Chapter 243: Preparing a Safeguard
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"Understood? And if those fools from the east…" Yasaka's voice drifted through the courtyard, clear and firm as she spoke to her daughter, Kunou.
Even when it came to her daughter, there was a touch of command in the way she spoke right now—like a queen even when the conversation was family. She was preparing to leave Kyoto, and from the way she handled it, one would think it was a military operation. Because in a sense, it was.
Leaving Kunou in charge of a city like Kyoto wasn't a small thing.
I stood nearby, leaning back slightly as Akane's arm brushed against mine. I wasn't involved in the conversation, but I could hear everything. It was kind of cute to me, truth be told, although it was a very serious matter to them.
Yasaka was going away for what could possibly be weeks, such a sudden travel right after her city was attacked might be problematic, so she was instructing Kunou in detail. This was her ensuring Kyoto would be stable even if she had to be away for more than weeks, maybe a month. Because now that everyone was alert, Valerie's Vampires probably wouldn't move hastily. She could wait months before making a move.
Yasaka knew that, but she wasn't the type to sit back and wait for them to come knocking. She wanted to be there when the killers of her friend would show up.
Kunou was capable, from what I recalled, but she could be bratty, and the weight of responsibility was heavy for someone that young. I could see it in the way Kunou stood—trying to show strength, but still aware of what was being placed on her shoulders. She had Yasaka's confidence, though. People would listen to her.
"Mhm…" As all this played out in the background, my mind drifted. I glanced down at Akane, her eyes catching the soft glow of the garden's lights.
There was disappointment there, mixed with understanding. She didn't have to say it. I knew she hadn't wanted the day to end like this. "Sorry," I murmured, my hand sliding around her waist. I pulled her closer, her warmth pressing into me as she leaned in, seeking that small bit of comfort. "Yasaka seems almost ready to leave. Looks like we have to put an end to the date now."
Akane let out a soft sigh, resting her head against my chest. "I understand… It's not like you can control these things. I saw with my own two eyes. Things on this side of the world are more unpredictable than I thought."
I nodded, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll drop you in front of your house, alright? We'll pick this up another time." My voice stayed casual, but I honestly felt guilty that I couldn't give her more of my time today.
"Yeah, sure," she replied softly, her fingers brushing lightly against my jacket. There was that mix of disappointment and acceptance in her voice. She knew this was how things were with me, even if it wasn't easy to swallow sometimes. She had gotten used to this, the unpredictability of my life. But it didn't mean she'd like it.
I raised my hand, waving it through the air as the fabric of reality split.
Energy flickered, and the familiar sight of Tokyo appeared on the other side, just outside her home. The portal shimmered in the courtyard's dim light. I glanced at Mai, who had been standing quietly nearby. She gave us a small nod, understanding the situation without needing to say anything.
Then I led Akane through the portal, stepping out onto the quiet street outside her house.
The sounds of Kyoto's hidden town faded behind us, replaced by the calm stillness of Tokyo at night. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The air was cool, the night peaceful. But there was still a tension lingering between us.
Just as the portal closed, without warning, Akane pressed her face into my chest, her arms wrapping tightly around me. Her warmth seeped through my shirt, and I sighed softly, my hand finding its way to her hair, ruffling it gently. I felt even more guilty. The silly girl didn't have to do this—holding onto me like she was afraid I'd disappear if she let go.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words coming out more out of habit than anything. I'd promised her more than just a few hours together, but in the end, duty always came first.
Her voice was muffled against my chest. "I was hoping we'd at least spend the night together," she admitted in a tone of disappointment and longing.
I closed my eyes for a second, resting my chin on top of her head. "I know, me too," I muttered softly, my lips brushing against her forehead. She deserved better than this. But this was the life I led, and she was part of it, whether we liked it or not. "I had some ideas on how to spend the night, but then things went wrong like this."
"It's okay, just…" Akane tilted her head up, her lips parting slightly as she looked up at me. There was something in her eyes—soft, but eager. "Give me a kiss?"
