The Tsundere Son of Sparda

Land of Shadows, Dun Scaith.

For the last nine days, James and his peerage were trained harshly. At the same time, for the first four days, Scathach created the seal for Gasper's [Forbidden Balor View]. After the sealing was complete, Gasper was sent back to Gremory Territory in the Underworld to join Rias and the rest of her peerage in training. And for the first time, He was looking forward to it. Gasper was eager to find the limits of his abilities without the hinderance that was Balor.

At the beginning, Scathach, like she did with James when she first took him on as a disciple, sparred with each of them, assessing their abilities in the process. Lucky for them, though, they were not driven to the verge of death at the end of their spars. That seemed to be a privilege that only her official disciples received. Instead, she only pushed them slightly past their limits before letting them rest. James, instead of being on the receiving end, observed how Scathach trained his peerage. And that led to his growth as a [King].

On the training grounds of Dun Scaith Castle, Flora, the most inexperienced combatant in James' peerage, was sparring with Scathach. If the one-sided beating Flora had been taking for the past hour and forty minutes could be called a spar. Meanwhile, Cu Chulainn was in his room, unconscious after his spar, Mizore, Moka, and Lady were also in their rooms resting after their turns.

"Damn." Dante exclaimed with fatigue in his expression. "This is what you and Lancer go through every time you come here to train? This is even more intense than your training sessions."

"Ha ha... You must be kidding." James said while laughing with a hollow gaze. "Have you ever once felt like you were going to die while training with Master, Dante?"

"*Sigh* No, but I've felt like I wanted to more than once." Dante replied with a sigh.

With his gaze growing distant, James replied to Dante's lament. "On most, if not all, occasions that I spar with Master, I would die if she didn't heal me after we were done."

Dante's mouth gaped at the thought. Then, with his voice trembling, he spoke.

"You... You're kidding, right?" James asked, disbelief in his tone. "I mean, can that really be considered training?"

Regaining the light in his eyes, James looked into Dante's and replied.

"Dante, do you remember when we first met?" James asked with a serious look in his eyes.

"Yeah." Dante said with a nod, unsure of where James was going with this. "You, Mizore, and Lancer popped up out of nowhere and put down those exorcists that tried to betray me after I finished a job."

"That's right." James nodded in agreement. "And what was the difference in our power at that time?"

"We were more or less even... If I remember correctly." Dante said while scratching his chin.

"That's pretty accurate." James nodded once again. "You were probably a little stronger in terms of raw power, while I was more skilled with a sword. We were both near the peak of high-rank, though."

Dante, instead of replying, waited for James to continue.

"Soon after that, Lancer and I went off to train with Master for a few weeks to a month or so, right?" James asked, to which Dante nodded. "Then, when I came back, I had broken through to the ultimate-rank. Even Lancer had caught up to you, right?"

Begrudgingly, Dante nodded his head in agreement.

"Master believes that warriors grow the most in life-or-death situations." James explained while shivering. He had remembered one of his more brutal training sessions with Scathach. "I and Lancer are living proof that she's right."

"And you really do this so you can get what you want and protect what you have, huh?" Dante said with a contemplative expression.

"Dante, I've met a lot of people with tragic pasts." James said seriously. "Hell, with the exception of Flora, everyone in my peerage has one. As a [King] it's my responsibility to get the most out of my peerage and make sure you all live a good life. Or do you think I offered you and Lady those terms because I'm a naïve philanthropist?"

Taking a moment to think, Dante replied after a few moments.

"At first, I did." Dante answered honestly. "I mean could you blame me? This fifteen-year-old kid steps in on a fight I could have won. Easily I might add. Then tells me he has a deal for me. Then offers me a salary and tells me he'll sponsor a base of operations for me. What else would I think?"

Nodding his head in understanding, James gestured for Dante to continue.

"Then I realized... Although you delivered on everything you offered, you certainly aren't naïve." Dante said with a wry smile. "You placed my shop in a strategic location. Making sure that I would be able to notice anyone entering the town from the south. When that bastard brother of mine and Arkham wrecked the place, you didn't just fix it up for me. You tied me to your ship with debt."

Dante gritted his teeth just thinking about going into debt before being able to take his first job out of his shop. He then continued to speak.

"On top of that, even though I find it annoying. Like, really annoying." Dante said exasperatedly. "I know you drag me off to train with you because you want the best for me like you do for everyone else."

"Aww, the tsundere Son of sparda is showing his dere side." James said in a teasing tone.

"Who the hell are you calling tsundere?" Dante said in irritation. He then threatened James in the most menacing voice he could muster. "Don't ever call me that again, or I'll kick your ass."

"You're welcome to try." James said with mirth in his tone. "But I think that nickname is here to stay. And when Mizore hears it, she'll run it into the ground."

Then James atmosphere changed, before he continued.

"And if you try to hurt her when she inevitably uses it." James said while staring into Dante's eyes. "I'll make you wish you were training with Master Scathach again, while keeping you alive."

