Hello, everyone. It's SecretArtLotus. How are you all doing? Anyway, I'm back to update A Problem Devil, Born~
After much difficulty in the real world, I will try my best to update faster on some of my stories. But don't blame me if you waited a long time for a certain fanfic to update because it takes a lot of time to create a plot and add scenes that you think is necessary.
Daily's Answer:
2015 Lewamus Prime: Thank you for your review. I hope that you're good with Izayoi feeling well and having been woke up from his coma. Anyway, about Izayoi fighting with Samael, right? I'll think about that. I don't read much about HDXD but I'll try to research about Samael.
Enigma95: Thank you for your review. For your question, there is another Azi Dahaka in HDXD verse. But the descriptions are different from that of Mondaiji's version of Azi Dahaka. Even their power levels are different. Anyway, Tiamat? Um…I'll research about that. About Sairorg, I'll arrange something for him to possibly fight with Izayoi, right? I mean, you want Izayoi to fight him, right?
Zechs-DXD: Thank you for your review. I appreciate that you like the scene. It took a lot of thinking about creating that scene.
JMK2: Thank you for your review. I'll bear that in mind.
Without further ado, I present to you, A Problem Devil, Born~
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 39: Preparation for the Day To Come
~Underworld~
Training Ground
Noon
"I think we're done for today, there's no need to waste our energy anymore." Leticia advised with a small smile, feeling satisfied with herself and her Gift. Her lance disappeared from her right hand before she looks at herself, seeing the scratches and burn marks on her clothes, mainly her sleeves. She then look up at Sala, who was standing across from her and noticed the slash marks evident on her clothes courtesy of her.
"Don't hide that victorious smile away. You win this round but we'll see who the victor is for the next time." Sala stated spinning her sword skillfully before sliding inside its scabbard behind her waist.
"We will." Leticia smiled as Sala smiled back before the two of them left the training ground that was covered with slash marks and burn marks everywhere. Not to mention craters that had dug deep inside the soil.
"It's been five days hasn't it? How do you think the others are doing? Especially, Asuka. Her Gift is still under development but I can see great potential in it that has room for improvement." Sala stated as she walk.
A small smile slips onto Leticia's face as she closed her eyes. "We will just have to see. Although, it did amused me that I saw Pest the other day, walking through the halls with dirt all over her."
"She's definitely improving." Sala commented stifling a laugh.
"Yes." Leticia nods. "Aside from that, it seems that she is grown to using her Gift a bit more that she used to and started to learn a little bit of it." Then a frown appears on her face as she tried to imagined Asuka in the past, knowing that it would be torture for her to use that kind of power on others. "That girl must have suffered a lot in the past with her Gift. With what it can do to other people with just a command." Leticia explained sadly as Sala slowly nods in agreement, imagining how difficult it was for the brown haired.
"But her Gift and Izayoi-kun's, don't you think that they would be able to use their Gift more if they..." Sala trailed off before Leticia finishes her sentence.
"are summon to Little Garden?" At this, Sala nodded. "That is true but unless they got an invitation to be summon to the world, there's no way in that world. The two of them could practically change the Little Garden if they were in it. I can somehow feel it."
"Who do you think will change the world more?" Sala asked with a hint of smile on her lips.
"Do you have to ask that question?"
"I just want your opinion on these things." Sala stated with a small smile.
"...To a Community, Asuka would recruit new members from all around Little Garden. She would also be the one that can lighten up everyone if she is present. In Izayoi-sama's case, he would be the one who would make the Community be known to the world and influence everyone to be under the same flag." Leticia explained before she turns to Sala. "How was my opinion to you?"
"I admit that it held some truth to it because Izayoi-kun would be the kind of person to do something like that. But Asuka? How are sure of her?" Sala looks at Leticia with a quirked eyebrow.
"As you said, it is just my opinion. There is no reason that I should explain to you more, correct?" Leticia smiled amusingly.
"I understand." Sala nods with a small smile. "Anyway, after we're done with the training plan. What are we going to do?" She asked the blonde vampire.
"...Well, we would be attending the Gathering of Young Devils. After that, I figure we should live out life as it is." Leticia explained with a smile.
"Are you alright with that?" Sala asked knowing that vampires would suffer if they are exposed to the sun.
"I'm well aware of the risk but I figure I should stick to Izayoi-sama's side longer."
"Am I sensing something here?" Sala asked with a teasing smile.
"No. Izayoi-sama is my Master, and that's the truth." Leticia said casually as Sala shakes her head in amusement.
Suddenly, the ground shook causing both Sala and Leticia to look forward and saw Deen battling with Shirayuki-Hime who was flying in the air with water wings on her back. The two of them focuses on Asuka that was intently focused on Shirayuki-Hime.
"Can you continue Asuka? It's been 3 days already. You know that we can stop if you want." Shirayuki-Hime asked looking down at Asuka, who was breathing a couple of breath before she stands up and looks up at the black haired.
"I can, but I want to know about my Gift before that time runs out." Asuka said before she raises her hand at Shirayuki-Hime. "Deen!" She shouted as Deen stretches its huge metal fist towards Shirayuki-Hime, who dodges it easily by moving to the side with her water wings on her back.
"That will not work every time, you know that?" Shirayuki-Hime asked before raising her hand at Asuka and shoot off a water ball from her hand towards the brown haired.
Summoning a sword from her Gift card, Asuka instantly mutters to the sword. "Give me strength." Then, the sword glowed red before Asuka raised the sword high and cuts the water ball into half, letting a drop of water hits her face as the two parts of the ball flew past her.
"Her reaction is getting better…" Shirayuki-Hime said in thought before she raises her hand again but she was aiming it at Deen, much to Asuka's confusion.
Suddenly, a hundreds of water balls started to form all around Deen, surprising Asuka at the quantity. "Since you've improved a little by yourself, I think it's time you improve with Deen. If you were attack from all sides, what will you do, Asuka?" Shirayuki-Hime asked with a serious face as Asuka looks at all the water balls that were aiming at her and Deen. "I know it will never hurt Deen, but since you're defenseless, can you concentrate and dodge this many at once?"
