Hi-Dilly-Doh guys! It's me, DevilsZack00 and we're back with the new chapter of Bleach DxD! First of all I want to thank you for supporting this series! I hope it continues like this until the end. Remember to also leave a review, be it thanks or constructive criticism.

How are you? I'm doing fine here. During august I managed to almost finish the chapters for FFXV: Journey in Remnant, while I started to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3 too. It's so good so far (Sena shouting yipee during a chain attack got me-...buuuuuuut at the same time I started more stories too. Sadly this is a problem of creativity, so get ready because after I posted this chapter I will release a pool.

Changing topics...the new TYBW's trailer is so GOOD damn! I love the new version of "on the precipice of defeat" but the opening is already a banger! Finally the Opening 16th is no more a meme! Come on guys, just 20ish days and the king is back!

But let's stop the chit-chat, cuz it's time for kick off the start of the new arc for this story! Yay!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own BLEACH or Highschool DxD. Support the original creators and their works! For every single chapter, I use google translate since I am italian. Enjoy!

PS: The pool is up! Go and check for vote

"Whoa…" Issei released an amazed breath when his eyes laid upon the many females that approached the school's pool. The sound that he made also caused the other three males to look over and see that the girls were already changed into their swimsuits. There was a variety and majority of them were bikinis. The only ones wearing school-swimsuits were Asia and Koneko.

"Hey, did we keep you guys waiting?" Rias asked with a smile as she approached them. "I know there is a small tendency that girls change a bit slower than the males."

"Not really" Yuuto shook his head. "Though all we have to do is move all this stuff over to a safe spot, so it won't get wet. All of you can go in the pool right now if you want."

"I'll help you guys out" Ravel stepped forward.

Akeno stepped forward as well. "Do you guys need any more help? I could lend a hand if you still need it"

After taking a mental headcount, Ichigo informed. "I don't think we need another pair of hands. Still thanks for the offer"

"Are you sure?" With a promiscuous voice, a pair of hands grabbed Yuuto from behind. "As a former exorcist, I can help for the hard work"

"X-Xenovia-san?!" Yuuto deeply blushed for the new Knight of Gremory's action as Ichigo stepped between the two.

"Can't we enjoy a day without being so lewd?!" The orange haired boy shouted.

"Aw, but we just want to help you" The Queen smiled in a flirtatious way as she winked to the two boys.

"That's not help!"

"Honestly Ichigo's right" Holding a few bags in his hands, Kaito shrugged as he walked between the two. "Leave this to us and enjoy the pool, girls"

"Aye!" Akeno and Xenovia answered by following their friends to the pool.

"But I wanted to help…" Ravel murmured as she lowered her gaze.

"Me too" Koneko said before the two girls looked at each other. Then, both of them glanced at Ichigo with a pair of puppy eyes.

"..." Scratching the back of his head, Ichigo sighed. "Alright, you can help" He answered, noticing their bright smiles at him.

Asia, in the meantime, noticed Issei looking around deep in thought. "Issei-kun, is everything okay?" She asked, getting everyone's attention. "You seem to have something on your mind."

Issei scratched the back of his head. "Well…you guys might end up laughing at it."

[Koyoi, Tsuki ga Miezutomo] (Bleach Fade to Black movie ending / Bleach Heat the Soul 6 opening)

By Porno Graffiti

*Instrumental*

(Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Koyoi, tsuki wa doko o terasu no? Atsui kumo ni oowareta sora

(Illuminated by the light of dawn, the Shibuya Crossing was being crossed by Issei, dressed in casual clothes suitable for summer. As the camera moved at Ise's left side, the Reincarnated Devil looked to his left, noticing that the ORC members, together with a shy pale girl wearing the Kuoh female uniform while the others were wearing casual clothes, were walking together with him. Smiling, Issei looked at his right, seeing that the two Shinigamis together with Vali, the Vanishing Dragon, were walking with him)

Koyoi, kimi wa dare ni dakarete iru no ka ame ni hitori nakou ka

(The camera changed its position as it framed them from an aerial position as they all stopped in the middle of the Shibuya Crossroad, looking at the QFRONT building. Suddenly, several figures wrapped in thick black cloaks appeared on the roof of the aforementioned palace. When they appeared, Issei glared at them with determination as the camera showed one of the ten figures' grin at the Devil)

*Instrumental*

(The scenario changed, showing the city of Tokyo bathed by the dawn sunlight as the logo "Bleach DxD" appeared)

Subete o wakariaeru to omoi

(The scene change: One after the other, the ORC members, together with their Shinigami friends, appears as they sports their summer casual clothes)

Kitai nado shita jibun o hajireba

(The scene change: Like before, the same happens for Sona and her Peerage)

Dazai o te ni okujou ni agari

(The scene change: One after another, the Four Great Satans appear, observing the sky of the Underworld)

Kono yo nado wa to ureite miseru

Sora ni tsuba o haitara jibun ni kakatta

(With a ray of light fall from the sky as effect, the scene changed: In the middle of a forest, a raven-black haired man wearing a black shihakusho was walking until he drew his sword which released light, revealing several figures behind the man before he slashed the camera)

