A Nekomata Tale Chapter 20

Issei stood on the sidewalk in front of his Mansion and stared at the two Exorcists. Yes, there was no doubt that the girl with the blonde twin-tails was his long lost friend Irina Shidou, and he believed that he could trust her, but Xenovia Quarta was an unknown factor. "OK Xenovia, I am going to trust you to a point for now, but you are going to remain unarmed around Asia until I am certain that you no longer pose a threat. Unbuckle your scabbards and hand them over."

Xenovia reached down and unbuckled the scabbards and gave them to Issei. Issei picked up each sword in turn and after sheathing them he turned to Kuroka and said, "I am going to leave them in your hands." Kuroka transformed back to her Nekomata form and Issei handed her the swords.

"If my partner is unarmed, then I should be unarmed as well." Irina said. Then she also unbuckled her sword and handed the scabbard to Kuroka. Kuroka bowed and took the sword. Shirone transformed into her human form and walked up to Issei and asked, "Are you sure that we can trust them?"

"I trust Irina. I do not yet know if I can trust Xenovia or not, but for now," Issei looked into Xenovia's eyes, "I will let her her live."

Issei watched as Kuroka turned and carried the swords back across the barrier and then she turned and said, "If either of you make Asia cry, I will kill you. I am not as forgiving as my lover is."

"We still have our mission Ise." Irina said. "We still need to recover the missing Excalibur from the Fallen Angels. We can't just return empty handed. That sword is dangerous and I believe that the Fallen Angels are planning to restart the great war."

"I believe that you are right Irina, but I can't just let you go and I am not going to make any decision regarding the Fallen Angels unilaterally. You are going to come with me."

"Where are we going?" Irina asked.

"To our old hideout, but first I need to invite a couple of guests to join us." Then Issei pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number. After a moment the call was answered and Issei said, "Hello Sona, I need you to call Rias. I need both of you to come to the Temple of the Sekiryuutei. I have a couple of guests that you need to meet, and the meeting needs to take place at a neutral location." Issei paused and said, "No, just you and Rias. You can't bring Shinra or Akeno. I don't want my guests to be any more uncomfortable than necessary…. Yes it is important. Just you and Rias… I will see you in a few minutes. We will be walking there… OK Goodbye."

"The Temple of the Sekiryuutei?" Irina asked.

"Our old hideout changed a bit since you saw it last saw it. Do you still remember where it is?"

"Behind the school in the woods. How can I forget that, we built it with our own hands." Irina said."

After a few minutes of walking they entered the woods and both Irina and Xenovia started feeling pressure. There was a powerful magic barrier that neither of them were familiar with and fog filled the air as the temperature dropped. As they continued the pressure became greater and the fog became thicker, but Shirone waved her hand in the air and the pressure was gone, but it felt like a door had shut behind them and locked. Both Irina and Xenovia started to become a little bit afraid. Was Issei planning on killing them now that they were off the street? No, Issei wouldn't do that Irina thought, and she placed a reassuring hand on Xenovia's shoulder. As if reading their thoughts, Shirone said, "The barrier is to keep out uninvited guests. No harm will come to either of you as long as you two behave yourselves."

Before them was an ancient looking Japanese Shrine. There was a low stone wall with cat statues on the four corners. There was a red Torii with a European Red Dragon engraved between the upper and lower lintel of the gate. The Shrine itself was made from cut stone and there was a red silk curtain covering the entrance to the shrine. "This is the Temple of the Red Dragon Emperor. It is a sacred space." Shirone said.

"Sacred?" Irina and Xenovia asked together.

"Yes. This is the space where the last Sekiryuutei was awakened and he will bring peace to the world as he takes his place as the third Dragon God." Shirone said solemnly.

Before Xenovia or Irina could respond, Issei said, "Shirone is just joking. I am no god. I am just the Sekiryuutei. Nothing more and nothing less."

"What is a Sekiryuutei and who is the Red Dragon Emperor?" Xenovia asked.

