Slay the Maidens II

Whilst the younger brother faced his small bundle of late night misadventures, the older one would likewise get no rest. Chaldea was like a maze at this hour. Despite the constant illumination provided by the installation's lighting, the bland, white hallways began to blend together in Akaro's mind as he made his way back to his bedroom.

With a small sigh, he fondly recalled on tonight's incidents so far. Though mostly unfazed by his encounter with Altera and Scathach, he was still surprised by how bold they were about the whole ordeal.

"Yeesh… poor Raichu will probably not be getting a second's worth of shut-eye tonight," he thought out loud shortly before arriving in front of the doorway to his little haven of privacy.

He took a moment to reach for the small fingerprint scanner on the wall next to the door. The device's glass-like touchscreen quickly lit up when in direct contact with the man's index finger. After a few seconds, a quick and pleasant beep noise was heard just as the door automatically slid open.

"Ara~ it seems Akaro-sama has returned," the sweet voice of one Shuten-Douji filled Akaro's ears.

There on his king-sized bed that occupied the heart of his bedroom, the erotic Oni laid her back against her royal purple mantle which was now carefully stretched atop the white sheets. To top it all off, Shuten rubbed her juicy thighs together while also grinning at the Envoy to further tease him. That said, it didn't seem to be very effective.

Without paying her much attention, the Red-Eyed Envoy merely strolled over to the rightmost side of his room where a moderately sized wooden-built bar equipped with a plethora of beverages had been installed. He sat on one of the red stools and served himself a shot of Shuten's favorite brand of liquor.

"Is this the best your people got? Not impressed," he joked whilst placing the glass down.

"Come now… forget such trivialities. We haven't done it in days and my body yearns for thy touch," she spoke in a begging tone, almost pleading for the man to ravage her.

"Feisty little demon ain't ya, Shu-chan?"

Akaro and Shuten's attention was promptly taken by the door to the private bathroom just left of the bar swinging open. From therein Drake emerged amid the steam, drying her hair whilst her breasts were notably wet as she stepped out in the nude. Her thick, muscular physique was utterly divine; from the pair of wide hips to the ample breasts that bounced with every step she took.

"Why are you still dressed?" Drake put it bluntly, her eyes burning with an intense desire and her breath drenched in the smell of alcohol.

"Aren't you filled to the brim with mana already?" Akaro grinned slyly before standing up and hugging the naked pirate between his strong arms.

"Who cares Nii-san? If the other girls get to party with you then I want to get another ride on that big cock of yours~" she unapologetically conceded only to then sensually mash her voluptuous assets against the knight's muscular torso. Akaro smiled.

"Then let's enjoy ourselves, Elizabeth." he remarked shortly before seizing her lips and squeezing her plump ass cheeks—even going as far as shoving his middle finger inside her anus. Around the same time his clothing dissolved into particles of light revealing his complete figure.

"Ahhh fuck~ Nii-san!" the Pirate Captain moaned delightfully in-between passionate kisses and heavy breaths caused by the relentless fingering of her asshole.

"Fufufu looks like the fearsome Francis Drake is naught more than a helpless maiden enthralled by desire when touched by her lover," Shuten teased from the sidelines.

"Is that so? Well just for that one little Oni, I'm gonna be taking his cock first!" Drake proclaimed before dropping to her knees in front of Akaro, her eyes wide open as she placed her hands onto his base and stroked along the meaty rod's length.

It was hard for Akaro not to groan as Drake settled down in a bow-legged position and began to service his cock. The pirate's tongue was fierce as she licked up his shaft at a relentless pace. Her eyes went wide open as she pushed her beloved's meat down her throat, taking the cock into her mouth and aggressively slurping on it like it was a delicious treat.

"You always were a pro at giving head," Akaro spoke up in pure joy as he watched Drake stretch her jaw and took in the massive length into a proper deep-throat.

On the side, Shuten watched the two at it. She was enthralled as she watched another girl suck Akaro's monstrous cock. She didn't know why, but seeing him being touched by another girl was igniting a sense of excitement in her.

Drake's head pulled up, leaving saliva to spill from her mouth as she proceeded to give that dick a nice and firm double grip handjob. A moment later, down her head went again, the slurping and gagging noises growing fiercer. She adored the feeling of it throbbing in her throat, aching with need and a desire to cum.

"Not yet big boy~" she mumbled whilst pulling his cock out of her mouth. Truth was, however, she didn't want to admit her throat was getting sore from sucking on his cock for so long.

"Let's put this cunt to work," the Voyager of the Storm proudly declared before standing up and bending over the bar table shortly afterward. Her ridiculously chunky ass and wet pussy now in full view.

Without delay, Akaro slammed his manhood right into her core causing the legendary pirate to gasp in delight and let out a symphony of blissful moans as she felt the Envoy's thick cock drill her open. As always his rod reached depths that no other ever had before, easily pounding her cervix and breaching her womb in a such a way that the stimulation of the first thrust alone made her squirt a fountain's worth of cum instantly.

"FUCK! AHHHH-AH!" Drake cried out, her breasts bouncing as she was fucked from behind. In the meantime, Shuten couldn't tear her eyes from the action she was witnessing. Reaching a solitary hand between her legs, she did not show any shame at all as she started fingering herself.

"Here it comes, Elizabeth!"

