Notes!

I considered making this one a Halloween episode. But just couldn't think of how, and still make it canon.

So just on with the show.

Chapter 3

Before Rias returned at 3:35pm, I had finally turned on the TV. A nice flat screen, it was the sort of thing I would have wanted when I lived in this era. One thing I didn't ask Rias, was 'when' I was. If time ran parallel, then it would have been 2018 or so. But... It wasn't. It was 2016, technically BEFORE I had crossed dimensions the first time.

Curious...

When Rias did show up, she was smiling that same easy smile of hers, a small leather school bag in hand. "How would you like to meet the rest of my peerage?"

"If you give me a moment to put something other than my boxers on?" We both looked down at what I was wearing.

"No need to wear everything, if you don't want to." She said as I started putting on my under armour, a thin long sleeve shirt and pants. "I see you figured out the washer?"

"Seen one, seen most." I replied, looking at my scale vest and feeling my breasts tingle at the thought of cramming them into it without proper adjusting. "Just these and this then..." I mumbled, putting on my belt and gauntlets, "I suppose I'll explain a little more, if you want to do some more questions." I said, my hands feeling right at home inside the armoured gloves.

"All set then?" She asked, turning to start down the hall, "It's actually the room I first brought you to."

I followed her, my tails getting curious and swishing close to Rias, just within reach, if she chose to. I didn't bother to stop them, either, and Rias did finally notice them, gently shoo-ing them away.

"Ah, she's arrived." I heard some one, a woman by the sound of the voice, say as Rias put her hand on the door handle and pushed it open. "Good afternoon, President." The voice used the formal 'Gokigenyou' and as well. "And our strange guest as well?"

"Now now Akeno, no name calling on your first meeting." Rias said as I entered in behind her, my tails clearing the door and shutting it behind me helpfully. "She's come to us for help. Kodori, let me introduce you."

Sitting on one of the two couches, was a young man. Looking sharp in what was probably the male version of the school uniform a black shirt and pants with white highlights, he had short blond hair, blue eyes, and a friendly face as he gave me a polite wave. "That is Yuuto Kiba, a knight of my peerage."

"A pleasure, Ma'am. Please call me however you prefer." He said, his voice just as friendly as his appearance.

Across from him on the opposite couch, was a white haired girl. Very short by the look of it, she was wearing the same dress as Rias, but without the black shoulder covering that Rias was wearing. She also had a pair of little black cat hair clips near her temples. "Koneko Toujou." She said flatly, her deep brown eyes blinking at me once, before she turned away and picked up a plate of... I wasn't sure, some kind of brownie or something.

Last, as I looked beside the door where Rias was standing, was a tall, though not quite as tall as Rias, black haired beauty. Also wearing the uniform, her hair was... really long. It would be touching the floor if it weren't for an orange ribbon tying it up just a little at the back of her head. "I'm Akeno Himejima." She said, her violet eyes lighting up as she smiled at me. "But please, just Akeno."

I raised an eyebrow at her last name, being similar to my own, but I replied, with a palm-in-fist bow, "Kodori Haruhime, I'll be in your care." I then stood straight and asked, taking a little plastic bag from my belt, "Would anyone like a cookie?"

Putting the bag down on the table and opening it, I sat next to Koneko, my tails swishing away from her so they didn't crowd her. There was a moment of silence as Rias took yet another cookie and nibbled at it, the others taking it as a signal and helping themselves. "So, Rias? How much have you told them about me?"

"Nothing really. I thought you might like to do the honours." She replied, Akeno and her moving another couch to the end of the table and sitting side by side.

"Very well..." I gave Rias a raised eyebrow, figuring she was trying to get free information from me. "I'll start with what happened just before..."

"So." Kiba said, eyeing the last cookie, but smiling to Koneko who took it, "You lived in a city of Gods, with an infinite dungeon, to suppress the monsters. Something happened, and you arrived here, with that," He looked over to the circular cut out of the dungeon that was still in the corner, "Just in time to see some one die." He looked to Rias, "Where is Hyoudou-kun, President?"

