Fate:stay night: The Dragon of the Seventh Heaven

by Starlight's Poet

On the day before he was to die, Issei Hyoudou received a deck of cards, albeit very bizarre ones. The next day, just before Issei is about to be to killed by Raynare, an unknown power awakens within. Reviving lost souls? Cute monster girls? Angels and demons? Not quite what he pictured his life when dealing with insanely hot women. Non-SG Issei/Heaven's Feel Issei

2. Night 2

That was how everything started for me. Pretty shitty first date, huh? I finally score a hot girlfriend, and she tries to kill me on our first date.

But...in a way, that's where it all began. How I got involved in things that, at first, I couldn't really believe.

The only thing I really understood back then was...my normal life was over.

There wasn't going any back. From the moment I discovered this power of mine, my Fate was decided for me.

And it all started here: with that beautiful woman who saved me.

Let me start from the beginning. My name is Issei Hyoudou. I'm 17-years-old, and attend Kuoh Private Academy.

And, well, in spite of the fact that I'm just about as average as your everyday pervert who dreams of having a harem...

...I'm not normal.

---

High School DxD x Fate/stay night Crossover:

"Fate/stay night: The Dragon of the Seventh Heaven"

---

Night 2: Husband and Wife

Tamamo-no-Mae.

There was not a deity alive, be them of the Biblical Faction or of another race, who did not know that name.

In the days of the Heian Era, she was known to be the downfall of the Shang Dynasty. Before that, she was the courtesan and wife of Emperor Toba. A kitsune of unrivaled power - a practitioner of the spiritual arts, without equal - and also an incarnation of the Shinto Deity: Amaterasu the Sun Goddess. Sister to Tsukuyomi, God of the Moon and Susano'O, God of the Storm.

According to the stories shared, Tamamo-no-Mae was one of the many courtesan's that had caught Toba's fancy. One might even dare say it was truest love, if the reports and documents were to be believed. Had Abe-no-Seimei not come and investigate what bizarre illness befell the Emperor, she would have become Empress. There was no use for "what-ifs," however. The Onmyouji had seen her for what she was, and persecuted her.

Countless men took up arms. Commoners, soldiers and sorcerers fought against her. In the end, many a blood was spilled before she was felled. However, though she was seen as a powerful enemy, a monument had been built to pacify her soul. Some say that Toba had built it, still believing in their love. This monument would soon become known as a curse, for the lingering resentment for the ones who dared to cut her down lingered and released a horrific poison that killed any who dare approach, be them man, spirit or animal.

A powerful Onmyouji had pacified the raging spirit of Tamamo-no-Ma, and the cursed monument; the Killing Stone, was shattered. If the reports were true, some would claim that the spirit that was a emissary of the Shinto Sun Goddess returned to its origin, becoming whole with the entity once again. Of course, no one knows for certain, except for perhaps the Shinto followers themselves.

Raynare, as one who believed that she was a superior being - far beyond those of normal humans and other races - couldn't have cared less. There was, in truth, a bit of admiration for the incarnation of Amaterasu, if only because of her feat in punishing the humans who dared raised their hands. They were cattle and sheep, meant to be lead and herded. Defying those above them was punishable by death.

And yet, even she could not deny the overwhelming power that radiated from the woman who stood before her. The one who proclaimed to be Tamamo-no-Mae, the incarnation of Amaterasu-no-Ookami herself. Raw, unadulerated and primal magic power had flooded the area like a tidal wave swallowing a city. It was thick and heavy, suffocating almost. If she were a lesser being, Raynare would have been forced down to the ground and kneeled.

'Impossible!' she thought, unable to believe the quivering her body was showing as she faced down the downright murderous glare that the youkai holding her target was giving her. Such a horrific sight would have caused a lesser being to have a heartattack, then and there, just from the pressure such an intimidating gaze gave. 'How can I be shaking?!'

In her heart, she knew the answer. The fox woman's words from earlier had painted a clear picture of her fate.

...you had the nerve to try and kill my husband.

The idea was ludicrous. The boy, a mere human, had summoned a youkai to his aid. A youkai who boasted incredible magical power. Why was there a need to refer to him in such a manner?

Of course, that thought was hardly of any concern to the Fallen Angel at this moment. What mattered to her right now, at this very second...

"Prepare to die, bitch."

...was getting the fuck out of here!

With a beat of her wings, Raynare attempted to flee. She was no fool. She stood no chance against her alone. Perhaps, with aid, she could-

Wait. Why was it so cold all of a sudden? And why was she falling?

A second went by. Then her mind registered that the right half of her body was frozen solid. Her wing included. As a result, she couldn't fly properly. Now she was sent hurling back to the Earth she despised. Snarling, she released a burst of holy power. The ice shattered with ease and managed to regain her balance. Just as she readjusted herself, floating in place, she took notice of the many talismans that danced around her.

"Dammit." she cursed, remembering how the fox woman had brandished such items earlier. "A bounded field?"

"Did you really think I'd let you escape that easily?" the youkai who proclaimed herself as Tamamo-no-Mae spoke. Her tone was icy, yet bore a regal tone befitting that of a powerful, noble being such as herself. The scathing look of superiority she demonstrated brought nothing but indignation and anger to Raynare. "Especially after you tried to turn me and my hubby into a pin cushion? I think not."

With a flick of her wrist, a third of the talismans burned apart. Seconds later, a source of magic power let out a discharge, feeling like intense, blistering heat. Flames danced and expanded until they became tiny spheres, resembling burning orbs of inferno.

Raynare immediately recognized the danger these orbs posed, and paled. "Shi-!"

The spheres shrunk...then exploded.

Half a second later, a large chunk of Kuoh Park had been reduced to smoldering ruin.

---

As soon as the wave of power made itself known, the hand holding the crimson red chess piece shook. "Wh-what in the world...?!" Rias gasped, her heart beating rapidly. The pawn in her hand fell from her grasp, clattering to the chess board with a thunk and knocking over the King piece in the process, which proceeded to roll off the table and fall to the ground. "What is this?!"

Akeno's eyes widened as she rose to her feet, looking around wildly. Near the entrance to the room, Kiba's body tensed as he produced a European sword, radiating with dark power at its edge. He raced over to the window, peering out with narrowed eyes. As soon as he saw the towering pile of smoke rising in the distance, his eyes widened and whirled upon his Master. "Buchou!" he called in a panic. "There was an explosion over at Kuoh Park! It's no doubt where the one releasing this magic is!"

The heir to the Pillar of Gremory bit her lip, rising from her seat. Demonic power flared around her. An unbridled, destructive forced that beat in her breast demanded to be unsheathed, resonating with the anger that flowed. "Someone dared to pick a fight in my territory?" she growled. "And in broad daylight, no less!"

"Rias." Akeno said to her King, voice deadly serious. "What are your orders?"

The red-haired Devil had no hesitation. This was not the Great Lady that many of the female body of this school admired. This was the Devil who earned this position through blood, sweat and tears. This was the King of their Peerage. "Have your familiar scout the area. I want to know who did this." she said before she turned to Kiba. "Yuuto. Go inform Sona of our unwanted guest. As soon as we have an idea of who had the balls to start a fight in the middle of my territory, with plenty of humans nearby, be prepared. This is probably going to be a difficult battle."

Her Knight bowed deeply. "Understood."

Without further ado, he ran out the room, slamming the door open and dismissing his sword while running down the halls. Rias soon bit her lip, looking out the window. She had to admit, the fact that someone openly released so much magical power was rather bold of them. Had she not known any better, she would have believed this to be a declaration of war. A very bold one, at that. She then pressed a finger to her temple, closing her eyes as she soon established a telepathic link to Koneko. Hopefully, she was performing her duty well. As much as she hated to pull her away from her current task and worrying over that human boy's safety, the matter would have to wait.

"Koneko. Are you there?"

At first, there was no answer. Something that unnerved her greatly. With greater fervor, she called again. This time with more heat in her voice. "Koneko!"

A second. Then a patch of static, crazy and wild before it settled down, establishing a clearer connection to her rook.

'Buchou...' the heir of Gremory's brow crunched tightly, practically hearing the trembling tone in her voice. Never, save for the nightmares she suffered when she remembered the day her sister had become a Stray Devil. 'The human...Hyoudou...he...'

Her heart clenched. Had Koneko failed? Had the boy died? "What happened?" she asked, fearing the worst. "Koneko, what happened to Hyoudou-kun?"

'H-he...he summoned her...'

She blinked. Summoned? What had that meant? Moreover...was that a tone of reverence in her Rook's voice?

'He summoned Tamamo-no-Mae!'

---

"Silver and gemstone line the path. They forge the circle of the pact - calling to spirits of myth and legend to partake in the communion of battle."

"Desires, ideals, ambitions...they become the core of the chant. The heroes of yore answer the call, vacating their thrones."

"Fill and shut. Fill and shut. Fill and shut. Fill and shut. Fill and shut. The filling of thy cup continues until it breaks. The cycle repeats until power is made manifest."

