13
Sera stood in front of Kuoh Academy's entrance. She had already dropped by her manor in the Underworld this morning to say hello to her mom and dad. Though they were incredibly happy to see her, it definitely felt different. For one thing, she learned that Sona had moved out and was living with her Queen, Tsubaki Shinra. The thought made her smile. To think that little Sona had her own peerage, and to think she had become the Student Council President of Kuoh Academy. But the thought also brought her intense sadness. All those years of Sona's life that she had missed…all those moments, something that she'd never be able to get back.
As she wandered around the school, she got many weird looks from the students. Though most of them were of shock, most of the boys were staring at her with hearts in their eyes.
After a few minutes of wandering about and several students helping her, she finally found the Student Council office. Sera felt her heart beating a million times a minute before taking a deep breath and opening the door.
It was a fairly large room, even fitting a coffee table and several bookshelves. There were several people inside, all of the she didn't recognize except for one. At the far end of the room, behind her desk and looking at papers…was Sona. She looked up at her with shock in her eyes…so she really hadn't known she came back.
"H…Hey, Sona," Sera mustered, with a broken smile. "Long time…hasn't it?"
"N…Nee-Sama…" Sona said slowly.
"Nee-Sama?" A boy with short blonde hair asked, looking at her with confusion. He looked back and forth at Sera and Sona until he stared at Sera with open eyes.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Sera asked.
"I…" Sona gulped. "I'm sorry, I'm quite busy right now, maybe-"
She was cut off when the girl next to her, a girl with long black hair and glasses, placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"We'll be in the faculty office talking to the teachers about the school festival," The girl smiled before escorting everyone out of the room.
Without everyone here, the silence practically stabbed at Sera in the heart. The uncomfortable silence of not knowing what to say or how to react. She found the courage to walk over to the couch and sit down, however Sona hadn't made eye contact her at all.
"H-How have you been?" Sera smiled at her.
"I've been fine," Sona said in a completely monotone and empty voice.
Sera didn't want the conversation to die. New topic…new topic…new topic…
"I see you've started your own peerage," Sera said. "Are they all members of the Student Council? They all seem very nice."
"Yes…they are…" Sona said, once again completely void of emotion.
"Sona…" Sera stood up and walked over to her. "Please…I'm really trying here…"
"Trying to do what?" Sona finally looked up at her, looking her in the eyes.
"To connect with you again," Sera said. "I'm your sister."
"Are you?" Sona stood up, looking down and trembling her hands. "My sister would never have left me alone for all those years without so much as a single good-bye. My sister wouldn't have done any of that…she would have…she would have…"
Sera felt like her heart had completely shattered. Her eyes began to water. "Sona…I…" She reached out for her hand, but Sona slapped it away.
"Don't touch me!" She said.
Sera saw drops of tears land on the desk. Sera had prepared herself for whatever reaction Sona would give…but this…this was too painful.
"I love you, Sona," Sera smiled at her, tears falling from her eyes. "I will always love you, no matter what."
"Please leave…" Sona's fists were trembling.
"I understand…" Sera turned around and walked towards the door. After she closed it, she leaned back against the door and slid down, pulling her knees to her chest.
Sera could hear Sona's cries from outside the door. She closed her eyes and let her emotions run free. Was it really the right thing do, she wondered. To go with Munecchi and not tell Sona the reason why? Her father had told her that Sona doesn't know the truth, that he kept it from her for her own safety…but this hurt much more than she thought.
She pulled at her chest, sniffling her tears away. "Sona…I'm so sorry…I'm so so sorry…"
…
Gabriel sat at the water fountain outside of the Grand Hall. Heaven was just as she remembered, the beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere. Ever since Uriel had gone rogue, Zachariah had been promoted to the position of Archangel. Dulio Gesualdo had finally popped up again in Heaven, though he still doesn't do any work, and Griselda…
Even though she was finally back in her home, it felt different. She felt different, as if she was in a different skin. She felt like she was just passing through rather then finally being home. She had gone to see Michael, but he was away at a conference with the other factions. Raphael was cooped up in his office worrying over Heaven's defenses as usual, and Zachariah was working on the Brave Saint System. She was home, but everyone she knew was away or busy.
"Lady Gabriel?"
She turned around to see Griselda. She was wearing a modified sister's uniform without the cover and instead with a hood. Her long blonde hair was flowing free and her green eyes were surprised. "G-Griselda…"
"You're back!" Griselda dropped her books and charged at her, jumping into her arms to her surprise. "When did you get back? Why didn't you come sooner? I missed you so much!"
