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The following is a fan-based

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 66: A Step Forward in a Weird Direction

Kunou was resting quietly in her bed as I continued to hold her hand, my soul repeating over and over that… 'she was alright, she was safe and she was fine' to my worry-fueled paranoia.

Seriously, how could I've expected Lith to go as far as to grant both girls part of her power? I had long expected Ophis to act upon this situation, having seen her thinking about it with Shiranai, but the discussion either diverged elsewhere or she would just accept the fact they were going to become stronger anyway with training.

Such an immediate power-boost could have seriously destabilized Kunou's core if she hadn't been lucky enough to be in the Wild Frenzy form. With the powerful flux of energy coming from the Yokai-restricted transformation, the sudden foreign magic was fought and burned by the expensive drain of the form they were on.

Koneko held mightily with the aftereffect of this magical response, while Kunou found it way more difficult to deal, ending up with a tired mind.

Baraqiel's intervention was enough to make sure the sudden intense pain was treated with Phoenix's tears, but the Core was a mix of Soul and Body, thus her consciousness was depleted by the situation.

The man had been quick to call me to inform of what happened and, as I finished to pay the check of the restaurant I had taken the three girls to for the planned date, I was quick to explain how we all needed to return back home and… they were all receptive and accepting of this predicament.

Once we were back to my house, the girls proved to be quick to… not just stand there and actually do something to help around much to my gratefulness.

Akua went to administer some massages along the sore Magical coils along Kunou's and Koneko's limbs, carefully and soothingly having them relaxed and healed. A long process that took almost an hour to be done with, but that truly helped up for a quick recovery from both girls.

The silver-haired Nekoshou was being aided by her sister, Kuroka making sure that the drained teen was given anything that she needed, may it be a glass of water, some tissue or a shoulder to lean on while she stared at her still-sleeping friend.

Akeno was carefully preparing some wet towels as Kunou had been having a slight fewer ever since she fell asleep, something that needed to be monitored from time to time as the sickness would hardly retreat without proper care.

It took them a few hours, but Asia and Issei arrived just as the vampire concluded her treatment, the blonde swiftly applying her Twilight Healing over the two young girls' cores as the area being sore too but quite impossible to fix via natural means.

The brunet started to ask a few answers about what happened and Baraqiel replied to every single one of them. Mostly it was about the 'why' and 'how' this happened and, staring from the doorstep of the kitsune's room, Ophis whispered quietly to Lith.

The 'younger' Dragon seemed partly confused, mostly because she was completely unaware of the dangerous action she just did with that stunt. But Ophis knew perfectly that and she was subtly explaining this to her… younger sister.

She didn't mean it-

But she will still be rightfully punished for that. I can't just let her go… with the chaotic mess happening here.

And that's fine, but I hope that-

Do you think I will go overboard with her?! I'm not certainly planning to-

You are shaking right now. As much as I know you are impartial 'in a normal circumstance', I know that Kunou and Koneko were close-

Don't say it. Just… I will not do anything wrong, trust me on this.

...I will believe you, for now.

But what Shiranai was pointing out wasn't completely wrong. I was terribly concerned, my skin having paled a shade or two by the time I learned of what had happened and even now I felt cold inside.

That had been incredibly close, terribly so. Something that will possibly give me a nightmare or two just because of the scare I got from the 'possible end'. I sighed, my eyes fixed on Kunou's face, the small reddening on her cheeks caused by the fever and, glancing to the side to find Akeno with a pair of towels and a bowl filled with water, I was quick to cautiously apply the first one on her forehead.

Her breathing was soft, normal and my heartbeat was going to a pace a little higher than usual. Not too much to dignify my inner worry, but enough to understand that the worst was over… right now.

I took me a few moments to address the fact that both Infinity Dragons had slowly approached the bed, Lith trailing silently behind her older sibling with her head staring in simple shame at the floor.

"She wants to help." Ophis said with her usual tone, black eyes looking right at my face. "She is remorseful and… she didn't mean it."

I blinked, glancing momentarily at the two girls, first at the Goth girl's usual blank expression, somehow glinting some responsibility over the action of the child behind her, and then I noticed that Lith was twitching, looking close to cry.

I closed my eyes, sighing quietly as I opened them up with a determined look. "Lith." I called out softly, making her tense up just for a moment as she slowly brought her sight over my face. There were some tears building up in her eyes.

I was currently sitting on one of the available chairs in the room and I smiled a little. "Come here a moment, sweetie."

She tensed again, the affectionate nickname being good enough to have her slowly take steps towards me and… then her onyx orbs widened as I lifted her off the floor and settled her on my lap. "It's alright, sweetie, I'm not mad." I whispered as I started to caress her head comfortably.

