Ch 131: The long-anticipated reunion.
One week after Aizen's defeat, Noah smiled to himself as he entered an empty bedroom in his palace.
At least, he was about to resurrect the first person on his list. It was something he had looked forward to doing for a long time now.
He stopped beside the bed, and took his smartphone, calling Rias.
"Yes, Noah?"
"Rias, my dear. Am I bothering you?"
"No, I am training the slave. She's become quite obedient already."
"I'm glad to hear it. But you may want to pause her training. Remember what we talked about, just after your mom transferred Grayfia to me? You wanted to be present."
"Yes. Are you now able to do it?" asked Rias.
"I am. Second floor, eastern wing, fifth door on your right. Please change into a casual outfit and bring Akeno with you."
"Yeah!"
"See you in a few." said Noah, grinning as he ended the call.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the image he had from Shuri Himejima, and activated his newest skill, accepting the 1500 Yin Points cost for it. Large quantities of bright blue mana streamed from his hands, coalescing into a humanoid shape laying on the bed. The shape became more defined, and when it dimmed, a more mature version of Akeno was sleeping, dressed in a white t-shirt, tight blue jeans, and sandals.
…
Shuri opened her eyes. She blinked in confusion as she saw a white ceiling, and a very handsome man standing near her, smiling gently. Suddenly remembering the pain of the sword that had pierced her heart, she pressed her right hand on the wound, only to find… nothing? And she wasn't in pain. She examined her right hand, afraid of seeing in covered with her blood, but her fingers were dry.
"Am I, dead?" muttered Shuri, looking at the handsome young man.
"You were. I just resurrected you. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Shuri. I am Noah Enfield, and I am Akeno's boyfriend."
"Akeno!" exclaimed Shuri, forgetting about anything else for an instant. "Is she okay?"
"Yes, she's perfectly fine." nodded Noah. "Or she will, once the hole in her heart left by your passing is filled. She'll be there in a few minutes at most. But some time has passed since you last saw her. She is eighteen-year-old, now."
"Eighteen…" repeated Shuri with a muted voice. She felt great happiness at the perspective of seeing her daughter again, but also some sadness at having missed her childhood. As for being resurrected…
The more she thought about it, the more surreal it felt.
"How do you feel, miss Shuri? Do you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere?"
"No. I still remember the pain from being killed by my uncle, but it is just a memory."
"I can't do much about that, I'm afraid. While we're waiting for Akeno, I think I should warn you that mentioning Baraqiel too early might not be a great idea. Akeno's relationship with him is… complicated."
"Complicated? He didn't take care of her after what happened to me?"
"I'm sure he wanted to, but…" Noah shrugged. "This is a sensitive subject, and something Akeno should tell you herself. Baraqiel himself is doing fine. I've met him a few weeks ago."
"I see… I'm still trying to convince myself that I'm not in a strange dream… You said you were my daughter's boyfriend, Noah-kun? How did you meet her?"
"It's a bit of a long story, and Akeno will be there in a few seconds." said Noah, going to the door and opening it.
He stood just outside the door, smiling, and Shuri heard the footsteps of two people appearing.
"Ufufu, Noah, what's this about? Are you in the mood for a threesome?"
Shuri heard the voice of one of the two people coming closer and recognized it. It wasn't strictly identical to the voice in her memories, but there was no way she wouldn't recognize it. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest as she stood. And she made herself a note to have a few choice words with this young man about threesomes later.
"No, Akeno, this is something else." said Noah. "Do you remember, when I say that I wouldn't trample over your pain, and that I wouldn't meddle in your relationship with your father?"
"I remember, yes. Did you do something?" said Akeno, her voice much more serious.
"Yes, but I do not think you'll dislike it." said Noah with a gentle smile.
Noah moved a little, freeing the doorway, and gestured toward the room, inviting her in.
"You better not have invited him to this…" started Akeno,
Shuri's eyes were already starting to tear up, when she saw Akeno walk in the doorway. Her adorable daughter was now clearly an adult, but she recognized her in an instant.
Akeno froze, her eyes slowly widening.
"…Mom?" she finally asked, her voice full of hope.
"Yes, Akeno. It's really me." said Shuri, a radiant smile on her face, her tears flowing.
"Mom!" cried Akeno, crossing in an instant the distance separating them. They hugged each other fiercely and sobbed.
"My baby! I've been so worried about you. You're all grown up now."