"It's good to see you too," Gabriel couldn't help but tear up.
The two sat down by the fountain, looking off into the clouds and catching up. Griselda told Gabriel everything that happened. How Michael had ordered her to dig up any information on the Trihexa. She and Dulio were the only ones in Heaven who knew about the threat, not even the other Archangels knew. Gabriel in return told her about the adventures she went on and the people she met.
"R-Ra? The goddess in Egypt?" Griselda covered her mouth. "She's traveling with you?"
"Yep, all thanks to Masamune and his charm," Gabriel smiled.
"I would love to meet him soon," Griselda said. "Maybe you can introduce me?"
"Y-Yeah…" Gabriel said, immediately regretting agreeing.
"Lady Gabriel? Is something the matter?" Griselda tilted her head.
"It's just…" Gabriel gulped. "Women who meet Masamune…have a tendency to just fall for him. You wouldn't believe the people we met who just end up falling for him. Honestly what is it about him anyway?"
"But that goes for you as well, doesn't it?" Griselda smirked.
Gabriel felt her head explode. "I-I-I-"
Griselda giggled. "Don't worry Lady Gabriel, I told you that I would only devote myself to you, remember?"
The thought brought Gabriel at peace. "Yeah, I remember. Perhaps you can drop my our apartment sometime, I'm sure you two would get along."
"What of the Trihexa?" Griselda asked. "Do you have a plan yet?"
Gabriel shook her head. "We know how the spell works, the spell to awaken it, but knowing how to perform it doesn't guarantee we can stop it. I'm afraid that worst is yet to come…"
"Lady Gabriel, are you busy right now?" Griselda asked.
"N-No, not really. Why?"
"There's this really delicious bakery in Kuoh, would you like to come with me?" Griselda smiled.
"B-But what about…" She looked back at the books that Griselda had dropped earlier.
"Oh don't sweat the small stuff," Griselda stood up and smiled. "We're finally reunited, this calls for celebrations doesn't it?"
"I…" Gabriel found herself smiling. "I suppose so."
"I'll tell Dulio to meet us there," she said. "He's dying to see you again after so long."
"Sounds like a plan," Gabriel smiled and took her Queen's hand.
…
Astrea sighed and finally fell on her butt. She looked up at the bottom of the Galleon. The engine was partially damaged, the reactor core was unstable, the stabilizers were off, and not to mention the cannons were completely shot after the last attack to that fallen angel.
"We're nowhere near done yet," Astrea sighed. "Why does this stupid thing have to be so difficult!"
"Now, now," Ajuka Beelzebub smiled. "It's unbecoming of a goddess to throw a tantrum like this."
"Oh shut it," Ra pouted. She sat up and crossed her arms. "If Hephaestus was here, he'd know what to do."
"You and he modified the original sun chariot, right?" Ajuka asked, sitting besides her. "Did he teach you anything about it?"
"He taught me how to reconfigure the engine just in case of emergencies, and also how to stabilize the core, but it was nothing like this before. The core itself a miniature dwarf star that Hephaestus's compressed. We used magic to keep it in place and to direct the energy coming from it to the engine. But the pipes and conductors are damaged…not to mention the core itself is dying."
"A miniature dwarf star, huh?" Ajuka rubbed his chin. "Why don't we just make a new star?"
Astrea stared at the Devil King with confusion. "I can generate a star, yes, but Hephaestus was the one who stabilized it's energy output. I have no idea how to do it."
"Leave that part, to me," He stood up and gave her a hand up. "Generate the biggest star you can, the second you do, I'll stabilize the energy output and shrink it down to the same size as the dwarf star."
"A-Are you sure about this?" Astrea gulped. "We're in a pocket dimension, but this could tear us apart."
"It'll be fine," Ajuka smiled. "I promise."
Astrea gulped. She didn't know if she trusted his magic, but Masamune sure trusts him. "Here goes…" Astrea closed her eyes and began to generate a star. Slowly, a miniature ball of complete energy formed.
"That's it, just like that," Ajuka held out his hands and used magic to contain the energy output, in fact it was even keeping the size of the star to a minimal while maximizing the energy output.
Seconds later, Astrea had generated a fully grown star but Ajuka had miniaturized it's size into something about the size of an orange. Carefully, Astrea floated the orb and placed in the slot. Immediately, the energy from the sun began to direct to the rest of the ship.
