In Another Life: Lover of a Seraph

by DXD2k3

[I'M BACK] What if Vali never existed? What if the Two Heavenly Dragons belonged to Issei Hyoudou only? What if Issei Hyoudou never became a devil and instead became an angel? What if he wasn't in love with Rias Gremory but instead was in love with the most beautiful woman in heaven? [Irresistible Issei, Kind Issei, Smart Issei, OP Issei] {Issei x Gabriel}

11. Chapter 11

(A/N) Please leave a review. Review. Review. Review.

LINE BREAK

"Before you kill each other, can we at least speak first?" Issei intervened.

Xenovia and Dulio were exchanging blows. The clanking of their swords filling the morning air. This time, Dulio was using a sword that can match Excalibur Destruction in strength and not outmatch it. Dulio stopped as he saw an angry Issei, he gulped. His light yellow shirt was completely unscathed.

Xenovia lowered Excalibur Destruction, looking at Dulio warily. She was sweating buckets, gashes adored her arms. She was panting, staying alive while fighting the legendary Joker of Michael was not an easy task, even if the Joker of Michael is merely playing with her. Her newly bought white shirt had a lot of tears and slashes on it.

Issei glared at Dulio who looked like he just saw his inevitable death. "We were sent here by Michael-sama to talk to them, not to kill them." He said firmly, annoyed at how Dulio was acting immaturely, trying to kill Xenovia. He noticed out of the corner of his eyes, Irina trying to find the right angle to jump in and attack. But even if she does find the right angle, what are the odds that the attack will actually damage the two jokers?

Issei and Dulio skipped school today to find the two holy sword wielders. Michael let them skip school just this once to find the two and apologize, and also offer them their home.

Both of them decided to split up, to locate the holy sword wielders more quickly. The two were from another state and might get lost. Issei made Dulio promise not to attack the two in case he was the one to be able to find them, well clearly he broke the promise.

"I'm sorry. It's not that of a big deal." Dulio muttered. He knew he made a bad choice to say that.

Issei approached him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. He gritted his teeth, "Not that much of a big deal? You are trying to kill an assassin of the church! The church, Dulio. Grow up."

Issei turned to Xenovia. He approached her and offered her a jacket, to cover herself up since she is almost naked, "Sorry about him. He is crazy."

He turned to a nearby bush, "Also, Irina you can stop hiding and trying to sneak attack me. I'm on your side." Right after Issei said that, Irina suddenly stood straight out of the bush and squealed.

Issei shook his head. He was still bothered of how Irina closely resembled his princess. She was looking at him like she knew him, "Is there something on my face?" He asked.

She stuttered in reply, "N-No. Nothing," She was looking at the ground seriously, like she was contemplating about something. Issei wondered why anyone related or allied to the heaven faction is terrible at lying. She was very obvious, suddenly tensing up and looking away, you can tell that she was hiding something. She was holding behind her back a picture, of a saint?

Issei decided to shrug it off, "So, have you guys eaten yet?" He asked. The stomachs of the two suddenly rumbled, the both of them hugging their stomachs, pain evident in their faces.

Xenovia looked at Irina in annoyance and anger, "Well, we would have if only she didn't buy that fake looking painting." She pointed at the painting, a really bad painting.

Irina looked like she just got slapped, "Excuse me, this got the drawing of someone who looks like a saint!"

"Then do you know who that saint is? I don't."

"I think it's...Saint...Peter!"

"You're telling me that badly drawn monster is Saint Peter!?"

"Why did they have to partner me with you..."

Issei scratched the back of his head. He was asking himself why everyone seems so aggressive these days? Kiba is angry, Dulio is bloodthirsty, now the partners are arguing. He decided to step in before the argument become even more heated, "Now, now. Girls, Michael-sama has contacted me."

This seemed to get their attention, "You mean Michael the Archangel?"

"Xenovia, here in Japan we have honorifics." Irina informed Xenovia, before looking at Issei with shining eyes, "What did he tell you?" She asked cheerily.

"Well, we could talk about that," Issei smiled at them, "after I cook you food."

Irina and Xenovia smiled at this, "An angel going to cook us food? Xenovia, this must be a blessing!"

Xenovia nodded her head vigorously at this, "Indeed. This must be the reward of all the hard work we have done, getting to eat food cooked by an angel."

"…Uhehe." Issei sweat dropped as the two began praising the heavens out of nowhere.

Issei couldn't stand this and made them stand up, "You can call me Issei."

"Ise-kun." Irina said. Issei noticed her eyes widen as he introduced himself.

Xenovia nodded in understanding, "Ise-kun." She said, indifferent with the new suffix that is supposed to be added to a name. Looks like she is starting to get used to the Japanese honorifics. Irina clapped lightly at Xenovia who blushed in embarrassment.

"That's crazy head Dulio." Issei said, pointing at Dulio. He had this look that said, You deserve this.

Dulio rolled his eyes, "I said I'm sorry."

"Crazy head Dulio-kun." Irina taught Xenovia.

Xenovia sent a wary look at Dulio, "Crazy head Dulio-kun."

Dulio's eyes widened, "Don't call me that!"

"Just come and follow me. Do you have anything with you?" Issei asked.

"None."

"Alright," Issei breathed in the fresh morning air, "let's get going then. You can stay at our house."

"Thank you God for sending us a kind angel." Xenovia began praying.

"Amen." Irina ended, a serious solemn look on her face.

Their respectful Excalibur swords were strapped behind their backs. They began following Issei, showing the beautiful scenarios along the way. The two closely listening to what Issei was saying like disciplined students in a field trip. Dulio was behind them, hands behind his back whistling an annoyingly upbeat tune. Having a world of his own.

Issei was currently in the kitchen, chopping up the vegetables needed in the dish he was cooking for the two holy sword wielders. He smiled at the assassins of the church as they watched carefully what Issei was doing, amused.

Dulio was in the living room, playing a video game. The anger he felt against Xenovia has decreased and instead became annoyance.

"So, Ise-kun? What are you cooking?" Irina asked. She really can't remember the Japanese cuisines since she just returned to Japan just now.

Issei sent a smile on their way, "This is curry." He showed the recipe book he was holding.

He had the eat or die apron. Both Irina and Xenovia thought Issei was cute but pushed it off since he was an angel. And it was getting really hard to push the attraction since Issei kept smiling that charming smile that made the two suffer in self-control. He just plain irresistible.

Issei began pouring the brown liquid from the pot to the large bowl he was holding. He turned to the two and placed the bowl right in front of them, "I'll go get the…rice." He said, his smile wavered as the two looked at him in a dazed like state.

"Ok then." He swiftly took out two rice bowls out of the cabinet and filled it with hot steaming rice.

Placing the bowls and navigating his way like a highly skilled waiter, "Eat up."

The smell of curry and rice snapped the two out of their daze, blushing and scolding themselves for getting attracted to a kind, innocent, and completely irresistible angel.

Xenovia and Irina's eyes widened as soon as they placed the rice in their mouths. "Wow." Xenovia said involuntarily.

Issei smiled at this and poured them ice cold water. "Here you go." He said, "If anyone needs anything, I'll be in the garden. I forgot that it's my turn to water the plants."

Irina looked at Xenovia, "This must be a blessing from heaven."

