kenshin said.
Kenshin's phone vibrates and he takes it out. "Hrm?" He grunted. "I don't recognize this number..." He thought opening a text message from a number he didn't recognize.
"Long time no see, Kenshin-Sensei." It read
"..." Kenshin furrowed his brow. "Who the fuck is this and how did you get this number?"
"How cold, is that how you treat a former student?" The number texted back.
"All my students outside of Asakura Kazumi, Karakuri Chachamaru and Evangeline A K McDowell are dead." Kenshin thought. "I know how to track this number, you don't want me to come find you."
"How quaint...I've already got you in my sights Sensei."
"..." Kenshin glowered, looking around. "A sniper then." He thought.
"Then what are you waiting for? Take the shot." Kenshin texted back. "Best not miss though."
"Because I'm not here to kill you. As for how I got your number. Talk to Evangeline about it."
"...Very well, tell me how you survived then...Tatsumiya Mana." Kenshin texted back.
"My, didn't take you too terribly long to figure things out. Suspicious though you were." Mana texted to him.
"You've been in the life, hitwoman." Kenshin texted back. "If you're not suspicious you're dead."
"Too True." Mana texted. "As for how I survived. Serizawa covered my escape from the attack of Hottan and the evil god Loki. I was out of firepower and out of options."
"My condolences." Kenshin texted. "I know he meant a great deal to you and he was one of the few friends I had outside of 3-A."
"Yes, but he would want me to move on." Mana texted. "But that aside. I could give you a hand here, but there's the matter of my payment."
"Hold on...did you abandon Negi and the others?" Kenshin texted.
"You were in the life. You know when you cut your losses." Mana texted. "Setsuna, Ku, Kaede and Konoka were all dead, same with the Ala Rubra outside of Rakan and your mother. Negi had vanished and we were getting annihilated on all fronts by the Cosmo Entelecheia."
"It was that easy to abandon them then?" Kenshin texted.
"I had other obligations, you know this." Mana texted.
"And how were you meeting those 'obligations' without work when Hottan took over the world?" Kenshin texted.
"I'm finding a way." Mana texted.
"Fine." Kenshin texted. "Shoot me your bill later. I've got money to spare."
"Pleasure doing business with you." Mana texted.
"Who were you texting?" Issei said.
"Oh Mom was just texting me about some renovations she wanted to do." Kenshin lied.
"I was also wondering how you're getting service here." Issei said.
"Meh. Vampires must have a hotspot somewhere around here." Kenshin shrugged.
"So, you at least a little eased knowing Chief and Eva-San are OK?" Issei asked as Rossweisse lamented that there was no cheap shops in Wallachia.
"Yeah." Kenshin sighed. "Now we just gotta get outta here."
"Still...what that bastard Marius said..." Issei glowered.
"I know. He has no intention of just handing Valerie to us." Kenshin said. "If he does, he plans to hand us her corpse."
"Grh..." Issei growled. "Poor Gasper. I don't think he even realizes it."
"We'll make him realize it." Kenshin said. "Huh?" He said seeing someone standing in front of a shop.
"Is that Lilith, the girl that Rizevim bastard made out of Ophis' power?" Issei asked.
"..." Lilith was staring at an accessory that was shaped like a red dragon.
"..." Kenshin stared at her.
Issei and Kenshin approached her and the former pointed at the object she was looking at. "Is this what you want?" Kenshin asked.
"..." Lilith glanced at the two of them.
"Excuse me." Kenshin got the attention of the shopkeep. "We'll take this one."
"We'll both pay for it." Issei said.
The transaction was complete and Kenshin put the accessory on Lilith for her. The two started to leave when Lilith tugged on their sleeves. "W-What is it?" Issei asked.
"My stomach...empty." Lilith said.
"Huh?" Yukari said noticing Issei and Kenshin lagging behind. "Hey isn't that...?"
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
"..." Lilith looked up at Yukari, then down as she knelt in front of her.
"Hey." Yukari smiled. "Are you OK?"
"Hungry..." Lilith said.
"Doesn't that bastard feed you?" Yukari said with a concerned look.
"..." Lilith nodded, but added. "Not much..."
"..." Yukari grabbed Lilith's hand. "Well let's fix that shall we?" She pulled out a lollipop and handed it to her. "Here, this should tide you over until we get to a restaurant." She smiled.
"OK..." Lilith said as she was guided along.
When they got to the restaurant she wolfed down what seemed to be her seventh cabbage role. Yukari broke her away from it and held a piece of food out to her. "Say Aaah." She said.
"Aaahhh..." Lilith said opening her mouth and accepted the food Yukari held out.
"Hmhmhm..." Yukari giggled.
"Oh, you have sauce on your face." Asia said wiping Lilith's face off.
"So this is Ophis' other half...what should we do here? Is this a chance?" Xenovia asked.
"...I don't think so. We are being watched. If we make a weird move like that they'll be on to it. She is a member of the Khaos Brigade after all and is considered as Ophis-San to everyone who doesn't know the truth...since the Ophis-San back at home is treated as if she doesn't exist, this girl here is Ophis from everyone's point of view." Irina said.
"I agree, sadly." Kenshin said. "We try to pull her, Rizevim himself is gonna be on our asses in a heartbeat."
"Yeah, we can't make any rash moves here." Issei grunted, glancing over at Lilith.
"Well, simply eating with her should be fine, right?" Yukari asked.
"I think you're enjoying it a bit too much." Kenshin stated blithely.
"Of course I am." Yukari said. "I've gotten over my hesitance. I wouldn't mind having a kid soon."
