Cato
His head pounded and his body felt cold as he opened his eyes. Everything was blurry. His clothes and the blanket that covered him chafed his skin. The sunlight wronged his eyes. None of it, not even his pounding head captured any part of his focus when he remembered the last thing he did. What in Oblivion happened?
He retraced the events in his mind. The soulstone dagger had connected with the gear. Whatever happened afterwards… is the dragon loose?
Cato desperately tried to stand up. Information. I need information. He gasped as his muscled ached from the strain. Every muscle in his body felt as if it was worked past its breaking point. He fell back into the bed and heaved for air. This is bad. The surroundings appeared safe enough, but the cat was out of the bag after his little stunt – safe was a matter of time. If the dragon was loose and his only role in its resurrection was as the catalyst that made it happen, then it was all over. If someone came for him as he lay incapacitated, could he escape as he was now? No, he was being stupid. At worst, it would still take a while for anyone to understand what had happened and his role in it. Although… how long was I out for? Nothing in the room gave him any hints. There was a window there, but the morning light offered him no notion of which morning it was. No, it doesn't matter. I am Cato. I don't need to escape. He just needed to turn the situation to his advantage, somehow.
What had gone wrong? He filed through what little knowledge he had hoping to gain some semblance of the big picture. The dagger had to have failed. A loose dragon wouldn't have him waking up in calm surroundings like these. Something, presumably a reaction between the dagger and the gear, had inflicted him with an unknown status effect leaving him unconscious and helpless, but someone, probably an ally or neutral party, had taken care of him and put him in this guest room bed. He couldn't summon the magicka to restore himself. Even a simple healing spell would work wonders, but his reserves were drained or blocked somehow. He needed a panacea. There were two left in his basement, one he'd used on Azazel.
He suppressed any worry and curiosity for his friend's condition in favor of focusing on his own. Regardless of how the lay of the land was, he needed to get himself into fighting shape above all. It all depended on his ability to get back to his office, to his base. He took a deep breath, acutely feeling every sore muscle protest the action. All he needed to do was put on his same old act – pretend that nothing was wrong, that he was in perfect shape, unbreakable.
Moving sluggishly, one leg at a time, he managed to get out of bed and stand up. His legs were shaky and burned just maintaining his weight, but after spending a moment to adjust to the feeling, he steadied. It had to be allies who had taken care of him seeing as no one had yet reacted. A neutral or hostile part would've kept watch and done something by now. Bracing himself for whatever was behind the door, he walked a few circles in his small room to make sure that he could walk steady enough to avoid looking pathetic.
He opened the door and stepped through, hoping that his gait would fool anyone who saw him. He was on the first floor, walking along a railing that gave him a view over the ground floor. An older woman was walking up the staircase but hadn't yet noticed him, so Cato opted to stand still lest he startle her.
"Oh, goodness!"
Cato smiled in response, hoping that it looked kind rather than stiff as he was reminded that even his face felt as though it had been through a meatgrinder.
"You're awake." She bowed to him, deeper than propriety demanded or even allowed. "Thank you so much. Thank you for saving Issei."
Issei. The dragon boy. How his actions could ever be interpreted as having saved the boy was beyond Cato's reckoning, but his situation appeared better than he had assumed. If anyone had seen and recognized the dagger that he used to 'save' the boy, they would have a hard time moving against the devils to do anything about it. Any further thought would have to wait, he hadn't the energy for it. For now, all he needed was to get back and get a potion to cure him, nothing else mattered.
"I take it you're Issei's mother, Hyoudou was it?"
"That's right, I'm sorry for not introducing myself first. My name is Miki Hyoudou, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Cato. My pleasure." Cato's eyes drifted around the place. Everything appeared to be perfectly normal meaning that it was almost certainly the Hyoudou residence. He had stalked around it before but never seen it from the inside. It was close enough to his office for him to make it there on foot, even in his current condition. "While I'm grateful you let me stay at your house, I would avoid overstaying my welcome."
As much as he wanted to say he had to leave, etiquette required a more subtle approach, and giving off the air of normality was of the utmost importance. Sadly, it left room for his host to demand he stay.