"It is since Michael…sama," She said uncomfortably, "was the one that arranged this."

Irina nodded in realization, "You're right."

"Of course I am."

"No need to get smug."

Xenovia looked crestfallen, "Anyways, why are acting weirdly around Issei-kun? Besides that, he is helplessly…attractive?" She said, her face flushed red.

Irina was as red as Xenovia, "Well…it's a private thing, really. Something regarding my past."

"I see." Xenovia moaned in satisfaction as she devoured the piece of potato, "Wow. This tastes good."

"Of course it does." Irina said proudly, "That's the food of my homeland."

Issei sprayed the plants with water, grinning satisfyingly as the water reflected the sunlight shining down upon them. He was a bit uncomfortable with the girls that passed by their house who stared at him, admiring him. He could practically feel them stripping him down in their minds. Though he doesn't know a thing about that thing. He knew that what they were doing was wrong.

He contemplated in disguising himself as an ordinary gardener, or even a girl just so they won't look at him anymore. In the end, he sighed and gave up, letting them admire him.

"Uhm…Ise-kun?" A sweet voice asked him. He turned around to see Irina, rubbing her hands shyly.

"Yes, Irina-chan?"

Irina looked nervous, "Do you have time?"

Issei smiled sheepishly at Irina, "Sorry, I have to go somewhere after this."

Crestfallen, Irina halfheartedly replied, "Ok."

Issei seemed to notice this and frowned, "But if you want to, you can come with me. I'll just take a bath. You can take a bath too." He blushed, "Err…of course, you first." He laughed nervously, "We can't possibly err…bath at the same time."

Irina smiled at this, ignoring the last part, "Thank you, Ise-kun."

Issei watched her run inside the house. Then she peeked back, "Umm…we really don't have extra clothes."

"Oh, yeah. I'll buy you som-"

"Thank you!"

"-e…somehow?"

Issei smiled at this, "This would be easy."

"Griselda should include this to her brain wracking punishments." Issei said to himself, wide-eyed.

Right after he bathe, he went to the city to buy Irina and Xenovia clothes. Since they will be staying here, what he is doing is a wise move to avoid any awkward moments in the near future. Irina and Xenovia were beside him, gaping in amazement as they were confused by the variety of women clothes. They currently were in a women's clothing shop inside a mall.

Issei smiled at the two. Without the intimidating Excalibur swords strapped to their back, they look like two ordinary bishoujo.

They were attracting the eyes of every girl in the store, well Issei is. He was wearing a black and white checkered dress shirt that acted more of a second skin than clothes really. He felt a knot in his stomach as the eyes of every girl in the store turned to him. He cursed under his breath Uriel who brought all his clothes. Almost every clothe he have is one size down.

"Ise-kun, are you ok?" Xenovia asked in concern. She was wearing Issei's black jacket for now and borrowed Dulio's shirt which acted like a dress since it was large for her body, it reached her lower knees.

Issei smiled in reassurance, "Of course I am," He cleared his throat, "It's just, it is very bothering getting stared at by almost everyone in the store. Every single thing you do is being observed." He said, sweat dropping as Xenovia didn't bother listening to him and instead looked at a pink sundress.

"Believe me, I feel you. When I was studying in Europe, I had to act tough so boys will stop bothering and courting me." Irina smiled sympathetically. She was wearing her church cloak. It wasn't perfectly well, but compared to Xenovia's church cloak that was completely torn, this would do.

"Europe, huh." Issei felt memories flood back him. It was very fuzzy but all he can remember was a boy? His childhood friend? And a wave of odd sadness washed over him, he didn't even know why.

Irina joined Xenovia already. Looking at another sundress, similar to that of what Xenovia was looking at but black instead of pink.

"Hello?" Issei saw a hand wave across his face and a high voice greet him. He looked down to see a girl, a familiar girl.

A smile formed in his face, "Sorry, have we met before?"

The girl smiled back, "Yes," She blushed, "you saved me before. When you were on a date with your wife? You saved me from delinquents."

His eyes lit up in remembrance. This was the waitress he saved from that pirate themed restaurant.

"Oh, you're that waitress."

"Yeah. I wanted to say thank you but I can't move my lips back then. So now, thanks back then. Or if I did, I wanted to thank you again." She said shyly.

"No problem. My wife and I can't stand to see that sight." Blushing as he called Gabriel his wife.

"Also, thank you for whooping their asses for me. Those perverts had it coming. If I can do to pay you back, call me." She gave him a piece of paper.

Someone suddenly grabbed his hand, it was Irina, "Ise-kun! I want this." She showed a pink shirt that had a drawing of an angel dinosaur on it.

"Are you cheating on your wife?" The waitress asked, covering her mouth.

Issei choked. "What? No. This two are my sisters." He said, pulling Xenovia and Irina to a hug. The waitress expression softened.

"Oh, sorry for jumping to conclusions." She said, "I gotta go buy something. My name is Grace by the way."

"Issei."

"Issei, odd name. Ok, bye!" She started walking towards the exit. Issei saw her go to the book store, right in front of the clothing shop.

"So, that's all you want?" Issei asked Irina.

Irina frowned like a child, "No, of course not. Take this." She handed him a red basket. The chosen shirt of Irina was in it together with the sundress Xenovia was looking at. Both of them began scanning the shirts area, eyes narrowed like they are in a battlefield.

Issei felt the basket grow heavier every passing minute. Soon, the basket had a heaping amount of shirts, jeans, jackets, and dresses. Issei sighed, he wanted this, but now, not so much. He placed all the clothes from the basket to a red cart. Not that he can't carry the clothes, he feared the basket might break from the sheer weight the clothes must be putting.

"Are we done yet?" Issei asked, pouting. They spent three whole hours shopping. He still has to do…something.

"Almost. We just have to go to the lingerie section." Xenovia said flatly.

Irina's eyes brightened up, "I know! Why don't Ise-kun be the one to go and get the lingerie?"

Issei had a questioning look on his face, "Lingeri-"

Irina gave him a piece of paper that said measurements. It had a BWH on it. Issei raised his eyebrows in confusion but Irina and Xenovia were far away from him,

"Lingerie?" He asked as he looked at the large panels on top of each section. He came across the swimwear, kids, and formal before he found lingerie.

"Here we are." He said, a victorious smile on his face. It quickly faded when the girls there gave him dirty looks.

He frowned, "What is this?" He asked. He flipped the paper, like how you do to a map. He felt like he was being punished by Griselda. What does BWH mean anyways? He tried asking both the dragons but they snored louder although it was obvious they were very much awake and doing it in purpose.

"Fine." He said, huffing. "You guys don't want to help me? I can do it myself." He marched towards the saleswoman, ignoring the dirty looks the girls were giving him.

Basically, the saleswoman got away from him, looking at him like he did something wrong. He was intrigued by this and began grabbing, feeling and touching the odd looking shirts and the odd looking shorts. The girls were giving him disgusted looks now.

What am I doing wrong?

Issei lowered his gaze, giving up. This was the hardest puzzle he came across in his life, and that's saying something. Griselda gave him college level puzzles ever since he was ten.

Someone tapped him by the shoulder. "You need help, Ise-san?"

