A time that has long past...
...
...
"Wake up."
...
...
"Hey, come on. Wake up."
...
...
"Hey! I said wake up already!"
The small European child was jerked from his rest by the incessant prodding of an annoying little girl, making him groan in protest as he tried to roll away to dodge her next 'attack'.
This time however, instead of just a simple poke, his friend decided to just grab the blanket that was keeping him warm and yank it.
The blond boy was sent tumbling from his bed by the action, crashing onto the floor with his head, much to his chagrin.
It took all of about three seconds for him to recover.
"Geez! I told you to wake up!" the small girl complained audibly, huffing as she crossed her arms. "You keep oversleeping you know? Keep this up and you'll get the priests upset again."
Meanwhile, the small boy on the floor slowly pushed himself back up, his bleary grey eyes trying to blink away the sleepiness that remained in them. "...You couldn't have done that like a civilized person?"
The young girl shook her head. "Not really. I do try to wake you up normally, but you never budge."
Grey eyes, now clearer as their owner properly forced himself awake, were dry as they regarded his friend, but he knew that it was useless trying to argue with her.
It would take him all day to convince her of any wrongdoing on her part.
So he just stretched his limbs a bit as he walked past her, moving towards the mess hall where the rest of their friends were. "Right, right. Sorry for troubling you, now let's get something to eat."
Despite the fact that he wasn't facing her, he knew that her face split in a grin as she jogged to catch up to him. Hearing it in her voice as she spoke up again.
"Now you're talking!" she cheered, all energy and enthusiasm. "Let's go get some grub, 'Clouds'!"
The boy designated as 'Clouds' smiled, fondly remembering the nicknames that all of the children gave one another to remember each other with.
Both of them; the boy and the girl, were orphans that didn't originally have names, nothing to label themselves as.
And they still didn't, but they did have their nicknames, which was good enough until they truly got their names.
The names that they would receive after they achieved their purpose for living.
Becoming the children that were chosen by God.
They all promised one another that once they were chosen, once they were something, they would celebrate their ascension into becoming holy warriors by giving themselves proper names.
'Clouds' couldn't wait, already feeling his excitement shoot through the roof at the thought of it.
"...Ah, look at you. Your head stuck in the clouds again. That's exactly why you've got that silly nickname in the first place, 'Clouds'." the young girl beside him teased, nudging him slightly.
The young boy turned to his companion, his excitement practically blinding to anyone that had eyeballs. "Hey, do you think we're finally gonna accomplish it today? Do you think that we'll finally become God's chosen, 'Choco'?"
The girl, 'Choco', blushed a little at the not-so-subtle reminder of her nickname. "I-I don't know...and quit calling me that!"
'Clouds' just laughed heartily, his mirth echoing across the sizable room that the two children just entered, gaining the attention of those that were occupying it already.
"Hey! What's the with the ruckus 'Clouds'!? Are you daydreaming out loud again!?" a slightly older boy called out, getting up from his seat in order to get a better look at the duo that was entering the mess hall.
'Clouds' scratched his cheek bashfully at the charge, turning his head away slightly to refuse anyone eye contact with him. "...No, not this time at least, 'Blister'."
"Hah!? You lot are calling me that stupid name again-!?" the loud-mouth boy started, before wincing, grabbing his cheek. "Ah...my cheek..."
A series of groans echoed across the mess hall at this predictable occurrence.
At first, his name was supposed to be 'Bluster' for his constant loud-mouth tendencies, but he was renamed 'Blister' due to the fact that he'd always bite his cheek while yelling about something or another.
It was about as normal as anyone could possibly expect.
As the older boy began moaning about biting his cheek again, 'Choco' shuffled closer to 'Clouds'. "...Do you think he'll ever stop doing that?"
The blond boy swiftly concluded that the older boy would not.
"...Man, predictable as always, isn't he?" a girlish voice drawled behind the 'Clouds' and 'Choco', catching both of them by surprise.