"Well catch me during your next heat cycle that we're not in a high scale conflict and I'll give it my best shot." Kenshin said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Yukari said.
"..." Lilith put down her fork and leaned over smelling Kenshin.
"Um...do I offend?" Kenshin asked.
"Same smell as Lilith..." Lilith said referring to herself in the third person.
"Oh? I guess Ophis' scent did get on me somehow." Kenshin said.
"Not just you, him too..." Lilith said pointing at Issei. "I also smell Red Dragon from you two..."
"Aaah..." Kenshin and Issei nodded. "Well introductions are in order anyway. The blonde who just wiped your face is Asia." Issei said.
"Hello." Asia greeted with a smile.
"The girl that's been feeding you is my twin sister Yukari." Kenshin said.
"Nice to meet you." Yukari said patting her head.
"..." Lilith looked up blankly at her.
"The bluenette and the orangette are Xenovia and Irina." Issei said.
"Hello." Irina greeted.
"..." Xenovia merely waved with a smile.
"And I'm Kenshin and he's Issei." Kenshin said.
"Issei...Kenshin..." Lilith muttered.
"..." Kenshin and Issei stared at her. Noticing how she seemed to be more emotionless than Ophis.
Lilith got up and started walking away. "Are you heading back?"
"Protect Rizevim...Lilith's job..." Lilith said.
"..." Everyone watched her walk away.
(break)
Later
After everyone came back in from outside, they found Azazel had came back. "Oh, hey. How was things out there?" Azazel asked.
"It was normal. They don't seem to know anything about the coup." Issei said.
"Yeah, it was like business as usual for them." Irina said.
"We also bumped into Rizevim's bodyguard Lilith." Xenovia said.
"Huh, interesting." Azazel said. "Kenshin I got your message earlier."
"Yeah?" Kenshin said. "That's good."
"Want me to split the bill with you?" Azazel asked.
"No, I need to have a word with the merc face to face anyway." Kenshin said.
Gasper approached Azazel. "Azazel-Sensei, please listen to me. Marius-San promised me that he will release Valerie! I'm so glad~. With this I can take her back with me to Japan."
"..." Azazel glanced at Kenshin, Issei and Rias. "What happened?"
"..." The three tell an amended version of the conversation with Lord Vladi and what happened with Valerie.
"Ah huh. Issei, Kenshin, Rias, Akeno, Yukari, Raynare come here." Azazel said pointing at the corner of the room. "I'm sure you all know this already, but what he means by releasing her is..." Azazel whispered.
"Yeah, I figured." Yukari said.
"Gasper's blinded by his desire to have Valerie back in his life, but I knew it the moment Marius said it." Kenshin said. "He's going to extract the Sephiroth Graal from her isn't he?"
"Yeah. Our tech has been leaked outside, it wouldn't be weird if they have the tech to do that here. The ones behind them are the Khaos Brigade after all." Azazel said.
"..." Issei remembered Asia's Sacred Gear extraction, his eyes narrowing into a scowl.
"..." Raynare glanced at him, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest. Issei noticed her expression change and shook his head. She nodded back in return.
"Since he used the word releasing her, I'm sure he's planning to move soon." Rias said. "We need to tell this to Gasper...that bastard Marius is despicable." Rias said with an angry look.
"Yeah." Raynare said. "He's going to hand the poor boy her corpse instead."
"Well, what's the play then?" Kenshin asked.
"We got to take her by force. Get the hell out of here after we do." Issei said.
"Hrm...I hate to say this, because it's so damn risky given the circumstances, but I agree with Issei." Yukari said.
"I want to find a chance and leave this country together with her." Rias said.
"Alright. Yukari tell Miyuki to change the plan from just pulling Valerie to worrying about a lot of fighting. We're probably gonna have to go right at these fuckers." Kenshin said.
"Right." Yukari nodded.
"That said, until we get the plan in place. There's not really much we can do." Kenshin said. "Relax and prepare."
"Got it." Issei, Rias, Akeno and Yukari all said.
The group split up and walked back among the others in the room. While Issei talked to Azazel about what he had been doing the past couple of days. Kenshin approached Evangeline. "Hm?" Evangeline looked up at him. "What?"
"Just seeing how you're doing." Kenshin said.
"Whatever." Evangeline said turning back to the book she was reading.
"What are ya readin'?" Kenshin asked sitting next to her.
"Huh?" Evangeline paused looking over at him. "Uh, just some saucy romance novel they had laying around."
"Oh really?" Kenshin said looking over her shoulder. "Wow, that is saucy..."
"Kenshin, I can't read with you hanging over me like that." Evangeline said.
"Sorry, but is it some kind of vampire drama?" Kenshin asked.
"I guess." Evangeline shrugged. "So you found out about Mana?" She whispered.
"Yeah, apparently she was watching me while I was in the village." Kenshin whispered back.
"She asked me not to say anything." Evangeline whispered.
"I see." Kenshin nodded. "Also, changing subjects I had no idea you were French."
"Oh, well I've been alive for nearly eight hundred years so obviously I've obviously eliminated my accen...wait.." She turned to Kenshin with a questioning look. "How do you know that? I've never told you that."
"Shit!" Kenshin thought. "Aah, well it came up one day while I was talking to Chachamaru." He said.
"Hm? Interesting." Evangeline turned to Chachamaru. "Chachamaru, did you divulge information about my human heritage without my consent?"
"No Master." Chachamaru said.
"Gh!" Kenshin grunted. "Damn it, you can't go with me on something just once? !" Kenshin thought.
