Protean Gear

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

Shortly after their session of love making, James and Shuna made their way to find Scathach. Luckily, with James' perception and Shuna's [Senjutsu], it did not take long to find her in her bedroom. When they arrived, James politely knocked on the door.

A moment later, Scathach answered the door wearing a set of casual clothing. Then, without speaking, she turned her body and allowed the two into her room.

"I would assume that the project is complete, correct." Scathach asked as she closed the door to her bedroom. Then, after seeing the glow on Shuna's skin, she adopted a teasing smile. "It would seem the two of you completed a second project as well."

Blushing immediately, Shuna gripped the hem of James shirt while James smiled wryly.

"I think spending time around Mom is a bad influence on you, Master." James said while shrugging his shoulders.

"Your mother is not the only bad influence on the behavior of others." Scathach said while staring pointedly at James.

"I plead the fifth." James said without changing his expression.

"I do believe that is an amendment from another country's constitution." Scathach countered.

"It would seem that you are correct." James said with a bright smile. "Anyway, you're right, Master. We came here to show off the finished product. And to be honest, I think they turned out better than expected."

Then, without wasting time, James morphed the black jeans and T-shirt he decided to wear after he and Shuna were finished into a set of MMA gear. Seeing this, Scathach stepped closer and scrutinized the gear from every angle.

After having James change the outfit several more times and doing a few tests, Scathach turned her attention toward Shuna and nodded in approval.

"A fine job, Shuna." Scathach said while patting Shuna on the shoulder. "And the craftsman ship is spectacular. The level of your needle work can be seen in every stitch, and in every form that this... I do not believe we have decided on a name for this clothing."

"Now that you mention it." James said while stroking his chin. "You're right."

"Do either of you have any ideas?" Scathach asked, clearly showing that she had no interest in naming the creation.

After a brief moment of silence, James opened his mouth once again.

"Actually, I think you should name it, Shuna." James said as he gazed at Shuna.

"Me?" Shuna exclaimed. "But why?"

"Well, it's clear that Master wants no part in the naming." James said with a wry smile while glancing at Scathach. Then, when he returned his sight to Shuna, he continued. "And the only thing I did was come up with the concept. You did the most work in its creation."

"But... But... I..." Shuna began to stammer.

"Girl, you should be more confident in your craft." Scathach said in an unamused tone.

Hearing Scathach's tone, Shuna went silent for a few moments, contemplating what they should call the clothing she helped create.

"Why don't we call it 'Protean Gear'?" Shuna asked apprehensively.

"Protean." Scathach stopped to think. "A Greek word meaning changeable in shape or form, huh? I find it suitable."

"Works for me." James replied with a smile. "Protean Gear it is, then."

After that, James, Scathach, and Shuna continued to chat about the new gear for the next few hours before deciding to call it a night. Before they returned to their rooms, however, James left a set of Protean Gear with Scathach so that she could wear it to tomorrow's ceremony.

The next morning, after everyone in the mansion had breakfast, Flora arrived. As one of the four young devils in the three peerages that did not live in the Alaverus Estate, it was rare for her to have breakfast with the rest. After she arrived, the group consisting of James, Rias, Sona, their peerages, Leona, Ophis, Kuroka, and the vampires gathered in the living room.

"*Sigh* I really wanna move in here, too." Flora said in a sad tone while sitting on James lap. "But I know my parents would never agree."

"Well, you can just look at it this way." Rias said. "After we graduate in a few months, you can move out of your parents' house and move in, right?"

"Technically, that's true."" Flora said with a wry smile. "But I doubt that they would be thrilled with me moving out to live with a boy."

"They know he's your boyfriend, right?" Sona asked.

"Yeah, they do." Flora replied.

"And they know that you've been dating for a couple of years, right?" Tsubaki asked this time.

"That's true, too." Flora replied with a nod and a smile. "The happiest years of my life."

The rest of the girls who were in a relationship with James nodded and smiled in agreement, while the girls who wanted to be in a relationship with James frowned with slight jealousy.

"Anyway, if you've been together that long, do you really think they'll have an issue with this?" Tsubaki asked.

"Now that you mention it, probably not?" Flora replied with a tilt of her head.

"Well, all we can do is ask." James said, bringing this conversation to an end. "In fact, when you do, I'll be right there with you."

"Thank you, James!" Flora said excitedly. "I love you."

"I love you, too." James said with a smile as he began patting Flora on the head.

Eventually, Issei, Asia, Irina, and Genshirou arrived at the mansion. About fifteen minutes after Genshirou arrived, Dante and Lady also showed up. When everyone was present, James and Shuna excused themselves. When they came back, they were carrying eight rectangular boxes. Handing one box each to Mizore, Cu Chulainn, Moka, Dante, Lady, Flora, Ayame, and Shion, they were instructed to go and change into the boxes' contents.

