Chapter 44

Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.

-With Wendy, Issei and Asia-

The group had vanished up with their shopping for the coming party. Wendy had a concerned look on her face at not seeing her white-haired friend around.

"Everything okay Wendy?" Asia asked as she spotted the concerned expression.

"It's just that Koneko usually only disappears for a short while," Wendy said as he scanned the surrounding area.

"We can take these things back if you want to go look for her," Issei offered, knowing that Natsu would somehow protect Wendy if something happened to her while Asia would need a strong man near her. A slight grin formed on his face as he imagined a heroic scene where he saves Asia and she declared her undying love to him.

"If you're sure it's okay," Wendy said hesitantly.

'Yes, go look for her," Asia said with a kind smile as she took the bags Wendy was holding out of her hands.

"Thank you," Wendy said as she turned around and headed off in the direction of the nearest sweets store. 'Please be okay,' Wendy thought as her eyes darted from side to side.

After ten minutes of unsuccessful searching, Wendy started to panic. The only thing she could think of was to retrace their steps and look around the area they last saw Koneko. Quickly running back to the exit of the last store the four were in together, Wendy began to retrace their steps to where Koneko left.

This proved to be the right choice when Wendy quickly spotted Koneko not far from where she left them, staring into an alley. Wendy let out a relieved sigh when she saw that she wasn't hurt.

"Hey Koneko, you ready to go home?" Wendy asked as she placed a hand on her shoulder.

Koneko flinched at the sudden contact and spun around with a broken look in her eyes, causing Wendy to regain her concern.

"Koneko what's wrong?" Wendy asked with a concerned frown. The dried tear marks on Koneko's face was quickly covered with fresh tears as Koneko broke down in front of Wendy.

Wendy quickly embraced Koneko in a comforting hug, not sure as to what she should do but knowing that Koneko needed support.

"Hey, why don't we go home and you tell me what's bothering you?" Wendy suggested in a silent tone.

Koneko merely nodded her throat too tight to form a verbal response. 'Am I not good enough? Is it because I'm too weak to use my power?' Koneko's thoughts were running wild, trying to find an explanation for the situation.

As soon as they made it to the home Wendy led Koneko to her room, where the Nekoshou quickly went in and closed the door behind her, preventing Wendy from entering.

'She must be hurting, she usually only does this when something big is on her mind,' Wendy concluded. Having been friends for so long Wendy knew most of Koneko's behaviour patterns.

Not sure how to help Wendy decided to go to the two people she looked up to the most, Grayfia and Natsu, for advice. 'Maybe they know what's going on,' Wendy thought.

-With Issei and Asia-

The two watched Wendy disappear before turning to head home.

"I hope Koneko is all right," Asia said.

"I'm sure she's fine, that girl is one tough cat," Issei reassured the blond. Asia smiled, thankful for Issei being there to keep her mind occupied

"You excited about the sports festival?" Issei asked after a moment's silence.

"What's that?" Asia asked, not having been in a normal school for most of her life caused her not to be accustomed to certain school activities.

"Yeah, it's a big competition where the classes all duke it out on the sports field," Issei replied excitedly.

"Shoot, doubt I will be any help there since I am quite clumsy," Asia said with a downcast expression and as if to cement her statement she tripped on the curb, stumbling forward.

Before Issei could help her, a gently looking man with dark hair, clad in an expensive-looking white cloak, caught her.

"Asia, you okay?" Issei asked the ex-nun.

"Yes, just a little shaken. Thanks for the save, I appreciate it," Asia answered Issei before turning around and thanking the person who caught her.

"Not a problem, Asia Argento," then man replied, shocking the two devils that a stranger would know her full name.

"It is a stoke of pure luck that I caught you today since you are the reason I came here today," the man continued in a soft and kind tone.

"Hey, strange man back up," Issei said as he saw Asia recoiling a bit at the man knowing her name.

"Now, now, we're all friends here. Especially with our joint history," the man said, shocking the two even more. He opened his cloak and parted his shirt to reveal a large x-shaped scar on his chest.

