Chapter 4

Trust in Steel and Mars.

Thursday morning was off to an incredibly strong start with more weight lifting and more anvil practice. I made more bolter rounds and another practice chair so that I could get the basic stuff down for the reader. Making that chair made me imagine just what we will find in the dark age of technology stuff. Hell, we might could be extremely disgusting and pull from other realities, too. The sheer number of them with very broken things excited me and Koriel. We could have an unlimited amount of knowledge that can be innovatived on forever. Oh, if there are Eldar here, we can steal their technology and then fuck over the bastard elves!

My moment of evil laughing broke when I got a text from Issari around noon asking if I'm free to run in the evening. I responded with a yes as of now because I need to get the teleportation machines ready for the new base. This weekend, I was going on a stray hunt. I will see if I can get more information about the underworld and confirm if the world is truly grimdark or not. I'm leaning more towards yes, it is, and that might have horrible things to say about Rias. I had also checked what my perpetual gene strength could be at.

It involved pain and a lost finger using a chainsword. Despite the loss and blood my finger came back after a minute and the blood flow stopped after a half minute. I prepared myself to do more experiments there to test how strongly I had made the serum and if perhaps we could improve it further. I had been picturing John Gramaticus and Vulkan when I made the serum, and I eventually do want to get it to Emperor strength. I tossed my prior finger into an atomizer to keep the finger from rotting before heading up the stairs.

I did my early morning run, and then I checked out the temple exterior again to make sure it was safe. I see multiple exits and mentally mark them. Midway through the search of the exterior, I think I feel something watching me, and I look around to perhaps see what it is. There is nothing obvious, and I look harder. Before, I saw a small flash of orange among the bushes near the ground, and I narrowed my eyes toward it. It was so fast that I didn't know if it was real or not, and better safe than sorry.

The approach toward the orange was made, and I watched more intensely. The orange didn't flare again but I hear a small yip. The yip was dampened by the bushes, and I asked for the general direction of the noise.

"Are you spying on me, little fox?"

The noise quiets down with no response. I, however, don't buy the pretense that this possible youkai is putting up.

"I know that there is the other side. If you are from there, you have nothing to fear from me as long as you don't try anything funny."

There was no response again, but I saw out of the corner of my right eye another flash of orange. I turned towards it slowly so as not to spook it and then see the flash for a third time. The fox is definitely watching me, confirming my suspicions of a very likely Youkai. I made my way into the temple and made the offer I had been thinking up.

"I'm willing to talk to you. Inside the temple if that is good enough for you. I really am not hostile but the choice is yours."

I enter the temple past the rotting doors and then sit in the courtyard facing the door. I don't see anything enter behind me before there is a small noise. I look to the right near the entrance of the temple proper, and it's then I see my potential stalker.

Standing there near the doorway is a young woman who looks like she is in her early twenties. She is wearing a traditional white and gold dress, and her hair is blonde-orange. She does have two tails out, and they swing lazily around before her eyes of green focused on me intensely. She doesn't move towards me and we just gaze at one another in clear suspicion. She studied me with meticulously detailed looks as I do the same. We spend a minute watching the other before the woman speaks to me.

"You're extremely confident for a mere human. Usually, your kind doesn't openly challenge those like me out."

Her voice was a titillating of bells, and she was incredibly watchful of my response. I let loose a small smile that was relaxed.

"There are worse things out there than you."

The fox woman doesn't know what to say to that. Her head tilted to the left, still watching me before a sneer forms.

"Are you implying that I am weak human? I'm much stronger than you and can kill you easily."

The threat was clear, but I don't back down.

"You probably could, and I'm not implying anything just stating a fact. You have the luxury of being stronger than regular humans. I have to climb up past them to possibly face things like you."

That seemed to make her blink in surprise before she had the sneer lessen slightly. She moved from the door to the other side of the courtyard. Her forest green eyes never left my red ones. She sat across the way from me on the bricks, and then we watched each other again for a few seconds before she spoke again.

"You are indeed strange like I was informed of. However, you are not the total enigma I was told of by my lady, who asked me to investigate. How do you know of the hidden side?"

I smiled and then raised an eyebrow. She was more confused. I finally replied with an amused tone.

"It's in the family, but I only recently learned about it. May I have the right to know your name? I'm Gregor."

The fox woman kept looking at me.

"I see. Since you seem to have manners, human, I'll show them in return. I am Himura cousin to Lady Yasaka of Kyoto. She is the Champion of the Shinto. You are brave human to enter one of their temples and attempt to use it as one of your own. This temple is not up for whatever use you want."

She was extremely arrogant making me get a small sneer.

"Even if I seek to use this temple to hide from the devils?"

Himura is barely hiding her now-revealed disdain and dislike for me. Her eyes narrowed on mine.

"Even then. I'm surprised a human is against them as your kind usually jumps at the opportunity for more power and the opportunities that becoming one brings."

I shrugged.

"There is power that way, but it might come with chains. No power is free, and I am not sure if I'd trust something called a devil. I expect devils to be like their creator in the Morning Star who was the greatest of liars if the tales of him are real."

Himura eyed me critically before a ghost smile entered her face.

"So, I have found a human who thinks deeper. A true rarity. Devils are not trustworthy sources of information. They feed their sins openly and often. Some in productive ways, but many in nonproductive ones."

I raised an eyebrow.

"No one is a trustworthy source of information. We all have biases and agendas hidden away. I'm sure a devil would say the same thing of Youkai."

Himura, lost the smile before showing her white teeth, and very pointed incisors

.

"A scholar too, but one who is young. You are correct, human they would say the same of me. Yet my kind doesn't hurt humans as much as they do. My lady tries to protect even things like you. A waste of time, in my own opinion. You humans burn everything you touch, but Lady Yasaka speaks for the youkai, and we obey. You're still not welcome to use this temple for your own use."

I shrugged as I was not able to fight her yet. I'll look for another place. I don't want to be making a possible enemy of Yasaka.

