Draconis. Anyway. I guess we'll start with the Magdaran arc.
Magdaran: Oh?
Draconis: However, let's start with where we left off before hand.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 131
Chaos.
(start)
Asuna, the orange haired girl from Kenshin and Negi's former class approached the former who sighed painfully. "Didn't I say I wanted to be left alone?"
"Yeah, but you also promised to meet with me." Asuna said.
"Oh, Asuna-Chan." Kenshin said before smiling. "Sorry, I'm just kind of in a bad mood. I'm not meaning to take it out on you."
"Haha, don't worry about it. I know that you're not that much of a jerk." Asuna said with a wide smile. Kenshin let a small blush cross his cheeks. Asuna noticed this."What's that all about?" She asked.
"Wh-What? I can't just think you have a cute smile?" Kenshin asked.
"Aa-Aah?" Asuna paused.
"Nn! S-Sorry, I didn't mean to-" Kenshin was cut off.
"No, it's fine." Asuna said before smiling. "I was just caught off guard by the compliment I guess."
"OK, well what did you want to talk about?" Kenshin asked.
"Well when we went to Mundus Magicus, I got captured in Ostia and Fate, or I guess Tertium cast a spell on me that apparently unlocked hidden memories I had."
"OK, first off, how? I thought your Magic Cancel stopped that, second...what's that got to do with me?" Kenshin asked.
"First, I don't know." Asuna said. "Second...well I wanted to ask you...do you remember meeting me as a kid?"
"..." Kenshin stared at her before going into thought. "Hmmm...!"
(flashback)
Kenshin, Age 5
Kenshin was sparring with Ryuushin. "Haa!" Kenshin launched a Katensho at his father.
"Hahaha!" Ryuushin slashed it apart with Kazeken. "Nice to see you've perfected my Katensho son, but..." He activated Ryuujin's Avarice.(Technique from the shard of Ophis that was lost when Kenshin came to Kuoh, to him at least it was lost to Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari when they came to Kuoh. ) "You've got much to learn."
"Hrrrnnn!" Kenshin growled as Ryuushin's fist launched him into a nearby rock formation.
"Ryuushin! Aren't you going a bit too hard? !" Arika asked
"Oh Arika, the kid will never learn unless Ryuu goes hard." Nagi said with a bored look.
"I get that, but there's a limit to how hard one can go!" Arika said.
"Haa!" Kenshin gasped out before smirking. "Don't worry about me! Come on Dad!"
"Oh?" Ryuushin said with a surprised look before smiling. "Alright Kenshin, here I come!" Ryuushin said rushing toward Kenshin.
"!" Kenshin and Ryuushin both noticed a beam of light rushing right toward them and both jumped back
"What the heck? !" Kenshin shouted.
"Damn it Gateau I was sparring with my son!" Ryuushin shouted as a pair of men wearing white suits landed, the younger of the two carrying a young girl with orange hair wearing a white dress with a black mantle covering her shoulders. Kenshin shyly hid behind his father upon seeing them.
Gateau smiled. "You were so energetic earlier, What's wrong?"
"U-Um..." Kenshin said.
"He was amped up. He's actually quite timid." Ryuushin said. "I see you brought the little princess-chan." He pushed Kenshin forward. "Go and meet her Kenshin."
"A-Aaah? !" Both Kenshin and the young girl both gasped as they were pushed in front of each other.
"Uhm...Hi, I'm Kenshin." Kenshin said extending his hand toward her.
"My name is Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia." She introduced while shaking Kenshin's hand.
Kenshin blinked. "Wow that is a mouthful."
Ryuushin bopped Kenshin over the head. "Kenshin that's rude!"
"Hehe. It kind of is." Asuna giggled.
"? !" Nagi, Arika, Gateau, Takamichi and Ryuushin all looked at her in shock.
"Wait, is that the first time that she's shown emotion?" Arika asked.
"I-It is." Gateau said.
"I like your hair." Kenshin said referring to her twintails.
"Thanks." Asuna smiled. "I like yours too."
Kenshin patted his hair which hung down to his shoulders. "T-Thanks."
The two sat down and played a game together, a game of checkers to be exact, after Kenshin taught her how to play. She beat him rather handily, but he was never upset. He smiled at her and said. "Heh, you're pretty good Asuna-Chan." Kenshin said.
A rare blush appeared on Asuna's cheeks. "Th-Thanks, you almost beat me a few times."
Kenshin yawned. "Man I'm tired." He said.
Asuna yawned as well. "Same here." She said.
"Hey...would you mind sleeping together? I wouldn't mind someone to sleep against." Asuna asked with a smile.
"S-Sure!" Kenshin said with a smile as he extended his arms toward her. She smiled and walked toward Kenshin, letting him embrace her. He then let himself fall onto his back and smiled. "You know...you're really nice Asuna-Chan."
"Eh? Chan? What does that mean?" Asuna asked curiously.
"It means I like you." Kenshin said. "And I mean that. You're the nicest girl I've ever met, well aside from Kono-Chan." Kenshin said with a rare smile.
"Oh? Well I like you too Kenshin." Asuna said with a smile.
"Hehe~!" Kenshin laughed with a wide grin.
(the next day)
Kenshin approached Asuna who had her hands brought together, a small orb of energy brought between them. "What's that Asuna-Chan?"
"Oh this?" Asuna asked holding the ball of energy up. "It's called Kanka. A mixture of both ki and mana."
"Hm?" Kenshin made an interested sound. "Could...you maybe teach me how to do it?" He asked with a hopeful look.
"Hmn..." Asuna went into thought before smiling. "Alright." She cupped her hands around Kenshin's hands. "Alright, relax." She said.
"Haa..." Kenshin let out a breath,his body relaxing.
"Alright. Now charge your youki in your left hand, and your mana in your right." Asuna said.
"OK." Kenshin said before the same orb of light that Asuna was holding earlier appeared in Kenshin's hand. "!" Kenshin looked up at it with an awed expression, before smiling widely at Asuna. "Wow! I got it on the first try, thanks Asuna-Chan!" He said before surprising her with a hug.
"A-Ahh?" Asuna gasped softly, caught off guard. "Mmmh..." Asuna smiled and hugged Kenshin back. "You're welcome Kenshin." She said with a smile.
(a month later.)
Kenshin was crying as he stood in front of Gateau, Takamichi and Asuna. "Dad, does she really have to leave?"
Ryuushin smiled at his son sympathetically. "She does. Gateau and Takamichi are the ones guarding her."
Asuna stepped forward and hugged Kenshin. "I'll miss you." She said with a smile.
Kenshin wiped his eyes and smiled back. "I'll miss you too Asuna-Chan." He said with a smile of his own"
(flashback end)
"..." Kenshin and Asuna both stared at each other smiling before the two hugged. "I'm so sorry I forgot."
"It's OK, Yukari told us all what happened to you." Asuna looked into his eyes. "I can't believe something so horrible happened to you."
Kenshin smiled. "It was painful, but I made it through."
"Still, it shouldn't have happened." Asuna said. "Hey...um can I admit something?"
"What's up?" Kenshin asked.
"Back then...I uh..." Asuna glanced away shyly, stroking her arm. "I remember having a crush on you or at the very least I really liked you."
Kenshin blinked. "Really?"
"Y-Yeah. I think Takahata-Sensei must have erased those when he erased my memories of Gateau-San." Asuna said with a blush.
"Yeah and it doesn't help that when it comes to normal magic spells like that. Takamichi is bad at it." Kenshin said. "He probably didn't mean to, also, I have something to admit as well. When he rejected you during the Mahora Festival...I might have fronted him off and decked him in the face."
"Aah! Kenshin! Why'd you do that? !" Asuna shouted.
"Well I cared about you and felt like he broke your heart." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin..." Asuna said, holding her hands at her chest, a touched look on her face. Kenshin reached over and cupped her cheek with a smile. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"Why'd you cry when I left?" Asuna asked.
Kenshin glanced away. "Well...Dad and I were basically nomads. My friends were basically walking in and out of my life. I made a new friend...and they were leaving too...I just...felt lonely you know?"
"Kenshin..." Asuna said with a distant look before she smiled. "Well, according to Yukari, you don't feel like that anymore.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "But you know, people I have feelings for, or who have feelings for me, I can't help but pursue them."
"I'd call you a pervert, but..." Asuna smiled. "That's actually a wonderful sentiment...and...I know what it's like to feel lonely." She said looking down.
Kenshin noticed this and smiled, placing his hand on her shoulder "Hey, Asuna-Chan...can I...kiss you?"
Asuna's eyes widened as she blushed, looking up, but narrowed as she smiled. "Why do you even need to ask?"
"Well I felt like it'd only be polite." Kenshin said before their lips met.
Kenshin hugged Asuna against him. They broke the kiss and butted their foreheads against each other. "Kenshin..." Asuna said glancing away with a smile."I know...what I said earlier contradicts what I'm about to say...but...can I..." She repeated shyly. "Can...I be...one of your lovers?"
"..." Kenshin smiled. "If you really want to, Asuna-Chan." He chuckled. "Honestly, even though you and I kind of worked each other's last nerves at times back in Mahora." His smile widened. "I've always found your personality and attitude to be charming."
"Really?" Asuna asked with a blushing smile. "That and didn't you say you had always had a soft spot for me?"
