No matter where you went, the area around Kyoto looked stunning. There were trees and rivers and valleys and mountains. Issei had been around there area once or twice in his past but never really had the opportunity to absorb the scenery. He knew that he had a time limit for finding Kuroka but he just couldn't help it. He stopped at one of the many valleys he had passed by and watched the sunset. He swore that he could stay there for hours and not notice the passing of time. However this view was far too similar to him. Though at the moment he couldn't seem to remember why that was the case. For now he had to move onward.
With an hour passing he had no luck in his search. Naivety had consumed him in thinking that a wanted criminal such as Kuroka would be an easy find. Though it wasn't completely his fault. The coordinates that Sirzechs provided were far from accurate. Sirzechs said that she was in an abandoned mansion but when he arrived to the coordinates it was in the center of Kyoto. Wether Sirzechs purposely gave him the wrong coordinates or not was unclear. But Issei had his suspicions.
However he did find his luck when he sensed some demonic signature leaving Kyoto. Since Sirzechs ordered all Devils to leave Kyoto before Issei's departure it gave him reason to believe that Kuroka was the only being in the city to have a demonic signature. With this in mind he made his way toward the cat in hopes for peaceful negotiations. Unfortunately for him however, any change of peaceful negotiations died with her master as when he attempted to calmly approach her she fired multiple ki orbs toward him. Issei effortlessly dodged the ki orbs and continued toward her.
"Quite aggressive for an introduction wouldn't you say?" He asked jokingly.
Kuroka stood prepared in case Issei would've attempted to try anything. However she was slightly confused as to why he was so casual. Normally any other person would be slightly fearful when they saw her; even Devil soldiers sent to subdue her. Curious. Nevertheless she had to stay cautious. Though she did allow her eyes to wander around his figure. She, like many other women found him devilishly handsome. He had a nice toned body and the power radiating off of him made her curious as to who he was.
"What else is a poor damsel such as I supposed to do when a complete stranger such as yourself approaches me in a hidden area nya? I am far too fragile." Kuroka replied with a false tone of worry.
"I think we both know that you're far from fragile, Stray Devil Kuroka."
With this Kuroka leapt back to keep some distance between them. The fact that he knew who she was and wasn't worried at all was troubling to her. She summoned more ki onto her fist in preparation for the worst. "What do you want?" She asked, her voice now sharpened.
Noticing that Kuroka was turning even more hostile, Issei made his attempts to calm her down. "Please just relax. I only want to talk; that's it."
Kuroka heard the sincerity in his voice. It had been a long time since someone had been sincere toward her so it caught her off guard. She dissipated the ki within her fist and returned to a normal stance. However she didn't get closer to him. She needed that space between them. Just in case.
"Listen I just want to offer you a deal. If by any chance you reject it I will go, peacefully." Issei said.
"And who are you to be offering me a deal?" Kuroka asked, still unknowing of Issei's identity.
Issei himself cocked an eyebrow. He had expected that most people, even criminals would know who he was. Sure he had only been back for about a week but news spreads quickly. "You haven't heard of me? I'm well known within Devil society."
"Sorry but keeping up with the news was never a priority." She said sarcastically.
Issei understood her situation of not being up to date. To quickly catch her up to things he decided to unfurl all twelve of his wings. "My name is Issei Asmodeus, son of the first Asmodeus."
Kuroka stood at awe at the power radiating off him. Seeing surges of black lighting crackling at the tips of his wings were a sight to behold. The power a child of one of the original Devil Kings had was truly unrivaled. Sure she had met a descendant of one of the original four kings but this power was in another league. It most definitely caught her interest. Maybe if she played her cards right.
"You must forgive me for my rudeness my lord. It's an honor to be in your presence nya." Kuroka said, bowing in a manner that allowed Issei to have a clear view of her impressive breast. "How may I be of service nya?"
The change in attitude didn't go unnoticed to Issei but he hoped that revealing who he was would help him get what he wanted. "I came to ask if you would become my servant. I've researched you in between meetings with the council after my return and you've shown to have an extraordinary gift with senjutsu."
"And what exactly would I gain from becoming your servant?" Kuroka asked.
"You'll be pardoned for killing your master so you'll be able to live in luxury rather than being on the run all the time." Issei answered.
Kuroka thought it through for a moment. At this point she had two options for how she'll be spending the rest of her days. One was to join a newly formed terrorist organization and continue to be targeted by the Devils while the other was to become a servant once more and live a luxurious life. To her it was a no brainer of which she should choose. That in mind however, it doesn't mean that she couldn't attempt to get some more out of this deal.
