"None of our friends would have died. Most of them were there in Kuoh or here where the boundary fields would have kept them safe. You wouldn't have almost died." Rias saw that as the most important thing. "Look at you, Shiro. You are so weak that I could flick you with my finger and you would fall."
"I needed to protect Fuyuki." He insisted as he placed the plate besides the sink. "Are you asking me to abandon the town?"
"If it would save your life? Yes." Her reply didn't really surprise him. "Shiro, be honest with me… did you know you would live after reforging Caliburn?"
Never before had he wished he could lie to her as much as now. "I didn't know one way or another."
"Damnit Shiro." Rias began to massage her temples. "What do you think I would do if you died?" Shirou's eyes were looking everywhere but her. "How do you think I would react? Would Yoruichi even arrive in time?!" She grabbed his shoulder gently as she saw how her lover almost fell when she touched him. "Shiro!"
"I am fine. Just surprised." A half truth was the best he could do.
Rias was having none of it. "You shouldn't even be standing." She pushed him to a chair and had him sit, Shirou lacking the strength to really stop her. "See this? This is why you shouldn't have rushed to fix Caliburn. You are as defenseless as a newborn kitten."
A fun thought came to his mind. "Did you just make that joke because of Yoruichi and Koneko?"
"Don't try to change the subject." She saw right through him as her hands held him carefully. "You are still warm… your circuits… are they still active."
"No." Shirou was pretty sure he would be dead if they were. "I was just so hot that I am still cooling down."
It was something unbelievable to her but Rias could tell that Shirou was correct. Despite his skin giving the perception he had a strong fever there was no other indication that his body was using mana. As a devil and this close she would feel it anyway but that detail only worried her more.
'How is he still alive?' Rias was grateful he was still among the living but everything she knew said that Shirou shouldn't be breathing. "Shiro, did something happen while you were fixing Caliburn?"
"Besides me, fixing a Noble Phantasm by disrupting the most idiot ritual ever done? Nothing else… that I could perceive." Her head snapped to look at his eyes as Shirou looked sadly at her. "I didn't know if I was going to live or die during that… sorry."
"'Sorry' doesn't cut it, not on this." She still embraced him tightly, thanking the stars he was still alive. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Fuyuki would have been destroyed-"
"Screw Fuyuki! I need you alive!" Rias' hug got more desperate. Even when Shirou grew stiff she didn't let him go. "I love this town." She admitted in a whisper. "It is where I grew into my own person, here is- here I met some of the most important people for me, learned so much about so many things and tasted freedom for the first time. It is a beautiful place that is both peaceful and chaotic at the same time." She leaned back so their eyes could meet. "But I love you more."
Shirou looked down for an instant before his eyes were back on hers. "I am sorry but… I would have done that again if I had to." Gently their foreheads meet, Rias knowing his apology was sincere. "But I will always come back to you, even if I have to surpass death itself."
"I know… but maybe you can't." She couldn't reincarnate him because of Avalon and she suspected it was the reason why Shirou lived. 'Keeping that sheath on him was the right call.' Rias just wanted Shirou safe and her eyes grew firm. "That is why I have to make sure you never have to make that sacrifice in the first place."
That sounded both kind and ominous to Shirou. "Rias… is that the reason why you let Yoruichi sleep with me for this long." They separated. "You want to take advantage of her feelings?"
Both of them knew that Yoruichi wasn't just a powerful woman but that she was important too. Despite her relative young age she had managed to ascend to the position of King of Kyoto and was the leader of one of the most important factions of yokais in Japan. If they knew Kokabiel was coming there was little the nekomata couldn't bring to bear that would have avoided any crisis without even calling upon the Underworld.
"Advantage? Maybe that is the right world but I disagree." Rias offered him a smile that had a hint of impishness in it. "If anything you can only blame yourself; you are a man easy to fall in love with."
"But I love you."
"Can't you love her too?" Rias saw how Shirou looked to the side and she pulled him back to her gently with her hand. "You do love her in a way and that isn't strange." She began to whisper in his ear. "Lust can turn to love but love is a fuel for lust. You want her, you desire her and you care for her more than most of her acquaintances back in Kyoto do." She retreated again, Shirou looking at her in shock. "You know that to me it was the same; besides a few good friends, most only saw my position and status. It is something that most important nobles have to deal with from time to time."
Yet Shirou just looked at her oddly. "And you are just fine with that?"
Rias stood up and revealed her wings. "Feh, Shiro, I will remind you that I am a devil. Despite how much you believe that I am still human in a sense, there are plenty of differences between our cultures." Her wings disappeared and she sat down with her hands on his knees. "Comparing both is kind of unfair, especially since even amongst humans and devils neither of us can be called 'normal'."
Neither could really; Rias was a devil who sought freedom more than power and Shirou had a Reality Marble.
"Besides, the Love of Gremory kind of saddled you with me for the rest of our lives." Rias gave him a cheeky smile. "It would take a lot for you to get me out of your hair."
That reminded Shirou of something. "I met some of your father's peerage." He saw her eyebrow twitch. "It was when I was helping Yoruichi investigate the Rearguard."
"Happy to know one of my aunts didn't die today since he would only be here when I am not around." Rias' relief was palpable.
"You aren't upset that I didn't tell you about them?" Her independence was something that Rias always placed a lot of value in. Shirou saw her chuckle and shook his head. "Of course you aren't. You already knew."
"'Know' is the wrong term here. More like we suspected." Rias remembered they touched on it during the fight but could see that Shirou didn't want to upset her. "It is just… we pretended that they weren't there and did the best job possible, trusting that our Clans weren't interfering."
Unfortunately their guardians of that day died and both grieved for the people whose names they didn't know. "Kokabiel got some…"
"As I said, my aunts wouldn't be the ones here today. They would mostly be with my father." Shirou raised an eyebrow and Rias giggled. "Are you perhaps thinking that it is odd that a Gremory has a harem considering how much love we offer to just one individual?"
"The thought came to mind, yes."
Giggling a little more, Rias shook her head. "The ways of devils are much more complicated than they seem but the fact is that most of us need to focus on finding partners to help us repopulate." That Shirou already knew. "However, much like me, there are those that don't want the partners that were negotiated for them for a reason or another and every single one of my 'aunts' were my mother's friends first."
It clicked with Shirou. "They are part of your father's harem at her request?"
"More like she demanded." Rias found his baffled face cute and touched his cheek. He was still too warm for her tastes. "My father is a Gremory and unlike my brother who Grayfia can't share with anyone for political reasons, my mother has no problem to do so if she likes the girls enough." There was an implication that had Shirou's eyebrows jumping and Rias smiled. "Some of them were witches that fell for his charm while one or two like my mother a little too much. All in all my parents cared for them and some liked my father enough."
"Anything else that I should know about this? Maybe you have more siblings other than the actual Lucifer?" He wondered if he would have to fight some of them to prove his valor or something.
Rias looked really disappointed to shake her head. "Despite how much my father adores my aunts, and he does a lot by how he treats them, unfortunately he only had two children because they are all devils."
"But it has been hundreds of years." At least that was what Shirou estimated after some quick math.
"Yes and two children are quite surprising all things considered." Rias nodded with pride before chuckling. "Admitally his odds were better with mother because he… finished with her more times with the others."
"Oh."
"Also don't think my mother, or I for that matter, share our man to any woman." Rias commented with her hands on her waist. "Only those we deem worthy can partake in our dearest treasure, doubly so for me because I may be a little more affectionate than her."
Rias didn't know if it was the Love of Gremory or her personality alone but she found herself selective of what kind of girls she would share Shirou with. There were plenty of candidates as Shirou was considered popular but only those that she saw a connection between him and them were those Rias would approve of.
