Obligatory thx for teh support

And goddammit, Spain drew again. Fer feck's sake.

DxD: Fates Reforged

[Chapter 8]

||Opportunity in Failures||

The assault was a breeze.

Well, for the Devils, that is.

With her senses greatly attuned thanks to Koneko's -prematurely- activated Nekoshou powers, the traps laid in the entrance were promptly defused; by letting Issei activate it. Being splashed by purified and sanctified holy water had as much effect as cold water on a Human-part-Dragon. And when his wet entrance was greeted by a dozen of lightspears blindly thrown at him, Rias and Suzaku erected barriers made from Demonic Destruction and Purifying Flames, consuming the low-class Fallen Angels' missile attack.

Then Akeno and Koneko made a short work of them. By either electrocuting them to death or severing their life with a palm strike to their heart.

Issei didn't even need to lift a finger. He would be smoking right then if he had any leftovers. Or go home to get a new shirt because why the heck would he be wearing his school's white uniform - other than the simple fact that Rias could only conjure this or an array of girly clothing.

This wasn't even the male shirt… though it didn't look much different considering his lean build, it felt a bit tight around the stomach. And the girls wear this everyday? Dear almighty god.

As they descended down the spiralling stairs leading to the basement where Asia once died in his past, where he expected to encounter some Stray Magicians, there was only another flock of low-ranking Fallen Angels that were clearly inessential to Kokabiel's grand plan. No sign of Freed or Izaiya, and while the Devils did all the work, Issei had taken time to look for the finer details.

…Nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary. As ordinary as an underground cultists meeting could be.

The cross was there, with nobody on it. The twenty dead bodies were nowhere to be found, so either they were buried elsewhere or the missing Exorcists had spirited them away with the Magicians. He liked to rest on the first hypothesis more than the latter.

A warcry came from his side, and the Boosted Gear manifested as Issei muttered a word to cast a spell, "Haste."

"BOOST!" cried the loud Boosted Gear, doubling the effect of Haste and effectively doubling the host's physical capabilities; quadrupling his speed and reaction time.

His coffee brown eyes kept raking for potential clues of the Exorcists' next hideout as he slammed the back of his gauntleted hand across the Fallen Angel's jaw, causing him to spun in mid-air and lose his grip of the buzzing lightspear, which landed harmlessly at someplace else that wasn't near Issei.

Hitting with his left hand didn't hurt as it had the Boosted Gear absorbing most of the impact, but if he did that with his right hand or legs, he'd break a few bones.

{Oh. That was… impressive.} Ddraig muttered, slightly disturbed by his host's lack of concern. Not that there was a shred of doubt that he did come from the future, but to see him deal with a threat like it was a mere afterthought did unnerve the Welsh Dragon.

Issei hummed passively. He wasn't trying to impress anyone or look cool; just doing what needed to be done. If anything, he was annoyed that their initial plan had been so majorly screwed up thanks to Izaiya's keen mind. But even in failures some things could be learned… that he should no longer underestimate his enemies, no matter who they were, and shouldn't rely on everything he knew that happened in the past, because clearly, his past almost didn't matter here.

Plenty of similarities, but the differences were equally if not more jarring.

After a kick to his bruising jaw, Issei crouched and grabbed the Fallen Angel by his dress shirt's collar, and dragged him to a wall, where he could lie down and be out cold until Azazel's arrival with his cleanup crew.

The dead could tell no tale, but the living surely could.

He woke up once, but Issei slammed the unlucky bastard's head to the wall, leaving a tiny crater, but no blood as the Fallen Angel fell down again.

Not five minutes later, the Governor arrived after Issei made a quick call. Along with twelve Fallen Angels, each wearing a mix of casual and formal attire with burgundy as their main color motiff. Be it their shirt under their conservative suit, their ties, or even their gloves, they had the same dark wine color like the Governor's outfit.

"Dear, dear. You nearly didn't need our service here, Lady Gremory. Consider me impressed," Azazel droned as his men worked silently and practically, not even heeding the Devils' apparent signs of cautiousness towards them. Their focus on their work was almost insulting that Issei would've been offended if he was a Devil. Hell, he might well be if he was the younger him.

"Wouldn't want to leave you jobless, Lord Azazel," Rias muttered. A bit tense in her tone, but likely due to her re-emerging suspicion that this could be a death trap in the end. "I believe we've delivered our end of the deal…."

"Ah! Yes, yes. By all means, don't let us hold you here. Thank you for your hard work. I'll hold my end of the bargain too, rest assured, Lady Gremory. I'll see you tomorrow first thing in the morning bearing gifts and my utmost appreciation towards our cause."

"...Then I'll take your words." Rias said cautiously.

"Mm. Later, Rias."

The Gremory heiress blinked. "You're not coming?"

He shrugged a 'nope' shrug; lips pursed and shoulders hunching once.

