Grand Auburn Hotel, Top Floor.

A heavy, skin-tingling slap echoed.

Wham!

"A-Azazel-Sama, please.~" a voice begged, sobbing and sniffling present. "We tried to-"

"Silence!" the entire floor rumbled and shook, various pieces of furniture and alcohol bottles toppling and breaking. "Would you like to explain why, plus how you managed to not only disobey my orders, but engaged 'Pyromancer' and lost!"

The Fallen Angel Governor was extremely pissed.

First off, his plans to gather more information about said Pyromaniac backfired unlike nothing ever before, his apparently 'top, devoted followers' fought, lost, battered, wounded and even one was killed in action.

Second, any sliver of stealth immediately died upon that happening.

As that was not enough, contact with Rias Gremory was sure to fall back with her or his followers knowing about the other's plan to stake out the same quarry.

Now, he had to deal with three, incompetent, delirious Fallen whom were in no mood to be scolded.

"So, Raynare. Mind telling me why your disobedience occurred in the first place?" Azazel wondered, idly squeezing his stress ball.

"It wasn't my fault!" Raynare cursed, clutching her wing. "I was busy seducing the Hyoudou kid when-" she gestured to Kalawarner and Mittelt. "-they showed up with the Pyromancer, so I acted accordingly." she grimaced, defeated at how one boy caused so much of a problem for 4 Fallen, to end killing one of them.

"Is that true?" Ruriko asked, casting a icy glance to the two mentioned, both cowering almost immediately.

"It was Mittelt, she insisted that we just go for it since she was skeptical of that he could be the boy who caused The Day Of The Black Sun." Kalawarner said, ignoring the pair of eyes beaming at her. "I tried to stop her, but she didn't listen."

". . .So you let a child tell you what to do?"

"Hey!" Mittelt stood, wincing from the long cut on her leg. "A child to you all I may be, but I did the grown up thing and took charge!" she pouted, folding her arms.

. . .

It shocked The Governor about how stupid she was at times.

"Thanks to you, all of you; we have to leave the rest in Rias Gremory's hands, lest she is anymore curious about our intentions." Ruriko stepped forward. "Hopefully, she can pick up the pieces of where you all messed up."

"But-"

"No buts!" Ruriko shut the Fallen up. "Since he has made contact with Rias-Sama, perhaps she would have better luck confirming our theory."

"Let us hope that your right, Ru." Azazel groaned.

Brrrrring! The phone rung.

"Hello?" Azazel answered, ready to blow a vein.

He regretted it 5 seconds later.

"You son of a-"

Meanwhile. . .

Life has been repeatedly argued that after Death claims a soul, that is the end. No reincarnation, no Heaven or Hell for those of no belief.

When the God one does or does not worships enacts the one thing unthinkable, who do they turn to?

Jamir still contemplated the question.

In his case, he never really held a firm realization of a higher power, seeing as should one exist, it would not have given him, his family, and now even a brand new friend of his grief.

What is more worse: Making a new friend only for them to die in front of your eyes or: Having the inclination that you caused the gruesome death?

He could not tell either apart.

Issei Hyoudou was the only male friend Jamir ever had the pleasure to know for his entire life, seeing as nobody else has been the closest to he is besides his uncle.

And now, he was taken from the world and best friend. It infuriated him.

Until a way showed itself.

"I can bring him back." the thought remained fresh in his mind, attempting to play God. . .is a serious gamble that he could neither agree nor disagree with.

Yet, if a way existed for Issei-Kun to be revived as some kind of zombie, the teen was not certain he'd want it to occur.

What is a teenager to do?

Right before all this, his uncle Hitoshi told him, in rather vague detail that Angels, Devils, Fallen Angels and even God. . .are real. He scoffed at first glance, but soon believed it to be true when not a few hours later, he was attacked.

Irony: Always lurking, always listening.

Now, he was faced with a choice.

Stepping out of the other side of the magical circle revealed the interior of a old clubroom, complete with beautifully positioned oakwood furniture with velvet trim with brown painted walls. Abstract paintings hung on the walls. Long maroon drapes blocked out the night with candles providing light.

On the couch to his right sat a boy who looked to shorter than Jamir sat in his school's uniform, except the blazer was gone. With a slim build, a almost child like face with sea blue eyes looked back into his brown eyes with curiosity.

Yet, the one thing that peeked his interest the least was the mole on his lower right eye. The most was him sharpening a sword on a whetstone.

