Chapter 6, let's go! This one was a bugger to write, at least the ending part. But I think I managed to make it alright. Also, I think the length is pretty good. It seems easier to surpass the 4k mark these days, back in 2020, it at times seemed impossible. Anyway, let's skip to guest reviews!

Guest
Thank you! I will try my best!

Leywin
Here's a sick bag, if you need one.

Nice
Thank you, you really live up to your name!

I OWN NOTHING! I'M BUT A HOBO THAT SNEAKS INTO THE LIBRARY AND WAISTS TIME WRITING THIS INSTEAD OF WATCHING PORN!

"Hello there." - regular talking
"I am with you, partner." - sacred gears talking
"I can win I feel great!" - inner thoughts

This chapter was beta read by MightyMackinac! Any MHA fans here should read his story Capacitance! Thank you for your awesome work!

Azazel needed a drink. Badly. Vail, while 19, still hadn't quite gotten out of that rebellious phase, so he spent some time with him, trying to understand the frustrated youth. Then the big news came, that Sekiryuutei was, in fact, not dead, as was assumed by many, and was participating in an unofficial Rating Game.

Both he and Vail watched the replay with rapt attention, trying to discern the capabilities of the gear, and the wielder, each for their own reason. Once that was done, Vali up and vanished, while Azazel was busy dealing with the fallout. Still, it helped reveal just how many of the Grigori were loyal to Kokabiel. It was less than he anticipated, but also, the warmonger himself was nowhere to be seen.

After he felt he did all he could, and could leave the rest in the capable hands of anyone else, he teleported to his home away from home, Happy Dragon. Only to find the place close, and Sirzechs and Sera patiently waiting across the street, hidden from mortal sight. Azazel did the same, before approaching.

"Yo, Zechs, Sera. You guys must have quite a shit show on your side of the fence. Did ol' Tannin blow anything up yet?"

"Azazel. Why are you here?"

"Same reason as you. To get a drink." Sirzechs chuckled, and Serafall shook her head.

"Sadly, we're not here on our downtime. We are here, officially as Satans." That put the Governor on edge.

"How so? Should I call one of my co-leaders?"

"No need for that. We just need to talk to Issei."

"Oi oi! We agreed no one takes him! If you're here to make him a devil, I have the right to give him a counteroffer!"

"We're not here to reincarnate him. We're here because he has some critical information." Azazel was confused.

"What information?"

"My sister had a rating game today."

"What's that got to do with- Oh. You think Issei saw the Sekiryuutei?"

"Not see as much as had contact with. We've been played, Zaz. Issei knows about the supernatural. When I went to vent about Rias' marriage, he revealed he knew who I was. He called me Lucifer. He then gave me a way to contact a powerful fighter that would fight for Rias, for free."

"And that fighter was the Emperor. Got it." Silence fell upon the trio, as they silently waited for their friend to show up and open his establishment. The regular opening time passed, but nothing happened.

Suddenly another teleportation circle opened up, and Venelana stepped through. She gave one look to the bar, before turning swiftly, and marching straight across to the three leaders.

"Let's go!" she snapped at them.

"Go where?" asked Azzael, the only one brave enough to question the Flaxen-haired Madame of Extinction.

"To Issei's house."

"Great idea!" Sera jumped while twirling her staff. But then she stopped.

"Where does he live exactly?"

"I have the address with me, I had to pick it up at the town hall."

"Some friends we are, not even knowing where the guy lives." Azael said it as a jest, but he did honestly feel quite bad. He really liked Issei (and his bar). He should work on being a better friend.

They each flew across town and landed at an unassuming family home that appeared to be empty.

"Are we sure he's even in there?"

"No. But we will still look."

They found nothing. It was a normal family home. Two bedrooms, one bathroom. Some pictures were around the simple living room, mostly of Issei as a young boy, with whom they presumed were his parents. Sera discreetly made copies, before they moved on.

