2
Arashikage Ryusei and Amemori Genta landed on the outskirts of Kuoh, and they practically had to fall through the treeline before landing on their backs after hitting the ground at 40 miles an hour.
"You…really need to work on your landing," Ryusei scratched his butt as he stood up. "But thanks for the save."
"You are so lucky I felt your pulse," said Genta as he got up. The boy stood tall as he stretched his back. His shaggy navy hair frizzled as he scratched his head. "What made you come to Japan anyway? I thought we were supposed to lay low until Toshiro gave us the signal."
"It's been a week," said Ryusei. "I got worried."
The two walked to the edge of the forest, near a cliff facing the entire city. During the nighttime, the city lights came alive and resembled the vast star-filled sky.
"It's not like him to make us separate for this long," said Ryusei. "Something has to be wrong."
"Well for right now, it's just the two of us," said Genta. "Let's just calm down and relax for a bit okay? I'm sure Toshiro is just fine. He's probably held out somewhere trying to find answers."
"We need answers too," said Ryusei. "The captain wouldn't just leave us out to dry like this."
"Well it's not like we can do much," said Genta. "If he's hiding, there's definitely no way we're going to find him."
"Well we can start in Kuoh," said Ryusei. "I detected a pulse here not too long ago. If he really is here, we'll find him."
"I really hope so," Genta scratched his head with a sigh. "This city is kind of massive."
…
Issei really didn't like the situation he was in right now. The entire Occult Research Club was convened in the club room with all of the Student Council. The club room was spacious, but with so many people inside, Issei was beginning to feel claustrophobic.
Asia clung onto his shirt. After they had returned home from the church, Issei told Asia about his dream. He told her how he had seen both Ryusei and Toshiro in his dream, and how they were in that office together. It didn't make any sense but he had to tell someone. He knew he should tell Rias, but he felt like he shouldn't do it right this second.
"My brother has officially declared the Paladin and his generals S-Class fugitives of the Underworld," said Rias. "We have Devils circling the entire city and more camouflaging as humans to detect any anomaly. If the Paladin really is in the city, it'll only be days before we flush him out."
"And my sister has spoken with representatives of the Church," said Sona. "They're sending two representatives to work with us to capture the Paladin. They'll be here by the end of the day."
"Do we know who they're sending?" asked Rias.
"No names, but they did send us everything they have on the Paladin and his generals," said Sona. "Tsubaki?"
Shinra Tsubaki nodded as she placed a talisman on the coffee table, opening a large magic circle that manifested six images. All of which…Issei recognized.
"The Paladin's name is Ozora Toshiro," said Sona. "He was 17 when he was appointed as the next Paladin. His magic capabilities are beyond that of regular Devils and exorcists, but his Sacred Gear is what's scariest. He possesses a Sacred Gear called Divine Sunderer. It's a rare Sacred Gear that lets him feed off solar radiation and enhances his body."
"The Paladin of the Church is a Sacred Gear user?" asked Kiba.
"He's not the only one," said Sona. An image of a girl with long purple hair popped up. She didn't look like much of an exorcist, more like an elementary school student. She had long purple hair tied into a ponytail behind her head with bangs framing her face, and matching eyes. "This is Kumoshiki Kyoka. The only other general known to have a Sacred Gear. Hers is called the Lost Archive. It's an intelligence gathering Sacred Gear that stores anything and everything the user learns or reads into a database held within the Sacred Gear. It can neurally link any person the user wishes using a telepathic link. She's considered weak compared to the other generals, but her intellect is far superior to any other being on the planet."
Issei raised an eyebrow. A little girl like that? Guess he shouldn't be judging others based on their appearance.
"This is Hareyuki Jushiro," said Sona. "He's an expert close combat fighter who's known for fighting unarmed. His abilities and strengths are completely unknown."
It was a boy around Issei's age, with short but spiky blonde hair and matching golden eyes. He had tanned skin with a bandage on the bridge of his nose. If anything…he looked like a boxer.
"This is Kirihana Houki," said Sona. "She's an extremely dangerous mage who excels at all forms of magic. Her magic sense is deep, and some within the Church have given her the title of Sorcerer Supreme."
It was a girl with long black hair flowing down her back and pale skin. She had a pair of dark eyes that almost looked lifeless. If Issei didn't know any better, he would have thought she was dead.
