"Come now, Chiho," Rias urged as she took a sip of her tea. "We went over this."
It was the final day of their training camp and after a hard day's training, the crimson-haired girl had given her peerage the rest of the night off to rest.
She and her servants were currently seated around the sitting room with the three fallen angels while Issei's servants took care of dinner. Issei himself had been bound and gagged inside the dining room. It was probably for the best.
In the meantime, Rias had decided to utilize the remaining time they had to teach Chiho and Asia the basic knowledge they needed in the Underworld.
"The main governing body of the fallen angels is called the Grigori," Calawarner told her. "Can you name any of its leaders?"
"Er, well… I can only remember two of them completely," the brown-haired girl muttered. "There's Azazel, the Governor-General and Shemhazai, the Vice Governor-General. There are others… Armaros… Baraquiel… Tamiel… B-Bene-something and… cocaine?"
"Penemue, Kokabiel and Shariel," the blue-haired fallen angel corrected her. "Please memorize them properly. This is basic stuff. It's the same as knowing the prime minister and vice-prime minister of Japan as well as the leaders of the surrounding countries."
"There's too many!" Chiho exclaimed with a huff. "Two is enough! What do those other leaders do, anyway?!"
"Well, Armaros-sama is the head researcher of anti-magic," Yuuma began listing them off. "Sahariel-sama is the head researcher of the moon and its effects on the supernatural. Penemue-sama is the chief secretary-"
"Okay, never mind," the brunette said quickly, prompting the fallen angel to smirk at her.
"Moving on," Rias said. "Can you name the leaders of Hell; past and present?"
"Eto… I know the current ones," Chiho offered. "Serafall Leviathan-sama, Falbium Asmodeus-sama, Ajuka Beelzebub-sama and Sirzechs Lucifer-sama."
"Good," the crimson-haired girl smiled. "Now can you name our original leaders?"
"Ah…" the brunette chuckled nervously. "Kind of? I know the original versions of the ones I just listed… There's also Belphegor… M-Mammy? …and… er…"
"Satan-sama," Rias sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "If you're going to remember anything; please remember that. Not knowing his name or getting it wrong like you did with Mammon-sama will quickly earn you the ire of most devils; especially the elders who knew him in life."
"Even after all this time, you devils still revere him like that?" Mittelt questioned, earning herself an alarmed glance from her fellow fallen angels. The blonde merely grinned at them cheekily.
"Yes, we do," the crimson-haired girl nodded. "In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he is our God."
"You'd go that far?" Calawarner asked, shocked. "I realize he was your king, but…"
"He was far more than a simple king," Rias said sharply. "He was the progenitor of our entire race. He created the maou and the 72 Pillars; gifting them with the blood of The Devil."
"It is said that he bestowed each of the Pillars with one of his own abilities," Kiba added his own knowledge. "Abilities such as the Bael's Power of Destruction and the Phenex's regeneration. These abilities are cherished by the devils and are seen as a sign of his favor."
"Unfortunately, this is also why there is so much elitism among the Pillars," Rias continued. "We're called 'pure-blooded' because we gained our devilhood from Satan-sama himself, whereas other devils were created by proxy of the other maou or were reincarnated from other races."
The crimson-haired girl let out sigh. "And it's also why my family is so insistent on this marriage," she said wearily. "To ensure the survival of the Pillars and our king's gifts."
The room fell silent, as no one was sure what to say next. Rias' servants were sending her looks of concern while the three fallen angels merely glanced at each other awkwardly.
Finally, Rias shook her head and smiled. "Let's move on, shall we?" she spoke up, breaking the somewhat awkward silence that had descended on them. The Gremory heiress turned to Chiho once again. "We left off with the Seven Maou, correct? Last would be our greatest foe; the angels of Heaven. Can you name their leaders?"
"Ooh!" Asia exclaimed, raising her hand excitedly. "May I answer this one, buchou?"
Rias let out a small giggle at her servant's enthusiasm. "Very well," she conceded, smiling when Chiho let out a relieved sigh. "Please enlighten our friend, Asia."
The former nun actually stood and walked to the front of the room, as though she were about to give a lecture, much to the amusement of her fellow servants.
"Heaven is led by the Holy Father," she told them, pulling out a pair of reading glasses and slipping them onto her face. "He sits atop the Throne of Heaven and watches over his children. The throne is guarded by the Seraphim, the purest and most powerful of God's angels. There are ten seraphim in total and are led by the four archangels: Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel."
Rias chuckled. "You really worship them, don't you?"