"He will join us in due time." Rias said, "We will be watching him tonight."

Kiba nodded, "To be honest, I find this a little hard to believe." He held up a hand, "Sorry if I offend, but..."

"It's fine." I said, "No more than meeting a Devil and her group of..." I paused, "Re... born? no..." My Japanese was a little incomplete.

"Reincarnated." Rias offered.

"Thank you. Reincarnated devils." I carefully scratched an ear, "If Rias would count it, I'm open to proving it as best I can."

"I approve." Rias said, "I'm interested as well."

I thought of a way to prove it. That I was from some fantastical place. Sure, my equipment was strange, but not fantastical. Rias knew what a drake was, so that wasn't going to do. I had a magic stone, but it would simply be a pretty rock that emitted a little magic. Minotaur horns... Beetle shell... "I can only think of one thing, to prove I lived with Gods. But, I'm not sure you will like it." I said suddenly.

"Oh?" Akeno perked up, "I'm very curious now."

"But I'm going to need a glass of water." I got a raised eyebrow from everyone, but Koneko dutifully stood, got a glass of water from a sink that was just out of sight of the door, and placed it in front of me. I took a sip, tilted my head back and gargled a moment before swallowing the water, "I can only say a few words at once. But..."

The air grew still as they all waited, and I said, in the language of the Gods, that I had to learn to make the potion that allowed Haruhime and I to bear children with each other, "I can speak...their..." I started coughing, unable to continue, being a mortal and not a God, their words were not meant for me to speak.

It was a good thing too, as I recovered from my coughing fit, throat raw, eyes watering, all of them were holding their ears. Rias and Akeno were the least affected, but Koneko and Kiba looked like they had a migraine.

It took a moment for us all to recover, but they seemed to shake off the pain quickly. "My, that was... surprising." Akeno said, rubbing her temples, "However did you learn that?"

"I had to do some research, and I had to learn hieroglyph, the God's writing, to do it." I explained, my voice still scratchy, "Learning to speak it was kind of a byproduct." I sipped my glass of water, "I suppose that answers one of my questions too."

"Hm?" Rias tilted her head slightly.

"I can't think of anything else that would react to 'God's voice' like that." I replied. I made a mental note not to bleed on any of them. I had no idea if my status updates mixed my blood with Hestia's but, I didn't want to find out.

"Yes, the more powerful the devil, the more resistant they are to the divine, but it is certainly a weakness of ours." Rias said, "Hm what to ask in return..." She looked at the others.

"Could you explain the pieces to me?" I asked, since no one was coming forward with a question.

"We could, but..." Rias smiled, "Issei will no doubt want to know as well, if you can be patient?"

"Very well." I replied.

A little more awkward silence, then I remembered, "Does this look familiar at all?" I opened one of my pouches and took out the magic circle fragment I had drawn. "Your circle isn't even close to this, but, it was part of what brought me here."

They all shook their heads, but Rias looked to Akeno, and the raven haired woman put the paper in a pocket, "I will look, and ask a few of the others who might know."

"Thank you." I said.

"Lady President said you weren't a youkai, but something close?" Kiba asked, "Your tails, do they mean the same as a Kitsune?"

"For all intents and purposes? Yes." I replied, holding out a hand and having a black tail flop onto it, "Yes we are talking about you." I said to it, carefully digging my fingers into the fluff and scratching lightly. "I read a Tome. A kind of magic book, that isn't quite like what you are thinking." I let that tail go, then had all the others try and get the same treatment, "Gah, no, one at a time."

"Rebellious, aren't they?" Akeno giggled behind a hand.

"I missed brushing them last night." I replied, giving each tail it's own little bit of attention, "In Orario, a Tome can actually gift someone with magic. Even if they have no real ability for it. Me? It split my tail into five, and I have since exchanged one, and grown another."

