Ch 28 : Bonding Time

I weighed my options carefully. Azazel had been surprisingly reasonable so far, and showing some trust might help cement our potential partnership. But I also couldn't reveal everything—not when I had Valerie upstairs with her Longinus-class Sacred Gear.

"I possess a type of armor-based Sacred Gear," I said finally. "It's... adaptive."

"Adaptive how?" Azazel leaned forward with genuine scientific curiosity.

I extended my hand and allowed a sword of Incursio to manifest in within my hand.

"Fascinating," Azazel breathed, his eyes lighting up with the kind of enthusiasm I'd seen in Chysis when she discussed her research. "I've never seen anything quite like this design. The material appears to be some kind of living metal?"

"Something like that," I confirmed, dismissing the partial manifestation. I wasn't about to explain the evolutionary aspects or how it had transformed during my battle with the vampires.

"Remarkable. And this allowed you to take down four Fallen Angels?" He shook his head in what seemed like genuine admiration. "I'm even more impressed now. Sacred Gears with that level of defensive capability are rare, but to use one so effectively requires considerable skill."

There was a soft footstep on the stairs, and I looked over to see Asia peeking around the corner, her green eyes wide with curiosity and concern. She'd clearly heard voices and come to investigate.

"Ah," Azazel said, noticing her as well. His expression shifted to one of pleasant surprise. "And who might this lovely young lady be?"

"A friend," I said quickly, giving Asia a reassuring smile. "Asia, this is Azazel. He's... a business associate. We're just having a discussion."

Asia nodded politely, though I could see the nervousness in her posture. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Azazel. Should I prepare more tea?"

"That's very kind of you, but I believe we're nearly finished here," Azazel replied with a warm smile that seemed genuinely friendly "Don't let us keep you from whatever you were doing."

Asia glanced at me questioningly, and I nodded. "It's alright. We'll be done soon."

She disappeared back upstairs, but I could feel her presence lingering just out of sight. Smart girl—staying close enough to help if needed, but not inserting herself into a potentially dangerous conversation.

"Protective of your friends," Azazel observed approvingly. "I respect that. Too many people in our world treat others as disposable assets."

"They're important to me," I said simply.

"Good. That kind of loyalty is valuable." He finished his tea and set the cup aside. "Now, about our arrangement. You mentioned you could demonstrate this healing substance next week?"

"That's right. Same time, same place?"

"Perfect. And in exchange, you'll receive copies of my Sacred Gear research—comprehensive files on all documented Sacred Gears, their abilities, known wielders, and theoretical applications." He paused. "I should warn you, though, that some of this information is quite sensitive. If it were to fall into the wrong hands..."

"It won't," I assured him. "I'm not interested in causing chaos or destabilizing anything. I just want to know what I might be up against."

"Fair enough. Consider it an investment in your continued survival—and our potential future cooperation." He stood, straightening his jacket. "I have to say, Akira, this has been one of the more pleasant negotiations I've had in recent memory. Most people either grovel in terror or try to make demands they're not in a position to enforce."

I walked him to the door, my mind already turning over the implications of what we'd discussed. "I appreciate you being straightforward about the situation with your subordinates. It could have gone very differently."

"Indeed it could have." His expression grew more serious. "A word of advice—not everyone in the supernatural world will be as reasonable as I've been tonight. You're clearly talented, but talent alone won't protect you if you make the wrong enemies. Be careful who you cross."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He paused at the threshold, glancing back with something that might have been paternal concern. "One more thing. You mentioned wanting to remain independent, and I respect that choice. But independence doesn't mean isolation. Building relationships, forming alliances—these things aren't signs of weakness. They're survival strategies."

I nodded, understanding the subtext. In a world full of devils, fallen angels, and other supernatural factions, being completely alone was a dangerous position.

"Thank you for the advice."

"Think nothing of it. Until next week, then."

I watched him walk down my driveway and disappear into the shadows between streetlights. For someone so powerful, he moved with an almost supernatural quiet that made my skin crawl even after our pleasant conversation.

Closing the door, I turned to find both Asia and Valerie waiting at the bottom of the stairs, their expressions anxious.

"Was that really Azazel?" Valerie whispered, her red eyes wide. "The leader of the Fallen Angels?"

"Yes, but it's alright," I said, moving to reassure them both. "He actually came to apologize for the actions of those four who attacked us. Apparently, they were acting without orders."

"And?" Asia prompted, clearly sensing there was more to it.

I considered how much to tell them, then decided they deserved the truth. If we were going to be living together, they needed to understand the kinds of situations we might face.

"We made a deal. I'm going to trade him something valuable in exchange for research materials that will help us understand Sacred Gears better. Information we can use to prepare for future threats."

"What kind of valuable thing?" Valerie asked, though her expression suggested she had already guessed.

"The Holy Water of Life recipe I obtained. A single bottle that can cure any ailment and extend lifespan." I met her eyes directly. "Having that information could help us understand your Sacred Gear better, among other things."

