The Battle Never Ends

by Arthain

The Tyrant had surpassed death once before. This time wouldn't have been any different save for the determination of one young man and his desire to protect all that he cared for. But what should have been the end instead became a new beginning. A beginning somewhere else. A beginning where Night Raid was still needed.

5. A Cold Nightmare

Note on Sensei: I just want to state that no, Tatsumi didn't have sex with Sensei last chapter. All he did was rest in her bosom while she recharged his body. Bennia did all the bouncing. For those that know who she is, and it seems like most of you do by now, you should know why she can't have sex with Tatsumi.

Note on First Section: The first section of this chapter, time wise, really should have been in the last chapter since it follows it almost immediately afterwards whereas the rest of the chapter takes place several days later. However the last chapter ended in a really good place. There's no 'cliff hanger' so to speak, but there's anticipation for the next chapter. This section would have shifted the overall mood Chapter 3 ended on and I felt ending that chapter on the proper mood was more important than having a perfectly flowing Chapter 4. It's the curse of Fan Fiction chapters. Were it a real novel I could have proper chapter lengths and not have this issue.

Chapter 4: A Cold Nightmare

The Occult Research Club at Kuoh Academy on the surface looked like an everyday, ordinary club. It was situated in the old school house before Kuoh became co-ed, being in the forest and half covered in creeper vines added to the occult vibe. The building had been retrofitted to match the same theme, and that included the primary club meeting room. The place opted out of traditional lighting, instead utilizing a series of candelabras to cast a soft, orange glow across everything. The diamond pattern wallpaper that covered everything was home to countless occult paintings, with no two ever having the same dimensions.

Sona would never admit it to her friend, but she found the entire place rather garish. It fit the mood that the club was trying to portray, but at the same time it was completely unnecessary. The only ones that ever came here were members of her club, or other special individuals. All of whom knew that the Occult Research Club was merely being used as an excuse for Rias Gremory and her peerage to go to a human school rather than a devil one. Sona very much preferred the crisp, straight lines and symmetry of the new school building, especially the Student Council room where her own peerage gathered.

She knocked once before entering the room where Rias Gremory was meeting with the newest member of her peerage, Rias was expecting her so formality wasn't overly necessary. Sona found that member, a one Hyoudou Issei, sitting beside Rias' Rook, Koneko, on an overly elaborate couch. Facing him from across a decadent coffee table was Rias' Queen and Knight, Akeno and Kiba, sitting on an identically garish couch. Rias herself was leaned back against a large desk that faced the door with her arms crossed beneath her overly large chest.

That was another thing Sona disliked about her friend but was too proud to ever actually say it. It was unfair just how well-endowed Rias was. If her onee-sama was an indication of what Sona had to look forward to, then all she would ever be was 'just barely enough,' which didn't even begin to compare to her friend, Rias. That was one competition Sona would never win.

None of that showed on her face as she stepped into the room. "You said you had something important to discuss, Rias?" Sona asked.

Rias gave her a welcoming smile. "I do, yes, I was just explaining to Issei about his situation, or rather filling in the gaps. It seems Tatsumi has already filled him in on a great deal."

"I see."

Sona already knew Tatsumi had regular dealings with Fallen Angels and Devils. Her sister had mentioned as much and it hadn't taken a lot of searching to find other incidents that Tatsumi had been involved in. None of those incidents mentioned or described Tatsumi explicitly, but they were just too similar to the issue with Cordain Shax for it to not be him.

Rumors of the Fallen Angels and Devils were starting to make their rounds through the internet and various circles of society now thanks in part to his actions.

"Then you're probably also not surprised by the fact that Tatsumi seems to think that members of a peerage are slaves," Rias said.

"I don't care if I'm a slave!" Issei shouted as he leapt to his feet. "To be surrounded by such beauties every day! It's worth it! And to think I can someday have servants of my own!" His face grew perverted and lust began to sparkle in his eyes. "My dream of being a Harem King is finally within reach! I'll gladly go to hell for that!"

Disgusting. That was the only word Sona could use to describe the man, no the thing, she was staring at before her. Sacred Gear or not, Sona wouldn't have been able to stand having someone like that in her peerage. "You've chosen quite the… unique specimen to add to your peerage."

Rias rubbed her forehead and sighed. "There are some rough edges," she admitted.

"As for Tatsumi's assumption that members of our peerage are slaves, he's not entirely incorrect. The Evil Pieces system does have that potential lurking inside it and there are even some rather despicable Kings out there that utilize it for just such a thing." Sona gave Issei a disdainful look. Lost as he was in his day dream he didn't even notice. Individuals like Issei for instance, who had an entirely selfish desire and goal, often ended up like that. Rias would need to break him properly before he would ever be allowed a peerage of his own. "You know who I speak of. Those that mistreat members of their peerage and see them as nothing more than tools to elevate themselves."

Rias grimaced and looked away. While she and Rias saw members of their peerage more as friends, family, there were those that did not. The Astaroths and the Abaddons were especially notorious for that, although Ajuka Beelzebub was an exception. Then there were a great number of older devils that still clung to the old ways and thought humans as nothing more than an outlet for their desires. Tools to be used and discarded as they saw fit.

Her sister was trying to change that, along with Sirzechs and the other Satans, but it was a slow progress and Sona was enough of a realist to understand that some would simply never change, even on pain of death.

"If he sees being a member equated to that of a slave, Tatsumi will never accept the offer to become your Knight," Rias pointed out.

Sona was already aware of that as well, preferred it that way even. He wouldn't be worth nearly as much if he was easy to obtain. Tatsumi was a very intense, strong-willed individual with a strongly defined sense of morals and views. It was one of his traits that drew her to him. "Tatsumi is simply missing a few key pieces of information." Sona replied simply. "He's intelligent and practical. There is no such thing as a perfect system. There are countless examples to pull from right here in human society. There will always be those that abuse systems for their own benefits." Sona adjusted her glasses more comfortably on the bridge of her nose. "I'm not going to even try to justify the system. It has its bad points. I'm simply going to stress that not everyone abuses it and convince him that I don't."

"Is that why you have him play chess with you every lunch?" Rias asked mildly.

"In part, yes," Sona replied.

She couldn't admit she genuinely liked having Tatsumi there. He was the only boy here at Kuoh Academy that wasn't either terrified of her or placed her on a pedestal to idolize. That he was intelligent, a quick learner, and more than a little attractive, were nice qualities as well. She was even guilty of trying to envision what he looked like beneath that uniform of his. He did have very nice shoulders. She was suddenly forced down push down a wave of heat that built up inside her.

She kept her features carefully schooled as she continued on. "If he becomes familiar with the members of my peerage he'll realize that even though they're devils, they still live very much human lives. That they're not treated as slaves, but as friends, companions. Much like how you treat your own peerage."

"He might be a threat," Rias added. "He hid it well, but I could sense his hostility towards me. That level of hostility is strange considering we've never spoken." Rias moved over to Issei's side and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, snapping the boy from his lust filled day dream. "The way he effortlessly dismantled that Fallen Angel last night showed a familiarity with their kind a normal human shouldn't have."

"Rias, Tatsumi is no stranger to dealing with Fallen Angels, or Devils for that matter," Sona told her bluntly. "He's killed them before, many of them. I'm well aware of what he's capable of. I didn't say anything when you went after this pervert because I was your friend, and as my friend I hope you'll do the same and leave Tatsumi to me."

"You already knew all this? Why didn't you tell me that such a dangerous person was in my area?"

"Rias, honestly, I like you, you're a good friend, but never assume that I'm obligated to tell you everything."

"That's… I'm sorry," Rias apologized. She suddenly looked exhausted. "I'm just worried about you."

She sighed and pinched her nose. "I know. I apologize as well for getting heated. Tatsumi is just… someone that needs to be handled with care." And she didn't want Rias sticking her nose into Sona's business. Rias was a busy-body and had a tendency to over-involve herself in things she didn't need to. When you coupled that with her passion and emotions, it usually spelled disaster. "He has experienced the worst that we devils have to offer. There isn't anyone who wouldn't think ill of our kind after having seen what he has." Just remembering what her sister had said Cordain Shax had done to those families was enough to send a sliver of revulsion through Sona. She really didn't blame Tatsumi for holding ill will towards Devils after being forced to witness those sorts of atrocities, even she felt revulsion towards them and she was a devil. That wasn't his first experience either. From what Sona had been able to dig up later there had been a number of other unfortunate situations that Tatsumi had been a part of. "You've asked me why I never just straight up asked him to join. At first it was because I needed to make certain he would accept the offer. Now it's because I need to prove to him first that not all devils are murderous, child torturing monsters."

"What do you plan to do if Tatsumi is unable to accept that you're a devil and becomes violent?" Rias pressed her.

It was a fair concern. "I intend to have onee-sama with me when that time comes," Sona replied. She wasn't naïve. There was a very real possibility that Tatsumi's hatred was just too ingrained in him for her to ever overcome it. "She'll keep him suppressed while I… erase his memories of you and me." She always had a plan for the worst case scenario, just in case. It was a last resort, something she'd only do after she'd exhausted every other option.

Rias nodded. "Alright, I understand. You seem to know more about him than I." A mischievous and knowing smile suddenly broke out across her lips. "But you shouldn't wait too long though or you may find him taken."