"I know that scar," Asia said in surprise.

"That is correct, I am the first Devil you saved with your Sacred Gear. My name is Diodora Astaroth, it is a pleasure to finally introduce myself. I wanted to speak with you when I saw you in the Underworld, but with the large commotion I never got the chance," Diodora said as he closed his shirt and his cloak.

"Now, we can continue the business we couldn't, to have met twice now, there is no denying it," Diodora said as he got onto his knee and gently took Asia's hand, placing a gentle kiss on it.

"Hey man, ever heard of personal space," Issei said as he stepped up to Diodora.

"We are bound by fate, and so I must take you as my bride," Diodora continued, completely ignoring Issei.

"That is enough you creep, bugger off," Issei said as he moved in between the two, causing Diodora to release Asia's hand.

"Unfortunately I have some business to attend to, but fear not my beautiful bride, I will come for you soon," Diodora said, once again ignoring Issei before he turned and walked off.

"You okay Asia?" Issei asked as soon as the creep was out of sight.

"Yeah, just a little shaken," Asia said, not sure what to think of the situation.

"Let's go talk to Rias, I want to know what this guy's deal is," Issei said with a frown before picking up the bags and heading to the house.

-Gremory Estate in Kuoh-

The first place Wendy went to look for Natsu or Grayfia was the kitchen. Once she walked through the door she saw Grayfia busy preparing for the party.

"Grayfia, I want to ask you something about Koneko. Something is up but she won't even say what," Wendy said with a saddened tone. Hearing the saddened tone, Grayfia immediately stopped what she was doing and turned her attention to Wendy.

"If it was anyone else telling me Koneko wasn't talking to them, I would have just ignored it but she's usually quite open with you. Tell me everything you know and we can see if we can come up with a solution," Grayfia said with a serious and concerned expression.

"I don't know much, only that she said there was something she had to check out while we were busy buying things for the party. She went off on her own and at the time I didn't think anything was wrong since she normally does that when she wants to get some snack or something like that. She was gone for a long time and I got worried and when I eventually found her she was staring into an alley with dried tears on her face. When I reached out to her she flinched. I don't think she even knew where she was at that moment. The whole way back she cried softly and didn't say a thing. Now she locked herself in her room and she won't open the door," Wendy said with distress in her voice.

"Sounds like she saw something that is bothering her a lot. Apart from you, only Natsu and Rias are the ones she sometimes opens up to. I don't know where Natsu is right now and Asia and Issei are in Rias' room talking about something that happened while they were at the market but they shouldn't be long," Grayfia said with a thoughtful expression.

"Thank you Grayfia, I'll go ask Rias and see if she can get through to her," Wendy said before turning around and slowly walking out, worry still etched on her face.

'I wonder where Natsu might be, he did say he had some things to do when he stopped by earlier today, but what could be taking him so long?,' Grayfia thought as she returned to her preparations but she only half paid attention to what she was doing, the rest of her mind being occupied with Natsu's whereabouts and Wendy's concern for her friend.

With her not paying full attention to what she was doing the knife she was using to cut the vegetables was coming dangerously close to her fingers. She was about to bring the sharp blade down on her extended fingers when she suddenly felt a strong hand grabbing hold of hers and a warm presence appearing behind her.

"Now we can't have you cutting your fingers," the humorous voice of Natsu sounded behind her as she felt his hot breath on the back of her neck.

Grayfia let out an uncharacteristic squeak in surprise at the sudden contact before spinning around and looking into Natsu's dark orbs with a small blush on her face. The amusement in Natsu's eyes quickly turned to concern at Grayfia's reaction.

"What's the matter Fia, you would usually sense me as soon as I enter the house?" Natsu asked with a slight frown.

"Natsu, don't sneak up on me like that," Grayfia sputtered out as she regained her bearings.

"I didn't, I even called out to you twice before I had to stop you from cutting your fingers," Natsu replied, the concern in his voice projecting to his expression as well.

