"Hold on." Issei grinned, slinging an arm over Kiba's shoulder as he went to leave. "Where're you going man?"

Kiba sighed as the impromptu clothesline reeled him back. "Home." He groused politely, rubbing his throat. Standing, he shook himself out, offering them a polite smile. "So I'd assumed, Ise-kun."

Issei turned to face him, and Kiba flinched back. A massive fake pout graced Issei's face, matched only by the identical expression on the two behind him. Motohama seemed to be struggling, however, and one corner kept curling up.

"How sad." Issei wept.

""How sad.""

"Nothing to do but go home?"

""How saaaaaaad!"" came the echo.

"This has the distinct flavor of a hazing ritual." Kiba mused, edging away.

They began to circle him, suspicious eyes peeking out from their flesh masks as they mimed tears. Kiba, who understood somewhat peripherally that this was meant to be intimidating, tried to step out of their circle and be on his way.

Issei was suddenly in his face. "So what're you really up to then?" He said, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Only a guy secretly up to something else can play it that cool."

Kiba turned away uncomfortably, but Motohama was standing to his left. He had an easy smile, a slick too-toothy grin that contrasted his cold eyes. "You look tired bro." He said, "Somethin' up? Somethin' on your mind? Take it easy man, tell us what's up."

"Nothing at all." Kiba said stubbornly. "I'm completely free - I'm just a little sleepy."

Motohama stepped closer, clicking his tongue. He snapped his fingers twice in Kiba's face. "Stressed. You haven't been making eye contact all day, yanno? Got something on the noggin? Something to hiiiiiiiiide?"

Disturbed, Kiba stepped back, but stumbled as something struck his lower shins. He twisted, but nothing appeared until he looked down.

Matsuda was crouching on his other side, looking up at him with ghoulish shadows playing across his face.

"I smell the scent of a successful man." He hissed, and Kiba gave up entirely.

"Actually, I'm feeling great and up for anything." Kiba said, strained. "Did you have something else in mind?"

Issei's grin widened, and Kiba felt the two behind him match it like a physical heat. They drew their wallets, jostling and pushing as the stubborn card they hid behind their student ID's stuck and refused to be removed.

"Got it!" Matsuda cried triumphantly, waving it over his head before he flicked it at Kiba. The blonde boy snatched it casually out of the air with two fingers, a feat even Issei allowed himself to be impressed by for a moment, and scanned the contents.

"This says you're twenty-three." Kiba said slowly, eye bouncing from word to word thoughtfully. "Why would you - oh no."

"Oh yes."

"Where-when?" Kiba said, scanning the card. "Where did you get this at all? When did you plan this?"

"You scribe malicious intent where none exists." Motohama said piously. "We intended this from the start, and the presence of a foreigner to excuse impropriety ought not be considered more than the purest coincidence."

Kiba's lips thinned to lines, but found evidence to the contrary scarce. "I disapprove. Heavily."

"Complaint logged, mon capitain. You're still coming with us though."

"Cheers!"

Three boys laughed and struck bottles together, as Kiba looked on with heavy distaste masking his features.

His lips continued to purse into chalk lines as they began swilling the drinks eagerly. "This is illegal."

Issei shot him an injured glance. "It's beer man. We didn't even get any sake because you com-" Matsuda's elbow struck him deeply in the chest. "-because it's too much alcohol for us children. Aren't we thoughtful?"

"Very." Motohama agreed solemnly. "I would never even consider it, personally." He ignored Kiba's accusing glance, instead offering him a generous measure with his other hand. Kiba refused distantly, seated atop a moral high horse so towering he was leaving his seat already.

Issei yanked him back down, and cleared his throat. "Alright boys. So, we've had a busy few days-"

Motohama nursed his aching hands absently.

"-and some close calls-"

Matsuda rubbed his back where the imprint of Issei's knee had left a lovely bruise.

"- and some weird-ass trauma."

Kiba clapped politely.

"So, to 15 years - well wasted!"

They toasted solemnly, taking long, deep swigs - before loudly retching and spitting it back up violently.

The drink fountained out of his mouth as Matsuda howled in disgust, violently spitting back into the bottle.

"It's so gross!"

Kiba, unruffled, wiped at his face while looking interested at this. "You've never drank?"

"How could we?!" garbled Matsuda. "Even my blind grandpa can tell I'm in highschool, man!"