"So you know some kind of magic then?" Rias asked, "We can all tell you possess some power, but not what kind."

"This one... I'll say this. I know exactly two spells. One has stages, the other came with the golden tail." I gave Rias a look, "My magic is a personal thing, and I don't 'cast' it, so much as... turn up the volume."

"And you being able to carry that?" Rias pointed at the dungeon fragment.

"That was just me being an adventurer."

"Hm, even if you were willing, I doubt I could have reincarnated you then..." Rias pouted.

I shrugged, "I owe you, but, if you need me to fight, I won't do it unless there is just cause." I figured, that if I needed to be a mercenary, I would set the rules now, instead of later.

"That's good to know." Rias nodded with a smile, "I will keep that in mind, certainly."

"Oh, I have one." Akeno started, "I can't help but notice your ring... It's certainly magical, but... I can't figure out what it does. I can see it practically glowing through your glove."

My eyes widened a little. I hadn't expected one of them, or anyone really, to be that sensitive to magic. I reminded myself, that I wasn't under the normal rules of Orario anymore, then replied, "Well... I will trade the answer if I can get some shopping done. My tails will rebel if I don't brush them soon, and I only have one set of clothes."

Rias looked at Akeno, who looked back with, I swear to Hestia, puppy eyes. Rias sighed, though she was smiling, as if indulging her own child, then nodded. "We'll arrange something, and I will put you under my employ, if you wish. That way I can pay you, and have it look official for my own ledgers." Rias explained, "Devil or not, we still pay our taxes."

I took off my gauntlets, placing them carefully on the table. Kiba looked curious, and I pushed one closer to him while I held out my left hand to Akeno. "Now. Hold my hand, and touch the ring with both hands." She did, though I found her hands a little cool, "Now, close your eyes."

Akeno closed her eyes, and she started to react as if something was there, but just out of sight. She sniffed the air, tilted her head to listen, then made to reach out to touch something in front of her. But the loss of contact broke the spell, and she blinked her eyes open in surprise. "Who..." She leaned back, a little too quickly, the motion seeming clumsy. "A soft voice, the scent of sakura and tea, a vivid red kimono... Bottomless green eyes..." She dabbed the corner of her eye with her sleeve delicately.

"That, is my wife." I said, "And only one of over a dozen reasons I want to go home."

We spent most of the rest of the early evening making conversation. I found out a few things about what exactly Rias was doing in a human school. Her first answer being 'Getting an education, silly'. Which made sense. Then, that this was also her 'territory'. It was her, and her peerage's job, to keep the more dangerous of supernatural things away from humans. The war was technically still on, though there was currently a delicate truce on all sides. There were however, a few holdouts, who tried to cause trouble and incite further conflict.

Her being a highborn, pure blooded devil, meant she was keeping watch, for the greater good, and brownie points from her family, who, while letting her stay in the human world to learn, also expected her to show she could lead, and control, and protect, a territory. I got the feeling that if things got out of hand, she'd be pulled back home and grounded.

It was just getting dark out, the half moon hiding behind heavy clouds, when Rias took out a smart phone, reminding me I wanted one of those too. "It's about time. But I am going to call Sona-chan. One of her peerage can help you get what you need."

"Many thanks." I replied, sipping some tea, "Kiba." I looked across at the young man, "Swordsman, right handed?"

"Ah, you noticed then?"

"Your hands are rougher near the index and thumb on your right hand, and near the bottom edge of your left hand." I replied, making me think of Aisha, an Amazon who used a two handed sword, when she wasn't just kicking people around like me.

"You have a good eye." He replied, though not confirming my assumption. "Your gauntlets are heavy, but not spiked?"

"I don't use anything but my hands and feet as weapons." I replied, "The gauntlets are more so I don't shatter my hands."

"Ah, like how a boxer wraps their fists." He nodded.

