A/N: Hehe… Chapter 69 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Chapter 69: funny lookin head
– Azazel –
Azazel sat uncomfortably across from Sirzechs and Serafall, feeling the intense heat of their glares.
"So," he began awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, "what exactly did you two want to talk about so urgently?"
Serafall's pout deepened into an irritated frown. "Urgently? Azazel, we've been trying to reach you for almost two weeks!"
Azazel chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, right. Sorry about that. After visiting Haru's restaurant and witnessing literal alien technology, I got inspired for my artificial Sacred Gear project. You know how it goes—I had to act on it right away."
He'd barely stepped out of his lab during those two weeks. If Azazel hadn't been a twelve-winged fallen angel, he probably would've died from exhaustion or dehydration by now. Thankfully, those human necessities were more of a recommendation for someone of his strength—though he did occasionally enjoy indulging himself.
Judging by the irritated expressions of the two Maou in front of him, Azazel had clearly missed something crucial.
Sirzechs folded his arms, his usually gentle gaze now stern. "While you were busy with your experiments, your subordinate Kokabiel blatantly marched into Kuoh Town and tried to assassinate both Rias and Sona."
Azazel's eyes widened in disbelief, his casual demeanor vanishing instantly. "He did what?! When?"
"Two weeks ago," Serafall snapped sharply, her gaze piercing him like a blade.
Azazel winced, feeling genuinely guilty. "Ah, hell…maybe I should actually check my messages once in a while. No wonder Penemue looked ready to tear my wings off when I saw her earlier."
Serafall leaned forward, scrutinizing him closely. "Do you realize how serious this is, Azazel? Kokabiel was your responsibility, and he nearly killed our sisters! And the peace talks are officially on hold cause Yasaka is pissed off too! I'm sure she's tried to contact you as well."
"She has!?" he asked in surprise.
"You kind of suck as a faction leader…" Serafall told him.
"I know but I'm kinda all we have…" he admitted.
She glared at him some more.
Azazel held up his hands defensively. "I know, I know! Look, I'm not excusing any of all this, but at least tell me your siblings are okay."
Serafall's expression shifted, a proud smirk crossing her lips as she leaned back confidently. "Oh, they're more than okay! So-tan and Ria-tan kicked Kokabiel's ugly ass so thoroughly he had to run away like a coward!"
Azazel blinked in surprise, genuinely impressed. "Really now? Damn. I didn't expect your little sisters to be that powerful already."
Serafall's smug grin widened triumphantly. "Damn right they are. My So-tan isn't someone Kokabiel can bully around. She's growing up so fast!"
Sirzechs, however, remained serious, his eyes fixed steadily on Azazel. "That still leaves the question—what exactly are you going to do about Kokabiel? He's your subordinate."
Azazel scratched his chin thoughtfully.
Honestly, Kokabiel probably already fled the Grigori after pulling such an idiotic stunt. There wasn't much Azazel could realistically do besides damage control at this point. Still, he supposed he could at least check if Kokabiel was feeling cooperative enough to explain himself.
"I guess I can call him and find out what the hell he's thinking," Azazel offered with a casual shrug.
Sirzechs stared at him blankly. Serafall gave him a look as though he'd just said something painfully stupid.
"Call him?" Serafall repeated incredulously. "Seriously, Azazel, there's no way he's going to pick up your—"
Azazel already had his phone out, dialing the number. "Let's see."
To everyone's surprise—including Azazel's—Kokabiel answered immediately.
"Well, well, well…" Kokabiel's arrogant voice dripped venom from the speaker, sharp and mocking. "You finally dragged your ass out of that pathetic lab of yours and noticed I was missing?"
Azazel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I guess so. So, I heard you tried to assassinate two devil heiresses. Care to explain what that's about?" he asked calmly despite the increasingly hostile glares coming from Sirzechs and Serafall across the table.
