Finally. This one was a little bit tough to write since apparently writing in the build up to a Christmas scene is harder than it looks. But enjoy!

Abslon

The water was a bit too hot. I could feel it constantly burning my feet and skin as I sat still within the filled bath tub. Trying to see how long I could go without making a single ripple in the bath.

It seemed rather unhealthy to do this at 04:00 am, while others, like Tristan, Nonami and Emily were deep asleep. But after the pleasant memory I experienced, I couldn't seem to fall back asleep after waking up. And without ideas to keep myself entertained without eye strain till the clock hit 6 am. I opted to soak in the tub. Either till my skin becomes prune-ish or Nonami wakes up. Whichever came first.

Drip… Drop…

My thoughts had begun to drift towards what had happened in the Crypt. Stop it, think of something else. You'll hurt yourself if you continue.

Moments and moments passed as my mind drifted towards completely random thoughts, such as memories of clubbing with Tristan and Tobio, or the one time the both of us stumbled onto a heated argument between Emily and Nonami and wouldn't shut up about it for weeks while Tristan was overseas.

Thoughts like those continued to drift through my mind, till suddenly it went silent, and I began to stare into the clear water. Watching the occasional droplets of water drip from the very tips of my hair and make little ripples as it impacted the water.

Drip… Drop…

Slowly I kept turning my head to look at anything inside the bathroom, the pristine white towels. The blue, white and green bathroom mat. And the white cemented wall, colored by a yellowish hue emanating from the warm light lamp above me.

I had caught a small glimpse of something landing on the rims of washing basket through the corner of my eye. Slowly, I faced the basket behind me, and what came into my vision.

Was a black butterfly, creepily flapping its wings very slowly as it landed. The butterfly itself did not seem normal. Its eerie black hue made it seem as though I was staring into a small abyss. It made it hard to look away, even though part of me had wished to.

Drip… Drop…

"Don't you hate humanity?"

I froze. That voice was too familiar. The coldness of that voice had still sent chills down my spine. It shouldn't be here. It was the voice of a person who should not be in this tub with me.

Slowly, I turned my head back to face the other side of the tub. First I caught a glimpse of the skin on her pale long legs. Tuckered underneath her arms in order to fit into the small bathtub. Then I took notice of her long hair, her silver locks reaching all the way to her hips.

Finally, her eyes. It shone with a blood red hue that had always kept me quiet each time she stared at me. It was a deep red, yet it had shone brightly enough not to be engulfed by the darkness of the Crypt.

Slowly, as I stared at her. Sitting in this tub with me, stark naked while cradling her body tightly wishing to fit inside the tub. Her lips slowly curled up to a cruel smile.

I could feel my eyes begin to widen in disbelief. "You're not here. You are just a hallucination." I state, hoping to convince myself.

"And yet, here you are. Shaking before me as though I'm still here, as if you're still inside that place."

What she said was true, and I didn't even realise it until she told me. That she can still affect me like this. Make my hairs stand on end, and send chills down my spine with each time she stared at me, and smiled the same way she was doing now.

"I wonder though. Why couldn't you answer her question?" she asked, as she let one of the arms that were holding her legs together drift inside the now cold water bathtub.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Is it because you don't know? Or is it because you did not want to answer?" She brandished one of her small patronizing smirks.

Suddenly her smirk dropped. "I will not buy the fact that you did not know. Emihide preached about humanity every time I saw you with her."

"It was annoying." For a second, I could see a little scowl on her face after she said that. But she was fast enough for me to almost miss that expression if I wasn't staring at her for long enough to notice.

Both of her arms began to drop into the water at her sides, exposing her ample and voluptuous breasts while she slowly began raise her leg and trail up against my body.

"Humans are not like the things I create. Their ability to make a constitute decision is hindered by how often they think. Said thoughts make them feel emotion which makes them able to hesitate and question their resolve for the sake of preserving what little sense of morality they think that they have under me." She had started to move her feet upwards towards my face, she then leaned back and smiled.

