Chapter 13: The Hatchling's Steps

"Meow," the kitty cat did that thing it did as it wandered around the room. I was a bit hesitant to pet the cat and even now keep it, but the words of my senior told me prevented me from abandoning it. I wanted nothing to do with cats right now especially since I started training under one, if you could call what I suffer through training. It's more like torture and death by the hands of a loli from one of my hentai nightmares or in one of my fucked up games. Now that I think of it I have way too many of them.

I chuckled a bit at this. I've so many of them because of my earlier interests.

I looked out my window and saw the sun about to fall. The sun's coloration was that of blue and black instead of the normal red and orange I can remember of the days before. It's strange and awesome and crazy that the sun can change colors like this. It's not normal but senpai told me that normal is an illusion spawned by denial. The "Eyes of Truth" that Jäger possess reveal that which should remain hidden, or something like that. I had a normal life of taking pictures, spying on innocent girls, and failing most of my school classes like an idiot. Such a simple life really. Now that I think of it I should've been more focused on my studies just like my… master? Senior? Handler? I'm not sure what senpai should be to me. He calls me his little hatchling all the time which is weird. Weird but not that bad I guess. I've heard a few times that he's a dragon, but he looks human to me. He walks like a human, talks like a human, and can fight like a badass so I don't see where the dragon stuff starts. He doesn't even breathe fire.

"Meow," that cat made that noise again as it hopped from one desk to the next and examined the room.

What am I supposed to do with a cat anyway? Senpai told me that cats are a medium or something like that and I haven't really gotten a chance to ask him what he meant. He left school early again with that one cute blonde girl he has around all the time. I can't blame him for that though. That girl, she's so freaking cute and amazing. She feels nice to be around despite being a devil and it's almost gross being around other devils.

I sighed at the shift of my deposition towards those things.

I used to love Rias-chan. She was so beautiful and amazing and sexy and beautiful… wait I already mentioned that.

"Damn it!" I cursed and ruffled my head within my hands. Senpai warned me repeatedly about devils and the tricks they play and play them she did. Rias has talked to senpai on multiple occasions about something about peerage. The student class president would talk to him about it as well. I'd never talk to the class pres unless I had to. She was a bit of a bitch when she doesn't need to be. I think the only reason anyone outside of my two friends talk to me is because of senpai. The pres talks to me about him and asks me questions. Rias comes to be and talks to me same with that big breasted second of hers Akeno. They question me about him and then try to recruit me despite me being a Hunter now. Or a hunter in training. Or whatever I am. It's fuzzy now a days.

I took a breath and fiddled with my knife a bit. I sat it on the tip of my finger. I balanced the knife and smiled as I successfully kept it still.

I've practiced this exercise for hours a day to learn stillness as senpai would call it. I have to learn to be both movable and unmoving. Still but active. It makes no fucking sense to me. Most of senpai's lessons make little to no sense, but I know that I'm learning something from him. I fought a fallen angel not too long ago and survived. If that was senpai fighting it he'd destroy it with a gun in one hand and death scythe in the other. I wish I could be that bad ass and have a kick ass weapon on top of that. Not like in Final Fantasy where the sword is so large it makes you feel like your compensating for something, but a weapon that's subtle but effective. His blades Love and Hate, the names are cheesy as hell and a bit cliché, but awesome and fit him so well. He has an arsenal of different blades and a couple guns to use for himself but never gave me one. He handed me two knives and a book to write in but that's it. Not much help there.

I flicked my knife and watched it spin around my finger as it reflected the light from the sun coming through the windows.

School ended about ten minutes ago but I've remained in my seat alone and safe. I've never like to be alone until I became whatever I am now. I find solace in the fact I can have these few quiet moments to myself. My sleep is plagued with fucked up nightmares, I see the true faces of things in this school I never though possible, and I've been hunted by a monster or two every other night. I ran for a long time until that angel came around and realized I can only run for so long. I had to stop and fight against the overwhelming odds. If the main characters of Dark Souls 1 and Bloodborne can do it then so can I. If senpai can fight a god and kill one like in God of War then I can adapt and overcome against the odds. If I can survive a full powered punch from senpai's cat warrior there's little I can't manage. Koneko-chan hits really hard.

I flicked the knife upward and caught it by the grip.

