CHAPTER 5:

STRAY DEVIL

Rias contemplated the news Issei had given her at the clubroom, the others listening. "I suppose under the circumstances, you did the right thing in only directing her to the church rather than escorting her there. If you'd ventured into their territory, you may have been set upon. The Fallen love derelict churches."

"I don't think she was luring me into a trap," Issei said. "She seemed too guileless for that, and she would have insisted on my escorting her. I think it may just have been coincidence. And Steiner said she was human, not a Fallen." After some thought, he added, "She used a magic familiar to me. While it was curative magic, I saw it before. What's more, she seemed to imply that she had more than one means to heal people."

"It could be a Sacred Gear," Rias said. "I heard rumours through my brother of an Italian novice nun, answering to the same last name as the one you met, being tricked by Diadora Astaroth into healing him using a Sacred Gear. For healing a Devil, she was excommunicated."

"That's appalling," Issei scowled.

"Ironically, she may be better off with the Fallen," Rias said. "As much as it galls me to say so, anyway. Diadora Astaroth has a nasty habit of defiling nuns and forcing them into his Peerage as his sex slaves, usually getting them excommunicated first and leaving them vulnerable to the world for a time. Even so, she's still a danger. Even if Asia has a genuinely benign attitude towards Devils even now, her employers will not. Keep your distance from her, in case she's bait in a trap. And keep in mind that Exorcists can erase Devils from existence."

"I understand," Issei said. "She seemed like a nice girl, anyway."

"So did Raynare," Rias pointed out. "Now, we have other business to attend to. Akeno came by just before you arrived with a missive from the Asmoday family. One of their servants, Viser, has become a Stray, one we have to deal with. I suspected as much, as there was a recent rise in disappearances not far from a derelict warehouse on the outskirts of town. As you know the Evil Piece system and how we work, and have had experience dealing with Stray Devils, I won't have to explain everything. Just be ready."

They went to the derelict warehouse later that night. Issei felt angry that another Stray was killing people. And as they entered, he smelt the coppery tang of blood. He summoned Steiner.

Be careful, partner, Steiner said. This Stray may be weak, but even the weak can be victorious when they get the drop on you.

"What's this?" hissed a voice from out of the shadows. "What a filthy stench…" Then, out of a shadowy corner, a topless woman seemed to emerge, the lower part of her body concealed in shadow.

"Viser!" Rias called out in a commanding tone. "You have left the service of your master! You know what the penalty for that is. Go back to your master, or die. It's your choice."

Viser chuckled, the rest of her body coming into the moonlight. A grotesque, four legged body, making her look like some bizarre centaur, but with a very yonic mouth on the underside. "I think not. I am going to enjoy feasting on you, bitch."

The battle that ensued was rather short-lived. Issei had to admit to be awed by Kiba and Koneko's abilities, though he felt sorry for the nekomata when she was nearly swallowed by the yonic mouth, and while she emerged unharmed, her clothes had been partly dissolved. Suddenly, he had to dive out of the way when Viser sprayed an acidic substance (from her breasts, of all things!), and the creature taunted him as he winced from some of it managing to catch his hand. "Aren't you an agile little worm?"

He felt the dam break once more, light filling the derelict warehouse as he entered Trance, his appearance changing. He saw that Viser was gaping, along with the others present. "Not a worm. A wyrm," he said. He then put his hand out. "Double Firaga."

Great balls of fire smashed out of Issei's hand. For a moment, he saw the face of the third Black Waltz, charging up a Thundara spell. Viser screeched as the Fire spells ate into its flesh.

"Now, why should you have all the fun, Issei?" Akeno asked with a smile, before she began hitting Viser with lightning bolts. Issei saw her blushing, her expression disturbingly filled with pleasure as she tortured the Stray with her lightning, chortling as she did so. As Akeno gave Viser some shock treatment, Issei realised that Kiba was looking at him in some shock…and recognition. Issei didn't like that pensive frown, not one bit.

He was soon shaken out of his reverie when Rias told Akeno to halt. She approached the now smoking body of Viser, who was barely alive. As Rias formed a ball of violet and black energy, she said, "Have you any last words, Viser?"

"Go to hell," Viser retorted weakly.

