Carnival Madness and Cats, everywhere! What kind of date is this!? Pt. 1

'Okay, Michael, you can do this, you've been preparing for this date for weeks. Now you just have to believe in the red dragon who believes in you!'

[I never said I believed in you.]

'Ignoring him! Come on Michael time to show how down you are! Because this isn't their time anymore! No, this is our time, our time! Our time! In the spotlight! Now it's time to show off your guts because you can't make a fool out of yourself on this date!'

[Yeah…it's already too late for that. Look at your hand.]

'Huh!?'

"Michael, are you okay, your hand is crushing your ice cream cone?"

Michael's body jolted when he realized he felt the cold melted liquid of his ice cream on his hand. He was pumping himself too much that he forgot what was happening around him. Or specifically what was happening with his hand which was now smeared with his cold sticky ice cream.

Looking at his messy hand, Michael gave a cheeky laugh.

"Sorry, I was getting myself pumped up to make this date the most fun you ever had."

"Oh…" Rias blushed.

Pulling out a handkerchief, Rias helped wipes Michael's hand clean.

"I mean this carnival is amazing and has tons of games and rides, so we'll have an awesome time! Oh, I think we should play a few tent games, first…but I guess doing a ride would seem okay too, but we just ate so that wouldn't turn out well for anyone." Michael grinned and was getting all giddy like a kid in a candy store.

He found the games and rides to be a great bonus for their time together to be extraordinary. The place was really amazing with all of its colorful rides and very lively atmosphere despite them being the only ones there with those creepy workers for the rides. When they were checking in through the entrance they came across one of the workers who welcomed them in with some strange laugh.

It sounded like "Kikikikiki!"

But that wasn't the weird part at all, they were all wearing the same type of clothing which showed little to no skin, face masks, and dark, thick rimmed sunglasses. Michael found them a little suspicious but remembered Natsuru was the one who set all of this up so

'He's giving everything so much thought and looks to be having fun. I'm so glad.' Rias laughs quietly to herself.

"Rias, what do you think we should do first?" Michael turned to Rias, who answered back with a shrug.

"To be honest I haven't been to a carnival that many times so I was hoping you could lead for this part of the date."

"For real? But wouldn't you have fun choosing the stalls you would like to go to?"

Rias shook her head and finished cleaning Michael's hand.

"Michael, you already chose the perfect place for the date so just choose the first stall you'd go to. When I see one I like I'll tell you."

"Well if that's what you want then how about we try out the games first? After eating that ice cream I'm so ready to work it off before trying the rides! Sometimes carnivals can have iffy games especially ones who like to scam you out of your money so let's choose the ones where it will be easy to win as many prizes as we want."

Rias was absolutely delighted that Michael was enjoying himself almost as much as her. She knew that their outing was making him a little tense. She also accounted for Michael's selflessness when it came to dates by consulting with Raynare who explained Michael's behavior and how thoughtful he acted during the date. However, that wasn't the problem it was actually sweet what he did, but he didn't consider how stiff he was during most of it.

Rias wanted to change that by letting him be more lax and act like he usually does so that they can truly enjoy their time together.

"Hey, Rias, let's do the dunk tank!" Michael pointed to a stall with a huge tank of water with one of those heavily dressed workers sitting inside on a bench.

"A dunk tank?" Rias said, "Won't you have trouble hitting the bull's eye for that?"

"I would, but games like these don't usually get rigged so I'll take that chance. Come on, I'll even win you one of those prizes."

Grabbing Rias by the hand, invitingly, Michael cheerfully leads her, without feeling wound up like he did before. Rias rolled her eyes and went along with Michael's offer. If they were going to do something together then they should try to act more relaxed around each other so they can enjoy themselves to the fullest.

"Kikikikikiki! Hey there you two, why don't you try hitting that target? Who knows maybe you'll get me in the first throw?"

While approaching the booth, the man inside the tank waved the pair over, he even did that creepy laugh.

"Shut up, man! I know what you're doing and your mind tricks aren't going to work on me, I've seen enough of your provoking tricks on television to know what you're saying!" Michael shouted.

"I'm not trying to trick you. Your chances of hitting the target are high now give it your best shot, dude!"

"Argh! Be quiet I get it, I know I can't hit that target on the first try, but no matter how long it takes your going down!"

"Michael?"

Rias sweatdropped and wondered how Michael was misunderstanding the man's words.

"I may waste all of the money in my wallet but I will dunk you!" Michael dramatically pointed at the man.

"There's no need for that."

"Huh?"

The man laughed that creepy laugh of his once more and made a "no need" gesture.

"This game and all the other attractions are having a free day today since you reserved the carnival for yourselves, so you don't have to pay for any so all of this is on the house."

"Really?" Michael himself didn't know about that, most theme parks that get reserved would never do that.

"This makes things much better, you've really done a good job with picking this place, Michael." Rias complimented the young man, who was just as amazed as her.

"O-Oh, right, I guess I did grab a killer place to come to, huh?"

'Wow, Natsuru-senpai really pulled out all the stops for this one, I have to remember to thank her for all of this later.' Michael began to think of way to express his gratitude to his senpai later but for now he had bigger fish to fry.

"Now do your best, kid, I'm rooting for yo-WHOA!"

*SPLASH!*

"Stop provoking me! Now let's continue!" Michael roared, he grabbed one of the nearby baseballs and hit the target right on its mark and forcing the man into the tank of water.

"But you already knocked me down, and with the first throw no less, so you can collect your prize in the corn-Uagh!"

*SPLASH!*

Michael dunked the carney again.

"Get dunked on!" Michael screamed.

Reemerging from the tank, the man gasped out for air and rushed to sit on the dunk tank's bench.

"Hey, you can stop, kid! You already got me so get your damn priz-eeek!" the man yelped and sighed in relief after Michael's third attempt failed.

*DING!*

"Dammit! I missed!" Michael snapped his fingers then held up 3 more balls, "Set me up again!"

"What the heck is wrong with you, you already won. What's the point of continuing my game if you're just here to knock me back in the water!?"

"Because today, my lucky number is 15, so I need to get 15 wins to complete this game before moving on. You said all of these games and rides are free for us, right? Then I'm going to abuse that privilege maliciously!" Michael maniacally laughed.

"B-But my game, y-you can't…!"

"Your game…? No, you must mean MY game!" Michael laughed as he picked up the three balls he threw and went back to the distance he threw them at.

"H-Hey, you!" The man looked to Rias and pointed at Michael, "Control your boyfriend will you, there has to be a limit to how unreasonable he's being right now. It's ridiculous!"

Placing a hand to her forehead, Rias shook her head, "Michael, I'm disappointed in you…"

"Rias?" Michael raised his eyebrows.

"For you to mercilessly dunk this man 2 out of 3 times is unforgivable." Rias crossed her arms under her chest.

"Thank you…someone here who sane…" the man limply sat back in his bench, hoping he could catch a break.

Too bad he wasn't going to.

"You should be able to throw a perfect succession of 15 throws to dunk this man into the water, in fact, I believe you can dunk this man 30 times if you put your mind to it." Rias was encouraging him.

"Really?" Michael gasped with stars glittering his eyes.

All it took was one nod from Rias as Michael pivots on his heel to glare at the soaked man with a grin.

"Prepare yourself because I'm not gonna hold back!"

The man growled at Rias, who passively waved at him as a significant way of saying goodbye.

"You little… you didn't help at all, you just made it wors…Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

*SPLASH!*

"Get DUNKED on!" Michael laughed.

"Nice throw, Michael." Rias giggled.

"Now 29 more to go!" Michael declared and sets up another pitch, he was going to make this vendor's next 30 minutes a living hell.

"Meep!" The man in the dunk tank whimpered as he shivered in fear.

Elsewhere, landing in that same carnival but on the far right side of it was Shirou who had finally managed to make it to the overflowing natural energy residing in the area. It was quite difficult for him to drop what he had to do, so he decided to wrap the whole thing up and save it for later.

"This is the place." Shirou folds his devil wings behind his back as he exits from the shadows of an empty game tent.

'The natural energy this place has is incredible, the person must be a pro at using senjutsu if the entire surrounding is marked with their energy signature.'

Shirou took his first steps into the bright carnival lighting and looked around at the empty games and rides around him still kept on and active. It was a bizarre sight, seeing these many attractions with no people on them.

Sighing to himself, Shirou wasn't surprised that the culprit chose this place.

\What is it? Not so thrilled about carnivals? Or is it that you're afraid of the clowns?/

"No, that's not it, it's just…" Shirou shook his head.