Alas, Akaro unleashed his load deep inside Drake. The shotgun blast worth of semen filled her to the brim as her whole body trembled in a series of consecutive orgasms. Her greedy vaginal walls grasped tightly around his cock whilst her face twisted into a wicked mess of pure bliss. As he pulled out from within her pussy, Akaro proudly watched as Drake collapsed to the side and onto the ground unable to process anything other than the pleasure filling her mind wholeheartedly.

"Now it's your turn," Akaro remarked whilst turning his gaze and his rock hard rod towards the petite Oni.

"Oh my~ please ravage me, Akaro-sa—"

Caring naught for her plea, the ferocious dragonkin climbed onto the bed and in one swift motion ripped away the minuscule 'clothing' Shuten wore. This rough treatment was exactly what she wanted, and the knight happily complied. In the next moment, he mating pressed her deepest confines.

"Slow down please… I won't last like this~" she moaned.

"But you seem to be enjoying it a lot.." he teased. The Envoy would grin as he continued to thrust his hips at a fast but vigorous pace pushing more of his thick, hard shaft deeper inside her tight snatch. It wouldn't be another minute before Shuten would reach her climax a total of ten times.

"AKARO-SAMAAAAAAAA!" she yelled in pleasure only to faint shortly thereafter.

Akaro sighed as he took his dick out of the Oni's pussy. As expected Drake and Shuten were not enough to satisfy the exponentially higher and bestial lust of a draconic being. Nevertheless, he still had enough respect for Shuten as to not ravage her unconscious body.

For a moment Akaro wondered what to do next, but the answer came rather quick.

"It looks like you have already started… please allow me to join, Akaro-kun," the confident yet tender voice of the King of Knights announced her arrival.

Artoria let out a soft, nervous breath she was holding in before she eyed Akaro's naked form stoically before undoing the top of her blue dress; thus elegantly revealing her pair of small breasts. Stepping forward, the Red Knight embraced the female in his arms.

"Let's try keep this impersonal, this is just for the mana..." she declared as she let her dress fall to the ground revealing her nude splendor.

Akaro felt entranced by Artoria's body. She was not as well built as Drake yet still very clearly possessed a knightly body given the subtle muscles on her modest frame. Artoria was uncertain of what to do next until he leaned down and began kissing along her neck.

"Hhuaah!" Artoria gasped once she felt his dominant lips kiss along her neck. In a few more moments he reached her face. She looked at him with a heated look whilst breathing rather quickly. Akaro leaned in without restraint, kissing her lips. Artoria's eyes spread wide for a moment, but shortly thereafter she shut them again as she got more engrossed in the powerful battle between their tongues.

The King of Knight's perky breasts hugged Akaro's chiseled chest all the while his cock was hotdogged between her thighs. Ready for more action, the Envoy grabbed each of her legs and lifted her just high enough that he could drive his manhood deep inside her.

"HAAAAAHH!" Artoria yielded a loud moan, her body flushed with growing pleasure. She responded to the strong sensation of his length sliding into her snatch by arching up her back.

Artoria gripped Akaro's broad shoulders in absolute delight. The Red-Eyed Hero was already halfway inside and he felt the rampant tightness her royal chambers offered. He gritted his teeth in response, and firmly gripped her ass cheeks as he slid the rest of his length straight into her body filling the King of Knights up to the point of breaching her cervix.

A series of fierce climaxes transpired shortly afterward bathing the room in Artoria's sharp moans as Akaro dutifully continue to pound her tight pussy intensely. Though unspoken, the two could feel an unmatched sense of compatibility with each other. This was the case due to the draconic trait they both carried.

Words were not required between them. Instead Artoria simply experienced a deep yearning, a wish that took her heart wholeheartedly. That being the wish for this man who carried the luster of the Akashic Dragon to display his power by mating with her. Similarly the Envoy felt the need, nay the instinct to dominate and fill her to the brim with his seed. Following that instinct, Akaro picked up the pace. His cock blurred in and out of Artoria's honeypot hundreds if not thousands of times in a split second making the king squeal in absolute, overwhelming ecstasy.

"AH! AHHMMNNGGH!!" she cried out in joy as he rammed his rod all the way inside one last time. The Envoy howled out an orgasmic grunt as a continuous flow of his seed burst inside of Artoria's pussy.

"Ah… Akaro," the King of Knights dropped to her knees and fainted with a satisfied smile as soon as Akaro gently let the petite girl down on her own two feet.

Reaching down from his tall stature to adjust his lady's position so that her back was resting against the nearest wall, the red-eyed male admired the beautiful king's peaceful slumber. However, he also knew that his duties for tonight were nowhere near done. Walking to the door, Akaro opened it automatically by approaching it and walked into the hallway.

"So are you all gonna keep watching or do you plan on joining us already?" he put it bluntly seeing the Knight of Rebellion—Mordred, the former Holy Virgin—Jeanne D'Arc, the unholy twin sister—Jalter and Fran waiting for their time in the spotlight.

In no time at all the blissful moans of the maidens spread across the hallways of Chaldea. This night would surely be a long one.

*****

Year: 4250 A.D., 15th of October

Time: 8:00 A.M.

