CH 14: Cinderella Cage
"Whoa… She's hot!"
"Is she the new nurse or something? She's got that lab coat."
"She's beautiful! I wonder what she's doing here. Is she a new teacher?"
The overhead sun shone down on Reisen while she looked at the front of Kuoh Academy. Students whispered around her, intending to keep comments to themselves, though she heard them clearly anyway.
Reisen kept a polite smile up, waving back to some of the students who waved to her. Several of the boys, and even some girls were clearly physically attracted to her. She didn't realize her presence would cause so many reactions. Another batch of girls glared at the boys for seemingly daring to look at her with roving eyes, though she tried to ignore it. Her destination was the Occult Research Club, located towards the back of the school near the forest area.
She spotted one person approaching her, whom she recognized immediately.
"Ahh, Inaba-san. I see you've arrived." Kiba Yuuto greeted her politely. "I've come to escort you to the Occult Research Club, where our meeting will take place. I believe it will be your first time there."
Reisen nodded. "That's right. Thank you for bringing me there. I admit that I'm not very familiar with your school layout."
"It's understandable." Kiba smoothly replied. "We should go. Buchou and Kaichou are already waiting."
Passing by the students, Reisen could practically feel the blatant crushes numerous girls had for Kiba. Conversely, several of the boys gnashed their teeth together at the same target.
It seemed as if what Suika had said earlier was true. Kiba was popular but seemed to either be ignorant or ignored it altogether. Given his disarming smiles and waves towards the others, it appeared as if he might have had some awareness of it. This was an unfamiliar sight for her as she talked through the athletic and sports fields towards the back of the school. The track area was outlined with white powder, indicating the boundaries of the field.
Students in gym clothes were busy with various activities around, but gave an interested glance to the obviously new spectacle of Kiba escorting a doctor looking person towards the forest behind the school. It was slightly embarrassing, Reisen thought to herself, but nothing she hadn't done before.
It was rather similar to her talking Tewi to be escorted to her master, while several youkai she didn't know stared at her. If she thought of it that way, it was slightly more comforting, but still a bit awkward.
"How are your injuries?" Reisen brought up, looking to see if there was any discomfort moving.
"Much better, thank you." Kiba replied, looking back to smile at her. "I likely would have been much worse off, or even not have survived if you didn't help me."
"You're welcome." The doctor quietly preened. "It's my pride to know I'm still able to perform things such as this."
"Your pride?" Kiba questioned curiously.
Reisen nodded. "That's right. I suppose it doesn't hurt to explain. My skills as a doctor that I learned from my master is one thing that I take pride in."
"I think Buchou mentioned that you had a mentor. Is she the one who taught you everything then?"
"That's right." Reisen confirmed, smiling wistfully. "She took me in when I had nowhere to go. Being grateful to her is an understatement."
"And what's happened to her?" Kiba prodded, causing Reisen some pause.
"We've been split apart. I talked about it to Rias-san and Sona-san several weeks ago for our agreement on staying here. We're here to help someone that both my master and I owe a debt to." Reisen answered, recalling the meeting she had with the two she referred to.
"So she's still alive." Kiba murmured. "I don't think Buchou or Akeno-san told us what exactly the meeting with you was all about. Just that you had helped Issei-kun and that you and Marisa-san would be staying in the meantime."
"In shorter terms, yes. Any more than that becomes far more complicated, and I'm not obligated to share that with anyone." Reisen firmly stated, setting her boundaries on what she was comfortable disclosing.
"I don't mind. A lot of us also have pasts we don't want to share every detail about. I didn't want to say anything to you either. I'll respectfully not ask any more." Kiba replied as he continued leading her to the meeting area.
"Thank you." Reisen instinctively bowed her head formally. "I would prefer it be kept my business strictly."
Kiba nodded. "Thank you for the conversation. We're here."
Reisen cocked an eyebrow and looked at where the Knight had led her. A three-story building, with the third story featuring a clock tower. The front featured a rooftop leading to the entrance along with stone stairs leading up to it. There were side entrances, along with numerous square windows to allow the sun in with some bigger than others. Vines sprawled up to the second floor with the walls painted white and the roof black.
Reisen distinctly thought to herself that the Scarlet Devil Mansion residents might find something like this tasteful.