That and also that they were mature in a way the majority wasn't. "There is a reason why I haven't made a similar offer to Akeno despite her teasing."
"Rias…" Shirou knew about Akeno's feelings but part of him was embarrassed even talking about it.
"Please, Shiro, if she had the chance she would 100% try to be your mistress… If only she matured a little more." Rias let out a sad sigh. "Today, before you arrived I saw proof that Akeno… still has too many issues to even consider offering her a relationship of this kind." That was one of the few times Rias regretted being right.
"What did Kokabiel do?" Shirou didn't need much to know who hurt his friend.
"He tore her apart with just words." It wasn't the defeat that stung Akeno the most, it was what came after. "Words and an attitude that exposed how much Akeno hates herself. How she rejects a part of herself." Again that was a problem she couldn't help her friend with but tried to think on a better topic. "Speaking about self awareness, Reality Marble." She gave Shirou a cheeky grin. "Who could have thought, right?"
Shirou scratched the back of his head out of habit. "Sorry but that would bring… too many troubles for us to deal with."
"I absolutely agree, luckily Sona isn't a tattle tale and your new friend, the White Dragon Emperor, seems more interested in fighting than to keep the status quo." Plans needed to be drafted either way but Rias knew Sirzechs would back her up on this one.
Not only as her brother but as the First King of the Underworld, someone with a Reality Marble was an asset that was too precious to lose.
Or Rias would declare war one way or the other and her brother knew that.
"Anyway, enough chat. Go to bed, you have a cat waiting for you and she deserves a proper reward."
"It still feels like I am doing something I shouldn't." Shirou admitted.
"Haa? Did your parents instill those kinds of values on you?"
It was Shirou's turn to surprise Rias. "My mother actually never had a problem with me pursuing multiple relationships. She demanded at least ten grandchildren before my thirties." Rias blinked in shock as her mind tried to process that. "By the way, you still have to meet my parents. If we are going to come clean with yours I think I should prepare you."
"You are stalling." She recognized him trying to change the subject. "What is wrong? You fear that a couple of girls are after you bothers me?"
"I just don't want to hurt you." Rias kissed Shirou slowly and delicately before taking another step back.
His lips were too warm as well. "It would take a lot for you to hurt me. Like you suddenly dying." The glare she gave him conveyed all the emotion she had about the subject. "But I know you would never do anything like it on purpose, that you wouldn't touch another girl if I told you no. It just isn't you. I mean, you and Yoruichi had been sleeping together for a while now-"
"She always slept as a cat." Shirou saw the surprised look on Rias' face before she began to laugh. "What is so funny?"
"Hahaha, it is just… I gave her my permission a while ago and she never tried for real." Rias laughed a little more as a confused Shirou watched. "I knew we had a lot in common and it seems we had a lot more than we thought. Like the fact that we are too afraid to take the next step without anyone pushing her." She chuckled a little. "I wished that you were in better condition today, just to be present for her first time."
"I am sorry, what-" Rias interrupted him with another kiss.
It was passionate in ways the previous ones weren't before and the two held on each other as their hands explored their bodies. When Shirou was about to take off Rias' top she stopped him and gave him a mischievous grin.
"Good, you are strong enough for that. Now go get her, 'Tiger'."
"I think we should talk a little more about this." Shirou wanted to continue and do it in the kitchen but he wouldn't keep going if Rias didn't want it.
And she didn't want him to continue with her as her arms grabbed him by his white and blue sweater. "Shiro… I love you so much that if anything ever happened to you I would fly into a murderous rage before trying to stop breathing." The look of horror in his face told her that was the last thing he wanted but knew she was telling the truth. "I wanted you to be happy. I want us to be happy, whatever the cost. And I know you want that too."
Nodding slowly the redheads knew Rias was correct and Shirou didn't bother to deny it, however there was a critical difference between the two of them.
"The thing is that, the same way you saw Humanity in a devil, you need to accept that there is some devil inside the human." Rias whispered slowly and sensually, teasing Shirou as he knew she didn't want to go beyond this. Not with her. "You have limits, you are limiting yourself to human values even when you don't care much about them."
Shirou grabbed her by the back of her neck and they began to kiss and with more resolve than he had before he put her over the table. "Do you want me to stop?"
"No but I think," she spoke quickly before the magus continued, "that our kitty deserves a reward. And this is the kind I know she wants." Rias propped herself up with her elbows as Shirou took a step back. "For as long as she can before the morning reminds us of our problems."
There were going to be consequences for Yoruichi's help, a fact that the nekomata knew but was avoiding mentioning even during dinner. But neither redhead forgot that her help had a price as a foreign power interfering in other Factions' business was usually frowned upon, no matter the reason.
Shirou wished that he could do more but the problems were going to be in Kyoto and he doubted Yoruichi would let him go there to help. He would probably make things worse. "How long do you think she has?"
"If it was us we would already be leaving the territory." Rias knew they weren't important enough to avoid certain punishments. "But she is the top brass of her Faction. She will be fine but will need to go back for a while. I just don't know how long."
With a nod Shirou stood up and began to leave the kitchen only to stop. "Are you sure?"
Rolling her eyes, Rias embraced Shirou's back tenderly. "Stop thinking with your head and think with your heart… Or better, with your soul." She may not know much about Reality Marbles but general knowledge would be enough. "When you see the world you try to see it as humans do but that never sat quite right with you. Your Reality Marble is the why and the proof of that." Her hand landed in his heart and she felt every beat. "You see the world in a way beyond humans, a way that may be too similar to a devil's. Or better yet, a demon." Her whisper turned husky and she bit her ear nibble. "So stop holding back. You have a whole world inside your soul, enough for the two of us and anyone else we want."
There was a change in Shirou's posture as he felt hot under the collar and smiled at his first lover. "You really are the devil on my shoulder." He turned to her with an assertiveness that wasn't there before and pushed her back to the kitchen sink.
This time he was so intense that Rias found herself failing to fight back. All the preparation she did to tease him and get him ready had gone out of the window as their kiss grew more and more passionate. She was moaning from the kiss and how he was touching her legs and breasts.
Until Shirou suddenly stopped and stepped away. "Maybe another night." He whispered, making the pureblood devil shiver.
If he had kept going Rias wouldn't have fought anymore but with a cheeky smile of his own, Shirou turned around and began to march to his room leaving a blushing Rias to ponder. "What have I just unleashed?" Shirou barely heard his lover but refused to reply as another was waiting for him.
There was a feeling in his chest that Shirou felt only when he spent the most passionate nights with Rias. It was fear and instinctual in a way that he couldn't describe. Yet he didn't allow it to control him and instead took hold of that feeling as he marched to his room with a purpose as his thoughts kept running thousands of miles per hour.
Because Shirou knew Yoruichi better than most, he knew why the nekomata held back and hesitated as even her most bold advances came as offers and she never stepped through certain boundaries even when he was ready to give in.
She wanted him to give in but refuse to say it or to move beyond what she was comfortable doing even if she knew what she wanted. All that bravado came with some insecurity, not in her appearance, the nekomata knew she was beautiful, but in her inexperience. Much like Rias before they became lovers, Yoruichi never had anyone that she could trust as much as she trusted him.
At least not outside her family as she always spoke well about her fellow Kings and her brother, especially her brother who she loved with all her heart. A love she shared with Koneko in a sense but different but as a brother himself he could understand and sympathize.
Regardless of his opinions he was ready to finally give in and when he entered his room to see Yoruichi sitting on his futon in her cat form with her eyes open he couldn't help but joke. "I thought you were sleeping."