"Very well. I accept the order, but there will come a time when you Youkai won't be stronger than humans."

Himura grew still before her smile turned feral.

"Brave words from a human who is at the bottom where your kind has been for several thousand years. Nothing will change that even the Biblical God can't do that, and he loves you things. Be wary, human because we are not shadows of the past like they teach in the schools, but I'd expect nothing less from one who comes from them."

I raised my eyebrows as Himura continued arrogantly.

"You're a human who will eventually learn the lesson all of your kind learn. That we are above you and you're nothing in comparison to us. Now get out and don't return or I will hang you on the door of this temple."

I nodded gruffly.

"I won't return. Good day."

I got up and watched her again before making my way out. Himura is a youkai extremist and I don't want to test her now. She has earned a possible foe in me and should she ever cross me as the Warrior of Mars I will kill her easily. I'm going to make extremists like her eat my shorts, but her words make me think that maybe there is more to my mom. She said them and there is only one them that youkai hate more than devils.

The Five Principle Clans. Yet why would my dad, a possible devil, and a human woman from the clans get together? The clans hate such unions having killed Akeno's mom and then tried to brutally murder her daughter. I froze outside the temple on the sidewalk as a thought crossed me. Was the crash a real one or one designed to kill Alex and the rest of the family? That thought made me prepare to hurry home to see if I find out why Alex hated his grandparents.

I take one more look at the temple, and I see the fox is back on the temple steps watching me with barely concealed hate. It growled again in warning as I say to it again.

"I will never be scared of you or them again."

I then began to jog away without looking back.

I spent the rest of the morning looking for a second base and didn't find anything that was potentially as good as the temple. The only one that had a hint of being good was an old subway station entrance. I didn't want to go inside unless I had a weapon as it could be a stray nest. On the way home and into my house I planned a possible hunt before the immediate problem arose again.

I don't want to be related to the clans. They are usually depicted as solely xenophobic and extremely hostile. Some members of them are good people like Suzaku and Tobio, but they usually are antagonistic. I frown again, thinking something. That can't be it, can it? I think I remember something about Suzaku, but I can't remember it all the way. It was a distinct feature of hers, and no, it was not her chest. I can't remember what it was, and it's bothering me. I think I need to devote more of today to searching for information on my mom. When I got to my room after I quickly jogged home, I searched for the box and then picked it clean of everything yet couldn't find my mom's last name. I reread through the diary, and when that didn't turn up a hint either, I looked up my birth certificate. I don't see my dad's name either. I am very confused and a bit more cautious, but finally, I find something, and that makes me freeze because I was correct. It was a series of photos hidden in a very small book at the very bottom of the box.

It was a picture of a birthday party, and I saw faces that were not good. One is Akeno who is cute as a kid with her long black hair. The other is Suzaku who has the same eyes as me. My dad and mom are watching me blow out the candles on the cake, and my mom is talking with Shuri Himejima. Baraqiel is glaring at my dad, and my dad is looking at the fallen in amusement out of the corner of his eye. That means my dad is very likely a devil.

Machine God damnit. Akeno is my cousin, as is Suzaku. I now perhaps have a hint of why Alex hated his grandparents. The Himejima are bastards, and they might have tried to off Alex. If they learn of me, they might try again if Suzaku doesn't take control. Koriel is a bit amused.

"Your family sucks."

I snark back.

"Fuck you, sis they are your family, too, now."

Koriel is just amused.

"I'd turn them into servitors and make them be useful. It's funny because your cousin is a Dark Eldar girl. You are the only sane one in the family so far."

I shiver at Akeno and her fetishes before I shiver again, wondering if Alex's dad and mom were like that too. Koriel continued to be amused.

"You should stop hoping for a normal family they are very rarely real."

"I hate this universe."

Koriel keeps being amused but sighs in agreement. We continue to investigate the Himejima, and I finally get the full confirmation. Alex's mom was Nomie Himejima with her listed sisters being Shuri Himejima and Sakane Himejima. Akeno is going to hate me and I don't blame her. I'd hate me too if I was her. Our family are bastards, and I don't want to get to know them. Akeno, if she doesn't hate me, will possibly, upon learning of me, try to get Rias to 'save me' from them by trying to get me made into a devil.

Fuck, dude more problems and or people trying to kill me. I finally found the reason Alex fought to stay free. On a small note, the reason was written clear as day. He was beaten by his grandfather while his grandmother held him down, to as he said drive the evil from his body. Suzaku had found that out and stopped it immediately. This led Alex's parents to leave the country for the United States. That horrified me more because Alex said that his biggest regret from that was leaving Akeno behind. They had been extremely close and implied that they tried that on her, too, but that Suzaku stopped that again. That my grandfather was high in the ranks of the Himejima was horrible.

Oh, Machine God they might have actually tried to kill him and his family. I feel horrible for Akeno. I'm not her cousin and I don't know how I would connect with her if I knew nothing of their history. This explains why she had looked at me more closely yesterday.

This just tells me the world is not going to be lighthearted. This and Himura make me mad for Akeno and Alex who had wanted to find Akeno again. He was hesitant about ever getting close to the Himejima again and probably didn't know they tried to kill her. He was so determined to find his Keno. I felt my heart break when I found a small picture of him and her on the back of one of the photos. It reminds me again that I took his body and am using his money and home. Koriel stayed silent before she softly spoke.

"Don't do this. It's a weakness of the flesh. Be the machine and deny this. Don't attempt to build anything that will just hurt her more."

That makes sense yet I picture Akeno, who has not had family in over a decade and hates her dad because she believes he doesn't care. But she might know something the name of Alex's dad. Everything I'm seeing is pointing me toward one family and a possible candidate. I don't want that either, but she might be the key to the puzzle and the last piece.

"I might have to. She is real and not a fan service character or a fantasy for people. Can we truly not try this if it has the possibility of my dad's name and possible survival? She might have answers that we need badly."

