Chronicle 21: The Three Factions Meeting begins
I don't own DxD; I just use its characters and techniques. All credit goes to its creator. Any references I may use belong to their creators also
Main Girls: None
(Issei P.O.V)
"Is your source reliable, Azazel?" I asked calmly. I had a good idea of who told him, but I had to be clever since Michael was there.
"Yes it is." Azazel replied with a groan.
"Whether it's reliable or not the fact remains that the Khaos Brigade is a threat that we must deal with. This is why you must attend the meeting Red Dragon." Michael said calmly. I groaned since I was sure Sirzechs was counting on the Brigade doing something.
"Unfortunately I have to leave, the other angels don't know I'm here and I need to keep the system going." Michael revealed before teleporting away.
"So now that Michael's gone it's time for the real meeting, isn't that right Azazel?" I said with a smirk as I looked towards the fallen angel leader.
Azazel saw my eyes and immediately dropped the guard he kept up while Michael was there, "So you figured it out huh?" Azazel groaned in resignation.
"You mean that your source is Vali and that he's a double agent within the Khaos Brigade; yeah that was obvious to me." I replied.
"How did you figure it out?" Vali wondered with an amused expression on his face.
"Don't worry about that but we have a bigger problem." Issei said sternly.
"What's that?"
I could answer the question but I decided to have some fun, "How much does your daughter tell you about the Occult Research Club's activities." I said cryptically wanting to see if Azazel figured out what I was getting at.
I could see the wheels of Azazel's mind turn at how to answer the question and finally his eyes widened, "So that's what their planning." Azazel replied. It was at times like this that I loved how intelligent Azazel was and Vali seemed to have the same idea in mind.
"It's annoying how easily you figured out their plan without even knowing who is going to attack?" Vali groaned.
"Thank you but we can discuss how brilliant I am later. What else does Vali have on our 'attackers'?" I asked knowing that the identity of his opponent would change the next section of the plans.
Azazel focused a magic circle and a manila folder appeared in front of him. "Based on Vali's intelligence the attack will be led by a group called the Old Maou Faction. This is all of the data I have on them." Azazel explained before handing me the folder.
It took me a few minutes to read over the data and I only had one question left, "Do you know which of the Old Maou faction is going to lead the attack Vali?"
"Yes, it's going to be Katarea Leviathan"
"I see" I replied with a smile on my face.
"What are you scheming Issei?" Vali wondered seeing the smirk on my face.
"Well" I said with a smile before explaining my plan. From the vicious smiles that appeared on both my face and Vali's it was clear that they agreed with my plan and approved of it. With that done it was time to work on some more behind the scenes action and I needed to make a quick phone call.
(Scene Skip)
"So what's the occasion this time Red Dragon Emperor?" Serafall said with a smile as she led me around her luxury suite. With a plan for the meeting now set, the next step for me was to arrange the future dealings and deal with a problem I had let fester for some time.
"It's time for me to call in my second favor." I replied remembering the deal I made with Serafall. Admittedly I never intended to use it in the first place but the situation with Katase was one I had to resolve.
"I see. So before we talk business would you like to enjoy the hot tub for a little? I'm sure you could use a break from everything." Serafall smirked. She's clearly been spying on the school again which annoys me slightly. Then again, who was I to turn down a hot tub with a gorgeous woman?
"Very well" I smirked. I was glad that I brought a swimsuit from home just in case.
"Excellent" Serafall replied as she went over to her room to change into her own swimsuit. After all she couldn't get in a hot tub in a business suit.
(Scene Skip)
"Partner, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Ddraig wondered as we sat in the tub. It had been five minutes since Serafall went to change and I was shocked that she took so long.
"With Katase working with Serafall I kill two birds with one stone. The first is I give Katase supernatural access but I keep her away from the battlefield."
"Are you sure that it will be that simple?"
"No but if I put her with Serafall then I keep her away from the battlefield. Something I failed to do with Murayama." I groaned. I paused my thought since it seemed like Serafall was on her way back at long last and I didn't want her overhearing me.
"Sorry I took so long" Serafall said as she arrived in the room.