As his head twisted backwards, grey eyes locked onto the familiar visage of an extraordinarily pale girl with pure white hair, with her red eyes focused onto the the duo with a speculative glint in them.
"Crap...it's 'Ghost'..." 'Choco' muttered to herself, but was just loud enough for all three children to hear clearly. "What is it now? You found something interesting to share? Or is it more random gossip again?"
The albino girl known as 'Ghost', who was called as such for her pale complexion and her penchant for getting info that she really shouldn't, just grinned cryptically.
"Look, just because the last info that I got for you ungrateful lot, about getting chocolate for dinner, happened to be a little...exaggerated, that doesn't mean that you gotta hold it against me." 'Ghost retorted smartly, that cryptic grin of hers widening slightly as she continued. "Besides, not everyone is as crazy for chocolate as you...'Choco'."
'Clouds' watched 'Choco' twitch, her obsession for the delicious candy called out, much to her irritation.
But it wasn't like it was some sort of secret or anything...it was actually public knowledge by this point, despite her attempts to hide it.
The fact that her name was 'Choco' proved that, though she believed that she got the name because of her chocolate-colored hair and eyes, not because of the fact that she always began to drool whenever chocolate was involved.
"Alright, alright, look, I'm sorry about that incident last time, ok?" 'Ghost' eased her fellow female, her excitement about giving out this latest piece of information obvious. "But I promise that this one is accurate! Pinky promise! And this is a big one!"
'Choco', mollified by the apology, was more receptive than before. "Ok then...whatcha got?"
'Clouds', also interested, leaned forward a bit, his innocent grey eyes curious.
'Ghost' just smiled ever wider. "...I heard that the priests are gonna give us our final experiment! This is it you two! We're actually gonna become God's chosen!"
Both children, while interested in what the albino had to say, was knocked completely speechless at the revelation that was given to them.
If anything, the white-haired girl looked pleased with herself after seeing their reactions. "I know right!? Isn't this exciting!? Now, I didn't want to announce this to everyone at the same time because of the noise they'd all make, so can you help me spread the word? If the priests find out that we know, they'll inevitably figure out that I spied on them again, so please-"
"Hah!? We're gonna go through our final experiment!? We're gonna become God's chosen!?"
All three of the childrens' expressions went blank as a thunderous voice roared behind them, silencing everyone in the room by the sheer volume.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the trio turned to see 'Blister', who's eyes and smile were wide and true.
...
...
"...I knew we should've kept him as 'Bluster'..." 'Choco' groaned, shaking her head, sending a sympathetic look at 'Ghost'. "Well...it was nice knowing you I guess."
'Ghost' didn't respond, her eyebrows just kept twitching sporadically, wondering how much laps she'd be forced to do as punishment.
She also wondered when the inevitable outburst was gonna-
"Wait, so we're finally gonna be-!?"
"No way...!"
"Yes! Yes! YES!"
"Hey! I'm not sure what's going on, but whatever it is, we need to party!"
These were the series of exclamations that immediately followed after their loud friend's outburst, loudly starting the joyous uproar that echoed across the mess hall after hearing the news.
...All except that last comment, 'Party Pooper' always wanted to start a party, so it was pretty typical of him.
'Ghost', for her part, turned to give 'Blister' the stink eye. "Great. Now I'm pretty much screwed today, thanks."
'Blister, who was definitely in a good mood, turned to her with his excited dark brown eyes. "What are you talking about!? This is a good thing! Now we can all celebrate all of our hard work properly!"
"...Yeah, I'd just appreciate it if I didn't have to suffer for it, is that so much to ask for?" the albino returned, her voice full of snark.
"Oh come on! Surely that's a small price to pay in order to-" 'Blister' started, before wincing and cupping his cheek. "Ah...did it again."
"Quit yelling all the time if you're just gonna keep biting your cheek!"
