Bleach Rebirth of the Guardian

by fanboy913

Bereft of purpose after the loss of his powers, a now sixteen year old Ichigo Kurosaki decided that a change of venue would be what he needed to get him out of his funk. A surprise win with a scholarship opens the door to a new world and not the one he was expecting. (Set after the Aizen Arc but before the fullbring arc.)

34. Chapter 33

Yay, new chapter and thank you to Aroneden for the proof read.

Real quick note to some who might not know Cardenal Vasco Strada is a real dxd character and not my OC. Just in case people were confused, you can find him on the dxd wiki to get a sense of who he is.

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"I get it Aizen," Ichigo thought at the man, "I really do, forcing my mind past distractions to strain it and gain a greater focus. I know, it works, I have seen the results…. But is making a mental figment of Rangiku sit in my lap really necessary?"

That drew out a chuckle from the man. "When it stops working on you I will move on to the next thing."

"But we are just sitting here having a conversation."

"While I am having you hold your focus, yes. Besides, you don't seem too much against it." Ichigo growled at the man. "I must say a month of work can get quite a lot done." Aizen gave him a thoughtful look. "I assume something has happened?"

The debate of whether to say anything was growing shorter and shorter every day he spent with the man. So far none of what had passed between them had been used aginst him…well except for his stupid libido, which he felt Aizen took way to much sadistic pleasure in messing with.

"Not something that has happened, something that will happen."

"Oh? Knowledge of the future that is always fun."

Ichigo sighed. "Not so much knowledge as a warning, and because the world hates me, I am supposed to be in the middle of what is to come."

"The world is alive, but I doubt it hates you, but you know that dont you." Ichigo looked away. "With great power comes duty, whether to a God, a people, an ideal or all of the above. Those born with greatness have a duty to live up to that greatness."

'And what did you want to achieve?' He wanted to say, but held his tongue. He needn't have bothered, Aizen read him like an open book. "I was trying to save Soul Society."

"How?"

"By becoming its God, with a will to act. Do not forget that I have seen my people at every level, good, bad, poor, rich, powerful, weak. As we are now I would give Soul Society another thousand years or so before it collapses under its own weight and isolationism." He shook his head. "But enough on that. I lost, Soul Society won, perhaps I am wrong, but that hardly matters anymore."

"Why didn't you..." Ichigo felt at a loss for words.

"Change things from within the system? I tired, manipulation, blackmail, appealing to virtue, working with the lowest, the highest, all of that I tried. When even the military refused to bend, the only option left was the break it from without, to cast aside the old as those who formed the Soul Society did and make something new."

"They did that by killing a god."

"And I would have done it, to set a god free from a living death." Aizen went quiet for several long moments. "You still have a question?"

"Do you know enough to teach me the sword?"

"In that regard you are better than I, what I could show you would only hinder."

"You are the third person that has said that."

Aizen laughed. "Then keep searching Ichigo Kurosaki, if you have one true superpower it is persistence in the face of all that should deny you." The blackness around them began to crack, the figment of Rangiku vanishing. "Well, that month has been the best time I have had since I was strapped to this chair, thank you for the conversation Kurosaki."

It did not sting as much as it might have when Ichigo answered. "Thank you for the teaching."

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One very cold shower later, Ichigo exited the guest house just before the sun started to rise and Zangetsu landed beside him in an almost silent leap. "Anything?"

"Three separate people did come within feet of the barrier, but none of them did anymore than that." Without another word Zangetsu returned to being within him. Guess the old man did not like being outside of his home for too long. Ichigo did not have as long as he would have liked for morning training, but he needed to make a whole lot of flavored rice, toast and eggs for the army that was going to wake up in a few hours. So he popped his neck, took some time to stretch out his body and got to work.

Time went by fast as it tended to do when he was focusing. Before long he returned to his room for a warm shower, followed by a trip to the kitchen to start making breakfast. He got his timing mostly right, having almost finished the eggs when the first person arrived in the kitchen. Most of both peerages were awake and moving. Sona must have had a light night if she was only now getting out of bed. But he was not at all surprised to see Inoue walk through the door. Big pink bunny slippers, a white and blue plaid sleep pants, and a rather tight but comfortable looking pink sleep shirt.

"Morning Kurosaki-kun."

"Morning Inoue."

Right after her Asia wandered in wearing a full satin pink set, with long sleeves and… hmm she had those pink bunny slippers to. She looked around. " Oh, you're already cooking."

"Aww we were gonna help." Inoue sighed

"If you want to set the table and make the drinks, I would be really grateful."

"We can do that, right Asia?"

"Yes."

He kept an eye on them as he finished up the eggs, Asia whispered something to Inoue and the girl smiled and nodded. They worked in an easy tandem and, at least in Ichigio's mind, were both so similar to each other it was no surprise at all they got along.

"You both ready for school today?"

"Yep." Inoue nodded. "I did all my homework, I practiced making my barrier faster last night."

"Which was really cool." Asia.

"Not as cool as you throwing around healing balls."

"They aren't that good yet, I cant heal very much with them yet."

"But you are working on it, I saw how late you were up practicing, it was inspiring."

"Hmm," Ichigo smiled at the former nun, "That is very good, I'm proud you Asia."

"Well Inoue-san was practicing too, besides barriers she was running really fast."

