Toshio POV, Next day
I woke up early, feeling a rush of anticipation I hadn't experienced in months. After texting Akeno to meet me outside the Gremory peerage house before school, I found myself standing there at 7:15 AM sharp, straightening my uniform jacket for the third time. Six weeks away from her had felt like an eternity.
When the door finally opened, my heart skipped a beat.
"TOSHI-KUN!" Akeno's voice rang out like music as she launched herself at me.
I caught her easily, my arms wrapping around her waist as if they belonged there. Her familiar scent—a mix of lavender and ozone—enveloped me as our lips met in a kiss that was brief but held all the longing of our separation. Heat rushed through me at the contact, reminding me just how much I'd missed her.
"You're coming with me," she declared, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief as she grabbed my hand. Before I could respond, she pulled me through the entryway, and a flash of crimson light surrounded us.
Magic tingled across my skin, and suddenly we were in her bedroom. I barely had time to register the familiar surroundings—the four-poster bed with purple sheets, the ornate dresser, the subtle scent of incense—before she pushed me down onto her mattress.
She climbed on top of me with practiced grace, straddling my hips as her raven hair fell around us like a curtain. Her lips found mine again, more demanding this time, and I lost myself in the sensation. My hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer as weeks of longing translated into hungry kisses.
When we finally broke apart for air, I couldn't help but grin up at her flushed face.
"Missed me that much, huh?" I asked, my voice huskier than I'd intended.
Instead of answering, she leaned down again—but this time, she caught my bottom lip between her teeth and bit down just hard enough to send a jolt of pleasure-pain through me.
"What do you think, muscle boy~?" she purred, her hands roaming across my chest and arms appreciatively. "You've gotten stronger," she added, fingers tracing the new definition in my shoulders through my uniform.
I couldn't hide my body's reaction to her touch. My pants tightened uncomfortably as blood rushed south, creating an obvious tent that pressed against her. Akeno's eyes darkened at the contact, and she shifted her hips slightly, creating friction that made me groan.
"Akeno," I warned, my hands tightening on her waist, "if you don't stop, I'm not going to be able to stop my instincts from taking over."
She leaned down until her lips brushed against my ear, her breath hot against my skin. "Let them," she whispered.
Perspective shift: Akeno
I watched his eyes dilate, pupils expanding with desire. That look, raw and hungry, sent a delicious shiver through my entire body. In an instant, his demeanor changed completely.
"You asked for it," he growled.
Before I could even process what was happening, Toshio lifted me effortlessly, like I weighed absolutely nothing. I squealed in surprised delight, quickly wrapping my legs around his waist to steady myself. The display of strength made heat pool between my thighs.
With three purposeful strides, he carried me across the room and slammed my back against the wall. The impact wasn't painful, but the forcefulness of it made me gasp, the roughness turning me on.
"This seems awfully familiar," I said, my voice coming out breathy and hot. "Do you like pinning me on walls, Toshi-kun~?"
His answer wasn't verbal. Instead, he captured my lips in a hungry, demanding kiss that stole my breath away. His tongue pushed into my mouth, claiming me completely as one of his hands moved to my breast, squeezing firmly through my uniform.
I moaned into his mouth, arching my back to press myself more fully into his touch. The hardness of his arousal pressed insistently against my panties, and I could feel how damp they were becoming. If only these pesky clothes weren't in the way...
As he kissed and groped me, feeling the heat build within me, I couldn't help but think about how I got there. I hated men, thanks to a certain father figure, and I never expected to have that resolved. Then this boy came along, and I found myself missing him more than anyone else but my mother. Being apart was almost like torture, and not the fun kind.
I craved his touch. I needed to feel him.
Just as his fingers began working at the buttons of my blouse, a sharp knock at the door made us both freeze.
"Akeno. Toshio. It's time to leave for school."
Rias' voice cut through our passionate haze like a bucket of cold water. I couldn't help the frustrated groan that escaped me as I rested my forehead against Toshio's shoulder. Of course she would interrupt us - again. This was becoming a pattern I was growing increasingly tired of.
"We'll be down in a minute, Rias," I called back, trying to keep my voice steady despite my racing heart and labored breathing.
Toshio's eyes met mine, mischief dancing in those steel-blue depths. Before I could say anything else, his hand squeezed my breast again, harder this time. The sudden pleasure made me moan involuntarily, the sound escaping before I could stop it.
"Toshi-kun, you naughty boy," I whispered, half-scolding, half-encouraging.