The blonde nodded, an embarrassed flush on her face at being caught rambling. "I used to read about them in the Bible every day," Asia said, a slightly saddened look on her face. "But now, I can't even get through a single verse without getting a headache."
As though to demonstrate, the nun rushed to her seat whereupon sat a small backpack. Opening the pack, she retrieved a copy of the Holy Bible. Flipping the book open, Asia found the verse she was looking for and opened her mouth to read aloud…
Only to cry out as a spike of pain erupted in her head. "Mou…" the blonde let out a pained moan. "I just wanted to read this verse about Gabriel… It was my favorite."
"That's only natural," Rias said, once again taking a sip of her tea. "You're a devil now, Asia. Reading God's words is akin to stabbing yourself in the eye. I'm actually surprised that you can even hold a Bible."
"S-So… I'll never be able to read it again…?" Asia asked, a heartbroken expression on her face. Rias flinched at the expression and eyed the girl sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, Asia," the redhead muttered. "In exchange… Why don't I tell you a story? You said that you liked a verse about Gabriel, right?"
"She was my favorite Seraph," Asia said sheepishly, eyeing Rias curiously. "Do you know any stories about her, buchou?"
The crimson-haired girl chuckled. "I most certainly do," she nodded. "She happens to be the only angel that is popular among the devils and is featured in a very popular children's tale."
Mittelt raised an eyebrow at her. "An angel that's popular with devils?" she shook her head. "What's this world coming to?"
Rias smiled. "Well, she's known as The Most Beautiful Woman in Heaven," she reasoned. "But it also helps that this particular story involves our king as well."
"Satan-sama?" Chiho asked curiously.
"Indeed," Rias said with a wink. "It's a tale of forbidden love."
Her statement was met with choking sounds from the fallen angels. "L-Love?" Mittelt demanded incredulously, glancing at Yuuma out of the corner of her eye. The black-haired angel had frozen, her stare was set on Rias, unblinking.
"Long ago, during the final years of the Great War, the archangel Gabriel descended to Earth to meet with the Demon King," the crimson-haired girl began. "As you can probably surmise, there would have been opposition on both sides, so their meeting was kept secret, even from God and the other maou."
"Now, as you probably know, Gabriel is the angel of kindness," Rias continued. "She told him of her dream: a world without violence and hatred; a world where their factions could live together in peace. At first, he was simply amused by her naivety and told her that peace could not exist between Heaven and Hell.
She had expected this, however, and merely asked to meet with him again. He indulged her and the two met again several days later. It was then that Gabriel asked him what his dream for the future was. Satan-sama was taken aback by her question. He thought for several moments before admitting that he did not have a dream. Gabriel smiled and asked that he continue to return to their meeting spot until he had a dream.
And so he did. Every few days, he would return to their meeting spot to find Gabriel awaiting him. Every time he did not return to her with a dream, they would sit together and talk. And though he refused to admit it, he found her presence to be comforting. She was kind, pure and compassionate. She offered him empathy and trust without prejudice or resentment. In a world of darkness and deceit, she was his light.
In return, Gabriel discovered that behind his cold and stony exterior was a man that was just as kind and compassionate as she was. She discovered that he was a man who loved his people and that all his actions, no matter how blasphemous they may seem in Heaven's eyes, were always to protect his people. She learned that darkness could be just as noble and good, if not more so than light.
They spent years together, learning of the other's faction as well as each other. One day, he asked Gabriel if her dream was unchanged. When she answered the affirmative, he merely smiled. Satan-sama told her that he'd finally found a dream worth fighting for.
"Gabriel had shown him that there could be peace." Rias said. "He swore to her that he would fulfill her dream. But that was not all…"
'I, too, wish for a world without war,' he told her. 'But such a world is meaningless without you there at my side.'
"He proposed to her?!" Asia exclaimed.
"That's so romantic," Chiho sighed dreamily.
"Romantic?" Mittelt rolled her eyes. "More like cheesy."
"Well, it's little more than a fairy tale," Rias chuckled. "While it's true that Satan-sama and Gabriel were meeting in secret, what actually happened is unknown."
Calawarner, however, kept her eyes on Yuuma. The black-haired girl didn't seem to be registering anything they were saying and was staring vacantly into space, a frown on her face.
"And what happened next?" the blue-haired fallen angel questioned, still watching her friend through the corner of her eye. "Obviously it didn't end happily-ever-after."
Rias frowned. "I'm afraid the story has a much more tragic ending than I would care for," she admitted. "Gabriel smiled at him, and they agreed to marry after the war's conclusion…"
"What happened?"