"So, you couldn't have learned it from Chachamaru. So out with it." Evangeline said getting in his face. "Maybe I could also figure out why I'm seeing him in my distant memories too." She thought.
"..." Kenshin rolled his eyes. "I'll tell you later. If it's to make any sense, I'll need some time."
"..." Evangeline narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine, whatever." She said.
"So, should we tell Onii-Sama about Rizevim?" Rias asked.
"I already did." Azazel said.
"Yeah, still though I can't imagine he's too thrilled about Rizevim being on the move here. It's not like he can really send anyone here." Kenshin said.
"No kidding. We're kind of on our own here." Yukari said.
"Well we still have Bennia and Rugal." Miyuki said.
Kenshin takes out his cell phone and texts Mana. "Looks like the job has went from covert rescue to a snatch and dash. Are you going to be able to clear out when I say?"
"I know yours and Evangeline's mana signatures, when I feel them both gone, I'll retreat if I'm not already in close." Mana texted back.
"I'll probably be one of the last to leave. Make it to when Evangeline leaves." Kenshin texted.
"You're sure?" Mana texted.
"Worried?" Kenshin texted back.
"Well if you think you can handle it." Mana texted back .
"I appreciate this Mana, don't think I don't." Kenshin texted.
"I know." Mana texted. "It will be even more shown when I get my payment."
"Yeah Yeah." Kenshin texted before putting his phone away.
"Who were you texting?" Kenshin looked up and saw Rias approaching him.
"Oh, just a friend." Kenshin said.
"Oh." Rias smiled. "It's good to see you again Kenshin. I didn't say it before but it really is."
"I know." Kenshin smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead. "I was so glad to see you safe as well." Kenshin said. "As well as Evangeline." He thought.
Rias' smile widened. "I've noticed you've been quite a bit concerned about Evangeline-San. Are you planning on adding her?" She asked.
"?" Kenshin stared at her with a curious look. "Ok seriously. I thought you had a bit of a problem with me just going around. I know you wanted me to share it, but I figured that was with women who already showed an interest in me and vice versa."
"Well, I see how you've been looking at her. She gets on my nerves but I know you care about her." Rias said.
"Eheheheh..." Kenshin snickered nervously.
"Is everything OK Kenshin?" Rias said.
"Y-Yeah." Kenshin said.
Rias tilted her head curiously but leaned in kissing Kenshin's lips softly. "OK. If you don't feel like telling me now, I'll wait." She said.
"Thanks. I'll tell you later I promise." Kenshin said kissing her back.
"Mmh..." Rias moaned into him. "I love you." She said.
"..." Kenshin smiled. "I love you too."
"!" They broke apart as they felt a slightly unfamiliar signature in the room. They looked up and saw Bennia sticking her head out of the ceiling. "Don't you know how to enter normally?" Rias asked.
"What? I like entering this way." Bennia said. "I was only at the market.
"Kyaa~!"
"Huh?" Everyone said seeing Elmenhilde entering, failing to land after being ejected from the magic circle, landing on her backside.
"..." Rugal entered after her.
"Elmenhilde?" Kenshin said.
"Yes, we received information that that Tepes faction was going to move to the final phase of their plan." Elmenhilde said.
"Final Phase?" Gasper said with a baneful look.
"They're planning to take the Holy Grail out of Valerie Tepes." Kenshin said.
"I'm sorry Gasper, but it's true." Issei said.
"Yes, using the Holy Grail they plan to reconstruct the entire population living in this town." Elmenhilde said.
"I already predicted the Holy Grail, but to change the civilians who have no weaknesses, is that even something you can even call a vampire?" Azazel said.
"It is truly disgusting. They're trying to change them into some other creature that has the trait of vampire using the Holy Grail after all, those from the Carmilla faction have come into this country are about to start planning together with the Tepes Faction's government to defeat the anti faction group." Elmenhilde said.
"Wh-What will happen to Valerie if she had the Holy Grail extracted from her?" Gasper asked.
"She'll die." Azazel said. "They were already planning to extract it from her once it had made some growth and when their research had advanced. If the possessor dies, in order to prevent the Longinus from moving on to another hose they will extract the Sacred Gear from her and hae it with them and use it without having to worry about having it disappear."
"N-No...Marius-San promised me that he would-!"
(Twack!)
"Aah? !" Gasper gasped. He looked up at Kenshin who had just smacked him over the head.
"Boy...Are you gonna sit here and cry about it, or are you gonna stand up and do something about it?" Kenshin said. "Valerie needs your help now. It's high time you returned the favor she paid you all those years ago."
"I agree." Elmenhilde said. "Lady Carmilla has approved of your help if Gasper Vladi is in your party." Elmenhilde said.
Bennia creates a magic circle as a more massive magical circle covered the castle grounds.
"So, they mad the first move eh? There's still no doubt that the Carmilla Faction's move has been caught by them." Azazel said.
"We will divert the bulk of their forces ourselves." Elmenhilde said. "The rest is up to you." She said as she walked toward Bennia. "Kyaah? !"
"Heheh." Bennia snickered. "The place I warped us to is the ceiling of some other house."
"Neh heh heh." Kenshin snickered. "I like you."
Bennia and Elmenhilde disappear. Gasper speaks up. "I'll save her! I want to save Valerie! Everyone, please lend me all of your strength!"
"..." Issei smiled at Gasper. "Yeah, that's why we're here, let's go save your girlfriend!"
"Ah! Awawawa!" Gasper said.
"Heheh..." Kenshin snickered, patting Gasper's head where he had smacked him earlier. "Come on. What's to be embarrassed about? You care a great deal about her, why not take the next step?"