"Yeah, and that practice date we went on, it was honestly a lot of fun." Kenshin said with a grin. "We should do it again sometime."
"Mmh..." Asuna nodded before her lips met his before they parted and smiled at each other. "Kenshin...
"Asuna..." Kenshin said before he butted his forehead against hers. "Also...we both have something in common."
"Eh? What's that?" Asuna asked.
"We both know what it's like to be used by the world we lived in." Kenshin said. "Rikudou and I used each other, and there's what was done to you for years on end, people using your latent abilities to take over Mundus Magicus."
Asuna glanced away sadly. "Yeah, looking back on it...it hurt...being lonely...nobody understanding or wanting me for me until Nagi, your parents and their friends saving me, by the way...is it true that you and Yukari got sent back in time?"
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
"..." Asuna laughed a bit. "Hell, you were nice to me back then too."
"Well, I'm a nice guy if you're not getting on my nerves." Kenshin said.
"I see that." Asuna said with a smile before closing her eyes. "I'm...enjoying this, this moment we're having."
"I'll try to make sure there's much more." Kenshin grinned as they hugged tightly.
Asuna smiled, but wanted to ask something. "By the way, who is that absolutely stacked redhead? Like seriously, she and that dark purple haired girl next to her put Chizuru-Chan to absolute shame and she was the biggest in our class."
"Oh, her name is Rias Gremory, she's one of my fiancees. The other of course being Negi." Kenshin said.
"Wait, you and Negi are gonna get married?" Asuna asked with wide eyes.
"I was always going to propose to her sooner or later." Kenshin said.
"Hmhm..." Asuna giggled. "You know I usually hate perverts, but you're such a sweetheart at...well heart. I can ignore it." She said nuzzling her cheek against his left shoulder.
"Should I come back later or should we make this a threesome?"
"? !" Kenshin and Asuna broke apart and saw Alice slivering forward. "Alice."
"I just confessed...I'm not about to..." Asuna said with a dark blush.
"I know, I know, I was just teasing." Alice waved her off with a smile.
"I thought you went back to Makai." Kenshin said.
"Hmn, you were all heading toward a hospital, so I wanted to check on the health of the twins." Alice said petting a hand over her stomach, which had swelled considerably.
"Eh? Are you having kids?" Asuna asked.
"I am." Alice said, her eyes closed with a smile.
"Who's the father?" Asuna asked.
"He's standing right next to you." Alice said
Asuna looked over at Kenshin. "Y-You're going to be a father?"
"Eheheheh...y-yeah." Kenshin said with a shy grin.
"W-Wow!" Asuna said, her eyes turning into black dots. She then ran back into the hospital room.
"What's her deal?" Alice asked.
"Well she had just confessed to me." Kenshin said.
"Oh, I see." Alice said with a smile.
"May I?" Kenshin asked, extending his hand toward her.
"Of course." Alice said.
Kenshin placed the palm of his hand over Alice's pregnant belly. "!" He felt two small protrusions place themselves against his hand. He looked into Alice's eyes and smiled. "They just reached out to me."
"Well of course they did. They want to see their Papa." Alice giggled.
"..." Kenshin blushed with a smile. "I'm still nervous about becoming a Dad." Kenshin said before Alice wrapped her tail around Kenshin and hugged him.
"Hey. I'm nervous about this too. You're not alone, Forbesii killed my mother while I was still a child." She pulled away and smiled serenely. "But I chose you to give me children...and you reacted like an expectant father and lover would and came rushing to me after you heard of my kidnapping." Alice said
Kenshin smiled back and hugged her. "I'm so happy you all are alright."
"It's all because of you." Alice giggled as she hugged him back.
"Well I think Diehauser played a part." Kenshin said.
"Ah, of course." Alice said.
"So I'm the unofficial Demon King huh?" Kenshin asked as they pulled away, still holding each other. "I was meaning to bring this up earlier, but I was always busy."
"You are." Alice said with a smile. "I'll accept no other male youkai other than you as my my king. Whatever choice you make I'll support you...well unless it's too extreme."
"As I would expect." Kenshin said before grabbing Alice's hands and bringing them together.
"Hm?" Alice said.
"I've already asked Rias and Negi, but...Alice...would you marry me?" Kenshin asked. "I know I won't become the Demon King but-!"
"Of course." Alice said with a smile. "I'd love nothing more than to call you my husband." She said.
"Even though you lamia are supposed to be possessive?" Kenshin teased.
"Well, I guess I'm just willing to share you." Alice giggled before kissing him again. "I just...love you that much, you ensured my happiness, maybe I want to ensure yours." "
Kenshin smiled and butted his forehead against hers. "Heh...I love you too, my darling queen." Kenshin said.
"Mhmhmhm~!" Alice smiled widely. "Alright. I'm going to Makai now, I just wanted to see you before I left." She took on a sad look. "Because...I may not see you again."
"..." Kenshin hugged Alice again. "I will make it out of this. I swear it. I will be there to see Neris and Luka being born."
Alice snuggled into Kenshin's embrace, the tip of her tail swishing happily. "I know you will, but...I can't help but be scared you know?"
"I know, but just believe in me OK?" Kenshin asked.
"Alright...because..." Alice petted a hand over her belly, smiling widely. "I want Neris and Luka to know how great of a man their father is."
"Oh don't worry they will." Kenshin grinned before kneeling down to Alice's swelled belly. "You hear that you two, you better be prepared to meet Daddy!"
"Ufufufu~ You dork!" Alice giggled.
"Hehehehe. It calmed you down, didn't it." Kenshin said with a smile.
"Aah..." Alice paused before smiling. "Yeah, I guess it did." Alice glanced away. "I-I'll miss you."
"Hey, remember that charm I gave you? Use it whenever you want." Kenshin smiled. "I can't have the mother of my first children feeling unloved."
Alice giggled at this. "You charmer." She said before smiling serenely at him. "Thank you though Kenshin...for everything..."
"Of course." Kenshin said with a smile before Alice kissed him and slithered away.
Kenshin walked back to Issei's hospital room just as Asuna said to Kaede and Ku Fei. "Kaede, Ku! I just found out Kenshin's gonna be a dad!"
"Eeeehh?" Ku Fei said with a curious look.
"Oh, well congratulations to him and the mother." Kaede said with a nonchalant tone.
"You aren't surprised at all?" Asuna asked Kaede.
"A little bit, but it's really only their business." Kaede said
"She has a point Asuna-Chan." Kenshin said making the orangette turn to him. "Besides, I did win a war for Alice."
"A war?" Asuna asked.
"The Youkai Revolution." Alma Elma said. "Gran-Chan, Eru-Chan and I were all dead when he arrived, he used his last evil pieces to revive us and proceeded to lead us to victory against the Demon King. Alice, or rather Alipheese the Sixteenth was the leader of the Youkai Revolution. She's the Demon Queen by the way."
"Yes, so naturally Alice-Sama became rather smitten with Kenshin." Erubetie said.
"According to most of the males. After Forbessi, the demon king was defeated. Alice pulled Kenshin into her room for three days to mate with him." Granberia said.
"Wait...you're saying that Kenshin mated with her for three days straight?" Kaede asked.
"Lamia mating rituals are extremely long." Tamamo said with a smile.
"W-What the hell? !" Asuna said.
"I passed out several times." Kenshin snorted before a communication circle opened up next to his ear. "Huh? Rasai, calm down, you're speaking too quickly I can-"
"Haa! Kenshin I need help defending against attacks against my home! I know you hate my father, but please do it for me and Sairaorg!" Rasai said.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened as the communication circle cut out. "Rasai? ! Hey Rasai! Shit!" Kenshin cursed. He turned to Rias. "Hey do you know how to get to the Bael domain?"
"I-I do, but...it will take some time. They have like fifty barriers around their castle that I'd have to bypass, the very fact that the rebels are even attacking them suggests that they have someone on their side that can bypass those barriers." Rias said.
"Then please get the spell ready." Kenshin said. "We need to send someone there now!"
"Eh? Are these Baels important to you-aru?" Ku Fei asked.
"The two sons are yes. The older one earned my respect on the battlefield, while I spared the younger one for trying to assassinate me during the Youkai Revolution because his heart was never fully in it." Kenshin said.
"Eh? The younger one tried to assassinate you-de gozaru?" Kaede asked.
"His father put him up to it. Like I said his heart just wasn't in it." Kenshin said. "Anyway, let's get this started." Kenshin said nodding toward Rias.
"Wait!" Kaede said.
"Huh?" Everyone said.
"Let me go too, would that be possible?" Kaede asked.
"Sure come here and touch my hand." Rias said with a smile.
"Actually we all need to go." Kenshin said. "Freeing up Sairaorg, Sona and Seekvaira would bolster our forces."
"But Kenshin...the shape you and Issei-San are in." Negi said with a worried look.
"I'll take it easy, I promise. The furthest I'll go is the Abyssal Elemental Overdrive." Kenshin said.
(break)
Meanwhile
"Since when did this start?" Rasai thought. "This is painful to watch." He opened a communication circle, but not to Kenshin. "Sairaorg!"
"Huh? ! Magdaran what's going on? !" Sairaorg said.
"Our home is being attacked by rebels!" Rasai said.
