True Friends

Issei shut the large door behind him. His family, his fiancés, his children, his wife. He was leaving it all behind so he could protect them. The man that stood on the stairs before him waited alone.

"I respect your honor Red Dragon. Had you not been my enemy from the start, I would've hoped to be allies." Kurata said as he stared into the sunset.

"Let's get this over with. Afterwards, I ask you to take my body away from here. I don't wish for them to see it." Issei stepped forward and sat on the steps.

"I don't understand." A voice came from above. "You're so willing to die for those people inside, why not just fight and kill him here?"

Both men looked up to see a certain little girl sitting on the top of the stone wall. Her black hair and dead eyes staring up into the sky. Her purple headdress to match her open undershirt.

"I don't get it. Then again, I've never had anyone to call a friend." The girl hopped down off of the wall and walked up to Issei.

"Ophis. Nice to see you again." Issei looked at at the short dragon with a smile.

"Who is this girl Hyoudou?" Kurata asked.

"You should know. She's one of your targets."

"Huh?"

"Targets?" Ophis asked in her deadpanned voice.

"You're kidding. She is a holy dragon?" Kurata was stunned. He had studied all the Holy Dragons, yet this wasn't one he knew of.

"Syn Kurata, meet Ophis. The Dragon God of Infinity, and a friend." Issei smiled at the mighty dragon before him.

"Friend?" She asked. "I've never had a friend."

"Well, you're more than welcome to call me a friend. Vali said I caught your interest. It would be easier to learn about me if we were friends." Issei stood from the steps and patted her head. "Unfortunately, it would appear that I am about to die."

"Yes, that does seem troublesome." Ophis snapped her fingers and Syn Kurata was gone.

"What did you do to him?" Issei's urgency was strange.

"I thought you would find it better if the threat was no longer here." She sat down on the steps, Issei joined her.

"Not that. He was a nice guy. A bit misguided, but nice."

"I returned him to his family. He had no memory of this encounter of the Khaos Brigade."

"Speaking of, I thought you lead the Khaos Brigade?"

"I did. However, I soon found that they only really craved power and…"

"Chaos?"

"Yes. All I want it to go home." Her face fell. She had never shown emotion to anyone before. Issei could tell that she really missed her home, no matter how depressing it was.

"Well, you can stay here with me and my family if you want." That got her attention.

Ophis sat back a bit and smiled. "An interesting idea. It would give me the chance to learn what kind of person you are." After a second of thought, she had her answer. "I will accept your offer for the time being. Given that you teach me about yourself and of this world."

"I think we can do that." He stood and she rose to her feet also. "Come, let's go and introduce you properly."

"Hm." Ophis nodded and followed him to the door.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

All the girls faced the door with teary eyes. Not one of them could bear to open the door and see what awaited on the other side. Kiba, being the brave knight he was, stood from his chair to answer the door. He took a glance through the window and his eyes went wide. Rushing to the door, he caught all the girls' attention.

"Wha-What is it Kiba?" Akeno asked as Kiba placed his hand on the door.

"Akeno, I forgot to get you a gift for your birthday and I'm sorry. But it think this gift, is one the entire house will love." Kiba swung the door open and, of course, Issei Hyoudou is standing on the other side with the dopiest grin on his face.

"So, death doesn't seem to like me after all." He chuckled as all the girls ran to him. It didn't take much for him to be tackled to the ground.

"How dare you scare me like that!" Rias yelled.

"You're okay! You're okay!" Asia, Koneko, Irina, and Akeno all jumped on him.

"You are an idiot!" Ravel chastised with tear staining her cheeks.

"I should've known you couldn't die that easily." The cheeky black Nekomata cradled her son. "Looks like Daddy gets to stay after all."

A certain witch just floated on her broom stick staring at her ring. She knew that he had only given it to her because he thought he was going to die. Now that he was here, he was sure to take it back. Tears began to well up on her face.

"Le Fay."

She turned to see Issei's smiling face.

"Thank you." He crossed the small distance and held her. "You've done so much. If it wasn't for you, and Ophis, wouldn't be here."

"Ophis?" The groups all turned to face Kiba who stood next to the mighty dragon.

"Can I get you a drink?" Kiba asked her as he bowed.

"No." Ophis' deadpanned tone was the same as always.

Rias took a second and analyzed the situation. She then grabbed Issei's hand and took him to another room. "Why is she here?"

Issei chuckled as he held his wife in his arms. "What? You're not appreciative of the person who saved my life?"

"What do you mean? How did she save you?"

"Simple." Ophis' voice came from the seemingly empty room. The couple soon found her sitting on the tv. "I sent that man back to his home with no memory of these events. Quite simple."

"Thank you Ophis, for saving my husband." Rias approach the loli and held out her hand.

"I did it because he intrigues me, and I don't wish for him to die yet." Ophis hopped down and walked to the door. "I think I'll take that drink now." She left the room.

Rias and Issei stared at the door for a moment. "One, how did she get in here? Two, what is going on?" Rias asked as she leaned into her husband's chest.

"I have no idea. However, to answer your other question, I asked her to stay here. I decided that it would be nice to repay her. Maybe we can show her that living in the human world isn't all that bad." Issei kissed her forehead and lead her out the room.

The family was back together again, and a certain blonde wanted to keep it that way.

"Issei." He felt a tug on his shirt sleeve. Turning around he found Asia.

"Hey Asia." He saw the tears in her eyes and quickly held her to his chest. "I'm so sorry about all of that. I never wanted to leave you, but I can't bear to see you get hurt. I would do anything and everything to keep you safe." He held Asia as she bawled her eyes out on his chest.

Soon enough, it was time for bed. Issei gladly let all of the girls stay with him in his room. Even Le Fay, who was initially against the idea, couldn't turn it down saying, "…Well I have slept naked beside you before." She also climbed into bed, clothed of course.

Issei looked around him. His wife by his side. The mother of his third child on his left. Asia and Irina by his legs. The Nekomata sisters covering his body with theirs'. The young Phoenix in his right arm, and a little witch in his left. Of course, Xenovia had taken her spot on at the end of the bed.

His gaze then ended up to the two cribs set side-by-side in the corner. One was for Ellie, and the other for Ewan.

The other thought that was in his mind dwelled in a room next door to his. Le Fay had graciously given up her room for the time being and customized it to Ophis' liking. So basically, a very bland room. Issei had an interesting idea.

"Ophis, you said you miss the silence of dimensional gap?" Issei stood in the empty room with the dragon and the witch.

"Yes."

"I have an idea how to make it close to that here. I read somewhere that foam soundproofing, if enough is used, can cause an ear deafening silence. Would you like to try it for the night and see how it works?" He hoped she would consider it.

"If you think that you can replicate my silence, then do it." Ophis walked forward and laid on the bed.

"Okay, here we go!" Le Fay used her little wand and made the soundproofing appear out of nowhere. "This should be enough, but don't hesitate to ask for more." Le Fay bowed and walked out.

"I'll leave you here tonight. If you need something, my door is the first on your right." He turned to walk out but stopped. "And please, no teleporting through walls."

"Okay." Ophis closed her eyes and Issei left her to her silence.

Issei was pulled from is thoughts when a certain little witch shifted in his arms. He looked down and patted her head. "You've been so brave Le Fay. Thank you."

Whether she heard him or not was anyone's guess, but she smiled nonetheless.