Kokabiel practically growled through the phone, bitterness heavy in his voice. "I'm tired of pretending, Azazel! I'm sick of this pointless peace you've chained us to! We Fallen Angels are the strongest race—and it's about time I reminded everyone. I'll admit, I was arrogant to assume those pampered little devils wouldn't have decent protection. But," Kokabiel's voice darkened ominously, "can you say the same about the youkai?"
Azazel's stomach clenched with dread. "What are you planning now, Kokabiel?" he demanded sharply.
A low, humorless laugh echoed through the line. "That Gremory girl's destruction magic actually managed to hurt me. They humiliated me, Azazel! So now I'm going to repay the favor. I'm going to Kyoto, and I'm going to murder that fiancé of hers!"
"Tell me you're not in Kyoto right now!?" Azazel snapped.
Kokabiel laughed cruelly. "Damn right I am. Funny enough, I see Yasaka's precious boy out enjoying a cute little date with another fox girl. How disgustingly adorable. Let's see you idiots keep your precious peace after I kill them. The Youkai will be out for blood and I will have my war!"
"Kokabiel, don't you dare—!" Azazel started angrily, but Kokabiel had already hung up, leaving nothing but silence. Azazel stared numbly at his phone for several seconds before shrugging helplessly, "Welp, that happened..."
He glanced up, only to find both Maous already standing, fury etched clearly on their faces.
"We need to get to Kyoto—now!" Sirzechs shouted, already preparing a teleportation spell.
– Naruko –
Naruko was genuinely enjoying her date with Haru. It had turned out even better than she'd hoped. Haru took her to a five-star restaurant far fancier than anything she'd ever seen back in the Leaf Village. Sitting at a table covered in white linen and sipping sparkling wine from crystal glasses, she genuinely felt like a princess.
Then again, considering she technically was an Uzumaki princess, maybe this was just her finally getting a taste of what her life could've been if things had gone differently.
She giggled quietly at the thought, gently brushing her fingers through her red hair to ensure her new fox ears remained properly hidden beneath an illusion. Having to conceal her tails felt a bit uncomfortable—like tucking your leg in at an awkward angle—but the delicious food and Haru's company on their date easily distracted her from that small inconvenience. The food wasn't nearly as good as Haru's divine cooking, of course, but the romantic candlelit atmosphere more than made up for that.
"You know," Naruko said softly, leaning across the table with a shy but playful smile, "I could get used to this. Fancy dresses, romantic dinners... You're spoiling me, Haru."
He chuckled lightly, his own smile turning tender. "You deserve to be spoiled, Naruko. I'm just sorry it took us this long to finally do this."
Naruko blushed, reaching out to gently take his hand, her thumb tracing small circles on the back of it. "Better late than never, right?"
"Absolutely."
After dinner, Haru led her to a nearby movie theater. She had no idea what movie they'd even chosen, because from the moment they sat down in the darkened theater, Naruko's full attention was on Haru and Haru alone.
It began innocently enough—a gentle kiss–but it didn't stay innocent for long. Soon they were locked in heated kisses, their breathing becoming heavy. His fingertips tracing teasingly down her thighs and hips. Naruko whimpered softly against his lips as his hand brushed dangerously close between her legs, nearly causing her to lose all self-control and let out a loud moan that drew attention...
"Haru," she whispered breathlessly, "I—I think we're being a little too loud..."
He chuckled quietly against her neck, placing another soft, teasing kiss just below her ear. "Yeah, I noticed the dirty looks we're getting. We should probably go before they call the human police on us…"
Blushing furiously, Naruko glanced around and noticed several irritated patrons glaring at them from nearby rows. Her cheeks felt hot enough to catch fire. "Ah, yeah...good idea."
They quietly made their escape, slipping out of the theater with sheepish laughter.
Back on the streets of Kyoto, they walked slowly, their fingers entwined comfortably. It was late enough that the streets were empty.
"Hey," Haru said softly, glancing around briefly before giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I think it's safe to let our tails out now. Nobody's around."
Naruko released a relieved sigh as she dropped the illusion, her nine fluffy red tails immediately appearing behind her, swaying happily in the cool night air. "Much better," she sighed, stretching slightly as she relaxed fully. "Keeping those hidden all night was uncomfortable. I'm still getting used to them."