"I can't." Asuka thought as a sweat formed on her forehead, knowing that she can't rely on Deen all the time courtesy of Pest.
Then, her eyes widen as she recalled an item that she had received from defeating a certain demon. Clenching her sword, Asuka breath a deep breath. "I have one chance only…" She thought before Shirayuki-Hime closed her hand, which causes the water balls to instantly charges towards Deen and Asuka.
"Deen! Underneath!" Asuka commanded as Deen's eye lights up and he instantly punches the ground, which causes the rocks to collide with the water balls and destroying it.
"Clever." Shirayuki-Hime thought with a smile before a giant rock covered her view and instantly explodes, surprising her. Raising her arms, she defended herself against the explosion with water defending over her skin. After a second, Shirayuki-Hime lets down her arms before her eyes spotted a barrage of fireballs heading her way the moment the giant rock had exploded. "What?" Shirayuki thought in surprise before she swipes her right hand at the fireballs, sending her own water balls to which destroyed the fireballs.
"How can—?" Shirayuki asked in her mind as she winced at the burns that she got from the fireballs grazing her arms and legs. Since she wasn't prepared for the surprise attack, a few of the fireballs had burn her sleeves and lower parts of her kimono, causing a few burns on her arms and legs.
"Deen!" Shirayuki-Hime heard Asuka's voice, knowing that she would be commanding Deen to do something. But since she was busy dealing with the fireballs, she can't concentrate on where Deen would strike.
"Huh?!" Shirayuki-Hime's eyes widens as a burst of wind suddenly hits her but she didn't flew away, instead she look at the cause of it which was a big red metal fist that was in front of her. Looking at the metal fist that was nearly about to punch her, she then hears Asuka's voice.
"It looks like I win, right?" Asuka asked in between pant while smiling at the way she had won.
Then, Deen lets down its fist as Shirayuki-Hime look down at Asuka, who was panting with a smile.
"Yeah, you win." Shirayuki-Hime smiled as Asuka sit down and smiled back. "You're definitely improving."
"Yes, Asuka. You're improving." A voice said as both Asuka and Shirayuki-Hime looks down at Leticia and Sala that were smiling at them.
A wide smile spread across Asuka's lips at Leticia's comment. She raises her hand to touch the red scarf around her neck and grasp the fabric softly. "Izayoi-kun…I'll be strong."
With Koneko
Punching a few hits at a punching bag before kicking it to the side, Koneko recalled Azazel's words to her.
"Release the power you have sealed within yourself. If you cannot accept yourself, you won't be able to develop your skills as you wish."
Panting, Koneko look at her hand before clenching it, "No!" She said knowing that if she use the power sealed within her, it would cause great harm to those around her and she doesn't want any of that to happen.
Suddenly, Koneko recalled about her elder sister who was crying over leaving Izayoi, which makes her confused. If her sister could kill her Master in the past, why would she cry over someone, more importantly over her senior? To her, it doesn't make sense. The thought of her senior would be friends with her sister who was a murderer and a criminal, didn't seem right to her. Koneko and everyone knew what the black haired nekomata had done and it wasn't forgivable to her. Ever since they were parentless, her former Master took them in, which makes her grateful. But after her Master had been killed, she was nearly executed if not for Rias's brother, Sirzechs. That past would forever be engraved in her mind and she wouldn't forget the past so easily.
"Does he know?" Koneko mutters wondering if Izayoi knew about her sister's crime, even more that her sister killed someone she once served over being drunk with her own power?
Clenching her fist, Koneko thought about Izayoi's condition and she couldn't help the frown that appears over the corner of her lips. But then she thought about her sister which makes her frown bitterly.
"I won't use it, I don't want to be like her…Never…"
~Kyoto~
"You really ask for trouble, you know that kid?" Shiroyasha asked as she inspected Izayoi, who sat across from her. The two of them were sitting inside Yasaka's room while everyone was busying themselves with eating breakfast in the main hall.
"I don't think I need to answer that." Izayoi answered with a smirk. "Anyway, I feel restrained last night, isn't that enough of a reason to go out?"
"Beating three tailed foxes in front of a large crowd of Youkais' and getting injured by another fighter that came out of nowhere. You were nearly almost frozen to death by a Yuki-onna. Aren't those enough reasons that you should be concerned about? I think almost the entire population of Youkai would know about you by now." Shiroyasha explained as she taps her pipe into the black stained pot next to her.
"Maybe. It isn't the first time they address that I'm the husband of the nine tails fox."
"Oho?" Shiroyasha raised her eyebrow in amusement. "Might this perhaps relate on how you met her?"
"Aren't you curious?" Izayoi asked amusingly.
"It's what I do when I hear an interesting topic to talk about. This world isn't as chaotic as in Little Garden. So, I can rest peacefully here rather than do my work over there."
"How long are you going to stay here anyway?"
"Until you recover or until something happens."
"What about the Demon Lord? What will you do about it?" Izayoi asked as Shiroyasha looks down with narrowed eyes.
"Why do you ask?"
"Do you have someone that can fight this thing at all?"
"Are you volunteering? If you hadn't known, you almost lost your life fighting that being." Shiroyasha looks up at Izayoi in amusement before she looks down. "Rest assured that you shouldn't underestimate the people in Little Garden."
"Really?"
"Some are stronger and more experienced than you, boy."
"Then, I'll like have an audience with them. I might learn something from them."
"With your Gift, maybe. But their Gifts represent more than what you usually see." Shiroyasha explained before putting her pipe inside the small pot. She then glances up at Izayoi. "But If I were you, I wouldn't fight with that Demon Lord in that condition."
"It seems worth a try."
"You really are getting yourself a death wish. Do you wish to die early, boy?" Shiroyasha asked as Izayoi stands up and smiled at her.
"Who says I will die? I'm the one choosing if I'm going to die or not." Izayoi explained as Shiroyasha smiled with a shake of her head.
"Though that is true, what would your lovers think about that?" Shiroyasha glances up at Izayoi.
"What do you think they'll think?" He asked with a small smile as Shiroyasha slowly nods. After a while, Shiroyasha looks up at Izayoi.
