"Rule 1: Never talk back to Master or Mistress."
"Master?! You out of your-ack! You fuck-Stop you!" Mittlet clamps her mouth shut while looking up. K hovers a spray bottle of something in it.
"And the cussing and talk back is going on hold—the cussing, you can do it among you three and only you three. I know we have to release it somehow."
K paces in front of them, still in their hotel room. The Fallen sat on their bed either with a long shirt covering them or their clothes still on.
Yuri lay on the floor watching.
"AKA your Master and the members from the ORC minus Issa, that is self-explanatory. Rule two: Feed Yuri and do the house chores every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Rule four: Don't call him Master around Miko, or that's his ass."
"You more robust than us, but you're afraid of a Human?" Kalawarner brow drops. "You are pat-"
"There are differences between Fear and respect. And I respect her enough not to eat my ear off. The last girl I did it with was Inhumane, and I didn't want you all like that. I searched this bit on Yahoo. It's simple and mind-bending." Kalawarner glares at him with a wet face. "And that glare. That has to stop."
"Yes, master."
"Better. Sarcasm is oozing out of you, but I'll let it pass. For now. Rule four: Always, ALWAYS TAKE ANY SALE HAPPENING THAT DAY AND TELL K ABOUT THAT ASAP. It's a matter of the world at stake."
Raynare slightly raised her hand.
"Yes. Raynare?"
"I don't shop."
"That's fine. When you're used to it, you'll be under my wing for a few weeks. Mittlet, do you have something to say? Hey."
"No. Master." She looks away with her arms crossed.
"And Rule Five and Six: You can do whatever you want unless you don't annoy K or others. Please Don't steal, respect the house like it's your own, and don't cause trouble. With the help of Akeno."
K looks over his shoulder at Akeno, dressed casually, sitting on a chair by the table in the room's corner. She waved innocently.
"She passed a spell onto me to read you like a Beacon. That is not your standard spell. Rias passed on to her, and from her father, that is the King of Hell." The Fallen maid's face dropped. "Shocker. I know. In other words, you disappear in the middle of the night. I know exactly where you are—making my job easier. Well! Any questions? No? OK, continue where you are."
K walks to Akeno's table before taking a sit. Yuri took one on his lap.
"Thanks again."
"Rias couldn't help it." Akeno starts. "Understandably so. When I heard she was coming here. I was dying to watch. When will I be punished, Master?"
"Don't start. You already scare me as is."
"What? I don't bite."
"Mhm. What was that performance last night?"
"Just encouraging a fellow friend, of course."
"Would you like tea and crumpets with that?"
Akeno giggles.
"If you're the one making them, of course. Oh goodness me, I nearly forgot." She reached into her purse before handing something out to K. "This a reward, well deserved. For helping Rias with her assignments that she couldn't handle."
A string attached to a rock engraved with a symbol hangs in his hand.
"A rock? On a string?"
"A rune. In fact. It enhances your body. Finding out you don't have sacred gear is a shocking one. And how you handle yourself is a welcome and frighting for all our sakes. One day, we didn't want to lose an ally of Kuoh. So we took precaution."
K continued inspecting it.
"You didn't do anything to it?"
"If I did, would you punish me?"
"You would like that, would you?" He threw it around his neck before it glowed dark blue.
His face tense while he threw his hand on the table that slid toward Akeno, who backed further from it.
His muscles bulge, while a vein appears on his forehead.
"AGH!" He grunts. K's head shakes before his body relaxes. "Christ! What the hell was that?!"
"It never does that." Akeno walked around the table before rubbing his shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
"Felt like something is strangling me." He grunts. "But I'm fine."
Akeno rubs his shoulder some more.
"Rias also wanted me to give you this." She drops the keys into his hand. "I hope you like it."
K grew a smirk.
"It's my grandpa's house. Of course, I would."
They hear a door open.
"It's right here." Miko's voice while a bell boy pushes in a cart of trays with covers on them. "Thank you."
The bellboy bows before taking his leave.
"That's breakfast?" Mittelt opens a tray. "Wow."
K approached the Fallen and Miko surrounding the cart.
Rice, miso soup, and ohitashi: The steam pours onto their face. K can feel his mouth grow wet.
"I never ate anything like it." Mittelt continued.
"You behave. You'll see more like it." K answered, getting the three to look at him. "I have my moments, but I'm a reasonable guy. Just don't push it."
...
A blue car rides down the Neighborhood, passing another vehicle. K stared out the window, watching the houses go by.