"It's O-" I was about to say okay but I was stunned into silence; the reason being that Serafall wasn't in a swimsuit like I thought but she was completely naked. She didn't even wear a towel.
"You like" Serafall teased as she shook her body a bit.
"Yes I do" I replied. Sure I've seen her naked before but there was something beautiful about a girl who was as confident in her body as Serafall was and boy did she have a body. Rias was the only girl who came close to Serafall and Serafall had her beat big time in both looks and confidence.
"Good now let's get down to business." Serafall said happily.
"Alright" I replied as Serafall got in the tub and sat across from me. "I want you to take a friend of mine under your wing as an assistant." I said calmly. Little Issei was going nuts but I had to stay calm.
"Assistant and not apprentice." Serafall replied with an intrigued look on her face at my choice of words.
"Yes that's right. From the look on your face I take it you know who it is?" I questioned.
"Uh-huh. It's that kendo girl Katase isn't it." Serafall said with a smile. I was a bit annoyed that she figured it out so easily but I suppose it saved me some time.
"Yes it is. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were spying on me." I smirked.
"Not you but just like Sirzechs I'm very curious about the people my sister interacts with. Unlike Sirzechs I'm far more subtle." Serafall revealed. I wasn't surprised by that but it was unnerving that she was this good. Then again I had a feeling Serafall's personality was an act to begin with.
"How terrifying" I said nonchalantly.
"What" Serafall wondered as she reached over to turn up the heat on our tub. Of course she also did that to get me even more in the mood, a rather transparent play.
"Sona is intelligent, but you're on a whole different level from her. I'd wager you use the magical girl outfit so people would underestimate you."
"Yep and it works most of the time. You'd be amazed how easy it is to manipulate people's perception of you."
"Considering my own exploits that's not true." I reminded her.
Serafall smiled before saying, "Maybe not as much as you think. My sister had you figured out?" Serafall replied.
"If that was true then why was I able to mess with her so easily when it came to the matters with Rias?" I retorted. If Sona had me figured out then our game would've been far more interesting. The fact that she gave in so easily was a bit of a letdown. I reminded her.
"Ugh! You got me there" Serafall groaned in reply. I'm sure watching me toy with her sister wasn't very fun.
"Anyway, are you going to accept Katase as your assistant?" I wondered since that was the reason for the visit.
"Uh-huh, we had a deal after all" Serafall smiled.
"Excellent" I replied. With my business done I wanted to get home so I could take a nap before Irina came back. As I got out Serafall grabbed my hand rather hastily in fact.
"Where do you think you're going mister?" Serafall said with mock anger.
"Well with our business finished I was going to go home." I replied with a smile.
"Hmph. Some pervert you are." Serafall huffed as she let go of my hand.
"Excuse me" I replied in mock annoyance.
"Here I am naked in a hot tub and yet you want to leave. I doubt those two buddies of yours would be this dismissive." Serafall taunted as she got up to the edge of the tub in order to reveal her pussy.
"You're not gonna fall for this are you?" Ddraig wondered in annoyance.
'Nope' I replied mentally. "You're right Lady Leviathan but unlike my buddies I've enjoyed your body before and since I got what I came for I'm going to leave." I teased before walking over to my bag and using my magic circle to leave. I was a bit surprised that she didn't follow me but knowing Serafall she'd come up with something to make me pay for that later. With Katase's place secured there was one more task left.
(Scene Skip)
The day of the peace conference had arrived but I decided to stay in for morning training and simply visit Gasper since he was the most important piece of the plan. When I arrived at Gasper's room I walked in and cast a privacy barrier that would prevent Akeno or Rias from interrupting. "Are you up Gasper?" I said calmly. The door to his coffin opened and my pupil peaked out. He was still in the girl's uniform but that was a minor annoyance.
"Yea what's up? You never come to visit me when we're not training." Gasper replied nervously.
"Well it's because I wanted to tell you about something and this stays with us." I replied.
"Okay" Gasper replied clearly understanding that this was serious. I took the time to explain what was going to happen and the role I needed him to play. "That's all really scary." Gasper said nervously.
