Chapter 12: 12
Both Mio and Maria slept in late the next morning, allowing me a rare opportunity to experiment. I was a pretty good cook in my last life, nothing fancy, but a good home cook. I am curious if my skills have translated over and if anything extra came with them.
I go a little overboard for the spread, not too crazy, but we'll have leftovers. I do a quick taste test and am satisfied with the results. "Not bad," I say out loud. "Quite good, in fact. Though I'm pretty sure now that I don't have any Soma Yukihira in me."
I set the table and cover the dishes, so everything stays warm. Sitting at the counter in the kitchen, I remember the cake I bought. I never got to have a bite. I pull a piece out and sit back down to try it. I raise a bite to my mouth just as the two bleary-eyed girls walk in. I pause, mouth open and cake poised to be devoured, look at the girls and ask. "Would you like some more cake?"
The girls tilt their heads to the side, confused at first, but realization soon dawns. Maria hides a smile behind her hand while Mio turns pink, probably remembering licking the frosting off my chest. I pop the piece of cake in my mouth and smirk. Mio's embarrassment is reaching a climax, but before she can boil over, I nod my head in the direction of the dining room. "Come on; I made breakfast already. Let's eat before it gets cold."
Maria's eyes went wide at the spread. "You made all this?" she asks.
"Does my dad seem like the kind of guy who cooks a lot? This is a survival skill."
We sat down to eat, and after a moment, Mio perks up. "I-it's actually good," she says.
"Mmm," Maria mumbles.
"I'm glad you like it. Go ahead and eat up. There is plenty."
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Once breakfast is cleaned up, we get ready and head to school. I remind Maria to contact her family, and Mio and I go to class. The day passes relatively uneventfully and so do the next two. However, I did notice that a certain petite white-haired girl seemed to be following me around. I guess Rias is more interested in me than I thought if she's sending Koneko to spy on me.
Maria and I rotate patroling the area to get rid of manifested demon beasts at night. I use this as training to shake the rust off and to practice with the Boosted Gear. She naps during the day, while I nap while she's on patrol.
To alleviate the damage to our sleep cycle, I create an ability to double the effectiveness of each hour of sleep we get. Using 'Bestow,' I granted to Maria and create one for myself as well. All told, it cost me seven hundred fifty LP. Good thing I got a shit ton from the other night.
[LP Remaining: 10650]
I'm tempted to create Astarte's Favor, but I elect to hold off since new and interesting things may be happening soon, and I might need those points for something else. In fact, whenever the opportunity pops up over the next few days, I take a few minutes to pamper my favorite loli succubus, just a little.
The downside, or maybe it's an upside, is that Mio is becoming a little jealous. I think Thursday night almost pushed her over the edge. I had about an hour before I was heading out to patrol and had pulled Maria onto my lap to cuddle a little. My hand had made its way under her skirt and brushed the fabric of her panties over her vulva lightly.
Goosebumps rise on her arms, and I smirk at the slight quiver that runs through her. She leans her head against my chest. "You're so n-naughty, big brother."
My fingers slip under the elastic and glide across the smooth skin. Maria lets out a moan as one finger brushes over the clitoral hood. Mio, who had been doing everything in her power to ignore us and watch television, get's up suddenly and walks out of the room.
Maria watched her go with a sad look on her face. "Poor Mio. Big brother, why don't you play with Mio as you do with me? Don't you like her?"
"Of course, I like her. I love both of my cute little sisters," I say as I nuzzle her earlobe. "There are two reasons I don't do this with Mio. The first is that Mio would resent it. She's hiding from her desires by believing they are the product of the Master-Servant pact. So, while it is acceptable to be forced into intimacy and desire by the curse, she couldn't hide from her feelings anymore if she was to make the choice herself. It's the same thing when you talk her into some lewd action. Someone else is choosing for her, so she doesn't have to. She'll never grow if her choices are always made for her."
While I'm talking, I still slowly stroke up and down the clitoral hood. Maria's panties are soaked, and her breathing haggard. "O-okay. W-what is- the s-second re-reason?"