"Indeed. I see that Valerie-San cares a lot about you, she probably wouldn't reject." Yukari said patting Gasper on the back.
"Yeah, come on, let's go show those fuckers what for." Miyuki laughed.
"We'll be that to help Gasper-San." Chachamaru said.
"Heh...I can't very well abandon a student in a situation he very well may not be able to handle." Evangeline said. (1 )
"Such resolve." Granberia grinned. "I can respect that. Direct my blade however you wish!"
"I'll lend you mine as well, you're my kouhai, so rely on your seniors, if it's power battle, I'll demonstrate how to win it as much as you want you know." Xenovia said.
"Then it seems like I need to perform a technique battle as well, just how much I can test my strength against the enhanced pureblood vampires. As a Knight of Gremory. I would love to join this battle." Kiba said.
"Yeah, helping the first year makes us the second year students! I'm going to give a punishment to the bad vampires as a representative of Heaven!" Irina said.
"Oh? Are you going to give me a punishment then?" Evangeline said with a smirk.
"Ah? Wawawawa N-No...you're OK Evangeline-San." Irina said with a sweatdrop.
"Eh heh heh..." Evangeline snickered.
"I'll do my best as well, if the time comes I will call out Pa...errr, Fafnir-San!" Asia said.
Koneko smiles. "A friend of my friend is also my friend, Gya-kun I will help too."
"Ufufu~ I will help too." Akeno said embracing Gasper.
"Let's go Gasper. The Gremory group, Kuroshi group does not neglect anyone who is in need of help!" Rias said.
"That's right." Kenshin said wrapping his arm around Rias. "You got our help as well Gasper. We won't be defeated." He said.
"Issei-Senpai, Kenshin-Senpai, Chief, Koneko-Chan, Evangeline-Sensei, everyone! Yes! I will do my best!" Gasper said.
"We'll help as well, right brother Rugal?" Bennia who had just stuck her head out from the ceiling said.
"Yeah, fullfilling Sona-dono's order is what makes us the Sitri group." Rugal said.
"Heh." Azazel said. "It's nice to be a youngster, right Rossweisse-Sensei."
"Oh come on Azazel." Kenshin laughed. "If she's old, then I wanna see an old Norse woman, because she looks as young as me!"
"Thank you Kenshin." Rossweisse said with a smile.
"Alright! Let's move out together Occult Reasearch club, Kuroshi group and two new members of the Student council!" Issei said.
"Heh, let's act upon your idea then Issei!" Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Yeah!" Everyone shouted.
(break)
A bit later
"Alright, this is a map I sketched up in secret." Azazel said.
"Why didn't you call me? I could have handled it. " Raynare said.
"Well sorry, I didn't think that would be a problem. Anyway. Look. There's a huge section of the map really deep down in the castle, the basement is deep, but there are four main floors. The Tepes faction performs their main ritual that is related to the Vampires on the lowest floor which happens to be a ritual area, since that magic circle activated with this castle as the center point. I have no doubt that they are performing the ritual to extract the Holy Grail on the lowest floor of this castle." Azazel explained.
"And the Khaos Brigade will be down there too right?" Issei asked.
"The higher ups who were involved with the coup and their royal guard will likely be down there right now as well." Azazel said.
"Oh don't worry too much about the people that will be down there, I got a fair scope of them during our time there." Kiba said.
"Whew...we do sure get ourselves dragged into these situations pretty often." Issei said.
"Well that's a reason why all of you have made such remarkable growth and attained the firepower and the force to break through the obstacles before you, which is fitting for your positions." Azazel said.
"Lovely." Kenshin said. "Like I said. I absorb Heinrich."
"Is that his name? Alright." Azazel said.
"I take on Negi," Yukari said.
"I agree. I'm not fast enough to take her on." Granberia said. "I saw her move."
"Anyway, the two of them along with Crom Cruach are in the basement of the castle." Azazel said.
"Well not to worry about that. I think I can get us down there without much trouble." Kiba said.
"He's right. I accompanied him whenever he left. We know where the location is, all we have to hope for is that the security shifts haven't changed that much." Kazumi said.
"Man we get ourselves into these situations pretty often." Issei repeated his line from earlier.
"Well, it wouldn't be fun if not." Kenshin said.
"Well you guys wouldn't have grown as much if not." Azazel said. "The plan is to stop the Holy Grail from being extracted, even if it gets ripped out. We will capture Marius Tepes. Basically, we can take out the terrorists as much as we want, but being attacked by an Evil Dragon is not good, if that is the case, then escaping with Valerie and the Holy Grail is an option too."
Kenshin takes out his phone again. "It seems the ritual area we're heading to is in the basement. How do you want to act?" He texted.
"I'll move accordingly." Mana texted.
"Try to avoid killing the vampire higher ups." Kenshin texted. "If you can, try and wing any of the vampires in general. Also if you're going to snipe on the main field, the Vampires of the Carmilla Faction are friendlies, though I use that term somewhat loosely. Don't shoot them."
"Understood." Mana texted. "I might have to get in close anyway."
"Right." Kenshin texted and put his phone away.
(break)
Later.
The group had proceeded down to the first floor and found a large crowd of vampires waiting for them. "Oolala~ Seems Marius and Rizevim rolled out the red carpet for us." Evangeline said with a smirk.
"Yup, seems that's the case Evangeline." Azazel said creating a light spear in his hand.
"Azazel-Sama." Raynare said. "I might know a thing or two about Sacred Gears, but you're the one who knows the most about them."
"Yes, let's not have you waste your energy here." Akeno added.
