Here it is. The climatic fight between Ben, Issei and Raynare. Who will come out on top? Will Issei prove himself? How much punishment will Raynare take? Read on and find out.

Last time, do not own. No profit. Belongs to their owners.

Chapter 5: Angels Run When Good Men Go To War

Bri and Issei looked on in horror. Asia didn't seem to be breathing. It was like she was already dead. And the bitch who killed her was just laughing.

"Yes." She said. "I've been lusting after this power for years. Those miserable hearts are in the palm of my hand. Perfect." She placed Asia's Gear against her chest, where it vanished in a flash of light. She laughed again as she was surrounded by a green glow. "I'll be beloved. I'll be the most powerful Fallen Angel there is. All those pricks who screwed my over are going to regret it."

Everyone was distracted as Bri vanished into a flash of green light. When it faded, the Exorcists felt fear.

She was another dinosaur alien, but whereas the first was like a raptor, this form looked like a T-Rex. She now stood about 12 feet tall, standing in a humanoid form, with a frill around her head and large breasts covered by a green-and-black cave-woman outfit. She quickly hit the Omnitrix, causing four claws to extend from it. As a glow travelled over her body, her brown skin turned dark green and a dark shell formed on her back with large spikes. Her outfit changed into armour that covered her front and her legs, leaving her arms and head free. She grew again, now standing at 20 feet, the room barely big enough for her. A spiked ball grew from the end of her tail, making her look like one of those club-dinosaurs. Strangely, there were barrels on her knuckles. She just stood there for a moment, letting them see just how screwed they were.

Then she roared as she charged forward, smashing every Exorcist in her way. Issei, Koneko and Yuuto followed her, but all they really did was clean up everyone she missed. Yuuma took to the air, but Bri's hands changed into guns. Large bullets slammed into her, making her scream in pain and fall back down. Bri started smashing her around, ignoring the fact that the whole place was crumbling. While she smacked Yuuma seven ways to Hell, Issei climbed up to where Asia was. The chains suddenly fell apart, nearly dropping her to the ground.

"I've got you Asia." He said as he caught her. "It's me, Issei. Are you ok?" Thankfully, she started breathing. Her movements were weak. But she was still alive. He yelped they were nearly crushed by falling rubble. Bri's strikes were bringing the whole place down on them.

"Get going guys." Bri yelled in a very, very deep voice. "I can get out of this no problem. Just get Asia and yourselves to safety." Issei wanted to help her, but she was right. They couldn't survive a cave-in. All the exorcists had already run off. Besides, he was pretty sure Yuuma wasn't going to be a problem for much longer.

They ran back for the staircases, but were nearly killed by Exorcist lying in wait. Evidently, these morons cared more about their mission than their own lives.

"Go, Issei." Yuuto shouted as he and Koneko blocked their attacks. "We'll find a way out. Just get her to safety." Issei kept running as more rubble fell. He could barely see Bri and Yuuma now. He kept on going until he reached the church itself. As he huffed and puffed, part of the back wall fell down into a sinkhole. He placed Asia down on a bench, worried about Bri, Yuuto and Koneko. But mostly, he was worried about Asia.

"Hang in there." He told her. "Once we get out of here, you're free. Stay with me. You have to fight." He grabbed her hand. "Be strong."

"I know it wasn't a very long time." She whispered. "But…I'm so blessed to have made friends like you and Bri."

"Stop talking like that." He begged. "It's not over yet. We're all going to be friends for a lot longer than this, you hear me? When you feel better, we'll go and do some karaoke, or I'll teach you how to bowl. You can't give up, dammit. You'll be letting my buddies down too, you know?" He was crying, and he just couldn't stop. "You'll still have to meet them. But they'll love you. I know they come off as a couple of pervs, but I swear they're great guys once you warm up to them. And you will. Man, are we going to have a story to tell them after this." His tears dripped over their clasped hands. "We'll all need a crazy night soon, huh? Where should we go, you think?"

Asia smiled sadly. "I wish it could be different. It would've been great to grow up in this country. Gone to your school."

"You still can. School will be a lot more fun with you there." Asia pulled her hand free, and placed it on his cheek.

"I never wanted to make you cry." She said. "Oh Issei. I'm sorry."

"Goodbye."