Tabibito kidori de kitai kuse ni

(The scene changed: In the sky of Tokyo, the camera framed an emerald haired boy, wearing a black kimono, spin a staff in his right hand, releasing crimson energy)

Mayoimichi mawarimichi ga kirai de

(Raising an enormous club in the left hand, a male Oni with blue skin and a black kimono smashed his weapon against the ground, releasing purple flames from it)

Amekaze shinogeru yane no shita de

(Above the Tokyo Tower, a red haired woman with two cat tails, wearing a miko dress, activated a magic circle above her, summoning a blonde young man with two foxtails popping out from his back. Wearing a black kimono like the two other males, the man drew a nodachi before he set the blade ablaze, releasing blue flames which burned the screen)

Guuguru kensaku de sekai o miru

(The scene changed: Running through the streets of Tokyo, a girl with long purple hair and orange eyes is running away from a white haired man, which held his hands towards the girl, releasing a wave of darkness from his hand)

Kimi ni todokazu

Ai no kotoba

(Before the darkness could reach the girl, Issei jumped in the middle as he dispelled the darkness with his fire, resembling a sun for the girl's eyes. At the sight of this, the man smirked)

Koyoi, tsuki wa doko o terasu no?

(The scene changed: Several battles took place at the Shibuya Crossroad. On the top of a building, Xenovia and Yuuto jumped from above, trying to cut down one of the figures which jumped away, wielding a snake as a whip. Raising his head, Kiba saw Kaito and Akeno fly towards three of the figures before they attacked them with magic spells)

Atsui kumo ni oowareta sora

(With her left hand, Rias fired a sphere of destruction against three figures until an armor appeared before the smallest figure, acting as a barrier before it fired a black beam against its enemies, which were Rias, Koneko, Asia and a mysterious girl. For protect her friends, Asia raised her hands, creating a magical barrier for protect them from the beam)

Koyoi, kimi wa dare ni dakarete iru no ka

(Flying in the sky, Issei and Vali were flying towards the white haired man, who was acting as the leader of Ise's enemies. Before they could reach him, the man wearing a shihakusho appeared before them, but he was pushed away by Ichigo and Senna, with the former was smirking to the raven-black haired man)

Ame ni hitori nakou ka

(Raising their fists, the two Dragon Emperors were ready to attack the white haired man, who was just smirking at them as he raised his right hand)

Chapter 15: Something in the Aftermath

Senna raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I just realized something." The male brunette spoke with a shrug of his shoulders but grew a small grin. "You know how there is anime everywhere? Many of them eventually do an episode where they go to the beach or to a pool and hang out. This is like our beach or pool party episode! Isn't that - - isn't that cool?!"

"…" Everyone looked at each other.

"Nah" The two Shinigami and Yuuto replied.

"Not really." The girls followed up.

The user of the Boosted Gear scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by what he said. "Well, I think I'll go do what Kiba suggested then." Running to the pool, he leapt into the air and curled up. "Cannonball!" His shout was followed by a loud and big splash which soaked some of their legs.

But despite having no intention of getting wet at the beginning, Rias still smiled. "Well, the rest of you don't need me to tell you what to do. Have fun!" While waving her hand, she jumped in after Issei.

More people decided to join in as well. Senna dived in. Akeno and Xenovia submerged themselves gently from the edge of the pool. Asia followed slowly after, a bit nervous but excited at the same time.

The remaining people however did their own things. Ichigo was wheeling a barbecue grill with Kaito. Setting them up near the pool, Ravel unfolded a few tables that she was carrying with Koneko before the two girls placed down the bags of food onto such tables.

"It works, sweet~!" With a grin, Kaito clapped his hands. "Now let's enjoy ourselves. No need to get the food ready until later, nay?"

"Yeah, you're right" With a nod, Ichigo finished setting the grill when he saw that Kaito went silent. "Kaito?"

"You know Ichigo" Kaito put his left hand under his chin as he watched the pool. "I've never been able to notice it…but…"

"But?"

"All those girls wearing swimsuits…this is such a beautiful scenario!" With a trail of blood coming from his nose, Kaito grinned. "Right?"

"YOU TOO NOW?!"

"Oh come on, can't you enjoy a day at the pool?"

"Kukukuh, Kaito-sama is right! You're not enjoying this paradise — no, this Eden, Ichigo!" A high pitched male voice spoke from behind Ichigo as something jumped on a near table. It was a plushie: The doll has a light tan body with seams running up and down the entire thing. The arms and legs each have four white, flat claws which serve as its fingers and toes. A button is placed in the center of the body where his belly button would be. It has two beady black eyes and small ears with pink inside of them. Its head is surprisingly flat when viewed from the side and it has a brown, spiky mane atop the head. Hanging from its lower back is a small tail. "Let's just swap the bodies and allow me, the mighty and great Kon-sama, to enjoy this sunny day!"

"And you shut up!" Suddenly, Kon's head was grabbed by Ichigo, who glared at him. "I was enjoying the peace in this world without constantly hearing your voice, you damned plushie! Guess I'll just throw you into the water"

"N-NONONONO!" Kon started to struggle in order to free himself from Ichigo's grab, but it was useless. "Chlorine ruins my fur!"

