Forever and Always

Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor, stood with his fists pulled up. His family, his wife, his fiancés, his children, all in danger from the man that stood not 10 feet in front of him.

A man that had almost beaten Koneko to death with a single punch. A man that would stop at nothing and do anything to achieve his goal. A man that aligned himself with the Khaos brigade just to kill the Red Dragon. His name was Syn Kurata.

The two foes stood facing each other for what felt like hours. In reality, it was only about a minute.

"You really think you can beat me? Your balance breaker is gone." Syn chuckled as he took a step towards Akeno.

Suddenly, two knights appeared before him. "We won't let you near him." Xenovia challenged as she and Irina crossed blades in front of Syn.

"There is no way we would let you get anywhere close to him. I will smite you in the name of God! Amen!" Irina smirked as she readied her blade to fight.

"Hmm. An angel and a devil. A very strange assortment of people you have with you Red Dragon." Syn took a step back, calculating his next move.

"Issei!" Asia ran into the room and jumped into his arms. Ravel and Koneko right on her heals.

"Woah. What is it?" He asked the others as he comforted Asia.

"Demons. A whole bunch of 'em." Koneko panted as she turned to face Syn. Her eyes went wide.

"Oh, so little kitty survived. Shame. It would appear that I will have to beat you down again." Syn began to make his way towards Koneko. This time, a third blade reached his throat.

"I may not have a reason for killing you. But if you make any attempt on her life, or the others, I won't hesitate to slice your head clean off."

"Kiba, great timing as always." Issei smiled at his friend. "Thank you."

"I'll always be here Issei." Kiba flashed his own smile. "Now, you can back away, or I will take your head off."

"I like you, knight of Rias Gremory. Punctual, fearless, and reasonable. No wonder Valdos made it such a goal to flip you first." Syn began to laugh. "Okay, enough chit chat." No movement was seen except for the disappearance of his body. Instantly, Kiba was launched into the ceiling.

Issei took a second and gently pushed Asia away. "Asia, go get Le Fay and Rias." Asia nodded with tears in her eyes. "Ravel, go with her."

"Yes sir." She took off after her.

"Koneko, I need you to help me protect Akeno. With her state, I don't want her to fight." Issei stood next to the short statured Nekomata.

"Got it."

"I can protect myself." A sleepy groan came from the couch. "Issei, I love you, but I can still fight." She was soon in her shrine maiden outfit. Of course, the bump in the middle was obvious.

"Alright, who dies first?" Syn threw a quick right and Irina's blade clanged.

Asia and Ravel ran into the room where Kuroka, Le Fay, and Rias were.

"Lady Rias. The Khaos Brigade is attacking. Syn Kurata is downstairs and the house is surrounded." Ravel said as she stood in the door. The young Phoenix no longer wore her pink dress everywhere, but a pink t-shirt and white shorts.

"Alright. Le Fay, Kuroka, start setting traps around the house. Let no demon through." Rias shouted.

"Alright." Kuroka started to conjure some traps.

"On it, Mrs. Rias." Le Fay teleported out the room and placed a bubble around the house to give them time. She soon returned. "I set up a bubble shield around the house."

"Good job. Go see if you can get Issei's balance breaker back." Rias ordered.

"On it." Le Fay was soon flying out the window to help.

"How did you…?" Ravel began to ask, but Rias stopped her.

"He used to have visions of this moment that resulted in night terrors. If it is all true, then his balance breaker is useless."

"Oh."

Le Fay was on her broom stick flying around the house taking out any demons or creatures that got through. Eventually, she found Issei. He was locked in a battle of blades with Kurata.

Issei had managed to summon Ascalon despite not having a balance breaker. Kurata had brought his own holy sword and was not ready to lose.

"You fight well, pawn." Syn teased as he swung at Issei.

"Well, I had some damn good teachers." He spared a second to wink at Xenovia and Irina who watched with anticipation.

"Too bad they're gonna die here tonight."

"Oh, I don't think so." Issei summoned his gauntlet and used it as a shield.

"Partner, you know that your gauntlet is not an effective shield." Ddraig reminded.

"Yea. I know." He threw his arm up to block Syn's holy sword. "But it seems to work better than no shield."

"You have a point." Ddraig chuckled.

Issei broke away for a second, then it clicked. 'I can't use my balance breaker, but I can use the twice critical to it's max.' He quickly charged up a blast of energy. "Dragon Shot!" The blast broke through the blade that Syn held.

"Hmm. Impressive. Perhaps I should start with the others." Kurata appeared behind Le Fay. "Maybe the little witch would be a good start." He then reappeared behind Irina and Xenovia. "Or maybe the swordsmen?"

At that moment, Asia came running back in. She stopped when she saw where Kurata was standing. A blade at her friends' necks. "Issei?" Her eyes began to water.

"Oh, this should get to you Red Dragon." Within a fraction of a second, Syn was behind Asia with the blade's tip poking her back.

Issei went to take a step but stopped once Asia screamed in pain.

"Ah ah ah. I wouldn't if I were you. Take another step and this blade goes through her back." Kurata twisted it a bit to get his point across. Asia's whine was enough of a convincer. "From what I've read. This little girl has the power to heal anything. I wonder if she can heal herself." The blade pushed in a bit.

"No please. Leave her be!" Issei yelled as he stood helpless to her cries.

"D-Don't worry Issei. I can take it." Asia claimed bravely before she shrieked in pain again.