"Yes it is but if you trust me I'll ensure that you're just fine" I replied confidently.
"I'll trust you." Gasper replied.
"Good" I said calmly before leaving. With everything else in place I just had to get through class.
(Scene Skip)
Arriving at class I was met by the annoyed stares of Irina and Murayama. Irina because I've been so secretive recently and Murayama because I wasn't at morning training. Of course my focus was on tonight since the three factions meeting was far more important than those minor annoyances.
"Issei Hyoudou and Katase Kozuki, please come to the principal's office. I repeat, Issei Hyoudou and Katase Kozuki, please come to the principal's office" a voice announced from the loudspeakers.
"Issei what the hell did you do!" Irina screamed at me. She was right to be angry, typically I only dealt with the student council and Sona, for the principal to summon me directly was a curious matter and to bring Katase along certainly caught me off guard.
"I have no clue. The perverted Trio's been finished with for months." I replied.
"Well let's get going. Whatever it is it can't be good" Katase said nervously. She was right and the only other thing they could've caught us for would be us having sex in the classroom but they would've got us for that long ago.
"Right" I replied as we made our way to the principal's office. I had a feeling this was going to be more annoying than dangerous.
(Scene Skip)
'You have GOT to be kidding me.' I thought to myself as Katase and I showed up to the principal's office. I wasn't bothered by the principal but by the person next to him. A person I never expected to come to Kuoh.
"Umm principal who's the woman next to you?" Katase said nervously.
"This is Serafall Shitori. She's the older sister of President Sona and she's going to be your classrooms new homeroom teacher starting Monday." the principal revealed. This was her payback and man was it something.
"I see" Katase replied as she turned towards me in confusion. I couldn't blame her since it meant that the person who she was going to work with had arrived and was right in front of her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you two." Serafall said calmly hiding our real relationship, much to my amusement. I had to admit that this appearance of Serafall's was pretty impressive. It wasn't the blue business suit that surprised me but it was the fact that Serafall's hair was out of her typical twintails and was halfway down her body. It made for a stunning appearance.
"Wait a minute, why are we the ones doing the tour if Serafall is President Sona's sister?" Katase questioned. It was a logical question for a normal person but Serafall typically isn't logical.
"Well Ms Kozuki you're the class representative and you and Mr. Hyoudou was the source of many problems. I simply wanted to make sure that any issues you two had were gone.
"Okay" Katase groaned. She knew there was more to it than this and so did I. In a way I was looking forward to Sona's expression when she finds out her sister was going to be a teacher coming here.
"Shall we go" Serafall said calmly. I was certainly looking forward to the tour and no doubt Serafall wouldn't disappoint.
(Scene Skip)
"Excuse me guys but there's one more thing I want to do" Serafall said with a smile as the tour came to an end. By some minor miracle we finished the tour without running into anybody from the supernatural and the tour had taken up most of the morning.
"Where would you like to go now, Lady Leviathan?" Katase asked innocently. I was surprised she called Serafall Lady Leviathan but considering their future roles I suppose it made sense.
"How about we go to the rooftop? This is a private conversation after all." Serafall said with a smile. Both Katase and I nodded our approval before we made our way through the school yet again. We were lucky that we avoided Sona and Rias but something else was bothering me.
"Hey Serafall how the hell has nobody noticed your presence at the school?" I questioned. The fact that I couldn't sense her when she first arrived shocked me. Hell the fact that nobody from the supernatural had confronted us shocked me.
"Because I know far more powerful seals then you do Zero-chan and I'm using one on my body to hide my aura." Serafall teased.
"What's with the Zero-chan" Katase wondered causing me to groan.
"When she's not acting as a Devil King, Serafall is the famous cosplayer Milky. I ran into her at the cosplay convention last week and I was dressed as Zero." I explained.
"Seriously" Katase said in disbelief.
"Uh-huh but that's another story for another day" Serafall smiled as we arrived at the rooftop and after walking through the door felt Serafall unseal her power and cast a powerful barrier that was far beyond even me. It was proof that for all of her silliness and everything else Serafall was still a Devil King.