"Well, I have to give you points for defiance. Cease to exist!" With that Rias unleashed the blast, and with a brief scream of agony, Viser disintegrated.

"Was that your Power of Destruction, Rias?" Issei asked.

The Gremory heiress nodded. She then turned to Issei, and looked him up and down, intrigued. So did the others, with Koneko being as curious as she could be with half her clothes dissolved. "Interesting. And your powers have increased. What is this?" Rias asked.

"Trance," Kiba said, walking forward. "A rare ability that, in times of crisis, a surge of emotion induces a complete physical transformation, albeit temporarily. It can be the will to live, the desire to protect, or even hostility at one's surroundings."

"You know about it, Kiba?" Rias asked, surprised. "I've never heard of it before."

"I encountered a few users before," Kiba said. "Like I said, it's rare. It enhances one's abilities temporarily." His eyes met those of Issei's. "I can't use it myself."

"Well…it seems that Issei is full of surprises. We'll head back to the clubhouse first before we finish up for the night."

After they did so, and made their separate ways back home, Issei and Kiba found themselves walking together, Issei wary of the blonde teenager. Eventually, Kiba said, "Another soul…and from Gaia. I thought I recognised your signature, even though we never properly met back on that world." His voice had become even more solemn than usual, even older than it should have been.

"How do you know me? Who are you?" Issei asked.

"Another question is, who are you? Issei Hyoudou, or Vivi Ornitier? Or both, perhaps?" Kiba asked.

The question sent a sickening jolt through Issei. But before he could react, Kiba held up a hand. "I am not your enemy, Issei. And you only truly saw me but once, before I died, thanks to Garland."

"Garland?"

"Yes. Garland killed me. It would normally be difficult for him to do so, but his accursed vessel, the Invincible, was capable. My soul was taken on board, and I was trapped there, impotent. I refused to go with Kuja when he took souls from the reservoir of the Invincible to fuel his Trance. Instead, he jettisoned me, allowing me to rejoin the cycle of souls Terra corrupted. But I fell through the gaps rather than return to the crystal as I should have."

"I…were you at Alexandria? That's the only time I can think of that Garland used the Invincible. Kuja used it the other times, and I later learned Kuja would not have attacked Alexander, because he wanted the Eidolon. But…I can't think of who you were."

"I can imagine why. I looked very different then," Kiba admitted. "And you mentioned me just then, you know."

"What?" Then, Issei realised what he was, or at least could make a guess. "…It can't be…"

"Can't it? I remember you, a Black Mage child, running around the corridors of the castle I protected. So full of life. I remember Princess Garnet, so full of doubt, and yet, along with Eiko Carol, able to summon me. Their righteous calls ensured that, unlike the first time I was summoned, I didn't go on a rampage."

"Alexander…" Issei murmured.

"Yes. That was my name once. Alexander, the Holy Citadel Eidolon. It's ironic, then, that I've become a Devil in this lifetime." Kiba smiled at Issei. "Don't look so surprised, Issei, or should that be Vivi?"

"Just Issei."

"Hmm. You might recall that Alexandria Castle had a massive pillar, shaped like the blade of a sword. That was the physical location of where I was sealed, though I needed the Royal Jewels to be reassembled to act as my summoning focus. As part of the castle, I watched over it."

"Does Rias know?"

"Rias doesn't. Indeed, she knows only a little of my past as a human," Kiba admitted. "It's rather painful: I only remembered my past as Alexander when I escaped from that hell. Let's just say I know what it's like for the Black Mages being exploited as weapons. But tell me, are the people you travelled with well?"

"As far as I know, yes," Issei said. "Eiko's been adopted by Cid and Hilda. Freya is helping rebuild Burmecia. Amarant and Quina are doing their own thing, Steiner's hooked up with Beatrix, Dagger's now queen, and Zidane's alive, and about to go see her again, I'd bet. That was a long time ago. I hope they're doing well even now. But there's a problem. Remember that nun I helped out earlier today? She used White Magic, from Gaia. Or Terra: I know they can use that magic too."

"It's a concern, especially if she's with our enemies, regardless of whether she was a good person or not. Many of the summoners of Madain Sari used White Magic, and many of their souls were taken into the Invincible, and then into Kuja, their minds demanding vengeance against Terra and Garland. I don't have to tell you to be cautious if you meet her again, given that she may be able to use Eidolons."