Yoruichi immediately noted there was something different in Shirou's eyes, something she liked. "Thought about it but a certain redhead almost killed himself today and I decided to help him." She watched as he closed the door and approached with confidence in his step. "You should thank my generosity."
"Always." Quickly he approached and the nekomata was surprised how he didn't seem tired at all. Thanks to her Ki Yoruichi was in much better condition than anyone else even after facing the White Dragon Emperor, yet Shirou seemed to be in better shape somehow. "Do you need to stay as a cat to apply the treatment?"
"What?" She couldn't hide her surprise.
And by the chuckle he gave her, Shirou noticed she was caught flat footed. "Do you need to stay in this form," he scratched her neck just the way she liked, "to show that generosity?"
"Nyaa~" She returned to her human form while enjoying his touch after failing to resist. It was a little more warm than usual but there was still the same tender care and kindness she was familiar with.
In an instant Shirou's hand wasn't in a cat's head anymore but in a woman's neck as he massaged it just right for Yoruichi. Her clothes had been replaced by a black sweater that was too big for her but showed her slender figure.
Yoruichi fell into the moment with closed eyes as Shirou's hands worked in her neck to then fall into the sweater and touch her back. Despite looking completely human he was still treating her like a cat and she found herself enjoying the attention. His hands moved to her shoulder and instinctively she leaned in his hand.
Instead of continuing with the massage Shirou touched her cheek and Yoruichi's eyes opened. Despite the darkness of the room the redhead could see the blush in her face even a little hidden by her skin. If anything he found the sight endearing as the woman couldn't help but retreat with a smile.
"What has gone into you today?" Yoruichi leaned back using her hands to support herself.
She was still blushing. "I just wanted to show how much I appreciate you. How much I care about you." If he wasn't incapable of lying, his eyes would show how sincere he was. "Weren't you saying something about thanking your generosity?" He laid at her side and Yoruichi fought to not move. "Or are you…"
"I am what?" She felt herself blush more and grew agitated when Shirou whispered in her ear.
"Nervous?"
'Goddamnit.' Some of Yoruichi's confidence turned back as she turned to him, their lips almost brushing against each other. "And what would I be…" She also paused for effect. "Nervous?" But unlike her Shirou wasn't affected.
If anything he grew more bold as his hand touched her face. "I don't know… why would you be?" His tone was suggestive. "Maybe it has something to do with something you were thinking of doing tonight." He gave her a look and with that look she understood what he was implying. He still hammered it in. "I mean, usually you don't leave anything to imagination but this sweater seems to exist to tempt me?"
Yoruichi licked her lips. "Are you tempted?"
"By you? A hundred times before this." Shirou closed the distance. "And this one as well." They kissed and while Yoruichi was surprised she also was pleased by the outcome.
'Finally-' She barely had time to form a thought as the kiss grew more intense.
Proving that she was the one in better condition, Yoruichi moved to embrace Shirou's neck but she still ended with her back in the futon as his tongue explored her mouth. For a moment the nekomata felt overwhelmed, too overwhelmed even but before anything could happen Shirou stopped and leaned back.
"Breath." Shirou whispered after noticing that Yoruichi was having some difficulties.
The nekomata took the advice with gusto. "Thanks… What brought this on? Not that I didn't want it but-"
"You deserve a reward and much more." Shirou commented while holding her chin. "For a good time now I wanted to do it but certain principles stopped me from acting." His eyes were firm, just the way she liked them. "But I realized that these principles are not mine, that I am the world's most selfish man."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She whispered before she kissed his cheek. "Forget it." She began to move to his neck.
Before he interrupted her. "And are you sure you want this?" Yoruichi was stunned by the words that while they carried a lot of desire and lust also carry a deep respect. "I want you and you want me." Shirou laid open for them both. "But do you want this? Are you ready for this?"
It was then that Yoruichi noticed some details like that despite the proximity between them, he was avoiding touching anywhere inappropriate. 'Wonder what that will feel like?' She chuckled. "Are you really asking me that now?"
"Not much different from dropping naked and embracing my back before battle." Shirou replied with a chuckle that had Yopruichi looking to the side with some embarrassment. Slowly he moved her head so their eyes would meet. "We were strangers there going towards the unknown that threatened the whole city with a huge ritual that promised to destroy everything."
"But in reality it was just a bunch of people in the wrong place at the wrong time." Yoruichi admitted with some embarrassment. "Good thing we didn't do anything then. Would have tainted the experience."
"Would it?" His hand slid in her back, making Yoruichi shiver. "I don't think it ruined anything but what would have messed things up was that we didn't know each other then. Not like we do now. Before you were the sexy catwoman and I was a magus too stubborn for his own good." Both found themselves smiling. "Now we are still that but we know each other better."
"Much better." It rolled off her tongue with desire.
"Do you want to do it?" Shirou's question surprised her. "Because what you did today you might have to leave tomorrow."
"Is that why you are offering?" Yoruichi would be disappointed if that was the case.
It wasn't and Shirou proved it by kissing her again more passionately than before. "What do you think?"
A feral but sensual grin made its way to her lips. "You just want me to say it."
"No." Yoruichi found herself shocked. "Actions speak louder than words." And he kissed her again.
This time she didn't let him stop.
…
After a few minutes there was some noise escaping the walls of Shirou's room. "Huh, looks like Medusa wasn't kidding." It grew louder with meows and moans. "Not kidding at all." A magic circle appeared on Rias' hand as the boundary field around the room grew stronger. She still could hear some things which made her chuckle. "Looks like I will have to ask someone to adjust it."
Biting her lips she approached a wall to place an ear and managed to catch some of the action despite the boundary field.
'Is it wrong that I kinda want to join in.' Curiosity and interest almost had her going to the door. 'But not today. Today is Yoruichi's day. Her first day…' Blinking, Rias managed to catch her own thoughts. "Is that why mother… Nooo… is it?"
Shaking her head a little the redhead silenced any internal debate and stomped out any desires born from her curiosity. She had a job to do as the Second Owner of Fuyuki and while Sona agreed with her to postpone most of the work there was something she knew needed to be done.
Not only as the person in charge of the town but also as a friend.
So Rias turned to continue her march towards the room she was walking towards before, a plate with a knife on her left hand and a bowl with apples in her right. Senjutsu kept them at the peak of their maturity while Magecraft improved the taste and nutrients to its full potential. They were all bloody red and there were even plans for a tree to be planted in the property that only were delayed due to a lack of time from everyone's part.
As things stood those plans would be delayed even more but Rias had faith that Koneko would make some progress after the most recent mess. It was one of the few positives in the pureblood devil's mind after everything they went through.
Usually not one to share such a bounty with strangers, the King of Gremory approached one of the guest rooms with a smile. "Coming in~" Rias didn't bother to knock on the door and opened it with her foot.
Like most guest rooms the place was empty with just a futon for someone to sleep in it. It was still clean and well maintained as both Shirou and Medusa wouldn't allow a single speck of dust to ruin their work. This one belonged to the little goddess territory and she was in charge of keeping it pristine, which it definitely was.
However there was a presence there that night as the room finally got to exert its function. A guest came and she was in the middle of the room with a white blanket covering her form.
Rias saw no movement from the girl in question and if things were normal she would let the girl sleep and allow her to rest until morning at the very least.
Unfortunately the situation demanded action and an investigation so Rias approached the futon while paying close attention to the soft expression of the sleeping beauty. Or what appeared to be a sleeping beauty because Rias was sure that she wouldn't be sleeping regardless of how tired she felt, not after everything that happened.
Instead of calling her out immediately, Rias sat down with the bow of apples to one side and the empty plate in front of her, closer to the futon.