"...Anyway, you can leave but you have to take care of your body. You're still recovering." Shiroyasha advised as Izayoi smiled.
"Got it." He answered before he walks towards the door to leave. When he opens the door, his eyes were greeted by a pair of blue green big eyes. Without responding, Izayoi easily walks past the red headed before he went his way, leaving Rias to look at him as he leaves.
"You're in a rough situation, it seems?" Shiroyasha asked as Rias looks at her before she looks down.
"...Is it true? Is he going to fight that Demon Lord again?" Rias asked as Shiroyasha sighed.
"I don't know his attention but it seems he finally find out that he is inferior to someone. Sad to say that someone is more superior to him in many ways than one." Shiroyasha explained as Rias looks at the back of Izayoi while he walks away. "Anyway, did you got into a fight with the kid? You two seem distant now."
At her statement, Rias frown deepens.
"I don't know..."
"If it's regarding on who's right or wrong. You should always know who has known more because they are the ones that aren't in the wrong. Sadly as I observed, your spoiled and you act like you are always right when it is obvious that you are wrong."
"...I can't deny that..."
"Anyway, the kid is recovering. So, he can't do anything that's too extreme for him like fighting. It's a good thing that wound can be healed but if he ever fight with that Demon Lord...The only thing he would face is nothing but his own death." Shiroyasha casually said before she closed her eyes while Rias's eyes widen in surprise at the information. "Because the item I used to heal him is the last one I've got."
~Gremory's Mansion~
"She hasn't called you yet? Didn't she say that she would soon?" Lord Gremory asked clearly confused by her daughter that would have contacted her wife.
"Yes, but it's already been five days since then. I'm afraid that something might happen." Venelana frowned looking down in worry. "It's been nearly a week she hadn't called. What is happening, musume…?"
"What do you mean?" Lord Gremory asked grasping her wife's hand in comfort.
"As far as I know, Izayoi is still in a coma." Venelana mutters before she looks up at her husband's eyes. "What if...?"
"Venelana...You shouldn't think about that." Lord Gremoy assured her wife with a shake of his head.
"Sorry, but four days without any contact from the last, I think something has happened." Venelana looks down in uncertainty.
"Even if something has happened, we can't help her from here. As much as I want to, we can't do anything right now. The only thing we can do is wait for her to contact and hoped whatever event had transpire during those days would be resolved." Lord Gremory squeezes his wife's hand reassuringly as Venelana smiled at him for his comfort. But she can't help the worry inside her from the thought of her daughter.
"I hope it is..."
~Kyoto~
Streets of Early Era Kyoto
Noon
"Okaa-sama, let's go. It's this way!" Kunou pointed her finger forward as she tried to drag her mother with her other hand.
"Kunou, I know. We'll get there." Yasaka smiled amusingly, knowing that her daughter cannot contain her excitement for the festival that would be launched soon.
Watching her excited daughter, Yasaka knew that she was acting like that because she has both her parents back. But she was also enthusiastic that the Gion Festival was a few days away, meaning that she would be able to spend the entire time with both her parents during the Festival, since the Festival itself is where she and her met Izayoi for the first time.
"Okaa-sama, the Gion Festival is near. Since Otou-sama is here like he promised, we can go together right?"
"I don't see why we can't, right Yasaka?"
"Yes. It'll be like the last time."
"Yeah!"
"But don't run away, your mother wouldn't be able catch you while she wore her kimono." Izayoi teases before he laughs as Kunou nods.
At the brief recollection, Yasaka closed her eyes while feeling embarrassed for a moment because she found the fact to be true since she can't run in her kimono that restricts her movement. But it was different than her shrine maiden kimono. Her shrine maiden kimono allowed her to run since the skirt didn't wrapped itself tightly around her legs which restricts her movement.
Then, a frown appears at the corner of Yasaka's lips, recalling the morning when she and Izayoi had gone off to eat early while the two waited for Kunou to wake up. But she knew it was a mistake since she didn't expect Kunou to cry over when she still believed that her parents still weren't with her that night. All of this happens when she invited Izayoi to stay for the night with their daughter, much to her and her daughter's happiness. But when she looked at her daughter's crest fallen look, she can't help but feel guilty and silently blamed herself for it.
~Flashback~
"Kunou? What's wrong, Musume?" Yasaka asked with a small frown, seeing her daughter sitting down on her bed and noticing the tears that are evident at the corner of her eyes. She also notices the tear stains on her bed sheet, much to her sadness. Then, a thought came to her mind as she stares down at her daughter. "She still thinks this must be a dream..." At the thought, Yasaka frown deepens.
"...Okaa-sama..." Kunou called out as Yasaka looks at her. "Is this a dream? Because I don't want it to be a dream..." She explained as she rubs her teary eyes. She then turns to her father in question and her frown deepens, knowing that he wouldn't be with her if he was still recovering in her mother's room. "Otou-sama...
"Kunou..." Yasaka called out as Kunou looks at her mother, who smiled at her, much to her confusion. "This is not a dream, Musume. We are really here. Okaa-sama and Otou-sama are here with you."
"How I do know if this isn't a dream?" Kunou asked as Yasaka frowns and tried to step forward but she was stop by Izayoi, who walks towards Kunou before he kneels down on one knee in front of her. Kunou watches as her father merely smiled amusingly at her before she feels his hand on top of her head but she just stares at her carbon copy of her father.
"How do you know if this is a dream, Kunou?" Izayoi asked as Kunou answers.
"Because Otou-sama should be recovering in Okaa-sama's room. He shouldn't be in my room."
"What if your mother says that this isn't a dream? Why don't you believe her?"
"Because Okaa-sama said that she would be with me when I wake up."
"Kunou..." Yasaka covered her mouth in accordance to what she said, knowing that it was true. "I should have stayed until she wakes up." She thought sadly.
"Then, what will you make you believe that this isn't a dream? What will you do?"
"I want to hug Otou-sama and Okaa-sama." Kunou answered which causes Izayoi to smile.
"What are you waiting for?" Izayoi asked as Kunou looks at him before she slowly takes a step forward and wraps her arms over her father's neck while Izayoi only puts his right hand over her back.
