Gabriel turned in her bed. 'Huh?'

It was the same surge of power as before. The same sure of power she only felt when she was with God. "Michae— no."

She can't rely on her brother like always, he was too busy with the system and keeping the other angels in line. Gabriel noticed when they talked to the samurai in the mortal realm. Her brother looked weary and she wasn't helping him by reminding him of their father.

She couldn't do that to him again.

She should look into the matter herself and report to him. A tinge of excitement surged through her. 'What if it's father!"

The seraph waved her arms and like magic a long white sundress draped over her otherwise bare form and a small golden tiara appeared in her forehead. She waved her arms a second time and a Cheval glass with a cloud-like frame materialized. The chief angel of chastity twirled before the mirror and examined herself head to toe. The dress she just made was modest but elegant. Her golden locks of hair flowed gracefully; her emerald eyes were brimming again with purpose! Gabriel smiled at herself in satisfaction.

Six pairs of wings spread out gracefully from her back as she stepped out of her room.

'Don't you worry, brother.' She pumped her fists together, hyping herself up. 'I'll get to the bottom of this!'

She disappeared in a flash of light.

Issei was restless. The rest of his peerage was unflinchingly calm considering it's been minutes since Hikawa and Kashima left. Their President, especially, was crossing her arms looking outside the conference room's view of the sun setting down Tokyo.

"President," Iseei began. "I know badly we were outclassed by Kashima, but we can't just sit here and do nothing!"

Rias smiled at him. "I'm surprised it took this long for you to complain, Issei-kun."

"Huh?"

"Honestly, I'm almost impressed." Kiba agreed. "Considering what happened with Asia, I expected you to run off and chase them down."

"I— well," He hesitated. "A lot of things had happened, and I know when I can't beat someone."

Issei looked down. "When I went up and beat up Riser, I prepared a lot of stuff to get even with him. But with Kashima…"

"It was as if he was pitying us." Rias finished. "His fog breath attack was less for him and more for us. He knew completely how outclassed we were and tried to break off without being forced to disable us."

"He could destroy that demon with a claw attack that caused the entire building to shake," Kiba added. "He didn't use it against us."

Issei slammed the table. The room's atmosphere sank.

"When I agreed in meeting with them, it wasn't without a back-up plan." The peerage's king said smugly. "Akeno is tailing them as we speak."

"What?"

"Honestly, I didn't completely trust Hikawa-san." Rias shook her head. "I wanted Akeno to tail him back after our meeting here. But I didn't expect things to happen the way they have."

"So, she's—?!"

"They're walking in the direction to the station, she last told me." Rias reported. "Once Akeno narrows where they'll be headed, we'll fly down there and help them."

Rias saw her pawn grip his hand. The boy must've felt humiliated. With the things happening lately, it had been a constant theme with him being belittled by everyone they end up fighting. Outright telling them they are weak by Kashima must've struck a chord to the boy.

"We're wasting time!" Naoki ran a hand across his hair.

"No, we are buying you a new set of clothes." The man frowned at him. "I will not subject myself to any more embarrassment from you, second-hand or otherwise."

"The station's a block away, we can just—!"

"You expect to be inconspicuous with that outfit?" Hikawa scoffed. "It's already a miracle someone hasn't called the police on you for public indecency."

Naoki grunted in frustration and looked outside the clothes shop they were in. It was an expensive looking place and Hikawa was adamant they go to this place instead of the literally dozens of other shops in the area.

"Here, go and wear these." It took a good five minutes of Naoki idling around for Hikawa to finally come carrying two large bags with the shop's logo on the side.

"Can't I just buy a shirt?"

"Haven't you noticed the presence of a devil close by?"

"It's just probably one of Rias' servants. We did walk out on them."

"We need to lose whoever it is following us."

"I don't care if they follow. I already warned them," Naoki shrugged, but Hikawa noticed a tinge of regret on his face. "If they can't see the risk even after I showed how weak they are, then it's on them."

"If you don't care, then humor me who does." Hikawa pushed the bag closer. "Now that we have a solid lead, I don't want these devils knowing our every move."

Naoki was wasting time and Hikawa looked like he already paid for the clothes. He might as well agree. He huffed and took the bag Hikawa was holding in front of him. He opened it and took a peek inside.

"These look expensive." He said the first time that popped in his head.

Hikawa was already walking towards one of the dressing rooms when Naoki looked up. "Stop wasting time, get changed."

Naoki didn't like it when he's being told what to do, it reminded him of his gullibility in the vortex world. But the man was right.

Akeno Himejima was standing in the side of the shop beside the one Rias asked her to tail if ever he walked outside the Gremory building. He was with another young man who was present in the café incident. Akendo didn't know much about him; only his name and the fact he was a reincarnated devil.

And that he was strong.

'It's been ten minutes already, are they stalling?' But then the realization dawned on her.

Akeno dashed inside the shop ignoring the attendant's greeting. There were a few patrons inside but the two were nowhere to be found. There was a hallway going towards the back and she promptly went through it.