Humming to herself and to her falsely asleep audience, Rias began to peel one of the apples. She worked slowly and methodically, half of her attention directed towards the sleeping beauty. Compared to Shirou she didn't have a high affinity or practice with blades but she was quite good with a knife.
Her teacher in the Underworld was a samurai and one of the first lessons was about how a blade could be dangerous regardless of the size. Rias didn't know how to use knives to fight but she knew how to use them well and soon the first apple was peeled.
Instead of moving to the next she cut the first apple in half before cutting them into smaller pieces in the shape of a half moon. She didn't know how the person liked to eat apples but most people didn't like the calyx or the stalk so she was focusing on cutting off these parts.
When the first apple was done Rias separated the seeds and the rest before obliterating the undesirable parts with her Power of Destruction while the seeds she sent away with a magic circle.
There was a flinch from the figure beneath the blanket and Rias watched to see if she would do anything else. While the Heiress watched she began to work on the second apple when noticed the person beneath the blanket wasn't moving.
In total she had four apples to work with but Rias had already decided that once she finished peeling the second one then one way or another she and the sleeping beauty were going to have a talk.
All that Rias was doing was giving the other girl a chance to come clean but it seemed she wasn't going to take it. "Are you going to pretend to sleep the whole time I am here?" Rias was half done with peeling the second apple. "You still didn't have dinner after all that happened and I thought that maybe you might want something." Cutting part of the apple, she placed it in her mouth with the knife. "These apples are delicious."
Eyes opened as the sleeping beauty turned to Rias. "Auguste is already gone?"
Luviagelita Edelfelt sounded weak and nothing like her usual aristocratic self; her skin was pale and there were dark circles beneath her eyes that brought out how puff they were from crying.
Her hair was also a mess but that was from the long time laying down and not from the damage her soul took like the rest. Rias could feel how much weaker the Blue Magus was compared to her usual self and how much of a toll the events of the day took from her.
But it wasn't done yet. "Yes, he already left. I imagine that he was here with you?" A small nod was the best Luvia could offer. "Well, once he received the bad news he found himself in a really uncomfortable position. His loyalty was divided between you and your family." Rias could see how defeated the blonde was and how worse it got when she revealed her butler had departed. "Do you understand what happened?" Instead of replying, Luvia looked to the side, avoiding Rias entirely. "There is no escaping this, Luvaigelita."
"I am not trying to escape… I am just tired." It wasn't a lie, Rias could tell as much.
"Unfortunately there will be no rest for the wicked and you, Luviagelita, have been a bad girl."
There was no jest on Rias' tone and if anything the redhead sounded dangerous. So dangerous that Luvia's body grew stiff as she waited for whatever the devil was about to do to her.
"Look at me, Luviagelita." The redhead ordered with a degree of threat. It was clear that if she didn't move, Rias would make her move.
Considering how weak she was, Luvia was afraid. Not only Rias was always more powerful than her but any veil of civility seemed to have left the Gremory Heiress and she knew something, something that Luvia desperately wanted to hide.
Wishing to not make things worse, the blonde looked at Rias who pushed the plate with apple slices in front of her. "We ate pizza for dinner but I don't think grease food is what you need right now." Luvia looked surprised and Rias rolled her eyes. "Eat. If you want some water I can fetch it for you. Unfortunately we are out of juice too."
After a moment to make sure Rias wasn't kidding with her, the blonde let a sigh escape before trying to sit up. Luvia's blue dress had been removed and instead Rin put her in a loose blue shirt and pants that looked to be some kind of pajamas. The redhead guessed that Auguste must have bought it once he was well enough to walk.
"Thank you." Luvia picked up the first slice and took a small bite, it was barely half of the slice and it was already small in the first place. Still she took her time chewing it before swallowing and taking another bite.
Instead of complaining about Luvia's pace, Rias focused back on cutting the apple in her hand. "Do you understand what happened?" She didn't like repeating herself but that was a special occasion. Slowly Luvia nodded. "Would you mind if I ask a couple of questions?"
After finishing the first slice, Luvia looked afraid. "Are these questions coming from the Second Owner of Fuyuki?"
"Yes, some of them are." Rias offered her a gentle smile. "But others are from a friend, or someone that thought she was your friend."
The implications of that statement only made Luvia feel worse. "I am sorry." She lowered her head in shame and repentance, something Rias never expected from the proud Heiress of Edelfelt.
'But then again she isn't the Heiress anymore, is she?' At least Rias knew Luvia was aware of her situation. However, both out of sympathy and to get it out of the way, Rias felt compelled to ask "Do you need me to explain the full scope of the damage you took."
Luvia looked like someone had killed her cat. "I know my body better than anyone else and I also studied any information I could get about Excalibur." She took another slice and looked at it with sadness. "The injection of Holy Energy destroyed my Crest… I can't think my circuits fared any better."
It seemed that while intellectually Luvia understood the situation, there was still a certain level of denial in her. She was refusing to really elaborate the damage that she took where Rias could tell about it just by looking at her and feeling her presence.
Previously Luvia felt much like Rin, a small beacon of mana ready to be unleashed and level a neighborhood if necessary. Now that brightness was almost gone and she could only be compared to a street lamp if even that. There was almost no mana circulating Luvia's body because her circuits were not in condition to take anything.
"Do you prefer me to be gentle or realistic?" Rias finished with the second apple and moved to take off the skin of the third.
The question startled Luvia and the blonde realized things were worse than she thought. "The truth, please… No matter how cruel."
"Your life as a magus is over." Rias saw Luvia's eyes grow wide as she really hadn't taken into account how damaged her circuits were. The devil tried to slow down. "Auguste left because he feared that you couldn't be anything to your Family other than someone to marry with someone else, you already realized that. What you didn't realize was that not only was your Crest destroyed and your circuits damaged but they were damaged beyond repair to any normal method-"
"At least those where I stay human." Luvia's hand was shaking and if she was stronger she would have crushed the slice between her fingers.
She was just too weak to even succeed on that.
However that wasn't a topic Rias wanted to touch at the moment, not with the blonde as she was. "Regardless, Auguste knows you well enough that he felt he should depart and prepare to transfer some things in Fuyuki to your name."
"Haha. Always reliable until the very end." A melancholic smile blossomed on Luvia's face. "If he stayed when I recovered his contract would force him to drag me to my family… My sister will be upset…"
"Do you want to call her?" Rias destroyed the skin of the apple as Luvia shook her head.
"No… I think she will hate me for the rest of our lives… Maybe even beyond that. We Edelfelt tend to hold a grudge." Despite the joke, Luvia sounded sadder than when she spoke about her circuits. "If I went back… Auguste is right, I wouldn't be happy." She ate another slice.
Rias gave the blonde a few seconds to think and calm down before speaking again. "You don't need to decide anything right now." Both were talking like things were already settled but the redhead knew the importance of family. "Take your time to think about it, you can stay for as long as you want. You will even get to taste Shiro's breakfast." She informed her with a chuckle.
"So this is Shero's house." Luvia looked around with some wonder before sighing. "It is homely."
"You are only seeing one room." Not that Rias disagreed. "Besides-"
"She won't ever forgive me if I go back. My sister, that is." Luvia sounded even weaker than before. "We both always had our parts to play, we were happy with them, but now I failed and if I return, our parts will be reversed." She bite another slice. "She had a man she loved, her fiance who is from a small family that is rising to prominence. Good enough for the spare but not for the heir." Anger colored her voice, a cold one lacking passion. "If I go back, I will have to marry him and Luna will never forgive me."
