isclaimer : I own nothing.
Chapter 21 : The Calm before the Storm.
- Shin –
It has been one month since that meeting with Azazel. A month that has been gnawing at me for some unknown reason.
I have not been resting idly either. I put every waking moment I could into training and working on my projects.
Rias and her peerage also completed their target of reaching 8 Winged Devil's, Rias and Akeno even reached beyond that and touched 10 Wings. It honestly made me a little miffed that I was left behind, even if in a real fight, I could easily defeat either of them.
That is not to say that all this time was spent on just working. I got much closer to the girls too. Akeno just needed that final push before she accepted me.
It was a good day as well.
- Flashback –
As Rias and Akeno finally gained their fourth pair of wings, I turned to look at the condition of the others.
With Merlin and Jibril present it would have been incredibly easy to power level them but I couldn't compromise on their combat experience by curb stomping everything in my path. I let them fight bosses on their own now. It does improve their teamwork and the ability to think on their feet.
I did step in to give them a chance against a stronger variant boss that appeared once. It was fun.
"Shin-kun," I heard my name being called behind me by Akeno.
"Yes."
"Can we please talk in private for a bit after training?" she asked me a bit skittish which was completely unlike her normal behavior.
I have been borderline ignoring her for over a week now. Just preventing any situation where she could talk to me alone.
I wanted her to come forward and swallow that pride of hers for once.
I stared into her eyes for a few seconds causing her to tense up slightly but she held herself quite well. I did see her regain her confidence back.
"Please," she continued on.
"Sure."
I saw Rias giving me a thankful nod and I returned a tired smile at her.
I have been putting this off for a while and since she has softened up enough to ask me herself, there is no reason not to.
After finishing up the work in the ID, we went back to our house and our respective rooms to get cleaned up.
I was finally free and Akeno waited for me after dinner to not lose me again.
I gave her a nod and she led the way.
We walked quietly into her room which she had somehow modeled into a normal Japanese room. Magic, I guess.
Well as long as she is comfortable.
The first thing she did was a complete dogeza. It was surprising but not out of expectations to be honest.
"I am really sorry for the words that I said that day. I was out of line and even if I was angry, I should not have said those words. I understand if you can't find it in your heart to forgive me but I would still ask that you give me one more chance." she spoke it in a somber tone but I could hear the sincerity in them.
Letting out a sigh, I spoke to her.
"Get up Akeno. I am not really angry at you. I just wanted some time by myself to figure out some problems of my own that I thought I had gotten over, but was mistaken. If anything, when my head cleared a little I was actually happy that you stood up for Rias and stuck to it until the end. It is just that those words reminded me of some unpleasant things and I let the matter get out of hand. I should have been more mature about it."
"No, it is not your fault. I did cross a line that day." she says slowly raising her head and getting up.
I walked up to the cushions and took a seat and she came beside me and took a seat too.
"I want to tell you something about myself Shin-kun. I don't like discussing it with people who are not close to me but I think I owe you this much after all this." she summoned a tea cup and tea leaves from….somewhere and started making tea.
"I am half Fallen Angel, Half Devil though I think you were already aware of that. I don't know why you haven't asked me about this yet but I am thankful that you gave me my time. My mother was a member of one of the five principal clans of Japan. They followed the Shinto religion and have the blessing of the divine beast Suzaku, the Vermilion Bird. She found a person wounded outside her shrine and helped to heal him back to full health. Later she fell in love with that person while taking care of him and had me. That person was one of the cadre of the Fallen Angels, Barakiel." she stopped to pour the tea into a cup as she looked at me.
I merely raised an eyebrow. I already knew, but I was not going to tell her that. Perhaps she sensed my unusually low amount of surprise at this and asked. "Did someone already tell you that?"
"No."
"You don't seem that surprised at it."
"I am. It just doesn't matter to me who your father is. It doesn't make you any different after all."
+10 Affection with Akeno Himejima(90/100)
I am getting back all those Affection Points. It was a good decision to ignore her for a while.
She didn't speak for a while after revealing that and I didn't probe her either.
I drank the tea and kept the cup which she refilled soon and continued her story.
"When I was eleven years old, he had to go somewhere for work. My mother and I were left alone. We spent most of our time in that secluded shrine. One day, I returned to hear the sound of things breaking inside my house. A moment later, my mother dropped out of the door and told me to run. She had a stab wound on her stomach and was heavily bleeding. She had put a barrier spell on the shrine to keep the people from following her outside. I was completely helpless." Her shoulders were shaking and I could see drops of tears falling on the floor because her eyes were covered by her hair.
"I ran away waiting for help. Those people chased me for two entire years where I had to hide myself and perform exorcism for people using what I had learned from my mother to live. In that entire time I never received any help. It was when I was cornered by those people again that Rias found me and helped me. I have stayed with her since then." She takes a deep breath to steady herself a little before continuing. "That day when I saw you talking to Kuroka, I thought you were with her and betraying Rias. It reminded me of my own situation with Barakiel and I lost control of my temper. I know that I have said things that I shouldn't but please give me one more chance."
Well at least the hard part is over.
I have successfully broken her prideful exterior, now comes the building up part.
"You really hate him don't you?"
I saw her fists clench tight before she answered or rather spoke in an ice cold tone "Yes."
"What about the people who attacked your mother?"
