With the execution finished, and a few days to recover from the experience, almost everybody is ready for me to leave. Yasaka, as friendly as she has become, is obviously still not entirely comfortable with my presence. The majority of the yokai in the palace take their cues from their leader, and while they never do anything overt, I'm definitely watched very carefully. For my part reminders of the... the essentially mass sacrifice that I took part in are everywhere. Nightmares once again haunted my sleeping hours, but at least this time my soul is intact.

Kunou is the only bright point for those few days, and continuing to teach her is the best distraction I have. It's a good thing that she knows so little of swordsmanship, because the nightmare gifted lack of sleep leaves me fuzzy enough that anything more complicated than the most basic of basics I'm teaching her are completely beyond me. So I again end up spending the majority of my time with the little fox, her relentless cheerfulness and enthusiasm doing wonders for my state of mind.

In fact, the only person who doesn't want me to go when the time comes is Kunou. She tries everything to get me to stick around longer. Begging, pouting, and when I finally say my goodbyes, clinging to my leg and crying. It takes almost half an hour to get the girl to let go of me, and I have to admit that I'm not quite sure why. Sure I spent time with the girl, and taught her, but that doesn't seem like enough to inspire this kind of attachment. It's gratifying, and the girl is adorable, but I'm more than a little confused. She only calms down when I give her my email address, and promise to keep in touch.

None of this is to say that Yasaka is ungrateful, or driving me off. She just isn't entirely comfortable around me, and I'm not entirely comfortable in her palace. Really she's almost embarrassingly grateful, and decided at some point, without consulting me, that just letting me sit in on the executions, no matter what I gained from it, is an insufficient reward for the rescue of her daughter, and saving her rule.

So when I leave she sends me off with several additional gifts of gratitude. A not inconsiderable amount of money, which will be useful. A box of tea that I liked while here, which uncultured western barbarian that I am, I'm entirely incapable of properly appreciating. An antique tea set to drink it with, which I suspect is more important, and valuable than I'm told, or really capable of understanding. And finally a jokoto chokuto, or a straight sword made before 900 C.E..

The last one I try to refuse. Kunou though tells me flatly, leaning forward with her hands on her hips, that her protector is not allowed to refuse the gift of a weapon to protect her honor with. That would be an insult, and her protector would never be so uncouth, the actual word she uses, as to do such a thing. Yasaka is standing behind her trying not to laugh, but nods telling me that what the girl is saying is essentially accurate. So in the end I have to take the ancient sword as well. Fortunately Yasaka also assures me, quietly, that nobody expects me to do anything with it except hang it on a wall. As good a condition as the sword is in, it's still an ancient antique.

After all that, Yasaka's recommendation of a realtor in Kuoh is really not worth mentioning.

So weighed down by gifts and guilt, I board the famous Japanese monorail and leave for the small town where canon happens.

God damn it.

###

Kuoh is a smallish suburban town that feels rather idyllic on first blush. The streets are clean, the buildings modern and in good repair. Plenty of greenery and parks scattered about the town layout. The town actually has a layout too. The street layout, when looked at on a map and the relative positions of parks, residential and other zones all gives the impression of a town that had been conceived of as a whole, and planned all at once rather than growing organically. The train station is in the middle of the town, and close to several hotels and the rest of downtown.

I got myself a cheap room, and settle in to sleep off both the travel, and the lack of sleep from my nightmares. It works out fairly well, and I sleep through the afternoon of my arrival and the night, waking up at what I would normally think of as far too early in the morning, but find myself well rested.

So given the early hour, I decide to get started with what I need to do to stay in town. In most other towns, the first place I'd have gone would have been the recommended realtor, but in Kuoh there are other priorities.

Which is why I'm standing outside gates, of the walled grounds, of the prestigious Kuoh Academy. The school building is a huge four story edifice that looks like a British manor more than anything else. A large fountain stands in between the gate and the front door of the school, dominating the large courtyard that apparently serves as a sort of central meeting place for students. The side buildings stand like detached wings off to each side, arched windows and white stone with light blue trim give the buildings a stately air. Which is only enhanced by the lush greenery and trees that are found everywhere they won't be in the way of something else. Knowing that there's another entire main school building that's completely abandoned except for the Occult Research Club, otherwise known as Rias' peerage, hidden somewhere makes the entire place feel overdone.