"Not at all. You are most welcome here. But you must be hungry. I'm sorry that we all just finished breakfast since we didn't expect you up so soon. I'll make you something to eat right away, something light. Oh, and there's an old man here to see you, but I'm sure he can wait until you've had something to eat."
Cato managed to keep a frown off his face. Turning down the meal was not just rude but illogical, enough so as to arouse suspicion even amongst those who harbored none to begin with. The meal wasn't his cause for worry, he had expected as much. But an unknown old man? 'Old man' wasn't enough of a description to give him a clue. Azazel was the only person who came to mind, but while the fallen was certainly old, his appearance was not.
"That would be lovely, thank you."
Still, the doubt that he had felt when he woke up was gone. In its place, confidence and anticipation. Even if the mystery man was hostile, there was no doubt in Cato's mind that he could talk himself out of it. Cato let Miki lead him down to the main room, a room that served as both a living and dining room. A few people were strewn about the place, lounging around and chatting. He recognized most of them. Rias Gremory was there with Issei Hyoudou and Akeno's boyfriend, Kiba. While the three of them greeted him with varying warmth, more specifically, with Rias and Kiba greeting him warmly and Issei shooting him an uncertain look, Cato's own attention was focused entirely on the man sitting by the window, a man that did, in fact, look old, and that he did, in fact, recognize. The man looked at him, only to turn his gaze downwards, and then once more focusing his attention out the window. Like Miki had said, it could wait until after he ate.
The meal was pleasing to the eye. Eggs, rice, and a bit of fried fish left over from their earlier breakfast. Cato had never gotten used to eating fish in the morning. Today, it didn't matter. His taste buds offered him little more than nothing no matter what he put in his mouth, and he didn't care for it one bit – his entire focus on keeping his motions stable, on looking human despite feeling like ground beef. Rias and Issei were busy doing their own thing and Miki had busied herself elsewhere in the house, which left Kiba trying to strike up friendly conversation. To Cato's delight, Kiba was awful at talking, leaving Cato mostly to himself and his aching body. Most questions could be answered with a yes or no, and each was followed by a lengthy silence.
He didn't know how long it took him to trudge his way through the meal, but by the time he was done, Rias and Issei had decided to go out and amuse themselves – or something like that, he hadn't paid attention to the two. Miki had accepted his gratitude for the meal and gone to clean up, leaving Cato alone with Kiba and the old man who now sat down across the table from Cato.
"Thank you for your company, Kiba. Would it be possible for us," Cato gestured to the old man, feeling his body wail at the motion, "to speak alone?"
Kiba nodded in understanding and left, muttering something that Cato couldn't care to make out as he left.
The old man looked unsure of how to start speaking. Cato was happy to let him take his time. Although he was mostly used to the sluggish awkwardness of his body and the pain that followed every movement, limiting his own actions was desirable – the man in front of him was dangerous despite his docile demeanor.
"Thank you for taking care of Akeno and her friends." Baraqiel lowered his head in a respectful gesture. It was an exaggerated gesture for something so small. Especially given that Cato could've caused Akeno greater trauma yet if he had managed to unleash Ddraig, if his plan had worked. It wasn't a fact that Cato regretted, just a case of a greater priority ruining the efforts he had put into a smaller matter. This unexpected situation gave him a chance to do Akeno and Baraqiel justice, though their story would be up to them in the end.
Baraqiel was an odd man. Cato himself never had a child. Even when he was a young man, he never once imagined himself as a father – his own way of living was too fast, too focused ahead to take upon himself that responsibility. In that sense, it seemed that Cato respected the weight of fatherhood more than Baraqiel had. If Cato had a child, they would be by his side even now, of that he was certain. From what little Azazel had told him during their drinking sessions, Baraqiel hadn't been his old self ever since he left Akeno and her mother. After Akeno's mother's death, he all but secluded himself. And yet now, the man sat across from him expressing humble gratitude for looking after his daughter.
Baraqiel's face betrayed none of the shame that Cato was sure he felt. It was expressionless, stoic. An elegant look that fit the weathered veteran that Baraqiel was. But he looked old. Lines marred his face more so than they did Azazel's, although his skin was still younger looking than his grey hair would imply. Whether he was created thus or it was the mark of time was anyone's guess.