"Humankind thinks a lot. And that makes them defective."

She retracted her feet and used it to hold up her chin whilst she stared at me . "Wouldn't you say the same, my pet?"

"I'm not like you." I splashed water at her. As she had brought up both her arms to cover her face she gave a small chuckle at my hopeless antic.

"But you hate them don't you?"

"I don't."

"Liar." She smiled when I kept silent.

"You don't know anything about me, Kurlean." I could feel my hands ball into fists underneath the water. While I was still shaking from her presence, knowing that she's a hallucination gave me a little spark of bravery through each second that passed by.

But…

"On the contrary, I do." Kurlean paused, once again lifting her legs to trail across my body. However, she firstly kicked the water, returning the little splash I had sent her moments ago. Then her pale leg began to trail slowly up my chest.

"I know a lot more about you than you think."

And then her leg had reached my collarbones, giving them a few little pushes on one side before moving outward towards my shoulders. And then suddenly suspending itself in the air.

"But that is where we the two of us diverge." Swiftly, she stuck her foot deep inside my mouth, intending for the sharp nails on her toes to fully nick the insides of my mouth. "I know everything about you, the things you like and dislike and the things you love. I know how every single little thing works within your body. However, you do not know me, you only know what I am capable off. But that is okay."

"What I'm capable of doing should speak of the inevitability of your defeat. You know that better than most." Kurlean removed her toe from my mouth and swiftly brought her face closer to mine, till I could smell the rusted iron stench of blood on her lips and see the numerous drops of water falling down her pale skin.

She then smiled . "You couldn't live with your own failure. And what did that attempt bring you?"

Suddenly, she had roughly grabbed my hair and pulled herself closer to my ear. Then she whispered.

"Despair."

Issei

Issei Hyoudou thought of himself as a brave man, one who can put all his might into completing the harem route to an Ero-Game rather than cram for his math's test tomorrow, or even get some rest after he had barely clinched the physics test today.

He's two friends seemed to have been also following suit. Calling him at random times to ask for tips pertaining to the games there were playing.

Ferociously typing away at the space button as the numerous frames passed by, Issei had let his mind wander towards the many bright pictures featuring naked women in various erotic positions.

Time slowly passed by.

It began as a minute. Then the minute became an hour, suddenly the hour multiplied by four. And Issei found himself at the cusp of the hard barrier called 01:00 AM on a school night, staring into the PC's monitor, his hand barely paying attention to the space button as it slowly presses into it over time.

Today was one of those days when Issei would just stare into something and think. It didn't matter if it was its cold white colored ceiling or the intense contrasts of colors that come from the various hentai games he possessed.

Then, his thoughts would pass by in two phases.

First, he'll think about Rias. How entranced he was when he had first layed eyes on her, when they had their first kiss or when she slept with him for the first time. He'll begin to think how far had he gotten and how much he had improved thanks to her.

At this time, this thought would begin to arouse one of two different reactions from him. He'll either imagine her naked and boning him. Or his thoughts would return to that one dream he had that special night. When he was at their wedding, and Ddraig had violently interrupted it.

Then his second thought, made him feel like he would want to cry. He began to think about his first love. The Fallen Angel Raynare.

Despite being responsible for his death, and for killing his friend, Issei thought it would be easy to cut her from his life. To pretend as though she had never existed. Cast away, as Rias Power of Destruction encompassed her into nothingness.

But no.

He could still feel her.

He feels her every time he looks at one of the few molted feathers that had appeared outside his window sill every now and again.

He sees her in the mirror every time he goes to the casual clothing store they had once went to. He tastes her every time he eats a parfait at his favorite fast-food restaurant and hears her each time he goes to the fountain at night and listens to the water flow. Then crash against the seams of its stone frame.

Waiting, just waiting for the night sky to change into an eerie and deep violet.

