BAM! I have returned! I shall finish this story and I don't give a hoot what anyone says how it goes. I'm tired of leaving it up on the shelf collecting dust and I don't wanna go all the way back and rewrite this. I've rewritten my Thor story too many times and I won't do that with this one. I'm going to power through and finish this up.
Chapter 31
The Lord of the Vladi family rubbed his eyes tiredly.
Word of the Fallen Angel Kokabiel making war with the Devils and its aftermath had reached his part of the world and he was most disturbed by it, along with its casualties.
The current Asmodeus was killed by Beelzebub's brother, who was allied to this terrorist Khaos Brigade. The Fallen leader Baraqiel had a son named Hazael, a Fallen Angel with twelve wings like Azazel, who had resigned as Governor-General of the Grigori.
Despite his desire to cease the meeting and take a walk, he could not do such a thing. So, with a great sigh, he continued listening to his advisors on what else occurred in the Japanese town Kuoh.
"Apparently the Church lost all their Holy Swords to a man they exiled by the name of Valper."
All their swords? It seemed the Church had become too lax over the years or perhaps Kokabiel was too strong. Whatever the reason was this incident would not go unnoticed by the rest of the Supernatural World.
"My Lord, what should we do?" one of the eldest advisors asked him.
"Why ask such a thing?" retorted another advisor. "We keep staying out of other Faction´s business and no trouble will come to us."
Many heads nodded in agreement at that statement.
"As much as I'd like to agree with you all. I believe that will not be the case," Lord Vladi said as he ran a hand through his slicked-back blonde hair. Sighing again he spoke as his friends and councilors looked in shock. "This Khaos Brigade is a threat not to one, but all Factions around the world. They have attacked the Church, the Underworld, and plan on going after Heaven as well. They will attack Asgard, Olympus, and eventually, us.
He paused to let that last sentence sink into the thoughts of the gathered men and women.
"I know we have stayed out of affairs, but I believe we cannot sit this one out. I think it is high time to begin talking with the other Factions of forging an alliance against Khaos Brigade to—..."
He stopped speaking and strained his ears. It was faint, but he could hear it.
The sound of feet running toward the door.
He nodded to the guards to open before whoever was approach would slam into it. And when they did, a young guard looking rather exhausted from running appeared.
"My… My Lord…" He panted heavily.
"Catch your breath son. Then tell me," The Vampire lord said.
"N-No! ….W-we….we have intruders at the gate! Armed intruders!"
Lord Vladi rose from his feet. Eyes narrowed. Who would dare tread on Vampire territory fully armed!?
Vampire hunters? Werewolves?
Or had the Khaos Brigade chosen to make their move against them already?
Well whoever it was, not one of them would set foot in this castle while he was in charge!
"This meeting is adjourned," he commanded, before turning to the guard to take him to the gates.
He reached the ramparts of the castle in seconds and found his most trusted guards standing there in battle formation against whoever was down below. When he looked over he saw two men on horses looking up at him. Both wore armor like those of the knights of Europe. Upon their shields was a red cross. The Vampire's eyes narrowed more. Where these cosplayers, or agents of the Church? If it was the latter, why were they here?
"Hello, there!?" called one of the Knights.
"Shall we attack?" Whispered the captain of the guard to his Lord, sword ready to be drawn.
But the Vampire Lord waved him down. "That won't be necessary. At least for now. Let us see what they want."
Forcing a cheerful smile, he replied to the man. "Greetings to you as well my good sir!"
"We wish to speak to the Lord of the castle!"
"You are standing before him, my fair gentleman! What do you want?"
The Knights looked to one another before the second man spoke loudly, "We have heard that the Holy Grail is within those walls! Is that true!?"
Gasper's father felt his breath hitch in his throat as his danger sense began going off. They were asking for the Holy Grail!? Then they were agents of the Church! They must have come to retake what their holy lord bestowed upon them years ago. Well, they weren't going to get it, not while he was alive. But he would not allow Vampire blood to be spilled either.
"I do not know what you speak of. A holy what?"
"Do not play dumb with us Vampire! We know you have the Holy Grail!" the first man shouted, this time in a not so cheerful tone. "We know Valarie Tepes is its possessor, and that she is within the castle of you... Lord Vladi! Open these doors and hand over the Grail! We do not wish to spill any blood today!"