Location: Dining Hall

The dining room area of Chaldea was organized with several round tables for the various parties to come together and sit in order to partake a meal. However, there was a special set up given the nature of today. The walls had red, black, and white streamers hanging down with blue and gold balloons bound by weights on the center of each table. Furthermore, the surface of the flat, wooden surfaces were set with a variety of plates and forks as well as glassware. At the head of the area along the wall just before entering the kitchen, a massive white banner was being stretched across by Reina's hands that read: Happy Birthday, Raizo Mercer.

It wasn't long before the different groups currently within Chaldea began to file inside the room. All of the Heroic Spirits, the Symphogears and their benefactors, Hikari, Esdeath, Inari, Mercer and the ladies of Team AKARA entered around the same time. As the groups coalesced into the same room, the Sovereign finished hanging the banner and addressed the crowd.

"Feel free to sit wherever you all are most comfortable. There are bowls of punch located on the main table up here, as well as varying dishes for breakfast. Feel free to help yourselves. The festivities shall begin shortly."

As the dark-skinned female finished saying this, the last two individuals missing from the lineup showed up to the party at long last. Akaro, dressed in a casual white T-shirt with a red logo reading 'Buster' on it with blue jeans and Raizo dressed the same way except his said 'Arts' on it whilst wearing black jeans. The two men were visibly exhausted as they seemingly struggled to maintain proper balance upon entering the room. They both had dark circles under their eyes among other small indicators showcasing their lack of rest.

The people in the group were already mingling and having casual conversation while getting small plates to serve themselves to the amenities available; however, small bouts of chatter occurred as the visage of the two brothers entered the area.

"You know...was it me or was it not exactly quiet in the base last night?" Chris asked before taking a sip of fruit punch from her glass.

"Yeah now that you mention it, it does seem like there was a lot of strange high-pitched sounds coupled with strange grunts and what not..." Miku added in turn.

"Maybe someone was trying to make music using only sound effects caused by the voice?" Hibiki proposed.

"No...not like that...not even remotely close," Maria sighed.

"Raizo-sensei and Akaro-senpai are rather exhausted..." Tsubasa noticed as she observed the two gradually make their way to a table together.

"Um...why are some of the women in the room just staring at them periodically and chuckling, desu?" Kirika asked.

"Perhaps they are amused by their demeanor?" Shirabe answered.

"Wait...loud noises...giggling females...and...tired males…then...all of that commotion last night was…" Chris analyzed before her cheeks filled with red that was much like the sweater she had on currently.

"Oh my...that's...quite scandalous," Maria blushed slightly as well.

"Ehhh? I don't understand...with all these women around? They...did things?! My brain trembles desu..." Kirika shut down.

"Lewd beasts..." Shirabe said with a chastising stare.

"With so many present...I could only imagine how much stamina was required for such an endeavor. Truly they are not regular human beings," Tsubasa acknowledged.

"Tsubasa-san...not sure if that is meant to be the point here," Hibiki smiled wryly.

"You say that Hibiki, but we both know that deep down...perhaps you wanted in with Akaro-san..." Miku teased.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Miku...let's not race to such conclusions! That is rather..." the martial artist stammered.

"Of course Akaro would be indulging in such fleshly desires, it is rather typical of him," Esdeath commented whilst overhearing the chatter of the Symphogears and taking a bite of a cheese danish.

"You say this as if you are not jealous over the matter. Trash-chan, would you please stop being so shallow? Or are you just as transparent as the ice you use?" Hikari remarked whilst sipping her tea.

"Now that's a whole new type of smash right there. Get wrecked, Esbitch..." Inari chuckled before taking a look at Adena's face.

The redhead seemed to be glimmering with happiness as her smile radiated brilliantly like the sun in the room. She was laughing cheerfully with Vesta and Kimiko. The Princess of Mercury could not help but to admire her glow for a moment.

"I'm happy for you, yet envious at the same time. You finally got your wish at long last, but with so much competition around...how will you advance forward I wonder?" Inari thought to herself then switched her gaze over towards the boy.

"What exactly is so charming about you? Perhaps there is something you have within that I have yet to see. Maybe my curiosity is piquing after all..."

"I'm glad to see that we've all recovered from mana deficiency," Scathach said with a sly grin upon her face.

"Scathach-san, I would appreciate that you would not address such unscrupulous behavior first thing in the morning. We are attending a celebration, not passing along tales of conquest in the night," Jeanne spoke sternly.

"Tch...for once I'll agree with my holy sister over here...spouting such nonsense out loud; you Celts really have no sense of shame at all," Jalter spat out with disgust.

"Oh my...there is nothing wrong with the charms that we women possess; after all, such acts are the natural zest of life," Shuten-douji commented whilst sipping from her special red cup.

"As a Knight, I do not wish to discuss acts of private affairs in open forum. It would be rather discourteous and inappropriate," Artoria added in.

"I...have nothing either," Mordred casually expressed.

"Oya, oya, ain't nothin' wrong with braggin' about the spoils of a wild ride. That's the beauty of a pillage!" Drake echoed in excitement.

"I collected valuable data samples, I have no reason to complain," Nightingale spoke plainly.

"I reaffirmed the feelings in my heart, I have no room to complain I suppose," Semiramis expressed in a dignified manner sipping watermelon and green apple punch from her personal wine glass.

"I concur...perhaps in a way, Scathach's idea was not so bad," Altera sighed softly.

"Perhaps I should indulge on more time with Raizo-sama before the next big conflict..." Raikou blushed casually.