Waiting to smell her sweet strawberry scent on the numerous feathers that will continue to fall, just like that night.

Waiting—

"…"

Issei had sometimes noticed that he thought about Raynare a lot more than he does Rias. He never knew what had caused it, but for the past week, he has been getting dreams about the one date he had with Raynare.

He could never forget it.

April, 3rd.

He remembered sleeping late that night, stressing about making the date a success, putting all the years of Ero-Games into practice.

Meeting her in the street and finally saying the 'No I just got here.' Line that he had been practicing for numerous days. Taking her through the rather small city. Showing her a hidden side to him not known to many people in his life.

The side that appreciates the nonchalance of choosing what flavor ice-cream to graciously savor. The side that allows him to enjoy that everyday casual walk in the park, and the absolute clutch moments he had inside the arcade claw games, with her.

…it hurt.

It still hurts a lot. Even now.

The pain in his little heart had made itself known yet again this weekday night.

He never thought it would be so hard to forget her. To hate her, to despise her.

Heh. Koneko had it right.

He really was the worst.

To think that after everything she did, and after the numerous times he was hurt by her. A small part of his fragile heart had still loved her.

And couldn't believe that the smile she had that day was a lie.

Abslon

"You look like you fought some demons in your sleep, Abslon. Are you sure you're fine with accompanying me to the Airport?" Chisato asked, taking her mug of coffee from the table.

She was not wrong, that woman had troubled me in the morning with the tub. After seeing her, I didn't believe I would sleep peacefully within the span of a few hours till 06:00 AM.

"I'll be fine Chisato, its nothing I haven't dealt with."

I took a bite of the grilled cheese sandwich placed in front of me. "Doesn't make me any less worried about you." Chisato said, taking a sip from her lukewarm coffee.

"You're kind."

"You're like a nephew to me. It's to be expected."

"Maybe you should quit chain-smoking then."

"Ha! Not on your life, kid." Chisato bellowed while tapping on her breast pocket where she keeps her cigarettes. Then she gave a little yawn while stretching out and leaving her mug of coffee on her desk. "Well, you want to get going? I'd rather be too early than be too late and miss my flight."

I shrugged and quickly finished my sandwich. "Yeah, let's go."

"Quit speaking with your mouth full."

"You only want to get out so you can smoke, so don't rush me." I teased, quickly swallowing the remains of my grilled cheese sandwich.

"Touché." She then turned towards the oncoming waiter. "Check please!"

The waiter gave a little nod before turning back and speaking with the head chef nearby. Whilst they were busy, Chisato turned towards me with a small smirk. "So, I heard that you're on your way to good old Japan after you drop me off at the airport."

"Yeah, apparently Tristan wants to send me to school there. But the next semester starts next year April 3rd, so were just going there to get a feel for the place." I replied. Checking my phone for any new messages from Nonami.

"Huh. Which city? Tokyo maybe?" Chisato asked.

"It's a small city, Kuoh."

"That's nearby Yotsuba isn't it? Where you used to live?"

"I…"

I gave a small sigh.

"…yes."

Chisato stayed silent until the waiter arrived with the check, seemly knowing the delicate minefield she had very nearly stepped on. We split the check and leave a tip for the waiter's good service before making it outside the restaurant.

She didn't even wait until the doors rang closed behind her before digging into her breast pocket, brandishing both her packet of cheap cigarettes and a pocket lighter before pulling a single cigarette out, lighting it up and taking in a half-full puff of smoke before releasing it in the air.

I chuckled, in a few minutes she'll begin to cuss and rant whenever she's relaxed like this.

We began to walk, strolling around the numerous crossroads full of people. We saw Times Square in the distant north, and as we ventured west we came across Central Park if we looked to the left at any point in that street.

At some stage, we bought some ice-cream and sat on the bench in Central Park. "It's winter over there in the East. You're going to pack your thermal coat?" Chisato opened, taking a lick of her peanut butter ice-cream.