"Warriors of the sword, bow, and lance. Heroes of the chariot, tome and dagger. Legends of vengeance, madness and forgiveness. Together, they swirl at the center. O soul who weaves together the arcane - holder of all that creates and destroys...answer."

A resounding heartbeat echoed. Something within the vastness of this spaced, stirred, slowly opening a pair of soft brown eyes. Above, a heavenly light danced before them. Within that light, they saw something shifting. Some kind of animal or being, with hidden eyes staring deep into their own.

A voice echoed in his ears, ringing out clearly.

"What is it you seek...obt...w...h...e...w...o...eg...s?"

The light spluttered, like a light bulb failing to provide illumination any further. After a few seconds, it blinked away into non-existence. Once more, they found themselves falling into darkness, eyes slowly drifting back to slumber.

At least...until a gentle voice, heavenly and beautiful, spoke in his ear. At that moment, the black vastness broke apart.

---

"...ome on now, hubby~! A nap is all good and all, but too much is a bad thing!"

Issei stirred awake, his body aching all over. 'Ow...' he thought, groaning. His muscles tightened up and hurt, just from simple movements. 'Dammit...I'm so sore. The last time I felt like this, I tried to beat Matsuda in a race back during the relay event in the Sports Day Festival last year!'

Even to this day, he wondered why he tried to do something so stupid? Matsuda was more physically fit than he was, and was actually one of the school's top runners. Sadly, most people ignore that fact due to his perversion.

But as he pondered, he realized something. What was that voice?

Slowly, he opened his eyes. When he did, his mind short-circuited. The first thing that came to mind was that he was most likely dreaming or maybe he had died and gone to heaven when Yuuma attacked him. Beneath his head was something soft and tender, unbelievably smooth and fleshy as his hand investigated. Connected to whatever his head was laying on was a sight he was accustomed to, but NEVER to this angle. He knew for certain that, chances were, he would never be able to witness this sight in real life, given his circumstances, so he was either asleep or dead and went to paradise.

The Legendary Lap Pillow.

'No way.' his mind solemnly squealed in the utmost delight. 'No FUCKING way. T-this has to be it. I'm laying my head on soft, meaty thighs and I'm looking right at some rocking babe's panties! If this is a dream, then don't wake me up!'

Then his mind stopped and realized something. If his head was laying on thighs, that meant a girl was willing to put him in such a position. And the voice he heard earlier was unmistakably female. Slowly, he looked up and blinked. Sure enough, it was a girl. And a bombshell at that. She was wearing a dark blue kimono and was revealing quite a bit of her cleavage and had a heart-shaped face that simply made his heart go pidder-patter. And that beautiful smile, eyes locked with his, so loving and tender, was the perfect face of a wonderful girl Issei never knew existed.

However, there was one feature that confused him profoundly. Namely, the pair of fox-like ears that twitched and flopped and wiggled atop her head.

"Welcome back, darling~" The woman chirped happily.

Good Gods...even her voice is beautiful and adorable!

"Wha..." Words died in his throat, unable to make an intelligible sound. Where on earth did this girl come from? And moreover, who was she? Not that he was complaining. She did help him cross something off from his bucket list. His eyes remained trained on her ears, though. They twitched a bit as she continued to look at him.

Noticing how tongue-tied he was, the woman giggled. "Oh, you are so cute when you're flustered, Husband!"

Cute? She thought he was cute? Well, that was...strange. Half the time, he was called gross, disgusting, plain and whatnot, so being called cute by a girl, an insanely hot girl at that, was pretty strange.

Wait, what did she just say? Slowly, and much to the woman's disappointment, Issei pushed himself up. "Um...I'm sorry." he apologized. "I don't think I heard right. Did you just call me 'husband'?"

"Of course I did, silly~"

"Ah, I see." A beat, then his jaw dropped. "EH?!"

H-h-h-h-HUSBAND?! What the hell?! When...when did he get married?! He's only 17! And how the hell did he score such a beautiful woman as his wife?!

No, wait! That wasn't the point here! When the heck did this happen?! What happened while he was unconscious-!

"...will you die for me?"

Information and static suddenly reared their ugly heads inside his brain, causing him to grit his teeth and press a palm to his forehead.

That's right. How could he have forgotten? Yuma...the girl who confessed to him the other day. At the end of their date, she tried to kill him. She had black wings coming out from her back and a spear in her hand, one of which had nearly skewered him had he not thrown himself out of the way.

But what happened after that? He remembered begging for someone to help, but everything after that point was blank. It was like he suddenly went unconscious at that exact moment in time. Could he have fainted somehow? Then Issei realized something else. Something more important.

They were no longer in Kuoh Park. Rather, they were sitting in a small bus waiting station out on the street. It was still dusk, given how the sky was still colored dark orange, and there were a handful of people wandering about. Cars passed by on occasion, making the streets rather empty and dull.

"H-huh? Wait, how did I get here?"

The woman next to him laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek. "Yeah, um...I kinda lost my temper when that filthy hag tried to turn you into a shishkebab, so I miiight have gone a bit overboard in trying to kill her." Issei stared at her, unsure if he heard her correctly for the second time. "And I might have destroyed the park in the process."

...one second passed. Then Two. Then three. Then finally, it all sunk into his head.

"...eh?"

---

Ice and soot covered the entire area. The fountain, which was perhaps the defining feature of the park, had been partially destroyed. Half of the concrete walls that contained the water was smashed open, letting some of the contents spill out. Small fissures and craters rested in the pavement, or rather what was left of it. Benches had been reduced to shards and splinters, some of which had been completely destroyed. The water fountain had been completely frozen over from top to bottom, making it look like some kind of demented ice sculpture. A good majority of the trees in the surrounding area that provided such a superb background had been also destroyed beyond recognition. A few were scorched beyond repair, branches naked while others had been reduced to mere disgraceful stumps.

"About a good hour has gone by, and the magic power that fills the area is still prominent." Sona remarked coolly as she adjusted her glasses. Beneath the item were sharp eyes that gleamed with both annoyance and calm fury. "The attacker was very powerful and well-versed. Moreover, the amount of power was assuredly meant to kill whoever they were fighting." She turned to Rias, who looked equally as angry yet at the same time just as spooked. "And according to Toujou-san...the one responsible for this was Tamamo-no-Mae?"

The heir of Gremory nodded. "Yes. She said that Hyoudou-kun summoned him." She pursed her lips, folding her arms beneath her ample bust. "That boy possessed no magical power...and yet I know Koneko wouldn't lie. ESPECIALLY not about something like this."

The girl had been absolutely serious in her report. There was no mistaking that expression of fear she had.

She had good reason to be afraid, if it truly was Tamamo-no-Mae.

Sona looked back at the devastation before her. Such a sight was ugly, and more importantly, insulting. Such destruction, and in the middle of the territory she shared alongside Rias. Territory they were supposed to maintain. It was utterly disgraceful.

"Kaichou." Tsubaki called, approaching from behind her. "We've created a bounded field. It should last for a few days. Long enough for us to repair the park."

"Thank you, Tsubaki."

Her Queen was silent. "...do you really believe it really was Tamamo-no-Mae?"

"Logically speaking, no." the King of the Sitri peerage answered. "She died long ago at the hands of soldiers and magicians alike. However, logically speaking usually refers to ordinary humans. She was a nine-tailed fox on top of being the Avatar of Amaterasu-no-Mikoto. The only true way to confirm this would be to monitor Hyoudou-kun closely."

Rias, mulling over the situation herself, noticed something lying on the ground. Curious, she bent down and picked it up. It appeared to be a black metal container, bearing a golden insignia resembling some sort of dragon. "What is this?" she wondered, opening it to find nine cards, each depicting a different figure with a name attached. "How curious..."

"What is it, Rias?" Sona asked.

"This. I found it lying on the ground." She gave it to Sona, who took it and looked it over. "Strangely, it survived the destruction around it. Completely unharmed, I might add."

The Sitri heiress remained quiet as she inspected the container and its contents. How strange. The cards themselves seem to be composed of normal card stock, yet there was something different about them. Of what, she couldn't say. She gently rapped her knuckles against the container. "It seems to be made of some sort of metal." she inspected. "And it's magically reinforced. Whoever created it meant for it to withstand virtually almost anything. I'd wager it could handle your Power of Destruction and still come out unscathed."

"Really?" Rias asked, surprised. "But why reinforce something as simple as a box full of cards?"

"Who can say? For now, let's find Hyoudou-kun and our troublesome youkai." Sona's eyes narrowed dangerously, showing that she meant business. "If this truly is Tamamo-no-Mae we're dealing with, then we'd best be on our guards here."

---

"S-so, let me get this straight. You're Tamamo-no-Mae."

"Yep~"

"The same Tamamo-no-Mae from Shinto folklore?"

"That's me~"

"A-and the reason you saved me from Yuma-chan was because I summoned you."

