I did and update to chapter 36 to help explain a few things that I got questions for. So go back and find the phone call. Other than that, here we go.

The Brave and The Bold

A few months had passed since Issei proposed to both Asia and Irina. Since then, he had also proposed to Akeno and Kuroka. Akeno's ring was a beautiful amethyst gem with a center of red. Kuroka had one made of obsidian. the center also glowed bright red in the light. About a month ago, Akeno discovered she was one month pregnant with Issei's child. It hadn't worked the first time, but with a night together a week, it seemed to pay off. Kuroka's due date was coming soon and Issei had no intentions of missing this one like he had with Rias. Unfortunately, things tend to go the wrong way for him.

It was a cool winter evening. Issei was surrounded in the living room by all his girls. Rias and Ellie situated on his left. Kuroka and Akeno on his right. The church trio sat on the floor around his legs. Koneko was in her favorite spot, his lap. Rossweisse had gone to visit Asgard to see her grandmother. Ravel was finishing paperwork for the club.

After about an hour, the young Phoenix joined the group. Problem was, there was nowhere for her to sit in relative proximity to Issei. Rias offered the girl her spot, but Ravel refused. Surprisingly, Koneko offered to share his lap with her. Although she was hesitant, Ravel accepted and joined Koneko. Those two had started out enemies, then rivals, now they were best friends.

Issei stroked Koneko's ears. "Thank you Koneko. I know its not easy sharing with a rival."

"Anything for you Issei." She purred back.

They were all truly one big happy family.

The next morning was the first day of school after winter break for those at Kuou. Issei had called off any meetings at the clubhouse. Instead, he asked Koneko and Ravel to meet him there for some last-minute paperwork from late December. The two young devils entered the old school building to find a man that had already entered the main room.

"I don't sense Issei here." Koneko commented quietly.

"What do we do?" Ravel was shaking. Of all the rating games she'd been in, nothing terrified her more than this. Not even the dragons that trained her brother.

"Why don't you start by telling us where the Red Dragon is." A voice came from behind them. The two girls turned and found a gruff looking man with black spiked hair staring down at them. "Name's Syn. I'd hate to have to hurt you." He pulled two knives and held them to their throats. "But I won't hesitate to be rid of a nuisance."

Both girls were now terrified. Syn picked them up and took them into the main room. He tossed them on the couch and sat on the desk.

"Why do you want him?" Koneko stood bravely and clenched her fists.

"Do you know who we are?" Syn stood up. "I am Syn Kurata of the HDAA. I am the current leader of our liberation army. Our goal is simple. Eradicate the holy dragons."

Ravel looked back to when Issei and Riser trained with Tannin. 'The dragons are a proud species, not to be trifled with.' She grabbed Koneko's sleeve and tried to get her to sit down.

Instead, Koneko pulled up her fists ready to fight. "I will not let you hurt him." She rushed the much larger man and landed a solid impact reinforced with senjutsu on his jaw. The hit drew blood from his lips.

"Huh." Syn wiped the blood off his mouth. "That kinda stung." He cracked his knuckles as he towered over Koneko. "Okay, my turn."

Before she could react, Koneko was sent flying into the wall. She stood from the floor and brought her hands up again. "Good hit. I won't go easy on you this time." Once again, she rushed him.

"Bad move kitty." Syn chuckled as the shock on Koneko's face allowed him time to dodge her hit and land three of his own. The small cat devil was smashed through the wooden table in between the couches and knocked out cold. "I assume you don't wanna try anything."

Ravel shook her head and stared at her friend. She was paralyzed with fear and couldn't move.

Suddenly, the doors burst open and Issei walked in. "So, you must be Syn."

"The one and only." Syn replied as he stepped over Koneko's bleeding body.

"You did that?" Issei looked down to see Koneko.

"She started it. Dumb bitch doesn't know when to quit." Syn laughed.

"You're right about that. She is stronger than most. But I am ten times stronger than she is. Balance Break!" Issei shouted as his body turned to crimson.

"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!" Ddraig's voice echoed through the room.

"If you don't wish to die. I would leave. NOW!" Issei charged and went to punch his target. However, he hit nothing as Syn vanished. It was a lot like dueling Sairaorg. "You're quick."

"I worked my body to it's peak." Syn smirked.

"He wasn't talking to you, asshole." Another voice popped in.

"Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!" Albion's voice echoed.

"Yea, I was talking to him." Issei chuckled and pointed at Vali. "Thanks for coming."

"I'd never miss a chance to show you up Hyoudou." Vali and Issei both attacked and hit Syn.

Surprisingly, he walked away from it unscathed. "Huh? So, these are the Heavenly Dragons. It's clear that I don't stand a chance against you both. That was Valdos' mistake. The Khaos Brigade was right. You two are very powerful. Good day." Syn vanished. Vali also took his leave in hopes to catch him.

Issei breathed a sigh of relief until he heard a groan from his side. "Koneko!" He deactivated his armor and knelt at her side. He picked her up and cradled her close. Ravel sat across from him.

