Chapter I

Greetings and salutations! The next story in my series of reboots is Gremory's Guardian. Now I do not have many explicit problems with Gremory's Guardian, and there is no guarantee this reboot will remain. Most of what you read before will be there, some changes are inbound of course, but the biggest change as that Fate/Stay Night and its compatriots are being replaced with a different facet of the Fate franchise, so be on the lookout for that. The main character is still Basara, it is still a harem story, and there will still be lemons. The same lemons you read will be there, though they will be slightly altered so as not to be a total chore to get through, and I may even add some new ones along the way. I am writing this over a period of time, but as you will all see it I plan to upload the chapters of this story over the next few days until Gremory's Guardian and Gremory's Guardian: Redux reach the same point. I intend to ask for the opinion of you, the readers, for which story should be my main focus when it comes to Gremory's Guardian, or GG as I call it. But, that said, on with the show!

In a wide, open abyss, a tall, stone, grey castle stood, sticking out from the abyss.

At the top, a young man with short, messy, spiked, brown hair that was parted to the left side over his dark green eyes, with several scars on his face, sighed as he stood next to two figures.

The first was a tall, large, red-scaled, reptilian beast with massive wings, green eyes, and golden horns.

The second was a young woman with long, calf-length, light blue hair that flared out in wing-like shapes near the ends, her straight-cut bangs ending just above her dark purple eyes, wearing a short, sleeveless, black dress that clung tightly to her moderate bosom, with a pleated skirt, and blue and purple armored corset over her dress, matching, shoulder-length gauntlets, and equally matching, thigh-high armored, high-heeled boots.

The young man sighed heavily. "Will they ever stop…?"

"I'm telling you that is garbage!" the dragon howled.

"You're a stubborn old lizard, Ddraig!" the woman chided.

"And you're a stupid Valhallan! Bologna isn't meat, Brunhilde! It's a poor man's substitute!"

Brunhilde huffed in dismission. "It is muscle tissue carved from the body of an animal! That is what meat is you stubborn oaf!"

"If it is it should taste like it! So you're stupid and a prude!"

The woman, Brunhilde, twitched an eyebrow. "Prude?!"

"You heard me! You are a ppprrruuudddeee! And you're supposed to be from Valhalla of all Realms!"

Brunhilde huffed as she folded her arms under her cleavage. "Merely because I hail from a land of brigands does not –!"

"Shut up!" the young man shouted as he suddenly awoke in the passenger seat of a car.

"Uuhh… I didn't say anything, Basara," a new voice commented.

Basara looked to the side and saw an older man with short, messy, spiked brown hair, more unkempt than Basara's own, with dark brown eyes and multiple scars on his face, wearing a white dress shirt, dark grey pants, and black shoes. Basara sighed as he turned to the man. "O – Oh, uh, sorry, Dad…"

The older man chuckled lightly. "Were they arguing again?"

Basara sighed with a groan. "Yes… this time about bologna. It seems like that's all they do. Wish I knew how to get them both to just stop."

"Cook for them? Sleep with them?"

Basara lurched back in response. "H – Huh!? Not only are both of those things physically impossible, just, no!"

Basara's father shrugged in response. "Ah, well maybe your new little sisters can help."

"Right…" Basara answered, unconvinced. "Actually, speaking of which, where'd you even meet this woman?"

"This 'woman' is your new stepmother, so have a little respect. And we met at the supermarket."

Basara's brow flattened slightly as he deadpanned, "For some reason I'm not surprised. At all…"

Ddraig hummed in thought.

'Something wrong?'

'Just wondering if she can cook. And failing that, ask Jin what her three sizes are.'

Basara sighed heavily. 'Of course… If it isn't food it's sex. You crazy dragon.'

'Shut your maw!' Brunhilde interjected, appalled. 'That is private information!'

'Just shut up…'

'Why? Scare she'll outclass you Benny?'

Brunhilde huffed in derision. 'She is just a mere human. I am a Valkyrie. And don't call me Benny!'

Basara sighed in exasperation.

Basara and his father, Jin, sat at a booth in a small restaurant, waiting for others to arrive.

Ddraig growled with delight. 'Such good smells… Order something with lots of beef and sauce.'

Brunhilde sternly objected. 'No! Keep it light, otherwise all that muscle will turn to fat.'

'Not when you exercise! Besides, light foods lack tasty protein!'

Basara dropped his face into his hands as they continued bickering. 'Please just shut up! I swear if you don't I'm not getting a dessert!'

'We'll stop!' the duo instantly shrieked.

"So…?" Basara muttered in thought. "When will they get here?"

"Soon enough," his father replied.

'I'm bored,' Ddraig grumbled.

'Then molest Beni or something,' Basara retorted.

'Hey!' Brunhilde shouted desperately. 'Don't throw me under the bus here!'

'Then find a way to keep her entertained.'

'See if the waitresses will give you their numbers, since they don't seem interested in taking your order.'

'I don't even have a cell.'

Brunhilde sighed heavily. 'Ignore that oaf.'

'Ignore the prude.'

Basara looked over the menu in thought. 'Hm… the dessert's looking a little pricey.'

The two bickering entities quickly silenced.

'Thought so.' Basara sighed heavily and then turned to his father. "I need to use the pot."

Jin nodded in understanding and then laughed weakly. "Right. No real need to announce it though."

Shortly later, Basara stood in front of a door to a bathroom and looked around, seeing only one. "Seriously? What kind of restaurant has unisex bathrooms?"

'The hentai café kind,' Ddraig remarked.

Basara sighed again. 'That's not what this is.' Basara then immediately opened the door and saw a beautiful young woman with long, flowing red hair, two pieces tied in pigtails with black ribbons, her bangs hanging down, framing her face, and her fringe ended just between her dark pink eyes, wearing a spaghetti strap, yellow top that was low-cut, revealing a portion of her significant bosom, along with extremely short, jean shorts, and red sandals.

However, the thing Basara noticed mainly was that the girl was in the process of standing up, her shorts partially pulled back in place, exposing her bright pink panties. Her eyes immediately widened in horror.

'Damn that's a nice ass,' Ddraig noted.

'Crap!' Basara shouted in his head, trying to decide what to do, finding only one course of action. He immediately pushed the redhead against the wall and put a hand over her mouth. "L – Listen to me! Don't scream, please don't scream. This is just a misunderstanding, I swear! Now, I'm going to turn around and leave and pretend this never happened, okay?"

The girl nodded slowly.

'It's a trick,' Ddraig warned.

