Chapter 18: Snake Charmer
Third Person PoV
Choosing party dresses was now something that Kojou feared even more than dying.
The amount of dresses and shops Asagi went through today were abnormally high. He didn't even know that these many shops existed on Itogami island.
Finally after finalising Asagi's dress, Kojou just bought the first suit that was shown to him, he was way too mentally tired to deal with this.
And due to this, only two hours remained before he had to go to the dock. Who even makes a dock, a venue for a party?
Kojou, Asagi and Yukina reached home. They also had to stop in the grocery store as Nagisa had asked Yukina to buy vegetables.
Kojou opened the door to his house and found a package lying at his foot.
He reached for it and opened it.
"A dress?" The package seems to be a dress but for who?
"Let's see, Order made party dress. Bust, 76. Waist, 55. Hips, 78. C-60. The numbers, what do they mean?"
Kojou said after reading the card inside the package. Asagi was controlling her laughter.
Yukina had her spear out and spoke in a scary tone.
"Is that all you would like to say, before you lose your memory?"
Kojou looked back to Yukina seeing her spear he said
"Himeragi? Are these your-"
He raised his hand and caught the spear aimed for his head. The spear was stopped in its tracks.
"It seems to me that you have forgotten the lesson I gave you in the morning. I presume a more intense lesson is required?"
Yukina faltered hearing Kojou's warning and pulled her spear back.
Asagi couldn't stop her laughter anymore, seeing the scared look on the observer's face.
"Pfft- Haha, haha! This is so fun to watch!"
Yukina glared at her while Kojou sighed and shaked his head. He was used to her laughing like this at some moments.
"Alright, Yukina-chan, Kojou is not at fault here. If you want to have your privacy protected then ask that from next time, your package is delivered to your home not Kojou's."
"H-Hai."
Yukina stammered, now fully blushing. Kojou stood up and then asked her.
"Now that you have a dress, want to come with us?"
Yukina beamed at that and nodded her head feverishly to show her willingness.
"Yes, senpai!"
"Then go and get ready!"
Yukina took the dress with her and ran back to her apartment, leaving both Asagi and Kojou to sigh at her antics.
"If only she could be more honest." Kojou began
"That would make her much more likeable." And Asagi finished.
Both of them went to get ready, Kojou had called Nagisa and told that they would be having dinner outside.
…
One taxi later, the three were at the dock. Standing in front of a luxury cruise ship.
"Oceanus Grave, a grave on the ocean. What a morbid naming sense."
Kojou muttered seeing the name of the shop etched on its side.
"Leaving that aside, you are looking quite dashing Kojou!"
Asagi complimented Kojou. He was wearing a three piece suit, white shirt with vertical stripes, a purple vest topped with a black blazer, and matching black pants.
"I think I have said it before, but you are looking too gorgeous in that gown.
You too Himeragi, the dress suits you, that hair accessory is also nice. Now that I think about it, you don't wear hair accessories normally."
"Yes, this was given to me by my roommate in the High God Forest."
"Another sword shaman?" Asagi asked
"No, not a sword shaman, I wonder what she is doing now."
"We can talk about this later, lest go now."
The three of them boarded the cruise ship and found themselves heavily out of place.
Asagi was latched onto Kojou's arm, while Yukina kept her distance from him. She had her spear packed on the bag, which she kept on her hand.
Kojou had tried and failed to get her to leave it for the party.
"Senpai, if a messenger of the 1st Primogenitor comes to visit you should be the first one to meet him."
"You say but he is just a high school student. And this guy came uninvited anyways."
"If you two girls had your share of bickering than can we move up, he doesn't seem to be here."
On Kojou's word the three climbed the steps and reached the top level of the ship. The lights were off, only moonlight was here.
The wind was blowing nicely. Yukina was moving a little it ahead of the couple.
In the darkness Kojou felt a familiar coming towards Yukina. He caught her arm and yanked her back, while his ever trusty diamond shields blocks the attack and the shredded it like a sharpnel shotgun.
'I didn't feel its presence!' Yukina thought, if not for Kojou she would have went wounded grievously.
While Kojou remained relaxed, and by extension of that Asagi was calm too. She was now holding on to his arm, instead of interlocking it.
And Kojou's second hand held Yukina's shoulder. Yukina was now blushing being held in her senpai's arm like this.