Her tension melted almost instantly, but she didn't cry. Rather she started to nuzzle on my chest, her cheek pressing on it as her eyes were locked onto Kunou's sleeping form, sadness visible from those. "I… I wanted to help them." She explained quietly, straddling on my shirt. "They looked so happy and… then they looked cool!" Her smile was brief, but it was also infectious as I cracked a tiny one.

"I know that you didn't want to hurt them, but it still happened and..." I blinked, glancing at the sleeping blonde with a calm look. "I think I know what you can do to redeem yourself about it." She looked up the moments my words finished leaving my lips.

"A-And that is?" She asked with hopeful expression.

Warning, cuteness overload detected and- Oh Gods, she is just so… cute~!

And you were trying to appear serious a few moments ago…

"Do you see the wet towel that I just put on Ku-chan's forehead?" I questioned, gaining a quick nod from the girl as I smiled a little more. "If you go by the closest bathroom on the left side of the hallway, the one where there is Akeno, she is currently preparing some more. Your duty is… to get those ready and place these with the others."

She nodded again, her face sporting a determined look as she slowly climbed down my legs and almost run off… if I didn't catch before she could rush away. "Also, no running while holding the towels or you are going to slip and hurt yourself, sweetie."

Lith smiled brightly and nodded, her pace significantly reduced as she went ahead with her new task. I waited a little while, staring as the little girl left my sight before I turned my attention to Ophis, the Dragon looking a little… confused.

"I thought that you would have… spanked her." She tilted her head, eyes blinking while she said that.

I frowned in my own confusion at such… guess. "You mean make use of corporal punishment?"

At her nod, I sighed. "While that would work on a normal situation… Lith's mess doesn't require any of that, I suppose." I replied, not-so-surprisingly her confusion still persisting.

"But… why?" The girl pressed on.

"Parents or older sibling make use of that against young children to instill a 'bad aftermath', which could be spanking or something along the lines, to the naughty things they have committed." I explained with a quiet tone. "Lith doesn't need any of that as her own guilt will be the real punishment."

Ophis frowned. "Her guilt? Why would that work as a… punishment?" The dragon asked.

"She cares a lot for Kunou and Koneko, so even thinking that she had come close to hurt them, her older sisters, even more than how it ended will be a reminder that she will bear for a long time, at least until she will get a grip over morality and maturity." I concluded with a calm sigh. "This is why spanking her would mean going overboard."

She nodded slowly, her eyes picturing the silent understanding of the explanation.

Just as the goth girl looked ready to continue, we both paused as a sudden familiar energy appeared in the living room. I tensed up, my face hardening as I stood up from my seat and glanced one last time at Ophis. "Can you keep watch over Ku-chan? I… I have to deal with him."

The Dragon nodded and I started to walk towards the staircase… ending up in the living room with a scowl directed at the eye-to-eye smile plastered on the face of the shit-lord himself, Rizevim.

The Lucifer looked giddy, yet I could see some sweat rolling from his forehead. He was nervous… but why?

He was sprawled on the couch, staring at me as he knew I would be the one coming to intercept him and…

"Look who's there!" He clapped his hands together once, looking positively elated… much to my enormous chagrin. "Hoitsu, my bro!"

Please Gods, stop him-

"Brorowski! Browstalin! Brofacius! Bro-bro!-" He started to list loudly various nicknames starting with the word 'bro', something that coming from him was… incredibly infuriating.

"Okay, what is wrong?" I asked with a deadpan. "Did Euclid finally snap at your shenanigans?"

He hummed and shook his head. "Nah, but I admit I should be keeping an eye out for something like that. I might end up getting him that much deranged- but this isn't about Euclid, which I had sacrificed as a meat-shield to escape the greatest threat to ever walk on Earth."

… "What?"

"You see, while I know that we have lots of differences… that I've tried to kill you on several occasions and… that I am a certified jerk, but I really, really need a place to crash right now." He replied with a serious tone. "Like, at least until I'm free from the bane of my existence."

There were so many strange details coming from that cryptic tone but… I just asked the more pressing matter. "How long?" I asked, even though I didn't plan to accept that plea.

Seriously, why should I really accept the bastard in my household?!

"It depends, it might be until she loses interest on me or if she somehow dies and-" Just as he was replying to that, an unfamiliar magical circle furiously formed right on the area between him and me.

A red-haired woman materialized from it, her sight directed my way and… from the small scowl in her face a bright smile formed. I barely had time to see a blur as I found myself still staring at that beautiful face much closer than a few moments ago.

I blinked in surprise, a little blush spreading at the sudden closeness, something that made the woman giggle in amusement. She looked much like… Mio and Sapphire, but slightly older and more carefree.

"So this is Hoitsu Sakakibara? Mhhh..." She glanced all over my face and then nodded. "I can see… how you look so much like him and- Oh right, punishment first and ogling later." The woman leaned back and turned to look at Rizevim, the man having vaulted over the couch as he tried to hide behind it.