\If it's about those cookies then you should definitely get over them. It's not like you would have had the time to show-up your "Culinary Rival" while doing your job./

"It's not that either, and shows what you know. Last time, my dish won compared to hers. Back then her skills were sub-par compared to my cooking by a little and I bet, she is probably at that same level right now. It's not even a contest anymore."

Shirou crossed his arms and smirked.

\Who knows, maybe she could have gotten better./

"Pfft, it'd be challenging if she did, but I would still win." Shirou stifled a chuckle and began walking in a random direction.

\Do you even know where you're going?/

"Don't ask a retarded question like that especially when you can just read my mind and get the answer yourself."

\Hehe, I know all your secrets~!/.

"Knock it off, I can't concentrate with you screwing around!" Shirou shouted at the voice in his head.

\Oh, I'm sorry, but weren't you supposed to be looking for the one messing with the magic circles?/

"It's kind of hard with you rambling in my head." Shirou growled and looked around the empty area, "And if they can't be found here then I'll just look for a more populated place!"

Shirou dashes off in a random direction to the right where the lights and the activity of the carnival is more vibrant than to the left where most of the tents and the lights were turned off and completely shadowed out as a way of warning people approaching the area that it was closed.

However resurfacing from the shadows was a pair of golden eyes but as the eyes approached the light they turned light blue along with the appearance of Natsuru who just watched Shirou aimlessly look for her.

"This will be easier than I thought."

She thought about using a decoy to lead Shirou on around the place away from her main target. Although since he was aimlessly searching there would be a chance of that happening, but of course, she had a back-up for this setbacks.

Stomping their way partially out of the shadows was a black-furred foot with sharp claws and golden cat like eyes shining in the shadows. The shadows hid the creature's body as it's stature was clearly shown with its eyes being so higher up. It felt intimidating just imagining who or what it was without seeing its complete appearance.

"I'm getting many signals about that devil, Natsuru-sama."

Still wearing her relaxed smirk, Natsuru didn't look back to her hidden subordinate.

"Hm, He is dangerous isn't he? If it were me alone, no, if it were me with all of you, we'd never stand a chance against that man." Natsuru said.

"Shouldn't we prepare to use a strategy to cripple his strength, just enough to make sure he isn't a threat?" the deep voice from the hidden creature asked.

"No need, I've already gotten a plan for that, all we do now is wait for things to finally get underway. So do not engage him until I say so, for now, I'm going to enjoy watching our two guests enjoy themselves." Natsuru fixes her hair and goes in the same direction as Shirou.

"Natsuru-sama, what are you planning? What if he figures things out and kill the others?"

Natsuru pauses and looks back at the shadows with an expressionless stare, with no sympathy. These whelps may be supporting her in all this, but they are just pawns to serve their purpose if a few die, then it's a blessing for her to gain back any space she ever wasted by having them around.

"It's only natural if that happens. The circle of life, as I would say and considering your position I wouldn't have to worry about them but yourself instead. I mean aren't cats supposed to be lazy and selfish and besides you should already know my position on top of your food chain already, so should you really be questioning my judgement?"

"…"

"See, that's what I thought. Now get back into position."

"Yes…ma'am…" The creature leapt further into the shadows, but his reply was husky and dark with restrained anger. Natsuru knew these creatures weren't too happy with serving her, but she knew they wouldn't dare defy her not if their savior/creator had any say in it.

"Now about our newcomer, I'll just have to keep an eye out for him while observing Michael-kun."

Leaping and bounding off a few tents, Natsuru travels to the tents nearest to Michael and Rias where Michael had already finished dunking the dunk tank vendor 30 times in a row. For his prize, he chose a huge stuffed red teddy bear for Rias.

Quietly laughing to herself, Natsuru couldn't help but enjoy how cliché the scene was.

"So what should we do next?" Michael held the giant stuffed bear in one arm while looking to Rias who leaned in and scolded.

"Don't you remember? I said you should be the one who picks and leads for the date, I'll tell you when I find something I really like."

"But I already had my fun already, so choose one thing that you want to do." Michael didn't felt right if he was the only one choosing the games.

"Okay, I'll choose any game you like for my next choice." Rias placed on hand on her hip and playfully poked Michael's chest.

"That isn't fair." Michael sweatdropped.

"Oops, it isn't? You said so yourself that I can choose one thing that I want to do, and what your next choice is will be what I want so shouldn't we be moving on to the next game?"

'Damn, she got me good.' Michael sighed and gave in to Rias' tricky words, but he wouldn't let it end like that.

"Okay, then how about we try tossing rings?" Michael smirked and pointed to the tent doing that game.

Rias wore a plain expression as she looked at the game.

"That looks rather boring."

Michael's face fell after he heard that.

"You mean you wouldn't want to play it?"

"Well, only if I was desperate, which I'm not. But I believe something challenging like that will be entertaining." Rias pointed at the Test your Strength game.

"You mean, you want to do that, why don't you try something easier?" Michael looked at Rias in disbelief.

"Why not? It looks to be quite the challenge and playing it may encourage you to actually act like a man and take charge."

"What?"

Rias was purposely making Michael tap into his competitive side.

"Maybe, I was wrong in thinking you can lead this date since you're so scared about testing your own strength." Rias turned away with one eye open.

Michael tried to suppress the urge to scream for the sake of trying to get past Rias' effective smack talk.

"T-hat's...nrgh Not it, I just wanted you to choose something you wanted play just to be fa-!"

"You don't seem to be gutsy or great as you claim yourself to be."

And that was the very, last straw.

"What did you just say…?" Michael's face zoned out as he blankly stard at her.

[She did it now…] Ddraig sighed.

"You heard me, I said you're not great if you're too…chicken to play this game." Rias turned around and poked her finger harder into Michael's chest. The gesture was very provoking.

"But Rias…I…" Michael was holding back the reckless beast that was trying to emerging.

"I remember you doing this to Riser because you're speaking like him right now since, but all I hear coming from your mouth is bawk, bawk, bawk!" Rias imitated a chicken then laughed in Michael's face.

Michael's entire appearance went frozen as his face was unresponsive to that comment, the only thing that could be said was the boiling tension coming from within him.

[3…2…1…and…] Ddraig counted down.

It was at that moment that Michael finally tapped into his competitive side.

*SNAP!*

Michael's eyelid slowly snapped up as he slowly uttered,

"You know what, Gremory?"

Rias was surprised to hear Michael use her last name and was going to address that before he got all up in her face.

"You KNOW what, RIAS! I AM going to be playing that game and I WILL get a perfect score 5 times in a row just to show you that I'm the greatest and prove to you how wrong are about my skills! Because my power dwarfs everyone, who's around here so badly by One-thousand, no, One-Hundred thousand!" Michael's face was contorted into a huge grin with his eyes wide open.

Playing along, Rias said, "Oh, really?"

"REALLY! Let's even make a bet to prove it too!"

"This sounds interesting, what are the terms?" Rias confidently crossed her arms under her chest.

"If I lose and can't get 5 perfect scores on that game, I'll do whatever you want when this date is over, but if I win, I get a kiss from you!"

"Sounds like a deal."

Michael pulled Rias closer to him by grabbing both sides of her face and staring into her eyes.

"No, not just any ordinary kiss. Not a kiss to the forehead, an air blown kiss, or even the cliché cheek kiss! I mean a kiss to the mouth, and I, like you wanted, get to lead are we clear?"

"I-I…" Rias had her face go red and almost match the shade of her crimson hair, she couldn't respond after hearing that, but still tried her best to give an answer.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's do this, Huaaaaaaaaaah!" Michael released Rias and charged towards the game.

"Kikikiki, hello there young man! Care to test your strength with this mach-iiine!?"

Michael lifted up the approaching vendor by the collar and shook him.

"Let me play your game!"

Looking frazzled, the vendor just nodded and tapped at Michael's wrist.

"Just put me down, kid, and I will!"

Michael released the man and lets him fall on the ground.

"Set me up, man!"

Patting himself down while gesturing to the Test your strength game and the large hammer, leaning on it.

"Such vigor, kikikikiki! Just use that and give that target a big old whal-!"

"Hiyaaaaaaaaaaa!" It was so sudden and so fast that the vendor did not see Michael move from his spot to the game already and he was lifting the huge hammer like it was a toy.

"-lop?"

"This is the heaviest you got? Hah, this is nothing! Do you see this, Rias?" Michael exclaimed as he approached the target while growling and wearing a huge forced grin.

"All I see is a chicken!" Rias' lips curled up while she shouted that, this was turning out to be real fun for her.

"Raaaaaaaargh!" Michael roared and turned back to the game.

"Excuse me, miss, are you sure antagonizing him is the best course of action?" The vendor looked at Michael slowly raise the hammer over his head.