"... I see." Rias noticed the love and care beneath Luvia's anger and realized she wasn't just frustrated with the situation. 'She is also angry at herself.' She began to cut the third apple. "I am sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." Luvia took another slice, her mood growing darker by the moment. "Unfortunately my sister is very much like me. Apologies won't help at all if I return." The apple felt sour in her mouth. "Maybe she won't kill me but she will make sure that I will be like a bird in a cage for the rest of my life, especially if I am to marry her love. She couldn't even have me just as a lover since she will have to marry someone of equal status."
"The curse of nobility." Rias felt sympathetic at the Edelfelt sisters' fate. But that sympathy only went so far. "Why did you attempt to get the Fragments?"
The surprise on Luvia's face was real "Uh?"
It wasn't a surprise to Rias that Luvia failed to understand, the blonde's mind wasn't in the right place. "Why did you try to acquire the Fragments, Luviagelita?" Still that was a conversation that needed to happen. "The Exorcists confessed that you knew about the Order of Pendragon for at least a few days." What she managed to pry from them at least. "And you just admitted that you had enough knowledge to research Excalibur before it even arrived in Fuyuki."
The accusation was silent but the fact that Luvia knew anything about the invading force and told no one didn't paint a pretty picture. With how hard it was to monitor a whole city, unless basic rights were discarded that even devils tried to avoid doing to not having to deal with a rebelion, the only way the Second Owners could truly keep an eye everywhere was through their contacts.
"Kokabiel's plan depended on secrecy not only for his own presence but also the Order's. He wanted to start a war." Rias made sure to speak slowly, Luvia needed to understand how much her plan risked everyone. "By killing us, me and Sona, he planned to have Heaven and the Underworld destroy each other." She noticed how the blonde shivered, taking it as a sign she knew the danger they all were in. "Had we known the Order was around earlier we could have called our siblings… No, that is a lie. We would have attacked earlier, neutralized the army around Fuyuki and forced Kokabiel to act sooner, possibly ruining his plan."
That was a 'what if' scenario that Rias wasn't sure it would pan out perfectly but she knew that without backup Kokabiel wouldn't be able to keep himself hidden as Freed wouldn't be enough to protect the Fragments even with the elite of the Order of Pendragon by his side.
However that didn't happen, they didn't know that Kokabiel was around until the man revealed himself.
And the responsable for it was Luvia, unintentional as it was. "Your callous actions left Fuyuki at risk and your decision of not informing anyone about the Order of Pendragon almost led the world to another Great War." She saw horror but couldn't stop.
Both as Rias Gremory and the Second Owner of Fuyuki she needed Luvia to see the size of her mistake. She needed Luvia to see how much worse she made the situation with her silence.
"Had we had an inkling of Kokabiel's plans we would have really called our siblings. The threat of war would be too great for us to keep being stubborn." Rias was confident of that possibility. "And since you knew he was around-"
Before things could get worse and because Luvia knew how bad her situation was, she decided to interrupt. "Yes, I knew the Order of Pendragon had been here. Not about the Fragments or that they planned to steal it but once I knew who they were here and connected the dots I saw an opportunity." There was a real fear in Luvia's tone. "I knew nothing about Kokabiel. Nothing. Had I known I would gladly call you since revealing him would have been enough to prove myself."
Rias finally received the answer to her original question. "Why did you have to prove yourself, Luviagelita?"
The mixture of shame, anger and sadness, Luvia failed to hold back a sigh. "I wanted a Pact with the Sitri…" A moment of silence passed as Rias waited. "I noticed that Shero didn't seem to notice any of my advances and that our relationship wasn't progressing as fast as I hoped." The redhead kept her poker face even as the blonde sighed again. "Despite being one of the richest families of magi on the planet, one of the few things that the Edelfelt always lacked was a Pact and I saw the Order of Pendragon as a chance to get one."
"If you had married Shiro you planned to convince him to change his name to Edelfelt. We already knew that, he already knew that." Not really strange since Shirou was both adopted and the younger sibling of the Emiya Family. However Luvia's interest in Shirou was genuine so Rias didn't press much further. "Mayhaps in the past if you had asked, he would have agreed." The blonde looked at the devil in surprise but Rias just chuckled at her expression. "Unfortunately for you, the first and perhaps last person he is going to take to the altar is me. Depending on who else may want to marry him, of course."
Yoruichi didn't seem to have interest and she was the only one Rias was sharing Shirou with for the moment but the redhead devil was flexible.
'Only if I go to the altar first.' She still wanted that traditional Japanese marriage.
Luvia looked baffled for a moment as the information settled in her mind. She looked even more depressed than before. "How long?"
"A little before Riser and the Phenex debacle for me… Yoruichi just joined today." Rias didn't hide her amusement at Luvia's wide eyes. "Oh it is Shihouin Yoruichi, one of the Kings of Kyoto, by the way." Her eyes would be saucers if Luvia had the capability for it. "They are doing the deed right now.
It was then that Luvia remembered that Rias was a devil and such relationships weren't a problem for her. "I see…" It helped little as Luvia still felt defeated. "And he managed to catch the eye of one of the leaders of the Yokai Faction… As expected of Shero." Her sad smile almost made Rias herself depressed. "How did he manage that?"
"Kuro was Yoruichi and I may tell you more about that later…" Because she still had a duty to fulfill. "And from what you said, you felt that you weren't progressing with Shiro and decided to go for Sona. Why the Fragments?"
"I was planning to offer them to her, including the ones from the Church." No use in hiding anything, Luvia just opened up about her plan. "I tricked the Exorcists and planned to take their Excalibur Fragments once we had secured the ones the Order of Pendragon stole. It was a simple plan; guide them to the bases, find the swords, knock them out and give them to lady Sona in return for a pact with Sitri."
"Indeed simple and direct. You and Rin are more alike than you like to admit." Luvia's plan reminded Rias of how Rin tried to attract her to Homurahara to deal with a stray devil. How she met Shirou. "But that is besides the point. You were aiming for a Pact and planned to use the Fragments as a bargain chip, is that correct? That would have failed."
"What- what?" Luvia was shocked by how everything she did that day, the plan which cost her everything, was just shot down unceremoniously.
Yet Rias' expression didn't change, her poker face remained immaculate as the aristocrat seemed close to a panic attack. "You realize that your plan also had a good chance to start a war, right?" Luvia nodded and the devil could already see the crack beginning to show. "What were you going to do about the Exorcists? Kill them?"
"Erase their memories of my collaboration and existence before throwing them into a flight back to Europe." Once she had the Exorcists' trust, Luvia was sure it was only a matter to knock them out with spiked food and water. "They wouldn't know where the swords would have gone, only that they lost them all."
"And now your plan seems worse." Rias raised a hand to stop Luvia's protests. "Xenovia wouldn't have eaten your food, she already suspected you. Besides, her body is also protected by the aura of her real sword."
Luvia knew nothing about that but had already anticipated failing to gather trust in her plans. "Then they would leave and the Edelfelt would enjoy having some friends in the Church."
While not as good or permanent as having a Pact that was the other option just in case Luvia failed to secure the Fragments. In that case the story that she told about earning the Church's favor would turn out to be true but Luvia was confident her main plan would work because it was already working.
She was the one supplying food and water to the Exorcists and they even had plans to spend the night in her home. All Luvia needed was the swords themselves in her hands and that was where she found failure.
Rias saw failure everywhere else in her plan. "Fine, let's go for the scenario where you got the swords; what then? You think Sona would accept a Pact with the Edelfelt because of the Fragments?"
"Wouldn't they give the Underworld leverage against the Church? All you needed to do was get into contact with certain elements within them and you could demand whatever you desired for the Excalibur Fragments."