"They were the members of her own family. They killed her for polluting their blood." she answered with the same tone.
"Do you know where they live? I am not promising anything right now but I can arrange for accidents to happen to them."
"It is fine now. They were overthrown by my cousin Suzaku who later came and apologized to me."
"And you are fine with them?"
"I am happy where I am right now."
"So what is up with the Fallen then?"
"I hate them because that man is from them."
Here I had to resist the urge to face palm. I think she felt my delay in question so she looked at me.
"So let me get this straight. You hate the entire Fallen race because some 'humans' killed your mother? And to top it off, you are fine with the humans themselves? How does that make any sense?"
"My mother was killed because she associated with that person, with the Fallen who never came to help me."
"In other words you are just bitter at them because your father did not come to help you."
"NO. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT MAN AT ALL."
"Sigh let me phrase it this way. Would you hate the entire human race because no human came to help you either? It is not like you were a complete fallen angel back then? So why is it that you hate the entire race and not the people involved only? I really find it hard to understand."
I stopped for a while and let her grasp the words and it seems that she understood the words. I will let her mull over it later.
"I know that you have had it bad but don't let it drag you down. I have seen that you hate using the power of your fallen side and I don't mean to be insensitive but that is utter stupidity. If someday you encounter a situation where that power could have saved the lives of your loved ones and you are not able to use it, you will end up regretting it for the rest of your life. You don't want to feel that, trust me on this one."
"You don't know anything." she gritted through her teeth.
Still some fight left I see. Well time to throw in the last ball.
"Actually I do. I understand that much better than you can ever imagine it. In fact if we are talking about who has the best dad among the two of us, mine would still lose the race." I took out the file from my inventory. "Here, if you don't believe me, then read this and decide everything for yourself."
I took the cup which she had refilled while she read Harry's life in Serafall's file.
It took some time for her to complete it but when she did, her expressions told me that it was enough for her. Her eyes were red and she was clenching the file almost to the point of tearing the pages.
"How? How can you be so carefree even after all this? How are you even sane?" finally she asked in a tone of disbelief.
Because I am awesome. Also because that is not me, Harry already died. Unfortunately I couldn't say that now, could I?
"And give them the satisfaction of seeing a broken me? Nah, I would rather live my life to the fullest and laugh at them and all their efforts to keep me down." I sipped the last bit of tea before setting down the cup. "Wanna know my opinion on your situation?" I looked at her.
On receiving a nod from her, I continued, "I think you should use your Fallen Side…." I stopped her incoming outburst with a raised hand "and become so skilled in it that when people say Holy Lightning, they remember not Barakiel but instead Akeno Himejima. Make him regret. Make them regret ever leaving you to your fate because as you are right now, you are doing nothing different than confirming their thoughts about you not being worthy enough to warrant their attention. Even if you become stronger with Devil magic, they can still console themselves but if you do that with Holy Lightning, they will have to face it. I am sure your mother wouldn't want you to be suffering like this either."
I could see her thinking about it before whispering in a very low voice. "How would you know?"
"I don't."
"Then?"
"Then? Then why don't we ask your mother herself?" I speak nonchalantly causing her to snap her head in my direction.
"What is your mother's name and use the full name she had during the time of death."
She kept looking at me with disbelief.
"Come on, I don't have the whole day."
"Shin-kun, I don't like jokes like this." she answered frostily.
Oh God….dang that hurt.
"I can be rude but I am not an ass to joke about things like this. Now hurry up, what is your mother's name?"
She hesitated a little before answering. "Shuri Himejima."
I concentrated on the Resurrection Stone inside my soul. Really, my soul is getting cramped now. Mirror Alice, the three Hallows not to mention the Game.
It was a completely different feeling to call out to someone from the realm of Death.
This one however was under the control of someone else, a Goddess of Death.
I felt the Goddesses "presence" a little when they tried to stop the soul from leaving her realm before she sensed Death's presence on me and let go of the soul she was holding.
In a shimmer of light, the image or rather the soul of a young woman manifested in front of us.
It was basically a milf Akeno with golden eyes instead of violet. Yup, screw Barakiel, I am so gonna tap that. He let her die once, he lost the chance. The miko outfit looked amazing on her well shaped curvy body. I can see where Akeno got all her looks from. Me likey.
"O-okaa-sama." choked a voice behind me.
I could see the shock that struck the luminescent face of the spirit in front of me. "Akeno, my baby, my daughter."
"I will give you two some time alone." saying that, I left the room.
They deserve this mother daughter time alone with each other.
In the meanwhile I returned back to my room where Rias was waiting for me.
"Did you two sort things out?" she asked me from in front of our mirror while combing her hair.
"Yup. She is spending some time with her mother right now."
Her head snapped in my direction suddenly.
"I summoned her mother's spirit for her to talk to. They are having some alone time right now."
I walk behind her and take a seat beside her with my head on her lap while she caresses my hair. "Thank you. I had no idea if others could see the spirits that you summon or what restrictions it had or I would have asked you to do it sooner."
"It's alright."
We sat there like that for a few minutes before an idea came to my head and it was something I just couldn't resist.
Spending time with Serafall is making me too much of a prankster nowadays.
"Rias."
"Hmm?"
"Has Akeno ever teased you too much that you wanted to get back at her by making her flustered."
She smiled a little, "More times than I can remember."
