Disclaimer: I own nothing; however that doesn't mean I'm not petitioning for ownership. I just need signatures… lots of signatures. Sign, please? Please?

A/N: It's at the bottom.

Humanity's Aegis

Chapter One

Hunter and Disciple

The Disciple

I stepped into a copse of trees next to an abandoned Church, the sun stayed high in the air, giving me the best possible visibility as I leaned against a nearby tree. Frowning, I lifted the folder in my hands and opened it to examine the contents. It was given to me by my Shishou, the man who was teaching me everything there was to know about…well everything to do with combat and life. The man just showed me what I needed to learn and left me to my own devices; granted, that normally wouldn't make him a very good instructor, but he always supplied me with whatever I needed, all I needed was to take the initiative to reach forward and take hold of it.

Reading over its contents, I surmised that my current mission was to keep an eye on a group of Fallen Angels believed to be going against the orders of the Governor of Grigori, hired by the very same man. I was allowed to interfere at any time and do whatever I wished. Killing them was only a last resort, but if it was necessary, I wasn't to hesitate. Continuing to look over the contents, I caught sight of my targets' true mission: to keep watch over a certain 'Issei Hyoudou' due to the potential of his Sacred Gear.

"'Issei Hyoudou'? What the hell does my little brother have to do with this?"

Oh, I guess introductions are in order, huh? Well, my name is Hajime Hyoudou and I'm twenty years old. I haven't been to school since the day I was supposed to go to 'boarding school', or at least that's what was told to my parents and little brother. In truth, I've been homeschooled by several different people, teaching me the necessary information in order to move forward in life. Thanks to my years of training, I've got a wiry, yet muscular build, mainly built for speed and power, rather than taking hits, though I do have the endurance if necessary to take a few. My light brown hair is cut rather short, more out of necessity than preference, due to my training. My light brown eyes flickered up from the folder to the abandoned Church, then back to the contents of the folder.

Closing the folder, I slid in into my bag and dropped it into a rather dense bush, hiding it from sight. Adjusting my cloak so that my arms were hidden under it, I pulled up my hood and looked to the side. "Jeanne, I want you to stay here unless I call you."

Dropping from the branches above me, a beautiful girl with shoulder length blonde hair pouted at me, her baby blue eyes watering in an attempt to influence me otherwise. She also wore a cloak like me, her narrow shoulders and lithe frame concealing the fact that she was a danger in her own right. "Aw! C'mon, Haji-kun! It's boring just sitting while you get to have all of the fun."

Jeanne is like me, in a sense. She was found by my Shishou over the course of his travels and saw something in her that he felt needed to be tempered, otherwise she'd do wrong. She's my sister disciple of sorts, trained and taught alongside me as we grew up. As such, we were deemed partners and sent as a pair whenever our Shishou gave us tasks to be completed for the sake of training and gaining experience.

I released a small laugh and shook my head in the negative. "Nope. You had the last mission, Jeanne. This one's mine to do." I gave her a playful grin. "After all, who was the one who needed back up in the last mission?"

She crossed her arms and pouted, looking away from me. "It's not my fault we ended up running into a group of Sacred Gear users working with the Stray Devil." Jeanne placed a hand on the hilt of the rapier that rest at her hip, as if recalling what had happened that day.

A small snicker escaped me, "Yeah, I still remember the squeal of surprise you had when they all jumped out of the woodwork." She harrumphed and turned her back to me, causing me to laugh again. Then I turned my expression to the abandoned Church. I was given free rein to do what I wished in this mission. That fact alone caused me to hesitate; Jeanne and I were always given specific instructions on what each mission entailed and what we each had to do. For us to be given a mission where we were free to do what we wanted was both refreshing and daunting at the same time; refreshing because Shishou was beginning to trust us with more, and daunting because there was so much that could go wrong. Depending on what I did, or didn't do, there was a chance that my little brother may be killed.

Shaking my head, I cleared my mind of all doubts and fears, clearing my thoughts with a mental trick that I was shown how to do. "I'm moving in." Walking forward purposefully, I inclined my head to Jeanne when I heard her wish me good luck. The walk up to the Church wasn't much to be honest, while there was a feeling of foreboding in the air, it was rather negligible compared to the other missions I've finished.

Approaching the door, I lifted a hand and pushed it open. Looking inside, I was treated to the sight of decrepit pews, a broken cross and half destroyed confessional at the front of the Church. I walked inside and looked around with unrestrained curiosity, taking in everything with faked wonder. Turning, I looked to the dusty stained glass windows and wondered just what it would take to repair this place, or if it would even be worth it, considering just what's bound to happen inside of it.

"Oh? We have a visitor?" I turned around to see the newcomer and saw a man dressed clerical clothing. A black ankle length jacket with a white turtle neck zip-up dress shirt under it. Hanging from a chain around his neck was a golden cross. He had pure white hair that fell to his chin and red eyes.

I nodded to him, "Yes. I happened to see this place on my way into town and wanted to check it out." I bowed my head in faux apology. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding Father." Carefully manipulating the words that I spoke, I spun myself a tale of half-truths. I said no lies and spoke with complete confidence, sprinkling a bit of genuine emotion.

The man studied me closely, his eyes focusing on my hooded features. Then he gave me a kind smile, though I could plainly tell it was deceitful. "It's alright, my son." The geniality in his tone had an insincere, forced quality to it. "What do you need? I have some things in the basement that you could use on your way."

I regarded him carefully, studying his expression carefully as I looked into his eyes. The eyes are lauded as the windows to the soul, a way to see how a person really thinks, or if they're truly being truthful or not. Frowning at what I saw, I cocked my head to the side and replied, "What do I need? Well, Father, I wouldn't mind asking some questions." I made no move to follow him as he motioned towards the basement.

His eyes narrowed slightly at the subtle shift in my stance; he kept his smile in place and beckoned for me to follow. "Well, I'll be sure to answer all the questions you have when we head downstairs."

"Answer me just one question first." Seeing his forced smile fall into a frown, he nodded his head to me. "What's an Exorcist doing following Fallen Angels?" I asked innocently and couldn't hide the smirk that appeared on my face when the now-identified Exorcist froze. "Or should I assume that you're a Stray Exorcist…Father?"

The man narrowed his eyes and his frown slowly shifted into a crazed grin. "This is fucking great; and here I thought you actually wandered in here by accident." He reached into his jacket and pulled a sword hilt and pistol. "Try not to die, stranger. I'd hate for you to die before I had my fill." His sword came to life not unlike a weapon from a certain science fiction movie trilogy and he lunged towards me.