Kiba opened the double doors in the front, leaving it open for her to enter through. The interior, brightly lit by the sun shining in, was walled by wood panels. Victorian style couches and chairs with red cushions seem to fit the décor, given Rias' crimson hair. In the seats, Reisen could already see Rias, Sona, Akeno, and Tsubaki drinking tea together.
"Buchou. I've led Inaba-san here for the meeting as asked. I'll head back for lunch." Kiba declared, nodding towards his King before shutting the door gently.
"Please, have a seat." Rias gestured towards one of the open seats around the wood carved table in the center of the room. A red carpet covered the majority of the floor, Reisen noted as she did as requested.
"Would you like tea, Inaba-san?" Akeno asked to which Reisen shook her head.
"Welcome to the Occult Research Club, Inaba-san." Rias smiled kindly towards the hidden lunar rabbit. "I believe this is your first time here."
"It is. The last time I was here on campus would be the Student Council room." Reisen recalled, politely smiling back at the devil. "You wanted to discuss my ability to remove holy light from wounds inflicted on devils?"
Sona shook her head in agreement, sipping her tea from the cup laid out by Akeno as the latter waited with tray on hand. "That's right. We wanted to wait until Kiba-san fully recovered to have this meeting with you."
Reisen placed a hand against her chin, adopting a thinking pose. "This makes sense."
"As we've said before, your skill in removing light-based damage from devils is not just impressive. It is phenomenal. Devilkind would not hesitate to use any means possible to gain your knowledge or skill, regardless of the means necessary. Whether that means your servitude, or through more disreputable means, would not matter at all." Sona began reiterating. "As mentioned, the only way for us to heal such damage quickly would be through magical means or objects. Both of which are either rare or expensive beyond belief."
"You mentioned this yes, along with a warning that I should not tell anybody else." Reisen calculatedly added, frowning. "I have a better understanding on why I would be so valued. But I find it hard to see how there isn't a means on doing what I can yourselves. With over two millennium of experience over me, it's difficult to believe that someone hasn't found a way already."
Rias sighed in agreement. "Unfortunately, many devils believe that being resistant to weapons capable of inflicting holy light damage is a sign of strength. Devils have always followed one principle: that might makes right. Therefore, being killed or defeated by weapons with holy light is viewed as being weak. Additionally, it is very dangerous to handle the energy for our kind."
"Because it is inherently anathema to us, research including treating wounds for this kind of damage is almost non-existent. Not only is the sample size low from being unable to attain such energy in the first place except from the Church or the Angels, but the dangers of handling it makes a large enough deterrent to avoid such a field." Sona provided her explanation. "There are some who have tried, only to have failed in the end."
Reisen had an inclination that "failure" really meant "unable to get the resources needed" or "died."
"Then what is different from I've done compared to Asia-san?" Reisen brought up the nun, who was well known to be able to heal wounds of all kinds.
"Asia is only one person, similarly to you. However, she requires the use of a sacred gear to heal wounds. This still falls under the category of magical objects." Rias answered. "In your case, if modern science has progressed enough to treat wounds of holy energy, this would be integral to our kind's survival."
"A normalized procedure or drug that is safe and can be universally used would be something too beneficial for us to pass over. If Devil doctors could replicate what you do, we would no longer need such difficult means to save newly reincarnated devils from being hunted by stray exorcists and the like." The Student Council President of Kuoh declared. "We would like to ask what you would value for this information. If needed, we can alert our direct superiors, the Satans, to better negotiate with you."
Reisen resisted the urge to groan. They had the complete wrong idea about her. The medication wasn't finished yet! She hadn't even started on her procedure at all! She still had to use Suika to draw out the holy light energy in the first place. If anything, what she was doing was essentially a stopgap measure in the case of Kiba and Issei. She was hard at work for creating such a thing, as she thought that this line of research would be beneficial for all youkai for the Gensokyo team. Instead, the devils now wanted to negotiate with her for something she wasn't even done with.
"You want to negotiate? To be fully honest, I'm not done with what you have in mind. I'm honored that you think highly of my skills, but what I'm using is a stopgap measure at best unique to me. This could take months or years even before I finish a normalized procedure, let alone a drug." Reisen admitted, though both the Kings looked unperturbed.
