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FICTION

High School DxD, New, BorN, Hero and other products related to the DxD Series are all owned by Ichiei Ishibumi, Miyama-Zero, Fujimi Shobo and TNK.

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Chapter 9: Trouble Stalks Around

Lunch was an awkward affair.

Once we reached back the hotel, Baraqiel decided to delay the lecture about what happened back few hours earlier, deeming more important that I got some time to reflect on my conduct while he thought about the situation and how to tackle it.

Vali was still wearing his mask, but I could see the smug exuding from the prick and the annoying fact was that I couldn't act upon it without worsening my current predicament. Still I enjoyed seeing him pause multiple times in my direction as he noticed that I hadn't ditched the mask to eat.

Bringing the small thing a little bit up, I freed some space for my mouth to receive the food and in the meantime keep my identity a secret to the current host of the Divine Dividing Sacred gear.

A minor victory in a sea of defeat, but one that was surprisingly mirthful since it was Vali on the losing side. I wonder how much time will pass before he will react more aggressively over my mysterious anonymity and if it will happen with someone strong enough to keep him away from me.

Hopefully someone strong enough will be there when that happens…

It was around early afternoon that we were back to the room that Baraqiel and Vali shared, the leader of this diplomatic mission sitting right on the couch across the one I was sitting in, giving me a somewhat disappointed expression.

"You risked big time with that action of yours. While you ended up scoring some favorable points with Yasaka-san, you failed in thinking that it could have ended up in a trap."

I kept quiet as the introductory words for the lecturing started to reach my ears, knowing that my defense, at least the one based on the fact I shouldn't be knowing about both Kunou and Yasaka beforehand, was feeble at best.

I was glad that Vali had deemed the situation unworthy of his attention and the teen had retired to his bedroom, leaving me to deal with the Fallen Angel alone.

The only thing I could do at the moment was nod at him and reply in agreement to his statements.

"Yes, sir-"

"You risked your life by doing what you did. You were lucky enough that it ended as sweet as it was or we would have ended up dealing with the worst diplomatic scandal since the 80s."

"Yes-" I blinked at the '80s scandal' trying to understand what it was about. "sir."

He sighed tiredly. "Azazel told me that you were a particular case, both about your potential and your quirky sense of throwing yourself at any possible danger." His voice gave off some minor agreement to the description given by the Governor-General of Grigori.

I flinched but nodded. "Yes-"

"And stop agreeing to everything I am saying, young man." Baraqiel finally interjected, crossing his arms close to his chest. "And remove your mask, I wish to see to whom I am speaking and possibly going to train."

I frowned, some hesitation washing over my hands as I slowly reached for my mask and let it fall on my lap.

The man blinked, seemed to be thinking of something and then… smiled.

"You are a student at Kuoh Academy, aren't you?"

Please don't.

"I am." I know where this was going to end up with. The man was going to ask about-

"Do you perhaps know someone that goes by… Akeno Himejima?"

...Shit.

"I… do?"

He shifted a little in his seat at my answer, the smile still there.

"Can you tell me how… she is going? Any friends or-" He stopped a brief moment in his questioning but I still replied.

"She is close friend to a fellow classmate, her name is Rias Gremory."

As the redhead's name left my lips, Baraqiel shifted once more.

"And… do you think it's genuine, their friendship-"

"They did seem genuinely friendly with each other. I am quite sure their isn't any… strange stuff going on." My answer further relieved the man, but he seemed ready to ask some more.

"You seem to know quite a lot about my daughter."

I tensed a little at the strange vibe in those last few words, feeling the vindictive tone that only a very 'threatened' father would feel over a boy being 'close' to his daughter.

I sighed while making a small prayer to avoid any unnecessary beatings from the clearly suspicious man. "I… she is your daughter, sir-"

"Wrong answer, kid. Please do respond to my question."

Gulping nervously, I nodded. "I- We are in the same classroom, sir. But we never spoke to each other." I said with some minor stuttering.

