For the upteenth time today, Aika wondered what in the hell was happening in her life as she watched the two Fallens, known as Dohnaseek and Kalawarner, battle against two of her schoolmates. Both of which were popular idols in their own respective rights, mascot and prince. Her mind was still having trouble processing what was happening.
Okay, brain. Let's do a recap. We met with Namikaze-kun, walked with him, met this sweet, naive and innocent nun named Asia, had plans to corrupt her on a later date, and then we ran into actual angels. And apparently one of these angels tried to kill Namikaze-kun. Then we get saved by Namikaze's girlfriend, who turns out to be a youkai. And now we're saved by the mascot of Kuoh and the Prince, one who's throwing punches like a damned superstar boxer and another who can apparently make swords out of freaking thin air! When the hell did I walk into a fantasy novel?!
And her words were no exaggeration. Yuuto fought like a swordsman. Once a sword in hand shattered, a new blade took its place. To say that his swordsmanship was little more than him swinging it around would be foolish. It looked more like dancing. Every time the light spear came close, he parried it and retaliated with equal force. Koneko had no such grace. When she moved, she came in like a blur and struck heavy like a freight train coming down on a helpless babe. Dohnaseek had felt that punch first hand and did not wish to suffer another blow, dodging as best he could.
Her mind still had difficulty processing everything. Just how long were things like this?! Was this even real? Was she dreaming? No. What she felt before was definitely real. Haru was still shaking, but he at the very least had managed to become coherent enough that he realized how much danger they were in, taking refuge nearby while their classmates fought with the Fallen Angels.
"I don't understand what's going on here..." Aika moaned pitifully. "Why is Kiba-kun fighting? And how does he have so many swords that just pop out of nowhere?! And how can Toujou-chan hit so hard?!"
I wonder if I should tell her they're both Devils... Haru pondered the thought before he risked taking a peek, only to duck when a Light Spear came dangerously close to making a hole in his head. "This is crazy... We're stuck in a rock and a hard place!" he shouted. "That old geezer's just tossing spears left and right like it's nobody's business! We try to get out of here, we're gonna get skewered!"
"Tell me something I don't already know!" Aika hissed. "And more importantly, why the heck was your girlfriend dressed like some kind of sexy youkai?! Is she into cosplay or something?!"
"It-it's a long story! I'll tell you later!"
Aika opened her mouth in protest, but a Light Spear landed dangerously close to her face, causing her to freak out and recoil, landing on her butt.
Back to the battlefield, Yuuto had taken to jumping high into the air. Normally, he'd be a sitting duck, but like the two opponents he and Koneko faced, he was not without his own pair of wings. His back throbbed before the fabric of his shirt was ripped open, allowing two leather pinions to spread out. "I'm not particularly fond of my wings, as I prefer dueling on the ground." he admitted to Kalawarner before he created another sword, this one covered in a thin layer of frost. "But that does not mean I do not know how to fight in the air!"
With a mighty flap, he rocketed off the ground, straight toward the female Fallen. Kalawarner threw her spear, but Yuuto intercepted it and knocked it away. He closed the distance in seconds, sword raised above his head. Bringing them down, he was only barred from first blood by a Light Spear, held in both hands. Scowling, Kalawarner shrugged off his attack and delivered a kick, pushing him aside and twirling her spear around to throw it. However, she was foiled when she found Dohnaseek heading right for her, having been struck by Koneko when he was unable to dodge. She evaded and let him recover on his own, straightening himself out before retaliating, creating three Light Spears and sending them her away.
Koneko just gave him a flat stare. "... Beat it." she said in her usual deadpan tone before delivering a punch, destroying them all at once before she grabbed one of the nearby pillars decorating the park, uprooting it from the ground with ease before she proceeded to throw it straight at the old man. The Fallen didn't know what hit him. Literally, as he made the mistake of turning his back to help his comrade.
The pillar hit him dead on. The force of the impact also caused one of his wings to crumble and bend, shattering the bone. As a result, he was sent back down to Earth. Kalawarner's eyes widened in panic. "Dohnaseek!" she cried in panic, moving to help him before she found herself intercepted by Yuuto, his swords barring her way. "Damned Devil! Get out of my way!"