"Then this is what we will do…." And so we planned our move for when she came out.
It was after a good thirty minutes that we heard a knock on our door.
I opened the door to find Akeno and Shuri with red eyes of the former and a small smile on the later
I bowed down in front of Shuri before addressing her, "It is nice to meet you Okaa-sama. My name is Shin Kageyami. Today we finally got a chance to speak with you as Akeno had been wanting to for a long while. I will be rude and take this as a chance to ask for something."
She looked at me a little stunned at my words before her eyes widened a little. It seems that she caught the mischievous glint in my eyes. "Are you asking me for my daughter's hand?"
Wow, even as a spirit that tone is something that can cause me to feel threatened. At least she was playing along.
"No. That was not my intention."
"Then what is it that you want to ask me."
"Shin?" Akeno was a little confused at the situation.
"I….we did some things and I wish to take responsibility." here I pulled Akeno in a side-hug, "also, we want you to name our first child," and caressed Akeno's stomach.
….
….
….
….
To say the silence was deafening was an understatement.
Akeno looked like her just rebooted. So much for the Ara Ara Onee-sama act.
Here take it.
Checkmate.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
Her shout broke Akeno out of her trance and she hurried to amend the situation.
"I-it is not that Okaa-sama. We still haven't done anything like that yet."
"Yes, we still haven't named our baby. We were waiting for a way to summon you."
"Shin what are you saying?" Akeno losing her composure alone is more than enough of a reward for this.
"It is fine Akeno. I approve of the relationship too." Rias quips in making Akeno look at her with a slack jawed look, "We will raise the child as our own, just like we have been sisters all this time." Rias says with emotions which make me doubt if she was acting or speaking the truth.
"Rias, I am proud of you. I promise to keep the two of you happy forever." I answered as I pulled Rias into my side as well.
"How long has it been?"
"Two months," I caressed her stomach once again until she finally got a hold of her emotions.
"Akeno, you should take a seat and relax a little. We cannot have you force yourself at a time like this." Rias pulls her to the bed and makes her sit.
"WILL YOU ALL STOP IT ALREADY?"
Ah, she finally snapped.
I and Rias decided it was enough too because we got enough clips to have us covered for a while.
"Ara Ara~ it is not good to get agitated during times like these." Shuri smiled at her and I could honestly see where she got that sadistic kink of hers.
"Okaa-sama, it is not like that. I am not pregnant."
"I remember you just said that you didn't do anything like that" Akeno nods heavily before Shuri completes the sentence, "Yet." And she froze over again.
- Flashback End -
It was a fun day, if I do say so myself.
I even got something to show for it.
Affection maxed and locked with Akeno Himejima(100/100). Obedience with Akeno Himejima increased to 100.
Reward for reaching 100 Affection with Akeno Himejima –
Skill Gained
[Lightning Magic](Active)
A variant of Thunder magic containing holy energy. It is highly destructive against those weak against Holy and Thunder elements.
Damage : INT + (MP Used)/2.
Cost : Varies.
It is honestly not that useful in my opinion but it still never hurts to have an anti-Devil attack.
I walked down the corridor towards the hall while thinking over the events of the month. I heard the voice of three girls happily chatting with each other. Three voices which joined us this month.
Entering the room revealed their forms.
The first one was a blonde with green eyes. The second was a platinum blonde with blue eyes and the last one was a beautiful purple haired girl who had an equally beautiful voice. They were Asia Argento, Fleur Delacour and ….Ingvild Leviathan.
Fleur had joined us a week after Asia. She had already accepted Rias' offer and was actually supported by her Veela Community to make a connection with the Devils. Normally Devils who took Veela's was mainly as a source to satiate their lust and not as a genuine servant.
This opportunity was God….ughh Satan given to them I suppose or in this case Satan's Little Sister given, so she joined us soon enough.
Asia had been very easily getting along with everyone in the house. Her personality and true innocence captured everyone's heart in a very short time. She gets along especially well with Morgiana, Koneko, Ingvild and….Luna. But then again only idiots don't like Luna.
The thing that I find funny is the relationship between her and Jibril.
That was one odd and funny meeting.
- Flashback –
Jibril has low care of how people in this house see her that is why when she came down the stairs and entered the living room in what could only be called a set of underwear, the people of the house were not that surprised. Even the light hearted and shy ones only blushed slightly.
No, it was the wings and halo that were in full view for all to see that caused a minor existential crisis for our newest resident, Asia Argento.
Her mouth was left gaping open and eyes wide as saucers. It was then that I remembered that Asia hadn't seen Jibril in that form before.
The first thing she did was walk up to her kneel down in front of her and pray causing headaches to all the occupants of the room.
Thankfully, it was soon changed to her crying and apologizing to a very confused Jibril, who to all my prayers to entities known and unknown did not smite her or even slap her into oblivion for the accidental pain she had caused. I hurried up to solve the matter before she changed her mind though.
"It is fine Asia. Jibril is with us and she doesn't blame you for whatever happened back in the church. She will not do anything to you." I patted her head and calmed her down.
"B-but she is an angel?"
"She is and she doesn't blame you."
These words led her to again kneel in front of Jibril and thank her again with a bit of prayer mixed in. I have to do something about this to prevent any pain inside my house, maybe something to offset the influence of Heaven's system inside my house.