I allowed a ghost of a smirk to appear on my face before I grabbed the hilt of a special dagger underneath my cloak. The moment I did, I vanished from his sight, causing him to stumble a bit at my disappearance. I silently stepped and jumped behind him, deactivating my invisibility as I aimed a stab at his back. Noticing me in his periphery, the Stray Exorcist spun and slapped my dagger away with his sword. He lifted his gun and took aim, but I kicked upwards, knocking the gun away from me as he pulled the trigger.

Slipping into his guard, I slashed with the dagger and managed to cut his robes before he jumped back. The Stray Exorcist let out a crazed laugh, "You're pretty damn good, to have managed to cut me. That invisibility trick? It's a Sacred Gear, isn't it?"

I smirked, causing him to frown at my subtle condescension. "Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a Sacred Gear. That 'trick', as you call it, is something I picked up along my travels." Flexing my grip on the dagger, I vanished from sight again and used his frustrated hesitation to charge right at him. He flinched and slashed in front of him, his instincts trying to save him, but I leaned back to dodge it. Once again slipping into his guard, I drove an elbow into his throat and forced him to stumble back and gasp for breath.

Reappearing, I pulled out another dagger and proceeded to appear to try and cut him to ribbons. An angry gurgle from the Stray as he shot his gun and swung at me, to which I ducked to the side. Back and forth, we traded blows with our weapons. He'd swing his sword, while I'd parrying it with the shorter blade of my daggers, staying close enough to the point that my blades continued to slash more and more of his robes.

The first blood of the battle came from him; the blade of my more ornate dagger sliced a thin line out of his chest, blood already beginning to flow from the open wound. I hummed in slight concern at the wound, flicking my dagger to the side to remove the blood. "You may want to get that checked. Having an open wound in an unclean place like this Church can lead to infections." I spoke as if I were with a child, a hint of playful condescension to rile up my opponent.

The Stray Exorcist growled and glared hatefully at me. "You fucking, disappearing-act cheat! At least fucking stay where I can goddamn see you!" It seems my attempts to troll my opponent into a blind rage is coming true. "Just you wait, you fucker! When I fucking catch you, you'll be less than a godforsaken shit stain on the fucking ground! Fuck!"

I blinked at his verbal diatribe, somewhat shocked that a person in Clerical robes would speak so vulgarly. "Wow… Someone's got a dirty mouth. I should've brought some soap. I'd be doing God himself a favor by cleaning out your mouth."

"Fuck you!"

"Freed, what the hell are you sputtering on about?" A mature older woman dressed in a purple one piece that showed off her generous assets with long navy blue hair and bangs that covered her right eye stepped out of the basement and saw the two of us. Her one visible eye looked between the two of us and widened suddenly, but before she could say anything, she had to duck to the side to avoid the flying dagger that was aimed to tear through her throat.

She was immediately forced back and surprised when I sheathed my fist into her gut, as I quickly followed after my thrown dagger. The woman staggered back, at a loss of breath from my blow and was pushed back even more so when I cracked her in the chin with a sudden back kick. She recovered from that almost immediately and opened her hand, all of a sudden a dark yellow spear appeared in her hand and she tried to stab me with it.

I vanished from sight again, just in time to hear a sudden gun shot, followed by a cry of pain from the woman. Pulling my previously thrown dagger out of the wall, I arched an eyebrow at Freed, motioning to the woman. "Have you ever heard of friendly fire? I figured a Stray Exorcist would worship the ground a Fallen Angel walked on; yet you shot in her direction without hesitation."

The woman growled in pain and anger, holding a hand on her bleeding, punctured thigh. "Freed, you blithering idiot! You shot me!"

"It's not my fucking fault the disappearing asshat got the fuck out the way!" Freed replied heatedly, crazily waving his smoking gun around like a loon. "Next time, fucking watch where you're standing!"

"Kalawarner! Freed! Why the hell are you two making so much noise!?" A man's voice resounded from the basement. Within moments, three more individuals stepped out of the basement.

The first was what appeared to be a middle aged man dressed in a pale violet trench coat and a fedora.

The second appeared to be a young girl dressed in goth loli fashion with bright blonde hair done in a short side ponytail with a black bow.

The third appeared to be an older teen girl dressed in what appeared to be an S&M costume from Hell and had long black hair.

They all had a pair of black feathered wings.

"Well, well, well, the whole gang's here." I said as I pulled my arm back under my cloak, sliding a foot and back and bending my knees. "What do you say we skip the pleasantries and get this party started?" Nodding to the Fallen Angels, I smirked, "Ladies first."

As if on cue, all hell broke loose.

Fifteen minutes later, I strode purposefully out of the 'abandoned' Church and walked over to where Jeanne was waiting for me. My cloak was torn and scorched at the fringes and my hood was down, revealing a small cut trailing along my cheek. Sitting on my head in place of the hood was a brand new, to me anyway, black fedora, which I found fit me rather well. I'd have to get it cleaned to buff out the flecks of drying blood, but it should work out well enough.

Jeanne stepped out from the trees, my bag in hand, with a playful smile on her face. "Have fun in there, Haji-kun?"

I grinned at her words. "Oh, yeah. That was a preferred welcoming party for my return to Kuoh. They were even nice enough to give me gifts!" I pointed to my new fedora and lifted a hand out from under my cloak, holding out the gun that fired compressed Light. "They were hilarious, too. We all felt comfortable enough with one another to throw in good-natured death threats! There was so much comradery in the air, I nearly cried from joy." I felt my eyes widen when I remembered something important. "Oh, I got this for you, Jeanne." Lifting my hand out of my cloak, I handed her the frilly black and white tie that the chibi Fallen Angel, Mittelt I think her name was, had.

Her eyes widened when she saw and took it without hesitation. After a few moments of fiddling with it in her hair, she finished and said, "How do I look?" She had tied the tie to give herself a side ponytail, the pleasant contrast between the dark color of the tie and the light color of her hair made for a sight that was easy on the eyes.

"Very nice." I gave her a wide smile, to which she blushed ever so lightly.

Jeanne then giggled at my words and demeanor. "I guess you're happy to out from under Yasaka-sama's thumb."

I grimaced and groaned, shuddering as I put the pistol away. "You could say that. I'm thankful for what she's done, but that woman can be terrifying!" I grumbled and crossed my arms, "I got all the blame whenever she happened to catch Kunou-hime, Kuroka-chan and I when we tried to set up our pranks."

