Chapter 9: ...I think that you should get some rest...


"Are you one of them?"

I wasn't into necrophilia.

The very thought of getting down and dirty anywhere near dead bodies was disgusting, so don't get me started on my opinion on fucking the repulsive things. The dead were sacred, meant to be held in reverence and respect. No matter what they were in life, they deserved to rest in peace , not be kept in some depraved madman's closet waiting to be ravaged like a parody of a sexdoll.

Fawning over the dead wasn't a pastime for the sane.

But that's not what I felt when I looked into what was supposed to be a mockery of a proper coffin sitting in the middle of my study.

Though I stared at a corpse, there was no revulsion, no hint of discomfort, no trace of loathing.

There was only wonder.

Why?

She was beautiful.

It might have been trite to say such a thing, but that was the first thought that rose from the depths of my mind as I stared at her image, transfixed even as time slowed around me.

If her mother looked anything like her the I was beginning to understand why the King of the Tepes Faction decided to do away with his prejudice for a night of passion.

She was a small thing, curled up against the corner of the box as her hair scattered around her in rivulets of the purest starlight. Even as she was clothed in the drab garments of a servant, her smooth pale skin boasted marblesque flawlessness reflecting the low light while the faint makings of an impossible blush bloomed on her cheeks as she turned her eyes to the new source of light.

Her vibrant orbs were slowly dying, emotion draining from eyes that glimmered with the lightest of reds to the darkest of violets, and her expression was one of hopeless resignation. It didn't matter; her features, though subdued and flattened by the weight of apathy, lost none of their allure. Gentle and elegant, her face was one of innocent seduction. And even as the light dimmed in her eyes and stoicism robbed the smile from her lips, the radiance she excluded was something that wouldn't be out of place in the realms of goddesses: a nameless quality that stirred desire regardless of her intent.

I had been faced with many women in the scant few months I'd been in this world, and in that time I reveled in their beauty. They were each different, each with their own strengths and weaknesses and with their own unique quality that bewitched the senses.

None of them seemed to be able to hold a candle to the vulnerable bundle cowering in a box before me.

I didn't know when my magic fell away, or how long I held her stare but with grace and poise befitting royalty, her form rose, like fog before the sunrise almost as if her body was lifted up by the air itself until she stood to her full height and looked up at me with eyes of a woman broken but not quite shattered.

Magic allowed me to feel the heat radiating from her cheeks as my eyes perceived her blush. A tinge of rose standing apart amongst her deathly pallor.. The air guided the sharp scent of European winter into my nostrils, and even as she slowly, fearfully raised her hand to brush her soft palm on my cheek I could do nothing but stare into eyes that spun with the hypnotic light of a kaleidoscope.

"If by one of them, you mean a devil, then yes, I suppose I am." This was a negotiation of terms, the makings of an alliance, not some midnight rendezvous; of course I would behave appropriately even if she seemed a bit more addled than most. I calmly noted that her smooth palm was surprisingly warm as I flashed her a polite smile. "But something tells me that's not what you're referring to, is it?"

"Oh." Sweet music filled my ears even as her hand fell away, her expression downcast, and the soft line of her lips dipped into a frown. "So you do not know of them either." There was a surprisingly childish tone in her disappointment, but even more surprising was what she did next.

Calmly, and much too gracefully for anyone in her state of mind, she all but glided out of her cardboard box and settled onto the couch, sitting with posture fit for any princess as she drew in a solemn breath. "Well?"

"Yes, on to business then." Wow, that comfortable atmosphere died quickly, and I didn't know whether to be disappointed or elated that her vulnerable persona, while lovable, was still hidden behind the steel and poise of a princess. I admit that conducting business with a mentally compromised corpse would have been easier, but if she had even half the wits of Rias this should be an enjoyable enough exercise. "I don't suppose you know why you are here?"

Her small shoulders, exposed by the tear in her dress rather than the elegance of an artist's aesthetic, shrugged as she hummed thoughtfully. "I am... aware of my position in the family, though I must admit that I did not foresee this. I would hazard a guess that I am some form of offering to you, more than likely for something one of my more... esteemed brothers have done?"

This was just such a wondrous surprise; not just the way her eyes began to shine with hidden intelligence, or the way her expression twisted to display wry disappointment, but in the way she could express them in the first place. I wasn't about to lie and say I hadn't expected her to be a drooling corpse when I finally claimed her, but I wasn't the least bit dismayed when the beginnings of resistance stirred within her voice. She still had some steel in her even after all she had been through; she must have been cut from an entirely different cloth than all the other pathetic b-list villains here.

Breaking her might be the most fun I would have since... well, since I arrived.

At the very least it would be a tad more challenging than Issei.

Oh and on a side note, it turns out that the Tepes Family had more than a bit of history of having wild children. Which would explain how Revive and Lord Drakul had such an amicable relationship, if you get past the scathing fire and deadly mist that is.

"Not exactly." A few measured steps carried me from the edge of the box to the couch across from her before I seated myself and looked into twin amethysts, scintillating even in the low light. "To tell you the truth, I requested you personally, and your father seemed to have no objections. In fact, I would say that he seemed happy to be rid of you, or maybe that was just his personal grudge against my brother I was seeing."

She quirked an elegant eyebrow as she processed my words, her eyes darkening once more until there was only a hint that she was more than a corpse, or a doll. What must this little girl have gone though to be able to kill her emotions so easily, and yet still possess enough empathy that she was capable of feeling?

Her persona had changed drastically once more, and gone were any and all traces of emotion, leaving only cold blooded logic as she smiled.

It was definitely a dangerous thing, one of empyrean beauty that revealed none of the sharp iron will I knew she had.

"I'm not exactly surprised. As I said before, I am aware of my position in the family, and giving away concubines has been a common enough practice. Though I must say that you will be sorely disappointed if that is your purpose." Are you kidding me? I told her that she was basically, and very literally, my bitch now. How can she stay so damn calm? "On that note, If you wanted a concubine then I would assume that father would have either given you better choices or denied you outright. But that isn't your purpose, is it, Lord Phenex?"

Of course she was far more intelligent than canon gave her credit for, but by now I was used to being surprised enough that it didn't show in my expression. Still, I could tell the my own control over my expression was at least an order of magnitude inferior to hers, and that while Revive could see through me I don't doubt that he would have a much harder time reading the little girl before me.

Then again, that was probably more due to our relationship than anything else, but I'm sure he would have had to do his fair share of reading strangers. The Media Business here and in the human world only differ in degrees of ruthlessness, as well as our skill of 'hiding dead bodies' being much better than theirs

Back on topic; let's just see how long that facade lasts, shall we?

"It is true that I asked for you personally, but definitely not for the reason you proposed." I tried for the most sheepish smile I could muster as I lowered my gaze and bashfully scratched the back of my head. "You may not have heard, but I was officially engaged just yesterday, and it would be in poor taste if I were to bed a different girl after such an occasion. No, I took you with a more... pragmatic purpose in mind."

