Chapter 32.5: Katase's Crisis
I don't own DxD; I just use its characters and techniques. All credit goes to its creator. Same applies for anything that I used from other animes. Warning, other animes' techniques will appear.
Regular humans speaking
Real Issei and all members of the order of Draconis when they're speaking.
Draconis himself talking
Ddraig and other dragons talking
Welcome to the Final part of the Path of the Dragon Special. This chapter Katase tries to figure out her path. Keep in mind this takes place at the exact same time as the last chapter so there will be some elements of the recent chapters that are the same.
Outer world:
Murayama and Katase have been sent to a dream world where they'll face off against traumas that have cursed them in the past. Issei and Asia watch along.
"Issei-sama, I have a question." Asia asks curiously. "Do you know what Murayama and Katase are dealing with right now?" It bothers Asia how Issei is doing this and seems to have little remorse.
Thinking about the best way to answer this question, Issei pauses. Once he's decided how best to say his response, Issei speaks to the young blonde. "Okay Asia, here's the deal. Murayama's trauma to me is pretty easy. She remembers the powerlessness she felt when Gin went to attack her. Murayama is aware of the fact that if I hadn't stepped in when I did, she would be dead."
This shocks the pure Asia while Blue Eyes is calmer. "The boy is right. I've sensed her anger about that day. The powerlessness she felt. Whenever she fought, there was hesitation. Once the fight against Joey began, I could tell she was unsure of what to do. I believe she hasn't gotten over that, and once she does, she'll be able to deal much better with her issues."
"What about Katase?" Asia asks timidly. "What's her situation?"
"That I don't completely know, and Stardust won't tell me. I have my sneaking suspicions, but I can't be sure and I won't get involved." Issei says with a half grin.
Stardust looks at the man shrewdly. 'He truly is the owner of my father. That shrewd nature, the cold stare. When the decision came on which girl would receive which gear, he gave that Katase girl to me immediately. He must know what she's going through.' Stardust thinks calmly.
The group stands and watches the girls go through their greatest challenge.
(Katase's test)
"Dammit! What's going on?" Katase asks furious that her master all of the sudden stabbed her. She's at the school in her kendo uniform right around the time kendo practice is about to start.
"You're in your past. You have an issue that you need to resolve and your Master is helping you do it." Stardust says kindly.
"But I have no issue to resolve." Katase says haughtily.
Stardust scoffs at the words "Katase, don't lie to me. You have doubts all over. This day in particular shows your problem. Look at your phone for the date and you'll remember something significant."
Katase looks at the date and realizes something. 'Dammit! Today's the day that I first got suspicious about Murayama's relationship with Issei.' Katase curses realizing why she's been sent here. "She had long suspected something was up and Murayama eventually told her, but what Murayama never knew was Katase actually discovered the truth a while ago. Unfortunately she was knocked out and forgot about what happened.
"Stardust, you mean that this is what I have to overcome?" Katase asks getting completely sullen.
"Not quite Katase, but this day is important to what's going on." Stardust says knowingly.
As the kendo practice goes on Katase sneaks away. "Murayama, I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." Katase says ready to make her move. As Katase leaves, she actually sneaks behind the kendo field and finds the perverted trio's usual spot.
"Man, Murayama looks awesome like always." Matsuda says with a perverted grin.
"Yeah, it's a shame Katase isn't there." Motohama says with a similar grin. The two are fighting over a peephole.
"Dammit you assholes, why can't you let me join in on the fun." Issei says pushing to get a turn.
Although Matsuda and Motohama don't notice, Issei sneaks back and sits behind on the tree nearby. With a wicked smile, Issei takes out his phone and sends a message. He then sits down ready for a nap.
"What the hell is he up to?" Katase asks curious. A few seconds later a scream can be heard. "The perverted trio is here! Get them!" One kendo member shouts.
"Dammit! We've been caught!" Matsuda and Motohama scream. Turning back to their napping friend the pair runs away failing to warn their friend.
Katase has been watching the whole time. "So that's what happened. Issei alerted Murayama." Katase thinks slightly. Continuing to watch she notices Murayama arriving.
"You weren't followed, right Murayama?" Issei says with an odd smile.
"No Issei, I wasn't. The others went after your friends." Murayama says leaning in to kiss Issei on the lips.
Katase, who's been watching the whole time, is shocked silently as the kiss continues. Unfortunately she doesn't notice the figure behind her. "So Katase, are you enjoying the show?" Katase looks behind and to her shock Issei appears. He karate chops her in the neck and Katase faints.
Katase wakes up again and, to her shock, she's in the kendo dojo. She looks at her phone, this is the day she confronts Murayama about her relationship with Issei.
"What the hell? I don't get it." Katase says.
Stardust who has been disappointed at all this speaks up, "Seems as though your issue is something that cannot be solved in this dream world Katase. I'm ending the challenge immediately." Stardust shines and Katase is back in the real world.
"So Stardust, I take it Katase failed." A disappointed Issei says as he looks at Katase.
"Unfortunately yes, her trauma is something she cannot fix right now." Stardust says to Issei.
"Come on guys, I'm right here. How can you say what I can't do?" Katase says getting angrier and angrier.
"ENOUGH!" Issei screams. "Katase, I want you to activate your gear and practice with your gear."
"But Master..." Katase says although the look on Issei's face prevents her from saying anymore.
Katase goes to train and after a while Katase sits quickly. All of the sudden she notices Murayama's body shine with electrical energy.
"What the hell is that?" Katase says.
"Your friend has passed her trial. It seems she'll be getting my brother's power." Stardust says with a small bit of pride.