He turned around to see Grace, flushed. "Where am I? And what does this mean? I am so confused right now." Issei said, a frustrated tone he was using.

Issei's eyes slowly widened as Grace explained to him what lingerie is. He could have gladly buried his head to the ground in embarrassment. So basically, I was touching women's briefs.

"Wow, your sisters' measurements are impressive." Grace muttered.

She noticed how Issei looked at her in confusion, "You want me to explain?"

Issei didn't want that. He was embarrassed enough. "I think I'll be fine."

Issei watched as Grace began picking certain "bras" and "panties" like a professional. He racked his brain in confusion, he couldn't see what's so different. They looked the same.

With Grace's help, the embarrassing navigating finally ended.

"Thank you for this." Issei said, red as a tomato.

Grace smiled at this, "Your welcome. I have gotta go now."

"Ok. Thanks again."

Issei waited for Grace to exit the store before he tracked those sneaky little pranksters. His eyes were narrowed, surveying the forest of clothes like how a hunter does in tracking a prey.

It didn't take long before he found the two. They were looking at him expectantly, "So, did you finish it?" Xenovia asked, her voice sounded like she was about to laugh.

"Would I be here if I hadn't?" He snapped at her coldly. He felt guilty as Xenovia and Irina looked shocked but he was not in schedule. It was afternoon and he still had to do something.

He sighed, "Sorry."

"No, were sorry. We shouldn't have done that. We have done a terrible thing despite being wielders of the holy church."

"God," Irina looked up the ceiling, "I am very sorry for what I have done. Please forgive me. I also say sorry in behalf of my friend, Xenovia. Amen."

Issei chuckled at this. He frowned when he remembered that one day, he has to tell the two that God is dead.

There was no line in the cashier so it went very quickly. Issei bit back a cry as he gave all of his allowance. Now he would have to do Griselda tasks so he could have extra money, and being under Griselda is not a pleasant thing. Nevertheless, he smiled as Irina and Xenovia laughed in joy.

The people stared at Issei as he carried the large, large heap of shopping bags, following Xenovia and Irina who were skipping in joy as they got to buy clothes, and lots of them.

"Thank you, lord!"

"Amen."

Both of them prayed, ignoring the odd glances sent to them. Issei didn't really mind since he carried without sweat the bags. The other men were wide-eyed with how Issei carried the bags with no problem. Even the men with bigger muscles though a bit shorter than Issei were wide-eyed.

"Here you go." Issei placed the shopping bags just beside their staircase. They were home.

Dulio was staring at the heap in fright, "You mean I'll carry all that upstairs!?" He asked frantically.

Issei had an amused grin plastered on his face, "Yep. Don't worry, it'll be easy. I carried it from across the city to here with ease."

"Not everyone has the strength of a dragon, you know." Dulio retorted, annoyed.

"I am going now." Issei waved his hand. "Irina, are you still coming?"

"Yes, Ise-kun."

"Let's go then."

Irina followed closely Issei. They returned to the city to buy a bouquet of flowers.

"Where are we going, Ise-kun?"

He smiled sadly, "Just follow me."

They arrived in an area. There was this burned down lot. Irina looked around, confused. Why did they go here?

"Where are we?"

Irina watched as Issei lowered and placed the bouquet of flowers right in front of what it seems like a doorstep. He grabbed the wilted bouquet of flowers and replaced it with a new one.

"You do know that I was a human before, right?" He asked. Irina perceived the slight quivering of Issei's voice. There also was a slight change, like his voice lowered.

"Of course. You, Dulio and Boss-sama." Irina replied cheerily,

He sighed, "I had a family once."

"Where are they then?" Irina bit her tongue. She felt stupid saying that. She tried to conjecture what happened right after she went to Europe.

With the sight of the burned lot right beside what once was her house in Japan, she feared the conclusion of her investigation.

"They were killed by fallen angels." The tone of Issei surprised her. It was cold.

She placed her hand on his shoulders, "Ise-kun?" She asked softly. "Don't you remember me?"

"I know you?" He asked, a bit surprised.

"I was your childhood friend. We played before, don't you remember me?"

"I only remember a boy. We played a lot. I don't recall playing with a girl."

"But you were a loner back then. The only friend you had was me."

Issei's eyes widened, "You mean, you switched gender?" His voice shocked.

"No, silly. I always was a girl!"

Issei looked at her skeptically, "Hmm? Well, even if you were the boy back then, you're not my friend anymore."

"Why?"

"You left me." He ranted like a child.

"I'm sorry. When we heard that your house burned down, my father returned to visit you three but found out that your parents' corpses burned and you were nowhere to be seen." She frowned, "I swear we tried to find you but we can't."

Issei stayed silent for a while, "Ok. You probably didn't find me because I got adopted by Michael-sama, Uriel-sama, and Raphael-sama."

"You were adopted by the three seraphs? How?" Irina asked, she sat down beside Issei who was seated on the doorstep, probably the only part of the house that didn't burn to the ground.

Issei smiled at this, "Well, I saved Gabriel from death."

"Gabriel, the messenger?" Irina asked, interested in what happened to Issei after she left.

Issei nodded, "Yup. And she is actually a girl, she looks a bit like you."

"A girl?!" She asked in surprise. The teachings or even the artworks of the church showed that he was a boy.

"Irina? Before I open up to you, could you prove me that you are my friend from before?" He asked warily. She was a bit offended of course but after putting herself in his shoe, she understood why. You can't just trust someone who claims to be your childhood friend that you thought was boy.

"I recognized you even after you bleached your hair. You had brown hair originally." Irina pointed at his eyes, "Then you wore blue contact lenses to change the color of your eyes, I remembered you having emerald green eyes." She ended with a smug grin.

Issei frowned, "Hey! I didn't "bleach" my hair. And I don't wear contact lenses. It comes with being an angel! Or for me anyways."

"That doesn't prove it."

"No fair!" Irina made a sound like she was contemplating on something. Her eyes brightened, "Ahah!"

She ran through the burned lot to the backyard. Issei following her screaming, "HEY!"

"This will prove it." She said to herself before grabbing a nearby charred stick of wood and started using it like a shovel.

Issei watched her in interest and amusement. The stick didn't really do much but she kept digging, a serious determined expression on her face. He watched as her pace gradually slowed down, little by little. She looked at him, gritting her teeth, "You don't know how to treat a lady."

"What?" Issei asked.

She groaned in annoyance, "You're supposed to help a lady, not just stand there in amusement and watch her work and get exhausted." She said while panting.

Issei grabbed a charred stick and nodded in understanding, "Oh, sorry."

Irina rolled her eyes sarcastically at him before proceeding to dig again, this time Issei was helping her.

Now, with the angel's help, the dirt and soil flew a lot quicker than before. A pile of dirt formed rather rapidly until it was it reached Irina's waist even when she is standing straight.

Issei and Irina kept digging until they hit something hard, and metallic? When they hit it, it made a sound a metal box does when you hit it. "Aha!" Irina exclaimed in victory.

She began pulling up a medium-sized metal box, its walls covered with dirt. "Do you remember this, Issei?" She asked.

Issei felt memories flood back him, very fuzzy yet vivid at the same time. "I think so."

Irina landed to her butt, panting in exhaustion. Regardless, she had a huge smile plastered on her face, "Here you go." She said between her pants, opening the metal box.