"So, did they fix the house in one day?" Miko questioned.
"That's what they told me."
"Right. I have to see it to believe it. So. What are your girl's names? I never got it?"
"Raynare." Raynare voiced. "Mittlet. And Kalawarna."
"Kalawarner." She corrected.
"Right." Miko voiced. "Uh. Do you have any clothes you can wear, toothbrushes, anything?"
"Don't bother." Mittlet avoids her gaze and looks to the floor. "We're fine."
"How about. After going home. We can stop somewhere to get you three something. How does that sound?"
"Did you hear her?" Kalawarner flinched, getting a spray at. She looked to K still looking out the window.
"You're fine. You don't have to." Raynare looks from her window.
"I have to get you something. You be helping around the house." The three Fallen remained silent. Miko focuses on the road.
"Hey, did we pass by this three times already?" K questioned.
"I think. I don't know where it is. Let's try again."
The car rolled slowly, this time before coming to a stop.
"Hey, is that the house?" Miko questioned. "We are on the right street."
A two-story house stood before them. The white door faces the oversized driveway with a white fence in front, beautiful plants, and light pads.
K stood out of the car and soon the others.
"They did all of this?" Miko said to herself. "In one day."
"Shoot. You keep this up. We might have a limbo driver." Mittelt remarked.
"Do you want to check inside?" Miko looks to K to see him gone.
She looks down to see a water bottle in hand.
A figure in a blur zooms down the Neighborhood. Down streets, it was causing the stationary cars to rock.
'GOD DAMMIT! RIAS'
K leaps from the traffic, skydiving to the school.
He flips in mid-air before doing the hero landing on the field.
K zooms through the front door before arriving on the second floor.
He marched down the hall towards the double doors.
K throws his hands out before coming to a halt. K took a breath before knocking.
The door opens while the head of a silver-haired maid appears.
"I'm sorry for your inconvenience, but they are in an important meeting."
"It'll only take a second."
"You may come back at ten." She only closes the door for K to put his hand between it.
"Please."
"Grayfia. Let him in." A voice entered the Maid's ears before she nodded.
The door opens.
K sees Rias sitting on a red dress-suit guy's lap while her Peerage on the other side of the room gaze at K.
A peerage of girls from mid-age to young was to the side of K, staring back at him in outfits like Skull Biker, Cat Twins, and wizards.
"K. Can you come later? We are busy at the moment." Rias states while K remains silent, eyeing the room.
"Look. Uh. The house is not what I wanted."
"You must be K." The Red Dressman states, pulling Rias close to his chest. She only looks away. "Riser thought you be taller."
"And I thought you'll be a little nicer. It seems your mother didn't raise you right."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Rias shook her head while Riser grew a smile.
"Human. Riser gives you the benefit of the doubt. Go along and go play hero."
A hand grabs K's shoulder.
"Hands off him!" Issa shouts, summoning her Boosted gear.
K noticed a girl in a kimono pressing him.
"You should listen." K voiced.
"Tell me." Riser waves the girl off. "What do you have? A house? You are so poor you rely on Rias. Not only that, you disrespect her kindness." Riser raises his hand on Ria's leg. "You should stop wasting your resources, dear." Rias stops him.
"I SWEAR! If you do that again, you'll regret it!" Issa mouthed while a "boost" filled their ears.
Riser girls are ready for a fight.
"I like to remind you all that fighting is prohibited." The Maid voiced.
K chuckles.
"I was like you once. I was taking everything, only to lose it all in the end. Your sad." His crazy eyes appeared while everyone but Riser and the Maid staggered back. "If you ever talk about my house again. I'll visit yours. You show you who's poor."
Riser pushes Rias aside before rising to his feet.
"How about a Rating game?" Rias jumps in while K and Riser gaze lock.
"He's no devil." Riser spits.
"And you no man."
Riser snaps his fingers while the wizard girl approaches him. He makes out with her while grabbing her all over.
"I have more women than you can count."
"My grandpa always said. Quality is better than Quantity."
"Your old man a fool."
"How about YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" K stood in Riser's smirking face. "I swear to god I'll break all your fucking bones in your body and feed you your heart. Keep talking about him. And see WHAT FUCKING HAPPENED!!"
"The rating game is an excellent idea, Rias." The Maid's voice. "Who would like to be your trainer?"
"I would like to cash in a favor, K." Rias states while K's bloodshot eyes stare back at Riser.
Kiba, Asia, and Akeno pushed K back, yet he didn't move a muscle.