"And these two were the ones you ran into last night," said Sona. "Arashikage Ryusei and Amemori Gentarou. Arashikage is a skilled marksman with over 300 confirmed kills. His weapon of choice are a pair of twin pistols which shoot out compressed shots of his own magic. Not harmful to regular humans, but to anybody who possesses even a hint of magic…it's extremely painful. He also wields a weapon called the Epirus Bow."
"The…The what?" asked Kiba, going pale.
"It's a weapon said to have been used by Perseus," said Sona. "It-"
"It shoots arrows made of light that aren't affected by gravity," said Kiba. "It'll vanish after a few hours, but they were a weapon made by the gods."
"Kiba?" asked Issei. "Are you okay?"
Kiba smiled, with a hint of sadness behind his eyes. "I'm fine Issei-Kun."
"That's all we know about them," said Sona. "They're definitely not a group that we can take lightly. So far we've confirmed that two of them are in Kuoh, but more of them could be coming any time."
"Do we have any kind of plan in place?" asked Genshirou Saji. "If they all come to Kuoh, we could have a full blown war out in our hands."
"The representatives from the Church were sent here to make sure it doesn't get to that point," said Sona. "But until they arrive, we have to make sure nothing goes wrong in Kuoh. My sister has asked us to put the city in lockdown, the borders have already been secured. If anything comes in or out of the city, we'll know."
"Let us know if there's anything we can do to help," said Rias. "I would like to get this matter dealt with sooner than later."
"I agree," Sona stood up. "I'll have the school cut classes shorter for the rest of the week to give you all more time. We'll be on our way."
Asia tugged on Issei's shirt as the Student Council left the club room. "Issei-San, I think you should tell Rias about your dream. And that we met with Toshiro-San…"
Issei sighed. "Yeah, I know."
After everyone cleared the room, Issei walked up to Rias. His heart was beating a million miles a minute, but he knew he had to tell her.
"Prez…there's something I have to tell you," said Issei. "Ozora Toshiro, I've seen him before."
"What?" asked Rias. "Where?"
"I saw him in my dream," said Issei. "Hear me out Prez, I know it sounds crazy, but I've been having this weird dream. I saw the seven of them in this strange office, and Toshiro said that they'd all see each other but they had to lay low. And then just yesterday…Asia and I met him in person in front of a ramen shop in Kuoh."
"Issei, why didn't you tell me this sooner?" asked Rias.
"I…I guess I was just scared," said Issei. "These dreams…they don't feel like dreams. It feels like I'm actually there…in that office. I don't know Prez…"
"It's okay Issei," said Rias. "I know you must have been confused and scared, but do you know where he is now?"
"I gave him directions to the Rosebloom Motel, not too far from here," said Issei.
"I'll let Sona know," said Rias. "Issei, how did he seem?"
"What do you mean?" asked Issei.
"Did he seem dangerous?" asked Rias.
"He said he lost his memory," Asia added. "He had been spending the past week trying to remember, but all he remembers is his name. I don't think he was lying President."
Rias rubbed her chin. "I see…If it's true that the Paladin's really lost his memory, we won't be able to get any answers out of him. Which means…"
"Prez," said Issei. "If it's possible, I'd like to go see him before you and the others do. Maybe I can talk to him…convince him somehow. We don't need to fight."
"It'd make sense," said Rias. "The last thing I'd want is to fight the Paladin, with or without his memories. But be careful Issei…and take my talisman just in case anything goes wrong. I'll be there no matter what."
"I understand," said Issei.
"I'm coming with you Issei-San," said Asia.
"Asia, it could be dangerous," said Issei.
"All the more reason for me to go," said Asia.
"Don't underestimate a stubborn woman Issei," said Rias, handing him a piece of paper with her magic circle. "Be careful, okay?"
"I promise," said Issei.
The doors to the club room crept open as Akeno poked her head through.
"Rias, there's been…an incident."
…
As if the whole affair with Raynare and the Fallen Angels wasn't bad enough, the Paladin and his generals escaping from Church custody caused more of uproar in the supernatural world then Rias would have thought. But now…
"Are you sure?" asked Rias.
"Tsubaki identified her the second they were brought into Kuoh," said Akeno. "It seems the representatives from the Church captured her on the way here and brought her here as proof of their cooperation."
The two of them teleported to a small outpost near the border of Kuoh. There were a handful of Devils flying in the skies, as well as the entirety of Sona's peerage circling the three individuals walking into the city.