"Not a chance!" the blonde barked back as he pushed her back, proceeding to deliver consecutive slashes. They were all blocked, but they gradually pushed Kalawarner back. Then he successfully shattered her Spears in a single stroke, having focused each of his strikes on a single point before he deftly raised his leg and brought it down upon her, throwing her off balance. "Now, Koneko!"
The petite girl silently nodded as she spread her own wings. She took off like a bullet and struck Kalawarner in the center of her back. The enhanced power behind the strike was devastating; it had shattered her spine. Had she been human, this might've been the death of her. She soon joined Dohnaseek on the ground, crashing straight into the pavement and creating a decently-sized crater in her size. Gritting her teeth, she attempted to pull herself up. Her nature slowly began to fix her spine back into proper order, but she found a blade poised to cut her throat. Looking up, she found Yuuto standing over her.
"Please don't get back up." he asked kindly. "I'd hate to slit your throat." Kalawarner scowled, but in the end she bowed her head in defeat. Seeing her resignation, Yuuto smiled before he looked to the side, finding Koneko dragging an unconscious Dohnaseek by the collar of his coat. His face looked to be severely bruised and beaten, not to mention swollen. It left him confused, as he could only recall the man having hit the ground after Koneko hit him with a pillar. Did she beat him up when he resisted? If so, then he pitied the poor man for being on the receiving end of such a violent beating. "Are you finished on your end, Koneko?"
Koneko nodded. "... Done."
"Alright, then." Yuuto smiled before raising his voice. "Namikaze-kun! Kiryu-san! It's safe now!"
Two heads, red and brown, popped out from their hiding place. A third, blonde one followed soon after. "You guys sure? Like, for real this time?" Kiryuu asked with skepticism in her voice.
"We're sure." He nodded. A moment passed before Aika released a huge sigh of relief. Haru fell flat on his rear, no longer able to find the strength to stand while Asia tended to him, as he had suffered a minor injury earlier.
The fighting was over… for the time being.
After the Fallen Angels had been rounded up (Haru and Aika both questioned where in the hell Koneko had been keeping the chains used to bind them) and hogtied, Aika had exploded and demanded answers. Yuuto was uncomfortable, having been the target of her inquiry while Koneko made sure neither hostages escaped. Haru watched with some satisfaction, internally gloating how the handsome bastard was being grilled for information rather than him. Of course, he sincerely doubted Aika had forgotten about Tamamo. She would surely come asking about that.
What a day...
"HUSBAND!"
The redhead barely had any time to prepare himself as Tamamo came out of nowhere, slamming right into him and somehow smothering him into a tight hug. On the plus side, though, his face was being smothered in the valley of the gods. A definite improvement. If only her yukata was a little more loose, then he could get the full view! Tamamo failed to notice his perversion as she nuzzled him closer into her chest. She was so happy to see him safe and sound. Made even more apparent by the fact her tail was swishing about happily, nearing smacking Asia in the face. "Oh, praise Izanagi-sama you're alright! I feared the worst! Are you okay?! Those Devils didn't do anything wrong to you, did they?! Were those mean old nasty crows mean to you?!"
"C-calm down, Tama-chan..." Haru advised, waving a hand at her after she released him. To be honest, her flustered state was quite cute. "I'm fine. Really. And no, Toujou-chan or the damn bishounen didn't do anything to me." He then looked over at Aika, who was apparently growing more and more frustrated by Yuuto's attempts to dissuade her. It was still satisfying to see. He wished he could take a picture, though much to his disappointment, he had forgotten his phone at home. He then looked back at Tamamo before he took notice of a black leather strap in her hand. His eyes followed the strap, and his face promptly went flat. Even Asia noticed it and grew disturbed.
"Um... Tama-chan?"
"Yes, Haru-kun?" Tamamo asked sweetly.
"... Why do you have a Gothic Lolita Fallen Angel behind you, and why is wearing a leash?"
Mittelt stood obediently behind Tamamo, posture absolutely rigid and terrified while trying to maintain a poor and failing facade of calmness that was easily betrayed by how much her body was shaking. Her hands were bound by black leather, and around her neck was a collar, not unlike the one a dog wore, which happened to be connected to the strap in Tamamo's hand.
