Hello, everyone. This is your author in-progress, ArtLotus.
First of all and to start things with, I am sorry that I delayed this chapter for like a month? I think it is been a month after my previous update. Well, I can't think of anything to make as an excuse but I've been updating an old fanfic of mine that's been well over a year. So I decided to update that because I suddenly started liking to make that story.
Anyway, I apologise for delaying this any longer. Presenting A Problem Devil, Born~
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 49: Truth
Gremory Mansion
Living Room
In the wide vacant room stood the Gremory family which consist of Venelana, Zeoticus and Millicas together along with a few maids. Nearby the Occcult Research Club—ORC group consisted of Asuka, Pest, Sala and Shirayuki-Hime stood a few ways from them. A wide hologram screen stood in front of everyone as it hung on top of the wall overlooking them. At present, everyone was focused onto the said screen which showed the Rating Game of Rias Gremory against Sona Sitri. There, everyone watched Rias Gremory's group transported into a restaurant while Sona Sitri's group was located in a grocery store.
A mild frown curved downwards on Pest's face as she watches the declaration start of the Rating Game which starts off with Rias Gremory's strategist, Izayoi accompanied by Kiba, Rias's [Knight]. The two started walking out of the restaurant which is their base and immediately sprinted across the vast shopping mall which had been picked as the battlefield between the two opposing groups.
The two surprisingly took the elevator down towards the first floor, where they encountered a problem which caused the elevator cables to break off and the elevator to fall down instantly when the doors closed. Everyone watches as the blonde stabs Durandal behind him, piercing through the metal steel box and the concrete wall beyond it. The action causes the elevator to slowly stops and Kiba helps his senior to open the elevator by striking it with his Holy Demonic Sword, the Sword of Avenger. With that, the two safely came out from the elevator and head towards the enemy base which is a grocery store.
"Do they randomly pick the locations for their bases to be placed?" Pest asked crossing her arms with an angry frown.
"If you think about it, it's reasonable. It's to make both groups to be extremely aware to their surroundings and make use of it to their advantage. For example, Izayoi-kun said Gasper-san was unable to resist garlic and it might cause him to be incapacitated first in the game." Asuka explained to Pest who squinted her eyes at her before she focuses her attention back to the hologram screen as did Asuka. They along with everyone watches Izayoi greeted Sona and her two Bishop who erected a barrier around the three of them. They watched on as the blonde converse with Sona before surprisingly throwing Durandal forward, breaking the barrier and phasing through Sona, surprising everyone until it stabs itself into the wall behind.
The blonde then chatted a bit with Sona before withdrawing Durandal from the wall and left to leave Kiba to handle the two Bishops. They soon watched as the blonde again encountered Tsubaki, Sona's [Queen] and Tomoe, Sona's [Knight]. When everyone watched the blonde fought with Tsubaki and thus defeated her before fighting Tomoe to which he lent her Durandal temporarily for the duration of their fight. That action took most by surprise since they did not expect the blonde's action let alone giving the opponent one of the only Holy Sword that is equal to Excalibur. But at the end, Tomoe was defeated after having used all of her energy against attacking Izayoi with Durandal with its weight being a slight burden.
After that, the screen changed to Issei fighting against Saji while Koneko fights Ruruko. The white haired nekoshou only just won after delivering a strike to Ruruko's chest within her nekomata form, striking her nerves inside. Seconds later, she was standing on the sidelines as she proceeded to stay back from Issei's battle with Saji. Throughout Issei's battle against Saji, everyone could see that he was starting to be slightly sluggish in his movement before succumbing to the unknown cause. It wasn't until Kiba made an appearance and cut off the connection line between him and Saji, which causes blood to flow out of the line; Issei's blood respectively.
"How can he suck blood from him?" Shirayuki-Hime asked confused as the others including Asuka, Sala and Pest were all very much in the same confusing situation. It was not until Venelana told them of the abilities wielded by Vritra, one of the Great Dragon Kings, that they understood.
It was overwhelming everyone watching as they were surprised to see that Vritra's connection line could suck blood rather than power. But just as both combatants were out of tear to fight, they'd give it their all by charging up an energy ball in their hands before they charged towards each other and causes an explosion to occur. As the smoke cleared, they watched Issei and Saji lying on the ground, opposite of each other before Asia came to view and tried to heal the brunette. But the brunette denied her before Saji and he disappears, incapacitated from the game.
Then, everyone found Yura, Sona's [Rook] charging towards Asia's backside before a shout interrupted the situation and Durandal immediately came out of nowhere to stab in front of Yura which stopped her advances. As soon as she stops, she was caught off guard as countless of holy demon swords appears over the ground and hits her, shredding her clothes before incapacitating her from the game. Right before then, everyone had watched Rias slip out from everyone before finding her on the rooftop of the shopping mall where she was met by her best friend and opponent, Sona Sitri.
The two faced each other before displaying the powers that they trained for this Rating Game between them. For this moment. But as they would battle it each other out for long periods of time, Sona had resigned herself from continuing since she cannot best Rias's powers that could harm her even more and tired her evenly.
"It looks like they won." Shirayuki-Hime stated with a nod as Asuka nods along.
"They did won." Venelana added with certainty as Millicas nodded furiously next to his grandmother.
"Yes! Did you see Rias onee-sama and Izayoi onii-sama?! They're powerful! Not to mention Rias onee-sama's peerage are pretty strong too!"
"Yes, they are. Millicas. They each trained for this event to happen. And fortunately, they're training paid off."