And her hand went limb as she breathed her last breath. Issei could barely breathe himself. "Why? Why did she have to die? She was a healer. She could've helped people." He hugged her still warm body. "If her gift was to heal those in need doesn't that mean you have a purpose for her? It makes no sense, Damn you! Asia didn't do anything to deserve this. Please give her back. Please." He sobbed. "All she wanted was to make friends. She had them with me and Bri, and she would've made so many more. Is that it? Is it my fault? Are you punishing her for making friends with a Devil?" He started yelling now. "I'm sorry! Just bring her back!"

The room shook with a boom as something dark came crashing out of the ground. Issei watched as it sailed overhead, bouncing several times on the floor before rolling to a stop. In the pale moonlight, he realised it was Yuuma. But she was completely broken. Her left arm and her wings had almost been ripped off, and her other arm was bent in unnatural shapes. Her legs were almost bent backwards, with bone poking through the skin. Her stomach seemed flattened, like a balloon that had lost all its air. And her face. It was nearly black from all the bruising. Bri really did a number on her. But she deserved it. It was her fault that Asia was dead. He hoped that she died there, beaten and broken.

But as he watched, Asia's Gear lit up, healing all the damage. Yuuma still screamed in pain as her bones were put back into place and her wounds healed over. Finally, she stood up. If it wasn't for her heavy breathing, it would've been as though she never got hit.

"Damn that bitch." She said. "Once we're out in open air I'll tear her limb from limb. I'll leave her battered body for some monsters to rape. I'll tear out her eyes and make her eat them. I will not be sated until I make her suffer for all the pain she gave me."

"You bitch." Issei growled. He knew that Bri could run rings around Yuuma, but he wasn't going to lose another friend. No matter what. "Bring Asia back right now!"

"Out of the question!" Yuuma shouted back. "You really think I'm going to give up this power just because you say so? You're pathetic. I wouldn't even let lick the mud from my boots. Now stay out of my way, or I'll kill you first."

"Screw you! I want Asia!" His Gear formed, a red aura forming around him. "DRAGON BOOST!" It shouted, as he ran to punch her with all his might. But she merely took to the air, leaving him to tumble underneath.

"You don't pay attention, do you? There's nothing you can do to win, even if you tripled the power." Issei's Gear glowed again, and he charged once more. Yuuma flew overhead again. She smiled. The fool will be a great way to unwind after that horrifying beatdown she suffered. "And you're still trying to test me." She formed two spears of light, throwing both at his legs. He cried out as they speared right above the knee. "Light is toxic to your kind. Just touching it scorches your body. It is said to be the most intense and worst pain a Devil can endure. So what do you think? Is it true?"

Issei ignored her, tugging on the spears despite the pain. "What do I care? This is nothing! Nothing compared to what Asia went through!" He stumbled a bit as he removed the spears. "I'll put up with anything for her." His Gear glowed a third time.

"I'm impressed. A lower-class Devil making it this far? That power is something to be reckoned with." Issei collapsed, the pain too strong now. "Not that it will do you any good. I just wanted to congratulate you for doing so much better than expected from a Devil of your class."

God wasn't going to help him. He was a Devil, what was he expecting? He needed to call on Satan.

"I'm a Devil now too." He mumbled, hoping that someone was listening. "So what do you say? Just this once I need a little help."

"What are you mumbling about? Has all the pain driven you mad?"

Issei managed to stand back up. "I'm begging you. I won't ask for anything else after this. Turn this around on her. Let me destroy her ass!" His Devil wings appeared, catching in the moonlight.

"How are you able to stand?" Yuuma couldn't believe it. "That light should be burning you from the inside out. Tell me how you're doing that. You don't have the power to temper light. You are nothing!"

"Don't get me wrong." Issei muttered as he walked closer to her, heedless of the pain. "It doesn't tickle. Even with this strength I feel like I'm going to pass out. But I don't care." His Gear glowed a fourth time. "I'll fight through it if it means I can take you down!" He yelled as his Gear glowed brighter than ever. It changed form, growing claws over his fingers and extending to his elbow. "EXPLOSION!" It shouted. A bright beam started firing into the air.

"That energy wave is at least second level." Yuuma seemed horrified. "His Sacred Gear should be nowhere near this strong! It's…it's just a Double Critical." As Issei stepped closer, she panicked and threw her spear at him. She was shocked to see him deflect it. As he jumped closer, she tried to fly away. But Issei grabbed hold of her arm.

"You won't be getting away, bitch." Issei growled. "This one's for Asia!" He punched her with all his strength, watching her scream as she crashed through the large window. A rumbling noise echoed as Bri broke through the ground in her Mecha-mole form, Yuuto and Koneko right behind her. They caught him as he stumbled from all the pain. Without a word, Bri turned into Clockwork and started healing his legs. He felt a sort of phantom pain as the damage was reversed.