His lips curved into a smirk that made my insides melt. "You started it," he murmured against my ear before gently setting me back on my feet.
I smoothed down my uniform, trying to compose myself while my body still hummed with unfulfilled desire. "I intend to finish it later," I promised, trailing my fingers down his chest.
"I'm counting on it." He caught my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm that somehow felt more intimate than what we'd just been doing.
I moved to my vanity mirror to check my appearance. My cheeks were flushed, my lips swollen from his kisses, and my hair slightly mussed. I looked thoroughly kissed, and I loved it. Let everyone see what effect Toshio had on me.
"You know," I said as I fixed my hair, "Rias has the worst timing. It's almost like she has a sixth sense for when we're getting... close."
Toshio straightened his tie, watching me through the mirror. "You think she's doing it on purpose?"
I considered this for a moment, recalling how Rias had been acting around Toshio lately. The slight stiffness in her manner, the careful distance she maintained.
"I don't think she can help herself," I finally answered. "She can be quite possessive, even with things she doesn't own."
I turned to face him, suddenly serious. "She cares for you, you know. More than she's willing to admit, even to herself. No matter how much she tries to deny herself."
A shadow crossed his face - confusion, frustration, and something else I couldn't quite name. "She has a strange way of showing it. She could at least act like my friend, rather than a cold acquaintance."
"That's Rias for you. She has a difficult time separating conflicting feelings." I stepped closer to him, adjusting his collar affectionately. "She's been raised to put duty before desire, something she's always rebelled against. If she wasn't struggling, I think she would be treating you more like a friend."
"And you?" he asked, his hands settling on my waist.
I smiled, letting my fingers trail up to cup his face. "I've always been the rebellious one. Taking what I want is in my nature, and there's nothing stopping me."
His eyes darkened again, and for a moment I thought he might push me back against the wall for round two. Instead, he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"We should go," he said reluctantly. "Before your King comes looking for us."
I sighed dramatically. "Fine. But tonight..." I leaned up to whisper in his ear exactly what I planned to do to him later, enjoying the way his breath caught and his hands tightened on my waist.
When I pulled back, his expression was a delightful mix of shock and anticipation. "You're going to be the death of me, Akeno Himejima."
I winked, grabbing my school bag. "What a way to go, though~"
As we made our way downstairs to where Rias waited, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation for what the evening would bring. Six weeks was far too long to be separated from Toshio. Tonight, I intended to make up for lost time—thoroughly and repeatedly.
And this time, I would make sure we weren't interrupted.
XXX
Toshio POV
Back to school was monotonous, as usual. I enjoyed my time with Akeno in class, both us of teasing each other as much as possible without sensei catching us. After classes were over, I attended the Kendo club. The girls were doing quite well. We had a few girls trying to join, saying they had been practicing Kendo in the dojo I told everyone about at the beginning of the year. Three of them performed well enough to join.
Murayama went a little easy on them, since she had gotten much better since the beginning of the year. Seeing me more as a sensei now, Murayama and Katase had grown distant in an odd way. Like there was a barrier of respect between us. I didn't mind too much, as we still spoke often during and after club meets. And I wasn't planning on pursuing them anyway. It was nice to have normal human friends, though.
I went home soon after. The Gremory peerage was going to come over to my house to watch Kiba and I spar in my basement. I let Kuroka know in advance so she could be in her cat form when they got there. I wondered how she was going to react to seeing Koneko so close up.
It took some convincing for Kuroka to go along with it. I guessed that it was a combination of being found out, exposing Koneko to danger, or worst of all, Koneko rejecting her.
"Kuroka, they won't know. You're too good at hiding yourself."
"Kuroka, they won't know. You're too good at hiding yourself."
"No," she replied, her voice suddenly losing its usual playful lilt. Her golden eyes narrowed as she shifted from her relaxed position on the couch, sitting up straight. "You don't understand what you're asking me to do."
I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching as her entire demeanor changed. The transformation was striking—gone was the teasing, sensual woman I'd come to know, replaced by someone colder, more calculating.
"They're devils, Toshio," she continued, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Devils who would kill me on sight if they knew who I was. Or worse, drag me back to the Underworld for execution. Or try to, as if I'd let them," she huffed.
"They wouldn't recognize you in cat form," I argued. "You've maintained that disguise for months without issue."
Her laugh was sharp and bitter. "You think Rias Gremory wouldn't sense something off about me? Or that my own sister wouldn't feel a connection? Nekomata can sense their kin."