Basara sighed in relief and backed away.

She then took in a deep breath. "PERVERT!" she shrieked before swinging a leg up, hitting Basara between the legs before running out.

Basara turned blue and fell to the ground, grasping his groin.

'Ouch,' Ddraig commented in faux concern. 'Lesson one kid. Never turn your back on a woman.'

Basara, in severe pain, grumbled, 'Why'd she… kick me…?'

'Really, kid? You saw her nearly naked.'

'B – But I told her… it was an accident…'

'So? Tsunderes never listen to reason.'

Jin sat at the table when he noticed Basara limping towards him.

Blinking, his father asked, "Uuhh… what happened to you?"

"Don't ask…" Basara groaned as he sat.

"Ookkaayy…?"

"You're Jin Toujou, correct?" a new voice asked.

Basara and his father, Jin, both turned and saw two people nearby.

The first was a girl with waist-length, straight, silver hair with two large beads on the sides, bearing the symbols for male and female, and her straight-cut fringe ended just before her dark purple eyes, wearing a knee-length black dress with white fringe, a dark brown corset, a matching mantle over her shoulders with a keyhole-shaped buckle, black stockings, and tall, high-heeled, brown, platform boots.

Nodding, Jin answered, "Yes."

'Oh boy…' Ddraig remarked.

'What?' Basara asked.

'Look behind the Loli.'

Basara raised an eyebrow and peered behind the silver-haired girl and saw the redhead he had run into previously, and she equally noticed him.

'Ah crap…' Basara groaned.

The redhead paled. "Y – You!?"

Jin blinked curiously as he looked between the duo. "Oh? You've met?"

'Oh how you met,' Ddraig remarked with a snicker.

The redhead pointed at Basara, her face the same shade as her hair. "Y – You're the peeping pervert!"

Basara flinched as the other patrons of the restaurant began looking at the group. "Sh – Shush! You're making a scene!"

Jin blinked in confusion and then laughed weakly. "Pervert? My son? Are you sure you saw the right person?"

Basara stiffened and the growled. "Dad! You're not helping!"

The two girls blinked in bewilderment and then asked in unison, "Dad?"

Jin then motioned to the duo. "Basara, these are Mio," he pointed to the red-haired girl, "and Maria," he pointed to the petite silver-haired girl, "your new stepsisters."

Basara stiffened in shock.

'Hope she can cook.'

Basara groaned heavily.

"This…" Jin began, "doesn't seem to be the best meeting."

"Understatement of the year…" Basara mumbled.

"I refuse!" Mio shouted as she, Basara, Maria, and Jin sat at the table. "This pervert can't be my new older brother!"

Basara twitched an eyebrow. "How am I a pervert!? It's not my fault the bathrooms are unisex!"

"Why didn't you knock?!"

"Why wasn't it locked?!"

Jin sighed and put up a hand between them. "I think that's quite enough. Basara, it was rude of you to barge in unannounced. Mio, it was unwise of you not to lock the door first. So accept that you're both at fault and move on."

'Like a Tsundere accepts her faults,' Ddraig chided.

Basara and Mio then sighed in exasperation. "Fine."

'Wow… that was easy.'

Brunhilde huffed proudly. 'See? Women aren't all the same you vagrant.'

'You have no idea how wrong you are, black lace.'

'H – Hey!' Brunhilde stammered with embarrassment.

Jin sighed lightly. "Why don't we just enjoy our first meal as a family?"

Basara nodded but then raised an eyebrow. "Wait, where's my new stepmother?"

"She spends most of her time working overseas."

Ddraig remained silent for a moment. 'That sounds suspicious…'

"The others should be here soon."

"Others?" Mio and Basara asked in unison.

"I think you met them before Basara. Iri and the rest"

Basara winced as he remembered who he meant. "I see…"

"Until we get a place of our own we'll be staying with them."

"Who's Iri…?" Mio asked with trepidation.

"My ex," Jin answered bluntly, causing the two girls to flinch.

Basara frowned heavily with uncertainty. "Are you sure it's a good idea to move into your ex's house with your new wife?"

"I'm sure she won't mind…" Jin answered, even Basara able to see his fear.

'This ain't gonna be good. Oooohh… That steak is thick and juicy…'

Suddenly, the restaurant's front door swung open as a young girl with long, waist-length, silver-blonde hair, dark red eyes, and a plain brown and white school uniform rushed in before looking around with anticipation.

'Incoming Loli.'

The girl locked eyes with Basara and rushed at him. "Big Brother!" she shouted before diving at him, Basara barely catching her.

"I – Illya!?"

"Yep!" the girl chirped, hanging from his shoulders.

"Illya! Get off your brother, it's rude," a girl with long, similarly colored hair and matching eyes, a petite figure, urged as she walked in.

"But it's been sssooo long, Sella!" Illya pouted before seeing Mio and Maria. "Who are they?" she asked bluntly.

Basara set the girl down and turned to the duo. "Mio and Maria. My new stepsisters."

Illya instantly stared defiantly at the girls.

"What?" Mio asked with irritation before Illya grabbed Basara's arm tightly.

'She's crushing me…' Ddraig groaned.

'I feel fine,' Basara retorted before taking a bite of steak.

Suddenly, a third girl appeared next to the table, with the same hair color as Illya and Sella.

Basara merely chuckled and took one of the chips from his plate. "Here ya go, Leysritt."

The girl, her expression primarily blank, took the food swiftly.

"So how've you been, Illya?"

Illya turned to Basara with a bright smile. "Great! Well… except for my grades…"

"I see…"

Sella finally felt her patience break and grabbed the girl. "Stop hanging on Master Basara like an animal!"

Leysritt ate from Basara's plate without a concern to what was happening around her.

As the events continued to unfold, Maria frowned with concern and leaned close to Mio, whispering. "I think we might have a problem…"

"How…?" Mio responded, also quiet.

"Those three, They're Homunculi. That man might be more than you anticipated Mio-Sama."

Mio frowned in confusion for a moment. "What's a Homunculi?"

"An artificial human made with magic or alchemy," a new voice added.

Mio and Maria turned with terror as they saw a mature woman with the same, silky silver hair, ruby red eyes, and white skin along with a curvy figure, standing over them with an almost cruel smile, causing the two to freeze with fear.

Jin looked up as he saw the woman and waved. "Ah. Hey. Irisviel."

"Jin," she greeted as she walked up to him. "And you needn't be so formal. You can still call me Iri."

Jin looked over the group with confusion. "Aren't we missing someone?"

