Chapter 6: Prolog Part 6
DAILY LIFE OF KYOKO Location the Underworld, Bael Territory: Belladonna's Mansion, Theater Room
A couple of months have passed since, Laharl summoned Kyoko Needleworker, and she started living with him and mom, at their mansion. She was more than happy and grateful. Kyoko, has taken to help around the mansion, and also knitting gifts to all the servents for accepting her. Laharl even swore that always professional and serious Marron, smiled and started wearing the white sash that Kyoko knitted as part of her uniform.
Kyoko would always be around either Laharl talking and training a bit in the training field, choosing knives as her weapons, since their the closest to kunais. Laharl promised once he was able he'd get her a finely crafted pair of kunais, she eyed-smiled, with a bit of blush on her face. The other thing that Kyoko would do was take lessons with Miss Marron, as she politely address the head maid, she absolutely love them. Proving to be smart and dutiful student, she even heard Miss Marron mention that she'll be able to join Laharl and the "others" in the advance lessons. She was curious on who Miss Marron was referring to when she mentioned "others", but she put aside her curiosity, and went back to paying attention to Miss Marron's class.
She also loved spending time with Laharl-sama talking, and helping her adjust to her new home quite fast. Kyoko was grateful, especially whenever she'd felt tired Laharl-sama would wrap his scarf around her and lay next to her, making her happy, secure and warm. Currently she and Laharl were in the Theater Room, as she mentioned she'd never seen a couple...a lot...of movies, and Laharl-sama canceled all their schedules for that day, and made a movie marathon for them. They snugged together on the sofa, and started watching several movies the first being about a boy that is afraid of everything, and then becomes a cartoon...Laharl-sama, said it was called the Pagemaster.
As the hours passed, Lady Belladonna, came into the theater room to look for her son and a little Kyoko, when she saw the two young devils snuggling together and watching movies. She decided not to disturb them and left, making sure to tell Marron to bring them some snacks...and catch some pictures of their cuteness. And just as she ordered Marron did delivered some snacks to the kids, and captured some pictures. From Kyoko excited from some movie, or crying and holding to Laharl who was comforting her, and lastly a couple of pictures of them resting their heads onto one another. It was soo adorable, in the days that Kyoko moved to their mansion a lot a joy was flowing through it, especially from her son that apart from Rias and Sona never interacted with devils of his age. But Kyoko brought out much that she'd never seen from her son, so she thanked Kyoko silently...and wished her husband, Krichevskoy, was here with them so they can enjoy such happiness and joys together.
FIRST RIFT BETWEEN FRIENDS Location Belladonna's Mansion
It been a good year, especially since Kyoko has joined the family. Everyone loved the polite, sweet, little pink ninja girl. Especially Marron who has even taken to teach her some knitting and crochet skills that Kyoko was very grateful for.
During that year, Kyoko has been able to use the Ninja skills Acrobatics with increases her speed and reflexes, Ninja Art: Darkness by using her magic, she can shroud the area in darkness to sneak attack her enemy. Kyoko was a speed based fighter, making Laharl choice to make her a Knight in the future the correct one. Apart from that he and Kyoko bonded rather quickly, she even started to attend to his scarf using her magic to patch-up and even extend his scarf without any pain or side-effects. He thanked her, and complimented her for her work everytime, making her very proud and happy.
Sometimes he'd take Kyoko with him on hunt on the first area of the Field Dungeon. Staying mainly on that area to help her get used to fighting not only together but monster as well. While the exp-drops weren't as affective as before for Laharl, it was quite affective for Kyoko being level one on her physical strength and speed. But he never pushed hard or passed her limits, for the times that they dove into the Field Dungeon, they collected a huge amount of hellhounds, adding to funds.