I need to learn beast taming like Kiyome Abe. Senpai introduced me to her and told me to learn from her which I have. He tells me to learn from every monster I come across and to learn from the many humans in the school that have knowledge over the supernatural. Senpai also tells me to find a medium as well. Something to keep me grounding being why he told me to take this cat as my own. I don't like cats.

"Meow," the cat made that noise again before jumping on top of my desk and stared up at me. It made that noise again as if expecting something from me earning a frown. This cat was very special. It's unlike any cat I've ever seen. It's got one eye that's blue and the other is gold. It's fur is white with a brown painted head and tail. That cat was a kitten not too long ago but grew up really fast. I took a picture of it not to long ago with my phone to look up what the internet says about it. It's a bob tail or something like that and supposed to be very intelligent. Senpai told me it's a make shift clock. How can cat be a clock in the first place? It's an animal!

I sighed and shook my head. Senpai is smarter than I am. I ask these questions and the answer is always obvious in some way. I hate waiting though.

"Meow," the cat made that noise again and even sounded impatient.

"Sorry kitty I just don't know, ya know." I said to the cat desperately. I'm talking a cat right now and it's crazy but so is the fact that angels, demons, monsters, dragons, and elvish spirits exist. I don't get it mostly but maybe that's the problem. I think more than I do. Maybe I should do more than I think. Something like that. I've had this cat for a week now and it's been with me at school, in the bathroom, during gym, and all hours of the day. I don't understand why senpai has me taking care of it but its for a reason like everything else.

I rose my blouse up and sheath my silver knife next to my black iron one. I probably shouldn't be messing with my knives much at school. Senpai tells me to stay busy at all times whether through blade play or something more mainstream. Senpai told me music is a great way to stay in control being why I got an iPhone and downloaded senpai's massive music library. He has a strange taste in music.

The cat just stared at me for a couple moments and I sighed. "Okay fine." I rose my hand and pat its head gingerly. Cat purred from my touch and leaned into it. "I feel you're probably my only friend now a days," I admitted to my cat. "You don't hit me, throw me around, or require something of me like that others." I stroked the cat's fur. The voices began to fade away a bit the more I did it. While I don't like cats the voices get annoying and this cat has made them quit faster than before. Voices that tell me to kill, stab, and on occasion decapitate.

I scratched my chest over the bandages. My chest hurts all the damn time because I'm surrounded by monsters but sadly its not the worst of it. Senpai told me that the worst is yet to come, and I thought he was talking about the training, broken bones, shattered ribs, and touches of death to come every other day from my injuries. I thought he meant the brand on my stomach burning almost all the time like a hot iron on my skin. I thought he meant getting torn apart by his pet when she wants to relieve some stress. The physical pain is nothing compared to the agony I suffered that first day and the dreams after and even that wasn't the worst. I thought it was but...

I was dead wrong.

The pain isn't spawned from the brand or any physical threat here. It's from within. The thoughts I have and the dreams that plague me are terrible. The fact that I have to shoulder this weight alone and hide this from my family sucks. I'm drawn into temptation every single day and the struggle of rejecting her and them all isn't easy. Ever since I got close to senpai I've had to be deal with those that want to get close to him as well. It sucks.

"Meow," the cat rubbed my chin with its head and I laughed a bit.

"Why do I feel like you're gonna by like my familiar later in life like that Ravel girl is to senpai?" I chuckled a bit. Senpai told me that a hunter doesn't allows an entity that isn't human to get interpersonally close to them unless they're the most impressive being within their hunting ground. That or the being has equal potential compared to the Hunter. Senpai doesn't have an equal from what I've witness of his power level using my scouter sight thingy I can do. He's like level 80 when he's calm and… the Gremory is 25 at most. Ravel is 45 and Class pres is 35. It's strange to see and gauge the levels of people I meet but it helps figure out how to Hunt a being. If I tried to Hunt senpai I'd be killed in under a second. Hell with a flick of his wrist. I'd never overcome him for as long as I live.

"Meow." I leaned back as the cat rested in my lap.

