Summary: It all started with a joke, a drunk truck driver and dreams of a harem and ended with a trip to the hospital, a broken leg, a crutch and the ability to see numbers everywhere. Yeah, Life isn't too kind on Issei. Sadly enough, he could see that it was about to get whole lot more complicated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Highschool DxD or its characters. It belongs to Ichiei Ishibumi.

Beta'd by demonwarrior1029


Chapter 9


Issei blew out air from his puffed up cheeks, idly fiddling with his crutch with one hand even as the other twirled his pen around, mind drifting off as he leaned against the tree where he was sitting in Kuoh's grounds, the Student Council's shunted off paperwork almost forgotten by his side.

The old man Vasco Strada's words still lingering on him even days later.

'It means, that whoever did this has realized that we are one step closer to peace and wishes to disrupt that chance before it can grow.'

A peace between the Angels, Devils and Fallen Angels...really didn't matter to him in all honesty. Sure, he'd probably celebrate that event with Sona, Tsubaki, the Student Council, and even the Occult Research Club with whom he'd made tentative friends with if they threw a party, but he wasn't really all that affected by the peace itself.

A war on the other hand, would probably, most likely bleed through from the supernatural and into the lives of the normal world, and he had no desire in the least to live through one of those. Hell, if a war did break out, and he really hoped it wouldn't, then he just knew he'd be roped into it one way or another.

Asama said as much when she was telling him about the Boosted Gear, that he would be a game changer sometime in the future, so it wouldn't be a huge leap in logic to assume that the factions would look for him.

Issei sighed deeply, giving up resistance and rubbing at his forehead. This really was so above his payroll it wasn't even funny.

"Problems in paradise Issei-kun?"

He felt a small barrier be erected around him, and Issei rose an eyebrow as one Rias Gremory sat beside him, close enough that their elbows were brushing against each other.

"What do you want Gremory-senpai?" Issei asked, smoothing himself over to be polite then deciding it wasn't worth the effort to go all out.

"That's a bit harsh Issei-kun, don't you think?" The beautiful redhead smiled, not showing an ounce of her supposed discomfort.

'Shit.' Issei thought, fighting a battle with himself in an effort not to blush in her presence. It was a pretty hard feat, considering that she was the number one idol in the school for a good reason. It was even harder to not let his eyes wander down, all the more sosince Rias was almost baiting him into looking, and he just knew that she knew, with the coy tilt to her head and the touch of smugness in her lips along with the way she just subtly showed herself off.

Actually, thinking back to all the times that he's seen her around, maybe that was just her natural state of being.

Still, Issei refused to acknowledge that, partly because he wanted to find out the real reason Rias Gremory was talking to him, partly because he didn't want to make the current situation uncomfortable for him, and just him because there was simply no way Rias Gremory wasn't used to being stared at, looking like she did.

"You can take it. I believe in you Gremory-senpai." Issei said in the blandest voice he could muster. He cracked a bit sure, but he was pretty proud of himself for the effort considering his current situation.

"You love being sarcastic, don't you Issei-kun?" She asked casually, holding an arm out, a single leaf falling into her palm. She blew onto it gently, sending it flying away.

Issei shrugged. "I picked it up somewhere along the way."

"Oh?" Rias rose a curious eyebrow. "So you weren't always the dashing, knight in sour armour you are right now?"

"Oh no, I was always this cool." Issei's lips twitched.

Rias laughed, and Issei once again saw just why she was the most sought after person in campus. "You may not believe me, but I find you so easy to talk to." She glanced to the side, eyes soft. "It's a bit weird since I don't have a lot of male friends. The people I meet are usually too busy staring at me as a Gremory." She sighed, and Issei could almost detect a sense of...loneliness in that. "I'm proud of my heritage, believe me, but sometimes, I just want to be me." She blinked, and, Issei couldn't quite believe his eyes, blushed. "O-oh. I didn't mean to tell you that. Sorry if you feel I'm being a bit too open Issei-kun."