"The second reason...," I say, increasing my pace pulling a moan from Maria's mouth. My other hand starts sliding under her shirt and up her smooth skin. "is you, my sweet little sister."
"Huh?" It's more of a grunt than an actual question as my left-hand squeezes her bare breast as she asks.
I nibble on her earlobe a little before I answer. "You, Maria, are always so concerned about others. I have my sources, and I knew a bit about you even before I even met you." Those sources being a couple of seasons of an anime and a wiki page.
"You've taken on a lot of blame that you had no choice in," I say. She flinches a little. I bite gently on her neck to distract her before whispering. "You give so much of yourself for others' happiness. I want you to feel happiness. I want you to feel love."
"I-Is that why you always sto-stop us when we try to bring you pleasure?" she asks. Her eyes are closed, and she struggles to maintain a fragment of composure.
"Partially, but I'm not entirely without desire myself. Let's just say it satisfies my ego and my desires to bring a beautiful succubus to the heights of pleasure. I love to feel you climax against my body. It's like a drug watching you cum. So, when we finally are ready to take the next step, when I finally bury myself in your tight. Little. Pussy," I growl. She turns her head to look at me with hazy lust-filled eyes as my fingers work against her clit and nipple. Then, with our lips a breath apart, I whisper, "I want you to remember that I want to feel your pleasure, and I love to feel you cum."
My lips graze hers, and my tongue flicks out to brush between the two, and just before I crush my lips to hers, I squeeze the nipple and flesh above her clit and say, "So, cum for us both."
[LP Gained: 750]
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That wasn't the only gain I made over those three days. Right now, I was sitting at twelve thousand LP, more than enough for what's to come in the next couple of days... I hope.
Friday afternoon, I'm staring out the window during a break, thinking about how to handle the upcoming plot. Mio and Yuki are watching me like I might disappear any minute. Most of the rest of the class is reading or talking to friends. The girl that's a side character from High School of the Dead is flirting with Rei's boyfriend, Hisashi, while Matsudo and Motohama are trying desperately to check out her legs. She's helping by slowly hiking her skirt up. Any higher, and she'll expose her underwear.
"Yo, Ise," Yahiro says from the doorway. "The teacher asked you and the class rep to visit the faculty office."
Lillith gets up from her desk.
"I think he wants help moving some boxes from storage."
As I stand up, Yuki also stands up and grabs the edge of my sleeve. "I'll help too. It'll go faster that way," she says.
Mio is flustered for a moment. "Okay," I say. I turn to Mio. "Do you want to give Maria a call so she can walk home with you?"
I notice a light pink glow around her neck and remember this scene. Mio stands up, saying, "I'll go with you; four hands are..." She gets dizzy, and I catch her as she collapses.
"Mio!" Even knowing it's coming doesn't mean I like it. I'm trying to change Maria's mother's role sooner rather than later because I don't want to see the girls suffer like that. I lift Mio into a princess carry and look at Yahiro. "I'm taking her to the nurses' office. Let the teacher know," I say and start walking. The rest of the room is silent as I walk out.
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"Anemia," the nurse says. Chisato Hasegawa, one of this school's nurses and a total smoke show. As for the diagnosis, bullshit. Mio has been suppressing her curse for the last several days since she started feeling jealous of Maria. Yuki volunteering to go with me to help the teacher probably triggered her jealousy again, and this time it was for my past with Yuki. Pretty easy to read.
"She's got a slight fever, but she should be fine with a bit of rest," Chisato says. The things I remember reading that Basara does with this woman are a little freaky. I'm already feeling too much body dysmorphia from being in this new body; adding a second penis or whatever might be too much. Maybe I can create an ability for a sexual psychic projection to handle some of her desires in the future.
"Mr. Toujou?" Chisato says. I must have drifted into my mind too far and got distracted.
"Sorry about that. I'm just a little worried about Mio," I say.
"Hmm. I heard you made an enemy of all the boys in the school on the first day, playboy."
"So, the faculty heard those rumors too, huh?" I say. "What can I do when I make enemies without intending to?"
"You should build up allies."
"Easier said than done when the entire male student body-"
"It's not a matter of quantity. It's the quality of your allies."
