The atmosphere in the club room was tense, if not suffocating.
Have you ever heard the expression of how the temperature of a room drops? Or perhaps the saying, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"
Well, in this situation, both of those sayings apply. All parties involved and currently staring down a very pissed off fox girl and incarnation of Amaterasu couldn't tell whether or not they were cold or felt far too close to the sun. The heated glare she gave the Devils before them was enough to freeze hell over a dozen times and incinerate it altogether of the same amount.
Koneko shuddered, sinking deep into her seat as she tried to avoid the almost primal gaze of the youkai before her, horrible memories of a black-haired youkai coming to the forefront of her mind. Akeno stiffened, posture implying she was ready to intervene despite facing a goddess. Kiba had somehow produced a sword to his person, standing close to Rias, though the trembling arms gave away his fear. Sona and Rias tried to look composed, but both were equally as shaken by the overwhelming killing intent Tamamo produced, especially since it was directed to the both of them.
Rias, by this point, realized her question had unintentionally set off a landmine that was ready to blow up in her face.
"Well?" Tamamo bared her fangs in spite of the smile she gave them. It was anything but pleasant and promised excruciating pain. "We're waiting."
Rias couldn't think properly. Sona was barely able to breathe. The air was suffocating. It was almost as if Tamamo was purposely focusing the overwhelming intent to smother and kill them without her actually touching them, as if to show that she just didn't care for the reasons and found the idea of Devils having a presence in Japan unforgivable.
Surprisingly, Haru seemed to notice this, and almost fearfully, tugged at Tamamo's sleeve. "T-Tama-chan, I think that's enough!"
Then, like a flip of the switch, the overwhelming pressure of death was swept away like it was never there to begin with.
"But why, my husband?" She pouted. "These Devils claimed Japan as their property when they had no right to in the first place!It's not their home! It's ours!"
"I-I know!" Haru answered quickly. "It's just… maybe you can tone the intensity back a little? I mean… they look like they're suffocating!"
Tamamo looked back at the Devils and frowned. True to his words, they all looked to be recovering from the effects of the overwhelming intent to kill them all. She was reluctant to follow upon her husband's words, but she relented and sighed. "Very well..." she said before resuming to glare at them. "However, if we find your answer unsatisfactory, consider your lives forfeit. Is that clear?"
"Y...yes, Tamamo-sama." Sona nodded, her voice cracked slightly.
Tamamo huffed and reclined in her seat, arms folded beneath her bosom. Haru let out a hefty sigh of relief. The last thing he needed to see today was a mass murder of his upperclassmen and kouhai. "S-So… how exactly did the Devils get a hold of some land in Japan?"
"After the Great War ended, all sides and races learned that they suffered more than they thought they had." Sona explained after she had taken a moment to collect herself. Rias wisely chose to allow her to explain, not wanting another repeat of what just happened. "One of the worst hit factions was the Youkai. The current leader at the time was Karasu Tengu, who chose to side with the Fallen Angels in an attempt to prove the superiority of the Shinto Faction. Near the end of the war, however, many began to voice doubts, which eventually led to a splinter cell, led by Yasaka Tamamo, the current leader of the Youkai Faction. After the war came to an end, the Youkai Faction was on the verge of civil war: Karasu Tengu wanted to continue fighting even if it meant the deaths of those under him, whereas Yasaka wanted to put an end to the fighting. As it turned out, her ideals earned her the support of the Shinto Faction and was blessed by Amaterasu. However, both groups realized that they couldn't put an end to the fighting without outside help."
"So the Youkai Faction, led by Yasaka, sought aid from another race that was badly hit." Rias added. "The Devils. They also had recently undergone a civil war between the Old Satan Faction and the current regime, led by the Maou who usurped the descendants of the original Great Satans. In exchange for their aid in dealing with Karasu Tengu, the Devils would be allowed to have a small territory in Japan."
Tamamo frowned. "In other words… Amaterasu-sama allowed you to take these lands for your own?" she questioned, earning sharp nods from the two. "And what of the people of Nippon? Have they fallen under your sway?"
"Desires are what make up humans, whether anyone likes it or not." Sona explained as carefully as she could. "We form contracts with them in exchange for menial items and magical strength, if only so little. We Devils feed off of such desires, after all. We even offer them a chance to be reincarnated into Devils themselves."
Haru blinked. "Wait, reincarnate?" he asked, confused. "W-What does that mean?"
"As we said earlier, the Devils were also badly hurt by the Great War. We lost many great Devils, and some of the 72 Pillars, the noble houses of the Underworld, have even gone extinct with only their banners as their legacies. The Great Satan, Ajuka Beelzebub, however, came up with a solution to combat the dwindling numbers: reincarnate humans into our fold. Using Evil Pieces, they're given a second chance at whatever life they once led."