"Even if it's not complete, the price of this information can't be understated. I believe some sort of terms can be made." Sona countered easily, looking determined to get what she wanted.
Reisen sat in silence as the Kings and Queens of the peerages both stared at her. They hid it well, but she could tell that they awaited her answer with bated breath. She needed something. Anything that she could use to buy more time. Refusing would be somewhat suspicious as the Inaba Clinic team was already considered to be on good terms with the Devils stationed here.
Her mind wandered to the stalemate and ceasefire the three major factions had.
"My other fear." She started speaking as the devils all intently listened. "Is that if I give my procedure so easily, what is to say it would not have consequences."
Rias cocked a confused eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I have no doubt that the both of you have the best interests of your kind in hand." Reisen replied, closing her eyes with focus. "However, if I give what I have, what is to stop the stalemate between the three factions breaking? From what you mentioned earlier about other devils of your kind, if I provided this advantage to you and it were spread, what is stopping devilkind as a whole to continue their war with my newfound treatment?"
Reisen could see Rias' throat practically swallow the saliva in her throat. Rias was certainly not as experienced at thinking everything through. Sona on the other hand…
"I had considered it. And if you were to agree to negotiate, we would certainly hold your information until after a formal peace treaty was created. I believe the Satans would as well." Sona responded while Reisen turned to her. "No devil would outright dare attack once a peace treaty is created, even if a treatment was given for holy light damage. At that point, to do so would be defying the will of the Satans."
Shit, Reisen cursed in her mind. Sona was too sharp for that and had likely taken that consideration in mind. She would just have to take a tougher stance and hope this didn't hurt relations too much.
"Still, the procedure I have isn't perfect and I don't like giving incomplete procedures or medicine. In the interests of keeping the world intact until a peace treaty is made, I would not like to talk about sharing this any further. While I trust the both of you, you both have also mentioned that the two of you are exceptions regarding peace for devilkind, instead of the norm. I believe this information too dangerous until I know the three factions won't war with each other." Reisen conclusively decided firmly. "When a peace treaty is made, I wouldn't mind reconsidering my stance on sharing what I have regarding holy light damage treatment. At the current moment, especially because my research is incomplete, my answer is no."
To her surprise, Sona nodded. "I find that to be fair. In that case, I also would not mind shelving this discussion until at least a peace treaty is made. Works are already in progress to create one, rather than the ceasefire we currently have."
"I think it'll also give you time to figure out what you and the Inaba Clinic would like in exchange for your research." Rias tacked on, smiling a bit awkwardly. "We don't want to force you to give it."
Reisen shook her head in affirmation. "Then for now, I won't talk anymore about this until a peace treaty is made."
Somehow, this had all worked out. A peace treaty would benefit the Youkai faction as well.
The light purple haired woman internally sighed. The Kings had impressed on her the value of her research that she was using mostly for her own comrades. She had no idea that something like this would occur. This would certainly benefit them further, and she felt further incentivized to finish her work. Once again, Reisen didn't know how Yukari or her master did this on such a regular basis. This was utterly exhausting and she felt as if all her training regarding medicine, interrogation, or her powers could hardly prepare her for politicking in her favor. Once more, she couldn't help but admire the Sages of Gensokyo and Eirin for their impeccable intelligence and diplomacy.
"With that line of business done, there is one more thing we'd like to talk to you about." Rias began, crossing her arms seriously. "Again, I'd like to thank you for your help saving Yuuto from his wounds."
She glowered at the table for a moment before gazing at Reisen seriously. "The Angel Faction, or rather, the Church has sent two exorcists into Kuoh. They've requested to meet with both Sona and I tonight. I'd like the Inaba Clinic to be there not only for bodyguard and healing purposes, but also to provide an opportunity to see what the other faction might be like."
Reisen was taken aback as Rias continued. "I won't force you to come. Normally, issues like this would pertain only to Sona and I. But we think this meeting, along with Yuuto's recent injuries, is no coincidence and might involve the Inaba Clinic as well. If you don't want to, you're not required to come, and I can relay you everything we learn."