"Otou-sama..." Kunou called out feeling that her father was real and not an illusion. A tear made its way across her cheek before it drops onto Izayoi's shoulder. "I'm sorry..." At her apology, Izayoi kept smiling.
"Do you know now?" He asked as he feels Kunou nods on his shoulder.
"Yes..."
Before long, Izayoi pulls back from the hug as he looks at Kunou. "You should give your Okaa-sama. She might need it." Izayoi said glancing back at the person in question as Kunou looks at Yasaka, who looks at her back while trying to hold back her tears.
Izayoi stands up as he watches Kunou takes a step forward before she rushes towards Yasaka, who spread her arms wide at her.
"Okaa-sama!"
"I'm sorry, musume. I'll stay with you until you wake up next time." Yasaka assured as she hug her daughter tightly to which Kunou hugs back with a smile, happy that her mother wasn't a dream along with her father.
"No. It's alright." Kunou shakes her head before she frowns. "I thought you and Otou-sama weren't real. I'm sorry, Okaa-sama." She apologized inside her mother's arms while Yasaka smiled under the hug.
~Present~
At the flashback, Yasaka was grateful that her daughter could have forgiven her after making her suffer from her mistake. With that, Yasaka looked up at her daughter and smiled at the smile that was now plastered on her lips as the two of them arrived in front of the clothes shop.
"Okaa-sama, we're here! Now we can get our kimono!" Kunou stated out loud as Yasaka nods.
"Yes, but first we have to take our measurements."
Behind the two were both Rias and Serafall, who were looking around at the street, noticing several things that were new from the last time they've been here. One of the things they've noticed was that everyone was preparing for something judging from some Youkais lifting fireworks and a crate of woods. They also noticed the shop vendors around the street were busy on their own, but they didn't what for. Some of them were checking of some list in their hands and some of them closed their shop for some reason but they can't figure it out.
"What is going on? Yasaka-sama, do you know why the people here are getting ready?" Serafall asked as she looks at Yasaka, who had stopped in front of the clothing shop. Yasaka looks at the female vendor of the shop and nods, to which the female vendor nodded, knowing what she wanted.
"Kunou-sama, let's measure your size and then you'll pick the color of your kimono, alright?" The female vendor smiled down at Kunou, who smiled back at her usual tailor that always makes clothes for her before the festivals for the past two years.
"Okay!" Kunou answered before she followed the female vendor inside the shop, leaving Yasaka with Rias and Serafall.
Is there some kind of event happening? The people here seem quite busy." Rias stated as Yasaka turns to her and looks at her people that was preparing just like they did every year.
"In a few days, the Gion Festival will be held here." Yasaka informed as both Rias and Serafall looks at her.
"Really?" Serafall asked before she grabs Rias hand in excitement. "Rias-chan, we should get ready for it!" She said with a wide smile.
"I..." Rias looks hesitant to answer before she slowly nodded with a small reassuring smile. "We should get ready." At this, Serafall smiled while she hid the worry for her friend inside her, knowing that she still didn't make up with Izayoi for the past four days much to her worry. To her, she didn't know why she still hadn't make up with the blonde since the topic that made the two of them was the black Nekoshou, Kuroka.
Squeezing her head reassuringly, Serafall smiled at the confused looking Rias. "Maybe this will help you ease some of."
"What do you...Serafall, I-" She was cut off by Serafall shaking her head.
"You shouldn't think about that when we will prepare our own kimono." Serafall answered as she looks at Yasaka, who looks at her back. "Yasaka-sama, we can make our own kimono, right?"
At her question, Yasaka let out a smile to cross her lips before she nods. "Yes, you can. It is after all a festival that should be celebrated. You two should have your own traditional kimono fitted for you." She explained as Serafall smiled widely.
"Thank you, Yasaka-sama!" Serafall thanked before she turns to Rias. "What are you waiting for, Rias-chan? Let's go!" She tried pulling the red head's hand but after a few pulls, she can't budge her to move at all. Looking at her with worry, Serafall looks at the sadden state Rias was in, seeing she was looking down. A frown appears on Serafall's lips as she saw the frown that was on the red head's face. "Rias-chan?"
"I-I'm sorry, Serafall. I think I shouldn't do this." Rias apologized as she pulls away her hand from Serafall, much to her surprise.
"Rias-chan..."
"I can't shop because I don't know when he..." Rias trailed off, confusing Serafall at her unfinished sentence. Rias shakes her head at the thought in her mind before she looks at Serafall apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"Rias-chan." Serafall called out as she grabs onto her right wrist, stopping her from leaving. "What do you mean you don't know?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Rias answered without looking back at Serafall.
"Why not? You can talk to me and Yasaka-sama. We won't know unless you tell us what's wrong?" Serafall asked. "And I know it's about Izayoi-kun, so don't lie to make us feel better." She pouted.
At her statement, Rias was having conflicted thoughts about whether if she should tell or not. She wasn't at all allowed to talk about it but she was worried on telling. The reason she was avoiding Izayoi these past four days was that she could think about what Shiroyasha had said to her, and she knows that she was speaking the truth.
"Because the item that I used to heal him is the last one I've got."
Rias bits her lips as she contemplated on telling Serafall and Yasaka about what Shiroyasha had told her. After a moment, she looks over her shoulder and she spotted Serafall that was looking worriedly at her along with Yasaka, who was watching the two of them with a small frown.
"Rias-chan?" Serafall asked again as Rias looks down and finally decided on what she would do. "What's wrong?"
"...What if that Three-Headed Dragon comes again?" Rias asked as Serafall looks at her in surprise.
"What? Rias-chan, Izayoi-kun already sent him to another dimension or world. Why do you ask th-?"
"What if that Three-Headed comes again?"
"What do you-?" Confusion could be seen all over Serafall's face as she tried to process the words that was spoken out of Rias's mouth. "Why is she thinking about that?"
"Since the Four Great Satans couldn't defeat it, who do you think will fight it again?" Rias finishes as realization struck Serafall hard and she gasps.
"Rias-chan...He wouldn't-"
"He would, Serafall."
