Extra long chapter.
This is the extra chapter for the reviews posted by Grecoslovitzo and Maoudiablo1911.
Everyone say Thanks Grecoslovitzo and Maoudiablo1911!
With this all promised extra chapters are done.
next, 200 powerstones - 1 extra chapter
2000 collections - 1 extra chapter
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The colourful streets of Urakyoto, home to the youkai of Japan, were set in an alternate dimension tied to the shadows of Kyoto and while it was possible to teleport in, in service of showing proper respect- we were the ones who had come asking for a favour after all- we did not teleport in. Instead, we passed through the Torii Gate of the Inari Shrine outside Kyoto, and made our way through there.
The variety of youkai, coming in all shapes and forms passed by beneath us as we flew over to the majestic Japanese style castle at the heart of it. The entire city sat at the centre of a perpetual Sakura bloom, the fragrant pink petals flying through the air everywhere the eye could see, which when combined with the feudal style structures intermingling with tastefully designed modern additions, gave the city an ethereal beauty.
But what surprised me most was how naturally Dulio was flying. He had been a devil for all of two hours and he flew better than Sairaorg, who had had his wings all his life. That is a disturbing amount of talent right there. Damn cheating bastards. Handsome, great personality, insane talent. He was the perfect package. Seeing it firsthand…
So glad I made him my Queen. What was I thinking trying to wait for Kuroka? She can be a Pawn. I don't care anymore. This talent wasted on a Pawn Piece, even if it were a Mutation Piece, would have been the greatest mistake I could have made.
I could just cry tears of joy right now!
I pumped my fist in excitement as we landed in the courtyard of the West Youkai Faction's stronghold to the beckoning of tengu attendants. Kitsune serving girls escorted us to the audience hall, as we, kids all, took in the surroundings with marvel.
My father looked down at us and a soft smile bloomed on his face before we arrived at our destination.
The wide, ornate sliding doors opened and before us sat elevated upon a step, a beautiful woman in a red kimono and ornate pink obi, with her blonde hair tied up with an amethyst and gold hairpin, designed like a stalk of chaffed grain, each grain set in with a ruby. Her eyebrows in a Hime-style, same as her hair, quirked up seeing us enter, and a pretty little smile crept up her face- cordial, yet revealing her hidden and sharp canines beneath- and behind her, her nine golden- and insanely fluffy- tails rose, swaying side to side in a peacock-like display of utter cutenes- Ahem, I mean regality. Yes. Regality.
"Lady Yasaka." My father gave a small bow and we followed, with much deeper ones out of respect as practiced.
"Lord Phenex." She greeted us likewise, and craned over her neck slightly, one arm supporting herself upon the table set before her, "And your little hatchlings… except one of them appears different from the other two~"
She teased as easily as she breathed, her fox ears twitching with mild delight.
"Lady Yasaka, please do not." My father warned.
"Aww, you're no fun~" She giggled, "I was merely wondering what the lost former heir to the Bael clan was doing in your company~"
"Getting his recompense." My father answered coolly, and Sai reacted to it with sourness as practiced, "An unfortunate accident due to lack of oversight on our part."
"Ah, I heard." She observed him more carefully now, "No bruises leftover? You must have really gone all-in on the Phoenix Tears. They are scary, are they not? The Bael clan. For you to come here shaking in your boots~"
"Just an apology as is due to their station." My father shrugged. The careful cover we were maintaining unstained.
"And how may I aid the esteemed Phenex clan in this deliverance?" She asked, interested.
"We come here today, seeking your favour in pursuit of two requests. And we offer a price that is more than fair for either." He walked forward and pulled out a crate of Phoenix Tears- eight in total, a rather precious sum- before placing them before her.
Her eyes sparkled upon seeing the vials, anyone could see she barely held back her excitement as she casually picked one up and glanced it over.
"Speak and it shall be done, Lord Phenex, within reason." She finally spoke, her tone changed.
"First and foremost, we would like your introduction to an instructor for learning Touki and Senjutsu." My father replied.
"For the little prince-no-more?" She asked, her tone light again.
"For all of them." That seemed to surprise her a little.