"…H-How?" asked Akeno, glancing back at Noah. Rias was beside him, smiling, with tears in her eyes.
"As a reward for the last quest that was particularly… difficult, Lilith gave me the ability to resurrect people. Your mom is the first, but I'll revive Koneko-chan's mom in a few minutes. Now we're going to leave you alone, you and your mother have a lot of catching up to do."
"Yes… thank you, Noah. Thank you."
"Thank you, Enfield-kun. I am incredibly grateful for what you did." said Shuri, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Just seeing the two of you reuniting is reward enough. See you later." smiled Noah, closing the door.
Shuri's attention returned to her daughter, now almost as tall as she was, and she kissed her forehead.
"Akeno, I am so happy you were safe. Can you tell me what happened, after that night?"
"…Yes." replied Akeno, wiping her tears with one hand.
Shuri and Akeno sat on the bed, holding hands, and Akeno stared speaking about her life. How she lived as a homeless child, constantly running away from the Himejima clan's trackers, offering to exorcise minor evil spirits and lost souls in return for a few meals and a bed, but never staying more than a week in the same place. How the trackers eventually caught up to her as she used a shrine of Amaterasu as temporary shelter, and how Rias Gremory and her escort found her just in time.
She told Shuri about her life as the Queen of Rias's peerage, gaining a sister in all but name, and friends close enough to count as family. How she studied at Kuoh Academy, and they eventual meeting with a strange maid at night, who had just killed a stray devil. How that encounter led to a meeting with Noah, and how she became more and more attracted by his kindness and strength. And how they were now all living as part of his family.
"I'm so sorry, Akeno." said Shuri, her tears flowing again. "You suffered a lot. as a result of my decisions."
"It's fine, mom. I wouldn't even be born, if not for the choices you made. And now that you're back, I know that I will always be happy." smiled Akeno.
"… and, what about your dad, Akeno? You haven't mentioned him at all." carefully asked Shuri.
She almost regretted when she saw her daughter's expression suddenly turn into one of pain, and Akeno closed her eyes for an instant.
"I… have refused to speak to him… I'm sorry, mom… I know that what happened wasn't really his fault, but… I needed someone to blame. Someone to focus my anger and hatred toward to. Or I would have broken."
Shuri hugged her daughter tightly.
"I understand, Akeno. You've experienced things no child should have to endure, and I'm sure he will forgive you. Things are going to be okay, from now on. Right?"
"… Yes… If you give me a little more time, I think I can accept the idea of talking to him, and visit him again… But mom, do you intend to get back together with him?"
"Of course. He is still my husband, and I love him almost as much as I love you. Why? Don't tell me, has he perhaps remarried?" asked Shuri worriedly.
"I don't think he has…" said Akeno. "Let's speak about him later. How about I show you around? You should meet the other people I'm living with. And this palace has a lot of interesting places!"
"A palace?" blinked Shuri. "I assumed we were in a rather large house, but is this place that big?"
"You have no idea, Mom. Have you taken a good look through the window?"
"No, I've been rather preoccupied since your boyfriend brought me back." said Shuri.
Akeno rose with a grin, holding Shuri's hand, and led her to the window.
"How beautiful." praised Shuri as she admired the scenery. She saw a large, beautiful garden, surrounded by a forest on two sides. The right side was a beach of white sand, and the waters were so blue and clear she felt an urge to take a swim. She could see the top of several structures peaking over the forest, and they seemed to be enormous.
"All of this, mom, belongs to Noah and our family. The other palaces you see are all empty for now, but the one we're living in is just as big."
"So big. Is Enfield-kun such an important person?"
"He's the representative of a Goddess, Lilith. And not any random Goddess! She…" Akeno led her mother out of the room, and started giving her a tour of the palace. As she did, she explained Noah's circumstances, and introduced her mother of anyone they met.
Claire, Alice, Hisui and Rui were extremely happy, both for her and as a clear sign that they would soon be reunited with Kensei Amagiri. They saw Rias and Noah again, and they informed them that Koneko and Kuroka were both in another room, catching up with their mother Fujimai. Fujimai had pure white hair just like Koneko, but hers was longer, stopping at waist level, and she had Kuroka's well-endowed body.
Akeno continued her tour, showing her mother the first basement, and the third one. The few girls that were training themselves quickly stopped and gathered for Akeno to introduce her mother to them, and they were all very happy for her.