I gave her a nod. "By the way."

"?"

Chisato looked a tad bit confused before I presented her my Neapolitan flavored Ice-cream. "You have bad taste." I stated.

"This coming from the guy who happens to like crappy movies?" Chisato countered, giving me an expressionless stare.

I shrugged. "They are nice to laugh at."

Chisato looked at her ice-cream cone and then back to me. "What's wrong with peanut butter ice-cream?" she asked.

"I don't like peanut butter. I enjoy Nutella much more."

"You don't like it cause you're allergic, you fucktard." Chisato cussed, once again licking her peanut butter ice-cream cone.

"…touché."

"It tastes better than you'd expect really, I tried this flavor out on a whim." Chisato shrugged, then stuffed the little remains of the entire Ice-cream scoop in her mouth and swallowed it.

Then she quickly clenched her forehead with an expression of pain, from what I can assume is intense brain-freeze.

She recovered after a few minutes, looked at her cone then threw it in the dustbin nearby. "But you're right, Nutella tastes much better." She shrugs.

I stood up and ate the contents of the waffle cone before joining her on her way to the Airport, which now, was only a few blocks away.

Soon enough we reached the Airport. With only as few as 20 minutes till her flight, Chisato didn't seem to be in a rush to say a lengthy goodbye. "Oh! Before I forget." she exclaimed.

She dug into the pockets of her black coat, then pulled out a bottle full of pills and placed it in my hands. "Andoroxyn. And as requested by Tristan, I mixed a little bit of Morphine into it just to dull the phantom pains a bit." Chisato started.

"Take one every night before going to sleep, make sure you eat first. If you see anything from…you know. Then you can take two and hopefully the hallucinations will go away," Chisato explained.

"Hopefully?"

"One thing that I had noticed is that some memories and hallucinations cling more to your psyche than most of the ones you have. These ones seem to affect you more severely, as they are capable of communication."

"…"

"These aren't capable of treating those just yet."

"…"

"You saw one again, in the bathtub didn't you?" Chisato asked.

"…Yeah."

"Was it Emihide again?"

"No. it was someone much worse."

"Care to—"

"I'd rather not say."

Again, the silence had chosen to prevail over the two of us, as we had both stared at each other aimlessly. It wasn't until the 10:00 AM flight was announced did we snap out of our stupor.

"Looks like your flight's up. Better get going." I said, sending her a small wave. Instead, I got a tight hug from Chisato.

She smelled like sweets and tobacco. Yet her hug was warm, and very comfortable. "Keep the ones still alive in your heart as close as this Abslon. Keep them so close that they are unable to break away from you. This is how we cope. Letting people like us who carry numerous shadows behind them on their path, become the weak ones for a change." Chisato stated. She then gave me a small peck on my forehead before darting towards the terminal.

I stared at where she once was, then at the bottle of Andoroxyn in my hand. I sighed. These pills tend to taste disgusting, like fish oil.

I hated taking these, but I had no choice. It seemed as though the hallucinations and nightmares have been getting far more intense lately.

Chisato. Like Nonami, I didn't like her the first time we met. And just like her, she grew on me in the end. Whether it was dislike for her younger brother, her chain-smoking tendencies and or casual cussing.

I wondered if I could visit the Russian branch during one of the numerous holidays in Kuoh, just to visit her.

With that thought, I left the Airport. Aiming to head home and pack my thermal coat as per Chisato's advice.

It seems like we both are making trips East, Chisato.

…

Packing was way harder than it seemed at first glance. So many components went towards making the perfect mix between things I need like warm jerseys and underwear, and things I want, like my laptop and some books.

They all needed to be crammed into one leather suitcase without either of them breaking from impact of various other forces. It didn't help that he was being bothered by Tristan's wife unfortunately.

"Are you done yet? I swear you can be so incompetent." The woman in question folded her arms, with one of her hands dedicated towards twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her little finger.