"Let's not get carried away..." the Wise Queen of Assyria responded.

In the meantime, Mercer walked over towards the table where his longtime friend and his son currently sat. He reached out and patted them both on the back.

"You both had quite the exciting adventures last night. No surprise for you, Akaro. As for you Son, it's best to get used to it. The Mercer DNA runs through your veins after all," the King of Elysium said simply whilst putting two and two together on his own.

"Dude...I feel numb down there...it's been ages since that last happened to me. That was...something else," Akaro expressed whilst raising his head from the table.

"I...don't even know if there's anything there anymore. I'm sore right now," Raizo responded in kind.

"You'll just have to get used to it Son. Now try to pull yourself together a bit, it's your birthday. Let's make it a happy celebration, especially for your Mom's sake," the long-haired man said as he ruffled the boy's heterochromia locks.

Receiving the kind words of his father, Raizo gradually raised his head up and attempted to sit up straight in order to at least make eye contact with some of the party goers. As he did that, the lights within the room dimmed as Akame was seen pushing a wagon with a massive cake atop of it. Her confection was a seven layered red velvet cake with chocolate and vanilla icing drizzled all over it. In addition, there were neon red colored candles that illuminated in the number 20. The special writing along sides of the cake said: Happy 20th Birthday, Raizo Mercer.

"You know the drill everyone, 3...2...1..." Akame counted down before everyone in the room began to sing the usual song for celebrating one's birth.

The cake was wheeled over to Raizo's location. After the song was finished, he was invited to blow out the candles and make a wish. He stood up before the cake and closed his eyes for a brief second.

"I want us all to survive whatever comes next so we can go home together..."

Then he blew out the candles. A wave of applause ensued for a brief moment as the male grabbed the knife from his teacher, Akame, and made the first cut. From there, everyone was told to line up by the chef as slices of cake were passed out to everyone one at a time. Once the attendees had their pieces, they took their seats at the various tables. Reina was the only one left standing as she began to give a speech.

"First and foremost, I would just like to express my heartfelt gratitude that we are able to come together like this in order to celebrate my Master's...apologies, I mean Raizo's birthday. It truly means a lot that all of you brave heroes from different worlds and different time periods can celebrate such a deeply personal occasion such as this. Even in the face of the coming conflict ahead, this moment is what truly matters.

I do not seek to boast about my connection to Raizo, but as many of you may know, I am rather 'new' to the fold of the family that is Team AKARA. Being imprisoned in Purgatory for eons deprived me of having many connections with a tightly knit family. I cannot speak on behalf of those whom share heartfelt moments or cherished memories with the boy in question; however, I can share a testimony of my observations over the past year.

Some of you may know that the name of one of Raizo's weapons is 'Morana', which is named after me. A piece of myself was stored inside so that I could help him along the way in his journey, hence why I address him as 'Master' at times. However, what you all do not realize is that...my astral ghost observed this boy's growth from way before he was able to acknowledge my existence. To say that this boy has changed is an understatement.

He came from a dark past...one full of horrific deeds and details that may give you nightmares; however, he has long since risen from it. He has become a man well on his way to fulfilling the promise he made to the Great All-Mother once upon a time," she expressed whilst wearing a small grin upon her face.

"Master...yes, I am addressing you as such even though you told me not to. You are everything I could ever hope for and then some. You are a testament of change, and an advocate for spiritual growth. You may not believe it, but you have become a beacon that created a tonal shift in the lives of those of whom you touched. You are becoming a way-maker for those lost in the darkness, a light of hope for the hopeless, and a miracle story of what love can do for someone. I could never be prouder, nor happier than I am in this moment to have you in my life. Happy Birthday, Raizo and thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. Though you may not see it yourself, you have become a real hero."

Raizo was moved in that moment, his heart leaping from his chest unsure of what to do with itself. He wanted to cry, but he wanted to smile. He just felt an enormous surge of feelings that silenced his thinking for a moment thus rendering him only able to nod in gratitude.

"Thank you for showing us a way out of our darkness and giving us the foundation to grow, Sensei," Maria stood up with her glass raised in honor of the youth.

"Yeah what she said," Chris smiled before doing the same.

"Yes, desu!" Kirika cheered.

"Raizo-sensei...wholesome one," Shirabe nodded in approval.

"Thank you for helping me see past the narrow minded vision I had of myself," Tsubasa added.

"And giving my fists new purpose!" Hibiki smiled.

"Thank you for giving my heart peace," Semiramis rose whilst offering her salute.

"For giving me life," Raikou nodded.

"For giving me purpose," Altera added in too.

"For giving me support," Nightingale said in kind.

"And me a second chance," Scathach finished.

The other Heroic Spirits rose from their seats and toasted as well.

"Thanks for renewing my faith in family," Adena spoke with gratitude.

"For an opportunity of redemption," Vesta followed.

"For not being a boring kiddo," Inari smirked.

"For being my student," Akame expressed.

"For being you and accepting who you're meant to be," Kimiko smiled softly.

"For being my son," Mercer said.

"And my tsundere lil' bro," Akaro chuckled.

"Guys..." Raizo said with a blush on his face. He could even see Hikari and Esdeath raising a glass in his honor too. Overwhelmed, the speechless one could only afford to do one thing: Smile like he's never smiled before.

