Shirou Emiya: The Next Archangel

by Dbacks21774

Shirou Emiya just transferred to Kuoh Academy. His host in this new town is Akeno, a fellow mage or so he thinks. What sort of adventures will the Devils of Kuoh have for the future Archangel known as the Reconciliation of Heaven?

1. Chapter 1

Shirou Emiya X DXD Crossover

AN: This is a crossover between Fate / Stay Night Series and High School DXD. The timelines for this will be slightly warped. The story will take place at the beginning of both series but will be primarily based in the DXD Universe.

Shirou Emiya is plucked from the UBW arc prior to his death. There will be Lemon's in this crossover, but they will be tasteful and move the plot forward. Be warned that I have a very nonlinear writing style. Fate / Stay Night and all its characters are the property of Type-Moon. High School DXD and all its characters and locations are the property of Ichiei Ishibumi. I own only my interpretations and the format in which they are presented.

===========Prologue=============

Crimson... The same color as their hair. A deep crimson that matched the color of my blood coated fingers. I could slowly feel my life slipping away as the seconds passed. I don't know why, but for some reason the thought of them kept running through my thought's. I thought when you died you were supposed to see your life flash before your eyes, but for some reason only the thought of their crimson hair flashed through my mind. And then as if by magic, there he was. Why was he here? Hunched over me was boy with crimson hair, his lips moved, but nothing came out. Why couldn't I hear him? What was his name? I try to speak to tell him anything. But nothing came. No words, no sound. I could see the fear in his eyes, the desperation. To do something, anything. But as he frantically tried to say me, my vision slowly began to fade into darkness.

How did I get here? What did I do to deserve this?

"If you want to blame someone, blame God who put that Sacred Gear in you."

===========Chapter 1============

I'm Issei Hyodo, a second-year high school student at Kuoh Academy. My friends and family call me Ise. I'm just your average normal guy, at least I thought so until she came along, Yuuma Amano. I was just walking home from school one day when this beautiful silky black-haired girl with a slender body came up to me and asked me to be her boyfriend. I've never had a girlfriend before, so this was a dream come true! Sweet! So of course, I said yes, who wouldn't? So, we made plans to go out that Friday evening. I was so naive back then, I still am to some extent. Little did I know, that I had just sealed my fate. So, I've been trying to rack my brain about why of all people I would think about them during my last moments. I first saw them both that same day, what were their names again? Oh right, Shirou Emiya and Rias Gremory. Shirou is a second year like me and had just joined my class this week. Rias is my senior, a third year at Kuoh Academy and the President of the Occult Research Club. They both have distinctive crimson-colored hair, Shirou's is short and well maintained, while Rias' is long and unkempt. From what I could tell Shirou is always willing to help anyone out... that and he was good at fixing things. Hell, just on his first day I saw him in the student council room during lunch fixing anything from projectors to heaters and even the faculty microwave. But enough about Shirou, let's get back to Rias and her huge bazonga's - I mean tracks of land. I distinctly remember the first time that I saw her, like it was just yesterday...

---

"Issei, you pervert! When we catch you, we're going to skin you alive! Peeking into the girl's changing room!"

"Matsuda! Motohama! Shirou! Run faster! I don't know about you, but I don't want to be skinned alive!"

Hey, I said I was an average normal guy. It's perfectly normal for teenagers to be a little perverted. Anyway, a couple of days ago my two best friends, Matsuda, Motohama, and I found the perfect spot to peep on the girl's kendo club while they were changing. Unfortunately, Shirou happened upon us hiding in the bushes and got us caught, so we had to run for our lives or the kendo team really would skin us alive. Apparently, they thought that Shirou was in on it because as we took off running, they started calling us the perverted quartet. After a brief chase through campus we managed to evade their pursuit by running through the forested area that borders the campus and ended up near the old school house. It was used almost exclusively for storage and was the meeting place of the Occult Research Club, that's where I first saw her, Rias Gremory. Matsuda, Motohama, Shirou, and I had just stopped to catch our breaths after we narrowly evaded the girl's kendo club when I heard the creak of a window opening above me. I turned just in time to see her standing at the open second story window, her crimson hair gently blowing in the spring air. Her beauty was... indescribable. The way the rays of afternoon sunlight hit her milky white skin, made it glow with an almost heavenly light. She looked down at us and our eyes locked for what felt like an eternity before my gaze was torn away by the sudden presence of the kendo team.

"Look, there they are! We found the perverted quartet! Don't let them escape again."

---

Old School Building Interior

The crimson-haired beauty surveyed the scene below from her vantage point. Below her she saw a group of second-years chased by the girl's kendo team. She turned to the only other occupant of the room, a girl that she had known for more than half her life and spoke.

"Akeno, who was that boy in the middle?"

"If I remember correctly he is in class 2-B. I believe his name is Issei Hyodo. He is rather lecherous and is very open about it. Why do you ask, Rias?"

"No reason, I just wanted to know if you knew who he was, I thought I felt something hidden in him, we should investigate him some. Also, who was the crimson-haired boy that he was with?"

"Oh him, that would be Shirou Emiya, also class 2-B. He's a new transfer student from Fuyuki that Sona has taken a liking to. Why do you ask? Is he another person that we should investigate?"

Her friend had just finished making green tea and filled the empty teacup on the desk that lay in front of her.

"No, if Sona has taken a liking to him then there is no need to. I'll just talk to her about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is off about him."

---

So, where were we… Oh yes, my date! I wanted it to go well so badly. I bought new cloths, I got a haircut, hell I even brushed my teeth like twelve times. We had planned to meet up after school on Friday at the local fair and I even left three hours early just so that I wouldn't be late. While I was waiting I received a weird looking leaflet from this girl that was passing them out to people at the fair. It had this weird circular symbol on it with some strange decorative symbols inscribed on it and at the top it read: We will make your dreams come true. I thought about throwing it away, but I figured that maybe it might bring me some good luck on my date. When Yuuma finally arrived I was completely stunned, she looked almost angelic. She had her silky black hair pulled back into a ponytail and was wearing a beautiful yellow sundress with a flower pattern on it that was cut just low enough for me to get an appreciable look at her boobs. Oh God how I love boobs… hehehe. Anyway, the date started out well enough. We walked around the fair for a while, eating carnival food, buying souvenirs, playing fair games. I even managed to win her a stuffed bear at one of those bottle toss games. Things were going great, I even got to hold her hand while we walked around. It started to get dark, so we decided to leave the fair and I walked her towards her house. As we approached the park that was near her house she ran on ahead to the fountain that was in the center.

"Hey Issei, would you do something special for me to celebrate our date?"

"[Are we going to kiss? Whatever you do don't panic. Act cool, like you've done this before.] … Sure… Yuuma. What do you want me to do? [Crap that could have gone better.]"

"Issei… will you die for me?"

"Uh… Yuuma, I think I misheard you. What was that again?"

Her face twisted from the innocent girl that I had just spent the afternoon on a date with. A twisted and devious smile formed on her face. Then wings of pure black feathers sprouted from her back as she gracefully flew from where she was standing to barely outside of arms reach. When she spoke, it was no longer with the kind and tender voice that she had used during our date, it was filled with malice and hate.

"Oh, Issei. I asked if you would die for me? Pretty please?"

"What… What are you? Yuuma, what's going on? I don't want to die!"

"That's too bad little Issei. See my boss thinks that you're a threat to us. Don't worry though, I had fun on our date. It was like playing house with a little kid. Did you honestly think that someone like me was just going to profess their affections to you on the street corner? Honestly, you are so naïve."

The next thing remember was a loud hum as she… I don't know, materialized… a jagged spear that glowed almost as if made of light, but just as quickly as it formed it disappeared. I don't exactly know how it happened, but the next thing I knew I was on the ground and I couldn't feel the lower half of my body. When I propped myself up to try and stand I realized why… I had a softball sized hole missing from the center of my gut where the spear had cut straight thru to my spine. The only good thing about this situation was that the blood gushing out of my gut meant that I wasn't going to have to feel the excruciating pain for much longer.

"Yuuma… *cough* … What did I … *cough* … deserve this?"

"If you want to blame someone, blame God who put that Sacred Gear in you."

Then she was gone, as if I wasn't even worth the effort for her to watch me die. A million things raced through my mind as I started to fade out of consciousness. What were my mom and dad going to do? How sorry I was that I was such a worthless son. But most importantly, just the sorrow and despair that I my death was going to cause them. I had to do something, there was too much that hadn't told them, things that I wanted… no, needed them know. So, I reached into my pocket and retrieved the leaflet that I had kept from earlier, and I dipped my finger into the slowly growing pool of blood and I started to write as fast as I could on the back of the leaflet. But I only got as far two characters before my limbs became too heavy to lift. Crimson... The same color as their hair. A deep crimson that matched the color of my blood coated fingers. I could slowly feel my life slipping away as the seconds passed. I don't know why, but for some reason the thought of them kept running through my thought's. I thought when you died you were supposed to see your life flash before your eyes, but for some reason only the thought of their crimson hair flashed through my mind. And then as if by magic, there he was. Why was he here? Hunched over me was Shirou, his lips moved, but nothing came out. Why couldn't I hear him? I just wish with all my heart that I had just a little more time, but it wasn't meant to be. My final thought as I lost consciousness was gratitude that someone was here with me at the end.