"What… Oh," Grayfia was confused until she looked down at her had that Natsu was still holding on to. She was surprised to see that the blade was mere millimetres from her other hand and if it wasn't for Natsu interfering, she would have cut into her fingers.

"Tell me what's wrong," Natsu asked as he took the knife from Grayfia and laid it down before turning her to face him.

"Wendy said something is bothering Koneko but she refuses to talk to Wendy," Grayfia said.

"I think I know what is wrong. Grayfia, I will be spending the rest of the night with Koneko," Natsu said with a sigh. Natsu had thought he smelled Koneko sometime during his time with Kuroka but wasn't sure because it was only for a fleeting moment, but now he knew what happened.

"What is wrong with her?" Grayfia asked.

"I spent some time with Kuroka today. I wanted to see if I can figure out something to help Koneko with her powers since the information I have never really explained how a Nekoshou can manifest their own power, only where it lies," Natsu explained.

"And Koneko must have seen you with her and formed her own conclusion that you abandoned her in favour of her sister," Grayfia finished as she realised what most likely would have happened.

"That is what I suspect yes," Natsu confirmed.

"Wendy is going to ask Rias to see if she can help, but I doubt anyone but you will be able to get through to her, go and help her," Grayfia said with a kind and encouraging smile on her face.

Natsu returned the smile before planting a chaste kiss on Grayfia's lips. After they separated Natsu left eh kitchen and made his way to Koneko's room.

-With Rias-

Rias had a thoughtful expression on her face as she watched Issei and Asia leave. 'It's a small world I guess, them having already met our first opponent for the tournament,' Rias thought with a slight chuckle.

Soon the party would be starting so Rias got up to finish her preparations. She was about to start when the door opened again, this time revealing a worried-looking Wendy.

"Wendy, is something wrong?" Rias asked.

"Yes, it's Koneko," Wendy started before retelling her recollection of the events in the town's marketplace. While she was busy retelling the story Rias listened with an ever-increasing concerned expression. Like Grayfia, Rias knew of the close relationship between Wendy and Koneko so given the situation it was clear something was amiss.

"Grayfia said it was probably something she saw that is really bothering her. Natsu isn't here so you are the only other one who can hopefully get through to her," Wendy finished.

"If she doesn't want to talk to you I don't know if I will be able to get through to her, but I will try," Rias said as she gave Wendy a soft smile. Wendy returned the smile but her facial expression was still filled with concern.

Rias stood up and walked to Koneko's room. Once she reached Koneko's room she took an experimental pull on the doorknob. She wasn't surprised when the door didn't budge but it was still worth trying.

"Hey Koneko, you in there?" Rias asked as she knocked on the door. She waited for a moment but when she didn't receive a reply she knocked once again.

"Koneko, would you mind telling me what is going on. I want to help you but I can't do that if I don't know what's wrong," Rias said as she laid a hand on the door, hoping that the Nekoshou would open up.

"Just go away," a weak and quiet voice sounded from inside the room. Rias barely heard it but the sorrow in Koneko's voice and the weakness was almost enough to permanently break her heart.

Koneko was always a strong individual and even in her moments of weakness or self-pity she would keep up her stoic expression and steel her resolve to better herself. This was the first time Rias heard this level of weakness from her Rook.

"Koneko, please let me help you," Rias pleaded through the door. Rias was startled when she heard glass shattering against the door.

"Go away," Koneko's voice sounded with a bit more anger causing Rias a great deal of concern and worry.

"Ko-Konek-ko," Rias asked in surprise. She was about to forcibly open the door and find out what was wrong with Koneko. Her Power of Destruction started to swirl in her hand but before she could release it on the door a warm hand wrapped around hers, cancelling the spell she was charging up out.

Rias looked up and her eyes met with the onyx orbs Natsu. She found some kind of comfort in his steady gaze.

"This is my problem to solve, go and be with the others," Natsu said.

There you go. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. So yeah there's going to be a few changes to the next big conflict, but that is to be expected of a fanfic, anyway leave a review with your thoughts and I will see you next time.