'Clouds' watched the loud and happy chatter unfold across the mess hall, as well as the round of insults that 'Ghost' was levying onto the loudest child among them, smiling.
"...Heh, they're all a bunch of idiots, aren't they?" 'Choco' noted softly, right by his side as she gazed upon the crowd of children. "But...this isn't bad, right?"
The blond boy with grey eyes turned to look at the girl beside him, seeing the massive smile that she was displaying to him.
"After all..." she began, her chocolate-colored eyes shining brightly. "They are our idiots, right?"
'Clouds' could only smile in return, fully embracing that sentiment without regret.
All of the children there were picked up from orphanages, without family and support, brought to this church to become something.
Many of them, with nothing in the way of goals or aspirations, were nothing prior to this.
But now, under God's grace, they would be more.
For they would all become the wielders of one of the most powerful weapons in recorded history, and with it, they would aid their Lord, and join something greater than any of them could even fathom.
That was why they went through the innumerable and back-breaking drills, the consistent exercises, the exhausting hours of training.
The hundreds of experiments, which battered them in body and spirit. Leaving countless scars on some of their bodies.
It was all for this moment.
And despite the pain that they were pushed to endure, through it, they gained something that allowed them to weather through the storm.
A family of orphans, which stuck together through their shared experiences, and their unity in their need to be a part of something greater.
The young blond boy couldn't have been prouder of this family of orphans.
...Still, they should probably stop yelling so much, as they were definitely gonna get the priests to come running-
*RIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG*
The bell that signified that the children had to report in were echoing across the mess hall, shutting down the excited chatter with it's impromptu calling.
"...Huh? We're gonna start the experiments this early?" 'Ghost' wondered aloud, staring at the nearest bell by her, her voice confused. "That's never happened before..."
'Clouds' was also confused, as the priests that were taking care of them have always gave them quite a bit of time to wake up in the morning before they had to go to work.
So why the sudden change?
"Duh! Isn't it obvious!?" 'Blister' questioned rhetorically, crossing his arms confidently. "It's because the priests want us to start our new lives early! This is their show of trust!"
This explanation was heard by everyone in the room, as usual when it came to 'Blister', and definitely broke everyone out of their stupor from the change in their regimented lives.
So, following standard operating procedure, they began to get up from their seats, throw their leftovers away, and make their way to the main test room, their excited chatter obvious to anyone with ears.
'Clouds' watched them all go, seeing them all pile into the tiny hallway that led into the testing chamber, wondering if this was really the day for them.
It kinda seemed surreal now that it just might be happening.
"...Damn, the priests probably know that we know, I'm totally gonna get punished..." 'Ghost' lamented, shooting 'Clouds' and 'Choco' a quick look, before winking. "Well, time to face the music I guess! Come on! I don't want to miss all of the fun!"
The albino girl turned around and quickly ran after the tightly-knit group, squeezing into the horde of excitable children.
As soon as she left, 'Blister' also began to move, giving the duo a thumbs up, flashing his teeth in a smile. "Keep up you two! It's time that we fulfill our destiny!"
And with that, he ran after the group, more than ready to join everyone in what would possibly be their big break.
'Clouds' felt a sweat-drop fall down his forehead, but took a step forward to follow anyway.
At least until he felt a small feminine hand grab his, feeling it intertwine with his fingers, holding tightly.
The blond boy's cheeks warmed a little as he turned to face 'Choco', who was the one responsible, registering the slightly shy smile that she had on her face. "Come on...let's do this, together."
'Clouds' couldn't have agreed more.
So he tightened his own hold on her hand as he took a step forward, prepared for his destiny-
'Kiba-kun...'
'Clouds' jerked, glancing around, confused.
What was-?
'Kiba-kun...!'
W-What...?
Present...
"Kiba-kun!"
Kiba Yuuto jerked up, his eyes wild as they snapped to and fro in order to ascertain what was going on, before being steadied by a teenaged girl that he has grown to know.