"I really don't like you," I smiled at the cat. One I've yet to name now that I realized it. Well maybe I will someday. "Let's get going. Maybe see what senpai is up to after clubbing," I suggested. The cat looked at me disapprovingly as if telling me not to bother. It's strange to show up at his place suddenly, but I can feel him in my brain. I felt senpai just moments ago. Not his power but his influence. When he released his power in the school before and the entire school almost dropped to their knees before it. At that moment I knew that senpai was in trouble. Since then the Gremory has been hounding us both. Just moments ago my brand glowed. He's released his power once more somewhere and it was… amazing. His level jumped from 80 to 100++ in moments. He's hunting something or he's got plans he's keeping from me. He always does that. He's playing chess in his mind and adding pieces as he loses them.

It's... interesting.

"Maybe we can get a harem going like him eh," I said to the cat but it just purred as I stroked it's fur. "Yeah, you're right. I can't wait for that. Get some hot babes to surround myself with," I smiled at that thought of it. Senpai has so many girls around him and many more to come I bet.

"Hyoudou!" I jumped and shot my eyes towards the door.

"Crap," I sighed at the girl that walked through the door with a wooden sword in hand. She stomped up to my desk and glared down at me. I felt the sensation of needles under my skin under her gaze. I brought but feelings of irritation in my being to the point I almost wanted to stand up to follow suit. I'd never hit a girl in my life and never planned to. But prey doesn't have a gender. I pat my cat as I matched her glare with a growl moments from flowing up my throat. I could see myself now jumping up into action and taking this girl in moments. I could see her movement from one step to the next almost. Senpai always told me that to level the paying field against beasts and prey if overwhelmed. Hunters have the foresight to see your foe act two steps or less ahead. It could encompass anything from the twitch of a hand, slash of a sword, or blink of an eye. No matter what it still helps.

"I've been meaning to talk to you," she spat almost to the side and made me almost frown. I understand that I've made some mistakes in the past and let my inner pervert come out a lot before but still the stares of disgust and disappointment are getting old. I'm getting tired of it and it's been so little time since this started.

"What's up," I put on the best smile I could make and the girl frowned at me. My smile waned a bit more from this.

"Naethens senpai, where is he?" She asked leaning in towards me.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully with a shrug. "He does what he does best," I said nonchalantly.

"Tssk," she clicked her tongue. "Can't you be useful for once," the girl from the kendo club muttered and that didn't sit well with me.

I took a breath and said, "I guess not."

I turned away to gather my things. I put my books in my bag along with my notepad for the sequel of our book we released. Senpai and my 'friends' and I got some pretty good recognition from our book and our club is going well. I have more friends and people to talk to but still have to deal with the main force of pervert haters in the school. Kendo club, chess club, table tennis club, and finally the judo club. They provide the most opposition and they happen to have members with the most popularity. Class pres is the captain of the chess club even though senpai beat her in it. I was able to win in chess against a few members but class pres checkmates my ass in four moves with ease. I'm still not sure how she does it.

"You guess," she scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah pretty much." I stood up from my seat and slipped my cat into my bag. The cat rested in my bag with it head sticking out from the top. Most people believe I have a stuffed animal instead of an actual cat and it works out perfectly. I have my little guardian with me like senpai prefers and I continue on with life.

"So," I said brightly with a grin. "I'm out!" I walked away from the girl and she suddenly jumped into face. It was so sudden as well it made me jump back a bit.

"You're not going anywhere yet. I have questions," she stressed.

"I don't have answers," I shrugged. "I don't know anything," I reinforced my state of ignorance.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask," she argued. I tried to walk past her and she rose her sword up to me. I stopped and stared at it for second before allowing my eyes to flow towards her brown ones. She glowered at me and excited a feeling of dread and a call to action within me that mirrors hers. I felt her intent. Senpai taught me about different variations of intent and the colors behind them. Red for an aggressive intent and blue for one of desire. Green is compassion. Black is for intent born of curiosity and discovery. Interestingly enough I see all of these swirling around her. The one that's making me itching is the red though. It's overshadowing the others.

"What do you want from me," I faced the girl whose name escapes me.

"What happened to you?" She asked me suddenly. That wooden sword of hers rose up until the tip was resting against my throat. I saw flashes of the Sai monster a night back and moved my hands up. I caught the sword in my hands and twisted then flipped it up over head. I caught it in hand and tossed it way from me across the class room. The girl's eyes widened in shock at that move but it was something so simple and basic that it shouldn't be seen as impressive in any way. I didn't mean to react like that, but I don't like anything pointing towards me in an aggressive way. It makes me twitchy and brings up bad moments.