"K. Leave him." Kiba voiced.
"Please. K." Asia came second.
"K, listen. Use that anger to help, not destroy. Please, for Rias."
"You watch your back." K allowed them to distance himself. "Don't sleep with a night light and see what happens."
"Oh. Riser is scared." Riser walked past them before standing with his girls. "Give your old man. My regrads."
K rushed him only for a wall of flames to make Riser's group and Maid disappear.
"I'm so going to bash that birdbreath head in." Issa spat.
---
"Come on, girls. You gotta want something?" Miko pushed around the clothes on the rack.
"Like we said. We're fine." Mittelt voiced.
"No clothes. How about supplies?"
"LIKE. We said. We don't need anything, you stu-" Kalawarner eyed the spray bottle on Miko's purse. "I want to go."
"Ah. Alright." Miko voiced. "Let's get what you need. And then we can go home." She walked out of the store, followed by The Fallen.
"You going to be on the master's radar, right?" Raynare whispered to Kalawarner.
"You seriously calling him that?" Kalawarner whispered back.
"The more you resist, the more eyes will be on you. Let Master drown in his ego."
"You have a plan?"
"I sure. Hope you do." Mittlet adds.
"Listen. We do what Master says. And don't give me any of that crap. He's buddy-bubby with Gremory, which means we're bound to meet Azazel and our commander. He won't let this happen because it will hurt his reputation. Understand?" She looked to two who remained silent. "We're maids. Be one."
They entered the grocery store, Heading for the oral aisle.
Miko looked around the shelf of toothpaste and brushes.
Kalawarner unfolded her arms before standing by Miko.
---
K was walking down the night of New York with Chinese in hand.
"Hey, Kid? Are you going to share?" Two shady men followed him.
"Oh." K dragged his words. "You would love that." He turns on his feet. "Did your mother tell you asking for food is for the homeless?"
"What you say?" One of the men cocked his head.
"Homeless. Dirty. Smelly. Gum on your shoe." He chuckles. "We learned that from grade school. Come on."
"Kid. I don't like how your talking." The man in the beanie states.
"Am I speaking alien or something?"
The guy in the beenie opened his switchblade.
"Giving me your fucking bag."
"Jesus Christ! I was fucking joking! Here. Please take it. I don't want it."
The guy grabs the bag, only for his arm to dislocate.
"AAH!"
"SHH! People are sleeping."
"What the fuck are you?" The other man points a gun at him. "No one can't do that!"
K groans, rolling his eyes.
"I'm black panther. Genius. Two hundred. IQ."
"Stay back!"
"I want to talk. I'm giving my food, am I?"
"Fuck. The food." He started blasting, and K stumbled back before falling to his knees.
"Agh! You shoot me." He grunts before starting to laugh. "You are smart." He stood to his feet, revealing the bullet holes on his jacket. "Smart, but dumb. Not college smart, but more of a dishwasher."
K appears behind him before kicking his legs from under.
"AAH!" The shady man screams, staring at his broken legs.
"Now, you can remember. Don't walk up to strangers because now you'll have to roll." K looks back at the beanie man grunting through his teeth. "And you don't steal because no one would give you a hand afterward. Chow! I hope we meet again. But. Second thought."
The guy with a broken arm explodes into a paste.
K walks up to the second guy with broken legs pleading. He curb-stomps his skull into mush.
"I don't want you telling on me." K drags his shoe against the concrete. "Enjoy your life in hell."
K entered the apartment building before taking the elevator.
His phone hums.
Dad: Son. Are you home?
K: Yes, sir. On the elevator.
Dad: Good. The army station is on some blocks, and the police are looking for this sick psycho.
"Psycho?"
K: I'm safe. I'm heading to my room.
Dad: OK. Stay safe. I love you son.
"Now that's hurtful."
K entered his apartment before turning on the lights.
Danny sat on the other side of the room; by the brick wall the couch flew through.
"Oh? Hey batman. I'm glad you care. Girls!" K sat the food on the table. "Girls! You got to be kidding me." K opened his door to see the ladies gone.
"They left." Danny's voice.
"I see that. Einstein. You did nothing? Not even a slap on the wrist?"
"I made them."
"Wait. Are you telling me you did that?"
Danny points a gun at him.
"With this."
"Ah. A desert eagle. Is that a bit of overkill? I mean, where did you get that?"
Danny fires at the food on the table.
"Dirty money. Dirty food. Dirty apartment. And Dirty Roommate."