"I'd like to release Durandal's aura here." Xenovia said.
"Wait for the potential Evil Dragon encounter." Miyuki reminded.
"Right right." Xenovia said.
"Still a power idiot." Kiba sighed.
"Devils and Angels, both fallen and not. Return to your rooms. There is a ritual occurring downstairs and it shall not be interrupted." One of the Vampires stepped forward and said.
"Oh my. And if we refuse?" Kenshin asked.
"Then you will be forced back to your room." He said.
"Well then, we refuse." Rias said.
"Very well, everyone attack!"
A large wall of magic attacks shot toward them. "Here they come!" Kiba said.
"Relax Kiba, I got this." Kenshin said welling earth magic around his left hand and raising it up.
(rumble!)
A thick wall of earth raised between the group and the vampire's attacks. "Heh, looks like all that training you did is paying dividends Kenshin." Yukari said walking up next to him.
"Training? The hell? We've only been gone for a week or two at the absolute most. Your elemental kinesis sucked when we left." Evangeline said.
"Oh I've been very busy." Kenshin grinned as he lowered the wall. "Hm?" He saw Bennia and Rugal standing in front of them as the dust settled from the vampire's attacks colliding against Kenshin's wall.
"This won't be a problem..." Rugal said.
"Well, we can take them on." Bennia said.
"Oi! Bennia! Rugal-San! Won't this be difficult if just you two take them on?" Issei said.
"Oh don't worry, we'll be fine. There would be no point for us to be here if we didn't do our part." Bennia said as a scythe that was easily taller than her appeared in her hand. She slid forward. "Grim Reaper Girl coming through." She said as she created duplicates of herself and dove into the fray.
"She's playing with them." Miyuki said.
"You can grasp hold of her shadow with your eyes, but it's something created due to her incredible speed. It's a movement where you can't catch her that easily." Kiba said with amazement in his eyes.
"Huh, she's doing my thing." Kenshin noted.
"Your thing?" Rias asked.
"Remember watching my memories of when I joined the Youkai Revolution?" Kenshin asked. "I ran into the fray and started sending bodies flying."
"Oh, right." Rias said.
"You'll die, anyone who touches my scythe dies." Bennia said slashing the vampire soldiers with her weapon. There were no wounds, but the soldiers that were slashed collapsed without exception.
"It's that death scythe. If slashed by it, your body isn't wounded, but your soul is. The amount of damage inflicted to your soul will be determined by the scythe wielder's strength. Being able to take those vampiric soldiers down who had been enhanced by the Holy Grail really speaks to Bennia's potential." Azazel said.
"She has the strength of at least a mid class devil. She has better movements than the Reapers we fought after the exams too." Issei said.
"Her speed is also increased because of the Knight piece. It's a good compatibility with her nature. Xenovia, make sure you get a good look at this alright?" Kiba said.
"...Is that sarcasm." Xenovia said glaring at the bishounen's back.
"Here I come..." Rugal said as his body underwent transformation. Sharp fangs and claws, his physique becoming more sculpted and muscled covered with ashy gray fur.
"Oi, is that? !" Issei said.
"Huh, how interesting. A Lycanthrope." Kenshin noted. "Sona knows how to scout 'em."
"Interesting. I wouldn't mind having a duel with him in that state." Granberia said with a smirk.
"Let's go..." Rugal said leaping into the fray, planting a vampire into the floor. "This is nothing new to me. Vampires and Lycans are natural enemies after all..." Rugal said charging forward, tearing vampire soldiers apart with his claws.
"Brother Rugal isn't an ordinary wearwolf." Bennia said.
"Hm?" Kenshin arched his brow seeing a flame fist shoot out from where Rugal was.
"Hey, those are magical equations on his arms. He uses them to cast spells!" Rossweisse noted.
"He's basically a hacked hybrid lycan guy that was born from a famous witch and a werewolf that was famous for it's ash coloured fur." Bennia explained.
"Carry on Gremory and Kuroshi Groups. Bennia and I got this." Rugal said.
"We can entrust this place to you then?" Rias asked.
"This is the reason we were sent here after all. She wanted to show us off and buy you time." Bennia said.
"She wants us to get used to the battle as a Devil pretty quickly. Our master is pretty strict." Rugal said.
"Alright, by the way! If a gun toting raven haired woman runs through here, don't worry about her. She's a mercenary I hired." Kenshin said.
"Huh?" Rias said looking over at Kenshin.
"When did you hire a merc?" Yukari asked.
"Don't worry about it." Kenshin said. "Let's go!" He shouted as they dashed past the vampire soldiers.
As they proceeded down the stairs to the basement Xenovia couldn't help voicing. "Won't we be in trouble if we play another game against Kaichou's group?"
"In over all balance in the game, Sona's side is already above your group. If you simply focus on fire power, then you'll have a hard time in your future games."
The group runs into a group of four vampires, unarmored along with a familiar face. "..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "Yukari."
"Right." Yukari stepped forward, assuming the Balance Breaker, seeing Negi across from them. "Just wait a bit longer Negi." Yukari said. "I'll get that apparatus off you."
"..." Negi didn't respond, but she did seem to have a struggling look on her face. Almost as though she were trying to hold something back.
"Right, Yukari will take Negi. Miyuki, if you want to stay behind and support, go ahead." Kenshin said.
"I'll be fine Miyuki." Yukari said.
"I'll stay with you Onii-Chan." Miyuki said.
"So you came, just like the King said." One of the vampires said.
"Yes, the Gremory and Kuroshi groups. They would be great opponents for those of us who were enhanced by the Holy Grail."