"But you would be living even more of a lie. You would be leading her on pretending to be him but never truly him. How can you explain that to her? Or how are you going to change reality? You are in direct conflict with her king and herself in many ways. How can you justify that?"

"I can't, but we might have to lie. We might have to do this because I don't want to be related to him."

Koriel is silent before playing devil's advocate again.

"He might be your family. You're right. She might be the key."

I nodded sadly. Alex got screwed heavily. I now understand why there was a scar that had been near his right shoulder blade. It was fading thanks to being a perpetual, but it had been deep. I finally answered.

"I will not seek her out openly, but should we truly meet, I will claim I have extreme memory loss. The best lies are half-truths."

Koriel sighed at the plan. Despite the revelation we need to get back to work with weightlifting and then go to visit the dojo again. I'm beyond pissed for Alex and Akeno with that continuing through the weights and on the walk to the dojo.

When I entered the dojo, I saw Ohashi helping out Murayama with several stances. Katase was not here, apparently so I softly approach the two and wait till they are done with their work. Murayama caught a glimpse of me and brightened before a slight blush appeared. Ohashi caught the look turning my way.

"Gregor-san I apologize for not welcoming you. My niece was explaining to me a new style she wants to try."

A look at the two closer together shows me the similarities.

"It's ok, Ohashi-sensei. I didn't want to disturb you or Murayama-san. I would like to spar with Murayama-san if she would be agreeable to that. If not, I can practice against a dummy."

Murayama brightened even further.

"I would be happy to spar with you, Gregor-san. Can you give me ten minutes?"

I nodded slowly.

"I can thank you Murayama-san."

Murayama went to her bag that was resting on a bench outside the dueling ring and grabbed water. Ohashi looked at me and studied me critically. His face was still ice cold. He, however, prepared to watch more. He handed me the wooden sword that he had been using to show Murayama stances. I took it and began my warmups. Ohashi watched with interest. He didn't say anything about the moves and was just learning the movements himself. I unconsciously started to fall into my sword paths. Ohashi did finally comment.

"Your style would benefit more from a rapier, but the fact you make it work with the current swords shows you adapt fast. Have you held a sword before yesterday, Gregor-san?"

I fell out of the stance that was my finisher.

"No, but I was very interested in swordwork for a long time. I am, other than that, completely new to swords."

Ohashi studied me again. His eyes are not leaving my face.

"Your determination to learn is admirable. I think you have the potential to be a good swordsman. Possibly better than many of my students. I am willing to sponsor you for Kuoh Academy if you impress me enough. The kendo teacher is an old friend of mine, and she is interested in what she has heard about you so far."

I surprised him when I replied.

"I plan to be an engineer, Ohashi-sensei. I appreciate the opportunity but will let my grades speak for themselves. If the kendo club does decide to recruit me, I'd be happy to join."

Ohashi actually smiles there.

"A dedicated person indeed. I will be watching you with interest, Gregor-san. Many would jump for a free recommendation to the best school in the city. You want to earn your way up. You are going places with an attitude like that."

I smile before replying.

"To Mars and beyond."

The man chuckled good-naturedly.

"Perhaps you will. It's nice to see a dreamer exists under stoicism."

I prepared to reply, but Murayama coughed gently to get my attention. She is ready to fight. Her eyes wandered over me slightly perversely, and I shook my head. I might have found Issari a second friend. Ohashi just raised an eyebrow at his niece, making her blush more. Before, we assumed stances on opposite sides of the circle.

After two hours of spars with two fifteen-minute breaks in the middle, I am impressed with Murayama. She and I come out equally in wins and losses before the final match sees her victory due to her experience over me. Murayama didn't gloat about the final victory having enjoyed the fights immensely, as I had. She was now looking at me with more interest and a bit more lust. She controlled herself well. Ohashi had left halfway through to help a family that had entered the dojo.

Murayama smiled wolf-like at winning.

"That was incredibly fun, Gregor-san. You could be an extremely good swordsman if you keep going down this path."

I smile before bowing to her in defeat.

"I enjoyed the spars too, Murayama-san. You're extremely good as well and I learned much from these matches."

Murayama smiled gently there.

"Your friend from yesterday was strange. What is her name?"

I cracked my back and replied.

"Her name is Issari."

Murayama frowned upon hearing that name.

"I have heard that name before though I don't remember from where. My friend didn't like her at all. She said that she needs to be watched and possibly isolated."

I frowned now.

"Did she say why?"

Murayama kept thinking over the name. Before, her eyes widened in recognition.

"That's the infamous pervert!"

She now watched me warily as I spoke up softly.

"She doesn't peep, and I'm guessing that is the reason Katase-san doesn't like her."

Murayama looked at me in betrayal and a bit hurt.

"Yes. Katase said that she heard that your friend put cams in a bathroom in one of the schools."

I grew grim as it means that the scouter or the bald kid has been spreading that. I repeat my statement.

"She doesn't peep, and that was someone else who is probably spreading that rumor. Issari-chan is not a bad person, nor am I. I'm not a pervert. Have I tried to be that when we fought?"

Murayama looked at me as her face softened.

"You didn't but you would be better off leaving her behind. Even if she is telling the truth, she is a pervert. You seem nice and not bad in any way."

I don't like that returned image of Issari alone on that bench wondering if I lied to her.

"We each have flaws, Murayama-san. Do we judge each other based only on rumors and hearsay or do we judge people based on what might be beneath the mask we put up to the world? Issari-chan is not a bad person just open about what she wants. I don't judge her for that. If she does peep, I'm not helping her yet she seems to want to be better. Can you blame me or her for that?"

Murayama looked down in a bit of shame. Ohashi surprised both of us by speaking up having snuck into the area while we were talking.

"The girl is a pervert, but she isn't the one who did that Murayama. I know this because it's an open secret in this half of the city that the true one who did the cams was a boy not a girl. Gregor-san is welcome to keep coming back, as is the girl. I assume you watch her closely, Gregor-san?"

Murayama looks down more at the dressing down by her uncle. I don't gang up on Murayama.

