This chapter took me longer than expected for various reasons. I have also updated the first chapter, fixing the errors that I caught after I had initially posted it. Constructive criticism is always welcome. So without further ado on with the story.
I own nothing of the DxD universe except my OC's.
Chapter 2
Sitting on a couch in her office, in the Underworld capital city of Lilith, Serafall Leviathan was listening to a report from one of her Pixie familiars that she has keeping an eye on her little sister while she is in the human world. The report she was listening to was in regards to a human who was exhibiting no presence or aura and bore an uncanny resemblance to a man she once knew three centuries ago.
"Mistress, there is a strange human that has entered the territory near your sisters school that may be a threat." The little pixie said in a high pitched voice.
This alarmed Serafall a little. It was a well-known fact that she doted on her sister far too much and that she worried about her well-being and safety. She knew that people called her a SISCON but she didn't care, especially when it came to her little sister.
Pouring herself some water from the carafe on the table she looked at the pixie and said, "Please describe him for me, Tia. I want to know what this man looks like, should I have to erase him if he proves to be a threat to my sister."
Tia, the now named pixie, conjured up a holographic image of the man she had been watching earlier that evening. The image started with a rear view shot of the man then started to turn around until they had a very good view of his face.
"GASP!"
***CRASH***
She audibly gasped and dropped the glass on the floor where it shattered as her initial reaction to seeing the man's face.
"I-Impossible. I-It can't be him." She whispered to herself visibly shaken like she had seen a ghost.
"Mistress, do you know this man?" Tia asked.
"I don't know Tia. He looks like someone I knew a long time ago." Serafall told her, still shaken by what she had seen.
Tia looked closer at the image of the man. Then she looked at the painting of Serafall in the arms of a Japanese man on the far wall of the office. She started to see a slight resemblance between the two.
"I can see what you mean Mistress. With the exception of the hair style and length, and lines around the eyes he does look like the man in the painting." Tia said in observation.
Serafall remained silent but nodded in answer to Tia's observation between the painting and the hologram. She had come to the same conclusion as soon as she had seen the face of the man in the hologram.
Even though she knew it had to be impossible for him to still be alive, she still felt her heart race at the thought that it might be him. She reached up to her neck and grabbed a hold of both the pendant he had given her as a symbol of his love for her and the ring she had given him.
Whenever she thought about him, her eyes always got misty and she would block out the world around her. Thoughts of him always calmed her mind and would help relieve the stress she felt everyday with her job.
"Is it really you Ryunosuke? Have you really come back to me? Or am I just wishing it to be you?" She asked in a whisper to the hologram.
"Tia, I want you keep an eye on him and report to me everything you find out about him." She told her pixie familiar. "Before you go I need you to send word to Daphne that I will need her, Cal, and Beth to go to the human world in a few days to observe him. I will make the arrangements with Sona for them to stay with her. But they aren't to tell Sona the true reason for their visit. I'll leave it to Daphne to come up with the reason to tell Sona."
"Yes Mistress. I will do as you wish, I look forward to seeing Lady Daphne, your Bishop, and Rook again. They have been busy training together with Lady Daphne and her peerage the art of stealth all these years and patrolling the borders." Tia said.
"Yes, it would be good to see my daughter and old friends again. Ever since Daphne was born both Cal and Beth have been her protectors and mentors ever since." Serafall said to her familiar before she vanished to carry out her master's orders and then resume her observation of the man from earlier.
After Tia had left, Serafall leaned back into the couch and closed her eyes and thought back to the first time she had met her husband, Ryunosuke Sasaki, and the adventures that followed.
Why was she interested in him you wonder? He had rescued her from an assassination squad sent from the Old Satan faction and protected her from members of the Church. As well as taken her on many adventures during their time together.
~~~~~~~~Flashback (Serafall's Point of View)~~~~~~~~
(Winter Early 1700's): Somewhere off the coast of Northern Europe
***BOOM***
The ship was suddenly blown apart by an intense magical blast of unknown origin. I was thrown clear of the ship by the blast to land in the icy water. The sudden shock wave of the explosion coupled with the freezing water was enough to make me black out.