"Hyoudou has… another business to attend to," Azazel added vaguely. "Business concerning me, and that unlucky bastard over there," Azazel nudged his head at the still fainted Fallen Angel, slumped against a limestone wall. "You're welcome to stay and watch, of course. If you'd like."

Because telling to leave outright would just make her object for the sake of defiance and linger around.

"...I'll take our leave then," Rias decided.

"Mm," Issei nodded as he picked out a roll of cigarette from the box Azazel offered to him. "Goodnight, Rias."

"...Yes… I'll see you tomorrow, Hyoudou."

The curiosity was there, but less about what they wanted to draw out from the interrogation, but regarding what extent of violence could Issei stomach. It was something that had been niggling her mind since the incident with Raynare and her small group. Being a Devil for quite some while and no way a stranger to gruesome sights, she and her Servants could handle that much blood and gore just fine, but Issei?

He didn't even flinch. He didn't even freeze to register the grim scenery. He just walked ahead and went on his merry way as though it wasn't his first time seeing such a sight. Almost as if he was completely desensitized… which just wasn't logical from someone with a clear criminal record.

But her Servants' safety was paramount compared to her lingering curiosity. The presence of their natural enemies had agitated them; Koneko was practically darting her eyes every now and then, whereas both Akeno and Suzaku were distressed for obvious reasons.

Gathering her party, the Devils bid their uncomfortable departure.

"So," Azazel began, leading the way to their interrogatee, puffing out smokes from his dark lips as he turned to the boy. "I'm guessing you've done this often?"

"Probably a bit too often," Issei admitted. No pride whatsoever. No remorse, just flat admittance.

Azazel sniggered. "I'll do the questioning. I wanna see what you got, Hyoudou."

"Sure," Issei said, as he bent down to pick up a chipped brick from the earlier massacre while Azazel splashed a bucket of magical water from a floating magic circle, dumping it right at their detainee.

A crimson gauntlet materialized, and Issei switched his brick-holding hand as he stood beside Azazel, their shadows looming over the distraught and damp Fallen Angel.

"Ask away."

That night, Azazel never thought a rectangular block of hardened clay could be used in that many ways. Funny that it could be used to hold up an entire building, but also to break down a person.

Inside his sea of consciousness, Ddraig once again wondered about the future that had shaped the once naive, moronic and shamelessly perverted yet well-meaning boy. People say stare too long into the abyss, then the abyss gazes back. But what about those who kept staring and made the abyss blink?

Break

The next morning, Issei didn't attend class.

Neither did Murayama, Rias, Akeno, Suzaku, Irina, or Koneko.

And neither did the rest of Kuoh Academy's students who weren't included in the main cast.

Because it was Sunday.

Difference between them was; Issei never came home. No, he went straight to the hotel in the red district, discussed the eventful day with the Governor, and crashed the night at the Devils' dorm after grabbing some clothes from his bedroom.

Rias was surprised when she left her bedroom to check on the noises outside and found him instead of a burglar, but after he made a comment about her negligee and stated his reasons for being there in the dead of the night, Rias understood completely.

"You didn't have to do that, y'know," he told her, the stink of alcohol emanating from his breath. Rias would've thought he was drunk, but his walk was straight. And this distinct stench of blood certainly wasn't his.

"Do what?" she asked, refraining to mention or ask about what happened back in the abandoned church after the Devils had left.

"Bringing her back," he replied, shifting his backpack containing his clothes. "It wasn't necessary."

She allowed a smile. "If we do only what is necessary, then the entire world would have been a dreadful world to live in."

"...Amen to that."

A tinge of pain struck her in the head. "...Please don't utter that word around me or my Servants."

"Right, right," Issei snickered as Rias stopped before a door to a bedroom. "Still, you have no reason to do that. You're saving up your Pieces, aren't you?"

"How could you tell?"

"Observation," Issei shrugged. "You seem pretty picky with who you pick as your Servant."

"Compared to most Devils in my generation, I suppose I am rather conservative, yes," Rias admitted. "Would you like to know why, Hyoudou?"

"If I say 'no'... which I won't, because that's straight out rude… what'll you do?"

Rias chuckled softly. "I'll likely scoff at your face and walk back to my room in mild fury."

"In that case… sure. Why are you conservative with your chess pieces, Rias?"

"Because I believe in second chances for those who deserve it," the heiress replied with a tranquil smile. "That, or I am simply desperate enough to resort on the help of someone who can manipulate Holy Power to a degree yet without the weakness or the irritating prudency of an Angel."

"Well," Issei huffed, a bit impressed. He didn't recall Rias ever being mature this early either. Perhaps not all the 'glitches' were awful. "Aren't you a decent person."

"All of us have to believe that we're decent, don't we? To help us better sleep at night after all the things we do."

