[Flashback]

[Spirit speech]

['Spirit thought']

Sacred gear names

Attack names

'Thought'

Time skips and other

I don't own Highschool DxD nor do I own any references I may use. That goes to Ishibumi Ichiei nor do I own any references I may use. I only own Shiro and any other characters I may use that aren't cannon.

Chapter 18

After the battle against Kokabiel had ended, Sirzechs and Grayfia both combined their magic powers along with Rias to create a teleportation circle large and powerful enough to teleport everyone, including Xenovia, to Shiro's home where Kuroka, Rias and Asia would retreat to Shiro's room where they began the arduous process of healing Shiro's stamina.

Asia soon joined the others downstairs as she wasn't able to help out with recovering his stamina and joined Akeno in preparing tea for everyone, hoping it would ease some of the tension in the air.

Meanwhile, while in Shiro's room the tension was even thicker then it was downstairs as both Kuroka AND Rias were currently naked and were snuggled up next to Shiro as they both transfered their magic powers into the teen, with Kuroka using Senjutsu to speed the process along.

After an uncomfortable silence, Kuroka sighed and spoke up. "Alright this is getting ridiculous." Kuroka muttered as she stared at Rias. "I get that you hate me."

"Ohoho I don't hate you Kuroka." Rias spat with a caustic tone and glare. "I despise you!" She spat. "It's taking every fiber of my being from stopping me to reduce you to nothing! Do you know how much pain, how much hardship Koneko had to endure because of you!" She sharply said as she sat up, the covers falling off her body and exposed her large breats and pink nipples. "Well do you? They wanted to execute her because of your crimes! Do you know why? It's because they said that 'they couldn't have another incident' like your's happen again!" She snarled.

Kuroka slowly sat up, the covers falling off her, as she looked away. "I...I know..." She softly replied. "I know I messed up with her...but I couldn't take her with me. Do you understand that, I didn't want her to became a wanted criminal like me. In fact, I'm only alive thanks to Shiro's Mother and Father. It's because of the Katsura's that I still own my life." Kuroka replied before a scowl crossed her face. "Do you know what it's like running for your life? Living every day constently looking over your shoulder, sleeping with one eye open or not sleeping at all? Fearing that one day, you're life would be snuffed without you even realising it." Kuroka spat back before softly sighing and shook her head before getting out of Shiro's bed, bent down to pick up her kimono and swiftly dressed herself. "Shiro's stamina should be fully replenished by now...we should let him rest." She sighed before walking out of the room without waiting for an answer.

Rias glared at Kuroka's back, watching the criminal leave her lovers room, before her gaze turned to the unconscious Shiro where she leaned down, planted a soft kiss on his lips and also got out of his bed before dressing herself to join the others downstairs.

Once she closed Shiro's door shut, the silver-haired teen's eyes opened and he just...stared up at his ceiling as he remembered his talk with Ddraig.

A few hours ago, within Shiro's mind...

Shiro would just...float in the empty blackness as he tried to process the events that transpired yesterday. First, Shiro finally met Kaizer, the man who had murdered his entire clan. Then they all learned that God had died along with the Satans in the last war. Next was he exposed Kuroka to everyone as he wasn't strong enough to save both his mother and friends...not that it mattered as he caused his own Mother's death...at least he unlocked his balance breaker, that was a positive...right?

'Some cold fucking comfort that is...' Shiro thought with a scoff as he hugged his legs into his chest and just...floated.

Then there was a sudden rush of heat before by a loud and heavy sigh. [Shiro...] Ddraig spoke with a sigh. [I...I understand you're upset...but you cannot stay here forever. You cannot stay like this forever.]

"Fuck off Ddraig...I'm not in the mood to deal with...with anything." Shiro tonelessly replied as he hugged his legs tighter. "I don't ever want to wake...ever." Shiro weakly muttered.

Ddraig sighed once again and lowered his head next to Shiro. [Why? Is it because you have to accept that your mother is-!] Ddraig started to say before recoiled as Shiro suddenly turned around and punched Ddraig in his snout.

"Don't. Fucking. Say it." Shiro snarled, his shoulders rising and falling as he breathed heavily. "Don't you fucking dare say it Ddraig...it...it didn't happen alright." Shiro stammered before shaking his head.

Ddraig shook his head and glared down at Shiro before growling. [Don't fool yourself Shiro.] Ddraig snarled. [You know it happened. You cannot deny the truth.]

"SHUT UP! SHE'S NOT DEAD DAMMIT!"

[SILENCE!] Ddraig roared and spread his wings, sending out a powerful gust of wind that knocked Shiro off his feet. [YOU KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE! DENYING IT ONLY HURTS YOU!]

"N-No...she's not..." Shiro shook his head. "Sh...She...fuck..." Shiro stuttered as Ddraig forced an image into Shiro's mind...an image of his Mother laying peacfully on the ground, dead. "She...She can't be...I don't...I don't want to accept it dammit." He softly sobbed as he clutched his head. "I don't want to accept that I killed her..."

[But you didn't.]

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT SHIT!" Shiro roared, glaring up at Ddraig as tears streamed down his face. "SHE DIED BECAUSE OF ME! BECAUSE I HAD TO GO AND DIE A SECOND TIME!" He cried in anger, fustration and sadness. Shiro kept cyring for a few minutes before his cries turned to sobs and his sobbing turned into sniffles. "Ddraig...she's really gone."

Ddraig solemnly stared down at Shiro before lowering his head. [Yes...I'm afraid she is.]