"Look at you." Yuuto cheered. "Handling that Fallen Angel on your own."

"Well, I had a little help. She might've been stronger if Bri hadn't beaten her to an inch of her life. What held you guys up? It couldn't have been that caved-in down there."

"You'd be surprised. Bri did a number on the place. And I was instructed to stay back. Rias' orders."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." Everyone was surprised by Rias being right there. They had all thought she was elsewhere. "I believe in you Issei. But you can't always rely on Bri bailing you out. If you couldn't stop Raynare, then you'll only get yourself killed later on. But you passed. I knew you would if you tried."

"How did you get here so fast?" Bri asked, turning back to normal.

"Akeno and I weren't too far off. Our 'business' was distracting and dealing with Raynare's allies while you lot went to town on her."

Koneko kicked open the front door, dragging Yuuma behind her. "Did someone order this?" She said as she dropped Yuuma.

"You must be Raynare. Lovely entrance." Rias said sarcastically. Yuuma gasped as she looked up. "I am Rias Gremory, the next head of the House of Gremory."

"Gr…Gremory? You gotta be kidding me." Yuuma stuttered.

"It's wonderful to meet you. What a shame we don't have time to chat." She dropped some black feathers she had in her hand. "But sadly, it's time to join your friends that I disposed of earlier. They were rather rude to me." She turned to face Bri. "Unless you'd like to do the honours, Bri?"

Bri shifted a bit. "Part of me really wants to. But another part is worried that if I kill her, I'll start justifying killing other criminals. I don't want to go down that road." She walked away. "But I can't really have any complaints if someone was to 'mysteriously vanish' while I was elsewhere. I'll be off to see if anyone's in trouble." And having said that, she walked out the building.

Rias smiled. "Now, where were we?"

(**/*\**)

It was so hard to just walk away. Ben shook as he itched to run back and pound the Fallen Angel into paste. But he kept walking. He didn't want to become a willing killer. He had been one time back when he was 10, but he was more impulsive back then. And Malware deserved it. If he jumped off the slippery slope, he might become as bad as Vilgax, or Aggregor.

He almost did, when Kevin went insane again. He nearly killed his best friend.

"Hello Bri." He jumped. He had been so busy thinking, he never noticed Akeno was nearby. He was kind of surprised to see her sweeping up a huge pile of black feathers, and he was really surprised to see her wearing some kind of priest clothing. She had a red dress with a white top and separate, billowing sleeves. Ben was sure it was meant to be modest, but it clung to her in a way that left little to the imagination. "Are they finished in there already?"

He sighed. "No. I just…I just couldn't watch them 'deal' with Yuuma, or Raynare, or whatever her name is."

"Why not? Didn't she hurt Asia? Don't you want her to be punished for that?"

"Of course I do. It's just that…" He sighed again. "Look, I grew up on Saturday morning cartoons. Where everyone lives, the good guys win, and we don't have to kill the bad guys. I know that the real word doesn't work that way, but I'm trying my best. And a while back, my best friend went crazy. See, whenever he absorbs energy he goes nuts. Any problems and worries he has go into overdrive. The first time, he was willing to crash a train full of innocent people just to get some cash. He even said that there were no innocents. They just hadn't had time to make fun of him. And the second time, he put a guy he knew in the hospital because he owed him 5 bucks." It horrified him, how far Kevin was willing to go. "I lost hope of helping him. I just gave up. And I was determined to kill him to protect people. I even hurt my cousin because she wanted to save him. And if she hadn't begged me to find another way, I would've killed him." He started tearing up, and Akeno gave him a hug. It was really nice. "I'm just worried that if I'm ok with killing someone when they're down, to make a choice outside the heat of battle, I might lose sight of myself. I might become no better than the criminals I fight."

"It's ok Bri." Akeno smiled. "I imagine it would hurt to kill someone you love."

"Yeah. It woul-" Ben finally realised what she had said. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! It wasn't like that. We're just good friends. We don't see each other that way. Besides, he's dating my cousin."

"But do you want to be something…more?"

"No. We. Are just. Friends."

Akeno was going to make fun of her some more, but the church windows lit up with a red glow. "Well, looks like the Fallen Angel's gone now. You can go back and help Asia."

Ben smiled. "Sure thing. You want to join us?"

"I'd love to, but someone has to clean up all these dreadful feathers. Fallen Angels sure make a mess, don't they?"