"So what now Lady Leviathan?" I asked with a slightly knowing smile.
"Well I figured you could properly introduce me to my new student." Serafall smiled before casting a magic circle of her own. Gone, were the long hair and business suit and now the pink Cosplay outfit and familiar twin tails of Serafall Leviathan were back. The new appearance certainly took Katase by surprise.
"Wait a minute. You're one of the rulers of Hell, and you wear THAT all day" Katase said in disbelief. Serafall pouted a bit at the words and I had a hearty laugh at Serafall's expense
"When you're as powerful as Serafall is, you can do whatever you want." I said between chuckles.
"Anyway" Serafall said having regained her composure. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms Kozuki and I do look forward to working with you. Serafall said calmly before revealing her real power. Impressively Katase endured a fair bit of power before fainting this time leaving me to explain everything yet again.
"Did you really have to do that Serafall" I groaned.
"She questioned my strength." Serafall retorted.
"You would too if you saw somebody wearing that outfit." I groaned.
"What now?" Serafall questioned.
"You go home and prepare for the meeting while I wait for Katase to wake up." I groaned.
"Aww can't I have a quickie first?" Serafall pouted.
"No" I replied sternly. Serafall tried to use the puppy dog eyes but I wouldn't give in.
"Fine" Serafall pouted before leaving. As I stood there waiting I couldn't help but wonder if all the sex was worth the headache.
"Issei keep hammering my ass" Katase mumbled out of nowhere. The thought was enough to make me chuckle.
"Definitely worth the headache" Ddraig said out loud.
"Oh yea" I smirked. I was definitely gonna use that against her later on.
(Scene Skip)
"Are you ready to go Issei" Irina told me as she helped me put my clothes on for the meeting. By the time Katase woke up class was over and I had to take a grumpy Katase to practice. I had to tell her not to come to the meeting tonight because of the impending attack and although she was mad I promised I'd make it up to her this weekend. Needless to say when I arrived at the ORC Irina was pissed. After we got home she forced me to tell her about why I was gone all day and I told her about Serafall.
"Yea yea" I groaned. Irina was in her exorcist robes with the blue skintight battle suit underneath. As for me I was wearing a new outfit that Irina came up with for me with a little help from Momo. It was a dark black robe with red stripes down the middle and a dark red mantle with 4 plates coming out of each side, (Similar to Sirzech's outfit but a different color scheme) I had to admit it was pretty fancy and I wore it.
"So what are you planning for tonight?" Irina wondered much to my annoyance.
"What do you mean?" I asked nervously.
"You accepted the outfit FAR too easily and it makes me think you're up to something." Irina answered before giving me the stink eye. While Serafall's puppy eyes didn't work, Irina's stink eye certainly did.
"Ughh! Fine I'll tell you" I groaned before revealing everything. Needless to say Irina was pissed.
"If you weren't so good in bed, I'd stab you with Ascalon right now. You're out of your freaking mind Issei Hyoudou." Irina said angrily. Apparently her dad arranged for Irina to get Ascalon in order to help us get stronger because of the loss of Excalibur, Xenovia still had Durandal but Irina had nothing.
"Sorry but it was hush hush" I replied.
"I'll get Xenovia" Irina groaned knowing that there was nothing she could do at this point. Then again I'm pretty sure the others will be pretty pissed when they find out.
(Scene Skip)
(Rias P.O.V)
The time had arrived for the meeting between the three factions and I was nervous as ever. Because Issei wasn't finished with his training Gasper was waiting with Koneko in the clubroom and I was waiting outside of the room where the conference would be held. "Are you ready, everybody?" I asked my peerage nervously.
"Rias will you relax. This will be easy." Akeno responded.
"She's right Lady Rias." Ravel Phenex said next to me. Asia Kiba and Murayama all shared their sentiments which made me feel better.
"I hope so." I replied knowing that it was going to be a long day. As I opened the door to the conference hall, my nerves returned as I saw my brother and Lady Leviathan sitting down with Michael and Azazel. It looks like Raynare and Vali were behind Azazel while similarly Sona and Momo were with Serafall. Sona Momo and Raynare were in their uniforms, Raynare having returned to her fallen angel body, and Vali was in his classic leather outfit. The three faction leaders were all in professional outfits including Serafall which shocked me a little bit. The only people missing were Issei and the church girls.