Sona sent her friend a sharp look, "what do you mean?" She wasn't aware of any threat to her claim on Tatsumi.

"I mean that Tatsumi's skill and familiarity with our world wasn't the only thing we learned about him last night." There was that little smile on Rias' face again, the one that bespoke of laughter without actually laughing. "He has a Grim Reaper with him. A girl that looks younger than I believe she actually is, I'd wager she is around our age. They seemed quite close considering he didn't even react to her kiss."

"You mean that girl in the skimpy blue dress!?" Issei's face scrunched up tight as he wiggled in place, obviously imagining some sort of perverted scene. "I could tell she wasn't wearing anything under it! Oh Tatsumi you lucky dog! You already got that perfect loli for your own harem! I'm not going to lose to him!" Issei rounded on Koneko, huffing and puffing lustily. Koneko just gave him a deadpanned look before punching him across the room. Issei yelped in pain as he was cratered into the wall next to Sona, upside down.

Sona ignored him as she went over Rias' words. A Grim Reaper? Sona hadn't known that, but it did fit with some of the reports she'd read. A few of those deaths seemed strange on account of there being no visible wounds. If Tatsumi had a Grim Reaper with him, it would explain it. But…

"I fail to see how that is an issue."

"I'll admit you may be a better strategist than me, Sona," Rias said with a light smile on her lips, "but I know the heart better than you."

Rias' words brought Tatsumi's smiling face to mind and a pleasant warmth in the pit of her core. She didn't let it show on her face as she turned to make for the door. "I believe I said to leave Tatsumi to me. Is there anything else, Rias?"

"No, that's it," Rias said, stepping with that knowing smile still firmly planted on her lips.

Damn her. Sometimes Sona felt her friend could see straight through her. "Then I need to be going. Even if I am granted some leeway with my classes on account of Student Council work, I still need to attend some."

She left Rias and her peerage behind and quickly left the old school building. Her quickened pace had nothing to do with Rias words and everything to do with getting to class on time. She was certain of that. As Student Council President it was her duty to set a good example.

But that Grim Reaper did complicate things. Unlike Rias, Sona was a bit more practical. So long as she got what she wanted, she was willing to make concessions.

The tingling heat inside her continued to build as she adjusted the scheduled events and encounters she'd already set up to convince Tatsumi. "I'll have to speed things up a little," Sona murmured quietly. It wasn't like she had any qualms about her future plans to convince Tatsumi that she was different than all those other devils. She just needed to prepare herself properly for it.

x~X~x

Several days after taking that Fallen Angel, which Tatsumi managed to learn was called Dohnaseek, found him sitting across from Souna at lunch time staring down once more at a losing game of chess. He knew this next move of his would determine whether he fell on Souna's next move, or lasted a bit longer. If he took the rook with his queen, which was quite obviously a trap, she'd have him in check mate. That was a move he'd normally play in the past, but if he instead moved a pawn up one square to put it within attack range of the rook, it would preserve Tatsumi a few more turns.

A quick death or a slow death. Neither were particularly appealing, so Tatsumi's thoughts kept wandering to that Fallen Angel. He was in a secure location, an old abandoned farm just on the outskirts of the city. The barn hadn't seen use in decades from its condition. It had taken some renovations to fix it up and conceal the fact that Tatsumi had Dohnaseek tied to a cross inside there, but done it had been. Some special holy artifacts later, courtesy of Sensei, and the place was uncomfortable, if not downright painful, for the Fallen Angel.

Still, the man hadn't been very forth coming. He easily gave pointless information like his name, how he's affiliated with Azazel and Kokabiel, and other bits of useless information that Tatsumi couldn't really use. What he really wanted, Raynare's location and his purpose here in the city, he guarded no matter how much pain Tatsumi inflicted on the man.

Tatsumi supposed being a seven thousand year old angel/fallen angel helped build his pain tolerance a bit.

"I might need to think about imposing a time limit," Souna murmured.

Tatsumi cleared his throat roughly, "sorry about that." He moved his queen and took the rook. A quick death was better than a painful one, especially if it fed into a longer meta-game.

"Checkmate," Souna said as she moved her queen to take his.

Tatsumi adopted a morose look on his face as he gazed at the offending queen. "And I've now lost my fifty-fifth game."

It wasn't all bad though. Tatsumi was almost ready to do his counter-attack. He had stopped showing Souna how much better he was getting at the game to lull her into a sense of complacency. Tatsumi had no delusions about ever being better than her, she would always stand above him. But taking down stronger, smarter, and more intelligent people was one of Night Raid's calling cards. It was all about striking when they were unprepared. There would only be a single chance to do it, but Tatsumi intended on seizing at least one victory before she graduated and moved on to University.

It just wouldn't be today though. He was stilling working through the finer details of the strategy. It was more difficult than he thought it'd be, giving him new respect for what Najenda had always done for them.

"I would be more worried if a beginner such as yourself started to win so soon," Souna said. "Do not berate yourself over the loss. I have been playing this since I was a child. Much like Kiba lost to your years of experience, you too are losing to mine." She leaned across the chess table and laid her hand against his. "At the rate you're improving I expect a real challenge by the end of the year." Her lips quirked upwards into a smile. "I must admit I am looking forward to it."

Her hand was warm, the touch soft and gentle. It was a strange feeling, different from Bennia who was always a little cold and whose touch held a sense of urgency and need. Souna was expecting a response, not just to her words but her touch as well. For some reason he had this feeling that the direction of their friendship depended entirely on how he responded.

Friendship? That thought caused Tatsumi to pause. He hadn't ever really considered Souna a friend before. She was the Student Council President, a third year student at Kuoh Academy, his senpai in school and chess. She was someone that had taken him away from Ieyasu and Sayo during lunch and bombard him with annoying games of chess… wasn't she? And yet she did save him from the ever present gaze of Koneko and the Kendo Club fangirls he'd obtained. He was certain it was fear of Souna that prevented Koneko from simply taking his lunch. Although she was undoubtedly forceful, she had helped him integrate smoothly and quickly into the school life, had been there to answer any and all questions, supported him along the way, and even gave him a peaceful place to have lunch.

Not being able to see Sayo and Ieyasu at lunch wasn't a big deal. He spent three days a week just hanging out with them after school.

He hadn't even realized it but somewhere along the way he had started to consider Souna as a friend. Ever since he started here at Kuoh Academy she'd simply been a constant presence at his side, something he'd almost started to take for granted. These lunchtime chess matches weren't even annoying anymore, what was annoying was the fact that he always lost.

A feeling of guilt welled up inside Tatsumi. Here he was, enjoying school, making friends, being happy, when his sister was dead, denied all that he was able to have. He wasn't allowed to be happy. His happiness caused others to suffer.

He captured Souna's eyes with his own. Barely any time had passed while those thoughts whirled inside his head. Moments at most, Souna was still expecting a response. Tatsumi's happiness didn't matter, but Ieyasu's and Sayo's, theirs did, as did Souna's. What would make her happiest?

Tatsumi gave her a wide smile as he placed his other hand over hers. "I'm looking forward to it as well. At first I must admit, I felt these games with you were nothing more than a punishment. Now I find myself more upset at losing, than actually playing."

He knew as soon as her eyes lit up with happiness, that his actions and words were exactly what she wanted to hear. The guilt died down a little. So long as the happiness of the people he cared about was preserved, it didn't matter what he did, or didn't, get from it.

"I am glad you've come to realize the joy of chess," Souna said, almost letting a genuine smile crease her lips, "you do not always have to bash people's skulls in to find enjoyment."

"It's very good for venting frustration," Tatsumi pointed out.

She did smile then. "I suppose I can give you that." She bent down and picked up a small box lunch from her bag on the floor. "Now, why don't we have lunch before we start our next game. Otherwise I fear Koneko's stomach may end up eating itself."

As if called the short, white-haired girl appeared at their side, seemingly teleporting from wherever she had been in the school. Her eyes were glued to Tatsumi's duffel bag where she could no doubt smell the food.

Tatsumi wasn't about to just hand it over though. "Sit," he said. Koneko obediently knelt on the floor next to the small table. As Tatsumi reached for his duffle bag her ears perked up and her eyes started to gleam with eagerness. He pulled out two bento boxes. "Stay, stay," Tatsumi coaxed gently, like a master training his pet. She hovered on the edge of lunging for the bento box and obediently staying.

"My, this is certainly an interesting sight," Souna said, the amused look on her face as close to laughter as Tatsumi had ever seen from her. "I've heard of taming pets before, but this takes it to a new level."

"Just setting some ground rules," Tatsumi said. "I don't mind feeding her, but she needs to behave."

"I behave," she said quickly, her eyes completely glued to the two bento boxes.

Tatsumi almost couldn't believe Koneko was a devil. She was certainly a far cry from the monsters he had been forced to kill to date. She seemed more like an adorable kitten, one constantly bugging you for food.

"Yes you have, here you go," Tatsumi said as he handed Koneko the second bento box. It was taken and she was gone to the nearby council table faster than he could blink. "She must have been really hungry."

"Koneko is one of those girls that can eat and never get full," Souna said.

"Or put on weight from the looks of it," Tatsumi adding, noting her slim figure.

"I know," Souna all but growled. There was a dangerous look in her eyes and Tatsumi knew he was treading on treacherous ground. "She has to be cheating!"