"This Rating Game…Is slightly familiar with our ways in Little Garden." Sala commented as she recalled the rules spoken by Grayfia while the two opposing groups read off the said rules by their own.
"No kidding. But I prefer Little Garden than their ways." Pest answered sharply with a mild frown, which gotten everyone's attention.
"Pest-san? Are you alright?" Sala asked uncrossing her arms as she looks down at the red haired girl while Asuka and Shirayuki-Hime watches.
"I don't get it…Why are we here doing nothing while they—fight?" Pest stated without caring her opinion was overheard by the other occupants in the room. "It seems unfair to me. What good is for us if we lay here doing nothing? If we're in Little Garden, I've would—" Pest stopped mid-sentence before silencing herself and looking down. "It would've been easier and I would have more fun taking in slaves for my community. If it weren't for that blonde freak." Pest took on a sidelong glance after that and stayed silence.
"Sorry to rain down on your parade. But if it weren't for him, you would've been defeated all the same, midget." Shirayuki-Hime put her knuckles on her hips. "If it weren't for him, I will not be here today." She looks at Sala who nodded at her before she looks at Pest.
"If it weren't for him, I would not be here with all of you. I would not met such individuals that would be my friends later on and I am grateful that I got to live in a peaceful world opposite of my own. There are also other customs that I am not familiar and I tend to get lost if all of you did not guide me the right way." Sala smiled before she looks at Asuka who shares her own smile.
"With all of that into consideration, I have to say the same thing. I will not be here if Izayoi-kun did not meet me coincidentally on the streets. Without him, I'd think I wouldn't transfer to Kuoh Academy in the first place and met all of you and found the invisible forces that exist in our world. And also, if it weren't for him. I'd be dead from being turned to stone for the rest of my life." Asuka explained without hesitation even as she recalled the emptiness feeling when she was turned to stone. "All in all, we owe him for saving us. I don't think it's bad that we can't at least repay him back, don't you think? Pest-san?" She asked the red haired girl who frowned while looking down at the ground.
"…Fine. Your point is sadly right." Pest begrudgingly answered which caused Asuka to smile brighter followed by Sala including Shirayuki-Hime. "But I don't owe the blonde anything for bringing me in the first place."
"But you at least agreed to be with him, right?"
"That's because we have a contract, unfortunately." Pest glances sideways before continuing. ""Why does the blonde always have the fun? Why don't we join in on instead?"
"That's because we're not part of a peerage. We're not Devils." Shirayuki-Hime rolls her eyes. "Don't you get it through your thick skull? We can't be part of a peerage because we're not Devils!" She said to her as Pest narrows her eyes at her and glares over the blue haired maid.
"So what? It doesn't take a genius to see that I'm bored that I'm standing here doing nothing but watch them fight." Pest explained before Venelana came right between them.
"Girls. Can you please calm down? You're attracting quite the attention from everyone." Venelana calmly said to them.
"They're not Devils, Venelana-sama?" One of the maids asked in spite of her other colleague telling her to stop.
"It seems like the secret is out." Zeoticus thought sighing before glancing towards his wife who turned to the said questioning maid.
"…Yes, they are not. But fear not, as they came with no harm intentions." She reasoned to the maids who listened in on intently.
"…Is Izayoi-sama's a Devil?" The maid asked suddenly as Venelana stopped on her tracks to process the question that freezes her along with her husband. Venelana glances at her husband who stared at her before promptly nodding towards her to which she returns back the gesture, knowing that it was the time to tell the truth.
With that, Venelana turns back to the questioning maid and answers. "...Sadly, no. He is not of a pure blood Devil. He is nothing more than that of a human. I am terribly sorry that we kept this a secret from all of you but it was a necessary action to do. Plus, it might be a helping hand to hide Izayoi's true identity from others."
"Yes, that's absolutely true. There are others that might want to harm him if they know his true lineage."
"We cannot afford to expose him. He's Rias ojou-sama's husband."
"He is also the Hero that saved us all from that treacherous Three Headed-Dragon that almost destroyed our territory and almost the entire Underworld if it weren't for him."
"Yes, we are fully indebted to him. We are grateful to serve him." Another maid nodded to her colleagues before every maid turns to their mistress who looks at them with a smile.
"I reckon that all of you are not affected deeply by this piece of information?"
"Yes, Venelana-sama. We cannot be anymore grateful as to what his deeds has done to us and all of the people in the Gremory Territory."
"Aside from deeds from which he'd done, will you accept him as it is? A human?" At this, the maids look at each other before answering.
"We do not mind it at all, Venalana-sama. Rias ojou-sama has chosen her other pair and she truly loves him as any lover would have. After their wedding, we are proud to say that he is like family to us." One of the maids answered before her colleagues cheekily smiles at her which causes her to nod at them with a stifling laugh.
"Is that your answer?" Venelana asked as every maid nodded at her which causes a smile to appear on her face. "Then I am grateful that this topic has been settled quite peacefully and accordingly."
"But Venelana-sama, how can Izayoi-sama attained such powers that can be an equal to Satan-Class like that of Sirzechs-sama?" One of the maids asked Venelana who looks at her husband to answer.
"…We don't know." Zeoticus answered for his wife as he turns to the maids. "But as far as we know him, he might be born with it. Sirzechs already said that the blonde could utilise his power very well." Every maid nodded at his explanation. "I understand that it does not make any sense of where his true whereabouts are but we don't have any knowledge about his past." Zeoticus turns to Asuka and the others. "Did all of you know Izayoi in the past?" At this, Shirayuki-Hime speaks up.