I smiled despite the situation, leaning down to meet her halfway. My lips brushed against hers, and she whimpered softly into the kiss, pressing herself even closer.
Her breath hitched as my hand slid down her back, finding its way to her plump ass. I squeezed gently, earning a soft moan from her as I pushed her against the wall of her house, deepening the kiss.
For a moment, everything else faded away—no yokai, no vampires, no looming war. Just the two of us, enjoying whatever time we could steal in the quiet of the night.
Her fingers clasped the front of my shirt, drawing me nearer, our mouths moving in unison. The passion between us was intense, the anticipation that had been growing all day finally releasing. However, reality interrupted us minutes later as a pair of people walked past us, yelping at the sight of us in the act.
With a reluctant sigh, I broke the kiss, stepping back slightly. Her breath came out ragged, her face flushed as she looked up at me, her lips still slightly parted. I met her gaze for a moment, my own breathing steadying.
"Then I'll be going now, Akane," I said again, but she just shrugged, looking away with a slight pout.
"Just… remember your promises," she muttered, her voice softer now. There was a vulnerability there that she didn't show often. She played her role as a strong girl well. I nodded, allowing the weight of her words to settle in.
"I will," I promised, and this time, I meant it. There were too many promises I'd made, too many I still had to keep. But I had to start somewhere.
Eternity was a long time, and in this Nexus, I had to maneuver well enough that my loved ones didn't feel left out.
With one last glance, I opened a new portal, the shimmering light cutting through the night, leading back to Kyoto. I stared at her, our gazes locked, and nodded, turning around. As I stepped through, I heard Akane's soft voice call out behind me.
"Aqua… Be careful," she whispered.
And then the portal closed behind me, leaving the quiet streets of Tokyo far behind.
****
The familiar shimmer of a portal cut through the night air, opening into the quiet grounds of Kuoh Academy.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting odd shadows over the empty courtyard. I stepped through first, enjoying the cool breeze brushing against my skin as Mai, Yasaka, and Elmenhilde followed behind.
"The air's gentle here," Yasaka said, and I agreed. Kuoh had always felt strange at night—quiet in a way that didn't match the usual energy of the place. But recently, more so. The school had been closed for over a month, and now it looked deserted, like time had frozen here while the rest of the world moved on. No students, no chatter, nothing but the eerie stillness that stretched over the grounds.
Mai frowned as she looked around, her eyes scanning the familiar buildings. "This place looks… strange," she muttered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Much different than what I remember." Of course, she too hadn't been attending classes.
I nodded, properly taking in the atmosphere. It should be hard to maintain such an odd and long school break, but the devils' hypnosis definitely helped convince the crowd. Harsh, but it was the better choice. With everything going on now, normalcy was fragile, and the students would have been in danger.
"Let me give it some life," Yasaka, standing beside me, raised her hand, summoning a small flame that flickered to life above her palm.
The flame grew, rising upward, turning into a miniature sun that hovered in the air, bathing the courtyard in its warm, orange glow. The light chased away the shadows, illuminating the stillness with a soft, radiant heat.
A quiet gasp caught my attention. I glanced down to see Elmenhilde trembling beside me, her crimson eyes wide as she stared at the sun of Fox Fire. Was the warmth from Yasaka's fire too much for her? Yasaka's flames were barely any different from sunlight to someone like Elmenhilde. It could be deadly, if not checked.
"Little girl, relax," I murmured, placing a hand on her head. I spread my Qi over her, creating an invisible protective barrier right above her skin to shield her from the discomfort. My Sage's Authority helped enhance that.
The tension in her body eased slightly as the pressure of Yasaka's flame lessened, but I could still feel her unease. She looks up at me, nodding in thankfulness.
Yasaka caught my eye, a soft giggle escaping her lips. "Oh, I was going to enjoy her squirm a little, it wasn't going to be anything lethal to her," she said, making me raise an eyebrow. "But I'm impressed. You're pretty good at little tricks."
I grinned, brushing a hand through my hair. "Don't take this the wrong way, Lady Yasaka, but I have a soft spot for Vampires. Not enough to let them run amok but definitely enough to save them from needless death," I said, making her stare at me in silence for a moment before she smiled, the playful edge to her still there.