In the fridge, some long-shelf-life food, something you could make a quick meal out of if needed. Otherwise, the kitchen was spotless, like it was cleaned this morning. The upstairs bathroom had some male shampoo, the brand Sera recognized as Issei's, but no toothbrushes, or other toiletries.

Bedrooms were both empty, the mattresses laying bare on the frames. Closets were empty, except for winter clothing, and it was obvious that while the house was still in use, it wasn't lived in for a while. They considered moving on when Azael finally found something interesting outback.

A vehicle laid beneath the tarp, tied with a rope, and locked with a lock. No problem for the devils and the Fallen. And once it was uncovered, both Sirzechs and Azazel felt something move inside of them.

"Damn, if that isn't the finest crotch rocket I've ever seen."

"You said it, Zechs."

"How fast do you think it goes?"

"No idea. I never heard of this maker. Might even be custom."

"You think Issei would let me borrow it?"

"Maybe. If we both ask together, we can-"

Suddenly both men got smacked upside the head by Venelana.

"We're not here for the bike, we're here for Issei!" Serafall nodded along, though she also imagined her and Issei driving off, he, clad in a leather jacket, wind sweeping through his hair, and her, clinging tight, pressing her brea- No! Bad Sera!

"Well, I don't know what to tell you, but Issei ain't here. Hasn't even slept here. My guess is he parks his bike here to go to work, and has some essentials if he needs to eat, or get a quick wash. I'm guessing he lives somewhere else, not close, to need a mode of transport."

Azazel began pacing across the yard, thinking, while the three devils quietly discussed things. But the solution appeared, quite out of nowhere.

"Yo, Zaz!"

The Fallen looked for the one who called him and found one of his drinking buddies staring across the fence.

"Yo, Haruto! Whatcha doing here?"

"I live here. Was planning to go to the bar after work, but it's closed."

"Yea, we noticed. Do you know where Issei is?"

"Well, if the bike is here, my guess would be inside the house, eating something unhealthy. My wife sometimes brings him something homecooked, so he doesn't have to live from the cans and crackers."

"We rang a couple of times, but no one answered. The lights are all out as well," explained Venelana, dragging the attention to her. Just seeing her made the poor man all flush, and he silently thanked the gods his wife wasn't around.

"Then I'd say he went to his house, out in da forest. He comes here almost every day to collect the mail. Honestly, he didn't even live here for a long while, ever since he got accepted in some kind of advanced program in Kyoto. But his parents signed the house on him when they moved, for taxes, you know?" he gave them all a conspiratory wink, which Azazel returned.

"So he lives in the woods by himself?"

"Yup. He likes peace and quiet. Honestly though, any time that boy disappears for longer than a year, he returns a changed man." Leaders exchanged looks before Venelana sauntered closer.

"Could you elaborate, good man?"

"W-well, he was always a rambunctious kid. He and Georgie were always out and about, stirring up trouble. All while poor Irina chased after them, pretending to be a boy. It gave the whole neighborhood a good laugh."

"When he was about 8, he suddenly became a bit more withdrawn. Strange men were lurking about these parts, some coming as often as every other week, for two whole years. Issei was still the sunshine child though, and he made his parents so proud. When he was 10 though, something changed, and overnight he moved to Kyoto. He came to visit, he still played with Irina, but there was some bad blood between Georgie and him now. They only played together when Irina was around. It hurt the little guy that his friend rejected him. Not for long though, since the Shidos moved away soon after. After that, Issie didn't come home again until 4 years ago, to open up his bar. Still, he didn't live in the house, he went and built himself a new one."

The leaders wanted to press more, but Haruto got called inside by his wife. They decided to split up, and throw up some monitoring spells. After Zaz and Sera, both went on their way, Zechs and Venelana headed towards the academy, and inside the ORC club room.

Rias sat pensively in her room, clad in a towel that strained against her voluptuous bosom, and again against her generous hips. Her dress from the party laid forgotten in the corner. After her mother rushed out, there really was no more enjoyment to be had, so she excused herself, together with her peerage.