"Then ho-" Kiba paused, narrowing his eyes.

A chill ran up Issei's spine, and he shot Motohama a warning look.

"How old would you say I look, Matsuda-kun."

The boys started sweating hard, aware that Kiba was onto them. " 17...?" Matsuda tried weakly.

"If I went out there," Kiba said sweetly. "And I asked that nice store owner what she thought, you think she'd think the same?"

"Well, you know how it is." Motohama said, interrupting. "Western faces man, who can even tell. She looked old. And blind. Why bother her."

"She took my credit card just fine." Kiba popped a knuckle thoughtlessly.

Issei stood up. "Damn I'm beat." He announced, and loudly yawned. "I think Imma - whoa."

Kiba seized him and yanked him back into his seat, before jabbing at the three of them. "You did plan this." He hissed, leaning over the table and whispering heavily. Issei shot the other two a discrete signal from his side. "How dare you use me as an excus-"

Matsuda jabbed him in the eyes. Kiba, startled, opened his mouth to yell, until Motohama jammed a bottle in and tilted up.

Glug glug glug said Kiba, sounding more agreeable by the second.

"Well said, man."

Kiba yawned, head lolled back and dozing. He rested his scuffed knuckles on the table, and Issei flinched away from them. He'd never seen a guy move that fast before, and he had no intention of ever doing so again. He slightly scooted away from the blonde boy, now fully away of how quickly he could move over the table.

"Probably should've mentioned you were a lightweight," Issei said, injured. "Y'know, instead of playing the cool hero card. Right boys?"

The 'boys' snored a little. The shaved one dribbled a bit onto the table, the bruised half of his face open to the air and turning a lovely purple.

"Damn right." Issei agreed, rubbing his gut. "That is shameful."

Kiba yawned a little harder, patting the wood floor and finding it pleasant to lie down on. He curled up a little, eyes flickering between open and shut in that way that made it impossible to tell. "Tomorrow's annoying enough..." he mumbled. "...just want it over with..."

Issei belched loudly, slightly beyond caring. "Man, you're so damn secretive, it's not cool at all, y'know?"

"Yes it is." Kiba muttered.

He jumped a little. "So you do think it's cool." Issei turned and raised a brow. "I don't know if that's dedicated or just really sad." He paused. "It is kinda cool though." He admitted.

Kiba groaned in agreement, then groaned a little harder, curling up and slowly sitting. "Let's go elsewhere." He said slowly, the edge of every other word slurring a hair. He slowly worked himself up to his feet, swaying a little. "I'll grab Matsuda-kun."

"Whyyy?" Issei asked, fighting the temptation to lie down himself.

"Because." Kiba said. "I didn't bring enough to cover any cleaning fees, Ise-kun. I'd rather relax somewhere with a lower at-risk fee."

Issei scrambled up to his feet as quickly as he dared, pausing only to seize one of his friends by the waist, as Motohama's head rolled dangerously close to Issei. He burped a little, and Issei gave serious thought to dropping him and letting the police sober him up behind bars.

"Damn." Issei grumbled. Kiba moved quickly past, comfortably carrying Matsuda by his collar. Devil-strength sure seemed convenient. Issei grudgingly hefted Motohama's deadweight, and slowly made his way out of the restaurant, where a relieved matron pushed past him to inspect the room before they could get away. It took a bit to pass inspection, but eventually she let them go.

Kiba waited as Issei continued to shlep, already standing on the street corner and crossing. Motohama continued to flop inconveniently as Issei tried to catch up, nearly falling until Kiba slowed down and seized Motohama with his free hand, wrapping it about his neck and holding his head still.

Together, they made their way slowly down the street, swaying slightly as Kiba appeared to be the only one capable of walking steadily; the only point of contention happened when they hung a left and Motohama barely missed Issei's flats and vomited into a mailbox.

They moved faster after that.

The park was empty, this time of night, and Issei felt his shoulders relax as they rounded the walking trail and a familiar fountain greeted them. Motohama and Matsuda's twitching bodies were left on the grass as Issei, relieved, ran up onto the fountain.

