Kirinthor - Hated killing Shuri but there's no way she'd make it to Rias' peerage otherwise. Hikari unfortunately had to die to set things in motion. Still conflicted about it, but couldn't find any other way to accomplish what I wanted by leaving her alone.

Mahesvra - Glad to hear you liked it! Will do!

Guest – Took several tries to introduce a draconic Issei but once I thought of how a kid would react when breathing fire, I had to expand on it. I aim to please, glad you enjoyed it.

dest03yer – Thanks for the support! I do have finals coming up so this is my last post for at least a week. Hopefully once I'm done, I'll be able to write more often and post longer chapters. Glad to know that someone's eager for me to keep writing.

Disclaimer: See 1st Chapter.

" " - Speech

' ' - Thoughts

( ) - Albion

When Issei woke up, all he could see was white and darkness. Realizing he was lying prone and his face was half-buried in something, he rolled onto his back and sat up. Judging by the light, it was mid-morning of the next day. The clearing had changed drastically in the time he had been unconscious. While the months of intensive training and sparring had left their marks, Issei's chores had included re-planting trees and filling craters. In a few moments, he realized with some irritation that the white particles in the air were not snow, but ash. The trees and plants that had populated the clearing had been cut down, smoldering stumps and crackling brambles. Shivering at the cold, he moved to dust himself off when he realized a few things.

First, his clothes were scorched and in tatters. While he was flame-resistant, his clothes were not. He guessed that's why it felt chilly, until that lead to his next epiphany. As a dragon with a fire burning in his gut, he technically shouldn't feel cold. While he could detect temperature difference, extreme cold or heat had never bothered him before. Having been slow enough to be engulfed by bursts of flame from his father's breath, he knew that heat was negligible to him. As for the cold, last Christmas vacation, the Hyoudous and Himejimas both went to a ski lodge. After a sledding accident, he had been trapped in a snowdrift with Akeno for a time, using his body heat to stop her shivering but unable to melt their way out without burning her. Finally, upon remembering such a happy time, he recalled a more recent memory. Specifically, the last thing he felt before collapsing.

Ryuu's screams of fear and agony. Memories of watching Hikari take a sword to the chest. Shuri soon after. Masked men turning towards him, blades raised, then nothing. Then his cries mirrored his father's.

As he stood, tears falling silently, he looked around. There was no sign of Ryuu. Issei took that as a bad omen. If his mother really was dead, then there was no guarantee that Kuoh was still intact. In addition, he should consider himself lucky that Ryuu's attention hadn't been on him. In letting him know what a broken bond implied, Ryuu had to cite several examples that seemed to come from nightmares. Evil Dragons tearing nests apart, killing adults, young ones, hatchlings and crushing eggs. Without reason or regret, no mental presence of their mate to soothe their minds, unchecked violence could extend to filicide.

Mentally thanking every god he could think of and apologizing to those he couldn't, he was extremely grateful that his father's outburst hadn't injured or weakened him, meaning he still had the strength to run home. After escaping the woods, he caught sight of Kuoh, surprised to see it mostly intact. Firefighters were still working to suppress some blazes, but otherwise, the town had only suffered cosmetic damage.

Ignoring the confused and disoriented townsfolk, Issei weaved through the crowded streets until he arrived home, only to find it torn apart. Ignoring the police lines, he ran into the exposed structure, faintly noting that the homes around it had been nearly completely demolished. Crossing threshold. He saw Shuri, a stab wound in the center of her chest, lying on her back. In the manner that she fell and the white clothes she was wearing, he could have been convinced she was a sleeping angel, were it not for the pool of red surrounding her.

As his tears renewed, he searched for his own mother. Alive or dead, he had to know where she was. He found another large bloodstain near the door, but no body or sign to indicate whose it was. Crouching to the stain, he extended his senses as far as he could.

O-type blood. Female. Faint traces of the perfume that Ryuu had given her for their latest anniversary. Gouge marks, claw marks, carefully spread around where he assumed her body had fallen.

