Chapter 16
Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.
The school day dragged by with no significant events happening. The ORC gathered after school to relax after the previous day's craziness. Rias wasn't there first like usual. The group didn't pay this detail much attention coughing it up to her having some other duties she had to complete first.
Rias then entered the building being followed by another person in the Kuoh Academy uniform.
"Xenovia, what are you doing here?" Wendy asked when she saw who came in with Rias.
"She is my new Knight" Rias answered for her.
"How did that happen if you don't mind me asking" Wendy asked.
"Well after hearing Kokabiel saying that God was dead I asked the church whether it was true or not. That caused them to kick me out because I knew too much. So I came here and asked Rias if I could join her peerage" Xenovia answered for herself this time.
"You poor thing, well you are most welcome here" Akeno said with sympathy.
Kiba and Koneko just nodded their heads in greeting while Wendy and Asia moved closer to give her a warmer welcome.
"I'm so sorry for what I said to the two of you the first time we met please forgive me that was out of line" Xenovia bowed her head while apologising.
"Don't worry we forgive you Xenovia we know that you didn't mean it" Asia quickly accepted her apology with Wendy giving her a warm smile.
"Welcome to the ORC then Xenovia" Natsu said as he entered the room from the kitchen carrying two plates of pastries.
"T-Thank you N-Natsu" Xenovia stuttered seeming a little bit uncomfortable.
"You have nothing to fear from me Xenovia. I regret overreacting last time" Natsu said sincerely.
"No that's not it, I mean I don't…" Xenovia tried to form a complete sentence before sighing.
"What I mean to say is I just don't really know how to thank you for saving me when Kokabiel tried to kill me that's all" Xenovia said after a deep breath.
"How about you just take one of these pastries and we call it even" Natsu proposed with a charming and kind smile.
"If that is what you want" Xenovia replied and hesitantly took one of the pastries.
She slowly took a bite all while Natsu just stood there smiling away. After the first bite Xenovia's eyes widened and she quickly devoured the rest of the small pastry.
"That was delicious Natsu did you make them?" Xenovia asked with wonder lased in her voice.
"Yip I like making things in the kitchen so you can expect a lot more things like this in the future" Natsu replied before setting one of the plates down on the table and taking his seat on one of the couches with the other plate.
Koneko was quick to take her seat on Natsu's lap and happily accepted her plate of pastries from him. Akeno took her new spot right next to Natsu and leaned her head on his shoulder with a happy and peaceful smile on her beautiful face.
They had peaceful day until the members who had contracts to complete went out after the sun dipped below the horizon.
The following day at school Xenovia is introduced as the newest transfer student and joins Wendy and Koneko's class.
Back at the ORC building after school Issei was talking to Rias about what his client told him yesterday.
"He told me he was Azazel the Governor General of the Fallen Angels" Issei told Rias.
"What a Fallen Angel, and their Governor General at that is one of your clients? I don't know how I feel about this Issei I think you should consider cutting ties with him. We don't know what his motives are" Rias said with worry. She did not personally know a lot about the man but just the fact that he was a Fallen Angel already had her on edge.
"I don't know he is yet to do anything really, all we ever do is hang out and go fishing or play video games. I think he just wants someone to hang out with" Issei said not seeing any problem with him continuing his visits to his client.
"I still don't know Issei I don't want you to get involved with Fallen Angels so far that only ended in disaster. Should I remind you of Raynare?" Rias asked still afraid for her pawn.
"Azazel won't harm Issei. He already had enough opportunities to do that and what would he gain by revealing his identity now?" Natsu chipped in.
"This could all still be an elaborate ruse" Rias countered.
"No that's not his style. I have met him a few times in the past and even though it can be hard to determine his character at any given moment since it seems to reflect the situation at hand he is a respectable man and would rather be up front than sneaky and underhanded. My guess is he is interested in Issei due to his sacred gear" Natsu elaborated on why he thinks Azazel is not a threat to Issei.
"But doesn't that mean he might try and obtain the sacred gear? You know that would kill Issei" Rias asked taking an aggressive tone.
"I am well aware of what consequences such actions have but like I said if Azazel wanted to do something like that he would have. Let me explain what I meant by interested in Issei's sacred gear. The man is a research fanatic, especially when it comes to sacred gears. He wants to create an artificial sacred gear just to say he can. He is a pacifist and prefers talk his way out of trouble rather than resort to violence. With this I mean he would rather ask Issei outright to see his sacred gear rather than try and take it. Sure his methods might seem insane at times I can assure you he would not cause any trouble between the Three Factions seeing as he was one of the participants during the Great War who was pressing for peace with the most success" Natsu explained in detail that Azazel is not a bad person.
"If anything happens to Issei I will make sure you regret this, but for now I will allow Issei to continue his contract" Rias conceded. She had to admit that what Natsu said made sense and aligned with the little information that she knew about the man.
Sona suddenly made an appearance with Tsubaki in tow before the conversation could continue.
"Rias I am here to let you know that the ORC has been placed in charge of cleaning the pool" Sona announced her arrival and the reason for her visit.
"Why do we have to clean the pool" Issei whined not wanting to do work.
"Personally I don't mind since we could use the pool after we are done" Akeno said before turning to Natsu, "How does some time at the pool sound Natsu, I've been dying to show off my swimsuit to you" She whispered in his ear with a flirtatious look in her eyes.
"I have no complaints" Natsu quickly made his opinion known.
"I'm surprised the pervert doesn't want to stare at girls in their swimsuits" Koneko said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Hearing this Issei's demeanour made a complete one eighty and now he was the one ushering everyone to get up and that they had been given the duty to clean the pool and so forth. Everyone just laughed at the sudden change.
"Just for that I will bake you something special, any requests?" Natsu said to Koneko which made her eyes light up.