Nothing. Darkness.
All around me there was nothing, not a sight of or a sound from any of my captors. I could hear nothing but the ringing in my ears from the explosion. The blast must have blinded my unshielded eyes. It might have been a few minutes or it could have been a few hours. I could no longer tell; I had no sense of time or a sense of self. I was floating on a piece of debris in the freezing water, close to where the ship I was on had gone down.
The ringing in my ears was starting to clear up, and I could hear the muffled sound of the water lapping all around me, and the pained cries and screams of some of my captors.
"Serafall."
There was a voice, and in some dim part of my mind that wasn't in shock I knew that I had to respond. I knew that voice. There was a voice in the distance or was it my imagination, either way there was a voice and it called my name.
"…"
I tried to answer, but it was useless. I was too cold and too weak to move or speak above a whisper. I couldn't even use my powers to save myself, I felt vulnerable and a little scared that I might die from hypothermia. My powers had immediately been sealed by my captors after they had overwhelmed me and pushed me to the point of exhaustion when they ambushed me while hunting for an extremely dangerous stray Devil that required the power of a Maou to handle. And as luck would have it, it was my turn between the four of us to deal with the stray.
"Serafall."
There it was again that familiar voice, but it sounded further away.
"Sirzechs. No don't go. I'm over here." I barely managed to whisper.
**Slap, Slap, Slap**
I heard the sound of waves gently hitting a boat that was drawing near me. Did they hear me? Or was it someone else? Because my powers were still sealed away I couldn't determine if whoever it was was a friend or an enemy.
"There you are. Let's get you out of the water and warmed up." Said a gentle voice I had never heard before.
I felt a couple pair of hands grab mine and pull me out of the water, place me in the small boat and cover me with furs.
"Who are you?" I weakly asked, unable to see who my rescuers were.
"Relax and rest easy, you're safe now. All you need to know right now is that I'm a friend." The voice said to me. It sounded comforting and warm, and full of authority. The owner of this voice was certainly used to being in charge and in control of his surroundings.
"I'm dead aren't I?" I asked.
"Not quite," the voice said. "You can't die on me now Princess. Besides I just found you so I won't let you die on me."
At those words I felt my cheeks flush and my pulse quickened its pace a bit.
"Who are you?" I asked again. It felt like my voice was strengthening with each word I spoke as my body started to warm up under the furs. "I would like to know the names of my rescuers."
I saw one of my rescuers for the first time when he turned around to face me. In front of me was a Japanese man with long black hair down to the bottom of his shoulder blades, wearing a mask that covered the top half of his face, and he was wearing dark heavy clothing that was fit for the cold temperatures on the water. He couldn't be more than 24 or 25 years old, but his eyes hinted that he had seen much more than any man should see at such a young age.
"There will be time enough for introductions when we get back to my ship, right now I need to get you out of here before you freeze to death, and as far away from those men that had you in the first place." He said to me with a friendly smile.
He then turned around and said to someone behind us, "Calmir, take us back to the ship as quickly and as quietly as possible."
I couldn't see who he was talking to, even with my enhanced vision, but I could feel the amount of power radiating from both the men on the small boat. It's possible the seals that were preventing me from using my powers were also interfering with my sight.
"Aye Captain," I heard someone say just before the sound of ores quietly slapping the water and light chanting came to my ears.
He then turned to me with that warm smile of his and asked, "Are you ready to leave?"
I couldn't help but smile back as I answered, "Yes."
~~~Aboard the ship~~~
"Welcome aboard my ship, Leviathan's Shadow." The man who was addressed as Captain earlier said with a welcoming smile.
"Thank you Captain..." I said not sure how to address him.
"I will introduce myself and the others after we get you out of those wet clothes and are underway." He told me as the two men removed their masks.
At the mention of getting out of my clothes I unconsciously pulled the furs tighter around my body. He panicked when he saw my reaction.
"T-T-That's not what I meant my lady. I simply meant that you need to get out of those wet clothes and into some drier ones before you catch cold." He said with his cheeks turning slightly red. I thought it was really cute on him.