"It is custom," Cato started, speaking slowly to avoid struggling for breath, "to introduce oneself by name on a first meeting."
Baraqiel nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry. I've heard enough about you that I didn't think of it as such. My name is Baraqiel, second of the Fallen. I am Akeno's father."
"And I am Cato."
Baraqiel fiddled a bit as they once more fell into silence, something that seemed to be the theme of the day. It made Cato wonder what the purpose of the visit was. If Baraqiel had planned to meet with him, then he surely had something that he wished to say.
"While I'm happy enough just to meet you," Baraqiel said at length, speaking slowly to match Cato's pace, "I'm here at the behest of Azazel because he informed me that you had specifically asked to meet with me after the peace conference."
Oh. Too much else had been more important; it had slipped his mind. In that case, the impetus was on him to make this conversation worth its while. Since Baraqiel had come here to meet him, he had to give a good excuse to skip the talk. Admitting his weakness wasn't an option, so he had to deal with Baraqiel now as best he could.
"Correct. I'd hoped to be able to prepare a little better." Cato looked down at his clothes. He hadn't given them much thought until now, but he was dressed in a very tight t-shirt that he didn't recognize and a pair of shorts that were probably meant to be baggy but that instead clung to his skin awkwardly. Most likely Issei's father's clothes that someone had dressed him in. It brought to mind his weapons – where had they gone? – but he forced that thought down. The current predicament required his full concentration, not because it was particularly dangerous, but because speaking in his current condition was hard.
"That is a feeling I'm used to," Baraqiel said.
"I ought to just tell you the whole story. I'm a private investigator based here in Kuoh town." Cato wondered how well the P.I. moniker fit him now. He doubted anyone would think 'detective' if they saw him anymore. "Some time ago, Akeno asked me to find you."
Cato gave Baraqiel time to process the information. Baraqiel only let a slight twitch escape onto his otherwise perfect mask but quickly returned to his stoic self.
"I couldn't find you. Later, Azazel hired me to keep an eye out for Kokabiel, and by pure chance, it worked out."
It was unimpressive as far as storytelling went, but his body objected to the strain of speech, and there were a wealth of other reasons to remain sparse on details.
"Azazel told me as much."
Cato nodded stiffly. "Then you know how this situation came to be. The reason I asked Azazel to get me in contact with you is because of Akeno."
"She asked you to find me. And yet," Baraqiel said, stroking his beard, "I noticed that Akeno left exactly as I arrived here."
"Give her time."
"Does she even want to speak with me?" Baraqiel's tone was flustered even as his face was calm. "Rias Gremory gave me a telling off like no other when she found out who I was."
When Cato had spoken with Akeno about meeting with her father, she had been unsure. That Baraqiel understood that was certainly a good thing. The man had shame. Nonetheless, Cato was certain that she would make the right decision. There was hurt and anger in her opinion of Baraqiel, as there should be, but there was also the wish for everything to have turned out different. Things couldn't be different. They could only be repaired, mended. That would have to be enough. If nothing else, they shared in their grief for Akeno's mother.
"Akeno will meet with you. Stick around. The rest is up to you."
Baraqiel closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thank you."
Baraqiel's voice was shaky. His gratitude was the most heartfelt of any that Cato had received since coming to this world. Once upon a time, moments like these were what gave Cato the strength to go on. Even now, he felt himself moved at the idea of their reunion and eventual reconciliation, no matter how many tears of frustration it took them to get there. But he wasn't that same person anymore. He understood that living for the small joys in life was for small people. His battle with destiny required him to always look at the world from a wider perspective, always identifying the bigger threat, always prioritizing the grand scheme over the little people scurrying aimlessly within it.
Still, he would do what he could as long as it didn't interfere with what truly mattered. It was unfortunate for Akeno that she hadn't gotten her happy ending before the greater picture decided to move on, but perhaps she would yet find it. Cato blinked to clear his thoughts. He had zoned out for a while. Baraqiel, too, was lost in thought with a soft expression, his stoic mask from earlier all but gone.
"I must get going now," Cato said. He had dallied too long already, though he hadn't had much choice in the matter. In between looking as pale as he did and having already cleared the conditions of the conversation, Baraqiel was sure to let him leave without much thought.