"The Sekiryuutei is a title given to the person born with the soul of the Welsh Dragon, Ddraig bound in a sacred gear that manifests as a jeweled gauntlet. Ddraig is the Red Dragon Emperor. I am merely the latest possessor in a long line of possessors since Ddraig and Albion, the White Dragon Emperor, were defeated by the combined forces of Heaven and the Underworld and their souls were sealed so that they could never be reborn.

"Whatever you say." Xenovia said doubtfully. "I don't believe a word that you say. You look human, but you are a Dragon. That much I believe, but Heaven and the underworld joining forces? That would never happen!"

Issei raised his right hand and a red gauntlet appeared. It covered his hand and arm up to his elbow. The gauntlet had claws and looked like the forearm of a red Dragon. There was a green jewel on the back of the hand on the gauntlet. "Say hello Ddraig." Issei said.

The jewel lit up and a deep voice spoke from the jewel, "I am Y Ddraig Goche, the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. Hear my name and die of despair, foolish mortal!"

In their minds, both Xenovia and Irina saw a massive three hundred foot long Dragon sweeping Devils, Angels and Fallen Angels from the sky with his white hot flames, as he and an equally large White Dragon fought against one another in a fierce and terrible battle. The Angels, Fallen Angels who were fighting against one another. A Fallen Angel with ten black wings said, "I, Azazel call a truce for the sake of creation." These Dragons must be stopped or the entire world will be destroyed.

An Angel with ten Golden wings responded, "Stop the battle and attack the twin Sky Dragons. I, Michael so command you!"

Finally a Devil responded, "I am Zekram Bael. Our Maou has fallen battle, but if we do not stop the Dragons our species will cease to exist. In the name of Lucifer, I order all Devils to join with our enemies to stop the Dragons!"

The vision ended and both Xenovia and Irina were on their knees. They were both overwhelmed by the vision of the battle and the presence of the massive Dragon that was revealed to them from within the Jewel. Then Issei himself transformed. He looked exactly like the Dragon in the Vision, only smaller. His power and aura were exactly the same. "Do you believe us now, warrior Xenovia of the Catholic Church?" Ddraig asked.

It took a few minutes for Xenovia to find her voice. Finally, she responded in a voice barely above a whisper, "Oh yes, I believe you. There is no doubt in my mind."

"What about you Irina?" Issei asked.

"Oh yes I believe you Issei." Irina whispered. "So this temple is dedicated to you. I don't even know what to say…"

Issei returned to his human form and Ddraig's presence vanished. "No, this temple is not dedicated to me, it was dedicated to Ddraig, and I did not name it. It was named by my first love. Her name was Elsha…" A look of grief passed over Issei's face.

"I'm truly sorry Issei." Irina said. "When did she die?"

"Her body perished hundreds of years ago but her soul was bound to the Jewel as the most powerful woman who ever wielded Ddraig. She was my mentor and she created this temple with Ddraig, Kuroka and Shirone. Within the temple she could take a physical form. She trained me and I loved her… I still love her. Fragments of the souls of all of the previous Sekiryuuteis were bound by a powerful curse called Juggernaut Drive. When Elsha, Shirone and Kuroka finally lifted the curse, all of the souls were freed. Finally, Elsha disappeared saying that she had no more regrets because she had finally found love. She said that she she would be waiting for me on the other side and that she would always love me. Her last words to me were, 'At last I have no regret. I have finally known love.' Issei shook his head sadly and as tears flowed down his face he said, "I am going to bring peace to this world and then when I am strong enough, I am going to the realm of the dead and I am going to demand that the ruler of Hell return her to me!" Issei clenched his fist and then said, "If he refuses, I will destroy him, and take her by force!"

"Irina responded in a shaky voice. "I don't know If I should be jealous or afraid. I have always loved you Issei. I wish you loved me that much…" Irina covered her mouth with her hands and turned beet red. "That is to say…" her voice trailed off and she clamped her mouth shut.

"Xenovia said, "All I have known is my faith and my dedication as a warrior, but if a man would love me that much... I…"

Asia said, "Issei rescued me and I love him body and soul, and he loves me with the same passion."

