Okay, here we are, people! Aftermath, again. This time, it's a proper end to this arc. Many of you were wondering how we were gonna wrap this up, so let's see.

Also, for the OG "A Fool's Heart" fans who were worried about me: No, I didn't get hospitalized for dehydration this time lol. You know that I always keep a water bottle on my desk now because of that. "What we learn?"


Part 1

"Wow… He really did a number on ya, didn't he, buddy?"

Issei spoke to the inanimate object that was his old bloodstained jacket. —Thanks to the battle with Kokabiel, the old jacket was in tatters. Practically only half of it was even still put together, with the bottom half of it obviously being destroyed thanks to Kokabiel's "killing blow."

"I guess it only makes sense that somethin' like this would happen to ya.. Sorry, old friend."

Despite the jacket being an old article of clothing that only brought back traumatic memories, for whatever reason, Issei felt saddened by the fact that it was torn apart so much. It's a feeling he doesn't entirely understand. So, he couldn't help but sigh deeply before looking down at his cross. He brought his cross up near his face and placed it up against his forehead with a somber expression.

"Ise?"

Rias came into his room unexpectedly.

"I was wondering where you were but Asia said you were still changing.."

Rias noticed Isseis' melancholic attitude and sat down on the bed beside him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, it's nothing."

"...Do you need a moment?"

"No... It's fine.."

Rias held Issei's hand and laid her head on his shoulder. Issei simply rubbed his face and sighed.

"Haah… Hey, did you really see all of my memories?"

"No, not all.. Just what made you into "you." The people and events that changed your path in life or who you were as a person. All of the most important events, I suppose.."

"..So you saw my parents?"

"Yes, I did… They were amazing people. Kind and loving parents. I dearly wish I could've met them.."

"...Yeah.. I do too…"

"Ise.."

Rias smiled warmly.

"You may not know it, but it means the world to me that you'd say that, Ise…"

Rias nuzzled her head further into Issei's shoulder and tightened her grip on his hand. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence.

For a while, at least.

"...There weren't any memories of me being naked in there, were there?"

"Ehehe, no, Ise. There wasn't… Unfortunately.."

"Un-what?"

"—Fortunately, there wasn't."

"Ugh.. I fuckin' hate Devils.."

Part 2

"Huh. So this is the legendary new "Holy-Demonic sword." What did you call it, "sword of the Betrayer?"

Issei asked Isaiah while inspecting one of the holy-demonic swords that he created.

"Well, actually, I think I'm going to stick with calling it "the holy-demonic" sword for now."

"Yeah, good call. The other one's too edgy, ain't it?"

"I suppose..?"

—Issei was in the living room of his house with Kiba and Koneko. Rias, Asia, and Raynare were doing some of the chores that they neglected previously thanks to looking after Issei, and Akeno was brewing tea in the kitchen. As busy as Issei's house was today, unlike the day when the old school building was being renovated, he didn't seem to mind it this time.

"Hmm.. So this is Excalibur Blessing. I didn't get a good look at it during the time against Kokabiel because of everything that was going on, and I thought it was wrong to ogle at it when I brought it back to your house. But now that I look at it, it really is a magnificent sword."

"Geez. You really went that much out of your way to respect boundaries? That's way too much chivalry, don't you think? I mean, you could've just looked at it all you wanted and I never would've known."

"I am a swordsman, Ise-kun. I have great respect for fellow swordsmen, especially those who have passed on. It wouldn't have been right for me to do such a thing without permission, especially considering how much you value this sword. Besides, I am technically still a "Knight", right?"

"Heh, I'm not too sure about that, uh— Um… Wait, so should I call you "Kiba" or should I call you "Isaiah?"

"You can call me whatever you like, Ise-kun."

"Uh, okay... In that case, I think I'm gonna stick with "Kiba" for now."

"Alright. But you can call me by my true name when we're alone if you like."

"Uhh… Not sure that's something you wanna say to another guy, pretty boy. Some people could misunderstand."

"Eh? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

Issei sighed and shook his head, grateful for the fact that Freed was dead and unable to make any more stupid jokes about the two. Akeno entered the living room with a tray of tea and placed it on the coffee table in between the sofas.

"Here you are, Ise-kun."

"Oh, thanks."

Issei was surprised by Akeno's action of handing him his tea directly. When she walked away, Issei asked Kiba while handing Koneko the box of cookies that were on the tray.

"She in a good mood or somethin'?"

"Hm? You mean Akeno-san? Mm, not particularly? She seems like she's normal. Why?"

"Well she doesn't usually ever hand me anything. And she also just called me by my name."

"Does she usually not?"

"Nope. Most of the time, she just calls me 'you.' She almost acts like I don't have a name. Either that or she calls me "Ise-kun" on rare occasions because she has literally no alternative. Not like that though.."

"Is that so?... Well, ever since what happened with Kokabiel, she has referred to you a bit more respectfully in most cases. Maybe she's gained a new level of respect for you?"

