Disclaimer: I do not own Highschool DxD.
Chapter 19: Cats and Chats
'Thinking'
"Talking"
"Talking"
- Midnight -
-Sora Sakai-
After an amazing time at the sauna, I have to say agreeing to go with Rias and Akeno turned out to be an incredibly worthwhile adventure. My private moment with Akeno before we joined Rias in the sauna's pool to cool off brought about a new textbox that I've been waiting to see.
+1 Affection and +27 Obedience with Akeno Himejima … Affection: 100 | Obedience: 47
Akeno Affection [100] - Skill Unlocked:
[Magic: Lightning] (Active) - Lvl. 1 (Novice)
Allows you to create and manipulate lightning.
It's the first bit of real magic that I can use which doesn't revolve around my Classes in anyway, and it's a lot more versatile in how I can manipulate it instead of just a set skill that does only one type of movement.
Granted, at its low level the most I can do is make some sparks and send bolts of lightning no bigger than my finger, but that's fine. The practice will help me hone the ability and figure out the best ways to add it into my constantly adapting and evolving fighting style.
Notice!
As a result of reaching Affection 100,
that score is now locked and can no longer increase or decrease.
I've figured out that in order to get someone's Affection or Obedience from 99 to 100, I have to do something important with them beyond the usual. For Akeno, that was showing her I didn't care about her Fallen heritage, and that it didn't change how I feel about her.
With Rias, I'm betting that helping her with the engagement was what I had to do to unlock hers, and now it's just a matter of getting the last few Affection points before she's locked in at 100 as well.
But with Aika, who's been sitting at 99 Affection and Obedience this whole time, I still haven't figured out what I'm supposed to do. There doesn't seem to be anything she needs my help with or wants to share with me, and our relationship is about as rock solid as it can get at this point. So I'm stuck with it at 99 for now.
'Speaking of, I need to see about taking her on a date sometime soon.' I've been getting so busy lately that outside of texting her and calling in the spare moments I have free time, we haven't really done much together.
Thinking of what I can do to give Aika a nice date, I wave goodbye to Akeno and Rias as they teleport away outside of the deserted mall.
After spending another hour or so in the sauna, we finally called it quits and got dressed before grabbing a nice dinner together in mall. By that point, the moon was already high in the sky and the rest of the people in the mall were heading home, which became a signal for us to finish our meals and head home ourselves.
Sharing a kiss with the girls, I chuckle as Akeno reaches around my back during our goodbye hug to squeeze my ass. Commenting on how she can't wait to see me again, before pulling away and moving back to a slightly blushing Rias; who still hasn't been able to look me in the eye for longer than a few seconds before blushing heavily.
My kiss with Rias is not as obscene as the one Akeno gave me, but it's filled with a lot of unsaid emotions that I try to return as best as I can before wishing her a good night.
Once they're gone, I go to use my own teleportation spell and return to the compound when Gaia's voice rings out in my head.
Aww~! Look, a kitty!
Blinking in confusion, I scan my surroundings carefully. With only the moon's light and the few lampposts shining down in small areas around the outside of the mall, seeing through the darkness is a bit of struggle.
Nonetheless, I finally make out a small black shape just far enough away from the light that the only thing I can see are two gold-slitted eyes staring straight at me. '[Observe].'
Kuroka - Level 123 - Stray Black Cat
Devil - Ultimate Class
Affection: 0 | Obedience: 0
Oh shit…this is not good. If she's here, then that means the Khaos Brigade knows who I am, and want to recruit me into their psychotic plans.
Either that, or she's here because of Vali…and I'm not sure which is worse. Because without Issei around to focus Vali's attention on his 'rival', then he'll be searching for someone else to fight. And I'm not at a level yet that can match someone who can use Juggernaut Drive whenever he wishes.