"Damn! I'm on my way. Kuisha you're in charge!" Sairaorg said. "Magdaran I know you can handle yourself, but please use the escape routes."
"Don't worry brother, I don't have any ideas that I couldn't survive this. I'm also calling Kenshin." Rasai said as he ran through the corridors of the Bael castle.
Magdaran felt pain at the sight of his family's home castle. The warriors of the enemies had somehow bypassed the fifty layers of barriers cast over it. Let alone saying that it wouldn't be compromised, which was the main reason his father Yeager kept antagonizing Kenshin. Yeager Bael had even boasted about the fact that it had never been compromised, even against the battle against the Old Satanists. However, this castle was now facing a crisis. The castle was receiving attacks which passed through the barriers. As he looked out from the windows of the passageways, it was possible to see the guards of the Bael castle engaging in combat against the masked insurgents. The guards of the Bael were powerless. Magdaran also saw the flowers he and his peerage so lovingly planted had withered, or had been outright trampled.
"Why are they doing this?" Rasai thought. "Wait...could it be resentment? It should be about the criticism of the King piece, and the complaints of misconduct in the Rating Games...no wait. I don't compete in the Rating Game. I could carry on without any issues and Sairaorg would never willingly cheat in the Rating Game." Rasai's, or Magdaran's thoughts were cut off as he turned the corner, only to see a figure wearing a jet black armor. His remaining guards all gathered around him to defend him. "Stop." Rasai said. "I recognize this person. He's from Sona-dono's peerage."
One of the only males in Sona's peerage removed his helmet. "So you're Sairaorg's younger brother right?"
"We met during the Youkai Revolution yes." Rasai said with a smile. "Hello Pawn of Sona Sitri's peerage. Thank you for your assistance Saji Genshirou."
"Heh, of course! Kenshin and his peerage should be here shortly unless something comes up." Saji said.
"!" Rasai's eyes widened, as did his smile. "Lord Kuroshi! You did respond to my distress call!" He thought.
"Kenshin, Rias and Sona told me to come here." Saji said with a grin.
"Well, really you shouldn't have, I mean after all my clan has done to humiliate yours." Rasai said.
"Kenshin told me that shouldn't matter. You and Sairaorg are my friends after all." Saji said before taking off.
"DxD huh?" Rasai mused. "I never imagined that I would receive help from them."
Saji had a question mark grow above his head. "Huh?"
"Don't worry about it, I just wasn't expecting your help!" Rasai said before turning to his peerage. "Come on, we're leaving the city!, Saji-San, please lead us!"
"Right!" Saji said as black flames shot out of his back.
"We have to lead this city and pacify the civilians and supress the rebellion across the whole territory."
"Alright!" Saji as he and Rasai sped forward as the latter's peerage to defend the city of the Bael.
"My Queen has gone to secure Zekram-Sama's safety." Rasai said." Just the same, the next head, Sairaorg left the territory as a member of the anti terrorist team. In other words the Bael castle doesn't have it's Lord nor it's heir. I called Kenshin-Sama, but I don't think he'll make it in time."
"You called Kenshin huh?"
The two looked over, seeing a snakelike man wearing an orange vest with matching pants. "Who the hell are you?" Saji asked.
"My name is Sanderson. Kenshin killed me in the past...I revel in the chance to return the favor!" Sanderson said.
"Man you are creepy, let's go ahead and beat this guy Ra-" Saji was cut off.
"Saji-San." Rasai, or Magdaran said.
"Eh?" Saji said.
"Please clear the escape route for us, I'll handle this foe." Rasai said.
"A-Alright." Saji said speeding past Sanderson.
"Heheheheh." Sanderson chuckled. "You really think you can take me boy? I was a general in the Hellas Nine Divisions after all."
"Kenshin told me about you and he told me..." Rasai smirked. "That you weren't shit! Like at all!"
"Krrhhh!" Sanderson growled.
Rasai laughed. "Like seriously, A general getting his shit ran by a ten year old child."
"Grrh!" Sanderson's anger built and moved his forearm, revealing a launcher of sorts. "Taste my Denkou Fuuchou!" (A/N Lightning Current.)
Rasai smirked as the spikes Sanderson launched arcing lightning currents at him, casting them away with his destruction magic. "Heh...like Kenshin said...you...ain't...shit."
"Graahh!" Sanderson extended his head toward him, looking to bite him in the neck.
"Sorry, but no." Rasai said blasting Sanderson with his destruction magic. When the smoke cleared, Sanderson was no more. "We should leave the Bael city and pacify the civilians and supress the rebellion across the whole territory. The Bael castle is left with just his queen, and now that queen had also gone out to ensure they had a safe escape route. In order to discuss the countermeasures against Trihexa. Father had left to meet Zekram-Sama." Rasai said to himself as they moved. "Sairaorg-ani had left the territory as a member of DxD, the anti terrorist team." Rasai continued analyzing the situation. "The Bael castle doesn't have it's it's head, it's queen who left to seek refuge, nor it's heir. All that was here is it's second son, me...Magdaran Bael who is called Rasai to mock the current heir, yet what Lord Kuroshi told me rings in my mind."
"Never forget what you are Rasai." Kenshin said making Magdaran bristle in anger. "The world around you will not. Wear it like armor so that it can never be used to hurt you...then..." Kenshin grinned. "Then that's when you get to kick their teeth in!"
"I see the difference between Father and you once again." Rasai thought as they moved. "Whenever a decision had to be made he rushes over to the place where the previous generation and first generation had secluded themselves. Regardless of whether it was a political affair or family affair, he's never made a single decision on his own." Rasai thought. "The only time he had acted on his own...was when he had tried to kill Lord Kenshin, but still...as long as he protected his pride and appearance, even his wives and children could be discarded as common trash. That had happened to Sairaorg who had been cast out for not having the Power of Destruction." Rasai thought as he and his peerage rushed onward. "Since I was born with the Power of Destruction." Rasai said before trailing off.
"Yet, my mother is a relative of mine. I know Lord Kuroshi practices incest with his own sisters, but from what I've seen, they all love each other dearly...I can't say I say the same for my parents." Rasai thought. "Sairaorg ended up beating me for the seat of the heir. I mean even with the strict education. I didn't train too hard. I always hated Sirzechs and Rias." Rasai said. "So why did I train the latter?"
(flashback)
After visiting Kraken.
Everyone was resting around a fire. Only Kenshin and Rasai were awake. "Hey." Kenshin said.
"What?" Rasai said, an annoyed tone in his voice.
"Jeez. You just got here and you're this annoyed?" Kenshin said with a grin. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?" Rasai said.
"Why are you helping train Rias?" Kenshin asked. "From what I heard from Sairaorg, you hate both her and Sirzechs."
Rasai sighed. "That's just my father's influence." He said staring into the fire. "The truth is, I've barely interacted with either of them. As for training Rias? Well I guess you could say I don't like seeing weak users of destruction magic. I mean let's face it, without you or the Sekiryuutei, she'd be dead by now."
"I don't know about that, but thanks anyway." Kenshin said. "When we go back to the Underworld, could you check on Azteca?"
"Azteca?" Rasai asked curiously.
"I noticed you admiring the gardens in Yamatai." Kenshin said. "Azteca is the Queen of the Alarune youkai who are plant youkai. I'm wondering if you have a gardening hobby."
"!" Rasai actually blushed at this. "Y-Yeah, I'll do it." "If I have time after I kill you." He thought.
"Heheh!" Kenshin grinned. "Thanks Rasai, you're a good guy. At least your idiot father raised some good kids...at least I hope he had a hand in your upbringing."
"He says that, without knowing that I'm here to kill him." Rasai thought before looking away. "Should I really do this?"
(Flashback end)
"Yeah...I never really hated Rias nor Sirzechs, that was my father's influence. Even after Sairaorg beat me...I didn't hate him...because Mother and Father treated me as an object...yet even after he beat me, he helped me up and congratulated me on doing my best, telling me not to be discouraged, but also telling me to train my body." Rasai thought. "I remember yelling at him, saying I didn't need training and he just laughed saying"
"Well I'm open to a challenge anytime"
Then Kenshin's words came to mind. "He's a perfectionist, his pride won't allow him to fail, it's honestly something I respect about him."
"Dad put me and Sairaorg against each other in order to truly sever his parent child relationship with him. Yet I lost completely, ever since then I have been scorned...I have no doubts now that Father sent me to Makai to die." Rasai thought as they ran "There was only four true Baels that lived in the castle, Father, the head. Mother, his second wife, Sairaorg and me." Rasai thought. "Sairaorg deserved the position. He was more powerful, yet Father and especially Mother always looked down on him. Father even ordered me to kill his friend Lord Kuroshi." Rasai thought with a sad expression. "I had to teach Sairaorg the mannerisms of a clan head, mannerisms that Kenshin seemed to wholeheartedly ignore." Rasai then thought. "Aside from my peerage...no one would talk to me" Magdaran thought. "I'll always be thought and seen as the next Great King of Bael. He attended all of the meetings alongside Sairaorg and one of the other heirs had mentioned.
"It was really comfortable when my mother cleaned my ears out. "
"Ear cleaning..." Rasai thought. "I've never received anything other than a maid since my birth. Hell, there were some children who went with their families to have fun at the beaches of the human world. Outside of the trip to Makai...I've never traveled outside this castle, nor celebrated a holiday. Honestly what was family for? This castle was the residence of the Bael...this family, should they be considered family members.