Ben shook his head in exasperation. As he walked back to the church, he kept telling himself that someone else chose what happened to Yuuma. He had been too far away to stop it. It wasn't his fault.

Maybe if he said it enough times, he'd believe it.

(**/*\**)

Issei watched as Rias stepped closer to Asia, the Twilight Healing in her palms. He heard Bri walk back into the church, her shoes crushing the feathers underneath. They were all that remained of Yuuma. His heart ached as he remembered the good time he had with her, and how she actually tried to convince him to spare her with that sugary act. It hurt that she thought he would be bought in by that phony act, that she would pervert his best memories with her to save her worthless skin. He started shaking in anger and sorrow, only stopping when Bri hugged him from behind. Without a word, the two friends stepped closer, to watch Rias bring Asia back from the dead. They sat down by her side, placing her Sacred Gear on her fingers. She did not awaken, but Issei didn't think she would. It would obviously take more than that to bring her back.

"I'm sorry guys." He said to everyone. "You all came to help me. I thought as hard as I could, but still. I failed. She's gone." He started tearing up again. It wasn't fair. Wasn't fair at all. "Asia, please forgive me."

"You have nothing to apologise for." Rias consoled him. "This world is still new to you. Nobody is placing blame on you. Least of all Asia."

"But…but…I…" He sobbed, holding onto Bri like a lifeline.

"Now this might not make any sense, but I'd like to show you both something." She pulled out a white chess piece. Issei noticed that it was a bishop piece. "Have you ever seen one of these before?"

"A chess piece?"

"I get it." Bri said. "That's an Evil Piece, isn't it? You're going to bring her back like you saved Issei."

"Correct." Akeno said, stepping out of a portal. Whatever she had been doing was finished. "That's the Bishop Piece."

"The bishop's position of power is to protect and heal the other Devils in the household. Perhaps the timing is perfect. We could use a good clergyman."

Bri and Issei moved out of the way as Akeno lifted Asia and placed her on top of a spinning seal. Rias stood over her, placing the piece at the base of her neck. "In the name of Rias Gremory, I call to Asia Argento. Hear my command. Return thy soul from the shadows of Death to the human realm. Rise once more as my Demon servant. Rejoice, for you have been given new life. Wake as my healer and Clergyman." The bishop piece sunk into Asia's skin like it was water, and she was surrounded by a red glow. She started moving again, with little shakes. As she opened her eyes again, Issei nearly started crying.

"You're alive." He and Bri said as Asia sat up. "Something occurred to Issei though. "Wait that's really her, right?"

"Indeed." Rias answered. "I don't make a habit of reviving the deceased, but her powers would come in handy. You are now her protector. You are the senior Devil after all." Issei looked at her in surprise as she walked away. But he didn't think about that too much. He and Bri were too busy hugging Asia and crying again. She was back. She was back.

She was really back.

(**/*\**)

Ben sighed in exhaustion as he sat down in the Club room. He was promptly smacked in the face by his breasts, letting off a painful yelp. Rias started laughing at him.

"Forgotten something important Bri?" She asked. "You're kind of poking through today."

"Laugh it up Rias." He groaned, rubbing his chin. "After last night's excitement I nearly missed class. I didn't exactly have time to put my bra on." He groaned again as his breasts bounced from him leaning back. "How do girls go around without these things taking an eye out? Even with a bra I still feel as though they'll smack me about if I look down."

"Most girls aren't forgetful enough to not wear a bra. Honestly Bri. It's like you never had one in your life."

"I didn't." Ben couldn't tell her the real reason, so he made a half-truth. "I've been flat as a board my whole life. Even the store clerks didn't think I needed one. And I actually didn't mind."

"Oh? Perhaps you were waiting for a dazzling young man to like you for yourself." Ben started spluttering. "Or maybe you were looking for a young lady, and thought looking like a boy would help?"

"Shut up." he said. "It wasn't like that." Anymore conversation was interrupted by Issei finally making it.

"What's up? It's your favourite Devil servant." He noticed that Bri was there too. "Hey Bri. Did you know that you forgot to wear a bra today?"

"She knows." Rias giggled. Ben settled for glaring at her. Those pervert friends of Issei's were probably fantasising about her all day. "So how are you feeling?"

"Great. Thanks to Asia's power it was like it never happened."

"Fantastic. It's no wonder all those Fallen Angel were after her so badly. They must've been threatened by its potential."

"So, I've got a question. If we're named after chess pieces, then does that mean all the positions are represented?"

"It does." Ben found that a little intimidating. So a single Devil could have 15 other Devils working for them? Scary.