"I don't care!"

"Hahah!" Holding his stomach with a hand, Kaito laughed. "Oh come on Ichigo, it's summer for Kon too after all. Plus…" Then, with a pervert glance, Kaito started to observe the girls'...you know, 'measures'. "He's right, this is not a scenario. This is a real Eden…"

"N-Niiice, my friend!" Kon raised his right arm, showing his respect to Kaito.

"And you don't get involved!" Ichigo shouted as he threw Kon against Kaito when the latter's gaze fell on Koneko. "Jeez, perverts will always stick together in one way or another…" With a sigh, Ichigo raised his gaze to the sky, remembering what happened after the battle with Kokabiel…

Schoolgate, after the battle…

As he was carrying Senna on his right shoulder like the last time, Ichigo was walking together with the ORC members that were awake. "..." Silently, the Shinigami glanced at Senna. 'She'll not disappear…I hope' He thought as he glanced at his left shoulder where he was carrying Ravel.

"Are you sure you can carry Ravel-san too?" Yuuto spoke. "I can do it if you want"

"Don't worry, I can do this" With a nod, Ichigo glanced at Yuuto who was carrying Issei. "You have to carry Ise, after all"

"So…'bout your story" Kaito started to talk as he was carrying Rias. "Feel free to tell us the truth later…"

"I can do it now" Ichigo said as he stopped walking.

Shaking her head, Akeno gazed at Ichigo. "We need to rest now, Ichigo. You too. We can wait for a few days, after all"

"Akeno…alright, guess it'll be for when everyone will be okay" Ichigo said before he noticed Koneko walking to an alleyway. "Koneko?"

"Neko-chan?" Kaito said as he followed the girl with his eyes. "Found something"

"Yes" She said as she kneeled down, grabbing something. After that, she turned towards her friends, holding a plushie. "Lion-chan"

"K-Koneko-san" Asia was observing the plushie with a strange gaze. "It was in an alleyway, so I don't think it is….clean?"

"..." Glancing at Ichigo, Koneko made a pair of puppy eyes. "Can I keep it, Ichi-nii?"

"Don't use Ichigo for everything you want!" Yuuto said comically.

"Hoi Koneko, Asia is right" With a sigh, Ichigo glanced at the plushie. "That thing is surely dir—…"

"Ichigo?" Kaito glanced at his Shinigami friend as he shouted towards the plushie.

"K-KOOOON?!"

Suddenly, the plushie moved itself! Raising its left arm, it pointed at Ichigo as it shouted too. "ICHIGOOOOOO?!"

SPLASH!

"!" Ichigo shook his head after a splash of water hitted him, wetting the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing. Glaring at the culprit, Ichigo saw that Senna was out of the pool as she was smirking at him, holding a water pistol in her left hand. "Come on, don't be an old man and try to have fun~!"

"Old man…?! You little…" Ichigo cracked his neck before he threw the shirt at the ground, running towards Senna. "Come here now, Senna!"

"Wait no n—KYIA!" Senna tried to dodge Ichigo, but the Shinigami grabbed her before she could move as they both jumped inside the pool. "Mou…" Senna pouted at Ichigo, which was smirking.

"Who's the old man now?" He said, smirking at her as he splashed water to her. "I can't hear the losers, by the way!"

"Yeah yeah, keep that for yourself!" The purple haired girl laughed as she shot at Ichigo with her water gun.

As the two Shinigamis were playing together, Ichigo felt that someone was observing him. Turning his head towards the direction, he noticed Ravel who was just wandering around the edge of the pool. "Hey, Ravel" Hearing her name be called, the blonde looked over to see Ichigo and Senna swimming towards where she was standing.

"Why aren't you hopping on in? The water's pretty nice for this weather" Senna pointed a finger towards the sun. "I mean, does the Phoenix family possess a tolerance to heat?"

Ravel gave her a flat gaze. "Yes, we do." She then shook her head and looked away while playing with her hair. "As for your other question… I don't feel like it."

The female Shinigami raised an eyebrow. Ravel could have just answered straight to his face. But instead, she chose to hide her expression from him.

"…" Ichigo silently gazed at the girl before he spoke to Ravel. "Hoi Ravel-san, can you swim?" He asked. The girl flinched but tried to act like nothing happened.

"Heeh?!" Senna swimmed back a little when she heard Ichigo. "Is that true, Ravel-chan?"

Feeling their eyes boring into her, Ravel faced forward. "No, I can't swim!" She confessed. "There, I said it! Just don't laugh at me!"

"..." Looking at each other, the twl teenagers raised an eyebrow. That sentence brought confusion to them. "Is the fact that you can't swim supposed to be funny?" He asked.

"...Huh?"

"I said if it is supposed to be funny" Ichigo repeated. "Because I don't see the humor in it. I mean, there are tons of people who can't swim; even adults."

"R-Really…?" The blonde stammered.