"Koneko hasn't sensed you before when you've been around her."
"Because I wasn't sitting in the same room with her for hours!" Her voice rose slightly before she controlled it again. "The longer I'm exposed, the greater the risk."
I sighed, pushing away from the counter to sit beside her. "Look, I understand your concerns—"
"No, you don't," she cut me off, her voice ice cold. "You're playing with my life. My freedom. If they discover me, best case scenario is I flee and never see you again. Worst case? I fight, people die, and Shirone hates me even more."
I reached for her hand, but she pulled away, standing in one fluid motion.
"And what if they find out you've been harboring me?" She continued, pacing now. "Your precious Gremory might not be so friendly anymore. They might even consider you a traitor."
"That's ridiculous," I said, though a flicker of doubt crept in. "Rias wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't what? Follow the laws of her people? Turn in a notorious criminal?" Kuroka's tail lashed behind her in agitation. "Devils aren't humans, Toshio. They don't share your moral code."
I stood up, meeting her gaze directly. "You're catastrophizing. The chances of them discovering you are minimal. You've been hiding in plain sight for years."
"And I'd like to continue doing so," she snapped.
"I think you're afraid," I said quietly.
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Excuse me?"
"Not of being discovered," I clarified. "You're afraid of seeing Koneko up close. Afraid of being that near to her without being able to speak to her, to explain."
The flash of pain that crossed her face told me I'd hit a truth she wasn't ready to face. Her shoulders slumped slightly, the fight draining out of her.
"Fine," she said after a long moment. "I'll do it. But I'll stay in cat form on the windowsill the entire time. And if I feel even the slightest hint of recognition from Shirone, I'm gone. Immediately."
Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."
Her golden eyes met mine, serious in a way they rarely were. "Don't thank me yet. This could still backfire spectacularly."
I nodded, understanding the weight of what I was asking. "I know. But I promise, I'll protect you if anything happens."
Her laugh returned, though softer than before. "My hero," she teased, but there was something genuine beneath the sarcasm. "Just remember, if this goes wrong, I'm taking all your chocolate with me when I flee."
"That's the real threat," I smiled, grateful for the return of her playfulness. "I'll make a fresh batch tonight, just in case."
"Smart boy," she purred, some of the tension finally leaving her body. She stretched languidly, her kimono slipping further off her shoulder. "Now, if we're done with this serious talk, I believe I have around an hour before your friends arrive. I could use a nap." She walked over towards the front door and jumped up to her lounging spot, transforming into a cat midjump.
Kuroka's control over Touki and Senjutsu was insane. She completely masked her presence and power, to the point where I wouldn't have even recognized her if I didn't have Observe. Though I'm sure someone well versed in the supernatural would be able to tell that she wasn't a normal cat.
XXX
The doorbell rang, and I answered the door to see all four of them.
"Hello. Come on in everyone. I'll show you around."
"Wow Toshio, your house is really pretty!" Akeno exclaimed. I figured she of all people would like it, since it embodied modern traditionalism.
"I agree. It's quite dignified," Rias said in a formal tone.
"Nice digs man," Kiba spoke up.
"Nice place," Koneko said, sniffing the air. "It smells, nice in here."
She continued to sniff the air. "Do you have a cat?" Leave it to the neko to pick up on another neko's scent almost instantly.
"I do." I looked above the front door, where a black cat was lounging but peering down at all of us. "Ku-chan, come down and meet everyone." She got up and did a cat stretch, then jumped down, landing directly on my shoulder. Akeno and Rias were immediately put on edge.
"Toshio, you know that's not a normal house cat, right?" Rias said carefully.
"I know. I met her in the forest while I was training. She hung around, and I decided to keep her. Kind of like a familiar, just one that doesn't listen to me." I explained, technically the truth.
"So, like a normal house cat," Kiba remarked. I snorted in amusement.
"She's certainly lazy like one." I gave her a side glance. She gave a little cat shrug like she was owning it. I noticed Akeno and Rias were still not put at ease.
"How long have you had her?" Rias asked, eyeing the cat with suspicion.
"We met the day you all left for the underworld at the end of first year. She hung out with me whenever I was training in the forest. Then she kind of just moved in on her own." I scratched her chin, causing her to squint her eyes. "It's been really nice to have a roommate."
"And you've noticed nothing suspicious? Familiar don't just pop up out of the familiar forest," Rias continued her questioning.