"Ahh glad you could make it girls." my brother said calmly. His professionalism was there for all to see and although I didn't show it, I was much calmer.
"Any idea when the Red Dragon will get here." Azazel said snarkily. His nonchalance, clear for all to see.
"Aww come on dad who knows how long that jackass is going to take. He's probably decided that screwing one of those human girls is more important than our peace conference." Raynare quipped. There was a fair bit of jealously in that voice which I understood since Issei had plenty of girls to hook up with supernatural or otherwise.
"You're just mad that he hasn't hooked up with you since our little orgy huh Yuuma. The little fallen all caught up in her feelings" Momo retorted. The fact she used Yuuma instead of her real name was intentional.
"Watch it girlie" Raynare replied angrily. I could tell things were about to get worse until the door opened and Issei arrived with Irina and Xenovia next to him.
"Now now Raynare, you need to calm down. We're here to make peace not fight over petty arguments." Issei of all people said whimsically before vanishing in a show of speed. I looked on in disbelief as he appeared behind Raynare and blatantly groped her breasts right in front of her father.
"What's wrong with you?" Raynare cursed as she reached back to punch him before he moved back to Irina's side again.
"I ask him that all the time" Irina groaned.
"Pay up Issei. She said something after all." Azazel smirked. Wait a minute, what just happened.
"Uhh dad you wanna tell me what's going on?" Raynare asked in disbelief.
"Well we made a bet the other day that you would say something during the meeting about Issei and his human girlfriends if he showed up late." Azazel smirked.
"Spare me." Issei replied before focusing his magic and handing Azazel a briefcase.
"Nice doing business with you" Azazel replied.
"Uhh do we really want to know?" Michael asked out of nowhere.
"No" Issei Vali Irina and Azazel all said at the same time. The fact that they all agreed on something was terrifying but it was the nonchalance in their voices that unnerved me even more.
"Anyway with all of that out of the way let's get down to business." Sirzechs said calmly.
"Sounds good and I'll start with a simple mea culpa." Azazel replied.
"I'm surprised you're so nonchalant about that" Serafall asked in shock. Like everyone else, Serafall wondered why the leader of the fallen angels would be so calm.
"Kokabiel was a problem for years but I couldn't do anything without causing a whole lot of crap within the Grigori. It meant that I had to wait for him to move and when he did I'd deal with him." Azazel replied nonchalantly. His complete dismissal of the problem was outstanding and although I was furious, somebody else made their thoughts known.
"And yet they wonder why I tried to avoid the supernatural for so long." Issei said out of nowhere.
"Excuse me" Serafall said angrily. Her reaction was fairly surprising all things considered.
"With all due respect Lady Leviathan and to everybody in this room the supernatural world is an utter disaster and the blame comes to the leaders in this very room." Issei explained. I was furious that he could call us out like that but I was curious what he meant.
"Care to explain Issei?" Azazel wondered. I shared his sentiments actually.
"The peace is basically a three way cold war where half the world is trying to avoid war while the other half is trying to give their side the advantage for when somebody finally does something. Just look at Kiba for example." Issei said harshly. Everybody in the room knew he was referring to the Holy Sword project which was a low blow.
"Issei what are you saying! Lord Michael would have never allowed the Holy Sword project to happen had he known it existed." Irina exclaimed.
"Well duh! Then again Michael can't see everything but Michael is relatively blameless in all of this. Keep in mind that Raynare was able to get a team of fallen angels and exorcists into an abandoned church in the middle of a territory run by two high class devils and act for weeks without any reply." Issei retorted.
"That's not fair Issei and you know it." Sona replied most likely to defend me and her in a sense.
"Sona you and I both know that if you guys wanted to you could've easily taken out Raynare and her team and do so without many issues at all. Sadly you were more concerned with dealing with Rias's idiot fiancée and hoped that the fallen angels would mind their own business." Issei retorted.
