I should tell you that I'm a fan of the Hamilton musical and I had seen a lot of different Disney versions of who was who and that got me thinking of which DXD character was casted in the musical and this is the list.
Issei - Alexander
Kiba-Laurence
Sirzechs-Lafayette
Akeno-Angelica
Rias- Eliza
Asia -Peggy
Sairaorg - Hercules
Azazel-Washington
Raynare-Maria
Vali-Burr
Saji-Phillip
Baraqiel-Madison
Riser-Jefferson
Freed- James Reynolds
What do you think? If you have your own version who would you cast?
talk
Flashback
Demon
Chapter 19
"You sure you have to go?"
"I must. I have to help my friends," Akeno responded.
She was sitting opposite of her aunt, the only light illuminating the room was the setting sun outside.
Five hours had passed since the meeting ending and Akeno already was planning to go back to Kuoh. As much as she wanted to spend more time with her relative, stopping Kokabiel's war - if there was even a chance for her to help in that - was more important.
Her disappointment in the clan leaders still lingered in her mind. She couldn't believe how zealous they were about staying out of Supernatural affairs.
That they would leave Japan, the country they swore to protect, to burn under Kokabiel's ambitions for death and chaos.
She knew her aunt and uncle and many other wishes to partake in forming an alliance, but their desire to help was vetoed by the other clan heads.
"I'm so sorry, Akeno-chan. I know you wanted us to help but—"
"It's fine," Akeno cut in, though her tone had a hint of defeat in it.
The clan heads are the law and what they say we must obeyed.
Akeno however, had decided she would not follow such a law. Not if they made idiotic and short-sighted decisions like this.
She refused to just look the other way while Kokabiel was realizing his schemes.
No, she would do what she could to help and fight to protect Japan from him.
Another reason she had to go back to Kuoh was...
she was the shrine maiden of Kuoh, and even if it wasn´t from evil spirits dwelling within the town, she had the duty to protect it.
She would do whatever she could. Even if it meant working with him - Baraquiel - and the other Fallen Angels, she thought bitterly.
But that also meant she had to return quickly.
There was no telling how long Kokabiel and his allies would be waiting to strike.
She had to get back to Kuoh as soon as possible.
"I can't stop you from going but please be safe out there. And…" She paused for a breath, before looking her niece in the eye with a serious expression, "use your full power. You're true power."
Akeno looked away, knowing what she meant. This was always told by her uncle, it didn't need to be said by her aunt now.
"She's right, Akeno."
Shuzaku looked over her shoulder to see her brother in the doorway, a stern expression on his face.
"Neither of us can stop you from fighting. But this is your first-time experiencing war and I won't have my niece going in at half strength. You must use what you hate Akeno. You must you're Holy Lightning. You can't keep denying who you are Akeno. I've told you a thousand times but that is the one piece of wisdom you refuse to acknowledge."
"And I told you I won't use that disgusting power. I refuse to acknowledge that side of me."
But by the look in his eye, Shuzaku saw her brother wasn't going to back down from this argument.
"That 'disgusting power' could save your life. I have told you this on the phone and I am telling you again, Baraquiel being a Fallen had nothing to do with his personal failures or mistakes... his powers had even less. All you do is limit yourself out of misplaced blame and - to say it frankly, scapegoating - and bringing yourself and others in even greater danger."
Shuzaku could barely believe that her brother was talking to Akeno like that. But she admitted, maybe it was right so. This had been going on with their niece for far too long and maybe she needed a wake-up call.
"You have your father's power, power that has nothing to do with what happened to Shuri," Iwamatsu stated. "Combine it with your Shinto magic, and you will achieve something greater than any Fallen Angel. It will help against your enemies and more importantly, save your friends."
Akeno pursed her lips together, still refusing to look at her relatives.
Iwamatsu was right like always. Fusing her Shinto and Fallen Angel magic together would make her more powerful than she is now.
It would protect her friends…
It would protect Asumoto.
Asumoto-kun…
The night before and after the meeting she had dreamt of the reincarnated Devil.
Those eyes the color of steel seem to never leave her mind.
What made her think of him so much? Was it his history relating to the Shinto Faction, the kindness he showed her, the scars covering his body?
Perhaps the answer would come at last when this war was won.
What was she thinking of before Asumoto… oh yeah… fusing her magic. It was possible to perform the action; the question was if she would do it.
Akeno said she wouldn't use her Fallen magic but she had in fact used it.
The imbedding of Fallen Angel magic into Asumoto's weapons before the Rating Game against Riser Phenex was that moment. She had no choice at the time with the game starting soon. With no paper tags or holy water, her light magic was the only source available at the time.