Beginning with a light, innocent chuckle, Rias responds, "Of course not, when he gets like this he loses so much focus."

"EH!?" The vendor had expected a more reassuring answer.

Rias just wanted to toy with Michael just for the heck of it. If she wins, she gets to do anything she wanted to him, well, it will be basically what she does every day, but still the prize is something she would look forward too. Yet, the cost of losing was still in her favor because she would have to kiss Michael on the lips by the end of it. Should she win or lose is not much of a deal for her because either way, in the end, she still wins.

"I'm no chicken!" Michael grunts and holds the hammer way up high while flexing his arms to the correct amount of strength he'll need to get a perfect score.

"I'm gonna wreck it!"

*WHAM!*

*DING! DING! DING!*

With the strength and form of a woodsman, Michael smashed the hammer on the target in front of his with enough force that the target machine itself creaked by the force of the recoil.

"We have a winner~!" The vendor was relieved that tense moment was over and walked closer to Michael.

"Now sir, choose any prize from my wa-!"

"Huraaaaaaaaah!"

*WHAM!*

*HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!*

*DING! DING! DING!*

Michael attempted the game again and won another perfect score. However, the game wasn't looking perfect after the second blow Michael made on it.

"Excuse me, sir, your prize. Don't you want it?"

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

*WHAM!*

*HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICKIKI!*

*DING! DING! DING!*

Michael's next swing crushed the target completely as it started to get more rickety with each growing hit. He needed to prove how strong he was and show he wasn't a chicken but someone unbelievably great!

"I am not a chicken!" Michael roared and swings back the hammer for one more blow.

"Sir, please you're going to-!"

*WHAAAAAM!*

*HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICKIKIKIKIKIKI!*

*DING! DING! DING!*

"The game won't survive, just stop already!" the vendor pleaded in fear that his game will stop functioning like his pay should he let it get broken.

"Never!" Michael yelled and gave the target one more wallop which shook the game down to its very core with most of its design either creaking or opening to show the inner technological equipment making it function.

*DING! Ding…Driiing~!*

Even the bell was breaking down with the hits the machine received.

"Just one more and I'll win." Michael's grip tightened around the grip of the hammer.

"No, no more! If you do then you'll break the game!" No more mister nice guy, the vendor tried to grab the hammer out of Michael's hand.

"Let go!"

"No, just take your crummy prize and leave!"

"I just need one more perfect score then I will leave!"

"Sir, look, you have the highest score imaginably already with 400 points can't you just be satisfied with this much?" the vendor shouted.

"Really? I have the highest score?" Michael showed signs of relenting.

"Y-Yes, yes ,of course, in fact you have the highest score imaginable right now!" the vendor took this ticket to butter Michael up.

"Wow, I guess if I did get those points that would mean I am great and if I were to stop before getting the last perfect score I needed then I would have become a…"

"A…?" the vendor said with uncertainty in his voice.

"CHICKEN! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Nooooo!"

*WHAAM!*

*CREEEEEEEEEEEAK!* *GAN!GAN!GAN!GAN!*

*DING!DING!DING!DING!DING!DING!DING!*

With that final hit, Michael received his perfect chain of 500 points. The machine was shuddering while smoke was coming out of its opened cracks as the rivets and nails keeping it together jittered and shot out of their respective rivetings. It wasn't long before it finally broke down for good.

"I did it!" Michael threw his fists up and banged his head like a rock star to signify his victory.

The vendor fell on his knees and looked at the demolished attraction.

"No…why?"

"Hey, old man…" Michael grinned and raised his thumb.

"Thanks for boosting my spirits with that last comment it really boosted my spirits, knowing that I will always be the top scorer in your game for…" Michael looked back at the destroyed game and chuckled.

"I don't know, um…how long does it take to fix a game like this?"

"You can't…once it's broken it stays broken…" the vendor cried.

"Oh…" Michael frowned then laughs excitedly, "OOH! That makes this even better, now I'm the eternal champion at your game!"

"Ku…" The vendor just gave in to his sorrow and limply laid on the ground.

Oblivious as always, Michael patted the man's back.

"Thanks for the good time, old man. Now to claim my prize." Michael wasn't looking at the prizes in the prize booth but rather someone else.

"Incredible, Michael, you actually got 5 perfect scores!" Rias saw the destroyed game and beamed with pride for her boyfriend's success.

"Yeah, and that means I won the bet!" Michael approached Rias while looking serious.

Understanding the terms of her loss, Rias starts to blush and began to actually feel the weight of the terms that she agreed to.

"R-Right, you did win, and you were able to get 5 perfect scores so…so…" Rias was a little embarrassed when things came down to it. It would have been a different story if Michael were flustered like she was, but the expression that he wore was that of someone intending to get their prize.

Broken from her stupor, Rias felt Michael wrap his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. The close body contact made Rias gasp with surprise, and unconsciously kept looking away from Michael, she could still feel his gaze on her. She enjoyed the attention, but it was kind of overwhelming at the same time.

"Rias…" Michael rubs Rias' cheek with one hand and helps ease her into looking him in the eye. At that moment, it was completely silent for both of them nothing else was getting their attention. It was only just them…

Michael started to gradually lean closer to Rias as he continued to look her in the eyes with his own that were just focused on her.

'H-He's…' Rias was getting more caught up with the moment that she too was leaning into him as well. Her embarrassed tick was gone once she met eyes with Michael, just looking at them relaxed her and made unconsciously lean in to meet him halfway.

*Chu!*

Their lips finally met in their soft embrace, and the slow build up for it from before almost took Rias' breath away. Her soft lips pressed up against his made her gasp at first, but afterwards she began to enjoy the passionate liplock. Deepening the kiss, Michael used both arms to pull Rias closer to him for a more intimate kiss, but that was what he wanted her to believe.

Enjoying the lovely interlock of lips, Rias tried to move in for a deeper kiss but Michael pulled away before she could do that.

"E-Eh, what?"

Catching her breath, Rias looked confused and tried to ask why he stopped before she saw the grin on Michael's face.

"Hey, Rias…I just wanted to tell you that…" Michael slowly released Rias from the close hug and took a few steps back.

He coughed then breathed in.

"Never call me a CHICKEN! I'm the best, no scratch that I'm the greatest and gutsiest person ever!" Michael cheered as he laughed in pride, it felt good to win something against her for a change. Usually if he were to enter a conversation or a small bet against Rias, he would lose. But this time with his pride on the line he was able to secure victory.

"Hah! I bet you weren't expecting me to win now did you!?" Michael had expected a response but stopped his gloating to look at Rias, who was still dazed from the kiss.

"Huh, Rias…?"

Touching her lips as a way of confirming the kiss, Rias giggled and looked up at Michael with a very happy smile, "You're right. Michael, you truly are the greatest."

"Urh…" Hearing that made Michael's heart beat a little fast before he composed himself and stretched his arms.

"Of course, I am and don't you ever forget it!" Michael tried to laugh it off.

'Why does it feel like I'm not the only winner right now?' Michael debated over why it was a good thing and why it was a bad thing at the same time before he got fed up about it.

"Gah! Forget it, I'm already pumped, so let's go check out the rides!" Running over to Rias, Michael takes her hand in his and briskly leads her to one of the rollercoasters. He knew that she would be persistent in him making the decision on what's next so he decided to just make things easier for both of them and lead them.

"Already?" Rias asked with amusement.

"I need a thrill ride to get me out of this hyped up funk!" Michael laughed, "So let's go!"

"Ufufu, okay." Laughing once again because of her date's childish excitement, Rias followed Michael through the rides entrance.

Watching from out of normal sight, Natsuru was busting a gut of laughter, she couldn't believe how something so small mattered that much to Michael. However Rias wasn't the only who was blushing from that kiss, yes, just the sight alone made Natsuru excited, if only things had progressed a little faster then she wouldn't have to be feeling this much anxiety and contempt.

Don't get her wrong, she did enjoy the interactions Michael had with his date and she didn't really mind the intimacy he exhibited to Rias. It was just the fact that it was Rias receiving all of this that made her resent Rias even more. To be in complete ignorant bliss is something which Natsuru used to envy but now was thankful for the veil that once blinded her was now lifted.

"Now let's see how our other guest is enjoying his stay here." Natsuru creates a window of magic to spy on Shirou. The young man was still looking for her but was nowhere close at all, there however she did get a little laugh out of Shirou's annoyance for not finding her yet and taking it out on one of her lackeys who were dressed like a clown.

From the screen of Natsuru's magic window:

"Dammit, where are they, this place freaking has every trace of their energy!" Shirou sent a stray trash can rolling with a kick. That didn't even help vent out his frustration even a little and there was still no sign of the suspect.