"We actually did it," Astrea floated back down in amazement. "Now we gotta give her a few minutes to adjust before we fly her. Thank you, Ajuka."
Ajuka smiled. "Anytime, Lady Ra."
Astrea blushed. "D-Don't call me that, I'm not Ra anymore."
"Apologies," Ajuka said. "Astrea."
Astrea sat back down along the wall of her workshop. With Masamune's help along with Gabriel's architectural skills, they were able to construct a workshop in the parallel pocket dimension that held the relics. Taking a look outside, all she could see was a pure white. As she walked closer to the window, Ajuka joined her.
"W-What is that?" Ajuka asked.
"Oh, I forgot you haven't seen it," Astrea smiled. "That's the Gate of Babylon. It seems as though the pocket dimension that the dwarfs created were connected to a Sacred Gear, in fact I'd bet money that's what they used as a basis for creating it."
Astrea looked to the Gate. A monument of a gate, it was easily 20 feet or taller made entirely of golden and iron with strange engravings along the door frame, a language she couldn't recognize. It honestly amazed her, seeing as she was as old as creation, but a language she couldn't recognize? It was never heard of before.
"The magic coming from it…" Ajuka gulped. "It's incredible."
"Apparently it's supposed to hold an untold amount of treasure," Astrea smiled. "We tried for a few weeks to find a way to open it, but eventually we gave up. But we did learn one thing…"
"Hmm?"
"Masamune was able to learn how to take out relics and weapons in this space, using the premise of the Gates of Babylon," Astrea said. "He can unlock this space at will, eventually making it a pseudo Gate of Babylon itself."
"I see…" Ajuka rubbed his chin. "This is truly amazing. I would never even have thought of creating a parallel pocket dimension like this…those dwarfs are something else huh…"
Astrea smirked. "Come on, we'd better get back to repairing the rest of the Galleon. The cannons and mass are damaged."
…
"So you've really traveled all over the world, haven't you?" Masamune watched as RIas smiled at him and set down her tea cup. "I'd love to hear all about it when you're ready to talk."
Masmaune smiled. "It's been a hell of a journey, but I'm happy I'm finally home."
Masamune sat across from Rias in the Occult Research Club of Kuoh Academy. In the eight years that he missed, Rias had grown into a third year student at this academy, even starting her own peerage and using the Occult Research Club as a base for her here. Even Sera's sister, Sona, attended this school as the Student Body President.
Sera…he wondered how she was doing. He knew that she was going to talk to Sona today, but he had to imagine it was hard. Unlike Rias, Sona knew nothing about the real reason why they had all left. Rias was told by Sirzechs a few years ago of the reason why, which made things easier when talking to her.
"Would you like more tea, Lord Masamune?" A girl around Rias's age with long black hair and kind purple eyes smiled at him.
"L-Lord? That's a bit too much for me," Masamune said awkwardly. "But I'd love more. Thank you."
"You're the last Campione, brother," Rias said. "It's a high position in this world."
Masamune relaxed his body. "Is it?"
"What do you mean?" Rias asked.
"Since coming to this world, I've done things I'm not proud of," Masamune explained. "Attacking individuals belonging to either of the factions, instigating rebellions and preventing world destruction. I'd assume that I would have caught the attention of someone, but nothing's happened. It worries me somewhat."
"You mean the fallen angels?" Rias asked. "They haven't reached out to you?"
He shook his head. "Not at all. Which is why I find it weird because every other faction has at least tried to get me on their side, the devils, angels, and various pantheons all over the world. And yet all this time, not a single fallen angel has tried to do so…well except for the one with the Wings of Icarus."
Rias smiled. "Well, let's not mind the small stuff. I'm glad you're back, what will you do from here on out?"
Masamune crossed his arms. "Honestly…I have no idea. The Trihexa should be waking up soon, either by itself or by someone else's hand. We can't ignore that threat, but yet…"
Masamune remembered Uriel's warning from back then. His sins shall be his undoing. What did he mean by that?
"Brother?" Rias asked.
Masamune snapped himself out of it. "I-It's nothing. Anyways, are the rest of your peerage here? I'd love to meet them."
"They're all in class right now, I'm afraid," Rias said. "Aside from Akeno and myself, the second and first years still have to take regular classes."
"Akeno…is she a-"
"I'm afraid so," Rias said. "She's a hybrid, a half fallen angel half devil. I found her at death's doors after the people of her village killed her mother and nearly killed her."
"I see…" Masamune looked to Akeno in the kitchen of the club room. She was happily preparing tea and smiling.