Sora Sakai - Level 86 [21%] - Summoner
Human - Sacred Gear User
She's almost forty levels above me, so I can't fight my way out of this. And she's likely fast enough to stop me before I can use my Sacred Gears or teleportation skill. Which really only leaves me with one option…
"Aww~! What's a pretty little kitty like you doing out here all alone?" I ask in the same voice that all pet owners use when speaking to animals. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to get you some food?"
Stepping closer to black cat with slow, careful movements as if I'm afraid to spook it, I'm internally cracking up at the deadpan look Kuroka's somehow able to express on her cat face.
First Impression:
+4 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 4 | Obedience: 4
I don't know whether or not she knows I can see through her transformation, but I'm gonna have as much fun with this as I can until she changes back into her human form. Because if she's here to kill me then I'm dead either way, so I might as well get a good laugh in before it happens.
Reaching the spot she's at, I crouch down so that I'm not towering over her tiny form as I keep speaking. "Don't be shy, I'm not gonna hurt you…"
Intentionally pretending to mistake her sudden tensing for a stray cat's fear, I slowly reach into my inventory and pull out a bottle of milk and a spare bowl.
Placing the bowl down in front of her and pouring some milk in it, I ignore the curious stare she gives me at having made the objects appear without a magic circle. "Here you go…drink up!"
With my Inventory being on hand whenever I need it, and not yet having found the limit to how much I can store in it, I've got tons of useless stuff just sitting there. Everything from plates, utensils, bowls, and tons of food and drinks. I'm like a walking market with the amount I've got on hand.
+4 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 8 | Obedience: 8
Watching her sniff the milk carefully, she eventually takes a tentative lick. Suddenly, her gold-slitted eyes practically morph into stars as she begins lapping at it enthusiastically.
She's so cuuute~!
:D
Can we keep her?
'Can we-?...Gaia, you do realize that she's actually a member of a terrorist organization right? And that her cat form is just a transformation?'
But she's so pretty!
Pleeeeaaaasssseeee?!
Sometimes, I just can't even with her…'No, Gaia.'
Aw :(
Meanie… :p
I love her to death, but sometimes I forget Gaia was actually born the moment I arrived in this Universe. Which, if my math is right, puts her at barely a few weeks to a month old at best.
"Meow!"
The sound of a cat's grateful meow focuses my attention back on pressing matters. Noticing that she's finished all of the milk that was in the bowl, as well as somehow getting at the milk in the bottle that's still in my hand, I chuckle at the satisfied look on her face. "Good stuff?"
Apparently forgetting to act like a real cat for a moment in lieu of enjoying herself, Kuroka nods her furry little head happily.
"I'm glad." I smile down at her, storing the empty bottle and bowl away in my Inventory before reaching out slowly to pet her head. Feeling the soft texture of her fur underneath my fingertips, I chuckle at the sound of her purring as soon as I scratch a particular spot behind her ears.
Suddenly, she jumps into the air and lands directly in my arms as I catch her. Shifting her body around until she's comfortable, Kuroka nudges my hand with her head, getting me to continue scratching her again as she purrs even louder than before.
'This has to be one of the strangest encounters I've had with someone from the supernatural world.' Don't get me wrong, so far it's also one of the least violet introductions I've had. I just didn't expect to meet someone like her under these circumstances. 'Which begs the question: Why is she here? And why aren't I dead or taken to the Khaos Brigade yet?'
Waiting a few moments for her to do something other than sit there in my arms and let me scratch her, I finally break the silence. "So…what brings you here, Kuroka."
Instead of jumping back or tensing up as I expected, she simply lazily opens her eyes after having shut them mid-scratch and stares up at me.
POOF!
Coughing through a small cloud of smoke that covers my vision, I'm forced to quickly adjust my grip or risk falling over as the weight and size of the small cat in my arms drastically increases. The soft fur rubbing against the skin on my arms replaces with the silky-smooth touch of fabric.
"Aww~ you figured it out nyah~? What gave me away?" A woman's seductive voice teasingly asks with a curious verbal tick at the end of her sentence.
