The group arrived in a red burst of magic and quickly assessed their surroundings. It appeared that the teleport had brought them to a few minutes walk away from the shrine as they saw the steps to it across the forest area they were in.
Since she knew the way once they got into the shrine, Akeno lead the group up the stairs and through the shrine which felt like a maze to the others but since she'd grown up here, Akeno knew the shrine like the back of her hand.
A few minutes later, the group arrived inside a large room in the main part of the shrine and saw a dark figure ahead. The figure giggled creepily and walked into the light to show themselves.
The figure was a man with messy white hair and blood red eyes that just screamed crazy, he was dressed in a white priest's outfit and giggled some more as he licked his lips at the prey that had come his way.
"Ufufufu, what do we have here? Some shitty devils intruding on this holy shrine and our private business, how disgusting" spat the man.
"Who are you and why are you intruding on devil territory" asked Rias with an authoritative tone.
"Our business is none of your concern shitty devil, and my name is Freed" snarled the man now known as Freed.
Issei marched towards the so called priest, as he did so he called out to the ORC.
"I'll deal with this asshole, you go find Asia". The members of the ORC nodded but before they could move an unknown force rooted them in place.
The ORC were looking around the room wildly to try and find the source of the magic holding them when the altar of the shrine slid sideways revealing a secret passage. Once the altar finished moving, the fallen angel that had taken Asia came up the stairs with Asia in her arms and a psychotic grin on her face.
The fallen started laughing manically as she dropped the body of Asia at the feet of Issei who could only stare at the body in shock as he was frozen to the spot like the other members of the ORC.
"N-no" choked Issei as his eyes began to water, tears threatening to fall.
"Yes" replied the fallen smugly as she proved her power by using twilight healing on Freed's cut he'd received before Issei was frozen. The cut healed in seconds, proving that the fallen had stolen twilight healing from Asia, an action that had resulted in her death.
"Thanks Raynare" squawked Freed as he pulled out a light sword and prepared to kill the devils before him.
"Not yet Freed, I want to see how this runt feels" Raynare replied maliciously as she sauntered over to Issei's frozen body and pulled on his hair.
The emotions Issei felt currently were intense and conflicted. He felt sorrow at not being fast enough to save Asia, angry at himself for not being able to move and pick her up, but absolutely furious at Raynare for killing her, this bitch had taken his parents from his, his sister, no matter how indirect and now the girl that had befriended him and trusted him to protect her, he'd failed her again, and this time it was deathly final.
Issei roared in anger and pain and sorrow, his cry shaking every person in the room to the core at the raw emotion in his voice before breaking free of the magic binding him to the spot and punching Raynare square in the face launching her across the room.
Issei used his magic to free the ORC so they could hold off Freed while he took his revenge on Raynare.
Meanwhile, the fallen in question had slowly started to lift herself up when she was knocked back down viciously by Issei's axe kick to her skull. Raynare was bleeding profusely from her head but managed to lift it up enough to catch a glimpse of Issei's, a glimpse that would haunt her for the rest of her existence.
Issei's eyes were alight with rage so furious Raynare felt it literally burning her face, his aura was a bright crimson and was flaring out immensely. His right arm opposite to his sacred gear was coated in a black aura as dark as the night sky that was incredibly unstable as it fluctuated constantly.
The boy lifted up Raynare by her neck in a choke hold that left her gasping for air as her hands held his left he was using to choke her while her legs were dangling helplessly and pathetically.
"I-Iss-" Raynare tried to choke out before having her windpipe crushed even more.
"WHY? WHY DID YOU DO IT, YOU KILLED MY PARENTS, THEN DROVE MY SISTER TO BE SACRIFICED BY THE BITCH OF A SERAPH AND NOW YOU KILL ASIA" screamed Issei with tears in his eyes.
Raynare was shocked, she'd been informed this boy was a pathetic pervert that didn't care about anyone but himself, sure her judgement had faltered after he protected his sister but she thought that was just because she was family, but here he'd come to rescue a girl he'd met a day ago and now was in tears upon her death.