"I'm still hitting a few walls," The girl said with a blush, "I never thought I would be able to go fast, and it's kind of hard to get used to."

"I could help you with that if you want, I mean you are part of our group training, so make sure to tell me what you want to work on."

"Ok, though I don't want to take away from everyone."

Of course she would not. "Then we will find some time alone." When he turned around to carry the food to the table Inoue had a smile of pure bliss on her face. Asia just looked happy for her, though she did turn her gaze on him. "After all this is done are we still… going on that date?" She said the last part really quietly.

"I was planning on doing that this week, but I think it will be best to wait until the threat is over." He pursed his lips. "Unless you two want to dine in, I could see what I could whip up."

"Oh, oh I'll bet Akeno would be more than happy to cook something." He hesitated, as that did not sound like a date if the girl had to work. "I'll bring it up and see what she says."

Well, guess that was that, just needed to make sure they knew it was an idea, not his go to plan. His thoughts were interrupted by a rumble as more than a dozen feet began to move to the kitchen.

"Well, here they come." He said to the girls. "Let's get this place finished up."

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It might have looked odd to some, with both peerages moving in a protective group, but honestly it felt more like a herd. They felt relatively safe, though given how Kiba had been manhandled that was not a complete feeling.

'Something got you on edge?' Rias Gremory settled in beside him. She had not said the words aloud, rather through a personal communication link.

'I had a bad night, did not help the fact that we are all on edge.'

'Do you need to share with someone?'

He could not share all… that was something he did not know how Devil-kind would react to… or the Angels, in fact they might be worse.

'Just dreams of doom, of work not done, and anger unseen.'

'Ah one of those, when dreams like that happen to me I eat Ice-cream and watch Anime naked, it helps.'

"Naked, huh?"

'Butt Naked.'

'I wonder if you and Sona sleep the same way?'

'Oh we do,' Her voice was very suggestive, 'And both of us are very clingy, so you can imagine what kind of positions we ended up in.'

'Are all you Devil women so evil?'

'Only the ones who are worth it Ichi-chan.'

'Don't call me that, I can't stop Serafall, but I can damn well stop you.'

Rias laughed aloud causing everyone to glance at her. 'You can at that.' She agreed before speaking aloud. "Feel better?"

"I do thank you."

"Private communication is not fair." Koneko shook her fist at her King.

"No, no, Koneko-chan," Akeno smiled, "It's all fair, you just have to learn how to do it." Her voice shifted into his head. 'So what dirty thoughts has Buchou been putting in here?'

The two other Rooks from both Peerages glared at everyone with magical talent and on that mutual thought they claimed both of his hands for themselves.

Issei gave an uncomfortable cough as Momo winked at Ruruko and took his hand. He looked very happy and very nervous. "Um, Buchou I just got a contract again tonight, I wanted to run that by you to make sure it is ok?"

Rias gave him a pensive face. "Koneko?" The Rook glanced over at her King and nodded. "Yes, though you will take Koneko with you and be ready to run and call us for help if something happens, yes?"

"Oh you," Issei shook his head, "I don't like being killed."

Ichigo almost laughed at the statement, the dark humor he could understand all too well. Then he felt it, a pulse of pure Divine power. Both felt as familiar as, as well, something of his, something he had made. Information was just appearing in his mind. A weapon of immense power gifted to mankind so that they might safeguard themselves. Forged by his own hand, charged by his own will, a weapon of a King, a promise of victory. But the weapons had been broken, split, before him were the shard of mimic, that one might create the weapon they desired, and the shard of destruction, that one might smite the enemies of man.

Ichigo's eyes snapped up and around watching as two cloaked figures stepped out in front of them. He almost attacked them right there, a blur of speed and ferocity to end the threat they posed. "Holy swords." Sona whispered and every one of them went from school mode to battle in the space of a heartbeat. Well, all except for Orihime, but it was hard to make her go into battle mode.

Both figures had their hands out and away from the covered weapons on their backs. Both stopped twenty feet away from the group. "Ah, it's Issei-Kun!" One of them said.

Said boy blinked from where he stood, protectively in front of Ruruka and Momo. "Uh, hi?"

The voice was that of a girl, and the one who had spoken pulled back her hood, to reveal a striking girl, odd violet eyes long chestnut brown hair tied back in twintails, the rest of her was hidden beneath her bulky robes. "Its good to see you again, even with these circumstances."

"Do I know you?"

"Aww," she said with disappointed cheer, "Ya, you have not seen me in a while I guess and I was rather boyish at the time. It's me, Irina Shidou. Tell me at least you remember my name?"

"Wait," Issei looked like he was thinking really hard. "Shidou… you're a girl?"

"Yep, the breast fairy visited and everything."

That word distracted the boy for a moment, but since she was all robed up it was almost unnoticeable. "You're Shidou, my friend when we were little?"

"Indeed," Kiba said, his voice filled with menace, "The one who had the holy sword." Rias shut him up with a stern look.

"You're an exorcist?"

"And your a devil, funny how God works."

"Well, while this is quite touching," Sona said calmly, "May I ask what two agents of the Church are doing here, on my campus?"

The other one gave her a nod. "We seek a meeting with the Gremory heiress, in an effort to avoid misunderstandings while we are here."