"I don't mind...Rias-senpai." Issei reluctantly said. It was against his nature as someone born and raised in Japan to use a girl's first name, especially someone like Rias freaking Gremory, so casually, but he couldn't find it in himself to refer to her by her last name after a short speech like that.

Issei reasoned out to himself that semi-regular contact between him and her was enough justification for his usage of her name. Their relationship however, was usually Rias complaining to him about what happened in her job as a devil whenever she found him sitting late at school, during those days he wasn't at Asama's.

Rias paused, surprise etched on her whole person, from the widening of her eyes, to the small 'o' her mouth formed. Gradually, her lips turned into a satisfied smile, eyes shining. "Have I finally gotten through to you Issei-kun?" She teased. "Have I finally managed to make you fall for me?"

Issei rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say Rias-senpai. You still haven't answered my question."

"Well," Rias hummed. "You looked like you had a lot on your mind, so I thought that I, as your senpai, should offer to hear your mind."

Issei blinked at stared at her, a sudden question popping up in his head. "How old are you?"

Rias immediately pouted. "Not that kind of thing! Though if you must know, I'm just 17."

"Huh." Issei tilted his head at her. "I honestly thought you were older."

"That's rude." Rias huffed. "Though I guess it does make some sense. Devils can be long-lived. My own Onii-sama is older than ."

Issei was privately surprised at that. He knew Sirzechs was old, but he didn't know he was that old. "Can't really tell with you devils can I?"

"Rude." Rias repeated, though her lips twitched into a smile. "So? What were you ever so dramatic about just now Issei-kun?"

"I wasn't that bad." Issei clarified to her. "And I was just thinking about... stuff." Issei hurriedly changed the word at the last second. He had no idea whether or not she knew about the things going on between the Church and the Fallen Angels, and if she didn't, then Issei didn't want to be the one telling her. That kind of thing should come from her older brother, or any of the other leaders of the Underworld.

"Ah, 'stuff.'" Rias' smile widened, and Issei blushed, turning his head away from her. It didn't help, as he could practically feel her gaze bore into him. "Such a deep topic Issei-kun. Care to share?"

"S-shut up." Issei muttered, cheeks feeling warm. "It's just...it's not exactly the kind of thing I can share with...anyone really." Yeah, details about that hint at a potential war wasn't something to be discussed with a schoolmate just barely older than him.

"Puberty?" Rias teased lightly.

"Haha." Issei deadpanned. "No. Just...private things I suppose. You understand right?"

"Yes." Rias said softly. "Yes I do."

There was a silence between the two of them, neither willing to break it as they each returned to their thoughts.

Finally, Rias stood up, brushing nonexistent dirt off her clothes, her crafted barrier collapsing in on itself with her movement.

"Well, it's been fun Issei-kun, but I have an appointment today, and I can't afford to miss it. No sense in tarnishing my name after all, even if it is for you." She winked at him, Issei answering by rolling his eyes at her. "I know you'll miss me, but please bear with it."

"I'm sure I'll live." Issei said dryly. He took ahold of the paperwork and held it up. "I have something to distract myself with anyway."

"Sona's such a slave driver." Rias shook her head in mock admonishment. "I could treat you so much better in my peerage." She held a hand to her hips, taking out a single chess piece from her pocket, a Rook. "Are you interested?"

"No thanks." Issei brushed off. "I like being human thank you."

"Ah well." Rias sighed, putting it back from where she took it. "It's a standing offer Issei-kun, though it might get taken off the table at any time Issei-kun, so choose quickly."

"I'm sure Rias-senpai." Issei drew his knees up to his chest, going back to work on the paperwork. "Don't let me hold you up."

He felt Rias stare at him for a little while more before she went back to what he assumed was her clubroom.

Issei shook his head. "Well that happened."