I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction and said to him, "I know what you meant, but I couldn't resist giving you a hard time."
"Calmir, get us underway before company comes." I heard the Captain say to Calmir with relief in his voice.
"Aye Captain." the one called Calmir responded, then started barking orders to the crew on the deck to make ready to sail.
"What do you mean 'before company comes' Captain?" I cautiously asked as I followed him through a set of doors leading into the ship.
"Whoever those people were working for or with will definitely be showing up soon, especially after that blast." He answered, then muttered under his breath, "I didn't mean to use that much power when I launched that fireball."
Nodding in understanding I followed him into a large cabin.
"Unfortunately, I have no clothing befitting a beautiful woman, but you are free to take whatever may fit you." He said to me as he showed me the chests and cabinet with clothing. "I'll be just outside while you change."
"Thank you." I replied.
After he stepped out I took off my wet clothing and placed them off to the side intending to hang them so they could dry. I stood there naked starring at myself in the mirror looking at the physical damage I had sustained while under the 'care' of my former captors. I was bruised all over and had a few cuts over my body, and then my eyes were drawn to the two bracelets on my wrists. These bracelets are what have been sealing my powers. Bracelets like these were only used on the most dangerous of criminals or prisoners of war.
"AHHH!" I screamed when I tried to remove them. My mind and body received such a tremendous amount of pain before I collapsed and lost consciousness.
~~~~~~~The following morning~~~~~~~
I woke to the sound of soft breathing coming from the Captain as he slept in the chair next to the bed. I studied his facial features now that there was light to better see by. He looked so peaceful while he slept. I couldn't help but smile as I looked at him.
'He must have slept there the whole night.' I thought to myself.
Then it hit me, I was completely naked under the covers. I pulled the sheet higher up onto my body.
"Oh! You're awake." He said with a yawn and a smile, "I was worried."
"Can you explain why I'm naked?" I asked while blushing.
Who would have thought I would get embarrassed about a man seeing me naked? Of course I never thought the first man that would see me naked would be a human man.
"I heard a scream while waiting outside. When I came in I found you passed out and lying on the floor naked. I picked you up and put you in the bed." He told me while blushing and looking down.
"I see. Thank you . Captain..." I said with a questioning look in my eyes.
"I apologize my lady, I am Ryunosuke Sasaki the captain of the merchant ship Leviathan's Shadow," He said with a graceful bow and warm smile. "Everyone just calls me Captain or Ryuu, feel free to call me Ryuu. But my enemies call me something else though."
I raised my eyebrows at the ships name and smiled.
"Thank you Ryuu for saving me and taking care of me, My name is Serafall Levine, but please call me Sera." I said with a smile and gave him my name with the last name of the alias I use when I visit the human world, since he no doubt heard Sirzechs call out my real first name the previous night.
I didn't get up to give a proper greeting since I was still naked under the sheets. Remembering this I blushed and pulled the sheets closer to my body.
Ryuu saw my movements and blushed before he excused himself so I could get dressed.
~~~~~~~About 20 minutes later~~~~~~~
I stepped out of the cabin wearing a pair of black trousers and black shirt with a purple sash wrapped around my waist and my shoes with a pair of purple stockings.
Twirling around I asked with a mischievous smile, "How do I look Ryuu?"
He looked at me and I swear his jaw dropped before he answered, "You look absolutely beautiful Sera."
I blushed at his words and giggled at his reaction.
He then proceeded to introduce me to two members his crew and close friends as we all headed back to the cabin to sit at the table and talk. I learned that Calmir was Ryuu's First Mate, the ship's doctor, his closest friend, and that he had been orphaned and sold into slavery when both his parent's had died protecting their home. The slavers had tried to kill him once they learned of his heritage. I also met Elsbeth who happened to be the ships navigator, a former Battle Maiden from Iceland who was chased from her homeland during the recent witch hunt's they had, and she was also Calmir's wife.
We talked about what had happened and they told me that they had been hired to rescue me from my captors. When I asked who hired them Calmir and Elsbeth looked at Ryuu for an answer saying that they never knew who their mysterious employer was. The only answer he could give me was a single name, Venelana.