Issei looked inside to see a bunch of different things. There was a basketball, two plain wooden sticks, a notebook, and two toy pistols.

Issei remembered this, this was the toys he used to play with the boy, or the girl rather. "This is our toys, right?"

"Right." She took out the wooden stick that was shorter than her forearm. She looked at it cherishingly, her eyes shining in delight.

Issei grabbed the basketball, remembering how he played with it when he was younger. He knew it was already lacking in air but he was still happy. "So you are my childhood friend."

"Duh." She said, showing a picture of two kids that resembled them, only with different hairstyle and in Issei's case, eye and hair color.

"You could have shown me that a bit earlier." Issei informed, trying and failing to dribble the ball.

"But this is more dramatic than a simple picture." She said, a cheeky smile on her face.

Issei sat beside Irina, "So why are you and Xenovia here?"

"Well," Her eyes looked at the sunset in sadness, "the holy swords, Excalibur swords, were taken just recently. Stolen. We, the Protestant church, thought it was the doing of the Catholic church. But as it turns out, the Excalibur swords possessed by the Catholic church also got stolen. So they sent Xenovia and the Protestant me, to go to Japan and look for the missing swords."

"I see. Well, you can stay with Dulio and I for as long as this mission will take." Issei didn't bother looking at Irina, deciding to stare at the sunset instead.

"Thank you, Ise-kun."

"No," He replied, "Thank you. I almost don't have anything from my past. Now that you showed this box, I remembered glimpses and fuzzy memories but at least I managed to remember even a little. It's better than not being able to remember anything."

"I'm sure your parents are very proud of what you have become, Ise-kun."

"You think so?"

"Yep. Who would have thought that that prankster friend of mine would become an angel? Not only that but a joker, probably the highest position one can possibly get since you can't become a seraph."

"Thanks. Let's go home. It's getting dark now and I have to cook dinner. Dulio will get grumpy if I don't coo that lazy bastard food."

LINE BREAK

"Rias, why are you calling me so late in the evening? We still have school tomorrow." Sona complained, yawning on the other end of the line.

Rias has assembled the whole Occult Research Club and called Sona, putting the phone in speaker. She had her glasses on and she was seated at her desk. The club members were seated on the intricate brown couches, sipping on coffee. Kiba was the only one not seated and instead was standing beside the couch were Akeno and Koneko were seated.

"Um…Rias-oneesan? Is it alright if we hold secret meeting late in the night about Dulio and Issei-san?" Asia asked timidly.

Rias laughed, "Of course. We're not doing anything wrong that can harm or hurt them, no? I just want to talk about Ise-kun."

"Rias, you are telling me you woke me up in the middle of the night so you can indulge me in your petty crush on Ise-kun? Sorry, but I already had my fill with them." Sona's voice crackled on the phone.

"Sona, I wouldn't wake you up if the reason was as simple as that. This is something much more important." She scolded, her voice sounded like she was embarrassed.

The club members were looking at Kiba who was staring at the floor blankly. They noticed this ever since they fought with the holy sword wielders, he changed. Gone was the kind and smiling prince and instead replaced by a cold and serious boy. Rias suspected that Kiba just didn't take Issei throwing him lightly. Or because of his…past.

Rias sighed as Kiba didn't bother paying attention at them. She'll talk to him later, what's important now is the meeting. "Ok," She began, "did anyone notice how Issei moved a while ago?" She asked.

A satisfied smile formed on her face as the members besides Dulio raised their hands. Sona voiced a, "Yes, I did."

"He moved like an assassin, with blinding speed and deadly agility." Koneko said flatly before taking another sip. "He threw the demon sword with a terrifying accuracy."

"Yes, exactly. Ever since the angel duo introduced themselves, we can practically feel the powerful aura Dulio-kun was emitting. But Issei, the calm and always happy one, was releasing an even more deadly aura, even overwhelming." Rias said seriously.

"A while back, he easily stopped his "brother" from killing us all and the holy sword wielders with ease. He was moving naturally, even relaxed yet he dodged the rapid and fast lightning bolts sent to him. He knocked Dulio out in less than five minutes, Dulio has the second strongest Longinus, devils! Dulio possesses the Zenith Tempest. If Issei easily overwhelmed Dulio without showing his power, then how powerful is Issei?" She asked grimly.

"That is actually a good point, Rias." Sona said. "If Issei easily pacified Dulio without using his energy, then how powerful is he really? He is certainly more powerful than Dulio-kun since he finished the fight within five minutes without help and without having to use his energy which is very powerful since we can practically sense it rolling off him."

A gravid silence descended upon the room. They all felt the incipient truth, they were heavily outgunned with Dulio, how about with Issei?

"And what is with Issei?" Sona asked, the crackling of the radio ruining her voice. The devils understood what she said regardless. "Issei, ever since we met him, never used his energy."

"Perhaps because he is afraid of his own powers?" Asia suggested.

"Well, that is one possible reason. But I think that is unlikely. How about because the power he has is too dangerous to use and he is stopping himself from using it because he might kill us all?"

Akeno cleared her throat, "How about if it is because he can't control his powers?"

"All of those assumptions are very good. But even if we do arrive in a conclusion, we won't be able to know the real reason why. All we can do now is to wait for him until he uses his powers." Sona interrupted. "And I don't think we need to fear the angel duo. They never showed ill will and we haven't either. They befriended Saji and all of us, actually."

"It is better to be ready still." Rias said, her eyes staring straight through the door seriously. "Who knows, they might only be acting all friendly but the real reason is that they want us to be off guard."

Sona started laughing, "Oh, Rias." She said scornfully, "If the angel duo wanted us dead, we will be dead by now. Even if we ambush even one of them alone, we won't stand a chance. You should trust more. Our relationship with the two angels might be the bridge for peace. And besides, angels will never do such a thing, betraying that is. They will never betray a friend unless they got betrayed first."

Rias scowled as Sona mocked her, "Still, it is better to be ready, Sona."

"Whatever, Rias. I have got to sleep now. Tomorrow, there is a new student. Some girls will hate and some girls will admire." Sona chuckled lightly, "I think you saw her before."

"Ooh. The new student's a she." Akeno laughed lightly, "Very intriguing."

"We know her, Sona-chan?" Asia asked.

"Well, not necessarily. But you saw her before somewhere. I assure you."

"Good night, everyone. I will have to sleep now."

"Good night, Sona." The girls voiced out simultaneously.

Rias rubbed her eyes. Now next is Kiba. "Yuut-"

The door slammed shut. Kiba exited the room leaving the girls alone.

LINE BREAK

Issei was walking alone to school. Dulio went earlier since he was in cleaning duty. Though Issei doubts that since he had a rose between his lips and chocolates in his bag when he left in a hurry.

He noticed that the sky was covered by clouds, preventing the sun from shining down rays of light. It was colder than the average coolness of every day. The wind was blowing moderately, the trees waving and some newspapers flying around. He had his hands in his pocket, his eyes closed as he walked to school. He didn't have to open his eyes to know if there's something on his way or not since Dulio and him had extra high senses.

Issei enjoyed the silent atmosphere. When something ruined the peace, "Ouch!" Issei heard a boy scream.