But before anyone could say more, I sensed movement from the old school building nearby. Doors swung open, and before that I had already heard the sound of footsteps rushing toward us. A moment later, familiar faces walked toward us—Rias's peerage, namely Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba, were walking toward us, looking surprised when they saw me. They were being followed closely by Sona and Tsubaki.
The false sun must have pulled their attention.
They almost smiled at me but slowed to a stop as soon as they saw Yasaka.
I didn't blame them. Seeing the powerful leader of the Yokai Faction casually standing in their courtyard was sudden. They looked awkward as they shot me a confused look.
Sona was the first to speak. "...Aqua, what's this?" she asked, adjusting her glasses as her sharp eyes darted between me and Yasaka. "You've been visiting frequently these days, which I appreciate, but… looks like you've brought interesting guests this time," her eyes fell on the little vampire beside me. "Did something happen?"
"Hey Aqua~" From beside her, Tsubaki waved, prompting Sona to shoot her a look.
"Yeah, something happened alright," I said, waving at Tsubaki as I continued, "There was an attack in Kyoto. A group of vampires killed one of Yasaka's closest allies. They were after the sacred gear she had, a piece of Evil God Balor."
The girls blinked as a wave of shock passed through their faces. Koneko's usually impassive face showed a flicker of concern, and even Akeno looked unsettled by the news. Kiba frowned. "Balor…"
"Yes, the same Balor whose Sacred Gear Gasper has. The vampires released two Onis from an ancient seal to distract us, and in the meantime they took the Balor sacred gear, killing the wielder in the process," I continued, "and now it looks like they're after Gasper."
"Shit," Sona cursed, her expression growing dark. "Why are they after the wilders of Balor Gears? What's going on, even?" She grumbled, "And at a time like this, that Rias isn't bothering to show her face to her friends!"
I sighed. "Calm down, I'm here," I patted her shoulder, watching her relax a little. "As for why they're after Balor Sacred Gears, it's complicated. But basically, we think they're trying to revive him. To be more specific, a rogue vampire, Valerie Tepes, is trying to gather pieces of Balor, to revive the ancient God from his slumber."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Gasper had always been kind of useless to the peerage, but they were still close friends—they likely saw him as one of their own, and now he was caught up in something that none of them could step up again.
"Rest assured, I don't think they'll attack tonight," I added quickly, trying to ease the tension. "Yasaka is here, and there's no Oni to release this time. But more importantly, I'm here too. If they have any sense, they'd run before attacking Kuoh."
The kids collectively sighed of relief when they realized that my words were true. Yasaka nodded in support.
Akeno nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Alright. If Lady Yasaka of the Yokai and you are here, that's reassuring. We'll prepare ourselves, just in case."
I gave a short nod. "Good idea. I'll send Quetzalcoatl here to stay on post here. She'll keep an eye on things while I head back and discuss what's happening with my fam- sect."
Akeno tilted her head, a sly smile playing at her lips. Now that she knew an attack wasn't happening tonight, she seemed more relaxed. "Leaving me so soon, Aqua? My shoulders have been aching since earlier, bearing the responsibilities of the president… Will you give me a massage later?"
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "Please don't act up, this isn't the time for that. I'll be right back."
Without further delay, I looked at Mai, wrapping an arm around her waist, surprising her, as we shot into the night sky. The courtyard and the group below grew smaller as we ascended.
Valerie's group of vampires were one thing, but I was curious about who else was related to this situation. It'd be annoying if there were other big names here.
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Chapter 244: The Schemes Behind The Back
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His mansion was as grand as the Satans' castles, but it always felt suffocating. The fact that it was only this little land that he ruled, rather than all of the underworld, Rizevim found this place suffocating. Yet today, the yard of the mansion felt even more suffocating than usual as Rizevim Livan Lucifer landed with a thud, his boots sinking slightly into the dark soil.
He was annoyed.