"She had to stay behind at school for club activities."

"Ah."

Mio and Maria, meanwhile remained stiff with fear. Illya curiously poked Mio's chest, Sella brashly slapping her hand away, the girl rubbing it with a pout.

Basara, Mio, and the rest stood in front of a large, classical Japanese home with a wide property.

"What's this…?" Basara asked with mild disbelief and annoyance.

"Our new home," Jin answered.

"This is… our home…?" Mio wondered as she looked around.

"For now."

"It's big…"

"It has to be," Iri explained as Sella and Leysritt carried several cases of luggage up to the house.

"Um… do you need –?" Basara began to ask before Leysritt interrupted him with a shake of her head. "Right…"

Illya then grabbed his hand and pulled him into the front entryway onto the main grounds of the house. "Wow… it's even better than I remember…"

"We've made some additions over the years," Iri added.

"Ah…"

"Yep!" Illya chirped excitedly.

"Go ahead and take a look around," Jin urged.

Illya then grabbed Basara's arm with excitement. "I'll show you around!"

Iri smiled as Illya dragged the teen in before turning to Jin. "Jin, I need to speak to you."

"Oh?" the man replied with interest.

"And here's my room," Illya explained as she pointed into the room, Basara laughing weakly to himself as he looked inside and saw numerous DVDs, video games, and comics piled in the room. She then pointed to the room opposite hers in the hallway. "Akeno's room is over there. She doesn't let me go in. Ever."

'We should go in,' Ddraig urged.

'No,' Basara retaliated bluntly.

'Aaww…'

"Come on!" Illya exclaimed as she pulled on Basara's arm. "Your room's over here!" she urged, pointing to a room at the end of the hallway.

"Okay, okay," he chuckled with amusement.

Outside, Mio and Maria looked around the property, the redhead amazed. "This place is amazing…"

"Perfect for a base of operations," Maria noted, Mio frowning slightly.

"Oh? And why might that be?" a new, playful voice asked with mild anger.

The duo swiftly turned with fear.

Basara looked into the dimly lit room with surprise. "It… hasn't changed at all since we left."

Illya, humming to herself happily as she stood next to him, explained, "Me and Akeno-Nee-Chan kept it nice for you Onii-Chan!"

Ddraig's first comment at that was, 'Wonder how Akeno grew up. Probably big.'

Suddenly, however, Maria dove and hid behind Basara.

"Eh? Maria?" he asked with confusion.

"She's scary!" Maria shrieked before pointing nearby.

"Who?" he wondered before looking up and seeing a young woman roughly the same age as Mio with long black hair tied in a ponytail that still managed to reach her ankles that had two long antennae sticking out and sloping backwards along with violet eyes and a bust even larger than anyone else's wearing a white, black, and red school uniform with a shawl and thigh-high stockings.

'Whoa!' Ddraig shouted in Basara's head. 'Look at those bazongas!'

Basara twitched an eyebrow at the dragon's howls.

'Stuff your face in them!'

Brunhilde grumbled in disbelief. 'Silence you incorrigible pig!'

'Says the woman who drools over slop.'

'Shut! Up!'

The young woman smile toward Basara. "It's good to see you again, Basara."

Basara blinked in mild confusion. "Do I… know you…?"

The raven-haired woman pouted somberly. "Aaww… you forgot about li'l ol' me?"

"Uh… huh?"

"Have you really forgotten your Akeno-Nee-Chan?"

Basara remained silent in thought. "… Eh…? … EEEHHH!? A – Akeno?!"

'You shouldn't really be that surprised it's her…'

"So… why's Maria scared of you?"

Akeno merely smiled sweetly. "I have no idea."

Mio then ran down the hall, stopping dead when she saw Akeno. "Uhh…"

"Oh, hey Mio," Basara greeted before motioning to the trembling Maria. "What's up with Maria?"

Mio pointed to Akeno. "She's creepy!"

"Huh? No, she's Akeno."

Mio just stared at him before slumping her shoulders. "Forget it…"

Akeno, returning her attention to Basara, motioned to her room adjacent to his. "My room's right next to yours in case you need anything."

"Right," he answered with a smile, before frowning as Ddraig made its presence known once more.

'Ask for a BJ.'

Basara's face began reddening.

'S – Silence!' Brunhilde snapped.

Akeno blinked in confusion and stepped towards Basara. "Basara? What's wrong?"

"N – Nothing!" Basara answered uncomfortably. "Nothing at all!"

Maria, standing behind him trembling, stop doing so when she sniffed before smirking, causing Illya's eyes to narrow suspiciously.

Soon, the group all sat around the home's dining room table.

"So good…" Basara muttered as Sella set food on the table.

"Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells," Jin teased, Sella pouting in response.

"I made it so it should be."

"Something wrong?" Basara asked as he noticed Leysritt silently poking a steamed potato, the girl shaking her head before beginning to eat it.

Akeno then turned to Mio and Maria in curiosity. "So, who might you two be?"

Jin explained, "They're my stepchildren. And Basara's new younger sisters."

One of Akeno's eyebrows twitched very subtly. "Is that so?"

"Didn't Iri tell you?"

"No," Akeno answered bluntly.

Iri added with an overly sweet smile, "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"R – Right…" Jin answered uneasily.

Illya then piped up, having to pull herself up to be prominent, "Just be clear, I'm Onii-Chan's real little sister."

"And I'm his cousin," Akeno urged.

Jin sighed slightly. "Oy, oy, they are too now. So try to get along."

Akeno's smile remained in place as her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I am just letting them know where we all stand. So let's be 'good' friends, okay?"

"Yeah," Illya added with a smile eerily similar to her mother's.

Mio and Maria stiffened as a shiver of terror went down their spines.

Jin sighed heavily. "Oh boy…" 'This might not end well…'

Ddraig suddenly howled with excitement as Basara ate. 'Damn that maid can cook! The taste and texture of the steak… The way the potato easily merges with the butter… Magnificent…'

Brunhilde sighed in exasperation. 'Well at least he's not going on endlessly about sex…'

'She,' Basara corrected as he ate.

'I refuse to believe something that ugly is a woman.'

Basara sighed as Ddraig growled, knowing there was an argument incoming.

'Well at least I can help him know how to do what needs done! You will never help him in pleasing a woman! You're barely able to please yourself!'

Brunhilde sputtered and huffed. 'Kya! Sh – Shut up you despicable slob!'

'Stop arguing…' Basara pleaded helplessly as they continued.

Illya noticed Basara's occasionally changing expressions with concern. "Onii-Chan?"