==============Earlier that day================

"Good Morning. My name is Shirou Emiya, and as of today I'll be a student of this class. Please take care of me."

[He's so mature, I wonder how old he is?]

[At least he has some manners unlike the perverted trio over there]

"Shirou, whatever you do don't hang around with Issei, Matsuda, or Motohama. Otherwise their perverseness might rub off on you."

"Hey, we're right here you know. And what's wrong with being a little perverted. It's perfectly natural for teenage boys to be perverted."

"That will be enough students. Emiya, you may take your seat now."

"Alright class, please turn to page 394 in your texts and…"

PA: Will Shirou Emiya please report to the student council room before club activities. Again, will Shirou Emiya report to the student council room before club activities start.

"Wow Shirou, what did you do to get called to the student council room? "

"Issei, I haven't a clue, but I should go see them sooner rather than later."

---

I don't like to say back things about people, but there was just something... off. I noticed it when I first arrived here, there was just something not right about this place. The school seemed too clean, the students too friendly, the girls too beautiful. Almost unnaturally so. And then there was the bounded field that I had found earlier that morning. I almost collapsed when I first noticed it, I had been walking around the school grounds before classes when I heard fighting out behind the old school building. Not knowing what it was and concerned that someone was in danger, I charged in to investigate. And then I ran into it, a bounded field that was so dense it was almost like getting hit by a tractor trailer. Almost immediately, I had this primal urge to flee. I just had this unrelenting sense that I was not wanted there, and that whatever was waiting around the corner was not something that I wanted to see. I felt like I had just finished a triathlon, my legs were weak, and I had to brace myself against the side of the building just to keep from falling over. With each step I took closer to the source of the noise the bounded field grew denser and denser, until it just stopped. Slightly confused, I paused just at the edge of the building and listened for any noise.

"I just love seeing a man writhing in pain. It's just so... stimulating."

A familiar, seductive, and breathy voice hovered in the air behind me. I don't know how but she just... materialized behind me. Or maybe she had always been there. I turned to face the girl and was met with the sight of my roommate, Akeno Himejima. It was different to see her away from the temple and I almost forgot that she goes here.

"What's that supposed to mean? Who was in pain? I heard fighting and I thought that someone might need help. Did you see wh- "

She quickly placed her finger over my lips and stepped in close. Her face hovering just inches away from mine, as she moved her other hand up to stroke my cheek.

"Shhhhh, no need to speak I'll make it all better. Just close your eyes and relax. I'll take good care of you."

My whole body seized, as it felt like I had been struck by lightning. I couldn't think, I couldn't move, all I could do was seize. And then as quickly as it started, she stopped. My head was still in a fog when she spoke next.

"Shirou, Shirou, Shirou. What am I going to do with you? Most intruders don't even make it up to the first barrier, but you walked right through all three. Come on, get up. We can't let anyone see you or there will be HELL to pay."

With that she helped me up and we quickly walked back toward the main campus for class.

"Akeno, did you have to shock me? I mean I know we are both mages, but shouldn't we be more careful about where we use our magic. Especially here at school."

"You know the rules about neat and orderly uniforms on school grounds, especially you Akeno."

We both froze in our tracks as a stern, monotonous voice called out to us from the main campus gate. We turned to see the student council president, Sona Shitori, waiting for us at the gate. Her icy cold stare could do in the most battle hardened of mages in a second. I could feel her gaze piercing me to my very core, sending a chill down my spine and causing my hair to stand on end.

"Busted. Sorry Shirou."

"Emiya, seeing as how you have been helpful to the student council so far. I am willing to overlook this infraction just once. Now go get changed before anyone sees that."

Slightly confused, I looked down at where she was pointing and saw blood from my nose had dripped over my uniform. Realizing that it must have come from when Akeno tried to keep me quiet this morning, I quickly apologized before running off to the gym to change.

"Oh, sorry about this president. I had a bit of a shock this morning. I'll go change right away."

"See that you do, and I'd like to see you before clubs-. Or just run away."

"Ufufufu, Sona you don't have to be so hard on him. You know he's very eager to please."

"Ms. Himejima, you will address me as student council president or Ms. Shitori during the school day. Now what exactly was he doing this morning that would cause such a large nosebleed? Rias told me that someone had breached the protective wards around the Occult Research Club and sent you to investigate."

"He heard Kiba and Koneko this morning during training and thought that someone was in danger. So, he rushed in and tried to investigate, but I was able to stop him before he saw anything. It just wouldn't do for him to see a pair of devils going at it now would it? I've already had to alter his memory once. But it wasn't a complete success so, he thinks that we're fellow magicians. As for the nosebleed, that came from the barrier, the poor boy walked through a seven-layer barrier without any protection."

"We may need to try a different approach with him. He is a good asset for us to have around, but we can't have him interfering in our business. Make sure that you keep a close eye on him. Now get to class."

---

[Knock, Knock]

"You can come in Emiya."

"I'm here as requested president."

I don't like to say back things about people, but there was just something... off. I noticed it when I first arrived here, there was just something not right about this place. The school seemed too clean, the students too friendly, the girls too beautiful. Almost unnaturally so. As I entered I saw that the student council president and vice president, Sona Shitori and Tsubaki Shinra, but also the Occult Research Club president and vice president, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. If you were to ask most students in the school, these would be the top four most beautiful students at Kuoh Academy. And there was definitely something not right about everyone in the room aside from Akeno. There were two couches set up in the room one across from the other perpendicular to the door with a large wooden desk that sat as a bookend to the two couches. Sona and Rias sat together on the left-hand couch with Tsubaki and Akeno standing behind them. After I closed the door behind me Sona motioned for me to sit in the couch opposite them which I obliged.

"President I would like to apologize about this morning's wardrobe malfunction that I had, I promise that it won't happen again."

"We haven't had the opportunity to meet yet but I'm Rias Gremory. So, we just have some quick questions for you if you don't mind."

"Ms. Gremory, you wouldn't happen to have an older brother by the name of Sirzechs Gremory would you?"

"Why yes, I do. Why do you ask?"

"It was about ten years ago in Fuyuki right around the time that the city was nearly destroyed in the fire. Your brother was visiting my old-man about some work that you wanted done. How is Sirzechs doing anyway? I remember him vividly, he kept going on and on about someone he kept calling his Ria-tan. You should tell him I said hello. Now that I think about it he had someone with him, Sarah… Sera… ah, Serafall. She looked a lot like you student council president. Now that I think about it she kept going on about someone called So-tan as well. Weird bunch but very friendly."

"Wow, he is sharp Akeno. I can see why you've taken a liking to him Sona. Smart and willing to please. I think that he will make an excellent addition to the student council. Don't you think so?"

"Of course, Rias but he would need to be elected to the student council and that isn't for another year. Emiya you do however, need to be in a club activity and I see from your transcripts that you were part of the archery club and you used to participate in kendo. Plus, with your talent for fixing things, you may also fit in with the electronics club."

"If that were the case president I would prefer the electronics club but then why is the Occult Research Club here? I realize that they are low on members, and I may dabble in some illusionary magic tricks but other than that I have no interest in the occult. So, it begs the question, why are you here? My guess is that this has something to do with the fight that I heard this morning. I didn't see who it was but I'm pretty sure they weren't academy students."

"What makes you say that, Emiya if you don't mind my asking? If you didn't see them, then how could you possibly know if they were students or not?"

"Because Ms. Gremory, if students had been fighting then the student council president would have seen them entering the school grounds just like she saw me and Akeno. And from the looks of it no one has been reamed by the disciplinary committee for fighting."

"You are correct Emiya, we didn't find out who was fighting but Rias and I are more interested in what you were doing near the old school building so early in the morning, and why you had such a sever nosebleed?"

I couldn't just tell them that I had stumbled upon a bounded field around the old school building. I didn't want to blow Akeno's cover. Plus, I still hadn't figured out what was so off about these girls. So, I lied my ass off.

"Must confess, that my intentions this morning were less than pure. I had heard from a reliable source that the Occult Research Club had the most beautiful girl in the school in it, and I just had to check this out. And I must say, they were correct. Akeno is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."

"Ufufufu, Emiya flattery will get you everywhere."

[Not here it won't.]

[Get out!]

[I hate perverts.]

"Well, if we're done here I'll be going. I need to go to the store and pickup ingredients for dinner tonight. I'll see you at home Akeno. We're having hamburger steak for dinner, so don't be late… beautiful."