Haru smiled warmly, gently wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer as they continued their walk. "Next time, let's pick somewhere we won't have to hide."
Naruko leaned her head comfortably against his shoulder, her own arm wrapped snugly around his waist. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind staying in the Fox Hole next time." She might have discovered that she liked to be pampered a bit, but that didn't automatically start making her a high maintenance woman.
Naruko thought the night had been going perfectly. Great food, romantic ambiance, and plenty of time alone with Haru.
It was exactly what she'd hoped for… except for the two annoying teenagers who'd decided to stalk them through the empty streets of Kyoto.
Yeah, she had noticed them. She wouldn't be any kind of proud kunoichi if she hadn't noticed them trying to sneak behind them…
She glanced subtly over her shoulder again.
Something about these two felt different from regular humans—one of them had a clear yokai presence, but she wasn't experienced enough yet to figure out what type. The other one felt strange, like they were partly human and partly yokai.
But hadn't Haru said something about partial yokai being impossible? Children were either born fully human or as Yokai. That was strange…
Glancing at Haru, she noticed his eyes narrowed slightly, clearly aware of their little followers as well.
He chuckled softly, leaning close enough to whisper into her ear. "Looks like we've attracted a couple of curious kids," he murmured playfully, loud enough for their stalkers to overhear. "Isn't it past your bedtime, young master Nura?"
Almost immediately, there was an embarrassed squeak from behind a nearby corner. Naruko smirked as two teenagers sheepishly stepped into view.
One was a boy around thirteen years old, with messy brown hair and round glasses perched awkwardly on his nose. He was tugging a girl of similar age along with him, her long black hair and icy-blue eyes giving her an ethereal appearance. The girl wore an irritated pout, clearly annoyed at having been discovered.
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Haru!" the boy protested, adjusting his glasses indignantly. "I'm thirteen now, for your information! I don't have a bedtime!"
The girl beside him scowled. "And you two completely ruined our night! You were practically climbing all over each other back at the movie theater. Everyone around us was uncomfortable!"
Naruko blushed furiously, her ears flattening slightly against her head. She wasn't exactly used to being called out so openly, especially by a pair of teenagers.
Haru chuckled sheepishly beside her, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah, sorry about that, little Yuki-Onna," Haru said. "We didn't mean to interrupt your evening." He then turned to the boy, who was still adjusting his glasses and attempting to look older than he was. "It's been a while, Rikuo. What brings you and your friend here to Kyoto? The Nura Clan rarely leaves Ukiyoe Town."
Rikuo sighed. "Grandpa suddenly decided he wanted to pay your mom a surprise visit. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how stubborn he is. He dragged me and Tsurara all the way here with him…"
"Yeah," Tsurara added grumpily, puffing out her cheeks in a childish pout. "Then the hotel ended up being super boring, and they didn't even have anything good on TV! So I convinced the young master to go see a movie instead, and you two lovebirds completely ruined it! Hmph!"
Naruko had been silently listening, trying to piece together the conversation, but she finally gave up. "Hey Haru," she asked quietly, nodding toward the two younger teens, "mind explaining who these two are?"
"Ah, sorry Naruko. Allow me to introduce you properly." He gestured toward the younger boy. "This is Rikuo Nura, grandson of Nurarihyon and heir to the Nura Clan from Ukiyoe Town. He's technically the next head of one of Japan's strongest yokai clans—though he's still got some growing to do."
Rikuo bristled at Haru's casual remark, but didn't argue.
Haru continued, pointing at the pouting girl beside Rikuo. "And this young lady here is Tsurara, a Yuki-Onna who serves as Rikuo's personal attendant and guardian. We've met a few times over the years."
I turned to Rikuo, giving him a teasing smile. "Sorry for interrupting your date. You know, Kunou is gonna be devastated when she hears about this." I had always suspected my little sister Kunou had a crush on the future head of the Nura Clan. Whenever they'd played together as kids, while our families were meeting, she had this habit of throwing bugs into his hair.