"Well, better than what we had before, I guess."

Issei glanced towards the kitchen where Akeno was putting some dishes away in the cupboards. She appeared to have been staring back at him for a moment before breaking away her gaze. Issei wondered about the expression that was on her face. She seemed to have some sort of "uncertainty" in her eyes when she was looking at him, which was different than what he was used to. He was used to glares and unpleasant looks. But Akeno's gaze seemed to indicate that she was unsure of what to feel about him. Sure, she was technically like this after their "talk" in the club room, but that was a different type of uncertainty. This new type of uncertainty implied that there was a positive lean to it. Maybe Issei's reading too much into it, but he's always been good at reading expressions. He's had a lot of feelings he didn't understand and made a lot of faces he didn't understand, so he definitely knows a thing or two about "uncertainty," if that makes any sense.

"You know, when we were all taking care of you, Akeno-san was the person who handled washing the towels we used to clean your body."

"Oh really?... Wait, clean my body?"

"Yes, we used wet towels to wipe down your body while you were unconscious, since we couldn't really bathe you. Did you not know?"

"Of course I didn't know, what the fuck?! How much of me did you guys clean?"

"Um.. Well, I didn't do anything like that. I just monitored your condition and paid attention to your body temperature. The girls were the ones who were doing stuff like that."

"Doing stuff like what..? Be specific.."

"Uh, well.. As far as I know, Buchou cleaned your arms and legs, Akeno-san cleaned your face, Raynare-san cleaned your chest and back, and I believe Asia-san…. um, I believe she handled your most private areas.. It was actually kind of a big fight between the three girls who live with you. But in the end, it was two against one with both Raynare-san and Asia-san voting for, well, Asia-san…. Ise-kun?"

As if petrified by Medusa herself, Issei looked like he was turned into stone.

"Um… Ise-kun?"

"..."

Issei went down on his knees Seppuku style.

"Kiba. Hand me the Excalibur Blessing… Take up your holy-demonic sword. I think it's time I do what needs to be done… No, perhaps it's best that I do this before the shrine of my parents.."

"Ise-kun?!"

—Although Kiba was able to talk him down, Issei still kept his head hanging low out of shame.

"...What have I done..? Because of me, Asia's innocence is.."

"Ise-kun, I assure you, it isn't that serious.."

"Koneko… Please tell me that you were able to avoid this outcome… You weren't forced to wash any unsightly parts of me, did you?"

Issei turned to Koneko hopefully, but she kept a straight face on while eating her cookies and said..

"Ise-senpai's tushie was cute."

Issei, once again, turned into a statue.

"Ehehe, I'm pretty sure that was a joke, Ise-kun… It's not good to mess with people like that, you know, Koneko-chan."

Koneko simply carried on eating her cookies with an amused little smile on her face. Issei's head hung low in shame again.

"Haah… I've been violated.."

"Ehehe... You know, Ise-kun, every time that Buchou wiped down your legs, she would kiss your feet."

"Sorry, what the fuck did you just say? She would "kiss my feet?"

"Yeah, I saw her doing it a couple of times… I thought it would endear you to her, but you seem disturbed by that too.."

"Of fucking course I am, that's weird as shit."

"Is it? I thought it was a very sweet gesture. It reminded me of the sinner who kissed the feet of Christ in the bible. It also reminded me of when Christ washed his disciples' feet as well. I never really saw it as something inappropriate, it seemed like an affectionate display to me. Asia-chan seemed to think the same."

"I'm going to just go ahead and ignore the irony of a Devil unintentionally imitating Christ and say that it's fuckin' weird. That sound good? Besides, Christ and I probably wouldn't make very good friends anyway."

"The same probably goes for us as well, hehe."

Ding-Dong~

"I'll get it."

Kiba went to answer the door, leaving Koneko behind with Issei.

"Hey, um… You didn't actually see my butt, did you?"

"I didn't wash you."

"That's...not what I asked."

"..."

"...Koneko?"

A familiar person then entered the living room along with Kiba from the entrance hallway of the house.

"We have a guest."

Issei felt worried by how playfully Kiba announced this person's presence, but he was even more surprised by who the guest was.

"Hey, Sekiryuutei. You've awoken."

"Wha— Xenovia?"

It was the Catholic exorcist with a blue-green mesh of hair, Xenovia.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had left Kuo…. Wait, why are you wearing my academy's uniform?"

Kiba answered Issei's question for him.

"Well, you see, Ise-kun, it's because she's become a student at our school."

"HUH? What? Why the fuck has that happened?"

"Well, it's obvious that the new Knight of Gremory would need to attend the same academy as the rest of the peerage, isn't it?"

"Pardon?"

Just as Issei vocalized his confusion, a pair of bat wings popped out from Xenovia's back. Or more accurately, Devil wings.

"After I found out that God was deceased, I gave it all up and became a Devil."

"Don't just announce it like it's a regular weather forecast, what the fuck?!"

As Issei expressed his shock, Xenovia explained it nonchalantly.