The sky above this part of the underworld was perpetually covered in a thick, ominous haze, a constant reminder of its bleak existence. Lilith followed closely behind him, her expression blank as ever, but Rizevim didn't spare her a glance.
"O-oh, your highness! You're back," the devil servants stationed at the entrance immediately bowed deeply upon his arrival. Their postures were stiff, almost mechanical, and their faces showed fear, but he didn't care enough to even acknowledge them.
His mood was soured, and the groveling of lowly devils was the last thing he wanted to deal with.
Annoyance bubbled under his skin as he stormed past them, his pace quick and deliberate, heading straight for the dark interior of the mansion. The heavy doors creaked open as if sensing their master's foul mood, and the dimly lit halls welcomed him with an eerie silence. He clicked his tongue, and his footfalls echoed sharply, the only sound that accompanied him into the depths of his home.
Things were getting out of hand up there.
Rizevim clenched his fists as the thought gnawed at him. He had been too occupied with matters in the Underworld – the current Satans, the Ogdoad Pantheon, and other things that came with the surge of Icons – to personally go after Gasper Vladi. That had allowed the little vampire brat to stay safe all this time, somehow surviving all the mercenaries he'd been sending after him. And now… Aquamarine was back.
Aquamarine. Just the name made him grumble in annoyance. That damned bastard, who was nothing but a mere doctor in his past life, was the one complicating everything. How dare a mortal mess all his plans like this? The most frustrating part was that that brat likely didn't even know what he had done.
If he hadn't returned from wherever he'd disappeared to, Gasper would have been an easy target for Fenrik Stormclaw. Now Kuoh was crawling with powerhouses. It would've been risky enough with just him and his stupid sect, but now Yasaka, and more importantly that damned snake, Quetzalcoatl, had joined forces with him too. The mere thought of it all made Rizevim's blood boil.
He sighed, his footsteps slowing as he reached the mansion's grand hall. T
he air here was thick with the stench of sulfur and brimstone, remnants of the last ritual he'd performed to secure his hold on the lower realms. Everything about this place annoyed him. Rizevim grumbled.
Lilith, who had been trailing behind him, finally spoke up, her voice soft but curious. "What's wrong?"
Her question, innocent and direct, made Rizevim's jaw tighten. He almost wanted to growl at her like a petulant child, but what would be the point? Lilith wouldn't understand his frustrations. She was just a tool—useful, powerful, but ultimately lacking any true understanding of the intricacies at play here.
Still, the temptation to vent was strong. He swallowed the urge, suppressing the urge to lash out. Instead, he allowed a frustrated sigh to escape his lips, running a hand through his silvery hair.
The many mercenaries he'd hired—he'd paid them in advance, handsomely so—and what had they done? They'd failed, every last one of them. Not only that, they'd died miserably. It had been a massive waste of resources, and now, with Aquamarine and his allies patrolling Kuoh like military, any future attempts would be even harder.
He gritted his teeth. "What a mess..." he muttered, more to himself than to Lilith.
"What mess?" she asked, tilting her head. Her blank eyes stared at him, her innocence almost mockingly out of place in this dark mansion.
Rizevim glanced at her, holding back another wave of irritation. What was the point in explaining? Lilith wouldn't care about the politics, the underhanded deals, or the complex web of power plays here. And yet, something about her question sparked a thought in him. Maybe talking it out loud would help his head clear up.
With a deep breath, he turned to face her fully. "It's Aquamarine, called the White Tiger Sage or something, I cannot bother," he started, his voice dripping with frustration. "As well as his band of powerhouses in Kuoh. They've made things... difficult."
Lilith blinked as if waiting for him to continue.
"I can't leave the Underworld right now, and neither can you," he admitted, his tone almost begrudging. "Then again, even if we did, getting to Gasper would be hard, not with those three guarding him. Quetzalcoatl, Yasaka, and Aquamarine? They're too much to handle in one clean mission. You might be able to defeat them together, but then the mission wouldn't be clean." He clenched his fists, his mind racing through the obstacles standing in his way. "I don't wanna cause a mess I don't want to clean up."