They were definitely members of the church, wearing their white robes with the golden symbol of the church emblazened on their backs. One individual removed their hood to reveal the face of a young girl, no older than Rias was, with short kept blue hair with a strand of green at her fringe. She had intimidating violet eyes and didn't look like the type to play well with others.
"Rias Gremory, first daughter and heir to the House of Gremory, sister of Sirzechs Lucifer," said the girl. "I am Xenovia Quarta, an exorcist from the Holy Church sent to aid you in the capture of the fugitives. Pleasure to be your acquaintance."
"Welcome to Kuoh, Xenovia," said Rias.
"As a token of our forging relationship, I offer you this," said Xenovia, removing the hood of the individual held by the other exorcist. It was a young girl with long purple hair tied into pigtails and matching eyes. She didn't look a day older than 15, and looked extremely unpleased to be here. "This is Kirihana Kyoka, 5th seat of the Paladin's squad and one of his generals. We found her making her way to Kuoh, possibly to meet up with the others."
"And you just…captured her?" asked Akeno.
"Kyoka-San is on the more…pacifist side," the other exorcist to reveal the head of a young girl around Issei's age, with long chestnut hair tied into long twin tails and violet eyes.
"Well I guess you can say that," said Kirihana Kyoka. "It's nice to see you again too Xenovia."
"You three, know each other?" asked Rias.
"We've went on several missions together," said Kyoka. "How cruel of you guys to tie little ol me up like this. And here I thought we were friends Xenovia."
"We're not friends anymore," said Xenovia. "Not since you and the others attempted to kill High Chancellor Genryusai."
Kyoka raised an eyebrow. "Attempted? You're telling me he's still alive?"
"Fortunately, we were able to save him," said the other exorcist.
Kyoka went quiet for a second. "I see…then that makes things easier. How about the other two? Are Alistair and Killian still alive?"
"The two Chancellors are the only people keeping the Vatican running, no thanks to you," said Xenovia.
"That…complicates things," said Kyoka. "But I guess I should thank you either way."
Rias narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Well it didn't take me long to pinpoint Ryu-Kun's location after he fired off a couple of shots," said Kyoka. "Archive picked it up almost immediately the second he pulled the trigger, the problem was how to get here. Luckily, I passed by a couple of old friends on the way here for a mission." Kyoka smirked.
This was definitely wrong. There's no way one of the generals of the Paladin would let herself get caught like this…not unless she planned the whole thing.
"There are a lot of things you all don't know about, and one of them is why the Church framed us," said Kyoka. "I'm asking this nicely because Irina is right, I am a pacifist, and I'd rather spare your lives from the massacre that's about to come. Please, let me go and walk away. It won't be long until they sense me."
"What are you talking about?" asked Rias. "What don't we know? What do you mean the Church framed you?"
"It's kind of perfect, isn't it?" asked Kyoka. "The Church having a convenient scapegoat for the murder of their High Chancellor? Now they've got the entire world hunting us, and not a single pair of eyes on what they're doing."
Rias hated to admit it, but Kyoka had a point. It all did seem a bit too convenient.
"Enough!" Xenovia slammed Kyoka to her knees. "You're going back to the Vatican, and paying for your crimes."
Kyoka held up her hands, which were bounded together by rope.
"Everybody be on guard!" cried Rias.
Xenovia and Irina jumped out of the way as a red bullet shot from the distance and tore apart Kyoka's binding. A knife was shot to the ground in front of her, just like the one from last night. A tri-tipped kunai with strange marks carved onto the handle.
"Took ya long enough, Genta," said Kyoka.
A figure appeared in front of Xenovia and Irina, bypassing every Devil in the area and seemingly having teleported right in the middle of the action. It was the boy from last night, with short, navy blue hair and sapphire eyes. His cloak was flowing against the wind as he swiftly kicked back both Xenovia and Irina.
"Yahallo!" said Genta. "Good to see you're still as spunky as ever Kyoka."
Kyoka stood up. "Yeah well I had to keep talking, who else is gonna stall for you two."
Xenovia shot up from the ground and swung at Genta, who blocked the attack within the split second that she attacked.
"Sorry Xenovia," said Genta. "You're still too slow to keep up with me."
Rias then figured out why the Church had sent these two. Xenovia Quarta, a Holy Sword user. Her sword was a rather massive one with what seemed like an axe handle and a blade that was larger than her body. Yet she swung it around so easily…she was gifted.
"Don't patronize me Gentarou," said Xenovia. "This makes it easier for us to take you all in."