"I do, Ohashi-sensei. The one who planted the cams has powerful connections and is why they got away with it. I will make Issari-chan follow her promise to me to stay straight. If my presence and hers bothers you and your friend Murayama-san that much, we will leave."

Ohashi doesn't support either side. Murayama looked so torn, she softly asked.

"You really mean that?"

I nodded sadly.

"I do. I understand that her reputation will follow her. I accept it will taint me too, but I will not leave someone behind who has tried many different ways to make friends and, each time, been screwed over by people pretending to care. I do care which is why I will leave if it bothers you both that much."

Murayama is clearly hurt and relieved by that admission. I bow to Ohashi-sensei who looked more impressed at me. I prepared to leave the building and was now at the door.

"Thanks for letting us be here yesterday, Ohashi-sensei. I understand and appreciate the help you gave Issari-chan. We will not cause problems for you."

Ohashi acknowledged the thanks and the acknowledgment that we might cause problems for him.

"You are, like I said, welcome to keep coming here. You're an interesting man, Gregor-san."

Murayama doesn't say anything for a second before she said in a small voice.

"I will try with her. If she peeps on me, I will crack my sword on her head. I will talk to Katase. I really enjoyed our spars, Gregor-san."

I stopped from leaving.

"I'll help you with that. I enjoyed our spars as well, Murayama-san. I know it's an uphill battle for Issari-chan, but I will fight it."

Murayama looks at me with new eyes that have the beginning of hearts.

"You're a good person, Gregor-san. Please don't leave because of me. I have learned much about you in those fights. You do things for a good reason with every move calculated and no movement is unnecessary. I will have faith in you and, to a degree, her. She did seem nice. Just."

I smiled a bit and teased.

"Focused. Yes, she does that. It can apply to many things. She learns fast when encouraged correctly."

Ohashi speaks up there.

"She does learn fast. Given enough time and experience, she could be almost as good as you, Mura. I will throw her out if she does attempt anything as I will with Gregor-san. Yet I see two young people who are interested in learning. Teaching is and will always be my passion. We, doing that, should set aside preconceived assumptions about people. I immediately saw she was a pervert, but she was truly interested. I have followed that story closely and what little information there is supports what I heard from Gregor-san. I suspect that the real problem is indeed well-connected because the incident was covered up fast. The girl's father tried to reopen the case and that is not something most people would do. I know Gorou Hoyoudou and the man is a pillar of the community and is why I am giving you a chance. Katase-san is an excellent swordswoman, but she listens to too much gossip. Research is better than blind hearsay."

Murayama blushed as I offer her something.

"Try asking Issari-chan next time you see her. She is very talkative once you get her going. We are all biased yet she hasn't lied to me yet."

Murayama smiled more there.

"I will try that. I. I can relate. Katase is my best friend. You two seem like that."

I chuckled there.

"Possibly one day. Would you like to spar more Murayama-san? I have a few more hours before I need to go home."

Murayama nodded eagerly before remembering something.

"I can't today. My dad is getting my brother from his friend's place, and then we are going out to eat. I'm sorry, Gregor-san. I would like to keep sparring with you."

I smiled, understanding.

"Family is important. Perhaps this weekend?"

Murayama nodded more at the suggestion.

"I will be here Saturday around 1 pm. I would like to fight someone who seems to be close to my level. Katase always destroys me before I even get a chance. She is, however, interested in sparring with you. She said that she would be interested in perhaps letting you join the kendo club if you get in."

I take the challenge.

"I will. Thank you again for the spars, Murayama-san."

I bow again before I catch Murayama asking her uncle something as I leave. On the way headed towards my home, I don't see devils, thankfully. I don't know if I can face Akeno today. I mentally prepare a story for her should she try to initiate something. I don't think she will, but with everything, it's better to be prepared. I just don't like the images of her hiding her pain behind that teasing smile that isn't even real.

The shower was a big depresso expresso before getting ready to head to the park to meet Issari. I hope that her day has been better than mine. Because getting threatened by a bitch fox, learning your family tree, and then, most of all, being denied a safe haven from the devils hurts. I thought the Shinto had been alright with me, but that just makes me dislike them more. Himura is a bitch, and I will enjoy making her scream. Yes, she is Yasaka's cousin, but there seems to be tension there. Maybe I can get my revenge on Himura if she is helping in the Chaos Brigade coup this year. Oh, I want to gut that bitch and make her see my face. Knowing she a mighty 'superior' Youkai dying to a human. Oh, that feeling is wonderful, and I get the Hero Faction more than ever.

They have a goal I can understand. Yet the Hero Faction are bastards because they do brainwash people and send people into fights that either get them balance break or death. They are probably grimdark here, but perhaps I will help them because they are the only ones who try for us humans. Yeah, they are curs but sometimes you have to be that, and the world might need that.

Koriel likes the Hero Faction, given what I have shared with her on them.

"They understand sacrificing things to win. They are using what they have access to in order to fight things that are disgusting. They are like this Imperial Guard you admire. They just don't pretend to play nice and eventually you will have to accept that."

"I know. I can't ever kill that part of me completely. I don't agree with them, but their goal is a noble one it just might be horribly perverted into true evil like Chaos. Those fucks burn everything they touch and make us suffer for their amusement. They promise freedom to you but enslave you to them and make you dance like a monkey. The Imperium was horrible, however they don't lie to you about that or hide it much. You might be a slave in the forges and smothered by religious indoctrination, but you don't cause billions to suffer worse fates till you try summoning a daemon, and then the Inquisition has to nuke the whole planet to stop the spread."

Koriel was also a big fan of the Inquisition as they were truthfully the ones keeping the Imperium functioning enough to not totally fall apart. They were vilified for that yet stopped trillions of cults, Xeno plots and other threats from destroying the Imperium. They were also utter bastards, but they were the watchmen who did that without complaining most of the time. Even Kryptman was right. The cordon stopped the Tyranids from spreading so fast to Terra that the Imperium would have been destroyed in decades rather than centuries. He, however, also prepared the seeds for the total destruction of the galaxy with the Orks' and Nids' showdown in Octarius. I have my sadness heightened because there are places like that that are real.

