Ruto, Akeno and Koneko were relaxing in the main room while Rias was in the shower. Yeah. It has a shower. Who knew? Akeno was standing by the door while Ruto and Koneko were sitting at the table eating sweets. Well really it was Koneko eating them, Ruto just plucked them from the plate when she wasn't looking. It was the end of the school day so it was the opportune time to conduct business as usual.
The door opened revealing Kiba, followed by a confused Haru. "Hey guys. I brought Haru as requested." Kiba said cheerfully. Haru was busy checking out Akeno's chest to pay any attention to anyone else until he felt something bounce off his head.
"Hey, Haru! Pay attention!" Ruto yelled from his spot on the sofa. Koneko glared at him because what he'd thrown at Haru was a doughnut she was about to eat that he'd just snatched out of her hand.
"Huh? Hey, it's you! What are you doing here?" Haru said in surprise. He wasn't expecting Ruto of all people to be here, then again, after what happened yesterday and Sunday, should anything be a surprise?
"Same thing you are. By the way, this place has a shower." Ruto said with a smirk. Haru heard the trickling of water and the turning of a shower tap. Akeno stood ready with an open towel as Rias stepped out of the shower. Ruto smirked, while Haru's reaction was priceless. The guy was practically drooling and blowing steam out of every orifice his head had. Koneko took advantage and solidly punted Ruto off of the sofa and across the room into a wall, leaving a human shaped crack in it. Revenge was sweet, like her doughnuts.
"Alright, had it coming." Ruto groaned as he peeled himself off the wall. Koneko focused her gaze on him.
"Sweet stealing pervert." She said in her usual monotone. Ruto wanted to retort but let it slide lest he get kicked into another wall by the small girl. Rias got dressed and started drying her hair.
"Sorry I didn't finish up sooner but I never got to wash after leaving your place." She said with a smile at Haru. He felt incredibly awkward but also incredibly lucky.
"Nah, you're hot, uh fine um, I mean it's alright." He fumbled his words. Ruto chuckled in cruel amusement.
"Real smooth bro." He said, rubbing the sore side of his face. Haru threw a quick glare at him.
"Anyway now that you've arrived, I think everyone's here. Let's begin." Rias announced.
Haru was overwhelmed at the info bomb that just got dropped on him about "Yuuma", finding out she was a Fallen Angel who'd single goal was to kill him, he had a powerful item bound to him and that this club, excluding Ruto, was full of devils.
"So I'm guessing you wanna know what 'it' was that the Fallen was referring to?" Ruto asked. Haru nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Well, first of all it wasn't a dick, let's clear that up first. But what she meant was that God, the guy in the sky or whatever put something called a Sacred Gear inside you. That's why she wanted you killed." Ruto said.
"A Sacred Gear is a rare and intense power found in very few humans. The only ones I've ever known to possess them are historical figures so you're pretty lucky." Akeno said with her constant smile. Ruto looked over to her.
"Thank you Akeno." he said and got a smiling nod in reply.
"Sometimes this power can be so great or uncontrollable, it becomes a threat to those in the underworld." Rias continued. Ruto stood and walked up to Haru.
"Dude, hold out your left hand." He instructed.
"Why?" Haru asked with uncertainty.
"Just fucking do it." Ruto said impatiently. Haru did what Ruto said and held out his left hand. "Now focus on whatever part of you is the strongest. Not your dick, I know what you're thinking." Haru looked away, embarrassed.
"Now focus on that strength and concentrate." Haru tried as hard as he could, straining all of his concentration. But still failed to do anything.
"Dammit! I can't focus. I don't get it, what's this even supposed to achieve?" Haru said in frustration. Ruto sighed heavily, but he did have an idea.
"What's your favourite anime Haru?" Haru was confused at the question but answered anyway.
"Uh, Dragon Ball Z. Why?" he replied. Ruto nodded in thought.
"And your favourite attack from it?" he pressed.
"Well, the Kamehameha of course." he said, as if he were stating the obvious.
"Alright then. Focus on your strength, and imagine you're gonna obliterate someone with a Kamehameha." Ruto instructed. He tuned all of his senses to focus on Haru's aura.
Haru once again closed his eyes and stretched out his left hand. Ruto smirked as he could feel Ddraig's aura now mixing with Haru's and boosting its power with its awakening. Soon in a flash of red and green light, a small crimson metal gauntlet with golden spikes coming off its sides and a large green gem in its centre appeared on Haru's left hand.
Haru grinned and inspected it. "Damn, this looks pretty cool!" he cheered. Ruto smiled at his achievement and unfolded his wings. Haru saw his large white and blue wings and his jaw dropped.
"Whoa, holy crap! Are you a devil too?" He yelled. Ruto chuckled and flapped them once.
"No Haru. These bad boys are my Sacred Gear. The opposite of yours to be exact." he replied with a smirk. "Say hello to Divine Dividing! The vessel of Albion, the Vanishing Dragon. And you, my good man, are the bearer of Boosted Gear, vessel of Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon and as of today, you are my rival!" Ruto announced loudly.
