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Chapter 351: Chapter 347 ~ Sisters

"Shirone…"

"…Onee…chan…"

For a fleeting moment, everything else seemed to fade away.

Yuuji watched the two long-lost sisters stand frozen before one another, their voices trembling with disbelief and longing. 

A soft smile curved his lips, gentle, as he allowed them that fragile, precious moment.

Then he turned.

The warmth in his gold-and-crimson eyes vanished, replaced by something distant and unreadable as his gaze settled on Vali and Arthur.

"Take your time with Fenrir." Yuuji said calmly. 

"I'm only here for the sisters."

Vali stiffened.

Every instinct in his body screamed danger.

His muscles coiled, not for combat, but for escape, an unnatural reaction for someone who lived for battle. A thin sheen of sweat formed against his skin as his instincts warned him of a threat he couldn't fully comprehend.

Still, Vali forced a confident, almost mocking grin onto his face, refusing to show weakness.

"I knew you weren't normal." He scoffed. 

"But this? Half angel and half demon? That's even more abnormal than me."

Yuuji merely shrugged, utterly unfazed by the provocation.

"I won't be fighting you today, no matter how much you want it." he replied evenly. 

With that, he slowly descended from the air, floating toward Vali's group with an unhurried grace that only heightened the tension.

Le Fay stared at him in open awe.

The magic radiating from Yuuji was unlike anything she had ever felt—vast yet gentle, powerful yet soothing. It resonated deep within her chest, stirring something innocent and inexplicable in her young heart.

Vali, Bikou, and Arthur reacted instantly.

Arthur wrenched his Excalibur Ruler free from Fenrir's body, halting the process of domination mid-way, while the three of them shifted into defensive stances, their gazes locked firmly on Yuuji.

"Hah…"

Yuuji let out a quiet sigh, clearly unimpressed.

A soft, golden radiance began to spill from his form, subtle yet unmistakable.

[Holy Aura I: Comfort]

The air itself seemed to warm.

A gentle wave of serenity washed over the battlefield, easing tension and calming racing hearts. Vali, Bikou, and Arthur felt their bodies relax against their will, their instincts quieted, their hostility dulled.

"Calm down. I said I'm not here for you." 

With that, he turned away from them completely.

He landed gently before Kuroka.

The sharpness in his gaze faded, replaced by a tender warmth as his eyes met her brilliant golden ones.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Kuroka?"

His voice—soft, steady, and familiar—reverberated straight into her heart.

She froze.

Though his appearance had changed, though his existence defied everything she thought she knew, Kuroka recognized him instantly.

By his scent. A scent of comfort. Of warmth. Of memories she cherished more than she dared to admit.

Memories of quiet moments where she could simply be herself. Of laughter shared without secrets, of companionship when loneliness threatened to swallow her whole. He had been there when she felt lost, offering comfort without judgment, support without condition.

And when he wished for her happiness. When he wanted her to reunite with her little sister. When he promised to stand by her side, no matter what…

Her heart had begun yearning long before she realized it.

"Yuuji…"

Her voice barely escaped her lips, carrying emotions too tangled and overwhelming to fully express.

But Yuuji understood.

Without a word, he gently took her hand. His grip was firm, but impossibly gentle, as if reassuring her that she wouldn't fall.

"Kuroka, let's go be with your little sister." He said softly.

Her fingers tightened around his instinctively.

Her heart screamed yes, but fear of loss, regret, and the weight of her past sent a jolt through her body. She faltered.

Yuuji didn't push.

Instead, he lifted his other hand and cupped her cheek, his touch warm and steady.

"It's okay, I'm here. I won't leave you." He assured.

Kuroka searched his heterochromatic eyes desperately, looking for doubt. For hesitation. For lies.

She found none.

Only sincerity. Only resolve. Only someone who truly meant every word he spoke.

Her cheeks warmed, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.

"…Alright, nya…"

She nodded faintly.