"It doesn't help the fact that you always tried to skip on lessons over the years, or the fact that you've influenced Kunou-hime to do so the same." Jeanne said in a deadpan tone, which caused my shoulders to fall. She giggled at my deflated demeanor, then asked, "How was it using Carnwennan in a legitimate fight?"

I reasserted my stance and crossed my arms, "The transition from invisibility to visibility was seamless, throwing them off balance nearly every time." Then I scowled, "However, they were amateurs. Compared to Shishou, Yasaka-sama, Kuroka-chan and the karasu-tengu, the Stray Exorcist and the four Fallen Angels were nothing special." I then pulled out the aforementioned dagger and held it out, studying the royal blue hilt and the white, ten-inch blade. "I barely had to use the Holy Dagger's ability more than a few times." Sheathing it without a second thought, I took the proffered bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Let's go. We need to stop by my parent's home before going to the house Shishou got for us here."

Jeanne nodded and fell into step next me with beaming smile on her face. "Yeah, I can finally meet your parents and little brother. I wonder what they're like…" She placed a contemplating finger chin as she cocked her head to the side in thought.

"It's been several years since I've been back, they've probably changed quite a bit while I was gone. Though…from the letters I've exchanged with Kaa-san, Issei's become quite the raging pervert…" I sighed heavily and shook my head. I paused and asked, "What was the job Shishou took to keep an eye on things here again?"

"Uhh, I think it was to be a Sensei at the local school?"

"Ah. I remember now. Thanks, Jeanne."

"No problem!"

As we walked towards the town proper, a thought struck me. "I wonder how Shishou is doing right now…"

The Hunter

"Okay, class, that's all I have for you today." I said as I slid papers into a folder, looking to the classroom full of second year students. "Remember, that composition paper is due after the weekend, no exceptions. Three full pages on your current dream." Putting the folder into a briefcase, I closed it with a click.

The Class leader, a young woman with light brown hair and brown eyes, stood and called out, "Rise." The rest of the class did as she said. "Bow." Then they all bowed as I motioned to the clock.

"One more minute…" I said with a hint of restrained excitement, getting some laughter from some of the students. Then I looked to one of the students sitting in the back, "Hyoudou-san, I need to talk to you before you leave for home. No ducking out this time!"

Issei Hyoudou, a slender young man of average height with short brown hair and light brown eyes, gave a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his head. "Sure thing, Sensei."

I nodded to him and waved at the rest of class. "Everyone, have a great weekend!" Everyone in the class replied with a resounding 'You too, Sensei' and I left the room with a content grin. As I walked down the halls, I was greeted by the various students of the academy, either past students, newer students or just the ones I knew from outside of class. Striding purposefully, I reached the Teacher's office and walked inside, seeing the sight of my fellow teachers. Giving the appropriate greetings and responses, I went to assigned space and sat down.

Sifting through the minor mess of papers on my desk, I managed to give it some sort of order in the midst of my controlled chaos. Examining the contents of my desk once more, I leaned back and relaxed into my seat. My eyes flicked to one of the two pictures that sat at the head of the desk. It was of a young girl sitting on swing, beaming widely at the camera. Her golden blonde hair was tied into a ponytail and her eyes were a matching color, while twinkling with a hint of mischief. She was wearing a light blue sundress and a pair of white shoes. For as long as I could remember, Kunou has always been the playful type, even if she tries to act like a princess; especially since I happen to spoil her every chance I get. Yasaka gets so frustrated every time.

Speaking of Yasaka…

Behind Kunou, in the middle of pushing the swing, stood essentially an older, more mature version of Kunou, wearing a dark blue kimono with a black obi. Her hair, instead of tied up, was flowing down her back and over her shoulders. A faint smile on her face as her golden blonde eyes narrowed pleasantly. In all the years I've lived, I have never met a woman that caught my attention, or held my immense respect, like her.

I let out a small laugh, followed by a wistful sigh. It's times like this where I curse my drive to do what's right. I should be with them, with my family, but… Kuoh Academy is a lynchpin for the current time's important events. A gut feeling, and an old friend's rather extensive information network, continually told me that something was going to happen there, thus I had to act on it, or else there'll be a chance where innocent lives may be lost…

We're soldiers at heart, no matter where we go, or the time we live in. It's our duty to ensure the safety of as many people as we can…

Sometimes I hated my old friend and his annoying logic…

Closing my eyes, I palmed my face and leaned back, mentally reviewing my latest cover.

Who am I claiming to be, currently? Connor Wolfe. It's been two years since I graduated from a highly recognized University with a Master's Degree in Education, with a focus in English and Literature.

Where am I claiming to be from? Within the overall area of Eastern Europe.

I'm fluent in several languages, not for lack of trying, and have been complimented several times for my fluency with the Japanese language. I've studied and memorized the customs of countless countries, making sure that wherever I go, even if I look different, I'll always be able to blend in seamlessly. An old habit from an old profession, one I still occasionally practice, in spite of its danger.

My eyes flicked to the latest family photo, one that held all three of us, my wife, daughter and I. The three of us were standing in the center of a room. Yasaka, clad in her Shrine Maiden uniform, was holding onto my arm and smiling demurely while Kunou, dressed similarly to her mother, held onto my hand like it was a lifeline, grinning widely and lighting up the whole room. In between, I was smiling softly with my medium length black hair and sharp grey eyes, wearing a casual indoors yukata.

I smiled faintly and turned my attention away from the photo, going back to the papers. Sifting through them, I heard a vibration coming from my bag. Reaching down, I opened it and reached inside, grabbing my phone. Seeing the caller ID, I couldn't fight the fond smile that appeared on my face. Standing, I pushed my chair in and walked over to the corner of the room, out of the way, and opened the window. Lifting the phone to my ear, I answered softly, "You know, Kunou, you're cutting it rather close. I could've been in class."

"Ah! I-I'm sorry, Otou-sama… I just miss you is all." My daughter's gentle voice carried seamlessly, widening my smile even more.

"It's fine, it's fine. That's perfect because I miss you too." I returned a wave that an outside student sent to me.

She made a happy sound and I could hear the grin in her voice when she replied. "Heh heh~. Otou-sama misses me."

I offered a scoff, "Of course I would. Why wouldn't I miss my adorable little Princess?" She giggled at my playful tone, clearly pleased with the title had given her. "So, what have you been up to? You haven't been driving your Mother crazy, have you?"

There was a silence when Kunou didn't respond immediately. "Ano… Nope." She failed to conceal the giggle that escaped her.