"You don't mean the last part now. All the things I did for you? I push your car to the apartment, help your niece with her bullies, and."
"STAY THE FUCK BACK! I am tired, K. I have been looking over my shoulder all month, thinking one day the police or some guy or girl want to get a drop on me for something you did. And you are right. You're not a terrorist. You're a monster."
"You don't mean that."
Danny remained silent while K rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Put the gun down. I won't hurt you."
A ray of light shines into their apartment and passes Danny's shoulders.
"You didn't it."
"I did."
K rolled his eyes before pacing for Danny.
Danny shoots while K reflects the bullets with his hand.
Danny smacks the gun across K's face.
The boy grabs his wrist while Danny throws a punch, causing him to hiss.
"Sit DOWN!" K palm strikes Danny across the chest, only for Danny to recoil.
K's arm felt warm and wet. Danny grips onto his K's arms, his eyes bulging.
The boy looked over his shoulder. Danny's heart, lungs, and a few pieces of his ribs spilled on the chair.
"Dan?" Danny falls over. "Danny!" His eyes fall onto K's, and he gasps. "Danny! I didn't mean it. Come on. Stay with me, pal. Look at me. Fuck! LOOK AT ME!"
Danny's head drops, starting at the ceiling.
"Hmm! FUCK! Fuck! Fucking god dammit!" K said the last sentence under his breath.
The door burst open, and swat members entered.
"Open fire!" One said while the others followed.
K burst from the apartment, landing on the street.
A tank fires while K leans from it. The shell hits the end of the street.
Soldiers begin firing while K only runs away with a bloody arm.
K hits the alarm. He stood out of bed, heading into the bathroom.
K looks in the mirror and brushes his teeth. A few hairs fall onto the sink. He stops before touching his head. Some more fell before he looked up at himself.
He has a patch missing on the top of his head.
...
K wore his unzipped tracksuit with a blue cap, as everyone wore a skirt, yoga pants, or gym clothes.
K walked up a rocky path with Rias, Akeno, and Asia.
He looks back at his training pupils carrying their body weight of camping bags doing surprisingly well except Issa.
"Rias! Are we there yet?" Issa struggles to catch up as Kiba passes by her with the same weight Issa is carrying.
"Excuse me."
Raynare did the same, but she's twice as big.
"Move it, brat."
Mittlet followed, but three times bigger.
"You should stop, your weak."
Kalawarner followed, but five times bigger.
"Come on. Keep moving."
And Lastly, Koneko's was twenty times.
"Move."
Issa fell to her knees as everyone stopped to wait for her.
She was trying to catch her breath.
"Come on, Issa. We're almost there." K signals Issa.
"You're even worse than Rias, you Monster!!!" Rias chuckles while K only looks away.
"Get up, Issa. K is trying to help." She warmly smiled.
'Correction, I'm after Riser.'
"Come on." K folds his arms.
Issa tries to get up but falls on her back as she screams, annoyed, while everyone laughs except K.
"OK, let's make things interesting. Whoever, the first to third, makes it to the top before the others can ask me to do anything using this."
K pulls out a quarter as Everyone stares interestedly at his offer.
"1st place gets three, Second, two, and third one."
Issa kicks to her feet with a blush and a goofy look.
She raises her hand.
"Anything!!??"
'This girl.'
"Anything."
Suddenly, Everyone, even Rias, Akeno, Asia, sprints up the path with a battle cry.
"Wait, not you three!" K sighs. "They're gone."
K walks after the thousands of footprints.
He reached the top to see Mittelt in First place, Koneko second, and Rias last.
"Ha, in your loser's face!!!" Mittlet points. "I guess you weren't faster than me, losers."
They grunt angrily.
"I won, K." Koneko looked up at K blankly.
"That...was tiring." Rias stood by the two, trying to catch her breath.
"Good job everyone. Rias, I'm having second thoughts, but here are your K tokens." He passes three to Mittelt, two to Koneko, and one to Rias. "To explain how to use it. You come up and ask to use a token. Say whatever you want, and I'll do it, but there's a twist--"
"There is always a twist." Koneko comments.
"They are exchanged for an extra token for a wanted time limit. For example, asking to do your homework for a week, I can alone do it for a day."
The three nodded, and K clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"OK, get unpacked, and meet me out here. I'm taking a cat nap."
"Hold on. We just got here!!!" Issa groans.
"Oh, what's that? You don't have a K token."
Mittlet laughs harder.
K lays his back against the tree as he slowly closes his eyes.