"...Akeno-san?" he asked hesitantly, focusing on her worried features as his mind was dragging itself out of his dream, bringing him back to reality.
He felt a crushing depression hit him as that word was bandied around his head.
Dream.
It was all just a dream, it wasn't real, and it would never be real ever again.
The friends that he had made back then...they were all...
"Kiba-kun? Are you alright? You were tumbling and turning in your sleep, did you have a nightmare?" Akeno asked gently, being careful in her prodding, wary of upsetting him after they finally managed to get him back again.
A tired smile was her only response. "No...it really was just a dream."
The knight then turned away from her, his smile turning wistful. "Yeah...a dream of a long time ago."
Violet eyes took in the young man's features, silent, with a sliver of understanding in her own orbs, before she drew herself to her full height. "Kiba-kun, I'm sorry for waking you, but I figured that you'd want to know that Buchou and Sona-kaichou has arrived."
Yuuto's eyes snapped to the queen of the Gremory group, quickly remembering the series of events that led them here after her statement.
After the ragtag group had escaped the trap that the rogue werewolf had set up for them, they quickly retreated and left the two kings of the Gremory and Sitri group, much to his confusion.
But Koneko-chan assured him that they would be alright, claiming that Rias had a trump card up her sleeve.
Apparently she was correct.
Anyway, afterwards the group aimed for the closest safe area to regroup, but accidentally stumbled upon a barrier that was erected by an unknown party before they reached their destination.
Thankfully, shortly after they found it, the barrier shattered without them having to do a thing on the outside.
And within that very barrier were three of their friends, and the criminal that was apparently the cause of all of this.
As well as the man that had given him the sparse information about...those swords.
Much to his shame, it became very likely that the former Astaroth heir was manipulating him in order to harm his fam- former family.
The blond shook his head, forcing those thoughts away, lest he delve too deeply into them.
Anyway, as soon as the group collected the trio, who were strangely quiet, they managed to hole up in Mio-san's house, which apparently had the ability to muffle energy signals thanks to Naruto's strange powers.
So, as soon as Yuuto was able to sit down in a chair, he lost consciousness due to his mental exhaustion, wanting some rest about as much as he wanted to ignore the wounds that he had gained from his battle with that werewolf.
The handsome blond paused, glancing downwards at his body as he realized something.
He didn't feel anymore pain...! Despite the fact that it couldn't have been more than an hour since he fell asleep...
And, indeed, his sight did nothing but reinforce the growing suspicion that the knight held.
There were no traces of the wounds that he once held.
Seeing his confusion, Akeno spoke up again. "Asia-chan healed you up while you were asleep. She was quite insistent on it."
The knight didn't respond, he kept prodding his finger onto the patch of skin that was formerly ripped apart by the werewolf, marveling at the fact that it was there.
"Where is she now?" he eventually asked, turning to the young woman beside him.
The queen inadvertently turned her gaze to her right, looking across the room.
Yuuto followed her eyes, blinking as he saw the young nun resting on her seat, leaning on Issei with her eyes closed, while the pawn was speaking to someone in hushed tones.
And that someone was...
"...I see, so that's what happened, huh...?"
None other than the Gremory heiress, who has just finished listening to his story about, presumably, what had happened while inside the barrier.
He locked up a little bit at the sight of his king, brain racing about how he should react to her presence.
Rias pat Issei on his shoulder, a proud smile on her face, which was compromised slightly when she winced right afterwards for some reason, quickly retracting her hand.
Nevertheless, she quickly drifted away from the slightly confused perverted boy, turning around towards him.
As she saw his eyes trained on her, she paused mid-walking, hesitating, then firmly moved towards him with purpose.
Yuuto felt his mouth dry up, unable to speak despite the fact that he could've sworn that he was trying to.
As she neared, she raised her arm, her hand outstretched, reaching for him.
Reflexively, he clenched his eyes shut, waiting for the hit that was undoubtedly about to come.
