"So, are you just going to stand there frozen, or are you going to kiss me?"

I finally regained myself, a warm smile appearing on my face...

"Aunt V....." I muttered, leaning down, lips perched for an affectionate kiss

"Ahem!" Only for a rude cough to interrupt our moment..

"Of course.." I groaned, raising my head back up as I looked behind her.

There, standing with his hands behind his back, was the old man that had called me here, and right beside him, I could spot two other figures, a large looking man and a woman, although strangely enough, the woman’s eyes seemed dead focused on the spot where my hands were currently placed..

My attention finally returned to the real question at hand..

"Aunt V, how are you here?" I finally asked, briefly setting my happiness at seeing her aside, for now..

"Huh? And here I thought you missed me. Turns out It was just me." She pouted, a sad expression on her face..

"No! No! I did miss you, it’s just..."

"Then, forget about the how’s and why’s first, my lips are still waiting you know?"

Well, who was I to deny a helpless beauty some loving?

I leaned in, our lips meeting in a passionate tangle, as our kiss deepened, the world around us fading away, all that remained being just me and her, until...

"Get. Your. Filthy. Claws. Off. Him!" A sudden spike of killing intent snapped me out of it..

Our kiss broke as my eyes snapped toward the black clothed woman whose eyes had suddenly turned into red swirling circles...

"Heh!" Aunt v scoffed.

"And what will you do if I don’t?" She asked, punctuating the question with a peck on my lips.

That seemed to somehow, tip the black haired woman off as her aura exploded outwards, heavy yet gentle, gentle in the sense that the atmosphere was still calm, unaffected, despite the dreadful amount of power being released..

"Huh?" I couldn’t help but wonder, this was the first time I’d seen someone release their aura, yet the atmosphere’s integrity remained preserved as I couldn’t feel any painful feedback from it..

"I will gut you like a fish!" The Red eyed woman snarled, fangs peaking out of her mouth as her fingers sharpened into claws..

"D, move back a bit, I need to teach someone a lesson." Aunt V’s voice brought me out of my surprise as she pushed me back gently, her aura exploding outwards.

A clash of powers ensuing, yet still...

"Just what is going on here?" The atmosphere remained unaffected...

"Hahahahahaha... young man, you seem confused.." a boisterous laugh sounded from beside me as a shadow was cast over my figure..

I turned around, head rising as I came face to face with a man that made me feel short.

"Tall..."

It felt like the universe was jealous of me for having it all, as lately, I seemed to be coming across people that were overwhelmingly taller than me.

I was 7’5 goddamn it!!

At what point did people stop being people and started becoming landmarks?

"Damn..." I cussed as my attention focused on the man..

He had Four multicolored draconic horns curling majestically on his head, his broad frame was covered by a too large a size hoody, his rainbow colored hair falling in waves behind him as he stroked his braided beard..

"What? Surprised at how handsome I am?" The large man’s voice brought me out of my shock, yet before I could reply..

BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

An earth shaking explosion erupted from the center of the forest, devastating shockwaves spreading across the land as poor trees and earth were uprooted and obliterated.

Before the waves could cause any disturbances, a dome appeared around me, effectively nullifying it..

"Damn... those two really need to start taking some counseling session, imagine slugging it out at first sight.. tut. Tut. Tut." Th large man muttered, shaking his head as he looked towards the point of collision..

"Hey, Valen, won’t you step in? You seem to like being a target for punching practice." His voice finally snapped my focus back to the old man, my eyes catching sight of something I had missed earlier..

"Pftt...." I caught myself before I could laugh...

"Don’t worry, young Dante, I know, it’s funny as hell, the grumpy guy got turned into a panda, and he couldn’t even do shit about it.. hahahahahah..." that set me off immediately..

"Pft....hahahahhahahahahahahahaha...." I laughed...

The image of Valen, standing there, trying to look calm and aloof, all while spotting not one, but TWO brand new panda eyes absolutely wrecking me....

"He... he... he looks like he got his lunch money seized and is about to cry....."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!" The large man burst into another fit of laughter beside me, both our figures collapsing as we tried to compose ourselves...

We succeeded, only to get up, look at valen’s face, then crumple right back into laughter....

....

Valen just stood there, brows twitching violently..