Even after the Rating Game, she still used Fallen powers by teleporting back here and would have to do the same with Kuoh. It was the quickest way back since walking would take too long.
Her shoulder's slumped with a sigh. She could reject her Fallen side all she wanted - she had done it for years now - but in the end, she knew she would have to eventually accept this side of her.
And with a war coming, perhaps now had to be that time.
"You more like your father than you think Akeno. His powers aren't the only thing you inherited from him." Her uncle had a quite ironic tone in his voice as he said this. He knew his niece truly well.
Baraqiel's powers, and Shuri's beauty, weren't the only things she inherited from the Cadre and priestess.
One day, when she was out with her uncle, the pair were attacked by a Stray Devil. During that incident her hormone levels raised in excitement each time the Stray screamed in pain at her uncle's attacks.
When she wanted to hear more, she unleashed a barrage of spells at the already defeated Stray. When more screams emitting from the creature, her excitement began to change into something else.
Pleasure.
That pleasure was soon followed by laughter. When she had finished her torture of the Stray she looked back at her uncle to see him staring at her with a mix of uneasiness and understanding.
She even heard him mutter: "She really is just like you Shuri."
When they were home, her uncle had a very long talk with his niece about why she did that.
Turns out, her mother was a sadist. Meaning a person who derives pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain or humiliation on others.
She had also learnt that her father was a masochist. Someone who derives sexual gratification from their own pain or humiliation.
And she, as their daughter, inherited both those traits.
In short, she loved pain, whether it be on herself or someone else.
The former however couldn't be true because if she was a masochist, why didn't she take pleasure at being in pain about her mother's death?
She loved her uncle. But he was wrong. She had Baraqiel's powers, but she was like her mother; kind, beautiful, caring, and sadistic to her enemies.
Since her father was a masochist, that brought up the question of if Hazael was one too.
Doubtful, she thought - someone as evil as him was more like her, taking pleasure in killing.
Realizing she was wasting time thinking about it, she shook the though from her mind and face her relatives.
This won't be the last time we see each other, she thought determinedly while giving both a tight hug.
"Akeno, I know you'll survive. You are my sister's daughter after all," Shuzaku said, smiling proudly at her niece.
"Kokabiel is strong. Mind what you have learned. It can save you!" Iwamatsu encouraged.
"I know. And I'll survive. I promise." With those parting words, she summoned her wings and teleported back to Kuoh.
Finally, she was home. Now all she had to do was find Rias and—
"So, he was right."
…
That voice...
Akeno's face scrunched into anger. How dare he step foot into her home! He had no right to enter her domain! Turning on the spot ready to lash out at her father, the words she was about to say died in her throat.
A man with the same appearance as Baraqiel's stood before her. Except he looked much younger, somewhere in his early thirties. He had the same spiky hair, but no beard and his eyes were open, showing violet orbs.
His garb was a black robe made of silk with gold trimmings.
Akeno was no fool, she knew who this man had to be. He was the one everyone was talking about. The only other Fallen aside the former governor general to have twelve wings and powers rivaling Sirzechs.
"Hazael..." she whispered, a feeling of complete fear filling her. He was the one everybody was afraid of, even more than of Kokabiel. And he was right here. If he decided to kill her, she knew she had absolutely no chance.
"Hello, sister," He greeted her.
Majestic.
Beautiful.
Flawless!
Those where the thoughts of Asumoto, as he watched his old friend and familiar Izumi preform maneuvers through the air. The red on her tails made her look like a comet soaring through the sky.
Rolling to the side as if avoiding an attack, the hawk dived quickly and pulled up at the last minute, her talons barely scrapping the grass. She - just like her master - was training for the war.
"Perfect, Izumi!" shouted Asumoto as the hawk came back around and landed on his forearm. She chirped enthusiastically as he stroked the side of her feathery head.
After talking with Kuroka, the Queen begun to think of what to say to Rias when it was time to tell her about the Nekoshou Devil.
He thought long and hard on each word and even practiced what to say whenever he could, to remember them. It was easy and with that complete, he just had to wait for tomorrow to speak with Rias.
In the meantime, he'd hone both his and Izumi's skills for the war against Kokabiel and his allies.
The samurai knew his powers where nothing compared to the Cadre Fallen Angel. But the more he trained the better a chance he'd stand against him.
Besides that, it was not only Kokabiel himself, but also the Fallen he had drawn to his side. And with them, he could deal, Asumoto knew.
Or at least most of them, he admitted.