Then Shirone said to Irina, "Issei rescued Kuroka and I when I was just a starving kitten. I was near death when Issei found us here in this place. I was starving and freezing when he found me in the shack that you and he built. I would have died had he not found me! He brought Kuroka and I home and took care of us. When we revealed to him that we are Yokai, he was not afraid of us. We loved him and he loved us. We still love him. I still love him. If Issei rejected me now and reached out his hand to kill me right now, I would not resist him. I would die by his hand and never stop loving him. But Issei will never stop loving me, us because he is a Dragon and we are his treasure. A Dragon will never give up his treasure, did you know that childhood friend? Issei will always love me!" Then she looked at Issei and said, "No, Ise, We did not build this temple to Ddraig. We built it to you. It is a testament of our love to you Issei. Elsha, Kuroka and I built this for you."

Issei helped Irina and Xenovia to their feet but before he spoke, the curtain opened and a young woman with short black hair and glasses opened the curtain and walked out of the Temple. She was followed by a woman with knee length flowing crimson red hair. The first woman walked boldly up to Issei and after embracing him, she passionately kissed him. Then she said, "I love you Issei, is there room in your heart for me as well?"

The woman with crimson hair said, I also love you Issei. You saved me from Raiser. Even if you never reciprocate my love, I will always love you."

"Sona, Rias, I don't know what to say right now…"

"You don't have to answer us right now Issei." Sona said, "Rias and I will be patient. I only hope that you will grow to love me as much as I love you."

"Yes Issei," Rias said I will wait for your love, but I should tell you, I have already slept naked with you. I kissed you while you were sleeping in my bed at the mansion and I will happily give you my virginity. Just call my name and I will be there, anytime and anywhere."

"Good grief Rias, You are as bad as my sister." Sona said. "Issei called us out here for a different reason, you can rape him later OK?"

""I wouldn't… Oh fuck, just shut up Sona!" Rias responded. Then Rias asked Issei, "OK, Why did you call us out here?"

"Let me introduce everyone" Issei said. "These young women are Irina Shidou and Xenovia Quarta. They are Church warriors who are here because the Fallen Angels have stolen a Holy Sword called Excalibur and they believe that It is here in Kuoh Town. They are going to restart the war."

"But, why here?" Rias asked.

"That isn't hard to figure out Rias." Issei said. Then he turned to Irina and Xenovia and Irina and said, These lovely ladies are Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory. They are the younger sisters of the Maous, Serafall Leviathan and Sirzechs Lucifer."

Xenovia smiled bitterly and said, "A short while I would have attacked you without reservation, as soon as I found out that you are Devils, but Issei has taught me something. The Angels, Fallen Angels and Devils stopped their war to stop two Dragons from destroying the world, and now one of those Dragons wants to prevent that war from starting over. I swear in the name of my God that I will not attack you or any other Devil in this town. I only wish to recover Excalibur and return to the Vatican in peace.

Rias reached out her hand and said, "I will grant you safe passage in Kuoh Town. None of the Devils in this area will bother you, but we cannot openly aid you either. Right now the truce is uneasy at best and we cannot upset the balance."

Then Sona said, "I will have my familiar spy on any suspicious activities by the Fallen Angels, should they make an appearance and I will inform Issei. He can then pass along the information to you."

At first Irina was going to refuse to take Sona's hand but Issei glared at her and hissed, "Take her hand Irina, even if you don't want to be friends with her, she is a High Class Devil and the sister of one of the four Maou. You will show her respect!"

Ir a flash of anger ran across Irina's face but it was quickly gone then she bowed apologetically and took Sona's hand in both of hers and shook hands with her. "I am in your care." She said.

Then she shook hands with Rias and Xenovia also shook hands with both Rias and Sona without being prompted. "I will not break our truce. I swear in the name of Saint Michael The Archangel of our God."

Sona then said, "I must inform my peerage that two Church Warriors are currently under my protection, So I must go now. For now, I will not inform my sister or any of the other Maou. This will be our small non-aggression pact."

