Harbinger of Ruin: Ch.8

“Urgh~ Never again.” I groaned as I laid down on the sofa, a hand held against my side to ease the bruise there from where an ice chunk slammed into my side with the force of a cannonball.

“What happened to you?” Rias asked as she lifted my head to sit down and placed my head on her lap, to which I ignored the strawberry scent assaulting my nostrils while making myself comfortable.

“Akeno.” I didn't have to say anymore as she giggled the moment she heard her Queen's name while softly running her fingers through my hair.

“Understandable. Need me to tell her to tone it down?”

“No, it's okay. Her being her usual sadistic self helps me figure out how to dodge better lest I give her pleasure from my pain.”

“…You have changed a fair bit since the year began.” Her words surprised me and I blinked as I looked up only to raise an eyebrow at only being able to see her eyes.

The rest was blocked by her large bust and I sat up while she giggled as my gaze lingered for the briefest of moments on her shaking chest.

“See? If this was you from last year, you wouldn't have even let me rest your head on my lap let alone taken a glance at my chest. What happened for little shy Kiba to turn into this person sitting besides me?”

“…Puberty?” I said/ asked with a weak shrug, nodding as she simply rose an eyebrow at me with a smirk.

“Puberty?”

“Puberty. Hormones are out of place, the mind acts on impulsive thoughts and the body is susceptible to any shifts in one's emotional state. It is quite the common thing, actually.”

“Hmm, I see. Well then, Mr. Puberty, I'll leave you to deal with your hormones lest I cause them to go out of order once again.”

“You don't have to worry. I have it under control now…I think.” I muttered to myself and I was proven wrong once more as she smiled and walked away.

My eyes flickered to her swaying hips before I groaned as I looked up and saw the amused look in her eyes as she left the living room with a giggle, lying back down to rest again.

However, as I reached to touch my sore side, I was confused at feeling no pain and looked down only to be surprised by the lack of bruises on my side and legs.

'…Right, I forgot devils can heal through skin on skin touch. Huh, guess there's a new meaning to the term 'heavenly lap pillow.'

“Ecchi.”

“Crap!” I cursed as I leapt from the couch, looking back at it as I heard joyful laughter only to give the laughing Mittelt a deadpan stare while Koneko smirked as the two of them stood right next to where my head had laid.

“You two meeting may have been something I shouldn't have done.”

“Your fault.” Koneko said with a shrug and I sighed as I nodded, knowing that she was right before looking at Mittelt as she finally stopped laughing.

“Done having fun at the cost of my health?”

“Hehehe~ Yep!”

“How long have you two even been standing there?”

“Just when Buchou left.”

“How come I didn't hear you come in?” I asked before shaking my head as the two shrugged in unison.

“Don't know.”

“Of course you don't. Well then, I'll leave you two to do your own thing.”

“Going to hide from the sadist?”

“Absolutely.” I answered as Mittelt asked her question, the girl giggling while I rose a fist and shared a fist bump with the amused Koneko.

Maybe I can hide away in my closet. She won't check there.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a full month since the day that Raynare and co. joined the Gremory peerage and other than the few Stray Devil elimination here and there, life has been good.

Training with my swordmanship and against Akeno was good as I managed to figure out two more swords that would work perfectly against Riser and she got a fast target to try and hit with her Holy Lightning.

The other girls have also decided to join in on our training, with Mittelt, Raynare and Kalawarna training their holy energy against Rias' Power of Destruction.

Koneko on the other hand was still a bit hesitant on training her senjutsu and I couldn't exactly force her to train it so we've decided to go ahead with her helping me train in hand-to-hand combat along with some evasive training for her against Akeno.

Asia was the hardest to convince to partake in the training, but after having told her that she needed to be able to dodge lest she gets taken out and make us lose the only healer of the group, she joined in now and again and only to improve her reflexes and evasive ability.

All in all, the past month has been nothing but great, but that's the part that worried me.

After the whole Raynare fiasco, I knew of the one event that happened during the canon universe and to be truthful, I did not think we were ready for him.

'I have a way to nullify his wind, his fire, his regeneration and even his demonic power over time. However, I feel like all of that is still not enough.' I thought with a frown as I sat at my desk, staring at the numerous drawings in front of me that each was a different sword for this exact purpose.