No, Rias. Some people didn't need to cloud themselves in feel-good justifications. Some people accepted that they were far from decent; irredeemable and wrongly unjust in all things they did for those they cared for. Some people simply admitted that they were the monsters most people wanted to keep away from their children. Some people had no choice in becoming a monster, otherwise they would break from the pressure of the reality they live in, where they maim and kill Gods and their children, and their children's children, so that their family could sleep better at night.

"Good point," Issei said instead. "I'm guessing your girls have gone through some rough patches then."

"They have indeed," her smile softened, almost turning into a frown. "I've been fortunate enough to have a loving family and fond childhood memories. It's impossible to turn their bitter memories into a sweeter one, but I can try to give them a family. Or at the very least, a future to help them forget their past."

"I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but Raynare will mistake it as pity. She's not the kind that appreciates being pitied."

"Of course it wasn't pity that led to my decision. No one wants to be pitied, I don't think…" Rias muttered, stepping a few paces to her bedroom that was closest to the clubroom. "Raynare's a friend of yours, isn't she?"

"Colleague, I suppose."

"Then I need no other reason. Or you can see it as a bribe for you, to sate your doubt," Rias smiled. "Goodnight, Hyoudou."

Issei went quiet for a few seconds, admiring his past wife, now young again, yet already mature. He realized he might end up being the one to fall first at this rate. Hell, he might still be. Then he remembered what made female Devils differ from most female humans. No such thing as a 'gender gap' for Devils. Their roles were equal. The women were just as reasonable and accountable as the men, and the other way around.

Implant that on human society and both sides will screech.

There was a reason Issei couldn't like mundane humans very much. Some people were decent, sure. But the assholes were unbearably assholish that if he had no moral qualms with murdering the ordinaries; he would have done it.

He then chuckled to himself, before entering the bedroom where Raynare was resting on a bed at one corner of the room. The other end had a vacant single bed; probably his for some while. Unceremoniously tossing his bag to the empty mattress, instead of resting there, Issei took a chair from the wooden studying desk, and lifted it to Raynare's bedside, facing the same way she was sleeping so he wouldn't be thought as a creep if she woke up first.

Then he slouched, took a deflating exhale, and slowly drifted asleep.

ϰ

When morning came, Raynare found him slumped on a chair. Hands crossed, head lolling down like a loose marionette. Confusion struck first, made greater as she realized she was wearing an unrevealing clothing, and that it was soft and silky and disgruntledly pink. What kind of pajamas was this?

But the confusion was replaced by disbelief as she realized another thing; she wasn't supposed to be alive.

She was dead. She saw how the darkness consumed her vision as life seeped away from her body. Felt how helpless she was, watching all her friends executed before herself. Then anger and rage replaced her disbelief, and an unbearable thirst to murder one particular person. A thirst she had never felt for so long.

"Hm…? You're up…" he mumbled as he yawned, shaking his head to flick away the rest of the sleepiness. Raynare stared at him, already risen to a sitting position.

"Explain," she demanded harshly. "Why am I not dead."

"You were," he lazily replied, unhelpfully scratching his brown hair that looked even messier. "Rias brought you back."

Raynare froze.

And snapped.

"She what!?"

That was a harsher tone. Expected, he supposed. He replied with two nods.

"I'm a DEVIL!?"

"Think of it this way; if you're dead, you're no good to Azazel."

Although furious, Raynare reacted. "...How can I do that when I'm a fucking DEVIL?!" A pair of charcoal black wings of a bat burst from her back, its pointy edge nearly poking the tip of his nose. She stared at her new wings with a look of clear disgust, before shooting out of the bed and grabbed the collar of his red shirt.

He was only mildly annoyed, and made no effort to break away as Raynare brought her contorted face up close.

"You could've stopped her."

"Not my place to tell her who she should or shouldn't raise as her Servant."

"I don't… want this! Do you think I'll blindly obey a Devil? Play nice, fetch things for her, and lick her boots clean for her!?"

"No," Issei replied calmly. "You'll do it for Azazel."

"...What?"

Issei untwisted her hands off his now crumpled red shirt. "He wants peace between Fallen Angels and Devils. You're a Devil and a Fallen Angel. Rias is the sister of a Satan. Think about it." Now fully awake, he stood up, and observed Raynare's conflicted expressions. "Not enough? Your friends are dead. Freed is alive; he fled the church before we got there."

A pang of guilt slapped her in the face. "...She...didn't revive them?"

"You expect a Devil to do charity work?"

Raynare clenched her jaw. "Then why did she bring me back and not them?"

He looked deep into her eyes, and stayed silent until the silence made her uncomfortable and forced her to break eye-contact. Then he spoke.

"Because they don't matter to the right person. Not to me, not Azazel, not Rias. Just you."