Through the dissipating smoke, smooth creamy-white skin wrapped in a black silk kimono appears. The voluptuous body underneath her kimono is left almost entirely exposed with how loosely the kimono is tied. Leaving most of her thighs uncovered and a deep, plunging neckline that shows almost the entirety of her shapely breasts.
"Cats don't nod." I deadpan.
Blinking up at me, Kuroka cracks a grin that quickly becomes a laugh. "Hahaha! You're funny nyah~!"
'…what?'
Jumping out of my arms, Kuroka does a spin in the air before landing lightly on the ground in front of me, her two black cat eyes twitching as she looks me over with a curious gaze. "Nyah~, you're nyat what I was expecting when I heard a human managed to beat a Phenex."
Leaning in, her nose twitches cutely as she sniffs the air. "And you don't sleep as strong as a dragon…hmm." Swaying her two black tails behind her, she ponders something silently before eventually asking. "What are your thoughts on kittens nyah~?"
…right, she's got that whole desire to 'replenish the Nekoshou race'-thing.
"I figure I'll have some eventually." I shrug, because let's be honest…with all of the creampies I'm giving to my girls, it's bound to happen eventually.
The only ones I don't need to worry about as much are the Devils with their low fertility; but the others are one slipup away from getting a bun in the oven. It's only thanks to Aika taking the pill and the Fallen using their magic that's kept it from happening yet.
Thinking about what it would be like to have children, a small smile appears. "I'm actually looking forward to one day being a father." I truly wouldn't mind a couple of kids that are my own.
Being a parent is a big responsibility, but one I'd like to take on in the future.
+23 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 27 | Obedience: 27
Searching my eyes to see if I'm lying, Kuroka's face splits into a wide grin filled with teeth. The gleam of several sharp teeth lurking within an ominous sign that causes a worrying sensation in my groin.
"I think you'll do purrfectly nyah~!" She says with a husky tone, purring heavily as she trails a few fingers down the cleavage lining of her kimono. "How would you like to join my group? We could certainly use someone of your…talents. And I promise to make it worth your while."
As far as offers go, that was as blatant as I've ever seen…and I can't deny a small part of me wants to say yes.
Until a smaller part of me twinges in pain at the thought of doing any more sexual acts considering the busy day I've had. First with Raynare and Kalawarner in the morning, then Rias and Akeno in the afternoon. I'm afraid if I try for more it'll revolt against me.
"Ah, yeeeaaahhh…about that," I reply sheepishly as I scratch the back of my head. "Any chance we can rain check that offer? Kinda been a busy day for me. Maybe tomorrow?"
-4 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 23 | Obedience: 23
Frowning at my refusal, Kuroka's seductive demeanor drops as the slightest buildup of magic can be sensed from within her as she slowly raises her hand. "I see…that's a real shame. This could have been a lot easier had you just accepted nyah."
'Uh-oh.' I've got to think fast, because a fight with her will almost assuredly end in my defeat. "W-W-Wait! You couldn't have just come all the way out here for little ole' me, right?" I wave my hands frantically, trying to stop this from escalating. "W-What about your sister?"
"-pause- You know about Shirone nyah~?" Halting the buildup of power, Kuroka tilts her head slightly in an admittedly cute way as she asks.
"Y-Yeah." Internally wiping the sweat off my forehead at stalling her attack, I nod. "I'm close friends with her King, though she goes by Koneko now."
Lowering her hand, her ears and tails perk up. "I see…c-can you tell me how Shir-," she pauses. "…can you tell me how she's doing?"
"She's…" Shit, I haven't actually spoken with Koneko at all. The only things I know about her are from the anime, and that's not that much.
But what I do know, I might be able to work with. "She's struggling. After you left her, she withdrew into herself and doesn't really talk or express any of her emotions now."
Hearing my response, Kuroka's ears and tails droop sadly as she looks down at the ground depressed. "…oh."