As I begin to rush my speed in packing up with the suitcase to her leisure, she began to get a little impatient. Given by the cliché rapid tapping on her foot against the ceramic tiles. "It's like you can't do anything right! You're supposed to fold before you pack! God! Do I have to do everything myself!" she loudly complained as she angrily moved towards my closet and roughly dragged out all my clothes. Forcefully removing them from the hangars and throwing them onto my bed.

While stepping towards my bed in a seemingly effort to help me pack, she nearly tripped by stepping on a t-shirt with heels on. "Look at this mess! How do you live in a place like this? Argh! You're so useless!"

I could only stare at her, desperately trying to keep whatever frustration I had felt for her within myself before I fuel the already bonfire-sized inferno.

Emily Moonshade. Through reasons that neither me nor Nonami can ever fathom, and because of Tristan's crap taste in women. This evil stepmother is somehow his wife. She has had the biggest grudge against me for the longest time, for God knows what reason beyond that of her selfish intentions for Tristan.

Nonami and her tend to fight a lot, and I tend to leave her be because I found that is the best way to deal with her bullshit day by day.

Doesn't mean that it isn't annoying though, listening to her rant about me. Perhaps my saving grace layed within Nonami's appearance in my room. And honestly, the only person I think she hates more than me was her.

With Nonami helping me, packing my clothes was a far easier task. We headed downstairs afterward to wait for Tristan to pack for the three-month trip to Kuoh.

…

The train seemed to be a bit over-the-top. I never knew that there was a luxury liner that can cruise through parts of Japan. Much less Kuoh.

It was made out of galvanized oak wood. Tristan had taught me to tell the difference between the bark and the texture of the timber cut. It looked like a glaze of chutney or maple syrup was placed onto the wood that is somehow able to withstand rapid g-force impact rivaling that of Japan's common bullet train.

Tristan was standing at the entrance of the luxury liner, Lascheis Du Blac, talking with a man that had a strange goatee and gold highlights in his black hair. He seemed middle age and yet looked a tad bit older than Tristan himself.

He was sporting a large grin that was only reserved for fellow inventors like Tristan, who lived to tinker and loved to drink. He gave me a few glances and then a smile. I ended up sending a rather awkward wave at him, not knowing what his intensions are nor how to respond.

"Hey there!" He had begun to approach me. Tristan trailing alongside the black haired man. Nonami was already shaking his hand as though she knew him. She must have caught a glance at my confused and mistrustful gaze during that time. Because she gave a warm, light smile as if she was saying it was alright.

She tilted her head to motion towards the man. I sighed and I turned towards him, offering my hand. "It's nice to meet you." I greeted.

"No need to be so formal and stiff, kid." He accepted my hand and we gave each other a handshake. "I've known about you for a long time. Hell, I've even seen you before." He used his other hand to motion towards himself.

"I'm Azazel. Nice to meet you, kid."

"Abslon. Likewise."

"You don't seem shy, so why the hesitation and skepticism?" Azazel asked.

I looked down at his calloused hand holding my own. "You reminded me of someone, and that scared me a little."

"Oh?" Azazel held a small, all-knowing smirk. "Was it your girlfriend?"

I shook my head. "No, she was my friend." A painful lump had hung within my throat. "She's missing now."

"Oh…" The mood turned silent. "Man, I'm bad at this."

I could see Nonami narrow her eyes at Azazel. And as he begun to sweat, I decided to try and salvage the situation. "You feel like her though." It was a lie, but now that I had mentioned it, his presence seemed to have the small amount of oppressiveness as her.

"You feel like Valadia."

"Valadia?" Azazel questioned.

"It was her name. She was a Fallen Angel." Azazel looked surprised at this, as he turned towards Tristan, who in turn gave a shrug. "Really?" he asked.