Compared to what he just witnessed earlier, he was surprised that there was anything left to surprise him.
"Oh. She's my hostage. I'm gonna pry information out of her." She responded in a cheerful manner.
Yet somehow, Haru felt a chill when she said that. Then another terrifying thought came to mind. "A-And… what about Y-Yuma-chan?"
"Oh, you won't have to worry about her ever again..." She giggled.
Somehow, his answer brought chills to his spine and wisely chose to drop the subject. He already had an idea as to what happened to Raynare, given that she was not present. Even so, he felt confused. Should he be glad that she was out of his life? Sad that she was gone? He didn't know. In the end, all he could muster was a small, yet grateful smile to Tamamo. "T-Thanks..."
"But of course, my dear Husband!" Tamamo said, obviously pleased that he was happy with her work. "It is a wife's job to make sure her darling beloved is safe!" She then turned her attention to Yuuto and Aika, who were now moving away from the Fallen Angels. Her nose wrinkled in disgust, still more than a little angry with the Devils. Even so, she did feel grateful for the blonde one for saving Haru not once, but twice. Even if it was oddly suspicious. "You are... Kiba, Yuuto, correct?"
"Yes, Tamamo-sama." Yuuto greeted as he bowed. "I'm terribly sorry for the first impression Rias-sama gave you. Please accept my apology on her behalf."
"I will only accept that apology from that obnoxious red-haired harlot." Tamamo stated firmly. "However, I will thank you for saving my dear Haru-kun."
Yuuto smiled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "There's no need for that. I'd like to think the two of us are friends, hence why I saved him."
At this, Haru grew annoyed. "Oh hell no! We are not friends, you handsome bastard!" he growled, glaring at the blonde prince of Kuoh with as much hatred as he could muster. Which, as one could imagine, was not a lot. "I'd sooner castrate myself before ever becoming friends with a grade A bishounen!"
"I… still don't understand what me being a 'bishounen' as you call me has anything to do with hating me."
Aika groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Our lives are being threatened one moment, and the next it's as if nothing happened." she muttered before she looked at Tamamo. "S-So, um... T-That tail you've got. Are-are you a… you know, a y-youkai?"
"I wouldn't go so far, but to an extent, yes." Tamamo answered with some suspicion. "And who are you, exactly?"
"Kiryu, Aika. I'm a classmate of Namikaze's." she answered. "And before you say anything, I'm not interested in him romantically in any way. Besides, even if I were, I'm pretty sure I'd lose. You're a million times more sexy than me, that's for sure." The way she said it was weak. It was obvious she was still clearly shaken up about the whole situation. Not that Tamamo blamed her. She was little more than an ordinary human, caught up in her first real look at the supernatural world. And to make matters worse, she was targeted simply because she was with that nun and Haru by pure chance.
Even so, Tamamo appreciated the gesture… and internally happy that she wasn't a love rival. Not that it would have mattered, anyway. "Thank you. To answer your question, I'm more of an aspect of a deity. I am Tamamo-no-Mae."
Aika stared. For a moment, her brain short-circuited. When it rebooted, her glasses drooped. "... As in, the same Tamamo-no-Mae from Shinto Folklore?" she asked quietly. "Avatar of Amaterasu-no-Mikoto? The Sun Goddess?" Tamamo nodded. The perverted girl was quiet for a moment before she swore. "Damn. Namikaze always talked about how he wanted to score a goddess, but... Holy. Fuck. He hit the proverbial jackpot..."
From there, she went on into a small little rant, muttering how insanely lucky Haru must have been and wondering how it was even humanely possible. Tamamo took such words as compliments before she directed her attention to the biggest mystery of them all.
Namely, the nun who seemed extremely out of place, constantly fidgeting and casting glances at Yuuto and Koneko. "You. Nun." she addressed, catching the girl off guard as she let out a cute yelp. Even though she was of Shinto, Tamamo could easily understand any foreign language. Including dead languages such as Babylonian, though she doubted anyone would speak such an old tongue. "What's your name?"
"A-Asia. Asia Argento!" She stammered anxiously.