"Can you make me an ice-cream cake?" Koneko asked with a cute look on her face.
"Sure thing" Natsu smiled back at her.
The ORC group then went to the school pool.
The group quickly cleaned up the pool area before heading to the changing rooms to get changed into their swimming clothes.
Issei, Kiba and Natsu was quick to change and waited for the girls to finish before they start swimming and just generally enjoy the day at the pool. Issei had dark green swimming trunks on, Kiba had a light blue swimming trunk while Natsu wore a black trunk with a flame pattern.
"What's taking them so long" Issei started complaining after waiting for ten minutes.
The other two boys just ignored his complaining opting to sit on the chairs and enjoying the sun while they waited.
Not too long after Issei started complaining Rias, Akeno, Wendy, Asia and Koneko excited the changing rooms. Rias had a plain white bikini on, Akeno had a blue and red bikini on with a strap around her neck while Asia Wendy and Koneko wore their school swimwear that was a navy blue one piece.
Issei had his eyes glued on Rias' bikini. Akeno had her eyes glued on Natsu's body. Kiba decided to save Issei from a punch by Koneko for being a pervert by calling out to everyone to come for a swim in the water as he jumped in. Asia, Wendy and Issei quickly followed him the latter hoping the bikini clad girls would join in so he could live out some perverted fantasy. Rias and Akeno however opted to tan in the warm midday sun.
"Natsu would you mind applying some sunscreen on my back" Akeno asked moving her hair away from her back.
Natsu complied with the request and happily walked over to her. After applying the sunscreen Natsu went back to his seat only to be followed by Akeno. She decided to take a seat on his lap wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a peck on the cheek. Rias seeing this decided she would try and advance her relationship with Issei.
"Issei would you come over here and help me apply some sunscreen on my back?" Rias asked.
Issei immediately jumped at the opportunity to touch her body. Akeno saw this as a challenge to who can get closest to their love interest. Akeno turned to Natsu and placed a kiss on his lips and giving a victorious smirk to Rias when they parted.
Rias wanted to one up Akeno but she did not want to seem desperate in front of her peerage so she conceded defeat. After ten minutes Natsu realised one member of the group was missing. Quickly telling Akeno that he is going to see what's taking Xenovia so long. He placed her on the chair and gave her a peck on the cheek before heading towards the changing rooms.
"Hey Xenovia are you all right in there?" Natsu called out once he reached the changing rooms.
"I'm fine nothing to worry about" Xenovia called out.
"Come on then everyone is waiting for you" Natsu said.
"No I can't come out in this it's too embarrassing" Xenovia's quite voice came out.
"And why would that be?" Natsu asked.
"I just can't" Xenovia insisted.
"Ok how about you show me and if you still feel uncomfortable I can get you something else. How does that sound?" Natsu proposed knowing everyone would soon come here looking for them.
"O-Ok I'm coming out now" Xenovia said in a shy voice.
She wore a strapless lacy bikini that showed quite a lot of skin. Natsu looked at the beauty in front of him with a light blush on his face. Xenovia didn't see this because she kept her head down in embarrassment.
"You look beautiful in that but if you are uncomfortable in it I can get you another pair somewhere" Natsu complemented her looks causing her to blush.
"You really think I look beautiful?" Xenovia asked shyly thinking why she was so uncharacteristically shy in front of Natsu.
"Yes you are beautiful Xenovia you have no reason to be so shy" Natsu gently told her.
Xenovia was now blushing like mad. Lacking common knowledge due to being raised in the Church as an exorcist she thought her purpose in life was to bear strong children. And after being complimented by Natsu she thought that if she had children with Natsu she would bear strong children since he is strong. And the fact that Natsu seemed to be a nice guy with great looks didn't hurt. Xenovia then pulled Natsu into the changing room.
"Uhm is everything okay Xenovia?" Natsu asked her confused by the sudden action.
"Please let me bear your strong children" Xenovia asked Natsu moving her hands to take off her top.
"Hey hold on. That is not how these things work" Natsu started to panic and grabbed her hands preventing her from doing anything.
"But it is my purpose as a woman to bear strong children" Xenovia said in confusion.
"Who told you that?" Natsu asked confused.
"The Church where I was raised told me it was a woman's duty to bear strong children" Xenovia explained.
With a sigh Natsu told Xenovia that what they told her was completely wrong and continued to explain how relationships work. After his explanation Xenovia apologised profusely.
"It's fine Xenovia it's not your fault that they taught you wrong" Natsu told her kindly after he managed to calm her non-stop apologising.
"Uhm Natsu…" Xenovia asked trailing off and blushing hard.
"Xenovia if you are going to ask me if we can get into a relationship together then let me first tell you something" Natsu said getting an idea of what Xenovia wanted to ask.
After getting a tiny nod from Xenovia signalling him that his assumption was correct and for him to continue Natsu explained how he is a dragon and mates works in dragon culture. He continued to explain that Akeno is his first mate and that he promised her that the next mate he will get will be his alpha and how it was his dragon instincts that would decide it.
"So currently I we can't be in a relationship due to the promise I made Akeno. But don't worry too much since I you are indeed one of my mates" Natsu finished his explanation.
"I understand Natsu just please don't make me wait too long. And if we can keep this conversation confidential that would be much appreciated" Xenovia said with a loving smile.
"Sure thing Xenovia but let's get back to the others before they come looking for us" Natsu said as he led her to the pool.
Issei only tried once to be perverted towards Xenovia that day because the first time he tried he was threatened by Xenovia that if he tries something like that again he will no longer be able to call himself a man.
And that is how Chapter 16 ends. So here we see another mate of Natsu but the alpha still alludes us. Currently Natsu's harem will have seven members, only two of which are yet to be seen in the story. See ya next time.