I kept the depresso espresso going strong as I entered the park. I hadn't seen Issari yet, so I began to do warmups near the fountain. Not many people are here tonight so I am surprised when I hear a small cough near me. I look behind me, and my eyes widen, seeing who made the noise.

It's Rias. She was wearing a summer dress and was extremely pretty. Rias smiled pleasantly, and her eyes looked me up and down in interest. She kept looking at me, probably trying to find possible gear. She seems to finally find something that she is looking for.

"Hello. I noticed you doing warmups for exercise. I'm interested in eventually getting more into that. I'm Rias Gremory."

Someone spotted me it was pobably Sona or Akeno. I, however, don't run like I want to instead replying.

"I was. It's nice to meet you, Rias-san. I am curious about something, however."

Rias is a good actress. She doesn't back down when I fully turn my suspicion on her. She instead looked me up and down. Not perverted but in something else.

"What are you curious about?"

I watched her more than ever, and people are still moving around us and seem to be real. No noise-canceling bubbles. No people acting weird. I simply ask her.

"Do you go up to complete strangers and ask them things often?"

Rias frowned a bit before she returned to that pleasant smile extremely fast.

"I don't, but my best friend is nervous about talking to you. She saw you yesterday, and you caught her attention. I apologize if this seems strange."

Fuck it was Akeno.

"I understand, but it's still strange. You have to agree."

Rias nodded in understanding.

"It is. I get the attitude, sir. I only did this because she swears she has seen you before."

Rias is cunning with this.

"I don't recall seeing anyone who was familiar to me. I apologize if I seem rude, but this is weird."

Rias doesn't break the act.

"I understand. It's been a rough week for my friend. She has been having trouble with family, and she has been making my week not fun. I'll let you go. I'm truly sorry."

Sure you are Rias. I don't like you doing this and I hate that you're my preferred type. That hair is so good.

"I understand that. I have had an interesting day, too. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to get ready for my run."

Rias smiled a real smile before she nodded her head with her hair swinging a bit into her face. She is playing up her nature and her looks thinking I'm a horny boy with nothing better to do.

"I'm sorry again. I'll let you go. Have a good night, sir."

She then did a very well-practiced turn and glided out of the center of the park. Right to an exit where Akeno is watching me intensely. I don't catch Akeno's eye, but as soon as Rias gets to her, she squints at me again. She broke the mask, and I don't like that look at all. It's a broken woman who probably thinks I was her childhood friend and cousin. I'm not Alex. Maybe Rias used this to get an extremely close look at me. That's especially cruel if she thinks I have gear. I don't like Rias more if that is the case. The two leave the park with Akeno looking at me wistfully. She will probably try to follow me around more.

Issari showed up after the two left. She was her knucklehead self and beaming broadly. She was wearing a form-fitting brown shirt and jogging pants. She saw my frown. That dimmed her smile. She has courage because she doesn't hesitate.

"Rough day?"

I watch Akeno's back slowly moving away feeling horrible for her and Alex. Issari didn't catch the exchange, but the silence was enough of an answer.

"I'm sorry, Gregor-kun. I didn't mean."

I looked at her face and reassured her.

"It's not you, Issari-chan. Today has been a not-great day. I do have something that might make you happier."

Issari blinked.

"What's that?"

I smile a very soft smile.

"You might have a possible new friend. However, they do know your history having figured it out and your former friends in the duo are bastards."

Issari beamed so hard at a possible new friend but got extremely concerned when she learned the rest. We started jogging around the park. Issari asked me the question.

"This person knows and is giving me a chance? Why are they bastards other than their normal stuff?"

We jogged while I kept watch for Akeno convinced this was round one.

"They have probably been spreading a very bad rumor about you. The pink-haired swordswoman doesn't like you because of said rumor that you're the one who put the cameras in the restroom."

Issari widened her brown eyes, horrified before I made it better.

"Ohashi-sensei knew you straight off the bat but he has told me we are both still welcome at the dojo. He did defend you to the other one from yesterday. He wants you to know that if you peep in any way, you and I will be thrown out immediately. The other one is giving you a chance like I did. Prove her and the one with a stick up her ass wrong."

Issari was silent for a bit as things seemed to fall into place for her.

"Things make sense now. That fucker, if he did that along with his friend, is going to get more hurt than ever before. I want the harem, but that's second now to vengeance against them. I'll help you beat them black and blue if they really have been doing that. Teach me the style entirely. I want them to suffer if they have been making it harder for me."

I smirked, thinking of Himura suffering along with Himejime while Issari was thinking of the size scouter. Koriel joined in this by thinking of the spiteful way she gets her dream against the Mechanicus of her reality. We three feed each other before I promised her a style that was extremely brutal used by the World Eaters.

"The style I will teach you is very aggressive. You are a knucklehead, so it will work. You get that one part that I can't do to another man because it makes me wince."

Issari nodded her head.

"I heard that it's extremely painful like with us, and my favorite part. Teach me to go full out on them. The bald one is not terrible and is just a hanger-on. Matsuda was uncomfortable sometimes when we were together."

I noted that down and caught a hint of long black hair behind us following at a safe distance. I was right Akeno is that desperate. I prepare for the encounter not ready to break her heart again. Surprisingly, Issari had noticed our stalker, too, and for longer, apparently.

"She's been following us for the last ten minutes. Do you know her?"

I continue to act nonchalantly.

"I'm pretty sure I don't. There was a strange thing that happened before you arrived. A redhead a year older than us came up to me and asked if I was someone the likely stalker knew."

Issari grew grim.

"That's extremely weird even for me. I won't leave you behind if she confronts us. She has been getting closer."

I prepare us.

"She probably isn't a bad person, but she isn't going to be reasonable. Let me do the talking and please also don't stare."