"Sweetie, you know that the more you elude your rightful punishment, the more I will feel entitled to add more strength at each hit of the spanking." The redhead was coated in a dark-purplish aura, a sinister energy enveloping her as she kept her simple smile while approaching the trembling silver-haired moron.

"M-Mom, I- I wasn't trying to run- you know that I would never do that to you- I just wanted to show you-"

"Your little assistant told me that you were preparing to escape in multiple remote places on Earth." Lilith interrupted with a sickly-sweet tone, some shivers going down my spine even though the words were directed at the hopeless fool. "My little Ri-Ri, how about I tell you how things are going to unfold right now."

She took a simple step forward. "I will bend you over-"

Another step. "I will put you on my lap-"

Her smile turned demonic. "And then I will potentially leave some scarring when I'm done with your due punishment."

Rizevim whimpered, falling on his butt as he tried to back away from his quick-paced parent.

"M-Mom, please- I swear that I've been doing fine and- Slander! Yes, slanderous words against me!" He tried to climb away from the approaching danger, his mind knowing that he was already doomed but… his body refusing to surrender to the hideous fate.

"Oh? So then you didn't destroy most of the capital of this nation? You didn't kill the parents of that cute Belmont and then try to hurt that lovely and adorable vampire he lives with?"

There was a pregnant pause, tension reaching a higher level as the Lucifer didn't answer to the spot-on accusations and then… he showed a blank face. "I will not apologize."

Her smile widened even more.

"Good! Then that means I will have no reason to hold back my unholy fury upon your buttocks." She exclaimed happily her steps growing faster much to the man's fear.

"M-Mom please- we can talk and- You look lovely?"

Lilith stopped a moment in her righteous anger, her aura vanishing instantly as she tilted her head with a happy grin. "Oh really? Thank you, Ri-Ri."

Minor relief could be seen on his face, the hope that he had managed to avoid dealing with the worst case scenario he had foreseen back in the meeting relaxing his terrified posture…

That empty peace was broken when the woman's aura rekindled thrice its previous intensity, the redhead rushing towards him.

"M-Mom, stop!"

"Bring thy ass!"

My eyes were wide open as I was the sole witness of the horrifying punishment Rizevim had to go through. The mother was swift, her hand slamming with insane strength and vigor, the scream of pains echoed all over the room as I stood and watched the incredible torture unfold without a simple break or reprieve for the memester.

Twenty minutes passed and soon the disposition of the entire room changed.

I found myself sitting in one of the smaller couches, the woman picking the one standing on the opposite of mine, smiling happily as she relaxed on the comfy seat.

Rizevim was safely left on a far-off long couch, splayed on it as he looked barely alive and in need of some medications. Seriously, this was just from a 'mere spanking', I was afraid of what this woman could do if she ever got angrier than that.

"It's been a while since I tried the softness of a couch. Hades doesn't spare any money on furniture… and then he calls me the leech." She huffed, her voice barely showing any of the dreadful sureness that had driven her to go after Rizevim. "But this is now about… you, Mr. Sakakibara." She said, her red eyes staring intensively at me. "You… are just like my husband. I bet people have already told you that."

I replied with a nod and she sighed. "Then I hope you understand that there is a reason why you look like him-"

"It's a loop." I interrupted quickly. "I know about that and-"

"You wish to stop it." The woman ended my sentence, sighing tiredly. "Your objective is justified and it is something that I wish to end too, but I think you already know everything I can tell you." She admitted with a sad smile.

I blinked in surprise as… that couldn't just be it. There has to be info that only she knew about and…

It couldn't be otherwise. Lilith was the closest to Lucifer, she HAS to know something more than what we already know.

"Nothing? Not even something about Azrael or anyone that could be trying to resurrect him-"

"Azrael?" She interrupted with a surprised tone, eyes narrowing on me. "What do you know about that lovely sweetheart?"

...What?

"He is the Angel of Death, he seems to have a fixation on Lucifer and he murdered everyone to show his Reset powers-"

"That couldn't be." Her eyes widened at what I was saying. "He- He couldn't- Even during the Great War, even when tempted to help my lover, he would always stay neutral. Why would… Unless!"

Lilith stood up from her seat and quickly reached for my face, her eyes glinting a serious light as she started to look over my head.

"W-What?" I tried to ask, but the woman was too much taken by her ministrations to either listen or answer. Finally she stopped and… pressed two of her fingers onto my throat.

"Here it… is..." I felt a strange warmth, unpleasant even, forming as magic wrapped around part of my skin and… started to pull. I blinked in surprise, feeling like something was… off.

I blinked away when I was given the chance to see what Lilith had removed from my body and… I paled as I recognized the monstrosity now wriggling in her hold.