"KURATA!" Issei threw down Ascalon and it vanished. "I'm done. Please, don't hurt her anymore. I'll let you… I'll let you kill me."

"Brave notion Mr. Hyoudou." Syn pulled the sword's tip out and pushed Asia to him.

"Asia, Asia!" She fell into his arms. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." It took a second to face him. "Are you… really gonna let him?"

"If it's to protect you, and all the others, I will gladly give my life." Issei flashed a weak smile. He stood up and pulled Asia to him. "I love you Asia. I always have." He held her as she cried.

"Please no." Her voice was soft and broken.

"Syn Kurata. I ask that you allow me time to say goodbye to my family before you take my life."

"As a man of honor, and a father, I will grant you that. I will also give you my word that I will not kill your family. Although I can't speak for those outside." Syn walked to the door. "I will give you 30 minutes. Don't make me wait." He shut the door and left Issei to his family.

"Issei, please. Allow me to transport us to Heaven. Lord Michael will…" Irina started, but Issei cut her off.

"I'm sorry Irina." He enveloped the angel in a loving embrace. "I love you. You're the first friend I ever had, and I'm so happy you found a home here." Tears fell from his eyes as he kissed her.

Unbeknownst to him, Le Fay had raced upstairs to relay the news.

Issei moved to where Xenovia stood. She was trying to be strong, for the other's sakes. "Xenovia. You've shown me that even the most committed can change their heart." He wrapped his arms around her, and she lost all composure.

"Issei. Please don't go. I finally got you to love me and now you're gonna leave." She wailed as her tears stained his ripped shirt.

"It's okay." Issei stroked her hair to comfort her. "It'll all be okay." In the corner of the room, he found Kiba leaning against the wall. A frown stained his face. "I assume, you don't want a hug and kiss, pretty boy?"

"I'm good. Issei, I promise, I will be here to protect them always. Not as a knight of Rias Gremory, but as your brother and friend." Kiba knelt down behind his sword and bowed his head.

"Thank you Kiba." He turned once a small pair of arms wrapped around his torso.

"Issei!" Koneko bawled as she clung to him. "I love you, don't leave me." Her tears were heavy and large.

Issei took a second an knelt to her level. "I'm sorry Koneko. I need to protect you from all of this. I want you to live your life. Find someone to love. Be the woman I know you can be." He patted her head and stood back up.

"You Idiot." Issei turned back around to face her. "Don't you get it? Nekomata mate for life. Once I've chosen my ideal mate, there can be nobody else. I only want you."

"I know. Kuroka made some of that clear in the past." He pulled her chin up and kissed her. "Then, live the life you want to live." As he turned, a glare was felt on the back of his neck. "Akeno."

She wobbled her way over to him and slapped him across the face. "No! I'm not letting you do this to me. To Rias, to Elizabeth, Ewan… Shuri." She looked down at her large bump. "She needs to know her father."

Issei knelt down and kissed her stomach. "I'm so sorry Akeno. You too Shuri. But I have to do this." He stood as he heard steps behind him.

"The man I chose as a husband was always foolish. Always putting everyone else before himself. It's part of the reason I fell in love with him." A voice came from the stairs.

Issei didn't even turn. "The woman I chose as my wife was always brave. Always being the leader, and big sister everyone could look up to. It's part of the reason I fell in love with her. That and her bangin' body." He turned to see his wife staring at him with tears in her eyes.

Rias stepped down to meet him with Elizabeth in her arms. "I understand." She sighed heavily. "I understand why you have to do this. You want to protect us. You want to be the mightiest pawn." Her voice cracked.

"I will always love you Rias. We both know that I can't really manage to die." He looked up as a baby began to cry. Little Ewan was in his mother's arms. Kuroka stood with Ravel on the stairs. "Kuroka, Ravel."

"Issei, your son will never forget your name." Was all Kuroka could say as she cradled her son close.

"Thank you Kuroka."

"You can be such an idiot." Ravel huffed as she crossed her arms. "But, I can't say I blame you." Her eyes began to water and her shoulders started to shake.

"Come here."

Ravel ran down the stairs and jumped on him. "Please don't go Issei. I won't get to finish my mission. We never even got engaged."

"That reminds me." Issei set her on the ground and walked over to a cabinet and pulled out three boxes. "I have a gift for some of you." He opened the first one. It had an orange gem with a piece of the armor inside. "This is for you Ravel." He slipped the little ring on her finger. After she let go of him, he turned to face Koneko. "This one is yours Koneko." He opened the box and revealed a ring with a white band and a light blue gem. Inside lay a shard of armor. "I promised you I would marry you one day. This is as close as I can get." The ring slid on her finger and she held him for a moment.

The only girl in the room not wearing a ring was Le Fay. However, one box remained.

"Le Fay."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." Issei chuckled. "You have been here only a short time. In that time, your feelings became very clear. I know that it's not much, but I had this made last week." He opened the box and white gem shown bright. The red armor shard also sheened. A band colored light blue was the perfect inverse to Koneko's own ring. "You can take this if you want. That way you'll be forever bonded to me."

Le Fay approached him and inspected the ring. It had some magic coming off of it that was familiar. "Gladly." She wiped her eyes and kissed him. "I've been wanting to do that for a while."

Issei made his way to the door. "Oh, and someone tell Gasper I was happy to have him as the little brother I never had."

"You got it." Kiba answered as he tried to fight to keep the girls back.

"Goodbye. I love you all." Issei shut the door behind him.