"That's it~" Tamamo said with the same sing-song tone, all the while grinning like a fool. Then her face melted into a small frown. "Still, that hag was quite rude! Attacking me after you went through the trouble of bringing me here! Who does she think she is?" Her frown grew further, puffing her cheeks. "And all I managed to do was just get a wing off of her. Hmph!"

Issei stared at the woman who had called herself his wife not too long ago, not sure whether she was perhaps insane or if he was still dreaming. He was too confused to tell, and this damned headache that has plagued him all day was not helping matters. "Um, okay..." he said, sighing. "This is so weird. Too much stuff happening way too fast..."

First his supposed girlfriend tried to kill him, then he passes out, then he wakes up on a lap pillow of a girl who claims to be the incarnation of Amaterasu from Shinto legend as well as his wife...

It was too much.

'My head hurts.' Issei thought. His skull felt as if it was about to crack and shatter apart. 'Dammit, I think it's worse than when Kaichou let me go home early the other day.'

"Are you alright, Husband?" Tamamo asked him, face written plainly with concern. "You look like you're in pain."

God this felt so weird. Any other day, he'd be happy to have someone like this call him like that. Especially a girl as cute as this. However, given everything that's happened to him today, it just felt so...strange. Out of place.

"It's nothing." he told her with a small smile. "My head's just been hurting for the last couple of days. So, um, Tamamo-san-"

"Tama-chan."

Issei blinked. "Eh?"

"Call me Tama-chan." Tamamo told him with a strangely serious face.

"O-okay, Tama-chan..." he corrected himself. The woman now smiled.

His heart went aflutter, seeing such a beautiful smile. Aaah, he must have been the luckiest guy on the-no, wait. Focus brain! "S-so, what happened to Yuma-chan?"

"Oh, you mean the hag?" Tamamo pouted. "The filthy crow got away before I could clip her wings." Then a wide smile formed across her face. "But I think she got the message. Nobody messes with a newlywed!"

"N-Newlywed?!" Issei gaped. Just what happened when he was unconscious?!

"Uh-huh!" Tamamo chirped. "A summoning is like a marriage contract, no?"

Issei stared at her, mouth agape. Summoning? What?! The hell was going on?! Was this another weird-ass dream?! He knew he was dreaming of a girl that would be like a housewife or something, but this was not what he had in mind?! He soon cringed in pain when his skull throbbed once more. Damn this headache of his. It was only making things worse.

Maybe he should just head home for the day. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. At least then he'd get...some...

"...oh my god." he realized as he palmed his face with horror, much to the fox girl's confusion. "My parents are going to MURDER me..."

It was late, so freaking late! He was supposed to have been home hours ago! Forget Yuma, they were going to tear him apart!

Tamamo was oblivious to his obvious plight, though she didn't really mind. Instead, she merely giggled to herself. 'He's so adorable~' she thought giddily. 'To think I have a Master like him! I'm so lucky.' Then she paused and reflected on the situation. No, that wasn't right. He wasn't her Master. And she wasn't a Servant, either. At least, not anymore. It was so strange, how she was called into the world in such a strange manner. She flexed her hands, letting her prana flow through her. Compared to her time as a Caster-class Servant, the power that flowed through her was in much greater force.

There was also, of course, the fact that she lacked an astral form. This body was nothing but pure flesh and blood. It was quite a strange phenomenon. Servants summoned by the Grail are granted a physical body made of Prana. Yet her body is physical and real.

It made her quite curious about her new husband. What kind of summoning method did he use? Could it even really be called that? If she remembered right, there was a magic that could resurrect the dead. The Heaven's Feel. It was what was used to call forth Fragments of Heroic Spirits: the Servants who embodied their legend. She classified as a Caster, Lancer and Berserker, but only one version of her could exist. And each Servant only had a fraction of her power. Of course, it was natural. She was a Divine Spirit, so her power was obviously limited.

Yet she had access to all that power. It felt quite strange.

At present, though, she didn't need to worry about the details of her apparent summoning. For now, she'll just enjoy her time with her husband!

'I wonder what his parents are like?'

---

"...Raynare is late." a middle-aged man, dressed in a trench coat and fedora hat, mumbled with slight concern. "Where is she? She should have accomplished her mission by now."

A voluptuous woman wearing a skimpy dress tilted her head, flipping her hair. "Do you think she ran into the Devils?"

"Perhaps, though unlikely. Due to the ceasefire, they wouldn't risk fighting with a Fallen without circumstance."

"If they do pick a fight, though, wouldn't the boss be in trouble?" a blonde girl dressed like a gothic lolita asked, hanging up on the rafters. "Lucifer and Leviathan's sisters are the ones ruling this territory."

"Not necessarily." The man answered. "Depending on who attacked first, either party could be blamed for initiating conflict."

Not that they would have preferred it. They wanted little confrontation with the Devils in this territory, especially given the nature of their mission. Besides, Dohnaseek doubted the loss of one human would be worth much to them. Especially since there were so many humans already. Still, this was troubling. Why hadn't Raynare returned already? Had she experienced trouble? Was there perhaps an unforeseen complication?

As the three Fallen Angels waited, the doors to the cathedral opened. In came Raynare. Her beautiful dress, meant to tempt Issei Hyoudou, was torn and ripped apart, the majority scorched beyond repair. Her body was shaking, skin pale where her once beautiful face was marred with soot. Her ebony hair was disheveled as if she had just woken up, only a hundred times worse as a good portion of it was somehow burned and singed, making it uneven and rather choppy. Blood ran down the side of her face while she clutched a severely broken arm. Her leg was sliced open, letting more blood leak down her leg.

However, all of that paled in comparison to the shredded, almost mangled remains of her left feathery wing.

"R-Ray!"

Kalawarner was the first to reach her, flying down to her side and preventing her from falling to the ground. Out of the three, she was arguably the closest to Raynare due to the reasons why they had fell in the first place.

"K-Kala..." Raynare gritted her teeth. Her pride was in shambles, just barely letting her restrain from screaming and whimpering in pain. Her dignity would not allow her to appear weak. "Grgh! Fucking hell...!"

"What the hell happened to you?" Mittelt asked, jumping down from the rafters. "You look like you got your ass handed to you by a bear!"

Dohnaseek's eyes narrowed. "Was it a Devil?"

"N-no." Raynare spat. "It wasn't. It was a youkai." The three were surprised to hear this. A youkai was here in the Devils' territory? Were they really that sloppy? More importantly, why was a youkai here in Kuoh? However, what she said next surprised them even further. "I-it wasn't just some run-of-the-mill youkai, either! It was fucking Tamamo-no-Mae!"

Dohnaseek gasped. "B-but that's impossible! Tamamo-no-Mae is-!"

"Look at me." Raynare snarled. "LOOK AT ME, DOHNASEEK! Do I look like I'm joking?! I am missing a wing, Dohnaseek! A fucking wing! AND IT WAS THE AVATAR OF AMATERASU WHO DID IT!"

The other three Fallen looked at one another. They were unsure how to properly process this revelation. If their comrade was telling the truth...then things just got even more complicated...

But that shouldn't be possible. The Avatar of the Shinto Sun Goddess was dead and gone. The idea that she still existed in the modern day was...

But if it is possible...

---

For about a few minutes since he made his way back home, Issei had never expected so many strange things to happen. To start off the list, he nearly got killed by his girlfriend, no wait, ex-girlfriend he supposed would be the better term right now. Then he found out he summoned the incarnation of the sun goddess herself, which also landed him into a marriage of some kind. He tried to make sense of it, but it was too much. His headache was not helping matters.

Tamamo had insisted that she meet his parents in order to earn their approval. He had no idea what the hell was going on through her mind. He was also terrified for himself as well. How was he supposed to explain all of this to his parents. What would he say? "Hi guys! Turns out my ex-girlfriend has wings and tried to kill me, but I summoned this really hot fox girl and now I'm married!" Yeah, that would boil over well.

He was still fixated on those ears of her, though. They looked so fluffy. Would she mind if he touched them?

'No, stop!' Issei shouted in his mind. 'Focus, Hyoudou!'

"So this is your home..." Tamamo mused as she tilted her head, inspecting his home with curiosity. "Not very big, though, compared to the other houses around here."

Issei chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Well, my family doesn't really make all that much." he told her. "They were low-end jobs, but it pays enough for the bills. So, um...are you sure you want to meet my parents?"

"But of course! It's only fair that I meet my future in-laws, no?"

"W-well, I guess, but I'm still not sure..." The brunette then glanced back at her ears, along with her tail. His frown grew. "I suppose I could tell them that you're into cosplay, but would they even really buy that?"

Tamamo tilted her head, not sure what he meant by that before realizing what he was getting at. It would be odd to see their future daughter-in-law with fox ears and a tail. Fortunately, she knew how to remedy the situation. With a small grin, she let her magic flow and twirled her hand. In seconds, a shimmer danced around her, forming into a small aura of light before it cloaked her being. Issei winced, covering his eyes as the light proved to be too bright.