Rias smiled and said, "I too must inform my servants. Goodbye and good luck. We will contact you through Issei if we find any news for you." Then both she and Sona teleported away.

Issei rubbed his hands together and said, "Well, that went better than I hoped. Where are you going to stay while you are here in town?"

"We plan to stay in my father's old Church." Irina said. The one on the top of the hill."

Issei shook his head and said, "No that is a bad idea. The church was abandoned many years ago and was taken over by the Fallen Angels. It is not a safe place."

"Well then, what about the Hotel here in town, Is it nice?" Xenovia asked.

"Yes it is a beautiful hotel with a great restaurant, but it is owned by Rias Gremory's Father. It is called The Grand Gremory Hotel. I don't think that two Church warriors on a secret mission should stay there." Issei said.

"Well there is always the park." Xenovia said.

"I have a better Idea Asia said, "Why don't you come home with us? We have a lot of empty bedrooms in our house and Mom is a great cook. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Especially since you are Issei's long lost friend Irina!"

"I don't know if that is a good Idea Asia, Xenovia tried to kill you once, you know." Shirone said.

"Yes, I did and I am truly sorry Asia. What I did was unforgivable, but I swear that I will never raise a blade or hand to harm you again, and I hope that you will forgive me anyway."

"Sure." Asia said smiling. "I hope that we can be friends. Even though the Church abandoned me, I am still a believer."

"Perhaps we can at that Asia." Xenovia said, and reached out her hand.

Instead Asia walked over and hugged Xenovia and said, "Until I met Ise, I never had any friends or family. Now I have two sisters, a mom, a dad and a boyfriend who loves me. Now I hope to make lots of friends.

"Yes I would like that." Xenovia said. "I would be honored to be your friend Asia."

Irina hugged both Xenovia and Asia and said, "I want to be your friend to Asia, because you are friends with Issei." Then she looked at Shirone and said, "I would like to be your friend as well Shirone."

"Perhaps we can become friends someday," Shirone said, "but for now, let's just wait and see.

"Well Irina, Xenovia, Asia has invited you to our home. It is safer than the park. You can stay with us as long as you need to."

"I for one, would love to see your mom and dad again Issei." Irina said cheerfully. What about it Xenovia, Do you want to take Issei up on his hospitality?"

"Xenovia wavered for a few minutes, but then she said, "Well, I've never been inside a mansion before. We could at least go and see Issei's parents. I would like to know more about my partner's old friend."

A short while later, everyone was standing on the sidewalk outside of the mansion. Shirone turned to Irina and said, "Give me your hand."

Not knowing what to expect Irina reached out her hand and Shirone took her hand and drew a magic symbol on the back of her hand. "This is a Yokai spell, it will allow you to cross the barriers at both our home and the temple."

Irina withdrew her hand and saw the symbol glow for a few seconds and then it vanished. She didn't feel anything different but when she reached her hand out beyond the sidewalk, the pressure she had felt earlier was gone. It was as if the barrier no longer existed. She nodded her thanks and then Shirone looked at Xenovia. Without hesitation, Xenovia offered her hand, and Shirone drew the same symbol on Xenovia's hand as well. Then they walked to the entrance and Issei opened the door.

When the door opened Miki Hyoudou was in the kitchen. She had just finished washing the dishes and she wasn't expecting anyone. Ise, Asia and Shirone were in school, Goru was at work and Kuroka had also left for her first day at Kuoh University. When Miki entered the living room she saw Issei, Shirone and Asia with two unfamiliar girls. The girls were wearing hooded church robes but the hoods were down and their heads were uncovered. One of the girls had short black hair with with a green lock of hair in her bangs.. She looked like a foreigner. The other had long brown hair that was tied in twin tails, but despite the hair color, she looked Japanese. But there was something about the Japanese girl's face. She remembered. "Irina Shidou! It has been such a long time" She said then she rushed to Irina open armed and hugged her. "My what a lovely young lady you turned out to be.

"Ise used to think I was a boy." Irina said.