Learn, goddammit, he wanted to say. Learn. See that this wasn't him being an unjustified asshole. See that there was a reason behind his choice of words. Prove to him that her appearance wasn't the only thing that matured. She was a few years older than Rias, but if she couldn't act her age, and instead acted like some angsty teen who couldn't put their priorities straight, then Rias had just wasted 2 Pawns for her.

It was her carelessness that got her men killed and allowed Freed and Izaiya to escape, but even Issei wasn't that hard enough to punch her guts with that. Azazel would, however. In fact, the Governor was all too pleased upon hearing the news.

'She's obsessed with me,' Azazel had told him while they were drinking, celebrating a breakthrough regarding Kokabiel's pursuit. 'Any obsession is just a way for damaged people to damage themselves more. She'll do better with the Devils. A change of working environment might be just what she needs most to get over it.'

"You…" Raynare seethed through her teeth. "Since you're all so perfect, try being where I am now."

Perfect? If he was perfect, he wouldn't be here, talking to her. He would've stayed in the future and be with his wives instead of having to go through all these shitstorms again. If he was perfect, the gods would have fallen in love with him for being so damn flawless, not spite him for butchering their kin flawlessly without a shred of guilt.

But Issei didn't let his emotions control his words. He wasn't her. "Get stronger. Make use of both my Devil and Fallen Angel's side; not being vulnerable to either holy or unholy power is not a small deal. Being able to use both is an even bigger deal. Then find a way to pay Freed back."

Obviously easier said than done. "You're not a Fallen Angel… do you even have any idea what it's like working under your enemy?"

"There are far worse Devils than Rias." Diodora… Riser before he got his ass beat… Those three lunatics in Khaos Brigades... the bastard Rizevim… and the list went on and on.

"She's still a fucking Devil."

He rested his eyes for a few moments. Raynare could feel his disappointment, but she remained stubborn.

Issei sighed. "If you can't control your spite or swallow your pride, then you won't make a difference. You'll end up dying again and fuck up your second chance. If you run away, then Rias will hunt you as a Stray. Hell, just say the word and I'll kill you right now and spare us all the effort." His tone was even, diplomatic, but there was briddling annoyance sewn in his calmness. "But you've tasted what death is like. It's empty and boring, isn't it? No doors made of light, not even a sparkle. You're just there. Floating in the middle of nothing, feeling nothing, because that's what you all were. I've been there twice, and both times, I wanted to get the fuck out. But that's just me… So, do you want to go back to that place and be nothing again?"

Raynare felt angry. Angry that he kept making sense and angry that she was feeling less angry. Always so easily incited to anger… Wrath had always been her greatest sin. Her greatest source of power as well as her greatest weakness. At least she didn't think of it as a weakness until recently.

"...Like I have any other choice."

"We rarely ever have that much freedom, Raynare. We just deal with the bullshit cards we're dealt."

Issei didn't sigh. But he looked a bit sad. As sad as she could tell, anyway.

"I'm not telling you it'll be fine in the end or say shit like 'look how stronger you are now!'. Those kinds of people meant well but… really, I've never wanted to cave someone's face in so badly. Sounds an awful lot like telling you there's a silver lining to your friends' death and yours. Like it was worth it, somehow, as long as you're a stronger and better person, with more character and more interesting stories to tell. Fuck them, I say."

Raynare went… silent. Mad, but quiet. She didn't want to look at him, because she suddenly felt ridiculous for admitting he had a point. Those words clearly came from experience… not at all the words of the teenager standing before her, making her feel more immature with each passing seconds, but the time-travelling, know-it-all scoundrel.

"Go take a shower. Clear your head," he told her, gesturing his head to the white door leading to the bathroom. All rooms had one. "We both smell like dead people."

She clicked her tongue, ran a hand across her black hair, and muttered a curse under her breath as she turned and left.

And still their day had only just begun…

break

For the six years serving under the Devils, this was actually his first time having breakfast in the dormitory's lounge area. Windows facing the back forest and kept shut to ensure no curious students manage to take a peek into this lavish, well-decorated, neatly-furnished, table-games riddled room complete with an entire bar area on one end, fully prepared with countertop and cold drinks stored inside the fridge, Issei had a great feeling this would be where he would spend most of his idle times, potentially drinking away with Azazel and obviously Raynare, who'd no doubt wanted to stay away from the Devils for some while.

Still, even the Fallen Angel couldn't stay angry after her cold shower and discovering this establishment hidden away in some old school building.

Breakfast probably would be awkward though.

He could break the ice with some stupid jokes or enforced awkwarness to force out the earlier awkwardness, but he wanted to see how the Devils acted around Raynare, and Raynare around them.

From the Devil's side, so far only Rias and the Himejimas have woken up. Rias was up earlier, When Rias bumped into them in the hallway, she led them to this place. She had already dressed in her semi-formal-casual attire consisting of a long-sleeved red blouse and dark blue jeggings and sandals. It hardly ever mattered what she wore as long as it was sensible, because pretty girls stay pretty anyway.