"A lot happened ya know?" I walked past the girl to the door out. "Cya," I waved back to the girl before exiting the room to get to the club room aka the library. Our little book club has a cute girl as our president that senpai chose himself to be in charge. I like her but she's got the biggest crush on senpai though, such a shocker. I did my best to avoid the monsters in this school, but they persisted with hunting me. Senpai told me for the next month or near future I'll be some manner of beacon for the many beasts and monsters in the school. They can see me, and I can see them until I can contain myself. Until the blackened veins under the bandages around my neck fully regresses. I'm still a Tyro until these veins sink in. I'm visible until I'm fully a Jäger like him. I'm a walking dinner bell. So we created a club to help me find a role and gain magic powers over the masses. Not sure what he meant though.

I walked up to the door to the library and opened it right up. I looked around and found myself under the visual intent of eleven people within the library and their eyes flowed towards me. I grinned at them all and walked in. "H-Hello Issei-kun," a meek voice that sort of reminded me of those adorable girls in anime whispered towards my direction. This one girl named Fūka sat quietly in the center table with a large cart of books behind her. Out of all the girl's in this school she's the only one senpai doesn't handle. He has no desire or plan that she's a part of. She's the only girl he talks too without holding back. I'm not sure what makes her more special than anyone else around him. He shields her from the eyes of the monsters in this school, and even told me to watch out for her in case something happened.

"Sup Fūka." The bluenette sighed when I acknowledged her brightly. She wasn't the prettiest girl in the school or the class's like the rest of the girls. Her grades aren't that great and barely scores higher than me. She's constant in her color though. Purple is her color at all times and its never wavered from this. She's a pure hearted girl without an angle and to be protected for some reason. Funny thing is that she's an exchange student from somewhere. I'm not sure where.

"Do you know where Naethens is?" One of the members with glasses and old school showa pig tails asked as she wrote in her notepad.

"No Aika I don't," I shook my head.

She clicked her tongue and turned her head away from me. "It's boring without him here and his impressive masculinity," the chick drooled a bit and I grinned at her. She's been an awesome friend since she joined the club. "But you're not so bad yourself though Issei," she noted while giving me those sex eyes that senpai talks about right at my groin. "Yours is growing like everyday somehow. Started not too long ago." Back when I took in his blood. I'm becoming a man forcibly when I should've started so long ago.

"Thanks, I work out," I joked.

"Yes you do," she agreed. "But it's not because of that." She went back to writing in her note pad or perv pad as we sometimes call it. The book club is also in line with the journalism and newspaper club. Every member is a little too clever for their own good sometimes.

"Captain," one of the members called while he rose his hand suddenly after. His eyes were on me primarily. I'm one of the captains of this club since I'm one of the more prodigious members of the combined book club. I'm one of the best writers as well.

"What's up brother," I said as I walked into the library to the head table. Matsuda and Motohama happened to be here today as well. I haven't seen them around that much lately.

"What's the topic for today? It's your turn," he asked.

Oh right it's my turn to pick a topic to talk about. I forgot all about that. "Uh," was the most intelligent response I could come up with and sadly it's the most I can think of on short notice.

"On interjections?" One of the members asked but I shook my head.

"No lets go with… uh damn." I dropped my bag on top the table.

"Meow!"

"Oh shit," I cursed and opened it up. The cat within glared at me angrily if that's even possible. "S-sorry." The cat climbed out of my bag for everyone to see.

"Still got that cat man," Matsuda asked.

"Yeah, senpai wants me to keep it near me at all times. It's worked out so far right cat," I dragged my hand across the cat's back and felt it lean into my touch. "Apparently cats are the bridges between this world and the underworld," I thought on and smiled. "And that's our topic for today!" I announced to the club with my arms spread out wide for all to see. "We will discuss cats and their link to the supernatural world. I brought our friend here to help us with that for a bit."

"That or you're a witch," one of the male members sassed and I grinned.

"Hey, that's a secret so keep it down," I rose my finger to my lips.

"So you're a witch and a monster hunter," Motohama muttered and making my sigh.

"Yes I'm a witch with a white cat and a monster hunter with twin dagger and a gun. I also wear a trench coat with a hood in dark Victorian fashion at night whilst hunting said monsters," I said seeping with all the sarcasm in the world.