I let out a sigh at my daughter's response, knowing full well that she got it from me. "Kunou…" I said to her, my voice stern, yet still kind.

"Y-Yes, Otou-sama…" She sounded immediately remorseful, the way only a child could.

"Good job." I replied with a positive tone. I couldn't stay mad at my little girl, a fact that drove Yasaka crazy to no end. "You're doing Papa proud."

"Heh heh~." Kunou giggled happily at my approval. "I'm even following the notes you left Otou-sama. Okaa-sama still has no idea that your ideas are helping me." While my daughter is more clever than most her age, I highly doubt that she's managed to keep my notes hidden from Yasaka for long. Though, I do applaud her ability to follow my notes as well as she has, considering I wrote it in short hand.

"As expected of my little Princess." I could see her sitting upright with childlike pride at my words. "How has Kuroka been? Still frustrating your mother?"

Kunou giggled playfully, "It's so funny watching the two of them. Kuroka-nee-sama always gets on Okaa-sama's nerves. I think she's fun though." She added with what I swear was a wide grin.

I laughed at my daughter's excitability, knowing full well that she got it from me. Or at least before time, lots of time, mellowed me out. "Of course you would, Kunou. Though, I am curious, does Yasaka know that you've called me?"

There was a telling silence that let me exactly the answer I had expected.

"What is she doing right now?"

"Okaa-sama is in meeting right now. She said I go play, as long as I didn't go too far away."

"And you thought you would take the time to call your oh-so-awesome Papa, huh?" Hearing her enthusiastic affirmative, I let out a small laugh. "Well, what would you say if I told you that I was going to come home for the weekend?" I whispered conspiratorially into my phone, glancing over my shoulder to see a young woman with a black bob cut and blue hair clip waiting at my desk. I could see the somewhat disapproving gaze in her eyes as she took in the sight of my phone. I lifted a single finger, asking her to give me a minute, to which she nodded.

I flinched and pulled the phone away from my ear when I heard Kunou's ecstatic squeal. "Otou-sama's coming home~!" Her excited words were loud and clear enough to be heard by everyone in the Teacher's office, a few of my co-workers and a student or two. The disapproving look vanished from the student's face as she offered a small smile. I gave everyone an apologetic wave as I put the phone back to my ear, just in time to hear Kunou singing happily.

"Kunou, everyone in my office heard you." I said in a firm tone of voice.

Kunou paused, a small moan escaping her. "I'm sorry, Otou-sama…"

I released a breath and mock-whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear me as I replied. "That's fine. Because everyone is now jealous that I have the most awesome and adorable little girl as a daughter."

"Heh heh~." Once again, she sounded immensely pleased with herself; I could vividly picture all nine of her fluffy tails waving excitedly behind her.

"Now, I need to go now, 'kay? Papa has to meet with his students. Can you promise me you'll be a good girl until I get back?" I said as I began walking back to my desk.

"Un! I'll be bestest good girl, ever! I'll be so good that you'll be proud of me, Otou-sama!" Kunou said excitedly, clearly hopping up and down in anticipation.

Upon reaching my desk, I paused and smiled gently. "I'm always proud of you, Kunou. Never forget that, okay? Now be good for your Mama. I've got to go."

"Un! Love you, Otou-sama!"

"I love you too, Kunou." With that, I pulled the phone from my face and hung up. Smiling fondly down at it, I was silent for a few moments before sliding it into my pocket. Turning my attention to the student, I said, "I'm sorry for making you wait, Shitori-san. My daughter prefers to surprise me with her calls."

Souna Shitori shook her head, "It is fine, Wolfe-sensei. I…can understand having an excitable family member." For the first time, I saw a tired expression on the normally stoic and hardworking third year.

I laughed lightly, "Oh, yes. We're pulled into their rhythm and can't do anything but follow them."

"Indeed." She then cleared her throat, reasserted herself and held out a stack of papers. "I have the information for the upcoming Ball Tournament prepared and would like your input. As you're the current Teacher sponsor for the Student Council, I thought it prudent to show you what we have so far."

I nodded and took the stack, holding it in the crook of my arm while I flipped through it with my free hand. As I read through it, I replied dryly, "While I am impressed with your punctuality, Shitori-san, you do realize that the Ball Tournament isn't for another two weeks? You technically don't have to turn this in until the end of next week."

"I know that, Sensei, but I found that getting things like this done early offer up extra time for studying in my other classes." Souna replied professionally, her hands grasped in front of her.

"Uh-huh." I answered, not convinced in the slightest. "If I didn't have access to your grades, I'd be more inclined believe you." I gave her a look with an arched brow. "You have the highest grades in your class, along with Shinra-san and the rest of the Student Council. Don't get me wrong, I believe you're all doing great, even with your responsibilities, but please be careful." Placing the papers on my desk, I regarded Souna with concern. "I can see much potential in you, Shitori-san. I'd hate to see you threaten it by burning yourself out."

Souna nodded once at that, but replied, "I understand your concerns, Sensei, but you do not need to worry yourself over me. I am pacing myself carefully."

"Okay, I'll trust you, Shitori-kaichou. You need to set an example for your fellow students, after all." I smiled softly at her.

She nodded at that, her cheeks gaining a hint of color as she lifted a hand to adjust her glasses. "Indeed, I do." Souna paused and looked to me, "Sensei, would you like to play a game of chess again later? It has been quite a long time since our last game."

I arched a brow at her. I did indeed play her in a game of chess a few weeks ago, a day when I had to stay late for some work I needed to finish. I was heading out when I had to make my way to the Student Council to pass off some papers that Souna had requested and I noticed her playing a quick game with Tsubaki. She noticed me focusing on the board and asked if I wanted to play.

What happened next was a comical display as everyone in the room looked on in shock as I defeated Souna with a checkmate eight moves into the game. Apparently, she had never been defeated so soundly before. When I was asked how I was so good at it, I simply brushed it off by saying that I've played several times on my off days.

I couldn't exactly tell her that I had several centuries' worth of battlefield experience that made it easy to see through nearly all of her strategies…

Well, I think she'd take it better than most, being a Devil.

"Hm, I'm not sure I'll be able to play today. I have a meeting with another student and I need to head home rather early to gather my things." I couldn't hide the fond smile that appeared on my face as I turned my head to look out the window. "I do have a promise to keep to a little girl, after all."

Souna smiled faintly at that, "I see. Well, I'd hate to keep you away from your obligations." She paused and nodded once, "What of the Monday you return?"