"Uhm." Koneko stood before him, holding out a K token.
"Keep it. What do you need?"
She sits at the same tree as him.
"How did you become so strong?"
"Hundred pushups. Hundred sit-ups. Hundred squats. Ten K sprint."
"I don't believe you. I could do that in my sleep."
"That's why you can't succeed."
"You don't know me."
"That's why you are falling behind. Your close-mindedness would lead to two things. Hate and Death." Koneko remained silent. "The training may seem simple, yet it's up to you to figure out what's in it. I want to see you succeed much like everyone else. And go easy on me. This thing is the first I take you all as my pupil."
"We're. Doom."
"Not with that attitude."
K fell asleep.
K woke up and saw all the girls. Some were looking away while others were calm like water. Issa only cried.
He looks to his shoulder to see Koneko snoring lightly.
'Cute.'
K lightly pokes Koneko's cheek to wake her up.
"You ready?" K questioned.
"Yep." She nods.
She gets off him and stretches while K does the same.
"Ok, It's showtime."
...
K worked with Isa, Koneko, and Kiba. They did 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10k-mile sprint.
Koneko made easy work but struggled with the sprint, so K added weights and different techniques to the mix.
As for Kiba and Issa, not so much. He sees potential in both Issa and Kiba.
K is watching the tree opening of Mark Trees with the letter K. Seated in a lay-back chair on his phone with Raynare in a purple maid dress.
"You sure you don't want to sit down?"
"I'm fine where I am. Master K., Would you like anything to drink?"
"Uh, lemonade is fine."
"I'll see to it."
"Thanks Raynare."
K looks behind the chair to Raynare, walking to the two-story house with Rias approaching her.
They pass one another without batting an eye.
"K. How's the training?" Rias questioned.
"Uh. Fine. Being honest. I'm learning while I go."
"May I?" She points with an open hand to his chair in K's legroom.
"Sure."
"Ok. I want to talk. It's nothing serious, but I want to get to know you."
"Is that right?"
"We've been working together, and you took a massive load off my shoulders. It's only fair. Plus, we need to talk. It is always businesses."
"Ok. What do you want to know?"
"Your grandfather. You strongly admire him."
"Ah. I killed my grandpa, actually, but indirectly." Ria's face shifts moods in seconds. "The monster attacked with Mosquito girl—a few of her little ones. She likes to call them raided our house. I didn't want to lose them, so I locked them in the emergency shaft. I came back; I had never seen a man that mad. He had a heart attack, and I didn't make it."
K gazes away blankly.
"That man only knew me for an hour or two, yet he took me. He taught me Japanese and money, yet Aunt Miko helped most of the time. He taught me to cook, Clean, and provide. He taught me to be a man."
"Is that why you became Hit?"
"I discovered he lost his family before this, during a monster attack. I didn't want no family to suffer like he did. He was lucky Aunt Miko was a good lady. Even before this, I tried to keep the streets safe for those two, but the name Hit. It is special to me. It came from his name. Akihito."
Rias planted her hand on his leg.
"That's noble of you, and I'm sorry what I did to the house. Your hard work shouldn't be unnoticed." Rias sighs. "Riser and I. He's my fiance."
"Seriously? You are more intelligent than this."
"Thanks for the compliment. We are having a royal wedding. The Houses from the underworld have to sacrifice to gain benefits. Riser consists of a Phoenix within the Phoenix family. Making him a full-blood devil and me one too."
"And so, they wanted a careful bloodline?"
"Exactly. When you stood up to Riser, I thought of a rating game. It's like a game of chess: Akeno, my queen. Kiba, my knight. Asia, my bishop. Koneko, my rook and Issa, my pawn. The more I see Issa, the more I believe she can become something great with her sacred gear of the Welsh dragon. I chose the right piece."
"Hmm. You're not wrong, but I don't understand some of these sacred gears. I'll stay on my feet."
"Against Riser. I don't know. He has immortality, and he's cunning with his peerages. I'm still thinking how to counter it."
"I don't know the second bit; I say you trap him."
"Excuse me?"
"In life. Everything has a weakness. Risers is Immortality. It is a huge benefit, but the drawback is noticeable at a second glance. He can't die. Outbeat it into submission or trap or knock him out if you can."
Rias looks away in thought.
"Well, I thought of some of it, but I don't know how to execute it."
"You're a smart girl, Rias. You can think of something."
Rias becomes quiet once more.
"K, what did you do before meeting Mr. Akihito and Ms. Yuri?"
K's face grew serious.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to pry further."