He immediately slipped on the slick concrete. Taking a moment to slowly climb off, he steadied himself and pointedly ignored Kiba who was balancing on one foot atop the fountain ring. Instead, he began to walk a slow circuit around it, taking deep breaths and feeling himself slowly sober in the moonlight. He was still a little drunk, but the cloudy feeling that had come over him jogged old memories - and his mouth was open before he thought twice.

"Hey man, you ever fallen in love?" He said suddenly. Kiba, startled, turned to look at him, hopping slightly off the rim of the fountain to sit on it.

"No." Kiba said, wincing as his pants promptly soaked through. "I haven't - I've had other things on my mind."

"I have." Issei pointed at where he was standing. "Riiight here, I think? Fell in love with some girl, I think at first sight, it's crazy." He paused. "Maybe not that crazy compared to other stuff, but I can't stop thinking about her? I'm not sure why, considering I can barely remember it, and all I did was help..." black hair black eyes a smile that warmed him to the tips of his toes "...help her with groceries." He turned and looked around the park. "But I keep back to it, like, it's weird man!" Issei punched the air. "And she isn't even, like, a good person! She's some weird cultist! Hot though..."

"Lots of things happen for reasons we don't understand." Kiba said muzzily. His eyes were drifting, unfocused, but he seemed to be making an attempt. "Though, really, it's quite childish to grow nostalgic over a matter of a few months, when you fell in love...so quickly."

Issei reddened. "Dude!" He cried. "Come on! All kinds of weird shit happened, like...ghosts and shit. That's weird! Falling in love is much more normal!"

"How embarrassing." Kiba said drolly. "Though are you really surprised? You don't exactly have good taste, Ise-kun, and the fact that your infamy didn't precede you is already something to be celebrated."

"Man, fuck you." Issei rolled his eyes. "What the hell do you know about it."

"I've gotten at least six wishes to drown you in the Pacific, and two more to secret you to Mount Fuji and leave you there." Kiba began ticking off his fingers. "Only three of which can be attributed to the same person." He waggled a leftover finger. "Frankly, it's a miracle good sense won at all."

Issei suddenly found himself rabidly, morbidly curious. "You get a lotta wishes like that?"

Kiba stood up, brushing himself off and only swaying a little. "Oh all the time." He said. Issei got the sudden feeling that Kiba may have been drunker than he let on, if his carefree attitude was anything to go by. His 'cool-guy' guise was entirely done away with, beyond his favorite mask.

"Typically, I answer all sorts of calls." Kiba continued, pausing for a moment as his brows furrowed powerfully. He seemed to shake it off after a moment. "The people that summon me, they trade something for something else stupid. Like a picture, or my phone number, or help beating Vergil in MVC3."

"And the murder bounties?"

Kiba snorted. "Of course not. Ria-ah-my master doesn't make that kind of contract. It's filtered out." He brushed off his shirt again, this time almost absently, before freezing. "I'm also - not interested in that sort of thing, of course." He cleared his throat hastily. "I, for one, cannot abide murder."

Issei rolled his eyes. "Do you know anyone that does?"

Kiba nodded gravely, before immediately twisting into a shake. "Of course not. That would be strange, no?"

"Eh." Issei stretched his hands over his head, humming a little as he felt the strain, before slumping back down and smacking his lips. "I think I do, though."

Kiba's eyes shunk to pinpoints, but he cleared his throat. "Wha-ah, who? Do you mean?"

"Oh, that girl I was telling you about." Issei said lazily. "I mean, I doubt they actually killed anyone," He said hastily, "but like, there are some weird-ass cultists in town, right now. Maybe they're like gravediggers or something?" The night had already faded in his memory, details softening about the edges and falling apart in the middle. "They seemed weird, those priests."

Kiba groaned, rubbing his head. "Ise-kun." He said. "Please avoid those people. They are...indeed, very strange. Actually, please avoid leaving your home at night at all."

Issei turned to him, rather startled. "Dude, are you joking?" Kiba shook his head, to which Issei threw up his hands. "Yeah, sure man. I'm gonna avoid having fun past sundown, cause some people are weird." He rolled his eyes. "You know the sun goes down at like 6, right? Like hell I'm going home."

Kiba looked lost. "But...it's dangerous. Very dangerous."

Issei pounced. "Then help me get stronger."

Kiba paused. "What?"

"Help me get stronger." Issei repeated, growing more firm in the desire. It wasn't about the workout - not really. A few weeks of training wasn't going to accomplish anything.