This wasn't certainly the best moment to stutter but the nervousness was making me fail this all.

"But you know about her situation with the Gremory family-"

"Only that she is part of whatever group Rias has. As part of the Student Council I have to know about specific details about the Clubs in the Academy and… not to appear to be classist, but those two hardly fit the bill for people enjoying Occult Research."

The Fallen Angel gave a wider smile. "I admit that the cover would be… difficult to keep up but you are the only one that figured it out, aren't you?"

I opened my mouth, ready to rebuke that idea and… yet I found myself questioning this a little bit.

As dumb as it might sound, and I am referring to the 'Glasses trick of Clark Kent' kind of dumb, the Club was enjoying relative anonymity as no one in particular questioned the curious choice for the two 'Ojou-samas' of Kuoh Academy to pick the ORC.

"I remember someone saying 'If a plan is stupid but works, then it isn't stupid' and I find myself agreeing that this is indeed the situation, young man."

...I think I got Murphy'd here-

"I think his name was… Murphy?" Baraqiel added with a brief chuckle.

Oh no, I really got Murphy'd!

"Ah, as much I would enjoy to learn more about my daughter, I think we should focus on your punishment." The man reminded the main focus of this discussion much to my dismay. "I think letting you go scot-free would be detrimental for my lecture and… I just have the appropriate idea for your case."

His hand reached for one of his pants' pockets and he pulled out a folded piece of paper.

"I wanted to use some of the time here at Kyoto to buy some expensive materials Shemhazai asked me to get… but since you caused this little chaotic mess-"

"I have to do it myself?" I questioned and deflated as the man nodded.

"That is correct." He said with a small smile. "I want you to go to the addresses written down in the paper and get the ingredients on the list."

I looked at the paper and frowned at the not-so-short list the man was talking about. I saw him pull out from the same pocket a curiously large bag containing… money? "This is the money to buy everything- and I will know if something is missing off from the spare."

I nodded quickly and stood up from the couch.

"By the way." The Fallen Angel stated. "Try to not cause anything that could jeopardize our current mission here, Hoitsu-kun."

I stopped a moment to give him a full wide-eyed look, surprised that he would know about my name without me telling him and- then I remembered that Azazel could have told him prior.

With another quick nod, I went to door and left the room, prepared to have quite the handful late day on my hands.

Four hours.

I had two full bags of various ingredients taking most of my hands as I finished my long errand around the former capital of Japan.

I do remember seeing some Yokai-only quarter when we went to visit the headquarters of the Yokai Faction, but the ones I had to see during this task were particularly different from the previous ones.

Looking like slums, I saw some unkind faces around there and the Yokai living there seemed to be particularly hostile to strangers. Sensing this much negativity, I was quick to finish the various trips around those sections of the city to avoid any unneeded brawl on my hands.

I sighed in relief once I was on my way back to the hotel, hopefully ready to get some well-deserved rest from the ordeals I had to face this long day.

As I turned one of the corners that I had to take to return to the building, I found a small golden furball crash onto my chest, claws surprisingly not drawing blood as those straddled on my shirt.

I blinked at the frantic shaking of the little thing and then-

"N-Niichan, help!" It was Kunou's voice and as my eyes widened in recognition, I also noticed the twenty or something robed figures rushing towards me, some magical circles forming in front of them.

Fucking magicians!

I quickly turned around and rushed towards one of the alleys, managing to reach the sharp corner before any of the magical missiles reached for me. Without stopping a single moment, I started to laid up my usual quantity of traps to create some advantage.

The moment I left the alley to race through the mostly empty street, I felt the first explosion going off and then several others of the same intensity following closely. The Light Mines were doing their bombastic job in keeping the pursuers a little busy as I continued to make some distance from them. Yet I could feel footsteps still close to my current pacing and, without thinking much about it, I turned my attention at the various closed stands on the side, producing several seals with the Silver Lining combination to pull the various wooden structures towards the center of the street.