After the eight returned, they were all dressed in black and silver casual clothing. When they all realized that they were wearing the same color scheme, they all, except Shion, figured out that these clothes must be the clothes that were made from Grendel's remains. When they did, they all looked at James for an explanation, with Shion turning her attention to James a second later.

"What you're all undoubtedly thinking is correct..." James said with a smile.

"So, you're all still a little hungry, too?" Shion asked.

*Smack!* x 8

As soon as Shion finished her question, The younger members of James' peerage, James included, face palmed simultaneously. While Shuna covered her face, embarrassed for her friend. Scathach, on the other hand, simply shook her head in amusement.

"Shion, you can get a snack after we're done talking." James said while he rubbed his temples. "Anyway, the clothes you are wearing are what Master and Shuna produced from Grendel's remains. More precisely, his scales and leather. Oh, and the coloring from his eyes."

After hearing that, everyone in the room took a closer look at the clothes that James and his peerage were wearing. They all noticed that James, Scathach, and Shuna were also wearing clothes with a color scheme of black and silver.

"It's not... what I was expecting." Evangeline said skeptically.

"I know, right." Kahlua added. "I thought it would be something more fantastical."

Not only those two, but everyone else in the room, including the members of James' peerage who were seeing the clothes for the first time, were also a bit disappointed. In response, James began to smirk at their ignorance.

"It's not what you were expecting, huh? Something more fantastical, huh?" James said in a playful tone. "What were you expecting, then? A majestic suit of armor...? Or maybe, regal looking noble attire...? Or even a Power Ranger-esque costume?"

The crowd's eyes grew wider and wider as James spoke. As he spoke the name of a type of attire, the casual clothing he was wearing originally changed its form. First to a black and silver armor that resembled the usual Red Dragon Emperor's Scale Mail. Then, it changed into a set of clothes that looked to be made from the finest silk and gave off an aura of regality. After that, James' outfit took on the appearance of the gold ranger from Power Rangers Zeo with silver in place of the gold.

"That's fucking awesome." Issei muttered after a few moments.

That utterance was the breaking point. Eventually, the room was flooded with comments about the appearance, questions about the capabilities, and much more. Also, mixed in there somewhere was the sound of someone getting slapped upside the head and Issei shouting shortly afterward, wondering who it was that hit him.

*Clap!*

"Okay, everyone, calm down." James said with a smile after gathering everyone's attention with a clap.

'Still so satisfying.' James thought to himself after everyone was quiet.

"We have named this clothing, Protean Gear. These sets of Protean Gear can shapeshift into any kind of clothing the wearer can imagine with a slight injection of demonic energy." James said, beginning to explain the Protean Gear's capabilities. "They should also have no problem tanking attacks at ultimate-rank or below. And lastly, as long as there is at least seventy percent of the total mass of the Gear remaining, it should be able to auto repair."

"Now I want some for my peerage, too." Sona said while adjusting her glasses.

"Talk to him again when you kill a dragon of your own." Rias said, not missing the opportunity to get back at Sona.

Though Sona wanted to retort, she knew that she could not since she had said the same thing to Rias only a week ago. So, instead of saying anything, she settled for glaring at Rias with all her might.

After a little more oohing and awing, James pulled out a few sketches. So that his peerage would give off a united front, James had drawn up what it was that he wanted them all to wear for the ceremony.

The men all wore black business suits with black shoes, silver shirts, and black and silver ties. While James added a pair of rimless sunglasses to his ensemble. Shion wore a similar outfit to the men, without the tie and a few of the buttons on her shirt were undone. The women, with the exception of Shion, wore form-fitting black and silver evening gowns that showed off their backs and shoulders. Scathach's dress had a diamond shaped cut-out that exposed her breasts and cleavage. While the rest added slits and other small modifications to match their preferences.

Once James and his peerage were dressed, Rias and Sona had their peerages teleported to their Estates in the Underworld, where they would get properly dressed for the ceremony. Meanwhile, Irene and the vampires returned to their own rooms to get dressed as well, while Kuroka and Ophis would be staying in the Human World, so as not to cause any trouble.

The ladies in James' peerage also returned to their rooms, Lady deciding to follow Shuna to her room while Flora followed Moka to hers, so they could take care of their hair and make-up, leaving James, Cu Chulainn, and Dante sitting on a sofa in the living room while they played the latest Streets of Rage to pass the time.

"Why do women always take so long to get ready?" Dante said after waiting for an hour. "I mean, other than Leona, they were all already dressed."

"And that's why you're still single... And will be till you die." Lady said as she re-entered the living room.

"Shut it." Dante said, not even turning to look at the new arrival.

"Lookin' good, Lady." James said with a smile and a thumbs up.

"Thanks." Lady said as she took a seat next to Dante before looking at him in annoyance.

After Lady, Issa arrived. Then, Leona, the rest of James peerage, and the rest of the vampires showed up in the living room one after another. After chatting for a few minutes, they all teleported to the train station. Quickly making their way down to the restricted floor, they boarded the train to the Underworld. An hour later, they disembarked in the Capital City of Lilith.