He wasn´t even sure how many High Class and other powerful Fallen were on the side of the enemy. But it seemed to be a notable number.
And the White Dragon Emperor of course.
But above them all was another name in the back of his mind - Hazael. Who was even more dangerous than Kokabiel himself.
Even though Khaos Brigade was a threat too, the war loving Cadre was the current problem. The terrorist group was simply aiding him with troops of the Satan Faction.
At least as far they knew, he also realized. There was no telling if some of them wouldn´t try to use the situation for their own agendas.
Devil's where after all greedy beings.
"So, Izumi, do you think Kuroka has a chance to obtain freedom?" he asked his familiar.
Understanding her master through their special bond, the hawk responded to her master's question.
"Maybe. The Satan's are decent fellows, so they just may abolish the false charges. That is if Kuroka can convince them otherwise. As well as her sister."
The hawk was right. How were you able to convince four of the most powerful beings in existence and a sibling, when you've been a falsely claimed as a highly dangerous criminal nearly your whole life?
But...
"It would be in their own best interest to listen," Asumoto pointed out. "Kuroka is strong. She could be a great help in the war." A thought came to his mind.
"Beside that - the accusations against Kuroka are mostly based on the idea that she had been driven insane by the use of Senjutsu. Wouldn´t the fact alone that she was here - able to reason and think logically, make this claim somewhat doubtful?"
"That alone is no guaranty," Izumi replied. "The Devils have believed her to be guilty for years. And they never had actually proof for the idea that she had gone crazy from the beginning. She had killed her Master. For the most Devils, that alone already made her guilty."
She was right, he realized.
The argument that they could need Kuroka´s help in itself was good.
But there was no guaranty that they - even Rias - would listen to him in the first place and not instantly go after her as a dangerous Stray.
They were all convinced that Kuroka was a murderous psychopath after all.
He knew Rias was the first he would need to convince. But how should he tell her about it? he asked himself.
Maybe if he could proof that Kuroka wasn´t crazy. But how?
Especially if he admitted that he had known about her all this time. How could he convince them to trust Kuroka, if they might not even trust him anymore fully if he told them this.
"It is better you tell them you have only known about her for a short time," the hawk stated.
Asumoto nodded. Yes, that would be better.
"But that would still leave the question why I had not reported her to Rias right away when I located her here."
Maybe if... then something came to his mind. What if it had not been him who had found her... Akeno, he thought.
He could ask her to tell Rias that she was the one who had found Kuroka.
With her talents and powers - not to mention her connections to the Grigori and Shinto leaders, her words would also have some weight if she were willing to attest that Kuroka wasn´t insane in any way.
The only question left was how to tell her all this and get her to go along with it.
Before that however, he had to wait for her to return from her uncle's. Which he wasn't sure she had done yet.
He should have asked for her number to stay in contact if something - like Kokabiel attacking - occurred. Then she could get here in an instant via her Fallen magic.
Akeno was Baraqiel's daughter. So that meant she had most likely also inherited his special power. Asumoto didn't know what exactly it was. But he was told this ability the Cadre possessed was created by fusing light and thunder magic.
Baraquiel, thinking of his power, had made the samurai think of the Cadre himself. Did he really abandon Akeno?
He sealed his son away, but there was a reason for that. Did that mean he also had a reason for leaving Akeno with her relatives?
Questions formed in his head – and since Akeno wasn't here yet – he might as well pay her father a visit.
Akeno's eyes narrowed as she raised her hand, thunder crackling around her fingers. She may not be as powerful as her brother, but she could try to defend herself until - or rather if - someone came to assist her.
The longer she stared at his face, the more he began to remind her of the man who had abandoned her.
Instead of dropping into a battle stance though, Hazael raised a hand in surrender.
"Please, there's no need for violence. I only wish to talk."
When he had discovered from spies in Kuoh that his despicable father had married a human woman from the Himejima clan of Shinto Faction and had a daughter, he was surprised, angered... and also skeptical, to hear this.
Only now after seeing her face to face, did he know it was true.
As he took a seat he studied every feature of his sister; black hair, violet eyes…
Hmm, besides the magic flowing through her, those seem to be the only traits she inherited from Baraqiel. The rest came from her mother, which explained why she was so beautiful.
He came to talk, Akeno thought as her glare on the Fallen flickered briefly into surprise. This was the least she expected to hear from him.
Suspicion filling her mind. There was no way he came just to talk. There had to be another reason.
"I can see you are suspicious of me. I truly mean no harm to you." When his sister, Akeno if he remembered correctly, didn't answer he pressed on. "I will answer any question you have."
