Koneko hadn't known what to expect to see as they finally passed through another set of tightly bunched brushes, the nearby branches failing to pierce her enhanced skin. All kinds of horrendous monsters flashed through her mind, some a mix of the horrendously shaped strays. Maybe it would be a twisted mass of flesh, contorted muscle forced into a near gnarled shape. Skin covered in a deluge of patched together scales, wings much too small for it's large running along the spine of it's back. Maybe it would even have large eyes across it's chest, a slathering maw splitting the stomach.
So when she finally found herself leading a vanguard into a serene looking clearing, she hadn't expected to see a human male fishing leisurely under an ancient looking tree that simply oozed power. The man looked to be a good bit older than them, being maybe in his mid to late twenties with, what Koneko's senses told her, deceptively bland features. The long river of inky darkness that pooled around him, looking to be just as silky as the material produced by some of the spider familiars she saw in the Underworld. Just looking at it, she knew that it would content her to lay about in it.
"Is ever-" Rias's voice shook her from those rather embarrassing thoughts, cutting off as she probably saw what had taken in the Rook's attention. "A human? What is he doing here?"
Indeed, every sense she had told the white haired girl that this man before them was completely and utterly human. He didn't feel any different from her classmate she was forced to be around, nor the people she passed everyday on the streets. She didn't even sense the presence of a Sacred Gear anywhere in sight, nor the tang of magic. From intents and purposes, he was but a simple human.
"Did what you sense come from the tree?" The red head asked as the remainder of their group funneled in behind her.
Looking up at the tree branches that threatened to eat up the sky, Koneko stretched at her senses trying with all her might to 'touch' the tree. It was old. Very, very old. It had witnessed the passing of times with casual disdain, it's roots reaching deep into the group at a depth that boggled at the mind. It noticed her prodding and only gaze a fleeting 'glance' her way before shifting back to a previous location. All of it's ancient attention was stuck on the fishing man.
'..A druid?'
"No." The tree didn't seem like the type to spend that much energy just to scare them away, it didn't see them as threats to begin with. Only as interesting bugs. Probably less than that because they didn't plan on leaving any droppings to further nourish it's growth.
"Then," She didn't even need to look back to see the gleaming in her King's eye," It must've come from him?"
"He looks busy, maybe we should leave him alone?"
Millicas, despite being youngest, was sounding to be the voice of reason in their little group of misfits. Something that she wished Rias would listen to for once in her life but if there was one thing she knew, it was that the Gremory heiress always did things her own way.
"Nonsense!" The red head waved away her nephew's concern and took a step forward, throwing up an aristocratic air Koneko had seen her practice in the mirror for years now. "What man wouldn't want to talk to multiple beautiful woman?"
"Maybe he's shy?" Akeno smiled slightly at that, a blush creeping at her cheeks. Purple eyes turning into but mere barely perceptible slits that made nonetheless didn't hide the anticipation present. None of the people in Rias's Peerage could ever be called normal by any means, but they all tried to accept those weird tendencies. Honestly, the most normal member would probably be the blonde swordsman back home and he sometimes woke up screaming with a sword in hand.
"We won't until we try." Rias murmured out the corner of her mouth before a small crimson magic formed at her fingertips, demonic energy churning in a way that truly showcased that despite her rather bratty attitude no one could deny she was insanely talented. "I didn't expect to see a human in Yokai territory, what an interesting curiosity."
Koneko had to fight down the urge to roll her eyes as the red head began her ploy, back straight and steps slow. As though there was nothing in this world that could ever make her rush. Shoulders squared but relaxed, a small strand magic running through her crimson mane to make it 'flutter' majestically in an imaginary wind.
Following at girl's left, she stepped with a blank expression on her face. Even going so far as to make her golden eyes droop in a way to make it seem like this entire conversation bored her.
'I guess those Demonic Contracts were truly of some worth…'
There were plenty of weirdos out there that were willing to give up pieces of themselves just so they could take pictures of a bored looking girl like her dressed up in some random cosplay.
All this meaning that the combined group of Devils looked both intimidating and majestic, completely otherworldly as a way to really drive home the recipients' inferiority and set the pace of this interaction. She had participated in this song and dance for so long that it was though she could see the future.