We get to a small point where the trail splits, and I keep us away from the forest part of the path. That seems to make Akeno mad because she gets even closer at the sound of her shoes. We don't pay attention to her, and I don't see the rest of them yet, so Akeno might have done this without Rias's permission, or she is watching through a familiar. We finally prepared to take a break, and that's when Akeno finally caught up to us. She is very pissed but is equally hopeful. Issari was about to confront Akeno when I stopped her with a tap on her shoulder. Akeno finally spoke, and her voice was heartbreaking to hear.

"Alex? Is that you?"

I turn to face her and see the pure hope in her eyes. It is the worst thing I have ever experienced yet. Same with Issari, who now isn't pure mad at Akeno. I looked at Akeno, and I softly said with a smile.

"My name is Gregor, madam. I don't know any, Alex."

Akeno has tears fill her eyes. They were horrible to see, but she searched my face again. Then, she grew sadder and then incredibly angry.

"You look exactly like him you have to be him! I demand you do a DNA test! Alex, don't play this it's me! Keno! We did everything together! Please don't play this I know it's you."

I felt Issari grow angry there, but I softly spoke up.

"I don't know you. Please don't make a scene. You're hurting, and I don't want you to do something that you will regret."

Akeno doesn't calm down.

"I won't regret finding the person who made the last decade of my life passable! Alex, please its you. I know it is. Please don't do this, I beg you it's me. You have the same everything please drop the mask."

Issari is looking at Akeno with true pity. I don't want to do this but prepared to do the deed. I was opening my mouth about to say it when Akeno wept out.

"Anything you want. I will give you anything! Alex, it's truly me, or was that time after they did that thing to you with the brand nothing! You took that for me despite being my junior you didn't back down when they tried that."

That's how that scar was there no wonder he hated them bitterly. I tell Koriel I'm sorry. She judged me hard but can't blame me. She had come from a reality that was not the base 40k universe and why she was more human than the base her. Arkan Lan had a massive following and had urged many of his compatriots to stay mostly human. Issari is horrified by that open admission before I finally say softly.

"I don't remember you. I was in a car crash, and most of my memories of early life, but that one I do remember, just not your face. Please don't hate me for that."

Akeno finally wept openly, grabbed me, and pulled me to her chest.

"Oh, thank you it is you! I promise to call you whatever you want! Please don't leave me again! You who kept me sane! I have missed you so badly! Oh, this day is the day that I have long hoped for. I will protect you from them like you did me so long ago!"

I let her weep as she was more broken than I had ever thought. I can't correct this. She kept weeping into my hair before whispering something that surprised me.

"I'll even protect you from her. She's not bad and I'm not, either. Please don't hate me either. I didn't have a choice."

I can reveal I know and kickstart the timeline. Yet Issari deserves the right to choose if she wants that. I stand on a cliff with both ways bad equally. Rias it seems will do anything to get strong pieces if her queen will say that. I don't say anything pretending I didn't hear that.

"You said your name is Keno?"

She nodded and wept more, hearing our apparent close name.

"I did. I'm so sorry for everything, for being weak and letting them do that to you. I'm sorry for the millions of other things I will do just please don't leave me again."

Issari looks at both of us with true pity. I will live the lie for my cousin. She snuggled into my hair, now whimpering softly. We are all quiet while this happens. I finally say something ten minutes later.

"I do remember that I was not ashamed of you. We were kids what could we have done then? I'm sorry you feel that way, Keno. I'm probably not who I was then. I had to slowly build myself a new life. I took this name because I saw that Star Wars movie in the hospital, and I liked the name of the actor who was a diplomat-like person. Please don't cry anymore, Keno."

Akeno finally stopped whimpering before She finally said while still shaking.

"Ok. I will call you Gregor in public but please let me call you Lex in private. I promise to help you with anything you want for the cousin who is my hero."

I could abuse that horrifically. I won't make her do anything that will get her in trouble with Rias, but this could help Issari out more, along with possibly dooming her to something she doesn't want.

"I'll try to get used to that name. Keno. I'm still trying to figure out things but I don't like your friend. She was eyeing me like a piece of meat. I will try for you. Please don't judge my friend either. She is not what you might have heard about. She took a chance on me, and I would ask that you do the same for her."

Akeno nodded her head into my hair.

"I will talk to her. I will try with this friend. Lex, I promise to protect you. I'm different now, too. I will do anything for my cousin who didn't run away even though you so badly wanted to. I will be anything you want me to be. I'll do anything for you."

I softly say.

"I just want you to be happy that's all I want. I don't want to get you into trouble. I will have many questions but think we can build this slowly. Just don't try to force me or my friend into something unless we want that. We can make this work if we establish boundaries we are both comfortable with. I don't think I will be leaving you ever again."

Akeno brightened so much there. Her smile was beautiful. There was clear relief and more there. I make the bridge for Issari.

"Keno, this is my friend Issari. Issari, apparently, this is my cousin Keno. I'm sorry you had to learn this all with me."

Issari smiled a wet smile. Getting what I'm doing and offering her.

"It's wonderful to meet you Keno-san. I'm sorry, but I don't know your full name."

Akeno isn't offended at all.

"It's Akeno drop the san. You are my cousin's friend, and I will try to get to know you too. I'm sorry for stalking you both."

Issari surprised me, and my influence showed.

"I will call you Akeno-san until I earn that right. Your cousin is my best friend. He is a wonderful person."

Akeno smiled at me fondly.

"He was always wonderful. Lex. Please let me walk with you. You share something with me again. You liked walking then, too. I'd be happy to join you again in doing that if you both let me."

Issari nodded her head. I did, too.

"You're welcome to join us, Keno. We can exchange phone information before we each go home. Please accept that I need time to adjust to this. Please accept that I'm private and I'll invite you in more when I'm ready."

Akeno smiled softly.

"Always the logic man and you didn't lose that. I understand, Lex but please don't judge me if I'm clingy. I have you back. My hero that was my light this last decade. I will never stop being proud of you for that day even if you don't remember all of it."