As he said this he took a seat on the floor, legs crossed, and hand outstretched in a sign for Akeno to sit.
Akeno pondered the man's words. Of course, she had questions for him, questions he said will be answered.
Perhaps if she was patient, like Asumoto said, she'd get the answers she seeks.
Maybe I should do the same for Baraqiel afterwards, she thought while slowly lowering her arm cautiously and sitting opposite of Hazael.
"What would like to know?" asked Hazael with a soft expression.
"Everything. Let's start with... Who are you exactly?"
"I am Hazael. Son of Baraquiel and a mother I never knew," he stated simply. "I am the only Fallen aside Azazel to have twelve wings. My life in Grigori was one of peace and joy. Baraqiel loved me, at least once he did." His expression was nearly unreadable as he said this. "But he was rarely around. Not until I joined his side in the war."
"But you wanted to take over Grigori to continue the war."
"So, you've been told the lies by Baraqiel and Azazel. Typical of them to lie about me," Hazael snorted. "I did not try to take over. It was Kokabiel who did it. He just put all the blame on me by leaving evidence as proof of my false actions. Father," Hazael spat the word with great distain, "confronted me with Azazel and Sirzechs. They didn't even give me a chance to explain. I was forced to defend myself. When they subdued me I was sealed away, forever locked in that cell until Kokabiel finally released me and—"
"You're lying."
Hazael cocked a brow at the priestess words. "Excuses me?"
"You think petty words like that will make me believe you? I saw the wounds sustained to my father. I heard it was you who killed the Vice Governor General and now you plan to restart the war and take revenge on our father."
A smirk of amusement came over Hazael's face at that accusation. "Guess I should come clean. Yes, I did kill him. Yes, I was sealed away."
"So, he was right! You do wanna start a war with the Underworld!"
"Again, you misunderstand. It is not war I want with Devil's, but with our holy brothers and sisters."
The Angels? What did he want with them?
"Tell me Akeno, do you know how the Fallen Angels came to be?"
Confused by the sudden question, Akeno still answered. "Because Azazel fell from Heaven for sleeping with a human."
"Not fell - he was banished," corrected Hazael. "People say we Fallen where created by falling into our sins. But it is instead Heaven who created us."
"What do you mean?" Akeno was getting very confused. Why would he say the Angels created the Fallen?
"Falling is only a term that they use to make it look as if it was actually a result of our own doing. Instead it is just something decided by others.
While Baraqiel was out fighting I read about the history of our people and had discovered during my studies, that living in Heaven isn't the world of freedom people say it is. You must follow rules. Break any one of them, even the simplest, and your banished. Azazel wouldn't be the first either. As more and more Angels where kicked form Heaven, Azazel took it upon himself to round us up to form a new organization, Grigori. When word reached Heaven of this new group, some Angels chose to leave willing to join the ranks of this new faction which did not abide to strict rules as Heaven did. It disgusts me, Akeno. It disgusts me that the place known as 'Paradise' is in fact not such a thing. Heaven is ruled by a system of draconian rules, not freedom. Before we pulled out the war, I launched campaign after campaign against Heaven in hopes to fixing it."
"Fixing it….?" Akeno was not liking where this was going.
Hazael's eyes bulged a little, a hint of malice within them.
"Akeno, I want you to join me. Together we can prove the other Fallen that my goal is achievable. That we can smash the pearly gates down, destroy the Seraphim's, and make Heaven as it's meant to be… a world of freedom and independence! A real paradise!"
Akeno couldn't believe what he was saying. Sure, his goal to make Heaven a paradise sounded noble but… it felt wrong. Attacking Heaven and killing the Seraphim was madness!
Was this who Hazael really was? Was this why Baraqiel sealed him away?
If she survived this meeting with her step-brother she would ask those questions to him.
"Hazael…" she had to choose her words carefully, otherwise she may get obliterated. "you don't have to do this. You could avoid bloodshed and talk about your idea. There's no need for senseless violence."
Hazael smiled. "You a smart woman Akeno. However, the Seraphim won't listen to reason. They stand by their laws, no matter how restrictive, oppressive or pointless. So, I'll destroy their laws and them as well... and make Heaven free for all."
"Hazael—"
"I will spare your life," he said as all twelve of his wings - the color of pure darkness - appeared around his form, "in case you change your mind to help me. Which I'm hoping you will. If you don't then," he added, "… then I'll see you on the battlefield."
Akeno stared down her brother then blinked and in that second Hazael vanished, only leaving behind a few black feathers. Like she herself had done it not too long ago. He was gone from the human world, gone from her home.