Eventually, it died down. As he lowered his arms, he suddenly found his jaw becoming well acquainted with the floor and his pants becoming uncomfortably around his nether regions.

His 'wife' was no longer clad in her blue kimono, nor was she with a tail or ears. Instead, she looked to be an extremely beautiful girl that gave off the spring vibe. And by the gods, did she look good. She wore a pink-and-white striped thin jacket that was partially unzipped, revealing her amble cleavage and the sleeves ending at the tips of her fingers. Below, she wore black shorts with dark pink frills that incredibly well with her thigh-high socks with similar frills. At her feet were black boots with a light pink accent and sole. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders, a few black bows found here and there. Her jacket's hood also had large triangular appendages, no doubt to accomodate for her fox ears.

Needless to say, she was drop dead sexy. 'If this is a dream, then don't wake me up!' Issei's perverse side solemnly declared with all his heart, hearts in his eyes. 'Because I think I'm in love!'

"What do you think, Husband?" Tamamo asked, wanting his input. "Will this suffice?"

"Y-yes! Most definitely!" Issei nodded energetically.

Tamamo grinned, putting her hands on her hips, proud that her attire suited her husband's tastes.

Now it was time to meet the in-laws!

Steeling himself for the scolding of a lifetime to come, Issei took the key from his pocket, inserted in the door, turned it, and open the door.

Not even an inch open and his mother slammed the door open, a furiously concerned expression on her face. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

Issei squeaked, recoiling. Tamamo blinked, surprised by the ferocity this woman demonstrated.

"Er...h-hi, mom?"

"Don't 'hi' me, mister!" her mother growled. "You've been gone for hours! Do you have any idea how worried your father and I have been?! I understand that this was your very first date, but for heaven's sake! What were you two even doing?! Were you doing something indecent?! Moreover, why didn't you answer your phone?! You know the rules, Ise-kun! Now what do you have to say...for...your..." His mother trailed off, noticing Tamamo's presence. Blinking, she stared at the girl before turning to Issei. "Ise-kun, is this...?"

Recovering himself quickly, Issei's mind already thought up a plausible excuse. "U-um, mom, this is my girlfriend, Yuma!" he said, trying his best not to screw up. "Yuma, this is my mother, Narumi!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Narumi-dono." Tamamo said, understanding the lie her husband gave as she bowed politely. "I hope I have not caused you or your husband any trouble."

"O-oh no, not at all..." Narumi shook her head. "Pardon my behavior earlier, I was just worried because Issei never contacted me about being late..."

"I apologize." She bowed. "We were having so much fun we just lost track of time..."

She paused. "That, and teaching a filthy old hag not to touch what isn't hers."

Issei laughed while panic raged. That...was bad. Thankfully, his mother didn't seem to understand what she meant before turning back to her son. "Well, it is your first date, so I suppose I'll let it slide. At any rate, Yuma-chan, would you like to stay over for dinner? Ever since Ise-kun mentioned you, my husband and I have been wanting to meet you."

"Of course!" Tamamo smiled. "It would be my honor, Narumi-dono!"

Issei's mother giggled. "My, so polite." she remarked pleasantly. "Well, come on in, then!"

With a cheerful smile, Tamamo entered the household with Issei following after her. It seems like things went better than he anticipated.

'But what's the bad feeling I'm getting?' Issei wondered, feeling unsure. He shook his head, wondering if it was just because of everything that's happened today. "Hey, mom? Do we have any tylenol? I've been having this killer headache for the last couple of days lately."

"We should still have some in the cupboard." Narumi said. She then turned to Tamamo and smiled widely. "Yuma-chan, would you like to have dinner with us?"

"That would be delightful. Thank you very much." She clasped her hands together in gratitude.

Warning bells sounded off in Issei's head. Dinner? With his parents? With Tamamo?

'Oh boy...'

---

Unknown to anyone in the Hyoudou Household, however, there were prying eyes observing it. Said prying eyes belonged to Rias Gremory, who watched the four interact at the dinner table as they ate. They seemed to be rather animated as well, though as to why she was unsure. She couldn't hear anything, though she wasn't really interested in the conversation. Rather, she was more interested in the scenery itself. More specifically, one of the four at the table.

"Is that her, Koneko?" Rias asked her Rook. The petite girl nodded, face serious and rigid. "So, that's the legendary Tamamo-no-Mae."

Quite frankly the girl she was observing...wasn't quite what she expected of a being known as the incarnation of Amaterasu. She would've imagined the host of the most powerful Shinto Goddess to be more refined and professional.

The pink haired woman before her was very cheerful and affectionate.

Of course, Rias always held true to the saying to never judge a book by its cover. The best example was her brother. Despite his odd faults, he was every bit worthy his title of Devil King Lucifer. Though he may act childish, beneath that is a powerful devil who would reek havoc upon any who dared to harm what he held dear. And may the God of the Bible have mercy on the poor bastards who were on the receiving end.

Though Tamamo-no-Mae may look innocent...the magical power she possessed was far beyond that of anything she's ever seen. 'High-class?' she wondered. 'No, Ultimate. Maybe even Maou?'

"Mother told me many stories about Tamamo-no-Mae-sama." Akeno said, staring at the figure with a sort of reverence given her upbringing as a shrine maiden. "Though I must admit, I wasn't quite expecting this."

"Neither can I, but magical power does not lie, Akeno." Rias' frown deepened. "And yet, despite all of this, I still don't feel an ounce of magical power from Hyoudou-kun." She looked back at Koneko. "You're sure? Before she appeared, you felt him flare mana?"

"Yes, Buchou." Koneko said. "It was...unlike anything I've ever felt. There were so many presences, not just his. Each was different. It was...hard. I couldn't make out most of them."

"Many presences?" Rias hummed, drumming her finger along her chin. "Perhaps he's more likely a conduit of magic power, rather than possessing his own reserves?"

"It's possible." Akeno hummed. "Hyoudou-kun has shown no aptitude in the magical arts. So it is unlikely for the flare of power to be from his own reserves."

Kiba tilted his head. "So he simply borrows magic power from another?" he inquired. "But Koneko said she felt multiple people's powers. An ordinary human without any magical potential whatsoever would die by using themselves as a conduit if the person they're borrowing power from is too powerful. So many individuals at once would obliterate his body completely."

"Ordinary..." Suddenly, it clicked in Rias. A realization dawned upon her and she cursed her stupidity. How is it that she couldn't have seen this sooner? "Akeno. Please investigate the Hyoudou Family tree and their ancestors."

Akeno blinked. "Ara? May I ask why?"

"While it may be true that Hyoudou may not have aptitude in magic, a possible explanation for this phenomenon could be due to his lineage. He may have been descended from powerful mages with large reserves."

Her Queen nodded, taking her leave from the room.

---

The bad feeling that Issei sensed had come true. It was a catastrophe of untold levels. It may as well have been the end of the world. He wanted nothing more than the world to swallow him up and kill him.

"Eh?! Darling's a pervert?!"

"Oh, yes. We've tried so hard to put him on the right path, but ever since he met that old man in the park so long ago, he's been utterly obsessed with women's breasts! He even dreams of one day being a harem king of all things! I know he may seem like an insufferable lecher at times, Yuma-chan, but please! Set him on the right path!"

Issei didn't dare lift his head up. His entire face from the neck down was scarlet, bangs obscuring his eyes. Damn his mother for subjecting him to this treatment! Was this payback for not being a good son and not working hard in school?! Was this his punishment for being a pervert?! Telling Tamamo about his sinful backstory?! He couldn't help it if he was a hot-blooded man!

'This...really is the worst.'

"Careful, dear." Ryoji Hyoudou, Issei's father, said with a small smile on his face. "If you embarrass Ise-kun any further, and he just might die from embarrassment."

'That might be preferable.' Issei thought in despair. The stare Tamamo gave him was...very painful. And for some reason, he feared for the safety of his crotch. 'Oh, just let this torture be done with!'

"I see...very well then!" Tamamo stood up from her seat, her expression best in fierce determination. "I shall do it!" She pounded her fist into her chest. "I will ensure that darling is purged of such indecent thoughts! After all, it is a wife's duty to tend to his Husband, is it not?"

Issei choked. She WHAT?! What was going on?!

His parents looked at one another, then at Tamamo. "...Yuma-chan." his mother said in a quiet voice. "Are you saying...you want to marry Ise-kun?"

"There is no 'want,' Narumi-dono." Tamamo said matter-of-factly as she crossed her arms. "We are already wed."

Yep, she did. She totally just did. So much for normalcy and whatnot. Goodbye, Issei Hyoudou's sanity. It was nice knowing you.

Both his parents were rendered speechless by the startling proclamation. Issei wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole right now.

Soon, Narumi regained her voice as she looked at Tamamo with a very serious look on her face. "Yuma-chan, may we speak in private for a moment?"