"Ufufufu, see you later Shirou!"

---

It was getting late by the time I had finished shopping. Luckily, there was a fresh market that was near the temple, so I didn't have to go too far. I looked at my watch… crap it was almost six and the sun was almost down, If I hurried I could still make it home before it got dark. I just needed to take a shortcut through the park. And that's when I saw… it. Whatever it was, it was not human. The female… thing… had large, pitch-black, feathered wings that sprouted out of its back. It had all the makings of an angel, just not one that you would ever want to meet. It just hovered over the park staring at something. As I snuck closer I heard bits and pieces of its conversation with an unknown figure.

"Yuuma… *cough* … What did I … *cough* … deserve this?"

"If you want to blame someone, blame God who put that Sacred Gear in you."

The voice was hushed, but unmistakable… Issei. That was right, he had a date this evening. He couldn't stop talking about it the entire day. I dropped my groceries and ran into the park and what greeted me was a gruesome sight. Issei was lying on his back in a pool of his own blood with some paper in his hand trying to write with his blood-soaked fingers. I quickly rushed to his side to see what I could do. Whatever she had done to him must have been excruciating painful because his eyes were wide and unfocused as I surveyed the situation. His breathing was shallow and wheezy, and he was absolutely soaked in blood, but the worst part was the softball sized hole in his gut.

"Issei, can you hear me? I need to stay with me buddy! Oh, shit! What did she do to you? I need to stop the bleeding, you're going to be okay. Did you hear me, Issei? Stay with me buddy, stay with me!"

"S-shirou… I can't… understand you…"

"That's great, Issei, keep talking to me. Tell me something, anything. Just stay with me."

"Thank… you… *cough*… not… alone…"

"That's right, Issei. You're not alone, I just need to stop the bleeding."

Thinking quickly, I ripped my shirt off and shoved it into the wound. I kept packing and packing but no matter what I did he just wouldn't stop bleeding. Looking around I saw that the park was completely empty except for Issei and I. But maybe some would hear me, so I screamed as loud as I could. We needed help and fast, otherwise Issei wasn't going to make it.

"CAN ANYONE HEAR ME! I NEED HELP! SOMEONE, ANYONE! PLEASE I NEED HELP!"

God, why wouldn't he stop bleeding. If only he would just… stop… bleeding… I don't exactly what prompted me to start praying, but somehow God must have heard me. Because what happened next can only be classified as a miracle. I don't know how, but my hands started to glow a faint green color, and slowly but surely, Issei stopped bleeding. Quickly removing my shirt from the wound, I saw that it wasn't just the blood that had stopped. Before my very eyes, his wound was closing itself up. Whatever this need power was, it was amazing. I was so focused on healing Issei that I didn't sense her, or even see her.

"Well, well, well. It seems to be my lucky day. Another Twilight Healing possessor. I'm going to need you to stop healing him though, kay."

Before I could say anything, the… thing… that had attacked Issei kicked me across the head from behind and I blacked out. I must have only been out for a few seconds, because when I came to I was being carried in the arms of the girl that had attacked Issei.

"Where are you taking me?"

"We're going to a nice church nearby. If you struggle, I will just drop you to your death. Now be a good boy and don't move."

I complied and tried to remain as still as possible, but as we flew away I saw a crimson light fill the park.

---

Rias Gremory's POV

I love it when a plan comes together, Issei Hyodo, the boy that I wanted to become a member of my peerage, had just summoned me. He had unknowingly become the target of a fallen angel kill squad that I had detected earlier this week. Afterwards, I had the members of my peerage tail the fallen angels which led them to Issei. Since then I had a familiar follow him and they even gave him a premade summoning circle. All the information that we had collected led to the determination that he would summon me before he died. And just like we thought I got the summons a little later than was expected, but it came all the same. I had just arrived at the park where Issei, would soon draw his last breath as a human, but something was off. While he would never be able to walk again as he was, he certainly wasn't in any danger of dying. It appeared as if someone had been in the middle of rendering aid when they we interrupted but no matter, his soul would soon be mine anyway.

"If you are dying, then I will give you new life. From this point onward, you will live only for me."

---

Issei Hyodo's POV

I woke from my nightmare in a cold sweat. What the HELL happened to me? One second I was on my date with Yuuma, and the next I wake up in bed. I looked down at my gut and the complete lack of a hole made me think the whole thing was a dream. Thank God… I don't know what I would do if that had been real. It was weird, it felt real, like it had actually happened, but that's clearly not possible. I'll just chalk it up to postdate nerves and call it a day. I looked at my clock to see what time it was… oh shit if I don't hurry up I'm going to be late to school again. I quickly got dressed and rushed out the door. I didn't even realize it until I got to school, but I was fast. Before I knew it, I was almost to the school entrance. When I looked at my watch to check how long I had before the first period was when I noticed it. It took me a third of the time that it normally would have to run from my house to the school. I actually got here on time, sweet.

"Yo, Issei what the hell happened to you last night man. You look like shit."

"Yeah man, you look like you haven't slept a wink. You must have been perusing some of the material that you borrowed from me, hehehe."

"Matsuda, Motohama don't you guys remember? I told you that I had a date last night with Yuuma. How could you guys have forgotten?"

"Damn Issei, I want what you're on dude. Cause I don't have a damn clue what you're talking about."

"Yeah, Issei are you sure you aren't on something? Who's Yuuma?"

"What are you guys talking about, I told you about her yesterday. Here I'll give her a call…"

What in the world? Her contact information is gone. No matter, I'll just call her cell number.

"I'm sorry the number that you are trying to dial is not in service. Please hang up and try again…"

"Damn man see I told you something wasn't right? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, it must have been a waking dream, but damn this sucks. Have you guys seen Shirou yet? I thought he was supposed to meet us here this morning?"

"Damn Issei. That must have been some really good shit you took this morning. Cause that the second person that I haven't even heard of."

"Yeah Matsuda. It must just be the lack of sleep. We should get to class though."

It was weird, not only did they not remember Yuuma but now Shirou too. And it was like that everywhere that I went, no one had ever heard of Yuuma Amano or Shirou Emiya. The rest of the day, I kept mulling it over in my head what had happened to me? Why was I the only one that remembered them and what happened after my date yesterday? I spent most of the day discretely asking about Shirou and Yuuma that by the time I left school it was already dark. I had finally decided that it must have been a dream… it had to be. How else could two people just vanish from everyone's memory without a trace?

"It's rare to meet someone like you in a place like this."

"Huh?"

I looked around for the source of the voice, but I couldn't find it. I must be hearing things… I really need some sleep. What's this thing, a black feather? Where did this come from? I looked up and that's when I saw him, a middle-aged Japanese man in a dark-colored business suit hovering in the air above me… with pitch-black feather wings… it wasn't a dream! If that's true, I can't fight him… there's no way I can. The only thing I can do is use my new-found speed, so I turned and ran as fast as I could.

"Trying to run away? Who do you serve? They must be very low ranked for someone like you to be a member of their family. You can run but you can't hide!"

I ran as long and as hard as I could for about fifteen minutes, until I came upon a park. I recognize this place, it must either be very bad luck or fate because it's the same park from my dreams… the place where I died.

"Did you actually think that you could escape from me filth? That's why you trash are so bothersome to deal with."

I can feel his presence hovering behind me. It gives me chills… I can feel his malice and murderous intent as he peers at me. Since running didn't work, it looks like I'll have to fight.

"Tell me what is your master's name? I hate having to deal with your kind of filth… what you don't have a master do you? Are you perhaps a stray? It would make sense why you…"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. All I know is that you chased me."

"Trying to play dumb, I really do loathe your kind. Fine I can still kill you either way."

He raised his hand and pointed it at me. Oh shit… not this again… not another one of these damn spears. Sure, enough in his hand a jagged spear of light formed, but unlike Yuuma's spear his gave off a faint blue glow. I have to get out of here, I have to escape, but how? If I turn and run, he'll just stab me in the back. Think, Issei, think. Crimson… maybe if I think about her she'll come to me again… no that's crazy, she came in a dream this is real. Maybe if I can get in close I can knock him out and then run. That's it, I'll have to do it. I charged him, and it must have caught him off guard because he froze for a split second, just long enough for me to dash in past the tip of his spear before he could react. After I got in close it was all over, he tried to swing his spear to keep me back, but I was able to duck under it and when I rose up I hit him in his jaw with a rising uppercut. His head snapped back with a sickening crack as he crumpled to the ground.

"That's right you piece of shit. It serves you right for trying to kill me."

As I celebrated my victory, a faint crimson glow began to fill the park. Then she appeared… the woman from my dreams… Rias Gremory, then Koneko Toujou, and finally Akeno Himejima. Why were they here? How did they get here?

"Rias-senpai? Why are you here? How did you get here?"