It let her to the shop's back room and she found a fire exit leading into an alley behind the shop. The alley was empty. It was a complete rookie mistake.

She lost them.

Hikawa and Naoki were on a Yurikamome Line train and planned to step out near the harbor. Naoki adjusted the cream-colored turtleneck he was wearing. His outfit consisted of the turtleneck alongside a buttoned light grey peacoat. He also sported a pair of black slacks and brown leather shoes. It was a far cry from the jacket and short ensemble Naoki would usually wear.

"I think I look even more conspicuous in this." He grumbled.

Hikawa ignored him. The people in the train weren't paying them any attention, so the man might have some sense in fashion. Naoki stole a glance at his company. Hikawa ditched his suit and was wearing a full tuxedo outfit complete with brown suit, vest and slacks over a white dress shirt. A stripped tie adorned his neck to finish the whole thing.

"What is it?" Hikawa must've noticed him.

"I honestly don't think you picked these at random."

"You mean our clothes?" The man crossed his arms.

"Only someone like Isamu would wear something this… outrageous." Naoki adjusted his turtleneck again, his neck was getting uncomfortable.

That managed to get a laugh out of Hikawa. "I can see why you would say that, considering your choice of clothing."

"Meaning?" Naoki hissed.

"Get mad all you want; this is a vast improvement to the outfit I've seen you wear in both back in the vortex world and this new one." The man took a glance at Naoki and nodded approvingly at himself.

"I didn't even have a shirt in the vortex world—!" Naoki paused, noticing a few glances from the other passengers. He pretended to look at the window.

"Precisely my point, I always hated that pair of shorts you wore." Hikawa let out a breath, as if uttering a closely guarded secret.

"What, you bought me this just because you didn't like my pants?"

"I might as well do so!" The man scoffed. "It was a perfect opportunity to both loose the one tailing us and open your eyes some semblance of fashion."

"Right…"

"Must you think so ill of me? I do have hobbies besides the occult and I am happy to share my knowledge to the fashionably inept." Hikawa was uncharacteristically pointed, and with fashion out of all things.

Naoki shrugged, leaning back. "And we're all buddy-buddy now?"

Hikawa laughed again, crossing his legs. His expensive looking brown and white leather oxfords clacked as the man moved. "We have an even more meaningful relationship than mere friends."

"Uh-huh?"

"We quite literally butted heads declaring our most inner reasons and resolve, ended up agreeing to disagree and tried to eliminate each other."

"Trying to off each other wasn't us 'agreeing to disagree'." Naoki deadpanned.

"Nevertheless, we did so with understanding far deeper than any superficial friendships." Hikawa leaned back. "Even now I have some understanding of you, have I not?"

How was Naoki supposed to follow up to that? It was a twisted way of viewing their relationship. But it had some sliver of truth to it. They had a begrudging mutual sense of understanding between them, even if they had figurative swords ready to stab each other anytime.

"Now that we are in the topic of friendships." Hikawa glanced at Naoki. "Why abandon them? I don't buy your explanation about the devils earlier."

Naoki didn't answer.

"I have been a demon summoner for a while, you know. I know how oddly social demons are. I talk with mine from time to time back then, as well."

He wasn't going to give Hikawa the satisfaction.

"Was it your way of unconsciously trying to get companions like in the vortex world?" Hikawa theorized.

Naoki closed his eyes, crossed his arms and leaned all the way back to the seat's foam back, completely silent.

The cold Tokyo wind didn't help the already impending sense of dread Rias and her peerage felt. They were grouped up standing over the Tokyo Gate Bridge. Their queen, Akeno, had lost Hikawa and Kashima. They have spent the few hours finding leads from the station closest to where she lost them to the nearest possible places.

No luck.

Rias crossed her arms. "The demon mentioned a harbor, if it's any one in this bay. We'll be the first ones to respond."

"I can't help but feel like this plan is a little luck reliant," Kiba muttered.

"I know. But unless we had a good lead, that station was all we had." She ran a finger over her ear, letting her hair blow freely.

Akeno sighed. "We're reduced to such an aimless tactic because of me."

"You already apologized, Akeno-san." Kiba consoled her.

"A lot." Koneko added.

"We don't blame you at all!" Asia smiled reassuringly at her.

The peerage felt there was someone who hasn't said anything since they perched on the bridge. Koneko felt a lecherous gaze from beside them and turned. Issei was crouching down with a stupid grin on his face, he was looking at the rest of the girls' skirts being blown by the wind. The man didn't even notice her seeing him, he was too absorbed in his own world.

Koneko quickly flew behind him and slammed both of her legs on his back sending the Pawn flying into the bridge arch's edge.

"What'd you do that for, Koneko-chan…?!" Issei said, still clinging on the metal arch. "Help!"

"I'm guessing you were trying to look up their skirts?" Kiba shook his head.

"I couldn't help it…" Issei slowly climbed up.

"Eep—!" Asia yelled.

"The wind really is blowing hard, huh." Akeno observed.

"We are way up here." Kiba looked down at the cars crossing the bridge.