"Of course, Narumi-dono." Tamamo replied.

The two women then stood up, leaving the room. As they did, Issei found himself staring at Tamamo in worry. No doubt she was going to be torn a new one by his mother. He wasn't sure who he should be worried for more, Tamamo for being on the receiving end of a lengthy scolding or his mother out of fear she might provoke her. His eyes then found themselves glued to his 'wife's' swaying hips, which were a mesmerizing sight.

Dear god, those curves were dangerous.

"...I thought you said Amano-san was shy." Ryoji said, utterly astounded by the girl's bravery before grinning. "That was not shy, Ise-kun. That is a bold declaration. You sure know how to pick 'em."

Issei laughed nervously, unsure whether or not if that was a compliment. He certainly had quite a bit of luck, having a beautiful and sexy girl like that as his apparent wife, yet at the same time he was still scared out of his mind.

"She's a keeper, all right." his father continued. "They don't make girls like that, anymore. Heh. Reminds me of Narumi-chan back in our school days."

"Eh?! Mom was like Ta-er, Yuma-chan?"

Ryoji nodded sagely. "Oh, most definitely. I wasn't really the popular or handsome guy in school. I was just the deadly average guy. Yet, in my second year, I might this girl who's constantly hanging around me. She wasn't the naggy or nosy or forceful kind of girl. Just the kind of girl who seemed to hang around you for no apparent reason and she almost always got her way. Not 'cause she was spoiled or anything, but because unlike other people, she was assertive and bold."

Issei remained quiet as he listened. This was honestly the first time his parents ever talked about when they were his age or how they met. He found himself intrigued and continued to have an open ear.

"Narumi-chan was definitely not like most girls. Strange part was, she wasn't one of the popular girls, either. True, she had a small fanbase, but that was because of how good she was at kickboxing. A few girls admired her, and the boys? Hah! They were terrified of her because of how badly she kicked their asses."

"Huh." Issei rested his hand against his palm. "So mom was a go-getter kind of girl?"

Ryoji chuckled. "Yep. To be honest, I still don't understand how or why she fell for an average joe like me. Anyway, point is, Issei. A fine gal like that? That is a girl you will never find anywhere else. Don't lose her, otherwise you might regret it."

Issei didn't think he had to worry about that. If he was being honest, Tamamo seemed like the person that wouldn't let go of him. Then again, they had only just met...which only added to his confusion. He understood the part about her summoning being something like a marriage contract, but was she really happy about that? She was more or less with a guy who was a pervert for a living. Was she honestly okay with that? Surely, she could be with someone better.

'More importantly...'

His mind raced back to earlier today. Even now, he could not remove the picture of Yuma with pitch-black wings, staring at him with a sinister smile, spear of light in hand and poised to end him right then and there.

"You don't have any magic power from what I can tell. And you don't even have a Sacred Gear. Why does a filthy human like you interest Azazel-sama so much?"

'What did she mean by that? What the heck is a Sacred Gear? And what even IS Yuma, anyway? Who the heck is this Azazel guy?'

There were far too many questions and too little answers. In all honesty, this situation made him feel as if he were in some kind of light novel.

"ISE-KUN!"

The brunette and his father jumped, whirling around to see Narumi rush into the kitchen, clasping her hands on his shoulders with an almost crazed look on her face.

"E-eh?! Mom, what's-"

"MARRY HER!" came the shout that damn near blew his eardrums. "MARRY THAT GIRL RIGHT NOW!"

A second. Two, three, four. Five seconds. Then Issei's brain caught up.

"...eh?"

"THIS GIRL IS A PRECIOUS TREASURE THAT YOU MUST NOT LOSE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" She exclaimed as she shook him gently.

"E-eh?! Eh?!"

Wh-what the hell was his mother talking about?! He saw Tamamo emerging from the hallway, a beaming smile on her face. Ryoji laughed. "I take it you passed her 'wife seminar', Yuma-chan?"

"Yes, I have." Tamamo grinned. "Please take care of me, otou-sama."

Issei's jaw dropped. He would say, what the hell, but he had a feeling that would become rather old real quick along with "eh." By now, sanity probably understood that it was useless and he should just accept it.

Instead, he did the smartest thing. He promptly groaned.

Today really was weird.

---

After dinner had come to its end, and after a very animated talk with his parents, Issei had arrived in hell.

"W-what...happened to my room?!"

If he wasn't freaking out before, he most definitely was now.

His room was...it was...

...clean.

It was completely spotless. Nothing littered the floor, his study desk was cleared, his books were all shelved, and his nightstand was tidy.

...and therein lied the problem.

WHERE THE HELL WAS ALL HIS PORN...?!

"Do you like it, Husband?" Turning, he found a still beaming Tamamo. The expression had been practically glued to her face after she had more or less passed whatever test his mother put her through. "I took the liberty of cleaning your room. Isn't it wonderful?"

Issei was too stunned to say anything. He could have sworn he heard his heart shatter apart. How...how could this have happened? Was he actually being punished? What did he do? Become a pervert?! That could be said about nearly every male on the planet! What was everyone supposed to expect?!

"W-why...?" he found himself struggling to breath. "Why did you...clean my room?"

"You won't need trash like this anymore, my dear husband! After all, you have little ol' me to serve your needs!"

Without warning, Tamamo closed the gap between them. Her disguise had been dropped, reverting to her blue kimono and animal-like features. A sultry smile had made itself known along with the sweet smell of honey and roses invading Issei's nostrils. Her ample chest was pressed up against his, making his inner pervert throw a fiesta. The firmness of her breasts rubbing up against his chest was beyond anything he could have ever experienced. Her arms snaked around his neck, noses touching. Her breath felt hot, sending delightful shivers down his neck.

"Now then, what shall we do, Issei-kun?" Tamamo asked, no longer using her pet name for him. Somehow, her voice had changed, matching her overall appearance and appeal. He found it hard to stare anywhere else. "Have some dessert? Perhaps a bath? Or maybe..." she giggled and leaned in, whispering in his ear.

"...you want me?"

Issei's brain short-circuited, unsure whether or not he heard that correctly. Was-was this real? Was this actually happening? He wasn't dreaming up some scene from one of his many eroge games, right? No, couldn't be! This was far too real! She was actually offering!

'I...I...!'

His senses failed and overloaded. The stimulation, the sexiness...it was too much!

Issei's eyes promptly rolled to the back of his head, blood spewing from his nose like a guyser and falling unconscious, leaning back. Tamamo blinked. "Eh? E-eh?! Husband?!"

She rushed over to his side in concern. His vision was blurry. His world fading to black. Her cries were fading away.

'Damn...I really am in Heaven...'

---

"Hahahahahaha! So he really did call on Tamamo first!" Zelretch boomed with laugher, holding his sides. "I don't know whether the pity the poor boy or find him lucky."

The one known as the Wizard Marshall continued his laughter for several minutes. He was absolutely in stitches!

This was just as entertaining as watching Emiya's own journey! Speaking of which, he had been looking at what he had been doing, and he wasn't disappointed. Things had certainly changed for the boy, what with ending up being partnered with Mordred as Saber. Curious, given how Ascalon should have sumoned Arturia instead, but he didn't find it any less entertaining. Already, he could imagine the tense moments and differences in having such a powerful knight with him.

On another note, the nature of the Heaven's Feel was quite unique this time around. Normally, it revolved around using Class Cards and summoning a Servant, but the boy actually revived a Heroic Spirit into flesh and blood. Not to mention with all their powers at their disposal. The Servant System was designed specifically to limit a Heroic Spirit's power when called upon, so that no one Master could have the advantage.

That said, Hakuno Kishinami from the Moon Cell would very much like to disagree, what with having Gilgamesh at their side and all. That was an entirely different can of worms.

The premise was more or less the same for Issei Hyoudou in this world, except the class cards served another purpose here. They were, in a sense, related to what class best suited a Servant. AN example would be a spearman like Cu Chulainn. While he was proficient in the art of magic, he was famed for his skills with a spear. It was his element. His true calling. Similarly, using the Caster Class Card to communicate with Tamamo appealed to her in a class she was best suited for, given her affinity for magic. But simply using a class card to communicate with a Heroic Spirit did not mean they would be called into the world as a Servant. No, they would be fully revived with all of the powers related to their legend.

In other words, Issei Hyoudou revived Legendary Souls from the Throne of Heroes.

"A marvelous ability." Zelretch mused, leaning back and folding his hands before a dark smile touched his face. "Yet also dangerous. Who knows what sort of person may seek him out and use him for his own benefit?"

"Fow!"

Zelretch looked to the side, finding a familiar white animal sitting atop the table. His smile turned much warmer. "And how long have you been there?"

"Fow."

"Hmph. I thought so. Guiding the boy?"

"Fow!"

The old vampire waved a hand. "Oh, relax. I've only given him the tools necessary for his journey. Nothing more."

"Fow...!"