"Oh, of course." Baraqiel startled out of his reverie. "Are you fit to go home? You look a little shaky."
"Thank you for your concern." The smile on Cato's face was genuine, if painful. "I'm just not used to fish in the morning."
-o-o-o-o-
Akeno
The battle was over.
She was still alive, Kiba was still alive… somehow, they were all still alive.
Akeno had known from the beginning that they were out of their league. From the very moment that Sirzechs told her that they had to attend, she knew it boded ill. Them attending was like the humans in the old myths crossing into the realm of the gods unwillingly, a place where they didn't belong, and a place that took unkindly to their presence. She had understood the discrepancy between their strength and the strength of their enemy, and everyone in the peerage who hadn't understood this learnt upon standing there in the council room, surrounded by the greatest, most powerful creatures in existence, debating matters that surpassed their understanding. Everyone had understood in the end. Everyone except Issei.
She had felt her heart sink when he spoke up at the meeting. She had vainly hoped for interference from Rias who, to Akeno's discomfort, looked pleased that Issei stood up for himself the way that he did. It was at times like these that Rias's passion over reason became apparent. It was the same passion that led her to seek a place away from devilkind to live a normal youth. Still, Akeno didn't consider it a fault. It was that same passion which led Rias to find and care for Akeno. But in the meeting and the following battle, it was dangerous.
When the attack went down, Serafall Leviathan darted off to find her sister, while Sirzechs and Grayfia made certain that they all stayed put, allowing them only minimal opportunity to fight. It was thrilling to fight next to them. The danger normally present when fighting was missing, all that was there was awe of the greatest power in the world. Sirzechs held nothing back in defending them. It would've been easy for them all to make out unscathed thanks to his supreme power. But Issei…
Whether it was something all boys were prone to, or whether Issei and Kiba were unique in that regard, Issei refused to let anyone interfere when Vali came to challenge him. Too filled with pride, or perhaps desire to impress Rias – seeing it as his moment to prove himself. There was no chance for Issei to win. He fought hard, claiming that he had several new tricks up his sleeve, something about understanding his sacred gear at last, and it was clear that the boy truly believed it. He managed to use the limit break, but Vali easily matched him with his own. When it proved too little, much too little, he went further, offering up his body to Ddraig in exchange for power. Juggernaut drive, someone had called it, though Akeno didn't remember who. There were some technicalities to it, but all she remembered was its basic premise.
The user offered their life in exchange for power.
The moment Rias understood what was happening… it was heartbreaking. The intensity of Rias's care for those close to her was an intensity surpassed by the worry and anguish when faced with losing the one she cared most about. The way Rias now clung to Issei along with Asia was almost frantic. They had stayed up all night at the Hyoudou residence following the battle, none of them wanting to lose sight of each other as the madness calmed down. Now, they were sitting cramped around a table sharing some semblance of breakfast, though Akeno herself had stuck to just sipping some tea.
Azazel had showed up immediately after they got to the Hyoudou residence with Cato's limp body and asked them to take care of him until he recovered fully before leaving in a hurry. It wasn't clear what was wrong with her friend. The fighting had been at its utmost intensity when Cato showed up. Issei was in his juggernaut drive, at death's doorstep, and the devils were heavily engaged with some of the Old Satan faction and the hero faction. She'd been fighting off someone with a holy sword together with Kiba when she saw Cato charge through at incredible speed. For only a moment, her heart had sunk right down to be with Rias's when she saw him attack Issei, and then an enormous roar and shockwave rippled across the entire area. Whether everyone lost the will to fight the way she did, or whether there was some mysticism at work that made it so, the Khaos Brigade retreated immediately after that, even the bloodthirsty Vali.
Cato had done something, she was sure of it, something more than what was perceived on the surface. She looked at Rias and Issei. It was as it should be. They owed him for allowing this idyllic picture to exist, yet there was an unease to it. Whatever Cato had done, there was more to it than just saving Issei. She was sure of it.
She hadn't voiced her concerns to Kiba, not knowing how to broach the subject and fully content to simply bask in the comfort of companionship for now. But there was something which kept her cold unease awake even while she sat, surrounded by people who were closer to her than friends. The image of a strangely familiar crystal dagger making contact with the Boosted Gear. Kokabiel had given them such a dagger, and they gave it in turn to Azazel. Had Kokabiel known it could be used to save Issei if he ever lost control, or was it something else?