The three of us move together and enjoy the evening. I smile gently on the outside but panic on the inside. Canon is dead. I, however, have made two beings' lives better. Koriel doesn't judge me too much.

"We likely destroyed it as soon as we talked for the first time. You're still an idiot who feels too much and has embraced that weakness of the flesh. You are a better person than I ever was. I don't regret getting to know you Fleshbag."

I snarked back to her.

"Fuck you too, sis it could be worse. We could be in a place that has world-ending threats almost daily. Here, it's only monthly. I don't regret knowing you either. Just don't torture me too much for having a heart."

"You are like Arkan in so many ways. He was many thing including an asshole, but he kept us who were beginning to lose total faith in flesh here. I respected him for being a person who never backed down on his beliefs even when he was being his prick self. I think he would have enjoyed you being his student, too. You could have demanded me to be at your beck and call. Yet you don't. You're working with me on my goal. You won't get much nagging from me here but I reserve the right to nag every so often."

As I watch Akeno leaning onto my right shoulder in pure happiness I mentally say to my partner.

"Agreed. Arkan always seemed to be an ass but I will take the compliment. I trust in Mars and steel, but the mask will fall eventually and I will plan for it. You're welcome, sis, just be ready for an idiot who isn't like Cain. He actually was a hero. I'm not one."

"Apparently, the other you was. Heroes are not born they are made. Your other self-trusted in steel as well. Just not the steel I'd prefer. I guess try for this person but be ready for if she eventually finds out the truth. Till then."

"Fake it till I make it. Cain was that, too. He is the one I want to be like just a bit more mechanical at some point."

Akeno smiled more on my shoulder seemingly lost in her dream made manifest. While Issari is looking at me with more admiration that I don't all deserve. She hasn't been her pervert self much but does glance every so often at Akeno and her chest. I give a pointed look to Issari who blushed and mumbled sorry while Akeno just giggled.

"I'm not offended. You don't have to protect me as much, Lex though I appreciate the thought. You're still a dweeb."

I raised my eyebrows.

"I'm not going to ever stop doing that. I'm some big hero, apparently so, I will start living up to that. You will get used to Issari-chan. She used to be worse, but she is making steps. I'm happy to be the dweeb."

Akeno laughed a belly laugh. As did Issari, who retorted to me.

"You are indeed that Gregor-kun. You and your machines."

Akeno gets that she won't know about the reference yet. She smiled more than I ever remembered seeing her smile at the beginning of the series.

"He always liked them. He would constantly play rocket ship with me when we were young and always said that he wanted to explore what's up there. You still want that, Lex?"

I smile genuinely.

"I do, I'd love to hear more stories about us as kids. Just not them. I don't remember their faces or their names and so much more."

Akeno grew angry at the mention of them, but she was relieved, too.

"They don't deserve names. They deserve to be forgotten. They attempted to do more horrible things to me and Mom. He did something there, at least by taking us away from them."

I know that I can't fix that yet.

"Then never tell me them. I will never let them rule my life again."

Akeno softened her hate for her dad seeing me.

"I'll try to help you with your dream Lex. I know that you really wanted that. We would gaze up at the stars together and I miss those nights. We can have that again."

We are reaching the park, and I don't see Rias.

"We can. I got to go home. Here is my number, Keno. I'll text you when I want to meet up with you again."

We exchanged numbers, and Akeno nodded again.

"Alright, I would like to see you again tomorrow. I really am sorry for stalking you."

I shake my head.

"You're forgiven. Just please don't do that again. Have a good night, Keno. Issari-chan."

Issari nodded her own fair well and dashed off home. Akeno hugged me one last time before waving goodbye.

"Good night, Lex."

She then walked off into the night. I then began the slow walk home.

Rias was busy enjoying a nice bit of relaxing with her new anime book. Despite that, she was worried about her friend. Akeno had been acting extremely weird this week. But this had turned out to be good because Rias had found a potential new piece. This person Akeno had seemed so certain of knowing had a very likely sacred gear, but one she had never felt before or read a description of feeling like. It was like being near a blast furnace. She had asked several other people about that if they had seen this person before as green hair is very distinctive. Koneko had remarked that she remembered the green hair and the eyes but didn't feel that at all but she had been on the other side of the store with this person.

Sona had said when Rias mentioned that to her friend that she didn't feel that either and that she was closer than Koneko. That intrigued Rias because Sona had let her get the next potential piece as a reward for a bet Sona lost. Rias was very interested in this person. He was handsome and was not looking at her with the typical looks that boys their age did having kept his face and eyes to hers the entire time. He was smart, too, because he had immediately put together her attempt. A major kink of hers was intellectually gifted people. He was younger than her by a year, but that meant nothing when she found a way to convince him to join her peerage. He moved well, and she was considering that he would make a very decent knight, or if that didn't work, she would use all the pawns.

Rias was brought out of her thoughts by a portal opening, and Akeno stepped out of it. Rias noticed that Akeno was extremely happy. That meant that something was confirmed. She didn't order Akeno to do or not do something about this as Rias did truly care about her peerage which was a rarity amongst devils.

"Is he your cousin Akeno?"

The relationship they had was something that was different to many people. For some, it appeared antagonistic, but they really were good friends despite everything that had happened and the circumstances of how they had met. Rias trusted Akeno almost implicitly, but something crossed Akeno's face that made Rias blink rapidly. It was righteous anger as Akeno saw the greed on Rias's face. Her major sin.

"He is, and you will not attempt to do anything to him. He has gear, but he is free to do whatever he wants, Rias."

Rias doesn't like that, especially with their problem. Riser was trying to push the arrangements up again.

"If he has gear, then I will make sure he joins. That way, you don't have to watch him die from old age."

Akeno grew even angrier as she heard and saw the barely hidden eager tone in her king's voice. Akeno suddenly made lightning jump between her hands, and that shocked Rias because Akeno had never done that before to her. Akeno growled very low.