"H – Huh?" he stuttered, his focus being brought away from the quarreling duo in his mind.

"What's wrong? Your expression keeps changing."

"Oh. Sorry. It's… complicated. I'm okay though," he answered with a smile.

"If you say so…" the girl muttered, unconvinced.

The next morning, Basara groaned as he awoke, feeling something jostling him. "Geez… what now…?" he grumbled, thinking Illya was trying to wake him. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw Mio sitting atop him, grinding her hips slowly.

Mio smiled with satisfaction. "Ah! You're finally awake!"

Basara remained silent in shock and annoyance.

Ddraig urged, 'See if she'll keep going.'

Basara blinked in bewilderment. "Uh… what are you doing…?"

Mio tilted her head. "Huh? Waking you up. I thought guys liked being woken like this."

'They do but you left his pants on. Also, I'm liking this redhead.'

Mio blinked as she straddled Basara's hips. "I feel something hard."

'Oh she'll feel something hard alright.'

"I – I'm not –!" Basara began to argue.

"N – Not that!" Mio interrupted, her cheeks reddening as she threw his comforter up and crawled under it.

'Hohoh!' Ddraig cheered. 'She's going for it!'

'Shut up!' Basara shouted in his mind.

Mio then sat up, holding a small, purple game box. She looked at it and then turned red as she gasped, dropping the box and falling off the bed.

Basara blinked in confusion. "Uuhh… what's wrong?" He picked up the box and looked at it in thought. "'I'm Going to Take My Real Little Sister's Garden'? What the hell?!"

Mio sat up and scowled at Basara. "I can't believe you! You've just started living with us and you're playing stuff like that?!"

Basara widened his eyes and shook his head adamantly. "N – No I'm not! I don't even play these kinds of games!"

'Which is sadly true,' Ddraig lamented.

"Liar!" Mio shrieked. "You really are a –!" Mio began to accuse before catching her foot on the blanket once more and falling.

Basara immediately lurched forward to stop her from falling but caught his own foot on the blanket as well and landed on top of the redhead.

The door to his room then opened as Illya walked in. "Hey, Onii-Chan, have you seen… my… game…" she trailed off as she saw Basara on top of Mio and simply grabbed the game Mio had found and left.

'Wow…'

Mio widened her eyes and then slammed her knee into his groin. "PERVERT!" she shrieked before running out of the room.

'Damn that Tsundere is quick.'

Basara just groaned as he slumped against the bed. "Geez… what the hell just happened…?"

'Your little sister is a pervert and one of her games got you hurt.'

'Right… just checking…'

Basara sighed as he sat at the dining room table.

"So how's your morning?" Jin asked.

Basara scowled slightly. "Annoying."

"Oh?" Akeno asked with an overly sweet smile. "Point out the bug that's bothering you and I'll squish it."

Basara frowned slightly. '… Is it wrong to actually consider doing that?'

'Remain calm,' Brunhilde commented. 'I'm sure there's an explanation to this.'

'Seriously,' Ddraig remarked. 'And where's breakfast?'

Illya then walked into the dining room, carefully trying to avoid Basara seeing her, which failed almost instantly.

"Illya?" he asked with confusion. "What are you doing?"

"… N – Nothing at all…" she stammered worriedly.

Maria stifled a laugh as she prepared breakfast alongside Sella, Illya immediately turning to her with a glare. "You did it! You took my game!"

Basara flattened his brow and looked at Mio. "You owe me an apology."

"Um… for what?" Jin questioned, Mio stiffening.

"She barged into my room, found one of Illya's games in my bed, assumed it was mine, called me a pervert, again, and then kicked me. Again."

Maria snickered once more before feeling the cold scowls of Iri and Akeno piercing her, causing her to gulp and sweat with fear before Basara grabbed and pulled her out of the room into the hallway.

"Ooh, gonna take me right now?" she remarked playfully with a smirk.

Basara just growled. "What's wrong with you?!" Basara shouted angrily.

"You didn't like it? I wanted to provide it for reference."

"Reference for what?!"

"Fufu, when you have two cute stepsisters, what else would you do but 'train' them?"

Ddraig was speechless. '… I like her. I like her a lot.'

'I'm sure you do, beast,' Brunhilde chastised.

"Or maybe… the game wasn't enough and you want to practice on me in real life."

Where did that come from?!" Basara growled before whacking her with a rolled-up magazine. "No."

"Owie!" the girl whimpered.

"Stop being a pervert."

Jin leaned out into the hallway curiously. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Maria's just being a little pervert."

Maria pouted in offense. "I'll have you know, I'm a big one."

"Ah," Jin remarked calmly. "Anyway, I have an idea."

"Oh?" Akeno remarked.

"Why don't we take a family photo?"

"Sounds great!" Maria cheered.

Basara raised an eyebrow before shrugging. "Sure."

"Then let's head out front," Jin suggested.

As the girls rushed out, Basara followed behind them, stopping when he heard Jin and Iri speaking.

"You sure you don't mind?" Jin asked the pale-skinned woman.

Iri shook her head with a smile. "Not at all. It'd be cruel to punish them for something you did."

Jin winced before chuckling weakly. "You still have that razor-sharp tongue of yours I see."

Iri giggled as well before her expression turned sober. "Though I have to ask, why? Why are you doing this? What reason do you have?"

Jin's expression stiffened. "Plenty. I promised Sapphire I'd keep her idiot brother out of trouble, and now he's gone and got himself killed. So the least I can do is take out the bastard responsible."

Iri frowned somberly. "Of course it's for revenge… that's what it's always been with you."

Jin sighed in exasperation. "Just watch over them. Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving." He then handed a charge card to her. "Here. It's everything I've amassed in my independent work."

Iri's frowned deepened as she accepted the card. "… Thank you."

Basara watched in confusion before noticing they were turning to head outside and quickly rushed to join the others.

"Something wrong?" Akeno asked in concern as he joined them.

"No. It's nothing," he answered briskly.

Out front of the building, Basara, Akeno, Illya, and the rest stood in front of the house.

Basara sighed as Jin set up a camera on a tripod.

Jin nodded appreciatively. "There. All set!"

In response, Leysritt put her head on Basara's shoulder, Akeno reacting as she hugged Basara's arm tightly, burying his arm in her cleavage.

Basara could only gulp in apprehension.

'Easy threesome,' Ddraig declared.

'You are not making this any easier!' he howled before Illya moved to stand directly in front of him, Iri standing immediately behind him. '… This sucks!'

'I'm sure they will.'