I was shocked that Lady Gremory would hire this band of humans to rescue me. The more I thought about it though a memory surfaced from a few years ago when she once did mentioned to me, during a dinner party, that there was a special group of humans under her employ that had a knack for taking care of and solving difficult situations. And that their leader was a rare oddity for a human who liked to wear a black mask that covered the top half of his face, and that his enemies called him by the name Shi no kuroi honō (The Black Flame of Death). Venelana had told me in the strictest confidence that he was what the human warriors and magicians from the Dark Ages, and those of us from the three factions that had survived the Great War, called a Spellsword; some one who is well versed in both combat and magic and very dangerous. And that if he were to ever get serious he would probably be on par with the upper echelon of Ultimate Class Devils if not stronger.
'Could this group be the same group and could Ryuu be this "Shi no kuroi honō" she was referring too?' I thought to myself.
I looked at Ryuu and asked, "May I ask where we are going?"
"We are going to England, London to be specific, to pick up supplies and passengers to take to the Colonies." He answered.
"Why the Colonies?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow.
Looking me directly in the eyes he replied, "For a couple of reasons actually. First we need to get some supplies and the only way anyone can get to the Colonies without being harassed by His Majesty's Navy is either to become a troop transport, and I for one don't want soldiers on my ship, or we take on people who want to go to the Colonies to live there and start over or to see their family members. Secondly, we need to see some one in Port Royal about removing those bracelets of yours. Unless you wish to keep them on."
I was shocked that he knew that I wanted the bracelets off.
"How do you know about these bracelets?" I asked cautiously.
"I've seen those symbols before and I recognize them as belonging to a group that now calls themselves The Hellfire Club, they're meant to suppress and subjugate the wearer. And none of us, especially me, want you to be under anyone's control, especially a group as nefarious as them." He told me as the others nodded their heads in agreement.
I was truly touched at how much this group of people cared about my well-being and happiness, even though they didn't know me.
"Why would you do this for me?"I asked, "You don't even know me."
"Because you deserve to be free and happy, Sera." Elsbeth answered, then continued with a grin and winked at me, "Besides the Captain here is rather smitten with you. He wouldn't have stayed in the cabin while you slept to take care of you otherwise. He was genuinely worried about you, Sera."
I looked at Ryuu and saw the red sheepish look on his face as Elsbeth said that. I smiled at him with what I hoped was a warm smile of my own.
"We all were worried about you Sera, especially after we noticed those symbols." Calmir continued as he pointed at the bracelet on my right arm. "The three of us were able remove the locator spells on them so no one would follow us or know your whereabouts, unfortunately that was all we could do. The magic bound to them is really intricate and more than three of us can undo, but an associate of ours can undo the magic binding them long enough to get them off of you."
"As soon as you're ready Sera, we'll make the preparations for the journey to get those bracelets off of you." Ryuu said to me with a smile.
I got up out of my chair and walked over to Ryuu and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.
Then I looked at the three of them and said, "Thank you. How can I ever repay you for all that you have done and are willing to do for me?"
"You could join our crew, the three of us will teach you all you need to know to be able to sail the high seas." Elsbeth answered before the other two could say any thing. Then she added with a playful smile and a wink, "You can share Ryuu's quarters with him. I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting you have the bed."
Ryuu and I both blushed at the the statement made by Elsbeth.
"Of course I wouldn't mind. I'll just set up a partition and the hammock I have stowed for situations like this." He replied to Elsbeth with a smile, while looking as red as a tomato.
After he composed himself he then turned to me, bowed and said, "Serafall Levine, I would be honored if you would join us and s-s-share my cabin with me. I promise to give you your privacy whenever you need it and that I will not do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable."
I was taken aback by his formal request and gesture, and found his nervousness cute and endearing. Of course I accepted his offer and officially became a part of the crew of Leviathan's Shadow.