Suddenly she started to pant for air. She did not notice till now, that she had been holding her breath until Hazael left. And who wouldn't hold their breath when a dangerous man, especially someone related to them, was in their home waiting?
She had believed the night her mother died was scary - being face to face with someone as powerful as Hazael was worse. Every minute she feared he would attack without a second thought. If he had, what would he have done… zap her with lightning, run her through with a light spear, or rip her to shreds?
Shaking her head of the horrible thoughts, she focused it on what Hazael said about Heaven.
She knew Heaven was where the Angel's dwelled. But she didn't know rules were applied to living there. Was that true? What about the lie of Kokabiel blaming Hazael for the first coup?
He had to be lying of that first one but still…
She needed answers. Answers that would only be given if she went to see the one man she detested the most.
She would have to confront her father.
Silver eyes looked at the building, the afternoon sun shining on the windows. Last time Asumoto came here was to get Asia and to kill that red eyed Exorcist she was with. What was his name again? He believed it had started with an F…?
Hm, it wasn't important anymore.
It was quite a sight for followers of Grigori to see the Queen of Rias Gremory with a hawk on his shoulder push the doors open and waltzed inside.
They stared and whispered about the samurai.
"That's Gremory's strongest servant."
"I heard he single handedly defeated a whole peerage."
As he walked further into the old Church, he began to notice it looked a lot different last time he was here. The toppled pillars and broken windows where restored to what they once where and everything relating to Heaven, including the cross, was gone.
"Quite the redecorating," commented Izumi.
"Ah! The Strongest Queen of the Rookie Six graces us with his presence!"
Asumoto turned to the voice to see Sahariel approach. Arms spread like he was going to hug him and a cheerful expression on his face.
"And how do you know my title?" the samurai asked with a raised brow.
"Word got around of a Queen single handedly fighting a hoard of Stray Devils and an entire Peerage. Azazel's been craving to meet you. Sadly, with Kokabiel making war he's too busy at the moment."
"Perhaps another time, Sahariel-sama. I'm actually hear to see Akeno's father."
The Cadre blinked. "Baraqiel? What business do you have with him?"
"Forgive me, but my business isn't to be discussed around others."
Sahariel nodded and led the young Devil to where his fellow Cadre was. Sahariel wasn't stupid. He knew why Asumoto was here to see Baraqiel.
He clearly wanted to ask his permission to marry his daughter!
Ah young love! He smiled as he remembered when was just like that. Head full of fantasy of being in love and marry a pretty girl. If Baraqiel said yes, and he hoped he would, he could give the samurai advice on how to please Akeno.
His eyes flickered to the hawk on the boys should. By it'd color scheme and shape, it was a female red-tailed hawk. He sure was lucky to have something as majestic as that to be his familiar.
As they walked Asumoto couldn't help but hear voices not far away. Straining his ears, he listened carefully to what they were talking about.
"You sure that'll work?"
"Do you doubt my plans? You forget that it was through my strategies we dealt heavy blows to your armies. This will undoubtedly help."
"If it is to be done then I will perform this task."
Now what could Sirzechs, Grayfia, and Azazel be talking about? It was important by the sound of it but what it was he didn't know.
"Rias sure is lucky to have someone possess Twilight Healing in her Peerage. The ability to heal nearly any wound truly is incredible. If it wasn't for Asia-chan, I'd be walking around with a cast on my leg and arm."
"You're a supernatural being with magical powers. You, like others within the supernatural world, wouldn't need something like that when you can just heal wounds with normal healing magic. Sahariel, what happened during Kokabiel's take over? How exactly did it happen?"
A grim expression crossed over Sahariel's face. Why would he ask that? He was trying to forget that tragic event. Trying to forget how his fellow Fallen turned on him to have war that would result in the near extinction of their race.
"If you want to know, ask Baraqiel," the lab coat wearing Fallen answered as he opened a door he led the Devil too. Inside where two figures, one he recognized as Baraqiel, the other however was someone he didn't know.
Like him, he was Japanese, but with short black hair and pale grey eyes. From the look of his clothing he was dressed in grey combat shoes, pants, and shirt. Over that was a long black coat. Beside him was large black dog, a dog he had seen before and who went by the name of Jin.
So, this was Akeno's cousin, Slash Dog. Recently he had heard this man be mentioned many times by Azazel but never thought he'd actually see him in the flesh.
Jin turned his head at the newcomers, his movement noticed by his master.
"Baraqiel-san, forgive me, I hope we aren't intruding on anything private. Rias Gremory's Queen wishes to speak with you."
Both father and nephew shifted their gaze to the younger man beside the Cadre.