But she reeled in her emotions and looked at their attacker. A sinful man, no a vampire with long blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Well done, it seems that a familiar of this level isn't enough to harm you. I deeply apologize for my rudeness in testing your combat skills. My name is Dimitrie Vatler, I have been-"
He brought one hand to his chest and bowed a little. But Kojou was already fed up with the talk.
"Listen, can we skip you speaking like an npc, skip the cutscene and move on to the gameplay?"
Everyone present here was flabbergasted by the words of Kojou, even Asagi. But surprisingly, Vatler didn't mind and instead chuckled.
"As expected of Kaleid Blood, no my beloved 4th Primogenitor!"
And he sent a flying kiss towards Kojou.
At this Kojou who was unfazed by a familiar attack shifted a little back and said with distaste.
"I am straight, I do not like swordfights, I prefer to keep my sword inside of a sheath."
Silence, everyone was once again in shock. As some of the strongest beings in the world were discussing their sexuality on their first meeting, while simultaneously one was getting rejected by the other.
And Kojou had deja vú, as forks, knives and spoons were thrown to attack him. And just like last time they were stopped by a diamond shield.
A young woman, dressed in a red qipao, landed in front of him. She had jumped from the level of the deck above them.
The young woman stood up, pointing her finger at Kojou and said.
"Get your hands off of Yukina, Akatsuki Kojou!"
Kojou first observed his attacker. Knee-length brown hair that is tied in a long ponytail with square bangs hanging on the right side and turquoise-green eyes.
Dark red qipao that clings to her body, slits that enhance her long legs. Very hot. But first he needed to be professional.
"And who are you?"
"Sayaka-san!" The question was answered by Yukina.
Hearing that Sayaka rushed towards Kojou, he moved aside while holding Yukina.
"Unhand her! Akatsuki Kojou!"
Kojou ignored her and asked the person in question.
"Do you want me to let go, Himeragi?"
Yukina blushed at having his voice so close to her ear, but maintaining her composure.
"Ye-Yes, senpai." She stuttered.
Kojou remixed his hand and moved near Asagi. While she was observing Yukina he was observing Sayaka.
Something about her seemed off. Like in a profession where one could die anytime, why was she so much attached to Yukina?
He marked a note in his mind to ask about her from Yukina later on.
"Yukina, Yukina! Are you well?"
"Yes. But what are you doing here? Weren't you in charge of multinational magical crimes in the Foreign Affairs Division?"
"I still am, I am here to observe Lord Ardeal."
While the two were rubbing cheeks and interlocking fingers, Kojou looked over to Vatler.
He instantly regretted it as he waved his hand at him. Kojou shivered and clenched his ass cheeks.
'Damn! He is fucking dangerous!'
While the two former roommates finally managed to catch up, Asagi finally commented.
"So Yukina-chan, want to introduce us to your friend?"
"Hai, she is Kirasaka Sayaka. The roommate I mentioned earlier talked about, she is a War Dancer for the LKO."
"Ah! So she was the one who sent those shikigami and attacked me."
"Indeed. War dancers specialise in hexes and assassination. So if you understand, then stop following Yukina."
She was steadily getting on Kojou's nerves, but he still didn't say anything rude.
"She is my observer, I am not hers. Get her to stop, not me."
Kojou started to move inside the ship. As Vatler was doing the same. After reaching inside, Kojou sat on a sofa with Asagi at his side.
The two attack mages were standing and so was Vatler. Vatler began the conversation while drinking wine from his glass.
"Those shields, it was Mesarthim-Adamas, wasn't it?"
"You know about it?"
"Yes, it was the first familiar of Avrora Florestina."
"You also know Avrora?" Kojou sounded unsure of himself.
"Yes, to put it like that we were lovers. As you have consumed her and inherited her blood, let's make love Akatsuki Kojou."
"Sorry, but he is taken." Asagi finally intervened between the two.
"And you might be?"
"Asagi Aiba, Kojou's girlfriend and blood companion."
"I see, from what I can infer, you are the medium for Mesarthim-Adamas?"
Kojou's eye sharpened at that. He used his magical power to hide all signs of bodily or bloody smell of his body.
Vatler shifted his eyes at that but didn't say anything.
"Is that so, then it makes you my rival in love!"
"I am straight, and if this useless discussion is over, then tell your real reason and get me something to eat and drink. I am hungry!"
Kojou said, he was getting annoyed and being hungry for so long was not well for his mental strength.
