Ruto entered the Kendo club building because as usual he was bored. He watched the club members practice.
They're not bad I guess. I'd love to show 'em how to fight with a spear though. he thought. Since having received the Brahmastra from Brahma, he'd learned how to fight with it. Not to Brahma's level but not like a novice either.
He was approached by a girl with long brown hair with a straight fringe and a red ribbon at the back holding her ponytail. She had brown eyes and wore a Kendo club gi and hakama.
"Hey, you looking for something?" she asked.
"Nah, just seeing who the best of you is and if I'd be allowed to spar with whoever it happened to be." he replied.
"Well as much as I'd like to say it's me, that honour goes to Kiba Yuuto. You know him?" she said. Ruto nodded. "Oh by the way, I'm Murayama, nice to meet you. And you are?" she said as she held out her hand.
Ruto took it and shook. "Ruto Ruto, third year. I know Kiba, we've spoken a few times. Now that I know he's the best, would you happen to have a jo lying around?" Ruto asked.
Murayama tilted her head in thought. "Maybe in the store room. But why? This is the Kendo club after all." she said curiously. He was gone by the time she said store room, and had a jo in his hands by the time she finished talking.
"Thanks." he said as he twirled the jo. "Kiba Yuuto!" he called out. Kiba, who was taking a break on the far side, looked up and saw him grinning. He was pointing the jo at him, a clear indication of a challenge. He picked up his shinai and walked over to him.
"I doubt you'd be here to chat. Would I be right in assuming you want to spar?" Kiba asked.
"Damn straight." Ruto replied.
After a couple of minutes of preparation, all except Ruto and Kiba were off of the mat and watching in the stands. The two opponents were fully geared up with protection and were ready to spar jo to shinai. Spear to Sword.
I have to be careful of him. He can use the Brahmastra, so he must be pretty skilled. He's surprised us at every turn, so it's best to be cautious. Kiba continued his internal soliloquy.
It's not unusual to be loved by anyone. It's not unusual to have fun with anyone... Ruto sang in his head as he prepared to spar with Kiba, taking up his stance. The entire room was silent, everyone watching was betting Kiba would win, and rightly so. Kiba was their fastest and most skilled member. To them, his opponent was an unknown, in both name and skill.
They began the spar, Kiba struck at Ruto's head, who blocked and swung in a downward sweep. Kiba back stepped and jabbed at Ruto's chest. He sidestepped and dashed forth, catching Kiba in the chest with a jab of his own. Kiba set back into his stance as did Ruto. The two were still for a time, and like vipers they both struck. The launched a stream of attacks, counters and parries that the onlookers were amazed by. The sheer speed, precision and power behind each blow, dodge and counter was like that of masters of their art.
Kiba was focused on rapid manoeuvring and fast strikes, while Ruto was focused on countering and manipulating Kiba's movements.
"Did you know that this guy was around?" Katase, a pink haired girl whispered to Murayama. The brown haired girl shook her head.
"No, not until about ten minutes ago. He just came in and asked me who our strongest member was, and now here we are." Murayama whispered back, never taking her eyes off of the fight. "As far as I know he's the only male third year."
"What!?" Katase whispered louder. "That's Uzumaki Ruto. You seriously didn't know that?"
"No. Besides that's not important right now. That guy is really giving Kiba a hard time." Murayama replied.
Damn. He's a lot faster than I gave him credit for. He's actually pushing me to use my Knight speed. Kiba thought as sweat trickled down his face.
I gotta wrap this up and quick. The fact one of his swings caught me in the nuts really isn't helping. Ruto thought as he bit his lip to cope with the pain.
The two of them had decided that one final strike would determine the winner. The charged, both of them roaring, mainly for drama's sake. They were a mere meter away from each other and struck.
The two fighters sat on the sofa grumbling to themselves as large sore bumps were present on their heads. Even through the head gear, the power behind their blows was damn deadly!
"GG, Kiba." Ruto said pained.
"Yeah, you too." Kiba replied with a nod which he came to regret as his head only hurt more.
At that time, only Ruto, Kiba and Koneko were present in the club room as they waited for Rias and the others to arrive. Koneko was doing as she usually did, casually and quietly eating sweets or chocolate. Ruto had observed she wasn't one for idle conversation. However, he wasn't entirely sure whether or not it was just because he was there. He dismissed it as he couldn't care less to put it bluntly.
During his spar with Kiba, he'd learned that he, being a Knight in Rias' peerage, had the advantage of speed. However, he'd noticed that while Kiba was a skilled swordsman and possessed incredible speed, he showed hesitance and inexperience when facing him as he wasn't using a shinai like Kiba.
I'm not sure whether or not to help Kiba with his inexperience or use it to my advantage. It would certainly help in dealing with him should fate decide we fight for real. Ruto mulled in his head. Before he could ponder anymore on it, the door opened followed by the entrance of Rias, Akeno, Haru and the new addition, Asia.