Standing and focusing on his surroundings, he surmised that the damage to the house as well as the surrounding neighborhood had not been from a gas leak, but Ryuu's drive to reach his wife. In his enraged state, Ryuu's flames would be uncontrollable; touching anything carelessly would have started the combustion process. Regardless, Issei now knew that Hikari was nowhere in the house, perhaps not even in Kuoh.

Wherever Ryuu had gone, he had taken Hikari's body with her. Upset and angry that he had been denied his own right to vent, to mourn, Issei didn't hear the footsteps that came behind him.

"Hey, kid? You shouldn't be here. Structurally unsound and all that."

"Leave him be, Dumah. So long as he doesn't interfere with our own investigation, I have no problem with him being here. He may actually have the greater right to be here."

"Very well, Simiel. It's your call."

Leaving the two policemen to do their work, Issei curled up and wept. Shuri and Hikari were dead, and he couldn't feel Akeno through the bond. Lost in his sorrow and relaxing his guard, he didn't notice the two police turn towards him.

"Dumah."

"I sense it too. This has all the makings of an Evil Dragon's work. That kid over there is a dragon. I know it doesn't seem likely for a kid to do this, but when has anyone ever understood their kind."

"I'm not taking any chances. Regrettably, the kid's a threat. Since he's young, we won't go for the kill. Stun and containment only."

The two Fallen Angels, for that's what they were, drew knives instead of light spears. Since they had both fallen for supporting the mass dragon-killing sprees in Medieval Europe, they were considered the Grigori experts at investigating dragon-related incidents. The runic knives they carried, while useless against a full-grown dragon, would be sufficient to take down a hatchling.

Issei perked up at the shring of metal. He tried to turn, but Dumah and Simiel had centuries of experience on their side. He was knocked out for the second time in as many days.

"Bind him. Quickly. Last thing we need is the dragons learning that we've taken one of their own, from their own territory."

Using the knives to pierce his skin, they wasted no time in marking Issei's body with temporary enchantments. His flame, claws, teeth, hide, all nullified. Only his wings would be left untouched, as constricting or removing them was unnecessarily cruel. Once finished with their work, Dumah pulled the boy over his shoulder. Together, the Fallen Angels turned with their captive and walked through a portal. Their investigation was complete. No need to remain. Just like that Issei Hyoudou disappeared from the human world.

To the Kuoh City Council:

While the sonic boom's overall effects on the town were negligible, there are still two matters of importance to discuss.

While no citizens were injured worse than universal temporary hearing loss and some broken bones, the bodies recovered were heavily armed and would be considered highly dangerous if still among the living. While we've put out a report to other cities asking for assistance to identify the men, it may be a fruitless endeavor. They carried no identification of any kind, no technology that could be traced. Even their weapons, while obviously both functional and ceremonial in nature, have never been seen used outside museum displays or combat tournaments. In our opinion, trying to trace what's left of the men may be pointless. Dental records are no good as each man's jaw was utterly crushed. Incinerated to a crisp, bones broken, and who knows what else, we've lost all facial recognition capability and if they were smart enough to not carry any modern tech, then DNA won't help us. Considering that no residents were killed besides one Shuri Himejima, we are reluctantly requesting to put aside the investigation in favor of restoring the town.

This brings us to our next statement. Structurally, the homes east of the Yaesu district are in no condition to ever be considered safe. Considering that the majority of the residents have applied for the new housing lots on the other side of town, the neighborhood is practically abandoned. It has been brought to our attention that the neighborhood in question is adjacent to the Kuoh Girls' Academy, which had previously requested funds for expansion earlier this year. While none of us are zoning officials, and considering that this does seem to be the one good thing that comes out of this mess, we are willing to assist demolition and clearage of the wrecked neighborhood to make room for a new school building. While we understand that the final use of the land is ultimately up to the city council, it does seem the logical conclusion to make ends meet.