()()()()()()()()()

Issei, Matsuda, and Motohama exited their classroom, grinning as they almost burst through the door, hurrying to go to Akihabara to claim their reserved game from the shop they became regulars at.

They read the reviews in the weekly magazine and it was enough to pump them up for the game. Of course, it also got confiscated considering they were reading it in the middle of class, but Issei considered it worth it. It was a pretty easy decision since it was Motohama's too.

"Want to stop by the cafe near the store after? I heard one of their maids got a big break in the music industry." Matsuda offered to them.

"The one you have a crush on?" Motohama wiggled his eyebrow at him suggestively.

"N-No!" The shaved highschooler coughed, shaking his head furiously. "I just...shut up." He growled as Issei and Motohama snickered at his expression.

Issei looked to the gate of the school and stopped as he saw Kiba Yuuto, rejecting yet another proposal by another girl. Said girl, a first year probably, blushed and bowed to him, running off giggling to her group of friends.

There it was again, and this time, Issei was sure of what he saw. The loneliness in Kiba's face, drifting across his face as he was sure that no one was around to see it. Once again, he schooled it into his usual mask of pleasantry, and almost no one even noticed. No one except Issei.

Issei moved quicker, feeling a little bit awkward at it. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Matsuda and Motohama exchanged glances before catching up.

"What's up?" Motohama asked.

Issei ignored him, determined to catch up to the blond. He cleared the gate, already making his turn.

"Hey Kiba." He said outloud, stopping the devil in his tracks. He slowly turned around, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Issei-kun?" He asked curiously. "Do you need something from me?"

"Not really." Issei scratched at his cheek. "It's just...wanna come with us?" He gestured towards Matsuda and Motohama, the two of them blinking in surprise at what he was doing. "We're gonna go over to Akihabara and I thought that, you know, you'd, uh, like to join us or something?" Issei trailed off, the last bit more questioning than anything else.

Kiba stared at him, and Issei squirmed under his gaze, made all the more worse when he felt Matsuda and Motohama do the same, practically boring a hole in the back of his head.

"Why?" He drew out slowly, tilting his head at Issei.

Issei shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know." He admitted, embarrassed. "Maybe you want a game or something?" He coughed into his hand when Kiba just continued to stare at him, eyes unreadable. "I'm guessing that's a no. Uh, good day I gue-"

"Are you sure?" Kiba cut him off, eyes still that unreadable grey, the clouds that hint at a coming storm.

Issei blinked, straightening up at the answer. "What?"

"Are you sure? About me coming with you?" Kiba nodded towards Matsuda and Motohama, standing behind him. "Are you sure I won't be a bother?"

"They're harmless." Issei dismissed. "They might be perverts, but they won't actually do something illegal." Issei paused for a while, adopting a thoughtful expression. "Peeping isn't illegal isn't it?"

Kiba actually, finally, laughed at that, shaking his head as he followed Issei who grinned at him. "Yeah, I guess I could come with you."

Issei immediately heard a wave of whispering spread across the grounds of Kuoh as the two of them began to walk side by side. Rumors would no doubt be rife with what had just happened. "But seriously, peeping isn't illegal right?"

Kiba, Issei found out later on, wasn't as out of touch with his manly side as he thought. He knew a surprising amount of things about the video game and anime industry, if not exactly all that invested in it. Issei, Matsuda and Motohama tried to find out several times through the day on just how he knew about stuff like that, but the blond just gave them that close-eyed smile of his.

Still, despite their lack of mutual interests, Matsuda and Motohama tried their best to make nice with Kiba, though Issei could tell that the two were confused as to why exactly Issei just suddenly invited Kiba to go with them.

Issei appreciated it, though there was still the occasional awkward silence where Kiba was left hanging and the three of them inevitably fell back to routine.

Issei actually considered it a pretty good effort, for all of them. They weren't exactly the most social of people, all three of them getting so used to being with each other since middle school that branching out wasn't really that much of an option.