"Well, that, and I can deflect sharp stuff with the backs of my hands too."

"Practical, yes."

"Sona will be here in a few moments. She was just finishing up a few things at the main building." Rias said, pocketing her phone. "Something that has been bothering me... You seem quite familiar with this world, even though you are from another."

"I do owe you an answer." I replied, feeling someone petting one of my tails.

"Such soft fur..." Akeno mumbled from behind me, forcing me to suppress a little shiver as he fingertips got to the skin under the fluff.

"Then yes, I am asking." Rias smiled.

"This isn't the first time I've jumped." I replied simply, "My starting point was in North America." I didn't add that it was technically a few months from this world's current date.

"Very interesting." Rias tapped her chin with a finger, "Oh, I suppose if you are going shopping, you will need a little money. And maybe your jacket."

Akeno let go of my tail, and went to the door, opening it, "Welcome, Sona-san." I hadn't heard anything, so I guessed it was just something she could do, or, Sona teleported. "Come in."

"Akeno-san, Rias-san, Koneko, Kiba." The newest arrival reminded me a lot of someone named Asfi, back in Orario. Short black hair, violet eyes, glasses, and a serious expression. She was a little shorter than Akeno, and had a just enough curves to make her feminine, without looking like a tomboy. Her voice sounded like it would be perfect for teaching, firm and attention grabbing without being harsh. "And you must be Haruhime-san?"

I stood, my tails slipping away from Akeno and away from trying to get Koneko's attention, and I bowed to her, "Call me Kodori, please." I replied, "A pleasure to meet you, Sona-san." I was getting a general feel for the energy in the room, and Sona 'felt' like a devil as well.

"Very well, Kodori-san." She replied, giving me a slight bow, "Rias-san tells me you need a little help?"

"As you can see, I kind of stand out. And I have no way of really hiding what I am, except, maybe wearing a dress or a large coat." I said, holding one of my tails, and tossing it over one shoulder like a scarf, that immediately slipped away because Akeno was more interesting than being an accessory.

"One of my pawns works the night shift at a small store. It will be basic, but should serve your immediate needs?" She informed me, and at my nod of understanding continued with, "Here is a map." She handed me a bit of paper, which was drawn so exact, I wondered if it was a printout at first, but no, it was done in pen.

"Thank you." I said, folding the map up carefully and putting it in a pouch, "Rias-san?"

"Have him charge it to me." She said to Sona, then to me, "Get what you need, don't worry about cost."

"Understood." Sona said, "I assume you are going out tonight?"

"Yes indeed." Rias replied.

"I will keep the school safe then." She replied, pushing her glassed up with a finger.

"Thank you as always, Sona-chan."

"I take my leave then." She said, then to me, "I have already told my pawn about you, you should have no problems with him." And with that, she closed the door behind her, my ears listening to her quiet footfalls on the carpet of the hallway.

"I'm not sure if she likes you, or hates you." I said to Rias, who laughed.

"She and I are childhood friends, and rivals."

"That explains it then. I suppose I'll get a few things from my room and head out then." I said.

"Be careful." Rias said, "For free," I stopped, hand on the door handle, "What ever killed Hyoudou Issei, is still out there."

"Good point. Guess I will wear my coat after all." After refilling the milk bottle again, though I didn't mention that out loud.

While I tended to my body, I let my mind fill with thoughts of home, and Hestia. No words of prayer, yet I didn't stop until I felt the ghostly impression of her little hand on my back. Afterwards, I put the bottle back into the fridge and got into my armour. I left my pouches behind, and didn't bother wearing my shin or forearm guards, but I certainly wore my gauntlets.

Locking the door behind me, I put the key in one of my pockets and headed back to the main 'crossroad' of the building. Nice wide wooden steps, with perfectly polished banisters. It wasn't the nice split 'Y' of the marble stairs at the Hearth manor, but it was a perfect match for the rest of the building.

