"Haaah!"
Koneko's full-powered strike shook the massive tree but failed to break it.
"Hah… hah…"
It was no use. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn't do it. A tree of this thickness—Kazuki or Issei could snap it effortlessly. Yumi or Xenovia could cleave it in two with their swords.
The club president or Akeno could obliterate it with destructive magic or lightning. But she alone… she alone was powerless.
"I really am useless…"
Slumping to the ground, Koneko bit her lip. She knew that to gain more power, she had to rely on Senjutsu—on her Nekomata abilities.
But she was terrified. The thought of losing control like her sister did… it was unbearable. 'What am I supposed to do?'
"Nah, I don't think that's true."
Just then, a voice called out from above the trees. A man in Chinese-style armor stood there. 'Have I seen him somewhere before?'
"You're Shirone, right? Kuroka's little sister."
Hearing her sister's name, she finally remembered. This man had come to greet the White Dragon Emperor during the Three Factions Summit. That meant… "Khaos Brigade?!"
Realizing this, she leapt back, belatedly shifting into a combat stance.
"Heh~? You wanna fight? Sure, I'll play with ya."
The man twirled a staff he'd pulled from nowhere and slowly advanced, his smirk oozing confidence.
'Fine. I'll wipe that grin off his face!' Koneko thought.
"Hmph!"
She exhaled sharply and threw a punch, only for her full-force strike to be effortlessly caught. Undeterred, Koneko lashed out with a kick, but he blocked it just as easily.
She kept attacking, but nothing worked. The man, who had initially been amused, soon furrowed his brow in disbelief.
"Damn, you're weak… You really Kuroka's sister?"
A sharp pain pierced her chest.
"Well, guess you'll do as a hostage. Here we go!"
With a spin of his staff, he swept her legs out from under her, pinning her down under his foot.
"Gah—?!"
The crushing pressure on her lungs forced out a strangled gasp.
"Stay down. You're just bait to lure out Kuroka anyway."
"Bait… for Nee-sama?"
"Hm? Well, ya see—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly swung his staff, deflecting an incoming magic bullet. 'That attack—?!'
"Bikou! Let Shirone go!!"
A stunning beauty with long black hair and cat ears stormed in, her aura commanding the battlefield. Even after years apart, there was no mistaking her.
"Nee… sama…?"
For the first time in years, Koneko was face-to-face with her sister, Kuroka…
…
Having arrived at the Gremory estate from the territory of the Devil King, Kuroka—now in the form of a black cat—perched herself on Kazuki's shoulder as they entered the mansion.
When they reached Shirone's room, they found it empty. Kazuki asked a passing maid and was told she had gone for training. 'She collapsed from exhaustion before… but I wonder if she's okay, nya~?'
After learning Shirone's training location, the two immediately teleported to search for her.
Scouring the mountains, they sensed a battle nearby. Rushing toward the disturbance, they arrived just in time to see Bikou pinning Shirone beneath his foot!
"!!"
A blast of demonic energy, fueled by fury, shot toward Bikou—only for him to casually deflect it with a single swing of his Nyoi-Bo.
"Bikou! Let Shirone go!!"
Kuroka landed between the two. Bikou smirked while Shirone stared in stunned silence.
"Nee-sama…?"
Though pinned, Koneko didn't seem seriously injured. Kuroka glared at Bikou, her voice dripping with menace.
"Bikou. Get your fucking foot off her. What do you think you're doing, laying hands on my little sister?"
"Tch. The fuck's your problem? Disappear without a trace, then suddenly show up working for the Devils?" Bikou sneered.
"I came to settle Vali's score with the Gremory faction, but you're missing the damn point. …Or what, Kuroka? Are you planning to ditch the team?"
Kuroka's breath hitched for a moment—but then, without hesitation, she answered.
"Yeah. I'm done. I'm leaving… the Khaos Brigade."
Bikou's grin widened. "Hah. Suit yourself. But don't think you're walking away without consequences—
WHAM!