Sincerely,

Chiefs of Staff, Kuoh Police Administration

Response Captains, Kuoh Fire and Rescue

Issei had had strange dreams before, but never quite something like this. Standing in a pale void, completely devoid of any semblance of a floor or walls, Issei couldn't see any limit to the world he was in. Was it endless? Additionally, the lack of a discernible source of light was beginning to unnerve him.

Was he dead?

(No, you are not dead)

Strange voices, so he's going crazy.

(We are all mad to some extent)

Great. This voice seemed to gain some sort of entertainment in his dilemma.

"Where are you? Why can't I see anything else?"

(You don't even want to know where you are?)

"I'm obviously dead.

(Didn't I just reassure you to the contrary?)

"I've been having a rather emotional time recently and there's a voice in my head. It agreed that I'm crazy, but said I was still alive. Forgive me if I'm still skeptical as to anything you say right now."

(Hmm. Then perhaps it is best if I revealed myself.)

The void seemed to ripple and tear as a massive being clawed into existence. Ryuu had been around 30 meters long from snout to tail spike, yet this thing was easily twice that. A dragon, for it could only be a dragon, seemed to absorb the light into itself, causing itself to glow a bright white, illuminating a now darkened void.

(My name is Albion. I am the Vanishing Heavenly Dragon, and I currently reside in your sacred gear, Divine Dividing.)

Issei had only seen one other dragon in his life and that was his father. Current condition aside, Ryuu had been a paragon of honesty, citing that most dragons did not demean themselves by lying, instead taking pride in the truth they exuberated. Whether that was all for show or not, the dragon before him seemed to radiate more power than Issei had ever sensed from his father. The logical course would be to accept that he somehow had a sacred gear and that for better or worse, he now had a passenger inside his mind.

"Alright then. I'm Issei Hyoudou. Where's the exit?"

(You're… taking this rather well.)

"I think my world was already upheaved years ago, this is nothing."

(To what do you refer?)

"I lit my home on fire, freaked out, and then learned that I'm half-dragon."

(Interesting story. Just out of curiosity, just who was your dragon parent?)

"My father is… was Ryuu."

The dragon seemed surprised, both by who sired his host as well as the tone used to describe him. (What do you mean 'was'?)

"He… he turned when mother died."

(…Hatchling… Issei, I am truly sorry for your loss. I apologize for my lack of tact when I first spoke.)

"You didn't know. I won't hold it against you."

(Considering that you know who I am, you do know what being my host implies?)

"Yeah. White Dragon Emperor, fated to fight in a grudge match with the Red."

(Rather simplified, but yes, that is true. Now, we will have time to discuss it later. It's time for you to wake up.)

Issei awoke with a jolt, this time to a world of grey. Realizing that he was staring at a concrete wall, he turned over to take note of his new surroundings. Three concrete walls, script etched into them. Hard, cold floor on which he had been lying. Toilet, bunk, table chair, all dark metal. The fourth wall held his attention. Technically, it was not a wall. Consisting of jagged metal bars, he could see through it, maybe even reach through it. Outside, a hallway. Across the bars was a mirrored set, and behind those was a room identical to the one he was in now.

He was in a cell. A jail cell. A cage. Anathema to all winged creatures.

(Issei, calm down!) He had already started to panic, hyperventilating. (I know where we are.)

"WHERE?"

(Think your responses and I'll hear them. We can't let anyone know I'm with you. Welcome to Tartarus, Maximum Security Facility. Built by Ouranos and Gaia, this prison was once run by Hades until it became a joint operation controlled by many deities. This is where many different pantheons send criminals, dangerous artifacts, and political prisoners. At least, those who can afford to pay up or have the right connections.)

'That isn't helping, I'm none of those!'

(Perhaps not yet, but someone clearly thought you were dangerous enough to warrant confinement in here.)

'I'm beginning to remember. Those men. Fallen Angels? Investigating my dad's rampage?'

(They may have confused you with their real target. Either way, we are here for the time being.)

'What do you mean?'

(They don't know you hold my Longinus, let's keep it that way. As long as they don't know, escape is possible.)

