Defeat And Death

I blinked as an almost naked Irina ran into me but recovered in time to trip Freed up when he tried to run her through with Excalibur Rapidly. Seeing him skid to a halt on his face was almost comical had I not started advancing on him with both of my swords.

"Gino-kun?" Irina asked blushing bright red while I wondered when I was a Kun to her.

"Running off was a stupid thing to do Irina but Griselda will deal with you and Xenovia later." I said as Freed got to his feet.

"As much as I would love to kill you my Boss wants the pleasure of it." Freed said with a demented grin as a large Light Spear blew me off my feet. I rolled to my feet just in time to block the blows from two Light Swords from a Fallen Angel with ten pairs of large black wings on his back and an even more demented grin on his face than Freed had.

"Gino Argento…it's a pleasure to meet the person that took my wife from my care." He said forcing me back with raw strength almost causing me to trip. "My name is Kokabiel and I will be killing you today." I snorted as I weaved around his next strike and aimed Midori at his heart only for him to catch it with his bare hand without his grin leaving his face.

"You're going to be a complete bitch about this, aren't you?" I asked him as I went for a low blow, also known as a kick to the balls, only for him to close his legs around my foot. I wasted no time in using him to support myself as I lifted my other foot of the ground and kicked him in the throat with all my weight forcing us apart. I rolled back to my feet. "Ira Ardet, Viginti Series Obscuri!" Twenty darkness arrows flew at Kokabiel only for him to dodge or destroy them.

"Pitiful!" I raised my swords to block his attacks and had to work over time in order to keep from being impaled but I gained a number of gashes instead as I tried to fight back. Every counter was dodged just as every attack was blocked all the while he had that grin on his face telling me he was barely trying. I couldn't let him get away from me either as Irina was barely capable of fighting Freed never mind Freed and Kokabiel.

"I have no idea why Adira would marry a creep like you." I said honestly making him pause long enough for me to cut his chest with Midori but not long enough to drive my Light Sword into his heart.

"You're quite the dirty fighter aren't you? It is quite fitting for a rat such as your self." He said with a dark frown on his face as I weaved around his attacks with glancing blows.

"I'm trained to fight beings stronger, faster and more experienced than I am. If I don't fight dirty then I'm not fighting to win." I clamped down on a hiss of pain as I took a long cut along my right arm. I channelled magic through both swords to set them alight allowing me to return the favour in his moment of surprise.

"Oh if only you were a proper being then you would actually be a good challenge." He said as I noticed that Irina had just lost Excalibur Mimic and was about to be killed. I quickly made a decision that I knew would have me shouted at by those that liked me but I saw no other way.

"Never underestimate humans, Irina! CATCH!" I shouted as I deactivated the Light Sword just before it was blocked and threw it to Irina while using the stumble to try and take Kokabiel's head. He moved enough that it nearly took his eye out instead of his head but I saw Irina catch it and block what would have been a fatal blow. I pressed the attack but was blocked and hissed in pain as my gut started to burn.

"I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would." He said with his grin back as I looked down to see his Light Sword buried in my gut. "But in this world it's an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a cut for a cut." The burning grew as he drew the sword up so it matched the cut across his own chest only deeper. All I heard was his laughter as everything went dark.

HR

(Asia's POV)

"Where is he?" Rias said as she paced in Issei's bedroom as she waited for Gino to return. I smiled sadly knowing what she was going through from the times he went on missions for the Church. He'd always try to keep how dangerous it was from me but there were times when he couldn't hide his injuries from me.

"Don't worry about Gino, Buchou. He's always been very strong and with you waiting for him he won't take any chances he doesn't have to." I said trying to cheer her up. I honestly thought that they were a great couple. Gino needed someone willing to teach him things we missed out on in the Church and Rias needed someone dependable to help keep her safe.

"Asia has a point Gremory, Gino is no fool." Griselda said as she looked over the map of the town for the twelfth time. She had decided that Rias might be a target and only she would get to tear her apart should she hurt Gino. Griselda was a lot scarier than Gino made her out to be but he was always brave, at least she was as kind as he said she was.

"I won't deny that but we're talking about Kokabiel here and then there's the fact that Freed knows a lot about him. What do you think would happen if either of them threatened Asia? There is a reason he and Nii-sama get on so well." Rias said making me shiver in fright at what they would do to me. Gino had warned me about Freed years ago so I did my best to make sure Freed never knew about me being Gino's sister. He would have killed me no matter what Raynere said. That wasn't even counting the fact that Gino had expressed doubts about being able to beat Kokabiel who was likely to hold a grudge for hiding Adira and Raynere's death.

"I would like to think I trained acting rashly in anger out of him, but then again he is the most stubborn of my students."

"What I want to know is why he's so different from Asia." Issei said bringing everyone's attention to him. He was such a great person despite his perversion but he wasn't very smart at times. I was just glad that Gino liked him otherwise I would have to hide our relationship when I finally got him to understand I was there for him. I felt my face heat up as Issei continued. "I mean Asia is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet and yet Gino barely tolerates anyone and looks like he wants to kill anyone that talks to Asia."

"You have to understand that people for the most part aren't very nice." Griselda said with a sigh making me frown. Most people were very nice but a few were like Freed. "Then take into account that the only person he was close to had a very valuable ability that people would kill for. He knew exactly what they wanted and wasn't willing to have Asia suffer because of it and was for the most part successful. I'm actually surprised he lets you anywhere near her considering how much of a pervert you are."

"I can answer that." Rias said making me turn to her as I wasn't sure why and wanted to know myself. "His first meeting with Issei was when Asia was about to have Twilight Healing Stolen from her. Issei's only concern at that time was saving Asia which was what he wanted as well. When her Sacred Gear was stolen Issei was right behind him until he was stalled which Issei used to grab her and take her elsewhere. He knows there is more to Issei than his perversion." I smiled at that. Gino knew how great Issei was and I didn't have to persuade him.