"You are a very kind, caring and pure person Asia. Anyone, even Gods would be happy and honored to have you as their follower. I am happy to have you here. It is the Church loss, that they lost someone like you with their foolishness. You don't have to blame yourself at all."
She looked at me and I patted her head, reassuring her.
"You know what? I have an idea I think Jibril should be your guardian angel." Turning towards Jibril I ordered, "Jibril, from today onwards you are to protect Asia from any threats."
+10 Affection with Asia Argento(60/100) for helping her again.
Jibril looked at me and then towards Asia and then nodded.
Well, that problem is taken care of. If Diodora ever comes to kidnap Asia, he could only pray for a quick death.
- Asia –
Looking at the wide back of the person who has suddenly become a pillar of support for her, she couldn't help but pray to God and thank him for his blessings. She turned towards Jibril-sama and couldn't help but ask her.
'Ano Jibril-sama."
"Yes."
"Can I ask you about something?"
"Sure."
"Can you please tell me something about God, your creator?"
"Oh, you want to know about My Lord and Master?" She nodded giving the angel in front of her a yes to continue. "Very well I will tell you. My Lord and Master is the strongest God. He created me and my sisters and gave us our wings and halo. He is very intelligent too and predicts what his opponents want to do and makes plans which never fail. Even in the last war, he planned things even before his enemies were aware of what was happening by predicting all their moves in advance."
"Oh." she felt happy to know that God was every bit as great as she was told. Although she didn't like wars and fighting much, she could not question the decisions of God because he must have his own reasons for it. As Jibril-sama said, he must have predicted something and must have a plan.
She was already grateful that he granted her protection in this place. When she had thought that she had sinned against him and that she was thrown aside for her crime, he still made sure that she remains safe. What else could she be if not thankful for such selfless love of her Lord?
"Jibril, come on, I need your help here for a bit." sounded the voice of Shin-san. He is always working for the people of this house.
"Yes Master." answered Jibril-sama making her freeze for a moment.
Master?
But?
"A-ano Jibril-sama? Is Shin-san your M-master?"
"Oh, yes. He is My Lord and Master who gave me wings(AN: devil wings)."
"B-but isn't he a devil?"
"Yes. Master is strong. He can become whatever he wants."
Right. He can become whatever he wants.
….
….
….
….
Oh no.
What had she done?
She had been disrespectful to him, even after all he did for her. She couldn't even recognize him even when he came down to help her on his own after she had sinned against him. She ….held herself together.
Yes. Jibril-sama said that he always has his plans. He must be a devil for his own reasons. She cannot call him out on his plans here.
She can only follow him and return the trust and love he showed her this time.
-Shin –
+35 Affection with Asia Argento(95/100) Damn, this is fun.
+100 Obedience with Asia Argento(100/100) Yup, this is fun.
What the fuck happened to her?
She cannot be that desperate for acceptance, Right?
What is fun Game?
….
Great, now he is ignoring me.
- Flashback End –
Since that day, Asia has been hanging on to each one of my words with fervent attentiveness.
Anyways, looking around I saw a group that would have been a dream to see in this house.
A group of three feline girls.
Yup.
Morgiana, Koneko and Kuroka.
This had been one meeting that I could not find in my heart to interrupt with my pranks even if I was not really comfortable with tear-jerking scenes.
- Flashback –
It was a week after our last meeting that Kuroka came back to meet me. It must have taken her sometime to collect herself after last time.
She had metaphorically bared her heart in front of what was practically a stranger.
I sensed her entering the wards of our home and this time too, I was in bed with girls.
She really has damned timing. I think she does this on purpose to blue-ball me and then tease me during our time together.
I looked down at the bobbing head of silver-grey hair as Sakuya worked on my shaft. Rias was kissing my neck and leaving hickeys even though they disappear in moments. She likes 'marking me'. Sometimes I think she is more of a youkai than Koneko. She was the one who suggested the threesome.
Sakuya was a bit embarrassed but she nonetheless accepted and when she did, she showed why she is the perfect maid.
Rias' idea was to double team me into exhaustion.
Too bad for her that my stamina regen is off charts and my Endurance is more than theirs.
I was extremely reluctant to stop Sakuya's mind 'blowing' work but this was something that everyone at home was waiting for a while now.
"Sakuya."
She looked up towards me even as her tongue continued swirling on the tip of my cock and her hands massaging my balls and running along the length of my shaft slathering it with all the spit that had been leaking from her red pouty lips as she sucked me.
"Believe me when I say that I regret stopping this but we have a guest. Kuroka just entered the compound. I think you should get Koneko while I will get her inside the house."
Both of the girls snapped out of their dazes hearing my words. Rias gave me one final kiss on my neck while Sakuya removed her lips from my tip with a popping sound that almost made me go over the edge and release all of my seed on her face.
Too bad, I have work to do now. If I hadn't already released a load earlier in our session I doubt I could walk properly right now.
"Are you sure that it is her?" Rias asked, reaching for my shirt on the bed and helping me put it on.
"Yes."
"I will go to Koneko too. I think she will need our support. You help Kuroka."
"Sure."
I stepped up and Shadow Walked to the place Kuroka was waiting.
I got to the shadow of Kuroko's cat form as I picked her up while rising from the shadows. "Hey naughty kitty. Why is it that you appear whenever I am having sex?" I set her on my lap as I caressed her soft fur.