Still this is where I have to be to find the people I need to talk to.

Just because school won't start for several more hours, doesn't mean that there aren't students arriving already. What exactly the majority are doing I have no idea, and honestly don't care. I've escaped high school twice now, and that I have to come back for any reason leaves me feeling a certain amount of resentment.

I dressed up for the occasion, so I'm wearing a rather nice pants suit. Combined with my sunglasses, and the hairstyle I wear to keep my ears hidden, I looked a little like a government agent of some sort. Which is unfortunate, but acceptable, as it makes me look like I'm here with a purpose. Sclamhaire's carrying case across my back interferes with the image slightly, but the over stretched ache from leaving my armor in the hotel room is bad enough. Leaving Sclamhaire and my athame, which is hidden under my jacket, behind would be more than I can bear. So with a fortifying breath, I head into the school.

With students around I keep a discreet eye out for anybody of importance that I might want to be able to identify later, and quickly enough I find a pair. Off to one side, walking together, are two... girls... standing together watching me with more than idle curiosity. Seeing as how I'm being examined, I have no qualms about examining them back. The two are the sort of impossibly beautiful that I've come to expect from supernatural women. Rias Gremory has hair, a shade of vibrant red that doesn't occur in the human genome, while Akeno Himajima's eyes are a shade of violet with the same problem. Their uniforms have to have been designed, deliberately, to show off the female form the way it does, especially these two's figures.

Really, how anybody thought these girls are human, never mind teenagers, I have no idea. They aren't built like teenagers in the slightest, as apparently being a devil comes with the power to let watermelons defy gravity.

My back hurts just looking at them!

The both of them are working their personas as the 'Two Great Ladies of Kuoh' as hard as they can. Elegance and refinement in every motion, benevolent nobility looking down on and caring for all. Which is a hilarious impression to anybody who knows anything about them when not in public. A sexual sadist, and a rabid otaku.

Personally, I want nothing to do with either of them. For a lot of reasons really, I find Akeno's sense of humor, her entire mein really, extremely off putting. Rias either is, or is about to be, desperate enough for powerful peerage members to help her get out of her upcoming nuptials, that she'll start having a really hard time taking 'no' for an answer. I figure there has to be a reason why she waited until she could present Issei's devilish reincarnation to him as a fait accompli, even though she has nearly the perfect offer, that there's literally no chance of him refusing.

Which neatly leads to the third reason to avoid the Gremory King and her Queen: Hyoudou Issei. Getting too involved with the canon cast basically guarantees having a certain amount of close contact with the boy. Something to be avoided at... nearly all costs.

When I first realized where I'm, one of my major worries was that in this universe the harem protagonist effect would be more than just power fantasies and lazy writing. That it would draw women to him, and force a romantic attraction, no matter how repulsive the boy is otherwise.

I've learned a great deal more about magic, and the supernatural world, since then, and now I'm even more scared of the possibility, since I've learned how easily it could be true. Hell, I've already experienced a version of what I'm concerned about, when the Sidhe tried to elf strike me. I'm concerned enough about it that if he wasn't somewhat necessary for the survival of the planet after I left, I'd be more than a little tempted to hunt Issei down now and kill him, just to be safe.

As it is though I'll just have to avoid him as much as I possibly can. Which won't be entirely, given how much I'll have to be involved in canon, but it will have to be enough.

Which was why I absolutely can not have Rias Gremory be my primary contact with the devil's here. Fortunately I have other options.

The two teenage devils have started in my direction with pleasant and charming smiles on their faces. I have a moment to wonder if I could run away from them without it looking like that's what I'm doing, but in the time it takes me to determine that I probably could if I merge with the crowds correctly, they're already on me.

"Hello," The red head says, her voice the perfect combination of sultry and innocent, but only the kind of innocent that serves as a temptation. Knowing that everything about the way she is currently behaving is an act for public consumption, turns something that I admit I would have otherwise found rather appealing, into something extremely off putting, "I'm Rias Gremory, and this is Akeno Himajima. You looked a little lost. If you could tell us what you're looking for, maybe we could help?"