Twelve wings suddenly appeared from Azazel's back. Spreading and stretching out proudly win the sky as black feathers fell gently down to the ground. His wings were dark, and far blacker than Valadia's. The feathers that fell on my shoulder had also seemed softer than hers. Which were rough, calloused and chipped. Damaged over the years the seven of us spent in that place.

Azazel motioned towards his twelve wings. "Did she have wings like these?" I shook my head. "Yours are much darker. And your feathers are softer than hers. They aren't chipped or damaged. Nor do they turn sharp when angry." I answered.

"They do, actually. It's something all Fallen Angels can do." Azazel corrected. Each of the feathers on his twelve wings instantly sharpening, as though each of his black feathers became blades that were removed from their scabbard with a deadly—

Schiing!!

"The more powerful the Fallen One, the stronger and sharper their feathers can harden." In one motion, the deadly luster in his blades disappeared, and soon his wings themselves. "Which isn't a surprise, seeing as I'm capable of cutting the ozone layer with these things." Azazel chuckled.

He brandished a thinking pose and as the train horn sounded, we all walked towards the entrance. Nonami stayed with Tristan, and I surprisingly stayed with Azazel.

At first, I didn't know why. But, I think it's because deep down I had wanted to understand Valadia and her kind. Apart from Valadia herself, Azazel is the only Fallen Angel I've met in my life.

I was far more interested than scared of him. The motioning from Nonami and Tristan probably helped a bit. Through them, I understood that Azazel didn't seem to care about most things. Tristan and he seemed similar in that regard.

Perhaps that had made me trust in him a little more.

Sona

The winter final semester had ended. Christmas was only a week away.

It seemed a little ironic that a Pure-Blood like Sona would be celebrating what was essentially the birth of Jesus Christ in the human world. Yet she could not deny that even she, a devil had found the celebration rather enticing.

The random Christmas carol visits were getting annoying though. She couldn't even fathom the amount of people nor the amount of magic she uses every year to erase their memory of her household.

Sona had been watching the weather report for a few days now. It seemed like this year, yet again it'll be a White Christmas. In fact, it was due to snow this evening.

It wasn't mentioned, but after numerous years of living within this small town, Sona grew accustomed to noting the change of climate on her sensitive skin. It was one of her favourite pass times.

Many people would note Christmas as their favourite day, Sona would reject. Instead opting for the build-up towards Christmas Day being the most exciting. The sudden drop in temperature, indicating snow. The massive crowds of frantic parents surrounding the toy stores searching for those red Elmo dolls that came last week.

Perhaps humanity's greatest lie had lain within the existence of mythical Christmas entities such as Jack Frost, Sandman and the ever beloved Santa Claus.

Sona chuckled. Perhaps Santa really did exist within this Supernatural World of theirs. If he did, Serafall would have surely visited him by now. And would hurled all the coal he had at Rias when he sees how much she butchers his jolly red and white outfit.

CRASH!!

She gave a small exasperated sigh. Sona had almost forgotten that for once, she was not alone this Christmas.

"Would you like some coffee, President?" Sona was presented with a unique cappuccino blend, in which the white foam was carefully shaped in a spiral. With a small smile, she accepted the mug, and turned towards her Queen.

"Thank you, Tsubaki."

Tsubaki then took a seat beside Sona. Watching as she took a sip of the cappuccino she had carefully blended for today. Afterwards, Sona turned towards Tsubaki. "This is delectable. A wonderful job as always Tsubaki." Sona praised.

"Your words honor me." Tsubaki said. Sona lifted the mug to go for a second sip. And whilst she did, numerous crashes sounded through the second floor, making her reluctantly lower her precious coffee mug.

Sona then sighed. "You look troubled, President." Tsubaki giggled softly, taking Sona's saucer and coffee mug and placing it on the nearby desk.

"If Saji broke something important up there, I'm going to ruin him." Sona threatened as she scanned the stairs waiting for her disciplinarian to descend.