We spent the next nine days sailing to England, and they began to teach me the basics of sailing. We would spend the next month in London resupplying, booking passengers, and letting the crew relax to enjoy their hard earned coin. During this time Ryuu, Calmir, and Elsbeth took me shopping for my own 'special' weapons and clothing for sailing and fighting, and for clothing 'befitting a lady' when in port as Elsbeth and Calmir put it. No expense was spared when it came to these items. I learned from Ryuu that every member had their own special weapons and clothing to defend themselves and the ship with just in case of unwanted boarders or any trouble we might find ourselves in when in a port town, and that everyone had a separate wardrobe to better blend in with the upper class citizens to the aristocrats.
Usually I would use my powers to just create my own clothing and defend myself, but with my powers sealed I had to accept their generosity. I found myself having fun with the three of them and I even enjoyed going arm in arm with Ryuu as we shopped or went around the city together. Even though I had known him for a short time I felt safe with him by my side. I had never felt that way with Sirzechs, before he married Grayfia, or anyone else for that matter.
Our relationship deepened further during the seventy-two days it took us to travel to Boston Harbor. During this time I also became closer friends with Calmir and Elsbeth too. True to his word; during the whole trip Ryuu slept in the hammock he had set up in our quarters leaving me the bed, that is until I insisted he share the bed with me. After that first night we spent together we had officially become lovers, and continued to enjoy each others touch and embrace. I had become addicted to Ryuu.
Shortly after arriving in Boston we bid farewell to several of our crew. Among them was our Gunnery Master, Pierre Gaultier, who during our trip I found out was this generations Red Dragon Emperor, along with his wife Anne and their new born son. We sent them all off with a farewell party aboard the ship the night before they departed.
We spent the next two months resupplying and repairing the ship, and looking for replacement crew members.
To say that Ryuu and Calmir had high expectations of any perspective crew members would be mild. I never knew how lucky I was to have been accepted right away as part of the crew. I always got the impression that Ryuu was listening to something only he could hear as he and Calmir interviewed the prospects, whenever I went over him. Any new members of the crew were required to have a basic affinity for magic since the majority of the things on board required a minimal amount of magic to use, similar to us Devils. We have to have a minimal amount of power to use the basics of our society.
Even with these bracelets I was still able to use enough of my power to activate and use some of the things on board the ship, what I couldn't activate Ryuu, Calmir, or Elsbeth would activate them for me or help me out with them. I just couldn't create communication circles or transportation circles to teleport back to the Underworld. But the more time I spent with Ryuu and the crew of the Leviathan's Shadow, I found myself not wanting to go back. They had become my family.
On our second to last day in Boston, Ryuu and I were in a secluded grove in the woods outside the city enjoying each others company and the lunch that Elsbeth had prepared for us. Everything was going perfect, the sun was starting to set and we were lying on the ground in each others arms after after we had made love. When we were about to kiss we were interrupted by two men dressed as Church clergymen.
'Exorcist's. What are they doing here?' I thought as my eyes darkened as I covered myself up.
"Ryunosuke Sasaki," one of the exorcist's said (exorcist #1), "we are here to take you into custody for crimes against the Church and God."
"Really? And what crimes have I committed against the Church and your God?" He asked with a scowl on his face as he faced them still naked.
"You are guilty of smuggling the wicked and the evil, who must be punished in the name of God, on that accursed ship of yours, and murdering members of the church. Our orders come from the highest levels of the Church." The other exorcist said (exorcist #2) with a smile, "Do you plan to come quietly, or do you plan to resist?"
"I hope you resist. I look forward to sending your soul to Hell where you belong." Exorcist #1 said with an evil grin as he pulled out a light sword.
"Before you have your fun with me, how about you let the lady go since she is innocent in this." Ryuu said, which caused me to smile.
To think he would still try to protect me after all we had been through, even though he knew I could handle myself in a fight.
"Ha..., You must be daft. After we take care of you we will be taking REAL good care of that lady of yours." Exorcist #2 sneered as he pulled out his light sword.
I was really angry with what he had said and started to move towards him, not caring that I was still naked, until I felt Ryuu's arms around my waist pulling me into him. Despite the circumstances I couldn't suppress the smile that came to my lips or the moan that escaped my mouth.