"You will leave him alone as he didn't ask for that. He is my hero who didn't have to do what he did. My cousin deserves the world, Rias. I have never been too mad at you for when you recruited me. Where I had no other choice he will have one. If you try to recruit him, I will go stray for him. He doesn't deserve the shit that our world does and he lost more than I thought."

Rias widened her green eyes horribly. Akeno would go stray for him after just one night of knowing him! What did he do to earn that? Akeno kept her eyes on her king and they are stone-cold before Rias finally asked.

"Even with our problem with Riser, you would deny us the chance to win?"

Akeno grew even colder.

"I'd rather be Riser's favorite that. He doesn't like you at all and you abused my situation with him to get closer. I'd not care if it was anyone else but him. He, however, is willing despite his very clear reluctance to be near you saying he would try for me. Don't try or else."

That threat was clear so Rias tried a new approach.

"What do you want me to do then, Akeno? Just accept Riser and his pig pen of lust. Your cousin could be our ticket to freedom."

Akeno growled again, seeing the angle Rias was playing.

"How about you fucking train. You don't do that unless your brother or sister pushes you to. I trained constantly to become stronger to protect him from the bastards, and I will protect him from you, too. Your greed for a single knockout piece that will magically solve our problem is stupid."

Rias looked down in shame. She needs that piece or something else badly. They were four against fifteen. Riser was missing a single piece he kept in reserve for Rias if she ever tried to break free from him after the wedding. Even though it would doom Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Gasper to mutations. Reincarnated were still the bottom, and Riser didn't care much for them. Now more than ever before Rias hates being a third child who was only lucky enough to have her peerage because of her oldest brother's title and her sister's fame.

Her sister was Heiress and the line was secured, with Milicas making the family stable. Rias was the horrible extra spare, and why the contract was real. Her dad and mom loved her. They were determined to get this for Rias because it gave her a way to move up the ladder for the extremely rare third children. Riser was the very likely next heir. Because his older brother was in a very poor position.

Rias understands all of that, but she wants someone to see her for her. Not as the third child overshadowed by her brother who was Lucifer. Not the younger sister of Heniya Gremory, who was in the top ten of the ratings games. But as Rias the weeb. Rias, the woman who wanted true love. Akeno saw the growing depression on her king. Rias had a very bad case of it, like Akeno. They had been reluctant with each other upon first meeting, but that trait had bonded them together with the precision welding of steel. Akeno softly made a concession.

"Maybe if you explain a bit, he will help you. If he doesn't, that is still his choice. I'd ask as the person I know you are, but do not push it after if he says no."

Rias felt tears in her eyes there. She desperately needed that piece, and she would do almost anything to win. Even betraying her best friend's wishes. Akeno had offered that. She clearly understands the situation they are in and how the peerage was even lower on the pole than she was in terms of what they would be to Riser when they lose. Rias let out a soft whimper.

"I need him, Ke. I need help, and no one is actually trying for me. I only won the last bet with Sona because she purposely threw it in pity. She is safe and we are not. I will try to respect your wishes but if I must do the thing we all despise, I will. The only way I was able to stall the arrangement was because my sister is governor here, and I'm here at her pity, knowing I hate him. Riser plans to do things to me I can't say of because of the contract. They are bad and I'll do anything your cousin wants from me. Even giving myself to him completely as a toy. I'd rather do that than be with Riser."

Akeno saw her friend and her very clear depression, and there was the thing they all hated in forceful reincarnation. Rias had asked each of them even Kiba. That was the uncommon way of doing it, and only now, two decades later was becoming the slow norm. The norm before was forceful reincarnation. The evil piece system lessened that fact significantly. A very unintended side effect that wasn't discovered till later. The Satans hated that with Ajuka fixing the system immediately after learning about that flaw. However, that didn't stop the huge number of early pieces with said flaw.

They couldn't do much to help those pieces because of the politics of the underworld and because they were very close to being almost puppets. The Satans didn't make smart moves in the beginning, and that came back to haunt them. They had been new to power then. They tried to do what they could do. Families like the Gremory and the Sitri did care about the reincarnated, who were technically mind-controlled. Rias cared and wanted to help reincarnated as did Sona. Akeno finally said, after being silent.

"He would never ask you that, Ria. My cousin is a man who looks below the surface. I think he might know about the other side. I caught him looking at me more critically and he might just be extremely quiet about it. I think it might be him. He was extremely private when our families mingled."

Rias thought for a moment. Then she felt it fall into place. Her eyes widened more because she had almost done something horrible if it's from them. Along with very likely burning hope if that is the case.

"You might be right. He looks and thinks like him."

Akeno grew grimmer now.

"He has been extremely isolated since the incident. It's not a well-hidden secret, and the story lines up with what your brother has shared. It might be him. Do you think your brother can get in contact with him if it's the case?"

Rias felt bad for them both, even more so if this was the case. He all but believes his son is dead. Had embraced solitude almost completely and had tried twice to end it.

"It will be extremely hard to do that. He refuses almost all attempts to talk to him. Ke, please if he is his and does free me, I'll give him whatever he wants. He probably is against me I got that feeling from him."

Akeno said softly.

"He just seems very scared, Rias. Can you blame him if he is only a regular human? We abuse them regularly and you have never denied that. If he knows the other side now, it's because he has done extensive amounts of research probably furthering the fear. He said he will give you a chance. Rias have faith in him like I do. He stopped being a kid when he was six and knows the world is not perfect."

Rias hasn't had that in years having experienced too much pain to have that.

"I can't. Please make him see I'm not bad. He saw me fully, everything that I am in just a few minutes. He is what I want so desperately yet I have poisoned the seed by my nature. If he is him, he can save me and all of you. I'm weak and nothing, Ke."

Rias lets down tears, finally succumbing to her depression. Akeno held her friend and her sister of choice. She knows Rias is in a hole as is Alex if it is true. This could either save a hero of their race or be the final straw that leads him to the void if the hope this might bring is false. Akeno will be like Alex and will trust in steel. She will get a DNA test done soon.