Raynare was back on her skimpy outfit, not giving a damn as usual. Rias did mind, as seen by her slight discomfort at seeing her newest Pawn's getup, but seemed to pardon it considering what she had been through.

Issei would've told her to quit it, but Raynare wasn't his Pawn, so… not his place to make demands. It was amusing to watch, if he was to be honest.

As there was only one giant table in the middle of the room, Issei could already see how Raynare would eat alone in one of the lounging couches like the outcast she was, or for simply wanting to make the Devils feel uncomfortable by her presence.

Either way, they both were told to sit down, so they sat, waiting for their food. So far, Rias hadn't mentioned Raynare specifically, always addressing the two of them as one collective noun. No doubt done deliberately to not step on the walking landmine that was Raynare.

So they waited while the two Himejimas worked their wonders in the kitchen, making breakfast in bulk for the rest of the Devils to join.

Meanwhile, Issei nearly couldn't contain his blank face for noticing how badly Rias wanted to break the ice with Raynare, who hadn't even looked her once in the face. She probably thought she was being discreet, but Issei had learned how to read people - courtesy of Serafall and Azazel. The constant tapping of her index finger, beryl eyes anxiously flitting to a place, probably looking for a conversation starter, finding none, and then her old habit of putting one hand under her chin.

Then she gave up, and went for him instead.

"Have you told your parents you're here, Hyoudou?" she asked, appearing concerned.

"I texted them I was staying over at my friend's house," he said. "Happens all the time."

Rias smiled as she chuckled. "Your two accomplices I'm assuming."

"They'll think it's them. Easier to believe than saying I'm staying at a girl's home, and won't cause as much ruckus either."

She nodded absently, before finally dropping the bombshell. "...I have been… thinking lately, Hyoudou… about you."

Issei raised both of his eyebrows. "Confessing so soon? You just knew me for a day."

"Th-that's not what I meant!" Rias sputtered, her cheeks reddening. Raynare even let out a snort; the quiet, subdued breathing out of a bit of air through your nose. Not like a pig's snort.

"Darn. I got my hopes up for nothing."

Realizing she had been had, Rias calmed down. "...I meant to ask about what you did last night…"

"You don't have any idea how suggestive that sounded, do you."

"...What?" Rias blinked, before, once again, blushing. "N-no! That's even further from what I meant!"

"Sure did sound that way."

"Pull your head out of the gutter, Hyoudou…" she sighed.

"Can't," he blandly declared. "I'm an immature pervert with immature humor. Everything is an innuendo if you're degenerate enough."

Rias couldn't deal with this… she much rather dealt with his old fake persona. "I… well… What I'm trying to ask is what you did with Lord Azazel last night… I-I mean—!" her eyes widened the moment she realized what she said wasn't much better, and instead much, much worse. "Gah— forget it…"

A compressed laughter went off, much to the Gremory's dismay and embarrassment.

"What did happen last night?" Raynare asked, purely out of curiosity and not out of pity for the Devil.

"We— well, she and her girls stormed the place and killed everyone there."

"And the Exorcists?"

"Fled when we got there."

"Good," Raynare muttered. She forgot to ask earlier. But now that she knew, at least she had a main goal in mind; kill Freed Sellzen. Torture before murder was optional.

She steered clear from further questions regarding matters that might be Fallen Angel-sensitive, knowing Rias was listening. She might be her Master, but a Devil didn't need to know the inner conflict of the Grigori's leaders. It would make them look weak and disorganized. She was a Devil, but maintaining her true kin's image was still her obligation.

Which was exactly what Issei wanted from her. Rias shouldn't include herself in the equation or even learn of it.

"And… Did your hostage say anything we would like to know?" Rias probed anyway.

Issei made a convincing disgruntled expression as he lied through his teeth. "Nah. Azazel hit him too hard. Smashed his head clean."

Rias sighed, disappointed. "We would've held back a little if you had told us."

"It's fine. It's Grigori's business anyway at the end of the day. Not mine. Or yours," Issei shrugged carelessly. "Now that aside… I'm starving…"

As if on cue, the door leading to the kitchen opened up, and out came Akeno with a big silver pot of steaming miso soup held by her mittened hands. Suzaku followed not further behind, giving space for the very Japanese-esque breakfast dishes in her hands.

"They look like twins," Issei promptly commented. "Especially when they're wearing the same outfit." Shrine maiden outfit? During the weekends? Really?

"They have their reason." Rias sounded a bit saddened at that. Must be connected to their past. "Thank you, Suzaku, Akeno. We're lucky to have you as our daily chefs."

"My, our pleasure, Rias," Akeno smiled playfully. "I do hope our guests can enjoy our cooking."