"Back to the topic at hand," Rias crossed her arms. "We can look up the harbor closest to here then split up from there."

Her peerage nodded in agreement.

Thankfully Hikawa didn't press the matter any further making their ride towards the Tokyo harbor uneventful. Naoki welcomed the mutual silence between them. The duo were quick to sneak inside the facility. By the time they arrived it was already a few hours before midnight. The moon fortunately was covered by clouds helping them as they moved under the cover of darkness.

"I haven't explained why I pinpointed this specific place to be the source, have I?" Hikawa spoke softly as they walked closer at a large but typical looking warehouse.

"I think I already have an idea." Naoki was already sizing up the location. There was a large concentration of magatsuhi swirling from outside the place making its way inside. It was a slow looking process compared to ones in the vortex world but Naoki guessed Hikawa had detected the concentration and kept note on it.

"Very well," Hikawa stepped in front of the warehouse. There was a huge metal door in the way. The man gestured Naoki towards the door.

"Damn slavedriver." The Fiend punched the metal door sending it flying inside of the warehouse. They both stepped inside and found the place completely pitch dark.

"Doesn't your tattoo glow?" Hikawa indirectly suggested.

Before Naoki could retort an ugly screeching echoed suddenly, he couldn't move. This feeling… it was bind! A familiar purple flame quickly spun around the duo, not a fraction of time later an ominous purple magic circle enveloped the ground!

"Shit—!"

Naoki spun around and lightly kicked Hikawa sending him reeling out of the circle, the action forced the bind spell to tighten forcing Naoki to kneel from the pain. Naoki then felt a full weight being slammed on top of him! The magic circle detonated and the death spell exploded in a crackling purple mist that enveloped the entrance of the warehouse.

Hikawa recovered from being slammed into one of the metal beams. The man couldn't see a thing except for the faint remnants of the Mamudoon, the ones ambushing them were quick to use the darkness to their advantage. After Kashima kicked him, he heard the spell activate. But between that he also heard an ugly crash in the young man's location. What worried him was Kashima took the brunt of those attacks without unleashing his Demon form.

"Did we get him, boss?" A deep ugly gurgled voice echoed in the warehouse; it was a familiar voice.

Pinpointing the voice's location within the pitch-black darkness was almost impossible, Hikawa couldn't see who or what it was. A surge of power then enveloped the warehouse and Hikawa was more than relieved to feel the familiar sense of dread from the Fiend.

Hikawa saw a faint white light from where Kashima was and without ceremony a thin exploding beam of light shot up to the sky obliterating the warehouse's roof! The sheer power of the beam blew the rest of the warehouse aside and the mountains of metal containers stacked beside where the warehouse should be. The beam's force was heavy enough to dig a crater, shaking the ground in the process.

The man didn't waste the opportunity and tried to find their enemies. The light from the beam brightened the vicinity well enough for the man to see them. In close formation was a party of demons consisting a Gyūki, a Tao Tie, three Abaddon and two Behemoths. In the center of the formation was a man in a black suit holding a golden adorned crosier, likely the summoner. In front each of them was a mirror like shield protecting them from the force emitted by the beam.

'Tetrakarn?' Hikawa knew none of the demon present could naturally learn the spell, but the summoner might have access to fusion. Or was he the one who casted it? 'Either way, they already showed one of their most game-changing spells.'

That being said he had done the same. The same mirror-like surface was between Hikawa and being obliterated. The only reason he was able to quickly cast the spell was he recognized the skill being used.

'Divine shot,' Hikawa saw the beam slowly thinning. 'It's even more powerful than I last saw him use it.'

Just from being in close proximity to it is causing damage.

The powerful attack ended, a pregnant pause shortly followed as Hikawa and the summoner's party were gauging each other. The Divine shot's blast had cleaved the night sky open letting the moonlight to illuminate them. The summoner knew the beam wasn't from one of his demons, Hikawa was looking at the man eye the crater where the beam shot out from.

A good second passed and someone jumped from the crater! Hikawa saw Kashima land between him and the summoner's party. The Fiend was grasping a Behemoth's head and dropped it lazily in front of them as he dusted himself off. Kashima was brimming with pressure as red lightning electrified his limbs. His shamanistic tattoos showing on his hand and face were accented even more ominously under the pale moonlight as a red glow pulsated from it.

"Congratulations," Kashima adjusted his turtleneck. "You pissed me off."

Message:

Free imaginary cookies if you can guess Naoki and Hikawa's outfit references.

Also, I could've sworn I remember Issei using dress break a couple of times with just a flick of his fingers. If that's not the case then it's on me.

Finally, to Cryocene, analyze away.

Analysis is literally the backbone of the MegaTen fandom for years, especially if we wanted to know how accurate the original Japanese texts are compared to the official/fan translations (Lord knows I played Devil Summoner 1 that way. No, not the Raidou one. The one where the MC dies and possessed a dead summoner's body for the rest of the game.).

But if you end up making a more amazing plot in your head than what I'll actually put out, you will end up getting disappointed. Just a heads up.