Kuroka is angry.

[Returning to the present, Drako's POV]

And that's how I got the cream.

And now I owe Azazel a favour. He said he'd be back when he needed my help, and it's been another few months since that day.

Now that Raynare has said that Azazel is calling me, I'm sure it has something to do with that favour I owe him. If we add this to the news of the shipwreck and the disappearance of the students' bodies, it looks like I'm going to have my hands full with this complicated business for a while.

But first I have to finish Raynare's massage.

Someone will say that it's useless to use this cream on a person like Raynare.

Sigh...

If you knew what this cream was really worth...

Honestly, I feel deceived.

Well, the massage is not very complicated. You start with the feet and work your way up to the end of the leg or the coccyx. It's said fast, but the massage takes over 30 minutes.

The massage continues without any complications, leaving aside Raynare's continuous moans of pleasure. Seriously, it's not like we're the only ones living in this house. At least, Shuri is accompanying Akeno while she is training with Baraqiel, and Kuroka will be sleeping as usual.

"Get dressed, let's go see Azazel," I told Raynare once I finished the massage.

"Yes, I..."

She got out of bed, her face still flushed from the intensity of the massage, and put on the bottom of Nephilim's uniform.

A shipwreck with more than 200 people missing, I don't understand how Azazel could come to think that this was an accident that had nothing to do with the supernatural.

I mean, it's obvious that this was related to the supernatural world.

We both took the elevator down to the first floor, prepared to leave the site and head for Azazel's offices.

But there's one obstacle that stands in our way when we get out of the elevator.

Yes, it's the person we expected to be sleeping on the couch.

"Looks like you guys had a lot of fun up there-nya."

Kuroka was standing there looking at Raynare and me, who had just got out of the elevator. She's got her eyes narrowed, and her face is solemn.

"Drako has been kind to me, and I've enjoyed it very much. Even though I have trouble moving my legs now, the feeling is totally different than before the session. Sigh... Drako's hands are wonderful, a unique sensation."

I don't know why, but the words Raynare used are going to cause me trouble. I'm lying, I'm sure Raynare's words are gonna cause me problems. Just look at Kuroka's eyebrow, which is trembling, and any part of her face.

She's pissed.

"Drako-nyaa... After all the time we've spent together you decide to fuck Raynare before me..."

"You're wrong, we weren't fucking."

I have to defend myself before this gets out of hand.

But it seems that Kuroka didn't buy that, and she seems like on the verge of crying.

"I told you we haven't fucked. Raynare, you tell her."

I'm gesturing Raynare to explain herself better.

"It's true. As much as I would have liked to, I know Drako can't have sex with someone as inferior as me."

Now Raynare's making a sad face. But unlike Kuroka, I doubt this sadness is real. We're talking about the fallen angel with a thousand faces, you never know if what she's showing on the outside is her true thoughts.

I hit her head with my fist. I have to shut her up before she keeps talking nonsense.

"Shut that mouth, you idiot."

"Ouch."

She bends over while holding her head. The fist went with a bit of force, it wasn't a simple joke.

"Kuroka, I was giving her a leg massage. You know how Baraqiel's workouts are. Raynare's legs were too tight, so I unloaded them a bit."

Kuroka visibly relaxes when I explain the situation.

"Drako is right, that cream works wonders."

And Raynare opens her mouth again.

"Cream? It's not the cream Azazel gave me. She's not talking about that god-level cream, are you, Drako?"

You're wrong, that's my cream. I'm the one who owes Azazel a favour, not you.

With my index finger, I tap Kuroka's forehead.

"Cut the crap, because of your god-level cream I have to go see Azazel. I'm sure he has some complicated problem and wants me to help him solve it."

Kuroka pouted.

"It's okay, I forgive you for now. But tonight you're going to have to pamper me a lot to get over the anger."

Sigh...

What a pain in the ass.

"Come on, Raynare."

With Kuroka's permission, Raynare and I left the house and went to Grigori's headquarters.

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

"So the accident is related to this Utsusemi Agency, and you say they have the students missing in the incident."

Raynare and I are in Azazel's office. The subject in question is sitting in his gamer chair, right in front of us.

"Yes, the agency is comprised of exiled members of the five major clans of Japan."

I frowned unconsciously.

"This is a problem of those self-centred clans, why does Grigori have to stick his nose into this?"

Azazel sighs. He puts aside his playful attitude and gets serious for the first time since I've known him. He rests his elbows on the table and leans forward.

"I don't give a shit what happens to these assholes, but there's a lot more at stake than that. I'm sure there's at least one organization behind them, and I think they're supported by another group. Besides, they're behind something very dangerous, and they may get something they don't expect, but which is much more dangerous if we don't act quickly."

"And that is?"

I ask you, totally curious what can make a person like Azazel get serious.

"They're behind four of the top Sacred Gears, who don't quite make it to the level of a Longinus, and the other element I'm talking about is none other than one of the 13 Longinus."