===10 a.m.===
Human World, Japan, Kyoto.
A few minutes ago, the train carrying the second-year students of Kuoh Academy arrived at Kyoto Station. After disembarking, the students and teachers were gathered in the station square listening to the instructions of the teacher in charge.
"If you all understand, we'll head to our hotel and check in." The teacher in charge said.
With that, the students and teachers began to walk toward their accommodations for this trip. The group from Kuoh had booked rooms in a hotel run by the Sitri House. A high-end hotel that has a business agreement with Kuoh, or so the normal humans were told. In reality, the Sitri gave a discount only because the heiress of their clan would be staying there with her classmates.
After walking for around twenty minutes, the school group arrived at the hotel. From there, the teachers took care of their reservations, and the students made their way to their assigned rooms. With three students assigned to each room, Sona, Tsubaki, and Reya were grouped together. Rias, Akeno, and Flora were also assigned to a room together. While James was assigned to a room with two members of the MMA club. After the students dropped off their luggage in their rooms, they all gathered once again in the hotel lobby.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" The teacher in charge said, raising her voice to gather all the students' attention on herself. "You have free time until 6 p.m. I expect everyone to return to the hotel by then. Now, break into your assigned groups then go and see the great city of Kyoto."
After the teacher in charge finished, the students began to break into their groups and excitedly took to the streets of Kyoto. James and his group, which included Kunou were no different. As they left the hotel, Ria spoke.
"So, where are we going first?"
"I think the first place we should go is to Kunou's house." James said after a moment of consideration. "I'm sure Lady Yasaka is looking forward to seeing her daughter."
Hearing James' suggestion, Kunou's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yeah!" Kunou shouted excitedly. "I wanna see mommy."
The group smiled warmly at the soon to be reunion of the mother and daughter nine-tailed foxes. With the decision made, Kunou led the way to her home. Along the way, they took time to see some of the sights and places Kunou deemed interesting. After walking for nearly two hours, with breaks to enjoy the city in between, Kunou informed everyone that they were near her home. After checking the time on his watch, James made a suggestion.
"Why don't we stop to have a snack?" James suggested while pointing toward a dango shop nearby. "I don't think we should get anything too heavy, though. There's a chance that Lady Yasaka has prepared a meal for Kunou's return. And in case I'm wrong, we can just grab something on our way back to the hotel."
Nodding in agreement, the group made their way over to the dango shop and placed their orders. Once they all received what they ordered, they made their way toward Kunou's home once again. This time while eating dango and chatting about the things they have seen along the way. Around the time James finished his last dango, the group arrived in front of a shrine. The target of worship for this shrine seemed to be Shinto's chief deity, Amaterasu.
As they approached, Kunou visibly became more excited. When they reached the torii gate in front of the shrine, Kunou stopped and turned around to face the group.
"Onii-Chan and Onee-Sans, I'd like to welcome you to my home." Kunou said with a bow. The etiquette she had learned since early childhood made itself useful.
"Thank you for having us." The group of high school students said in unison, bowing their heads politely as well.
"After we pass through this torii gate, we will pass through the barrier that separates the human side from the supernatural side of the city." Kunou explained as she released her youkai features and fox fire lit up on the tips of each of her tails. "Now, if you would follow me."
Once Kunou turned around, she extended her tails toward the torii. As they reached the threshold, the space rippled as if her tails were entering the surface of a pond. Shortly afterward, Kunou took a step forward. As she passed the gate, the space rippled. Seeing this, James and his group followed the little fox girl through the gate. Just before the group crossed the threshold, James called out seemingly to no one.
"You come to." James said without looking back. "It would be rude to keep one of our people hidden while we're making a friendly visit."
"Understood." Ayame said, as she appeared behind James.
Human World, Japan, Kyoto, Youkai Sub-Dimension.
When they entered, the time was a little past noon, so there was a beautiful blue sky with a few white clouds and the sun was shining brightly. After stepping through the gate, however, the time seemingly changed from day to night. As youkai, like devils, feel a reduction in power under the sun, it makes sense that they would create their dimension with a day-night cycle opposite of the Human World. In fact, the devils present were expecting this, as Kunou had told them about where she lived in the past. What they did not expect, upon entering the barrier, was the battle going on. Hundreds of youkai were engaged in fierce life or death battles. Kunou, who had entered the barrier before everyone else was standing at the entrance frozen in shock.
"Huh?" Kunou was speechless. After a moment she began to run forward while shouting. "Mommy! Mommy, where are you?"
"Hey, it's the fox brat!" An oni shouted as he noticed Kunou's return. "The spy by that bitch's side gave us good intel."
Shortly after, a chain was sent flying toward the confused Kunou. At nearly the same time, James appeared in front of her. Drawing Ochiru Sakura, he deflected the incoming capture weapon.