But the Lord of the Vladi family scowled, "I will not allow the Church to come marching into my land demanding what no longer belongs to them! Leave! Do not return or you shall suffer the consequences!"
A long silence fell between the two groups. Neither side saying nothing. What would happen next was anyone's guess. Then one of the Knights spurred his horse forward and pulled his face guard down. "Very well! Lord Vladi of the Vladi family! You have refused to comply with our demands! Know that the deaths of your kin are on your hands!"He drew his sword while his companion held aloft a horn and blew it loudly. It wasn't long till another horn, far off in the distance, was heard. Followed by another, and another. Then the earth began to quake as hundreds of hoofs could be heard approaching from all sides of the castle.
A choir of shouts came from the attackers as they burst through the tree lines before all hell broke loose!
Asumoto stared at the oakwood double doors with uncertainty before looking at Akeno, a smile of encouragement worn upon her face.
"Do I really have to?"
"Yes."
"But—"
"Asumoto, sweetie, it is high time you fix this issue with Rias." Akeno said cupping his chin lovingly, "You were doing so well trusting her until the battle against Kokabiel. Yes, she did mess up but that doesn't mean you can't lose your trust in her for one mistake. You revealed your past to her finally. So you can go through those doors and start over with being friends with her."
Asumoto looked back at the door. If he walked through those doors he would start a new with being her friend, but he would have to tell Rias everything. Not just apologizing for lashing out but telling that he sabotaged her plans for obtaining Issei. Okay–well maybe not that, but everything else he would apologize for.
If she accepted it.
But knowing who Rias was, despite her arrogant, despite her Devilish ways, she was a kind person and it was she who saved him, who gave him a second chance to live. If it wasn't for her then he would never have met Akeno… and found love.
He gave one last took to Akeno, who smiled at him, before pushing the doors open and go inside.
There was Rias, sitting at her desk, a look of surprise etched upon her face to see her Queen here so late in the afternoon.
"Asumoto, what are you doing here?"
This is it…
"I've come to apology." The Last Yoshikage answered, "I've to apologize for how I've acted to you, for how I've treated you. I've always let my anger get the best of me when I'm around you. But I know I shouldn't. I don't need to list off all the shit I've done and said so…all I can say is that I am truly sorry."
He watched the red-head rise to her feet and move around her desk towards him. When she was in front of him. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"I'm sorry too." She said, voice cracking, "It was all my fault. If I hadn't let my pride get the better of me then they all wouldn't be dead! Raynare…Issei…Irina… they're all dead because of me! I thought I could live up to the name of Gremory and prove I could stand on my own without help! Instead, all I did was cause so many good people to lose their lives!"
Asumoto felt his heart sink. He had already lashed out at her after the battle was over for her mistake. But now, hearing Rias blame herself made him regret that decision, despite his gladness for accepting the mistake.
"There wasn't anything that could have been done." He said, rubbing her back to comfort her, "Even if Issei transferred his power to Gasper. Do you think he could have been able to hold Kokabiel long enough for us to kill him? He was just released and still unable to fully control his powers. We couldn't save Raynare or Issei…but Irina…we should have saved her.
"No. It's like you said, she would hate us for turning her into a Devil. It's best we let her rest in peace. Besides, she'd wanna be among the Angels."
"Yeah now let's move on. Let us accept our apologies and become friends again."
Rias wiped her tears away and smiled. "Yes. I would like that."
From behind Asumoto, his lover smiled at the scene. That went better than she thought. Here she thought Asumoto would have snapped. Instead, he apologized and forgave Rias. Now, at long last, they would work together as friends.
"Buchou! Buchou!"
The King, Queen, and Fallen turned at the urgent voice. In came Kiba, looking winded but hopeful.
"Catch your breath, Kiba. What is going on?"
"It's… the Angels… there coming to Kuoh to attend the meeting."
Asumoto shared a look with his girlfriend. Finally, those damn Angels were getting involved in this affair.
The Peerages of Rias and Sona stood at attention beside their masters, along with Akeno, her father, Sirzechs, Azazel, and the Exorcists. Today the Angel's would finally be coming to earth to speak with the Grigori and Underworld.