"But you don't know that! Anyway, that Three-Headed Dragon is never going to come back. Why are you talking about its return?"
"Because I'm worried."
At her answer, a sad smile appears over Serafall's lips.
"We...We almost lost him. If weren't for Shiroyasha, he wouldn't be here." Rias exclaimed with a shake of her head.
"Yeah, but Shiroyasha did it, right? Izayoi-kun is safe now." Serafall stated trying to convince her friend that the blonde was alright and was safe from any harm.
"Is he?" Rias glances behind at Serafall. "What if that item that Shiroyasha used was the last one she had?"
At Rias's statement, Serafall couldn't help but stare at her in surprise. "Huh? Wha-What? You can't be serious." Serafall stated with wide eyes, shocked by the information given to her.
"I am serious, Serafall. We will never be able to heal him just like now. If he fought with that being again, it would be his last time and he wouldn't go back or come back until he sees that it is defeated. We all know its power but Izayoi-kun...He still couldn't let it go when he sent that-that monster into another world." At this, Serafall looks at the red head in sympathy, followed by Yasaka who watches from the sidelines, knowing that it wasn't her part to interfere between the two.
"Rias-chan..."
"I'm really sorry that I've been avoiding him these days, but I can't help but think about that. You know, it hurts each time we met. We avoid each other till this day because of me." Rias explained as she shed tears that drops onto the ground one by one.
"Rias-chan, don't cry..." Serafall grasps Rias's hand and squeezes it reassuringly, trying to calm down the sad Gremory.
"I think I've cried that can fill a bucket each time when I saw him get hurt." Rias answered with a hint of humour in her voice.
"...It's okay to worry." Yasaka's voice greeted Rias as both she and Serafall looks at her. "It's kind of a tendency of a woman to worry. It's not a flaw." She explained with a small smile. "I know you're worried about Izayoi-kun as do the other girls that would. But you can't change him from the way he is. He is the only one that has the decision to change his own self. If the Three-Headed Dragon would come in the future and there isn't anybody that can fight it except him then we can't stop him. The only thing we can do for him is to support him. It doesn't matter how big the foe is, it will eventually fall." She explained to both Rias and Serafall. "Although I may not know this Three-Headed Dragon but if I have to leave Kyoto to fight alongside Izayoi-kun then I will." Yasaka stated to which surprises both the Devils.
"But if you leave Kyoto for a long time, you know you'll..." Serafall said with a frown as Yasaka smiled and nodded.
"I'm aware of the consequences but I will do it because I don't want Izayoi-kun to be the only carrying the weight of many on his shoulders. At least I want to lessen the weight for him. For now, Izayoi-kun needs all the help he can get if he is destined to fight with the dragon. Even if he is not, he still needs help." Yasaka explained as Rias looks down thinking about Yasaka's words for a moment.
"Okaa-sama!" Kunou called out as she walks out from the shop and greeted Yasaka with a smile. "I'm done. Onee-san said she would be finished by tomorrow!"
Looking down at her daughter, Yasaka smiled. "Really? Then we'll come back tomorrow to pick it up, okay?" She questioned as Kunou nodded. Then, Kunou looks at both Serafall and Rias and tilts her head to the side in curiosity.
"Rias nee-sama, Serafall nee-sama, are you two alright?"
"Yes, we're alright, Kunou-chan. But Rias-chan here doesn't want to get her kimono ready for the festival. Would you please ask her if she could join me to get our own kimono?" Serafall winked at Kunou who smiled and nods.
Taking a step forward, Kunou walks towards Rias before stopping right in front of her. The fox princess looks at Rias, who in turns looks at her.
"Rias nee-sama, you should get your own kimono with Serafall nee-sama."
'Why?" Rias asked with a small smile, not wanting Kunou to find about her and worry.
"Because you can show to Otou-sama! He'll be happy!" Kunou smiled widely with closed eyes as Rias stare at her for a moment.
A soft smile grace her features as Rias put her hand on top of Kunou's head, causing her to look at the red head.
"Let's make him happy, alright?"
~Time Skip~
~Yasaka's Castle~
Night
Outside of the castle and sitting by the edge of the wood pavement was Izayoi, who was staring up at the night sky with his arms positioned behind him. After a moment, Izayoi looks down and sighs.
He then holds up his bandaged right hand and stare down at it, noting the thick bandages that wrapped around his fingers and knuckles.
"Demon Lord Azi Dahaka." Izayoi thought recalling the Demon Lord's introduction of himself. "Just what are you?" He thought again, wanting to know what its origins. "A Third Digit..."
"Are you still awake, boy?" Shiroyasha greeted him as Izayoi glances behind him.
"So far."
"How do you feel?" Shiroyasha asked as Izayoi snicker.
"Unanimously bored but I expected it to be this way."
"Are you regretting saving those girls? Because if you didn't have that wound, you would be able to continue fighting that Demon Lord." The white haired Loli stated before she walks towards the blonde and stand next to him.
"I know, but I never regretted saving them." At this, Shiroyasha looks at his expression before she nods in understanding.
"Understandable. Anyway, since you'll be coop up for a long time. I'm arranging a certain meeting for you." Shiroyasha explained as Izayoi looks at the night sky without glancing at her.
"Why's that?"
"Nothing. I just want to inspect something from you. The date is the night of the Gion Festival that Yasaka talked about. You can still go to the festival but after you're done, you know where to find me." Shiroyasha finishes as she waited for the blonde's answer. After a silencing moment, Shiroyasha still awaits for the blonde's decision since he practically has no clue about the meeting. But after a while, Izayoi answers.
"Alright. So who will I meet in this meeting?"
A smirk appears at the corner of Shiroyasha's lips before she turns around and left. "Only the strong." She answered in a whisper as a small smirk form on Izayoi's lips.
"Saying that I should rest before offering me to a fight...Is she bipolar?" At the thought, Izayoi chuckles before he looks at the night sky again. "...I can't wait."
A few days later...
~Human World~
Afternoon
"I've been meaning to ask this but are you two on a vacation?" Issei's mother asked with a smile sitting on the couch while both Rin and His Highness sat across from her.
"You could say that." Rin answered before she sips her tea.