Eventually, Saji had descended from the second floor, with Momo and Tsubasa accompanying him, and to her surprise, Jewels. Strolling down the wooden staircase, a prideful look staining her feline face. As if she was gracing the staircase with her furry presence.

Sona had wondered why Jewels looked like that, until she could clearly see Saji descending down her staircase, cardboard box in hand and a face full of little slashes.

Tsubaki took the box from Saji, inspected it, and then turned back to him. "What happened to you?" she asked.

Saji sheepishly scratched the back of his neck and gave a light chuckle. "I entered the Presidents bedroom, then I met with her cat's flurry swipes. I don't know the reason, but it seems like Jewels woke up and chose violence." Saji explained, with a few small tears brandishing his eyes.

Sona had to chuck back a giggle for the sake of preserving her regal image as Student Council President. But she could not deny that, in any other situation than this one she would have had quite the laugh.

Tsubasa turned towards Tsubaki. "Would Reya and Tomoe be joining us on Christmas?" she asked.

"They went on a small trip with their families this holiday. Harajuku, I think. They messaged that they would probably be back before New Year's Eve, just in case President has anything planned for January." Tsubaki answered. Accurate deduction, Sona in fact, did have something planned for the peerage in mid-winter.

"Still though, I never thought that President would suggest sleeping over at her place for Christmas." Momo commented. Digging her hands into the cardboard box that Tsubaki placed on the floor and dragging out numerous lines of Christmas lights.

"It was something I had honestly came up with on the spot." Sona mentioned. While it was not the grand gift she had imagined. Sona had needed more time to come up the appropriate reward, celebrating Christmas together seemed like an excellent time to observe what each of her members, or all of them as a unit, would like.

Besides, only Tsubaki has ever seen her house in the human world. So Sona had felt that for now she can indulge the rest of the Student Council in their curiosity about her personal life. Until a feasible reward is presented to them.

With that being the case. "Momo, can I assume that you and Tsubasa have decorating the trees covered?" Sona began to start delegating tasks to each member she planned to spend Christmas with. There was still a lot they had to do before Christmas Eve and the morning after.

Momo gave a thumbs up. "Yep! Don't you worry President! We got this handled." Tsubasa gave a silent thumbs up in the distance as she kept digging into the box of Christmas decorations. "And you're fine with cooking the food and providing the treats right?" Sona turned to Tsubaki, who only gave a single head nod as approval. "Kiyome Abe will be coming later to help me with the cooking. All we need is to fetch the ingredients. Then tomorrow we'll get the Christmas tree in the early morning." With assurance from her second-in-command, she then turned to Saji.

In that moment, she remembered that Saji did particularly well in his finals, probably to leave a good impression on her and uphold the pride she had for the Student Council's excellence.

Unlike the other peerage members, Sona knew what her pawn desired. She didn't know whether it was the Christmas spirit within her or the wee bit of pity she felt seeing Saji not getting rewarded appropriately for his work. But in that moment, she had decided that one outing with him wouldn't kill her.

And so. "Then Saji, you and I are on groceries. Go get changed. I'll do the same upstairs. Be ready in about ten minutes." Sona stood from the green sofa and ventured upstairs to her room. Only when she passed Saji did her words and the implications of them began to register in his mind, and Saji's eyes widened.

However, before Saji could speak out his mind, Sona rapidly silenced him. "If you follow me upstairs, I'll kill you. And I'll leave you behind if I I'm dressed and I don't find you here. So you had best move your arse." She mentioned whilst traversing the wooden staircase towards her bedroom. Jewels obediently trailing behind her long legs.

"You want to come with, Jewels? Ok, fine. But we can't take too much time, this Christmas Party won't plan itself."

Abslon

The Lascheis Du Blac blazed through at moderate speed. We were passing through some mountains, but the traction seemed nonexistent in the comfort of the train.

"I think we had just passed England just now. We should be in Kuoh by evening." Nonami trailed back towards where I was sitting, two glasses of Coke in each of her hand. She offered me one before sitting down next to me.