The three of them managed to bring Kiba around to the idea of buying a console and some games- and damn was he loaded. He bought them with the money he had on hand- and had now settled in on the cafe that the three of them regularly frequented.

Of course, as per usual, Matsuda somehow roped Issei into one of the dumber arguments that was possible.

"I'm telling you, asses are better than boobs!" Motohama insisted while Kiba put on a strained smile and Matsuda stayed as far away as physically possible from them on their table, determined to ignore the two of them.

"How?" Issei countered. "Breasts make women look more motherly, while asses do nothing! Therefore, biologically, breasts are the superior asset. It's evolution speaking, not me."

"You want to talk evolution? Back when mankind walked on all fours, there is always, always one thing in front of us, and that is the butt! When we stood up on our two legs, the butt went and away and was replaced by boobs! Women grew larger breasts to replace the the butt, but the original source of life was the buttocks! Boobs are nothing more than a pale imitation of buttocks! And the original will always surpass the fakes!"

"You're an idiot of you believe that!" Issei argued. "That's just a theory and you know it!"

"You're both idiots." Matsuda muttered, and Kiba smiled briefly at the rebuttal. That smiled quickly turned to an expression of confusion when Issei and Motohama turned to him.

"You, bishounen!"

"Kiba!"

They said simultaneously, staring at him seriously.

"W-what is it?" The blond asked, closing his eyes and smiling nervously.

""Tits or ass, which is better?!""

Matsuda groaned when almost the entirety of the cafe stopped their studious ignoring of the quartet's existence and openly stared in shock. They returned to their business quickly enough, but the fact that every one of them broke face to stare at them was notable enough.

"Well, I would have to say...both I would guess?" Kiba said, managing to ignore what was going on and answer the utterly pointless question. "After all, women aren't just breasts and bottoms, but a combination of those and others. The perfect figure isn't just decided by those, but other things like their waist, their legs and other. A woman that's just breast or just a bottom isn't really as good as a girl that has both of them and more….right?" He trailed off when the three of them stared at him in wonder.

To his consternation, the three of them began to clap lightly, nodding at him in approval.

"Truly a wise man has come down upon us." Motohama said with a note of appreciation.

"I think I see why you brought him with us Issei." Matsuda added, crossing his arms across his chest. "He just knows how it works man. A bishounen like Kiba just lives in a different world from us. It's a good thing for us low-level plebs to be in his gracious presence."

Kiba blinked, turning to Issei as if asking for help. The latter just shrugged, turning to the server that had finally come with their orders, though with her slightly strained smiled, Issei guessed that she probably got the short end of the straw. "Here you go sir."

"Thank you." Kiba smiled, and as always, with that damned bishounen effect he had, the girl blushed, smiling widely as she skipped over back to the counter. She was immediately swarmed by her coworkers, giggling and looking back over their table or, more specifically, Kiba.

"I take everything back," Matsuda growled, glaring at Kiba as he cracked his knuckles. Issei discretely looked over to see that the girl who had served them was the one Matsuda was crushing on for the last few weeks. Or was it months? "He's an ass and let's hold an inquisition to burn him."

Issei rolled his eyes and attempted to placate the idiot. It didn't really work, and somehow, the four of them got into a peace, a discussion on what the Occult Research Club was like when they were on the way to buy some ice cream, and somehow got into another argument, pissing over several innocent passersby with their antics.

Still, Issei thought as the three of them waved goodbye to Kiba as he separated from them on his way home, seeing him genuinely smile like that, a smile different from the mask he had put on probably made the whole thing worth it.

()()()()()()()()()

Issei glanced up from his book in slight interest as Kiba approached their table with a slightly awkward expression. His eyes flicked to the side as the whispers began to start up, even seeing some girls leave the classroom with their eyes wide open, probably to spread the word of what was going on. He did privately snicker when one of them nearly tripped over, would have if not for someone walking behind her holding her up.