Before he could finish, Kazuki vanished—only to reappear mid-strike, his fist aimed straight for Bikou's face! The monkey Yokai barely blocked with his staff, skidding back as he regained his footing.
"The hell, man?! You just jump into a fight like that?!"
"That's my line," Kazuki growled, cracking his knuckles. "You messed with my mascot. I'm the one who convinced Kuroka to stay. If you want payback, you'll deal with me."
Bikou's smirk turned feral. "Hell yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!"
A battle junkie like Vali, Bikou thrived on fighting strong opponents. Kazuki had successfully drawn his attention away from Shirone.
"Kazuki… Senpai…?" Shirone's voice trembled with concern.
Glancing back, Kazuki flashed her a reassuring grin. "Don't worry. Leave the rest to me."
Somehow, those words alone eased the tension in Kuroka's chest. 'He's only just appeared in our lives, yet… his words carry such weight.' She couldn't help but trust him, and it seemed Koneko felt the same, her gaze filled with quiet faith.
"Koneko," Kazuki called, stepping forward as Bikou readied himself. "I know Kuroka showing up like this must be confusing, but hear her out. I think she can help you with what's been weighing on you."
Then, locking eyes with Kuroka, he added, "Don't hold back. Trust your sister—tell her everything. Koneko-chan will understand."
Stopping just meters away from Bikou, Kazuki smirked.
"You two better make up properly, got it?"
With that, Kazuki and Bikou vanished, leaving only the distant clash of their battle auras behind.
Now, alone with Koneko, Kuroka steeled herself and reached out.
"Shirone, give me your hand—"
As soon as Kuroka took her sister's hand, a warm, soothing energy flowed between them. Shirone's pain melted away.
"This is…?"
"Senjutsu manipulates the flow of life. With practice, even you could do this."
Shirone hesitated. 'Could I really?'
"You're afraid of losing control?" Kuroka saw right through her.
"Shirone… There's something I need to tell you. The truth I've kept hidden all this time." Her piercing gaze left no room for escape.
"Will you listen?"
Shirone's heart pounded—fear and longing twisting inside her. But after a moment, she nodded.
"Thank you." Kuroka took a deep breath. "The truth is…"
And so, she began to unravel the secrets of that fateful day.
…
"That's—"
Upon hearing Kuroka's story, Koneko was left utterly stunned.
To her younger self, that day had been branded into her memory as the worst day of her life—the day her sister, obsessed with power, had abandoned her.
Her sister had slaughtered the kind master of the Naberius household. Not just him, but even the servants and familiars who tried to intervene.
The sight of her sister, drenched in blood, rampaging like a maddened beast, had been terrifying beyond words.
And then, Kuroka fled, leaving her behind. Alone and abandoned, she was told that her sister had become a stray, and as the kin of a master-slayer, she herself was sentenced to execution.
Fortunately, Sirzechs' intervention halted the execution, and she was taken under the protection of the Gremory household. But the deep scars left on her heart forced her to lock away those memories, refusing to dwell on them.
Yet now, hearing Kuroka's words, those suppressed memories surged forth—and for the first time, she saw what her younger self had failed to notice.
The master, she had thought kind… His gentle words had been a façade, his eyes cold and calculating, like a scientist observing a lab specimen.
Her sister, drenched in blood, wild and frenzied—but in truth, she had been fighting desperately… for her sake.
All this time, she had believed herself abandoned. But now, she realized—she had been wrong.
"Onee-san… I—"
Overwhelmed by regret, tears spilled from Koneko's eyes. Kuroka pulled her close, embracing her tenderly.
"It's alright. You did nothing wrong, Shirone. The fault is mine alone… I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you. But please, believe this…—I have always, and will always, love you."
"O-onee-san!!"
Clutched in her sister's arms, Koneko sobbed like a child, wailing openly. Before she knew it, her sister was crying just as fiercely.
Together, they wept as if washing away years of resentment, holding each other tightly, sharing in each other's warmth—
After years of misunderstanding, on this day, they had finally returned to being sisters once more.
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