"Everyone." Rias began. She cast a subtle but dismissive look at Ruto. "And Ruto, I'd like you to meet our new Bishop, Asia Argento." Rias introduced. Asia bowed deeply with a smile.
"It's nice to meet all of you." Asia said.
"Go ahead and introduce yourselves." Rias prompted.
Kiba stood and bowed formally. "I'm Kiba Yuuto, Rias' Knight. It's a pleasure."
"I'm Koneko, Rook. Nice to meet you." the small girl greeted absently.
"Uzumaki Ruto, White Dragon Emperor, but you already knew that. How ya doin'." Ruto said cheerfully. Haru watched him closely for any smooth moves but Ruto just flashed him a grin.
"I'm Himejima Akeno. I hope we get along." the Queen said, never losing that smile of hers. If Ruto was sure of something, it was that smile that made him nervous, evident by him shifting in his seat.
Rias and Haru didn't need to introduce themselves. "So Ruto, Haru tells me you paid us a visit this morning. Is this true?" Rias inquired. Ruto rarely had trouble keeping a straight face, but now was just one of those times. His bottom lip quivered as he struggled to keep his composure.
"Oh, so super stud over there told you? Yeah I did. Isn't that right Haru ol' buddy ol' pal?" Ruto said
"Can we not talk about that? It was weird then and it still is." Haru said, trying to steer the conversation away from that morning.
"Haru..." Rias trailed off, wanting an explanation.
"Should I tell her? I get the feeling I should tell her." Ruto said with a smirk. Haru didn't nod, but instead just let him get it out. "Ever had three in a bed, Rias?"
She looked at him blankly, clearly not getting it. Ruto waited for her to understand it but clearly she didn't. "I decided to mess with Haru so I got in bed with you two this morning. Interpret that how you will. He screamed like a little girl too, it was hilarious." Ruto said bluntly.
Rias stared at him for about a minute or so, not really sure how to respond to that. "Is this true Haru?" Haru nodded, preparing to accept whatever fate awaited him later.
"That's why he keeps calling me stud." He muttered. Rias pinched her nose and sighed deeply.
"Whatever, that's not important right now. What's more important is last night's events at the church. Why were you defending the Fallen Angels? And why were you so quick to become hostile when I questioned you on it?" Rias asked, looking him in the eyes.
"My reasons are my own. For now, I'll tell you that I have connections in all three factions and beyond. It was important that I kept casualties to a minimum. Damage control. As for the hostility..." the air thickened in the room as Ruto's eyes grew sharp and his demeanour grim. "You don't command me, you're in no position to question me. I hold great respect for your family, for your brother and the others, but not you. As for why, simple. You've not done a damn thing to earn it." Ruto said stonily.
Her peerage was shocked to say the least. Not one of them would have dared speak to Rias in that way. But as usual, Ruto had surprised them, so it was only logical that if anyone was going to say anything, it would be him. Rias on her part was composed, but was struggling within herself not to annihilate him. No one had ever called her out, questioned her, and just flat out told her exactly where she stood with them. She didn't like it at all.
"If that's all, I'll be going now." Ruto said with finality. He stood and left without saying a word to anyone.
Damn him. How can he claim to respect the Gremory clan, yet not respect me? I need to speak with Sirzechs. Rias thought with a troubled mind.
Ruto lazily pushed the door to his house open. He narrowed his eyes. Something was… off. He closed the door quietly behind him and kicked off his shoes. Creeping to the living room doorway, he leaned out and put his head around the doorway. Sitting on his sofa was Azazel and Sirzechs, while in his chair was Gabriel and on the other sofa was her brother, the only Archangel of Heaven and leader of the Seraphs.
They were waiting silently for him to arrive. Ruto, like a ninja, stealthily made his way across the hall and into the kitchen. There, was Rossweisse, sweating buckets as the tense silence was getting to her.
"Psst. Rossweisse." Ruto whispered, just loud enough as he was crouched behind the kitchen counter. Rossweisse quickly ducked and turned to him.
"Ruto, seriously I didn't know they were coming." Rossweisse said.
"How could anyone anticipate this? Forget it, it's not your fault. Anyways, did they say what they wanted?" Ruto asked, both annoyed and intrigued.
"They just said they want to speak with you. Something about thanking you for past services and about catching up." Rossweisse explained. Ruto face-palmed. However, he did it a bit too loud.
"I'd recognise the sound of a face meeting palm like that anywhere. Get your ass in here Ruto, we got stuff to discuss." came the voice of Azazel.
"Oh for fuck sake. I just wanted one quiet evening, but no, it just so happens that for some stupid reason, the big-shots of the three factions wanna play catch up with me. God dammit." Ruto grumbled bitterly.
He entered the living room, and wasn't too pleased. "You." he pointed at Gabriel, who looked like she'd just been caught stealing. "Outta my chair." When she wasn't fast enough, he simply picked her up, put her on the sofa next to Michael and sat down. "In future, read the sign." he said gesturing to the improvised sticky label with sharpie ink on it stuck to the arm of the chair.
"Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he said, striking a Gendo pose.