Hearing it be confirmed once more, Shiro choked back a sob before he slowly rose to his feet, wiping his red and puffy eyes with a sleeve. "At...At least I unlocked the Balance breaker." Shiro somberly chuckled, Ddraig joining him. After a few seconds of chuckling, Shiro took a deep breath. "Okay...I'm ready to face the music Ddraig."

[Alright partner...Leader of the Katsura Clan.] Ddraig smirked before he lowered a clawed finger down to poke Shiro's forehead.

A second later did Shiro start to hear two voices, both he recognised. One was Kuroka and the other was Rias. Shiro would lie there and quietly listen to them bicker back and fourth before he felt one of the girls get off his bed, finding out it was Kuroka when she spoke up, followed by the sound of his door opening and closing and then Rias followed shortly after.

Once the two girls had left his room, Shiro slowly opened his eyes before staring at his ceiling. He would just stare at it for a couple minutes before sighing and pushed his sheets off his body and placed his feet on the floor as he sat at the edge of his bed. "Fuck..." Shiro muttered to himself as he stood up, walked over to his wardrobe and dressed in fresh clothing. A blue shirt with a white shark leaping out of water on the front, camo-patterned cargo pants and a grey, zip-up hoodie. 'Time to face the music...Can I go back to being unconscious?' Shiro asked Ddraig, only getting a light chuckle in response. 'Yeah fair enough.' He sighed before taking a deep breath and walked out of his room and down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, Shiro would shiver heavily as he could feel a thick tension in the air. Upon walking into the doorway that lead into the living room, his eyes would widen as he saw the members of the ORC, Xenovia was no where to be seen, sat on the sofa, except Kiba who had decided to stand besides the sofa. Kuroka was stood in the corner of the room, her gaze averted but occassionaly drifting to Koneko, who would sharply look away with both a sour expression...and a solemn frown.

Finally, the two people he didn't expect to be in his living room, Sirzechs was sat in the arm chair while Grayfia was stood besides him.

"I...assume you're all waiting for me?" Shiro spoke up and the moment he did, the tension in the room lifted only to be repleced by a solemn and somber aura. Shiro sighed softly before walking into the room and sat on the arm of the sofa. "So...why the tension?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I mean yeah there's an SS-Class criminal and a Satan in the room...I swear there's a joke in there somewhere, but seeing how Kuroka is still alive, I assmue Sirzechs doesn't want to reduce her to ash."

That small detail that Shiro pointed out, was the thing that brought everyone back in the room.

"A-Ah Shiro...are you...how are you feeling?" And the first person to speak up was the Blonde 'Knight'.

Shiro turned to glance at Kiba before sighing. "I'm...I'm doing better then I wanted, which is kinda worrying considering what's happened but...but I'd rather be like this then...then a complete wreck." He sighed, leaving out his conversation with Ddraig. Shiro then looked up and looked at everyone. "Look I...I just want to process my...my Mother's death in my own time okay." He stammered, a lump forming in his throat.

Silence followed after, an uncomfortable silence at that, before Sirzechs coughed into his hand. "As much as I hate to interupt all this...I think it's now time I get started." He said, everyone staring at him in anticipation while stared at him in confusion. "First off...I want to apologise for not being faster and more prepared for this...if I was then maybe Lil-"

"Stop." Shiro sudden and sharp tone paused the Satan. "It wasn't your fault Sirzechs. It wasn't your hand that killed her...no one should need to feel responsable for it...especially you Kuroka." He said, looking towards the Black-haired Nekoshou who bit her lip and averted her gaze. "It was her choice to use her life for the spell...and I feel like it was the right thing to do because now...now she's with dad." Shiro coughed in his hand as he felt the lump return and a pain form in his chest. "A-Anyways...continue Sirzechs."

Sirzechs stared at Shiro before smiling and nodding his head. "Right, of course." His gaze then fell upon Koneko. "Next...I'd like to tell you the truth about your sister, Koneko. About how she's slightly innocent." That single word made everyone go wide eyed and Rias quickly stand up, nearly knocking Shiro off the sofa-arm, as she glared at her brother while her fists trembled.

"Brother...what are you talking about?" She hissed.

Sirzechs stared at his little sister and sighed. "When Kuroka killed her Master it wasn't because she lost control of her powers like the Underworld believes...it's because her Master was conducting illegeal and immoral experiments to create a Super Devil." Sirzechs explained, resting his chin on his hands. "Caelem Naberius was his name and in order to create this 'Super Devil' of his...he performed experiments on different races to send their unique powers into an 'overdrived' state." His gaze then met Koneko's.

"Shirone." Only for his next words to be stolen by Kuroka herself. "That...That bastard was going to use you for his experiments. I was already in control of Senjutsu but you...you had no training with it, no control...when he learned this he...he wanted to experiment on you. Push the limits of Senjutsu...he could've killed you." She said before staring softly at Koneko. "I...I never meant to harm you but I had to leave you...I...I didn't want to drag you down with me. I didn't want you to become a criminal like me."

"I DON'T CARE!" Koneko sharply yelled as she clenched her fists. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT! I-I WANTED TO STAY WITH YOU SIS!" She yelled before standing up and glared at Kuroka, tears forming in her eyes. "I...I wouldn't of cared if I was a criminal alongside you...I..I was so hurt when you ran...I thought...I thought you didn't care about me." She sobbed as she slowly walked up to Kuroka. "I thought...I thought that you were only saving yourself...but...but then you tried to visit me after I was taken in by Rias...I-I was so confused..." She cried as she stopped in front of Kuroka. "I-I wanted to hate you...I never wanted to see you again but...but now that you're here...I-I don't know how to feel!" She then looked up at Kuroka as her ears and tail appeared. "I don't know what to do...I don't know if I can forgive you but...but I can't hate you sister." She cried before wrapping her arms around Kuroka, crying her little heart out. "I-I need you sis...please...please don't leave me again."