"Issei, you're alright? I thought you were hurt?"

"Why would you think that? What's going on here?"

"Ufufufu, Rias it seems that he was stronger that you thought. He knocked out this fallen angel with one shot."

"Issei, is that true, did you beat this fallen angel?"

"Rias-senpai, I don't know what a fallen angel is but yes I beat this man behind me. He tried to kill me, just like in my dream."

"Issei, that wasn't a dream. You actually died last night, and were revived as a creature of the night, a devil."

"Wait, wait, wait. If that was real, then where's Shirou? I haven't seen him all day and everyone that I talked to didn't have a clue who he was."

Akeno rushed up to me, grabbed my collar, and pulled me in close staring at me in desperation.

"What do you know about Shirou?"

"Akeno, Issei. We should reserve this chat for another time. In the meantime, we should take care of this fallen angel before he wakes up. Perhaps he can tell us what we want to know when he wakes up. Akeno, you go home and wait for Shirou. Koneko, Kiba you two take the fallen angel back to the clubhouse and secure him. Issei, you're coming with me, now let's get going."

"Rias-senpai, wait where are we going?"

"To your place of course. Your injured, can't you tell?"

Injured? What is she talking about, I'm perfectly fine… Where did all this blood come from? Wait, he must have clipped me with his spear when I charged in. But why didn't… I… feel… anything.

[thud]

"Ufufufu, Well Rias we knew that he was a pervert, but who knew just thinking about taking you home would be enough to make him faint."

"Akeno, that's not funny. I was trying to avoid having to carry him again."

---

Shirou Emiya's POV

I wouldn't exactly call the place that we went nice. And it barely qualified as a church anymore. The thing that kidnapped me called itself a Fallen Angel named Raynare, and she had taken me to a dilapidated church on the outskirts of the city. The church had once belonged to the Catholic Church and once had a very large marble crucifix displayed prominently behind the alter of the chapel, but now all that was left of it was the right-hand beam and the base, and at present it was this that I sat secured to with course rope. There wasn't much that I could see from my position on the floor, just the remnants of the Altar Table in front of me and a few wooden pews to either side. At present my kidnapper was in a heated discussion with a homunculus that was dressed in vestments. They were trying to keep their voices down just low enough so that I couldn't hear them. Occasionally, they would either glance or gesture over to me. I decided that I really needed to hear what they were saying so I concentrated and reinforced my hearing…

"Please, I promise I won't kill the little devil loving sinner? I just want to play with him a bit. It's not like it's going to matter anyway. We can just have the sinner heal himself. Please, I haven't been able to play with anyone recently, and I get terribly bored sitting here all day?"

"Freed, I said no. I don't want to even risk you 'accidentally' killing him. We don't even know who he is or why he was there."

"Well there you go, I can 'ask' him for you. Please, I just can't contain myself, I need to do something!"

"Fine, but I expect results. And don't kill him, we still need him well enough to use the Sacred Gear Extractor on him. We need to deliver his Sacred Gear to the Grigori for examination."

"Really? Oh goodie, I get to play. Hehehehehehe!"

I got a really bad feeling about what he meant by play. I was even more concerned by the sinister little smile that had started to stretch across the priest's face. He moved slowly and with a sinister nature towards me.

"Fear not sinner, everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Tell me sinner, do you ?"

"What in God's green earth are you talking about, Father?"

I don't know what I said that ticked him off, but he was visibly angered and seethed through his teeth at my comment.

"Don't you dare speak His name in my presence. Now tell me sinner, what name do you call yourself?"

"My name is Shirou, what's yours?"

[SMACK]

I received a swift backhand across the face from the priest.

"Rule Number One: You do not mention God in my presence. Rule Number Two: You don't ask the questions, I do. Rule Number Three: Don't Try to escape. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Now back to business, I asked you what your name is."

"My name is Shirou."

"Oh boy we have a comedian in the room. I hate comedians."

Faster than I could see he drew the hilt of two bladeless swords and pressed them into either side of my chest. The next thing I knew it felt like I had been impaled with a red-hot iron. I tried to scream out in pain, but the sound never came, just the disturbing sound of my blood bubbling up in my throat as I tried to scream. Next came the acrid stench of my burning flesh, and the disgusting taste of iron as I choked up blood in an attempt to clear my throat.

"Now, now. It doesn't hurt that much, now does it? It's only a little holy light? But, while I have your undivided attention I'll answer your question. My name is Freed Sellzen. Go ahead use your Sacred Gear and heal yourself, I'm not done having fun with you yet."

It continued like this for what felt like ages. He would ask a question, I would answer and when he didn't like my response he would stab me through the chest with his bladeless swords. Never relenting, never giving any sign of anything other than sweet sadistic joy each and every time he would plunge his swords into me.

---

Issei Hyodo's POV

[Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep]

"Man, what the hell is up with these dreams lately!? First, I'm getting killed by my date, now I'm being attacked by some weirdo in a suit."

It had to be a dream, cause when it ended I was still in the park, but I'm home now.

"This sucks, the ending was just getting good too. Rias-senpai said that she was going to my place. Damnit why couldn't my dream have lasted just a little bit longer. Why is it so cold in here?"

I probably should have realized this so much sooner, but I was completely naked. No wonder my frank and beans feel like they were going to freeze and fall off. Why am I naked?

"Where the hell did my clothes go?"

"Ugh... Issei are you awake?"

There was someone moving around under the covers behind me. As I lifted the covers I started to tremble at what I saw. Staring up at me from under the sheets was the most beautiful sight that I had ever seen... Rias... it was Rias... and she was naked.

[spurt, spurt]

"Great googly moogly. I must have died and gone to heaven. Dear God, thanks for finally answering the prayers of this poor virgin, Amen- aghhh. Shit, what the hell was that?"

I felt like I just got hit with the worst case of brain freeze anyone has ever felt.

"Good Morning, Issei."

"Ahh! Rias-senpai, why are you here? And why are we naked? Not that I'm complaining, but am I still dreaming."

"No Issei, this is very real, just like everything that has been happening to you."

"So that means Yuuma actually killed me. That crazy bitch stabbed me in my spine. Wait if that was true then how can I walk still?"

"I'm a devil Issei and like I told you two nights ago, I am now the master of your soul. You live only for me now. It's good to meet you Issei Hyodo."

"That means I need to pray to Lucifer then! Dear Lucifer, thanks for sending me the bountiful bosom of boobies that is Rias Gre-"

Before I could finish my prayer, Rias jumped on my lap and clamped her hand tightly over my mouth.

"No, no, no, no, no! Don't say things like that. Do you want to die again?"

[Issei Hyodo! You better be getting ready for school! I'm coming in!]

My mother walked in at the most inopportune moment possible. I slowly turned my head to stare at my mother as she slowly surveyed the scene before her. Her pervert of a son was naked and being straddled by an equally naked young woman who had her hand clamped on his mouth.

[I'm... just... going... to... goooo.]

She slowly backed out of the room and gently closed to door before rabbiting down the stairs to the living room.

[Honey, our pervert of a son has a naked girl in his room!]

[Do you mean like one of those blow up dolls?]

[No, an actual living breathing girl!]

[Wait, are you telling me he's stopped gripping the girly magazines and has an actual person in his room?]

[Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying!]

[Yahta! Our hopes for grandchildren aren't completely destroyed!]

Rias couldn't contain her giggling as she listened to my parents.

"Shiiiit. What have you done, woman? You've single-handedly destroyed my reputation as a pervert. Now they'll think I've turned respectable."

"Ufufufu, I'm sorry Issei, but your mom's reaction was priceless. Anyway, we really should get ready for school."

"There's not a snowball's chance in HELL that we're going to avoid the Spanish Inquisition that's waiting downstairs for us."

"Actually, hell has a very temperate climate. There are even some mountain ranges that have ski resorts on them."

Again, she couldn't contain her giggling as she watched me squirm beneath her, especially when my mother came upstairs a second time.

"Issei, I know you've finished by now. I'm sad to say it but, you have about as much stamina as Barry Allen."

"What the hell does the Flash have to do with my stamina?"

Almost immediately after I finished asking my question I regretted it.

"He's known as the fastest man alive for a reason sweet heart."

"MOOOOM?!"

---

It was the most AWKWARD and EMBARRASSING breakfast that I have ever had. The entire time my mother had this huge cheesy grin plastered over her face. And my dad was even worse, he called my grandmother at breakfast and told her that her pervert of a grandson had a girlfriend and to expect great-grandchildren very soon. Someone, anyone please just shoot me now, one clean shot to the head will do. No such mercy came, but the inquisition... heheh, they couldn't wait to get that started, my mother most of all.

"So, Ms. Gremory, how long have you known our pervert of a son, Issei?"

"Please call me Rias, Mother. I've known Issei for a while now, and I think that sweet even though he's a little perverted."