All were reeling from the events of the day, getting help from such a legendary figure, THE Sekiryuutei. But none of her lovely servants knew the complete truth. Against her better judgment, she had not spoken to Akeno, her Queen and closest confidant, about what troubled her so.

To think Sekiryuutei set a town, full of escapees, on fire. To imagine such an evil person could exist. And Mr. Hyoudou, a friend of her mother, someone they thought was a regular human, knew such a person. Hyoudou was so kind, always ready to give advice on schoolwork, giving an extra treat to Koneko, or not so subtly dropping hints to Kiba that Tsubaki would like a date with him. Then again, she always had THAT feeling with Mr. Hyoudou. The feeling that told her to wander off the beaten road in Transylvania. The feeling that told her that this was not just a regular orphan dying in the woods in front of her. The feeling that spoke to her the moment she saw a pair of scared purple eyes in the bushes. Maybe-

She was jutted out of her thoughts by a knock on her bedroom door.

"Rias, dear, are you decent?"

"I'm a devil, kaa-san. So, no."

"Very funny. Your brother is here as well."

That had Rias worried. Both mother AND brother are here at the same time? She put on her bathrobe, that while reaching to her knees, still did not hide her alluring figure, or conceal and of her bountiful cleavage. She then went and opened the door, letting the two devils inside.

"So, what's with the surprise visit? Did Mr. Hyoudou tell where the Sekiryuutei is?"

"Issei did not open the bar today. We tried looking up at his registered address, but he wasn't there either."

"We suspect he might have another lodging in the woods. I want your peerage to scout, but be very careful! Issei Hyoudou pretended to be ignorant of the supernatural, which means he either figured it out on his own, or he has connections powerful enough to erase all his traces. Either way, he's a rogue element, and dangerous."

While Sirzechs spoke, Venelana grabbed a brush from the vanity, and sat herself down on the bed, gently brushing her daughter's crimson hair. Rias knew from the past, her mother did that whenever she was worried for her, or unsure.

She promised her brother that they'll be careful. She also imagined Sona was getting the same talk from Leviathan right about now. But as mother and brother got up, she called out to them.

"Okaa-san, I thin..."

"Yes, dear?"

Rias hesitated. The thought itself was ludicrous. And she knew her mother cherished her friendship with Issei.

"...It's nothing. Thank you for brushing my hair." Venelana smiled sweetly.

"Of course my darling. Just remember. We're here for you."

As the two devils exited the bedroom and teleported back to the Underworld, Rias shed the bathrobe and the towel, before, naked as the day she was born, wrapping herself in the silky sheets of her bed. And before she drifted off to dreamland, she scoffed to herself, for even thinking something so ridiculous.

"There's no way Mr. Hyoudou is the Dragon Emperor. Right?"

Kyoto was in an uproar. And Son Wukong was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Sekiryuutei has resurfaced! We must send out a search party immediately, and offer him shelter!"

"Insanity! We must hunt him down and bring him to Takamagahara, as per Lord Suasnoo's orders!"

"How dare you! Have you forgotten what he did for us in the years past?!"

"That was all Inari-sama's work! He just provided the muscles, and in the end, cost us everything we had gained!"

"ENOUGH!"

The arguing Yonkai froze at the sight of their leader, bathed in golden flames. Even Wukong, who could not see had to admit, this was some impressive power. Yaska had not allowed the years to turn her soft.

"We shall do nothing! Devils staked the first claim for retribution, unjust as it may be. And Susanoo's orders apply only if he seeks us out first! None of you are to leave Kyoto to seek him out. Understood?"

No one dared to object. They all bowed their heads and did not stop until the majestic Kyuubi left the council room, followed by no one except for the Monkey King.

"Mighty impressive."

"Thank you, Victorious Fighting Buddha."

"Oh, are we using lofty titles from days long forgotten, Red Dragon's Treasure?"

She froze when he called her that. Her mind briefly flashed to the past. To happier days. But she forcefully brought it back to reality.