A small silence descends over us as I watch her try to hold back a trembling of her lips and slight wetness in her eyes. As I stare at her, my brain works quickly to come up with an idea. One that has the potential to create big changes in the future.
"She doesn't know why you left her, and all she thinks is that using Senjutsu made you lose control and murder your former King. She's so scared now of her heritage that Koneko doesn't even let her ears or tail show." My hope is that by reinforcing how bad Koneko is struggling with her situation, it might give me an opportunity to turn Kuroka.
Pressing the issue, I add. "I think…I think she could really use her big sister right now."
Glancing up at me, Kuroka ponders the idea for a moment before shaking her head. "I can't. I wish I could, but the Devils would never let me get close enough." Giving me a curious look, she asks. "Besides, how can you be sure I'm not a murderer. I could very well use the opportunity to kill the Devils, like the King you said you're friends with."
Bingo. Just what I was hoping for.
"Because you don't look like a killer to me, and because I've looked into what happened between you and your former King." Complete bullshit, but I can't exactly say that I learned it all from watching the anime. "You didn't kill him because you went mad off of Senjutsu, you killed him to save your little sister."
Seeing her eyes widen, I smirk confidently. "And that's how I know you won't hurt them either. Because you're not crazy or mad with power; you're a good big sister who's doing everything she can to watch out for her little sister. Even if it means taking on the spite from all the Devils in order to protect her."
"H-How…?" She breathes, her eyes wide with shock at how much I know.
Instead of replying, I mentally command for my Spirit's to reveal themselves.
As a dozen spectral animals appear all around us, with some on top of roofs and others perched on lampposts, I shrug as her eyes dart around frantically. "I like to keep an eye on things around here. You wouldn't believe how crazy this small town can get."
Seeing the fur on her ears and tails begin to stand on end, I lower my voice to a more soothing and calming tone. "Don't worry, they're not here to attack. They're just my eyes and ears."
Focusing back on my voice, Kuroka fixes me with a long, calculating stare. Realizing that she might need to rethink her opinion of me and my strengths.
+4 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 27 | Obedience: 27
"You really are quite the magician nyah~." If I'm not mistaken, she seems almost amused by everything that I've revealed about myself. Which makes sense considering how different my abilities are from what anyone else has, and that each new thing I say or reveal manages to surprise her.
The small smile she gives me returns to its earlier frown as she continues. "Unfortunately, as much I wish to be with Shirone nyah~, the Devils still see me as a Stray."
Expecting me to be defeated, the satisfied smirk I give surprises her. "Then it's a good thing Koneko's King, the girl I'm very close with, just so happens to have an older brother that's a Satan. An older brother who -like you- would do anything for their little sister."
Granted it's going to take a lot of brownie points with both Rias and Sirzechs to win them over on the idea, but it's doable if I can increase Sirzechs's scores a bit more and max out Rias's.
Seeing the indecisive look on her face, I press on.
"I'm not saying you have to do it right now." I say comfortingly as she seems to wage an internal battle with herself. "But the next time you see Koneko, instead of trying to take her away from a place she's happy in. Maybe…maybe stay with her."
The next move takes a little bit of faith on my part, but I take a step closer to her, placing myself a foot away from her and within perfect striking distance for if she decides to forget everything and continue with her mission.
"I promise you," Reaching down slowly, I take both of her hands in mine as she watches every movement with wide eyes. Staring into her slit pupils, I can see shock and surprise clear as day in them. "If you choose to stay with her, I'll do everything within my power to see that you're never separated from your little sister again."
Affection Check - Have: 27 | Required: 25
Check Passed!
+8 Affection and Obedience with Kuroka … Affection: 35 | Obedience: 35
"I'll think about it nyah~." She replies, squeezing my hands gently before letting go and taking a step back. As a magic circle appears underneath her feet, she tosses me a wink. "And if I see you again, I expect us to make kittens nyah~!"