The doctor began ruminating to herself, placing her hand under chin. A meeting with the exorcists? She speculated that it was the same exorcists that Azazel had talked about to entreat the devils for permission to search for the Excalibur fragments. He had basically given his permission to share any details he had with the other factions, though Reisen could probably hold some of them as it would likely cause more friction that they didn't need at the moment. Azazel was invested in everyone's survival; that, she could tell. His actions indicated that he wanted peace as well, likely for his people to survive.
Reisen eventually acquiesced. "In that case, I agree. I will be there for the meeting between you and the exorcists. Suika and Marisa are both busy, but I should be adequate to handle most things."
Rias smiled grimly, and Reisen could immediately tell that the former was not looking forward to this meeting. Sona hid it better and took up a cold expression that exuberated professionalism.
Reisen stood up from her chair to begin leaving. "In that case, I'll see you tonight. I'll go ahead and bring some medical equipment over. I have to let Suika-san and Marisa-san know too.
Both of the Kings bid her farewell as she opened the doors leading outside. The sun still shone brightly on her, but it wouldn't be long till the overhead star set.
xXx
With a bigger luggage in hand, Reisen eventually returned to the entrance of the Occult Research Club. The sun was predictably, setting over the horizon, giving off a shade of orange emanating from the trees. The shadows tilted over the building, darkening the area. The darkening sun, hidden by the overhead leaves, still shone its light tree and leaf like shadows onto the ground. All in all, Reisen was distinctly reminded of the sunset at Eientei, if not for the western building that she was entering.
"Ready?" Reisen murmured, patting the lab coat pocket to her side.
"Yup!" A tiny oni squeaked out, popping her head out momentarily.
The actual Suika was still spread around town for the moment, but the extra companion eased Reisen's tension.
Reisen took deep breathes before knocking on the front of the Occult Research Club. Seconds after, it opened, revealing Akeno who looked almost relieved for a friendlier face. It almost took Reisen by surprise, but she hid it with experience from the Lunarian War.
"Ahh, hello Inaba-san. Everyone is already here." Akeno informed her. "Please, come in."
Reisen nodded, dragging her wheeled luggage behind her into the central room. The entirety of the devils, in comparison to prior, were all here. Rias' entire peerage stood by the sides, along with all of Sona's. On the seats were the Kings, Rias and Sona, along with two people that Reisen did not recognize at all. Dressed in white and light blue robes and hood that hid their figure were two women. One with blue hair and a green highlight, and the other in long twintails that were orange. Asia looked perturbed, torn between glancing towards the ground and at the exorcist.
Ahh, right. Asia was technically part of the church for a long while, before being sent to Kuoh. Reisen speculated that Asia was only here because of her loyalty rather than duty. The two exorcists were the same one that Azazel had shown from the pictures. It meant that his information was accurate at least. Not that she thought he would've lied, but it was a point for his reliability.
"A contractor of your's?" The blue haired exorcist, Reisen could detect was agitated, but at least wasn't hostile to the point of aggression.
"Yes, though we invited her to this meeting as a neutral entity. She and her group also live in Kuoh for the moment, and take care of any medicinal concerns or information that we might have or need." Sona explained civilly, though it seemed to do little to ease the tension from the exorcists. "Inaba-san, these are exorcists from the Church. We've only just begun introductions, so you've arrived at a good time."
"Xenovia Quarta, exorcist of the Church." The blue haired one bit out unhappily.
"Irina Shidou! Exorcist of the Church! Amen!" Her companion conversely, greeted her cheerfully.
"This is more of a formality than anything and we suspect that we know what you'd like. Still, please explain to us the purpose of your presence in Kuoh." Sona began, allowing the exorcists to speak for themselves.
"We're here for a mission for the Church. We want to request a non-aggression pact and permission to hunt for Excalibur pieces that are here." Xenovia minced no words and Reisen could immediately tell that Xenovia was likely not suited for diplomacy at all.
Blunt, with no care for opinion from those she disliked openly was how Reisen would describe her. The only thing likely keeping her from outright hostility was her duty and possibly sparking another war.
"We would appreciate any information you've learned. The Church sent a scout earlier into Kuoh, and he was supposed to contact you for permission and information instead of us. We haven't heard from him though, so we're doing it instead." Irina explained further, at least giving a sheepish grin to the undoubtedly unsuitable situation they were now placed in.
"He's dead." Kiba cut in from the sides. "Freed Sellzen killed him, while I was patrolling around town."