"Uh, yeah that sounds cool and all but this means nothing to me." Haru said, scratching his cheek. Ruto gave him a deadpan look.
"Ugh, We possess mid-tier Longinus Gears. Basically two of the strongest Sacred Gears in existence besides the top-tier Longinus Gears. With these, we have the potential to kill gods and devils of all kinds. With the right training, we'll be taking on the strongest of the strong in no time. But, we are destined to fight one day because we possess rival Gears." Ruto said, ending his speech with a grave tone.
Haru was processing his words when Ruto said, "Well kiddies, my work here's done. Now I've got a mouth to feed." he then walked out of the clubroom grumbling to himself.
After a round of congratulations and questions, Haru left for home.
A powerful Sacred Gear huh? Haru thought as he lay on his bed. He'd been processing the events of today since he'd gotten home a few hours ago.
One of the most powerful to exist, boy. Came a powerful voice in his mind. He sat bolt upright and looked around.
"Who said that?" Haru said out loud.
I did. I am Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon and Red Dragon Emperor.
Wait, you're the spirit inside my Sacred Gear? He asked.
Yes. Our rival did a decent job in getting you to realise you have me. However, I'm not sure why he'd go out of his way to do so.
Well that's Ruto. He's a nice guy when you get to know him. Sure he's lazy and a bit rude to practically everyone, but he's a good dude.
That kind of thinking will only make you hesitate and get you killed when the time comes for us to fight. You know that kid?
Haru had to admit that Ddraig had a point. He didn't want to fight Ruto at all. Not just because he had experience in spades but because he wanted to consider him a friend for helping him attain this new power.
Also, I could sense that White Bitch is further along in the Gear evolution process than I am. You have a lot of catching up to do.
I know, I know. Can we carry on with this tomorrow? For now I just wanna sleep. It's been a long day.
What do you mean you're a girl!? Ruto yelled at Albion as they now occupied the innermost recesses of his mind.
Exactly what I said. Surely it's not that surprising. Replied a tall woman with long snowy white hair with several golden strands interwoven into her curled bangs. Her eyes were a deep ocean blue with a ring of white around the pupils. She wore a white suit of armour which was very similar to the Scale Mail Balance Breaker but was slimmer with less pointy bits and missing the helmet.
But… But I… I thought you were a dude! He shouted incredulously. Albion giggled. Yeah, powerful dragon spirits do that now.
At no point did I say I was male. Besides, I thought you'd have figured it out by now. What guy talks like I have for the past few days? she replied.
Uh, I kinda just figured you were bitchy for a dude. Ruto said, rubbing the back of his neck. Shit this was awkward.
Her left eye twitched in annoyance. Excuse me? she said darkly. Did you just call me bitchy? she growled. Ruto backed away, holding his hands up in a placating manner.
Now, now Albion. You know I didn't mean it. C'mon you know me. I just say things, you know. Ruto said, trying to calm her down as she stalked closer to him. She got right up in his face and he closed his eyes, expecting her wrath to come fast and terrible. What he got wasn't a 36 hit Street Fighter combo and a Rasengan up the ass or Mortal Kombat fatality, but a hard flick on the forehead.
Um, the fuck? Ruto asked, really confused. Albion gave him a stern look.
You're my host, my partner. I'm not going to punish you too badly. At least not this time. Anyways you should feel lucky. You're the first host I've let visit me like this. she said with a small smile.
I guess I should huh. Well, It's nice to meet you face to face. It took a while but I guess it would happen anyway. Ruto said. Albion scoffed.
Look at you. I tell you that and suddenly you're Mr. Confident. Whatever. What's important is what you're gonna do about that Namikaze kid. He's not too big a threat at all right now, so what's the plan?
Ruto was silent for a few moments, keeping his thoughts to himself. Then he clicked his fingers. I got it, I'll have him train with me and Ophis. That'll either eliminate him straight away, or get him stronger for his peerage and for our fight.
Geez that's… cold, isn't it? You're pretty much placing a bet on whether or not he'll have a chance of surviving with Ophis. Is he just an obstacle to you? Albion said. Her tone was not accusing but a little taken aback at his cold decisiveness.
There's also no guarantee I'll survive with her. Either we both survive and kill each other later, or one of us dies in training. Hell, perhaps both of us. Plus, Haru's not an obstacle to me. Not at all. It's just I can't afford to start making a friend out of him either. He said somewhat sadly.
Albion put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly. Alright then. Well I stand by any decision you make. Not like I have much choice but I support you. Good luck. With that, Ruto woke up. Sunlight streamed in through his blinds, making lines of light across his room. He rolled onto his back and sighed.
"Just what the fuck was that?" Ruto said tiredly. Oddly enough on the other side of the neighbourhood, Haru said the exact same thing.