"Well, these guys certainly are cocky." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Yeah I agree. Balance Break!" Issei said.
"Welsh Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
"Kenshin, seeing as you need to save your strength for Heinrich, mind if Kiba and I take these guys?" Issei said.
"I'd appreciate the opportunity." Kiba said.
"Carry on." Kenshin said with a shrug.
"Alright Kiba we'll make the-"
"First move!"
"Huh? !" Issei said seeing Xenovia and Irina shoot forward, attacking the four vampires.
"Kuu...a holy sword." One of the vampires said dueling Irina.
"Krh!" One of the vampires turned into a bat.
"Stretch out!" Xenovia said morphing Durandal into a whip and smacking him out of the air.
"Nuwah? !" He said turning back into a man.
"Hmm...even though we swing softly, I don't feel all that great about Durandal not working well on Vampires." Xenovia said.
"But they're not opponents we can't defeat. We can certainly win if we attack them again and again...the problem is we can't waste too much time."
"I could stay behind and fight, but there's the matter of the other opponent downstairs most likely being..."
"Yeah I hear you. There's Dragons waiting for us downstairs." Issei said.
"..." Koneko stepped forward. "Please leave this to me." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes, it seems what Nee-Sama taught me will come in handy here." Koneko said.
"Hm? !" Kenshin arched his brow seeing a white light envelop Koneko's body as she released touki.
What appears seemed to be a Koneko who had grown bigger in all aspects, more resembling her sister. She wore a white kimono, her cat ears and tails were brought out. "By gathering the natural ki nearby, grew by synchronizing it with my touki." She said.
"This is a senjutsu technique which allows Koneko's power to grow temporarily so she can use the nekomata's power with her free will and it's done by taking in the ki outside around her into her body. She also said this is called the Shirone form." Rias said.
"Kasha!" Koneko shouts throwing a spinning wheel of white flames at the vampires as Xenovia and Irina jumped back
"Nice!" Kenshin said seeing them scatter.
"I'm not done Kenshin-Sempai." Koneko said creating many more and sending them outward. One of the wheels strikes one of the vampires and he begins to burn away.
"What? ! We're supposed to be immune to fire! Marius made us that way with the Holy Grail!" The rest shouted in shock.
"That maybe, but you're not immune to being purified." Koneko stated tonelessly. "I took in the natural ki around me and changed it into a power of purification using Senjutsu. It's not about weakness. As long as you don't change the reason and the principle of your existence, the fire will keep burning all of you."
"Basically it's the opposite of Saji's flame. His flames curse you for eternity with negative power while her's purify and make you disappear with positive power." Azazel said.
"Grh!" One of the vampires gives up on dodging them and charged Koneko directly.
"I am the power of purification itself. You should know that you will disappear merely by touching me." Koneko said as the vampire's fist makes contact with her. The next moment he turned to ashes.
"W-Whoa." Issei said.
"Even the evil shouldn't touch her you know. Her power works effectively on those who have evil intentions. It will probably work on Evil Dragons too. Obviously the effectiveness will reflect on how Koneko can use it, but it seems like these enhanced vampires can't even do anything to her."
"Damn it!" The last vampire cried out as he was burned away.
"Fuu..." Koneko sighed out as she confirmed their deaths.
"Nice work Koneko." Kenshin said with a smile as he approached her.
"...Kenshin-Senpai...I've gotten bigger now." Koneko said with a blush, her body shaking a bit.
"You certainly have." Kenshin said reaching over to pat her head.
"N-No Senpai w-wai-!" Koneko's eyes widened as Kenshin's hand made contact with her head.
"See? No burning." Kenshin said with a smile.
"Huh. Kenshin's probably one of the only people who can touch her in this state." Azazel said. "Seeing as he is the Primordial of Life, his aura is composed of pure elemental magic.
"Fuu..." The light vanished and Koneko fell forward, reverting to her previous form. Kenshin caught her.
"Kenshin, move on. I'll take care of Negi." Yukari said.
"Right, good luck." Kenshin said as he and the group ran forward.
"Negi." Yukari said pointing Kazeken at Negi. "I know you can hear me in there. You have to fight this Ialda person off."
"Ghh..." Negi lurched forward holding her head.
"!" Yukari's eyes widened a bit seeing her assume the Raiten Taisou. "Kh..."
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about." Negi said raising her head with an impassive look.
"Hnn...so I take it you're Ialda." Yukari said.
"Negi Ialda." She said. "Though I am surprised you've heard of me personally. When I was possessing my late husband's fake body I merely went by Hottan."
"I've been somewhere where the flow of time is pretty meaningless." Yukari said. "That and the apparatus has your name on it."
"I'm aware." Negi Ialda said.
"So if it take the apparatus off of Negi will you leave?" Yukari asked.
"It will be extremely painful." Negi Ialda said.
"You sounded like a tough woman." Yukari said.
"For her." Negi Ialda added.
"Krh...well no matter!" Yukari said. "I will free her from yours and Yama's control!"
Negi Ialda disappeared and reappeared behind Yukari. "I like the spirit, let's see how you fare."
Yukari rounded, her blade surrounded in fire. "Katensho!"
Negi Ialda disappeared and reappeared behind her again, her fist covered in lightning. "Raika Houken!"
(boom!)
An explosion of lightning overtook the two of them. However when it cleared Yukari was holding Negi Ialda's wrist. "You know..."
"!" Negi Ialda looked up as an aura of the elements surrounded Yukari.
"Maybe you should pick your opponents better. The only one of us that's never REALLY faced the Raiten Taisou armament of Negi's is Kenshin, and he is smart enough in battle to figure it out." Yukari said.