Kuroka stared down at her little sister in shock, as did everyone else, before tears filled her eyes and she fell to her knees and embraced Koneko. "I-I promise...I will never ever leave you again Shi...Koneko." Kuroka replied as her hug tightened around her sister as tears flowed down her face and she closed her eyes as a smile crossed her face.

As this interaction between the two Nekoshou sisters was happening, the others were watching it with varying degrees of emotions. Asia had tears filling her eyes while a smile crossed her face, Kiba was also smiling but his was more of a...nervous smile but Rias and Akeno...those two were simply glaring at Kuroka, not believing her honeyed words. Shiro saw their glares, sighed and shook his head.

After a minute or so, Koneko's crying dwindled into soft sobs as she calmed down enough for Sirzechs to continue. "I'm...glad you all took this, this well." Sirzechs smiled before standing and looked towards. "Now these last two things I have to say...actually I have three things to say, are for you Shiro." He spoke as he held out his hand. A second later did a magic circle appear on the floor and from it emerged Gearradair Maud. Sirzechs grabbed the sword by the hilt before holding it in both hands and then held it out to Shiro. "This sword now belongs to you, Shiro. Please take it." He said.

Shiro would stare at the sword for a second before calming walking up to it, gingerly reached out to take it from the Satan before holding it by the sheate. He stared at the black lacquer sheathe before taking a deep breath and bowed his head to the crimson Satan. "Thank you Lord Sirzechs for returning what has been stolen." The teen said as he raised his head and stared at the sword for a second before turning to Kiba with a smile. "You mind teaching me how to properly wield a sword?" He asked. "If I'm gonna keep it then I'll need to know how to use it."

Kiba would merely smile at Shiro before nodding. "It would be an honour."

Shiro would nod at Kiba smile before turning back to Sirzechs. "You said you had two more things to say to me...what are they Lord Sirzechs?" Shiro questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Sirzechs chuckled and shook his head. "Just Sirzechs is fine but yes...although what I'm about to say is rather...somber." He sighed softly. "We...have yet to burry your Mother. Her body is being preserved for the moment but...I deemed it so that she would be buried in your birth home. The Katsura Village."

Shiro stared at Sirzechs for a second before slowly nodding before sighing. "That's...very kind of you but...I have no idea where this Village is."

"That's understandable but you needn't worry." The Crimson-Satan said with a smile. "I can create a teleportation circle that will take us to the outskirts but...when your father died he set up a barrier around the Village that hid it from the world. The only way to gain entrance into the Village is to take down the barrier...but the only way to do that is to have the current head of the Katsura clan dispel it."

Shiro would nod in understand and his eyes were filled with understanding, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "I understand why my Mother told Kuroka to take me back home."

"Indeed." Sirzechs chuckled before he stood up straight, his eyes narrowed and the entire feeling of the room shifted to a more serious tone. "And now, the third and final thing I wanted to say. Shiro Katsura." Sirzechs sharply spoke. "Due to your victory against the Fallen Angel leader-class Kokabiel, by my power as Satan and with the acceptance of Serafall Leviathan, Ajuka Beezlebub and Falbium Asmodeus. I hereby grant you the rank of Mid-class Devil...should you so accept that is." He spoke with an aura of authority.

After Sirzechs sudden and shocking declaration, the room turned extremely silent. Everyone's eyes were wide before all eyes were on Shiro. "S-Sirzechs...I...I don't know what to say." Shiro stammered out. "I-I feel like I don't deserve this...but...but I will accept your generious offer." Shiro replied with a wide smile. "After all, I would be a fool to stay as a low-class Reborn forever." Shiro smirked, sending a wink towards Grayfia who blushed and looked away as Shiro used her own words.

"That's excellent to hear." Sirzechs smiled. "In a month from now, there will be a gathering of all the High-class Devil youths. There is where we shall make it offical." The Crimson-Satan said. "Now normally you would have to complete a series of tests...but I think we can make an exception this one time...but should you acquire the rank of High-class Devil. You will need to complete a test and once you do, you shall be a High-class Devil and own your own set of Evil pieces."

Shiro would slowly nod as he ingested all of the information Sirzechs told him, slowly realising that ranking up in the Devil society seemed like a major pain in the ass. However, his thoughts would soon be interupted when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck. "That's wonderful news Shiro!" Rias cheered as she hugged him tightly, a wide and proud smile across her face. "I'm so proud of you reaching the next rank!"

"Congratulations are certainly in order." Akeno spoke up with a smile while everyone soon gave their own praises to him.

A soft chuckle would silence everyone before Sirzechs spoke up again. "As wonderful as this is to see...I believe it is time." He spoke before turning to Kuroka. "Would you kindly help Kuroka?" The Crimson-haired Satan asked the Nekoshou, who merely went wide eyed in surpise before nodding.

"It would be my pleasure nya~" She purred as she followed Sirzechs and Grayfia outside, the rest of the group followed shortly after.

Once they were all gathered in the back garden Sirzechs, Grayfia and Kuroka all began to combine their magical powers into a single magic circle that appeared on the ground. That magic circle started off with the Gremory family crest before the sigil in the middle slowly started to change until it was now the Katsura family crest, which was the image of a black dragon with it's body curled around and it's wings flared.