Voices of grunts and panting came from the tree opening.
In a training shirt and shorts, Kiba bounces to a halt, putting his hands behind his head.
Koneko returned with her gym clothes, putting her hands on her hips.
Issa slowly came afterward.
"Ok. Rest a little. We're going to spar at the moment." K voiced while Rayare came back with his drink.
"Thanks for the talk. I shall take my leave." Rias does so.
Standing on the open field feet from the house stood K, Issa, Kiba, and Koneko.
"Ok. Who wanna go first?" K stared among the three.
"If you don't mind me." Kiba stood and took his position.
"The rule is you will have to touch me, and I must touch you. Issa, get your mind out of the gutter. I know what you were thinking about it."
"I'm not." Issa looks away.
"In this exercise. I want to see what you can do. So, don't hold back."
Kiba pulled out a wooden sword.
Kiba and K faced off.
Kiba, his blade at the ready while K remained still as a statue with a wooden sword in hand.
"Ah!" Kiba charged at K, giving a slash.
He dodges while Kiba releases a series of attacks. He swipes, uppercuts, and hooks.
K lean, duck, and backflips, getting distance.
Kiba charged once more. Their wooden swords clash. Their clash speeds up before becoming a blur.
"Crap, I can't see who's winning?" Issa states. "It's almost like they're going at Godspeed."
'It seems K. Haven't picked a sword before.' Kiba thinks. 'But I can't get an opening.'
K fist roars toward Kiba only to stop—his blonde hair and his clothes flatter.
K pokes his head.
"Good, but I'll remind you. Focusing on your opponent's weapon is great, but others don't fight like you." K looks to the others. "Next."
Koneko apporached him.
K tosses the sword aside before folding his arms.
Koneko rushes. She threw punches and kicks. She spins, driving her heel.
K leans under her, distancing himself. She leaps, driving her fist into the ground, giving webs of cracks.
She stood only to see K rush her.
K throws punches left and right while Koneko dodges each one.
'Finger bullet.'
Koneko gets hit on her forehead. She flew a few feet before sliding to a halt.
"Koneko!" Kiba and Issa go to rush, only for her to sit up, rubbing her forehead.
"Koneko, you're good. Yet you have super strength. You have to get creative. You can't surprised—your opponent when it's all jabs and kicks."
"Next. Person." K states while Issa approaches him.
Issa put up her fists. Her scared gear appeared on her left hand while she moved her feet.
K remained still. Issa rushes and leaps.
"Ah!" Her fist landed on nothing. K backs up. "Ragh!"
K leans, dodging every punch before K jumps from Issa's kick.
K throws his jacket, landing in Issa's face.
She pulls it off.
"Ho." K stands in his t-shirt while his godly arms and chest are bare for the world to see. Issei stood staring into the other world before K grabbed her shoulder.
"That right there means death, but thanks for the recognition." K grabs his jacket and puts it on. Issa sighs. "When did you learn how to fight?"
"Come on, I'm still learning."
"I'm serious Issa. You are a brawler, a little like me, but you were throwing precision shots."
"Oh. Uh. You inspired me. A year ago, when you started cleaning the streets. I was like, heck. I should give it a shot."
"You joking."
"Look. I wish I could show you the scars, but Asia healed them by the time Raynare got a jump on us. It was knife wounds. Wait!" She shows K her hands.
"What?"
"Touch it."
K raised a brow before touching her hands.
It was normal until he brushed his hands against her knuckles. He felt the rough bones brushing against his thumb.
"Well, I punched a few walls and streets when brawling. It didn't bother me after a while. Asia said she would do it, but I wouldn't bother."
"After gathering what I saw. We can make improvements." K starts. "Kiba, your speed. Koneko, your strength, and Issa, your mental."
"What?! I can hold on to the fight!"
"You can that what I admire about you."
"Aw, shucks. You don't have to butter me up."
"Your lust, for men and women, would post a problem. You fight only to get distracted. That can prove fatal." Issa sighs. "Kiba. You see that boulder over there?" K points his chin over their shoulder.
"Wait. That hasn't been there." Kiba voiced with his back to K.
"I just put it there. This is how it works for you. I want you to do various attacks a hundred times on that boulder there. After that, run for a ten K. Easy?"
Kiba nods before heading off.
"Koneko. Could you do my regiment? Since it's easy for you. I want you to do various work like Handstand push-ups, one-leg squats, and jumping during a ten K. You get the picture. All till the end of the day. Can you handle it?"