"I see...well I am still getting used to this body myself. She is one of the strongest mages I've ever possessed." Negi Ialda said.
"She'll be the last one you ever possess if I have anything to say about it!" Yukari said as Negi Ialda wrested free of her grip and started trading stabs and slashes with Yukari's two swords.
"Oh? Is that right?" Negi Ialda asked as she sent a barrage of light magic arrows at Yukari numbering in the thousands.
"That's right!" Yukari said pointing Ryuuga outward. "Hellfire Flash!"
A stream of white hot fire shot out and obliterated all of the arrows. "Nice job, just what I'd expect from one of this one's best friends."
"Gh!" Yukari grunted as Negi Ialda's fist laid into her back.
"But still, it's a terrible mistake to challenge one such as I without the intent of killing!" Negi Ialda said, laying a blistering barrage of blows into Yukari's back, ending by driving her elbow into Yukari's spine sending her shooting to the floor.
(crash!)
"..." Negi Ialda smiled demurely as she watched the dust from the crash settle.
"You know, I give you this Ialda. You do adapt pretty well."
"Hrn? !" Negi Ialda watched as Yukari flew upward.
"But Negi's blows in that form, they've always been fast as fuck, but they haven't got a lot of weight behind them. They can't pierce my Earth Guard." Yukari said bringing her fist hard on the Scale Mail's chestplate.
"Krhh!" Negi Ialda lurched forward, grabbing her right temple.
"!" Yukari's eyes narrowed at this.
"Yu...Yukari-San!"
"!" Yukari's eyes widened. "Negi!"
"Do...Don't...hold back! I-Ialda's energy has no limits!" Negi shouts.
"What do you mean? ! You want me to go full tilt against you? !" Yukari shouted.
"P-Please! I-I could...n-never forgive myself if my body was used to kill you!" Negi struggles out as her voice begins to taper off.
"Negi! Negi! !" Yukari shouts.
Negi's eyes went dull and she looked back up. "Honestly, it's bad enough that I have to deal with that windbag Shinigami ordering me around, but that one has been getting a little more intuitive with her means to gain control, even momentarily."
"What the hell is your deal?" Yukari said with a scowl.
"Telling you would just be a waste of time." Negi Ialda said as she got in close, purple lightning magic covering her form. "Chihayaburu Ikazuchi!"
"Oh is that right!" Yukari said, already having her swords in front of her in a defensive position as she was driven back, her feet cutting a trail through the floor. "Well maybe I'll just rip you out of Negi and just kill your ass then! Who cares what your reasoning is!"
"Oh!" Negi Ialda said throwing Yukari upward, quickly taking her back. "So I take it you have the White of Mars mana that is required to subdue me! One of your ancestors is the Hottan you despised so much? !" Negi Ialda said whipping Yukari around and laying her fist into Yukari's sternum.
"Gulah!" Yukari hunched over. "The White of Mars...? Magic Cancel?" She said.
"Precisely." Negi Ialda said.
"Grh!" Yukari said as she was batted away by Negi Ialda's halberd. "This is bad. Her strikes are getting stronger, Earth Guard improves my defense, but it's not like it gives me Rakan's legendary pain tolerence and defense."
"What's the matter? Doesn't your Earth guard give you the power to take these blows in stride? !" Negi Ialda said kicking at Yukari's head.
"Serene Mind!" Yukari said ducking under the kick, punching at Negi Ialda's back as she turned around, hitting one of her kidneys. Sending her shooting back toward the ground. Yukari followed after her quickly. "The apparatus is on her back! This is my chance!" She said standing over the top of Negi. "I'm sorry Negi, please bear this for a bit!" She said stabbing both her blades into Negi's left and right biceps while putting pressure on one of her knees. "Gravity Seals!" She intoned.
"Ghhh!" Negi Ialda growled out as the weight of Yukari's swords increased dramatically. "I...I can't move!"
"Obviously. I've increased the gravity around my swords." Yukari said leaning over and placing her hand on Negi Ialda's back. "Now shut up and let me work." She said ripping open the back of Negi's shirt as an intricate seal design appeared on Negi's back. "Hrm..." Yukari held out her hand using earth magic to hold up the copy of the apparatus design she copied from their previous encounter from Makai.
While she did, she couldn't help recalling a conversation she had with Rias while Kenshin was visiting Lord Vladi.
(flashback)
After Kenshin and the others had left Yukari approached Rias. "Alright, you wanted me to hang back. What is it?" Yukari asked.
"Come over here." Rias said gesturing to the corner of the room.
Before they got there they bumped into Miyuki. "What is it?" Yukari asked.
"Can I have a snack or something. My freakin' head hurts from trying to think of a way out of this mess." Miyuki sighed
"Sure just give me a second." Yukari said reaching for a seal on her arm.
"Actually Miyuki could you come with us?" Rias said.
"Sure, can I still get my snack?" Miyuki asked.
"That's not an issue." Rias said.
"Sweet." Miyuki said.
"You didn't bring any though?" Yukari asked.
"I didn't bring any because I didn't think we'd be here that long." Miyuki groaned.
"Here, have a few chocolate bars." Yukari said handing them off.
"Awesome, thanks Onee-Chan." Miyuki said embracing her sister with one arm.
"Yeah Yeah." Yukari said patting Miyuki's head with a smile.
The three arrived at the corner of the room. Rias took a breath. "Alright...I'm not exactly sure how I should say this, so I'm gonna just say it." The Kuroshi Tsuki sisters arched their brows curiously. "I'm not sure why he chose me, but your father pierced the veil between this and the next world and spoke with me."