I think for a moment, and then decide to take her up on it. Following my first impulse of telling her to fuck off and fleeing into the hills would probably attract a lot of attention, "I'm looking for the student council room."

This seems to take them both aback, after a moment though Rias rallies, "Of course, this way." The girls lead me towards the main building, and for a few minutes there's silence, and I'm hopeful that I managed to kill the conversation.

Unfortunately their curiosity overpowers the silence's inertia, "Ano, I'm terribly sorry but I don't seem to have gotten your name." Akeno asks with exacting politeness.

There's really no point in not telling them, they'll find out soon enough if I get my way, "Ericka Rhostana." Then after another moment's hesitation, "It's a pleasure to meet you both." Politeness costs me nothing, and just because I don't want to deal with Rias or her peerage is no reason to leave a bad impression.

Rias beams at me and Akeno smiles gently, "Rhostana-san then." The black haired girl nods to herself, "Might I ask what brings you to Kuoh academy? And in search of the student council no less?"

Now how to answer this in a way that isn't lying, rude, or start the conversation I want to have with Sona now, "I have business with Sona Sitri." There, that answer is true, reveals nothing, and is innocuous enough that it shouldn't arouse any suspicions...

Why are they both staring at me?

###

The rest of the trip to the student council room is filled with idle conversation. The two girls after staring at me in surprise for a moment, quickly recover their composure and carry on as though nothing happened. The conversation is pleasant, and the both of them seem much more relaxed than they had been when we met.

Meanwhile I'm frantically trying to figure out how I'd given something away. Or what, for that matter. It isn't like I'd lied at any point during the conversation, so what the hell happened?

I'm jerked out of my thoughts by the sound of Rias knocking on a set of double doors. A moment later one of the doors opens revealing a girl with spectacularly long black hair falling to her knees, green rimmed glasses framed violet and brown heterochromatic eyes. Her expression is one of blank formality.

The girl looked us over individually, lingering slightly longer on me, then turns back to the other two, "Gremory-san, Himajima-san." She greets the other two with quick bows.

"Shinra-san." Rias greets back cheerfully, "Would you let Shitori-san," She gives me a significant look as she says the name, "know that she has a visitor looking for a Sitri?" The girl, Shinra, nods and turns away to speak to somebody inside the room.

Shitori? Who the hell is that? The name rings literally no bells for me.

Had I somehow changed things so much, in spite of how far I've kept myself from canon before this, that Sona has been replaced by some devil that I've never heard of?

Depending on the personality and attitude of this new devil there very well may be serious problems. Well the only thing I can do is...

"President-sama will see you now." Shinra says opening the door, and gesturing me in.

Rias smiles at me, "It was a pleasure to meet you Rhostana-san. Perhaps we could speak again?"

I smile back at her, "Maybe." Not if I can help it.

I step through the door, which is closed behind me, and take a moment to survey the room. It honestly reminds me more of pictures I've seen of the Oval Office, than any classroom I've ever been in. The floor is covered by rich carpeting that's thick enough that I can feel my boots sink into it with every step. The middle of the room is occupied by a pair of couches set facing each other, a low table fit into the space between them. Past the corridor made by the couches is a large hardwood desk, the wall behind the desk, and the right wall are entirely made of glass. Huge picture windows that altere the light coming through them in a way that makes me think they're tinted. Behind the rightmost couch, next to the windows, is a small table with an extremely nice chess set setup on it. On either side of the table are two comfortable looking wooden chairs. On the left side of the room, up against that wall, is a waist high table with a very high quality, and extensive, tea set.

Behind the desk sits a girl who actually looks like a teenage girl. Chin length black hair frames her face, and she wears glasses I'm pretty sure she doesn't need.

I glance from her, to where Shinra is preparing tea, and back to the girl behind the desk, "Ah... Shitori...?"

"I am Sona Sitri." The girl behind the desk tells me, "Shitori is the name I use on earth to avoid attracting too much attention. Rhostana-san?" That's what's going on. I used Sona's real name, which told Rias and Akeno that I both knew about the supernatural in general, and about them being devil's in particular. That's also why they relaxed afterwards, they didn't have to worry about pretending quite so hard.