"Remember that one, Yasaka? You hated it when anyone called you that. But you never denied it. And I think you know pretty well what's in Inari's will. So, I ask you this. Why do you avoid him so? Why are you keeping him away?"

She kept walking. He knew when someone tried to run away. So he decided to switch the approach.

"A rhetorical question, if you will. Anyone can tell you wouldn't want a coward like him around Kunou."

He had to swiftly swat away the scorching ball of fox-fire, lobbed his way by the shaking Kyuubi.

"NEVER! I will not let you call him a coward!"

"Why? He was more than happy to call himself one."

That stopped her dead in her tracks. But before he could press on, she spoke, with a sobbing voice.

"Leave. If you're here to cause me grief, just… Please leave".

Against his better judgment, he did leave. Flying away on his cloud, he could not help himself to gaze down on her one last time, seeing her kneeling in the gardens, clutching at the grass. He could imagine her being, filled with anguish. But not shedding a single tear.

In the dark shadows sat a figure, upon a fine recliner, fully immersed in the book it was holding. It wore a fine suit, yet its face was cast in the darkness, obscuring the visage. Attendants surrounded him, each ready to obey his every demand, whether it be healing salves or refreshing drinks.

A man entered quietly and waited till the figure decided to give him its attention, which is indicated by the slightest wave of the hand. A hand with bleeding knuckles, and long sharp fingernails.

"Lord Kobabiel. I apologize for disturbing your recovery time, but we stumbled upon some news which will surely interest you a great deal."

Seeing as now the identified Kokabiel said or did nothing, the subordinate continued.

"Our agents at HQ caught a live feed of a rating game between two Devils. And one of them had on their side Sekiryuu-."

The room was filled with power, making all the other Fallen involuntarily take a knee. A wave of malicious anger seeped from the Kadre, along with a lust for battle, potent enough it would make every Watcher fight till his or her last breath.

"It seems we will need to speed things up accordingly. Send word to our allies. I will steal the swords myself."

"But, my Lord, you're still recovering from your training! Surely someone else could-"

"No. I became complacent. It's the only reason that brat defeated me. But now our positions are reversed. While he ran and hid, I fought, I bled and I won. An army of priests will make for an exciting change of pace to mindless one-trick beasts."

Kokabiel stepped into the light. Bandages could be seen beneath his clothes and a fresh bruise on his right side. His left side however left much more of an impression.

Mainly because there was no left side of his face. His left eye was seared shut, and he refused to get a prosthetic. His ear was gone, all remaining a hole in the side of the skull, impairing his hearing, yet he refused any attempt to restore it. The scar continued down the side of his head, covered up by what few hairs he had remaining on that side. It made for a gruesome visage, yet he relished it every time he saw his reflection. It served as a reminder, to never become complacent again. And what he owed to the one who scared him so. He was gonna pay Sekiryuutei back. Every moment of pain. Every burn. Every scream.

The first thing Issei felt when he awakened was thirst. Next was hunger. The third one was pain. His muscles ached and itched in a way only Ki could make them. He felt it especially from his stomach to his arm. He vaguely remembered it was the arm he slashed the portal with.

"Good morning partner. You've seen better days."

"Morning, Ddraig. I guess I have."

He walked through the house, first gulping down four big glasses of water, and then stuffing whatever food he had in the fridge, not caring that some of it went bad. He was part dragon, he can take it.

He plugged his phone in to charge, before heading to the bathroom, where he relieved himself and scrubbed himself thoroughly.

When he got out a good hour later and turned on his phone, he was bombarded with the amount of missed calls, voice-mails, and various other notifications. He brewed himself some coffee before properly processing them all.

One was from his parents, worried he forgot to send them a daily email update for five days straight.

There were a few from his friend/patrons that were concerned he had fallen ill.

About a third were from Zaz and Sera. Even Grayfia was concerned.