He wanted confidence. He wanted to walk around like Kiba. He didn't want to be scared of asking someone out, or walking down the street, anymore. He didn't want to be scared of his crush's spooky cult friends tagging him with a shovel in a dark alleyway, cause they were, like, jealous or something.

"No."

"What?!"

"I won't do it." Kiba said, and in this he was absolutely firm. He'd sobered in an instant, for an instant, and in that Issei felt his will was unshakeable.

Issei bit his lip. "Why?" He was bewildered, why would that of all things be something Kiba was firm about. "Like, you said it was dangerous, right? But you're a devil, surely you know a good way for me to get stronger right? Like, a cultivation manual or something?"

Kiba hesitated. "You're not capable." He demurred. It was a bullshit answer, and they both knew it. "There's no point, and you'd fall off."

"So it has nothing to do with whether or not it's possible." Issei scratched the back of his head. "It's because I'm not talented."

"Yes."

"You didn't even check. You didn't even let me try. Let me meet your devil friends and get tested or something."

"Absolutely not." His eyes flashed a deep red. "It's a terrible idea, and I don't wish to do it. That's final."

Issei ground his teeth. "Yeah? I'm no good then? You're a pretty shitty wish-granter, aren't you?"

Kiba didn't meet his eyes.

"Luckily, I do have a wish for you to grant. Punch yourself in the face bastard, even you can do that"

For a split-second, Issei saw the world as Kiba must; everything slowed down, and he watched in slow motion as Kiba cocked back his fist and clenched it so hard the knuckles went white.

Then all he saw was a blur and a starburst of pain.

Kiba, refreshing grin plastered on and faker than ever, followed through, driving it through Issei's face so hard his head rocked back and he reeled. The crunch was loud and Issei felt the bridge of his nose split, the hot wash making his teeth ache as he stumbled backwards.

He swore loudly, clapping his hands to his face, the ache making him grit his teeth.

"I think." Kiba said, and the edge of his lips curled. "You don't really understand what you asked for. 'Getting stronger', who are you planning to attack to prove it? What time are you planning to spend? When will you grow content?" Kiba's eyes cracked wider for a second, and there was something unfathomable in them. "Rather, if you really want to get stronger, you might as well get used to this." His knuckles seemed to creak ominously. "Rather than valuing what you have, 'get stronger'?I'm not sure you realize what you're asking of a devil."

Issei worked out his jaw, and suddenly realized that he may have kicked the golden goose one too many times. He struck an epiphany right then; Kiba's entirely unjustified and petty anger was probably borne of his small-minded hyperfocus on perceived slight. Thus, revenge was no good, because as soon as Issei pointed out how much he deserved it, he would inevitably gnash his teeth and stomp his feet and rationalize taking his own revenge. Mankind existed on a cycle of loss and gain, and the only way to break out was to abandon the necessity of conflict.

"Did you change your mind?"

"Ah, I came to an epiphany just now. Instead, please jump off a building."

"Sure thing Master." Quicker than a cobra, Kiba's hand snaked out and seized Issei's collar. "Shall we go?"

Issei's breath cut, and he felt his windpipe constrict as his collar closed around it. Vertigo seized him, feet going cold as he rapidly ascended, Kiba having effortlessly leapt to the top of the fountain with Issei in his grasp.

He choked, feeling his feet dangle and kick uselessly into the open air, the ground small below him as his collar dug into his neck. Kiba held it up, and he felt the cloth of his shirt briefly give before a powerful hand seized him about the neck.

"Ah, revenge is no good Kiba-san." He wheezed softly, extremely aware of the precarious height and how, despite his sure footing, Kiba continued to sway slightly, inebriation taking the boy to unseen heights of irrationality. "Mankind exists on a cycl-" He cut off as the violent itch where Kiba had seized him increased sharply. Almost reflexively, his body went limp.

"I understand Ise-kun." He felt, more than saw, Kiba's placid smile and dead-eyed look. "Thus, in order for us to come to an understanding and truly open our hearts, shall we jump from this together right now? Certainly, it's no building, but it will do."

"That'll probably kill me, won't it?"

"This too is a form of understanding Ise-san. For example, I will truly come to understand and appreciate the fragility of the mortal form. This will be a truly enlightening step, one sure to bring our two races closer together when I share it with the rest."