“Think, Kiba. You just need to think.”

“Late night?” Kalawarna's voice snapped me from my deep thoughts and I looked at the door to see her leaning in the doorway with a smirk while dressed in a dark magenta nightdress, which was almost entirely see-through except for the area around her chest and crotch.

Apparently, every woman in this universe with a moderate-sized chest or larger couldn't sleep in anything that isn't a night dress, or completely naked in Rias' case, so I had to force myself to get used to seeing them in these revealing outfits.

“Yeah, there's this one guy we're going to fight in the far future and I want to make sure I can figure out the best way to take him out.”

“You mean that Riser guy that Rias has been talking about for the past few days? Is he really that strong?”

“He's immortal and can use both hellfire and powerful winds. Not to mention, he has a 9-4 record in the Rating Games and two of those he lost on purpose because they were allies of his family in the political scene.”

“So, he's basically your Kokabiel?” She said as she sat down on the only other chair at my desk and I snorted at her words as I crossed my arms.

“One could say that, but compared to Kokabiel, it's like a Chihuahua facing off against a lion.”

“Hmm, can you make me a sword?” She asked and I rose an eyebrow before doing exactly that, placing the simple katana I had made down on the table as she touched the flat side of the blade and hissed when it burned her.

“Damnit, forgot that would happen.”

“I did to-Wait, could you pour your holy energy into this?” I asked as I created a broadsword this time, to which she nodded as holy energy gathered above her hand before she let it fall onto the blade.

Both of us watched as the blade absorbed the energy while the small gauge on the sword's hilt lit up slightly.

“…Kalawarna, you thinking what I'm thinking?”

“Ohoho~ I am, indeed~”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Yuuto!” I was up and off my bed with two demonic blades in my grasp as I looked around, my mind still slightly asleep even as my body was awake before I frowned slightly at the sight of a surprised Rias standing in front of me.

“H-Hey, sorry about nearly attacking you. What can I help you with?” I asked before my eyes widened as I got pushed onto the bed and froze as Rias sat on my lap and leaned over me.

“I need you to help me. Please, take my virginity.”

'Mind! Mind! I need you wide awake now! Body, you stop responding!' With that one move, my mind was fully awake and I quickly spun around to where she was the one lying down and I was leaning over her with her legs wrapped around my waist.

A moment later, I forced the depraved thoughts to the back of my mind as I took a deep breath while lifting a finger as she leaned up.

“Listen, you're not in the right state of mind right now and neither am I. Just…tell me what happened.” I asked and frowned as she laid back down and looked to the side.

The depraved side of my mind cursed my chivalry, but in this moment, Rias didn't need someone that could take the pain away temporarily.

No, what she needed…was a hero.

'…Urgh, that sounded so bad.'

“I…I don't want to.”

“That's cool. I can just lie with you until you're ready to talk about it.” I said and she squealed as I picked her up with ease, but I gave a sheepish smile at her amused giggle while my hands were gripping her ass.

“I see puberty has made you a perverted knight, eh Yuuto?”

“Don't start.” I said as I lied down on my back with her moving to lie down besides me, deciding to move only one hand away from her ass and gave a mental cheer as she didn't mind the other hand while resting her head on my shoulder.

A comforting silence hung in the air as the two of us just lied there, with my softly rubbing from her ass to her lower back and with her letting out soft sighs now and then while tracing a finger on my chest.

“…DO you remember how I said that I had until the end of university before I had to fight Riser for the chance to no longer marry him?” She began after nearly an hour of silence and I hummed with a nod as I rested my hand on her lower back.

“Well, the reason my mom called me back to the Underworld yesterday was to tell me that his parents have decided to move up the date.”

“So, what? You only got a year now?”

“Try a day. He's coming up to meet me tomorrow to finalize the details.” She muttered and I nodded as I had expected that to be the case.

“Okay, then we go forward with the Rating Game challenge you spoke of.”

“You think we can win?”

“We've been training and I've been preparing for this moment since I expected this to happen as you are 18 now. Riser wouldn't let this charade keep going on since you are the legal age so he would want to get this marriage done as soon as possible.”

“That is true. Also, since when have you been preparing for this moment?”