On one side, there were two extremely violent women tearing up his place all because they couldn’t stand the sight of one another..

A phantom pain shooting through his eyes whenever the thought of separating them passed through his head.

Then on the other side, you have two insufferable people that were taking delight in his torment, their figures hunched and breathless as they seemed on the edge of passing out just from laughing..

So, there he stood, suddenly isolated, with only a single thought crossing his mind...

He raised his head, looking up into sky as a melancholic sigh left his lips..

"Regulus, I hope you’re happy now, all this madness, I blame it on you.." his voice came out low, tired, like a man who’s seen too much, as he waited, waited patiently for his suffering to come to an end..

...

It was more several minutes later before me and the large man were able to regain our composure, our breaths came out heavy, voices breaking.

I’d never had such a good laugh in my life, and this man, whoever he was, didn’t let up, the way he roasted the old man, I was almost feeling bad for him but then again, I was too busy laughing my guts out to let that feeling take root...

"Are you guys finally done?" The old man’s indifferent voice sounded out, just as I was finally getting back up on my feet..

"Haha.. so.. sorry old man.. it wasn’t my fault, I promise, he just wouldn’t stop." I pointed at the large man beside me.

"Hahaha... come on valen, you have to admit, you’re stoic face with those eyes, only a dead man wouldn’t find it funny." The man joked..

"I think even the dead would resurrect if only to laugh at him, I mean, LOOK!" I pointed theatrically at the old man’s face...

"Pfft.... Hahahahaha... stop.. stop..." the large man and I burst into another fit of laughter as Valen’s face twitched violently...

"Okay... okay.. I promise, we’re done.. young Dante, stop making fun of your godfather.. you should learn to respect your elders.." the large man chided mid laughter...

His words successfully pulled me out of my laughter as I finally realized I’d gotten side tracked..

"Right... right.." I caught my breath, one final beat escaping me..

"So, old man, who are the new guys and how do you know my aunt v?" I finally asked, deciding to get to the important stuff.

It wasn’t really a surprise or shocking fact that my aunt v would know someone like the old man, after all, powerhouses knew powerhouses right? All I wanted to know was how they knew each other, although I already had a sneaking suspicion what that answer might be...

"We’ll get to introductions once those two have calmed down." The old man’s indifferent voice sounded out.

"Hey, hey, hey, are you mad?" I teased.

I might get punished later, but ain’t no way in hell am I missing this opportunity..

"I am not. Now, quiet."

"Hahaha... the old man is upset he got laughed at.." I could see his face twitching at my words.

"Well, I’ve had enough fun, I think it’s time we get to the important stuff, since I actually need your help with something." I addressed him as I cupped my hands around my mouth, and then,

"Hey! Aunt V, mind pausing your fight for a bit? We need you guys’ attention here!"

Instantly the clashing figures froze.

"Hmm, what is it?" Aunt V’s figure materialized before me in but an instant..

"Did these old bastards upset you?" The other woman asked, shooting both valen and the large man threatening looks..

"Umm.. no, they didn’t do anything, I just needed you guys here, so we can get things rolling."

"You... need.... Me? Hehehe... he needs me.. Dante needs me... I knew it, hahaha. I knew it... My Dante still needs me..." the black haired woman suddenly spiraled into a mumbling mess...

"Damn.. I think I’ve seen this shit before?" I muttered under my breath, watching the spiraling figure..

"Shooo... seems the young man is more adept at handling crazy than you my friend.." the large man’s teasing voice sounded behind me, his target, obviously being Valen..

...

"Ahem!" Valen coughed, finally grabbing everyone’s attention..

"Since we’re all finally here, allow me to introduce you properly."

He looked at Dante, voice plain as he continued..

"Dante, I present to you, the dysfunctional group of crazy people your father decided to call a family."

...

...

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

A beat of silence passed and then,

"VALEN! You bastard!!!!!!" The black haired woman suddenly snapped, screamed and then...

BOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!

"Haaa... regulus, oh regulus, I promise to get you back for this someday.." Valen thought as his figure got launched..

*********

A/N: my man can’t seem to catch a break around here...

Anyway, here are two more Chapters as an apology for being late, I was a bit weak but luckily I’m getting better, I hope you liked seeing valen suffer, cause I surely did..

Anyway, as always..

*********

Thanks for reading...