That seemed to garner her curiosity, but if the way her expression subtly shifted from stoic apathy to mild interest was calculated, I couldn't tell. "If it's all the same to you, Lord Phenex, I have already guessed at your intentions twice, and twice they have missed the mark. So in the interests of time, I will ask directly: despite being aware of all the rumors circling around me, you requested me personally. Why?"

Ah yes, those rumors; if one was to understand exactly why Valerie Tepes was such a pariah, anathema in the eyes of the race of Vampires as a whole, one must be aware of her reputation.

Being a Dhampyr, a child between a Vampire and a Human, she was reviled and resented by all, heedless of the status of her parents. This treatment was intensified by the fact that she was the first daughter of the current Leader of the Tepes Faction, and being a woman in a faction which is chauvinist to a fault didn't help either. The resentment towards her was so great that her name afforded her no privilege and her own father threw her into the dungeon with the other dhampirs, where they served as servants for some of the maids and butlers who worked in the palace.

Still, I would guess that her life wasn't quite that bad considering she still had time to play with the other children, after having won over the hearts of the servants when the nobility rejected her. Her life was hard, hard enough to make a child bitter and cruel, but not so much so that her ability to love and feel was lost. She learned to work here, she learned to think here, and most of all she learned to steel herself and maybe even hope despite the conditions she was suffering under.

She managed to work up the nerve to love a little boy and watch him leave, going as far as to serve as a distraction when he escaped into the night.

And then her supposed insanity came about.

She was just a child when she first came in contact with them; the night after she suffered through her punishment for saving the boy she loved as a little brother, they came.

And the story went: In the night, the disowned daughter of the Tepes wailed of monsters and spirits in the dark corners of the dungeon, and her voice was so great and terrible that even the keeper shared in the chill of her own terror.

Panicked, Lord Tepes himself came down to confront whatever caused his daughter terror, though not out of the love he had for his flesh and blood, but in fear that whatever caused her to scream might have been a threat to them all. In the end, what motivated the Lord of the Tepes Faction mattered not, as when he came down armed with the great magic he wielded, he confronted a great and terrible...

Nothing.

His daughter lay in a corner screaming about monsters, but there was nothing in the room.

This incident afforded her some privileges, some form of privacy. But those privileges only served as a prison. For on that day, Valerie Tepes was labeled insane and thrown into an even deeper dungeon so that she might waste away and die, as no one under his rule was willing to risk Lord Drakul's wrath over the blood of a maddened halfbreed.

If only they knew what caused her to scream, things might have gone down in history quite differently.

But I saw her worth, and the worth she had to the woman I was to marry. It would be such a waste if I didn't bring out her fullest potential.

"Gasper Vladi. Is it safe for me to assume that you remember him?" I smiled as whatever facade she had built crumbled away to reveal astonishment and a small tinge of hope at the mention of the boy's name and that told me all I needed to know. It looks like I didn't need to worry after all. "I need you to spend some time with him. You and him, together, just like old times; that would be enjoyable for the both of you, no?"

The joy in her expression was dazzling, her lips curving into an innocent smile while her eyes glimmered like the stars in the deep night. But that soon faded as suspicion clouded her countenance and caution rose with distrust into her eyes. She had been Fate's chewtoy for long enough that she knew the ways of the world; that good must always come hand in hand with bad. I had to give her credit, she knew that there was going to be a catch to all of this, especially when I had what she wanted most in this world and offered it to her before naming its price.

"Why?" Caution laced her voice as she faced me with unshakable resolve; the very same resolve that allowed her to hold on and hope against hope despite her circumstances. I knew that face very well, it was the one that told me that no matter what I could threaten her with, she would rather die than do anything to harm her precious little friend.

"He's actually having a bit of trouble being around others, so I thought to grab one of his childhood friends to help him out." I thumped my chest with pride as I gave her a self-satisfied smile. "You really were the only option I could use, with how my brother knows your father and how small Gasper's circle of friends was. Still, as long as you do help him out, then everything will be worth it."

I have given her freedom, and treated her with as much kindness as the situation allowed. Now I give her what she wants most in the world, and the opportunity to continue to stay by his side and allow him to grow. I have given her no reason to distrust me, and every reason to accept my offer and claim the happiness she has been denied all of her life. The trap was set, and the main terms of our contract were written. All that was left was to add in the fine print.

With a deft movement, I take a small object from the pocket and place it on the surface of the glass table.

A simple, if not elegantly crafted, red bishop.

"I need you to act as my bishop though, because right now this is the only way for you to be able to interact with Gaspar Vladi: Bishop of Rias Gremory." I speak with an air of finality as the conversation reached its climax. "Accepting my offer of Peerage would mean acknowledging me as your King and submitting primarily to me and me alone. Knowing this, do you accept these terms?"

I could see the traces of deep thought in her eyes as she weighed her options carefully, her mind racing to bring her each and every scenario in which the contract would work against her interests. She knew this was a bond even more powerful than the one that was already in place. Her father had given her to me as a servant so by right she was already my property. This was her selling her very being to me for a chance to see Gaspar again. She couldn't know what else I had in mind, and she couldn't be sure if I was telling the truth or not, but she knew that this was her only chance to be able to see her beloved playmate again.

For all the minor niceties and as circuitously as I put it, she could see that before her were two simple, all-encompassing options: She would live as my bishop or die.

She knew the corner she was trapped in, but still she spoke with the grace and nobility of her house. "The moment you try to harm Gasper through me is the moment I drink Holy Water."

I grinned.

"You can have me swear on my soul that I will never willingly try to harm a hair on your precious little boy's head if you so wish it." The magical parchment emerged in the glow of a magic circle before settling itself on the table beside the bishop, along with an extravagant fountain pen. "Now, do we have a deal?"

"That is as much as I will ask. As long as I'll be able to help Gasper." She replied with a dissatisfied frown before slowly reaching for the pen and wordlessly jamming the elegant writing implement into her arm.

With her own blood she signed her name next to mine, and as the magic of the Geas took effect and bound our souls with the content of the contract, I couldn't help but smile victoriously.

"Now," She began dismissing the deep gash in her arm as her innate regeneration took hold; the gash slowly fading as the pen danced upon the parchment. Meanwhile, I stood, a sly smirk still on my face as her hand gingerly took up the Evil Piece and examined it a bit more closely. "How will this-"

She didn't have an opportunity to finish her sentence as I walked through the table and closed her lips with mine.


Alright, final check:

My hair was dyed a dull, or maybe matte, black and I had a pair of over sized frames hanging on my face to project a little more of the youthful, almost childish, bookworm in me. My posture was straight and crisp, but it embodied the reliability and perfect poise of a butler rather than the authority and station of an emperor. A bit of magic took away a few inches off my height so even if I stood out as a tall individual, it was to the extent that I looked like a tall student rather than one of the staff.