She nodded slowly, clearly understanding the implications. "That seems... reasonable. And it gets us valuable information without making us dependent on any faction."

"Exactly." I smiled at both of them. "Now, how about we finally get some dinner started? I don't know about you two, but all this negotiating has made me hungry."

As we headed toward the kitchen together, I found myself thinking about Azazel's parting words. Building relationships and alliances—he was right about that being a survival strategy. But I had to be careful about which relationships I chose to build.

For now, though, I had two allies I could trust completely, a potential trade arrangement with one of the most powerful beings in the supernatural world, and a house that was finally starting to feel like home.

It wasn't a bad foundation to build on.

. . .

The kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of curry and rice as I put the finishing touches on dinner. Asia had insisted on helping despite my protests, and she moved around the space with surprising efficiency for someone who claimed to have never cooked before.

"The vegetables are perfectly cut," I commented, glancing at her precise knife work. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

Asia blushed slightly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "The church provided most of our meals, but sometimes the other sisters would let me help in the kitchen. I found it... peaceful."

Valerie sat at the kitchen island, watching us work with quiet fascination. She'd been mostly silent since Azazel left, though I could tell her mind was working through everything that had happened.

"Valerie, could you set the table?" I asked, wanting to include her in the domestic routine. "Plates are in that cabinet there."

She nodded and moved with the same careful precision I'd noticed before—every action deliberate and considered. It reminded me of someone who'd spent too long being cautious about every movement, every gesture.

Twenty minutes later, we were seated around the dining table with steaming bowls of curry. The atmosphere was comfortable but still carried that subtle tension of people who didn't quite know each other yet.

"This is delicious, Akira," Asia said, taking another bite with obvious enjoyment. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"My mother worked a lot when I was younger," I explained, stirring my curry thoughtfully. "I had to learn to take care of myself pretty early. Cooking became a way to make sure we both ate well when she got home exhausted."

"That must have been difficult," Valerie said softly, speaking up for the first time since we'd sat down. "Taking care of yourself and worrying about someone else."

There was something in her tone that suggested she understood that particular burden better than most.

"It wasn't too bad," I said with a shrug. "Made me more independent, I guess. What about you two? What were your lives like before..."

I trailed off, realizing I was asking them to share potentially painful memories. But Asia gave me a small smile that encouraged me to continue.

"I mean, only if you want to talk about it. No pressure."

Asia exchanged a glance with Valerie, and some silent communication seemed to pass between them.

"I don't mind," Asia said quietly. "It might actually help to talk about it."

She took a sip of water, gathering her thoughts. "I was found as a baby on the steps of a church in Italy. The sisters there raised me, and when they discovered I had healing abilities, they said it was a gift from God. For years, I believed them completely."

Her expression grew distant, tinged with old pain. "I spent my entire childhood healing people who came to the church. Sick children, injured adults, anyone who needed help. The sisters called me their little saint, and I was so happy to be useful, to have a purpose."

"That sounds wonderful," I said gently, though I could sense there was more to the story.

"It was, for a while." Asia's smile turned sad. "But as I got older, I started asking questions. Why couldn't I leave the church grounds? Why did people sometimes look at me with fear instead of gratitude? Why did some of the priests whisper about 'containing the anomaly' when they thought I couldn't hear?"

Valerie's hand tightened around her chopsticks, and I suspected she was relating to this story in uncomfortable ways.

"Then one day, a devil came to the church, badly injured and dying. He collapsed right in front of me, and I couldn't just watch him suffer. So I healed him." Asia's voice grew smaller. "The moment my power touched him, everyone knew what I really was. Not a saint blessed by God, but someone whose Sacred Gear came from a different source entirely."

"They cast you out," I said, understanding flooding through me.

"Immediately. They called me a heretic, said my power was corrupted because it could heal devils and fallen angels. Twenty-four hours later, I was on the streets with nothing but the clothes on my back." She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I was so confused and hurt. I'd spent my entire life serving what I thought was God's will, and suddenly I was told it was all wrong."

I reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, Asia. That must have been devastating."

She squeezed back gratefully. "It was. But meeting you and Valerie... it's the first time since then that I've felt like maybe I have a family again."

Valerie had been listening with increasingly dark eyes, and when Asia finished, she set down her chopsticks with careful control.

"Your church was wrong," she said, her voice carrying a quiet intensity. "Healing is healing, regardless of who receives it. The ability to ease suffering should be celebrated, not condemned."

"Thank you," Asia whispered. "That... means more than you know."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, then I turned to Valerie. "What about you? You don't have to share if you don't want to, but I get the feeling you understand what Asia went through."

Valerie stared at her bowl for a long moment, then looked up with eyes that held centuries of pain despite her youthful appearance.

"I was born into the Tepes family line," she said quietly. "A dhampir—half-vampire, half-human—which already made me an outsider in vampire society. But from the moment my Sacred Gear manifested, everything changed."

She paused, seeming to gather strength. "My brother Marius saw it as an opportunity. A tool to increase his power and influence. He convinced our parents that I needed 'special training' to control such a dangerous ability."