"Ichigo is right" Senna said as she smiled, pointing her finger towards the other side of the pool. "Look, most of the girls and Issei are teaching Asia-san how to swim right now, while Kaito and Kon are doing the same to Koneko-chan"

Listening to the two teenager's words, Ravel looked up a bit to see that what Senna said was indeed true. The two shortest members of their group were being pulled as they kicked in the water.

"Trust me, it's not really something you should be embarrassed about. All you gotta do is learn." The orange haired boy continued to speak as he smiled. "I can teach you as well if you want, like I did to my sisters"

"And I can help too" Senna stepped in as she held out her hand to Ravel, winking at her. "You can do it"

'You can do it'. Hearing those words moved something inside Ravel, but she didn't know what. "…Umm, su-sure." The girl nodded her head. Bending her legs, Ravel carefully slipped one leg into the water. Shivering a bit due to the temperature, her positioning on the ledge was compromised and fell. Quickly, just as she hit the water and released a squeak of surprise, her arms wrapped around Ichigo's neck and, surprisingly, almost pulled the boy down with her.

"Whoa!" Ichigo grunted, using one arm at first to hold them both up in the water. But he eventually managed to move his other arm over to fully support their bodies. "Well… that was a bit of a surprise." He said, looking up towards the air and breathing deeply to calm his nerves.

The female was confused as to why Ichigo was reacting the way he was. Looking down, she realized that she was holding onto his rather tightly and was pressed her chest against his. Ravel unwrapped her arms from his neck and held onto the edge immediately upon discovery. "Ye-yeah." She agreed.

"Alright!" Clapping her hands, Senna drew the Devil's attention to herself. "It's time to start lesson number one! Don't worry, the national champion of swimming, Senna, will help!"

"You are a champion?!" Ravel gasped when she heard Senna.

"I am somewhat doubtful about this" Ichigo said sincerely as he looked at Senna with a rather…skeptical facial expression.

"Heheh" Holding her hand on the edge of the pool, Senna smirked with pride. "One of the memories is the memory of a swimmer who was nationally famous in our world, of course I'm a champion too!" She explained.

"..." As Senna was explaining and Ravel was listening to her, Ichigo glanced at the female Shinigami. After the Sefirot incident, Ichigo was fearing that Senna could vanish again, but he noticed that Senna's existence was not only stable, but she regained all her memories about the events at Karakura too. For her own words, her existence is stable thanks to the presence of just a few yet determined memories in her soul. 'Nothing bad should happen now, I guess…?'

"Ichigo!"

"Huh?" Shaking his head, the Shinigami Daigo saw Senna glaring at him. "What?"

"Geez, you're incredible sometimes" With a sigh, Senna spoke. "I said that you should hold Ravel's hands while I'll help with the movements for the legs"

"Alright alright" Ichigo said as he held the exact limbs out to Ravel. "Let's get this started"

Carefully reaching over, Ravel retracted her hands a bit just before making physical contact. But she immediately made up for that mistake by grabbing his hands right after.

Watching the blondes go around the pool, Yuuto instead was sitting underneath some shade. Keeping everyone into account, the blonde male held his hands up. With his thumb and index fingers on both arms, he created a temporary, improvised frame to capture the moment in front of him. But while taking the picture, he noticed that there was one person missing from the image.

"Trying to stay out of the heat too, Xenovia-san?" Yuuto asked as the girl set herself down next to him.

"Yes. The heat is a lot more intense than I anticipated." The girl confirmed with a nod of her head, trying to seat herself in a comfortable position. "Plus, I thought you wanted to dive in too"

"I'm not in the mood for swimming now" He replied and looked back to the scene that lacked only the two of them.

"…Sorry…for when we met the first time" Xenovia started to speak as she gazed at the pool. "I never thought Vampa could be such a monster, and that day I even mocked you…I'm sorry"

Shaking his head, the male Knight of Gremory glanced at Xenovia. "You don't need to apologize, Xenovia-san. I was acting like a brat at that moment"

"...He managed to run away" Xenovia said. "And together with that girl in white. I'm sure of one thing: She's strong"

With a nod, the male Knight clenched his right fist as he glanced at his friends inside the pool. "The next time we'll face him I'll stop him so he will be able to pay for the sins he has committed, I swear"

'That gaze…' Glancing at Yuuto's determined gaze, Xenovia was silent until she smiled slightly. "...Eheh" With a chuckle, Xenovia sighed. "You still forgot that we risked the Church potentially coming for the both of us if I told them everything"

"But you didn't" Turning his head on the blue haired girl, Yuuto smiled at her before that smile vanished. "Holy Demonic Sword…who knew that the being I prayed to when I was a child was already dead…my comrades…"

A hand was placed on his shoulder. Looking over, he saw Xenovia being the one to comfort him. "I'm…sorry that I'm making you say all of this. I…I think it's about time I tell you what's on my mind anyways. So… there's no need to push yourself."

Looking down, a mixture of emotions flooded Yuuto's eyes before he nodded his head slightly.