'That is what I feared.' There was logic in Luvia's plan, a logic that Rias could respect. However it was missing many key pieces. "Sona would never accept them, nor would I for that matter." That shocked the magus to no surprise. "Luviagelita, your plan had a big chance of causing a war, the same way that Kokabiel's plan did. Do you want to know why? Because you are thinking we are human like you." The Gremory Heiress took hold of the conversation. "Many of the survivors of the Great War are still around, especially in certain circles in the Underworld."
"But your side won the Civil War." Luvia hurried to add.
And Rias couldn't really disagree. "And many of them lost positions after they surrendered. That doesn't mean they didn't use the centuries between them and now to recover even if they don't have the same prestige anymore." Not many names jumped to her mind but there were enough to get her worried. "The Church has a similar problem since angels live forever and despite how generous some of them are considered to be, they have plenty of reasons to wish to finish the war themselves."
For a moment Rias considered revealing God's death but depending on Luvia's decision over the next few weeks it was better if she didn't know. However her point remained that both sides had people gunning for a fight and if things get too hot because of threats then a war may happen.
Finishing cutting the third apple, Rias moved to grasp the last one. She used the knife to point to the dish and remind Luvia to eat as the girl had stopped for a while.
Instead of peeling the skin off the last apple, Rias took a bite. "We devils live a long life and some of our grudges are literally millenia old." She took another bite as she thought of her own grudge with the Phenex. "I don't doubt that someone would try to use the Fragments to get some revenge. However, that would never happen with me or Sona for that matter. Do you want to know why?"
After Luvia nodded, Rias still didn't continue and instead took another bite of her apple while pointing to the plate. By how the devil had organized the slices of the apples the plate looked more like a mosaic with some missing pieces. When the blonde looked at the redhead the message was clear; no more talk if Luvia didn't eat.
Rias only continued once Luvia began to chew another slice. "It is because our siblings fought in the Underworld Civil War to stop the Great War." Luvia's eyes grew wide as she couldn't believe she missed such key detail. "You know what that means, don't you? Even if you had succeeded, even if you had presented the Fragments to either me or Sona on a silver platter, we would still return them to the Church with an apology because some magician 'thought we wanted them in the first place'."
"Because your brother's main policy was always 'peace with the other powers'." Luvia's hands cover her face as the blonde fights to not cry. "I am an idiot! How could I make such a mistake!"
Silently Rias kept eating her apple as she allowed Luvia to vent all her anger and frustration with herself. It took the aristocrat a few moments but she was a strong woman and soon she had already recovered enough to keep the conversation going.
Except that Rias still wasn't in a rush and instead offered the plate of sliced apples again. "Do you need some water?"
"Yes, please." As Rias standed up she noticed Luvia's puffy eyes and how she was holding back her tears.
"I will be back in exactly three minutes." Part of her wanted to finish things for the night but Rias had a fear that if she didn't treat the situation carefully Luvia would do something stupid. "Three minutes are enough?"
However, help could only be there if the other person wanted it. "Two… two are going to be enough."
The pureblood devil ended up giving the blonde three minutes anyway, it was time for Luvia to let out her frustration and calm herself before the conversation continued. When Rias returned with a full glass of water she saw Luvia in the same place, sitting in the same position, with all the grace and poise of a heiress from a noble house.
Except some of the sliced apples were thrown around and the pillow was wet with tears. There was no doubt in Rias' mind that if Luvia had been a Bael or even had some access to her mana the room would have been damaged.
'At least she isn't suicidal.' Because Rias took a risk by leaving Luvia alone since the blonde could have tried to use her mana and killed herself by the attempt alone. "Here."
"Thank you." But Rias saw some of herself in Luvia, someone who would fight to the end despite any mistake.
As she chugged the glass of water in one sitting like she never had it before, Rias sat down again and smoothly got rid of any of the remains of the slices. Once more the room looked pristine and the redhead had no intentions of commenting what may or may have not happened in the three minutes she was out.
She respected Luvia enough to do as much, both as a person and her ambition.
Once Luvia was done, Rias collected the glass. "Do you want some more?"
"No… Thank you once again, lady Rias." The amount of respect on Luvia's tone showed she appreciated that Rias was being direct with her.
"Very well." Rias deposited the glass beside the plate before pushing it forward again. "Eat. Your body and soul need fuel to recover." There was some hesitation but soon Luvia placed a whole slice in her mouth. "What happened was a mistake but you can't let that define what happens from now on."
"You mean how I ruined my future by being stupid?" Some of Luvia's fire was back but it came with a lot of self loathing. "I overextended and paid the price." She looked at her hand, closing it into a fist. "And now the future that I always wanted is gone."
Taking a page from Shirou's book, Rias smiled. "But you are still alive." Luvia looked at the redhead devil in wonder. "If you are alive, you can change things. Even if it wasn't the future you wanted, it can be better." She shrugged. "Or worse, if you let it."
Eating another slice, Luvia couldn't help but smile. "Fufu. Maybe you are right. Doesn't change the fact that I… I was a short sighted dunderhead."
There was no way Rias was going to let Luvia fall for that. "Sometimes when you see something you wanted and the opportunity to get it, you just jump at it without thinking much." She touched the blonde's cheek delicately and received a look of uncertainty. "You aren't the first to fall because what you wanted was right in your sight and I doubt you are going to be the last." Retreating and relaxing, Rias shrugged. "That is why sometimes the best can do is share what you are thinking so someone else can tell you if it was a good idea or not."
"You are saying that I should have come to you again." Other words but the same message.
Rias nodded in admittance. "Yes, you already know that. Doesn't mean the advice is wrong." While Luvia looked pensive the devil wasn't done. "However, sometimes when we see an opportunity there is nothing wrong with taking a plunge at it. I certainly did with the risks I took like loving a human or picking up a fight with one of the richest families in the Underworld."
More confused than before, Luviagelita Edelfelt didn't know what to think. "Are you saying that I did a bad thing or not?"
"I am saying that you took a risk but you should have talked with other people since you had the time to think about it." Rias knew that without Shirou and their friends she would be unhappily married right at that moment. "If I didn't have the people I have in my life, I would be either miserable or dead right now." Blue eyes met brown ones. "There is nothing wrong in trusting people, even in this cruel world we live in."
After finishing another slice, Luvia then summoned her courage. "What is going to happen to me?"
Luvia hid information from the Second Owner, risked Fuyuki security when a strange organization began to set up shop and even if she didn't know about Kokabiel she contributed to his plans.
Humming a little, Rias ate an apple slice before replying. "Officially you saw the Exorcists and joined on the hunt for the Fragments, seeing an opportunity to secure a Pact for your family." Luvia's eyes grew wide once more at the clear omissions in that story. "Sona doesn't have any idea of your involvement and I am sure we can convince the Exorcists to not say anything even in their reports. Auguste also showed too much loyalty to you for him to leak the truth."
Astounded by what she was just told, Luvia's mouth failed to properly make sounds. 'I'm stuttering.' Somewhere her mind managed to think and that was the only thing she managed to process as words failed to form.
Rias made no comments and patiently waited for Luvia to recover with a smile. She was tempted to tease the European girl a little but reconsidered because of the rollercoaster of emotion the blonde had throughout the day.
That didn't stop the devil from enjoying the constant transitions between shock, confusion, bafflement, more confusion and doubt that Luvia wasn't unable to hide.
"You know that if your mouth stays open like that you will catch flies?" In the end Rias failed to resist just a little. Still there was no reaction so the redhead picked a slice and offered it close to Luvia's mouth. "So you could at least eat some more. Maybe it will help you think."
She didn't know if it was because of a small belief in the Gremory Heiress' words or the fact the food was that close to her mouth but Luvia took the bite that was offered. She ended up taking the whole thing but after chewing she still found herself dumbfounded by the free pass Rias was essentially giving to her.