Blowing a kiss at me, she teleports away without another word.
Now that she's gone, I heave a heavy sigh of relief that I didn't have to fight her. 'That could have gone worse. At least my plan somewhat worked out…now I just have to figure out how I'm going to convince Rias and Sirzechs to going along with it.'
The thought of what I'll have to do to get them to say yes causes a headache that I'm just too tired to deal with.
Giving a mental command to have my Spirits go invisible again and sending them off to their patrols, I quickly cast [Summon: Teleportation Gate] to head home before anything else can happen.
Soooo…we're not getting a kitty?
'Not tonight, Gaia. Not tonight.'
Aww :(
- Sakai Compound -
After returning home late last night, I had to tell Raynare and Kalawarner that I wasn't in the mood for anything and that all I was looking for was falling straight to sleep. Thankfully, they understood and returned to their own guest room in the other building for the night while I cuddled under the covers of my own bed.
A few minutes into lying in bed wide away, I realized that it was the first time I'd been alone in the bed without someone next to me. And I didn't like how it felt. So, after sending out a quick mental message, I wound up falling asleep cuddling with a pleased Ichi.
It was…relaxing, to not just have my days and nights filled with sex. Something as simple as falling asleep after a long day with someone you care about turned out to be more than enough for me to have one of my better night's sleeps. 'I definitely needed it too after yesterday.'
Walking over towards the compound's fields around mid-day, I take in the heat of the sun warming down on my skin and the slight cooling sensation of the breeze blowing over the outer walls.
With all of the trees and plants that the Servants have planted around the compound, the sound of wind rustling through them is quite the pleasant sound after being surround by others all day. I love my Summons to death, but even with Ichi, Ni, San, and Juuichi managing most of them, it's still a hassle to deal with everything.
Probably the biggest issue I'm facing at the moment is the lack of growth. Without any new achievements to grow the land around the compound, things are quickly beginning to feel crowded even with me holding back on the number of Summons I can bring out at one time.
'Another problem to deal with later.' Passing the divider of stone to grass that separates the compound from the fields, I spot someone standing next to the edge of the crops watching the others work. 'At least things are quiet at the moment.'
After Kuroka's departure, I haven't heard a word from her or seen anything with my Spirits. Which I'm guessing means she's finished with her mission and has reported back to the Khaos Brigade. 'And now I know that I'm on their radar, I have to be careful about revealing my powers and artifacts in case they develop counters for them.'
Feeling a breeze caress my skin, I close my eyes for a moment and let its soothing touch clear away my worries. It's too nice of a day to get all doom and gloomy. I'm trying to be as relaxed today as I can, and worry about other things later.
Hell, I've even dressed down for my day of relaxation.
Dressed in a long-sleeved white button-up with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, a pair of beige kakhi pants, and simple white sneakers; this is as relaxed a style as I'm comfortable wearing with guests around. Even if those guests are Asia, Raynare, and Kalawarner.
Walking over to the tall, muscular form of Juuichi, I call out to her in greeting as I approach. "Good morning, Juuichi."
Turning her head to me, Juuichi flashes me a smile that others would see as feral, but I know it to be warm and welcoming. "Mornin' Master."
Watching me sidle on up to her and rest my back against the wood fence, she turns her head back to stare at a particular spot in the field. Following her gaze, I notice Asia in the middle of the crops helping the Servants around her tend to the growing plants.
"How is she?" I ask softly, watching as one of the Servants points out a few things despite their inability to speak through the full-faced white masks.
Shrugging at the question, Juuichi replies. "Seems to be doing okay. Certainly a happy little thing, if a bit clumsy. 'S long as we keep the sharper tools away from her, she should be fine."
Watching the Servants interacting with Asia, she adds. "Gets along well with the Servants, even figured out a way to communicate with them despite their lack of talking. Seems to have endeared herself to them quite quickly."