"Oh, don't get snippy with me, you overgrown monkey. I know what I'm doing. It's why I'm simply guiding him. No more than you are. And speaking of guiding...how much power did the boy use, reviving Tamamo-no-Mae?"

"Fow~" the animal chirped.

Zelretch scratched his chin. "I see...if that's how much power it takes to call upon a Divine Spirit in its entirety, I wonder how much it would take to revive a Heroic Spirit the likes of Karna, Gilgamesh, or Heaven's forbid Scathach."

"Fow!" The petite animal chirped again.

"Indeed...and one can only imagine the cost of summoning beings like them..." the man shook his head.

"Fow!"

---

The morning had been rather interesting for Issei. Then again, one could really say that about yesterday as well, but for overall entirely different reasons and whatnot. He knew he had passed out when Tamamo had pressed him straight to the edge, reciting a famous line from any of his eroge games, but he surely expected to find her sleeping next to him when he woke up in bed. At first, he thought it was all a strange dream. Then he smelled something very delicious coming from downstairs.

Then he found heaven once again.

"N-Nude Apron...!"

Standing by the stove was Tamamo...wearing nothing but a frilly pink apron. Was...was he dreaming again?

"Ohayo, darling~" Tamamo greeted, looking over her shoulder with a smile. "Breakfast will be ready soon!"

Issei could only dumbly nod. His eyes drifted to her exposed back, admiring her slender form laid naked for all to see before becoming glued to her buxom exterior. He found it difficult to breath. Tamamo truly was a hazard to his health. He was a pervert, perhaps even a hardcore pervert, but goddammit, this couldn't be healthy whatsoever. Didn't she realize she was even doing to him?

Blood was rushing to two places in his body. His little man was stiffening while a stream of blood poured from his nose in arousal. Stiffly, almost rigidly, he sat down at the table, trying to keep himself as composed as possible while wiping away the blood from his nose.

Was this...how his life was going to be like from now on? With Tamamo as his self-proclaimed wife? No, that didn't sound right. It definitely felt more like they really were husband and wife. Even still, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The whole situation felt unnatural to him. Most women he encountered hated his guts. It was so strange just to have one clinging to him like this. He wasn't going to complain, though. It was definitely awesome. It was like he was living out a dream! He just...wasn't quite used to a girl being so willing to be with him.

Then again, most girls weren't actual living youkai, much less the incarnation of a sun goddess. Once again, Issei found himself reliving what happened yesterday.

"Just what the hell was Yuma-chan?"

"Did you say something, darling?"

"N-no, it's nothing." Issei told her. "I'm just...still processing what happened yesterday, what with Yuma-chan trying to kill me and all."

"Oh, don't worry about that old hag." Tamamo puffed her cheeks. "As long as I am here there is not reason to worry about her, darling."

Her words were reassuring, but he still couldn't help but feel worried. What if Yuma came back and tried to kill him again? Why was she even after him? There was so much he didn't understand.

'Maybe I'm just overthinking everything.' Issei thought, sighing. 'I should just focus on school for now.'

"By the way, Husband."

"You know, you don't have to keep calling me 'husband' or darling." Issei told her, smiling a bit. "Just call me Ise."

Tamamo's cheeks burned, looking scandelized. "E-eh?! A-are you sure?"

"Of course I am."

"V-Very well, then." Tamamo giggled madly, a heavy blush on her face. Was he truly telling her to call him by his nickname? Her heart danced in delight. "T-Teeheehee..."

"So, what did you want to ask, Tama-chan?"

That snapped her out of her daydreams. "O-oh, right. I'm hoping you'd indulge this wife's selfishness."

"Um...sure. What is it?"

"May I see what Kuoh Academy is like?"

"...huh?"

---

"HUH?!"

Issei scratched the back of his head, slowly losing feeling in his right arm as Tamamo, back in her human-like disguise, had her body wrapped around it. The feeling of breasts smothering his arm was a most delightful experience indeed.

He could not say the same about the deathglares that Motohama and Matsuda were sending him.

"ISSEI YOU TRAITOR!"

"DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!"

And other indignant remarks.

To be perfectly frank, he honestly expected this. Unlike before with Yuma, though, he wasn't flaunting Tamamo off. If anything, he was more worried about himself. He was in deep water enough with Sona due to his activities. What would she do if he brought a complete stranger to the school? And with her latching unto his arm, no less? Granted, she was very affectionate and he was enjoying every second of it, but he did not want to incur the wrath of the Iron Maiden.

"They're a lively bunch, aren't they?" Tamamo remarked.

Issei gave an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Y-yeah, I guess so." he said. "Guys, this is Tamamo. Tama-chan, this are my friends, Motohama and Matsuda."

"Ah! Okaa-sama mentioned these two before! The pedophile and the peeping tom!"

Issei sweatdropped. 'Dammit, mom. What did you tell her? Granted, they're spot on, but come on...'

"Oi oi!" Matsuda cried indignantly. "I'm not a pedophile! It ain't a crime to admire legal loli's!"

"And technically, all three of us are peeping toms." Motohama pointed out before glaring at Issei again. "Also, go to hell you treacherous bastard! How dare you get a girlfriend before us?!"

"W-well, I wouldn't say girlfriend as much as..." Issei trailed off, catching what the three-size scouter had just said. "Wait, what did you just say?"

"That you can go to-"

"No no! After that!"

The two perverts blinked, looking at one another before turning back to Issei. "Uh...how dare you get a girlfriend before us?"

Girlfriend before them? They...they said that before, when he showed them Yuma. As if it was something entirely new to them...

Did they...forget Yuma?

"D-do you guys know a girl named Yuma Amano?"

"No. Why?"

Tamamo looked at him with an unreadable expression. He ignored it and pulled out his cell phone, quickly bringing up his contacts.

Gone. It wasn't there. Yuma Amano's contact info was nowhere to be found.

"You okay, dude?" Matsuda asked. "You kinda look pale."

His hand was shaking. This...this wasn't possible. He knew he had her contact ipstored in his phone. The top of his list. But it's gone...as if it were never there. "Y...yeah. I'm fine." he said, putting his cell back into his phone. "It's just...been a hell of a day."

"Hell of a day?" A pause. Then the protests came back in full force, magnified by ten. "YOU FUCKER! YOU DIDN'T!"

The brunette recoiled. "W-what?"

"You traitor!" Matsuda sobbed. "How the fuck did you get that far, you bastard?!"

"Not cool, Ise! This is in clear violation of the perverted bro code!"

Wait, what? What were they talking about? Before he even had a chance to ask, they were off, speeding like a rocket and cursing his name to the high heavens. Issei could only stare at their backs, blinking rapidly in confusion. He soon regained his voice. "What...the hell...just happened?"

"Beats me." Tamamo shrugged. "You have strange friends, hubby."

Well, she wasn't wrong there. They were strange, but then again, perverts were just like that. Still, what they told him and what he discovered on his phone troubled him.

"They didn't remember Yuma-chan at all when I introduced them to her the other day. And her contact info on my phone is gone. What's going on?"

"Their memories were probably erased." Issei looked at Tamamo, her cheerful expression replaced by a stoic one. "That hag had a bit of magic power. Influencing the mind of a human is probably nothing to her."

"W-what? Is that really possible?"

"I don't know. I've never met someone like her before. Then again, I don't care much for a filthy crow like that." Tamamo shrugged before she beamed, tugging at his arm as she moved ahead of him. "Now, let's go! I'm excited to see what my husband's school is like!"

"Gah! W-wait, Tama-chan! Don't pull so hard! You're gonna tear off my arm!"

---

"Here is the report about the Hyoudou Family history, Buchou."

Rias accepted the papers, giving them a glance over. Her peerage was unnaturally on edge, though it was to be expected given the recent events. From the Fallen invading their territory to them attempting to kill a human and then said human summon a literal godly entity, the day had been entirely stressful. Koneko was still horribly shaken up by what happened when Tamamo-no-Mae was summoned. It took a while before she could calm down, but she was still on edge.

Eventually, the heiress of Gremory set the paper down and closed her eyes. "It's confusing, isn't it Buchou?" Kiba asked with a sardonic smile. "Given what we all felt earlier, we should have assumed that Hyoudou-san must have had an ancestor skilled in magic. But, according to what we found..."

"...he's completely and utterly average." Rias sighed.

They had gone through his ancestral records. Much to their disappointment, nothing stood out. A completely normal, and average lineage from both sides of his family. No trace of magic.

Of course, this only raised more questions than answers. Slowly, Rias was beginning to understand why Sona was infuriated by her lack of understanding behind Issei Hyoudou. To be accepted into Kuoh was one thing, but to receive a letter of recommendation from the Grand Master of the Mage's Association? For seemingly no reason at all?

'I feel a migraine coming on.' the Devil thought with a groan, palming her forehead. 'Too much crap.'

It was almost time for class to begin anyway. She could revisit this troublesome topic another time. Besides, she still needed to ask Sona about that mysterious deck of cards they found at the park. She rose from her chair, setting her glasses down on the desk when she found Koneko starting to shake.