Rias' eyes widened, and it was now clear that she hadn't been told that part from Kiba. The latter, Reisen could see was balling his hands into fists deep enough that his nails were breaking skin.
Irina grimaced. "Yeah. That's what we guessed too when he didn't show up at the meeting spot we made."
"Unless you devils fabricated this and killed him for stepping on your territory?" Xenovia discourteously added.
"We'd have no reason to kill him if he was here for diplomacy and negotiations. Such a thing would only spark greater conflict between our factions." Sona shut down quickly, not allowing the accusation to fester.
Xenovia grunted, clearly not believing her, but allowing the topic to die. "Freed Sellzen is a rogue exorcist from the Church. A psychopath who cares nothing about the ideals of Heaven. "
The devils weren't surprised, with most of Rias' peerage having encountered him before. Issei balled his hands into a fist, which Reisen caught.
"We're not sure why, but fallen angels stole three Excalibur fragments from the Church, killing many of our comrades before escaping into Kuoh. We knew some of them too. We've been sent here to get them back." Irina elaborated on their purpose for being in devil-controlled territory.
"Fallen angels?" Rias questioned. "What could fallen angels want with Excalibur of all things?"
"Actually…" Reisen cut in, gaining everyone's attention. "I might have more information about this as well. My group has also received intelligence that the culprit of the theft and escape is someone named Kokabiel."
Reisen let the information process as the exorcists turned to her suspiciously. Rias and Sona look surprised that she knew in the first place, though the latter was quicker to school her expression into something neutral. Several others looked confused at the name, but remained silent in deference to their Kings.
"And how do you know this?" Xenovia glared at her.
"Azazel of the Grigori…" Reisen paused when several pairs of eyes widened at the utterance of the name. "Approached me with further information regarding the incident."
"Kokabiel…" Xenovia bit out, almost grinding her teeth. "Then he's also a rogue element. If your information is true, then unfortunately, Irina and I don't stand a chance against him."
"How did Azazel approach you in the first place?" Rias asked, surprise clear in her tone.
He walked through the front door, Reisen wanted to cynically state, though she imagined that wouldn't go over well.
"He arrived not long after I released Kiba-san from my clinic for injuries." She began elaborating on the time frame of his appearance. "He explained that Kokabiel, the twelve-winged cadre, instigated a plot to steal the Excalibur pieces from the Church. Unfortunately, because this is devil-controlled territory, he can't intervene directly due to the politics surrounding this. Not only that, but sending someone strong enough from the Grigori to handle Kokabiel would require too much bureaucracy that by that time, it'd be too late to stop him. Instead, he's provided as much information as possible that he's learned."
"Just knowing our enemy himself is helpful, but daunting at the same time." Sona placed a hand against her forehead. "He can't have done it alone though, no matter how powerful he is. Are there any estimation to his forces?"
"No firm amount, but Azazel-san stated that Kokabiel's leading rogue exorcists along with a strong following of fallen angels loyal to him." Reisen answered, much to the displeasure of everybody here.
"Not just Kokabiel then, but fallen angels and rogue exorcists?" Xenovia, grinded her teeth together in frustration. "It's true that we didn't quite know who instigated the plot, but for someone like him to be involved?"
Reisen turned to the devils first. "Azazel suspected that the both of you would also have difficulty requesting for extra protection from the Satans."
Rias winced. "Yes, that's right. Sona and I were adamant that we could independently supervise this area. And because of our relations with the Satans, asking them for help would make us look weak."
"Not only that…" Sona added on. "But the Satans themselves would look too heavy-handed if they bypassed the checks and balances of the council to send someone powerful enough to assist us."
Both the Kings looked towards the exorcists, who appeared in contemplation.
"The church didn't tell us anything about our enemy, other than possibly being fallen angels and exorcists." Irina solemnly said, looking much more crestfallen than before.
"Irina and I don't stand a chance if this is all true. We had our own weapons in place to handle this, but I don't think it's enough anymore." Xenovia reluctantly admitted.
"A secret weapon?" Rias cocked an interested eyebrow, looking towards the concealed weapons on each of the exorcists' backs.