A knock on the door broke her train of thought. Issei's mum, Miki, went to open. They weren't expecting anyone, but with presumably everyone from the conference still around, it wasn't too surprising for someone to come visit them. The voice she heard, distinctly male, sparked faint recognition, but she couldn't place it. She stirred. Curious, but not curious enough to abandon her spot with Kiba. When the newcomer entered the room, she took a single glance at him, and then she stood up and left, leaving no explanation for her friends.
She would talk to him. She'd promised. But it would be later, away from the rest of them. The outside was better. It was quiet without the buzz of cars or insects or anything at all. The calm after the storm more than anything, but calm was calm. She sat down on the pavement, finding some modicum of comfort in feeling the sun warm her face. She had done her best during the conference proceedings to ignore her father as he stood there, offering her a few looks but no words, and now he came to seek her out. Or maybe he didn't. He could just have business with the devils, after all. At any rate, he didn't follow her outside, something she was grateful for, though she hoped that her leaving had hurt him, at least a fraction of how his leaving had hurt her.
"Yo."
The greeting came from the road rather than from the house. Akeno hadn't noticed Azazel coming, but there he stood, with a curious expression on his face. Akeno gave him a small nod of acknowledgment. Speaking felt like too great an effort.
"Are you standing guard or something like that?" When she didn't respond, he continued. "I suppose sitting lost in thought with a mopey look isn't any good for standing guard, though."
She sighed. "If you have business inside, just enter."
Instead of entering, Azazel sat down next to her on the pavement. Akeno suppressed the urge to grimace, then wondered why she bothered. Was he here to convince her to speak with her father as well?
"I don't know how best to ask you this, miss Himejima," Azazel said. "We've barely spoken, and I don't want to come off as brash."
"Don't bother," she said dryly.
"This is too important for me to leave alone. You're close with Cato, isn't that right?"
Akeno frowned. "I… yes…?" It wasn't about her father, then?
"Who, or what, do you think he is? I thought I understood before the conference, but things are changed now. I'd hear your thoughts."
Who or what? She'd come to the conclusion that Cato was a human hero of some sort, but something about the fallen's tone made her hesitate to offer a response.
"Did you recognize the weapon that he used to strike the boosted gear?"
Kokabiel's dagger. She didn't say it immediately. It was in Azazel's possession before the conference. What if it's an 'if you know I'll have to kill you' situation? But her pause would be enough for Azazel to tell that she knew something, if not what. "It was the dagger Kokabiel gave us."
Azazel nodded at that and didn't ooze killing intent or anything of the sort. "I've been studying the dagger closely since you gave it to me," he said. "I've been looking into it, trying to understand it – where did it come from? What does it do?"
Azazel leaned back on his arms and looked out over the empty road.
"It was inscribed with runes and words that I've never seen before and that I found myself unable to decipher – inconceivable given our innate affinity for all mortal languages. It was a mystery that Kokabiel left us, and one which is now cracked open, if still unsolved," Azazel said. His voice was solemn now, showing none of its inquisitive nature from earlier. "I can't fault you for your mistake. It was not the dagger Kokabiel gave you, though it was identical."
"What?"
"To put it simply, I now have a lead – and something more – on its origins. Though that's not the point," he said. "I've been working alone this whole time. The events at the conference as well as the events leading up to it have taught me that I, alone, am powerless."
Azazel locked eyes with Akeno.
"I didn't come here for 'business inside', as you put it. I came here for you."
It had taken a turn for something Akeno couldn't keep up with, so she reacted best way she knew how. "My, that's rather forward of you. But, you see, I'm not really into older-"
"You're the only person, as far as I know, that Cato would call friend. Aside from me. If it hadn't been for the fact that he saved me amidst it all, I would've dismissed such a label as meaningless guile from the man. It's been bothering me. All of it," he said. "I would go alone as I always have, but now, it seems unwise – especially so if my gut-feeling is anything close to hitting the mark."