"Koneko? Is something wrong?"

"B-Buchou..." Koneko whimpered. "S-she's here!"

She didn't need to ask who "she" was.

---

"Holy crap! Dude, look at that!"

"Whoa, who's she?!"

"She's so fucking gorgeous!"

"I-is she holding Hyoudou's arm?!"

"No way!"

"You think it could be blackmail?"

"How despicable!"

Issei sighed, hanging his head low while Tamamo remained oblivious to the cries of slander the students were giving him while the rest ogled and practically fell in love with the sight of the woman who had declared herself as his wife. This was more or less the reaction he was expecting from everyone, but it still hurt like hell.

And then, of course, came Sona Shitori herself. A glare had hidden her eyes from view, but her posture spoke volumes of what she thought. The tension in the air was thick between the three. Tamamo glared at her as if she was a mild annoyance while Issei himself was shaking slightly. He could have sworn he saw what looked like the Yama standing behind Sona, mallet in hand with a leer placed upon him and ready to deliver judgement.

'I feel like my soul got turned to ice.' he thought, shaking in Tamamo's grasp. 'Damn, the prez is pissed!'

"Hyoudou-San..." She spoke coolly. "...just who is this? Why have you brought a visitor on campus without permission?"

"T-this is Tama-chan." Issei said, sweating profusely. "She's my-"

"I don't think that concerns you." Tamamo interrupted sharply, startling Issei. Her tone, which should have been bubbly and cheerful, had become icy and threatening. "I think the better question is, who are you? You look human, but the smell on you says otherwise."

'Smell?'

Issei looked back and forth between the two women, seemingly locked in a glaring match. Sona's cool mask remained perfect as ever as she adjusted her glasses, revealing her beautiful eyes. "...I see." she spoke, voice even. "Would I be correct in assuming you are Tamamo-no-Mae-sama?"

"I am indeed. And you are?"

"Sona Sitri, heiress to the Pillar of Sitri. An honor, Tamamo-sama."

Issei blinked. Once, twice. Three times.

"...Eh?" Just what the hell was going on now? "Wait, um, what's going on?"

"Hyoudou-kun." Sona's voice cut him out of his confusion. "Before First Period begins, please come to the Old School House."

The Old School House? If memory served, that was the old main building before Kuoh underwent renovants a good few decades ago. It was also the subject of many ghost stories, and most importantly, it was the home of the Occult Research Club, home to the two of the Three Great Ladies: Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. That, of course, raised the question.

"Um...why?"

"Do you want to know why you were attacked? More importantly, who that woman was?"

His eyes widened in shock. "H-how do you...?"

Sona didn't give any further explanation. Tamamo, however, became more angered by her words. She looked ready to lunge at the Student Council President, but held back.

"Is this a jest, little girl?"

"No. I am simply offering an explanation." Sona replied curtly. "I can assure you, I have no hostile intentions, Tamamo-sama."

"I'm sorry...but I can't say I believe your words. Why should I put my faith in a woman who clearly hides behind a human facade?"

Issei looked back and forth between the two females, question marks dancing around his head. Seriously? What was going on? All he could get around this conversation was that Sona wasn't normal or something and Tamamo definitely wasn't happy.

That was hardly the point, though. She had answers. Answers he wanted. Why Yuma attacked him. He glanced at Tamamo, still glaring daggers at the girl in front of her.

'She...probably isn't going to like this.'

---

As it turned out, probably was a kind way of putting it. Tamamo had all but protested to the idea, clearly not wanting him anywhere near Sona or anyone else at the old school building. When Issei made it clear to her that he wanted answers, especially since he nearly got killed yesterday. Reluctantly, Tamamo agreed and chose to accompany him.

This led to where they were at now. Currently, the brunette and Tamamo were in a rather lavish room, sitting on a couch while surrounding them were various other students, each Issei recognized for different reasons. Two of the most easily recognizable was Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima, both of whom sported rather impressive busts much to his inner delight. Akeno had long black hair tied into a ponytail, kept in place with a green bow. Rias, true to her foreign heritage, was very well known for her crimson red hair and sapphire blue eyes. Sitting on the opposing side was Koneko Toujou, a first-year and the unofficial mascot of Kuoh Academy. Sitting off to the side was the enemy of all perverts: the bishounen Kiba Yuuto. Sona was also present among their number.

"Here you are." Akeno said kindly, handing him and Tamamo a small cup of tea. "Please enjoy."

"U-um, thanks." Issei said nervously, graciously bowing his head. Tamamo wrinkled her nose, as if smelling something repulsive.

Nonetheless, she wasn't one to be so rude when someone offered her something. She took a sip of her tea. As she did, her eyes widened. "This blend..." she muttered, staring at Akeno with uncertainty. "Are you, perhaps, a shrine maiden? The herbs in this are familiar to me."

"Hai, Tamamo-sama. I tend to the Himejima shrines."

"Himejima?" Tamamo frowned. "Hm. I don't recall a clan by that name. A newer one, perhaps?" She shrugged and went back to her tea.

Rias smiled somewhat, taking a seat cross from the two. "I apologize if Sona came off as a bit rude, Hyoudou-kun." the buxom beauty told him. He was a bit distracted by the way her breasts bounced as she sat down, though he was quick to return his attention to her face. He didn't want to get into trouble with Tamamo. As they say, hell hath no fury like a wife jealous. "However, we've been on edge since yesterday. I assume you have a great deal of questions?"

"You have no idea, Gremory-senpai."

"I see. Well, to begin, allow me to introduce ourselves properly." Rias' smile turned mischievous, a twinkle dancing in her iris. "I am Rias Gremory, heir to the Pillar of Gremory. We Devils welcome you and Tamamo-no-Mae-sama to the Occult Research Club."

Then, in tandem, every single person in the room underwent a change. It wasn't a drastic one, but it was still a major one, for behind all of their backs were a pair of leather, black pinions resembling the wings of bats.

Issei had dropped his cup and back pedaled in shock. Flashes of the incident the night before came back to him. Black wings. Bloodlust. Yuma with a spear.

Before he realized, he was hyperventilating.

The bloodcurdling smile Yuma gave him brought forth a chill. His hands shook uncontrollably. His heart was dancing in his chest, threatening to fall apart.

A hand wrapped around his. He nearly jumped out of his skin, his head snapping to see the concerned, yet gentle face of Tamamo. "It's okay." she told him. "This is different, Ise-kun."

"I apologize if we caused you some discomfort." Sona said, pushing up her glasses. "Would you like us to hide your wings?"

Issei nodded dumbly. Their faces turned sympathetic and their wings vanished from sight. The image of Yuma above him with feathery black wings was still fresh in his mind, but it was less prominent. He closed his eyes and took an intake of breath. This wasn't the park. This wasn't the date. He wasn't being threatened. Tamamo was right here.

"S-so...you're Devils." he said. "As in, fallen angels? Holy beings who sinned and got cast into hell?"

Kiba chuckled wryly. "Not quite." he said. "Devils and Fallen Angels are two entirely different species. I believe you understand that firsthand yesterday."

The image sharpened. Feathery black wings stretched out with proud, yet contrasting the sinister grin that fouled her beautiful face.

"Y-you mean...?"

Rias nodded, her eyes steely. "That is correct. The woman you know as Yuma Amano, who's true name is Raynare, is a Fallen Angel."

His hands became clammy. His date...was a Fallen Angel...and she wanted to kill him...? Why?

Tamamo furrowed her brow. "And why would that hag want to kill Ise-kun?" she asked (read: demanded). "And what does she stand to gain?"

"Of that, we don't know." Sona answered. "It would be understandable if Hyoudou-kun possessed magical capabilities, or perhaps a Sacred Gear, but..."

"Sacred Gear?"

This earned surprised looks from everyone. They each looked at one another, and then turned to Tamamo. "Tamamo-sama." Rias said slowly. "Do you...not know what Sacred Gears are?"

"No, I do not." the fox answered. "I have never heard of such a term before. Then again, today is a day of firsts. Until yesterday, I have never encountered Devils nor Fallen Angels before."

"Truly?" Sona inquired, now curious with an underlying suspicious tone in her voice. "Out of curiosity, and pardon me if I overstep my boundaries, but...how long have you been here?"

"Literally yesterday." Tamamo deadpanned. "The modern world is somewhat foreign to me. The last time I was here in the mortal realm was when I was but a consort to Toba."

"But how is that possible? Even if you weren't here on the physical plane, surely you must've been aware of Fallen Angels and Devils from the Shinto Realm."

Tamamo huffed. "Simply because I am an aspect of Amaterasu-sama does not mean I know what she knows." Her glare hardened. "Now, explain what Sacred Gears are. My patience has its limits, Devils."

Stiffly, Rias nodded. She knew better than to anger someone as powerful as this. "V-very well. But before that, I suppose we would have to go into some history. Hyoudou-kun, do you believe in myths and legends?"