"Attacking a scared little girl is pretty low, isn't it." James said with a casual smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "It seems like the plan to capture Kunou didn't die with your leader, huh?"
As James' words finished, a karasu tengu appeared next to him. With his head bowed and kneeling on one knee, he spoke.
"Miss Kunou, it's good to see that you are safe." the Karasu tengu said with a bit of frustration in his tone. "But why did you return? And why now of all times?"
Hearing that, James entire group was confused. Wasn't it Lady Yasaka who sent them a letter asking them to return at this time? Voicing the group's confusion, Kunou replied to the kneeling karasu tengu's question.
"Mommy sent me a letter telling me it was okay to come back during Onii-Chan's school trip." Kunou replied in confusion and fear.
"That damned traitor." the karasu tengu spat out through gritted teeth. "One of Lady Yasaka's close aids switched sides. He sealed Lady Yasaka's residence."
"So, does that mean that the enemy leader is still alive?" James asked a question he thought was quite important at the moment.
"Correct." the karasu tengu replied. "We need to get Miss Kunou to safety, immediately."
Unfortunate for them, that thought came a little too late. The gate they just stepped through flashed red, and then a barrier that barred exit from the youkai dimension covered their escape.
"So much for that." James said with a bit of frustration. "It looks like we'll have to put down the insurgence before we can get out of here."
As he spoke, James looked around the battlefield. There were few members of the defending side left standing. Because of that, James and his group were quickly surrounded. Most of the attackers were intermediate-level of the middle-rank at the highest. Basically, cannon fodder. Kunou was stronger than most of them, as a matter of fact. But there were a few, seven to be precise, that ranged from advanced-level, middle rank to initial-level, ultimate-rank.
"Well, I guess I'll take care of the small fries." James said nonchalantly. "I'll let you ladies get a workout after that, while I protect Kunou. Don't want their boss to take advantage of the fight."
"I guess they're unlucky that we didn't have that meal before we got here." Rias said as she took a step forward.
"I guess so." Sona said following Rias in stepping forward. With a smile on her face, she continued "You must be feeling unlucky about not having that meal though."
"Shut up, Sona." Rias said without taking her eyes off the enemies. "I'm a growing girl."
"If you grow anymore, Rias, none of your shirts will fit." Flora said while equipping her enchanted gauntlets and grieves.
"Fufufu." Akeno giggled with a hand covering her mouth while she crackled with lightning. "I don't think you need to grow anymore either, Rias."
"Finally, I can test my skill on something other than mindless stray devils." Tsubaki said while flourishing her naginata. "Maybe, I'll even get a chance to use [Mirror Alice] if the opponent is strong enough."
"Why doesn't it seem like any of you are taking this seriously?" Reya said in exasperation.
"You shouldn't worry, Reya." James said with a smile. "Everyone gets into their zone in their own way. Now, how about I set the stage for you lovely ladies to show how much you've improved."
With that, Rias, Sona, Akeno, Tsubaki, Reya, and Ayame readied their stances. As James was also ready to clear out the small fry, Ayame finally spoke.
"Alaverus-Sama, if I do well, will you punish me after the battle?" Ayame said with sparkling eyes.
With that, James almost dropped his sword. Everyone then turned to Ayame in astonishment. Even the oni forces were dumbfounded by what she said.
"What the hell?" An oni near the front of the crowd said confusedly.
"Is there something wrong with that woman?" Another asked, just as confused.
"Don't pay them any mind, it must be a strategy to confuse us." One oni said, trying to get his comrades to focus on the battle.
"No, I don't think you're right." Someone retorted. "Look how confused their comrades look."
After that, the entirety of the oni forces focused on the confused and a little disgusted expressions on James' group's faces.
*Smack!*
"Oh!" One of the oni exclaimed while bringing his right fist down in his left palm. "I think I get it, now."
"Yeah, me too." Said another as understanding colored his expression.
"Me, too." Said another. "She must be one of those 'perverts' the kids talk about now- a-days."
And with that, all the enemy forces were enlightened. In turn, James group was embarrassed.
"How could it show itself now of all times." Rias asked while placing a hand on her forehead.
"Don't try to understand the mind of a pervert, Rias." Sona said, the least affected of the group.
James also thought now was a good time to change the subject. Or rather, divert his side's attention to something that would motivate them.
"Alright, listen girls." James said with an authoritative tone. "I'm willing to fulfill two wishes."
That pulled the girls out of their confusion. Then, their ears all perked up.
"For the one who wins the fastest, and the one who takes the least damage." James said with a smile. "The first of you who can attain one of these conditions, I will grant you one wish."
"And what if one of us can do both." Sona asked as she adjusted her glasses.
"Then that person can receive both wishes." James said with a widening smile.
And with that, all the girls' eyes lit up. Even Tsubaki and Reya who were not romantically interested in James.
"Now." James said, taking a step forward. "Let's get this show on the road."