"Um…brother?" Rias asked. "I've noticed from yesterday and today that Kuroka isn't here? Is she going to arrive soon? I was hoping to tell Koneko that her sister had returned."
"Koneko?" Masamune realized she meant Shirone. It made sense that she would change her name, seeing as she was a servant of Felix Naberius. That reputation could be dangerous to her. "Kuroka…she's-"
The doors to the club room opened. Entering were about four people, two of them Masamune recognized from his little skirmish yesterday. A boy with spiky brown hair and a girl with long blonde hair that resembled Gabriel to an extent. Rias had called them…Issei and Asia?
"Ah, good timing," Rias stood up. "Brother, allow me to introduce my peerage to you." Everybody lined up behind her. "This is Hyoudou Issei, my pawn. Asia Argento, my bishop. Kiba Yuuto, my knight. And Koneko, my rook."
Masamune's eyes were shocked to see Shirone again. She had grown up quite a lot since the last time he saw her. She was still on the small side, but her white hair had grown out quite a bit with golden eyes. Though she had a blank expression, it was really her.
Masamune stood up. "I-It's nice to meet you guys. I'm Asa Masamune."
"I-I-It's nice to meet you," Issei said and bowed.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Masamune," The blonde boy, Kiba said. "Lord Sirzechs has told us quite a lot about you."
Masamune blushed. What the hell had Sirzechs told them…
"I-I hope it's nothing too bad," Masamune scratched his head. Just then, he sensed Sera's magic pressure at the school. So she was here after all. "Sorry Rias, but I gotta get going. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Y-Yes," Rias smiled.
"It was nice meeting all of you," Masamune waved goodbye as he left the club room.
The school was definitely a maze to wander through, various floors and turns and not to mention the amount of stairs. After a few minutes of getting lost, he decided to give up and walk outside, simply just jumping up to the roof.
As he floated in the air, he saw Sera leaning against the railing. She looked up at him with shock in her eyes. "M-Munecchi!"
Masamune landed behind her, smiling and cracked his neck. "What are you doing up here? Shouldn't you be talking to Sona?"
After he joined her on the railing, she explained to him what had happened. He knew that things were going to be rough, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
"I see…" Masamune said. "What will you do now?"
Sera smiled sadly. "I don't know."
He sighed. "You know…maybe you should have stayed, instead of going with me."
Sera looked at him with wide eyes. "W-What?"
"I thought about it a long time ago, but maybe you and the others should have stayed," He looked off into the distance of the city. "You'd have a great relationship with Sona, Kuroka would have been there through her sister's life, Gabriel could have become a greater angel, and Rossweisse would have risen through the ranks in Asgard. Sometimes I think that your lives would have been better if you guys had never met me."
"Idiot," Sera playfully punched his face. "Stop making everything about yourself, Munecchi. Sona is my problem, she's my sister and I'll figure out what to do."
Masamune smiled as he placed a hand on her head. "I'll leave it to you then."
…
Kuroka stood on the outskirts of Kuoh. She looked around her to see Bikou, Vali, and Arthur. She wanted to run into town and warn Masamune about what's to come, to tell them that he should run away and hide, but…
"Kuroka?" Vali Lucifer said. "Is the spell ready?"
Kuroka grit her teeth. "Yes. I have everything I need."
Bikou raised his staff over his head and rested his hands on them behind his neck. "But it's still strange for you to take orders from that old man so easily, Vali. Feeling okay?"
"Idiot," Arthur fixed his glasses. "This is all so that the Red Dragon Emperor can grow stronger, or rather…"
"That god slayer," Vali narrowed his eyes at the city. "I want to fight him at his best, but it appears as though I can't have that just yet."
"The Red Dragon Emperor, the last Campione," Bikkou walked up to join him. "I wonder how much fun we're gonna have here."
"It doesn't matter," Vali turned around and walked to Kuroka. "Get ready, we'll initiate the plan tonight."
"Roger that," Bikkou smirked.
"Understood," Arthur said.
"Yeah…" Kuroka looked back at the city as the others walked away. Be careful, Masamune.
Author's Note - Kind of a short chapter but I hope you guys like it. I'll be introducing Jeanne and another OC soon, but lemme know if you guys want anyone else into Masamune's harem. I tried to find characters that were more like side characters and didn't make a big impact if they were in Masamune's harem instead of Isseis, so let me know. I hope you guys liked this chapter and I'll see you guys soon :)