When Akeno, still holding her mother's hand, started climbing the stairs, Shuri asked.
"Akeno, you haven't showed me the second basement. Is there some dark secret I'm not supposed to see?" she wondered jokingly.
"Ufufu, I'm just leaving the most interesting place for the end, Mom." grinned Akeno.
Reaching the second level, she ignored the nearest doors, as she knew they were occupied. She stopped in front of another one.
"How about you open it, mom?" smiled Akeno.
Shuri suddenly noticed something in her daughter's eyes. "You're not pulling a prank on me, are you, Akeno?"
"No."
With a bit of trepidation, Shuri opened the door. And her mind was blown away by what she saw. A fully equipped dungeon room, with just about any contraption she could think off.
"Mom, I'm aware of the games you played with Dad. And as it turns out, Noah is quite the dominant himself."
"I can see that." breathed Shuri, staring at the vast array of restraints and toys hanging from the walls or placed on shelves. She didn't even notice when Akeno placed a hand on her back, gently pushing her inside, and closed the door behind her.
"Feel free to explore, Mom. Noah won't mind, as long as we put things back like we have found them." smiled Akeno.
"I'm a bit embarrassed that you knew about what your dad and I were doing. We thought we were discreet enough. Did… did he do some of those things with you, Akeno?"
"Yes, mom. As it turns out, I am both a sadist and a masochist. Noah is just a little bit of a sadist, and mostly a control freak who loves to put his girls into bondage. He likes us to wear latex, too." grinned Akeno, opening a closet to reveal a number of leather and latex outfits inside.
"That's… very interesting." smiled Shuri. "Some of that stuff, it gives me ideas I want to try with your father."
"I'm sure." grinned Akeno, taking a pair of police handcuffs from a shelf. "I haven't tried even a tenth of what's inside this room, but I look forward to trying it all."
Taking her mother's right hand in hers, she closed the metal bracelet around her wrist.
"Akeno?" asked Shuri, confused. "What are you doing?"
"I'm putting those on you, Mom." smiled Akeno, taking her mom's left hand and cuffing her left wrist as well.
"I can see that, but why?"
"Because we're going to have some fun." replied Akeno, hooking the few links of chain between the cuffs on two fingers, and leading her mother to a relatively empty part of the room. She put her mom just under a chain hanging from the ceiling. A padlock was already inserted in the chain's end, and Akeno used it to tie the cuffs to the chain.
"Akeno, Mom is getting a bit worried. I'm a S, not a M. Please untie me." said Shuri.
Akeno only smiled as she turned away, and took a ball gag hanging from the wall.
"This is for your own good, Mom." smiled Akeno, walking back to her.
Shuri shook her head, and was about to protest, when Akeno took a firm grip on Shuri's ponytail, limiting her head's movements, and… kissed her.
Shuri was utterly shocked. It wasn't just an innocent kiss, but a full French kiss, Akeno's tongue invading her mouth and depressing her own.
Her shock was so complete that, after Akeno pulled back and pressed on her jaw with a thumb to open her mouth further, she only thought to resist being gagged when the red rubber ball entered her mouth. It was too late, and Akeno tightly fastened the strap behind her head.
"Mmptho!"
"As I said, this is for your own good, Mom. I did mention that Noah could bestow abilities to his women, right?" smiled Akeno. Shuri nodded warily.
"One of those abilities he shares with us is an endless lifespan. I am immortal, Mom. I will stay young and healthy forever. And so will you."
Shuri's eyes widened as she started to understand. Akeno took from a drawer a pair of safety scissors and started cutting away Shuri's white T-shirt.
"mmhpoj, haphhemo!" protested Shuri, shaking her head.
When Akeno was done with the T-shirt, she unhooked Shuri's white cotton bra and cut the straps off. At the biological age of 28, Shuri's breasts were larger than average, although not nearly as much as Akeno's, and they were still firm and perky.
Akeno stopped in front of her mother and stared at her eyes with a dead serious expression.
"I have lost you once, Mom. I do not want to ever go through that pain again. And if I am immortal, while you aren't, it will happen eventually. I do not want to see you grow older year after year, knowing that it is only a matter of time before… we part ways. And I trust Noah. He will give you happiness."
Shuri's eye filled with guilt at the mention of Akeno's suffering, and she stilled. It wasn't like she didn't understand where Akeno was coming from, if Noah could really grant immortality to his women. She would do the same if she were in her daughter's shoes. But still, she didn't want to be stolen from her husband!