Rasai then thought. "What am I? I was born, as the second son, and raised as the next Head of the House. Only to have it taken away, The Makai mission aside...it's like I didn't exist...I would chat with Lord Kuroshi from time to time after Makai...Chatting with Lo-, no Kenshin was so comforting...one of the lines he told me in one of our chats resonated in me."
(flashback)
Kenshin and Rasai were sitting around a fire. Everyone else was fast asleep. They were coming back from the Sabasa Region in Makai.
"Rasai, I know what it's like. To feel like you don't exist."Kenshin said with a smile.
"Huh?" Rasai said trying to hide his surprise. "What makes you say that?"
"From what you said earlier, when you tried to kill me." Kenshin said. "Your father will kill you if you didn't bring my head to him?"
"..." Rasai narrowed his eyes sadly as he stared into the fire. "Honestly, you're right...the only person in my family that likes me other than Zekram-Sama is Sairaorg...My own father and mother look at me in scorn, but what were you talking about?"
Kenshin glanced at him in sympathy before clearing his throat. "When I was six. My possessed mother came at my father, sister and a woman I looked at as a second mother, This person nearly killed my father, took my sister Yukari back into her service before dropping me into Megalomesembria."
"!" Rasai gasped, having heard about the story from Kenshin's sisters, mother and peerage members.
Kenshin smiled staring into the fire. "For four painful years, I knew nothing but pain." Kenshin said. "And I never knew my mother's love until I was ten."
"W-Wow...that...that makes what I..."
Kenshin cut him off by wrapping an arm around him, hugging him against left side. "Rasai, Pain is Pain. Don't belittle yours because you felt mine was worse." Kenshin glanced at him with a smile. "At least my parents loved me. I can't understand why your mother at least didn't love you. I mean...yeah Lord Bael is an asshole, but what's up with Lady Bael."
Rasai looked down sadly. "It...did hurt...I'm not gonna lie."
"Well no more." The two of them turned to Hikari who had just woke up and heard their conversation.
"From now on, please consider me as your mother." Hikari said hugging Rasai into her chest.
"M-Mom!" Kenshin said with a smile.
"What Ken-Chan? Haven't you always wanted a brother?" Hikari asked with a smile.
"W-Well...that's before Yukari and Miyuki both fell in love with me, even if Miyuki-
"Mhmhm." Hikari said hugging Rasai's head into her bust harder.. "Miyuki was trying to not be so dependent on her Onii-Chan." Hikari said. "Then she realized that she loved her Onii-Chan that much." Hikari said, still hugging Rasai into her chest
"C-Could you please let me go Hikari-San!" Rasai said before ripping himself away from her embrace, his face as red as a cherry.
"Oh I'm sorry, I heard you two talking and I just wanted to dote on you." Hikari said with a giggle.
"A-Alright...we-were you being serious?" Rasai asked.
"About you referring to me as your mother? Of course I was." Hikari said with a smile. "I heard you two talking and I'd love to be your mother figure."
"But I...I tried to..." Hikari cut him off.
"I know, but I also know that your bastard of a father put you up to it. If it had been your choice alone, would you have done it?" Hikari asked.
"No...I mean all he did was badmouth my father, who kind of deserved it."
"Heheh." Kenshin chuckled.
"That settles it, I don't mind if you call me Hikari-kaasan or basan, I'd love to have another child to dote on." Hikari giggled.
"O-OK...H-Hikari-Kaasan..." Rasai said. "Um...could I request one thing after all this is over with?"
"Hmm? What is it Ma-Chan?" Hikari asked using an abberviation of his real name.
"C-Could...I talk you into...cleaning my ears?" Rasai asked with a blush
"Hmhmhm~!" Hikari giggled with a wide smile. "Alright~!"
(flashback end)
Rasai looked down sadly with a smile. "I've never gotten anything other than a maid since birth. There were some children who had gone with their families to have fun at beaches of the human world. Aside from inspecting the Bael territory, I've never been on a trip outside of the Bael territory. I've...always wanted to have a holiday together with his family...family..." Rasai's expression soured as he remembered something Kenshin told him.
"I've never had a holiday with my family either. I was just always too busy. Aside from the suicide mission Father sent me on, I've always been confined here." Rasai thought with a sad look as he proceeded. "What am I? I was born as the second son, and raised as the next clan head. That was then taken away., and then...I was left alone as someone who had didn't exist...like...I was useless, until Sairaorg and Kenshin came along."
"Hey Rasai!" Kenshin said after one of their meetings. "I value your service a lot, if not for you I'd have probably blown one of the councilors heads off."
"How have you been recently?" Sairaorg would ask. "You know, this has become quite popular in our territory. There's also this man called Issei Hyoudou in Team DxD, and that Kuroshi Kenshin person isn't a slouch either."
"I could only reply stiffly with 'I see', Yes, or 'Oh.." Magdaran thought. "Sairaorg was so strong that I didn't even give any thought to regaining the position of clan heir. Yet when Lord Zekram offered it to me...I was so surprised." Rasai or Magdaran thought. "It was only because Sairaorg wanted to become a Satan. I don't know anything outside of the Bael lifestyle. The only area I stood out more than others was my detailed knowledge and understanding of plants that were also planted in the courtyard. Ever since I was young, I was always fond of plants and flowers...of life. Which is probably why Father thought my hobby was useless. Maybe that was why I was so drawn to Kenshin, as he is the Primordial of Life."
Rasai went on to think. "When I was young, I discovered seeds that had been preserved in good condition during the war. I requested a few. I used modern techniques to revive them. The Bael Gardens were alit with beautiful purple flowers. I also cultivated a rare type of apple that we sold rather well. I expected praise but what I received was a warning to mind my own deeds, from my father."
Magdaran looked down sadly. "The Great King house was symbolized by destruction, so the proposal of plant research was simply shameful...Mother never praised me either, which is why I was so happy to hear Hikari-San to say she'd accept me as one of her own children." Magdaran looked down. "Mother never tried the apples I had grown, but when I gave one to Hikari-San?"
(flashback)
"Hmm? You want me to try one of these?" Hikari asked as Magdaran held a few crates of apples behind him.
"I grew them myself, and I'd like to open up a market outside of the Underworld." Magdaran said
"Well...OK..." Hikari said taking an apple from him. She polished it with a cloth, before taking a bite out of it.
(munch munch)
"Mm? Mmm?" Hikari chewed a few times, testing the flavor, before it hit her. "MMMMMMH? !"
Magdaran watched as Hikari tore into the apple with reckless abandon. She then reached forward with stars in her eyes. "You said you grew these yourself? !"
"Y-Yes?" Magdaran asked.
"Then yes I will absolutely sell them!" Hikari said before calming down. "However..." She narrowed her eyes. "The profits will go to you and you alone." She said.
"B-But." Magdaran said.
"No buts." Hikari said sternly. "Your father tried to have my Ken-Chan killed. I know Ken-Chan forgave you, but I absolutely won't forgive your father. Ken-Chan, Yukari-Chan, and Miyuki-Chan are all I have left. I won't benefit his clan, if he asks it's a personal contract between the two of us. If you want to pound your profits into the Bael vault then that's your business. The money you make from me is yours and yours alone."
"..." Magdaran paused but smiled. Hikari went to say something only for him to raise his hand. "Thank you. H-Hikari-kaasama. No one, other than Sairaorg has told me that before."
"Ufufufu~!" Hikari giggled deviously. "Oh come on! You mean to tell me you've never been praised for your expertise in growing produce?"
"..." Magdaran went silent while Kenshin who was helping out that day whispered in Hikari's ear before returning to the back.
"O-Oh...Oh my god I'm so sorry Ma-kun." Hikari said with a wincing smile.
"It's OK Hikari-kaasama." Magdaran said with a smile. "Sairaorg actually loves them, and he regularly takes a bushel or two to the Gremory domain, who pay me handsomely."
"Well put me on the list as well." Hikari said pumping her fist with stars in her eyes.
"Kenshin won't mind?" Magdaran asked.
"No. He might be annoyed at first, but when I tell him he's helping a friend, he'll be OK with it." Hikari said. "Especially when I tell him he's making money off of it." Hikari giggled.
Magdaran sweatdropped with a smile. "I-I see."
"Actually Rasai I don't mind at all." The two turned to see Kenshin approaching them with a smile. "Private deals are allowed Mom, I mean I'm making enough money off my role as the Lust Dragon anyway." Kenshin grinned before turning to Magdaran. "Do what you gotta do my brotha."
Magadaran smiled. "Thanks Kenshin."
"Also gimme one of those apples." Kenshin said tossing Rasai a few bucks. He bit into it and his eyes widened. "Unholy shit! This is the best thing I've ever tasted that wasn't cooked! Oh my god who grew this? ! I was in the back when I heard Mom gushing!"
"U-Uh, I did." Magdaran said.
"Are you serious? !" Kenshin said with the same stars in his eyes as Hikari had had. "I demand you sell these in our diner and stores when I build them!"
"Y-You don't mind? !" Magdaran asked.