All in all, I was once more in my usual disguise whenever I visited Kuoh incognito, the very same disguise that bumped into Asia and co one fine day as well as secured a job as one of the secondary staff.

Speaking of which...

The clean sound of knuckles striking wood preceded my voice as I my eyes landed on the very expensive looking door. Now, I knew I put it here somewhere... There it was. Now just give me a few seconds to set the whole thing up and...

"Come in."

Click.

It was difficult to describe Issei's face at the moment, but if I were to try I would say he was making his best goldfish expression, with eyes so wide that it was comical and a jaw hanging so long it might as well have touched the floor. I swear the blue anime lines, much like the impossible sweat-drop, anger cross, and red blush-lines, were glowing on his forehead as his expression flattened, like he seemed to lose his nose and what was once a human face suddenly seemed like it was a caricature harshly brought to life by a kindergartner's hand.

To be perfectly honest, one of the reasons why I took a job like this was for these types of reveals.

"Suzaku? What the hell are you doing here?" When he finally regained his speech and basic motor functions, he made a show of having him by throwing an accusing finger at me and shouting so loud that the teacher in the next room actually shouted for us to quiet down. His surprise was not unfounded after all, considering the fact that he was called in here for something a bit more... mundane than what would usually go on in the Crimson Dragon Emperor's life.

It was safe to say he didn't expect me of people waiting for him when he got here since I sent for him through proper channels.

"Oh Issei." The surprise that lit up my smiling face was so much more graceful than the look of unadulterated shock still visible on the camera screen as I put it away. "Perfect timing. Please have a seat and we'll begin shortly."

"Wait, what?" He blinked, his head swiveling desperately as he took in the empty classroom and my sitting in the desk reserved for the teacher. "You? You're the one who did this?"

"Yes, and no." With a casual air, I took up the stack of papers resting on my desk and straightened them once more, my eyes quickly scanning through the assorted documents as I made my reply. "Technically, this is your fault since you chose to be absent for a week and two days. I am facilitating though, so it should make this time a bit less... dull for the both of us, don't you think?"

"Well, yeah, I guess it would be cool if you're the- WAIT!" Seeing him tone down a bit, his posture relaxing as he looked to the side and placed a hand behind his head, I thought he would have settled down now but again my presence just seemed so foreign that his disbelief resurfaced in a heartbeat. Heavy steps took him from the doorway to directly before my table as the hands once guarded with dragon's scales sent tremors through the table's surface. "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I OFFERED TO SHARE MY COLLECTION WITH A TEACHER?"

"To put it bluntly," With tranquility that didn't suit the situation I met his eyes and gracefully smiled. "Yes."

"Somebody kill me." For what it was worth, I could somehow understand where he was coming from, and really the thought of unwittingly sharing porn of all things with an authority figure was enough to make anyone die of embarrassment. Issei, for all his perverse interests, didn't seem like the type to so blatantly speak of it with just about anyone. After all, he seemed to feel a bit of shame whenever his parents were to bring it up in front of Rias, so I'm guessing that he still has some sliver of shame left. If he didn't like his parents talking about his interests with others, I was almost certain that he would hate for teachers to suddenly know.

And this was all the proof I needed.

"For what it's worth, I wasn't a member of the staff until recently, so it's not like you've been inviting a teacher to your viewing sessions all this time." Invitations I declined time and time again, I might add. Though that didn't comfort him in the least as another sharp jolt shook the table as the boy flinched, the very thought causing him pain. Messing with the boy was as enjoyable as it was easy, but we had a schedule to keep and I could be professional when it was required. "Look, just take a seat and we can start when everyone else gets here."

The boy nodded lifelessly as I handed him the documents before he dragged himself to one of the seats closer to the window and all but collapsed into it, done with the world. I chuckled as I made out some words he muttered in the wind, sounding suspiciously like "first my parents, and now my teacher, is Asia-chan going to be next?" Well, if the Omake with Asia trying to seduce him was canon, then yes but then he didn't need to hear that from me just yet.

So as we waited, I turned back to my papers.

I must say that sitting down and doing something so stupidly perfunctory is surprisingly cathartic, unmistakably different from pounding an opponent into submission with might and magic, but no less relaxing. Grading papers was a break from all the hustle and bustle of climbing to the top of the food chain, a small reprieve from all the fighting, whether it be in the training ring or on the battlefield. Sure, initially there was a plan: being a teacher here would give me an excuse to remain in close proximity to monitor, though not necessarily interact with, my fiancee and those around her. But I've genuinely come to enjoy the small and somewhat tedious task of grading papers.

Though maybe the fact that it could also be considered exercising my Memory Partition has something to do with my enjoyment. It's certainly the least troublesome of my training exercises as well as the most peaceful. When I think about it, maybe it was the efficiency of 'working while taking a break' that makes it all the more enjoyable.

But most of all, laughing at the stupid mistakes of students was simply too much fun to pass up.

So I made sure to choose a position that would allow me to complete all my objectives in one fell swoop; namely as the teacher in charge of conducting remedial classes when the need arises.

Since these particular classes only occur after normal ones, or during the weekend, I don't have to interact with the students on a regular basis unless they require the classes, namely they aren't doing very well or they need to make up classes due to an absence. The irregular hours, coupled with my supernatural checking speed, mean I can check in any time I want since I always manage to turn in my papers on time. This in turn grants me a bit more leeway when it comes to how I spent my time around the school. Of course, since the classes I teach are the ones for idiots or delinquents, it always provides me with endless entertainment as I spend my class hours 'setting them straight'.

And this was no exception, though this time I was conducting make-up classes for the second years of the Occult Research Club due to a "Club Retreat".

It was practically the perfect time to mess with them.

"Hey Issei?" The boy's lifeless eyes looked up from the numerous tests I gave him to meet mine. "What did you guys in the Occult Research Club actually do for the last ten days?"

I was curious to see how he would react to this situation because in truth, I had no idea. Even before, Issei was never the type to put any emphasis on the occult, and neither was he the person who knew how to keep his mouth shut. I'm not sure if Rias took the necessary steps to convince him not to talk about the supernatural with others, but even in the beginning, when he was just freshly turned, he went around asking people about Raynare, a girl who never really existed. To his friends, he made it no secret that the club afforded him opportunities to meet with cute girls, and even if they were under hypnosis, he allowed knowledge of the supernatural to leak to his parents.

He hasn't been introduced to the Student Council just yet, but he must know that the school is affiliated with devils. Given the harmless enough question, as well as his addled state of mind, there's no telling whether he will clam up or pour out his worries to me without reservation. It was simple curiosity that drove me to ask the question, and as emotions flashed in his eyes my curiosity awaited his answer.

This was just a way to kill time after all, his reply had no real bearing on my plans.