Exiting the building I took a moment to look at it from the outside. With old red brick and ivy growing up the sides, it looked quite old, and just one step from looking like it had been abandoned. I suppose if they were the 'occult research club' it had the right look for it. Looking at the map Sona gave me, with it's helpful 'start here' dot next to the 'O.R.C.' building, I turned again, and left through an arched iron gate, with more ivy covering it, and the surrounding stone walls.

While I walked, my tails keeping low to the ground in case I met someone 'normal' I thought about how many times I'd have liked to visit Japan, back when I was just a normal person. Kuoh seemed a little bit of a sleepy town, but from my window in the dorm, I could see a respectable city skyline. The suburbs however, were practically deserted. And poorly lit. To either side, as I walked, were tall concrete walls containing backyards, and solitary lamp posts that were just a little too far apart to illuminate the narrow streets properly. Well, for someone without good dark vision.

I wasn't very surprised, when I felt a pair of eyes on me from behind. I did however, feel a little guilty that I was just waiting for someone to bother me. Rias and her group were quite friendly. Model students and polite. But I suspected part of that was Rias had told them ahead of time I was a little put out about ending up here. Even chiding Akeno for simply calling me 'strange'.

Following the map further, I stepped out of the suburbs and found myself near a train track that acted like a dividing line between 'houses' and 'farmland'. To my left, was a small if well kept train stop, and my right... Well, it would have been a 7/11 back in Canada, but looking through the windows, into the bright florescent lit area within, it had all kinds of things. Food, books, maps, travel supplies, souvenirs. It was a very small store with a little of everything for the traveller on the go.

Stepping out of the darkness just outside the empty ten car parking lot, I waited for the automatic sliding door to open for me and stepped inside. Looking about to get my bearings, I found the person, who was also the only person in the store, that I was looking for. Following the crinkle of potato chip bags being stuffed onto a shelf, I stepped into the snack food aisle and looked them over. Wearing the same uniform as Kiba, without the black blazer, but with a green apron with an 8/12 logo on the left side, he was a fairly tall boy with blond hair. As he stopped what he was doing and turned to me, I noticed he had grey eyes and a rather surprised expression.

"Sona-san said I'd have someone interesting come by... But..." He looked kind of stunned.

"Kodori." I said, extending a hand, "You are?"

"Oh!" He stepped closer, wiped off his hands on his apron, and shook my hand. Good grip, and he managed to lock eyes with me as well. "Just call me Saji. I'm Sona-san's pawn. Sorry for staring, but I've never met anyone with tails before. Or... is that dragon skin?"

"I am a bit out of place, I wont disagree. I was told you'd give me a hand?" He nodded, and I added, "And yes, it is."

His eyes widened, and so did his smile, "Well then, tell me what you need, and I'll give you directions."

True to his word, he made gave me no trouble when I started asking questions. He didn't even raise an eyebrow when I went to the 'maternity' section, and found a simple pump for myself. Either he was informed already, or, he had been told by Sona to be extra polite. I was thankful either way, and by the end of it, I had a collection of bags containing clothes, food, hygiene and all those little things one might need. Including a soft wire brush for long haired pets. My tails picked one out when I was standing in front of the pet section, since I couldn't decide instantly. Impatient appendages.

"Be safe on your way back." Saji said as I gathered up everything, "Sona-san told me you'd be covered by Rias-san, so no worries there."

"Thank you, you've been helpful." I replied, "Say... Just how common are people like me around here? I mean, those a little more than, or less than, human."

"Well..." He looked thoughtful, then lowered his voice, "Aside from the Sona and Rias peerages... We do get a few others around. Mostly harmless, minor oni and the like. Original monsters and spirits of the land. They keep to themselves, finding us to be too..." He paused, scratched his head, "New? I'm not sure exactly, and can't really ask if they don't come forward."