"Are you sure you want me to continue?" Rias questioned, looking at Asia in particular. When all she got were expectant stares, she relented.
"Leviathan happened," the redhead sighed. "She had noticed that Satan-sama disappeared every few days and followed him. You can probably guess what happens next."
"Leviathan represents envy," Akeno explained. "And she envied Gabriel. She envied her beauty, her popularity and most of all… she envied her for stealing our king's heart."
"In her jealousy, she betrayed our king by going to Heaven and framing Gabriel for treason," Rias said with a frown. "Gabriel was apprehended by her fellow angels and was sentenced to death."
"D-Death?" Asia whimpered. "B-But she's still alive, right?"
"Indeed, she is," Rias said. "Because our king did the unthinkable. He tore down Heaven's gates, destroying anything and everything that got in his way."
"I know this part," Calawarner said, her eyes widening in realization. "It was the worst attack Heaven ever suffered… It sparked the final series of battles in the war… They called it…"
"Blue Night," The redhead nodded. "Because on that night, Satan-sama tore through Heaven in his search for Gabriel and bathed everything in his path in blue flames. The angels that attempted to stop him were reduced to ashes the moment he laid eyes on them. It's said that the angels were forced to seal away an entire section of Heaven because it was too heavily corrupted by his demonic fire. In a last ditch effort to save themselves, they asked Gabriel to placate him..."
"And she did," Akeno continued. "She went to him, pleading for him to remember their dream of a peaceful world where they could be together."
"And with those words, she quelled his wrath," Rias said. "But by then it was already too late. Both of them could sense Him approaching."
"…The Lord…" Asia whispered, her eyes widening in horror. Rias nodded.
"God himself had come to strike down Satan," she said quietly. "Satan-sama asked his beloved to stay away from the conflict and that when the fighting was over, he would come to find her. While the two deities clashed in the skies above, the three factions continued to wage war below them. Those that witnessed it say that their final battle could be felt across the cosmos. But in the end, only one of them walked away..."
"Satan-sama fell, but since then, the world has found relative peace," Akeno said with a sad smile. "He fulfilled his promise to Gabriel… but his own dream to marry her went unfulfilled."
"T-That's terrible!" Asia cried.
"Despite its rather grim ending it's still a very popular story," Rias said. "I doubt there's a child in the Underworld that doesn't know it."
"A-And what happened to Gabriel?" Asia asked. The redhead frowned.
"It's assumed that she survived," she muttered. "The official story is that she secluded herself from the other angels so she could mourn... But she hasn't been seen or heard from in years…"
"Hey, everyone," a voice called out. They turned to see Tamamo entering the room, a now-unbound Issei was standing behind her with a scowl on his face. "Dinner's ready…" She blinked and gaze at the dejected looks on their faces. "Wow, what's with this super-depressing atmosphere?"
"It's nothing, Tamamo-san," Rias chuckled. She stood along with her servants. "After we eat, I want everyone in bed early. We're in for the fight of our lives tomorrow."
"Hai, buchou!"
The two stepped aside as the group filed passed them towards the dining room. But as the fallen angels walked through the threshold, Issei could have sworn he saw them throwing him several awkward glances.
Tamamo turned to him, an eyebrow raised. "What was that about?"
Issei shrugged. "No idea." He said, clueless.
"So, tomorrow is the day?" a red-haired man questioned as he sat atop an elaborate throne. The room was only dimly lit, casting a shadow over his form.
"Indeed, Maou-sama," a silver-haired maid nodded. "Rias-hime has spent the last week training at the family manor in the mountains with a boy named Hyoudou Issei and his peerage."
"Oh?" the man asked curiously. "Do you have any information about this boy, Grayfia?"
"Very little," the woman shook her head. "We have a basic description: messy brown hair and brown eyes. No outstanding qualities. But his peerage…"
"Yes?"
"His peerage consists of several legendary figures," Grayfia said. "For example: his «Bishop» is the legendary kitsune, Tamamo-no-Mae and his «Knight» is Mordred Pendragon, the Knight of Treachery."
The red-haired man froze. He was silent for several minutes before a small smile slipped onto his face. Slowly, the smile turned into a full-blown grin as he began to laugh uproariously.
"Maou-sama?" Grayfia questioned, slightly perturbed at his sudden break of decorum. "Sirzechs?"
"I-I'm sorry, dear," the man chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye. "I just wasn't expecting him of all people to be helping my imouto."
"Him? She repeated.
"Huh…" Sirzechs muttered, his smile turning into a frown. "But even if it's him, one week isn't enough time for Rias to beat Raiser… He can do amazing things, but he's no miracle worker…"
"Maou-sama, who is this person you speak so highly of?" Grayfia asked in a 'polite' tone.