"Hey dumb dumb. Bout time you showed up." Her voice was weak and frail.

"Stay with me now." He carefully stood and laid her on his lap on the couch. "Why did you attack him?"

"You know me…" She coughed up blood. "I'm a fighter." Her eye lids started to flutter.

"I know kitten. You're always a fighter." Issei pulled out his phone and dialed Asia. "Asia, Koneko is injured badly. I need you to get here fast."

"I can't Issei, Kuroka just went into labor." Asia replied.

"Damn." Issei hung up without another word. "Ravel, can you heal her?"

"I-I can try." She started to heal Koneko but it was slow going. "I'm sorry, the wounds are too much for me."

"Dammit all!" Issei opened a teleportation circle and the three of them vanished in a crimson light. They were soon in the room with Kuroka, Asia, and Rias.

"Issei?" Rias questioned until she saw Koneko in a bloody mess.

"Shirone." Kuroka's eyes started to tear up as another contraction hit.

The doctors in the room placed Koneko on a separate bed in the room and Asia got started.

"It will take some time. What happened out there?" Asia asked.

"The goddamn HDAA is back and they've joined with the Khaos Brigade. Their new boss left Koneko as a greeting. She tried to fight him and lost, badly." Issei sat down next to Kuroka. "I'm sorry Kuroka. If I'd gotten there faster, I coulda kept her out the fight."

"It's okay. She's stubborn. If she wanted to fight, there was no stopping her." Her cheeks were stained with tears as she looked over to her sister.

"Ms. Toujou. Are you ready?" The doctor asked.

"I guess. Here goes nothing." Kuroka said with a half smile.

Issei had decided to stay close in order to keep her comfort, so the others went over to Koneko. Both bishops and Rias worked to heal the white Nekomata.

"You're doing great Kuroka. Just a little bit more." Issei allowed her to grip his hand as hard as she could.

"Ya know? When this is all over, I'm gonna kill you." She breathed hard as she pushed again.

"Good, his head is out." The doctor put up his fingers to count her down again.

"Agreed. You can kill me as many times as you feel necessary, just get our baby boy out first." He brought his other hand to her cheek.

"Push."

"AHHHHHH!" Kuroka's scream caught the attention of all the girls in the room accept for the passed out Koneko.

"Great job Ms. Toujou." The doctor handed off the newborn to be cleaned. After a little while he was all nice and neat. However, unlike Ellie, he wasn't screaming. Although he was still breathing. "Here he is."

Kuroka recovered from her stress and sat up to hold him. "Come to Mama baby." She reached her hands out and carefully brought the baby to her chest. "Issei, thank you."

"Hey, this was only 50% me." Issei chuckled as he smiled. "If anything I should be thanking you. I mean, you carried him for nine months." Another thought entered his head. "You still gonna kill me?"

"Nah, I'm to tired now." Kuroka's eyes never left the sleeping baby in her arms.

Rias appeared around the corner of the curtain and smiled. "Have you picked out a name yet?"

"I was gonna let her pick." Kuroka's eyes moved to where Koneko lay, still and silent.

Rias sighed as she saw her friend's condition. "She should be waking up any minute now."

"I got this." Issei walked over to where Koneko sat. "Time to get up kitten." He leaned down and kissed her soft lips. After a few seconds, her eyes fluttered. "There she is."

"What happened? Where am I?" Koneko tried to sit up but was stopped by Issei.

"You tried to fight Syn on your own, didn't you?"

"I was trying to be brave, for you." Tears escaped her eyes.

"I'd say you were bold and brave. You fought an adversary twice your size. You lost, but you still fought."

"I'm like to fight. It's fun." She tried to sit up again, but Issei picked her up bridal style to carry her to Kuroka.

"You've always been a fighter. Kuroka has a surprise for you." She looked over and saw a small baby boy in her sister's arms. The baby had jet black hair and hazel eyes.

"You had a baby." Koneko said as she was sat down on the bed.

"Yea." Kuroka giggled at her simple observation.

"What's his name?"

"What do you want it to be?"

Koneko was shocked that her sister would leave such an important decision to her. "Wait. Huh?"

"I figured since it will be a while before you can have a kitten to call your own, that you can name this one."

She sat in deep though for a minute. "I can't pick for you big sis. He's your baby boy." Koneko looked down at her own stomach. "I'll have my own one day."

"Ok, Issei?" Kuroka asked her fiancé.

"You should pick Kuroka. I remember how much you wanted a child. To not name him is something you might regret." Issei kissed her forehead.

"Alright. Ewan. That's his name." Kuroka smiled down at her son.

"Why that name?" Her sister asked with wide eyes.

"Arthur told me of a friend he had when he was little. His name was Ewan. He said that Ewan was a brave fighter and would protect his older sister, even though he was little. He was killed some time long ago." Kuroka recalled the story and pushed back the blanket covering him. "I know that he will protect Ellie and all his bothers and sisters to come."