"I don't know his past personally but I've seen the pictures of his childhood." She answered as everyone focuses their attention at her. "The pictures are…averagely normal. There's no such false assumption to it." Zeoticus nodded before turning to maids and his wife along with his grandson.
"Although I want to know about his past as everyone else, I'd think we should leave it as a mystery. When I thought about it, there's no question that Izayoi; the only one who can share with us his past." At this, everyone nodded including Asuka and the others. "Anyway, he might as well live out his childhood normally." He shrugged his shoulders.
"That might be possible." Venelana said before she watches her daughter in the hologram screen disappearing along with Izayoi and her peerage. "If all of you will excuse me, I have to visit both my daughter and son in-law." She smiled at everyone before she left the room towards the medical care centre where the Rating Game opponents were taken if injured or incapacitated.
Time Skip
Medical Facility
"Where is she?" Venelana asked walking along the hallway of the medical facility with a nurse escorting her to her daughter's room.
"She's here." The nurse announced as she stops in front of the door and opens it to let Venelana inside. "If anything, you can call me or either the other nurses." She smiled at Venelana who in return smile back before she enters the room as the nurse closes it behind her.
"Okaa-sama?" Rias exclaimed in surprise at the presence of her mother.
"Rias." Venelana walked across the room towards her daughter who was lying on her hospital bed. When she arrived at the side of her hospital bed, she immediately spotted Izayoi lying on the bed next to her daughter, asleep, much to her amusement. "How are you?" She asked turning to her daughter.
"I'm fine, Okaa-sama. But why are you here?"
"I wanted to see my daughter, of course. What else would I be here?" At the answer, Rias smiles happily. "Congratulations for your victory in the Rating Game." She congratulated as Rias waves her hand in dismissal.
"I'm not the one you should be congratulating to," Rias turns to her husband sleeping on the bed next to her. "Izayoi-kun deserved that right. He helped us to achieve victory. I didn't do anything."
"No. You and the others did each of your own part in the battle. Mostly, Izayoi who devastated their numbers by half along with your Knight. But you did your part by fighting Sona. So I don't think you did not do anything. You absolutely did something." Venelana explained comforting her daughter who allows a smile to spread across her face.
"Thank you, Okaa-sama."
"I assumed that Izayoi came to visit his wife?" Venelana sent an amused smile towards her daughter who held a dust of pink on her cheeks. "I don't know any reasons that he could come here other than that possible one."
"Yeah, he came to visit along with the others. They are in the next room tending to Issei." Nodding at her daughter, Venelana sits on the seat next to the hospital bed before grasping her daughter's left hand.
"You did well, Rias. As well as your peerage." Venelana complimented. "So is your husband." At the end, Rias smiles with a blush before her face constricted in pain and Venelana catches her daughter from falling down. "Rias?"
"Bathroom…" She mutters to her mother who listened to her before helping her off the bed towards the bathroom in the room. Just as the two arrived at the toilet bowl, Rias immediately opens the lid and releases the content in her mouth as Venelana held her daughter's hair back from getting in the way. After a while, Rias panted as she hovers above the toilet while Venelana look over her daughter in worry.
"Rias, what is going on?" She asked frowning.
"I don't know. I've gotten this sickness…these past few days ever since the gathering. I had to go to the bathroom during the event...I don't think that I had to go through it again but lately, I have to go to the bathroom more often than I thought…" Rias panted lastly as drops of sweat could be seen trailing down her forehead. "Okaa-sama…Do you know what's going on with me…?" She asked with a hint of sadness in her tone as she glances up at her mother.
"…Rias, when was your last?"
At the question, Rias begin to think after understanding the meaning behind it before answering.
"…It was a day after…Izayoi-kun and I…" Rias trails off. "…made love." She finishes with a blush as Venelana smiles down at her, happy knowing that her daughter had experienced such a beautiful course with her son in-law. Rather than being upset by the terms of event, Venelana kneels down beside her daughter and wrap her arm over her shoulders before smiling at her.
"Rias…Have you had any thoughts as to why this is happening to you?" Venelana asked trying to make her daughter realised since she knows by the sickness that her daughter was experiencing.
"Thoughts…? Well, I've had morning sickness, I'm feeling more fatigue than before, constant headaches…" Rias trails off as she thinks about the symptoms she developed over the few weeks. But by the time she wanted to list more symptoms, her mother had interrupted her.
"Rias…The symptoms that you listed of…Do you know what they are implying to?" Venelana asked as Rias looks down in deep thought, thinking about the symptoms and the result from them. Then, a sudden realisation lit up in her eyes before she stares up at her mother who smiles at her. "…From the symptoms you've showed so far…Do you have any assumptions that you're…pregnant?" At this, Rias's eyes stared right back at her mother's before she thought about the symptoms she showed.
"…I'm pregnant…" She mutters in realisation as she looks down at the cemented tiles before a wide smile spreads across her face. "I'm pregnant with Izayoi-kun's child…"
"Yes, you are, musume."
"Okaa-sama…" Rias looks back at her mother as tears overflowed from her eyes before she felt her head leaned back against her mother. "…I'm pregnant with Izayoi-kun's child…I'm going to be a mother…and he's going to be the father..."
"Yes, Izayoi's going to be the father whilst you're going to be a mother, musume…" Venelana comforted her as Rias sadly looks up at her.
"Are you upset with me, Okaa-sama?"
"How can I be upset, Rias? This is the most beautiful moment you experienced. I can't never take this away from you or will I ever be upset with the decisions you take. You're married for goodness sake." At the reassurance from her mother, Rias smiled in relief. "But how will you tell him?" She added after silence consumed them.