Lilith said nothing, simply staring at him. "Hmm."
He scoffed, shaking his head. "I need... scapegoats."
"Scapegoats?" Lilith echoed, blinking again. "What do you mean?"
Rizevim's eyes shone. He smirked. Indeed, talking out loud helped. His mind finally found some clarity. Yes, that is the solution. If I can't do it cleanly, then I'll just make someone else dirty their hands. He needed vanguards, ones who could stand in front of him to distract Aquamarine and the others long enough for him to get what he wanted.
They'd fight on the front lines, take the brunt of the attacks, while he'd slip in and seize Gasper.
"Exactly," Rizevim nodded to himself, his smirk widening. "I need someone else to take the heat, while I go after Gasper. You see, Lilith, Gasper is the key," he looked at the dumb little power-doll and said. "With him in my grasp, I'll have leverage over Valerie Tepes. And with that leverage, I can get my hands on the Holy Grail."
Lilith yawned. "What do you want to do with the Holy Grail?"
"Well…" Rizevim chuckled darkly. "With the Grail, I can wish for the submission of the Evil God Balor. I'll sacrifice Gasper to awaken Balor, and then… then…" His eyes gleamed with ambition. "I'll have Balor under my control, the power of an ancient deity will be at my command. I'll be unstoppable!"
Lilith remained silent, processing his words, but her expression didn't change. She was always so passive, so detached. But Rizevim didn't care. He never expected any actual input from her, anyway. He had his plan, and that was all that mattered.
But first, the scapegoats. He needed to find the right enemies.
Luckily, all three of those little fools—Aquamarine, Quetzalcoatl, and Yasaka—had enemies. Big, big enemies. Ones who would stop at nothing to destroy them if given the chance.
Rizevim grinned. All he had to do was provide those enemies with a little... opportunity. And who better to be the key to unlocking that door than him?
He could open the gates, let the chaos spill into Japan, and watch as they tore each other apart. Then, when the dust settled, he'd be there. Waiting… Ready to seize Gasper and awaken Balor.
"I'll need to make some arrangements," Rizevim muttered, his mind already racing through the logistics of his plan. "But this... this will work. This will be my magnum opus!"
Lilith watched him quietly as his laughter echoed through the dark halls of the mansion, his sinister plot finally taking shape.
****
Kuroka was fucking scared when the Oni Shuten Doji broke out.
She hadn't expected to find herself in Kyoto when it all went to hell. But there she was, stuck in the middle of it, watching the chaos unfold as the monstrous Oni tore through the Western Yokai Faction like they were nothing.
And when the second Oni broke free, she honestly thought it was over. The Faction was done for. She was already planning her escape route, how she'd slip away unnoticed while everything crumbled.
But then he appeared.
Aqua, her future baby daddy, the guy she'd been trying to find for a while now, popped out of nowhere and beat the shit out of those Onis like it was child's play.
She hadn't seen him in action since that day in Vedas, and just like before, seeing him made her... well, wet. She got wet seeing his strength. No, not just because of his strength. It was more than that.
She'd been wanting to track him down, spend a little time together, maybe get to know him a bit more intimately… maybe get pregnant right away, but he'd been difficult to find. She knew he was strong—more than strong enough to father the children she was already mentally planning—but every time she tried to search for him, he was nowhere to be found.
She'd even taken a few assassination jobs on the side, just to keep busy while she hunted him down across Japan. But he was nowhere she tried to find him. When she finally realized he lived near Kuoh and went to look for him, he and his family had gone on a vacation or something.
But now, after all that waiting, she finally saw him again.
And it turned her the same way it did the first time she saw him, when she saw him cut off Surya's head as if he was cutting veggies. Kuroka was in heat.
Sitting on a hill not too far from the Hoshino household, Kuroka blew a bubble with her gum, her tail swishing lazily behind her as she hummed to herself. The sky was peaceful tonight, the air cool, and the soft sounds of the town below hummed like a distant lullaby.
The question was, how the hell was she going to approach him?