"Well I mean they look great…" Issei said, feeling his stomach growl from the sight and the flavors exploding in his nostrils. Crispy salted fried salmon, boiled broccoli as a vegetable side dish, the classic bright yellow rolled omelette, and of course the miso soup.

"Reminds me of home," he added, and immediately noticed the flash of sadness sweeping both of the Himejimas' faces, which they each replaced with a smile and the other a flat expression.

Their past traumas weren't fully dealt with, it seemed. A bit of a mean way to confirm it, but he had no qualms against playing dirty to ascertain his position so he could pick the needed approach and make progress.

They ate in silence, as neither party wanted to bring up any topic and make things awkward this early, or wasn't yet sure of how Raynare would react to becoming one of them. Issei was particularly interested too. She didn't make any comment on the food, but she didn't make any scathing comment either. She just ate, and ate, and when she was done, she kept herself seated.

The silence was largely ignored. Cast to the side. For the time being, at the least. Still Issei somehow felt that a new storm might be heading their way again...

ϰ

Nope. Just Azazel.

The Governor arrived just as the Devils and Issei had finished their breakfast, immediately calling Issei to come and pick him up from the empty clubroom. Akeno and her cousin stayed behind to wait for the others while the rest followed Issei along. Rias for obvious reasons, as was Raynare. The latter looked much more nervous all of the sudden.

Issei was nervous as well. He just didn't show it like most of his more-intense emotions. He was going to see Asia again for the first time, after all… and with how many glitches and shifted backstories, he feared for her innocence the most. Never asking Azazel because he just couldn't bear the thought of sweet Asia being a rebel… if she had dyed her hair black with pink stripes… or if her faith in her Lord was completely shattered.

Well… he'll find out soon enough. Just beyond this door, which he opened and let Rias and Raynare enter first. Not out of chivalry, simply because he didn't want them to see whatever face he was going to make.

"Ah! There you lot are…" Azazel turned around and greeted from the couch, a lighted cigarette resting between his lips. He didn't even stand up.

Unlike the other girl… with blonde hair framing her small face with large green eyes shaped like a doe's. He remembered her nun dress as though it was yesterday. The veil covering the top of her hair, her brown boots, and her short stature and overall appearance that would make people want to pick her up and put her in their pocket, and then likely be arrested for attempted kidnapping.

He didn't recall her blonde hair reaching only her shoulders, however… The flat tips were choppier and uneven now, as if it was cut briskly instead of a hair salon. Even her bangs were slightly shorter and sharper.

Issei swallowed the dread, not realizing he was holding his breath as he hoped, 'Don't change too much…'

Her eyes widened slightly at a familiar sight as Asia beamed with both lips, cheeks and eyes. "M-Miss Raynare!"

"Oh. Still breathing aren't you," Raynare said in a stand-offish manner; her usual stance towards people that wasn't Azazel, her higher-ups, or Issei. Azazel didn't yet look at her.

Asia nodded shyly. "Yes… M-Mister Azazel told me why… Thank you for rescuing me."

Issei finally exhaled, masking his relief with a cough. She didn't change. She didn't change.

"Who's the girl, Lord Azazel? She isn't a Fallen Angel?"

"She isn't," Azazel replied as he watched Rias taking a seat, noting her glare at his cigarette but yet to react appropriately as he continued, "go ahead and introduce yourself, little lass."

"Yes…" Asia stammered, clutching the skirt of her dress so her hands wouldn't shake too much. "I'm… erm… an exile from the Vatican. I'm excommunicated, actually..." a nervous giggle decorated the end of her trailing sentence.

"Excommunicated?" Rias furrowed her crimson brows while Issei decided he wanted to stand behind instead. "For what reason?"

"I um… helped a Devil," she admitted bashfully, as if thinking she was bragging and felt conflicted about it. "She was hurt, so… I healed her with Go— erm… the blessings from the… the er..."

"From God?" Issei completed, and both Rias and Raynare felt a light sting inside their head.

"Y-yes!" Asia perked up, staring at him. "B-but Sir Azazel said not to mention it because it'll cause harm to the Devils…"

"You helped a Devil?" Rias queried, rolling back the conversation. "I thought all sisters hate Devils."

"I… I would hope not," Asia muttered. "I think they hate Devils because most think that Devils can only do evil… but… I-I saw what we can do to Devils… and… I don't think we're ever clean of evil either… A-at least that's how I see it."

Surprisingly open minded for a nun this young, Rias commended that. "Do you believe Devils can do good, then?"

"I think there's always good in someone, no matter what they are. Some are just… buried deeper."

With this idealistic belief, Rias doubted she could fit in as a Devil. "And what kind of blessings do you mean? Are you perhaps the Holy Maiden?"

