Chapter 4:

Warning: This chapter has graphic content, viewer discretion is advised

Disclaimer: I do not own DxD or Fate, they belong to their respective owners.

"Heavenly Father hear my prayer, Please forgive me for the transgressions I commited 3 days ago and please keep her safe, please keep Asia safe. She is a kind harmless girl that only means to do good. So please guide her to safety. Amen." A brown haired boy prayed on his knees not looking up for a minute after. He stood up and quickly made his way out of the church and onto the bustling streets of Vatican city.

This brown haired boy was an average height of around 6ft (roughly 180cm) and was wearing an outfit that was similar to the robes Dulio wore and on his side, was the holy sword Ascalon along with the Demonic sword Balmung. He was chosen to wield Ascalon after the sword had responded to him when he and his fellow exorcists had been tested to see whether they would be capable of wielding any of the churches' holy swords. Balmung, however, was a sword that he had been given by his father before he had departed for the church and while the church did not like the idea of an exorcist wielding a demonic sword, he had argued that Balmung was not evil. Rather made demonic through Fafnir's blood. The reason for his prayer was for the events that happened three days prior in which his fiancee Asia Argento, whom he had been dating for around 4 years though he had proposed to her a week before her exile. She had been so happy and had accepted almost immediately. She had been excommunicated without an investigation due to someone witnessing her, a holy maiden, heal a devil. The Archbishops and cardinals' swiftly seen to calling her a witch and casting her out of the church. He had been furious but Dulio had managed to calm him down before he had done anything serious but the anger still lingered deep within his soul.

The boy was brought out of his thoughts by a tap on his shoulder and once he turned around he immediately dropped to one knee in respect.

"Cardinal Strada sir, what do I owe the pleasure?" The boy inquired as Vasco gestured for him to stand.

"Now now Issei, no need to be formal. I've been your mentor since you were young so please just call me Father Strada." Vasco told the boy who nodded politely.

"Okay Car-Father Strada" Issei replied as he smiled softly towards the old man. When he had been brought to Italy with his best friend Irina, due to his unnatural quantity of light attribute and also how Irina's father was able to deduce that he had a sacred gear as well. He still has contact with his parents and does miss them quite a lot but he has enjoyed being in the church and has made many friends during his time here.

"Now Issei, I have a mission for you. A mission of importance that I'm sure you would love to carry out." Vasco informed the boy as he gestured for him to walk with him. Issei walked beside the Cardinal as they walked through the streets of the Vatican. "I have evidence that links Asia's exile to that of other holy maidens that have been a part of the church. All the reports state the same thing as the report on Asia's exile, that the Holy Maidens were observed healing a devil and were subsequently exiled and then banished. I need you to go retrieve Asia from Kuoh, your hometown, and bring her back to the Vatican so that I can clear her name."

"Do you know where she is being taken to, and what about the Sitri and Gremory heirs in the city?" Issei asked Father Strada as they walked.

"She is being taken care of by Fallen Angels at the abandoned Church in Kuoh and don't worry about reporting to them, the only one you should be concerned with seeing is Ajuka Beezlebub's son, Shirou. He is the owner of the territory secretly and has full authority over the proceedings in it." Father Strada explained as they walked up to one of the Vatican limos before Father Strada opened up one of the doors and gestured for Issei to sit inside. "This car will take you to the airport where a plane is waiting for you to take you to Kyoto, from there you will be able to travel to Kuoh via a train. Good luck Issei. And bring her home... the girl is too kind for this world."

-With Shirou-

Shirou stood in the archery club and watched as the first years and second years began to practice. Shirou watched on and offered advice to the first and second years along with the captain of the archery club, Mitsuru, who was also one of his friends here at Kuoh Academy and had asked him to join. Since he needed to keep his skills in shape with a bow he had accepted along with joining the kendo to keep his sword skills sharp.

"So Emiya-Kun, how's everyone doing?" Mitsuru asked the boy beside her as she turned to face him.

"With some more practise I'm sure they'll all turn out to be a promising bunch." Emiya told her with a small smile before he went to help a first year adjust their stance. Mitsuru smiled at Shirou as he made his way around the training range, helping and giving advice to those who needed it or asked. He picked up his bow with some arrows before taking his stance at the end of the range with most people in the archery club stopping what they were doing and keeping their eyes glued to him. Flawlessly he performed each movement before he fired off an arrow with seemingly no effort. The arrow struck the centre of the target and a round of applause sounded from the crowd.

"Just keep practising and you'll be able to do that I'm sure." He stated to the crowd who all diligently went back to practising with some renewed vigour as Shirou walked back to his position next to the captain.