"I swear to maou, this god forsaken place is pissing me off! There's basically no people except these creepy vendors who laugh all weird and shit, and for some reason all of the cotton candy in the god damn place is gone!"

Back with Natsuru:

"Teeheehee!"

Natsuru couldn't stop her faint snickering because she was responsible, regretting that should would waste a tasty treat like that resolved her into asking her lackeys into collecting and saving it all for her.

With Shirou:

"I can't believe how ridiculous this place is! I swear the only bright side to this place is that they have no clowns! Because if there is anything I hate about carnivals…"

"Kikikiki…"

From behind Shirou one of the weird vendors dressed as a clown came up behind Shirou and pulled out his horn to honk right next to his ear.

"Are GOD DAMN CLOWNS! I can't fucking stand them! There painted faces, their goofy as crap hairdos and don't get me started on their laughs!"

The clown hesitated with his horn and just watched Shirou shout out his rage in that one moment.

"I hate! Hate! HATE CLOWNS! I'd probably go nuts after seeing one, no, I'd break every funny bone in their body before shoving their ass in their small cars and tossing off a cliff!"

Shirou breathed hard after he got that off his chest, while the clown slowly started to step away from the young man.

His first step back he stepped on a potato chip which shockingly gave a loud…

*CRUNCH!*

Looking back at Shirou in fear, the clown saw that it didn't get the anger young man's attention.

Taking another step back, the clown stepped on a stray pack of bubble wrap.

*POP!* *POP!* *POP!* *POP!* *POP!*

The popping kept on going but it still didn't attract Shirou's attention.

"Phew!" The clown wiped the sweat off his brow in relief.

"Who did that!?"

*SMACK!*

The clown face palmed as he caught Shirou's unwanted attention.

Taking this chance to glance at the clown more closely, Shirou wore a blank expression and waved at the clown to come over. His face might have looked calm but his voice was very misleading.

"Come over here…" Shirou beckoned his hand to the clown who was still taking steps back. Catching this Shirou slowly followed and still kept beckoning for the clown to come over to him.

"Don't run away bring your ass back here...I said come here you bastard!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

As soon as the clown heard the tone in Shirou's voice go loud he booked it and ran as fast as his hilariously large shoes can carry him as Shirou chases after him shouting,

"GET BACK HERE SO I CAN BURY YOU!"

With Natsuru:

"That's enough of that." Natsuru cuts off the connection, and giggles to herself, things may have going pretty well for her so far now all she needs to do is wait for her new "toy" to be done.

"They really like taking their time don't they? Perhaps their just trying to sour my mood by prolonging this process." Natsuru starts to stand up once she sees Michael and Rias exit the rollercoaster they rid. It was their 5th time doing that kind of ride and Michael was hunching over holding his stomach from all the times they rode it. The thrill of it kept increasing for him and made him a little motion sick.

"That's interesting…hm?" Natsuru noticed the small magic circle that appeared near her ear.

Holding his stomach and leaning on the side of a wall, Michael tried to catch his breath. Maybe taking advantage of not having to wait in lines and riding the rollercoaster a finite amount of times was a bad idea. He felt like throwing up his own stomach after surviving those turns and abrupt climbs up the ramp.

'Dear god…ow…if I'm like this then Rias must be sick after that." Michael groaned and tried to settle down his nausea.

[Actually, she's fine.]

'Really!?'

Rias walks past Michael with a lady-like smile, though her hair might have seemed a little disheveled, it still looked like she didn't even enter that death trap called a roller coaster.

'How is that even possible, I could've sworn that she was holding on to my arm the whole time. So she wasn't even scared, and how come she held onto me that tightly?' Michael thought and tries to stomach the rising upchuck going into his mouth before keeping it down.

'Ufufu… I was able to cling onto Michael longer than this time…fufu…' Rias was flushed and hid her laughter, she was oblivious to the fast ride when she sat next to Michael. Each time that they did a repeat ride of the same coaster, she would time how long she could hold onto Michael before it ended. Right now she set a new record of 3 minutes with an added bonus from when Michael hugged her (mainly due to his growing fear of the ride).

"So what next? Do you want to try that?" Rias was all excited to try another ride and pointed at the spinning ride which uses the pressure of its spin to pin the riders to the wall.

Face paling, Michael shook his head and laughed, "Actually, let's get something to eat because I am starving, and you know what they say? Eating is a vital part of getting enough energy to go through the day except for riding anymore rides for at least…30 minutes!"

A little disappointed that she couldn't get on another ride as an excuse to hold on to him, Rias nonetheless complied with the notion, "So what do you want to eat?"

"A funnel cake!"

"Funnel cake?"

"Yes, a funnel cake, because they are so sweet and delicious!"

"They are how many have you had in the past?"

Michael looks down in depression and says, "Never had one, but that's only because the Ero-Ossan took mine while I was getting ketchup for my side of fries…the bastard…"

Michael cried tears of regret, "If only I was a little faster, then I would have tasted it, but no... That bastard just continued eating it while I cried!"

Calming him down, Rias lovingly hugged Michael's head betwixt her breasts and patted his head.

"You poor thing… Lets get you that funnel cake and when Azazel-sensei comes back, I'll be sure to give him a good smack on the head with a paper fan for you." Rias consoled Michael.

"Just a paper fan?" Michael muffled between Rias' breasts, he's gotten used to the treatment and has developed a technique for breathing it.

"It could be with baseball bat if you want?" Rias laughed when Michael peeked his head out to look her in the face.

"Then things are Okay! Now let's find those funnel cakes!"

Attempt #1

"I'm sorry…kikikiki…sir we seem to be all out." A vendor of a funnel cake stand said.

'How are they out we're the only ones here?' Michael irked and sighed.

"Okay, just tell us where the other stall that has one is." Michael asked.

"It's about 15 minutes that way."

"Thanks." Michael groaned and turned to Rias.

"I'll be back with them, so don't worry about walking that much, okay?"

"OK, but please don't over do it."

"It's just a 15 minute trip I doubt anything will go wrong." Michael waved it off.

Attempt # 2

"What do you mean you're out!?" Michael slammed his hands on the counter of the 2nd funnel cake stand.

"What I mean is that we're out of cakes!" the vendor shouted in annoyance.

"But the guy from earlier said you weren't!"

"Well, he's wrong, now if you want to get more just go to the next stand!"

"And how far is that!?" Michael followed the man's pointed finger to the right and saw a long path ahead.

"About 30 minutes."

"30 minut-ack! I can't be away that long, I'm on a date!"

"Too bad, and why are you so excited about getting this snack, it's not even that big of a deal, in fact, just get a salad!"

Grabbing the vendor by the collar Michael growled.

"Never say that to face again…"

"What? That funnel cakes aren't a big deal?" the vendor stammered.

"No, to eat a salad, no one tells me to do that! NOBODY!"

"O-Okay, I'm sorry!"

"You better be!" Michael released the vendor.

"S-S-So…are you going to go to the other funnel cake cart?"

"Of course I am!" Michael snapped at the vendor who hid behind the counter.

"Nyeeeeeeh! Don't hurt me!"

"Fine, I'll just have to run over there and get the funnel cake! Freaking funnel cakes disappearing… Now I'm standing Rias up just for this… Better not be a pattern…"

Attempt # 3

"Oh, you want some funnel cake? Sure, we have just one left." The vendor said.

"Are you serious!? I've been-! Wait, are you serious?" Michael stopped himself.

"Yeah, and you're lucky too because this is our last one." The vendor said as he prepared the sweet treat. And was about to hand it to Michael.

"Thank god…ow. If it's still one I could share with Rias at least." Michael sighed in relief and leaned in to grab the cake until a loud whistle from nearby blew.

"Is it already that time? oh, well, better go to break." The vendor takes the funnel cake away and pulls out a card saying he won't be back from lunch for another 3 hours.

"Hey, wait, my cake!" Michael reached out.

"Sorry kid, but this is my time just wait until I can come back."

"I can't wait for 3 hours!" Michael cried.

"Well, sucks to be you."

*SLAM!*

The vendor closes the shop's counter by pulling down a metal screen. Banging his hands on it Michael cried,

"Noooooo!"

Returning back to Rias, Michael exhaustively walks back to see an expectant Rias holding her arms behind her back.

"Hey…" Michael rubbed the back of his neck, wondering how he was going to break the news to her.

"Hello, did you get the funnel cake?" Rias looks at Michael with false curiosity as she still wore her smile.

Michael didn't notice and chuckled bitterly, "Well about that…they didn't have it either and so did the guy after them. I could have went to another stall but I didn't want to leave you alone here waiting for me."