I cocked my head to the side. "I'm not sure how the day will end, I do have those compositions I'll need to grade. We'll have to see." Souna took the news with a nod and left the room. I released a breath and took my seat, reading through the papers more thoroughly as I waited for Issei.

Within moments, the door opened, revealing the boy I had asked to meet me. "Hyoudou-san, it's nice to see you here instead of outside of the Kendo Club's changing room." I said to him in a complete deadpan, to which he blanched, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"How, uh, did you know that, Sensei?"

I gave him a tired glare, "I listen to what's said around me, Hyoudou-san." Then I waved my hand lazily to the side, "Plus, I get complaints from Murayama-san and Katase-san every other time you and your group make your appearances, but that's neither here nor there." Rifling through the papers on my desk, I pulled out a sheet of paper. I held it out to him. "The reason I called you here was to give you this. Of all the students in the class, you're the only one who hasn't turned in a 'Future Plans' form." When Issei took it, he frowned lightly. "Do you have anywhere you need to go?"

My student shook his head. "No. Why do you ask Wolfe-sensei?"

A small frown appeared on my face as I looked to the clock. If I were to leave within the hour, I could get to Kyoto later tonight, while Kunou was still awake. But… Shaking my head, I motioned to the second chair near my desk. "Take a seat, Hyoudou-san. Let's have a chat."

Issei paused, a confused expression on his face, but complied anyway. "About what Sensei?"

"Your future." I said kindly, leaning back in my seat as I entwined my fingers. "Last I checked, I gave everyone ample time to fill out the form last week. I'm just curious as to why you didn't turn one in with the rest of the class." He frowned, which caused me to offer a smile. "You're not in trouble, Hyoudou-san, I promise you. I just want to know what's going on in that head of yours."

He hesitated lightly, rubbing his arm as he opened his mouth to answer, but stopped. Then he nodded, "I'm sorry, Sensei, I just didn't know what to write…"

"So you just don't know what you want to do?" At Issei's nod, I placed a hand on my chin. "Okay then… Then give me a preview of your composition. What's your dream? We can go from there."

"I want to be a Harem King!" He answered with a sudden determination that caused me to arch an eyebrow in amusement and simply stare at my student, slightly dumbstruck at his rather presumptuous dream. I had to hold back the entertained laugh at the shocked look from the other teachers in the room.

I blinked at him in silence for a moment, then nodded, accepting his dream without judgment. "Your dream is to have a…harem? Yes?" Issei nodded excitedly, his eyes alight with a hot-blooded fury. "That is an ambitious dream, Hyoudou-san. I must commend you for dreaming big." I replied with a hint of honest awe at the audacity of my student. I guess his moniker as the 'Leader of the Perverted Trio' was well-deserved.

"Thanks, Sensei." Issei continued, his tone turning somewhat sheepish as finally realized where he was. "You're one of the first people who hasn't pushed my dream aside…" That, of course, caused the other teachers in the room to also give me a perplexed look.

I gave him a strange look, arching an eyebrow. "Now why would I ignore the dream of one of my students?" Issei's eyes widened imperceptively at that, but I continued regardless. "If you want to progress and grow, you have to dream big. You need to give it your all, regardless of what other people say." I pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write a few things down. "Granted, your specific dream happens to depend quite a few variables."

"Oh?" Issei perked up, a hopeful expression appearing on his face as he straightened up. "Did you want a harem too when you were my age?"

Pausing, I regarded the heavily hormonal second year sitting at my desk and pondered his question. Did I honestly want a harem when I was his age? Well, when I was his age, I was fighting for my life against the agents of Darkness, Death and Destruction, with the occasional smatterings of Doom and the Evil Monologue. I barely had the time to even think of a relationship, let alone the chance to get laid consistently. Granted, there was the intermittent 'one last fling' with a willing, and attractive, female companion during my Life-or-Death adventures, but either she died, or she went her own way, afterwards.

Did I want a harem? No. For one, adequately satisfying one woman was exhausting enough, even when you knew her intimately. Trying to do so for multiple partners was a very tiring thought. Secondly, I've always been a one-woman man, and I'm not just saying that because Yasaka has told me, in a very polite and unassuming way, that if I even thought of making a pass at another woman, accidentally or not, she would incinerate what made me a man.

The fact that that was the very same night we conceived Kunou made me wonder if I was a closet masochist, to the point where even I didn't know. I carefully kept that thought to myself, for fear that my dear wife happened to appreciate the possibility.

I've trained my entire life to avoid pain, thank you very much.

"No. Never in my life have I wanted a harem, Hyoudou-san. I am very happy with the monogamous relationship I have with my wife." I answered in a complete deadpan, regarding him with a no-nonsense gaze.

Issei, on the other hand, gave me a look that made me wonder if I had inadvertently blasphemed against his religion. "I…I don't know what to say to that…" He honestly looked lost and confused at my words, clearly not comprehending the fact a man could be happy with a single woman.

"Good, because that's not what we're talking about." I said abruptly, adding the finishing touches on the paper I was writing. "Your dream, while…unorthodox, is unique and tells me many things about the person you are." I began tactfully, trying to maintain a professional rapport with my eccentric, in spite of how ridiculously unrealistic I truly thought it was. "However, if you want this…harem, then you'll have support all of the girls with which you'll be in a relationship. You wouldn't want to force all of those poor girls to be out on the street, now would you?"

He gave me an affronted look, "Of course not!"

I nodded with approval at what he said. "Good. To support them, you'll need a career. Are there any hobbies you have? Some things you like to do in your spare time? When you're not doing your homework, of course." I finished with a playfully snarky tone, causing Issei to chuckle sheepishly.

"Uh… I like watching porn."

His blunt question nearly caused me to slam my head onto my desk in surprise. Lifting a hand, I had to hold back a laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of this situation. "While…I'm glad you're comfortable with me enough to tell me that, Hyoudou-san, I'd prefer it if you didn't." Issei laughed with a hint of embarrassment. "Now, is there anything else you do that you think you could make a living out of?" With that, two of us delved into more professional conversation about what he could do in the future.

When we had finished this specific topic, I gave him the appropriate papers that he needed to fill out and gave him a questioning glance. "I've been wondering something…"

He met my gaze, his head cocked to the side. "What is it, Sensei?"

"Do you have any siblings?"

Issei hummed lightly and nodded his head, "Yeah, an older brother, but Aniki's been off at boarding school for the last few years." He crossed his arms, "Kaa-san did say that she and Tou-san got a letter from him saying that he'd be back within the week. Why do you ask?"