At least, that was what he thought was going to happen.
What he didn't expect was to feel Buchou's arms wrap around his body, pulling him into a tight hug.
Yuuto felt his arms tense up for a split-second, but only briefly, as his entire body just as quickly relaxed into the embrace, taking comfort in it.
But then, like a child deprived of it's favorite toy, the hug was suddenly retracted, much to his confusion.
That confusion only multiplied after the knight's face was snapped to the side, the loud sound of skin clapping against skin echoing in the house.
The blond teen was nearly sent off of his seat, feeling the sting on his cheek as it grew red from the slap that the red-head had just inflicted on him.
A question was on the tip of his tongue, about to question Rias' strange behavior.
Yet he couldn't, as once more, much to his rising concern, she wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug, placing her head on top of his as she breathed out steadily.
By this point, Yuuto was practically afraid to ask.
Thankfully, he didn't have to.
"...Sorry about that." Rias apologized, a wry smile on her face as she kept her hug going. "I just needed to let out that last bit of anger that I still had over your actions."
The knight raised a hand to scratch his cheek, a nervous chuckle emerging from him inadvertently, his attitude reverting back to what it was before this entire incident. Falling back onto it thanks to his uncertainty on how he should respond.
Partially recognizing this, the Gremory heiress leaned back a little, just enough so that she could look at her wayward Peerage member face-to-face. "Yuuto...I understand that you're...confused about how you should respond to us after everything that has happened. I really do, but you don't have to try and force yourself."
By this point, Rias let go of Yuuto, a tentative smile pulling at her lips, newly cautious. "Honestly though, if you just promise me that you're done with this...foolish plan to avenge-"
The red-head cut herself off as she saw her knight'sexpression go blank, virtually seeing a 'wall' put into place between herself and the young man.
Naturally, she began to backpedal, fearing that she said too much too fast.
Much to her relief however, another voice spoke up at just that moment, saving her from the fight that she may have sparked.
"Rias!" Sona called out as she entered the room, a light blue magic circle right next to her ear as she focused her gaze on her fellow high-class devil. "Apologies if I'm interrupting anything, but I figured that you'd want to know that my Peerage has erased the memories of all of the humans in the abandoned church. Their knowledge of the supernatural has been completely erased."
The red-head shifted her attention to her old friend, silently thanking her for the interruption before responding. "I see, that's good to hear. Wouldn't want the day to consist entirely of bad news."
Sona took the chance to scan the many faces in the room that the devils were hiding out in, noting the tension that lined Rias' and Kiba Yuuto's faces.
Not unreasonably, the Sitri heiress quickly decided to continue. "It is good news, however, we mustn't lose our focus on the big picture, Rias. Tsubaki has just informed me about who our mysterious attacker was..."
Blue-green eyes snapped to the solemn visage of the Sitri group's queen, who was standing guard near Issei and Asia, and inclined her head towards her in acknowledgement.
Tsubaki nodded stiffly, before focusing on her king again.
Regardless, Sona continued unabated. "...Rias, now that we're positive that the disgraced Astaroth heir; Diodora, was the one that instigated this entire mess, we should make sure to contact the Underworld government. They will want to know that their 'wanted' man is gone."
Violet eyes flickered to look at the Gremory group's wayward knight, before refocusing on the red-head again. "...And we can't do it here, not with Uzumaki-san's strange powers covering his home. It would mess with any signal that we made to reach the Underworld."
Rias frowned, unsure of that logic, and was just about to voice it.
At least until she saw Sona's pointed look.
...Oh.
She was giving her a way out of this awkward situation with Yuuto.
Nice.
Not only would this distraction get her out of this fix, it would also give her time to think about how she should approach her shaken Peerage member without setting him off.
Even better.
"...Right, we'll do that." the Gremory heiress responded with surety, drawing herself to her full height again. "But first..."
Rias trailed off, suddenly looking uncertain as she thinned her lips.