"Rias Gremory granted me her "Knight" piece and enrolled me at the "Kuoh Academy." I'll be a second year from now on, just like you. I'll also be a member of your "cultists research club."

"That would've been funny if it was intentional, but I can't really give a fuck about that right now anyway. —Why in the hell did you become a Devil?"

"Is it really that surprising?"

"Of course it is. It's fucking bizarre. You went from a religious blockhead who was stupid enough to theraten Asia's life in front of me for a dumbass reason like "pity", to a Devil in the same peerage as Satan's sister. Sure, he ain't the real Satan but I think the point still stands pretty fuckin' well."

"Hmm… Maybe you're right.. I'm a Devil now, so no going back, I guess… No, maybe it's a good thing though? Yeah, it must be.. I mean, if God is dead then my whole life has basically been a waste. But… is it really okay to debase myself and live as a Devil, the things I once fought against…?"

Xenovia started muttering incoherently to herself and it looked like she was growing a headache. True to form, she was probably just as bullheaded as Issei described her as being. Irina appeared to be the more sensible of the two after all.

"...Hey, Xenovia.. What about Irina? Is she still in Kuoh or has she left?"

Xenovia's expression sombered, as if to mirror Issei's own guilty expression.

"I'm sorry to say, but she has already left this place. She took the Excalibur fragments as well as my Excalibur Destruction and also Valper's corpse. In the state that the Excalibur were left in, I doubt they will be able to do anything with them even with alchemy. Still, there is a chance, which means that the mission of retrieving the Excaliburs was technically a success. Irina will likely be rewarded for her work at home…"

"What about your big sword? They take that too?"

"No, Durandal is bound to me for the time being. Like the Excalibur Blessing that you possess, it almost has a will of its own. The Durandal wouldn't accept another wielder just like that, so the church is out of luck in getting it back."

"So it responds to your will?"

"Sometimes. Like I said during the time with Kokabiel, he's a wild guy. He won't always listen to me."

"Hmm.. There seems to be quite a few objects in this world that act like Sacred Gear, huh… I wonder if that's where Yeshua got his idea."

"Yeshua was Christ, Ise-kun."

"Yeah, yeah, potato, tomato, or whatever the fuck."

Xenovia sat down on one of Issei's sofas and sighed heavily.

"Haah… It was all over when I told them I knew about God's death.. From the moment Kokabiel told us, I became an outsider to the church. They hate heretics above all else. So, I was inevitably cast out.."

"Even as the wielder of the big bad sword, they abandoned you, huh. Sounds pretty on brand to me."

"Yeah… Ironic, isn't it? Comparable to the issue surrounding Asia Argento, don't you think?"

Xenovia smiled wryly, but Issei looked down on her seriously.

"And how does it feel?"

Xenovia frowned sadly. Kiba nudged Issei from the side.

"Ise-kun.."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

Issei sighed deeply and gained a more sympathetic demeanor.

"Sorry that happened to you.."

Xenovia raised a confused eyebrow.

"...Are you really the Sekiryuutei?"

"Ugh, again with that shit?"

Issei crossed his arms and looked off to the side with a distant gaze. He could see a child version of himself and Irina playing while watching a Tokusatsu show on the television.

"...So Irina went back home, huh.."

"Yes.. Irina was lucky. By being away from that final battle, she was able to avoid learning the truth and becoming a heretic… Well, maybe lucky isn't the right word, considering everything she went through during the mission… But her faith is stronger than mine ever was. The balance in her heart might be truly broken if she were to ever find out the truth about God… I don't have the heart to put her through that myself after what she's already experienced… She was quite disappointed to learn that I had become a Devil, but I didn't tell her that it was because God was dead. We parted ways, hardly saying a word to each other..."

"Hmm… Well, there goes my chance.."

"To make amends? Yes, mine as well…"

During their exchange, Asia and Raynare came into the living room.

"Mend what? Did someone cut themselves?"

Issei and Xenovia exchanged glances, causing Xenovia to stand up from the couch.

"Right… I've been putting it off for a while, but I suppose I should apologize to you now that I'm here, Asia. God being gone meant that you never got the salvation or love you were seeking. And I said, and did, terrible things because of that ignorance…"

Xenovia bowed at a 90 degree angle toward Asia.

"I'm sorry, Asia! If it makes you feel any better, you can hit me!"

"Eh?! No, that's not—"

Without warning, Raynare punched Xenovia over the head, causing her to fall to her knee.

"I didn't have the chance to give you a good one thanks to you fighting against the blondy. I'll take this one as recompense."

"R-Raynare-san!"

Xenovia tried to stand up unsteadily.

"N-No, it's fine, Asia.. This is the least of what I deserve."

Xenovia then felt an unexpected warmth on the top of her head.

"Even so, I don't want you to face pain. I forgive you."

Being overwhelmed by Asia's kindness, Xenovia kept her head down as Asia healed her.

"...And that's more than I deserve.."