"…I'll tell him before we leave."
"Really?"
"Yes, he deserved to know the truth." Rias stares at her mother.
"Alright. I respect your decision. But Rias…you do know what this means right?" She asked as Rias nods slowly in understanding.
"Yes, but I don't want tell them yet. For now, I want to tell it to Otou-sama and Onii-sama first."
"Okay." Venelana helped her daughter to stand up. "I take it that you will be alright from here? I fear that he will catch on to your symptoms. He is the first of your class, after all. It will not be a coincidence if he does knows the symptoms that you're exhibiting." Venelana stated as Rias nods.
"I know. That's why I'm confident that I'll be alright. Until I tell Izayoi-kun, of course." Rias said to her before thinking about the blonde for his reaction when she will tell him.
"He'll understand, musume." Venelana comforted her with a squeeze of her shoulder as Rias looks at her. "I know what you're thinking. You're too young to have experienced this but I know that he'll be able to understand." Venelana explained as Rias nods. "If not…"
"No, he'll understand. There's nothing he would not be able to."
"So, he's right for you."
"He always is."
After a while, Venelana walked out of the bathroom before Rias walked out soon after. The two looked at the blonde still sleeping on the bed before Rias bid her mother goodbye, to which she returned it with a hug and left the room.
Rias looked at her husband and walked to stand next to his bed. She then lifted her hand to brush against his right cheek before smiling down at him as he sleeps peacefully.
Time Skip
Gremory Mansion
Living Room
"Is everyone here?" Rias asked surveying everyone who was present in the living room after they left the medical facility a moment ago.
"Yes." Akeno nodded. "Except Izayoi-kun." At this, Rias nods.
"I'll go get him. I think he's lounging around in our room." She said as Akeno nodded. With that, she turns towards the room where she and Izayoi shared.
As she arrived in front of the door to their room, Rias knocked on the door a couple of times before she opens the door and enters inside. Once inside, she sees her blonde husband sitting at the edge of the bed with his arms on his knees. She sees that he was looking at his hand that was engulfed in golden flames. She watches in awe as the flames slowly moves back and forth gracefully rather than emitting a deadly aura to it.
"So they're all ready to go?" Rias looks at her husband who looks up at her while he kept emitting his flames around his hand.
"Yes, they're waiting for you."
"But why are you telling me to stay instead?" Izayoi asked standing up as he walked towards his wife in slow strides while she watches him without batting an eye. The blonde recounted the time when his wife told him to stay in their room rather than meeting with the rest of them that were waiting in the living room. "Is there something wrong somehow?" He asked standing in front of her as Rias looks at him directly in the eyes before she takes a deep breath and slowly grasped his hands in hers.
"Izayoi-kun…" Rias called as she trailed her hand along his left arm before tightly grasping his biceps. "…I'm pregnant." The moment she said it, Izayoi stares at her which unnerves her to no end as the time ticks away.
"What?"
"Huh?" At the shocked tone resounding behind her, Rias turns around to see her elder brother walking through the door with a shocked expression.
"You're pregnant?!" Sirzechs exclaimed as Rias steals a glance at her husband who looked at her elder brother. "I can't believe this! At this young of an age?!" He stated with a serious frown as he strides over to his younger sister before he stops to stand in front of his brother in-law.
"She wasn't at fault. Neither am I." Izayoi admitted as Sirzechs looks down at him before red aura of the Power of Destruction slowly envelopes him whole while Golden Flames engulfed the blonde. "Anyway, I didn't expect this would happen. But who cares?" He smirks before stealing a glance behind at his wife looking at him intently. "I don't mind hearing the news personally. To be honest, I'm relieved that I did something good once in a lifetime. If she's willing, I'm willing to go." As he finishes, tears of joy could be seen hanging at the corner of Rias's eyes as a smile stretched across her face in overall happiness. Turning away from her, Izayoi looked up at Sirzechs as their powers flows around each of them. Power of Destruction against Golden Flames. Just as they stared each other off, a voice suddenly made itself known to the three occupants in the room.
"Sirzechs-sama?" At the heed of his name, Sirzechs glances behind to see his wife, Grayfia opening the door to allow herself and the company of both his parents inside the room. "What is the meaning of this?" She asked as she stood away from the doorway to allow Venelana and Zeoticus walk further to stand behind Sirzechs and faces Izayoi along with Rias.
"Grayfia," Sirzechs looked at his wife to answer her question but found out that he cannot. Frowning, he decided to look away in respond as Grayfia looks at him.
Amidst his son's denial to answer, Lord Gremory smiles instead. "So this is where I sense two powers clashing with each other all of a sudden. One of them I recognise as my son's but this is remarkably interesting to see my son in-law displaying such unnerving flames before" Zeoticus explained walking into the room with Venelana in tow. "How can that be though?" He asked directly at the questioned blonde.
The flames licking the sides of his arms eventually dissipated along with the rest of it engulfing his whole body. A smirk was casted upon his face as he answered his father in-law. "It's a wedding gift." He simply answered which raises questions in everyone's mind on who gave it.
Nevertheless, Zeoticus nods in understanding and questioned no further. He then slowly begin focusing his attention onto his daughter who shyly avoided eye contact before looking at him. "Your mother told me." He stated as Rias looks at Venelana who smiled apologetically at her. "Is what you said true, Rias?" Zeoticus asked his daughter who step forward before linking her left arm around Izayoi's right arm and casted a smile towards her parents and brother.