Treacherous ground indeed, time to try and pacify the danger beast, "it almost looks like you're cheating as well," Tatsumi said as he eyed her figure. Souna's gaze snapped back to his. "You really have nothing to be jealous of."

Honestly about the only 'problem' Souna could claim to have was the size of her bust, and that didn't really bother Tatsumi. The first woman he'd ever loved, Mine, had been small and Bennia wasn't going to be winning any competitions either. Compared to them Souna could be considered well-endowed.

"Oh?" Souna asked, her eyes flashing dangerously as she crossed her arms beneath her chest. "Do tell."

Tatsumi swallowed hard. This was the most dangerous part. "I think you're perfectly fine the way you are, and I'm not just saying that. You're beautiful."

She just stared at him with that flat, emotionless look she normally had on her face. Had he said the wrong thing? He didn't know. Tatsumi couldn't tell what she was thinking and it caused nervous sweat to bead on his forehead.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity broken only by the sound of Koneko eating, Souna smiled. "If it was anyone but you, Tatsumi, I would find that an unwelcome advance." A sharp snap echoed across the student council room. "Saji, stop breaking the pens," she said without ever taking her eyes off his. "However, since it is thank you. I appreciate the compliment. I find most boys are overly drawn to… unnecessary attributes."

Rias and Akeno immediately came to mind, or their breasts rather. Tatsumi wasn't one to judge someone based on the size of their breasts but… "theirs are a little too big," Tatsumi muttered. What would you do with all that? At best they got in the way, at worst they were a health hazard, although Sensei's were an exception.

For some reason there was a small, satisfied smile on Souna's lips, one that didn't leave them throughout lunch.

~o~

Tatsumi already had his bag packed with his books as the bell signalling the end of the final class of the day rang. He had to move quickly otherwise he would be swarmed by the girls of the Kendo Club and if that happened he'd be forced to go straight to club activities and there was something he needed to do before then. Something he doubted the girls would allow happen.

The moment the bell rang Tatsumi was out of his seat and heading for the door. "I'll see you at the club," Tatsumi threw over his shoulder to his friend, Ieyasu, before rushing out of the room.

Three days was enough to know that right after the bell rang Issei went to the straight to the Occult Club in the old school house. Tatsumi only had that brief window where Issei crossed the school yard to catch him. It was too likely to be overheard before, and Tatsumi wasn't walking into enemy territory, not yet. Tatsumi ghosted past girls, slipped through unused rooms, scaled walls, and made enormous leaps of faith from rooftops into carts of suspiciously placed hay. It took every ounce of skill he had developed over the thirty four years of memories he possessed just to make it to the school yard without one of the Kendo Girls seeing him.

A monumental achievement on par with killing some of the most dangerous Devils and Fallen Angels, he was certain. Those girls seemed to be able to track him no matter where he went or where he hid. It was like they were all part bloodhound.

He managed it though, and five minutes later found Tatsumi hurrying across the school yard, catching up to Issei without a single girl nearby. He didn't have much time, if any of them looked out the window they'd see him and come rushing. Even quicker if they saw him with Issei, they didn't want him 'tainted' by Issei's perverseness.

"Issei! Hold a moment," Tatsumi called out as he got close.

The captain of the perverted trio paused and looked around in confusion for a moment before he saw him. "Tatsumi? What is it, are you following me to the Occult club?"

"Ah, no, I wasn't going to go that far, I have club activities soon like you," Tatsumi said as he quickly came up beside him. "I was actually wondering how you're doing."

Issei let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm doing fine!" He looked around furtively, "this whole devil thing can be exhausting…" he shuddered.

"How?" Tatsumi asked, concerned.

"Devils have to fulfil the wishes of others to get any power-ups. I spent all night arguing with Morisawa about which Drag So-Ball character was the best that I forgot to make him sign a contract," there were tears streaming down Issei's face. "I'm never going to get stronger at this rate!"

That was a very strange… contract or whatever it was devils did. That didn't sound anything like the soul devouring rituals he'd read about. "Does it matter? Why not just try living as a normal human would have," Tatsumi offered.

"NEVER!" Issei roared as he lifted his face to the heavens. "I can't ever go back to being a human so I'm going to become the Harem King!" A drop of sweat rolled down the back of Tatsumi's head at how determined Issei seemed to be. The pervert's face became filled with lust and sparkles danced around him as he got lost in a daydream. "Did you know that if I perform well enough and become a High-Class devil I can have servants of my own? I can have my own personal Harem!"

"And Rias has no problem with this?"

"I'm going to make Rias part of that harem!"

That's Issei for you. Tatsumi had to admit that perhaps he really didn't need to worry about Issei. If anyone would have been satisfied with being reincarnated as a devil, especially by a primary actor in his sexual fantasies, it would be Issei. It still didn't excuse Rias for what she did to him. She sat back, let him die, and then made the choice for him. Even if Issei would have said yes, he was never given the ability to say yes.

Rias had simply gotten lucky.

"You're not going to force them to be in your harem, are you?" Tatsumi asked. "Like rape them if they say no?"

That snapped Issei out of his fantasy. The aghast look on his face was all the confirmation Tatsumi needed. It really was just your standard high school harem fantasy playing out in Issei's head where all the girls happily threw their naked bodies at him without complaint. Real life would probably slap him in the face eventually, but for now his desire really was harmless.

"Just wanted to be sure," Tatsumi said, "if you want a harem, go for it, just don't try to force anyone to be a part of it. Respect a woman's wishes and the two of us won't have any problems." If Issei ever sunk to that level Tatsumi would be there to kill him, and not because he was a devil. Of course Tatsumi didn't think that'd ever be a problem. Issei, despite being as perverted as he was, wasn't that sort of individual. So long as Rias didn't change him, he'd remain as such.

"I'd never force anyone!" Issei declared. He pointed a finger at him. "And I won't lose to you! I will catch Koneko and match your loli Grim Reaper!"

Tatsumi just stared at Issei before he started to laugh. It was so hard to see Issei as anything but the perverted human he had once been. "Well, I think I have a leg up on Koneko with those lunch boxes." He wouldn't ever take her on account of her being a devil, but the horrified look on Issei's face made it worth saying it. "And how far have you ever gone with a girl? Bennia and I? I need to be careful not to do it too much, less I run the risk of getting her pregnant."

The shocked look on his face was just too much, it made Tatsumi laugh once more. Before either of them could say anything else though, Tatsumi caught a storm of movement out of the corner of his eyes. The Kendo Girls were rushing to his side from the main school building. He was out of time.

"I have to go, unless you want those girls to beat you again," Tatsumi said, pointing to the girls with his thumb. Traumatic shivers ran up and down Issei's body. "Just remember to always treat girls well, and they'll treat you well in turn."

"I will have a bigger harem than you!" Issei swore as Tatsumi left him behind. "You may have Bennia and Sona, but I won't let you steal Koneko!"

Tatsumi did his best to ignore that last comment. He didn't have a harem, only his childhood friend turned something more with Bennia. As for Souna… she was a friend, that was it. Even if he did enjoy spending time with her and she was rather attractive didn't mean he was going to form a harem. As for Koneko… she was a devil. Enough said.

But as Tatsumi was surrounded by the female club members a niggling feeling wormed its way to the front of his thoughts.

Why were all the short, small-chested girls drawn to him?

He didn't have much time to dwell on that thought as the girls all but dragged him to the club room. Ieyasu was already there, surrounded by his own set of women all begging him to help them with this form or that strike.

"You say what you needed to say?" Ieyasu asked him when he noticed his arrival.

"I did."

"Was it about… that night?"

Tatsumi nodded. "I'll tell you and Sayo about it after club."

~o~

The archery club at Kuoh Academy was well equipped, including a two change rooms, a large instruction room, and a full range outdoor archery range with six targets of varying distances. It wasn't the largest club at Kuoh Academy, barely half the size of the Kendo club, but Souna made sure that every serious club got the funding and attention it needed and the archery club was no exception.

Like the rest of the academy though, it was still a very much a female dominated club. The number of boys in it could be counted on one hand while the total member count was over thirty.

The club wasn't there at the moment however. It was just Tatsumi, Ieyasu and Sayo, in the archery range. Ieyasu sat at the edge of the firing platform with one leg dangling down onto the grass and the other curled up beside him. Sayo had offered to stay late and clean which allowed her to practice long after the club had finished for the day. Unless the three of them had plans to go out somewhere, she always practiced late.

She was even now standing just beside Ieyasu, staring down range at the target. With a sharp twang she loosed another arrow. It soared straight and split an arrow already in the target.

"You're getting really good," Tatsumi noted. So good in fact that he could easily see her matching the Sayo he used to know in a month's time. She and Ieyasu both seemed far more determined and serious about their practicing than they had when he first met them. "Both of you are improving quickly."

"We have reason to be," Ieyasu said, none of his usual humor visible on his face. "I don't want to be helpless if a Fallen Angel starts chucking spears of light at me."

"I can't always rely on you," Sayo added as she fired another air. Splitting the one she'd just sent before. "I don't want to be some helpless damsel waiting to be saved."

"I understand," Tatsumi said.

He really did.