Upon seeing that Luvia still couldn't properly think or even blink, Rias chuckled and moved to sit besides the blonde. She placed the plate with apples on her lap and picked another one. "You better not stop eating, Luviagelita. You still need to recover your strength."
The proud girl was nowhere to be found as the former Edelfelt Heiress opened her mouth with a blush and accepted another slice. Their eyes never left one another while Rias' smile turned mischievous and Luvia blushed more at their interaction.
Her ears were completely red when Rias offered her another slice without saying a single word this time. Instead the devil just gave her a look and approached it with her mouth which opened again.
Making sure that Luvia was well fed was something Rias was found surprisingly fun and endearing. 'Would Rin also act like this?' She picked another slice and Luvia accepted with no complaints. "You must be wondering why I am not punishing you for your slights, even suppressing the fact that you technically aided our enemies."
Luvia stopped chewing her slice, fear returning to her features before logic had her nodding. She understood that Rias had no intention of harming her and that the pureblood devil was doing her a favor.
Only when Luvia swallowed the food in her mouth and took another slice was that Rias believed she was comfortable again. "The mistakes you made were plenty, that is a fact. However, punishing you will accomplish nothing." After giving Luvia another slice, Rias' finger remained delicately on her lips. "After all, you already punished yourself."
The redhead let the blonde's lips go but now Luvia looked like a statue. Despite having food in her mouth she wasn't moving again and she stared at the devil with equal levels of fear and understanding.
For her part Rias had a small frown. "Luvia, I know you are shocked but you should eat." Chewing began. "Good. I know it is a little too much to process right now but as I said, in my opinion, you were already punished." The blonde flinched but accepted another slice. "What happened to you was… The worst thing that could have happened given the circumstances and your upbringing."
Even with the Ore Scales securing the Edelfelf legacy there was no guarantee that she would be welcomed back to her family, not with her sister's future enmity which was almost a certainty.
The result of taking as much Holy Energy as she did in her body didn't just destroy her Crest but any possible future she could have with her family, a future that she once dreamed and fought for with all her strength.
Rias saw the cruel irony in the fact that Luvia struggled to elevate the Edelfelt Family and ended up losing her place with them for her actions. WIthout that the Finnish magus also lost the prestige, contacts and security her Family once afforded to her. Besides whatever she had in her name, Luvia soon would have nothing.
That was why the redhead admired the first thing Ausguste focused upon receiving the bad news was to try and make sure Luvia would have some stability to fall back on instead of being abandoned her out in the cold.
Sure the man couldn't stay but there was no doubt that once he returned to Europe there would be questions and he may as well be punished. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make for someone he loved.
Luvia was well aware of all that and couldn't do anything to change the facts, events were already set in motion and soon her family will know what happened to her. Her fate with the Edelfelt was already sealed, it would either be one of misery or her own destruction in the hands of her own family.
By not pressing any charges and even hiding the extent of her crimes, Rias was ensuring that the Edelfelt wouldn't truly silence her. She would still have the hatred of her sister, of that Luvia didn't doubt, however she wouldn't have to face the wrath of her whole Family.
Offering another slice, Rias was happy that Luvia seemed more eager to eat. "So we will keep that as our little secret. Nobody needs to know what you did and neither Xenovia or Irina look like tattletales. Do they?" Luvia shook her head. "Good."
"You brother-"
"Ah ah ah. Focus on chewing." Luvia did as ordered. "Let me take care of my brother, he will agree with me since there was no harm done, at least none the Church can complain about since Caliburn was reforged." Rias chuckled at the return of the blonde's surprised expression. "You can thank Shiro for that but it is mostly irrelevant to your case. It would have happened the minute Shiro got his hands on the Fragments." The wide stare remained and Rias rolled her eyes. "Yes, it wasn't Excalibur, it was Caliburn. Yes, Shiro managed to reforge it through methods that I don't approve of but it was a 'do or die' situation so he is forgiven."
Fixing herself on her seat, Rias laid down beside a shocked Luvia who still didn't know how to deal with all the reveals.
"Not that I will let him ever do something like that ever again but tonight Yoruichi has everything covered. Knowing her she will be also using Senjutsu to make sure he is in top shape tomorrow." Which was another reason why Rias had no problems sharing with the nekomata. "In any case, Shiro restored the sword to its original form and apparently nobody can use it. That is probably why God didn't do it or maybe He had other reasons but hey, I don't care. The threat is neutralized and on sight."
Despite the restoration of Caliburn being a potential disaster the sword was now located in devil territory which meant that the day that an owner finally showed up they were going to be the first to know.
Rias could already guess that the sword itself was going to get a guard of some kind, maybe even the Church would want to get in on the action if not outright send out every single member they have to try and pull it out.
Which will be hard because it wasn't their territory and all the devils needed to do to stop them was to say 'no'. Even if Heaven tried to argue back, Fuyuki was mostly a normal city and procedures would be needed to stop it from turning into a war zone, something that Michael would approve for the safety of the civilian population.
Relaxing on her corner of the futon and closing her eyes, Rias smiled pleasantly. "What you should be focusing on now is on what you are going to do." She opened her eyes to regard Luvia. "Once you recover you have quite a bit of options to choose from."
Silently Luvia studied Rias as her mind recovered slowly from the events of the day. The blonde was waiting for something before speaking, an offer from Rias that she didn't know if she could deny.
The pureblood devil raised a hand with one finger up. "Option one: you can decide to go back to the Edelfelt and face them, take your punishment and live a life that you don't want. The good news is that you may eventually make peace with your sister and even be forgiven, especially if we don't tell the true story."
With that alternative Luvia didn't need to give up her family and could still maintain her lifestyle. Sure it would be more restricted but at least she could try and make amends for her mistake.
Another finger went up. "Two: you can disappear, with the resources that Auguste implied and your cunning it wouldn't be too hard. You are a clever girl and could probably set up shop in any place in the world."
While this alternative could be called radical it promised absolute freedom. Luvia was a girl with plenty of knowledge about the mundane and the moonlit world so she could fit in any of them easily and still find success.
Another finger joined its siblings.
"Number three: you set off on your own and begin your own Family of Magi. While you lost your Crest there is no denying that you were still born with circuits and there are plenty of Families of Spellcasters who would love to elevate themselves to magi status."
Indeed Luvia would have plenty of choices in that department as magecraft was considered the superior method of studying magic for a human. With enough patience a magus could learn to use magic circles, formalcraft existed for a reason, but a spellcaster never could become a magus without circuits.
Laying town with her hands propping her head, Rias chuckled. "Number four; you could do as your ancestor did and-"
"Over my dead body. I refuse to be part of a copy of the Tohsaka Family."
Rias had predicted such a reaction but watching how strongly Luvia felt about the idea was entertaining for her. 'A rivalry for the ages, isn't it?' At least the blonde looked stronger than before as her pride and will returned. "Welcome back Luvia. I can see your passion is still there."
"Feh, of course it is. I may have lost my Crest, had my circuits damaged, my plans destroyed and my future possibly ruined but I will never lose to Tohsaka." She bit a slice in fury, something that Rias found funny.
To the pureblood devil the whole situation had the tone of a dark comedy. "Even after she saved your life?"
Luvia swallowed heavily but still spoke to Rias respectfully. "Competition has nothing to do with gratitude." She looked at another slice with some curiosity before throwing it in her mouth. "That is a debt I will repay… In time." She swallowed the apple. "But that doesn't mean I will let her win against me at anything."
"Fair enough." Instead of commenting Rias chose to relax in the futon, closing her eyes and seamly going to sleep.