Issei visibly brightened. 'How long?'

(Years probably. One of my former hosts had the pleasure to meet Harry Houdini, a former wielder of Dimension Lost. Using that sacred gear's abilities, the talented escape artist was able to leave even this prison. If we can learn to duplicate its effects using the Compression Divider technique, we'll get an early parole.)

'Ok, so how do we go about doing that?'

(The inscriptions on the wall prevent you from using any of your natural abilities. Custom-made. Your fire, speed, strength, durability, all of it is sealed away except for your wings. Those you keep, though it may be an act of psychological torture to have wings but be unable to fly.)

'I still can't fly. I'm seven, they haven't grown out yet.'

(I shall teach you. You shall learn to use your own wings or the light wings your sacred gear manifests as. As for training, you must keep up your strength and condition while awake, as best as possible anyway. While you sleep, we shall train inside Divine Dividing, until I am confident that you can replicate all learned abilities in reality.)

'Ok, I guess I have nothing better to do.' Turning away from the bars, Issei immediately dropped into a plank position and began counting out push-ups.

( 'Hmm, this is a dedicated one. Strong, determined, yet kind and loyal. For some reason, his psyche is damaged but he has much potential. As expected of my descendants.' )

Seven years later…

Akeno Himejima, reincarnated devil and Rias Gremory's queen was beyond conflicted. Rias and her peerage had been summoned by Sirzechs Lucifer to receive instructions as to where in the human world they would operate from. To appease his dear sister, Sirzechs had gone out of his way to secure a place perfect to appease his sister. A place in Japan. Specifically, Kuoh, a place that to her held many memories, too many of them still painful.

Logically, it made sense. Kuoh had long since recovered from the devastation that Ryuu had caused, even though only a handful of people truly knew what had happened. However, the peoples' desires had heightened drastically in response to the tragedy. To accommodate the high demand, Sona Sitri and her queen, Tsubaki Shinra, had also been assigned there. As first year students at Kuoh, Rias and Sona both planned to expand their respective peerages. Even better, the next school year would be the first co-ed school year, allowing Rias' Knight, Kiba Yuuto, to attend. Koneko Toujou would attend the primary school nearby, until she was old enough. It was a near-perfect solution.

"Akeno? Are you alright?"

Schooling her features, Akeno forced a smile. "Oh, just recalling old memories."

"I know Kuoh holds some particularly bad memories for you. If you can't go back…"

"It won't be easy, but I'll be fine. Conquering my past and all that."

Rias looked unsure. "Ok, but I expect you to let me know there's anything bothering you."

"Of course, Rias."

Akeno turned back to the window to blankly stare outside. 'I'm done running from my past. I won't hide anymore. So why does the world still seem empty? What more do I have to give? My mother. My happiness. My Issei. I have nothing else left to call my own.' Lost in thought, Akeno stood there the entire night, Rias and her peerage silently standing vigil over her in support.

"Alright, here we are!" Rias' excitement was contagious. By reviving the Occult Research Club, and her father pulling some strings, the old school building was officially hers.

"It seems rather homely" Kiba commented.

"Dusty." Koneko observed.

"Well that won't do at all. Let's get started on tidying up."

"Rias, where's Akeno?" Kiba enquired. "Is she still not feeling well?"

"I gave her the day off to spend as she sees fit. With all she's been through here, I think she needs it."

'Mother, I'm sorry I waited this long' Akeno mourned.

While devils couldn't pray, she silently sent her gratitude to whoever had seen to honoring her mother. Cremated, her ashes buried beneath a series of pyramidal columns, Shuri Himejima had been buried with honors as befitting a Shinto priestess. Ironic, considering her choices in life had seen her expelled from such privilege.

After reading the inscriptions, Akeno noticed something at the foot of the grave. A recent bouquet of flowers, along with a note. After a moment's consideration, she stooped to read it.