"Honestly Shirou, your aim is god-like, I've never seen you miss a shot." Mitsuru commented as Shirou stood beside her and watched the club continue their training. Shirou watched on as Sakura, a girl a year younger than him and a friend of his, fired an arrow down the range and hit near the bullseyes. Sakura Matou, Heir to the Matou household, who are a magi house that's a part of Nilrem Association. He first met Sakura on his way home from orientation day for High School. She was being harassed by some guys his age though soon they found themselves down for the count once Shirou stepped in. Since then she has been rather close to him which grew even closer when he had damaged his arm one day and even though Devil magic could heal the wound he needed to keep up appearance around his student peers and Sakura had taken this opportunity to continuously show up at his house in order to cook for him and do the housework. Though sometimes she would come to school or over to his place with bruises in different places that she tried to cover up but he always was able to notice them. The most annoying thing about seeing the bruises was that he couldn't do anything unless she asked for it because otherwise it would seem as if a Devil went against Nilrem even though it could only be domestic violence but he had formed a plan in order to save her.

For he was Sword of Justice, and he would save those he cares about no matter the cost but within legal bounds if possible which this situation was and tonight he would hopefully put his plan into action.

-That Night: Shirou's Residence-

Shirou and Sakura had cooked dinner for themselves. Bazett, Akatsuki, and Tiamat, who all eat a lot but he was lucky that his father had given him a big budget for his stay in the human world. It was a wonderful dinner and Shirou was impressed on how much Sakura had improved over the years she had been cooking at his place. After dinner, Sakura was about to head back home when Shirou put his shoes on as well.

"Senpai, you don't have to walk me home." Sakura humbly stated to Shirou who smiled warmly towards her.

"It's okay Sakura, I don't want you walking home in the Dark, who knows what could happen to you." Shirou stated keeping his warm smile on his face which made Sakura blush and turn away.

'Nothing worse than what awaits me at home.' Sakura mused solemnly as they began their walk underneath the stars. Most of the walk took place in a comfortable silence as the two made their way through the neighbourhood to the Matou house. The Matou house was an impressive Western-style mansion that had a huge greenhouse off to the side, no doubt for whatever magecraft the Matou family studied.

"Thank you for walking me home, Senpai." Sakura said with a smile to Shirou whose next action took her by complete surprise. Shirou moved forward and embraced the girl before him.

"Sakura, I just want you to know I'm always here for you." Shirou stated softly as Sakura could feel herself tear up but quickly blinked away the tears.

"I-I know Senpai." Sakura softly whispered as the two separated and Sakura made her way inside, not noticing the contact Shirou had inscribed into her clothes. Usually the contact marks are inscribed on paper but he was able to inscribe it onto the back of her shirt quickly. He just hoped that she would want to be saved or otherwise this would not work.

-Later that night-

Sakura laid below Shinji as once again he had his way with her, the blank look on her face and hollow, vacant eyes. This had been happening for years now after the crest worms had ravaged her body for Zouken's sick experiments. Her memories flashed back to the moment had with Shirou, her hero, her white knight, the man she was not worthy of being with. That moment where he had taken her in his arms and told her he would always be there for her...

Oh, how she wished it was him above her, making love to her like she had always dreamt, how he could save her from this cursed circle on her discarded clothes flared to life as both Shinji and Sakura looked on in confusion. A magic circle with the clan symbol of Astaroth burned bright in the room.

"You bitch! What did you do? Did you make a fucking contract with a devil?" Shinji shouted in frustration as he slapped her across the face before he turned to face the circle but was met with a hand to his face before he was slammed into the floor.

Sakura gazed up at the figure who appeared from the circle and there stood her saviour, his auburn hair and gold piercing eyes she had come to know. He was dressed in a black bodysuit with gold trimmings and she could see magic flaring through his body. She had always known Shirou was different than her classmates and even different her and his sister Tohsaka but to think he was a devil though even though it scared her it also excited her.

"Sakura, hold on." Shirou stated warmly as he wrapped his golden jacket around her naked body before lifting her up bridal style as a magic circle bearing the Astaroth crest appeared under him. As the world around her turned into a bright light, the words she had been longing to hear were spoken from Shirou lips.

"Everything will be fine now Sakura, they won't hurt you again." Shirou spoke softly with a warm smile towards her as the world around them turned white as they teleported.

A/N: Hello my readers and welcome back to the return of Lord of Swords. Sorry for the massive break between chapters, Uni had me busy with assignments and I've had to move house since the new year but i'm back and chapters shouldn't take as long to write but writer's block might attack me. I'd like to thank you all for sticking around and once again, this story is far from over!