"So what's up?" Issei asked, flipping to the next page. He bit at the end of his pen, eyebrows furrowing in concentration as he looked from it to the piece of paper on his desk, wondering on the validity of the magic circle illustrated in the light novel and calculating if it could do the job the text said it did.

It said that the circle 'forcibly drags an angel from heaven' and Issei had absolutely no idea what the hell that entailed, if that was even possible in the world, or what 'transfering the insides and outsides' even means.

"It's just…" Kiba looked to the side, scratching at his cheek. "Can I eat lunch with you guys?"

"Sure."

"Yeah."

Matsuda and Motohama shrugged, the former standing up to give his seat to Kiba, sitting on his desk. Kiba blinked at their answer and uncertainty sat on the offered place, unpacking his lunch.

"So you finally played with your console?" The glasses-wearing highschooler asked, chewing on a sandwich.

"Oh yeah." The blond nodded. "I just got to the part where the protagonist signs his name on the entrance sheet though."

"You started with that one?" Issei looked up, putting down his work. "Then again, that is the best one out there."

"Are you kidding me?" Motohama interjected. "He may be cool, but the other dude can summon Izanagi and make him kill his little sister. That's badass. And a bit weird now that I say it outloud."

"He can summon Death." Matsuda joined in. "He can summon Death. Need I say more?"

"That's….okay, you have a point, but still!"

Kiba turned to Issei uncertainly who just shrugged in reply. "He is the best character in a video game."

That phrase spawned yet another deluge of arguments, counterarguments and fact-checking that swept Kiba and Issei up in its wake.

Kiba was a surprisingly good moderator and judge despite knowing almost nothing of what they were talking about, listening in to proposals and the like with a non-biased perspective.

It was a bit refreshing really, and it was obvious that Matsuda and Motohama also appreciated having a sounding board to bounce ideas off of, enough so that Kiba nearly got called out by their teacher on next period.

Every girl in the classroom, and some more stationed outside the doors, just stared at Kiba, then at the three of them after he left.

"Is this what we're gonna look forward to when we associated ourselves with him?" Matsuda muttered.

Issei snorted, shutting up when the teacher arrived to start next period.

The day was, like a regular school day, lax after that, the next three periods passing by quickly. Issei nearly passed out in Modern Japanese, Matsuda actually giving up the effort and actually falling asleep halfway through.

The bell signaling the end of the day was greeted with much enthusiasm by the students after that, most of them standing quickly to leave the hell that was school.

"So you passing by the Student Council today Issei?" Matsuda asked, picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Yeah." Issei held up a sheaf of papers. "Kaichou asked me to do some of their paperwork again."

"Really." Motohama sighed. "You're doing their job for them and you aren't even a part of them! Are you sure you're not in the student council yet?"

Issei shrugged. "I think Kaichou wants me in it. Maybe she'll invite me next year or something. Well," Issei scratched his cheek. "not like I'd accept the offer."

"Eh? Seriously?" The two of them exclaimed, almost at the same time. "I thought you were seriously considering joining them." Matsuda continued.

"Eh." Issei shrugged. "I like helping them, but I'd prefer not having a club to go to just because I'm required to do it."

"Good luck telling her that." Matsuda told him. "Anyways, going home now. See ya."

Issei waved halfheartedly, leaving the room to make his way towards the Student Council room. "Kaichou." He knocked on the door politely, opening it to get inside. "I brought the papers. Ah."

Issei paused, stopping at the open doorway as he was greeted by the sight of two new faces.

"Hyoudou-kun." Sona nodded in greeting. "This is Momo Hanakai and Tomoe Meguri. Hanakai, Meguri, this is Hyoudou Issei."

"H-hello." Issei nodded politely even as the two bowed in return. "Um, Kaichou, are they...you know-"

"They know." She told Issei. "I've briefed them in on the situation."

"Kaichou-san!" The one with red-brown hair raised her hand as if asking the teacher a question. At Sona's nod- the president must have gotten used to it already- she asked the question. "Is Hyoudou-kun a devil too?"