She could see the household in the distance, lit up but quiet, as if the powerful people inside were taking a much-needed rest. She knew Aquamarine and his "sect" had been busy lately, especially with Yasaka around, keeping the area secure after the attacks.
She knew little before, but recently, she did her research to learn about what was going on. She learned that he had a group, a Sect, as he called it, and they were currently protecting the area from the same Vampires that attacked Kyoto.
She didn't know about all the members of this 'Sect,' but she knew that Quetzalcoatl had joined it recently. That was big news, and everyone in the supernatural world knew about it.
…That was good and all, but the question was, should she approach him directly? Or maybe one of his sect members first? Kuroka wasn't exactly the type to overthink things, but when it came to a guy like Aqua, she didn't want to mess this up.
Maybe if she caught him alone, away from all the chaos, she could finally talk to him. But there was always the chance he'd be too busy for small talk, and so just kill her right there… So it was probably better to find another way to grab his attention.
As she pondered, blowing another bubble, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
"Huh, this is the same hill we were peeking from, remember Irina?"
"....!"
Her entire body tensed, her tail puffing up in alarm. She spun around on instinct, kicking out at the source of the voice with a speed most couldn't match. But her feet met resistance—someone had blocked her strike with ease.
"What the hell?!" Kuroka hissed, leaping back and landing in a crouch, her eyes narrowing at the two figures in front of her. She knew those faces. "Irina... and Xenovia?"
The two of them stood casually in the moonlight, looking at her like they hadn't just blocked her attack like it was nothing. Irina was grinning, her arms crossed over her chest, while Xenovia looked as serious as ever, her sword gleaming at her side.
Kuroka's mind raced. There had been old bounty missions out for these two in the Adventurer Guild—they had gone missing and had to be found. A few had tried taking the mission, but they didn't find them anywhere.
What were they doing here, of all places?
She didn't have time to think. She needed to get out of here now. From what she knew they weren't that strong, but they had just blocked her attack with ease. It was a strong attack that she launched in nervousness, the strength wasn't controlled, but they looked just like. There was no way she was sticking around to fight both of them!
Turning on her heel, Kuroka darted away, her feet light and fast as she tried to make her escape. But before she could get more than a few steps, Irina appeared in front of her, cutting off her path with a speed that made Kuroka's eyes widen.
How is she this fast?!
Gritting her teeth, Kuroka tried to slip past her, but Xenovia grabbed her by the collar, yanking her back before she could even blink.
"Oh, come on!" Kuroka growled, her claws flexing instinctively. She wanted to fight, but she already realized it would be pointless. They were stronger than her—each of them. Just enough to make a fight a bad idea to fight them one-on-one, but they were two. She couldn't win, fighting would only bring pain.
So, instead of lashing out, she chuckled nervously, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Oops! I don't think you ladies plan to kill me, do you? Haha..." Her laugh was weak, and her ears flattened against her head in an attempt to appear less threatening.
Irina raised an eyebrow at her, unimpressed. "That's up to our Lord," she said, her tone sharp as she stepped forward and slapped Kuroka's wrists.
A bright, holy light flared to life around Kuroka's wrists, binding them together in glowing shackles. The sudden sting of the magic made her flinch, making her lips twitch, and she stared at the glowing binds in disbelief.
"Holy restraints? Seriously?" she muttered under her breath, more annoyed than anything. She wasn't even a full-on bad guy anymore!
But the two girls didn't give her a chance to argue. Xenovia and Irina each grabbed an arm and started pulling her toward the Hoshino household. That made Kuroka blink, as she grumbled under her breath. So when she said 'lord,' she meant him.
In that case, she didn't have to fight them. This was better, no? Maybe this isn't the worst thing that could've happened. After all, she was being taken directly to the person she'd been trying to find all this time.
Maybe I'll get to meet Aquamarine sooner than expected...
Starting now, she had to play nice.
[Image Here]
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Come read the next chapter, as well as the entire month's worth in my Patreon. Patreon has changed to a 30-day model for every creator, so now if you sub today, 17th November, your next pay will be 17th December.
Link: Patreon.com/Master4thWall
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