"So, how are you finding the school so far?" The blond boy asked.

"Educational." Was the only reply that Zabuza was willing to give that sounded remotely polite. This was supposed to be Haku's job. She was better with people, and had that soft smile that could melt hearts of stone, ice and diamond.

But no, here he was slowly walking behind the blonde kid for an impromptu tour of the school grounds as he attempted to make conversation.

"That's good. A solid education among friends is one of the greatest things in the world."

Right behind a Chidori to the chest. Thought Zabuza as he remembered his last run through the education system, specifically the small mountain of corpses he left as his entrance exam. So to the blonde kid he just gave a noncommittal grunt.

"We have a plethora of clubs and sports here, any of those interest you?"

"Haku made friends with some of the Kendo club. I might swing by there every so often for a bit of practice."

"Really now? I didn't peg you for the swordsman type." Oh how wrong you are. Zabuza thought with a hidden smile before the shorter boy continued. "I'm a bit of an amateur swordsman myself. Maybe one day we can have a spar, give each other a few tips? What do you say?"

Zabuza shrugged again, but filed the information away for later. A few minutes of silence later, after the boy realized that any attempts at a conversation would be met with some form of grunt or one word answer, they arrived at the old school building, or specifically the Occult Research Clubroom.

"After you." The blonde boy said, holding the door open for Zabuza, who brushed past him without a second glance.

Whatever expectations Zabuza had for meeting Lord Gremory's daughter were turned on his head. The man's study had reflected his personality almost to the last book. Where Lord Gremory's study was open, welcoming and bright, designed to lull a person into dropping their guard, his daughter went the opposite route.

The room was dusky, and almost oppressive with dim lighting, a pair of couches on opposite sides of a table. The place even has a shower.. Zabuza couldn't shake the feeling that he walked into a mafia safe house instead of a clubroom.

Guess daddy owning the school has it's perks. The masked devil thought as he took a quick glance at the other occupants of the room.

Picking out Lord Gremory's daughter was easy. Look for the blood red, crimson hair. Easy on the eyes at least. Zabuza thought with a snort as he gave the women sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, a quick once over.

He wasn't looking forward to this meeting, especially with Haku running recon by herself. He trusted her with his life, but they were a two person cell and worked best when covering each other's back.

Still, the startling red hair that went down to her knees, hourglass figure and sapphire blue eyes with a tint of green was enough to grab his gaze. Doubt she's a close range fighter with a chest like that… then again. He knew the tales of Tsunade the Slug Princess. Breasts bigger than a man's head, yet could punch through a mountain like it was made of styrofoam.

He wrote it off as something to investigate later before moving on to the women standing behind her. Long black hair tied into a single ponytail held in place by an orange ribbon, an even larger chest that Rias, What are they feeding these kids?, black knee-high socks and a mischievous smile on her face.

None of that brought an immediate name to the front of his mind, so he simply nodded a greeting at the pair of them before Rias spoke up, interrupting his attempt to get a read on the last occupant of the room.

"Kiba! Just in time. And you must be Seb-" Rias started to speak as she set her cup down to properly greet Zabuza with a warm smile and a handshake.

"Zabuza."

"Ah, well it is nice of you to join us Zabuza." Rias ignored the interruption as if it never happened, holding out her hand as she simply went with the flow.

The spiky haired devil took it without hesitation, making sure to apply a bit of force. Not enough to hurt of course, but enough to remind her that he didn't come as a friend, he came as a possible enemy, driving her to take a second look.

Short, spiky black hair, pale olive skin that in the right light would look almost grey, cold brown eyes that seemed to weigh everything he saw before him like an accountant who only cared about the bottom line, and thin eyebrows that on anyone else would look out-of-place, but they seemed to suit him.

Of course that also lead to the natural curiosity, and a question many before her had asked themselves. I wonder what he looks like without the scarf? Yes, the white scarf that he refused to take off that covered everything from his nose down.

"Oh the pleasure is all mine." Zabuza didn't even bother attempting to hide the sarcasm as he let go of Rias's hand.

"Well, I assume introductions are in order. I am Rias Gremory as you probably know. That is my Queen, Akeno Himejima." Rias gestured to the black-haired girl behind the couch, who bowed her head at the introduction.