He immediately located the sound, it was in the park. He vaulted over the high walls around the park and hid behind a bush.

He saw the perverted duo, Motohama and Matsuda. They were being flocked on by girls that were holding random things ranging from rolled bond paper to solid wooden sticks. The girls were hitting both of them rapidly.

The girls were belonged to Issei's fan club. "How dare you try to attack Issei-kun!" The leader holding the banner screamed. She was far away from them, holding the banner and standing on top of a stone table. The girls that were hitting the two screamed in response.

"Ow! We said we're sorry." Matsuda tried to raise his arms to block the things that were forcefully being hit to random parts of their bodies. He had a cut on his cheek and his face was scrunched in pain.

Motohama was driven back the slides, "Please, stop. It hurts." He whimpered. His glasses were lying beside him, broken in half. His eyes had a bruise on it and his lips were broken.

It broke Issei's heart to hear the cries and pleas of the two. He would disband this fan club for sure. The sight of the broken glasses angered him greatly.

He was wondering why the two boys weren't fighting back. He looked inside them and couldn't help but smile. They didn't fight back merely because even though they were perverts, they didn't want to actually harm or hurt the girls. They both decided that pleading with the girls was a better solution than beating them up since they were girls, regardless if violent or not.

"Stop!" He screamed in an intimidating voice. He uses this voice when he wanted to scare off enemies, and this worked in even the most terrifying like the griffins or the moving willows.

The girls suddenly felt their hearts be filled with fear. Issei couldn't blame them since the tone he used was scary. If it could scare griffins, then it could certainly scare humans.

"Issei-kun!" The leader said in reply. She pushed her glasses up and staggered towards him, a nervous smile on her face.

"What are you doing?" Issei asked in a threatening voice that made even the perverted duo scared.

The girl faced her fears and put on a kind smile, "Uhm… we were merely showing the boys a lesson. They shouldn't have messed our sweet Issei-kun. This is only the right punishment for trying to hurt or harm you." She said smugly.

"And who gave you the permission to punish?!" Issei suddenly walked towards the leader who cowered in fright and stepped back to the safety of her friends.

"Say sorry." He said firmly, crossing his arms.

"I said say sorry."

The girls gulped before turning around the perverted duo, "We're sorry."

They quickly made their way and exited the park, running when they saw Issei watching them closely.

Issei shook his head at this and made his way to Matsuda. He was looking for his glasses, patting the ground. Issei decided to give him a little gift for enduring instead of taking revenge. He picked the broken glasses and mended it. Heating his hands using the intensity of his energy, connecting the broken pieces.

"Here you go." Issei handed the glasses to Matsuda who wore it and thanked him. He grabbed Matsuda by the hand and raised him up.

Motohama was already behind Issei, patting his dirt covered uniform. The expression on his face was guilt and relief. "Thank you…Issei." Motohama said awkwardly.

Issei knew that Motohama and Matsuda regretted the plan they made to bully Issei and take a video of him getting dunked in the toilet. They grabbed their bags that were forcefully opened and started picking their things that got scattered at the side of swings. Issei did his best not to pick the things up too quickly.

"Sorry about the fan club. I didn't know they were doing such things." He heard the bells ring from afar. He resisted the urge to run. It wasn't easy since being late meant getting punished by Michael but the desire to help these two overcame that fear.

"Don't worry about it. We deserved it." Matsuda said, sniffing. If only they weren't awkward, Issei would have hugged that guy.

"No you didn't. None of you did." He said. "Let's go. We're late."

"How do you know?" Motohama asked.

"Take a look at your watches."

They did and they shrugged. Issei envied their situation. At least they didn't have to get punished every time they are late unlike him.

The walking from the park to school was filled by an awkward silence. Issei could have sworn that this was even more awkward than the time where he accidentally entered the car of another man than Uriel's van. The two vans looked so alike that he though he entered Uriel's.

When they arrived at school, Matsuda and Motohama stopped in front of him, "We part ways here." Matsuda said.

Issei raised one of his brows, "What do you mean?" He asked. "We belong in the same class."

"We don't really feel like going to class today." Motohama said, a sheepish grin on his face. He was rubbing the back of his head. Issei could tell that there was more into this but decided to let it slide.

"Oh. Ok then." Issei gave them a lopsided grin, "Bye then."

Issei watched as the two sneakily walked towards the swimming pools. They had this weird, ecstatic and excited grin on their faces, walking like ninja crabs getting chased by birds.

Issei stopped in front of the classroom door, preparing himself. He felt his heartbeat quicken, thumping painfully like it was trying to jump out his chest. Going in a classroom while a class was occurring is not an easy task. They will stare at him like he just spilled their lunches, or if he didn't spill their lunches then he was the lunch. Either way, he didn't want to enter if he had a choice. Unluckily, he didn't have a choice. Being stared upon is better than getting punished by Michael. How he wished that Dulio was with him so he had someone to share the nervousness and anxiety with.

"Issei Hyoudou. Late again now, aren't we?" Their math teacher scorned at him. He winced as the students stared at him, he was the lunch.

He sat down his chair beside Dulio, "What were you doing, Issei? Why are you late?"

"Long story."

The math teacher opened the sliding door to talk to someone. He was smiling? He returned to the board and tapped his table to gather everyone's attention. "Ok, then. We have a new student with us."

"Please come in." The math teacher gestured to someone.

Dulio and Issei were very close in having a heart attack out of surprise.

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Gabriel Heavenlily and I will be joining your class from now on." Gabriel said with a smile. She was delighted to see Issei and Dulio.

She was wearing the Kuoh Uniform. Her white blonde hair was in a princess braid with a few strands falling down her face. She was wearing the golden white scarf Issei gave her around her neck and she had frameless glasses.

The class suddenly broke to whispers. "Isn't that Issei-kun's fiancé?""Wow, she is even more stunning up close."

"Hello, Issei." She waved cutely.

Issei felt that his day was complete. Seeing the beautiful seraph made his day.

LINE BREAK

Issei and Gabriel had slight tinges of pink on their cheeks. They were currently alone on the rooftop. When they got there to talk, the students left instantly, Issei knew why; they wanted them to continue their mystery love story. The two didn't know what to feel about the action, they were flattered, annoyed, embarrassed and thankful.

"So, what are you doing here, Gabby?" He asked. Gabriel was currently leaning her head on Issei shoulder. The smell of her shampoo filled his nose, it was a very pleasant smell.

"Well, this is my other birthday gift." Gabriel said softly. She looked up, blushing as Issei looked back at her. She was itching to see Issei after the party but they never got to since Michael sent the angel duo to sleep since they have school.

Issei's eyes were gleaming in delight. "I am happy that you decided to enroll, even though you can probably outsmart the teacher here."

Gabriel giggled, "I'll try my best not to do that."

"So, "Gabriel began, a teasing grin on her face. Issei gulped at the glinting of Gabriel's eyes, it was filled with mischief. "I heard the girls say that I am your fiancé?"

Issei gulped. Gabriel prevented himself from giggling at the cute terrified face Issei was making. "Uh…you see…Dulio kinda messed up t-"

Issei's face burned. Gabriel raised one of her brows which Issei though was adorable and she was pressing her index finger on his lips, silencing him. "Don't worry." She pressed her head on his chest, "I don't mind if my fiancée is my sweet adorable joker." She blushed at what she said. She didn't know what came over her. She can't stop herself from saying that and she can't vanquish her smile.