"Rias, our son is more than a little perverted. In fact, we had given up hope that he would ever settle down and have a normal life. What will it take for you make an honest man out of the little pervert?"

Rias gave me a little sly smile before she responded.

"I think his soul will do just nicely."

Without even missing a beat, my father responded from behind the morning newspaper.

"Done, where do we sign."

"What the HELL dad?! You didn't even think about that!"

He folded the paper down just enough to peer at me from over the top of it.

"Son, if the cost to have this lovely young lady as our daughter is your soul. It's not even a contest. You do realize that her family owns one of the largest construction companies in the world. Have you never heard of the Gremory Corporation?"

If only they knew the truth… hehehe… ugh.

"Mom, Dad. As much as I would enjoy continuing this little inquisition that we're having. Rias and I really need to get to class. Isn't that right… dear?"

"Of course, we really should get going. Thank you for the food Mom and Dad."

I couldn't escape fast enough from that train wreck of a breakfast that I completely forgot about who I was with.

---

[Oh my God, how can that pervert be with Rias-senpai?]

[The pervert has to be blackmailing her, or he did her homework?]

[We're going to have to kill that pervert before he defiles the sanctity of Gremory-senpai!]

Really? Before I defile her? What the hell do they think I am? The devil… no, no, no, no, no. She's the devil, not me! I'm just the victim here! How about let's save Issei before she defiles him!

"Issei, I'll see you after school. Someone will be along to get you after school."

"Wait, shouldn't I at least walk you to class? I feel like it's the least I can do after what you did for me last night."

I said that just loud enough to be heard above the murmuring of the slowly growing crowd. Nothing, no reaction whatsoever. Not even a small one. Damnit, after all she'd put me through this morning it didn't even phase her.

"Don't worry, Issei-kun. I'll manage to find my way to class."

"But I wanted to…"

That thought was cut short by the swift kick that was delivered to the back of my head knocking me to the ground. I got up and swiftly turned around to face my attacker.

"Matsuda, Motohama. What the Hell was that for?"

"Issei, you bastard, how could you do this to us? You're ditching us to hang out with the school idol!"

"Calm down Motohama. I'm sure Issei would be willing to explain exactly what he was doing with Rias-senpai, right Issei?"

"Sure, I'll tell you. I was rolling in Rias's milky fun bags. All… Night… Long."

"You bastard! We'll kill you!"

I sprinted toward the school building as Matsuda and Motohama stirred up the crowd that was gathered to hunt me down for defiling the school's idol. The rest of the day went by uneventfully, except for the strange looks and hushed comments that I kept getting from girls in the hall.

[I don't know what she sees in him, but there must be something. We're just not looking hard enough.]

[Maybe he's gifted in a physical way. Oh, hell now I sound one of the perverted trio.]

[If he's good enough for Rias-senpai, then he must be good enough for us.]

After class I was waiting around for the person that Rias said she would be sending. The gossip about my appearance with Rias this morning was slowly starting to come to a head. By now everyone had heard, and a crowd had started to build outside my classroom, waiting for me to leave. I guess that's why Rias said that she would send someone to get me, but who could it be. Thankfully I didn't have to wait long, as I heard an icy cold familiar voice start to disperse the crowd.

"Students are not permitted to congregate in large groups after school, unless they are here for club activities. Disperse now or be brought before the student council president."

Even just the thought of being brought before the ice queen herself, Sona Shitori, caused most of the crowd to disperse. The only ones left were myself, Tsubaki Shinra, and Kiba Yuuto. I thought it weird that these two, in particular, would be here.

"Issei Hyodo, I have been sent to retrieve you for Rias Gremory and I for Sona Shitori."

"Wait, the student council president wants to see me as well. Could this day get any worse? What did I do to deserve her direct attention? Is this about the other day with the Kendo Club?"

"Issei, we are not here to punish you, the exact opposite in fact. Think of this as a welcoming. Now if you don't mind following us."

---

I must have died and gone to heaven. Sweet Lucifer, this is what I'm talking about. I was sitting in the old school building with not one, not two, not even three, but four of the hottest girls in Kuoh Academy. The two big sisters of Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima, and the student council president and vice president, Sona Shitori and Tsubaki Shinra each sat in front of me on a wide upholstery couch the only thing separating us was an antique coffee table.

"Issei, did you even hear a word that was just said?"

"Boobies… huh, what were you saying?"

"Rias, I really don't see what you saw in him? At least the one that I choose was able to have a conversation with us."

"Sona, the poor boy looked like he was going to throw up the whole time we were talking with him. I'm surprised that he didn't ask to be excused sooner."

"Choose? Choose for what?"

"Issei, I'll go over this one more time for you, now please pay attention. Everyone in this room is a devil, yourself included. Your girlfriend, Yuuma Amano killed you two days ago and I revived you with this, an evil piece. Eight pieces to be exact, all eight of my pawns. Yuuma and the man that attacked you last night are called Fallen Angels."

"Rias-senpai, I understand that part. What I wanted to know about was who the other person that Sona-senpai mentioned selecting."

"Maybe you were paying attention Issei. The person that I selected to join my peerage or devil family was Shirou Emiya. Unfortunately, he has been missing for two days now."

"Rias-senpai, Sona-senpai he was there. After Yuuma attacked me, she left me for dead in the park. I would have died much sooner, but Shirou was there giving me aid. The last thing that I saw before Rias-senpai showed up was someone carrying him off."

"What?! You saw him? Where was he headed?"

"Sona-senpai, I think he was being carried off toward the church. But what's so special about Shirou? He hasn't even been here for that long?"

"Issei, what we're about to tell you must NEVER be spoken to Shirou, at least not until we've had the opportunity to turn him to a devil. Do you understand? NEVER to be spoken to Shirou."

"Rias-senpai, you're kind of freaking me out here. What is it?"

"Issei, when Shirou was a child he was involved in something called the Holy Grail War. It was terrible, the Mages Association selected seven of their top mages to participate in a quest for the Holy Grail. In the end winner was a man by the name of Kiritsugu Emiya. He was Shirou's adopted father. When Kiritsugu won the Holy Grail War he was granted one wish by the Grail, but something went terribly wrong. The entire city of Fuyuki was razed. The only survivor of the entire city was Shirou. He wandered through the remnants of the burned-out city for hours before Kiritsugu found him. The poor boy was in such a sad state that he had to have most of his memory erased and then rebuilt. We're afraid that if he ever found out what truly happened to him that it would break him. However, because he was near the epicenter for so long, he absorbed power from the holy fire that rained down on the city."

"And it is precisely because of this fact that I want him as part of my peerage."

"What do we do now? We know where he is, are we going to go get him?"

"Patience Issei. First, we need to scout out the area."

"We can't just leave him there! He tried to save my life! I may have only known him a little while, but just the fact that he risked his life to save mine should be enough."

"Issei, we want to help him just as much as you do, but what we need now is information. We have no idea how many of them there are, or what they want with him."

"Fine. I get it we need more information. But I can't stand that we're just leaving him there. What if they hurt him? I just… I couldn't live with myself if he got killed while I had the chance to save him."

"Issei… As soon as we can we will rescue Shirou. Now we should get back to business."

"What else is there to discuss? We need to get out there and scout the church."

"There is the reason why the fallen angels have tried to kill you twice now. We interrogated the fallen angel that you defeated last night, he is under the impression that you possess a powerful sacred gear. I was able to confirm that fact when I resurrected you and it took all eight of my pawns. The fallen angel claims that initially they were supposed to take you alive and try to extract your sacred gear, but it was deemed too risky to try and take you under the eyes of the future heads of two prominent devil families."

"So, I have some sort of secret power that can help us to rescue Shirou? How do I use it?"

"Issei, I want you to think of the strongest part of your body. Now I want you to close your eyes and to focus all your energy into that one body part. I want you think about what's happening to Shirou, how scared and alone he must feel. Channel all of those thoughts and feelings to where you feel strongest and call out your sacred gear."

I did as Rias asked. I closed my eyes and I thought about the strongest part of myself, my left hand. I channeled all the hate, anger, rage, and sadness into my left hand.

[Sacred Gear]

When I opened my eyes, a bright red scaled gauntlet with a large green jewel had formed around my left hand. The gauntlet appeared to be made from some unknown metal but felt weightless as I opened and closed my hand. It will be awkward to walk around school with this equipped, if only there was some way to hide it. Maybe if it could be held inside myself or blend in more to my skin. No sooner than I had thought about it the gauntlet disappeared, but I could still feel it on my skin.

"Very good Issei. It looks like you have a good handle on how to use your sacred gear."

---

*Time-skip next morning*

The thought of leaving Shirou to those… animals. It still just doesn't sit right with me. How can we just leave someone so kind and pure to fend for himself? It just doesn't seem right… I have to do something, but what?

