"Alright! I am so looking forward to this assignment. I've always wanted to spend more time with them!"

"Don't forget the reason us two were assigned as her bodyguards."

"Isn't it to protect her before the Conference?"

"There's more. The Purist Faction is on the move. She may be in danger. Especially if the Khaos Brigade decides to intervene."

Volume 3: Twin Exorcists of the Fallen Conspiracy

"Hello. My name is Hagane Sasaki. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Another cute transfer student in a matter of weeks. That would definitely interest Matsuda and Motohama.

Except they weren't in here. What the hell are they up to?

Nevermind. I know exactly what they're planning.

I asked Rias earlier if Hagane was going to be part of her peerage, but she told me no.

"Even though she ran away, she's technically still part of Milcom Amon's peerage since she didn't kill him. We would have to make an exchange for me to officially acquire her."

"I guess that's not happening, since we're enemies with him and all," I said. "Why did she say she ran away?"

"The fact that she had your jacket was wearing on her. She felt like she had to repay the kindness you showed," she said. "By the way. Why did you give her your jacket?"

Rias had a suspicious face.

"It's a long story..."

"Well. I think you'll be happy to know I did manage to acquire Ravel Phenex as my first Bishop."

"How so?"

"After you were able to fight off both Diodora and Halja, Riser felt she was in much safer hands with us, so he exchanged her for one of my Bishop pieces. She's enrolled in the same year as Koneko."

So, a good part of the day managed to go by without incident, but then one of the office assistants came in right as one of the classes ended.

"Excuse me, but the Counselor wants to see Makoto Fujiwara."

I was excused from class and I was about to head to the office when I was stopped by two knuckleheads.

"Cutting class again, I see?" Motohama said. "Just like we are."

"Actually, my mom wanted to see me in her office. So, I have an actual excuse this time."

"Ooh! Can we come too?" Matsuda said, both of them overly excited.

"Absolutely not!" I was about to get onto them for perving on my mom again, but I changed the topic. "Then they will know that you're onto something."

"Onto what?" Motohama asked.

"You know what I'm talking about…"

"Anyway. That's not the issue we're worried about," Motohama added.

"What issue?" I asked.

"We know you walked to school with a posse of girls today!" Matsuda said. "Including that cute transfer student!"

So, they do know.

"Don't you dare turn into Yuuto Kiba on us!" Motohama added.

"Trust me. I'm nothing like him."

That was technically correct. He's a devil and I am an angel.

"Well, that's a relief," Matsuda said. "Anyway, PE's about to start, so we better head to the Locker Room!"

They headed down the hall.

Since when did our PE time change?

Anyway, I continued on and entered my Mom's office, where she had brought two more girls.

One of them had chestnut-colored hair tied up into twintails and the other one, who was drinking the coffee Mom had prepared, had short blue hair with a green accent.

They were both wearing black jumpsuits under a white cloak.

"Oh. It's so great to see you again, Makoto!" the twintailed girl said.

"I'm sorry, but when did we meet, again?"

"C'mon! I'm Irina! Don't you remember that Summer in Middle School where you stayed with us in England!?"

"Vaguely."

"This may help," Mom said.

She handed me a picture. I, along with a tomboyish girl whose family we were staying with, was holding a sheathed sword that Mom acquired. I believe she currently keeps it in a glass case in the Basement.

"Oh! Irina Shidou!" I said as it clicked. "You grew your hair out!"

"Thanks, Makoto. You like it?" Irina asked.

"Eh. I'm more of a short hair guy. Looks good though!"

Says the guy who's Top 2 Girls are two long-haired bombshells. But, hey! You win some, you lose some.

"And this is Xenovia Quarta," Mom added. "I've worked closely with her caretaker, Sister Griselda, before."

"Pleased to meet you, Makoto," said Xenovia.

"So why are they here, exactly?" I asked. "Or is it the usual reason?"

"No. The reason they're here is because the Church sent them to act as bodyguards."

"What for?"

"The Church, the High-Ranking Devils, and the Fallen Angels are planning their battle strategy to take back Heaven from Halja," Mother said. "They'll want me at the Vatican in a few weeks to help with their Conference, and Rias will go home to the Underworld where they'll have their conference."

"That's not all," Xenovia said. "There are rumors that the Purist Faction of Grigori are making a move. Those who are loyal to neither the Khaos Brigade nor to the other leaders of the fallen angels."

"So that means they sent us two to stay with her as additional insurance to make sure she's safe from them!" Irina said.

"Anyway," Mom said. "Just wanted you to see them before you get to your next class!"

"Great." I said as I was leaving. "See you later!"

Just what I needed. More girls around the house. Rias already brought two the other day!

Since PE was apparently about to start, I headed in the direction of the Locker Room and went inside.

And it was full of girls!

"Sorry! Wrong one! Forgive the intrusion!" I apologized as I was beginning to back out.

I knew I shouldn't have followed Matsuda and Motohama's tracks!

"Oh. Hey, Makoto!" Ravel said as I was about to leave.

"Hey, Ravel, how's classes going?" I said, peeking out the corner.

"Good!"

"That's great."

"Don't let that Chick-fil-A distract you from your mission of getting to the right Locker Room, Makoto," Koneko said.

"What the hell is a Chick-fil-A?" said Aika.

"Fried chicken." Koneko explained.

"Hey!" Ravel exclaimed.

I went to one in England. I guess Koneko is familiar enough with that international chain to make an avian insult out of it.

"Hey, Makoto? This locker is jammed." Hagane said. "Could you help me with this?"

"Sure."

I fumbled with the handle a bit and sure enough, I managed to get it open.

And guess who was inside?

All the girls gasped.

"C'mon! Makoto just waltzed right in here! Why didn't y'all freak out over him!?" Matsuda exclaimed

"Because, unlike you two, he at least tries to respect women," Koneko replied.