Issei still can't get over what Gabriel just said. He can't tell if she is messing and teasing him or was she serious about that. Although the same feeling he felt when she kissed him was present again. "Gabby?" He asked softly.

Gabriel rose and looked at him expectantly, "Yes?"

"Don't be surprised if girls suddenly squeal at you and cheer you on."

"Hmm?"

"Well," He began awkwardly, "there is this fan club that dedicated itself to us." He said, his face red.

Gabriel went as red as Issei, "Oh."

They enjoyed the presence of each other for a while. Gabriel enjoyed the comfortable position she was in, wrapped by the arms of her joker. She scrunched her eyebrows cutely, Issei was snoring? The weight of Issei's head on top of hers increased. She bit her lip, preventing herself from laughing. She carefully changed the position, she laid Issei on her lap.

Issei was sleeping, a small smile graced his lips. Gabriel would have pinched his cheeks if only she wanted to wake him up, she didn't. Instead, she stroked his hair. She was still surprised with how silky the hair of Issei felt, it felt like she was waving through silk. And it smelled good also, in a manly kind of way.

"Gabriel?" Issei asked. He had a smile on his face and his eyes were still closed.

"Yes?" She asked softly.

"If peace was achievable between the three great factions, will you aim for this?"

"Of course. Peace is better than war after all."

Issei smiled at this, "We better return now. The bell will ring in two minutes."

Gabriel's heart sank. She wanted to prolong this even for a little bit long. "Alright." Even if she tried, she couldn't help but to show her disappointment.

Issei noticed this, "Don't worry, my princess." Gabriel's cheeks heated up when she heard the nickname, "If you want to, we can spend our free time in the library."

"The library?" Issei chuckled when Gabriel's eyes lit up.

"Yup." He stood up and offered his hand to Gabriel who gladly reached it. He felt a tingle on his spine as he felt Gabriel's silky soft hands fit of those of an angel. They walked hand in hand towards the staircase leading downstairs.

LINE BREAK

"Come on, Issei. Keep lifting that thing. It's very light you know." Draig said in an amused voice.

Issei glared at him, "You're crazy." He was currently lifting a solid boulder that is as heavy as two tanks. The task was to carry the boulder across the fields, thirty times. He felt like his knees were going to snap and his body was going to get crushed. It is possible since Draig has a mental disorder and Albion is asleep and not there to stop Draig from showing his tough and twisted love for him.

Issei wished he didn't ask to train. He technically signed a slow and painful death. He didn't know Albion, the wise one, was asleep and the one that was going to train him was the crazy welsh dragon. And he says he loves him, If you love me, why are you trying to kill me then.

The mental Gabriel that was walking beside him, repeating the annoying line of 'do you want water?' certainly didn't help. She was starting to annoy Issei and she kept distracting him whenever she tripped. Issei knew this was a fake Gabriel but he still couldn't bring himself to hit the annoying thing the twisted red dragon made for him since she still looked like his princess and he wouldn't be able to sleep even if she is merely a work of the mind.

"Come on, Issei." Draig chuckled, "A girl could probably do better than you."

"Don't mess with me Draig. You're making this even a lot more harder than it already is." Issei complained between his panting. The next time he feels that he is getting weak, he made a silent note to wait for Draig to sleep and Albion to be awake.

Issei threw the large boulder off his shoulders and leaned on the boulder. "I'm done. Finally."

"Very funny, Issei. That's just the warm up."

Issei could have gladly stabbed himself, "What!?"

"Come on. You wanted to improve your Balanced Technique right? Now jog around the whole area."

Issei sighed in relief. This was probably the easiest task the Dragon gave him. He was about to start the jog when the dragon slammed his tail right in front of him. The whole arena shook in the impact and the dust blinded Issei. He fanned the front of his face, desperate to see something. "Are you mad? How am I going to jog around blinded?"

"Huahua! Wear these." A brown leather belt inside a floating orb of green light. IT had these little boxes attached throughout the whole belt.

"Yup. Your crazy." Issei shook his head. He knew what this was. This was an extremely heavy weight to slow him down.

The instant he touched the belt, the green light orb faded and the belt landed on the middle of his palm. The weight was to great for him and brought him down the ground. A very large crater appeared once the belt landed on the ground.

Issei's eyes widened. He asked himself why the dragon had to be the one awake. He wrapped the belt around him and tried a step. A medium sized crater appeared as he stepped.

He felt like his lower body was being sandwiched by a large building. His knees were wobbling and he can barely remain standing. "You expect me to jog with this?" Issei looked at Draig disbelievingly.

"Yes, why not?"

"It's freaking heavy, Draig!"

The dragon broke down to fits of laughter, "Heavy? That? A baby dragon can lift that with ease."

"Well, Draig I am not a dragon!"

"Whatever. You won't be able to wake up unless you finish one lap around the area."

Issei smiled at him sarcastically. One lap would have been easy if only the arena wasn't as large as the whole Tokyo, no…even larger than Tokyo.

Then white. "You are lucky partner. You need to wake up since there was disturbance in the real world."

Issei opened his eyes to see Gabriel, frozen. She had her hair let down to her back and she had this fearful expression on his face. "Gabriel?" Issei asked. He stood up his bad and went to her.

He smirked as he knew what she was about to do. "Were you going to sleep beside me?"

"Don't worry." He suddenly picked her up bridal style. She let out an "Eeep!"

"You should have just asked." Issei laid Gabriel and covered her with a blanket then turned to the other side. "Good night, my sneaky little princess."

Gabriel sighed in relief and blushed as she got caught.

"Make babies already." Draig disturbed the silence.

The two of them blushed. "Damn you, Draig. Damn you."

Three hours has passed and the two were still wide awake, although the other didn't know. Issei can't sleep, despite the comfort and safety being with Gabriel was presenting. He didn't know why but he can't. He actually is panicking as tomorrow there is school and going to school with incomplete sleep cycle is a very bad idea.

Unknown to Issei, Gabriel also was wide awake. Her eyes were sore and itchy, she felt like rubbing it. She wanted so bad to close her eyes but she can't. She wanted to talk to Issei but she decided against that since Issei needs all the rest he can get. Contemplating whether to turn around and hug her joker or remain still like a stone and try closing her eyes.

"Gabriel?" Issei's gentle voice pierced the silence.

Gabriel sighed at this. "Yes, Issei?" She asked sweetly.

"I can't sleep." Issei turned around to see the back of Gabriel.

"Well, I can't either." Gabriel turned around, pouting cutely. Issei breath became ragged when Gabriel turned around and his face become red. He couldn't help but smile at the fact that his sweet Gabriel was unscathed even if the fallen angels attacked them because of him. Then he remembered something, his face turned to that of horrified, like he just saw something that was terribly frightening.

Gabriel frowned at Issei's horrified face, "Is there something wrong, Ise?"

"Gabriel?" He asked. "Have you thanked Masa and his family yet?"

Gabriel mimicked Issei's horrified face, "Oh no. I forgot to thank them."

Issei sat up, "You want to come with me? Let's go thank them."