'Shut up!'

"And…" Jin noted as he pushed several buttons on the camera, "go!" He then immediately ran behind the others.

Basara sighed slightly.

"Now smile!"

Jin held a roll of film in his hand as he looked at Basara and the others. "Okay, I'm going to go ahead and get these developed."

Basara nodded in understanding. "Right, Dad. See you later, then."

'Gonna cook?' Ddraig asked.

'You only want me to eat so you can taste my cooking.'

'Well duh. Benny does too.'

'Don't lump me in with yourself,' Brunhilde grumbled. 'And stop calling me Benny! My name is Brunhilde!'

'I'll stop calling you Benny when you stop calling me a guy.'

'I'll stop that when you stop looking like a giant lizard and sounding like an old man!'

'Then cut these chains off! And not only that, you're older than me!'

Basara groaned before hearing a knock at his door and turned as Akeno walked in, changed from casual clothing to her uniform. "Huh? Is something wrong?"

Akeno gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Basara, but I have some activities with my club that have just come up, so I need to leave for a bit."

Basara raised an eyebrow in thought. "Huh? Oh, sure." He then furrowed his brow in consternation. "What kind of club is it?"

"It's the Occult Research Club."

Basara flattened his brow. "… Kinda ironic club for you to join, don't you think?"

"If it makes you feel any better, it's just a cover."

"I see. Do you enjoy it?"

Akeno smiled happily. "Greatly."

Basara nodded with a smile in return. "Good to hear. When you get back, want me to clean your wings like I used to when we were younger?"

Akeno smiled warmly in response. "I would love that."

'Then you can eat her out,' Ddraig teased.

'Shut it,' Basara growled.

'Nah. If I don't talk I'll have nothing to do except watch Benny play with herself.'

Brunhilde sputtered and stammered. 'Y – You were looking?!'

'Whoa… I was just joking. I didn't even know you really were. Who were you fingering yourself to? Me or the kid.'

'Sh – Shut up!'

'I'll take that to mean the kid. Now I've got to stay up and see if you rape his mind in his sleep.'

'Y – You're disgusting!'

'And you're a prudish Tsundere with no taste for good food.'

'I do have taste!'

'Then why do you like Dutch chocolate? German chocolate is much better!'

Basara sighed before he heard the house's main phone ring. "Hello?"

"Basara?" Jin, on the other end, asked.

"Dad? What's up?"

"Something's come up with work, so I need to head overseas for a few weeks. Sorry it's so sudden."

"Weeks or years?"

"Huh?"

Basara remained silent for a moment before clenching his fists with a sigh. "… Dad, I overheard you talking with Iri."

"… Ah."

"So… what's really going on here? Who are those girls?"

Jin sighed heavily as he saw no way around the conversation. "Well the truth is that Mio is actually a devil, and is your cousin."

"… Heh?"

'Nice.'

"It's a long story, and one I'd rather tell you in person. But the simple version is, Mio's father was the king of one of the many kingdoms within the Underworld, and he was recently assassinated and his throne stolen. When he died, his extreme powers transferred to his daughter, Mio. So now every power hungry, unscrupulous worm of the Underworld is trying to get their hands on her, literally and figuratively, so they can have control of that power."

"I see…"

"I brought her to Iri because I knew that she and the maids could protect her."

"And me?"

"… I… wanted to leave you out of this fight. Because… I might not be coming back."

"I see…"

"So, protect Mio and Maria, okay? I know they're a bit troublesome."

"I'll do my best, Dad."

"Good," he answered gladly. "Oh, one more thing. I have my old partner heading there to add a little extra security to the place. They should arrive in a couple days."

"Okay?"

'Bet you it's a woman,' Ddraig noted.

Jin added, "Aside from that, Iri and Akeno should be able to handle anything you need."

"Right."

"And try to keep Illya from getting involved with any of this."

"Of course."

"Good. Also, remember to use protection."

Basara raised an eyebrow in confusion. "But I don't have any armor."

Jin just chuckled in amusement. "Of course." And with that he ended the call.

Basara sighed before noticing Mio heading for the front door. "Huh? Where are you going?"

Mio glanced at him dismissively and answered, "These people don't have any good food, so I need to go shopping."

'Blasphemy!' Ddraig hollered.

"What's wrong with the food?"

"It's all meat."

"… You're a vegetarian?"

'Couldn't tell with bazongas that big,' Ddraig remarked.

Mio huffed lightly. "No. I just want some chocolate."

"Ah…" Basara mumbled. "Then let's get you some."

"You're coming?" she asked with surprise.

"Yeah."

Basara sighed as he carried a large number of bags that Mio had bought. "How can one girl eat so many sweets?"

'You'd be surprised,' Ddraig interjected. 'I bet Benny here could eat a mountain of candy.'

Brunhilde huffed lightly. 'If I so desired, I could. I keep myself fit and active enough that it wouldn't effect me.'

'Which is why you're lacking in the chest.'

'M – My bosom is just fine!'

'Really? Seems a bit on the small side to me. You got a hell of an ass though.'

'Shut your mouth!'

'Nope!'

Basara sighed and turned to Mio. "Wait here, I'll get the bike."

"Just hurry up," Mio retorted.

After Basara walked away, four men walked up to Mio.

"Hey, you alone?" the first man asked.

Mio turned to the group, confused. "Hm? No."

"Want to have some fun with us?" the second man asked as he put his arm over Mio's shoulder, only for her to push him off.

"Don't touch me! Touch me and I'll kill you a hundred times over."

"Hoh?" the first man groaned. "She says she's gonna kill us. Well let's see it."

"You have a problem with my friend?" Basara challenged as he walked up to the group.

"Huh?" the second man grumbled. "Who the hell are you?"

"Basara…?" Mio asked in surprise.

"Basara?" the first man questioned, annoyed. "The hell kinda lame name is that?"

Basara twitched an eyebrow. "The one my mother gave me." Basara then grabbed Mio. "Come on, Mio, let's go."

The man, however, grabbed Mio's wrist. "She was just about to have some fun with us."

Basara narrowed his eyes. "Unhand her or I break your wrist."

However, before Basara could make good on his threat, something suddenly slammed into the man from behind, knocking him to the floor.

He blinked in bewilderment and then looked down and saw a beautiful girl roughly his age with waist-length, flowing black hair, dark lavender eyes, and an impressive bust wearing a simple pink blouse and black skirt, who stumbled back and fell off her bicycle.

Basara blinked at the girl in thought. 'Whoa…' "Uuhh… you okay?"