My beloved Shuri,

No matter how many times I bring myself to your resting place, it never gets any easier. Knowing that I am ultimately the reason you were exiled and hunted is a burden that is too great to shoulder. Many times, I have considered ending my own life to rejoin you in the next great adventure. Each time, I imagine what you would say and lower my weapon. I cannot regain my honor and pride as both a husband and a father by losing myself in despair. In recompense for the debt I owe Hikari, I shall never cease to search and comfort her wayward Ryuu. As reparation for the life that was stolen from him, I shall find Issei and try to be as a father to him should Ryuu be unable or unwilling. But most of all, as I promised you years ago, I shall find our daughter and see to her happiness. This I swore on the day I buried you, and these oaths shall bind me to the day I die. I shall cherish the time we had, always.

Yours till the end of days,

Baraqiel

All the emotional pain Akeno had ever felt, suddenly ripped anew through her heart. Baraqiel still cared. He had never stopped. She had fled for no purpose, when her father's love had always been unconditionally hers.

As much as it hurt, there was also hope. The letter had said that Baraqiel was still searching for Issei. Issei may still be alive. Hoping against hope, Akeno prayed in earnest, disregarding the pain it caused.

'Dear Lord, keep my Issei safe!'

There is Hell, the lake of fire, and then there is Tartarus, the eternal pit. Both are in the Underworld. Neither of which could ever be considered safe, though many would prefer Hell simply because hope tore deep at the souls consigned to the pit.

Some souls in the dark pit committed suicide, choosing to end their existence rather than continue their torment. The magic of the pit revived them cruelly. Screaming in pain as their souls were sewn back into damaged bodies, the essence of Tartarus commanded the spirit to remain in a broken shell. This is why the prison was now jointly run, because no deity trusted the others to monopolize it.

For amusement, said deities would often pit inmates against each other. The winners would get extra rations, while the losers were forced to endure in physical wrecks. These fights, often rigged, were far from safe.

Issei's head reeled back after taking a sharp claw to the face. Now fourteen, Issei had grown in leaps and bounds, courtesy of Albion's training. Albion dragged Issei every night into the lives of his previous hosts, reliving their lives and training to build upon his own. Armed with the experience of hundreds of White Dragon Emperors, and with a body forged from the worst pain the Underworld had to offer, he was a crowd favorite among the wardens. This also meant he was the most hated amongst his fellow inmates, who were very sore losers.

"Think you can break us down!"

"Take this dragon scum!"

"I'm just as strong as you!"

"Feast! Feaast! Feaaaaaast!"

Issei had long since been enlightened to the bitter truth that kind words, nobility, and honor meant nothing in the pit. A dragon's pride and moral code had to be put on hold for the sake of survival. So he said nothing, turning back to the group that had him backed into a corner, and raised his fists. Having lived through his predecessor's memories, he had cherry-picked the skills that supported his own natural capabilities. Switching between several stances that supported all manner of attacks, his unpredictability would be his greatest asset here, as his four opponents had each fought him separately before and lost.

A Minotaur. Nothing but brute strength and momentum. Sidestep and hamstring. Do not be impaled on the horns.

A sorcerer with a burned face. Rumor was he was able to enslave a high-ranking devil, until he made the mistake of falling in love with her. The succubus had castrated him, freed herself, and then summoned one of her peerage, a young dragon, to incinerate him. Nothing special, but if left alone for a while, he could write some enchantments. He was a priority target.

Chimera. Apparently that of a man, lizard and some bird of prey. A personal insult as someone had clearly been trying to create his own knockoff breed of dragons.

Hydra. Annoying. The beast was always hungry, willing to consume some of its own heads for sustenance, only to replace them with more hungry mouths in a never-ending cycle. If he could use his fire, the creature would be torched from a distance, but he didn't have that luxury now.

Wiping blood from the deep cut on his cheek, he grinned, fangs sharpened. "I can, I won't, you're not, and bite me."

(You have a death wish.)

'Get off my back. Literally.'

Howling with rage, the four victims rushed him all at once.

"Let's do this."