Sona did not show it but, that annoyed her, the dismissal of the Sitri family from whatever equation the exorcist was running… well, such underestimation could get someone killed. She shared a look with Rias, no doubt rapid communication via thought speeding between them. "After which you will leave this campus?"

"Yes." The second exorcist removed her hood, revealing a rather odd hair color combination, solid blue hair with a green dyed fringe cut to chin length. Her expression was one of cold hard calm, but you could feel the battlelust oozing about her like a stench, he could feel his Hollow take note, it was so prevalent. Her eyes were dark yellow pools, high cheekbones and a sharp chin gave her certain countinance, enough to make one wary. "I am Xenoiva Quarta, the one in charge of this… diplomacy. Could we please move this indoors?"

Both Kings nodded and Sona took her peerage, minus him, and went about moving the students who had stopped to stare at the strange women. Rias led them all away and the two Exorcist followed her closely, seeming not to care that the entirety of the Gremory Peerage was flanking them. Ichigo made sure to put his body between the two and Kiba, who was staring at the weapons on their backs with such hate it was palpable.

That settled it then, they were the shards of Excalibur. He felt he knew that already but real world conformation was always nice. They all settled into the main room of the ORC, Rias on the couch alone, the two exorcists on the other. Akeno served tea and Rias took her time to get a good sip in before crossing her arms under her impressive chest and asking. "For what reason do the servants of God desire to meet a Devil?"

"As if you do not know?" Xenoiva asked. "Perhaps it has not reached here yet but it will, three fragments of the blade Excalibur were stolen by the Fallen." Only Ichigo remained motionless, the other's reacting in shock or in Kiba's case very, very close attention.

"And you two hold a fragment of it as well." Ichigo said aloud.

For the first time the exorcist seemed to take a good look at him. "Yes the ones we have here are Excalibur Destruction and Excalibur Mimic."

"Hey, that's my line." Irina said with a pout. "It's my sword." Ichigo could see why they told them, it was a warning that, even though under this truce, they could and would fight and kill as needed.

"So then," Rias took another sip, "What do you want from me?"

"This particular incident is between us and the Fallen Angels, and we cannot afford to deal with the Devils of this area at the same time."

"My, my, aren't you two honest little things." Akeno said, amused.

"Now, now Akeno," Rais said easily, "This is also a warning." She met Xenovia's gaze. "You thought we might be assisting the Fallen?"

"Devils hate the Holy Blades, in many ways you are in the same position as the Fallen Angels. If this is the case then we will destroy you utterly, even knowing who your brother is."

Ribbons of Destruction began to dance though Buchou's hair, her eyes glowing a solid red. There was a sort of pleasure in seeing both Exorcists realize something was wrong. Ichigo doubted the Church was aware of the changes she and Sona had gone through in recent times. "If you know that much then let me assure you, that as it stands now I will never side with the fallen, nor will I do anything to humiliate the Maou. You have my word on that in the name of Gremory."

Xenovia smiled. "I am glad to hear that, this was what our order was hoping would be the case, given who you were they hoped you would not do something so foolish."

"Then you must know I will never side with your God or your Church, right?" Ichigo felt amusement flare through him and at least now he knew why. He wondered why the exorcists had not drawn any emotion out of the being inside him.

"Of course, we simply ask for a pledge of non intervention in this ordeal."

"On that I will have no issue, so long as you tell the other Exorcist to leave this city. He has already attacked one of mine, thus making the Idea of a truce rather pointless."

Both girls blinked, Irina glancing at Xenovia who was doing her best to remain unreadable, but there was surprise there. "As far as I am aware," she said gently, "We are the only two dispatched, we were assured of this."

"My Knight was attacked by a man matching this description." Rias unfolded a piece of paper where it looked like either she or Sona, perhaps both, had drawn a composite sketch of Kiba's attacker. It has been strengthened by magic to give the drawing a more life-like quality. Not that it seemed to matter, both Exorcists took one look at the picture and this time did not bother to hide their surprise. "The Violence of Heaven." Irina whispered.

With a title like that Ichigo's warning bells tolled like mad, Xenovia looked up at them. "You say he attacked one of you and he lived?"

Rias glanced back at Kiba, but the boy looked so lost in restrained hate she decided to speak for him. "He said he had a target and my Knight was not it."

Both girls glanced at each other again. "This development which we spoke of is a recent one, but neither I nor her have any authority over this man." She ran her fingers over the covered blade. "We will try and speak to him, however. I am sure he will be willing to help with a situation as grave as this."

"Very good," Rias replied evenly, "Once you have that, please call me at this number," Akeno handed them a literal calling card, "And we can finalize the truce."

Clearly that was not what either of them had hoped for, but given the surprise they knew it was the best they could get right now. "Thank you for your time then, we will take our leave." Both stood up and turned to leave. But Xenovia paused as she took full notice of another Devil in the room. "You?" Asia, who had her eyes lowered for most of what had transpired, glanced up, nerves written clear on her face. "I know you." Asia took a step back.

Irina tilted her head. "Hey, that's Asia Argento right?"

Xenova gave a slight nod. "I never thought I would see a witch here."

The word hit her hard, her eyes going very wide as she lowered her gaze. "Oh ya, the ex saint who became a witch and now I guess she is a Devil." Somehow that cheer Irina seemed to have made her words all the more irritating. "I heard you were excommunicated because you healed a devil, I just had not heard you became one yourself." She looked around. "Is the one you healed here?"