"Not telling," the man responded in a sing-song voice, causing a vein to pop up on the woman's forehead. "But I will say this…" The corner of his lip quirked upwards. "If this all goes according to my predictions, the world is in for a real shock…"
Sirzechs turned his head to gaze out of a nearby window as his face split into another grin. "Because this man is a true devil among devils."
Issei was silent as he walked through the moonlit hallway. Suddenly, he sneezed. Pondering over the random phenomenon for a moment, he shrugged before continuing towards his destination.
Yuuma had been acting strangely ever since dinner started. She would spend minutes staring at her plate, biting her lip. Then, every once in a while she would take a glance in his direction before quickly looking away if she accidentally caught his eye.
The black-haired angel hadn't been the only one either. Calawarner and Mittelt would occasionally glance between the two of them, looks of concern on their faces.
Issei wasn't sure what had happened but he was determined to find out. He turned the corner and nearly ran straight into Rias as she came from the opposite direction.
"Hm?" the brunet questioned curiously. "Shouldn't you be in bed, senpai?"
The crimson-haired girl chuckled slightly. "Ah, I'm having trouble sleeping," Rias said sheepishly before glancing at him, a thoughtful look on her face. "If you're not too busy, would you mind keeping me company for a while? I wished to speak with you about something…"
"Well…" Issei muttered. "I suppose it can wait... What was it you wanted to talk about?"
"…So, that's your attack plan?" the brown-haired boy questioned as the two of them sat within a stone gazebo on the manor grounds.
"Yes," Rias nodded. "But I can tell by the look on your face that you don't entirely agree with it."
"There are a few points that I disagree with," Issei admitted. "You're keeping the Phoenix Tears with you. Why?"
"We're only allowed one vial per game," the heiress said in her defense.
"But you're keeping Asia with you as well," Issei countered. "Keeping both with you is overkill, especially when they could be put to better use someplace else. I agree that sending Asia to the frontlines would be suicide. You'd have to send someone to protect her; wasting manpower. That leaves us with the Phoenix Tears. Your best bet would be to give it to Kiba or Akeno."
"I see…" Rias murmured. She let out a dark chuckle. "And here I was thinking my plan was perfect. I'm such a fool…"
Issei could sense there was another meaning behind those words. "Senpai?"
"If I had just refused the Rating Game, I could have had until my college graduation to plan and prepare," the crimson-haired girl said bitterly. "Raiser showing up, mocking and challenging me… it was all a setup by my family…"
"Your grandmother…?" the brunet questioned, recalling Rias' words that day.
"Lisara Restall Gremory," she explained. "She's not actually my grandmother. More like great… very great grandmother… She was-"
"The first Gremory," Issei said quietly. "One of the original 72 devils and founder of Clan Gremory."
Rias nodded, surprised. "One of the few that are still alive," she said. "She's the one who made a deal with Clan Phenex. And she's the one who's been pressuring me the most into getting married." Rias scowled. "But she's only interested in expanding her power and influence."
Meanwhile, Issei's mind was going a mile a minute. 'Lisara…?' he thought incredulously. 'But… why?'
"Obaa-sama didn't always used to be this way," Rias sighed. "In fact, she's the one who started the Gremory family's tradition of treating our servants like family. But ever since my grandfather… her husband died… she changed. She became cold and distant, thinking of nothing but power and wealth. If it were up to her, I'd be married and pregnant already. At least my father wants me to be ready before I get married, but he supports the engagement as well."
The girl sighed once again. "I don't want to marry Raiser," she said quietly. "He's just like everyone else. When he sees me, he only sees Rias of the Gremory. He wants to marry me, not because he loves me or even likes me. No, he wants to marry me because it will make his clan stronger."
She turned away from him and gazed up at the moon. "When I get married, I want it to be with someone who loves Rias," she whispered. "Not Rias of the Gremory."
Issei was silent for several moments. "You're very brave," he said after a while, causing Rias to look up at him in surprise. "To go against your entire family and fight for what you believe in. That takes a lot of courage." The brunet walked over and sat next to her. "And I agree with you. Marriage should be something you share with a person you hold close to your heart."
Rias chuckled. "And here I thought the whole world was against me."
"Well, you can rest assured that I'm on your side." Issei smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Rias."
The girl couldn't help but smile back.
"Thank you for your time, Issei-kun," Rias said with a small smile as they stood outside the door to her room.