"It's just…God is dead…There are, however, things I had done that were under the belief that he was still alive. Many of them…perhaps questionable things." Xenovia said quietly but the male Knight could hear it fine. She too looked down but did not stop. "When I was first selected to wield Durandal, I was ecstatic. Thrilled. How many people on this Earth and I was the one that was selected and chosen? I felt special… worthy… like I was going to accomplish something far greater than anyone of this generation could only think of. I was going to bring righteousness – justice – to the world. Become a hero… But after learning the truth… I don't feel like a hero at all…

"…" Yuuto did not say anything.

"I've done questionable things…" The girl admitted softly. "They weren't good things. You may even consider them bad." She chuckled darkly, no humor at all when the blonde frowned. "There was always something at the back of the mind. Doubt made me think. But I ignored it in favor of rationalizing. I explained to myself that by serving the Church, I was serving God who was a figure of the force of good. He must be because he is God. But now… can what I have done really be considered good when he was dead for that entire time?"

"...Performing certain actions in the name of a higher being or good at the expense of others is not something acceptable, at least for me" Yuuto said bluntly.

"That's why I decided to leave the Church after the incident with Kokabiel. Because I hope…no, I know that with you all I can do something to redeem myself...but I don't think I can speak for Irina…"

"...She's still missing, right?" Yuuto spoke for her, receiving a nod from the former exorcist. After the incident, Irina suddenly disappeared, yet the church said that she is still alive but her current whereabouts are unknown. Moving his hand on her head, Yuuto continued to observe his friends in the pool. "...We'll find her. She is Ise's childhood friend too, after all"

A few days after Kokabiel's attack… Issei's PoV

Asia and I, who came into the club room after Buchou called the two of us, were shocked at seeing a foreign girl sitting on the sofa.

"Asia-san, Red Dragon Emperor, good afternoon" The girl with the green mesh, Xenovia, is there wearing Kuoh Academy's girls uniform.

"Wh…..why, are you here!?" I couldn't hide my unrest and pointed my finger at her when…black wings grew out of Xenovia's back! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? Those wings are the wings of a Devil! What's the meaning of this!?

"Thanks to Zero, I found out that God is gone. So I turned into a Devil as a self-abandonment. I received a "Knight" piece from Rias Gremory. It seems like I'm not that great, while Durandal is. So I was able to become a devil with 1 piece. And I was also placed in this school. From now on, I'm a 2nd year student and also a member of the Occult Research Club. Lets get along, Ise-kun." Xenovia says, while breathing with her nose.

"…Don't make such a cute sound with a serious voice."

"I copied Irina, but it looks like it's not easy."

"But reincarnating!? Buchou. Is it all right to use such a valuable piece?"

Yes. She has found out the truth that God doesn't exist. Even so, that's too quick!

"Well. Having a Durandal wielder feels reliable. With this, it's the birth of the four swordsmen, along with Yuuto, Ichigo and Senna" Buchou seems like she is enjoying it…even though both Ichigo and Senna dumped her request to officially join her Peerage, keeping their status as allies.

…but hey, is that alright? But not thinking about small stuff seems like Buchou. But certainly having a swordsman who wields a legendary holy-sword, Durandal, feels reliable. Even for the Rating Game, our opponents would be devils, so the holy-sword would release its fury against them. The Gremory group would become even stronger!

"Yes. I'm a Devil now. I can't go back. No, maybe this was a good thing. Hmmm, but since God is gone, my life was a failure. But serving under a devil who was once my enemy is- will be interesting. Even if she is a sister of a Maou…."

Xenovia starts to hold her head down while mumbling something. Ah, she's receiving some damage because she prayed just like Asia. I'm not in a position to say it, but she's also weird.

"By the way, where's Irina?" After all, Shidou Irina was her exorcist partner? After I asked, her face went suddenly gloomy. "...She's vanished without leaving any trace" The blue haired girl revealed. WHAAAT?! "I thought she was caught by the Sefirot's roots…but after we destroyed it and all the victims returned to life, she wasn't here in Kuoh"

Both me and Asia stayed silent while Buchou gave a strange look, like she already knew it…

"After the incident, I returned the cores of the Excaliburs to the Church, so the mission of retrieving them was accomplished. If they have the cores, they can use alchemy to make the Holy Swords again"

"Was it alright to give them your Excalibur? More like, was it okay for you to betray the Church?" Asia spoke.

"I have to give them the Excalibur back just in case. Unlike the Durandal, there are other wielders that could be chosen. Having Durandal is enough for me. When I mentioned the absence of God to them, they became silent. So I became an outsider for knowing the absence of God. The Church hates outsiders and heresy very much. Even if that person is the wielder of Durandal, they will cut them off. Exactly the same way as the incident with you, Asia Argento"

She laughed at herself…. Does the Church usually go that far to get rid of those people seen as heretics? They are quite extreme!

"If Irina was here, I know that she would be disappointed that I became a devil…maybe next time we'll be enemies"

Issei was gazing at the new Knight of Rias chatting with the others. 'After she joined our club, Xenovia started to act like a normal girl…I guess? I mean, she befriended Asia first the same day…and sparred with Ichigo and Yuuto the day after' The pawn thought as he sniffed the air. With the sound of sizzling filling the air, the scent of cooked food filled his nostrils.