"Tries?" I asked.

She violently threw Matsuda and Motohama out of the Locker Room.

"Sorry, Makoto, but you're not allowed in here either," Koneko said as she nudged me out as well and slammed the door.

"You smug prick! How did you do that!?" Matsuda exclaimed. "Not to mention, you brought, not one, but two hot transfer students."

"What can I say? I have a magnetic personality."

"Yeah. I don't think your personality is what's magnetic," Motohama commented.

I got a chuckle out of that before a felt a bizarre discomfort in my right arm.

"What is it?" Motohama asked. "Do you have a sudden urge after you accidentally walked into the girls changing?"

"No. I, uh, hurt my arm the other day and the Nurse told me to see her if it bothers me again."

"That's great," Motohama replied. "Hope you feel better!"

By the Nurse, I was referring to Akeno.

Apparently, the enchantment Suzaku put on my dragon arm was merely a stopgap measure. As Halja found out the hard way, that power is much harder to contain than you would think.

So, Rias and Akeno agreed to take turns scattering the dragon spirit so that it maintains the appearance of a normal arm, as only powerful devils like them are able to carry out this ritual.

Either that, or they really want an excuse to have some intimate time with me.

I entered a room on the second floor of the old schoolhouse that Akeno often used that was laid out like a traditional Japanese room, complete with tatami flooring. They was a magic circle which I was to sit on when she performed the ritual on me.

I removed my shirt as Akeno entered the room.

She's, yet again, in just a bathrobe with her hair down as she had just gotten out of the shower.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to make preparations."

Goodness. She's even more alluring than before. I was trying not to gaze too hard at how easily I could see through her bathrobe.

"I'm in no rush. Feel free to get dried off if you want."

"Actually, it helps when my body's still damp."

"Oh. That's… good, then," I chuckled.

I sat down on the magic circle and she knelt down in suit.

"Let's begin," she said. "Hold out your right hand."

I obliged. She grasped my hand and began to suck on my index finger with her mouth.

Ooh, yeah! That's the spot. I could feel the tension in my right arm began to fade away as the well of energy generated by Albion was being channeled out of my right index finger.

I was nervous about this at first, but this is such a very pleasant sensation!

Akeno does seem to be making odd noises, though. My mind was curious as to what sort of enjoyment she's getting out of this.

She then suddenly licked my finger and pulled out.

"Oho! That tickles!"

"My, my. You are such a goof," she said. "This isn't turning you on by any chance, is it?"

"Not at all. Why would you get that idea?"

I could feel something running down my nose.

"Oh. Let me take care of that for you."

Akeno quickly grabbed a handkerchief and wiped off my nose.

Wait a second. Where did that blood come from!?

"It's okay. I'm a bit aside myself as well. We all thought you were dead, but you came back and sent Halja packing. You are such a fascinating junior. I don't know what to do."

She continued sucking out the dragon spirit, but this time she had positioned her much closer to me.

This was causing a sensory overload. The feel of her damp skin, her thick scent, her wet hair…

This is starting to feel odd, but I can't put my finger on this feeling, partly because it's currently being serviced by Akeno.

She continued for a few moments and said "I think that covers it for today,"

"Whew. Thanks," I said. "I needed that."

"By the way…" she said. "Was it true what I overheard Rias saying? That I made the first move?"

"I guess it is."

I've noticed she's the only club member besides me who refers to her by her first name. I suppose that's expected when you've been besties for nearly ten years.

"That's wonderful!" she said, giggling, and then proceeding to hug me, having seemed to have forgotten the state of dress she was in.

Or maybe she doesn't care.

"I haven't forgotten what you said earlier, about how you'd still like me no matter what I was. And to think you were nearly killed…" She let go of me. "Sorry. I'm rambling a bit. You're free to go now."

"Thanks," I said nervously as I left the room. "Take care!"

Right as I was leaving, I collapsed to the wall as it all clicked.

"Damn! That was erotic!" I blurted out. I could hear Akeno giggling as she was exiting the room after me.

I looked at that picture that Mother gave of me and Irina.

Despite that episode, what was still at the top of my mind was the fallen angel conspiracy that Irina and Xenovia were talking about.

To get information about this new enemy, I would have to contact an old enemy.

I picked up the phone and called her.

"What? Do I need to save your ass again?"

"Not right now, Yuma." I replied. "What do you know about the Purist Faction?"

"Oh boy. They're nasty pieces of work," she said. "I'm not that crazy about devils, but they take it to the next level.

Their leader is named Kokabiel. He used to be one of the leaders of Grigori a long time ago, but he rebelled when Azazel wanted to make peace with the other two factions and the humans."

"Do you know why he's not involved with the Khaos Brigade like Mittelt is?"

"Halja is willing to use anyone from the Three Factions to ensure she's the supreme ruler. Kokabiel, on the other hand, wants to continue the war between the Three Factions all the way to a decisive victory for the Fallen Angels."

"Pretty stubborn, if you ask me," I commented.

"Maniacal is more like it."

"Who are you talking to, Makoto?" Kiba asked as he was walking through.

"I gotta go. See ya," I hung up. "Nobody, really," I replied.

He noticed the picture I was holding. "Hold on. Can I see that?"

"Sure."

He looked at it and his eyes lit up. But not in excitement.

"I recognize that."

"Recognize what?"

"That's a Holy Sword. I'm very much acquainted with those."

"What? You've wielded one of those?"

"On the contrary. My purpose is to destroy a particular one."

"Well," I said. "It better not be this one. My mom went to considerable lengths to acquire this."

"No," he replied. "You need not concern yourself. This is personal."

It was like I saw a completely new side of Kiba. One far different than his radiant pretty boy side.