"But from what Bri and I saw when she turned back time, you used all 8 pawn pieces to revive me. What's with that?"

Rias got up and walked around so that she was hugging him from behind. "When a human becomes a Devil, the number of Evil Pieces needed varies. It just depends on what special abilities that person has to contribute. So since Bri doesn't actually have a Sacred Gear, any piece would work. For you, I had 1 knight, 1 rook, 1 bishop and 8 pawns. That was all the pieces I had. After I decided to bring you back, I chose to use all 8 of my pawns."

"So, you sacrificed 7 others to have me?" Ben thought that might've been a nasty gamble. He had to save Issei almost every night so far. Hopefully now his Gear will let him do a lot better.

"I knew that your power was well worth the risk. Especially after last night now that we know you possess the Boosted Gear of Longinus." Ben wondered how it compared to Ascalon. He almost wished he had it right now. "The Crimson-Haired Princess of Ruin and the User of the Red Dragon. I don't know if we could be more perfectly matched." They stared into each other's eyes for a while, before Ben decided they had gone on long enough. He coughed loudly, bringing the two back to reality. "But I hardly want to get between you and Bri. I doubt I could survive her jealousy."

"We're not dating." Ben growled. "We're just good friends." Rias looked at him like she didn't believe him. He was getting sick of this. Why couldn't a guy and a girl just be good friends? Was it really so hard to believe?

"Strive to become the mightiest Pawn, Issei." She said. "Consider it my new order."

"I can totally dig that." Issei said. "And I'm getting one step closer to my goal." Rias kissed his forehead, causing Ben to feel a hot feeling in his chest. "What the…?"

"Just a little spell to strengthen your stamina."

"Sweetness. I've always wanted porn-star stamina."

Ben groaned. "That's not what she meant, doofus."

"You're going to need more strength to fulfil my orders, and I'm going to have to stop coddling you. Our newest member might get jealous."

"Um, what's going on?" Asia said. Ben and Issei looked up in surprise. They'd never even heard her enter.

"We're…We were just talking." Issei said, trying to placate her. But she wasn't really listening.

"That's how it always starts. It's ok. I know they're prettier than me and so much stronger. And they probably will do things I won't, so it makes sense that you like them more."

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" Ben shouted in alarm. "And why does everyone think there's something going on between me and Issei? There is nothing going on between us."

Asia shook her head in apology. "I'm sorry Bri! I shouldn't be saying things like that! I'm not jealous, just really insecure!" She bowed her head in prayer. "Dear Lord. Please forgive my feelings of lust and envy…" She yelled in pain before crouching. "It feels like there's a knife going through my head."

"God's not very receptive to the prayers of Demons." Rias informed her.

"Right. I forgot about that. He's probably angry that I became a Devil."

"How do you feel about it?"

Asia smiled. "I have no regrets at all. I've got so many friends now. And the best part is that Issei and I can be together forever now." She gasped as she noticed Ben. "Though I don't want to get in the way of Bri. She and Issei make such a…"

"We. Are not. A COUPLE!" Ben felt like he was going to go crazy soon from this. Almost everyone thought of them as being 'together'. It was driving him nuts.

"That's nice you two." Issei interrupted them. "Now about that outfit you've got on." Ben took a closer look and saw that she was wearing their school uniform. Rias must've pulled some strings to get Asia enrolled.

"My father is on the school board." Rias said. "Getting Asia enrolled as a transfer-student wasn't that hard."

"Cool. I didn't know that." Issei said.

Yuuto and Koneko walked in too, welcoming Asia to the Club as Akeno rolled in a large cake.

"Issei." Rias said as everyone tucked in. "I was very impressed with you last night. Good job."

He laughed. "Well than you for your impressiveness."

No one really noticed the red bird staring at them from the window. If they had, they might have known that another threat was on the horizon.

They might've even heard the evil laughter. For Riser Phenex was coming to town.

And that's the Raynare arc over with. I originally had it that Ben had actually ripped some limbs of, until I read the Highschool DxD wiki and saw that Twilight Healing can't restore lost limbs. But at least I showed how dangerous he could be.

At the end of it, when Rias was going to kill Raynare, I had Ben leave because he wanted her to die, but his conscience wouldn't let him stand by and let it happen. So he tried to justify it as he couldn't stop it if he wasn't there. And I found it funny how Akeno assumed he and Kevin were in a relationship.

The next chapter is going to be a little light on action. But it will show a few struggles Ben has as a girl.