After the magic circle was complete, Shiro took a deep breath before joining the trio on the magic circle before turning to face the others. "Do you...do you guys wanna come with?" Shiro questioned with a smile. A second later was he joined by the others, holding Rias' hand tightly. "Alright...time to go home." He muttered just as his vision was filled with a bright light.

Underworld, Gremory territory...

After the bright flash had died down and Shiro's vision returned, he found himself gasping and swallowing a lump that formed in his throat as he stared at the scenery before him.

What Shiro was looking at, were the remains of a burned down village. Crumbling black buildings, large holes of displaced dirt and cobblestone littered the roads and streets and the charred remains of, what Shiro assumed was, Fallen Angel's and his kinsmen scattered about. Shiro just...stared ahead as he felt his chest tighten and his eyes moisten. "Holy fuck..." Shiro muttered.

The silver-haired teen jumped suddenly when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Shiro?" Followed by Rias' concerned voice. "Are you okay? What are you looking at?" She asked as she also look to where Shiro was looking but to her...to her it was just the same as the forest surrounding them, more trees.

Shiro turned to look at Rias, glancing back at the others who also had concerned expression. "Ri...Right...the barrier." Shiro muttered as he faced forwards once more.

"That is correct." Sirzechs spoke up as he stood besides Shiro before walking forwards a little and held up his hand before placing it on the invisible barrier that stopped him from going further. "This is the barrier that protects your clan's home...and it can only be broken by you Shiro." He said, turning to face Shiro and stepped to the side.

Shiro glanced at Sirzechs before looking around as he realised that something...someone was missing. "Sirzechs...where's...where is my mother's body?" Shiro questioned before taking a deep breath.

"She's at the Gremory Castle." This answer came not from Sirzehcs but from Grayfia.

"I see..." Shiro slowly nodded before turning to the silver-haired maid. "Bring her here please...I...I need to finish this all." Shiro told her, his blue eyes softly staring at her.

Grayfia would stare at Shiro before glancing to her Master, who slowly and solemnly nodded. Grayfia would nod back before bowing towards Shiro before teleporting away. Once the maid was gone, Shiro turned back to the barrier, took a deep breath and straightened her back before striding forwards. The moment Shiro approached the barrier did the space in front of the group ripple slightly. Shiro said nothing as he held up his hand before flinching just before he touched the barrier.

"Shiro?" Asia soft voice caused him to look at her. "Are...Are you okay." She asked as she took her big-brother's hand.

"Yeah...yeah Lil sis." Shiro nodded, petting her head. "Just...Just psyching myself up is all."

"No matter what lies beyond, we'll be behind you all the way." Kuroka told him with a smile as she nuzzled up against him, much to the irate of Akeno, Rias and Koneko.

Shiro smiled at the Nekoshou before petting behind her ears, making her softly purr and a blush form on her face, before the teen shivered in fear as he felt a trio of murderous gazes aimed at him. He stopped his petting before coughing into his hand. "R-Right...let's get this over with." He nodded to himself as he placed his hand proper on the barrier and uttered a single word. "Release."

The second the word left his mouth did the sound of glass cracking echo through out the forest. Taking a step back, Shiro looked up to see cracks spiderweb out from the center. At first, it was slow but soon enough more and more cracks would rapidly appear before there was an almighty shatter as the barrier that hid the Katsura village was finally lifted.

Shards of the magic barrier would rain down before disspersing into magical particals and softly flutter to the ground and on the members gathered below. Sharp gasps would arise as every could now see the devastation and destruction that was caused by the Fallen Angel and Kaizer's attack. "Heh...I'm back home." Shiro chuckled as he took a deep breath and took his first steps in the village.

"I feel...ashamed that I had to leave the bodies of your Kinsmen to decay like this." Sirzechs sighed to himself, his fists balling in anger.

Shiro said nothing to the Satan, only giving him an apologetic smile, before facing forwards once more. "Sirzechs...do you know where my Mum and Dad lived?" Shiro questioned.

"Yes...just head straight down this road and you will reach the center of the village." Sirzechs replied as he stayed where he was. "I shall not join you and will wait for Grayfia's return."

"I see...thank you Sirzechs." Shiro replied, turning to bow at the Satan, before walking on ahead with Kuroka following close behind him.

The other members of the ORC would just glance between each other, not knowing whether they should follow him and Kuroka or not but in the end...they all decided to stick with Shiro and very soon, they quickly caught up with the two.

The group would walk in complete silence, taking care not to disturb the skeletal reamins that littered the streets. "Th...This is creepy." Asia softly muttered as she held her hands in front of her chest.

"It does have a very...disturbing aura." Shiro replied with a grim chuckle. "It's even worse if you can use Senjutsu." He spoke with a sudden shudder. "Kinda makes me feel sick."

"That's because there's still remnants of negative energy in the air." Kuroka spoke up, her ears were flat against her head and she looked extremely pale. "Senjutsu makes you more suspectable to negative energy in the air...I'm only just hanging on myself." She said before her eyes went wide as she felt a hand grasp her own. At first, she thought that Shiro was the one to hold but instead, it was Koneko who held her hand.

Kuroka would stare down at her sister in shock, still surprised that Koneko seemed so accepting of her, before smiling and gently squeezed back.