Raynare sighed and shook her head.

"Yep.. I know how you feel."

Raynare then looked down at Xenovia sternly.

"But you're going to have to do a lot more than say sorry to earn my forgiveness."

"R-Raynare-san.."

"It's okay, Asia.. I understand. I'll try my best."

Issei interjected with a sigh.

"I guess I should say sorry too. You know, for almost killing you."

"It's okay. I was threatening Asia's life so I think it cancels out."

"Not entirely sure if that's how it works, but I'll take it."

"Let's get along from now on, Ise-kun."

"Don't call me that, it's creepy when you say it."

"Really? I was trying to imitate somebody with a bubbly personality like Irina but I guess it's not my style after all... Should I just stick with "Sekiryuutei" then?"

"And have people hearing that all around the fuckin' school? Are you daft? Just call me "Issei."

"Understood, Issei."

"A-Ano, Xenovia-san?"

"What is it, Asia?"

Asia began twiddling her fingers bashfully.

"Um, soon everyone and I are going to make plans to go to Karaoke one of these days. W-Would you like to come along with us?"

"Hmm.. Karaoke, huh?"

Xenovia appeared flattered but she refused the offer.

"..I'm sorry but that sort of thing doesn't interest me just yet. However.. I would like to be shown around the academy sometime. I still find myself constantly getting lost since practically no one in the club except Vice-president Akeno has been attending school lately. And since she's a third year, I can't rely on her for direction. So, if you wouldn't mind..."

Asia's eyes lit up happily.

"Yes, gladly!"

Raynare crossed her arms beside them.

"Of course, I'll be coming along too. For both Karaoke and the school tour."

"Yes, Raynare-san and I are inseparable!"

As the conversation between Kiba, Asia, and Xenovia continued on, Issei pulled Raynare to the side.

"Hey, about your friends from way back.."

"You mean Kalawarner and Mitlet?"

"Yeah, them. What's going on with that? I heard a little bit from Rias but I'm not too clear on all of their circumstances since they only apparently talk with you."

Raynare sighed deeply.

"Yeah… They're… Well, let's just say they've had better days."

"What's wrong with 'em?"

"What isn't wrong with them? I mean, they've been burned so many times at this point. I'm sure they feel like they can't trust anybody anymore, even me. Things didn't just magically get better after the battle with Kokabiel… I'm trying my best to at least make them feel safe here, but getting them to feel like they belong is… It's an entirely different problem on its own. I was lucky to have someone like Asia around for me.."

"Why not have Asia do what she did with you to them?"

"That would just feel like I'm using her, wouldn't it?"

"I don't think so. You know how Asia is. She'll probably end up trying to do something like that on her own anyway, so what's the harm in asking her to help?"

"Mm, maybe you're right, but it's still my responsibility so… I don't know… I'm not good at this sort of thing.."

Issei placed a reassuring hand on Raynare's shoulder.

"We'll figure something out."

For some reason, Raynare averted her gaze.

"..Um, yeah."

She also pulled away from Issei just a bit, causing him to raise a curious brow. A second later, it seemed like he realized something.

"Hey, can I talk to you in private?"

"Eh? In private..? You mean like, just you and me?"

"Yeah."

Raynare appeared reluctant to agree, as if worried that she had done something wrong.

"...Okay.."

Asia noticed the two walking towards the staircase.

"Hm? Where are you going with Raynare-san, Ise-san?"

"We're just gonna talk about something upstairs real quick. We'll be back down in a minute."

"..Do you need me to come up as well?"

"Nah, it's fine. It's nothing serious."

"Okay.."

—When Issei and Raynare made it upstairs, the two of them went into Issei's room, with Issei locking the door behind them. For whatever reason, the air was quiet and the atmosphere felt heavy. Or at the very least, it felt that way to Raynare.

Neither of the two faced each other yet. Issei remained facing the door, while Raynare faced the opposite direction. This surely wasn't going to be just any old talk.

"Raynare.."

Raynare flinched when Issei broke the silence by calling out her name.

"In the fight against Kokabiel, when you were talking to your "friends"…. [I don't live for the Sekiryuutei, nor do I serve him. I am no one's tool]... that was what you said back then, wasn't it?"

Raynare felt a drip of sweat run down her cheek as her heart rate subtly increased.

"...That's right."

Her fists clenched tightly. As if mustering up her courage, Raynare turned around and faced Issei's back with a confident expression.

"—I am nobody's tool. I live for no one else but myself and Asia. I don't belong to you, nor do I serve you. I am my own person and I have my own goal. I am Raynare, and I am free to live as I please."

That was Raynare's firm declaration towards Issei. It was the first time in her life that she had stood up to him. Raynare couldn't see it, but Issei smirked for a moment. He then turned around, causing her to flinch slightly. He noticed her trembling fists.

"..Those are big words for someone who's clearly afraid of me."

Raynare clicked her tongue, as if unable to deny the truth of his statement, but also frustrated by it.

