In the end, both of the Devils lost their fight. Issei got a light scratch from Irina's katana on his abdomen which saps his entire strength, Yuuto got hit on the solar plexus and got immobilized due to him trying out a technique or move which isn't suitable for him creating a large opening for Xenovia to attack.
After losing the fight, Yuuto tried to leave and said his goodbyes to Rias and the rest. Rias knew that she had to stop him, "Hold on, Yuuto!" She grabbed his hand to stop him from walking away, "You're a 'Knight' serving the House of Gremory. You'll be making serious trouble for me if you go 'Stray'!"
Yuuto didn't turn around but Rias heard him grinding his teeth, "It's thanks to my comrades that I was able to escape from that place." Gently removing Rias' hand from his arm, Yuuto resumed walking away at a faster pace, "That's why I have to honor their grudge and fight on..."
Rias didn't know what she should say to him and during that hesitation, Yuuto completely left their vision, "...Yuuto."
With nothing to do here anymore, Irina put on her cloak again, "Well, then! If you ever feel the urge to be judged, just let us know. Amen~!"
"Wait, Irina... I still have something I want to do." Xenovia grabbed her cloak to make her stay in place.
"What?" Irina asked her partner, but instead of answering her, Xenovia turned towards Aika's direction, "I don't know what's your connection with this Devils, but it seems that you're capable of analyzing our fight. It's strange though, as I can't feel anything from you aside from being a normal human..."
Aika didn't really know what to say as this is her first time interacting with people of the supernatural world aside from the Devils and Urahara Shop. Before she could say anything, however, Akeno spoke up, "She's being trained by Urahara Kisuke."
Those words of her caught Xenovia's and especially Irina's attention, 'He trains people now?'
Aika looked at Akeno's smiling face and tried to discern her goal of revealing such a thing. Although it isn't exactly a secret, being revealed just like that doesn't feel good.
What Akeno really just wants is to let them spar as it seems that the one holding the Excalibur Destruction has muscles for the brain. She also wanted to see Aika's capabilities and if she can do what she did when Akeno saw her transform into something strange, then they stand no chance against her. She also did this partly because she wanted to get back to Urahara by involving him in this case. And just like Akeno expected, Xenovia was hooked, "Hooh... Do you mean the owner of that Trap House? Interesting."
"Trap House?" Rias and Issei asked simultaneously. Aika, on the other hand, has an understanding face, 'Figures... I heard that she's currently living in that guy's house. She's probably too frustrated and wanted to drag those around him into problems. Not that it's justifiable...'
Akeno's smile broke for a moment but she immediately recovered, "It's nothing, Buchou."
Xenovia ignored them and took her stance again while facing Aika, "Let's spar."
Aika stood up for a moment to think of her next actions. She doesn't have to fight her or go along with her but she's curious how she would go against her. Akeno thought that she could freely use her power but she's wrong as she can't even tap into it without outside help. Compared to just watching, fighting herself would give her a more accurate view of her battle prowess. It's true that she's been sparring with Yoruichi, but that can't be used to compare to those 'normal' combatants. In the end, she decided to accept it since this will be just a spar and not anything close to death 'spar' that she always has with Yoruichi or Kisuke, "Sure, let's go." Two dull-gray daggers then appeared in both of Aika's hands.
"Sacred Gear?"
"Yep~. Though it's nothing impressive." Aika answered her, 'The 'spirits' of this Sacred Gear became my Zanpakuto now so it's really nothing impressive.' Aika knew that she's at a disadvantage due to her 'normal' parameters so she waited for her opponent to attack and only respond to it as responding to things happens to be one of the specialties she developed by participating at the idiot couple's 'Death Games'.
Xenovia kept on gauging Aika's aura but failed to notice anything impressive or even something different from a normal human, 'Is this it? Is she still hiding something?' With those in mind, she accepted Aika's attack invitation and dashed towards her with the Excalibur Destruction in tow. Xenovia intends to push Aika into revealing more so she used a bit of power when she swiped her sword from left to right towards her.
Aika wanted to try blocking it with her daggers to test it but decided against when she figured that she'll fly away if she did that. Aika dodges by backing up and reentered her range when the sword passes by her. Aika thrust her dagger towards his chest but Xenovia easily blocked it with the hilt of her sword. Letting go of her left hand on the sword, Xenovia countered with a punch and Aika dodges by backing up again. This type of exchange happened multiple times until both of them retreated.
"It's amazing that you can keep up with me despite being weaker and slower." Xenovia said.