"As a matter of fact, we just finished. Whatever it is Gremory's Queen wishes to say to me let him say it," Baraqiel said, his gaze never leaving the Devil. Last time he spoke to him was when he returned without his daughter. He hoped Iwamatsu was taking good care of her.
Asumoto's gaze however, was set on Slash Dog. He locked eyes with him. Just by looking at his eyes, he could tell this man was stronger than him, stronger than his uncle possibly. At last he sent a nod to the human who returned it with his own before departing with his dog.
Akeno sure was lucky to have someone like him watching out for her.
When Sahariel left, Baraqiel spoke. "Why are you here?"
"I seek answers, Baraqiel-sama. Answers I believe only you can give me."
"And what questions would those be?"
"What really happened the night your wife died?"
A long silence fell between the Cadre and samurai, neither shifting their gaze away from one another, neither breaking their neutral expressions.
The silence was broken by Baraqiel's hum. So, this was why the boy came all this way to see him. To know what really happened to Shuri, to know why he left Akeno.
"Akeno holds great resentment toward you, Baraqiel-sama. She says you didn't protect Shuri and that you abandoned her. Tell the truth, did you really leave your daughter behind?"
Again, Baraqiel hummed before speaking, "It's true. I failed to protect Shuri. But you must understand things are not as simple as you make them to believe. I must explain why I wasn't there."
"Yes. Maybe you should explain why you didn't save mother!"
Akeno stood in the doorway, arms crossed under her chest and a nasty glare sent toward her father.
"So, you've returned," the Fallen said, unfazed by her glare.
"Yes. And it seems Asumoto-kun has chosen to answer my questions for me. Why couldn't you save mother? Why did you abandon me? And why would you attack your son on false accusations by Kokabiel?"
Hazael's story still plagued her mind and even if it was a lie she needed to know what really happened.
"What are you talking about?" Baraquiel asked, confused about the last part.
"Answer Asumoto-kun's question then I'll answer yours."
Asumoto immediately stepped aside to let Akeno in, his eyes flicking between father and daughter. Since she was here it was best to let her take over this conversation.
"And I want the whole thing," she added, "I want you tell me everything."
"Then I shall start from the beginning. It was two days earlier. Azazel requests my presence for a mission that was of great importance. While I had left you both alone before, I feared for both you and Shuri's life since I'd be away longer than usual. I pleaded with her to go to the Hayashi clan until I returned. She kept saying she'd be fine… and I regretfully believed she would be. Nevertheless, I still had this fear that danger would come for you both. So, I made sure to add multiple spells upon the house against whoever would come for you. That however, wasn't enough to quell my fears. So, I told Iwamatsu-san about it and he suggested forming a blood pact between us. He said should anything happen to me or Shuri he'd take care of you and I agreed to it. I went on the mission and tried to be as fast as I could to get back before anything happened. When I learned the protective spells where breached I panicked and rushed back as fast as I could before any harm could come to either of you. But as you know I was too late to save Shuri and you hated me for it. Since you wanted nothing to do with me I couldn't take you to Iwamatsu-san, so I left you in your aunt's care until I could inform him of what happened."
Violet orbs were left widened at the story.
So, this explained everything, Akeno thought - Baraqiel's absence that night, his leaving of her, her uncle raising her in his own clan.
Why he had done the things he did. She might not like it, but at least she understood.
It all made sense and… more importantly… Another idea came up in her mind.
"…it was Azazel's fault for mom's death…" her thoughts came over her lips before she even fully realized it.
"It isn't Azazel that's to blame," said Asumoto with a disappointed look directed at Akeno.
He cared about her but was getting fed up with her continuously pointing the blame of her mother's death into the Fallen.
"It is the former Himejima's clan head idiocy to not accept you, your father, or his marriage to Shuri Himejima. Azazel may have set in motion these events, but he probably had no idea what was going to happen. And if it comes down to it, neither he or Baraquiel could have expected this man to completely break tradition and kill his own family members. What he did went against everything the Shinto Clans believe in, so why should Azazel - or anyone for that matter - expected him to do it back then?
You know the truth, yet still you cast blame on the Fallen for your mother's death. If you want to cast blame on someone, cast it on the Himejima clan for the unnecessary death of your mother."
His words where nearly identical to what the Kushihashi's clan head said during the clan meeting.
"It was your former clan head´s fault for Shuri Himejima's death! Suou had broken the ancient traditions, not only by killing her, but exiling Akeno-chan, and trying to kill her too - twice!"
She wanted to argue that it was Azazel who killed her mother, but Asumoto was right. It was Suou's fault - it was Suou's fault! He hated her father, he hated her, he ordered the murder of her mother!