"With no means disrespect, Miss Hyoudou. But I wanted to know if you believed in non-believable things such as myths and the likes of it." His Highness asked staring at Miss Hyoudou who sips her tea before answering.
"Why would I believe in that? Sorry to if I offended you two but I don't believe in such things."
"And why is that?"
"Because there are no such things to believe." Miss Hyoudou answered as His Highness slowly nods before he smiled.
"Sorry if my question disturbs you for any reason." He exclaimed as Miss Hyoudou wave her hand in dismissal.
"Don't be. Even though people never ask me such question but I don't mind it at all." She smiled at His Highness who smiled back before he stands up.
"I'll be outside." His Highness stated to her before he glances at for a second and then left the room.
"Auntie, if you will. Who's your son?"
"Oh! His name is Hyoudou Issei, he is a high schooler at Kuoh Academy. He is second-year student there. He also joined a club called the Occult Research Club. And might I say, impressive girls attended that club."
"Does he have any friends? I mean, he does have friends, right?" Rin asked humorously.
"Oh, Rin. We all have friends." Miss Hyoudou giggled. "Anyway, he has friends."
~Outside~
Just as His Highness exited the house and walk a few steps from the house gates, he instantly was greeted by a presence right beside him.
Closing his eyes, His Highness speaks to the presence.
"What now?"
"Just checking."
"The plan will remain the same. How is the state in Little Garden?"
"Untouched since the Three-Headed Dragon hadn't returned from the portal."
At his statement, His Highness opens his eyes wide out of surprise, not expecting the kind of setback with the Three-Headed Dragon. "How is that possible?"
"Something deterred with the portal's function of returning the Demon Lord. There are two theories that I could think that the Demon Lord would have gone to. One, he would be in a different dimension than this one and Little Garden. Or two, he is forever gone without a single trace. The latter is more promising but the former is a possibility. That highly-concentrated portal couldn't be malfunctioning after it is programmed to return to forth and back out of Little Garden. Nobody and I mean, nobody would be able to tinker or destroyed the portal." Maxwell explained. But anyone could sense the utter annoyance in his voice as he was frustrated that his powers weren't as powerful as he hoped it'd be. He himself knew that portal would have withstood anything spiritual energy below his and only he could make it go away. But from what he found, he couldn't get any clue and explanation as to why his creation hadn't met the expectations he made. That alone, made his anger boil inside him.
"Yes, nobody can make the portal go away except you. Unless it would have been destroyed by someone..." His Highness instantly recalled the final part of the battle between Azi Dahaka and the blonde he proclaimed his rival. He watched as his rival had used his 'Another Cosmology' on the portal to possibly return the Demon Lord back to where he originated. "So it was him..." He thought to himself before a impressive smile briefly appears on the corner of his lips. Just as he knew his rival, he had found out that he met an interesting individual. One that wields the power to destroy other Gifts.
"What do we do about it?" The light brown haired man asked.
"Leave the Demon Lord be. It would be a waste if we search for it now. We have no idea where he would be, so there is no point on making this harder than it is, Maxwell." His Highness answered casually.
"...Okay."
"When the time comes, be prepared. Anyway, will you investigate about a boy named Hyoudou Issei?" His Highness asked, causing Maxwell to quirk an eyebrow at his strange request.
"Why the sudden interest?"
"We all have contacts or friends. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to know one's friends, correct? Even if they are Devils in disguise. And also, find out about the Occult Research Club in Kuoh Academy. The club members are all on their little field trip, so dig all the information you can get from it before their trip is over." His Highness explained to Maxwell, who sighed frustratingly.
"What are we searching for exactly? It could be just be a regular club for all we know."
"Connections." His Highness answered as he glanced at Maxwell. "It would do us well if we could possibly had information about our enemy. I mean, the Devils can blend in anywhere they like. You said it yourself, Maxwell. Ater all, you've found this world."
Begrudgingly, Maxwell sighed. "I'll see what I can do."
"If you are bored to go alone, take Aura with you. The more, the merrier." His Highness smiled glancing at Maxwell at the corner of his eyes.
"Why do I have put up with this? I remember, I've found this world..." Maxwell thought before he disappears out of thin air, leaving His Highness to look up at the peaceful blue sky.
"It is time to balance the playing field."
~City~
A curly blonde haired woman walks along the pavement before stopping in beside a lamp post. She then looks up across the street and saw a shop that sells all types of hats. She notices that a few customers was trying out hats at the moment and both the shop owners were in front of the counter, attending to their customers.
A smile slips past the woman's lips as she reminisces her past about buying a hat at the exact same shop across the street.
~Flashback~
"Miss? Miss?"
A voice called which breaks Gabriel's thought from her mind. Her pair of sapphire blue eyes looks up at the male elderly vendor, who motioned his hand at the red beret in front of her.
"Do you want to try it out?" The vendor asked with a smile as Gabriel looks at him in surprise.
"Can I?"
"You sure can do, Miss. Everyone is allowed to try before they buy hats. Whichever size that fits them. If they just the bought at first glance but it doesn't fits them. It wouldn't be fair to the public, would it?" The vendor explained as Gabriel smiled and nodded.
"Thank you." Gabriel stated before she grabs the red beret in front of her while the vendor smiled at her.
"If you don't mind, Miss. I will attend to the other customers." The elderly vendor said as Gabriel nods before he walks to the other customers that were trying out the hats around the shop.
Gabriel looks at the customers that were trying out the hats in front of a mirror that was set around the shop. She then looks around her area of the shop to see if she could find a mirror. Then, she spotted a mirror situated a few display of hats away. She walks to stand in front of the mirror and gently place the red beret on her head, unaware that the hat was placed in the wrong way. She then looks at the mirror and smiled, feeling the hat was fitted for her head size. She also admits that the red beret fits her blonde hair and her outfit overall, which consist of a creamy light long sleeved sweater and matching skirt that reach below her ankles. She also wore white heels.
Suddenly, Gabriel feels her hat being lifted off from her head and she looks over her shoulder to see who was trying to steal her hat. But before she could look at the culprit, she felt her red beret being placed on her head.