Soon enough, Shiro would come to a stop as they had reached the center of the village. The others would stop too before they all stared at...nothing. There was nothing left in the center of town as the once proud building that had been stood there was completely demolished, rubble only remaining. "Wow...I guess Kaizer and or Kokabiel really hated the building." Shiro grimly chuckled. Shiro sharply inhaled through his nose before sighing softly and turned around. "Let's go back to Sirzechs." Shiro muttered.

"What are you saying Shiro?" Rias suddenly spoke up. "Aren't...Don't you want to at least look around?" She asked, despite seeing the state of...the building.

Shiro would glance back at the demolished building before shaking his head. "I...I should...a small part of me is hoping that something...anything of that building is intact but...but as I look at it...I feel...nothing." He sighed, turning around and stared at the rubble. "This place was supposed to be my home. I feel a...sense of familiarty for the place but...that's not my home. That was my parent's home. My home is back on earth." He told his lover with a sigh before glancing up at the purple coloured sky of the Underworld. "Maybe one day I can call this place home...but not now." Shiro shook his head before glancing over his shoulder at the others with a smile. "In the end...my home is wherever you guys are."

Bright blushes would appear on Akeno, Rias, Koneko and Kuroka's faces when Shiro said that, even Kiba and Asia had small blushes.

After that, the group would make their way back to the entrance of the Katsura village and by the time they reached the entrance, Sirzechs would've been reunited with Grayfia and a few armoured soliders and between them, a brown coffin. Shiro stuttered slightly in his steps before he puffed his chest out and continued with his head held high.

Upon seeing the group return, Sirzechs would turn to Grayfia and the soldiers before nodding his head. Grayfia would nod in return and speak an order to the soldiers who would gently lift Lilith's coffin up. After they had done that, Grayfia gestured for the soldiers to follow her just as the others reached them "Is that..."

"Yes..."

"I see..." Shiro solemnly nodded, taking a deep breath. "So...where's the buriel ground?" He would ask, his eyes never leaving the coffin.

"Right this way." Grayfia said, bowing her head slightly.

With that, the ORC members would follow quietly behind Grayfia, Sirzechs and the soldiers around the outskirts of the village and up the hill that was close by. At the top of the hill sat an unusually large Katsura tree, it was about the size of an oak tree just from a glance, and beneath the tree sat several gravestones, each one immaculate almost as if someone had been caring for the headstones.

"So...these are my ancestors." Shiro muttered as he stared at headstones before his eyes fell upon two figures that were stood by an open grave. The first was a handsome male that had Crimson hair and was wearing a very ornate, black robe with golden highlights, and the other figure was a beautiful woman with brown hair and she was wearing a black dress that went down to her ankles. 'Who the hell are they?' Shiro thought with a raised eyebrow before glancing at Rias as she gasped before rushing ahead and hugged the two.,

"Mother, Father." Rias spoke up. "It's great to see you but...why are you here?" She asked them.

"Isn't it obvious Rias." Her mother was the one to speak up. "We're here to pay respects to Lilith." Her mother told the red-head before turning her gaze to Shiro. "Hello again, Shiro." Her mother smiled.

Shiro nervously smiled back before his eyes shifted about. "Uhhh hi? I'm sorry...but I don't remember or know you two." Shiro admitted before sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "Which is rather embarrassing considering me and your Daughter are en-MMPH!" He started to say before he was silenced when Rias clamped her hand over his mouth with a nervous smile and a blush.

"Shuuuuush! I haven't told them yet." Rias hissed in a hushed whisper but would look towards her parents when her father softly chuckled.

"We already know that you two are engaged." Her father chuckled with an apologetic smile...one that was aimed more towards Shiro then Rias. "Lady Katsura told us when it happened, she also sent us a letter with the pact you two reforged and instructions saying to, and I quote 'Train Shiro in the ways of being a gentleman so he doesn't embarrass Rias'."

"Which I will be taking care of." Her Mother said with a smile, a smile that caused Shiro to shiver. "And watching you walk up here, I already spotted five problems with your posture."

Shiro would stare at the woman in abstract horror before glancing to Rias' father as he mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' to him. Shiro just sighed heavily before bowing his head. "Well let me properly introduce myself. I'm Shiro Katsura, current head to the Katsura clan. It's an honour to meet you." He said before raising his head and smilied. "Lord and Lady Gremory."

Both Zeoticus and Venelana looked at each other before softly chuckling and mimicked Shiro's bow. "I am Zeoticus Gremory, Rias and Zirzechs Father."

"And I am Venelana Gremory, Rias and Zirzechs' Mother. The pleasure is all ours...Lord Katsura."

"Bleh." Shiro spat with a grimace. " 'Lord' Katsura just doesn't sit right with me." He admitted before chuckling. "But guess there's no room to argue and I should just accept that I'm that the head of the clan?"

"That's about the short and long of it." Zeoticus chuckled. "In fact, when we told our little Rias that she was going to be the heir she but she ran away...we found her camping in the back garden." The Patriarch of the Gremory family laughed.

"FATHER!" Rias cried with a blush before turning to around and pinched Shiro's cheeks as she heard him laughing. "And you be quiet." She muttered with a pout.

"Alright alright, I'm sowwy Riash." Shiro quickly said with a wince before rubbing his cheek when his crimson-haired lover released it. "Anways...I think it's about time we get this underway." He said, bringing the attention back to the reason as to why they were there.

Zeotics and Venelana both straightened up and nodded before taking a step to the side, as did the ORC group, to let the soldiers pass.

Standing on the right was Shiro, Kuroka, Rias and Asia while opposite them was the rest of the group, the rest being the remaining members of the ORC and the Gremory familia.