The form of the black cat in my lap changed to a voluptuous young girl with a stunning figure as Kuroka appeared in my lap.
"It is because you are a pervert nyaa. Why is it that you are always having sex when I appear?" she said while sniffing my neck causing a tickling sensation.
"Happy coincidence. It is not that you hate it from what I have seen in the last two encounters, you had your fun watching the show."
"It was because the show was hot nyaa. So, two girls this time? Do you want to take me to your bed too…, get on top of me… and have your way with me?" she breathed every word in my ear causing my barely settled hard-on to return with a fury of its own. To top it off, she grinded her ass causing me to almost release in my pants. Really, this girl has a sinful ass worth groping and I did just that. I groped her ass with a hand and slapped it lightly as she moaned in my ear causing my cock to twitch and push itself deeper in her ass crack.
"Oh, I so want to do that with you and even more."
"Oh, and what exactly?"
"Bend you on my lap and spank this naughty butt of yours till you learn how to behave and then…. maybe spoil you a little."
"Nyaa~"
I would like to continue this talk for a long time but I need to do some work today.
"Kuroka."
"Yes nyaa."
"Do you trust me?"
She looked into my eyes and asked "would I be sitting in your lap and flirting with you if I didn't trust you?" her face looked as if asking me 'are you stupid?'
"Then please have some trust here." I picked her up in my arms and Shadow Walked back to the Hall of our home. She barely had time to react.
The hall already had few people waiting for us. Rias was there with Sakuya, Morgiana and finally Koneko.
Kuroka froze in my arms as I set her down and I had to hold her with an arm so that she didn't fall down due to losing the strength in her legs.
"S-shirone." she whispered.
Koneko shot out from her place and dived into Kuroka desperately taking her in a hug, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed away, apologizing for all this time.
Kuroka looked towards me and I gave her a smile and with a hand on their shoulders Shadow Walked them to Koneko's room.
"I promised you didn't I, that I will fix everything. This is the first part. Take your time together, you both deserve it." I patted their heads one last time before I Shadow Walked back to the hall, barely hearing a soft 'thank you' in the passing as I used my skill leaving the two sisters together.
I came back to the hall to see the expectant looks of the occupants.
"Is Koneko alright Master?" asked Morgiana.
It is really surprising to see Morgiana opening up conversations with me.
I guess that her slave mentality of not asking questions that was cultivated into her by the slavers is still holding her back from making a connection with me. I will have to do something about it as soon as possible.
It goes to show how close she is to Koneko to ask a question on her behalf.
"She is fine Morgiana. You don't need to worry about her. She just needs some time alone with Kuroka." I pat her head softly. Her hair is soft. "You did a really great job in taking care of Koneko all this time. I am proud of you."
+10 Affection with Morgiana(50/100)
Perk Gained
[A Kind Master]
Easier gain in Affection and Reputation with people who have their Obedience higher than their Affection and Reputation scores at that instant.
"Thank you Master." she smiled at me, a true and genuine smile.
Yup, she is really adorable as well.
We waited for about an hour before both the sisters came down to the hall. Koneko walked up to me with her ears and tail out and gave me a hug while burying her face into my chest, her tail wagging energetically when I started patting her head to return the favour and I almost regretted not having a camera to capture this adorable scene.
Kuroka followed soon after but instead of a hug, she pulled me by my collar and closed my mouth with her lips, her tongue snaking its way into my mouth and swirling around my tongue in a wet and sloppy dance which I returned after a moment as I pulled her closer by her waist.
"Thank You."
"Thank me after I clear your name and get you a free pass in the underworld."
"I will hold you to that nyaa."
"O-onee-sama!" Koneko dragged Kuroka away while the latter kept giving me a sultry smile.
+30 Affection with Koneko Toujou(90/100)
+25 Affection with Kuroka(95/100)
- Flashback End -
Currently Kuroka was teaching both Koneko and Morgiana Senjutsu and how to transform to their other forms.
The meeting between Morgiana and Kuroka turned out to be quite awkward at the start because of Kuroka's initial comments about Morgiana and her jealousy.
That however changed quickly when Koneko had a talk with her. She not only apologised to Morgiana but also got very close to her. They apparently had a talk and she found a common past as a mistreated slave which brought them together. She treats Morgiana as a surrogate sister of sorts.
This became even more evident when she started teaching both of them Senjutsu and transformation techniques.
Koneko has been progressing very well and even I learned something great from this training.
Skill Gained
[Senjutsu(DxD)(Novice)](Active)
Enables the user to manipulate nature's energy to nourish allies and attack enemies using various techniques.
It is an extremely versatile skill as it not only helps in sensing others but also in understanding their emotions. To be honest it reminds me of Ninshu from Naruto more than anything.
It does not need hand signs and Ninshu didn't need hand signs either.
I wonder if I will someday be able to combine the two skills or make my own style of Senjutsu later.
I turned my gaze towards Morgiana. She had been working extra hard due to what happened two weeks ago. Unlike Koneko and Kuroka who just turn into their cat form, Morgiana has a completely different form. I underestimated its role in her life.
Her Red Lion form was a complicated subject for her.
- Flashback –
"Today we are going to learn a Youkai technique nyaa~. It is called the Transformation technique and it can help you do this." she said as she turned into her cat form and jumped on my lap.