"You're wearing it the wrong way." A voice stated as Gabriel looks at her left, seeing a blond haired man walking past her carrying a single grocery bag in his left hand. After that, she looks at her reflection in the mirror and she admits that the hat was placed correctly than where she had placed it before and it was even more fitted for her. Realizing that the stranger helped her, she looks at her right and was about to say her appreciation but she noticed that he was already far away, much to her disappointment.
"Oh my. You look beautiful, dear." A voice said as Gabriel looks forward and she was greeted by an elderly woman.
"Thank you." Gabriel smiled in appreciation.
"Your boyfriend must be so lucky to have you."
"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend." Gabriel shakes her head to which cause the elderly woman to act surprised by her answer, not believing such a beauty wouldn't have a boyfriend.
"May I ask, how old are you?"
"...I'm 15 years old, ma'am."
"Such a young age to be such a beauty. If I didn't know any better, you look a little older than 15. How can you possible don't have any suitors chasing after you, my dear?"
"I-I don't know." Gabriel answered, not knowing the answer to the woman's question since she never experienced such an event as what the woman said.
"Oh my." The elderly woman shakes her head, not believing that the blonde beauty didn't have any male chasing fot her. "Is the male kind blind?" She asked herself shaking her head as Gabriel smiled a small smile.
"That's not nice, Ma'am." Gabriel stated as the elderly woman looks at her.
"We have to speak our own minds once in a while, dear. Anyway, it's a matter of fact what I said. Usually, in the past, males would be following girls your age."
"Yes, but sometimes it isn't the nice kind of following. Even the word stalker didn't even exist at that time." The male vendor stated next to the elderly woman who looks at him.
"Dear, why would you say that?"
"It's the truth." The vendor answered before he looks at Gabriel and noticed that she wore the red beret, much to his appreciation. "I see that the beret fits you perfectly, Miss."
"Oh! Thank you." Gabriel smiled as she glances up at the red beret before she looks at the male vendor. She then pulls out a wad of cash from her purse, much to the surprise of both the elderly woman and man.
"Here is for the hat."
"No, it's okay. It's cheaper than you think, Miss." The elderly man smiled before he takes ten dollars from the wad of cash.
"Really? I didn't know." Gabriel smiled innocently.
"It's nothing, dear. You must work hard on making your hard earn money. Do you work part time perhaps?" The elderly woman asked with a smile.
"It was given to me." Gabriel answered as the elderly woman nodded in understanding while the elderly vendor smiled. Then, Gabriel bows her head to the elderly woman. "If you don't mind, I'll be going now. It was nice talking to you, ma'am." Gabriel said before turning to the vendor and smile at him. "Thank you for the hat, sir." She bid before she walks away, leaving the elderly couple to look at her with a smile on their faces.
~Time Skip~
"How am I going to find him just like Michael said?" Gabriel asked tilted her head in curiosity as she walk along the pavement to a neighbourhood. She tried thinking for a way to finish her task since she wasn't given the name of the individual. The only hint that her brother gave her was that she would know soon. But she didn't understand the statement, to which upsets her.
Just as she kept thinking ways about her assignment, she was unaware of the car speeding behind her. Gabriel then walked past a puddle near the road before she heard the sound of a revving engine. She looks behind her, seeing the car past her but the vehicle hits the puddle that she past and Gabriel couldn't help but stare at the water heading towards her.
But before the water can hit her, Gabriel watches in surprise as someone appears in front of her and blocks the water from hitting her to which it hits him instead, drenching his shirt.
"Sorry!" The driver said playfully before the sound of laughing could be heard inside the car as he waves his hand outside his window.
Gabriel watches as the blonde haired man she saw earlier picks up a stone nearby and throws it towards the leaving car. Just as he throws the stone, Gabriel felt a burst of wind hits her much to her surprise before she watches the stone pierced through one of the back tires of the car, causing the car to turn left and abruptly stop.
"That's what you get." Izayoi smirks playfully as he saw the driver climb outside of his car and looks at his flat back tire in shock. Izayoi then turns to look at Gabriel and send her a smile before he walk past her. "Nice beret." Izayoi commented at her right ear as Gabriel looks at him leaving. Recalling what he did, Gabriel grabs his sleeve in time with her thumb and index finger.
"Wait."
"Huh?" Izayoi turns his body slightly and looks at her in slight confusion.
Looking at his purple eyes, Gabriel looks down in slight embarrassment before she glances at his drenched and soaked yellow shirt. A small frown appears over her lips, feeling guilt wash over her seeing as she deserved to be hit by the water and not him.
"You're shirt...is all wet." Gabriel frowned as Izayoi raised his eyebrow.
"Yes, so?"
"Because of me, your shirt got wet."
"Don't worry, we have to make some sacrifices if a beautiful girl walks down the street. So, I sacrifice my shirt." Izayoi exclaimed with an amused smile.
"But..." Gabriel trailed off before a hand grasps her hand that was gripping onto Izayoi's sleeve. She looks up and she watches the blonde pulls her hand from his sleeve before he lets go of her. Looking at the blonde, Gabriel was greeted by a smile from him.
"Catch ya later, angel." Izayoi bid playfully to Gabriel before he turns around and walks away, leaving her to stand alone while she watches him leave.
She then lifted her hand that was touched and unconsciously placed over the middle of her shoulder blades with her other hand over the said hand.
"I forgot to say...thank you."
~Present~
A smile slips on Gabriel's face at the memory before she focuses at the hat shop across the street, particularly an elderly couple who was busying themselves selling their hats to the customers.
"I now have the answer to your question when you first asked me, auntie." Gabriel mutters as she looks at the elderly woman tending to a small child with a smile. "I have a boyfriend, and he's still alive..." Gabriel smiled with a soft smile before she looks at the elderly woman longer and walks away just as the said woman looks her way.
"Is that…?"
Little Garden- Outer Gate number 2105380
"Why did Shiroyasha sent me here?" A blue haired man asked with a sigh standing in front of Thousand Eyes Community's House. He had messy black hair and he wore a black eye patch that covers his left eye. He wore a black sleeveless armor underneath a light blue long sleeved kimono.