An hour later and Lilith would be buried alongside the other members of the Katsura clan. Shiro would crouch down and place his hand on the recently placed dirt before closing his eyes and began channeling Senjutsu into the ground and a second later did a single Lily sprout at the base of the gravestone. "When you get to...wherever you're going...say hi to Dad for me." Shiro muttered before he slowly stood up and looked to the gravestone besides his Mother's before reading the names carved into the marble stone. 'Zhana Katsura and Milo Katsura...Granddad and Grandma huh...make sure she's comfortable.' He thought before he turned to face the others.

Shiro would stare at the members of the ORC. First, his eyes fell upon Kiba, the first member he officially met. At first, Shiro didn't really care that the school saw him as a playboy nor did he ever think of him as a potential friend, In fact...Shiro thought he would've used his 'Prettyboy' status as a cover for being a real ass to others but Shiro was glad that the blonde 'Knight' became a close friend of his.

Then his eyes gazed over the youger Nekoshou sister, Koneko. He thought back to the training camp and how he learnt of her heritage. He thought back to how...vulnerable she looked, how she grabbed his hand and asked him to not leave her alone, how she cried her heart out when he told her that they, that he would never abandon her and that should her powers ever go out of control, he would be the first one to bring her back.

Next was Asia, the ex-Nun and his pseudo-sibling. Out of all the things that happened to him as of recent times...Asia was always his biggest regret. He didn't regret meeting her, not in the slightest, but what he did regret...what ate away at him everytime he saw her cry or everytime she looked upset...was how he was unable to save her from Raynare. When Rias revived her, he promised to himself that he would do everything in his power to never let something like that happen to her again.

Then his eyes fell on Akeno...which he merely averted his eyes with an uncomfortable expression. Learning that she was the daughter to Baraqiel, a Fallen Angel leader...he didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it but...remembering back to what his Mother said to her back at the training camp how, like Koneko, had to accept her herritage.

He looked towards Kuroka, the mysterious Nekoshou who had been with him ever since his birth, even before his birth apparently. She was the one who trained him in Senjutsu, which honestly helped him defend against Yubelluna's attack against him and also helped him defeat Riser. She also saved his Mother before Kaizer murdered her...not that it did much in the end but at least he didn't need to keep her existance a secret from the others.

Finally, his eyes fell upon the one who gave him his second chance at life and was also his loving fiance. Rias Gremory. From almost hitting her and Akeno after jumping off a roof, yes he still remembered that and yes he kept it quiet out of embarrassment, to crashing a wedding because she was a precious treasure that was stolen from him. She was the greatest thing to ever happen to him ever since his rebirth and he wouldn't change anything.

'This...This is my family now.' Shiro thought as a smile slowly crossed his face before he stumbled forwards, wide eyed, as it felt someone had pushed him forwards. Looking back, Shiro gasped as he thought he saw a woman with black hair and blue eyes and a man with silver hair and green eyes with one arm missing smiling at him before they were blown away with a gust of wind. Shiro felt tears fill his eyes before he quickly wiped them with his sleeve and jogged his way to meet back up with the group.

Once he approached them, he would simply...stare at Rias. The crimson-haired Princess raised an eyebrow at him. "Is everything okay Shi-!" She was cut off when Shiro grabbed her by her waist, pulled her close to him before pressing his lips against her's. Rias' eyes went wide in shock before she melted into the passionate kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer.

The two would stay connected for a few seconds before Shiro slowly pulled away, leaving Rias panting for breath and a scarlet blush. "Wh-What was that for?" She questioned with a pant.

"Just...Just showing how much I love you." He told her with a wide smile before he looked towards the others and smiled at them, with a hint of nervousness as he saw Kuroka, Akeno and Koneko glaring at the two. "You guys...you're my family." He said as he held Rias close. "I don't think I've ever said this before but being revived...meeting all of you, it's been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me." He smiled.

The group would return his smile before all eyes were on the adult Gremory's as Zeoticus coughed into his hand. "As wonderful of a display this is...Lord Katsura."

"Okay but please just call me Shiro. Being called 'Lord' still sounds off to me."

"Alright then...may I ask that you refer to me as Zeoticus." He replied with a smile before his expression became slightly serious. "Anyways, as I was about to say. With your permission Shiro...I would like to start burrying the bodies of your kinsmen and repairing the damages to your home."

Shiro's eyes widened that Zeoticus asked for his permission. "Ze-Zeoticus you don't need to ask!" Shiro quickly told him. "In fact you don't need to do that, It can be my burden."

Zeoticus shook his head. "No. If I was more attentive to my allies...then maybe your clan would've survived the attack...but I failed to protect the Katsuras. Please, allow me to do this." He said before bowing his head alongside his son.

Shiro started at the two Gremory's before smiling softly and nodded his head. "Alright...I leave the care of my kinsmen to you Lord Gremory, Lord Sirzechs."

Both the male Gremory's raised their heads and nodded back to Shiro before Sirzechs looked towards Grayfia while Zeoticus and Venelana fanished in magical particles. "Grayfia, please send my sister and her peerage back to Shiro's home."

"Of course..." She nodded, sending a quick glance towards Shiro, before she closed her eyes and channelled her magic to create a magic circle on the ground. "Please step into this magic circle." The silver-haired maid stepped to the side and gestured to the magic circle.

Once the group was stood inside the magic circle, Grayfia would wave her hand and send the group off in a flurry of magical particles. Once they had vanished, Grayfia jumpped when she heard her Master chuckle before he spoke up. "I saw the way you were looking at Shiro, Grayfia."

