Looking Back While Training with the Gremory Peerage

Three days have passed since the issue between James, Sona, and Serafall. In the end, Serafall lost the argument. How was it solved? James had to use a little manipulation. However, things did not go quite as planned.

===Flashback===

Human World, Japan, Kuoh, Sona's Estate.

An hour after Serafall barged into Sona's residence, she was still rampaging. James had even grown tired of teasing her. Sona was also done with the whole situation. Especially since for the last forty-five minutes, Serafall had been stomping around the room ranting about the morality of the situation. To be honest, James would have thought it was hilarious if it had not been going on for so long. Serafall was so into her one man show, she had not even realized that James and Sona were no longer paying attention to her. In fact, they were casually playing chess.

Though the mood had been ruined, Sona knew if she could get Serafall to leave, she and James would have around three more hours to have fun. The problem was, how would they make her leave?

"James, what do we do?" Sona asked while massaging her forehead.

"Well, I have an idea." James said as he placed his bishop. "I don't know if you'll be okay with it, though."

"I'll decide after hearing what it is." Sona said as she narrowed her eyes. "If it's something that could hurt my elder sister, though, don't even mention it."

"I promise it won't hurt Sera-Tan." James said, raising his hands disarmingly. "Not that we could even if we wanted to."

"*Sigh* That's true." Sona said with annoyance. "It's hard to believe someone that strong could be so childish. Anyway, let's hear it."

James and Sona then leaned over the table and James whispered into Sona's ear. After a few moments they separated. Sona had a look of shock and annoyance on her face. Meanwhile, James had a look that screamed: "What else do you want me to do?" Eventually, Sona gave in.

"*Sigh* Do you think this could really work?" Sona asked, uncertainty and unwillingness lacing her tone.

"It's the best I've been able to come up with since she got here." James said with a wry smile.

"Fine, I'll try." Sona said with a pout.

Taking a deep breath, Sona closed her eyes to prepare herself for what she was about to do.

'Satan... Ugh, that sounds like I'm praying to my sister.' Sona thought to herself as she put herself in the right frame of mind to execute James' plan. 'I can't believe I'm about to do this.'

Suddenly, Sona opened her eyes. Instead of the sharp expression she usually wears, now, she looked like the most bullied girl in all the realms. With tears in her eyes, caused because of the embarrassment she was feeling, Sona turned to her sister who was skulking around the room.

"Sera-Oneechan." Sona said softly in a trembling voice.

"Huh?" Serafall's monologue ended abruptly. When she looked at Sona, who had called her, her soul almost jumped out of her body. "So-Tan, what's wrong?"

Before her question was finished, Serafall appeared next to Sona with her arms wrapped around her. A mixture of rage and concern in her expression. She then turned her rage filled eyes in James' direction. Although his expression did not change, James was shaking on the inside.

'Holy shit, she's scary when she's pissed off.' James thought to himself, thinking that this plan may not have been such a good idea.

"Did this boy do something to make you cry?" Serafall asked as her pressure started to coalesce around James.

Noticing the situation about to take a bad turn, Sona frantically shook her head.

"No, James has been trying to cheer me up." Sona said with a bit of fear leaking into her tone. With Serafall's overbearing love mixed with her impulsive nature, She was afraid for James' safety.

Exhaling a sigh of relief, Serafall turned her attention back to Sona.

"Then, what made you cry?" Serafall asked in a gentle tone.

"Onee-Chan, why are you being so mean to me and James?" Sona finally found an insertion point for James' plan to officially begin.

Serafall panicked a bit then asked in an uncertain tone.

"What do you mean, So-Tan?" Serafall could not wrap her head around what Sona was thinking.

"*Sniff* Why are you trying to break me and James apart?" Sona asked tearfully. "Loving James isn't enough? Onee-Chan, Will you take the one I love away from me like everyone else in the Underworld wants to?"

With that, Serafall froze.

'Was I really trying to deprive Sona of something that she loves?' Serafall thought to herself as her eyes swam around, unable to make eye contact with Sona right now.

"But... But... I saw you having sex. You're not even married yet." Serafall said, not even believing her own words as to why she was trying to stop them.

"But we're devils." Sona said weakly. "What's wrong with what we were doing?"

'Right. What were they doing wrong?' Serafall asked herself as well. 'Why did I get so angry about it?'

Serafall fell silent. James and Sona were a bit confused. Things were not going according to script. James sitting at the table, and Sona, in her sister's embrace, looked at each other in confusion. Eventually Serafall ended her contemplation.

"I'm sorry So-Tan, Jay-Kun." Serafall said while hanging her head.

This caused James and Sona to panic.

"I accept your apology, Onee-Chan. But why are you so sad?" Sona asked frantically.

"*Sigh* A lot of devils think I was made the new Leviathan because the original was the only woman among the Great Satans." Serafall explained with a hint of depression in her tone. "The truth is, I was chosen to be the new Leviathan because Leviathan represents envy. And the main sin that guides my actions is also envy."