Slowly, carefully, Yuuji led her forward—toward Koneko, who stood beside Rias and the rest of the Gremory peerage.

Rias remained tense, her guard still raised, a feeling shared by her peerage. Kuroka was, after all, still a dangerous criminal in their eyes.

But Yuuji was the one guiding her. And their trust in him was absolute.

So they did not move. They did not attack. They did not stop her.

As Kuroka stepped closer to her little sister, the air grew heavy with anticipation. 

"Shirone…"

The whisper was soft, fragile enough that it barely carried through the air.

And yet, it struck Koneko's heart harder than any blow ever could.

In her memories, her big sister had never sounded like this.

Kuroka had always been strong. Always smiling. Kind, confident, and dependable, the pillar she leaned on, the person she admired more than anyone else in the world.

That was precisely why her betrayal had hurt so deeply.

Why would she kill her master? Why would she go on a rampage… and leave her alone?

Even now, the memory of it made Koneko tremble. The image of her sister drenched in blood, eyes burning with madness as she tore through everything in her path.

That image had haunted her for years.

But the woman standing before her now was nothing like that memory.

She looked… afraid.

"…."

Kuroka saw it.

The hesitation in her sister's eyes. The fear. The walls she had built to protect herself.

Her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Then—warmth.

A hand closed around hers, firm yet gentle, grounding her. That familiar presence gave her the strength she desperately needed, and Kuroka drew in a shaky breath.

"Shirone…" she began, her voice trembling. 

"I won't make excuses. Everything I did… I chose to do it myself."

Koneko flinched.

"But, I hope—no… I beg you—to listen to why I did it."

Kuroka continued, her voice breaking.

Koneko's glare wavered.

She did it… of her own free will?

Wasn't her sister drunk on power? Didn't she slaughter everyone simply because she could?

What kind of reason could justify something like that? What kind of reason could ever justify a massacre?

Koneko clenched her teeth.

No. She had to be lying. She had to be trying to make excuses.

"Please…" Kuroka whispered. 

"Shirone…"

Koneko looked up.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her sister wasn't defiant. She wasn't proud. She wasn't even trying to defend herself. She was pleading.

Even if Koneko didn't want to believe her… even if her heart screamed to reject everything…

She could find no lies in Kuroka's eyes.

Only pain. Only regret. Only love.

After a long, trembling silence, Koneko finally released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

She nodded.

And at that small motion, Kuroka's face crumpled—then softened into a fragile, grateful smile.

"It started… the night I returned early to report to that man." Kuroka said quietly. 

"And heard something I was never meant to hear."

She told her everything.

After their parents' deaths, the two sisters had been taken in by a devil from the House of Naberius.

Kuroka had been reincarnated as a devil using two Bishop pieces and inducted into his peerage.

While serving him, her talent in Senjutsu and Youjutsu blossomed rapidly. Her magic grew so powerful that, in sheer output alone, she eventually surpassed her own master.

Yet she never grew arrogant.

She worked harder than ever, believing that if she proved useful, if she was valued, she could secure a better, safer life for her little sister.

That belief shattered on that night.

She had returned early from a mission. And by chance… she overheard his plan.

The reason he had sent her away wasn't coincidence. It was so she wouldn't be present while he conducted experiments on Shirone.

Experiments meant to create a Super Devil.

Shock froze her in place. Despair hollowed her chest. And then—rage consumed her whole.

She would never allow anyone to hurt her precious little sister.

Never.

So she acted.

She killed her master. Then she killed every member of his peerage. She erased everything that posed a threat to Shirone.

But in doing so, she became a stray devil.

A criminal. A fugitive. A monster in the eyes of the Underworld.

Someone who could no longer stay by her sister's side without endangering her.

So she made the most painful choice of her life.

She left.

She abandoned her sister, not because she didn't love her… but because she loved her too much to let her sins reach her.

But even that wasn't enough.