"I will take care of this scum for you my dear." He whispered into my ear and kissed my neck. "Then we can resume where we left off before the interruption."
Even though we were facing danger, just him whispering and breathing into my ear and the feel of his lips on my neck sent chills down my spine. I felt my heart warm with anticipation of the promise of the things to come. I wanted more. I needed more. I craved his touch.
Letting me go he rushed the Exorcist's while grabbing and unsheathing his katana off of the ground in a single move. Before either of the exorcist's could react he had already sliced exorcist #2's sword hand off.
"ARGHHHHHH!" Exorcist #2 screamed as he fell to the ground in pain.
I had never seen a human move as fast as he did right then. I could also feel the power he commanded being released into his legs, arms, and katana. It was more than he had ever released in my presence since we had met. I could also see a faint outline of black flames covering his body and it was getting thicker and darker. I finally understood why his enemies called him '"Shi no kuroi honō."
"WHAT ARE YOU? ARE YOU A DEMON? ANSWER ME DAMMIT?" Exorcist #1 yelled at Ryuu.
"I am that which is older than your PUNY GOD. I am life and I am death. I am the opposite of order and law." Ryuu said but there was another more powerful female voice mixed with his.
The power in that voice scared me to my core. I was shaking uncontrollably and my instincts were telling me to run and get away as far and as fast as I could.
The exorcist's never stood a chance in the face of Ryuu's power. He grabbed exorcist #1 by the neck and the flames around his arm flared hotter than the Phenex clan's fire, causing the poor bastard to become nothing more than ashes scattered on the wind. As he was being incinerated his light sword fell to the ground. When I looked at it, I noticed it was different than the more common ones that they used. I could feel something powerful coming from it.
Ryuu then turned his attention to the other exorcist and said to him in a powerful voice, "You should not have threatened to harm the one I love. Your puny existence ends here."
"P-P-Please, f-f-forgive me. I didn't m-m-mean to anger you." The exorcist stuttered as he pleaded for his life.
"No. Now burn you worthless bastard." Ryuu said in that powerful voice I had heard earlier.
With that he extended his right hand and a giant black fireball was launched at the cowering exorcist. When the fire died down where he had been there was nothing left not even the ground was spared the destructive power of that fireball.
I then felt those eyes turn on me, and what I saw was not the eyes of the man I had fallen in love with but the eyes of an ancient bird of prey. They were the eyes of something so powerful and dangerous that I knew it didn't belong to this world. I backed away in fear as he started to walk towards me.
"You have nothing to fear from me Lady Sitri, or should I say Leviathan?" He said with a woman's voice as the flames covering his body died down.
I was shocked that he knew who I really was.
"Who or what are you? Are you my Ryuu?" I asked unsure if I was ready for the answer.
"I am the Primordial Phoenix that was birthed at the beginning of all creation before the birth of the Omniverse. I am Ryuu and I am not. I am the entity that resides with in him. You may call me Sylvia, that is the name Ryuu has given me since I have no name that can be spoken by any tongue on this plane of existence." Ryuu/Sylvia said to me.
"I don't have much longer in this body before we collapse from exhaustion, but I have some things to tell you." She said. "First, give me your wrists and I will remove those bracelets."
I nodded to him/her to let them know I understood. I held up my arms and she grabbed them. I felt an intense burst of power that surpassed my own immensely, and quite possibly Sirzechs' and Ajuka's power too. With a blinding flash the bracelets fell from my wrists to the ground.
"I did not remove the suppressive power from these bracelets as he may have need of them should our power ever run out of control. However, I linked them to you. Meaning only you or anyone you choose will be able to remove them from now on. They are only to be used on those with the power of the Phoenix and Naga, they may even be able to be used on the weaker Phenex clan in the Underworld or their counterparts in the realm of the Angel's. Well one of them should be more than enough to seal the powers of those pathetically weak clans. Do you understand?" Ryuu/Sylvia explained.
I just nodded because I was too shocked to say anything.
"Good. I know you have your reasons for not telling Ryuu who you really are, just as he has his reasons for not telling you about me. I will keep your secret, because it is something I believe he should hear from you and not me." She told me.