It was honestly quite adorable to see the twitch in Koneko's generally stoic face.
Morgiana on the other hand looked conflicted.
Her true form should be a Red Lion if I remember correctly.
The Red Lions were the strongest hunters of the Dark Continent in the Magi-world.
If she can attain that form, it will be a great help to her overall strength.
It was just that I would have missed the conflict in her emotions if I hadn't been using Senjutsu.
She seemed troubled over this transformation and I could sense something similar to a feeling of longing as well as ….trepidation inside of her.
"What is it Morgiana?" I asked her straight.
She is the kind of person who does not give herself much importance and will hide all her discomfort for the sake of not causing trouble to others and I honestly don't want her to continue that mentality.
She is my subordinate true but she is also someone close to me. I am not a sadistic fuck who would enjoy the people close to me getting in trouble and suffer pain for no reason than just for the heck of it.
That is completely stupid.
"I-it's nothing Master. I was just a bit distracted this time." she replied a little uneasily.
"You know, I will not get angry at you regardless of what it is but if you are not comfortable with doing so, I will wait till you are." I patted her head.
After hesitating for a while she answered, "My other form is not….it is very different."
….oh.
"I don't think others will like it."
Heaving out a sigh, I made her sit down in front of me.
"Tell me Morgiana, have you met Ddraig yet? I think users can meet him in their dream?" I asked as gently as possible.
"Yes."
"Do you dislike him just because you saw his real form?"
"No" she answered quickly.
"Then do you think we are petty enough to dislike you just because of your true form? There are many people here that dislike their other form. I won't name them because that is something you have to find out for yourself and I won't breach their privacy by telling you who they are but listen to me when I say this, No one here will like you any less for something like a different form because at the end of the day, no matter the form you take, it is still you. It is still the Morgiana that we love so much."
It was at this instant that Koneko and Kuroka also joined us and hugged her supporting her.
The three feline sisters went along for their personal time.
+20 Affection with Morgiana(70/100) for supporting her now.
I was actually relieved that Morgiana finally got on track. I cannot force her Balance Breaker state every time and she had yet to achieve that state due to the absence of high emotional stimulus. I was thinking about letting her face a strong boss monster alone. Now though, I will wait for a little while.
- Flashback End -
It was a productive day by the end of it. Although Morgiana still hasn't attained her Balance Breaker, she has started understanding more of her Red Lion form and can enter partial transformation which increases her stats drastically. It is more than two times in terms of pure stats.
I later found out that the increase in her stats was only the bare minimum as the most dangerous part of her that changed with that was her instincts. When she lets her instincts take over, she becomes a sort of automated fighting machine. I am not ashamed to say that it took me a while to pick my jaw up from the ground when she had kicked Jibril into a wall with pure strength in her half transformed state. I can ignore the fact that Jibril was not using magic or was holding back and because she caught her off guard.
Overall it was a productive month that I had.
That said it was not only from the training perspective that this month was so good. It was also the chaos in the wizarding world that made the month really fun.
- Draco Malfoy -
It was a productive month for Draco Malfoy. He has been getting in the grace of his Lord and been winning praises for his work for the entire month.
Now he even had a group of his own death eaters to command.
It had only taken the information about the hideouts of the so-called 'light' faction to get him promoted to the inner circle of the death eaters. The same position as his father had once held before he lost face in front of their Lord due to his blunders.
And it was all due to the informant he had obtained due to a visit to Hogsmeade.
It was during the time where he was spying on the activities of the light faction members in Hogsmeade and listening to their plans under his invisibility cloak. It was there he had heard a snort of disgust directed not at himself but at the mudbloods and half-bloods in the inn.
It was there he caught sight of a beautiful girl with auburn hair which was almost tilting towards orange looking at the group in disgust. She looked like she was spying too and Draco knew right at that moment that he had found a person sharing the same cause. He just heard at the back of his mind that he had to know this person.
And he did just that. With all his pureblood grace, he walked up to the lady and asked to join her.
It was like the world was conspiring for them to meet.
They just clicked together so well.
He learned that she was the part of one of the so called 'light' families who was disgusted by how low they were falling.
She wanted to find the information about the 'light' factions, especially 'the order of the phoenix' and pass it to the dark lord in hopes for him to end this stupidity.
It was then that Draco did what every able gentleman should do, present the lady with the help she needed.
She did provide him with information and has kept doing that since then.
She did not accept taking the dark mark because her family had made her take an unbreakable vow but that did not mean she couldn't 'indirectly' help their cause. This was her reason and Draco being the smart boy he was, understood it very well.
He remembered his last meeting very well. He got the location of the Weasleys from her this time.
All in all it was a very great day and finally after all this time Draco got the courage to ask her what her name was.
Her answer had been surprising but Draco liked mysterious girls.
Her answer was ….
'Monika….Just Monkia'
- Shin -
I made a new friend in a certain ferret while he helps me take care of some chickens in the wizarding world.
It was not all for the fact that I wanted to see him reliving the horrors of Monika, nope, not at all.
I am being serious here.
Really.
Maybe a little bit.
And right now, I am on my way to complete a quest that I have had for a while now.
Since Ingvild is already here, it is about time Sairaorg met his mother too.
I think with the level that our power is at right now, I am more or less prepared for Kokabiel if he decides to attack us.