"I believe it. The captain is the second to Commander Naethens and he's a beast and a hunter," one of the male said next.

"Yeah you're basically his disciple now Captain," one of the girls said full of envy.

"You and General Nakai," another member drew her eyes towards Fūka who buried her face into her book a bit further.

Everyone smiled her way as she shrunk down a bit under our gaze. "Our fearless four star hiding away from her soldiers," Aika dragged herself towards the girl and placed an arm over her shoulder. Captain Aika is a badass and I respect her. She's smarter than she needs to be sometimes. "Don't be afraid today's topic is cats, cat mania, cat demons, and even the devil cat. From what I heard that pussy has some claws," Aika said this with her glasses sparkling my way and I looked away. It's common knowledge that Koneko is a freaking sadistic kitty with fangs, claws, and a hatred towards men. She's the death of anyone that threatens her master and anyone targeted by her. That person is me during physical training time and every other day after school.

"You take too much pleasure out of my pain," I cried and snort a bit.

"Hey don't cry," Aika shot to her feet and wrapped her arms around my neck. My face dropped down into her chest and I smiled into it. "Man up instead bitch."

"Uh," I dropped to the ground from a sneaking knee attack to my chest. That was a Critical hit and dropped me down to the floor in seconds. "God damn it," I groaned from the floor. I deserved that, and it didn't really hurt that much but the surprise is what got me.

"Captain's down," I heard laughter around the room.

"Bite me," I yelled and climbed up to my feet. I wiped my chest and stood before Aika. She sneered at me and I scoffed. She sat back down with her captains blouse on. I sat down as well at my chair but not before slipping on the captains blouse hanging off it. "General we're ready for discussion and the continuation of our current novel. As it sits we've completed 78% of the novel but missing two pieces being the spirit animal and the fate of two side characters. We've yet to find the necessary support to fashion a sequel for this current book." I reported.

"The current topic is cats commander in the book we have lined up on the new sections of the story we might be able to implement it," the second captain out of three reported with the second being Aika. "If not there we can move into the portion of when the knight goes to hell Dante's Inferno style. We couldn't make a cat the spirit animal that Captain Hyoudou mentioned but we can use butterflies to tie in the Taiga scenes."

The general dropped her book and took a breath. Her general's coat shined in the sunlight. Suddenly the purple coloration around her body emboldened and grew. She can be a nervous wreck at times and very meek or weak. Once the military ranks and stuff gets involved she has a tendency of changing a bit. Her eyes turned sharp and I slide my chair away from her a bit. "Excellent mine own warri'rs of the crusade," she spoke in that weird accent. She put her elbows on the table and intertwined her fingers with it over her nose. She dropped her chin a bit until her bangs shadowed her eye. The four stars on her shoulder patch seemed to glisten in the ambient sun light that creeped through the windows. An almost authoritative aura filled the air and with it a powerful and deepened version of that previously quiet and soft voice.

"Thy w'rk all endues pride from thy motivations. Captain Tadami thou report prithee," the general made her order known and our last Captain rose her chin from the opposite side of the table in front of me.

"General from what I've complied from the current sales of our book and the support from the "Loveless' in the field we might need to add two cliché romance pairs within the current confides of the pages or an outer story. Either way we've have a steady stream of information and control over what circulates throughout the school especially during the times of our confessional," my sister captain reported.

"Excellent. Inf'rmation tis key. Warri'rs thy controleth ov'r inf'rmation, minds of the masses, solidifies thy presence."

I smiled a bit at her words. It's so simple. We provide assistance in the form of healthy romantic advice but first we have to know what and why. We have to know the person inside and out same with the person they have an interest in. Senpai isn't The Hunter for nothing because this was his hunting ground and slowly but surely took advantage of the most overlooked clubs in the school and combined them together. Thanks to the backing of the student council president we pulled in the combination of the journalism club, newspaper club, and our newly formed writer's club into a single book club. We control the flow of information. We control the people willing to give their hearts to us because of what we know.

We have our journalists acting as detectives to find individuals of note to develop our codex on them powered by Captain Tadami. We have the newspaper club who spreads the articles found and help promote the school and its clubs boosting our support with Captain Kiryuu at the head. We have our advisory branch that work within the confines of confessional booths and not so private discussions headed by myself which helps control the perverts as well. Closet perverts are welcome to talk t us and many do. It's been crazy once we started this but once we got the system down it's been… man this school is fucked up it's that simple.