"…Yes. It's true. Otou-sama, Onii-sama, Grayfia...I'm…pregnant." She answered as Zeoticus looked at his daughter with surprise before he smiled in delight and shares his smile with his wife, who too smiled. On the other hand, Sirzechs smiled at his sister.
"How long has it been?" Zeoticus asked as Rias steals a glance at her husband with a blush on her cheeks before answering her father.
"It's been a few weeks. But I fully understand that I am too soon to bear a child. But I need you to understand that it was what I wanted and that moment; I did not regret my actions. It was of my responsibility that led me where I am." She explained as she looked at Izayoi who looked down at her. "I do not regret it at all." She stated as Izayoi let out a smile to which she delightfully returns.
"How about you, Izayoi? Do you have any regrets?" Zeoticus asked his son in-law and waited for him to answer. But the answer came sooner than he anticipated.
"To be honest, no. I don't have any." Izayoi simply answered before registering his father in-law's confused look and continued to explain. "I don't see why I have any regret in the matter. We did what we wanted. There's no fault in that, correct?" He raised his eyebrow knowingly before grinning. "Although, it would be problematic including everyone in Kuoh Academy to find out but I don't care either way. I think I did something right for once in my lifetime, huh?" Izayoi stated glancing sideways at his wife before feeling a pair of lips pecking his right cheek and he looks at the teary eyed Rias looking at him with a warm hearted smile.
"You've done a lot of right things, Izayoi-kun. For me, my family and my friends. So don't think otherwise. Plus, you'll be a great father." Rias tilted her head slightly to smile up at the smiling blonde while Venelana looked at the two with a happy smile along with her husband and Sirzechs. Then, the red head turns to her sister in-law standing behind her parents as the atmosphere in the room suddenly becomes quiet.
After a moment of silence, Grayfia steps forward to stand next to his husband and looks at Rias with a small frown. Just as she stared at her, Rias responded by glancing away for a second before turning back to look at her. "…Rias ojou-sama, I ask of you just like Gremory-sama had stated earlier, do you feel regret?" At the sudden question voices out from Grayfia, Rias draws a breath and answers, hoping for the best.
"No. I do not. Whether you think of me sane or not, I will not withdraw what I said. This—" She brushes her hand across her stomach. "—Is something I do not regret and will not be for the rest of my life." She spoke looking up at Grayfia with a serious glint in her eyes, to which causes Grayfia to stare at the seriousness of her eyes and her statement. As the red head finishes, Grayfia smiles wholeheartedly at Rias who looks at her in mild surprise.
"…I understand, Rias ojou-sama. I can see the determination held within you upon wanting this child even at the young age of yours. All that I asked of you, Rias ojou-sama…" She spoke before she finishes her sentence. "Keep that determination strong. I doubt that the journey ahead of you would be so simple." At the end of her sentence, Rias nodded wholeheartedly in determination while Sirzechs and Izayoi smiled at their wives.
"Well, It looks like I don't have to kill you, Izayoi." Sirzechs quipped smiling as Izayoi raises his eyebrow knowingly.
"Like you could ever. Do you want to spend a few weeks more indoors?"
At the statement, Sirzechs frowns while his father laughed wholeheartedly.
"He got you good, son."
Time Skip
In front of Gremory Mansion
"Well then, Otou-sama, Okaa-sama. Millicas. We're off." Rias said smiling at her father and mother along with Millicas who stood next to them, as she stood next to Izayoi while the others stood behind them.
"Rias onee-sama, are you going home already?" Millicas asked with his hands clasped each other as he looked up at his cousin.
"I'm sorry, Millicas."
"Rias-sama is quite busy. You mustn't be unreasonable." Grayfia said putting her hand onto her son's shoulder.
"Hai, Okaa-sama." Millicas replied to her.
"Eh?!" Xenovia asked along with Issei and Asia as they both looked at Millicas and Grayfia.
"Okaa-sama?!" Issei asked.
"Then…" Asia trailed off.
"Sirzechs-sama's wife is—"
"Grayfia Lucifuge." Izayoi answered with a glance to the shocked before looking at Grayfia and grins as she nods.
"I wish we can see each other again, Izayoi onii-sama." Millicas smiled up at the blonde who ruffled his hair as he did so.
"Don't worry, you'll get to."
"And also, I wish you the best, Rias, Izayoi." Sirzechs said walking up to stand behind Grayfia before giving out a smile to her younger sister and his brother in-law. "I meant what I say, you know. Good luck." He nodded to them as the two smiles at him in confirmation. Meanwhile, everyone was confused at the conversation between the three.
Time Skip
Dimensional Gate
Bullet Train
"Koneko-chan?" Issei asked as he looked down at Koneko who laid her head down on top of Izayoi's lap as his senior leaned back against the couch comfortably. "Uh, why is she…?" He asked as everyone looked on at the white haired nekoshou happily smiling amidst her position.
"We are a fighting species that cannot find peace in our hearts."
"This is the place I find the most peace, nya." Koneko smiled up at Izayoi who return the gesture with his own.
"I'm glad you feel that way, Koneko."
"To think that even Koneko has opened her heart to Izayoi-kun. It would have been impossible to imagine before." Akeno explained standing next to the windows with Rias who nodded at her.
"Yes."
"Ne, Rias?" Akeno asked as she stares out the window of the train while Rias turns looking at her. "Can I borrow Izayoi-kun for just one day?" At the sudden question, Rias contemplated for a while before she gives out her answer.
"I'm guessing that you want to tell him?"
"No, he already knows about that." Akeno smiled down. "That time, I couldn't stop myself from not telling him. I didn't agree to before but now I've come to terms with it. Somewhat."