On the barbecue grills were Ichigo, Kaito, and Akeno. The rest of the ORC meanwhile were assigned to seasoning the meats, vegetables, and other foods that were brought over to them. With the sun beginning to set, the environment around them looked warm as everyone else was relaxing in beach chairs.

"And that's how I got banned from that pub in America" Kaito said with a small smirk as he was behind the grill.

"I'm honestly worried about how you managed to get that stuff even though you are a minor" Ichigo commented without hiding the disappointment.

"Well, I'm good with diplomacy" Kaito smirked. "Or to be fair, with the Diplomacy"

"The hell do you mean?" Ichigo glanced.

"Well, I believe there are two kinds of diplomacy" As he explains, Kaito gestured with his free hand as he was moving the meat with the grill tongs. "The one with the capital D, and the one with the lowercase d"

"What is the difference between the capital D and the lowercase D?" Akeno raised an eyebrow before she had to move her head for leave enough space for Kaito's scythe to appear.

"Holy sh—" Ichigo cursed as he stepped back as Kaito grinned, resting his weapon on his shoulders.

"Is that the capital D means is Truth and Liar time~"

As they continued to speak, Issei glanced at the male Shinigami. Six days after the battle against Kokabiel and his Sefirot, Ichigo called everyone in the club room as he started to tell everyone his story with every single detail. At the end of the storytelling, everyone was shocked and surprised that day…Issei too, but just a little less since he knew half of the story.

'He doesn't show it to us…but I bet he misses his old world. His family…his friends…' Shaking his head, Issei clapped his hands. 'Why I'm so gloomy?! This is a day at the pool, so I have to enjoy it!' With a smile, the Reincarnated Devil returned to play with his clubmates.

Underworld - Lilith, the Devils' capital…

When someone hear the word 'Underworld', what they think will always be the same scenario: A desert and monstrous landscape devoid of life, with fire escaping from the earth and monstrous demons ready to devour human souls…but the truth is very different from the concept created by man.

The Underworld is roughly the same size as the Human world, but with a much larger landmass, as there are no oceans, just lakes. The sky was originally purple during both the day and night, but the current Four Great Satans, after the Great War, adjusted the flow of time to match it in the human world for the sake of the reincarnated Devils. They reproduced an artificial moon using Demonic Powers and made the night's darkness the same with the human world.

After the Great War, the Underworld's territory was split in two: The Devils' Region and the Fallen Angels' Region, with the latter being an immigrated species after they lost their homes after the War.

Walking inside the luxurious apartment, the White Dragon Emperor Vali kept his hands in his pockets as he glanced at the decor of the house. "Tch…" He clicked his tongue with disgust. "Everything is filled with gold. We're not in France before the revolution anymore" He commented as he entered the dining room.

The dining room was tidy and laid out for a dinner among Devils heads of high nobility. From the most expensive food to the five-star kitchens of the human world, the table had been served with all kinds of dishes.

Grabbing a random onigiri from a plate, the light silver haired young man ate it with just one bite as he walked to the apartment office, the real reason his presence was required in this place.

Opening the door, Vali's eyes narrowed at the sight of what the office was hiding: it was an office based entirely on Victorian Western architecture. Each piece of furniture was decorated, as for the rest of the house, with gold. From the windows to the wood of the bookcases, gold coated almost everything…but the office itself wasn't what surprised Vali. It was what lies at the ground…they were three corpses.

(Play "Bleach — Mysterious")

From the wings present on the back of their backs and from the apparently high nobility clothes, their nature as Devils was clear, but the bodies themselves were dried up to the point that they almost looked like skeletons, preventing Vali from even understanding what was their own face.

"...They're in the Livor Mortis status" He murmured as, bending down, he tried to move the arm of one of the corpses, noticing that there was blood inside the arm. "But those corpses' conditions is not natural"

As he was analysing the corpses, a small blue magic circle, big as Vali's ear, appeared at his right side of the head. Touching it, Vali activated the communication spell. "You deigned to call me, Kaikai. Don't worry, I haven't called you for a whole morning" He said sarcastically.

"Sorry, I was at the pool" From the communication circle, Kaito's voice came. "Where are you, Vali?"

"Lilith" The light silver haired man replied.

"...Are you crazy?! If they found you—"

"I have a pass thanks to Azrael" Vali said as he narrowed his eyes. "While you and your friends have been celebrating from the Kokabiel incident, the Underworld has gone mad"

"Gone mad?" Kaito said with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Here, I show you" With a movement of his right hand, Vali summoned a small magic circle before him. "Can you see?"

"Yes, the image is clear—...Those are…!"

"This is the eleventh case in two weeks" Vali revealed. "Same modus operandi. The victims are all high-class Devils" As he spoke, Vali started to walk around the room, allowing Kaito to see the scene thanks to the magic circle summoned by Vali before. "Nothing has been stolen and, above all, there are no signs of a struggle"

"...The victims knew their killer then" Kaito speculated. "Do we have their names, no?"