However, Issei's face quickly changed. —Because he knew the reason behind it all. He knew full well what she was still holding back. That final step towards recovery...it was right in front of her.

"—Let it out, Raynare."

Now, he was looking at her with a serious, but considerate expression.

"Let it go. All of your frustrations, all of your resentment, all of your fear. Everything. Let it all out. I'll take every bit of it.."

Raynare's hands began to tremble even more as she looked at Issei's face and a few tears built up in her eyes.

"I… You…"

Raynare's perception finally began to warp in accordance with her feelings. Gradually, Issei's face was being enveloped by a dark shadow, and that shadow was forming to create the monster that haunted her dreams.

"...Y… You…"

The demon of her nightmares.

"...D…"

—And so, with all of her might, and all of her frustration, Raynare punched Issei square in the face.

BAM!

"DISAPPEAR!"

And again.

BAM!

"DISAPPEAR! GET OUT OF MY LIFE! GET OUT OF MY DREAMS! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

BAM!

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK! YOU— YOU DAMNED MONSTER! GIVE ME BACK MY STRENGTH! GIVE ME BACK MY SOUL! GIVE ME BACK MY LIFE! —IT'S MY LIFE! YOU CAN'T CONTROL ME!"

BAM!

"IF IT'S FOR ASIA, I'LL FIGHT ANYONE! I'LL KILL ANYONE! AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! YOU CAN'T STOP ME FROM PROTECTING HER! —I DON'T NEED YOUR STRENGTH! SHE IS MY STRENGTH! SHE IS MY LIGHT! AND YOUR DARKNESS CAN'T SNUFF HER OUT, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY!"

BAM!

"I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU! YOU DON'T SCARE ME ANYMORE! YOU DON'T OWN ME ANYMORE! EVEN WITHOUT WINGS, I CAN FLY BEYOND YOU! YOU CAN'T STOP ME, NOT ANYMORE! SO JUST DISAPPEAR! GET OUT OF MY LIFE! LET ME LIVE WITH MY HAPPINESS, WITH MY ASIA! I'LL PROTECT HER FROM ANYTHING! I'LL TAKE ON ANY ENEMY SHE FACES! EVEN IF—!"

Finally, Raynare mustered up the very last of her strength and put it all into her last punch. All the while, she saw Asia's smile in her mind.

"—EVEN IF THAT'S YOU!"

BAM!

"Hah… Ha, ha…"

While heaving large breaths of air, Raynare noticed something. A peculiar feeling. A paradoxical feeling.

—Somehow, as if a hefty weight had been placed over the area from which her wings were detached was now suddenly removed, she felt her body become lighter than before. She felt as if her body was as light as a feather and as if she was a person who never needed wings in the first place.

"...Those were excellent punches."

"..?"

When Raynare lifted her head, she only saw Issei's regular old face and it looked as if the very last traces of darkness were fading away from his cheeks like smoke. With blood leaking down from his battered mouth and nose, Issei smiled kindly.

"I could feel your heart and soul through every swing. That's how you should be punching me during training."

Somehow, after seeing that, Raynare's spirit felt even lighter than before, if that was even possible.

"So? Feel better now?"

Issei asked, wiping some of the blood off of his face.

"...Yeah… Yeah, I do. Thanks. And sorry."

"Meh, don't sweat it. It's just pain. I can handle a lot of that."

For some reason, Raynare felt a smile threatening to come out on her face.

"...That so? In that case, would you let me do a few more? I don't think I've gotten it all out just yet."

"Oy, wait a minute. I said I could handle pain, I didn't say I was a masochist."

"You sure about that? They say most sadists also have a masochistic side. You wanna explore that?"

"Hell no, speak for yourself, you perverted crow."

The two of them chuckled a bit. For some reason, Raynare's heart felt lighter when talking with Issei now.

"Let's go. Asia is waiting for us."

Issei pointed back at the door before walking towards it.

"Yeah… Let's go."

Raynare walked out of that room with a satisfied smile.

—It also went without saying that Asia shrieked shrilly when she saw Issei's beaten up face. His thumbs up gesture didn't really make her feel better either.


"I wonder what song I should choose?"

"Uwaah, I-I don't know if I'm very good at singing.."

"It's fine, Asia. I'll let you know if you're tone deaf."

—Issei, Asia, Raynare, Aika Kiryuu, Koneko and Kiba walked together as a group towards the Karaoke spot that they were planning to spend time in.

As they filed into the building one after the other, Issei stopped at the glass doors and poked his head back out of the building and into the street.

"Hm? What's up?"

Raynare asked Issei while waiting for him at the entrance as everyone else purchased a room at the desk. Issei simply looked out of the doorway with an unfriendly gaze.

"...It's nothing."

—He ignored the visage of his child self standing out in the distance and walked into the building. He also ignored the bizarre looking "dog" with golden eyes sitting next to The Boy.


SATAN

"Sirzechs-sama, I've received word from Rias-oujosama that Hyoudou Issei-sama has awoken."