Issei shook his head. "Of course not."

Rias frowned at the news that Grayfia Lucifuge, the wife of her brother Sirzechs, had delivered her. Riser Phoenix had been defeated in a Rating Game, albeit an unofficial one. That would be excellent news normally, had it not been for the fact that her engagement had been at stake. Riser had been challenged by a rising young star of the Underworld, one who didn't yet even have a complete Peerage.

And he had won. Partly because, even as a King, he was out in the thick of battle, decimating enemies with his magic. And partly because he was a master of psychological warfare and pinpointing weaknesses.

Rias looked at the photo of the, frankly, beautiful young Devil. Beautiful, but there was something chilling about that image. "Grayfia…why did he challenge Riser for my engagement?"

"His official story is that he had become enamoured of you at your brother's last function, and sought to save you from Riser," Grayfia said. "He was somewhat more poetic than that, saying things about freeing pretty red-breasted robins from their cages, and other purple prose."

"And your opinion?"

Grayfia, a silver-haired buxom woman in the uniform of a maid, scowled. "To put it bluntly, he's as bad as Riser at the very least. He comes from the Naberius(1) family, and is considered the rising star of that otherwise relatively obscure family. He is well-versed in magic, and is noted for dressing in a flamboyant, provocative, even effeminate manner. But he is also a powerful fighter. Many have underestimated him because of his looks. His Peerage is a collection of the beautiful and powerful, like Riser's Peerage, though unlike Riser, this Devil does not use his Peerage as a harem. As part of the agreement when he fought Riser…Riser had to forfeit his Bishop, Ravel, to him."

Rias frowned. "How did he manage that?"

"He tempted Riser with a member of his own Peerage. Riser has a full Peerage, but he would have gladly traded off an excess member if he felt what he was being given was better. That was the deal. And by all accounts, Ravel came willingly. Whoever won would win your hand, as well as a Peerage member. I came to see you as soon as I could, Rias. Your brother knows you didn't want to wed Riser, but your father is stubborn, greedy for more powerful grandchildren. Now you have a different suitor, but one who may have similar problems. The only solution may be an unofficial Rating Game, as it was with Riser. But given how he defeated Riser…"

"Which means I've got to start working my Peerage harder," Rias mused. "How much time have I got left?"

"Lord Gremory is considering moving the wedding date up," Grayfia said. "I'm sorry, Rias. Your brother cannot interfere, lest he be seen as partial to you…well, any more than he already is. And seducing someone to lose your virginity wouldn't have worked either, as Riser would have wed you anyway, but not before extracting money from the Gremory family in compensation. And this upstart would probably do the same thing."

Rias scowled. She looked at the photo of the Devil in question. Long lavender hair (with part of it sticking up in a way that looked like feathers) framed a feminine, undeniably beautiful face, though there was a cruelty about the man's lips and blue eyes. A cruelty she didn't want to be wedded to.

She didn't want to be wed to Riser Phoenix. And she certainly didn't want to be wed to Kuja Naberius…

CHAPTER 5 ANNOTATIONS:

And here you have it. Kuja's finally making an appearance, and has usurped Riser. And Kiba has revealed who he was. Yes, it's a bit of a stretch to have an Eidolon reincarnated, but I thought Alexander, who seems peripherally associated with that massive sword thing on top of Alexandria Castle, would be an interesting match with Kiba. And given that Eidolons have been used as weapons, well, it suits Kiba, being able to create weapons on the fly.

Anyway, the next chapter will have Issei confronting Freed…and Asia finally revealing who she was.

Review-answering time! Regarding people saying the Brave Saints system came after the events of the first series, well, in this version, the Angels have had it for a while. Given that the Angels had probably been decimated by the wars, I'm a little surprised that they didn't formulate it themselves to swell their numbers.

Minaly22: The fanfic in question may well be Go Not Gently by Guardian1. I've heard of it, but am yet to read it.

1. I needed to find a devil name for Kuja's family, and after flicking through Wikipedia's entries for the Ars Goetia (where Ichiei Ishibumi presumably got the names for the various Devil clans), I decided on Naberius. Why? Naberius presents himself as amiable and eloquent (though the devil in question, unlike Kuja, has a raucous voice), and teaches the art of gracious living.