At the sound of loud crashing and people shrieking in pain, I knew that I had taken down some of the bastards down. The relief from those two quick victories was seriously crushed by the time I reached the middle of a large intersection.

Front, left and right were obstructed by ten robed figures each side, I noticed some people in the roof ready to strike too and some footsteps still approaching from behind.

We were encircled and I grimaced the situation as it was.

"Your potential is impressive, brother of magic." A feminine voice stated by the front of the main force of magicians. "Let the girl go and we will accept you in our glorious group of-"

"Pass." The cloaked woman stopped, a brief pause before sighing at my word of defiance.

"Think of the heights you could achieve-"

"Not interested." I rebuked again, sighing in annoyance as I felt the need to scratch my head but couldn't because I had my hands still busy with the bags. Kunou shifted a little closer to my chest, trying to get the furthest away from the band of grunts around us.

"Your death wish then..." I saw several circles forming, but as the woman preached some recruitment pep talk I had noticed the best escape for this situation.

"Or your failure!" A small sphere of light appeared up above my head and a sudden flash of white engulfed the area. Several spells were launched, some explosives to vindicate those that had fallen under my merciless trapping skills and those who sent off stunners to avoid harming the Yokai attached to my shirt.

Sadly all of those reached the ground, either exploding in loud noises or dispelling at the lack of an acceptable target and, the moment the blinding light gave away to reveal the aftermath of their bombardment.

Dust was still hovering around, but there was nothing that remained of 'me' or of the little furball that was sticking close and away from the fiends.

Surprise was replaced by fear at the possibility of having killed the offspring of Yasaka, ushering the large group of magicians to look around the area… missing completely the open manhole that led up to the sewers area of the large street section, coated by shadow camouflaged as simple dirt.

Sitting on the cemented ground by the end of the ladder, I had long dropped the bags on the floor to comfort Kunou as she trembled in my hold. That has been way too close of a call to not be at least a bit scared from it.

The Flash Bomb had been a bet that not even I had been sure of its effectiveness but… it worked.

"I'm here, Ku-chan." I continued to comfort her, her whining in her foxy form continuing for a little while, then she slowly melted in my arms and started to change.

Fox ears and tails still present, Kunou continued to snuggle her face closer to my chest, sobbing a little at the scary ordeal. One of my hands shifted to her head, patting carefully the distraught girl as she continued to cry a little more.

"N-Niichan- Th-That was-"

"I know, Ku-chan. I am here." She nodded and shifted a little more in my hold, now sniffling as she was slowly get hold of her emotions.

I waited few more moments and I saw her head slowly move up, to look at me. "T-Thank you, Niichan."

Snorting with a small smile plastered on my face I nodded at her, continuing to pat her. "You are welcome."

As I was about to stand up from the ground and plan out the path I had to follow to reach either the hotel or Kunou's mansion, I felt a strong presence slowly descending from the ladder nearby.

She was slowly falling, her Kimono conveniently censuring her exposed bits, leaving just her legs and cleavage to show in that lewd but dangerously perverted display of her body.

She had her golden eyes fixed on my frame, her black cat ears, the same color as her hair, twitching as she finally landed.

Kuroka was smiling at the fact I had paled several shades of white during her descent, almost giggling at the reaction she was getting from me.

"Ara, Ara, I suppose I could appear quite… shocking, nya~?"

ゴ
ゴ
ゴ
ゴ

Why does she have the Jojo's menacing aura within herself!?

Shivering a little, I got up from the floor with the bags busying my hands once more, Kunou shifting back to her fox form started to grasp at my ruined shirt once more.

"Y-You are Kuroka, the Nekoshou." My words caused her to smile and she nodded.

"And you are a little boy from Grigori, nya. I wonder, how much did you train to get the dummies up above this much disorganized?" She took a step forward, I took one back.

"Very little. I-I am actually surprised they are so much dumb, a-actually."

"Oh really~?" She giggled, taking another step forward and prompting me to take another back in return. "Then you have to be quite the special case, aren't nya?"