"Not at all!" Kenshin said munching into the apple. "Oh god, I feel like I'm going to have a 'Food Wars' scene right now!" He said.
"A-As long as you don't strip." Hikari giggled.
Magdaran watched as the two swooned. "W-Wow."
Kenshin grinned clapping his hands on Magdaran's shoulders. "Keep exploring your interest in gardening. That's an order. If your parents say anything I've got an insult with their name on it and in your father's case, a fist." He said before going back to helping Hikari, taking the bushels to the back so he could build a place for them. "Hey Mom! What's a good price for these? !" Kenshin asked.
"Well we're going to be selling them by the pound so one fifty sounds good." Hikari said. "These are probably going to be a hit so please bring more soon please." She said with a winking smile before going back to cooking. Getting ready for the lunch rush.
Magdaran stared at the two. "Is this what a loving family looks like, excusing Kenshin's relationship with his sisters...I...I wish I had this..." He thought.
(Flashback end)
Magdaran shook off these memories. "Until today, whether it was Sairaorg or family, whether it was flowers or the power of destruction. I don't need to bother myself with things like that. If Trihexa destroys the Underworld, then I can't do anything but accept that fate." Magdaran thought. It had already been a few minutes since he had seen the rear gate. Saji himself saw the rear gate that he had come through. Beyond it was a wide open space, however there was a hostile aura and Saji took up a stance in front of the doorway, releasing his and Vritra's aura.
Magdaran started to sweat. "These two auras...are powerful!" He thought before looking ahead. "!"
There was someone standing there that Magdaran recognized. The person was laying in a pool of blood. He had gray hair wearing a cloak and light armor. "Sectaas!" Magdaran shouted
"L-Lord M-Magdaran..." Sectaas rasped out. "Please hurry and get away..."
"Not without you." Saji said, having been in his Balance Breaker extended some of his tentacles toward Sectaas and lifted him up and pulled them toward them. "Damn..." He said as he laid Sectaas in front of Magdaran. "He's been ripped apart, probably by shots of demon energy." Saji deduced. "If we don't get him to a medic or a hospital soon, he's dead."
"Damn it!" Magdaran shouted ripping apart his clothing to attempt to bandage Sectaas' injuries.
(clap clap)
"? !" Both Saji and Magdaran's eyes shot toward a figure standing on the other end of the rear exit.
"Truly praiseworthy. It's hard to imagine that the Great King would display such behavior."
A blonde haired man wearing nobleman's clothing, he looked to be around his thirties..." Magdaran narrowed his eyes. "Devils are able to change their appearance. So their appearance isn't always accurate." Magdaran thought as he and Saji glared at this man.
The man bowed politely. "Good day."
"Bedeze Abaddon-dono, ranked third in the official Rating Game." Magdaran said.
"Whoa are you serious? !" Saji asked.
"I am, he's a professional Rating Game player, ranked third, he's an Extra Demon, those who refused the rulings of the current Satans, but didn't want to go to war."
Saji smirked grimly under his Balance Breaker's helmet. "This is gonna be a tough one."
Bedeze laughed. "The current head's second, yet disgraced son? ! Please bring me the current head and the generations before him! The challenge before me is NOTHING!"
"Unfortunately my father and the previous generations aren't here right now Bedeze!" Magdaran smirked as he stole from Kenshin's words. "Vritra's host and I are the best you're going to do!" Magdaran's smirk widened. "In other words, to steal from Kenshin even more..." He glanced at Saji.
Saji smirked behind his helmet. "Come and get this smoke!"
Bedeze smiled in an amused fashion at Magdaran's and Saji's words. "Are you sure about that younglings? All of we in the top ten of the Rating Game are Ultimate Class Devils. I doubt even that pathetic Lord Kuroshi could beat me."
Magdaran and Saji both grimaced at this. "Saji-San, honestly speaking...Even with you in your Balance Breaker and I...I just don't see a way for us to win against one of the top three. They're considered to be in the same class as the Satans."
"Heh..." Saji smirked. "I knew that already. The top three are considered on the same class as the Satans after all."
"Could you tell me your purpose in coming here?" Magdaran asked Bedeze. "Also. I won't have you calling my brother in all but blood pathetic." He ended with a scowl.
"Brother?" Saji said.
"Well, I've had a number of exchanges with the Great King Bael in the past. Diehauser exposed everything, so I want to show the darkness of that in front of all the citizens."
Magdaran sighed before turning to quietly ask something of Saji. "Your other peerage members and DxD where are they? Kenshin said he'd help me and I've already contacted him."
"We of the Sitri Peerage are all fighting against those masked people outside, each of them are strong as well so I think they're members of that third ranker's peerage." Saji whispered. "Kenshin and Issei also need time to recuperate, that's why we're here." Saji said as the sounds of battle resounded around the battlefield.
"Aah, I see. Kenshin couldn't come himself, so he entrusted the job to one of his lovers, Lady Sona Sitri and her servants, believing in them to last.
"Hey! Sairaorg and his peerage will also be arriving soon!" Saji shouted.
"I see...Sairaorg has been called too. But would he make it? Nevertheless even if he did make it, no matter how strong ani was he was still fighting against a Satan Class opponent!" He opened up communications with Kenshin. "Kenshin! !"
"R-Rasai? What's up?"
"We're up against a Satan class opponent. I need your help! I don't care how recovered you are!"
Kenshin paused. "I need to conserve my power for Trihexa, but I can't leave Magdaran out to dry!" He thought until a hand slapped on his shoulder.
He turned to find Kaede who was smiling. "Send me-de gozaru." She said.
"Are you sure? The opponent is on the class of the original Lucifer." Kenshin said.
"Oh I'll be fine. My techniques even caught Loki slipping a couple of times." Kaede said.
"Kenshin, go ahead." He turned to see Negi smiling. "I believe in Kaede-San. She can handle herself."
"Well...she is one of the Mahora 3-A Fighting Four." Kenshin said before placing his hand on Kaede's shoulder. "Saji will be wearing a set of black armor and Magdaran will be wearing nobleman's attire. Outside of the armor Saji has dirty blonde hair and wears a school uniform because he attends Kuoh Academy."
"Got it." Kaede said.
"Alright, off you go!" Kenshin said before warping Kaede off.
"No matter who you're calling to help it won't matter!" Bedeze shouted.
(swwwiiiiisshhh!)
Suddenly a giant shuriken cut between them. Before a figure appeared in front of Bedeze. "Hello-de gozaru." She said before kicking him into the air, before four clones cut him in differing directions. "Kaede Ninpo: Oboro Juuji!" She said before jumping off one of her clone's backs before landing in front of Saji and Magdaran, her giant shuriken landing next to her.
"W-Whoa? ! Who are you? !" Saji said.
"T-That was amazing." Magdaran said.
Kaede turned to Saji and Magdaran and smiled. "Hello. I am Nagase Kaede, seat twenty in the class 3-A taught by Negi-Sensei and Kenshin-Sensei."
"You're one of Kenshin's students? !" Magdaran shouted. "You must be insanely strong!"
"Oh ho ho, he wasn't my Sensei in that regard. He helped Negi-Sensei teach English." Kaede said.
Both Saji and Magdaran's shoulders slumped in exasperation. "I-I see..." Magdaran said. "Then don't you think you being here is...LOOK OUT!" Magdaran said as all three of them jumped out of the way of a large mana blast."
"I already sensed that coming, but thanks Magdaran-Dono." Kaede said.
"That was an interesting attack, are you a shinobi?" Bedeze asked.
"I am, Kouga Chuunin Kaede Nagase-de gozaru." Kaede said.
"Bedeze Abbadon, Extra Demon, rank third in the Rating Game behind Roygun Belphagor and the Emperor Diehauser Belial" Bedeze introduced with a bow. "However you are just a human. Why mix yourself up in this?"
"I'm here representing Kenshin-Sensei." Kaede said. "The one you know as Kenshin Kuroshi."
"Ahh that guy. I had wondered why he'd bother to help the Baels." Bedeze said. "He hates them after all."
"He doesn't hate all of us!" Magdaran shouted. "He's helping us because of Sairaorg and me!"
"Oh? Then should I get rid of you, the Sitri group and this shinobi should all retreat?" Bedeze asked. "That said..." He glanced at Saji. "You're from Sona Sitri's peerage aren't you? I recall your match with Rias Gremory's peerage." Bedeze said. "Serafall's little sister wants to build a school for Rating Games that anyone can attend, She even struggled for it, the Bael's next heir and Lord Kuroshi cooperated with it...Hmm...can I ask a question, will she compete in the games in the future?"
"Yeah she will, because it is her dream, in order to establish a Rating Game school, she needs to obtain merit in her performance to some extent, otherwise she'd lack the necessary credibility! We're definitely taking the top spot.
Bedeze glanced at Kaede. "Why are you here then?"
"After Kenshin-Sensei disappeared my home village was attacked. Yukari came rushing and defended us. She even screamed at us telling us to get out of there." Kaede said. "My family owe their lives to her. So when Kenshin asked that I come here. I glanced at Yukari and she nodded, giving me the go ahead. I will always serve the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans"
"I see, one wants to defend his master's credibility. The other wants to serve the person whom saved their families' lives." Bedeze said stroking his chin "I see. That makes sense, but it is impossible. Don't let your hopes get too high."