*****

It was a long day of celebration for Raizo. He and his family spent most of the day partying. They relished in food, games, and jokes to forget about the hard times and temporarily escape from the atmosphere. It had been a joyous day for a joyful occasion. No one could have asked for anything more. Tales were exchanged, memories were shared, and so on, but the most important thing is that everyone came together peacefully. Surprisingly enough, no one had to endure any hellish training due to the party so it was indeed a day of tranquility.

At some point in time, Raizo passed out during his party thanks to the night he had before. The youth wasn't even sure how or when it happened, but when it did there was nothing anyone could do to wake him up. However, the Sovereign protested on his behalf that he be allowed to rest. The latter half of the evening came and ticked into the early night when the Son of Mercer woke up. The clock on the wall read that it was 9 o'clock at night.

"Damn...I can't believe I passed out like that," he said.

Ruffling his strands of hair, the male arose from his slumber to find himself atop of a soft bed alone inside an unfamiliar room. The space was minimalist in design as it only featured a small nightstand with a lamp on top and a short 3-shelf bookcase on the far side of the room. On the opposite of the compact 10-foot by 7-foot room was a medium-sized rectangular opening for a window that allowed the occupant to view the happenings outside the base. Getting up from the plush surface of the bed, Raizo walked over and stood at the viewpoint whilst watching the snow's blistery wrath assault the icy tundra outside the base.

Seeing the wealth of white flakes cover the already blanketed ground gave him pause. The rapidness of this weather reminded him of all the things he's endured over the course of his life.

"Seeing how fast the snow is falling reminds me of how fast my life has changed..."

Memories began to come at him one after another. The massacre of the Blood Wolves, the undertaking of Indra's Judgment, joining Night Raid, the showdown with the Empire on multiple occasions, the God's Tear which led to the turning point of what he perceived as reality. Then there was the whole fiasco with his involvement with the Revolutionary Army and his botched trial, the incursion of the Sapphire Phoenix and the reunion with his biological mother—Hestia Arashi all of which happening as soon as he turned 19. The showdown with Leviathan, the Pandora Conflict, Shatterpoint, his road to redemption, the Second Primordial War, his unexpected journey throughout the many multiverses leading to the showdown with the Demon Gods, the trip into Purgatory and his resurrection. All of these events and more that dominated his life for the past 5 years, most of said excitement taking place in the last year alone.

"At least I managed to have one joy filled moment of peace right? Haven't had one since the Christmas party...and before that was..." Raizo chuckled to himself before his voice trailed off trying to recall a time where he felt such happiness. Then it came to him.

10 YEARS AGO…

"Just because it's your birthday still doesn't mean I can't kick your ass for your birthday, Raizo," a young silver-haired boy said with a slight hint of chastisement in his voice.

"Just because it is my birthday does not mean I am not opposed to grinding you in the dirt for my own personal pleasure, Aquilo," the birthday boy responded with a deadpan demeanor.

"Oh stop it you two, you should only fight each other when it comes to the heart of a pretty lady….like me for example!" inserted the younger version of Yuki.

"Women can come later, he and I will settle who shall be the one to lead our clan someday! Of course we all know that it'll be me, Aquilo!"

"The fact that you are so obsessive over the mantle being passed as opposed to honing your skills and becoming an instrument to further our clan's goals is proof that you will always be inadequate. Truly a shame..."

"Now, now children, you can have your petty squabbles another time. Today is meant to be a joyous occasion," spoke a mature, elegant voice approaching from behind.

"Mother..." Raizo turned whilst yielding a curt nod.

"Lady Hestia," Aquilo and Yuki said simultaneously before bowing their heads as well.

The woman in the lotus printed, black and red kimono merely smiled warmly before reaching down to grab her child's hand.

"Come along, my son. It is time," she beckoned.

Having a mother's intuition that knew of how far the rivalry between the two boys extended, the woman with the renowned beauty in the clan took her son's hand and led him away from a potentially volatile situation. They traversed the grounds of the encampment until they came upon a small wooden platform placed in the middle of the area where the festivities occurred. As she and her son stood by, she noted how her husband—Raiden—was nowhere to be found. In spite of the need for appearances such as this, she elected to press onward. She looked to one of her guards and gave him a nod before he grabbed a curved, wooden horn and blew into it. This turned everyone's attention towards her.

"My fellow clansmen, I express nothing but heartfelt gratitude to all those in attendance tonight. May the ancestors watch over those whom could not attend tonight's festivities whether they be for personal or business reasons. We gather together tonight to celebrate the birthday of my son, Raizo Arashi, whom today turns 10 years old. Though it is hard to believe that a decade has passed since I've given birth to him, each day has proven itself to be as precious as the next for me as his mother," the woman eloquently expressed receiving applause from the crowd in return. It was then that she turned her child around to face her whilst kneeling down to his eye level.

"My dear son, you have come so far already in your young life. You excel in your studies, your training, and you have already begun carrying out missions perfectly without ever missing your mark. Words cannot begin to express how proud you have made me as your mother nor the honor you have brought to your fellow wolves. May your blade never lose its sharpness. May your resolve never falter. You shall bear the sharpest fangs in our history and lead us to greatness beyond the horizon. You shall instill fear into the hearts of our enemies and make them feel the terror of the shadows. Become the deadliest sword of the night that no one can ever tame."