"You being a sadist and not interested in being a sex slave is an issue, but not a huge one." smiled Akeno, unbuttoning and unzipping Shuri's jeans. "I only have to slowly teach you the pleasure of masochism. I promise you, Mom, that I will help you become a splendid sex slave!"
Akeno stripped Shuri from her sandals, socks, jeans and panties. Shuri shivered as Akeno stared at her naked body and used her smartphone to send a message to someone. Shuri flinched when, seconds later, Noah appeared out of thin air.
"Why am I not surprised…" grinned Noah. Shuri blushed as she struggled against the cuffs. She wanted to hide her body from him but couldn't.
"Noah, my beloved Master." giggled Akeno as she hugged him and kissed him hungrily.
"I feel like I want to do anything to please you, Noah. I feel so happy right now!"
"And you decided to gift me your mother?"
"Of course!" laughed Akeno. "The reasons to give immortality to Rias's mother also apply to my Mom, and I'd much prefer if she was with you rather than with my father."
"I'll be honest and say I was hoping for that to happen." nodded Noah.
"Of course you did. No beautiful woman will escape your lust." grinned Akeno.
"Yes. And since I'm having an honest moment, I'm also thinking about your cousin Suzaku. I hear she's just as beautiful as you, Akeno, and the Himejima clan doesn't deserve her."
"I haven't seen her since I left the clan, but I'm in such a good mood today that I won't object." said Akeno, smiling again.
"But, Akeno, Just like I did you a favor by bringing back your mother, I want you to do me a favor, for mine, yours and your mother's sake. And your father, I guess." said Noah as he hugged her.
"What is it?"
"I want you to be on speaking terms with your father."
Akeno didn't answer.
"We both know that he doesn't really deserve the way you're treating him. If you keep ignoring him, eventually, you will feel guilty about it. And what if he one day gives up on trying, and decide he doesn't have a daughter? You may end up feeling regrets."
Akeno closed her eyes for a moment. She knew Noah was right, because she already felt guilty, deep inside. She hadn't done anything about it because the pain and grief of losing her mother had been too much, but now that her Mom was back, it would be much more difficult to ignore.
"…Okay." muttered Akeno with a sigh as she looked up at Noah.
Noah tightened his hug for a moment and kissed her.
"Thank you, Akeno… Did you call for me for a specific reason? I'm about to go resurrect someone else." asked Noah.
"Yes. I'd like some of your special items to help me train Mom. One of those torso harnesses that increases breast size, another to make her butt a little more bubbly, and a bodysuit like the one you made me wear last time."
"Mmmph!" protested Shuri. But Akeno and Noah barely glanced at her.
She had been silent while her daughter and her lover discussed her father, seeing Noah in a better light, but really didn't like what Akeno's request implied. Were they going to modify bodies without her consent?
"Sure." said Noah, taking the requested items from his inventory and putting them on a nearby bondage bench. All Shuri saw was a black latex bodysuit, two bundles of black leather straps, and a collar.
"Don't go overboard with the breasts and butt size. Yours are just perfect, and significantly bigger would start becoming a turn off for me. And I'm adding one of the special collars to make things faster. You can't devote too much time just to take care of her, Akeno, unless you wish to withdraw from the list of candidates. You still have sword training to do, among other things."
"You're right. I won't neglect becoming stronger, Master." smiled Akeno. "Do you have any preferences for Mom?"
Noah looked at Shuri up and down, smiling as he rubbed his chin.
"I do not have a clear preference, so I'm going to let her choose."
Noah walked closer to the helpless woman and removed her ball gag.
"Shuri-san, since you're going to be mine, do you mind if I call you Shuri?"
"It doesn't look like I have a choice." bitterly said Shuri, before turning her gaze toward her daughter.
"Akeno, I… I am sorry. If your boyfriend can truly make people immortal, I understand why you're doing this to me. I can't say that you tricking me into it doesn't hurt, but… I'll forgive you."
"…Mom." muttered Akeno as she walked to Shuri and gave her a tight hug.
"It's going to be okay, you'll see." promised Akeno.
"I'm glad you're taking this relatively well, Shuri." smiled Noah. "So, how do you wish to be trained? Do you want Akeno to train you into a masochist, wanting to be flogged and disciplined regularly?"
"As a latex maid, wearing a latex bodysuit and a chastity belt under her maid uniform, eager to service your Mistress and your Master?"