Back in the Empire he'd trained hard and pushed his limits, but there'd never been a sense of urgency or need at the start. It was just a desire to help his village. After witnessing the death of his friends and learning of the corruption in the Empire everything changed. He joined Night Raid and threw everything he had into training. He didn't want that feeling of powerlessness ever again. Then, even after all that, knowing that complacency cost him his friends, he had let himself become complacent here in this world. The world had slapped him in the face for that mistake. His sister was dead and he had to live with that mistake for the rest of his life.

"So, any news about that fallen angel chick?" Ieyasu asked.

"I got her name," Tatsumi said, "It's not actually Yuuma, but Raynare. As for where she is? I'm still figuring that out. I managed to capture one of her companions when he tried to kill Issei a second time, but I'm having little luck extracting her whereabouts from him."

Sayo lowered her bow and turned to Tatsumi, her eyes blazing with fury. "Just let me at him." She clenched her hand menacingly, "I'll make him speak."

"I appreciate the gesture but I'll manage," Tatsumi said. He didn't want to drag his friends into his dark world. He fought as hard as he did to keep them out of it. "If I don't get what I need from him tonight I'll just kill him and try a different method." It was risky to keep him any longer. Bennia supervised him while Tatsumi was at school but it really was only a matter of time before he broke free, or someone else broke him free. He was just too much a liability.

And if he wouldn't speak, his usefulness was in question as well. Tatsumi was better off scouring the city looking for Raynare than chasing a dead end.

"One less Fallen Angel," Ieyasu said approvingly.

Sayo had a thoughtful look on her face, "Tatsumi… if Fallen Angels exist, does that mean real angels exist?"

Tatsumi blinked in surprise. He hadn't actually thought of that. His Sensei and that placed they trained in certainly felt like a place an Angel would live, but he'd never seen any wings sprouting from her back. But then if Angels were like Devils and the Fallen in that accord in that they could hide them, maybe she did the same? He didn't know.

But Sayo made a good point. "They'd have to. Fallen Angels, by definition, are Angels that have fallen."

"I never took you much as a religious person," Ieyasu teased Sayo.

"You never bothered to ask," Sayo said. She pulled a small golden cross out from beneath her archery garb. "I was never really much of a believer either, but if angels really do exist then maybe God…" She clutched the cross tightly.

Tatsumi was glad Sensei's promise prevented him from even considering breaking the bad news to her.

Ieyasu chuckled. "Well whatever makes you—"

Tatsumi's phone buzzed, drawing his attention away from his two friends. Pulling it out of his pants he frowned, there was a message from Bennia. He quickly unlocked his phone and opened the message. It only had one word: Help.

Tatsumi cursed, causing his two friends to throw him concerned looks. Tatsumi quickly pocketed his phone and dropped his bag. "Take care of that for me, there's an emergency!" Without waiting for a response Tatsumi turned on his heel and bolted from the archery club.

"What is it?!" Ieyasu called out worriedly.

"Trouble!" Tatsumi called back.

He kept his pace at the rate of a professional athlete until he left the school premise. The moment his foot stepped on the street outside, he sprinted for the abandoned farm. His form became little more than a blur to the untrained eye as he shifted into high gear. He leapt over parked cars, launched himself from stone walls, threw himself from rooftop to rooftop, hurtling himself ever onward, faster, as he crossed the city as a bird would fly.

Worries plagued Tatsumi as he raced across the city. Bennia had never texted him for help before. Had Dohnaseek's companions found where he was? How many Fallen Angels were attacking Bennia right now? What would he find when he got there? It caused an unpleasant feeling to well up inside him. If Bennia got hurt because of him? Because he hadn't pushed hard enough for information, because he's kept the Fallen Angel around for too long…

He shook those thoughts from his mind. None of that mattered. Right now he needed to get to Bennia as quickly as possible and help her deal with whatever threat was there right now.

The abandoned farm came into view in the distance. The large three story house sat a ways back from the main road, rickety and unused in years. Tatsumi hadn't touched it at all, the laws here in Japan were much stricter than in the Empire and he couldn't just use any abandoned building for his own purposes. The property itself wasn't that large. Nearly every inch of the acreage was taken up by fields overgrown with grass and weeds. What yard the house was looked just as badly kept as the house itself.

Nestled behind the house were two barns, the one visible from the road was as broken down and dilapidated as the house, while the other barn did show signs of repair. The barn that Tatsumi had kept Dohnaseek in had once used to be a horse pen, or cattle. It was hard to tell, but it was designed to hold a small number of large farm animals.

Tatsumi didn't see anything out of place as he rapidly approached the barn. The sky wasn't filled with black wings and spears of light, nor were there countless craters and bodies strewn all about the yard. In fact from this angle Tatsumi couldn't see anyone at all.

The barn door was kicked in though.

Tatsumi didn't slow as he rushed through the broken barn doors. He only stopped when he noticed the situation before him.

Bennia floated in the middle of the barn completely unharmed, pulling her scythe out of the body of a short, blonde haired girl dressed as a gothic Lolita. The little girl had a pair of jet black wings sprouting from her back, a Fallen Angel. A dead one at that. She fell from the air and landed with a thump on the straw strewn floor of the barn, her eyes empty and dead. Nearby was a blue-haired woman slumped against the gate of a stall, her eyes just as empty as the other. Death had claimed her soul, and left not a mark on her body.

"Why did you ask for help?" Tatsumi asked as he quickly realized Bennia had the situation well in hand.

((I wanted to see how quickly you could get here)) she said, giving him a wide smile as she floated down to his side. ((You're really quick!))

"Seriously?"

((Partly. I… wasn't actually certain I could beat two fallen angels on my own. They turned out to be far weaker than I had thought.)) She shrugged. ((Either that or I'm stronger than I thought I was, but that train of thought isn't good in our line of work.))

No it wasn't. Over confidence led to death more often than not.

"I see," Tatsumi let out a sigh of relief. He pulled Bennia close and hugged her tightly. "Don't scare me that like!" She let out a surprised gasp but quickly recovered and hugged him back, but not before tossing her scythe away.

((If this is what I get maybe I should cry help more often.)) Bennia teased.

"Next time I'm bopping you on the head," Tatsumi warned her. She just pouted and stuck her tongue out at him. "How did they even know you were here?"

((They may have followed me back when I went for lunch)) Bennia said. ((Grim Reapers aren't known to hang around in the human world for long.))

So they were probably just tracking down anything suspicious and got lucky with Bennia. "Well I can't fault you for eating when you're hungry." He turned to Dohnaseek who was glaring daggers at them. The Fallen Angel hung suspended from the ceiling by way of Tatsumi's wires. Countless injuries dotted his naked body, courtesy of Tatsumi's hospitality. "Were they friends of yours? Possibly the reason why you didn't say anything? Now that you know rescue isn't coming perhaps you'll be more forth coming."

"I've survived far worse than anything you can do to me," Dohnaseek spat out at him.

"If you won't talk, your life isn't worth anything," Tatsumi told him.

He wasn't fazed. "Then kill me."

"Perhaps I can help."

"Sensei?" Tatsumi said in surprise as he whirled around to see the golden-haired woman standing in the door to the barn. "What are you doing here?"

"Am I not allowed to see what my pupil is doing on his time off?" She asked warmly as she made her way into the barn. She gave the two Fallen Angels a cursory look and just shook her head. "Kalawarner and Mittelt. Kalawarner was just misguided, but the human world is definitely safer with Mittelt gone from it." Her gaze lifted to the Fallen Angel that hung suspended. "Dohnaseek, it has been some time."

"Y-You… why are you here?" Dohnaseek gasped out fearfully. Tatsumi could only stare as sheer terror crept across the man's face.

"Tatsumi is my apprentice," Sensei said, giving Tatsumi a smile. The smile became cold and chilly as she turned it on the Fallen Angel. "And it seems you've been giving both him and his friends some trouble." She cracked her fingers, filling the barn with an ominous sound. "That displeases me most greatly."

"He's just a human!" Dohnaseek raged. "Why would a Seraph help a human!?"

Seraph? Wasn't the term given to the highest ranking angels in heaven? That would explain a lot… and cause just as many new questions to arise. Dohnaseek was right. Why would a Seraph help someone like him?

"Why not?" She asked, still smiling. "It is the duty of the Angels to watch over and guide humanity. Just because the others have forgotten that duty, doesn't mean I have." Her smile became chillier the wider it grew. "Now, are you going to tell my Tatsumi what he wants to know? Or am I going to have to… convince you?"

From the amount of sweat that was suddenly pouring down Dohnaseek's face, Tatsumi had a feeling it wasn't going to take a lot of convincing.

~o~

The setting sun cast a warm glow across the evening sky, staining the vivid blue and gentle whites of the puffy clouds a myriad of orange and yellow colors. It created a picture so perfect and beautiful that even the greatest artists of the world would struggle to capture it.

That beauty was marred in near an old church on the outskirts of town. The warmth of the day and the sky did not make it here, a place where death ruled and the light had long since fled. The church had seen better days, better years. Its paint was faded, the stones chipped and the vibrant life that most churches exuded about it, missing. Statues to the Lord Jesus Christ were destroyed and the cross that sat atop the steeple, broken diagonally in half.