"I see." Watching Asia finish speaking with the Servants and kneel down to tend to a particular crop, I figure now's a good time to have a private word with her. "I'll go speak with her, feel free to take the rest of the day off if you want."
Deciding to be a little playful, I reach over and grope a quick handful of her amazingly soft, yet toned rear.
"Hey now!" She yelps, a sparkle in her black eyes as she stares at me with a grin. "Don't go startin' somethin' you don't plan on finishin'…"
"Who said I wasn't going to finish something?" I throw a wink over my shoulder, seeing her whole face and body light up in excitement. "I'll be wanting to have a private word with you too, afterwards."
"Oh…you're in for it tonight, Master." She purrs out in a way that sounds more like one of her Komainu's growls.
Chuckling, I call out as I walk further into the field. "Can't wait!"
With my bit of teasing done, I enjoy the small moment of peace and quiet as I walk through the fields towards Asia. The bright blue sky and warm sun shining down on the field, along with the subtle sounds of the Servants tending to the crops, almost makes one forget that we're not that far from a busy town like Kuoh.
Approach Asia, I smile softly at the change in clothing she's undergone from the typical nun's garb she's been wearing. Now, she has on a frilly, short-sleeved white shirt with small yellow flower patters, a pair of long blue overalls, and a good-sized sun hat on her head.
It's obvious that one of the Guardian Servants -likely San- went out and bought her a couple pairs of clothes for her to wear and work in.
The additional pair of gardening gloves and small work boots she's got on are likewise decorated in matching yellow flower designs that go perfectly with her long blonde hair that falls around her shoulders.
"Good afternoon, Asia!" I call out as soon as I'm a few feet from her, startling the small blonde in the process.
"Ah!" She yelps, the small trowel in her hand flying a foot in the air before somehow falling right on top of her head. "Owie!"
"Heh," I chuckle. I guess she really is as clumsy as Juuichi said she was. Good thing the trowel the Servants gave her is made of a lighter material than the metal one's their using, otherwise that could have been bad. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah." She replies, smiling up at me shyly as she takes the sunhat off to rub where she got hit. "You just surprised me."
Slowly getting up off the ground, she looks up at me curiously while brushing off the dirt on her overalls. "Is there something you needed?"
"I just thought you should know I spoke on the phone with Azazel earlier." More like I had to listen to him grouch about how dull the Angels are for not getting any of his jokes.
Which, admittedly, were a little childish. But to keep my relations with him going in a positive direction, I sat through it all as best as I could. "He said that the Grigori and Heaven have finally finished working things out, and that they'll be sending someone to come pick you up in three days' time. In fact, they're even sending an Angel to come get you!"
They actually wanted to send someone from the Church to come pick her up, but I put my foot down on that and told Azazel to contact Heaven back and have an actual Angel come here instead. Pointing out that the Church might try to do something to her again like they did before, including sending her straight into the arms of the Devils, if they're desperate enough.
When you account for how few Recovery-type Sacred Gears there are out there, the thought of Heaven losing out on one by giftwrapping it to the Devils is all the more worrying to them.
At least the news serves to put a smile on Asia's face, as she practically beams up at me from the thought of returning. "I see! Thank you for telling me!"
As she reaches down to pick the trowel up off the ground, I pause mid-turn as I watch her go back to tending to the plant she was working on before with a renewed cheer.
"Are you sure you want to go back to them?" I ask gently, "They did kick you out, after all."
Pausing in her work, Asia nods her head slowly. "They did…but Lord Azazel explained why they did it. My Sacred Gear can heal anyone, even Devils. And that scared them with how people might view it, and what it would mean for sinners."
Shrugging her shoulders, she adds as she continues to work. "I'm not saying they should have done it. But I can forgive them for it."
"Because sometimes people do things out of fear that they don't really mean to."