I nodded, filing that information away, "And others? I've been told the bare bones about the 'war'."

"They tend to avoid us devils, since the Gremory Family is protecting this area, with the support of us, the Sitri Family." He replied, "I have no idea if I'm supposed to tell you any of this, so please, don't mention it?" He made a one handed prayer gesture and gave me a hopeful wink.

"Don't worry." I nodded, "Just trying to get familiar with the place, in case I have to stay a while."

"Well, come again if you need anything else, Kodori-san."

I gave him a wave over my shoulder as the double doors opened for me with a cheerful electronic bell noise.

As soon as I cleared the parking lot, and started walking down the narrow street again, I felt the eyes on my back once more. I got the impression they weren't from Rias's peerage, and the tingle of energy my tails were picking up didn't feel at all like those the devils gave off. My improved mood at meeting the rather reliable Sona pawn broken, I stopped at the next vending machine, leaned my bags against it, and turned around.

"Go away, or show yourself." I said plainly to the darkness behind me.

"My my, so impolite for a monster." I could tell I was going to hate this person, simply on principal. Her voice had all the markers for 'stuck up bitch', and with only those seven words, could imagine her laughing with that insane 'Oh-ho-ho-ho', laugh.

I could just make out her outline, in the middle of the street between the light of two lamp posts. Good dark vision or not, she was probably using some kind of magic to try and hide herself. "This monster has had a bad couple of days." I growled, trying to calm myself when I realized I was already hitting the far edge of my bullshit meter after only hearing this person's voice. "Now, go away, or show yourself."

"I think I will have to correct that attitude of yours, beast. Not knowing your betters." A single step, and the magic veil around her melted away. From the ground up, she was quite good looking. Though with her super short red skirt and red top that was open almost down to the belly button to show off what could only be considered massive breasts... She might have been trying too hard. Just above the barely contained flesh, was a pretty, if a little angular, face. Yellow eyes glared at me from under a dark blue head of long hair. "Is the monster pretending to be civilized? Going shopping so late at night?"

She had actually reminded me about my shopping bags, and I stepped sideways a little to distance myself from it, just in case. I had no idea what this person was, or what they could do, but I didn't want to potentially waste Saji's kindness, or Rias's money. "Last chance to leave." I said flatly, taking a deep breath and dialing my inner magic up to 3. I tapped my booted toes against the pavement under me, the solid feeling making me think I could actually go all out without making trouble for some poor team of road workers.

"Well, if you insist." She smiled, her face twisting with barely contained malice, "But just so we aren't bothered..." She raised a hand out towards me, a shaft of yellow light forming from the air in front of her, and forming into a short spear. As the double ended, cruelly pointed weapon formed, the contrast of the sky changed, turning from darkness to a sort of deep red. My tails twitched as the magic in the air changed, feeling almost like the natural flow of magic in the air had stopped. "Even if you run, you'll never escape me!" And she charged, the holding her spear close to her body and dashing forward to impale me.

On a scale of 'normal human' to 'Bell being called for dinner', her speed was closer to 'Mikoto punishing an opening'. Fast and direct, but no where near the fastest I'd ever seen. Her weapon did make me a little nervous however. She had made it out of nothingness, more or less, and I had no idea if my coat would stop it.

So, I took a half step sideways to slip the spear, and tried a good old fashioned boxer's straight.

And knocked her flat on her ass. The stance of her charge was pretty much all or nothing, so my simple punch destroyed her balance. The hit didn't feel very solid, but I managed to graze her cheek hard enough to make her spit out a bit of blood when she sprang back up to her feet. I said nothing as I gave her a raised eyebrow and gave her a 'come on' motion with my leading hand.

"A lucky punch!" She said through bloodied teeth, my punch probably cutting her cheek open on her teeth, "Lets see how you handle this then!"