Koneko nodded before heading off.
"And Issa. I'll be with you all day. I got to break you somehow."
Issa sighs.
'This is going to suck, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to-Oh my Satan.'
K stripped to swimming underwear.
'Those arms! I want to eat them like their chicken! Those legs! I want them to choke me! That chest! I'm going to motorboat those babies to the end of the earth! NO! Don't take your shoes off. You're going to dirty them!'
K claps, getting her attention.
"I'm going to take you step by step of my regiment. I'll give you extra attention. If you are feeling lonely."
'Oh. Please do.' Issa purrs.
...
In the afternoon, warm lights bathed the house on the mountain.
"Ninety-eight, Ninety-nine, Hundred!!! Ah." Kiba was sweating a waterfall. He begins once performing a spin slash. "One."
K stood with his arms crossed, watching Kiba—noticeable slash marks on the boulder.
He turns to the Koneko carrying massive amounts of chopwood on her back. She hops from K's clearing before turning and skipping to the entrance.
"Ugh! Eighty! Ugh! Eighty-one."
K looks down at Issa doing sit-ups, looking at somewhere no one should look.
"Issa. I'm glad you are motivated about my crotch, but I'm a grower, not a shower."
"Those are the best ones. Crap! Did I say it out?!"
"Ugh. Do I like doing this? It feels weird standing out here in the open with this on."
"I didn't know. A boy is capable of taking various monsters as insecure."
"We're all human, Issa. Or devils in your term."
"Right. Hey. We should talk."
"We are."
"No. I mean. For example, to get to know one another, like your grandpa. We see each other, but you are always at the counter or your house."
"He's the one that created Hit. And it's not bad to be an introvert."
"Well. Yeah, but you can't be like that forever. Agh!" Issa stops staring up at him. "How about you come to my house with Motohama and Matsuda after all this."
"I can only deal with one."
"OK. How about with the ORC? There would be drinks, chips, and the ladies all around. Asia expectally."
"Nah. I'm good."
"Dude. I'm trying to help."
"I never ask for your help."
Issa cocks her head.
"Alright. All I ask is, what happened in New York?"
"OK, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR TODAY!!!" K turns to see Koneko and Kiba limbing his way. "What you feel now, tomorrow will be worse; I'm pushing you to your limits, to be as strong as me, but you have a long way."
Kalawanrer and Mittelt appeared with refreshments.
Kalawanrer in a dark blue maid dress while Mittelt in a warm orange.
They handed out water and towels, only for Kiba, Koneko, and Issa to reject the water.
"I'll see you tomorrow." K walks toward the house, followed by the two fallen maids.
"You're forgetting something, Master K?" Mittelt spoke, causing K's eyes to widen. "Yeah. Crap." K took his track clothes from her hands. "Well. It makes sense why you needed us so badly."
"Yeah. That won't happen again."
"I put away your clothes." Kalawarner started. "The bathroom is set. And your phone is in eighty percent. Would you like it back?"
'This sounds too easy.'
"No. I'm grabbing a bite and heading straight back."
Kalawarner remained silent.
They entered the house. His bare feet felt the fuzzy red carpet on his heels.
He climbed the stairs, hearing others follow.
"Mittelt. Could you bring me a plate?"
"Sure." She climbed the stairs, leaving Kalawarner.
"Kalawarner. Did anyone call me?"
"Mistress Miko. She's asking for your presence. It's about Yuri."
K climbed the steps faster before entering the white door closer to the steps.
"You can rest. So can the others. You earn it." Kalawarner closes the door shut while K sits on his bed. He grabs his phone.
Aunt Miko
Calling...
"Hello?"
"Yes. Miko? Something happened to Yuri?"
"I haven't seen her all day. She's usually back by five."
"Breath. She's coming back."
"Maybe she's out there alone and scared." K hears rapid footsteps.
"Miko. Stop! Yuri fine. She'll come back at the end of the day. Or the next day."
"That's what I'm worrying about. What if Yuri comes back pregnant or worse? Where are my keys?!"
"Aunt Miko, it's a day. Pour yourself some tea and watch your favorite cooking show."
"Aunt?" K bites his lip. "Is that what you think of me?" Her voice cracks.
"Please. Miko, stop crying."
"Miko?"
"Aunt! Aunt. Please relax, for me. Yuri, be back when you know it."
"Ok."
K drops his phone with a sigh. He leans back, closing his eyes.
...
Back at his room once more. He was staring at the messages left by Miko.
M: This been five days! Please! Could you go out and find her?