"I guess… it's time to use the super secret technique of the Joestar family-" Just as I was about to finish that glorious sentence, I was stopped by a new round of giggled from the young woman.

"You mean yelling 'Nigerundayo' and running away like a fool?"

I froze on the spot and frowned. "Y-You know about-"

"Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? I do know my memes, nya~." Kuroka interjected again, her smile widening even more.

T-This is a terrible disaster! My plans do come from memeing around and… there was nothing else to do.

"T-Then I will be going, yes?!"

She frowned, her smile giving off some predator-like's glint. "Oh, but I thought we were so much fun here talking about Jojo."

"I-I am but- Priorities!" I swiftly turned around and started to use the blasted shadows created by the dim lights in this section of the sewers to boost my pace. "Nigerundayo!"

A loud giggle followed and I felt the pressure of being chased by someone more powerful than me and capable to discern what my brain was thinking starting to get incredibly intense, beyond anything I had faced before.

"Oh? You're running away from me?" She started to quote, picking up even more speed in the process. "Instead of approaching, you are escaping from me, nya~!?"

"I-I can't live a long life if I don't run away from your deadly beauty." Then I shook my head as I remembered this wasn't the moment to 'Jojo' around. "A-Also could you not distract me with that?!"

"But why? I am having such fun now, with this little chase." She stated with some genuine amusement dripping from every words. "Let's get close and personal~!"

I felt it. A sudden jump from the cat-girl to reach out for me and, in a split second, I formed some Silver Lining to pull her on the side and away from succeeding with her move.

She yelped at the sudden bout pain as the light ropes took her by her leg and threw her away, being that the strings were made by holy energy and that she was a Devil.

My quick-thinking granted me some extra time and distance, enough to understand that trying to outrun the girl here wouldn't do. As I felt her return to the pursuit, I dropped another Flash Bomb rushing even faster and letting my legs burn a little more as I suddenly jumped through the closest manhole, hoping to end up in an empty street.

I sighed in relief as my prayers ended up realizing, the desolate street giving me the chance of seeking a hiding spot from the current chaser on our trail and, without thinking much about it, I dived to the closest alley and went to hide behind the two dumpsters sitting there.

I kept quiet for a while, trying to see if we were still being chased or not. Minutes of silence passed, Kunou looking uncertain at moments but accepting to keep quiet since this wasn't a simple situation and…

Yep, she lost us. I sighed in relief the moment I confirmed this and decided to let the girl return back to her human form. The blonde smiled a little but looked still quite shaking by the ordeal.

"T-That was genuinely the scariest of chases, Ku-chan."

She nodded and as I got up myself from the floor she gave me another hug. "Super scary." Her voice was muffled as her face was pressed on my chest and I nodded at her.

Without wasting further time, I went to take out my phone and contact Baraqiel.

The man picked up the call almost instantly. "Where are you, Hoitsu! There has been an assault against Yasaka and her daughter is missing-"

I flinched at the angry and worried tone but interjected quickly. "Sir, Kunou-chan is here with me. She found me while I was ending my errands and we managed to escape the pursuers."

There was a pause. "Did any of you get hurt in the process?"

"I am just a little drained as I had to unleash some spells while Kunou-chan is a little tired and dizzy from it all."

She nodded through the hug and I sighed. "Sir, should we be going somewhere or-"

"I will be contacting Yasaka-san first. She should be able to send loyal men to pick you both up."

"Understood-"

"You truly are a trouble magnet, brat." The Fallen Angel sighed tiredly. "But I guess this time it did some real good."

"I guess too..."

Kunou smiled a little as she continued with the embrace.

Rather the affectionate girl, isn't she?

We were all back to Yasaka's main office, the mother keeping her little girl close as she continued to thank me profusely for saving her daughter.

Kunou smiled in the woman's hold but would steal some glances in my general direction as this situation continued to unfold.

Baraqiel was sitting nearby and listening to Yasaka's praises about my intervention, seemingly less inclined than before to condemn my 'picking fights' where I went.