She darted forward again, her double bladed short spear sweeping through the air at me with quick slashes and precise thrusts. Having sparred with an Amazon who used a massive two bladed staff like it was made of bamboo, the shorter version this person was using was nothing new to me either. Taking a chance, I let the edge of the spear, just behind the point, graze the back of my gauntlet, just to see the reaction.

She took the sudden contact as her starting to gain the upper hand, and laughed as my gauntlet sparked exactly once. "Slowing down, monster? Don't worry, it will be over soon!"

Breaking one of my own rules, to use your breath to either command, or fight harder in combat, I said, "Do you want me to start trying now then?"

"You DA-"

I slipped her next thrust of the spear, slid my right foot forward against her ankle, swept the edge of my left hand against that same leg, brought my right hand up, and SLAMMED my palm against the centre of her back. The sudden trip of her left leg meant she had no support what so ever, as I bounced her off the pavement hard enough to crack it.

I settled my stance, right foot forward, left foot back and at a right angle, and raised my hands to the ready, waiting for her to move.

"How..." She grunted, pushing herself up slowly.

"Feel like leaving yet? My tails need brushing." My tails agreeing with me by waving about a little more aggressively.

She growled, low and animal, as two large black feathered wings ripped through her red top. With a heavy flap, she sprung off the ground in an instant, and hovered in the air above me, "I'LL KILL YOU!"

More spears. Forming out of nothingness, more of those short yellow spears formed in the air around her. Held in place by a small magic circle, a dozen of them pointed towards me, and launched themselves at me, more forming to take their place even as I dashed sideways to dodge. She wasn't even trying to lead me, the spears simply slamming into the ground behind me as I hopped about. Lilly's little hand crossbow shot faster than these, and while my favourite supporter could only fire about once a second, she could kill something across a room filled with fighting people. This woman however, seemed to be all flash, no skill.

No skill, but also ten meters over my head and raining sharp objects at me.

"No witty remarks now, animal?" She laughed.

I hopped backwards, over a patch of mostly broken pavement, another half dozen spears smashing the ground further and kicking up a cloud of dust. Using that as cover, I dashed forward, breaking through the cloud of dust and then jumping straight up, my lead foot denting the pavement as I rocketed upwards, directly under the woman. More spears lanced towards me, but only demolished my jumping point as I caught her first by the ankle, then the base of her wing, my tails whipping around to envelope her. "Before I rip your wings off..." I started, noticing the magic circles wink out as she struggled in my unbreakable grip, "I want you to remember, I gave you a chance to leave."

Unable to fly with her wings braced, I twisted my body back. As gravity took hold, I remained low on her body, as our heads were now pointing straight down. She had just enough time to scream, "YOU BITCH!" Before I let her go, and pushed myself back up, against gravity, and slammed her face first into the ground, again.

It was an odd feeling. Cold, methodical. Machine like. As I planted my boot into the middle of her back. Even as she started to struggle, my hands gripping her wings before she could pull them back into her body, I felt... nothing, as I heaved backwards, her wings tearing off her back at the root, with a damp, bloody noise, her scream of pain bouncing off me like the noise of a dying monster from the dungeon.

My tails twitched, and I jumped backwards on reflex, a long, pink bladed spear burying itself into the ground where I'd just been standing. "Get away from her!" A voice, female and just this side of adult sounding, yelled.

"Mittelt..." The woman on the ground groaned, "Get away..."

Still holding the two wings, their weight almost nothing in my hands, I said, "Take her, and leave me alone." I said.

Never in my life, this one or the last, had I met someone dressed as a 'Goth Loli'. Holding another long pink spear, with raven black wings sprouting from her back, a short, adorable little girl landed between me and the fallen... heh, angel. Black dress with white frills, which included a black bonnet holding her twin tailed blond hair in place, she looked like a doll. An angry one, but a doll none the less. Soft round face twisted in fury, she thrust at me with the spear, though I simply took a half step back to evade.

"Who do you think you are? No mere monster has a right to touch a fallen angel!" She yelled at me.