Location Belladonna's Mansion, the Dance Hall
But things took a interesting turn at his sixth year birthday party. Since Rias and Sona meet Kyoko, he proudly introduced her as his friend for now...and future peerage member. Sona cordially congratulated him and Kyoko, but Kyoko swore she'd felt some animosity emanating from the young Sitri heiress. Meanwhile Rias was quite vocal with her displeasure and jealousy. Stomping around her feet, and saying that Laharl shouldn't need other girls, and then she said something that quite pissed Laharl off, "Also, why are you gathering peerage member!? Aren't you going to be my knight in shining armor!? Your my future knight, Laharl-kun!!!" After she yelled that in the middle of the party, surrounded by their families it was clear that Rias as fucked up, and only she didn't noticed.
Sona had a unsettling face, Serafall and her parents placed their hands on their head and shuke said head in disappointment. Zeoticus sighed and as he looked at his daughter with shame, while Venelana gasped and covered her mouth not expecting this immature attitude from Rias, she could only hope this wouldn't cause a huge rupture between her and little Laharl. Sirzechs that skipped work to celebrate his little cousin's sixth birthday had a stoic face, as he knew he couldn't help Rias in this situation, and Grayfia stood silently beside him, with the same thoughts flowing through her mind.
But to everyone's surprise it wasn't Laharl who exploded, it was Belladonna. As she strut to were the kids were, and yelled, "Rias Gremory!!" like any kid that heards their full name, and is yelled at by an adult. Rias, shuttered and lowered her head, while Sona took some steps back to stand beside Laharl, as she was clearly afraid as well, but Kyoko was openly showing fear, she clung to Laharl, and seeing those girl in their situation, he stretched out his scarf to wrap around them both and comfort them. This help them to calm down, and make Rias more jealous as her face was puffed up and red, but with aunt Belladonna coming over, obviously mad, she kept quiet.
Belladonna, made it to were Laharl and the others were. She petted her son's head, as well Sona and Kyoko's heads to calm them down, showing them a smiling face. But as she turned her head towards Rias, with frown and unset face, looking down at Rias which made her curl into a smaller ball. Belladonna started to scold her, reprimanded her for acting so shameful, also corrected her wrong assumptions that Laharl wasn't going to get his own peerage, he is a heir to house Bael through her line, and thus more than entitled to receive his Evil Pieces at his coming of age ceremony, just like her, Sona, and even little Sairaorg!! Laharl held back the smile that threatened to adorn his lips, as his mom was wailing at the little Gremory princess for him, then his mom started to defend "little" Kyoko, which he greatly appreciated it. Belladonna, she stated that Kyoko is a beloved member of their household, a cherished friend to her son, and partner in battle!!
Which made poor Kyoko a bit embarrassing, smothering herself deeper into Laharl-sama's scarf to hide her face. All adults that managed to catch a glimpse of this gushed on how adorable the ninja girl is. And as they listen the scolding that Belladonna was giving to Rias, as little Rias was bitting her lips and tears formed at the edges of her eyes. What's worse Laharl didn't defend her and kept shielding Sona and that girl Kyoko!!
At the end of the scolding and lecturing, Belladonna scoffed and turned to her son and Kyoko, telling them, "Come sweeties. Were needed else where in this party." Laharl and Kyoko nodded to her. As she walked ahead of them, Laharl released Sona and Kyoko from his scarf, Sona bowed respectfully and thanked Laharl, leaving to go her family, while Laharl gave one last look at the crying and sobbing Rias, and he turned around taking Kyoko's hand and leading them away. Rias was soon taken by her mother and went to their family, Venelana hoping that Rias could understand that possessiveness could lead to rips between people, and break bonds, which she deeply hopes doesn't happen here.
It was clear to say the mood of the party soured after the whole fiasco. But Laharl still tried to enjoy himself, as he danced with Kyoko and then Sona for accepting Kyoko...or least tried to, instead of pushing her away like Rias did. Clear to say that the Gremory were not in a good mood, especially when Rias tried many times to force her desires on Laharl, at the end Zeoticus yelled at Rias and they left early...