"No he isn't." She explained, her eyes drifting to his. "Though that may change. Do you want to-"

"Sorry." Issei cut her off with an apologetic smile. "But I think remaining as a human is in my best interests for the foreseeable future."

"I see." Sona accepted. "I understand your decision. Still, I would have liked to have someone like you in my peerage. Having a magician with your ridiculous learning curve would have been one of the greatest boons I could ever have had."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence Kaichou." Tsubaki drawled from where she was doing her part of the work. "That warms my heart as your Queen."

"Shush you." Sona said with a twitch of her lips. "Go back to work."

Issei saw Tsubaki shake her head with a smile, returning back to her papers. "So um, nice to meet you Hanakai-san, Meguri-san. I just came around to drop these off. I'm going to Asama's today."

"At least I'm sure she won't be influenced by you." Sona rolled her eyes, taking the offered sheaf from him. Issei blinked at that.

"What are you talking about?"

"The school's saying that you and your friends' have been pretty close with Kiba lately." Tsubasa chimed in from her spot in the room.

"Yes, and while I appreciate your efforts, this institution doesn't need any more perverts like you guys."

"Hey!" Issei protested, waving his crutch around. "We've been useful members of society these days."

Sona stared at him and very, very slowly drew a magazine from one of her desk compartments. Issei coughed in embarrassment and looked away. "Okay, in my defence, that's not mine. I was just holding onto it for Matsuda."

Sona rolled her eyes and tossed it back in. "Just...don't turn Kiba-kun like that. I'm sure a majority of the school's population would riot if you ever accomplish that."

"We won't." Issei held up an arm as a promise. "I swear that I'll try my best not to turn Kiba into a raging hormonal monster that'll attack any girl he sets his eyes on."

"Hearing you say it like that makes me want to slap you." Sona sighed. "Sure sure, just...say hello to Asama-san for me."

"Will do." Issei gave her a thumbs up. "See you later. And it was nice meeting you Hanakai-san, Meguri-san. Do your best as devils, and remember: Kaichou isn't all that bad. She may be a bit awkward to get along with at first, but you'll get-"

"Don't say unnecessary things Hyoudou-kun." Sona said chillingly. Issei grinned at her and turned to leave, a chorus of 'see you's and 'sure's met his back, even from the two newcomers.

()()()()()()()()()

"Asama-nee." Issei said after their usual ritual of tea preparation-her ritual really- was set.

"Yes Issei-kun?" She asked, bringing her cup to her lips, closing her eyes in satisfaction at the taste and smell of her drink. "Ahh~ Nothing like tea after a hard day's work don't you think?"

"Yeah… No I mean, Asama-nee, I've been thinking for a while, why exactly is that sword such a big thing?" It really had been, what with the threat of a war hanging over his head.

Asama pursed her lips, staring at her tea. "Do you know what that sword was in the first place Issei-kun?"

Issei shook his head. Asama smiled and began to explain. "I personally do not know either." Issei's eye twitched, opening his mouth to retort. Asama held up a hand to stall his words. "Let me finish Issei-kun."

His mouth snapped close, nodding his head slowly. "There really are only three such swords that would warrant that much of a reaction from a Devil, a priest as esteemed as Vasco Strada, and one of the leaders of the Fallen. Those three are Durandal, Excalibur, and Caliburn. Durandal is out, for the simple reason that it, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't been taken out of the heart of the Vatican since decades ago. Caliburn has been taken in by the Pendragon Family after the Great War, and any such movement by such a sword wielded by a prestigious family would be found out by the supernatural community for the simple fact that it's the most powerful Holy Sword in existence.

That just leaves Excalibur, the sword of Promised Victory, and the most likely candidate for a theft."

"Why?" Issei asked, right hand reaching for his left as he felt it stir at the mention of the blade. "Why is it the most likely?" There was a bit of excitement at knowing that Excalibur of all things was real. It was the basis of a lot of in-game items and was popular even in Japan of all places.

