Bare This Curse

Chapter 19: Junior Vladi

"Zzzz... Zzzz... Zzzz..."
*shift*

"Zz- !"
I blinked as I woke up early in the Saturday morning. I stretched, then noticed some of my body was being weighed down. I looked around, seeing several half naked bodies, some FULLY naked, and one completely dressed, in the same bed as me. Kuroka and Rias were at my sides, clutching my jacket and having their faces buried in the shoulder section of it. Ophis was laying on top of me while Valerie and Anba were down towards my legs. Being as short as I was, I was completely restricted of movement. I nearly yelled out in shock, but stopped myself, not wanting to wake them. I looked up at the clock, seeing it was around 5 to 6 in the morning. I sighed, then gently wiggled my way out of the girls' grasps, except for Ophis, who woke up when I started moving. I silently shushed her and got up, going to the door with her and leaving the girls to sleep.

"Why, are you up so early?"

I shrugged as I made my way down the steps to the kitchen.

"I dunno. I guess I just woke up from nothing."

She trotted after me as I got an MD from the fridge. I sat down on the couch as I cracked it open. She sat next to me, holding two controllers.

"Wanna, play Zombies?"
"World at War?"
"Der, Reise."
"F*** yeah."
I took the second player controller and hung out with my Infinite Dragon God buddy for a good hour or two. We went through several matches of zombies, shifting between the original 4 maps and making it high in the rounds. When we lost our 6th match, we heard someone coming down the stairs. I heard a yawn escape Kuroka as she wandered lazily to the couch.

"Nya, what're you two up to?"
"We've, been playing Zombies for the past 2 hours."
"Wait, you were up at 5, nya?"
"5:23, actually."
"Why?"
I shrugged again as I took a sip of my drink.

"Just woke up. Nothing really to it other than that."
"I can understand that, nya. I've had those days."
She laid down on the couch, using my lap as a pillow. I chuckled as Ophis started a match on Shi-No-Numa again.

"Roles have been reversed, huh?"
"Nya?~ Would YOU like a lap pillow, then?"
I patted her head.

"You can rest there for a bit, then we can switch if you want."

"Mmm... OK.~"
For the rest of the morning till everyone got up, we played Zombies, having a good time and switching out when Kuroka wanted to play. She was actually pretty good for a newbie to the game. One by one, everyone came down, relaxing in the morning time and we even got 4 players in on it. Rias and Issei were just as good, but Anba, Asia and Valerie didn't play, so it was just Issei, Kuroka, Ophis, Rias, and I playing till the afternoon hours. After a quick lunch, we all went to the ORC, meeting each other along the way. Sirzechs also came along, wanting to speak with Rias a little ways away from the group. I shrugged it off and followed from behind with my team and hers, letting them talk. Something Sirzechs said caught my ear though.

"I was thinking it was about time to release your bishop."
I teleported in front of them.
"Her bishop?"
The two jumped, then Rias nodded.

"The bishop's gift was dangerous. They were sealed away because I wasn't strong enough to handle them."

"Dangerous... how?"

Rias fell silent for a moment, then glanced at her brother.

"You're the one who organized all this, aren't you?"
"Guilty as charged. Rest assured, after observing your fight with Kokabeil, Neito, I've reconsidered."
"Wait, why reconsider because of me?"
"You've taught my sister a lot. Besides that, your team and her pieces make more to work with. She's stronger now because of you. I am more than confident that the time is right. Rias, release the bishop."
She fidgeted for a second, then nodded.