And last was from Tsubaki. She sent three different messages, per day, for five days straight. One to ask about the daily schedule, another to tell him she was at the bar, and another 1 hour later, that she was going home. It made him feel bad. He really should have organized more before he jumped into the fight with the Phenex.

He began sorting through the messages, answering them all. Except for Tsubaki and Murayama. Those two were in school, so he decided to wait. Unsurprisingly, the first response came from Sera.

Issei, could we meet at the bar? It's urgent.

He sighed. It was inevitable, wasn't it? With seals gone, they'll know the moment he stepped into their range. He could just not go. He could run away to Kyoto right this very moment. But at the very least, he owed Sera, Zechs, and Zaz an explanation. He needed to give them at least that much, for the years of friendship, for birthday parties, and for deceiving them.

He would then close up the bar, sell the real estate, and start searching for a location in the ancient capital. He grew to love bartending too much to give up on the job entirely. So, in the unlikely event, he survives the move, and meeting Yas, he could open an establishment there.

"You're troubled, partner."

"I am. They… They won't take this well."

"What is it to you?"

"They're my friends, Ddraig. First ones I made since G- since the Shidou's. And after they learn who I am, It'll be the same as when I ran away. I will have nothing."

"Wrong. When you ran, you truly had nothing. Everything was taken from you. But this is not the same as it was back then. Now, you have a purpose. Will you allow some bats and a crow to keep you from fulfilling your mentor's dying wish?"

A small smile stretched over Issei's lips. His partner was right. He did have a purpose now. He will do what it takes, so Inari can finally rest in peace.

Azazel, Sirzechs, and Sera all waited at the bar, using a compulsion field that made any of the other patrons seek their liquid medicine somewhere else. None of them wasted time with idle chatter. They were not here to relax. This time they stood there in full capacity, as leaders of the biggest supernatural factions.

They all sensed him the second he set his foot on the street. The oppressing aura, the desire to dominate, and ghostly heat of Dragonfire washed over them. They shrugged it off no problem, each flaring a minuscule amount of their own power.

The steady power of the mighty glaciers, the cold that bit through skin and flesh, all the way to the bone. Power of Faith, permeating traces of YAHWEH, tainted, but still enough that the lesser devils would shy from it. And, the all-devouring Power of Destruction, refined to precision, and absolutely bent to its wielder.

Yet the Sekiryuutei did not halt his step for one bit, nor did he flare his presence. It made the leaders realize this was the unrestrained presence of a Dragon Emperor, steadily walking closer and closer.

They saw him. And they could not believe it. Towards them walked Issei Hyoudou, the Boosted Gear displayed plainly upon his left arm. His usually golden-brown eyes with a small tint of green, and the pupil narrower than normally, tough not quite reptilian.

Issei calmly walked past the leaders, and unlocked the door, before inviting them all in with a gesture of a hand. Once all were inside, he locked the doors again, before leading them to the VIP floor, and placing himself behind the bar.

The leaders each sat at their favored spots, and Azazel broke the tense silence.

"You fooled us good, Issei."

"I promise, my intentions were-"

"Funny thing about intentions, Ise. Path to Hell is paved with the best of them." Zaz never heard Sera speak so coldly to anyone. The boy noticed it too if his flinch was any indication. Before anyone could say anything more, Sirzechs took charge.

"Ten years you were hiding. Why show yourself now?" The unspoken question was clear to everyone. Why for Rias?"

"I suppose… Rias deserves better. I knew she was a devil. I knew she was an heiress. And… I know what kind of pressure she would be under. She wishes to be seen more than just a prize. To be seen as her own person."

As he spoke, Issei remembered. He remembered finding a lonely girl in the shrine gardens, sad, and lonely, despite being followed everywhere.

His thoughts were interrupted by Azazel.

"You know we're all pretty pissed, right?"

"I know. And you have every right to be. In the past, I caused you grief and sorrow, and these last few days I made you worry. Please accept my apologies. I will understand if you wish to cut ties with me."