That was how that birthday went. The next couple months after that Rias tried to visit the Bael mansion, in order to talk with Laharl, but she was denied entrance. This made her angry and frustrated, she felt as her heart was being crushed, since she liked Laharl-kun a lot. He was always nice, kind, generous, and charming like the knights of her fairy tales, plus he didn't treat her like the Gremory heir like family started when she was four and showed her awakening of the Clan Trait of the Power of Destruction. They expected soo much out of her, while Laharl treated her as a girl, even helping her in a suddle way to better use her magic, by playing around with it. So when she saw Laharl with another girl, she was a bit peeved but when he mention that this Kyoko girl was not only living with him, but also going to be apart of his peerage, Rias she couldn't handle it.
She'd always saw invisioned herself being Laharl's king and him her knight...and possibly queen, since only the most trusted and basically the closest soul in a peerage is given the honor. Rias...she'll admit she has a big crush on Laharl, already seem him be close to Sona, was pushing it but she was able to handle it. And maybe later on she could win over Laharl-kun to accept her only. But after the birthday party, not only did aunt Belladonna scold her for her selfishness, and whats worse Laharl refuse to help or defend her. Then when she forced back home, were her mother and father that scold her next, even her brother wouldn't help her. But when her mom mentioned that her actions could end up, breaking her relationship between them, this shocked her and thus she desperately tried to talk to Laharl-kun, but he still hasn't been able to meet, making her worries to grow.
HOPING FOR RECONCILE Location the Gremory Territory: Gremory's Mansion, the Gremory's Private Library
Months have passed, since the accident that happened in Laharl's sixth birthday party. Rias hasn't been able to talk with Laharl since, she's been denied visitation to Laharl-kun mansion. But Rias didn't stop trying to contact him, and talk about things. Maybe even be close again, she didn't like being alone, as Sona has been busy with lessons and her magical education, so she wasn't been able to hang out with other friend. So she decided to sent a letter, requesting that Laharl could talk at her home.
As she waited by sitting on a large burgundy and red couch, surrounded by other furniture next to the roaring fire, in the fire place of the private library. Her feet hanging from the edge of the couch, and had a worried and impatient look on her face. Her pink, white and black laced dress, looking the cutest that she could be, as she waited for Laharl-kun. As Rias waited she didn't noticed that Grayfia was nearby, under order by Lady Gremory and her husband to watch over the proceedings of the upcoming conversation between Rias and Laharl, plus the Queen and wife of the current Lucifer, she'd personally hoped that Rias managed to reconcile with Laharl. They been soo close since birth, and Laharl has always been a good boy, he has been maturing and showing a good side of his person, she was proud of her little cousin-in-law, not only granting the Bael house with a new business venture in selling rare materials, but also opened his home and heart to a poor girl in need. After the whole birthday fiasco, she along with mother-in-law have been talking with Lady Belladonna, trying to settle things, but she turn down their suggestions, stating only if Laharl wants to contact Rias would they try to fix things. During these conversations Grayfia and Lady Venelana learn of little Kyoko, how she meet Laharl and bonded with everyone in their family.
Honestly Grayfia felt her heart crack, such a poor girl that wanted a better life for herself but couldn't in her situation, and she was still a sweet, respectful, hopeful young girl. After Laharl rescued her life twice both from danger and better life. Learning more about little Kyoko, she'd wished she was the one that found the young kunoichi, Grayfia would have loved to adopt her. But Kyoko was happy were she is, and it was clear that she has some feelings for the young Bael heir. Sighing as Rias has to learn that in devil society, unless one possess either great magical or influential power, one can't do as they wish. Especially since only with power can devil decide to have monotonous relationships and marriages, and many are with love but even then either heir or heiress would have a lover or two for reproduction and a House survival. If she want a exclusive relationship with Laharl she need either the power or open mentality to compromise, and make things work.
As Grayfia looked at the impatient and worried little Rias, sitting on near the fire place. She received a magical communication, activating a magic glyph over her in blue and frost colors, she lifted her hand wielding the glyph up to her ear, and answered the call. It was one of the maid of the mansion, telling her that young Laharl has come, with Lady Belladonna, and his companion Kyoko. Thanking the maid, she cut the spell, and looked at Rias one more time, as she'd talked to herself, "Rias, this is your last chance to fix things. I hope your able to do so. Good luck." as Grayfia hide herself again, and waited for the two heirs to meet and talk...