"Why do we still not have anyone who can take this kid down?" Ares complained. Fighting the prisoners directly was against the rules so he couldn't do it himself, but he so badly wanted to see the dragon lose. He had lost a great deal because of him in a previous bet with the Egyptian War God, Set. Several chariots of his prized collection, numerous amounts of weaponry. Under normal circumstances, he'd simply fight and beat down whoever annoyed him, but as a fellow War god and master tactician, he respected Set too much to go back on his word. That didn't mean he had to like it.

"Calm down, brat." Another god, Odin rumbled. "This is interesting to say the least."

Turning on the elder god, Ares couldn't help but scoff. "This is your first time old man? Damn shame, the fight's not interesting enough if you know how it's going to end."

"Really? I had thought that the dragon was handicapped."

"His fire and speed are still sealed, but his natural durability and strength can't be fully restrained anymore."

"Tell me, how many bet against him?"

"Nearly all of the spectators, both patrons and inmates. Why?"

"Because I think I just won a lot of favors today, hee hee."

Shocked, Ares whirled away from the Norse King and looked down to the arena. In the few seconds he had bickered with Odin, the ring had become a bloodbath. The Minotaur lay defeated, holding his leg that exposed bone and shredded flesh while also clutching his head now bereft of horns. Those horns had been torn clean off and now pinned the whimpering Chimera to the floor though its neck.

Apparently the sorcerer had set up a containment spell. However, through the expenditure of brute force, Issei had forced the caster's aim so that the spell caged the Hydra, whose heads were now infighting over its predicament. Issei was now enjoying himself. The sorcerer, now on his stomach, was helpless as Issei excessively bashed his head face first into the floor.

Ares sighed and turned to one of the ghouls that served as guards. "Call the match, I'm sure it won't change what the outcome is."

Bowing, the ghoul dissipated to do as instructed, while Odin raised the brow over his remaining eye. "That dragon. What exactly did he do to be incarcerated here?"

Ares frowned. "I don't know all the details. I was elsewhere in the human world, trying to prevent some peace talks or something. I do know that the Grigori put him in here for allegedly wrecking some town. All evidence implied a dragon had gone rogue, and this kid's a monster in the ring, so no one has ever bothered to look any further."

Now it was Odin's turn to look confused. "Strange. I agreed to sponsor this endeavor to keep Fenrir encaged and delay Loki's plans. I had no idea that Azazel was interested in using this establishment."

"Oh, Azazel has nothing to do with this. It's Kokabiel that's the go-between for the other patrons and the Grigori."

"That war monger? I meant no disrespect to present company", raising a hand to calm the annoyed war god. "I only find it disconcerting that Kokabiel may be using this place for his own ambitions." Odin raised his glass to his lips.

"For what it's worth, I agree." Ares had to stifle a laugh as the shitty geezer of the north did an epic spit-take in shock. "Don't get me wrong, I love a good fight. But endless war like he and Loki suggest is bad for business. Can't have future wars if everyone's dead. Besides, mass death and destruction would only irritate my dear uncle. I'd tell him to go to Hell, but Hades already owns the joint."

"Hmm. Your reasoning may be different, but the short-term result is the same. Between you and me, his actions have me worried. He's reckless, collecting sacred gear users. He even put a dragon in here where very few can reach him. He's building an army."

"I'm going to have to ask you to stop you there. Zeus has made it explicitly clear not to get involved with wars of other factions. I don't like it, but orders are orders."

"I understand completely. If I hadn't trapped Fenrir here, then I would have needed to do the same as me and mine wage yet another civil war."

"I wasn't finished. I said I can't get involved. So I can't tell you that Kokabiel has reasons to imprison that dragon-boy. I can't tell you that much of it revolves around the Kuoh incident eight years ago. And I certainly can't tell you that there may have been another dragon in that town at the same time as this kid."

"An innocent is being held here?" Odin had given one of his eyes to exact just vengeance for his people once. His remaining one darkened at the thought of justice being denied here.

"He's a major hit with the others and brings in quite the cash flow as a prize fighter. None of the others will actively look for the evidence that could set him free. Between the two of us, I'd like to see him fight all out in a real war."