It was place that had been abandoned for years by both men and angels. However this night it was more active than any night since the day its last priest died of old age and the place was abandoned. The sounds of battle greeted Tatsumi's ears as he threw himself from the rooftop of a nearby home and over the low stone wall that ringed the place. He landed gracefully on his feet at the base of the stone steps leading up to the front door the old church.

The doors were open.

"We're not the first one's here," Tatsumi mused as he stared up at the open doors. The sounds of battle from within were intensifying.

((No, we're not)) Bennia said as she floated down to the ground beside him. ((I feel the fallen, humans and devils inside there.))

"Shall we go see what's happening?" Tatsumi asked. Bennia nodded quickly.

Tatsumi made his way silently up the steps to the open doors and peered inside. He wasn't sure what he expected to see, but it wasn't this. Issei and Kiba stood shoulder to shoulder near the entrance, both dressed in their traditional Kuoh Academy uniforms. It looked like neither had gone home after club activities and had come straight here. Kiba held a sword in one hand with a familiarity far exceeding that of the shinai. Tatsumi had been right in his assessment that Kiba primarily wielded short, flat blades. Beside him, Issei's left hand and forearm was covered in a red scale like gauntlet reminiscent of Incursio's own armor, minus the color. The green gem was unique though. Tatsumi could feel a presence hiding within that gem. That was probably Issei's sacred gear.

The Tyrant inside Tatsumi shifted, almost as if it could feel it as well.

Just in front of both Kiba and Issei was Koneko, the adorable short, flat-chested devil that was willing to defy her master just for the chance to eat his mother's lunches. She wore her standard Kuoh Academy dress, although it was in a state of disrepair that left her bra exposed. She seemed rather upset.

She was hurling pew after pew through the air at some white haired young man at the far end of the church's chapel. Tatsumi didn't recognize the man, or the black coat over the white suit he wore. It didn't match any uniform he was familiar with. That sword in his hands though wasn't normal. It blazed with a holy light.

((An exorcist.)) Bennia whispered ((but… there's something strange about him.))

"A real exorcist wouldn't work with Fallen Angels," Tatsumi murmured. And that look on the exorcist's face. He'd seen that before. On Aria, Esdeath, and many others. That right there was a sadistic monster that got drunk off the suffering of others. That right there was someone worse than a devil.

Tatsumi quickly scanned the room. The only other entrance into the chapel were through a pair of doors at the far side, flanking the altar and shattered cross of Jesus Christ. Both doors probably led further into the place, and there was no guarantee their target, Raynare, was even back there. Those inside though were so focused on each other that they didn't even notice him peaking inside. Despite Koneko's rampant destruction of the church, the pews on the left side were still intact and in place. He could use them to sneak past the battle.

While he held no personal animosity towards Issei, Koneko or Kiba, they were all devils and if one of them died to that exorcist, oh well. If all three of them fell, Tatsumi would return to make sure the exorcist didn't leave here alive. One thing he had learned in Night Raid was to focus. He wasn't going to risk his target escaping because he got distracted by another.

Gesturing to Bennia to keep low and silent Tatsumi slipped through the front entrance and silently made his way to the opposite side of the church, away from the battle. It was all too easy. The flurry of pews all but blocked the exorcist's view of him, and the others had their backs to him.

Kiba apparently noticed that fact as well. On the other side Tatsumi saw Kiba utilizing the pews to draw close to the exorcist without being seen. "Can't have you forgetting about me!" Kiba declared loudly as he attacked, completely blowing the entire surprise attack by talking before striking. It was so embarrassing Tatsumi wanted to palm his face and groan.

Predictably, because the exorcist had been forewarned, he was able to block what should have been a fatal strike. "You're pretty strong." Kiba said.

No, you're just an idiot, Tatsumi thought to himself.

"Right back at ya! Guess you're a Knight!" the exorcist grinned with excitement as he pressed back against Kiba. "GOood… Goood! It's been such a long time since I've had a heated battle! Yep! AHAHHAHAA! I'LL KILL YOU DEAD!"

That exorcist was certifiably insane. Tatsumi didn't have any doubt about that. There was no way the church would keep someone like that around. He had probably been excommunicated or something. Thrown away because of his attitude.

"Then I guess I should take this seriously, devour!" Kiba shouted. The pretty boy's sword shifted and changed, becoming pitch black as it devoured the light from the exorcist's blade. That was an interesting thing to remember about Kiba. His weapons weren't run of the mill.

"Huh, what the hell's this?"

Please don't tell him, please don't, you can't be that stupid.

"Holy Eraser, a devil sword that eats light," Kiba answered proudly.

Yup, he's that stupid. Not only does he shout his attacks, he reveals what they can do as well and all his secrets. What a bumbling idiot. He wouldn't have lasted five seconds in the Empire. Any Teigu user would have eaten him up and spat him out without even noticing.

"You got a sacred gear too?!" the exorcist shouted, outraged.

Are you going to be stupid enough to tell him what your sacred gear is as well? Tatsumi wondered. With the way the fight was going he wouldn't have been surprised. Kiba actually opened his mouth to answer but before he could say anything Issei finally decided to do more than stand around doing nothing.

"Boost!" Issei shot across the chapel at impressive speed, almost matching that of an Olympic sprinter. It was still laughably slow compared to himself, or even Kiba for that matter. "Promotion, Rook!"

"Promotion? So this one is a pawn?" Bang! Bang! Bang! The bullets bounced off Issei's skin. "So you can resist my exorcist shells, but how much can you take? AH-HAHAHAHA!"

"The other trait of the rook is crazy ass muscle!" Issei shouted as he swung a fist so horribly telegraphed a child could have avoided it. Tatsumi really wasn't surprised when the exorcist managed to deflect some of the blow with the hilt of his light saber.

"Oh, silly Freed-chan, how could you let yourself get hit by a shitty devil?" The exorcist muttered to himself. Tatsumi just sweat dropped. What was with these people? They were so bad he wanted to actually cry. That strike from Issei shouldn't have even hit! It was telegraphed from the other side of the room! "DON'T SCREW WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! You shitty devils think you got the upper hand on me?! I'll kill you all! I'll cut you into tiny little ribbons you pieces of shit!"

That probably wasn't going to happen as Tatsumi watched the three devils surround the exorcist. Their position by the altar made it difficult to move from where he was, hiding behind the first set of pews on the left side of the church. Bennia was one set of pews behind him. If either of them moved now, they'd be spotted.

It didn't really seem to matter much anymore though. The battle looked as if it was in its final stage.

"Oh my, oh my, it looks like I'm in a bit of a pinch," the insane exorcist said as he eyed the three devils.

Tatsumi knew that tone of voice. That was what someone sounded like when they were about to run, and had the means to do it. Those three weren't experienced enough to notice, or to stop Freed if he tried. Also from the apparent lack of intent to kill coming from Issei or Kiba, they probably didn't even intend to kill him.

Koneko was a different story. A murderous aura still emanated from her for some reason. Freed must have done something to make such a really laid back person so enraged.

There was a sharp click as Freed dropped the clip of his gun. Tatsumi instantly noted that it fell too quickly, too heavily, for it to be empty. If it was the Empire, that would be something to create a smoke screen. But here? There were more options. Tatsumi closed one eye and watched. The moment the clip hit the ground it erupted into light.

A flash bang!

Shutting his now stinging eye he opened the other and saw Freed leaping up towards an open window. The exorcist really was making an attempt to escape.

"Not happening," Tatsumi whispered.

He leapt into the air as well, summoning Murasame to his hand as he intercepted the exorcist. Freed didn't even notice until it was too late. Tatsumi slammed his boot into the exorcist's back, folding him over painfully. The insane exorcist let out a sharp cry as he was sent hurtling into the hardwood floor painfully. Tatsumi landed on him, Murasame first, the keen blade sliding easily through Freed's back and out his chest.

"GAH! What the fuck is this?!" Freed gasped as Tatsumi lifted him from the ground by his hair.

"This is me not letting an insane psychopath escape," Tatsumi said without emotion. In one swift motion he ripped Murasame out from Freed's back and separated his head from his shoulders.

"Tatsumi!" Issei gasped in surprise. Kiba and Koneko were both staring at him with interest as well, although Tatsumi thought for a brief second he saw Koneko lick her lips and look about for a duffle bag.

"You three should be ashamed of yourself," Tatsumi said as wiped Murasame's blade on the dead exorcist's coat. "You easily had him beat, but you constantly slipped up. Koneko needs better accuracy and not let her anger get the best of her, Kiba needs to stop shouting out his surprise attacks, and Issei, you need to follow through with your strikes. Just because you connect once, doesn't mean the enemy is down. You need to keep striking until they're down for good."

Tatsumi didn't know why he gave them advice. Maybe it was just they were so pitifully bad, he felt sorry for them? It didn't really matter. From what he saw all three of them were so far beneath Tatsumi that any advice he gave them really wouldn't make any difference when it came time to kill Rias. All he needed now was what Akeno and Rias could do, and if Rias had any other devils under her control, and then he could make plans to eliminate her. These three weren't going to be an issue.

"Ahaha, sorry," Issei said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I got carried away." He gave the corpse at Tatsumi's feet a disgusted look. "Did you have to kill him that way?"

"Would you rather he escaped?" Tatsumi asked, arching an eyebrow at the boy.

"Well no, not after what he did to that guy and Asia…" Issei gasped. "Asia!"

"Who?"