He then takes a look around the area around him, noticing that everyone was pointing at him and whispering to each other. He sighs as he looks at The Thousand Eyes's establishment.
"Did I expose myself too much? It seems so." The black haired man named Kouryuu asked under his breath before he decided to enter the shop by taking a step forward. But just as he neared the building, he stops when he suddenly sensed a strong, powerful presence coming down near him. He looks at his left and his eyes slightly widens, seeing someone he didn't met for a long time. He covered his remaining eye from the intense heat produced by the individual that came from the sky. Meanwhile, the civilians that were walking on the road near the powerful presence instantly stops to look at the individual landing on the ground in front of Kouryuu.
When the individual landed on the ground the heat around her reduces, causing Kouryuu to look over his arm at her.
"If it isn't Kouryuu. Why are you here?" A female voice greeted him as Kouryuu stare at her blankly.
"I can ask you the same thing, Roc. What's the Great Garuda doing in the 7th digit streets?" He asked as the red haired female named Roc, who is a lineage of Phoenixes and one of the Seven Great Demon Kings as Kouryuu. Much as her clothing and accessories look resplendent with their elegant designs and the bare back that exposed much of her skin, Roc Demon Lord's appearance seemed youthful for despite the addition of makeup, the baby face under the cosmetics was still clearly visible. In addition of her glittery accessories, the aura she excludes from her showed her noble background.
"Shiroyasha said it was dire. You are well-aware that Demon Lord has been unsealed from the underneath Kouen City. She said this meeting is related to the crisis." Roc explained to Kouryuu.
"Really?" Kouryuu asked.
Suddenly, a cough was sounded and both Demon Kings looks at the direction of the shop, seeing a blue haired woman standing in front of the entrance. The blue haired woman is the female assistant of Shiroyasha and takes care of the Community's Headquarters with or without Shiroyasha. She has a pair of blue eyes and her dark blue hair is tied back in a bun with her bangs parted to the sides, two strands of hair not pulled back and instead let loose. She wore an apron with black getas and white socks as footwear. Underneath her apron is a simple blue kimono.
"As Shiroyasha-sama had told me about your arrival, you can enter." The shopkeeper said as she moved out of the way, opening a path inside the shop to both the Demon Kings.
A small smile made its way on Kouryuu's lips as he looks at Roc and gestured the young woman to the shop. "If you will."
After he gestured his hand inside, Roc walks inside the building, followed by the sighing Kouryuu, hoping that whatever Shiroyasha had asked him would be important.
Inside the building, both Kouryuu and Roc arrived inside Shiroyasha's room after the shopkeeper guided them. Just as they entered the room, they noticed the room was bare and no one was present, especially Shiroyasha. With tthat, both the Demon Kings looks around the room for any signs of hints that can help them to communicate with the white haired Demon Lord, knowing that Shiroyasha would have left them something for them.
While Kouryuu looked around the room, Roc was focusing in front of her, knowing that Shiroyasha would have left something in place of her presence and it would be easy to find it. But all she could search and find was the old television that sat on top of the small desk in front of her. With a quirked eyebrow, Roc walks closer to the television and pushes the on button, causing the television to wiz into life.
At the whizzing sound of the television, Kouryuu stop his search and walk to stand next to Roc to look at the television.
Suddenly, the television slowly shows something from the whizzing channel. Kouryuu squint his eye as he tried to get a close look at the image that the television tried to give them. Then, the whizzing channel started to disappear and the two Demon Kings focused on a certain citadel or city.
"Where is this?" Kouryuu asked in curiosity before the channel whizzes to show a dark figure that stood horrifyingly amongst the fires of the now burning citadel.
At the image, Kouryuu and Roc's eyes widens at the Demon Lord that appeared on the television.
"What is this?" Roc asked in slight shock of the appearance of the Demon Lord. "How did it get there?"
Then, the television continues to show the Demon Lord that terrorizes the entire citadel before a certain individual step up in front of the Demon Lord.
"That fool...Is he going to battle it alone? That's asking for his own death." Roc stated with narrowed eyes, clearly angered by the stupidity of the individual by fighting the Demon Lord alone where he doesn't know the full power of the Demob Lord and what it is capable of.
"Who...?" Kouryuu asked as he watches the individual and his left eye widens, seeing the individual fought the Three-Headed Dragon toe to toe. "He is no ordinary human." He thought observing the fight which he could comment that the individual could stand his own ground without any help.
"He can't fight it alone." Roc stated narrowing her eyes at the fight between a human and a Three-Headed Dragon.
"But he is fighting it without anyone's help." Kouryuu stated to Roc. "Who is he?"
Lastly, the television shows the individual putting up an Aurora before he brings it down onto the portal above the Three-Headed Dragon. Moments later, the area around them was engulfed in light and the whole screen turns white. The two Demon Kings looked at the screen before it shows the huge crater that showed the disappearance of the Three-Headed Dragon but not the individual who was still breathing. Then, the television blurred the image from existence, meaning that the show the two Demon Kings was over.
At the scene, both Kouryuu and Roc were shocked, not expecting that the Demon Lord would disappear out of thin air while the individual was alive.
"Did he defeat it?" Kouryuu asked in disbelief.
"That's impossible..." Roc clearly stated with narrowed eyes, not wanting to believe that a mere human would be able to go up against the oldest Demon Lord and won against it for the first time. "This must be a joke. Clearly, no human can defeat that Demon Lord all by himself."
"But that last attack..." Kouryuu trailed off, thinking about the Aurora that the individual had created in his palm.
Suddenly, the television stops and suddenly the whole atmosphere around the room changes, gaining attention from both Roc and Kouryuu.
"Is this Shiroyasha's doing?" Roc asked before she and Kouryuu disappeared in a bright light, leaving the room bare and untouched.
To Be Continued…
That's the end of Chapter 39. How do you guys think?
Don't worry, the two new characters are connected to the story. How do you guys like the story overall? The drama, fight scene and suspense in the end. If you guys like it or love it, leave a review below and don't forget to favorite and follow this story.
If you have any confusion or problems with the story. PM me or review below. Whichever way.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!