"Yes. This is also one of the reasons we're here. In order to fight against the other Excalibur swords, we've brought two as well." Xenovia answered, taking the bundled weapon off her back and leaning it against the floor. "Excalibur Destruction."
"Excalibur Mimicry." Irina also declared, pointed towards a pink ribbon wrapped around her arm.
"Excalibur…" Kiba snarled at the name of the sword.
Surprisingly, Xenovia turned towards Kiba. "We also heard word that a survivor of the Holy Sword Project was under your peerage. The Church would like to offer its apologies and to inform you of the name of the man who performed the experiments illegally."
"Valper Galilei." Irina stated. "He's been exiled from the Church, but we believe he may be working with the fallen angels ever since."
"Valper…! So I finally have a name to that voice." Kiba growled, which Reisen stared at.
The boy became incredibly agitated over hearing the name and the sword. Likely, it was due to his past as he had previously explained to her about.
"Thank you for telling me. To us, he was always known as the director. Knowing he was exiled doesn't mean anything to me though." Kiba divulged, though despite his enmity, Reisen noticed he at least had the courtesy to thank the opposing faction for the information.
"Azazel plans to send a third party to assist us, but it will take time for him to arrive." Reisen divulged further, sensing a good opportunity to continue providing what she knew. "As a third party, they aren't technically beholden to the same politics the three major factions have to handle."
"But we have no idea when whoever he's sent might arrive." Sona argued against, placing a closed fist under her chin to ponder further. "So, what do you both plan to do from here on?"
Xenovia appeared torn, as if conflicted on what she was supposed to do. Irina frowned, but spoke up first.
"From our standpoint, Xenovia and I stand no chance alone against Kokabiel. We'd like to try and work together with the devil faction for mutual survival." Irina declared, causing Xenovia to turn towards her in shock and anger.
"Irina! You don't plan to have us work with mortal enemies of God! Along with two heretics!"
The twin-tailed girl smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Xenovia. I don't think we stand a chance against someone this strong, even with our Excalibur pieces. I don't want to work with them either, but we don't have a choice. Surely God will forgive us for this heresy once."
Xenovia turned away crossly, but eventually mollified enough to see reason. "Tch, fine. I don't like this at all."
"Thank you! Amen!" Irina thanked while clasping her hands together in prayer.
The other devils winced in pain, but did nothing more from hearing her words.
"Then instead of a non-aggression pact, us of the devil faction would like to move towards an alliance for mutual survival." Rias proclaimed, grasping the attention of the room. "Kokabiel is too strong and experienced for all of us combined. He's a veteran of the Great War, and hasn't survived this long by being stupid."
"We… agree." Xenovia bit out, clearly unhappy, but logical enough to see Irina's reasoning. Irina looked thankful towards both Rias and Xenovia. "But you heathens better had not betray us."
Rias pointedly ignored it and continued. Nonetheless, peerage members of both Rias and Sona glared at Xenovia.
"But what could he want the Excalibur for? Why would he want to gather so many in the first place? If he wanted war, he would only need just one and then kill any one of us. Our siblings would retaliate predictably." Rias theorized while Sona extrapolated on.
And likely cause another war to break out anyway, Reisen added on mentally.
"My hypothesis is that he's aware that none of the factions can feasibly send someone powerful enough to stop him should he enter foreign territory without bureaucracy and requiring other factions to know of their movements. If the weapons he stole were numerous and significant enough, the Church would be incentivized to send someone stronger, raising tensions amongst all the factions either internally or externally." Sona conjectured, believing Kokabiel to take a much more subtle approach. "But the question on why rogue exorcists like Freed Sellzen are working with Kokabiel isn't answered."
"This is irrelevant." Xenovia interrupted, getting glares from the peerage members. "It doesn't matter why Kokabiel stole the swords. What matters more is how we're going to respond to him."
"But understanding why he's taking these actions would help react to him better. We're simply not in a strong enough position to fight him." Sona countered, though Xenovia appeared unconvinced.
"If we wonder why Kokabiel is doing this in the first place, the meeting is going to take much longer." Reisen interjected. "For now, I think it would be best to have a temporary plan of action, then reconvene tomorrow on what we should do."
The blue haired exorcist looked surprised that Reisen would seemingly take her side, but did not respond.