"So...you're basically taking humans and making them into Devils to increase your numbers?" Haru asked.
"More or less. But please remember, that we give them the choice to join us. It is up to them to decide whether or not they wish to relinquish their humanity."
"And?" Tamamo leaned forward, her tone sharp like a knife. "How are they treated?"
"It depends on the one reincarnating them." Rias explained. "My household, the Gremory, treats them as family. However..."
Sona continued for Rias, her expression cold. "... There are some who still think of humans as little more than useless garbage, with only their Sacred Gear as their saving grace. The same goes for any other being who chooses to be reincarnated. We do not only accept humans to become Devils. As sad as it is to say, there are a great many in our society that use the Reincarnated Devils for personal gain, or view them as worthless. At worst, a plague to the purity of Devils."
"Purity?" Tamamo raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
"During the Great War, the Devils lost a vast number of our Forces. Of the 72 Pillars that make the Devil Race, 39 of them have perished, their Houses extinct. While reincarnated Devils replenish our numbers, the traditionalists held them in contempt due to their non-Devil origins. Additionally, Devils have a hard time reproducing by themselves. They believe that intimately mingling with a Reincarnated Devil will only taint the purity of their bloodline."
"Then they are prideful fools." Tamamo frowned. "Their race is dwindling yet they hold reincarnated Devils in contempt. They treat them inferior and no more than tools. Yet you claim you treat your Devils well. How do I know this is not but a deception to fool us?"
The Devils winced at her words. They were scathing, almost baneful. Sona may look composed, but even she could not help but wince at such words. "I'm afraid your words are accurate. As much as I hate to say it, yes. Many Devils look down on the reincarnated. And as for proof, I cannot offer any."
The answer didn't satisfy Tamamo in the least. If anything, the dangerous look in her eyes only intensified. She looked like an animal, ready to pounce upon her prey. For a brief moment, the room's temperature began to flicker while her tail bristled, hairs standing on end while she bared her fangs. It looked as if all Hell was about to break loose.
Thankfully, the Devils had an unexpected savior.
"... I believe them."
Tamamo blinked, head slowly turning to the human boy standing next to her. "H-Haru?"
"I said," Namikaze Haru swallowed the lump in his throat. "I believe them."
"But why?! They are Devils! Creatures of Sin and deception! They could be easily lying about everything to make us take pity on them, giving them a chance to attack us unexpected! Why would you believe creatures known only for their deceit and vile nature?"
"I don't know why." Haru answered. "But, part of me wants to believe in them, Tama-chan." The redhead looked at the fox girl, almost pleadingly. "Please. Just let it go, okay?"
Tamamo looked startled. She wanted nothing more than to wipe out the Devils in front of her, but Haru wanted to believe them. Perhaps it was just his innocence, but the way he spoke was if he sounded so sure that he was right. That there was no hesitation or wavering confidence. Looking back at the Devils, she found that they too were surprised to find a human vouching for them. She looked back at Haru, hoping to perhaps say otherwise, but all she saw was his face.
That beautiful, innocent and adorable face.
That-that's...
Oh, that was just playing dirty. How in Yomi was she supposed to refute his claims when he gave her that look?! Ah, she couldn't take this anymore!
"MIKOOOU~!" Without warning, Tamamo's bubbly nature came back in full force, latching onto Haru and shoving his face straight into his bosom, much to his inner delight if the steam pouring out of his red face was of any indication. "You're too adorable, my Husband! Very well! I'll spare the Devils, if only because of your big, soft heart!"
The Devils in question all shared a similar look at her words. When she addressed Haru earlier in such a manner, they didn't notice it at all due to suffering from her intense aura. Now, however, they heard her loud and clear. And the reactions were… quite amusing. Koneko stared, almost slack-jawed, as if she had just heard something unbelievable. Kiba stared at the two as if they had both grown a second head. Akeno looked quite amused if the smile on her face was anything to go by. Sona's glasses drooped, showing her bulging eyes at the unabashed proclamation.
Rias' was, by far, the most amusing, as she was left a spluttering mess. "H-Husband?!"
"But of course!" Tamamo chirped happily, her tail wagging excitedly while Haru let his perverted side take over and relax in the ultimate bliss that was the Valley of the Gods he had longed to be buried in. He did note that his pants felt a bit tight, though. "A summoning is much like a marriage contract, no? Therefore, Haru-kun and I are Husband and Wife!"
"... Namikaze-kun?" Sona asked in a quiet voice. "You're married?"
Barely registering the question, Haru nodded.
"H-How is this..." Rias palmed her forehead, spirals dancing in her eyes. "I-I don't! How?!"
Just… just how was this even possible?! Tamamo-no-Mae hasn't even been around for twenty four hours, and she's already married to Namikaze Haru?!
Just where is the logic in this?!