"I..." There was sorrow and regret in his voice as his eyes returned to the papers, pulled down by grief, shame, and something else rather than my own apathy. "I just wasted my time."

So it's despair then.

"Really? I recall you being very excited about spending time with all your friends." I encouraged him as the pen continued to dance in my hands, to the soft rhythm of checks and crosses. "What happened?"

There was silence for a moment, as the boy lazily turned from his papers to the window as the soft sunlight filtered through the clear windows. His eyes were showed the out of focus gaze of one reminiscing as the memories of his defeat at my hand, both of them, were brought up by my prodding. He drew out a long suffering sigh before shaking his head, the thought of his shame so great that he seemed compelled to speak about it to anyone who would listen, other than the peerage he had failed that is.

"Have you ever owed someone so much that you owed them everything?" His voice was that of a man remembering past happiness during present misery as he whispered into the wind, and if it wasn't for my magic those very words would have been lost even in the silence of the classroom. "I could give her anything, I could do everything right, I could be stronger, faster, smarter, better and it still wouldn't be enough to pay her back. I owe her so much that even if I were to serve her my whole life as a servant, it wouldn't be enough. I don't think it would ever be enough. Have you had a person like that?"

I shake my head.

"Well I have a person like that, and really all I want to do is to make her happy. After everything she did for me, the least I could do is make sure she keeps smiling. Then suddenly, she needed me." There was the dim light of a broken smile shining from his face before his expression darkened once more. "Finally, I had a chance to pay her back and prove to everyone, and to myself I guess, that she didn't make a mistake when she took me in. I could finally do something other than cause her even more trouble, and just maybe I could finally be the reason for her smile."

"Then you messed up, huh?" The casual way I said it struck him as hard as any of my blows that night, maybe even harder now that he could do nothing but accept the reality of the situation.

"No, if I messed up then that would mean we had a chance to win in the first place."He shook his head helplessly before reaching out towards the window, his eyes on the arm that was no longer his own. "Both that bastard and my partner told me that there was no real chance for us to win that fight, even if I gave my life trying. Now... now I don't know what to do anymore since I was just as useless as that bastard said I was."

So this is how the mighty harem king acts when he's knocked down a few pegs; I had thought it would be more satisfying to see him brought so low, but once again I'm mistaken. I thought he was the type who could eventually bounce back from something like this and come out stronger than ever but if he just stays in this state of lethargy then really he's no threat.

He's actually a liability now, so much so that it would be safer if I just took away his Boosted Gear before Rizevim decides to beat me to the punch and reveals himself a few novels too early.

But of course, no one would appreciate my efforts in protecting the world by relieving the boy of the Dragon. Even worse, everyone would think I did it to further my own power and agenda instead of making sure that such a game breaking ability didn't fall into the wrong hands. And well, they wouldn't be wrong, the ability to double my power every ten seconds was attractive. But the moment I took the gear would be the moment the Phenex and Gremory families would declare war on each other.

A war that would end with our loss the moment Lucy supports his family.

More accurately, if I sacrifice everyone besides myself, I would probably have a few days to master the Boosted Gear, as well as take advantage of Sephiroth Graal. However I don't know if that would be enough to overpower one of the members of the Top Ten. In the long run, I would have my victory after a long drawn out fight involving guerrilla warfare and a few of my own nasty tricks, but that is only if I survive against four of the strongest devils alive, two of which are the strongest since time immemorial. Maybe after months of intensive study, including the resources needed to conduct said study, I would be confident enough to run them into the ground with very little effort. But again, that is if I can survive being on the run for months against a motivated pair of super-devils.

We're not even including the other factions yet, most prominently the Khaos Brigade and all its little sub-organisations. If they somehow, even unwittingly, unite against me I'm sure to have no hope surviving for more than a week. Realistically, if I was to become the new Crimson Dragon Emperor, such an action would create waves that would reach the farthest corners of the supernatural world, and with the way I am now, those waves would consume me like tsunamis would helpless fishing vessels. I could play my cards perfectly and elude the Khaos Brigade, or I could sell my soul to the son of the Devil himself so that I would be safe from the current Morning Star, and Lord of the Flies, but the reality was that I couldn't stand against both simultaneously.

All my plans require time, time I won't have if I take the Gear from Issei, regardless of my motivations for doing so. That meant that if I did take the gear from him, I would have an impossible battle ahead of me, one that I would most definitely lose and that would just be wasting everyone's time.

But if I chose to leave the situation as it was then the butterfly effect might create something even worse, considering where we were in the timeline.

Vali.

The boy might hate his grandfather with everything he had, but I would be... as stupid as Issei if I thought he wasn't scared shitless of the eldest super-devil. Assuming Issei doesn't get out of his funk when Vali arrives, and I'm sure Rias and her peerage already tried cheering him up, Vali would have news that there was a pathetic wielder of the Boosted Gear out in the open, and that could very well be the signal for Rizevim to go after him.

Unlike me though, Rizevim most definitely gets away with it, and that will make surviving the rest of canon, off the rails though it may be, that much more difficult.

And that meant that there was only one logical, but very painful decision I would have to make.

I sighed.

I was going to have to cheer him up, wasn't I?

Fuck me.

"Stop moping." My words came out as a hard command as the boy's eyes snapped towards mine, and even from behind my thick lenses I saw his brown orbs well with confusion and outrage at the tone of my voice. This wasn't one friend trying to comfort another in their pain, this was a teacher snapping a student out of their stupidity. "It's getting annoying and really you're just wasting your time."

I hated this situation, but if it meant that I could continue my climb without risking one of the strongest players in the game coming out early, then I would gladly bring back the minor threat that was Issei. I could just break him again if he got too big for his britches so there was no real harm.

"What can I do then?" From across the room, the glare he leveled at me wasn't the least bit threatening, but it held signs of life and at least I could use that. "I gave everything I had and still I couldn't do anything. It wasn't even a fight anymore. Afterwards everyone agreed that it was such a hopeless mismatch that it wasn't even funny. I tried to cheat and that still didn't work. HOW CAN I FIX IT NOW?"

"Try thinking for once." I told him quite sternly as a random thought popped into my head. I didn't really want to take the time and give him a heart to heart, so this would have to do."If you care about whatever this is as much as you care about tits then I'm sure you'll think of something."

And that was the tipping point.

Immediately, Issei froze as I said the magic word, and everything else seemed to fade away for the boy. As if he had reached enlightenment he rose from his seat, but there was no peace in his expression, only a newfound sense of urgency that bordered on desperation. All traces of despair and failure fled from his form as with that same urgency came new life and the same unrelenting drive that allowed him to bridge the impossible gap between himself and Vali in a few minutes.

Faster than I could blink, he was out of the room as the whirlwind tossed the tests and handouts furiously in his wake.

"Thanks Suzaku, I'm not going to let that bastard touch Buchou's boobs and take her virginity." He closed the door with an excited slam before shouting the words I feared he would repeat. "Those boobs and her virginity belong to me!"