The man would be star struck by their appearance and nearly stumbled in on himself in order to please them. He would agree to answer any question that her King wished without much prodding.
'And those lumps of fat on her chest…'
But what happened wasn't like anything she had ever expected, instead of falling prostrate or losing himself to his desires, he only opened a single eyelid to peer at them.
Blue.
An orb of deep azure that flickered through all it's hies in that split instance awaited them, eyes that spoke of ancientness rivaling the large tree. Just looking at them caused her heart to clench, blood to freeze in her veins and skin near prickle. In that split instance, she was in an endless ocean and in the next she was back on slightly wobbly feet.
"-ame is Rias Gremory, heiress of the House Gremory." It seems her 'stumbled' went unnoticed by all those around her. "I must ask, who are you and what are you doing in Kyoto of all places?"
"Child." That single word held the weight of centuries, boring down on them like a mountain rumbling to life. "I know your brother quite well and am not very pleased with him at the moment, leave. I wish to have nothing to do with any of the 72 Pillars."
"Child?!" Like a hammer shattering a mirror, Rias's noble persona turned into but mere shards. "I'll have you know I'm almost 18!"
"In the eyes of us that have seen dozens of 18 years go by, you are still just that. A child." The man (?) ignored her stamping feet, his voice coming out in a way that sounded old and weary, flicking casually at the makeshift pole drawing up a large fish the size of most people's torsos. It's luminously green scales shimmered in the light that sparsely peaked through the overhead branches. Despite the absolute fight the monstrosity of a fish put up, the thin thread didn't snap or even fray at the edges.
Just looking at thrashing beast made Koneko's mouth water, that urge to consume only lasted for but a moment as he laid a gentle palm on the creatures side and a flood of that energy streamed into the creature. The touch only lasted for a few moments until he was satisfied, before throwing the fish back into the lake without a care in the world.
"Do you mean Satan Sirzechs, my father?" Millicas, the foolish child, stepped forward. Curiosity sparkling in his crimson eyes, completely ignoring his stamping aunt and the servant's reactions, something that must've been inherited by all those of Gremory descent.
"Your mother is Grayfia Lucifuge?" The man looked over at the small boy.
"Yes." Millicas nodded excitedly, probably glad that an outsider could recognize that fact. "How could you tell?"
"You have her eyes." He grumbled, flicking out another line to the lake before them. "Can't even imagine the trouble marrying her must've caused…"
"Why are you displeased with father? Has he done something wrong?"
"Your father…." The man mulled over his words, probably concerns with disrespecting a Satan. Especially in front of their son and sister. "Is an ungrateful, petty man. His actions in my absence makes him seem more like a snake, Devils of old are told to be."
"Who are to speak ill of my brother?" Rias, hearing her own flesh and blood insulted, turned her full ire on the man with the ferocity of a bubbling volcano.
"Me? I'm but a simple mercenary that fought in your war."
"W-"
"But that was several hundred years ago?" Millicas interrupted his seething aunt, even taking up a nearby stump to listen to this deceptively ancient man. Crimson eyes looking up at him with an expectant gaze. "Do you have any war stories? Mother and Father won't tell me any!"
Koneko could feel the clearing pause in step, the grass still, the leaves overhead to cease in their consistent rustling, the birds halting their song, as though all of nature was waiting in step. Looking up at the man with awe, the wild not daring to sway the being any which way. She didn't know what finally tipped him in any which direction, but suddenly a nearby bush puled with that energy.
Expanding, and twisting she followed the strands run along the flora's internal system. Both nourishing and prodding the growth to become stronger, more resilient and…
'Comfortable?'
She didn't know how else to say it, but the bush did have that 'taste' of being somewhat comfortable. It's brambles and thorns retracted to far beneath the green leaf covering, sharp branches bent in on themselves and even the leaves lost that slightly rough appearance. Becoming nothing more than a seat that wouldn't even leave behind stains or tear at clothes.
Just the casual showing of something so advanced was enough for Koneko to truly regret coming to Yokai territory even more.
'What have you gotten us into Rias?'