Gabriel scrunched her brows adorably, looking at the sky as if wondering whether to go or not. "This late at night?"

"Yes." Issei replied simply. Then he pinched Gabriel's cheeks which made both of them blush, he was pulling it just in between sweet and painful. "They prevented my sweet princess from getting herself killed because of her stupidity. I should thank them because if they weren't there, I would have loss my mind if you got taken to." He stood up and opened his closet.

Gabriel pouted, rubbing her cheeks. She remembered how Michael, Uriel or Raphael used to pinch her cheeks whenever she was lazy to do something she was tasked to do. She always hated it, those three thinks it was an adorable and sweet way to show patience and love. She couldn't see how that was an act of love, her cheeks used to sting and she would have to massage it for at least five minutes just so the stretchy feeling disappears. But when Issei was the one that did it, she kind of enjoyed it in a weird kind of way. It was sweet…somehow.

Issei shook her to snap her out of her trance. She turned to the side to see Issei with nothing but his boxers on, the moonlight making his defined and chiseled body glow silver. She thought Issei looked godly, she bit her lower lip. She blushed when Issei laughed at her, "Gabby, you can take a picture if you want to." He said teasingly. Although a blush was evident on his face. He proceeded in wearing a tight white t-shirt that had an arrow as its design and jeans.

Her smile twitched, "I don't have to."

Issei raised one of his eyebrows, "Yeah? And why is that?"

She stood up and ruffled Issei's hair. She had to stand on her toes to be able to near her face to his. "You belong to me." She said in a playful haughty tone that made Issei roll his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I belong to you." He said, trying to look sad but failing to do so. The smile plastered on his face ruined his act.

"I'm just going to change my clothes, ok?" Gabriel said, leaning on the door, a mischievous smile on her face. "Don't peek, ok? You perverted baka." She said playfully while wagging her finger cutely.

Issei was red in embarrassment. He watched as the giggling seraph made her way to the extra guest rooms that she claimed to be hers. Their footsteps were the only noise that can be heard in the whole house, besides Dulio's constant snoring and Xenovia's complaining from time to time.

Issei made his way just outside Gabriel's room and leaned on the side of her door. He waited until Gabriel came out of the room. She had a matching white t-shirt that had a heart on it and jeans. She let her white blonde hair flow down to her back. "Let's go?" She asked, her breathtaking smile directed to Issei who was blushing red. His t-shirt was an arrow and hers was a heart.

"Let's go." He clarified while nodding his head, picking her up playful while climbing down the stairs. Gabriel giggled at this and began letting out halfhearted complaints while laughing.

LINE BREAK

Issei and Gabriel felt nostalgic. They were currently looking at the destroyed city that the ambush occurred in. Some of the buildings had huge holes on it, their windows shattered. The road had crater ranging from a few as small as a ball to some as large as cars. Newspaper was scattered everywhere, and so was the empty tin cans that clanked as the wind made them fly. Both of them saw the fake ice cream bike that got toppled over when the ice cream man revealed himself to be a magma serpent. Even the ice cream cones Issei had accidentally dropped were still there.

Issei still can't get over the fact that the city was actually a huge setup for them. Unpleasant memories started flooding in his head, how he got attacked and captured. He still feels wary about the whole place, even more after the huge transformation the abandoned city has gone through, from an untouched city to a battlefield.

Gabriel felt like a knife was suddenly pointed at her neck, her breath hitched. She tightened her grip at Issei, as if making sure that her sweet Issei is really with her and she isn't just dreaming. Her eyes were watery, she didn't know why but she wanted to cry, in relief. For an instant, an image of a bloodied Issei being pulled to a portal appeared and she looked down, eyes closed. Tears were slowly trickling down her cheeks, her grip tightened even more. She tried to stop crying but she can't. Only now, she though what if Azazel didn't agree to help them, then her Issei would have been tortured, broken, and brainwashed. Even worse, that sick bastard Kokabiel would have touched her Issei inappropriately.

Issei looked at Gabriel who was staring at the ground in concern. He couldn't see her face since her long white blonde hair covered it, but he did see the drop of tears on the ground just below her. He frowned at this and pulled her to a hug. "Hey, now. Stop crying." He felt Gabriel press her face on his chest, a wet spot her tears were creating. He rubbed her back comfortingly.

Gabriel laughed, cried and sniffed at the same time, looking at Issei. "I'm sorry." She sniffed before laughing, tears falling down at the same time. "I just realized how lucky I am to get my sweet Issei back."

Issei smiled softly at her, "That's why you should be more kind to your joker and not tease him."

"Haha." She said sarcastically, wiping her tears. "You like it when I tease you." Issei laughed admittedly.

"Let's go." Issei lightly tugged Gabriel by her hand and began walking through the destroyed battlefield.

Issei and Gabriel felt a wave of happiness wash over them after they saw the hot spring, light was open inside. For miles, it is the only place lit up. Issei and Gabriel walked at the stone path that led to the front door. They saw Masa's wife, Aiya, sipping at hot tea peacefully, her eyes closed. Issei cleared his throat, getting the attention of Aiya. A huge smile slowly formed on her lips, she stood up ad ran inside the hot springs, "Honey! Gabriel and Issei have returned!"

The sudden falling of things and the cursing of an old man was heard, before he ran out the hot springs. He was looking at the smiling couple who had their hands intertwined like they were a bunch of ghosts, "Issei? Gabriel?"

"Hello, Masa-sama." Gabriel greeted with a gentle smile. She let go of Issei's hand, he noticed him flinch. She didn't want to but they can't remain holding hands the whole time. She gave Issei a look that said, Don't worry, we'll hold hands again later. Issei gave her a smile she thought was cute before turning back to Masa.

Masa wobbly walked towards Gabriel, but his gaze was directed to Issei. He never thought he would see the boy again, when you get captured by fallen angels, you're a goner for sure, especially after learning that he was an angel, and not only that but the Joker of Gabriel. "My boy, I have never thought to see you again." He said disbelievingly but with a relieved smile on his face. He was pleased that the boy made it out alive somehow, by the looks of the faces of the fallen angels, they weren't planning to take it easy on the poor angel.

Issei smiled back at the old man. He was so kind to them ever since they arrived, "Well, I didn't expect that I will still make it out alive there." He said with a guilty grin on his face. Issei saw Gabriel put a hand on her hip and had a glare-pout on her face like she was saying, You really didn't think that I will come to save you? Issei gave a dismissive wave of her hand at Gabriel who huffed away and instead he laughed, "But here I am, no?"

"Y-You're, err…" Masa began halfheartedly. He had a contemplating and serious look on his face. "You're still an angel, right?"

"Of course." Issei answered.

Masa breathed out a sigh of relief. "Your wings still white?"

Issei unfolded his ten pure white wings and it shot out rather, gracefully. Masa smiled and shook his head. It was not that he doubted Issei, it was because he wanted to see an angel's wings once again. It lit up a small area at the dark night. Masa felt Aiya wrap herself at his arm, "An angel's wings is one magnificent creation, no?" Masa asked Aiya. He chuckled when she slowly nodded her head, her gaze not moving from Issei's wings. She really didn't get aa good look at Gabriel's ings since it was raining hard back then and also because her eyesight is not that good.