"Oh, I'm not surprised,"Miki said with a laugh. You were quite the tom boy when you were in primary school, and Issei used to be an idiot, but he has turned out to be quite a fine young man."

Irina laughed and said, yes, he has really changed since I last saw him. Oh by the way this is my friend Xenovia. We are touring Japan and I wanted to show her my old home town while we were here."

Xenovia bowed and Miki returned the bow. "It is nice to meet you Xenovia. When did you girls get in town.?"

"We flew in from Italy late last night and we took the train from Tokyo, early this morning."

"Oh my goodness! Miki exclaimed, "You girls must be exhausted and hungry. "Oh have you found a place to stay while you are in town? Never mind you can stay here. We have plenty of guest bedrooms on the second floor. Why don't you girls have a bath, there is a lovely large bath in the basement and even a swimming pool. While you are bathing, I will put fresh linens on your beds and make you girls a nice breakfast. Then I will show you to your rooms and you can rest until my son and daughters get home from school." Then she turned to Ise and said You three are late for school and this is Asia's first day. Run along I'll keep Irina and your new friend company until you get home."

"Really, we don't want to impose Mrs Hyoudou." Xenovia said.

"Forget it Xenovia," Irina said Issei's mom is a force of nature. You will never win an argument with her. It's best that we just do what she said, and frankly I would love a Japanese bath. It has been so long since I had one."

"It's true." Shirone said. "I have known er almost my entire life and she is the most generous woman on Earth, but she will not take no for an answer."

Then Miki said, "Run along you three. I have a meal to prepare and you are late."

Miki led Xenovia and Irina to the stairs at the end of the hall and said, "Follow me and I will show you the bath. There are clean robes and slippers in the changing room. Breakfast will be ready in an hour."

Issei, Shirone and Asia left for school and as soon as they were out of the door, Shirone said, "I put a spell on both of them, if they try to hurt mom, it will activate and stop them."

"Wow," Asia said, "you can do that?"

"Of course, I am a Nekomata. There is a lot of things that I can do that you don't know about" Shirone said smugly.

"It isn't going to kill them I hope." Issei said.

"No, but they will be very sick for a long time and their mission will end in failure. Neither of them will ever be able to lift a sword again because they will be mostly paralyzed."

"That's brutal," Issei said, "but I don't believe it is necessary. Irina is trustworthy and I don't believe that Xenovia will do anything either. She gave her word."

"I don't really think that it is necessary either Ise." Shirone said but I will always protect my family with my life. Trust, but verify is a very good policy to live by, is it not?"

"Yes it is Shirone, but if I had even the slightest doubt about Xenovia, I would have never allowed her in our house." Issei said.

A little while later Xenovia and Irina were relaxing in an underground hot spring. The entire room was carved out of solid stone and the hot spring filled a large pool that was large enough to swim in. The hot water was the perfect temperature and there were healthful minerals in the water. The light above the pool looked like a globe of the full moon, The light was just bright enough to read by although there was no books in the room.

"This is A Japanese bath?" Xenovia asked. Not for the first time.

When the finished their showers and walked through the door into the room. The shower room was large and spacious and there were enough shower heads for up to six people to shower at one time. The fixtures looked like they were made out of gold but Xenovia was sure that they were made out of brass, of course she was wrong. They were in fact, gold plated copper. One door in the shower room led to an Olympic sized swimming pool and the other led to this cave with the pool that they were siting in. The floor and the seating area were carved out of Granite but the bench was smooth and comfortable to sit on and there was just enough texture to the floor so that no one would slip while walking around in the pool. The pool could easily fit ten or more people and while sitting on the seat, the water was chest deep on the two girls. They had soaked for nearly an hour and the hot water and steam was making both of them drowsy.

"No Xenovia," Irina said, this is not a Japanese bath. This is an Onsen!"

"Onsen?"Xenovia asked.

"Yes A Hot spring. Issei has a real Hot spring under his house!" If I'm guessing correctly, we are under where my house used to sit. There was a hot Spring right under my house when I was a child and my parents never knew it! Forget it Xenovia. I am never leaving Japan again. I am going to marry Issei so I can use this hot spring every day for the rest of my life!"