Tired of being called 'beast' and 'monster', I took a deep breath, and let myself feel angry. Body starting to glow with a smoky black, purple dripping aura of what my inner beast looked like, I looked at her and said, "I'm NOT a monster. I am Kodori, the Demon Fox!" Lifting my back foot, I made to take a step forward, my tails suddenly growling as the heads of wolf sized foxes started to manifest among the swaying fur, "LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE!" I finished my step, the pavement shattering under my boot as the smaller one, Mittelt, scrambled backwards.

Scooping up the other woman she jumped into the air frantically, the red sky slowly fading back into the dark black of what it had been before this stupidity started. As it did, I let my anger fizzle out, and noticed that the ground and walls, and even the vending machine that had taken a spear at some point, were undamaged. As if to punctuate this return to 'reality', one of my shopping bags shifted, threatening to spill its contents onto the ground. It was like the fight had never happened.

Except I was covered in a thin misting of blood, and had two large bird wings still in my hands.

"Stupid fu..." My golden tail boffed me on the head, "fallen angels." I finished, opening one of the bags and getting a big black garbage bag from a 10 pack I'd bought.

Someone tapped on my door shortly after I'd arrived back at my room. I was just getting my armour off, so I simply said, "Enter."

The door opened, revealing Akeno, who didn't actually enter. "My my... I was told to check on you but..."

"You may come in." I said, the devil stepping over the threshold. "Had a run in with a stalker." I said, looking at the tiny scratch on the back of my gauntlet, "Hm, should buff right out..." I mumbled.

"You..." She looked at the two wings, laying the the middle of my floor atop a couple of spread out garbage bags.

"Black wings, called themselves fallen angels." I said, "I didn't want to leave those laying about where someone could find them, and figured Rias might know what to do with them. Or just dissolve them with that magic of hers." I said, simply unable to be all... polite and refined at the moment. "If you have a moment, could you help me put this food away? I'll tell you about it while we do."

"Very well..." She said, a little woodenly.

A short while later, after packing everything away, washing my face, and wiping the blood off my now hanging up scale jacket and vest, I made some tea for Akeno, as she stood over the two wings.

"I'm impressed you managed to do this." She said finally, "Lady Rias will be... displeased there are more fallen in her territory."

"Milk? Sugar?" I asked, still feeling that little edge of anger, and unable to push it aside.

"Please." She said, standing across the counter between the living room and kitchen. "You seem on edge still." She commented, "Is that milk..."

"Do you mind if it is?" I asked, "I didn't bother to get any from the store."

She gave me the same smile Rias did when I told her what went into the cookies, and didn't stop me from pouring some into her tea.

"And yes. I am still on edge. As kind as Rias is, and I mean that, I have almost none of the things that I normally do, to balance myself." I sighed, adding a little milk to my tea as well, "My friends, my Goddess, my wife, my children, my favourite pillow, even the little needle rabbit I brought home from the dungeon. It's all just out of reach. I can't even take a bath after a day out." My hands started shaking so badly, I had to put my teacup down before I could even take a sip, "It's been less than two days, and I'm starting to lose touch with myself. Even the fight with... I didn't even get her name... I felt nothing. No joy, no anger. Just... part of what I had to do, to get back here."

I heard Akeno move around the counter, and felt one of her hands touch one of my tails, then the feeling of soft wire brushing through the fur. "There there... Just sit down, and I'll brush your tails for you."

NOTES!

So maybe you didn't have to wait a while for Kodori to beat someone up. And I've already given Mittelt and Kalawarner more screen time than they got in the manga. (That being a single panel, consisting of two feathers.)

If you know the anime, it's about here that Dohnaseek finds Issei, and Rias shows up to stop him from getting killed (again), and sleeping in his bed to heal him.

Anyhow, Happy Halloween! (if you do that kind of thing. If not, well... why not?)

See you in 5 days.