"It might not be obvious, but my Sacred Gear is already boosting my body, you know. Though, not by much." From her clash with Xenovia, Aika learned a few things. First is that even though Xenovia is a lot stronger and faster than her, she can predict her path and dodge easily, after all, she didn't play those 'Death Games' for nothing. Second is, she didn't know how to initiate an attack properly! Sure she can dodge all day, but she didn't learn how to take advantage of the gaps that her opponents created. It shows how lacking she is in experience against those near her level and skewed Yoruichi's lessons are. Thinking about it again, what she learned from her is only how to dodge and run away, trying to control her locked up Reiatsu-Ki, and the Flash Step which she can't do perfectly yet. The reason why she's seeking out for Koneko is to get her advice regarding the technique, 'I already know what I lack... Now... How should I win this? If I can't take advantage of the openings she makes... I should just make one for myself! Let's do the good ol' Urahara Style, messing with other people's head!'
Koneko and Akeno saw a familiar smile emerged from her face and thought, 'The birth of another one?'
"Iya~. Well, to be honest, I'm not really that good at fighting, only dodging and running away! If I can't do that, I'll lose my life instantly." In this past week of training with Yoruichi and Kisuke, she already retracted the trust she gave them as it seems that she'll really be killed if she doesn't push herself, "But there's one thing that I'm confident I can do right."
Xenovia thought nothing of her smile and her 'joke' about losing her life but she got interested in her words, "And that is?"
"Throwing knives~!" With the swing of her left arm, it looked like she's aiming for Xenovia, but the knife flew off to a completely different direction and it ricocheted on the rock nearby before embedding itself to the ground near Xenovia.
"..."
Aika stood there proudly like she didn't mess up, "I taught myself~!"
"...Why do you act like you just succeded?"
"Because I did!" Aika initiated the attack this time now with a single dagger in hand. Xenovia thought that she's just trying to mess with her concentration since she's apparently trained by 'that' house's owner. Not wanting to be dragged in her pace, Xenovia increased the rate of her counters until Aika can only dodge and run around. Aika ran and led Xenovia around the clearing for a few minutes until she stopped and threw her second and last dagger towards Xenovia's face.
"!?" Xenovia was shocked at how she suddenly was able to throw accurately after displaying such skill earlier, 'She really knew how to throw knives?' She was shocked, only because it was too sudden. The knife doesn't actually pose any danger to her. Using the hilt of her sword, she blocked the knife's path and tossed it away, "Now then... What are you going to do without your kni-!?"
Aika suddenly arrived below her and sent out her right fist towards her face. Xenovia was shocked yet again because she thought that she would retreat now that she doesn't have any weapon. Regardless, it's still easy for her to dodge her punch due to her lack of speed. Xenovia bent her back over to dodge it just slightly so that she could end this spar already. Throughout the whole fight, she felt disappointed that she only knew how to dodge and run away.
But just as she was about to counter, the dull gray knife suddenly reappeared on Aika's right fist. The punch is actually a slash and at this rate, it'll reach her neck. Without much choice, Xenovia bent her back further and successfully dodged the knife. She took a step back to control her balance but to her surprise yet again, her foot was stopped by something and tripped. Midair, Xenovia looked down to see the culprit that tripped her, 'The knife she threw the first time!?' Completely losing her balance, she dropped down on the ground. She wasn't able to recover anymore because Aika's knife is pointing at her throat, "Told you, right~? I'm pretty good at throwing knives~." She said with a large grin on her face.
Welp~. Aika won't be a power fighter.
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Anyways, Enjoy~
And btw, I might not be able to post a chapter tomorrow since I'm going somewhere with my family and probably won't be able to write.
Everyone is blankly staring at Aika, except for Koneko, of course. She knew that Aika would win but still a little bit surprised at how she did it, 'Kisuke-senpai's way of doing things... I want to try it too.'
"W-what...?" Xenovia blankly muttered at the sudden turnaround. She didn't expect that their fight would be over in an instant.
"Well then. We're done here so I'd like to take my leave. Koneko-chan~! I want you to look at something." Aika then separated from the dumbfounded Xenovia and started walking towards Koneko to do what she's here for.
"W-wait! I want a rematch!" Xenovia hurriedly stood up.
Aika turned around and replied, "No way~!"
"I won't lose the second round!"
"That's exactly it! I won't win the second round through another trickery as I already showed my cards to you! So, no way!"
"B-but...!" Xenovia was taken aback at her willingness to admit losing for the second round and was tongue-tied.
Aika didn't wait for her to say anything more and dragged Koneko away in a secluded corner, "Gremory-senpai, I'll be taking Koneko-chan for a moment."
"Ah... S-sure." Rias could only stare at the two retreating figures, "Akeno... What sort of training did she go through?"