"!" Yukari and Miyuki both stared at her in surprise. "...You...wanna run that by me again?" Yukari said.
"Dad visited you?" Miyuki said narrowed her eyes.
"L-Like I said. I don't know why he chose me. If nothing else I figured he'd visit Hikari-San, until he mentioned he had already in the past." Rias said.
"OK..." Yukari and Miyuki muttered.
"I-I didn't ask for it." Rias said defensively.
"Hrm, I guess he wanted to visit someone close to Kenshin, but not Kenshin himself." Yukari said.
"Still he could have visited us." Miyuki pouted.
"He said that it's tiring breaking through the veil. He said that he couldn't afford to take the time for you two to be overcome with emotion at seeing him again." Rias said.
"...Sounds like this is important." Miyuki said.
"Why aren't you telling Kenshin then?" Yukari asked.
"Because of what he said. It was about Negi-San." Rias said.
"!" Yukari's and Miyuki's eyes snapped directly onto her. "Out with it."
"He said the reason Yama brought her back wasn't good, not at all." Rias said.
"Yeah obviously." Yukari said.
"He and I agreed that Yama is hoping that Kenshin and Negi both perish in their next encounter." Rias said.
"I don't know...Negi's strong, but Onii-Chan's leaps in power have been nothing short of amazing." Miyuki said.
"I think Kenshin could take her if he wanted to." Yukari said.
"That's just it. Will Kenshin want to?" Rias asked.
"..." Yukari closed her eyes. "That's a good question. He refused to fight her when he realized she was actually alive and breathing again."
"Yeah..." Miyuki said with a sigh.
"Ryuushin-San doesn't think Kenshin has it in him to do it again if that ends up being the only way." Rias said.
"I understand what you're saying. Damn it, there should be something we can do." Yukari said.
(Flashback end)
"Damn it Dad. I understand that I would be overcome by seeing you again, but I really wish you had come to me about this, so I could understand it a little more clearly." Yukari thought.
She had finished tracing in the missing glyphs and insignias onto her apparatus copy. "Hrm? !" She saw arcs of lightning going up her blades and they were glowing near the bottom. "Shit! She's trying turn my blades to slag!" She stored the apparatus copy away and covered her hands in earth magic, grabbing her swords and jumping away. "Nice try." Yukari said with a scowl.
Negi Ialda got back to her feet. "I wasn't just going to let you kill me. Your power aside, compared to this one, I consider you a downgrade."
"You say that like it insults me. What do you mean by that anyway?" Yukari said.
"My power, the resonance allows me to possess whomever kills my previous host body." Negi Ialda said.
"I see, you're nothing more than a fucking virus!" Yukari growled.
"Whatever you say. It's time for you to die. I will not let you stand in the way of my ambition." Negi Ialda said before shooting toward her with lightning speed. "Haou Sekkou!" She shouted slamming both fists into Yukari's torso!"
"Guah!" Yukari gasped out hunching over.
Negi Ialda took Yukari's back and stabbed her halberd forward. "Oukasoushou! Taikou Chougyosei!"
"Gyaah!" Yukari gasped as she was sent flying forward. "Hhn? !" She watched Negi Ialda got in front of her, light surrounding her fist.
"Ouka Houken!"
"Oouuh!" Yukari was sent tumbling across the ground. "!" She looked up as Negi Ialda flew above her.
"Farewell." Negi Ialda said extending her hand forward. "Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!"
(boom!)
The spiraling column of wind and lightning magic slammed into Yukari and exploded into a storm. "YUKARI! !" Negi screamed within her own mind.
"Oh silence girl. You'll see her soon enough, after I have that brother of hers do you in." Negi Ialda said.
"Y...You...!"
"Neheheheheh...Aahahahahahaha! !"
"Hn? !" Negi Ialda turned with wide eyes back to the area Yukari was attacked in only to see her flying out of it with a smirk. "You, how are you still alive?"
"Like I said. Negi's attacks maybe strong, but against Earth Guard. I can take them to an extent, but with Earth Guard AND Touki? You're going to need to juice up a bit more in that case." Yukari said. "Negi! I'm sorry in advance for this, but I'm gonna have to rough you up!"
"Tch..." Negi Ialda said. "I'm still not used to this body yet. If that fool Yama gave me the time I demanded this wouldn't be an issue. Even Hottan, rest his soul had years in preparation with most of his hosts!" She thought.
The two clashed again, a blinding light obscuring them.
(Chapter end)
Draconis: (wearing a bandage on head.) Sorry this took awhile. The holidays and straight up writer's block got in the way.
Kenshin: What did you do to your head?
Draconis: Oh this? I got wasted one night and smacked my head into a wall. No big deal, the knot's already almost gone.
Issei: Ooohh...damn man.
Draconis: Don't worry about it. Might be a sign for me to take it easy on the drinking for a bit.
Kenshin: Meh, either that or don't move around as much.
Draconis: That too.
Yukari: So I'm actually in a big fight for once.
Draconis: What are you talking about? You were in the Kokabiel fight...and the Forbesii fight...err...wow damn.
Yukari: My point exactly. Try not to gloss over this please?
Draconis: I'll try not to. Anyway. Next time! The Gremory and Kuroshi groups continue their raid on the Tepes castle to save Valerie, see you all then!
(Footnote)
(1 ) Negi: (filing fingernails) Mmhm, whatever you say...
Evangeline: (snorts) You're stronger than he is, you spring onion. Don't take that sarcastic tone with me!
Draconis678 out.