"Hmm." I nod.
"Don't misunderstand me. Don't separate quantity and quality when you're weighing the scales."
The loudspeaker tones, and someone calls for Chisato to come to the faculty office.
"Huh? That time already," she says. "Sorry, but I need to step out for a meeting."
She rummages through her pocket and tosses me the key. "Lock up when you leave. You can return the key later. I'm Chisato Hasegawa, by the way, a school nurse. Issei Toujou, consider who your allies and enemies are when you act," she says and closes the door.
Mio's eyes flutter a little as she starts to come to. "Hey, Mio," I say, smiling down at her. "Are you feeling a little better?"
The pink glow from the Master-Servant pact mark and the sharp intake of breath says probably not. "Would you like me to grab you a drink?" I ask and start to get up.
Her hand grabs mine, and she looks up, her eyes pleading. "Please... Don't leave me alone."
I reverse the grip and take her hand, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. "Of course, silly girl. I'd never abandon you," I say with a smile. I try for heartwarming, but it probably came out patronizing. Hopefully, my Mask of Thespis helps smooth it over.
I call Yahiro to let the teacher know I'm still with Mio and then let Maria know that we might need to shift the patrol to the school tonight. I finish the calls and smile back at Mio. "All set," I say. "How are you feeling? Are you going to be alright?"
"I think I might have calmed down some," she says, laying back with her eyes closed.
"I'm glad to hear that," I say. "So, what happened? The curse doesn't trigger unless you're thinking bad things about me, right?"
"I-I didn't..." she pouts.
"It's alright. I'm right here."
"I-I know, but what happens... if you're not."
I smile. "If something happens, and I'm not there, I trust you to protect yourself. You're stronger than you think. And just know, if it is something that you can't handle, I'll be trying to get to you the whole time, and then we can face it together."
She watches my eyes looking for who knows what.
"Why don't you get a little more rest," I say.
She nods and turns on her side. The turmoil bubbling inside.
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A little later, with Mio resting comfortably, I decide it's time to forward the plot a little. I've avoided Mio getting in any fights thus far, and she needs a more serious workout. Yuki and Lars should give her the reality check that she needs.
I walk out to the drink machine and call Maria again. "Hey, are you near the school?"
"Yep."
"Good. Can you get to the roof but keep your presence concealed?" I ask.
"Um... yeah? What's happening?" She asks, concerned.
"Two parties are making a move. Unless something goes completely wrong, don't interfere. Actually, record it if you can. "
"Hmm? What's your plan?" she asks.
"Mio's been doubting herself a bit. She's going to have to fight sometime, and I'd rather her do it where we can control the outcome. Remember, don't intervene unless it looks like Mio is going down. I will probably take a pretty nasty-looking shot in this. I'm doing it deliberately to draw out any third parties that show up. Don't react; I'll be fine. It's part of the plan."
"Third parties?"
"There are a bunch of supernaturals in this school. No telling when one will get frisky or bought."
"How do you know so much?"
"Because your big brother is very resourceful when he needs to be. Now, hurry up. It's almost time for the party to start."
I click the phone off and grab water from the machine. Looking up, I see Yahiro walking towards me.
"Oh, it's you, Takigawa," I say with a friendly smile.
"Don't look like you've seen a monster," he says.
'Nope, just a demon,' I think.
"Hey, thanks for taking care of the teacher for me."
"Who cares? More importantly, how's Naruse?" he asks.
"She's fine, just feeling a little stressed being in a new school and all."
"I was surprised when she suddenly collapsed. Her face was bright red. She seemed awfully embarrassed."
"Yeah, she was probably thinking something unflattering about me. No biggie. Here, catch," I say, tossing him the water bottle.
"Oh, speaking of which, Ise, did you see Nonaka?"
"Not since class."
"That's strange. She left saying she was going to check up on you two."
"Oh, that's nice of her. Maybe she's with Mio then. I'll head back," I say, but as soon as I take a step forward, the lights go out.