"I'm sorry Tatsumi, but we can't banter words anymore," Kiba said. "We came here to save someone."

Devils saving… that was a contradiction if there ever was one. Perhaps they were saving one of their own? That would make some sense. He definitely needed to follow along, if for no other reason than to see who else Rias had under her control. There was also a high chance that Raynare, or someone connected with her, had done the actual kidnapping.

There was a load groaning noise as Koneko moved aside the altar to reveal a set of stone stairs leading down into the depths of the church. Tatsumi would never have found that. "Down here, I can smell her." Koneko said, pointing.

"I'll come along," Tatsumi said, "I'm looking for the Fallen Angel, Raynare, and I think there's a higher chance of her being down there, than up here."

"Probably, since she's the one that kidnapped Asia," Kiba said. It seemed Tatsumi was right on his earlier assumption. Kiba eyed him warily, as if wondering if he had some sort of ulterior motive. "We can handle it."

Tatsumi chuckled grimly, "if what I saw just now is the three of you 'handling it' then no you can't."

((They are rather weak)) Bennia said as she made herself known.

"Ah! The loli Grim Reaper!"

Koneko smacked Issei upside the head. "Focus."

"Right, focus," Tatsumi said as he made his way over to the staircase. "You three can come along if you want, but don't get in my way."

"Hey! You're the one butting into our rescue."

"No, I'm not," Tatsumi said as he started down the staircase. Bennia followed closely behind. "You rescue Asia, I'll kill Raynare."

The stone staircase spiraled downwards until it came to a small landing before a large set of wooden double doors. There was some sort of energy slipping through the cracks. A ritual of some sort was being performed on the other side. More importantly though Tatsumi could feel Raynare's energy. She was here.

"It seems they're both behind this door," Tatsumi said as Issei and the others caught up. "I can feel Raynare's fallen energy, and if Koneko can smell Asia…"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Issei demanded.

"Absolutely nothing," Tatsumi said. There was no way they were getting inside without being seen. In that case, the best course of action was to just charge straight ahead. Tatsumi threw the doors open wide and marched inside.

It was a small underground chamber of stone and dirt. The place was a barren cavern save for pillars of stone holding the ceiling up and a stone walkway leading to a large upraised dais upon which stood a strange looking cross criss-crossing with lines of green energy.

Chained to the cross was a girl about their age, dressed in a skimpy white chemise that did nothing to conceal her. Tatsumi could see her breasts clear through that sheer fabric. There was some strange runic circle on her chest, nestled in the valley between her breasts. An identical circle in the same place was etched upon the chest of a Fallen Angel that stood next to her, Raynare. She was wearing the same dominatrix style outfit Tatsumi had seen before at the fountain.

Between them and her however, was a hoard of exorcists. The church must really be screwing up if this many people were ex-communicated.

"Welcome devils! And… what do we have here?" Raynare asked as she stared at him and Bennia. "A human and a Grim Reaper? What an odd pairing."

"Asssia!" Issei shouted up at the girl chained to the cross.

Asia looked up and smiled at Issei. It was the sad smile of someone facing impending death. "Issei-san."

"Yeah, we've come to save you!"

"It's a touching reunion, but I'm afraid you're too—" Raynare's words were violently cut off as Tatsumi rammed Murasame through her throat.

"Sorry, but it was just too good an opening not to take," Tatsumi said as he pulled Murasame from Raynare's throat. The distance wasn't that great and with all the yapping people in this world did, it was just far too easy. He stared dispassionately at Raynare as she collapsed to her knees, clutching at her throat with one hand as she reached for Asia with the other. "You really didn't think I'd just stand here and let you kill another human if I could prevent it, did you?" Tatsumi asked. He didn't wait for an answer. He just buried Murasame into her skull, ending her life instantly. He looked up to see everyone else gaping at him. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

Bennia was the only one who wasn't gaping at him. She was used to this. She was already behind him undoing the chains that kept Asia hanging from the cross.

((I think you took all the steam out of them)) Bennia supplied helpfully. ((The exorcists were helping a Fallen Angel kill this girl and the others were hoping to rescue them. You sort of just ruined both.))

"Eh, whatever," Tatsumi said as he started down the steps towards the exorcists. "I'm going to assume since all of you just stood by watching as a Fallen Angel tried to ritualistically sacrifice a young girl, that none of you are particularly saint like in any way." They backed away from him fearfully. "No, those aren't the faces of the innocent."

Moving so fast the only thing the people in the room could see were his afterimages, Tatsumi blazed through the crowd of exorcists in a single beat of the heart. When he came out the other side of the group, returning to his spot beside Issei and the other devils, all twenty of them dropped to the ground, dead. Each of them killed with perfect surgical precision.

"Asia's been saved and the evil bad guys are killed, how about we all head home and get some sleep?" Tatsumi asked as he gave the three devils a wide smile. "We all do have school tomorrow."

Koneko was the first to break out of her stupor. She made her way over to his side and jabbed him in the stomach. "Tough, strong." She jabbed him a few more times, each time harder than the previous. Then she suddenly balled her fist and swung.

There was a thunderclap as he caught he caught her fist in his hand. The stone tiles beneath their feet split open wide, but neither shifted. "Ah, please don't do that," Tatsumi said, not quite sure what had gotten into her.

Her eyes went wide as if she suddenly realized something. "Stronger than me."

Oh, so she was testing his strength, and he'd called Kiba a fool earlier. He should have guessed what she was trying for and avoided the jabs.

He quickly tried to cover up his mistake. "I'm not that strong, I just have a good sensei. It's all about how you position your feet. I redirect your strength into the ground, see?" He said, pointing at the shattered tiles. "It's not about strength, but technique." It was a total lie but he hoped Koneko was gullible enough to believe it.

He sighed with relief as she seemed to buy it.

Kiba shook his head. "You really did take it easy on me during that match."

There wasn't any way of explaining his speed away though. He had shown off too much against the exorcists and Kiba wouldn't buy any excuse he came up with. Might as well own up to at least that much. "Like you, Kiba, Kendo isn't my specialty," Tatsumi said as he lifted Murasame. "This is."

"Duly noted," Kiba said, his lips quirked upwards into a small smile.

"Asia!" Issei shouted as he suddenly rushed past him to Asia who was being carried down the stairs by Bennia. The Grim Reaper looked at Tatsumi in askance. He nodded to her and she let the girl fall into Issei's arms.

"Issei-kun," Asia said happily as she threw her arms around Issei.

"I'm so glad you're safe, Asia!" Issei said happily as he held her tightly.

"As touching as the reunion is, the basement of a defiled church is probably not the best place for it," Tatsumi said. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder towards the doors. "How about we go somewhere else."

"That's fine with me!" Issei said eagerly. He gave Asia a wide smile. "What about you?"

"Anywhere with you is fine."

Tatsumi just blinked and shook his head. Maybe Issei might actually get his harem. That girl certainly seemed like she'd be willing to join it. If Tatsumi needed any solid proof that God was dead, that was it. This world really was completely fucked up every regard.

"Are you coming, Tatsumi-san?" Kiba asked. He started in surprise and realized he'd been staring in shock at the spot where Asia had all but proclaimed her love for Issei. The two of them had already started to ascend the stairs and Koneko was leaving as well. Only Kiba was still there in the room with him and Bennia, and was making to leave as well. "I'm certain Rias-senpai would like to ask you some questions too."

"I'm sure she would, but those questions are going to go unanswered," Tatsumi replied dryly as left the room as well and ascended the staircase behind Kiba. "It's not really my policy to go around talking about all my secrets to anyone that just asks."

"Rias-senpai can be rather insistent," Kiba said as he stepped out of the stairwell and into the chapel. The boy seemed to think it was amusing, like it was a matter of time before—

Tatsumi froze the moment he stepped back into the chapel. A cold chill ran down his spine. He quickly scanned the room but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Asia and Issei hand-in-hand as they made their way to the exit, talking happily with each other. Koneko trailed slightly behind and Kiba had stopped at the top to wait for him. There wasn't anyone else that he could see and yet… what was this sudden feeling of dread?

And why did it feel so familiar?

He pushed out his sense to the max, took in everything. He could feel it now, the creeping cold seeping into the wood and the stone. It felt like the arctic north, a frozen blood lust that couldn't be quenched no matter how high the bodies were piled. It felt like…

Tatsumi felt all the blood drain from his face. If Ieyasu and Sayo existed then the possibility was there that she did as well…

Oh no.

"RUN!" Tatsumi roared at everyone even as he summoned Murasame back into his hands.

Too late. The church floor erupted upwards as ice tore through it like paper. Bennia quickly took to the air as Tatsumi threw himself from the staircase, avoiding the ice that suddenly filled the entrance. Kiba was quick enough to avoid being impaled as well and Koneko's durability saved her life as they snapped off her body.

One person wasn't quite so lucky.

An ear splitting wail of agony shattered the chapel air, tearing Tatsumi's gaze towards Issei and Asia. A dozen spikes of ice of varying thickness had torn through Asia, burrowing through her body before punching out of it in another spot. One had even blown through the base of her skull and out through her cheek. They had lifted her from the ground, suspending her in midair, her blood staining the ice a bright crimson. Her left arm and leg laid on the ground beneath her, completely severed by the impaling spikes of ice.