With that, Hestia concluded her grandiose speech leaving the crowd to cheer in response. After such formalities, the mingling resumed as food and drink was exchanged. Growing annoyed with such trivialities, Raizo casually slipped away through the crowds towards a quieter part of the settlement leading near the woods.

"You know, you really are a delusional brat!" a child's voice echoed out.

"What's up with all that holy nonsense you spew anyway? It's so meaningless," another followed.

"She's just so pathetically weak that she turns to some higher power that doesn't even exist to make up for it," a third one egged on.

"Stop it! Just leave me alone already," a young girl shouted out in protest.

Raizo immediately ran towards the commotion and found three boys gathered around a familiar face with dark blue hair. Wearing her priestess' garb, she was crouched down on the ground covering her head as the three boys tried hitting her.

"What the hell do you think you all are doing?" Raizo questioned with anger as he approached.

"Oh look...it's the birthday boy. Heh, come to save the little liar of the clan?" one of the boys chastised.

"You're supposed to be the best of our generation, surely you don't think some bumpkin spewing about God is fit to be among us right? She should be banished or something!" the second chimed in.

"Nah, let's just make a show of it and stone her till she bleeds...see if her beloved God will come and save her," the third suggested.

"I have a suggestion, why don't the three of you get the hell out of my sight? Like I told one idiot before, I do not mind grinding a few annoyances into the dirt."

"You really think you can take the three of us on? You're just the poster boy of our generation, that doesn't make you the strongest."

"Yeah...all three of us against this shrimp? Besides...no one is around so accidents can happen."

"Yeah, about time someone smacks that smug look off your face."

"All of you talk too much..."

Before any one of them could blink, the child in question tucked low and delivered a decisive blow to the gut of the ring leader. Then he jumped in the air and kicked the one on the left in the chin sending him flying a solid two feet off the ground before landing on his ass. Just as he was about to deliver an equally punishing blow to the third one, Assana stepped in.

"Raizo, don't!" she cried out as she grabbed onto his arm.

The boy's fist was inches away from the face of the third child which sent chill down the spine of the third aggressor. However, the fist was only intimidating because of the eyes of the one throwing the punch. Raizo's gaze was filled with a fury that was unlike any other.

"For her sake...leave..." he commanded.

The third one gulped as he went over to his friends and hurried them to their feet before they retreated from the area. Seeing them scurry off like rats, Raizo exhaled carefully whilst turning to Assana.

"They owe you their lives," he said nonchalantly.

"Is...that so?" she meekly asked.

"Yes, even in the face of adversity, you still manage to show kindness and mercy for your enemies' sake. Though you are the unconventional one with your beliefs, I do not necessarily think that a bad thing. But regardless, are you okay? They did not hurt you, did they?"

"I cannot call myself a member of the clan if I cannot take a punch or two. Besides, they hit like babies so I am fine. Though I appreciate you watching out for me."

"Right...well you are always sticking up for me...so...I guess I just wanted to return the favor for once," the youth responded with a slight break in his voice.

"Hehehe...Raizo, is that a blush I see?" Assana teased playfully.

"What? N-No...assassins do not blush."

"Uh-huh...well I suppose I do owe you a proper thank you. Guess this will have to double over with your birthday present."

"What are you talking..."

Before Raizo could finish his sentence, the girl pressed her delicate lips against his thus giving him his first kiss. Even though they were just children, it was still a genuine declaration of affinity shared between them. Raizo felt a strong thumping in his chest which he could not explain the reason for...yet he was not opposed to it.

PRESENT DAY…

"Such a fond memory...it amazes me how much you impacted my life then. I thought I lost you...then you came back to save our lives on that fateful day against Rias. If only I could see you again, that would make this birthday celebration all the more perfect," Raizo said to himself with a distant tone of voice.

He placed a singular hand on the glass window as he looked down at the floor placing his other hand's fingers to his lips recalling that innocent kiss that day. His heart quivered whilst recalling her warmth and the smile she always gave him. Then something occurred behind him causing him to inadvertently turn to face it. A spiral of blue flames appeared mixed with sparks of black energy as the aura crafted a small twister. A silhouette appeared as the energy faded away. The faint light within the room illuminated the visage of the person.

It was a singular female about as tall as the male in the room. She wore black and white flat shoes, a slimming, and a black nun's dress complete with the headdress over top; the cuffs, collar, and underside of the headdress were painted in immaculate white. Around her neck was a golden chain that had a charm with the familiar shape of a tree with many branches coming from it. The female's cream-colored, smooth skin became visible as she opened her eyes revealing her aqua colored eyes; her dark blue, short cut hair leaking from underneath the head wear. The girl yielded an all too familiar smile at the youth as she stood before him.

"Hello Raizo, long time no see," she spoke.

"A-Assana, it's...really you?" he asked in disbelief, eyes widening with astonishment.

"Of course it's me silly, is this not your prayer being answered?"

Without another word spoken, Raizo instantly rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She anticipated this would happen as she embraced him wholeheartedly. Their hug was a lengthy one that lasted close to a minute, but to them...it was as if the entire length of time that they were apart was sewn back together.

Once they separated, they went to sit down on the foot of the bed together sighing in relief as they shared each other's company once more. There was so much to say that Raizo did not know where to even begin. He wanted to speak, yet his heart was too overcome with emotion to utter a word.