'Dammit! Seems as though Murayama is getting further and further ahead.' Katase thinks as her mood gets worse.
A few minutes later Murayama wakes and the girls head back to the base. Once they arrive back, Murayama and Katase go to rest. As Katase lies in her bed, she keeps thinking about the trial.
'Dammit! I still feel so helpless. Before Murayama and I were inseparable, now I feel as though my friend couldn't be any further away. I feel as though I'm losing my friend.' Katase thinks as she falls asleep, unsure about what's going to happen next.
The next day, Katase goes to Issei hoping to find the answers her heart seeks. To her shock, Murayama is there once again.
"Hey Issei, can I ask you something?" Murayama says to Issei with an oddly concerned voice.
"What's up Murayama? This is different; you usually go to Irina for advice." Issei says with a grin.
'Dammit, so she's been going to Irina for advice.' Katase thinks with even greater melancholy.
"I know this is odd for me to ask, but I've always wondered why you invited Katase into the order. You have the power to erase memories; you could've easily erased her memories of our relationship and continued deceiving her." Murayama says.
A shocked Katase punches the wall outside. After she realizes her mistake she quickly runs back to her room in the base.
"Shit! Who was that?" Murayama screams having heard the punch.
"Unfortunately, I think that was Katase." Issei says solemnly.
"Dammit, I need to go help her" Murayama says upset at herself. Murayama in the back of her head has been worried about Katase and never imagined her words would upset her this much.
"No Murayama, this is something I need to do." Issei says realizing the problem. "If you go to her now, her trauma will be worse."
Issei goes to see Katase and as he walks up to the room he hears her crying. "Yo! Katase, I'm coming in." Issei barges in towards the teary Katase.
"Master, please tell me the truth. Why I am here?" Katase says still teary eyed.
"Wipe your tears; I'm going to tell you a story. Okay Katase?" Issei says calmly wiping Katase's tears. "When I met Murayama again and invited her into the order, Murayama was miserable."
"Really? You're being honest with me." Katase says still upset.
"Yes, she was miserable. For the first month, many people were angry that I invited her along and even worse at the favoritism I showed her. Although she didn't go on missions she spent plenty of time with me, and even Irina was harsh with her. For Murayama, that time was miserable, and the truth is, I was helpless to stop it." Issei says regrettably.
"So what happened?" Katase says calming down
"You happened, Katase." Issei says with a smile.
"Me? What in the world do you mean?" Katase says brightening up.
"When you confirmed our relationship, I felt Murayama get much better. She was glad that she had somebody who understood her. Remember, she hid our relationship from everybody, including her family. Now her best friend could be there to help her." Issei says with a smile.
Katase realizes something, "You don't mean?"
"Yes Katase, I invited you into the order because I knew that it was what Murayama needed. Honestly, if you confronted me on your own, I probably would've erased your memory. But because Murayama did so, I allowed it." Issei says grinning still.
"Thank you for telling me this, Issei." Katase says as she calms down.
"You can come in now, Murayama." Issei says smirking.
All of the sudden the door opens to reveal a blushing Murayama. "I'm sorry that I asked that question, Katase. I didn't know you were struggling so much." Murayama says upset at herself.
"Don't worry Mury, I'm just fine." Katase says using the nickname she has for her friend.
"I'll let you guys work things out." Issei says smiling as he goes to leave.
"Come on Issei, why don't you stay with us?" Murayama says seductively.
"Mury's right, perv. Don't you want to sample the kendo duo?" Katase says trying to goad their master into a threesome.
Issei fights his natural dragon instincts, but decides on the best course of action "No. Trust me, I'd love to, but this is a moment for the Twin Dragons to talk." Issei leaves as Murayama and Katase work out their problems.
"Are you sure that's alright?" Ddraig talks to Issei.
"Yeah Ddraig, letting those to work out the issues is a much better idea. I can only do so much." Issei says smiling.
"Not that you idiot. You could've had those two together. I mean, yes, it's odd since their holding my sons' gears, but surely those two are as horny as they get." Ddraig says surprising Issei.
"I'm beginning to get worried about you Ddraig, but trust me, this is for the best. "
After Issei leaves, the Twin Dragons discuss their training. Murayama explains what happened to her as Katase sits thrilled at her friends progress. "That battle gear sounds awesome. I hope I get mine soon." Katase says envious of Murayama.
"Don't worry, you'll get your gear soon enough. It's a shame we can't fight Lady Rias, but I guess this is for the best." Murayama says smiling.
"Yeah, I know. Then the Twin Dragons can take flight together." Katase says smiling. At the same time inside the gear, Stardust can be seen smiling as the gear shines just a bit brighter.
"That's good Katase, I'm glad that you were able to overcome your problems. Soon you'll have your own battle gear. But before you do, there's one more step." Stardust says cryptically.
A few days later Rias and gang have returned. Katase and Murayama greet their master along with Gasper and Asia. Soon after, Sirzechs arrived and confirmed the details for the battle with the Order of Draconis and Issei. The stage was finally set for the battle that everyone had been waiting for.
That's it for Chapter 32.5 and the end of the path of the Dragon Arc. A few things to point out. Much like with Murayama, Katase had to overcome her trauma. As many have likely confirmed from reading the chapter, Katase's trauma was about the fact she felt that she didn't belong in the order of Draconis. The first part was needed because part of her trauma was about Murayama's relationship with Issei. People are probably asking why Katase didn't gain her battle gear. She will gain her battle gear and that will be part of volume 6. As you've noticed I've decided to call the transformations for Murayama and Katase battle gears. A Reviewer made the suggestion so I'm going to take it. Next chapter the battle between Issei and the Kuoh Devils begins.