"Why do you say that-de gozaru?" Kaede asked.
"Yeah, what the hell!" Saji said.
"Sona Sitri and Kenshin Kuroshi wish to reach the top? Well I have first hand experience with it. Listen well, you definitely need to hear this. Regardless of the era, the person that stands at the top possesses an extremely abnormal and absolute power. If I had to speak on your generation, Host of Vritra, I'd say that Rias Gremory who has the Sekiryuutei would be closest." Bedeze said.
"Kage Nui!" Kaede shouted as pitch black strands wrapped around Bedeze.
"Oh, Mad that I'm bad mouthing your boyfriend?" Bedeze smirked.
"Kenshin and I aren't like that, but I will not have you trashing his name." Kaede said.
"Interesting, but regardless of whom it is among the Rookies Five, they're all far too inferior to that monster...I believe that Kenshin Kuroshi found this out for himself on Agreas. Diehauser Belial is a monster. Ordinary people can't touch him." Bedeze paused as Kaede's giant shuriken whizzed by him, cutting his cheek.
"You are foolish to discredit Kenshin like that." Kaede said.
"Kaede-San?" Saji said. "She stands fearlessly against the number 3 of the Rating Game." He thought.
"And here you stand. Is this the reason you used the King Piece?" Magdaran asked. "Even Roygun Belphegor used it.
Kaede moved in front of Magdaran as a massive burst of power erupted from Bedeze.
"Heheheahahahahaha!" Bedeze laughed. "Yes, exactly as you have said! I have status and power, all that I lacked was the talent to become an Ultimate Class Devil! I used it and finally became third ranked in the Rating Games. I finally gained honor!"
"You gained nothing." Kaede said.
"What was that?" Bedeze said.
"Kaede-San?" Saji asked.
"Anyone who uses illegitimate means to win, that is to say they never had to train themselves for that power has gained nothing." Kaede said, her near permanent squinting eyes opening glaring at Bedeze in disgust. "I may not know how these Rating Games work, but if you used this 'King' piece for an advantage...it's a worthless victory."
"G-Grrhh!" Bedeze growled, hearing the kunoichi belittle his victories in the Rating Games. "Listen here you purple gi wearing wench!"
"It's fuchsia but whatever." Kaede said.
"Whatever!" Bedeze shouted. "The matches between the top rankers were always carried out with a balance. Diehauser aside, the wins and losses of other people was a balance. Of course there was a number of matches that weren't supervised officially...Though I don't deny that I knew those players had certain agreements on the matches."
Saji looked on in disbelief. "Kaichou's dream is to build Auros Academy, to let anyone who wanted to learn about the Rating Games! Yet I just learned about the inside dealings of the Games. Bedeze Abbadon, the third ranked player just nonchalantly admitted to competing in these false matches!" Saji thought as he growled in disgust. "Raiser Phoenix did the same thing in the past and he's connected to DxD. The nature of these exchanges was completely different from what Bedeze had said."
Suddenly laughter was heard. Saji turned to Kaede. "Kaede-San?"
"So you can multiply your power with this King Piece. So what?" Kaede said. "Power means nothing if you can't hit your target."
"You disrespectful shinobi bitch!" Bedeze shouted, blasting Kaede with an intense blast of mana.
"Kaede-San!" Saji shouted.
"That'll teach you to disrespect me." Bedeze said before a hand and an arm set themselves on his shoulders. "? !" He turned seeing not one, but two Kaedes at his sides. He looked down, seeing another pair of Kaedes, one even holding her hand over her eyes with an impressed look.
"My that was an impressive attack."
"If that had hit me I'd be dead."
"Good thing it didn't."
"Remember what I said earlier."
"Grrhh!" Bedeze growled as he whipped around slicing the Kaede clones apart. Kaede herself appeared back next to Saji.
"K-Kaede-San!" Saji said.
Kaede turned to Saji with a smile. "Please don't worry about me. I can handle myself."
(bang!)
A hole tore through Bedeze's aura causing him to jump back. Kaede looked up. "Mana, is that you?"
"It is. I was requisitioned by Kenshin to help defend his home. So I used one of those 800,000 yen charm tags to appear where you are." Mana said, laying in a hidden position.
"Haa, I see." Kaede said. "Keep moving around." Kaede said. "I think even your Half Demon form would fall against him."
"Don't worry, I can feel it too." Mana said.
"Hey you two." Saji said.
"What is it?" Mana asked.
"Is everything OK-de gozaru?" Kaede said.
"Not entirely. My master's dream is to build a Rating game school. One where even low and middle class devils can attend. When it was brought up almost all of the high class devil families laughed at it, disregarding it as stupid. I want to be a teacher at her school."
Kaede and off in the distance Mana smiled. "Don't worry-de gozaru. We will work to make your dreams a reality."
"Yes, the next generation needs cultivating after all." Mana said.
"I mean Rating Games mean nothing to me, but I do recall Raiser Phenex losing a couple of matches. I mean in human terms to them Rating Games might as well be business golf." Magdaran said with a bored look. "Regardless of whether it was one of the secret agreements that Bedeze had spoken of,or one of the entertainments between nobles that even the general public knew of, honestly speaking, all of them were tainted with darkness and sin, not to besmirch Lady Alipheese the First." Magdaran said. "Darkness in itself is not sinful."
"So, these Rating Games are played for the old nobles own benefit de gozaru?" Kaede asked.
"Exactly." Magdaran said. "When the old devils saw the value, or rather how the Evil Piece could be of use to them, they snatched the rights from Ajuka Beelzebub-Sama, one of the Four Great Satans." Magdaran said before turning back to Bedeze. "The public has already accepted the King Piece, so why must the safety of the Great King be threatened?"
Bedeze sneered, "Because my fans also came to ask me. Under the present circumstances, since it's difficult to conceal the truth of the misconduct, I just have to overturn the source of the misconduct, so by removing the heads of the Great King, I'll assert to the civilians that I disposed of the culprit behind this incident."
Kaede gave off a bored look as she held her giant shuriken, ready to lob it at Bedeze. "Really? you're doing this just to regain popularity?"
"Yeah, I mean you're the one who chose to cheat in these Rating Games." Mana said
Bedeze shook his head, speaking with a sorrowful expression. "Civilians are stupid, as long as I sob and tel them I was being exploited by the Great King side, and that I took down the heads of the House of Bael in order to rid myself of those troubles, they'll certainly feel surprised and then I'll get their support." Bedeze said. "They absolutely hate scandals involving the upper class. They'll be happier than anything to hear about the disgrace of nobles. Especially if it involves the Great King Faction, which is politically opposed to the Satans, in fact I'm surprised you're here Vritra, sniper, shinobi. Doesn't Lord Kuroshi hate the Great King Faction?"
"Most of us, yes! My brother and I are on good terms with him, so I requested his aid!" Magdaran said.
"And I will be billing you for my services." Mana said through a communication circle.
"Yes, Yes, you will be compensated handsomely Mana-San." Magdaran said. "I will ensure it. Kenshin told me about you."
"Very well." Mana said.
"You don't seem to get it." Bedeze said. "If the Great Kings have a scandal like this, some politicians will appear to be apologetic on the surface, so the audience will simply compliment my actions."
"..." Magdaran scowled. "So to protect your own honor, you're willing to set up this lie? My father and the Bael council might be assholes, but even they wouldn't risk getting caught rigging the Rating Games with the King Piece!"
"Oh but you still don't seem to get it!" Bedeze said. "There are many politicians who are opposed to the Great King Faction, but even then they didn't belong to the Satan's side either. Indeed. There exist those who had idea even more radical than the Satans, this scandal was an excellent pretext for them to act. Even if this attack they would be subject to impeachment during parliament sessions." Bedeze said before turning to Saji, as well as Kaede and Mana.
"Youth of Sona Sitri's peerage. Kouga Chuunin, Marksman...Will you cooperate with me? Could you also convey this to your friends?"
"Yeah, that's a hard pass." Kaede said
"According to Kenshin, the next head of the Baels is working together with him, so...No." Mana said before glancing at Saji, prepared to train her rifle on him. However she was pleased to see that it wasn't necessary."
"This is unacceptable! You're ranked third in the Rating Games? If you really do what you're planning on doing there will definitely be fans who would be saddened!" Saji said.
"Diehauser was the one who pointed it out and I was fingered as a culprit! Because I'm ranked third!" Bedeze shouted.
"Maybe next time don't cheat?" Kaede suggested.
"We have a rivalry going, but I have to agree. All of this could have been avoided had you simply played by the rules." Mana said. "Besides, there are bigger concerns to deal with, like the Beast of the Apocalypse!"
"Aren't you merely revealing your position by yelling like an idiot?" Magdaran asked. "I agree that the general public can be stupid at times, but they figure things out eventually."
"Your thoughts are too simplistic! This kind of thing is too ridiculous! If you really did it. You'd only be inviting more hatred from us!" Saji said.
"Yes, but for the civilians that is enough. They would accept something plain, simple and direct like this. After this matter has concluded I will take responsibility for the misconduct and retire from the Rating Games.
"So that's your game." Kaede said. "You intend to retain your so called honor, by turning yourself over to the Great Kings and use that as an excuse for your resignation."