The simpleness of her response, and the calm way in which she can forgive them for all but forcing her to leave the only home she ever knew…it stupefies me. 'How can someone so kind, and so forgiving, be real?'
Watching Asia continue to work, and listening to the sound of her softly humming a hymn as she happily does everything she can to help the Servants -even when she doesn't have to- makes me respect her all the more.
And that's why I'm now facing a serious dilemma.
'I…I shouldn't. But I have to.' I think, hesitating over the thought of potentially ruining her good mood.
But I also can't let her walk blindly into this without at least giving her some idea of what's coming.
If the knowledge of God's death sent Xenovia all but running to the Devils looking for reincarnation, then I can't image what'll happen if she gets reincarnated by the Angels and learns the secret then.
"What if…" I pause, the words struggling to come out in a way that won't hopefully crush her spirits. The words drawing her gaze away from the plant as she stares up at me with her knees in the dirt. "What if…things don't turn out the way you expect them to? What if I were to tell you that not everything is as it seems?"
"What if you join them, become a member of the Angels and travel up to Heaven, only to find out that it's just Angels." I ask, my voice getting quieter and more solemn with each word. "What if you find out that God isn't there. That he's…dead."
The look she gives me is filled with curiosity and more than a bit of confusion as to where this has come from. Thankfully, she doesn't ask why. She just stares at me for a moment before glancing down at the plant she's been tending to.
"I think…I think I'd be really sad." She replies, pondering every word as if imagining it being real. And the small frown she gives as her hands continue to work on the soil is painful to see. Before I can apologize for asking, however, she continues on with a small smile. "Although…I think that, even if God is dead, I wouldn't be heartbroken by it."
Despite my best efforts, my mouth drops slightly as my eyes widen in surprise. "…you wouldn't?"
"No. I wouldn't." Asia continues working away at the ground and plants as she speaks. "Because even if He's dead, that doesn't mean He's truly gone from this world. His love, His compassion, the lessons we've learned under His care; they've all created beautiful stories to teach and show us how much He cared."
Lifting up a small leaf that had fallen off one of the plants, Asia cradles it in her hands as if it's a child.
"Every leaf, rock, and puddle we see are examples of His creation. Examples of his love for the world, and everyone in it…" Finally turning her face away from the ground, she looks up at me with a wide, beautiful smile like a ray of sunshine parting through the clouds. "And as long as they exist, then He's never truly gone…not really. Not in our hearts."
Seeing my flabbergasted look, Asia giggles softly as she places the leaf back on the ground and continues working. Briefly waving goodbye to me as I walk away stunned, my head shaking on its own in disbelief as I throw a wave over my shoulder.
You know what? I think Asia's going to be just fine with the Angels. 'In fact, I think even they could actually learn something from her about compassion and forgiveness…I know I did.'
I think…I'm really going to miss this girl when she's gone.
- Somewhere -
-Kuroka-
Teleporting back to her group's base of operations, Kuroka walks past the two idiots who are constantly fighting without a glance in their direction, making a beeline for the hallway that leads to the private bedrooms.
Her mind too busy replaying the conversation she had with Sora to notice what's going on around her. 'Maybe…Maybe what he said is possible. Maybe if I stay with Shirone, we can work things out between us.'
It hurt her to know how much her little sister is struggling.
And the fact that Kuroka is the reason for it breaks her heart. 'I'll have to be careful though. If anyone here suspects that I might leave, they'll come after me.'
Hearing a crash from the spar going on in the room behind her as she continues walking down the hallway, Kuroka frowns heavily as she glares at the ground. 'And if they can't get to me, they'll go after Shirone.'
The thought of the lengths the ground she's joined will go to in order to silence her weighs heavily on her mind, but the thought of her little sister being hurt by them stirs a feeling of protectiveness in her heart. As if she would ever let one of them near her adorable little Shirone!
"Oof!"
Too invested in her thoughts, Kuroka forgets to pay attention to where she's going and ends up colliding with something small that stands in her way.