A voice alerted him. "This way, quickly." the source of the voice was of one of Jamir's classmates, Gremory, he believed it was.

Bringing the complete and cold body of Issei over to the long end table splattered in blood further made the consequence of his actions that more clear.

From the pants up to his face, Jamir was bathed in his friend's dried blood, giving him the appearance of a serial killer, but that didn't make it easier for him.

"Who were those people?" Jamir asked, setting a hand to Issei's chest to feel a heartbeat. "What did they want Issei for? . . .And me, what did I-he do to deserve this?" his calm nature remained firm. Though, on the inside, he was torn unlike nothing before.

"Those were Fallen. Bad people." the doll-sized girl replied, taking a seat on the couch. "Surprised you could last that long on your own."

". . .Uhh, . . .thanks?" the comment was difficult to tell from a insult to a half hearted compliment. Among other things. . .

"So. . .you. . .are?" Jamir asked, raising a eyebrow when she walked up to him, holding out a strawberry Pocky stick. "Wha-"

"Eat it." she firmly demanded. Both eyebrow raised.

"I never share my sweets, but it looks like you need it more than me..this one time. Eat it, then I'll tell you my name."

His mouth watered at the sight of something edible. Taking a bite of the wafer stick, it held a sweet, chocolaty flavor that rejuvenated his slight fatigue. It really hit the spot as it left a lip-smacking aftertaste.

"I'm Koneko. Koneko Toujou, a 1st year. Is it good?" she asked, her golden eyes brimming with curiosity.

"Mh-hmm. . .I'm Jamir." he mumbled. Then he turned back to Issei's corpse.

"So how bad is it?"

"We can bring him back, if you were curious. There is nothing to worry about." the girl with the long black hair replied with her eyes closed. "And I am Akeno Himejima, a 3rd year." she bowed. "And the boy over there is Kiba Yuuto."

"Greetings." Kiba nodded.

Walking back over to his friend, a large, red magic circle appeared underneath Issei's body with magical runes, brimming with energy.

"And over there is the President of our club, Rias Gremory." Akeno gestured to her opening a small black box, revealing white chess pieces. Taking out a Pawn, she looked to Jamir.

"This is a harmless process that will reincarnate Issei into a Devil. . .you are aware of what that means, right?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But, how does something that even work? Reincarnation?" a frown on Jamir's face urged Rias to continue.

"Well, in a way I can make this simple-" she put the pawn on Issei's chest, though she felt a growing uncomfortable vibe from the stoic teen. "-is that there are levels or ranks to Devil kind. Low-class, Middle-class, and High-class. The Devil Faction originally consisted of 72 pillars of mostly pure-bloods, yet in the last few millennia, that number has been downsized so that most are half-blood, half-breed or reincarnated. Any questions?" Rias asked, though on the inside, her mind warped back and forth between discerning threats from allies. Sure, the boy in her opinion is a little rough around the edges, but at the same time, she had to be wary.

"Not really, besides of Issei's well-being. So, why the chess pieces, is something supposed to happen?" Jamir observed the pawn tactfully.

"Huh. That is strange; why isn't it working?" Rias wondered. "I thought I had did everything right. . ."

"Maybe he needs more than one, President." Akeno chimed in, looking to Issei's body then looking at Jamir before responding. "A minor snag, my little kouhai.~"

"Junior, actually Akeno-San. Same as you." the answer came as a surprise.

"I wasn't talking about school, in terms of that: We know. But since you seem to posses some magical ability, to me. . .you're my kouhai in that field."

"I. . .never mind. Can you please just bring my. . .f-friend back?" Jamir begged, clasping his hands together.

"Very well. Why not have a seat with Kiba and Koneko, you look tired. And Koneko, do you mind sharing some more of your snacks with Jamir?"

"Mmm?" Koneko muttered, a peach bun making it hard to speak. On the table laid an array of multiple snack foods for the eyes to see seemingly out of nowhere. "Only if he promises to buy me more."

"O. . .Okay." he took a seat on the couch, almost sinking into the smooth, comforting material as his fatigue from running almost two marathons slowly vanishing. Ugh, this was supposed that a simple day for a even simpler teenager, not running for his life and certainly not possibly aiding in causing a death. He just wanted answers to what afflicted him since arriving to this strange town.

In doing so has led to a major headache. He wanted nothing more than to recede into himself like normal.

The Pawn on Issei's blood-covered chest glowed a dim red alongside several others. Clearing her throat, Rias began to chant.