"…I'll like him to come back before curfew. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes. Crystal clear."
Time Skip
Izayoi's Home
Xenovia's Room
"I forgot about our last enemy!" Xenovia exclaimed scratching her hands over her head as she stared long at her unfinished homework on top of the small desk in front of her.
"Why does Japan give homework during such a long break?" Asia asked sitting across from Xenovia as she too looks down at her own unfinished homework. After a while, Xenovia sighed out loud and falls back down on the ground as she spread her arms in defeat.
"It seems everyone else is already done with their homework."
"No, there's still one more person." Asia smiled.
Guest Room
"Shit! There's still so much! Buchou told me to finish it all! Otou-san and Okaa-san are gone on vacation, so I thought I wouldn't have to worry about it!"
"Would you pipe down already?" Izayoi asked sitting across from him as he looks at the unfinished homework of the brunette. "At this rate, you'll never get to finish it. You hear me? So you want my help or not? Because I rather focus myself on reading some book than teaching you to spell ABC's." Izayoi frowned with an uninteresting look as Issei looks at him before raising his hands in surrender.
"Please! Izayoi-senpai, I need your help!" Issei pleaded as he clasped his hands on each other with a pleading look.
"…Then get on with the question and answer it like I told you to."
"Alright…"
Suddenly, a knock on the door alerted both of them as Izayoi turns his head to look at Akeno entering the room with two cups of tea on top of a silver tray that she held.
"Izayoi-kun, I brought some tea for you and Issei." Akeno stated as she settled the tray down on the desk beside the brunette's homework.
"Thanks, Akeno-senpai." Issei thanked as he takes one of the tea and drinks it.
"Izayoi-kun, may I speak to you for a minute?" Akeno asked as Izayoi looked at her from the textbook covering his chin.
Curious, the blonde followed her outside the room while Issei looked at them curiously before he continued doing his homework, silently thanking the blonde for teaching him the ways to solve the questions. But when Akeno led the blonde out from his room, he'd ponder if he could finish the hard questions. In the meantime, he have to settle with the easy questions before managing the hard ones all by himself, much to his discomfort.
Time Skip
Outside
Standing in front of the entrance path towards the flight of stairs that leads to the shrine above, Izayoi stood against one of the rock pillars. At the moment, he waited for a certain woman to come along since it was her first date. He didn't know how it started but he went along with it since he knows the woman needs it and had requested of him to accompany her, in which he thought that she had asked him personally to go out with her, much to his slight amusement.
As the blonde busied himself on waiting patiently, a set of footsteps could be heard nearing him. By the time the blonde had looked up to see who it was, he was momentarily surprised to see Akeno adorning a set of street clothes rather than her usual school uniform. He allowed himself to smirk as he accessed the woman in front of her.
"Sorry. Did I make you wait?"
"I didn't think this is your usual clothes that meant business, huh?" Izayoi asked as Akeno leans forward and smiles, her skirt flaring in her movement. The usual smile that she showed cannot be compare to the smiles she previously shared with the blonde, instead it was a true smile of happiness.
"Do I look strange?" Akeno asked as Izayoi pulls away from the pillar to stand in front of her.
"No, you're the opposite of it. You look great." The blonde offered a small smile to which causes Akeno to blush before she speaks up.
"I hope you don't mind, Izayoi-kun. It was not my intention to lead you wrong but I do think that it's time I steal you away from Rias for a while." Akeno smiled innocently.
"I supposed that this will be your first date?" At this, Akeno blushes but nodded nonetheless.
"I hope you can take care of me during our date, Izayoi-kun." She bows her head before looking up at the hand stretched out towards her.
"Since I've been stolen, it doesn't look I have much of a choice do I?" Izayoi raises his eyebrow knowingly as Akeno smiles gracefully before taking his hand in hers.
"No. You don't. So what do you do on a date?" She asked to which the blonde raises his eyebrow in slight surprise before he smiles playfully.
"Everything is possible."
Time Skip
The couple in question goes about their date by starting playing games in the arcade before following it up by eating at the nearest ice cream store. After that, they continued by walking around the city for a while and eventually stopping to order takeout drinks at the café they came across.
"Here." Izayoi handed Akeno's drink to which she accepts it with both hands before drinking the substance. Putting his mouth onto the straw of his own drink, the blonde leads his date to the exit, opening the door before closing it after she walked out. The two then continues walking as Akeno sweetly takes hold of his free hand after linking her arm into his, to which he grasp her hand back in return, much to her happiness.
As they walked passed a lamp post, however five individuals stood behind the pole as they observed the walking couple.
"I don't think it is wise to disturb their moment with each other…" Kiba whispered to the four others which were Xenovia, Koneko, Gasper, and Irina.
"Did you hear what Rias-buchou commanded us to do? We were supposed to keep an eye out to the two before they decided to do any curricular activities together." Xenovia explained to the blonde who sighed.
"But is this the way…?" Kiba asked himself shaking his head.
"This is stalking…" Gasper muttered under his paper bag as Kiba raises his hand at the walking couple with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Izayoi-senpai. Akeno-senpai."
"Curricular activities, what's that supposed to mean?" Irina asked Xenovia next to her, who looks at her before whispering to her ear, causing the said girl to blush rosy red. "I don't know…They wouldn't do that! God forbid them! Amen!" Irina whispered loudly with a shocked look as Xenovia nodded at her before she instantly jumps back, dragging everyone away from her. "Xenovia?" Irina asked confused.