“Replenish Calm and Flame Delete were the first swords I created with Sword Birth precisely so I could counter him. Also, have you forgotten the times you've been helping me figure out how to redirect and absorb your demonic energy?”

“Forgive me for forgetting since I've been panicking for the past few days on just how the hell I could get out of this.” She muttered with a deadpan stare and I snorted before the both of us looked to the foot of the bed as a silver crest appeared on the floor.

Rias giggled as I moved out of her grasp and stood besides the bed in a blink of an eye, but I did not want to ruin the good image I had with her family as I watched the silver-haired MILF known as Grayfia Lucifuge appear from the crest.

Dressed in her signature French Maid outfit, I had to admit that the woman was a knockout as the outfit sat just tight enough to show off her curvaceous body while still being loose enough to be considered modest.

Combine that with the silver hair and one could understand why she was the object of depraved affection for most of the fans of the High School DxD franchise.

“Do not worry, Lady Grayfia. I simply talked to her and made sure nothing else happened.” I said as Grayfia raise an eyebrow at our undressed states and an appreciative glance appeared in her eyes as she nodded before looking at Rias with a slight frown.

“Are you going to stop your tantrum now, Lady Rias?”

“Sure. Why not?” Her response surprised both Grayfia and I as the woman raise an eyebrow while I blinked only to smirk at the happy smile on her face.

“You…are?”

“Yep! Tell Mother and Father I want Riser and his parents to come over.”

“…I will, but may I ask what changed your mind to accept the marriage?”

“Oh, I'm not accepting it. I'm meeting Riser because I'm going to challenge him to his face. Oh wait, I should first get Akeno and get dressed in something proper. Thanks for the talk, Yuuto.”

'…Oh, she did not just do that.' I realized why she said that last part as she skipped out of the room with a smile while I didn't turn from where I was looking at my door as I felt Grayfia's piercing stare on me.

That little minx just shifted the blame to me and left me to deal with the consequences.

“What exactly did you tell her to do, Yuuto?”

'Rias, I am both pissed and proud at your ability to shift the blame right now. Urgh, here's to hoping I don't get turn into a Kib-popsicle.'

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Riser, keep your hands to yourself or else I'm cutting them off.”

“I'll simply regenerate them back.” The blonde perverted Phenex said with an amused smile as he sat besides Rias and I had to admit that it took a lot more willpower than I thought to not create a blade that weakened his regeneration and stab him through his skull.

'Calm, Kiba. You'll get your chance.'

“I do believe harassing Lady Rias does not improve your relationship with her peerage, Lord Riser.” Thankfully, Grayfia managed to curb his attitude and Rias gave a thankful look to her sister-in-law as Riser stopped his advances with a smile.

“Of course, I simply can't forget that my dear Rias' peerage are also part of our little engagement.”

“…Lady Rias, can I-!”

“Raynare, no.” I stopped her before she could make a light spear, the girl grumbling as Riser simply looked amused while Lady Grayfia gave me a thankful look.

“Ah, it must be fun to be the only male in an all-female group, isn't it Yuuto?”

“Until you are Lady Rias' husband, please refer to me as Kiba and nothing else, Lord Riser.” I spoke with a stoic glance aimed at the man, hiding my smirk as I saw the man's eyes narrow despite the easygoing smile on his face.

“When I marry Rias, I feel like the two of us are going to become the best of friends.”

“And until that happens, we are enemies to the bitter end, Lord Riser.” Akeno spoke up with an innocent smile, but there was no hiding the disdain in her eyes as the other girls smiled in agreement while Riser's peerage frowned at us.

“I see. It appears your peerage need some lessons in etiquette, dear Rias.”

“Like yours does in fashion sense.” Mittelt whispered besides me, just loud enough to be caught as Riser turn his stare towards her and she smiled and gave a slight bow.

“Are you saying that there's something wrong with the way my peerage dresses?”

“She meant no disrespect, my lord. Their outfits are simply…”

“Irritating to my eyes.” Rias finished my words while looking smug as Riser lost his smirk and frowned at her while us of the Gremory peerage tried our best not to laugh.

“I do not like it when someone insults my peerage in front of me, Rias.”