It wasn't long till a bright light appeared and from it stepped the man were all waiting for.
"Michael." Azazel greeted. "So good to see you again after so long."
"The feeling is the same, Azazel." Heaven's leader replied smiling solemnly at the former Governor-General.
Like Azazel and Sirzechs, he appeared to be a young man with platinum blonde hair even brighter than Kiba's. He was clad in a white robe with ornate metal pauldrons donning each shoulder as if he were part priest and warrior. The younger Devil's had to shield their eyes slightly at the light emanating from his six pairs of wings. They were identical in shape to those of a fallen angel; only these were shining bright as the sun. The halo hovering over his head made his identity all the more obvious as he appeared to shake hands with the leaders.
"I truly am sorry for everything."
"A bit late for that if you ask me," Asumoto whispered to which Akeno jabbed him in the side.
"It's no sweet. We got a few scraps but we got by easily." Azazel said as if the One Day War wasn't that serious. "We got more pressing issues to focus on which we must fill you in on."
What went on was an hour talk of what Kokabiel had done, what Valper was doing, and the group called The Order. All of which Michael grimaced at.
"This is most troubling." He finally said, "A fully reformed Excalibur alone is dangerous enough but put it together with a god's weapon and that would make it unstoppable. This is a situation we must stop before it gets worse. For the trouble the Church has caused, allow my Angel's to scour the globe in search for the swords. They will be able to find them."
"Make sure that they do." Baraqiel said, "We do not have many Fallen or Devil's to spare in the search. Our top agents are already in search but so far have found nothing yet. The Khaos Brigade has been quiet ever since their failed invasion of the Underworld."
"I'm more concerned about Hazael." Michael said, "You say his power is on pair with your Sirzechs?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, he is. The Son of Baraqiel is someone we must not allow to achieve his goal. If he is spotted then I alone cannot defeat him. You and I, along with my fellow Satan's, Azazel and Baraqiel must face him. Separately we cannot defeat him but together we may have a chance."
"A chance you say? He's taking on six people. Six people who are the leaders of their respective factions."
All eyes turned to Asumoto when he said that, to which he shrugged.
"What? I think they will win."
Michael smiled, "Your trust in our strength gives me hope that we will stop Hazael."
"Which reminds me. Do you know anything about what The Order truly is, Michael? You're Heaven's leader. Surely you must know something about them." The Last Yoshikage asked, but Heaven's leader shook his head.
"I am sorry, but even I am unaware of this Order's true identity. But we will discover the mystery of who they are." He reassured before changing the subject, "Now if I recall, you are the holder of the whereabouts of were Susanoo's sword is and that said knowledge must be protected at all cost."
"It must be protected. If the Order discovers it there's no stopping them from claiming it."
"Then in that case. Allow me to send my most recent Angel to protect you. I am sure she will be delighted to see you all."
Asumoto's brow crinkled in confusion. She? What Angel would know them? He personally didn't know any Angels of Heaven. His answer was given with a new light appeared and from it stepped a face he had though who was long since dead. A face that all recognized, and had Xenovia and Asia shedding tears of joy.
"Irina!"
The brunette and blonde glomped the pigtailed girl who was trying not to collapse at their combined weight. Despite such a shocking return, the Devils were happy to see her. But how was she reincarnated though? She had committed suicide with a poison dagger! There was no way she could come back from that.
"I've been watching over Irina was a long time." Michael answered to the teens, "It is thanks to Ajuka's technology that we were able to create our own reincarnation system to turn humans to Angels. I felt Irina was the best choice for it."
"It is thanks to you, Lord Michael, that my faith in God has been rekindle. I am ready to help however why I can!" Irina said with a pure smile.
Before any more words could be said, a Fallen Angel came charging through the door, a look of horror etched upon his face. "Governor-General! We have a problem! A big problem!"
"What is it?" The wielder of lightning asked, steeling himself for whatever news this young soldier had to give him.
"The Vali family…they've been attacked."
"Oh, God…"
Irina's words couldn't be more correct.
The Gremory Peerage, Akeno, and Exorcist had made haste to the Vali family territory. What they stepped into what the aftermath of a warzone. Corpses of littered the burning battlefield. The front gate to the Vali castle was destroyed as if something or someone had punched it opened.