"Special training," I repeated, suspecting I knew where this was going.

"Isolation. Being treated more like a valuable weapon than a person." Her voice remained steady, but I could see the tremor in her hands. "For over a century, I was kept in that underground facility. Marius would bring me injured vampires to heal, or sometimes humans he wanted to keep alive for various purposes. He told me that as a dhampir, I was already an abomination in their eyes—but at least a useful one. I was never allowed to refuse, never allowed to question why."

Asia gasped softly, her empathy evident in every line of her face.

"The worst part wasn't the isolation," Valerie continued. "It was how he convinced me it was necessary. That as a dhampir, I was already considered an abomination by pure-blood vampire society, and my Sacred Gear made me even more dangerous. He made me believe that this was the only way I could exist without being hunted down or causing harm."

"But you knew better eventually," I said gently.

A small, bitter smile crossed her lips. "It took a very long time. When you've been told something your entire life, by people who are supposed to care about you... it becomes your reality. It wasn't until I saw how Marius treated the humans he brought me to heal that I started to question everything."

She looked directly at me, and I saw gratitude mixed with lingering fear in her red eyes. "When you killed him and told me I was free, I didn't know how to process it. Freedom was a concept I'd forgotten existed."

The kitchen fell silent except for the soft ticking of the wall clock. Both girls had shared incredibly personal, painful experiences, and I felt the weight of their trust settle on my shoulders.

"I'm sorry," I said finally. "Both of you deserved so much better than what you went through. But I want you to know that here, with me, you'll never be treated as tools or weapons or anything other than the people you are."

"You really mean that," Asia said, and it wasn't a question. There was wonder in her voice.

"Completely. You're family now, and family means we take care of each other. No conditions, no expectations beyond basic human decency."

Valerie's composure finally cracked slightly, and she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before."

We finished dinner in a more comfortable atmosphere, the shared vulnerability having created a deeper bond between us. As I started clearing the table, an idea occurred to me.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to both of you about," I said, setting the dishes in the sink. "Have you given any thought to what you want to do going forward? I mean, day-to-day life?"

"What do you mean?" Asia asked, helping me rinse the plates.

"Well, you're both young, and you've missed out on a lot of normal experiences. I was thinking... would you be interested in attending school?"

Asia's face lit up immediately. "Really? I always wanted to go to a proper school, but the church said it wasn't necessary since I had my 'calling.'"

Valerie, however, looked confused. "School? I'm not familiar with that term."

I paused, remembering that she'd been isolated for over a century. "Right, sorry. School is where young people go to learn various subjects—mathematics, literature, history, science. It's also where they socialize with others their age and experience normal teenage life."

"Is it... safe?" she asked hesitantly.

"Very safe. And it would give you both a chance to experience the kind of normal life you've been denied. Make friends, learn new things, figure out what interests you beyond your Sacred Gears."

Asia was practically bouncing with excitement now. "That sounds wonderful! But... would they accept us? I mean, we don't have any school records or documentation."

I grinned. "Leave that to me. I have a good relationship with the student council president at Kuoh Academy. Sona Sitri is very reasonable, and I'm sure I can work out the arrangements to get you both enrolled."

"Sona Sitri," Valerie repeated thoughtfully.

"She's a devil, actually. Part of the Sitri family. But she's fair and honorable—nothing like what you experienced with other supernatural beings." I leaned against the counter, studying both their faces. "What do you think? Are you interested?"

Asia nodded immediately. "Yes, absolutely. I want to try being a normal student."

Valerie considered for a longer moment. "This school... would we learn alongside humans"

"Mostly human, yes"

"And we would attend together?" she asked, glancing at Asia.

"If you want to. You'd be in the same year, so you'd have classes together."

Finally, Valerie nodded slowly. "I... think I would like that. To learn what normal life is supposed to be like."

I smiled at both of them. "Great. I'll contact Sona tomorrow and work out the details. Fair warning though—you'll need to catch up on a lot of basic knowledge. We might want to do some studying together before you start."

"I don't mind studying," Asia said eagerly. "It sounds exciting!"

"What subjects would we learn?" Valerie asked with growing curiosity.

As I explained the basics of modern education, I watched both girls' faces light up with interest and anticipation. For the first time since I'd met them, they looked like what they really were—young women with their whole lives ahead of them, eager to explore new possibilities.

It was a good look on them, and I found myself looking forward to helping them discover all the experiences they'd been denied. School was just the beginning, but it was an important first step toward the normal lives they deserved.

"One more thing," I added as we finished cleaning up. "You don't have to hide who you are, but you also don't have to advertise your abilities. At school, you can just be Asia and Valerie—not the wielder of Twilight Healing or Sephiroth Graal. You can discover who you are beyond your Sacred Gears."

The gratitude in their eyes told me everything I needed to know. This was the right choice, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure they got the chance to be the people they chose to be, not the ones others had forced them to become.

. . .

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