Her head great-uncle was the one to blame!
"So… you sent Tobio-kun to make sure I was safe?" she asked.
"Only when you still lived with Iwamatsu-sama. After you moved to Kuoh, I knew you could handle yourself. I'm sorry for everything Akeno. I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect Shuri, I'm sorry Slash Dog spied on you."
Akeno pursed her lips together. She knew what really happened. So, what now?
It had still been years since she spoke with her father. Should she even talk to him? She understood at last why he left her. But would it make up for not seeing him in years?
Could this gap in their life she created from traumatization of her mother's murder really be filled with a simple apology? Could she still even call him father after so many years of wanting nothing to do with him? Could she really accept him back into her life?
…
…
…
…
…
"I forgive you... Tou-san," Akeno said with a low bow, tears formed in her eyes.
"No - I mean, it wasn´t your fault in the first place. I know that now."
Tou-san… the last time she called him that was when her mother died. She already accepted it wasn't her father's fault but…
"It - it is just… if I didn't cast blame… my mind would have broken. I'm sorry. I'm so weak. I'm pathetic…"
Baraqiel's answer to his daughter's sadness was not words, but a loving embrace he hadn't given in years. Tears filled his own eyes.
Akeno however was just standing there, looking confused.
"Don´t..." she finally said. "Sorry. It is just, it had been years and... I don´t blame you anymore. But, I... I just need some more time to come to terms with everything."
Asumoto watched on the sides. He really hoped that Akeno would accept Baraquiel back into her life.
But he also knew this couldn´t be expected from one moment to the other, especially from Akeno, who was still dealing with her problems.
He knew these two would need time to reform the bond they shared, but their where more pressing matters to attend, such as Akeno's question about Hazael.
"I'd hate to interrupt, but I believe you asked your father about your step-brother Akeno?"
His question made the high schooler separate from her father.
This touching reminder had almost made her forget about Hazael.
"He's right. Why do you ask about Hazael?" her father asked.
"He was here," she quickly answered. Keeping the Fallen's visit a secret wasn't a good idea. This had to be told as soon as possible.
"Hazael was here!?" exclaimed Asumoto. Izumi screeched and flapped her wings wildly.
"What happened!? Are you ok? Did he hurt you!?" Panic filled Baraqiel at this discovery. How did he not sense him!?
"No, I'm fine dad," Akeno reassured. Thought the fear of her brother still lingered in her mind. "He… wanted me to join his cause."
"What cause?" Asumoto asked, already not liking what she was going to say.
"He - he wants to kill the Seraphim and destroy the laws of Heaven," Akeno said.
Asumoto looked at the girl as if she had two heads. That was why the Fallen came here… to recruit his sister in a crusade against Heaven?
"That's why I asked father," Akeno continued, looking at Baraqiel. "He said when you sealed him away, you attacked him on false accusations by Kokabiel."
Baraqiel shook his head. "Kokabiel did no such thing. But it is true. Hazael wanted to conquer Heaven in the name of freedom."
So, he was lying. Nevertheless, Akeno had to know what really happened.
"The treaty to cease fighting had just been signed two months before. But Hazael wished to continue the war, his war against Heaven.
He came to me, saying now was the time to liberate Heaven from the Seraphim's rule. I refused, knowing such a move would not only reignite the fighting but reduce our numbers greatly. We already lost many during the war, I did not wish anymore Fallen blood to be spilt.
A month later, some young Fallen let spit about a plan of taking over Grigori and waging an attack against Heaven. I pressed him for more information and he admitted that Hazael formed this plan. I felt betrayed to know that my own son would throw away the lives of his fellow Fallen just to see his goal to take Heaven accomplished. I brought this information to Azazel-sama and he wasn't pleased to hear it. So, he, myself, Shemhazai-san, and Lucifer-san, went to confront him…"
Baraqiel seem to drift off then. His eyes looking passed his daughter, the memory of that day resurfacing like the sun rising over the horizon.
"I still remember the power he displayed that day. I never imaged how powerful my son had truly become. Three times he nearly killed me and three times he failed. When he fought Sirzechs Lucifer I thought it was quite possibly they'd shattered the Underworld itself. Thankful through our combined efforts, we managed to defeat and seal him away. Lucifer-san admitted if he fought alone, there would have been a slim chance of Hazael killing him.
So that's what happened, Akeno thought. That also explained why the Strongest Satan was so scared to hear about Hazael's release. This man, her step-brother, was very strong.