I regarded him for a moment, considering whether I should tell the truth or not. Then again, I'd basically built my current identity on a fountain of well-crafted lies, so I shouldn't really care at this point. It's not like these kids could outmaneuver me diplomatically or linguistically. "It's just something I remember reading on your file…"

With that resolved, I dismissed Issei, he offered his thanks and left the Teacher's office. Before picking my things up to leave, I released a tired breath and slumped against my desk.

If I knew being a teacher would end up being this exhausting, I'd have tried to find something else as a cover…

With all of the items I would need to take with me from the school, I stepped out of the front door of the main campus and into the courtyard. Striding forward, I slid a free hand into a pocket and released a breath. Whistling softly, I was about to step out of the front gates, when a voice called out to me.

"Wolfe-sensei!" Turning around slightly, I caught sight of a crimson-haired young woman with sea-green eyes and a body that would floor a lesser a man. Thankfully, I'm not a lesser man and have been around long enough to not be affected by a pretty face with an equally pretty body. Behind her, there was another young woman, an inch or two shorter, with long, below-knee-length black hair tied into a ponytail with an orange ribbon. She was also beautiful like the girl in front of her, with pleasantly narrowed violet eyes.

"Ah. Gremory-san, Himejima-san, how are you both this fine afternoon?" I asked politely, offering a smile.

Rias returned the gesture, "I'm doing fine, Sensei. Thank you for asking."

"As am I." Akeno replied, an elegant smile on her face, nodding her head to me.

"Is there anything I can help you both with?" I tried to keep my impatience hidden, not wanting to delay returning home any longer. Thankfully, my years of experience allowed me to school my expression perfectly.

"I just wanted to thank you for your help in procuring the items I needed for the clubroom." Rias said with a winning beam. "I truly could not have done it without your help, Sensei."

I waved a hand at her, as if physically brushing it aside. "It's no problem, Gremory-san. It's my job to help my students, so you don't need to thank me." I gave her a one shoulder shrug. "It's the teacher's duty to help his students, so it's nothing you need to worry about."

Rias pouted, crossing her arms under her generous bust. "Can't you accept my gratitude, Sensei?"

"Nope." I replied instantly, a smirk playing at my lips. I checked my watch, "Is there anything else? Because there's somewhere I really need to be." I gave her an apologetic half smile, half turning away from her.

The third sighed and shook her head, "No, Sensei. That's everything. It was nice to speaking to you again." She lifted a hand and waved, "See you next week, Sensei."

I nodded and turned fully away, leaving the campus proper. As I left, though, I widened my senses and focused on my hearing, an old trick from my training. Rias muttered softly to Akeno, "Did you get a feel for his power?"

"Yes…but it was held back." I could hear the frown in her tone as she continued, "He's clearly human, but he's far stronger than he lets on, Buchou."

"I see… How much stronger?"

There was an uncomfortable silence as Akeno paused. "…I don't know."

I'm Human, completely and totally. Capital 'H' and all that entails. There isn't drop of nonhuman blood flowing through my veins. I should know, I used every available amount of information in an attempt to trace my lineage, as difficult as that is considering how old I am. Hell, I still don't have a concrete idea exactly how old I really am, I've been alive and kicking for so damn long. I just gave up keeping track after my 437th birthday.

Oh, well, I guess I better explain that I'm immortal, in a way. Yeah, I'm immortal; as in I won't die from old age. According to Auren, a friend who's in the same immortal boat as me, our cells have become able to perfectly copy themselves, down to the last scrap DNA. There is no degradation, no possibility of cancerous cells coming forth. Even diseases won't kill me; I haven't even had the sniffles as far as I can remember. I can still be killed, of course, but only in battle. I can still be injured and take time to heal, like any other Human.

For far too long, my two friends and I never knew why we became what we became. It occurred to us one fateful day when I pointed out that we haven't physically changed, in spite of three arduous years of near-death experiences. Even then, we had no idea why we had become immortals. From then, we simply used the newfound time allotted to us and traveled the world.

Thankfully, someone had taken notice of us and the changes, not to our bodies specifically, but because of our very souls. An Angel whose name escapes me greeted us and explained to use what we had become: Humans who had achieved and an unforeseen Potential. Capital 'P' Potential. According to him, when the Biblical God had created Humans, he added a…special ingredient to them, in order to show the love he had for them. Like the Holy Swords, Durandal, Excalibur and Ascalon, He had infused the soul of every Human with an infinitesimally tiny piece of his Grace. As a whole, it was negligible to Him, as it would be revitalized given enough time. In addition, the Grace was returned to him when a Human died, allowing it to move onto a newborn.

The Grace he had given to Humanity was a proclamation of his Love for the Human race. They were his final, and favored, creation, for which he wished nothing but the best for them. Unfortunately, they were far weaker in comparison to Angels, Devils and the other inhabitants of the Supernatural world. This is where the Grace came into play. Humans had one advantage over other species, and that was their sheer Potential. The Grace granted to them gave each and every Human Limitless Potential. With the presence of that Grace, a Human could potentially grow to become more powerful than an Angel. However, the chances of that happening were highly, highly, unlikely. To even come close to a fraction of that power, a Human had to push themselves to the brink of death every day, pushing and training themselves to their absolute limit.

That is where my comrades and I came into play. We had reached the pinnacle of normal Human potential over the course of the bloody and violent war that had torn our home country to pieces. We fought, bled, killed and persevered in spite of every obstacle that was thrust in our path. Our lives flashed before our very eyes more times than any of us would ever care to admit and we grew stronger for it, every time. Death was over our very shoulder with every step we took and forced us to progress, to achieve more. We survived the destruction of our home, the annihilation of our very civilization and watched as a new one was created from the ashes.

The Angel told us that we had reached a point in our development that we became more than mere Humans, yet were still considered Human in every sense of the word. With that bomb dropped into our laps, we were given the answer to our questions. We had become the ideal Humans that the Biblical God intended for his most beloved ones.

Life had become…strange from then on. Over the years, far more than I could ever hope to count, we had traveled together, shaping history with our actions, saving lives, inadvertently creating mythologies with our superhuman capabilities and continued to further the strengths we already had, growing more and more as we took advantage of the Limitless Potential. We were, and still are, soldiers at heart after all.

Then…we went our separate ways. A certain point was reached when it was agreed that three of us, together, was too much for the state of things. Our collective strength rivalled that of several, if not all, of the more powerful members of the Factions, with varied skills that could settle any and all conflicts that were presented to us. So…we went our separate ways and never looked back.