Grayfia would turn to her Master with narrowed eyes. "I...don't know what you are talking about Lord Sirzechs." She replied.

"It's fine Grayfia." Sirzechs chuckled before smiling at her. "But tell me...is it because he reminds you of Artemis...or are you truly falling for him?" He asked her.

"I..." Grayfia trailed of, biting her lower lip. "I don't know..." She responded with a heavy sigh. "It feels like I'm just...drawn to that boy because of his father but at the same time...the Red Dragon Emperor has this...allure to him."

"I understand what you mean." Sirzechs chuckle as he walked up to his maid and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I sometimes get the urge to ask him to battle me...in fact...yes that could work." Sirzeches muttered before a mischievous smirk crossed his face.

A smirk that was wiped from his face when Grayfia started to pinch his cheek. "Whatever you're thinking...stop it." She sighed, getting far too used to being the leash on Sirzechs.

"Owww I'm sowwy Grayfia." Sirzechs whimpered as tears of pain filled his face. After a few seconds of pinching and pulling, Grayfia sighed and released his cheek. "Le-Let's head back home and help Father prepare." The Crimson-Satan sighed as he and his maid vanished.

Back on Earth, the next day...

"NO FUCKING WAY!"

"THIS! IS! AWESOME!"

These two cries of sheer and utter glee were from Matusda and Motohama. The two perverts were currently stood in the square center as today was the day they along with Shiro, Asia and Kiryuu were going Karaoke. However, their expressions of glee wasn't because Shiro and Aisa finally arrived, Kiryuu was going to meet them at the Karaoke bar, it was because of who was with Shiro and Asia.

"My My~"

"Gross..."

"Well your friends are certainly..."

"Idiotic?"

"Colourful."

The responses came from Akeno, Koneko and Rias respectively.

Shiro sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he knew that this was how the two perverts were going to react upon seeing Akeno, Rias and Koneko alongside him. "Well time to crush their dr-GAH!" He sadistically smiled before gagging when Matsuda and Motohama wrapped their arms around his neck and yanked him close.

"Dude...you are an absolute God!" Motohama perversely grinned, missing the wince that came from Shiro.

"Not only did you get that bomb ass Rias to join but Akeno and Koneko too!" Matsuda grinned as he blew steam out of his nose. "Just imagining those two singing together, rubbing their boobascious bodies against each other, taking off their jackets when it gets too hot in the booth hehehehehe."

Shiro sighed before wiggling himself out of their grips. "Alright, calm it down you two. Akeno and Rias aren't joining us."

"WHAAAAAAAAAT!" Both perverts whipped around, their faces contorted in anger.

Shiro recoiled slightly, rubbing his ears with a wince. "Ow my fucking ears." He grumbled. "Like I said, they aren't coming. Rias and Akeno and going shopping for...something but Koneko is going to come with us and one other person is coming but...oh wait never mind." Shiro muttered before spotting Kiba who was approaching. "YO KIBA!"

"ARE YOU FUCKING WITH US DUDE!"

"WHY IS THE PRETTY BOY COMING BUT NOT THE HOTIES!"

"Did...I do something wrong?" Kiba asked as he heard the two perverts yelling their frustrations at Shiro before they both gained a fist to their stomachs.

"Nah don't worry about these two Kiba. They're just being idiots." Shiro replied with a sigh. "They'll get over it once they get to singing." The silver-haired teen shrugged, hoping he was right.

And right he was, the moment the group had paid for the booth and had gotten everything set up, the two idiots would forget all about Kiba being there and would just sing, terribly, to their hearts content.

As the day went on, the group would take turns singing, sometimes dueting with each other or just going it solo, even Koneko had a turn singing. Shiro would turn to Asia, holding the microphone to her as Matsuda and Motohama sang an intro to an anime. "Say Asia, wanna do a duet?" He asked with a wide smile before his eyebrow raised when his phone started to buzz. "The hell?" He muttered as he put the microphone down and reached for his phone and drink. 'A text from Rias? And...Akeno...' Shiro thought as he stared at the two messages.

His thumb hovered over Akeno's text for a second before he swiped over it and deleted it. Shiro sighed heavily before shaking his head and opened Rias' text, drinking the last of his drink while he let the message load. 'Why did I delete Akeno's message...' He questioned himself as the message from Rias finally loaded...and caused him to spit out his drink and start coughing wildly. "HO-HOLY SHIT!"

The reason why he was choking on his drink was because Rias sent him a picture of her in a changing room, winking at the camera and was completely nude with the simple message of 'wish you was here 3.'

'Jesus Rias, are you trying to kill me!' He sent back as a blush adorned his face.

"Oh hoho~ Is that a bulge I see growing?" Kiryuu suddenly said as she stared at Shiro's crotch with a perverted smile before she flinched when a peanut was thrown at her forehead.

"Shut up dammit!" Shiro yelled at her. "And stop look at my crotch, it's creepy." He sighed before his phone started to ring. "Oh now what? Hello?" Shiro growled as he answered the phone before his eyes widened. "Oh hey uhhh yeah give me a second. Sorry but I gotta take this call real quick." He told the group, Matsuda and Motohama had stopped sing just before the call.

"Yo what's going on man?" Matsuda asked him with a raised eyebrow while Motohama, humming the tune of the last song they sung, looked through the options once more.