Gentarou pushed Xenovia back before pulling Kyoka off the floor and tossing her over his shoulder.
"H-Hey!" cried Kyoka. "Put me down right this moment Genta! This is humiliating!"
Genta laughed. "Sit still for a bit."
"Damn you Amemori!" Kyoka growled.
"You can't seriously be expecting to leave this place alive," said Rias. "We can't just let you walk away."
"What if I told you that the Church was framing us for their attempted assassination of Old Man Genryusai?" asked Gentarou. "Would you believe me?"
Rias furrowed her brow. "Again with that…at least give me something more to go on then-"
"We do not negotiate with you traitors," Xenovia pulled up her sword.
"Please stand down Genta," said Irina.
"Are you guys done talking down there?" a voice cried behind them.
Rias turned around to see a boy with crimson hair, knocking out the Devils assigned atop a tower behind them. Arashikage Ryusei.
"They'll never believe us even if we told them," said Ryusei. "Now hustle you idiots, we gotta find the Captain!"
"R-Right," said Genta with an awkward smile. "Well without further ado, I bid you all farewell. Bye-bye!" Genta casually waved his hand with a girl over his shoulder.
Ryusei shot a bullet into the ground right in front of Genta and cast a massive smokescreen. As soon as the smoke cleared, the three of them vanished from sight.
"Dammit!" Xenovia stabbed her sword on the ground.
Rias crossed her arms. "Sona, the border patrol is still up and active right?"
"Yes," said Sona. "I'll have people stationed here 24/7. Why?"
"Xenovia and Irina, was it?" asked Rias. "Why don't we have a proper chat?"
…
"Is this…really a motel?" asked Asia.
"Apparently," said Issei.
He and Asia stood in front of a rundown building lodged between a Chinese restaurant and a laundromat. It looked almost as disgusting as the church that they found Ryusei in. But at least this one still had a sign up with some lights.
"You ready?" asked Issei, trying his best not to shake.
Asia clung onto his arm, shaking and hiding behind him. "Ready…"
The reception desk of the motel didn't look that bad. The floors were lined with velvet carpet with pictures of different people hung all over the mahogany walls.
"Welcome to Rosebloom Motel," said the man behind the reception desk. "Will you both be staying here tonight?"
"Huh? Oh! No, we're actually looking for someone," said Issei, walking towards the desk. "His name's Ozora Toshiro, we were wondering if he checked in recently?"
The man behind the desk was of middle age, with long gray hair stroked back with dark brown eyes. He wore a simple white dress shirt with a black vest as well as dress pants. He had a pristine aura about him that Issei wished he had.
"Ozora Toshiro," the man echoed. "Yes, I young man checked in last night under that name. Might I ask what this visit is for?"
"We're friends," said Issei. "He's from out of town and we pointed him here. We were just checking up on him and seeing how he's doing."
"Young friendships, what a wonderful sight to see," said the man. "He's currently staying in room 104. Just down this hallway."
"Thank you, uh…" said Issei.
"Oh, how rude of me," said the man with a smile. "My name Tokoyami Shunsui. Please, feel free to ask if you ever have any questions."
Issei and Asia smiled as they began down the hallway.
"Tokoyami-San seems pretty nice," said Asia.
"He kind of reminds me of…Prez," said Issei.
Room 104 was located at the end of the hallway. The entire building sounded pretty much empty, save for Room 104 which seemed to have the T.V on playing inside. Issei gulped as he knocked on the door.
"Oh? Come on in, it's open," said a familiar voice.
Issei and Asia entered the room to see it pretty vacant. The floors were lined with the same red carpet as in the reception room, the walls were pretty thin but scarcely decorated an intricate design of flowers and shapes all the way around. There was a small table filled with books in the corner, with a small kitchen and bathroom in the back of the room. On the left of the room was a bed facing a T.V. Ozora Toshiro laid on the bed with his hands behind his back, biting on a toothpick from a box of Chinese food takeout as he watched the local news.
"Issei? Asia?" Toshiro jumped out of bed. "What a surprise! I thought I'd never see you again. What are you guys doing here? Don't you have school?"
"School's been cut short for the rest of the week," said Issei. "We wanted to see how you were holding up…" his eyes naturally drawn to the stacks of books on the table. "If you remembered anything."
Toshiro smiled and walked over to the table, picking up an old history book. "The old man's got a lot of books in his library. He was kind enough to let me read, one of the only things I can do right now. Have any of you ever read the Bible? Truly read it, not just what you were taught in Sunday school?"