"Or maybe as a sex pet, with Akeno connecting a leash to your collar and taking you for walkies?"
Shuri gulped and stared at Noah and Akeno in turn, before she spoke.
"I have two conditions. If you agree to them, you can do whatever you want with me, as long as I can spend time with my daughter every day."
"We already can do whatever we want, but I am willing to at least listen to your conditions." said Noah.
"First, I want to be trained by you, not by Akeno."
"I certainly won't mind, but why?"
"Because I do not want Akeno to one day feel regrets about it, so I wish to minimize her part in this."
Noah looked at Akeno, and she nodded.
"And the second one?"
"I do not want Baraqiel to ever know about any of that. Let him believe I am still dead. It will be less painful for him this way."
Again, Noah looked at Akeno, who agreed instantly.
"Very well, Shuri. I will train you as my sex slave, and Baraqiel will know nothing."
"I will leave you to it, then, Noah." smiled Akeno. "I'll go train with Reina-chan."
"Yes…By the way, Albion. It will take me a long time to save up, as the cost I must pay to revive people is proportional to the power of the person in question, but I will eventually resurrect you and Ddraig as well. That's the reward I mentioned before."
Shuri blinked as a strange white gauntlet appeared on her daughter's right arm, and a voice came out of it. She tried to remember where she had heard the names Ddraig and Albion, but… The two Heavenly Dragon!
She stared wide eyed at the gauntlet as she realized her daughter somehow had gained a Longinus Sacred Gear.
"Thank you, Master! I'm so grateful! I'll be sure to demonstrate my gratitude when I have my own body back!" said Albion.
"Oh? But won't I still have to defeat you first?"
"No need, Master." chuckled Albion. "We dragons may respect power before all else, but we also understand gratitude, and… I want to keep being your sex pet. Please discipline me a lot in the future, Master."
"You can count on it. It is normal for me to pamper my girls."
Akeno kissed Noah again, then left the room.
Noah picked up the latex bodysuit and turned to Shuri.
"Lift your left foot, please."
Shuri gulped, but did as he asked, and Noah started the process of dressing her in the neck-entry bodysuit. It took some work, but Noah didn't mind, and before long, Shuri's body from the neck down was covered by skintight, glossy black latex.
"I've never worn latex before." commented Shuri as she rubbed her arms. "Whenever I did that kind of things with my husband, I was more into leather."
"What do you think of it?"
"It feels nice for now. But I will likely feel hot and clammy before long."
"You would, if we were speaking about normal latex, but my stuff is enhanced, and that suit is intended for long term wear in mind."
Shuri didn't struggle as he fastened the leather collar around her neck, then the leather harnesses around her torso and hips.
"Lay on that bench, please." Noah pointed to the bondage bench.
She climbed on the bench, pressing her back against the leather-padded top, and Noah bound her limbs to the bench's legs with the integrated straps.
"You have been very cooperative, Shuri." smiled Noah as he fastened the last strap around her waist.
"I may be cooperating for Akeno's sake, and because I'm realist enough to know I do not have a choice, but that doesn't mean I'll just submit to you, Noah." said Shuri. "If you give me any opportunity, I'll turn the tables on you and I will dominate you. And you will grow to love it."
Noah could see the seriousness and willpower in her eyes, and he nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. That makes things more interesting. I'm going to leave you like this for a bit. I have another person to resurrect today. When I return, we will start your training."
He disappeared, leaving Shuri alone.
She strained against her bonds for a moment, but without any expectation of achieving anything. She knew she wouldn't be able to escape even if she somehow could get out of those.
Shuri thought about Baraqiel, feeling regrets that she wouldn't be able to see him anymore. But if he knew she was here, he might try something stupid. Akeno had told her enough that she understood her husband couldn't hope to face Noah. She didn't think he would kill Baraqiel, if it came to that, but she didn't want to take the chance.
After some more thinking, she came up with the only plan that would give her a chance to have her whole family reunited. She would pretend to submit to Noah, then slowly top him from the bottom, exploiting his willingness to accommodate her to get concessions from him, one at a time. Eventually, she would be the one dominating him, and she would have him make Baraqiel immortal, too. She would make her family whole again.
And Noah… wasn't bad looking at all. She easily understood why her daughter had fallen for him. She looked forward to making him her slave. She could even feel her body heating up as she imagined using on him some of the things in this room.