The girl sat up and rubbed her head lightly. "Y – Yeah… I got distracted and lost control of my bike…"

"You bitch!" the man growled as he stood. "You just ran into me!"

"You were standing in the middle of the bike path," Basara chastised before the other man then lurched at Basara from behind, earning him a foot to the abdomen. "Leave now." He hissed as the others circled him and then jumped on his bike, grabbed Mio and the raven-haired girl, and began to ride away. "Hang on!"

'Seriously?' Ddraig grumbled. 'Running away?'

'I'd love to kick their asses, but there's no telling where someone looking for Mio might be hiding.'

'Fine.'

Basara panted heavily as he sat on the side of the road with his two escapees. "That was close… You okay?" he asked the two.

The raven-haired girl looked at Basara worriedly. "U – Uh, thank you, Mr.…"

"Basara. Basara Toujou."

The girl nodded. "I'm Yuuma Amano. Nice to meet you, Toujou. Erm, if you don't mind me asking, why'd you save me too?"

"Those guys were assholes," Basara sneered. "And they would've just taken their anger out on you if I just left with only Mio."

Yuuma widened her eyes with slight surprise. "Mio?"

Basara raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"

Yuuma stiffened and then laughed weakly. "N – No, it's just a pretty name."

'Lie. In case you couldn't tell, this chick's a fallen angel.'

Basara twitched an eyebrow at the realization. "I see."

"A – Anyway… thank you, Toujou." Bowing, Yuuma added, "I need to head home."

"Uh, sure. Take care."

Later, Basara sighed as he and Mio walked back into their house.

"How was your shopping trip?" Maria asked happily as they entered.

"It was… eventful," Basara muttered. "Mio really just wanted some chocolate. Is Akeno back yet?"

"Hm? No."

"That's odd. Actually, where is anybody else?"

"They all went for a walk."

Ddraig growled suspiciously. 'The girl's gathering mana.'

"Ah. Well I'll be in my room if you need me."

Maria glanced at Mio and then nodded. "… About that."

"Hm?"

"We're going to need you to leave," Maria commanded bluntly.

Basara's eyes narrowed. "Oh?"

Maria's body was then bathed in light, her clothes shredding before being replaced by a simple, tight, leather top that exposed some of the underside of her petite cleavage, with a keyhole buckle on the collar, with two straps leading down to a garter belt attached to her thigh-high, pink and white striped stockings, black, leather panties, knee-high, black boots, long, black gloves with pointed fingertips, and small wings protruding from her back.

'Nice,' Ddraig commented.

Basara remained stoic at the sight.

Mio then walked past Basara with a cold expression. "You saved me earlier, so I'll give you a chance to live. Get out."

Basara frowned in confusion. "… Wwhhyy?"

Ddraig interjected, 'Obviously, they plan to turn this house into their base of operations.'

'But didn't Dad te – he didn't fucking tell them…' Basara groaned before putting his hands up. "Okay, look. There's clearly been a lack of communication here. So, I suggest you stop fighting or my cousin is probably going to vaporize us all."

"Eh?" the Succubus girl muttered before Basara stepped to the side, showing Akeno approaching the house with an overly sweet smile, one of her hands sparking with electricity.

Maria swiftly hid behind Mio.

Akeno continued smiling as she approached. "Fufu, I should have known you would try this. Perhaps I should just take you down here and make sure you're not a threat to my Basara."

Basara frowned and twitched an eyebrow in frustration. "Akeno, no."

"Oh? Why not?" Akeno asked with playful anger.

"Because there's more going on here than you know."

"I highly doubt that. I am fully aware of who Mio is and what's going on around her."

Basara's frown deepened. "Then why are you insistent on kicking her out?"

Iri then approached with Leysritt and Sella. "Because our own family is what matters. I told Jin I was willing to help take care of these girls, but not if it puts my family in unnecessary danger."

Basara groaned and argued, "I think it's pretty obvious here that Dad fucked up and didn't let these two know that."

"Let us know what?" Mio asked, growing impatient at being ignored.

"My father asked Iri and the others to take care of you and protect you from the devils trying to get at you after your father's death. And it's pretty obvious he didn't tell you that when you tried to kick me out of here to use this house as a base. After all, only a moron would knowingly kick out their allies."

Mio frowned in suspicion as Maria argued, "How can we be sure we can trust you?"

Basara simply shrugged. "That's up to you. Personally, I'd rather help you, since my dad wanted to. But if it bothers you that much, the door's over there. Just remember that it's your choice."

The girls remained silent for several moments before Maria spoke. "… Mio-Sama, I think we should –"

"No," the redhead interrupted, trembling slightly. "The last people who tried to help me were ripped apart because of it."

Basara frowned deeply. "Do you think we can't protect ourselves? Or you?"

Leysritt interjected, "If she wants to leave, let her. This is something involving Niffleheim. I doubt how it turns out will affect us either way."

'Famous last words,' Ddraig grumbled.

Basara frowned at the melancholic woman. "Now hold on! That's just –!" he began before stumbling as Mio rushed past him and ran, Maria chasing after her. "Shit! Dammit, Liz!"

"What?" the girl asked in a monotone before Iri raised a hand.

"So, what will you do now, Basara?" the woman asked.

Basara tightened his grip and then turned to the slowly swinging gate. "I'm going to go after them and make sure they don't get killed. Or worse."

Iri nodded with a smile. "Leysritt. Sella. Give Basara hand, will you?"

Sella snapped a finger before a large silver spear with red accents appeared in her hands, Leysritt stomping a foot, after which a massive ax of the same style emerged which she grabbed.

"Do you mind if they help?" Iri asked, noticing Basara's trepidation.

"Well… Leysritt is partly responsible for this."

Leysritt then walked towards a bush, out of which a whimper could be heard before she swung, the decapitated body of a horned, humanoid creature falling out before vaporizing. "They needed to think we were in turmoil."

"Ah… well let's get going then. Just hope we don't wake Illya."

Iri replied with a smile. "Oh don't worry. I made sure she's deep asleep."

"… I won't ask for details."

"That's for the best."

Akeno frowned unsurely as the three prepared to leave.

"Are you coming, Akeno?" Basara questioned.

"I can't say I fully support this," the raven-haired beauty answered, torn.

"Why not?"

Iri looked at him in surprise. "Oh? You aren't aware?"

"Of her being half fallen?"

"No, I already knew you were aware of that. I mean of her allegiance."

"No… I guess not."