Girl's did that to guys they liked right? Or was it the other way around?
Or maybe she just enjoyed bullying the quarter Yokai kid…
Rikuo instantly flushed, waving his hands defensively. "It—it wasn't a date!"
"Yes, it was!" Tsurara chirped happily, clinging tighter to his arm with a bright, unapologetic grin.
He sighed heavily.
Trying to spare Rikuo any further embarrassment, I gently squeezed Naruko's waist. "Well, either way, my girlfriend Naruko and I should probably head back to my restaurant."
Rikuo perked up at that, looking surprised. "Wow, you really did open a restaurant? You always talked about how much you loved cooking, but I thought you'd end up stuck doing something boring like running your clan."
"Hey!" Tsurara protested immediately, puffing her cheeks out in annoyance. "Being the head of the Nura Clan won't be boring, Young Master! It'll be amazing!"
Rikuo sighed again, adjusting his glasses wearily. "We can agree to disagree."
Naruko chuckled beside me, leaning slightly closer. "You know, Haru, he reminds me of a calmer, glasses-wearing version of my brother."
"If your grandpa's here for a meeting with my mom, then I'm sure we'll see each other again soon." I told Rikuo.
He nodded.
There was a flap of wings above us.
"Aww, don't leave yet! I just got here and wanted to have a little fun first!"
I groaned inwardly, looking up as an arrogant crow landed on the rooftop nearby.
Great. I'd sensed a fallen angel nearby, but I'd figured it was some low-level messenger, not this idiot. After what he'd pulled with Rias and Sona back in Kuoh, I couldn't believe he was stupid enough to show his face in Kyoto.
Then again, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised.
Kokabiel grinned at us. "Tonight must be my lucky night—not only do I find Yasaka's precious son wandering around town, but the heir of the infamous Nura Clan as well! Killing both of you will definitely ignite the war I've been craving!"
Rikuo and Tsurara both froze, eyes wide as they stared up at Kokabiel. Rikuo went pale, gripping Tsurara's hand tightly. Tsurara herself was trembling slightly, clearly terrified by the fallen angel standing arrogantly on the rooftop.
Naruko and I exchanged a bored look. Honestly, this guy had to be kidding. Kokabiel ruining our date was annoying enough, but him thinking he posed an actual threat was just pathetic.
I tilted my head back and called out casually. "Do you actually think you can take me, Kokabiel? You do realize I'm Ultimate-class, right?" I paused, smirking slightly. And then some, I added silently.
Kokabiel scoffed loudly, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Please. That so-called Rating Game between you and that Phenex brat was obviously rigged from the start. Everyone knows yokai are nothing but weak vermin!"
Okay, now he was just pissing everyone off. Naruko looked ready to tear his wings off.
Rikuo panicked behind me, his voice cracking. "W-what do we do?"
Tsurara swallowed nervously, trying to steady herself. "Young Master, you should run. I'll do my best to hold him off and buy you time. It's my duty to protect you—even if I have to sacrifice myself."
"No way!" Rikuo argued, voice shaking. "I'm not leaving you here!"
"You have to, Young Master!" Tsurara insisted desperately, tugging at his arm. "I'll buy you as much time as I can!"
I sighed, turning around and giving them both a gentle but firm bop on the head. They blinked at me in surprise, momentarily forgetting their panic.
"Relax, you two," I said, keeping my tone light and reassuring. "No one's sacrificing anything. Kokabiel's not worth that kind of drama."
Naruko stepped forward, her tails flaring behind her as she cracked her knuckles, clearly irritated. "This loser seriously thinks he can threaten my man?" she growled confidently. "He's about to learn today."
I smiled proudly, watching her step confidently in front of me. Honestly, there was something incredibly hot about Naruko when she got fired up like this.
Kokabiel sneered down at her, clearly unimpressed. "And who exactly are you supposed to be, girl?"
"I'm Naruko Uzumaki," she announced loudly, cracking her knuckles again as she glared up at Kokabiel. "And I'm about to give you the beating your father should've given you the second your ugly face came into this world."