So that's the Priestess of Thunder… interesting.

"You've already met my knight, Yuuto Kiba." Rias's hand moved to point at the blonde boy that led him here. Zabuza took another peek through the corner of his vision. In his opinion the boy was a twig, but he wasn't something to be written off. Haku was a twig as well, but she was still the scarier half of the dynamic duo.

The fact he looks like a pretty boy isn't help.. Again, a criticism that could have been leveled at Haku multiple times in her life, current or past.

"And finally, the last member we have with us today is Koneko Toujou. My cute little rook." Rias stepped aside to allow Zabuza a glance at the white-haired midget on the couch next to where Rias previously sat, who seemed to be trying to stare him down.

Zabuza gave Akeno a small nod, before turning his attention back to Koneko. The little girl was giving him a look, one he'd seen before. It was a person who couldn't decide if they should approach something with caution, or simply stay away.

"What do you want Gremory? I'm a busy man, and I don't enjoy having my time wasted." Zabuza crossed his arms over his chest as he stood in place.

Rias lost her smile at being addressed by her clan's name. "I wanted to welcome you to the human world and explain a few rules for your stay. I'll keep this as brief as you want, Gaap."

Oh, hit a nerve did I? Zabuza smirked under his scarf as he took a seat on the couch opposite to his hosts. "Good."

Rias took her seat as Kiba walked behind the couch to take his place next to Akeno, hands behind his back.

"Do you really need your peerage present in this meeting, Gremory? "

"They are my friends, and they are have just as much right to be here as anyone else." Rias shot back, keeping her tone level. "Besides, you wanted to keep this short, so why are you wasting time asking dumb questions?"

Yep, definitely hit a nerve.. Zabuza leaned back on the couch, spreading himself out as if he owned the room, instead of being a simple guest. His eyes scanned over the group, keeping an eye on them in the event of a trap. Call him paranoid, he didn't care. Paranoia had saved his life multiple times as a professional ninja, and even more as a missing-nin.

Do none of these girl's wear bra's though…? He had to ask himself. Zabuza's sexual urges were always kept on a short leash, but the fact he could identify exactly where the nipples on every female occupant in the room with just a quick glance was slightly uncomfortable.

Zabuza just shrugged at Rias's question, motioning her for to get this over with.


Half-way through the meeting Zabuza was starting to catch on that this wasn't just an informal meet and greet, with Rias playing the part of a kind host. The tip that gave it away? All of the rules, and suggestions she was giving him could have easily been written out on a pamphlet for him to read before class tomorrow.

No.. this is them judging me.. Kami.. Zabuza suppressed the shot of pain that ran through him at using God's name. Damn it all.. where is Haku when I need her..

Eventually he had enough though and he decided to interrupt. "Gremory. What do you want from me? I don't mean my attention, cause you lost that once you started talking about massacring Human's for fun, and how I'd have to keep those urges to myself if I had them. So. No bullshit. What. Do. You. Want. With. Me?"

Rias blinked before letting out a breath in a quiet sigh. "Zabuza, I have heard some rather.. distressing rumors about you.. and I wanted to see if they were true…"

Going to have to be more specific than that.. The underworld was a melting pot of politics, gossip and false truths. One of his favourites was how Haku was actually a boy who liked to wear female clothing. Oh if only they knew how true that was. Other's concerned his relationship with his family, and more importantly his blood line as a member of one of the 72 Pillars.

"And?" Zabuza prompted, waiting to see what rumor it would be this time. Probably just doesn't want me to kill a student for making a pass on Haku. And he would to. The only issue is that they'd never find the evidence needed to pin the blame on him. Motive? Absolutely. Anything else would disappear into the mists of time.

"I wanted to offer you protection."

...Wait.. what? Zabuza just blinked at her, which she took as a cue to continue.

"I've heard that you lack.. well.. to put it bluntly, you haven't inherited the abilities of the Gaap Clan and that due to your father's refusal to take another wife after your mother's death…"

"I am the last heir to a clan one generation away from extinction." Zabuza finished for her, fighting back a laugh.