Issei desperately kicked his legs in the air, feeling himself slowly sliding out of his shirt. "Ah, Kiba-san, I'm glad to be the deliverer of such revolutionary news, but killing the messenger is in poor form, you know. We call this a diplomatic incident, you know."

"Ah, ever the martyr Ise-san. Alas, how else am I to carry out my duties? I need to stay by my master's side until the wish is granted. Truly, I regret that this is a necessity, but your sacrifice will be a noble one."

"What a wonderful idea. Why don't we both take a step back and discuss martyrdom as a means of furthering a cause."

"Frankly, I'd rather take steps to it right now Ise-san."

"Can those steps not be towards the edge?"

"Ara? Weren't you the one that asked for this? I'm only performing my duty as a loyal knight you know."

And then it was naught but the rushing rip of wind past his ears that caught his words, as Issei screamed at the approaching pavement.

Issei lay on the floor. His soul, tethered to his mortal form only by stubbornness and a powerful desire for women, threatened to mutiny, break its bonds and soar to the great hereafter.

"Please have mercy devil-san, you can jump off whatever building you want at your own leisure." Issei tried weakly.

Kiba sat beside his head, on the railing of the fountain once more. His head, balanced in one hand, rolled side-to-side thoughtfully. His head was nodding, sliding onto his chest until it jerked back up with an asymmetrical blink.

The night was growing brisk, the streetlamps lighting up as Issei felt himself dangerously sober. Kiba seemed to also be sobering slightly, if the dawning look of regret and shame was at all familiar.

It didn't really stick, however, as his eyes were drawn to the same building he'd been reflexively looking at for the past few days.

The church building, high up on the hill, was visible from the park. Issei kept watching the church on the hill, lit up with shadows moving in the windows. Had anything changed since then? Since before then?

Had he really ever made a choice at all? Ghost hunting was great for karma, and the promise of angel tits could make a saint of even him. But, he had some time to go before then, and...

"What now?" He asked dazedly. He laid his head back down on the cold sidewalk, and yawned heavily.

Kiba sat up, swaying side to side, something impulsive about the action. "Do you really want to be stronger?" Kiba asked, "Really?"

Issei blinked, and turned to him. Kiba looked more resolved than before. "What happened to 'you're not allowed to get stronger'? Yeah, I do."

Kiba rolled his head thoughtfully. "I won't help you." He repeated slowly. "...but I can help you find a way to defend yourself. Only defend yourself. And you'll need to promise to avoid fights and walking about the city at night."

What was this nonsense? He wasn't going to complain though; whatever mental hoops Kiba had jumped, it resulted in effectively the same thing.

"I promise." He must've been drunk, Issei realized, because he was being rather stupidly honest today. "But like, they are the same thing yanno. I promise anyway."

"This and that are separate things." Kiba said firmly. "Rather, defending yourself is only good sense. I will be busy tomorro-"

"I'm joining you."

"-afte-what?" Kiba looked at Issei strangely. "I-no."

"Why wait?" Issei asked, narrowing his eyes. "What if something happens tomorrow? Shouldn't I be prepared for what's happening? Besides, you said something was happening, and I wanna know what. I promised not to stay out, and I'll warn the boys too, but you gotta tell me why."

Kiba began gnawing gently at his lips, obviously conflicted. Issei kept staring at him, dead in the face, until a bead of sweat slowly rolled down his face, and he gave up.

"Very well." He sighed. "Tomorrow morning, 6. You will not be involved, but I'll see if Kone-I can find a way to help you. What's happening tomorrow - it's private, but there are things you could stand to know."

"Alright." Issei said. "See you tomorrow then." He waited until Kiba turned away to celebrate a little.

Kiba ignored him, instead shaking out his cuff to look at a watch - and then standing bolt upright. "It's past bedtime." He said. He turned to Issei slightly, eyes narrowed. "I trust you can stay out of trouble?"

Issei looked at him like a deer in headlights, pausing a moment, before shrugging very slowly.

Kiba sighed and started walking away.

"Tomorrow." He called back.

Issei slightly raised his head, watching him walk away, before turning it to look at Motohama and Matsuda's fallen bodies by the side of the street. When he turned, Kiba was almost to the corner, moving deceptively fast.

"Oh my god, he really did just have to go home." Motohama muttered, fluttering his shut eyes open. "What a nerd."