“Neither do I, Riser.” She fired back with a glare of her own before I felt my breathing hitch at the intimidating presence rippling through the clubroom.

“Please calm down, Lord Riser and Lady Rias, unless you wish for me to intervene.”

“O-Of course not, Grayfia.” I didn't even blame Riser for looking unnerved at Grayfia's presence as everyone in the room other than Rias were still, none of us daring to even move as the woman nodded before I let out a subtle sigh of relief as she retracted her aura.

'Y-Yeah, that's that Strongest Queen presence right there.' Sirzechs' peerage were the pinnacle of what reincarnated Devils are capable of and now I can see why Satans and their peerages are not allowed to partake in Rating Games.

Just that small flex of her demonic energy was enough to cause the windows to crack from the rapid shift in temperature in the room and looking at the door and windows showed that the cold had spread to the edge of them and went no further.

'Not just beautiful and powerful, but in complete control of her abilities. Sirzechs truly is an inspiration and I envy the man.'

“So, you're in agreement to the Rating Game, then?” Rias asked and Riser looked amused as he sighed and waved his hand dismissively.

“Yes, yes. When do you wish to end this charade?”

“Two weeks from now. Unless you think that you can't beat us if we train for two weeks.”

“Ten days. That's the most I'm willing to wait until I can have you in my bed and your peerage as well. Don't worry, Yuuto. I have no such feeling for men, but I may let you have second pick if you ask nicely.”

'Regeneration nullification along with a way to enhance his sense of pain tenfold? No, twenty-fold. Yeah, that would work.'

“Riser, stop agitating my knight.” I completely ignored Rias being angry at Riser as my face was fixed in his usual stoic state, but my mind on the other hand was a raging hurricane as I tried to come up with the most painful combination of swords that I could think of.

When I came out of my mindstorm, it was to the sight of Riser looking amused and grabbing Yubelluna's left breast before they all vanished, Grayfia having already teleported away and leaving us of the Gremory peerage alone.

It was a good thing too as I let my rage free and unleashed a forest of swords that sprouted from the floors, ceilings and walls, taking my hands out from behind my back and dismissing the dagger I had made.

Koneko uncrossed her arms and revealed the cuts on her arms that were made by her angrily clenching her hands while Akeno took a deep breath as she took a step to the side and revealed the burn marks from where her lightning had burned the carpet.

“Damn, I can't think of dealing with that guys for as long as you guys did.” Mittelt was the first to speak of the new additions and Rias just nodded with a deep breath before looking at me as I dismissed the weapons around us.

“Are you all okay?”

“Just peachy/ Yeah/ I will be after I stab him.” Akeno, Koneko and I answered respectively and she giggled at our responses before standing up and I snorted as the couch crumbled in on itself and turned to dust.

“Are you okay?”

“Just let me burn his face off once and I'll be happy. Anyway, I'm going to tell Sona that we're going to be busy for the next ten days.”

“We'll prepare accordingly.” Akeno said with a smile and Rias gave a thankful nod before the Gremory crest appeared below her and whisked her away.

“I got some things to take care of first so I'll meet you all at the manor.”

“We'll wait for you there.” I nodded at Akeno's response before walking out of the room, making my way to the back of the ORC building before creating a Gremory crest above my hand.

“Who is this?”

“Hey, it's me.”

“Kiba? You're usually not one to call me. What's up?”

“We're facing off against Riser and his peerage in ten days to make sure she doesn't have to marry him. I want you to help me with my training and make me strong enough to take him on within that time.”

“Heh, I'll be waiting for you at the spot Rias chooses.” Okita Souji's voice spoke with an excited tone before the message cut off and I smirked as I clenched my fist.

Time to see just how powerful I can become in ten days.

A/N: And the next arc has kicked off: Beating a Phenex! The arc after this however will be from an OVA so look out for when that one drops.

Anyway, Okita has been introduced far earlier in this story and Kiba now wants to truly relearn and master what it means to be a fighter.

Next chapter, training and start of the Rating Game, which is going to be shared from everyone's perspective. Let's see how that will go.

Also, I've seen the messages on discord of the non-canon elements and I'm going to read through the chapters and see if I can't shift those around to get rid of those elements.

Can't guarantee that I'll fix them all, but I'll try my best to do so.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!