"I-I was ordered to by Azazel, he would have killed me and my brother if I hadn't followed through with killing Asia, please believe me I have no idea who killed your parents and sister" stuttered Raynare as Issei released her from his grip, lowering her gently to the ground.
Issei was shocked to the very core, the woman in front of him hadn't killed his parents or his sister... Now it made sense, Raynare was merely an unwilling pawn in another person's game, forced to kill Asia so she and her brother could survive.
"Azazel wasn't the one who ordered you to kill them was he?" half questioned Issei as he already knew the answer, the Fallen general wasn't one to kill without good reason, Issei knew this from an encounter he'd shared with him during his short time in Heaven.
Flashback
Issei was very pissed.
Not only had that damn dragon who inhabited his left arm stopped talking to him, it had cut all the power Issei could access to do with his boosted gear and to top it all off he was stuck in Heaven serving the bitch that had sacrificed his sister.
He chuckled and wondered how the seraph would react once she realised she'd sacrificed an innocent girl to gain the boosted gear for Heaven only to have said gear refuse to work, the whole situation was inarguably fucked but even so a little amusing for Issei.
He got up from the bed that he hadn't left for anything in the past week apart from eating and bathroom breaks. He was done with sitting still, if that seraph wanted him that badly then it was time she stopped ignoring him, besides, he was getting bored doing nothing but thinking. Issei used the limited magic remaining from the boosted gear to materialise some clothes consisting of a black long sleeved top, black combat trousers, black combat boots and a black trench coat that reached to his mid calfs and changed into them, if he was going to see this bitch he'd make damn sure to stand out and make her regret ever saving him.
As he traversed the floors of Heaven, many angels looked his way as rolled their eyes or tutted at his blatant disrespect of the colour of Heaven, some even tried to attack him but since he was a Jack, his reflexes were above even skilled angels so he dodged each one who was stupid enough to try and knocked them out.
Eventually he reached a grand set of double doors around 10 meters tall and 5 meters wide.
"Showoffs" mumbled Issei as he was sure this grand display was the entrance to the main meeting room the seraphs used.
There were gasps, grumbles and many dirty looks as he threw open the doors and strolled into the room uncaring he'd interrupted an important meeting.
"I-Issei" choked out Gabriel as she tried to hide her embarrassment at her newest servant's rude intrusion.
"I'm bored of sitting around Gabe, if you wanted me that badly that you sacrificed my sister then why the hell are you leaving me in that room?" asked Issei cockily.
Every seraph turned to Gabriel to confirm the accusation Issei had just made, their disgust at her skyrocketed when she made no attempt to refuse the point, tuts, evil glances and mumbled insults filled the room, but one reply stood out, a chuckle.
Issei glanced over at the man who'd released the chuckle and was surprised to see he was a fallen, but since there was a meeting in progress he imagined the fallen was here on business, Issei was more intrigued as to why the fallen saw fit to chuckle at his accusation.
"What's so funny fallen?" asked Issei sternly, making the fallen laugh heartily.
"It's just the fact that so many people that step through those doors apologise and bow profusely but you come in spouting insults and accusations at the most respected woman in Heaven, you've got balls kid, I admire that" replied the fallen.
"So you think it's funny that my sister was sacrificed by that bitch do you?" asked Issei angrily.
"Not at all, I think it's disgusting to be honest, loss of life when it's avoidable is unacceptable" replied the fallen seriously.
This shocked Issei, a fallen had more morals than a seraph? Maybe they weren't all as evil as the one's who'd killed his parents.
"Good to know that someone in this room has some morals" stated Issei "What's your name?" he added.
"You can call me Azazel" replied the fallen.
"Then you can call me Issei" answered Issei with a grin which was returned by Azazel.
"I feel that we'll get along Issei" said Azazel.
"Me too" replied Issei as he left the room waving goodbye, not caring about the conversation he was supposed to have with Gabriel.
Flashback End
"No... it was another fallen who went rogue after Azazel pulled the fallen angels out of the great war after realising the casualties would have been too great, our faith to god be damned" replied Raynare weakly as she struggled to stand from Issei's earlier attack, it being fueled by the unknown energy that still poured out of Issei now but to a much lesser extent.