"I was happy to help, Rias," he nodded at her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she replied before entering her room, closing the door behind her. Issei smiled and made his way to his own room. He had just placed his hand on the doorknob when he froze. "Shit, I forgot to talk to Yuuma," He sighed. "She's probably asleep by now… I suppose it'll have to wait until tomorrow."
He turned the handle and walked inside, only to freeze once more at the sight before him.
"Welcome back, Ise-kun…"
"Yuuma…" Issei muttered. "What… why…?"
The black-haired girl sat on his bed, wearing only a sheer black nightgown. Beneath it, he could clearly see a lacy black bra and matching panties.
"…What are you doing?"
"You." The girl said suggestively as she sauntered over to him. Draping her arms over his shoulders, she leaned her head upwards, kissing him on the nape of his neck.
"This is rather sudden, don't you think?" he murmured as her fingers began unbuttoning his shirt. "You seemed perfectly content this morning. Why the sudden attitude change?"
"Is it wrong that I want to do this?" she whispered huskily as she pulled him towards the bed. "Do you find me so unpleasant that the thought of making love with me repulses you? Would you prefer one of your servant girls? Or Gabriel?"
Issei's eyes widened and he pulled away from her. "Who told you about her?"
"Rias did," Yuuma said, obviously upset. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Yuuma…" Issei sighed running a hand through his hair. "All that stuff with Gabriel… it was all in the past. And it's not something I like to talk about… I haven't seen or heard from her in years. Not even Michael knows where she is anymore. She still sends messages to Heaven every now and then, to let them know that she's okay. But she doesn't let anyone know where she is or how to contact her."
"Do you... Do you still love her?" she asked quietly. Issei paused.
"I… Yes. I do," he admitted. "Even after all this time, I can't just forget her. I still care for her and I think I always will."
"And… what am I to you?" she questioned, averting her eyes. Issei placed a hand under her chin and gently lifted her head to look at him.
"You're my Yuuma-chan," he said with a small smile. "Someone that I love and cherish."
"Raynare…"
"Hmm?"
"Call me Raynare," she requested. "I-I don't like the name Yuuma very much. I only chose that name because I planned on killing you at sunset…"
"As you wish," he leaned forward and kissed her gently. "My lovely fallen angel… Raynare."
"My handsome Demon King…" the black-haired girl whispered, placing both hands on his cheeks. "…Can… Can you show me your true form…?"
"What?" Issei asked, surprised. "Why?"
"It's just… there's this whole other side of you that I don't know," she said quietly. "And I want to know. Can you show me…?"
Issei paused for a moment before closing his eyes. Raynare watched on in silent awe as his features began to warp before her eyes.
"Here it is," he said softly as he gazed down at her. The girl traced his features gently, her eyes roaming his form, memorizing every inch.
"You look so different," she whispered. "But at the same time… you're exactly the same."
"I told you," he chuckled. "I lied to you about who I am. I never lied to you about the kind of person I am."
Raynare was silent for several moments and Issei's eyes widened in surprise when two jet black angel wings erupted from her back.
"And this is who I am," she said quietly.
"…You're beautiful," Issei murmured, gently running his hand along one of her wings. He turned his gaze towards her face and the stared deeply into her eyes. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed her once more.
"Ise…" she said softly as they fell onto the bed once again.
"Hmm?" he murmured, kissing her collarbone.
"Be gentle…"
"I will."
In her room down the hall, Rias' entire face was flushed red. She attempted to block out the sounds coming from Issei's room with her pillow to no avail. Yuuma seemed determined to make as much noise as possible.
"Damn you, father," the redhead muttered as she heard the fallen angel let out a particularly loud moan. "Why in the world would you not get the walls soundproofed?!"
Rias sighed and continued to stare at the ceiling blankly.
"Faster, Ise, go faster!"
Her eye twitched and she let out another sigh.
'Oh, well' Rias thought as one of her hands began creeping downward. 'I'll have to wash my panties tomorrow. Might as well wash the sheets, too."
"Maou-sama?" Grayfia asked incredulously. "Why are you crying…?"
"I don't know, Grayfia," Sirzechs sobbed as he began hugging a Rias plushie he had pulled out of nowhere. "I don't know."
A/N: That first part dragged on a lot longer than I was anticipating. Hey, guys. Here's a short chapter to assure you guys that I'm still writing. Next chapter should be the actual fight, so keep your panties on!
Character background and development. Sorry for wasting your time with it, but it had to happen sometime.
For those of you who haven't noticed, I posted the first chapter of a prequel that features Suzuki. There's a new poll on my profile as well, check them out!
-Your King