I nod both to her and at my own revelation, then bow as correctly as I can manage, "Ericka Rhostana."

"Very well Rhostana-san. You came looking for me, what brings you to Kuoh? And to me in particular."

"Well... I was under the impression that this town is your territory." I take off my sunglasses to try and appear more personable, tucking them into a pocket in my suit jacket. It isn't like a devil would hold my beaten gold cat's eyes against me. Hell, I like them. I just wish I could show them off more, "Well you and the Gremory heir's. I'm hoping to move to Kuoh for the foreseeable future, good manners dictate that I introduce myself to the rulers of the supernatural side of things, and get permission before setting up in your backyard."

The girl has a fantastic poker face as she doesn't react in the slightest to anything I say, "Why not deal with the Gremory heir? Many find her personable and appealing," Or maybe not so great a poker face, is that a bit of jealousy of your friend Rias there Sona? "and you had ample opportunity as she led you here."

I sigh and hesitate for a moment, then shrug, "Honestly? A couple of reasons. One you have a reputation for being more level headed and logical than the Gremory heir's more emotional approach. I'd rather deal with somebody who deals with logic. It's not the most important thing for the current conversation, but whoever I talk to now is likely to remain my point of contact going forward."

"And you would rather deal with me." Sona nods slowly mulling over what I've said as her Queen, Shinra, deliveres an expertly prepared cup of tea to her king before taking up a position just behind Sona's right shoulder. Sona takes a slow sip of the tea before speaking again, "And your other reasons? You mentioned several."

"Well... I'm aware of her... Nuptial issues?" Sona narrows her eyes at me just slightly, "And frankly I want nothing to do with it. She strikes me as the sort to... look I just don't want to be hassled constantly about joining her peerage. I have no interest in becoming a devil, and if I dealt with her I'd hear about it every time we met. I'll still likely hear about it more than I want to."

A series of complex expressions flickers across her face at a speed that should have made me wonder if I'd imagined them... but I see and recall each of them perfectly, even if I can't interpret them all.

Odd...

Think about it later, Ericka.

Sona sighs and nods slightly, "I can understand that, I suppose, and Rias does tend to be... passionate." Sure, let's go with that, "Very well. Do you play chess?"

From most people that would have been a non sequitur, but devils have an obsession with chess culturally. Sona has taken that love of chell even further. I think she asks literally everybody to play with her, so I'd sort of been expecting it."

I glance at the chess table, then back to the girl behind the desk, and shrug smiling slightly, "I know the rules, but that's about it. If you feel the need to beat the stuffing out of somebody across a board though, I'll be happy enough to entertain you for as long as I can last." I'll admit I'm kind of hoping she'll be uninterested in playing somebody who admitted to barely being able to play.

Moments later we're seated at the chess table with a spectacular view of the school grounds, Sclamhaire's carrying case resting in easy arm's reach leaning against the window, and a cup of tea of my own. Down below students are beginning to fill up the courtyard with larger and larger numbers. Off to one side of the courtyard three boys are jumping up and down and pointing at various girls as they arrive, shouting and crowing. Looking at them is like looking at the set up for a joke. One is slightly taller and athletic holding a camera, one is average in every sense, and the third is short, overweight and wearing glasses.

"Oh, glorious breasts everywhere!" For once I regret my improved hearing, "Look at the tatas on that one!" The average one shouts slapping at the shoulder of the short, round one, "Motohama! Motohama, over there, do the thing!"

The indicated boy turns to look where his friend is pointing, "Ohhh! Fantastic! Breasts 85, waist 59, hips 84 centimeters! Lucious! Spectacular!"

The average one makes grabbing motions with his hands, while the athletic one dives to the ground in front of the indicated girl. He lands on his back, the camera pointed up at her, the flash going off rapidly. The girl presses her skirt against her legs, shrieks and runs away.

I turn away from the window trying as hard as I can to ignore what's going on outside.

Sona follows my gaze, and sighs, "Tsubaki," her Queen turns from where she's doing something at the desk and looks at her King, "The trio is... well doing what they usually do. Kindly go shut them down for me please?"