Every word seemed like a blow to Asia's soul, Ichigo felt anger rise in his gut. From where she stood Akeneo, well she had stopped smiling, her eyes were closed, but deep in her core he could feel the thunder starting to form. Issei was looking from Asia to Xenovia and Irina, anger starting to from on his face as well. He might not fully understand what was happening, but he could see it was hurting one of his friends.

"I..." Asia whispered, her voice quivering.

Xenovia shook her head. "To think that a Saint would become a Devil." A hint of amusement touched her face. "I guess no one is perfect." The words drew an almost sobbing breath from the former nun.

"Hey, that's enough." Issei growled, but Koneko put a hand on his chest to stop him from moving forward. Rias clearly did not want a fight here and her Rook responded to that, even though Ichigo could sense her own mounting anger.

Xenovia ignored him. "Do you still believe in God, Asia Argento?"

"Xenovia, she is a Devil." Irina chided.

"It can happen," she replied, 'Some blasphemers feel some guilt and retain a little of their Faith and I can sense that in her, she made the sign of the cross when we entered after all." Asia flinched even more at that.

"Really?" Irina said, not sounding as if she believed it. "Hey, Asia-san do you still believe in the Lord even though you're a Devil?"

Aisa seemed lost in a trance of pain, her eyes downcast, her body shaking. "Of course I believe in him." She whispered.

"In that case let us kill you now," Xenovia said it like it was the most logical thing in the world. There was a stunned silence as no one reacted with anything more than shock. "I will punish you in God's place and your sins will be for..." Her mouth snapped shut as the air was driven out of her lungs, Irina behind her nearly went to her knees as what felt like a vast weight fell upon them like a lead blanket. Xenovia had the worst as her eyes bulged and she fell to one knee. "Ichigo!" Rias snaped.

He let the power, the weight, of his Soul crash down upon the two for a second more before reigning in his wrath. It has been so long since he dealt with people that could be affected by his spiritual power in any direct sense that was not straight energy attacks. These two were powerful, they had powerful weapons, and if they had been holding those weapons then he would not have been able to do what he just did. Hell, perhaps if the metal was actually touching their skin the protection of the Sword would have been enough. But they had not and could not have been prepared to have their very soul's crushed into the earth.

"I remind you that we are under no truce as of now," Rias continued once the two could breathe again, "I would suggest you refrain from threatening to harm any of my Peerage, you might not find us so easy to kill as you seem to believe."

The Exorcists took in a few breaths. "Just doing my duty as a woman of the Faith."

"Faith." Akeno repeated that word with such venom it brought them all up short. "You come here, you call her a witch because of what your Church did?"

The girl was looking around the room, clearly trying to find the source of what had attacked her. Ichigo found a very feeble sort of spiritual awareness pass over and stop on him. Xenovia gave him a long hard glare before focusing on the Queen. "It is a term that covers her status well, I think."

"That does so sound like the Church. You did what we told you was Holy work, you healed the sick, tended the dying. Oops, oh dear you healed a Devil. Now, I know we did not tell you actual facts about Devil's, but the fact that you did so is an unforgivable Sin." Every word dripping with sarcasm. "Now, I know all your life has been spent with us, in service to our God, I know you have no experience with making it on your own, nor are we going to help you at all, but get out. We don't want you and your kindness, your decency, you moral code." She gave the exorcist such a scornful look that the girl took a step back. "Yes, oh so holy and righteous you are to have done that. You people who named her a Saint, you people who cast her out, who told her that your God's love was denied to her so long as she lived."

Akeno had not moved from her spot, her voice had not risen up or lowered her eyes had not wavered. It was the most scary he had ever seen her in his life. "Your Church cast out a loyal servant in the cold and now dare to have the arrogance to judge her?"

Issei took a step forward unable to contain himself. "She is our friend," He nodded at Akeno, "And you are not allowed to threaten her."

Ichigo's mouth twitched. "You would be dead if you tried."

Xenovia looked around at all of them. "What are you to her?"

"Lover." Akneo said.

"Friend." Issei said.

"Sister." Koneko replied.

"Guardian." Ichigo said.

"Family." Rias finished.

Asia rubbed her eyes, tears leaking down her skin at these words, the exorcists both looked stunned, confused even. "Make sure to tell all of them," Issei whispered, "Every last person who thinks like you, if you try and harm her we will destroy you." He paused for a moment. "And by we, I mean mostly those two." He pointed at Ichigo and Akeno. "I'm working on becoming as scary, but I would be right there to help, you damn well be sure of that."

"You would challenge the whole Church over a heretic?"

Issei glared at her. "I would challenge the whole world."

"And he would not be alone." Ichigo added, the feeling of pride at the boy he had been teaching swelling up to a decent level.

"Well, since you already have attacked us once like a coward," Xenova was staring at him, "Perhaps you would like to back up those words." Rias put her hand over her face.

"Yes and we will be your opponents." They all glanced at Kiba who had a hungry look on his face.

"And who are you?"

"Your senior." He hissed.

Rias made a growling sound. "That does it, punishments for everyone when this mess is over."

"Well then, Sempai," Xenovia nodded, "How about a little spar, one with no death or heavy injury, keep everything all nice and neat." She glanced at Rias. "Get this out of our systems, what do you say?"

