Chapter 13

I'm back! I hope you guys didn't have to wait so much. If you did, I'm sorry. So as an apology gift, I give you the newest chapter of 'A Change of Heart'. This is the aftermath of Rias treason, liberation and Cao-Cao finally have the weapon complete. Will Kuroka survive? How will the DxD team react to Rias? How will Rias react now that she is 'Awake'? What is Cao-Cao's next step? Read to find out. Now to the story!

Actual Harem:

Akeno

Irina

Kuroka

Legend:

"Talking"

'Thinking'

["Ddraig/Albion Speaking"]

['Ddraig/Albion Thinking']

Flashback

Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

The scream alerted Vali and Bikou that it was there turn to watch the key. "Was that Issei?" Bikou asked and Vali nodded with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah. Let's go!" He said and both rushed towards the scene and saw Issei holding a bleeding Kuroka and a sleeping Rias.

"What happened!?" Bikou asked/Screamed sseing one of his oldest friends bleeding.

Issei looked at them "Cao-Cao got the key! Go catch him!"

Vali turned to Bikou "Go fetch Asia, I'll take care of Cao-Cao!" He turned to Issei "keep adding pressure to the wound!" He ordered and went looking for Cao-Cao.

Bikou went running to find Asia, trusting Kuroka to Issei. Kuroka slowly opened her eyes and saw Issei holding her. She wanted to stand up but didn't found the strength to do it.

"Ise-Kun..." She whispered and Issei gave her a watery smile.

"Don't talk. Help is on the way." He reassured her, caressing her cheek, slowly.

Kuroka nodded and slowly closed her eyes "Hey, Don't close your eyes! Stay awake. Please!" Issei pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.

"KUROKA!"

*Later*

"How is she?" Iseei asked Asia the tenth time in 10 minutes. After some moments, that Kuroka closed her eyes, Bikou, Asia and Koneko arrived. Koneko carried both Kuroka and Rias and they rushed towards one bedroom with two beds.

Kuroka was laying breathing rather hard, and with Asia's glowing hand where she got stabbed. "She is fine, Issei-kun. Just getting herself together after a stab wound." Asia told him and he smiled at her.

"Thanks Asia."

Asia smiled and nodded and then turned to the opposite bed, where Rias was resting. Hands and arms tied to the bed.

Asia didn't know why Bikou and Issei wanted her to be immobilized, but they told her that they will explain everything, once the others arrive. Including Azazel and Sirzechs.

After 20 minutes everyone was gathered in the room. Kuroka was stable and her breathing was normal and Rias was still knocked out.

Finally Vali enter the room with a defeated expression. "Nothing?" Issei asked with a frown.

"Nothing." Vali confirmed him and he went to lean against the wall with his arms crossed. "So, what happened?" Vali asked Issei and everyone looked at him for him to explain.

With a sight, Issei started to explain. When Rias appeared, Cao-Cao stabbing Kuroka and stealing the key, and when she was ordered to 'Awake'.

"Is there any way to prove all this?" Sirzechs asked with a hand resting his chin and with a thoughtful expression.

"I put some cameras invented by me, just in case something goes wrong." Azazel said and he made a magic circle on the wall that showed Rias and Cao-Cao talking about something in one of the rooms. There wasn't audio, so you can't listen to anything that they say.

But they saw Rias deactivating an especial barrier that didn't allow anybody to leave.

Azazel and Sirzechs didn't say this because they didn't think it was important, but part of the trap was to put an especial barrier that allowed people to get in but doesn't let them to get out.

"Guess we have to wait for Rias to get up." Azazel said and issei went to the door.

"Where are you going?" Kiba asked and Issei looked at him from the door frame.

"To find Cao-Cao. We need to stop him."

Arthur put a hand on his shoulder "Issei-san, I know you're angry for what just happened, but you know to calm down before you do something stupid. This was a blown to everybody, and we must work together to go through this obstacle."

Issei nodded and turned to Vali that was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.

"What's the plan boss man?" Bikou asked and Vali opened his eyes and got off the wall to stand up in the middle of the room.

"Okay, I got an idea and it is even more dangerous than the last one." Vali started and all nodded. "Now that they got the weapon complete, we only had two things too lure them out."

"Which are?" Arthur asked.

"Me and Issei." Vali said and eyes widen.

"You don't mean to use yourself and Issei as bait?" Xenovia asked and Vali nodded.

"Yes. That's our best option to lure them."

"It is to dangerous! We can't risk that much!" Kiba said trying to make them reason. He just got his friend back. He will not lose it permanently.

Vali was going to give another argument but Issei talked "I'll do it."

Akeno looked at him "Issei-kun. You can't do it."

Issei shook his head and looked at Kuroka "I must. We must catch him. Who knows what he will do to lure us out. Kill innocents? Destroy towns? I don't know. But if this is our best chance to trap them. I'll do it."

Many wanted to protest but didn't. He was right. The Hero Faction were extremists. They will do anything to achieve their goals. No matter the price that will be payed.

With a sight Vali continued "We will divide ourselves in two teams. Bait team and capture team. Bait will consist of me, Issei, Bikou and Arthur. Capture will be Akeno, Koneko, Kiba and Xenovia. Got it?" Everyone nodded and headed out.

*Streets*

Both teams headed out. Bait team was walking on the streets, while capture team was flying behind and over them.

The plan is this, when the bait team is attacked the capture team will rush to defend bait team and to capture whoever that attacked.

"I don't like this. Is to quite for my taste." Bikou said and Arthur nodded with agreement.

"I agree. This is suspicious. With the weapon complete the most logical move would be to attack now that we're weak."

"Yeah, but this is our best shot to capture one of them." Issei said.

"Shut it. We need to focus. They can attack at any second now." Vali said and in cue a beam of energy fall from the sky making Vali and Issei jump forward, while Arthur and Bikou jumped back.

This was the signal for the capture team to go. Kiba and Xenovia took their swords and dashed towards the group to defend them from any possible threats. But when they arrived they bumped into a magic barrier that kept both, Vali and Issei trapped inside.

"Well, this is really lucky. Don't you agree?" A smug voice asked from behind them and turned to see Cao-Cao and around him where appearing more minions, each second.

But what called their attention was that the key and the spear were together and Cao-Cao had it over his shoulder.

"Cao-Cao..." Issei growled and Cao-Cao smirked.

"That's my name. Honestly Vali, I thought you were smarter than this. You actually walked into our hands. And for the look of your expression, this was your plan A and the only one you had." Vali was frowning with his eyes narrowed.

'He was expecting this all along...' Vali thought angered wit himself for not seeing it earlier.

"But enough mindless chatting. Now..." Cao-Cao said pointing the Fusi Sunt towards Issei and Vali.

"...Attack"

And Done! I'm not going to lie. I hated writing this chapter. The only part that I enjoy was when Vali and Issei got captured. But well, I hope you like it and sorry if it is to short. That's part of the reason why I hated this chapter. Because believe me, while I was writing this chapter, I was thinking on the next one that if everything goes alright, will be long, and with a fight. And that's all! Remember to leave your review that I always read, and follow and favorite me and the story. Till Next Time.

Roy D. Harper.

Next Chapter: The Fall of two Dragons