"Well then. You have given me much to think about, Ares. If you don't mind, I'll take my leave. Will you stay much longer?"

"No, the dragon's fight is the only thing interesting match of the day. Besides, I'd rather not lose any more money."

'Kuoh. Recently assimilated by the Maou's little sisters. Perhaps it deserves some attention if it can gain Asgard a grateful ally.'

(Your recovery was sloppy, your stance invited attack on your weakened side, and your executions were slower than normal. What happened out there?)

'Needed to put on a show. There was a new scent coming from the big shots' club. I think I made an impression.' Issei winced. The chimera's last attack had nearly taken his right eye. 'That's gonna leave a mark.'

(You deserve it for your recklessness. Good show or not, we need a gamechanger and breaking yourself won't cut it.)

Issei's constant training, both mental and physical, had shown impressive results. He had grown into his heritage quite nicely. He had gotten much taller, nearing 6'2" when standing up straight. With muscle density now greater than that of concrete and skin hardened to diamond consistency, what appeared to be a high-school student was really a walking tank. This was without his flame's unleashed and his magical resistance fully restored. The dampening runes didn't work on him as well as they should now, earning him a few more guards when let out of his cell.

Mentally, he was all fired up. Albion was confident in his ability to instantaneously summon Divine Dividing, achieve Balance Breaker and use Compression Divider to tear a hole between through dimensions to escape Tartarus' darkness. However, there was a daunting obstacle. Issei did not yet have the focused mindset to properly control their final destination. Escape from Tartarus was guaranteed, but they could end up anywhere. Heaven, Shangri-La, the devil territories, maybe even the Dimensional Gap. Too many places would not take kindly to their intrusion, so for now, they were going nowhere.

(Stop. Pretend to be sick, we need to get into THAT cellblock.) Albion was referring to the new group of cells that only housed dangerous AND insane inmates. Commonly called the Grinder, most were killed in their cells for political executions or starved to death. (There's a new prisoner there. Her energy signature is faint, but it may be what we need.)

'Forget being sick, the ghouls will never fall for that. Do we need anything from our current cell?' Smuggling was easy; his sealing arrays were a dragon secret art. It's near impossible to prevent a skill you don't know about after all.

(What little there is of value has been sealed in your arrays. What did you have in mind?)

'It's where we need to go, and they need a reason to put me in there. Do the math.'

(Two behind you in single file, both with dragonslayer swords. The one in front of you will be busy as he unlocks the next set of doors in twenty seconds, he has a hammer only. One last ghoul at eight o'clock, elevation 60 degrees, two floors above us, with clear lines of sight for his bow, but no indication as to what arrows he may have.)

'I'll take those odds.'

As the mentioned ghoul fumbled with his keys, Issei sprang into action. Bringing both legs up to its neck and using it as a springboard, he propelled himself into the ghouls behind him. Ghouls may be otherworldly demons with incredible healing abilities, but their bodies were equivalent to that of a human. They broke easily and stayed that way after a killing blow. The key master fell forward, throat tearing across the jagged bars of the gate in front of him. Mentally discounting the breathing corpse, Issei rolled and brought his hands back in front of him to halt the guard's motion by the wrist. The deadly sword's momentum halted, Issei spun to force it to parry the other's downward strike, before tearing the sword from his captor's hand.

Now armed, the situation devolved from there. Hearing the alarm sound, Issei only needed to cause as much mayhem as possible. That being said, he thoroughly humiliated the three remaining guards until their reinforcements arrived.

He was bodily subdued through sheer mass of the ghoulish crowd, bound and marched through the gates of the Grinder and pushed into a cell. Fortunately, it appeared their target was the current occupant.

"What's this, nya? Is it a roommate for little old me. I must thank the guards for the new toy, nya."