Dante knew that James was not kidding this time. And to be honest, he respected him for it. Being willing to do anything for those you consider important is commendable. At least by Dante's standards. Either way, Dante could only nod his head in acknowledgement. Even if he would never admit it to anyone, he has begun to see himself as a part of this team that James put together.

Seeing Dante nod in understanding, James swapped back to his easy-going demeanor.

"So, how did you end up in worse debt than before." James asked curiously.

"Well." Dante said while scratching the back of his head. "I tend to lose sight of the things around me when I'm enjoying a devil hunt. So, I usually cause more collateral damage than the job is worth."

Nodding sagely, James replied.

"I see, well then you should keep this in mind." James said solemnly. "I'll be sending you to train with Master every time it happens in the future. Oh, and don't worry. I'll commission it as a job, so you don't lose out on time to work. You should thank me, I swear, my kindness is boundless."

Dante managed to deadpan and shuddered simultaneously at James' threat, or rather penalty.

"You... You're not serious, right?" Dante asked with pleading in his tone. "I mean, we wouldn't want to disturb Master Scathach, right?"

At that moment, Scathach's authoritative voice could be heard.

"You need not worry, Son of Sparda." Scathach said while carrying Flora over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "There is nothing this Scathach finds more enjoyable than bringing her disciples to the peak of their potential."

"Huh? Wait, but I'm not your disciple." Dante said with a jump after hearing Scathach speak so unexpectedly.

"True that may be." Scathach said with a nod, continuing shortly after. "You are, however, a part of my disciple's strength. Therefore, you must be held to a certain standard."

Hearing Scathach's words, Dante's shuddering intensified. At the same time, James took Flora from Scathach, holding her in a princess' carry.

"So, Master, how did she do." James asked while looking at the unconscious Flora tenderly.

"Quite well." Scathach said with a nod. "Considering she was but a normal human four or so months ago. I am sure you have realized this, but you need to work on her energy control. Also, a pair of enchanted gauntlets and grieves, preferably enchanted with an element, would be suitable weapons for this girl."

"Understood, Master." James said seriously. "Then, if you'd excuse me, I'll take Flora to her quarters."

"Go on." Scathach said with a nod. "Once the rest have regained some strength, or regained consciousness in Setanta's case, your final spar for this visit shall begin. I think it would do your peerage well to see their [King] fight at his full strength."

"Ha ha... This sucks." James said weakly while hanging his head. "Master, you know most of the girls in my peerage are my women, right? Do you have to let them see me getting my ass kicked?"

Both Scathach and Dante chuckled at James' lamentations.

"Do not let your pride get in the way of the growth of your charges." Scathach said scoldingly. "Besides if those girls are truly your women as you say. I am sure they would like to know the heights they would have to reach in order to stand by your side. Or would you disagree."

"I'm a half-devil, Pride kinda comes with the territory." James muttered to himself. "Besides, will they really be able to see what I'm capable of? Or will they just see you beating me like I stole something?"

Chuckling at her disciple's diction, Scathach replied with a slight smile.

"I've witnessed your improvements over the past week of sparring." Scathach said while reaching up to rub James' head. "As long as you put forth everything you have, you are capable of fighting on par with this Scathach for a short while. I am looking forward to the day you surpass the original Setanta in skill and ability."

James blushed upon hearing Scathach's complement. Not to say that James is easily embarrassed, as he has proven numerous times. Instead, her compliment in combination with the pat on the head was something she did when he was several years younger.

"Master, please stop." James said with his head lowered. "Don't treat me like a kid."

"Compared to this Scathach, you would be but a 'kid,' as you say, for the next few centuries." Scathach said with a joyous smile.

Seeing one of Scathach's rare genuine smiles, James and Dante, both found themselves staring in a daze. Scathach's beauty was otherworldly. That was a fact that no one would deny. However, because of her long life, there are few things that can make her smile from the heart anymore. James and Dante could be considered exceedingly lucky to witness one of those smiles. Noticing the dazed expressions, Scathach flicked James on the forehead. Then grabbed Dante by his trench coat and flung him into the sparring field.

"Now, take the girl inside to rest." Scathach ordered. "In the meantime, I shall do what I can to whip the Son of Sparda into shape."

"Yes, Master." James replied while rubbing the spot where he was flicked. He then turned away. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"What's with the extreme difference in treatment?" Dante shouted after picking himself up from the ground.

"That is quite simple." Scathach said. Readying her cursed spear, she walked toward Dante who had also drawn rebellion. "You are not one of my disciples, as you stated earlier."

Dante winced at Scathach's rebuttal. It is never pleasant to have your own words used against you, after all. At the same time, James was making his way through the castle with Flora in his arms. Several moments later, Dante's painfilled exclamations echoed through the corridors of Dun Scaith. James, however, was lost in his thoughts and was unable to hear them.

'That smile was absolutely stunning.' James thought to himself in silence. 'One day, and if my estimates are correct, soon I'll be able to give you more reasons to smile from the heart like that.'

What no one knows, however, is that James has been wearing magic circles Scathach designed to always suppress his power by two levels since he first started training with her. So, even though he shows power at the peak of the initial-level of the ultimate-rank, even Scathach is unsure what heights he would be able to reach once those restraints are released.