"Whoa, a blackout!!" he says. As if he didn't know, and he doesn't even have the Mask of Thespis. Demon beasts start to manifest a little ways away. "W-what's going on? Hey, Ise?"
"I'm gonna check on Mio, Yahiro. I'll see you soon," I say as I move and slash my way through the beasts. I should probably clarify something; Demon beasts are not really demons. They don't look like the demons from the anime, and they are more shadow than flesh, and they don't do well in sunlight. They look more like a cross between the Hollows from Bleach and the Grim from RWBY, and demons sometimes bind them to do their will to act as shock troops.
It makes a bit of sense; with populations in decline, the demons are probably not eager to send their soldiers to die in swarms. Moreover, the demon beasts have slightly above animal intelligence, so tactics are minimal, and they reproduce by replication after feeding on enough soul energy, whether human, demon, or other. That's why they're attacked to Mio. She's like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Following the plot, I run back to the infirmary to confirm that Mio has left her bed. I'm sure by now Yuki and Mio are arguing about who is taking advantage of me and who is not respecting my choices, and who is a burden. Basically, poking each of their own insecurities and jealousies. I'm siding with Mio here. It is my choice, and I'm happy to make it, but Yuki is serving her purpose here as well.
Mio needs this fight. She needs to reconnect with the stakes of this battle. She needs to reaffirm that she can fight. She also needs to blow off some steam. And she needs the reminder to push herself further.
I arrive on the roof just in time to hear Yuki say, "You have no idea how cruel it is to make Issei wield his sword!" and charge at Mio.
"Enough!" I yell. "What are you doing, Yuki? You're her observer; this must be the strangest observing I've ever seen. And Mio, remember what we talked about, you can't make enemies of the Hero Clan." It was an incongruous statement that was aimed at several people all at once. I hope they all got the message.
"I..." Mio started.
"What's the matter, Mio?" I ask.
"They were talking about your past," Lars says. I roll my eyes a little. This was going to be annoying. 'Wise Man, create a C-rank Regeneration ability. I'm going to need it.'
[Regeneration (C)
This ability allows the user's body to repair damage in a matter of minutes. However, this ability does not regenerate severed limbs or prevent death from a lethal blow such as beheading or destroying the brain or heart.]
[LP Remaining: 10500]
"When did he?!"
"You're exiled from the Hero Clan! And you're protecting the daughter of the previous Demon Lord? What an intriguing tale."
"Well, I'm rather fond of her, and she's pretty cute," I say. Yuki turns towards me a little, but I stay focused on our masked fiend... er friend. Eh, a little bit of both, I guess. "So, I'm guessing the demon beasts were your doing?"
"Issei? What demon beasts?"
"Just some cannon fodder. No need to worry," I turn slightly to Mio and wink. Mio blinks for a second, and then her mouth forms an oh. I think she understands that Lars is trying to sow doubt in Mio's heart. We've been careful to make it look like Mio isn't aware of our nighttime demon beast roundup.
"Indeed. It's pointless worrying about it now. In these past few days, he's wielded his sword in battle many times." As he says that, I blade my body, right side forward, and draw out the Boosted Gear. Let's give him a little love tap for being a dick.
"Huh?" Mio says either playing dumb or just confused by the original plot and our current situation. I'm hoping for the former.
"Every night, until dawn," Lars says with ominous intent. I'm so glad I bought the Mask of Thespis, or I'd have pissed myself laughing.
"What's he talking about, Issei?"
BOOST!
I leap at Lars sword out, and he predictably counters with a blast of demonic energy. "Now, n-" At least he tries to. I cut through the demonic energy and use the momentum of my slice to throw a left hook into the side of his mask. I'm a lot stronger than the original Basara, especially with the extra Master-Servant bond with Maria and the Boosted Gear.
When the demonic energy was leveled at me, the girls got nervous, and both shouted my name. It was a pretty strong blast, but his plot armor isn't as strong as mine is. This is my story, and I'm issuing a few rewrites.
BOOST!
I leap back, not looking for the kill. Lars isn't all bad, and I may need him later.
"Ow!" he says, getting back to his feet. "It was for your sake."