The speaker was a young woman with long dark hair and clothing. By sitting in the shadows and with most of her features obscured, an ordinary human wouldn't be able to see anything more than the hazel glow of her eyes. Issei could see perfectly in the dark. Observing the cat ears and twin tails, he knew her to be a Nekomata, a cat demon of his home country.

"Sorry, I think they expect us to kill each other. I've certainly caused enough problems, and if you're in the Grinder then someone wants you dead."

Pouting, the Nekomata leaned forward into the light. "My, what is a poor kitten to do? I'm trapped in a cage with a man that will ravage poor me." Switching facial expressions instantly, the girl now had a lewd glint in her eyes, "Like what you see, nya?" Dropping to all fours, the loose kimono the girl wore now exposed a great deal.

Issei had lived through the vital combat memories of his predecessors in order to prepare for his escape. Albion had glossed over a great deal in their rush to train, so his social skills had been limited to brawling and pummeling his fellow inmates. In a predominantly male-occupied prison, his current experience with girls was still limited to the bitter memories of a happier time in his life. This girl had passed every level he was comfortable with. The tightening in his pants was a sign that he had lost this fight. He was out of his element, and she knew it.

'ALBION, YOU TRAITOR!'

(I can only sense species and energy, I couldn't predict… what this is! Focus on the matter at hand; she may be Nekoshou.)

"Look, I'm not interested right now, I need to know, are you a Nekoshou?"

"So forward, is this how you treat all the girls you take to third base?"

"WHAT?!"

"Well, you said you weren't interested right now."

Issei was stunned. "That's what you got out of this conversation?"

"Fine, be a killjoy. Yes, I'm Nekoshou and since you asked so politely, my name is Kuroka."

"I'm Issei. Sorry if I'm a bit rude, but how good are you at Senjutsu. I only ask because I may need it to get out of here."

Instantly, all teasing was swept aside. Kuroka abruptly stood up straight, now serious. "You have my fully undivided attention."

Struggling to tear his own attention from the motions her impressive bust were now going through, Issei stammered, "I've… been working on a technique to bypass the wards set in and around the pit. However, my… instructor's… lectures on the technique were quite clear. I need to have absolute focus for this or I could teleport someplace I'm unwelcome."

"So it's Senjutsu meditation techniques you're after. Very well, since I can't risk staying here, I'll teach you on one condition. You take me with you."

'Albion?'

(It's possible, but it's not without its own risks. Pulling someone else through the divide with us may kill her, since she won't be wearing Scale Mail. At best, it might burn through your own life-force as compensation.)

'We're stuck here if we don't. I haven't made progress on this in almost a year; this is the best chance we've got. It's a perfectly reasonable request. And you're arguing…'

(You're right.) Albion grudgingly admitted. (This is the first time any of my wielders have attempted to do something like this. Though it does hurt my pride to admit that we can't do this on our own.)

'We knew that I'd need help eventually. I've set aside my pride before, I'm not afraid to do this now. The risks are mine to take, and honestly they are better than staying in here anymore. I'm done living in a cage.' Issei's tirade was cut off as he felt something warm slide up his injured cheek.

"You taste like a child, nya. Or is that just an effect of you spacing out?"

Equally irritated and confused by her actions, Issei chalked it up to however crazy she was to warrant being locked up in Tartarus. "Sorry, didn't mean to blank on you. I accept your terms."

Kuroka's hazel eyes gleamed as she brought her legs beneath her as she knelt on the cold floor. "Then let's get started, nya."

AN: Please review. Won't have time to write due to college finals next week but I promise to read the reviews to prepare for when I eventually get the chance to sit down and write my heart out.

On that note, I've been asked in a PM if this is an IsseixAkeno fic. At this point in his life, Akeno had the greatest impact and can currently be considered his main love interest. Now that I've said this, do not ask in the reviews about his love life. You comment on it, but don't ask me directly about it, that's what PM's are for. I tend to post answers to reviews so I'd rather not spoil things more than I have to. If you can predict where the story is going, great, but please don't put me in a position where I lose interest in writing because a review spoiled the plotline for everyone else.

Thanks a lot guys, until next time!