"Alright, I'll join you nya. But under two conditions." She waited for a nod from Issei to indicate he was willing to listen to her request. "The first being that you are to help me find my younger sister, Shirone." She made sure to stress the importance of this condition to him. Once she received the nod in agreement she moved on to her second condition, which in itself was quite the long-shot. "The second is that you'll help me repopulate my species."
"And how am I do to that?" Issei asked, unsure about how he was to assist her with that request.
"Simple, you'll be giving me your babies nya."
Taken off guard, Issei was speechless from the bold request. He wasn't sure how to feel about the situation. On one hand he had to admit Kuroka was an breath taking beauty that any man would be happy to be with. Even he was slightly aroused when she gave him a peek at her cleavage when she bowed. Then there was his worry of how Grayfia would react to this. Obviously since she is to be the first wife she would want to bear his first child and with her being a full blooded Devil it would be a challenge for her to get pregnant. With Kuroka the chances would be marginally higher for her to get pregnant and that's not taking her mating season into consideration. How will he deal with this dilemma? That would be a question for later.
"And how many would you like?"
[Scene break]
When Issei returned with Kuroka he immediately went on to get her accustomed to the mansion. He had some servants take care of the little luggage she had and prepare some dinner. The two then went in search for Grayfia and found her in Issei's library. He formally introduced the two but to his dismay Kuroka had revealed too much too soon.
"Issei promised what!?" Exclaimed Grayfia, having heard of Issei's deal with Kuroka. She summoned some of her ice magic and stretched her arm toward Issei.
"Grayfia darling I can explain." Issei said, attempting to quell her anger.
"Not one day and you're already planning to have children with other women!" Grayfia exclaimed once more. She couldn't believe what Issei was up to. She may have been willing to share him with SOME women but already planning to have children with others was overwhelming. She already didn't have his first child so this was understandingly upsetting to her.
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think she's interested in a romantic relationship." Issei said.
"A complete relationship isn't off the table just yet nya. If you're as charming as you are handsome then maybe this little kitty will fall for you." Kuroka said seductively.
Issei thought that after what Kuroka had just said Grayfia would be even further angered. But to his surprised all she did was take a deep breath and thought it over. In her mind something like this was inevitable. Hell she and Sirzechs were having this exact talk after Issei had left. He had and will always attract women to him and although she wouldn't be able to stop it, she can regulate it to some degree.
Issei saw that she was attempting to calm down and went on to assist her. He pulled her in to a tight embrace and whispered into her ear. "You know that I would never forget about you my dear. You are and forever will be my first love." His words were able to bring her solace as proven when he attempted to let go of her she refused t0 let him leave her grasp. "Now that I think about it, tonight will be our first night reunited since I've returned. How about we make it a night to remember. Maybe if we're lucky you'll finally bear my first child."
Grayfia wanted to say something but found herself hesitant. Perhaps she wanted to treasure this moment; or perhaps she wanted him to stay ignorant to it all. Just as they all say, ignorance is a bliss.
Kuroka viewed their affectioned on the side. She had never seen a man and a woman so in love with one another. She had only seen lust around her so seeing true love was something new. She wondered if one day she'll be able to experience something as pure as love. Perhaps. Only time will tell.
[Scene break]
When dinner was finally ready the trio met with Sirzechs and enjoyed their meal. The group sat in a rectangular table with Issei and Grayfia at both ends while Kuroka and Sirzechs sat in the left and right side respectively. For one reason or another Issei was slightly excited to be having this dinner. It would be the first time he and Grayfia sat in the same table for over a century. But Kuroka was the most ecstatic about having dinner because she never really had anything worth remembering in the past few years. Most of the time she had to steal food from common folk in Kyoto to survive. To finally be able to have something so delicious was a very welcomed change.
"I'm impressed that you were able to convince Kuroka to join your peerage Issei. I was expecting you two to have destroyed a section of Kyoto." Sirzechs joked.
"Well if it accounts to anything I did have to make some promises." Issei replied.
"What kind of promises?" Sirzechs asked.
"Hee gibim me hees baybes." Kuroka answered with some food still in her mouth.
The rest of the Devils stared blankly from what Kuroka tried to say. Sirzechs understood what she said and all but the lack of manners she had shocked him. That would be something that Issei and Grayfia would have to fix.
"Kuroka, try saying that without your mouth full." Grayfia requested.
Kuroka stared at Grayfia for a moment and swallowed her food. "He's giving me his babies nya." She repeated. Issei and Sirzechs quietly chuckled while Grayfia rolled her eyes at her new comrade. Kuroka then stood up and stretched. "I'm going to sleep nya. This little kitty needs her rest." She wrapped around behind Issei's seat and rubbed her delicate fingers under his chin. "Thank you for taking me in master." She whispered with a sultry voice. With a final kiss on the cheek she made her way toward the room to sleep soundly for the first time in years.