"Ara ara~ You're looking to spend big in my city this time, I see~ How nice of you!" She said, with a fake swoon, "But it is a shame, we are not quite as warlike as we appear. Our skills in Senjutsu, ah, they have depleted~"
Oh, she's really having her dose of fun with us huh?
"Lady Yasaka." My father said sternly, but he too knew why she was doing this.
She did not want to be involved in any political fallout that may occur as a result of it. Especially not so soon after her husband had passed away and her seat wasn't as secure as she would like it to be.
"But!" She raised a finger, and slowly lowered it pointing at my father, "You are in luck. I happen to be acquainted with a Senjutsu expert, right over on the East Bank."
And she's thrown the problem across the river.
Well, fair enough. I would have done the same.
"Her name is Magari, an old hag of a cat, but very skilled in instructing the younger generation~" She said, and picked up her pen, writing us a letter of introduction, "She should do you perfectly good."
My father did not argue. We had thought it would go something like this.
He took the letter and thanked her for her grace.
"And your second request?" She asked, when a little ball of floof exploded from behind the curtain on her backseat, landing right into her lap.
"Mama! I'm back from my lessons!" The little ball of floof in question unfolded and took the appearance of a scraggly little fox girl, still dressed in a loose fitting yukata that looked more like pajamas than learning attire, with some liberties taken for her tails.
"Kunou!" Yasaka huffed in frustration, picking the girl up by her scruff as an attendant came rushing in.
"Lady Yasaka, Young Lady Kunou-" He kneeled down when he saw the little fox in her mother's arms.
"Is already here." Yasaka completed the sentence for him with a disappointed look.
"I'm sorry, I should-" He started but she cut him off.
"It's no matter. Go back to your duties." She waved him off, and turned her attention to the little girl in her arms.
"Kunou-chan, you can't just barge into Mama's office when Mama has visitors. How many times have we discussed this?"
"I didn't know!" The girl defended.
"Because you never stand still long enough to listen." Yasaka gave her a no-nonsense stare.
"Ehehehe~" The little fox giggled and Yasaka sighed.
She turned to us and apologized.
"I am deeply sorry, Lord Phenex."
"I understand, Lady Yasaka. I too have a daughter her age." My father gave a little courteous chuckle.
[A/N : So I miscalculated Ravel's age. The little twerp that looks like she'd be in elementary school in DXD is actually 16 years old in canon. Only one year or so younger than Rias. What the actual fuck? Her actual age right now is actually a little over four years old. Kunou here is a pre-kindergartner, just shy of 2 years old, and I'm already pushing it with the ages. My bad, guys.]
"Kunou, say hello to our guests." Yasaka turned the little fox to us and the adorable little fluff ball waved both of her hands and legs, her tails wagging like a puppy.
"Hello everyone!"
I could just feel Yasaka die of embarrassment inside. Or was it cuteness? Simply indistinguishable. Utterly adorable.
Yasaka let out a small giggle- cuteness it was! - and pulled the little fox back into her lap, one arm wrapped around her to keep the little ball of chaos contained.
"What was your second request?" She brought us back on track.
"We would like to hire an Ungaikyo." He replied.
"An Ungaikyo?" Her eyes wandered to Dulio, as he was the most logical choice.
"I am sorry for your loss." She spoke with sincerity and turned to my father, "I apologize if I am overstepping but I had not heard of any deaths in the Phenex clan?"
She was probing now. Curious little fox.
"I would like to keep it private for now, my Lady. The wound is still fresh in his mind." That should keep her coming up with theories for days. More misdirection.
"I understand." She signalled one of the serving girls, "Go contact one of our Ungaikyo. Posthaste."
"You may borrow a room for the service." She signalled another serving girl to lead us out to it.
Ungaikyo. Cloud mirror youkai that could show the past and summon the spirits of the dead for a limited time to give closure to their loved ones still in the mortal realm.
Very useful to have, especially when recruiting orphans.
Within minutes of us settling into the room and setting up anti-scrying wards, a youkai dressed in white robes with a silver and blue lining appeared before us, but where his head should have been was a puff of clouds and mist orbiting a round, bronze mirror that looked downright ancient.
"Please check and tell us if any of the wards will hinder your abilities." My father said as he entered and the man did a once-over of the room, before replying.