"Ah, is that so? And how is he doing?"

"According to Rias-ojousama, everything seems to be fine. His condition is normal."

"I see. That's good to hear. Thanks for agreeing to reincarnate him into your peerage if things went south, by the way. I have no more pieces left to spare so it couldn't have been me. And call me petty, but I wasn't entirely willing to hand him over to Ajuka either. I'd rather the Gremory clan had him."

"Of course, Sirzechs-sama. I will simply act in accordance with your will."

"Speaking of pieces, Rias has gotten another addition to her peerage, hasn't she?"

"Yes. A pure-blooded Fallen-Angel. A [Pawn.]"

"I don't think there's been a case of a pure Fallen-Angel who fell from heaven being reincarnated yet. It's an interesting development. Ajuka didn't seem too surprised by it though. Honestly, it feels like that man expects everything. He's been up to weird things lately too."

"Will that be all, Sirzechs-sama?"

"Other than that, I just simply can't get over how beautiful my wife looks tod—"

"Good day."

"Ahaha, shot down immediately, huh?"


EXORCIST

"Irina Shidou. You may stand."

"Yes, Father."

"Your mission was a success. Well done. You will be exalted for your efforts. There have been rumblings about the events surrounding the Raven of Treachery and his antics, but whatever the case, it was by the grace of your actions that we were able to retrieve the cores to our Excaliburs. Although it may or may not be impossible to salvage them in their current state, you were still able to prevent them from falling into enemy hands thereby avoiding the worst case scenario. For that, you shall be rewarded. —Do you recall what we discussed about the "task force" before we sent you two on your mission?"

"The task force that would include top exorcists from each Christian church sect, including protestants, Catholics, and even members from the Slayers of Rouen?"

"Ah, so you do recall. Yes, that one. Well, the pope approved the proposition and the other churches seem to be in agreement. There will come to be such a task force after all. The top exorcists from all of the churches of Christian denomination are being selected to comprise this task force, including the best of the Slayers of Rouen. And in recognition of your accomplishments regarding this recent [Excalibur incident], we've decided to recommend you for a position in this task force on behalf of your church. Congratulations."

The men dressed in religious attire— the five archbishops of the Vatican— sitting at the table ahead of Irina Shidou, clapped in a congratulatory manner.

"I'm sure your father will be most proud of this news when he hears of it."

"He will.."

Despite every congratulatory word to her, Irina was visibly numb to it. The girl's eyes were vacant and she appeared disconnected from it all.

"What's wrong, girl? You seem disappointed."

"Eh? Oh, n-no. No, that's not it, Father. It's just that…"

For some reason, Irina had an expression that suggested she was ashamed of herself. In her mind, there were thoughts of her "heretic" friend… former friend, Xenovia Quarta.

"I'm… Forgive me, Father.. but I must refuse your most gracious offer."

"Refuse? What do you mean "refuse?" This isn't charity, this is your reward. It's a privilege you've earned thanks to your accomplishments. To refuse it would not only be an insult to us, but even to yourself."

"I-I know.. I have no intention of insulting any of you."

"Then why do you refuse?"

"Because.."

Once again, the face of Xenovia plagued Irina's mind.

"Because I failed.….just as you all predicted."

"Failed? We don't understand. You accomplished your mission. The only one who failed was the wielder of Durandal."

"...No. I also failed…. If I didn't, then she'd be here too…"

Irina turned away from the board of men and said it with a voice full of guilt.

"I'm sorry, but it's simply an offer I'm just not worthy of… I hope that you'll forgive me…. Excuse me."

With that, Irina excused herself and left the room.

—Irina silently wandered the empty halls of the Vatican. There were no visitors or tourists on a day like this. Why? Well, there was a very important VIP present today. However, the knowledge of who that was was restricted from a lowly exorcist like Irina. And in the end, it didn't matter to her. Unfortunately for her, her mind was far too occupied with thoughts of failure and guilt. Thoughts of her former partner that she left behind, and thoughts of all that went on in her visit back to her hometown…

At some point while walking through the quiet corridors, Irina wandered over to the main hall, the audience hall, of the Vatican.

Irina walked down the countless rows of seats up to the very front, right below where the stage that belonged to the pope was. She sat down in one of the seats and looked up at the stage, staring at the depiction of "La Resurrezione." What could have been going through her mind, only God could know.

If only she knew the truth…

—There must have been a couple of members of the Vatican gossiping about her somewhere near one of the entrances to the hall.

"Did you hear? She refused the offer to be a part of that new exorcist group that was approved."

"How selfish. Not to mention, her partner went rogue and was excommunicated..! How do we know she isn't a heretic as well?"

"I had heard that her partner was killed."

A tall man appeared behind the two women to interrupt their gossip.

"Excuse me. Would you mind if I passed through here?"

"Oh, of cou—"

The two were shocked when they looked upon the beautiful man's face.

"M-My Lord!?"

Both of them cleared the way and knelt down on both knees in worship, allowing the man to pass through and enter the great hall.