"She's going to be a handful." Grayfia groaned.
"What else would you expect?" Sirzechs asked rhetorically. "I find her request to bear your children to be interesting."
"It's so the Nekoshou could flourish once more." Issei explained.
"But still, the thought of bringing life into this world is interesting. I myself don't have any children of my own so all I can do is dream. What're your thoughts on the matter?" Sirzechs asked. While to Issei it may had been an innocent question to Grayfia it was anything but. She began to stare at him menacingly for it.
Issei thought about the question for a moment. It was an important topic but one he never gave much thought. "I was never really focused on it before." Issei answered honestly.
"Do you want children of your own?" Sirzechs asked.
"Of course. Nothing more would bring me more joy than to have a child." He looked toward Grayfia with a loving smile. "Especially when their mother is someone I love."
Sirzechs smiled at Issei's answer with content. For now the matter will be dropped and they can continue their night. Enjoy their night they did as the trio went on to chat for hours. Their chat even brought some important information to Issei's attention. That being the whereabouts of Kuroka's sister Shirone, otherwise known as Koneko. They also went on to talk about his engagement to Rias and Ravel and the future about it. Interestingly enough, it seemed that young Ravel had second thoughts on the matter which led to the House of Phenex to back out of the deal. With that deal gone Issei would have to compensate the clan some other way in the future.
As midnight grew closer Sirzechs said goodbye to the duo and returned to his own estate. The duo returned to Issei's room and prepare themselves for sleep. That's what Issei thought however. When the two entered the room, Grayfia quickly locked the door behind them, set a soundproof barrier around the room and pushed Issei onto their bed. Before Issei was able to comprehend what was happening, Grayfia stripped herself from her clothes and jumped on Issei and began to passionately kiss him.
When Issei was finally able to process what was happening, he hesitantly pulled away from the kiss. "This was unexpected."
"You should've expected this my love. You were the one who suggested this." Grayfia reminded. "Now let's make this a night to remember."
Issei said nothing more but complied with Grayfia's request, blissfully unaware of her motives behind her actions. Of course she wanted this as he did. After a whole century she missed his touch. But there was something else that make her want this even more. She couldn't tell him just yet; but she needed his child. She had to make it even.
She just had to.
[Abandoned Church]
Kuoh's abandoned church had been left alone since Rias' encounter with the Fallen Angels a month ago. No one had visited the church since the battle. Not until two hooded figures arrived to the church an make it their temporary base of operations.
"I can't believe we have to be in Devil territory." Groaned the bluenette.
"Oh c'mon Xenovia don't be like that! As long as we have the power of God on our side there's no way we can fail!" Proclaimed the chestnut haired figure.
"What worst is that i'm stuck with you Irina." Xenovia muttered. "I swear if any of those Devils get in our way I'll strike them down."
Xenovia's voice was full with nothing but pure hatred and before Irina was able to respond to her, a bright yellow light appeared before the two. "You will do no such thing!" The two had to cover their eyes from the bright light but when they finally saw who was now with them they kneeled before the person.
From the bright light there was a young, blonde girl with blue eyes. She wore similar styled clothing to that of the Seraphs but was modified for battle. Her beauty was unparalleled, second only to that of Lady Gabriel with a bust that rivaled that of the Seraph. On her back were three pair of white wings with a golden halo over her head. This was the Angel known to many as Houki, the right hand to Lady Gabriel.
"We are here to seek assistance from the Devils in order to reclaim the Excalibur fragments. Please refrain from causing any unnecessary problems." Houki requested, her voice gentle and soothing.
"Please forgive me Lady Houki." Xenovia apologized.
Houki said nothing but motioned for Xenovia and Irina to rise. "Your apologies are welcomed but unnecessary Xenovia. Now tell me, what Devils occupy this territory?" She asked. For a reason unknown to her Lady Gabriel refused to explain who controlled Kuoh.
"From our records Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri had been occupying this territory for the past three years with the former of the two being the head authority until recently when the authority had been transferred to another Devil." Xenovia explained.
"And who was the authority transferred to?" Houki asked once more.
"The child of one of the original Devil Kings, Issei Asmodeus."
Houki stood speechless from the name Irina had said. She needed to make sure she heard it right. "Could you...repeat that Irina?"
"The authority was transferred to Issei Asmodeus." Irina repeated, not questioning Houki's shock.
"Is that name special to you Lady Houki?" Xenovia asked.
Houki ignored Xenovia's question and moved to look out the window of the church to gain a clear view of Kuoh Academy.
'No wonder she didn't tell me you were here. At last I will finally meet you. I only hope you'll be proud of me.'
"I'll see you soon, dad."
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