"What I am about to tell you Ryuu and the other two already know. But I am telling you because he loves you and I know you love him. He was born in the year 1536, and he and I have been active together since he was eleven years old when his family was murdered in their sleep.
"Essentially he is immortal, but he can still die by one of two ways. The first way is if my power ever goes out of control it will burn his body out. There is a chance that he may be reborn from the ashes if that should ever happen, but that is an unknown factor as he is my first host. That is why you need to keep those bracelets or give them to him when you are not able to be there. The second way is only a temporary issue. Until I am fully merged with him, he can still die should his head ever be separated from his body. Once we are fully merged that will no longer be a problem, probably. The only problem with that is time. I estimate it will take another hundred years for us to become fully merged with one another. Also, continuous use of my full power can be potentially harmful to him regardless if we are fully merged or not.
"His family is descended from me, the Primordial Phoenix, and my sibling, the Primordial Naga Serpent, who resides within his sister. But that power was sealed away and would manifest only for those who were deemed worthy of our blessings. His sister was able to get the same mystic that had helped her awaken her powers, when her time came, to do the same for him through a forced awakening at a much younger age. His brothers were too greedy that is why there potential was never awakened and ultimately the reason why they died. His father turned down the power we represented and died while avenging his family. Other than that only he and his sister were ever found worthy over the ages to wield our power. But now that no longer applies as both their descendants will also inherit this power when their bodies and minds are ready, and the resulting offspring will be better than purebreds to which ever species they choose as mates." She explained to me about Ryuu, his past, his power, and potential offspring. I blushed when she said that and when I saw her smile warmly at me.
She told me that he would have a greater healing ability than that of the legendary Phoenix and Phenex clans, and that he could use his fire to heal and replenish the lost stamina of others. She further explained what elements he would have control over after they were fully merged: Phoenix fire, hell fire, and fire (all the different forms and spectrum's), wind, lightning, and limited control over earth, water, and ice.
"It is time for me to go Serafall Leviathan, Ryuu will have no knowledge or memory of this conversation or of anything after the exorcist's deaths, but he will be really exhausted. Like I promised at the beginning, I will keep your identity a secret from Ryuu. Take care of him Sera." She said to me.
"One last thing before I go," she leaned down and picked up the light sword the exorcist had dropped and did something to it before she handed it to me and explained, "this weapon has been synced to you now. It now has a blue and red light/dark energy blade. I removed the 'Holy' aspect from the sword and added some of my own power for you to use. It will now only respond to your will, amplify your natural born magic, give you a moderate amount of control over my black flames, and you can morph into what ever weapon you wish it to be."
"Thank you Sylvia for everything. I will take care of him for as long as he will have me." I replied with a smile as I took the sword handle and put it in my personal pocket dimension. It felt good having my power back.
Ryuu/Sylvia pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the forehead then said, "That will help keep your powers concealed to the same level as before to keep you from being detected by your enemies and anyone actively looking for you."
Before I could respond I felt Sylvia leave Ryuu's body a second before it went limp in my arms. I carried him and our clothes over to the closest tree and laid his head on my bare lap after I sat down against the tree trunk and ran my fingers through his hair. I smiled as I looked upon his peaceful face as he slept.
He woke after two hours and looked me in my eyes and smiled as he reached up and cupped my cheek.
"Sera, we have known each other for only a short time and in that time I have come to realize how much you mean to me." He said as he sat up and held my hands.
He then pulled out a small cloth wrapped package from his jacket pocket and started to unwrap it.
I will never forget his next words he said to me as he put the pendant around my neck.
"My dearest Serafall, I don't know what the future holds for us but I swear to you, for as long as I live I will love you forever. Will you marry me?" My love asked me.
~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~
He was the only man (human no less) to ever capture her heart and genuinely love her for herself and not for her power, though she did tell him she was a Devil but had never told him she was the Devil Lord Leviathan or her clan name. He had told her that none of that mattered to him because she was all that his heart wanted.