Of course some explanations about the happenings that led to our escape from the large force of magician was provided and both the woman and the Fallen Angels found some detail note-worthy. The Magician that had tried to make me surrender the girl spoke of some 'glorious reward' if I joined them and the fact that Kuroka, a Stray Devil Nekoshou, seemed to collaborating with this organized group detached from the Magic Council was… concerning.

This instance was going to come and bite the Khaos Brigade in the ass when they will have to reveal themselves as now their element of surprise was partly ruined and with this failure both Grigori and the Yokai Faction was going to investigate who sent this assault force.

Yet what truly caught my attention and I did notice only by the time the two leaders discussed about this situation was that… the Khaos Brigade wasn't supposed to attack this early on in the story.

There were some minor detection of large groups massing up, but nothing that suggested to some mysterious faction starting to create.

This wasn't Canon, to risk this early on their cover wasn't something that the original timeline had and… I knew that this was the most meaningful of the details. Something had caused the Khaos Brigade to attack early on and try to force Yasaka to join them.

It was strange and, if I have to be honest, quite a worry. Many theories flowed in my brain and only few managed to get some logical backing, ranging from Le Fay being able to use Clairvoyance and foresee any of my interventions to Ophis deciding to be much more aggressive with her plans for some reason.

All of this still lacked substantial evidence, but it was something I had to study once I returned back to Kuoh.

"-But let us return to you, Hekishoku-san." The older Kitsune stated. "Could you please come a little closer. I would need to ask you something."

I frowned at the request and glanced at Baraqiel, the man nodding a silent acceptance at the request thus prompting me to approach the gorgeous blonde few steps more.

She smiled and gave me a long studying look about my face before frowning. "Could you… remove your mask? I would like to see the 'pretty' face of Kunou's savior."

I blinked and glanced at the little girl, the younger Kitsune blushing and looking away as she knew that now the little 'secret' she had spoiled to her mom was now coming to bite back at her in terms of embarrassment.

I tried to look at the Fallen Angel but the man preceded me. "Do it, Hekishoku-kun."

Nodding, I slowly removed the mask and waited for some reaction from the woman.

Her eyes widened a little, a little surprise painted in her face, then she smiled and glanced at her daughter and let out a brief giggle. "I think Kunou-chan meant 'handsome', not 'super-pretty'."

I nodded quickly. "I told her that but-"

"Niichan is super-pretty." The little blonde reiterated with absolute conviction drawing another giggle from her mother.

"Oh? What an interesting judgment. But… I guess Kunou-chan is sticking to her idea of you as a… 'super-pretty' individual."

I didn't restrain the small groan at that, surrendering to the idea that this was going to be a thing from now on.

"But the reason I wished to speak to you face to face is more about rewarding you for your service and your intervention in saving my child."

I sighed loudly and held my hands up, causing the woman to pause. "I have to refuse on some good reasons, Yasaka-san."

She blinked and gave a confused look. "Could you elaborate, Hekishoku-kun?"

A bit surprised at the honorific, I still managed to reply. "Saving Kunou-chan was done out of genuine care for her, not out of a promised reward, and hearing the fact I am being rewarded by it is… wrong."

I continued. "While I understand that you wish to thank me for protecting your daughter, it is also true that the real reward in this situation is there and perfectly visible."

I turned my attention to Kunou, the girl's eyes a little wide open at my speech. "Kunou-chan is safe and sound, that is what is my current reward to my service."

There was a long pause of silence and then the woman sighed in genuine relief. "That was a show of honesty that I find quite refreshing after so much time of hearing sweetened lies." Yasaka smiled as she said this. "You are quite wise for someone your age, Hekishoku-kun, and I think Grigori did gained someone worth of note with you."

I nodded at the flattering compliments.

"Still, I wish to ask you something since you proved to be someone that truly cares for my daughter's well-being." The older blonde stated. "A favor that is born out of necessity and worry for the safety of Kunou-chan."

...What?