Asia stepped forward. "I love it, very much so."
Toshiro smiled. "I don't know what it is, but I felt like I knew the content of these pages before I even opened the book. It's so strange…My memory of people and places are gone, but yet I can still remember facts and information."
"Have you pieced anything together?" asked Issei.
"Bits and pieces, every now and then," said Toshiro. "I had friends, very close ones, and we were separated. I don't know where they are, or even if they're still alive. But I know they're looking for me…Can I tell you something kind of weird?"
"What is it?" asked Issei.
"Come this way," Toshiro led them to the bathroom. Issei knew something was off, just walking in the general direction of the bathroom sent chills down Issei's spine. It was like the temperature in the room dropped a hundred degrees.
"I was going in for a shower as soon as I checked in last night," said Toshiro. "I went to turn on the water, and as soon as it touched me…" He opened the door.
"Oh my…" said Asia.
Issei didn't know what to make of it. The water was frozen solid, right into the shower head and froze the entire shower solid. The temperature in the room must have been below freezing, sending cold waves throughout the entire motel room.
"Did you know that absolute zero is the coldest point any substance can reach?" asked Toshiro. "At absolute zero, every cell is completely striped of motion and remains completely and perfectly still."
"H-How…" said Issei. "How are you not…"
Toshiro shrugged. "I didn't feel a thing, even now…it doesn't faze me. The cold doesn't seem to affect me, and neither does the heat. I turned the heat all the way up and sat next to the vent for hours…and I didn't even break a sweat."
Issei gulped. "That's…surprising."
"That isn't the word I would use," Toshiro snickered. "After that, I stayed up reading everything the old man had in his library about the supernatural or paranormal. Nothing is even beginning to make sense but I'm not shocked or surprised…that scares me more than what's happening to me."
Asia pulled back to Issei as Toshiro went to look at the books again.
"Issei-San…I think we should tell him," said Asia. "Toshiro-San is just an amnesiac, he doesn't know why everyone's after him. He deserves to know the truth."
"I agree…" said Issei. "Toshiro…there's something we have to tell you."
Toshiro closed an old book on Roman culture and raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"Your friends…they're in Kuoh," said Issei. "They're looking for you."
"What!" cried Toshiro. "A-Are you sure? I have to find-"
"It's not that simple, Toshiro," said Issei. "Your friends aren't the only people looking for you."
Issei and Asia sat Toshiro down and explained to him everything they knew. They started with the fact that Devils and Angels are real, and then went into specifics about Toshiro. How he was the Paladin of the Holy Church, how he and his friends committed murder and went on the run. And how his friends were in Kuoh, and how the entire supernatural world were looking for them.
Toshiro remained silent, playing with his fingers. His thumbs wrapped around one another as he gathered his thoughts.
"I see…" said Toshiro. "So that's it…that must be why I feel like there are eyes watching me everywhere I go. Even now…"
Eyes watching him? Did Rias send Devils to follow them? If that's true…
"We know you didn't do it, Toshiro," said Issei.
Toshiro raised an eyebrow. "How would you know? You two hardly know me?"
"Because we know you're not a bad person," said Asia with a kind smile. "You love to eat ramen and read books, you don't seem like a bad person to me."
"As much as I appreciate your kindness Asia, both of you, those are the words of a naive individual," said Toshiro as he stood up and scratched his head. "You mustn't let emotion dictate your actions. Think rationally and calmly…"
"You're awfully calm after being told you're the world's most wanted fugitive right now," said Issei with a chuckle.
"I'm not even scared," said Toshiro, looking at his hands…completely still. "What kind of person was I? I kill a person in cold blood and I'm not even a tiny bit frightened or scared. I'm completely calm…"
"That doesn't mean you did it," said Issei, standing up. "Rias Gremory, our master, she's a reasonable person. If you reason with her, I'm sure-"
"It's a bit too late for that, Issei," said Toshiro. "Why don't you guys come on in already? The door is open."
Issei grabbed hold of Asia as the doors burst open. Two individuals flew inside and restrained Toshiro. One was a girl with short blue hair, holding a giant sword across his body as another girl, with long chestnut hair, restrained his arms. Why did she look so familiar?
"At last…" said the girl with blue hair. "You're going to pay for your crimes against the Church, Ozora Toshiro."
Toshiro raised an eyebrow. "D-Do we know each other?"