Matsuda jerked a bit in his sleep, and snored deeper.

Issei shrugged, and laid his head back down, already feeling his eyes draw shut. They slept there on the street, like babies, confident tomorrow would bring answers.

Issei blinked as Kiba rounded the corner, looking as immaculate as ever. "You're like, 10 minutes late." He said in disbelief. "I don't think I've ever seen you late to anything in my life." He paused, lips twitching into a grin. "Are you hungo-"

"Shall we go?" Kiba said, and he may have been smiling but the look in his eyes was glacial.

Issei spun himself around, and began walking off. Man, Kiba wasn't even the one the cops found sleeping in the park, how come he got flak for it?!

He yawned and rolled his neck. He was actually less sore than he expected, though the emotional piledriving his mom laid on him still smarted.

"So where to?" Issei asked lazily.

"The school." Kiba replied. "Are Matsuda-san and Motohama-san not coming along?"

"Those guys? Nah man, they're way hungover. Moto-chin said he'd be at the game center later though, I'll give him the rundown after."

They made their way down the street. Kuoh looked different, this early in the morning. Mist still hung low over the streets, and without the sun fully up, the shadows the old school building cast left the main building looking somewhat dour. The gate was shut, though as Kiba tugged on it, evidently unlocked.

"Early morning clubs." He explained, as though it weren't obvious. Issei rolled his eyes discreetly and followed through, to where he was crossing the lawn and heading to the old building. Issei jogged a bit to catch up, slowing him down by clapping a hand on his shoulder and dragging him back. Kiba grunted, briefly windmilling his arms as Issei nearly pulled him off balance, before spinning around. "What?" He asked, slightly annoyed.

"Where the hell are we going?" Issei asked cluelessly.

Kiba deflated. "We're going past the old school building to get something. We need to hurry."

"Why?"

Kiba looked bothered by the question. "A guest." He said shortly. "A guest I'd rather not be around. If we hurry, we can miss it."

"But we're go-dude," Issei thumped Kiba on the shoulder. "Clarity man, the hell? You could say that, I'm not dressed to impress. What if they show up?"

Kiba paused, hesitating, before something lit up behind his eyes. "It's a man."

"Oh." Issei sagged. "Alright then."

Kiba muttered something under his breath, turning his head slightly away, before turning back to Issei with a visibly resigned look. "I'm in the occult research club, but I was given a leave of responsibilities following..." He hesitated, "Some personal events concerning the club president. It's why I had so much free time."

'to hang out', Kiba probably meant to imply.

"Aaaand, now you have to get back to it?" Issei guessed. Kiba looked deeply uncomfortable. "In a manner of speaking." He said reluctantly. "...it doesn't matter - neither of us will need to be around. Let's move quickly."

He turned abruptly, continuing to march solemnly across the field. Issei, meanwhile, followed him while digesting what he said. If Kiba was so genuinely nervous, it was probably why he was acting so oddly the previous day.

So who was this guy?

Issei trailed along, growing more curious, as they crossed the new building and into the large area between it and the old building. The ground grew more cracked, less maintained as they continued, not in any obvious disrepair, but certainly less cared for. The old building was made in an older time, and the materials used left the structure groaning in the wind. In this mist, it appeared to almost vanish at times, the uppermost parts almost entirely swathed. They crossed through, and despite himself Issei fell utterly silent, the looming mass weighing on him so early in the morning. No one else was around, no sound existed to break the atmosphere.

However, they didn't stop. Kiba continued to lead him, slim back vanishing into shadow on occasion as he took turns and movements Issei wasn't prepared for.

Eventually, they came to the other side, and Kiba led him into a slim alleyway running the length of the two buildings, concealed between several pillars and large trees.

A door lay at the end of the corridor, made of a dark brown wood that gleamed even in the thin light, it looked rather expensive for the rough cement it was fitted in.

Kiba moved towards this door, then stopped.

His body stiffened, and at his sides, his hands suddenly tightened to fists. He slowly moved backward, turning away to walk towards a plant potted into a rotunda in the ground, and stopped.

Issei stopped behind him, still curious and only growing more so, until he noticed the leaves were gently rustling.

Kiba sighed.

"Please come out." He said, polite, yet somehow strained.

The plant failed to respond, though the rustling ceased.