"Asia, hm? And that accent… I presume you are from Europe? Why are you here in the Land of the Rising Sun of all places?"
While having foreigners was not uncommon, it was incredibly strange that someone from the West had arrived. Not to mention suspicious. It also did not help matters that she was garbed in the same apparel as those of under the House of the Biblical God. A God that was aligned with Angels. It was possible that she was working with the Fallen, however unlikely. Even so, Tamamo needed to keep an open mind to things and get as much information as possible.
"I-I experienced some trouble back home in Italy, a-and I was relocated to tend to the Church here in Japan." Asia revealed. "B-But my superiors didn't say anything about it being the territory of Devils and Fallen! I swear! On God's holy name!"
Tamamo scrutinized her words, looking for any possible sign of deceit. When she found none, she shook her head. It seemed she was innocent. Still, best to keep an eye on her. She heard the sound of wings flapping against the wind. Looking up, she frowned in distaste when she saw Rias Gremory, attended by Himejima Akeno, arriving on the scene. Just seeing her threw her "Lancer" self in a rage. While she did tolerate her to some level, she was still not happy with the fact that a portion of Japan was under the rule of a Devil, not to mention said Devil being little more than a fledging child.
"Tamamo-sama." Rias greeted respectfully, bowing her head as she landed. "It's a pleasure to see you again, though I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Spare me the pleasantries, Gremory." Tamamo snorted, folding her arms. "What will you do with the crows? To my understanding, they broke the laws set forth by their superiors, even though it was supposedly the leader of their faction who ordered it. Are you going to report this to your superiors?"
"But of course. There are laws put into place for a reason." Rias stated. "No matter what orders they might have had, they were violating a law. And more importantly..." She trailed off, realizing that she would have to choose her words carefully. A small misstep, and she would die. "... They were acting brazenly in a territory that was given to us by the Shinto Faction so generously. A territory that I and Sona have dominion over. The humans in Kuoh are under our protection. Failure to do protect them would be quite shameful. Not just to myself and Sona, but also to the pantheon who allowed us to claim dominion over Kuoh."
Tamamo snorted. She was emphasizing the Shinto faction's role in her current position in an attempt to appease her. Her "Assassin" side knew what she was trying to do. But for now, seeing as she was making an effort to be respectful and NOT give her a reason to give her the same treatment she did Raynare, she would let it slide. At least the Devil knew her place. Plus, she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. "What do you suppose their fates will be?"
"That will be up to my superiors, I suppose. Even if Sona and me are the heads of this territory, it is the Maou who will..."
"Hey, Lucy's sister." a new voice called out, causing everyone present to blink in confusion. "You mind not executing my subordinates yet? I kinda need to talk to them!" Haru looked around, trying to find the owner of the voice before he noticed a black feather falling in front of his face. Looking up, his face promptly shifted into one of shock, pointing upward as he struggled to make a suitable sound to represent his shock. Everyone looked up above and found a man dressed in a black yukata floating above them, bearing ebony wings—twelve in all. He bore a rather handsome mug, rugged with a goatee and black-and-blonde hair along with a jovial smile.
No sooner had she laid eyes on the man had Rias' mouth gone agape. "Y-You're-!"
"Another crow?" Tamamo scowled. "I missed one, it seems."
She prepared to burn him to ash, raising a hand to call upon her flames. When the man noticed her, his smile widened. "He~y, Tamamocchi! I heard you were back in town! Diggin' the hot body! Ten out of ten, girl. So, who's the lucky bastard?"
A second passed. Two, three. Four seconds. Then it became five.
Finally, Tamamo reacted. "...Eh?"
From afar, a silver-haired man cursed. "We~ll, fuck . This turned into a shit show." he muttered, face marred by a disgusting scowl as he ran a hand through his hair. "Boss man is gonna be fucking pissed when he hears this."
"Language, nii-sama." the woman next to him scolded lightly. "And honestly, we should have expected this. Raynare-chan started to lose it after Tamamo-no-Mae humiliated her. And now she's been stripped of her status. Kokabiel-san will likely discard her when we inform him."
"You think he'll let me fuck her before he kills her off?" The woman gave him a flat stare, making him pout. "You are no fun, Lint-chan."