"Because it's broken." Asama leaned her head back. "The sword crafted by the God Himself, wielded by King Arthur, the bane of Devils and Fallen Angel alike, shattered into 7 pieces."

"How was it broken?" Issei scrunched up his eyebrows. Wasn't Excalibur supposed to be unbreakable with +50 to sharpness, Light and other buffs?

"No one really knows." Asama hummed. "Some say it was during the Great War. Other records claim that it went further back than that. Still others say that Excalibur is whole, the shards merely failed projects given to hide the Church's strength while the true blade is hidden somewhere in the Archives of the Vatican. It's all speculation of course, and there really is no sign of the mystery being solved any time soon. What really matters is the truth, and the truth is that it the Church says they are broken, and that there are seven other blades that have the smell of Excalibur on them.

That alone makes protecting it harder. I've heard that the Church spread out the shards over to several of its sects, but that can only do so much as that incident has proved. If what I am predicting is correct, this would happen two or three more times before this Fallen Angel really shows his hand. Perhaps a blitzkrieg on the Vatican itself, or an assault on the Eastern Orthodox, maybe even a strike in England's Protestant Church. I have little experience with Fallen Angels, but I would assume that is how they would start a new Great War if they truly are determined to do so."

"If...If a war starts, would us humans be affected by it?" Issei asked slowly. He knew what the answer was, already got one from the Beelzebub himself, but he wanted to hear what exactly it entailed, so he rephrased his question. "What would happen if the war started, right at this moment?"

"Well…" Asama tilted her head. "I am not familiar with the protocol, but based on what I've seen, I would hazard that if a war between the Abrahamic Factions were to erupt right now, every Devil, Angel, and Fallen in unprotected land would be contacted by the higher ups to go back to safe territory such as the Underworld, Heaven, and the Grigori Institute. A lockdown would follow next, curfew implemented as the leaders of each Faction discuss the state of their nation, plans of attack, defense and the like. Political ambassadors will be granted rights to leave, or will be killed, depending on their hosts, but that would open up yet another set of problems.

Intelligence, counter-intelligence would happen, propaganda too probably, not all that different from a war between humans I admit. Though of course," Asama chuckled bitterly. "The Three Factions and Humanity today are so intertwined that both of your conflicts ended at basically the same time."

"Eh?" Really?" Issei's eyes widened. "Wait...are you talking about-"

"Yes." Asama let a small smile onto her lips. "World War 2 was the backdrop of one of the biggest supernatural events in recent history. The tensions between the Abrahamic Factions' cold war reached its peak, and would have exploded if it wasn't for the leaders holding their people back. The Greeks, I believe, lent the Angels some of their power, though the gods themselves refute that claim. The Fallens had the backing of the Norse while the Devils dealt with an entire string of minor deities, though again, they all refuse to confirm that fact. The Fae began to move because of the damage being done to the earth, while other nature spirits began to migrate in numbers not seen since the advent of steel and smoke. And of course, we in Japan were not unaffected too. I myself am proof of that." She shrugged helplessly, a bitter smile in place.

"How do you know all this?" Issei stared at her. "Aren't these the kind of things that are like, super super secret?"

Asama let her smile grow very slowly, expression turning very smug. "I have my sources Issei-kun. It is one of the things I am most proud of."

"Then what happened to you? You said you were a goddess right?" Issei asked. "'Cause you were so angry at Yasaka-san and everything."

Asama closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, sighing through her nose. "I guess, spending all this time with you, I can find it in me to place my trust in you." She admitted a tad reluctantly. "Issei-kun, in truth-"

Issei's ringtone suddenly rang out, Issei flinching at the noise, pawing at his pocket to get his phone out while Asama leaned back, bringing her cup to her thinned out lips, nodding and giving him a go ahead.