"With this assault from unknown forces, it has become clear that our current level of security is inadequate to protect both me and my child and..." She looked tense at giving out the request but, after some brief moments of silence, she spoke clearly her intentions. "I wish that you could take my daughter with you back in Kuoh Town."

… "W-What?"

How did she knew that I was from Kuoh? I never stated anywhere near her or any of her servants that I was from the city and-

"Azazel-san contacted me just an hour ago, presenting me with a more detailed report of your… current identity."

Goddammit, that bastard is ruining my chances of keeping myself from dealing with everyone's power-plays!

"I will not divulge the information I gained, as the Governor-General has gained from me the utmost secrecy about it. Still, I wish for you to consider the request as it is important for me to know I can have someone trustworthy to keep my baby-girl away from danger."

Kunou blushed a storm and snapped her attention at her parent, looking aggravated by the embarrassing nickname. "M-Mama!?"

"You are going to be away from me for a long time. Can you allow your mama to tease you a little bit before letting you go?"

The little girl flinched at the woman's blunt question and then nodded silently much to her mother's amusement. "Thank you, sweetie."

The younger blonde groaned, causing the woman to giggle in response before she returned to look at me.

"I wish to know your answer, Hekishoku-san."

I hesitated a little as… taking care of someone while keeping her identity secret from those around the school…

But then again what alternative did Yasaka have if I had refused?

Ignoring the logical choice of saying 'no' to protect my own identity, I knew that I would end up literally confirm that what I just said until now about Kunou was a lie and it wasn't.

Even through I knew her for so little, I think that after facing some deadly situations together, the kitsune and I bonded well enough for me to call her a good friend at least.

So, going against my best intent of keeping myself safe and hidden from Hell and Heaven, and making my life more difficult than before, I nodded at the woman.

"I… accept, Yasaka-san."

The girl beamed at the reply, while the woman's smile widened. "Thank you, Hekishoku-kun."

As I nodded at her, I found Kunou approaching me with a small set of key. I frowned and looked back at the woman.

"Azazel-san also wished to say that the little request of yours has been accepted from doing such a good job and that your new home is now ready."

...Ah.

I think I need to make a brief explanation, I guess.

Before leaving for Kyoto, I decided to ask a big favor to the leader of Grigori regarding my current lifestyle.

Knowing that my life was going to take a more dangerous turn now that I was in his organization, I didn't need to endanger my new parents with this situations and, knowing that getting out of the house with normal means was nigh-impossible as there would have been some adamant resistance from father and mother, the man agreed to use some mind-trick and put some fake memories in them about a tense but acceptable family meeting that saw me gaining some independence from them.

Was it cruel? Yes.

Was it unorthodox? Incredibly so.

But was it a necessity? Yes.

Differently from Issei, I couldn't make full use of Grigori's protection to keep my parents safe and, as much as I loved my cramped room back in their house, I needed much more space to deal with training and studying other arcane arts.

An extreme decision to prevent an extreme situation from exploding right on my face.

I took the keys and patted Kunou's head, the girl smiling and closing her eyes as she accepted the simple gesture.

The return home was surely going to be… quite hectic.

AN

Ku-chan joins Kuoh Academy, the 2nd year of middle high school!

I know that the last bit about leaving the parents' house might sound a little forced and shady but there are big reasons for this, much bigger than the ones the MC gave at the end.

Kuroka is a memester and I will not apologize for that one. I just have this little head-canon of her discovering the internet while on the run from Hell and just got addicted to some meme-y stuff. Will it be to a cringe or crackish level? Nyaope!

P.S. Vali wasn't in the room to see MC's face and… that is going to be a gag for a long time. Hekishoku will now be a thing on for Grigori missions and other stuff from now.

Also almost 300 followers in Fanfic, GAH! THIS IS AMAZING!

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

Night-Stryder: Something like that might happen in some distant future.

User may be a smug prick: I do know of the legendary King Arthur's return back home. Monty Python is one of my fave comic actors.

Ascandas: That is next chapter, but yes.