"All three of you are friends of the Sekiryuutei and the Lust Dragon right? They are supported by the public and have been used by the Satans as a pawn to raise public opinion in their favour. To me it is rather funny, or simply foolish to the extreme. Those two would actually have an interest in the Rating Games, because of those kinds of things. It was originally a competition that only chosen people could compete in. People who possessed talent or something special that was different from ordinary people, people who had special privileges could participate. The top ten is exactly like that. So what if you can motivate those fools into participating. Most people are disillusioned from having their dreams shattered and simply wait for their future deaths." Bedeze sighed and went on. Effort is nothing more than a dream given to fools by the stupid government. Moreover, this dream is the ultimate goal for those weaklings who don't have talent, money nor status. I was different in the fact that I had wealth and status, it made up for my lack of talent. I truly am thankful that I'm a noble."
At this Kaede scoffed and Mana stared down the barrel of her rifle in disdain while Magdaran rolled his eyes at Bedeze, however Saji's expression changed. "You hold them in contempt? They've worked harder than anyone, yet you look down on them? !" Saji shouted. "Those two, Issei and Kenshin constantly put their lives at risk for the Underworld's sake, for their loved ones! They've both been a step away from death several times! What about you, not only did you not put your life on the line to fight against Trihexa and the Evil Dragons, you came here to do something like this! Fight for the Underworld and for those fans who admire you!"
"Of course I will fight, however first I need to take down the heads of the Great King." Bedeze said, his tone indifferent.
Black flames burst ferociously from Saji's aura. "YOU BAAASSTTAAAAARRRDDD!" Black tentacles rushed toward to Bedeze. A tear in space appeared, a hole. Mana fired a shot at Bedeze , only for it to fade into the hole. Bedeze closed the holes with Saji's tentacles inside them, but opened the one with Mana's bullet inside it connecting a hole that opened up in front of Mana.
"? !" Mana barely dodged her own bullet.
Kaede knew immediately what happened. "Mana are you alright? !" She shouted into a communicator Kenshin had given them both.
"I-I'm fine..." Mana said. "But...krh..." She growled. "It seems I'm useless against this opponent. My fighting style is all projectiles. I'll step back and observe. I have a secret move but I need an opening."
"Very well." Kaede said before relying the idea to Magdaran as Saji directed Vritra's black flames toward Bedeze. However all these flames would be absorbed by Bedeze's Hole ability being from the Abbaddon clan.
"Damn it..." Magdaran growled as he kept communications open. "I understand your plan Kaede-San, Mana-San, but we need a plan. Anything we try will just get shot right back at us because of his Hole ability. Saji-San's flames are being absorbed by Bedeze's Hole ability, he's unable to curse him! My destruction magic won't work either!" Magdaran said.
"Saji-Dono! Watch out!" Kaede shouted as a hole opened up beside Saji and she tackled him behind him. However the black flames redirected and rushed toward them via another hole. Saji threw Kaede to the side and let the flames hit him. "Saji!" Kaede shouted.
"Relax Kaede-San, it's my power. I just returned it to my body." Saji said. Before rushing Bedeze, who leaped into his Hole technique which manifested behind him as Saji attacked with Vritra's black flames, however, Bedeze appeared behind him and kicked him into a wall.
"Hrm..." Kaede growled, holding her shuriken while Mana observed silently as Bedeze used his power to appear or evade Saji's strikes. Kaede began tracking where Bedeze would appear. She saw a hole beginning to open up. "Mana now!"
"Wh-What? !" Bedeze said as a massive amount of chains surrounded his immediate area.
"Try blocking this. This is my own special variety." Kaede said.
Bedeze looked around, seeing various tags attatched to the chains around him. "Exploding tags? !"
"Yes." Kaede said as she pulled her hands back, wrapping Bedeze in the chains.
"Gh! This will not forstall me woman!" Bedeze yelled.
"It was never meant to." Kaede said with a smirk. "Kaede Ninpo! Tenman Fukumetsu Bakusa Chimoujin!"
"Wait, exploding charms like the Dragon of the Elements has? !" Bedeze said as he was engulfed in an explosion.
"Whoa..." Saji said with wide, amazed eyes. "Kaede-San, you're awesome!"
"Thanks Saji-dono- degozaru." Kaede said.
"Do you...always address everyone as dono?" Saji said with a nervous laugh. "Not gonna lie, it's a little embarrassing."
"It's just a verbal tick. Is it a problem?" Kaede asked.
"No no, it's actually nice to have such a cute girl address me so formally." Saji chuckled.
"Ah I see." Kaede laughed softly. "Well I understand."
A plume of smoke erupted from where Bedeze was before the man in question erupted out of the smoke, his outfit ruined, a furious glare on his face. "You...You...Kouga bitch! How dare you scratch the body of a noble!"
"!" Kaede blocked the blast of demonic power that came her way with her giant shuriken, but was ultimately knocked back. Bedeze entered a hole and appeared next to Kaede and began brutalizing her.
"Kaede-San!" Saji shouted rushing toward Bedeze, his black flames and tentacles ready to strike, however his attacks were intercepted by Bedeze's Hole ability and disappeared, before reappearing next to Saji's head, meanwhile Bedeze opened a single hole which he punched into, another hole opened up next to Saji's head and slugged him to the ground.
"K-Krrhh..." Kaede growled as Bedeze relentlessly attacked Saji through his Hole ability. "D-Damn you..."
"You stay right there and look pretty Chuunin. Who knows, after this I may use you as breeding stock." Bedeze smirked.
"!" Kaede growled
"And this is where I come in." Kaede looked over, seeing Mana diving in, her hair dyed white. "Hey Mana!"
"I got this Kaede!" Mana said. "I'd rather not use Ikkudansou for this, so..."She thought as her hands glew. A pair of pistols appeared in her hands which she unloaded at Bedeze.
"Mana, he'll just reflect them back at you!" Kaede said.
"I know!" Mana said shooting her own bullets out of the air, still pursuing Bedeze. "Krh...I don't want to dump my whole supply against this person, but I don't have a choice."
"What's the matter markswoman? Can't you hit me? !" Bedeze smirked.
"Krh!" Mana pulled out a tag that disappeared along with her.
"? !" Bedeze's eyes widened as Mana appeared behind him, pointing a pistol at him.
"You were saying?" Mana asked with a smile, before opening fire.
"G-Gaaahhh!" Bedeze roared as he was blown backward or frontward depending on your perspective.
"Saji-San now!" Magdaran shouted.
"R-Right!" Saji said, sending his black tentacles after Bedeze, who was barely conscious.
"Now!" Magdaran said.
An unfamiliar shot across the air and punched Bedeze with all his might. Bedeze was knocked out for a moment. The figure stood over him. Mana would have trained her rifle on him, but she recognized him. She saw Kaede readying for battle and waved her off. "It's OK Kaede, he's on our side."
"Yeah, it's my brother Sairaorg." Magdaran said
"Oh, I see de gozaru." Kaede said walking up to Sairaorg. "I'm Kaede Nagase, nice to meet you." She introduced with a smile, her squinted eyes closed with a smile.
"Sairaorg Vapula Bael, the gesture is returned in kind." Sairaorg said before glancing at the downed Bedeze. "Haa...Bedeze-dono...it wasn't too late for you to turn back, why did you let your rank of the third rank that you're so proud of get to your head?"
"G-Ghh...I heard that..." Bedeze said.
"H-Hey!" Saji said with Kaede and Mana moving to pursue, only for Sairaorg to throw his arm out, telling them to stop. "Stop, I'll handle this myself.
"...Alright. I'll go back to sniping enemies." Mana said as she disappeared.
Kaede frowned. "Allow me to observe your battle, for training purposes."
"Very well." Sairaorg said. "Bedeze-Dono, it's not too late for you to turn back! Don't let the reputation of the third rank that you're so proud of to be dirtied!"
"Your tone makes it sound like you think you can win against me. Hoho, you're really underestimating me too much next head of the Great King-Dono." Bedeze said.
"He did just knock you out." Kaede said.
"Silence!" Bedeze shouted.
"Kaede-San, step back. Since he's said that, it looks like I'll have to fulfill my role as a member of the anti terrorist team DxD." Sairaorg said.
"Well I have my own role to fulfill as a member of the Ala Alba." Kaede said. "I'll attack when I see fit."
"Very well." Sairaorg said.
"Having the number one youth as my opponent and this youngling ninja as my opponent huh? How interesting!" Bedeze said manifesting many holes around Sairaorg and Kaede. They both twisted their bodies to evade them or in Sairaorg's case punch the demonic energy that came from them.
"Gh!" Bedeze growled.
"Haa!" Kaede dashed past him using Shukuchi. Bedeze looked around seeing chains.
"Damn!" Bedeze shouted as they closed in on him.
"Bakusa Chimoujin!" Kaede shouted as she wrapped Bedeze in her chains and activated the explosion tags attached to them."
(boom!)
The area around Bedeze exploded as Kaede landed next to Sairaorg. "That didn't beat him." Sairaorg said.
"I know- de gozaru." Kaede said. "He took a stronger attack from me earlier."
(booooom!)
Bedeze released a massive wave of demonic energy as he laughed. "That actually hurt you ninja bitch! I'll keep you alive for my own amusement!"
"Krh..." Kaede growled.