Such a reaction was unexpected to Luvia who waited for Rias to say something else, anything else, to make an offer she knew it should be coming. Yet the redhead just took a deep breath and seemed more interested in sleeping than continuing the conversation.
Closing her fist in frustration, Luvia felt the fire within her burn again. She had prepared herself for this conversation ever since she woke up and even if she was still shaken she wanted it to finish as she envisioned.
But she had to accept that it would not end on her terms, that Rias Gremory had conducted everything how she wanted and Luvia had to make the first move.
Picking up the plate, she positioned it in front of Rias before laying down by her side. "Isn't there any other choice?"
A triumphant smile told the magus that the devil had her where she wanted. "I don't know… Is there?"
Taking another slice, Luvia felt more nervous than she ever did in her life. Rias' presence wasn't threatening and her tone was inviting yet the aristocrat in the magus told her something was missing. There was no malice from the Gremory Heiress but Luvia couldn't stop from shaking.
"Breath." Rias instructed again with a caring tone that had Luvia shocked. "We can do this now or we can do this later… If you want I can even get another glass of water."
"No, I do not… Need another glass of water." Rias nodded slowly and closed her eyes again. 'That is it?'
Opening an eye, Rias let out a sigh of exhaustion. "I better go to bed too. Today was too tiring…"
The window was closing. "Wasn't there any other choice at all?"
"What other choice do you have besides the ones I laid to you?" Despite what she said before, Rias remained there, imobile and almost like a sleeping beauty herself. If anything Luvia saw that the devil's beauty was far more mature and ethereal. "If you have a suggestion please say it. I promise to help in any way I can."
'She wants me to say it but she isn't going to force it?' As a political move that felt weak since there was no one but them to witness it. That was what the aristocratic part of Luvia's brain was detecting as wrong. "Why aren't you making me an offer?" She found herself dropping the subtlety.
Rias chuckled but didn't look surprised. "Because you had a stressful day and I don't want to put any more pressure on you." Her hand touched Luvia's cheek delicately. "I want to wait for a few days, when you have time to recover and to process, to make my offer."
Luvia chuckled as her own hand touched Rias' cheek. "For a moment there you had me worried."
"Oh. Why?" The smile disappeared from the blonde's face. Rias immediately catched on. "Let me tell you that I would be honored to have someone like you join my household. It is always nice to have someone capable and with a good head on their shoulders around… When Rin isn't around, that is." Luvia pouted as Rias giggled. "Don't look at me like that. You know I am right."
The magus wanted to move her hand but in their position Luvia couldn't take her eyes away from Rias'. "I appreciate you giving me time to think."
"No problem-"
"But I had already thought about it." Luvia surprised Rias and for the first time since the pureblood devil entered the room both felt that the magus had the control of the conversation. "Do you know what I wish for, Rias Gremory?"
A smile came before the reply. "No but I have a feeling you are going to tell me."
"I wish to be great." Luvia admitted something she only did in her most private moments. Both sat down as Rias listened. "I wish to do great deeds that will make me known far and wide. That the name Luviagelita be spoken with respect even if not with reverence." She raised her hands. "For a long time I worked on it by elevating my Family name, by making the Edelfelt greater. However, that is now forever away from my grasp."
Only Auguste knew something about her ambition for while she wished for a simple partner to share her happiness she also desired to ascend to heights previously unreachable. Luvia clenched her teeth as she banished the image of the faithful caretaker, swearing they would meet again in the future.
"I wish to be greater than just another Family Head." Luvia saw some sympathy in Rias' expression. She understood where the magus was coming from. "None of the alternatives laid before me can give me that chance, not with how my soul is at the moment." She knew Rias was paying close attention at every word. "To be great I need power, I need my soul restored and we both know Reincarnation into a devil is my best choice."
Silence involved the room as Rias studied Luvia more attentively. 'Her fire is still there and that pride, that oh so sweet pride.' She shivered as previously she would jump at the chance of recruiting someone like that. "You could still find another devil if you wish."
This time however Rias was not the same person she was a mere month ago, she was not desperate or in a rush neither was Luvia's life in danger. Indeed it was the opposite as the blonde had hundreds of possibilities open for her and Rias didn't want them to be squandered by a rushed decision.
For a moment it seemed that Luvia was going to waver and quit. That moment lasted less than a second. "But I don't trust many devils and I know Rias Gremory." She looked sad. "Am I not good enough?"
"Of course you are. As I said I would be honored, happy, to have someone like you in my household." Their fingers interlaced as the devil showed how much she cared by the magus. "We may not have talked much, Luvia, but I consider you a friend first. Maybe not a good friend that I know like the back of my hand but a friend nonetheless. That is why I don't want you jumping at this." She offered the blonde a sad smile as she held her hands firmly. "It was how we ended here in the first place."
Their hands went up with Luvia's propping. "And I won't forget that, neither my foolishness nor your kindness. But this is what I want." Her voice was firm, her conviction shining. "Be as human or as a devil I care not which, I desire to earn my place in History. If not as the greatest Head the Edelfelt ever had then by making the name Edelfelt important to devils and be called strong there."
Both chuckle as Rias found herself wavering before such determination. "You will have to start from the bottom, you know that, correct? As a low class."
"Ho~ Then you truly don't know me well, lady Rias, for I shall ascend into the ranks in no time. Forever in your debt, of course."
A pause.
"Shiro is still mine."
"Can we share?"
"Maybe."
Another pause later, Rias stood up and collected the plate with some slices still present. "Could you leave it? It would be remiss of me to not finish the apples you prepared for me so generously."
"Of course." She laid the plate back on the floor and both of them stared at each other. "You know, for once I would like to recruit someone without finding them in a critical condition." Luvia's face began to shine. However, Rias wasn't done. "So I shall give you time to recover, time to think."
A frown made its way to Luvia's face. "I already made my decision… Don't think this was easy for me…"
"I know it isn't. You are almost as prideful as i am… Needed to hit my head on a 'wall' a few times before learning to ask for help." Not that Rias complained since she ended up sleeping with said 'wall'. "But your body will recover soon and then… then you tell me what you want to do."
From a magic circle an Evil Piece dropped in her hand which Rias soon deposited beside Luvia's futon.
The blonde stared at it in silence, suddenly seeing it had given Rias' words a new weight and Luvia was grateful for the offer of more time to think. Such a small thing could repair her soul, allow her to use magecraft again and even give her eternal youth.
The price however was still clear; once done there would be no coming back and she would become a member of Rias' Peerage, her life and soul would belong to the pureblood devil for all eternity and beyond.
"So I shall have your answer in a few days." With her perfect night vision, Rias saw the small nod Luvia gave her before turning to leave. "I will give you three days before asking again and the offer will be up until my peerage is complete." She opened the door to look back at Luvia whose eyes hadn't moved from the red chess piece. "Good night, Luviagelita Edelfelt."
The door closed silently and Luvia remained staring at the Evil Piece before her. Without Rias around Reincarnation was impossible but the Piece still let out an ominous light that tempted Luvia into touching it. A part of her thought that perhaps she could cheat it in some way and get all she wanted without losing a thing.
Instead of even trying messing with the small thing the blonde finished the apple slices and laid down with her eyes still fixed in the Evil Piece. The temptation was still there but recent lessons and her pride had Luvia refusing to cheat.
However she didn't see the oath she was offering to Rias as something cheap and instead decided to ignore the Evil Piece until the redhead accepted her allegiance. With that decision the glow escaping the Piece seemed even more gentle, like a nightlight promising to be there the next morning while banishing the dark.
An irony that she appreciated but refused to look any further into as her decision had been made.
Instead of studying the Evil Piece, Luvia turned around and fell asleep.
All the while the red glow watched over her with a gentle hue.