"Oh, no. It looks like I tripped again. I'm so sorry, I'm just not used to this place."

I was so lost in thought that I almost didn't see the young lady that I walked into. She was carrying a rather large suitcase that had broken open and its contents were laid out in the street.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Here let me help you with your things."

"You can understand me? Oh, thank God, you're the first person I've met that understands me. Oh, that's so kind you, bless you."

I felt this intense pain in my head, then it hit me, she had blessed me. The same thing happened when I prayed. Why would her simple blessing cause such a reaction to me? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, she's a nun. This is my chance, if I can befriend her, she might be able to lead me to Shirou.

"Thank you, Sister…"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Sister Asia Argento. I'm new to this city."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Sister Argento. I'm Issei Hyodo by the way."

"It's good to meet you Issei, and please call me Asia."

"So, what brings you to Kuoh, Asia?"

"I've just been assigned to the church here, but I'm afraid I don't know my way around very well. If it isn't too much to ask, could you tell me how to get to Saint Mary's?"

"I would be happy to walk you there."

---

Shirou Emiya's POV

After Freed was able to extract all the information that he wanted I was tied to the crucifix and left to my own devices. It felt like ages before I heard someone finally come into the chapel.

"Thanks for walking me here Issei. We should hang out again sometime soon."

"Of course, Asia. I would really enjoy that."

Issei? I just heard Issei's voice. That's impossible, he should be dead. What is going on? I opened my mouth to scream for my friend but that was cut short by the sudden appearance of a hand clamped over my mouth, shortly followed by the sickening squelch of a blade as it was thrust into my thigh.

"Make a sound and I'll slit your pretty little throat faster than you can say bob's your uncle."

I fought with all my might to contain my screaming as I looked to my warden, Freed Sellzen, the sociopathic stray exorcist. Freed looked like your prototypical homunculus priest, with pale skin, blood-red eyes, and ghost white hair dressed in vestments. Unfortunately, that was where the similarities ended as this sick little man took pleasure in the torture and maiming of others. It was clearly visible on his twisted face as his eyes drank in every bit of my reaction to the pain, and then when I started to calm myself down just a bit, he twisted his blade deeper into my flesh before swiftly removing it. Freed stood up and motioned for the person who had just entered the chapel.

"Sister Argento, if you wouldn't mind this sinner here is in need of some of your divine healing."

"Why of course Father Sellzen, I'll be right there."

Returning his attention to me, he stooped down and uttered a hushed whisper into my ear before departing.

"I'm going to leave you in the care of this good sister here. But know this, if you try to escape I'll take deep pleasure in carving you up until the point of death and then I'll have this sweet girl put you back together. And if you try to poison her with your lies and tales of kidnap, I'll cut your tongue out and feed it to you, okay?"

As he departed he turned to give me a sick grin that sent shivers down my spine before he exited. My new warden, Sister Argento, was the polar opposite of Freed Sellzen it both looks and demeanor. She had pale-green eyes and beautiful long blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back. Her particular vestment of choice was a knee length, dark blue tunic, white wimple with blue bordering that had twin blue crosses embroidered on either side of the frontal segment, and a white veil with a solid blue bordering, and matte brown leather boots.

"Oh, you poor thing, this looks like it hurts a lot."

"Thank you, sister, it does hurt a lot."

She knelt next to me and placed her hands over the open wound and emitted a pale green light from her hands. I was shocked to see the same effects happen to my wound just as what had happened to Issei's and my own.

"How did this happen?"

"I got this for trying to break the rules."

"What rules would that be? What could possibly warrant being stabbed in the leg?"

"It doesn't matter Sister, just that I broke the rules."

"Don't worry I'll have you patched up in a little bit."

"Sister are you the other person that Raynare mentioned? She told me that I was the second person that she had meet that had something called 'Twilight Healing'."

"You also have this Sacred Gear? You are the only other person that I have ever met that had the same abilities. Truly God works in mysterious ways."

"What do you mean by that, God works in mysterious ways?"

"You see I used to be a Holy Maiden of the Catholic Church, but one day I found a poor soul that had been injured and wondered into the courtyard where I was praying. When I finished healing him he sprouted a pair of black bat-wings and flew off. I was able to heal a devil, and because of this I was labeled as a witch and was excommunicated."

*Time-Skip several Hours*

"But thanks to that I was finally able to meet another person like me. So, God truly works in mysterious ways."

"That explains how you ended up here in Kuoh. I kept asking myself how someone so pure and caring could be in a place like this."

"And what about you, how did you end up here? I don't even know your name."

I paused for a second, if I told her too much that maniac Freed would take pleasure in making me bleed. But I couldn't just ignore her question, so I told her.

"I'm Shirou Emiya, I'm a mage. Or at least I wanted to be, but my old-man never got around to fully teaching me before he passed away. As for how I got here, when my dad passed away the daughter of one of his associates took care of me until a couple of months ago when I moved here to be with other mage's my age."

"That still doesn't explain how you got here."

Fortunately for Asia, unfortunately for me, we were interrupted by the sudden appearance of my kidnapper, Raynare. I have yet to determine what sort of inhuman being she was, if I had to guess I would say she was some sort of fury from Greek mythology, that or some sort of angel. She looked especially delighted as she walked over.

"Asia, can you please go find Freed? We are in need of his talents downstairs."

"Of course, Lady Raynare. It was nice talking to you Shirou."

"I have some good news and some bad news for you, Shirou. Which would you like to hear first?"

"I'd like to hear the bad news first. That way I know things can't get any worse."

"Fine, the bad news is I finally got permission to harvest your sacred gear. I will be rewarded handsomely. Now for the good news. There isn't any."

"So, what does that mean exactly? Harvest my sacred gear, how?"

"There's no need to fret. We'll just take you downstairs, hook you up to this nifty little machine that we have, and rip your Twilight Healing from your still warm corpse."

A sick and sinister smile that rivaled Freed's formed across her face. The realization that she was about to kill me set in. As soon as they set me free, I had to make a break for it, but that chance never came.

[SQUELCH]

My nostrils were once again filled with the stench of burning flesh. This time, however, it came not from a blade less sword of light, but from a jagged spear of light that was now buried deep into my stomach.

"I can't have my valuable prize trying to run away."

I was trapped, with my wound I couldn't run. As she unceremoniously dragged behind the alter to a staircase, my thoughts kept racing. What could I do? I couldn't fight back, running also wasn't an option. I needed help. But who? Asia… no she couldn't help me. Issei… no he just barely survived his last meeting with Raynare. Akeno… Yes, Akeno would work. She was a fellow mage, if she couldn't help. She would know someone who would. I centered my consciousness and searched for her. When I found her, I called out with all my might.

---

Akeno Himejima's POV

"AKENO, HELP ME! please… I need your help."

It shook me to my core. Shirou had finally reached out for help. He sounded desperate, alone. I rushed to the one person that I knew could help.

"Rias! We have to go, now!"

"Akeno, what happened? You're shaking."

"He reached out to me. Shirou used our connection to call for help. I could sense his desperation, fear, and pain. Rias, they're about to kill him."

"Akeno, calm down. Did you get a sense of where he was?"

"I don't know, I can't get a read on his location. I can still feel him, but it's only a one-way connection. Rias, he's so scared right now."

"We can't do anything if we don't know where he is. I need you to try and sense where he is, anything."

"He's so scared, looking at his thoughts is like trying to put together a letter that been run through a crosscut shredder. Wait, he's thinking about Issei?"

"Issei was the last person that he saw before he was kidnapped, it only makes sense that he would be worried about him."

"No, that's not it Rias. He's thinking about how he could have tipped Issei off when he last heard him. Rias, Issei was near him this morning. It's the church, it has to be. He must have heard Issei this morning when he was dropping that Sister off at the church.

"Gather the troops, Akeno. We're going to rescue him."

---

The Occult Research Club had all gathered in the old school building, each one of us preparing for our first large group fight against the fallen angels.

"Koneko, Kiba, Issei, you three will be our spear. You will break thru the front door and engage any hostiles that you meet. Issei, I want you and Koneko to handle offense, Kiba you will handle scouting. Find him and report back. Akeno, you and I will engage the fallen angels that are in reserve. If we can isolate the church and prevent any reinforcements from arriving, we can win this."

"Rias-senpai, what should we do about Asia? She's my friend and I couldn't bear to fight her."

"According to Akeno, Shirou is also worried about her. If you run across her, don't engage, let her go. Now everyone onto the transportation circle."

We all assemble on the transportation circle and I just hope that we make it in time.

After the light of the magic circle died down, Rias and I split off from the rest of the group and headed around to the rear of the church.

"Well, well. Look what we have here. It's a couple of lost bats. Maybe we should help them find their way back to hell? What do you think Karawarner?"

"I think that would be fun Miltelt. But first a question. Are you the ones who are holding Doonaseek?"