"How many spankings is enough to make a point?" Rias mumbled, waving her hand in assent.

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"So, uh, any reason I'm fighting and not you?" Issei asked as he and Kiba stretched out their bodies.

"I thought you did pretty good back there, I know Akeno was impressed, and so was I." Asia had even given him a chaste kiss on the cheek and a hug. "I think you should prove to all of us that you can back up your words."

"Ya and you get to keep your abilities a secret." Issei mumbled.

"Not as much as you might think." Ichigo was still pondering just what the Church might know about the Soul Reapers. "You have been doing well, since you started, and I'm going to guess you have been working without me on whatever your Sacred Gear is teaching you." There was a moment of hesitation before he nodded. "I'm worried about Kiba though, he just recovered from being beaten and…I don't think I have ever seen him so angry. He does not fight angry, he is calm, he thinks, he.." Issei shook his head. "I don't know if he will be as good?"

Ichigo glanced over at the Knight, he had nodded, having heard Issei, but his eyes were locked on the weapons the two exorcists. There was an almost fever-like intensity to them, his body was taut as a guitar string and his breathing was erratic. "Revenge," Ichigo whispered, "Were I in his place I doubt that I could do any better."

Issei nodded. "I know, but unlike you two, I can hardly imagine it."

"Are you going to be ok, fighting a childhood friend?"

The boy's gaze moved to Irina and she smiled and waved. The gesture somewhat awkward with the black Katana in her hand. Almost on reflex Issei waved back.

"I think I'll be fine, we did not really have any contact after she moved, at least I know why that is now. And she is going to fight me with all her skill, she put one hundred percent into everything, even when we were little." A small smile touched his lips. "Besides, I'm a Devil now, so a small little spell I have might be quite fun to use."

Ichigo almost laughed which in his mind clearly showed how far he had fallen. "Speaking of that spell, have you made it work on anything else."

Issei sighed. "Yes, I made it work on my clothing so I assume it can do the same to others, and as for the armor, well I don't know where to find any of that to practice on so, I don't know."

Well, at least he was making progress, both of them watched as the exorcists shed their heavy cloaks. Ichigo had to blink twice to make sure he knew what he was seeing, somehow when one thought of operatives of the Church, a skin tight black bodysuit that left absolutely nothing to the imagination was not the first thing that came to mind… there was even some sort of symbol on where the fabric stretched over there abdomen...right about where his marks were. He decided to ignore the question as to why an Order of the Church would have that there, his own sanity depend on it.

Both girls wore that outfit and while it had not been noticeable before, both were quite comfortably stacked. Both had bodies honed to athletic perfection and Xenovia was clearly a bit bigger but… gods he was turning into Issei. Speaking of Issei, the boy was staring at Irina like this was the very first time he had seen her. "Wow." The boy whispered.

Kiba had no such issue as he formed a blade that looked quite fearsome, with half a dozen other swords forged already.

Thankfully Issei shook off his lust, no doubt the threat to Asia still leaving a bad taste in his mouth, as it did for all of them. Both sides looked upon on the other, waiting, but when Issei's gauntlet announced, "Boost!" that seemed to be the signal. Irina moved with… inhuman speed. It had to have been some magic that they had or some way they had made themselves more than human. Then again, their bodies had the Light element within them, perhaps that was something that helped. Issei reacted well, Ichigo had started using his Bankai during training, not because Issei could dodge him fully in Shaki, far from it, but it was reaching the point where he had to swing hard enough to hurt Issei badly if he wanted to make it a close shave. In Bankai his control over his speed was so fine-tuned that it just made things easier.

Issei might very well be having flashbacks as he sidestepped the blow. Irina spun, Excalibur Mimic flashing out, and Issei blocked it with his sacred gear. His arm hardly moved from the force and "What?" the exorcist asked.

"Boost!" The Gear replied.

Irina moved forward with a flurry of blows. "Oh Lord, why must I be reunited with my childhood friend only to see how far he has fallen? Why must you test me so?" Her expression was not one of sorrow, in fact it looked almost akin to sexual desire and was oddly disconcerting.

Issei rolled his eyes as the Gear Boosted again, weaving away from the sword blows with the skill born of countless hours of practise against a faster blade. He was clearly waiting for an opening and as Irina slowed to look him over again she tilted her head. "What's with that perverted look you're giving me?"

"It's a surprise, Irina-chan." That was a very good taunt, for his first attempt Ichigo thought..

"You should be careful," Koneko said, "Issei..." Ichigo put his hand on her shoulder.

"Please don't." She gave him a confused look, but after a moment of hesitation nodded.

"What was that Devil-chan?" Irina asked.

"Boost!" Issei let out a breath. "Focus, let the power flow throughout your body." Green light covered him. "Draw on that power, that devoured light." His eyes glowed with Devil Power. "Now show me what you did with his power, Ddraig!"

"Take Over, Reform, Welsh Dragon Aura Gauntlet!"

Issei's left arm glowed Quincy White before green power overwhelmed it and forced it into a new shape. Green light became semi-solid forming an almost holographic force over his left arm. Almost like an omni tool from the Mass Effect game, the energy hovered about an inch above his skin and there did not seem to be any fingers just a sphere of power. It was charged by Devil Power, but the devoured spiritual essence shifted it on a fundamental level.