"Come on Irina, don't make jokes like that. We have a mission to complete. We are two of the best Exorcists that the Church has." Xenovia said. "Besides you heard the conversation this morning. Issei is already having sex with Asia, Shirone and Kuroka,. Also both of those Devils want him. We need to complete our mission and go back. You cannot allow yourself to be tempted. You have your faith and that should be enough for you."

"Xenovia, You may have aspirations to become a Catholic Nun, but I do not. Some day I want to have a husband and children." Irina responded. "I want to be a wife and mother some day. It is a small dream but that is what I am fighting for."

"That may be so Irina, but Your childhood friend is a Dragon in an adulterous relationship with at least six women, perhaps more. We need to complete our mission and get out. You should not even allow yourself to even think about it. Find a good Christian man some day and settle down. I will support you in that dream. We should finish hurry up and finish our bath and then we should thank Mrs Hyoudou for her hospitality and get away from your Dragon friend. We shouldn't rely on Dragons and Devils to accomplish our mission. We should rely only on our faith."

"No Xenovia," Irina said seriously We were sent on a suicide mission and I don't intend to die. Do you want to fail your mission and die at the hands of a Fallen Angel? Do you want the Fallen Angels to win?"

"No of course not Irina!"

"Then relax and accept the help. I trust Issei and I love his parents. Irina said firmly. "We will find Excalibur, but until we do we are going to stay here in this house where it is safe, and we are going to accept help from Rias and Sona."

"OK Irina, we will stay and accept the help, but I am going to pray that you don't fall into temptation. Xenovia said. Then she said, "Oh Lord, protect my friend and Companion Irina. Keep her from temptation. Amen." But silently she also prayed, 'And protect me too, because that Dragon has awakened something in me… ' Her thoughts drifted. What would it be like to have sex? How would it feel to have Issei's hands caressing her breasts and her back? How would it feel to have him inside her, to make love to a man, no to a Dragon? "No lead me not into temptation… Dragon." She said with a whisper.

"What did you say?" Irina asked.

"I was praying for you Irina, that's all." Xenovia said..

"OK. Thank you Xenovia." Irina replied, but she heard what Xenovia said, and she also had a pretty good Idea what Xenovia was thinking. She had seen the look of arousal on Rias' face when she looked at Issei, and that look was mirrored on her friend's face. Xenovia was never able to hide her emotions from anyone. Irina knew that better than anyone. She also wondered if her face had the same look. 'Forgive me Lord for what I am planning to do.' Irina thought. 'I will ask for your forgiveness later. I promise."

Neither girl had ever experienced the subtle pheromones of a Dragon, and they were both totally defenseless against it. Issei was a Dragon who cared deeply for the women that he loved, and even he was unaware of the affect that he had on women. It was never actually his intent to seduce anyone and he was actually mystified as to why both Rias and Sona wanted him. He knew that Aika Kiryuu wanted to have sex with him, but he was convinced that she was just a nymphomaniac. Of course, he was wrong. She was a frustrated virgin that was head over heels in love with him. She was a pervert just like his two friends Matsuda and Motohoma but just like them she was actually too shy to actually sleep with a boy, or even kiss one. She had an undeserved reputation as a slut, but she did or said nothing to dispel the rumors. She thought that it was better to be considered a slut than a pathetic virgin that never even kissed a boy. She hid nearly crippling shyness with false bravado. She actually never considered giving anyone her first kiss as well as her virginity until she met Issei Hyoudou. Someday, she would tell him the truth… Someday.

Of course Irina, Rias and Aika weren't the only women that wanted Issei. Akeno Himejima and Shinra Tsubaki also wanted him. So did Serafall Leviathan and Tiamat. The last two wanted him so bad, that they were actually conspiring together to kidnap him, tie him up and take him by force, if they couldn't convince him to make love to them. Issei was a Dragon, and his treasure was neither gold nor jewels, but the people that he loved and chose to protect.