"Yes, we do" Vali kneeled to one of the three corpses. From the clothes the corpse wore, Vali knew it was a woman. "And now comes the problems…they are important members of the Pillars"

"Are you kidding me?! Those three too?!"

"Probably yes" Grabbing the corpse arm, he allowed the magic circle to record the status of the body. "And look, the bodies are almost skeletons like the others…but their real status is—"

"Livor Mortis…"

With a sigh, Vali got up as he walked towards the desk of the office. "They've been dead for nearly six hours…and, judging by the almost skeletal state of the corpses, I think you understand from which race the culprit belongs to"

"...Vampires"

"Looks it's time to pay a visit to the Tepes clan in Transylvania"

"But it's impossible"

"What?" Vali glared as he heard Kaito. "What do you mean Kaikai? They are the only race—"

"Look at the bodies, Vali"

Listening to his adopted sibling, Vali followed his instructions. "So?"

"At this point, they should already become Ghouls"

"...!" Vali gasped when he heard the statement. Checking the conditions of the bodies, Vali acknowledged Kaito's speculation. "You're right, they haven't turned into Ghouls…"

"The culprit is trying to put the blame on them…" Kaito went silent for a few seconds. "Give me a few hours, Vali. I'm coming"

"...Kaikai, it's better if I continue this thing alone"

"What?!"

Glancing at the door of the office, Vali sat on the desk. "Listen carefully, Kaikai. After Riser and Kokabiel, the Peerage of that Gremory girl is at the center of the attention of the nobility of the Devils. Your mere arrival in Lilith, even of a single member like you, could spark a media uproar"

"...Wait, so no one knows about this?"

"Of the nobility, no. But the Great Devils and the heads of the Gregori know" Vali confirmed. "Kaikai, now I'm going to tell you something confidential. Do not repeat those words to anyone: Serafall of the Fours already send a team in the human world for investigate"

"In the human world?"

"Yes" Vali nodded as he kept talking. "Because…similar cases are happening in the human world as well"

(End "Bleach — Mysterious")

PoV: ?

Hello there! How are you? Wait, do you don't recognize me?! Oh well, of course you haven't. After all, that Gremory and her Peerage got the show only for them 'till now.

Alright, time for presentations, shall we? The name's Genshirou Saji, but you can call me Saji, and I'm not a normal teenager: I'm a second year student at the Kuoh Academy, a member of the Student Council and the president Sona Sitri's Pawn as well.

Yup, you heard it well! I'm a Reincarnated Devil, a 4-pieces Pawn to be precise. Now, as the Student Council, we should be at school if only the Kokabiel's incident did not almost destroyed our school and the city itself.

The rebuilding of the school is progressing quickly, but we will eventually return to class in September. This means…a summer that is almost three months long! The beach! The girls in swi—

"WHY WE ARE INSIDE A PLANE SINCE THIS DAWN?!" Slamming my head against the table of the private jet, I released a groan. I'm soooo bored.

"Now come on, Gen-chan" One of the girls that were sitting around the seats in the private jet, spoke to me. "We're almost here"

Turning my head towards our white haired Bishop, Momo, I sighed. "But why with a jet? Couldn't we just use the teleport magic to reach London?"

"Don't you know? England is under the tutelage of the Protestant church" Our Knight, Tomoe, stepped in the chat.

"...So?" I asked, without understanding Tomoe's words.

"Uh…I guess they are different with how they deal with Devils?" The Knight nervously chuckled.

"Honestly I don't know the differences between the Protestant and the Catholic" The blue haired Rook, Tsubasa, shrugged.

"Sigh…you're hopeless" With a sigh Reya, our second Bishop, started to explain. "Listen, the reason why we are reaching London with a jet and not with a teleport spell is because we have to follow the Sacred Rule of Saint George"

"George?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The Saint Patron of England, Saint George" Suddenly, from behind me, the vice president of the council and Queen of the Peerage as well, Tsubaki Shinra, walked in. "When he was alive, he created an organization which purpose is to protect the human beings from the other races: The Holy Cross Order"

"And so why are we still going to London with a jet?"

"The Holy Cross allows the others races to enter in London, but only if they act and live as normal humans"

?

"Ahaha!" A childish laugh echoed as a petite figure runned through the hall. It was a petite young white boy with an androgynous body, with medium long ginger hair and bangs that stop at his eyes. He has large yellow eyes, and a long, thin braid that extends down to his back. He sports a white shirt, brown vest, knee-long blue trousers and a long dark brown overcoat. He also wore a pair of black gloves and boots.

"This is so fun!" The boy said without knowing that his playtime would meet its end as the boy slammed against a female figure. With a pale complexion, navel-length white hair and gray eyes, the woman could be described only as "beautiful like a doll". She wears a long and black gothic dress with all the accessories of a gothic female outfit. The woman glared at the boy. "What do you want?"

"Nee nee, let's play a little, big sis!" The boy smiled at her as he bumped his fists.

Clicking her tongue, the woman turned her head towards a window. "Don't wanna do it"

"Eeeeeeh?! But I don't know what I can do alone!"

"You can play with the last woman we captured" The pale woman stated as she glanced at a wall, revealing a woman crucified on it. "She is still alive, no?"