"Oh Lord… please guide your lost lamb down the right path."

As Irina prayed in her seat with uncertainty, the tall man approached her row of seats.

"I'm afraid that my guidance will have to do for now."

Irina lifted her head and opened her eyes after hearing the unknown voice. The moment she gazed upon the man's appearance, she froze.

—The most beautiful man she had ever seen. No doubt the VIP who the entire Vatican was cleared out for. A tall man of flawless design - with six pairs of golden wings behind his back and a halo over his head. He greeted her casually, as if such an otherworldly being simply belonged in this place.

"Irina Shidou-san, correct? Nice to meet you. I am [Michael], the Archangel."

In an instant, Irina dropped out of her seat and fell at his feet, kneeling humbly at his presence.

"..M-My Lord. I am blessed by the magnificence of your presence. I am not worthy to look upon you with my eyes. I.. I—"

"Open your eyes, child. And stand. You are worthy because I have deemed it so."

Irina slowly opened her eyes only to be greeted with the kind smile of the man— The Archangel, Michael. It was as if his smile was forged by the love and grace of heaven itself, and Irina could not withstand to look at him directly so she lowered her eyes. And though she was terribly reluctant, she stood up slowly.

"..Y-Yes, my Lord."

"Please, sit. I would like to speak with you."

Irina followed his commands unhesitantly, but still unable to fully process the realization that Michael himself sat beside her. She still refused to meet eyes with him as well.

"My Lord… How can this humble child of the earth ever be worthy of your audience?"

"Because I wish it."

"Yes, my Lord.."

Although Michael stated it, he waited to speak for a moment. Irina lacked the courage to meet his gaze and merely locked her eyes to the massive art piece on stage. Her eyes were stuck specifically on the face of Christ in the depiction.

"...I have heard that you refused the offer made to you by the Archbishops?"

Irina flinched before frowning and lowering her head shamefully.

"...Yes, my Lord. Forgive my impudence… I have sinned.."

"If it was by humility that you denied something that you yourself have earned through accomplishment, then there is no sin. Nor should you harbor shame for it. The grievances of the Archbishops should lack your concern."

"..Yes, my Lord… Thank you, my Lord."

"What I would like to know is the reason behind your refusal. Many exorcists wouldn't dare refuse such an offer. Was it truly just a simple act of modesty or humility?"

Irina paused.

"...No, my Lord. Forgive me.."

"What is it that troubles you, my child?"

"...Could a lowly child of the earth such as me have the privilege of concerning you with my troubles, my Lord?"

"You and I may be of different nature, but we are still children of the same Father. You may speak freely."

"I am unworthy of such a comparison…"

"I disagree. —Now, tell me what plagues you."

Irina lowered her head in shame.

"I have failed, my Lord…. They speak to me as an exemplar, and they have lauded my accomplishments. But I am unworthy of it… because I have failed."

"What have you failed, my child?"

"...Myself… My friend…."

"But not your mission?"

"...Forgive me, my Lord… But I feel no pride in my success. I feel no pride in my accomplishment. The truth is, I have accomplished nothing. Every accomplishment I have obtained belongs to others, not myself. And even more than that, I have failed what matters most. I have failed my one and only partner… Forgive me, my Lord, but I…"

Irina lowered her head even further and began to tremble.

"I-I have recognition, I have respect, and I even have an opportunity that many exorcists will never know in their lifetime… And yet.."

She sobbed softly in her seat.

"And yet, I feel as if I have nothing left..!"

—Michael silently pressed her head into his chest. And though she desperately wanted to state that she wasn't worthy, she couldn't resist his indescribable warmth and gave into her emotions.

….

When time passed and Irina was able to compose herself, Michael questioned her earnestly.

"My child. Irina Shidou. I have learned not only of your accomplishment, but now of your heart and of your humility. With this, I know my judgement is clear. I have come to make a request of you."

"Command me, my Lord. Anything that you and my Father will, I shall see it done."

"No. This is something which must be made on request, it cannot be ordered. So I must ask this of you, Irina Shidou, and I must hope that you will accept it earnestly."

"Yes, my Lord. By all means, I will heed your request without remorse."

"Irina Shidou. Soon, the time will come when this armistice between the Three-powers ends. For that, I will be in need of assistance from someone for a very important and defined role."

"My Lord… Are you saying.."

"Do not be mistaken. There will be no war. Never again… However, there is a new dawn on the horizon. Heaven has a new sun to watch rise on its behalf, and for this new era, it will need a symbol. A symbol for what is to come in our future. Not just in the future of heaven, but the future for all living beings that began with God's creation. The future of the Three biblical powers."

"...A symbol, my Lord?"

"Yes, my child. Do you understand what I am asking of you? I wish for you to become this symbol on our behalf. Are you willing to accept this offer?"

"Yes, my Lord. If it is for the sake of our heavens, then I offer my heart— no, my soul— No. My everything. I offer it all to you so that it may be done. I accept this task with the greatest humility… By the grace of our Father, praise be His name, I hope that you will guide me."