"...I really can't say anything, but at least I can tell you that she wasn't joking when she said she'll instantly die if she wasn't good at dodging things." After seeing how she won, Akeno calmed down sufficiently that she was able to reflect on her actions just now. Just because she's very frustrated at Kisuke, she dragged someone related to him to a problem which shouldn't have happened, 'What the hell am I thinking?... I should apologize...' Akeno then started walking to the direction they left.
"...She wasn't joking?" Irina muttered this time.
"Out of those who were here, it was only Akeno who saw how Kisuke Urahara trained those two..."
"You mean to say that he's even training your servant? Doesn't that mean that servant of yours would have a better chance of winning? Why didn't she fight?" Xenovia faced Rias and asked.
Rias sighed, "First of all, it was Issei and Yuuto who has a problem with you two and second, I forbade her from doing anything strenuous due to her injuries that haven't completely healed."
Xenovia stayed silent after hearing that. There's no use in fretting over a single loss and what Aika said that she won't win for the second time is true. She just has to remember that even those weaker than her, is capable of killing her if she falls for their tricks.
"Issei-kun..." Irina approached Issei who is being healed by Asia, "Just what happened to Kisuke?"
Issei looked up to her and thought about her question. A few seconds later, he shook his head, "I don't really know... It seems that he's already capable of amazing things since long ago and the more I discover about him, the more his mysterious side deepens... In fact... I'm scared of him." Issei then smiled, "But one thing is for sure though, he's my good ol' buddy."
"...I see... Now I look forward to meeting him again~!" Irina smiled brightly.
Issei then put on a serious expression, "Be careful of him though... I don't know what he did, but it seems that Akeno-san is very stressed these days due to him. I even heard her sometimes muttering undescribable things and kept hearing Kisuke's name along with it..."
Irina's mouth twitches and she recalled the dangerous house they are staying right now, 'It won't do anything to us if we don't provoke it... right?' "I'll remember that..."
After a few more words, the two exorcists left for good.
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"Kiryuu-san." Akeno chased after the two and called out to Aika.
The two members of the Urahara Shop stopped and turned back, "What is it, Himejima-senpai?"
Akeno stopped for a moment before bowing down in front of Aika, "What I just did is out of the line. Please forgive me."
Truthfully, even though what just happened ended up becoming a good thing for Aika, she still doesn't feel good when Akeno did something like that without prior notice or permission. But seeing her bow down and apologize soon after, most of the ill feelings disappeared, "...Can you tell me your reasons?"
"I have no other excuse aside from getting back it Kisuke Urahara..." Without getting up, Akeno stated her reasons.
"You really hate him, huh?"
"...Yes." Akeno answered.
Aika noticed that bit of hesitation from her, 'Really now...' Aika sighed, "Well, I don't really mind what just happened, but it would be great if something like this won't have a second time."
"I promise you. Thank you." Akeno left after letting out a sigh of relief. She still has her maid duties, and she also has to make sure that those two exorcists won't spread her secret... especially to Kisuke, as she might just kill herself if that happens.
"Now then, Koneko-chan. Take a look at my Flash Step and tell me what I'm doing wrong. My control of my measly Reiatsu-Ki is good but I'm getting a hard time timing my feet." Aika and Koneko spent the next two hours practicing Flash Step and Aika was able to do it without tripping up or being blown away. Though she can't do it continuously like Koneko as there is a limit of what she can teach her due to the difference of energy source of their techniques.
Just as Aika is about to leave, Koneko grabbed the hem of her clothes, "Aika-senpai... Can you look after Issei-senpai?"
"Why?"
"He'll probably do something to help Yuuto-senpai so I want you to help him... I want to do it myself but I won't be able to get away from Buchou for long periods of time as she's still worried about my injuries."
"Sure... But what's going on anyway?"
Koneko then proceeds to tell her the situation.
"Isn't that dangerous? Shouldn't we stop him if he wants to do something stupid? I don't know about those exorcists, but it seems that they're confident enough but Hyoudou would just be played around before getting killed."
"Knowing him, he'll do it even though it's incredibly stupid and dangerous to help his comrade. So I want you to instead supervise him instead of stopping him so he won't do anything too dangerous."
"Hmmm... Okay~! I'll do it in your stead~." Aika agreed easily as she's also partially interested in these Holy Sword-wielding exorcists and Fallen Angels.
A short chapter...
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I'm still thinking if I should post everything until Kisuke appears and take a rest depending on how many chapters is that (like I did in Medusa Arc) or just go with 1 or 2 chapters per day.
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Btw, it's the start of the month again~.
Get access to 60 advance chapters by supporting me here: pat reon.com/goyya00
Thank you very much for your support~!
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