He finally got it free, looking to see that it was an unfamiliar number. He blinked, opening the line and holding it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Issei." Ajuka's voice came over the line, and Issei immediately knew it was serious. His tone, the frankness, and the mere fact that he called him by his name was all indicative of that.

"What is it?" He replied with the same tone.

"Do you remember Asia Argento? That nun from Italy?"

"Y-yeah." Issei blinked. "Wait, why do you even know-"

"My little brother, Diodora, he's going after her. I need you to stop him."

"What are you- wait, why-"

"It would take too long to explain everything about that." Ajuka snapped at him. "If Diodora snaps Argento up right at this moment, war will break out, I promise you that. A devil taking a nun in church-owned territory is grounds for the declaration of war. We cannot afford that happening Issei, not the Devils, nor the Angels and the Fallen. And this time, we may not be able to stop this. Our people will ask for blood, and Falbium agrees with me when I say that there is no way for this to end other than in the complete and utter annihilation of our faction."

A circle opened up by his side, the green of Beelzebub shining bright.

"Issei, you are literally the only one I can go to for this right at this moment. Believe me, if I had any other choice, I wouldn't go to a high schooler that does not deserve to be part of an incident that could safeguard the future of my race, but you are one of my only contacts unaffiliated with any faction as well as an unknown factor for nearly all of them. That gives you a bit more leeway in this matter.

But it's your choice Issei. If you back out, I understand."

'My choice?' Issei thought even as he shut off his phone, walking towards the circle, crutch thunking against the wooden floor. 'That isn't a choice at all. The world's at stake, of course I'm going to do it.' The image of a blonde, smiling cheerfully at a stranger, so willing to help people she didn't even know, flashed in his mind. 'There's no way I'm leaving that girl alone.'

Issei turned to Asama, even as he stood in front of the magic circle, just waiting for his magical input to be activated. "See you in a bit Asama-nee."

"Good luck Issei-kun." Asama nodded. "Remember your lessons."

"Of course." Issei grinned cheekily, tapping the side of his head with his left hand. "I got it all in here."

He disappeared a moment later, covered by a green light.

Asama stared at the spot he had just occupied. She sighed, cleaning up the table.

"Change is coming." She muttered to herself. "And Issei-kun is going to be standing right in the middle of it."


A.N.

Okay, so I did some math about DxD. Turns out that Vasco Strada is 87 years old and since I estimate that DxD is at the 2010s, then the cardinal was born at around the 1920s. The books says that 'in his youth, he fought and cornered Kokabiel in the second World War' and if it's true, then he managed to equal or even beat a Cadre, a leader of the Fallen Angels when he was between 17-23. For a normal Human, without a longinus or Sacred Gear to help him, armed with nothing but a Holy Sword (albeit one of the strongest ones out there), training for less than 2 decades of his life, that is INSANE. How the hell did he even reach that far with just training?

Nothing, just found that tidbit curious.

Speaking about curious tidbits: MIMORI FREAKING SUZUKO VOICES OPHIS? SHE VOICES FUCKING OPHIS IN DXD?! ONE OF THE RAIBUS ACTUALLY PLAYS A CHARACTER IN DXD? LIKE HOLY SHIT, WOW, THAT ALONE JUST ELEVATED HER TO ONE OF THE TOP SPOTS IN THE BEST GIRL LISTS IN DXD(Incidentally, they're all in there. They just go from bestest, to bester, to best). DAMN, THAT'S AN IMPRESSIVE VOICE RANGE, I DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE HER.

Also, someone pointed out that Issei calling Asama as "Asama-neesama" is a bit awkward for a teenage boy like Issei to actually do, and Asama-nee fits a whole lot better, because calling someone "Sis" is a lot better and more natural-sounding than "Respected Older Sister" and while Issei does respect Asama, he's also the type to not get too hung over the respect thing till situation dictates so.

Reviews are helpful and appreciated.

P.S.

No omake this time. Have no idea on what to write.