Issei folded back his wings and smiled at the old man. The old man raised a skeptic brow, "So why are you here so late at night?"

"I am here to thank you, Masa-sama." Issei began, before pulling a blushing Gabriel to his chest, "If not for you then my sweet Gabriel would have stupidly attacked the fallen angels and would have got captured also." He ended while looking at Gabriel who had a guilty expression on her face. Gabriel glared at Issei who cuddled her sweetly.

"Oh, it was nothing. I just did the right thing. I can't just ignore the fact that you two got ambushed by the fallen angels, so I brought my son with me and we helped." Masa said kindly. Wrapping his arms around his wife who hugged him.

Issei grinned at Masa before he raised his eyebrow, "Where is Takeo by the way?"

"Oh," Masa had a crestfallen look on his face, "he is not here, sadly. He is in an outing with his companions in work."

"Why don't you enter the hot springs, huh?" Aiya offered, "I can make us some tea."

Gabriel and Issei looked at each other. Having a silent conversation whether to come in and stay for a while or go now. They both have school tomorrow and had to wake up early, but on the other hand, Aiya's tea was something even Griselda's tea can't beat in a competition of taste. "Alright, then." Gabriel clasped her hands together, "Aiya-sama, please make us that tea of yours."

Aiya clapped her hands and smiled, "Great." She approached Issei, she has a weird contemplating expression on her face that made Issei nervous.

Then she smiled and pinched Issei's cheeks, rather hard. She chuckled, "So handsome."

Aiya and Masa proceeded to enter the hot springs. Issei pouted and rubbed and massaged his cheeks, he felt like they were going to droop. Gabriel laughed at Issei's expression that she found delectable, "Now you know how I felt." She said in a voice that was about to laugh.

Issei pouted at her as she pointed her tongue at him while giggling.

They led the angel couple to the cafeteria. Since it was late, it was empty. The chairs were turned upside-down and hanged on the tables. The only source of light was the kitchen and the small electrical lanterns on the middle of each table. Issei helped Masa turn down the chairs in a certain table for them to seat on while Gabriel followed the old woman towards the kitchen to help her and even learn in how to make that tea. Masa and Issei watched as the two went in the kitchen before Masa sat down the chair nearest to him.

Issei looked around, nostalgia filling him to the brim. He remembered the good time Gabriel and him had in the hot springs. The meeting with Rita, the jealousy of Gabriel, the kindness of the old couples, he cherished that all. He sat down a chair, opposite to Masa. Masa looked at him with a smile that can be seen to a grandfather to his grandchildren, "So how is life treating you?" He asked.

Issei felt reluctant in answering the question. Besides getting tortured, being watched, being followed by a mysterious and crazy man that seems to think that his life is whole game and both Draig and Albion training him and pushing him to his limits, his life was wonderful. Of course he didn't say that, "Peachy." He began drumming his fingers on the wooden table. The only sound that can be heard in the whole cafeteria was the drumming of Issei's fingers and the constant clanking and apologies that came from the kitchen. Looks like Gabriel is having a hard time making tea without using her angelic powers.

"Here you go." Aiya that was carrying a tray that had a white pot and four white porcelain teacups. She had a distraught smile on her face. Gabriel was behind her, a downcast and guilty look on her face. Issei chuckled lightly at this, looks like Gabriel was having a hard time not to mess things up.

Aiya sighed, placing the tray. Masa sat up straight at the smell of the tea.

Issei and Gabriel listened at the stories of Masa when he was still an exorcist and how he met Aiya. Issei and Gabriel listened in intent as it was identical to the stories Uriel loves to tell them while sipping at the hot tea Aiya made them.

LINE BREAK

"It was fun." Gabriel said to Issei who was fumbling at the keys to the front door. They just returned from the visit. It was very dark now, their only source of light being the light at the front gate that was shaped like a medieval lantern. Issei was having a hard time getting the keys since he was freezing and shaking lightly, his fingers felt like they had ice on their joints. On the way home, the temperature suddenly dropped, and it was freezing. Both of them were shaking lightly out of the cold temperature the dark night had.

Issei chuckled bitterly, "We are wearing nothing but jeans and shirts."

Gabriel rubbed her arms, trying to heat the cold that was slowly creeping on her skin, blowing out her breath and watching it disappear. "Yeah, we never thought that it would become this cold."

Although both of them are angels, extremely strong angels, they lowered their power levels and suppressed it to a level that humans can tolerate. If they didn't, Masa and Aiya would be nothing but dust by now. The downside is that they can be affected by the sickness and flues the humans have and even the rain affects them. Their tolerance in pain, heat, coldness, pressure, humidity, and gravity also lowers to a human level, but Issei and Gabriel decided that those downsides are better than turning the old couple to dust.

"Although despite this, I enjoyed our little sneaking out and travel somewhere at night suddenly and unanticipatedly." Gabriel giggled.

Issei managed to get the right key and unlock the door despite his shaking fingers. It was so cold he could see his own breath. He turned around to let Gabriel in first before he took a last look outside before he locked his door.

"I enjoyed it to." Issei said, sitting beside Gabriel who was removing her shoes.

Both of them simultaneously climbed the stairs and stopped at the sight of the rooms. "So, you want to join me for the night?" Issei asked in an adequately hopeful tone.

Gabriel held her chin and looked up as if wondering, a sly smile on her face. "Hmm? I suppose I could if you want me to." She said.

Issei blushed at this, "I guess I want you to." He scratched the back of his head, "But you don't need to if you don't want to."

Gabriel turned as red as Issei. She cursed under her breath the intelligence of Issei. He turned her own game against her, "I-I want t-to." She stuttered in reply, a bashful and shy mood she was feeling.

"I'm just going to change to my pajamas." She said before running to her room in an awkward walk.

Issei shrugged his shoulders and entered his room. He removed the shirt he was wearing and shot it to the basket. He decided to put on his sleepwear since Gabriel was going to sleep with him tonight. He went to his cabinet and opened it. He immediately regretted not buying more sleepwear, Uriel bought him one that looked like it was for kids, it was baby blue in color and had these little angel wings and halo that went across the whole thing. Issei groaned, Gabriel was going to tease him a lot when she sees this.

He laid down the bed and covered himself in a blanket, waiting for Gabriel's entering. The door creaked open just after he covered himself, "Issei?" She asked in a timid voice.

He turned around to see Gabriel having a sleepwear on her that was identical to his. It was light pink and had these angel wings and halo also. Her face was morphed into one of embarrassment. Issei would have laughed at her if only he wasn't feeling the same feeling she was feeling. She slowly crawled her way to Issei's side, biting back a laugh when she saw what Issei was wearing before frowning when she remembered what she was wearing.

"Let's kill Uriel-oniisama tomorrow?" Gabriel offered, back to back with Issei.

"I'm with you."

Issei and Gabriel, much to their embarrassment, simultaneously turned around and looked up. They were now shoulder to shoulder.

"Goodnight, Gabby." He said.

"Goodnight," She returned flatly, "my sweet Issei." She said softly before closing her eyes, a smile that can't be vanquished plastered on her face.

LINE BREAK

(A/N) Please leave a review. I'll update at Thursday or Friday, maybe a bit earlier.