"Your cross…" At her answer, Irina look down at her metal cross hanging around her neck and she smiles apologetically at everyone.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be." Xenovia said shaking her head with a small smile before Koneko looks up at where the couple had gone to.
"Where did they go?" When she asked, everyone immediately looks at where the couple had walked and noticed that the two was nowhere to be seen, leaving the five of them in the streets.
"We have to chase after them! Rias-buchou will be mad at us if we return without an ounce of victory from preventing their baby-making."
"Anything but that!" Irina added before she and the others chases after where they could have gone as Izayoi and Akeno looks down at the five of them running down the alleyway from the top of a building nearby.
"To think…" Akeno muttered as she stifle a laugh under her hand. "…they would do something like this."
"I doubted that they wouldn't." Izayoi added pocketing his hands in his pockets before he glances behind them. "But I never expected an old man like yourself would weasel out into the open to meet us." At this, Akeno looks behind her and surely enough, Odin stood in front of them in ragged clothes.
"Odin-sama!"
"I don't doubt your sharpness, boy. You're ever just as impressive as I've heard of your overall feat against Loki. Nearly killed him, I hear?"
"I would kill him sooner but I didn't want to bother ending it a lot sooner that it needs."
"Well, I apologise that I didn't have time to congratulate you properly upon your return from the battle. We have caused you great trouble." Odin said walking to stand in front of them as Izayoi smirks before silver catches his eye and he watches Rossweisse appears running behind Odin.
"Odin-sama, so this is where you are!"
"Rose?" Rossweisse stops to stand behind Odin before addressing Izayoi.
"It's nice to meet you again, Izayoi-kun." She smiled in greeting before bowing her head to Akeno who bows her head in return.
"Please don't wander on your own. Think of me, your guide." Baraqiel appears standing behind Izayoi and Akeno as he approaches them before looking at his daughter in surprise. "Akeno."
Izayoi's Home
Living Room
"After what happened with Loki, I realise the need to strengthen our forces quickly. Especially since we don't have much of a relationship with the gods of this country."
"And that's why we had Baraqiel guard him again." Azazel added sitting next to Odin while Rias stood across from them along with Sala. "He knows the human world well."
"True."
"So, might I ask who this beautiful lady is?" Odin asked smiling while looking at Sala who stares at him with a frown.
Shrine
"Akeno, I want to talk with you." Baraqiel said sitting across from Akeno and Izayoi who closes his eyes. A desk separated in between them.
"Don't call my name so casually!"
"Why were you meeting with the Hero of the Underworld secretly?" Baraqiel asked.
"I can do what I want. What right do you have to say anything about the matter?"
"As your father—"
"Then why didn't you come that time?! You were the one who left Okaa-sama to die! So disappear from my sight! You're not my father—" Akeno was cut off as a hand grips upon his right arm and she looks at Izayoi who peeks out his one eye at her. A frown smeared on his face as Akeno stared at him
"Akeno, will you give us a moment?"
"Izayoi-kun, but…"
"Akeno." Izayoi called staring at Akeno who looks at him before standing up. She then glares at her father before walking out from the shrine, leaving both men. Izayoi looks at the man sitting across from him and he smiles. "Sorry. I had to get your daughter to calm down for a few moments. Unfortunately, you'll have to talk to me."
"…I appreciate your efforts. But I will only talked to my daughter with the matter I wanted to talk about."
"It's only fair if you what you talked about this matter that can potentially hurt your daughter and your relationship with her." A smile played on his lips as he stared at Baraqiel. "Don't worry, I know what happened between the two of you. So you can relax a bit."
"Did she tell you about her mother?"
"Yes. She did and she told me about your liability of not being there with her and her mother when that happens. But as I think about it, she'll eventually has to realise soon enough. That the past will only remained a past. I'm not siding with you but she has to realise the errors of her ways." Izayoi explained as Baraqiel stared at the blonde. "You're a high-ranking individual amongst the Fallen Angel. So I assumed that you did nothing but your duties before, correct?"
"…Yes."
"I don't want to interfere your relationship with your daughter but I can tell that she'll come to realise her love for you."
"What…"
"She's hiding her true feelings. When someone frustrated about his or her past, they will blame it at someone who they deemed possibly to blame. But that's just an act to hide their true feelings. In honesty, she loves you. The reason she doesn't want to see you, it is because its hard to tell you how she felt about you after all this time. If she can remember the worst event in her childhood, then I assume she can remember the best moments that'll show her love for you. It isn't that hard to figure it out." Izayoi smiles as Baraqiel was awed by his explanation, never expecting such words. "Anyway, you should go. If not, I don't think Akeno will let me stop her from hurting you." He stands up as Baraqiel stands up also. The two stared at each other before Baraqiel stretched out his hand towards the blonde who looks down at it and then grasp it before shaking it.
"I cannot say anything but my appreciation for you. I hope that everything you said is true and I want to believe it as to be the truth. But I can't held my hopes high, can I?" Baraqiel showed a small smile as Izayoi returns it back with his smile.
"Nothing is hard to tell your parents that they love you. But you have to cross a certain obstacle."
"I assume that you have cross it."
"No, I haven't. But my mother knows it all the time."
"That's nice of her. Give my greetings to yours."
"…I'll gladly do that."
When Baraqiel left the room, Izayoi turns to the door behind him, sensing Akeno standing at the other side and heard their conversation. Not a moment too soon, he heard the silent sobs of her cries.
Izayoi's Home
Xenovia's Room
"If you do this, it seems you will reach the answer." Rossweisse said glancing at the textbook in her left hand before writing the equation for the answer.