Issei went on the attack, blocking a swing from the Excalibur with the Aura Gauntlet. It was there the fundamental change showed, had it been pure Devil Energy the Holy Blade would have cut through it like butter. Instead it was both Dragon and Shinigami, neither of which were affected overmuch. The attack was blocked and the place where it hit flared bright green. There was a concussive force that almost knocked the blade from Irina's hand. In her desire to keep hold of it she was not in any position to defend herself. "Boost!" The Red Dragon Gauntlet flared as Issei rammed it into her chest. "Explosion!"

She shot back and into a tree hard enough to crack the trunk, letting out a startled, pained gasp, sliding to the ground, her hand across her stomach. A red spell circle spun above the spot where Issei had hit. The boy's gaze slid to Asia then to Ichigo. He made sure he was showing nothing when the boy did so, what would come next was his own decision. "Dress Break." He murmured.

The circle flashed and so her clothing went up with it, her boobs suddenly free from there prison bounced free and open to the world. Issei's grin was almost manic as Irina screamed and tried to cover herself. Kind of hard as she had one hand across her body where Issei had struck her. Irina tried turning around, but realized that put her ass on display. "Not fair, not fair, you sinful Devil. Give me back my clothing Issei!" That last part came off more as a friend begging for help rather than an enemy. It snapped Issei out of his boob trance. "Um, I don't know how to do that." Asia made a keening sound and moved her hand in a wave gesture, a nun outfit shimmered into existence around Irina.

"Oh, thanks Witch-chan." Asia flinched.

Akeno's storming eyes pinned the exorcist to the ground. "You little bitch, perhaps this is more to your liking?" The clothing shimmered until it took the form of a school girl outfit that made Kuoh's look modest by comparison.

"What did I say?" Irina whined, Issei looked like he had just had his whole day made and Koneko sighed as she followed Issei's gaze. "Cover yourself, will you?"

Akeno had apparently not been kind enough to include panties with the outfit and the skirt only covered about half her butt cheeks. Irina made a sound of mortification and dropped to her knees to cover as much as possible, that was when Asia, looking upon her with utter kindness and decency, changed it back to a nun outfit.

"Oh, thanks Wi..." Akeno growled, "Asia-chan." Irina finished, gulping and scooting out of the way, closer to her fellow exorcist.

The fight between Kiba and Xenovia on the other hand was going… well, it was not going well for the Knight. He was more skilled than he might have been, his training with Zangetsu and Ichigo having honed his reflexes to a razor's edge. He used two blades, twisting a blur of strikes that, for a normal human, would have been death by a hundred cuts. Xenovia blocked them all, her long dark weapon glowing with the Power of Light and her physical strength exceeding that of her human body. "Weak." She said and shattered the Knight's weapons in a single strike.

Kiba leaped back and gripped two more blades and resumed his attack, his face a mask of rage. It was a foolish move, Xenovia had proven that her Excalibur Destruction combined with her physical strength were more than enough to break the weapons of Sword Birth. "Irina, did you lose?" She asked in a bored manner.

"Ya." The girl whimpered.

"Tonight you will have to do great penance." She broke one of the blades attacking her and met Kiba blade to blade and began to push him back. "Honestly, losing to a newbie Devil as a user of the Sword." She was doing this on purpose, they could all see Kiba Yuuto's breathing increase, his body dripping with sweat, his eyes burning red with hate.

"Shatter this." He snarled and summoned a great deal of his Devil Power and a new blade was born, long, thick, jagged, with dark steel at its core. "Your Holy Sword versus my weapon of vengeance." With a growl he surged forward and did so far slower than Ichigo had even seen him, perhaps he thought that given Xenovia's strength he just might be faster even with a weapon like that. The girl however met his dash, slipping aside his attack…she could have killed him right then and there could have been an argument that Kiba had been trying to do just that. But she simply rammed the hilt into his gut and the Power of the Holy Blade amplified the blow.

She took a step to the side and watched Kiba slide to the ground. "It does not matter how powerful your weapon is if you cannot use it, Sempai." She said that last word with all the scorn she had. "You have a variety of powerful swords and frighting agility, all of which you give up when you tried to use a blade that is too heavy for you." She turned away from him. "You should try getting your head screwed on right before you next fight, otherwise whatever it is you are trying to accomplish will fail." She walked over to her cloak and picked it up. "I think this is over, would you not agree, Rias Gremory?"

Rias responded with the poise expected from her position. "Yes, I do thank you for not killing my Knight."

"And I thank you for not killing my partner." She gave Issei a once over. "Don't let it go to your head though, I will make sure Irina will be much better prepared for next time." Turning back to Rias. "We will be counting on you for your cooperation once we get the last assurance we need." Irina moved next to her looking chagrined and Xenova favored her with a glare. "We will be off then."

"There is one thing I would like to know." Rias said, almost as if it was an afterthought. "Do you know which Fallen took the Holy Blades?"

"A leader of the Grigori, Kokabie,l was directly involved."

"Uh, Grigori?" Issei asked and Ichigo very much agreed with that question.

Akeno answered her expression neutral. "Also known as the Protectors of the Children of God, they are the main power within the Fallen Angel faction."

Rias was not listening to him, she had got somewhat pale. "You're going to fight something like that, alone. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Guess she knew what the name Kokabiel meant.