"Doonaseek, Doonaseek, Doonaseek? Where have I heard that name before? Oh right, that was the name of that fellow that we put to death for trespassing onto Gremory Territory."

To emphasize I pulled a handful of black feathers from inside my waistband pouch and released them to float in the air in between the fallen angels and myself.

"His screams of agony were simply delicious. [Lick] I think that your screams will be just as delicious."

"You bitch! I'll have your ugly little batwings mounted above my mantel piece for this! You lowly little devils may have been able to beat Doonaseek together, but how will you fair against us in a fair fight?"

"Oh, you're very mistaken. We didn't beat him. We didn't even fight him. Didn't need to. No, he was beaten by my servant who had been reincarnated the day before. How did Issei describe it, Akeno? He crumpled to the ground after one hit."

"Rias, it's starting. We need to hurry up here before it's too late."

The two fallen angels descended from their perch in the trees above to block our path forward.

"Going somewhere? We're just getting started here. Are we not good enough for you? Or are you here for that poor… little… mage… Shirou Emiya?

Oh yes, we know all about him, the poor little boy got VERY aquatinted with Freed Sellzen and his love of bloodletting. Hahaha, you should have seen his face, every time that Freed would stab those light swords into him. His face was just priceless."

I could feel the rage and anger rapidly boiling to the surface. Their taunting me about how they watched Shirou be tortured. They needed to die. Slowly, painfully, but we didn't have time to waste on these… crows. So, I reached down, deep into myself and I unleashed the part of myself that I keep cutoff from the world. I let it bubble up to the surface, then I concentrated it, and shaped it into weapon of pure devastation. The fallen angels must have felt my power building because they instinctively floated away from me. Not that it mattered, I stretched my hands out toward them and let my hate flow out.

"Holy Lightning"

They never stood a chance. The lightning flowed from my hands and enveloped them in an instant, charring their skin and vaporizing their wings and hair. They were dead after the first half second, but I didn't stop until every trace of them was vaporized. When it was done, I felt a gentle touch on my arm. I rapidly turned to face the person who was touching me.

"Akeno, it's okay. They won't be able to hurt him anymore. Now let's go, he still needs our help."

"Rias, how can they be so cruel to him. He never did anything to hurt them. All he ever does is try to help people."

I embraced my friend and master as I tried, unsuccessfully, to hold back the tears. We just stood there for a moment before Shirou called out again.

---

When we arrived at the church, signs of intense fighting were plastered all over the interior, destroyed pews were strewn all over floor, some shattered, others cut to pieces.

We approached the altar and saw the marble was stained with blood and the stench of burnt flesh hung heavy in the air.

"Rias, I don't think I can go any further. I don't know what I'll do if I see him hurt."

"Akeno, you need to see this through. He reached out to you. Not me, or Sona… you. He trusts you. You're the only one that can help him."

"I'm scared, Rias."

[Raynare, you bitch! Let him go!]

"Akeno, we need to go. Issei and the others need our help."

We made our way around the altar to the staircase that led to Issei's shouting. As we descended the blood covered staircase, I prepared myself for the worse.

---

Shirou Emiya's POV

When we reached the bottom of the staircase Raynare kicked open a set of double doors to reveal a large high ceiling basement, with a large altar in the middle of the room. Atop the altar sat a large black cross with circuitry printed on the surface. Surrounding the altar stood dozens of figures facing the altar.

"Raynare, please you don't need to do this. It isn't too late to turn back from this. Just please… don't hook me up to that thing."

I was slowly dragged up the stairs to the top of the altar, even with my pleading, she never once showed anything other than desperation.

"Shirou, you must know that I'm never going to listen to you. I need your sacred gear, and this machine is the only way for me to get it from you. I have nothing against you, It's just good business. When I present your sacred gear to the Grigori, they'll have to take me back."

She slowly shackled my wrists to the chains that protruded from the beams of the cross. Then with the flick of her wrist, the chains slowly rescinded into the cross gradually hoisting me into the air until I was pinned against the surface of the cross. The figures below began rhythmically chanting in a language that I didn't know. With each passing verse, I started to sweat more and more as I could feel my energy being slowly drained away. It must have been at least fifteen minutes before the pain started. At first it felt like something was pinching and pulling on my chest, but with each passing moment the pain intensified. This pain was so much worse than anything that Freed could have inflicted upon me, and with it came the visions.

---

A woman clad in shimmering gold with a halo of gold on her head and bearing wings of purest golden feathers, and a man clothed in the darkest midnight robes bearing the darkest feathered wings appeared before my sight.

[But why can't I see either of you? I hate having to hide who I am.]

[Son, it is not who you are that must remain hidden. It is what you represent. There are many among us that would see you put to death as an abomination. Your mother and I couldn't bear to see that happen, so we must seal away your memories and your powers. One day we will be a family once again.]

[When?]

[We don't know. Not for a very long time.]

[You are our beloved child and we will never turn you astray. It is you who shall be the Reconciliation of Heaven. Your journey will be a long and hard one, but have faith my child you will never be alone. You can call forth a powerful protector should you ever need one.]

[Who is she, and how do I call her?]

[Her name is Arturia, long ago she was known as the King of Knights. Should you ever need to call her, you need only speak the words that we have taught you. Arturia has been given charge over your protection, should you ever need anything ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will open.]

---

A little boy with crimson-hair wanders the desolate city streets of a ruined city. Everywhere he turns, corpses fill the burned-out streets. Men, Women, Children all of them fodder before the unquenchable fire that rains down from the heavens. Occasionally, he stops to tend to those who have not yet passed.

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless you and keep you."

As the young boy continues to walk the streets he utters the same phrase over and over and over again.

"The one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire."

It became his mantra as he walks the streets for hours, until he finally collapses. But never once did he stop reciting his mantra…

"The one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire."

The boy looks up at me from where he lay among the burning husk of the city.

"Rejoice Shirou Emiya. You were dead but now you have new life, once you were lost, but now you have been found. Rise and be reborn."

---

It all came flooding back to me. My mom and dad, the pain, the death, the sorrow, all that had threatened to break me. But that wasn't all, the promise that I had made to every soul that I had come across. I would be the Reconciliation of Heaven, my life would now be lived for them, I would not allow anyone of those lives to be wasted while I still had breath in me. As I opened my eyes, I could feel tears start to flow from my eyes.

"Cry all you want, Shirou. Soon enough your sacred gear will be mine and then the Grigori will have to take me back."

"Raynare, these are not tears of sadness, they are tears of joy."

"Hahahaha! Tears of joy you say? Is it the joy of meeting your maker?"

"Yes. Because of you I now remember them. And I will be seeing them again, but not yet."

"You must have really lost it. Your going to die here, and there isn't a single thing that you can do to save yourself."

"You're correct I can't do anything to save myself. But there is one who can. A warrior so mighty and powerful that her name echoes throughout all of history."

"If you could truly summon someone like that human, you would have done it already."

[Let silver and steel be the essence.]

[Let stone and steel be the foundation]

[Let the blood I pay to thee be the price]

The atmosphere of the room becomes hushed as everyone freezes in place in response to my aria. Before me a crimson-red magic circle begins to take shape, and with each passing verse its power grows in intensity. The sound of thunder reverberates throughout the room as black storm clouds begin to form along the roof.

[I hereby declare.]

[Your body shall serve with me.]

[My fate shall be your sword.]

[Submit to the beckoning of the Reconciliation of Heaven.]

[If you will submit to this will and this reason…]

A bolt of lightning descended from the clouds to strike the magic circle, causing the stone around it to disintegrate. When the dust from the explosion settles, a girl clad in silver and blue knight's armor kneels in the magic circle facing me. Her long blonde hair is tied neatly into a bun with a solid dark blue ribbon.

"I come to answer the call of the Reconciliation of Heaven."

[Then Arise King of Knights!]

---

"What is thy bidding My Lord? You need only command me, and it will be done."

"Arturia, release me from these bonds."

"It shall be done."

In the blink of an eye, the young girl before me drew her sword and struck through the chains and cross that I was secured to in one smooth 'V' shaped motion, before returning to her kneeling position. Now free from the machination that once held me, I walked to the edge of the altar platform and surveyed my surroundings. The hooded figures fled like rats on a sinking ship, while the members of the Occult Research Club, their path now free from any opponents, charged up the steps of the altar. Behind me I could hear the fearful breathing of the only opponent left in the room, Raynare.

"What are you, Shirou Emiya?"

"My parents one told me that I am the Reconciliation of Heaven. They once told me that I was predestined to reunify the Kingdom of Heaven and that it was once told that my appearance would signal the emergence of a great and terrible evil."

"The reunification of the Kingdom? That's just utter nonsense."

"I give you a choice Raynare, submit or be destroyed?"

"I will not be subjugated, not by a filthy human."

"Arturia, my sword."