I took a sip of coke before I paid attention to Azazel again, who seemed to be enjoying idle chat once again with Tristan. Once he noticed me staring, he faced me. "Aah! Where were we?" he asked.

"Well you were telling me more about the Christian Pantheon."

"You're taking this rather well. Knowing that these type of entities exist." Azazel said, giving little shakes to his whiskey glass before drinking it and grabbing the nearby Jack Daniels Bottle, refilling his little glass.

"It's not like it was my first time hearing about this. Nor is it my first time experiencing something like supernatural entities." I answered, taking in a large gulp of cola and stopping because of the acid reflux.

"Yeah, you haven't exactly experienced the best that this world has offer."

"Can you answer a question of mine?"

"Shoot."

"You once said that the stronger a fallen angel is, the sharper and their tougher their wings can harden." I stated. Azazel nodded. "How can they break?"

"It's pretty simple actually. The wings may become tougher and be able to block attacks, but we are not able to fly in that state. Furthermore, if the Fallen Angel is weak enough during that time, their wings can start to crack, chip or even be completely broken off."

"The damage from broken wings are permanent. And they tend to hurt very badly as the wings are one of our sensitive spots. One of the other factors towards the deterioration of wings would be malnutrition or severe physical stress." Azazel explained.

An image of Valadia and her sharpened wings appeared in my mind. Her one wing was dark, but her other was slightly more bright than her other wing. It seemed in worse condition too, with numerous chips and scratches. Some feathers have completely broken off.

It must have hurt a lot for her. And in the crown of this new information, it seemed that Valadia was heavily weakened herself.

"…"

"A lot of supernatural entities have these abilities that are dependent on the state of their health. We call these Racial Abilities."

"Racial Abilities get stronger depending on how impressive your physiology is. The Hardening ability that Fallen Angels have are one of these racial abilities." Which had meant that because of the lack of nutrition Valadia received. Her racial ability became so weak that it started to become detrimental to her.

"Different races have different racial abilities. Devils have this stare that can paralyze people depending on their mental strength. And I don't know much about angels. But I can assume that they too have a racial ability that is determined by some sort of human physiology." Azazel explained, taking another drink of whiskey, finishing it, then opting to drink out the bottle instead.

Tristan noticed this from the bar at the far side of the luxury train. "From the bottle again Azazel?" he added his two cents. Azazel gave a little shrug and continued chugging down the bottle of Jack Daniels.

"I still cannot believe that you two are still willing to drink that piss after all the work I put into restocking the Bar each week." Nonami chided, yanking the whiskey bottle out of Azazel's hand.

She then stood up and drank the last few contents of the whiskey bottle before throwing it in the trash nearby.

Azazel sighed at the absence of his whiskey bottle. "Well, I don't think you'd have to worry much that kid. Kuoh is generally a nice place nowadays. Christmas is in a few days there, so maybe you'd have that to look forward to."

I look out the window into the ever passing mountains and electrical wires subtending over the country side. My thoughts began to trail away again as I wordlessly count down the numerous mountains passing by till my destination.

I find myself wanting to sit silently like this, without moving. Kuoh. Japan. Christmas. It was bound to be cold when we reach the station. I hate the cold, it bites against my skin as though a million termites were slowly tearing me apart. The freezing rush of winds make me shiver over and over till my bones ran cold, and the deep snow make my feet hurt if I walk in it too long.

There are so many things about the snow that I hate, Christmas was no better. And it didn't help that I could still feel that cold, bone-chilling breath, beat silently against my ear.

A new character has been introduced, but who exactly is Kurlean? and why does she have such an impact on Abslon?

I'm sure many people can guess what she is to Abslon, but many people at this point won't understand the severity of her presence to him.

Next Chapter would be a little but darker, but a lot more on the wholesome side as Abslon finally reaches Kuoh a few days before Christmas.

Man that's gonna be fun to write.

See you all next chapter!