The Queen piece nods, bows, and quickly strides out the door.

That seems like a vast under reaction to me. If anybody had tried what those three are doing at my high school, they'd have been suspended at the very least. Once the PTA heard about things they'd likely end up expelled. If they act like this off of school grounds, I have no idea how they've avoided prison thus far.

The worst of it? I'm pretty sure that the average one screaming about breasts is Issei Hyudou, the lead character of Highschool DxD. He's going to end up one of the most powerful people in this universe, and more than half of the named female characters will end up wanting in his pants. The more I see the more certain I am that there has to be some mind control effect, either latent in Issei, or attached to the Boosted Gear.

I can not get out of this place fast enough.

In the interest of getting what I want out of this meeting, I decide to keep my critiques of Sona's management style to myself. If I catch them acting like that off school grounds though... Well I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be nothing.

"As the guest you may choose your color." Sona offers me. After only a moment's thought I spin the board so that I've taken black. The devil across from me nods once and makes her move.

I have absolutely no chance of winning this game, I'm not even going to make a good showing. Like I'd said, I know the rules and that's it, and Sona is a chess prodigy. So since winning the game as presented is impossible I decide to give myself different victory conditions. I'm not going to take her king, or be able to stop her from taking mine. So instead my goal will be to drag the game out for as long as possible, and be as annoying and frustrating an opponent as I can while I did. I won't make moves to win, but to try to prevent her from winning. I'll lose eventually, possibly quickly, but I'm going to do that anyway.

If loss is guaranteed, take as much down with you as you can.

Hopefully not knowing what my goal is would throw her.

After the first few moves have been made, Sona starts speaking again, "So tell me what it is you're asking for exactly."

I make my move and sit back in my chair, "I'd like to purchase a property in the city, ward it myself, and be allowed to live my life. I'll contribute of course, help defend the territory if necessary, offer my services if you have a use for them."

"You're services?" The devil asks while studying the board with a frown.

"I'm..." How do I describe my skill level with Script? I've only been working with it for six or seven years, so in the context of nearly immortal supernaturals I hesitate to call myself an 'expert' never mind a 'master'. On the other hand I've done several things with Script that apparently nobody else has ever figured out according to Cait, Pua, and Vivain. If those three agree on something, I'm inclined to believe it. So what the hell am I? "Pretty damned good with World Script. I've made my living for quite a few years now helping the bottom rung of the supernatural power structure. The groups and people generally not considered to be worth a devil's time, or too afraid to go to them." I add the last to assure her that I won't be poaching their contracts.

I make another move, getting a bishop out of what I think is a trap, but also not putting it anywhere useful to my victory. Just in her way. Sona frowns again, "What is 'World Script'?" She asks absently while she frowns harder at the board.

I think my plan was working...

"It's... well perhaps obviously, a form of written magic. Like Norse runes. Symbols arranged in the proper order to achieve the desired effect."

"And what can it do?" the devil still hasn't made her next move, which makes me smirk just a little bit.

"Anything." That actually gets Sona to look up from the chessboard and give me a skeptical look, "It can!" I insist with a smile, "If you can figure out how. If you don't believe me ask your sister." She flinches slightly at the mention of her sister. Which I can't really blame her for, the Leviathan is nuts, "Now if you want to know what I can do with it, that's something different." I get a mild glare, and she makes her move. I make mine far too quickly and continue, "I'm good with wards, traps, and environmental manipulations. I have some experience with mystic tattoos," I tap my forehead and turn over one of my hands drawing attention to the Script tattoos at each location, "but if you're interested in those, I recommend finding an expert. I know enough to know that it's not something to take chances with."

Sona nods along with my explanation and, as I finish, she sits back without moving a piece, studying me carefully, "So far I have no objections to you moving to Kuoh. Just one more question." I tilt my head to the side curiously, "Why here? Why Kuoh."