I had wandered for decades, not really searching for anything or anyone, but just to pass the time that had become immemorial to me. I helped where I could, offering words of wisdom every so often, and simply continued on my seemingly endless pilgrimage. The idea of love never failed to leave a mark on my mind; solitude would influence anyone to yearn for companionship. Yet, I knew that I couldn't, in good conscience, allow myself to fall for just anyone. The last thing I wanted was to watch as my loved ones die before me as I effortlessly outlived them. That was fate I wouldn't wish on my worst of enemies.

Then… I met her…

I stepped onto the platform within the station and hefted the bag on my shoulder. Peering out the window, I took in the endlessly black night sky and couldn't help but remember the days where I lied under the stars, losing myself in them. Leaving the station, I sucked in a breath as I looked through the streets and the milling people. I had returned to Kyoto. Adjusting the bag that hung on my shoulder, I strode through the crowds of milling pedestrians, who were each trying to go their own way.

Effortlessly navigating the sea of people, I slipped out of crowd and broke away from it. Walking a few more blocks, I looked around to check if there were any people who happened to be facing my direction. Smirking when I saw that no one was looking, I walked into a narrow alleyway and approached one of the walls. Testing the waters, I placed my foot onto the wall and tried to see if I could gain some purchase. Feeling confident with my footing, I jumped up and planted a foot one the wall, kicking up and back onto the other side of the alley. Gradually climbing upwards, I kicked from wall to wall until I reached the rooftops. Stepping forward, I crouched and released a breath, grinning playfully. "Let's see if I still have it…"

Shooting forward, I leapt forward and up off the rooftop to the next. My feet landed sure and flat as I kept my weight forward, continuing without effort. Traversing the rooftops was quicker and more efficient for me, thanks to my long-practiced agility and dexterity. As I further progressed into Kyoto, I happened to catch sight of several figures approaching me from the distance in the night sky. Coming to a stop, I crossed my arms and watched as the karasu-tengu dropped onto the rooftop.

The leader of the group of five stepped forward and dropped to a knee in deference, the remaining four following immediately after. "Lord Lyall, it is an honor to see you returning to Kyoto."

I sighed heavily and shook my head, "Yoru, stand up. I have told you numerous times that you do not need bow to me. Yasaka is the leader, not I."

The long-nosed Yokai shook his vehemently. "I cannot do that, Lord Lyall, as you have aided in the continued prosperity of our home. As well as bringing happiness to our leader. We owe you a debt that we cannot hope to repay."

I groaned at his answer, knowing full well that he meant every word. While I did appreciate the respect, I did not like the deference. I prefer to be seen as anyone else would, but it seems as if that's out of my reach. "Regardless, I believe it is time for me be home. I have two very important people to meet and would rather they not wait any longer." That brought a knowing smile to Yoru and his fellows. "If it were any other moment, I would not ask this, but now, time is of the essence. Which of you fellows is willing to carry me back home?"

With that, there was a confusing and rather frustrating debate amongst the karasu-tengu over who would be the one who would their 'vaunted lord' and it took a glare from yours truly to Yoru to hurry things along. One awkward flight through the empty night sky and was being lowered onto the pathway of the rooftop garden of the home I shared with Yasaka and Kunou.

"How have they been, Yoru?" I asked the tengu as he and I walked along the path, the rest of his retinue having dispersed to go about their business.

"Eagerly awaiting your return, Lord Lyall." He answered with a knowing smile.

I couldn't be angry with him when he spoke my title with such a statement. Yet at the same time, I couldn't keep the excitement in my chest from blossoming. I love my family dearly, but the tasks that I must do are unavoidable and have to leave for extended periods of time. Yet, no matter the amount of times I leave, I always find it in me to feel exhilaration and anticipation whenever I return home.

Releasing a breath to calm myself, I returned to business for the last time that night. "What of Hajime and Jeanne? Were they able to safely make it to Kuoh?"

He nodded, "Yes, Milord. Yasaka-hime received the affirmative after Hajime-dono fulfilled the first part of the mission you assigned him."

I hummed in acceptance to his statement. I had received a request from Azazel about keeping an eye on his subordinates in case there was something shady going on behind his back. I was reluctant at first, but when I heard of the ranking of the Fallen Angels and the location of the job, I had accepted it gave it to Hajime. He had been away from home long enough and had learnt enough from me to develop himself as a warrior on his own from now on. Jeanne as well had reached the point where I had nothing left to teach; she had no family to return to, being a homeless orphan when I found her, so I had her go with Hajime. Hopefully, from there, the pair will be able to progress on their own properly.

"Did they leave with the appropriate artifacts?" I asked him.

Yoru gave an affirmative. "Yes. He took the dagger and the two swords that you had allowed him."

"Jeanne?"

"There was nothing she wanted, claiming that she was capable enough with her Sacred Gear."

I nodded at that. "Indeed, Blade Blacksmith is a rather effective tool." I snorted and crossed my arms. "If I had something like that in my growth, it would have saved me quite a bit of trouble." Yoru laughed at that as we reached the door that lead inside. "I can handle things from here, Yoru. Go home to your family. I'm sure they miss you."

He bowed his head to me, "The same can be said of you, Milord." I waved him off with a grunt as he let out a gentle laugh and took to the sky.

Opening the door, I walked inside and locked it behind me. Smiling softly, I took off into my home, running silently as I made my way to Kunou's room to surprise her. Ghosting through the halls, I effectively evaded the occasional maid that roamed the halls for last minute cleaning. Moving quickly and patiently, I reached the door to her room and carefully pushed it open to peer inside.

Little Kunou was sitting next to her laid out futon, her head bobbing up and down as she tried to remain awake. Her tiny fingers were in front of her, entwined as she held her hands together on her lap. The ears on her head were drooped in exhaustion, as were her tails. From the side, I could see her eyelids falling repeatedly, before she quickly opened them and shake her head violently to stay awake.

A small laugh escaped me as I silently slid the door fully open, step inside and close it behind me. Stealthily approaching her, I noticed her ears twitch as I approach, lifting in recognition. Upon reaching her, I hooked my hands underneath her arms and hefted her into my arms.

Her eyes shot open as she saw me, a look of utter joy appearing on her face as she lit up. "Otou-sama!" She wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and held me in a tight embrace.

I laughed as I dropped down to sit as I returned the embrace. "You know, Kunou, it is passed your bed time." I told her in a stern, yet happy tone.