"Sick burn…" I muttered under my breath.
Kokabiel's face twisted in rage. With an angry snarl, he hurled a Lightspear directly at Naruko. "Die, you insolent little bitch!"
Naruko didn't even blink. She easily dodged to the side as the spear slammed into the street behind us, exploding into a burst of energy and rubble.
Rikuo and Tsurara screamed and clung to each other. I grabbed them both quickly by their collars and dragged them several meters back, safely away from the chaos.
"Stay here," I said firmly, placing them carefully behind me. "Naruko's got this."
"Are you sure?!" Rikuo squeaked nervously.
"Trust me," I reassured him confidently. "Kokabiel's the one who should be worried."
Meanwhile, Naruko had already blitzed onto the rooftop, moving so quickly Kokabiel was caught completely off guard. His eyes widened in shock as she closed the gap in seconds, launching herself straight at him with fierce intensity.
"What the—?" Kokabiel started, clearly startled. He tried to react, but before he could, three identical copies of Naruko burst into existence around him—one behind, and two flanking each side. The fallen angel spun around frantically, completely overwhelmed.
All four Narukos closed in, unleashing a ruthless barrage of blows. Punches and kicks came at Kokabiel from every angle, battering him mercilessly. Even without enhancing herself further with magicules, Naruko was still a Nine-Tailed Fox demon—and definitely Ultimate-class in raw strength. Her fists struck like hammers, and Kokabiel staggered back helplessly under the relentless assault.
The four gorgeous, fox girls continued beating Kokabiel into submission. Watching Naruko work was honestly mesmerizing. Each punch she landed sent Kokabiel stumbling backward, dazed and completely unable to defend himself. He couldn't even lift his arms to block anymore, her fists were moving too fast.
"Is that really all you've got, crow-boy?" one of Naruko's clones mocked as she drove a knee right into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Another clone punched him squarely in the jaw, snapping his head sideways.
"Damn you—!" Kokabiel spat, but another clone quickly silenced him with a brutal uppercut to the jaw, sending a spray of blood and a tooth flying into the air.
I couldn't help but grin proudly. Naruko was something else. Beautiful, strong, and completely ruthless when provoked. She was perfect. The four beautiful red-headed foxes continued beating Kokabiel mercilessly for another few moments, each strike landing with crushing force until the fallen angel finally collapsed onto the rooftop, groaning pathetically.
Naruko, clearly satisfied, dismissed her shadow clones with a casual wave. They vanished in small puffs of smoke, and she hopped gracefully from the roof, landing effortlessly beside me.
"You did amazing," I said warmly, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her softly on the cheek.
She giggled happily, pressing herself closer to me. "Thanks. That guy was annoying. I feel way better now."
Rikuo and Tsurara both stared at Naruko with open awe, mouths practically hanging open. Tsurara even rubbed her eyes, as if she still couldn't quite believe what she'd just seen.
Before they could say anything, an elderly voice cut through the quiet street.
"That was quite impressive, young lady. I wasn't aware that Yasaka had hidden away another Nine-Tailed Fox. Quite sneaky of her, indeed..."
All of us spun around.
Standing calmly a short distance away was a short old man with an elongated head, dressed in a traditional yukata.
Nurarihyon.
I hadn't sensed him at all. Impressive. "And just how long have you been standing there?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him with a playful grin.
Nurarihyon turned slowly toward me. "Long enough to see this foreign fool try to murder my precious grandson," he replied calmly. His gaze then shifted down to Kokabiel, who was lying unconscious at Naruko's feet, and all amusement vanished from his expression.
I glanced upward as a flash of golden teleportation magic lit up the street. "Ah, shit," Azazel groaned, rubbing his forehead as he appeared in midair along with Sirzechs and Serafall. "We're too late, aren't we?"
"Afraid so," I said casually, waving at my future brother-in-law. "Hey, Sirzechs. Didn't expect to see you tonight."