As the echo of such an absurd declaration faded I could only think of one thing.

I can't believe that worked.

"And that's Mifune-sensei to you!"


"I'm sorry." Sirzechs Lucifer: hero of the Civil War, Super Devil, The Bearer of Light as well as The Touch of Oblivion, bowed low as I sat at my desk, perplexed.

Nevermind, it wasn't that bad. It was worse..

I could barely see him over my desk as he got on his knees and prostrated himself before me, a dogeza as the japanese would call it, and I concluded that the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

Make no mistake, I wasn't surprised when the most powerful devil on our side came to me to apologize. In fact, I expected such a thing from him, especially with how... convincing mother can be when she was angry.

She still loved him, maybe as much as she loved us. I'm sure that even after he tried to kill me, the more maternal part of her would love nothing more than for us to get along, even if the overprotective mother in her demanded his death, status be damned. It should be said that mother is very, very good at getting what she wants, and I had no illusions that if she truly wanted Sirzechs dead, then it would be done somehow, someway.

Ergo, it was only a matter of time before I would have Sirzechs Lucifer in my study, asking for forgiveness. I was prepared for such an occasion and I wasn't surprised by the occurrence in itself.

This was another matter altogether.

Don't get me wrong, I know who this person is according to canon, as well as much left unsaid about the super-devil Sirzechs Lucifer. This was the man chosen to govern the internal affairs of devilkind, the analog of a prime minister; not just because he was the strongest among them, but because he was the most cunning. If Ajuka was smart, Sirzechs was sly, and as an expert in the field of politics and non-magical manipulation he was definitely the most suited for Lucifer, not just as the Morning Star, but as the Prince of Lies.

He was a doting brother, and a bit of an airhead when portrayed in canon, but he was the Hero of both the Great and Civil War and the only reason he acted that way was because it suited his needs. Behind the scenes he orchestrated the growth of Rias's peerage right under her nose, bringing each individual member into her little group and allowing them to grow through training and battle. From the encounter with the much weaker canon Riser, to the battle with the top echelon of the Chaos Brigade, he watched from the sidelines as his plans unfold. I wouldn't be surprised if everything that occurred during canon, from the failed machinations of the Fallen Raynare until Issei's first death at the hands of Samael happened by his design.

Except maybe the death part, since he wouldn't willingly do anything to upset his sister; and Issei's death really did a number on them.

The point was, the man before me was an expert at diplomacy with a potentially hostile party, and that meant everything he did was meticulously calculated to lead me on according to his hidden agenda. Every subtle expression, and every loose word was properly thought of and weighed, such that any action he might take would help him achieve his goal.

Yes, even if that meant getting on his knees and begging for forgiveness.

But for the life of me, I couldn't see how this helped him in any way.

"Alright, I'll bite." I conceded after a long moment of silence, Lucifer finally raising his head that his contrite eyes could meet mine. "Why are you doing this? I know mother can be convincing but I'm sure you didn't have to go this far."

"You would be surprised at just how convincing Lana-oba-san can be." I could see the shiver go down his spine and almost hesitated in response. But that hesitation was crushed not a moment later as I was reminded of who I was dealing with. Besides, his rebuttal didn't make any real sense as I'm sure he intended.

"True, but she wouldn't expect you to go this far." He was kneeling for crying out loud, this shit definitely wasn't normal. "How long did you practice for this?"

A bit of context; one of the Satans showing any kinds of weakness is a big no-no in any situation. A respectful incline of the head was sufficient for a greeting and if they were feeling extra respectful they would be the ones to greet another party first; but they would never, ever bow at the waist. And here, Sirzechs was taking it a few steps further, going as low as getting on his knees to ask for my forgiveness. My mother might have demanded an apology, but the offence was not so dire as to require such an act of humility on his part.

Half of me expected he would send some hallmark card of some variant, not degrade his authority and bow down like he almost killed someone actually important.

Or someone who couldn't resurrect from virtually anything.

It was like watching a president go down on his knees to say sorry to a child; those things just didn't happen without something being up, so pardon me for being a bit skeptic.

"Why, Riser, I'm hurt that you don't believe me." He recoiled in mock offence as he straightened up to his full height before taking his seat, the smile on his face shining like he had just told the best joke in the world rather than whined to me about my unbelief. "I really am sorry for what I did to you."

"And that's just my problem." I shook my head as I leveled a stern glare at the man acting like a child. "As far as most people are concerned, you didn't do anything. You could skip this little apology session and the worst thing that could happen is that our families snub each other 'till the end of time. So what gives?"

In the end, that was the crux of the problem.

The people loved Sirzechs, no matter how monstrous he was in terms of power, attitude, and ruthlessness; or maybe it was because of all those qualities, you never know with Devils. They loved him so much that if it were to come out that we were feuding with him, he would still have the people's support just as long the reason he gave was within the realm of reason.

This is one of the reasons that our little disagreement wasn't supposed to be public yet, or rather our end would never make it public. We wouldn't gain anything from it other than a bad reputation.

If we were to complain that he tried to kill me, he could say that he was simply displaying my strength as one who could overcome a holy dragon and the people would ignore that I could have easily died if I made a single mistake. What's worse is that we have no real way of preventing something like this from happening.

The quickest and most effective remedy would be threatening to besmirch his reputation, but that wouldn't work. If we were to demand a public apology, he could always lie through his teeth and keep his head held high, painting the incident like it was just him making a harmless mistake and our family was being much too presumptuous, or he could humor us and look all the better for it. If we took any legal action against him then he would always defend himself with the fact of my victory, and that whatever offence we might charge him with is made void because of some bullshit reasoning that my victory was well within his calculations.

And the people would believe him.

They would be eating out of his fucking hands, Revive's place as one of the major players in Underworld Media be damned.

As far as I could tell, mother acknowledged that fact and demanded that he apologize to me at the very least, although she knew that it wouldn't really change anything. At that point, any play we make would devolve into a fight we could never win, not when he had the people's support.

I expected that he would come, just to honor my mother, but from a pragmatic standpoint he would lose almost nothing if he just said a simple word of apology and walked right out of the room.

So once again, that begged the question of why he would bow so low, even in private, for something he could completely ignore and which no one would lend an ear about if we complained.

"Well, I certainly cherish the bond our families share, and if this is the price to maintain it through such tumultuous times, then I will gladly bow my head." He offered cheerfully with a smile far too chipper to be trusted.

"Bullshit." Of course, I wouldn't believe something so convenient. "Maintaining the bond you claim to cherish so much would have been as easy as doing nothing during the party. Then everything would be fine and our parents wouldn't be arguing right now, something I'm sure you knew going into this. If you hadn't implemented your scheme, everything would have gone smoothly and everyone would be happy. Of course there would be conflict if you work to undermine a plan set in motion, a plan formed with your personal approval I might add."

