Ch. 6 Directives
It has been some time since Issei became a fallen angel working for Azazel and protégé of Vali. In this time, Raynare has officially moved into Issei's home by claiming she was orphaned and that Issei had saved her and she had nowhere else to go, and his parents were more than willing to take her in. The other three have moved into a home very close by and use it as a base of operations. They have taken jobs in the city because they need to pay the utilities with their own cash. Raynare has officially transferred into Kuoh under her Yuuma disguise since she was already seen by Issei's friends, and he likes to brag.
This very moment, Issei is using his free day to improve his skills with Vali and Azazel while getting a lot of pointers of how to use his fallen angel abilities with the Governor General's guidance with some additional pointers in the hand-to-hand category.
Raynare, on the other hand, is doing her schoolwork since that's become an issue. Sometimes she even does Issei's homework because of his training obligations and also because he's being rung out every day he trains by Vali and Azazel, but he loves listening to Azazel's many stories about the MANY women he's met and been with over the years.
Issei warps into his bedroom to find Raynare closing the book needed for homework and sighs with a little relief "Had fun letting Lord Azazel beat your ass." She sarcastically asks.
Issei wipes some sweat off his face with a towel and answers "Nah, but I did learn a few new tricks with this thing." He summons his Boosted Gear and grips his fist while the jewel glows green and a small orb forms around it.
Raynare hands over the homework she just finished "Here, it took me an hour, but I got it."
Issei takes the paper with a smile "Thanks a lot. Training and school is a huge pain, but having you around makes it so much easier." He compliments her for her work but it seems like she isn't at all thrilled by his praise. Issei thinks for a moment and gets an idea "I know, you deserve a reward for the last few weeks of work."
Raynare doesn't look the least bit pleased with Issei's offer and replies "How about you bite me. How's that for a reward."
Issei gets a little miffed by her reply and tells her in a rather annoyed tone "Don't have to be a bitch about it. I thought it'd be nice. Still, offer's still on the table for you." He heads over to the bathroom for a bath, but quickly tells his "girlfriend" "Oh, my mom said that dinner's almost ready."
Raynare sighs a bit but she does actually like 's cooking and finds it one of the only enjoyable aspects of living here.
Dohnaseek, Kalawarner, and Mittelt have a small but nice home with two bedrooms. It looks like a normal house with a plain living room, kitchen, and bathroom, but there is a hidden room behind the stairs, a room reserved strictly for business.
The five fallen angels suddenly appear in this room under Issei's orders. Raynare stretches upon appearing because she hardly gets time during the day for her true form because of her new obligations. Issei now has a crest on his leather jacket to signify his rank among the group. This room is just a typical meeting room with a table and five chairs for each of the five to sit. Lately, the three living in this house have been jealous because Raynare has been eating well and they've only been able to enjoy instant meals and fast-food.
Annoyed, as usual, Mittelt taps her fingers against the table while asking "Okay, so what does our mighty dragon leader want today?"
Respect doesn't come easy, despite being a dragon, for Issei. But he ignores it and tells his subordinates "Okay, so Lord Azazel wants us to look into something. Looks like some priest was killed last night and the sword used to do it was really important. We don't have to start tonight, but tomorrow, I want our usual teams to look into this. He also told me that we're not supposed to fight. If we see someone with a special holy sword, tell me, and I'm supposed tell him."
After hearing this, Dohnaseek crosses his arms and asks "Yeah, and if we get attacked? You want us to just run and hide?"
Issei can't think of answer and just utters "Well, if any of you get attacked…well just uh."
Seeing her leader be stupid, Raynare interjects "The orders are not to fight, so don't fight, period. We just do what we're told and be done with it."
Issei sighs and agrees "Yeah, what she said. I was told we're just getting info and nothing else."
Kalawarner kicks her legs up and relaxes while saying "If it's the boss's orders, then that's what we'll do."
The meeting wraps up not long after this with some minimal complaints from Mittelt of having to get a job at a convenience store since Dohnaseek has a job as a private eye and Kalawarner is working at a women's clothing store.
Once home, Issei and Raynare prepare for bed as the fallen angel woman wears a simple set of black pajamas and sits on the edge of her and Issei's bed since they share a larger bed. Issei's old clock is no longer her because Raynare smashed it when it tried to wake her up. But sharing a bed with a girl is way better than a clock.
Issei is a bit bummed out when Raynare points out "You really made an idiot out of yourself back there. Couldn't even give us orders properly, and screwing up your words was stupid."
Issei puts his palm to his face and responds "Yeah, you're right, Raynare. I've got to man up already. I've gotten a lot stronger thanks to Vali and Azazel, but I'm not that good at leading yet."
Raynare laughs a little at Issei's little confession, but she does have a little more respect for him.
The Next day Is when Issei met Irina and Xenovia. But he doesn't fight either of them, and follows his orders not to fight. Until…
Raynare is walking around the abandoned church during her free time and thinks about that day when Issei was made her commander and when she was used by Azazel to test the young Red Dragon Emperor. She grits her teeth and growls because she hates what she's been reduced to, and begins kicking a tree while her teeth appear like razors as her eyes glow with anger "Stupid FUCKING virgin! I have to do every stupid thing he tells me." Thinking on her situation further and being Issei's fake girlfriend, his homework donkey, and his utter slave, as she thinks, makes her keep kicking "I hate it I hate it hate it I hate it hatehatehatehate!" finally, she gives one more hard kick that breaks the tree in half.
She pants a little and has sweat running down her face as she catches her breath. Not long after catching her breath, Raynare hears fighting coming from outside. Seeing an opportunity for a little action, she immediately assumes her true form and flies to the sounds.
She makes her way through the forest area and sees a familiar face, or hair in this case, as she sees Freed Sellzen holding someone against a tree and Raynare recognizes her as well because it's Irina Shidou, the girl from yesterday.