"Figures. I'll keep it short. Mio's father, Wilbert, was the king of Makai. There's another nation, Hell, which Makai is at war with. The leaders of Hell are, effectively, the Gremory clan. Akeno is the servant of the Gremory's heir."

Basara frowned incredulously. "… Then the reason you wanted her to leave too was…?"

Akeno stiffened and then sighed. "… Yes. Because Mio is my enemy."

"Correction," Iri argued. "Was."

"What?" Akeno asked in bewilderment.

"The current Demon Lord wants Mio's power, meaning Makai is Mio's enemy. And you know the old saying."

Akeno frowned in thought. "… The enemy of my enemy is my ally. And I ended up kicking her out…" Akeno groaned heavily. "Just great…"

"We can sort this out later," Basara urged. "For now, I'm going to protect my little sisters."

Iri nodded with a smile.

Mio and Maria made their way down a moonlit street, Mio sighing heavily.

"Now what?" Mio asked in exasperation.

Maria sighed. "No idea…"

However, nearby, a figure appeared from a swirling vortex nearby. "I have a suggestion."

Mio and Maria stiffened as he appeared.

"Dammit!" Basara cursed as he Akeno, Sella, and Leysritt ran, looking for Mio and Maria. "Where are they?!"

'I don't know,' Brunhilde answered. 'I'm still trying to sense their presence.'

"I have located them," Leysritt interjected.

"Really? Where?" Basara demanded.

Leysritt pointed to a large fireball nearby.

Basara furrowed his brow. "Good. Then let's get over there now!"

Basara, and the others arrived in an open park area and saw a tall, lanky man with a mask and black bodysuit stood, shadowy tendrils extending from the ground, ensnaring Mio.

Nearby, a large, extremely muscular man held an unconscious Maria.

Basara growled angrily.

Ddraig remained silent for a moment and then urged with furor, 'Kid… tear them in half.'

'I was planning on it!' Basara snarled before extending a hand out. "Brunhilde!" he shouted as a large, curved, silver sword with a large green jewel near the hilt appeared in his grasp in a flash of green light.

The thin man huffed and snapped his fingers, causing copies of himself to emerge from the ground. "Rip them apart."

Basara rushed forward and swung Brunhilde, slicing several of the copies apart, killing them.

However, more of the copies rushed Basara but suddenly split in half.

Leysritt stood with her ax swung as though it weighed nothing.

The large man dropped Maria and charged at Basara. "I'll kill you!"

Basara hissed as he jumped above the man and launched himself at the large man, but his sword glanced off. "Wh – What the…?!"

The large man growled and turned to Basara, swinging his large fists, sending Basara slamming into a tree with great force.

"Basara!" Akeno shouted in terror before turning to the large man.

The thin man snapped his fingers once more, causing a large group of copies to appear from the ground.

Basara growled as he stood from the tree, only to need to immediately roll to the side as the large man swung his fists, knocking the tree down.

'This guy looks and hits like a walking mountain,' Ddraig remarked.

'And he's faster than he looks,' Basara added.

The large man charged at Basara, but the brunette leapt to the side and then swung his blade before a blast of flame shot from his blade at the large man.

The large man grunted as the blast hit him.

The thin man snarled. "Derma! Kill him!"

The large man, Derma, growled as he stood. "I'm trying, Doga, but he's fast."

Doga hissed. "Then just keep him busy so I can get the power out of this girl."

Basara narrowed his eyes angrily. 'This isn't good. I need to take these guys out fast.'

'Then I'd say it's time for prime time,' Ddraig commented.

Basara sighed and then nodded, stabbing Brunhilde into the ground and splaying his arms out.

Derma narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What are you doing…?"

Basara clenched his fists and then slammed them together. "Boosted Gear!" he shouted before his forearms were bathed in light. When the light died down, his forearms were covered in large, red, metal gauntlets that left his fingers and palms exposed, with green jewels on the back of the hand, and small yellow spikes on the back.

"Dragon Booster!" a voice from the gauntlets howled as the gems glowed.

Derma stumbled back in shock. "Th – That's…!" He then reflexively charged at Basara, only for Leysritt to pick him up as if he weighed nothing and threw him at a wall.

Ddraig sniggered lightly in amusement. "You need more training," the dragon taunted, its voice emanating from the gauntlets.

"She's a Homunculus," Basara retorted.

Derma snarled as he stood up and lunged at Leysritt, who swung her ax and effortlessly cut through the man's stone-like skin with sheer force, ripping his arm off.

Basara grabbed Brunhilde and then dashed forward, nearly vanishing. He reappeared above Derma and swung his blade down with great force, a massive blast of flame shooting down, the force of the explosion cracking Derma's skin.

"Gah!" Derma growled as he stumbled forward and then swung back at Basara, only for the brunette to vanish. "Th – The hell…?"

Basara appeared behind Derma once more.

"Boost!" the gauntlets bellowed.

Leysritt extended her ax out, Basara landing on the broad side of the head, she then swung it forward with immense force, Basara leaping off from her weapon and launching great speed.

Derma howled in pain as his abdomen exploded, Basara bursting through it, sending stone and blood flying in all directions.

"Derma!" Doga shouted angrily. He then turned to where his many copies fought with Sella and Akeno, getting dominated. Growling, he turned his attention to Basara. "So be it. I'll handle this myself." He then flicked his wrists, causing two long, straight, black swords to appear in his grasp. "I'll kill you and then take what I want from the girl!"

"Boost!" Basara's gauntlets howled once more as he charged.

"I'll stop you dead!" Basara snarled as he readied his blade.

Doga huffed and then charged at Basara in return, the duo's blades clashing as they collided. "You're nothing more than a damned human, what hope have you against a devil?!"

Basara narrowed his eyes and kicked Doga in the abdomen, sending Doga sliding back. "I'm protecting my family, that's why I'll win."

"Boost!" the gauntlets howled as Basara swung his blade down at the ground, causing a stream of ice to shoot at the man.

Doga huffed and stabbed one of his blades into the ground, causing a black spot to appear on the ground that swallowed Basara's attack.

Basara charged forward and vanished, reappearing behind Doga.

Doga spun on his heels and blocked Basara's attack with his blades. "You're outmatched, human. Surrender now and I shall make your death swift."

"That's my line," Basara challenged as he suddenly swung a fist at Doga, swept his feet out and then slashed his blade down.

Doga barely managed to block with one of his dual blades and lunged back, away from Basara, only to find a spear in his chest.