I smile, "Because you're here!" Sona blinks at me, and a very faint dusting of pink drifts across her cheeks, "Well you and Rias." The pink vanishes immediately, "With the little sisters of Lucifer and Leviathan here, nobody's going to come here looking for trouble." Wow, I can't believe I said that with a straight face, "Not with your older siblings looking to land on anybody who does like a ton of brimstone bricks. My life has been... very exciting recently. I'd like to have some time of guaranteed calm for a while."

"I see." Sona toys with a pawn as she thinks. I glance out the window again just in time to see the three boys I noticed earlier running across the courtyard, chased by a gaggle of girls wearing full kendo gear, and brandishing shinai with intent. I have to admit that as much as watching a group of students chase down and beat some of their fellows seems wrong, given who it's happening to I can't help but feel a sort of visceral satisfaction. "Very well, I see no reason not to let you move here. So let me be the first to welcome you to Kuoh Rhostana-san."

I get an actual smile, if a small one, with the welcome which makes it feel more genuine. I chose to believe it is genuine, rather than a deliberate act to make it seem so. I stand with a smile of my own, and knock my king over, "Class should start soon, and I think we both know that I was only delaying the inevitable." I collect Sclamhaire, and after making sure that her case is secure on my back, I offer Sona a hand, "You're a spectacular chess player Miss Sitri. Even I can tell that. I've never had so much fun getting my ass kicked before." She takes my hand, shaking it with a delicate grip, smiling a little more at the compliment, "I look forward to working with you in the future." I glance out the window again. The kendo girls are leaving after beating the trio of boys into the ground, and apparently leaving them for dead. The boys though seem to self resurrect as another girl walks past for them to ogle, "Is there a back way out of here?" I ask grimacing again, "I'd just like to avoid..." I wave a hand at the window.

Sona glances out the window and sighs, "Of course. This way please Rhostana-san."

"Thank you Miss Sitri." I say with a certain amount of audible relief. Following behind her I allow myself a small victorious smile.

Mission accomplished.

###

The next day I go looking for a place to settle in for the long haul.

The realtor is rather good, and Yasaka's recommendation gets me some very preferred service. They take down what I'm looking for, and only minutes later have a list of properties to look at. Most of them are very nice, but the one I end up choosing is great.

Of course I probably would think that no matter what the property had been like, it is after all my first house. To date, while I've been away from home for a while, since my father threw me out at seventeen, I've been living on other people's charity, or in transit. I lived at Cait's book shop, in Pua's guest room, and in various hotels and campsites, this house will be mine. Money I earned paying for it, and all the utilities, and the repairs, and groceries...

Why am I so excited about this again?

No, nothing's getting me down about this. I loved the place from the moment the realtor let me inside. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a ofuro, which I plan on abusing the hell out of. The kitchen is small, but that works for me. I'll be learning how to cook, so I don't want anything too fancy. The living space is large enough to be comfortable, but not so big as to make me feel isolated. The property line is well defined, and the building doesn't directly abut any other building, so warding it won't be hard. Of course given the property costs in Japan, it doesn't have a yard to speak of, but there are enough parks in Kuoh that I'm not really worried. There are plenty of places for me to practice.

It's great and I'm pretty sure that the only reason I don't get taken for a ride with how enthusiastic I am about the place is, again, Yasaka's recommendation. The place comes with minimal furniture, and the utilities are already on, so it's ready for me whenever I want. After I pay, and sign the paperwork, of course.

So back to the realtors office we go, and two hours later I'm the proud owner of my first house. Which seems so bizarrely quick to me that it suggests supernatural fuckery behind the scenes, but I'm not going to take the time to examine this particular gift horse too closely.

I have a new house to move into after all.

From the realtor's it's back to the hotel to collect my things and check out, then back to my new neighborhood via the subway. Which is nice, as it gives me time to think and plan what I need to do next.

I need to send emails to Sarah, Mom, Cait, Pua and Ku, Asia, and Kunou.

Sarah and Mom will get the most holistic view of what I've been doing. I think Sarah is treating my life like an adventure TV show, or an urban fantasy series. Living vicariously through me as she goes on being responsible. Possibly also a form of stress relief that doesn't involve sleeping with random guys. Which she'll no doubt do anyway, but I really don't want to think about that.

I mean...

Come on!

Just...

Urgh.