"It's always better to beg for forgiveness than to ask permission." The smile was a bit smaller now as he innocently scratched his cheek and spoke with an almost sheepish tone. "And before going through the nitpicking, I decided it was better to act right away and deal with the fallout later."

"My mother is involved." I scoffed. "You should know more than anyone that getting forgiveness from her involves great suffering. Not even you could deal with that fallout, figuratively speaking. You were there during the last meltdown, you tell me how bad she can be."

I couldn't tell if his sudden twitch was fake, but the flash of true terror in his eyes as definitely genuine.

"I admit that I acted rashly in the defense of my sister." He said, suddenly serious as his smile dissipated and a hint of loving regret filled his eyes. "I didn't know that such a plan would hurt you and your family so, and for that I must admit my mistake and make amends."

"And for some reason, I still don't believe you. You strike me as the type not to care about consequences when loved ones are involved. And you never, ever, act blindly." This was getting us nowhere, and though I did have quite some time before my next training session with the girls, I still preferred to spend my time doing something productive.

This was not it.

But now he was sincere, so much so that I really did want to believe him and end this useless conversation. He was sorry, and technically I came out the winner our tete-a-tete so there was no real reason to carry on the conversation.

But something in the back of my mind demanded that I continue.

It was nerve wracking, and honestly almost worse than my conversation with Ddraig.

I sighed deeply as resignation flowed through the cracks in my stoic facade. "Look, with all due respect, Lucifer-sama, I understand the reasoning behind such a ploy. As it stands, we are at an impasse; I can't leverage anything more from you, and you've dug yourself so deep a hole that actually admitting your mistake is a reasonable option.. Therefore, I humbly request that you leave if you have no other business with me. I'm sure that someone as illustrious and influential as yourself has so more important tasks to accomplish, instead of idling here with me."

The smile he wore was nothing short of terrifying as he stood to his full height...

"You're absolutely right." The chipper way he said it set my warning bells ringing as confidence totally erased his previously contrite air, but not as much as the way he casually plopped on the recliner and rested his cheeks in his hands did. He was taunting me. "And since you'd like to take care of this now, since you know I'm such a busy man after all, I'll get straight to the point. I'm apologizing because need you and if we're working together, it's better to be on good terms, yes?"

I stared at him for a full minute, expression solid and unchanging as cold marble as sheepish aquamarine eyes looked back at me in expectation. I'm not going to lie, I expected quite a number of things that would force him to bow down and apologize. This was actually one of them; namely something Rias related. But it still seemed so surreal that he was actually doing it, especially given the audacity needed to request something like this after he legitimately tried to kill me.

Sure his attempt failed, but intent over efficacy.

I sighed. "Does this has something to do with Rias?"

"Bigger." The wry smile he wore spelled nothing but trouble, and he only confirmed that as he shook his head. "Remember the artifact you managed to steal?"

"Of course, I do. It's been a wonderful tool since it's come into my possession." He was referring to the extraction cross, and there was only one plausible reason why he would bring that up now. "I managed to acquire it after your sister did a number of the scouting party."

"Dear little Ria is growing, but now I fear that whatever strength she has accumulated might be tested prematurely." His expression glimmered with pride for a moment before the grim severity settled in once more. "You're not the only one who has been going around taking precious artifacts."

I wasn't surprised when he brought it up, since that was the only reason I could think he would need me. I was more surprised that he knew, but then again it wasn't that much of a shock.

"They are on the move again, aren't they?" Of course this was coming, and I would have been more surprised if he didn't notice the strange spike in their activity. "The Fallen."

I don't know if I already said this, but the Fallen had always been a middle ground so to speak, from the Great War until this day.

They entered the fray to come into their own, to find a place and an identity as the grey walking between heavenly white and hellish black, and this semi-neutrality allowed them to be what they were today. It was no lie to say that the Fallen was the faction currently standing at the top among the three, because while Heaven lost God and a few Seraphs, and Hell lost the Satans, the Gregori had lost nothing.

Every Watcher still stands strong, from Kokabiel to Amaros, and with all their leaders still alive they would easily be able to assure mutual destruction if they were to battle any one of the other two factions. That doesn't sound like much at first glance, but Heaven will remain an impenetrable fortress until Rizevim's Siege and we have two, maybe even three, super devils just in case the Old Maou's would like to call a truce in favor of getting rid of the Fallen first.

So long as the remaining faction doesn't interfere, the Fallen would stand a solid chance of winning against any other faction, and even if they lost they would guarantee mutual destruction.

Which explains why they seemed overly active early in canon, considering the ceasefire in place; they really didn't care.

How Sirzechs figured it out? Well, he is an obsessive brother after all. Even if Rias did hide her reports, as long as there was a record, either written or within someone's memory, detailing their interactions with the Fallen, then Sirzechs would be able to get his hands on it.

Why he needed me, well that was obvious too.

"Yes, they have been moving for quite some time now, though of course you know that given your new position in my school, Mifune-sensei." Oh yeah, he did technically run the school alongside Serafall; the most subtle form of surveillance the maou's employed, as well as their only option when it came to Sona and Rias. "Since you're already doing some surveillance of your own, I was hoping you would report whatever you find back to me."

"Hoping?" I raised my eyebrow, that was very strange wording. "You're not going to try and coerce me into this?"

"Eh, why bother? You know as well as I do that this time I have nothing to threaten you with, nor can I leverage that non-existent love for my sister." He shrugged before allowing a small smile on his lips. "It's funny really: for the longest time I was wishing that you would one day wake up wishing for a different bride. Now that I get what I want, my sister's fate suddenly hangs in the balance."

Considering the the dynamic between our families, namely both our parents wanting us to reconcile, he couldn't really threaten me with anything too drastic if we were to keep up the illusion of getting along. I did say that it was a stalemate; as long as I couldn't threaten him with much, he couldn't threaten me either without repercussions.

The worst thing he could hit me with was revoking my teaching job, which would leave me with no reason to stay in Kuoh, but doing that would take away my ability to serve as his eyes and ears. He could probably ask someone else, but then it would look like the favoritism it is to the other families. And if Rias found out, he would never hear the end of it. His own party of confidants seemed to be an eccentric bunch, with only Grayfia as suited for any sort of espionage mission.

The same sister-in-law Rias would recognize in a heartbeat. That was a definite no-go.

That's the reason why, in canon, he couldn't respond as quickly as he wanted to when Kokabiel, one of the Cabal Leaders, The Original Watches, tried to strike her down. If he acted too quickly, Rias would catch on that he had her under surveillance. If he acts preemptively, the other families would charge him with breaking the "Anti-Favoritism" Laws which would in turn lead them into a larger political mess than Three Faction Summit.

I was the perfect solution to this problem; an ace in the hole.