She had been willing to step away from being a Maou to have a life with him and raise a family. His bravery, the way he addressed her, and the way he treated her had stolen her heart. He was always the perfect gentleman when they were together and even more so after they had married three months later in Port Royal. Marrying him had been the happiest moment of her life; even though it went against her family's wishes. In the end, her parents had eventually relented and accepted her decision to marry the human. They saw how happy she was and how much she smiled because of him. They had even supported and helped her during her pregnancy and the raising of her daughter.
But her dreams with him came to an end 7 years after they were married, when Calmir told here that Ryuu and the party he was with had gone missing in the forests around the Northern British Colonies and Canadian Provinces while searching for their friend Pierre Gaultier who was the host of the Red Dragon Emperor. After 5 years of searching with Calmir and the crew of Leviathan's Shadow, and using her own search parties and resources from the Underworld, all that was found of the lost party was a bunch of headless remains, broken weapons, and the personal effects that matched the number of people in their group. Among the personal effects that had been recovered they found the engraved ring she had given him on the night they were married, his journal, and the lower half of his shattered and scorched katana. The latter two items were currently on her desk while the ring was on a chain around her neck next to the pendant he had given her.
"I've been so lost without you Ryuu. I've never stopped loving you and never stopped missing you. I think about you every day, it's the only thing that makes it easier to go on and do the things I have to do. I often dream what my life would have been like with you by my side raising our child together instead of being a Maou. I see so much of you in Daphne, especially when she smiles." Serafall thought while she lovingly stroked the old worn journal and katana hilt with her hands. "The only regrets I have are that I never told you I was pregnant with our daughter and that I was a Devil Lord. But if it really is you then I won't make the same mistakes again."
With a resolve she hadn't felt in a very long time she opened up a small magic circle and said to the figure that appeared as a hologram, "Grayfia, I'll be taking some time off in a few weeks to visit my little sister with Daphne after I get back from touring the towns and cities along the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between ours and the Fallen Angels territory. While I am away would you mind filling in for me?"
Grayfia was not only the maid to the Gremory household and the Queen/wife of Sirzechs, but she was also her closest friend. Though they were once enemies during the Civil War and one-time rivals for the position Serafall now held and for the affections of Sirzechs. Despite or because of the latter, Grayfia had in fact become her best friend and confidant.
"That should not be a problem Serafall. I will do as you ask. But may I ask a favor of you?" The small holographic image of Grayfia asked.
Serafall nodded and said, "Sure."
"While you are in the human world could you check in on Rias for me? I fear she will be getting desperate to find a way to cancel her pending marriage to the third son of the Phenex clan. You don't need to do anything, just let me know what you see." Grayfia asked with concern.
She loved her sister-in-law and wanted nothing more than to help her get out of that arranged marriage. Even she knew it would be a loveless marriage. But both hers and Sirzechs' hands were tied in regards to that matter.
"You know I will Grayfia, Rias should never have been put in that situation to begin with. At least not with someone like him. Her grandmother should have just let her choose the one she loves instead of forcing her into a forced marriage." Serafall told her.
"I agree Serafall, Rias should be allowed to choose her husband like we were able to." Grayfia replied. "But her grandmother thinks otherwise and pushed her father to set up the arranged marriage."
At the mention of the word husband, Serafall couldn't help but feel a little sad. And Grayfia noticed the fallen look that crossed her friends face.
"Forgive me Serafall; it was insensitive of me to refer to your late husband." Grayfia said to her friend with a bow.
"It's okay Grayfia, I'll be okay." Serafall said with a sad smile.
"But I will keep an eye on her for you and let you know what I see when I get back. And thank you so much." She said with a small bow of the head.
"Thank you Serafall. Also, give your sister a big hug from me when you see her." Grayfia said with a mischievous smile.
Serafall laughed at what Grayfia had said and nodded to her before ending the session.
'Now to contact Sona and let her know that Daphne, Cal, And Beth will be there in a few days an that I will be coming for a visit soon,' she thought to herself while smiling and thinking of her lost love.
Because of the upcoming holidays, my updates might be slower in posting. Work, school, and family will be taking priority. But I will continue to work on this as time permits.
Thank you every one for your reviews and support.