Sirzechs offered a strained smile, shaking his head as he landed beside Azazel. "We were trying to stop Kokabiel before he caused another inter-pantheon incident," he sighed, clearly exasperated. He eyed Kokabiel's battered, unconscious form on the ground, then glanced at Naruko with mild amazement. "Though it looks like we weren't really needed."
Naruko grinned proudly beside me, crossing her arms confidently. "You definitely weren't."
Serafall glared daggers at Azazel, hands on her hips, making him shift awkwardly under her icy stare. "I told you," she snapped.
"Look, I said I was sorry!" Azazel protested, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "I honestly had no idea he was this reckless."
"Clearly," Serafall muttered darkly.
Before Azazel could attempt another weak excuse, Nurarihyon marched right up to him, eyes cold with barely contained fury. "Speaking of reckless, Azazel—how exactly do you intend to make amends to the Nura Clan? Your subordinate just tried to murder my precious grandson. Surely you know how serious this is."
Azazel paled slightly under the yokai's piercing gaze. "Er, well, we'll discuss compensation, I promise—"
"That won't be good enough," Nurarihyon said sharply. "This isn't something that can be waved away casually."
I felt the sudden spike in tension clearly, like everyone around us was collectively holding their breath. Rikuo and Tsurara shuffled uncomfortably, glancing nervously at each other. I caught Naruko's eye, but she just shrugged helplessly. Politics wasn't her thing either, apparently.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated, a familiar, gentle voice echoed playfully down the street. "Ara...so many distinguished guests have come to Kyoto tonight."
I smiled, feeling a wave of relief as my mother gracefully stepped out of thin air, her presence sliding effortlessly around everyone's senses.
Even Nurarihyon flinched in surprise as Yasaka appeared beside us, her twelve magnificent tails spread out behind her in an unmistakable display of power. Sirzechs, Serafall, and Azazel all stared at my mother, clearly astonished by the sheer weight of power she radiated. It made me grin slightly—my mother always knew how to make an entrance.
The old yokai's eyes widened in shock. He stared at my mother openly, his voice barely above a whisper. "So it's true…" he murmured softly, clearly awestruck. "The rumors were right. The yokai truly have our own goddess now."
Yasaka chuckled softly, neither confirming nor outright denying his words. "Ara, not quite yet, Nurarihyon. Though I appreciate the sentiment."
Serafall finally broke the stunned silence. "Wow, Yasaka! You feel ridiculously strong!" Her curious gaze flicked over to me. "You know, Haru feels much stronger, too. Way stronger than the last time we met."
"I've been eating my vegetables," I joked lightly, unable to resist. "Cooked by yours truly, of course."
Silence.
I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Tough crowd…"
Naruko giggled softly next to me, squeezing my arm gently. At least someone appreciated my humor.
Yasaka, ignoring my failed attempt at comedy, calmly raised a delicate hand. Kokabiel's unconscious, bruised body immediately rose off the ground and floated through the air, landing unceremoniously in Azazel's startled arms. He almost dropped him.
"Please," my mother said coolly, giving Azazel a stern glare, "try to keep your trash in Grigori territory next time."
Azazel swallowed nervously, shifting Kokabiel's limp weight awkwardly in his arms. "Yeah, sorry about this mess, Yasaka. I'll...uh, do better."
Yasaka then turned to me and Naruko and smiled. "You two look adorable together as always. Sorry your date got interrupted by all this. Haru, why don't you take young master Rikuo and Tsurara-chan back to your restaurant for a few hours while the rest of us…discuss everything that went on back at my palace.
"It's a little late, but I guess I can make some coffee." I shrugged and gestured for the teens to follow me.
XXX
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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters on there:
The Fallen Gamer ch 325-329
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 3
The Fox Hole 74
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 2
(New Worm Story) A Systematic Tale: The Hero 1
Thunder and Black Wings 17
The Fox Hole 73
The Fox Hole 72
The Blood Queen 41
The Fox Hole 71
Thunder and Black Wings 16
The Fox Hole 70
The Blood Queen 40
Thunder and Black Wings 15