"Other than how much she loves chocolate? Not really." Rias still didn't seem convinced. Kuroka jumped down from my shoulders, walking over to Koneko. Stopping at her feet, Kuroka looked up at the white-haired girl. Koneko squatted down and held her hand out.
"Cuuute." Kuroka moved forward, headbutting Koneko's hand, then rubbed up against Koneko's thighs. Koneko sniffed the air.
"Why do you smell, familiar…" I half expected Kuroka to freeze up, causing further suspicion. The flick of her tail was enough for me to tell she was a little worried.
"Well, at least that's not surprising. All cats love Koneko," Rias said, crossing her arms. Koneko picked up the black cat and cradled it in her arms. Having grown used to her cat expressions, I could tell Kuroka was in absolute bliss, likely happier than she's been in a long time. I smiled at the scene.
"Let's go. Show us the tour, Toshio," Koneko softly demanded. I snorted.
"Sure, come on guys." I gestured for them to follow.
"I guess I'll let it go for now." Rias sighed, then started to follow me with the other. Akeno remained particularly close to me. I made sure it stayed that way.
During the tour, I would occasionally glance at Kuroka, who seemed utterly content in her sister's unknowing arms.
Stay on the windowsill the whole time, huh? I thought with amusement.
XXX
"This is incredible, Toshio," Kiba said, eyes widening as he took in the expansive training area I'd constructed. The reinforced walls, specialized magic-absorbing materials, and ample space made it perfect for our spar.
"You've been holding out on me," Kiba said good-naturedly.
"I have to do something to keep up with all you devils," I replied.
"You've been busy," Rias remarked, examining the magic circles etched into the floor. "These containment barriers are quite sophisticated."
I shrugged, trying to appear modest. "I wanted a place to train without destroying the neighborhood. I only tinkered with a few. Most I bought when the house was built." I wasn't going to tell them Kuroka had designed a few and improved the rest.
Akeno's fingers brushed against mine as she moved closer. "So thoughtful," she murmured, her voice low enough that only I could hear. If I wasn't used to her antics by now, the subtle electric pulse she sent through my hand would have made me flinch a little.
Koneko had settled on a bench along the wall, still cradling Kuroka in her arms. The black cat looked so content I almost felt guilty that we were about to cause a bunch of noise.
"Ready to show me what you learned from this mysterious swordmaster?" Kiba asked, using sword birth to form a black demonic-looking blade.
I nodded, moving to the center of the room. "Ladies, you might want to give us some space."
Akeno and Rias retreated to sit beside Koneko, forming an audience of three devils and one disguised SS-class criminal. What a strange life I was leading.
"Should we set any rules?" Kiba asked, settling into his stance.
"No magic," I said, drawing Shinjūka from her sheath. "More of a rule for me than you. Feel free to use the full extent of your demonic power, knight piece, and sacred gear."
"First blood wins."
"You sure? I might be too much to handle for you now," Kiba taunted.
"I'm confident," I said, smirking at him.
"Unchain the Repressed, Shinjūka," I said calmly. I had learned to call on my Shikai whenever, instead of only times of heightened emotions. This was a core part of my training, as when I experienced heightened emotions, it was often in reaction to something, like Rias almost getting killed. I couldn't be reactionary.
"It'll be interesting to fight your released form." I could tell my reiatsu made a difference, causing him to shift his stance slightly. I wasn't actively trying to pressure him with it, though.
Before more words could be exchanged, Kiba launched his first attack—blindingly fast, even to my enhanced perception. He had gotten even faster. Six weeks ago, I would have barely seen it coming. Now, though...
I sidestepped, not blocking but simply not being where his blade expected to find me. Shinken no Tenketsu wasn't about meeting force with force—it was about understanding intention before it became action.
Kiba's eyes widened slightly as his strike met empty air. He recovered instantly, pivoting to face me, his expression more serious now.
"You've improved," he acknowledged.
"You haven't seen anything yet," I replied, settling into the first stance Miyamoto had beaten into me.
This time, I initiated. My movements weren't as flashy as Kiba's, but they carried a deliberate precision that seemed to catch him off guard. He parried my first strike, but I wasn't where he expected for his counter.
The exchange continued for several seconds, our blades dancing in a rhythm that grew increasingly complex. I could sense Kiba's frustration building as his movements found nothing but air. He was fast—faster than ever—but his speed relied on predictability. He expected me to react in certain ways, to be where his calculations told him I should be.