"Take your time, I know you have so much to tell me. I'm here now so just start from wherever you feel most comfortable. I'm not going anywhere," Assana reassured him as she patted him on the leg with a kind smile.

"Right...heh...so much has gone on since we last saw each other...even more so if you take into account the events in my life after I thought I lost you. Guess I should start from there...though it might be easier to just show rather than tell. I wonder if that ability is still possible..."

"Why don't you take my hand and try it?" she invited.

"You...already know?"

"You'd be surprised what I know, but I want to witness it directly from your point of view."

Yielding only a nod, Raizo reached out to her hand and took a deep breath. He wasn't sure if this was going to work out well or not, but he had to try. In that moment, a small wave of his energy wafted from his body. From there, the minds of the two were taken through the Astral Plane. Though the experience seemingly changed, the results were still the same. Raizo began to show Assana his memories via the Transference ability.

From the moment he thought he lost her all the way up to the present day, Raizo shared all that he could about his experiences throughout his life. All of the things he reminisced over was showcased to her as he narrated his feelings over said events. He couldn't afford to hide anything from Assana, he felt like it was impossible to do so. It was almost as if it was a compulsion to do it. From his greatest of triumphs to his worst of failures, every moment that spanned the bridge from the day when life faded away from her in his arms was laid bare. After a few minutes, the sharing stopped and the two were thrust back into their regular consciousness.

"You've gone through a lifetime's worth of struggles over such a short span of time. So many trials and tribulations that would easily break any ordinary person, pushing them to want to embrace death yet here you are. You've come a long way, Raizo," Assana said in a solemn tone.

"Yeah...but you know, it's funny how what you said to me all those years ago came true. I came into a great power, I've experienced insurmountable hardships that have nearly destroyed my soul...literally, and I've come across a multitude of allies. I found a new family, people that I trust with my life which is something I never thought I'd ever do and...yes I've found a truth that has risen above everything I've ever known. You were correct...over everything," Raizo explained.

"Yes...my gift was given to me by Her grace after all," the blue-haired priestess nodded.

"You said before that you already knew a lot about me, but you wanted to know the events of my life from my point of view. What did you mean by that?"

"Well you see Raizo, I was always a follower of the Goddess-Above-All. Honestly, I was born to be her witness and bring news of her to all that would listen. My foresight was my gift from Her. She spoke to me...through me even so nothing was ever up to just chance. You may not realize it, but Akasha has been watching over you for a long time; most likely since you were born. She was always guiding you even though you did not know she was there. She used me as a means to place you on a proper path. That's why when I 'died' in your arms all those years ago...I was just called back to her side. And I was trained by her to become one of her Aspects. When you heard my voice call you, it was not me speaking from Elysium. It was me sending my ghost to you to bolster you. Admittedly, I tried to get you to let go of your anger early; however, you had to walk that path in order to get to where you are today."

"So...you mean...that day with the wolf...you weren't taken to the afterlife?"

"No...though my body was too weak to sustain life, my soul still remained. Before I departed the Earth, that wolf you saw came and saved me thus bringing me to Her."

"I see...but, you said that Akasha was watching over me for so long...as were you, right? So why did I stop hearing your voice?"

"I had to focus on my training...and by that time, Akasha already had others watching over you in her stead. Funnily enough, it is safe to say that she has more eyes on you now than ever before."

"Eh? But...how? That doesn't make sense."

"All of us are her children...all life within her creation are her children. Without giving it away, there are at least five that are either directly or indirectly connected to her at all times even if they do not realize it for themselves."

"Well...one is obviously Kimi-neesama...and of course there's you..."

"Mhm...but let's not spoil it all right now. The answers will be revealed in due time."

"Oh come on...that's only gonna make me more curious," Raizo protested with a slight whine.

"Nope, sorry~" she teased whilst dotting him gently on his nose.

"Fine...guess I'll let it go then..." he pouted a bit whilst folding his arms over his chest.

"Shh, there there," she chuckled before scooting closer to him on the bed then leaning against his shoulder.

Reflexively, Raizo opened his arms back up and wrapped on around her before pulling her closer to him. In response, the girl places a hand against his chest gently rubbing his torso up and down feeling the contours of his body.

"You really have grown up, Raizo…your figure has become molded by your experience," she said as her cheeks reddened a bit.

His crimson eyes glanced down at her as he began to take notice of her subtle curvature showcasing how she's matured into a woman. In spite of the holy garb she was wearing, he could not help but to confess to how much she's developed over time.

"You have too...you're just...absolutely stunning now. In fact...I feel like I'm going to ruin your beauty if I touch you too much," he responded in kind.

Sensing his gaze over her body, she felt herself giving into her desires as she placed her hand on his cheek to get his attention. As she leaned in, she felt her own excitement beginning to stir.

"What if I told you that I wouldn't mind being ruined by your hands? That is...if you do not mind that I test your prowess..."

"I'd tell you that you've kept me waiting long enough..."

The two then came together as they pressed their lips against one another firmly and passionately. Time kept them apart for almost a decade, yet one prayer managed to bring them back together. Nothing else mattered beyond this moment as the two were finally able to let their love fully blossom between the hearts of two young adults.