For some reason, Michael smiled sadly. He looked up at the empty stage and stared at the depiction of Christ.

"...Yes, I suppose so.."

He turned to Irina one last time and spoke to her gently.

"However, in order for this to be done, I'm afraid that there is a certain truth of this world that you must know. Once you have known this truth, there will be no returning to your life as you have known it. Are you willing to accept it?"

"Yes, my Lord. I am ready for anything."

"I see… In that case, listen well, my child…"


LORD OF THE FLIES AND..?

—Somewhere in the underworld, not a stirring, but something far subtler was occurring.

"...The talks haven't even started yet, and still, you've come to this place, [Left Hand of God].."

The man— Nay, the Devil with long, pine green colored hair said. He spoke with a keen interest to the person sitting across from him at the table.

"..."

A silent man wearing a mask, crossing his legs and clasped hands resting together on his lap. A magician with an unnerving black lined smile sitting on a white colored "face."

The green haired Devil, Beelzebub, smirked in amusement.

"...Hmph. I suppose it's our mutual understanding as "curious learners" that keeps us from starting conflict, despite our opposing natures."

Beelzebub fixed himself in his seat and looked down at the table.

"But I think I understand your proposition here. You're proposing that if I help you with this.."

Beelzebub gestured to the small, multiple stacks of files placed in front of him.

"..Then you help me with this."

Beelzebub gestured to the side of the table, there sat a lone piece of a chess set flowing with unnatural power. An [Evil-piece.]

"Is my summation correct?"

The smiling man did not speak, he simply nodded his head slowly in an eerie manner. Beelzebub looked down at the items on the table with a contemplative expression.

"Something like this could upset the balance of a few things… But I assume that's why you want to work with me using the cover that it's related to the peace talks that the "Ash Crow" approached both of our sides about… In reality, you care more about working on something else contained within these files…"

Again, the smiling magician said not a word. He simply tapped his thumbs together in a patient manner, waiting for Beelzebub's decision. What sort of expression was contained behind that unmoving smile, perhaps only his deceased creator could have known..

"I suppose I have no reason to refuse after all. Unfortunately, I am bound to give in to my selfish nature as a Devil and indulge my curiosity, despite my position as a Maou…. Still, I wonder what this is that you've brought before me…"

As Beelzebub opened the top file that sat on the main stack in front of him, the magician brought something out of his pocket and moved it in between his fingers.

"What in the world is this, I truly do wonder…"

Beelzebub read the words written in human language on the top paper of the file.

"...The Artificial Angel Project…?"

—And the magician flipped the playing card in his fingers with an eerie glow resting behind the slits of his "eyes."


END

And thus (officially) ends the Kokabiel arc! Okay, short chapter, but again, this was the conclusion/epilogue to the arc so it was bound to be shorter in length.

So, Raynare has finally completed her main character arc. Some people thought that she had already completed it in the last chapter, but not quite yet. She still needed that one final step. Now, she's free to spread her wings like a butterfly and soar! Metaphorically, of course. Or, well, who knows? At the very least, I can say that she's now "fully developed." In quotations because there's always more room for growth, it's just her main arc that is completed. Quite a few lighthearted moments this time around too, huh? I think it's quite fitting considering the developments between the characters and the story. I'm not gonna overdo it tho, this isn't "Red Dragon of Stupidity", so the lighthearted moments will only be kept within the limit of everyone's characters. They'll also be limited in number (in the grand scheme of things), because the less there are, the sweeter they taste. Besides…. this is still a tragedy, right..?

How's the new stuff with Irina? I always felt like she was one of the more forgettable girls in canon despite being Issei's childhood friend because of how little she's fleshed out or given interesting moments, so I decided to give her a little depth this time around. I also wanted to show the moment she met Michael because I feel like it would've been interesting to see her reaction. Although, I don't wanna know her reaction to god's death, oddly enough. I feel like that is the moment that you can leave up to interpretation.

In regards to Raynare's friends, I'm sure you were hoping to see something from them this time around, but that'll have to wait until next time. Just like with Raynare, I plan to make their developments a slow process. If there's anything I don't like to rush, it's character stuff. It's the most important factor of the story for me.

So… yeah, that's all there is to discuss! I'll try not to take any long hiatus, but I would like to potentially write for some of my other stories again since I've really left them behind for this one. I'm looking mainly at "A Fool's Heart" and "Red Dragon of Stupidity."

Anyway, how was it? Did you enjoy all of the little character moments sprinkled here and there? How do you fancy the more lighthearted moments? What is this new vision that Issei keeps on seeing lately? How do you feel about Raynare as a character and are you satisfied with her character development? How do you expect her "allies" to develop next? What is that foreboding sense of uncertainty set over the horizon of the future? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUCKING SWIMSUIT EPISODE (THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, DON'T FORGET)?!

Read, Rate, Review go crazy.

Stay Frosty.