"We would rather destroy the weapons then let them rest in the hands of the Fallen, that alone is our goal." With those fitting words she turned away and started to move.

Irina let out a grateful sigh. "Sorry about the witch thing, Devil-chan." Asia seemed fine with that title. "However Issei, you will get divine punishment for what you did." The boy gulped as the overwhelming cheer in the girl's voice. "Perhaps I will be the one to bring it to you? Well, until then see ya!"

Kiba pushed himself up to his knees coughing up a handful of blood. "Wait!" He hissed.

Ichigo stared at the Knight feeling more conflicted than he ever had, knowing the story, understanding what was going on. Were he in the Knight's position would he act any differently? What the hell could he tell the boy that might be able to help him. Would getting revenge help? Perhaps or perhaps not? It hardly mattered at this point. Asia moved to him and her healing light began to mend the damage done, but the Knight's eyes never left the retreating exorcists. If his whole family was killed by someone, like say Soul Society, would he not extract a terrible vengeance upon them? He had seen where such a path would lead, in the depths of Hell watching a man whose sister had been murdered rage at the unfairness of the universe for putting him there.

Hell itself had given him power for a time as he came to the understanding that quite often the dead do not want vengeance. That the man's sister would not have wanted him to kill and kill again… yet he himself did not know or could not be sure what he would do. He would have liked to think he could be the bigger person, the better man, but honestly he did not know. Or rather, when he looked at Kiba he could see himself, something he could legitimately become.

Issei went over to the Knight and slipped under his arm to help him limp back to the Occult Clubhouse. Perhaps if the Church was still doing experiments such as that *Sadness, Anger, Sorrow* Ichigo trembled under the onslaught of emotions. Well, if that was the case he could make the argument that beyond vengeance stopping the harm being done to others was a noble goal. But would that be just some excuse for vengeance? If one followed a code during such a fight, could they remain pure or would it always damn them to Hell… well at least for the Soul's claimed by Soul Society. On that thought he moved to follow the rest of the Peerage back to the club house.

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"Oh Lord this water is freezing." Irina sighed as she cleaned her body with the sacred water of the pool. Around them the ancient church falling into ruin sheltered them from the outside, but very little else.

"Consider it part of our penance." Her partner said. "After all, we would be resting comfortably in a hotel warm and happy if someone had not spent all our money on a painting."

Irina winced. "But it's a very good painting, the person who did it must have been a Saint, that's what the man at the museum said."

"And what good will that do us when we are hungry, cold and homeless.. At full strength I give us a thirty percent chance that we will live through this." Her stomach made a growling sound. "As we are now even less so."

"Oh Xenovaia, the Lord will provide."

"God helps those who help themselves Irina."The blue haired girl put her head in her hands, "Why are you my partner?"

"Because we make the best team."

"Then the church is doomed." She sighed. A flash of cold water had her yelping in shock as her exposed nipples seemed to become ice chips.

"None of your gloom and doom." The culprit said, her hand on her well formed hips. "We will be fine." The words were belied by her own stomach started growling and that seemed to take some of the spirit out of her. There was another splash as she sat down in the water. "What are we going to do for food?"

"Well," A man's voice interrupted sending both girls diving for their weapons, "If you two would stop bathing in the Holy Water I might be able to help." How they missed him enter neither knew, he was a large hulking man who was kneeling in front of the Altar, his hands folded in prayer, his broad back to their nudity.

"You!" Xeonvia said with something approaching awe.

"You youngsters still remember an old man like me?"

Both girls pulled on their clothing as rapidly as possible as well as their cloaks as they were still wet and it was getting a bit cold. "The Violence of Heaven, the greatest exorcist to have ever lived, the one who defeated a Cadre of the Fallen and made them flee before him? Of course we know who you are."

The man stood up and sighed. "They only remember the violence, never anything else… was our Savior known for violence?" He shook his head and turned to face them was a smile. "It is good to see that God has chosen our new protectors. Though I will admit I have not seen others of our kind bathing in Holy Water."

"Are you here to help us?" Xenovia asked. "With you help we could move from destroying the Holy Swords to retrieving them."

Cardenal Vasco shook his head. "While that is something I would much prefer to be doing… something I should be doing," His tone spoke volumes of what he thought of whoever had given him orders, "I have been given a separate mission. One that I cannot deviate from." He put a gentle emphasis on those words and moved a large finger over his forehead. There was a light red mark almost like that of a crude bird.

"You have been Geassed?" The very thought made Xenovia feel ill, why would the greatest exorcist of the Church need any motivation to complete a mission.

"Indeed, however there is nothing that says I cannot offer a hand to fellow followers of our God, so long as it does not interfere with my mission. Besides, you sent a message to speak to me did you not?"

"Yes we did." Irina said cheerfully. "We are trying to keep the local Devils out of our business, Cardinal-san and we need you assurance that you mean them no harm so we can get it."

"Hmm, a wise move when your enemy is one such as Kokabiel. I approve of your tolerance, however I cannot give my word to such an action as it would conflict with my mission."

"What is your mission?" Irina asked

"Irina," Xenovia hissed, "It's probably top secret."

"A Saint has fallen to the ways of darkness, such a well known figure if used in the proper way by the Devil's she has fallen in with could do inumerable damage to the church. I have been sent to make sure that does not happen."

"The Witch." Xenovia nodded.