"Rossweisse-san, you're amazing! You can even do the homework of the human world." Asia smiled at the silver haired woman sitting in front of her and Xenovia.
"Beautiful, smart and powerful in battle. You are the perfect woman." Xenovia complimented "I need to learn from you."
"No, I'm nothing much." Rossweisse replied. "Even after all this recognition, why can't I get a single lover?" She quietly complained to herself, unaware that the other two occupants had been able to hear her.
"You don't have a boyfriend that loves you, Rossweisse-san?" Asia asked as Rossweisse looks at her in shock.
"You heard that?!"
"Yes, you speak it out loud." Asia smiles sympathetically.
"Oh…My apologies." Rossweisse bows her head in an act of apology. "Please forget everything that you heard."
"But what about Izayoi-senpai? You did went on a date with him before right?" Asia asked as Xenovia looks at her in surprise.
"How do you know that piece of information, Asia?" Asia in turn looks at Xenovia.
"Izayoi-senpai told us himself on how he met Rossweisse-san and their date." At this, Rossweisse turns rosy red.
"H-He did?" She asked as Asia nods at her with a smile.
"I think your meeting with him, saving you and his offer of being a boyfriend for a day was adorable, Rossweisse-san. It's like in a fairy tale." Asia commented as she cups her hands together with a dreamy smile.
"I-Is it really?" Rossweisse looks at Asia nodding followed by Xenovia who nodded with her. "Then, I suppose Izayoi-kun is the only one that understands me…"
"Yes, he knows you more than any other." Asia added. "So, I'd think Izayoi-senpai is definitely more than your friend if you cannot believe that you did not have a lover yet. You have a lover ever since that date, Rossweisse-san." She nodded with a determined look, not wanting to see Rossweisse upset. "...Anyway, we've also heard that Serafall-sama had supported you, Rossweisse-san. It was at the Gathering of Young Devils, if I recall correctly…?" At the mention of Serafall, a smile warmed its way onto Rossweisse's face as she recounted the time when Serafall had confidently told her that she has a boyfriend and had already experienced it first hand with Izayoi. As Rossweisse was thinking about this, Asia smiles over at Xenovia who returns the smile as both of them was grateful to see their Valkyrie friend happy over the thought of their blonde senior.
Time Skip
Outside of Izayoi's Home
"Are you going home already?"
"Yes, I spoke with the various gods in Japan. I went to the titty bar I've always dreamt of, too." Odin said laughing.
"That wasn't your main goal, was it?" Azazel questioned.
"Odin-sama, it's almost time." Baraqiel said before the front door opens to reveal Akeno peeking out from the door. "Akeno?" At this, both Azazel and Odin walked away from Baraqiel to give them privacy. After that, Baraqiel watches Akeno approaching him and handing him a bento wrapped in pink. "This is?"
"A lunch box for your long trip. I'm in charge of the household chores right now." Akeno said to him as Baraqiel accepts the lunch box with a hand.
"I see. I will accept this gratefully." Akeno smiles and bows before going back to the front door where Izayoi leaned against the door. Akeno stops halfway to look at the blonde, seeing him raising his eyebrow knowingly before she glances behind her.
"I will…always be your daughter, Otou-sama." Baraqiel's eyes went wide at the statement as he saw a smile across his daughter's cheek. He then watches her daughter retreated to the front door before she stops in front of Izayoi, planting a quick kiss to his lips and enters back into the building, leaving only him and Baraqiel.
"You should get going, that old man can't always wander around on his own." Baraqiel nodded and turns around to leave before he turns halfway towards the blonde.
"Sakamaki Izayoi, take care of my daughter."
"Will do." Izayoi nods as Baraqiel stares at him for a moment before he leaves. "Your wife would be proud of her, you know?" He added as Baraqiel glances back at him. "Himejima Shuri. She'll be proud that she's taking this far to repairing her relationship with you." Baraqiel nods afterwards before assuming his leave as Izayoi watches him go and retreated back into his home.
As soon as he steps into the kitchen after smelling such a nice scent, he was rewarded by Akeno who smiles at him as he comes inside.
"Simmered meat and potatoes?" Akeno nodded.
"I haven't made it in a long time. Please have a taste." Akeno takes one potato with her chopsticks and hovers it in front of Izayoi who puts it into his mouth, chewing it.
"I assume you've made it before? It's delicious." Izayoi commented as Akeno smiles warmly at him.
"Yes. Thank you, Izayoi-kun."
Dimensional Gap
Bullet Train
"This is!" Baraqiel exclaimed in surprise as he stares down at the opened lunch box which contains various foods that he was very familiar with. Picking up one of the potatoes, Baraqiel puts it into his mouth and chewed on it before swallowing it. "Delicious. Just like Shuri's."
To Be Continued…
Sadly, that is the end of this chapter. I had hoped it would contain a much longer story but I'd think this would be good enough for chapter 49.
Anyway, I hoped that you'd like my mix of Anime and Light Novel HDXD. Because it's a bit of a trouble to read it the novels but I try nevertheless.
So, back to the story at hand; Izayoi's a Father! How do you like his reaction because I'd think he would react like that in the story. But that's my opinion only, I don't know about all of your opinions of his reaction. If you want to comment about that one, feel free to review below on the Review Box.
Second, how'd you like my version of Akeno's relationship with her father? Because to me, the anime version is not my style so I created my own. Feel free to comment on that one if I did a good job.
So, If anything or Did I miss something that we should discuss, review down below, alright?
See you all in the next chapter soon, I hope!
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!