I had a reason to be there watching over her, both as her fiance and as a mature devil watching over a juvenile. There was no real legal obstacle in my way of being there, and given my performance during the duel, he would have perfect confidence that Rias would be safe under my watch.

It was a situation where everyone wins: Sirzechs rests easy as Rias' safety is guaranteed, I 'get closer' to her and further whatever plan I have in store, and Rias is both none the wiser, and alive.

One thing bothered me though.

"And what makes you think I don't love her?" How he figured out that little tidbit out was slightly frustrating. I gave him every reason to think I wanted Rias, either for her body or some other reason, but he still didn't buy it.

"You were too cold. ." He replied easily, before shaking his head. "Sure, you can say that I had the same problem, but Grayfia was a member of the Enemy's upper echelon during the Civil War while Rias is supposed to be a family friend since childhood. The fact that you gave her a chance meant that you respect her wishes to an extent, but giving it a time limit shows that you want to be seen as the one making the decision for yourself rather than caving under pressure. You care, no question about that, but you appear to care much too little to look like you truly loved her."

"Simply said, little bird," He must have liked how I seethed under that particular nickname. Mom had ones much worse, but still. "You care about your appearance so much around supposed friends that it became obvious that you didn't see us as such. You're too guarded, too cautious, and you're no Ajuka." He waved his hand, banishing the topic as the gravity of the situation asserted itself once more.

"But enough of that. What will it take to get you on board? What do you want in exchange?" That just sweetened the deal, and I'm sure he knew that. I had no real reason to refuse, and now he was giving me even more incentive to cooperate with him.

It was just too good to be true at this point, but this man was next level when it came to manipulation. He was laying it think on purpose, but it could easily be a bluff as much as it was a legitimate proposal.

He was standing, which added a sense of urgency and pressure as I chewed on the offer; certainly another tactic to make me agree immediately, and even as he smiled down on me I could see nothing but sincerity in his eyes; as if he was really offering me something with practically no strings attached.

I made my decision.

"You mentioned that this was big." If he wanted me to make a choice now, he had another thing coming. There was no way I do something as stupid as rush headlong into a fight with a Fallen as strong as Kokabiel. "Exactly how much damage control are we talking here."

"The details should be with your father by now, as well as Prince Sitri since we're all involved by relation, but the short of it is, the Fallen are trying to start another war." His tone was grim as he looked down, a hint of pleading in his eyes and the gravity of the situation began to dawn on me.

"You can't be serious…"

"We don't know their true motives, but that certainly is the case here." The Satan explained with a heavy sigh before looking out the open window and into the artificial sky. "We could consider their presence in the town an act of aggression; but since the human world is basically international waters, we have no real basis for pursuing the matter, especially since Rias was the one who came out alive. What they did to the church though, that is an act of war no matter how you look at it."

It was nice that he was trying to be gentle about the revelation, but that didn't change the sheer shock that overtook me the moment he revealed it. I wasn't surprised that the Fallen had started doing this again, hell I had even met a few of them on my island and invited them to call me up at their leisure.

I was surprised that he knew about it so soon.

He knew they were there: that was to be expected.

He knew they had something planned: that was fine.

He knew exactly what they were doing? That was frightening.

This changed everything, he knew beforehand that the attack was coming and yet he chose to do absolutely nothing about it. Initially I had thought that he had his hands tied, or that he was caught off guard, but for him to have known that they would strike at Kuoh? This was uncharted territory. It wasn't even a question of who they would attack: with no significant church presence, the Fallen would strike at Rias and Sona if they wanted a war, and those were the sisters of the two most volatile Satans.

One of them was standing here, perfectly fine with his sister being marked for death.

Something was going on behind the scenes, and I needed to know what before too many things change and too many important details are glossed over.

I guess it was time to see just how deep the rabbit hole went.

"What do you need?" There was no backing out now. I needed to immerse myself in both the light and the shadows of this world if I wanted to come out on top.

I just hope that what I gain is worth what I may sacrifice.

His smile was radiant as the words rang just with the same finality of a death sentence.

"Let them do whatever they want, just make sure Rias survives."


Chap is out.

I'm really sorry it took so long, but real life is more important and I have responsibilities and blah, blah, blah.

Most of you guys seemed to like Valerie's really early inclusion, and that's good I guess. To the guy asking if she's from Rosario, that's a definite no. Just too clarify, he doesn't have the Boosted Gear, and Issei is still alive for now, as seen in the scene.

This kicks off the start of Koka's arc, to the Rosario-guy: this is your fault. Hopefully I'll have the next one out by... sometime this year or something.

Not much to say except for usual "I will try to entertain questions, so guests make accounts so I can send PM's." You can as through revs or PM depending on your preferences and all that.

PS: If the last scene was a bit, okay maybe not just a bit, bad, its because I did it on my own. I'm just sitting here and praying my beta doesn't get too mad and abandon me.

Sorry Vhostym =((

We might rework the last scene, so that's a bit more of a delay so just keep waiting patiently if you guys and girls don't mind.

See you all next time, maybe.

Oh and here's a...


Side Story: I Don't need You to Love Me (Between Scene's 2 and 3)

As she reclined on a marvelous throne, Ravel Phenex had mixed feelings about the situation.

"My name is Valerie Tepes and I'm going to be Riser-sama's Bishop from now on." Ravel eyed the pale, well at least more than usual, vampire as she took a bow before them. She couldn't help but fight a smirk of approval as the vampire moved with elegance befitting a noble. "I'll be in your care and I hope we can all get along."

Initially, she felt a betrayed when her brother informed her of her trade.

It seemed obvious in hindsight; why she didn't receive as much training as the rest of his peerage, why he spent more and more time with them than with her, why whenever they went out on their little hunts -sanctioned by the family of course- she was relegated to over-watch. She could feel that they were slowly distancing themselves from her but it wasn't made obvious until he came home with a vampire in his arms and a sad smile on his face. So no, she wasn't surprised and a very large part of her smiled with him when he quietly introduced her to who was to be the newest member of their family, but a small part of her couldn't help but feel abandoned.

The Trading Ritual was performed the next day, and while she was a free bishop, while her brother gained a chance to claim an arguably better piece, she couldn't help but resent that.

She was given up after all, deemed of lesser importance compared to a daughter a father didn't even want.

Still she had to admire his taste in women. The Vampire was someone she recognized; Tepes was the name of a king acquainted with their brother and as the more dominant faction among the vampires, Valerie shouldn't have been no different. She was a woman, and that just made acquiring her easier since it was known throughout the underworld that the vampires were generally sexist, and only a chauvinistic vampire would get along with her second brother. Even as the vampire stood before them, Ravel could feel the barely restrained power, urged forth by nervousness, bubbling under pale flawless skin.

Power so great that had to be reigned in.

Still, though her power was great, the love of a little sister was greater, and while Valerie Tepes was strong, Raven Phenex could easily claim to be her better after participating in some of the Peerage's training behind her brother's back.