Issei suppressed the new energy that was radiating from him, knelt down and helped Raynare to a pew she could sit on to be more comfortable.
"Who is your brother?" asked Issei.
"I'm not sure, I haven't seen him in a while, the last time I remember being with him was when he was hurt and I prayed for his recovery, after that, I have no memories of him. All I know is he's alive because I remember my prayer being answered, unfortunately my new boss knew that as well which is why he could use my brother as leverage" replied Raynare sadly.
"It's okay, we'll find him and then we can all take down this bastard of a boss you have" assured Issei as he hugged Raynare, knowing the pain of losing a sibling and not wanting Raynare to feel as he did.
"I'm so sorry about killing Asia, I couldn't find a way to avoid it no matter how hard I tried, my boss was always watching me, now she'll never be able to be your friend anymore" confessed Raynare as she teared up.
"Actually there is a way to have that happen" spoke another voice.
Issei and Raynare turned around to find Rias, having just said that, holding up an evil piece, a bishop to be exact.
"I think she'd enjoy being able to see you again Issei, she'd also make an excellent support piece, wouldn't you agree Raynare?" asked Rias as she motioned to the two rings Raynare wore on her fingers.
"Oh yes!" Raynare released as she took off the rings and handed them to Rias, for this revival to work the rings of twilight healing had to be where they were originally, even the evil pieces were limited in this aspect.
"Alright then" said Rias as she stood over Asia's body.
"I, Rias Gremory, command you Asia Argento to live again under my service, you will come back and aid me in my continuing existence" Chanted Rias as a red circle filled with runes and energy descended upon the form of Asia and with it the bishop piece entered her chest and the circle dissipated leaving behind the slowly breathing body of a now alive Asia.
Asia slowly opened her eyes and saw the ORC around her along with Issei and Raynare, she gasped and covered her eyes at the sight of the latter but after a quick explanation from Issei, Asia understood Raynare's motives and forgave her, before giving Issei a big hug.
"I'm so glad I was able to see you again Issei" said Asia in a happy tone.
"Same here Asia, let's go home" replied Issei.
Asia was puzzled at this statement.
"But we don't live together" said Asia, slightly confused.
"Well since you have nowhere to go because the church sent you here for a while with no other place to stay, I was thinking you could stay at my house if you'd like" replied Issei warmly.
"Thank you so much Issei!" Asia excitedly said her eyes lighting up brighter than the sun.
"No worries" replied Issei, smiling kindly. "Do you have anywhere to go Raynare?" asked Issei.
"No... since my boss will be displeased at these events, he probably look for me at my place to kill me so I can't go back, I don't want to either, i'd rather die than serve that bastard again" replied Raynare.
"You're welcome to stay at my place with me an Asia if you'd like, that ok with you Asia?" asked Issei.
"I'm happy to stay with you and Raynare since I understand this ordeal wasn't her fault" replied Asia with a smile.
"Then i'll be happy to take you up on your offer Issei" answered Raynare happily.
"Then let's go home you two, I'll be at the clubroom tomorrow before school if you need me Rias" said Issei as he took the hands of Raynare and Asia and walked out the shrine.
"Alright, i'll see you tomorrow Issei" Rias replied as she and her peerage teleported back to the clubroom.
Issei, Asia and Raynare appeared inside Issei's apartment, it was small for 3 people but Issei said he'd take the sofa bed while Raynare could have the room he used to use after he moved his stuff and Asia could have the guest room.
Once everything was sorted and Raynare and Asia were moved in, all three of them collapsed onto the sofa in the living room and sighed, it had been a very long couple of days...
Heyyy, it's ya boi Bk back at it again.
Sorry for the wait between this chapter and the last, writer's block has been a harsh mistress lately.
I'm going to stop giving estimates when the next chapter will be out because i've no idea what will happen in the future.
Thanks to everyone who reads, reviews and has followed me and I hope you all enjoy so until next time,
BK out :)