Issei was socked in the shoulder. Hard. By Serafall, who smoothly jumped over the bar, with tears streaming down her face.

"Don't talk like that, you self-pitying idiot! Don't you ever suggest that! You're stuck with me forever, hear that, Ise?!"

She beat him on the chest insistently, losing a bit of control over herself, her punches enough to knock a regular human down, and her tears beginning to turn into ice cubes. But that was all over when she felt the strong, warm hands wrap around her, tightly. And Issei's shaking voice entered her ears, with a trace of his warm breath.

"T-thank you. Thank you!"

Once they reluctantly broke the embrace, both had a bit of a hard time looking each other in the eyes. But to Issei, knowing his friends won't leave him meant more than almost everything else in the world.

"We're still friends, Issei. But, please, help us understand. What happened at Kumamoto?"

The young man froze. He wished to tell them the truth so badly. He was more than happy to carry the burden. For her, he would carry it till the day he died. But to do so, he would have to lie.

"I lost control over Juggernaut Drive. It was me who burned the city, and it was me who killed your people."

It was a convincing lie. It was a good lie. But a lie nonetheless. His sage skills would fool the spells and tricks, and his mind was soundly protected by Ddraig. No one could tell him he was lying, other than a sage greater than himself.

"Kozuki Inari. Is Sekiryuutei, Hyoudou Issei lying?"

Forcing himself out of the memories once more, he looked at the tense faces of the leaders. Sera spoke first.

"You're lying-"

Her words struck like a whip.

"-but I don't care. I trust you have a good reason for it. But, what will you do now? Without the protection of a major faction, masses on all sides will yell for your blood."

Issei leaned heavily on the bar.

"I have amends to make. And still more people I need to beg for forgiveness. I'm done running. I plan to go to Kyoto, and hope Youkai will take me back."

"Not likely. The Kyuubi in charge has a reputation of being cold and distant to outsiders. I wonder what she'll be like to a coward."

Zaz knew he wasn't helping the situation. But Issei seemed eager to rush to his death. He'll be damned if he allows that!

Sirzech, who was quiet for a while, decided to speak.

"I don't plan to stop you, Issei. But before you leave, we each have requests to make, which might keep you in this town for a month, at best."

Could he stay a month more? Probably. He would have to meditate regularly, to keep his presence hidden as best as he could, though if someone were to stumble upon him, they would know immediately.

With the renewed influx of draconic energy, his body was eagerly absorbing it, and when it was "full", it reflected it. As it grew used to it again, it should reflect less, but for the next few weeks, he was a walking beacon, announcing him as a dragon right away.

"I owe you a lot, for lies and deceit, so I'll help as much as I can. But this is only delaying my departure."

"Thank you. Now I will go first. One of my sister's servants is a nekoshu. And I wish that you teach her to use her Ki. She'll be reluctant, but if you can at least get her started, that would be great progress."

Sera spoke next.

"My cute So-tan just recently reincarnated someone with a draconic Sacred gear, so all I want is for you to give some tips. Also, see if he tries to hit on her. No one is good enough for So-tan!"

Zaz was last.

"I just wanna see your gear in action. So once the dust settles if you can show me what it can do, I'll consider it even between us."

Issei did not think long. He agreed to help. If he could do some more good deeds before he left, he could leave with no regrets.

"Also, you need to let me ride your motorcycle!"

There we go, chapter 6! I think it turned out well in the end. We learned some more about Issei when he was with the Shinto faction and a bit about his childhood. Who's thins Georgie guy anyway? You'll have to wait for it. next chapter more Rias, more Tsubaki! And some other folks.

Some other news, I got a Ko-fi account. It works kind of like a tip jar. You read the chapter, and if you think it was awesome, you can swing by, and throw me some change XD. And if you thought the chapter was average, just continue with your day. I would feel bad for charging someone just so they can see my stores sooner or paying for extra content, so this was a nice solution in the end.

READ. REVIEW. Let me know what YOU think, and we'll read each other next time. NPGamer out.

PEACE

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