So no, her power and her beauty wasn't enough to soothe the sting of betrayal.

"Valerie then." Ravel spoke imperiously from her comfortable seat, with all the authority her brother had, maybe even more in her opinion as fiery blue eyes met mesmerizing amethyst."As the younger sister of your Master, I Ravel Phenex welcome you to the House of Phenex. Since my older brother has... other responsibilities as of the moment, it falls to me to introduce you to who you'd be working with."

The second reason she was traded away, though, was enough to heal her wounded heart, even more, it filled her with joy as well as determination.

"Yulbelluna is to be your Queen, and is the most powerful of us all. She is to be your direct superior and you will go to her should you need anything and I am not there to aid you." The woman who her brother had first called smiled at the slip of a girl and stood with confidence when her name was called. There was no question in the older woman's expression, no hesitation in her movements; all in the room knew that the Queen answered to her.

She wasn't in her battle attire, just a simple sundress that was both alluring yet modest. The woman did have some of the best curves, she couldn't help but notice despite repeated reassurances that she would come into her own someday, but she had change during the course of their training. Her hair was straight now that she didn't spend hours at a time lovingly coaxing the luscious waves into her tresses. She recalled her brother telling her she preferred it that way and suddenly she looked like an entirely different woman. Her lipstick wasn't as dark, neither was her make up as thick as it used to be but that lent her an air of refinement that eluded her in the past.

Ruval noted that if Luna dressed in a toga, she wouldn't be surprised if a god fell from heaven for a chance to share her bed. Poseidon maybe? Ruval mused as she smiled, signalling the queen to sit down.

"Your fellow is Mihae; from now on she will be your sister, to share in your troubles, burdens, as well as your joys and triumphs. She's a gentle soul, and there is no one I would trust more to be in charge of your growth." The magician who grew strong enough to wound her brother, even if during training waved warmly with a serene expression on her face before she stood from her seat and took her place beside the vampire. Like the Queen before her, the Bishop obeyed without question and submitted herself to Ravel's command as easily as she always did in training or in battle.

Ravel was happy to note that her brother managed to instill a bit more confidence in the young woman. Gone was the overly formal girl who would wander the grounds in her formal robes and in her place was a flower in bloom, much like the crimson clip that kept her hair in a side tail. Other than the eye-catching fascinator, Mihae wore an immaculate blazer bleached white of all colors, a black dress shirt, a red tie and a matching pencil skirt. Rounding out the ensemble with black stockings and white flats, she was the most formally dressed, except for the two maids of course, but she was obviously the one who changed most given how she took Valerie's hand with a smile when she saw the Vampire looking a bit uncomfortable.

Ravel could only smile in approval when Mihae whispered into Valerie's ear, the word 'you'll love it here' echoing faintly in her ears.

"The rooks, Isabela and Xuelan, will be defending you in combat. Try not to get in their way if you can help it, though they're generally more careful when it come to using there augmented strength." The Rooks, the literally pillars of their peerage remained seated but smiled warmly at their new companion. Though they did make room between the two of them, enough for Mihae to lead Valerie to the couch and seat the pair comfortably. She wouldn't deny them the right to remain seated, they had just been training her

The Rook were the first to change, both outwardly and inwardly and she found that first hand when she first came to them for training. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that aside from Luna, Xuelan and Isabela were the two most powerful members of the peerage, as well as the most versatile. Her bruises, as quickly as they faded, where testaments to their strength, their unmarred skin spoke of speed beyond even her flames, and of course their teamwork was impeccable. They were dressed casually, just a light shirt and a sports skirt to cool of but also to show just how little damage Ravel did to them

None at all.

"The knights are Siris and Karlaminte; they'll be in charge of training you for now. It would be best if you learn from them sooner rather than later, those who stay still on the field of battle quickly end up dead." Karlamine had finally stripped herself of the bandages that adorned her head, and Siris wore a simpler ponytail as the former cheerfully waved and the latter quietly bowed. When they thought she wasn't looking, Karla had begun whispering conspiratorially into the Bishop's ear, earning a small smile from the vampire, while Iri simply shook her head at their antics.

For now, they were the pair that had changed the least in terms of appearance though only because the new armor being forged for them was quite potent and needed more time to be completed. She couldn't have been prouder of the pair when Iri finally saw the light in thinking for herself instead of being a simple soldier waiting to execute any order and Karla found something she was willing to throw her honor away for. It took a few moments for her to cow Karla into silence, and when her glare proved ineffective, Iri herself covered the overexcited knight's mouth with her own hand.

"And finally, the pawns, there are quite a few of them so don't be too disheartened if you can't tell the twins apart." She ignored the pointed outburst if Ile, Nel, Ni, and Li, though there was no hiding the smirk on her face.

"Ni and Li are the twins in dresses." The two cheered as they were called, both practically vibrating with excitement before swarming the poor vampire with an enthusiastic hug.

"Ile and Nel are the twins without cat ears." Ravel ignored the two who stuck out their tongues at her, both happy for the fact that they were more comfortable with her in the lead and exasperated that they actually wore cat themed headbands for the introduction.

"Burent and Marion are the ones dressed in uniform." With perfect poise, the pair of maids curtsied gracefully; by far the most normal of the pawns as well as the calmest.

"Which leaves Mira and Shuriya as the odd ones out." Mira simple waved from her place while Shuriya, who actually found something less revealing to wear, nodded from hers.

With her brother away doing who knew what for the Satans, she was tasked the watch over his peerage in preparation for the day she would get her own. He promised that he would get involved from time to time, mostly pulling a certain member out for some special training -funny how almost half a year ago, she wouldn't have thought that her brother would seriously do that- but as a whole this was her peerage to with as she saw fit. She was moved when her brother first explained to her the honor she was being given, as well as the responsibility she would now have to carry.

Ravel Phenex swore on her name that she would not fail him.

"That's everyone. From now on, we're a family; your problems are ours, when your hurting, so are we, and when you think you need to cry then chances are that we'll be there crying with you." She began to close as her expression softened and she allowed a more genuine smile on her face. "But that's okay, because our strength is yours when you need it, our shoulders are there just in case you're too tired, our hands and arms are ready to hold you if you're feeling cold, and I can guarantee that, even if you want to be, you'll never be alone again."

She remembered when they first met, when Valerie first awakened, the fear in her eyes and the resignation in her frame. She was there when emotions melted away from her face, when she was reminded of the walking nightmare that was her reality, that she was someone not even her father wanted, someone her mother couldn't even hold. She remembered how she resented the poor girl for taking her place in her brother's life, and the shame of being told that they would be hers to look after, that she was being trusted enough to lead them.

And as she watched tears begin to stream from the vampire's eyes, tears Mihae quickly brushed away while the rest of the peerage began to clump up around her, she thought that maybe she couldn't be the leader she was.

After all, she would be hard pressed to sacrifice her sisters.