"Ah, Witch-chan." Irina said

Something about the way they seemed to accept his reasoning seemed to sadden the man. "I cannot help or offer assistance in any manner in such a way that might conflict with my mission and a truce with the local Devils would do so."

"Understood." Xeonva accepted with a nod. "Though, might I ask you to delay it until our mission is complete?"

"Well, I was not given a timeline," The Cardinal mused, "I see no reason to hurry things along and there is a chance that the conflict will weaken the local Devils so it even works with my mission."

The two girls let out sighs of relief, then sounds of embarrassment as there stomach growled. A real smile appeared on his face. "Come, come children, let's get you two something to eat."

"You don't have to Father," Xenovia said, face turning down, "It's our own fault we are in this state."

"Child if our Lord can give all the fish and bread to a crowd that they can eat, I can surely do so for two chlidren of God." He put a large hand on each of their heads, the thumb forming the sign of the cross on them before letting go. "Now, follow me."

Xenovia did as ordered and Irina run up beside the man to ask him questions, the fact that he was geassed still bothered her. In all her reading of the exploits of other exorcists there had only been one recording of when such a thing was used. The exorcist in question had been asked to do something he absolutely did not want to do. A job he had refused, in fact, the Order had subjected him to at Geass to make him follow though…so then what in the world would make the Violence of God, Cardinal Vasco Strata, the greatest exorcist to ever exist need to be bound to a task. Could the life of that witch Asia Argento mean something to him? Her need to die made perfect sense, she was just a sinner now and one dangerous to the Church. Surely this man knew all that, so perhaps she was wrong, perhaps he had done it so that nothing would be allowed to divert him from what needed to be done. And if she was alive after their mission she would offer her blade to help.

She forced herself to chuckle, honestly the Violence of Heaven hung up over a heretic, that was ridiculous… right?

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And so the new girls have showed up and one is a bit bitchy but all it will take is one mind shattering revelation and she will be fine...lol .

Anyway I was not going to leave those two out of the story, and now you all know why the most powerful human in the world is in town...poor Asia, sweetness and innocence seem to draw the worst things the world has to offer.

Not that Vasco has it any easier, that man is wasting as much time as possible, giveing warnings, not killing the devils he sees (Because the Geass only makes him have to kill one target). Doing everything he can in the hopes that he can be stopped, but the pieces are falling into place and we will have to see where this goes.

I'm sure things can't get any worse thought.

*fingers crossed behind back*

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ElementalMaster 16

Do you mind if i ask you what Ichigo meant when he said he felt as if he was getting spoiled?

He was talking about how the baths of the dxd upper cast are giant magic pools of awesome with a steam room and a dozen other luxuries. Showers might not really compare after that, right about now he uses them for the cold water to calm himself down and that's about it.

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Razmire

Forgive me if I'm being (very) ignorant, but I have to ask, are Tsukiko and the Shem of Babel based off of anything, or did you create them?

Don't worry about being ignorant, the word shem is an old hebrew word that means " Name, Fame or Reputation, or even Identity or Personality, Conscious Knowledge Of The Whole Of Creation" It was a term used to name God since man could not truly speak the name of god.

Anyway by putting that title on the beast of the end, it is implying that it is the sum of Babel, the whole of that civilization, its everything synthesized into one creature, one dream.

Roughly translated the shem of Babel means The Name of Bable, and since it was a word used to describe God, another way of putting it would be The God of Babel, created by the united race of humanity to end the age of the gods and take immortality unto themselves. Don't worry there will be more on them later though it might be a while.

As for the other one, while I am not the first to put new things In Ichigo's soul, I mostly made Tsukiko up, though the process of its creation and appearance are based off of the events in a book from the dresden files called Skin Game, where a spirit of intellect born from the mind of the most powerful wizard of his generation and the mind of a fallen angel gains its appearance from the Wizard's memories of the various women either in his life or that he had encountered before.

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WindborneWord

Well Kokabiel is going to get his ass kicked, but Xenovia and Irina being sent was a calculated risk in Canon.

They are both natural wielders of holy swords, Durandal and Excalibur respectively. In addition they were sent to draw out the other pieces that were stolen, but keep the other one they had safe completely with Vasco, and they were both relatively expendable at least according to their, since I doubt they were expecting Kokabiel to behind the theft.

I might agree with that, but they informed Rias right off the bat who was behind the theft and Xenovia put their odds at thirty percent (Way to high of a percent, try three girl) So While I do get your argument and even agree that it is very possible they were as a sign of non agression, I still think it was a bad plan.

Thank you for this though, it has given me something to think about.

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Comment of the Week

Guest

This author's attitude towards women is schizophrenic

...sorry I guess, I just write to have fun

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Real Comment of the Week

Celebtil (Note this is just apart of this ones reviews, it is good insight into how I see this character)

I love to see fanfics that portray Serafall as a real person with more that just big tits and childlike personality. Someone with good reason to be as damaged, and well, broken as someone who survived not one, but two wars, would be. I have a brother who is medically retired military and he has serious issues that haunt him forever, you see things in war you can't unsee. Most don't delve into this aspect of Serafall's personality and why she is so sort of co-dependent upon Sona. Sona helps keep her sane, her job helps keep her distracted, and her family helps keep her grounded. should anything threaten these she would prolly lose her shit, hard core!