"In the name of the family of Gremory, I call upon you to be revived as a Devil of my house. Be reborn into service under my peerage!" a brilliant light shone, making it almost impossible to see before receding.

"Is. . .he?. . ." Jamir asked, barely touching the chocolate honey bun in his lap, part of the treat half eaten.

"Dead? No. Issei has a pulse, come feel his heart." Rias gestured. Walking over, the breath in the teen's throat hitched as if on the verge of death himself. With a shaky hand, he listened intensely and heard. . .

Thump!.. Thump!.. Thump!. . . Thump!..

"Issei? Are you awake?" He shook his friend. "Come on, wake up." multiple attempts of shaking him were almost believed to be false when a harsh cough made him stop.

"He'll be fine, but he needs to rest." Akeno said, calming down the mind frantic teen.

"Thank you." he breathed out an almost impossible breath, more happy that he could let his delusions of having a wrongful death on his hands. "How could I ever repay you?" then another more important question surfaced. "And how did you know that Issei was in danger?"

"Because-" Rias uncovered a thin, tan piece of paper with a image of a magic circle. "He used a contract seal to summon me. You see, for Devils to gain power and status, one way to do that is by completing favors from humans. For Issei, he would have to serve out his end of the contract by being in my peerage."

"And what is that?" Jamir asked.

"A collection of Devils underneath a household of a Master with Evil pieces as the catalyst." Akeno explained, smiling. "Mostly High rank Devils only get them, but some Middle class have been known to get their own." Jamir looked confused, but none the less agreed. Mildly contemplating the matter, Rias looked to shed some light on his confusion.

"I know that all of what is happening around you is a bit too much at once," she laid her hand on his shoulder, a firm grip present. "And I also know that you must have a million questions, and we can answer them only if you can keep quiet about that the fact Devils exist." Jamir narrowed his eyes to which he noticed Rias's hand shaking a tad. "It would not be in ordinary people's interest to know about what they can't handle."

At that time, a thought formed the teen was certain would work.

"Only if you give me your word that you will answer my questions. . .and swear that you will do your best to protect and guide Issei into his new life as a Devil." Jamir had almost choked on that word in particular. "Do that, Ms. Rias Gremory and you have a deal." he held a hand out to shake.

"I. . ." a worm of some type slithered it's way into her throat. Why? Why did she feel so uncomfortable around the boy, why is every muscle in her body screaming for her to escape? It never dawned on her the sheer lack of emotion, not to mention those lifeless. . .brown eyes on his.

For the first time, in a long time, Rias Gremory was scared of a person.

"I give you my word." she returned to the gesture. "Issei will be just fine, given the adjustment will take some time, but he should get through with his new friend by his side. Akeno, conjure up a circle to take Jamir home and-"

"I will be fine, Gremory-San. I can find my own way home, but not before making another stop to the grocery store." he huffed. "Let us pick this up tomorrow?"

"Agreed. But know that I will questions of my own. Until tomorrow." She smirked.

Paying one last look to his friend, Jamir walked home, sighing in relief that this day is over. Maybe his life can retain some normality after all this.

A Seconds Later. . .

"Grrk!" Rias collapsed on the ground on both her knees, violently clutching her headache riddled skull.

"President!" everyone shouted, concerned. "Are you okay?" Akeno asked, drawing back after touching her shoulder.

It was ice cold, almost dead.

"Nooooooo. . ." Rias whispered, lips quivering, a blanket of sweat making her appearance clammy. Her breaths came in ragged, snot filled exhales. Her dilated eyes consistently moved around. "I-Its h-ha~open. . .ing~ a-again.~"

"President, are you okay?" Koneko asked, holding out her peach bun for Rias to eat. "Hunger pains?"

"I'm afraid not, Koneko." Akeno said, rubbing Rias's back. "She's living through a bad nightmare, it'll be a minute before she responds to any of us. Shh, Rias, shh. . .it's going to be okay.."

"Do you think it has something to do with Himura-Kun?" Kiba wondered, frowning.

"I can't be entirely sure, but-"

"Sniff! Sniff!" Koneko scrunched her nose at a weird, tangy smell in the air followed by a fwissing noise. "Present just soiled herself. Again."

"I'll get the mop." Kiba announced.

"And me the air freshener," Koneko finished off the rest of her treat, pouting the whole time.

"And I'll be right right here besides you, soiled panties and all." Akeno hummed a sweet theme that began to calm down the stream of tears, though she felt slightly embarrassed that her friend has such a naturally weak bladder. That got all underneath her good shoes.