The brunette shook his head. There really wasn't any need to believe that, since he never put much stock into it. Following his meeting with Tamamo, as well as everyone in the room, he knew that everyone in the room was not human. He pretty much could believe whatever was in the bible now.

"Well, in the past, there was a conflict between three biblical factions: the Devils, Angels and the Fallen Angels." Sona explained to him. "The Devils were led by the Maou, the strongest being the Devil King Lucifer. The Angels were led by the Archangels and the God of the Bible. And finally the Fallen, which were led by the Grigori and their governor Azazel. It was a long and terrible conflict, and eventually, other races were dragged into the mix. Spirits, youkai, fairies and such. Humans were the most prominent."

Issei swallowed the dry lump in his throat. "A-and...what happened? How did it end?"

"A stalemate." Kiba said with sorrow. "Many lives were lost. Included were the Great Maou and many gods. Following that was a ceasefire between all the sides. Since then, the supernatural world has been in a state of peace and recovery, however small and little. In that same time, a system was created by God, bestowed upon the humans."

Tamamo fuddled her brow. "A system?"

"Yes. The Sacred Gear system." Akeno nodded. "Miracles of various feats, and each harbors a special power. They're quite numerous, but only humans can wield such powers. Among them are the 13 Longinus, said to be able to kill gods."

"I see..."

Issei frowned heavily. "A-and Yu...no, Raynare tried to kill me because I had one or because I have magic?" he asked, both in confusion and in anger. "I don't know any magic. And I think I would remember if I had something like that!"

"You are correct." the Student Council President nodded. "You showed no signs of possessing a Sacred Gear. Moreover, you hold no magical potential whatsoever. By all rights, you are an ordinary human." Creases marred her forehead as she adjusted her spectacles, crossing her legs. Were it not for the tense atmosphere, Issei would most definitely be admiring those slender, thin legs of hers and wondering what sort of forbidden sight they could be connected to. "And that is our concern. Hyoudou-kun, do you have any reason as to why Raynare would target you?"

The brunette closed his eyes. He thought back to that horrible day. It hurt just thinking how Raynare had belittled and toyed with him, calling their date, which he thought out so much, a mere way to pass the time. He didn't want to think anymore about that and instead focused on what she had said.

"She mentioned how...someone called Azazel took an interest in me."

The Devils' eyes widened considerably. "Azazel?" Rias asked, jaw agape. "The Governor of the Grigori? Why on Earth would he be interested in you?"

"How the hell should I know?!" Issei raised his arms in exasperation. "I didn't even know who the guy was until you told me about him!"

Rias sat back in her chair. Things simply were not adding up. The boy before her had no Sacred Gear nor any magical aptitude. By all rights, he should've been an ordinary human and I ogres by the Grigori. Yet one of their members attacked him last night.

Moreover, there is the presence of Tamamo-no-Mae to consider. Based on current speculation, she arrived because of Issei, yet why? Koneko claimed he had summoned her, but what did that mean exactly? Could it have been a possible reverse summoning? There was just too little they didn't know.

Additionally, there was a much more serious matter to attend to. One that she needed to ascertain. "If I may ask...what exactly is your intention here, Tamamo-sama?" The incarnation of the Shinto Sun Deity turned her attention to Rias, face stoic. "Kuoh is apart of the territories shared by both the houses of Sitri and Gremory. The fact that a youkai, on top of an avatar of a shinto goddess, raises quite a few concerns. Why have you come here? Why now of all times?"

Tamamo closed her eyes, as if to ponder her answer. Isse was rather curious about that as well. All she told him was that he called for her, but never explained why she had answered, if she had actually accepted the call by will. He had read a few novels and played enough games to know that some summons were forced and the other party was not particularly happy. What if he had somehow forcibly brought Tamamo here?

Then-

"...and just what do you have, claiming a part of the Land of the Rising Sun as your own?"

The temperature of the room dropped in seconds, yet somehow rising at the same time. It became unbearable, almost as if he were in a 100 degree weather for several days without cooling off. Yet somehow, at the same time, he felt as if he were in his house naked with the AC on at full blast if it could push out cold air equal to below zero temperatures.

The source behind it was none other than Tamamo, who's face had lost any and all pretenses of the lovely and adorable wife she had claimed herself to be. Her cheery smile was replaced by a thin line that looked to be more akin to a scowl. Her eyes were ice cold. A deadly aura exuded out from her, asserting her power and authority.

To the Devils in the room, it was suffocating. It felt like hands were wrapped around their necks and refused to let go. Koneko, due to her sensitive nature with senjutsu, could only shake from the power Tamamo released. Kiba tensed, hands twitching and reaching for his side as if ready to pull something. Akeno's face looked to be a cross between arousal and discomfort, tugging at the collar of her shirt. Sona and Rias were composed, but even they were reeling from the killing intent this one woman was releasing. If there had been any doubt whether or not the fox before them was truly Tamamo-no-Mae, it was erased at this very moment.

"This land was created by Izanagi-no-Mikoto-sama." Tamamo spoke, her voice as cold as ice with a tone as fiery as the depths of a volcano ready to explode at any moment. "With Izanami-no-Mikoto-sama, they forged this land as a haven for the humans and the youkai who sought to live in peace. What right do you have to invade and claim a part of these sacred lands as your own?"

A dangerous smile, one that promised pain and suffering, touched her lips. It disturbingly reminded Issei of the smile Raynare had on her face when she revealed her true nature to him. Only a thousand times worse.

"You had best hope your answer satisfies Us, otherwise..." A tongue lipped her lips as her pupils sharpened into slits, gazing upon the Devils as if they were pray to the slaughter. "We will show you what it means to touch the sun."

---

Night 2: END

---

Next Time!

?: U-um, excuse me? Where may I find the church?

Tamamo: MIKOOOOU~! You're too adorable, Ise-kun! Very well! I'll spare the Devils, if only because of your big, soft heart!

Rias: H-Husband?!

Dohnaseek: So, you are the human who summoned the Sun Goddess' Avatar.

Night 3: Wax Wings

Issei: My life's going to hell in a handbasket too damn fast! S-stay tuned, everybody!

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Author's Notes: *stares at the review count and likes and follows*

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...the hell is this?! Over a hundred reviews on the first chapter alone?! And over 400 Favorites and Follows?! What sorcery is this?!

Jokes aside, I'm really happy everyone is enjoying this story. Hopefully, this chapter is to your liking. The combined effort of myself and Daemon of Wrath. I won't lie...I think I could have handled some scenes better. If need be, I will go back and rewrite them.

Moving on to more important topics, a major part of the reception was in regards to the question I had asked. The major consensus is that, yes, Heroic Spirits are far more powerful than Servants, but there are a few key difference and opinions. For the most part, a good majority of Servants could take on a good chunk of the DxD universe, with top tiers capable of taking on 666, Great Red and Ophis. One reviewer was kind enough to point this out to me.

This is what user "TheOverlordEdge" said in his review:

Servant- Container for the Heroic Spirit that contain only a small fraction of their true power.
When Hero were Alive (Gil example above)- Strange to say the least some are stronger when alive compare to their SERVANT incarnation like Gil above due to their servant container screwing them that badly over. While other are stronger now as SERVANTS such as Tesla who was by all mean only a normal human when alive.
Heroic Spirit- Without a doubt MANY times stronger than both the Servant incarnation and to when they were alive but to an unknown degree. Example Achilles as a heroic spirits has an ability for his spear than allows him to negate regeneration like that of Gae Bolg. This is apparently only available for his servant incarnation if he was summon as a Lancer.

Basically, what I can take from this review is that, depending on the person in question, if they were summoned as a Servant, they're much stronger than when they were alive. Issei, however, is summoning them directly from the Throne of Heroes with an actual body. They are, in other words, Heroic Spirits in physical, flesh and blood forms. Does this mean they are now human? Oh hell no. They're at their prime. If Tesla was summoned by Issei, he'd be much stronger than his Servant self and even more so than when he was alive.

TheOverlordEdge also pointed out that we really don't know how powerful DxD beings actually are, since most of the story takes place from Issei's point of view. At best, we know that 666 is strong enough to take on Issei and Sirzechs at the same time without taking any damage whatsoever. Other than that, though, we really have no idea. I have to agree, as I have taken the liberty of binge reading the translated light novels.

Ishibumi-sensei, please tell us how powerful your characters are. T-T it's really hard to place power levels with only Issei's point of view alone.

On another note, a number of you also suggested what Heroic Spirits Issei should call into action. I'm afraid to inform you that I already have a selection in mind and I will not be accepting any suggestions. I have to keep the Heroic Spirits summoned at a manageable number. If I add too many, I'm afraid I won't be able to write this story out properly.

So, then...who here thinks that the Devils are fucked because of Rias stepping on the proverbial landmine?

With that said, I'm out of here. Enjoy the new chapter. Please tell me your thoughts in your reviews, and hopefully I'll see you mofos next chapter~!