Freed looks back and sees his former ally and comments "Well, I never thought you'd still be in this little old town, Almighty Angel…Oh wait, I did hear you got a little probation." He mockingly tells her.
Hating being reminded of her situation, Raynare summons her holy spear and replies "Never did like that big mouth of yours, Freed. So how about I rip it open." She threatens.
Freed drops Irina's unconscious body and shows Raynare his Excalibur that he acquired while he takes Irina's from her and pulls out another Excalibur while Raynare looks uneasy. Before any fighting can happen, a voice appears from nowhere.
Raynare looks while the voice says "Hold on." As she backs away while feeling a familiar presence in the air, and a familiar power. She continues to look around and wonder who it is. The voice doesn't reveal his form, but he does say "Why fight us? I can feel your rage and your hatred. Tell me, do you hate who you work for?"
Raynare can't see him but still answers "Yeah, I hate working for that virgin, what of it?"
The voice continues to talk to her "Why not join us? Me and my followers are going to prove the superiority of fallen angels once and for all."
Raynare questions this "What the hell kind of offer is that? Proving we're the best? By doing what exactly?"
Continuing his offer, the voice continues "Azazel has been holding back our entire race for too long. The current leaders of the devils are highly arrogant, and Michael has been cowering behind his human dogs for centuries. I think it's time to prove our power to those other inferior creatures."
Recognizing who it is at the mention of disliking Azazel, Raynare states "So, you're back after all this time, Kokabiel? What are you planning on doing this time?"
Indeed, Kokabiel is the identity of this voice and he still doesn't appear but answers her question "Two devil nobles are currently attending the academy in this town, and I intend to take the heads of the two and deliver them to Lucifer himself. I plan to start another war and carry on my ambitions. But my arms are always open to another fallen angel comrade. Azazel only holds you and our brethren back. So I offer it again, join me and prove our race."
Raynare pauses for a moment and Freed looks bored as he taps his sword against his body. Thinking on the whole offer, Raynare's lip begins to quiver a little. She clenches her mouth a little and it looks like she's smiling as if she's going to accept.
However…her lip moves a little more and then she lets out a laugh, a rather hearty one because she laughs so hard that she holds onto her sides and almost falls to her knees from amusement and this confuses everyone.
She gets up and explains herself "That has got to be the most idiotic thing I've ever heard in my life, and I've heard my share of stupid. Betray lord Azazel…It's so funny."
Not understanding her amusement, Kokabiel reiterates "I am offering you a chance to reclaim your pride. What is so amusing about that?"
Done with her laughing for a moment, Raynare replies "No, you're offering me a suicide mission. You truly think you have the power to beat Lucifer, Michael, and Lord Azazel? It's so stupid, of course I laughed at it. Hey, I'm working for that virgin, but at least he's got SOME common sense, I guess." Raynare then summons a second spear and looks at Freed, who readies his swords and then she utters "Well, I guess I do feel a little better. Issei, you're not so stupid now that I think on it, and I guess it could be worse." She flies up and readies for a fight.
Later
Issei alongside the other fallen angels look around to find Raynare as she has been missing for a while. He and his allies look around until Issei spots Raynare on the ground below them and she is leaned against a tree and is covered in wounds. He also sees Freed with his swords and Issei immediately drops down and attacks Freed by warping in front of his and sends him flying back with a punch from his Boosted Gear and a loud "BOOST!"
Issei stands in front of Freed, who looks like he ready for more, but he is ordered to withdraw for the moment.
Issei takes a moment to breath and looks over at his comrade and asks her "Are you alright?" as he walks over to give her a hand and helps her up.
Raynare's wounds aren't serious but she is bleeding a bit but has enough strength to answer "Yeah, but I don't know how long they're gonna wait until they attack." She explains what she's found out while Issei has Kalawarner pick Irina up since she needs treatment.
Upon finding out the situation, Issei compliments Raynare "Good job. I'll go and tell Lord Azazel about this junk. I need the rest of you to get Irina some help and same goes for our star player here."
Raynare feels a little happy to get some credit and Issei's most likely going to relay that she was the one who learned this and that she's remained loyal.
After the four fallen angels leave under Issei's command, he hears someone approaching and looks to see Xenovia coming towards him. She looks worried and he signals to her since they need to talk. Though she doesn't particularly like fallen angels, she does need information. Issei explains to her what he's learned and then he makes a proposal.
He summons his Boosted Gear and shows her some of his power "Look, I know we barely know each other, but I'm sure you're not dumb enough to fight those guys on your own. "
Xenovia puts her sword down and thinks for a moment because she's thinking about it until she looks at him and answers "You're right. I can't fight them on my own and if I tried, they'd most likely me and take my Excalibur. However, I don't know about working with a fallen angel."
Issei argues "Forget about race. Because until I a while ago, I was human just like you, and I want to help get these guys out of my town. If they fight like they mean it, the whole town could be blown up, and that means…." He has a bad vision of family being destroyed and it makes him uneasy.
After hearing his plight, and seeing his genuine desire to defeat Kokabiel for the sake of others, Xenovia nods and extends her hand "Fine then, Issei Hyoudou, I'll work with you until we retrieve the stolen Excaliburs. But I make no promises after that." Issei shakes Xenovia's hand and their deal it set. They've got a hard fight next.
Residence
Raynare lies in a bed after getting her wounds bandaged and thinks about Issei as a leader because even though he seems weak willed, she realizes that maybe there's something else that's going on. He hasn't actually done anything to hurt her and considers maybe taking a second look at him.
Just Like with Ivory, the next chapter will be after the battle against Kokabiel because, again, there won't be that many differences from the anime since Raynare is out of the fight.