"I suppose you're right. Where are the both of you staying? We should at least stay in close proximity to support each other if we're attacked." Rias turned to the exorcists who strangely enough, turned away from her.
"We… were supposed to stay at a hotel temporarily. But Irina spent all our money on a ridiculous portrait." Xenovia glared at her companion who huffed in defiance. "We were going to beg on the streets for money enough to stay somewhere."
"It wasn't a waste of money! It was a portrait of Saint… uhh… Peter?" Irina trailed off, as Reisen could see Xenovia's arm twitch towards wanting to strangle her partner.
"You don't even know the portrait of who you bought was!? You call yourself a devotee of the Church!?"
Irina quailed while Xenovia continued yelling at her for her apparently mistake. The rather sad, yet amusing sight of the exorcists arguing of each other stunned the peerage members, whom appared confused at what was even happening.
"Eh-hem." Sona cleared her throat to get their attention. "For now, we would be willing to allow you to stay at one of the dorms provided for students attending Kuoh Academy. As long as either of you do not brandish any holy weapons."
Once again, Xenovia appeared unwilling still though Irina was quick to agree.
"Yes! We're okay with that!"
"Tch, staying in the home of a devil. But if it's for the sake of a mission from God, then I have no choice." Xenovia reasoned to herself, still looking very much unhappy.
The devils frowned as well at the Kings' decision, but raised no objections to having exorcists under their roof.
"We'll contact the Satans for support, but it'll take time for them to provide support." Rias declared, regaining attention of the room. "For now, we should stay together. Let's prepare as many defenses as we can and reconvene tomorrow. I think tensions are too high for us to come up with a proper plan to coordinate with different factions."
Everybody acquiesced and prepared to leave. Reisen noted Xenovia glancing over at Asia multiple times, but the exorcist said nothing. In turn, the devils didn't so much glare as they did glower at the rather hostile exorcist. The latter, narrowed her eyes, keeping her guard the entire way as she was escorted out of the building. Reisen couldn't quite catch some of the peerage members speaking to the exorcist, though Irina marched up to Issei with waves of both excitement and disappointment.
Reisen tuned them out in favor of leaving as well. Despite being the more inexperienced negotiator or diplomat, Reisen agreed with Rias' decision. Xenovia seem much more hot headed, and while Irina did much to keep Xenovia's hostility in check, she was not confident that things would be productive for long. Others might say it would waste a day, seeing as the enemy was no directly in their territory, but with such a huge disadvantage in terms of power, preparation would be key.
She politely stated her goodbyes before beginning her walk back to the Inaba Clinic.
"Ya' know, we still have tell them about Raynare." The tiny Suika clone, popped out of her lab coat pocket. "Or, maybe ya' don't plan to?"
Reisen shook her head. "I don't think it would be a good idea to. There is such a thing in negotiations as being too honest. If we revealed that Raynare was here, it'd only antagonize the devils. I don't even want to see how those two exorcists would react to seeing a fallen angel when one of our opponents is a twelve-winged cadre."
"I guess yer' right. I'll probably fuse with m-." The clone cut herself off, immediately tensing. Reisen felt the vibrations more than saw as the Suika clone became alerted.
"Someone's in our clinic. And it's not Marisa or Raynare. I don't recognize this presence, but it ain't one of us." Suika stated, immediately alarming Reisen as well.
Her senses heightened as eyes began glowing ominously red. Her powers triggered as she unleashed her abilities, looking around for any hint of an attack. Strangely enough, a magical presence emanated in the direction of the clinic. Specifically, it was holy magic, indicated by the white ley lines she could see, outlined in gold. Powerful enough to cause severe damage even to some older youkai if they weren't aware of the danger.
Eventually, Reisen reached the entrance of the Inaba Clinic and to her horror, someone was already perched on top of its roof. A man with long black hair and red eyes stood elegantly. A black robe encompassed him, along with a high collar and purple shoulder pads, giving him the appearance of a noble. His boots were black with strings running up the middle of it to the top. The same kind of energy running underneath the clinic flowed from him.
"Greetings, Inaba Reisen." He smiled maliciously, floating into the air before snapping his fingers.
And in a flash of light, the Inaba Clinic exploded.
AN: I hated writing this chapter. Welcome to the first AN in a while. Expect infrequent updates as I try and survive the IRL world.