"O-oh I'm not really holy… I don't think…"

"She is," Azazel clarified, helping the nervous wreck. "She's Asia Argento, Lady Rias. Twilight Healing possessor. Apparently cut her own hair to avoid suspicion. Not all Exorcists are kind and loving, as we all know."

"I… see…" Rias failed to mask her surprise, but managed to compose herself in the next second. "And the reason you brought her here is…?"

"Remember my 'gifts'? She's one of them," the Governor smoothly said. "Not as an object, mind you, but as a… both request and form of trust."

"I don't think I quite follow?"

"The form of trust is I trust you're able to give her the things she needed to grow up well. The request is… us Fallen Angels aren't exactly the best at dealing with human children… as you might have known already."

Rias let out a sigh. "Her hatred runs deeper than her scar, unfortunately."

"...Unfortunately so," Azazel smiled wryly, mentally apologizing to Baraqiel. "But she trusts you more than she'll ever do to any of us. Which brings the question to mind; has she met Raynare? And if yes, how did she react?"

Raynare felt a tight knot around her throat. Trepidation, most likely.

"She's one of ours now," Rias confidently stated. "Whether she accepts it or not, we won't treat her any differently than we would to any of ours, and I won't tolerate harmful behavior either."

Raynare rolled her eyes.

"A craggy road, I'm sure," the Gremory continued, "but we'll… eventually come to terms. We haven't yet discussed the matter thoroughly as we should, given what happened… I offer you my condolences."

Azazel dismissively waved an uncaring hand. "Ah don't sweat it. They're not irreplaceable."

Raynare felt the knot tightened.

Issei said nothing. This, too, was a ruse. Harsh as he might sound, Azazel wanted Raynare to lower him from her mindless adoration, and if being an absolute uncaring ass was the fastest way to make it happen, then he'd do it.

Rias appeared frozen by his cold statement. "Well I… I don't know what to say to that…"

"Don't be so shocked. That's what being a faction leader meant, Lady Rias. You must be ready to lose people. Sometimes, not putting a face on them is the easiest way to cope. But anyway! Look at how sidetracked we get..."

"...Right… yes…" Rias muttered, conflicted and concerned, but aware she wasn't one to judge a Governor General of the former enemy faction. Especially when he arrived bearing promises. "Before we move on… do you remember the Devil you saved? Any name or appearance? Their hair color?"

Issei's mood turned foul. In no way would Diodora get his hands on her. Not even a hair. He'll find a way to break the bastard before he could even find her.

"Erm…" Asia struggled to remember. "It was a she, and-"

Holdup. She? Not again… Not that it'd matter if Diodora was still a rapist.

"-she has blonde hair… very long and pretty. And…"

Even if she dyed her hair, Issei wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Her.

"...oh! Her bangs are tinted blue! Or was it green…?"

Oh.

Huh?

"Ah, I think I know the Devil you're talking about," Rias said, loosening her expressions. "That's Latia Astaroth," she told Azazel, who appreciated the information. "I don't know what business she had to go to the Vatican… likely related to her deceased brother, but I'll confirm it with her."

"Oh—! The nun-rapist eh?" Azazel clapped his hand as he flicked the dead cigarette, reducing it to cinders in the air.

"A permanent blemish in her family name, sadly," the Devil sighed. "That aside, I'll gladly take her under my wings if she so wishes, but I can't say I appreciate how you treat her as some sort of a gift or a bribe."

"Well. More proof why we suck at dealing with kids."

"..." Rias promptly felt she should be grateful none of the Satans were as nonchalant like him. "Well… Asia, you can stay here if you'd like. I'll enroll you to our school if you'd like, although the language barrier might be a bit troubling for you."

"I...I can go to school…?"

Those words and that hopeful look immediately triggered Rias' older sister's instinct that she didn't know she had.

"Yes," Rias smiled, though hearing her heart just had a tiny crack. How did the Catholics even raise her? "We have room for more in the dormitory. You don't need to be a Devil either if you stay. Two of my Servants are experts at Japanese, they're certainly able to teach you the basics."

"O-oh…" Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling almost immediately. "...Oh sorry um… Thank you very much... I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright. Not all tears are evil," Rias said. "You've gone through a lot, haven't you? Well… you may rest easy here. No more running or hiding. We'll keep you safe…"

"Go and hug her you fool," Issei urged with a soft laugh, now leaning against a wall. "You're pretty much obligated to."

"W-well I'd rather not overstep and over-familiarize myself with my new guest and make her uncomfortable… much as I'd like to…"

Azazel smirked as he pushed himself off the seat. "Welp. Enjoy your stay here. You'll have plenty of new big sisters now. Maybe they have more guts in them and cradle you."

"..." Taking it as an insult and a challenge, Rias got up, walked around the coffee table, sat beside the crying girl, and patted her head.

"Boo. You can do better than that."