The purpose of the books we make is for funding and to predict the actions of the masses to draw their attention where we desire. The first book that Senpai and us of the Perverted Trio created was the building blocks of this and worked well at getting our name out there.

"Cats though," one of my officers being my good friend Matsuda questioned and I shrugged.

Motohama is part of the journalism branch since he's a professional stalker at heart. Matsuda is a good talker so he's under me in the writer's and advisor branch of the house. The club is small, but our reach is far and our reach is vast. The student council don't know a thing about us and we aim to keep it that way. Senpai lite the spark that is our club and was in charge of it all but soon handed it to Fūka instead. He acts as the advisor for us when we have questions on which direction to go and his answer is always the same.

"Go underground," I said with a shrug. "Cat's are tied to the underworld and to the supernatural. They are tied to gods of many mythologies even the Christian one. If our current book is going to involve knights and hell on earth a cat is a given same with butterflies," I agreed with Aika who smiled at my support. Our motto go underground means we have to stay subtle and inconspicuous. We stick to the dark. To most of the school all we do is talk to people and release written material for people to read. We need to keep it that way especially when the school festival kicks off soon.

"Agreed. I have a lead on a dragon in the school," Captain Tadami reported next.

"Dragon?" The general asked and even I grew a bit curious. There's a dragon here other than myself and senpai? If anyone would know it'd be Kamo. She's good at what she does. Secretly I think she desires to have what makes us dragon. If anyone can become a dragon and not be born with it its her. She's got the ambition and the determination to do it despite being pretty badass exorcist. She can try to be less serious most days though.

"Yes general," Kamo confirmed without going into specifics. Only a few of us know that monsters exist. Hell the general doesn't know or understand what we actually do. All of this is role play in her mind with the belief we just make books, newspapers, and articles. Man, ignorance is bliss. She's the best leader we have and with all the books she's read knows how to lead a criminal or underground syndicate without realizing this is exactly what this sort of is.

"Need assistance or maybe a quest planned Captain Tadami," I asked playing the role of a knight captain like I usually do. Man manipulating people is painful on the heart.

"I'll let you know and bring in wayward sons and daughters for you to council later if you don't mind," Captain Tadami suggested that I pool my resources away from my body for an unplanned interrogation of the people around this dragon of hers.

"Hell, why not!" I threw my hands up in surrender.

"Control thy self and language Captain," my general ordered, and I cringed.

"Sorry General." I let my arms drop back down to the table. Even though this is all role play and the like we still have to follow the rules.

"I've gotten some word out about the kendo and judo teams and their part the coming competitions. We have a booth close up on the action," Aika smirked at her side. "The flora teams have sent requests for us to provide them suppliers same with the tennis club. We're submitting articles now. I've gotten a good grasp on my agents moving through the maze. We're almost to the finish line."

I perked up at this. "You've almost found it?" I asked excitedly. Finally it's about time! Aika to the rescue.

"Yep. Give me two more suns and I'll give to ya all," she announced.

"Hm," the general hummed and drew our attention to her. She suddenly stood up with her hands behind her back. She slowly stepped in a manner like she wanted to walk around the table with her back straight and dignified in almost every way. She plays her role as general well for someone that doesn't understand anything us in the branch are talking about. We captains know everything and only three other members do as well. My two friends are the happy few and one of Aika's understudies. We all have one.

"Everyone," the general dropped the accent. "We are doing a good job changing the school and bettering it for the future. We are a crucial piece of what keeps the cycle of light and dark spinning in the school without us there'd be chaos and as it stands it's controlled chaos, but there's still more for us to do. We have conquered a decent portion of the school and have sizable influence." She stopped at her chair and faced us all.

"We still need more!" Her voice projected outward in a roar that trumps a lion's.

She climbed up her chair and stepped on top of the table. "We must be equal to that of the student council if not better!" She roared like a lion with a voice that blasted us back. "Remember that we have a mission and we have a role and together we can solidify our futures and the impending calamity to come. And its coming. And when it does we!" The general spread her arms out almost reminiscent to that of a cross and looking upward to the heavens. "We will be ready and willing to snuff it out. Live in that light before," she dropped her hands and looked to the table. "Returning to obscurity."