"S-"

Kiba sighed again, turning away and trying to hide the noise.

"Sir Phenex." He said lowly. "Please cooperate. Or I'll have to tell Buchou."

A head popped out, blonde, square-jawed and smooth, irritatingly handsome and twisted into an expression of mixed fear and disgust.

"You wouldn't dare."

The nemophilist appeared aggravated, for a head. It bounced a little, huddling a little deeper into the plant.

"Why is there a head in the bushes?" Issei asked.

"Where else would I be?" The head seemed truly puzzled by this. "There is a non-zero chance of me going anywhere near that goddamn building while Sirzechs is in breathing distance." The head turned to him. "By the way, who the fuck are you?"

"Sir Phenex." Kiba said, truly aggravated. "Please leave the floral arrangements, Lady Sona will throw a fit and then Lady Leviathan will almost certainly become involved."

Issei's head spun as name after name was reeled off, but was somehow still shocked that the head turned out to have a body after all, rising itself from a deceptively slim-profiled crouch into the broad stance of a man with little experience with self-consciousness.

Also, he was nude.

"Can't make a turn in this shithole without someone calling down the wrath of Satan on my head." Complained the naturist. He seemed to take a grand self-pity on his existence. "Cor, what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"Perhaps, if you are going to be so early, a call would be in order." Kiba's lips thinned. "Please consider informing anyone."

Riser crossed his arms, towering over Kiba. "Hell no. Riser Phenex goes only where the girls lead and his heart wanders."

"What is happening."

Kiba looked strained, as he turned to Issei. "I'm very sorry, Ise-kun." He said. "But I failed to take into account his nature before I decided-" He cleared his throat. "This, is Riser Phenex." He waved a hand as the man struck a pose, almost reflexively. "My boss's wi-husband."

"And a devil." Issei said.

"And a devil." Kiba agreed.

"Why is he naked?" Issei asked.

"My harem burnt my wardrobe." Riser replied, and Issei stifled his mental screaming. "I think they may have been mad that the marriage actually went through."

"Did they." Issei said weakly, feeling rather punch-drunk.

"I also welched on a promise." Riser laughed. "I had to bribe them for the show. The show, yanno. But I had my allowance confiscated so I'm super broke right now."

Issei blinked. "Show."

Riser thought about it, then started snapping his fingers in realization. "Right. Right! You weren't there. Whoops." He playfully smacked his head. "Men just blend together, yanno. God I hate this world."

"You're from another world?" Issei perked up, latching onto something he understood. "Like, actually another world? Like, hell? There's a hell?"

"Yep." Riser cracked his neck. "Well, actually I've a newfound appreciation for this place - it's nearly as bad. Sirszechs - that is, Lord Satan - keeps a watchful eye on me in the demon world." He shuddered a bit. "Says 'the day I touch his little sister is the day they render me down'. So I went wandering and hey - human world's not so bad now, as it turns out!" He raised his head and took a deep appreciative sniff. "Yeah, not bad. You hear the Amazon's burning down? Good stuff. It's not bad, not bad at all. Lots of smoke and ash in the air." He began taking long, deep breaths. "Lots of heat and burning and radiation too, to the West. My, this world is certainly becoming the kind of place I like."

Issei nodded mutely, and turned to Kiba. "Can I leave?"

Kiba raised a limp hand. "Well," He said weakly. "I'm not sure that's possible anymore."

Issei looked at blankly.

Riser stood, unfortunately proudly, and rolled his neck. "Damn right, it's Riser time now, and as lesser devils you lot aught to serve me. If you leave, I'll kill you." He turned to Kiba. "Though, question. You got mouthier after I kicked your ass." Riser frowned heavily. "What gives?"

Kiba looked at him. "Watching Sir Lucifer reduce you to ashes seven times until you cried for mercy may have had something to do with it." He said flatly. "As was his promise of violence should you raise a single hand against us."

Riser wilted. "Damn."

"That just happens, huh?" Issei said.

"Yeah." Riser said morosely. "Sometimes." He sniffed once, twice into the air, before standing bolt upright. "Aw shit, you're human." His nose wrinkled. "Gross. Hey knight, kill it or something."

Kiba's fingers were twitching to his hip, and if his smile were any shallower it might simply float off his face entirely.

Issei just wanted to go home. Fuck this school.