I took a look at the box in my hand containing the rest of my evil pieces. A Rook, a Knight and five pawns with Ingvild and Asia being my most recent pawns.
I opened a teleportation circle towards the underworld towards my goal.
- Interlude (Faith in trying times) –
Archangel Gabriel walked into the conference room on the sixth heaven where the other three Archangels had already taken their seats.
"What was the result of your meeting with Serafall, Gabriel?" asked Michael after she had taken her seat and thus started the meeting.
She started giving the overview of the incidents that happened over the last week.
"The people of the Church went behind our backs again and tried to solve this matter by themselves. They had sent exorcists inside of Kuoh Town without informing the ones who were watching over the territory.
The town has been warded off very securely due to two past incidents and now every part of the town is monitored closely by the three kings in the territory. Suffice to say that the ones sent there were detected as soon as they entered the territory.
The devils however didn't make any moves and waited for two whole days for the exorcists to approach them all the while recording all their activities.
It was on the third day that the exorcists were apprehended and thrown out of the territory with a warning that any further entry in their territory without prior permission will be treated as an aggressive movement. They further stated that since the church hadn't paid the common courtesy this time, next time they will need someone of authority to act as their guarantor and furthermore that they will need to take the permission directly from the Maous to enter the territory after this."
"How did matters escalate this much from a simple investigation?" asked Uriel, trying to understand the situation a bit more clearly.
"It was probably the attitude of the people of the Church that caused the problem." Gabriel answered with a sigh.
Michael just raised an eyebrow at this in question.
Seeing this Gabriel further explained.
"The new King of the territory had recorded every movement of the exorcists in their territory. It included the meeting between them too. Serafall showed me the video of the meeting. It was basically the church people refusing to accept their mistake and threatening the three kings of the territory in not so subtle words. That was it for the discussions. They were then deported out of the territory. Serafall was annoyed to the extreme due to the behavior of the exorcists. It was even more due to the previous two attacks by the stray devil and the fallen angels."
"What annoying mess is this turning out to be?" Raphael said with a sigh.
"True. What was done with the exorcists?" Michael asked his sister to go on.
"The church suspended them for one week after I asked for a suitable punishment to be given. The officials were actually against this as well even with Serafall's insistence." Gabriel answered.
"I don't understand why they needed to be punished though. They were just doing their jobs." Uriel asked.
"There is a protocol that needs to be followed for this as well. They almost caused a war by their actions in that territory. We have already been informed about the Fallen Angel's attack in that territory and that Kokabiel was the probable culprit behind that incident as well. That alone makes them victims of the same person not the possible ally. It is actually quite normal for them to be this cautious. That territory doesn't have a good history either but this time the devils in that territory are too high profile for us to do anything without consulting with the Maous first." Michael replied. "I know that we do not like to discuss this but our side is the weakest among the three factions. If what my informants have told me about the friendship between Shin Kageyami and Azazel is true, we cannot afford to have them as our enemies at all."
Archangel Uriel looked extremely disgruntled at that but did not comment any further.
"What is it that you want to say Gabriel?"
"I think that the new King of Kuoh is not someone bad either. The way he has handled the previous situation as well as this situation is proof of that. He could have easily killed the people sent to investigate. We didn't even know about it and the church wouldn't have been able to call them out either because the people were sent there in secret. Instead he gave them a fair chance to disclose their presence and even after the provocations and threats just let them go with a warning shows that he doesn't like unnecessary violence." Gabriel stated her opinion.
This however earned her a scoff from her fellow Archangel and sibling Uriel.
"Doesn't like unnecessary violence? Have you seen the recordings of the Rating Game he participated in? He crushed that Phenex devil in mind and will. I would be surprised if that one even had the courage to stand straight against him after that Rating Game. He is extremely brutal"
"That maybe so but if you closely see the circumstances behind that attack, you will realise that he did that because of the words said by his opponent. It is also not news to anyone that he is now engaged to Rias Gremory and they are happy with each other. We can already derive the reason for his outburst during the Rating Game from this very reason alone." Gabriel then went on to explain. "I think it shows his strength of character that he was enraged by the insult of Rias Gremory and also his peerage that are generally treated poorly by the devils. His interactions with his peerage also showed that he is very kind and friendly to then, not having the usual Devil prejudices."
"So what is it that you want to do Gabriel?" asked Michael after some thinking.
"I wish to go to Kuoh and meet Shin Kageyami. I will lead a team of exorcists to investigate the theft of the holy swords as well. In that time I can assess the kind of person that the new King of Kuoh really is. The peace talks that you are having with the other two factions will be affected by his standing after all." She gave her honest thoughts after taking a deep breath.
"Why do you need to go there yourself? We can send someone else. Even Metatron can be a good choice if we have to." Uriel asked, a little heated.
"I have heard that Shin Kageyami has only girls in his peerage till now and even if he treats them well and with respect, it still gives us the idea that he might have a Sin of Lust. I think that me going there will make him more amiable to whatever I say. On the other hand I know many of the other Angels might say something that will only aggravate this situation further." She replied.
"Are you going to seduce him?" Uriel all but shouted.
"No brother. I am just saying that he will be more amiable with my presence than the presence of any other Angel. It will also show our sincerity in dealing with the situation if I myself went there. I do not want to entrust this matter any further in the hands of the Church after the last incident." she clarified.