But I wasn't calculating. I was feeling. Relying on instincts. Well, as best as I could currently. There was still a disconnect in my brain that I was often fighting against.
"What is this style?" he asked after another exchange left him striking at empty space. "It's unlike anything I've seen before."
"Shinken no Tenketsu," I replied, flowing around another of his attacks. "The True Sword of the Celestial Pulse."
His eyes narrowed with interest. "Celestial Pulse? Like pressure points?"
I smiled but didn't elaborate, instead launching into a sequence of strikes that forced him to retreat across the training floor. Each movement flowed into the next, my blade never stopping completely, always in motion like water finding its path.
From the sidelines, I heard Akeno's appreciative voice. "Ara ara, Toshi-kun has learned some new tricks~"
Kiba created a second sword in his left hand—a lighter, shorter blade that complemented his main weapon. "Let's see how your style handles this," he said, his confidence returning.
The dual blades changed the dynamic instantly. Where before I'd been able to predict his movements with relative ease, now I found myself working harder to track the separate paths of his weapons. His knight piece speed combined with the dual-wielding technique created a storm of strikes coming from multiple angles.
I blocked, parried, and evaded, but I could feel myself being pushed back. Time to stop holding back quite so much.
"Shinjūka, let's try some fusion," I murmured. I felt her eager response as a warm pulse through our bond.
"Yūgō: Runic Shunpo"
The next time Kiba came at me with his dual-blade assault, I didn't just evade—I countered. My movements became a blur, more precise, each strike targeting the weak points in his technique rather than meeting his blades directly.
Kiba was doing his best to keep up, but I knew he couldn't handle this speed. He was pushing himself, while I had more to give.
One particular opening presented itself, and I took it without hesitation. Shinjūka's edge connected with the hilt of Kiba's shorter blade, sending it spinning from his grasp.
The room went suddenly quiet as the sword clattered against the far wall.
Kiba stared at his empty hand in disbelief before a genuine smile spread across his face. "Well done," he said, lowering his remaining weapon. "I didn't even see that coming."
"Don't stop now," I urged him, not breaking my stance. "Show me what else you've learned."
His smile turned predatory. "If you insist."
The atmosphere shifted as Kiba's demonic energy flared. The floor around him erupted with swords of various designs—a forest of blades springing from the ground in a display of power I hadn't witnessed yet.
"Sword Birth - Imperial Armory!" Kiba shouted, and suddenly the entire room was filled with blades. Not just coming from the floor, but materializing in the air around him in concentric circles, creating a sphere of deadly steel that rotated slowly, awaiting his command.
"Sword birth!" Then I saw him form another sword in his hand. "Faia Sōdo (Fire sword)."
I whistled, genuinely impressed. "You've been holding out on me too."
"I learned a few tricks in the Underworld," he replied with a confident smile.
With a gesture from his hand, the first wave of swords launched toward me—a dozen blades flying through the air with deadly precision. This wasn't just a display of power; each sword was aimed at a different vital point. He hadn't had the power to control swords like this from the canon I saw. A new ability?
I channeled reiryoku into my legs and pushed off, using a combination of my enhanced reflexes and my fused Runic Shunpo to weave between the incoming weapons.
I sped to meet him head-on. His sword erupted in flames as he attacked. This was getting tricky.
"There's more where that came from," Kiba replied, unleashing his flames and sending another volley of other swords my way.
This time, I didn't just dodge. I met several of the blades with Shinjūka, deflecting them away from my body. The clash of steel rang throughout the basement as I parried sword after sword.
Then he would send flames my way. He thought of how to counter my speed. The longer this continued, the more likely I was to make a mistake.
"Yūgō: Runic Shunpo," I whispered. About time I showed him what max rank for this skill could do.
One moment I was dodging flying swords, the next I was directly in front of Kiba, Shinjūka already in motion toward his throat. His eyes widened in shock—he hadn't even seen me move.
To his credit, his reflexes were incredible. A blade materialized in his offhand just in time to deflect my strike, but the force of my attack sent him skidding backward several feet.
I disappeared again. The 5x power boost with this skill was my main way to bridge the gap in strength with supernaturals.
Kiba, trying to react, didn't notice me standing behind him before a line of blood opened on his cheek. He touched it in surprise.
"What was that?" he gasped, genuine surprise evident in his voice.
"The power of my shikai," I replied, not revealing anything. "That's my win."
Kiba sighed, all of his swords evaporating into demonic particles. "I guess I have a long way to go still. I couldn't even track you." Rias walked up, Akeno and Koneko behind her.