Sella frowned with annoyed anger. "I believe that is enough of this tripe." She then swiftly swung her spear down before slashing it open, slicing the lanky man in half, causing him to collapse before vaporizing.

Basara dispelled Brunhilde and Boosted Gear and then rushed to catch Mio as the tendrils vanished and she fell.

Mio moaned lightly as she awoke.

"Are you okay, Mio?" Basara asked as her eyes opened.

Mio blinked curiously. "Ba… sara…?"

Basara nodded with a smile. "Yeah, it's me."

Mio's eyes suddenly widened and she wrapped her arms around him. "Basara!"

Akeno twitched an eyebrow as she stamped a heel on the last of the copies, destroying it.

Maria groaned as she stood up weakly.

Mio pulled away from Basara and looked at him confused. "… Why…?"

Basara raised an eyebrow. "Why what?"

"Why'd you save me…? I tried to kick you out of your house… threatened you."

Basara blinked in thought and then smiled. "You're my little sister. Do I need any reason than that?"

Mio remained silent, her eyes widening.

Basara then pulled out his phone and showed her the image of their family photo. "I came to get my family."

Sella then interjected, "We should return before others see us."

Basara nodded in agreement and turned to Mio. "Let's go home."

Mio nodded slowly, still shocked.

Basara sighed as he and the others walked home, exhausted, Iri waiting patiently for them. "Good to see you got them back."

Basara nodded with relief. "Yep. I got my little sisters back."

"Good. Illya's still sleeping, so be quiet taking them to their rooms."

"Got it."

Basara sighed as he sat on the sofa in the lounge. "Geez… what a day…"

'Wimp,' Ddraig chastised.

Basara grumbled in annoyance. 'Brunhilde, can you amuse her or something? I'm too exhausted to deal with her crap right now.'

'If she took my chains off, I'd be more than happy to eat her out.'

'Eek!' the blue-haired beauty shrieked, Basara just groaning in frustration.

"Ah," Maria muttered as she walked into the room, "there you are, Basara."

Basara hummed quietly in thought as he turned to her. "Hm? Hey, Maria. What's wrong?"

Maria sighed in frustration as she sat next to him. "I want to ask you something."

"Sure, shoot."

"Why'd you save us?" Maria asked, somberly.

"The answer is simple. I heard from my father and Iri. They told me about the situation you're in."

Maria frowned in confusion. "So? What do you have to gain from helping us so much?"

Basara folded his arms in thought. "Hm… that never really crossed my mind to be honest. I just knew you two needed help, and I had a way to provide it. It's as simple as that. No more no less."

Maria gaped in surprise.

"I see… and if we turned on you?"

"I'd stop you," Basara answered plainly.

Maria frowned in confusion. "… Even if it meant killing us?"

Basara sighed in exasperation. "Do you doubt me that much?"

Maria shook her head in bewilderment. "I just don't understand how a human can help two people he barely knows who lied to him and tried to kick him out of his own home unless he stands to gain something immense from it."

Basara put a hand on his chin in thought. "Hm… I guess I do gain something."

Maria's tail popped up in interest.

"Two cute little sisters," he stated with a smile.

Her face immediately turned red.

'You mean sexy,' Ddraig snickered.

Basara hummed in thought. 'Hm… I hear bologna prices are dropping. Might want to get some since it's cheap.'

'… Fuck you.'

'Then stop being a pest.'

Akeno then stepped up to Maria and handed her a glass of tea.

"Thanks," Maria answered before drinking it.

Akeno frowned slightly. "You're not afraid to drink it?"

"I doubt you'd go through the trouble of saving us from those people only to then poison us."

"Right," Akeno answered with a smile.

"There's one more thing," the Succubus addressed to Basara.

"What is it?"

"You should know the Hero Tribe are observing us."

"Who'd they send?"

Maria just shrugged. "We don't know. Whoever it is, is doing their best to blend in with the regular students."

Basara frowned incredulously. "… Are you sure it's the Hero Tribe? Subtlety isn't their specialty. I mean, a bull in a china shop would probably be stealthier."

"But aren't you…?"

Basara waved a hand dismissively. "My father and I have no relations with the village. We're just ordinary humans."

Akeno frowned suspiciously.

"Yeah right…" Maria mumbled.

Basara raised an eyebrow in confusion before changing the subject.

"Oh, is Mio alright?"

Maria nodded. "Mio-Sama always takes long baths. I just hope that is enough for her to calm down."

"I see. Well she shouldn't take too long. Lest someone makes the water go cold."

Maria snickered deviously. "You just want to see her nipples get perky."

"Pretty sure that's just you," Basara deadpanned.

Maria snickered lightly and then stood and moved to the door.

"Maria?"

"We have to put our things back in place," Maria answered. "After all, aren't we still your little sisters?" She then walked out of the room.

Basara blinked and then nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Let me help." 'Little sisters, huh…?'

'Yeah…' Ddraig muttered. 'You're into incest.'

Basara slumped and sputtered. 'Sh – Shut up!'

'What? One's hot and the other's a Succubus! And of course there's the sexy fallen and adorable Homunculus.'

'Stop it!'

'Then unchain me!'

Mio sighed as she stepped out of the shower, water slowly dripping down her bare skin. She then trembled as images of Doga and Derma attacking her filled her mind. "Wh – Why…? Even though Maria taught me for six months to use magic… If it weren't for him, I'd be dead. O – Or worse… Just remembering it makes me tremble uncontrollably… I'm useless. S – So fucking useless!" Shaking her head defiantly, she nodded to herself. "I need to get stronger!" She then stiffened when she heard a knock at the bathroom door.

Basara, on the other side of the door, asked, "Mio, you in there?"

"… Y – Yes…"

"Do you have a minute?"

"Yeah…" she answered unsurely.

Basara sighed slowly. "… I'm sorry."

Mio stiffened in surprise. "Wh – What are you apologizing for?!"

Basara sighed again. "For getting you in danger. And letting them kick you out."

Mio frowned in frustration. "… I'm the one who should be apologizing. I… I didn't like going around lying and manipulating people, but Maria said I couldn't trust anyone, so I…"

And thus ends the first chapter of Gremory's Guardian's reboot. If you enjoyed it, please let me know with a review. If you were confused, unsure, or had questions on anything, leave a review with those and I will address them to the degree I can. If you did not like it, review if you must, but be specific, and have a moderate grasp of English when doing so. I would like the opinion of all of my readers during the next few days as I upload this reboot, but the actual score will be tallied with a poll on my main page, so be on the lookout for that to make sure the version you prefer is what I keep. Until next time, bye-bye!