"W-what happened here? Who could have done this?" Asia asked fearfully.
"Gasper stop!"
But Rias Bishop did not listen. The daywalker made a b-line straight to the castle, ignoring his master's orders.
Asumoto shared a worried look with Akeno and Rias before giving chase after Gasper. He understood the boy's concern, this was his former family after all. He needed to know if someone, anyone was still alive. Otherwise, he would be just like him, the last of his family.
As the group made their way into the castle, the samurai took notice of the corpses. So many Vampires were slaying but why?
A loud blood-curdling scream filled the night. A scream that was unmistakably Gaspers. Asumoto's heart rate doubled. Whatever the boy found, it wasn't good.
Rounding the corner, he stopped in place, horrified at what Gasper had found.
There was a young woman with short blonde hair and red eyes that were struggling to open. She looked to be three or four years older than him. Her clothes, or what was left of them, were torn to shreds and she was covered in cuts and bruises but that wasn't the worst. The worst was that she was bound to a cross.
How long had she been up there!? Was there still time to save her!?
He didn't need Rias orders to know that this girl needed to be freed. He rushed forward, slicing her binds off and catching her with ease.
"Valerie...Valerie! What happened to her!? WHO DID THIS TO HER!?"
"Gasper calm down!" Asumoto ordered, throwing a look at Asia and Akeno to try and save this girl. If possible, he would not allow Gasper to be like him.
The former nun and Fallen hybrid were at Valerie's side and tending to her. The wounds that littered the Vampires body were slowly closing. Akeno heard Asumoto sigh in relief. At least they were able to save this girl, whoever she was.
"Gasper, do you know this girl?" Akeno asked.
"She...she is my childhood friend. We know each other before I joined Buchou. She's...like me... a Dhampir with a Sacred Gear."
"Then whoever attacked must be after whatever Sacred Gear she possesses," Rias said, eyes looking about for any sudden movement.
It wasn't long till the wounds she had begun to close. They really were lucky to have Twilight Healing. When it was done all waited with bated breath to see what would happen next.
"Valerie, please wake up! Please don't leave me!" Gasper whisper, tears still falling.
Suddenly red eyes shot open followed by a gasp for air.
Valerie! She was alive! They had saved her!
Gasper threw himself at the girl, crying tears of joy.
"Huh? Gasper...wha...what are you doing here?"
"I...I came to ...to save you..." He sobbed holding her tightly.
"Lady Tepes, what happened here?" Rias asked. Although she was happy to see Gasper's friend alive, she needed to know who had the firepower to wipe out a whole Vampire family.
Valarie turned to Rias, her face scrunched together in thought. "They came out of nowhere. There was the sound of horns and then from the tree line came an army of horsemen. They...they broke through and began massaging us. No one was spared."
"Not even the men and women…" Asumoto muttered, eyes filling with the realization that it was The Order who attacked. "What did they look like? Did they have crosses?"
Before the Dhampir could reply, her red eyes widened in horror and pointed a shaking hand prompting everyone to turn around.
From around the corner stepped six men clad in silver armor and white cloaks, the type worn by Knight of the Tenth Century. On the breastplate and capes was a red cross.
"T-Their still here!" Valarie screamed, trying to scramble away from the Knights.
"No...It can't be." Irina muttered, her eyes filled with horror and shock, "This can't be ...your order was wiped out!"
"Do you know these people?" Asumoto asked, donning his armor and weapons for the battle he knew was coming.
"They were one of the many Knightly orders sent to the Holy Lands to not only fight the Crusades but search for Sacred Gears and return them to the Vatican. They were disbanded for using the dark arts."
"Irina...you don't mean...them do you?" Xenovia asked, eyes filling with shock at who the newly reincarnated Angel was talking about.
"I am. They are the Order known far and wide throughout the Church. The most feared fighting force in the Crusades. The Warriors of God! The Knights Templar!"
BAM! That the end of that chapter! The Order has finally been revealed. Yes, I did bring Irina back and yes I was planning to kill Valarie but I'll be honest, I had enough edginess for this story and I wanna end it on a happy note. That's all I have to say for now.