Akeno frowned. What was he talking about? She tried to play his words over in her head once more, but they still refused to make sense. "Go where?" she settled on.
"Come with me."
Azazel stood and looked at her expectantly. She rose slowly, giving the house a contemplative look as she made up her mind. The final events of the conference had played on her mind as well, after all, and a conversation with her father could wait. If he cared enough, he would still be there. When she turned back to Azazel, the fallen was already some steps down the road, beckoning her onwards.
"Cato and I have been working together for a while, spanning several different cases and many types of liquor. Did you know that he was the one who learnt and warned us of the Khaos Brigade's attack yesterday?"
"I heard as much when you spoke with Michael at the shrine." Azazel's look was comically surprised, as though he had completely forgotten her presence at the time.
"Indeed? Anyway, everything affected by his involvement has propelled him to a point where he is now poised to take the role as human representative on a par with Michael and his Church – perhaps even as the more convincing candidate to the claim. When he came to me at first, some months back – no, that's not right. When I came to him some months back, he knew nothing of the existence of the three factions, or at least he pretended not to. In addition, no one knew of him."
It was true. Akeno had picked him to look for her father precisely because of that anonymity.
"Yet now, the devils led by Sirzechs offer him their full support. Michael falters as the human representative at his challenge, and I come into the whole thing offering my support to him and my faith in the results of the intelligence he provided." Azazel stopped and turned to look directly at Akeno. "I would like to finish this off by explaining to you how this all happened."
Akeno nodded, urging him to continue. He was finally making sense.
"I don't know," he said.
She gaped at him.
"I don't know how any of this happened despite witnessing it every single step of the way. But I fear it's because of more than just being in the right place at the right time. Though the information he passes on is always accurate, unbelievably so, perhaps there's more to it than that."
"What are you saying?"
"Cato has on numerous occasions told me that my ability to gather information is gravely hindered by my unwillingness to go outside. He exaggerates, of course, but he is right – this is the only way to do it."
Leaving her no further answer than that, Azazel turned to walk into the house that they had reached, which Akeno only now realized was Cato's office. "Wait! Are you just going to break into his house?!"
"We, and yes." Azazel unlocked the door with a key and walked in. An unease settled in her stomach as she reluctantly followed him. "We need information, and our most trusted source of it is the object of the investigation. Whether deception was his goal or not, whatever his reasons may be, the only way we will know is to find out for ourselves. Come as my witness. Tell yourself that you're here just to make sure that I don't do something untoward, if that's what your conscience requires."
Akeno stopped in the doorway. She looked around the office as if seeing it for the first time. She'd been nervous when first she came here, but that nervousness was long gone, replaced with a sense of comforting familiarity. By instinct, she almost made for the couch arrangement but stopped herself. The situation robbed the place of any of its expected comfort. Azazel was looking through the items on the desk, taking great care not to damage or lose track of anything, then moved on to do the same to the drawers.
"Nothing. Though I'll admit, I expected as much."
"Are we done?"
Azazel's expression when he looked up at her made her throat catch. "Where does he keep his weapons?"
She didn't answer.
"This is his office – available to the public, practically a free transit for all manner of lost people. No offense to either of us." Akeno licked her lips. She should've just stayed inside and spoken with her father after all. "It has nothing conspicuous or criminal at surface level. Yet, he was practically a walking arsenal when I stripped him of his things. Shield, sword, lance, daggers of all sorts, and even some bomb-like contraptions."
At the sight of her persistent hesitance, Azazel walked up to her with an intense, almost pleading expression.
"I need you to come with me to ensure that I don't go too far, miss Himejima. And I need you there to witness things with me, so that anything that comes out of it doesn't rest on my word alone."
Akeno bit down on her lip as she closed the door behind her. She watched as Azazel nodded solemnly and walked over to the door heading to Cato's bedroom. She felt her legs taking her in the same direction more than she consciously went.
Was this really the right thing to do?
-o-o-o-o-
Azazel finally makes to move the story forward himself. We don't get any dragon this chapter, though I imagine some of you were hoping and expecting it – I hope you're not too disappointed about that. It will come eventually.
Next chapter won't take as long (I hope).
Also, new formatting for line breaks because I noticed that the ones I was using don't show up properly on mobile device dark mode.