Glaring up from her position on the ground after having fallen over, Kuroka prepares to tell off whoever it is that got in her way, when the site of who black orbs stills her heart. 'Oh fuck!'
If there's ever a time when Kuroka would freely admit that there might be some truth to idea of black cats being bad luck, then the fact that she just walked into Ophis of all people while contemplating turning traitor would be a perfect example.
"L-Lady O-Ophis!" Kuroka squeaks, climbing to her feet as she tries not to flinch at the sight of the two empty eyes staring back at her. "Wha-…What are you doing here?"
Ophis, still transformed as a small gothic lolita, stares up at the taller woman blankly. "Planning how to defeat Baka Red." She replies in a completely monotone voice.
The small shiver that runs through Kuroka's body says more than enough for how much the small child-like dragon god affects her.
"I-I see." She stutters out, trying not to focus on the blank void of emotions that Ophis truly is.
As a Nekoshou, Kuroka is a master in using Senjutsu to read other's emotions.
While she can't read their minds, she can read the sensations she gets from them. And that gives her some picture of what they're really thinking, and how they really feel.
It's how she so readily believed Sora when he said that he was willing to help her with the Devils.
Her Senjutsu read the emotions coming off him, and determined that he was being completely truthful with his desires.
And even if he tried to hide it, she could also tell just how attracted to her he was. Even the best of the best at keeping their emotions hidden couldn't completely block out her Senjutsu, and Sora was very much not one of them. Only someone powerful in Senjutsu like Lady Yasaka, or one of the higher Gods like Indra can keep their emotions hidden.
Which is also, coincidentally, why she became so flirty with Sora after sensing that he truly did want to be a father.
That was something she hadn't expected to find when she made her rather salacious offer.
She's sensed too many people who have lied about accepting her offer of making kittens and restoring her race, just so they can have the chance to sleep with her, that someone actually wanting to be a father made her heart all a flutter.
But while Sora was like an open book to her…Ophis is like a black hole of nothingness that not even her best attempts with Senjutsu could read. Whose very presence terrifies her enough that she'd be willing to hide behind the Devils if for no other reason than to get as far away from Ophis as possible.
"I-I'm sorry to say, but my attempts to recruit Sora have failed." Dreading how Ophis will respond, Kuroka prepares herself to teleport out instantly should she sense any possible attack from the Dragon God. Knowing that her only options would be to flee, or die, if it came down to a fight.
Mercifully, luck seems to be on her side as Ophis tilts her head in confusion. "Who?"
"S-Sora," Kuroka replies, "Y-You know, the Sacred Gear user you sent me to recruit?"
"Oh."
The clear lack of actual remembrance on Ophis's face is both shocking, and relieving, to the black-haired Nekoshou.
"No matter. They will all join me in fighting Baka Red in the end." Ophis brushes off the failed recruiting like it's nothing as she walks past Kuroka without another word, abruptly ending the conversation without a care.
Watching the terrifying being dressed in the skin of a little girl walk away, Kuroka breathes a heavy sigh of relief as the sounds of sparring in the other room halt at Ophis's presence.
…Maybe she'll take Sora up on his offer after all. If, for no other reason, then to get her out of this madhouse. 'Maybe I could even get him to tell me where he gets his milk from?'
You'd be surprised how hard it is to get a decent bottle of milk while working as a member of a terrorist organization.
- END -
Author Notes:
And that's Chapter 19!
SO! Got to see some Kuroka joining into the story; with a bit of preparation for her eventual joining it in a more long-term way later down the line.
And I got to flesh out Asia's character a bit more!
While I never cared for her as a romantic interest for any of my stories, I do think she's a great example of how someone who believes in that faith should be when it comes to kindness and forgiveness. And with Issei not being around to tempt her towards the Devils, I really wanted to show just how fit she would be to join Heaven and the Angels.
Hope you all are still liking it so far! Thanks for checking out my story.