I reach my hand out to the King of Knights, who produces from her armor the blade of selection, Caliburn. It is a most fitting blade for a king, it measures just under four feet in length from hilt to tip. A beautiful and once ornate blade, it now radiates with the power of heaven. On top of the hilt sits a large blue gemstone, imbued with the purifying power of light capable of bringing low even the most robust of enemies. As I turn to Raynare, I can see the fear that the blade imbues in her. Never in her life has she been this close to a legendary holy sword, and she never will again.

"Kneel."

"Why would I do that?"

I give a quick glance to Arturia and in an instant she slams the pummel of her sheathed sword into the fallen angel's gut doubling her over onto the ground. As she retches from the sudden impact to her midsection, I slowly walk beside her and raise my sword.

"Raynare, you have been found guilty of rebelling against heaven, turning your back on your maker's love, and corrupting humans. For these crimes you shall be put to death, May God have mercy on your soul."

With one swift strike, I cleaved through her neck mercifully ending Raynare's life. I swipe my sword in a circular motion to remove the blood from my blade before handing it back to Arturia for safekeeping.

---

"Shirou!"

Issei, is the first to move after my execution of Raynare. He fearlessly charges in and attempts to run past the King of Knights before being leveled by the hilt of a sword to his gut and then pinned to the ground by her. She stares down at him with her blade point held at the base of his skull, almost daring him to move. The next to move was Akeno, tears stream from her eyes as she tentatively approached just within reach of Arturia before she bowed.

"May I approach closer?"

"You may, Akeno. Arturia, please release him. He's a friend."

"As you command my Lord."

Sheathing her blade Arturia returns to her kneeling position, but this time oriented perpendicular between the devils and myself.

"Arturia, how many times must I tell you, call me Shirou."

"Always once more as necessary, My Lord."

"Shirou, I was so worried about you."

As Akeno moves to embrace me, Arturia brings her blade up to rest between us.

"Please refrain from touching him, Devil."

"Arturia, please put that away. If you would like to be useful there is man upstairs that is trying to steal away with one of my vassals. Bring me him alive, but don't be gentle if he resists."

"It will be done, My Lord."

A giant smile spread across her face as she sprinted off up the stairs. While we continued our conversation, all hell broke loose above us. Whoever it was that was upstairs obviously didn't know when they were clearly outmatched.

"Shirou, I'm so sorry. I wish I could have gotten here faster."

"Akeno, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should apologize to you. I promised you a good home cooked meal and look what happened. I got kidnapped and you didn't get to try my hamburger steak."

Akeno tried to hold back her tears as she threw her arms around my neck and embraced me.

"You big dummy. You don't need to apologize for that. I'm just glad that you're okay."

---

After about two minutes of fighting the only noise that could be heard now was the sound of a body being dragged unceremoniously across the floor and down the staircase. When Arturia reentered the basement, she was dragging the unconscious body of a badly beaten and bruised boy with blonde hair and a gentle looking appearance. Following behind was a line of sixteen young women dressed in nun's habits including Asia. As Arturia marched her way up the stairs she made sure the boy hit every single step as she dragged him behind her before tossing him unceremoniously at my feet while the young ladies all stood in a semicircle behind the unconscious figure.

"My Lord, I have brought the intruders that you spoke of. The filth before you is their leader and was attempting to kidnap this young lady to my right."

"Can any of you speak to the character of this person. It may save his life."

Before either of them could speak, one of the nun's walked forward and spat on the sleeping figure before turning away in disgust. One after another, all of the women repeated the same action before turning away from their unconscious leader.

"Arturia, wake this filth up. I want him to speak to his actions."

Arturia drawing her sword, smashed the flat of her blade against the boy's skull causing him to jerk upright.

"What the Hell was that? Where am I?"

"What is your name and why are you here?"

"I am Diodora Astaroth, future head of the Astaroth Family."

Arturia snickers at the boy's comment before returning to kneel beside me.

"What's so funny you wench?"

"You will not address my subordinate in such a manner. And as for the snickering, she found it funny that you called yourself the future head of anything. Especially since I haven't decided to let you keep yours yet. Diodora Astaroth, you stand accused of mistreating your subordinates and the attempted kidnapping of one of a holy maiden, how do you answer these charges?"

"Mistreating my subordinates, they are mine to do with as I please. I rescued all of them after they were abandoned by the church, not one of them will speak ill of their treatment. As for kidnapping a holy maiden, I would hardly call what I did kidnapping, I was simply rescuing her from her current situation."

"Mr. Astaroth, I don't believe that you understand the gravity of the situation. I asked your subordinates to speak to your character and granted that none of them said anything against you their actions were enough to convey their thoughts of you. Therefore, I find you guilty on both charges. For your sins you shall be given an appropriate punishment."

"If I may be allowed a question, what exactly would be an appropriate punishment?"

"Rias-senpai, Romans Chapter Six Verse twenty-three, the wages of sin is death."

"Oh good. That's what I was hoping for. Before you carry out your punishment, I would ask for a brief stay of execution. There is something that I would like to do beforehand."

"Fine, a brief stay of execution. Do as you wish."

"Oh, thank you Rias. Truly, thank y-."

Diodora Astaroth's groveling was interrupted by a swift kick to the groin from Rias Gremory. Diodora doubled over in pain to protect himself from any further assault.

"You sick piece of shit. That's for all the times that you've forced yourself on your peerage. You disgust me."

"My Lord, that looks positively delightful. Might I partake as well?"

"Who am I to stop you from taking out your anger on that filth?"

"Lady Gremory, would mind terribly if I asked your subordinates to hold him up?"

"Certainly not. Issei, Kiba, if you don't mind."

The pair of young men finally snapped out of their shock and slowly walked forward to lift Diodora Astaroth to his feet. After which, Arturia delivered a swift kick into Diodora's groin.

"Arturia, now that you've had your fun, please dispose of this filth. I can't even look at him anymore."

"With pleasure, My Lord."

Arturia drew her sword and with one smooth motion slashed Diodora across the chest before returning her blade to its sheath. As his body began to rapidly disintegrate, he had a look of utter disbelief across his face.

---

*Time-skip Following Morning*

After the previous night's excitement, The Occult Research Club and I decided that it would be best for everyone if we waited until the following morning when everyone was of sound mind and body before we hashed out any issues that may arise from my continued presence at Kuoh Academy. So, now I sit once again in the student council room, only this time I'm not alone, to either side of me sit Arturia and Asia. They both opted to wear the traditional Kuoh Academy Girls Summer Uniform instead of their usual armor or habit. On the couch opposite me sits Rias, and the student council president has taken a seat behind her desk just to my right.

"Rias-senpai, I would like to thank you and your club for the assistance that they have rendered in this matter. I would ask for one small additional favor from you."

"What would that be Emiya?"

"I would like to have Arturia and Asia enrolled at Kuoh Academy. Neither one of them has ever formally attended school and I think that it would be a good experience for them."

"That shouldn't be a problem, right Sona? I'm sure that we can make that happen."

"That now brings up the matter of what club they should join, it seems like the only natural choice would be the Occult Research Club, given the delicate nature of the situation."

"I was thinking about starting a Sword Fighting Club, I'm sure that there are more than enough members of the Occult Research Club, and Student Council that would be interested in joining."

"If I'm not mistaken, the minimum number of students required for a club is five, with you, Arturia, Kiba, Tsubaki, and Meguri, you should have enough members to start a new club."

"Then that just leaves the matter of where to put Asia? Perhaps the Occult Research club? What do you think, Asia?"

"I'd like that very much, I've never been a part of a club before."

"Now Shirou, on to other business. After I reported on last nights incident's, my older brother contacted the Fallen Angel's and they denied any knowledge of the incident. However, one of their leaders did request an audience with you so that he could personally express his deepest sympathies over what happened to you at the hands of one of his subordinates."

"A leader of the fallen angels requested an audience with me? Do you know which one it was? I'm not very well versed in the leadership of supernatural beings."

"He wouldn't say, just that you would know them when you saw them."

There was a gentle knock on the student council room door before it was opened to reveal a tall man with black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee. He was wearing a blue blazer, light blue and purple stripped dress shirt, solid red tie, and purple dress slacks. Though I didn't know his name, I instantly recognized him from my vision.

Dad

===========Author's Note============

Post Script: This is my first Fan Fiction, so, what did you think? Like I said before, I have a very nonlinear approach to writing. On another note, I REALLY hate Diodora Astaroth, and if you've read the LN's you probably know why. He is one of the most hated characters in the entire series, and I just didn't want to have to deal with the filth that he brings with him. Don't worry, I'm not just going to write him out and then have no consequences, we all know who his older brother is. He may not like his younger brother, but in the realm of devils, family means something. If you haven't guessed, yes, Shirou is indeed a hybrid. Have A Good One, I Sincerely Hope That You Enjoyed This.

V/R

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