"Well, sure." Vatler motioned his hands and a maid came with a bottle of wine and glasses for the three guests.
Yukina denied while Kojou and Asagi both drank.
"Heard the name of Christoph Gardos? He is a soldier from the Warlord's dominion who had made a name for himself in Europe.
He currently leads the BDEF, he was alone responsible for over 400 casualties in the attack on Prague."
"Wasn't the BDEF disbanded a few years ago when its leader was assassinated?" Asagi, who was quite familiar with the terrorist group, asked.
"I killed him, he was a bit talented."
"So we can infer that he somehow managed to get inside a demon district without getting caught?" Kojou said knowing where the conversation was heading to.
"Why would he come here?" This time Yukina raised a question.
"They are a discriminatory group that gives superiority to the therianthropes. They want the sacred treaty revoked and rule over the Warlord's dominion. And they need to show that they are still alive, what better thing than to incite trouble in a demon district?"
Sayaka answered it patiently.
"Lord Ardeal, are you here to assassinate Gardos?" Yukina questioned seriously.
While both Kojou and Asagi were contemplating a serious question.
'Why this island?'
'There are other demon districts too.'
Vatler answered the question he was asked by the sword shaman.
"No-no I wouldn't go through all that trouble. But if he were to do something like attack me, then I would have no choice but to retaliate.
Who knows, my familiars might sink the island if they sense my life is in danger."
Kojou scoffed at that, finally understanding what Vatler was aiming for.
"Don't make me laugh, Vatler. You think you can threaten me? Whete your entire battalion of familiars will be needed to sink one island, anyone of my familiar can do that with ease. Threaten someone else like that, not me!"
Kojou glared at Vatler with his eyes turning red. Vatler was surprised at that, his eyes also turned red.
"There is no need for that Lord Ardeal, it won't be necessary."
"Are you implying that Kojou will handle Gardos for me?"
Even after knowing that Kojou doesn't like being used, Vatler still continued to pester him.
"I do think that my familiars are more obedient than the 4th Primogenitor."
"Are we talking about obedience now, Vatler? I think taming a lion should be enough?"
Kojou said and a tremendous roar sounded outside the ship. The ship shook and the light flickered.
Vatler laughed at that. While Yukina looked shocked, she hadn't seen Kojou being this angry or easy to rile up.
"As long as the terrorist doesn't provoke me it could do what he pleases."
Kojou and Asagi stood up and made their way outside. Yukina hurriedly followed them, ignoring Sayaka calling out her name.
…
While the three were walking away from the boat near the dock. Vatler and Sayaka were observing them from the deck.
"This has gotten interesting."
"What do you mean, Lord Ardeal? Didn't he say he wouldn't get involved?"
"He said that, his observer didn't, did she? With the look in her eyes, it is quite possible that she will try to apprehend Gardos. Which will lead to Kojou getting involved."
Sayaka's mind was now in a different place.
'Yukina will get into danger, she also ignored me. She never did that, it is all his fault, 4th Primogenitor!'
Where will this hatred go? Who knows?
…
Asagi being not used to drinking was almost sleeping on Kojou shoulder by the time they had reached home.
Kojou was not drunk, his metabolism was too strong to get intoxicating by some cheap wine, even though the wine he drank was fairly old and pricey.
Yukina went to her home after bidding her senpais goodnight. Kojou put Asagi on her bed and went to see Nagisa, who was laying on his bed. Naked only covered up by his blanket.
"Don't tell me you were like this since dinner?"
"Yes." The cute little girl said.
"Very well! Let's enjoy shall we?"
Yukina was baffled due to the change in moaning voice but ignored it due to her exhausted state. Meeting a vampire almost as strong as a Primogenitor is very straining.
…
Somewhere around 2pm in the night Asagi woke up. Finding herself parched she went to kitchen to get a glass of water and then checked on Kojou and Nagisa.
Finding them keeping peacefully she came back to her room to continue her beauty sleep.
"What is this, someone challenging me?"
On her computer was a decoding challenge. Her competitive nature faired and she began analysing and solving the code.
And two hour later she managed to solve it.
"That was easy, but what is a Nalakuvera?"
Asagi ignored it as a prank and went to sleep.
…
AN:- Pics of Asagi, Kojou, Sayaka and Yukina are in the comments. I can't seem to use the paragraph comments for some reason.