It seemed the only way to defeat Hazael was by having her father, the Four Great Satan's, Grayfia, and Azazel stand against him. Few people within the Supernatural world could to go against that many powerful opponents and hope to live to tell about it and she hoped Hazael wouldn't be one of those few beings.
"You all were necessary to stop him," Asumoto said. "That means the same kind of power will probably be necessary to stop him now."
"Yes," Baraquiel replied.
Another day and no sign of the Excalibur's. When would they be found? Those where the things Irina Shidou though while praying at the bedside.
Two days straight of nonstop searching for the Exorcist trio and even if with the Devil's assistance, they hadn't found any trace of the missing swords or of Valper.
Their only accomplishment where strange looks from the people they passed and getting a decent meal.
Aside the failed search, they almost lost all their money, when the brunette had tried to buy a painting of Saint John.
Before any payment could be done however, Rika-sama took the money and declared the painting was fake.
In Irina's defense, she said it would add some light to the unholy room. Still, it would have left them penniless for their stay here and had not been such a good idea, looking at it afterwards.
After the first day of searching, Saint Rika requested from Gremory that she allow the Exorcists to stay at the old school building, since the Church was occupied by the Fallen Angel's and felt disrespectful to invade the Hyoudou residents, even though Issei insistence they stay at his home... which Rika knew was a plot of Issei to see them naked.
So, she, Xenovia, and Rika-sama, each where now stayed in a separate room in the old school building, as `guests´ of the Devils. It wasn´t a thought that Irina liked at all.
What would the Church think of this? she thought to herself.
They were under the assumption that the Devil's and Fallen were possibly working together to destroy them.
Which was true, sorta. Only that it was the Old Satan Faction who were the enemy, not the new.
Perhaps if they were being told what was really happening, then this allying to stop a common enemy would be accepted.
But staying in the very place the Devil's called home was sinful.
They could have stayed at a hotel, but Rika said if the search took too long, they'd have no money left from their constant payment to the hotel. Which would leave them completely broke and by themselves right in the middle of Devil territory and even more dependent on them, until they had the chance to contact someone else from the Church.
That was at least how Rika had explained her decision.
Irina wasn´t even quite sure what to think, when she thought back on the events of the last days.
Though her partner was disapproving of this alliance with the Devil's, she didn't complain. They were just three Exorcist going after swords stolen by a Fallen Angel written in the Bible, plus war was coming so they would need all the help they could get.
Saint Rika was smart to suggest this alliance, but how was keeping the Church in the dark on this team up suppose to make things better? Did she think they would be cast out for joining forces to stop Kokabiel?
And what about the Angels? Why haven't they acted? Did they not know or care that Kokabiel was planning to start another war? If they fail, if the Underworld falls to the Fallen, then Kokabiel, and especially Hazael, would turn their sights on them.
The revelation about Hazael being Akeno-san's step-brother still shocked her. She didn't even know Akeno-san was a Fallen! All this time she had been under the assumption she was the niece of the infamous Shinto priest Iwamatsu Hayashi.
Her shock of this information didn't come close to the shock and pain she felt toward her old friend.
When she heard they would be going to Kuoh, she had been so excited to finally get a chance to see Issei again.
Of course, that whole ordeal didn't go well with the Devil's being around, and the false accusations, and Issei himself not realize she was a girl.
That boy could be so dense sometimes.
Then, weather it was fate or chance, Issei declared he was dating that Fallen girl, Raynare.
This…. was something beyond sinful.
It was blasphemy!
"Why did you choose her, Issei?" Irina thought aloud as she finished her prayer. A twinge of pain filling her soul.
Even still, after hearing it and seeing it, she still wanted to deny it. Her childhood friend would choose a crow and not her!
She could make Issei ten times happiness than Raynare ever could! She could be a way better girlfriend than—
`Girlfriend´… the word repeated in her head.
Her cheeks turned a shade of red. A tingling feeling rushed through her.
It was natural to feel jealousy. But having jealous thoughts of her childhood friend dating a Fallen was unholy! Why would she think that way!? How could she think that way!? She should be happy for Issei.
Was she just worried for his heart being broken? Or was she truly having impure thoughts of wanting him?
Whenever she thought about Issei-kun being with... her, she felt terrible.
But was this because his girlfriend was a Fallen Angel? Or simply because she secretly wished she were in her place?
She shouldn´t feel like this. As an Exorcist and Holy Sword wielder, her devotion should always be to the Church and God.
But Issei… she couldn´t help herself.
"No! Don't let jealously tempt your thoughts!" Irina scolded herself.
She dropped down to her knees and clasped her hands together once more.
It was obvious she needed to pray more.