"Aw~ Issei has his future Brother-In-Law's permission. I think he'll want you to only have kids after you finish school though." Akeno said with her eyes closed and her usual smile on her face as she giggled making me blush brightly.

"EH~! What are you talking about?" Issei demanded making me hang my head a little. Why can't he see that I like him and want to be his girlfriend?

"Knowing Gino she isn't wrong." Griselda said tapping her chin with a smile on her face directed towards me that I didn't like. Gino said she liked to tease you till you were immune to it and I knew I wasn't close to immune. "Then again he'll have his hands full when he realises that both my other students are harbouring a crush on him. Not that they did themselves any favours by belittling Asia."

"Crushes aside, that's something I wanted to ask you." Issei said warily eyeing the twitching Rias's eye was doing. "Those two treated Asia badly due to her being kicked out and yet you treat her respectfully, why?"

"I know a set up when I see one. Gino wouldn't have told you lot straight off since you would get in his way when he found the Devil responsible whether to get there first or stop him. The only person with more security than Asia had was the Pope and yet that Devil managed to get close and was only discovered once he was healed by her." I paled wondering why someone would turn my life upside down like that.

"He wanted her in his Peerage." Rias said quietly but we all heard her. Griselda nodded gravely and sighed.

"That would be my guess and there's the fact that when I looked into it there have been several Nuns that were thrown out of the Church for associating with a Devil only for said Devil to reincarnate them never to be heard from again." Griselda said making me feel wheezy before Rias ran to the window at some noise. At her gasp we all joined her to see Freed standing there.

"Freed!" Issei growled sounding like Rassei for a moment as we all went outside to confront him. Why was he here standing as if we couldn't touch him?

"Hey Issei, Asia have you fucked yet? No? I'm terrible at reading the mood. A shame you didn't tell me you were the smug bastard's sister, we could have had so much fun. Oh well I guess I'll have to make do with my new toy." He said making me shiver before I recognised the string on his finger that turned into a katana.

"Where is Irina, scum?" Griselda said coldly making me shiver more. Her tone reminded me of the times Gino was too furious to hide it around me. He just smiled as a body dropped from the sky, one we quickly recognised as a wounded Irina that was barely breathing.

"She made a decent attempt at killing him but was…lacking." A new voice said as I moved to heal Irina. I looked out of the corner of my eye to see a Fallen Angel with ten pairs of wings, a cut chest and a fresh scar on his face.

"Kokabiel!" Rias shouted in shock almost making me falter as he stopped hiding his strength while wearing a scary grin.

"Rias Gremory, it is fitting that you know who I am as I will be the one that causes your death which will reignite the Great War and I will bathe in the blood of Devils and Angels!" He declared with mad laughter.

"You want to restart the War? Then why did you steal the Excalibur Fragments?" Griselda demanded still angry at what happened to Irina.

"It was a mere ploy to gain the attention of the Church so that they know to prepare themselves for war. It is rarely satisfying to kill those that don't put up a fight. I have no need for them so my subordinates may keep them." He said waving his hand as if it was a side note.

"Isn't my boss the greatest? Look I have four Fragments already I just need to find that other girl and where that smug bastard put Transparency and I will have the complete set other than Ruler." Freed said excitedly moving his coat so we could see the Fragments.

"You have to know that if you kill me, then my Brother would stop at nothing to destroy you." Rias said trying to understand why someone would try to restart the Great War.

"Exactly! And then I will destroy him and any one else that stands in my way!" Kokabiel said before he cackled madly.

"How exactly do you expect to kill the Strongest Devil in Existence?" Issei demanded as he looked him over. "I'm pretty sure he's a lot stronger than anyone here and it looks like Irina fucked you up good." The cackling actually grew as he said that.

"No it wasn't the girl that did this…she was too busy trying not to die at Freed's hands. No this was done by a Rat that could play with the Big Boys. Such a pity he was only human otherwise it would have been a glorious battle." My heart froze as I finished healing Irina as there were only four males involved in this on our side. Issei was here with us, Saji was with Sona and her Peerage, Kiba had yet to be found and Gino was out looking for them. There was a thump as a sword appeared next to me, an all too familiar sword, with the tip of its blade in the ground.

"Where is HE?!" Rias demanded sounding furious making Kokabiel chuckle.

"He is where I left him after our fight. Really, giving up his chance to do more damage to save a girl whose job is to kill people like him, completely stupid." Rias released her aura as she glared at Kokabiel but all I could do was stare at Midori. Gino had taken great care of that sword since he had gotten it and it had never left his care.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" The ice in my heart grew as I heard the words I dreaded.

"I did what I did with all the people I fight to the death. I killed him. I'll be at Kuoh Academy when you want to come for me." With that he left but all I could do was stare blankly at Midori. Gino couldn't be dead he couldn't be. He promised that he wouldn't die that he wouldn't leave me. No, Kokabiel was lying he had to be.

"Oh Asia don't cry please don't cry." Issei said wrapping his arms around me much like Gino did when he saw I was upset. I reacted like I always did and held him tightly. Why did Gino have to die? Was this what he felt like before Rias saved me? Could Rias find and save him?

"Asia, look at me." Rias said gently and I slowly did so. I saw fury on her face but I also saw fear. Fear that Kokabiel had been telling the truth, fear that Gino really was dead. "I honestly don't know if he was telling the truth but I will send my familiar to look for him after she gets Irina to Adira's. No matter what she finds Kokabiel will die today." Looking into her eyes I believed every word she said. So this is what Gino meant when he said that the Gremory would stop at nothing to protect what was theirs.