"Hrmn!" Sairaorg left a cut on Bedeze's cheek from the force of his punch alone, his fist covered in touki.
"Ah, so that's how we beat him." Kaede thought. She rushed Bedeze who was laughing and sent out a kick to Bedeze's face, knocking him over.
"Kaede-San!" Sairaorg said rushing past him, punching at him numerous times. Not allowing Bedeze to catch his breath.
"Sairaorg-San!" Kaede shouted, diving into the fray with him.
Bedeze was throwing his strongest attacks at these two but to no avail. "Ha!" He created two holes and slugged Sairaorg and Kaede across the face.
"Grh..." Kaede growled.
"Grrh!" Sairaorg growled.
"So this is his play?" Kaede thought.
"Kaede-San, he's most likely making use of the King Piece at this point." Sairaorg said through a communication circle. "You should probably leave."
"And let you have all the fun? Kenshin and Yukari told me to defend this castle and defend it I shall." Kaede said.
"Hmn...suit yourself." Sairaorg said, welling up his aura.
"Haa!" Kaede welled her own aura up.
"Hm? That looks like my own aura." Sairaorg said.
"After Yukari-dono came back alone, we ended up in a skirmish with the Cosmo Entelecheia. I ended up asking Asuna-dono how to mold Kanka. It's what we called your Touki." Kaede said.
"Ah I see." Sairaorg said before both he and Kaede relentlessly attacked him.
Saji, meanwhile was watching in shock. "He's avoiding them so easily."
"Haa!" Bedeze pulled a surprise counter punch out of nowhere, striking not only Sairaorg but Kaede as well.
"Heh!" They both smirked and continued rushing Bedeze.
"Huh? !" Kaede said as a hole opened up before a fist struck her, in the left flank.
"Kaede-San!" Sairaorg shouted out.
"Heh." Bedeze smirked as he opened up a hole next to Sairaorg's left leg before grabbing his ankle through it.
"!" Sairaorg looked up as another hole opened up behind him. Having been using his Balance Breaker Regulus Rey Rether Rex. The back plating was blown off and blood trickled out.
(swiiiiish!)
A cut opened up on Bedeze's left cheek. "Huh? !" He turned to find Kaede smirking at him.
"What's the matter? First time being cut?" Kaede asked.
"Hahahaha. That last hole contained my own fist. That's the first time that I've been struck with and endured my own fist, I see now, it's very effective just as Kenshin Kuroshi and Hyoudou Issei said.
"Yes" Kaede said as she pulled her chain back, yanking back her giant shuriken,
Saji stared at the two. "So this is what it looks like to see these two fight." He thought.
"Kaede-San, do you think you can catch him in your chains?" Sairaorg asked.
"I can try, but I can't promise anything." Kaede said.
"That's all I can ask. My attacks aren't affecting him at all." Sairaorg said. "It's like my compatability with him is the worst out of all of us. No, no matter the opponent he and you are technique types, he said kneeling on one knee.
"Sairaorg!" Rasai said.
"Guh..." Sairaorg grunted.
"Haaa!" An orange haired blur rushed by Rasai and Saji.
"Hmph, foolish..." Bedeze said creating a Hole which this figure dove toward.
So imagine his shock when this figure slashed her blade at Bedeze, cutting the hole in half, making Bedeze jump back. "W-What? !"
"Heh, sorry buddy, but magic doesn't work on me!"
"Asuna? !" Kaede said.
"Magic doesn't work on her?" Magdaran and Saji both said.
Asuna turned to Magdaran and Saji with a wide grin. "That's right, this girl is magic immune!" She said slashing her Hama no Tsurugi outward.
"Wait, where's Mana?" Kaede asked.
"She said this guy's ability was her worst enemy, so Mana-Chan asked me to come back here in her place." Asuna said.
"Wait, Asuna where is Ku Fei?" Kaede asked.
"She's outside having fun against the opponents with Atsuki and Iris." Asuna said. "She looked like she was having fun too." Asuna said before getting serious. "Kaede-Chan, Beefcake." She said referring to Sairaorg. "I've got an idea to take this guy down." She said before moving her hand in front of her face. Bedeze tried to move a hole in front of her mouth only to have Asuna crush it with her hand. "Nice try. You creeper!"
"Alright what is it?" Sairaorg said before taking a kneel.
"Hey, are you good? !" Asuna asked with an alarmed voice. "My idea isn't gonna work without you! Miyuki-Chan filled me in on all your abilities!"
"I took...a beating before you arrived." Sairaorg said.
Bedeze shook his head. "You are wrong, you shouldn't be so optimistic. To be honest, I'm surprised as well. I'm often described as someone with Satan class strength. If I had the intention, I could make a massive Hole, then release demonic energy into it, which could blow away this entire castle, however if I did that, the winner would be determined too early, which is why things are the way they are now...however simply letting my demonic energy pass through a hole of normal size without compressing it won't be able to harm the Vritra on your side, nor the next head-dono, and it seems it won't be able to attack that curious orangette either." Bedeze mused as he stroked his chin.
"Mind telling us what you're talking about? !" Asuna shouted.
"I've experienced many life or death battles over the years. Needlessly to say, that is the greatest method to becoming stronger." Bedeze smiled. "I'm once again in reverence because of people like you." Bedeze said.
"This man is talking nonsense at this point..." Kaede muttered.
"Seriously I don't get this guy." Asuna said.
Bedeze extended his hand forward. "Precisely because of this, Sairaorg. You're also someone who's worried about your own talent and bloodline, isn't that right? You also want to use it right? To use the same power Lord Kuroshi used against the Goddess of Darkness herself?"
"What do you mean by that?" Sairaorg said.
"I've heard the news that those old devils have King pieces, after removing the heads of the Great King, I'll work together with my collaborators, and give one of those pieces to you. You can use it and become a true Great King, if it's a Devil like you, who has the support of the public, you'll become a true Great King." Bedeze said before looking over at Magdaran and Saji. "Listen up young rookies. You should remember what I said. The Rating Games are a nobles thing. It's a form of entertainment only for the upper class. Low class, Reincarnated Devils who do not have talent, wealth, or status, delude themselves with enjoying the Rating Games. It's really such a joke."
"Oh give me a break! !"
Bedeze and Sairaorg turn to Asuna whose eyes were bugged out. "Now I may not understand any of what you're talking about, but what I do know is that everyone should be allowed to play a game!"
"Hahahaha." Kaede laughed making Saji and Magdaran look over at her. "Asuna-Dono, as blunt as usual
Sairaorg however leveled Bedeze with an indifferent glare. "I refuse."
"Come again?" Bedeze said.
"Didn't you hear him? He said-"
"Kagurazaka Asuna-San!" Sairaorg said, his legs shaking from his injuries from Bedeze stopping her from pursuing Bedeze. "Let me speak."
"Alright." Asuna said with a shrug
"What did you say?" Bedeze said in disbelief.
"I will never deny the way that I've lived my life up until now! The path that I've walked until now is my pride! You want me to throw away all of the pain, regret, laughter, joy, and victory and defeat I've had until now? ! I absolutely reject this! These two fists, this body this soul, and my peerage are all the treasures I've obtained through fighting! Discarding that for false talent is something I will never do!"
Sairaorg inched closer to Bedeze, his essence full of vigor. Bedeze extended his hand sending his familiars only for Asuna and Kaede to wrap them in chains and for Asuna to slash them apart. "Thank you, you two, but I had that." Sairaorg smiled.
"Oh we know-de gozaru." Kaede said.
"But a little help doesn't hurt right?" Asuna said with a wide smile.
"Indeed." Sairaorg smiled back before turning back "Not only me, Saji Genshirou here, the Sekiryuutei Hyoudou Issei are the same." Sairaorg said. "And Kenshin's on another level, He's been gaining strength since he was five years old! And don't you dare discard all of the harsh things they've experienced in the past year and have them experience something like your path? !" Sairaorg shouted. "I don't care if you are an experienced competitor or a puppet of the old Devils, I will defeat you right here without a shred of hesitation!" Sairaorg said before turning to Magdaran. "Don't worry Magdaran, or should I say Rasai. I'll definitely protect you."
(chapter end)
Draconis: I know four of the five characters I introduced are going toward Kenshin.(Ku Fei, Asuna, Iris, Atsuki) but they all have a back story with him. Asuna's which I will reveal in story.
Ku Fei: Kenshin saved me as a child!
Iris: I was working with him in Rikudou as a double agent in Hellas.
Atsuki: I was his only friend in Megalomesembria for a month, before the Senators kicked me and my mother out.
Iris and Atsuki: You'll meet us next chapter~!
Draconis: Kaede will be paired with Issei...also I will begin to slow down on the Kenshin pairings aside from the obvious ones like Ophis. I know it may not make much sense to people who have read Redux, but I was always planning on pairing Asuna with Kenshin in the end. In my first story I had them together in the end, but in Redux I was busy with so much stuff like Negi and Kenshin's relationship, then the love triangle between Kenshin, Negi and Yukari. Then the one chapter where Miyuki admitted she loved Kenshin. Then the Mahora Festival and Kenshin and Yukari's time travel happened, but I one hundred percent intended to pair those two together. I just liked Asuna's character too much. Kind of like I liked Irina and Issei together.
Anyway, Draconis678 out!