"I see what a shame." Rias tried to stifle her laughter while trying to apologetic.

"But still I think we can get some other food in these stalls they have basically everything here." Michael tried to think of another fun snack they could eat together.

"Michael?" Rias drew close to Michael and called his name.

"What is it?" Michael looks at Rias holding out something in her hands and teared up, "Y-You got a funnel cake, how?"

"Well, after you left I asked the vendor here for a favor to get one made after he went out to get more ingredients. I just got one since I wanted to share with you but if you want he could make you another one."

'I-I love you...' Michael blushed.

Rias gasps once Michael held her hands while visibly shaking in joy.

"No! No, its fine I don't care about getting my own if I could at least have one it'll be fine…" Michael sniffled and cried, he would finally get to taste the treat he longed for, "And if I can share it with you then it would taste even better."

"I feel the same too, now let me ask him for another fork."

Generally happy with Michael agreeing with her, Rias was about to do just that until Michael pointed at the funnel cake then back to both of them.

"Nope, we're sharing so let's use the fork together." Michael chuckled and took the cake from Rias, "And because you got it I'll help feed you."

"Y-You'll help feed me?" Rias repeated, taking in everything that's happening.

"Yeah, it's only fair if you think about it." Michael pulls Rias to a bench and sits her down with him.

"Now here you go ah…" Michael held a piece of the cake up to Rias.

"Ah…mmm…"

Hesitant, Rias opened her and ate it while humming in enjoyment over its sweet and savory taste.

"It tastes good, huh?" Michael took a piece and ate from the same fork. His face exploded with wonder as he took that bite and began to cry.

"It tastes so good…*Sob!*…this is the bestest thing I've ever eaten!" Michael cried as the delicious taste of the funnel cake touched his tasted buds and danced their delicious flavor all over them.

Rias patted the crying boy's head before they continued eating their shared snack. It didn't dawn on Rias until after they finished, they were technically doing an indirect kiss by sharing the fork and the thought of that made Rias flush. Michael however was still crying and trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. The taste of his long awaited snack was getting to him and the tears just wouldn't stop.

"Are you still crying, Michael?" Rias tapped Michael's shoulder.

"It was just so satisfying!" Michael whimpered.

"Well, we still have to continue our date and I finally decided on a place I want to stop at now." Rias nudged Michael to look up.

"Really?" Michael raises his head and gasps when he sees the Ferris wheel right in front of them.

"Oh, you mean…" Michael got the picture when he looked back at a beaming Rias who nodded and took his hand.

"Ferris wheels are so wonderful especially during this time of the day. This place has pieced together a wide variety of games and rides with this on top was perfect. I'm really grateful that you chose this for the place of our date, Michael."

"Then that means…" Michael's face brightened up.

"Yes, this confirms that you made the correct choice by choosing this place."

"YES!" Michael clenches his hands into a fist and shakes it with his head.

Taking Rias by the hand, Michael starts to lead her to the Ferris wheel.

"M-Michael, calm down!" Rias was startled by the pull but still laughed.

"Only when we get on the Ferris wheel!" Michael chuckled.

"Fine, we'll have it your way…" Rias rolled her eyes.

Hooting out a howl of victory in his mind, Michael laughed,

'Woohoo! Yes, yes I did it! Dear maou, please bestow upon a worthy gift for Natsuru-senpai for establishing this place for me!' Michael prayed.

Approaching the Ferris wheel, the pair come across one of the operators of the ride. He graciously held one door open for them.

"Allow me you, two." The man chuckled.

"Thanks man." Michael said.

"No, thank you…kikikikiki!"

"Hm…you and your friends should get that laugh checked out." Michael commented.

"Sorry, can't help it, I guess we were just made this way." The strange man closed the door.

"Okay..." Michael trailed off and sat next to Rias, he could have sworn that she was giving the man a cautious look after he said that.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm? Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking was all." Rias hid her thoughts from Michael.

"Oh…" Michael leaned his head on the window side of the ride and continued looking at Rias. The setting sunlight shining made an appealing lighting for Rias who looked out the window enjoying the breathtaking scenery of both the carnival and town with its many lights.

Michael just continued to stare at her sunlight dappled body while being oblivious to the surroundings around him. Even to the very person he was staring at.

"It's a wonderful sight, isn't it?" Rias said.

"Huh?" Michael caught himself staring and tried to understand what she meant.

"The view from up here is wonderful, no?" Rias leans back so that Michael could get the same perspective of what she meant.

"You're right it's so cool…" Michael said in awe and leaned in a little closer to see the breath taking sight of Kuoh town.

'I can see why Natsuru-senpai says girls like ferris wheels, the view they give up here really amazes you.' Michael thought.

Ruining the moment, the ferris wheel abruptly stopped and began to shake making Michael fall on top of Rias, who helped catch him in time before he could put his entire weight on her.

"What's going on?" Michael looked up and felt something strange about the ferris wheel box they entered.

"We appeared to have stopped moving." Rias looked down the window to see that their stranded high up in the air.

"Must mean the ride is probably going through some trouble."

Looking up with a frown, Michael should have known things like this would happen on this kind of ride. Strangely enough, Michael felt a familiar feeling in his hand, it was rather soft and the only two people on this ride were…

"Michael…your hand is." Rias looked away with her face turning a little red.

Looking at where his hand was placed, Michael pulled it away and shouted,

"Sorry, Rias, I didn't mean to do that." Michael shook his hands defensively in front of him but Rias, who was still flustered by the unexpected groping grabbed Michael's hand and placed it back on her breast.

'What's happening!?' Michael looked down at the lucky hand that Rias grabbed and back at her.

"Its fine if we do this on a date, right? You don't have to be like that when we're alone like this." Rias looks up at Michael and wore a warm smile, "When it's just the two of we can be as close as we like, you can even do…this if you want."

"Really?" Michael leaned in closer, he was able to act so normally because it was a date with him and Rias so of course he could be relaxed with getting closer to her. He initially thought that just touching her like that was kind of rude and pulled back but if things were okay with Rias then it would another story.

"Yeah…" Rias nods, "I've really enjoyed my time here with you and if we can't do this then I guess it wouldn't be such a satisfying date."

Hand still on Rias' breast, Michael embraced her and brought her closer.

"You're right, I guess this is okay. I mean only when you're fine with it." Michael corrected himself.

Giggling to herself, Rias replies, "Silly boy, don't you know that I'm already fine with anything you do to me?"

"Really?" Michael doubted that with past experiences of his past ideas that always get him into trouble.

"Well, most of the things, but you get the picture, its just like today when you were so concerned about what I really wanted to do. In the end, I was just fine with spending time with you." Rias snuggled up closer to Michael.

"Wait, if that's true then you would have been fine with any place for a date I chose!?" Michael gasped.

"Yeah…" Rias lazily lays her head on Michael's shoulder.

'I'm kinda disappointed now that my win was sort of right either decision I made, but…' Michael's hand gently squeezed Rias' breast which squeezed out of her a faint moan.

'In the end, I had a blast with Rias, too. It didn't really matter where we went because we would still be in each other's company. She even wanted me to relax a little and be completely comfortable the whole, in the end even when I planned this whole thing out she made it feel like she was the one in control over the date.' Michael grinned.

Having to say something, Michael said, "Rias."

"Yes?" Rias tries to stifle another moan from Michael's groping hand and looks up at him. His face wore more of a casual smile than before but the kind look he had on really got to her.

"I love you." Michael tapped his forehead onto hers and widened his smiles.

Leaning her forehead onto his, Rias says the words she'll never get tired of saying.

"I love you too, Michael."

The serene silence of their embrace calmed the both of them down. Lifting their heads both Michael and Rias started to lean their faces into one another and kiss. But before their lips could meet they heard a voice from the outside.

"Aw~! How sweet~!" A seductive voice giggled.

Both Michael and Rias broke their embrace and stood up when they heard that unexpected voice.

"Who's there?" Rias gave glances around her surrounding to find the source, the presence was close but she couldn't pinpoint it on time.

"Hm…on the roof!" Michael looked up at the ceiling after concentrating on the presence at a much faster pace than Rias.

*SHIIIIIIIIINE!*

But before one of them could react a glowing magic circle appeared right beneath their feet and it warranted a dangerous aura.

"A magic circle?" Michael said.

"No this one is a spell set to detonate!" Rias gasped.

"For real!" Michael took a step and reached out to Rias, "Then let's get the heck outta!"

"Michael!" Rias reached out for his hand.

*SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!*

But it was already too late.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

The entire box exploded without warning and sent most of everything on top of the ferris wheel flying including Michael.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Michael shouted as he was momentarily stunned by the blast and sent flying. The force of the explosion was so powerful that it sent him flying in the opposite direction of most of the active carnival.