She was still alive, but not for long. The ice hadn't punctured any of her major organs, but she was hemorrhaging blood everywhere. Tatsumi could see her eyes, filled with a terrible pain, frantically darting all over the place searching for Issei, for help. Esdeath did not kill straight out. She tortured her victims to death. A sadist beyond all others. Asia would live just long enough to watch Esdeath kill them all. It was just like her. Issei was desperately clawing at the ice with his one remaining hand. His other arm, the one that had been holding Asia's hand, was severed at the elbow.

"Asia! No! We just saved you! Why?!"

"No time to cry," Tatsumi shouted at Issei as he searched the chapel, looking for the greatest concentration of bloodlust. "You think ice just randomly sprouts from the ground?"

"What's going on?" Kiba demanded as he searched as well.

"I don't know!" Tatsumi growled. "But I do know one thing… get out here Esdeath!"

"How odd, a human that knows my name," that familiar, dreaded voice resounded about the chapel. A dark purple circle appeared in the ceiling and through it came someone Tatsumi had hoped he'd never see again. That long blue hair and eyes as cold as ice. That cruel smile that only ever turned upwards at the thought of dominating others. Tatsumi could never forget it. She even wore the same outfit as before, that skin tight white dress and thigh high boots. It was Esdeath in all her brutal glory. There was only one difference with this Esdeath over the one he knew.

The eight black wings that sprouted from her back.

"Tatsumi… she's an eight-winged Fallen Angel! We can't win! We need to run," Kiba called out to him. "We can't fight her."

"Do you honestly think she'll let us?" Tatsumi fired back. Even as he spoke those words the entrance was sealed with ice and the windows became covered as the entire place became frozen. There was no getting out unless it was over Esdeath's dead body.

Which wasn't very likely.

"You should listen to your human friend, little devil," Esdeath said with that familiar cruel smile on her lips. She turned her cold gaze upon Tatsumi. The pressure behind it was almost enough to force him to his knees. "Tatsumi is it? You are quite correct. I did not want to get involved but you went ahead and ruined the nice ritual we had set up. That little girl's sacred gear, Twilight Healing, is simply too dangerous to allow devils or angels get a hold of. Either we were to take it for ourselves, or eliminate her." She licked her lips. "I have to admit, I'm glad you saved her. This is definitely a far more interesting outcome." Her smile grew wicked. "Now I have all the justification I need to join in."

This was Esdeath, he couldn't hold back even an ounce of his ability if he wanted to survive. "Bennia! No holding back, it's all out from the start or we die!"

((Yes)) Bennia said, summoning her scythe to her hands.

"A Grim Reaper…" Esdeath said in wonder as she licked her fingers. "I've always wondered if it was possible to kill your kind. Please, struggle as much as you can. It makes it so much more satisfying when I—"

Tatsumi didn't let her finished. He launched from his spot, cratering the ground beneath him. Faster than ever before he raced past the altar and to the shattered cross. He leapt, placed a single foot on it, and launched himself at Esdeath from behind. Each action took a fraction of a second and in less time than it would take to blink Tatsumi was behind Esdeath, Murasame screaming towards her neck.

It simply wasn't quick enough. Strands of ice wove in from all directions creating a thick barrier between him and Esdeath. Murasame cut through it but was slowed enough for Esdeath to avoid being struck. He saw the cruel smile on her lips and cursed. He quickly twisted his body in midair in anticipation for the counter attack.

She didn't disappoint. A wave of ice crashed down upon him from above. Tatsumi tucked his feet in and kicked off it, diving to the side instead of being crushed into the ground beneath. A sharp stinging pain ran up his leg as he landed on the steps leading up to the dais awkwardly. He threw the pain aside and quickly focused on the battle at hand.

He wasn't going to beat Esdeath straight up, he had to wait for an opening to strike.

A black scythe came down on Esdeath before Tatsumi even landed. "That's dangerous!" Esdeath laughed as she leaned back, letting the soul reaping weapon avoid her by mere inches. "This is how you use a scythe!" The ice around her formed into twin scythes and cut through the air, seeking Bennia's blood.

Bennia spun her own scythe around and blocked Esdeath's ice with her own, using the blade to stop one and the handle the other. She spun around the handle and slammed both her feet into Esdeath's face. The powerful ice user was so shocked by the sudden display of acrobatics that it actually landed.

It did little more than split her lip.

"A Grim Reaper picking up new tricks? How interesting." Esdeath said as she licked the blood from her split lip. Faster than Bennia could react Esdeath slammed her fist into her gut, hurling the small Grim Reaper across the church where she slammed into a pew with boom, sending an explosion of wood splinters in all directions. "I think I'll keep you alive to see how you develop in the future!"

"How about you have a taste of my blades!" Kiba shouted as he used his wings to fly up to meet Esdeath. He had two demonic swords, one in either hand.

"You, however," Esdeath said as she ignored Kiba's swords and casually palmed his face. His swords shattered off her body, unable to get past her natural defences. "Are just plain pitiful." She hurled Kiba across the chapel. He slammed into the wall by the door hard enough to crack the stone. A moment later a jagged lance of blue light impaled him to the wall. "You can just die."

Tatsumi was there again, using the distraction that Kiba had provided to strike at her from behind. Again the strands of ice formed behind her creating a barrier to protect her from Murasame. Tatsumi was prepared for it this time. He twisted in mid-air and kicked the hilt of his blade. Murasame shattered the barrier and continued through. It ripped Esdeath's clothes but skidded off the layer of protective ice she had beneath it.

He had just enough time to grit his teeth and protect his face before Esdeath backhanded him into the shattered cross of Jesus Christ. Tatsumi grunted painfully as the stone cross broke apart beneath the impact, sending sharp fragments of stone through his clothes and into his back. He bounced roughly off the stone dais behind the cross and quickly jumped to his feet, throwing aside the pain in his back and shooting him up his leg, he didn't have time to be hurt right then.

"You are certainly full of surprises," Esdeath said as she stared down at him almost like one would having come across a new and interesting insect. "First you know my name then you prove yourself to be faster, stronger and more resilient than these devils. And yet you're only human." She sniffed the air and a luxurious smile came to her lips. "One that smells of blood and death. It clings to you like a lover. Are you trying to capture my heart?"

"I wouldn't be trying to cut it out if I was," Tatsumi spat out as he cautiously watched both the ground beneath him and Esdeath. That ice could come from anywhere.

"You certainly have a wonderful way with wo—" She was cut off as Koneko hit her in the face, rocking her head to the side.

"You hurt my friends," Koneko said, her eyes blazing with anger.

She grabbed Koneko's wrist and jerked her to the side. There was nothing but disdain on Esdeath's face as she stared down at Koneko. "I am trying to speak to your better." She rammed her knee into Koneko's stomach, doubling her over, before punching her into the floor, shattering the hardwood. "You're pathetic. As a rook you should have at least this much strength!" Esdeath shouted as she dove upon Koneko feet first. Koneko yowled in pain as her legs snapped in half. Esdeath lifted Koneko and slammed her fist into the girls' face, crushing her nose and shattering her teeth. Her Rook's toughness worthless against the strength of an eight-winged Fallen Angel. "And you should be able to withstand this!" Esdeath broke Koneko over her knee. Tatsumi could hear bones break and organs collapse inside her. A look of sheer agony ripped across Koneko's face as blood fountained from her mouth and nose. "How pitiful." Esdeath said as she tossed the broken Koneko to the side. She bounced limply across the floor until she came to a stop by the far wall, her face a mask of shock and pain as she weakly coughed up blood every few seconds. "You can thank me as you die. If that's all you're capable of you wouldn't have made it far anyways and I've saved you the trouble of trying."

Suddenly strands of white-gold wire wove around Esdeath. "I was hoping you'd land," Tatsumi said as he jerked on the wires. They cut into her body, their holy power ripping through the protective ice beneath her clothes and digging into her flesh where they started to sizzle and burn. He summoned Murasame to his hands and made to strike her down while she was trapped.

She flexed her wings and to Tatsumi's surprise the wires snapped. Tatsumi didn't have any time to react as she whirled around and grabbed his wrist, halting Murasame's descent. Esdeath smiled and laughed lustily. "That was a neat trick... That pain was wonderful. It's almost as good to receive it as to give it." She gave Tatsumi a wide eye look of desire before she planted a deep kiss on his lips. "Consider me interested in you. A human drenched in blood that smells like death. I can feel real killing intent behind your strikes. I love it. Your potential is incredible. I can sense a real challenge in you in the future." She kissed him again before tossing him aside like a rag doll. He bounced painfully off several wooden pews before ice erupted from the ground and caught him in midair, wrapping around him tightly. "You I will keep alive as well. Just like that little Grim Reaper."

Suddenly the ice blocking the front door exploded inwards. Rias Gremory rushed inside, her flaming red hair held aloft as she blazed with demonic energy. Her eyes were wide and fearful as they darted about the ruined chapel, before finally landing on Esdeath hovering in the air above them all like some avenging angel of death. Akeno was at her side as well, yellow lightning crackling about her frame in a frenzy.

"What have you done to my precious servants?" Rias Gremory demanded. An enormous set of demonic runes erupted about her as she lifted her hands towards the Fallen Angel. Power rolled off Rias in waves as she prepared to unleash a powerfully destructive spell. "I won't go easy on you!"