Its cover was dark-pink, twitching so fearfully as it now was deprived of the chance of attach itself to a living being. It… it was a flesh bud. Like the ones Dio Brando used in Starddust Crusaders to control unwilling recruits like Kakyoin and Polnareff.

It was at that point that… everything clicked.

The reason why none of the previous Hoitsu ever tried to fight back the plan was… because they were controlled! The flesh bud squirmed one last time before the woman crushed it without mercy.

She sighed and gave me a sorrowful look. "So… this is what he was trying to use it for." Her voice was frail for a moment. "To think that… he would actually end up use it, even though he promised me to never do that." Her eyes closed, a pained expression briefly painting her face and… she opened her eyes with a sad look.

"I'm sorry that you were going to… deal with him in that state. He could control it-"

"And make the host do whatever he wishes them to do." I finished for her, my sight burning on the floor. "I-I know what that was."

That fucking bastard! So that's how he managed to accomplish this all without any issue- how he managed to avoid that his younger selves could truly put a stand against him.

The worst thing is… he could have- No, I- He couldn't have forced us to do that but-

Actually, it can be. For as much as we know, the man knows that if 'they' lived, his control over us wouldn't have been absolute and-

We can't allow that!

My body was coated in darkness as I unconsciously entered in my Senjutsu mode, ripples echoing through the walls of the building as my anger stirred mercilessly within my chest.

Just as I was moments from exploding in a furious fit, I felt a pair of arms wrapping around my neck and… a soft chest pressing on my face.

Lilith hummed a quiet lullaby as she started to carefully head-pat me, caress my hair while keeping some attention over her strength, my eyes blinking as I felt energy leaving my body, the form dropping moments later as I abandoned myself in that hug.

"Always trying to make everyone happy, but barely understanding that you are a limited being yourself. Someone that needs rest, that needs to eat, that needs to think and… someone that should let others take care of him." Her motherly tone was… alluring. I felt small, I felt… like a child as she continued with the embrace.

"My husband… he was a man of many regrets." The redhead said quietly, minding the moment she had created with her affectionate ministrations. "Regrets that came from himself rather than things he did in his life. He was afraid, never sporting much of a sign about it but… he wouldn't mind crying when he was left alone with himself. It was… heart-breaking, my lover trying and failing to find happiness in even the simplest thing… that's why I tried my best to bring him out of his self-imposed path."

There was some silence, I enjoyed the embrace the best way possible, by staying silent and relaxed as the experienced parent continued to comfort me a little. I was crying a little, it's been just… so much since I had this kind of intimacy with… someone motherly.

Mom was always there, standing her ground as she made sure that her only child would grow up in an upstanding member of society.

I wonder if she would hate me if she knew how low we steeped as Lucifer, how many deeds of terrible magnitude we committed… all for keeping the same order, the same loop.

"There is no need to deny yourself some peace, Hoitsu. I know that you crave some peace, a happy family to love and be loved by." She giggled and then… parted away from me.

My eyes were wide open, tears still flowing as I dumbly tried to understand why she would pull away so suddenly and then… I heard someone sniffling. Attention snapping at the doorstep, I noticed… Lith peeking from there with… tears flowing from her very eyes.

"N-Niichan, w-why are you crying?" The girl asked with a trembling tone, slowly approaching me and then… stopping in front of me. She stared up and then… spread her arms. "H-Hug?"

I blinked once, then twice and… picked her up in a big embrace. She snuggled close and… started to pat my back. "T-That's alright, Niichan. I'm here and… and Ku-chan woke up."

My eyes widened once again at her words and I sighed… in relief. "Lith." The girl tensed a little at her name, waiting for whatever I was going to say next. "T-Thank you."

She nodded, snuggling with even more affection and… I closed my eyes, enjoying the hug a little more before-

"Lith? That's her name?" The redhead asked out of curiosity. "Is that her name or-"

But I smiled and interrupted her by addressing the child. "Lith, this kind lady would like to know your name. Why don't you introduce yourself to her?"

The girl shifted nervously at the request, finally deigning the woman with a glance before… speaking up. "My name is Lilith Sakakibara, nice to meet you!"

…

"Gah! She is so adorable!" The original Lilith squeaked happily, a big smile plastered on her face as the child giggled at such an amusing reaction.

At least there was still something that would never change in that… mess of events.

AN

Lith will have her own story, a special chapter that will see justice, evildoing and… cuddles!

P.S. It's chapter 66, three chapters for a funny number and… yes, there will be a lemon (where I can publish it without being sniped on sight), this one longer than the previous one and… not a dream. Who will be the lucky girl?

Future milestone 1: 950 Followers and Favorites.

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

Na2s: I've some convoluted plans about Rias (which is not Hoitsu), I'm conflicted about really giving a pairing to Xenovia, never liked how she was used for easy fan-servicing, and Koneko… now that will be fun to explore.