As the sister of an SS-Class stray devil, Shirone had nearly been executed—saved only because Rias Gremory took her in.

Though her life was spared, the wound in her heart never healed.

She fell into depression. She rejected Senjutsu and Youjutsu. She rejected her own bloodline.

All because of her.

"I'm sorry, Shirone…" Kuroka sobbed. 

"I'm sorry for being such a terrible sister… I'm sorry for leaving you alone… I swear, I never wanted this. But I couldn't—I couldn't let him hurt you…"

Her words dissolved into broken sobs, tears streaming endlessly from her golden eyes.

And as Koneko listened… Tears welled in her own.

"Onee-chan…"

Her voice shook violently.

"Why… why didn't you tell me the truth…?"

"I couldn't…" Kuroka whispered.

 "There was no time. I had to run—fast, and far away. If I stayed… if I told you everything… you would've been targeted too. I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Onee-chan…!"

Koneko broke.

She ran forward, white-furred cat ears and a feline tail appearing as her emotions overflowed, and threw herself into her sister's arms.

"Shirone…!"

Kuroka caught her instantly, wrapping her arms around her little sister as tightly as she dared—afraid that if she loosened her grip even for a moment, this precious reunion might vanish like a dream.

She buried her face in Koneko's hair, trembling.

This time…

She wouldn't let go.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

After a long while, the sisters finally calmed, their breaths evening out as they remained in each other's embrace. When they eventually pulled back, faint tear stains still marked their cheeks.

Their gazes met, full of lingering emotion, before both of them turned toward Yuuji.

He smiled softly and stepped closer.

"I'm glad the two of you were able to resolve things."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Kuroka's lips curved upward, and without warning, she sprang forward, throwing her arms around Yuuji's neck.

"It's all thanks to you, nya~!" She exclaimed brightly. 

"Thank you so, so much, Yuuji-nyaa~!"

She pressed her cheek against his, rubbing affectionately before burying her face against his neck, drawing in deep breaths of his familiar scent as if to reassure herself that he was truly here.

Watching this, Koneko felt something stir in her chest.

She didn't want to lose.

Quietly, almost shyly, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Yuuji's waist, pressing her forehead lightly against his chest.

"…Thank you, Yuuji."

Yuuji stiffened slightly at being embraced from both sides so suddenly. Then, he relaxed, a gentle smile forming as he placed a hand on each of their backs, softly stroking in reassurance.

"You're welcome."

After a moment, he turned his attention to Koneko.

"Koneko, would you like to stay with Kuroka?" He asked gently.

Kuroka froze.

Her body twitched, and the playful warmth drained from her expression as she slowly turned to look at her little sister, fear and hope tangling tightly in her golden eyes.

Koneko also fell silent.

She studied her sister's face—the longing there, the desperate wish to remain together. Then she turned her gaze back to Yuuji.

After a brief pause, she nodded.

For an instant, Kuroka's heart soared—

Only for it to sink just as quickly.

"I'm happy, Shirone…" 

She said softly, forcing a sad smile. 

"More than anything, I want to stay with you too. But… I'm a criminal now. A wanted stray devil. I don't want you to get dragged into the same mess as me."

Koneko lowered her head, her brows knitting together as her fingers tightened around the fabric of Yuuji's shirt.

Then she looked up at him.

The yearning within her eyes was unmistakable.

Yuuji met her gaze… Then smiled.

He nodded once.

Relief flooded Koneko's expression.

Turning back to Kuroka, Yuuji drew her closer, wrapping an arm around her as though silently telling her not to run, and not to shoulder everything alone anymore.

"Don't worry. I can resolve this."

He raised his free hand.

Light shimmered, and a thick file of documents materialized within his grasp. Bold letters were stamped across its cover:

[Investigation into the Forbidden Experiments of the Naberius Devil Household.]

Kuroka's breath hitched.

For the first time in years… Hope felt real.

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