She froze and pulled away from me, looking down sadly. "I-I'm sorry, Otou-sama." She mumbled cutely, rubbing her eyes as her body was slowly giving out to exhaustion. "I just really wanted to see you before I went to bed. I mean, since Hajime-nii-sama and Jeanne-nee-sama left, the only people who stayed were Kuroka-nee-sama and Okaa-sama. Okaa-sama was busy with work and Kuroka-nee-sama was taking a nap." She leaned into my chest and hummed softly. "I was so excited when I learned that Otou-sama was coming back home that I couldn't get to sleep, then I started to really tired…"

"Then I managed to get back in time to see my Princess." I leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head, scratching her ears afterwards. "I said I'd get home to see you and I meant it."

She giggled, nuzzling her face into my chest. "I'm glad your home, Otou-sama…" Kunou said one last time before she fell asleep.

"So am I, Kunou, so am I…" Holding her with one arm, I moved the blankets on her futon aside and laid her down under them. Tucking her in, I leaned forward and kissed her on the forward. "Sleep well, my adorable little Kitsune."

Getting to my feet, I turned to face the door just in time to see Yasaka standing there, a faint smile on her face. "Hey." I said to her under my breath, careful to not wake Kunou. "I figured you'd have put her into bed before now." I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist as I pulled her into a tight embrace.

She returned it, her head rest on my shoulder. "I was going to, but you got to her first." We stepped out of Kunou's room and slid the door shut, then made our way to our room. "You spoil her, you know." A pout made its way on her face, a glare leveled at me.

A hushed chuckle escaped me. "I can't help it; she's my Princess and she knows it."

"Yes and that leaves me with the discipline." Yasaka said with a dry tone, giving me the look that all men should fear. "I would appreciate a little help when our daughter acts out… Especially, if it happens to be your notes she happens to be following." She spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, which instantly had me in a cold sweat.

I-I should have known she'd figure it out that fast! I gulped inaudibly, adjusting the strap on my shoulder and laughed lightly. "I figured Kunou could use something fun to ease the separation. You know how much she likes to listen to my stories."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean she should torment the help. Poor Yoru was drenched in honey and chicken feathers." Yasaka placed a hand over her mouth as she cleared her throat, clearly trying to conceal the laughter I saw in her eyes.

I released a breath, "Fine. I'll try to think of something else for her. She's still too young for me start training her in my personal styles, but how is she coming along with her Kitsune abilities?"

A look of pride appeared on her face, "Kunou is coming along nicely for her age. Though she doesn't have the power, considering her age, her control is rather advanced for her age."

I gave her a sly look, "You better be careful, Yasaka. Soon, our little Kunou be the one teaching you a thing or two about your magic."

A smile appeared on her face, "I look forward to that day, but she's still learning right now." Then she gave me a questioning gaze. "When will you start teaching her your Martial abilities?"

Pursing my lips, I came upon an emotional quandary. While I did want Kunou strong and skilled enough to defend herself, I didn't want to show her too much and push her too hard, as what I know is tempered and strengthened by experience. As a warrior, I knew she needed to start soon so that she could grow into it and be a better fighter because of it. As a father, though, I didn't want her to overexert herself in trying to make me proud. I know my daughter better than she knows herself; like with Yasaka and her teachings, Kunou loves to overachieve to make us proud, but there's a more personal danger with my skills. Attempting, and possibly failing, to overachieve in my more dangerous Martial abilities can lead to lethal mistakes…

"Two years. I'll wait for two more years so she can focus on your tutelage and being a kid, then I'll get her started. Kunou needs to grow a bit more for my training."

Yasaka nodded and grabbed my arm, giving me a comforting squeeze. "I can see how it troubles you and it does the same for me. It hurts to watch her grow so quickly, but we can't hold her back." When I nodded, she gave an accepting sigh and led me to the bedroom. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside and put her back towards me. I watched as she toyed with the obi of her kimono and felt my eyes widen when the kimono fell loosely, hanging from her shoulders, baring them for me to see. Looking over her shoulder, she licked her lips and smirked.

"Now are you going to let me welcome you back home, or are you going to stay there gaping like a fish?"

I let out a husky chuckle and approached her, pulling her into a deep kiss.

Sometimes, it pays to be a family man.

Language Note: 'Shishou' is bent more towards a martial arts teacher. 'Sensei' is simply teacher.

This is another idea I've had ruminating in the back of my mind. There are easily recognizable tropes I'm using in this fic, but I'm going to try and make things more unique compared to other fics. Which in and of itself is a task on its own.

I'll still be working on The Bloodstained Omamori, of course, but I need something else, something different, also resting in my thoughts otherwise I'll burn out and lose interest. I don't want that to happen, so that's where this fic comes in. It's a buffer fic for my minds sake. I'll still treat it like it's one of the main fics, but it's to help me rest my thoughts on Omamori.

Yes, one of the protagonists of the fic the older brother of Issei. I've seen others like it, going back and forth from older to younger, but I wanted to try it for myself. As for his past and reasons why he left, they'll be elaborated on over the course of this fic.

The three Humans in this fic are based off of the Dungeons and Dragons characters that I and a friend of mine created. I've been given permission to use them, but his two won't play a big role, but background and supplementary/mentor roles. Don't ask for their levels, because it'd be far too high to calculate and it would make me cry due to the fact that I would've wasted hours upon hours upon hours of my life.

-For simplicity's sake, the Hunter is Lyall, but his cover when dealing with non-supernatural individuals and those who don't know his identity, his name is Connor Wolfe.

As strong as Lyall is, he'll primarily play the mentor role, offering advice and counsel to the growing teens. When it comes to battles, he's so experienced and skilled that the fights would end rather quickly and unceremoniously. I've yet to figure out how he compares to the strongest in the story; but I will say this, Great Red, and Ophis, would stomp his ass like it's nobody's business, so no worries about the fact that he may end up, well, OP.

The pairings, for the most part, will be harems. Except for Lyall. His will remain a single pairing no matter what. Here are the pairings:

-Issei: Rias Gremory; Asia Argento; Irina Shidou; Xenovia; Koneko Toujou; Le Fay Pendragon; Aika Kiryuu;

-Hajime: Akeno Himejima; Ravel Phenex; Jeanne; Kuroka; Raynare; Rossweisse; Kiyome Abe;

-Lyall: Yasaka (Will forever remain unchanged, as stated by the irrefutable powers of the fanfic author.)

These are subject to change at any time, save for the last one. Feel free to request more as I'm still finalizing the harems for the characters.

Anyway, I hoped you like it!