"I just got a call from one of my work clients, so I might have to leave." He replied with a shrug of his shoulders and left the booth before the others could protest. "Sorry bout that, you called at a bad time, anyways what'd you need mister?" Shiro asked the man on the phone as he walked into the hallway where the vending machines were. "You want me to make another pact? Uhhhh sure I can come over. Alrigh, see you in a few." He said before hanging up and pocketed his phone before sighing heavily. "Well that's a bummer..."

"Was that a customer?"

Shiro jumped slightly when he heard Kiba's voice off to the side. He glanced over where he saw the Blonde 'Knight' sat on one of the chairs with a glass of water in his hand. "So this is where you've been? And yeah, a regular wants me to come down to play on this new console he got." Shiro sighed as he walked over ot the machine and got a bottle of water. "Hmm...maybe I should've went with something that has more flavour..." He hummed.

"Shiro."

Kiba's sharp and sudden tone made the silver-haired teen to turn around with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, what's up Kiba?" Shiro asked as he opened the bottle and began drinking.

"I want to say...thank you."

Shiro stared at the blonde before finishing the bottled water, crushed it before tossing it in the bin. "Don't mention it Kiba. Seriously." Shiro replied with a dismissive wave and a sigh. "Think of this as...me repaying you for what you did for me against Raynare. Plus, you're a comrade, a friend...family. So yeah, there's no need to thank me Kiba." Shiro said as he patted his friend's shoulder. "I'd even do it again." He nodded before his body was covered in a crimson-silver glow before he vanished, leaving Kiba alone.

'Shiro...thank you.' Kiba smiled softly before he stood up to join the others.

Undisclosed Hotel...

In the front room of an extremely fancy hotel room, which made it seem more like an expensive apartment then a simple hotel room, was a man in a brown yukata with dark-black hair with golden bangs and violet eyes and in his hand was a glass of whisky. This man was a regular customer of Shiro's but whenever Shiro asked for his name, he would just brush it off and dodge the question. "Ahh there you are little Devil." The man smirked as Shiro appeared in the room. "For a second, I didn't think you'd show." He said as he straightened up.

Shiro turned to face the man, since he was looking away from him, before shrugging his shoulders. "Of course I'd show. While it may be my day off, if a client calls then It's bad for buisness if I don't accept." The teen told him. "Now then, what is it this time?"

The man would smirk before standing up, walked past Shiro and up to the TV before tossing Shiro a controller before he held up the case to a fighting game, Mortal Kombat X. "Thought we could go a few rounds. Got it just last week and I've been practicing." He smirked as he inserted the disk into the console and loaded up the game.

The two would play the game for about an hour and a half, with both players being rather equal in the matches and had won an even amount of games.

"I gotta admit Devil." The man smirked as his eyes were focused on the screen as the two began their final match. "You're a lot better then I expected." He chuckled as he began to beat Shiro's character with a series of intense combos.

"Thanks I guess." Shiro shrugged as he started to retaliate with combos of his own. "Honestly I'm just button mashing but hey, If I'm winning then I must be doing something right?" He said just as his character landed the final blow, winning him the first round. When the second round began, Shiro immediately began dominating the fight. "Say can I ask you something Sir? In all this time...I've never gotten your name." Shiro suddenly asked as his character landed the final blow and won him the first round.

"Is that so." The man muttered before smirking as he put the controller on the floor and stood up, turning to face Shiro as the teen won the game. Just as the words 'FINISH HIM' appeared on the screen, twelve jet-black wings appeared from the man's back. "I am Azazel, leader of the Fallen Angels. It's nice to meet you proper, Red Dragon Emperor.

And that's 18 down and wooo boy was it gonna be a long one if I continued, already reaching 9k words, so I'm going to be doing the swimming pool episode in the next chapter...speaking of episode I have an important announcement to make.

After finishing the up coming arc, that being the Peace Treaty stuff, I will be following the LN from then on. I've started to watch Season 4 of the anime and I must say I'm kinda dissapointed in it. Don't get me wrong, love the art style change (mainly cause all the girls look even sexier then normal) but I'm dissapointed in what was missed. They left out the Sitri vs Gremory match and I'm sorry but what the fuck is Saji's Vritra premotion? That shit was badass! How could they miss that out. Same with Issei's Illegal move Trinia, that actually made him badass and I actually liked him...for that moment that is.

Anyways, that's all I have to say on the matter so from S3 onwards I'm gonna have to wait for the English translated LN's to release, I have up to volume 6 and am waiting to buy V7.

Another change to Shiro's Hareem (surprise surprise) but this will be the final change until I get past the Kyoto arc and Sairaorg (He's a fucking badass btw. Probably my second fav guy after Vali)

1) Kuroka
2) Akeno
3) Koneko
4) Rias
5) Xenovia
6) Grayfia
7) Ravel
8) Yasaka
9) Kinou
10) Kiryuu

That's right, I've decided to add Grayfia, Yasaka and Kinou to Shiro's harem...now onto a bit I'm excited to share, Shiro's peerage.

Queen - Kuroka
Bishop 1 - Kiryuu
Bishop 2 - Ravel or Kinou
Knight 1 - Xenovia
Knight 2 -
Rook 1 -
Rook 2 -
Pawns - Matsuda, Motohama

*Le Gasp* Matsuda and Motohama are going to be members of Shiro's peerage? Yep, I have an idea for those two idiots that will come into play much later on, basically some time Shiro becomes a High-class Devil, same with Kiryuu. I kinad want to add Grayfia to that Peerage but she's far too strong to be any of the other Pieces, maybe a rook? Kuroka is going to be Shiro's 'Queen', that is locked.

But that's enough for now.

Until next time,

Stay well, Stay true...BYE BYE~