"Uhh dude isn't his sister right there." Vali reminded us. Ravel was put in the spot briefly until Issei spoke again.
"Yea but Ravel knows I'm right and the other devils will agree with me. All he needed to do was wait for Rias to become an adult and he'd marry her no questions asked. Instead he got hasty and rushed the event and now not only does he have no fiancée but his reputation in the devil world is down the toilet." Issei replied harshly. Ravel didn't say a word which was pretty telling all things considered.
"As much fun as it is hearing you dress down somebody, can we get back to your whole theory about the supernatural disaster." Azazel deadpanned.
"Ahh…right" Issei said sheepishly. "Anyway, you're in a perpetual cold war and half the people want to end the war while the other half wants to start it. So anytime something bad happens, you take the nuclear route in order to keep the peace. Then again I suppose Rias is the beneficiary of that, at least out of everybody in this room." Issei said coldly.
"Choose your next words carefully Hyoudou" my brother said angrily. I couldn't blame him for being mad.
"Oh come on Sirzechs, look at Rias's peerage and even you can't deny that Rias got pretty lucky, Kiba is a survivor of a Church project that never should've gotten as far as it did. Koneko is a nekomata who was with another peerage until her sister decided to save her from a life of torture and got punished for it, genius move by the way. Akeno is the daughter of a cadre and a shrine maiden who abandoned one side of her family because of the stupidity of the other. Asia is a nun who was excommunicated by the church for doing what she was trained to do and being the victim of a devilish plot. Finally there's Murayama whose father is a retired exorcist who left his old life just for his daughter to realize her powers and join up with Rias in order to be more useful to me. Oh well, what do I know? Oh wait, I'm the Red Dragon Emperor and I'm really only a part of this world because my childhood friend left me to serve a church that hid a crucial fact from her and pretty much all of its believers. A fact I found out the hard way" Issei said coldly. As horrible as his words were he was pretty much right. I didn't understand the Irina bit but that was between them.
"Man you don't hold back" Vali said in disbelief. It was a sentiment shared by most of the group and a pretty scary one that Issei was so cynical.
"Umm not to interrupt but what did you mean about Asia's excommunication." Michael said in shock. Quickly thinking back on his tirade he said Asia was excommunicated for doing what she was trained to do and… devilish plot. Oh no he can't be suggesting.
"Wait, you didn't know?" Issei asked in disbelief before staring at a guilty looking Irina.
"I knew that she left us but I didn't know the circumstances." Michael said innocently.
"Asia found a young man in front of her church injured and did what she always did, which was heal him with her sacred gear like she had so many others. She had no idea that the young man was a devil and somebody saw him fly away and it caused a massive stink." Issei explained.
"You said that this was a devilish plot. You're not suggesting." Sona said nervously.
"Exactly, the devil that Asia saved was there on purpose. He was also the one who helped bring her to Kuoh in order to obtain her as a member of his peerage. Raynare would get her sacred gear and he would get a new servant." Issei said coldly. Everybody turned towards a shocked Raynare.
"Don't look at me. Most of that crap was done by Kokabiel and Freed. I was just the figurehead since I could use my political position to save my ass if worst came to worst." Raynare protested.
"I see" Michael replied solemnly. Asia was merely a puppet and like Issei said none of us did anything. Hell I made her a devil because of my need for a healer.
"So what would you have us do Issei?" Serafall asked out of nowhere. It was a good question given everything he said and how brutal he was.
"Isn't it obvious? Make ACTUAL peace. Despite everything I've said, the people in this room manage to get along relatively well. Sure the occasional stupid argument happens but we're teenagers. Get rid of the people who are just waiting for the next war and the problem is solved." Issei said bluntly.
"In other words, instead of what amounts to a non-aggression pact, we make a lasting peace and then deal with the people who want war once they show themselves." Azazel said with a very knowing smile.
"Exactly." Issei replied. I had a bad feeling that they knew something we didn't. All of the sudden there was a massive explosion over by the clubroom which shook all of us.
"Gasper, Koneko. No!" I cried out as I dropped to my knees.
Next Chapter: Attack of the Khaos Brigade.