"Fall back down to the dark but stay the course," she said to me and I nodded.

"Find your dragon and take what's yours." Kamo nodded as well.

"Circumnavigate through the maze until the end." Aika fixed her glasses with a smirk.

"General ma'am," of the newspaper branch rose their hands.

"Yes," she faced the member.

"When I can meet Naethens-senpai?"

I blinked at that and until I drew my eyes to the person and my mood dropped. "You've got to be kidding me." That kendo girl from before was here sitting down at one of the tables. A non-member is hear witnessing out little meeting and discussion and it had to be that girl from before. What the hell?

"Who are you," the General asked as she faced the woman with an fierce glare setting the house on fire with its intensity. "And why did the meeting start with unplanned extras!" All eyes shot towards me. It's my job to start the reports and only when all members are present and non-members are expelled.

"She's uhhh," I cleared my throat a bit. "She's just a girl that's looking for senpai for something," I said honestly with my chin down.

"The Commander?" Captain Tadami rose an eyebrow before turning her attention to the girl. She looked towards her photography expert and nodded to him. The glasses guy rose his camera and took a picture of the girl.

"Hey dweeb don't take pictures of me!" The kendo girl shot up to her feet.

"Forgive us," the general walked up towards the extra and down upon the kendo club. "Name thy self," she commanded drawing out the intruder's confusion.

"She means," I stood up to my feet. "State you name and your business for being here."

"What? Why does that matter?"

I sighed and pushed my chair first before walking up to the girl. She gripped her little sword tighter. "Because if you don't I'm going to have to insist you leave." I grinned at the girl. I'm not the easy going guy when we role play. I'm a ruthless tyrant with a desire to hold told dominion over all. This girl is one of the all I will control.

"You think you can make me," she challenged.

I chuckled a bit with a shiver running up my spine. "Sweetheart," I smirked at the girl. "I know I can." I stepped up to her and the girl stepped back involuntarily. I'm Captain Kidd right now and a savage. While playing our roles sometimes we lose ourselves in it.

"You don't want that," Aika sang with a sinister smile on her lips.

"You really don't. The Captains is our enforcer for a reason," said one of my guys with an eagerness in his tone.

"And I'm more hands on so please give me an excuse and not follow the orders of our General in her domain. It won't work out well for you," I said with my hands at the ready.

"F-Fine!" She girl stepped back from me. "I'm Murayama. Murayama Sendo okay. I'm part of the kendo club."

"We already know that," Captain Tadami announced after all we know all of the kendo club. I know that she's got a large crush on Kiba as well just from a talk she's had with my branch once.

"Sure, but better to hear from the horses mouth right," Aika said.

"Agreed," the general said. She walked down from the table and walked back to her seat to sit and wait for this to unfold.

"So you're reason of being here," I questioned.

"I just want to see Naethens-senpai."

"Why?" I continued.

"Because, my captain wishes to speak to him. Now where is he?"

"For one you don't demand from us," the general sighed and waved at me. "Captain Hyoudou you may escort her out."

"Yes general," I said gladly.

"What! Little Fūka trying to kick me out. You've some nerve! And don't you touch me pervert!"

I grabbed her shoulder hard and pulled the girl towards me. She winced from the pain which I ignored. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"Ah! Let me go you damned pervert!"

"Nope." Instead I dragged her to the door out and pushed her out the library. "Bye bye." I closed it shut and sighed. "Goddess above," I muttered. Then I smacked my head from that stupid goddess stuff senpai brings up all the time. For a guy that doesn't like gods he sure does like to mention one all the time. Who is that goddess he always mentions anyway?

"Return to the meeting table please," I heard said my way.

"Ah, yes general." I said and quickly returned to the table.

She sighed and rubbed her head. "For right now this meeting is adjourned. Return to your duties." The general stood from her seat. She reached up and pulled away her General's coat and hung it on her chair. Just like that her color turned more transparent as her role faded away. The oppressive atmosphere faded away and many of us could breathe. That was insane and difficult. It never gets easier as well.

"Welp," Aika resounded as Fūka went back into her book. "Let's get to the cat portion. I got some good stuff lined up."

"Sounds good," I said lightly as I took my seat.

"J-just make sure you put the books away before you leave," Fūka muttered with her face deep in one.