Mom likes to hear about my fights, interestingly enough. I think she somehow connects how much ass I can kick with how safe I am. Not that the world actually works that way, but it works for her, so she gets stories of my victories.

Cait likes supernatural world gossip, and anything that could be called a 'hunt'. So she'll hear about finding the evidence, and a dramatic retelling of my chasing down Kunou's kidnapper. With a bonus of any interesting tidbits I pick up either first hand, or from the little spirits.

Pua will get as much of a break down as I can give of what the Yokai forest's wards and illusions are like, and assurance that once I get everything set up I'll put a transit Script in my house so I can visit Hawaii regularly. I don't think she trusts me to take care of myself, physically or mentally, without somebody looking over my shoulder.

With Ku I'll talk about the fight in the warehouse and that spear, what it was like to fight a Tengu, and what's changed now that I've acquired my talent. Also a promise to kick his ass next time I visit. I won't, but I hope that I can give him a better fight now.

Asia... adorable Asia, knows generally that my hands aren't clean, but she also told me that she prays for me and doesn't hold it against me. It's sweet of her, so I take it in the spirit it's intended. She'll get pictures of all the places I've visited, and stories about foreign lands. She'll also get my new address. I want her nowhere near Japan and Issei, but she needs somewhere to go when the church kicks her out. I'll get her out of here fast enough that hopefully they'll never meet. I plan on taking her to the Ke'Kua'Okolanii, I'll need to talk to Pua about it, but I can't think of anybody better to help Asia advance her healing skills. Or help her through the revelation that her god is dead.

Once Pua tells her about it.

I'll catch a raft of shit for making Pua handle that particular revelation, but I'm sure as hell not going to do it. That's the kind of thing best left to professionals.

Kunou I don't really know well enough to know what she'll want to hear about. So I'll ask her some open ended questions that will allow her to talk about whatever she wants to. I'll also ask her about how she's doing with the training exercises I left for her. Maybe I can get her to send me video of her practices so I can keep helping her?

What else?

Wards. Those have to go up quick. I seem to recall that Rias is fond of sending her familiars to spy on anything that catches her interest. So something to keep them out, and to keep anybody from looking in. The usual set of physical defenses, just have to make sure to anchor them in something durable. The threats out here are way more high powered than I'm used to, paper tags aren't going to cut it.

The subway arrives at my stop, and I haul myself and my bags out of the train, and towards my new house.

Squee!

I keep going over the details of what I'll put around the house in this new environment as I approach my new place. If I can manage it, silver poured into carved stone would be best, but that would also take time. Paper tags will probably have to suffice as a stop gap.

Up my front steps with the keys to my front door.

Squee!

Maybe a ward specifically for Issei? I can have it electrocute him, and then launch him for distance. Down the street or over the roofs? Maybe...

Closing the door behind me I freeze. I'm not the only person here. The sound of somebody standing in my kitchen finally penetrates my preoccupation with wards to stop... this from happening.

The irony is not lost on me.

They're just standing in the kitchen area, they sound a little less than a foot shorter than me, and strangely invisible to my mana senses. Which is just as annoying this time as it was when Mia'd done it.

I set down my bags carefully so as to not make any sound, and carefully draw my athame. Sclamhaire is a little too big for these close quarters. Not that I can't swing her, she'll go through the walls and furniture of this place without slowing down enough to matter. I've just gotten this house though, and I'm not prepared to destroy it unless I have to.

As quietly as I can I move to the kitchen, getting a better sense of who is in there as I do. There's an odd crinkling sound, not paper, more like plastic. Also a regular rhythmic crunching sound.

What the hell?

I step carefully into the doorway of the kitchen and find who has broken into my house, "You know you should really get some food in this place. It's entirely empty!" Mia tells me as though she belongs there, pulling another chip out of her bag of them.

"What... how? WHY!" I sputter.

Mia gives me that insufferable smirk she has, "Well you told Yasaka-sama that the future would be happening here. She thought it would be a good idea to keep an eye on things. So she sent me."

"But... Why are you here? I just bought this place two hours ago! How did you know where to come?"

Her eye glints with mischief, "I'ma clever bird."

God damnit Mia!