James and Sona were dumbfounded, they did not expect the topic to get so heavy, so quickly. However, Serafall continued her monologue.

"That's the reason for my one-sided rivalry with Grayfia-Chan and the Archangel Gabriel." Sona said with a clenched fist. "I'm envious of Grayfia-Chan because she got a good husband..."

'If a sis-con, on the same level as you, qualifies as a good husband.' James and Sona thought simultaneously.

"... and Gabriel is said to be more beautiful than I am. Those are the only reason I made them my rivals."

James and Sona fell silent, they had no idea what to say. Not that it mattered, shortly after the room fell silent, Serafall broke it.

"I'm going home." Serafall said dejectedly. "I'll talk to you later, So-Tan, Jay-Kun."

After that, Serafall cast a teleportation circle and vanished. It took a while for James and Sona to process what had just happened. Eventually, they decided to put it behind them and revisit the matter later. Instead, they made the best of the free time they still had left. For the next two and a half hours, they fucked like rabbits, on every surface in Sona's bed and bathroom.

===Flashback End===

Underworld, Gremory Territory, Gremory Estate.

Late in the evening, James was sparring with Koneko while Flora, Rias, and the rest of her peerage observed. Koneko was using her small size to her advantage, just as James had been teaching her. Although she was doing well, Koneko was unable to land a solid blow on James. He would either dodge or deflect all her attacks. On occasion, he would even counterattack

"You're doing well, Koneko." James said as he avoided a high kick.

Koneko, due to exertion, was unable to reply. Instead, she steadied her footing and threw a barrage of jabs, straights, elbow strikes, hooks, and upper cuts. James dodged those he could and used his open hands to redirect those he could not. Eventually, Koneko got impatient. Jumping into the air, she threw an overhand right. James could only shake his head inwardly. Pivoting on his left foot while tilting his head, he dodged the powerful blow. Before Koneko could pass, though, James pivoted back and used his right knee to strike her in the abdomen, knocking the wind out of her and putting an end to the spar.

After receiving that blow, Koneko fell to the ground, coughing violently. Shortly after, while she was trying to catch her breath, the onlookers made their way to the two combatants.

"Koneko, you've gotten a lot better." Flora said, handing the white-haired girl a towel.

"*Cough!* Thanks." Koneko said in monotone.

Flora took no offense to this, she already knew, that's just how Koneko is.

"Flora's right, you've really improved a lot." James said as he began to pat Koneko on the head.

Koneko narrowed her eyes in pleasure at James' touch.

"We have to find a way to stop your bad habit of overextending when you're anxious, though." James said with a smile. "You have to remember, staying cool is key in combat."

Koneko agreed and nodded to show it.

"James, thank you for helping us train." Rias said with a smile. "It's a big help."

"No problem." James said with a smile as he removed his hand from Koneko's head. "I like working with your peerage, you have such talented members. Makes me regret that I didn't take Akeno for myself when I had the chance."

James winked at Akeno as he finished speaking. While Akeno smiled back elegantly, Rias blushed. Embarrassed because she remembered that day. Her actions that day were a lot worse than James deserved from her. And now that she has realized it, she still feels bad about it.

"Anyway, tomorrow I'll be sparring with you, Kiba." James said while shifting his attention to Yuuto. "After that, we'll discuss some ideas to make the most out of your [Sacred Gear], [Sword Birth]."

[Sword Birth] is a [Sacred Gear] that gives the wielder the ability to create demonic swords. The swords could have any property the wielder can imagine. Kiba's issue is that he creates extremely simple swords. Luckily, James has a whole world's otaku culture of cool swords in his brain. Not to mention he has seen a few in his travels, like Rebellion and Yamato.

"Sure." Yuuto said with a casual smile.

The truth of the matter is, although Yuuto has been training with Sirzechs' [Knight] Okita Souji, He feels like he gains more from sparring with James. There is a reason for that, of course. During training, James and Yuuto will each take a side. Either offense or defense. Then, during their sessions James will explain what he does right or wrong and how he can improve. Whereas Okita teaches sword forms, then they spar. Usually, Yuuto is left to figure out how to improve beyond that by himself.

"Well, You guys should get some rest." James said with a smile while stretching. "Rest is just as important as training when you're trying to improve."

The group nodded in understanding, then everyone made their way back to the mansion. On the way, James spoke to Koneko.

"Koneko."

"Huh? Koneko tilted her head as she turned in James' direction.

"I know you don't want to use it because of what you went through with your sister, but if you ever want to be strong enough to find out why she left you behind, you'll need it." James said without turning back. "You have to be strong enough to get the things you want and protect the things you have."

Koneko stopped in place with a frown on her face. As she was digesting James' words, James also came to a stop. Then, he turned and returned to her side. Once there, he reached out his hand and patted her head again, causing Koneko to narrow her eyes in pleasure, immediately.

"Also, if you get an answer to your question, you need to be strong enough to give her a spanking if the reason is stupid, right?" James said with a big, infectious smile.

At that, Koneko's usually stoic mask broke for a moment, then she smiled like a girl her age should.