"None I see." He sat down before us, "Who do you wish to see?"
"Before we begin, I would like to make a contract with you. To keep everything that is about to happen here a secret." My father placed a vial of Phenex Tears on the table.
"It is not necessary, Lord Phenex. I-"
"It would please me greatly, if you accepted this humble request, sir." My father said with no uncertain tone.
The man gulped- how that was possible when you have a mirror for a head and clouds for neck is beyond me- and hesitantly took the vial, storing it away in his sleeves as the contract settled upon us.
"We didn't have to do this today. We could have-" Dulio suddenly spoke up, nervous.
I placed an arm around him and comforted him.
"It's okay. They're your parents. They won't hate you no matter what." I rubbed his shoulder, and spoke in a soft tone, "And besides, think about it from their perspective. They must be so worried about their son, wherever they are. Do it for them. So they can rest in peace. Okay?"
Dulio looked at me for a moment and fell into thought. A beat passed, and then he looked up and nodded.
"Please place a drop of blood-"
"I have heard it can be done with a lock of hair as well." My father cut him off.
"Uh, y-yes. Of course. A lock of your hair should do fine too."
Crafty little bastards.
"Blood is powerful, especially when it comes to magic." I explained to Dulio, "Never give it to someone you don't trust."
Dulio plucked off a few of his hair and I burned the few that fell off with them.
The Ungaikyo took them and stated his disclaimer.
"Remember, you can only talk to them for a very short time. Please keep your messages brief." He said as he burned the hair himself, with a whitish-blue flame that flowed like water and inhaled the smoke.
"I would like to talk to my mother and father." Dulio said as he looked into the mirror.
"The more people that are summoned, the shorter the time. Be careful." The Ungaikyo gave one final warning before the surface of the mirror rippled like water and from the mists emerged two faces.
"Is that you, Dulio?" His father asked.
"My little sunflower, are you-are you here too? Where are you?" The mother then spoke.
Dulio choked up, hearing his parents voice again and tears began to pool in his eyes, when my father stepped in.
"Hello madam, sir. Your son is not in there with you. He is safe, he is alive. He survived. We have summoned you to talk to him one last time. Please be careful with what you say. These may be the last words you speak to him forevermore."
"Who might you be sir?" His father asked.
"I am his new adoptive father. I know I can never replace you but I will try my best. But I am not the one you should be speaking to. Time is running out."
They nodded and turned to him.
"Dulio. My boy. I am sorry I couldn't be there to see you through. I am sorry we couldn't protect you. I-"
"I miss you so much!" Dulio cried out, "I-I miss you both. Every night I see you, in my dreams, mom, dad, I-"
"Oh, my dear boy, we miss you too. We love you so much. We couldn't say it enough last time but-" His mother sniffled, trying to reach him through the mirror in vain. Dulio moved forward and touched his forehead to the mirror, gripping it's sides in his hands as he sobbed.
"I should have sold the farm and moved away Dulio. I am so sorry. My boy, my pride…I robbed you of our love. Please, forgive me." His father too broke into tears.
"I-I killed people. I killed them all, those people- they…" He choked on his sobs, "I feel like I am a bad person…I failed you. If I hadn't stopped listening, If I had done something earlier-"
"Its not your fault Dulio. They were bad people. You are not like them. You are a good boy. Remember it. You are a good boy. You did nothing wrong." His father understood the assignment.
"We could never hate you. We just want you to live. To be happy. I'm sorry we couldn't do it with you. But don't let that stop you. We will always be in your heart, always be with yo~~~" The mists began to fade and Dulio began to cry louder.
"Mom! Dad! I will come save you. I promise. Please. Please, just wait for me." He broke down, his head sliding to the bottom of the mirror as he nearly yanked the mirror off the clouds, his voice softer with each word till he devolved down to whispers.
I knelt down beside him and pulled him into a hug, caressing his head gently, as he wept into my shoulders.
"You'll see them again. I promise. You'll see them again someday." I whispered to him, "I'll make sure of it. Trust me."
And he nodded silently, just soaking in the hug as he softly cried his eyes out.
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Dulio's loyalty get!
Touching reunion and Dulio's resolve for the future.
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bye~