K: OK.
M: Come to the house. She loves her favorite toy.
K: I don't think that's necessary.
M: Kae Woods. COME TO THE HOUSE THIS INSTANT.
K: Alright. I'll be there.
K looks down at a rubber ball before shaking it. The bell ringing filled his ears.
'Yuri, I hope you are safe.'
The door opens.
"K?" Asia voiced.
"Yes?"
"How about you come downstairs? Everyone's waiting."
"I'm fine, Asia." K throws on his cap.
"Please. It would mean a lot to them." K rubs his nose. "I know you are tired, but think of it as a favor from me. I'll do anything and whatever you ask of me."
"Alright."
"Thanks, K. May god." She wince. "Watch over you."
"Don't hurt yourself, Asia." K closes the door shut.
"Oh? Don't worry about me."
"That's the thing. I do." Asia blushed, looking away. "I can't stand seeing you hurt."
"I'm glad you cared." She held his hand, stopping him in the middle of the stairs. "It's all I have."
"Yeah. I know." They continued downstairs while K took a breath.
"Don't worry. I'll be in the room if it makes you feel better. I'm right beside you if you need support."
"Hhm."
They entered the dining room. Every member of the ORC sat at the long table with K's Fallen maids in casual wear.
"Hey." Issa starts. "Glad you can make it. I hope you would come out of your man cave."
"I was counting tallies while bouncing my ball against the wall." K looks for a seat and finds one at the table's end.
"If you told me you were nervous, I would brought you dinner." Akeno gave him the look to the right of K.
"If I did. You come every night."
"You bet I do."
"Hhm!" Rias clears her throat. "K. I'm glad you came." He only nods. "We like you to start us off."
K looks at his plate with a massive amount of potatoes.
"Anyone up for ping pong?" Asia shakes her head, and Mittelt holds back her chuckle. Issa is seated by Rias. She looks to the floor. "Like after this."
"Well, that sounds fun, but I won't be able to attend. The training went well. Don't you think?" Rias looks to Issa.
"Yeah, it was a pain, but I had some fun--slightly. I realized I was the weakest link. I'm already a pro at peeling potatoes." She blushes and stares at everyone before locking on K, who only squinted his eyes.
He felt someone tap his arm. Asia subtly points to her head.
K shakes his. Asia only tilts her head.
"You shouldn't think too badly about it." Rias continued. "K here will make you, strong as he is. I forgot. How strong he was. I can't even sense his power."
Everyone looks to K.
"What?" K questioned.
"You no mutant. No special race. And Don't have sacred gear."
"ACK!" Raynare coughs, patting her chest.
"I work out." K answers.
"And?" Kiba adds.
"That's it." He forks some of the potatoes. "That's how it went."
"Wait, so what we're doing is only a warm-up?"
"Yes, but actually no. It's up to you to find out."
"Well, about training." Akeno starts. "I heard. You learned Japanese. You still have an American accent, though, but I love a man with an accent."
"Oh. Uh. My grandpa taught me, but we are not blood-related."
"And the name?"
"I got the name Hit from my grandpa Akihito. He's the one that taught me how to be a man."
"K like gardening." Asia points out. "We help each other from time to time."
"Is that so, Asia?" Rias comments.
"You do gardening?" Issa cocks her head. "I don't think two and two come together."
"Issa, don't be so close-minded. We all have hobbies."
"Issa's. Perverted." Koneko comment.
"Koneko! I have you know that was research. I'm trying to help a sister out. ACK!" Koneko punches Issa out of her chair.
"So. K. How was there training?" Rias elegantly eats from her plate.
"They're getting better." K drinks a glass of apple juice before smacking his lips. "Nothing groundbreaking, but better."
"That's the first." Issa sat on her chair.
"Issa. Do you want to go to bed? I think it's almost past your curfew."
"And he's back."
K stands to his feet.
"Well. I'm going to bed. Tomorrow is your day off." Issa pumps her fist. "Get as much rest. You'll need it." K leaves the dining room.
The fallen followed after taking up some plates for the kitchen.
"Well, we're making progress." Kiba was the first to speak.
"Yeah, slowly but surely." Issa comments. "He's a dancer, smartass, an introvert like Koneko, and a ticking time bomb. And yet, when I mention New York. He nearly blew off at me."
"I know." Rias comments. "But, indeed, we give it time and involve him more. He's bound to warm up to us."
"Maybe." Akeno voiced. "We could do this?" Everyone looks to Akeno for an answer.