Emerging herself from out of the smoke with her devil wings, Rias barely escaped, but was still a little harmed since the barrier that she made only protected her from the full brunt of the attack.

"Michael!" Rias cried out and prepared to fly after him but…

*DOON!*

*PRANG!* *CRACK!*

"Gugh!" Rias raises up a barrier to shield herself from a blast of demonic energy. No, it didn't feel like it was the power of a devil it felt more pure with a different base for its power. The strength of that blast managed to almost shatter her barrier but luckily it stopped before it could.

"Instead of worrying about your date, you should make sure you can stay alive long enough to go see him again." The same seductive voice giggled but her location was unknown.

"Who are you, reveal yourself, if you're only so cowardly as to attack in the shadows!" Rias looked around.

"Oh, Rias Gremory I just wanted to separate you from Michael-kun so we can have a little talk. It would be uncomfortable to say something embarrassing with him around." The seductive voice sounded like it was closer to Rias then she expected.

'So they know our names too, so could they be a part of the Khaos Brigade or the ones who're…?' Rias casted aside those thoughts, 'No, right now my biggest priority is to solve this dilemma and help Michael.'

"Why would an attacker want to just speak with me alone?" Rias needed to get more answer out of them.

"Because." The voice was more audible as a hand tapped Rias' shoulder from behind.

Whipping her head around, Rias' eyes widen, "You, you're-!"

The hand released a ki blast which knocked Rias, who raised a barrier in time crashing into the grounds of the carnival.

"It's just a talk between us girls." Natsuru slowly lands to the ground with the magic circle she levitated on.

The dust raising around where Rias fell covered the area as Natsuru intently watched for any signs of a possible attack.

"Natsuru-sama!" A single shadow appeared behind her in the form of a large creature.

"Did the explosion do it's job?" Natsuru kept her eyes on her target.

"Yes, we've received word that the Red Dragon Emperor is reaching that intruder as we speak." The shadow informed.

"Good…go keep them at bay while I finish my part of the plan. Don't show any hesitation or mercy." Natsuru ordered.

"Then Natsuru-sama that would mean…" the shadow sounded a little thrilled after hearing that.

"Go wild…all of you." Natsuru smirked.

"Yes, ma'am!" The shadow laughed and pounced off into the shadows.

Natsuru knew that letting them all rampage wouldn't kill Michael or the intruder considering the strength those two possess and how powerful they are if they worked together. She just needed the most time she had to finish her part of the plan.

"Finally caught you!" Shirou shouted.

Finally, he caught up with that cursed clown. Now he was in a corner and wouldn't get away this time. This annoyance was in the way of his work and it was completely justified he received a boot to the face. Yes, that's what he needed to tell himself as an excuse for veering off from the prime objective.

\Shouldn't you be more focused on the mission?/

"Shut up, a few minutes off won't change anything the presence is still here!" Shirou cracked his knuckles and approached the clown.

"W-Who are you talking to?" The clown said.

"Quiet, not you that's for certain, now stay there while I bury your ass here and now!" Shirou wore a menacing sneer while cracking his knuckles.

Screaming the clown raised his arms to prepare for the beating he'll get.

When suddenly a loud screaming could be heard coming their way.

Looking up in the sky, Shirou tried to search for the screaming's source which wasn't his clown victim.

"What the hell is that?" It took about 5 seconds for Shirou to notice the shadow over him.

"Huh?"

"HELP ME, I CAN'T FLY AND I'M GOING TO DIE!"

"You!?" Shirou stuttered back and couldn't believe who he saw, it was Michael and he was falling, falling fast!

"HELP ME, I'M GOING TO DI-! Oh, right, I forgot that I could fly and is that Shi-rou!? Hi, Shi-rou!" Forgetting he was falling out of the sky, Michael laughed and waved at Shirou.

"Goddammit, you punk, I told you to stop call me th-!"

*BOOM!*

Crashing into Shirou with his body, Michael created a crater with both of them in it. The clown was confused how that happened and would be surprised if they survived the blow of crashing into each other and being slammed into the ground that hard.

"Hahah! Thanks for breaking my fall, Shi-rou I would have been a goner if not for you!" Michael stands up and scratches his head.

"I will kill you…" Shirou threatened as he got up on one knee.

"No time for games, Snow White." Michael stood up looking seriously.

"The fuck did you just call me?" Shirou growled and stood up.

"I was just on a date with Ria-! I mean Buchou and just got blindsided by an exploding magic circle. Now I have to go look for her and kick the ass of whoever ruined our date!" Michael pounded his chest.

"No, seriously, what the fuck did you just call…wait did you just say…magic circle?" Shirou paused.

"Yeah." Michael nodded.

"And did you just say it exploded?"

"Yup." Michael nodded again.

"Then that would mean that the culprit is over there where you came from!" Shirou gasped.

"Culprit, do you mean…?" Michael's face starts to turn into a knowing grin.

"The magic circle jacker is here?"

"Maybe." Shirou shrugs.

"What do you mean by maybe?" Michael exclaimed.

"I mean maybe it could be them but it could be someone else too." Shirou was thinking more about the true perpetrators.

Running by any other people who would attack them Michael gasped, "You mean it could still be the Khaos Brigade?"

"Maybe." Shirou answered again with a shrug.

"Look just say yes or no!" Michael groaned.

"Listen here, I can't tell the future or read the mind of whoever is doing this so I can't go on based on guessing these facts so the only choice I have is to follow this one lead." Shirou crossed his arms

"And besides aren't you still looking for your master?" Shirou just chose not to question Michael and Rias' relationship status, it wasn't his business despite his approval of a servant and their master falling in love.

"Crap, you're right, we do have to save her!" Michael implied Shirou into his sentence.

"Wait "we"? No, no "we" just "you" bye." Shirou pushed Michael away and began to trace back where Michael came from.

"Come on, Shi-rou, don't be like that!" Michael ran up next to Shirou.

"No, just get your master and leave, this is my job and stop fucking saying my name like that its pissing me off!" Shirou shouted.

"But you told me to call you that from before." Michael shrugged.

Facepalming, Shirou breathed in and out, "Okay, I'll reintroduce myself just to straighten things, my name is Shirou, alright?"

"Okay, Shirou-Alright, what should we do now." Michael grinned.

Shirou grabbed Michael by the collar and screamed in his face.

"You are the biggest asshole in the world!"

"What about Rosie O. Donnell?" Michael asked with half lidded eyes.

"You are the second biggest asshole in the world! Now get out of my sight!" Shirou knocked Michael aside and continued walking.

Michael still continued to follow.

"Hey,come on, I was just joking, okay? Cool your jets, Sn-"

"Don't fucking finish that sentence." Shirou groaned deeply.

"Snow…" Michael said with a hushed chuckle.

"I'm warning you, asshole!"

"White!"

"Grrrrrrraah!" Shirou in a fit of rage kicked another stray trashcan in the air and sent in landing on the top of a carnival tent.

"Hahahaha! You gotta admit you walked into that one by not finishing with your name." Michael wiped a tear out his eye after his incessant laughter was over.

"That's it your ass is considered grass you stupid little-!"

Stopping himself, Shirou and even Michael immediately sensed the lurking malice that surrounded them. The once lively looking carnival slowly darkened with the atmosphere making it very easy that something was approaching.

"Someone's coming." Shirou said.

"Yeah, and I feel like they're right behind us, and wasn't there a clown in that direction?" Michael and Shirou patiently waited for whoever was coming to reveal themselves out the shadows.

And surprise it was the clown from earlier.

"Hey, it is the clown!" Michael sighed in relief but still had a feeling something was up. It was even more evident by the look on Shirou's face as he still kept looking at the clown.

"What's up, it's nothing that big." Michael shrugged.

"I'm not worried about that damn clown, I'm more concerned about the ones behind him." Shirou pointed out at the large number of individuals behind the clown. Their eyes glowed in the dark which sent a slight shiver up Michael's spine.

"Right…" Michael sighed and grew defensive with his suspicions being answered.

"Kikikikikikikikikikikikiki!"

'That laugh!'

Suddenly that strange laugh came upon Michael's ears.

"Who knew, you two really do so some "skill", huh?" Walking out the shadows were the very vendors who were there during Michael's date, they looked even shadier with their red eyes shining through their glasses.

"Holy shit, you guys are creepy as fuck especially that clown there, oh, wait never mind, I guess you naturally hear that on a daily basis!" Shirou insulted and earned a growl from the clown.

"Hey aren't you the guys working here? What's going on?" Michael questioned the vendors but they just continued to laugh creepily.