"Fiiine…" Pouting at the older woman, the child turned his head towards the woman, until a male spoke.

"Now now, I believe what you did yesterday is enough for the lady" A male voice came from behind the boy and the woman. Turning their heads, the two saw who spoke.

(Play "Bleach — Shadow's Masquerade")

He is a tall, lean man with wavy brown-red hair arching at the front and parted on either side with wing-like tufts brushed above his ears, maroon eyes, thin and flat eyebrows, pronounced cheekbones, and a thick goatee shaped like a straight line extending from underneath his lower lip to the underside of his chin, as well as a pointed tongue. He wears a purple vest with a black lining, in the left breast pocket of which he keeps a golden pocket watch, and a dull green tie over white dress shirt, as well as brown slacks and black dress shoes.

"Big brother!" The boy smiled at the man, hugging him. "Did you see how I treated my toys? Am I a good child for my uncle?"

"Yes Louis Charles, you are indeed a good child for the uncle" Chuckling, the man patted the boy's head a few times as he gazed at the woman. "And you looked after Louis Charles, Kriemhild?"

"Yes, my master" Bowing her head towards the man, the woman called Kriemhild stated. "I accomplished the task our leader bestowed to me and Louis Charles: Our enemies are believing the culprits of the homicides are the two vampires factions''

"Very well. Until our master will not reveal our existence, it is imperative that our race remain hidden" With a nod, the man walked towards the woman crucified on the wall. "Mh…she is close to the edge of death…the kind of meal I love" Touching her chin, the man smirked until he opened his mouth…biting her neck. In silence, Kriemhild and Louis Charles observed the woman open her eyes as her whole body started to dry, until it became a mere skeleton.

"She was our meal…" Kriemhild and Louis Charles murmured as they suddendly went silent. Widening their eyes, the woman and the child felt an incredible pressure against their bodies, becoming so heavy that they had to kneel before the man.

"My my, Kriemhild, Louise Charles. Why are you two still so selfish?" Licking his lips from a mysterious orange liquid that came out from the woman, the man turned his head to face the gothic woman. "Let me ask…How long has it been since you awakened your true nature?"

"..." The woman tried to speak for both her and Louis Chalres, but the pressure suddenly increased as an emerald aura appeared around the man. "I…"

"Allow me to remember it, both to you and him" Grabbing Kriemhild's head, the man continued to smirk. "Nine centuries for you, and almost three centuries for him. You are mere children compared to me, remember this. I already had awakened my real nature when I saw the Roman empire fall" As he spoke, he released the woman as his aura vanished, together with the pressure that both Kriemhild and Louis Charles felt. "But I cannot blame you two for being selfish. After all, knowing your past, I guess it is understandable why you seek power"

Coughing, the pale woman glared at the man, which started to laugh.

"Ahahahah! Yes, use the anger to fuel your existence!" Shaking his head, the man smirked at the woman as he started to walk towards a window. "Anyway, I came here because our leader asked as to sing a song"

"Sing a song…?" Kriemhild murmured.

"Oh, I wanna sing a song!" Louis Charles said with a childish tone. "Pick me, big brother!"

"Indeed, I chose you two to sing this song…" Gazing at the scenario outside the window, the man smiled as he started to sing. "The London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down~"

(End "Bleach — Shadow's Masquerade")

After he sang, the man suddenly bursted into a maniacal laughter as the rain started to fall on the city where the building was situated…London.

To be continued…

[Sakura Biyori] (Bleach ED10)

By Mai Hoshimura

*Instrumental*

(The screen is black until cherry blossoms begin to flutter until Ichigo appeared in the middle of them)

Juuroku de kimi to ai

Hyakunen no koi wo shite ne

Hirahira to mai ochiru

sakura no hanabira no shita de

(With the same effect as in the original ending, Ichigo becomes transparent and images appear on it: all his friends and relatives in his original world)

Aitakute kakunekuta hi no

ataru kyuu na sakamichi ya

(The scene changes as other cherry blossoms flutter, making Ichigo disappear: Senna, in her Shinigami outfit, finds herself sitting under a tree, intent on observing Kuoh Town with a happy but at the same time slightly melancholy gaze.)

Kouen no sumi futari no kage wa

iwa no kawaranu mama

(The scene changes: ORC members are all seated together in a simple classroom, intent on observing something outside the window)

Kimi to boku to sakura biyori

kaze ni yurete mai modoru

(The cherry petals, this time purple, fluttered again, changing the scene: Ichigo, with Tensa Zangetsu active and with the sword resting on his shoulder, observes the cloudy sky from a hill. With the same effect, Ichigo disappear as Zero appear)

Mada miru mirai wo mune ni daite

miageta saki wa momoiro no sora

(The cherry petals, normal again now, change the scene one last time: Ichigo is on the same hill but, this time not only is he in his casual clothes, but the sky is clear. While observing the sky, Ichigo turns and notices that he is being joined by Senna and the ORC members. Ichigo smiles and then joins them in turn as petals fell to the ground, revealing the Shinigami-Daigo Badge beneath them...)