This seemed to pacify Uriel a little.
"I still don't like it." he agreed gruffly after it.
"Then it is decided. Gabriel will take a team of exorcists to Kuoh and investigate the disappearance of the Excalibur Fragments and Kokabiel's involvement in that case." Michael concluded the meeting and then turned to her. "Just take care of yourself sister."
"I will brother." was all she said.
- Movements in the shadows –
"You will pay for this. Azazel will not let you get away." said a now tired and exhausted Tobio Ikuse as he was tied to a cross shaped device.
His loyal sacred gear, Jin was also in the same condition as it was bound by creatures with black cloaks and scythes with devices that stopped it from moving.
"I wouldn't have done this if you had agreed to fight for me. But you had to follow that fool Azazel's orders. You were one of the good students but even you are not good enough for me to give up on this plan of mine. Too long have the Fallen Angels been regarded below the other two factions. This cannot and will not continue any longer. I will lead them to war and take back the rightful position that belongs to us, as the strongest species in the world." Kokabiel said as he paced while preparing for the ritual. "I will not be unkind to you though. Your lover, Sae Toujo will be left unharmed for all the services that you have done to the Fallen Angels. She was just used to bring you here."
"Hurry it up Kokabiel. My Lord has not given you this opportunity for unnecessary drivel." spoke a cold voice from beside him.
"I did not ask for your help." growled Kokabiel angrily.
"And yet you received it as easily." mocked the voice in return.
Kokabiel tried to restrain himself as he gritted his teeth. This was not the time to quarrel with them. He was already shorthanded thanks to Azazel being on his back. Their help was needed to make this plan successful.
He had barely gathered the forces needed to cause a permanent scar on the Devils and the help of the God of the Dead helped him obtain a way to do the same for the Angels to ensure the war.
It will not matter if the rest of the forces die. All he has to do is sit back and watch the rest of the war and relish in it.
And when that fool Azazel eventually fails to keep control over the rest of the Fallen Angels, he will swoop in to take command.
He looked back towards his new pair of wings and even though it disgusted him to think of the method that was used to obtain them, nothing could be done right now. This was a necessary sacrifice. Fool that Azazel might be, it did not mean that he was weak by any stretch at all. Especially with that pet half-breed devil with him, it will be impossible for Kokabiel to win against them.
This move was necessary as Tobio Ikuse could have become a thorn in his side.
The Slash Dog team was a powerful force even if it only consisted of insignificant humans.
Removing their leader and pillar of support will demoralize and throw them out of order. It will be easier to deal with them after this move.
If only that girl Lavinia had also fallen into the trap this time, he could have gotten all the cards he needed.
Well, no matter. There will always be minor setbacks in plans like this.
He has a plan for Lavinia already. He couldn't contain his grin as he looked at the now zombified corpse of Tobio Ikuse. Even without his sacred gear he was a decent fighter and right now Kokabiel needed all the help he could get.
After this matter is taken care of, he will turn his attention to Hades and then to the Khaos Brigade.
They were too dangerous for the future rule of the Fallen Angels.
No matter what, the ones who will rule the world will be the Fallen Angels.
With that thought in mind, he turned his attention towards his now accumulating army.
_x_x_
Beta Reader : LuluViBritania(FF.N, SB and QQ)/-LuluViB|99th Britannian Emperor(Discord)
Author's Note : The new chapter of 'The Game Must Go On' is up.
Sorry for the delay. I had some personal problems for the last two weeks and couldn't write as often as I would have liked.
Anyways, I decided to wrap this chapter in a new way.
A complete chapter with Flashbacks.
I know some of you might not like this but it would have honestly taken me around 40k words more to finish these parts if I had written the normal way.
That is not to say that I have given up on those parts.
All those parts will be explained in the future chapters.
Anyways, I will be doing character developments for the peerage members when the time comes.
We do need some events for them as well.
Not everyone has problems that can be easily solved and running after all the girls at the same time would have ruined the thing.
Morgiana and Meredith will get more time in the arcs after this one.
Also, before people start bombing me about the list of Evil Pieces that Shin had left and point out that I had missed the Queen Piece, I would like to ask them only one question….Did I?
Also, what do you think about Draco's new friend? crush?
So, this is all for the new chapter.
I hope you liked this.
I haven't started writing the Kokabiel arc although I have the rough outline of the plot.
I am just taking my time to refine the points so that all the future parts look as logical(as logical as DxD can be) as possible.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter.
I will update Shin's stats in the next chapter.
I will also like to point it out before any of you start shouting in the comments that Shin is getting left behind by his peerage members and now even Rias and Akeno in terms of strength, to read the points clearly. I have mentioned that Shin is not weak. Only at a lower level than them but in terms of pure stats and power, he far surpasses both of them.
If we include all the equipment and skills that he has in his possession, it will only increase the difference.
That said, yes Rias and Akeno have gotten stronger and will no longer be treated as mob characters just for fan service.
It will be seen further in the future chapters.
I was thinking about some bro characters for Shin because there have been too many girls. Azazel is good and so is Sairaorg and all and I have plans for Vali but do feel free to give advice. They might not make it to his peerage but in the next world there will be a few good brother type characters for Shin.
I hope that you enjoy the chapter.
Good Day, Peace Out.