"We are not inclined to tell you anything." One of the vendors growled, compared to before Michael noticed their voices were more feral than human.

"Your master? So does this master of yours have a name?" Any information would do for Shirou who had just been following this master's natural energy.

"Like we said we are not inclined to tell you anything now say your prayers…"

"Let's hack them to pieces…kikikikikikikiki!"

"YEAH!"

The vendors and even the clown started to tremble violently as their bodies start to crack and grow. It was a sickening sound as their bones popped in and out of place as their forms morphed into strange creatures, creatures who resemble cats?

Most of them varied from different subspecies of the ordinary cat. Except for the clown which grew twice in mass and looked to have grown in both height and muscle. The creature was in the form of a Puma-man who now wore clown's clothing.

"Kikikikikikikiki…now we can finally let loose!" The Puma-man laughed.

"Whoa, I knew they were weird, but not creepy Werecat weird!" Michael gasped.

Clicking his tongue, Shirou said, "I should have known these freaks would be like this it's just like last time."

"Wait, these were the guys?" Michael gasped.

Shirou nodded, "They came at me with those weird forms of theirs so it came at a surprise for me too but I was able knock their clocks off with no problem."

'I don't get it why would these guys be here when Natsuru-senpai set this entire carnival up for my date?' Michael pondered but had more concerning matters to think about.

The enemy was about to pounce on them.

"Let's get them and make sure to leave every limb shredded! Especially for the white haired one…" The Puma-man's seemed to hold a grudge against Shirou for earlier and commanded the other creatures like their boss.

"HELL YEAH!" The feline creatures instantly with adept speed dashed towards Michael and Shirou with crazed looks on their faces. Their claws and fangs about ready to tear a new one into their prey!

Figuring out that this many of his lackeys could handle the pair of them the Puma-man laughed, "Hah! Let's see you struggle against these peons they may be strong but their power dwarfs mine by a total of 45%. Even if you barely finish defeating them your chances of standing against me is zero to none! Out of all of the others I rank atop as the 4th rank in strength and no one not even you could hope to-!"

*BAAAAAM!*

"Guuuuuuuuuuagh!"

"Agaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Urchk!"

*THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!*

Falling like flies after a single blow from both Michael and Shirou holding their fists out the feline creatures were blown back with incredible power. Even the puma-man with the rest of his goons were frozen at the sight in front of them.

Standing side by side were Michael and Shirou with their fists stuck out and steaming after the punch they used together knocked the incoming wave of enemies.

"For the love of god, shut up! We get it, you're the 4th strongest but are you even that strong if these guys are so shitty!?" Shirou shouted out in rage after hearing that long gloating.

"I don't know why you're here but all I know is you guys are somewhat responsible for what happened to me and Rias, right? Well then don't regret what happens next!" Michael glared at the enemies.

Him and Shirou cloaked themselves with Touki before the enemies got to them.

Looking pissed off the Puma-man growled, "What are you morons doing just standing there get them!"

The frightened lackeys were hesitant at first but knew if their leader didn't get a response they would be dead either way too.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The enemies once again charged past the Puma-man and headed for Michael and Shirou.

"Bring it!" Michael and Shirou charged right back at them with fists cocked back and infused with Touki.

*DOOOOOOOOON!*

A huge crash after they fired their punches caused a huge explosion which sent a couple enemies flying as the ones who didn't engaged combat with the pair. During this up close brawl the differences in the way both Michael and Shirou fought were closely examined.

With a group surrounding him, Shirou just dove right in and handled any who came his way before he went to them. All of his attacks had the intent to kill making it easier to discard the incoming enemies. This fight wasn't too much for him so he's just fighting these guys as if it were a chore for him. However, his techniques along with his power were on a whole other level when compared to Michael's. There's even a moment when he does a few techniques which martial artists would use in a fighting tournament. His techniques allowed him to read an opponent's stature, body movement and eye sight to gain certain advantages over them.

"Steel Claw!" A Cougar-man creature attempted to dig his claws into Shirou's head.

"Get real, dumbass!" Leaning his lower body back, Shirou raised his leg and kicked the creature's arm away from him.

"What the-!" The creature gasped.

Shirou used the foot his used to kick with to stomp on the ground before he spins around, jumps and brought the back half of his other foot up near to the creature's neck.

"Now fucking fall!"

*SNAP!*

"GUAGH!" The creature's head was slammed into the ground along with it's neck getting broken by the impact. As it's body bounced up after the attack, Shirou noticed a few more enemies coming from behind the incapacitated creature.

"Buzz off!" With a powerful kick to the downed Cougar-man's chest, Shirou sent him flying into the approaching enemies before they got any closer.

"Is that all?" Shirou cracked his neck and watched as the enemies grew more hesitant to attack him, but still did anyways.

As for Michael with his group of enemies, he was able to dispatch of the right away with some of his trained hand to hand combat he learned from Kai. He would mostly try to use some techniques that he developed from Kiba, but it still wasn't enough for him when it came to fighting different opponents since these cat enemies varied with different species and abilities. Unlike Shirou he isn't well versed in identifying the opponent's stance or predicting their next attack based on reading their eyes. He struggled a bit at first but kept getting up each time he was almost knocked down.

However, Michael had a way of dealing with his by using unpredictable methods to fight which usually correspond with his pranking nature.

"Die!" A Tomcat creature pounced at Michael and prepared to dig its claws into him.

"Nope!" Michael dodged the attack with a side jump before shouting, "Let's go, Boosted Gear!"

[Dragon Booster!]

Michael summoned and thrusted his fist at the Tomcat creature who honestly caught his wrist before he could attack.

"Hah, nice one kid, but you're a little too slow to keep up with m-!"

The Tomcat gasped when Michael opened his closed fist to reveal a baseball sized orb of demonic power.

"Eat it, Dragon Shot!" Michael fired the beam and took the Tomcat's head clean off.

"Haha, don't ever underestimate me, Michael Hanamura and his gu-whoa!" Michael dodged an air cutting blade of wind.

"You, damn bastard just drop dead!" Now a feral cat creature was attacking with its claws that could cut the air and create air cutter blades. He kept wailing Michael with the same attack without stopping.

"Hey, quit it with those things!" Michael said while trying to stay unharmed.

"No way, if I just keep wailing you with far range attacks then it will be easier for the others to get you!" As the feral cat explained that a group of his allies charged at Michael in a straight line.

"Not good! Really not good!" Michael point his boosted gear, well he tried and kept one eye closed to verify the target.

[Boost!]

"Come on, Ddraig…"

[Boost!]

"Ready…"

[Boost!]

"Steady…and now!"

[Blade!]

And out came Ascalon from the Boosted Gear's Knuckle.

"What good will that do for yo-?" The Feral cat didn't get enough time to finish.

"Extend!"

[Boost!]

*STAB!* STAB!* *STAB!* *STAB!* *STAB!* *STAB!* *STAB!*

Shish-kabobbing the entire line of enemies, Michael extended the length of Ascalon's blade to deal with all of them as quickly as he could.

"H-How did you…?" The Feral cat creature stopped his attack and watched Michael withdraw his blade from his fallen allies.

"Nice one, huh, I've been practicing that one for a couple of days now…Dragon Shot!" Without any warning Michel fired a Dragon Shot and destroyed the Feral cat-man.

'How is this even possible!?' The Puma-man cursed himself for having such weak underlings.

He watched as the last of his men get casted aside like a rag doll with both Michael and Shirou done with their respective enemies before turning back to him.

"Ddraig begin the countdown."

[Got it, partner.]

Michael didn't have time to play around anymore, if these guys were ganging up on them here that would Rias was experiencing the same thing too.

"All that's left is you..." Shirou cracked his knuckles.

"Tch!" The Puma-man then had a magic circle next to his ear as way of communicating someone.

"I'm going to need back up after all get over here now!" The Puma-man swallowed his pride and disconnected the call.

"Calling for back-up, eh? It won't change a thing your beaten now tell me who your boss is now." Shirou was sick of this prolonging denial of that demand's answer.

"Ptoo! You'll have to pry the truth out of me when I'm dead." The Puma-man growled.

"That could be arranged." Shirou stuck out his hand as a blue sphere of light manifested itself over it, creating a black short sword with a handguard and a chain link tassel on the hilt.

*GIN!*

Stabbing the blade of his sword into the ground, Shirou said, "If I can't get the answer out of you before you drop dead then I'll just have to beat it out of your arriving buds!"

Michael had to take a step back when a gale of blue and black aura threatened to blind him.

'This aura it's so powerful and keeps building up around him!' Michael tried to look past the rough winds the aura made and caught glance of something behind Shirou. It was a massive Silhouette it had would looked to be a dragon with piercing red eyes with a massive humanoid-reptilian body shrouded in shadows, its wings possessing a membrane that emits a violet glow.