Seriously, that didn't knock him out of the plot lines? Maybe I rattled his head too much.
"The power you inherited from the previous Demon Lord draws stray, demon beasts to you. If those were to begin harming other humans, the Hero Clan would determine your existence to be harmful," he says as I make the hurry-it-along motion with my hand. "and upgrade you from a target for observation to a target for elimination. Once you become a target for elimination, you wouldn't be allowed to live even though you're a former hero. That's why that woman told you to leave him," he rambles, causing Yuki to frown in annoyance. "Well, he and that succubus at your side have been hunting strays every night to keep that from happening."
"Finally," I say with a groan of exasperation. "Thanks for that Captain Exposition. She already knows. We've discussed it and have enacted a plan to alleviate the problem. It's called looking further ahead than your nose."
In the original story, they treat Mio like a child and hide the truth of the situation from her, and while that is not unwarranted, it is also without merit. Building trust is not done with secrets and lies. Fucking idiots. I chose to boot that nonsense right in the nuts and tell her to get her shit together so we can be stronger faster.
BOOST!
He's about to say something stupid and piss me off. "Naruse Mio, your existence is to blame for it-"
"Dragon Shot," I say, firing a high-energy blast into his chest sending him flying. Monologue on your own time, asshat.
The shadow at Mio's feet starts to coalesce, and I know this is going to hurt. A demon beast that looks like a reaper forms behind her and swings a scythe-like appendage. I grab Mio and spin with her, letting the edge of the scythe slice the skin of my back. It hurts like hell but looks worse than it really is, as the blood splatters and I fall atop Mio to a chorus of "ISSEI!!" from the three girls on the roof. Maria accidentally let loose a scream as well. I just hope no one else noticed her since the other two yelled as well.
In the meantime, I'm going to stay right here and play dead on these extra comfy plush breasts Mio has so graciously provided.
"No! Issei. Hang in there," Mio says, and I pinch her leg a couple of times to let her know I'm alright.
Lars picks his heavily damaged ass up and limps back to the front of the elevated edge he's been standing on. His mask is cracked, and his clothes are all scorched. His ear is burned, and some of his hair is still smoldering. I look like a million bucks next to his Kentucky fried ass.
"T-though he was a member of... the hero clan, he was- but a ruined one in the end," he struggles to say. "He was... ow- more fragile than I expected."
I do hope that Maria got this on video. I want to laugh at this later.
An enraged Yuki suddenly bisects the reaper demon beast. "I'll never forgive you! How dare you!!" she yells and slashes, but unlike in the anime, Lars has to use his magic to actively block the attack. He's too fucked up to dodge.
BOOST!
"O-oh, you're not bad," he says as he struggles to block her next attack. "You need to treat him soon, or it might be too late for him." He doesn't sound like the confident demon here, more like someone desperate to distract a predator.
Frustrated, Yuki jumps back down to check on me. Such a sweet girl. Lars is still stuck in his dialogue. "Do you understand?" he says. "This is the result of your decision. Will you involve others, get them hurt, and still continue fighting your futile battle to carry out your own revenge?"
"He's such a blowhard," I whisper. "You're not listening to his shit, right?"
She shakes her head barely as Lars continues his speech. "However, depending on your decision," he says as dark energy coalesces around him. "All of this could end in an instant."
The dark energy closes around Lars, and he's gone. Yuki leans in to look at my wound, and I say just loud enough for her to hear, "Hold on for a second. Don't move."
After ten seconds, I open my eyes. "I guess no one else is coming this time," I say and sit up. "You can come out now, Maria."
Maria comes running out and leaps onto me. "Are you okay? I know you said you were going to take a shot, but I didn't think you were going to take a sword to the back."
"I'm fine, and it was more like a scythe, really. Barely scratched me," I say.
"What was that all about?" Mio says, punching my arm, tears in her eyes. "I thought you were really hurt."
"I'm fine, but I am glad to see that you care about me."
"Who cares about you?!" she shouts in tsundere. "If you pull that crap again, I'll kill you a hundred times."
Ah, closure.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sue_D_Nymn
Sue_D_Nymn Oi, this was a long one.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone