Previously: Enter the angel who desires wisdom of the Sex, a Peerage of Devils, and a flock of Fallen Angels. One night, a Peerage is lost, angels are unFallen, and the angel of death cracks the egg that is the world (and then makes an omelette of it).
That long night (still) continues.
As they herded her back to the clubroom, Rias kept on cursing, the language steadily growing harsher and unintelligible even to Akeno. It was all they could do to keep her from destroying the school: one, it would alienate Sona Sitri, who had been most accommodating in this trying time, and two, she was not sure they could fix the damage, now that they were angels.
Asia Argento, who could be said to be the cause of the chaos, waited for them inside the occult club room. Akeno was sent to distract her by taking her outside, to keep her off of Rias' vicinity and prevent further blow-ups.
They could sense almost the same resentment about his situation from Kiba Yuuto, though the lad was doing an admirable job of putting Rias' needs first. His "brooding", however, could not be denied, and when Akeno left with the blonde, he too excused himself, leaving Koneko and Rias alone.
Koneko was a sensible ex-Devil, and saw to Rias' needs quickly: fresh tea, some towels, a little pop music from the music player—a collection of "the best" anime ending songs handpicked by the Gremory.
Being the least disturbed by the change from Devil to Angel, Koneko settled herself at a nearby corner of the room, keeping Rias and the door in sight while she cradled a hot mug of tea.
Her ex-master's mood was still languid, lightly sprinkled with a smattering of anger. Koneko carefully unfolded the piece of paper that had pushed Rias over the edge.
It was an official document from the Rating Game authorities, requested by Sona Sitri, detailing the current status of Rias Gremory's Peerage. According to the paper, she, Rias and the other two had been "eliminated from the Legions of Hell", as if they had died, leaving the sole membership and ownership of the Peerage to Gaspar Vladi.
Even more depressing: being a reincarnated "impure" Devil, the system had left the unaware vampire with no Evil Pieces to use. Apparently, their "deaths" had also destroyed whatever Pieces they'd been worth, which thus left Vladi with no way to add to the Peerage.
It was a hellish catch-22, and Koneko was sure Rias had already thought along the same lines.
Suddenly, a magic circle appeared on the floor. Rias lifted her head and Koneko tensed. While she recognized the circle as distinctly Devil in design, it did not mean whoever was coming through was friendly. Koneko peered intently at the circle, trying to see—
"Riser," said Rias, spitting the name like a curse.
It definitely wasn't friendly.
The Devil was tall and lean, like an overconfident scarecrow given life, and had pleasing facial features designed to be wholesome and attractive; yet combined with the suave, devil-may-care manner and its thin grin that belonged to a gallery of unrepentant rapists, turned his face into something one wanted to punch.
"I bid you a good day, my poor, blighted Rias. It is with sorrow that I come here from Hell, commanded by the most August Satans to bring tidings of both fortunate and unfortunate kind," he ended his sentence with a complicated series of bows and gestures. He glanced briefly at Koneko, before putting all his attention on Rias.
Both stared at him like like he was a dog nibbling its own shit.
"It would be better to begin with the bad, I think," Riser continued, unaware or ignoring their less than welcome attention, "The Old Satan Faction has revealed the abrupt mobilization of Heaven to everyone in the Underworld, causing much unfortunate stress and debate among us Devils. After all, we do not want another War, but we do want to retain our much-fought sovereignty from Heaven."
"And where do you stand, Phoenix?" Rias said coldly.
"Our family have long enjoyed the alliance with the Baels, and by extension our own Great Satans, who of course oppose the Old Satans. I am sure Father will be content to follow their lead."
"A diplomatic answer."
"If we are talking of ideologies," said Riser, scoffing, "Then I would still hold against the Old Satans. If they had their way, the Rating Games would be abolished, and that's just not fun." He clapped his hands, his smile turning down into a comical frown. "On to the second part of the bad news. It is with regret and it further pains me to announce the annulment of our betrothal, dear Rias."
"Wonderful," Rias said, smiling for the first time since he'd appeared.
Somehow mistaking her tone for disappointment, Riser said, "It is not as if I didn't object, Rias dear. But this..." he shook his wrists ruefully. "Illness of yours has somehow made you a nonentity in Hell, as if you were no longer its citizen. I believe it is a mistake, but before it's sorted out, my family believed it best to unburden you with talk of marriage."
"Aww, Riser, you're all heart and no brains," said Rias, and Koneko could sense the serpent flexing its fangs within her leader's demeanor.
He bowed. "Anything for you, m'dear."
"Don't come closer," said Rias. Riser froze where he stood. He had been just about to head around the table to her. "Didn't you have good tidings? Don't keep me in suspense."
"Oh, of course. Forgive me." Riser licked his lips. "I have been asked by the Lord Gremory to inform you that you are free to return to Hell whenever you wish, and that there will be some things to explain to you there."
Koneko felt that was the only good thing that had come out from Riser's mouth since he'd come. Looking at the expression on Rias' face, she knew her ex-master felt the same.
"I speak with the greatest confidence that no outward change would ever change the flower you are inside, m'dear. You are still beloved by the people there as before," he grinned, effecting a salaciousness to his expression, "And you remain ever precious to me."
Rias' reply was dry as a desert. "Right. Was that all to your message, Phoenix?"
"You're...welcome?" A frown creased Riser's face as Rias forced the moment to mutate into a long silence. Rias waited with beaming face, like a master waiting magnanimously for the dumb servant to take the hint and leave.
It took a few moments more for the dumb Devil to realize. His face morphed into true form, a true rapist's leer.
"... I shall see myself out then, m'dear. I hope that by the next time we meet, you'll be in better spirits." Koneko almost tensed when he let his wings appear, thinking he'd attack. Then she understood. He was less a phoenix, and more peacock by the way he just preened. "I dearly wish your condition isn't permanent, Rias dear. I couldn't bear to think of the once proud Gremory reduced to a weak, puny angel. After all, you're better than that. I'd like to think I poured my love into a stronger female."
Though she couldn't possibly hear, something definitely snapped inside Rias. They watched Riser practically strut back to the magic circle, his blazing wings in full display.
"See you in Hell, m'dear."
Her ex-master began to move as soon as Riser was fully engulfed in the glow. Koneko wasn't well-versed in rune-lore, but she did know there was a sign on the circle one could press upon to delay the transportation progress.
"What are you doing, Gremory?"
Riser's exit had slowed to a descending crawl. He looked like a person sinking through quicksand.
"Koneko, keep your foot here!" The latter dutifully stepped on the rune Rias indicated, while Rias went on to plant her foot squarely on Riser's face. Bound by the precautions on the circle, he could not retaliate.
"This. Is. For. Being. A Godforsaken. Asshole." Each word was punctuated by a determined stomp and Phoenix's outraged howls. "Koneko, get me a chair!" When the chair was in her hands, the ex-Devil began walloping Riser with it. Something crunched loudly on the latter's face.
His voice, now muffled by the broken nose, cried. "Are you crazy, bitch—bwuhuhhh!"
Rias dropped the chair and switched to the other foot. "I admit I'm glad you came, Riser. It allows me to do this. I can't tell you how long I've wanted to bash your stupid face in."
Riser had sunk to shoulder-level through the circle. "Stop—or—you'll regret—"
"Koneko?" At her command, Koneko released the seal.
Rias stomped one final time, Riser saying, "You'll pay for this, you—" before he disappeared in a flash of purple light. The magic circle faded a second after.
Rias exhaled. She turned to Koneko, her face exultant. "That felt good. I'm feeling better now."
"Isn't that kind of magic dangerous to tamper with? Is he going to die?"
Rias snorted. "One can hope. Worst that can happen is the spell malfunctioning and him ending up somewhere else. But it's designed too well for it to kill him. Which is such a shame."
"What will you be doing now, Rias-sama?"
Rias seemed to think on that, before saying, "I am going to go home. I need this mess sorted out." She waved a lazy hand. "Could you call the rest back for me? Have Akeno drop the nun off somewhere, I don't know, somewhere far, with lots of ice cream. She loves ice cream right? Get her to... well, like Disneyland or something."
"But she's still an angel, Rias-sama. And kind of visible."
"Then they're gonna love her there. At this point I don't really care about keeping secrets."
A moment later, while Rias was busy packing up her things, Koneko said, "I can't contact her, Rias-sama. And Kiba's saying an angel just up and took them away."
"...What?"
()()()
"Yes, Rias-sama. I saw it with mine own eyes," said Yuuto, staring at the spot where Akeno and the nun had been spirited away. He looked at the night-time security guards reporting to their superiors, pointing and gesturing wildly at the same spot. "So did a bunch of normal people."
()()()
While Riser had been busy prancing like a twit in the Occult Research Clubroom, Akeno had just been about to finish a debate on theology with the nun.
In essence, it was more their wondering on the physiology of angels, as Akeno had revealed to a very understanding Asia that she was a half-angel, Reincarnated as Devil, before somehow becoming a pure angel.
Akeno was skeptical, raising questions about the nature of Heaven and Hell, while Asia ascribed to the infinite wisdom of the Creator and His works.
Then the apparition appeared.
A bright halo of light erupted in front of them. There, framed by the circle, was an angelic face, who looked quite displeased for some reason. It had fair, feminine features, with golden hair and a face glowing like a light-bulb.
"Alright you stragglers. I've had just about enough of this stupid, braindead job without you latecomers mucking it up."
"I bid you greetings, sir angel," said Asia brightly, while Akeno stood agape.
"Shut up, please. Now look, if you can't be bothered to head up here yourself, then guess what it's 'Beam me up, Scotty' for you. I expect you to report promptly to your correct lines. And no starting any orgies, you hear? I don't know what you humans are huffing nowadays, but angels butt-pounding angels is a no-no. That's the one way ticket to Fallen town, and it just means a lot more paperwork for yours truly."
Even Asia now looked perplexed by what the angel had said. Perhaps she had been more used to angels saying Hallelujas. Then again, Issei Hyoudou had been an angel too.
"Alright, hold on to your halos. Commencing Ascension protocols." The apparition disappeared, and after being surrounded by a thick cloud of light, so did a bewildered Akeno and Asia.
()()()
"...And that's what I heard, and then a moment later, they were gone," Yuuto said. Then a bright light engulfed him, making him flinch. Uncovering his eyes, he saw both Akeno and the nun standing beside him, looking none the worse for wear.
"...But apparently they're back."
"Eh?" said Rias on the phone. Yuuto went over to the two.
"You're safe, Akeno," he exclaimed. Both of them had perplexed looks on their faces. "What happened?"
Akeno put a finger to the wrinkle on her forehead. "I'm not really sure~ After we were pulled into the light—"
()()()
They stood, bewildered, in a place normally conjured in Renaissance art. Clouds everywhere, golden light streaming from an unseen source, the scent of precious incense in the air.
The nun squealed beside her. Akeno, on the other hand, tensed as if for battle.
There came a booming voice from overhead. "Alert. Receiving Area—9B—is at full capacity. Please direct all incoming traffic to the next Receiving Area. Alert. Receiving Area..."
"What? Oh come on... Jesus... Wait, why the heck can't I send them to the next Area?" came a familiar voice, though they couldn't see where it came from. It took a second to place it as belonging to the one who'd talked to them through the halo of light.
"...Because we requisitioned the other Areas as staging grounds for assaults during the War," came a different voice.
"Finally! Are you all done with the adulation?"
"Yes, it was quite harrowing, I can assure you."
"Not as much as managing all this by myself... Anyway, where do we put excess candidates?"
"We haven't gotten around repurposing other receiving areas because our Intake wasn't that good since the War."
"If you're telling me I have to organize all these birds..."
"We might have to."
"Jesus Chr—"
"But you won't have to, Gabriel. Now with the adulation over, we can assign other angels to the job."
"Oh... thank Goood."
"You'll have to send these back. We can get them up here again after the Area's been cleared up more—"
()()()
"—and after the first Voice told us to brace ourselves, we found ourselves back here." Akeno, Asia and Yuuto were back in the occult club room.
"Do you think we would be called in the same manner, Rias-sama?" Koneko asked.
Rias sighed, despondent. "I honestly don't know. It appears my enchantments around the clubroom are still in effect, which basically hides whoever's in it from the eyes of potential enemies, like Fallen or angels."
"I'm not sure it's that effective... remember that Sona put a lot of protections over the school and yet that Voice was able to get us," Akeno pointed out.
The ex-Devil leaned back, rubbing her aching forehead. "This is such a mess. And Sona probably won't be back soon... Well, in the meantime, we'll stand by inside this room. I'll contact Sona about the situation when she comes back." They then proceeded to discuss the different ways to get back to the student council room from here. It was important because the travel sigil to Hell was still there.
"I might be wrong in saying this, but..." Asia said, "Why do we need to hide? We are all angels here, are we not?" She looked around.
"No, girl," said Rias, quelling Yuuto's indignation with a look. "We are devils. And it's all because we tried to save you from those Fallen that we ended up in this situation." Mentioning the fact was callous, she knew, but it wasn't the worst thing she'd done in her life.
"I'm sorry," said Asia, her face turning sorrowful. After a few moments, her expression lightened, and she snapped her fingers. "But I'm betting we can get Issei-san to fix you."
"That birdbrain?" wondered Koneko.
"It's worth a shot, don't you think?" said Asia, eagerly.
"But Issei Hyoudou's..." Yuuto shared a look with the other ex-Devils. "...he'll probably not be able to get the... what do you call it... the hint."
"Issei-san's a wonderful angel!" Asia protested.
"Indeed, he's so wonderful he can reduce me to tears," said Rias.
"I agree!" chirped Asia, Rias' frank sarcasm somersaulting right over her head. "You can just leave it to Issei-san!"
()()()
"For the record," Shemhazai said uncomfortably. "I still think it's a bad idea."
Azazel looked up from his work, then flew backward to where he kept his recordings. "Funny," the Governor-General of the Fallen said, "That's exactly what I said before... Can't believe I still remember it..." He found the scroll-like device, and turned it on.
A scratchy, static-laden recording came on. "What's the matter guys?" said a voice just like Shemhazai's. "Don't you want to know all about this Sex hogwash?"
"I still think it's a bad idea," said recording-Azazel. Present day Azazel turned off the recorder.
"And the rest is History," Azazel pronounced, shaking his head.
"That is all past, Azazel," said Shemhazai, though he looked a little sheepish. "And, may I point out, this is why I'm following your lead for the moment, instead of the other way around."
"Baraqiel, was that a threat? Did this guy just threaten to take over my position?" said Azazel, grinning at the other Fallen in the room.
"...No," replied Baraqiel. "Respectfully, Azazel, we are getting off the intended topic."
"Quite right," said Shemhazai, harrumphing. "I shall reiterate that this ill-advised assault by Kokabiel will surely lead to renewed hostilities with Heaven. You should not have let Kokabiel go."
"So you don't hold with his version of events?" asked Azazel, his expression unreadable. Kokabiel claimed, as did some like-minded Fallen, that the brazen appearance of one angel and the forced re-Ascension of their kind was a prelude to yet another Great War. Some, like Kokabiel, relished in the fact, despite Azazel's continued insistence on peace.
"Of course I don't. Unlike the others, I remember. Don't you remember who that particular angel is?" pressed Shemhazai. "We're not as many as we once were, Azazel. Letting Kokabiel take them was a mistake."
After a moment, Azazel chuckled. "Of course I remember that one. Do you think me a lesser angel? It's why I only let those too far gone in Kokabiel's plots follow him."
Shemhazai's eyes widened. "You do remember? Then why did you...?"
Azazel shrugged. "Maybe it can get that warmongering brute of a Fallen knocked down a few pegs. Maybe even get him conscripted right back to sing Hallelujas in the Heavenly choirs. Won't that be a sight! But Kokabiel's kind of smart, so I'd imagine he'd flee when he realizes... Might just come right back crawling to our feet."
Shemhazai sighed, though it wasn't an exasperated one. Of the three, only Baraqiel still looked confused.
"My pardons," he said in his deep voice, "But what exactly is going to happen? Who is that angel, Azazel?"
In response, Azazel summoned a viewing device, like a human TV, to him. It was one of the angel's many inventions. Azazel turned it on, and it showed the view of a burning city, where they could spy the angel floating above a house.
"That, Baraqiel," said Azazel. "Is no ordinary angel."
"Oh dear Lord," said Shemhazai. He pointed frantically at the screen, where the angel was now looking through a window. "Is he...?"
()()()
"But I still can't see anything."
"Crane yer head a little bit to the left."
Angel-turned-voyeur Issei did as he was told, gaining a new angle while he stared through the window. He frowned. "It's all a mass of human flesh. I can't tell where one human starts. They're all just undulating like storm clouds."
"Prob'ly because the guy's a walrus of a human," the dragon ventured. "But they do seem enthusiastic, don't they?"
"I already know Sex can be exciting," said Issei. After some more moments observing, he shook his head, and flew up to the rooftop of the house. "This is useless. I didn't learn anything new."
"But they were just getting to the good part!" the dragon said, groaning.
"I do appreciate your teaching me, dragon, but I still have to get back to Japan. There's a thousand more humans to process... and it's already midnight."
AN: drafted by Shurpuff, proofread by Honore
Shurpuff says: Another long chapter cut, second part to come soon. Comments, impressions, etc. are welcome.
Right now, I may need some recommendations. I'm about to add several OCs important to the story flow, but then I realized that crossing over with another series would also work. I've scoured the Web looking for a good match for High School DxD-specifically setting, theme or essential premise (i.e. harem)-and could find no definite series. Specifically, I'm looking for one with an underdog lead, sort of like a Charlie Brown of sorts, though even an Issei-like character is good. My uncle has recommended several of his favorite visual novels, but I don't believe everyone reading would be familiar with those (especially since they're all untranslated at the moment).
Two series I considered tentatively before discarding were:
1. The Mahouka series - too many terminologies at first glance, characters just don't mesh well with what I've written here
2. The Index series - initially felt to be good, but looking it up again reveals the series has ballooned since I last followed it; which, as above, means a lot more story elements to consider (and I just don't have time to catch up)
If I can get a good recommendation that clicks before I get around to introducing the OCs, I'll use that series. They shall appear in a separate fiction, sort of a substory using that other series. Otherwise, it's OCs ahoy. Reviews and/or PMs welcome.
Thanks for reading!