The heat began to build up between the duo as their kisses lengthened in time, their hands trying to touch each other through their clothes, but the fabrics were in the way. Fortunately they had the bed underneath them to provide support as the flow continued between them. They proceeded to climb onto the bed together at the same time. Raizo pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side before reaching down towards the hem of his pants to undo them as well. At the same time, Assana tossed her headdress away and gently lifted up her necklace before dropping it to the side of the bed inside the garment too.

She looked up to see Raizo's bare skin and his well-defined build that was still developing. In response, Assana slowly licked her lips sensually before she reached over to him. With a small push, she forced him on his back before she reached down and undid his pants for him; in one swift motion, she pulls them away and tosses them to the side. Looking back at him, she could see his lower half and his semi-erect member that was gradually increasing its volume due to the boy's growing arousal.

Assana elected to stand up on the bed's surface over the boy. She reached behind her back as the noise of a zipper being opened echoed. Then she unbuttoned her collar and her cuffs as she dropped the cloth off of her body exposing her visage to him. The red-eyed male gazed at her frame as he saw just how much of an adult she became by her physique. She had sapphire crosses on both deltoids of her arms, crimson stripes that wrapped around the humerus area on opposing sides as well. Then she had golden, halo-like tracings that went up both arms and around her back with a black wolf's head in the middle. She had a few shares of scars as well, three-claw marks on the left side and a gash going down the middle across her breasts. The hardened Aspect's combat experience was clearly conveyed by her uniquely muscular shapes, her abdominal region proved testament to it as they were as tight as if not more so than Adena's. Nevertheless, the toughness of her body still had its elegant feminine charm which did cause the male to become even more aroused as his cock stiffened in response.

"Is that a hidden gun you were packing or are you just that happy to see me?" she smirked in delight as she knelt down on the bed slinking her way over his groin.

"Happy is one way of putting it," he smiled slyly.

She gently took hold of his meat in her hand and began to stroke it while using her other hand to finger herself. As she went to place it in her mouth, he stopped her.

"Wait...I've had enough of that done...I just want to be one with you...for as long as I can," he said.

"Oh? You want to skip the foreplay? Well...it would be a waste of content. Look at you with the smooth confidence."

"Part of growing up, that's all."

They leaned in to yet another close and passionate kiss as their hands explored each other's bodies. Assana's free hand rubbed Raizo's upper torso while the other stroked his meat; Raizo's hands alternated between rubbing her breasts, to caressing her abs, to fingering her womanhood. The heat escalated in temperature between them before they elected to connect. Raizo leaned back as Assana mounted him. She aimed Raizo's shaft to penetrate her as she effortlessly took it down to its base in one go which was much to his surprise. Then again, being an Aspect, who knows what she was physically capable of.

The insides of her vagina gripped Raizo's cock hard as her walls molded itself around his shape. From there, she began to move her hips up and down as she wrapped her arms and legs around the boy's body. Meanwhile, the male's hands supported her hips while also getting a feel of the softness of her ass. As they continued to kiss once more, they moved together in perfect harmony never missing a beat wanting to relish in the feeling of being connected in such a way.

Their intimacy was beyond the definition of passion. It was genuine, mutually shared, and real. They were like two rivers separated by the land destined to meet, but could never touch. In spite of springing from the same ocean, they were stretched out in opposite directions never knowing when they might reunite. That is until the land becomes eroded by the rain, whose all-encompassing bounty joins the heavens with the earth. And as the land is withered away over time, the two rivers converge and reunite flowing together as one strong current back to the ocean again.

Their bodies communicated this as they were synchronized together in their movements never once straying in favor of the desires of one over the other. Assana's hips worked to stroke Raizo's rod intimately, yet the friction of her insides against his shaft was never too much to cause him to climax. Raizo's hips moved in tandem to Assana's, composing harmoniously to hit all of his partner's spots taking care not to cause an over stimulus. They were equals in this dance regardless of their responsibilities as individuals in the greater creation within Akasha's hands.

They changed position from time to time as well. Raizo was on top of Assana working his hips to thrust inside her rhythmically. Then the roles were changed where Assana was riding on top mimicking a calmer stride that was reminiscent of Kimiko's technique. Then they laid side by side and worked together, like two lengthy pieces of rope strung around a pole together. This constant give and take continued for what may been minutes or hours, time became irrelevant for them. Regardless, they reached their climax in unison. Of course, the two of them lost count how many times that point was reached. But in the end, that did not matter. Eventually, they laid together in bed cuddled close together.

"I love you Assana, I never stopped loving you...not once," Raizo professed.

"I know...and I love you too, Raizo. I've longed for you for what felt like a lifetime. Though I cannot make up for the time we lost together, at least we can be together right here and now..." she responded.

"I feel like there's so much more to share with you...so much so that if I don't get it all out, I may never have the chance again."

"There will be a time and place for everything...but do not worry about it. For now, just rest. And...Happy Birthday, my one true love."

"Thank you...truly today has been the greatest gift of my life."

After that...silence wafted over the room as the two drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. That is...until the blue-haired female silently sneaked out of bed. She carefully slipped back on her clothing as she gazed over Raizo's satisfied, peaceful visage. A strong pull on her heart strings urged her to stay by his side, yet she knew she had her duty to fulfill.

"Survive this my love...for we shall meet again. May Akasha's grace never leave you," she uttered before leaning over to give him a kiss on his forehead. With only a smile upon her features, she then vanished in a flash of azure flames leaving the youth to sleep blissfully.