Rias simply nodded. "Yes, I've heard a lot about you. Since you asked for me to be blunt, I'll be blunt. You have no friends, you have no allies. While other young devils are out, trying to make a name for themselves, doing everything in their power to be recognized, you are a recluse, known for having spent the last six years entire in your estate. Your clan consists solely of you and your father. I don't know how hard it is to be in your position, personally. But I wish to help you."

"Guide a lost soul into paradise." Zabuza snorted at the thought, watching as Rias's smile gained a sad edge.

"Yes. You and Haku don't have to be alone. We'd be happy to have you as an ally or a friend."

Zabuza chuckled and threw his head back, not letting Rias or her peerage get a good look at his face as he struggled to hold in the laughter at the giant misunderstanding. The damn women sees me as some lost and angsty school boy! It took him a minute to get himself under control, bringing his head back down to wipe away a small tear.

"Your offer is… generous.." Zabuza bit his lip again before continuing, making sure to throw a small undertone of regret in his voice for effect. "But I'll be declining. I may not have the advantages most of the Pillars do. But I plan on rising through my own strength and ability. Now.. if there is nothing else, I'll be leaving. I have.. important things to do."

Rias simply nodded, with a small look of regret on her face. "The offer is still open if you ever wish to change your mind." After all, she had a bishop, a rook and a knight piece left along with all eight pawns. She knew Issei was hiding something strong in him, but she highly doubted she'd have to pay more than a couple of pawns to get at it.

Zabuza shrugged before standing up, giving the group another quick look over before bowing his head. "It has been.. interesting meeting you all.. good day." He forced himself to be polite, he didn't want to ruin their assumptions just yet after all.


Once Zabuza was sure he was far enough away that none of Rias's peerage could hear him, nor was he being followed by a familiar, he started to laugh at the absurdity. He knew it. He just knew that those damn rumors would pay off.

The greatest weapon in any war is information... And if the rumors of his ineptitude had reached the point where some devils were going to him a helping hand, he couldn't be happier.

With that thought in mind, Zabuza reached into his pocket, taking out his cellphone, quickly punching in Haku's number. He wanted a status report, as well as her current location. I'll even sweeten the deal and tell her about this joke of a meeting.


"What do you think?" Rias's questions was to noone in particular, but her peerage knew she wanted their opinion on the matter. "Kiba?"

"..." Kiba sighed, wondering how he'd explain the feeling he was getting in the pit of his stomach. "I am conflicted. From his physique and what little conversation I could get out of him on the way here, I'd say he'd probably hold his own in a brawl, and he apparently knows his way around a sword, but I can't say anything for certain."

"And his personality?"

Again, Kiba started with silence. "I don't know. He could be acting, but I don't see why. We are all on the same side.. so he could just be anti-social?" The blonde knight offered up, before Akeno choose to voice her opinion.

"He's wearing a mask, I just can't tell about what… He doesn't care for formality, that much is obvious but I don't know if the hostility is a defense mechanism or if he also doesn't care what people think of him… We simply don't know.. has Sona shown any interest in him?"

Rias shook her head at the mention of her best friend and rival. "No. She said she's content to observe as things come up. Something about not having enough solid evidence to make a proper judgement on."

Akeno hummed in approval at that. "I have to agree with her on that. Everything we know about him is either second-hand or pure rumors."

"Dangerous…" Koneko spoke up, drawing the attention of her friends.

"What do you mean Koneko?" Kiba scratched his chin, trying to think of anything in the past hour or so that could be an indication that Zabuza was dangerous… nothing came to mind. An arrogant prick, sure but dangerous?

"Smells like blood… lots and lots of blood." Was Koneko's only response before she went back to snacking on her usual treats.

"I see.. we'll watch him for now… but for now." Rias eyed the crimson magical circle that appeared before her. Guess it's show time. She thought with a small smile, honestly looking forward to adding a cute little brother to her peerage.

AN: Next chapter is where the action begins, now that everyone has met, more or less. Anyways, thank ya for the reviews and votes so far. Aside from that, you know the drill (review or vote for the pairings ya want or don't want.)~ I look forward to the next chapter and hope to see you again~ Have fun