"I-I'm taking my time…" Rias reasoned, throwing a look at Issei. "...You're a sweet girl, Asia. My name's Rias Gremory, and I welcome you to my small family."

And she held her, and Asia returned the gesture in kind, almost in need, rather, as she sobbed into Rias' chest, her trembling hands grasping the back part of her blouse. The thoughts of being homeless, unloved, and the uncertainty of her future suddenly dissipated as her emotions ran loose.

Issei smiled softly. A true smile since a long while as he nudged at Raynare. "You're in her family too. Go hug her."

Raynare snorted. "Fuck off."

And their day still had just begun…

With Raynare more or less tamed for the time being, and Asia in secure hands, the next thing on his list was explaining several things to Irina… then maybe Murayama, if she ever came to visit.

Rias would doubtlessly bring her here later on. To debrief the new Devil regarding her new devilish duties and such.

Still a bit more in his checklist for the day… but for now, Issei relished this moment without tension, anger, or dread from the uncertainty.

It wouldn't last forever, he knew, but that was what made it all more valuable.

And worth saving.

To be continued...

Ah… sweet, sweet Asia… who isn't too sweet and actually makes me want to squeeze her. And what's this? Diodora already dead? Latia is the Devil she saved? Man, it's almost like SOMEONE gave me this idea or something. Big up, you. You know who you are.

There's some people PMing me complaining Issei has no weakness and is KIRITO from SAO and I'm like… are you fucking serious? Is this just a troll or another of those 'i read many fics therefore i am self-proclaimed 5-star rated critic, hence your fic my dear, is ass for it doth not attend to my taste'?

Like… he clearly has major issues. Mental damage is a thing, you know. Why else do people come back different after fighting a war. Or look like they've never left the battlefield and are still living in it, or even facing another battle with themselves as the participant. Probably from having to shoot kids in the head because they're carrying RPGs, and forever having that image stuck in their head whenever they try to get a wink of sleep or see a kid running down the streets with a giant yellow nerf gun. Then they have to deal with their friends who feel bad but don't exactly know what to do either to help.

Anyway— Issei is a broken man. No man can't be broken after leaving a bunch of wives who adored him, his own family and kids, and not feel a sliver of guilt. Well, maybe a psychopath, but he's no psycho. Broken as he is, he's still a man with sheer fucking belief in himself that he could shape a less shit future for him. Other people be damned. Does he care about the rest of the world? No. Not this time.

An ideal hero would beg Rias to save Kalawarner, Dohnaseek and Mittelt screaming all life is as precious as diamonds.

This issei just moved along. If he doesn't know them well enough to care, he won't care. That's not a good trait to have. His ability to sympathize is completely messed up.

He felt like imploding whenever he had to deal with Raynare's outburst, but kept it bottled inside instead of shouting at her face like he did at chapter 2 - because he had some sleep, and didn't just come back from his messed up future — showing that he wasn't in complete control of his emotions when he's exhausted, but is able to calm down once he got some good damn sleep. Like we all do. Being sleepy makes me cranky, at least.

Why didn't he bitchslap Raynare? Because that's not what mature people do. They instead put their emotions aside and address the situation objectively. Not lash out, throw a vase for dramatic flair, or shout in their face. That's not an adult. That's a child in an adult's body -No, it's different to being pregnant- who will likely use their shitty past to justify their shitty present behavior.

And he can't exactly vent to anyone who can give him the needed comfort either. Azazel had his own share of troubles with Kokabiel doing #KokabielThings. Raynare is being a Raynare. His girlfriends don't know him enough or love him yet. He can't tell how close he is with Irina yet. And he has to act like nothing's different. But this is what he signed up for, so he won't be an angsty moany bitch about it.

Not to mention he's 23 mentally. If you act the same way you acted when you're in high school when you're 23, then I'm sorry to say but that's just aging up while staying a manchild. I can't even believe i have to explain this. I feel like i'm demeaning you as a reader and accusing you for not being able to read between the lines. Yea I kept the lines a bit blurry instead of spoon-feeding every facts with a sentence of clarification, but that's because i trust the majority would still be able to see it

Raynare's still asshole-ish, but she's Raynare. She'll learn eventually and develop as an actual character unlike most dxd casts that just stay the same throughout the entire light novel aside from their 1 chapter where it focused specifically about them. Cough Kiba cough Asia cough

Hopefully this is the last time i 'justify' anything. It's hard to do it without feeling self-conscious like im being an ass :C

Anyway, totally unrelated to the above; I'm taking a break from writing. There are some chapters ready to be posted across my other stories and this, so it's not like this will be the last time you see me for another 2 years. I'll respond to the reviews in the meantime

Reason of my break? Same reason like you stopped playing skyrim/minecraft/stellaris/pinball despite playing it like it's a religion for years

cya m8s

no i'm not dropping any microphones. do you know how much that shit cost?