'A dragon, so this must be his Sacred Gear!'

"Urk…" The Puma-man couldn't even respond because of the suffocating pressure the aura had on him, all of his animal senses were telling him to retreat.

"You better prepare yourself because now would be a very good time to die!" Shirou roared and in response the silhouette of the dragon did as well.

*ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!*

Suddenly all at once the fierce gale of aura surrounded Shirou and dispersed to reveal the teen donning a takes the form of black, full-body armor with a phantasmagoric defensive film which had a dragon motiff design just like the Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing Scale Mail except the only difference was that it's armor was more slimmed and fitting for Shirou's body.

"This Sacred Gear is called Grand Chariot or Carnage Incarnate: Grand Chariot, whichever you prefer." Shirou cracked his knuckles menacingly.

"All of that power packed into that form, I still get that feeling to run away from its aura but I can't believe how small it looks." The Puma-man had expected a terrifying form after that display.

"That's because transformations like that are bullshit and have bullshit flaws like lack of movement, strength, speed or technique! Power which buffs you up like that is worthless! While this sacred gear syncs with my body and helps amplify my full strength by fitting me in all the correct places. Consider it wearing a glove that's the perfect fit! Now would you like to see me ram this perfect glove up your ass!?" Shirou threatened.

"Dude…you should probably take that back…" Michael's face paled after that line.

"Shut it, he knows what I mean!" Shirou snapped.

"Be quiet! I may have these dangerous signals about you, but I won't let that stop me from crushing you! From the very start I'll use all of my power!" The Puma-man crouched down and exuded a powerful aura along with his muscles increasing in size. It was just surging out of him, this power shouldn't be taken lightly.

"Good at least lighten this drab ambush of yours." Shirou mocked with a smirk behind the helmet of his mask.

"The only thing that will be lighten is your body after I knock your head clean off!" The Puma-man took a single step which was a high-speed gallop towards Shirou who just continued to stand there.

"Then come do it, moron!" Shirou beckoned the creature over.

Michael couldn't understand why the teen wasn't even intent on dodging the approaching attack.

'I'll wipe that smirk right off by just dealing all of my attacks on his head, he doesn't seem to be moving so I'll take advantage of this cocky bastard and kill in one series of blows!"

"Hyraah!" The Puma-Man dug his huge fist into Shirou's face.

*WHAM!*

"…!" Shirou still remained in place and "gasped" after feeling that hit really dig into his head.

"There we go now you'll see why, I'm the fourth strongest! RAAAAAAAAUGH! Puma Havoc Strike of Mayhem!"

"Kah! What is with these long assed attack names!?" Was all Michael could input into this situation.

The Puma-Man roared and shot his arms in rapid speed and dug his fists into Shirou's head without hesitation.

*BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

The barrage was ridiculous, but the Puma-Man didn't stop hitting. That signal to retreat and run away from this guy was still there he just needed to keep punching the armored man until it went away for good along with him!

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"

*BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

His barrage of fists only increased but he started to let up his attack when he heard Shirou growl.

"Dammit, how is able to attack this hard!"

"Hah, I should have known you were just talk kid!" The Puma-Man's punches started to slow down before he intended to finish things with one more blow.

"Now prepare for the final blow you little piece of shit!"

*BAAAAANG!*

The Puma-Man's last punch was covered in his aura and exploded upon making contact with Shirou's head. Still standing with smoke seeping out of the area, the creature panted heavily and smirked in his glory.

'Heh, I should have guessed that little shit couldn't handle me at 100%! Now onto the other-!' The Puma-man still felt the hard surface of metal and gasped, 'No, impossible his head should be rolling how is he-!?'

The smoke finally disappeared revealing a still standing Shirou glaring at the strange hybrid of man and puma.

"Yo."

"H-How? This shouldn't be happening! You shouldn't be alive!"

"Is that so well you shouldn't be here at all, your senses have been telling you to run haven't they?" Shirou took a step forward and that caused the Puma-man to stagger away in fear.

"I'll take that as a yes." Shirou sighed.

"Just how!?"

"Simple really, your fear was holding you back when you kept wailing at me with those attacks the only real blow you dealt me was that last one when I pretended to have gotten overwhelmed by you."

"W-What?"

"Now don't feel too bad you did get me to a small step back but in the end you still haven't damaged me." Shirou pointed at himself with his thumb.

"Don't screw with me! You must have felt something!" The Puma-man couldn't believe all of his effort was for nothing.

"I'm not going to answer that because now it's my turn." Shirou raised his fists for his turn of attack.

"Grgh!" The Puma-man raised his fists as well and prepared for whatever.

Sadly, "whatever" wasn't Shirou when he disappeared and reappeared right in front of the creature.

"Now I'll show you how you throw a barrage of fists to quickly end your enemy!" Shirou leaned in from below the belt and threw his fist at the Puma-man.

"C-Crap! D-Die!" The Puma-man retorted back and threw a couple of his own punches.

But wait…he saw Shirou's fists and noticed their numbers increased to six, no, 10…no, 36… That was when the hybrid creature realized that they weren't the number of his fists but the number of times he's throwing his punches at him!

"Each attack should be thrown with no fear behind them!"

*BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BAGN!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

The punches just wouldn't stop as Shirou overwhelmed the poor thing with his faster hits. It was soon over for the Puma hybrid as its face and upper body looked deformed after taking so many hits. He was even unresponsive when Shirou stopped his barrage to tighten his fist for a final attack.

"However your last attack was correct it still wasn't enough to put a scratch on me so I'll do you a favor by showing you my own special move, Grand Ascension!"

*THOOOOOOOOM!*

Swinging his fist upwards, Shirou coated his fist in a black and bluish aura to uppercut the unresponsive Puma-man into the air with enough force to break the air pressure around them.

*THUD!*

Dropping back to the ground like a ragdoll, the body of the Puma-Man was headless and of course limp. The force of that last attack just made his head implode and gave him an instant death.

"Whoa…that's so cool…"

"Hmph, if this is what their so called 4th strongest is then I guess this mission will be easier for us than I thought." Shirou crossed his arms.

"Yeah, wait a minute you just said "us" so I'm a part of the mission now!?" Michael pointed at himself excitedly.

"Crap…! I mean, no just "me" now leave and go find your master!" Shirou shouted.

"You're right I need to find Rias, first! Don't go anywhere until I come back with her, okay?" Michael still pressed Shirou into allowing him into this mission. He still had Rias as his top priority but if he were to bring her back and persuade her, then he could take part in this mission making it a win-win for him.

"Fool, who says I have to keep a promise with you?" Shirou spat, "Just get out of here!"

"Challenge accepted!" Michael nodded and began running in the direction he could sense Rias at and she wasn't alone either…

Considering that Michael sort of did help him with that fight, Shirou whispered out, "Thank you…"

"Huh, I couldn't hear you, bro…" Michael whispered, since when did he get so close?

"You son of a- just get out of here!" Shirou was glad he was wearing his mask because his face was of course rage filled but a little flustered at the same time.

"Sorry, I was able to hear on time and wanted to milk it!" Michael laughed and jumped away from Shirou's punch which would have knocked his head clean off.

"Just leave me the fu-! Wait, hold on a minute... The fuck!?"

"I guess that guy's friends are faster than we thought." Michael growled as he grew ready in his fightning stance alongside Shirou, they still weren't out of the woods yet.

The pair looked up to see a total of three shadows standing on the tents surrounding them. The appeared to have taken the same feline forms as the ones they fought before but something was different. They had a dangerous pressure surrounding them as their forms varied with one being very muscular and toned, the other being toned and slim, and lastly the final one being toned with feminine curves and a toned body.

"I guess that pushover couldn't handle them after all." The slim shadow snickered.

"These two seem to be quite strong do you mind if I toy are with them, nya~!" The feminine shadow purred.

"Remember our mission now let's begin!" The muscular shadow lead the two others at Michael and Shirou.

"So we're doing this now, huh!?" Shirou roared as he leaps after them and while cocking his fist back.

"Looks like I have to hurry up and help, Ddraig!" Michael needed an update on the countdown.

*FLASH!*

The gem on Michael's boosted gear flashed in confirmation.

[Good to go!]

"All right! Balance Breaker!"

[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]

Michael follows after Shirou while immersing himself in his red dragon armor, the opponent they would face seem to be above the level the other ones were. He couldn't help but worry about how Rias was holding up on her own.

'Don't worry, Rias, I'll be there in a flash right after I'm through with these turkeys!' Michael roared as he cocked his back and prepared to blow his opponents away.