"Of course. I'll finish my article first," Tadami opened her note pad and started writing.

"We have about ten books on cats and their relation to mythology ready," said one of the members under Kamo.

I was about to speak until I felt something my way. I drew my eyes to the door and sighed. "Oh come on," I muttered once I saw red eyes and red aggressive auras through the doors. One happened to be kendo girl.

"Uh oh," Aika grinned at me. "Someone's in trouble."

"Shut up," I moaned. I stood up and grabbed my bag. My cat jumped from the table to the bag and slipped inside was I faced the horde.

"She has gotten a bit desperate lately," Tadami said with her eyes still on her pad. "The commander isn't giving her attention so course she'd grow restless. Last time was during valentine's day after all." And that was more than a month ago.

"I'll handle this… I hope." I gulped and walked to the doors.

"Good luck Issei. You know the kendo club hates you the most since that one strap and decker incident."

"It's not my fault half the team lost there clothes!" I defended myself to the empty eyes of the occupants. "Okay, it might've been sort of maybe my fault but to be fair it wasn't alone in it!"

"But you're the only one caught afterwards and got the most peeks in," Aika reminded me with a smirk on her lips. "And then the commander had to come and save your ass from being emasculated, eviscerated, and your head put on a pike. Didn't he dual two of the Angels of the Ring for you."

I felt my stomach sink at the reminder. Senpai has saved me more times that I'd like it's to the point that I feel like my life belongs wholly to him. Some days it's hard on a man's pride. Aika is right though even though she rides me more than anyone else. I need to man up and own up.

"Meow," my cat made that noise again but I understood it.

"I know. I've been smacked around by girls since I started high school. I'm sort of tired of it." Senpai never lets a woman control him. Influence the odds and some of his small time decisions sure, but never control him. Nothing can control him. I need to be like him after all he's my… master.

I walked to the door without hesitation slid the door open. What greeted me were four of the kendo club members of three Angels. Damn they mean business then if they brought in the heavy hitters. "Ah," I cleaned my throat a bit with a promising smile on y lips. "How can I help you…"

"Shut the fuck up for one," Rika the Angel of Peace growled at me. Tanned skin, blonde hair, purple make up, blueish eyes, and hot as old hell stood before me. She was by far the tallest of the seven angel and I think very much pissed off that she has to deal with me again.

"I really rather not see your face anymore than I have to," the next angel spoke in a soft and blank tone. It's almost like the one senpai has when he's not hunting. He changes when he hunts. Her name is Grace and happens to be from America of all places. Angel of Standard. "So tell us where Ledger-senpai is."

"I don't know," I looked around the group a bit. All of them are armed and the red in the air is hallowing. Senpai told me that the powers we gain are meant to shape up for the hunt that means becoming empathic towards prey. Everything is prey when you have the capability of hunting them. When you don't it becomes an obstacle. We don't like obstacles.

I gauge the girls around me and could feel it all stacking up against me. I'm about level 16 at the moment but can reach up to 25 without use of my sacred gear. I don't know how to use it anyway so I guess it works out well enough. The level builds the more players are added to the field. So far I see only five that are a threat and cause the level to spike. The remainder are more a negative than a positive that can be wielded against them.

"You can say that to our captain then," Rika spat out before grabbing me by my collar. My hand came up and pinched the upper portion of her hand and fold of it and twisted. Her grip paled in comparison to Koneko's. Her grip is nearly impossible to break, but I've grappled her only to get my ass kicked every step of the way but failure is how you improve. I pushed and girl away after twisting my hand and stepped back. Suddenly the weapons of the girls around me rose and I reached into my blazer. I need to hunt again it…

I stopped just shy of gripping my knife and grit my teeth. Damn it I did it again. Reacted without meaning to. It hard to fight the urge to at though when threatened. I don't like to be touched to much as well and I made sure to make that known. "Lead and I'll follow. Please don't touch me though. You might catch my hold of my allure," I grinned with my chin cupped in my hand.

"You damn freak," Rika spat at me while she tested her wrist and I frowned.

"Lead the way," I said merrily. "I'm under your control." I rose my hands up in surrender. I felt something poke my back and force me forward a bit.

"Move it," one of the girl growled at me. They all kept their hands tight on their weapons.

"Sure," I grinned and walked forward. If senpai can face this club directly in know I can. This could be good training… I hope.