"Yuuto, I'm proud of your progress. You're becoming much stronger." Rias placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks president," Kiba said with a smile.
"I didn't know you could control your swords like that. When did you learn that?" Rias asked.
"During the whole Ghom thing, I knew I needed something to deal with opponents even faster than me. I came up with this to work with my flame sword to counter that," the sword birth user explained.
"Well it's quite impressive, Yuuto. Good job." Rias then turned her attention toward me.
"You've grown quite strong as well. Stronger than before, to be sure." I thought I saw a spark of hope in her eyes. "Thank you for sparring with my knight. I'm sure it's been informative for him." I sighed.
"Rias, could you please cut the formal speech? I'm not a devil noble nor a stranger. This artificial distance you're creating is starting to irritate me." I'm not sure why I said that, but hearing her formal, noble tone directed at me snapped something inside me, and I just couldn't let it go.
Akeno held a hand to her mouth, covering her smile. Koneko looked back and forth between us, staying neutral.
"Not gonna lie, president, it is a little weird to see you interact with him that way," Kiba jumped in. I glanced at him and gave a small nod, appreciating the support.
Rias looked at me with a mixture of surprise and something deeper I couldn't quite place. Her formal mask slipped for just a moment, revealing a flicker of vulnerability before she composed herself again.
"I..." she began, then paused, seeming to struggle with her words. "You're right. I apologize."
The admission caught me a little off guard. I'd expected her to brush off my comment or defend her behavior, not acknowledge it directly.
"Look," I said, softening my tone. "I understand you have responsibilities and complications I'm not privy to. But we were friends before summer break, and I'd like to think we still are."
She nodded, a small smile finally breaking through her composed exterior. "We are. It's just..." Her eyes darted to Akeno, then back to me. "Things have changed."
"Not everything has to," I replied.
An awkward silence fell over us until Koneko cleared her throat. "You two should talk. Alone."
I glanced at Akeno, who gave me an encouraging nod. She understood what was happening, perhaps better than I did.
"Tea's ready upstairs," I offered. "Koneko, Kiba, Akeno—why don't you help yourselves? Rias and I will be up in a minute. I apologize in advance for it not being as good as Akeno's." Said tea master just giggled.
As they filed out, Kuroka jumped from Koneko's arms and sat on the nearby bench, settling into a comfortable lounging position. I knew she'd be listening to every word.
When we were alone, Rias turned to face me fully, her posture still rigid but her expression more open than it had been in weeks.
"I don't know how to do this," she admitted quietly.
"Do what?"
"Be around you without..." She trailed off, gesturing vaguely between us. "It's complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it," I suggested. "Just tell me what's going on."
She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. "My brother knows about you."
That's about what I expected. "Sirzechs? What about me?"
"Everything. Your power, your involvement with the Ghom incident, your... relationship with Akeno." Her voice caught slightly on the last part. "Our relationship before…"
"Okay. Continue." She sighed.
"I'm the heiress to the Gremory household. My father set up an arranged marriage to benefit our family. Though, I have no intentions of just letting that happen."
"If that's the case, then that's obviously not the source," I prodded.
"I'm a devil, you're human. If you refuse to become a devil, then your lifespan is just a blink compared to mine," she tried to explain further.
"Okay, I can see how that could be a challenge for a relationship, but I'm asking for friendship. Friendship that isn't strained like it is now."
"It's not that simple," she stated, crossing her arms.
"Why not?" She looked down, her bangs shadowing her eyes.
"Because," she said softly. "Plus, you're with my Queen. And not…" I stepped toward her, placing my hands on her shoulders.
"Rias, I care about Akeno, yes, but I care about you too. I miss being able to talk to you normally, watching anime with you, just hanging out without this tension." She looked up at me, her eyes heavily conflicted. Being this close to her, now knowing the pleasures of kissing, I so badly wanted to meet her lips. Logic dictating that now wasn't the time, I restrained myself.
"I just want to be friends again, Rias." She closed her eyes briefly, then looked into mine.
"I'll try," she said softly.
"That's all I ask," I said with a small smile. I stepped back from her. "Now come on. Let's go have some of my mediocre tea." She giggled at that, despite herself.
"Maybe Akeno should give you lessons," she teased. The simple statement seemed to crack the wall of tension between us.
"Probably." I snorted in both amusement and relief. I couldn't wait to destroy that stupid chicken, Phenex.