Esdeath clicked her teeth in annoyance. "Rias Gremory. Kokabiel isn't ready yet. A pity I can't fight you here." She smiled cruelly as gestured about the chapel. "Enjoy the gifts I have left you." And with that Esdeath left, leaving behind little more than a chapel filled with ice, broken bodies and her haunting laughter.

Tatsumi let out a sigh of relief. By some miracle he had survived. He didn't know who this Kokabiel was, but if he was strong enough for Esdeath to play second fiddle to him, then he wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

"Kiba, what happened here?" Rias asked, her voice thick with concern as she pulled the spear of light out of the boy.

"Don't worry about me, Buchou," Kiba said in a voice thick with pain. Blood was pouring through his fingers as he tried to stem the tide. "Help Koneko, Esdeath… what that woman did to her!"

"Koneko?" Rias asked, looking up and around the room.

"Over here, Rias-san," Akeno said as she knelt down beside Koneko's broken body. "This is horrible, she's barely hanging on."

"Issei! Snap out of it!" Rias ordered the young boy.

"He can't hear you," Tatsumi said. This ice was bloody annoying. He ripped his arms out from it and managed to smash the rest and free himself. He dropped to the floor and a sharp pain shot up his leg, his ankle was definitely twisted, if not worse. "It's battle shock." Tatsumi said as he forced down the pain. Now wasn't the time to show weakness. "Esdeath's bloodlust is so thick it can paralyze the weak willed. Issei has never encountered something on that level before."

"Esdeath…" Rias whispered. "That was Esdeath? I had… heard of her before. The fallen Virtue of Compassion. Like the other Virtues, she fell at the end of the Great War."

"If I had known she was here I might not have come," Tatsumi muttered to himself. Or at least have come better prepared, with an escape route planned or something. Esdeath was someone that could take on an army a million strong and win! "Or at least better prepared."

While this Esdeath wasn't on par with the one he'd fought back in the Empire, the difference wasn't noticeable enough for Tatsumi to take advantage of. If he'd had Incursio he probably could have… no, who was he kidding? Esdeath would have still destroyed him.

"How do I fix Issei?"

"Slap him." Tatsumi said as he limped his way over to Bennia's side, wincing whenever a particularly sharp pain ran up his leg. Thankfully Bennia was still alive and breathing, even if she was knocked out cold. She was going to have a massive headache in the morning. Tatsumi lifted Bennia up and cradled her in his arms. Never more than right then was he glad Bennia was so light. "Or stick your boobs in his face."

Surprisingly Rias did just that. Even more surprisingly, although it probably shouldn't be, it actually worked. Issei awoke from his shock with a cry of 'Oppai!'

"Issei, I need your help to gather Koneko and Kiba up so I can get us somewhere safe. I can't even begin to heal you or them here," Rias ordered as she bandaged his severed arm.

"What about Asia?" Issei asked hurriedly, gesturing the girl impaled upon the ice. Tatsumi could see real concern in his eyes. He really did care for the girl.

"My peerage comes first." Why wasn't Tatsumi surprised? Of course it does. She only cared about humans when they were useful. Although, that being said, Asia was sort of beyond help at this point.

"But she can heal! She healed me in seconds when Raynare impaled me with a spear of light!"

Rias eyes lit up. "That's right! She has the Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing. I could use a second Bishop." She nodded her head as she pulled out from her dress a piece that looked very much like the bishop from chess. "With this we can bring her back to life and have her save everyone."

"I think not," Tatsumi said as he placed himself between Rias and Asia. If she thought he was just going to stand by and let her forcefully resurrect someone against their will, she had another thing coming. This was what he fought to protect against. If he didn't make a stand here, when would he?

Rias eyes flared dangerously. "Excuse me?" The threat of violence hung thick in the air. "My precious servants are dying. Get out of my way Tatsumi."

Her anger was cute. It almost made him care, but she had a long way to go before she matched likes of Budo or Esdeath. If he didn't stand up now to fight to protect Asia's humanity, when would he? Rias was close enough he could kill her before she could blink, even if he did risk getting killed by Akeno afterwards. So long as the King was dead, Asia was saved from corruption. If he lived he'd have to make it back to Sensei's place and let her know.

Tatsumi began to make plans in his head as to how he would move to cut down Rias quickly in case she forced the issue. If she did, it truly would make her no different than Gregorious Abaddon.

"You think saving your servants is worth taking from Asia the choice of whether she dies as a human or lives as a devil?" Tatsumi growled, his blood boiling with anger. "That's not for you to decide on a selfish whim! It's HER life. It's HER death. It's HER decision!"

"I will not stand by and let my precious servants die if I can save them!"

"But you're not saving them. You're forcing someone else to save them and you're going to damn a young girl to a life of eternal servitude to do it! You think it's your right to pass judgement on who gets to live and who gets to die based on their usefulness to you?"

Rias seemed shocked by his words. "That's not it!"

"Yes it is! You were completely content on letting her die until you realized she could be useful! How many other dying humans have you walked past and ignored simply because they weren't useful enough to have a place in your 'peerage'?" Tatsumi demanded. The flicker of guilt in her eyes was all the confirmation Tatsumi needed. "Your arrogance is unbelievable and it's compounded by the fact that it's so utterly ingrained in your every thought that you don't even notice it! It is a perfect example of everything that's wrong with you race!" Rias was taken aback by his vehemence. Had no one ever actually pointed this out to her? Or perhaps she never really dealt with anyone that cared to. The other devils would take her arrogance as a symbol of strength. Tatsumi moderated his tone a little as he continued. "People die. It's a fact of life, deal with it. Do you have any idea how many friends and loved ones I've had to mourn the passing of? I too wish I could bring them back, but never would I force them to sacrifice their humanity to do so. Sometimes the price of life is simply too high and death is a better alternative." The memory of his sister's twisted face as she begged Tatsumi to kill her flashed across his mind. "Only the individual is capable of determining if that price is something they're willing to pay."

"But…" There was a look of sheer agony on Rias face. For some strange reason she seemed torn between her desire to save her slaves and acknowledging his words.

Gregorious wouldn't have cared. Another difference?

"T-T-Tatsumi…" Asia croaked painfully, drawing all their attention to the girl. She was still alive, although it was hard to say if it was a miracle or a curse considering her state.

Tatsumi quickly rushed to her side and leaned in as close as he could. "Yes?" Her last words deserved to be heard, he could only imagine how painful it was to speak with a spike of ice going through your throat.

"Y-You'r-re… k-kind…" She coughed and twitched painfully on the spikes of ice. "B-but… i-it's… alright…" her voice was barely a hoarse whisper now. He could literally feel the life, her strength, slipping from her. "I-I… w-want… to… live… w-w-with… I-Issei…" she trailed off and then she was gone. Her eyes glazing over as life fled from her body.

Rias gently cleared her throat. Tatsumi threw a heated look her way, fully expecting to see a smug smile of satisfaction. It wasn't there and she seemed… subdued. "She has made her choice; will you accept it?"

Tatsumi ground his teeth in frustration. "Yes, yes she did," he forced out between his clenched teeth. A choice made under extreme duress but… still a choice. Her choice. He'd be hypocritical if he denied her choice because of that alone. "Resurrect her or whatever. I don't care anymore. What matters is that this was what she chose." Right now he was just so sick and tired of this that he wanted nothing more than just throw his hands into the air and walk away from it all. He threw a glare at Issei. "You had better make sure Asia lives happily. She's accepting a life of eternal servitude for your sake. If you make her cry, I promise you won't live long enough to regret it."

"Of course!" Issei promised. Either he completely missed the threat or he was so certain he'd make her happy that it didn't affect him. Either way Asia at least had that. Issei was honest to a fault. He really would try his utmost to make her happy.

Tatsumi turned his back on the devils and limped his way out of the church with as much dignity as he could muster. He was done with this entire fiasco. The entire situation left a hollow, bitter taste in his mouth.

Raynare was dead, killed by his own hands, but there was no satisfaction in that achievement. Another human was being reincarnated as a devil for the sake of convenience, power, and status. Then there was Esdeath, she was out there somewhere just as cruel and sadistic as before. How could he proudly tell his friends the Fallen Angels were dealt with when that monster was still out there? He almost would have preferred that Raynare was still alive if it meant Esdeath wasn't here.

"God really is dead," Tatsumi growled as he limped his way home.

---

Author's Note: Well, what do you think of my ending to the Asia Arc? Let me know in a review! And yes, I know the chapter is overly long. I didn't want the arc to go on for another chapter.

Note on Asia: In a sense you 'could' say that nothing has changed since Asia still became a bishop in Rias' peerage. To me, both Issei and Asia have to be a part of Rias' peerage. The two of them form a foundation upon which its built. It's hard to remove her without too greatly impacting the primary storyline (the others after this are different though). Tatsumi isn't here to replace Issei in the story, and he'd have to if I removed either Issei or his Juggernaut Drive trigger.

Besides, the only other option for Asia here would be to utterly destroy her and not have her survive at all, so you either get devil Asia, or no Asia. I think most will probably prefer this.

There are some changes that will impact future story lines. Freed is dead, and he plays a part in the Kokabiel arc. What's more Esdeath is around as well and you can't throw a character like her in and not expect interesting things to happen.